Encouragement That I’m On The Right Track:
If there was any doubt that I had made a wrong choice about using Ambleside Online this year for Michaela, that doubt was alleviated this morning when we started school.
It’s a refreshingly cool morning here. In fact, the weather is so much cooler, we turned off all air conditioning last night. Michaela and I retreated to her bedroom this morning, closed her doors, opened her windows and let the bunnies out to run around in the breeze blowing in under the curtains.
I asked Michaela, “Would you like to do your reading in here this morning?”
“Yes,” was her immediate reply.
“I’ll go get the books,” I said.
“Get Isaac Newton!” she yelled after me.
Inventor, Scientist, and Teacher: Isaac Newton by John Hudson Tiner
Ambleside Year 5, as part of the assigned reading, includes simply ”biography of Isaac Newton” under Science Biography for Term 1. I love that we have some room for personal choice here, and that freedom to choose on some occasions will be exactly how I work in Beyond Five In A Row this year.
We chose the Isaac Newton biography shown above and so far it is excellent. I have skimmed the first chapter and then let Michaela take off on her own. I was very pleased that she is now asking for this book, especially since she was clearly (and verbal about it) put off by the idea of reading about Isaac Newton. She told me this morning that she had expected it to be a boring book full of dates she’d have to remember. 
Beginning The Day In The Garden:
This morning began for me in the garden, thinking about how to make the most of the day. Days off go by quickly here and I know I have to make the most of them each week. If I don’t, we don’t get enough done.
I’ve been going through old magazines (I have way too many of them), tearing out the articles that I love best, putting them in clear protectors in a notebook, then recycling the old magazines. I mean, I have only so much book space and it can’t all be devoted to magazines!
Since today is September 1st, I finished up the rest of my August magazines and have now pulled out all of my old September issues. I’ll go through them little by little this month, weeding out, preserving articles, and choosing which ones I just cannot part with. Going through these magazines was a restful time and allowed me to think easily about the day’s school work that lay ahead.
I pulled out an old window to look at and dream about while sipping on tea. Thomas told me last night that his goal is to have my potting shed done by our anniversary in September! That’s two weeks away, people! Do I dare get my hopes up? He’s a busy man and I don’t like to nag too much for him to work here after he’s worked and done building all day in someone else’s house. Still, my very own potting shed/greenhouse. Sigh. I can’t wait to show you pictures.
The garden is bright and cool. The sunlight even seems different this morning. How can I share the just-right temperature with a photo?
Even the goldfish seemed full of energy this morning and there weren’t any mosquitoes that I could see, where usually they are such a nuisance, even in the mornings.
I think it’s a perfect day to do some schooling outside on a blanket.
How Yesterday Went - Working and Homeschooling:
Yesterday was a work day for me, but I had Michaela’s boxes filled with work. She moved through them with enthusiasm while I typed. Some of the things she did:
- word find
- Mavis Beacon typing
- Saxon 7/6 lesson 4
- reading in Of Courage Undaunted: Across the Continent with Lewis and Clark
- reading in Isaac Newton (see above)
- made brownies for our dessert
- worked on her knitting (scarf)
- began a science experiment from the science bags
- drew a picture for friends who are having to give up a beloved pet
- oral narration
Doing Even More As We Go Along – Finding Our Rhythm:
Today I’m off work and am trying really hard to get a rhythm going so that our weekly Ambleside reading gets done, I get my Charlotte Mason reading done, and Michaela’s boxes are always filled with work on my work days. Working in Language Arts in the Charlotte Mason style is on my list of things to conquer this week. Michaela’s a good writer — a creative writer — and I want her doing plenty of writing this year, even on my work days.
I could continue writing on and on and on, my to-do list is so full of wonderful things (art, timeline, our yearly notebook, ideas about the workboxes), but I’ll stop here. More later on how this day unfolds.
Happy Tuesday!
Lynn
for you to leave a comment, but you can also e-mail me at lynn AT thehealthyhomeschool.com
Thank you for sharing, I am always encouraged by your posts! I would love to know what lovely magazine you had pictured above
Love the window. We have a friend who replaced all the windows in his two story house. The old windows have been sitting on his front porch for over a year. He let me pick two. I got two that have four long panes in them. I hung one on my dining room wall and I put photo’s behind the glass using clear glue dots. I love the look!
oh! i so desire a potting shed made from old windows–maybe one day. time is the issue here, as well. thank you for the encouraging post regarding school! so glad it is going well for you! my daughter is in awe of your goldfish. one of our two died from a tadpole binge; we need to get another friend for the ONE who is left. reading your posts is LIKE looking through one of those beautiful magazines. inspirational!
Trinity Mommy, thank you so much. I believe that particular magazine was an old Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion, one of my favorites of all time, but sadly no longer in print.
Becky, we have a bunch of old windows that we plan to use. Aren’t they pretty? I love old, weathered things I still feel like I can’t believe it.
April, thank you so much.
I have wanted a potting shed/greenhouse for I don’t know how long! I cannot believe I might actually get one! It’ll be nice to start seeds in, grow lettuce in, sprouts, etc. I think we’ll have more year-round. I’m wondering if the bunnies would like to live in it some. 
I’m so glad you’re loving AO. We love it too!! Spring has sprung around here – we’re off on a picnic!! Yay.
So glad Jemimah’s not in school on a day like this!
We are HUGE Issac Newton fans. In our “smartest man in the world” discussions, Newton is above even Einstein on our list. My understanding was that he was a horrible lecturer, spent a ton of time on alchemy, wrote more on theology than science, and operated way out of the mainstream of science as it was being practiced over on the continent. We also believe he beat Leibniz to the discovery of calculus, but that is a little bit of a religious discussion
. We are envious of the Princess in her study of that great man.
Jeanne, thank you! We’ve made an excellent start this year! I know what you mean about having the liberty as homeschoolers to take picnics and such!
Ken, you are way above my head on the calculus stuff, but we watched an educational video I got from the homeschool conference a few years back and it did talk about his lecturing/interpersonal skills. I think his accomplishments are especially amazing considering he started life out frail and small enough to “fit in a quart jar.” Wow.
Lynn
Lynn, I still have all my old issues of MEHC–I was so sad when it went out of print. I pull the seasonal issues out and read them again every two months, as time allows.
I am sure the bunnies would love to spend time in the greenhouse–they would feel quite kin to Peter Rabbit, then, I imagine!
Dear Lynn,
It certainly looks like you’re off to a good start! How wonderful to have the freedom of choosing your own books, etc., and where to do your schooling. What could be better than reading outside on a blanket?
Love,
Marqueta
Lynn,
I cannot wait to see your greenhouse…I am sure it will be just right and your man will make every attempt to get it down within 2 weeks…as your anniversary gift to you…
I love reading about your school days…takes me to such a different place…we are gearing up for school and will officially begine next week…ON LABOR DAY…fitting start…but what my children do not know is that this “OGRE” mom for making them all start on a holiday is going to have it be a really fun day….more of an open house!
I am so glad you are loving your AO…and that it is such a great fit for you!
Blessings,
C~
April, I am keeping most of mine, in spite of weeding out old magazines. I have to admit there were just a handful of issues that didn’t have much appeal to me personally, but we can use those for school work/collages, etc. I so miss MEHC.
Marqueta, so true! I love being able to haul everything outside on a lovely day. I think I hear the playhouse calling, “Clean me up for fall!”
Carrie, LOL I feel like an OGRE sometimes too. I am sure your Labor Day start will be wonderful. I can’t wait for my little greenhouse! I’ll be sure and post pictures.
Lynn
I love the photo of you sitting with your magazine. How wise you are to take that time for yourself. You have a lovely blog. :- )
Thank you, Rhonda Jean. I think it’s wise too. I know how I get when I run so hard that I let myself go. By the way, I love YOUR blog!
Lynn