Sep. 30, 2008
Objectives 2008
I wrote these up and posted them over at my blogspot - Neuropoetry - this past August, but I thought it could be interesting to others who are passing through over here too. It really isn't that interesting unless you're another homeschooling parent! Anyway, this is what my boys will be doing this year - actually some of it has already been accomplished (like The Philosopher finishing 2nd grade math), but it's promising to be a fun year all around...
Okay, this isn't going to be the most interesting post, but I want to get this year's "objectives" all in one place - so no need to read this if you're not another homeschooling mom all excited about the new year. :)
The Professor:
Religious Education - know the basic timeline of Christ's life
be able to explain the truth of Church doctrine (ie The Creed) at his level (ie questions of other children)
continue growing in grace :)
English - increase grasp of writing to include research papers
continue creative writing
attain more legible handwriting
gain confidence in writing skills to eliminate the "freeze" response to a written assignment
Math - finish eighth grade book - begin algebra
continue moving forward at a steady pace through math concepts
Science - basic grasp of the make-up of an atom
understand electricity and radio waves
introduction to Chemistry
study some Physics (ie force, energy, energy types)
basics of flight
review of basic geology
review solar system
introduction to rocketry and space travel ideas
Ancient History - finish studying Greeks and begin studying Romans
understand the basic history of both and be able to share intelligently when the subject comes up
Church History - begin grasping the length and breadth of the history of the Church
be able to articulate the story of the Apostles (esp. Peter and Paul)
some basic understanding of the early church councils etc.
Literature - continue to appreciate poetry and well-written literature
Geography - review states and capitals
learn the countries of the Americas and Africa
read the Complete Book of Marvels
National History - have a solid grasp of the timeline of American History
World History - learn some basic history through the story of the lives of saints and other figures from around the world (ie St. Bridget of Sweden, Leonardo de Vinci, Michelango, Queen Isabel etc.)
Latin - continue progressing in understanding the language
review 1st verb conjugation and simple sentences
review the "I am" and "I can" conjugations
learn the noun declensions
Ham Radio - continue enjoying the subject and work towards licensing at own pace
Spanish - begin a Spanish program
make steady progress
Music and Art - continue piano lessons and creative musical works
study pencil drawing and other Art interests (ie photography)
The Philosopher:
Religious Education - introduction to the Life of Christ
recognize Old Testament stories when heard
basic understanding of Church doctrines (ie The Creed)
continue growing in grace :)
English - learn sentence punctuation and proper capitalization
recognize nouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, pronouns etc.
continue working on handwriting
Math - continue moving steadily through math concepts
understand multiplication and the concept of division
begin memorizing multiplication and division facts
solidify addition and subtraction facts
finish 2nd grade book and move into 3rd grade one
Science - solar system review
study sound, light, magnets, and electricity
learn more life cycles of plants and animals etc.
Ancient History - know the history of the Hebrews/Israel in the Old Testament
move on to the Greeks and be able to converse about their history
National History - continue studying This Country of Ours
grasp a basic timeline of American History from the Vikings to WWI
be able to recognize names etc.
Literature - continue appreciating poetry and well-written literature
Geography - learn the states of the US and be able to find them on a map
review world Oceans and Continents
learn to read an Atlas and Maps
Latin - continue progressing in the understanding the language
learn the 1st verb conjugation
learn "I am" and "I can" conjugations
Spanish - begin a Spanish program
make steady progress
Music and Art - possibly begin piano
begin learning to read music (specifically rhythms/beats of the different notes)
continue creative endeavors in music and visual art
study color and other interests (ie photography)
Okay - so that's the objectives for the year - I know it seems like a lot, but it really isn't - there's a lot of review built in. :) It's promising to be a good year for lessons in our little homeschool. :) Of course, when you school all year there really doesn't seem to be an end of one year and a beginning of another - but we are ready to transition to the next year's books every fall/late summer, so it works out just fine. I guess we usually feel like we're starting a fresh year during Advent - it's easier for us to build our "year" around the Church's liturgical year - at least mentally. We really do love homeschooling - all of us, from Daddy on down - there's just so much to learn and do together! I'm so grateful for this wonderful life we have... We are so blessed!
Okay, this isn't going to be the most interesting post, but I want to get this year's "objectives" all in one place - so no need to read this if you're not another homeschooling mom all excited about the new year. :)
The Professor:
Religious Education - know the basic timeline of Christ's life
be able to explain the truth of Church doctrine (ie The Creed) at his level (ie questions of other children)
continue growing in grace :)
English - increase grasp of writing to include research papers
continue creative writing
attain more legible handwriting
gain confidence in writing skills to eliminate the "freeze" response to a written assignment
Math - finish eighth grade book - begin algebra
continue moving forward at a steady pace through math concepts
Science - basic grasp of the make-up of an atom
understand electricity and radio waves
introduction to Chemistry
study some Physics (ie force, energy, energy types)
basics of flight
review of basic geology
review solar system
introduction to rocketry and space travel ideas
Ancient History - finish studying Greeks and begin studying Romans
understand the basic history of both and be able to share intelligently when the subject comes up
Church History - begin grasping the length and breadth of the history of the Church
be able to articulate the story of the Apostles (esp. Peter and Paul)
some basic understanding of the early church councils etc.
Literature - continue to appreciate poetry and well-written literature
Geography - review states and capitals
learn the countries of the Americas and Africa
read the Complete Book of Marvels
National History - have a solid grasp of the timeline of American History
World History - learn some basic history through the story of the lives of saints and other figures from around the world (ie St. Bridget of Sweden, Leonardo de Vinci, Michelango, Queen Isabel etc.)
Latin - continue progressing in understanding the language
review 1st verb conjugation and simple sentences
review the "I am" and "I can" conjugations
learn the noun declensions
Ham Radio - continue enjoying the subject and work towards licensing at own pace
Spanish - begin a Spanish program
make steady progress
Music and Art - continue piano lessons and creative musical works
study pencil drawing and other Art interests (ie photography)
The Philosopher:
Religious Education - introduction to the Life of Christ
recognize Old Testament stories when heard
basic understanding of Church doctrines (ie The Creed)
continue growing in grace :)
English - learn sentence punctuation and proper capitalization
recognize nouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, pronouns etc.
continue working on handwriting
Math - continue moving steadily through math concepts
understand multiplication and the concept of division
begin memorizing multiplication and division facts
solidify addition and subtraction facts
finish 2nd grade book and move into 3rd grade one
Science - solar system review
study sound, light, magnets, and electricity
learn more life cycles of plants and animals etc.
Ancient History - know the history of the Hebrews/Israel in the Old Testament
move on to the Greeks and be able to converse about their history
National History - continue studying This Country of Ours
grasp a basic timeline of American History from the Vikings to WWI
be able to recognize names etc.
Literature - continue appreciating poetry and well-written literature
Geography - learn the states of the US and be able to find them on a map
review world Oceans and Continents
learn to read an Atlas and Maps
Latin - continue progressing in the understanding the language
learn the 1st verb conjugation
learn "I am" and "I can" conjugations
Spanish - begin a Spanish program
make steady progress
Music and Art - possibly begin piano
begin learning to read music (specifically rhythms/beats of the different notes)
continue creative endeavors in music and visual art
study color and other interests (ie photography)
Okay - so that's the objectives for the year - I know it seems like a lot, but it really isn't - there's a lot of review built in. :) It's promising to be a good year for lessons in our little homeschool. :) Of course, when you school all year there really doesn't seem to be an end of one year and a beginning of another - but we are ready to transition to the next year's books every fall/late summer, so it works out just fine. I guess we usually feel like we're starting a fresh year during Advent - it's easier for us to build our "year" around the Church's liturgical year - at least mentally. We really do love homeschooling - all of us, from Daddy on down - there's just so much to learn and do together! I'm so grateful for this wonderful life we have... We are so blessed!
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Feb. 11, 2008
Musical Numbers/ Number Music
SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, 2008
The Professor has a "very complex" brain (as the most recent doctor told me this past summer), and he is such a great kid - despite the challenges we face together. I want to post a video he made today (he actually made a couple), but I'll have to preface it with a bit of explanation first. Not only is The Professor a High Functioning Autistic with OCD, he also has something called synesthesia. This means that his sensory system kind of "mixes" the signals it receives from the outside world. For most people with this, one form of stimulation will produce an experience in one other sensory mode. For instance, numbers or letters will have color or sound. (The Philosopher has numbers with color and "personality".) For our Professor numbers create an entire sensory experience - not only do they have color, the colors have shape and movement. Some of the numbers have a "feeling" like wind -- and they all have sound. Now, this is usually a pretty wonderful thing for him. He had no idea that the rest of the world didn't experience numbers this way until just this past year - in fact it probably wasn't even a year ago when he really started to understand this. We didn't know that he lived with these experiences until then either, so it's been a year of many discoveries for the whole family. Of course, it does explain a lot of his irrational behaviors in the past. (I can remember one time in particular when the calendar changed from 2002 to 2003 - he had just turned 5 I think - and he completely freaked out. I mean, I can't even describe the screaming and thrashing - it was crazy - and I had no idea what was going on. I was finally able to calm him down by telling him we could keep our calendar on 2002. Well, he told me a few months ago that the number 2003 is a horrible mix of green and yellow that spins really fast and makes his stomach feel severely sick, and when he played it on the piano it was so bad it made me feel dizzy - I made him stop really quickly.) Most numbers are "friendly" though - and we just do our best to "avoid" the upsetting ones. :)
Anyway, with that explanation, here is a video The Professor made today of the number 54. His only frustration with playing numbers on the piano is that in his head they have all sorts of different instruments - in fact some he can't play because they sound more like an orchestra :) - so he said something about this one "sounding like a harp".
The Professor has a "very complex" brain (as the most recent doctor told me this past summer), and he is such a great kid - despite the challenges we face together. I want to post a video he made today (he actually made a couple), but I'll have to preface it with a bit of explanation first. Not only is The Professor a High Functioning Autistic with OCD, he also has something called synesthesia. This means that his sensory system kind of "mixes" the signals it receives from the outside world. For most people with this, one form of stimulation will produce an experience in one other sensory mode. For instance, numbers or letters will have color or sound. (The Philosopher has numbers with color and "personality".) For our Professor numbers create an entire sensory experience - not only do they have color, the colors have shape and movement. Some of the numbers have a "feeling" like wind -- and they all have sound. Now, this is usually a pretty wonderful thing for him. He had no idea that the rest of the world didn't experience numbers this way until just this past year - in fact it probably wasn't even a year ago when he really started to understand this. We didn't know that he lived with these experiences until then either, so it's been a year of many discoveries for the whole family. Of course, it does explain a lot of his irrational behaviors in the past. (I can remember one time in particular when the calendar changed from 2002 to 2003 - he had just turned 5 I think - and he completely freaked out. I mean, I can't even describe the screaming and thrashing - it was crazy - and I had no idea what was going on. I was finally able to calm him down by telling him we could keep our calendar on 2002. Well, he told me a few months ago that the number 2003 is a horrible mix of green and yellow that spins really fast and makes his stomach feel severely sick, and when he played it on the piano it was so bad it made me feel dizzy - I made him stop really quickly.) Most numbers are "friendly" though - and we just do our best to "avoid" the upsetting ones. :)
Anyway, with that explanation, here is a video The Professor made today of the number 54. His only frustration with playing numbers on the piano is that in his head they have all sorts of different instruments - in fact some he can't play because they sound more like an orchestra :) - so he said something about this one "sounding like a harp".
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Here is our Professor playing piano in his recital today. :) He did wonderfully, as usual, and it's always such a boost for our whole family when he's able to do something like this. For The Professor, the hard part isn't the actual playing of the piano - he doesn't really get nervous in front of people - but it's really hard for him to sit with other kids near him for a long period of time. The entire situation is actually a lot of sensory input - so it's hard for both of the boys - but so far they've done very well for every recital. :)
I was really nervous about today since yesterday did not go as smoothly as we were hoping. We took the boys to a special service to celebrate the beginning of Advent. There was beautiful music (a choir singing in Latin - it sounded like angels - the acoustics were amazing), and the church wasn't very far away, so we didn't have to drive far. I really thought the service would be something they would enjoy. It just ended up being too much stimulation for both of them, despite the earplugs I had on hand in case it became too loud. They held it together during the service, and then fell apart on the way home. It was just too loud - and unfortunately my hubby and I were so stressed in feeling their stress that we couldn't really enjoy the service either. It was beautiful, but I couldn't focus. I'm so relieved that today was not a repeat of yesterday! :) Our Professor did a wonderful job today, and he deserves his time in the limelight! :) (By the way, this is a Steinway piano he's playing! Fun, fun!) :)
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
Dec. 4, 2007
Winter '07 Piano Recital
Here is our Professor playing piano in his recital today. :) He did wonderfully, as usual, and it's always such a boost for our whole family when he's able to do something like this. For The Professor, the hard part isn't the actual playing of the piano - he doesn't really get nervous in front of people - but it's really hard for him to sit with other kids near him for a long period of time. The entire situation is actually a lot of sensory input - so it's hard for both of the boys - but so far they've done very well for every recital. :)
I was really nervous about today since yesterday did not go as smoothly as we were hoping. We took the boys to a special service to celebrate the beginning of Advent. There was beautiful music (a choir singing in Latin - it sounded like angels - the acoustics were amazing), and the church wasn't very far away, so we didn't have to drive far. I really thought the service would be something they would enjoy. It just ended up being too much stimulation for both of them, despite the earplugs I had on hand in case it became too loud. They held it together during the service, and then fell apart on the way home. It was just too loud - and unfortunately my hubby and I were so stressed in feeling their stress that we couldn't really enjoy the service either. It was beautiful, but I couldn't focus. I'm so relieved that today was not a repeat of yesterday! :) Our Professor did a wonderful job today, and he deserves his time in the limelight! :) (By the way, this is a Steinway piano he's playing! Fun, fun!) :)
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
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Once a year about 1000 of some of the greatest minds in the world come together in one place to discuss issues that are greatly impacting our world. Some day I would love to attend these "world meetings of thought" on a fairly regular basis - in fact I would love to take my boys on "field trips" there every year (when they're a few years older of course). Thankfully, the internet allows access to all this information for those of us unable to attend. :) Since I am very interested in the importance of real education this particular talk (and ones like it) ring very true to me. I realize that not many people will actually have the time to watch this entire presentation - despite how good it is (it is about 18 minutes long) - but for anyone who happens to have the time I encourage you to lend an ear to what Sir Ken Robinson has to say. The point he makes about the importance of creativity in education is one of the big reasons I choose to educate my children at home. I place a large emphasis on the ability to think and create for ourselves because I believe that this is what is going to be the biggest necessity for the future - that and the knowledge of history, literature, music, and art to pull ideas from to be creative with. My boys have never had their minds stunted by rote memorization or peer/teacher negativity (for lack of a better word). They have the entire world of thoughts and knowledge available to them, and they are already showing amazing analytical abilities - it is truly amazing to see what the human mind is capable of doing when it is free AND informed. I have no doubt that my boys will be able to contribute greatly to society as adults - despite their challenges.
What would this world be like if every child had the opportunity to learn like this? It is a really intriguing thought - if every adult knew how to think, and had the knowledge to pull from to do it wisely - what would the world look like? I can't help but think that the huge problems our world societies face would seem much smaller. Nothing would seem impossible because any problem would be immediately deemed "solve-able" just because it existed in the first place. If we could get all these "thought-educated" children together as adults they could change the world...
On a side note, any "thought-educating" mothers out there might want to look into Connexions - a world wide knowledge base. It is amazing - you can find educational materials for any subject from engineering mathmathics, to music semantics. Also, the Creative Commons is a place full of "share-able" knowledge that is free to be mixed and used in any way. Pretty amazing world we live in!! :)
Nov. 2, 2007
"Thought-Educated"
Once a year about 1000 of some of the greatest minds in the world come together in one place to discuss issues that are greatly impacting our world. Some day I would love to attend these "world meetings of thought" on a fairly regular basis - in fact I would love to take my boys on "field trips" there every year (when they're a few years older of course). Thankfully, the internet allows access to all this information for those of us unable to attend. :) Since I am very interested in the importance of real education this particular talk (and ones like it) ring very true to me. I realize that not many people will actually have the time to watch this entire presentation - despite how good it is (it is about 18 minutes long) - but for anyone who happens to have the time I encourage you to lend an ear to what Sir Ken Robinson has to say. The point he makes about the importance of creativity in education is one of the big reasons I choose to educate my children at home. I place a large emphasis on the ability to think and create for ourselves because I believe that this is what is going to be the biggest necessity for the future - that and the knowledge of history, literature, music, and art to pull ideas from to be creative with. My boys have never had their minds stunted by rote memorization or peer/teacher negativity (for lack of a better word). They have the entire world of thoughts and knowledge available to them, and they are already showing amazing analytical abilities - it is truly amazing to see what the human mind is capable of doing when it is free AND informed. I have no doubt that my boys will be able to contribute greatly to society as adults - despite their challenges.
What would this world be like if every child had the opportunity to learn like this? It is a really intriguing thought - if every adult knew how to think, and had the knowledge to pull from to do it wisely - what would the world look like? I can't help but think that the huge problems our world societies face would seem much smaller. Nothing would seem impossible because any problem would be immediately deemed "solve-able" just because it existed in the first place. If we could get all these "thought-educated" children together as adults they could change the world...
On a side note, any "thought-educating" mothers out there might want to look into Connexions - a world wide knowledge base. It is amazing - you can find educational materials for any subject from engineering mathmathics, to music semantics. Also, the Creative Commons is a place full of "share-able" knowledge that is free to be mixed and used in any way. Pretty amazing world we live in!! :)
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Nov. 2, 2007
OCD and the Pacifics :)
The other morning The Professor was upset because he had picked up one of the million leaves in our yard yesterday, (not a pretty one, one of the many brown/orange ones that look like all the rest) and it was left on the counter instead of being put in his room. Well, he found it this morning on the floor looking like it had been used for target practice by some kind of mini-machine gun. (Obviously the work of one of our adored cats.) :) He was, of course, very upset - and I told him that he could just go outside and get another - they all look the same. (Which I, of course, knew was not what he wanted to hear - he wanted sympathy and understanding, but sometimes the wrong thing comes out of my mouth - I'm so far from being the perfect mother for the special needs of my children.) He left the room in tears - but quiet ones. Now this whole time The Philosopher is sitting at the bar listening to our conversation, and as The Professor leaves the room he says, "He's just like me mommy - he needs to have the Pacific One. That's why I don't like to erase my backwards numbers. " :) I was so "out of touch" this morning that my initial thought was something along the lines of "What does the ocean have to do with 'the price of tea in China'?" HA!!! Then I translated and realized he meant the specific one. *smile*
As strange as it is to me - all the rocks, dead leaves, etc, are not the same to my boys. To a certain extent all children have this ability - the ability to see the uniqueness of everything - but children with OCD take it a couple levels above that. As much as it drives me crazy - because they tend to become VERY upset over "losing" something unique (whether it's a rock, or a letter that they've written) and I have to pick up the pieces - it's still not necessarily a bad thing to appreciate the minute differences in everything - the fact that what you see in front of you now will never exist in the same exact way again. Other people, particularly adults, lose this ability - because if we thought like that we would be in a constant state of anxiety trying to hold onto every moment, every detail - so our brains filter those kind of thoughts out. While we can stop and appreciate it every once in awhile, it doesn't control our lives or create distress. Not so for my boys... for them every little detail can be a loss - it is the "Pacific things," as The Philosopher would say, that create the emotional highs and lows of their lives. But while this makes life very hard, it create's a depth of soul that not many people ever experience.
So later today, when The Philosopher writes a number backwards and panics at the thought of erasing it, ("I can't erase it, I'm too attached to it - I call it 'George'!" - beginning to hyperventilate - mind you it's only existed on the page for a matter of seconds!) then I'm going to try to remember to take a deep breath and let him write it the correct way next to, or underneath, the reversed one - rather than going into a losing power struggle. (I cannot win against the emotional upheaval of OCD - no matter how hard I try - we all end up in tears, and no one wins.) And when The Professor (who isn't able to write for long periods of time) obsesses over the fact that I've erased a mistake I made as I follow his dictation during his lessons and can't seem to move on to the next question, no matter how much I push - I'm going to remind myself of the beauty of the soul in front of me - no matter how much it drives me crazy.
As they grow, they will learn to cope with their over zealous attachment to details. With my help they will learn to let go of things, and to have a slightly tighter reign on their emotions. But, it is likely they will always have a deep understanding of the transient nature of life - and they will always be more affected by it than "normal" people are. I do not see that as a defect though, while it creates a person who is vastly different from other people, it also creates a person who is more appreciative, and more creative. They are both poets/musicians in the truest sense - artists at the soul-ular level. :) By allowing them to be who they are, and helping them grow with it, they are going to be people who actually have something to offer the rest of the world. They are guaranteed not to conform to the cookie-cutter society we live in - they will not be capable of it... and I am glad. As much as their "different-abilities" challenge me - I am glad that I don't have to worry about losing them to the "herd mentality" of their peers.
It's also nice to know that - thanks to the blessings I've been given - I will always be reminded of the "Pacifics" of life... :)
As strange as it is to me - all the rocks, dead leaves, etc, are not the same to my boys. To a certain extent all children have this ability - the ability to see the uniqueness of everything - but children with OCD take it a couple levels above that. As much as it drives me crazy - because they tend to become VERY upset over "losing" something unique (whether it's a rock, or a letter that they've written) and I have to pick up the pieces - it's still not necessarily a bad thing to appreciate the minute differences in everything - the fact that what you see in front of you now will never exist in the same exact way again. Other people, particularly adults, lose this ability - because if we thought like that we would be in a constant state of anxiety trying to hold onto every moment, every detail - so our brains filter those kind of thoughts out. While we can stop and appreciate it every once in awhile, it doesn't control our lives or create distress. Not so for my boys... for them every little detail can be a loss - it is the "Pacific things," as The Philosopher would say, that create the emotional highs and lows of their lives. But while this makes life very hard, it create's a depth of soul that not many people ever experience.
So later today, when The Philosopher writes a number backwards and panics at the thought of erasing it, ("I can't erase it, I'm too attached to it - I call it 'George'!" - beginning to hyperventilate - mind you it's only existed on the page for a matter of seconds!) then I'm going to try to remember to take a deep breath and let him write it the correct way next to, or underneath, the reversed one - rather than going into a losing power struggle. (I cannot win against the emotional upheaval of OCD - no matter how hard I try - we all end up in tears, and no one wins.) And when The Professor (who isn't able to write for long periods of time) obsesses over the fact that I've erased a mistake I made as I follow his dictation during his lessons and can't seem to move on to the next question, no matter how much I push - I'm going to remind myself of the beauty of the soul in front of me - no matter how much it drives me crazy.
As they grow, they will learn to cope with their over zealous attachment to details. With my help they will learn to let go of things, and to have a slightly tighter reign on their emotions. But, it is likely they will always have a deep understanding of the transient nature of life - and they will always be more affected by it than "normal" people are. I do not see that as a defect though, while it creates a person who is vastly different from other people, it also creates a person who is more appreciative, and more creative. They are both poets/musicians in the truest sense - artists at the soul-ular level. :) By allowing them to be who they are, and helping them grow with it, they are going to be people who actually have something to offer the rest of the world. They are guaranteed not to conform to the cookie-cutter society we live in - they will not be capable of it... and I am glad. As much as their "different-abilities" challenge me - I am glad that I don't have to worry about losing them to the "herd mentality" of their peers.
It's also nice to know that - thanks to the blessings I've been given - I will always be reminded of the "Pacifics" of life... :)
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Aug. 30, 2007
Schoolyear Planning
I've been sitting here trying to explain what our "school"days will look like - but it sounds so complicated when I type it out. It's really not as bad as it looks. :) Maybe if I make a list for each of the boys:
Professor
- Mondays - Piano; Religious Education (RE), Studying the life of Christ; Math; English, Grammar and copywork; Literature, Poetry; Picture Study; Science; Geography; Computer Skills, Practical Skills
Tuesdays - RE, Saints lives; Math; English, copywork and story skills; Literature, Classic Lit and independent reading; National History; Language - either sign or Spanish; Music; Computer Skills; Practical Skills
Wednesdays - RE, Study of Acts; Math; English, Grammar and copywork; Literature, Shakespeare; Ancient History, Greeks; Latin; Science, lab; Art; Computer Skills; Practical Skills
Thursdays - RE, Saints lives; Math; English, copywork and story skills, Literature, Mythology; National History; Language, either sign or Spanish; Computer Skills; Practical Skills
Fridays - no RE; Math; English, Grammar and copywork; Literature, read aloud (The Hobbit); Ancient History, Greeks; Latin; Art; Singing; Computer Skills; Practical Skills
Philosopher
- Mondays - RE, Studying the life of Christ; Math; English, reading and copywork; Literature, Poetry; Picture Study; Science; Family Geography; Computer Skills; Practical Skills
Tuesdays - RE, New Testament; Math; English, reading and copywork; Literature, read Fables; History; Language, either sign or Spanish; Music; Computer Skills, Practical Skills
Wednesdays - RE Saint stories; Math; English, reading and copywork; Literature, Tales; Art; Science, lab; Computer Skills; Practical Skills
Thursdays - RE , New Testament; Math; English, reading and copywork; Literature, draw or act out Fables; History; Language, either sign or Spanish; Computer Skills; Practical Skills
Fridays - no RE; Math; English, reading and copywork; Literature, read aloud (The Hobbit); Art; Singing; Computer Skills; Practical Skills
Then, of course, they have Bible Stories and Saint Stories with Daddy every night. :) It looks like a lot, but it's really not. The only other thing I want to add is Philosophy :) - but I don't have the book yet. They have a wonderful series on Philosophy at Angelicum Academy that I really want to use soon. Actually, at some point I'm planning to use Angelicum's entire program -- if you use it for the full four years of high school, it qualifies for 48 college credit hours. :) And it's a Great Book Program, which is a wonderful way to learn...
The computer skills really aren't that complicated, since they have so much computer experience anyway. Levi wants to learn to type better this year, so we'll be tackling that. Believe it or not, the practical skills are one of the hardest things for my boys - since they have so many sensory issues. Neither of them can even tie shoes yet! Can you imagine - brilliant, but you can't buy shoes with laces or you won't be able to keep them on your feet! I'm hoping they can figure it out this year - without too many tears. I'm hoping we can get through most of our days without tears - I'm going to have to fit in therapies throughout the day to keep us rolling along smoothly. I suppose they'll be doing all their seatwork sitting on those big blue balls - :) probably won't make they're handwriting wonderful, but it may provide enough calming influence to finish the seatwork. :) I really want Isaac to get the basics of cursive down, and I'd like Levi to internalize the writing from "left to right" rule - whenever he starts on the righthand side of the page he writes in perfect "mirror code". :) The goal for Saturdays is to take them on Nature Walks - they even have Nature Notebooks to take notes with, but I'm sure that won't happen regularly - no matter how much I want it to. :)
Our daily life is a lifestyle of learning, so these plans just add to all the other learning that goes on throughout the day. The boys both tried to convince me to let them learn to carve this year, but I avoided that question. :) Their fine motor skills need more improvement before I'll be comfortable with that. :) The other things they want to "play" with this year are pottery, astronomy, biology, and electronics - so it's going to be a fun year. I also want to get them some tin-whistles so they can start learning some Irish tunes (which they will love), and I bought the The Dangerous Book for Boys which was a wonderful investment. It's been taking the homeschooling world by storm, and for good reason - I highly recommend it. :)
Anyway, this is the plan so far -- we have special books for Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter so there will be plenty of variety as we go through the Liturgical Year. I'm so excited I can't wait to start next week!!
Professor
- Mondays - Piano; Religious Education (RE), Studying the life of Christ; Math; English, Grammar and copywork; Literature, Poetry; Picture Study; Science; Geography; Computer Skills, Practical Skills
Tuesdays - RE, Saints lives; Math; English, copywork and story skills; Literature, Classic Lit and independent reading; National History; Language - either sign or Spanish; Music; Computer Skills; Practical Skills
Wednesdays - RE, Study of Acts; Math; English, Grammar and copywork; Literature, Shakespeare; Ancient History, Greeks; Latin; Science, lab; Art; Computer Skills; Practical Skills
Thursdays - RE, Saints lives; Math; English, copywork and story skills, Literature, Mythology; National History; Language, either sign or Spanish; Computer Skills; Practical Skills
Fridays - no RE; Math; English, Grammar and copywork; Literature, read aloud (The Hobbit); Ancient History, Greeks; Latin; Art; Singing; Computer Skills; Practical Skills
Philosopher
- Mondays - RE, Studying the life of Christ; Math; English, reading and copywork; Literature, Poetry; Picture Study; Science; Family Geography; Computer Skills; Practical Skills
Tuesdays - RE, New Testament; Math; English, reading and copywork; Literature, read Fables; History; Language, either sign or Spanish; Music; Computer Skills, Practical Skills
Wednesdays - RE Saint stories; Math; English, reading and copywork; Literature, Tales; Art; Science, lab; Computer Skills; Practical Skills
Thursdays - RE , New Testament; Math; English, reading and copywork; Literature, draw or act out Fables; History; Language, either sign or Spanish; Computer Skills; Practical Skills
Fridays - no RE; Math; English, reading and copywork; Literature, read aloud (The Hobbit); Art; Singing; Computer Skills; Practical Skills
Then, of course, they have Bible Stories and Saint Stories with Daddy every night. :) It looks like a lot, but it's really not. The only other thing I want to add is Philosophy :) - but I don't have the book yet. They have a wonderful series on Philosophy at Angelicum Academy that I really want to use soon. Actually, at some point I'm planning to use Angelicum's entire program -- if you use it for the full four years of high school, it qualifies for 48 college credit hours. :) And it's a Great Book Program, which is a wonderful way to learn...
The computer skills really aren't that complicated, since they have so much computer experience anyway. Levi wants to learn to type better this year, so we'll be tackling that. Believe it or not, the practical skills are one of the hardest things for my boys - since they have so many sensory issues. Neither of them can even tie shoes yet! Can you imagine - brilliant, but you can't buy shoes with laces or you won't be able to keep them on your feet! I'm hoping they can figure it out this year - without too many tears. I'm hoping we can get through most of our days without tears - I'm going to have to fit in therapies throughout the day to keep us rolling along smoothly. I suppose they'll be doing all their seatwork sitting on those big blue balls - :) probably won't make they're handwriting wonderful, but it may provide enough calming influence to finish the seatwork. :) I really want Isaac to get the basics of cursive down, and I'd like Levi to internalize the writing from "left to right" rule - whenever he starts on the righthand side of the page he writes in perfect "mirror code". :) The goal for Saturdays is to take them on Nature Walks - they even have Nature Notebooks to take notes with, but I'm sure that won't happen regularly - no matter how much I want it to. :)
Our daily life is a lifestyle of learning, so these plans just add to all the other learning that goes on throughout the day. The boys both tried to convince me to let them learn to carve this year, but I avoided that question. :) Their fine motor skills need more improvement before I'll be comfortable with that. :) The other things they want to "play" with this year are pottery, astronomy, biology, and electronics - so it's going to be a fun year. I also want to get them some tin-whistles so they can start learning some Irish tunes (which they will love), and I bought the The Dangerous Book for Boys which was a wonderful investment. It's been taking the homeschooling world by storm, and for good reason - I highly recommend it. :)
Anyway, this is the plan so far -- we have special books for Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter so there will be plenty of variety as we go through the Liturgical Year. I'm so excited I can't wait to start next week!!
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Jul. 17, 2007
Just For Wonder
Small children are wonderful. :) Levi is getting so grown up, but he still uses certain parts of language in that unique way small children do. The other day we were visiting Grandma's house and he came running in saying:
"Is it almost time to leave - just for wonder?"
Translated this means he was wondering if it was almost time to go, but he wasn't in any hurry or anything. :) For some reason I found this particularly poetic that day, and marked it down as something to share.
Those words - just for wonder - made me stop and think. Sometimes the little things in life need to be appreciated, and in order to do that we must hit the pause button on our lives. Just for wonder... There are so many mysteries in this world, and so many wonder-ful things --- butterflies, forget-me-nots, baby toes, giggles and rainbows... Our God is so wonder-ful, and His world paints that wonder daily for us to see.
I have decided to slow down for a bit - life has been unbelievably crazy lately, and I've decided to spend more time remembering the reason I chose my path in life instead of working so hard on running down it. I withdrew from my classes (I wasn't having time to keep up in them anyway) and I'm focusing on getting our little family back to some semblence of "normal". We're still reeling from the loss of two of our family members last November, and I don't think the boys are going to be able to "get over it" unless I focus on only on them for awhile. The nightmares have to be stopped - Isaac needs to sleep, and so do I. Recovery is not an easy process, but it is as much a part of life as hurt is, and we will recover... God is still in control. Jesus is still The Way, The Truth, and The Life -- and we are still following Him.
It helps to remember that there is so much in this world that is wonder-ful... It helps to pause and ask questions.... just for wonder...
"Is it almost time to leave - just for wonder?"
Translated this means he was wondering if it was almost time to go, but he wasn't in any hurry or anything. :) For some reason I found this particularly poetic that day, and marked it down as something to share.
Those words - just for wonder - made me stop and think. Sometimes the little things in life need to be appreciated, and in order to do that we must hit the pause button on our lives. Just for wonder... There are so many mysteries in this world, and so many wonder-ful things --- butterflies, forget-me-nots, baby toes, giggles and rainbows... Our God is so wonder-ful, and His world paints that wonder daily for us to see.
I have decided to slow down for a bit - life has been unbelievably crazy lately, and I've decided to spend more time remembering the reason I chose my path in life instead of working so hard on running down it. I withdrew from my classes (I wasn't having time to keep up in them anyway) and I'm focusing on getting our little family back to some semblence of "normal". We're still reeling from the loss of two of our family members last November, and I don't think the boys are going to be able to "get over it" unless I focus on only on them for awhile. The nightmares have to be stopped - Isaac needs to sleep, and so do I. Recovery is not an easy process, but it is as much a part of life as hurt is, and we will recover... God is still in control. Jesus is still The Way, The Truth, and The Life -- and we are still following Him.
It helps to remember that there is so much in this world that is wonder-ful... It helps to pause and ask questions.... just for wonder...
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Jun. 20, 2007
New Family Member Blog
My youngest has finally convinced me to let him have his own blog, and just for good measure he posted repeatedly his first day. :) I have to admit, it is going to work just as well for him as it does for his big brother - it is a wonderful outlet. Our newest family member blog can be found at:
Art Tales.
Art Tales.
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Jun. 18, 2007
Making the Grade
It's funny. Even at the ripe old age of 28 I still get excited over an "A" in a class. :) So silly. It's not like my life would be worth any less if I didn't get the A's. Yet, it's still a rush. I have to admit, that this time I actually worked for an A in my writing class. A's have always come really easy for me. In fact, this is the first time that I really felt like I worked for the grade I received - and it's a nice feeling. I knew that I was going to end up with an A in my web design class - computer "stuff" seems to be in my blood. I don't have work very hard to understand what is necessary to accomplish what I want on a computer. So I knew I was going to end up with an A - and it helped that I REALLY loved the class. It was an incredible amount of fun. BUT, that writing class was a burr under my saddle. It was irritating, and almost killed my love of the written word. The entire point of a WR 121 class is to learn the technicalities of writing, and so often focusing on technique kills the "life" in any written work. I felt like I was being sucked dry. It doesn't help that writing for me isn't as easy as it once was. It's harder for me to express myself in words than it is in images - not impossible certainly - it just takes me forever. It also tends to require many different drafts before I have things the "way" I want them. Part of it is pickiness I know, I want the words to say what I really mean, and the other part is just being trapped in so many images and trying to sort through them for the proper translation of my thoughts. Even when I'm blogging I'm constantly rewriting - trying to get the words to portray what I'm want to get across. It's a frustrating situation to be in, but it does mean that I am eventually able to say what I want to say - no matter how long it takes.
Still, it's funny how pleased I was when I discovered I managed a solid A in that writing class. :) It's so ridiculous - I'm pushing thirty years old, I have two little boys who's worlds revolve around me, I have a husband who loves me, and I'm still programmed to get a thrill over a letter on a piece of paper (or computer screen as the case may be). Perhaps I don't really understand what it is to be successful?
Still, it's funny how pleased I was when I discovered I managed a solid A in that writing class. :) It's so ridiculous - I'm pushing thirty years old, I have two little boys who's worlds revolve around me, I have a husband who loves me, and I'm still programmed to get a thrill over a letter on a piece of paper (or computer screen as the case may be). Perhaps I don't really understand what it is to be successful?
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Jun. 8, 2007
Busy, Busy, Busy!
Well, I'm still around - but things have been crazy lately. It's the end of the term, and I'm finished with everything except for finals - which I'm trying not to be stressed about. The website I built turned out really well - it's full of information that will be really useful to parents of spectrum kids - if they ever find the site. :) What's really nice about it is that it has info on autism, but also on OCD and SPD as well, which means you can get a lot of necessary info without having to go to a bunch of different sites.
The boys will continue their "schooling" through the summer - like always. If we don't they'll be bored silly. I'm taking a Biology class for my summer term, and the boys and I will get to play with it - cellular biology is always a lot of fun to study, so we're going to have a really good time. I'm also planning to keep up their math studies (their both a bit ahead of where they need to be in math concepts, but it's something else they consider fun, so we'll keep it up), and of course, summer-time is one of the best times for new read-alouds (my youngest and I are reading The Wind in the Willows right now) and all sorts of independent reading books (my oldest is reading a book on world history right now). I'm beginning plans for their fall lessons now - but it will take me most of the summer to nail them all down. Many things will stay the same and just continue, but there are some things that I want to begin this fall - it just depends on how expensive the books are. In particular I'd really like to get them both started in philosophy studies - the only books I've found in this subject for children are found at Angelicum Academy. I would love to use this academy for the boys when they are older. It's a wonderful school, with wonderful curriculum. Perhaps by the time they are ready for highschool we'll be able to swing the cost for tuition and books, but until then, we tend to "do school" the way they would if they were attending this program using Mater Amabilis as a guide.
The other class I'm taking for the summer term is a Multimedia for the Web class - and I'm REALLY excited about it. I had such a great time with the Web Design class, I can't wait to see how much fun this next class is going to be. It's a bit like mixing computers and art - my two favorite things.
On another exciting note my Dad - Jeff Goddard - is graduating with his BSM at the end of this term! His commencement service is on the 16th, and I'm so proud of him! He's done a great job, and he's earned a scholarship for the Master's in International Business program he'll be beginning in August at PSU. With this new program he's going to be learning Japanese, which will be really interesting. Anyway, I'm pretty excited for him! It will be years until I finish my degree, but at I'm pretty sure that if he can do it, I can do it - even if I have to go slower than I'd like. :) It is important for me to properly mother my children the way I think is best, and that means they come first - no ifs, ands, or buts. (Besides they'll only be kids once, and I have an entire lifetime to get the Degrees I want.) :)
The boys will continue their "schooling" through the summer - like always. If we don't they'll be bored silly. I'm taking a Biology class for my summer term, and the boys and I will get to play with it - cellular biology is always a lot of fun to study, so we're going to have a really good time. I'm also planning to keep up their math studies (their both a bit ahead of where they need to be in math concepts, but it's something else they consider fun, so we'll keep it up), and of course, summer-time is one of the best times for new read-alouds (my youngest and I are reading The Wind in the Willows right now) and all sorts of independent reading books (my oldest is reading a book on world history right now). I'm beginning plans for their fall lessons now - but it will take me most of the summer to nail them all down. Many things will stay the same and just continue, but there are some things that I want to begin this fall - it just depends on how expensive the books are. In particular I'd really like to get them both started in philosophy studies - the only books I've found in this subject for children are found at Angelicum Academy. I would love to use this academy for the boys when they are older. It's a wonderful school, with wonderful curriculum. Perhaps by the time they are ready for highschool we'll be able to swing the cost for tuition and books, but until then, we tend to "do school" the way they would if they were attending this program using Mater Amabilis as a guide.
The other class I'm taking for the summer term is a Multimedia for the Web class - and I'm REALLY excited about it. I had such a great time with the Web Design class, I can't wait to see how much fun this next class is going to be. It's a bit like mixing computers and art - my two favorite things.
On another exciting note my Dad - Jeff Goddard - is graduating with his BSM at the end of this term! His commencement service is on the 16th, and I'm so proud of him! He's done a great job, and he's earned a scholarship for the Master's in International Business program he'll be beginning in August at PSU. With this new program he's going to be learning Japanese, which will be really interesting. Anyway, I'm pretty excited for him! It will be years until I finish my degree, but at I'm pretty sure that if he can do it, I can do it - even if I have to go slower than I'd like. :) It is important for me to properly mother my children the way I think is best, and that means they come first - no ifs, ands, or buts. (Besides they'll only be kids once, and I have an entire lifetime to get the Degrees I want.) :)
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Mar. 8, 2007
Fun!!
I highly recommend this for everyone - it was fun to put together!!
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Feb. 2, 2007
Pun Fun
Setting: Kitchen Breakfast Bar
Dad: "Boys come get your drinks at the bar!"
9 yr-old: "Dad we're minors!"
much laughter
Dad: :"Of course, we have shovels!"
more laughter
5 yr-old: "When I was little and I read those signs I used to think that they wouldn't let miners in the bar because their shovels would make it muddy - now I know the difference."
How cute is that! "When he was little" :) - and since when does my 5 yr old have that kind of a vocabulary? I love homeschooling!
Dad: "Boys come get your drinks at the bar!"
9 yr-old: "Dad we're minors!"
much laughter
Dad: :"Of course, we have shovels!"
more laughter
5 yr-old: "When I was little and I read those signs I used to think that they wouldn't let miners in the bar because their shovels would make it muddy - now I know the difference."
How cute is that! "When he was little" :) - and since when does my 5 yr old have that kind of a vocabulary? I love homeschooling!
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Feb. 1, 2007
Candlemas or The Presentation
I wanted to post a certain song by a young woman named Danielle Rose called Simeon's Joy. It's a wonderful song for Candlemas, but I can't find it anywhere online, and I can't figure out how to put it from my computer onto my blog. You'd think there would be a way, but I'm too new to all this as of now. Still, I found the next best thing Hail Holy Queen is another song by the same young woman from her cd Mysteries. I highly recommend her music for anyone.
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Feb. 1, 2007
Cold and Tired!! - Sounds Pathetic
Yesterday was one of those days. My youngest was whiny and grumpy - I had to drag him through his schoolwork - and then at the end of the day he began to show symptoms of his sore throat.(Likely due to our failing heater - they have yet to come fix it, something about being busy this time of year - AAAHHH! The air is so cold in the house I can't feel my nose, and that's with electric heaters plugged in.) :) Of course, that made me feel awful for being so testy with him during the day. Thanks to my homeopathic medicine cabinet he's doing fine today, but I'm finding myself a bit gun-shy when it comes to starting his schoolwork today. Perhaps it's just the fact that I'm not quite feeling "myself" today either. I want to whine and complain - sometimes being the grownup is such a drawback. :) I have no one to whine to - though I suppose my mom wouldn't mind if I called to complain to her. :) I'm just plain tired today, and I'm feeling overwhelmed because there is so much to do and I have no energy to do it.
Laundry,
Schoolwork,
A 3 page paper for my college class
Everyday Cleanup
Go Shopping
And the inevitable tasks that I can't remember right now that will pop up. :) UGH! I have so little energy today I just want to hang out in my pajamas. :) I suppose once I get myself started we'll move through the day fine - it helps that homeschooling gives us a routine to follow - even if we have to drag ourselves through it.
Still, does anyone else ever wish they could put the world on pause and take a break?
Laundry,
Schoolwork,
A 3 page paper for my college class
Everyday Cleanup
Go Shopping
And the inevitable tasks that I can't remember right now that will pop up. :) UGH! I have so little energy today I just want to hang out in my pajamas. :) I suppose once I get myself started we'll move through the day fine - it helps that homeschooling gives us a routine to follow - even if we have to drag ourselves through it.
Still, does anyone else ever wish they could put the world on pause and take a break?
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Feb. 1, 2007
Who Says They Don't Go Together?
Okay, so I had to take this one too - you guys have to do this one... :)
You know the Bible 100%!
Wow! You are awesome! You are a true Biblical scholar, not just a hearer but a personal reader! The books, the characters, the events, the verses - you know it all! You are fantastic!
Ultimate Bible Quiz
Create MySpace Quizzes
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Feb. 1, 2007
Curious?
I found this over at Joyful Chaos this morning and had to give it a try. I think I might have a slight advantage though since I'm a convert - anyone else want to try?
You are a 100% traditional Catholic!
Congratulations! You are more knowlegeable than most modern theologians! You have achieved mastery over the most important doctrines of the Catholic Faith! You should share your incredible understanding with others!
Do You Know Your Baltimore Catechism?
Make Your Own Quiz
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Jan. 30, 2007
Music You Can See
If you get the chance, check out the website I found called ChordGeometries (it's currently at the bottom of my links). My oldest just spent a half hour playing with the program after we downloaded it. He said, "Music turning into science, it's so cool, it's like a dream come true!" Of course, he absolutely loves patterns, and he had a blast manipulating the patterns on his MIDI keyboard and watching the music turn into different color, number, and spatial patterns on the screen. It's the perfect program for him - math and music in one. :)
I have to admit - I think it's pretty cool too. I'm having a lot of fun with it as well - glad Dmitri's offering it for free!
I have to admit - I think it's pretty cool too. I'm having a lot of fun with it as well - glad Dmitri's offering it for free!
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Jan. 30, 2007
Bad Days
Why is it that some days, despite doing everything just like always, just seem to start bad, and get worse as the day progresses? This has been one of those school days. My youngest has SPD - sensory processing disorder - which means that the world for him is a very complicated place. Everything is brighter, louder, more confusing than it should be - and his brain can't filter anything it takes in properly. This is one of the reasons we homeschool him, there's no way he can learn in a regular classroom environment. The problem is, some days it's hard for him to learn in any environment. Today was one of those days. He managed to finally get through his schoolwork (not that there was much today - we have therapy this afternoon and so schoolwork has to be light) but it took him all morning, which means I couldn't work with my oldest properly, and now we have to get ready to leave for therapy. I haven't even had the chance to get dressed yet! It doesn't help that my oldest is having a bad day as well. He went into meltdown over a blog he was trying to post. For some reason he wasn't able to pull together all the information he wanted to without getting "lost in all the words" as he put it. It's so frustrating for him - and it's frustrating for me to have my nine year old in tears over something that I can't fix. This is one of the curses of autism - some problems are "stuck" in "his world" and I can't cross over and make them all better - let alone be able to help him see what it looks like in "my world". It has definitely been "one of those days" - and unfortunately, it isn't likely to improve. Therapy always takes a lot out of my youngest - he's bumpy the rest of the day - and usually once my oldest is set off the rest of the day is shot.
It's not even noon, and I'm ready for bed... :) Well, thankfully with homeschooling, there's always tomorrow...
It's not even noon, and I'm ready for bed... :) Well, thankfully with homeschooling, there's always tomorrow...
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Jan. 29, 2007
Fun Little Quiz
I don't usually take quizes - but this one was fun - anyone else want to try?
| Your Vocabulary Score: A |
 |
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Jan. 29, 2007
Bloggity-Friends
Who would have thought that my autistic son would ever get excited about "conversing" with people? Well, alright, he's not really conversing I suppose - but he is sharing himself and excited that others are out there listening. This whole blog idea has had some wonderful and far-reaching side-effects I wasn't even looking for. Learning to enjoy sharing your thoughts with others, and then commenting on theirs is a huge step in understanding the process of conversation - and the reason for it. :)
Today my son found out that another one of his friends has a blog, and he actually jumped up and down he was so excited. Who would have thought that he would have that kind of reaction to something so inter-relational. Yes, it's a step down from direct personal conversation, but it is still the sharing of himself - his thoughts and inner world - with others.... and that is a big deal for any autistic, even a high-functioning one. :)
I am still basking in the glow of my brilliant accomplishment - giving my son a portal to the outside world that he is willing to use. :) Now, if I could just come up with more brilliant ideas every once in awhile - how about one to convince my 5 year old that not everything needs to be an arguement... :)
Today my son found out that another one of his friends has a blog, and he actually jumped up and down he was so excited. Who would have thought that he would have that kind of reaction to something so inter-relational. Yes, it's a step down from direct personal conversation, but it is still the sharing of himself - his thoughts and inner world - with others.... and that is a big deal for any autistic, even a high-functioning one. :)
I am still basking in the glow of my brilliant accomplishment - giving my son a portal to the outside world that he is willing to use. :) Now, if I could just come up with more brilliant ideas every once in awhile - how about one to convince my 5 year old that not everything needs to be an arguement... :)