2 to School

Keeping Busy

We've been really busy during the past month. We joined both home school groups in our town so there have been endless opportunities for field trips. I enjoy the families we've met in the group we joined with last year but they aren't getting together to do many field trips which the kids enjoy. The new group is very organized with several "volunteers" putting together field trip opportunities. Last week we headed to Chicago's Art Institute. The kids headed off in different directions on a docent-guided tour of the museum. Finn saw different pieces with animals in art. Chance's group tried to tell the stories from different art works. The Art Institute has so many famous paintings in their permanent collection. Here is Chance's group analyzing "American Gothic" by Grant Wood.....

We viewed several paintings by Monet, works by Seraut, van Gogh, Gauguin, and Picasso. Seeing these famous works up close is always impressive no matter how many times I've seen them. The kids were bummed the armor collection had been taken out and won't return until 2009. They still had a great day and it was a perfect, sunny, Fall day in Chicago.


Later this month we're headed to the Museum of Science and Industry with a group trip again. We were able to get in for free and a special Star Wars Exhibit normally $21 per person is only $5. I couldn't pass this one up. We'll be re-watching some of the Star Wars films in the next couple of weeks to "prepare". I doubt the kids will mind this.

They both seem to be learning a lot of music theory along with their piano lessons. Finn is enjoying learning the staff notes and Chance is flying through his books. Chance is picking out Christmas music books at the end of this week so he can start learning some festive tunes for December.

Chance is now a blue belt in Tae Kwon Do after testing at the beginning of October.

School work is cruising along. We're almost through our third month of first and fifth grade work. I have them learning Ancient History and Biology together. They enjoy listening in on one another's respective work. I think it really helps to reinforce what they are learning too. Chance is reading aloud a historical fiction book,"Mara daughter of the Nile"by McGraw. It's perfect timing as last week in history we covered the rule of Queen Hatshepsut.
It's so nice to have both kids reading now. We always have at least one read-a-loud going. Last week we listened to "When Santa Fell to Earth" by Cornelia Funke and finished up "Ella Enchanted" by Levine. Yesterday we finished up "Mr. Poppers Penguins" by Atwater. They're always surprised when they end up liking a classic.Today we started Marley(An adapted version of Marley & Me for younger readers).

posted by Anna @ 4:58 PM