Monday 3-25-2021

 Had to run to the post office this morning to mail some packages, so we listened to the audio of SOTW. With all the time we spent in the car, we managed to finish Volume 3 completely. Finished the Mexican American War, read about the Maori and British in New Zealand, and finished the the Gold Rush. Lots of discussion about who were good guys/bad guys, or if there even were any. Also why the people selling equipment became lots richer than those panning for gold. The kids' favorite story was Hone Heke and the flagpole. Now I have to figure out the best way to split history for the next while because Aaron isn't ready for the stuff in Volume 4 (world wars, Holocaust, etc.). I think I'll have him do Maryland state history, mostly because I've always wanted to learn it. 

Seth day today, so I sat next to him while he did Khan. He had a bit of a struggle with some ratios, but we got it. He actually does better if I can't help him, which doesn't surprise me. He just likes the backup but doesn't need it. He's at 96% now. Catherine did a Mastery Challenge in Khan. Her long division is getting much stronger. I pulled out the fraction manipulatives in order to help her see that 1/8 is half of 1/4. Hopefully that will help. I talked Aaron through equivalent fractions as well. It seems much more intuitive to him. 

I also set up a school schedule for Elise. She has assignments to do every day, mostly for my sake. Just with us singing the ABCs and pointing to letters in the morning she's already made great strides in learning her letters. I just feel stretched thin, so it's hard to make sure she gets attention. 

For writing, Jon had the brilliant idea to have Seth email the director of the magnet program he's interested in. He started working on the draft today. Catherine is allegedly writing in her journal, and Aaron is still working on that email to Elliot. 

For reading Seth is plowing through the Ender's Game books. Catherine randomly read the entire Fantastic Mr. Fox book today, plus some National Geographic magazines someone donated to us. And Aaron also read a Ranger Rick magazine. 

Seth's Spanish is going much better. We're almost caught back up to where we were when I decided to go back and solidify his conjugations. Still can't remember what nosotros means for the life of him, though. He also very much enjoyed his chapter about the discovery of anesthesia and how the two men ended up dying and going insane fighting over who should get credit. 

At lunch we watched a Ted Ed on pi, a video on starfish eating (thanks to a random Aaron question), a video on the Mexican-American war, one on the Treaty of Waitangi, one on the Gold Rush, two Minute Physics on dimensions and falling through the earth, and ended with a Mark Rober on Carnival Scam Science. Aaron also gave us a hilarious lesson on not lying about schoolwork for FHE.