Ahh, my little Ian. He's my teddy bear, my emotional barometer. I love him to death!!
Ok, with Ian and the two littles, we're using HandsOnHomeschooling. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this curriculum!! I found it when Nathan was 2, and would have used it all along. It's designed for ages 2-5, so all preschool and Kindergarten. It's all laid out, day-by-day, month-by-month. No brain work, and comes in VERY HANDY when you've got multiple kids, multiple ages, multiple levels.
Now, don't get me wrong--I'm not a proponent of programs where everything's laid out for you and there's no interaction between parent & child. Nor do I subscribe to the mentality that you buy the "Kindergarten in a box" set and hunker down and "get your money's worth". I've seen too many cases of moms in tears, kids in tears, frustrated Dads, and looks of "What the heck was I thinking!!"
Instead, HOH is a wonderful tool, where the bulk of leg work is done. I don't have to stress about coming up with a plan for my little ones who are just as interested in "doing school" as their older brothers. I can go to their binder, look up their activity, and when I have a few minutes to spare, *BOOM*--school is in session!! It's great!
Of course, I am in no way giving this curriculum its due justice. You'll have to go on their website to learn more!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Zack -- week 2
(See Nathan's week 1 & 2 for any missing gaps.)
We took Labor Day off, with the exception of the pulley building. All the kids participated in that one.
Tuesday, sick day. But somehow, Zack ended up not being sick (which means, he'll just get it later). So he ended up getting to go down to the office this morning, instead of in the afternoon)....that is, until Dad ended up getting sick, too, and coming home.
Oh, while we're on the subject, guess you're wondering when Math comes into this equation. Well, that's really David's strong suite, not mine. So, in the afternoons, the boys each take turns going down to the office and do Math & some Handwriting (which is atrocious!!). He has more grace for those kinds of subjects than I do. I want them to do things the way that I was taught, in a timely fashion. And then I end up getting very discouraged and the kids end up frustrated. Or...I let David handle those subjects and he gets to take the fun stuff that we've been learning about to the next level (ie, the whole building of a pulley--David's idea).
We took Labor Day off, with the exception of the pulley building. All the kids participated in that one.
Tuesday, sick day. But somehow, Zack ended up not being sick (which means, he'll just get it later). So he ended up getting to go down to the office this morning, instead of in the afternoon)....that is, until Dad ended up getting sick, too, and coming home.
Oh, while we're on the subject, guess you're wondering when Math comes into this equation. Well, that's really David's strong suite, not mine. So, in the afternoons, the boys each take turns going down to the office and do Math & some Handwriting (which is atrocious!!). He has more grace for those kinds of subjects than I do. I want them to do things the way that I was taught, in a timely fashion. And then I end up getting very discouraged and the kids end up frustrated. Or...I let David handle those subjects and he gets to take the fun stuff that we've been learning about to the next level (ie, the whole building of a pulley--David's idea).
Zack -- week 1
When I asked Zack what he wanted to learn about this week, he said, "I want to learn about SCIENCE!" (What is it with my boys liking subjects that I can do, but I'm not very good at?) So, off to picking my brain (and the internet! Thank goodness for technology!)
I ended up scoring a jackpot over the summer. Through the wonderful publisher at TOS, I got about a dozen or so FREE unit studies. And guess what one of them was called? "Let's Be Scientists"!! No joke! Man, does God love me or what?
So, basically with Zack, his brain isn't wired like Nathan's. He's a classic ADHD kid. He literally bounces wherever he goes (which is why we call him Tigger). I read a book this summer that totally changed my approach with him. It's called "How to get your kid off the fridge and onto learning" by Carol Barnier. She's amazing and funny, and has a son just like Zack (except older). Anyway, I highly recommend this book for anyone who has a son/daughter who's brain is wired differently!!
So, with this unit study, I also got Noeo Science curriculum. It's really neat stuff. The unit we purchased was the Elementary Biology set. Basically, it's following the same things that the unit study does, but adds a new layer of depth to it all. An it pulls in real books in the process.
So, all last week (and for the next 3 weeks) we're studying weather. So far, we've learned how the sun affects our weather, the different types of clouds, and the water cycle. We made our own little experiment to help us understand how the water cycle works, and set up a thermometer outside to take daily readings (yeah, so far, only half of one day's readings have been taken.....).
The most fun we had last week was making his first lapbook. He's put in all his little pictures and readings from his experiments and charts. On Friday, when we were making the lapbook, it was about 11:30, and I said, "Zack, as soon as you finish that last thing, you can be done with school for the day."
Zack said, "But mom, I don't want to be done with school for the day!"
Ahh, an "Ah Ha! moment", if ever there was one!
I ended up scoring a jackpot over the summer. Through the wonderful publisher at TOS, I got about a dozen or so FREE unit studies. And guess what one of them was called? "Let's Be Scientists"!! No joke! Man, does God love me or what?
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So, with this unit study, I also got Noeo Science curriculum. It's really neat stuff. The unit we purchased was the Elementary Biology set. Basically, it's following the same things that the unit study does, but adds a new layer of depth to it all. An it pulls in real books in the process.
So, all last week (and for the next 3 weeks) we're studying weather. So far, we've learned how the sun affects our weather, the different types of clouds, and the water cycle. We made our own little experiment to help us understand how the water cycle works, and set up a thermometer outside to take daily readings (yeah, so far, only half of one day's readings have been taken.....).
The most fun we had last week was making his first lapbook. He's put in all his little pictures and readings from his experiments and charts. On Friday, when we were making the lapbook, it was about 11:30, and I said, "Zack, as soon as you finish that last thing, you can be done with school for the day."
Zack said, "But mom, I don't want to be done with school for the day!"
Ahh, an "Ah Ha! moment", if ever there was one!
Nathan -- week 2
Labor Day means a "break" from school, but not really. Nathan and David built a pulley! It was pretty neat. First couple of designs didn't work. It was about the 4th or 5th attempt they figured out how to lift a 53 lbs. weight using only about 13 lbs. of force. Pretty neat!
So, that brings me to today (Tuesday, Sept 7). It's Micah's bday, and to celebrate, we all decided to get sick! Yes, even my little Bday Boy!! It's sad, but luckily, it's all just varying degrees of sinus congestion. At least no one is throwing up. So for school today, we watched more SciQ, Bill Nye, and then Nathan went to play computer games (I think he helped Ian play a Kindergarten game....and not sure what happened after that).
A neat thing happened when I was making snack today. We decided to have popcorn ("my favorite treat....POPCORN, it's what I like to eat"....Oh sorry, I digress!). I was using Yiskah's whirley pop popper, and Nathan comes out of no where and says, "Mom! You're using a simple machine! There are 2 gears on the popper!"
It's neat, because now he sees simple machines everywhere. I vaguely remember learning about them in school. I could probably point out the different types, but only the obvious ones, like a screw (duh), inclined plane, and gears. But Nathan really gets this stuff. We were at my cousin's house for our family reunion, and there was a swing-set in the back yard. On the swing was this swing/see-saw thing, and Nathan says, "It's a lever, mom. See, there's the fulcrum, and the (whatever) and (whatever)." See, I told you I have no clue what any of this is!! He notices every pulley, ever lever, every....SIMPLE MACHINE!!
So, that brings me to today (Tuesday, Sept 7). It's Micah's bday, and to celebrate, we all decided to get sick! Yes, even my little Bday Boy!! It's sad, but luckily, it's all just varying degrees of sinus congestion. At least no one is throwing up. So for school today, we watched more SciQ, Bill Nye, and then Nathan went to play computer games (I think he helped Ian play a Kindergarten game....and not sure what happened after that).
A neat thing happened when I was making snack today. We decided to have popcorn ("my favorite treat....POPCORN, it's what I like to eat"....Oh sorry, I digress!). I was using Yiskah's whirley pop popper, and Nathan comes out of no where and says, "Mom! You're using a simple machine! There are 2 gears on the popper!"
It's neat, because now he sees simple machines everywhere. I vaguely remember learning about them in school. I could probably point out the different types, but only the obvious ones, like a screw (duh), inclined plane, and gears. But Nathan really gets this stuff. We were at my cousin's house for our family reunion, and there was a swing-set in the back yard. On the swing was this swing/see-saw thing, and Nathan says, "It's a lever, mom. See, there's the fulcrum, and the (whatever) and (whatever)." See, I told you I have no clue what any of this is!! He notices every pulley, ever lever, every....SIMPLE MACHINE!!
Nathan -- week 1
Nathan decided this year that he wants to learn about "mechanics". Much to my dismay, he didn't mean English mechanics, he meant MACHINES!! Now, I am about as mechanically inclined as a Garden snail, so imagine the learning curve I have!! But, luckily, I have an awesome hubby who jumped all over this, and helps keep me grounded and keeps me from breaking rule #1!!
So, yeah...machines. We started with Simple machines (levers, pulleys, gears, etc.). Nathan has been doing lots of research on the internet, using various websites and youtube videos. He found this one video, where the kids made....that kind of machine that's all about chain reactions, ugh can't remember....it was pretty cool.
On Wednesday, we decided to take a field trip day to Memphis. We ran errands and then took the kids to the Children's Museum. Pretty fun, they've changed it a lot since last we went (which was almost 4 years ago). And then we took the kids to a Red Birds game. Hey -- there's lots to learn there! You can learn statistics, um, and physics, and um.....physical education.....yeah, something like that...
Thursday, because we got in very late from Memphis (pushing midnight), we had an easy day. We were all slugs and watched SciQ all morning. Learned LOTS about water, sound, wheels, and poop. Yeah, Poop! There's a whole branch of science dedicated to gross-ology. And that episode was DEFINITELY GROSS!!!!
Friday....what did we do...? I think it was just more research on various websites. But the most fun so far was on Monday.
So, yeah...machines. We started with Simple machines (levers, pulleys, gears, etc.). Nathan has been doing lots of research on the internet, using various websites and youtube videos. He found this one video, where the kids made....that kind of machine that's all about chain reactions, ugh can't remember....it was pretty cool.
On Wednesday, we decided to take a field trip day to Memphis. We ran errands and then took the kids to the Children's Museum. Pretty fun, they've changed it a lot since last we went (which was almost 4 years ago). And then we took the kids to a Red Birds game. Hey -- there's lots to learn there! You can learn statistics, um, and physics, and um.....physical education.....yeah, something like that...
Thursday, because we got in very late from Memphis (pushing midnight), we had an easy day. We were all slugs and watched SciQ all morning. Learned LOTS about water, sound, wheels, and poop. Yeah, Poop! There's a whole branch of science dedicated to gross-ology. And that episode was DEFINITELY GROSS!!!!
Friday....what did we do...? I think it was just more research on various websites. But the most fun so far was on Monday.
New Beginnings
Ok, I've waited 10 years to finally start this adventure, and I'm so excited that we are finally embarking on this journey! I've decided to start this blog in the hopes of being "disciplined" enough to keep up with it.....yeah right. The reality of it is, that I will start this today, and probably not touch it again for 3 months, be riddled with guilt and try to cram 3 months of work into an epic long post, decide it's not worth the trouble, and abandon the project altogether......*sigh* Well, at least I know myself well enough to know that I have no delusions.......
Ok, so like the blog's title says, this is a new beginning for the Parkerson family. Yes, we've talked about homeschooling, run a stinkin' umbrella school for homeschoolers, and talk to homeschoolers all over the place about the glories of educating your kid at home. But, it wasn't until this current school year that we've actually be able to do it! Isn't that funny.....gotta love God's sense of humor.
But in all seriousness, I really think that this was from God. I mean, that we had to wait until our oldest is in 4th grade to start homeschooling our kids. I realize that David and I both got very Pharisee-icle about home education. But I think that God has really used these past 3 years to undo a lot of those strong holds. While I still disagree with the overall philosophy and execution of the public school system in America, I do see that I had some lessons to learn. Anyway....just my ramblings.
And now, onto the ACTUAL reason for this blog. It's to journal what we've done as we've done it.....lol, should probably use better English, huh? Well, happy reading!!
Ok, so like the blog's title says, this is a new beginning for the Parkerson family. Yes, we've talked about homeschooling, run a stinkin' umbrella school for homeschoolers, and talk to homeschoolers all over the place about the glories of educating your kid at home. But, it wasn't until this current school year that we've actually be able to do it! Isn't that funny.....gotta love God's sense of humor.
But in all seriousness, I really think that this was from God. I mean, that we had to wait until our oldest is in 4th grade to start homeschooling our kids. I realize that David and I both got very Pharisee-icle about home education. But I think that God has really used these past 3 years to undo a lot of those strong holds. While I still disagree with the overall philosophy and execution of the public school system in America, I do see that I had some lessons to learn. Anyway....just my ramblings.
And now, onto the ACTUAL reason for this blog. It's to journal what we've done as we've done it.....lol, should probably use better English, huh? Well, happy reading!!
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