In my life this week…
With all the visiting with my mother last week I completely lost control of this house. This week has been spent trying to get caught back up. Its a bad sign when the dishwasher is 90% empty because it has been raided for clean dishes.
I have decided that I need my 3 year old while grocery shopping. I asked him what else we need and said “Toilet paper”. He was right and it meant we didn’t run out. The occasional demand for treats balances out.
In our homeschool this week…
We are continuing to make progress. He has been working on an essay comparing The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe to the Bible. He has some good ideas but its lacking in detail and structure. I know what he means but it wouldn’t be sufficient for some one not already knowing the answers.
He has also been working on a lapbook on The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. It keeps growing wings. We are up to three folders glued together. Earlier this summer I had never heard the term ‘lapbook’ and certainly had no idea how to make one. Now I have three planned for the portfolio.
Questions/thoughts I have…
What are you favorite tips for preparing a portfolio?
What should I be expect for writing from a Grade 5?
I’m cooking…
My wife want to cook so she made one of everyone’s favorite dishes, Chicken with asparagus on a bed of rice and hollindaise sauce. Yummy. She was out of town tonight so the kids got hot dog hash.
I also finally headed my three year old’s request and made chocolate chip cookies.
I’m praying for…
Amanda Todd, her family, friends and everyone trying to deal with bullying. If you haven’t seen the newscasts her video is below. She took her own life this week. The town she lived in is only a couple of hours away for me. Warning it will make you cry. What is even more scary is seeing the videos that YouTube recommends afterwords. To many the same crying out for help.
A photo, video, link, or quote to share…
Linking up at
You are doing an amazing job, Chris!
Poor Amanda. Solidifies the resolve to homeschool, doesn’t it?
I think that dog hash looks interesting. I love asparagus. It’s one of my favorite vegetables. I find the frozen asparagus at Trader Joe’s to be almost as good as fresh.
Even with a list, I sometimes forget things shopping! LOL
Portfolios? Well, I usually purchase a 2″ 3 ring binder and dividers at the start of the year, and every 5-6 weeks I go through paper and finished projects to decide what should be included in each subject (math, language arts, history/geography, science, and misc). I’ll sometimes add a Post It to the pages to explain more or highlight a skill that was mastered. I also photocopy textbook chapter indexed or rip out indexes of workbooks to add in each section to show skills as well. Photos of course. Pamplets from places we’e visited like museums. Lists of books read and educational movies and extra-curriculars. HTH!
Cracked me up with the dishwasher and toilet paper remarks!!! Totally relate!
In England we don’t have to do a portfolio but I do keep EVERY. SINGLE. PIECE. of work my children do (except maths funnily enough. I throw all their maths!) I teach everything (except maths and science) through history and file everything in three ring, huge three inch binders- each child has their own. We now have lovely, chronological records going back to 8000bc (about three year of work).
Ps Anyone who can make hot dog hash look THAT good, frankly deserves a medal – yum!!