2013

I realized I haven't posted at all for...wait...an entire year. I guess we jar for busy with learning and moving. 

We live in a small town in Montana now. Still busy.  

Our 4th, she is ready to learn and points out letters she knows and tries to read. And write notes. 

This year is a year of realizations and letting to. 

The big kids have their own planners to jot down notes and keep track of work. We are keeping up with transcripts and book lists via the planners and goodreads for the iPhone. 

The younger ones are watching leapfrog videos and listening to audiobooks. We just downloaded the books from librivox for Ambleside Year 1. 

Other things we are still using:

Sequential Spelling on CD-ROM

Story of the World

First Language Lessons (although we start this a few years later than most folks.

Writing with Skill...once again this is High School level for us.

KONOS in there at some point because it is fun!!! And, we could always use some work on our character especially the parents :p

Apologia for science.  

Teaching Textbooks and Life of Fred for Math.

Life of Fred is new this year. And, it seems I be a good fit for my oldest. He has struggled with three different Algebra programs.  4th time is a charm.  He has no complaints.  He even made sure I bought the next few levels with our next tax return.  

::Magnet Science::

::Bingo Markers::

 

Fall 2012

Here is our overview for the first season in our 2012-2013 school year. We are doing more family work this year.  We eliminated it for the last two years and I am not happy with it.  I feel like doing family work helps us to really come back together each day and focus on our family. 

Family Work

We are doing a family reading basket again.  I would love to do it first thing every morning.  But, as this is the year of Reality, it will be done in the afternoon.  I envision tea and biscuits :)  

::SOAP Bible Study.  If you need some explanation, Kris at Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers layed it out pretty easily.
::Reading through the Bible in 6 months. I think that will give us enough meat for the day without being too overwhelming.  I have found a few schedules online and will probably just go ahead and print one out to keep in our basket.
::Story of the World Volume 2
::Truthquest History Middle Ages
::Memory Box.  You can find a video about it here.  
::Plus, whatever read alouds we might choose to read together.  That is already a lot to get through every single day.  But, I hope it actually takes some of the load off the boys and encourages family togetherness.


Mr. Serious

Finish Biology and Teaching Textbooks Pre-Algebra
Daily SAT question APP
The Art of Self-Discipline from Grace to You Podcast. It is from July 2012.
He may start into Algebra, as well.  We will just see how his focus goes.  He is definitely working towards a more College friendly schedule. He naturally works this way, so it is all for the greater good right?  Less work per Term with more time to focus on it. 




Grammar with First Language Lessons
Spelling using Spelling Power.  He has hated spelling.  He learned to read in a public school which used allowed kids to spell however they wanted and whole words.  I think he just never got spelling.  It is the reason he has been balking about writing for so long.  Unfortunately, we did not figure that out till this last spring.  So, he is going to actively work on spelling every day.
Teaching Textbooks for Math
Science: He wants to be a Marine Biologist or Park Ranger.  Up to this point we have tried some curriculums.  But, mostly he read the Usborne Science Encyclopedia and did a lot of science kits.  I do have Apologia General Science and signed him up for the at your own pace at The Virtual Homeschool Group.  I am going to encourage him to use that because I think it will help him to work towards his goals.



This little guy is getting big.  He has some delays.  But, this seems to be the year of changes. I have read and been told by other's that nine is truly a magic number.

He is doing really well with Ordinary Parent's Guide to Reading.  We have tried two handfuls of phonics programs and they all peter out at some point.  But, we are finally seeing success.  Which I am not surprised about.  Everything my kids have used from Peace Hill Press works well for them. 
Math U See for Math
First Language Lessons
And, to his dismay lots of writing.  I notice a huge bump every single time I keep him writing. 

 

This silly little girl picks up big words with ease.  She recognizes numbers and letters already.  This is a first for me.  All my boys read "late".  All my boys didn't want to "learn" till 9 or 10. Which I didn't expect when I started this journey because I read "early", loved sitting still, and learning.  We are going to give a gentle introduction to Math U See primer, Letter recognition, and maybe form drawing a try.  She is going to have a small break with each of her older brother's each day, as well.  We have lots of fun educational things like puzzles, starfall, leapfrog videos, pattern blocks, lacing beads, and more to learn with them.  



This little guy is just plain crazy.  He climbs, tears stuff apart, throws good stuff in the trash...just the general ole drive mama crazy type of boy.

Planning for 2012

I am not planning too much.  The last few years, I had to plan because we belong to a public school program.  My planning this year consists of just a few steps:

1. Talk with the children.

2. Come up with a pile of books and see which ones they want to work on for the next few months.

3. Accept  that they all have a difficult time seeing an entire years worth of work. They are all content to see what they are going to work on right now. 

4. Print out logging sheets without dates.  I like the build your own schedule sheet at Simply Charlotte Mason. I think seeing what we actually accomplish each day feels good for everyone.

5. Consider everyone's weaknesses when picking work that they "must" do.  Each child has a so called weakness.  Math, Reading, video games.  I consider making plans an opportunity to work on our weaknesses.  None of these weaknesses are bad per se.  I am not throwing out all of our TV's. But, a certain child, who shall remain unnamed, will need to prioritize his work if he wants to get to his play.  We are considering a move this year to a state which has ridiculous homeschool laws.  I am, personally, concerned about certain weaknesses that may cause a child to test poorly. 

6.  Don't write anything down unless it is something fun that I need supplies for or should be done on a certain date.  Those things can go on the calendar. For the most part we use curriculum now, read lots of books, journal, draw, and create.  There just isn't a lot to plan anymore.  Plans seems to ruin the creativity around here. Creativity is important to us. 

7.  No dates.  We have plenty of time to finish things.  We don't need to date everything and then have to redate everything when we are a day off because we wanted to go bowling or chocolate hunting.

YEAR 10

I was inspired by Golden Grasses to count how many years we have been homeschooling. I cannot believe we are going into year 10. I had planned on homeschooling, but I was having a hard time parenting my oldest. So, he attended a 9 hour a week preschool that was amazing and only a 5 minute walk away from home. He then attended K and a part of Grade 1. By that time, we ended up moving out of state. We chose to homeschool. We have had a short period back in school for our oldest. He went to the first half of Grade 4 which I hoped would make it easier for me while I went to the University. Our second child was attending and had a wonderful kindergarten experience. So, we thought we would try Grade 1 and Grade 4. Turned out the experience wasn't so lovely and they came home. We have been homeschooling ever since. My third son has never attended school except for speech therapy. I pray the next two can be homeschooled, as well.

We have unschooled, used KONOS unit studies pretty mildly, a light version of TWTM, Waldorf inspired with Oak Meadow, and now back around again. We are taking a wee break this summer and looking forward to the upcoming year. I completely respect the input of my children. We need a balance of what they like and need AND what I am able to do and give. I won't label us. I just cannot. This is our journey. I assumed that meant we were unschooling if I read John Holt correctly. But, I could be bashed by curriculum haters. My children and I discuss what they learn. They fashion their days. I am here to guide and discuss with the older two. My third son has some delays and therefore we do his learning together. It isn't always rosey. But, he needs guidance. Curriculum helps us get there.

This year I am going to accept that we are late starters. I am going to accept that. We feel better if we get some lounging and a walk in for our morning time. I am going to trust that our educational journey is a beautiful representation of our personal family. I am looking forward to learning more about each other. We have some plans that we want to work on, goals that we have set together. But, this is the first year that I am going to stay I just want to watch our story unfold.

Summer Learning

We really should be learning all year long. We used to when we were more relaxed. Our VA program keeps us a bit on track. But, we miss our natural learning.

::We plan to have fun this summer.
::We plan to not waste away the summer on video games.
::We plan to listen to more good stuff like the The Daily Audio Bible, finish Story of the World Volume 4 on CD, Start Story of the World Volume 1 Ancients...


Today we...
::played crazy eights
::played monopoly
::listened to the Audio Bible
::listened to SOTW 4 CD 10

Planning for 2011-2012 Day 1

The Reason I have been too busy to blog.

I am starting my planning already.  I suggest a little breather.  In my dream world I would venture out to a beautiful cottage by the sea for a three day weekend.  I would take all my curriculum and my favorite cozy clothes.  I would then make gorgeous plans that would instill lasting lifetime memories for my children.

But, I need to be realistic.  We haven't the money for all that.  Goodness we haven't the time.  So, I will work on plans in between nursing sessions, cooking making, visits to the local beach, and lots of outside potty training time for our toddler.

Some places I go for planning inspiration

Rockin Granola share her weekly schedule, plenty of cute pics and always finds ways to include the little people.

Parenting Passageway   helps keep you centered and remains picture less which I find keeps me from coveting their homeschooling. Thus I remember to focus on our own journey!

A Little Garden Flower & Waldorf Essentials is a great place to get affordable waldorf curriculum and listen to wonderful podcasts.

Ancient Hearth has lots of great chalkboard drawings

Wee Waldorf  has lots of crafts

Our Journey 'Round the Mulberry bush  shares pics of Main Lesson Books and Chalkboard drawings.

Wrapping up May

So, it is the official end to our school year.  The boys will keep doing a few things through the summer.  The older two really want to catch up in Math.  Since, we have been using Teaching Textbooks that seems like an easy one to plug away at.


This is our oldest aka The Prophet.  This year he turned 14.  He can officially fit into his Dad's pants.  It has been quite warm here.  He grew out of his shorts, so he borrowed a pair from Dad and they fit perfectly.  He learned a lot of Modern History and studied Physics and some Chemistry in Science.  He is finishing up Teaching Textbooks 7 and Language Lessons for the Secondary Child this summer.  He will be reading Collapse and The Left Behind Series.


This is our second child aka The Peacemaker.  He is growing into quite the fine man.  He is really helpful with his little sister, even though she gets on his nerves sometimes.  He loves to cook and he loves animals.  He has stuck to being a Vegetarian and I dare say he will continue it throughout his lifetime.  He studied Modern History this year.  He worked a lot with Science kit and learned about Chemistry.  He will be finishing up Teaching Textbooks 5 and Language Lessons for the Elementary Child this summer.


Our third child aka The Warrior.  He is doing much better this year.  He is on his second set of Bob Books.  He will spend this summer working on reading through the entire set of Bob Books and some handwriting sheets I printed off the internet.  He will start on Teaching Textbooks 3 as soon as it gets here.

Summery School

Man I haven't been around at all.  We are still homeschooling.  We are still adjusting to the needs of a family of 7.  Our youngest is doing much better.  He is still small but he is steadily gaining and nursing well.  The boys are doing a light bit of school through the summer.  Math, Reading, and some light language arts for each.  The boys all  have some work to finish up from this year and some work to get them caught up to "official grade levels". 

G is finishing up Language Lessons for the Secondary Child, Teaching Textbooks 7, and reading The Left Behind Series.

P is finishing up Language Lessons for the Elementary Child, Teaching Textbooks 5, and reading The Warriors Series

E is doing handwriting worksheets and reading Bob Books.  

Weekly Update

Gibran

I did 4 lessons of math this week.  The first lesson was comparing decimals.  I had to find out if they were bigger, smaller, or equal.  I learned about adding and subtracting decimals.  You have to line up the decimals points with each other or it doesn't work.  I filled in holes in decimals.  You may need to put a zero in to a decimal to line up the problem correctly.  I learned how to multiply with decimals.  You lined them up.  You don't need to line up the decimal points.  

In Science I learned about magnetism.  The North and South poles are magnets.  I, also, learned about electromagnets and magnetal waves around earth.  The solar waves can be deflected or go through the magnetal waves.  I did a quiz about it online.  I did a narration about what I learned, too.

I learned about Nazi Germany and Hitler's rise to power.  I learned about Spain and their civil war after world war II.  I did some notebook pages like a map and a narration for it.

In Language Lessons, I looked at a picture of India and a guy riding on an elephant and I had to answer questions about it.  I did a large story about the man riding on his elephant and his day. I copied a stanza of a poem.  

I did five pages of handwriting and they were mostly about the solar system.  

Porter

I learned about linking verbs.

I finished my book.

I made a breath analyzer.  I breathed into it after putting some chemicals into it.  

I learned about multiples, long multiplication, and multiplying numbers with zero.

My friends came over and we played capture the flag.  They are in CVA, too.

Escher

The Coyote and the Wolf first start out on a raft.  They ask the turtle to pick up the mud. They made it into a ball.  It got so big it turned into land. Then there was a cave. Animals came out of the cave.  Coyote wished for big food. 

I subtract minus two.

My mom write words with D. Then I copied them on the side of the paper.

I learned about life cycles. People die, people grow, and people are born.  Plants die and leave seeds.  Mammals are animals that feed milk to their babies.  I am a mammal.

A Bit of February

Our year is racing by. I still need a new camera. Ours works but my husband keeps running off with it. His phone takes perfectly good pictures, too. I think I have my birthday wish already!

I wish I had pictures to share. It is always the best part of blogging snd reading blogs...catching those glimpses of life and growth.


Gibran

I did in 5 lessons in Math.  The first lesson I learned how to add and subtract with different denominators in fractions.  I learned how to add and subtract more than two fractions at a time.  I learned about converting a mixed number into a improper fraction.  I learned how to add or subtract with all types of numbers like problems with with mixed numbers and fractions.  I did the chapter 9 quiz.  In Language Lessons, I copied a poem which was five stanzas long.  It was about America.  In History, I did mapwork and my timeline for chapter 20 and 21 which was about World War I, The Russian Revolution, and communism.  I did two pages of Italics.  

Porter

Everything has chemical reactions.  Chemical reactions help things be alive, like animals, plants, and humans.  There are four general types of chemical reactions. The first one is combination.  The second kind is decomposition.  The third one is displacement reaction.  It happens when another atoms replaces one.  The fourth is exchange reaction.  I looked at the Usborne Science Encyclopedia section on chemical reactions.  I played a game online at http://www.knowitall.org/hobbyShop/siteAgent.html about chemical reactions.  I made an ingredient that is made for chalk.  I dragged bottles around and poured them into a cup.  They changed colors and made a thick white substance in the bottom of the cup.  I did long subtraction.  Like 29 + 36 + 45 + 89.  We ran the mile outside in PE this week.  We were going to play  soccer but plans changed.  It was a really nice day out.  In the pool, we did this thing where we had to make rafts out of supplies from the pool.  Everybody had to grab onto the raft and push it to the other side.  



Escher
I listened to Mom read Aladdin.  Aladdin got his lamp back.  I did math problems that equal ten.  I took the blocks and I needed to make ten out of them.  Like I made an 8 and a 2, 4 and a 6, 5 and 5.  I ran around the track without walking.  We can't walk.  We only can run or jog.  We had an obstacle course.  They put stuff everywhere to make the mind field.  Then somebody is blindfolded and their partner helped them.  They said left, right, forward, backward, or jump stuff.  I got to be blindfolded.  And, we need to have these flat things that you lift up and down.  

Week 19

Gibran

I learned about buoyancy.  I learned about how if something is floating in water, in order to sink to the bottom it has to weigh more than what it displaces in the water.  I did some puzzlers.  The first one was pretty easy.  It was about how you have to sink a sub in a tub of water.  It weighs one pound, but it displaces two pounds of water.  The second has man in a boat with a rock.  He throws it in the water.  You have to figure out if the water goes,  up, down or stays the same.  It goes down lower because the rock weighs ten pounds.  The last was a helium car. I learned about Prime numbers and how they only have two factors.  So, I have to find if they are prime and their factors.  I, also, learned about least common multiples.  And, how in order to find the least common multiples in two numbers is to multiply the numbers until you find the least common multiple.  For example, with 4 and 6 the least common multiple is 12.  I read my final chapters of the Water Seeker.  It was a really good book.  It was based in the West of the US.  It was 1850's.  It detailed the life of the fictional character Amos Kincaid and how he grew up.  His mom died and his guardian died.  Then his Dad, Jake, married an Indian named Blue Owl.  His Dad lost his leg in the story.  For History I learned about wagon trains and how people met and formed them when they were going West.  In Health, I learned how to deal with stress, diseases, drug abuse and how to find help.  

Porter

I did Math.  I learned subtraction world problems.  I did typing this week.  I just played mini-games to help improve my typing speed.  I am still reading the BFG.  They went hunting for dreams.  They caught a really good dream and a really bad dream.  Now they are going to give a bad dream to one of the other giants.  I did science.  We put baking soda and vinegar into a balloon and shook it up.  All the gas from the baking soda and vinegar made the balloon puff up.  We, also, did baking powder and vinegar.  It puffed up a lot more.  It puffed up from the carbon dioxide made for the baking powder and vinegar.  In First Language Lessons, I diagrammed sentences.  

Escher

Mom read to me from The Education of Little Tree.  Little Tree's parent's died.  So, he needs to live with his Grandpa and Grandma.  He moved to their house.  It's all the way up on the mountains.  They took the bus.  Then they walked in the dark up the mountains.  When they got at the house the hound dogs met them. The house was a log house with a long porch.  I added doubles like 5 + 5 = 10.  We put baking powder in a yellow ballon.  Then we added vinegar.  The we put baking soda in a orange balloon.  Then we added vinegar.  It puffed up a little bit.  They yellow was the biggest.  They puffed up because the  vinegar turned to gas.  

Week 18

I realize we haven't been putting our weekly reports on here this year.  So, I thought I would share this weeks report.  Maybe I will remember next week.

The Prophet-Grade 8

I learned about how I can use factors to do division problems.  I learned about density and about upthrust. When something pushes into water it comes back at it.  That thing can't float unless it's density is higher or the same as the water.  I finished my introductory paragraph for my Jump-in Writing assignment.  I worked on my cursive handwriting.  I did copywork on paragraphs about animal kingdoms and subgroups.  I answered questions about a picture in my Language Lessons book.  They were questions about what the people were doing.  Then I did a quick story about one of the characters from the picture.  I chose the boy in the picture because he seemed to be the most interesting to me.  I went on a walk.  It made my day start better.  

The Peacemaker-Grade 5

I did my Fizz Wizard and Jammin Jelly reaction kit for Science.  I did a soda pop reaction.  I put magic coloring crystals in water and it turned light purple.  I added baking soda and it bubbled.  I tasted it.  It was ok in the beginning, but the aftertaste was bad.  I, also, did a lemon juice reaction.  I did the same thing as the first experiment, but I added lemon juice.  It fizzed and turned the light purple liquid pink.  It tasted better than the first one.  In Math, I did long addition.  I added 84 + 45 + 60 + 25.  In the BFG, the little girl Sophie was hungry and the only thing she could eat was Snozzcumbers.  I read about the Mexican Revolution.

The Warrior-Grade 2

The first electric kitchen had a dishwasher.  It looked like a trash can with a lid.  People used the icebox refrigerator.  It had a giant block of ice in it.  The ice kept your food cold.  Then they started using the electric refrigerator instead.  I did some addition this week.  We read about Chief Crazy Horse.  They are making a giant mountain.  They are blowing up with dynamite.  Then a design is there.  There is his face.  They put the design of the horse on the side of the mountain.  I did some science.  I took a little plant pot. Then I put it in a plastic bowl.  I put some water in the little round weird looking bowl.  It soaked up the water.  It is clay and it doesn't have any paint on it.  So, it soaked it up because it had little tiny holes in it.

This is the new language program our oldest is using for the rest of the year.

Spelling Power

I just wrote this up on a message board I visit often.  So, I thought I could share here as well.  I use Spelling Power with my older two.  I personally won't do spelling with a child that isn't reading chapter books regularly and write really well. I have boys and I think they may be a bit different than girls in that area.  It has different levels.  You start with the A level.  Each small test will tests under one of those spelling "rules".  When you get to B you start over again.  I'm not fancy about it. My kids get a spiral notebook.  They do one test per page. They do one list at a time at their level.  I write the rule at the top of the page. Then they correct any missed words in their own handwriting.  They used to copy it three times. But, they are doing well enough that I don't require that anymore.  I like that I won't have to purchase another spelling book every again.  I just buy a new notebook when this one fills up.  

Sale at A Little Garden Flower ends November 30!

I really enjoyed our Grade 1 year with them last year.  If you are waiting for a deal on their curriculum please stop by before the end of November.  The guides are awesome.  They give you something to do everyday.  You get all the stories and instructions you need in a very easy to use format.  I love their curriculum!  Their prices are amazing for all that you get.  With a few simple supplies you can be up and running or um...homeschooling for a new year in no time flat.  Plus, you will find more time in your day for reading library books, playing outside, crafting or homeschooling the older children.

The sale is 15% off everything in the store.

A Peek into...the kitchen table.

We have an eat-in kitchen.  Since, it has a washable floor, that is where I make Science happen. Well, I don't make it. But, I do allow science things to happen in there.



One kid had stuffed piled up that was non-messy.  Messy stuff was on the uncovered side.  Not sure if that would have helped in case of a spill.  If you click over to flickr you can see notes and stuff.

Peek into...the desks.

I thought I would share.  I'm not sure why.  But, I've spent a good part of this Saturday cleaning our main living areas.  In this house, it is all one great open space.  Kitchen, Dining Room, Living Room, and Homeschool Central.  I used to think open was nice. But, I really wish every room was smaller with a nice door I could close.



I admit to not cleaning my desk often.



The kids usually get a cleaning once a week.  I have been aiming for a once daily clean-up.  But, it did not happen this week.  And, honestly probably won't happen this next week either.

How our Year is going so far....October 2010.

I realize now that we have not participated in the weekly updates at The Well Trained Mind Forums.  I think we are just so busy this year.  We are doing pretty well and getting school work done.  But, organization in some areas is really lacking.  So, how about a nice what we did in October post...

The Warrior is in Grade 2 this year....

He is working through Oak Meadow 2 for most of his curriculum.  I am really happy I finally purchased this for one of my students.  I am thrilled with this curriculum and could really kick myself for not using it sooner.  It is flexible and yet concrete.  I don't think you need the extras I have included.  But, my student needs extra work in Phonics and Math.  We through in some Science Kits because I knew he would be jealous of his brothers kits.  We tried to do kits together last year and it wasn't as much fun.  He was really happy to get his own this year.  

He is using Hooked on Phonics to work on his reading skills.  He is still struggling, but there is some promise to learning to read on his own this year.  We just need to be consistent.  

He is working on Math U See Alpha because I just don't see OM math to be a good fit yet. 

He has finished up The Magic School Bus Human Body Kit.   

 

And, will be starting The Stepping into Science Kit soon.

The Peacemaker is in Grade 5 this year...

He is still in a more classical style.  I think I might move towards Oak Meadow for his for the next year, though.  I think it would fit better.  But, I just couldn't fit him into a grade for this year, plus he really wanted to finish up The Story of the World with is older brother.  

He is doing Teaching Textbooks 4 for Math.

First Language Lessons 3, Writing with Ease 2, and Italics Handwriting Book C for Language Arts.

He is studying Chemistry this year with The Elements by McHenry, plus a whole lot of kits we got from Home Science Tools.  

The Prophet is in Grade 8 this year...

We are a bit nervous about the upcoming start of High School.  I am trying not to push him to hard. I am trying to be a good homeschooling mom and realize I need to meet him where he is.  He isn't behind.  He is right where he needs to be and that is why we homeschool.  

He is working on Teaching Textbooks 6, Jump-In Writing Program, Italics Handwriting, The Elements by McHenry, Story of the World 4.

Autumn Favorites

Well, I know for most people it is already officially Autumn.  Our family tries to gradually allow Autumn to arrive.  We are Summer people!  But, this year we will try to embrace Washington Autumn.  We will try to patiently put up with her mood swings and warm teases.  We will laugh when we live the grocery store and get soaked to our bones.





Here is our nature table or rather shelf.  It gradually gathers things until we realize it is ready for a change.  I thought if we are going to say good bye to Summer we should clean it up a bit.  I spent some time on a chalkboard "drawing".  Well, rather it is just a poem. A drawing will wait.



The poem I am using was a direct inspiration from Magic Onions.  I loved her nature table.  I really should think a bit more about ours.

A very sweet rhyme for circle time from Seasons of Joy.

Gluten Free Mommy's Pumpkin Enchiladas which I always remember come Autumn. My youngest son loves these.  He requested them for his birthday last year.  They are wonderful with black beans for the vegetarians

.

I have been desperately praying and seeking new Rhythm.  Every-time I think I have it down something happens and blows it all up.  I was all prepared for this new school year and I found out I was pregnant.  I am not as sick as last time.  But, I am just so tired.  Smoosh that together with the crazy destruction of a one year old and well our year is not off to the start I had hoped for.