Back after break ~ Weekly Journal 1-4-13

I was so glad to get back into our routine this week. I didn't even take the day off for New Year's. Mean, I know!

The Christmas decorations are put away and I can now find a flat surface in my house that is not filled with something. I do love the decorations and the celebration, but the clutter gets to me very quickly. When I was younger I used to feel like everything looked bare after things were put away. Now I relish in it. I think I have become a minimalist. Less is better. (except where books are concerned) Ahhhhh!

I was excited to get started back to school for a couple of other reasons too. Sophie stated AAS level 1 and Luke started PAL writing Part III.

I knew Sophie would be excited to start spelling. A new poster hanging on the wall to put stickers on, to track accomplishments. A new tab in her Language Arts binder. Oh the excitement! She is a bit bummed that she was only doing oral and segmenting work this week though. She keeps begging me to write words in her binder. I keep excitedly telling her, "Soon, very soon!" I hope her enthusiasm continues for many years. Keep dreaming, I know.

Luke, on the other hand, was either going to love or hate his new writing. Frankly I did not really know which way it would go. I only knew he would have strong feelings one way or the other.

 Drum Roll please.....

He really likes it and was so proud of his first story. Score!!!

Here he is working diligently. We did the outline together and I helped him with the spelling as he wrote. Then each day I scribed as he told me what to write and he copied the paragraphs.

After he finished it all up, he made a cover page and the title is The Three Bears and Snoop.

Have I said lately how much I am loving PAL?  Did you say No? Oh, well then let me tell you that PAL Rocks!! 

Many other fun things this week, but these were the "must blot about's".

Anyone else using PAL Writing Part III? I would love to hear how things are going.