Have you ever had one of those weeks? You know those weeks. There’s just constant motion. It’s all a blur. Half the family (or all of the family) is sick as a result of allergies. It’s a struggle to get started with learning each day. Nasal sprays, bottles of Gatorade litter end tables and dot counter tops. Yet extracurricular lessons and the social lives of my older children keep us in constant motion. And, in the mix, those character training moments are a constant drain.
Bible study for four-year-old – the same story studied on Sunday! Math doubles with first grader, graphing…while 13-year-old divided percentages of fractions and little ones then play an elaborate story with stuffed animals and dump trucks…
Some weeks like this I wonder if we ever really learned a thing. Just when I am right there in the midst of overwhelm, a homeschool highlight stands out. Those homeschooling light bulb moments come along. Designed perfectly for my family – all those ages – by a Heavenly Father who knows best.
Our God is faithful and able
To keep us holy, to walk us boldly into the land
He is a mighty warrior who rules in mercy and His name is worthy
Of all of our praise…
We had a few moments like that this week. The clouds parted overhead, a bright beam of light shone on the middle of the kitchen table and a chorus of angels cued their glorious song. (not really but it felt like it!)
Thursday morning as I am browsing Pinterest, I see this simple model, build with a paper plate that my friend, Phyllis at All Things Beautiful had pinned. Simple model of rotation http://pinterest.com/pin/45458277460107502/ (You really should follow Phyllis!)
We will make this today after lunch! So we do. (after several bumps and interruptions). We made the model then opened our AiG science book. And what did we study? Here’s an example of Unplanned Interwoven Learning. I’m going to call us Kinematic Academy now. Kinematics is – The study of motion. “Kinematics is the study of how things move. It is the study of speed, velocity, and acceleration.”
1. Our Answers in Genesis Machines and Motion Science studies | 2. Playing with Earth Paints again! | 3. A cotton plant from my friend Amy’s yard | 4. Eldest Boy finished Do Hard Things and is reading Start Here | 5. Sisters on a beautiful fall afternoon | 6. Fair ribbons!
I was telling Hodgepodgedad about these layers and levels of learning. I described our model and how simple it was. The study of motion, the rotating earth, the moon circling the earth. And guess what he said. He said, “but there’s even more motion going on in that model. Not only is the earth circling the sun and the moon circling the earth. The earth is rotating on it’s axis. The moon is rotating on its axis. They are speeding through space and twirling.”
Yes. Just like the basketball player spinning the ball on his finger. We’re all in motion over here. Makes my mind spin sometimes. Yet each axis point is planned. That we learned this week – yes we had a Sunday family meeting with our homeschool planners. But I didn’t feel like it was productive. There were many times this week I was overwhelmed. But I found that everything we read – from math to history to science to even the little ones’ lessons – all mentioned the earth, moon and sun in some way. The rotation and spinning.
But learning still happened in spite of me. There were homeschool highlights to celebrate.
We entered both flower shows at the North Georgia State Fair this year. The first flower show, Littlest Girl received Best of Show for her red-orange zinnia. And she was awarded a crystal dolphin in addition to three wonderful ribbons! The second flower show, Middle Girl received Best of Show for her pink zinnia! We will pick up her awards this weekend. All three younger children were winners of first, second and third place ribbons in both shows.
Drama Troupe…dental visit…pick up fair flowers (wow!)…cheesecake with high school friends…take flowers to 2nd show…(wow!)…see the animals…piano lesson…church activities…SCREECH, SMASH…my friend the ice pack
1. My bloggy business cards for Savvy Blogging Summit next weekend – still tweaking | 2. Waving bye to Daddy going to work | 3. The Gospel Project – Bible study with my Sunday School ladies | 4. Starfall with preschooler | 5. Fair winners! | 6. I went to Cheesecake Factory with high school friends! | 7. Animals at the fair | 8. Nature study on the back door – spider eggs | 9. Homeschool lunch – nibble tray |10. My friend the ice pack after I fell the other night
A homeschool feature this week. If you have littles, I encourage you to click over.
And so, since it’s somewhat of a blur, I’m not sharing specifics this Friday. But I am resting, leg propped. Could it possibly be a holding pattern? Nah. Just here to encourage you that He’s got a handle on your homeschool. He knows. And will always be those weeks. The song that is sticking in my head from all the motion this week?
“I’ve been keeping my eyes wide open…Your love is symphony…all around me…running through me…Your love is a melody…underneath me…running to me. Your love is song.” ~ Switchfoot
Not your typical weekly wrap but maybe next week I’ll be back with the regular 🙂
Many thanks to our Friday hostesses!
- Homeschool Mother’s Journal at iHomeschool Network
- Collage Friday hostess Mary at Home Grown Learners
- iPhone Photo Dump at Passport Academy
- Jamerrill at Holy Spirit-Led Homeschooling
- Weekly Wrap-Up hostess Kris at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers
- No Fear Homeschool High School at The Daisy Head
I invite you to subscribe to Hodgepodge (it’s free!) Don’t miss a homeschool post!
How about you. Have you had one of those weeks of constant motion?
Mary says
Oh, I really wish I was going to Savvy Blogging so I could see you — I got off the wait list, but had to give up a ticket since we will be leaving for Colorado on Sunday. 🙁 I hope you have a wonderful time, Tricia. I know you will learn a TON!
I’m praying for your knee — how is it?
I love the “nibble tray” — we have a lot of lunches like that around here.
Thanks for always inspiring me!
Hodgepodgemom says
Mary – I am really looking forward to Savvy Blogging Summit – so much to learn and so many great people to meet in person! (you have a wonderful time on your CO trip!) My knee is improving every day (as long as I am still) 🙂
Phyllis at All Things Beautiful says
Oh, yes! We have certainly had those weeks, too. Hope you rest and heal this weekend.
Angie Wright says
I was just trying to put into words a post similar to this. We had that light shining angels singing moment in history this week – where all of the chaos came together for one amazingly long and detailed revelation type conversation. Sometimes I wonder if I’m getting the most out of this journey, and if any of the little pieces are coming together for the 6th and 9th grader. But then it does. On the side – In art ,or nature, or science or on a car trip – the wrap up converstaion shows how amazing this journey is. Great post!
Heidi @ Home Schoolroom says
Hi Tricia,
I love this wrap-up. It may not be your usual but it is great to share in the whole journey with experienced homeschoolers and see that you have THOSE weeks, too!
Hope you don’t need the ice pack for long!
Barb-Harmony Art Mom says
But doesn’t it feel more like you accomplished something when you get to the end of the week? Reflecting back is always way better than when you are in the midst of it.
Sending healing thoughts for your knee and hoping next week is a bit less “in motion”.
Hodgepodgemom says
Barb – it most definitely feels like we accomplished much – that’s what I had hoped to convey in this post. That despite all the spinning that we really did learn a great deal – and this reflecting in a weekly wrap helped me to see that. That in spite of me we had learning woven together in all our subjects – and it wasn’t even something that I had planned! So grateful for that. Thank you for healing thoughts 🙂
Lauren says
ribbit ribbit! Hop hopping, all day long! Fortunately not every day, some days are worse than others 😀 and we have textbooks/ reading books at the table too! They actually sit and listen REALLY WELL if we do it over mealtimes 😀
Lisa says
Coming over to visit from WUH. I just LOVE weeks like this– not the head spinning part, lol, but when it “all” comes together, even in ways you never expected. God is in control, that’s for sure. 🙂 I hope your knee is feeling better soon and that you are relaxing this weekend. Many blessings, Lisa
Keri says
Yes! we have and in fact this past week has been one of those for our family. Between Dance, Co-Op, college classes (for me), work, homeschooling, and playing taxi for my oldest (she has a better social life then me lol) and then my middle child getting a cold. O’ and now I am adding teaching a highschooler to the mix (Thank you ! LetsHomeschoolHighschool.com) Just been a blur all week. I am just so glad it is Sunday and we have a brand new week starting. I just hope it’s less stressful 😉
~Keri
Connie, the daisyhead says
We’ve had a similar sort of week this week. Whew!
Thanks for linking up to HomeSchool High! 🙂