I haven't blogged in a while. The routine is starting to settle in and I felt a lot of frustration this week. We still seem to move a little slow for my taste but I am not sure why I'm in a rush. I finally got a history curriculum from Abeka to add some structure to our history lessons. So far in black history we've learned about Sojourner Truth and Frederick Doulass. Of course this is of most interest to me, I suppose it has deeper meaning for me. I didn't know Douglass grew up on the eastern shore of Maryland which I've passed through on many occassions. And secondly, his final home is a historic landmark in SE Washington, DC. Without a doubt a homeschool field trip in the very near future.
The first field trip on our calendar is a day visit at Monticello next month. We haven't studied Thomas Jefferson as yet but I'm sure we will before the visit.
Well that is a wrap for now.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Week 5, Day 1
Another snow day today and tomorrow! The snow has hit the east coast and the result has been all 3 kids at home participating in homeschool. The kids didn't go to school on last friday either but JW and I took that as a snow day as well.
But today things were back to normal. I found a fun activity on-line where I hid clues around the house that the kids had to find to answer 18 questions about the human body. It was so much fun to watch them run around to find the clues without letting each other know where they found them because the first one to finish received a money deposit into their piggy bank. While having fun they learned a lot of facts they, or I for that matter, didn't know before. For example, I never knew the left lung was smaller than the right lung to make room for the heart. God is so amazing in the way he has knit us together. This scavenger hunt is in keeping with JW's science unit on the human body. We finished up a unit on the digestive system next will be the circulatory system. JW has such a gift for drawing & illustrating that I am using this to help reinforce lessons. She drew a beautiful colored picture of the digestive system and labeled its parts. I got the great idea of having her do this for each system we study and then construct a book when we are finished. I believe this will go a long way in helping her to really learn this material. I am also excited about finding her a drawing class being taught at a local arts center. It's a 6 week class that starts 2/15 once a week for an hour. There is a second 6 week class that builds upon the skills introduced in the first which I will probably register her for as well. I'm eager to see how her natural gifts develop as a result of this training.
I'm thankful to God in giving me creative ways to teach her lessons. Creativity is truely not one of my gifts so I know its from him.
But today things were back to normal. I found a fun activity on-line where I hid clues around the house that the kids had to find to answer 18 questions about the human body. It was so much fun to watch them run around to find the clues without letting each other know where they found them because the first one to finish received a money deposit into their piggy bank. While having fun they learned a lot of facts they, or I for that matter, didn't know before. For example, I never knew the left lung was smaller than the right lung to make room for the heart. God is so amazing in the way he has knit us together. This scavenger hunt is in keeping with JW's science unit on the human body. We finished up a unit on the digestive system next will be the circulatory system. JW has such a gift for drawing & illustrating that I am using this to help reinforce lessons. She drew a beautiful colored picture of the digestive system and labeled its parts. I got the great idea of having her do this for each system we study and then construct a book when we are finished. I believe this will go a long way in helping her to really learn this material. I am also excited about finding her a drawing class being taught at a local arts center. It's a 6 week class that starts 2/15 once a week for an hour. There is a second 6 week class that builds upon the skills introduced in the first which I will probably register her for as well. I'm eager to see how her natural gifts develop as a result of this training.
I'm thankful to God in giving me creative ways to teach her lessons. Creativity is truely not one of my gifts so I know its from him.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
JW's Diamante
Notebook
blue, flat
falling, dropping, hitting
Teacher, Student, Controls, TV
screaming, running, flying
fun, challenging
Videogame
blue, flat
falling, dropping, hitting
Teacher, Student, Controls, TV
screaming, running, flying
fun, challenging
Videogame
Week 4, Day 3
Since we've begun, I've blogged everyday until now. I guess I felt there wasn't anything new going on so I didn't want to post the same schedule everyday.
However, yesterday was the first day of the 4H Veterinary Program that I enrolled Jasmine in. It is a 5 class session on animal care and the profession itself. Because this class was 7:15 - 8:15 pm the younger two got the benefit of attending some of the session. This first night was spent on touring the facility, looking at xrays and discussing animal diseases. JW said they saw pictures of parasites, ticks and other gross things. A golden retriever was on site for petting and "examining."
The animal clinic was minutes from Mt. Vernon which I had never seen. It was dark and snowy so it was hard to see, but we got a glimpse. This stop is definitely on my list of places to see in the very near future.
Today is also an interesting day. Because of the snow, school is out so the younger two have enjoyed participating in our timed math drills this morning and everyone got a chance to write their own diamante poems during Language Arts. This was one of those unplanned moments where I was able to see how working with more than one child can be juggled. They thought today was going to be a sit in front of the TV kind of day -NOT!
However, yesterday was the first day of the 4H Veterinary Program that I enrolled Jasmine in. It is a 5 class session on animal care and the profession itself. Because this class was 7:15 - 8:15 pm the younger two got the benefit of attending some of the session. This first night was spent on touring the facility, looking at xrays and discussing animal diseases. JW said they saw pictures of parasites, ticks and other gross things. A golden retriever was on site for petting and "examining."
The animal clinic was minutes from Mt. Vernon which I had never seen. It was dark and snowy so it was hard to see, but we got a glimpse. This stop is definitely on my list of places to see in the very near future.
Today is also an interesting day. Because of the snow, school is out so the younger two have enjoyed participating in our timed math drills this morning and everyone got a chance to write their own diamante poems during Language Arts. This was one of those unplanned moments where I was able to see how working with more than one child can be juggled. They thought today was going to be a sit in front of the TV kind of day -NOT!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Week 3, Day 3
We are moving right along, making good progress especially in Math & Language Arts.
We are starting a Poetry Unit in Language Arts this week and moving into some new concepts in Math. To this point in Math, we were mainly reviewing previously introduced concepts. In science we're starting the human body unit - nutrition, skeletal system, digestive system, etc. This is a lot more interesting than plants and animals. History is slow as we go, can't seem to dig out of the American Revolution. I think this is JW's least favorite subject, so the information doesn't stick as quickly. Overall, I'm proud of our progress and I continue to search out as many resources as I can to perfect our approach.
We are starting a Poetry Unit in Language Arts this week and moving into some new concepts in Math. To this point in Math, we were mainly reviewing previously introduced concepts. In science we're starting the human body unit - nutrition, skeletal system, digestive system, etc. This is a lot more interesting than plants and animals. History is slow as we go, can't seem to dig out of the American Revolution. I think this is JW's least favorite subject, so the information doesn't stick as quickly. Overall, I'm proud of our progress and I continue to search out as many resources as I can to perfect our approach.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Week 3, Day 2
Well Classical Conversations was a real treat today.
JW was into every lesson. First the pre-algebra lessons were introduced, JW was able to solve problems along with the other students; second, was the Latin lesson - absolutely intriguing; lastly, rhetoric and history. Students presented reports on Asian countries for history - Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, and China. Rhetoric consisted of each student reading aloud their paper comparing/contrasting the characters of Narnia to the "characters" in Genesis. All of this took place from 8:30 am 'till noon. I had to leave to see what the younger kids did in their session leaving JW to observe the lesson from 1 - 3 pm.
I finished filling out the application to participate next year during the lunch hour, that's how convinced I was that this group will be a great supplement to our homeschool next year. I am looking forward to learning as well. It's amazing for me to revisit the fundamentals I've been taught. All the disconnected pieces of information retained over the years began to connect and come to life.
This is truly a journey with so many twists and turns and exciting things around each corner. I really see how this is changing me, eventhough I was being prepared all the while. Hindsight is 20/20. Even my temperment is changing. I find myself being more patient with the children, eager to listen to all of their stories and details, loving and hugging them more. My motivation for what I do is shifting from doing things b/c they have to be done to doing things b/c I want to do them, it is a joy.
JW was into every lesson. First the pre-algebra lessons were introduced, JW was able to solve problems along with the other students; second, was the Latin lesson - absolutely intriguing; lastly, rhetoric and history. Students presented reports on Asian countries for history - Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, and China. Rhetoric consisted of each student reading aloud their paper comparing/contrasting the characters of Narnia to the "characters" in Genesis. All of this took place from 8:30 am 'till noon. I had to leave to see what the younger kids did in their session leaving JW to observe the lesson from 1 - 3 pm.
I finished filling out the application to participate next year during the lunch hour, that's how convinced I was that this group will be a great supplement to our homeschool next year. I am looking forward to learning as well. It's amazing for me to revisit the fundamentals I've been taught. All the disconnected pieces of information retained over the years began to connect and come to life.
This is truly a journey with so many twists and turns and exciting things around each corner. I really see how this is changing me, eventhough I was being prepared all the while. Hindsight is 20/20. Even my temperment is changing. I find myself being more patient with the children, eager to listen to all of their stories and details, loving and hugging them more. My motivation for what I do is shifting from doing things b/c they have to be done to doing things b/c I want to do them, it is a joy.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Week 3, Day 1
I didn't blog on Friday as it was not a very good day school wise. But today was a good day. I like the Language Arts curriculum that I received last week. The math and LA resources I have make my mornings run easily. JW took her first Math test today and scored 99%. Twenty questions of which #20 was a 4 part question. She got one of the four answers incorrect. I'm thinking I should start to double up the math lessons to make sure we are finished with this book by the end of the "school year."
We are off to the Classical Conversations open house tomorrow. We will be able to observe the day to get a glimpse of how the program works. I'm really looking forward to this. I made a list of the goals I wanted to accomplish at the beginning of this experience, one of which was to improve JW's oral communication skills. This program works well with accomplishing this goal.
We are off to the Classical Conversations open house tomorrow. We will be able to observe the day to get a glimpse of how the program works. I'm really looking forward to this. I made a list of the goals I wanted to accomplish at the beginning of this experience, one of which was to improve JW's oral communication skills. This program works well with accomplishing this goal.
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