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::

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.

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.

Watercolor Painting

I recently went through all the photos. It looks like we have quite the back up of downloads =). What can I say? It was a fun school year.


These are the painting supplies we purchased. Paints are from Paper Scissors Stone. Paper and brushes from Dick Blick. We mixed the paint about half and half with water in baby food jars.


I used some ideas from A Little Garden Flower You Tube videos.


On my list for the upcoming year, is Painting with Children. I hope this might give me some help in actually planning some painting lessons. I'm not looking at being too formal. But, I do need a little help in that area.

Gearing up for High School

This post reminded that we are gearing up for High School.  This next year my oldest will be an official High Schooler.  I remember it being so far away.  But, this is it.  This is his last year of just enjoying home schooling.  Next year, things count.

So, I've started a file for next year.  I'm going to file away things that look interesting or things I think he might want to read.  I'm going to make a little place on the side of the blog to keep High School related links.  I'm going to try to stuff it all in there and not think about it too much this year.

Boy vs Food

DSC08620
Originally uploaded by OakBlossoms

One of his favorite shows this summer is Man vs Food. He has taken to asking us for challenges. We all need a hero right? For a number of years, he has been set on owning his own pizzeria when he is an adult. So, I shouldn't be surprised.

Form Drawing

I've been interested in form drawing for awhile.  I have been hesitant because I felt like there was some secret knowledge.  I'm just starting with my Grade 1 son. We are doing forms as they introduced in A Journey through Waldorf Homeschooling Grade 1. I think it will be some good practice.  He has already been doing some basic letter writing.  So, he played with some of the ones we did.  But, honestly I will not stop because I can't do it "right".  We enjoyed the process and I think that is what matters to us.

Here is a slideshow from Millennialchild.
Curriculum and more information from Barbara Dewey and Christopherus.
Some lovely examples at Nature Nest.
A Youtube video from A Little Garden Flower. And, the DVD set.
A form drawing lesson on a chalkboard at Flickr.  (Check out the entire set of chalkboard drawings.  They are gorgeous and I'm not quite there yet=))

When citing accomplishments...

let me preface that I don't share book like accomplishments often. Mostly that is because of my thoughts on education. My thoughts are clouded by John Holt and that guy who writes for Home Education magazine...ya know David Albert, and the ever so lovely Charlotte Mason (with the help of Leslie).



But, the Peacemaker finally finished Explode the Code Book 1!!! I'm so darn proud of him, too. I don't care that he is 8 years old either. He isn't behind his schedule because he is homeschooled.

Joy Sucking (A post from my wordpress bog) a reason to homeschool

If you have read my wordpress blog this might not be new to you.

JOY SUCKING

Joy sucking is probably the number one reason our boys are not in school. And, it’s something we fight about. Perhaps we are spoiled little brats, the whole lot of us. But, my husband and I usually work pretty darn hard to rearrange our life, put off dreams and desires and then reroute and find all new dreams which include little adults. My two oldest both attended public Kindergarten and half of first grade. By the middle of first grade they were sucked dry.

My first went to Kindergarten even though I thought we would homeschool. It was close, seemed safe and it turned out he enjoyed it and I enjoyed the break. My second wanted to go to school and bless his heart the lucky little soul he got the one Queen of Kindergarten teachers. She who lives in a tiny little speck of a town. She was a gem. She actually hugged children and got down on her knee to insure they knew they were cared for. That is a teacher.

Contest at Heart of the Matter

Heart of the Matter is having a contest to give away Biology 101 DVDs

Here is a description from the HOM blog:

Biology 101: Biology According To The Days of Creation is a video series that gives an overview of Biology from the Biblical perspective. It comprises four DVDs covering Plants, Aquatics Creatures, Avian Creatures, Land Animals, Mankind and Genetics. All based on the days of creation. The total length of the series is 4 1/2 hours and a guidebook which includes quizzes accompanies the series also. The creator of this wonderful series has geared it toward 15 year olds and higher but my science loving 3rd and 4th graders loved it! Wes Olson, a Bible college graduate and homeschooling father, developed and hosted this great series. He is very knowledgeable of Biology and we absolutely loved his sense of humor.

Here is my reply for my entry:

I don't know about my favorite. We really love animals around here. But, I do have to say that I have really enjoyed learning to love the scaly creatures. I used to abhor reptiles and things similar. But, a few years back a relative brought over a friends iguana. He was almost dead and the rescue suggested putting him to sleep because they could not find a home for him. But, I couldn't help myself. I fed him, bathed him, and loved him.

He now loves me dearly. He listens to my voice. He loves to be pet on the head, just like any dog or cat. His little eyes roll back and his eyelids shut.

I've learned to love a scaly little creature. He isn't beautiful because of the harm his previous owners did, do to poor nutrition and lack of proper lighting.

But, he is our little iguana. A beautiful and remarkable creature.

Getting Ready for a New Year

Yes, here I am. I found an awesome new background at SuckMyLolly.com. This will be the first year I'm "teaching"...leading...marching on together...with all three boys this year. We actually made it through a whole year last year. No one decided to go back to public school & the Warrior (our youngest) is not going to Kindergarten!!!!!

I think I'll keep this blog just for learning adventures this year. I still have my wordpress blog...so perhaps I'll keep that for my own personal opinions.

Fairness, lazyness, homeschool updates...

I've tried here and there to be part of the weekly update crowd. I sometimes lurk on blogs where Moms show pictures of all their children have accomplished. A fun way to keep relatives up to date. A fun way to have proof for the school board perhaps. I don't know. It's enjoyable to take a peek and then at some point I feel....discouraged. Some weeks we could fill a post with pictures and laughs. But, often our days are filled with just living. Spurts of "real" education happen. We have worksheets that are filled in for Math. Journals where handwriting is practiced.

Many of us moms are in awe of these orderly families. Our blogs are often overlooked. Our children have too much free time and not enough proof to be interesting. While those other children are conquering Ancient History in exactly 180 days just in time for summer break...my children are savoring Aesop's Fables. I worry about it sometimes. More often when I read those blogs. And, I feel a little lost. Because I'm often stuck in between two homeschooling worlds.

How can I be an unschooler whilst my children have curriculum (and they don't always delight in using it)? How can I be a classical homeschooler when my children are the ones who asked for it and I lack a schedule that keeps us plunging through in exactly 4 year cycles. Am I lazy? Is it fair that my children get to enjoy this leisurely education?