Homeschool 2010-2011 Part 3

Name: IJ

Age/Grade: 8/3rd

Learning Style: Auditory

Cathy Duffy Learning Style: Socialable Sue and Perfect Paula

IJ is very easy to homeschool.  I buy a ton of books and set him loose.  This year he loves history, science, and art.  He wants to learn everything there is to know about DNA and cloning, being a detective and solving crimes, animals, the jungle, and history.  We are using Sonlight Core 3 and The Story of the World for history.  IJ sneaked off with my books and read ahead already.  We are using Teaching Textbooks for math this year.  I like this program because IJ can work independently on the computer with headphones while I work with other kids.  Science this year is Chemistry  Did you know that I have my minor in chemistry?  It was an accident!  And faster than a minor in dance!

Name: S

Age/Grade: 7/1st or 2nd

Learning Style: NOT auditory.  Visual with a little kinesthetic thrown in.

Cathy Duffy Style: Wiggly Willy

S is not easy to homeschool.  He is the yang to IJ's yin.  He is very good at memorizing things and doesn't need to be shown the why's of math computations twice.  This year he is interested in space and Pokemon.  Only.  I'm just doing random workbooks with him so far, but I'm thinking I may just have to design a year long unit study with Pokemon.  I am trying out Sonlight's Core K that I did when IJ was five years old.  It seems to be going okay so far.  Otherwise I try to keep him interested and involved with surprise learning materials from the dollar bins at Target.  He would be the perfect unschooler, but I don't go there...unless I'm sick or tired or both.

Name: E

Age/Grade: 4 3/4 and Pre-Kindergarten

Learning Style: I don't know yet

Cathy Duffy Style: Know-it-all Nadine.  Just kidding, I made that one up.  She's closest to a Competent Carl.

E has learned her letters and numbers on her own just by hanging out at the homeschool table.  I have Kumon workbooks on hand for her to dabble with.  I tried to teach her to read a few months ago, but she wasn't quite ready.  She has been sounding out words on her own, so I may try again using the book that I used with IJ.  She thinks she knows everything and likes to say things like, "I was going to say that!"  She is also enjoying Sonlight K with S, which shouldn't surprise me.  I always thought S and IJ would be a study group and E would buddy up with F.  But I see now that there are some subjects where E and S are perfect teammates.

I noticed today that my kids are doing most of their work independently and I am managing more than teaching.  It was a little weird, but okay.  I do have a lot of balls in the air this year!  When I made my "perfect" schedule/routine, I made sure each kid (even F!) got some one-on-one time every day for subjects they struggle with and/or subjects we loooove to do together (snuggling on the couch reading).  But you know what I forgot?  Recess.  I don't care.  I take them to soccer four nights a week and we are starting swimming twice a week.  We roller skate every other week.  The boys do taekwondo and E does gymnastics.  And then there is the afternoon tree climbing and pond "duck baths" and rooster chasing (that would be S's game) that they do when I say "School's Done!" 

Homeschool 2010-2011 Part 2

Besides Homeschool Tracker Plus, I have two other favorite tools this year.

Speaking of Tools...

One is my alarm clock that I've had since high school (gasp!).  It's amazing how long something can last if you never use it.  I've learned that I can't depend on M to wake me up in the morning.  He always says something like, "You looked so peaceful," or "You were sleeping so deeply and you could probably use the extra sleep."  That's very very sweet of him, but it knocks my whole day off if I stay in bed for an extra 30 minutes.  Plus, I could sleep all day and still need extra sleep.

...F with a hammer is a scary thought

The other tool is a handy dandy timer that I can wear around my neck.  As long as I remember to put it on in the morning, I can keep track of time and my schedule.  I can put kids on a time out and remember where they are when I hear a beep.  I can set the timer when I'm online for five minutes and make myself stop when my time is up.  I can let F play with the buttons and get a few more minutes of read out loud time with the older kids.

Doesn't OSHA have some rule about this?

Stay tuned for Part 3... Individual Plans!

Homeschool 2010-2011 Part 1

Finally, at 7:00 in the morning on a Friday, I have found a little time to post about what we are doing this school year!

I've always been an eclectic homeschooler, using bits and pieces of many homeschooling philosophies to get the job done.  I take into consideration the kids' learning styles, my learning style (which translates into my teaching style), the kids' likes, dislikes, and natural rhythms.  For example, IJ is a night owl and not at all ever an early bird.  He loves to read.  He loves History.  So sometimes I send him to bed at 8:30 and let him stay up until 9:00 reading a book about Pocahontas.  He thinks he is getting a great treat and I can check another school item off my list.

At the very core of my homeschool is my database.  I'm using Homeschool Tracker Plus to keep track of our daily work and assignments.  This is a very powerful program and it took me awhile to get acquainted with all the different functions.  I have to spend time every day entering assignments, but I can also run reports at the end of the month that shows exactly what each kid did.  I never really needed this program until this year.

The other important part of my homeschool is my schedule.  I am by nature a laid-back, relaxed, go-with-the-flow kind of person.  I have a higher tolerance for some kinds of clutter-like school books (not magazines and junk mail) than my husband.  But going with the flow in this house doesn't work!  I can't sleep late and feed my kids at the same time!  I can't get our laundry done and go to soccer!  So I'm a slave to the clock.  And so far it is working.  I'm probably doing a good thing with this self-discipline.  I'm hoping talking with IJ about some of these habits will inspire him to have more self-discipline.  And now I must stop because the clock says it is time for me to make some eggs for breakfast!

Free Range Fun

M has been letting the chickens free range lately to cut down on the food bill.  He has been slowly introducing the Pathetic Doberman to the idea of fluffy friends. 

"I just want to play tag...with my teeth!"

Last week, Grandad accidentally let her out when the chickens were ranging.  She got herself trapped in the chicken pen with a few chickens and had a good time plucking feathers out of the chicken's rumps.

"Chickens are friends, not food!"

She didn't want to kill them, just pull out their fluff.  Just like she does with stuffed animals.

I Like Wednesday

Wednesday is when M takes the boys to Taekwondo and I get to stay home with the girls!  Today was extra special because I left the boys home with Grandad (doing their schoolwork) while I took E to her first day of gymnastics!

Then we went shopping at Goodwill and got princess dresses.

After the guys left, we watched Finding Nemo.

I like capturing their responses to what is happening on the movie.

I wonder what part this is?  The Shark Meeting?

Another Holiday, Another Project

After a looong week, we look forward to our three day weekends (and forced day off Tuesday), don't we?  Until we try to be productive.  And install a door.  And find a rotten floor.

"I just missed that electric wire!"

All we want is something to go simply!  But instead we have that can of silly string!

"Spiders and bees nests and insect damage, Oh My!"

While M works on home improvement projects, I am getting our Cub Scout uniforms ready for our first den meeting tomorrow.  M will be the leader for the Wolves, S's den.  I'm the assistant leader, so I'll be getting his activities set up for him every week.  And doing the Scout things he doesn't like to do, like sell popcorn.

One patch down, about 20 left to do...

Yesterday, the boys and I sold popcorn for three hours.  We sold $230 in popcorn and got about $85 in donations.  IJ is quite the little salesman.  He knows how to charm the ladies and impress the men.  He got $20 from one man just because he said "Yes, sir!" when asked if he listened to his parents and his leaders.  He has his routine down.  He says with his big hazel eyes and sweet innocent face, "Would you like to help support the Cub Scouts?"  When someone says they don't eat popcorn, S chimes in with, "We also accept donations!"  They usually laugh and give them each a dollar.  And those dollars really add up!  We earned just about enough to cover their membership fees for the year!

I drove 270 miles between Thursday and Sunday.  Thursday was doctor day (D is 18lbs, S is being referred to an ear, nose, and throat specialist, and F's arm is just fine), the first day of homeschool roller skating, and IJ's soccer practice.  Friday was zoo day.  Saturday was S's soccer practice, cleaning out the Scout closet, and a BBQ potluck.  Sunday was popcorn and a trip to the hardware store, and buying the new carpet!  And tomorrow the week starts all over again...

Maybe next week I'll write up a post on what we are using this year in the homeschool...  I'll just toss in another I Love Homeschooling! moment: We watched the new Clash of the Titans last night.  IJ and Grandad sat around before the movie discussing Greek mythology like two old scholars; IJ even corrected Grandad on whether it was Icarus or Daedalus that melted his wings when he flew to close to the sun!  That's pretty cool, considering Grandad was alive in ancient Greek days and saw everything first hand.  The other cool part was that we covered the ancient Greeks two years ago.  So his retention of information is incredible.  I live in a house of know-it-alls.

The Explorers Hit the Zoo

Gotta have the Shark Jaw pic!

The kids and I, along with two other local homeschooling converts, celebrated the first week of school-and us not being there-with a field trip to the Point Defiance Zoo!  And what a lovely day to go! 

Lunch!

We are only three families so far, but we are hoping other families will join us in future Explorations.  Today's group had a 4th, two 3rd, two 2nd, a K, a Pre-K, and three toddler/babies.

I like this picture because you can see all us moms in the reflection in the glass.

Jaya, Bima, and Mali

The Zoo was, well, a zoo today!  All thanks to the sweet little baby tigers in this picture.  They were born May 25 and have only been on display for six weeks.

IJ and his best friend got to ride the camel again.  These boys have a lot of fun together at Cub Scouts and we are so glad they are homeschooling this year!

The D Kids plus One More Buddy

Of course I have to have my Polar Bear picture!  Here's a link to last year's post.

F and her buddy

We played and played and looked at so many animals that I think my feet are going to fall off!  Then we let the kids ride the carousel.  This was F's first time riding!

The cherry on top was sending both IJ and S over to their buddy's house to play!

I love goofy grins on 8 year old boys faces!