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Life, Schoolhouse

Autumn 2022 Schoolhouse

updated on 2 Comments on Autumn 2022 Schoolhouse

Thoughts this Autumn

It has been almost a year since I have done a schoolhouse review and I am, honestly, really bummed about it. 2022 has been filled with so many blessings. And I hope to write more on that when I get to our New Year’s post. But one thing that has been a major adjustment is my time. I feel like I have no time. I feel like my to do list is never getting shorter. It is taxing on my brain to feel like there is always more to do. Balance has been a really difficult thing for me this year. And in my search to find it, I’ve let a lot of the blog go. That is hard. Hard because it wasn’t a decision I felt like I should do, but just something that happened. I am trying to give myself grace but it’s been difficult for me.

This autumn in our schoolhouse felt like a lot of transition. Lydia began four new therapies. Lydia had been doing therapy before but now that she is over age three, we are no longer able to get at-home therapy. This has added time. Jacob has also begun two therapies – again, more time. AND we also started a homeschool co-op for the first time! This has been a huge blessing for our family but again, just changing our time. I feel like we are very behind where I wanted us to be. And that weighs on me. But, again, I am trying to give myself some grace as we transition to new things for our family.

[FYI: This post covers our schoolyear from end of August through the end of November]

FAMILY

come follow me

We have continued our study of the Old Testament and it has been incredible. We have loved every moment. It has come alive to us in a beautiful way and we have learned so much. We covered the end of Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah.

Our bullet points of goodness were:

  • Psalms of Praise / God’s Word Is Like a Light
  • Trust in the Lord
  • Great are the Words of Isaiah
  • A Marvelous Work and a Wonder
  • I Can Be a Witness of Jesus Christ / With Jesus, I Can “Fear Not”
  • Jesus Suffered for Me
  • The Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the Millennium
  • Gathering Scattered Israel like Hunters & Fishers / Prophets Speak the Lord’s Words
  • Prophets Warn and Guide Us
  • Blessings Flow from the Temple
  • I Can Stay Faithful / I Can Do What is Right Even in Hard Situations
  • The Holy Ghost Can Be Poured Out upon Me
  • Prophets are Messengers of Jesus Christ
  • Jonah and the Great Fish / I Can Turn to the Lord

Extra Resources: The Red Headed Hostess Subscription // Book for Jacob // Book of Sarah and Benjamin

science

This year we kicked off science with a BRAND NEW SCIENCE UNIT! Jacob and Sarah did a PALEONTOLOGY unit and loved it! They learned about paleontology, fossils, dinosaurs, land of giants, carnivores and herbivores, sky and sea dinosaurs, fossils in ice and tar, archaeology, excavation, and artifacts.

CLICK HERE for our full review of the unit.

We finished up PALEONTOLOGY in mid-November and moved on to another BRAND NEW unit – REPTILES, AMPHIBIANS, AND FISH! We just barely started it but we did have our introduction to the reptile, amphibian, and fish families.

Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Science: Paleontology // The Good and the Beautiful Science: Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fish

echo

This summer our family was invited to join a homeschool co-op (they call it “ECHO”). When we moved into our new ward, we were pleasantly surprised that homeschooling is very common in our ward. I would say half of our primary is homeschooled! It was such an unexpected blessing for our kids (and me!).

One of our friend’s built a building on their property specifically for homeschooling. There is a large gathering room, a kitchen, bathroom, and several smaller rooms (they also hold early morning seminary here). It is the perfect place for co-op! The kids have loved the relationships they have made because of co-op. It is easily one of their favorite times of the week.

It started as two and a half hours long, Monday and Wednesday. The first hour is science, then there is a thirty minute break, then the second hour is history. The kiddos are grouped together by age. Jacob is in one group, Sarah and Ben in another, and Lydia is with the littles. I stay in the littles class with Lydia and teach the Before Five in a Row curriculum (more on that later).

The beginning of November, there was a change in our co-op. The leader, as well as us and another family, decided to only do it once a week, on Wednesdays. I think each family had their own unique reasons, but for us, it was just getting to be too much to get our other work done. Each family has their own reasons for doing co-op, and our family is simply for social interactions. The kids did not want to stop what we already had planned and were using, so any learning they get at co-op is bonus.

Here is Jacob’s curriculum:

Sarah and Ben’s curriculum:

Lydia’s curriculum:

  • Before Five in a Row
  • The Good and the Beautiful Language Arts: Preschool

art

Art was definitely something that went on the back burner this season. This autumn we only did one project together: Sports Jersey. Let’s hope we can do more this winter!

Resource: Let’s Make Art Kid’s Watercolor Project Tutorials

nature

Jacob and Sarah continue to work on their nature notebooks. It is fun to see their growth season to season. They each are in different places in their journals and do it independently.

Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Nature Notebook

letter subscriptions

On Fridays, we open letters from our letter subscriptions! We love reading the letters and then letting the kids naturally research and do more on their own.

Letters from afar

This autumn we explored the Orient Express and Istanbul, Turkey. This is definitely my favorite!

writings from the wild

In the animal kingdom, we learned about the honey badger.

American heritage

Within American history, we learned about Benjamin Rush and Francis Hodges Burnett.

American Heritage adventure

And in America we traveled to the Statue of Liberty!

jacob [5th grade]

language arts

Jacob is the one that is actually about where I would like to be scheduling wise! This is definitely because Jacob has become very independent. Language Arts he does mostly on his own (with the exception of probably about five – ten minutes we do together to check his work and do a few other things). Jacob has taken on the responsibility of his school so well and I am very proud of him!

Each day he alternates between a writing workshop and a spelling workshop. This year he is also focusing on watercolor in language arts and he has loved that! He painted a color wheel and learned some watercolor techniques, did a spectacled bear, and a llama scene. He also studied the artist, Edward Fanshawe.

He completed Unit 1, which taught: pronouns, capitalization, independent clauses, interjections, sentence diagramming, abstract and concrete nouns, poetry terms, editing, homophones, words that can be nouns and verbs, pronouns and antecedents, and reading comprehension.

In geography, he learned about Ecuador, South America, the incredible Andes, the Iguazu Falls, the Amazon River, and brilliant Brazil.

He read Chico of the Andes by Christine Von Hagen.

He is also about half way through Unit 2, which taught: compound subjects and verbs, sentence diagramming, vocabulary, context clues, possessive nouns, and prepositional phrases and commas.

He is listening to the audiobook, Gabriel and the Hour Book by Evaleen Stein. He also learned read a biography about Evaleen Stein.

For art, he did an illuminated letter “S”. He also learned about the artist, Giotto.

Jacob is reading independently at about a seventh grade reading level.

Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Language Arts: Level 5

Creative Writing

Last year, Jacob began a creative writing notebook. It was always the plan to stretch this notebook over two years. Which means this year, Jacob is finishing the second half. His writing has improved a lot and it has been really exciting to see. He focused a lot on descriptive writing, as well as doing some writing exercises this season. Now he is working on some “story starters” exercises, which help get his mind thinking.

Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Creative Writing Notebook #1

Read Aloud

One big switch we made this year is Jacob does his read alouds with Mark. It has been sweet to watch them figure out a groove that works for them. However, since I am not part of it, I can’t give a review of the books – but so far they seem to be liking them!

This autumn they read Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls. Now they are reading The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald.

CLICK HERE for Jacob’s full read aloud list for this year.

Handwriting

Jacob is FLYING through his handwriting and it continues to be gorgeous! His focus continues to be on cursive but he is also working on some refinement with his print.

Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Handwriting Workbook: Level 5

Math

Jacob is also doing very well in math. We have definitely entered some territory where I have to look back quickly at his lesson to refresh my memory on what he is learning! He has finished his first unit in math which covered: number patterns, factors of prime and composite numbers, divisibility strategies, prime factorization, exponents, multiply and dividing by powers of 10, single, double, and triple line graphs, bar graphs and double bar graphs, fractions and percents, long division with remainders, quotients with zero, short division, order of operations with exponents, multiplication properties and missing numbers, perfect squares to 144, square roots, finding the mean, median, mode, and range, estimating products and quotients using area, perfect squares to 225, converting units of length, positive and negative numbers, graphing ordered pairs, identifying and drawing geometric figures, naming geometric figures, measuring and drawing angles, geometric solids, and similar and congruent geometric figures.

He just started his second unit, where he has learned how to read scales and a refresher on using a ruler.

Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Math 5

US Constitution and Government

We are pausing our normal history so that Jacob and I can complete a US Constitution and Government course. This has been incredible. It has opened my eyes personally and I think Jacob has enjoyed it for the most part as well (although I will admit, reading straight from the constitution can be a little, “wait, what?!”). This course has been so well done and we are learning a lot! Plus, with Jacob being mostly independent these days, it’s been fun to have something for us to do together again.

We are further behind than I would like, but we are moving along. This autumn we covered: seeking truth, our duty, Common Sense, the Declaration of Independence, slavery and the Founding Fathers, the Articles of Confederation, the Great Compromise, the Framing of the Constitution, Federalists and Anti-Federalists, Of the People, By the People, For the People, and did an overview of the Constitution.

Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful History: US Constitution and Government

drawing

Jacob is doing his final year in drawing. He is so creative and does a lot of drawing on his own. He has done three drawings from his notebook this autumn: big sailboat, boy and girl by window, and boy climbing fence.

Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Drawing: Draw Vintage Images Level 5

piano

Jacob is continuing to do piano lessons with me. This is something that we have really struggled to maintain consistently this season. I am working on some solutions for that, but it has been fun to see Jacob playing the piano – outside of his “practice time”.

Resource: Faber Piano Adventures: Level 2A

watercolor

Each of the kiddos gets to do an extra activity. Jacob has been doing this for a year or two, but I’ve not included it here. BUT it’s definitely part of his academics, so I wanted to include it moving forward. Each month he gets a watercolor subscription box with at least four projects and all of the supplies he needs. HE LOVES THEM! And I love to watch his display of watercoloring projects grow.

Resource: Let’s Make Art Kid’s Watercolor Art Box

emotions journal

I have wanted to do something like this with Jacob for a very long time. But I was just not finding the right thing. I found the right thing! Jacob has been so excited to do this and it is so very well done. It has been a huge help for him and it makes my heart happy when I can tell he is struggling and goes to his journal to help give him tools to help. I would highly recommend it to anyone who has a kiddo who struggles with emotions. Honestly, I would recommend it for anyone. I would not be surprised if I added it to the other kids routines down the road.

Resource: Weathering My Emotions Journal

occupational therapy

Jacob began OT in October and it has been awesome. His therapist is named Kristine and she is so incredible with Jacob. It is one of those things where I have moments of frustration because things would have been so much easier for Jacob if we could have given him this resource sooner in life. But I am mostly just so grateful we have it now. He and Lydie have OT at the same time and place and it is fun to see them working together and supporting one another. They are a great duo!

counseling

Jacob also began seeing an art and play therapist named Sarah this autumn. Sadly, Jacob only saw her for two sessions before she told us she was moving out of state. We were disappointed but trust that a new one will hopefully be found quickly and they will be a good fit for Jacob. We are so grateful for these resources that he has been able to receive.

sarah [2nd grade]

language arts

Sarah is always so much fun to teach. She has the best little attitude and that makes a huge difference in our day! I feel like her language arts is pretty easy for her actually. She continues to just cruise along. For example, she had the whole year to master “booster cards” and she completed them in about two months! She is doing awesome!

This season she has learned: homophones, writing sentences, closed syllables, open syllables, decoding, how to write a story, narrating a short story, common and proper nouns, heteronyms, and using complete sentences to write answers to questions.

We have focused on reading words with QU, KN, OO, EAR, learning that OR can say /er/, and sight words.

She has also focused on spelling words with QU, AY, the caboose E spelling rule, sneaky E spelling rule, and the spelling rule for S, F, L, or Z.

In geography, Sarah has been focusing on God’s plan for the world, reading maps, and learning what a blessing our world is.

Sarah is reading independently at about a third grade reading level.

Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Language Arts: Level 2

read aloud

This autumn, Lydia and I read All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor. This is such a sweet story about five little girls who live in New York City in the early 1900s. They have all sorts of adventures – from big to little – and their relationships with one another are so tender.

We are also so close to finishing Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White.

CLICK HERE for Sarah’s full read aloud list for this year.

handwriting

Sarah is doing really well in her handwriting. She is continuing to refine her print with writing letters and numbers, short words, spelling numbers, and tracing words and sentences.

Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Handwriting Workbook: Level 2

math

Sarah is working well through her math. She is almost done with her first unit and learned A LOT. So far this unit she has covered: place value to the hundreds, identifying and writing numbers to 1,000, skip counting by 50s, spelling 13, 14, and 15, counting bills, doubles addition to sums of 18, logic puzzles, tally marks, working with bills, zero as a placeholder, adding 2 two-digit numbers, LOTS of subtraction strategies, counting by 25s, LOTS on time, subtraction with two-digit numbers, LOTS of calendar work, doubles addition plus 1, adding two-digit numbers with regrouping, ordinal positions 1 to 12, greater than, less than, equal, doubles in subtraction, creating repeating patterns and color patterns, counting coins, and dividing groups of coins in half.

Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Math 2

drawing

Sarah is doing well with her drawing. She has drawn: a clock and candles, an airplane, art palette, basket of apples, bicycle, bike with basket, biplane, birdhouse, blackberry cake, bookshelf, and cake on a stand.

Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Drawing: Draw Vintage Images Level 2

typing

One thing Sarah really wanted to start learning this year was typing. We did about ten lessons and it was just not a good fit for Sarah right now. So we decided to take a little break and we will revisit it another time.

Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Typing: Level 1

piano

Sarah is continuing to take piano lessons with me. Like Jacob, it has been a difficult thing for us to be consistent in this season. We are hoping for better in winter.

Resource: Faber Piano Adventures: Level 1

ballet

Sarah continues to love ballet. And I love watching her. She started at a new studio this season (since we moved) and really seems to be thriving! She is our favorite ballerina!

benjamin [kindergarten]

LANGUAGE ARTS

Benjamin and I have struggled with school. I love that boy like crazy. His personality is so endearing. But Ben is not a natural student. And what I mean by that, is book work does not come naturally for him. I feel like I take a pretty gentle approach in the early years and I continue to feel like that is the right course for us. However, Ben is not at the same place that Jacob and Sarah were at his age. A lot of it is struggles with attitude. Ben has not caught the learning bug yet. He would much rather be doing pretty much anything else other than sitting at the table working. Even doing work in short breaks hasn’t seemed to help.

He has stretched my “teacher brain” a little to try and find new ways of teaching him. As we went into Ben’s kindergarten year he was still unable to identify and say the sound of most letters. It was really discouraging for him (and me). What I had done for the others, just didn’t seem to be working for him. I decided to just take a couple weeks off of a curriculum (mostly because we had already completed it and he was still not ready for the next level). I tried to do new activities to help him learn and we just weren’t making any progress. I began to wonder if he might be struggling with dyslexia. He confuses several letters that are often a problem for dyslexic children. I started to look into programs designed for those with dyslexia.

But then, I decided to give things one more go. I spent a lot of time praying about it to the Lord and I felt like we just needed to try again. So in mid-October we went back and started his preschool curriculum again. Ben was not really happy about it. He didn’t want to be in preschool anymore. He began to feel embarrassed at CO-OP or church about reading. It was a hard situation to watch him go through. But we did it. We went through it faster and didn’t do every lesson. We focused on what he DID need and it is working. I am beginning to see progress and it is exciting to see.

Ben is going to get there. He will. Each of my kiddos learning journey hasn’t looked the same. And that is one of the beautiful homeschooling perks, I can help make his experience unique for him. We are both learning a lot.

Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Language Arts: Preschool

explode the code

One additional thing we added – to spice things up – was Explode the Code. I have heard of this resource for years but I’ve just never had a need for it with Jacob and Sarah. But this was a nice addition for Ben. There is a lot of variety in learning the letters and that was helpful to mix in while we worked through his preschool curriculum a second time.

We have not been doing every page. Again, we’ve just been doing the letters and pages that Ben needs the additional help with.

Curriculum: Get Ready for the Code: Books A, B, and C

read aloud

This is Ben’s first time doing read alouds with me. In kindergarten we keep it a good mix of picture books and early chapter books. This is what we have read this autumn:

CLICK HERE for Benjamin’s full read aloud list for this year.

handwriting

Ben had some more work to do in his handwriting workbook from last year. So he continued working through that. He finished at the beginning of September.

He then began working on his new handwriting book. In this, he is focusing on tracing letters and numbers. He is also working on writing his first name.

Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Handwriting Workbook: Doodles and Pre-Writing for Littles Part 2 // The Good and the Beautiful Handwriting Workbook: Level K

math

Lots of new things for Benji! Including a formal math curriculum! Math is going well. We are working our way slowly and that seems to be going just fine. He is about half way through his first unit. So far he has learned: numbers 0-12, ten frames, order of events, position words, matching, ordinal numbers, LOTS about ten sticks, plus and equal signs, counting to 40, addition, and tally marks up to 5.

Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Math K

science

This is also Ben’s first year doing science! The Good and the Beautiful switched how they did their science curriculum this year so that their regular science curriculum was targeted for Grades 3-8. This made me pause for Sarah, but this was actually a blessing for Benjamin. They released a separate science curriculum for younger grades and this is a great fit for Ben.

This year Ben is going to be learning about FIELDS AND FLOWERS. He has REALLY LOVED science! So far he has learned that: trees live and sleep, the seasonal cycle of trees, the tallest trees, tree bark, and tree sap and syrup.

Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Science for Little Hearts and Hands: Fields and Flowers

lydia [preschool i]

BEFORE FIVE IN A ROW

This year I struggled to know where to begin with Lydia. I had initially planned on working with the curriculum I have used in the past with the other children, but then our co-op suggested this one. I have to admit, I don’t love it. This is a literature-based curriculum, which I like, but it really doesn’t give you much to work with beyond that. I have found a lot of resources on Pinterest, but I find that a little annoying to have to do that.

With Lydia, I’ve just been reading through the books in the curriculum. We enjoy reading together so this isn’t anything too new. But it is giving me a chance to learn how Lydia learns best.

Once we got into Halloween and Thanksgiving seasons, I mostly just read seasonal books with her and we paused the books from the curriculum. But this is what we did read from the assigned curriculum: Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? by N.W. Carlstrom, Yellow Ball by Molly Bang, The Little Rabbit by Judy Dunn, Ask Mr. Bear by Marjorie Flack, and Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey.

Curriculum: Before Five in a Row

Speech Therapy

Lydia began speech therapy in September with Renee. I have to admit, it is a little tedious. We spent weeks just going back and forth between Lydia looking at a green picture of yes or a red picture of no – to decide if she wants to play a toy. Some thing that is difficult to explain to people is that Lydia has no concept of having a voice or a say in anything. Unlike many other kiddos with Rett Syndrome, Lydia was never speaking or making any choices before her regression. So we have to teach her that she can make choices. It is more difficult than it sounds.

Her therapist is young and I am pretty positive that Lydia is the most complex patient she has ever had. So there is a lot of training that has to happen, but she seems very willing to learn and that is very helpful. Lydia just started trialing an AAC device which will allow her to communicate with her eyes. This is a tricky situation in the best of times, plus we have Lydia’s CVI diagnosis along with other vision issues, so this will be a long process.

physical therapy

In October, Lydia began physical therapy with Brian. With Lydia, her main goal is to not lose any additional skills. It is something I have to continuously remind myself. So we are hoping to get her stronger. We are trying to get her back into her stander more (since we had to take a break after her burn and surgery). We also got her new AFO’s this autumn and that helps a lot.

occupational therapy

Also in October, Lydia began occupational therapy with Erin. This has been another transition of trying to teach others about Lydia’s condition. Her therapist is motivated to learn though and we will figure it out. We are working to help her get used to her toothbrush – it is difficult when Lydia only eats purees to have different textures in her mouth.

equine therapy

In November, Lydia began equine therapy (aka horse therapy). They have found this is really helpful with core strength but also in helping with scoliosis. Good posture is essential in riding a horse and so this really helps with that. The really sweet thing is that Lydia’s therapist, Lindsey, has a sister with Rett Syndrome. She, as you can imagine, has a special spot for Lydie because of the shared connection.

Lydia gets fatigued very quickly but she seems to really enjoy it. We love that she can have a FUN therapy in the mix!

Final Thoughts

When I sat down to write this post, I was discouraged. Discouraged because, for the most part, we are no where I wish we would be. But as I’ve written this massive post, I’ve realized that we have done a WHOLE LOT OF LEARNING. We might not be where I wish “on paper”, but my kiddos are happy and they are learning! They are getting a beautiful education that is full of life and I am grateful.

So here is to more seasons of learning (and hopefully a little better job documenting!).

curriculum choices

previous seasons in the schoolhouse

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(2) Comments

  1. Scott Clegg says:
    Posted on

    Wow, that was an impressive review. No reason to be discouraged if you can keep this many educational and therapy balls in the air- ALL AT THE SAME TIME. You’re great!

    1. Elise says:
      Posted on

      Thanks, Dad!

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