What to do for science? There are so many options out there, some cheap, some expensive, some in-between. Some come with everything, others give you lists of supplies that you "should have on hand"...
What I want in a science program:
Something engaging and informative
A variety of topics (biology, chemistry, physics, etc.)
Easy to put together hands-on activities (i.e. labs)
Something comprehensive that they can build on
Under consideration, I have the following:
Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding
Pros: Covers a wide variety of topics; easy to implement hands-on activities; future levels coming out soon
Cons: Harder to adapt for a 4th grader than I thought; figuring out order of lessons a bit difficult; would have to supplement with lots of library materials; lots of teacher prep
Real Science 4 Kids
Pros: My kids have gone through pre-level 1 biology (a couple of years ago) and loved it; very clear text; could easily supplement text with good hands-on activities
Cons: the price; some of the projects aren't great, and the lab reporting is a lot of writing
Note: Truthfully, if I had the money to spend, this would be my number one choice, but even used, they're costly. If I could, I would buy just the student texts (pre-level 1 for Fairy, level 1 for Elf) for biology, chemistry and physics, and we would come up with our own activities/lab reports.
Unit Studies
Pros: We could choose our own topics, and follow them for whatever period of time we maintained interest
Cons: Again, a lot of teacher prep, library research, etc.
Units from E=McQ
Pros: Can mix and match units from 4 different disciplines; funny and informative; easy hands-on projects
Cons: Cost (again). At $15 a unit, this could add up quickly! Also printing costs - since it's a download, I would have to print out everything I wanted in print!
Nature Studies
Pros: Very easy to implement and very inexpensive; can follow kids' (nature-related) interests; it would give me an excuse to buy this book; would connect the kids with our local environment
Cons: doesn't cover all the areas of science I would like
Hmmmph. I'm sure there are lots of ideas/curriculums I am missing. Thoughts? Suggestions? Ideas?
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
Music and art books...
Music Related Books
Meet the Orchestra
Bach's Goldberg Variations
Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue
Can You Hear It?
The Farewell Symphony
The Heroic Symphony
Story of the Orchestra
Sergei Prokofiev's Peter & the Wolf
Pictures at an Exhibition
Those Amazing Musical Instruments!
The Jazz Fly
I Know a Shy Fellow Who Swallowed a Cello
Mozart Finds a Melody
The 39 Apartments of Ludwig Van Beethoven
I, Vivaldi
Beethoven's Wig
And of course, the Getting to Know the World's Greatest Composers series
Art Related Books
Katie's Picture Show
Katie and the Mona Lisa
Katie and the British Artists
Katie Meets the Impressionists
Katie and the Sunflowers
The Magical Garden of Claude Monet
van Gogh and the Sunflowers
Degas and the Little Dancer
Picasso and the Girl with the Ponytail
Matisse, the King of Color
Cezanne and the Apple Boy
Dali and the Path of Dreams
Through Georgia's Eyes
Frida Kahlo: The Artist who Painted Herself
Action Jackson
Klimt and His Cat
And then there are two good series... Smart About Art and Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists
Meet the Orchestra
Bach's Goldberg Variations
Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue
Can You Hear It?
The Farewell Symphony
The Heroic Symphony
Story of the Orchestra
Sergei Prokofiev's Peter & the Wolf
Pictures at an Exhibition
Those Amazing Musical Instruments!
The Jazz Fly
I Know a Shy Fellow Who Swallowed a Cello
Mozart Finds a Melody
The 39 Apartments of Ludwig Van Beethoven
I, Vivaldi
Beethoven's Wig
And of course, the Getting to Know the World's Greatest Composers series
Art Related Books
Katie's Picture Show
Katie and the Mona Lisa
Katie and the British Artists
Katie Meets the Impressionists
Katie and the Sunflowers
The Magical Garden of Claude Monet
van Gogh and the Sunflowers
Degas and the Little Dancer
Picasso and the Girl with the Ponytail
Matisse, the King of Color
Cezanne and the Apple Boy
Dali and the Path of Dreams
Through Georgia's Eyes
Frida Kahlo: The Artist who Painted Herself
Action Jackson
Klimt and His Cat
And then there are two good series... Smart About Art and Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Changed my blog's name...
Sorry to all of you who have it linked on your blogs! I just got tired of the title.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Goals...
Since we're not really doing lessons at the moment, I don't have a weekly report of that sort. Instead...
I was talking with my husband about various homeschooling matters, when it occured to me that we haven't actually set any goals for homeschooling, other than to provide what we hope will be a better education than the public schools are offering. And since we mix approaches, I can't just take the goals of any one of those and say "this is it - these are our goals." So I thought I'd come up with something...
Goals for OakLeaf School:
Reading & writing: I would love my kids to be comfortable with and to enjoy reading and writing. I would like them to appreciate a wide range of books, have exposure to great writers and classics, and to understand social references to such writers and their works. I would like them to feel comfortable writing as well - everything from a business letter to a creative piece. I want them to be able to express themselves in writing, easily and fluently.
Math: I want them to understand the why's and how's, not just use rote memorization. I'd like them to see the connections between the lessons they do and the real world. While we are very happy with our choice of math curricula, I am opening up more and more to adding in activities, like math games, real life math situations, and so forth, to help foster those connections.
Science: I love science, and I want them to love it too. I want them to have a solid foundation on which they can build in future years. I also want them to have fun with science, to explore and expand, which after all, is much of what science is all about. I want too for them to be familiar with the natural world around them, to know the birds, trees, animals and plants that live in our corner of the world.
History: I'd like them to have a good understanding/familiarity with both the history of our own country and the world. While we aren't following a strict chronological flow at this point, I think over the years, they will build a sense of the tapestry of time. I want them to have some knowledge of great people and the events that shaped the world we live in. I want them to understand social references as I mentioned in Reading & Writing.
Art & Music: I want my children to be familiar with the works of great artists, musical and otherwise. Both my children are budding artists and both adore music, so this has never been a challenge for me. I want to help them build a sense of appreciation various approaches in art and music.
Other: I want above all to raise happy, inquisitive, curious and thinking children. I try to support them in their interests while exposing them to the topics above. I also think that the home arts are important - everything from sewing and cooking to changing a tire, planting a garden, pruning a tree, and more. Practical knowledge to balance out all the in-the-head work we cover. I want to raise lifelong learners, who seek new challenges and feel motivated to explore their interests.
I was talking with my husband about various homeschooling matters, when it occured to me that we haven't actually set any goals for homeschooling, other than to provide what we hope will be a better education than the public schools are offering. And since we mix approaches, I can't just take the goals of any one of those and say "this is it - these are our goals." So I thought I'd come up with something...
Goals for OakLeaf School:
Reading & writing: I would love my kids to be comfortable with and to enjoy reading and writing. I would like them to appreciate a wide range of books, have exposure to great writers and classics, and to understand social references to such writers and their works. I would like them to feel comfortable writing as well - everything from a business letter to a creative piece. I want them to be able to express themselves in writing, easily and fluently.
Math: I want them to understand the why's and how's, not just use rote memorization. I'd like them to see the connections between the lessons they do and the real world. While we are very happy with our choice of math curricula, I am opening up more and more to adding in activities, like math games, real life math situations, and so forth, to help foster those connections.
Science: I love science, and I want them to love it too. I want them to have a solid foundation on which they can build in future years. I also want them to have fun with science, to explore and expand, which after all, is much of what science is all about. I want too for them to be familiar with the natural world around them, to know the birds, trees, animals and plants that live in our corner of the world.
History: I'd like them to have a good understanding/familiarity with both the history of our own country and the world. While we aren't following a strict chronological flow at this point, I think over the years, they will build a sense of the tapestry of time. I want them to have some knowledge of great people and the events that shaped the world we live in. I want them to understand social references as I mentioned in Reading & Writing.
Art & Music: I want my children to be familiar with the works of great artists, musical and otherwise. Both my children are budding artists and both adore music, so this has never been a challenge for me. I want to help them build a sense of appreciation various approaches in art and music.
Other: I want above all to raise happy, inquisitive, curious and thinking children. I try to support them in their interests while exposing them to the topics above. I also think that the home arts are important - everything from sewing and cooking to changing a tire, planting a garden, pruning a tree, and more. Practical knowledge to balance out all the in-the-head work we cover. I want to raise lifelong learners, who seek new challenges and feel motivated to explore their interests.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Summer vacation musings...
So far it's been a lazy week or so, though I can't say it feels very summery since the weather has been on the cooler side until the last couple of days. However, if things continue like yesterday, then I'd say summer is finally here!
What we've been up to... Elf is reading away like always. At my mom's house (his Nonna's house), he is reading Pippi in the South Seas. Here, he's switching back and forth between The Mouse & The Motorcycle, and The Neverending Story. I have yet to make him do any math! However, I've been reading from The Ultimate Book of Homeschooling Ideas, and have found lots of clever, easy-to-make/implement math games that I'd like to try out. Games for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, fractions, money, and more!
Fairy is working her way through The Reading Lesson. She seems to finally, really be getting it. I love the format of the book - it is simple, with a clean, clear layout that appeals to both of us. I take it as a very good sign that she brings the book to me, asking for a lesson! I'm not sure yet how far we'll get through it by the end of summer, but any progress is good progress! While she flew through the first lesson, I am trying to take the time to review everything introduced as well.
I'm still reading Ronia, The Robber's Daughter to both, and after that have decided to try Mary Poppins with them. I loved the Mary Poppins series as a child, and both my children love the movie, so I think they may enjoy the books even more. I also really want to start The Borrowers series with them this summer, and Swallows & Amazons. Then there are the Green Knowe books.... so many good books and so little time! I personally am enjoying Sand Daughter, and would definately recommend it for adult leisure reading.
I made my decision about Oak Meadow. While Elf and I want to love OM, it just doesn't sit right with either of us. I can't put my finger on it, and I know that for many, it is an excellent curriculum, just not us, at least not right now. Several people said I was foolish to "give in to" Elf on this one, but I honestly don't have the time or energy to fight my children on homeschooling, nor do I think I should have to. Homeschooling for us, while being educational, should also be enjoyable.
Instead, both kids have expressed an interest in learning American history, and I think right now they are at a great age for all the fun projects out there related to explorers, Colonial times, and so on. I've been looking at THIS with lustful eyes. I figure if we were to go this route, we could easily do the first three units (New World Explorers, Colonial Life, and The American Revolution) over the next year, with time for extra books, etc. I love all the hands-on projects, and both kids have been begging to try lapbooking. I am thinking that we'll give the Explorers a chance, see how we like it. While it isn't completely secular, a few people I've spoken to say it is easy enough to adapt to a secular manner of teaching.
Oh, I almost forgot! I also am running a Flat Stanley project on a homeschooling board. So far, about 30 families in approximately 17 states (and two additional countries) have signed up. The kids and I are going to make a binder of all the states our Flat Children visit, with the state flag, flower, motto, and all on a page per state. A great and fun way to learn some U.S. geography! And we signed up for a local art card exchange, which I need to check on since I haven't heard anything since signing up.
I also want to take the kids on some field trips of our own this summer, like the zoo, an art museum, a cheese factory, and more. Explore our local world!
Other than that, all is about the same. Work is work, our garden is growing, and the kids are enjoying their leisure time. Hope everyone else is having a good summer!
What we've been up to... Elf is reading away like always. At my mom's house (his Nonna's house), he is reading Pippi in the South Seas. Here, he's switching back and forth between The Mouse & The Motorcycle, and The Neverending Story. I have yet to make him do any math! However, I've been reading from The Ultimate Book of Homeschooling Ideas, and have found lots of clever, easy-to-make/implement math games that I'd like to try out. Games for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, fractions, money, and more!
Fairy is working her way through The Reading Lesson. She seems to finally, really be getting it. I love the format of the book - it is simple, with a clean, clear layout that appeals to both of us. I take it as a very good sign that she brings the book to me, asking for a lesson! I'm not sure yet how far we'll get through it by the end of summer, but any progress is good progress! While she flew through the first lesson, I am trying to take the time to review everything introduced as well.
I'm still reading Ronia, The Robber's Daughter to both, and after that have decided to try Mary Poppins with them. I loved the Mary Poppins series as a child, and both my children love the movie, so I think they may enjoy the books even more. I also really want to start The Borrowers series with them this summer, and Swallows & Amazons. Then there are the Green Knowe books.... so many good books and so little time! I personally am enjoying Sand Daughter, and would definately recommend it for adult leisure reading.
I made my decision about Oak Meadow. While Elf and I want to love OM, it just doesn't sit right with either of us. I can't put my finger on it, and I know that for many, it is an excellent curriculum, just not us, at least not right now. Several people said I was foolish to "give in to" Elf on this one, but I honestly don't have the time or energy to fight my children on homeschooling, nor do I think I should have to. Homeschooling for us, while being educational, should also be enjoyable.
Instead, both kids have expressed an interest in learning American history, and I think right now they are at a great age for all the fun projects out there related to explorers, Colonial times, and so on. I've been looking at THIS with lustful eyes. I figure if we were to go this route, we could easily do the first three units (New World Explorers, Colonial Life, and The American Revolution) over the next year, with time for extra books, etc. I love all the hands-on projects, and both kids have been begging to try lapbooking. I am thinking that we'll give the Explorers a chance, see how we like it. While it isn't completely secular, a few people I've spoken to say it is easy enough to adapt to a secular manner of teaching.
Oh, I almost forgot! I also am running a Flat Stanley project on a homeschooling board. So far, about 30 families in approximately 17 states (and two additional countries) have signed up. The kids and I are going to make a binder of all the states our Flat Children visit, with the state flag, flower, motto, and all on a page per state. A great and fun way to learn some U.S. geography! And we signed up for a local art card exchange, which I need to check on since I haven't heard anything since signing up.
I also want to take the kids on some field trips of our own this summer, like the zoo, an art museum, a cheese factory, and more. Explore our local world!
Other than that, all is about the same. Work is work, our garden is growing, and the kids are enjoying their leisure time. Hope everyone else is having a good summer!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
A Few Words Wednesday...
Our baby birds have hatched! There is a nest under the overhang outside one of the bedroom windows that has hosted a number of bird families over the last couple of years. I took the pictures from inside so as not to disturb the very busy parents. We counted 5 baby birds! I still need to identify the parents - I think they are swallows. The last birds to nest here were Black Phoebes.Tuesday, June 1, 2010
And we're done...
We had our last meeting with our Resource Teacher this morning. Turned in all the books, math manipulatives (M is making a set of wooden base 10 blocks and some pattern blocks for us), and so forth. Tomorrow there is an optional beach gathering for friends and family of those in the charter school, but I am not sure if we'll go or not. It might be nice to just have a day off at home! Besides, most of the parents I knew there have moved on. We were going to go roller skating today, but somehow I misunderstood the times - thought it was 12 to 4, and when we called, they said 2 to 4, so instead we'll go out for an ice cream treat at a very small place that makes all their own ice cream by hand, from local ingredients - yummy!
Anyhow, we're home now (obviously), and enjoying summer freedom! I'm giving the kids this week and next to just hang out and have fun, then we'll start on light summer work - just (a little) math and reading. Which brings me to my next rambling point... as my faithful readers know, I got Oak Meadow 4 recently for Elf. We have spent the last couple of days looking at it together, and, while he likes some of it (namely the integration of art), he does NOT care for the rest of it. His commentary went something like this...
"But Mommy, there is a lot of writing, and I don't like writing. I thought we were just going to do nature journals, and that's not in here. And what happened to that other writing thingy you showed me? Can't I do that one? And I want to learn about knights and castles!"
Crap. Sorry, but crap. I spent weeks looking for Oak Meadow at a good price! But he got me thinking too... with everything else we have on our plates, do I really have time to coach two kids through entirely seperate programs? Oak Meadow is one curriculum I have found that does not lend itself well to combining ages. Again, crap. Anyone want a 4th grade OM syllabus and teacher's guide? ;)
Anyhow, here we are, free from school, and I am worrying about mid August! I think I'll worry about it later, and just enjoy summer right now. Besides, I always have my back-up Plan B! And I do have my summer plans cemented... see below...
Elf's Summer School
Bellworks Mathematics Series, book 3 (4-8 problems daily)
The Ralph S. Mouse series
Fairy's Summer School
MathSteps 1 (1 page daily)
The Reading Lesson (aiming to finish lessons 1-10 over the summer)
Both
Since we won't be getting to U.S. History any time soon if we continue with chronological history, I thought we might read through The American Story series over the summer. We'll also read various library books and are considering Swallows and Amazons, The Princess Bride, and The Neverending Story. For audio books, we're going through a bunch of Roald Dahl's writing.
Anyhow, we're home now (obviously), and enjoying summer freedom! I'm giving the kids this week and next to just hang out and have fun, then we'll start on light summer work - just (a little) math and reading. Which brings me to my next rambling point... as my faithful readers know, I got Oak Meadow 4 recently for Elf. We have spent the last couple of days looking at it together, and, while he likes some of it (namely the integration of art), he does NOT care for the rest of it. His commentary went something like this...
"But Mommy, there is a lot of writing, and I don't like writing. I thought we were just going to do nature journals, and that's not in here. And what happened to that other writing thingy you showed me? Can't I do that one? And I want to learn about knights and castles!"
Crap. Sorry, but crap. I spent weeks looking for Oak Meadow at a good price! But he got me thinking too... with everything else we have on our plates, do I really have time to coach two kids through entirely seperate programs? Oak Meadow is one curriculum I have found that does not lend itself well to combining ages. Again, crap. Anyone want a 4th grade OM syllabus and teacher's guide? ;)
Anyhow, here we are, free from school, and I am worrying about mid August! I think I'll worry about it later, and just enjoy summer right now. Besides, I always have my back-up Plan B! And I do have my summer plans cemented... see below...
Elf's Summer School
Bellworks Mathematics Series, book 3 (4-8 problems daily)
The Ralph S. Mouse series
Fairy's Summer School
MathSteps 1 (1 page daily)
The Reading Lesson (aiming to finish lessons 1-10 over the summer)
Both
Since we won't be getting to U.S. History any time soon if we continue with chronological history, I thought we might read through The American Story series over the summer. We'll also read various library books and are considering Swallows and Amazons, The Princess Bride, and The Neverending Story. For audio books, we're going through a bunch of Roald Dahl's writing.
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