It is determined that to be part of our school one must have a sense of humor. Joy and laughter fills the air much of the day. Sure, we have an occasional outburst of frustration but I never hear "I can't" as that was a rule in the beginning. The nice weather this week has created a learning challenge. Like much of the United States our winter has been very long. We have warm days but still have nights that have temps below freezing.
I love how the warmth of 55 degrees feels nice in spring but bitter in fall. Faith took on the challenge of a bike that was too big for her. She is not good with the smaller one that has training wheels. Still, she was certain she could do it but got a huge injury along her belly. It looks like it hurts really bad today but she assures me that the sunshine is good for what ails her.
They let April 1st come and go without any pranks. I have nothing wonderful to post but to say that we are enjoying each other very much and learning tons. Now, to go sit in the sun and do some math.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Our Style of Homeschooling
I so often read about styles of homeschooling. I fully understand the difference when a family is choosing a 100% unschooled style. Clear as a bell as to what that it is, but when I read on other blogs about how somebody is unschooled I discover that they are often not able to find themselves using a100% approach. I read on about other methods/styles of homeschooling. I find others question me about what style/approach do we use.
After much consideration I have decided that there is a STRONG style of homeschooling. We go at it deliberately, with full intent and we accidentally stumble across learning opportunities and new methods to understand. We go against the norm by not keeping a grade book, avoiding a book totally for the day, digging in the dirt, walking in the wetland, planting a garden, raising animals, observing birth, playing in an amusement park, planning routes to the next field trip, and the list can go on and on. We go at it in a very traditional method as well, using the chalkboard, charts, text books, workbooks, test books, (OK they don't even get the test until I know they can master the subject) days of expecting them to remain seated and days of willy nilly movement. We go STRONG in all we do.
For example let's look at what we did today. We discussed what a nutritious breakfast would be to sustain us for the morning activities that were planned. Needing to reinforce that there is no mid-morning snack for us today. Good choices were made as we talk about our choices like it is an every day conversation. No lesson plan to check off the list. We get to archery class for the second session and Grace is instructed to get into the wallet and count out thirty dollars, then Faith does the same. Why? Well they had to pay for the next six weeks of lessons and suddenly we have more learning that is taking place in a STRONG fashion but again does not have a lesson plan to it and the act was spontaneous on my end. They attend class where they talk with groups of friends between shoots and then focus on the target when needed. Notice that the benefit here is that they learn how to suddenly focus onto the target amidst all sorts of other distractions that are present. That round is over and they are back to the same conversation they were having. Spontaneously a card game of crazy eights begins and they leave the table for the shoot and come back again to pick up where they left off. I call this a STRONG style of learning. They are going STRONG at all that is taking place around them. Following archery we go to lunch with three other families at the local Wendy's. On the way we make choices about food again and each girl makes sure they have included more than a burger and fries. Why? Because we always talk about our food choices and although the burger and fries are good choices they also offer side salads there and apples and baked potatoes. Gab, gab, and eat. Manners as we are a large group with lots of elderly eyes watching the behavior of "those kids that are not in school". Chuckle between adults as we know that the presence of these children mid-day is an upset to many of them. But we make a good impression that will reflect on other homeschoolers they come across later in life. This is the accidental learning portion. Nobody has a lesson plan about conduct in Wendy's at noon with seven children around a table and four adults at the neighboring table.
The next step is to come home and get me a little rest before we dive into a few important subjects. Now they girls learn about helping a person in need. This is a big day for me. I have been going nonstop and still recovering from the hospital stay. They play for a moment around me and do so in a gentle fashion. Then they begin playing "store". They bring out items and create shelves, place price tags and get the school money. I sit back and observe. I had planned to do some math in the next few moments but they accidentally fell into it themselves. They created an inventory and determined a fair price for each object. Then they went shopping. They made change and worked together to determine how much change they needed to give. What did they do with the objects they purchased from their toy box?
They then brought it to a show and tell. Each girl began a presentation about what they bought. One moment the presentation included a description of what they were holding, the next it was about why they chose that item and how it made them feel or how they were going to use it.
It was a STRONG approach to homeschooling today. In the course of this they even made the choice to open their language book and each completed a lesson without direction or a request from me to do it. During the presentation portion of their day they each read a book out loud as well.
So, are we Unschooled? Do we Charlotte Mason? Do we school at home? Do we accidentally learn? We do that all and so much more. Therefore I declare a new style of homeschooling. It is the STRONG approach. It works on so many levels for me. It leaves a legacy for me while speaking volumes to the definition of the word alone.
Plans for tomorrow will be a trip to the Nature Institute to learn about symbiotic relationships and have some hands on time with the naturalist that teaches there. Car time will be using flash cards. The afternoon will be a very traditional lesson time that they will be in their seats and focused on a text, a workbook and even one quick quiz in history. I will use the chalkboard, some charts and other visual aids.
SPREAD THE WORD! A new style of homeschool has been named!
After much consideration I have decided that there is a STRONG style of homeschooling. We go at it deliberately, with full intent and we accidentally stumble across learning opportunities and new methods to understand. We go against the norm by not keeping a grade book, avoiding a book totally for the day, digging in the dirt, walking in the wetland, planting a garden, raising animals, observing birth, playing in an amusement park, planning routes to the next field trip, and the list can go on and on. We go at it in a very traditional method as well, using the chalkboard, charts, text books, workbooks, test books, (OK they don't even get the test until I know they can master the subject) days of expecting them to remain seated and days of willy nilly movement. We go STRONG in all we do.
For example let's look at what we did today. We discussed what a nutritious breakfast would be to sustain us for the morning activities that were planned. Needing to reinforce that there is no mid-morning snack for us today. Good choices were made as we talk about our choices like it is an every day conversation. No lesson plan to check off the list. We get to archery class for the second session and Grace is instructed to get into the wallet and count out thirty dollars, then Faith does the same. Why? Well they had to pay for the next six weeks of lessons and suddenly we have more learning that is taking place in a STRONG fashion but again does not have a lesson plan to it and the act was spontaneous on my end. They attend class where they talk with groups of friends between shoots and then focus on the target when needed. Notice that the benefit here is that they learn how to suddenly focus onto the target amidst all sorts of other distractions that are present. That round is over and they are back to the same conversation they were having. Spontaneously a card game of crazy eights begins and they leave the table for the shoot and come back again to pick up where they left off. I call this a STRONG style of learning. They are going STRONG at all that is taking place around them. Following archery we go to lunch with three other families at the local Wendy's. On the way we make choices about food again and each girl makes sure they have included more than a burger and fries. Why? Because we always talk about our food choices and although the burger and fries are good choices they also offer side salads there and apples and baked potatoes. Gab, gab, and eat. Manners as we are a large group with lots of elderly eyes watching the behavior of "those kids that are not in school". Chuckle between adults as we know that the presence of these children mid-day is an upset to many of them. But we make a good impression that will reflect on other homeschoolers they come across later in life. This is the accidental learning portion. Nobody has a lesson plan about conduct in Wendy's at noon with seven children around a table and four adults at the neighboring table.
The next step is to come home and get me a little rest before we dive into a few important subjects. Now they girls learn about helping a person in need. This is a big day for me. I have been going nonstop and still recovering from the hospital stay. They play for a moment around me and do so in a gentle fashion. Then they begin playing "store". They bring out items and create shelves, place price tags and get the school money. I sit back and observe. I had planned to do some math in the next few moments but they accidentally fell into it themselves. They created an inventory and determined a fair price for each object. Then they went shopping. They made change and worked together to determine how much change they needed to give. What did they do with the objects they purchased from their toy box?
They then brought it to a show and tell. Each girl began a presentation about what they bought. One moment the presentation included a description of what they were holding, the next it was about why they chose that item and how it made them feel or how they were going to use it.
It was a STRONG approach to homeschooling today. In the course of this they even made the choice to open their language book and each completed a lesson without direction or a request from me to do it. During the presentation portion of their day they each read a book out loud as well.
So, are we Unschooled? Do we Charlotte Mason? Do we school at home? Do we accidentally learn? We do that all and so much more. Therefore I declare a new style of homeschooling. It is the STRONG approach. It works on so many levels for me. It leaves a legacy for me while speaking volumes to the definition of the word alone.
Plans for tomorrow will be a trip to the Nature Institute to learn about symbiotic relationships and have some hands on time with the naturalist that teaches there. Car time will be using flash cards. The afternoon will be a very traditional lesson time that they will be in their seats and focused on a text, a workbook and even one quick quiz in history. I will use the chalkboard, some charts and other visual aids.
SPREAD THE WORD! A new style of homeschool has been named!
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
The Springtime Snowfall
It seems that we are no different than much of the Midwest and the New England States. Five days into spring and our area was hit with a beautiful, heavy wet snowfall. Only fifteen minutes north of us there was seven inches and a tad bit further northwest was twelve inches in just twenty-four hours. I know that others have more than this but it was a nice farewell to the winter season.
Today we completed our KTM activities which included map skills and art this week. Grace completed a beautiful project that included the use of crayons to a project then applying baby oil to the back of it. When it was completed she had a great Easter art project that looked like stained glass. Faith began doing a mosaic art project with simple scraps of paper but she it doing it all on her own. The snow was calling her name however and she tells me that she will finish it tomorrow.
Today we completed our KTM activities which included map skills and art this week. Grace completed a beautiful project that included the use of crayons to a project then applying baby oil to the back of it. When it was completed she had a great Easter art project that looked like stained glass. Faith began doing a mosaic art project with simple scraps of paper but she it doing it all on her own. The snow was calling her name however and she tells me that she will finish it tomorrow.
When the evening began and the girls were gone the Great Danes were afraid of the multiple snow men that ended up in the yard. When tomorrow comes we will once again attend archery lessons and on Wednesday we will go to a field trip conducted at The Nature Institute. The theme for this one will be "dynamic duos" as we explore symbiotic relationships. Plans for Good Friday will include an Easter Egg Hunt at the Nature Institute as well.
My own health has been a continuing issue but I continue to get stronger. Still, I am unsure that I will return to the state of health that I was in prior to the last flare that placed me in the hospital. I was unable to participate in the snow play but enjoyed the view from the front window. It is not like me to avoid days like today. I try not to complain about it as I am so grateful for the days I am given. My vision is a huge issue since I became sick again and I look forward to the ophthalmologist appointment. It is hard to function with double vision but then again, I have had worse double vision than this in the past. The difference is, this time it is rather persistent.
The schedule next week is simplified. Except for our archery instruction, the week will be spent in the classroom. I would hope the weather begins to break in a few days and we can do some planting next week.
As always, I am excited to be homeschooling. Grace met a girl that she is eager to strike up a friendship with soon. She has been at several activities lately and is eager to have weather that we can meet up and play from time to time. The best part of this is that she does not live as far away and many others she has met. I do not know if they are new to the area or just recently connecting with the group of folks we tend to hang with.
I do believe that this enough for today. I hope your week is blessed and that you find time to rejoice in the Easter Season.
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Division introduced
How can it be? Grace struggles so much in math. She understands the concepts and does well but as I have said one million times, she does not memorized well. She learns. So today was the first lesson about division and she moved through it as if she was slicing butter with a warm knife. I actually think she enjoyed it. If she could just get things memorized better math would be so much better. She has it in her head that math is horrible and the moment the book is open I find the need to keep putting her face back into the book.
Other items for the week, include the fact that Faith did begin the second grade Language book and is on page 6. She began two days ago. She is finished with a lesson so quick at this point that she wants to do more. The beginning of a book is review anyway with the expectation that one would have taken a summer break. As soon as Faith began her new book Grace requested to see her next level language as well. Glad I had it here for her to see. I am certain she intends to move on win a couple or weeks.
Grace is enjoying her history and health lessons. Seems she is interested in dentistry. She does not realize it yet but has been excelling in this lesson. Her recall of history is amazing and she is asking for history class every day.
Faith on the other hand is not so interested but I still believe that comes with her actual age. She has no real concept of time frame well but she does tell me things like, "the did that way back in the 50s when you were little". FOR the record, I was not alive in the 50s.
As usual, this is the best choice for us. I enjoy the challenge and process and they are learning tons. TTFN
Other items for the week, include the fact that Faith did begin the second grade Language book and is on page 6. She began two days ago. She is finished with a lesson so quick at this point that she wants to do more. The beginning of a book is review anyway with the expectation that one would have taken a summer break. As soon as Faith began her new book Grace requested to see her next level language as well. Glad I had it here for her to see. I am certain she intends to move on win a couple or weeks.
Grace is enjoying her history and health lessons. Seems she is interested in dentistry. She does not realize it yet but has been excelling in this lesson. Her recall of history is amazing and she is asking for history class every day.
Faith on the other hand is not so interested but I still believe that comes with her actual age. She has no real concept of time frame well but she does tell me things like, "the did that way back in the 50s when you were little". FOR the record, I was not alive in the 50s.
As usual, this is the best choice for us. I enjoy the challenge and process and they are learning tons. TTFN
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Wordless Wednesday (with small captions)
All these photos are from this past year.  |
| Faith agreed to hold it |
 |
| Sea Lion Sound @ St. Louis Zoo (a free zoo) |
 |
| Planting comes natural to her |
The day the butterflies opened
The day the ducks hatched
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Sleeping in the hay loft
We went to a friend's stable to witness the birth of her newest foal. The hay was stacked high enough that we could look into the stall, be laid blankets out and my friend was a perfect hostess.
As it turned out, we had to stay for two nights to witness the event. Finally, we were able to rejoice!
I cannot say it enough, when you homeschool you have the freedom to take on learning opportunities that would otherwise be missed. The foal had immediate contact with humans and the girls had to be disturbed in a deep sleep. The first night they were up late. During the day they played hard on the farm. In true form the foal arrived a few minutes after midnight and they were exhausted. The good part is they missed the "worst" part and got to see the very end of the process. They called her Jasmine but of course she was not going to be our horse.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Freedom to Excel
Faith has a late birthday. She is six years old and if in the public school system would be in kindergarten. It was clear when she began playing school with us that she was ready to begin. So the big news for today is indicated in the picture that follows. Have a great day!
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