Weekly Wrap-Up: Employment Opportunities and More

This was the week that Mr. B got his first official job requiring a work permit. He will be working part-time at a local retail store as a clerk and stocker of shelves. He is excited to finally be able to make some real money to put away for his up-coming car insurance expenses. I think it is going to be a great experience for him although I know it means even more time around here where there are no children in the house. It is quiet so much of the time now. Adapting my activities is a slow filling of quiet time with things that I haven't had room for in many years.




We are still whizzing through The Elegant Essay Writing Lessons from IEW. This is a fine tuning of skills Mr. B has gained over the years using their system of writing. We are not dwelling on the lessons and many times I cut the practice parts in half if I know he has a grasp on the concepts. I would love to have him do all the exercises just for my own enjoyment in reading them but that would be selfish wouldn't it? He has a flair for writing that I really connect with.



He is in the second unit of his Anatomy course from The Simple Homeschool. He many times thinks the text is lacking but I remind him this is a perfect time to employ his research skills. This he enjoys. I think this makes him own the information more as he debates with the author and questions things further. I got to hear all about homeostasis last week and this week it was epithelial tissues (which led to a discussion of our word roots study).

Still listening to Bartok and viewing Expressionist art....love the conversations this has led to about views of valuing art and musical styles. High school kids are so much fun because they ALWAYS have an opinion.

I know that many of my readers have commented in the past about reading Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath, dreading the time they had to do so with their own children. It is a difficult book and not one that many people particularly like or enjoy but let's face it...the book allows us the opportunity to discuss difficult topics and issues. I think it is a perfect time in our history to be digging into economy issues, morality issues, and looking at the role family relationships have in helping and supporting one another. I identified deeply with the mother in this story and could only imagine her feelings of dread upon leaving all behind to move to an unknown world. This is the sort of reading that connects with our humanness.

There ends my wrap-up for this week. Still relishing the fall warm weather and sunshine in our part of the country. The shorter days sort of bum us all out but it is the season for that.


On a lighter note...found this little sketch in my desk when I was cleaning up a drawer. I loved it when the boys were younger and they would draw me little notes to find. This must be from probably six or seven years ago. Made me smile. Thanks Mr. B!