Normal or not normal...

Sébastien is continuing to read about Uther Pendragon and the Knights of the Round Table. He's started a new book in English: The Velveteen Rabbit which I have him give me an oral report on after each reading session. Fraction exercises are becoming easier and easier for him... this is very encouraging!

Ophélie has started writing her report about arachnids. She's started reading "Sur Les Traces Du Bouddha" (on the traces/steps of the Buddha) and she finds it fascinating!

After lunch, we sat down together and had our very first Philosophy lesson! I read to them from a book entitled (translation) Normal and Not Normal, "In certain parts of the world, it is normal for a man to measure 1,50m, in other parts, no; in certain countries, we find it normal for a couple to live together without being married, in other countries, no; here, we find it normal that people believe in paradise, there, we do not find that normal... So, what is normal? What is not normal? If human beings are so different from one another, can anything be normal for everyone?", and then we discussed it! Afterwards, the children wrote down their thoughts in their notebook.

What happened to Tuesday?

Yesterday, like an self respecting posh girl, I went to get my nails done. Andy did an amazing job, as always!

The children behaved like angels while I was out. They read in their respective storybooks and Seb finished his translation of Faeries' Gift and wrote his essay on Jesus.

After lunch, the three of us sat together and did some math.

Ophélie took several photos of Osiris...

Today was a short day because the morning was dedicated to a visit by Catherine, our beloved psycho-educator. It was her first session with Seb. She met him here so he'd be more comfortable abd more at ease. We played board games in groups of two, three and four to help Seb familiarise with interactive social contact. It all went very well! Even Osiris tried to jump in and help us!

The day ended with a bit of light reading...

Monday, Monday... blergh!

Seb was up early today so he got a head start... read a few pages of Tendres Dragons and translated 3 pages of Faeries' Gift.

More fractions frustration this morning. Sebastien is currently obsessed with a new Wii game and the fact that the Game Guide isn't out yet and so he doesn't concentrate on his work. We did one page of fraction reduction and when we got to the second page, he looks me dead in the eye and tells me he doesn't remember how to do this! WE JUST DID IT!!!! I didn't make him do more pages but I insisted he do the second page. He calmed down and concentrated and it was as easy as pie!

He and I went to the library after lunch as he has decided he wants his next topic for reading/report to be Uther Pendragon. We didn't find much... gonna have to do some online research.

Ophelie is reading about natural numbers, whole numbers, decimal numbers, etc... in her math book and on Allo Prof. Tomorrow we start operations on natural numbers.

She's started reading about insects. Later this week, she'll pick a topic for her reading report.

This afternoon she had a session with the psycho-educator so her day was short. They went to the humance society and walked a dog; Ophie had a blast!

Long week, not much got done...

This week was a bit disorganised because we had many appointments.

We received the malas (a string of beads used in meditation, esp. for counting recitations; a Buddhist rosary). The kids were thrilled and put them on right away! Next week we'll explore the meaning and use of malas.

With Sébastien we worked on fractions. He's having a hard time so I printed several excercize sheets and we started working with those today. It's easier for him if we spend more time on each different type of operation on fractions than if we mix em all up.

He's done reading Jesus' biography so he will do his book report on Monday. He's also almost done translating The Faeries' Gift into French.

Ophélie did some maths (ancient nuneration systems and natural numbers) and she finished reading about marine life. She chose to do her book report on sharks.

She also took some time to familiarize herself with the iWeb software.

Let's hope next week will be a bit more productive!

R.I.P. Sydney

Today life taught us a lesson about grief. Rest in peace, Sydney the hamster.

It's raining, it's pouring...

Rainy, dreary day... have to make do.

Ophélie finished reading her book about the evolution of life and has started writing her book report.

Sébastien read a bit about Jesus, did some math (prime numbers) and some English. I made him read in a children’s book and write in his words what each page is about.

Buddhism!

Today was a light day because last night’s Benadryl made mama into a zombie!

We did a brief into into Buddhism... we looked at and manipulated ritual objects such as a prayer wheel, a vajra, a singing bowl and we hung prayer flags and a banner with auspicious symbols. The kids thumbed through some books about Buddhism while listening to Tibetan music and chants.

Logic?

On today’s menu, logic and French for Ophélie and distributiveness in math and some reading (Tendres Dragons) for Sébastou. Two 30 minute documentaries on early mammal life for a mellow afternoon!

I made some photocopies from less dreary books about religion. I will read therest of the book I started with and give the kids an account of the best bits.

Slow start to the week...

Haven’t accomplished much these past couple of days because Mrs Mommy Teacher is tired! Thrilled are the students of an insomniac teacher!

We did a bit of math (exponants for Seb and 6th grade revision for Ophie), a short composition about Samuel de Champlain for Seb and lots of reading for both!

I’m starting to regret having chosen the above pictured book for an intro to religion as a concept. It’s too dry and academic and the kids aren’t finding it very intresting. I’m probably going to have to read it, digest it and regurgitate back only the good bits to them!

First entry relating to homeschooling this year...

Today is Saturday! No school for the kidlets... but mum will still work.
I am preparing our course on Buddhism. I’d like to get items related to the Buddhist practice so the kids can get a more hands on feel for the lessons they will learn... so today will be a day of research for mum!