I'm amazed at how much we are able to learn regardless of where we are or where our supplies are. ::snort::
We've continued our study of Japanese Culture. We've been able to find a lot of books at the base library for this....and we're enjoying ourselves. We've built lit, history, math, language, and art around this topic. Arielle enjoyed The Master Puppeteer enough to suggest I read it aloud to Zander and Nolan. I'm doing this and she is listening again. Jared wrote an 8 page paper on Saigō Takamori, his life and exploits as the "last samurai". This wasn't assigned, but he wanted to do it and it makes him happy. He is currently working on a comparison between English and Japanese Feudalism. He felt his study of the time period with TOG was great background on England, and this has always fascinated us so he has a background....and he's now researching the Shogun era.... We're watching Shogun and enjoying it. Our favorite thing is trying to translate the Japanese language in the movie. ::snort::
Every outing is a field trip that ties into our oversall unit study. That's mighty convenient.
Jared is soaring with Pimsleur. We're still debating if we should hire a private language tutor (EXPENSIVE) or go to a language school in Hachinhohe. Both have their advantages.
Jared and Arielle continue to sift through the book Kim gave Jared on Kanji. I continue to say, "Anyone KNOW what that sign says?" as we encounter various traffic signs and posted signs on our adventures.
Jared and Arielle attended a meeting to help with the RE Carnival coming up this Sunday. We're excited for the kick off of RE.
Zander is on lesson 7 of "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons." He'll read eventually, I'm fairly sure. He nearly blew out my eardrum - seriously, my ears were popping hours afterwards - when I told him, "I'm not sure I heard the last sound in that word, say it fast again." He leaned up against my ear and YELLED the word. I had to explain that when I say I'm not sure I've heard a phonics sound it may not be volume that needs to be adjusted. ::snort::
We've hit on a great way to do spelling. I give random words. Nolan writes it down. Arielle writes it down WITH a sentence. All make up a silly sentence at the end of the day.
We had our second pottery class on Friday. I can't wait to see all that they are making.
Yep - School is in session!
Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.
~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...
Four years ago, on Labor Day, I began a blog as a way to document Stacia and Zander's childhood for our adult girls. Within a week, I'd decided Choosing Joy would document our family journey (vs the Stacia Show) and my focus group would be "family and family like friends who think 3 years with the Goecker's on an assignment is not long enough". ::snort::
There have been seasons when I've felt that the blog should "say more," be "meaningful," and such....but I always come back to the foundation of simply documenting our lives for family and friends.
Thanks for those who've stayed around and continued or begun relationships via the blog. I've enjoyed the new relationships, as well as the older ones. There have been perks I never thought of when I began....
I may be hopelessly behind on scrapping but I AM documenting our family's journey. ::snort::
Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.
~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...
