Yesterday, I told Connor that, if he wants, for school this month all he has to do is read the Lord of the Rings books. He turned it down, saying it wasn't a very useful skill...and he wouldn't really be LEARNING anything.
I would have JUMPED at that chance had my teachers offered it to me in school!!
I said he could learn all about Middle Earth/Tolkein Lore, how to speak with an elf.....
He claims none of that is useful.
I said reading is always a useful skill... and he claimed he already knows how to read.
Ki, said HE would take a Tolkein Class (he had chosen Culinary Arts....I bet he will still be willing to cook lots for me, though)
I am waiting on pins and needles to hear what Connor will choose to learn for our 3 week J-Term. I hope whatever he decided is a useful skill will at least be fun for me. That iss what homeschooling is all about, isn't it? Fun for me?
Gavin must not think so. He always chooses stuff like Physics and Computer Programming. I guesss Computer Game Grahics Design is a little better.
At least I will have fun with Ki.
Who, by the by, was a tad temperamental today. Moody is a better adjective for him. We really need to get back to decent schedule soon....
My BHF for session 1 day 1 was to have a protein shake for breakfast...CHECK. And to fill my Vitamin Caddy thing...CHECK... and have my week planned... CHECK. I will try out my pilates DVD while the boys are at the Youth Center daily this week. I makee no promises for how far into the DVD I will get.
I welcomed the New Year doing what I am best at! Having a Massive Headache! I expect the year to only get better from here.
Showing posts with label homeschool. Show all posts
Showing posts with label homeschool. Show all posts
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Thursday, November 10, 2011
REALLY??
WOW, I knew it had been a while since I last blogged... but I could have sworn I last Blogged early-mid October. I guess not!
So I owe you all an apology, a few catch-pup blogs, and I owe Julianna a big THANKS for taking the time to ask me where I was and get me motivated!
October-- We took a family trip to Omaha to attend a neice's wedding. Dashnyam was going to with Gina's family. She is the Exchange Student coordinator, but then they found another host family (who had a boy from Germany at the time) foor him to stay with.
long trips make me kinda not-so-healthy
So I came home to spend a week and half sleeping up right on the couch drugged up on Ni-Quil.
Then we had too get caught up on schooling and Clean the house because the Exchaange Student Halloween party was held at my house.
Gavin is signed up for the December SAT. I think I'll sign Connor to take is this spring, too.If he wants.
The boys had a science test a few weeks ago. I let them use their notes for their test. (hoping to motivate good note taking). Gavin had a it of a cold that week so he only had notes for half the chapter. Connor told Gavin that he had his notes, so Gavin sked if he could use Connor's notes. I said "Yes"--because I know how Connor takes notes.
We get to Panera (because that is where we take science tests. Hey, some families have their Sunday Waffle tradition, we have our Science Test at ith Sugar annd Caffiene tradition)
C&G are taking the test, G is asking C a lot of stuff.... I later ask Gavin how it wet using someone else's notes.
Gavin said he'd have been beter off taking hhihs notes on just half the chapter than using Connor's notes. I asked him why half notes would be beter than Connor's notes on the whole chapter.
He said "MOM, Connor didn;t have notes!! He had ONE SENTENCE for the WHOLE chapter!!!"
I laughed nd said "I know. Connor doesn't take notes."
connor just never takes notes, never has. He got a 95% on the test.
Gavin got a 90%.
they were looking over their tests together and I hear Connor say to Gavin: "Why did you get that one wrong?? I told you what the answer was!"
Gaviin: "I thought you were wrong."
I said "Really Gavin? He told you the answer aand you still missed it??"
Gavin finished up the chapter 5 notes after the test. (so he'd have them for the quartly test)
a couple of days ago Gavin posted on Facebook:
"Today I wanted to look some stuff up so im looking up...
the Geneva convention and the hague conventions as well as the avalon project laws of war. "
Somedays I am not sure he is even my kid. You could't pay me to research political/law stuff.. and I don't even know what the sat 2 thing are that he looked up....
So I owe you all an apology, a few catch-pup blogs, and I owe Julianna a big THANKS for taking the time to ask me where I was and get me motivated!
October-- We took a family trip to Omaha to attend a neice's wedding. Dashnyam was going to with Gina's family. She is the Exchange Student coordinator, but then they found another host family (who had a boy from Germany at the time) foor him to stay with.
long trips make me kinda not-so-healthy
So I came home to spend a week and half sleeping up right on the couch drugged up on Ni-Quil.
Then we had too get caught up on schooling and Clean the house because the Exchaange Student Halloween party was held at my house.
Gavin is signed up for the December SAT. I think I'll sign Connor to take is this spring, too.If he wants.
The boys had a science test a few weeks ago. I let them use their notes for their test. (hoping to motivate good note taking). Gavin had a it of a cold that week so he only had notes for half the chapter. Connor told Gavin that he had his notes, so Gavin sked if he could use Connor's notes. I said "Yes"--because I know how Connor takes notes.
We get to Panera (because that is where we take science tests. Hey, some families have their Sunday Waffle tradition, we have our Science Test at ith Sugar annd Caffiene tradition)
C&G are taking the test, G is asking C a lot of stuff.... I later ask Gavin how it wet using someone else's notes.
Gavin said he'd have been beter off taking hhihs notes on just half the chapter than using Connor's notes. I asked him why half notes would be beter than Connor's notes on the whole chapter.
He said "MOM, Connor didn;t have notes!! He had ONE SENTENCE for the WHOLE chapter!!!"
I laughed nd said "I know. Connor doesn't take notes."
connor just never takes notes, never has. He got a 95% on the test.
Gavin got a 90%.
they were looking over their tests together and I hear Connor say to Gavin: "Why did you get that one wrong?? I told you what the answer was!"
Gaviin: "I thought you were wrong."
I said "Really Gavin? He told you the answer aand you still missed it??"
Gavin finished up the chapter 5 notes after the test. (so he'd have them for the quartly test)
a couple of days ago Gavin posted on Facebook:
"Today I wanted to look some stuff up so im looking up...
the Geneva convention and the hague conventions as well as the avalon project laws of war. "
Somedays I am not sure he is even my kid. You could't pay me to research political/law stuff.. and I don't even know what the sat 2 thing are that he looked up....
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
DASH3
We then walked to the Apple Guy. The apple guy is really nice. He always makes us smile for a free sample. He was handing a sample to Dashnyam then told him he has to smile first, it's their rule. Dashnyam didn't understand him at first, so I repeated it slowly. I told Apple Guy "this is our exchange student from Mongolia that I mentioned last week." (because I am SURE he remembers MY conversation from all the farmers markets he goes to almost daily.) He shook Dashnyams hand and introduced himself (and I STILL can not remember his name) and asked Daashnyam a few questions.
We then walked to the ice cream store (on the far side of the parking lot). I bought the boys cones, we walked back to the van, then had to buy crickets and bloodworms. We went to PetSmart. We walked around with Dashnyam looking at the fish, birds, cats, etc. Dashnyam said they only have dogs for pets in Mongolia. His family doesn't have a dog though. I wonder how accurate that is. I can't imagine a place without cats as pets, or frogs, or other 'non-dog' animals.
Once home, I realized I forgot to buy lasagna noodles, so I biked to Von's while D&G picked tomatoes and C&K brought the laundry in from the line. They played on the computer while I cooked stuff. I then had Dashnyam, Connor, and Ki assemble the 2 lasagnas. MMMMMmmmm, the lasagna was YUMMY!! Dashnyam loved it, too. Connor always loves lasagna.
Brian took G&D to buy wood for making a bunk bed, K&C stayed home. Me, too. So I could type this blog.
I got a recorded message from the school today, informing me Dashnyam was Absent for his first class today and it is unexcused and I need to turn in a note....... UM- He did not even get his class schedule until 9:30-- AFTER the first period class was over anyway!! The school is the one who decided to not givehim his schedule yesterday like was originally planned. and now I have to turn in a note for him unexcused absence.
DAY 1 and I am ALREADY SICK of dealing with the public school!
ug.
Oh, his schedule! He got English, US History, and PE:Aquatics. School is from 8:30-2:30. YEAH!!!! I am kinda glad he did not get the extra morning class or the extra evening class- as that would make the school day from 7:30-3:30. The morning would have been 'ok', but I am mostly glad he gets out at 2:30 so we have time for things like the beach and farmers markets and other fun activities! And he goes in ate enough we can eat breakfast with him!
And I'm sure he'll learn lots from us, probably more than if he had those extra classes. He'll be with us for reading Story of the World. I'll have him read part of it out aloud (my boys all do this) and I think I'll ask Brian to do a little math with maybe.
PREVIOUS DASHNYAM POSTS:
DASH1
DASH2
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Had The Talk....
So, I has to have the talk with my young men today. That talk parents have once the children reach a certain stage in life. I gathered them together and handed them notebooks and pencils and then proceeded to give The Talk.
The "What do you plan on doing this year in your education?" Talk
Ki has requested an acting class and will be doing the Apologia General Science this year (to get a firm base from which to choose his science next year).For Science I asked if he wanted to make the syllabus or if he wanted me to make. He wanted me to. Then I asked if he wanted me to just tell him something like "Start on Chapter 1 and there is a test in 2 weeks over chapter 1" Or if he wanted what to read daily or weekly. He asked for a Weekly Plan, He asked for a WEEK PLAN. So instead of "Monday:read pages 1-4, Tuesday read Pages 5-6 and do experiment, WED: read pages 7-10.." He wants me to plan "Have read pages 1-15 by Friday and have done the experiment listed on page 6".
I told him that he has reached that stage of life and education which requires me to keep a transcript of his classes and what he's learned, so I want him to chose 1 area (in science or math or whatever) and work through it, so I will feel comfortable saying he did, in deed, take "Biology" or "Algebra" or "Culinary Arts" or whatever. I asked him to make a decision on what he wants to learn in math and then to make a plan on how to do it. He said he'll probably choose KHAN academy for math. I told him to give me a plan. To write something like how much time each week or each day. Or he can plan to learn "X" amount of sub topics each week"....
I asked all the boys, yes even the almost 18 yr old, to give me a short term reading plan. A few books they want to read and their personal goal of when they plan to have them finished. Again, Ki prefers the almost-daily goals, like "read 45 minutes a day" instead of just "have the book finished by Thanksgiving"
I gave the older 2 the same talk about Math- Choose something to learn (Trigonometry, Prob & Stats, Calculus, etc...) Then figure out what resources (KHAN, Take a Class, Use a text, etc) and then a game plan,. It can be general like "complete the course by March" or as specific as "Do 1 section in the book a day" or "Complete 6 online tasks at the particular website a week"The older 2 are doing Computer Science. Their Computer Illustrations class at the local college is 8 hours a week and whatever they need to work on at home.
I told G&C to think of something else to learn.. a language, a new art they don't know, a time in history, a country.... make a plan of how and when. (Ki's Acting Class fills this gap for him)I also told them that this plan does not have to be for the whole school year. We'll try their plan for a couple months then they can decide if it is working (or I might have to step in with some structure)
Gavin already decided on Calculus and Japanese and, I think, Lord of The Rings. (we'll see if that changes by Friday)
They are to have their list, plans, goals, schedule ready by Friday and we'll go over what they come up with. They can hand write or email it to me. Gavin prefers to email me these things usually.
The "What do you plan on doing this year in your education?" Talk
Ki has requested an acting class and will be doing the Apologia General Science this year (to get a firm base from which to choose his science next year).For Science I asked if he wanted to make the syllabus or if he wanted me to make. He wanted me to. Then I asked if he wanted me to just tell him something like "Start on Chapter 1 and there is a test in 2 weeks over chapter 1" Or if he wanted what to read daily or weekly. He asked for a Weekly Plan, He asked for a WEEK PLAN. So instead of "Monday:read pages 1-4, Tuesday read Pages 5-6 and do experiment, WED: read pages 7-10.." He wants me to plan "Have read pages 1-15 by Friday and have done the experiment listed on page 6".
I told him that he has reached that stage of life and education which requires me to keep a transcript of his classes and what he's learned, so I want him to chose 1 area (in science or math or whatever) and work through it, so I will feel comfortable saying he did, in deed, take "Biology" or "Algebra" or "Culinary Arts" or whatever. I asked him to make a decision on what he wants to learn in math and then to make a plan on how to do it. He said he'll probably choose KHAN academy for math. I told him to give me a plan. To write something like how much time each week or each day. Or he can plan to learn "X" amount of sub topics each week"....
I asked all the boys, yes even the almost 18 yr old, to give me a short term reading plan. A few books they want to read and their personal goal of when they plan to have them finished. Again, Ki prefers the almost-daily goals, like "read 45 minutes a day" instead of just "have the book finished by Thanksgiving"
I gave the older 2 the same talk about Math- Choose something to learn (Trigonometry, Prob & Stats, Calculus, etc...) Then figure out what resources (KHAN, Take a Class, Use a text, etc) and then a game plan,. It can be general like "complete the course by March" or as specific as "Do 1 section in the book a day" or "Complete 6 online tasks at the particular website a week"The older 2 are doing Computer Science. Their Computer Illustrations class at the local college is 8 hours a week and whatever they need to work on at home.
I told G&C to think of something else to learn.. a language, a new art they don't know, a time in history, a country.... make a plan of how and when. (Ki's Acting Class fills this gap for him)I also told them that this plan does not have to be for the whole school year. We'll try their plan for a couple months then they can decide if it is working (or I might have to step in with some structure)
Gavin already decided on Calculus and Japanese and, I think, Lord of The Rings. (we'll see if that changes by Friday)
They are to have their list, plans, goals, schedule ready by Friday and we'll go over what they come up with. They can hand write or email it to me. Gavin prefers to email me these things usually.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Thorough Thursday:
Thankful: that he has a passion and talent and practices to improve.
Thankful: that homeschooling gives him lots of time and opportunity to hone his skills.
Here is his latest video/drawing. He'd LOVE if you went to youtube and left him a comment or friendly critique. (for more videos by Gavin, visit his Yutube Page; dashermkii)
Truth Is: I am sporting fake fingernails. The kind you buy at Rite-Aid and glue on. I fingernails are thin, peel, rip, and split. I had 4 ripped/split nails last week and got tired of it. They kept catching on things and getting ripped further. If I had time & money I'd have a nail salon just paint them with acrylic- so I don't look like... a chick with long pink fingernails.
Thankful: for options to improve my fingernails.
Thankful: for Superglue- good for fingernails AND lifting fingerprints!
Truth Is: We raise and harvest mosquito larvae.
Thankful: I can't really think of thankfulness for this one... I am thankful that over 20 of the tadpoles survived into froghood.
Truth Is: I found some recipes in my new book "Food the Die For!". Recipes that sound yummy and I want to make. But, truth is, no one else in my immediate family will eat this stuff.
Thankful: for friends who will come to my house for garlic soup and squash & chestnut stuffed ravioli.
Truth Is: I would LOVE to serve on Jury Duty. I have been 'called' 3 times but they always end up not needing me. :: pouty face :: But the people that do NOT want to serve and try to get out of it- end up the ones that get to do it.
Truth Is: I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING MY BOYS IN THEIR PLAY NEXT WEEK... darn fake nails and trying to type. I hit the CAPS LOCK,
Thankful: for the chance for Connor and Ki to act and perform!
Connor as Henry the Night Watchman
Play: "After Hours"- performed by Central Coast Homeschool Theater Ensemble.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
ABC's of homeschooling
Monday, March 28, 2011
falling......
AND I have pictures of last Wednesday top & Earrings
- the boys can log in with google or facebook- 1 less password/login name to memorize
- It loads MUCH faster. With ALEKS I always had wait for the page to open, then wait for each boys info to be gathered to open their own pages.
- It keeps track of JUST time spent DOING the actual math, unlike ALEKS with counts all time they are logged-in, even if they are sidetracked to pet the cat for 20 minutes.
- even Ki likes it.
- I'd mention it's free as a PLUS, but I did say 'reasons not just because of it's free price'
Connor asked to go to the Library today to do reading and KHAN. Ki liked this idea, too, so I grabbed my knitting and biked with them to the library. They did math and reading. I knit.
When we got back home, Gavin was almost done with his schoolwork. He thought he did enough math, until I showed him that he had not, according to the Khan Website. So he much have been counting- all minutes on the site'- not how many of those were DOING math.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Monday Madness & Mayhem
TODAY: a couple HOPS, a handful of mini-topics, and a few thoughts.
HOP #1
Gavin has been out back shooting his new Air Soft Pellet Gun. It's a riffle of some sort. Brian and the 3 boys have been having a Magic Card Elimination Showdown. With all their new cards, between the 4 of them they had 18 decks. They made a flowchart of games and which deck won each. Winning Decks playing winning decks..... to see which decks are best. This may confuse you. That's OK. It confuses me, too. I will have to find out which deck won and let all of you know. That may clear up some of your confusion.
HOP #1
The above button is for a New To Me HOP. Listing things for which I am thankful. Gifts. Getting up to 1000.
Here is my list of 1,000 gifts numbers 1-10
-Facebook. Yes, facebook can be a gift and something for which to be thankful. Not just for keeping in touch with friends and family, and not just for being reunited with friends from the past, but today I am especially thankful for getting in touch with people I used to know and was not friends with back then- but becoming friends now, after all these years - and getting to see how God has been working in lives and taking the time to see how far we have all come.
-Health. A 'generic' sounding thanks, I know. But I am following it up with the particulars. Thanks that my husband's heart attack (about 6 yrs ago) was mild and there was no lasting damage. Thankful for his successful cyst removal surgery last week.
-Bracelet. My son made a bracelet for me, for Christmas. I love when the boys make things for me.
-Ninjas. The kind that cut cookies, anyway. Connor made Ninja Cookie Cutters for me.
-Future Ninjas. Ki gave me a pictorial list of different Ninja Cookie Cutter ideas from which to choose and he will make a couple cookie cutters, too
-modern transportation of groceries- so I can enjoy oranges and pears and other fruits and veggies out of season and out of local.
- Digital Camera. I love my digital camera that allows me to capture so many memories and moments. (with out the cost of buying new film and printing all 36 pictures just to get 10 good ones)
- boxes. Yes boxes. so I can pack and organize everything.
-plastic. it is fairly cheap, sturdy, colorful or clear- and allows me to be able to buy enough boxes to color code and organize things.
-Thrift Stores- A good place to get rid of our excess and a place to buy an extra pair of jeans for my boys who are growing like weeds and always seem to have outgrown everything, esp last minute.
NOW onto a few Thoughts:
I played DICEcapades Sunday evening with my family. Connor can be a bit hard to handle with games. He debates everything. It's almost like a defense mechanism until he really gets nto the game and understands it. then he's all giggles and fun. He now know how to milk a cow backwards, though.
And Those Lists:
I love lists. on Sunday I made a list of all the things I wanted to talk about in my next blog. I think I'll keep the List as is and just fill it in with blogging. And, yes, I do this frequently. Make a little entry with reminders of what to blog or what links to include.
~If you enjoyed my blog, please Click (you can vote daily)~
- Juicer - It is once again time to get out the juicer and juice lots of fruits and veggies. I like to do lots of juicing for a week after 'big eating'. It helps me feel better. I need to get some baby spinach and pears & grapes. I have more than enough carrots. Not sure how we got so many carrots in this house. Strawberries are good in the juicer, too! but feels like a waste of a strawberry. I like to ad a little ginger root to the berry juices, too.
- J-Term-It is almost time for J-Term to start. I have most of the CSI Class planned. I just need to review it so I can have everything needed for week 1 all gathered and in place. I need to get lesson plans for the other stuff though. Ki wants Culinary/Acting.(so probably alternating them every-other-day). Connor and Gavin will be doing computer Programming/animation.
- Pilates- and Yoga. This is the exercise portion of my entry. I really want to do Yoga daily and get my Pilates DVD out, unwrap the cellophane, and actually USE IT. Not sure if I will get started today. But I plan on it. I'll let you all know.
- 12 Days of Christmas- We did this last year (or 2 years ago), too. The boys seem to like it. We don't put up our Chrostmas Tree until Christmas Eve, but we keep it up for the 12 Days of Christmas. On those 12 days we read the Christmas Story/Wise Men (from the Bible), sometimes do gifts. This year I am hiding the 3 wisemen. each boy finds one and then gets a small gift (from the Dollar Store or Dollar Bins at other stores). Then we Have KING CAKE for Epiphany! I think we will do the Feast of the Innocents this year, too.
- Rocket launch in the yard- I'll do this one tomorrow.
- http://myadventures-in-mommyland.blogspot.com/ mommy monday hop. A New To Me Blog Hop I am doing with this entry. So click the button, join the hop, make new friends!
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Emails
Connor misplaced his Assignment Book so I am emailing his weekly assignments to his this week. Here is what I emailed him-
Connor did you do these from last week?
***
http://geology.about.com/cs/basics_crust/a/aa_quiz12_xtrme.htm a 'game' to play
http://geology.about.com/library/bl/images/blkyanite.htm Just to read
http://geology.about.com/library/bl/images/blimageindex.htm -- click the links to view pictures and read more. Choose 3 things to write about in your notebook. Include drawings I didn't see the last thing in your notebook. Make sure they get done this week.
ALSO THIS WEEK-
Read Daily- Book of John. 1 chapter a day.
Do the assessment for ALEKS, do 30 mins math daily (so if you finish the assessment before Friday start on the Pie Work)
SCIENCE/GEOLOGY NOTEBOOK (green ink pages this week), Read Current Events Page for 30 minutes (check out some of the sidebar links, too) then do Write Ups on 2 Current Events: http://geology.com/news/ DATE your writing.
SOCIAL STUDIES with Mom at the following times:
Mon at 11AM
Wed At 11AM
Thurs at 1PM
Friday at 11:15
OTHER EVENTS THIS WEEK:
Tues-AirForce Base Classes (ASL & PE)
Wed - Gymnastics
Thursday- Braces and Beach Outing with youth group
Fri-Election Class, Waller Park Homeschool Day
**************************************************
I have scheduled time slots for 1 on 1 with each boy.
Ki and I will be doing his Science, Gavin and I will be doing Economics, Connor and I will be doing Civics.
I also will do Ki's Missionary Story (M-W) and Social Studies (Th-F)with him, but not at scheduled times.
****************************************************
Here is an example from Ki's daily Assignment book this week-
Mon Oct 6
-Morning Chores
9:30- Science w/ mom
-Aleks
H2O, BG, 15minQT
5 min break, BG
PieChart 15 min C.C.R.
-Missionary Story Time
-Read your Red Bible 15 mins.
** also this week, prob on Thursday, I will have him plan out reading and activities for his next story in Going Places. I planned out the 1st 2 stories for him. I want him to plan this next one himself.
**************************************
Wed I have an appointment at the DMV!
~~ and what of Gavin aside from the economics class with me? He's doing his Aleks (something daily with a total of 4 hours for the week) and his Physics and his Daily Bible Reading (And Co-Op classes)
Connor did you do these from last week?
***
http://geology.about.com/cs/basics_crust/a/aa_quiz12_xtrme.htm a 'game' to play
http://geology.about.com/library/bl/images/blkyanite.htm Just to read
http://geology.about.com/library/bl/images/blimageindex.htm -- click the links to view pictures and read more. Choose 3 things to write about in your notebook. Include drawings I didn't see the last thing in your notebook. Make sure they get done this week.
ALSO THIS WEEK-
Read Daily- Book of John. 1 chapter a day.
Do the assessment for ALEKS, do 30 mins math daily (so if you finish the assessment before Friday start on the Pie Work)
SCIENCE/GEOLOGY NOTEBOOK (green ink pages this week), Read Current Events Page for 30 minutes (check out some of the sidebar links, too) then do Write Ups on 2 Current Events: http://geology.com/news/ DATE your writing.
SOCIAL STUDIES with Mom at the following times:
Mon at 11AM
Wed At 11AM
Thurs at 1PM
Friday at 11:15
OTHER EVENTS THIS WEEK:
Tues-AirForce Base Classes (ASL & PE)
Wed - Gymnastics
Thursday- Braces and Beach Outing with youth group
Fri-Election Class, Waller Park Homeschool Day
**************************************************
I have scheduled time slots for 1 on 1 with each boy.
Ki and I will be doing his Science, Gavin and I will be doing Economics, Connor and I will be doing Civics.
I also will do Ki's Missionary Story (M-W) and Social Studies (Th-F)with him, but not at scheduled times.
****************************************************
Here is an example from Ki's daily Assignment book this week-
Mon Oct 6
-Morning Chores
9:30- Science w/ mom
-Aleks
H2O, BG, 15minQT
5 min break, BG
PieChart 15 min C.C.R.
-Missionary Story Time
-Read your Red Bible 15 mins.
** also this week, prob on Thursday, I will have him plan out reading and activities for his next story in Going Places. I planned out the 1st 2 stories for him. I want him to plan this next one himself.
**************************************
Wed I have an appointment at the DMV!
~~ and what of Gavin aside from the economics class with me? He's doing his Aleks (something daily with a total of 4 hours for the week) and his Physics and his Daily Bible Reading (And Co-Op classes)
Sunday, July 27, 2008
LAPIDARY FUN
This will be GREAT, esp for Connor my rock hound. He loves rocks and gems and shiny things. A GEM SHOW in town and there is a mineral society in town, too! (Expect pictures)
41st Annual OMS Gem Show*
Earth's Treasures - Rocks - Minerals - GemsExhibits - Tailgaters - Demonstrations - Lapidary Equipment
3 Big Days! 10 AM-5 PMAugust 1st, 2nd, 3rd 2008
Come and join the fun at the annual “Rainbow of Gems Show” which brings craftsmen and lapidary artists from many California counties. Several dealers will be presenting their wares of jewelry, gems, minerals and lapidary equipment. Local craftsmen will be displaying fascinating jewelry in gold and silver as well as mineral specimens. Also to be found will be collectibles, unusual gifts, fossils, rocks and geodes. The indoor show and outside tailgate event is family oriented and is educational for both children and adults. Kids get a free polished rock from the Rock Box. No admission or parking fee is charged for the show.
ONE OF A KIND CRAFTED STONE MERCHANDISE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. ROCK BOTTOM PRICES! RAFFLES! PRIZES! FOOD ON SALE!MONSTER SANTA MARIA STYLE BBQ ON SATURDAY NIGHT ONLY $10 FOR ADULTS, $5.00 FOR KIDS 12 AND UNDER.
THIS IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! MUSEUM QUALITY DISPLAYS!
41st Annual OMS Gem Show*
Earth's Treasures - Rocks - Minerals - GemsExhibits - Tailgaters - Demonstrations - Lapidary Equipment
3 Big Days! 10 AM-5 PMAugust 1st, 2nd, 3rd 2008
Come and join the fun at the annual “Rainbow of Gems Show” which brings craftsmen and lapidary artists from many California counties. Several dealers will be presenting their wares of jewelry, gems, minerals and lapidary equipment. Local craftsmen will be displaying fascinating jewelry in gold and silver as well as mineral specimens. Also to be found will be collectibles, unusual gifts, fossils, rocks and geodes. The indoor show and outside tailgate event is family oriented and is educational for both children and adults. Kids get a free polished rock from the Rock Box. No admission or parking fee is charged for the show.
ONE OF A KIND CRAFTED STONE MERCHANDISE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. ROCK BOTTOM PRICES! RAFFLES! PRIZES! FOOD ON SALE!MONSTER SANTA MARIA STYLE BBQ ON SATURDAY NIGHT ONLY $10 FOR ADULTS, $5.00 FOR KIDS 12 AND UNDER.
THIS IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! MUSEUM QUALITY DISPLAYS!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Best Laid Plans
AH-h-h-h-h-h.... NICE! I have the basic plans laid for school. I let the boys choose their science, social studies and Bible; which was a math choice for Gavin, since he choose Physics for Science (I didn't even suggest that one).
SO here is what I have so far. I will add online research and projects to these. ACE [Accelerated Christian Education] are self paced workbooks. We've never tried them, but I figured for a couple subjects they might be OK.
GAVIN (9th grade 08/09)
Science:Physics [Apologia CD course]
Math: Trig [Aleks Online] *Lessons from dad
Social Studies: Economics [A.C.E.] AND Ben'sGov [online]
Bible: Life of Christ [A.C.E.]
History: Story of the World and WW1&2 reading
Language Arts: Eclectic [Spectrum Writing, NanoFictionary, Reading, etc]
CONNOR (8th grade 08/09)
Science: Geology [online, research, projects, I'll pull a bunch of stuff together]
Math: Middle School 3 course [Aleks Online] Lessons from dad
Social Studies: Civics [A.C.E.] AND Ben'sGov [online]
Bible: Christian Growth [A.C.E.]
History: Story of the World and WW1&2 reading
Language Arts: Eclectic [Spectrum Writing, NanoFictionary, Reading, etc]
Ki David (6th grade 08/09)
Science: Zoology [online, research, projects, I'll pull a bunch of stuff together]
Math: Middle School 1 course [Aleks Online] Froggy Fractions and Froggy Decimals [Ki chose the Froggy Math] Lessons with dad
Social Studies:6th Grade Social Studies [A.C.E.] AND Ben'sGov [online]
Bible: Introduction to Missions [A.C.E.]
History: Story of the World and WW1&2 reading
Language Arts: Eclectic [Spectrum Writing, NanoFictionary, Reading, etc]
** That is the plan. We (all 5 of us) decided to try something a little different this upcoming school year. I still have to buy stuff. need todecide if I want to buy them now or wait till he move.
We'll do lots of hands on projects & independant research and fun stuff, too.
SO here is what I have so far. I will add online research and projects to these. ACE [Accelerated Christian Education] are self paced workbooks. We've never tried them, but I figured for a couple subjects they might be OK.
GAVIN (9th grade 08/09)
Science:Physics [Apologia CD course]
Math: Trig [Aleks Online] *Lessons from dad
Social Studies: Economics [A.C.E.] AND Ben'sGov [online]
Bible: Life of Christ [A.C.E.]
History: Story of the World and WW1&2 reading
Language Arts: Eclectic [Spectrum Writing, NanoFictionary, Reading, etc]
CONNOR (8th grade 08/09)
Science: Geology [online, research, projects, I'll pull a bunch of stuff together]
Math: Middle School 3 course [Aleks Online] Lessons from dad
Social Studies: Civics [A.C.E.] AND Ben'sGov [online]
Bible: Christian Growth [A.C.E.]
History: Story of the World and WW1&2 reading
Language Arts: Eclectic [Spectrum Writing, NanoFictionary, Reading, etc]
Ki David (6th grade 08/09)
Science: Zoology [online, research, projects, I'll pull a bunch of stuff together]
Math: Middle School 1 course [Aleks Online] Froggy Fractions and Froggy Decimals [Ki chose the Froggy Math] Lessons with dad
Social Studies:6th Grade Social Studies [A.C.E.] AND Ben'sGov [online]
Bible: Introduction to Missions [A.C.E.]
History: Story of the World and WW1&2 reading
Language Arts: Eclectic [Spectrum Writing, NanoFictionary, Reading, etc]
** That is the plan. We (all 5 of us) decided to try something a little different this upcoming school year. I still have to buy stuff. need todecide if I want to buy them now or wait till he move.
We'll do lots of hands on projects & independant research and fun stuff, too.
Friday, August 31, 2007
SCHEDULES!!!!!
THE PRINTER WORKS! I CAN MAKE CHARTS!
I COULDN'T SLEEP WELL LAST NIGHT. I WAS UP AT 5:30 TO START ON MY CHARTS AND SCHEDULES.
I get a little 'OCD' with my charts and schedules....LOL. and they change periodically...
TUES- is still coffee break day and has a slightly different schedule that the rest of the week.
School schedule
6:30- wake
7:15- wake boys
8:00- breakfast- Read*a*loud – prayer
8:45- walk to school
9:00- school
--brain gym & s.o.t.w.
--Spelling *3T
--Ki-Math c/g – science/ben's gov't
11:00 – lunch & recess
12:00- resume school
--ki- reading c/g- math
--spectrum writing *3T
--ki-gov't w/ mom c/g- reading
--teacher's lounge (this will be time for them to work on independat studies of other assignents... and my Bible Reading/Prayer time)
Tues. School schedule
6:30- wake
7:15- wake boys
8:00- breakfast- Read*a*loud – prayer
8:45- walk to school
9:00- school
--brain gym & s.o.t.w.
--Spelling *3T
--Ki-Math c/g – science/ben's gov't
11:00 – mom's cafe break * lunch & recess
--clean up from lunch
--reading (30/45 mins)
--g & c- math
--ki- leap pad
--mom's home – play a game
i have individual morning charts for each boy. with their individual daily jobs.
KI'S MORNING LIST
MAKE BED
GET DRESSED
BRUSH TEETH
DISHWASHER
NOSE SPRAY
TALK TO GOD
GAVIN'S LIST
MAKE BED
GET DRESSED
MEDICINE
BRUSH TEETH
FLIP LAUNDRY
TIME WITH GOD
CONNOR'S LIST
MAKE BED
GET DRESSED
BRUSH TEETH
BANO PATROL
FEED SOKSEY
TIME WITH GOD
each boy get's a "patrol" each month.
pantry patrol makes sure the pantry stays organized. when they clean the pantry they like to see that is stays neat.
garbage patrol- taked the individual trash bags to the big black cans each night and takes out the kitchen trash as needed.
bathroom patrol is in charge of :
Bathroom check list
hand towel
t.p.
Toilet flushed
No trash on floor
dental care put away
gentle reminders to brothers
I COULDN'T SLEEP WELL LAST NIGHT. I WAS UP AT 5:30 TO START ON MY CHARTS AND SCHEDULES.
I get a little 'OCD' with my charts and schedules....LOL. and they change periodically...
TUES- is still coffee break day and has a slightly different schedule that the rest of the week.
School schedule
6:30- wake
7:15- wake boys
8:00- breakfast- Read*a*loud – prayer
8:45- walk to school
9:00- school
--brain gym & s.o.t.w.
--Spelling *3T
--Ki-Math c/g – science/ben's gov't
11:00 – lunch & recess
12:00- resume school
--ki- reading c/g- math
--spectrum writing *3T
--ki-gov't w/ mom c/g- reading
--teacher's lounge (this will be time for them to work on independat studies of other assignents... and my Bible Reading/Prayer time)
Tues. School schedule
6:30- wake
7:15- wake boys
8:00- breakfast- Read*a*loud – prayer
8:45- walk to school
9:00- school
--brain gym & s.o.t.w.
--Spelling *3T
--Ki-Math c/g – science/ben's gov't
11:00 – mom's cafe break * lunch & recess
--clean up from lunch
--reading (30/45 mins)
--g & c- math
--ki- leap pad
--mom's home – play a game
i have individual morning charts for each boy. with their individual daily jobs.
KI'S MORNING LIST
MAKE BED
GET DRESSED
BRUSH TEETH
DISHWASHER
NOSE SPRAY
TALK TO GOD
GAVIN'S LIST
MAKE BED
GET DRESSED
MEDICINE
BRUSH TEETH
FLIP LAUNDRY
TIME WITH GOD
CONNOR'S LIST
MAKE BED
GET DRESSED
BRUSH TEETH
BANO PATROL
FEED SOKSEY
TIME WITH GOD
each boy get's a "patrol" each month.
pantry patrol makes sure the pantry stays organized. when they clean the pantry they like to see that is stays neat.
garbage patrol- taked the individual trash bags to the big black cans each night and takes out the kitchen trash as needed.
bathroom patrol is in charge of :
Bathroom check list
hand towel
t.p.
Toilet flushed
No trash on floor
dental care put away
gentle reminders to brothers
Saturday, June 9, 2007
FUN THINGS (carnival)
So, I hear the Carnival Topic is FUN. I have no NEW FUN as I have been battling pneumonia recently. So I bring to you OLD FUN! Here are FOUR old posts and link and descriptions.
Sometimes FUN is just letting the boys make their own waffles for breakfast, or deciding to go for a Nature Walk or play at the park. Making our own Obstacle Course is Fun. We have FUN doing Science Experiments together.
Here is a game we have played a couple of times. I think we need to make it a once a month fixture in our schooling. It was so much fun! Make sure to check out the videos!
DICE of FORTUNE
Connor won- he had the most points. Gavin was stuck on werid letters. like W and H....
Lapbooks are fun, too.
Ki’s LAPBOOK
We have a nice skatepark close to our house. During the school year it is great to go there and play or learn about physics becuase it's EMPTY!
(fall 2005)
Sometimes FUN is just letting the boys make their own waffles for breakfast, or deciding to go for a Nature Walk or play at the park. Making our own Obstacle Course is Fun. We have FUN doing Science Experiments together.
MATH DICE- Ki likes this best. He esp likes when I just tell him to think up 10 Math Dice Problems and he can choose anything he wants. He knows that I won;t allow anything too sipmple. Like 4+3=7.
Here is the Scoop-Sometimes we use dice for math (and grammar, but that's a differen post)
Here are some pictures of our math dice.
These are 10 sides dice with another 10 sided inside.(the '0' is the '10') So if the outside lands on 6 and the inside is 3, the number is "63" They use 2 or 3 of these and add, subtract, multiply and sometimes divide. usually I use the 3dice divided by a 2dice
The top 3 dice here have 3 inside. These are the ones we use for dividing. There is also a 6sided inside of a six sided in the picture.
Here are our fraction dice and our math operation dice. Also shown are the decimal dice. Sometimes we use both types together and they have to change the decimal to a fraction or vice versa.
These are our 12 sided, 10 sided and 8 sided. For when I want them to have numbers bigger than 6.... or 66...
Here is an example of double 8 sided and the operation dice....
A more simple math sentence with dice......
and our many 6 sideds... I often just tell them to use 3 to make the BIGGEST number they can and then 3 to make the smallest number for subtraction (usually Ki) or division (the other two)
Here is a game we have played a couple of times. I think we need to make it a once a month fixture in our schooling. It was so much fun! Make sure to check out the videos!
DICE of FORTUNE
we played ---- Dice of Fortune (think - Wheel of Fortune)
Use 2 dice. Each dot is $100. So if you a 2 and a 4, you get $600 per letter. Vowels cost $300. (it is a one time per turn fee, so even if there are 3 a’s, it is still $300). Snake Eyes is Bankrupt. Double 3 are ‘lose a turn’ (but keep your money) and double 6s are -$500.
Use white board for the puzzle. Draw boxes and fill in (not turning anything like Vanna yet).
Keep Score on the window. Put a piece of white poster board on outside of windows to make the dry erase marker show up better. I couldn’t find poster board, so I cave them each apiece of colored paper and they kept their own score- which was good- they had to do math.
A $500 bonus for solving the puzzle.
We had a lightning round at the end. They eached guessed 2 letters (for a total of 4) and they each rolled one dice to guess a 3rd letter and got points for it. Connor guessed the vowel. Then I added one letter at a time until someone guessed it and got $1,000. Gavin guessed it with very little letter showing.
Too bad it wasn’t real money….
here are vidoes.... there are a lot of videos--- jut choose what you want to watch, I dont expect people to watch all of them... Double Click Them
Connor won- he had the most points. Gavin was stuck on werid letters. like W and H....
Lapbooks are fun, too.
Ki’s LAPBOOK
Ki and I made a lapbook for CINCO DE MAYO. Gavin and Connorteamed up to make a lapbook, too, but i don't have their pics yet.
here are thepictures for Ki's:
they liked the stickers that are like a wild party
we cut the bottom velcro in half so we can open the book. The marker helps keep it closed.
opened we may add more things later
POCKET GAME POUCH
3 games
match the Spanish Written with the numeral. We used magnets
BOTTOM FLAP (under yellow game pouch)
TOP FLAP-
midsection next to yellow game pouch-
SKATEPARK SCIENCE
We have a nice skatepark close to our house. During the school year it is great to go there and play or learn about physics becuase it's EMPTY!
(fall 2005)
You can read about our GREAT 1st day here: Skateboard Day We spent the afternoon at the skatepark making cars and testing them and riding scooters.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
3 parts
This is a LOOOOOOOONG blog........ just a fore warning. The first part is some more on how I schedule school. The second is shorter and a bit about how school used to be in the early years. Then the last is a list of memory/listening skill activities.
With my of my kids being sick, School is not quit happening this week. There is some, but not enough to write home about.
Hence, I am blogging about homeschool schedules. Yesterday I shared out general weekly school schedule. CLICK HERE TO READ.
Today I will fill in some blanks. As you see on the general schedule it just says ‘math’… or just says ‘Going Places’…. or just says ‘Spelling”. On Saturdays I write a one week detailed plan. It might look something like this:
MONDAY
9AM- Breakfast and read-aloud –Pilgrim’s Progress. Story of the World, Proverbs 12:22
Spelling- G&C –Copy words and write a sentence for each. Ki- Copy Words, Do crayon Rubbings of each word with textured letters. Manuel- CopyWork John 2
Massage with Manuel (who is Manuel?). My 3 boys read.
rest of School-
Gavin- 13 yrs old
1. Saxon Lesson 65, examples, practice +3
2.Critical Thinking 1 Mind Bender problem
3. Creative Writing Assignment
Connor- 12 yrs old
1.Going Places. Read Text pages 101-110, answer questions in complete sentences.
2. Online Science (cells) take notes in notebook.
3.Math Detective 2 cases
Ki- 10.5 yrs old
1. 10 math dice problems. Multiply Double Digit Dice
2. Beyond the Code-pages 6,7,8
3. Mind Bender
Manuel-
1. Miquon J-12, 13
2. Ingles in 10 Min/dia – pages 22, 23
3. Read
I can pretty much just write assignments down for my boys. Gavin and Connor can do most on their own. I flit between Manuel and Kiel.
And some days we just go on a hike and bring microscopes or we do science experiments. Some days Ki wants to write a story for most of the day.
When we first started homeschooling my boys were 4,6,7. We didn’t have much of a schedule. We mostly did science experiments, unit studies and projects. Almost everything we studies we had Lego Projects to go with it. We used Legos for math and sorting and classification. School was only a couple hours a day. Some school days were writing checked, paying bills, addressing envelopes, going to the post office, mailing a package, looking at the map to see where it is going, talking about who we know that lives there or if we have vacationed there.
Some school days were having them help plan a week’s menu, go through the kitchen to see what we had and help make a grocery list. Then go to the store and find things to go with our planned meals.
School was very free flowing and almost unschooled those early years. The schedules started to get a little more when Gavin was in 4th grade. And Ki still didn’t have much of a schedule at all. He often got to pick 3 school things a day and in what order he did them. I miss those early days. They were so full of learning and newness. I really think that unsctructured, quasi-unschooling is the way to go until kids are 8 or 9.
IN CLOSING- some activities you may enjoy-
Games to improve memory- ("her/She" is used, but of course is for ANYchild)
1.Play the classic simple game of Memory Match- with the cards that you have to find matching pairs by remembering what you have turned over.. but start with half the cards. Or 5 pairs- something smaller- with less to remember.
2. Play 'Repeat' – Tell your child you are going to play a secret game. A game with a secret word and she can't tell anyone else the word but you and she has a mission to tell you this word anytime you ask her. say a word (like 'cookie')and have your child repeat it. Have a secret code word that whenever you say, shge knows to say her secret word. Like whenever you say "poppadiddle' she says her secret word. . Tell her the secret word and have her repeat 5 times in a row. Wait 10 seconds –say YOUR secret word and have your child repeat HER secret word. Increase the time between "Secret Word". Go for 10 secind, then 15 seconds, then 45 seconds, then repeat it over and over and tell her you will ask her again in 5 minutes…… then 15 minutes…
Go as long as you and she want and have time for.
Later increased from 1 word to a 2 word phrase.
You can also use just SOUNDS.. have her secret word be the making the sound of a car or dog, or making the sound of a secret letter.
3. Play "Hidden Treasure" (do this outside, in the yard ot maybe at the park)—hide 50 cents. (or a plstic whistle or something small) Show her the money first. Then hide it. Tell her where it is. Have her repeat back where it is. Ask her to draw where is it according to what you have told her. Wait 20 seconds (OR however long you think would be good for her) then tell her to find the hidden treasure by remembering where you told her it was.
Gradually increase elapsed time and details of where it is hidden (like instead of "under the blue pillow on the couch" have it be " 5 feet from the cat's bowl"… or "turn LEFT at the chair and walk 3 feet then turn right and measure 18 inches"…
4. Play the word Card game (or picture card or number card).. have a card with a word/picture/letter, etc…. show it to her, have her tell you what it is. Then turn it upside down on the table and have her tell you what it is and turn it over to show her. Then wait 20 seconds and ask her what is on the upside down card. Turn it over to show her. If she got it correct, wait longer next time, if she got it wrong, don't wait as long for the next time.
5. Hand Letter- write the letter of the day on her hand. Frequently throughout the day ask her to look at her hand and go over the letter sound with her. Soon, JUST ask her the sound of the letter in her hand without going over it with her.
6. Put a little red X on one of her toes . Just one toe, either foot. Throughout the day ask her which toe it is (without her looking), then she can take off her sock or shoe, etc to see if she is correct.
7. "What's Next"
At the beginning of the day give her a small itinerary.
"after breakfast we will read a book. After we read he book we will go for a walk"
While you eat breakfast talk about what is next (the book) and what is after that (the walk). Then when breakfast is done, ask her what is next--- see if she can remember it is the book. If she can, ask her what is AFTER the book… the walk.
Increase your list as she gets better with it.
"what's missing"—have a tray with 3-5 items on it (unless your child can handle more). Take the tray away- remove one item, show the child and have them tell you what is missing. As you increase, you can have 10 things and remove TWO and see if the child can tell you both missing items….. (do this outside with things like rocks, leaves, seeds, flowers..)
"Sequence"—have 3-5 items. Call out the names of two items (make sure they are NOT next to each other) and have your child touch them (or pick up and place in front of them) in the order you called them out. Increase to saying 3 things in order, then 4 then 5…… We do this with letters and numbers and words, too. OR, instead of calling out the names of the items, have your child carefully wacth as YOU touch a sequence of items and then they have to touch the same things in sequence. (do this outside with things like rocks, leaves, seds, flowers..)
"What did I say"? Say a list of 3-5 words to your child and have her tell you the FIRST word you said. Make sure you tell her how to play the game first- tell her- "This is a game where I say 4 words and you have to tell me the first word I said." Then give her an example. "If I say the words 'cat, bear, cup, ball'- the first word I said is CAT- so that is what you need to say back to me." ---If 4 is too many, start with 2 or 3. (do this outside with things like rocks, leaves, seds, flowers..)
how to make a sandwich- Pick a task (making a peanut butter sandwich or making a bed) and have her describe EACH STEP involved. Write down the steps she says, then do them like she said them. So if describing a sandwich and she says- get out the bread and put peanut butter on it" you would get out the LOAF of bread and set the peanut butter jar on top the loaf- Then help her learn the specific steps in detail—you get the loaf of bread out of the drawer. Set the loaf on the table, open the bag, take out a slice of bread, put it on a plate. Get the jar of peanut butter out of the cupboard and put the jar on the table. Get a spreading knife out and set next to the jar, take the lid off the jar and set it down. Pick up the knife and scoop peanut butter out of the jar with the knife…."
Don't forget-- a GREAT way to engage them and to help them learn is to let THEM get a turn to be 'teacher'... let them hide something for you and give directions... let them have a tray of 10 things nad take 2 away for you to figure out..... let them tell YOU a word of the day for you to remember.....
this works great with ALL school... math problems, etc...
With my of my kids being sick, School is not quit happening this week. There is some, but not enough to write home about.
Hence, I am blogging about homeschool schedules. Yesterday I shared out general weekly school schedule. CLICK HERE TO READ.
Today I will fill in some blanks. As you see on the general schedule it just says ‘math’… or just says ‘Going Places’…. or just says ‘Spelling”. On Saturdays I write a one week detailed plan. It might look something like this:
MONDAY
9AM- Breakfast and read-aloud –Pilgrim’s Progress. Story of the World, Proverbs 12:22
Spelling- G&C –Copy words and write a sentence for each. Ki- Copy Words, Do crayon Rubbings of each word with textured letters. Manuel- CopyWork John 2
Massage with Manuel (who is Manuel?). My 3 boys read.
rest of School-
Gavin- 13 yrs old
1. Saxon Lesson 65, examples, practice +3
2.Critical Thinking 1 Mind Bender problem
3. Creative Writing Assignment
Connor- 12 yrs old
1.Going Places. Read Text pages 101-110, answer questions in complete sentences.
2. Online Science (cells) take notes in notebook.
3.Math Detective 2 cases
Ki- 10.5 yrs old
1. 10 math dice problems. Multiply Double Digit Dice
2. Beyond the Code-pages 6,7,8
3. Mind Bender
Manuel-
1. Miquon J-12, 13
2. Ingles in 10 Min/dia – pages 22, 23
3. Read
I can pretty much just write assignments down for my boys. Gavin and Connor can do most on their own. I flit between Manuel and Kiel.
And some days we just go on a hike and bring microscopes or we do science experiments. Some days Ki wants to write a story for most of the day.
When we first started homeschooling my boys were 4,6,7. We didn’t have much of a schedule. We mostly did science experiments, unit studies and projects. Almost everything we studies we had Lego Projects to go with it. We used Legos for math and sorting and classification. School was only a couple hours a day. Some school days were writing checked, paying bills, addressing envelopes, going to the post office, mailing a package, looking at the map to see where it is going, talking about who we know that lives there or if we have vacationed there.
Some school days were having them help plan a week’s menu, go through the kitchen to see what we had and help make a grocery list. Then go to the store and find things to go with our planned meals.
School was very free flowing and almost unschooled those early years. The schedules started to get a little more when Gavin was in 4th grade. And Ki still didn’t have much of a schedule at all. He often got to pick 3 school things a day and in what order he did them. I miss those early days. They were so full of learning and newness. I really think that unsctructured, quasi-unschooling is the way to go until kids are 8 or 9.
IN CLOSING- some activities you may enjoy-
Games to improve memory- ("her/She" is used, but of course is for ANYchild)
1.Play the classic simple game of Memory Match- with the cards that you have to find matching pairs by remembering what you have turned over.. but start with half the cards. Or 5 pairs- something smaller- with less to remember.
2. Play 'Repeat' – Tell your child you are going to play a secret game. A game with a secret word and she can't tell anyone else the word but you and she has a mission to tell you this word anytime you ask her. say a word (like 'cookie')and have your child repeat it. Have a secret code word that whenever you say, shge knows to say her secret word. Like whenever you say "poppadiddle' she says her secret word. . Tell her the secret word and have her repeat 5 times in a row. Wait 10 seconds –say YOUR secret word and have your child repeat HER secret word. Increase the time between "Secret Word". Go for 10 secind, then 15 seconds, then 45 seconds, then repeat it over and over and tell her you will ask her again in 5 minutes…… then 15 minutes…
Go as long as you and she want and have time for.
Later increased from 1 word to a 2 word phrase.
You can also use just SOUNDS.. have her secret word be the making the sound of a car or dog, or making the sound of a secret letter.
3. Play "Hidden Treasure" (do this outside, in the yard ot maybe at the park)—hide 50 cents. (or a plstic whistle or something small) Show her the money first. Then hide it. Tell her where it is. Have her repeat back where it is. Ask her to draw where is it according to what you have told her. Wait 20 seconds (OR however long you think would be good for her) then tell her to find the hidden treasure by remembering where you told her it was.
Gradually increase elapsed time and details of where it is hidden (like instead of "under the blue pillow on the couch" have it be " 5 feet from the cat's bowl"… or "turn LEFT at the chair and walk 3 feet then turn right and measure 18 inches"…
4. Play the word Card game (or picture card or number card).. have a card with a word/picture/letter, etc…. show it to her, have her tell you what it is. Then turn it upside down on the table and have her tell you what it is and turn it over to show her. Then wait 20 seconds and ask her what is on the upside down card. Turn it over to show her. If she got it correct, wait longer next time, if she got it wrong, don't wait as long for the next time.
5. Hand Letter- write the letter of the day on her hand. Frequently throughout the day ask her to look at her hand and go over the letter sound with her. Soon, JUST ask her the sound of the letter in her hand without going over it with her.
6. Put a little red X on one of her toes . Just one toe, either foot. Throughout the day ask her which toe it is (without her looking), then she can take off her sock or shoe, etc to see if she is correct.
7. "What's Next"
At the beginning of the day give her a small itinerary.
"after breakfast we will read a book. After we read he book we will go for a walk"
While you eat breakfast talk about what is next (the book) and what is after that (the walk). Then when breakfast is done, ask her what is next--- see if she can remember it is the book. If she can, ask her what is AFTER the book… the walk.
Increase your list as she gets better with it.
"what's missing"—have a tray with 3-5 items on it (unless your child can handle more). Take the tray away- remove one item, show the child and have them tell you what is missing. As you increase, you can have 10 things and remove TWO and see if the child can tell you both missing items….. (do this outside with things like rocks, leaves, seeds, flowers..)
"Sequence"—have 3-5 items. Call out the names of two items (make sure they are NOT next to each other) and have your child touch them (or pick up and place in front of them) in the order you called them out. Increase to saying 3 things in order, then 4 then 5…… We do this with letters and numbers and words, too. OR, instead of calling out the names of the items, have your child carefully wacth as YOU touch a sequence of items and then they have to touch the same things in sequence. (do this outside with things like rocks, leaves, seds, flowers..)
"What did I say"? Say a list of 3-5 words to your child and have her tell you the FIRST word you said. Make sure you tell her how to play the game first- tell her- "This is a game where I say 4 words and you have to tell me the first word I said." Then give her an example. "If I say the words 'cat, bear, cup, ball'- the first word I said is CAT- so that is what you need to say back to me." ---If 4 is too many, start with 2 or 3. (do this outside with things like rocks, leaves, seds, flowers..)
how to make a sandwich- Pick a task (making a peanut butter sandwich or making a bed) and have her describe EACH STEP involved. Write down the steps she says, then do them like she said them. So if describing a sandwich and she says- get out the bread and put peanut butter on it" you would get out the LOAF of bread and set the peanut butter jar on top the loaf- Then help her learn the specific steps in detail—you get the loaf of bread out of the drawer. Set the loaf on the table, open the bag, take out a slice of bread, put it on a plate. Get the jar of peanut butter out of the cupboard and put the jar on the table. Get a spreading knife out and set next to the jar, take the lid off the jar and set it down. Pick up the knife and scoop peanut butter out of the jar with the knife…."
Don't forget-- a GREAT way to engage them and to help them learn is to let THEM get a turn to be 'teacher'... let them hide something for you and give directions... let them have a tray of 10 things nad take 2 away for you to figure out..... let them tell YOU a word of the day for you to remember.....
this works great with ALL school... math problems, etc...
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Take A Look - into my days
Here is my basic schedule for the week. On Saturdays I look through their books and make a schdule filling in the page numbers or assignments.
I think the schedule is esier to follow when each day is next to theohter, but for size and format purposes I have to show them one day under the other.
CLICK HERE to see a picture of the whole week at once
Our Basic day goes like this-------
9AM- Breakfast/Read Aloud (usually Bible, Pilgrim's Progress, Story of the Word)
After Breakfast clean up
BRAIN GYM stuff (sometimes obstacle course or other alternatives)
SPELLING/Language Arts (M/W/F- spelling, T/TH- Language Arts)
Manuel's Therapy-My Boys reading time
Individual Shool Work (the chart above)
We are usually done around 2PM
Gavin and Connor do a lot independant. I mostly help Ki and Manuel
TUESDAYS-
Manuel and I go to a coffee shop, have a snack and I help him with his school work, we talk, play a game- my 3 do all their work on their own. Ki usually only gets half of his done. But I am fine with it now. Now it what I expect. He does whathe can while we are gone and I help him finish when I get home)
I think the schedule is esier to follow when each day is next to theohter, but for size and format purposes I have to show them one day under the other.
CLICK HERE to see a picture of the whole week at once
Our Basic day goes like this-------
9AM- Breakfast/Read Aloud (usually Bible, Pilgrim's Progress, Story of the Word)
After Breakfast clean up
BRAIN GYM stuff (sometimes obstacle course or other alternatives)
SPELLING/Language Arts (M/W/F- spelling, T/TH- Language Arts)
Manuel's Therapy-My Boys reading time
Individual Shool Work (the chart above)
We are usually done around 2PM
Gavin and Connor do a lot independant. I mostly help Ki and Manuel
TUESDAYS-
Manuel and I go to a coffee shop, have a snack and I help him with his school work, we talk, play a game- my 3 do all their work on their own. Ki usually only gets half of his done. But I am fine with it now. Now it what I expect. He does whathe can while we are gone and I help him finish when I get home)
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
OBSTACLE COURSE & semi-unschool
It's been a good week so far- Yesterday's blog........ Monday's Blog. Lots of pictures this week, so far!
No real links this time, folks....sorry...
I don't really unschool. I do have 'unshool days'...and 'unschool moments'...
But I also have structure and rules for the kids to follow. I guess I might call it...."relaxed, child interest guided ecclectic school with therapy"We started the day with an obstacle course before Breakfast.
Jump over then boxes leading to the wheelbarrow, zigzag the wheelbarrow around the boxes – there and back.
feet together hop over sticks.
one foot jump through ladder rungs.
walk the beam
crawl under the table
do 3 figure-eight loops around the chairs.
balance and count to 10
Breakfast was waffles. Gavin diced strawberries and added a little sugar. BACK outside for crisscrosses and Head Shoulders Knees and Toes. (with water)
SPELLING- G&C had to write variations for their words. So for evade- they wrote evading, evasion, evaded…. These variations were added to the list of words they will have to write on their test. The write all their words from memory. I don't say them for the boys to spell.
Ki played a toe touch game. I wrote the letters for his words on pieces of paper. Lay them on the floor out of order. He touches them with his toe in order while spelling them out loud. Half way through he decided to add a couple extra letters that aren't in the word and he had to find the correct letters (or figure out which didn't belong). This used both sides of his brain I am pretty sure (esp since he thought it fun to alternate which fot he used each letter) and using both mental and physical together is great for cementing facts and great for his dyspraxia.
Then Ki worked on writing a story. He likes to write stories with his words. He choose this activity. I asked him what he wanted to do with his spelling words today.(that's my semi-unschool moment). I added the toe game, because I know he needs stuff like that for his dyspraxia, dyslexia, SID.
Gavin and Connor wrote 10-15 sentences with their words.
Ki choose to write in his story instead of read.(another semi- unschool moment..LOL)
I sometimes allow that. It's good for kids to get some say in what and how they do some things…sometimes….. but it's also good for them to learn to follow the instructions of those in charge of their welfare, even if it is boring- after all- that's pretty much how life is …
The first school sessions are the ones that are something to write home about…… the rest is pretty boring… like last time. like usual… not much therapy or fun ways to teach going on the rest of the school day
GAVIN- 1- Switched On Schoolhouse- History (we only use the history- it's not great, but it's more of just something to do and maybe learn a bit at the same time) 2- Review Math Lessons with mom
CONNOR- 1. Going Places- reread story and draw 5 sequence pictures.(Connor asked to drawthe sequence pictures from his Cat Warrior book, I let him) 2. two Math Detective Cases 3- Online Science
Ki- 1-Beyond the Code. 3 pages 2- Miquon F-45,45 J-13
Manuel- 1. Ingles in 10 Minutos 2- Miquon J-6,8,9
No real links this time, folks....sorry...
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