Oct. 11, 2005
We've Got Colds, but we're pushing through!
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Yesterday both girls were symptomatic with pretty bad colds, yet we had to attend several Title One tutoring sessions for Brena. I'll tell you what - she has an awesome sense of humor! I am so glad to see her fun loving spirit shine through. Title One reading session was in a group of 3 students so it lasted for 1:15. We (Brena and I) partner read a chapter from a "Horrible Harry" book. Brena was using a "tabbing" strategy in which she stops and writes sticky notes about things in order to "engage" with the story. She noted a couple words she didn't understand, but mostly noted what parts of the story were funny. To me, that means the world because she is enjoying the reading..... "yeah that's what I'm talkin about".... We also discussed some strategies with a Math teacher concerning long division. Brena really just needs to know her multiplication facts better so that long division is easier. We'll be working on that significantly during the next two weeks. Her next unit is math is Fractions, there are 5 lessons before we get to having to create LCD's (lowest common denominators). The goal will be to have a much better grasp on our mental multiplication facts by the end of next week.
So today is a regular school day, though I'm a little tired. Last night I stayed up until 2AM. I was running some product covers to make into inventory. I was also working on making a template for the upcoming Unit we will be studying in Science. It is about energy. I am introducing "electronic notebooking". It's a way for the girls to keep a science notebook to record what they learn, enter additional information which they will research and record their experiment data. I bought a little program called "printmaster" for them to do their notebooks in. It is pretty easy to use. At first I will supply an "almost complete" template for them to answer lab questions.... add photos that we will take during different activities and experiments. They will then learn to add those photos and answer the questions in the electronic notebook. They will also learn to scan the diagrams they draw to place them into the notebook too. I will turn a page into a *.jpg later so you can see what I'm talking about.
Anyway this is a new idea that I'm trying to implement with them. It will add some technology learning, some research skills, and some organizational concepts to the work that they do.
I plan to make one for them to complete every history unit too and for whatever novel they are reading (Brena will start novels later this year). Each subject is so different that I will have to modify the templates a lot.... it is taking me a long time to do right now (I worked 3 hours on the science one last night) but once I get to know the program and kinda work out the kinks of how to organize the template for them it will get quicker to do.
I want to begin the Energy unit in Science next Monday so I will have a goal to complete the template and load it onto their computers by Friday of this week.
I am having to readjust our schedule a little this week. We will do the Art Museum with my parents on Friday (assuming it is open) because Wednesday is a field trip with some other homeschool kids to an apple orchard / pumpkin patch.
Both girls have been downstairs already and went back to bed. I will let them sleep until 8:30AM so we can get started by 9:00. I may let them stay in PJ's for the morning lessons. I need to check the weather as they want to take the dogs to the park this afternoon. |
Comments
Oct. 11, 2005 - your special !
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Posted by luber