Tuesday, August 25, 2009 - One, Two, Three, Four...
...I declare a Math war.
We are still waiting for Cameron's math book to arrive. I thought I would take this time to reinforce his basic math skills.
A friend of mine has a math game that is played like the game of War. I thought that we could easily copy this game with the flash cards we have.
Cameron LOVES this game.
How we play.
- Divide flash cards evenly between players
- Each place a flash card down on the table.
- Do the math problem.
- High number wins.
- Person with most cards at the end win.
Did I mention that Cameron loves this game?
After playing this a few times, we changed up the rules. He could "steal" my card. I keep my hand over my card and, after he answered his card, if he could get the answer to my card in less than 5 seconds, very slow seconds, he could have my card, even if it was the higher card.
Soon, he was getting ALL of the cards. He was pretty pleased with himself. But, there is a secret I'm not telling him...
I'm not telling him I to am pleased that he is getting all of the cards. It means he is improving on his math skills in both accuracy and speed.
If our math book doesn't come in tomorrow, I'm declaring another math war.
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Monday, August 24, 2009 - School Rules
Today was very nice day of school. Things were accomplished, learning was done, attitudes were spectacular! I hope today was not a fluke.
I began today with pulling out the portable dry erase marker board. I told Cameron that we would be coming up with some school rules for us to follow. If we broke the rules, there would be a consequence.
He agreed with me that not following the rules would be disobedience. He came up with what he thought was a just consequence. Then I told him there would be a "grace."
Grace is NOT getting what we deserve. Basically the grace was a warning. I think that some of the time he doesn't even realize his behavior, or subtitle attitudes that can quickly escalate. Hence the warning.
So, we discussed different rules and wrote down some of his ideas. Then I tweaked them to come up with our list.
Here are our school rules:
- Do your best. (one of his)
- No interrupting (another of his)
- No --
- complaining
- whining
- moaning
- or grumpiness
- Expected behavior --
- cheerfulness
- pleasantness
- cooperation
- Be ye kind on to another (his)
- Glorify God with my life!! (the most important of all)
It was helpful to have this list before us and sitting with us during school today. I was able to refer to it.
"Wow, Cameron. You were being pleasant even though you missed that word. Way to and not be grumpy!"
"Be careful. You are starting to complain. Don't break rule number 3."
He referred to it as well.
"Mama. I really did number 1. I did my very best and I got 5 lines done in under 20 minutes!" (I was so proud of him for that one that it actually made me tear up a bit.)
So, I'm praying that today was not a fluke. I am going to make our rules into a poster to hang on our wall so that they can be a reminder to us both.
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Thursday, August 20, 2009 - Lift and Thrust
I always joke that I learn just as much as Cameron, if not more, as we go through our school work.
Today in science, we learned about lift and thrust. I have heard these terms before but never really understood them.
We did an experiment that shows what lift does for the flight of a bird. Because of the shape of its wings, the air on the top of the wing moves faster than that of the bottom. This creates different air pressures. The air on the bottom is pushing more than the air on the top.
When he blew, very hard, across the the top of the straw in the water, it created a lower air pressure. The air pressure on the rest of the water was stronger than that across the top of the straw and Cameron and I were surprised with a spray of water.
AMAZING! The things I never knew!
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Wednesday, August 19, 2009 - First Caterpillars of the Season
Cameron and I consider ourselves Monarchologists. I'm not sure that is a real word but that's what we are. We look forward every year to when we can start looking for Monarch caterpillars.
We were visiting my mom's house. Cameron was sent out to the mail box and RAN back to the house to breathlessly tell me that he found one. I wasn't even sure what "one" was yet. He wanted to drop everything and go harvest it. He had even already named it Edward.
Today, Cameron measured Edward.
He may look small but he wasn't even 1/4 of an inch when Cameron found him. We were amazed with how much he grew in just a week.
With Edward we ended up with two other caterpillars. They were so tiny, we didn't even spot them on the leaves at first.
We just love Monarchs. And even though we've done them for a few years, they are still exciting, interesting and a big learning opportunity for us.
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Monday, August 17, 2009 - First Day of Thrid Grade
I keep forgetting to take a picture of Cameron on the first day of school. This year, I happened to take a picture but it wasn't because it was the first day of school.
Cameron has found a new passion. He loves roller skating. He went once with my mother and now he is hooked. He's been wanting me to come with him to "check out his skills."
I also went skating. I haven't been skating for several years and was a bit rusty. Rental skates didn't help matters.
Cameron has a bunch of friends at skating. A lot of them are older and love to help Cameron improve. Many people came up to me, pleased to meet Cameron's mom and let me know what a top notch boy I have there. That's always nice for a mom to hear.
Here they are, calling it a night. I had already given up about 15 minutes before this. LOL
This counts as PE, right? ;o)
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Saturday, August 1, 2009 - Third Grade Here We Come
I use the Ambleside Online pattern for our curriculum. This follows the teaching philosophies of Charlotte Mason. So far, this has been a very good fit for us. While we are still struggling with the mechanics of reading, both Cameron and I love books and CM is very literature based.
Here is an overview of what we will be studying for third grade. This was the first year I had to write official objectives.
English
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To continue the study of English through reading of literature and grammar lessons including the sentence, parts of speech, verb tenses and agreement
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To improve spelling through word lists taken from weekly readings
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To improve reading skills and independent reading
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To improve printing through copywork
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To introduce cursive handwriting
So far we really haven't formally studied grammar. We have worked on learning to read, penmanship, punctuation as it became pertinent to copywork, and narration. We will be starting formal grammar lessons with Simply Grammar by Karen Andreola.
Our selection for literature this year includes:
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The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle. We started this book last year but were not able to finish it.
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The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald
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Brighty of the Grand Canyon by Marguerite Henry
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Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb
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American Tall Tales by Adrien Stoutenburg
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Parables from Nature by Margaret Gatty
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as well as classic children's poem
Math: A Beka Arithmetic 3
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To recognize the place value of numbers up to the 100,000s
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To review and strengthen addition and subtraction facts
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To learn 0-12 multiplication and division tables and be able to work
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To solve story problems with up to four steps
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To know fraction terminology and have a basic understanding of fractions
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To work with different mathematic operations and concepts such as greater than (>) and less than (<), English and metric measurements, Roman numerals, telling time, money, average numbers, reading a thermometer, and recognize geometric shapes
Science
- To study a variety of inventors and their inventions
- To study zoology, focusing on flying animals: birds, bats, and insects
- To perform various scientific experiments learning about physical science
I'm really excited about Science this year! We will be reading through The Story of Inventions by Michael J. McHugh and Frank P. Bachman. I think Cameron will really learning about inventors and their inventions.
We will also be doing one of Jeannie Fulbright's Exploring Creation books. We will start with Zoology 1, Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day. As I leafed through the book I got very excited about the things that we will be learning. I know Cameorn will enjoy this study very much.
I also plan to do some experiments from a few experiment books I have. Although, Exploring Creation has experiments and projects too.
We will also continue to study nature with weekly nautre walks.
Geography
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To study the overall geography of Earth including but not limited to atmosphere, the continents and oceans, and the structure of Earth.
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To understand how to read and use maps and an Atlas
This is another subject about which I'm very excited too. My very generous friend, LindaI, is not only lending me her Exploring Creation books, but she is also lending me a geography book. A Child's Geography: Exploring His World by Ann Voskamp is written in the same style as Fulbright's books and is very Charlotte Mason.
History
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To study American and World History from Columbus to Pocahontas and Charles I (late 1400’s to 1650)
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To study Pennsylvania history and geography
We will be using several books to study history.
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A Child's History of the World by Hillyer
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This Country of Ours by Marshall
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An Island Story by Marshall.
We will also be reading several biographies:
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Leonardo da Vinci
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Galileo
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John Wesley
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Sharkespeare
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Elizabeth I
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and selections for Trial and Triumph.
Civics
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To recognize and study the importance of government in the community, Pennsylvania and the United States of America
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To study different symbols and practices of America
Civics is one of the requirements of PA law. I found an online program here.
Safety Education
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To continue to discuss and practice safety inside and outside the home.
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To learn kitchen safety
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To review fire prevention and safety including home fire drills
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To reinforce his ability to call 911 and review situations when the action would be necessary
Another PA requirement. It's funny to me because I think as a mother this is just second nature to "teach" your child safety. We have even had mock fire drills at our house so this shouldn't be hard to include.
Health
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To study human body parts, systems and functions
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To study and apply personal health with nutrition, fitness and hygiene
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To discuss certain health problems focusing on asthma and diabetes
Another PA requirement. I found free health downloads to use as well as printouts from Enchanted Learning.
Physical Education
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To study different forms of sports and games through weekly group participation
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To improve on skills and knowledge of soccer by participation in the Fall and Spring seasons
We will also be using our Wii Fit.
Music Appreciation
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To experience selections of music of 20th Century British, Edvard Grieg and Jean Sibelius, and Maurice Ravel
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To participate in weekly singing with a group and monthly performances in front of a mixed audience of adults and children
We follow the Ambleside Online rotation of music appreciation. I can find the music selection on YouTube and we listen to it a few times that week.
The weekly singing would be at Master Clubs on Wednesdays. We sing once a month for the church.
We do not follow the rotation at Ambleside for hymns and folk songs. Last year, I would select a hymn that I knew we would be singing on the last Sunday night of the month. This year, I decided to focus on one hymn writer all year round. I chose the hymns of Charles Wesley to go with our biography of John Wesley.
This year for folk songs, I'm going to focus on patriotic songs. This will go along with our civics and American history subjects as well.
Art
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To study the works of Raphael, John Singer Sargent, and Monet and to reproduce, with colored pencil, one work of choice from each artist
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To participate in different woodwork projects with grandfather and by participating in the bi-monthly Kids Clinics provided by Lowe’s ®
Again, we follow the Ambleside Online rotation for artists. Some of our projects for geography and science will also fall into the art category.
Bible
Last but definitely not least is Bible. Since Bible is not a requirement for PA law, I did not include it in our objectives.
This year we will be reading through the Gospels and Acts. I also made a map on poster board of Judea. My church did "Passport to the Promised Land" for VBS this year and the room decorations included a transparencey map. I just didn't trace all the "extas" and have a really nice map. I think as we read we will mark the different locations on our map. Right now, I think I'm way more excited about the map than Cameron is, but hopefully as we go along and are able to fill in more and more places, he will catch my enthusiasm.
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Saturday, August 1, 2009 - It's Official
It is official. I turned in all my paperwork with the school district and we are officially homeschoolers. I know that we have been homeschooling from the beginning but somehow it seems different now that I had to have something notarized.
This is one of my favorite times of the year too. All the back to school sales are in full swing! My thoughtful father bought the Sunday paper just so I could have the sales flyers. I may not care about shoes but show me a great sale on Sharpie markers and folders and I get all aflutter. Strange, I know.
I made my list of what each store had to offer that I either needed, wanted, or wanted to stock up on.
- Staples had 100 count 3/5 index cards on sale for $0.25. (but I was disappointed that the price was only for the first 2 packages. They didn't say that in the flyer).
- Target had a 10 pack of Sharpie colored markers for $4. I also bought a geographic world map 100 piece puzzle for only $1. Cameron loved this and has put it together twice already.
- Walgreens had a coupon for $0.39 for poster board. It was limit six but at least it said that on the coupon. They also had buy one get two free 10 package page protectors for only $0.99. But to my great disappointment, they were completely out of that. (I'll still have to get those for our portfolio that will be need to be done at the end of the school year.)
- Wal-Mart, which I haven't visited yet) has the rest of my supplies. I will be getting some composition books for $0.50 each and pocket folders with prongs for $0.10 each. Hopefully some of the Wal-Mart prices will come down. If they do, I'll most likely get a big package of crayons and more glue sticks.
I have forbidden myself to purchase any notebooks. I shouldn't have bought any last year either but they were $0.05 a piece. I just couldn't pass up 20/$1 !!!
I still need two books before I can fully get underway. I still need a Math and cursive handwriting book. But other than these two books, I have all my books and supplies. I even rearranged some furniture and Dad's storage to give us more room for school this year. We graduated to the big table! (I also threatened my dad with tears (worst thing I could think of) if he started stacking up the table with boxes of stuff, which he has a tendency to do.)
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Thursday, June 18, 2009 - Tadpoles!
We were given five tadpoles the other day. They are FASCINATING. I have not had much luck with tadpoles in the past so this is probably even more exciting to me than Cameron. The will be frogs any day now.
Smile for the camera!
They are SOOO cute!!! As soon as we get a moment (laugh) we will try to look at them more closely.
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Saturday, June 13, 2009 - Update
School is out and we seem to be busier than ever. How does that happen?
This next year offers a new challenge for me. This will be my first year reporting with the state. But I am truely blessed. I have friends that have done this before and are helping me each step of the way.
I almost have everything ready to go for third grade. I've been tweeking schedules, adding subjects I didn't know I needed, writing objectives, gathering resources, preparing paperwork, the list seems endless.
I've also been working reorganizing books. I have some books for school that we won't need for a few years and I want to get those all in one spot. I did have them intermingled with all the other books (they were even all alphabetized by author at one point) but there were some there and some over there and a few up there. I need them all together. (Especially since in my reorganizing, I found a few that I could have used already.
I'm very excited about this upcoming year. We have some great things planned for the year. I'm especially excited about science. My good friend (you always have to call them good friends when they are so nice to you and lend you their resources without even blinking an eye) LindaI is lending me Exploring Creation with Zoology I by Jeannie Fulbright. This book is Charlotte Mason friendly so it is right up our alley!
So, right now, Cameron is enjoying Summer vacation and I'm getting ready for third. Soon, though, we will be starting a few summer educational activities AKA reading and math to keep us fresh.
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Tuesday, April 7, 2009 - Sick
It started with Cameron and of course he shared with me.
We have been very sick here at our house. In fact today is only the second day of school that we have carried a full load. We went over two weeks at either no school or a very light schedule.
Three tissue boxes, several Epsom salt baths, numerous temperature taking, gallons of water and copious amounts of vitamin C and medications later we are both on the mend now.
It still amazes me how much mucas a human body can generate.
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Friday, March 13, 2009 - Signs of Spring
We have not been very good about doing our nature studies. But today, we actually took the time to just do it. We had a short errand to run and instead of heading straight home, I headed to the trail that is very near our home.
The assignment? Look for signs of spring. We had a good walk and a great hunt for those tiny little signs.
Buds
New plant growth. (Possibly Colt's foot?)
New growth:
Insects:
And the number one sign of Spring?
MUD!
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Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - Birthday: A Belated Post
It has been a month since we celebrated Cameron's 8th birthday. I've been meaning to post pictures from the day.
Mom always takes Cameron to lunch to the place of his choice. This year, Cameron chose Chuck E. Cheese's
It is so nice to go when there are only a small handful of people there. There was no waiting in long lines. There was no excessive noise. There was no wondering where Cameron had gone off too. We practically had the run of the place and it was great.
I think Grandma needs a handicap. It has nothing to do with age though...these air hockey things were made for short people, AKA children. LOL
Cameron was thrilled with his presents. He got two Lego sets that he was wanting from his parents and the free Wii that my Dad got happened to show up right on his birthday. We were too busy with lunch, new toys and, hello, a Wii!
Cameron's birthday fell on a Wednesday and that means Master Clubs for us. We wanted to be in charge of snack. But, instead of doing cupcakes or brownies or even birthday cake, Cameron decided to do something REALLY different. We made a yummy fruit salad complete with fresh blueberries and Cool Whip.
After church, there was a surprise party just for Cameron. Thanks to two good friends who prepared the pizzas, drinks and snacks for all the party goers, it was a huge success. Cameron was VERY surprise and extremely pleased.
More Playmobil peeps! We love using these for school and other pretend play.
He said, even before the surprise party, that this was the best birthday he's ever had.
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Monday, March 9, 2009 - Will Stutley
Robin Hood - Will Stutely Rescued by His Good Companions
The Sheriff really wants to catch Robin Hood and comes up with another plan to catch him. One of Robin's men, Will Stutely, decides to go to the inn to see what he can find out. He dresses himself in disguise.
A cat comes by, rubbing itself on Will's robes and revealing his Lincoln green colors underneath.
One of the Sheriff's men sees the Lincoln green and starts to question and then accuse Will.
They overtake him and arrest him.
Will is sentenced to death. Robin Hood and his men plan a daring rescue. They dress in disguise and show up at the hanging.
Little John makes the first press through the men. He jumps up in the cart and asks Will if he doesn't think its time to take leave of his friends because it might be the death of him. Then he cuts him loose.
Will Stutley and all of Robin's men get away from the Sheriff.
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Saturday, March 7, 2009 - Weeks 27 and 28
I was very ill last week so our schooling was cut short. I guess I could look at it as Cameron learned how to take care of someone that was sick AND he practiced his "keep myself busy so Mama can rest" skills.
Bible:
- Elisha and the Shunnamite woman
- Elisha raises the Shunnamite's dead son
- Naaman is healed
- Greedy servant lies and gets leprosy
- Floating Ax head
- Servant sees a fiery army
- Shunnamite woman
- Joash makes Temple repairs
- Hezekiah cleanses the Temple
Memory:
- Psalm 23:5b ...thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
- Psalm 23:6a Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: ...
Phonics/Reading: Still Cameron's least favorite subject by far. I keep trying to change things up. It seems when I change things, he does better for a little bit and then slips back into his "It's too hard and I'll NEVER get this" attitude. I pray this will not be a struggle through all of his schooling.
Math:
- Place values up to the millions. Hard concept the first day that we introduced thousands, ten thousands and hundred thousands. The second day it clicked with no problems.
- Measuring using inches and centimeters. One of his favorite things to do.
- Continued doing addition, subtraction and multiplication drills. He is improving greatly!
Literature:
- Pilgrim's Progress - Hill Lucre & Demas
- Robin Hood
- The Shooting-Match at Nottingham (Cameron's narration)
- Will Stutely Rescued by His Good Companions (Cameron's narration)
History:
- Joan of Arc
- An Island Story
- ch 52 - The Story of How Prince Hall was Sent to Prison
- ch 53 - Henry V of Monmouth - The Battle of Agincourt
- Child's History of the World - ch 61 Off with the Old, On With the New
Nature:
- Pagoo
- ch 9 - In, Out, Up with Traveling Towers. Traveling Towers is swallowed whole by a fish and then spit out. Then it is picked up by a gull and dropped. TT escapes and Pagoo decides it wasn't worth it and decides to leave
- ch 10 - Houses are Scarce in Tide-Pool Town. Pagoo meets more creatures as he searches for an empty shell.
- ch 11 - A Concrete Tile Can Crawl Both Ways. Pagoo finds a home of his own in the shell of a tube snail. The problem: there is another hermit on the other end.
Poetry: Christian Rossetti
Copywork:
- Memory verses
- Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty! / Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee; / Holy, Holy, Holy! Merciful and Mighty! / God in three Persons, blessed Trinity! (Holy, Holy, Holy ~ Heber)
- Holy, Holy, Holy. All the saints adore Thee! / Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea, (Holy, Holy, Holy ~ Heber)
- Free living? Huh! It cost too much misery in the end. From now on he would find his own food. Pagoo stamped a foot. Old Instinct didn't laugh. (Pagoo ~ Holling)
- And what book do you suppose it was that he printed? Why, the book that people thought to be the most important book in the world--the Bible. (Child's History of the World ~ Hillyer)
- Pagoo did a very rash thing. He hopped right out of his brand-new shell and fairly pranced around in victory. Immediately he knew he shouldn't have done it. (Pagoo ~ Holling)
Spelling:
- nice, sky, fine, dry, old, know, road, cold, does, wait, neat, read
- cook, cave, kiss, lock, clean, grow, hold, own, coat, wait, road
Artist: Van Gogh's The Chair and the Pipe
Hymn: "Holy, Holy, Holy" by Reginald Heber and John B. Dykes
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Saturday, February 28, 2009 - Shooting-Match at Nottingham
Both Cameron and I are very much enjoying Robin Hood. I think we also look forward to putting it together with the "men" The Sheriff is very upset that his plan to catch Robin didn't go as planned. He decides to go to the King to enlist help. He makes a great show with his armies and provisions when he goes to see the King. The tables were turned on the Sheriff when the King is upset with him for not being able to get rid of one little outlaw by himself with all his resources. On the way back to Nottingham, The Sheriff comes up with an idea to trap Robin. He decides to hold a shooting match. The prize was a golden arrow. Robin tells all his men of the coming competition and wants everyone to go. But go in disguise. They will share the arrow, no matter who wins. Robin's disguise is coloring his hair with walnuts, wearing ragged clothing and an eye patch. Of course he is the best yeoman around and easily wins the match.
