|
Initially I setup this blog to blog about our homeschool adventures. I, on occasion, also blog about our day to day life in general as well but don't really get into too many specifics. Really it's just to give my family an idea of "what we've been up to" as I generally don't remember to relay that to them when I chat on the phone with them. Also traditionally our school year runs from September - May (May 17th to be exact) in a 12 week, December off, 12 week, spring break, then a 6 week semester type system. So obviously we are on "break" right now and the question that has been rolling around in my summer time head is what do you blog about on a homeschool blog when you are not homeschooling? Some, what I think are interesting, thoughts have come into my head as I think upon this. 1) Does learning happen all the time? YES! 2) If yes then why don't I blog about that learning ..... I guess I don't "count" that learning as part of our homeschooling journey because it's "life learning" as opposed to?......book learning? No we learn in other ways than books. So.... 3) I guess I don't "count" it because it wasn't part of my "plan". Hmmmm whose plan is it anyways.....more food for thought. Anyways here is an update of what we've been up to: Watched Inkheart and the new Transformer movie (twice) Birthday sleepover with friends. Grandma and Grandpa and Aunty Kerri came for a lovely visit. Painting and planting were on the agenda as well as board games. Visited the Olds Fiber Fair and the Ellis Bird Farm while they were here as well. Went out for a wonderful belated birthday dinner - seafood is certainly one of my families favorites. Puppy sitting - Josh's small business. Delivered eggs - another small enterprise. Ordered a dumpster for the acreage to do a major clean up project. More movies are still on the agenda as well as more birthday parties, camping and a list of home projects. Now as I review this list I see all kinds of learning happening as well as the most important learning of all - how to slow down and enjoy summer! |
|
which is the excuse I'll use for not having updated my blog in so long. We just went camping but it was one of the most restful, relaxing and rejuvenating holidays I've been on. The kids actually kept themselves busy - granted water of any kind around my kids keeps them busy - that and good friends. Since the field trip - we had our year end party/birthday party combo park day. I felt so blessed that day to have the friends we have on the journey we are on. I don't know how I got so lucky. We've also been visiting other friends who we don't get to see as often as we like - had a lovely day in the sun on the deck just chatting. Also managed to add to my knitting stash with some awesome yarn deals of late - now I have the job of organizing it all and planning projects! The kids have been participating in a homeschool baseball evening which they are really enjoying. Noah got his kinder assessment in the mail - I really should do a blog entry on his year end wrap up I guess. I am still planning on doing stuff with him through out the summer but that blog entry could probably help me plan some specific goals for him. Also enjoyed some dinner theatre with friends - what a fun evening out! Paul and I really need to do that more often - especially since we have a built in babysitter whose only requests are a good movie and food! Oh well we were on holidays Josh attended horse camp. Next year he wants to go for at least a weekend - so I need to put a reminder in my calendar for next year to do that. He also got in some extra horse riding as friends brought their horses to camp and took all the kids on a ride. Noah was most impressed as he got a horse of his own to ride. There will be pictures coming....I promise. Picked up some yummy asparagus from a local asparagus farm - need to go back and get more before their season ends. Speaking of food - we ate SO well on holidays I feel like I've gained 40 pounds!! Had a wonderful birthday with friends who didn't forget about my birthday even though I did (highly unusal for me so that tells you what a wonderful time I was having)! But now we are back at home and there is laundry to do and grass to cut and several at home projects to complete this summer - but that list can be made sipping java on the new back deck! Yeah summer! |
|
Well even though we are "done" school doesn't mean we are done learning! On Monday we went on a field trip to Markerville. http://www.historicmarkerville.com/ It's a historical creamary but oh there is SO much more! Our day started off at the Stephanson House!
Noah did the tour of the house which included making Astarbollur, learning some Icelandic language, carding some wool and chatting about how it was the youngest in the family job to take out the chamber pot! There was also an Icelandic folk tale read with participating reading done from the young group. While Noah was touring the house Josh walked down the road to the Hola School. The teacher is very "authentic" and although Josh has been there before he really enjoyed the experience again especially the Spelling Bee! Then when it was Josh's turn to tour the Stephanson house Noah went with his group to the Creamary where he did a tour of the creamery and then made butter. I had nothing but time on my hands so enjoyed the beautiful grounds at the Stephanson House. Then we all gathered together at the Creamery for a picnic lunch. The grounds at the Creamery has a minature replica of the town. Noah's favorites were the outhouses and some of them even had people sitting in them doing their "business". Ha ha!
Josh's favorite part of the picnic lunch was sitting under a tree with a cute girl.....oh my!
After lunch it was Noah's turn to make brown bread to go with the butter of course and a bat craft that was later used in a scavenger hunt around town. The older kids milked goats. There were also games of all kinds including an egg race!
It was a VERY full day and of course the best part was the ice cream at the end of the day!
|
|
So we had our year end facilitation for Josh today (Noah's is June 4). I'll just cut and paste what I gave her and of course Josh ran everything he did through her. All in all it was a great year! Facilitator Meeting Joshua Desrosiers November 11, 2008 - May 19, 2009 Literary World Project completed November 30, 2008 (A Ranger’s Apprentice Series), A Door Within Series – Rise of the Wyrm Lord, A Spell Behind Bars, Lightening Thief Series (The Lightening Thief, The Sea of Monsters, Titan’s Curse, The Battle of the Labyrinth, The Last Olympian), WW I My Stories Series (Flying Ace, Writing: Bravewriter Dictation Notebook (see writing samples), Moving from copywork (Titan’s Curse) to dictation (The Battle of the Labyrinth) and freewriting (Bionicle Mix Up), Research - Study Starters – Vehicle, Instructions – How to Play Wii, Bionicle Mix Up freewrite story (Scribbler), Cursive practice (Spell Behind Bars, 39 Clues Book 1), Song Lyrics Copywork, H.I.V.E. Copywork, Newspaper Ad: Robo Sock Monkeys, Spelling Games: Huggermugger and Quiddler. Math: Was at 92% grade level in November, Topics covered since November include Fractions, Decimals, Percentages, Geometry, Statistics and Probability, Graphing, Equations & Inequalities (Pre-Algebra), Units of Measure, Metric System, Powers and Exponents, Square Roots, The Pythagorean Theorem, Working with Negatives, Adding and Subtracting Negatives and Multiplying and Dividing Negatives. Lessons: 85%, Quizzes: 89% Overall Mark: 87% Science: Dissection Class; Apologia General Science Chapters 1-9: History of Science, Scientific Inquiry, How to Analyze and Interpret Experiments, Science, Applied Science and Technology, The History of Life (Archaeology, Geology and Paleontolgy), Foundations of Geology, The Fossil Record, Uniformitariansm and Catastrophism, Classifying Life. Scientists Study Notes and Test for Module 1 Matching Scientists to descriptions. Module 3 Test, Other chapter tests done orally, Mad Scientist Day – Chemistry and Planet Earth Geography and History: Phys Ed: kayaking lessons, lazer tag, swimming, homeschool hockey, skating, paintball and biking Art: finished painting dragon from dragonolgy exhibit, ceramics, mask making, Other: Planned Spontaneity Box, helping Dad teach Lego classes, Science Center field trip, Bernard Callebaut Chocolate Tour field trip, Working for Doug (cattle management), Tracking Bank Balance (Excel), Computer Programs <1701 A.D. Age of Empires, Lord of the Rings, Battlefield 2, Flight Simulator>, Typing, Tuesday Teatime, Camp Little Red Horse Camp and Horse workmanship General Comments: I feel this year has been a successful year for Joshua. His reading ability and love for reading allows him to read on a variety of topics and interests as well as for information and enjoyment. He is able to discuss what he reads with others and openly gives and receives recommendations to and from others. Joshua’s writing showed much improvement this year in both quality and speed but mostly in quantity! It could still show more improvement with continued focus next year. Josh completed a variety of writing assignments and is not as reluctant to write as he once was. Josh was VERY successful in his Math this year not only completing the entire curriculum but in achieving very good marks in understanding what he was doing. His recall of basic facts could still use some work but moving to a calculator has aided in much quicker understanding of concepts rather than being bogged down by calculations. Josh has completed the Apologia General Science and I feel he has a good understanding of basic scientific principles. He also enjoyed the Dissection, Chemistry and Planet Earth classes he took. Josh has an excellent and extensive grasp of history! He loves to read about anything history especially if it involves humor. Josh could use some review of Geography which we will do next year. Josh enjoyed a variety of physical activities this year as well as some great Art classes! Josh has had a great year and looks forward to paint balling and doing some horse workmanship this summer. Next year will include a focus on writing and geography and continuing on with his other studies as interests indicate. |
|
Well this is it the home stretch of the school year - at least for Josh that is. He has one quiz left in Math and he'll have completed a whole curriculum this year (unheard of in our house so I'm really proud of us for that). I'll do the final figures up and report but he has been in the 80's all year long so I'm suspecting he will be in and around that area. We are also still working on The Fallacy Detective - he is still enjoying that and even shared with others how much he is enjoying it at our Homeschool Sharing Showcase. Noah sang his ABC song and absolutely loved the applause! The last couple of tasks on my list is for Josh to create a reference book for himself to use next year (this will include some math formulas, some spelling lists, etc.) And his last writing assignments will be a goal list of all things he wants to do/accomplish this summer. You know kind of like 101 things to do this summer but personalized. Our final facilitator visit is on the 20th which is nice because we can wrap things up, I can do up my little write up, we can have tea with her and share and then I can relax for the summer as most of my planning for next year is already completed (in my head at least). Noah is still plugging along - learning as he does by just jumping in with both feet. We are still going to attend his Kindergarten program in the city a couple of more times before calling it a year with him and we have some fun field trips lined up as well. I'm also planning on purchasing some fun Letterland stuff for him to have in the RV while we are camping. I think we'll continue to do some letter sound stuff throughout the summer and then focus on learning how to read when September starts up, he's not quite there yet and I don't feel it's necessary to push him at this point. He's a pretty smart cookie and he'll probably be ready on his own by the fall. We still have butterflies to come in and gardening to start - which Noah is very excited about. I'm hoping to do some Nature studies with him as well over the summer, again throwing the books in the RV and using them as the opportunties come up. So other than school we have some shopping to get done - Josh is in desperate need of some summer sandals, shorts and some pants. We are also helping out some friends on their annual cattle drive this Saturday and then on Sunday the 17th is Josh's 14th birthday. Although the celebration will be smaller than in past years he is looking forward to seeing the new Wolverine movie with his buddy Jordan and is planning to get some paintballing in as well. I'm already finding myself falling into the mode of summer, less cooking, more knitting and just enjoying life in general by not having so much on the calendar. Well that is all I have to report for now, chat with you all soon.
|