Well, a new year is upon us!
First, Hyrum finished his fall semester at BYUI. He did pretty well. I didn't help him as much as I probably should have, but he didn't really want me to. At the beginning of the semester I pushed him to take psychology while he was still living at home because I had taken this exact class before, so I would be able to help him. I did end up helping him a bit, but he would not let me help him study for tests (and refused to study at all,) insisting I would just make him anxious. Well, he got a B without me, but I think he's realized the value of studying.
He's only taking two classes this semester because he wants to focus on working to save money for his mission.
It's weird to think that Hyrum will be leaving soon. It has made me rethink out Harry Potter situation. We went REALLY SLOWLY through the third book. We did finish it and we had a huge party yet again:
I made cupcakes that were sorting hat cupcakes. They had the 4 house colours inside and a hat of an oreo and chocolate kiss on top, hiding the colour. I also made broom sticks, and "monster book of monsters" ice cream sandwiches. And sugar cookies that were Hermione's time turners. They weren't the best of the treats, but the others were pretty pretty incredible if I do say so myself (Dustin was home to help this time.)
However, if we continued to read Harry Potter as slowly as we have been, Hyrum for sure would not get through the books. I relented and we listened to the audio book for number 4 as we drove to the coast and we watched the movie in our air bnb. No party. I know: It's a bummer, but maybe we'll do a party for #5.
Wait...did I say we went to the coast?....Yes, yes I did...we'll get there.
In other news, with regards to English, William is focusing on just spelling. He's done with All About Reading, but that doesn't mean he's done with the All About Learning program, because he is in dire need of focussing on spelling. We've been reviewing all the spelling he did awhile ago, which is nice to do easy words, and he has a bit of fun with it.
Abraham is still in All About Reading, and we even made the recipes that were suggested when reading the "pigs in the kitchen" lesson. However, the blender wasn't working, so William came up with a brilliant idea on how to blend the ingredients:
We have recently started doing TTRS which is a typing program meant for dyslexic kids. It worked for Hyrum, so I'm continuing it, and hopefully Daniel gets through with it before he starts university classes in April.
Abraham wanted to have his profile picture for TTRS be unique, so he took a picture of an axolotl and added a bloody ax to it, so it's an "ax a lot L". Yep, cuteness and being a stinker...that pretty much sums up Abraham.
Daniel has been learning about essays, and he is in debate, and he said "hey! An essay is just a one sided debate that you write down!" Yes, yes it is. I want to do my own debate club when we get back but until then, he's doing it through zoom.
My science club is on hold too.
For science, we learned about skeletons. Dustin actuall bought me an entire skeleton to help me teach, and that was super fun. We learned about the make up of bones, the different kinds of joints, and we made a "Back-bone" that had a balloon as a head, and vertebras from rolled up paper and intervertebral discs from soft candy discs.
Then we learned about muscles. I was not as prepared for this class as I wish I had been. I had made this muscle model every time I've taught biology, but this time, I didn't give myself enough time to make it so it was a sloppy job and didn't work, which is a shame because it really shows how muscles work. I tried to explain it, and maybe they got it.
We focused a lot on tendons, and I had a hand for every kids where they could pull their "tendons" to close their hands.
And....that's it for science.
For social studies, we learned about Marie Antionette and the French revolution (well, the main one with Robespierre.) As our activity, we made cake....so we could say "Let them eat cake" while watching The Scarlet Pimpernel. Such a classic.
Then we learned about Napoleon. We read a lot about him and while I was reading, the boys made "Napoleon Hats."
Then we started on the industrial revolution. We made a steam powered put put boat. This is always intense and always took forever. I couldn't help thinking "This might be the last time I've ever have to make these complicated things." Which made me relieved and worried. I'm not sure. I might have to make sure my little boys really understand everything I want them to before they leave me.
Then we learned about trains. We learned about how it changed the world and time zones and we read about it...but we did no activity....soo......no photo.
Then we learned about child labour. Specifically child labour during the industrial revolution. However, they know that my mom lived in England as a girl and at the age of 14 worked in a woollen mills where she worked horrible hours putting spools of thread on machines. They would see photos from the industrial revolution, and they would go "There's Grandma!"
But we also watched "newsies" since it's based on a true story. The boys sure likes Newsies a lot more than the other movies I've made them watch this year.
While getting this movie, I looked it up and I realized it was a Hollywood FAILURE. They lost so much money. This is so crazy to me since a couple years after it came out it was SO popular. Any one out there agree? Didn't everyone love this movie!?
Then we learned about Jane Austen. We of course watched a Jane Austen movie. Last time around I had to bribe them with watching Pride and prejudice and Zombies in order for them to watch the normal Pride and Prejudice. This time I just put on Sense and Sensibility and they had no choice. But come on, it's the best Austen ever.
Then we learned about the Telegraph and the Morse Code. As our activity we actually made a telegraph of our own and tried to follow Morse Code and have each other guess what we were saying.
Then we learned about the invention of the camera and how cameras work...no picture no activity.
Then we learned about Queen Victoria. No picture no activity.
Then we learned about Charles Dickens. This was perfect because it was Christmas. We OF COURSE watched Muppet Christmas carol. We also watched "Nicolas Nickleby"
We also listen to "Great Expectations" but abridged....and as Dustin said "They took out all the humour, sparkle and slight of hand, and left us with a list of plot points of awfulness." So yeah, that abridged version was pretty bad.
Then we learned about Edison and Tesla. By the way, we have been using Brainpop for all of this. I love most brainpop movies. It narrows everything down to what is the most important things you need to know about the subject. SO we watched the brainpops for Edison and Tesla and read a bit, but... no activity and no movie....we might watch the movie that Cumberbatch is in, but honestly, WE HAVE WATCHED A LOT OF MOVIES! But truly, there are so many good movies about modern history and I actually do believe it's a good way to wrap up the subject. So, we will probably watch a lot more this year.
As for other things we've been doing in Cardston, we did a lot of art with Janet, which they always love.
Also, Daniel and William did some gymnastics. Boy, we've missed a lot of gymnastics because of being on the coast.
Okay,, so I mentioned the coast again, and yes, we're over here again, but first we had Christmas. Which we celebrated with our Homeschool besties.
We celebrated with the Blackmores because they had done Christmas early which meant they had the time to do Christmas with us because Taylor left on his mission! Ahhh...little homeschooler left on his right of passage of adulthood.
And then it was off to Utah for New years and to be with my parents.
But yes, now we are on the coast. We are here to say goodbye. Dustin's dad is deathly ill. His birthday is tomorrow. He would always say that his goal was to live until his birthday.
It's been a beautiful thing to see all his family here that are so full of love for him. He is still making jokes. He actually just stopped getting out of bed, but he was making jokes about death the last time he was out of bed. He's sense of humour is to the last. His humour, faith, and love of his family. When everything is boiled down and stripped away, that is who he is. He's so sweet.
We talk about our memories and sing hymns, and it is a truly important lesson. Much better than anything they can ever learn in school.
He's not awake most of the time, so we have still done some things that are educational experiences here. Daniel went skiing for the first time and he was apparently the best first time skier his uncle Norm has ever seen, which is saying something, and on day two he was going down black diamonds.
Also, we got a season pass to the aquarium.
And of course just walking along the beach can be educational
And MOST importantly, it was my birthday. My in laws made this over the top charcuterie "board" which was really the entire table for my niece's birthday, but since it was the day before mine, we combined it.
This is the kind of magic my in laws do. They are so amazing and I feel so blessed to be a part of them, especially at this time. Family is the most important part of life. Our connections last forever.
