Return to the SchoolHouse

Field Trip :: San Diego Archaeology Museum

2010-10-21T19:44:00.001-07:00

Field Trip :: San Diego Archaeology Museum, originally uploaded by islandj.

The kids had a field trip today at the San Diego Archaeological Museum. There was a lecture, followed by many hands on activities. The kids participated in a dig (and thoughtfully had to determine what the item was, what it was used for, and where in the community of the ancient person it might have come from), they formed their own clay pinch pots, and made cordage (twine bracelets with beads).

But best of all, at the end of their time, the docent brought them outside and they picked through easy to find owl pellets (the museum has an owl box right outside the building). The types and quantity of bones that each child found was astonishing, and maybe a bit disturbing (I really don't like owl pellets, oddly enough). They love every minute, and didn't want to leave, even as the rain was beginning to pour down. Of course, then they found out that we were headed to the Wild Animal Park, with four other families... they managed to hop in the car pretty quickly!

Week Seven Wrap Up

2010-10-17T21:42:00.001-07:00

Botany :: Clay Flowers, originally uploaded by islandj.

Another oddly stable week that was hard to fit everything into. I find it such a strange thing that the less we have outside the house, the more likely it seems we are to complete everything we plan to. Alas, there it is. Our week was good. We worked hard, completed notebooking pages, played at PE, ran at running club, learned about Georgia at state study, read about Ancient Assyria and India, baked up a storm for all kinds of things, did oil pastels and made clay models of flowers.

Sage completed her study of creation in her pre-k class, and it is amazing. When my camera returns, I'll take some photos and include them - I am in awe of how she expresses herself on paper, without any words.

Siena continues to delight in all the things she is learning that have a creative bent to them. She loves botany, and that Mrs. Cliff comes up with such fun ways to engage with it. She is infinitely patient with writing - and will narrate to me way longer than I want to write, and then happily rewrite it in her own handwriting. She's a joy to teach, often, and stubborn and frustrated with other things, just like the rest of us (let's not talk math this week). Oh, wait, yes, lets, she finished her math text and workbook, and is PROUD of herself, as she should be!

Sterling is finding his niche, and struggling through these (very) beginning stages of moving from boyhood to young man hood. He doesn't enjoy the process of writing, but prefers to do it all himself (no dictating to me first to make sure spelling and grammar are correct). In fact, much of how he learns is by taking the bull by the horns and going for it, no matter how hard it is to spell and remember all the writing rules. Once those are down, he will be formidable! Meantime, we continue to work on the character training side of his education - giving 100% even when you think the subject is "boring," and being willing to work even when it feels repetitive. He'll get there, and he too is a joy to teach.

Week Six Wrap Up

2010-10-09T16:27:00.001-07:00

State Study, originally uploaded by islandj.

Ah, a quiet and calm week! We had rain, so PE was cancelled. Our friends had the flu, so Fine Arts was cancelled. No field trips. No special plans. It was a quiet and refined week, and it was much needed as we hit the six week mark (I find we can do about 5 weeks of steady, hard going school, and then everyone needs a break. Probably 4 weeks would be better!).

This week we got caught up and recaptured a bit of our routine. I also discovered that, once tired and ready for a break, it is harder to fit into five normal days what we managed to race into three days the week before. Such is the ebb and flow of it all.

Our times together at the couch are by far the sweetest of our days - reading great literature, beautiful picture books, and having impromptu discussions of what we have just read. I have a blended mix of history, bible, picture and literature that we read throughout each day and week, and it makes for a flow of thoughts - nothing is really designated as one thing or another - it is all just reading time, and full of thought and interest.

Our seat work time is not always so easy - writing and spelling and math can become tedious, and requires an entirely different kind of thought pattern. But they soldier on, having their victories and their skirmishes. It's good work.

Sage began officially this week, using a Kindergarten program that my friend bought for her daughter, but which was more suited to a precocious pre-K girl like Sage. She is beyond delighted, eager to sit down, and disappointed when after thirty minutes the time is up and the subject exhausted. I like her style.

Though there were no extra things, our regular routine still keeps us hopping. The kids studied New Jersey in state study, horses for nature study, dissected a flower (fascinating!), learned about Columbus's time on the sea, reviewed history, read, read, and read. Siena is learning about area, Sterling about mixed numbers. Sage is learning her numbers.

One thing that has gone particularly well this term has been our extra activities, including cooking, baking, and art. Siena has had dedicated drawing and watercoloring lessons, and with apples coming out our ears (and state study related snack to make each week), we've been busy. That has made all the seat work effort worthwhile, at least for me.

Next week... another quiet one. WooHOO!

Nature Study :: Apples

2010-10-09T16:10:00.001-07:00

Nature Study :: Apples, originally uploaded by islandj.

So, yesterday was all about picking and eating and playing in the rain. Today, we got down to the delightful business of really inspecting our apples - we compared Empires and Jonathans, drew sketches of their exterior/interios, discovered the star in the middle, and then ate, ate, ate more apples (and a bit of swedish apple pie, which was so. very. good). I love that we can have a bit of nature time on one day, a time which is fully relaxed and pleasant, just looking about us and catching what is caught naturally. Then we come together again, and we can focus in a bit more on what we might learn from it - taking what we casually experienced in our "time in nature" moments, and carefully teaching a few (never many, never too in-depth) interesting bits about whatever it is - in the case of the apples, noticing the star inside, seeing the difference in apple shape, the texture of the fruit, the thickness of the skin, the taste. Each week we all learn something, and it makes us eager to learn more about the next thing.

Week Five Wrap Up

2010-10-09T15:27:00.001-07:00

DSC03214.jpg, originally uploaded by islandj.

Another busy, crazy week!

We had a field trip on Wednesday, to the Agua Hedonida Lagoon, which the kids just loved. And then on Friday, we joined our nature study friends for a field trip day out to the apple orchards. It was fabulous. We even met for a few hours this morning (Saturday) to catch up and finish up our botany and apple study. So much flexibility - so many options requiring it!

The kids continue doing well, and we are grateful. We also had our first charter school meeting this week. Once every 5 or 6 weeks, we meet with an ES (Educational Specialist) at our charter school, showing her the work we have been doing. She evaluates us, and passes that along to the department of education auditors (have they nothing better to pay for and do? Sorry, off my soapbox now!). It was a good meeting - and preparing for it even better. I love knowing that once every 5 weeks I'll be forced to gather all our materials, make sure everything (soon to add this blog to that list) is up to date, finished and filed, and prepare the kids for sharing what they know with another adult. Siena had a terrific conference with the ES, going through her work notebook subject by subject, sharing what she knew, answering extra questions, and feeling very good about all she has learned. Sterling's time was cut rather short (the ES was running very behind, and we had state study to get to), but I think that was fine with my quieter boy. I'm looking forward to seeing if there is any feedback from her.

I'm amazed at all we are doing and what the kids are learning from it. I am beginning to trust, more and more, in the process, in the joy of just reading and letting the kids make relationships of their own - doing an appropriate amount of written work/worksheets/projects to make it interesting and build written/verbal skills, but not focusing on any "result." The real result ends up being that they ARE developing relationships with the material - making connections that show up days, weeks and months later, and tickle me each time.

Field Trip :: Aqua Hedionda Lagoon

2010-10-04T21:04:00.001-07:00

Field Trip :: Aqua Hedionda Lagoon, originally uploaded by islandj.

Another field trip week - this time, a truly unique experience hosted by the nature club at a local lagoon. The kids had several stations to explore - traditional medicinal herbs, an archaeology dig, tooling and branding leather, and learning about vandalism and painting on rocks. This was a no-siblings allowed field trip, so Sage and I go to sneak off and have some mommy-sage time, so I don't know much more about what they did. I do know that when I picked them up, they were all animated and couldn't stop talking about all the things they had seen and done. Sterling even asked if we could have another field trip there! That's the best recommendation of true learning I know.

Week Four Review

2010-09-25T22:45:00.001-07:00

P1040151.JPG, originally uploaded by islandj.

Holy Busy Week, Batman!

It is amazing to me how much we can squeeze in, when we need to. We had Monday off, as we were driving home from our camping trip in Jalama. Thursday, we had a field trip the Museum of Making Music. Friday we had a turbo long nature study. All this on top of PE, Fine Arts Tuesday, Running Club, and Natural Fridays! It was a busy week!

And yet, the kids did really well. We had some very tired moments - Thursday after the field trip, all we could manage was tea time, and several hours of reading (aloud, with audio books, and alone). We had to let some things slide - no computer reading program, we didn't do "extra" math as we usually do, and when in doubt, we did the most important and didn't bat an eye when we did a bit less elsewhere. That's part of what homeschooling is about. But for the most part, we did do everything a normal week should hold!

I was telling Chris yesterday that I see improvement in areas already. Sterling doesn't do particularly well in Writing With Ease (a program designed to help them, well, write with ease - using verbal narration, copywork, dictation and eventually, writing your own narration) - he does fine, but nothing special - but I have seen an improvement in his other narrative writing (to which we shout - Huzzah!). Siena is finding more strength this year, greater ability to slog through something challenging, and together we are finding methods that work. A great example is spelling - she really struggles with it, and we have found a way that makes her feel successful, just a few words at a time (and again, a resounding Huzzah!).

Sage continues to be a wild card, and I am hoping to get a pre-K program put together for her in the coming week, so that she has some focused "school" time which can help settle her during other times. She never wants to be left out, but really, no four year old wants to sit through long history readings, ones without pictures!

In other subjects - Botany is moving into seeds and their lives, geography continues to follow Seabird around the world and into the South Pacific, we finished our initial study of ancient egypt and listening to wonderful old literature about it (Peeps into Many Lands: Ancient Egypt), we built lego pyramids and mummified lemon slices. Sterling finished his Math workbook, and keeps playing the First in Math program to accumulate "points" for our "class team." Siena amazes me with her ability to articulate what we are reading about, and her willingness to write and write and write. And then draw, color and paint!

Nature Study :: Geese, and more!

2010-09-25T20:29:00.001-07:00

Nature Study :: Geese, and more!, originally uploaded by islandj.

Week 5 Nature Study - a comparison of Geese and Ducks.

Note :: nearly all of our nature studies are based on the inspiration of Barb at Handbook of Nature Study. Her Outdoor Hour Challenges are simply one of the best things on the market - inexpensive, thorough, and perfect for both beginner and pro nature study families! This one is part of the Autumn Series.

Buena Vista Park pulled through today, and we had our share of ducks (mostly mallards) and a gaggle of four geese (which I believe were Greylag Geese). The kids lasted an astonishing two hours at the park - watching the geese and ducks, sketching the geese, feeding everything, and then watching avidly as a fisherman caught bluegill and fed them to the most regal crane (whom he named Ted, for reasons I shall remain unsure of until I die). The geese obliged by coming up close for a visit while we ate lunch, and honking and hissing appropriately. All in all, one of the best nature studies we've had in the two years we've been doing it!

While at the park, the kids began their Goose notebooking page with a simple sketching time. Jenni and I spent our spare moments (and what a gift to have them, the kids so enchanted and occupied) doing a quick watercolor of them. Back at home, they completed the page, and then did a Venn Diagram of the ducks and geese (both are swimming birds, but the geese keep their bottoms high in the air as they swim, while the ducks float along quite horizontal to the water; things like this). What a wonderful lesson on similarities and differences! We finished by printing up a few of the photos I took (trying to show the differences), and pasting these on both notebooking pages.

Next week we are off to Julian for an apple study (and maybe a horse if we can catch one easy and close enough to see!). That should be a deliciously fun study!

Botany :: week 4 :: dissecting a seed

2010-09-25T20:21:00.001-07:00

Botany :: week 5 :: dissecting a seed, originally uploaded by islandj.

Botany continues to be a favorite subject with all the girls (purposeful silence on Sterling's take on the matter), big and little. This week, we dissected a pinto bean. After a quick soaking, the testa (seed coat) easily came off, revealing the seed with its parts - a tail that will become the root, a bit to grow into the stock, and even baby leaves, all nestled in and waiting to be revealed. It was a great project (and again, Jenni was an incredible and patient teacher). Then we began a two week project to determine what will make a baby plant grow tallest. Each of us were given three seeds (Siena chose radish, Sterling chose watermelon, and I took the pinto beans). Wrapped in a damp paper towel and set inside a plastic bag, one set was placed in the freezer, one in a dark drawer, and one taped to the window. We'll see if the sun dries them out, or the drawer's darkness causes them to "reach for the light." The freezer? Well, thankfully, no one guessed that the freezer was a good place to grow a tall baby plant. More in two weeks!

SchoolHouse :: Lego Pyramids

2010-09-25T20:17:00.001-07:00

SchoolHouse :: Lego Pyramids, originally uploaded by islandj.

Our study of ancient Egypt is about to take a hiatus for a few weeks while we catch up in the rest of the ancient world. We ended with a weeklong discussion of Mummies and Pyramids. Sterling was continually disgusted and uncomfortable with all the talk of how they mummified the Pharoahs, the civilians, the cats, and even, can you believe?, an alligator. Studying the pyramids helped, but what really brought everyone around and excited was building lego pyramids. They each used what we had learned reading several books on the topic, and put in the Nile River, the temple, the causeway, and finally the pyramid itself. Inside, there are several chambers, one for the mummy (in Siena's case, a baby playmobil doll, already in white, in Sterling's, I think it might be a lego chewbacca), and several for great treasures (thank you to both playmobil and lego for making lovely golden treasure chest goodies). Siena ended with the making of the Great Sphinx, which caught her fancy.

I love all the creativity, and the fact that because they built it, they will likely never forget that there was a causeway, or secret chambers, or a golden peak at the top.

Maths Board

2010-09-25T20:06:00.001-07:00

Maths Board, originally uploaded by islandj.

Just a quick peek at a project I have had in the works but finally followed through on today. I picked up these amazing math reference sheets from Practical Pages (she is one amazing, amazing mum - and because she is from South Africa, I'm afraid I have to join along and call Math, Maths. Tee hee). I printed out the entire packet (and there is a junior level one as well... that's in the works for next week), cut them down, gave them colorful borders, and fit it all (most all) onto a single piece of poster board. This is now mounted in the school room, easy to see and refer to. I'm hoping it will help as the kids get started on more complex things, like angles and area and such. What a gift clever internet mums are!

Field Trip :: Museum of Making Music

2010-09-23T16:15:00.000-07:00

Field Trip :: Museum of Making Music, originally uploaded by islandj.

The kids enjoyed this (not so) quiet little museum, dedicated to the making of music. There was a docent led tour for the Big Ones - led by a dapper gent who clearly loved teaching about the instruments and styles of the last two hundred years of music. The kids loved watching the film clips from music in the late 60's, and the moms loved watching the MTV clips from the 80's (accompanied by the groans and gasps of the kids at the outrageous hair and lips). The Littles went on a docent led tour of their own, getting to touch different instruments and making some music of their own in the drum circle.

State Study :: Delaware

2010-09-16T20:12:00.000-07:00

State Study :: Delaware, originally uploaded by islandj.

Week 3 - and we are introducing a few new things. I love a rolling start to the school year, as it makes getting everything in possible and positive (instead of simply overwhelming). A homeschooling friend has organized a really spectacular United States state study and we were lucky enough to join in. Each week they will learn about another state (in order of statehood), and fill out a notebooking page, just chock full of fun details, a mini-map, state flag, state quarter, license plate, state stamp, and even details that I confess I never learned in school. Done in a small group setting, with lots of parent help, they are creating a portfolio they'll be able to refer back to for their entire school years.

And our contribution? Food, of course! We are the state inspired snack makers. This week was Delaware, and of course we made... What? Don't know some snack that is patently Delaware in nature? Neither did we, but several resources suggested gingerbread, and the state insect is the ladybug, so the girls and I made whole wheat gingerbread ladybugs. Yum. Yum. and more yum.

Our next meeting is in two weeks, and we'll be making soft pretzels for Pennsylvania. Bring on the mustard!

Week Two Review

2010-09-11T11:48:00.001-07:00

Origami :: Week Two, originally uploaded by islandj.

Our second official (and third actual) week of school is behind us, and things are beginning to fall into place. This week we are nearly all in, with only PE and a State study class to add next week. Together, the kids and I are beginning to find our rhythm, and the days which seemed so impossibly long last week are more manageable now. It helps that each week informs our next, and I am learning how much can be done on which days, and gauging our attitudes and energy.

We've added in Awanas, Running Club, and are fully invested in our Fine Arts Tuesday and Natural Fridays. Our least favorite task is an online computer program called Reading Plus, and we manage that first thing Monday morning. Each day, we balance those subjects we love with those we struggle with, and I am slowly seeing the kids grumble less and focus more.

In math, Sterling is moving on from the fractions and Siena is in the thick of time (which is harder than I imagined it could be). In Botany, we have learned the essentials of the botanical world, taken a nature walk, and built a light hut. In geography, we continue to learn about life on a whaling ship in the Arctic ocean (the whaling aspect is causing Siena no small amount of anguish, which I might have anticipated). In literature, we continue to be entranced by Pyle's Merry Adventures of Robin Hood of Nottinghamshire, as well as picture and other great books. History is finally beginning, and we've left pre-history behind and found ourselves in the thick of the Nile River and the Egyptian gods and goddesses. Our fine arts are taking off, with pre-historical art trailing our history lessons, and Prokofiev and Degas beginning to share their talents with us.

Whew. It's a long week. I am exhausted by the end, though so engaged with most of what we are learning. We ended the week with a thorough cleaning of the school room, and that makes me look forward to next week!

Botany :: week 2 :: Words and Light Hut

2010-09-10T12:00:00.000-07:00

Botany :: week 2 :: Words and Light Hut, originally uploaded by islandj.

Bless my friend Jenni for teaching out co-op botany class! It is a huge relief to me each week that she takes on the community and hands-on time. We read the textbook daily, and are building up a notebook of our learnings, but Jenni is the one who makes it real. This week, she created a memory game to help us all remember the greek and latin word roots that form the basis of so many scientific words (vascular, antho, agnio, gymno, bio, bi...). The kids worked hard to find the word and its meaning, and are beginning to see the connections between the word roots and the different similar words that come from them.

After the game, they created a light hut. Using a box, tin foil, and a light socket, next week we'll plant some seeds and begin the process of watching them grow. The kids can't wait (neither can I).

Running Club :: First Week

2010-09-09T11:51:00.000-07:00

Running Club :: First Week, originally uploaded by islandj.

Grab your sneakers and get going! My friend Jenni has organized a kids (and mums) running club for our local homeschooling group, and this week we finally got into it. The kids have punch cards for accumulating laps, and will win prizes based on distances run. Siena was the champion of the Hansens, running 2 miles with great grace and enthusiasm. Sterling garnered 1.5, I managed 1 (in between helping track kids and just enjoying watching them... I had already done a workout that morning), and Sage did .75 miles.

The rest of the day was exhausting for Sage, but the big kids seemed energized by it, so we are all looking forward to next week, when we get our army style necklaces to track our progress. Get out and RUN!

Fine Arts Tuesday :: First Art class

2010-09-07T12:10:00.000-07:00

Fine Arts Tuesday :: First Art class, originally uploaded by islandj.

Lots, lots, lots to do on our fine art Tuesdays!

We are covering lots of incredible material - poetry, ancient art history (prehistoric, Egyptian, Greek and Roman, each in turn), several composers, several impressionist painters, and the orchestra. Finally, we end the day with some hands on art using a resource called Artistic Pursuits.

The afternoon is long but full of great inspiration. We begin by reading some poems by the current poet (this term, Walter de la Mare, who is making us all smile). Then we move into prehistoric art, studying a specific cave painting and learning more about how and why they created the art they did. We learn a bit of biography about our composer (Prokofiev this term) and artist (Degas), and over the next few weeks, will listen to music, watch videos of performances, study paintings and sculptures, and even recreate a few of those paintings ourselves. We are slowly learning all about the orchestra, this week focusing on the Conductor and his role (thanks to a great youtube video of Mr Bean conducting the salvation army band, the kids think it is GREAT fun). Finally, the girls all gathered together to imagine a fun time they've had (or would like to have), and then used watercolor crayons to create those scenes.

There is a lot to cover. Using Charlotte Mason's methodology of allowing the student full access directly with the art - be it the poem (with a reading but no "teaching" attached), the masterpiece painting (they observe and then share what they have seen), the musical piece (again, listening and just enjoying the music, without over explanation on my part), or learning about pre-historic art by viewing images from that time - is a wonderful idea. But it often leaves me wondering what they are taking away from it. Time will tell. The belief is that they will develop their own relationships with these pieces of art, and that will propel their interest and ability to learn more. We throw in a bit of hands on so they have something to look back on and be reminded by. And in the process, we (Jenni, the other mom, and I) are being educated and growing as well.

Ancient History :: Nomad Huts

2010-09-06T11:56:00.000-07:00

Ancient History :: Nomad Huts, originally uploaded by islandj.

In ancient history this unit, we studied the early nomads and their transition into farmers. For a fun activity, I sent the kids outside to build huts for themselves or their stuffies. They were supposed to ONLY use what they could find outside, but since our yard is littered with non-natural items, I'm not surprised that there were blankets, nails and other fun additions to their huts. Creative kids!

Week in Review :: First Full Week

2010-09-04T21:28:00.000-07:00

Well, we survived the first full week, with nearly everything in place but for PE class (which we "attended" by ourselves, just for kicks and the routine of it). Our schedule worked fairly well - especially the days when I would chart it out, minute by minute, on the white board. I've never done that before, but this year, with more subjects and computer time to schedule between the kids, it seems necessary and helpful. There is more tweaking to be done on the timing of things and the days when things need to happen, but by and large, it is in place and going to work out well.

Sterling had a great attitude, perhaps urged on by his nearly constant two fold desire to (1) be done with school in a timely fashion and (2) get extra time on the computer math program. He doesn't care for every subject, not by a long shot, but he gives it his best so that he can be done with it. He loves math, LOVES history and reading, and is slowly growing in his ability to write for longer periods of time.

Siena has a much increased workload this year, and it is a bit harder to adjust to. She is also naturally a slower and more methodical worker, so her day is inevitably both longer and more taxing emotionally. But she is finding her way, very much enjoying the written narrations we've begun doing, and loves all the extras that Sterling finds onerous (like art, art appreciation, origami, etc).

Sage just wants to keep up, and I'm thinking we are going to need to get her some kindergarten reading material soon. I wish I could duplicate myself and give her the same kind of time I gave to her siblings when they were her age!

Our course load is full and varied this year:
Ancient History, Geography, Math, Botany, Writing, Reading, Spelling, Composer Study, Orchestra Study, Art History, Art Appreciation, Art, Typing, Shakespeare, Poetry, Literature, Running Club, PE, and even, I'm hoping, some handicrafts.

Botany :: taxonomy experienced

2010-09-03T19:58:00.000-07:00

SchoolHouse :: Botany :: taxonomy experienced, originally uploaded by islandj.

Another of our subjects this year is Botany. We are using the Apologia Creation series, and have purchased some tricked out notebooks to accompany it. This is one of our mini-co-op subjects, which means that while we will do daily work as a family at home each day, once a week we'll join with our friends and have a recap and experiments time together. Today was our first meeting, and I was so happy that my friend is the teacher and I get to be the student (and chief baby holder).

I confess that my kids have NOT been excited about Botany. This, despite the fact that I even bought myself a notebook, so I could follow along, and despite the fact that we LOVE to find new plants and identify them when we are on hikes. So it is especially important that my friend is teaching our group time, and bringing so much enthusiasm to it.

Today, after reviewing the material we had already read (what is botany? why do we use Latin? what is binomial nomenclature? Taxonomy? a vascular plant?), we did a taxonomy experiment with lots of shoes. Sterling really like organizing and figuring out the best way, and even asked for an additional chart to sort and classify other things. After that, we did leaf rubbings and identified the midrib of our vascular leaves.

I can't speak for the kids, but I am ready to jump back in on Monday and see what else we learn!

Nature Study :: Up Close and Personal

2010-09-02T20:07:00.000-07:00

Nature Study :: Up Close and Personal, originally uploaded by islandj.

You'll get sick of reading this long before I'm through meaning it, but THIS is why I homeschool.

Today at running club, Sterling found a "leaf" next to our car. Luckily, he didn't step on it, and soon discovered that it could fly! Amazingly, we caught it, and managed to keep track of it for the whole of running club (where not much running but a great deal of nature studying got done). I decided to take him home to identify and study him.

This beauty is a leaf bug, or Katydid, probably a form of the Great Green Bush Cricket (which is kind of ironic, because it is far closer to a grasshopper than a cricket, but I digress, fully hopped up on all the information I learned reading about these lovelies in Comstock's Handbook of Nature Study). It flies in the most beautiful way, but for the most part, was content to sit on a stick or my sweater and clean itself fastidiously. We learned that it likes to eat eucalyptus leaves, but despite an array of choices we laid before it, it just kept cleaning and then moving a few inches here or there.

The kids were eager to try their hand at drawing Katy (even Sterling with his ink and fountain pen), and we had planned to let the insect go, but then the gardeners came, so we brought her inside and there she remains (with doors open so she can escape). I read that they can make wonderful pets (so far, any vocalizations have been minor and quite short), so I know that if I weren't worried about how to feed it, wandering free in the home, I would keep it in a heartbeat. Look at those incredible eyes and legs, and all the leaf like veins on its wing covers!

(UPDATE 9/4 :: nearly 48 hours later, and Katy is still roaming the house. Yesterday she toured the kitchen, and then this morning she was gone. Imagine all of our surprise when she turned up in the upstairs guest bedroom?! And there she remains. Doors are left open as much as is possible, and a smattering of leaves are about as well. We'll see what happens - we are all inordinately fond of this insect!)

SchoolHouse Extras :: Origami :: week one

2010-08-31T19:52:00.000-07:00

SchoolHouse Extras :: Origami :: week one, originally uploaded by islandj.

One of my favorite reasons to homeschool is all the fun extras we can pack into our daily living. Origami is one of many things we have been wanting to do more (anything!) with. My dad had given us a beautiful collection of korean origami papers last year, and I have a few old papers of my own, as well as a book or two of instructions, and every year we claim that this will be the year, and then, whoosh, the time has flown and we are still wishing. Not this year! Origami has become a scheduled subject (Tuesdays, after lunch, before PE), and the girls and I are thrilled.

Today we had our first go at it, and made little bunny heads and a tulip flower. I like that it is completely creative, completely structured, and in the process of making fun things, we have to learn how to follow step by step instructions, read diagrams, fold carefully, and encourage one another through the tough spots. Already we love it, and can't wait for next Tuesday to come!

SchoolHouse :: We Dig Archaeology!

2010-08-30T22:04:00.001-07:00

SchoolHouse :: Archaeology Uncovered, originally uploaded by islandj.

Today we worked on the second half of the introduction to Story of the World: Ancients. Last week we learned what that a historian studies old papers and things to learn the "story of the past." Today we were introduced to the archaeologist. The kids loved the idea of someone digging up trash and treasures to find out how people lived. Each of the big ones gathered up a handful of household artifacts - items that would represent our culture and lives today - and hid them in the sand pit. Sage then became our resident archaeologist, and went around digging. Sterling had mapped his treasures as he hid them, but Siena went around with Sage and mapped them (complete with a key and symbols) as they were discovered. These maps and a list of artifacts was entered into our history notebook... and then lots more hiding and digging took place!

SchoolHouse :: First Week Work

2010-08-27T07:10:00.000-07:00

SchoolHouse :: First Week Work, originally uploaded by islandj.

Just a glimpse into our first week of school. This week we introduced all of our resources, a little at a time. Next week we'll dive in full steam, but this week we just puttered through each subject, all the books, and expectations. We took several nature walks with friends, began several new programs on the computer (including typing, reading and math), and added Sage to our student roster! She is my most enthusiastic student, constantly asking, "what shall I pull out next, Mum?" Keeping her well occupied and happy is going to be a bigger challenge than keeping up with all the math, history, science, nature and fine arts for the bigger kids!

It was a great first week, in many ways. We had all the (expected) melt-downs and resistance, as turning from a carefree and busy summer to seat work is always a challenge. We re-established our morning routines, got used to our new school room set up, began doing math and writing and history, and realized how much we've all grown since finishing up in June. There are many new challenges before us - increased daily writing, more independent reading, a greater variety of subjects and materials. Our days will be longer this year, and Sage has more interests too. But so far, it has been good, very good. I am eager to hit Monday and start in for real with our first official week.

First Day of School 2010

2010-08-23T08:24:00.000-07:00

First Day of School 2010, originally uploaded by islandj.

Here they are - this years first day of school photos. Don't those students look sweet? I asked them to dress nicely for the first day and their photo. Siena had on her new favorite skirt and shirt, Sterling really duded up with is favorite (tool large) Hawaiian shirt (over an Angels t-shirt, of course), and Sage decided that this summer beach hat was a "back to school hat" and wore that most of the day. I realize now that I hadn't had a chance to take off my apron (we were making the most delicious bacon, egg and cheese cups for breakfast), but that seems like par for the course with homeschooling.

We are starting today, Monday, in what I call a "rolling start." Our official start date is August 30th, but I love to have a full week to get each subject introduced, put our hands on the books and see the material, and remember what it is like to spend the day inside the schoolroom... without the pressure to make sure that we get every thing done. By the time next Monday rolls around, the jitters will be gone. The books will be put into the right places. I won't be explaining how things are going to go - they will just happen. It won't be perfect next week either, but it'll be a lot easier.

I'm very excited about school this coming year. We have a very rich and varied curriculum planned out. The books are fascinating. The new things (typing, fine arts, a new art program, botany...) will enrich all of us. Sterling is saying marvelous things like "I'm in 4th grade now, I can do that alone," so my own workload is going to change and morph as he becomes more independent, Siena's reading ability excels, and Sage joins into the fray with her own Pre-K enthusiasm.

2010-11 :: In Process

2010-08-08T21:23:00.001-07:00

In Process
Originally uploaded by islandj

It begins with a clearing out of last years materials and resources, filing away the unforgettables, recycling the un-necessaries, and selling the un-wanteds. Then I pull out my stash of resources - book lists, curriculum catalogs, ideas, papers, folders, files - and begin to make sense of it. Slowly, it is coming together. I now have a system of folders for each subject. I learned the hard way that if I don't have a place to physically put the mental information, I panic, try to do too much in an effort not to miss a thing, and no one is served by that. With everything more or less (often quite a bit of less) neatly filed away, I can then pull what is age and stage appropriate.

So here we go. I've got my stacks and I've picked my curriculum. I've placed nearly all my orders, and hope to have curriculum in hand next week. I've even managed to deconstruct most of the subjects and scheduled them all out over 36 weeks. Final steps? Cleaning the school room, preparing the first day festivities, and, eventually, organizing all these wonderful resources further into their days of the week.

Only two weeks left of summer (and one of them is an away vacation), so time is creeping forward at a race pace. I'm getting excited!

Creative Kids :: Leaf Rubbing

2009-10-19T20:06:00.001-07:00

Creative Kids :: Leaf Rubbing
Originally uploaded by islandj

Our Charlotte Mason group is hosting monthly handi-craft gatherings. This month, I hosted a leaf rubbing activity, based on a leaf book the kids and I created two autumns ago in Texas.

It was a really simple activity to coordinate, and the kids really enjoyed it (I did too). We began by practicing rubbing crayons over the leaves on scrap paper to see what kind of leaves worked best. We walked around the yard and collected (tons of) leaves. We returned inside, chaos ensued, and many leaves were rubbed using all colors of crayons and techniques. We then bound the books with a twig and some twine.

I overheard one of the moms suggest doing this on a road trip - bringing crayons and paper, and taking samples of different places you visit. I really love this idea. We are going to Florida in a few weeks, and it'll be one of the activities we do as we experience a totally new climate and location.

For those wondering about the power of a Charlotte Mason style education and her emphasis on nature walk, I share a comment Siena made as we were collected leaves prior to everyone arriving: "Mom, now that we are collecting leaves, it seems like I am seeing leaves everywhere. There are tons of them! They are all so pretty. I'm so glad we do things like this."

Me too.

Notes from the SchoolHouse :: Glider Experiment

2009-10-01T06:51:00.000-07:00

Notes from the SchoolHouse :: Glider Experiment
Originally uploaded by islandj

Starting School each fall is a work in progress; it takes us at least a full month, sometimes two, before every subject we want to cover has been folded into the schedule. I have been working on science (we are using an amazing textbook called Exploring Creation: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day) since the first days, but just this week we managed to hit a bit of a groove with it.

Today we did a glider experiment to demonstrate the principles of lift and drag. The kids were game - experiments are much more fun than simply reading the material, and anything with a glider (and straws) perks up interest. We created two gliders each, learned about controlling variables, made a hypothesis, and then threw our gliders over and over again. We measured distances, calculated averages, and had a pretty good time.

Our only flaw? Sterling's gliders behaved in a way so as to prove the opposite of what we were going for ... so we had to have some serious dad-help debriefing how that could be possible. I'm glad we are only in lower elementary, and these concepts will come up again and again!

Composer Study

2009-09-26T13:12:00.001-07:00

The kids and I together have begun our exposure to Ralph Vaughan Williams this month. So far we've learned a bit of his biography, located him on a time line and map, and listened to both the Fantasia's. I listened to his Sea Symphony, but it seemed rather complex for our ears, so I am leaving that for another year!

With Greensleeves we've been able to watch a concert on YouTube, identify a few of the instruments by sound, and listened to several variations of the "original" piece with lyrics (both as Greensleeves, and as What Child is This?). Sterling is fascinated by the dates and times - a 500 year old tune, a variation written so long ago, and then he will randomly point out that Vaughan Williams was such an age when he wrote the piece. Siena just smiles and makes comments about all the emotions. Sage talks through most of it at this point (no surprise there!).

We plan to stick with these two pieces for another few weeks, and then we'll transition to Elgar and the pieces collected to represent his career. When that time comes, Vaughan Williams timeline photo will be moved onto the timeline permanently, and a photo of Elgar and his dates will go up on our "fine arts board." We'll learn about Elgar the man, and listen to all the pieces. We'll find his birthplace on the map, and write his dates on our moveable timeline. Then we'll spend a week or two or three on each of the pieces individually. Sometimes I'm able to find worksheets written by those who know and love classical music, and we'll spend some time answering questions or finding out more about the artist and/or the work.

Next month we will also be beginning a very slow project on composers and the orchestra. Thought you might like to just see a glimpse of it: http://www.homeschoolinthewoods.com/HTTA/AP/Composers.htm

It is called a lap book (made with folders and paper to fit on a kids lap), and full of information. We are doing it with a few friends, once per month, so we anticipate it'll take a LONG time to put it together, but it's nice to have a hands on way to present all the material. Not sure what we are starting with, but I'm hoping it is the orchestra, since I know so little about it!

Siena's To Do Chart 2009-10

2009-08-31T20:52:00.001-07:00

Siena's To Do Chart 2009-10
Originally uploaded by islandj

A close up of this years to-do chart. I opted for a much smaller (about half) size compared with last year, as that became cumbersome by the end of the year. This chart has three parts, one for household chores (the butterfly), one for daily activities (the tree covered with oranges), and the field of flowers for each days academic subjects. This way she can see at a glance what needs to be done in each area of her life. I watercolored the background, and then did the rest with colored paper and the laminating machine. Certain things (namely the oranges) will be consistent day to day. Many of the flowers will be consistent too, though there are certain subjects that happen only once or twice a week. The butterflies will change daily - each of us will be "learning" a specific chore for each day of the week, one which we will all work on together as we learn how to do it independently.

Sterling, on the other hand, has a very simple paper chart to use each week. I really like the format I stumbled up on this year, and am looking forward to his having a bit more independence as he charts his accomplishments each day.

Sage has a little chart that is hers, full of fish and stars, and each day she asks me what she can take down as we go through the day.

I have a master chart, six weeks showing at a time, so that I can mark our work and track our progress. I used a version of this last year, and this year just changed the set up and the time frame (only 6 weeks at a time instead of 12). We'll see how it works out!

The SchoolHouse Room

2009-08-31T20:42:00.001-07:00

The SchoolHouse Room
Originally uploaded by islandj

A quick tour. The first photo is as we enter the SchoolHouse Room, with our new map of the US. Then we've got the World Map and our book case filled with lovely books, art supplies, globes... Then our white board, writing basket, mom's shelves and such. Finally, we've got our to-do charts - Siena's and Sage's only, as Sterling has opted for a simple weekly to-do lists on paper (he's growing up, third grade now, you know). I really like the chart we came up with this year - it's pretty, not too large, and I think it will last through the year for her. Welcome!

First Day of School 2009

2009-08-27T20:36:00.000-07:00

First Day of School 2009
Originally uploaded by islandj

Today we embarked on a wonderful new school year! After some delays, this morning I surprised the kids with fresh crepes, and these lovely "schultute" (German for "school bags," they are traditional first day of school - generally first grade, but still - treats for kids). Y'all know by now how much I love traditions, even the first time we do them. I explored these a bit last Valentine's Day, but even sick, I couldn't let this chance for the first day to go by. I made each a special cone, and then filled it with school supplies (glue, scissors and pencils), and treats (gum, gummy bears and such). What fun to start the day with a perfectly clean room (pictures of that to come), and such cheerful cones at your seat?

We are beginning slowly. We explored our new space (I close off the classroom each year a week before school starts so that it is fresh and clean when they enter), flipped through our new books, continued to work on the summer workbooks (math, reading and writing), and generally remembered what it was like to sit at the table for part of the morning. My breathing is still labored, so reading aloud had to be short and sweet, but ah, how good it feels to get back into the saddle again! How I've missed our learning together and reading together and seeing the lights of realization on their faces!

Now I'm exhausted, and sleep is the order of the evening!

Organization :: Finishing up the School Year

2009-07-06T07:37:00.000-07:00

Okay, she says gleefully, rubbing her hands together... we just finished this process! I have two stages of the going through process. First, I kept all their workbooks, etc, from the year - these were obvious (Singapore math, MFW workbook/notebook, reader, etc). I also have one (or at most two) folders for each of their school papers that weren't bound - handwriting pages, art class, etc. I put all these on a high shelf in the schoolroom closet. Then I have plastic file folder envelopes (you know, the kind with the two cool circles and the string to secure it). Into that went anything more of a personal nature from the year - special letters they received, things they drew, stuff I'm not sure what to do with, but which I'm sure happened in the last 12 months (even tickets from events, maps from the zoo, whatever might remind us of 08-09).
My goal was to get it all down to those few things. I have a large folder - a poster board folded in half and taped up the edges - which holds any large art that they did in art class, or anything else big.
With "just" that - it's all together and easy to locate. Fairly easy to store. If I find a stray paper now, I know right where it is meant to go. I have decided that at the end of the next school year, I'll do the same - just gather everything, and unless its really trash, keep it in this system... and then I look at the stuff from a year prior and be able to throw more of it away (like the Singapore math workbooks) with a bit of distance and the kids on to know accomplishments in their own eyes.

books :: Spring :: June 2009

2009-06-30T17:59:00.000-07:00

This is our last official booklist of the 2008-09 school year, so this list is heavy on finishing up our unit of early American history!

History/Biography ::

What's the Big Idea, Ben Franklin? Jean Fritz

The Amazing Life of Benjamin Franklin, J C Giblin

Benjamin Franklin, Ingri & Edgar Parin d'Aulaire

The Boston Tea Party, Nancy Furstinger

Boston Tea Party, P D Edwards

The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (Bing) - beautiful edition

A Picture Book of Paul Revere, David Adler

Paul Revere's Ride, Wonder Books, Cynthia Klingel

A Picture Book of Thomas Jefferson, David Adler

Thomas Jefferson, National Geographic, Cheryl Harness

The Diary of Mary Jemison, Captured by the Indians, edited by Roop

Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison, Lois Lensky - just an incredible story, told very compellingly. I read it one night, and Sterling read it since.

The Matchlock Gun, Walter Edmonds (Newberry Medal) (Sterling really liked this)

Toliver's Secret, Esther Wood Brady (Sterling wasn't too impressed and gave up half way)

Buttons for General Washington, Peter and Connie Roop

George Washington's Breakfast, Jean Fritz

Big George, Anne Rockwell

Meet George Washington, Joan Heilbroner

The Matchlock Gun, Walter Edmonds (Sterling Read alone - very heavy, true story)

George the Drummer Boy, Nathaniel Benchley (Level 3)

Sam the Minuteman, Nathaniel Benchley (Level 3)

Biography ::

Miss Lady Bird's Wildflowers: How a First Lady Changed America, Kathi Appelt

John Muir: My Life with Nature, Joseph Cornell

Books :: Birds

2009-06-16T11:03:00.000-07:00

The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of John James Audubon, Jacqueline Davies, illustrated by Melissa Sweet (we adore this story, having read it before. I love the gentle and compelling illustrations, and the story as well).

The Adventure Book of Birds, William A Jerr (National Audubon Society) - a very old book found in the free box at the library - but informative and interesting.

Peterson Field Guide Coloring Books :: Birds (Peter Alden and John Sill) - With color plates at the front and back, full of simple drawings for the kids to color in and learn some basic facts about 262 birds.

Beginning Birdwatcher's Book (with 48 stickers), Sy Barlowe. Very, very basic, but a nice start to us keeping track of the birds we see - good for teaching some basic questions to track, etc.

Local Birds of San Diego County - a laminated guide sheet with local birds - we use this constantly (constantly!) in our back yard and on walks in our area.

RESOURCES :: or, those books we don't read in full, but are helpful

Peterson Field Guides: Hawks of North America

Our Wild Worlds Series: Falcons, Wayne Lynch

Red-Tailed Hawks, Doug Wechsler - we have these flying in the canyon behind our house.

The DK Picturepedia: Birds (simple, interesting and as always with DK books, so well done. We used it to not only look up specific information about birds we see in our area, but about birds and their habitats in general) J598 Bir

Sibley's Birding Basics: How to identify birds, using the clues in feathers, habitats, behaviors and sounds, David Allen Sibley 598.07 Sib This book is fascinating, and totally informative. I will likely buy this one, for me, at least for now.

Martha, Gennady Spirin (the story of a family who "adopts" an injured crow)

About Birds: A Guide for Children, Cathryn Sill (J598) - a bit simplistic, but a nice starting point.

Starting with Nature: Bird, Pamela Hickman

Looking for Seabirds: Journal from an Alaskan Voyage, Sophie Webb (we read this author's book about going to Antarctica to study penguins, and loved it).

DK Smithsonian Kids' Field Guides: Birds of North America (J598.0974)

Books :: Gardening

2009-06-12T12:08:00.000-07:00

This spring we've focused much of our science/nature time on gardening and birds. Part of our tilling the soil of our minds and planting good seeds has taken the form of reading, reading, reading! Of course, we've also tried our hands at planting and growing, to varying success. Here are some of the books we've enjoyed, from poetry, to picture books, to non-fiction/how-to books:

Poetry ::

Robert Frost :: A Girl's Garden

Kate Greenway :: Marigold Garden (a pictures and rhymes book, Warne publisher)

Gardening Books (many ideas gotten from the March edition from Little Acorn Learning)

Scarlette Beane, Karen Wallace - fun illustrations, total fantasy

The Tin Forest, Helen Ward - really liked this one too

Sunflower House, Eve Bunting

The Wind's Garden, Bethany Roberts - showing the difference between a planted garden and what grows from seeds blown by the wind.

Our Community Garden, Barbara Pollak

The Gardener, Sarah Stewart - we've read this before, and enjoyed it so much we're reading it again.

The Garden of Happiness, Erika Tamar

Miss Jaster's Garden, NM Bodecker (it has a hedgehog, so we love it)

Leaves! Leaves! Leaves! Nancy Elizabeth Wallace - great resource for a simple and compelling tree study throughout the year.

A Seed is Sleepy, Dianna Hutts Aston (J581.467) - really beautiful watercolors of a wide variety of seeds and the trees/plants they come from.

Pick, Pull, Snap: Where Once a Flower Bloomed, Lola M Schaefer (J571.82)

One Small Square: Backyard, Donald M Silver

Linnea's Windowsill Garden, Christina Bjork

Stopwatch Books: Potato, Barrie Watts - we loved having this as we began planting our potato trash can this month.

Planting the Seed: A Guide to Gardening, Suzanne Winckler (J635) - a bit dense, but for information, not bad.

Gardening :: Garden Journal Sketches

2009-06-01T22:59:00.001-07:00

Gardening Journal Sketches
Originally uploaded by islandj

Our gardening continues on, much to my surprise and delight. Though our small successes hardly qualify us for green thumb status, we are able to see such progress in the plantings that it encourages us to keep on trying! That we've remembered to water them is in itself, quite a coup.

And so we've had much to learn and think about. We've used a handy e-book on seeds to learn about some terminology (seed, embryo, germination, tap root, seedling), as well as what each of the changes we watch mean. We've seen the soaked seeds begin to sprout, and then grow, we've been astonished by the network of white roots that simply pour out of the pea's little mesh dirt home, and we've watched with delight the bean plants (literally a handful of pinto beans from the 25 lb Costco bag tossed into some dirt in an old colander) take off and nearly become a bouquet they are so pretty.

Charlotte Mason encourages everyone, young and old, to keep a nature journal. We've now got several - one for taking on hikes, one for at home (keeping track of our baby birds, the hawks, and other natural wonders in our own backyard), and a small little booklet I stapled together for us to use as a Garden Journal. I like having this special little book for our garden - because it is just a few pieces of paper, it isn't intimidating, and we feel confident that we will be able to fill it up with both sketches and information. Thus far we've drawn sketches of the seeds as they looked right out of the packet, how they appeared after a day of soaking, and then a drawing or three a week as they are growing. We've also including little definitions of key words, and notes on what and when we've planted or transplanted or seen some significant change.

Every few days we take a moment, pick a particular seedling, and sketch it in our garden journals. Siena and I have really enjoyed doing this. We both fell in love with a little sunflower seedling that, for over a week, kept it's seed shell aloft on its growing green leaf (you can see my drawing in the upper right, Siena's in the lower left). I was skeptical about our ability to actually capture this on paper (and so I've got lots of photos), but so pleasantly surprised to see what success we've all (including Sterling, who agreed to sketch a bean plant that is growing in the middle of the grass, where he and Siena dug a little hole and planted it a week or two ago - his is the top middle sketch) enjoyed. And taking the time to draw these seedlings - and attempting to do them justice - has honed our observation skills quite nicely, prompting us to see things we would normally just overlook.

I'm reading The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes right now, and it seems that at least once in each tale he chides Dr. Watson: "You see, but you do not observe." How very true it is in high stakes sleuthing, and how true it is in the little things in life as well. We are learning to observe more, and how much richer we are for it!

Books :: Spring :: May 2009

2009-05-31T11:23:00.000-07:00

Read Alouds ::

The Princess and the Pea, Lauren Child

Beach, Elisha Cooper (loved the illustrations, and the cloud study)

**Christopher Counting, Valeri Gorbachev (Siena Loved this book and read it several times)

Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt, Deborah Hopkinson

**The Growing Story, Ruth Krauss, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury - Sage's favorite

Merlin and the Making of the King, Margaret Hodges, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman - a favorite author and illustrator.

The King of the Golden River, John Ruskin

The Tinderbox, Hans Christian Anderson, retold by S. Mitchell

You're Just What I Need, Ruth Krauss

Charlotte and the White Horse, Ruth Krauss, pictures by Maurice Sendak

**On Sand Island, Jacqueline Briggs Martin (author of Snowflake Bentley) - just lovely. Really.

**Library Lion, Michelle Knudson, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes - a new favorite. So sweet, good moral story.

Daniel and His Walking Stick, Wendy McCormick

Read an Author :: Eve Bunting

Anna's Table (wonderful resource for inspiring a nature table)

The Memory String

Can You Do This, Old Badger?

Our Library

The Mother's Day Mice

Emma's Turtle

Butterfly House

So Far From the Sea

Sunshine Home

Rudi's Pond

Read an Illustrator :: Nick Butterworth

This is one of my all time favorite author/illustrators. He often partners with Mick Inkpen.

Tiger in the Snow

QPootle5

The Nativity Play

Stories Jesus Told

Read an Author :: Valeri Gorbachev

Christopher Counting - quickly a favorite

One Rainy Day

Chicken Chickens - made Sterling laugh

Turtle's Penguin Day - very imaginative and so sweet

The Big Trip

Gardening :: See Gardening Post

Birds :: See Bird Watching Post

History :: Colonial America

The Long Way to A New Land, Joan Sandin (a level 3 reader about emigration to US)

Mary Geddy's Day: A Colonial Girl in Williamsburg, Kate Waters (love, love this series)

D is for Drums: A Colonial Williamsburg ABC, Kay Chorao (we love Chorao, and I loved using this with Sage and the bigger kids - we saw the same alphabet people in the above book as well!)

Dreaming of America: An Ellis Island Story, Eve Bunting

The Courage of Sarah Noble, Alice Dagliesh

...If you Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620, Ann McGovern (Sterling read on his own)

Projects about Colonial Life, Marian Broida (J973.2)

Our Colonial Year, Cheryl Harness (J973.2) (a year in the life of the thirteen colonies, sparse words, woodcut style colored illustrations)

Pass the Bread! Karin Luisa Badt

Fine Arts :: Poetry, Art Appreciation, Music ::

Marigold Garden, Kate Greenway

Poetry for Young People: Robert Frost

My Symphony, William Henry Channing, illustrated by Mary Engelbreit

The Starry Night, Neil Waldman

Gardening :: It Begins

2009-05-17T21:47:00.001-07:00

Gardening :: It Begins
Originally uploaded by islandj

I will readily confess that I have a black thumb, probably two of them (definitely two thumbs, most likely both black), so what will follow in the coming weeks may not be pretty. You've been warned. (And we won't even begin to get into the tadpoles that I have purposed not to blog about).

Yesterday we began our life science unit on plants and gardening. We each picked out some seeds to plant (right to left: carrots, soybeans and peas), and I even cheated with a Jiffy pot Greenhouse to start. The kids are so excited - and I admit, there is something to planting a dry seed kernel and slowly watching it transform itself! With 12 little seed starter spots, we each planted four, and then we soaked a bunch more in water overnight to see what would happen. To the kids delight, the shriveled up peas are plump and round, the sunflower seeds are soft, the soybeans are bursting. We hope to plan those tomorrow in regular potting soil.

I've given the kids each a small notebook to record what we are doing. This week we will learn about the seeds themselves, and then dive into germination and what will happen in the coming weeks. I've got a stack of gardening related picture books, and juvenile gardening books, and more potting soil to play with. I have some high hopes.

Now, if we can just remember to water them...

Nature Walk :: Images :: May 15, 2009

2009-05-16T16:38:00.001-07:00

Nature Walk :: Images :: May 15, 2009
Originally uploaded by islandj

Yesterday we went on the first Nature Walk organized by our new Charlotte Mason group. We decided to spend a few months exploring Batiquitos Lagoon, which is right down the street from us. Despite its closeness (and the fact that we could potentially access it by a trail system right near our house), we haven't spent very much time there, but for a field trip in January and a few walks there with friends.

The day began in typical coastal fog, but by the time we ended, it was sunny and warm. I think we had 9 families join us, and while there were moments of chaos, they were few and far between, and it was really something to watch everyone settle into a pattern of exploration and observation. We did not all stay together - I think that would have been impossible - but the groupings of children ebbed and flowed, someone stopping to examine a wild cucumber skeleton, then rushing on to discover the cat tails.

We brought sketch books, but used them only a little, as we never took the opportunity to simply stop and sit and sketch (Siena and I both sketched a great egret and a snowy egret and some other treasures seen and found, standing where we were, before moving on to the next site). There were not nearly as many birds as I have seen in the past, which was disappointing, but then, it also allowed us to dive into the trail itself, discovering a wood rats nest (something Siena recognized and remembered from our Jack's Pond field trip), a stump with beautiful wood beetle borings, a millipede, and so much more.

Books :: Spring Weeks One to Four :: April 2009

2009-04-30T20:13:00.000-07:00

Fine Arts :: Music, Poetry, Art Appreciation
Casey at the Bat, Ernest Lawrence Thayer

The Baby's Bedtime Book, Kay Chorao

The Springs of Joy, Tasha Tudor (a wonderfully illustrated collection of quotes and poems)

Museum ABC, The Met (a wonderful resource for quick introductions to a wide variety of artistic styles and pieces)

I am my Grandpa's Enkelin, Walter Wanngerin Jr (a wonderful story about life and death, set in loose verse, at least I thought it was)

Climb into my Lap: First poems to read together, Hopkins

Biography ::
I, Columbus (see history)

Pocahontas, the D'aulieres - we loved this book two years ago, and continue to enjoy the way the authors create historical books just right for this age.

History ::
I Pledge Allegiance, Francis Bellamy, commentary by Bill Martin, Jr, etc.
I Pledge Allegiance, June Swanson (early reader)

Vikings ::
The Vikings, Robert Nicholson, J948.022 Nic (good, easy beginning to understanding them, with a few activities)
Viking Adventure, Clyde Robert Bulla (Sterling's Chapter book on Vikings)

Columbus ::
Pedro's Journal, Pam Conrad
I, Columbus: My Journal, Edited by Roop (Sterling's chapter book on Columbus)

Jamestown ::

The True Story of Pocahontas (Step into Reading book), Lucille Penner (simple and easily read by Sterling, some by Siena)

We the People: The Jamestown Colony, Brendan January (fairly simple reading, straightforward, and with good pictures/illustrations)

Events that Shaped History: The Settling of Jamestown, Knowlton (we skimmed and read the many side comments and extras, enjoying the pictures)

National Geographic: 1607: A New Look at Jamestown, Lange (this was wonderful for the color illustrations of the settlement today. We used this as a reference book to allow us to visualize what was happening in our other texts)

James Towne: Struggle for Survival, Sewall (Sterling's read alone book for jamestown. I skimmed it, and it was very interesting, with quotes from actual letters and documents of the time)

You Wouldn't Want to be an American Colonist! Morley (a tongue in cheek, informative and funny book about "a settlement you wouldn't want to start). This was Sterling's read alone.

Native American Indians ::

The Light in the Forest, Conrad Richter (I read this simple chapter book - YA - and it was a bit more complex emotionally than I think Sterling is ready for, but he'll read it in a few years)

The Rough-Face Girl, Rafe Martin (an Algonquin Cinderella story, very moving)

Native American Indians, Gorsline

The Boy Who Lived with Bears, and other iroquois stories, Joseph Bruchac

Squanto: Friend of the White Men, Bulla

Pilgrims ::

On the Mayflower: Voyage of the Ship's Apprentice & a Passenger Girl, Kate Waters (wonderful book series with photos of re-enactment of events).

Samuel Eaton's Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Boy, Kate Waters (love them)

...If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620, Ann McGovern

Science :: Dolphins/Whales and Frogs
Shooting Stars, Franklyn M Branley (good, easy reading - we take turns reading sentences)

The Moon Seems to Change, Branley

There was once a Sky Full of Stars, Bob Crelin (encourages us to turn off the lights more often!)

The Big Dipper, Franklyn Branley

Reading an Author :: Allan Ahlberg
Treasure Hunt (sweet, toddler story)
Mockingbird

Previously (good way to learn the meaning of this word)

The Shopping Expedition

The Snail House

The Baby in the Hat

Reading an Author/Illustrator :: Virginia Lee Burton
Calico The Wonder Horse

Mike Mulligan and the Steam Shovel

Katy and the Big Snow

The Little House

Reading an Author/Illustrator :: Tasha Tudor

Give us This Day: The Lord's Prayer

A Time To Keep: The book of Holidays

The Springs of Joy (see poetry)

The Bedtime Book

Around the Year

Reading an Author/Illustrator :: Patricia Polacco

Rotten Richie and the Ultimate Dare

Aunt Chip and the Great Triple Creek Dam Affair

Emma Kate

My Ol' Man

(favorites from the past: Thundercakes, Chicken Sunday, Rechenka's Eggs, Christmas Tapestry, The Trees of the Dancing Goats, Tikva Means Hope... you get the idea. Nearly every book is a winner, and most are auto-biographical in nature. Read her.)

Read Alouds ::
Parables: Stories Jesus Told, Mary Hoffman

Jesus, Brian Wildsmith

Houndsley and Catina, James Howe (illustrated by the WONDERFUL Marie-Louise Gay) - this was a terrific story about being a good friend, and working within your calling.

Was it a Good Trade? de Regniers (great illustrations, good discussion starter)

Special for April :: Passover, Easter, Earth Day
The Secret Seder, Doreen Rappaport (we loved this story of a young jewish boys first seder during the holocaust, illustrated by our favorite Emily Arnold McCully)

Chicken Sunday, Patricia Polacco

Rechenka's Eggs, Patricia Polacco

books :: Winter Weeks Nine to Twelve :: March 2009

2009-03-31T14:46:00.000-07:00

Fine Arts :: Music, Poetry, Art Appreciation

Charlotte in Giverny

Around the World in Eighty Poems, selected by James Berry

Biography ::

Dizzy, Jonah Winter (biography of Dizzy Gillespie. We also watched videos of him on YouTube.)

Babe Ruth Saves Baseball (Step Into Reading series), read by Sterling

Babe Ruth, Home Run Hero (Scholastic Biography)

Science :: Dolphins/Whales and Frogs

Dolphins on the Sand, Jim Arnosky

Whale Snow, Debby Dahl Edwardson

Whales and Dolphins, Eyes on Nature series

Whales Passing, Eve Bunting

Whose Tracks are These? Paul Mangold

Growing Frogs, Vivian French (really sweet and informative).

Tale of a Tadpole, DK Eyewitness Reader, Karen Wallace (great for the kids to read to me)

Tadpoles, Betsy James

Metamorphosis, Andres Llamas Ruiz (about frogs, butterflies and dragonflies, fascinating)

The Life Cycle of a Frog, Lisa Trumbauer

Little Tad Grows Up, Giuliano Ferri (another family favorite)

A Tadpole Grows Up, Pam Zollman

From Tadpole to Frog, Heinemann first library (good resource)

Science :: Weather

W is for Wind: A Weather Alphabet, Pat Michaels (this was not the kids favorite - nor mine, but the side notes will make for an interesting read when we return to it next month)

Whale Snow, Debby Dahl Edwardson (annie Patterson)

Our Seasons, Grace Lin and Ranida T McKneally

**Nature in the Neighborhood, Gordon Morrison, J508 Mor (wonderful resource, particularly for those not living "in" nature. Beautiful pencil drawings, good text, inspiring!)

On the Same Day In March: A Tour of the World's Weather, Marilyn Singer

**Pond Year, Kathryn Lasky (another wonderful resource, looking at life in a little girl's pond as each month passes; one we'll return to regularly)

Reading an Author :: Allen Say

Grandfather's Journey

Tea with Milk

The Bicycle Man

The Sign Painter

Allison

(we really enjoyed all these stories, particularly the ones which wove through different parts of Say's own biography)

Reading an Author :: Ann Tompert

Grandfather Tang's Story (love the tangram stories)

The gigantic Turnip

Just a Little Bit

The Hungry Black Bag

(We didn't like these as much as we were hoping. There was a wide variety in the quality of illustrations - each by a different artist - and some of the stories didn't engage us).

Reading an Author/Series :: Ellen Howard

This is a wonderful series of well written picture books about pioneer times, sure to become a favorite!

The Log Cabin Quilt

The Log Cabin Christmas

The Log Cabin Church

The Log Cabin Wedding

Read Alouds ::

Up, Jim LaMarche (love his stories and illustrations)

Billy and Blaze, CW Anderson

The First Thing My Mama Told Me, Susan Marie Swanson

Jody's Beans, Malachy Doyle

Anno's Magic Seeds, Anno

Ollie's Ski Trip, Elsa Beskow (incredible, as always)

For Sage ::

Jasper's Beanstalk, Nick Butterworth and Mick Inkpen (my FAVORITE kids illustrators)

Blossom and Boo Stay up Late, Dawn Apperly (Sage's favorite Author/Illustrator)

Special For March :: Purim, St. Patrick's Day, Vernal Equinox (first day of spring)

On Purim, Cathy Goldberg Fishman (wonderfully illustrated, excellent explanation)

It's Purim Time! Latifa Berry Kropf

St. Patrick's Day, Heinemann Library

When the Root Children Wake Up, Audrey Wood (a favorite year after year)

Spring's Sprung, Lynn Plourde

Had Gadya: A Passover Song, Seymour Chwast

It's Seder Time! Latifa Berry Kropf

Siena's Read Aloud ::

Bathtime for Biscuit

Are You My Mother?

Allison, Allen Say (this is a huge accomplishment!)

How Do You Know It's Spring? Allan Fowler (a "Rookie Read-About Science"), excellent resource, good for early reader, part of a larger series we are bound to read more of!

Field Trip :: Dolphin Watching!

2009-03-16T13:55:00.001-07:00

Field Trip :: Dolphin Watching!
Originally uploaded by islandj

Today we went on a wonderful field trip :: whale watching. Scratch that (no whales in sight) :: Dolphin watching! Along with our homeschooling group, we went out from the Oceanside Harbor on a two hour trip. The kids all loved it. Our dearest friends went with us, and it was a treat to get to know more of our other co-op families (some dads, including ours, joined in) better as well. Though it was a terrific trip, it was a bit low on educational value, in the traditional sense. I believe we saw two different kinds of dolphins (one was definitely white sided, the other... maybe a porpoise?), but the captain was difficult to hear over the loudspeaker, and the kids weren't often listening for facts (and who can blame them). We'll head back to our books for more fact finding, and just enjoy these kinds of trips as they come!

Our school week managed to be completed before we went, which is amazing. It was a bare bones week, with all the essentials covered, and lots of good reading together time, but not a lot of focus on our normal fine arts material. Alas. Being gone the entire weekend before really wiped me out, and I confess to having had a nap at least three days this week (especially after the whale watch and picnic on the beach). Sterling and Siena have been playing beautifully together, one lego game after another. Sage has been in post-mommy-out-of-town distress, so we have been connected at the hip most of this week! Tomorrow we plan on having a quiet at home kind of day, just right after a busy two weeks!

Month in Review :: February 2009

2009-02-28T13:36:00.000-08:00

It probably sounds disingenuous to say, but once again, I end the month feeling so pleased with all we've accomplished! It's much easier to point out the flaws (and we certainly have our bad days), and for some reason much harder to celebrate our successes, but celebrate we will!

Some new additions to our curriculum this month :: Weather Lapbook and focus, Biography reading, and Orchestra Study (you can click on the underlined word to read more about each of those areas as we will be studying them). As always, those are topics just built on top of the foundation of our Bible, reading, writing, math and habit training.

We are continuing to enjoy our hymn study, and all three kids request hymns as our lunchtime music if I forget. I thought I had a decent collection of hymns (beyond the CD that comes with the specific hymns we are studying), but I have come to realize its time to start collecting a bit more! Siena in particular is drawn to them, singing them throughout the day, paying close attention to the hymns we sing on Sunday at church, and generally drinking deeply. Sage simply loves to yell "hymns!" every time we sit down to eat. We are also nearly down with the book of Matthew in our morning bible reading time. To be honest, it doesn't feel like the children are getting much from it, though they listen politely. I'm banking on the habit training and the promise that God's Word does not return void, but I am prayerfully looking for more ways to make this time engaging. Finally, last month we began a weekly and focused narration time, and while it was anticipated each week, we've not been disciplined in achieving it often in February. We will renew our efforts in March!

In Science/Nature Study we have changed our focus from penguins to dolphins/whales/sharks. Each week we are reading from a different magazine (Zoobooks) or book, and learning bit by bit more about these magnificent creatures. My initial goal was one animal or habitat a month, but we will continue to focus on these for the month of March as well. We are also finding that the birds are back in force in our yard, a delight to each one of us. The pocket bird guide lives on the dining table now, and we regularly look up (or, to be honest, try to) the birds hopping about in the bushes out our window. We are nearly down with the "Burgess Book of Birds," something none of us is looking forward to finishing. Siena continues to color coloring pages while we read about certain birds, while Sterling simply sits in rapt attention at all the details we are learning.

Out and about in our world :: This month has several days with the animals in our world. Early in the month the girls and I went to the San Diego Zoo's Children's Zoo, which was so small and perfectly sized for them that I wonder at my lack of enthusiasm for it previously! They touched the sheep and brushed the goats, watched cutter ants, and generally soaked it all in. We spent an afternoon wandering the Batiquitos Lagoon and identifying what plants and birds they could remember from January's field trip, we spent a few hours at Legoland's SeaLife Aquarium (being delighted by the active octopus), and we spent many days splashing about in the rain in our yards.

Now, the child specific ::

STERLING continues to find school a love/hate relationship. He is so readily engaged in his playing, that if I don't harness that straightaway into the school room in the morning, he is hard to tear away. On the plus side, this has encouraged us to start earlier and thus finish earlier each day, and he has a wonderfully long afternoon of playing. This month he finished his Singapore Math 2B books, taking several evenings to work out the final pages so he could be done! He then dove into the 3A books. He is so mathematically intuitive that he always (nearly) does the math in his head. This is a great skill, and he has a right to be proud, but it was preventing him from learning the standard (and, frankly, helpful) ways of carrying and borrowing in four digit addition and subtraction. With some encouragement from Daddy, he agreed to give the boring paper method a try, and wow, I am so proud of him! He picked it up with just a few demonstrations, and his correct rate skyrocketed! He doesn't change tracks easily, so this was a moral/character victory as well.

Last month I shared that in Spelling I've asked him to spend one day practicing his words in spelling bee style. Well, despite his dislike of the practice, this month his spelling improved. I am also doing review words each week (6 words he gets consistently wrong, either from previous spelling tests or from narration time), and those as he realizes that certain words keep coming up (think "said" and "turn"), he is choosing to learn them. Another victory!

Our largest area of struggle (no victory here, I'm afraid) is Grammar. Even though the Rod & Staff program we use is gentle, straightforward and short, he doesn't enjoy it. Alas, he doesn't have a choice, though I have moments when I remember that Charlotte Mason advocated waiting on grammar until the age of 10! We will, however, carry on, and continue to learn our nouns and verbs. I plan to get the School House Rock CD's so we can enjoy the music, as we have learned that we are no exception to the general rule that things are much easier to remember when they are set to a rule... "a noun's a special kind of word, it's any name you've ever heard, I find it quite interesting, a noun's a person, place or thing."

We have officially declared Art at home a non-subject, much to Sterling's relief. He gets weekly, professional instruction at co-op, and for now, that is enough for him. We'll pick it up again this spring, with a very simple and, hopefully, effective program, which I am looking forward to.

SIENA is just springing to life in school time. I think she has begun to move into the logic phase of her life, and it is a real treat to watch things come alive as she truly grasps what is happening. No where is this more obvious than in Math. This month she has been adding multiple numbers, learning subtraction, and even doing simple multiplication. Each step of the way presents a challenge, and she rises to the occasion and then, suddenly, I see her doing it without special thought. Hurrah!

In her Reading, she is also improving, though not as quickly as she would like. She has not gotten interested in reading on her own, but she is happy to pick up a simple book to read to Sage or to Daddy. We will be building on this by having daily read aloud time for the kids - where they read aloud to each other and to me, and work on hand-crafts during their listening time. Hopefully this will both encourage her and improve her ability. She reads aloud beautifully, with meaningful inflection, and I'm eager for her to be able to read more effortlessly.

Art continues to be her special love, and this month we did many extra little projects (birthday presents for Nonna and such), as well as sign her up for an Artist Trading Card swap. She carefully pre-planned all her pieces, and then put them together over several sittings. We hope to find more friends who want to do this again for future months!

SAGE is becoming more and more a two year old, I think in anticipation of her turning three in a few weeks. She is writing more and more, and every now and then it looks like something she intends (a boat, a banana, etc). She continues to love to cut and glue, especially if it makes a mess. She Adores her Signing Time video time once a week, and I hope to start doing more signs with all the kids (maybe adding it to our hymn time), but that will be something for spring semester (I've maxed out new things for this semester).

Books :: Winter Weeks Five - Eight ::Feb 2-27

2009-02-27T19:54:00.000-08:00

In the interest of not breaking up topics, I've decided to list the books a month at a time, and see how that works for us!

Music (Hymns and the Masters) ::

Beethoven's Wig

Beethoven's Wig 2 (both are "sing along" symphonies - perfect for encouraging interest)

Holidays :: Groundhog Day, Presidents Day, Valentine's Day

Saint Valentine, Ann Tompert

Valentine, Carol Carrick

Valentine's Day, Gail Gibbons

The Story of Valentine's Day, Clyde Robert Bulla (liked this the best of them)

Saint Valentine, Robert Sabuda

Things to Make and Do for Valentine's Day, Tomie de Paola (394.2)

Abe Lincoln: The Early Years (biography)

African-American History Month ::

A Voice of Her Own: The Story of Phillis Wheatley, Slave Poet, Kathryn Lasky (wonderful) (biography and poetry too)

The Patchwork Quilt: A quilt map to freedom, Bettye Stroud (another wonderful book)

Biography ::

Abraham Lincoln: the Early Years

George Washington, Ingri & Edgar D'Aulaire

A Voice of her Own: The Story of Phillis Wheatley, Slave Poet

Poetry ::

Snowy Day, Stories and Poems, edited by Caroline Feller Bauer

Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Day, Robert Frost, Illustrated by Susan Jeffers (my favorite poem).

Poetry for Young People: Lewis Carroll, edited by Edward Mendelson (J 821.8 CAR) - lovely.

Science :: Dolphins and Whales

Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises, Mark Carwardine (DK book, too much info, but beautifully presented)

The Magic Treehouse Research Guide, Dolphins and Sharks

**The Snowflake: Winter's Secret Beauty, Kenneth Libbrecht

Read Alouds :: For Family Pleasure

The Christmas Tomten, Viktor Rydberg (just getting prepared - we loved this one)

Catching the Moon, Myla Goldberg (lovely book, we'll use this for a moon inspired tea someday soon).

The Teddy Bear, David McPhail

**Children of the Forest, Elsa Beskow (anything by this wonderful Swedish author/illustrator is worth the effort!)

Winter Rabbit, Patrick Yee (an okay, sweet story for Sage)

Dear Rebecca, Winter is Here, Jean Craighead George (a winter solstice book, late again)

What do Angels Wear? Spinelli (not my favorite, though I like the author and illustrator)

The Pea Blossom, Amy Lowry Poole (retelling of Hans Christian Anderson tale) - beautiful

Someday, Eileen Spinelli (sweet story about dreaming big and living in reality)

**Ox-Cart Man, Donald Hall/Barbara Cooney (a long time favorite, read and re-read)

Someday A Tree, Eve Bunting (very sweet, gentle nudge towards environmentalism)

When the Moon is High, Alice Schertle (not our favorite, but nice)

Bess and Bella, Irene Haas (I really enjoyed this sweet tale)

The QuiltMaker's Journey, Jeff Brumbeau (I LOVE this set of tales, and so do the children. It is also a wonderful morality story).

Knitting/Hand-craft ::

From Grandma with Love, Harriet Ziefert (loved her "A New Coat for Anna")

The Quiltmaker's Journey, Jeff Brumbeau

Kids Easy Knitting Projects, Peg Blanchette, J746.432

Knitting with Gigi, Karen Thalacker (with step by step instructions, 8 patterns)

Hand-crafts :: Learning to Crochet

2009-02-24T15:18:00.001-08:00

Learning to Crochet
Originally uploaded by islandj

A bit of spring color for the SchoolHouse!

Sterling decided yesterday, quite out of the blue, that he wanted to know how to crochet. Siena naturally followed suit. I was daunted, but we decided to give it a shot. It wasn't pretty. Funky yarn, slippery needles, heightened expectations, easily frustrated Hansens... there were a few tears. But in the end, there was also a long string of chain stitches ... and an eagerness to keep trying another day.

Hand-crafts are important to me. In part, this is because I love to make them myself. The ability to utilize my hands when they might otherwise be idle keeps me sane. The desire to give homecrafted gifts keeps me motivated. The delight of settling in and meditatively knitting or crocheting, embroidering, felting, and the like, brings peace to an otherwise digital and crazy world. These are all aspects I'd like my children to be able to access for themselves.

We are long past the days when a girl would sit quietly by the fireplace, slowly creating a sampler for her hope chest. But there remain indoor days of winter, long car rides, story times, when to have ones hands active with something useful brings contentment and focus.

And with a basket full of Spring colors, who could resist?

Weather Study

2009-02-20T13:31:00.000-08:00

Wondering what happened to new additions? Thinking I'd given up and were sticking to the same old? No way!

This month we officially added in Weather Study as a distinct part of our weekly routine. I am dovetailing it with our Weather Lapbook, and simply building on the foundation blocks which were laid in our creation of it. Sterling finally saw Siena working in hers, and decided he simply had to have one too. So in January we put his together, and during this month of February we are working to flesh them both out.

We will focus each month on the phases of the moon (including our spectacular snow moon day), on forecasting, continue to learn about the different cloud types, learn about precipitation and also read through several basic weather encyclopedia. This month will be fairly general, and in March (which we all know comes in like a Lion) we will focus more on readings and talking about specific aspects of the weather world.

Orchestra Study

2009-02-18T13:51:00.000-08:00

Our final new "special topic" of this month (and I think this semester) is Orchestra Study. We have been enjoying our daily "morning music" of the classical music masters, and for Christmas my Step-dad (who also gives us a wonderful new classical CD each year for my birthday) gave the children a terrifically simple and engaging book called "The Story of the Orchestra." It begins with a page on each of the four Musical periods (Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Modern), and then provides 3 to 4 biographies of seminal composers from each period. There is a music CD that accompanies it, with 1-3 minute bits of music to demonstrate the points the book is making. After covering (however briefly) the periods and composers, it launches into the sections and instruments of the orchestra.

This month we will focus on the periods and composers. Each week we cover one period and the several composers, listening to the CD as we read, and then using the CD as our morning music. In March we will move on to the sections and instruments of the orchestra.

Biography

2009-02-13T13:41:00.000-08:00

This month we've added in a focused reading time to our weekly schedule :: Biographies. Years ago, before we had kids, Chris and I began buying what we hoped would be good and useful books for when we did have children. One was a small set of scholastic biographies, which have been sitting on the shelf for years. For Christmas, Siena also got a lovely set of women's biographies from her Nonna, and those are on the shelf. As I was planning this winter semester, and realizing that each month there are not only events but persons to celebrate, I decided it was high time we made use of those resources. Knowing myself well, I knew that it would not happen consistently unless it went onto our weekly schedule, so right away it did. (fyi, for anyone planning their own schedules, you'll notice that I came to this conclusion in my planning time in late December, but didn't schedule it until February, as I am a firm believer in keeping new topics to a minimum each month).

This month we will focus on the presidential holidays :: Lincoln and Washington, and in honor of African-American History month, we will choose a few biographies to compliment that as well. The goal will be at least one new person a month, depending on the length of the biography we choose, and whether or not we are inspired to delve deeper. My books thus far include a scholastic biography on Lincoln's early years, our favorite D'auliere biography on George Washington (the kids were literally giddy with excitement when they saw it in the book stack), and one on Phillis Wheatley, the slave poet from the days of the revolution (someone they will remember from their viewing of the Liberty Kids video series).

Each month my plan will be to pick a few options based on the context of that month. In March, we'll find St. Patrick, in July we'll study the signers of the constitution, etc. Then we will pick from our personal resources, in hopes of reading through them all by years end.

Snow Moon :: Snow Day

2009-02-11T20:15:00.001-08:00

Snow Moon :: Snow Day
Originally uploaded by islandj

Here are some shots of our snow day - stories, toast and cocoa, a fire, and a very elusive Snow Moon.

Celebrate the Year :: Snow Day and Snow Moon

2009-02-09T12:17:00.000-08:00

Our goal for today was celebrating the February full moon, often cited as the "Snow Moon" by native american peoples. We read stories, poetry, did a project, worked on our weather lapbooks and generally enjoyed a special day. Photos to follow!

Snow Moon :: I was going to post on this separately, but I think there is less to say than I thought. This month marks the first of a year in studying the moon. We will study the moon specifically on each full moon day, and simply add to our body of knowledge slowly. This month we read a sweet book entitled Snow Moon (though, really, not much to do with it), and we worked on identifying the phases of the moon. Next month we'll work on why the full moons have names, and create a chart of the moon phases. I'll try to add a bit of knowledge and a new book each month.

Weather Lapbook :: (purchased here, and worth every penny!)

We are working our way through the phases of the moon, with today marking our first full moon since beginning. We've got a long way to go before we really know their names, however! Today we also worked on the meanings of precipitation and its various forms. This month we are also filling in the daily weather calendar (high and low temperatures, weather report, etc), and the weather is truly cooperating! The normally dry climate has seen its share of wind and rain this week. This is a great lapbook, something you could do in a week, or, as we are, spend months working through each aspect slowly.

Activity :: Making Borax Snowflakes

Using the information found HERE, today we began to grow a snowflake in a mason jar. A super simple project, and only an hour later, we began to see crystals forming. A full report will be made when there is something to see!

During Advent we made paper snowflakes and snowflake window clings. Next year I'll save that project for our snow day, and take the whole day off from regular school to celebrate. Another activity I hope to do next year (when I plan far enough in advance to find them in the stores) is Ivory Snow Flakes snowballs and creations, a la my friend here.

Tea Time :: Snow Bears Tea

Sage has really fallen in love with the gentleness of Martin Waddell's Snow Bears. This afternoon we read the book (again), and a la bear family, had a tea of hot cocoa and toast by our fire. We read book after book, and, as teas always are, it was the highlight of the day! Another idea (for next year) is to use flour tortillas, cut, pan cooked and sprinkled with powdered sugar to make edible snowflakes.

Biography :: Snowflake Bentley (we read this several times each year, because I enjoy it so much).

Books Enjoyed ::

Technical :: Finding out About Things Outdoors (Usborne) - snow

The Best Book of Weather (Kingfisher) - "fun in the snow" chapter

Poetry ::

Snowy Days: Stories and Poems, Edited by Caroline Feller Bauer (808.8036 Sno) - a great compilation of stories and poetry, very accessible.

Snow Sounds: An Onomatopoeic Story, David A Johnson

Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening, Robert Frost/Susan Jeffers

Easy Reader/Sage ::

The Big Snowball, a picture reader

The First Snowball, Anne & Harlow Rockwell

Snow Bears, Martin Waddell (lovely - inspired our cups of cocoa and toast by the fire)

The Snowy Day, Ezra Jack Keats

White Snow, Blue Feather, Julie Downing

Snow Comes to the Farm, Nathaniel Tripp

The Snow Queen, Susan Jeffers (398.2 Ehr)

Clear Moon, Snow Soon, Tony Johnston (not a favorite)

Snow Moon, Nicholas Brunelle (beautiful story, including owls)

Books :: Winter Week Five ::Feb 2-6

2009-02-06T19:48:00.000-08:00

Poetry ::

The Book of Giving: Poems of Thanks, Praise and Celebration, Kay Chorao (this is a Wonderful collection of poems, something for the year round)

Tattered Sails, Verla Kay (specific to the pilgrims journey on the ships, but written in verse)

Specially for Sage ::

Ten Little Fingers, Ten Little Toes, Mem Fox (illustrated by Helen Oxenbury)

One Lighthouse, One Moon, Anita Lobel

Groundhog Day ::

Gregory's Shadow, Don Freeman

Groundhog Day! Gail Gibbons

The Secret of the First One Up, Iris Arno

Read Aloud ::

The Teddy Bear, David McPhail (oh, this is sweet, and a lovely way to introduce children to the reality of the homeless, and see them as precious people, and not something to be frightened of)

Hedgehog, Pig and the Sweet Little Friend, Lena Anderson (my favorite swedish illustrator/author - this is a surprisingly good little book, especially with Heart Day coming up)

Farmer Brown Goes Round and Round, Teri Sloat

This the House that was Tidy and Neat, Teri Sloat

Snow Bears, Martin Waddell

Bailey Goes Camping, Kevin Henkes (one of our favorite authors)

The Elephant Quilt: Stitch by Stitch to California, Susan Lowell

The Little Seven-Colored Horse: A Spanish American Folktale, Robert D San Souci

How to Catch a Star, Oliver Jeffers (a new favorite illustrator)

Feathers, Ruth Gordon (funny jewish story about a foolish village)

The Light of Christmas, Richard Paul Evans (just getting prepared early for next year - this was wonderful)

Comus, Margaret Hodges (anything by her...)

Sheep Unit ::

Charlie Needs a Cloak, Tomie dePaola (we are doing a unit on Sheep this week, and this fits in beautifully, plus we love dePaola!)

Homespun Sarah, Verla Kay

**Farmer Brown Shears His Sheep, Teri Sloat (My FAVORITE)

Pelle's New Suit, Elsa Beskow (another dear one)

Red Berry Wool, Robyn Eversole (loved this one, very sweet message)

Art Reading ::

Celebrity Cat, with paintings from around the world, Meredith Hooper

Drawing Lessons from a Bear, David McPhail

Science/Nature Reading ::

Amazing Dolphins! Sarah L Thomson

Whales and Dolphins, Peter and Connie Roop

National Geographic, Dolphins, Tim Cahill (didn't do any of the reading, but enjoyed the beautiful photography)

Our Schedule :: Winter Semester 2009

2009-02-02T20:58:00.000-08:00

I thought it would be interesting to record and to share a typical Monday - start to finish, since homeschooling isn't so very discreet a subject all the time.

7:30 - wake up and get to breakfast
Classical Music and Bible Study/Catechism
8:15 - play until School time (mommy free time)
9:00 - school begins
My Father's World (phonics and bible)
Math
CBS (bible study)
Spelling and Grammar (Sterling)
Copywork
Nature Study Reading
Book Basket time
11:45 - finish up, prepare for lunch
12:00 - lunch
Hymn appreciation CD
12:30/1:00 - Sage to a nap
Mommy and kids free play until -
1:30 - finish up school work (and then playtime)
Day-by-Day work: art appreciation, hymn study, drawing, poetry, etc.
2:30 - Sage awake, school officially "done"
3:00 - some days, Tea time (small snack)
Chapter book reading together
3:15-5:00 - kids free time (sometimes nature walk)
5:30 - dinner together
7:00 - get ready for bed
Teeth, clothes, clean up and story
7:30 - in bed time (daddy rests with kids)

The kids wake up early. They must stay quiet in bed until 7:15, and then can play together or alone in their rooms until 7:30. (Sterling woke up and read by flashlight this morning - not bad in itself, but not with permission. Chris made him go to bed at 6:30 tonight. Ouch). I try to be showered, dressed, and internet-ed by 7:30. We go downstairs, and first thing put on our classical music CD (the CD changes each month). We'll listen to this music until the CD runs out or school starts. We eat breakfast together, and once I finally sit down, we either do catechism study or I read the Bible. This January we started reading through the Gospel of Matthew together. Sometimes we talk about it, but mostly they just listen and enjoy checking the days reading off the reading chart. We clean up (they are responsible for clearing their dishes to the counter, pushing in their chair, and putting their napkin either in the laundry or on the back of their chair). Usually there is plenty of time (we are often totally done with that by 8 or 8:15) for some morning play.
We head into the school room at 8:45 or 9, depending on where they are in play (I will usually grant the extra 15 minutes if I either need the time myself to prepare, or they are truly engaged in the middle of something, but at 9, the game is over). Throughout the next three hours, Sage will be in and out of the schoolroom, coloring or cutting at the table, playing playdough in the dining room, working on something in her play closet (across the hall), and other things. She has gotten pretty good about not be disruptive, but there are days and times where I will just have the kids do "reading basket" (independent reading) while I deal with her for a bit. It's hard to be the youngest!

At nine we begin. I always start with something we can all do together - My Father's World, CBS (our bible study group, which has daily homework for kids and adults alike), or, if the day has begun poorly, reading together on the sofa. I've never timed this, so this is all approximate. None of our subjects take very long in themselves - 10 to 20 minutes usually at the most. If something is dragging on, I'll usually finish it the next day, but that rarely happens. So we'll do MFW and CBS. Then I'll have Siena take out math (Singapore Math, 1A) (mommy intensive still) and Sterling will start with Spelling (Rod and Staff, 2) (which, unless it's a test day, he does independently). I'll work with her and we usually accomplish two or three days of assignments in 10-15 minutes. If the day is struggling, I stop with one assignment, even if it has only been 5 minutes. When Sterling is done with spelling, he does grammar (Rod and Staff 2 as well). Grammar requires me to help with reading and set him up with the assignment (usually writing five sentences). It takes maybe 10 minutes. During this time, I have Siena doing something else, usually starting on her copywork for the day, or finishing up her narration drawing for MFW. While she carries on with that, I'll do math with Sterling (Singapore Math, 2B, still mommy intensive because we aren't writing in the workbook because we are saving it for Siena). By now we are all fried, so we head to the sofa for reading together. I will usually read one "for fun" story, and the rest is school related (science, history, geography, nature, etc.). On Monday it will include reading a chapter from the Burgess Bird book, during which the kids will (sometimes) color in a coloring page of the bird we are reading about. Also during the morning time, when I need to work with one but not the other, I'll assign them reading to Sage time. When we've worn out reading together, we'll head back to the table to finish any copywork or other simple assignments. Then the kids can play until it is lunch time.

We take a good break at lunch. We listen to hymns each day at lunch, and, very occasionally, I'll let them listen to an audio book (Sage makes this hard, she doesn't want silence at the table). She goes down for a nap right after lunch, and the kids have free time while I check email, etc.

At 1:30 we meet again for any of our more "extra curricular" type things, those which are best done without a two year old helper. Depending on the day of the week, this could mean lapbook time, drawing class, poetry reading, green hour challenge, or narration (that would require me typing, something I don't do when Sage is around to "help.")

We are nearly always done by 2:30, some days we are done at lunchtime. The entire afternoon is free for play and reading together, most days. Some days we take a nature walk and find a place to play outside. Most days I just lock them out for half an hour in the yard.

Generally they are all cranky and hungry by 3, so we do a "tea time" when I can pull it off. A simple snack (usually popcorn, which they have learned to make alone), and juice (tea), and I'll read from a chapter book, or more stories if Sage is wiggly. Then they play again until dinner time.

After dinner, they play, or wrestle with dad, and then we all get ready for bed, read a few stories, and are in bed, done, by 7:30, 8:00 on a "bad" day (bad for mommy, who is usually done after 12 hours with them).

It sounds like tons of play time, and I suppose it is. Yet I look at our "accomplishments" each day, and can't imagine forcing any of us to sit still at the table any longer, when we've done what was assigned for each day (and for some subjects, like math, spelling and grammar, I know from the curriculum that the assignment is plenty for a day, even if one-on-one it doesn't take very long). The days don't always feel like a sprint to the finish, though some days they do. Often we work our way through our material, play a bunch, cook a bunch, read a bunch, and generally enjoy life. It's good.

Month in Review :: January 2009

2009-01-31T19:50:00.000-08:00

Our Winter Semester began with a really wonderful month. I think we are all feeling that the rhythms we began in the Fall Semester have served us well, and we jumped back into school with both feet. I am continuing to use the daily schedule spreadsheet that I am so thankful to have found on another homeschooling blog, and it guides our weeks and insures that all I hope to accomplish each week gets a fair shake.

As is my way, a new month (and a new semester) saw some new additions to our weekly routine. In January we officially began what will be a year (36 weeks) of hymn study (more on that specifically here). I am happy to say that we all enjoy this part of our week, reading the devotion, listening to the hymn, writing the first verse as copywork, and especially our daily hymn music at lunch time.

When Advent began in December, I set aside our morning catechism time in lieu of our daily bible readings. This month, I left the book on the shelf and began to work our way through the book of Matthew. Our church had distributed a "read the bible in a year" pamphlet, with daily readings in the Gospels, NT, OT and the Wisdom books. It comes complete with little boxes to check off as you read each portion of scripture, which we all know makes it a hit with any child of mine. Though to read the Bible in a year would require reading all four areas each day, we are simply going to go through one, during our breakfast time. So far, so good.

Another addition is a specific time set aside for Narration Work. This semester we are going through Aesop's Fables, using a most wonderful edition. The kids each pick out two fables, I read them slowly, then they retell the fable to me while I type it in. Their personalities truly come out in these re-tellings :: Siena is detailed, often to a fault (I get tired of trying to retype the whole story), and Sterling is quick, fast, and (at least trying to be) to the point (and I tend to have to draw more details out of him). Only one flaw has come up this month... I had been asking the kids to tell me the moral at the end of the time, and it is always a stretch (and usually involves some version of :: "don't start something you don't know how it will end"). As we finished up week four/January, I asked if they would rather I simply tell them the moral, and each responded with a relieved yes. Me too.

In our Science/Nature Study time, I have helped us to focus more by choosing a single topic for each month. This month we studied Antarctica and Penguins, as their grandparents were on a trip to Antarctica. We read many story and picture books on penguins, had emails back and forth from the southernmost place in the world, and used our zoobooks subscription to read more in depth about penguins. I think we all enjoyed having a focus and expectation for this time, though with the rather solitary creature of the penguin at its core, there were some weeks where, by Friday, we were ready to skip science reading! Next month I plan to broaden the topic a bit more! I enjoyed this method, as it allowed me to include Sage more readily, as some of the picture books were about penguins only in that the character happened to be one. This helped her to sit still for a greater number of the more detailed books, and brought us altogether time and again.

Lastly, the final addition to our schedule is habit training. I wrote more about this on thefairymum, so I will simply say that I have chosen one small habit to work on each month, created a check off chart, and it is working very well. Our habit for January was brushing teeth morning and night. We managed the night time very well, and our hope for February is to firmly plant the morning in our garden of habits as well. I even created a "to-do" called "HABITs" on their charts, so that they will be very motivated to make sure to do it each day (they hate having their apple/fish left on at the end of the school day).

Now, specifically, for each child ::

Sterling is doing great.

Math :: He continues to do all his math in his head (which is largely successful), and loves the time we spend in Singapore Math.

Spelling :: our program (Rod and Staff) take four days. He does quite well without any additional drilling from me, but his spelling isn't perfect and isn't always remembered. This month I have added an extra day of simply spelling the words aloud. He can read them from his workbook, in spelling bee form (cat, c-a-t, cat), or he can try them from memory. My hope is that the time and effort it takes to verbalize it will help sear the more complex ones into his mind. I have also continued to add review words to each quiz and test, repeating tricky words until they are correct two weeks in a row.

Grammar :: I love our new book (also Rod and Staff), and think it is the simplest program possible. Even when I have him write most of it longhand (rather than doing the exercise verbally with me), it takes no more than 10, maybe 15 minutes. It is straightforward and simple. However, Sterling informed me this week that maybe our old program was better. Hmmm. Methinks he doesn't like ANY writing or grammar program!

Reading :: I have asked Sterling to spend time each day reading to Sage, and this is good for them both. I look forward to next semester having him read several books each week on a specific topic, but for now, he continues to do a great deal of free reading, and I am pleased with his general ability to read out loud with some ease (though not a lot of inflection).

Art :: poor guy. This is not his area of skill or passion. He continues to do whatever is put before him without complaining, but in realizing how much he dislikes it, I have discontinued our formal drawing program. He is in a professional art class at co-op, and I am choosing to allow that one hour each week to be enough for this semester. The first class was with clay, and there was some spark of interest, so I will be introducing clay to him again periodically.

Siena is my school girl! She just loves everything.

Math :: she completed the first book and workbook for Singapore math this week, and she couldn't be more tickled. It does not come easily or intuitively for her (as it does for Sterling), but she rarely gives up, and quite often I can see the moment something clicks and she understands.

Reading :: Here is an area where she is doing far better than she realizes. We continue with daily reading aloud, and if I carefully repeat material here and there, I can see great progress in her ability to recognize words without having to sound them out, as well as a great increase in sight (non-phonetic) words.

Art :: ah, my love is very sad that I am not doing formal drawing this semester, so she gets special drawing and art times each week, tailored to my time/patience level and what we are doing, be it field trip narrations or birthday cards.

Sage is not really a student yet, but we'll give her a shout out because this month she learned the letter a, we know not where. But learn it she did, and she proudly walks about pointing a's out as she finds them. She has also learned four bible verses in bible study (all sung to nursery rhymes), and she continues to settle in for most all our read aloud time.

All in all, a busy and productive month. We are already looking forward to February, with a few new additions to our routine, and plenty of time to cherish what we've started.

Books :: Winter Week Four :: Jan. 26-30

2009-01-31T19:07:00.000-08:00

Tea Time :: Dr. Doolittle

Read Aloud ::

A Pen Pal for Max, Gloria Rand (a wonderful story)

The Name Jar, Yangsook Choi

Barn, Debby Atwell

School Time ::

Finished My Season with Penguins - will want to read again sometime!

Narration :: A Step Along the Path

2009-01-23T20:09:00.000-08:00

I've mentioned before our struggle to incorporate narration into our regular school routine. During our tri-weekly bible story time, both children write their own two to three sentence narration of the story told, and then Siena draws a visual narration, and Sterling creates his with Legos and playmobil. This has been going along rather well, but in anticipation of their eventual ability to be reading material on their own and providing me with oral or written narrations, I have been searching for a gentle way to move into the next step, using something other than their beloved bible stories.

Enter Aesop's Fables. I am certain I got this idea from another homeschooling mom, but since I cannot recall exactly which one, and even more certainly have morphed it a bit, I can't send you to the source. Aesop's Fables is one of the spine materials for a Charlotte Mason group's first year curriculum. We enjoyed them last year in Texas, and since we've entered Sterling's second year, I'd put them away. But last week I pulled the book out, to delighted cries from the kids. I photocopied the contents, so I can keep track of what we are doing (this is a trick I've used through many of our books - these photocopied and much scribbled on TOC will become part of the permanent record files of our years together). Next, I let each child pick out a fable they'd like to hear. I read it, slowly and carefully, probably over-emphasizing certain words and phrases (and, frankly, usually to no good end), and then ask them to re-tell the story in their own words. I keyboard (type) this into a document on my computer. At the end of their retelling, I ask them to share what they think the moral is. Usually it is appropriate but not right on the mark, and so we then have a conversation about other possibilities, until at some point we arrive by logic or simply my stating the "real" moral.

This goes swimmingly well, and because they love the fables so much, they are eager to do several each time we meet (right now it is our Friday afternoon "treat" activity). We will use the fables for this semester, and in the Spring Semester we will likely move on to another short text option, at least for that season, though I doubt I'll get away with leaving the fables behind until every last one has been read. Twice!

Books :: Winter Week Three :: Jan. 19-23

2009-01-22T19:29:00.000-08:00

Family Read Aloud ::

The Unbeatable Bread, Lyn Littlefield Hoopes

Popcorn at the Palace, Emily Arnold McCully (one of my favorite author/illustrators)

The Incredible Book Eating Boy, Oliver Jeffers (another good book for showing that you must mentally ingest information to become wise)

Sweet Dream Pie, Audrey Wood (recommended and I had high hopes, but it wasn't a favorite)

Petunia, Roger Duvoisin (it's not enough to carry a book... reading is necessary for wisdom)

Yoko's World of Kindness: Golden Rules for a Happy Classroom, Rosemary Wells

Burnt Toast on Davenport Street, Tim Egan

A Tiny Seed, Eric Carle

Toot and Puddle: The One and Only, Holly Hobbie

**When I Was Young in the Mountains, Cynthia Rylant (excellent, Caldecott Winner)

Math ::

Rooster's Off to See the World, Eric Carle

Science :: Antarctica Study

My Season with Penguins, Sophie Webb (we are reading this slowly, it's very good)

Narration :: Samson's Revenge

2009-01-19T20:08:00.001-08:00

Samson's Revenge
Originally uploaded by islandj

Here is another example of Sterling's visual narration. He developed this on his own - Samson standing, blind, holding on to the pillars and pushing until it tumbled down. He loved this one!

books :: Winter Week Two :: Jan. 12-16

2009-01-17T15:44:00.000-08:00

Family Read Aloud ::

Caramba, Marie-Louise Gay (one of my FAVORITE author/illustrators)

What are you doing, Sam? Marie-Louise Gay

An Orange for Frankie, Patricia Polacco (I keep waiting for a book by Polacco that I don't like... we loved this one - it is a Christmas story, but very touching).

the Handmade Alphabet, Laura Rankin (sign language)

Toot and Puddle, Holly Hobbie (these are very sweet stories)

Love You When You Whine, Emily Jenkins (yes, but it's a whiny story, kind of)

Poetry ::

Poetry for Young People - Animal Poems (J808.819362 HOL) - (a wonderful compilation of accessible poems, all about animals. this is one in a larger series, which I hope to make our way through this spring and fall).

Science :: Antarctic Study

Tom's Rabbit: A Surprise on the Way to Antarctica, Meredith Hooper (true story)

The Adventures of Marco and Polo, Dieter Wiesmuller

Without You, Sarah Weeks

Smithsonian: Penguins, Seymour Simon (wonderfully descriptive, and not all about Emperors, which was wonderful).

My Season with Penguins: An Antarctic Journal, Sophie Webb (a great example of a living book, very long and detailed, and not about Emperors but Adelie penguins, my favorites).

Math ::

It's About Time! Stuart Murphy (a very simple beginning of telling the hour)

Hymn Study

2009-01-15T19:56:00.000-08:00

This month we have begun another new field of study, guided by my own private love :: hymn study. I am thankful that we attend a church which liberally sprinkles hymns through our weekly services, and even more thankful that my children can as easily sing a popular contemporary praise song as they can a hymn. After an advent season full of hymns in the form of carols, I decided it was time we take them up specifically.

For Christmas this year, I took a portion of the money my grandparents sent for the children and purchased three books from a series called "Hymns for a Kid's Heart." Each is contains 12 traditional hymns - comes with a CD to listen to the hymns, a devotional to read about it, the sheet music and lyrics, and a prayer. One is "regular" hymns, one is specifically for Easter, another for Christmas.

Our Winter Semester is 12 weeks long, and by divine coincidence ends the week before Easter. Needless to say, we are beginning our year with the Passion Hymns :: 12 hymns traditionally sung at Easter time. Once a week (on Thursday this semester), we read the devotional, I read the hymn lyrics aloud without music or singing, as if it were a poem, and then we listen to the hymn on CD, singing along if we can. Then we listen to the hymn again while using the first verse of the hymn as that days copywork (I am giddy with the discovery of a "schoolhouse" font on my mac, which produced a perfect manuscript sentence, complete with the triple lines, of any text I want the kids to write). The CD is also listened to, in its entirety, during our lunches (and I also use hymns sung by some of my favorite artists, Fernando Ortega and Kate Miner).\

In the Spring Semester, we'll move on to traditional hymns, and of course next Fall we'll focus on the 12 Christmas Hymns. Next Christmas, I plan to use some of our Christmas money to buy them the more adult version, which includes stories about the hymn writers themselves, and what was happening in their lives as they wrote particular hymns. I'm hoping these books will just help cement them in their hearts as a part of their spiritual heritage. Already, the kids both sing along, and even ask to listen to the songs in the car!

Drawing With Children :: Winter 2009, giving up?

2009-01-14T21:54:00.001-08:00

Hard at Creative Work
Originally uploaded by islandj

Well, we are in a new semester, and I can't quite decide if I will continue with our official Drawing with Children lessons or not. Sterling is certainly of a mind to have us quit! Last week we simply got out all the drawing supplies, our collection of "how to draw" books (you know the ones, which show how to draw a circle, two triangles and an s... tada! You've got a cat!), and happily did free drawing for a time.

This week I gave them options. Siena chose to do a drawing of our field trip the day before, and Sterling took my suggestion of painting instead of drawing. He also cleverly asked to take the easel outside, and he produced two rather lovely painted pieces portraying our garden. I hope he was as pleased as I was!

But for our future? I'm not sure. I want them to continue to grow in basic skills, but I'm not sure that Drawing with Children is really working for us. Our Spring Semester curriculum comes with a complete art program, which we are eager to start but, with uncharacteristic self-control, waiting on. So I have ten more weeks to plan. Suggestions?

Field Trip :: Beach and Lagoon

2009-01-14T21:42:00.001-08:00

Field Trip :: Beach and Lagoon
Originally uploaded by islandj

This week we again reaped the benefits of belonging to a co-op. Another mom in the group arranged for us to have docent led tours through our local beach (Ponto Beach) and the Lagoon (Batiquitos Lagoon). It was incredible. In both places, the docents were able to keep the attention of over forty people, with ages ranging from in the front pack to moms.

The kids were particularly tickled with the information about "holdfasts" - the root end of a long piece of kelp. When these are found wet on the beach, they generally contain a little tidepool of sealife... needless to say, they can't wait to start looking! We learned about how the tide affects the sandiness or rockiness of our beach, we learned about a variety of sea animals, and the kids got to touch things. Always cool.

At the Lagoon, the kids were treated to a wealth of knowledge about the Native Americans who once lived here, as well as the wild and diverse fauna. There is pickleweed, which holds the salt in it's succulent "leaves," lemonadeberry, which tastes like lemonade when rubbed on your fingers, and salt grass, just to name a few. My favorite fact? That the bees in this area who feast on the rosemary bushes turn a shade of blue from the nectar. Who knew?!

After the three hour field trip, during which Sage did admirably if not well, we took a break from school, after which the kids gave me nice narrations (which I keyboarded for them) and then they answered some questions on our "field trip wrap up" sheet which I make for each trip.

books :: Winter Week One :: Jan. 5-9

2009-01-10T15:37:00.000-08:00

Tea Time/Bedtime ::

Dr. DooLittle, Hugh Lofting

Poetry ::

Halfway to Your House, Charlotte Pomerantz

Family Time ::

Old Befana, Tomie DePaola

Kingfisher Book of Christmas Stories :: the Fir Tree (Hans Christian Anderson) and Old Befana

The Handmade Counting Book, Laura Rankin (Sign language lessons)

The Handmade Alphabet Book, Laura Rankin

Penguin Reading ::

Flip and Flop, Dawn Apperley (sweet, sweet easy to read story - a favorite for Sage)

Extreme Animals, Nicola Davies

Penguin Dreams, Seibold and Walsh (okay, kind of strange)

The Emporer Lays An Egg, Brenda Z Guiberson

Penguin Pete, Ahoy! Marcus Pfister (an okay story book)

Lost and Found, Oliver Jeffers (a wonderful picture book, we loved this one)

Nature Walk :: the stick monsters

2009-01-09T20:08:00.000-08:00

Nature Walk :: the stick monsters
Originally uploaded by islandj

Back in for a new semester, we are starting strong with our extra-curricular goals. One of my highest values as a mom is to teach the children to love nature, and to be comfortable not only outside, but with their imaginations. Today we took a nice long walk from our house, down the Eucalyptus Trail here in Carlsbad, and found a play wonderland.

On the "study" front, we talked about how the tiny ditch running from the top of the slope to the gully at the bottom was formed by run-off water. We discovered the trails left by beetles on the fallen eucalyptus logs. And of course, they found an array of sticks...

I'm learning along with them, not only things of the natural world, but momming techniques as well. I brought myself a book to read, a notepad for my never ending lists, and found a cozy spot in the sun. The kids played until I was too chilled to stay - I suspect they could have stayed much longer. Next time we are out shopping, I'll be picking up a portable camp chair, and bring a sweater, and we'll be making nature time on the trail a regular event in our week. Perhaps I'll even bring my own nature book and model what I hope they continue to do naturally - discover the miraculous world around us!

Narration :: Finding our Way

2009-01-07T20:19:00.000-08:00

Narration :: Farmer Boy
Originally uploaded by islandj

One of the hallmarks of a Charlotte Mason style education is what she calls Narrations. Essentially, this is a verbal or written recap of what the student as learned (heard, read, seen or experienced). One can write a narration of the chapter you've read, or about the art piece you are viewing, the music you are listening to, the field trip that has been taken. The act of listening (or watching or living) with the intent of restating the material (in your own words and way) is meant to permanently sear that information into you. In a strict CM education, a story or book would be read only once, and the child would be able to repeat the pertinent information with 'near perfect recall.'

Of course, reality is a bit more challenging, us not being Charlotte herself, our children not being in her classroom. But the principle is sound. In the early years, she advocates telling just a few sentences, and then having the child narrate. Before they are proficient writers (around age 10), the narrations are verbal. As the parent teacher, you can write the material down for them. Most parents then ask the children to continue the narration with a drawing or two.

The My Father's World curriculum that we use makes wonderful use of the principle of narration in it's first grade bible curriculum. I read the full version of a given story, the kids then read an easy reader version, then they write a brief (one to three sentence) narration, accompanied by a drawing or creative rendering of their narration. Siena, my artist, LOVES this. Daily drawing? Reading together and talking about it? She just loves it. Sterling is very good at relating what he has heard, but would really prefer no part of the creative aspects - drawing or doing a piece of art.

What's a mother to do? The drawing of the picture is actual very important, in my mind, in proving that the child has really understood at least some aspect of what has been heard and written. Enter :: Playmobil! For my boy who loves to play with lego and playmobil, I came up with the idea of his creating a tableau of what he is narrating. In the photo above you see one of his images from our reading of Farmer Boy (if you've read and loved the series as we have, you might remember that Almanzo has opportunity to teach his two young oxen to plow). What a wonderful illustration of something we read (months ago now)!

And so we've begun to recreate scenes from our readings. It's a small start towards a lifestyle of memory and learning that I hope the kids have as a foundation for their whole lives.

Books :: Christmas Season Reading

2009-01-01T15:55:00.000-08:00

Here is our master list of books we read and (usually) enjoyed this Holiday Season, as posted over at the Fairy Mum!

ART and Poetry and Music:
Bright Star Shining, Michael Harrison (J 808.81) – Poems for Christmas
Baby’s Christmas Treasury, Kay Charao (J808.8) – gentle artwork and poems/stories
**The MET: ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and Other Seasonal Favorites – a collection of art and poetry -- amazingly beautiful
Christmas in the Stable, Poems selected by Beverly K Duncan (J808.81)
***Silent Night, The Song and its Story, Margaret Hodges
Silent Night, illustrated by Susan Jeffers.
Classical Kids: Christmas, CD
Simply Sweet Winter/Christmas stories:
How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Dr Suess
**The Story of Holly and Ivy, Rumed Godden, illustrated by Barbara Cooney
The Christmas Star, Marcus Pfister (Rainbow Fish)
The Christmas Cat, Efner Tudor Holmes, illustrated by Tasha Tudor
Miracle of the Poinsettia, Brian Cavanaugh
Jacob’s Gift, Max Lucado
The Legend of the Canday Cane, Lori Walburg
I like Winter, Lois Lenski
**A Certain Small Shepherd, Rebecca Caudill (Christmas in apalachia)
The Christmas Hat, A J Wood
*The Trees of the Dancing Goats, Patricia Polacco
A Pussycat’s Christmas, Margaret Wise Brown
Santa’s Snow Cat, Sue Stainton (so so book- 12/5)
**The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree, Gloria Houston (pictures by Barbara Cooney)
*Snowflake Bentley, Jacqueline Briggs Martin (J551.57)
*Night Tree, Eve Bunting
**Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree, Robert Barry
****A Little House Christmas Treasury, Laura Ingalls Wilder (our hands down favorite Christmas book)
Letters from Father Christmas, J R R Tolkein (another family favorite)
Retelling versions of the Christmas Story:
The Christmas Donkey, Gillian McClure (J232.921)
Mary’s First Christmas, Walter Wangerin, Jr. (J232.92)
**The Fourth King: The story of the other wise man, Ted Sieger (this is a retelling of a beautiful tale: The Other Wise Man, by Henry Van Dyke, an adult story I HIGHLY recommend).
O Come Let Us Adore Him, Melody Carlson (reflections on the names of Christ)
Stories of the Saints and Special Days:
The Legend of Saint Nicholas, Demi (J270.2)
**The Baker’s Dozen: A Saint Nicholas Tale, retold by Aaron Shepard (J 398.2)
The Real Santa Claus, Marianna Mayer (J394.2663) (this story begins with A Visit from St. Nicholas, aka ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, and then goes on to share how he was derived from the REAL St. Nicholas. It has beautiful artwork and historical information. Dense.).
**A Christmas Star, Linda Oatman High (a beautiful story, including the mitten tree, and identifying Father Christmas/ST Nicholas as “someone who cares”)
The Night of Las Posadas, Tomie dePaola
A Gift From St. Francis: The First Creche, Joanna Cole (J246.55)
The Shortest Day: Celebrating the winter Solstice, Wendy Pfeffer (J394.261)
The Winter Solstice, Ellen Jackson (too DARK).
Books we picked up at the end:
The Nutcracker, Puschkis, J (with CD)
Christmas Tree Ship, Jeanette Winter
Light the Lights (Hanukkah and Christmas), Margaret Moorman
**Christmas Tapestry, Patricia Polacco
Kingfisher Book of Classic Christmas Stories (JY Kingfisher)

Month in Review :: December 2008

2008-12-30T20:50:00.000-08:00

This was surely a busy month, and I would be dishonest if I didn't admit, right here and now, that I am typing this update (largely from my fallible memory) on March 1st (and backdating it so that it falls in the flow of our school year). Its amazing how quickly time passes, and in the interest of keeping the rest of things up to date, I've let this lapse... no more!

While we certainly did manage to keep our schoolwork current in December (for the weeks of school before Christmas/winter break), the month was none-the-less overshadowed with our celebrations of Advent. Our reading took a turn to the holiday bound, our nature time was spent with evergreens and cranberries and such, our bible time focused on the season at hand.

The kids have really settled into the school routine, so that when weeks like this happen :: weeks flooded with extra curricular events, and fun experiences and, basically, general disruption to their schedule :: they continue on! Sterling and Siena are both moving forward in everything. I'm happy to say that Siena has taken to her new math (Singapore 1A) with great joy and speed, regularly doing more than her fair days work. She is also reading so very well, though she continues to lament, often, that "I can't read." She can't read chapter books, which are apparently our standard of choice these days. Ah well, I see the progress, and soon, so shall she. Sterling's reading has slowed down - he doesn't read as many chapter books as he was in those first days of discovery, but he continues to read whenever there is a down moment, and I often find him curled up on the sofa with a book, rereading a chapter we've finished together.

This month we had a field trip to the local pizza parlor, games day at the park, some extra park play, a special crafts day with homeschooling friends... it was busy and fun. We also spent the month focusing on those people and events that sparkle during the advent season, Saint Nicholas, Santa Lucia, the meaning of Advent, of the nativity, and of the coming of Christ. It was a rich month, and my only regret is that I ended our official school time a few days too soon, and picked it up again a bit later. I had wanted to give the kids are a real "christmas vacation" - but being home that long without the routine or structure of our school days wore on us all. Next year we'll school right up to the end, and then feel that our week off is a real luxury!

Books :: Week Thirteen :: Dec. 1-5

2008-12-06T15:51:00.000-08:00

Science (Rainbows) ::

Stormy Day, Claire Henley

A Rainbow of my Own, Don Freeman

The Rainbow and You, EC Krupp (J551.567)

This is the Rain, Lola Schaefer

Cloud Dance, Thomas Locker

Family Reading ::

**The Journey, Sarah Stewart

*The Legend of Saint Christopher, Margaret Hodges (J270.1092) - I love M Hodges work!

Baby's Christmas Treasury, Kay Chorao

Shall I knit you a hat? Kate Klise

**Shaker Hearts, Ann Turner

The Book of Beasts, E. Nesbit

The Octopus, Cynthia Rylant

One Snowy Night, M C Butler

Drawing With Children :: Lesson Eight :: Overlapping

2008-12-03T20:22:00.001-08:00

Drawing With Children :: Lesson Eight :: Overlapping
Originally uploaded by islandj

Class Date :: December 2, 2008

We have moved onto "Lesson 2 - Drawing from Graphics." There is so much here, and again I found it very daunting to separate it out into individual lessons. I chose to parse it out into rather small pieces, so that the kids (to be honest, Sterling) wouldn't be overwhelmed. I'm also finding that in all of our subjects, keeping the lesson content tight prevents us from moving too quickly through the material.

This section begins with "drawing tips" - and one of the first is the concept of "Overlapping." I'm finding that to read the material out loud to the kids isn't very effective, but just diving right into a concept does fairly well. This exercise consisted of taking a few shapes, and then arranging them differently so that they, of course, overlap in a variety of ways. I used construction paper shapes to show their different forms, and we drew away.

Our next lesson will be one that I've made up. I don't have enough artistic talent or teaching skills to adequately work with the material that Brookes discusses in her drawing tips. The next phase would involve fixes "mistakes" (though she takes pains to show that we must never call them that), and creating variety in your work (using fat and thin lines, etc). My idea is to make a moving picture - each of us will draw one part, then pass our paper after a set number of minutes, and continue to draw, add, change and pass the drawing along until we've each added three elements to the page (or more, we'll see how it goes). But that's for next week!

Nature Walk :: Images

2008-12-02T22:27:00.001-08:00

Nature Walk :: Images
Originally uploaded by islandj

The weather has turned to fall, finally (just in time for Christmas?), and the kids and I took advantage with a nature walk this afternoon. I have our second Outdoor Hour Challenge ready to go, but the best laid intentions of this mum to study the clouds and the general weather flew out the door when acorns were found! The kids ran all about, collecting "haycorns" and "fircones," and generally coming up with grand ideas for forts and playtime. I loved it. Sterling discovered a three inch fir tree with a long root, and carefully planted it along the side of the trail, where he can "watch it grow."

I haven't been consistent with our nature walks, and today was a needed reminder that they are so good for us.

Books :: Bonus Week :: Nov. 24-28

2008-12-01T15:45:00.000-08:00

Art ::

Mary Cassatt: Impressionist Painter, Lois V Harris (JB Cas).

This was simple and straightforward, with lots of art to view.

Math::

Monster Money, Grace Maccarone (the kids love this kind of math book)

Thanksgiving::

****Molly's Pilgrim, Barbara Cohen (A truly wonderful story)

**An Outlaw Thanksgiving, Emily Arnold McCully (I love McCully's art and stories)

Give Thanks to the Lord, Karma Wilson

*Mr. Popper's Penguins, Atwater

Never, Ever Shout in the Zoo, Karma Wilson

ABC Nature Riddles, SUsan Joyce

*Petunia, Roger Duvoison

Waynetta and the Cornstock: A Texas Fairy Tale, Helen Kettteman

**Albert the Bear, Nick Butterworth

Santa Mouse, Michael Brown

Drawing With Children :: Lesson Seven :: I can draw!

2008-11-25T17:55:00.001-08:00

Drawing With Children :: Lesson Seven :: I can draw!
Originally uploaded by islandj

Class Date :: November 25, 2008

Today was another "I Can Draw!" exercise. This time we followed step by step instructions (draw a dot and then a circle around the dot. This is the eye) to drawing a bird. On the left you'll see pictures of the birds we drew before we listened to the steps and followed the directions. Siena and I drew based on the final picture, Sterling drew what he thought a bird would look like from memory. We took a break, and then drew following the directions. Add some color and background, and, wow! what a difference.

Again, I enjoyed this so much. Siena did as well. Sterling had a harder time. Drawing is not coming naturally to him, and so he struggles with the product he sees. Of course, if you compare his before and after (upper right to upper left), it is amazing! And we will persevere - I am so proud that he didn't give up, but carried on, tears and all, to the end. And I so hope that over time he'll improve until HE is satisfied with his own work, as that is the only opinion that genuinely matters!

As a lesson, this was all we could handle in our time frame (30-45 minutes). We are accustomed to working through our class times with great efficiency, so it is hard to slow down and really work with a goal for the experience versus the ending in mind (math is so much easier - you've got a set number of pages or time to work through, and you work!). But we are learning to slowly savor the time and let our creativity shine out.

Lapbook :: Weather :: Siena's beginnings

2008-11-24T21:18:00.001-08:00

Lapbook :: Weather :: Siena's beginnings
Originally uploaded by islandj

Just wanted to show you the weather lapbook in its beginning stage. Siena is so excited about lapbooks, and I've found many of them too challenging (or too simplistic in what you put into it). This is just about right. We purchased this from Amanda at Hearts and Trees. There are wonderfully concrete directions, and best of all, each part really does have a purpose! There isn't much fluff here, my biggest complaint with most lapbooking. Siena is able to cut and glue the basics, and then together we will read each part and work on it - forecasting, clouds, wind scale, moon cycle, etc.

As we are doing this as part of our Outdoor Hour Challenge, we will just tackle those parts each week which best match what we are focused on there. And since the focus is weather, and So Cal isn't know for having much of it, on a slow week we'll have plenty of fun learning to do here!

Outdoor Hour Challenge :: Weather Challenge #1

2008-11-24T21:09:00.001-08:00

Outdoor Hour Challenge :: Weather Challenge #1
Originally uploaded by islandj

And so we begin! I have printed my challenges (1 and 2 - I'm a bit behind), gathered my materials, and prepped the kids. I read the HoNS (handbook of nature study), and enjoyed the reading itself so much I am kicking myself that we didn't start this sooner!

To begin, I printed off the two cloud charts that Barb at HoNS/Outdoor Challenge suggests. The kids and I sat down, and I read a few paragraphs from the Handbook. That didn't go badly, but it wasn't met with the enthusiasm that I felt. Perhaps a bit advanced for the grade one-two set. We moved to talking about clouds, and repeating the names for them. We went outside. A perfectly clear day. Depressing, in it's bright, blue sky kind of way. And so it was for several days.

I rallied by purchasing Barb's daugher's Weather Lapbook kit. Sterling declined to cut and paste, so it is just Siena and I. We spent time outside last week, but the sky just didn't change a bit. I suspect we may be in for a bit of a challenge with a weather study in Southern California...

And then today, I looked out the window, and, viola! CLOUDS! Weather! Yippee! Siena and I were particularly excited. We grabbed our cloud charts, and went outside. In the time it took to realize we had clouds, finish lunch, play a game and get outside, the beautiful clouds had amassed into a heavy foglike haze. We watched for some time, noting the mild wind (listening to palm tree branches in the wind is one of the highlights of coastal living), the chill in the air, the grayness of the sky. Near the sun, we could detect some cloud outlines. Chilled, we went inside.

To complete our first/second grade version of the challenge, we drew clouds (again, this was from Barb's challenge links). It was a great time - combining elements of our Drawing with Children learnings. The video was helpful, and so was just taking time to sit together drawing.

The "weather" we are having should continue this week, so we have decided to meet together again on Wednesday for Challenge #2 - and I can't wait!

Drawing with Children :: Lesson Six :: I Can Draw!

2008-11-24T20:33:00.001-08:00

Drawing with Children :: Lesson Six :: I Can Draw!
Originally uploaded by islandj

Class Date :: November 17, 2008

Finally, we are drawing realistically and not in the abstract! What fun for us all (you'll notice that most of the samples I share have three examples :: whenever possible, I'm doing it right along with the children. This big kid wants to learn to draw too!).

Slowing down long enough to really see the five elements of shape is completely necessary here, and the degree to which each of us was able to do that is readily seen in our ability to copy the sample drawings. Even though in my last post I advocated for silence, today I found that talking through the different images helped us all to create closer copies. I think Siena may naturally see the shapes and copy them, but Sterling still sees the whole and so struggles more. So we were talk through the difficult ones - being very concrete - here is an easy shape to start with, and look, these are just lines coming off a circle.

Even though we enjoy these lessons so much, I have found it good to keep them short. When we finished this page, they would have liked to continue (me too), but our hands and minds get tired, and when I refuse to proceed, they just worked some of these examples over again.

I am so eager to get to next week's lesson - we will be drawing a bird!

Month in Review :: November 2008

2008-11-24T19:43:00.001-08:00

This has been a terrific month. So many details are now routine, and we are gradually improving in the things we care most about diving into.

Field Trips :: on Nov. 12th we joined CFS for a field trip to Swami's Beach Tidepool. The tide was at its lowest point, so there was a vast stretch of exposed tidepool to explore. The kids and I all loved it. More here. We also had a day at the zoo with our homeschooling friends.
My Father's World :: Right now the kids are learning a book of the bible each class day. Eventually that information will go into a Bible lapbook, but for now we are simply introducing and laying foundations. There were lots of hands on moments this month - from building towers to imagining about camels. The vocabulary and phonics that Siena is working through are increasing in difficulty, and she is now reading lots more easily (even if she doesn't recognize it). The highlight for us all (and why I am using the program) are the regular bible stories, and their work to visually narrate them in their own Bible Notebook. Siena in particular is showing great interest and skill in the drawing of each of her narrations, and is always disappointed when we do something different on a given day. We are also adding to our timeline with these stories, which I enjoy watching grow.
Art Appreciation :: I think I've found/created our art appreciation program. I'll try to do a separate post, but for the purposes of review :: We are reading a book called Charlotte in Giverny. As the main character introduces concepts and artists (all Impressionists), we are studying them more in depth with simple biographies. This seems to be a good blend of living books and practical discourse. In December we will add in some additional practical work. This month we focused on Mary Cassatt, as we had already viewed her work throughout September and October. Though the kids are not thrilled with the biographies, they are retaining some of the info, and beginning to express opinions about the art itself, becoming more observant, which is, really, all I'm after!
Music Appreciation :: Dvorak.
Pen Pal Tuesday :: this has become largely about their writing to their grandparents. I think for now that works best, though they have occasionally written to friends, and less frequently heard back.

Nature Reading :: Continuing to read Burgess Bird Book. I've not been following the MFW weekly list - I realized that it drops off in a few weeks, so we slowed down and spent more time on solar system study. The focus has been the birds and other animals (particularly true when we go to the zoo).
Nature Study :: This has been a huge improvement. We are beginning a season of study on the weather. Siena and I are working on a lapbook, with Sterling coming along for the information but not the folder itself. Of particular focus this month was clouds and the water cycle.
Co-op Recap :: In K-1 Siena studied tidepools, Flat Stanley, and Thanksgiving. In his 1-2 class, Sterling learned about the election process, caves and thankfulness in preparation for Thanksgiving.
CBS Recap :: Luke chapters six through eight. The kids are memorizing their verses so easily.
Lapbook :: We've begun a weather lapbook, which I purchased here, and can't recommend enough. I am loving it, and so is Siena.
Drawing with Children :: Finally, we are back on track with this. We completed lessons four, five and six. They are posted under "drawing with children."

STERLING continued in his specific studies ::
Primary Language Lessons (PLL) :: we are almost done with this book, at least for now. Starting in December we will move into Rod and Staff Grammar for second grade.
Spelling by Sound and Structure (SSS) :: weeks eight through ten. He is beginning to realize that guessing isn't the same as spelling. Good start.
Printing Power, Reading, and McGuffey's :: finished the McGuffey's Primer, and nearly half way done with the First Grade. His reading continues to improve, and his retention as well.
Math :: Singapore - he has moved through his four and five times tables (though they thankfully do not do it through memorization), basic money, adding and subtracting with money. At this stage we are still doing several exercises a day, otherwise we don't spend enough time on math (and he loves it, so rarely wants to stop). Hopefully he'll come up to a real challenge soon!

SIENA continued in her specific studies ::
Words of Promise, McGuffey/Bob Books :: siena finished the first Bob Box Collection (yippee!), and is doing very well in her McGuffey's Primer.
Math :: MFW related :: worked through measurements, graphing, a very brief intro to Time (she isn't really ready yet) and Money. We did several hands on things with measuring and graphing, which both kids enjoyed.

books :: Week Twelve :: Nov. 17-21

2008-11-24T19:34:00.000-08:00

TEA TIME ::

Mr. Popper's Penguins, Richard and Florence Atwater (recommended on the Ambleside grade two reading list)

The Turtle, Cynthia Rylant

ART :: Picture This: Impressionists (a wonderful resource book, with art by various artists, and concrete and plentiful activities to stimulate your own artist)

MATH ::

How Long and How Wide? Brian Cleary

How Tall, How Short, How Far Away, David Adler

Great Pet Sale, Mick Inkpen (not the deepest book, but I surely love his illustrations)

READ ALOUD ::

Healthy Snacks, Mari Schuh

Pioneer Church, Carolyn Otto

Always Room for One More, Leodhas (a caldecott winner)

POETRY ::

Leaf by Leaf (autumn poems)

SCIENCE ::

Magic School Bus Solar System

Co-Op Day Gratitude Kits

2008-11-21T20:47:00.000-08:00

Co-Op Day Gratitude Kits
Originally uploaded by islandj

This week for Co-Op I taught Sterling's 1-2 Class. I had originally planned to do a class on pen pal letters, but with Thanksgiving next week, I felt led to do something more specifically on gratitude and thank you note writing.

I agonized over this, as I do many things that have a "public" face. I don't like this about myself, but I do it. I think the idea was solid, and I found several good books on thankfulness and on letter writing. None combined the two (hmmm, new book idea?), but after a week of fretting and brainstorming, I came up with this.

It is a Gratitude Kit - like a lapbook I found on Lapbook Lessons, which I heavily modified. There is a pocket for Gratitude verses (with verse cards), a set of thankful leaves (where you can write "I am thankful for..."), and in the pocket on the left is a small "Giving Thanks" notebook, where the kids can regularly write what they are thankful for. On the right :: in the pocket is a sample envelope and a sample letter format. The blue fold out is "Writing Thank You's is as easy as 1-2-3!" with three simple steps to a great thank you note. The circle sticker gives different ways to close a letter.

I premade the folders and all the pockets and such, and had the kids glue and place everything. It took much longer than I imagined, but it was fun. Sterling had been VERY disappointed that I was doing a boring writing project instead of dolphins and sharks (he has just gotten a research guide on them from Nonna, and not much else is deemed interesting), but after the class, he lovingly told me it was a hit, and he really liked it. That makes me THANKFUL!

PS - if anyone is interested in the details of the kit, please just leave a comment with your email, and we can chat!

Drawing With Children :: lesson five :: Abstract Design, level two

2008-11-17T13:36:00.001-08:00

Drawing With Children :: lesson five :: Abstract Design, level two
Originally uploaded by islandj

Class Date :: November 17, 2008

Our last lesson - abstract design warm up - was such a fun success, that we decided to try the level two abstract design warm up today. This one was a little more complex, in that it had more complex instructions, including coloring all but three spaces in (Siena wanted to color the entire thing in, as you see, so she chose the three smallest spaces to leave paper colored).

I really like watching the kids as they create these. Each one is totally different. If we did the same instructions again, they'd be different still. It's a wonderful lesson on how we all see different things, even when we hear the same words.

A few tips :: I'd have the table totally clear, as Brooks suggests. We didn't do that today (again, with Sage around, concessions are made), and it felt too cluttered, even to me, simply reading the instructions. I'd also make sure that your markers are easy to access. Ours are still in their plastic case, and I think it makes it more challenging to grab and draw with ease. I don't have a solution yet, but something must be better. Finally, I have not been enforcing the "silence" rule, and think the time is coming to revisit that with the kids. They do not criticize each other, which is a great beginning, but they are too quick to judge their own work, or to talk needlessly. There are so few quiet moments in the day, it seems a shame to miss the chance to make this one of them!

I didn't get to do this lesson with them (Sage was awake, and "doing" the exercise with the kids), but I may go back tonight and create my own little abstract design!

Field Trip :: Tide Pools

2008-11-14T19:47:00.000-08:00

Field Trip :: Tide Pools
Originally uploaded by islandj

I'm really loving fall in California this year. Here we are at the beach two days ago. Wednesday at 2:26 was a record low tide, and our homeschooling group organized a field trip to explore a magnificent tide pool at Swami's Beach.

I had low expectations... honestly, trying to wander on newly exposed rocks without slipping or standing too much on poor sea creatures with a toddler and two eager students was giving me a bit of worry. Of course, they all did great. No one needed my complete changes of clothes from any tide pooling mishaps (now, the utter soaking that happened afterwards in a natural beach pool? That's another story, for which I received the best mom ever award for having said complete changes of clothing in the car, along with a fruit leather).

The kids found so many wonderful things, and had as much fun looking and searching as they did in finding! Three different types of sea stars were unearthed (or should I say un-oceaned?): an ochre sea star (in the photo), and two varieties of brittle sea stars. A lobster was inadvertently discovered when it was stepped on, and the kids are Convinced with a capital C that they saw a tiny octopus. I don't know if they did (they could have), but it was awfully fun trying to find it again! There were other sea creatures we've yet to identify as well.

It was a wonderful afternoon at the beach. I find days like that a challenge - we had bible study in the morning and then school time at home and a rush to get Sage up from her nap to go on the field trip, but in the end it is so rewarding, and as long as I don't overpack our days to often, it is so worth it!

books :: Week Eleven :: Nov. 10-14

2008-11-14T19:42:00.000-08:00

TEA TIME ::

The Eagle, Cynthia Rylant

A Wonder book, Nathaniel Hawthorne (still deciding if we'll continue this one - it's dense!)

MATH ::

How Long is it? Loughran

ART ::

Charlotte in Giverny, Jane MacPhail Knight

The Life and Work of Mary Cassatt (Heinemann First Books)

SCIENCE ::

Planets Around the Sun, Seymour Simon

Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System

Let's Read About Pets: Goldfish

Caring for you Fish, Adele Richardson

A Pet's Life: Goldfish

READ ALOUD ::

Amazing Mallika, Jami Parkison

Holidays: Veterans Day, Lynda Sorenson

***The Gardener, Sarah Stewart

A Letter to Amy, Ezra Jack Keats

Very Best (almost) Friends, Poems of Friendship

For Me? Herman Van Straaten

Dear Bear, Joanna Harrison

I'm Thankful for Each Day, PK Hallinan

Outdoor Hour Challenge

2008-11-11T20:51:00.000-08:00

One of the things which first attracted me to Charlotte Mason was her advocation of lots of outside time in general and Nature Study in particular. But putting into practice what you idealize isn't always straightforward. In Texas we struggled with being outdoors in general. Here we've been able to do the outdoor time in the yard, but there isn't as much "nature" as in other places, as so much has been, ahem, civilized.

Enter a blog that has made my day, based on the Handbook of Nature Study. Most every traditional CM'er uses this huge tomb - nearly 1,000 pages of nature text. I borrowed it from the library in Austin, lugged it home, opened it up, was completely overwhelmed, and returned it next day. Having found this wonderful blog, I was encouraged enough to buy my own copy! The wonderful homeschooling mom who created this blog has started something she calls the Outdoor Hour Challenge. These are weekly challenges that she publishes, based on HoNS. It makes the whole idea of nature study based on the Handbook possible, in my opinion.

But my opinion wasn't enough. I printed off the first twelve challenges, filed them diligently in my file, and promptly got busy with school. This past month I've been intentionally choosing to return, so I started reading the Handbook, from the beginning, as she suggests. It overwhelmed me. Much of the first half year of challenges are tree studies, and I got overwhelmed, again.

Enter a new season - The Weather Challenges. As the group (and there is a group - at the end of every challenge you can find links to others who are participating) wraps up trees, they are beginning a season on weather. We don't have much weather, but I like to begin at the beginning, so we will begin this week. Yippee! More to come...

Books :: Week Ten :: Nov. 3-7

2008-11-08T19:46:00.000-08:00

TEA TIME ::

Farmer Boy

MATH ::

It's Probably Penny, Loreen Leedy (these are great)

Measuring, Gresko

ART ::

Charlotte in Giverny, Joan MacPhail Knight (LOVE this)

READ ALOUD ::

Leo the Lightening Bug, Eric Drachman

Piggy, Figgy Happy, Sterling Johnson (our neighbor)

Leaf by Leaf, Autumn Poems, Barbara Rogasky

I Fall Down, Vicki Cobb (about gravity)

**Abbie in Stitches, Cynthia Cotton

Hands On :: Tower of Babel

2008-11-07T21:04:00.000-08:00

Hands On :: Tower of Babel
Originally uploaded by islandj

Another MFW Hands On moment - studying the tower of babel. The kids were just full of theories about why God gave the men different languages, what the men really wanted to accomplish by building their tall tower, and so much more. And then to have an activity! We were supposed to use clay and toothpicks, neither of which could be found in our vast craft cabinet (what?), so we ended up with playdough and popsicle sticks. Siena's tower was more of a widespread landmass, and Sage's had no roof. Sterling spent so much time sorting his legos that he didn't have time to build (but he found all the pieces he needed to make a tricked out car). Ah well, it was fun nonetheless, and easily as chaotic as the building of the real Tower once the Lord played His hand.

Hands On :: Measuring Weights

2008-11-07T21:00:00.000-08:00

Hands On :: Measuring Weights
Originally uploaded by islandj

A quick hands-on we did for MFW math... weighing things. Amazing what using real visuals to explain a concept will do to make it easily understood! This was also valuable in helping the kids use their minds to estimate weight. We would choose to objects, say, cheerios and pasta. Given equal amounts, which would weigh more? The guessing was wild, but did improve. Now if I could just figure out something as concrete with time increments...

Drawing with Children :: lesson four :: Abstract Design Warm Up

2008-11-05T12:54:00.000-08:00

Drawing with Children :: lesson four :: Abstract Design Warm Up
Originally uploaded by islandj

Class Date :: November 4, 2008

This was a terrific lesson. The idea is to provide verbal instructions which the students follow, without looking at any one else's work. Using the five elements of shape, and two types of markers (fine tipped and broad tipped), we created one of a kind abstract doodles with a purpose.

The book provides a great set of instructions, but only one set. We took our time doing this lesson - I would carefully read one step of the instructions, and then watch carefully to see that it was carried out. I think it would make a great beginning to any art lesson - and is a very creative way of teaching your child how to listen and follow concrete and building instructions (i.e., a single step might have several parts, and each one builds on the previous).

Better yet, we all liked our how our pieces turned out, and that's the best sign of a great lesson!

Drawing with Children :: lesson four :: Mirror Imaging Exercises

2008-11-05T12:48:00.000-08:00

Drawing with Children :: lesson four :: Mirror Imaging Exercises
Originally uploaded by islandj

Class Date :: November 4, 2008

Whew. This was a tough one. Not only did we have a week gap (Nonna led the kids in lots of drawing last week, but not with "the" book), but it simply is a difficult concept for young minds to grasp. Mirror Imaging requires a fair bit of mental gymnastics. But, since Ms. Brooks says, "beings able to duplicate the symmetry in objects accurately is one of the skills that those who draw are particular about," (pg. 67), I thought we should give it a try. This was the kind of challenge I like personally. Not so much as a teacher, it turns out.

The kids tried VERY hard. They persevered, and they didn't give up, though they also didn't "succeed" in the ways they wanted. We talked through the shapes, which direction they were going, and how to make a mirror image. I found working through the verbalization of each picture really helped me. I thought the kids did well, even if we weren't able to achieve actual mirror images in some cases. Since it was a bit of a let down, we moved right on to the Abstract Design Warm Up.

Siena's Pumpkin Lapbook

2008-11-04T19:38:00.001-08:00

Siena's Pumpkin Lapbook
Originally uploaded by islandj

Here is Siena's completed Lapbook. By completed I mean that all the components are in place... most of them still have space for work to be done. She wanted this so that she could have a little something to do later in the fall.

Several of these are from enchanted learning, and others are those I found from looking at other blogged pumpkin lapbooks. There are three "cycles of a pumpkin" (upper and lower left, lower left middle), a set of "fall words" (a connect two halves of the word activity), a booklet about pumpkins, a smaller booklet about how to make a jack o'lantern, and finally a little math mini-book in the lower pocket.

This was exceptionally simple. Our first lapbook of the year, we wanted something we could finish and feel good about. The next one, I think, will be about Christmas and that season of our liturgical calendar. I also want to begin a longer term project that will use the lapbook format for studying the bible as a whole. Much as I love the idea of lapbooks, they often end up feeling like a whole lot of busywork, which is problematic for me (I don't have time for busywork which involves me, as these still do). I would love to be "convinced" that lapbooking is the way to go, as so many wonderful HSing moms are, but as yet, they are merely one avenue for giving my creatively active little girl a place for learning.

Books :: Week Nine :: Oct. 27-31

2008-11-04T16:40:00.001-08:00

TEA TIME ::
Farmer Boy

MATH ::
Measuring at Home, Roy
Inch by Inch, Leo Lionni
**Measuring Penny, Loreen Leedy (excellent book on measuring)

NATURE ::
Stargazer's Alphabet, John Farrell
There's No Place Like Space, Tish Rabe (A Cat in that Hat book)

READ ALOUD ::
Up and Down with Kate, Kay Chorao
A Long Way, Katherine Ayers

Lots of special reading with Nonna!

Week in Review :: Week Nine :: Oct 27-31, 2008

2008-11-01T16:23:00.000-07:00

A special week - Nonna came down to help out while Mommy went on a business trip for half the week. She made a wonderful substitute teacher. And I highly recommend the mental exercise of trying to structure your week so that someone else can teach your children... it caused me to focus carefully and see what really gets done (and its lots!)

Field Trips :: no field trips this week. But Nonna here is like a long field day.
My Father's World :: We chose to let this go this week.
Art Appreciation :: I think I may have found a reasonable book, more next week after we've tried it out.
Music Appreciation :: Dvorak.
Pen Pal Tuesday :: no letters while Nonna was here.
Nature Reading :: MFW focus this week :: Planets and Stars. The kids continued to read their books on this topic. Zoobooks and Burgess took a break.
Nature Study :: The kids did a nature walk and scavenger hunt with Nonna. The worksheet was fabulous (go check it out).
Co-op Recap :: In K-1 Siena studied the election last week. The kids voted on who like what animals best, and the entire co-op voted on a president. In his 1-2 class, Sterling learned about bears and thankfulness in preparation for Thanksgiving.
CBS Recap :: Luke chapter five, miracles and worship. (we all missed the meeting but did our homework. Dad helped the kids).
Lapbook :: Siena's lapbook is completed!
Drawing with Children :: Nonna and the kids used several "I can Draw" style books to practice their drawing (and had such fun doing it).

STERLING continued in his specific studies ::
Primary Language Lessons (PLL) :: days of the week, composition and adverbs.
Spelling by Sound and Structure (SSS) :: week seven.
Printing Power, Reading, and McGuffey's :: carrying on.
Math :: Singapore is wonderful. As long as the material isn't unknown, Sterling is able to move through most of it unassisted. He and Siena also created a number roll (see below)

SIENA continued in her specific studies ::
Words of Promise, McGuffey/Bob Books :: continuing strong.
Math :: MFW related :: Review of addition and subtraction, mostly drills. She and Nonna also created a giant number roll. Using an adding machine tape, they begin at zero and write their numbers as long as they can. The kids (both of them) LOVED this, way more than I would have imagined. It also fills time nicely when I can't give direct attention. Try it out!

Books :: Week Eight :: Oct. 20-24

2008-10-25T16:34:00.000-07:00

TEA TIME ::
Farmer Boy continues.

NATURE BOOKS ::
I Didn't Know That Mountains Gush Lava and Ash, Clare Oliver (great book)
MATH BOOKS ::
Anno's Mysterious Multiplying Jar, Anno

READ ALOUDS ::
Butterfly Kisses, Bob Carlisle
That's What Grandma's Are For, Harriet Ziefert
Baby Bear's Chairs, Jane Yolen (illustrated by Melissa Sweet)
Baby Bear's Books
The Whale, Cynthia Rylant (book two in series)
Grandma's Hurrying Child, Jane Yolan

Week in Review :: Week Eight :: Oct 20-24, 2008

2008-10-25T16:10:00.000-07:00

WORKING TOGETHER ::
Field Trips :: no field trips this week. But a trip to Legoland makes up for it!
My Father's World :: This week we to illustrate our Bible Notebooks, a process that I hope the kids come to love. Once or twice a week they read a story in their Bible Readers. They then narrate (titles only at this point) and illustrate the story in their Bible Notebooks. As their skills improve, they will write summaries of the stories in addition to the pictures. Siena loves it. Sterling will hopefully come to love it.
Art Appreciation :: the break continues.
Music Appreciation :: Dvorak.
Pen Pal Tuesday :: More birthday letters.
Nature Reading :: MFW focus this week :: Planets and Stars. We will stretch this out over three weeks, as there are way too many good books to race through in one.
Nature Study :: Maybe November.
Co-op Recap :: In K-1 Siena continued her study of owls (we couldn't finish up there was so much to learn last week!). In his 1-2 class, Sterling learned about the forest habitat and owls specifically. The mom teaching his class brought in three stuffed owls from the Natural History Museum. Very, very interesting!
CBS Recap :: Luke chapter four, temptations and victories.
Lapbook :: Sterling and Siena both completed their worksheets, but only Siena was interested in actually finishing the lapbook as such. Hopefully it will be done and posted soon.
Drawing with Children :: We worked on warm-up exercises this week, very successfully. More here.

STERLING continued in his specific studies ::
Primary Language Lessons (PLL) :: was-were, a-an, and several oral conversations. My friend gave me a new grammar program, but we will continue working with PLL for a few more weeks before abandoning it.
Spelling by Sound and Structure (SSS) :: week six :: review. With some basic review, he did very well on a 25 word review quiz.
Printing Power, Reading, and McGuffey's :: carrying on.
Math :: he loves the new math program, and is whizzing through the complex addition and simple multiplication material.

SIENA continued in her specific studies ::
Words of Promise, McGuffey/Bob Books :: continuing strong.
Math :: MFW related :: Working on Place Value (ones, tens, hundreds). Also used a book called "dealing with addition" - math using playing cards. Who wouldn't love it!

Drawing with Children :: Week Three :: Warm Up Exercises

2008-10-21T16:25:00.001-07:00

Drawing with Children :: Week Three :: Warm Up Exercises
Originally uploaded by islandj

Is it necessary for me to confess that, yet again, I did not do the preparation I ought to have before this weeks drawing class? I hate to admit it, but I think most HS moms will understand - it's hard to steal those moments away from other parts of the day. Thankfully, we are still in the preparation/practice part of the class, and my "students" are gracious. (It also confirms for me that I think a HS'ing version of this book would be really well received - you know, something that actually broke things down into weekly lesson plans, with very specific "here's what to do" kind of notes).

This week I planned to finish going through the visual games and warm up lessons. My Father's World has weekly "plans" for Drawing with Children for the first third of their year, and I took their notes as a foundation for how I am breaking down the material into weekly lessons. This week we worked on visual games (who can find a certain element of shape in the class room? Who can take this phone and show me all five elements of shape with it?) and also warm up exercises, which included a "random warm-up" (using the five elements of shape randomly, continuing to test out the materials), a "duplication warm-up" (which consisted of me drawing the elements in five little images, and them copying them), and also the "Matching warm-up" (having a set image, and then three other similar images, with the student finding the same image). We managed two of the three, and while I see the value of the third, I think we'll just skip it this time.

Each week they are eager to do this class, which really encourages me. I finally have a package of 50 color markers, 10 fat markers, and each of us is now the proud owner of an expensive black drawing marker. Their really is something to having "special" supplies (and by that I don't necessarily mean expensive) that are used for very specific purposes. The kids approach them with greater respect, and treat the time with greater purpose.

Each of the exercises we did today was well within their ability. True, they weren't able to "duplicate" perfectly, but that wasn't the real goal. They were able, quite handily, to find the elements in each image and reproduce them with some skill. Siena went so far as to take the pattern of elements (say I drew a dot connected to a curved line connected to an angle line in a specific way) and reproduce the pattern in her own way, which, frankly, I see as far more imaginative and valuable in drawing. I suspect she might be a little picasso during that strange perspective phase.

I wish that there were an actual lesson plan, as I'm never certain if I am covering enough or if I'm covering it as I ought. For now, we are moving along, and that is good. Next week we'll finish with a mirror imaging warm-up, and some review of the previous exercises (my MIL will be teaching for me while I'm out of town), and then we will begin to be a bit more creative. Meantime, the special supplies have been put away, the enthusiasm is encouraged, and we'll see you next week!

Sand Box Volcano

2008-10-20T19:27:00.001-07:00

Sand Box Volcano
Originally uploaded by islandj

Our "My Father's World" activities last week were wonderful, starting with this volcano experiment. After reading a few books on volcanoes, we went to the sand box, dug a hole, put in a cup (the original experiment called for a clay mountain. Clay Mountain? Excuse me? Sand box and glass, much more my speed), and added the baking soda. White vinegar poured in by turns, and viola! Eruption! the kids loved it. This particular volcanic site erupted at least five times before my need to have some baking soda on hand for baking put an end to the fun!

The second activity we did was celebrate a Sabbath meal on Friday night. We baked a loaf of braided Challah bread, drank sparkling grape juice, lit the candles, and said the prayers (some the actual prayers, some we made up on the spot). It was lovely, though I'm not sure they got the idea that the post-dinner activities were meant to be nothing but rest. And we are overlooking the fact that we started a full hour before sundown in the interest of not having a cranky and overly hungry beginning to the Sabbath.

Week in Review :: Week Seven :: Oct 13-17, 2008

2008-10-18T15:45:00.000-07:00

A quick update on what we've been up to...

The Schedule is really working. I'm still surprised, and happy, and the week goes so smoothly!

WORKING TOGETHER ::
Field Trips :: BATES NUT FARM - where there were NO nuts (except the kids), but lots of pumpkins, factoids, a straw maze, a hay ride, and plenty of friend time.
My Father's World :: This week we focused on more phonics (using complex sounds ng and ea), created a volcano (and studied them), and finally completed the first week of creation in our bible notebook.
Art Appreciation :: the break continues... still hoping to find something inspiring.
Music Appreciation :: Dvorak.
Pen Pal Tuesday :: Birthdays are coming up, so each week this month we are writing birthday cards/letters.
Nature Reading :: MFW focus this week :: Volcanos. There were not as many good "living books" on volcanos, so we didn't belabor the point. We did, however, do a volcano experiment (you can read the post here). The kids loved it, and I'm glad I didn't take the easy way out by avoiding it. We continue to read chapters from the Burgess Bird book and are reading about Sharks in Zoobooks.

Nature Study :: Didn't maintain this like I would like, and still haven't gotten myself into the habit of preparing something with the Handbook of Nature Study. Someday. Maybe November.
Co-op Recap :: In Science this week, wood and water. In Art, worked on Day four of creation. In K-1 Siena learned about Owls. Our friend led the class and it was brilliant, including the dissection of a real owl pellet. Whew! Very cool. In his 1-2 class, Sterling learned about Children from around the world and how they live.
CBS Recap :: Luke chapter three, John the Baptist and Jesus.
Lapbook :: Siena is loving the lapbook process, and our field trip added fuel to the fire. Pumpkins it is!
Drawing with Children :: Progressing well, I'm pleased that they both get into the exercises and enjoy being creative. Just need more supplies, which we'll get this week.

STERLING continued in his specific studies ::
Primary Language Lessons (PLL) :: I'm nearly ready to throw in the towel on this one. He is learning about to-two-too, and continuing to work on art observation (looking at a piece of art and discussing it with complete sentences and some insight).
Spelling by Sound and Structure (SSS) :: week five words. Reviewing the words seems to be important, but the effort is showing.
Printing Power :: I've noticed that when he is printing single words, it is much neater than printing sentences, so I may back off on specific copywork and just make sure we do more "writing." But the new structure keeps us on track.

Math :: we did some basic review in Miquon, and then jumped in on Friday with the new material. The first book will be largely review, but he is going to move through it quickly, and then hopefully we'll hit some challenges.
Reading :: busy reader.
McGuffey's Eclectic Reader Primer :: Getting close to done!

SIENA continued in her specific studies ::
Words of Promise :: Siena likes writing with a purpose (pen pal letters, or bible verses).
Math :: MFW related :: Continuing to study Addition and now Subtraction too. She is beginning to "get" math principles, and looks forward to math each day. What a change from a few weeks ago!
McGuffey's Eclectic Reader Primer :: She reads a few pages each week, and alternates this with "Bob Books" which she thinks she reads more easily. I'll not tell her that her reading of the more complicated (and interesting) McGuffey is far more accomplished!

Books :: Week Seven :: Oct. 13 -17

2008-10-18T15:38:00.000-07:00

TEA TIME ::

Farmer Boy continues!

NATURE BOOKS ::

Danger! Volcanoes, Seymour Simon

MATH BOOKS ::

**Fair Bear Share, Stuart Murphy (on regrouping into units and tens - excellent!)

READ ALOUDS ::

Messages in the Mailbox, Loreen Leedy

Christopher Columbus, Ann McGovern

Down at Angel's, Sharon Chmierlarz

***St. George and the Dragon, Margaret Hodges

Week in Review :: Week Six :: Oct 6-10, 2008

2008-10-11T10:17:00.001-07:00

This was the first week of our New Month (you can see my other post about how things change at the beginning of the month). I'm exceptionally pleased with the changes we've made. Scheduling everything we want to do for specific days, while against my "be flexible" desires, has made life much more manageable. We got lots done, and it was easier to see what was dropped and why, always helpful to know.

WORKING TOGETHER ::
Field Trips :: None this week. Whew!
My Father's World ::
Art Appreciation :: We are taking a break while I re-evaluate how best to do this.
Music Appreciation :: We began Mozart last week, but then I was given my yearly birthday present from my step-dad, a CD by Dvorak, so we have switched to a wonderful set of his greatest works. Very invigorating in the morning.
Pen Pal Tuesday :: Siena wrote to Gramma, Sterling to his Nonna.
Nature Reading :: MFW focus this week :: The Sun and the Moon. We read lots and lots of books, particularly on the Moon. Several were quite good. We plan to spend one month charting the moon from our backyard swing - watching it move, change shape, etc. We also did a quick sun fading experiment with black construction paper, which the kids liked. We have also returned to scheduling our reading of the Burgess Bird Book and our Zoobook magazines. This week we did well - two chapters of the Bird Book (which we love) and the beginnings in Sharks.
Nature Study :: Our plants have mostly died due to lack of watering (oops) and also to small "pot" size. I think it's time to let them go (or try to plant them outside) and start again. We also took our first nature walk this week, collecting pretty fircones, haycorns, and rocks.
Co-op Recap :: In Science this week, wood and water. In Art, finishing day three of creation. Siena told me they are done painting, which makes her sad. In K-1 Siena learned about Christopher Columbus. In his 1-2 class, Sterling learned about the wetlands habitat.

CBS Recap :: Luke chapter two. The kids memorized their memory verse so easily (it's amazing what young minds can absorb and remember). Sage has also memorized the song for her simple verse, which is very sweet to hear.

Lapbook :: Another new thing, we will be working on a Lapbook once a week. This month, to ease into the process, we are studying pumpkins. The kids create the blank folder book, and began to cut and color and prepare the information they will put inside. Siena in particular loves this.
Drawing with Children :: the last new thing we have added. The kids were eager to begin, and our first pieces were fun to do together, with self-imposed silence. Ah. Bliss.

STERLING continued in his specific studies ::
Primary Language Lessons (PLL) :: We are working on being asked a question and responding with a complete and sensible sentence. Harder than one might think when you are seven.
Spelling by Sound and Structure (SSS) :: week four words. He continues to learn the new words with ease, and takes the reviews handily. I also have begun reviewing words from previous weeks to make sure the spellings stick.
Printing Power :: We are now working on several specific pieces of copywork each week: catechism questions, his weekly proverb, printing power pages, and any other significant writing work. When he is specifically writing for the practice, it is quite good. Other times... we are working on that.
Miquon Math :: I ordered three years worth of Singapore Math for Sterling and Siena. They won't arrive til next week, so we found a few pages we could do randomly in Miquon, including placement values and simple fractions.
Reading :: Sterling continues to read quickly, but he is learning to look for the information he might learn as well. He is also reading aloud to the girls (simple picture books that I am not reading a second time), and he is improving.
McGuffey's Eclectic Reader Primer :: Continuing on.

SIENA continued in her specific studies ::
Words of Promise :: Siena now has the same copywork as Sterling (Catechism and proverbs) as well as her lessons in Words of Promise. This week they began in earnest, with practice letters and words, leading up to a Bible Verse. We liked this better.
Math :: MFW related :: Continuing to study Addition. The workbook pages are quite simple, but the repetition is good. We also enjoy the books we read to accompany the topic.
McGuffey's Eclectic Reader Primer :: She doesn't know it, but her reading has greatly improved. I love the words and concepts she is learning (about lads and such).
MFW :: Siena is doing better each week, and I think the repetition and routine are comforting to her.

Books :: Week Six :: Oct. 6-10

2008-10-11T10:06:00.000-07:00

TEA TIME ::

continuing in Farmer Boy, and loving every chapter.

NATURE BOOKS ::

Burgess Bird Book for Children

Under the Sun, Ellen Kandoian

What the Sun Sees/What the Moon Sees, Nancy Trafuri

** I'll See You When the Moon is Full, Susi Gregg Fowler - This book was the perfect Charlotte Mason book. Told as a story, it clearly explains the cycles of the moon, and makes it fun to plan to track them yourself for a month.

Look at the Moon, May Garelick

* Day Light, Night Light, Franklyn M Branley - we enjoyed this quite a bit.

What the Moon is Like, Franklyn M Branley

Moongame, Frank Asch

** Moon, Steve Tomecek - excellent National Geographic resources

The Sun is my Favorite Star, Frank Asch

The Moon, Seymour Simon

MATH BOOKS ::

Quack and Count, Keith Baker

Ten Black Dots, Donald Crews

Animals on Board, Stuart Murphy

Safari Park, Stuart Murphy

(and a quick plug - these books by Stuart Murphy are all, ALL, quite good - engaging and educational, with decent illustrations. We've not found one we don't like yet, while many of the other 'math' books I'm finding are either boring or too simplistic for my 1st and 2nd grader).

READ ALOUDS ::

The Storm, Cynthia Rylant (book one of "the Lighthouse Family")

** A Packet of Seeds, Deborah Hopkinson (totally loved this story and the illustrations)

It's All About Me! Nancy Cote (a sweet story about an only child making room in his heart for a baby brother... and then another!)

The Earth and I, Frank Asch

** The Boy Who Drew Birds, Jacqueline Davies (illustrated by a favorite, Melissa Sweet). This book should be read by anyone who loves nature, or birds, or longs to see kids fulfill their own sweet giftings!

STERLING READS ::

Sterling continued reading Magic Tree House books, and we've finally convinced him to branch out into other series (he loves a series), starting with Cynthia Rylants Henry and Mudge books.

Nature Study :: A beginning

2008-10-08T22:04:00.001-07:00

As part of our October new beginnings, I have revisited Nature Study and added some new features to our week. Scheduled into our week will now be a Nature Walk (utilizing the trails right from our house, which are not terribly fascinating, but give us a foundation for what we'll look at seasonally), a Nature Study Walk (most likely to be down in Batiquitios Lagoon), a scheduled weekly reading from the Burgess Bird Book for Children, as well as a scheduled time for reading our Zoobook and ZooNews magazines. I've really struggled to get these into our time - and having them on our daily lists has (thus far) made it happen. I'm continually amazed at what simply scheduling (and following the schedule) will do to increasing our productivity and ability to fit everything in.

We had our first Nature Walk (in the neighborhood) on Tuesday. I had planned to just take a walk, and slowly build up our experience to something which I could justify as 'nature Study.' The kids really surprised me with their enthusiasm - back packs were carried, as where their nature notebooks. Our normally 15-20 minute walk took nearly 45, with stops to find and collect stones, "haycorns" and "fircones" (thanks to Winnie-the-Pooh), and, what could only make me shake my head and laugh, BB Gun pellets. My hope is that after a few weeks of the walk, I will come up with some brilliant worksheets/scavenger hunts/etc which we can utilize to help guide our time outside. And maybe our drawing class will encourage us to capture a bit of our local nature with the pen.

All in good time. For now, I'm so grateful that we are finally doing what has been in my heart to do.

Drawing with Children :: Preparing

2008-10-07T21:35:00.001-07:00

The kids and I are beginning a new weekly class time, using Mona Brooks book, Drawing with Children, as our guide. I have a personal desire to draw better, and I have high hopes that we will all improve greatly with her lesson plans. Since I'm really struggling to figure out how to implement the book in our time, I thought I'd post about it regularly, and see if we can't unpack it a little bit.

This week we talked about the "Before you Draw" section. In it, she encourages the student to get rid of the (negative) preconceived ideas about artists, ability and drawing. I was pleased that the kids are still young enough that they really lack any negative ideas about their own work, or about their potential. We drew a practice drawing, one which I wanted to use as a "before" for what I hope to be wonderful "after" illustrations. We also took the time to see what level we would be beginning in. Both kids were able to zoom past level one, and made it all the way to the last two sequences in level two. We'll start with level one, just because I'm built to work from beginning to end most readily.

All this took about 30-45 minutes, and since I now need to read the directions for the first lessons, we stopped there. I was thrilled to see Sterling (who doesn't normally like to draw) open up a notebook and begin to use the placement sequences in fun ways on his own.

I had not purchased anything but the poster board to use as a drawing mat, and I regret that now. Before we "meet" again, I'll get some proper drawing markers and simple sketch pads. I think having them in place would go a long way towards making the "class" seem very real and meaningful.