Aug. 25, 2008 - Haiku fun!
I promise I really did have fun writing this haiku. I don't know if I have written one since 4th grade but I tookthe challenge offered over at Rocks in My Dryer and wrote my first haiku in decades.
Waiting, Listening
For the first school bell to ring
Oh wait, I don't need a bell!
We are a homeschooling family that believes that true learning happens all the time, not at the sound of a bell. We learn in the rain, under the stars, by gazing up at the belly of a shark and we learn by living our days running after Jesus
The challenge is over tonight but her site is worth visiting and browsing. Bring a cup of coffee and enjoy her writing.
I'll let you all know if I qualified for the top five finalists. Then the readers will get to vote for their favorite. I should get an award just for participating since I created the crazy thing with kids hovering over me and little girls dancing around in front of me vying for my attention! :)
Update: Rocks in my dryer chose 5 other great haikus for her challenge. One of them appears to be a homeschooler too! The prizes looked great too. :(
Aug. 22, 2008 - Kindergarten Update
So, Katie started Kindergarten last week here at home. I don't really know what to expect from her, as she is my first female kindergartener. There is a difference you know. :)
Austin was taught completely at public school for K and Sam spent a few months in the same K class with the same teacher. I remember that the boys learned all their letters, letter sounds, sight words, color words, number recognition, and by the end of the year they could "read" these short predictable readers. They also began a brief introduction to math concepts. Austin is more of my math guy so he actually ended K knowing how to add and subtract one digit from a one digit number. Sam comprehended this concept later into his 1st grade year.
So tell me why, my daughter is working in a 1st grade math workbook and appears to grasp these math concepts. She can also read a few sight words, recognize all letters upper and lower case, say all the appropriate sounds with few errors, write all letters, write short words and can spell several color words already, thanks to some cute songs we still remember from Austin's K year. What is left to teach her? How do I teach this girl of mine. She wants to read so bad, but I don't want to rush her into such formal learning at 5. Sam can't help himself and sneaks in some teaching with her too. I guess he is the one who taught her to count by twos.
I am amazed at her strong desire to excell and her maturity.
Even Lily walks around with her purple notebook and says she has to do her homeschool work. She practices drawing "letters" and "writes " all sorts of stories. Is this a girl thing?
If I could just get these boys as motivated. They are doing better that last year though and for that I am grateful.
Aug. 11, 2008 - A Glimpse into our Homeschool Day
Day one of our new year will hopefully be a precursor of our days to come. I spent much of yesterday and this morning in prayer that our days would be fluid, without screaming fits or complaining attitudes, and meaningful. I love to teach my children and I hope that they can see the benefit of what I am teaching them, but on the days when they don’t understand it is my prayer that they can trust me and be obedient. Now a glimpse into our home school day. It is afternoon rest time at our house right now and I am still in amazement that our morning was so smooth. I turned PBS off on the TV at 9am, a little later than I had hoped but I was feeling lazy and wanted to check my email and my feeds. Everyone helped themselves to breakfast and spent the rest of the next 30 minutes doing their Morning Chores. Austin LOVES this routine. I forget how important it is to him that he knows what to expect and that his day has predictability. He tackled all his Morning Chores with a pleasant attitude and a diligence I am proud of. We began our day with a fun warm-up. Katie and Lily had one tub of finger paint and a note card with “A a” on it. Katie also had a few sight words she practiced in paint. Rachel sat in her high chair and played with her foam letter cubes, ok so she really threw them and giggled. J The boys each thumbed through a children’s dictionary looking for nouns that began with the letter A. I asked them to find 10 each. I intend to review these new words every morning as part of our warm up this week. After our warm-up, I had the three girls head upstairs to the playroom for 30 minutes. Austin chose to read for the next 30 minutes and Sam read Matthew chapter 13 to me while I folded laundry. I couldn’t believe Austin was choosing to read. That is his biggest struggle and he doesn’t usually read willingly. He loves to be read to but not on his own. Praise the Lord! I took my favorite aspect of the Charlotte Mason methodology today and took the kids on a nature walk after their first 30 minutes activity Everyone loved being outside and exploring with the magnifying glass. Rachel tottered along behind us and resisted being carried. She is so stubborn and independent. We inspected all the neighbors flowering bushes, the cobwebs in the crook of the tree trunks and raced across the yard to get back home again. I was so grateful the outside temperature was under 80*. We came in and had a short snack that consisted of a spoonful of peanut butter with chocolate chips on a spoon. This gave everyone the energy to move on to our next activity. Katie worked on her phonics with me for 30 minutes, while the boys wrote in their journals. The two little girls played upstairs again. While lunch was cooking the little girls got some momma time and we snuggled and read two books. I feel like everyone got the attention they craved based on the lack of complaining and whining. I am hopeful that our mornings can look like this for a few months and then we will readjust to our winter schedule. Austin, peering into the center of a cobweb!
Aug. 4, 2008 - Homeschool Funny
You know you are a relaxed, eclectic homeschooler when . . .
Austin and I were having a conversation about college and college football. I told him that if he wants to be a college football player he will have to keep his grades up because you don't play if you don't make the grade. Well, he turned to me and asked "what are grades?" ! I promise he did not know what I was talking about.
I couldn't believe my 9 yo had no idea and I had to actually explain that some people take a test to see how much they have learned from their lessons. The grade is what percentage they got right. :)
It makes me chuckle even right now. In our home, we don't take tests. I suppose it is because I am right there when they are learning and my "class size" is so low. :) If they are struggling with a new math lesson we go ever it again and learn it a new way. I might pull out something visual and tactile for him to "see" the problem or I might have John explain it his way. But overall, there are no grades less than 100%, because I just don't move on in the lessons until he gets it. Austin's pace is slow but his learning and comprehension is thorough.
Aug. 1, 2008 - Our study on the 4 Gospels
I have finished assembling the boys' binders including the checklists for reading the 4 Gospels in the Bible. My plan is for them to read or be read to through these 4 books by Christmas. I have been researching websites that we can learn from and I thought I would share where they were.
This site has short video animation to teach about the book of Luke. It seems geared for the kids to explore independently or with a parent nearby.
This site has information on how to have a Bible Study with your kids. Tips like :
Ask Questions
Ask questions about what you just read. Let your child narrate back to you. You will be able to tell how much he understood. Encourage the children to answer in complete sentences.
The Word Does not Return Void!
Keep in mind that devotions don't have to be a super spiritual to be spiritual moments. The word does not return void! You are planting seeds and it may take time to see results.
Keep Little Hands Busy
Various Bible coloring books are available. Or you can encourage your child to draw what you are reading about on plain paper with crayons or colored pencils. I made felt boards by sewing two different colors of felt together with a piece of cardboard between the layers to add stiffness. The children used these to make pictures on the felt during times when I wanted to keep them quiet. Purchase precut felt squares and cut them down to fit into the large zipping baggies. Cut the excess felt from each square into various shapes. Cut the cardboard about 1/2" smaller than the felt squares. Sew a straight stitch about 1/4" from the edge. If you don't sew, you can use a hot glue gun, following safety precautions. Store them in a large baggie.
Here are outlines of the book of Mark, Matthew, Luke and John.
Jul. 23, 2008 - Documents for Our Bible Study
This is another aspect of our homeschool curriculum that I wanted to share. It is a study of the Bible, in particular the Gospels. I intend to use my time at home with my children to raise them to know the Lord and to know the Word of God, inside and out. That is one of the priveleges of homeschooling, time to teach them what they really need to know. I just need to make time for it and make it a priority.
So both boys will be required to read all 4 of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, in the next 4 months. Then I intend to go back and do an indepth study in early 2009. I want my kids to know the history of these books of the Bible and the lives of these men. I am excited about this study and will check off my reading as well so I can learn right alongside the boys.
I have included the links to the Word Documents in case anyone wants to use these checklists.
Also here is a site that has comprehensive information that I plan on studying from.
Jul. 22, 2008 - 2008-2009 Curriculum Documents
I am sure I am not the only homeschooler finishing up the planning on this upcoming school year. We have lots of life to experience and many new lessons to learn. I thought I would share some of the files I am creating to print out and put in my kids' main binder. (All 3 of the big kids will have a binder with all their important stuff. I plan on putting their goals, checklists, book lists, and any lesson plans they need. )
I want to purposefully read 10 Newbery and Caldecott books this year at least. Here is the Newbery List and this is the Caldecott List. I plan on having them read parts, listen to us read or to find these books on tape.
I found this boook called The Newbery and Caldecott by Claudette Hegel Comfort that lists the Newbery and Caldecott winners for every year from 1922-1995, Newbery, and 1938-1995, Caldecott. It also has activites and comprehension questions about each book.
Jul. 22, 2008 - Kindergarten Skill Ring
Katie is my eager and super excited kindergartener. She has been drawing in her journal every morning and then I write as she dictates to me. She loves feeling like a big kid. It is also so encouraging to me to have a child who doesn't complain or whine about having to write. The funny thing is that both of the boys have writing gifts, in their own ways.
I am busy creating a kindergarten curriculum for Katie that has her gifts and struggles in mind.
One idea I found online here and here, just scroll down until you see the skill ring link, is a skill ring. I'm not sure how other teachers use this idea but we printed out all the skills and then as Katie accomplishes a new skill she dates it and colors it. Then I laminate it for her, hole punch it, and slip it onto the ring. We tied several of her favorite ribbons on it just for cuteness.
I actually like this idea. It is a simple and yet thorough way to make sure the skills I want her to learn by next Spring have been accomplished. She likes it because it is a visual way to show off what she has learned.
This is the package we bought at Walmart.
Jul. 3, 2008 - Cooking Curriculum
This morning Sam decided he was going to make chocolate chip cookies. I gave him the recipe I had typed up and let him at it. He realized quickly that he didn't have enough flour so he had to beg ask the neighbors for some. He did really well for an almost 8 year old. I mixed in the chips and scooped the dough balls out for him, but he did everything else himself.
I have been working on a cooking curriculum for the boys. I am taking recipes that we commonly use and typing them up so they are simplistic and easy to read. It will also include basics like how to cook rice and how to use the measuring cups. It is my goal for the boys to have an end of year "final" that will include creating a menu for the week, purchasing the items needed using a budget, cooking the meals independently, and serving them properly. I believe it is doable. They both know how to set an oven temp and adjust the heat on the stove top. The hardest part will probably be getting them to write the menu down and writing the list. They don't like to write.
I hope to add recipes to their binders as they grow up and then they will have something to share with their future brides. (Just in case their brides are like me as a new bride and think that a box of hamburger helper and a can of corn was a great meal!)
Here is the recipe I typed up for the boys, ages 9 and almost 8 to use. It makes a huge batch but we always freeze some of the dough balls and then bake them later as needed.
________________________________
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients List
1 ½ cups white sugar
1 ½ cups packed brown sugar
2 cups butter (this is 4 sticks of butter)
2 eggs
4 ½ cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking SODA
1 teaspoon salt
3 or 4 cups of chocolate chips
1. Heat oven to 375*
2. Mix white sugar, brown sugar, butter and eggs in mixer
3. Mix flour, salt and baking soda in another bowl
4. Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients
5. Stir in chocolate chips
6. Roll dough gently into small balls of equal size and evenly place them on a baking sheet. Make sure they are about 2 inches apart
7. Bake 10-12 minutes until they are light brown and the center is still soft looking.
8. Let cool on baking sheet for 10 minutes then move to a wire cooling rack
9. Store covered on the kitchen counter, not in the fridge
(Makes 2 batches of cookies)
May. 14, 2008 - Our Math Mini Office
I saw this great idea at this site and here. I love the lapbook idea!
Yesterday the 3 "big" kids and I worked on their mini office for math work. I printed lots of helps on white cardstock and then cut them down to size. They had a fun time glueing, taping, and hot glueing their helps to the file folders. I used two letter sized folders and cut off the tabs and stapled them together. I may or may not connect them that way again. The stapled side doesn't open as easily as I would have liked.
Even Austin, my ever uncooperative child, enjoyed himself. My hope is that when they are working on a math assignment they can refer to their mini- office for help.
Here are some of the topics I have included or hope to include in the math mini office:
math symbols
division chart
place value reminders
a number line
a clock
ordinal numbers
even and odd numbers
Roman numerals
I saved lots of pages for a future literature mini office. I may even heat up my new laminator and keep them protected.
One of Sam's inside pages with fractions, a number line and his 100 chart.
Sam's title page for his math mini office.
An inside shot of his lapbook.
May. 5, 2008 - The games they play...
The boys have officially begun their summer "break" but please don't tell them yet. 
We have hit our 180 days that the state requires that I teach them, but somehow I don't know how to stop being available to answer questions or encouraging imaginative play. It really is hard to draw a line between my role as Mom and as Teacher.
I think all moms have a duty to teach their children. Most moms take the time to tell a preschooler what color their shirt is, count out the goldfish at snack time, or teach them to share. That is all learning! As they get older you have them help you estimate how much the grocery bill will be, how to make a budget, or how to find books on Mustangs at the library. I just happen to make it my fulltime mission to educate my kids at home. Proverbs 22:6 says it is our responsibility as Christian parents.
Today the boys played chess for over an hour. John taught them almost two years ago and at 7 and 9 years old they really know how to play.
I found this article that sums up why we encourage chess playing in lieu of math worksheets...
Christine
Apr. 27, 2008 - Art Review
I wanted to share that my boys have used the Gee Art online program for art appreciation and have loved it. They have been through all sections and have gone back and done many two times. It is well designed with great animations and the information is presented with kid appeal. I found myself hanging around just to see what they were going to do next.
Since we have finished this program I have been researching artists for us to study. First it was Leonardo DaVinci and now we are on Pablo Picasso. I had the boys use one section of their spiral bound notebook for art history. I printed off 5 x 7 paintings for them to tape into their books then I read to them about the artist. They had to write down facts about the artist and then words that described how the painting made them feel. I had to help them alot with spelling.
We have also been working on narrating after reading. I am trying to teach the boys how to tell the story or paragraph back to me. Who would have thought it would have been so hard for them?
Anyway, this week my goal is to have the boys compose a cubist style painting just like some of Picasso's work. I plan on construction paper, glue and lots of paint being used. I have a feeling my oldest wont want to create such abstract art but I'll ask him to try.
Jul. 18, 2007 - Confidence
Our oldest child is struggling with self confidence. He is a smart child who is so creative and artsy. He is 8 and a half and is still struggling with his reading. He loves math though. I found this website and printed off the reading assessment for him to read to me and I had our 7 years old read it to.
http://www.oklahomahomeschool.com/assesstest.html
I had him read the first 4 paragraphs and he only made 2 mistakes, 4 were allowed. He was so proud of himself when I told him. It boosted his confidence for a moment. He struggles so much with believing in himself and I don't know how to help him. I want him to love reading as much as I do. He has to learn how to read. That is my first goal for him academically.
He also gets frustrated very easliy and is prone to temper tantrums when we do something new.
Anyone have any advice?
Jul. 17, 2007 - My kids' journals
I am so excited about teaching the kids again. I have been trying to think of new ways to motivate them. One way is to have them start up their own blog. The boys will share one and add an entry every school day. I plan on using the blog in place of a handwritten journal. Austin seems interested but guarded. Sam is excited and wrote his first entry today. I will always be right there when they blog and I will supervise any postings for content and spelling mistakes. I hope it works and gets them interested in creative writing and helps them with their spelling and grammar.
Jul. 6, 2007 - Pilgrims and Indians
I have decided to take a different approach to hoemschooling for the rest of the month. I will set aside the boring workbooks, that they hate anyway, and try more hands on stuff. Today Sam wrote 4 sentences about a dog and his friends. He was really unsure about the spelling but I promised him I wouldn't get upset if there were misspelled words. As he ran off to write it, it made me wonder if I am part of his problem of not wanting to write anything. So I held my promise and read his story and told him how proud I was of him. Then Austin and Sam worked on a blank multiplication chart up to 12. They filled in all the ones they knew by heart and did a few that they had to add up. I had Austin tape it to the fridge so they would see it and feel compelled to finish it. We'll see if that works!
Katie ran around singing and playing with puzzles and I rocked the baby all the while. After all that I read to them from The Children's Book Of America edited by William J Bennett.
We read all about the Pilgrims and why they came to America. Then I tried reading some of the Indian names and I just knew I was butchering the pronunciation. So off on a google search we went and found an audio clip for each word. The kids thught it was cool to hear it on the computer. We had a good discussion on the seasons, planting, Thanksgiving, blessings and so much more. I think they actually learned something!
The boys are playing with lincoln logs now, so I need to go take a picture.
Jul. 3, 2007 - Cool art program!
I was reading other blogs yesterday and found this link to timberdoodle.com in one of them.
http://www.timberdoodle.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1851
It's called GeeArt-16. We tried out the free trial and the kids loved it. I'll have to say that I tried it out first and loved it myself. It kept their attention and encouraged them to participate in the lesson. They have used it several times already so I plan on buying the downloadable art program in a few weeks.
The animations are hilarious both in their speech and their actions. It really draws the kids in.
