Kidschool

Prayer
Gospel 2 Nephi 2-3
Sharing what is mine Today it was really short, because I had 15 minutes between work and leaving the house to finish my visiting teaching and take Keegan and Braxton to the dentist. So we just read a little from Thomas Jefferson Education for Teens. Each also wrote a journal entry to summarize their favorite thing they learned today, so that I could discuss it with them later tonight. We are also each going to do some research this weekend on someone that changed the world through their love of a cause or people. Brax is doing Buddha, Jarik is doing Gandhi, Sarah is researching Christ, Quen is doing Joan of Arc, and I am working on Aung San Suu Kyi.

Jenni kept up on Haiti's relief effort, visiting teaching, scripture study, and read Undoing Perpetual Stress, blogged (figured out how to follow a blog!)

Kevin helped the boy's volleyball team, online law class, scripture study, and read Left Behind.

Keegan classes all day, is sending me the link on deviantART for the robot scorpion that he designed. I'll add it tomorrow if I can. Seminary of course, and volleyball tonight.

Braxton spent all morning setting up the new stereo system he has inherited. He learned quite a bit actually. He is playing in the volleyball semi-finals tonight, and practiced the ukulele alot.

Jarik played the piano, studied Italian with Rosetta Stone, read Pirateology, and three You Wouldn't Want to Be... books - one on criminals, one on samurai, and one on the Hindenburg. He too is off playing volleyball now.

Sarah is, that's right, playing volleyball. Today she read You Wouldn't Want to Be on the Hindenberg, studied Japanese with Rosetta Stone, and made a tutu. She also went to a Presidency Meeting for her Beehive class.

Quen played the piano, read You Wouldn't Want to Be on the Hindenberg, worked on his Star Wars battle drawing (fifth day now...), and wrote about Captain Cook.

Kidschool

Prayer
Gospel Pres. Uchtdorf's talk: Two Principles for Any Economy
Sharing what is mine Today we discussed what makes someone a great mentor. We have been watching movies based on relationships of mentors with their students, such as Karate Kid (now the kids can't wait to see the new one with Jayden Smith and Jackie Chan!), Forever Strong, Stand and Deliver, and Dead Poet's Society. We have also been watching episodes of the BBC production of The World's Strictest Parents (so much I can say there, but I'll leave it for another day). It was interesting to see how much the kids really thought about it, and what they learned from it. We discussed who their mentors were. Quen was really into it, listing the prophet, his gramma, Webelos leader, etc. I then read aloud from Thomas Jefferson Education for Teens the section on mentors, and started into the section on falling in love with learning.

We also watched videos and news reports from Haiti. We discussed the earthquake, what life is like in Haiti, and what has happened so far. We discussed the humanitarian efforts. Braxton had a hard time with the poverty and lack of food. When he saw that people resort to eating dirt, it was too much for him. I'd really like to follow up on this with some service to benefit those in need.

Kevin discussed with the kids at brekkie the Somalia fishing industry and pirates. It was really interesting, and Sarah had great comments that showed she was really analyzing the information given her, like telling Kevin the pirates sounded more like privateers. It lead to more discussion, obviously. Two thumbs up for independent thinkers!

Jenni I went visiting teaching and read copious amounts on the Haitian earthquake and people. With work lasting 5 1/2 hours today, and kidschool, it was a full day.

Kevin Work and then scouts tonight. The boys are working on getting things ready for the Court of Honor this weekend.

Keegan worked at the campus library, went toEngineering class, Electricity class, and his Engineering and Design class. He was also facebooking, asking for ways to know what his grade status is in a class. He is currently 6th out of 53 in Engineering. Not at all competitive...Keegan is the youth leader in charge of the stake court of honor, so he worked on that, plus set up his scoutmaster conference to finish his Eagle.

Braxtonfound more music for the ukulele - he is really getting good! Read The DiVinci Code, and read about the Hindenberg, which has been a topic of interest for the boys lately. Brax also had his Board of Review to receive his Life rank, and he helped cook tacos for lunch that were utterly delish.

Jarik spent hours practicing the keyboard. He found the theme music to The Pink Panther, and started learning it today. He also studied Chemistry, read Call of the Wild, and then decided he didn't need to do more when I left for visiting teaching...

Sarah created a skirt with a 'tattered' edge. It has layers of fabric, and looks like something a fairy would wear. It is very cute! She started and finished Maximum Ride, absolutely loving it, and narrated the whole thing to me. I think I'll have to read it too! She also worked on her blog.

Quen was absorbed by his You Wouldn't Want to Be... books that he checked out of the library. He also worked hard to earn some extra cash to buy computer time and legos.

Mom's Red Juice

Here is another smoothie recipe. This one is great for cleansing.

1 beet, peeled
1 orange, peeled
1 apple, cored
1 lemon, peeled
1 handful spinach or kale
1 tsp fresh ginger

Take the beet and run it through the juicer. Then add the spinach with the ginger in the juicer. After that put the apple, orange and lemon through.

Drink within 15 minutes for maximum enjoyment!

Workboxes After Six Months

Well, workboxes were great for about 2 months. But then it really started to stick in my craw. I felt I was setting up the contents for all of my children's studies, and it was taking me hours to do so. I've gravitated back to the TJed principle of 'structuring time not content'.
The kids had started doing the minimum work possible, and I had started getting frustrated at them, because I couldn't be on them all day to finish their work, set up their work, grade their work, and still do my own work! The love for learning was really starting to fade.
So over the holiday season, I let it all go. I just started back on structuring their time. I've already seen a difference. It is harder to stay organized and clean, but I think that we will get that down with a little more time.
For now, no more workboxes. If the kids want to set up their own, all the power to them! I'll even help them do so in a weekly mentor meeting. But for now, workboxes are going the way of the do-do.

Kevin's Red Smoothie

Okay, Kevin made another spectacular smoothie for me tonight. It's a beautiful red color and just sweet enough. Here is the recipe:
1 beet, peeled and juiced (with the tops though)
7 carrots, juiced
4 granny smith apples, juiced
1/2 lemon, juiced
10 strawberries
4 eggs
1 TBS maple syrup (we're out of agave)
1 tsp vanilla
Throw the whole lot in the blender and mix, then serve immediately.
Makes 4 servings.

We thought we'd throw in the beet, since we read yesterday that they are great for your liver.
WARNING: My kids hated this one, but one of their friends couldn't get enough.

Sabbath Ramblings - 'It Was Good'

I thought that each Sabbath I would add a thought from what I had been studying during the week. This last week was hard to narrow down to one quote, but in the end Genesis 1:31 won out.
"And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold it was good."
I realized, God took joy in his work. He stopped, looked, and said, it's good. I need to do the same. I need to stop, look around, and enjoy what God made as well as enjoy the work I have done. I need to see the good. Because it is good! And I'm good. My children are good. See and enjoy!

Workboxes

I've been researching ways to get my home school organized again, and stumbled upon a great idea. In fact, I was almost there on my own, but seeing what these other wonderful families have done, I'm excited to start my own version. Just google Sue Patrick and workboxes, and you will see what I'm talking about!
I had decided to use file folders in a box for each child to separate their assignments for the day. I just purchased a large file box from Walmart for each. Then filled each with 12 files (to start with) and a plastic tote for glue, scissors, and such.
Then I found the workboxes. I have already spent my budget for now, so I will have to make do with what I have, but I think it will meet our needs.
I'm changing my white board to look like the schedule strips. I've picked up contact paper and velcro tabs at Walmart this morning. I'm going to make the laminated assignment tabs to turn over when done. I'm going to also take their assignments every evening and prep the boxes with everything they will need for the next day's work. Then there will be smileys that I can stick on the white board for assignments I've checked.
I love how visual the whole set up is.
I'll keep you posted on how it works!