Oct. 29, 2008
Notebooking
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I'm using a charter school this year to homeschool. I know, I know. There are many out there who would disagree with me using the public school system, but after praying about it and my need for more accountability in homeschooling my children, this was what seemed to be the answer. It's not a permanent solution - there are so many things I don't like about using it such as: teaching to California Standards; the push to make sure certain subjects are done and how that causes the children and I to lose the joy of homeschooling; and how often it just seems like we're doing school at home instead of homeschooling. There is little spontaneity and delight-driven learning. On the flip side, I'm doing school a whole lot more than i was. Knowing that I have to sign a piece a paper at the end of each month saying my children did school on certain days is a definite motivator. We have gone off a bit from the trail were supposed to be following, though, the last week or so. We are supposed to be doing California History this year (for all three of the kids) and I decided to do a sideline of Pilgrim History. The church we attend does a Reformation Day each year instead of a Harvest Party celebrating key figures in Reformation history. This year they decided to do the Puritans/Pilgrims/Separatists. In light of that, I started reading "The Mayflower Secret" by Dave and Neta Jackson to them - a fictionalized version of the Mayflower story through 13-year-old Elizabeth Tilley's eyes. I have had my children (at least the 8 and 10 year olds) drawing pictures as I read and I decided that a notebook would be a great way for them to keep the pictures. Of course, I'll have them do other things also in the notebook for history, science, writing, and reading. So far I plan for them to: copy the Mayflower Charter, write about the Mayflower's journey and the settlement of Plymouth, choose some of the herbs that the Indians taught the Pilgrims about and do some research on them, include their art, write poems, possibly draw a map of the location of Plymouth, do a timeline, as well as other possibilities. Today I had them make their notebook covers to spark their interest and have a place to put their research and work. For my younger two (ages 7 and 4) I'll simplify it a bit and have them do some Autumn activities also. Coloring, study of pumpkins and autumn leaves, as well as reading them more simplified versions of the Pilgrim stories and dictating it back to me. I found a link to another homeschooling mom's Thanksgiving notebook project that inspired me. She has done several notebooking projects that I thought were creative and sparked my creativity in turn. I don't agree with everything they study, but I'm looking for format at this point. If you know of other websites with photos of ideas for notebooking, let me know. I'm definitely a novice and sometimes I spend too much time thinking, and not enough time doing! |
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Oct. 30, 2008 - Untitled Comment
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