Nov. 6, 2009 - Going to Japan (in our minds)

We have been visiting Japan in our minds for the last 3 weeks, we are going to be wrapping up our Japan study this next week. The 1st week we studied Geography & Weather, the second week Ancient Times & History, the third week Government & Science (plants & animals) then the last week People and Language.

I asked them to pick 2 projects for this study and today we made a map of Japan and next week we are going to be making ninja or samurai outfits, I have to look for cheap or free material this weekend.

I feel like we could spend a year in Japan, I found this to be fascinating.  Here are there maps, I helped my ds/w autism on cutting, but he had to put on his own glue and color the seas and ocean without help he also write the words and say the countries (verbal)....

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Aug. 10, 2009 - Our School Year- Subjects

In having 3 kids so close in age, they all have different learning styles. This makes life interesting, I am however thankful and they are learning to be independent learners. Well, not all of them are right now, just the oldest. I still like to ensure that he is grasping the concept because I like that interaction.

As a family we are doing, Story of the World Vol 3, Biology, Bible and we are visiting a country together.

Then their individual subjects vary.

Oldest DS (4^th grade)

Latin’s Not So Tough Level 5

Rod & Staff 4 (Grammar)

Spelling Workout E

Cursive Handwriting without Tears

Math U See Delta

DS w/Autism (3^rd grade)

No Glamour Grammar

On Cloud Nine (math-visualizing/verbalizing)

Spelling Workout B

Alpha Phonics

Handwriting without Tears

Lots of speech, communication, and play stuff mixed in

DD (2^nd grade)

Math U See Beta

Rod & Staff 2 (Grammar)

Spelling workout A/B?

Pentime/Handwriting without Tears

McGuffeys Electic Readers

Hopefully I didn’t forget anything.

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Apr. 29, 2009 - For the Birds!

This week we wrapped up the bird's unit in our science book. And it was interesting, we learned about different types of birds, how they are classified and what they eat. We also compared birds and planes. So along the way we documented our study.

Biology is not my strongest subject...I am learning a lot.

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Apr. 15, 2009 - What I love about schooling at home

Sometimes in life I reflect on certain things. Here lately I have been thinking about homeschooling and how I love the flexibility and that everyone is different. I love hearing about how people homeschool...I love the flexible schedule and how I can modify a curriculum to meet my kids learning styles.

I thought I would take some pictures today as we were doing history. This is how we spend our group learning time:

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Jan. 15, 2009 - January (Back to School)

We started back to school. For us it is so hard to go from a long break to back to school. I don't really understand why, I wonder if we become lazy durning our time off. Or spoiled with playing with our toys (me included) and getting to sleep in.

I often wonder if I should keep getting them up at the same time when we are on break. But lets just face it...I don't want to get up either.

I have to figure out an easier transition back to school, because this was not smooth.

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Dec. 12, 2008 - DD's Birthday

I cannot believe that DD is 7! Where does the time go. I can remember when we thought she would never grow hair. (LOL)

Here are some pictures from her birthday, and Thanksgiving. My parents also celebrated their 48th Wedding Anniversay in November. I am so very thankful for my parents and the way they raised us. We could ask any question and they would answer us honestly and at times gently depending on the question. It is my hope that my children will look on my dh and I the way I veiw them.

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Sep. 26, 2008 - Science is so flippin' fun this year!

First, let me state that I have never taken Chemistry, not in high school and defintely not in college. But, if I understood what it was about I may have taken it.

(Here's a thought off topic) It is weird in my last blog I talked about my oldest ds attitude, but when it comes to certain subjects he has no problem what so ever. His favorite subjects are Latin, Reading, Science and History. I have tried mixing them up so he has a subject he is not fond of and then one that he is. I have tried a visual schedule (which has worked the best of any-so far.) But my friend sent me some good advice so I am going to put that in action come Monday. (Back to the topic)

Our book for this year is Christian Kids Explore Chemistry. I bought it used and this is an awesome book. For every lesson there is an experiment and here is this weeks. The kids built a model of water.

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Sep. 15, 2008 - Menu Plan for the week

Monday- Ham &  Cheese Sandwiches with chips

Tuesday- Mac & Cheese with red kidney beans, green beans and homemaid biscuits

Wednesday- Pizza with WW crust

Thursday- Beef Stew

Friday- Grill Cheese and Soup

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Apr. 26, 2008 - Kindergarten Graduation for our last time

For the last 3 years I have had a kindergarter. And tonight my baby graduated. It was a strange feeling, I have worked on the committee for the last 3 years and have really enjoyed it. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

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Apr. 11, 2008 - Things are really busy, YIKES!

April and May for me are probably my busiest months. But, the things that are going on are fun and exciting for me.

My dd is preparing for her kindergarten graduation. My ds (oldest) recited Psalms 100, and ds with autism fell asleep (yeah!) and now my dd will be showing everyone 12 signs in american sign language. When I was a kid I got to have kindergarten graduation and it always stuck with me, so I was very glad to find out that our umbrella school gave the kids this experience, too.

Also our coop has performance night and I am excited that we (animal science) have teamed up with countries of the world. It will be so very cute the kids are K-2 and we are presenting the rainforest. I am really looking forward to this.

Our support group goes into family mode in the summers. We have a meeting to get ideas from parents on who they would like to come and speak and if we have any volunteers to serve on committees. May we have the zoo, June we have a picnic, July we have pump it up and hopefully in August we are going to do something very special for our mom's.

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Mar. 31, 2008 - Full body learning really is working

As you know my ds with autism and I have turned our house into an masken tape circus. We have a number line that is 15 foot long going down our hall and a huge thing in our living room.

Well, after a few weeks of trial and error. These are things that I have seen. He has started alternating his feet going down the stairs YEAH!. He has started telling me words when I asked him. Today, they were ball, bike, both, back, and bee. Then he wrote numbers without me touching him. DOUBLE YEAH!!!!! Here are his answer without any help.

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Feb. 23, 2008 - Our penguins

Today 2 of my 3 children are not feeling well...so we stayed home and rested. I thought it would be nice if we painted some penquins... here they are .

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Feb. 23, 2008 - This week in homeschooling....

This week in homeschooling we are going to be reviewing...because we are done with our school year! ;-). We are going to take the next couple of week and review.

For grammar this week we are focusing on adjectives and prepositions. For these we are using Noah's ark and animals. I will post pictures when we are done. This should be cool.

We will also be reviewing math, Bible, science and history.

As for my ds with autism he will also be learning grammar through the ark. And we will review the basic of matching,

1. Captial letters to small letters

2. Spell & write his name without assistance

3.Catorgize, people, places, transportation, clothing

4. Sight words, matching then picking up on request.

5. Tell me what is missing, letters or numbers, eg. J___L,  14____16

As for my dd, we will be reviewing math and focusing on reading.

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Feb. 21, 2008 - If you live in Tennessee please read this and email or call. Thank you.

February 21, 2008

Tennessee: Calls Needed to Stop Testing Bill

Dear HSLDA Members and Friends:

We need your help now! Tennessee homeschoolers are facing the most
serious threat to their freedom since the homeschool law was enacted
23 years ago.

House Bill 2795 would subject non-public school students, including
homeschool students, to additional state testing. It would require
them to take subject matter tests based upon state-approved textbooks.
It would also require them to pass the Tennessee comprehensive
assessment program tests before receiving a high school diploma. These
new testing requirements would also apply to students being taught at
home through extension or satellite programs of church-related
schools.  Your calls to state representatives are needed to stop this
dangerous legislation!

If House Bill 2795 passes, it will essentially mean the end of
homeschooling in Tennessee. Parents deciding to teach their children
at home would have to conform their curriculum to the material taught
in public school in order for their children to be able to pass the
state tests. The Tennessee Department of Education, not parents, would
determine whether a student taught at home was eligible to receive a
high school diploma.

Sponsored by Representative G.A. Hardaway (92nd District), this
horrendous bill is now in the House Education Committee. It is
scheduled to be heard by the Special Initiatives Subcommittee of the
House Education Committee this coming Wednesday, February 27.
Representative Hardaway and members of the House Education Committee
need to hear from you today!

Action Requested:

(1) Please call or write (both would be better) Representative G.A.
Hardaway and at least one member of the House Education Committee with
this message:

"Please oppose House Bill 2795, which would impose public school
testing on non-public school students. This bill would effectively
destroy non-public education in Tennessee by requiring private
schools, church-related schools, and homeschools to adopt the public
school curriculum for their instruction programs."

The contact information for Representative Hardaway and members of the
House Education Committee is set forth below. Members of the Special
Initiatives Subcommittee which will hear the bill on Wednesday are
indicated by an asterisk.

If your last name begins with A-I, please call the following members:

*Chair Les Winningham,
(615) 741-6852
rep.leslie.winningham@legislature.state.tn.us

*Vice-Chair Tommie Brown
(615) 741-4374
rep.tommie.brown@legislature.state.tn.us

*Secretary Joe Towns, Jr.
(615) 741-2189
rep.joe.towns@legislature.state.tn.us

Harry Brooks
(615) 741-6879
rep.harry.brooks@legislature.state.tn.us

*Jim Coley
(615) 741-8201
rep.jim.coley@legislature.state.tn.us

Barbara Cooper
(615) 741-4295
rep.barbara.cooper@legislature.state.tn.us

If your last name begins with letters J-R, please call these members:

Dolores Gresham
(615) 741-6890
rep.dolores.gresham@legislature.state.tn.us

Beth Harwell
(615) 741-0709
rep.beth.harwell@legislature.state.tn.us

John Hood
(615) 741-7849
rep.john.hood@legislature.state.tn.us

Phillip Johnson
(615) 741-7477
rep.phillip.johnson@legislature.state.tn.us

Ulysses Jones, Jr.
(615) 741-4575
rep.ulysses.jones@legislature.state.tn.us

*Ron Lollar
(615) 741-7084
rep.ron.lollar@legislature.state.tn.us

If your last name begins with letters S-Z, please call these members:

Mark Maddox
(615) 741-7847
rep.mark.maddox@legislature.state.tn.us

Michael McDonald
(615) 741-1980
rep.michael.mcdonald@legislature.state.tn.us

Gerald McCormick
(615) 741-2548
rep.gerald.mccormick@legislature.state.tn.us

Richard Montgomery
(615) 741-5981
rep.richard.montgomery@legislature.state.tn.us

Larry Turner
(615) 741-6954
rep.larry.turner@legislature.state.tn.us

*John Mark Windle--Chair of the Subcommittee
(615) 741-1260
rep.john.windle@legislature.state.tn.us

To find the name and contact information for your state
representative, use HSLDA's Legislative Toolbox at
http://capwiz.com/hslda/dbq/officials .

(2) Please forward this email to other homeschooling families who are
not members of HSLDA and ask them to contact Representative Hardaway
and a member of the House Education Committee as well.

To view a copy of the bill, go to
http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/BILL/HB2795.pdf .

If you have any questions or concerns about that this bill would do,
please do not hesitate to contact us for additional information.

Sincerely,

Dewitt T. Black, III
HSLDA Senior Counsel


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Feb. 9, 2008 - This week in homeschooling :-)

This week is going to be interesting. I am thankful that I have found a way to get my oldest son at least interested in grammar. ( I will try to slow the pictures down...I am still learning:-). He also likes to notebook so this week we are starting a notebook for Math. He has finished his Beta book and we are going to review the rest of the year before starting Gamma.

As for my ds with autism I am excited I have a workable plan for him that gives him 2 hours and 40 minutes of one on one time with me a day. Plus 5 hours of therapy with other people for the week. Our focus this week is as follows:

1. Drawing shapes, writing letters & numbers with out someone touching his arm.

2. Building 20, 3 letter words from someone saying, "spell ____".

3. Excate Imitation (ABA)

4. Play- looking to build excitement and aniticipation.

5. Video Modeling counting 1-9 (we are starting with something that he can do so we can build from there).

6. Answering questions of "how many". Once consistent then we will generalize the phrase.

As for my dd we will focus on reading fluency and writing neatly along with the other subjects. She also loves sign language so we are going to reward her with learning a new word when she has completed all her assignments.

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Feb. 8, 2008 - The Grammar War!

My oldest ds loves to read, write and spell. But, he hates grammar. I hear it's boring. I can read! So after some thought I came up with some ideas. So far so good. Here is a sample of what we are doing.  If anyone has additional ideas I would love to hear them.

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Feb. 3, 2008 - Five Chapter Books, Finished!!!!!!!!!

My oldest DS use to be afraid of chapter books...so at the beginning of this year I told him that for every 5 chapter books he reads we will do something special. He wanted to go to "Pump it up" which we did Saturday.

Well, he did it. From the Famous Childhood of America series he has read; Albert Einstein, Neil Armstrong, Daniel Boone, George Washington and Thomas Edison. Here are his book reports: