The Witch of Black Pond,

In April 1687, 16-year-old Katherine Tyler leaves her home in Barbados after her grandfather dies. She goes to Connecticut to live with her Aunt Rachel and Uncle Matthew in their Puritan community. Her free-spirit rebels at the rigid constraints of the communities religion and she befriends a old Quaker woman labelled as a witch. Eventually false acquisitions pile up and Kit ends up enduring a terrifying night running from a 'witch hunt' and ending up in jail awaiting her trial.

   To cultures collide in this gripping story! I could hardly put this down! It was a interesting look into the Puritan religion and a bit of a look into the persecution the Quakers endured. Although the book has what I would call a strong bent against the Puritan religion, it is not unbalanced in its judgment of the individual people. Kit learns much from the enforced change to her normally free, and impulsive lifestyle, and her character is greatly strengthened throughout the story. Thinking through the consequences before acting is a big thing that she learns, but this does not play out in her becoming timid and action less. Instead I think it refines her courage.

    This book will open great conversations about different religions and how people tend to treat those of other cultures/faiths. The tendency in people to condemn what they do not understand can be seen clearly. Of course all conversations should be in light of the Bible! How would Jesus teach us to treat others?

   There is some romance in the book. As always the feelings that may be stirred up inside from this will need to be openly discussed with your daughters. Kit is courted by a young man who seems infatuated with her, but she only looks on him as a escape of the life she is leading now, she does not love him. There is a kiss, which she is confused by because of the feelings that does arise in her. I find her confusion and thought processes in regards to love to be much more realistic then most 'romance novels' and so that is why with some care and open communication, I think I would allow my daughters to read this around the age of 14/15+.  Kit's confusion about her life and love does not gain clarity till the very, very end of the book. So there is no long gushy, lovely duvey thoughts in the book. I believe it presents a clear view of love in the parts where it deals with it.

Romance: 2
Language: 0
Violence/Scary Scenes: 6
Recommended Age: 14+

Our Eggs are Hatching!!

 

Who ever thought we would get so much enjoyment out of a $1.50 'toy' from the dollar store??

These little eggs take about 12 to 24 hours to hatch and then the baby needs to grow for a day or so more before you can play with it. Jem picked a lizard, Katie picked a snake, and Vienna is hatching a alligator. I must admit to being interested in the crazy things myself, and I think I might just buy a bunch more next time I am at Dollarama for gifts ect...

Curriculum Choices 2017/2018

After much time, effort, frustration and head scratching, not to mention being interrupted by two little children bawling their eyes out from three (THREE!!!) bee stings in less then 10 minutes... I have some hopes of smoothing out in my mind WHAT I am doing this year.


--Lenna, please see the notes for questions I have, thank you!--

For Math:
   Jem will do Horizons Math 1
   Katie will do Horizons Math K


For Language Arts:
   Jem will do Just Write Book 1 and Explode the Code 3 & 4
   Katie will do Write about Me and Get Ready for the Code C
   And together we will read 2 Progeny Press book studies, I have ordered 'Bears on Hemlock Mountian' and 'the Courage of Sarah Noble'

   *Note* It was also suggested that I add Language 2 from A Beka for Jem, and Letters and Sounds K5 also from A Beka for Katie. I would like to pass with that as it seems like a lot of extra work that might be covered already, but I am really not sure... Please give me advice?


For Social Studies:
   Jem will do Canada Map Book 1
   Katie will do My Very First Primary Map Book
   And together we will go through My Kindergarten Social Studies Bundle  as well as ordering from the library some of the books included in these bundles, rather then buying them.


For Science:
   Together we will go through the Sonlight Science A and also read Earth's Water Cycle, The Water Cycle, and What is the World Made of? Solids, Liquids and Gases

   *Note* I have not officially ordered this Sonlight Science A, because this is one that I am really not sure HOW to order using my PO#, if you could advise me on this specifically that would be lovely!


For Reading:
   Jem and Katie will be going through Hooked on Phonics Learn to Read levels 4,5 & 6 together, I hope this will help Jem with reviewing what he learnt last year and give him a good foundation in this area that he struggles with. I have hopes that Katie will do well with this too, she will be totally new to phonics/reading!


Bible/Art/P.E
   These are things that will just get done through daily life. My kids are extremely active outside, they love to color, paint, model with play dough ect, and we do family devotions twice daily with them, so I do not plan to get any structured curriculum for these subjects.

Nature And P.E. 😁

A book about the first European to cross Canada...

We enjoyed this book together today. 

Crafts and Jumping

We had a fun craft time/outside time today, despite the silly weather... Sun, rain, sun, rain, thunder... I guess that's spring! 🌞 ☔⛅🌷

What have we been up to lately??

---School over view of what we've been up too. Ant study, math, lots of read aloud (this is only a few of the books, I am reading everyday with them for 1/2 hour, so we gets lots done) copy work, oral dictation... and as shown below, lots of creative play!---

---Jem used his own strength (with some help from preggo mama) to build this driftwood fort! (It was half built, but he made the roof and one wall) ---

---Spool knitting was a hit for a day or so, but they got board of just long chains, I might look into a bigger set so they can make something else too.---