Before midnight gets here and it is too late...

Week 8: 10/24-10/28... Pumpkins to Acrobats to Bugs...

We started our week with a trip to a nearly Pumpkin Patch/Fall Festival. There the kids got to pet goats...

And really cute little donkeys...

Hold some starfish...

Pose as a farmer...

Pose in front of a mountain lion...

And of course, pick out some pumpkins...

There were also live birds (a barn owl and a red tailed hawk), all kinds of insects, snakes and lizards, a Native American village, a hay-bale maze, and the hayride out to the pumpkins! Not to mention crafts, music, and so forth.

Other than that...

Language Arts
Cricket read two Nora Gaydos books this week, worked on two lessons from her word families book, did 8 pages in Explode the Code, and did 2 lessons in Primary Language Lessons, focusing on observation and a picture study! Her reading is coming along nicely, at long, loooooooong last. Phew! I have also noticed an improvement in her handwriting.

Bug did three lessons in Intermediate Language Lessons, mostly learning about proper use of is/are and was/were, as well as I/her/him/hers/his/ours/us. He did work a bit in his Spectrum Spelling book, but has asked to switch back to a combo of Natural Speller and Spelling City next week, so I'll set up his word lists there on Sunday. He also made a couple of entries in his journal.

Both kids also wrote short poems for free entry to an insect event (see Science below).

Math
Both took and passed their quizzes this week, Bug with 100% and Cricket with 95%, which she only got because on the last question she was looking over her shoulder talking to the dog and clicked on the wrong button! They both completed another 2 lessons as well. I decided to go ahead and order Life of Fred: Fractions for Bug as a supplement/fun math book, and am still debating which of the elementary level books to get for Cricket. I think the author recommends just starting at the beginning for any kid under 4th grade... I'll have to double check his website.

History
We started reading from Year of Columbus: 1492 this week, and really enjoyed it. We also looked up images of the artwork mentioned, specifically da Vinchi's Last Supper and Michaelangelo's Pieta. We talked about Copernicus and what people thought about the shape and size of the world at that time. We've decided also to start some "social studies" again, focusing on world cultures, and finally putting into use my plans for Cricket for the year, since she is less involved in history than Bug. I think since we don't do tons of history, she could do both, and Cyrus can start integrating more mythology into his history studies. I also ordered a copy of Social Studies Through Children's Literature, which looks intriguing. Our library has Science Through Children's Literature though, so I placed that on hold.

Science
We learned a lot about farm animals this week, since we went to a friend's farm on Thursday. This was in addition to all we learned on Sunday about insects and snakes! At the farm, we got to hold one-week old-chicks, see a big cow that was a tiny little calf just such a short time ago! Cricket actually helped bottle-feed it as a calf. We learned about a few different breeds of chicken, and in the car on the way home, we discussed family versus factory farms, proper chicken care, and vegetable gardening. Tomorrow, we are off to an insect-fest hosted at the local university!

Geography
We started reading from Richard Halliburton's Complete Book of Marvels this week. The first chapter is about the Bay Bridge, stretching 8 miles from San Francisco to the East Bay. The kids were recently on that bridge when we drove across it on our way home from Disneyland, so they could picture the bridge quite well. Mr. Halliburton's descriptions are awesome, and I think we will really enjoy this book! I had a hard time setting it down when skimming through it before reading aloud. Even M came to listen in on this reading, and really enjoyed it.

Literature
Family reading this week was mainly Nurse Matilda, which sets the kids off in riots of laughter. Bug is still re-reading the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, and The Children of Green Knowe, as well as Calvin & Hobbes. I read from Squids Will Be Squids to the kids several days this week, and I read from All of a Kind Family Downtown to Cricket.

Other
Bug continued working on computer animation and physics. Cricket continued to be the cook's assistant for most dinners. We also went to a show at the local center for the arts... The Golden Dragon Acrobats! It was awe-inspiring, and we had a great time.

And that's really about it! Have a good weekend... I think we will!

Wordless Wednesday...

Through the car window (hence the water droplets) on my way to work.

Homeschool Resource Meme

Saw this on another blog, and she said to play along if I liked, so here we are!

1. One homeschooling book you have enjoyed.
The Relaxed Homeschool by Mary Hood. This is my go-to book when I am feeling that we might not be doing enough, or I find myself overplanning.

2. One resource you wouldn't be without.
The library! We can put books on hold from three counties, check out movies and audio books... if I didn't have the library we'd be broke from homeschooling alone!

3. One resource you wish you had never bought.
Hard one. I think I have learned something about what works and what doesn't from every purchase I have made, and I have managed to resell the things that didn't work.

4. One resource you enjoyed last year.
Explode the Code. It is straightforward, easy to use, and works! Besides, the kids like the humor in it.

5. One resource you will be using next year.
Teaching Textbooks. It is a great program for us this year, so we'll definitely be continuing with it.

6. One resource you would like to buy.
A really good microscope, specifically this one: Ultimate Binocular Microscope for Home Use. However, the price is well beyond my range, so I think we'll stick with the very good one that we already have.

7. One resource you wish existed.
An inexpensive machine that would correctly print and bind ebooks right here at home.

8. One homeschool catalog you enjoy reading.
Home Science Tools and Acorn Naturalists. Don't make me choose between the two!

9. One homeschooling website you use regularly.
Well Trained Mind, specifically the forums. There are so many people on there with so many different approaches! While I don't follow the WTM approach, I still get a lot out of the forums.

10. Tag other homeschoolers.
I'm Nobody! Who Are You?
Our Homeschool Journey
Two Kid Schoolhouse
Wild Roots

Week 7: 10/17-10/21, with PICTURES!

It has been a good week as far as schooling goes.

Language Arts
Cyrus wrote a short story for Intermediate Language Lessons, both a first and second/final draft, after completing a picture study the day before. He wrote some dialog for an animation program that he plays around with. We worked on spelling, though not from his spelling book, he read aloud a little to me (I like him to do this occasionally as it helps me see his comprehension levels). He also did a couple of pages in Word Roots.

Cassia worked through another 3 lessons in Easy Lessons for Teaching Word Families. She finished a lesson in Explode the Code, read a Nora Gaydos book to me with very little trouble, and is working on Green Eggs & Ham. I threw in a few blends during her word family work, and she can sound them out quite well!



Math
Both worked in Teaching Textbooks, completing another 3 lessons apiece. Cyrus got 100% on all lessons, and Cassia got over 90% on all lessons. Her occasional mistakes have to do more with carelessness than a lack of understanding. I am thinking of adding back in some Math Mammoth work, since I own all the topical series, and could easily tie this in to reinforce their Teaching Textbook lessons. Maybe send just a single page with them daily to my mom's house? At the very least, I plan to add in living math books again. I am still considering Life of Fred as a supplement too. I think both kids, especially Cyrus, would enjoy the books.

Science
I went ahead and did science with them individually this week. With Cyrus, we cuddled up in the big chair and started reading The Way We Work. He then drew and labeled a picture of a cell, and then wrote definitions for the labels. With Cassia, we cuddled up, again in the big chair, and we read about chickens in Clara Dillingham Pierson's Among the Night People. Cassia drew a picture of a chicken, a chick and some eggs, and added a sentence, carefully copied down.




A close-up of the cell drawing since it doesn't show too well in the picture above. I just like his happy face in that one!



History
We finished reading the D'Aulaire's Columbus, which was a lovely book. We read a little more in A First Book in American History, and I used the globe to show the kids where Italy, Portugal and Spain are. We have started reading You Wouldn't Want to Sail with Christopher Columbus as well. Both kids colored maps of the Mediterranean area where Columbus was born and grew up.

Literature
We are reading a compilation of the Nurse Matilda (aka Nanny McPhee) books at bedtime. So far, we have counted 31 children in the Brown family! The book is absolutely delightful so far. Cyrus is simultaneously re-reading the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series and has started The Children of Green Knowe. Cassia and I read Apples to Oregon, The Firebird, and another two chapters in All of a Kind Family Downtown. We also read the poem October's Bright Blue Weather by Helen Hunt Jackson. The kids really liked it, so I hope to read more poetry next week.

Other
Cyrus is working hard on shading in art, and is teaching himself, from a book, to draw facial features as well. He had his piano lesson this week, in which he did fairly well, but we are working hard to make sure he practices daily, which gives me time to really focus on Cassia's reading lessons.

Cassia has been helping daily in the kitchen. She loves to measure things, chop things up (yes, I let her use knives), stir and whisk things... she makes a great kitchen assistant.

Weekend Plans
Now that I have full weekends off from work, we can do fun stuff! This weekend we're headed off to a fall festival/pumpkin patch... oh and the library. We're looking forward to both!

Today's Reading Lesson...

I've been working with Cassia regularly on Easy Lessons for Teaching Word Families. We do this on a whiteboard, using one color of ink for the word family, and another for the starting letter(s). She loves this, and reads the words easily for the most part, even when I throw in blends, like the "cl" in "clock" today.

I also picked up Green Eggs and Ham at the library, and today we sat down and read through it together. She knows parts of it by memory, so she was able to "read" those parts. I sat down afterwards and made a word bank that I then printed in large font on card stock. I plan to cut these apart and go through 5 a day, in the fashion recommended in Home Education. For this, I will use the whiteboard too. I'll put a word on the board, go over it with her until she's comfortable with it, then ask her to find it in the pile of words for that day. Once she has all 5 down, she can play with them, making sentences, etc. The next day, we can review the words we covered the day before, then introduce 5 more. I am hoping that in 10 days, with this method, she will be able to read the entire book comfortably, since there are only 50 words in the entire book, including "a" and "I". This book was a benchmark in our home before, when I was teaching Cyrus to read. After he could read Green Eggs and Ham fluently, he was easily able to move on to other books, such as his beloved Calvin and Hobbes. I think Cassia may just move on to other beginner books, but believe me, this will be a major milestone in our house!

I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and it is so exciting!

Wordless Wednesday... Gone Fishing...

Since I already wrote a wordy post below, here's a not-wordy one.

Balance Part 4...

I am learning now how to balance my new job, homeschooling, housework, college, and other demands on my time. It isn't easy. Most days, we do get the basics done... I work and am learning the ins and outs of my new position, I get the dishes and laundry done (though not always put away), there is good food on the table, and we get through math, reading, and writing, and we do read bedtime stories most nights. However, we're barely touching on history and science, there is a lot more housework and yard work I would like to have done... I feel most days as if I am running from one thing to the next.

My solution? Scheduling. Yes, actually having and following a [loose] schedule. I need to make sure I set aside time for housework, for cooking, for homeschooling, for myself. That means I am not answering calls, or checking emails, or looking at facebook updates in the afternoons. Instead, after I get home with the kids, they can check on the pets and fill their food/water bowls. I can do a quick load of dishes and a half hour of cleaning. We can settle in and get more than the basics done. A break midway through homeschooling gives them time to stretch and get their blood moving, and me a chance to do another quick chore or two. Then back to homeschooling, finishing up in time for me to make dinner, and for them to do a few chores before having some play time. Sometime we have time to take a brisk walk, something I would do on a regular basis. They have a bedtime that is fairly early... I read to them, they brush their teeth, and head off to bed. Then I have time with M, and time to read - my time. This is how it needs to be if I am to actually get anything beyond the basics done.

We did figure out, more or less, science. Cyrus is very, very interested in human anatomy. Cassia is a little interested in that, but more in nature studies. So we will do both. Cassia can go along with Cyrus in anatomy studies, and Cyrus can listen in on The Burgess Bird Book for Children, but they don't have to as long as they are doing one or the other. I also changed up our history a little... we were reading each week from both A Little History of the World (ancient times) and A First Book in American History, but I have decided that for this year and the next few (I hope), we'll do American history up to winter (Christmas) break, and then world history the second part of the year. This allows for more rabbit trails along the way!

So what have we done this week so far? Cyrus is acing math. Parts of it challenge him... I can see him concentrating, though parts of it are easy. Cassia scored one low score in math, I think more from a lack of attention than anything else, so I had her go back and re-do everything she missed. Besides that, she is doing well. I put some living math books on hold at the library- Sir Cumference and the Great Knight of Angleland for Cassia, since she's learning about angles, along with Pigs in the Pantry for fun, and then The Grapes of Math along with Alexander Who Used to be Rich Last Sunday (which many people don't think of as a math book, but it can be!) for Cyrus. While Teaching Textbooks is working very well for us, I would like them to think about math in different ways!

Cyrus has been writing dialog on a computer animation program, and has done some work in Intermediate Language Lessons. We need to fit spelling in on a regular basis, though he is asking me more and more how things are spelled. Cassia worked in Explode the Code a bit, and has been reading to me from her Nora Gaydos' books. Next week I plan to tackle Green Eggs and Ham with her. Cyrus in the meantime, is re-reading his Diary of a Wimpy Kid books and has started Children of Green Knowe, one of my favorite childhood books.

Besides that, Cassia has been helping me with cooking, and Cyrus has spent a lot of time drawing. He is learning about shading, both from a book and from me, and is doing beautifully with it. We're really enjoying the Nurse Matilda (aka Nanny McPhee) book at bedtime.

Back to balance, I think we are all still settling in the groove of our new schedule around my new job. Trying to achieve balance is a constant act... never really an accomplishment that one is done with. I wrote about balance before, and much of what I wrote then hold true now. I still love the idea of a "harmoniously integrated whole", and am determined that someday we shall live that at least a little at a time. I do think too that there is a balance between schooling and unschooling, hence the multiple sciences and the rabbit trails.

Some days, it is like being on a tightrope, others a walk in the park.

Scientific musings....

I am just not thrilled with our science right now. Mostly in that it isn't happening. It isn't happening because once again, I just can't make up my mind!

Options I am considering:
1. Unit studies, starting with anatomy
2. Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding
3. Continuing with The Story Book of Science

Each of these has its pros and cons. Option 1 is something my kids are really interested in, so getting them to do it wouldn't be hard. And I have the materials on hand. But, I want them to understand and have some familiarity with many fields of science, not just one. Of course, we could and would study another field after this one, but then it would take quite some time (years?) to cover the various disciplines. Option 2 covers many different interwoven threads. Cons? It takes some time to set up, as I need supplemental materials due to different learning levels, and making sure I have everything on hand. On the other hand, I love the interconnectedness of it, the fact that the program assumes kids can learn some pretty intense concepts, and the fact that if we switched to this program, with the three eBooks I now own, we'd be covered for the next 3-4 years. Option 3 is, well, easy. I read, they narrate, we occasionally add in other books.

Hmmmm... I am finally happy with everything else we are doing. We are doing well with history; loving Primary and Intermediate Language Lessons for language arts; Cassia's supplementary phonics work is going really, really well; and math is great... it is just the d@rn science that is throwing me for a loop! We are kind of doing nature studies, but that doesn't feel quite meaty enough for me... or the kids. They do love it, but they want more!

What would you do?

Reading... and rambling...

I have been reading that is. Since our Disneyland adventure, and settling back into a routine (with the new job and all), I have been devouring Charlotte Mason's Home Education. Somehow, although it may be considered "old fashioned", it totally strikes a chord within me.

One of the problems I have always had with a CM education is the formation of good habits - Waldorf methods are also big on establishing a sense of rhythm/routine. Since my schedule as a grocery clerk changed on a weekly basis, I have been unable to develop a firm bedtime for myself, or the children, a regular homeschooling schedule, etc. When you work from 7 am to 3 pm one day, and 5 pm to 11 pm the next, habit/rhythm/routine can be a difficult thing. But, in just our first week on a real schedule, I am already noticing differences. The kids are up at 7 every morning now, instead of some time between eight and ten thirty. Of course this is because they have to get up to spend the morning at my mom's, doing arts and crafts, baking, sewing, and more, but then bedtime is so much easier! Now we have a regular time to get up, a regular time for dinner, a regular time for bed... next week I'll tackle regular times for housework and homeschooling!

I also plan to start enforcing chores again, and be more regular with making sure Cyrus is doing his piano practice. I find I am sliding into habits too... I read at bedtime instead of collapsing in front of the TV. I am drinking herbal tea while reading instead of mindlessly munching who knows what while glued to the tube. I do brisk walking on my break at work, and next week we'll start walking or maybe the Couch Potato to 5K running program 3 late afternoons a week (if walking, we'll aim for every day). I have tried that running program before by myself, but now I'll be doing it with the kids. In just 3 days, I have lost 2 pounds. I am also not absolutely exhausted at 3 or 4 in the afternoon. Amazing what regular sleep can do!

Anyhow, back to Home Education... so much of it fits effortlessly with what we are already doing. I'd like to add in picture studies beyond what they do in Primary and Intermediate Language Lessons, and I would like to add geography. Miss Mason recommended reading good travel books for this subject, and in my research I found this... Richard Halliburton's Complete Book of Marvels. I am getting it through the library first, before investing in it! But from the reviews I have read, it sounds like an exciting (and yes, somewhat outdated) introduction to world geography. For grammar, which I hope to add in after winter break, I am looking at combining The Sentence Family with Grammar-Land. Beyond that, Charlotte Mason methods call for reading good "living" books (which we do plenty of), a wholesome diet and plenty of fresh air, hands-on math, immersion in nature, regular activity, hands-on real crafts, and a sense of respect, as children are people too.

I have made my decision about 4H. I feel that my kids and I need some time at home, days where, besides my work, we don't have to go places and do things. I hope to reserve most afternoons for homeschooling and family life. We will be continuing with Spiral Scouts - I spoke to our circle leader today, and we're going to meet once every 6 or 8 weeks for an awards ceremony, rather than monthly. The rest of the time, we will be choosing and doing the projects on our own, which is fine with me! Another mom at Park Day today was telling me that she feels children need more time at home than out with other kids. They don't need to be involved in too many outside activities/classes, which is how I am feeling these days too. They certainly don't need to be insulated from the world but they don't need daily outings either! I'm likely stepping on someone's toes saying that, but then I am relatively sure at least a few people agree with me.

I especially focused on reading more about CM reading methods, and am going to work more with Cassia on these. We've been making good use of the whiteboard lately, with a book of word families at our side, and a multitude of dry erase markers in various colors. Cassia is retaining all the word families we cover, even when I throw in "challenge" words... for example, we worked on "cash", "bash", "mash" and "rash", so I added "crash" and "smash", which she was able to read as well. I know phonics are not, per se, part of the CM method, but using them in conjunction with her methods is working. She did do work with word families as well, giving specific examples in the book.

I started out my year with lots of solid seeming plans for homeschooling. As usual, I am finding that they shift as we go, the flexibility being one of the beauties of homeschooling. I am still not solid on science... should I go with BFSU or the human anatomy that fascinates my kids in addition to our nature studies? I figure at least this year we're doing more than we did last year!

Back from vacation... Weekly Reports week 6A & 6B

Give you one guess where we went!

Best vacation we have had in years. We spent three days at Disneyland (the California one). It was a first for both the kids and myself, although M had been there a number of times before. We stayed in a nice motel, ate out a lot, enjoyed a couple of shows, watched a parade, rode every ride we could (Cyrus loves roller coasters!), met a few favorite characters, and generally had an absolutely fantastic time! The drive there and back was semi-torturous, but so worthwhile really!

Now we're back to real life. I had work yesterday and today, at my new job. So far, I love it! We didn't get to schooling yesterday, but Cyrus did have his first piano lesson in two weeks. He didn't do too well, due to a lack of practice, but we'll remedy that before next Wednesday. Today we have a basic day of homeschooling in the works - math, writing/phonics/reading, maybe finish up Columbus...

We may be dropping out of 4H this year. I had planned for my mom to take them to project meetings while I'm at work, but she's having some health issues that preclude driving at the moment. I am a little more than halfway upset, and a little less than halfway glad to have the extra time back. We'll see what happens.

I also need to contact our Spiral Scouts leaders and figure out what is going on with that. If we can move our once monthly meeting to an afternoon, or weekend morning, then we could definitely keep up with that!

Next week we'll be fully back to normal, and have a full load of homeschooling planned. Right now we're adjusting to being back home, and to my new schedule. We do love seeing the sunrise every morning so far, and the kids are falling asleep more easily at night. I love being home to cook a nice dinner, and read bedtime stories. I keep finding myself mentally planning meals that can be prepped and/or cooked ahead of time though!

BFSU Flowcharts....

I am putting these up since I am getting a lot of requests for them. Just click on the links and enjoy! Feel free too to rearrange the lessons to suit your own needs!

BFSU Volume I

Supply List for BFSU Volume I 
Supply AND Book List for Volume 1 (not MY work - Anabel F. did a fantastic job though!)

BFSU Volume II

Supply & Book List for Volume 2 (again, thank you Anabel F.!)

BFSU Volume III

COMING SOON: Supply list for volumes three

Trying again...

While we sprinkle in lots of science here and there, we aren't following anything systematic. Then I was cleaning out my computer files, and came across my e-book copies of Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding I and II, which then led me to my meticulously crafted flow chart for said books, complete with supplemental book and video listings.

Symbolically speaking, since none of this is actually in print on actual paper, I dusted off those plans, put a few things on hold at the library, and am gearing up to give it a try. We'll go with level 1 at least to begin with, since I want to make sure the kids have a very good understanding of the basics before we move on to the complexities of level 2. Yes, I realize book 1 is labeled "K-2", but it is very meaty... and adding in readings from the Kingfisher Science Encyclopedia will definitely get it up to Cyrus's level. For Cassia, we'll stick to library books, many from the wonderful Let's Read and Find Out Science series, some others. And for videos, we largely depend on Bill Nye the Science Guy.

My rough plan is to do the reading, watch the video, and do a hands-on project which the kids will then log in their science notebooks through art and/or words. I'll let you know how it goes!