My Babies

*B*


*C*


*T*


*L*


*Z*

Sunday Science

This is the coolest thing I've ever seen. We watched him for a while before I had the sense to pull my phone out and record it.

Bean Bag Toss

We had so much fun! Well, the kids did. :) They got to make a ball toss game. They got to keep the safety goggles and Lowe's apron. After they were done they also got a certificate and a patch... sort of like what they'd get it boy/girl scouts.

Chores, Points, and Money

We don't require many chores, but what we do require is expected to be done. The 3 big kids kitchen chores alternate between dishes, wiping the table, and sweeping the floor. It didn't always get done and no one ever remembered who's turn it was to do what. After a week of our new system, I am in love. Why on earth didn't I try this before?

The Point Chart

(click image to open PDF)
Left column lists chores to be completed, 7 columns for the days of the week, last column is Total Points.

The box at the top lists point values:
0 = did not do
1 = did but had to be reminded
2 = did without being reminded
1/2 a job gets 1/2 the points

The very last row is for behavior. They start each day with 10 points and, as we see fit, points are taken away.

At the end of the week they get "Chore Money" since we can't pay them real money. They can earn a possible 140 points per week, which equals $140 chore money. The first thing they will do is tithe 10%. We believe that God will honor this since their chore money is valuable to them, just as our paper money is valuable to us.

The Chore Money

I printed each denomination on a different color...







...and this is what I used for the back.



Eventually, I'd like to set up a bank and they can learn to write checks.

Privileges

$5 - extra snack (for example, an extra scoop of ice cream)
$10 - 15 minutes alone in the bedroom (the boys share a room)
$15 - extra 15 minutes on the phone and/or computer
$30 - stay up 30 minutes past bedtime
$500 - a real $5 bill

Fines & Penalties
(these are all things we've had major issues with)

$5 per church incident:
- running
- being in the sound room
- going on the stage
- being down by the creek

$1 per home incident:
- running
- going into mom and dad's room
- touching anything that doesn't belong to you

Obviously these will change over time, but for now I think we've got a good start. If you have any more ideas let me know!

Sleepy Bob et al

Creation to Greeks ~ week 7

I've rearranged our week a little bit. We're doing History MWF and Science TR.

MEMORY WORK: We added the 2nd Commandment - You shall not make for yourself an idol.

BIBLE/HISTORY: We talked about Abraham, Isaac, and the destruction of Sodom. (Genesis 17-21) Instead of a notebook page about Papyrus, we made some. I slipped it into a page protector and filed it in the history notebook.





Race to Bury Tut was on the National Geographic Channel this week and we watched that. Very very interesting. They also made a cartouche.

SCIENCE: Christian Kids Explore Biology Lesson 2: Cells. They had so much fun learning about cells. On Tuesday, we read the lesson and looked at some pictures of cells. Then I had them label the basic parts of an animal cell and a plant cell. I used this picture from BBC to make a labeling worksheet. They also watched the interactive video.

For the 2nd part of the lesson, we read a few pages from Cells: Building Blocks of Life (ISBN 0134004663) that described each part of the cell and filled out the reading sheet. On the back I had them draw and label each cell. We also made a Ziploc/Jello animal cell. It was later pointed out to me that we actually made Red Blood Cells.



HYMN STUDY: We finished memorizing Holy, Holy, Holy.

VOCABULARY: Greek Root: graph - to write or draw

READ ALOUD: We finished Boy of the Pyramids by Ruth Fosdick Jones. If you can't get it from the Library (like I did) then I highly recommend buying a copy! It is a really good book.

LATIN: LNST 2, lessons 1&2 pages 1-12. These lessons reviewed book 1.

MATH:

*T* lessons 17-19 of R&S 1

*C* PM 2A exercises 24-26 and Review 1

*B* PM 2B (almost done!) Reviews 3 & 4 plus corresponding textbook pages

LANGUAGE ARTS:

*T*


*C* first half of LLATL Yellow Lesson 2

*B* began lesson 2.

We had a hard time getting LA done this week.

Pavlik Harness ~ Day 21

Very good news today!!

The Pediatric Radiologist did an ultrasound on the baby's hips and said that he saw NOTHING WRONG!!! Praise God!

We see the Orthopedist again on October 7 to find out the next step. I'm hoping he'll tell me to hide it in a box and let it die... but from what I understand there's a weaning process, so we'll see.

UPDATE: On October 7 the Orthopedist said that he could stop wearing the harness! He has to have an xray in January to confirm everything. Thanks for your prayers!