The Trouble with Multiplication

Recently, Alana's multiplication problems have been getting harder and longer. She seems to get lost somewhere in the middle and forget to multiply by some of the digits.  The understanding is there, though. So, taking my knowledge about dyslexic learners and my research involving the Orton Gillingham methods, this is what I came up with.
A hands on multiplication center.

 Taking some old number cards that I still had laying around and then adding some more made of 4/6 cards cut in half, I set up a problem. Alana uses the cards to solve the problem, renaming etc. as she goes. I also cut some strips of black construction paper and some smaller pieces for her to use to make her symbols and lines.

 Once she is finished multiplying in the ones place, she turns over that card and follows the same procedure once she is done with the tens place, and the hundreds place.

 This seems to help her focus on where she is within the problem and what she needs to do next.

The final addition line may not be added until the number of digits being multiplied matches the number of rows to be added. After several problems this way, I switched to doing a few problems on graph paper and WAALAA, she is now able to get her multiplication problems correct. This method apparently worked to help her process the whole thing. Interesting the way different kid's brains work, isn't it?

Hearing Voices

Our family has enjoyed, in years past , taking music lessons from our friend Mike Drinkwater. Mikayla and Nathanael starting taking piano from him way back when they were 8 and 10 years old. A few years later, Mikayla started flute lessons with him and Nathanael started trumpet. Then, Alana started taking piano from him. She was more of a challenge to teach, and we weren't sure that it would be possible. But he worked so well with her, that she has been able to make it through several beginning piano books. In more recent years, he noticed that Alana had/has a very strong voice and encouraged her to take voice from him. She was horribly embarrassed to sing in front of him and take direction from him at first, but now it's old hat, and she loves it. We love hearing her voice from her upstairs bedroom as she practices with the tapes that he records for her to sing with.  Mikayla also added voice and learned enough from him in the brief time that she took from him to be recognized at school and given private lessons whenever they could fit one in. We loved hearing how far see she had come when she landed the lead in the operetta, The Mikado, while attending Dublin.   Now, she has made voice performance her major in college. We have thought of having Nathanael add some voice lessons to his already busy schedule, too, because lately, his voice has finished it's adolescent squawking, and we have heard a clear, strong bass coming from him during the singing at church. THRILLING to this Mama!

So, knowing what a wonderful teacher he is, I had an idea. It struck spur of the moment. Alana had caught one of her hacking colds and couldn't make it to her regularly scheduled lesson. Nathanael also had something else that interfered, so he couldn't take the time slot either. We like to take our scheduled time because we pay for a full month. If someone can't make it, we switch around so we don't lose that time. Ok, so, not wanting to lose the time slot that we paid for...I suggested to my husband that he and I go and get Mike to practice with us for our upcoming special music for church. Mike, a member of our church, could then accompany us on Sunday. Perfect idea. Terry was all for it. So, I started looking through music, picked one for us to sing together, but also found one that I would like to work on for the future. I was playing it and trying to sing it. It took me a minute to figure out why I was having a bit of trouble with it. It was written for a tenor. A guy's piece. HMMMM. Well, people really don't realize what an awesome voice my husband has. He has never had the opportunity to hone his gift, however, so he doesn't sing a lot. He has a beautiful voice.
Well, I conjolled and begged and  finally he agreed to give it a try with me plunking out the melody. Then, it was time to head out to Mike's for our "lesson". I conveniently included the music that we had just tried, convinced that Mike would be able to get him to sing it. We went over our duet and in no time had it ready to go. Soooo, what shall we do with the rest of our lesson time? Oh, look I just found this music. Think you could teach Terry a thing or two about singing this? Haha. Mike got right into it and Terry had a wonderful voice lesson then and there. Our favorite music teacher declared at the end that Terry needed regular voice lessons since he had a gift. Mike says that he has long heard his voice, and has wanted to give him lessons for a long time now. So, who knows. I might be hearing Terry's voice practicing warm ups and pieces soon. I, for one, am excited about the possibility!

School

Our first day of school, for those of us still enrolled at the Upcott Homeschool anyway, was spent in D.C.

 I can count educational field trips as days of school. 

D.C. has been all chopped up , fences put in ,and extra walkways added since we were there last. So, it seemed that we had to walk forever to get from monument to monument. We went to all of them that we could walk to. I didn't remember that the Jefferson Memorial was across the river, so just took a picture of it from the bridge.

 This was the first time that Terry and I had seen the WWII memorial.

 I thought this was so cool the way we were all reflected in the wall where the Navy men were memorialized at the Korean War Memorial.

Mikayla's first day at the university. Classes didn't start for another few days.

I believe I can fly! Spread your wings, my precious girl!

Mikayla  madly shopped for textbooks online in the hall of her dorm. The hallway has the best wifi signal. haha.

 I only cried twice. Once, because Terry reminded me of something Mikayla had done as a little one, and once because we all gathered in a family group hug while Terry prayed right before we left to head North. I would've been fine, but he prayed too long!  So, you see, both times were all his fault.

Our second day of homeschool was spent at Cowpens, S.C., a Revolutionary War battlefield and museum. I had left the camera in the car during that tour. Our third day of school was at Gettysburg, which had my son, the Civil War buff, in his glory.

 He especially loved hiking up Little Round Top to find the 20th Maine memorial.

 If you look closely, you will notice that Terry really enjoyed this field trip as well.

Alana enjoyed the museums at Gettysburg. She remembered reading about the little girl who wrote to Mr. Lincoln to ask him to grow whiskers, and we found a display about this in the museum.

Our fourth day of school was spent at a living history museum, Old Sturbridge Village. This is so much fun to see people in period dress acting the parts of the villagers. We met a tinsmith, a farmer, a hunter, the minister's wife ( she was awesome! lol.),and the stagecoach driver, and a few random villagers. We even got to take in a Punch and Judy show.

Alana's first day of the 6th grade. I asked her what her favorite subjects are so far this year. She said Reading and Science. This amazed me, because Reading has always been her hardest subject. She seems to be doing so much better in this area. To use her words, "It isn't as much work to read as it used to be, and the stories are better in sixth grade." Well, HALLELUJAH! Hopefully, this continues.

Nathanael's first day of Tech school dawned wet and dreary, so I took a picture of him in the car before he went in.  He has enjoyed his first week of Building Trades. He is still doing his regular high school subjects at home, and he says his favorite subjects so far are Biology and Literature. Both of these subjects are completely mom taught this year. Meaning, without the help of dvd's with prepared lectures.  Hopefully, I can keep just enough ahead of him (his brain amazes and challenges me everyday!) to make Biology work out well for him. I have very good material, but I have to study more than he does, and I dread the dissection lab work. Thankfully, we bought him Geometry done with a tutor on the computer, and online World History. That's not all he's doing, but you get the picture.

And so, the Upcott Homeschool has already logged 8 days of school for the 2012-2013 school year, Mikayla is happily enrolled in the University of her choice, and Terry and I are holding on for dear life. Because these years with our "big" kids are just flying by. praying every hour for God's power in each of their lives.
"...He that hath begun a good work in you, shall perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."

Wings

As I sit here typing, suitcases, boxes, bins, and bedding surrounds me, ready to be packed into the car for our trip south. Bob Jones University awaits. God has a plan to continue.  I've been told not to cry. Even though I understand the embarrassment and angst of the person who asked this of me, it's almost laughable. My answer was, "Moms cry. I wouldn't be normal if I didn't. Be prepared to see me cry before, during, and after this milestone. Because, after all, I cried during almost every other milestone in your life, like learning to walk, so of course I will cry during this much more momentous occasion." Before having children, I never would have thought that I would be such an emotional Mother.  It's all good, though.
So, we've taught learning to walk and run. We've taught reading, riting, and 'rithmetic. We've taught life skills (although, I think I failed at teaching cooking. sigh.), We've taught independence. We've tried to teach faith, trust, and dependence on God. We've taught her to use her gifts in His service, and many other things too numerous to list.  All of this while pleading with God to fill in the gaps left by our humanness. Yes, I know that I'm really not completely done teaching her. But this is a transition to adulthood. So now it's time to give flying lessons.  She has had a few lessons in this, as you know. Out of the nest she goes. Praise God for His work in our family's lives! And please pray for Mikayla as she tries out her new wings.