Heart of Wisdom Academy

I'm currently listening to:

Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord for the 2nd time. It is an amazing seminar for parents of children under 10.

Courtship. Yeah that time is approaching soon. Basically my husband and I are starting to have dialogue about the kinds of conversations we need to start having with our children regarding boy/girl relationships. I am comforted by Isaiah 28:9-10

Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

When I feel like I have to teach them everything today, I'm comforted by this scripture. Here a little and there a little.

I want to listen to:
About 10 messages from The Baby Conference

And some messages from Dr. S.M. Davis. I found this website on the Duggars website and there are some messages here I'd really like to listen to.

My iPod gets me through laundry and I'm so grateful.

When I looked under my labels I saw that I had only one posting under pregnancy, so I decided to post an update. I'm six months now, time has flown by quickly. Usually whenever you're pregnant time drags on. This pregnancy has been relatively uneventful and overall the best pregnancy I've ever had and I praise God for it! With my oldest son I had the severe form of vomitting that lasted until the day I delivered. The twin pregnancy wasn't too bad, but I was severely anemic and had constant fainting at night. My last son's pregnancy was the worst. I had gestational diabetes, a very painful lupus rash (if that's what it was), and all of his heart complications that had me at the doctor 3 and 4 times a week. So in comparison, I'm doing very well. My blood pressure, blood sugar, and iron levels are all great. The last couple of weeks I've had fainting/dizzyness, but it's getting better everyday. My energy and sanity are pretty good for a big pregnant person, I usually lose those too. The baby moves a lot but its not painful like my last pregnancy. This baby seems to be very healthy. His heart rate is good, usually in the 150's. He has had several ultrasounds and we meet with the high risk doc. to monitor his heart. The last echo of his heart looked great, he'll have another one in a couple of weeks. I am very anxious to meet the new baby and name him and cuddle him and nurse him. We have no names, so suggestions are more than welcome. I don't have much to do to prepare for baby. I need to get down the baby clothes and buy a drawer to put them in. I need to buy snappis and Lanolin. I think I'm in the market for a new nursing bra. I've been using the ones from my first birth and they're showing signs of wear. I need to get some diaper covers and make a few more diapers. I think that's about it. I went to Babies R Us this week. Not to buy anything, but just to look. That's what pregnant people do I told my husband. It was fun looking at the overpriced posh baby bedding and sitting in the recliners. I got to see those new denim diapers that I'll never pay $20 a pack for! I also went to Best Buy and looked at those super cool washers and dryers. I guess when you have 5-ish kids your defintion of cool becomes slightly altered. These appliances were pretty enough to sit and watch like TV.

3rd grade planning
Bible Study:
• Read Bible daily
• Memorize scripture
• Build Christian character through scriptures
• Continue through the Narrow Way Curriculum and Parables

Language Arts:
Reading:
• Kingdom Series: Thanks Davene! We're enjoying them!
• Kingdoms Dawn
• Kingdoms Hope
• Kingdoms Edge
• Kingdoms Call
• Kingdoms Quest
• Kingdoms Reign
• Knights of Arrethtrae
• Sir Kendrick and the Castle of Bel Lione
• Sir Bentley and Holbrook Court
• Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart
• Lady Carliss and the Waters of Moorue
• Sir Quinlan and the Swords of Valor
• Sir Rowan and the Camerian Conquest
• Little House on the Prairie Series
• Bible Nurture Readers Grade 3
• Abeka Readers Grade 3 and 4
• Bobbie Twins Books
• Box Car Books
• Squanto Friend of the Pilgrims
• The Chalk Box Kid-Clyde Robert Bulla
• How Many Days to America-Eve Bunting
• Toothpaste Millionaire Jean-Merrill

English/Grammar/Spelling
• Rod and Staff English 3 (2 units left)
• Rod and Staff English 4-STILL NEED TO PURCHASE•
Worldy Wise 3
• Spelling Power Book C
• Italic Handwriting Book C
• Typing

Math
• Rod and Staff Grade 3• Daily Word Problems Grade 3•
Rod and Staff Grade 4-STILL NEED TO PURCHASE
• Daily Word Problems Grade 4-STILL NEED TO PURCHASE
• Review Add and Sub facts
• Memorize Mult and Div. facts
• Library books: fractions, decimals, large numbers, geometric shapes

History:
• Story of the World Volume 3
• Story of the World Volume 3 Activity Guide- STILL NEED TO PURCHASE
• Kingfisher Illustrated History Book
• Usborne History
• Library books subject 1600-1800

Science:
• Sonlight Science 4 –STILL NEED TO PURCHASE
• Jonathan Park Vol 2 and Vol. 3- STILL NEED TO PURCHASE• Library books electricity, magnetism, and energy

Spanish:
• The Complete Book of Spanish- STILL NEED TO PURCHASE
• Library books and videos

Memory Work:
• Review continents
• Review oceans
• Review Books of the Bible
• Review ABC Scriptures Set A 1-26
• Begin Presidents
• Children’s Catechism up to 71
• Begin ABC Scriptures Set B 1-26

This is our 3rd/4th grade plan for this year. The Kindergartens will be continuing Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons We'll also work through basic math using the library and Math U See Primer.

2 pieces of useful information:
The released Virginia Standards of Learning tests
The released California Standards Test

My view on tests:
I don't teach to the test at all, but given the poor state of America's educational system, any literate child should be able to meet these minimum standards. I only care about English and Math (tests), that's what you need to function in the world. If you can read, then you can learn history and science but you learn more through field trips, experiments, and living books; those are my main methods for these subjects.

I want to diligently teach English and Math. Part of their highschool graduation requirement is to pass the CLEP tests in English and Math. My school, my rules; and those are my rules. If they are ambitious and desire to take more CLEPs they are welcome, but they are required to show proficiency in English and Math. They must also take the SAT. Now that I've gone to college, I know first-hand that the first two years of college is just a review of highschool. It makes sense to just do the work once, and get the college credit for the classes. The children may choose not to go to college, but it's really of no consequence, whatever their occupational choice, they need these basic skills. They need to develop testing skills and discipline in study. They need to develop perseverance through hard and seemingly meaningless tasks. They need to develop a good work ethic. Check out College Plus Initially I was against testing because I thought it was pointless and ineffective. But since I've become an adult, every job that I've worked has required tests (reading, writing, comprehension, math, and typing). This is becoming the norm. Kids don't need to be afraid of tests, they are a part of life. Well that wraps up my 2010-2011 plan. I'm well enough acquainted with homeschooling to know that all or none of these goals may be achieved, but man plans his ways and God orders his steps. We'll see how the year goes.