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!