AO year 1, week 25, February 3

Yesterday, we went to a huge used book sale in the city and I bought a stack of books. I found many wonderful books, field guides, picture books, piano books and art books.

We started reading one, and it is, in particular, very cute. It is called Racketty-Packetty House by Frances Hodgson Burnett (of The Secret Garden fame.) We read the first few pages. It is about a little girl who has an old doll house that belonged to her grandmother and then she gets a brand new doll castle.

We finished up our school week today. We started by reading Matthew 1:18-25 and Fina gave an excellent narration!

I set the timer for 15 minutes and she was able to complete 13E and the front page of 13F in her math book.

We read this lovely poem from Oxford Book of Children's Verse.

"My Mother" by Ann Taylor (1782-1866).

Who fed me from her gentle breast,

And hushed me in her arms to rest,

And on m cheek sweet kisses prest?

My Mother.

When sleep forsook my open eye,

Who was it sung sweet hushaby,

And rocked me that I should not cry?

My Mother.

Who sat and watched my infant head,

When sleeping on my cradle bed,

And tears of sweet affection shed?

My Mother.

When pain and sickness made me cry,

Who gazed upon my heavy eye,

And wept, for fear that I should die?

My Mother.

Who dressed my doll in clothes so gay,

And fondly taught me how to play,

And minded all I had to say?

My Mother.

Who ran to help me when I fell,

And would some pretty story tell,

Or kiss the place to make it well?

My Mother.

Who taught my infant lips to pray,

And love God's holy book and day,

And walk in wisdom's pleasant way?

My Mother.

And can I ever cease to be

Affectionate and kind to thee,

Who was so very kind to me,

My Mother?

Ah no! The Thought I cannot bear,

And if God please my life to spare,

I hope I shall reward thy care,

My Mother.

When thou art feeble, old, and grey,

My healthy arm shall be thy stay,

And I will soothe thy pains away,

My Mother.

And when I see thee hang thy head,

'Twill be my turn to watch thy bed,

And tears of sweet affection shed,

My Mother.

For could our Father in the skies

Look down with pleased or loving eyes,

If ever I could dare despise

My Mother?

Isn't that so moving? When I finished reading it, Fina was moved and hugged me and kissed me and told me that I was "the best mommy in the world" as she says! What a sweetheart. She understood it! I just love moments like these!


We continued with her cursive work, reviewing S (from many months ago) and learning T. And Fina wanted to review all her letters so far, so we did. My letters are in red.

Fina reviewed some of her recitation, and she learned the next line from her current Twelfth Night passage.
She read 6 pages from Frog and Toad aloud to me. She is doing wonderfully.
We sang our hymn and our folksong.

And Fina started learning how to crochet! It takes a lot of co-ordination, but she gave it a good effort. We will work on it a bit each day.

She spent a few hours outside playing with her friend T in the afternoon. It was cold, but it was a sunny day!