A good friend emailed me this morning. She saw my lost post on bloglines. I still can't find it on my dashboard. Perhaps it's because I forgot to title it? I don't know. It has a working link. It's just not showing up. No biggie -- just annoying. Anyway, thanks, G.
So, he he, here it is again. It is just so important, don't you know.
I found a cool geography website tonight. I realized I really need to study my Oceania geography. I bombed. DS took the US test and did really well except for the east coast -- I guess I know where we need to spend some time.Survivor had its season premier last night. I am so glad Doc blogged about it because I was assuming it would have its premier after the SuperBowl like usual. They voted the one person off that I instantly liked. I was just dumbfounded that someone could be afraid of -- leaves. Good grief.In school we've been hitting the fractions pretty hard. I was ready to throw Singapore Math out the window when we came to fractions in 3B. DS did not get it at all. I couldn't explain it to him for anything. I finally ended up ordering Painless Fractions from Amazon. Click. A change of pace helped. We had so much fun that we worked halfway through the book. DS is way ahead of the game now on the fraction front and we're ready to breeze through the rest of 3B. I was looking through 4A and DS will breeze through the majority of that book, too.I have noticed a big pattern regarding Singapore Math book 3B while reading homeschool boards. It seems a lot of kids stall on fractions in 3B. DS didn't understand at all where Singapore was going, yet when we got the new book, it just clicked. I'm wondering if it's not the kids, but Singapore. Yeah, that's it, blame it on the book.I made a 60-page math test for DS to take today. He aced it. It was hard, too.Singapore doesn't teach decimals in 3B or 4A, what I consider to be 4th grade, yet it is one of our state standards. We also have to do standardized tests yearly, so I ordered the Key To Decimals series this morning. I probably didn't need to order any books, but sometimes it's just easier on me. I'd rather put my energies on other things. Besides, if I pick up a pack of Pokemon stickers, we can call it Pokemon Math and DS will work happily.That's about it for my Friday-night update. Except I'm bored. There's nothing to do in this town. DH is sound asleep on the couch, DS is playing on the computer and I'm climbing walls.
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Unschooling
I never would have referred to myself as an unschooler. I've always been pretty rigid and follow my maps and plans that I've laid out.
Last night after I posted about our new science unit, it occurred to me...we have been unschooling in science all along.
I have a local friend who is an unschooler. Watching her homeschool led me to an aversion of the term unschooling. Well, after thinking about it, she's no unschooler -- she's a nonschooler. There is a huge difference. I think that's a common mistake amongst people in general -- when they think of unschooling, they think of nonschooling. I fell into that trap, but at least it was due to example rather than ignorance.
After I blogged last night about science, I thought -- the few people reading this blog will think we never do science! Nothing could be further from the truth. We do science all the time. It is just informal, not like we do the rest of our school. For me to plan out that unit was a change of pace for us. I have always made sure that we met the state standards for science every year. We go way beyond that, though.
My son knows a lot about science. I really started doubting myself, but I think I've laid that fear to rest now. I'm always second-guessing myself!
Thanks, Doc, for the great downloads. They've been printed (in black and white lol) and added to my unit.
Last night after I posted about our new science unit, it occurred to me...we have been unschooling in science all along.
I have a local friend who is an unschooler. Watching her homeschool led me to an aversion of the term unschooling. Well, after thinking about it, she's no unschooler -- she's a nonschooler. There is a huge difference. I think that's a common mistake amongst people in general -- when they think of unschooling, they think of nonschooling. I fell into that trap, but at least it was due to example rather than ignorance.
After I blogged last night about science, I thought -- the few people reading this blog will think we never do science! Nothing could be further from the truth. We do science all the time. It is just informal, not like we do the rest of our school. For me to plan out that unit was a change of pace for us. I have always made sure that we met the state standards for science every year. We go way beyond that, though.
My son knows a lot about science. I really started doubting myself, but I think I've laid that fear to rest now. I'm always second-guessing myself!
Thanks, Doc, for the great downloads. They've been printed (in black and white lol) and added to my unit.
Happy Groundhog Day!
It's official, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow. We're in for six more weeks of winter.
Living in Minnesota, I never doubted for a moment that we'd have six more weeks of winter. :-p~~
Maybe we can form a virtual co-op and have all our homeschooled kids create that translucent groundhog!
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Gulp, Jumping into our First Science Unit Study
My son is a science freak. He loves science. He knows science. He can talk shop with his dad. I'm out in left field because science is just not very interesting to me -- until delve into it.
Science this year has been hit and miss, dad has done a lot of the science schooling. I've done some. Not enough.
So, feeling the guilt, I sat down with my worn copy of Rebecca Rupp's Home Learning Year by Year. I wrote down some ideas for upcoming units we can do. I decided to start with a big, long human anatomy unit.
Being short on funds and not wanting to hear any further complaints about buying books from the old man, plus not wanting to get caught sneaking in a book order into the house, I decided to -- light bulb moment -- use what I have.
I grabbed my Konos index. Yup, they've got a fantastic unit on the Human Body. So today I went to the store and photocopied the unit -- Konos lets you do that for your own personal use -- so that I could mark it up. I planned 10 weeks of study. I printed worksheets. I searched our library online. I searched my bookshelves. I made a list of what I need to buy. I made a list of what I can beg the local locker to donate. (He gave eyeballs for dissection to us last year for free.)
I can't procrastinate any further. Tomorrow we will start. I'm nervous. I've never been this formal yet relaxed at the same time with science. It's all weird, it's all strange. It's not linear, it's hodgepodge. It's not me.
At least I can deal with a human body unit. That's not too tough. Maybe I'll get my confidence up so I can do a unit on chemistry.
Funny thing, in high school I got the top score in my high school in biology. I went to a big high school. It was a big deal. So next year in honors chemistry, I barely scratched out a C. High school chemistry -- maybe that's where my science phobia developed.
March on. My kiddo loves science. I guess I can learn next to him and we always have dad to bail us out. Uhm, I should say bail me out. What will probably happen is my son will teach me.
Gulp. Here we go.
Science this year has been hit and miss, dad has done a lot of the science schooling. I've done some. Not enough.
So, feeling the guilt, I sat down with my worn copy of Rebecca Rupp's Home Learning Year by Year. I wrote down some ideas for upcoming units we can do. I decided to start with a big, long human anatomy unit.
Being short on funds and not wanting to hear any further complaints about buying books from the old man, plus not wanting to get caught sneaking in a book order into the house, I decided to -- light bulb moment -- use what I have.
I grabbed my Konos index. Yup, they've got a fantastic unit on the Human Body. So today I went to the store and photocopied the unit -- Konos lets you do that for your own personal use -- so that I could mark it up. I planned 10 weeks of study. I printed worksheets. I searched our library online. I searched my bookshelves. I made a list of what I need to buy. I made a list of what I can beg the local locker to donate. (He gave eyeballs for dissection to us last year for free.)
I can't procrastinate any further. Tomorrow we will start. I'm nervous. I've never been this formal yet relaxed at the same time with science. It's all weird, it's all strange. It's not linear, it's hodgepodge. It's not me.
At least I can deal with a human body unit. That's not too tough. Maybe I'll get my confidence up so I can do a unit on chemistry.
Funny thing, in high school I got the top score in my high school in biology. I went to a big high school. It was a big deal. So next year in honors chemistry, I barely scratched out a C. High school chemistry -- maybe that's where my science phobia developed.
March on. My kiddo loves science. I guess I can learn next to him and we always have dad to bail us out. Uhm, I should say bail me out. What will probably happen is my son will teach me.
Gulp. Here we go.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
coffee and printers don't mix
Last night, I was sipping my decaf, surfing away, when all of a sudden a profanity came out of my mouth and I saw coffee going everywhere. Somehow I knocked over my tall, freshly-filled cup.
DH jumped up, grabbed our 4-in-one printer/scanner and coffee poured out of it. I could cry. I haven't tried it today to see if I killed it or not. What a bonehead I am.
I am grateful, though, that it didn't get my laser printer. That thing is 11 years old, I used it for my business, and it is a work horse.
I'm scared to plug that printer in. Dang, I'm broke, too. I still only have $2.43 in the checking account.
DH insists the whole problem is my choice in coffee cups. At Christmas I bought myself three coffee cups that are very tall, wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. I love my coffee cups. It makes my coffee experience all the better when I drink from them. They just fit me. Okay, so they don't fit the printer.
Damn it all.
I need to put a paypal link on and request donations for my blogging time so that I can buy a new printer or some other form of really cool coffee cup. NOT. (I still can't get over that!)
DH jumped up, grabbed our 4-in-one printer/scanner and coffee poured out of it. I could cry. I haven't tried it today to see if I killed it or not. What a bonehead I am.
I am grateful, though, that it didn't get my laser printer. That thing is 11 years old, I used it for my business, and it is a work horse.
I'm scared to plug that printer in. Dang, I'm broke, too. I still only have $2.43 in the checking account.
DH insists the whole problem is my choice in coffee cups. At Christmas I bought myself three coffee cups that are very tall, wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. I love my coffee cups. It makes my coffee experience all the better when I drink from them. They just fit me. Okay, so they don't fit the printer.
Damn it all.
I need to put a paypal link on and request donations for my blogging time so that I can buy a new printer or some other form of really cool coffee cup. NOT. (I still can't get over that!)
Sunday, January 29, 2006
The Nerve...
Was reading through my yahoo emails tonight and came to a post about a gal who uses Konos. I use Konos as a reference, but I have to leave a lot of stuff out. ;-) So anyway, I click on her link.
Holy Cow, this chick has a paypal link...
What for??? Scratching my head.
So I continue reading. She provides lots of useless links about Konos, then she shares one link to her three-page planner. This is what she says:
You've GOT to be kidding.
So reading the comments of this blog entry, she writes:
Okay, I'm warning, I'm about to swear.
WTF.
Okay, so my swearing is a condensed, more polite version, but you get the gist. (I just can't swear in public!) lol
How cheap can you be? What ever happened to a community of sharing and helping one another? Good grief, this is greed pure and simple.
I'm just astonished. The day I start leaving tips in jars for BLOGGING time is the day hell freezes over.
And on that note, I am going to thank Doc for providing so many wonderful downloads, links, and ideas for homeschooling -- for free, out of the goodness of her heart. What an example she is.
Holy Cow, this chick has a paypal link...
What for??? Scratching my head.
"Enjoy what you read? Use my book lists, unit studies, links, and ideas? Please consider a small donation."
So I continue reading. She provides lots of useless links about Konos, then she shares one link to her three-page planner. This is what she says:
"If you use my links and files, please consider leaving a tip in my tip jar to help cover expenses and time blogging... it would make my husband less grumpy about sharing me."
You've GOT to be kidding.
So reading the comments of this blog entry, she writes:
"I'd love it if you left a dime or two in my tip jar if you use my planner pages and links often. Hope they can be of help to you as they have been to me. God bless, and Happy Homeschooling!"
Okay, I'm warning, I'm about to swear.
WTF.
Okay, so my swearing is a condensed, more polite version, but you get the gist. (I just can't swear in public!) lol
How cheap can you be? What ever happened to a community of sharing and helping one another? Good grief, this is greed pure and simple.
I'm just astonished. The day I start leaving tips in jars for BLOGGING time is the day hell freezes over.
And on that note, I am going to thank Doc for providing so many wonderful downloads, links, and ideas for homeschooling -- for free, out of the goodness of her heart. What an example she is.
I'm Craving a Frosty ... and money
We recently had a Wendy's open in our teeny, tiny town. I have a fondness for Wendy's because it was my first job while I was in college.
I'm craving a Frosty so bad. I paid bills today, which I absolutely *hate* doing more than anything. I'd rather clean public toilets. DH screwed up and forgot to send in an insurance form and we got stuck paying $400 to our local clinic. He just filled out the form so hopefully they'll reimburse us. After paying all the bills, I have $2.43 left. Until Thursday. This sucks.
I can't even go to the store and buy ice cream to make my own Frosty with that!
Damn, after a stressful afternoon of bill paying, I am in major need of something chocolate.
Maybe I should have DS loan me enough for a Frosty.
And to make this homeschool related--
I improvised a home economics program for my son. Focus was household finances. I made him read the news paper and get a job. (Had to be one where the salary and benefits were listed.) We live in such a small town, the best he could find was $9.50 an hour without benefits. What a lesson on the power of a good education that was! I then had him figure out how much money he would make if he worked a 40-hour week. I then told him to deduct about 30% for retirement, taxes, etc.
Next, he had to find a place to live. He ended up with what I'm sure was a dumpy little apartment for $425 a month. He had to make a list of utilities, insurance, food, transportation, etc.
Wow, was he amazed that he didn't have any money left over.
He has to pay bills every month. I bought a play checkbook at Classroom Direct. So, he has to pay bills when I do.
Now here's the kicker. I also share with him our finances. I know so many parents who say it is none of their child's business on what they make. This always leaves me scratching my head because I guess I'm very open and honest with DS. When we go to the store and I say we can't afford X, Y an Z, he *knows* we can't afford it because he knows what we make and where our money goes.
When I moved away from home and had to start all this financial business, I was completely lost! So why not teach a ten-year-old child the truth! He knows the value of money.
My next quest on the financial realm is to teach him about investing and making his money work for him. On this, I am clueless...so if anyone has any suggestions for a good, easy-to-understand book, fill me in.
I'm craving a Frosty so bad. I paid bills today, which I absolutely *hate* doing more than anything. I'd rather clean public toilets. DH screwed up and forgot to send in an insurance form and we got stuck paying $400 to our local clinic. He just filled out the form so hopefully they'll reimburse us. After paying all the bills, I have $2.43 left. Until Thursday. This sucks.
I can't even go to the store and buy ice cream to make my own Frosty with that!
Damn, after a stressful afternoon of bill paying, I am in major need of something chocolate.
Maybe I should have DS loan me enough for a Frosty.
And to make this homeschool related--
I improvised a home economics program for my son. Focus was household finances. I made him read the news paper and get a job. (Had to be one where the salary and benefits were listed.) We live in such a small town, the best he could find was $9.50 an hour without benefits. What a lesson on the power of a good education that was! I then had him figure out how much money he would make if he worked a 40-hour week. I then told him to deduct about 30% for retirement, taxes, etc.
Next, he had to find a place to live. He ended up with what I'm sure was a dumpy little apartment for $425 a month. He had to make a list of utilities, insurance, food, transportation, etc.
Wow, was he amazed that he didn't have any money left over.
He has to pay bills every month. I bought a play checkbook at Classroom Direct. So, he has to pay bills when I do.
Now here's the kicker. I also share with him our finances. I know so many parents who say it is none of their child's business on what they make. This always leaves me scratching my head because I guess I'm very open and honest with DS. When we go to the store and I say we can't afford X, Y an Z, he *knows* we can't afford it because he knows what we make and where our money goes.
When I moved away from home and had to start all this financial business, I was completely lost! So why not teach a ten-year-old child the truth! He knows the value of money.
My next quest on the financial realm is to teach him about investing and making his money work for him. On this, I am clueless...so if anyone has any suggestions for a good, easy-to-understand book, fill me in.
Saturday, January 28, 2006
A Silly Post about Nothing Much
A recap of my day.
Awoke late because we stayed up late. Both my "boys" were still asleep. Took the dog out, another beautiful, unseasonably warm day. Went in, made coffee, checked email. About this time the boys had decided to get up.
I'm putzing around the house, still in my pj's, desperately needing my shower, when DH decides we need to play Blokus. I say, "Uhm, honey, I really do stink -- I can smell myself, so you'll just have to wait until I shower." Nope, he wants to play now. "Uhm, honey, you're just procrastinating. I told you that I am instituting my Family Clean House Saturday Morning Instead of Just Me Ultimatum starting today." He insists we'll do it later.
So I grab another cup of coffee, sit down and we play several games of Blokus. We love this game and I highly recommend it! I have been trying to institute a family game night forever, and that will never come to fruition. I do have to take advantage when DH is feeling "gamey." lol
When we finish, DH declares it cleaning house time. I just roll my eyes, say okay and head off for the shower. I get out of the shower and DH is just so proud that he has managed to empty all the garbage. (All four garbage cans.) Okay, I took a 20-minute shower. Big deal.
So we start cleaning. I kept thinking of the book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. My DH just won't stay focused on what he's doing, he's jumping around from one thing to another without completing anything. (And I wonder where DS gets his attention issues!)
Halfway through cleaning, DH proclaims he needs to run to Kmart because he needs to buy dog food, cat litter, and paper towels. Yes, dear, we need those things but it can wait until the house is clean.
I just do my thing and he's stomping around so finally I say.....GO.
When he gets back, he informs me he's tired. He lies down for a nap. I sneak down to check email. I get back to work.
Well, we were finally officially done cleaning the house at 4:30. At five three of DS's friends came over for the evening. DH made homemade pizza. I had to clean the kitchen all over again after supper.
Now, if you were to ask me, I would tell you that I did the majority of the house cleaning today. DH would take full credit for more than half the work accomplished. lol I give up. At least he did help. At least he was playful today. At least he made supper.
Never a dull moment.
Awoke late because we stayed up late. Both my "boys" were still asleep. Took the dog out, another beautiful, unseasonably warm day. Went in, made coffee, checked email. About this time the boys had decided to get up.
I'm putzing around the house, still in my pj's, desperately needing my shower, when DH decides we need to play Blokus. I say, "Uhm, honey, I really do stink -- I can smell myself, so you'll just have to wait until I shower." Nope, he wants to play now. "Uhm, honey, you're just procrastinating. I told you that I am instituting my Family Clean House Saturday Morning Instead of Just Me Ultimatum starting today." He insists we'll do it later.
So I grab another cup of coffee, sit down and we play several games of Blokus. We love this game and I highly recommend it! I have been trying to institute a family game night forever, and that will never come to fruition. I do have to take advantage when DH is feeling "gamey." lol
When we finish, DH declares it cleaning house time. I just roll my eyes, say okay and head off for the shower. I get out of the shower and DH is just so proud that he has managed to empty all the garbage. (All four garbage cans.) Okay, I took a 20-minute shower. Big deal.
So we start cleaning. I kept thinking of the book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. My DH just won't stay focused on what he's doing, he's jumping around from one thing to another without completing anything. (And I wonder where DS gets his attention issues!)
Halfway through cleaning, DH proclaims he needs to run to Kmart because he needs to buy dog food, cat litter, and paper towels. Yes, dear, we need those things but it can wait until the house is clean.
I just do my thing and he's stomping around so finally I say.....GO.
When he gets back, he informs me he's tired. He lies down for a nap. I sneak down to check email. I get back to work.
Well, we were finally officially done cleaning the house at 4:30. At five three of DS's friends came over for the evening. DH made homemade pizza. I had to clean the kitchen all over again after supper.
Now, if you were to ask me, I would tell you that I did the majority of the house cleaning today. DH would take full credit for more than half the work accomplished. lol I give up. At least he did help. At least he was playful today. At least he made supper.
Never a dull moment.
A recap of my day.
Awoke late because we stayed up late. Both my "boys" were still asleep. Took the dog out, another beautiful, unseasonably warm day. Went in, made coffee, checked email. About this time the boys had decided to get up.
I'm putzing around the house, still in my pj's, desperately needing my shower, when DH decides we need to play Blokus. I say, "Uhm, honey, I really do stink -- I can smell myself, so you'll just have to wait until I shower." Nope, he wants to play now. "Uhm, honey, you're just procrastinating. I told you that I am instituting my Family Clean House Saturday Morning Instead of Just Me Ultimatum starting today." He insists we'll do it later.
So I grab another cup of coffee, sit down and we play several games of Blokus. We love this game and I highly recommend it! I have been trying to institute a family game night forever, and that will never come to fruition. I do have to take advantage when DH is feeling "gamey." lol
When we finish, DH declares it cleaning house time. I just roll my eyes, say okay and head off for the shower. I get out of the shower and DH is just so proud that he has managed to empty all the garbage. (All four garbage cans.) Okay, I took a 20-minute shower. Big deal.
So we start cleaning. I kept thinking of the book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. My DH just won't stay focused on what he's doing, he's jumping around from one thing to another without completing anything. (And I wonder where DS gets his attention issues!)
Halfway through cleaning, DH proclaims he needs to run to Kmart because he needs to buy dog food, cat litter, and paper towels. Yes, dear, we need those things but it can wait until the house is clean.
I just do my thing and he's stomping around so finally I say.....GO.
When he gets back, he informs me he's tired. He lies down for a nap. I sneak down to check email. I get back to work.
Well, we were finally officially done cleaning the house at 4:30. At five three of DS's friends came over for the evening. DH made homemade pizza. I had to clean the kitchen all over again after supper.
Now, if you were to ask me, I would tell you that I did the majority of the house cleaning today. DH would take full credit for more than half the work accomplished. lol I give up. At least he did help. At least he was playful today. At least he made supper.
Never a dull moment.
Awoke late because we stayed up late. Both my "boys" were still asleep. Took the dog out, another beautiful, unseasonably warm day. Went in, made coffee, checked email. About this time the boys had decided to get up.
I'm putzing around the house, still in my pj's, desperately needing my shower, when DH decides we need to play Blokus. I say, "Uhm, honey, I really do stink -- I can smell myself, so you'll just have to wait until I shower." Nope, he wants to play now. "Uhm, honey, you're just procrastinating. I told you that I am instituting my Family Clean House Saturday Morning Instead of Just Me Ultimatum starting today." He insists we'll do it later.
So I grab another cup of coffee, sit down and we play several games of Blokus. We love this game and I highly recommend it! I have been trying to institute a family game night forever, and that will never come to fruition. I do have to take advantage when DH is feeling "gamey." lol
When we finish, DH declares it cleaning house time. I just roll my eyes, say okay and head off for the shower. I get out of the shower and DH is just so proud that he has managed to empty all the garbage. (All four garbage cans.) Okay, I took a 20-minute shower. Big deal.
So we start cleaning. I kept thinking of the book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. My DH just won't stay focused on what he's doing, he's jumping around from one thing to another without completing anything. (And I wonder where DS gets his attention issues!)
Halfway through cleaning, DH proclaims he needs to run to Kmart because he needs to buy dog food, cat litter, and paper towels. Yes, dear, we need those things but it can wait until the house is clean.
I just do my thing and he's stomping around so finally I say.....GO.
When he gets back, he informs me he's tired. He lies down for a nap. I sneak down to check email. I get back to work.
Well, we were finally officially done cleaning the house at 4:30. At five three of DS's friends came over for the evening. DH made homemade pizza. I had to clean the kitchen all over again after supper.
Now, if you were to ask me, I would tell you that I did the majority of the house cleaning today. DH would take full credit for more than half the work accomplished. lol I give up. At least he did help. At least he was playful today. At least he made supper.
Never a dull moment.
Friday, January 27, 2006
We're not book purists here
Woke up this morning coughing. Took the dog out -- it is unseasonably warm for MN this morning and feels wonderful. Coffee is taking way too long to kick in.
Sat down to read emails. I subscribe to a lot of homeschool groups. I skim messages for anything relevant that will help us on our journey. I reply if I can be remotely helpful, which isn't too often. Occasionally I reply if something ticks me off, but I'm going to make myself stop doing that.
Anyway, one of the groups I lurk on has just had a discussion about books, abridged, unabridged, etc. I couldn't believe my eyes reading the posts. They were discussing one specific book and many of the members were aghast that they didn't have the original, unedited, unabridged book. They were such purists! Many of them went on and on about not reading anything other than the unabridged. They were serious, too. It was as if those of us who read the abridged versions are severely flawed! Okay, I admit I am severely flawed, but I never thought it was due to my book choices.
It took me back to the book The Well Trained Mind. Bauer suggests that grammar-stage children do read abridged classics. In fact, she recommended the Stepping Stone series. One night, when we were all playing near the computer, I logged on to Amazon and started reading excerpts out loud from some of the Stepping Stones series. My DS was hooked and wanted me to order books. My DH said it was a good idea, too.
So I ordered a bunch. My DS, sadly, has never been one to pick up a book and read for joy -- except for the Magic School Bus series. He picked up Great Expectations out of our pile. And he read it. He read for a couple hours until he finished it, another unlikely occurrence. He has liked every single Stepping Stone book he has read.
When we organized the classroom, I noticed two in the series he had not read. Yesterday I had him read The Time Machine. He finished it in about 20 minutes. (It is a 2.4 grade level read.) He loved that. As we were discussing all these books again, I told him that they are abridged versions and versions that are written for children, explaining what that meant. His eyes grew very large when he realized we could trot down to the library and get "the real books." And then music to the mother's ears......"Mom, let's go to the library now. I want to read the real books."
My whole point to the entry is that I am glad I was not a purist. I am very glad I bought those Stepping Stones books -- they are also called Bullseye Step Into Classics. They started my DS reading, really reading. And now that he's finally reading between a fifth and sixth grade level, he still loves to read them as it gives him great confidence to be able to read them very quickly because he has always been a slow reader.
I have always provided, on occasion, DS books at lower than grade level to boost his confidence and help his fluency. I also occasionally provide books above his grade level to make him reach. I have never said no to a choice he makes at the library. Yes, he reads Pokemon books. Yes, he reads Garfield cartoon books. Yes, he reads twaddle. He also reads books I've carefully selected. I'm just happy that he's reading.
I am so happy that we are graduating and starting the "real book" journey.
Sat down to read emails. I subscribe to a lot of homeschool groups. I skim messages for anything relevant that will help us on our journey. I reply if I can be remotely helpful, which isn't too often. Occasionally I reply if something ticks me off, but I'm going to make myself stop doing that.
Anyway, one of the groups I lurk on has just had a discussion about books, abridged, unabridged, etc. I couldn't believe my eyes reading the posts. They were discussing one specific book and many of the members were aghast that they didn't have the original, unedited, unabridged book. They were such purists! Many of them went on and on about not reading anything other than the unabridged. They were serious, too. It was as if those of us who read the abridged versions are severely flawed! Okay, I admit I am severely flawed, but I never thought it was due to my book choices.
It took me back to the book The Well Trained Mind. Bauer suggests that grammar-stage children do read abridged classics. In fact, she recommended the Stepping Stone series. One night, when we were all playing near the computer, I logged on to Amazon and started reading excerpts out loud from some of the Stepping Stones series. My DS was hooked and wanted me to order books. My DH said it was a good idea, too.
So I ordered a bunch. My DS, sadly, has never been one to pick up a book and read for joy -- except for the Magic School Bus series. He picked up Great Expectations out of our pile. And he read it. He read for a couple hours until he finished it, another unlikely occurrence. He has liked every single Stepping Stone book he has read.
When we organized the classroom, I noticed two in the series he had not read. Yesterday I had him read The Time Machine. He finished it in about 20 minutes. (It is a 2.4 grade level read.) He loved that. As we were discussing all these books again, I told him that they are abridged versions and versions that are written for children, explaining what that meant. His eyes grew very large when he realized we could trot down to the library and get "the real books." And then music to the mother's ears......"Mom, let's go to the library now. I want to read the real books."
My whole point to the entry is that I am glad I was not a purist. I am very glad I bought those Stepping Stones books -- they are also called Bullseye Step Into Classics. They started my DS reading, really reading. And now that he's finally reading between a fifth and sixth grade level, he still loves to read them as it gives him great confidence to be able to read them very quickly because he has always been a slow reader.
I have always provided, on occasion, DS books at lower than grade level to boost his confidence and help his fluency. I also occasionally provide books above his grade level to make him reach. I have never said no to a choice he makes at the library. Yes, he reads Pokemon books. Yes, he reads Garfield cartoon books. Yes, he reads twaddle. He also reads books I've carefully selected. I'm just happy that he's reading.
I am so happy that we are graduating and starting the "real book" journey.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Overwhelmed by Negative Internet Blogs
I've been a little overwhelmed lately -- online, that is, reading links that Doc is posting. The uninformed, opinionated, closed-minded people *really* get to me. I have to quit reading and hyperfocus on us for awhile. If I started responding to every one of those closed-minded people (I want to use a harsher word, but I'm going to be polite and show more class than they do) I'd get nothing done. And they're just not worth my time. Nothing I say will matter to them, anyway.
What I can do is promote homeschooling locally, especially through example. That I am willing to continue to do.
I also will give up trying to convince my SIL, who teaches fourth grade, that homeschooling isn't crazy. She seems to think that it is okay for us, because she knows I will do what is necessary to make sure DS gets a good education. It's all the other homeschoolers she worries about. So anyone who homeschools who happens to read this blog, she's worried about you. lol She'll never get it.
I do a good job homeschooling. I research like crazy, I present things in a manner that suits my DS's learning style. I encourage, support and teach him by being positive. As good as I am though (tooting my own horn here!) I am human, I make mistakes, and I have tons of worries. Isn't that typical of all homeschooling parents?
We all do the best we can. We all work on meeting our children's emotional, physical and educational needs.
I'm just not going to worry about the uninformed out there. I'll just worry about my sweet son for now.
What I can do is promote homeschooling locally, especially through example. That I am willing to continue to do.
I also will give up trying to convince my SIL, who teaches fourth grade, that homeschooling isn't crazy. She seems to think that it is okay for us, because she knows I will do what is necessary to make sure DS gets a good education. It's all the other homeschoolers she worries about. So anyone who homeschools who happens to read this blog, she's worried about you. lol She'll never get it.
I do a good job homeschooling. I research like crazy, I present things in a manner that suits my DS's learning style. I encourage, support and teach him by being positive. As good as I am though (tooting my own horn here!) I am human, I make mistakes, and I have tons of worries. Isn't that typical of all homeschooling parents?
We all do the best we can. We all work on meeting our children's emotional, physical and educational needs.
I'm just not going to worry about the uninformed out there. I'll just worry about my sweet son for now.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Math Facts -- Great Free Download
I'm sitting at the computer, reading blogs and just remembered -- I have to print out tomorrow's math facts sheets.
www.schoolhousetech.com
When we began homeschooling, I downloaded their free worksheet factory software. I have used it every, single day.
We do math fact practice every, single day. With this software, I get to make the sheets that I want rather than using a book.
In third grade we did addition and subtraction facts every day, now we're doing multiplication and division. When we have finished and have them down pat, I'll do mixed sheets.
DS learned to do 100-problem-five-minute-timed tests in public school. That was something he wanted to continue. So I make 100 problem sheets and time him every day.
It is interesting to note that DS struggled with 7s and 8s in multiplication. He just wasn't getting them. So before we do our timed test, I have him take a peak at his monster wheels and then I have him do a test that has the answers! He traces the answers while he is saying the problem out loud. After about two weeks, he's just about done with 7s and 8s. If I had the chance to teach math facts from the beginning, I would have him do the answer sheet first -- that way the correct answer is getting drilled into his head.
We do 100 problems of one multiplier a day. When we have finished all numbers 2-9, we do mixed multipliers. DS has to pass with 97 correct in five minutes. (Public school's guidelines.)
I love this software.
www.schoolhousetech.com
When we began homeschooling, I downloaded their free worksheet factory software. I have used it every, single day.
We do math fact practice every, single day. With this software, I get to make the sheets that I want rather than using a book.
In third grade we did addition and subtraction facts every day, now we're doing multiplication and division. When we have finished and have them down pat, I'll do mixed sheets.
DS learned to do 100-problem-five-minute-timed tests in public school. That was something he wanted to continue. So I make 100 problem sheets and time him every day.
It is interesting to note that DS struggled with 7s and 8s in multiplication. He just wasn't getting them. So before we do our timed test, I have him take a peak at his monster wheels and then I have him do a test that has the answers! He traces the answers while he is saying the problem out loud. After about two weeks, he's just about done with 7s and 8s. If I had the chance to teach math facts from the beginning, I would have him do the answer sheet first -- that way the correct answer is getting drilled into his head.
We do 100 problems of one multiplier a day. When we have finished all numbers 2-9, we do mixed multipliers. DS has to pass with 97 correct in five minutes. (Public school's guidelines.)
I love this software.
Monday, January 23, 2006
Puppy Cam
My cousin just sent me this link.
http://diesel.camstreams.com/
It is a live puppy cam showing Weimaraner puppies born on Jan 15th. It says it will be up for eight weeks. This will be fun to watch the pups as they grow.
http://diesel.camstreams.com/
It is a live puppy cam showing Weimaraner puppies born on Jan 15th. It says it will be up for eight weeks. This will be fun to watch the pups as they grow.
Our Weekend
What do homeschoolers do over the weekend? What do atypical homeschoolers do over the weekend, I guess the question should be. (Sleep in on Sunday morning. In fact, have a pajama day on Sunday.)
We cleaned the house. It is so much better. We finished the homeschool room. We cleaned up our explosion from finishing the HS room. We did eight loads of laundry. We ran the dishwasher three times. We found 32 plastic glasses that we used for a cub scouts craft project and I just couldn't throw them away, so that's why an extra dishwasher load.
We went grocery shopping. We had Wendy's for supper. We rented movies.
We had no play dates this weekend. It was very cold here and we didn't want to go out unless absolutely necessary. Groceries, movies and Wendy's I deemed necessary.
Now for our movies. March of the Penguins, Polar Express and Sign of the Beaver.
We both loved March of the Penguins. DS got so upset with the death scenes. I thought he'd come unglued when the momma whose chick died tried to steal another momma's chick. DS kept commenting that the filming crew should have HELPED in many scenes. I kept explaining that they weren't interfering with nature. I'm glad we didn't see this in the theater because DS couldn't keep his mouth shut. He is very strongly opinionated regarding animals and their rights. Toward the end of the movie, if a chick died, he finally sighed and said, "Well, the mom and dad can try again next year." So maybe we made a little progress with understanding how nature works.
Polar Express. I was half afraid to watch this movie because of all the "it is weird and creepy" comments I heard. The Polar Express is one of my favorite children's books. Well, it wasn't the book -- didn't give me the same feeling. However, we both really liked it. I didn't think it was that weird. We'll probably rent it next Christmas.
Sign of the Beaver. Don't do it -- Don't watch it if you *loved* the book! I'm not one to bash movies that aren't true to books. This one bothered me, though. If you watch the movie to save yourself from reading the book, you're not getting even close to the book. That said, it was a good movie, we did enjoy it -- but we enjoyed it as an entirely different story than the book. I felt really let down, though, because I had higher expectations. It was one of our favorite books that we've read this year.
Sunday evening arrives, time to get back into a routine. Bedtimes stink. Here I am, 2 in the morning -- it's going to be a three-cup-of-coffee before I'm coherent morning.
We cleaned the house. It is so much better. We finished the homeschool room. We cleaned up our explosion from finishing the HS room. We did eight loads of laundry. We ran the dishwasher three times. We found 32 plastic glasses that we used for a cub scouts craft project and I just couldn't throw them away, so that's why an extra dishwasher load.
We went grocery shopping. We had Wendy's for supper. We rented movies.
We had no play dates this weekend. It was very cold here and we didn't want to go out unless absolutely necessary. Groceries, movies and Wendy's I deemed necessary.
Now for our movies. March of the Penguins, Polar Express and Sign of the Beaver.
We both loved March of the Penguins. DS got so upset with the death scenes. I thought he'd come unglued when the momma whose chick died tried to steal another momma's chick. DS kept commenting that the filming crew should have HELPED in many scenes. I kept explaining that they weren't interfering with nature. I'm glad we didn't see this in the theater because DS couldn't keep his mouth shut. He is very strongly opinionated regarding animals and their rights. Toward the end of the movie, if a chick died, he finally sighed and said, "Well, the mom and dad can try again next year." So maybe we made a little progress with understanding how nature works.
Polar Express. I was half afraid to watch this movie because of all the "it is weird and creepy" comments I heard. The Polar Express is one of my favorite children's books. Well, it wasn't the book -- didn't give me the same feeling. However, we both really liked it. I didn't think it was that weird. We'll probably rent it next Christmas.
Sign of the Beaver. Don't do it -- Don't watch it if you *loved* the book! I'm not one to bash movies that aren't true to books. This one bothered me, though. If you watch the movie to save yourself from reading the book, you're not getting even close to the book. That said, it was a good movie, we did enjoy it -- but we enjoyed it as an entirely different story than the book. I felt really let down, though, because I had higher expectations. It was one of our favorite books that we've read this year.
Sunday evening arrives, time to get back into a routine. Bedtimes stink. Here I am, 2 in the morning -- it's going to be a three-cup-of-coffee before I'm coherent morning.
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Teeny Tiny Classroom 8
DS really wanted a classroom, a place to call his own, a place to show off. Doing school at the kitchen table or living room just didn't give him the ownership he was craving. I would be willing to bet that we will still do school in both places in addition to the new room, though.
DS decided on the theme for the room and aside from the white board, he did all the poster placement, all the underwater creatures. He is very proud, and so am I.
Had my DS not gone to public school for three years, I doubt we would have ever made a school room. He recently confessed to me that about the only things he missed about public school were the cute decorations. He misses a few of his teachers, but we do stay in contact with one and see the others occasionally because we are in a small town.
DS decided on the theme for the room and aside from the white board, he did all the poster placement, all the underwater creatures. He is very proud, and so am I.
Had my DS not gone to public school for three years, I doubt we would have ever made a school room. He recently confessed to me that about the only things he missed about public school were the cute decorations. He misses a few of his teachers, but we do stay in contact with one and see the others occasionally because we are in a small town.
Teeny Tiny Classroom 7
This corner has all our history and science. Plus some math manips. There's a cigar box on one shelf. When I was a kid, my dad smoked El Producto cigars. I always had cigar boxes as pencil boxes in school. I figured we needed to carry on that tradition. They're just good boxes.
Teeny Tiny Classroom 6
The door and closet. (Who designed this room? You have to close the door to open the closet!) DS designed the big white board thingamabob on the door. We used white foam board on the door with 3M strips, then taped the boarder to the foam board. I got it really crooked, so was glad to cover it up with the boarder. We'll hang our calendar here, maybe some weekly assignments, too. Teeny Tiny Classroom 5
Looking out our door -- there's the tail end of the dog and the tail end our timeline. The timeline is coming down. DH thinks it's ugly, and I guess I have to agree. We've taken down many of the pictures already. We'll be using a three-ring binder with card stock instead. I'll be re-painting the hallway to boring beige as the blue is just too blue.
Teeny Tiny Classroom 4
Looking at the corner, you'll see some reference books, tons of glue, and some of our school books.
Teeny Tiny Classroom 3
Because this is such a small room and there's not a lot of accessable wall space, I used my favorite 3M poster strips to attach a medium-sized white board. I'm afraid I will miss my big white board in the kitchen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)