Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Triple Eight Reading Challenge
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Jen was so gracious as to let me know of a reading challenge I could participate in. (As if I didn't have ENOUGH to challenge myself already!) So, I posted about that over on Mirkwood Reflections. Come on over and visit me there and post a comment. See you there in a minute! |
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
WON NANOWRIMO!
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At work tonight I wrote 13 handwritten pages. And that was enough. Yes, enough, I say! I WON! I DID IT! I completed the National Novel Writing Month challenge! REJOICE WITH ME!!!! WOO-HOO!!!! |
Monday, November 26, 2007
NaNo Update
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I have nearly completed the NaNoWriMo challenge. I am at 44,269 words and I need to get to 50,000 by Friday. My kids are still writing too. In particular my nearly 13yo son has really taken off! He has written 10 chapters already! |
Saturday, November 17, 2007
NaNoWriMo update
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I am at 17000 words now!!! Amazing to me! My story has taken some unexpected turns and it may not be about the same thing anymore. |
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Refracted Light - Christian Reviews of Fantasy Works
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A friend of mine sent this site, which includes a review of the book The Golden Compass, as well as many other fantasy titles, such as Eragon, Lord of the Rings, Fahrenheit 451, Inkheart, Neverending Story, Redwall, and bunches more. The two reviewers, Sasha and Rose, started the website to answer their need for a website "with Christian reviews of fantasy novels, from which we could take suggestions and warnings about the books we see". Refracted Light I found the reviews to be thought-provoking and fair, and the Christian perspective is enlightening. Check it out! |
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
NaNoWriMo update - Nov 6
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I wrote for an hour with the kids Monday and another hour with them on Tuesday. I also wrote on all my breaks at work Tuesday night. (totaling about 30 minutes writing time) I am now at 4667 words. If you want to check my progress, you can look at my user profile on the NaNo site. Only 5333 words before I can order my t-shirt! I need to step it up a notch! David is writing up a storm because I promised to buy him a new Star Wars baseball cap if he finished his book in November. Emily is feeling overwhelmed by the whole thing. James drew a couple very detailed pictures for his story today. Suzy drew more princesses, ladies, and moms with babies. |
Friday, November 2, 2007
NaNoWriMo update
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Today was the kickoff of the NaNoWriMo challenge. (see link in sidebar) I wrote 1192 words so far - completing chapter 1. It's not the best writing in the world, but it's WRITING. David started writing a novel today. He is kind of mum about the topic. Emily started her novel too - It is called "The Life of a Ten Year Old." Hey, she listened to the advice that says "write what you know"! lol James wrote one page of a mystery he is writing and Suzy made the cover of a book on princesses. So....good progress for the kickoff! Not sure if/how writing will be fit into Friday's plans! |
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
7 Things About Me
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I have been tagged by 3rsandahug to list 7 things about myself. Let's see what I can come up with, eh? Trying to think of things that not many will know.... I am not coming up with anything! Ack! 1 - I don't like to play cards (with one exception). Never learned to play euchre or poker. Don't remember how to play Hearts or Spades, although I did learn them at one time. Most card games are way too slow for my liking. I am not really a waiting kind of person. The one card game I can tolerate is a game we call Minorca, but other people apparently call something else. It's a lot like Dutch Blitz, which I adored when I was about 11 or so, and it doesn't require ANY waiting at all since everyone plays at once...as fast as they can! Oh, yeah, I like to play Spoons too, but I don't think that REALLY qualifies as a card game! 2 - I watch no television regularly. Now and then, we'll sit and watch America's Funniest Home Videos. If I am at someone else's home, I will watch whatever they are watching, but I don't watch anything at home except DVD's, mostly movies, although sometimes I will watch a season of an old TV show I like. The kids only watch a couple shows on PBS. My husband doesn't like television OR movies, if you can believe that! Of course, it helps that we don't even have cable, just regular TV. Yep, an antenna on top of our house! And also, I work afternoons, so I am gone during prime time TV. But I haven't been in the habit of watching TV for several years now, before I worked full time. 3 - I am not a good cook. 'Nuff said. 4 - I have ideas and notes for 4 books I want to write. One is the novel I am planning to write for NaNoWriMo but the other 3 are non-fiction. The novel writing challenge is really just a way for me to jumpstart myself into writing regularly. Hopefully I can pull it off and start writing my real books in earnest. What are they about? You'll have to wait and see! 5 - I hate calling people on the telephone. I don't mind TALKING on the telephone, but I very much dislike being the caller. I do it when I must, but I will do almost anything to avoid it! lol 6 - I am giving up scrapbooking for the time being. I have been a scrapbooker since my oldest child was a year old and he will be 13 soon. I just do not have time to devote to it right now, so I will be getting my digital photos printed out a month at a time at Walmart or someplace and putting them in (hopefully acid-free) sleeve albums. It's kind of a relief almost, but also a sad thing because I adore the hobby and have all the tools! I am sure I will get back to it someday, but now is not the time. 7 - I was a flag twirler in my high school's marching band for two years. I enjoyed it a great deal and loved tossing that flag high in the air and whipping it around! I wonder if my mom has a picture of me doing that someplace! Ok, once I started, it wasn't so hard! I do not have time to go to 7 blogs and tag people, so I am just going to list them here and hope they see it! 1 - Michele (behappy) 2 - Sarah (Iblog) 3 - Jen 4 - Denise 5, 6, 7 - If you see this, consider yourself tagged! I am out of bloggers and time! |
Monday, October 29, 2007
Book Idea Needed for 13yo boy
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I need a book idea for David (will be 13 in December; currently in 7th grade) to read when he is finished with his current book. He is reading The Hobbit right now and doing a literature study on it as well. Here are some of the titles he has read for his lessons in the last year or so: My Side of the Mountain On the Far Side of the Mountain The Bronze Bow The Cay The Phantom Tollbooth That's all I can remember right now. He likes books about adventures. His own personal reading is Eragon, Eldest and Star Wars books, as well as comics like Calvin and Hobbes. I want something compelling he can read that could have a lit study (preferably a free one!) to go along with it. I would love any recommendations! |
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Three Seconds That Changed His Life
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David crashed his bike back in August and ended up breaking his finger, thus entailing 5 weeks in a cast. He had the video camera set up in order to capture the trick he was attempting, having already completed it successfully once. So therefore the crash is on video. I have uploaded the video (finally) and here it is! 3 SECOND CRASH VIDEO Feel free to link here. |
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Oh yeah - NEW FORMAT
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Oh yeah, you hopefully noticed the new FORMAT, new title, and new colors! lol I felt like a change was in order. There is a new entry after this one and I added photos to the previous entry too, so don't miss those! Anybody even out there? |
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Everything is about EASY!
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Our lessons have been going well this year so far. Bob has taken on the responsibility of teaching Math and Spelling, as well as leading the prayer time. Talk about a big help! When the kids have a math question, I can say, "Hey! I'm not the math teacher! Go ask your dad!" I redesigned our schedule to be more friendly to a momma who doesn't get home from work until well past midnight and who rarely gets to sleep before 2 am. This way, I can sleep a little more in the mornings and Bob can get them ready and started on their work. The schedule needs a bit more tweaking, but when doesn't it? We start with prayer time and I am usually still in my jammies then, with a big cup of coffee! Then David and James begin their language arts, doing the independent parts first, so I can finish getting ready for the day. David does his reading and writing in a literature journal, while James does some independent phonics practice (read: WORKBOOK pages! lol) Meanwhile, Emily and Suzy are doing math, under Bob's supervision. Suzanne has been so extremely excited about her lessons, now that she is in "kindergarten"! Once I am ready, I do reading and phonics instruction with James. He also writes in his lit journal. After this segment, they switch, and I do phonics instruction with Suzy while Emily reads and writes in her literature journal. At this point, Bob is doing math with the boys. At some point, I gather them all together and do group instruction in Science OR History (we are seeming to do alternate weeks so far this year), as well as Bible and any other group subjects, such as Art. I give any grammar or writing assignments at this point as well. We have lunch and I read aloud. Our current read aloud is The Secret Garden. They spend a little time on chores and then they finish their studies for the day, which would be anything not finished yet and Spelling with Dad. We are usually done by 2pm, but always by 3pm when I leave for work. My goal is to have them done by 2pm so that we can spend an hour being together. That usually ends up being half an hour though, since I need to spend some time getting ready for work. I am streamlining that process though too. Soccer keeps Bob busy in the evenings. With 4 kids playing and practices or games almost every night of the week, he is always running someone to practice or picking someone up! Saturday mornings are filled with soccer games also! Everything is about EASY this year! |
Thursday, September 27, 2007
First Day of Lessons
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Although the first day of lessons was FOUR weeks ago, I am finally getting around to posting. Our first day traditions include new learning supplies, a scavenger hunt, and ice cream sundaes for lunch. EDITED 9/29 - Finally figured out the photo thingie. Had to sign up for photobucket to make it work.   |
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Kids Who Like Workbooks
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Children who like workbooks feel this way because they are good at them, find them easy, and are not required to think critically. Many children want workbooks because they think they are supposed to have them. They see older students, older brothers and sisters, or neighborhood children using them. Children and parents like workbooks because they are perceptible evidence of something occurring in school (workbooks can often be the only tangible evidence of learning in the classroom). There are many more effective tangible items children can bring home. Raising Readers: Helping Your Child to Literacy by Steven Bialostok (emphasis added by me!) |
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Curriculum 2007-08
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Well, I hate to be a copycat, but Jennifer posted her curriculum choices for next year, and since I have mine mostly worked out, I thought I'd do the same. So, thanks, Jennifer, for the impetus! For those that might not read regularly here, I have 4 children and work full time on second shift. My kids are David, age 12-1/2 in 7th grade; Emily, age 10 in 5th grade; James, age 7-1/2 in 2nd or 3rd grade; and Suzy, age 5 in kindergarten. (Only homeschoolers could be unsure of their children's grade level! lol)
Bible All kids - Baker Bible Study Guide for All Ages - Finish Volume 3 and alternate with: Character Building for Families – Volume 2
Math David - Math U See – continue with Pre-Algebra, then move to Algebra 1 Emily - Math U See - Gamma and memorize all math facts James - Math U See – Finish Beta, start Gamma Suzy – learn the numbers and practice counting
Reading All will do child-chosen silent reading and mom-chosen instructional reading (some aloud, some silent). All will listen to Read-alouds, Mom-chosen, of general interest Literature David – still deciding (perhaps Literary Lessons from Lord of the Rings?) Phonics James – Finish Alphabet Island Phonics 2B, Explode the Code 3 & 4, & Phonics Pathways (to supplement when needed Suzy – Alphabet Island Phonics 1 and Bob Books when ready Grammar David – Sonlight Grammar Ace Spelling David & Emily - continue with Spelling Power
Penmanship David Self-Instruction in Handwriting (Zaner-Bloser) Cursive Emily Self-Instruction in Handwriting (Zaner-Bloser) Neater Printing & Cursive James Self-Instruction in Handwriting (Zaner-Bloser) Printing Suzy - Writing the Letters and her name
All kids will write back and forth to me in their Journals, and write to others via the postal service Composition for David and Emily will be Institute for Excellence in Writing's course - Student Writing Intensive B.
David – Apologia General Science (or possible Physical Science, if co-op offers this class) Emily, James, Suzy – Scholastic Science Mini-Journals (9 mini units on various science topics)
Might do From Sea to Shining Sea & Sounding Forth the Trumpet since I already own those, thus continuing our American history study. Or we may go on to Mystery of History Volume 2.... Physical Education All kids will play AYSO soccer in the fall & spring. All kids will have PE at co-op twice a month.
May also include Spanish, which I can teach, but I might get Rosetta Stone instead. |
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Teaching My Own Kids
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I have had a very hard time deciding if I should take the job that has been all but offered to me at the Christian school for next year. (Full time teaching 3rd/4th). I prayed like I never have before and I very clearly heard from God that my calling is to teach my own children at home. So, next year, I will be back home with my kids. Well, actually, starting June 16! lol Things will be very different for us though, as I will be working full time, just not during the "school day". My job is Monday-Friday from 3:45pm to midnight. I am working in a plastic injection molding factory as a machine operator. But I will be teaching MY OWN KIDS AGAIN! Praise the Lord! |
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Finished Mystery of History Volume 1 - WONDERFUL!
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Friday was our last day of Mystery of History Volume 1! I am so excited that we have finished! We took about a year and a half to complete the curriculum. It was an awesome experience and I recommend MOH to everyone. We will take a break from World History and do some American history before going on to MOH2, mainly because I cannot afford to purchase it right now. I already have The Light and the Glory for Children (by Peter Marshall and David Manuel), as well as the 2 continuing volumes, so we will read these and do some corresponding activities before going on to MOH2. This will give us a "quick" survey of American history. (Note: I am doing all the planning, but my husband Bob is doing almost all of the actual teaching!) |
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
IEW, SWI, TWSS
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I wrote: In other news, I've decided to put the IEW curriculum aside until I can afford to buy the SWI. The TWSS is too complicated for Bob to take over and I often don't have time or energy to teach it when I get home from work. Michele asked about the alphabet soup! Sorry, Michelle, and any of my other confused readers! IEW is Institute for Excellence in Writing. It is the curriculum written by Andrew Pudewa, who spoke at INCH last year. SWI is the Student Writing Intensive put out by IEW. It is the beginning curriculum and it comes in 3 levels, depending on the age/grade of the student(s) using it. It is a DVD-based curriculum, with Mr. Pudewa providing instruction to the students via video. There are lesson plans as well, which I have, but they are less useful without the DVDs. TWSS is Teaching Writing: Structure and Style. It is an informational DVD set for the teacher. I had intended to teach writing with just this information, but am finding it would be easier if I had the SWI. So, on my curriculum wish list? SWI-B. |
Monday, April 9, 2007
Playdough Day and Poetry
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Due to Easter, I have three days off work - last Thursday and Friday, as well as today. So, I had lessons with the kids Thursday all day and Friday morning, instead of my husband being the teacher. I had plans to do lessons with the kids today as well. However, last night I wasn't feeling very well and purposed to sleep late today, which I did. (At least compared to my usual 6:50 alarm.) The kids were encouraged to clean their rooms during that time, and they made some motions like that might be happening. Right about the time I was hoping to start our lessons, Suzy got out her tiny pot of playdough that came in her Easter basket and asked if she could play with it. I agreed, and this led to James dragging out the playdough drawer. Emily joined in and they've been playing with playdough for over an hour now and don't show signs of stopping! I find that amazing! If I had PLANNED for them to play playdough, it might have lasted fifteen minutes. So, today is Playdough Day. (or at least Playdough Morning!) In other news, I've decided to put the IEW curriculum aside until I can afford to buy the SWI. The TWSS is too complicated for Bob to take over and I often don't have time or energy to teach it when I get home from work. I have a book on writing poetry that I think we'll do for a couple of months. That shouldn't be too taxing for Bob to handle. |
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Math-U-See Needs
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I need a couple Math U See things. IF you have these for sale/trade, please let me know. - Pre-Algebra teacher manual (I have the DVD's) - Pre-Algebra student books - Gamma student books I have a Zeta teacher manual/DVD set that I could trade. |