|
Devotion Home School
Mar. 29, 2008
Go With The Flow!
It's been a busy crazy year. We have spent the last year stepping into the Kindergarten curriculum only to discover that we have another year before Benjamin can enter the grade one program. Apparently his birthday misses the provincial cut off date by two days urgh. So he has another year of Kindergarten before his is permitted to enroll in grade one studies. At first I was annoyed because I really wanted to get in with a school board and start the grade one skills, however after giving it some thought I think this might be to his advantage.
Homeschooling permits such wonderful flexibility in that he can catch up with or accelerate beyond his public school peers at any time. It's been proven that boys mature slower than girls and for that reason tend to struggle a bit more academically in the very early grades. I think maybe having another year to really perfect his basic skills will give him an edge with the levels to come. Your base is everything and as he is already into grade one material in some areas this will give him the opportunity to make certain he has a good solid foundation for learning in every area.
It also gives me the opportunity to do some of the things I missed the first time around, like create a portfolio of his Kindergarten work, take pictures of him doing Kindergarten material and just basically getting organized the way I need to and that was just not possible with the household renovations happening.
What started as a disappointment has actually fostered some new excitement and enthusiasm in a way I didn't expect.
YAY Kindergarten! |
• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
|
Aug. 3, 2007
Just Around The Corner!
Well here we go! August is here and after a busy summer we are heading into the school year. Currently I am prepping materials for our Kindergarten studies, but I am not rushing into the books until September as Benjamin will have two full years before he is permitted to register with a home school board. Unfortunately his birthday is two days before our provincial cut off so he isn't considered a first grader until 2009!
I am not too bothered by this new development (initially I was quite annoyed) because we have quite a bit going on here personally as Nana is terminally ill and it allows us some much needed flexibility with our deadlines. Benjamin is ahead on some concepts anyhow, so really these next two years will give us time to get into a solid home school routine.
We have really enjoyed our summer so far with trips to the Telus Space Science Centre and the Tyrell Museum in Drumheller. As a matter of fact we all loved the Science Centre so much we bought annual passes! We are hoping to visit Fort Edmonton Park, The Calgary Zoo, John Jantzen Nature Centre, Heritage Park, Devonian Gardens and Innisfail Wildlife Park before the season is through. The luxury of no school registration days and a shift working dad are such that we can be assured to fit it all in without rushing. Benjamin has completed three rounds of swimming lessons and one season of soccer, both of which he very much enjoyed. We are considering martial arts for the winter as he needs another season to get upright on skates before he enters hockey for the first time next year.
Our biggest goal is to finish our basement! The completion of our lower level will provide us with a family room, office/guest room and bathroom. Suddenly we will become far more organized with an office space and homeschooling will be even easier to accomplish. As a matter of fact we purchased a second hand full-sized piano to take up some of the vacancy that will be left once the family room moves from the sitting room to the lower level. I plan to learn along with the kids, how exciting is that!
Anyway I should run and get the baby chicks under wing!
Until Next Time!
Mum |
• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
|
Apr. 6, 2007
His Pride, My Joy!
You've come a long way baby! My little Benjamin is now a big five years old and it shows. The combination of age and meds have made a tremendous difference in his abilities and attitudes. Suddenly we are sitting down to work and he is thrilled to do it! What started as spurts of interest have now become proper lessons with Ben encouraging further exploration into what we are doing and why. Nowadays he is calling me to the table instead of the other way around. I am speechless at the amount of learning that has occurred in such a short span of time. I am not only thrilled by the fact that he is asking questions, but in the quality of the questions he asks. Ben is very much a how it works kind of guy and he wants to know every detail. The already sharp memory has evolved into a think tank where he just seems to compile all sorts of information at breakneck speed! I can only imagine what the next few months of instruction will bring. Jacob seems to be picking up on Benjamin's lead, except in the vocabulary side of things. He refuses to talk. It's not that he can't, he just won't unless he decides it matters to him. I have to admit that I am getting a little frustrated by it, but I know the harder I push the harder he will rebel. Strong willed kids are often setting their own boundaries so I really shouldn't be all that surprised. At least they are now at an age where they can interact purposefully with one another and that is beautiful to see. I can't wait until they are at an age where we can have meaningful discussions and debates, as I feel these two will have much to say!
Back to the books!
Mum |
• Comments (1) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
|
Jan. 2, 2007
New Year New Ideas!
| Here we are in 2007! I can't believe that Benjamin will be five years old in just a few months and I can really see the natural progression of his educational development over the past year. He is such an inquisitive child with a hunger to learn, but definately at his own direction. We are making slow progress with his behavioral challenges as well, and hopefully we will continue to make great strides this coming year. I think this month we will work on upper and lower case letters, as well as pre-writing exercises. I find his comprehension and vocabulary are well developed, so the next logical step in his language studies would be pre-reading activities. I am going to leave the majority of the science study for the summer months so that we can get down and dirty with some fun experiments! He is showing interest in the solar system so perhaps we will feed that scientific hunger in the meantime. Little by little it's all coming together, and now that the holidays have past we will attempt to find a routine that works. One idea that I am borrowing from a friend is a home work space. She suggested a tri-fold tabletop display board as a means of creating a personalized learning environment. I am going to pick one up and decorate it with the upper and lower case alphabet, as well as various other fun reminders related to his current studies. I think he will love decorating the board with me, and I know he will definately find it very cool to have a work space all his own. Anything that makes him feel like a 'big' kid really boosts his confidence which in turn boosts his enthusiasm for trying new things. |
• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
|
Dec. 5, 2006
Coming Soon!
Aug. 5, 2006
We're Back and The Easy Button!
Well here we are back from vacation! It's been a busy summer and now we look forward to some cooler weather and more time to explore the book world. I am currently looking into the Grade One requirements for Ben, so that I can help him with his skill building as we wait to formally enroll with a school board in 2008. How do you encourage your child to hold a pen properly, much less write with one! We are working on Upper and Lower Case alphabet, as well as counting to 100.
Canadian moms have seen the Staples back to school commercials running continually recently, but did you know they actually sell AN EASY BUTTON! It's got a voice chip and it's the funniest thing (or at least I see the humorous value to it). I wonder though, what a homeschool mom's easy button would be like. Would it do laundry, cook dinner, or maybe even clean bathrooms!!!!!! Now that would be a bargain at $5.99! I would gladly pay that three times over for that kind of freedom.
Anyway, I guess I should run and get some chores done before beddy bye. I will write more next time.
Until Then,
Mum
|
• Comments (5) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
|
Jul. 6, 2006
Where I Am From (Repost from my Mommy Blog)
Where I Am From
I am from walking to school, the summer craft shack, and swinging as high as my legs could take me.
I am from the popsicle person that rode on a bike, from life lessons started too soon.
I am from roses, orchids, stargazer lillies, and long summer walks along tree-lined paths.
I am from mom's chips (that go perfect with battered fish), creamed peas and carrots, and sentimental thoughts.
I am from good books and the Good Book.
From fearing that I would turn out like my mother, and now so glad that I have.
I am from a separated family, close friends, and a loving home.
I'm from maple syrup, Oh Canada, and a the Queen of England on my currency.
From a little girl who was never quite so 'little' to a woman who learned to love '10' on her feet instead of her waist.
I am from loving, losing, learning, and lasting.
I am from bubble baths, scented candles, and tea with milk.
I am from Coronation Street and County Kerry.
I am from dry British humor, and warm Irish welcomes.
I am from home-baked cookies and dirty handprints on the wall.
I am from the reflection in my children's eyes.
I am from my past, my present, and my future. |
• Comments (4) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
|
Jul. 3, 2006
Educating Mum
I have decided it is time to educate Mum. I have begun reading the book "Homeschooling The Early Years" by Linda Dobson and I am really enjoying it. I have the early assessment sheets from my school board, and I am attempting to discover where Benjamin's knowledge is at it's strongest/weakest. In doing so, I am hoping that I can determine what learning style would be advantageous to him, and test it out over the summer. I will then be able to assess what curiculum (s) might be useful for his studies. I know that his behavioral assessments will help in this regard as well, so I feel fortunate that they should be complete before the summer is over. I will continue to seek advice from other homeschool families as I continue my learning process. In the meantime, I have to figure out a way to get Ben to quit this teeth grinding/jaw popping thing he has aquired over the last few weeks. I can't figure out why he does it, but it seems to coincide with excitment, aggitation, or exertion. To be honest it's driving me mad! I am concerned that he will damage his teeth, and I am not being very tolerant of the behavior. If it were something he had always done that would be different, but he's begun doing it deliberately over the last few weeks and it needs to quit. I am taking him back to the dentist and having him checked for damage. I know he does have my overbite, and the dentist did question if he did this sort of thing, but a few months back when he saw him the answer was no. My son is going to be so thrilled if it turns out he has to wear a retainer (not to mention the molding process will send him into a tither!). It just really never ends does it? Homeschooling is great in this regard, because you cut out the middle man. You see the problem and seek the solution in less time than it would take to hold a parent/teacher conference.
Anyway, onto another busy day!
Mum
|
• Comments (2) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
|
Jun. 27, 2006
Moving Forward
We met with the behavioral therapist today to discuss her report in detail. She is so wonderful! I can't tell you how much more in control of the situation I feel. It's so nice to know that we have resources to work with. Benjamin will be so much better off with educated parents by his side! We also received the sensory evaluation that we must provide for the occupational therapist. I am so excited to find out what will work for Benjamin (is that wierd to be excited?). I am so thrilled to get this under way before we start home schooling because I feel we will be so much better off from the start. The best part is that Ben loves her! It's actually a treat to see her and he is always asking when he will see her again. I am so proud of my little man, and so looking forward to beginning our learning journey together. Just knowing that we have so much support is truly a blessing!
Until Next Time,
Mum
|
• Comments (2) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
|
|
|
|
Page 1 of 1
Last Page | Next Page
|
|
