Week Two

Train up a child in the way in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

This is the hope that I cling to. So many days we are made to doubt the decisions we make where our children are concerned, and so many nights I cry out to my God for guidance and patience. I love this little girl who is longer a little girl but an amazing
young woman struggling to make her own way in this would. I'm grateful everyday for the daily moments that I've been able to share with her along this journey. Through all
the daily struggles and triumphs we have been blessed to share them together, what a
gift.

This week in Biology we continued to learn to classify organisms. We completed our
first experiment using the microscope, first viewing thread. Then we collected cheek
cells and prepared slides to view. Our first experience with methylene blue stain(messy).  Sarah really likes looking through the microscope. Yea, for excitement in a school subject.

Teaching textbooks for Pre Alg is coming along well. She is scoring 90's on her lessons. I'm satisfied with that.

Sarah has completed the Brain pop movies and quizzes for DNA, RNA, Mitosis,
heredity, and genetics. She continues to keep a food journal and jump on her trampoline in the afternoons.

She is progressing in Spanish. This week we studied different styles of South Carolina
houses. Reading about Robert Mills. She also watched videos of the shag and the
Charleston.

We read about Marco Polo and Prince Henry and mapped their travels. We have
continued to study Picasso, MRSA and not to forget grammar, spelling and lots
of literature. Sarah worked Wednesday morning at the wholesale. No animal auctions this week. Although she did help clean and disinfect all the chicken pens and coops.

Well on to another week. A few pictures of this week.

June 30, 2012 Sarah's 15th Birthday Party

Sarah opening gifts.

Opening gifts



Birthday Cake

Sarah's prized gift, cowboy boots.

Katie and JL cooking

First Week of Ninth Grade

The start of a whole new chapter in this exciting journey we travel. We have decided to start school early this year since our schedule is a little unconventional. Our goal is to be half way through by Thanksgiving. Our first week, we started by reading the Bible each morning and also Proverbs daily. Sarah will learn memory verses weekly. Our beginning study is on worldliness and learning what it is and how it affects us every day.

This week we reviewed multiplication by practicing daily, worksheets, and playing card games to review. Laughter makes learning much easier.

On to Biology. We are using Apologia's Exploring Creation with Biology this year. We discussed lab safety, expectations for daily reading, answering the on your own
questions and vocabulary. We learned the parts of the mircoscope and how to use it.
Quiz on the microscope. Off to a good start. Learning about the classification system.

This year we are also doing a middle school chemistry  to build a foundation for next year. We are having fun reading about the different states of matter, starting to learn some of the chemicals in everday items we use. Brain pop is coming in handy here also. We also learned about Lavoisier this week.

Sarah wanted to learn about the body systems, so this week we studied cells. She read a magazine by Kids Discover about cells, watched Brain Pop movies and took tests on
cells, cell structures, cell specialiazation, cellular respiration, and cancer. She ended the week by labeling a cell.

We started Rosetta Stone Spanish this week. She is enjoying this very much. You
must use the microphone and it keeps beeping until you can pronounce the words
properly.

American History seemed a little boring to both of us. This week was about Leif Erikson. She also read Walk the Worlds Rim. Not sure if its the curriculium or what, I guess we will see.

Language Arts started with capitalizations rules, spelling and vocabulary. We are doing extra spelling and vocabulary this year, gearing up for SATs.

We tried to spend some time studing Picasso. We read about his background
and looked at some of his work. Sarah found his work to be "weird". So much for art
appreciation from a teenager. We will keep trying.

We studied MRSA this week. What is is, where it is found, how it is treated, etc.

This week Sarah also went to the animal sale on Tuesday night, worked her regular job on Wednesday and kept up her chores with the animals.

We also had a wonderful family celebration with our family on Friday night. What a full and busy week.

02-10-2012

It has been quite a while since I've posted. So much has happened. Sarah has grown and matured

so much. Our family has become even more important to us this past year as we grow and change. Sarah is in the 8th grade and learning a lot. She takes a ballet and pointe dance class on

Monday nights, a guitar coop on every other Tuesday. Also one of the advantages of homeschooling is that she is also able to do an apprenticeship on Wednesday mornings. She is

currently learning and working at a wholesale auction. As she learns the trade of auctions she is

learning valuable work ethics and skills. We appreciate the blessings of close friends allowing

her this opportunity. She currently is part of a service group, Three Rivers Juniorettes. They

choose and execute service opportunities. So far this year they have formed the group, elected officers, participated in Relay for Life walk, collected and donated hundreds of pairs of socks to

the battered women's shelter, sponsored a self defense class for teen girls, and collected and

donated parent packs and stuffed animals to our local children's hospital. They have lots of other

activities planned. Sarah is currently serving as the vice president of this group. She is also on

the yearbook staff for our local homeschool group. Learning many skills in putting together a

yearbook. She was able to attend the Winter Formal this year. Sarah also keeps up with the

chores necessary to keep our farm running daily. She has learned about goats, chickens, and

rabbits and how to care for them. Retail and wholesale auctions have helped her to learn to

buy and sell retail and livestock successfully. All of this is in addition to her daily studies, and

lots of field trips. What a true blessing it is to work beside and learn with her.

Wolf Tale Blues Drama Production 11-23, 2009

Tonight Sarah and her drama class performed their drama skit. They were so excited. Ms Rose has really worked hard with them and it shows. I'm so proud of how well she is doing. Looking forward to a new semester to see how much she improves. 1) Ms Rose reading a book to the audience. 2)Ben Smith, Della Bryant, Ashleigh Milam 3) Savannah Clayton, Karis Clayton, Patience Hildreth 4)Ben Smith, Della Bryant, Karis Clayton and Sarah Black 5) Sarah Black , Karis Clayton 6) Sarah Black
7) Hope Hildreth 8) Ashleigh, Hope, Sarah 9) Ms Rose

I do not, do not, do not like dogs. Sarah loves this dog. I love Sarah so much and such a small concession has brought her such happiness. She dresses, bathes, brushes, and loves on Princess all the time. She has whole conversations with her. Princess is so sweet natured and just loves Sarah. This was certainly one of the best things that could have happened to her this past year. We are anxiously awaiting the start of a new year.

November 19, 2009

Sarah loves attending the Senior Citizen's Center with her Grandmother. On Thursday Nov 19, 2009 the Seniors had their Thanksgiving dinner with the adopted grands from one of the local schools. Sarah got to go and help serve the dinner and mix with everyone. She has been around for so long she is considered an adopted grand to many of these precious people.