January 4, 2010

What to do?

Ever snce I've subscribed to this idea of 'self-teaching', and 'be happy with the curriculum you have and stick with it' theory (because you're always going to find something more exciting next year...but don't change!!)

:( I've been bored!!  I'll catch myself looking..oops!! But we weren't going to use that next year..remember?  You've used unit studies before...you simply DO NOT have time...at least that is what my 'inner-voice' screams...and it's true.

Yes, the unschool part of me is still there.  If I were to live a different life, I would do this.  If I weren't stuck working...had the money.  Unschooling, to me, if done correctly can be a good thing!!  For us: it would mean the kids staying home, watching television with an occassional visit to the library.  No field trips to aquairiums, etc.  Got to be able to have fun and work with it.  Exposure is the key.

So needless to say, not much has changed.  I am starting on my 'childhood memories book' the kids requested.  I am really trying to remember some things/find photos but I fear I may have to draw some.

One fun note!!

Rachel is always fighting with her math.  So the other day I told her, do all the even problems, if you get them all right (she corrects her own), then you don't have to do math the next day.

:) yesterday, perfect score!! 

She tries harder when there's something for her

Happy Homeschooling!

January 2, 2010

Happy Birthday Rachel!!

My big girl turned 9 years old today

:)

Things have been busy here.  We went on with school as usual today, but didn't get as much done as I had hoped..

:( teacher fell asleep!! 

From now on I've alerted Rachel that she is going to have to take responsibility for her own schooling.  So if I should happen to fall asleep, the day must go on!!

Gracie finally recieved her books as well. I have her on the Spectrum series.  I purchased the math (Spectrum) from a seller on Amazon.com....and wouldn't you know??? Still haven't received it!!  Guess the $1, or $2 was too good to be true.. Still hoping it arrives though:) 

Gracie has:

Math, Reading, (along with Abeka Readers, she received 'Tiptoes' in the mail also), writing,phonics, sight words, and spelling.  The Language Arts doesn't start till grade 2, geography and vocabulary till grade 3.  I don't bother with history till around grade 3 or 4 either (proficient readers).

Rachel has been doing pretty good, but with my 'classical' side;)  Well, lets just say the history reader she is using (Story of America)

This 'technically' is a grade 4 book, it was the only one I had however and didn't want to go and spend more money if we were going to read this one anyways.  It's fairly easy to read and she has no problem understanding it. 

Anyways, it is just 'one grade...But when she got to the 'Viking' chapter (around 2, maybe chapter 3), I threw in this book that came highly reccommended through Veritas Press...

It's a fun book that tells the history in a cartoon-like fashion.  Rahcel seems to enjoy it.  Anyways, I checked out a bunch of books from the library and came upon this one.  It not only covers Greenland, but also the 'Viking history' as well.  So I told her to read this after she gets done with the Vikiing book.

We've also been reading fun books about Columbus and his life.

Then when she is done, these books also came in.  (Will probably have to 'recheck' them out;)

Pocahontas by Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire.

All their books are excellent!

An Incredible Journey, My Life with the Indians: the true story of Mary Jemison

Anyways, it's looking like this may be their only history text for quite a while!!;) 

That is not a bad thing, though.  I'm just using the history text as a guide.  Rachel is enjoying all the little changes, reading fun stories.  With so many books, I am trying to keep track of them all here so when Gracie is ready I can just refer to this list:)

Happy Homeschooling!!

January 28, 2010

Life has been exciting here with plenty of changes!!

We have added several of short 'recesses' throughout the day.  The kids wake up, do some chores, run around outside, do a lesson, run around outside, another lesson, run around and play, come back in for lunch, run around and play, come in and lay down while mom reads stories, when 3yo falls asleep, we're up again!;) lol..

I have read about 'Self-Teaching' by Joanne Calderwood.  Her children literally teach themselves!! 

http://homeschoolcoach.wordpress.com/welcome/

She also has a yahoo group where she lists curriculums that can be easily adapted to self-teaching, or, as she says, she has yet to find a curriculum that  couldn't be adapted/wasn't good.

:) Which was good, as I didn't feel I had to change! :)

Anyways, the kids are enjoying Spectrum, so I went out and got all the books in Abeka, except for math and history.  The history is kind of dry, and I am still in my classical phase;) I chose 'Christian Liberty Press', as I like their books better.  Still kind of story-like..with questions.  But I don't start history till around grade 3/4. 

I use the spectrum math for my 7 yo.  My soon-to-be 9yo moved very quickly in math and  has already started saxon 4/5.  My 7yo, however, needs things introduced one subject at a time, instead of one.  This didn't work for my 9yo..she got bored.  So I plan to have her use Spectrum until she reaches about grade 4/5, and move to Saxon.

(Rachel is studying this in her history book)

  We purchased the Dive CD for this (which can be used with all the other kids), and she now has her own teacher online!!  If she has a question, she just puts in the CD, goes into that section and it gets re-explained to her!!

I am very leary about wasting time with science, since it's only repeated in high school.  I am, however, considering adding it in after grade 3 or 4. 

I will also be adding Prima Latina on grade 3 (in my 9yo case, in June), and then starting French Learnables in fall (or for others, grade 3).  The Prima Latina has a DVD, and the Learnables has a Cd-rom, no teaching by me!!! :) Got to love it!!

Anyways, this is our update!! 

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Okay, guess who we're watching now?? 

Currently I am fighting with the computer trying to post pictures on our website...for some reason our computer does not want to open up the site so I'm guessing I'll have to go to the library to see if it 'is' our computer (if it takes too long to open, our computer will sometimes just refuse to try any harder???), or if the site if actually down!  This is making me nervous, so I may just transfer all my photos to my blog.  If you open up this blog to find 100+ photos, you know what happened;)

We're still on Chrstmas break here, I guess.  We had one day of school but that didn't really last long...   Will try again Monday.  The latest debate in homeschool is what language the kids should be learning.  I think french is a good language, has a good latin root, will help in reading.  Start Spanish on grade 6, choose another language at high school.  DH would like Spanish first...my argument: what's the difference?  For me, however, I am looking at Spanish and thinking it may be an easier first language since the phonics are more consistent with English and I can help her, versus French where I know nothing about the language.

Oh, well. If anyone has any experience on this, LMK.

Happy Homeschooling!!

:)

December 17, 2009

Finally got the snapshot off the video of Gracie's Birthday.

Here she is in her birthday present from Aunt Suzie, looking like a model!!!

Love this pic.

:) Will post more later

December 16, 2009

Last day of co-op :(  Kind of sad/love the fact I can spend $$$ elsewhere! ;)  I guess they didn't get enough volunteers to teach.  If they get some, they'll let us know.  Otherwise, they're going to re-try for fall.  I think Colette will be old enough to be in a younger class then, so I can try teaching a class this fall :)  I want to teach a unit-study type of study with the Little House picture books.  The classes are very non-academic, but more fun.  I would like to do a class for the younger kids. The parents are all required to volunteer in classes, so I'll have ample assistance!

Had some good news today!!  Gracie was in the younger K-1 class for language arts, her teacher said if they do have class next semester however, she'd probably get more out of  the grade 2-3 class!! Her reading and writing was high enough she said :) Proud mommy!!

It didn't help that Gracie/Rachel/Colette have friends, 3 of which are in one family that decided to bypass next semester even 'if' they have it!  It was interefering with their schoolwork, but she is willing to come back for just fall semester.  She is going to try and find a Christian soccer team, as their old coach has left.  Christian sports are different, it's just for fun.  No competition, parents aren't allowed to yell for sidelines (they'll just kick them out.).  The rules are clear.  So if she finds one, all her younger kids (has 7) play soccer and I think Gracie will enjoy that.  Rachel is reluctant to do any sports so I may not bother to spend the money.  (In PE she just kind of stands around, Gracie tries)

I bought a book today :)  It's a used book, but  goes with what Rachel is learning in Time4learning-Vikings. 

It comes highly reccommended, as is suppose to be almost cartoon-like.  I think she'll like this one!!  I am getting these ideas from their friends mom, lol... whatever they're studying-read a book on it!  How she gets the history books involved.  So I'm sure they're appreceating that!!

She'll be studying Eskimos next (or I guess now they call them Inuit).  Can not find any books on them.  I thought for sure they'd have some kind of story-life book. 

Happy Homeschooling!!

God bless!!

Yes, we're still alive ;)

Haven't had much time to post lately, sorry!!
Nothing really exciting going on.  The kids are using 'Time 4 Learning' (http://www.time4learning.com/), and Rachel is using Saxon also.  Time4learning has become a great supplement!!!

Today the kids are going to co-op.  They are having a Christmas party today, and I believe the next semester will start after Christmas.  I'm still not sure what classes they'll be taking. 

A few days back we went and got the kids ornaments.  Colette (3) got an ornament shaped like a present.  I woke up the other day and she was all, 'I broke it mommy! I broke it!'   Turns out, she was trying to open it up to see what was inside (nothing, it was solid), and she was banging the corner on the door to pry  it open! lol...crazy kid
Will be back later!!