Olio of learning

The last few days have been rather uneventful. The kids seem to have gotten back into the groove of morning classes quickly, although I have had to explain several times why we're not taking the week off since it's technically our 4th week of school. After I told them we have most of July off, they weren't upset and have worked very hard.

In typical Aiden fashion he's already taken his spelling test for the week. I found some 5th grade spelling lists that they're working on. I was astounded that he quickly learned to spell achieve and acoustics among others.

Zoë has been devouring books. She's finished The Westing Game and is ready for the discussion on Thursday. She reads at the grocery store, as she's eating lunch, and while she's walking around the house. She finished both the library and Barnes and Noble's summer reading programs weeks ago.

They're both learning to read music now, and seem to enjoy that part of piano practice. We've also started a new system where they have to write everyday for 20 minutes. I don't care what they write, and I don't edit any of it, but I spend time telling them what I liked most about the work. I just want them to get used to sitting down everyday to get something on paper. They really took to the idea of setting a timer and we've incorporated that into Spanish, reading and spelling practice too.

They have almost earned their first reading party day. It looks like probably some time next week we'll have our party. They saved the beads they earned during Mystery Camp and yesterday we were going to add them to the jar. Aiden put his in with a sour look on his face and Zoë didn't even want to add hers. I knew right away what they were thinking, but pretended to have no idea why they were upset. Aiden said that he didn't want to use the beads from Mystery Camp because they were smaller than our beads and that would mean that they'd have to earn more before they could get their reading party. Zoë didn't want to add the beads because she was afraid that the next time they were working toward a reading party they would have that many more they'd have to earn. I gave them both an extra bead for thinking and communicating and let them count out the same amount they'd earned from our beads. They were thrilled!