Possible Change to Blog

Keeping up with these blogs is very time consuming ... not that I mind, usually! We're getting ready to embark on an intensive homesteading adventure, and may not be able to work on blogs daily.

So... I'm thinking about combining our blogs (cooking, gardening, homesteading, survival, storage, homeschooling, etc.) into one. I would eventually move posts to the new and combined blog.

We have a lot of readers, and I value your opinion. Thoughts?

Geometry

What kind of a mind can't do simple addition and subtraction, and thus multiplication and division, but instantly understands geometry?

I'm confused.

My kid has struggled with basic math. Still uses his fingers to add and subtract. Two weeks ago he started on decimals and fractions with common denominators, and got it right away. This week he started on geometry (using the "basic skills series - math topics - grade 5 workbook) and again, got it right away. He insisted on using an algebra equation to figure out the missing angle of a parallelagram!

I hope this isn't temporary!

Settling In

We've finally moved, and will be here for about 5 months. Meanwhile, last week was our first school-week here in our new home. We couldnt' find the encyclopedias until Friday, and are missing 2 of our schoolbooks. So... not all of the assigned schoolwork was completed.

Hopefully, we'll find the books this weekend as we do a little rearranging and unpacking.

On a good note, he's suddenly great with adding and subtracting fractions! Believe me, that is beyond thrilling!

Still not focusing. Still upheaval.

We're still in the upheaval of selling a house and moving, so because we thought we were closing last Thursday and moving Friday, we took 2 days off from schoolwork. We didn't close (long story). We spent Thurs thru Sun playing and watching TV. Big mistake. He's even more messed up.

Now we might close today so that means our school schedule is completely messed up because I'd planned on being in our new place by now, schoolwork unpacked and ready to settle back in.

Soon. Hoping.... soon.

Upheaval = no school work

I've noticed with all of this preparing to sell the house and move... that our 12 year old can't concentrate on anything... not schoolwork, chores, packing, or anything. I guess because I never moved as a 12 year old that I didn't think about it.

Not that I like all of this chaos at my advanced age, but still.

Time to make the final push to close on this house, move to our next home, unpack, and start a life of normalcy again.

Focus Problems

We seem to be having a little problem focusing now. Could it be the move? Could it be the political climate? His diet? (Just discovered he can't soy, cashews, peanuts or gluten because they all make him weird.)

Thoughts?

7th Grade Started

We decided to change up some things so our kid started "7th grade" the first of July, and will continue through the end of December. From then, our school year will be a calendar year, taking several weeks off when appropriate for family vacations and so forth.

So... we're 5 weeks into the 7th Grade. Already read Diary of Anne Frank and are working on Journey to the Center of the Earth. Working on getting better at division, and did great with the intro to geometry. Studying American History... so far, the First World War, the time right after with the Jazz Age and Prohibition, and beginning Second World War and Depression next week. Science includes studying cells and atoms - loves it!

We don't have the time right now to do the regular speaking videos and posting them on YouTube. Maybe when 8th grade starts in January.

That's just a quick note about what we're doing!

High School Language Arts - Curriculum Planning

I'm working on planning my Teen's high school curriculum (I like to do this a year or two or three in advance in case something comes up).

Our state requires 4 years of language arts / English. Year 1 is usage and practice, Year 2 is writing, Year 3 is poetry and Year 4 is analysis of literature. I found some great books for Years 1 and 2, but am having trouble for the poetry and literature analysis.

I'd love recommendations! Anyone?

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" - Answers

This is the answers to our quiz on the book "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (but not the movie).

1. How many heads does Fluffy the dog have? Three


2. What feathers were used to make Voldemort's wand? Phoenix


3. In Harry's first Quidditch game, who tried to knock him off his broom? Professor Quirrel


4. How does Harry catch the Snitch in his first Quidditch match? Mouth


5. How did Hagrid transport infant Harry to the Dursley household? Flying Motorcycle


6. True or False: Professor Dumbledore's watch has twelve hands and no numbers. True


7. What Quidditch position does Harry play? _X_ Seeker, __Bludger, __Snitch


8. Who of the following is NOT one of Malfoy's friends? __Goyle, _X_Granger, __Crabbe


9. Which is not a Hogwarts House? __Gryffindor, _X_Dragonbreath, __Hufflepuff


10. True or False: Harry was raised by Muggles. True


11. What are three things that are different from the book compared to the movie? Answers will vary.

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" - Quiz

This is a quiz on the book "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (but not the movie). The answers will follow in a separate posting.

Date:__________________ Name:_______________________

1. How many heads does Fluffy the dog have?



2. What feathers were used to make Voldemort's wand?



3. In Harry's first Quidditch game, who tried to knock him off his broom?



4. How does Harry catch the Snitch in his first Quidditch match?


5. How did Hagrid transport infant Harry to the Dursley household?


6. True or False: Professor Dumbledore's watch has twelve hands and no numbers.


7. What Quidditch position does Harry play? __ Seeker, __Bludger, __Snitch


8. Who of the following is NOT one of Malfoy's friends? __Goyle, __Granger, __Crabbe


9. Which is not a Hogwarts House? __Gryffindor, __Dragonbreath, __Hufflepuff


10. True or False: Harry was raised by Muggles.


11. What are three things that are different from the book compared to the movie?

"The Hobbit" - Answers to the Quiz

"The Hobbit" was written by J.R.R.Tolkien, and has become quite the cult classic. This is a quiz presented to my Tween after he finished reading the book. The answers are in red.



1. How many dwarves accompanied Bilbo Baggins on the journey? 13


2. What is the name of the wizard who helps the dwarves in their quest? Gandalf


3. How do the dwarves know which hobbit hole Bilbo lives in when they start their journey? Gandalf carved a marking on Bilbo's door.


4. What does Gandalf tell the dwarves that Bilbo is, and that Bilbo will be critical to their mission in this role? Burglar


5. How does Bilbo try to get away from Gollum? They have a contest of answering riddles.


6. Bilbo finds a ring. What magic does the ring do? Provides invisibility to whoever wears it.


7. Who or what is Smaug? He is the dragon that took up residence in the dwarves mountain.


8. What is the name of the archer who kills Smaug? Bard


9. An arrow strikes Smaug and kills him. Where does that arrow strike? In the chest where there was a missing "plate".


10. What did you like best about the book? Answers will vary.













Thank you!

The Hobbit - Quiz

"The Hobbit" was written by J.R.R.Tolkien, and has become quite the cult classic. This is a quiz presented to my Tween after he finished reading the book. Feel free to give it to your own students:


Date:____________________


Name:__________________________________



1. How many dwarves accompanied Bilbo Baggins on the journey?



2. What is the name of the wizard who helps the dwarves in their quest?



3. How do the dwarves know which hobbit hole Bilbo lives in when they start their journey?



4. What does Gandalf tell the dwarves that Bilbo is, and that Bilbo will be critical to their mission in this role?



5. How does Bilbo try to get away from Gollum?



6. Bilbo finds a ring. What magic does the ring do?



7. Who or what is Smaug?



8. What is the name of the archer who kills Smaug?



9. An arrow strikes Smaug and kills him. Where does that arrow strike?



10. What did you like best about the book?




Answers to follow.

Speaking Video: Fruit

2nd Try...


Here's his latest to help fulfill his Speaking Requirement, and to help him overcome stuttering and nervous tics. The subject is one of his favorite things to eat: fruit!



Unfortunately, I'm STILL having huge problems uploading the video to this blog posting. I'm giving up!

Please check it out through YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgAlI9m__Fg

Be sure to leave a comment there for him! Thanks!

Speaking Video: Fruit

Here's the schoolwork speaking video we recorded on May 13 2009: Fruit. He loves fruit, and is prominant in his mind since we're eating even more than usual of it lately. Notice his tics and stuttering are lessening!

hold on ... troubles downloading video... need to reboot and try again after we run out and pick up some strawberry plants... come back in a couple of hours!

Speaking Video: Games

Here's the video we shot on April 29 2009 for his practice to eliminate stuttering and tics, and for speaking (schoolwork) requirement: Games to Play



Feel free to also watch it on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ6mU8mMNOs

New Videos Coming

We're a little behind - Son's made a couple of videos for his speaking practice, but I haven't had a chance to download and edit. Hope to catch up tomorrow (Friday).

Meanwhile, I have a cough and aches and am going to the doctor this afternoon (but I **know** it's not the swine flu so don't worry!).

"Bridge to Terabithia" Oral Quiz and Answers

These are the questions that I asked my Tween when he finished reading "Bridge to Terabithia" by Katherine Paterson. The answers are in red, and can vary slightly.

1. Why did Jesse get up early every Summer morning? To practice running to be the fastest kid.


2. What was the most favorite thing that Jesse loved doing? Drawing


3. Why did Jesse like Fridays? Miss Edmunds, the music teacher, was wonderful.


4. Why did the boys stop running during recess? Because Leslie won all of the races she ran, and girls weren't even supposed to participate.


5. Who was Janice? A mean, big bully


6. What was Terabithia? A make-believe play-place where Leslie and Jesse went to play. It was in the woods.


7. What did Jesse get Leslie for Christmas? A free puppy named Prince Terrien. What did Leslie get Jesse? A box of watercolors with 24 tubes of color, 3 brushes and a pad of heavy art paper - paint or art supplies.


8. How did Leslie die? She tried to swing over the swollen river to get to Terabithia by herself, and the rope snapped, fell, and hit her head on a rock.


9. Why do you think it was so important for Jesse and Leslie to create Terabithia? Tween said" Because they wanted a place of their own. To get away from their nonsense." More details: Jesse had problems at home, where he wasn't listened to, ignored, and felt he had too much responsibility compared to his sisters. Leslie was new in town, away from her friends and what she was familiar with. Creating an imaginery land was a wonderful exercise for their imaginations and bodies, building it and so on.


10. What was your favorite part of the book? Tween answered: the creating of Terabithia.... it was cool to use their imagination.

Tween answered all but question number 3 correctly.

Education Catch-Up

We're working hard to get Tween caught up. He has struggled understanding the most basic of math questions until suddenly, last week, he did a math problem in his head. It even had a "carry" number in this double-digit addition problem. Didn't use his fingers to count! I was properly enthusiastic (are you kidding? I practically jumped up!). Now I have to carefully mosey on down the path of math. I need to make sure he keeps this surge of enthusiasm and understanding.

Meanwhile, we're a little behind with the videos to help with his self-confidence and stuttering. Friday was a hectic day, and yesterday (Monday) was my birthday so we played hooky as soon as his regular schoolwork was done. He finished the book "Bridge to Terabithia", did a unit in spelling, read his history assignment aloud, and did a unit in math.

Today he started reading "The Hobbit", read his science assignment aloud, did another unit in spelling and a timed unit in math which he wizzed through!

We'll do another video tomorrow, along with a quiz about Terabithia, history, math and spelling. I'm thinking he'll also help me plant some lettuce and orange carrots (his favorite) in our raised-bed garden!

Speaking Video: Earth Day

Here's another video shot to fulfill our State's "speaking" requirement, AND to help Tween get over his stuttering and nervous habits. Enjoy!

If you get a chance, click here to view this video on youtube - leave a comment there and/or here! Thanks!

New Video for Schoolwork: Blue Moon

Here's the link to Tween's newest video, for state's homeschool speaking requirement. Please check out this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0MQBuZSbtA and leave a comment!

I just wish he's practiced a little more, and had more to say about the Blue Moon, and what it actually is.

Thanks for visiting!

Videos to Overcome Stuttering

Tween can be a little shy, has nervous habits like twitching and stuttering, and has OCD to a small extent (brought on, I believe, by ADHD drugs similar to Ritalin). We came up with a little school project to help these. The videos can also fulfill the state's requirement for "speaking" on the curriculum. So, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, we make a short video, on any topic he wants to talk about.

Wednesday was our first video, which he talked about his favorite breakfast: vanilla goat yogurt. We filmed it in the dining room, with an old green sheet covering some things. He did kinda ok, was really nervous and the twitching and nervous habits are obvious. Here it is below:



We shot his second video today - about his favorite drink: Blue Machine by Naked Juice. We filmed it in the living room; in the background were the stairs going up to the bedroom level. I'm surprised the dog didn't enter the screen! He didn't stutter nearly as much, and the nervous habits seem to be a little less but that could be a coincidence! He did ramble on a bit. Here's the link on youtube for this second vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8GXuvZTqa4 - be sure to watch it, leave a comment, and mark it as a favorite. Pass along the link, too. I feel sure that will help boost his self-esteem.

Thank you for your support in our project!

Updated April 28 2009: Welcome to the Carnival of Homeschooling!

Is HomeSchooling Tax Deductible?

Homeschooling must not count for much in the gool ole USA. At least, not by the IRS.

I was told, over the years, that expenses to educate my child at home can be taken off on taxes. We had help this year, and were adamantly told NO! That unless I'm a qualified teacher, then there's no way education is a legitimate expense. But the state I live in says a parent is considered a teacher and holding a school if they homeschool.

I'll look into this and will see what I can find out. Meanwhile... comments?

Planning a School Curriculum

I thought people visiting this site would benefit from seeing how I plan our kid's schoolwork for the year:

• I mentioned in a previous posting, I use "Home Learning Year by Year" as my bible for planning the kid's curriculum. Working with that book, I start out by looking to see where we are, and where we need to be by the end of the school year.
• Looking at the calendar, I mark out all of the holidays as "no school" days, and also mark out where I think we'll take a vacation, or where it would be a good "semester" break. I figure out how many days of school we have left, and how many our state requires. This calendar becomes our assignment book. In the assignment book, I write:

1. Monday: History, Reading, Language Arts Basics (LAB), and Math.
2. Tuesday: Science, Reading, LAB, and Math.
3. Wednesday: History, Reading, LAB, and Math.
4. Thursday: Science, Reading, LAB, and Math
5. Friday: either "Test", or "Art, Music, Foreign Language", or "Write a Report/Poem/Story"

• Our state requires 172 minimum days at 4 hours of contact per day. Required basic education includes communication skills (reading, writing, speaking), mathematics, history, civics/government, literature, and science.
• Then I start gathering materials. My kid loves workbooks and reading, so I find a good school supply store and start browsing. Once home, I take all of the books (including literature and reference material, workbooks, etc.) and separate according to subject.
• I start with the easiest first: literature. I write the list of fiction he needs to read. This year was: Mystery of the Cupboard, James and the Giant Peach, Red Badge of Courage... all the way to Little House on the Prairie, Prince and the Pauper, Bridge to Terabithia, The Hobbit and Harry Potter's Sorceror's Stone. I start with the easiest, figuring a few chapters a day, and write the book and chapter numbers in the assignment book. Each day I note which chapters until it's done. The next day I write "test" and make sure I have one ready. I might give him a couple of days before he starts the next book. And so on.
• When he reads a book that's been made into a movie, I assign watching that movie a few days after he finishes reading the book, and require a report comparing the book to the movie, and asking him to note any differences.
• Workbooks for various topics: I assign a couple of pages a day, noting which workbook he needs to work in. When he finished one workbook, the next day might be a free day on the subject, then he'll start the next workbook.

Note:

• I write his assignments in pencil. You never know what might happen! However, he has, at one point, erased what I wrote because he didn't like the number of pages I assigned. Keep a close eye on your assignment book!
• When he's sick, he makes up all missed work on the next school day/days. We need that attendance in case we're ever audited.
• Math is usually several workbook pages. Every once in a while I'll print out a sheet (or 4!) of math equations from one of the many websites. My favorite is: http://www.homeschoolmath.net/worksheets/ - grades up thru fifth, from addition to division, fractions, telling time, Roman numerals, and much more.
• Language Arts Basics (LAB) is often several different kinds of workbooks: from spelling to writing, handwriting, grammar and more.
• When it comes to the reading requirement, he reads aloud his history and science assignments, as well as any biographical and reference information. But more importantly, I make a list of classic fiction books he needs to get through by the end of the school year. This takes care of both the "reading" requirement, and the "literature".
• When it comes to fulfilling the speaking requirement, once a month or so I have him give a report to write and present orally to me or Hubby.
• History often includes world and U.S. history, geography and civics/government. We especially use local (and national) elections to help discuss civics.
• There are days when I assign him to listen to his math cd's, or the cd for spanish or french. I might also assign him to paint a picture or draw an anniversary or birthday card for his art assignment.
• Music might be listening to a classical music station and hum some of a piece, or make up a song to sing to us before dinner.
• I keep a separate red binder for assignments like reports or poems he writes. I keep them in order by section (writing, math, history, etc.) and then chronological.
• There's still another binder with reference material broken down by subject: roman numerals, math calculations, etc.
• I take advantage of school supply sales in August, stocking up on lots of pencils, erasers, lined paper, rulers, glue sticks and more.
• His days of attendance are tracked in the assignment book/calendar. I note on each day how much time it took for him to complete his work (including his fidgeting time) and at the end of the week, I bring down his total from last week and add this week's. I also track the days. We are usually quite a bit more than required, because we don't do school for just 9 months.... we do it year round because his brain goes to sleep when he has more than a couple of weeks off at a time!

I hope this makes schooling-at-home more clear.

L.A. Quick Quiz #2 - Answers

The following definitions are from www.thefreedictionary.com ... answers will vary for limerick and haiku poem.

1. Define "limerick". 1. A light humorous, nonsensical, or bawdy verse of five anapestic lines usually with the rhyme scheme aabba. 2. a form of comic verse consisting of five lines [allegedly from will you come up to Limerick? a refrain sung between nonsense verses at a party]

2. Write a limerick about a spider, apple tree, or blanket. Answers will vary.




3. Define "haiku". 1. A Japanese lyric verse form having three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five syllables, traditionally invoking an aspect of nature or the seasons.
2. A poem written in this form.

4. Write a haiku poem about anything. You choose. Answers will vary.






Good work!

L.A. Quick Quiz #2

Name:__________________

Date:___________________

Answer the following. Definitions will be noted in the next post.

1. Define "limerick".



2. Write a limerick about a spider, apple tree, or blanket.











3. Define "haiku".


4. Write a haiku about anything. You choose.








Good work!

Posting Are Behind

We're a little behind in posting Double EE's assignments, quizes and worksheets to this blog so please be patient while we go through a little transition in this family. (Hubby's out of town 5 days a week - hard since we're still somewhat newlyweds).

What school-type assignments would you like to see on this blog?

L.A. Quick Quiz #1 - Answers

Grade 4. Here are the answers to the Quick Quiz #1 for Language Arts. Any of the following definitions (from www.thefreedictionary.com) or something similar should be fine:

1. Define "simile". Definition: a form of expression using `like' or `as', in which one thing is compared to another which it only resembles in one or a small number of ways... 'Her hair was like silk' is a simile.

2. Write a sentence showing a "simile". Answers will vary.

3. Define "metaphor". Definition: a form of expression (not using `like' or `as') in which a quality or characteristic is given to a person or thing by using a name, image, adjective etc normally used of something else which has similar qualities etc 'He's a tiger when he's angry' is an example of (a) metaphor.

4. Write a sentence showing a "metaphor". Answers will vary.

5. Define "onomatopoeia". Definition: The formation or use of words such as buzz or murmur that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to.

6. Write a sentence showing an "onomatopoeia". Answers will vary.

7. Define "hyperbole". Definitions:
1. an obvious and intentional exaggeration.
2. an extravagant statement or figure of speech not intended to be taken literally, as “She’s as big as a house.”

8. Write a sentence showing a "hyperbole". Answers will vary.

9. Define "personification". Definitions:
1. The act of personifying.
2. A person or thing typifying a certain quality or idea; an embodiment or exemplification: "He's invisible, a walking personification of the Negative" Ralph Ellison.
3. A figure of speech in which inanimate objects or abstractions are endowed with human qualities or are represented as possessing human form, as in Hunger sat shivering on the road or Flowers danced about the lawn. Also called prosopopeia.
4. Artistic representation of an abstract quality or idea as a person.

10. Write a sentence showing "personification". Answers will vary.

L.A. Quick Quiz #1

Name:____________________

Date:_____________________

This is a Quick Quiz for Language Arts, Grade 4. The answers will be in a separate post.

1. Define "simile".



2. Write a sentence showing a "simile".



3. Define "metaphor".



4. Write a sentence showing a "metaphor".



5. Define "onomatopoeia".



6. Write a sentence showing an "onomatopoeia".



7. Define "hyperbole".



8. Write a sentence showing a "hyperbole".



9. Define "personification".



10. Write a sentence showing "personification".

Recommended Book: Home Learning Year by Year

This is what I call my bible for working with my now Tween. "Home Learning Year by Year: How to Design a Homeschool Curriculum from Preschool Through High School" by Rebecca Rupp.

My copy of this book is quite dog-eared. I bought it when my Tween was kicked out of kindergarten. They said he was too hyper and he wouldn't stop calling out the answers to the questions put to the class. Then when they confronted me about this and told me to either put him on medication or take him out... I took him out. I found a home daycare where he stayed while I worked (fulltime) and in the evenings, we worked on what we needed to. This book helped me see where we were and were we needed to be. I still have "w.o." written in margins (working on).

I got ambitious one week 3 or 4 years ago and planned out his entire curriculum through high school. This book was invaluable to that process. And it saved me time. I haven't had to do many revisions since that one time.

The book goes through preschool to 12th grade, and discusses, at appropriate age level, language arts (literature, writing, listening and speaking skills, study skills), math, history (american and world), geography, science (physical, life, earth/space), foreign language, art, music and health/physical education. It even gives books to read at the different levels, and some great resources.

We aren't at the right level for all subjects: some we're behind and some we're ahead. But I highly recommend this book for anyone who even supplements their child's education by doing work at home. Even better, get it so you'll know how close your child is at being at the appropriate level. Check it out!

Snow Day in Denver, Colorado

It's snowing here in the Denver, CO area. Finally. After a Winter of almost no snow and certainly barely any precipitation... we're supposed to get anywhere from 8 inches to possibly 2 feet. So certain schools in this area have already closed in anticipation of the snow that is supposed to fall today.

It just started snowing... about an hour ago!

Anyway... although many kids in this area have the day off from schoolwork (which I'm sure they'll make up later), our Tween (Double-EE) doesn't. He has math, spelling, science and 2 more chapters of Prince and the Pauper to read.

Fun fun.

Math Worksheet #1 (+, -, *, /)

This short worksheet has a little of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Time to practice your math! No answer sheet provided (up to the adult to check the work). Print out.

Date:_________________

Name:_________________________

(1)

Eight children are at a party. They formed couples (sets of 2) to dance. How many couples were there? [___]

After a while, half of the children sat down while the rest sat down. How many children sat down? [___]

How many children kept on dancing? [___]

How many couples kept on dancing? [___]

(2)

You have a brand new ten dollar bill to go to the store. You buy a gallon of milk for $2.00. You buy a loaf of bread for $.89. You buy a package of carrots for $1.85. You buy a candy bar for $1.00. How much did you spend? [___]

How much money did you get back? [___]

(3)

Bob bought 9 pizzas for his party. Each pizza is cut into eight pieces. How many pieces are there altogether? [___]

Bob has exactly enough pizza to serve himself and each of his guests three pieces of pizza. Including Bob, how many people are at the party? [___]

Bob had figured that each person at the party would drink two cans of soda pop. How many cans of soda pop did Bob buy? [___]

Bob bought three ice cream cakes. How many pieces must he cut from each cake for everyone to have a piece? [___]

One of the ice cream cakes was made with vanilla ice cream and the other two were chocolate. How many pieces of chocolate ice cream cake did Bob serve? [___]

Bob received a gift from each of his friends at the party. How many gifts did Bob get? [___]

(4)

Jane has 30 cents in her pocket. She has three coins. What coins does Jane have? [___]

John has 16 cents in his pocket. What coins does he have? [___]

Lisa has more than 3 nickels but less than 2 dimes. How much money does she have? [___]

Tim has less than 4 nickels but more than 8 pennies. How much money does he have? [___]

(5)

- 5270 − 300 = _____

- 1224 − 900 = _____

- 6185 − 600 = _____

- 8909 − 500 = _____

- 4080 − 1000 = _____

- 9798 − 600 = _____

- 4214 − 300 = _____

- 9111 − 800 = _____

- 6038 − 800 = _____

- 9742 − 400 = _____

Answers for Quiz for "Farmer Boy"

The following are the answers (in red) to today's quiz for the book "Farmer Boy" by Laura Ingalls Wilder:

1. Why was the cobbler late getting to the Wilder's House? He was making shoes for a wedding and it took him three weeks. Page 288.

2. Who offered Almanzo an apprenticeship? Mr. Paddock. Page 363.

3. Who covered up the stain with wallpaper? Eliza Jane, his sister. Page 226-227.
.....Why? She didn't want Almanzo to get in trouble. Page 226-227.

4. In which room did Almanzo throw the blacking brush? The parlor. Page 220.
.....Why did he throw it? Eliza Jane had been bossing Almanzo about polishing the stove, which frustrated him. Page 219-220.

5. Which of Almanzo's sisters helped to load potatoes into the basket to go into the wagon? Alice. Page 116

6. What plant did Almanzo raise on milk? Pumpkin. (It grew very large, Almanzo entered into a contest at the county fair and he won.) Page 191-192, and Page 271.

7. What did Almanzo get from the tin peddler? A tin horn painted red (whistle). Page 139.

8. Who dared Almanzo to ask his dad for a nickel? Frank. Page 181.
....What did Almanzo's father say and/or do? Almanzo's father reminded him how much work it took to earn that nickel, then he gave him a half dollar to see if Almanzo would do the right thing. Pages 181-185.

Quiz for Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Date:_______________

The following is a short quiz for the book "Farmer Boy" by Laura Ingalls Wilder:

1. Why was the cobbler late getting to the Wilder's House?




2. Who offered Almanzo an apprenticeship?




3. Who covered up the stain with wallpaper?


.....Why?



4. In which room did Almanzo throw the blacking brush?

.....Why did he throw it?



5. Which of Almanzo's sisters helped to load potatoes into the basket to go into the wagon?




6. What plant did Almanzo raise on milk?




7. What did Almanzo get from the tin peddler?



8. Who dared Almanzo to ask his dad for a nickel?

....What did Almanzo's father say and/or do?




The answers are in a separate posting!

Posting to this blog again!

Thought I'd start posting some of the quizzes and so forth that we're giving Double-EE for schoolwork done at home.

Note: When we post a quiz (feel free to use!), we'll show the answers in a separate posting. Helps a little! If these new postings, especially the quizzes, are helpful to you at all, please let us know.

We'll work to post to this blog at least once a week, mostly concentrating on schoolwork since our days are filled to the brim these days!

THIS BLOG IS TEMPORARILY ON HOLD

We're having troubles keeping this blog up to date so we're temporarily stopping the postings until we can catch up with our other blogs. Thank you for your patience.

Indigo Children

Just re-found this website: http://www.metagifted.org/topics/metagifted/indigo/

It's got some good information about "indigo children" if you're still validating that term. If you'll recall from an earlier post, we believe that ALL children are special, and have a wonderful beautiful existence, whether they misbehave, read minds, or just sit on the floor, banging their heads.

What do you think?

School Lunches

We recently found this link:

http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_fit/nutrition/lunch.html

It really doesn't affect our little family but it does most other families we know. Unhealthy menu choices and soda machines and fast-food-franchises in cafeterias equals temptations too strong for kids to make healthy choices.

The above site had some good ideas, but try to take it further. Petition your school board to eliminate all fast food, soda machines, sugary drinks, and non-nutritive food choices. Request a salad bar, fresh fruit, baked/not fried foods, juice/water/milk.

Also, the place to begin change is at home. Discuss nutrition and health at the dinner table. Calories versus quickness. So much to talk about - pick a topic for every meal. Perhaps if you help them plan healthy dinner menus and grocery trips, you can help them better choose healthy options at school.

Give it a try.

Kids: tell your parents to read this! There's nothing more important in your life than YOU !!!