Midterm Report for Kingstone Academy

Abigail and Daniel are studying the Middle Ages through the Reformation this year. Nicholas has selected a pretty stout reading list, including Augustine's "Confessions"; Eusibius's "Church History"; and Beowulf, thus far. Before they're through this year, they will have tackled "Canterbury Tales", "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight", and "Here I Stand" by Luther, as well as others I can't remember. Challenging, I'd say. Yet, they have read, wrestled, written, and discussed without complain. Almost. Nicholas is really good at pushing them to think and then to communicate their thoughts. He's been great for each of them. The only problem, that's not really a problem but a blessing, is that they no longer come to me for help because so much of what they are studying is beyond me. Now, they are reading Augustine and writing a journal each week about what they've read. Daniel said, "I really like this guy. He's got lots of good quotes." Nicholas has also begun purchasing "The Economist" which they are all reading weekly and writing a journal on what they read. I think this came about when no one knew anything about the presidential election, or who might be running. They both love biology, and Daniel said Algebra is getting hard.

Katy is presently reading Macbeth, the third Shakespeare play she's studying this semester, and in the process is wrestling through the issue of war. Is there a just war? Is war ever necessary? What about the war in Iraq? What does God think of war? It's made for some interesting dinner table discussions. She's also been doing Dave Ramsey's class on managing finances. We call it economics. She comes home wanting to invest in mutual funds, talking about compound interest, and asking about budgeting. I don't worry about her blowing money in college! Her government class is with an online school, The Potter's School, primarily for homeschoolers, but also used by small Christian schools. She meets once a week (Thursday nights) for a live online course with about 10 other kids. Her teacher worked with the US Department of Homeland Security. So, it should be an interesting class, but she's been a bit disappointed because it's mostly discussion with kids who have a pretty narrow perspective on politics, life, and culture. (I think living cross-culturally has opened our kids' eyes; now the challenge is to not become proud in their own eyes.) She was hoping for more influence and wisdom shared by her prof. Maybe that will come later. She also loves physics, which is causing confusion in thinking about what to pursue in college: International Studies or Chemistry/Physics. We're praying a lot these days about college choice, trusting that the Lord already has the right one selected for her.

Our latest Kingstone Academy event was Tuesday night in our barn. Ed, Abi and Dan worked all weekend trying to finish walls and windows so that our barn out back would be ready for the Beowulf Feast that the 9th grade had planned. The event was a brain child of Nicholas, who wanted to read the entire play aloud in one sitting. His original idea was to rent out the Lutheran church (built in the Middle Ages) for the night. We nixed that idea for simplicity's sake. Abi's idea was to research and prepare a feast with a menu originating in the Middle Ages. Daniel just went along. So, just before guests arrived (Elena, her sisters, Ana, Jonah, Darin, Jessalyn and Aaron) the windows were installed and a fire lit in the soba, that made the "Mead hall" quite toasty and cozy. We ate grilled chicken and beer bread (by Daniel); cooked cabbage, peas and a meat pie (by Abigail) and bread pudding (by Nicholas). It was all quite yummy and prepared us well for the 2 1/2 hours of reading that followed. The kids dressed in black, looking like beat poets, and read with gusto. We listened intently at times, and sleepily as the night wore on; but we were faithful to the end. I've even heard discussion from some of our eager readers of hosting a Shakespeare reading. The 12th grade would probably have to recruit the project manager from the 9th grade to help her pull off a night like this one. One guess who that party planner is!