So, my darling granddaughter and I both got our Kindle Fires that we hoped for for Christmas and just love them. So much you can do on them. Glad it's not bigger, really.

But, for doing our daily reading, we are keeping our old kindle keyboards, because they are easier on the eyes. Oh, I expect if I got to the park or something, I'll have to chose one, but that will be difficult. The fire needs the wifi to do lots of stuff, and the regular kindle just for reading purposes needs nothing. You can always plug in or reach wifi if it's nearby, but for reading, you don't need it.

We read together, frequently and thats one way to improve reading speed. Another is to learn lots of sight word recognition so you can identify a word so quickly your brain can accept it for it's meaning and you don't have to stop and think about it.

Both techniques are used here. Along with comprehension booklets with tests and interesting stories. I love reading, and hopefully, these kids will as well.

Just for fun, I printed up some colorful counting worksheets so my darling little one would have something to do while the older children are doing school each day. Little did I know how thrilled she would be to be doing school, too! She's doing just dandy with counting, and although she wants to skip from 30 to 100 without going all the way, she's just doing great.

Pattern recognition, matching, counting, same and different, are all concepts she's got down already! It's amazing. I also found Kidzui browser for kids, and she spends tons of time online now, learning all sorts of things. We are starting simple word families, and ABCTeach has word wheels for teaching word families. We put a few together today to be ready,but she wanted to do schoolwork on a holiday! Sheesh. We can wait till the others are working first. Then she doesn't feel left out. She loves getting a stamp of a star on her papers, and proudly shows them to mom and dad when they get home from work. She's going to be an early reader for sure. Makes an old grandma feel really good.

Think we might improve lots of stuff once furniture is back in place. Got grammarlogues and ABCTeach, so I now have a shot at really spending some time with my 6th grader on understanding grammar better, and it might improve her writing as well. Have also been using Writingfix.com available also on Facebook for writing assignments for her.

My guy is getting ready to do driversed.com and in a few days that will be functioning. His Algebra 2 will be on the way as well very soon. He's also going to be working on GED prep assignments free from the library online, and has already gotten passing grade on a sample math test....although had to do it twice to get a feel for the questions, and text taking techniques. But that is a goal for him. As he has no idea what interests him and he needs to know what to further study besides the literature and things I assign. I tried a programming course.....no interest. We are also concentrating on learning functional skills like Excell and will work on wordprocessing techniques as well as database design and function. He's already gone through setting up a bbs online, which was a total failure because of so much spam...and lack of interest. But we continue to pursue other things available through very simple web design available at cpanel on his own site.

I believe we should be doing planning, and while we have some ideas, it's difficult to pinpoint everything with this rampaging 3 yr old stuffing things in the toilet, and getting into such mischief everyday. She's amazingly creative and original. The other two were sweethearts at three (although I'm to understand my memory is faulty about that) and I used to have time to read something now and then. Now, it's really difficult.

The boy is concentrating on GED practice studies, and working toward getting that behind him this fall, probably November. I'm sure he can pass it already if he applies himself. But we have to do some learning other than that as well. We've concentrated briefly on mechanics of spreadsheets, and went to the trouble to set up a forum online, a big danged effort, but it's hopeless. Too much spam, and he doesn't want to spend the time to maintain it, so we plan to take it down, and try something else, like experimenting with joomla or something like that, getting the feel of blog software, too. Learning how to get around cpanel on the hosting site is another challenge. All good stuff, but he seems to be bored with it. Doesn't have a particular interest except Diablo. We tried Physics, and the course we tried was not the right one for him. We shall look for another that makes more sense for his learning style. Algebra 2 is on it's way, and that will be a trial for him. We intend to do more Shakespeare and other literature, although he's already read several of the books 11th graders usually read. Might concentrate on poetry for a while. Spanish too. Driversed.com is in our future, and it's too scary to contemplate!

Hazlitt's Economics in One Lesson isn't really just one lesson. It's an entire book. However, it's pretty clear, and the points are made concisely, leaving no room for equivocation. If my grandson can get this, and understand why interference of government into the economy, unions and their effect when they demand wage increases, that wages are actually prices, prices of labor, etc. All told, it's a good comprehensive beginning economics for my high schooler, and I'm glad I got it free long ago. It now cost money on Amazon.

Amazing! This team that couldn't win all year, only tied twice has won two of the playoff games already! All of a sudden, these guys have become elated, excited, and are now winners. It makes such a difference. It also says that each failure is a stepping stone on the way to success, and we don't start out life with success. We have to work hard for it, and it's not automatic.

Sometimes, even losing is a learning experience. I was once told that to do a masterpiece painting, I would need to do 1000 throw aways first....and think of each one as a stepping stone on the way to success.

The season has been a real bummer from the standpoint of games won....that just hasn't happened. My grandson's team has lost every game except for the three they won. Tragically, there didn't seem to be a sense of commitment among the players this season, and while we stress that when one is part of a team, others just too often didn't show up for games. It was fun to go practice on Friday nights, and I know he enjoyed that a great deal. His stance at bat, and paying attention to the game while in the dugout has improved considerably. Too often players from a prep team had to be recruited to play the games.

There were times when other teams had to borrow players from ours to take the field, so I know it isn't just our team. It must be a function of the age. These boys are just not reliable yet. Pity. Because there were some really good players on the team, and they could have done so much better. Two playoff games remain, and it's already into hot summer, so they won't be easy, and won't be cool!

All in all, the experience has been valuable.

Amazing! Teaching Textbooks has done such a great job with this geometry program, my grandson is almost finished. Only 10 lessons left! Whats more - he's consistently grading 23/24 or 24/24 each day! Hey! I think that means they do a great job of teaching it!

Biggest pain for this guy is writing....so he figured out a way to find all those symbols and type all his answers and proofs on the computer. Whenever he's motivated to find an easier way to do something, I think it's wonderful. We are reading Hazlitt, and of course, getting what you want or need with the least effort is everyone's goal, the world over. Something that gets lost in the minds of politicians.

Lemonade stand is up and running, they have started a mowing service.... made flyers and circulated the neighborhood. All of a sudden, money is important to these boys! Will wonders never cease!

I'm thinking about half of this is actually sinking in. That's a good thing. Fortunately, Hazlitt wrote an easy to read little study of economics long ago and while some of it seems dated, some of it is very much on the mark in dealing with the economy we are suffering through today. I don't know if many in actual high schools are doing economics at such depth, but we are. The history was so quick and easy, it's already over.

Sixth grade has begun, and along with it computer troubles. Fortunately, while it's nice to keep grades in the computer, it's not necessary. We have another used laptop on the way from ebay. This one could die again any moment.... will be passed on to the three year old.