Catch Up

Lucy, conducting her studies amongst the baby toys. She has picked Emperor Maximian (the assigned Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire) for her project on the Middle Ages

We have had a decent week, here at Avenson Academy. Lots of projects, field trips, classes, and quiet reading moments. My favorite time of day is when Sidney is asleep and we can all curl up on the couch and I can read aloud to them. Currently, we are reading, Hoot by Carl Hiaasen. I am hoping to be finished with this soon so we can move on, but there are days, sadly, that I am only able to read a couple of pages. I try to get through 1 - 2 chapters a day.

Here is a quick rummage of my thoughts:

Malt-o-Meal: This is what we will have for breakfast throughout the rest of fall and into Winter. It is the best warm breakfast there is and the kids have had this since they were in high chairs. The "Avenson" recipe is to add a small heap of peanut butter and brown sugar.

BRAIN BREAKFAST

Each morning, the kids wake up to "Brain Breakfast." This is something they do prior to their academic 'check off list.' Each day, there is something different as well as a new mode of brain exercise - whether it is logic, deduction, puzzle, memory games, code cracking, etc.

GOAL of the DAY

Also, each day, before we begin, the kids fill out a "Goal" sheet. This is something they check back in at the end of the day. there is an additional sheet that gives them ideas of what their goal may want to be: Participation, Focusing, Volunteering, Respecting, Various Subjects, and Other. They write how they are going to achieve this goal and then rate at the end of the day if they were successful.

ACADEMIC FOCUS and FIELD TRIPS

The kids are involved in both scholastic and social arterial aspects which contribute to their overall homeschool experience. Being involved in outside classes not only enriches their time, but also amplifies the context of their study.

On a weekly basis, we are immersed within the activities of our homeschool co-ops; writing class, art class, gym, electives, book clubs, social play dates and field trips. Below is a small example of this past week.

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During our Physics studies, we discussed Newton's Second Law of Motion. I reminisced about the classic 'Egg Drop' experiment and the kids jumped at the opportunity of doing something like that. On the first go round - they were both convinced that a bag of cotton balls would clearly protect the egg.

Field Trip to University of Minnesota Raptor Center

OWL PELLET DISECTION

Learning about a Turkey Vulture

This Eagle came back from exercising More Owl Pellets