Our Homeschool Week in Review

Since it appears that I haven’t down a week in review post in months, I guess I should call this update Our Homeschool MONTHS in Review. Most of the time I feel that what we do each week isn’t exciting enough to post about.  I only have two left in school, one in high school, and one finishing up 8th grade. They mostly just do book work. I can only post so many pictures of them sitting with books. lol

Now if I was posting about my struggle of getting my 14 year old to stop playing video games and actually do his work, I would have plenty to say. sigh….

Our Homeschool Week in Review

To catch up on the last few months…….

Abby turned 16 and got her drivers permit. She was so happy! And I’m still alive.

She has been preparing for a mission trip this summer with Teen Missions International. She is so excited! She has finished her fundraising. She was able to raise all the money needed for the trip as well as her airfare. She has raised a little for spending money, and has now taken a couple of jobs so she can save more money for her trip. She is babysitting a 1 year old and a 3 year old three days a week at their house. She’s gone 9-10 hours on those days, and comes home very tired. She has also started teaching piano lessons here at our house. As of right now, she has two students, and a couple more that are interested.

Last fall, Abby started to play volleyball again for our local homeschool team for the 4th year in a row. However, she was having so much pain in her knee, that she dropped out. The ortho couldn’t find anything wrong, but it was still painful for her even when she wore a brace. I have missed her playing very much. She may get to play again this fall, it depends on when she graduates.

I require all my kids to do at least 20 hours of volunteer work during their high school years. Abby started volunteering at the local nursing home last fall. She enjoyed it so much that after her 20 hours were done, she kept going. I didn’t add up all the hours, but she got in over 40 hours easy, I think it might be closer to 50. She just a couple of weeks ago stopped going. I think she would have kept going, but she activity directer that she worked  under wasn’t giving her anything to do anymore so she stopped. I don’t have a picture of her working at the nursing home, as no pictures are allowed inside, but here’s a pic of her volunteering at the clothes closet that we work at.

Abby has been playing piano at least twice a month for offering in church. She has also started volunteering to work in children’s church every other week. We have mixed feelings about this, as we always kept our kids in church with us when they were little. However, it was something that she really wanted to do, and she’s good with the kids so we are letting her for now. She does everything from playing the piano and leading them in songs, to helping them with crafts, doing the lesson (sometimes prepared by her), and helping with their snack. Overall all, it has been a good experience for her.

As far as school goes, lol, she has just about finished all her credits to graduate. She has to finish geometry, and a consumer math course. Then she only needs one more elective credit. She has opted to use her mission trip as a drama credit, since she is going to be doing skits, puppets, and the like as part of her trip. Since her trip is for almost 2 months, I think she will get more than enough hours for a credit.

So if she finishes her two maths before she leaves in June, she could graduate when she returns in August. If she drags her feet with math, as she has been doing, then it will be up to her when she graduates. I’m ok either way. She is only 16, so I’m fine with her waiting and graduating at the end of the year, or even next spring.

Here’s Zach the first time he rode in the car while Abby was driving. We were only driving around the church parking lot! lol

Going to the movie theater is pretty rare for us, but we did take Abby & Zach to see Night at the Museum Secret of the Tomb when it came out in December. They hate when I take their pictures outside the movie theater. lol At least Abby smiled. lol

Zach started taking Kung Fu last fall. After Abby dropped out of volleyball and it’s tough schedule, I was able to get him involved in more things. He really likes it, and has passed two belt tests. For the first, white, belt. And then for his yellow belt. Here he is shaking hands with his instructor after his yellow belt test.

And with  his certificate

 

He also starts 4-H Archery Club this Saturday. He really liked archery camp that he attended for a week last summer, and is looking forward to participating in this club. Our county doesn’t offer this club, so we have to go to the next county over, that my husband works in and we do most of our shopping in. So it’s fairly convenient for us to get to.

Zach played a Wiseman in our church’s Christmas play. He even had a couple of lines that he had to memorize.

 

Speaking of Christmas, Zack got a bb gun and a sword for Kung Fu for Christmas. Probably the only time you will see someone wielding both of them at the same time. lol

 

Zach, ugh, is dragging his feet with his school work. He is finishing up 8th grade. Well, he only has one subject left to finish. that would be history. He recently finished a couple other subjects, so will be moving on to 9th grade work in most subjects the next week or so.

Zach participates in youth activities at church, also. Most of his time, however, is spent playing games. This has turned into a major battle for us. I wouldn’t care so much if he would finish his school work first.  I am constantly having to tell him to get off the games and finish his work. sigh

However, this is not my first rodeo. Having dealt with his two older brothers, who also liked to play games instead of work, I will win this. He forgets who he is dealing with. lol

 

My father in law passed away last fall, so it has been an adjust for us, as well as having to do lots of paperwork to settle the estate. Add in everything else going on, like family activities, church activities, volunteer work, we have been very busy these last few months.

Now, I think, I am up to date. Although, I’m probably leaving out a million other things. lol I’ll be back, hopefully, to posting an update weekly!

 

 

To see more homeschooling posts, visit:
Weekly Wrap Up
My Week in Review