The Learning Umbrella

Tomorrow is April Fools!  This is a completely serious plan, however.

Carbon’s School

Carbon is doing really well with his numbers all of a sudden, so I need to order him the next workbook for math (1-100 comes next, then it’s the beginning of addition).  I also have some new books out from the library of math activities, so I’ll skim those and pick a few things to do this month.  Handwriting continues to get better, and is just plugging away in some workbooks.  Carbon is interested in a drawing course - any recommendations for something laid back and appropriate for preschoolers?  The Bob books are at my Costco right now, so I’m going to buy those for his reading practice.  We’re still writing our own little primers also.  And the Easter bunny brought him Charlotte’s Web, so that is our read aloud right now.  For geography we are leaving Europe and heading to South America.  I have lots of books on their way from the library for that.

My sister’s school

J. is horribly behind schedule again.  So we have a plan in place for catching up, and she also has to start two new units.  April is the beginning of a new quarter, so I got a new schedule book/syllabus printed and bound for her.  She’ll start a unit on “arts of the Revolutionary period” which I put together with the idea of giving her some review of the history she just studied.  She’s going to read The Autobiography of Ben Franklin, the poetry of Phyllis Wheatley and Freneau, and look at all the paintings done of the war.  Her second unit for the month is “personal fashion”, so she’ll be sorting her wardrobe and doing a few projects to alter or create clothing for herself.

Mommy School

I need to read the poetry that I’ve assigned J., since I’ve never read it either.  I’m taking a break from the heavy literature, and I’ll read some history books this month instead.  I’m reading a novel called Patriot Hearts that might send me off on a quest to read more about Jefferson and Sally Hemmings, and about the French Revolution.  And I’m still trying to learn French!

Earth Scouts and Church

April is all about Earth Day, but our Earth Scouts group decided to start work on a badge for Participatory Democracy.  So we are going to have some activities about democracy at our next meeting, and then I need to help Carbon create something about democracy.  For our action, maybe we can volunteer to do something for my MIL’s campaign.  At church, I have a “retreat” (really a day long meeting at the church - I don’t think it should properly be called a retreat) for the Religious Education Committee to begin envisioning next year.  I also have four stories to put together for Sunday School.  We’re doing all Earth themed stories to build up to Earth Day.

Home and Garden

I’m deep in the process of gardening now.  I just got another huge raised bed, and I need to get some good soil for it.  I’m happy to have less grass to mow, as my yard becomes mostly garden!  We have a big list of outdoor chores and building project, including a new house for our chickens.  I also have a big list of Spring Cleaning chores, and I need to repaint my kitchen ceiling and get a new light fixture in there.  As the weather gets better and the days get longer, we are going to tackle our space and make it nicer.

Other

I have another (hopefully final) interview for the job I want.  I may or may not have to do a story performance as a sort of audition for it.  I also need to FINISH and FILE our TAXES.  I have a few swaps this month that I need to create things for, and I’m going to sort everyone’s wardrobe and look toward what I need to make us for the warmer weather.  Definitely some knit skirts for me and some short sleeve tunic-type tops.

But all this work will be in more and more SUN, and there are FLOWERS to smell this month too.