Another Day

Lately Luke and Isabel have been learning about World War 2. Well, mostly about the Nazis and Jews in Europe during WWII. I really can't remember how it came up but one day I taught them the basics, Nazis, Jews, concentration camps, war, 1945, six million, etc. Luke was especially intrigued when I told them that the Nazis killed Jewish people in horrible ways, shooting them, starvation, making them work to death, etc. Luke started thinking of and volunteering more horrible ways to die, "drowning, getting cut in half." (can anyone say, future serial killer?) At the library this week I got the biographical book, Anne Frank by Wil Mara. These little books are great for young children. They give the basic information with a lot of great pictures without being too long. These small historic books are not written with much emotion, yet I cried while reading it to them. On a lighter note....!

It is so nice when I have some fun activity to bribe the kids with. This morning I was able to say, "Hurry finish your work and we can go to the park!"

They both worked on their math, wrote cards to cousins with June birthdays, Isabel and I went through some of our sign language flash cards and Luke drew some mazes. At the park they rode their scooters and then played in the water. Here's a picture of Sylvia going nuts as usual.

NOT why I homeschool

I was about to title this NOT why we homeschool. Joey and I probably feel the same about this list, but you never know, so I should always only speak for myself. I know I've talked a lot about why I homeschool, but here is a short list of NOT why I homeschool. My meaning is that I feel that these are big reason for some people to homeschool, but not for me.

Dissatisfied with the School System: I hear so many people complain about the Clark County School District. This school district isn't known to be great....or even good....okay, it's known for NOT being good, but for the two years that Luke was in school he had great teachers and I think that made all the difference. So I've never had a problem with the schools and never thought to question public school in general.

Religion: Let me make it clear that my religion is very important and dear to me. It is nice to be able to discuss or answer a religious topic when it comes up in the middle of something, but I personally have never been bothered by the no public prayers in school thing.

Genius Kids: My kids are very smart, but if whether or not they become geniuses has to do with my teaching skills, then they can just forget about it. Enough said.

My Personal Views and Opinions: Joey and I (oops, I better stick to speaking for myself) I am not a very opinionated person. Things are controversial for a reason...because both sides are very convincing! But, my own opinions or views (like my weird thing about how I don't like flags, I like the U.S., just not the flag) I strongly keep to myself in front of my kids. I mean, of course my views about homicide I share with them (in case you are wondering my view is that homicide is bad.) What I am talking about are scientific theories, political views, and all that. I like to try and let them speculate or decide for themselves. Sorry I am going off on a tangent about this, but the other day I heard a little kid say that on their Idaho trip it was really cold so see, there isn't such thing as global warming. Which, for a little kid to say that....that's weird.

Sylvia and the Purple Crayon

The other day I found Sylvia coloring purple on our living room wall which really irritated me because she hasn't done that in a long time.  I scolded her and gave her a wash cloth to clean it up.  (I have to buy one of those Magic Erasers next time I am at the store.)  Later that day it dawned on me that the day before I had read her the book, Harold and the Purple Crayon.  I asked her if she was trying to be like Harold and she said, "I drawed the moon!"  For those of you who haven't read the book, that means, yes, she was trying to be like Harold. WHAT WE ARE GOOD AT LATELY:

Sylvia:  I think her attention span is getting a little longer (HOORAY!)  She can sit and look at books for quite a while now.

Isabel:  She is doing great at sign language and likes to form sentences.  Example:  "Mom, come and play today."  Also she's been drawing every day in her sketch book I got for her.

Luke:  As always, he is great at his personal reading.  He just finished Inkheart by Cornelia Funke and downed a few Secrets of Droon books.

Joey (dad):  After dinner he is always so good to have us read scriptures together and then he does Science with the kids.

Me:  I am good about having the kids do their math each day.  Also, I've been pretty good about keeping the house clean (clean for me) and helping (forcing) the kids to keep their rooms clean.