End of Term

We end our first 12 weeks with a myriad of Christmas activities. The first was the Nutcracker on Saturday. On Sunday the Grandmas visited for our traditional cookie baking day (are we the only family to make the Ghost of Christmas Past sugar cookies?). Monday we delivered cookies and cards to the local police and fire stations. Steve and I finished the last of the wrapping. I’ll do a bit of cleaning in preparation for Christmas company, and then we'll have a nice long break with dad and the final preparations for our second 12 weeks (checking book selections, gathering books, compiling art study prints and composer selections, etc). During our break we hope to go ice skating at the zoo, visit the United States Air Force Museum, and to spend a day at Roscoe Village. Oh, and I said I'd start potty training with Charlie. Right?

We accomplished most of what I'd hoped for this first term. The basics are in place and I finally found a piano teacher that we like and can work with our schedule. The teacher is pleased with how they respond to their lessons, but was a little surprised at how helplessly "unmusical" they were when they started. I have noticed in the last few weeks they are spending more time experimenting and "playing" on the piano in addition to their practice time.

Next term we will work on building consistency in composer and artist studies, memory work, Bible reading, nature journaling, visiting the library, learning hymn and folk songs, and handicrafts—each in their turn. I'd like to get better at alternating head and hand activities as we work through our day. Then there are narration and reading skills to build with Madison, and Maya has been begging me to "sound out words" so I'm sensing it's time to organize reading time with Maya. It's hard to figure how everything will fit into the day, but as we slowly build on our basic schedule I trust we'll become more adept and the kids will gain independence and proficiency as they grow and mature.