More Exam Results, Term 1, 2013/2014 School Year, Day #3

More exam results for Y8 and Y10, Term 1. Lee said today that it's funny how she thinks most students dread 'exams' but they {her brother and her} are all excited for them. I'm fairly certain it is because school takes a fraction of the time during exams. She did ask me, Monday I believe, what I intended to do with the exam results. She thought I threw them away! No, I don't throw them away; I enjoy reading them at later dates, and I think she will enjoy having a look back at them as well some day. But what I answered was: I will look to see how well they were able to answer the question. If there is an area that needs work -are they able to name names of people and places, are dates given, are the details good- then I will work on focusing their lessons in the coming term. There is also the benefit of coming to terms with a book; should it be continued, should it be dropped; has it been too difficult, too easy; was information retained or was it a stretch to get much out of it. 

They've both really liked the format of the exams. They've been able to choose what they do each day. They've done quite well with alternating their subjects, as well as doing chores and other activities in between subjects. 

And now, onto the results.

Y8

Literature

3. Amyus and his friend Rayleigh are in Ireland (I think). They are walking through a bog when they hear a woman's wailing. Rayleigh thinks it's a banshee but Amyus just laughs at him. "I'm not scared of a banshee. Besides they aren't even real." Amyus told him. "What is it then?" Amyus shrugged. "How should I know?" They keep walking for a bit when they hear it again. "I don't like this Amyus. We should go." Amyus smiled at Rayleigh "What is there to fear? Look, there is a house yonder." Amyus headed to the house. Rayleigh reluctantly followed. They found a lady wailing over a man's body. Upon inspection they found the dead guy was a well known, no well liked {not well liked?}, priest. Amyus and Rayleigh were happy to see him dead. "Good riddance I say." Rayleigh commented. Amyus nodded in agreement. "Let's get going."

World History

4. The Spanish Armada was, obviously, from Spain. At their time they were the best Armada in the world. Their rivals, the British Armada, had been in disarray for a long time. Spain and Britain got into war with each other. Spain thought; Oh, this'll be a walk in the park since our armada's so wicked awesome! Britain realised that they were in trouble. They had some guys fix the Britain armada in hopes it would be good enough to go against the Spanish Armada. And it was. The Spanish and the British clashed in a massive sea battle. The Spanish were utterly defeated. The Spanish Armada never was as impressive again. The British Armada had started to become the best Armada the world would see for a long time.

Citizenship/Government/Worldview

4. Utopia is a fictional world created by Sir Thomas More. It is set on an island. There are multiple cities. The people of one city rarely  go to another city. The people wear simple clothes. Slaves wear gold and other precious materials. But to the Utopians there is little value in gold in silver, that is why slaves wear them. The people war very rarely and when they d they use animals instead of people. Their houses are alabaster and rounded. People all switch houses every year. They pick lots and each moves into their new home, no arguing or questions. To travel you have to have a permit and if you are caught traveling without one you get sent home. If this happens a second time you are given the wonderful position of slave. 

{Note: I find that Utopia is better suited to the "Literature" category. Sir Thomas More never intended this story to be used as 'citizenship' or a guide for an actual way of living. But I've left it where it is in AO's line-up.}

5. An important news story this term was the government shut-down. The government shut-down for 16 days, after they could not reach an agreement about Obamacare. This shut-down closed national parks, monuments and memorials. In Washington, D.C. veterans pushed away barricades to the WWII memorial. Places such as Yellowstone were closed. People couldn't go to certain jobs. The shut-down cost about $24 million! In the end the Senate caved in to what Obama wanted for Obamacare. During the shut-down the Senators still got paid. {He drew a little 'annoyed face'.}

Math

He did one lesson in Life of Fred: Beginning Algebra.

Sign Language

We all had a nice, albeit short, conversation in ASL.

Picture Study

This term all our pictures were painted by Degas. The one I will talk about today is his work titled Race Horses. There or 4 or 5 men on horses, each wearing a jocks outfit. It looks like it is summer; the grass is brown and dying. There are stands with people on them. Most of the painting is tan. 

Y10

Bible

5. The concept that struck me most strongly was when she was talking, in various chapters, about how we may doubt over our salvation for various reasons, and how our doubts don't change the fact that we are saved. I used to have doubts about that- I thought, "Am I truly saved? I don't always act it," and various other thoughts. My doubts don't matter, don't change fact. I learned to say with a firm voice that I am saved, no matter what doubts come into my head. That's just Satan trying to weaken me- but he'll never succeed again!

Composition/Literature/Poetry

4. Monsegniur (don't know how to correctly spell that!) Bienvenu, the kind Bishop who is the main character, went to visit an old man who used to be a revolutionary or something, and had had a hand in disposing of monarchy in France. As almost perfect Bienvenu was, he did have a few hard feelings about the gentleman's actions. They had a chat, in which Bienvenu's feelings are changed. The old gentleman dies later, alone and despised by others for who he had been- but Bienvenu feels more kindly toward him.

English Grammar/Editing

2. Completed a page in Editor in Chief.

American History

1. Washington was still young when slavery ended; he really didn't remember much of life from then, except the bare cabin his family lived in. After they were freed, they went to Virginia, where his father worked in the coal mines. Washington started going to school, and he always had a hunger for education. He saved money to go to Armstrong's school (I forget the school's name) and there he not only 'book learned' but learned some essential skills of life, such as keeping clean and working hard. These values he learned, he later taught at his own school in Tuskegee. 

Geography

3. The beliefs of the people at the time were that the plague was passed by physical contact. So most people stayed home all the time, or when they had to go out, avoiding touching others like the plague (pun intended, that's probably where we get the saying). It was a bit of a mistake to believe that, because if you did touch someone, you would literally worry yourself sick! Also, staying home didn't help much either. One man Kinglake visited stayed home the whole time, but still caught the plague and died.

Chemistry/Nature Study/Health

9. Excess insulin has several effects. Having excess insulin gradually makes your muscles insulin resistant, meaning everything goes to your fat cells instead. Excess insulin comes from eating too many carbs, too often. Insulin gets used to having to work harder, and it may work too well sometimes, making you go from sugar high to sugar low.

Sign Language

Had a 'conversation' in ASL.

Picture study/Music appreciation

2. You probably saw this one coming! My favorite piece of music is the folk song "On Ilkla Moor Baht 'At". It is a traditional Yorkshire song, and it is a bit silly. It's about someone who goes courting Mary Jane on Ilkley Moor without his hat. The singer says he'll catch cold and die, then worms will eat him, ducks will eat the worms, and we'll eat the ducks, so we'll be eating him! And that is "wheear we get us oahn back." I wonder if the singer liked Mary Jane too?

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The number of questions they have for the week, in total, was divided up over 5 days to come to a daily number of questions they had to do. I'm not opposed to them doing more one day than another; they've chosen to spread it out over the entire week. I am thinking that tomorrow, Thursday, they might be tempted to do a couple more so that Friday is even lighter for them. Friday is movie night at our house. And since they've done quite well this week {good attitudes, helpful, consistent with school work and chores}, I'm going to let them get some candy to have with their movie. I think that will pretty much tip the scale. I have a feeling Friday will be a very light day.