Mon 1 Dec 2008
Countdown sadly begins...
For over a week now, we have slowed down on our homeschool life.
So these are what we have been up to these days in a slow but sure trod:
1. Catch up with our read-alouds of the Sonlight Core 5 books. We are reading Genghis Khan and the Mongol Horde, Homesick and The Tales of the Korean Grandmother.
2. Focus on Eastern Hemisphere study. We still have Korea to complete. VB is making kimchi this week while Fuzzy finishes his research work. Since we have finished our Mystery of History 1 and about to start MOH2 we decided to just hold it for awhile. We will resume with MOH2 when get settled in Cairo where it would be more convenient to set up the wall timeline, do the memory cards and mapping.
3. I still require from them 2-3 pages of Singapore Math 6 with Vibrant Bea finishing the last book early November and is now working on Challenging Maths 6. She has also started with New Elementary Math (High School Singapore Math Level 1) slowly. Fuzzy is doing Singapore Math 6 as well. He is still doing 6B-1.
4. We did Chemistry yesterday and learned about quantitative and qualitative measurements. We did activities for easy application of concepts learned. These will surely be handy in conducting experiments and noting down observations in the future.
5. Both are faithful in their writing exercises. Fuzzy is finished with IEW and quite ready to take on new writing activities. I am encouraging him to start a blog of his own now, he is not just for it at present. Vibrant Bea is happy with her blog as she has gained momentum from her writing workshop online.
6. We are reading through the Book of Daniel and about to start the Second Quarter of our Building on the Rock biblical worldview lessons.
On top of these, we still have a church program for children, nature trek and countryside train ride, a swim meet, a history trip (to a hotel where Jose Rizal, our Philippine National Hero, stayed during his stay in Ceylon) and several dinner dates with few friends - all these amidst packing, sending out notices and email of our address change, shopping for holiday gifts to be brought home.
I perceive that as our departure day approaches, we will be doing less and less academics, more and more of travel-related things but I want them to keep up with their own individual readings. I am sure it will be a gloomy day when we finally put all their books and toys in boxes. Books to these kids are like gasoline to a car... they won't start unless you fill 'em up =). I don't say I am too happy with that. I keep telling and learning with them that each day never really starts without seeking God in prayer and His Word to make it through.
Whew! It is December 1 and I hate to say it but countdown starts today. Yes, we still have 22 days before we leave Sri Lanka.
It is a bitter-sweet period for me..maybe, for all of us.
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Wed 19 Nov 2008
Gearing up for piano exams
A week from now, my children will be taking the Trinity Guildhall Piano Exams. They have been practicing for 45 minutes a day for weeks now and that will double up starting today. Both Vibrant Bea and Fuzzy are studying Fifth Level.
They used to have two teachers Ms. Leslie and Ms. Nilani Vas. The first time we enrolled the kids with Ms Leslie 3 years ago, she insisted that they return to Level One while my kids were already doing Level Two back in the Philippines. Apparently, she wants all children new to her to go back to square one regardless of what level they have completed. The kids didn't like her, but I do, she is so thorough. For some reason, we dropped out of her roll a year after. Partly because I have to bring the kids to her place which was quite inconvenient and she was always sick. I heard she retired not long after. Since then, the children are tutored at home weekly by Ms Vas, who is more confident with their abilities that she accelerated them twice. From Grade One to Grade Three and now, Grade 5.
The Trinity Guldhall Exam for us somehow culminates the busy weeks ahead. Last year, right after the exams, I remember struggling how to keep the homeschool front going - it was a few weeks before we started packing again for our year-end break which is usually a few days in Singapore before flying off to Manila for a longer stay. Right now, this very moment as I tap the keys, I can feel the pressure building up but I will delve into that some other time.
I just want to mention the pieces they have been practicing over and over and over.. I have been telling them that they are getting mechanical these days, quite unfeeling, more like a video game midi at times, but not always. Is it because we listen to the same pieces over and over everyday? Ms. Vas says they are simply tired and ready to take on new challenges.. new music to learn.
I have been attempting to record their practice on video but they are such camera-shy creatures of "kinderkind" when they are on the piano. They are not Mozarts or Chopins but I love listening to them and I am a proud mom.. so, another time when I can sneak a camera unnoticed.
Here are some of the pieces, by the way.
Polonaise in F by Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach
Sonatina by Dmitri Kabalevski
Chasing Rainbows by Ray Lemond
1st Movement from Sonatina in C, op. 36 no. 3byMuzio Clementi
Kinder-Sonate in G n.1 of Drei Klavier Sonaten fur die Jugend op. 118 by Robert Schumann
Here are some classical music sites for kids. We always enjoy having a background music while busy with chores or hands on activities.A great way to start Composer or Hymn study is to tune in to these sites.
Classics for Kids Great site for introducing classical music and composers to young children. Features a monthly composer for study. This month's featured composer is Ludwig van Beethoven. You may subscribe to a monthly podcast which kids will surely enjoy.
The Classical Archives The largest classical music site on the web. Audio streaming and no-commercial classical radio. I have my laptop radio set on this station frequently and most of my ning pages, too.
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Fri 14 Nov 2008
Writing Workshops we "wuv"
There are two writing workshops my older children are so into these days and both take place inside the comforts of our home: one on a couch and the other on a keyboard drummed with soft fingertips.
1. For Fuzzy, the Student Writing Intensive Level A (SWI) is a 4-day DVD workshop for Grade 3-5 student.
The lessons present writing methods and models. For them both, doing it at their pace, relaxed, taken in small bites and wee steps worked well. So it was not as intensive as it should be yet it helped the children gain the boost that they need. We watched the sessions and did the exercises twice a week. Vibrant Bea (VB) completed the workshop and exercises last year and her writing skills have improved a lot. She is now more expressive and perhaps a more confident writer. Fuzzy started out this program with VB but has taken an even more relaxed pace since lap-n-note activities have come in between for him. Fuzzy thinks Andrew Pudewa is a very funny teacher and keeps the topics interesting and seem so easy. At present, Fuzzy is completing the final session but he targets to complete the whole level before we pack up for Egypt.
2. For Vibrant Bea, the Reach for the Stars! Writing Workshop for Kids has definitely brought out the writer in her...
This marvelous program is designed by published author Susan Marlow. I never thought I could find an excellent program that is free, fun... and yes, it is online. My daughter VB enjoys it very much. She also loves the challenge. She enjoys the prompts which stir her imagination and help her put them into words. And she loves the fact that finally her blog - is growing and her list of friends, too. Need I say more?
VB's writings exercises can be read on her blog - Vera's City. Fuzzy is also taking up the challenge of going through this program after he finished the SWI. Of course, a blog for him will come with it.
Yes, these are writing programs but we never set our lapbooks and notebooks aside for our written narration as these still are a big part of our learning.. the CM way.
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Tue 11 Nov 2008
Sizzling Science
Our lesson in science today is about the scientific method. We had a sizzling experiment that perhaps many of you are familiar with yet it did not fail to draw the oohs and aahs from my budding scientists ;-).
The lesson is found in this book by Richard and Debbie Lawrence entitled Properties of Matter which is part of the series God's Design for Life, a biblical approach to learning elementary science.
We did the yeast-sweetener and balloon experiment.
Our problem is to identify which sweetener is best used with yeast to make bread rise. The older two kids made their guesses which are surprisingly contradictory with each other. One vouching on the brown sugar, the other on the white one. Lil Ruffin couldn't make sense of it and only wonder why, but she went along quite well.
Here are the materials we needed: some basic kitchen and toy items with 3 pairs of helpful hands and 3 thinking minds. Ha ha!
1. Equal amounts of water were poured in 3 identical soda bottles. The bottles were labeled 1, 2 and 3
 
2. We added a teaspoon of dry yeast in each bottle.
3. The, we added two tablespoons of sweetener in bottles 2 and 3. We added white sugar in bottle 2 and brown sugar instead of molasses on bottle 3. As a control variable, we did not add any sweetener on bottle 1. Bottles 2 and 3 sizzled with bubbles and ssssh noise... lovely!
4. Each child swirled a bottle for 30 seconds. After that, we place balloons on the bottles mouths and secured it with tape.
5. Observe what happens after 15 minutes.
Oops, these are bottles 3, 1, and 2.
We measured them and waited again for 15 more minutes (30 minutes after).
And after 15 minutes more ( 45 minutes after).
And after 15 minutes (an hour after).
The bottles 1,2 and 3 in the right order.
After noting down the measurements and filling up the science laboratory sheets which you can download here, the children have come up with a conclusion, written them down and properly included their findings in their science binder-notebook.
After two days, the balloons drooped and gas pfffft nowhere... and the smell wasn't very loverly... ughh.
What we have learned about scientific method study:
1. Make observations and learn about it.
2. Identify the problem.
3. Formulate a hypothesis, a good guess.
4. Design a way to test your hypothesis through experimentation.
5. Check if your results support your hypothesis. make a conclusion.
This experiment helped us learn and apply the scientific method in a way that is easy to understand.
Try it!
The Hands of a Child Black November Sales started yesterday and they are giving away big, BIG DISCOUNTS. So do not miss it. Actually, I am on my way there now, as a super member, I get BIGGER discounts and more...
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Mon 10 Nov 2008
Learning is fun at home for a 3-year-old..
Lil Ruffin, our three-year-old, learns that learning is fun with the family. How do I get to teach her with two older kids?
Here is our daily routine with her. It is not considered as a regular schedule but it varies much depending on what she wants to do for the day.
After breakfast, Vibrant Bea and Fuzzy complete their morning chores. Part of their daily chores is clearing away the dining table after meals and tidying up the kitchen. Then, they take turns practicing on the piano and taking a shower, it usually takes them an hour to do all these before we can finally get settled for our first lesson. Lil Ruffin and I have a bonding time while waiting for them. I read to her and we get to sit down with 4-5 books on our laps. Then, I would print out anything she chooses from her file folder on my desktop - these are downloaded freebies and printables suited for her - nothing formal or structured. She, then, decides if she wants to paint, cut or color the print out or all of these. Or she may skip that and play with clay, puzzles and blocks instead. She has a basket and a box in her desk where she can find all these interesting things she uses for her activities. She has a stack of colored old magazines we got from airlines and airports. She loves looking at the pictures and cutting them, pasting them on old notebooks and always , she would request me to pin up her "obra maestra" with a magnet on the fridge door. Of course, I would always gladly oblige.
She gets good with some educational video before lunch and an hour's nap after. When she wakes up, she plays with some toys and then plays some with neighborhood children when her sibling are done with their lessons so she can be accompanied by Vibrant Bea and Fuzzy.
I learned the hard way until I realized that if I give a lot of time for her in the morning before I attend to the older two, she is more cooperative and even takes an active part in our learning sessions later. Before, Lil Ruffin used to distract us because she also wish to vie for similar attention her siblings get. Often, she would scamper on everyone's lap, climb on shelves and tables and sing aloud while I am in the middle of a read-aloud. Now, with a productive headstart with her makes everything a lot better and sweeter for all of us.
I just couldn't miss this without taking a shot. She cut the printout unaided and started coloring the figure herself. She did the whole thing on the floor in the same room where we were studying. You see, I did mention about her desk, but she just loves to do things on the floor or the big couch in the living room.
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