Our winter schoolhouse is consistently our most productive season of learning. Which always feels surprising to me because of the holidays in December and the time we take off there – but for whatever reason it is always the season where we get the most school work done. The kids are doing so well. We also started a new system that we lovingly call a “punch”. Each kiddo has a unique goal. Each day they complete that goal, they get a “punch”. Once they get ten punches they can pick a reward. The rewards are things like staying up an extra 30 minutes for some one-on-one time, going and getting an ice cream cone, playing Mario with Dad, picking out a new book, etc. It has worked WONDERS!

I know I say this often, but I am just feeling so very thankful for this time I have with them. Life is moving so quickly and this time together is precious.

FAMILY

Come Follow Me

We finished up our study of the Book of Mormon and it was beautiful as always. And then in January we started our study of the Doctrine and Covenants and I love this book of scripture so much.

Our bullet points of goodness for the last bit of The Book of Mormon:

• Disciples of Jesus Christ care for each other’s souls.
• “Charity is the pure love of Christ.”
• I can know the truth of all things by the power of the Holy Ghost.
• The Book of Mormon testifies of Jesus Christ.

Our bullet points of goodness for the Doctrine and Covenants:

• Jesus Christ has restored His Church.
• The Lord speaks through His servants, including latter-day prophets.
• How can I receive answers to my prayers.
• God has a work for me to do.
• I can trust God.
• Heavenly Father speaks to me through the Holy Ghost.
• The Lord’s “wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil.”
• Ordinances give me access to God’s power.
• “The worth of souls is great in the sight of God.”

Extra Resources: Come Follow Me – For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 // Come Follow Me – For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 // The Red Headed Hostess Subscription

History

This winter we dove into more of the modern era. We studied the Victorian Era, the history of flight, and the Cold War Era. We particularly focused on the Cold War and it hit me like it never has before. We had some really important discussions and I was really grateful for that.

We touched on so many things this winter. We focused on the Victorian period with Queen Victoria and other famous “Victorians” and the British Empire. We learned a lot about the foreign missionary movement and spent some time learning about Florence Nightingale and the Great Irish Famine. Then we moved into the history of flight. We ended the season talking about the Cold War with the Berlin blockade, and the rebellion and resisitance. Next up was the space race, Ronald Reagan, and the fall of communism. So much good discussion.

Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful History: Year 1 (discontinued)

Science

This winter we went into the land of the arthropods! This was the very first science unit I ever did with Jacob when he was in kindergarten so it will always hold a special place in my heart. We haven’t finished yet, but we are really enjoying it.

Topics we have covered so far, include:

• An introduction to arthropods
• An introduction to insects
• Termites, silk worms, and fireflies
• Bees and wasps

Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Science: Arthropods

Music Appreciation

Jacob and Sarah continue to plug along with their music appreciation. This is pretty hands off for me but they both really like it.

Curriculum: Music Appreciation Book 1

Art

Sarah and Benjamin are working through their art program. They seem to really enjoy it but I think they are also getting antsy to start some of the other programs they have to offer. This winter they did a lot with construction paper. We talked about how artists see shapes and form and they made some fun projects with that. We also started doing some work with oil pastels and talking about how artists see texture. We are hoping to do a little more of this in the spring.

Curriculum: Artistic Pursuits: Building a Visual Vocabulary

JACOB – Seventh Grade

Language Arts

Jacob is such an easy student in a lot of ways. He picks up on things so quickly but my favorite part is he is such a good self starter and is very driven to do his work each day. Here is what he has been working on in the realm of language arts this winter:

• Sentence diagramming
• Gerunds
• Gerund phrases
• Farther vs further
• Your vs you’re
• Comma rules
• Parts of speech
• Infinitive phrases
• Affect vs effect
• Capitol vs capital
• Participial phrases
• Comma splices
• Types of phrases and clauses
• Proverbs and maxims
• Linking verbs
• Greek root – CHRON
• Advanced alphabetical order
• Quotation punctuation
• Theirs vs. there’s

For geography, he has been learning about:

• Regions of the United States
• Wales

In art, he has learned about the artists Caspar David Friedrich and Benjamin West. He has also learned about vanishing points and symmetrical balance in drawing. He also studied the Welsh sculptor, Goscombe John.

For literature, he has read Mary Jones and Her Bible.

In writing, he has focused on run-on sentences and how to avoid wordiness and redundancy. He also wrote an informal essay. He did an essay study about the Quakers, Mennonites, and Amish of Pennsylvania. He’s also done a lot of practive on note taking. And we talked about the art and value of thank you notes and then he wrote some. He also did a big project on writing a fictionalized biography. He did some work on writing dialogue. LOTS of writing!

Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Language Arts: Level 7

Read Aloud and Handwriting

Jacob finished The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conana Doyle (that was a BIG one!) and Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne. I’ve said it a dozen times but his cursive is the best!

Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Handwriting: Level 7

Math

Jacob’s math is getting intense. It is definitely starting to stretch me and it is not abnormal for me to have to look at his lesson to remind myself how to do things! This winter he has been working on:

• Solving One-Step Equations
• Set Notation
• Evaluating Square Roots
• Solving Two-Step Equations
• Square Roots and Cube Roots
• Multi-Step Equations with Negative Coefficients
• Solving for a Variable in Terms of Other Variables
• Solving and Graphing One-Step Inqualities
• Solving and Graphing Multi-Step Inequalities
• Fractions of a Group
• Ratios and Proportions
• Solving Ratio Problems
• Rounding Fractions and Mixed Numbers
• Percentages
• Percent Increase
• Percent Decrease
• Simple Interest
• Compound Interest
• Identifying Unit Rates
• Proportions Within Similar Triangles
• Metric and US Customary Units
• Unit Conversions
• Converting Square Units
• Operations with Mixed Measures
• Scale Drawings

Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Math 7

Typing

The typing program we have been using this year has become Jacob and Sarah’s favorite thing! Jacob’s typing has improved so much and he loves all of the feedback he gets on it.

Resource: Typing Club

Creative Writing

Jacob continues to plug away with his creative writing. He is pretty serious about his writing and works hard on it, so right now I pretty much let him move at the pace he wants to as look as he is working on it. It’s been going great!

Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Creative Writing Notebook #2

Drawing with Graphite

Jacob’s art program is going really well. This winter he learned about how shape, texture, and value are all elements of art. And in art appreciation, he studied:

• Martin Van Buren Silhouette by Augestin Edouart
• Kindred Spirits by Asher B. Durand
• Aiding a Comrade by Frederic Remington

Resource: Artistic Pursuits Art Core 1: Drawing with Graphite Pencils

Weathering Your Emotions

This notebook has taken Jacob a while to get through. But it has been really good for him.

Resource: Weathering Your Emotions Journal

Piano & Recorder

Jacob is beomcing such a beautiful pianist. I truly am so very proud of him. He even moved up a level this winter and is loving the challenge.

He continues to plug away at the recorder as well. It is totally a “for fun” thing and he seems to enjoy the little break in his day.

Resource: Faber Piano Adventures: Level 2B // Faber Piano Adventures: Level 3A

SARAH – Fourth Grade

Language Arts

Sarah has transitioned really well into her independent learning in lanuage arts. She is cruising on her own and is doing really well for the most part. This winter she has learned about:

• Prepositions
• Semicolons
• Sentence Diagramming
• Commas in a Series
• Prepositional Phrases
• Parallel Construction – Adverbs
• Abbreviations
• Homophones

In geography, she learned about:

• Scotland
• Edinburgh
• Isle of Skye
• Belgium
• Regions
• The Netherlands
• Luxembourg
• Maps
• United States of America

She also got to make some Scottish shortbread. It went really flat and didn’t look very pretty (which bothered Sarah) but it tasted good which is all that matters!

In art, she got to study Theodoor Verstraete. She was also able to do two pastel projects – an apple and some tulip fields.

Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Language Arts: Level 4

Read Aloud and Handwriting

Sarah continues to do really well with her cursive. Just like Jacob I am liking her cursive better than her print! We finished reading The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene du Bois and The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Handwriting: Level 4

Math

Sarah is doing really well with her math. She is so close to being done with her current level! This winter she learned about:

• Grams and Kilograms
• Perimeter
• Multiplication: Three-Digit and Four-Digit Numbers by One Digit Without Regrouping
• Volume
• Tablespoons and Teaspoons
• Perfect Squares
• Multiplying Three-Digit or Four-Digit Numbers by One Digit with Regrouping
• Area and Perimeter Story Problems
• Division
• Multiplication and Division Fact Families
• Multiplication: Missing Factor
• Area: Missing Side
• Writing and Completing Division Story Problems
• Lines, Line Segments, POints, and Rays
• Division with Remainders
• Order of Operations: Multiple and Divide, Add and Subtract
• Algebraic Thinking: Solving for the Missing Number
• Right, Acute, and Obtuse Angles
• Order of Operations: Parentheses
• Types of Lines
• Rounding to Any Place Value
• Order of Operations and Multiplying Money
• Camparisons
• Division: Story Problems
• Roman Numerals
• Coordinate Plane
• Identifying Triangles by Side Length
• Fraction of a Set
• Geometric Solids
• Converting Units of Capacity

Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Math 3

Typing

Sarah is enjoying the new program as much as Jacob. It has been a game changer in our home!

Resource: Typing Club

Drawing

Sarah finished up her drawing for the year and she did a really great job. This was her favorite drawing she did.

Resource: The Good and the Beautiful Draw Vintage Images Level 4

Natural Journal

This is another fun Friday activty for Sarah to do on her own. She’s been working on it for awhile and it is a great addition.

Resource: The Good and the Beautiful Nature Journal

Piano & Recorder

Sarah continues to do really well with her piano and recorder. I actually really love the sound of clumsy music in the house – although it is even better when they figure it out!

Resource: Faber Piano Adventures: Level 2A

BENJAMIN – Second Grade

Language Arts

I mentioned last autumn how I was starting to see a change in Ben with his reading and it has been amazing. It has been across all subjects and has transformed our days. He is so much more motivated and positive and it has made learning so much better for both of us. I am really happy with all of the personal growth that has happened for him.

This winter he focused on:

• Spelling Words with OW and OU
• Poetry
• Two-Syllable Words
• Sight Words
• Beatrix Potter and Nature
• INK, ANK, and IND
• Common and Proper Nouns
• Reading Sneaky E Exceptions
• The Souds of Y
• Alphabetical ORder
• Homophones
• Spelling Words that End with Y
• Parables
• Reading Words with ER, IR, UR
• Action and Being Verbs
• Reading and Spelling Words with AI

Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Language Arts: Level 1

Read Aloud & Handwriting

Ben continues to refine his printing and is doing really well. This winter we read, Owls in the Family by Farley Mowat and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis.

Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Handwriting: Level 2

Math

Ben SOARED through his math this winter. He focused on:

• Quarters and Couning by 25s to 100
• Writing Cents to 50
• Counting in the Hundreds
• Bar Graphs and the Most and the Fewest
• Copying and Extending Patterns
• Addition Stories
• Morning, Afternoon, Evening, Night
• Tally Marks to 50
• Hexagons
• One-Half and One-Fourth
• Writing Numbers 60 to 80
• Counting by 2s to 70
• Number Bonds
• Telling Time to the Quarter Hour
• Pennies, Nickles, and Dimes
• Calendars
• Half-Dollars and a Dozen
• Using the Fewest Coins to Pay
• Graphing
• Drawing Line Segments
• Subtraction Stories
• Seasons
• Estimating the Number of Objects in a Group
• Writing Seven, Eight, Nine
• Subitizing: Groups of 7
• Ordinal Position
• Stories with Addition and Subtraction
• Even and Odd Numbers
• Telling Time to 5 Minutes

Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Math: Level 1

Science

Ben and I made a goal this year to push harder in his science and we made some great strides this winter. He finished his unit about Fields and Flowers this winter and he learned about:

• Frogs
• Fish
• Water Plants

Then we moved straight into another unit about Wind and Waves. So far, he has learned about:

• What Is a Meteorologist?
• Weather Forecasting
• Temperature
• The Water Cycle
• Clouds
• Wind
• Rain and Snow
• Rainbows

Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Science: Fields and Flowers // The Good and the Beautiful Science: Wind and Waves

Drawing

Ben is moving right along with his drawing as well. He is doing so well with it all.

Resource: The Good and the Beautiful Draw Vintage Images Level 2

Piano

Benjamin is still in the very beginning stages of piano. He is enjoying it which makes me happy but it is slow moving and we are okay with that.

Resource: Faber Piano Adventures Primer

LYDIA – Kindergarten

All Aboard the Animal Train

Lydie’s school things took a backseat for a good chunk of our winter season. She was sick through a lot of December and then had her seizure issues. She is in a much better place now and we are so very grateful. Mostly, her school time is just sweet one-on-one time with one another. We continue to love reading books and listening to music together.

Curriculum: My Father’s World: All aboard the Animal Train

Koala Crates

Lydie’s crates are always a fun activity to do together. She genuinely seems to enjoy the process and that makes it all the more fun.

Resource: Kiwi Crates: Koala (discontinued)

ALL the Therapies

Lydie continues all of her therapies. She continues doing physical, occupational, music, speech, horse, and massage each week. She stays a busy little lady!

Final Thoughts

This winter saw a lot of progress in our schoolwork. I think we really got into some better habits and we are all grateful for that. I feel so blessed to get a front row seat to watch these kiddos become the most amazing people. It is beautiful to see.