Heart of Dakota Weekly Check-In Oct. 16-20

Heart of Dakota Weekly Check-In
Oct. 16-20

USII High School:

 One of my favorite things about using Heart of Dakota is the Christ-centeredness of each part of the plans.  This year Wyatt and I are discussing Bob Schultz's Created for Work.  He is one of our favorite authors and has been throughout our use of HOD.  He is an excellent storyteller, and his stories really hit home for young men.  I also love that Wyatt is very connected to his personal Bible.  Verses he's memorized through the years within HOD are high-lighted, and he takes it to church each Sunday too. I love that this is the most important Book we use in school!

 Mathhelp.com has a College Algebra course that Wyatt is completing. We figured out every time he exits out of a pretest or a test, an incomplete score of '0' is given, and incomplete scores are figured into his course average.  Yikes!  Anyway, Mathhelp was kind enough to remove his completes when we explained our misunderstanding!  Now Wyatt is working very carefully on both pretests and posttests and has a 97% average.  Hooray!  

In R & S English, Wyatt works on many language arts skills.  He usually diagrams sentences as part of the lesson, and he has become very good at it! But diagramming is not just a separate isolated skill - it is taught to improve writing.  Wyatt has learned the importance of using varied sentences lengths and structures within his own writing, as well as the importance of using varied transitional words. HOD is Charlotte Mason inspired, so poetry appreciation has been a wonderful part of Wyatt's homeschooling from the very beginning!  Working on rhythm, rhyme, pentameter, marking accented/unaccented syllables, and just plain enjoying poetry has always been fun!  Especially since poetry is often either related to the history being studied or to a specific poet!

 Riley has been reading about sites in the Holy Land, Ireland, and Scotland.  His notebook is full-color and just beautiful!  The pictures, maps, diagrams, photos, and primary source documents really make this a special notebook!

For Riley's World Religions and Cultures half credit elective, he just finished a biography called Mimosa.  It was so encouraging how Mimosa chose to live her life for Jesus - even among very difficult obstacles!  Now he is reading a book called Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus.  Studying Jesus in the light of His Jewish culture background.  Just understanding the context of the time in which He lived sheds even more light on Scriptures! We know Jesus as our Savior, but getting to know Him more deeply is a blessing!

 Riley's Book of Centuries continues to grow, as he adds new chronological timeline entries each week.  I love that the Book of Centuries is continued all the way through high school!  Four years of history studied from 9th to 12th grade will be chronicled in a beautiful chronological keepsake - what a neat way to remember what has been learn in a logical order that will always be a good reference for history's most important events!

 Emmett has been learning about God's chosen people entering Canaan.  His history project had him recreating the crossing of the Red Sea.  He made the Ark of the Covenant, as well as 12 rocks.  The 12 rocks were piled after the crossing of the Red Sea as a symbol for the 12 tribes of Israel to remember God's goodness and faithfulness in saving them.  I loved hearing Emmett retell this story with Bible in tow, as he used his history project! One organization thing we have ben doing I thought I'd mention is we have been having Emmett set out the books/resources he will be needing for each teacher block of time I work with him.  He likes seeing what he will get to do, and he also likes triumphantly putting them away as he has successfully completed each portion of his school day!

 Here is a picture of Emmett sharing his Robert Frost poetry reading and discussion with his brothers.  He loves this and reads with great expression!  He also completed a new Travel Log for his geography study of the Holy Land, read some wondering science info in his Land  Animals... book, and enjoyed completing his science experiment alongside his reading!  Another great week!

Heart of Dakota Weekly Check-In Oct. 9-13

Heart of Dakota Weekly Check-In

Oct. 9-13

What a whirlwind week this has been!  Photobucket, which is where I usually post my HOD weekly check-in, is no longer working. So, I have returned to my blog, after a 4 year hiatus.  Sorry, dear blog!    It is good to be back!

This is a super busy time of year for our family, as alongside my husband's regular full-time job, he has an additional job on the weekends of guiding for pheasant hunting.  I realize how much he does to keep our home working properly and our boys busy with helping out with work and with having outdoor fun.  I also realize how much we miss him when he is gone!  As they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder.  

Emmett is our youngest son, and he is in 5th grade doing Creation to Christ.  He is having a wonderful year, and I already see such gains in independence, in writing/reading abilities, and in following directions carefully.  He is especially enjoying the read-aloud Storytime part of the plans.  We've been reading Boy of the Pyramids, which is a fantastic mystery set in Egypt!  One of his favorite Storytime follow-ups is retelling the story in oral narration form with props of his choice.  He actually counts the days until this comes up in the assessment rotation for Storytime!  Here he is retelling the story with some of his favorite props (his Beanie Balz), using gems (glass beads), and a litter for transporting nobility (a tray).  He loves this assessment, and I can tell he remembers the story well!

 Emmett did a fun pre reading activity with his Drawn into the Heart of Reading book, Cabin on Trouble Creek this week, and his brothers enjoyed helping him out!  For his History Project, Emmett made a breastplate like the one Aaron would have worn, and it turned out so well!

 Finally, Emmett added two new watercolor paintings to his Robert Frost poetry appreciation portfolio.  The first one is a watercolor painting in response to "Fireflies in the Garden" and the second is in response to "Gathering Leaves" (of which we have been doing a LOT of lately)!

Riley is in 9th grade doing the World Geography guide, and I'm so proud of his transition to high school!  In Mapping the World with Art, he made a star chart like the one Chinese geographers used to map stars & constellations.  He also made a neat map of Viking Voyages, which he and his little brother used to play a game...

He also read some fascinating stories in his A Book of Discovery history book and completed his written narration and mapping skills in WG History Notebook...

Wyatt is in 12th grade doing the USII guide, and he has been studying British Imperialism, the Lindbergh Baby, Socialism in America, Hoover, and FDR.  He has read some Great Documents in U.S. History that provide excellent primary source documents alongside his more narrative readings of Mystery of History. He loves history, but he is also really enjoying his What You Aren't Being Told About Astronomy DVDs and his New Astronomy Book readings and projects.  Economics, Personal Finance, and College Algebra rounded out an excellent week of homeschooling!

Ruby's Journey to Noble... Through Proverbs Chapter 1:10-19

Proverbs 1:10-19:

     Ruby and her husband found their way quite easily down the smooth path lying ahead of them.  Fingers entwined, steps in sync, they helped each other over the hills and down the road until they reached their first stopping point, the city of Gain.  It was a bright city, full of much hustle and bustle as crowds of people made their way up and down the busy cobblestone streets.  Lavishly decorated homes loomed beyond the swarming streets, catching the moonlight and casting a deep shadow on the less fortunate townspeople living at the foot of the hill down below. 

     At the very bottom of the hill, in a dark obscure corner of town, Ruby and her husband arrived at quite a sorry looking hovel of a home.  The little savings they had begun their journey with had been used to pay for their travel, and while they’d been careful with their spending, it had dwindled down to next to nothing.  This was the best they could afford. 

     Ruby and her husband cautiously entered their new home and took to exploring each nook and cranny, noticing a cobweb here and a dust patch there, searching for some bright discovery and finding none.  This search took only a fraction of time as the house was quite small, and the light was dim.  Ruby and her husband were tired, and some semblance of order was needed quickly, so after a bit of scrambling, makeshift sleeping quarters were hastily assembled.  As exhausted as Ruby was, she lay awake, noticing for the first time the weight of the box of her family heirloom in her hand.  As her husband peacefully slumbered, she came to the realization that he’d been carrying nothing their entire journey, and the more she thought about this, the box felt heavier and heavier in her hand.

     A gloomy day dawned in the foothills of Gain, and the clouds covered the sun, blotting out its light with shades of gray.  Ruby awoke to the sound of her husband quietly closing the door, a scrawled note on the pillow explaining he was off to find work in the city.  Ruby determined to put some order to the house and spent the better part of the day sweeping the floors and cleaning the cupboards, putting this and that in its proper place until there was nothing more to do. 

    It is time for a walk, Ruby thought, A quick tour of the city would certainly be timely.  There was a good hour or two before suppertime, and if Ruby hurried, she might catch a glimpse of the bright hues of the city before nightfall.  As Ruby hastened up the cobblestone streets, the further she ventured into the city, the brighter were the lights, but the more chilling was the air. Ruby drew her cloak more tightly about her, and was just contemplating turning back when a dark fashionably dressed woman stepped forth from the shadows. 

    “And who might we have here?” she purred, donning a curious look as a small smile played at the corners of her lips.  “I haven’t seen you around these parts, just where do you call home?”

     “Oh, I’m Ruby, and I am from the foothills of Gain.  My husband and I have just recently moved here.  And may I be so bold as to ask your name and whereabouts as well?” inquired Ruby with as much composure as she could muster.

    “I’m Enticement, and I live in the mansion at the very top of the highest hill Gain has to offer.  The view of the city is breathtaking – such a shame you live in the foothills.  Perhaps you could come visit soon,” Enticement cooed invitingly.  “If you just follow that path up ahead, you’ll find your way in no time.  Come as soon as you can, with or without your husband – preferably without,” she said laughingly, as a tall handsome man emerged from the shadows.  The striking stranger linked arms with her, and whispering secretly in her ear, the two of them slipped away into the shadows of the alley.

    Ruby suddenly became aware of the time and hurriedly made her way home, stumbling down the hill and arriving home just as her husband did.  Over a meager supper of beans and rice, the two of them shared the happenings of their day and made the surprising discovery that while Ruby had met Enticement, her husband had met Plunder, and the two of them just happened to be married. 

     Ruby’s husband was excited at the prospect of working for Plunder, and he wasted no time planning a visit to the stately mansion on the hill the very next day.  Ruby donned her best dress and pinned one of the remaining flowers from her garland in her hair as she readied herself for the trip up Gain’s highest hill.  As Ruby and her husband neared the path up the hill, they could not help but notice quite a spectacle was taking place in the public square of Gain. 

Ruby's Journey to Noble... Through Proverbs Ch. 1:1-9

I've been working on an allegorical book for the past 4 years.  It is a book about Ruby's journey to Noble, and how her life story unfolds to parallel the book of Proverbs.  I have loved writing this.  My heart is in it, but I do not have the end written.  I am giving myself a deadline of sorts by sharing a chapter of it each week here on my blog.  It will move through Proverbs a little at a time. I'll suggest music to listen to along the way, and who knows maybe a few questions?  We'll see.  Mainly, I hope you can see yourself in Ruby, as I see myself in her, and I hope her journey gives insight and inspiration to you in yours as she has in mine and continues to do so.  Here goes...

Ruby’s Journey Through Proverbs to Noble…

Proverbs 1:1-9

     Ruby was but a young slip of a girl when she began her journey to the city of Noble.  Clad in a simple white dress, she had but few possessions to take on her journey.  Other than a garland of lilies encircling her head and a golden cross locket adorning her neck, Ruby had only one more gift to take.  Nestled in a small box and clasped tightly in her hands, the gift was no larger than her fist and felt as light as a feather in her grasp.  It was a parting gift from her parents, and the contents of the box were a complete mystery to her.

     “It’s a family heirloom, Ruby, passed down from generation to generation, from mother to daughter for many years,” said her mother kindly.  “No daughter should begin her journey to Noble without it.”  Ruby’s fingers fairly flew over the box, turning it this way and that, searching in vain for a way to open it.  Her mother watched her carefully, but as Ruby searched and searched, no opening to the box could be found.  It was tightly sealed and would not open no matter how she pried.

     “It is as I thought.  It cannot be opened yet,” her mother said thoughtfully.  Ruby’s face clouded with disappointment and confusion, but those thoughts soon raced away as her newly betrothed husband crossed over the hill. 

    “Let us make haste, Ruby,” her husband said excitedly.  “We have a long trip ahead of us, and we best be going while the sun is still shining bright.  Come, come!” he cried, “It is time to start our life together!”  Ruby smiled brightly and giving her parents a hurried hug, she clasped her husband’s hand and began the journey to Noble. 

Julie's Yummy Mushroom, Ham, and Cheese Bites (3 Weight Watcher's Points)

1 Sargento Light Mozzarella Stick, peeled vertically into 4 sections

2 oz. deli Virginia or honey ham

Sliced fresh mushrooms

Olive oil PAM spray

Roll up each section of mozzarella stick in a slice or 2 of deli ham.  Cut in bite sized pieces (about an inch - I used a kitchen scissors).  Place each rolled up piece on a slice of mushroom and spread them out so they aren't touching in a glass pie plate or pan.  Lightly spray PAM olive oil spray over the entire top.  Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.  Broil for 1 min.  Put in toothpicks and enjoy!

P.S. Don't put the toothpicks in the oven - they will burn, and that would be so sad.

P.S.S. My oldest son tried one and begged me to make them for supper.  Good stuff!

P.S.S.S.  I actually had these (3 pts.), 15 fat free pringles (2 pts.), a cup of green beans with salt and pepper for lunch (0 pts.), and a coconut La Croix (0 pts.) for lunch.  Yummy - and only 5 pts. total!

1.   

Spra

Easy Apple Caramel Cinnamon Rolls for Breakfast

Here is one of our new favorites for breakfast!

I make these just like the recipe, only right before cutting the log into individual rolls, I put the whole log (on a little cutting board) in the freezer for 3-5 minutes (makes the cutting easier).  

I also double the frosting.

3 Happy Sons!  They asked me to make a double recipe next time.  We've made these about 5 times now and loved them each time.  Enjoy!

Tear-Off Pads for Chores

Household chores are a big part of homeschooling.  A family home all day creates more chores to be done because more meals are cooked and more messes are naturally made.  I like to switch up the way I manage chores every few years or so.  Starting the summer of 2013, I made tear-off pads for each of our sons, and a more open-ended one for me.  Due to the rotation of chores we have, it made sense to have a Monday - 1, Tuesday - 1, etc. and then for the next week's rotation Monday - 2, Tuesday -2, etc.  I took these into the local Office Max store and had them make 3 months' worth, cutting theme down the middle vertically and then horizontally, and putting tear-off glue on the top end of each.  It cost $13.  The boys have to turn them into me at breakfast and then again at the end of the day.  This is how they earn their morning snack and drink.  We've done this since June of 2013, and now it is January of 2014, and I just had my next set of 3 months' worth of pads made.  It worked out so well!  Here is a copy of our Monday - 1...

Keep in mind I've been working on chores with our sons every year for many, many years, so these are a compilation of all of the chores I've taught them.  If starting chores for the first time, you'd want to chose 1-2 chores for each child and teach them diligently for several weeks and then oversee them doing the chores more independently for another several weeks.  I've found it best to have each of our children keep the same chores for 3 years or so, and I usually add 1 new chore for each of them to be taught each summer.  I usually move one chore down each year or two to the next youngest child, and and teach the oldest something new.

I try to take into account what each child likes.  For example, my oldest son loves to do outdoor chores, so most of his chores are outdoors.  My middle son loves to do special things for me, so I added making my K-cup coffee and smoothie each morning.  He also loves to use the spray bottle, so cleaning the counters in the mirrors and bathrooms are a favorite.  My youngest son loves running our morning IPOD praise music as he does the chores, so many of his chores are near that.  He also loves to run water in the sink, so I added that for him to do as we rinse the breakfast dishes anyway before putting them in the dishwasher.  They are all quite happy with this arrangement.  In fact, none of them wanted to give up any of their chores for new ones last year, so we left them as they are for this school year.  HTH as you all try to figure out how best to do chores in your home!

In Christ,
Julie