Can I just say one time how *fast* this term went by? I am not exaggerating when I say that it really seems like we just started school until I look into our notebooks and binders and see how much we have accomplished.
This past week has been our exam week, Charlotte Mason style.
Here are some of the highlights of our week.
Mr. B's Cezanne project using markers.
Mr. A's Cezanne project using markers and colored pencils.
Short book review for King Solomon's Mines written by my 14 year old:
An action packed thriller, King Solomon's Mines is the original adventure story. Set in the mid-nineteenth century, the book tells the story of Allan Quartermain, an elephant and lion hunter. He sets out in the Sahara to try to find the mythical mines of King Solomon. Along the way he and his companions must deal with a forgotten tribe of Africans and the treacherous terrain.
We watched the movie version of Les Miserables....what a disappointing experience. We all were looking forward to seeing the story come alive on the screen. This just didn't happen in this case.
Liam Neeson was tolerable as Jean Valjean but the movie did NOT stick closely to the book at all. The boys and I felt as if they missed the huge turning points from the book. Why did Jean Valjean do what he did? Why did Javert act the way he did? The Thernardiers were played way down in the movie which changed the tone of Cosette's story. You know how it is when they take a huge classic and try to do a film....sigh. In case you want to give this movie a try, please be warned that it really is PG-13 for language, brief nudity, adult themes, and perhaps even for a little violence. I would say high school age and above.
This comic made me laugh. Mr. B was asked to draw a comic strip featuring Gregor Mendel and his pea experiments. This is the one that made me laugh.
It says:
Why Gregor Mendel Left the Monastery
"Now we have to deal with the "Mendel" issue."
"What's the problem?"
"He won't shut up!"
"Yes! Smooth again! Woohoo!"
(That is a little biology humor.)
There were displays for Australia and Canada.
We listened to their music focus pieces and had a vocabulary quiz time after dinner one night. They recited their scriptures and poetry. They both read in Spanish for us. Finally, they demonstrated their robots.
It was a fun week. I am busy planning the rest of the year and hopefully we will enjoy all of our adventures as much as we have the first term.
I had to narrow our literature selections a bit...here are the final formal literature selections for the rest of the year.
I made a few changes from our original plans because I do not want to overload us with great literature and miss out on savoring it slowly. This is a very workable plan that we all agreed would fit our interests and reading levels.
I know. Two Shakespeare selections! We only have so much time left in their high school years to fit in all we want to cover together. I have found both plays done as audio books on Naxos.com, so we will read but also listen to the professionals do it justice. (Hamlet and MacBeth)
The books all lined up on the shelf are a huge temptation for my 14 year old. He is itching to get at the Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I directed him to his free reading selections and he pulled down Cry the Beloved Country. No twaddle for him these days! He is also enjoying a biography of Jules Verne from the library. He has become very interested in biographies lately and I am so glad that our little public library has quite a few decent ones for him to choose from.
I have a number of posts brewing in my head as well as a few started in their first draft. I am also busy putting together some exciting new art and music plans that I will share here on this blog early next week. I have good intentions every day to write, but my family keeps tempting me away from the computer with long walks and family time. I will savor it while it lasts.
Barb-Harmony Art Mom
8 comments:
Funny comic strip =)
We enjoyed the audio of Les Miserables done by Focus on the Family Radio Theater -- I admit I haven't read the book to compare.
Happy New Year!
Hi Barb,
Just posting to say I love your blog. It so encourages me. My boys are only 8 and 3, but your blog gives me such hope for the years to come.
Just wanted to say thanks!
Valerie
PS - we did the Charlotte Mason style exam for the first time and we loved it! We both saw how much we had really covered.
When you say you directed your son to his free reading shelf, what do you mean by that? When they have time to read on their own, do you also select what they read? Do you just have a shelf of good books and then they choose?
Thanks for sharing this, you and your boys are such an inspiration in our house! I was wondering how many free reading selections you outline for the boys each term? Also, how do you handle your literature selections together? Does each boy have his own book or do you read-aloud/use audio books? And then do you discuss the literature daily or weekly?
Beth,
I split our literature for year into two sections. Our formal literature selections they are required to read according to my plan, with accountability. They usually are asked to keep a commonplace book with their thoughts, reactions, and quotes to share at our weekly meetings. I take an additional list of books and make them "free reading". These are books they are still required to read but at their own pace, in any order they wish, with no other accountability other than casual narration as they go. I pick the books at the beginning of the year and they are all listed in their literature notebooks to check off as they read them.
Tina,
I usually have one copy of each book that they read for formal literature. They are pretty good at working out who reads when so they don't conflict. When we do audio books, like for our Shakespeare selections, we usually each have a copy of the book to follow along as we listen. I can usually pick up a copy on Bookmooch.com so it isn't financially a problem. I assign chapters for our formal literature and they read during the book and we all meet on Friday mornings to discuss and enjoy each other's thoughts. I don't always read the books so I use the TOG notes to help me guide the discussion.
Hope that helps clarify a little.
Barb
Barb,
If your kids will sit for a foreign language/subtitled movie, you might want to check out the 1995 French movie titled Les Miserables. Rather than being a movie version of the book, it uses the story to illuminate the story of a French Jewish family during WWII. Your kids might enjoy the way that the book is used to underscore what is happening to the family.
Thanks for the direction Sebastian. I think we have only really watched on movie before with subtitles. (Babette's Feast)
It might be time to try another one. :)
Barb
You inspire me to be a better fellow learner. I wanted to pass on the sunshine award to you!
http://hearts-in-training.blogspot.com/2010/01/sunshine-award.html
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