Jaden
Jaden is very much self-propelled in his learning, which is what I'd hope for a child (and have always been so myself), although he may be a bit too much. He's getting way ahead on some things, while he's lagging behind on others, but I guess I shouldn't worry about it, as surely he'll see more and more, as time goes on, that he'll need those other things, too. I want to see improvement in his writing and great improvement in his math. His reading is quite advanced, and his knowledge of sciences, history, geography, bible, and other areas of study are high.
We will work more seriously now through the remaining three of four areas of science in the textbooks over the remaining three years of his basic studies (the goal is for each child to be ready by twelve or thirteen to transition into mostly self-study and training to be an adult, including college classes). He's finished with life science (botany, zoology, and human anatomy and physiology). Over the next year he will do earth and universe science (geology, astronomy, meteorology).
I've been fine with using the simple God's Design for Science series, because science is something that I teach so much of without a textbook, and the kids have all so far been very exploratory. The books pretty much just operate to make sure nothing is missed and the learning of terms.
We'll also be using these brightly illustrated, informative Usborne books. Since we've had them, they've come in handy.
I estimate these three books (Goldfish, Honey, and Ice Cream) will take the next six months to complete. He's slow at math, but since I switched to The Life of Fred, I went backward a bit, so I'm planning with these next two or three books to do two lessons each time. He's handling it well so far.
Time to start volume 2 of 4 in The Mystery of History. I'm excited! I love this curriculum.
We didn't speed through the first Sequential Spelling book, but now that he's long ago got it down, and he's improved so much with his spelling, we have started to go through it quickly with much success. It was actually two years ago when I started it, but we went long lengths of time where we didn't even work on it. So he should be able to get through these two books in a year to a year and a half.
Jaden will get eight weeks of classes this year, rather than four, about which he's thrilled. The downside is that they charge twice as much now. Jaden has looked forward to the youth pottery wheel class for years now, as they did not allow it until the age of ten. Looks like they now allow it at age nine.
Some of Jaden's current big things he's got going? Planting various seeds to grow things (especially fruit trees), experiments with metals and chemicals, reading about new technologies, reading Christian biographies, making candles, baking, caring for our chickens, and more.
Trusten
Trusten is a very bright child with a wonderfully sweet side, but he's still very difficult. He alone can cause great chaos in our household. Punishment makes things increasingly worse, and the removal of rewards has never had a long-lasting effect. Gentle words and in-depth discussions work the best, but it's often a challenge to even get to that point with him. He suffers from just about every category there is under the Tourette syndrome umbrella: tics, obesssions and compulsions, hyperactivity, sensory issues, and behavioral problems that include violence, destruction, depression, sleep disorders, copralalia, copragraphia, meltdowns, exhibitionism, perversions, etc.
The good news is that he, unlike his older brother, swallows capsules whole with no problems and gives me no trouble when it comes to taking supplements. Supplements do seem to help (he's extremely picky, so nutritional problems is a main factor, I believe), but I've not yet tried the TS Control by Bontech for him. I had bought it many years ago for William (whose symptoms are very mild and not nearly as far-reaching), but he wouldn't take them, even broken open in foods. After a great delay from the manufacturer, my order from a month ago is finally on its way. I will try them for two months, and I'm praying hard that they will make a big difference for him (and thus for us all).
In spite of all the trouble, there are some days he's my favorite child. You never quite know what you're going to get. Ironically enough, he seems to be a good judge of what is right and wrong. Even though he struggles with his own issues, he possesses a strong sense of moral judgment and fairness (which is actually typical of middle children).
Thankfully, for the most part, he gives me very little trouble when it comes to his school work. :-) Also a big plus for me is that it seems that math comes pretty easily for him. Praise my Father God! This is just what I need. I'm not a big math person, but Jaden is even worse, and it has been a literal nightmare at times doing math with JW!
Trusten is nearly finished with the Rocket Readers Learn-to-Read Bible. He'll then go through the upper levels of the Rocket Readers books and other learning to read books. It's working out well. Rocket Readers is what I used with JW, too, and I don't figure I'll ever use anything else. I'm hoping the Learn-to-Read Bible I've got will last through the girls. It was used and a bit weak in condition when I bought it five years ago to use with JW, and it's increased in wear.
Trusten will be going through life science over the next year. Jaden will sit nearby when going over botany, so that he can get a review, as it was a good while ago when he went through it.
We are already nearly halfway through Our Christian Heritage for history and geography. After we finish that, I'm sure I'll focus more on geography with him, using our various resources.
Already a third of the way through book 1 of Explode the Code. He enjoy is and is doing a very good job! He can read the instructions and do the four pages each day himself, just as Jaden did. I may get the remaining books after he's finished with these. He finished his last Language Lessons book, and he'll work on this series and won't go move on to the next Language Lessons book, until he's finished with these.
Trusten has no interest at this time in pursuing any activities outside our home, such as lessons in music, art, sports, dance, theater, or otherwise (except swimming, in which I'll enroll them all in again next year, as they haven't been this year and last). Until he is more stable, though, perhaps it is a good thing. I fear sometimes what would happen...
As of now he usually only spends the minimal amount of time he must outside (except some days he enjoys more time). He does enjoy some exploration and such, but I wish he'd spend more time enjoying such things. If he is not allowed to play video games or watch video (the former from which he's been cut off for months now, and the latter from which he's been cut off for a few days), there is nothing inside he wants to do, either. He does sometimes look at books. Most of his free time, though, is spent ticcing or harassing Olivia.
He does often play with Elizabeth, which is a nice thing. He loves her dearly, and she loves him back.
I've started teaching him more things in the kitchen so that he can soon do some of the things Jaden William does there. He seems very interested, so I'm pleased about that. I'm glad about anything he shows an interest in, that is beneficial. I don't want him to be productive in good ways. I want him to succeed!
Trusten is still a very funny, witty, and clever little boy. He makes us all laugh when he's in the right frame of mind.
Olivia
Olivia is only improving on her motherly skills. She is so sweet and very intelligent. She is the most advanced in conversational ability of all the children, for her age. She enjoys helping with Elizabeth, and she speaks gently to her baby sister and leads her away from trouble. As William did at this age, she talks all about being a woman and a mother (William spoke of growing up to be a man). Trusten did not go through this normal stage of child development.
Liv enjoys handling creatures, just as Jade does. She feels bad for creatures who have been hurt or killed.
If the boys aren't harassing her or being mean in some way, the only thing Olivia really ever does that is wrong is getting into things that do not belong to her and/or stealing the things. If I could ever keep that child out of my refrigerator, cabinets, closets, drawers, etc., all would be very good! LOL I just remind her each time that she's breaking God's 8th commandment and that that means she is walking on the path of wickedness. She usually cries out that she wants to be on the right or good path, and she apologizes.
Liv, whenever I test her, knows most of her letters. The last time I tested her a few weeks ago she didn't get four or five letters right. She can count to ten without much issue, but I'll keep working with her on it, until she gets it without skipping.
She likes to draw people. I've tried teaching her how to draw trees and flowers, too, but she says she can't do those, yet. She has been working on her shapes (other than circles, which she has been able to do for a long time). Her people look interesting. She does like to still scribble a lot, too.
She plays iPod games still, when I let her. She also has had an increased interest in books.
I got her and Elizabeth some more crayons (jumbo for Happy), new Play-Doh with a fun wooden play kit for the Play-Doh, and I got another set of paints for all the kids, so we don't run out any time soon.
Paints, crayons, and Trusten's Explode the Code books that came in an order from Amazon, along with stuff from Fred's.
Liv has been flying through some preschool workbook pages on circling "same," "different," "bigger" or "smaller," etc. She loves to cut. I'll be working with her more on coloring, folding, cutting, and pasting. Trusten will also join in to work on more of these things.
I'm trying to go through some of the workbooks I've still got around, so this numbers book will work out well for Olivia to do some math out of. I have not started her on Language Lessons, but I plan to before the end of this Roman year. She will start writing the alphabet, etc.
Elizabeth
The biggest thing with which I want to work on with Elizabeth is language development. She still doesn't say much, though she understands perfectly fine. She has started carrying out requested tasks like throwing things in the trash or putting clothing in the laundry basket. She still loves to mimic animal sounds and tunes to songs. She just doesn't utter many words at all. She's got a big heart, though. She says, "Awwwe," when she hugs someone or when someone hugs her. I know she does this, because she has heard me so many times say that when the children hug each other. She makes kissing sounds to let you know she wants a kiss. Anytime anyone cries or gets hurt, she pats, hugs, and loves on the person. She seems to love everything flight (hmmm...wonder from whom she gets that). She loves butterflies, birds, airplanes, etc. Her obsession, though (besides milk and cuddles) is fans. She loves all sorts of fans, and she's literally hung up on them.
She'll be included in many activities along with Olivia.
Okay, so I'm hoping I included everything I wanted in this post. I've got to post on Feast of Trumpets and then two or three weeks of things. This is it for today, though!
Until next time...
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