week 15: 14th-18th

Last week before winter break!

We had an easy, slow week with mostly book reading and some co-op fun!

Michael does a lot of learning based around Minecraft. He has quite the library of Minecraft non-fiction, and fiction, books now and when he gets an idea he consults all the books. This is a layout he made one day to guide him in finding a Woodlan Mansion. Somedays I am amazed by what they can learn and how much Minecraft has taught us over the years, however it is a struggle to balance screen time and everything else. We have found that if they have no expectations of being able to do screens that day, they are way more creative and apt to go do things, rather than sitting around asking when screen time is. Currently we do three days a week of screens, and the other days off, and only one day a week is for video games. It seems to be working well and has balanced us nicely. 

My favorite subjects/skills Minecraft has brought us: keyboard letter knowledge (how to type), how to research through books and online, how to problem solve, increased interest in learning to read, so much inspiration for artwork, computer skills in general (how to run a program, start a computer, use a mouse, change settings in applications, downloading and uploading), coding, cause and effect, 3D modeling, architecture, engineering.....I could probably go on and on. 

Meowz, the newest kitty is growing so big! he sneaks in the house whenever he can and climbs up people like a tree to get to their shoulders (we are working on un-training him from this super cute and friendly habit, as he now is heavy and it hurts and many allergic people have been "attacked" by him, whoops!)

One day of co-op had us making ornaments for our trees! They turned out super cute. Emmet was the only one who stopped playing to make one!

We re-discovered a "How to Draw Knights" book and Emmet and Avery made page after page on day.

Story of the World had us going to France to learn about King Louie. We watched The Man in the Iron Mask, a little intense for the kids, but also a neat tie in as we had watched The 3 Musketeers a month or so ago and it is a kind of continuation of that and touched on King Louie's character. We also learned about Germany and it's changes from one name to another and musicians of that time. We read a second chapter which had us back in the new world, learning about how King Louie influenced changes there, indentured servants, and wars between the new-comers and natives.

Surprise!! We had a few fun days planned for over winter break. Not many camps happened this year due to Covid, but we snuck in a horse back riding day (the first time for two of the boys), Michael took a blacksmith workshop through Trackers (he LOVED it), and Emmet one day had a fudge cooking class online with Village Home.

While Michael was at his 3 hour blacksmith workshop in Portland, Emmet, Avery, and I visited Powell's for the first time this year and they both picked out these paper robot building books for their reading challenge prizes. Emmet has reached 1,500 minutes reading!! 

Michael reached 1,500 minutes over the winter break too! He has read three whole chapter books now (Minecraft ones, of course, ha ha), and is super into comic book series. 

The three items Michael made at blacksmith workshop.

This photo sums up the rest of winter break! Snuggles, reading, baking, and cleaning the house!

Hope your holidays were fantastic!

The Dillman's