Daily Archives: August 30, 2015

Weekly Wrap-Up: Lesson 2

I felt a little more cramped for time this week. We had hair cuts one morning and a new friend over during our usual school time one afternoon. Both events were totally worth it but effectively knocked out an entire day of school. We ended up doing a chunk of Language Arts work Sunday morning. My first reaction was I AM A TIME MANAGEMENT FAILURE, but it’s really fine. It’s only Week 2 – we’re still adapting to the idea that school doesn’t have to happen on a weekday.

If it sounds like I’m complaining, I’m really not. There’s a lot to do! And we get Involved! And we’re new at this! And Ellie talks a lot*. We’re still trying to sort where some of the daily things fit into our rhythm. For instance, knitting a couple rows now happens during bedtime reading (she started her scarf).

So this week: knitting, form drawings for math (harder than you’d think), more about China,

finished up her mask (meant to be part of our China study but came out a kitty anyway),

she finished up her mask (meant to be part of our China study but it came out a kitty anyway),

body systems for health, science was ants (really, science was learning to make extended observations and take notes),

the weather was perfect, our mornings are getting cooler,

the weather was perfect, our mornings are getting cooler,

more work in the Main Lesson Books as expected,

that's the science entry about ant survival techniques (her foot with an ant biting it is over to your left),

that’s the science entry about ant survival techniques (her foot with an ant biting it is on your left),

and language arts was more sentence structure, composition and comprehensive attention to detail along with a review of blended consonants and vowels sounds.

Another full but well-balanced week. Weirdly, there aren’t as many pictures. I didn’t get as much knitting done (although I finished the little Rooster and the Mermaid) because the first Girl Scout meetings are looming ahead and I thought it would be smart if I did a little planning…

*Ellie chatters constantly from when she gets up in the morning to when she goes to sleep at night. Unless she’s reading to herself. When she’s reading to herself, I may as well not exist. I have a little bit of we-should-have-done-this-sooner angst every time I think about her in a classroom being good, still, and silent. And not asking any of her questions. And keeping all of her thoughts inside. And not having a hug every time she finishes writing a sentence because apparently that is also vital to her learning process.

Yay!

She can sit on her own! Even with all that hair.

She can sit on her own! Even with all that hair.

I am really happy with how she turned out!

I am really happy with how she turned out!

Her wig is knotted on through her scalp (like blanket fringe) and then tacked around the bottom of her head. It worked great. This one’s hair has three different yarns since I was using scraps, but I’ll find something for the pattern example that will help me get a more accurate idea of yards needed. I’ve also got to locate a line with skin tones (I’m thinking EcoButterfly but it’s floofy so I’m on the fence). What I used for this one (KnitPicks Simply Cotton in Ginger, doubled) has been discontinued. But I looooove her tail (I’m so glad I though about that little picot edging, it’s a great detail) and will use it for the pattern. That one comes in other colors so I’m trying to decide which way to go for he pattern example’s tail.