22 June 2006 - Anyone in New Mexico?
We are entering a new phase in our homeschooling journey. I am not quite sure what to call it...maybe "travelschooling"? Well, it sounds better than homeschooling transients, right? LOL!
My dh works as an engineering contractor, so every 12-18 months we all go together on the next job contract.
Soon we will be leaving for Hobbs, NM. We are going to spend the year or so studying the desert, plants and creatures of the desert, the local geography (including caves since we'll be close to Carlsbad!!), and astronomy. Of course, we will also be working on all the foundation subjects, but I am really excited about the opportunity to learn in a very real way about things specific to each area we will go to.
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11 January 2006 - Our Public School Experience
I should have known something was up when we went to register. The principal took me into his conference area and very seriously explained that they'd have to test my daughter to make sure she was on the 2nd grade level. I looked concerned for a moment, but he clarified that it would be the 'end of first grade' test for reading and math. I laughed at that. He wasn't amused.
The first week went by smoothly, mostly excitement and trying to adjust to the public school schedule (I never did manage that for some reason). The following Tuesday things hit a sour note. My 7yo brought home a stack of graded papers that were literally covered in purple (not red!) markings. So much that you could barely see the work my dd did. Every mistake was circled and corrected and the number and letter grade was written at the top.
My dd cried when she saw the D's and F's. I will admit that it upset me to see her so bothered. Who in the world grades 7yo children so harshly? Well, to answer that, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, that's who. They are extremely strict on small children to have perfectly formed letters, perfectly spaced words and the biggest thing of all: YOU MUST WRITE EVERYTHING IN A COMPLETE SENTENCE. Everything. Even if the question isn't in a complete sentence! And you will get the problem wrong if you don't answer in a complete sentence. Even if you got the answer right!
Now what kind of logic is that? It made me realize that grades don't mean anything at all. She would get all the answers right on her science and social studies papers, yet she would get a D or F because of grammatical errors. I don't remember being graded that harshly in college!
Anyway, I thought, well, she's just getting used to things. It will be better next week.
Ha. Ha. Ha.
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10 January 2006 - I made the bracelet!!
I don't know why I was putting it off for so long. Fear of failure, maybe, but I think it turned out great! I wore the bracelet to the park yesterday and got many compliments. It only took a couple of hours to make, but not bad for my first time, I think : )
Brandy Arsuaga
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9 January 2006 - Well, that was interesting!
We decided to let our 7yo daughter try public school after a couple months of asking. She started public school September 17th and by late November she had had enough. We finally withdrew her the day school was scheduled to begin again after the Christmas break.
It was a very interesting experience. Over the next few days, I'll be recording my thoughts about our experience for posterity (haha!).
Suffice it to say that she and I are both very glad to be homeschooling again!
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28 September 2005 - When Friendships go Sour
Have you ever had someone you call a friend change over time? Yes, I know that is normal for people to change, but this time it's for the worse.
It has taken me a long time to realize this friend is really not my friend. I don't think someone who never misses a chance to insult you (especially indirectly) could be considered a friend. Someone who will give you the silent treatment for no apparent reason, repeatedly, is not really a friend.
You may be wondering why I am writing this on a homeschooling blog. It is because this friend is also a fellow homeschooler. I don't really have anyone IRL to share this with, so I am just typing my feelings out here.
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31 July 2005 - Finally!!
Finally!! I found this game! Our homeschool support group has a chess day twice a month and one of the moms brought this chess game. It has the legal moves for each piece printed on the actual piece! My almost 4yo ds was even able to play an informal game of chess with his friend Max. I think this is a great idea and I am looking forward to learning how to play chess myself! I can't wait until it arrives!!
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21 July 2005 - Testing the photo insertion...
Here's a small sampling of our homeschooling collection. Pictured is my dd (complete with injured foot 
Brandy
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21 July 2005 - First ER Visit
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20 July 2005 - I thought it was a joke...
I used to roll my eyes at people who talked about the 'gay agenda' in public schools. Growing up in Texas, we didn't hear much about homosexuality, so I never gave it much validity. But here it is in the NEA's own words:
http://www.nea.org/annualmeeting/raaction/index.html (You can find the section about half way down the page. Bolding mine.)
Among other new business items passed during the last RA session:
- A measure requiring NEA, through its Health Information Network, to promote research and resources on women and heart disease, the number one killer of women.
- An affirmation of NEA's support for the "education of current and former prisoners."
- Encouragement of NEA member participation in Operation Iraqi Children, which brings school supplies to students in Iraq.
- A measure committing NEA to develop a strategy to counter new attacks on curricula and practices that support gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered students and staff in public schools.
Wow, it's true.
Brandy
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13 July 2005 - Creating school space
Well, I finally decided what I want done with our extra room upstairs! It has only taken me 2 years and 7 months to decide, LOL! After we get the train table and computer out, I have to shampoo the carpet. Once that is done, I am going to have dh put up a bunch of cabinets and shelves, and maybe see what kind of neat built-in he can create out of the closet space. Whew, that was easy!
I just love seeing pictures of other homeschoolers' school rooms! Hopefully in the near future I will figure out how to add photos to the blog!
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28 June 2005 - Preparing for the new year
This is our 3rd year of homeschooling, and this year we are using Sonlight Curriculum. My 7yo will be using Core 1+2 with advanced readers and my 4yo will be using Core Pre-K.
I am a happy hoarder of educational materials, and my stash of various curricula is among my most prized possessions. Some of the favorites include: Story of the World 1 and 2, with activity guides, Mystery of History, Singapore Math, Miquon Math, Rod and Staff Math, Borenson Algebra (for mom too!), First Language Lessons, Simply Grammar, Rod and Staff Grammar, various Critical Thinking books, tons of Usborne Books. There are many, many more, but those are among the favorites.
My favorite places to glean homeschooling information are the message boards at Sonlight and The Well Trained Mind
We are still on the search for a great art curriculum. My 7yo loves to draw and has really improved over the past few months with no formal instruction, but we'd like to begin the formal instruction soon. We have Drawing With Children by Mona Brookes, and will try that first.
Brandy
