Thoughts this Summer
Oh boy, this summer has been a doozy. There has been so much going on both in reality and in my head {do I sound insane by saying that?}. What I mean is that there has just been a lot of thoughts floating around and I am just plain tired.
June was a great learning month, but once we hit fourth of July I had some major burnout. The kids were fantastic and totally good to keep going (which we did), but geez I was dragging. We have established a pretty good year round schooling mentality, but I still enjoy a lighter summer and we did not get it. We just finished all that I had planned for this year a week ago and a week just wasn’t enough of a break as we plan to start school once again.
FAMILY
Come Follow Me
Our study of the Doctrine and Covenants has been wonderful. We haven’t been as consistent with our family study as I would like this summer, but we are excited to get more focused on the things that fill our spirits. Here are our bullet points of goodness:
- The scriptures teach me about Jesus Christ.
- Jesus Christ wants me to share His gospel.
- Heavenly Father wants me to learn the gospel.
- I will be resurrected.
- I should treat sacred things with reverence.
- Jesus Christ asks me to forgive others.
- I can obey Jesus with my heart and mind.
- The Lord knows who I am and loves me.
- The Doctrine and Covenants contains revelations from God.
- I can be baptized when I am eight years old.
- The Lord has called a bishop to help me.
- I can give my best effort to the Lord.
- We are all children of God.
- Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World.
- Heavenly Father wants me to return to live with Him forever.
- God created every creature on earth.
- I can share what I have with others.
- Jesus Christ will lead me along.
- I should pray always.
- I can serve those around me.
- God promises blessings when I obey Him.
Extra Resources: The Red Headed Hostess – Book for Jacob / Book for Sarah and Benjamin
Science
This summer was all about GEOLOGY! This was a new science unit for our family and we LOVED it. We all learned so much. I’ve said it before, but I am always amazed at my own evolution of learning – especially when it comes to science. I really really didn’t like science – AT ALL – growing up. But I am so grateful for this beautiful opportunity to learn with my children and develop a love for it now.
We covered plate tectonics, volcanoes (magma, lava, types of volcanoes, and eruptions), earthquakes, minerals, crystals, gems, geodes, rock characteristics, igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks, metamorphic rocks, the rock cycle, earth’s processes, soil, and mountains and other landforms.
It’s been fascinating and so fulfilling for all of us to not only admire our beautiful world but understand it better. Full review coming soon!
Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Science: Geology
JACOB {3rd Grade}
Language Arts
Jacob finished up his level in language arts at the end of June and we were both happy to get a little break. This year has been a definite uptick in expectations and it definitely hit both of us that he is getting older and with that comes more responsibility. I have complete confidence in him and love that we can move into that phase at a pace that works for him.
We had some great reading from the McGuffey Readers and Aesop’s Fables. We also reviewed homophones, irregular past tense, irregular plural nouns, spelling rules, and synonyms and antonyms. Jacob is READY for fourth grade and I can’t wait for it!
Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Language Arts: Level 3
Read Alouds
I was really hoping to read ALL of the Chronicles of Narnia, but sadly, it just didn’t happen. In the spring we read, The Magician’s Nephew and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. This summer we added The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis. These books are all so incredible. It is an entertaining story for children but the depth you find the older you get as you read them is amazing. Definitely a must in my opinion.
We ended the summer by reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling. When I’ve been reading these to Jacob, we read out of the new illustrated editions and they have been so much fun. Jacob is already anxiously waiting until he is eleven when he will get sorted into his “house”. We had a late night this week and watched the movie after we finished the book and I can confidently say that Jacob is a fan.
CLICK HERE for our read aloud list for third grade.
Handwriting
Jacob finished his handwriting at the end of June. I know I’ve gushed about his handwriting before but it’s just so beautiful. I really hope it stays with him. He has really enjoyed learning cursive this year and is excited to get more into it next year.
Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Handwriting: Level 3
Math
For the first time EVER Jacob is all caught up with math and we are over here doing the HAPPY DANCE! Finding a math curriculum was definitely our biggest struggle when we started homeschooling and after starting two, that I just felt were lacking in foundational skills, we paused and waited for the right one to come along – and it DID. We have loved what we have used the last four years but because of our delay Jacob has pretty much been doing math year round for years!
He is so excited to be where he is now – and so am I! We finished up his third grade math focusing on line graphs, fractions, area, and DIVISION. Jacob went into division being like, “WHAT?! This is so easy!” And it WAS for him. I love how things are taught in our curriculum and it has made the progression of different concepts flow so easily.
We just finished math last week but Jacob is READY for it again! Math is his favorite subject and he is excited for new things!
Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Math: Level 3 (has since been discontinued)
History
Other than Jacob’s math, history was the other subject that we were just crawling to the finish line. We finished up our final unit in July. This summer was all about World War II. Such a heavy topic but so important. As hard as these conversations can feel like, teaching my kids about these hard topics brings so much clarity and perspective to me. When you have to explain such horrible events like the holocaust to such innocence, it opens your eyes to so much. History is powerful.
We talked about the rise of Nazism, the dangers and destructions of communism, stories of faith and survival in Stalin’s Russia (we needed some positivity), causes of World War II, Pearl Harbor, the Holocaust, how the war effected life at home, stories of bravery, Winston Churchill, D-Day, and the war in the Pacific.
We read a fabulous book called The Winged Watchman by Hilda Von Stockum. The story is set in Holland during the Nazi occupation and did an amazing job at bringing that time period alive, especially in an age appropriate way.
Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful History: Year 3
Drawing
Jacob THRIVES in all things art. He loves it and drawing has been a fun thing for him to explore this last year. He finished two levels of drawing this year and loved it. Can’t wait for more!
Our full review of these two drawing levels can be found HERE.
Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Vintage Levels 1 & 2
Piano
We had a moment, Jacob and I, this summer where I started crying in the absolute BEST way. Piano has not come naturally to Jacob. He did almost a year of lessons with a teacher in our old community, but it didn’t go well. She told me she would not continue with Jacob. When we moved, I began teaching Jacob piano and we basically started right back at the beginning.
It’s been hard and there has been a lot of not-so-great tears from both of us. You would probably wonder why we would continue. It was one of those things that Mark and I felt strongly about and it was also an opportunity to teach a sticking-with-something-even-though-it’s-hard. We decided that at the end of his current book that we would leave it up to him whether he continued (he’s been doing it three years now).
I was sad because I felt pretty confident that he would say he was done. But we’ve had moments where lights had been clicking on the last several months but it was nothing compared to this one particular time. We opened our book and the next song looked really intimidating. Lots of notes. And I thought, “He’s going to shut down.” And I was preparing myself for the push-back. But he played it, and he played it so well, and happy tears were FLOWING. He looked at me grinning from ear to ear and we were both so happy. It’s been so wonderful. It was the moment I hoped would happen and it did (and not a moment too soon!).
And good news…Jacob has decided to continue piano. I am so happy.
Curriculum: Faber Piano Adventures: Level 1
SARAH {Kindergarten}
Language Arts
Sarah finished up her language arts the middle of June and has been reading for fun-zies all summer. This girl continues to amaze me. She has exploded in her reading and I can’t believe how well she reads the scriptures. Sarah just goes for it and I love that about her. She is unstoppable.
Sarah is reading at a first grade level. I can’t wait to see where she continues to go!
Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Language Arts: Level K
Read Alouds
Remember how I said I was a wee burned out this summer? This showed a lot in our read aloud picks. I WAY underestimated how many books Sarah and I would read this year. We ended up reading 45 BOOKS! I had planned 16. Anyway, I was all tuckered out by the end and so I asked Sarah which series she would like to read more of and she picked Imagination Station. Jacob was a HUGE Imagination Station fan (I will still find him reading them) and Sarah is definitely interested as well. Here was our summer lineup:
- The ENTIRE Brambly Hedge Series by Jill Barklem (Spring Story, Summer Story, Autumn Story, Winter Story, Poppy’s Babies, Sea Story, The High Hills, and The Secret Staircase)
- Crooked Creek Ranch by Amy Drorbaugh
- Kidlik’s Kayak by Terry Shannon
- Attack at the Arena by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker
- Peril in the Palace by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker
- Revenge of the Red Knight by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker
- Showdown with the Shepherd by Marianne Hering and Brock Eastman
Our kindergarten read aloud list HERE.
Handwriting
Sarah finished up her handwriting the middle of July. Handwriting I feel is such an easy subject to do but is all too frequently forgotten. I have been grateful to see Sarah’s handwriting continue to improve.
Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Handwriting: Level K
Math
Sarah checked off her math curriculum the middle of June. She whizzed through math this year. Other than some of the names of 3-D shapes, math was a breeze for her. She has been sitting in on Jacob’s lessons for years though, so I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised.
She ended the year focusing on measurements and can’t wait for all of the new things coming her way!
Curriculum: The Good and the Beautiful Math: Level K (has since been discontinued)
Piano
Sarah is almost finished with her Primer level in piano. She has been so fun to watch learn and frequently plays in her spare time. She just started a new book that has Disney songs in it and so she is basically in heaven.
Curriculum: Faber Piano Adventures: Primer Level
BENJAMIN {Preschool I}
All Aboard the Animal Train
Benjamin finished up his preschool the end of June. I truly love this year of school. It is so gentle and wonderful. It is all about building a LOVE of learning and I think we have achieved that. A year ago I had NO IDEA how it was going to go with Benji. But it was an amazing year and he keeps me laughing so it was a WIN!
Curriculum: My Father’s World: All Aboard the Animal Train
Final Thoughts
As we sum up this school year, I am grateful for all that we have learned – both book-learning and life-learning. As I am writing this, I am preparing for our next Back to School Feast and it has me reflecting on our theme this last year. It was a scripture in Doctrine and Covenants:
“Be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you.”
I cannot tell you how much my spirit was filled every morning to hear my kids (and myself) say those words. I am so grateful for the promptings that led us to that theme because it was just what we needed for this last year. We are all-a-go for our new schoolyear and it is going to be amazing!
— P.S. I am painfully behind in my review posts (I think I have eight posts sitting in my draft section right now. Once we get up and going with our new schoolyear and I can breathe a little bit, they will *hopefully* be pouring in! —
Curriculum Choices:
- Jacob’s 3rd Grade Curriculum – HERE
- Sarah’s Kindergarten Grade Curriculum – HERE
- Benjamin’s Preschool Curriculum – HERE
You continue to simply amaze me with all that you accomplish given everything that is on your plate. Love the kids pictures, so cute. Jacob is really changing. I am a bit curious about the stuffed animal on the desk, his attire and it looks like he has a tape across his mouth. And please you don’t need to explain. I think it is cute. Prayers are always with you. Lov,e Grandma.
The kiddos love to bring their “stuffies” to school. Sarah likes to dress her fox in one of her outfits she has for her pretend baby – plus with pearls because Sarah is ALL about accessorizing 😉