What exactly has been going on during the past 6 days?? … it’s all a blur. Which is the reason I told myself to write these things (on a daily or every-other-day basis) in the first place.

Today Trishy and I played lots of games and started re-reading My Father’s Dragon. I noticed when she narrated, for her lapbook, that she sort of saw the story as a series of images; she didn’t seem to explore cause-and-effect or notice how Elmer overcame each problem he faced. I wanted her to “get” the plot. So in this reading, I’m casually highlighting these things, through questions and comments (“Wow, this is a heck of a problem he has. So why did he offer the rhino his toothbrush, anyway?”)

While we were reading, she decided to sketch the things Elmer put in his backpack on a piece of notebook paper. This included a compass.http://laughingstars.homeschooljournal.net/wp-admin/edit.php She asked me what to write on the compass, so I explained the different directions (N,S,E,W) When we’d reach a new part in the story, we’d look at the map at the beginning of the book and notice where he was traveling in his adventures. This kiddo DOES like maps. Then she started asking which direction he was going and marking it on her compass sketch. Plus as Elmer used something in his backpack, like when he used the chewing gum to placate the ravenous tigers, she’d cross that item off her paper. Too cute!

We also played lots of games. Games she’s played lately include all the 10 Days In… games (strategy, sequencing, geography, map skills, visual & auditory memory) and Atlas Adventures (geography, map skills, visual & auditory memory). As we were playing the 10 Days In … games, she suddenly pulled out her world map jigsaw puzzle. She started looking at some of the things on several of the 10 Days boards (large maps of Europe, Africa and Asia) and pointing them out on the world map. This is the first time I’ve noticed that she connected the 10 Days boards with the continents on a world map. It may sound odd, but I really wanted her to make this discovery on her own, which she did. I think she’s starting to make important connections in her understanding of world geography.

Another game we’ve played recently is Chinese Checkers (strategy). It was interesting to see that she was actually beginning to think 2 or 3 turns ahead, which shows more complex strategic thinking might be budding. Very cool! Plus Mastermind (deductive logic, sequencing, and strategic thinking) and Rat-a-Tat-Cat (addition, comparing numbers, and basic strategy).

James has been working on his video game module and playing video games. Today he took a break from shooter games (if I hear the words “Left for Dead” one more time, I may run through the streets screaming) and started playing Sim City 4. I bought him this game after reading about it in Everything Bad is Good for You. This kid likes Sim games … creating worlds and ruling people appeals to him. The boy has a God complex, methinks. This particular game is VERY cool — you have to make all kinds of decisions as you construct and run a city. I believe there’s a lot of dynamic problem solving, because everything you do has an effect on everything else, and things can change. Right now he’s struggling with getting electric power for his city.

Sarah is still immersed in movies and movie reviews. Today she and her dad went to see Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

Thursday evening,  Trishy and James had good friends over while their mom was at a city council meeting. James and Sarah had some other good friends sleep over Friday night and stay for much of Saturday. So things have been noisy and eventful.