Cold Rainy Days of Homeschooling

If you had asked me two years ago what were my worst days for homeschooling, I would have told you the rainy days short days of October and November. Those were days of just us, without the possibility of going outside because of the allergens in central Texas would have everyone of our gang (us included) trapped inside on some type of antibiotic or breathing treatment. The rain brought sunless days which only served to deepen the feeling of isolation and depression. It was a time of multiple doctor office visit, medication, cancelled play dates and soggy trips to the library.

Last October and November where a whirlwind of co-ops, field trips, hours spent playing outside in the crisp afternoon air and days spent watching the beautiful foliage of the Metro DC area. We were rarely at home and loved it. We became Smithsonian regulars because there was no tourist traffic and our little band of homeschoolers had the run of the place. We took cool classes about flight, visited the Senate chamber and explored Mount Vernon. Did the "schooling part" of homeschool suffer? Nope we were learning without books. Did the workbooks suffer? Oh yes, but I was assured by experienced homeschoolers in this area we would well make up the time during the cold and snowy days of December and January. Which proved to be oh so true and we did and survived two epic blizzards as well.

This October started like last year with field trips, co-ops and the like. But the difference is this year I didn't fell rushed because we had a schedule. I had a plan. There were tough days but I was confident enough to slow things down when we needed to, allowing us to focus more on the "work". It was going well, some curriculum change but still going well.

Then a medical condition that I was getting treatment for started to get off track. I was having days filled with nausea, headaches and general "ugh". I felt guilty because I felt like I should be giving more to my son, my husband and my co-op friends. However through prayer and spiritual sisterhood I started to realize I was doing exactly what I was suppose to being doing , taking care of myself.

Then my son became ill and needed to hospitalize for a short time. Praised God he is healthy and home. During the mist of his illness he ask "Why does this always happen to me? Allergies? Ear Infections? Asthma? Pneumonia? "Then he answered himself just as quick "Because stuff happens and then it's okay. Like rainy days."

So as we recover from our rainy October I ask you to pray with me for the following:

-for the health

-for guidance

-for the ability to see the rainy days as just rainy days.

Wordless Wednesday: Apples

Transitioning from Lapbooking to Sorta Notebooking

This year I changed things up and moved to more of a notebooking system for our studies. We love lapbooking and my continue to do some now and again. However I thought this was a good time to incorporate notebooking into our school because of the volume of the work we are doing this year.

These sturdy sketchbooks cost about $5 each with a coupon but are so great for keeping everything in one space. Ironhide is having fun looking back through his month of work.

However he has requested a least one lapbook a semester.

Winter’s Promise Science Adventure -September

Winter Promise advertises Shoot & Sprout, Buzz & Bite as "Spend a year exploring the living things that populate our planet. Wonderful pictures will make the journey come to life as you see this world up close! Fantastic resources allow students to learn by observation and simple experiments. This program can be completed in 2-5 hours per week." So far the program lives up to it that claim.

The program has enough structure that I do not have to pull together material for science which often leads to delays a loss of student interest. The support books remind me of Usborne Internet Linked Encyclopedia. The e-books are wonderful full color guides to interesting and up to date websites. The only drawback is The World of Plants textbook which was just not a good fit with the rest of the program. We supplemented with a standard 3^rd Science text.

We have had a lot of fun understanding the nature of plants and growing our own balcony fall/winter garden. We have explored several local community gardens understanding the pollination and seed travel. There have been tons of cool experiments, so much so our kitchen table looks like a botany lab.

Our first experiment was the growing of a bean from seed to plant. Ironhide was beside himself because he was actually growing food. He got so into it we added kale and more beans to the lineup.

Homeschool View - Dealing with Loneliness in an Only Child

A good read for those rising super singletons from Alpha Omega.

Question of The Day Fall Edition or FQOTD

I really should document Ironhide's questions but there are so many it is hard to keep track. They are good questions. Questions that make you go .hmmmmmmm.

Last night we as a family watched Bizarre Foods on Travel Channel. The host was in Japan and sampling the lunch favorite of Chanko-nabe.

Which is a dish of s a Japanese stew (a type of nabemono or one-pot dish) it contains a dashi or chicken broth soup base with sake or mirin to add flavor. One thing we found interesting was that the Sumo wrestlers take turns cooking. They also cook in sumo gear…that's right no clothing except for that little underwear thingy. (So says my son Ironhide.) The food look good but the abundance of sweating cooks kind of spoiled the experience for me.

This morning Ironhide asked "Are there any women Sumo wrestlers?" Good question and off to Google went for the answer. And yes Virginia there are women Sumo wrestlers.




Mom how much do they weigh in pounds? Well let's covert (This morning Mom used the online converter after 20 minutes of trying teach it.) with Online Converter. These ladies have to be big to do their jobs. The largest are over 300lbs.

So for the rest of the morning ds is doing his version of Sumo wrestling with the sofa cushions while inserting some Russian folk dance. That is another blog. Oh you got to love homeschooling.

Wordless Wednesday: Living Science

Online Reading Log

We read so many books here at the Sandbox it is hard to keep an updated list. I feel the need to capture that experience to help plot our future reading choices. Our library's summer reading program had an excellent online tool that allowed Ironhide to document what he read and review it. I was able to print out a list at the end of summer for our records. The log also provided him with a sense of accomplishment at the end of the summer.

For the school year I wanted something along those lines to keep up with everyone's reading list. I could have done it on Amazon but I wanted a commercial free zone to capture thoughts and feelings without market forces coming into play. So we are trying Goodreads.

"Goodreads is the largest social network for readers in the world. We have more than 3,500,000 members who have added more than 100,000,000 books to their shelves. A place for casual readers and bona-fide bookworms alike, Goodreads members recommend books, compare what they are reading, keep track of what they've read and would like to read, form book clubs and much more. Goodreads was launched in December 2006."

This is a great place for the avid reader. I love the founder message about why he started Goodreads.

"When I was in second grade, I discovered the Hardy Boys series. Ever since, I've loved to read — both for fun and to improve my mind. And I'm always looking for the next great book. Reviews on Amazon and other sites are helpful, but I thought there might be a better way.

One afternoon while I was scanning a friend's bookshelf for my next great read, it struck me. When I want to know what books to read, I'd rather turn to a friend than any random person, bestseller list or algorithm. So I thought I'd build a website — a website where I could see my friends' bookshelves and learn about what they thought of all their books."

Semi-Wordless Wednesday: Field Tripping Again National Zoo

We visited the world famous Smithsonian National Zoo. My camera was not charged up so I have to borrow stock photos to share the experience.

I love this zoo for the up hill walk which leaves the kiddo happy and tired at the end of the day.

You can visit virtually via their zoo cams.




Just a little advice if you are going to the FONZ:
-Go early if you are going to drive and get parking.
-Pack your lunch in a rolling cooler so you or the kids can drag it around the park. It will save tons on food and water prices, not to mention the ick factor with the water fountains.

Wordless Wednesday: Fieldtrips

Science Boys Will Love...Graphic Science Comic Book

This summer we found this great collection of action graphic comic science books featuring Max Axiom. Max Axiom is a superhero scientist with all the super hero trappings, cool car, cool tools and super smart. Bonus he is a hero of color kicking down the doors about the stereotypical nerds. Bonus Bonus he kind of looks like DH. Big educational bonus the books have real substance and are engaging to boys.

DH and son have spent hours sharing Max's adventures. We just wish there was an action figure.

Here is what Kevin Hodgson of The Graphic Classroom had to say:

"Capstone Press has created its own brand of superhero – Max Axiom, Super Scientist – whose exploits uncover the mysteries of the scientific world. Max Axiom, who sports a bald head and cool glasses, dives into many adventures in the series, exploring such concepts as sound, energy, ecosystems, and others.

With INVESTIGATING THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD WITH MAX AXIOM, the reader goes through the steps of the process of scientific discovery in a very meaningful way. The story doesn't skimp on explanations and the writer (Donald B. Lemke) and illustrators (Tod Smith and Al Migrom) use the graphics inherent in this form to its advantages, showing detailed illustrations that reinforce the story and explanations."

Frederick Douglass Quote

Thanks Ann@His Grace To Me

Not Back to School Blog Hop: A Day in the Life

It is the final week of Heart of The Matter's Not Back to School blog hop. It has been an great month of sharing and learning with and about homeschoolers all over the world. Thank you to all the families that open their homes and hearts to the bloggersphere. This Blog Hop is a great database for new homeschoolers and veterans who need a little inspiration.

This week's theme is a Day in the Life. We're supposed to share what our average homeschool day looks like. We do not started school until next week, but I would like to share with you our plans.

I shared last week how this year was based on a visual plan. A way for us as a family to see where we were spending our time. The first draft did not have a lot of time to school.

So we downsized what we were doing outside the home to bring the focus in our the family and learning this year. If we find this schedule is to socially light we can add play dates and other activities to it later.

Key to being happy this year is to start the day with a plan. We have a schedule so then I pulled together my own planner based on the more complicated system from last year. It to was downsized to include monthly calendars, daily work plan with workbox numbers and subjects. I have a section for notes but would like a computer program to log in the books we have read.







So that's what our days should look like. Most importantly this year will be a focus on the students needs and the family needs. Blessings.

What is Mom going to learn this year?

We always have great goals and plans for our children for the school year, rightly so because this is our job. However we often forget to stop and say what will we learn this year? What are our goals? Is the homeschool plan or curriculum supporting the family goals for the year?

My friend Faith (that shall be her internet name) and I took the challenge this year to plan our homeschool year in advance. What we did not want for ourselves or our children is a mother who is burnt out and tired before November. We spent days planning and outlining what we wanted to do for the school year. We prayerfully made daily and monthly schedules to share with each other. It was wonderful and energizing but most importantly flaw revealing.

First where were we on the schedule? What are we going to learn this year? When are we taking care of ourselves? What are our goals? I am not speaking of the vague "going to get in shape" goal. We are looking for scheduled self care time and learning opportunities outside of home education. What new skill will you have at the end of the year?

I challenge you look over your photos from last school year. How many times are you actually in the picture? How many events are there where it is just you and your friends? Homeschool conference only counts as a half a point. :-) If you are in the photos only with your children and less than 20% of the time maybe it is time to schedule so "me" time.

I know what of I speak because I am the chief offender in this offense. My goal is not to separate from my family but to cherish who I am as a person, mother, wife and loved child of the most High.

Secondly there was way too much outside activities going on and not enough education time. I know sounds really strange coming from the women who was freaking out earlier this year about her only child not being around other children, but it is true there was very little time for quality schooling on the schedule.

Take a look at the schedule before adjustments. All the green areas are home education blocks. If you look at my curriculum plan for 2010 they don't seem to match up right?

How in the world was I going to do all of that learning with less than 8 hours a week with a real life child with emotions, meltdowns, good days and bad days? Plus we all know how much learning actually happens after you leave the house for the day, none. Because you are tired (If you have ever driven on the beltway in DC you understand this.), the kid is drained and oh that little aliment called "Do I have to?" kicks in after lunch.

Finally we realized that we had planned out days excluding our husbands. Where is Dad in the schedule? What is he doing? How can we include him in our day?

So as we gear up for another year I am looking at the whole home while planning not just the school. It may mean school starts a little bit later this year but it will mean a more focused year.

Not-Back-To-School Blog Hop: School Room Week

This is "School Room" week Heart of The Matter's Not Back to School blog hop. This gave me a personal goal put our room back together from summer break in time to share it.

We have officially been in our new home here a little over a year. We downsized with last year's move which has been a blessing and adjustment. You will be amazed how simple life can be with less stuff.

The desk we got for TS last year is growing with him and he has added his own decorative boy flare. Next to his desk are the workboxes waiting for work, his telescope for stargazing and crayons for drawing.

Across from that are some of our books which I finally colored coded over the summer.

We learned from last year that some studies can only be completed with minimal or no distraction so we incorporated the Concentration Penthouse upstairs. It is a nice calming space with a lot of sunshine for inspiration or concentration. The art on the wall is all TS's from his art class.

I built myself storage shelf in the basement and organized it by discipline. As the "Back to School" signs went up in stores, I grabbed the family and went through all our supplies. It was great to go through all of the school stuff as a family. We were able to bless a lot of families with our excess and only spent $20 on school supplies.

Have a blessed year everyone.

We have been so incredibly blessed with this move and look forward to an exciting year of learning. If you get a chance check out some of the awesome learning spaces at Heart of The Matter's Not Back to School blog hop.

2010-2011 Homeschool Curriculum HOP

Thanks to the good folks at Heart of the Matter for hosting Not Back To School Blog Hop. This always helps me organize my thoughts and plans.

So here we go……………….

We are introducing new math, grammar, spelling and History program this year. Also we are going to start to focus on more home education and a little less roadschooling.


This is our planned curriculum for homeschool for 2010-2011 2nd/3rd Grade Years:

Core: Five In A Row
Our primary curriculum will be Five In A Row Volume 4. I wanted to move to Winter’s Promise for a theme program because I simply didn’t have time to plan, print and organize FIAR this year. But after going to the local homeschool conference I realized that FIAR can work for us just modified. In the seminar about gifted children the speaker did warn changing everything from year to year. After the BIG MOVE last year where his whole world changed, I think we need to limit the amount of changes this year.

After much prayer we thought it best to leave the spine of FIAR but altered it to fit our needs. FIAR has a bible curriculum which I will be using and adding lapbook elements for scripture.

Grammar
Introducing Grammar with Winter’s Promise Language Arts curriculum and living books from the series “If you were” .



Mathematics
We are excited to start Right Start Math this year. The box arrived last week and we can’t wait to get our hands on the manipulatives.

History
This will be our first year of formal history study using the Story of The World program Volume I, Ancient Times. It covers history from the First Nomads, Egypt, the Jewish People, Abraham and Joseph, Hammurabi and the Babylonians, the Assyrians, Ancient China, Ancient Africa, Exodus, the Phoenicians, the Greeks and Rome.



Physical Education
We are enrolled in a Homeschool Physical Education co-op class, basketball class, swimming and martial arts.

Art
We are enrolled in a local co-op class and visiting museum exhibits throughout the year.

Music/Drama
We are enrolled in a local co-op class and taking part of in free concert/play venues in the area. The search is still on for individual instruction but we do have an at home drum program.

Science
We are enrolled in a accelerated local co-op class and visiting museum exhibits throughout the year.

I am so excited!!!!!!


You can read more curriculum plans and add yours at the Not Back to School Blog Hop.

Prayerful Planning

"If you're starting your new school year depending on your own abilities, be careful. Only the Lord can show you those things that will make your homeschooling truly successful. As you depend on the Holy Spirit, you will not only discover wisdom to teach, but you'll also have your eyes opened to see all that God desires for your family. "Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God" (Psalm 123:1-2a).
Lord, forgive me for my foolish pride that fails to acknowledge You as Lord. Open my eyes to see Your plans for our family this homeschool year and teach me to constantly depend on You. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Courtesy Alpha Omega Publications

A Change Is Gonna Come

I have been in prayer about what is to become of this blog. It has become clear that this should be a virtual space to record our homeschooling journey. Which means it will be incorporated into our school year plans with timely updates.

To that end let me share that this is planning season. Planning season for homeschoolers is exciting time because everything is fresh with new possibilities and grand goals. The trick I have found in my three years of homeschooling is to embrace those grand design, explore them and put them down in revision 1 of the plan. Then back off, give it a day and think about your life. Who are you? Who are your kids? How many outside activities do you plan on doing? How long will they really take? Where are the potential rabbit holes or unexpected cool field trips likely to happen? How your household actually functions? Then adjust the plan to this reality. Thereby avoiding complete homeschooling meltdown when things do not go as planned. Remember it is homeschooling so keep it SIMPLE and FLEXIBLE.

Part 1: What worked and what didn't work last year.

FIAR kinda worked last year but is planning intensive in order to support ds's learning style.

I honestly didn't think I had the time this summer to pull all of it together. But the other options are outside our budget right now, so I made a choice to slow down our summer plans to incorporate planning days. That is right days because I had to adjust my expectations of getting it done all at once.

Here is my attempt to plan with Five In A Row (FIAR). All items highlighted in gray were completed in 2008-2010. Items in green are planned for this year.
Five In A Row 2010-2011 School Year Plan