I am feeling better about the blog now. I feel that by calling myself classical, I set up an image that I then try to fulfill or project in some way, but I just want to be myself, whatever that is. I am not that educated. There was a wonderful debate on the WTM message boards recently about whether the progym is a better way to go with teaching writing, than modern programs. I realised how highly educated some of these women are! I have a gut feeling, an intuition about things, and I follow my passion or enthusiasm, and I learn as I go. But I am not in any way, over the next few years of homeschooling my kids, going to be able to draw from the experiences and knowledge these women can draw from, for example with teaching writing.
But, although I am a bit in awe of them, I don't feel I am any less qualified to homeschool my kids. One things I notice is that a lot of people on the boards spend a lot more time doing academic work than I want to, even as the kids get older. I am feeling far more attracted to the Charlotte Mason ideals of a rich, "generous" education. Lots of exposure, lots of experiences, lots of books read. And, I still feel that it is good to go into some things more deeply, so that things don't become shallow.
Here is a list of our plans for next term:
Both kids (age 12 and 13/14) will do their maths (Haesse and Harris), music practice, Queen's Language Lessons (which include copywork, dictation, editing, writing), and Latin programs pretty much daily, although Latin often drops to 3 days a week because we leave the house so early on Mondays and Fridays. Gen will do Analytical Grammar part 2, and some Biology from Singapore's Biology Matters. She outlines this one week and does the workbook the next.
Then both will read from this list of books. We will be studying Ancient Greece for 10 weeks, using K12's History Odyssey as a spine. I love this book. Other books:
Children's Homer (we have already studied the Iliad in depth. I have decided we have covered the Odyssey enough, so Children's Homer will do.
Geurber's Story of the Greeks.
Hawthorne's Greek Myths, with a written narration each week. They both love to do this- write the myth in their own words, and Gen loves to illustrate as well, sometimes with a watercolour painting.
Wise Guy a book about Socrates.
They will also read an Australian history book each this term (Gen- My Story. Jared- Verity of Sydney Town.) Jared will also read Little Men.
And, they will read the 1st half of Augustus Caesar's World (which is Roman, and we will read the 2nd half in 3rd term).
They will do a history assignment or other narration as well.
And then together we will read:
Plato's Republic, and perhaps some Spophocles and or Aristphanes, time depending.
Poetry by Sappho.
Theseus' life by Plutarch.
Shakespeare's Hamlet (we have an audio and a highschool text with notes).
French together- we have an informal class with another mum who speaks French.
Poetry - Robert Frost
Artist- Waterhouse
Thinking Toolbox for Logic.
I am excited! The intention is about 90 minutes to 2 hours on independent work in the mornings. Then an hour or so together doing read alouds and oral narrations and discussions. Then another hour on their reading and on some days, another hour on writing. Since we are out of the house on Mondays and Fridays, and only get basics done, I don't mind if they do 5 hours on T/W/Th, but its up to them whether they want to work on Fridays rather than play, while the other is doing their Science class.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Sunday, April 13, 2008
time for more change
I just changed the layout and name of my blog....it felt like it wasn't really reflecting me so well. Even though we use many Classical resources and ideas that coincide with others who identify with the classical label, sometimes it feels pretentious to go around saying "we are classical homeschoolers". I am not sure what we are. And I like it like that. I don't want to be narrowed down to any label.
It has occurred to me lately that it would have been far easier to have stuck with Saxon maths and Rod and Staff English, in many ways. We would be much "farther ahead" on the academic trail than we are now....or at least, we would be getting up there to the higher levels of those programs. But, I couldn't do it. Not to the kids and not to myself. It would feel very satisfying in a certain way. But think what we would have missed. A year on Lord of the Rings. A year or more on Classical Writing. Trying different things. Bravewriter freewrites. I feel that the different curricula I have used has enriched us, rather than scattered us, but when I try and share what we are doing NOW with friends, it sounds kind of flaky because my closest homeschooling friends tend to stick to...Saxon math and Rod and Staff. I don't feel flaky..but I feel i sound it! It feels like we are eating from the smörgåsbord of educational experiences available. We are having a wide range of experiences. And I think that is my aim. To give a rich education, rather than a strongly academic one.
It has occurred to me lately that it would have been far easier to have stuck with Saxon maths and Rod and Staff English, in many ways. We would be much "farther ahead" on the academic trail than we are now....or at least, we would be getting up there to the higher levels of those programs. But, I couldn't do it. Not to the kids and not to myself. It would feel very satisfying in a certain way. But think what we would have missed. A year on Lord of the Rings. A year or more on Classical Writing. Trying different things. Bravewriter freewrites. I feel that the different curricula I have used has enriched us, rather than scattered us, but when I try and share what we are doing NOW with friends, it sounds kind of flaky because my closest homeschooling friends tend to stick to...Saxon math and Rod and Staff. I don't feel flaky..but I feel i sound it! It feels like we are eating from the smörgåsbord of educational experiences available. We are having a wide range of experiences. And I think that is my aim. To give a rich education, rather than a strongly academic one.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
time for another update
Someone from the Well Trained Mind message boards encouraged me to write in my blog more. So here I am. But as I wrote to her, it is embarrassing because I constantly fluctuate and change what we do. From my perspective, I just like homeschooling that way. I make plans a way ahead, I tweak them, life does it's thing, but in the process, lots of learning appears to happen! I have never felt the need to use the same programs for years or decide now what we will be doing next year.
We are starting our autumn holidays, so have done 1 term of school in our year. We have four 10 week terms. I am very happy with what we have done this term, even though we have had a week long trip to Bali, and Easter, all packed in there too.
I am relaxing more and more with homeschooling. I dont feel like I am so fear driven, so anxious any more. I have stopped aiming for the stars, as far as classical education is concerned. I can't do it, and enjoy my life too, and enjoy my kids' childhood. Nothing matters so much as it seemed to before. Of course, I was always heading this way, but something has really shifted in me.
On Mondays we are out at French class, then Sport and Drama. And you know what I do while Sport and Drama is on? (3 hours?). I drive home (20 mins each way) and have a nap. I get a solid 2 hours at home. Enough time to read as well! What luxury! The last 2 years I hung around and chatted or went to the shops. But this way feels right for this season.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, we are mostly home, and these days we get most of our work done. And, we still finish by 1 pm. Or perhaps I should qualify that- I finish by 1pm. Genevieve often works longer. Jared reads. I nap. Getting a theme here?
Fridays we go to Science classes. Both kids do one now, and it takes us just about all day for them both to do a class, but its nice to sit in the park outside the hall and chat, knit, walk for exercise, or go off to the shops and buy coffee. The Science teacher is very good and it has relieved me of my stress about this subject.
I will post about what we are doing with school another time. This is enough for tonight.
We are starting our autumn holidays, so have done 1 term of school in our year. We have four 10 week terms. I am very happy with what we have done this term, even though we have had a week long trip to Bali, and Easter, all packed in there too.
I am relaxing more and more with homeschooling. I dont feel like I am so fear driven, so anxious any more. I have stopped aiming for the stars, as far as classical education is concerned. I can't do it, and enjoy my life too, and enjoy my kids' childhood. Nothing matters so much as it seemed to before. Of course, I was always heading this way, but something has really shifted in me.
On Mondays we are out at French class, then Sport and Drama. And you know what I do while Sport and Drama is on? (3 hours?). I drive home (20 mins each way) and have a nap. I get a solid 2 hours at home. Enough time to read as well! What luxury! The last 2 years I hung around and chatted or went to the shops. But this way feels right for this season.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, we are mostly home, and these days we get most of our work done. And, we still finish by 1 pm. Or perhaps I should qualify that- I finish by 1pm. Genevieve often works longer. Jared reads. I nap. Getting a theme here?
Fridays we go to Science classes. Both kids do one now, and it takes us just about all day for them both to do a class, but its nice to sit in the park outside the hall and chat, knit, walk for exercise, or go off to the shops and buy coffee. The Science teacher is very good and it has relieved me of my stress about this subject.
I will post about what we are doing with school another time. This is enough for tonight.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Reviving this blog! Update
Again a long time between posts!
So, this year is our year of Modern History, as well as the Lord of the Rings. They are our overall themes for the year, and it is going so well! Last year (2006) I was burned out from March onwards. I dont think it was our extra homeschooler, who left us in January. It may have been health related- not sure. By 4th term, I was just so exhausted.
But, this year, it's June and I am fine! Maybe it's just the mix- the curricula, the age of the kids, and the extra curricula activities- which keep the kids very happy.
Here are the activities we are doing:
Both kids- Hey Fever- a highschool homeschool social group accomodating younger siblings- they do Drama and Sport on Monday afternoons. It is great.
Latin class for dd13. However, she will be changing to using an online etutor for Latin in term 3. Not that the class is no good- she loves it- but it moves slowly, and I wanted to try this approach for a change.
Dd13 is doing French through an online course through a local christian school. She loves it and it is going well.
Dd13 is doing piano lessons- new teacher, loving it. More blues, jazz, ragtime.
Ds11 is doing Classical Recorder. Both do a guitar class together.
Dd13 does a sewing class and a watercolour class at the local art gallery. She loves them.
Dd13 also does a Science class with other homeschoolers, which is going well, and has relieved my anxiety about Science for her. She is interested in a medicine related career- we gotta get science right!
And dd13 also does a writing class with a homeschool dad, which is awesome.
And all 3 of us- two kids and I- are doing Karate! I am loving it, dd likes it, and ds doesnt want to leave playing with his street friends to come to it, but we make him. We like the respect it teaches.
But, this is a LOT of activities. Oh, I forgot the mos important one- SCOUTS! Dd is a Patrol Leader this year. Scouts takes up lots of time with camps etc, but for the cost, nothing can compare to the experiences they get from it.
I think we got the social mix right this year- for dd anyway! And ds11 just wants to play on the streets with the other boys- they play imaginative games, and the other mums are all good mums, looking out for all of the boys. Since we lost Daniel, the boy I homeschooled last year (actually, I told his mum no more, but that is another story), Jared reached out to the kids in the street and he is much happier. They are younger than him, so he gets to be a leader.
OK. Academics. I really wanted a lighter, more fun year for 2007.
So, Literary Lessons from Lord of the Rings is a part of every day. We are loving it. I started off doing it all- now we just do most of it orally. And it is enough. And wonderful.
SOTW4 Modern history is another theme. I am learning so much! Much of our literature relates to our Modern History studies.
Other than that, I missed Classical Writing and so I brought that back in, at a much slower pace. Jared is doing well with Homer A, Gen with Homer B. And, we skip the parsing and heavy grammar- we are doing Analytical Grammar instead. It is enough for what I want for them. AG is great- simple, direct, easy to do each day for 5-10 minutes. Much, much more grammar than I ever learned.
Maths-Last year, both kids struggled with Singapore maths. I decided it was time to let it go, although dd finished 6A. Genevieve is using Haese and Harris year 8, and is loving it and doing well! I am surprised, but it really seems to click for her. No maths stress this year!
Jared is using Easy-learn maths, written by a Singapore lady here in Australia. It is awesome for him. However, we had to start a fair way back. He is now up to 5A. Yet he still did so well in the state testing last year.
Latin- dd is still using Cambridge and i have no intention of changing that. She is about to start Book 3 with an etutor, although she loves the tutor she has had for the last 3.5 years, I feel she is ready to move at a faster pace.
Ds is still using Cambridge, but I relaly felt he wasnt grasping teh grammar. Si, he is using the Latin Prep program a bought last year. As well as Cambridge. Just moving at a slow pace. It is going well.
Science- Dd is going to classes which fulfils her social needs as well as academic. They are great. Meanwhile at home she is still doing Singapore's Interactive Science. I am also reading Science Matters aloud to her once a week.
Ds is doing Tiner's Great Science Mysteries. Finally, a science course he is engaged with. I have been concerned at his retention, but as time goes on, the retention is actually getting higher and he is proud of his test results- it is a motivation to him.
I am finally at peace with Science, yay!
So much so, we are even doing Nature Study once a week too! using a beautiful book called the Wonderland of Nature- an Australian living book. As well as nature walks, and hopefully setting up a Nature blog.
And, things are going well. We are doing some CM stuff too, or at least I am taking some inspiration from Ambleside, and we are doing Art Appreciation, Poetry Appreciation, some memory work, of course nature study..and as usual, read alouds. Also, i am fitting in some religious studies- at the moment, we are reading a Tich Nhat Hahn book (he is Buddhist) for children.
Rich, wholesome. The kids are cooperative. Last week instead of a strict schedule, I handed them both an assignmet list. They did it, and loved it because it motivated them to get their work done early. So, same this week. So far so good.
Yay for homeschooling!
So, this year is our year of Modern History, as well as the Lord of the Rings. They are our overall themes for the year, and it is going so well! Last year (2006) I was burned out from March onwards. I dont think it was our extra homeschooler, who left us in January. It may have been health related- not sure. By 4th term, I was just so exhausted.
But, this year, it's June and I am fine! Maybe it's just the mix- the curricula, the age of the kids, and the extra curricula activities- which keep the kids very happy.
Here are the activities we are doing:
Both kids- Hey Fever- a highschool homeschool social group accomodating younger siblings- they do Drama and Sport on Monday afternoons. It is great.
Latin class for dd13. However, she will be changing to using an online etutor for Latin in term 3. Not that the class is no good- she loves it- but it moves slowly, and I wanted to try this approach for a change.
Dd13 is doing French through an online course through a local christian school. She loves it and it is going well.
Dd13 is doing piano lessons- new teacher, loving it. More blues, jazz, ragtime.
Ds11 is doing Classical Recorder. Both do a guitar class together.
Dd13 does a sewing class and a watercolour class at the local art gallery. She loves them.
Dd13 also does a Science class with other homeschoolers, which is going well, and has relieved my anxiety about Science for her. She is interested in a medicine related career- we gotta get science right!
And dd13 also does a writing class with a homeschool dad, which is awesome.
And all 3 of us- two kids and I- are doing Karate! I am loving it, dd likes it, and ds doesnt want to leave playing with his street friends to come to it, but we make him. We like the respect it teaches.
But, this is a LOT of activities. Oh, I forgot the mos important one- SCOUTS! Dd is a Patrol Leader this year. Scouts takes up lots of time with camps etc, but for the cost, nothing can compare to the experiences they get from it.
I think we got the social mix right this year- for dd anyway! And ds11 just wants to play on the streets with the other boys- they play imaginative games, and the other mums are all good mums, looking out for all of the boys. Since we lost Daniel, the boy I homeschooled last year (actually, I told his mum no more, but that is another story), Jared reached out to the kids in the street and he is much happier. They are younger than him, so he gets to be a leader.
OK. Academics. I really wanted a lighter, more fun year for 2007.
So, Literary Lessons from Lord of the Rings is a part of every day. We are loving it. I started off doing it all- now we just do most of it orally. And it is enough. And wonderful.
SOTW4 Modern history is another theme. I am learning so much! Much of our literature relates to our Modern History studies.
Other than that, I missed Classical Writing and so I brought that back in, at a much slower pace. Jared is doing well with Homer A, Gen with Homer B. And, we skip the parsing and heavy grammar- we are doing Analytical Grammar instead. It is enough for what I want for them. AG is great- simple, direct, easy to do each day for 5-10 minutes. Much, much more grammar than I ever learned.
Maths-Last year, both kids struggled with Singapore maths. I decided it was time to let it go, although dd finished 6A. Genevieve is using Haese and Harris year 8, and is loving it and doing well! I am surprised, but it really seems to click for her. No maths stress this year!
Jared is using Easy-learn maths, written by a Singapore lady here in Australia. It is awesome for him. However, we had to start a fair way back. He is now up to 5A. Yet he still did so well in the state testing last year.
Latin- dd is still using Cambridge and i have no intention of changing that. She is about to start Book 3 with an etutor, although she loves the tutor she has had for the last 3.5 years, I feel she is ready to move at a faster pace.
Ds is still using Cambridge, but I relaly felt he wasnt grasping teh grammar. Si, he is using the Latin Prep program a bought last year. As well as Cambridge. Just moving at a slow pace. It is going well.
Science- Dd is going to classes which fulfils her social needs as well as academic. They are great. Meanwhile at home she is still doing Singapore's Interactive Science. I am also reading Science Matters aloud to her once a week.
Ds is doing Tiner's Great Science Mysteries. Finally, a science course he is engaged with. I have been concerned at his retention, but as time goes on, the retention is actually getting higher and he is proud of his test results- it is a motivation to him.
I am finally at peace with Science, yay!
So much so, we are even doing Nature Study once a week too! using a beautiful book called the Wonderland of Nature- an Australian living book. As well as nature walks, and hopefully setting up a Nature blog.
And, things are going well. We are doing some CM stuff too, or at least I am taking some inspiration from Ambleside, and we are doing Art Appreciation, Poetry Appreciation, some memory work, of course nature study..and as usual, read alouds. Also, i am fitting in some religious studies- at the moment, we are reading a Tich Nhat Hahn book (he is Buddhist) for children.
Rich, wholesome. The kids are cooperative. Last week instead of a strict schedule, I handed them both an assignmet list. They did it, and loved it because it motivated them to get their work done early. So, same this week. So far so good.
Yay for homeschooling!
Saturday, October 21, 2006
4th term focus
It is our 4th term here in Australia, the last of our 4 term year. I have made a fairly radical change in our curriculum- although I am happy with what we have done so far this year, I need a change/break. I dont know if it is temporary or long term but it feels right for now. We are using Australian workbooks for Maths, English, maybe Science, and for Australian studies for my son.
And, we continue Latin, and Story of the World, and our study of the Iliad for now. The kids are also getting more time for reading and are doing an hour a day including Hakim's Story of Science for dd12. And, I even managed to squeeze in a research and report assignment the other day.
It feels like plenty! And wow, I needed at least a break from Classical Writing. I just couldnt keep it up with 3 kids. So time consuming too. Time to use that time for other things for a while.
Why did I ever push SO hard. Myself, the kids. I think we can even take it easier, but I am easing myself into taking it easier! My aim (which so far so good is actually happenning) is to get them working independently from 8.30 till 10.30, and again after lunch. I am around if needed, but they dont need me much for their workbooks. Between 11 and 12.30, while I am still fresh, we do our together work- Iliad, SOTW, whatever. Then after lunch they read, and do something else independent.
Whew, I feel as if a load has been lifted off me.
And, we continue Latin, and Story of the World, and our study of the Iliad for now. The kids are also getting more time for reading and are doing an hour a day including Hakim's Story of Science for dd12. And, I even managed to squeeze in a research and report assignment the other day.
It feels like plenty! And wow, I needed at least a break from Classical Writing. I just couldnt keep it up with 3 kids. So time consuming too. Time to use that time for other things for a while.
Why did I ever push SO hard. Myself, the kids. I think we can even take it easier, but I am easing myself into taking it easier! My aim (which so far so good is actually happenning) is to get them working independently from 8.30 till 10.30, and again after lunch. I am around if needed, but they dont need me much for their workbooks. Between 11 and 12.30, while I am still fresh, we do our together work- Iliad, SOTW, whatever. Then after lunch they read, and do something else independent.
Whew, I feel as if a load has been lifted off me.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Holidays!
I havnt felt so relieved to be on holidays for quite a while! I do always like holidays though.
I put the kids through some testing on Friday our last day. I used some recommended books I had read about and I will continue the testing next term. The idea is, if they get 80% or above, they are fine to move ahead. If not, they need to have a look at what they need to go over. Genevieve so far is well over 80% and so is Daniel, although Daniel flunked one page because he is weak on Vocabulary. Jared is between 70 and 80% so far. His weakness seems to be translating what he has learned in Maths into a different context. He has been doing Singapore maths- but these questions looked nothing like Singapore maths questions, and he couldn't do some of them- well, he could have if he couldn have worked out what they were asking.
So, so far so good, the testing is helping me get a better feel for where the kids are at in a particular way. Sometimes homeschooling feels like I am operating in the dark- I just dont know how well my kids are doing- or not.
I put the kids through some testing on Friday our last day. I used some recommended books I had read about and I will continue the testing next term. The idea is, if they get 80% or above, they are fine to move ahead. If not, they need to have a look at what they need to go over. Genevieve so far is well over 80% and so is Daniel, although Daniel flunked one page because he is weak on Vocabulary. Jared is between 70 and 80% so far. His weakness seems to be translating what he has learned in Maths into a different context. He has been doing Singapore maths- but these questions looked nothing like Singapore maths questions, and he couldn't do some of them- well, he could have if he couldn have worked out what they were asking.
So, so far so good, the testing is helping me get a better feel for where the kids are at in a particular way. Sometimes homeschooling feels like I am operating in the dark- I just dont know how well my kids are doing- or not.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Latest thoughts
I seem to have been suffering from burnout for most of this year, to some extent. I still feel enthusiastic about homeschooling, but when I get to the schoolroom, I have little inclination to teach anything- I just want them to get on with it. I have even dropped off the read alouds lately. I have been having health issues. I had whiplash for 6 months. That seems to have finally gone although there is a slight issue there. Mostly, i have just been exhausted. I had a wonderful trip east to see my family. My life is going well. Marriage is good. Lots of love in my life.
Who knows how long this feeling of flatness will last. Lately, in thinking about things, and researching our next program for highschool maths, I have been going through a radical rethink of everything. I really want the kids to be more independent, and I want to use more Australian materials. I am feeling the need of a little more security that my kids would be ok if they had to go back to school, and I want to feel not just that they are getting a good education, but that they could actually cope with the local system as well (which is not necessarily the same thing, I realise).
The sequencing of Maths and Science is so different in the U.S. to here in Australia. I think it would be better to stay in alignment with the Australian system, and keep that as my foundation. We can always add to it. We can always use Classical methods. But I would like the content to be more relevent to and congruent with Australian systems.
Since I also want them to be more independent, I am looking at using workbooks as spines, and also making use of a local correspondence school for homeschoolers. We would continue with Latin.
We will see. I have months to work this out, before our new year in February. I just know I need to change my approach somewhat to get the kids to be more independent, so that they can just get on with their work if I need to do somethng else- or nothing, as the case may be. Perhaps we need a year of workbooks then I will be ready to be more 'the teacher' again. I dont know.
Its strange to have such a hange of heart about it all. I still love it, but i dont care if its Classical or anything right now. I just want them to get a good grounding, and I am concerned that with all the high ideals, I have inadvertantly left some gaps-probably not serious, but I dont know. Before we go any further, i want to consolidate.
Who knows how long this feeling of flatness will last. Lately, in thinking about things, and researching our next program for highschool maths, I have been going through a radical rethink of everything. I really want the kids to be more independent, and I want to use more Australian materials. I am feeling the need of a little more security that my kids would be ok if they had to go back to school, and I want to feel not just that they are getting a good education, but that they could actually cope with the local system as well (which is not necessarily the same thing, I realise).
The sequencing of Maths and Science is so different in the U.S. to here in Australia. I think it would be better to stay in alignment with the Australian system, and keep that as my foundation. We can always add to it. We can always use Classical methods. But I would like the content to be more relevent to and congruent with Australian systems.
Since I also want them to be more independent, I am looking at using workbooks as spines, and also making use of a local correspondence school for homeschoolers. We would continue with Latin.
We will see. I have months to work this out, before our new year in February. I just know I need to change my approach somewhat to get the kids to be more independent, so that they can just get on with their work if I need to do somethng else- or nothing, as the case may be. Perhaps we need a year of workbooks then I will be ready to be more 'the teacher' again. I dont know.
Its strange to have such a hange of heart about it all. I still love it, but i dont care if its Classical or anything right now. I just want them to get a good grounding, and I am concerned that with all the high ideals, I have inadvertantly left some gaps-probably not serious, but I dont know. Before we go any further, i want to consolidate.
Friday, August 11, 2006
August already
OK, I havnt been here for a while, but here I am again. I would like to get a bit more savvy about this blogging stuff- when I see other people's blogs I definitely feel ...well, I would like to learn more.
Homeschooling is going well. My schedule and curricula have probably changed since last time I wrote about them. I am now homeschooling Daniel full time as well, so along with Jared, age 10, and Genevieve, age 12, I have Daniel, 12, though he lives down the street.
The Latin Cented Curriculum arrived a couple of months back and I re-evaluated and simplified again.
Here is what we are doing:
Music - Gen-piano and now guitar. Jared- classical recorder. Daniel- guitar.
Maths- all are using Singapore Maths. I have just started supplementing Jared with Modern Curriculum Maths though because Singpaore doesnt have quite enough review for him- and i had it on my shelf. Gen is on 6A, Daniel 5A (we started him all the way back at 3B, poor kid, just because of the way Signapore works) and Jared is on 4B.
Latin- all are doing Cambridge Latin. I would dearly like some sort of help with the drill I would like to include with this, but I am just stumbling along with it- and they do seem to be learning a lot of Latin. Gen is in book 2, and has a tutor. The other two are in book 1 and I am now applying the thumbscrews and insisting they really learn their stuff.
English- Classical Writing is our core program and takes around an hour 4 days a week. Jared is doing Aesop B. Genevieve is ploughing through Homer B and we are really having to nugget out those sentence diagrams, whew they are hard. Daniel is sailing through Homer A- I want to put him and Gen through Diogenes together.
I dont do much separate spelling with them, we work on it as we go, and they all spell pretty well. Sometimes they do a spelling computer program.
Literature- we have started Fagle's Iliad. So far, so good, we are into book 4 now. They usually sit and do something with their hands 9drawing, or a puzzle) while I read aloud, although sometimes i have them read as well. We stop a lot and discuss what I just read, and I am thrilled with their understanding.
Because of doing the Iliad, we are not doing anything else 'Classical' although the Latin teacher, Richard, is always fascinating and I consider the first half of every Latin class to be a Classical History lesson. I now insist the boys sit in on it because it is a rare experience to have someone so knowledgeable and enthusiastic teach your kids.
History- we are doing Book 4 of Story of the World, Modern History,along with the Activity book maps and outlining worksheets. The kids all are making a scrap book of their work, and a timeline. Daniel and Gen put a lot of thought into their design and art- mmm, well, hopefully it will rub off on Jared.
Australian History- we are reading books and watching a documentary called the Colony, where 3 families- an Australian, an English and an Irish- are put into a situation similar to an early settlement in NSW, and they really have to tough it out. One of those reality tv things, but we are all really fascinated, and it definitely gives you a feel for how hard it was.
Then there is Logic with Fallacy Detective ( reading and discussing), Ancient Greek (one letter a week with the Alphabetarian) and Art with Artistic Pursuits Junior High book1- which is a drawing course. These are all Friday subjects. I try and make Fridays Fun.
Wow, it doesnt seem SO simple, does it? We also do poetry for memory work.
At the moment, it is all going well. The kids all go to Drama class and Sport class with other homeschoolers, and Gen and Jared do Scouts, Daniel loves his football. Gen does a watercolour class as well where they paint plants and animals- it is very good.
My kids and I went to the east coast (of Australia) to visit my family last holidays, and had a wonderful time. We saw snow, and it even snowed on us (rare experience here in Australia)and I will try and get those photos up soon. Vish my husband has just bought me a laptop, so when it arrives maybe I can sit in bed and work out how to do all these things I never seem to have time for, like putting pictures on my blog. We will see.
Homeschooling is going well. My schedule and curricula have probably changed since last time I wrote about them. I am now homeschooling Daniel full time as well, so along with Jared, age 10, and Genevieve, age 12, I have Daniel, 12, though he lives down the street.
The Latin Cented Curriculum arrived a couple of months back and I re-evaluated and simplified again.
Here is what we are doing:
Music - Gen-piano and now guitar. Jared- classical recorder. Daniel- guitar.
Maths- all are using Singapore Maths. I have just started supplementing Jared with Modern Curriculum Maths though because Singpaore doesnt have quite enough review for him- and i had it on my shelf. Gen is on 6A, Daniel 5A (we started him all the way back at 3B, poor kid, just because of the way Signapore works) and Jared is on 4B.
Latin- all are doing Cambridge Latin. I would dearly like some sort of help with the drill I would like to include with this, but I am just stumbling along with it- and they do seem to be learning a lot of Latin. Gen is in book 2, and has a tutor. The other two are in book 1 and I am now applying the thumbscrews and insisting they really learn their stuff.
English- Classical Writing is our core program and takes around an hour 4 days a week. Jared is doing Aesop B. Genevieve is ploughing through Homer B and we are really having to nugget out those sentence diagrams, whew they are hard. Daniel is sailing through Homer A- I want to put him and Gen through Diogenes together.
I dont do much separate spelling with them, we work on it as we go, and they all spell pretty well. Sometimes they do a spelling computer program.
Literature- we have started Fagle's Iliad. So far, so good, we are into book 4 now. They usually sit and do something with their hands 9drawing, or a puzzle) while I read aloud, although sometimes i have them read as well. We stop a lot and discuss what I just read, and I am thrilled with their understanding.
Because of doing the Iliad, we are not doing anything else 'Classical' although the Latin teacher, Richard, is always fascinating and I consider the first half of every Latin class to be a Classical History lesson. I now insist the boys sit in on it because it is a rare experience to have someone so knowledgeable and enthusiastic teach your kids.
History- we are doing Book 4 of Story of the World, Modern History,along with the Activity book maps and outlining worksheets. The kids all are making a scrap book of their work, and a timeline. Daniel and Gen put a lot of thought into their design and art- mmm, well, hopefully it will rub off on Jared.
Australian History- we are reading books and watching a documentary called the Colony, where 3 families- an Australian, an English and an Irish- are put into a situation similar to an early settlement in NSW, and they really have to tough it out. One of those reality tv things, but we are all really fascinated, and it definitely gives you a feel for how hard it was.
Then there is Logic with Fallacy Detective ( reading and discussing), Ancient Greek (one letter a week with the Alphabetarian) and Art with Artistic Pursuits Junior High book1- which is a drawing course. These are all Friday subjects. I try and make Fridays Fun.
Wow, it doesnt seem SO simple, does it? We also do poetry for memory work.
At the moment, it is all going well. The kids all go to Drama class and Sport class with other homeschoolers, and Gen and Jared do Scouts, Daniel loves his football. Gen does a watercolour class as well where they paint plants and animals- it is very good.
My kids and I went to the east coast (of Australia) to visit my family last holidays, and had a wonderful time. We saw snow, and it even snowed on us (rare experience here in Australia)and I will try and get those photos up soon. Vish my husband has just bought me a laptop, so when it arrives maybe I can sit in bed and work out how to do all these things I never seem to have time for, like putting pictures on my blog. We will see.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Our new school year
Well, I did say these were sporadic thoughts in the line under my blog heading!
This year is going so well. We are in week 6 of our new school year. Dd is 11 and a half, Ds is 10. I got so bored during our long summer break, that I did oodles of preparation for our new school year. I was, as usual, impatient to begin.
I think being in our 3 rd year of homeschooling (we began back in June 2003) I have lost a lot of those beginners heebee jeebees. I feel much more confident. I know what I want to do, I have read very widely, I know the kids in that unique way that homeschooling mums get to know their kids- what will work, what wont, and how they learn.
We have a good routine and the year started straight into it. Except that I put back our starting time half an hour- I shifted it from 8.30 to 8am. And the kids have to be out of bed by 6.30 am and lights out at 8.30pm. It is summer here though (well, officially beginning autumn but we are having a late summer) and no one has balked at all at the earlier start. It makes such a difference though, to the day.
Here is what we are doing this year:
Dd 11.5, she would be in 7th grade here in Australia, but 6th in the U.S. I tend to follow TWTM mostly, so I go with the U.S. grades, approximately.
Maths- Singapore 5B, 6A, 6B. Caluculadders, and a Living math book.
Memory work- poetry to match our history year, and Latin, so far.
Classical Writing HomerA. Going very well. Using Harveys as well, and this is very refreshing after slogging away with Rod and Staff last year, for both of us.
Latin- Cambridge book 2. Also she attends a Latin class which is still on Cambridge book1- we use the class as revision and to fill any gaps.
Science- Tops Science Beans and Corn for the first 5 weeks. Very successful. Now we are doing Singapore My Pals are Here 6. love it. Nicely presented, simple and doable, but develops good thinking skills.
History- SOTW 3 and 4 this year,I decided. We do 2 chapters a week. She outlines 1 chapter (well, the corresponding KHE pages usually) and writes a report related to the other.
Logic- Philosophy for Kids, and Fallacy Detective
Art and Music appreciation- 8 musicians and 8 artists for the year.
Australian History, using various Living Books.
Classes- Piano, Recorder ensemble, Drama, Sport, Watercolours, Latin, and Scouts.
She is such a bright kid, and her strengths are in languages and art. I want to start French and Greek with her too- but where to fit them in?
Ds10.
I am very happy with his progress and that finally I can get him to write more. He still doesnt like it, but he is getting better. Handwriting is still pretty bad, but he is remembering his punctuation most of the time, yay!
Maths- Singapore 4A and 4B, Calculadders
Memory Work- poetry and Latin.
Classical Writing Aesop. This is working well for him. We are not doing any other grammar this year, this feels like enough. I would rather he solidify those basics.
Latin- Cambridge 1, with me.
Spelling- Calvert.
Handwriting- 1 line a day.
Great Editing Adventures book 1- simple editing. I just have the student book. Takes 5 minutes.
Science- Top, and Singapore MPH4. Going well.
History- SOTW 3 and 4, but he writes one or 2 narrations a week, depending on our time.
Music Appreciation- I have a plan for the year, 2 composers a term.
Art- again, 2 artists a term.
Logic Puzzles- Mindbenders and Sodoku.
Classes- Treble recorder, recorder ensemble, Drama, Sport, and Cubs.
I am SOOO happy with the way things are going so far this year.
This year is going so well. We are in week 6 of our new school year. Dd is 11 and a half, Ds is 10. I got so bored during our long summer break, that I did oodles of preparation for our new school year. I was, as usual, impatient to begin.
I think being in our 3 rd year of homeschooling (we began back in June 2003) I have lost a lot of those beginners heebee jeebees. I feel much more confident. I know what I want to do, I have read very widely, I know the kids in that unique way that homeschooling mums get to know their kids- what will work, what wont, and how they learn.
We have a good routine and the year started straight into it. Except that I put back our starting time half an hour- I shifted it from 8.30 to 8am. And the kids have to be out of bed by 6.30 am and lights out at 8.30pm. It is summer here though (well, officially beginning autumn but we are having a late summer) and no one has balked at all at the earlier start. It makes such a difference though, to the day.
Here is what we are doing this year:
Dd 11.5, she would be in 7th grade here in Australia, but 6th in the U.S. I tend to follow TWTM mostly, so I go with the U.S. grades, approximately.
Maths- Singapore 5B, 6A, 6B. Caluculadders, and a Living math book.
Memory work- poetry to match our history year, and Latin, so far.
Classical Writing HomerA. Going very well. Using Harveys as well, and this is very refreshing after slogging away with Rod and Staff last year, for both of us.
Latin- Cambridge book 2. Also she attends a Latin class which is still on Cambridge book1- we use the class as revision and to fill any gaps.
Science- Tops Science Beans and Corn for the first 5 weeks. Very successful. Now we are doing Singapore My Pals are Here 6. love it. Nicely presented, simple and doable, but develops good thinking skills.
History- SOTW 3 and 4 this year,I decided. We do 2 chapters a week. She outlines 1 chapter (well, the corresponding KHE pages usually) and writes a report related to the other.
Logic- Philosophy for Kids, and Fallacy Detective
Art and Music appreciation- 8 musicians and 8 artists for the year.
Australian History, using various Living Books.
Classes- Piano, Recorder ensemble, Drama, Sport, Watercolours, Latin, and Scouts.
She is such a bright kid, and her strengths are in languages and art. I want to start French and Greek with her too- but where to fit them in?
Ds10.
I am very happy with his progress and that finally I can get him to write more. He still doesnt like it, but he is getting better. Handwriting is still pretty bad, but he is remembering his punctuation most of the time, yay!
Maths- Singapore 4A and 4B, Calculadders
Memory Work- poetry and Latin.
Classical Writing Aesop. This is working well for him. We are not doing any other grammar this year, this feels like enough. I would rather he solidify those basics.
Latin- Cambridge 1, with me.
Spelling- Calvert.
Handwriting- 1 line a day.
Great Editing Adventures book 1- simple editing. I just have the student book. Takes 5 minutes.
Science- Top, and Singapore MPH4. Going well.
History- SOTW 3 and 4, but he writes one or 2 narrations a week, depending on our time.
Music Appreciation- I have a plan for the year, 2 composers a term.
Art- again, 2 artists a term.
Logic Puzzles- Mindbenders and Sodoku.
Classes- Treble recorder, recorder ensemble, Drama, Sport, and Cubs.
I am SOOO happy with the way things are going so far this year.
Friday, November 18, 2005
homeschooling someone else's child
This last week we have had a guest. He is a great kid my kids have known all their lives. He is 12, the son of my husband's ex wife, and the brother of my step daughter. He (D)is having a hard time at home, his parents recently separated and he has been taking a lot of anger out on his mum. My dh and I offered to have him for a few weeks to help her and help him have a break, give him a taste of homeschooling, some playtime with my kids, and also have my dh really bring him into line and teach him how to manage his anger, and behave better (dh is a therapist).
Well, so far, he has been well behaved, and all three kids have been having a ball all week. I must admit we have been doing a bit less work than usual, but still, it has really helped my kids see what a good time they have homeschooling. D is amazed, we are usually finished by soon after lunch. Before school they get to go bikeriding and swimming as long as they are ready to start at 8.30. For lunch break they can again go bike riding and swimming. Reading is considered part of school.
D's mum said he wouldnt read. So my first priority was to put a book in his hand and tell him to read it. I searched my shelves and came up with the Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe. Not hard to read, a great classic, short enough to not be overwhelming. Well, what a hit. He is asking to read it. He loves it. The kids are in bed now, all reading thier own books. I am happy he is loving it. My son, who turns 10 tomorrow, has just received Eldest, the sequel to Eragon, this evening as an early present. He is so happy. I am so glad my love for reading is catching on to my kids, and then they can share that with D.
I hope we have D for a while. He seems to be a good influence, he is easy to have around (because he is pretty scared of dh and is behaving very well, even does his own chores here) and I think my kids are helping him a lot. I don't know what it would be like for him going back to school after tasting the love and freedom of a healthy homeschool though.
Well, so far, he has been well behaved, and all three kids have been having a ball all week. I must admit we have been doing a bit less work than usual, but still, it has really helped my kids see what a good time they have homeschooling. D is amazed, we are usually finished by soon after lunch. Before school they get to go bikeriding and swimming as long as they are ready to start at 8.30. For lunch break they can again go bike riding and swimming. Reading is considered part of school.
D's mum said he wouldnt read. So my first priority was to put a book in his hand and tell him to read it. I searched my shelves and came up with the Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe. Not hard to read, a great classic, short enough to not be overwhelming. Well, what a hit. He is asking to read it. He loves it. The kids are in bed now, all reading thier own books. I am happy he is loving it. My son, who turns 10 tomorrow, has just received Eldest, the sequel to Eragon, this evening as an early present. He is so happy. I am so glad my love for reading is catching on to my kids, and then they can share that with D.
I hope we have D for a while. He seems to be a good influence, he is easy to have around (because he is pretty scared of dh and is behaving very well, even does his own chores here) and I think my kids are helping him a lot. I don't know what it would be like for him going back to school after tasting the love and freedom of a healthy homeschool though.
Monday, September 19, 2005
Kids' Chores
I thought I would write a post about the chores my kids do.
Both kids have been doing dishes for a few years. The youngest started seriously when he was 7.
On odd days of the month, my son (age 9) gets to sit in the front seat of the car. He also only has to clear and wipe down the surfaces, while his sister (11) does the dishes- every meal. On those days he also unpacks the top shelf of the dishwasher while she unpacks the bottom. On even days, obviously , this is reversed. The convenience of having 2 children! When their big sister stays with us, she just helps them.
Jared- apart from kitchen duties, he empties all the bins and puts new liners in them. The kitchen bins are a few times a week, the other bins around the house are just once a week before rubbish day. He also feeds the dog and cleans the pool, and puts chlorine in the pool every 2nd day.
He also does his own washing, which he is capable of doing alone now, although I usually supervise still (and remind him to hang it up, bring it in, put is away etc).
Genevieve: apart from kitchen duties, she feeds the cat, and the chooks. Feeding the chooks involves water, chook feed, and taking the scraps bucket out to them once a day, and washing the scrap bucket. Of course she also brings in the eggs.
She also does her own washing. She must keep her room clean- we are working on that.
Each week, usually Saturday morning, we do our House Blessing. That involves: vacuuming, dusting, basic tidying, and bathrooms. We swap and change jobs frequently and take less than an hour altogether.
I do the Flylady system, so other cleaning jobs are spread throughout the week, including deep cleaning. Theoretically, anyway, but it helps to have a system.
Both kids have been doing dishes for a few years. The youngest started seriously when he was 7.
On odd days of the month, my son (age 9) gets to sit in the front seat of the car. He also only has to clear and wipe down the surfaces, while his sister (11) does the dishes- every meal. On those days he also unpacks the top shelf of the dishwasher while she unpacks the bottom. On even days, obviously , this is reversed. The convenience of having 2 children! When their big sister stays with us, she just helps them.
Jared- apart from kitchen duties, he empties all the bins and puts new liners in them. The kitchen bins are a few times a week, the other bins around the house are just once a week before rubbish day. He also feeds the dog and cleans the pool, and puts chlorine in the pool every 2nd day.
He also does his own washing, which he is capable of doing alone now, although I usually supervise still (and remind him to hang it up, bring it in, put is away etc).
Genevieve: apart from kitchen duties, she feeds the cat, and the chooks. Feeding the chooks involves water, chook feed, and taking the scraps bucket out to them once a day, and washing the scrap bucket. Of course she also brings in the eggs.
She also does her own washing. She must keep her room clean- we are working on that.
Each week, usually Saturday morning, we do our House Blessing. That involves: vacuuming, dusting, basic tidying, and bathrooms. We swap and change jobs frequently and take less than an hour altogether.
I do the Flylady system, so other cleaning jobs are spread throughout the week, including deep cleaning. Theoretically, anyway, but it helps to have a system.
Sunday, September 18, 2005
Back again.
Here I am again at my blog. Its been a while. I just managed to put up a photo, why was it so hard before? Dont know.
Homeschooling. We have been changing. Simplifying. I am really doing more Latin centred these days after reading Climbing Parnassus. I was heading that way before, too. It sounds terrible- Latin centred- but really, it's a concept that helps prioritise, rather than the fact we spend all day doing Latin.
Why? Well, I think I came to see that 'modern' education isn't really doing a very good job, and the more traditional way was held the same way for centuries because it DID work well. It produced deep , clear thinkers, noble men and women, and decent leaders. What we have replaced it with - well, to me, it lacks integrity and depth. And, we don't have a clue where we come from, our Western heritage, let alone our place in the world. We have no context for our lives and we have become so trivial and self centred, and pleasure seeking.
However, its not all dry and boring (as accounts of schooling in the past can certainly sound), we have lots of fun, and we learn to live in our modern world too- by living in it.
We don't sit around conjugating Latin verbs till we are sick of it. In fact both kids notice we are more relaxed, and doing less. But, it is more focused, more effective, I feel. Less trying to cover everything in 12 years, as trying to get a good foundation to set them up for a life of learning.
So lately, a day looks like:
8.30- musical instrument practice. Jared, treble recorder, Genevieve, piano.
9.00- memory work. Both are memorising Shakespeare's Sonnet 18- Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Nearly got it (and just by getting them to do it, I nearly have it down too!).
9.15- Maths. Singapore Maths.
10 Latin. Now we are all doing Latin for Children and loving it. We chant the chants, watch the DVD, and it's fun. Gen also does her Cambridge Latin homework from her class. Definitely not a subject any of us dread- why they made it so deadly boring when I was at school, i do not understand.
10.30 Grammar, 3 days a week. Rod and Staff- highly Christian but oh so thorough. And handwriting practice. Not so fun here, but there you go, mum is mean.
11.00 Writing. Gen is doing Writing Strands, Jared is about to start Classical Writing Aesop. Also, any other writing, such as projects, history reports, dictations etc.
11.30- whatever- French, Poetry, catching up.....
12.30- Lunch
After lunch we do Science or History- Medieval, Australian and Classical History, one afternoon each. But I am much more relaxed about it. We have fun. We read together, colour in. We all love History, so it doesn't get left off, but I am not so history centred now. Thats a relief in itself.
Art is informal or integrated into other subjects.
I am much happier doing it this way. I was spreading us so thin before, and always felt we couldn't get it all done. Now I feel even if we dont get to the afternoon work, we have done a good day's work.
Life is good. What a blessing to be able to homeschool.
Homeschooling. We have been changing. Simplifying. I am really doing more Latin centred these days after reading Climbing Parnassus. I was heading that way before, too. It sounds terrible- Latin centred- but really, it's a concept that helps prioritise, rather than the fact we spend all day doing Latin.
Why? Well, I think I came to see that 'modern' education isn't really doing a very good job, and the more traditional way was held the same way for centuries because it DID work well. It produced deep , clear thinkers, noble men and women, and decent leaders. What we have replaced it with - well, to me, it lacks integrity and depth. And, we don't have a clue where we come from, our Western heritage, let alone our place in the world. We have no context for our lives and we have become so trivial and self centred, and pleasure seeking.
However, its not all dry and boring (as accounts of schooling in the past can certainly sound), we have lots of fun, and we learn to live in our modern world too- by living in it.
We don't sit around conjugating Latin verbs till we are sick of it. In fact both kids notice we are more relaxed, and doing less. But, it is more focused, more effective, I feel. Less trying to cover everything in 12 years, as trying to get a good foundation to set them up for a life of learning.
So lately, a day looks like:
8.30- musical instrument practice. Jared, treble recorder, Genevieve, piano.
9.00- memory work. Both are memorising Shakespeare's Sonnet 18- Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Nearly got it (and just by getting them to do it, I nearly have it down too!).
9.15- Maths. Singapore Maths.
10 Latin. Now we are all doing Latin for Children and loving it. We chant the chants, watch the DVD, and it's fun. Gen also does her Cambridge Latin homework from her class. Definitely not a subject any of us dread- why they made it so deadly boring when I was at school, i do not understand.
10.30 Grammar, 3 days a week. Rod and Staff- highly Christian but oh so thorough. And handwriting practice. Not so fun here, but there you go, mum is mean.
11.00 Writing. Gen is doing Writing Strands, Jared is about to start Classical Writing Aesop. Also, any other writing, such as projects, history reports, dictations etc.
11.30- whatever- French, Poetry, catching up.....
12.30- Lunch
After lunch we do Science or History- Medieval, Australian and Classical History, one afternoon each. But I am much more relaxed about it. We have fun. We read together, colour in. We all love History, so it doesn't get left off, but I am not so history centred now. Thats a relief in itself.
Art is informal or integrated into other subjects.
I am much happier doing it this way. I was spreading us so thin before, and always felt we couldn't get it all done. Now I feel even if we dont get to the afternoon work, we have done a good day's work.
Life is good. What a blessing to be able to homeschool.
Friday, June 24, 2005
update
I finally get back to my blog.
It's the end of term 2 here in Australia. We have 4 terms a year, 10 weeks each. We are in winter, it is cold and wet and rainy and WONDERFUL which you can probably only understand if you couldn't remember the last cold AND wet, rainy winter you had. There's been a drought here- for years (well, we do live on the edge of a vast semi desert, but still!). Its been raining for weeks. Everything is coming alive. And our roof is leaking, in fact, my bedroom roof is leaking. Nothing a bucket can't handle.
I am happy with the way the homeschooling is going. I feel we have a good rythmn and routine going. I am feeling more confident, and at the same time I am still always tweaking.
This seems to be our routine at the moment:
First music practice, usually. Genevieve does piano. She won an eisteddford recently, for her own composition. Jared plays treble recorder, and his teacher is brilliant- she has him absolutely loving it- and he's not easy to please!
Both kids then do maths. First some sort of drill, then Singapore maths. Both like Singapore Maths, and so do I. It is so clearly presented, and not too much work. Still, they do usually spend about an hour on maths.
Then I work with Jared, age 9, while Genevieve, now a big whole 11, does independent work. She can do her Latin alone, plus Logic puzzles, Word Roots worksheet, one of her writing programs (Wordsmith Apprentice). Probably other things I cant remember.
Meanwhile, I will work intensely with Jared for about an hour. I will do Rod and Staff grammar 3- mostly orally, but he will do the worksheets- including some whiteboard work. Then, either Dictation or Copywork. A full page now (in his sprawly handwriting, anyway). He has come so far this year, and he really wants to write well. Then, its Latin- Prima Latina. I think we are both bored with this now, but he has learned a lot of vocabulary this year, and he is quite proud of it.
Then his reading out loud to me. We use a McGuffey reader mostly. He reads well.
Then, he is on his own to read for 40 minutes while I work with his sister.
I will do Rod and Staff with her. She hated it a while back. Now I think she is enjoying it a bit in spite of herself. She is very language orientated and enjoys sentence diagramming. But in the end, I think what she enjoys is the fact that I sit with her for a lot of it. I enjoy it- I am learning too. She and I are quite similar in our love for language.
Then I will mark her maths, go over any mistakes with her, and mark any other work she has done. Then I may help her with her outlining. She is struggling with this a bit. I may also get her going on her writing assignment- either from Writing Strands, or Imitations in Writing- Medieval Legends. She needs just a boost to get her started, then she is off writing on her own, and usually loving it. Well, not so much the Writing Strands.
We do History together on Mondays. SOTW 2, Medieval, listen to the CD chapter, do mapwork, colouring in together, and answer the questions in the AG. Then Jared has to give me an oral narration. He needs practice on this- I have been focusing on his writing skills. I feel he needs more practice doing oral narration before can write them down. So I write them for him still.
And Genevieve has to do outlining from Kingfisher. Yuk. Sometimes from SOTW instead. This week I relented and let her do a report from SOTW instead. I am going to work harder on outlining with her next week though. We have to get through this block.
Science is meant to be weekly but we have done only 6 chapters from RS4K Chemistry this 10 week term. We all enjoy RS4K. It is meaty, the experiments are well designed and explained. It feels deep, but doable. Some weeks we just dont get to it. However, once a month we go to the Power Museum and they learn all about physics with other kids, so I dont feel so bad.
I really had a burn out stage a few weeks ago. I felt it was all hard, dry work and no joy. I realised, what I was missing was the reading with them. We just didn't have time, except a few evenings, when we are tired anyway. I looked into Sonlight. At least now I know a lot about Sonlight, but I decided not to completely upheave and change curriculum (from the TWTM guidelines that I follow) and just ordered a whole lot of Sonlight books from the library. And we have been reading them, together. Some days, we miss another subject, just so we can read together. Even if the book isn't related to anything else we are learning. This shift has really helped me a lot to enjoy homeschooling again, and brought more joy back. They still do their own reading, but we all love snuggling on the couch and reading together. And the weather has been conducive to that too.
So, mid year for us and I am feeling good about it all. Gees, if only I knew what I know now, when I began homeschooling 2 years ago. Its been hard work doing all this learning, although I have been so passionate about it. There's no substitute for plain ol' experience though.
It's the end of term 2 here in Australia. We have 4 terms a year, 10 weeks each. We are in winter, it is cold and wet and rainy and WONDERFUL which you can probably only understand if you couldn't remember the last cold AND wet, rainy winter you had. There's been a drought here- for years (well, we do live on the edge of a vast semi desert, but still!). Its been raining for weeks. Everything is coming alive. And our roof is leaking, in fact, my bedroom roof is leaking. Nothing a bucket can't handle.
I am happy with the way the homeschooling is going. I feel we have a good rythmn and routine going. I am feeling more confident, and at the same time I am still always tweaking.
This seems to be our routine at the moment:
First music practice, usually. Genevieve does piano. She won an eisteddford recently, for her own composition. Jared plays treble recorder, and his teacher is brilliant- she has him absolutely loving it- and he's not easy to please!
Both kids then do maths. First some sort of drill, then Singapore maths. Both like Singapore Maths, and so do I. It is so clearly presented, and not too much work. Still, they do usually spend about an hour on maths.
Then I work with Jared, age 9, while Genevieve, now a big whole 11, does independent work. She can do her Latin alone, plus Logic puzzles, Word Roots worksheet, one of her writing programs (Wordsmith Apprentice). Probably other things I cant remember.
Meanwhile, I will work intensely with Jared for about an hour. I will do Rod and Staff grammar 3- mostly orally, but he will do the worksheets- including some whiteboard work. Then, either Dictation or Copywork. A full page now (in his sprawly handwriting, anyway). He has come so far this year, and he really wants to write well. Then, its Latin- Prima Latina. I think we are both bored with this now, but he has learned a lot of vocabulary this year, and he is quite proud of it.
Then his reading out loud to me. We use a McGuffey reader mostly. He reads well.
Then, he is on his own to read for 40 minutes while I work with his sister.
I will do Rod and Staff with her. She hated it a while back. Now I think she is enjoying it a bit in spite of herself. She is very language orientated and enjoys sentence diagramming. But in the end, I think what she enjoys is the fact that I sit with her for a lot of it. I enjoy it- I am learning too. She and I are quite similar in our love for language.
Then I will mark her maths, go over any mistakes with her, and mark any other work she has done. Then I may help her with her outlining. She is struggling with this a bit. I may also get her going on her writing assignment- either from Writing Strands, or Imitations in Writing- Medieval Legends. She needs just a boost to get her started, then she is off writing on her own, and usually loving it. Well, not so much the Writing Strands.
We do History together on Mondays. SOTW 2, Medieval, listen to the CD chapter, do mapwork, colouring in together, and answer the questions in the AG. Then Jared has to give me an oral narration. He needs practice on this- I have been focusing on his writing skills. I feel he needs more practice doing oral narration before can write them down. So I write them for him still.
And Genevieve has to do outlining from Kingfisher. Yuk. Sometimes from SOTW instead. This week I relented and let her do a report from SOTW instead. I am going to work harder on outlining with her next week though. We have to get through this block.
Science is meant to be weekly but we have done only 6 chapters from RS4K Chemistry this 10 week term. We all enjoy RS4K. It is meaty, the experiments are well designed and explained. It feels deep, but doable. Some weeks we just dont get to it. However, once a month we go to the Power Museum and they learn all about physics with other kids, so I dont feel so bad.
I really had a burn out stage a few weeks ago. I felt it was all hard, dry work and no joy. I realised, what I was missing was the reading with them. We just didn't have time, except a few evenings, when we are tired anyway. I looked into Sonlight. At least now I know a lot about Sonlight, but I decided not to completely upheave and change curriculum (from the TWTM guidelines that I follow) and just ordered a whole lot of Sonlight books from the library. And we have been reading them, together. Some days, we miss another subject, just so we can read together. Even if the book isn't related to anything else we are learning. This shift has really helped me a lot to enjoy homeschooling again, and brought more joy back. They still do their own reading, but we all love snuggling on the couch and reading together. And the weather has been conducive to that too.
So, mid year for us and I am feeling good about it all. Gees, if only I knew what I know now, when I began homeschooling 2 years ago. Its been hard work doing all this learning, although I have been so passionate about it. There's no substitute for plain ol' experience though.
Sunday, March 13, 2005
being organised
Yesterday I cleaned the house, I decluttered ready for our swap meet this morning (which was sucessful), I wrote up the kids' schedule for the week including everything I normally leave till the last minute like what are we going to do for dictation today, and I read through all the lessons in their books to have an idea what we are going to cover this week. I wrote a poem up on the whiteboard. I thought of everything. It feels so good.
Of course, its all I did all day, cleaning and organising, but I had fun. And it just feels so good to be organised. Why dont I do it more often? Why do I leave things till the last minute then stress? I am normally semi-organised. And thats ok. But an hour on the weekend saves a lot more than that during the week, I am sure.
Flylady is having a month of getting into the habit of doing 15 minutes of de-cluttering a day. Its really helping me. I love de-cluttering. Mostly I have decluttered the school room and the kids toys this month. Next is my office/computer room.
Of course, its all I did all day, cleaning and organising, but I had fun. And it just feels so good to be organised. Why dont I do it more often? Why do I leave things till the last minute then stress? I am normally semi-organised. And thats ok. But an hour on the weekend saves a lot more than that during the week, I am sure.
Flylady is having a month of getting into the habit of doing 15 minutes of de-cluttering a day. Its really helping me. I love de-cluttering. Mostly I have decluttered the school room and the kids toys this month. Next is my office/computer room.
Saturday, March 05, 2005
Into March we go...
I am generally really happy with how things are going. I wasn't happy with my dh telling the kids it is a long weekend this weekend and they have Monday off. I was waving my arms in the background and putting my finger to my lips, tying to get him to be QUIET! Oh well, now I guess I just have to accept it. I did so want to just carry on as usual.
The schedule is going well. Jared is still doing Maths for 45 mins, then writing, then Latin, Spelling, Grammar and reading. Its going really well. He really needs this time to consolidate his writing. He tries hard. He is doing a dictation almost every day, sometimes he will write a letter or do some creative writing instead. But the regularity of doing dictation every day is improving his writing a lot.
He also demanded to do Spelling, I think thats funny.
Genevieve is really beginning to work independently. I am thrilled. She can do her maths usually independently, then her Logic puzzle, her Vocab from Classical Roots, and Wordsmith Apprentice, and, at her insistence, her handwriting book, then her reading. Sometimes she does her Latin alone too, sometimes we do it together. Together we do R&S grammar (she does any worksheets alone), any outlining (she is still learning this and needs a fair bit of supervision), and I set her up ready to do her writing from Writing Strands, or a History report, which she does alone on the computer when everything else is done. I am really happy at her independence though, it frees me up to work with Jared.
This week I started our days with Science, and that worked well. Its too easy to drop off the end of the list, but I wouldnt drop anything else off . I am feeling ok about Science this week. We did about half an hour every morning, including looking through our telescope at the moon, and lots of reading and discussion. Genevieve did outlining from How the Universe Works.
It feels so good that everything is running smoothly.
Geneiveve is now in Water Scouts, which has been a great experience so far. Jared has been in Cubs for ages, but she changed from Brownies straight into Scouts this term. It's walking distance from where we live, and she goes out boating on Cats, yachts and canoes most weeks, but also on Saturday afternoons. They are thrilled with her. She had literally never been on a boat before this (poor deprived child) but they have asked her to go in their big yearly competition, they reckon she's a natural. She also pitches in and works hard. I am happy for her, it is really giving her something challenging and worthwhile to get her teeth into.
Poor Jared is jealous but he still loves his Cubs. He doest get to go to Scouts for another 18 months.
The schedule is going well. Jared is still doing Maths for 45 mins, then writing, then Latin, Spelling, Grammar and reading. Its going really well. He really needs this time to consolidate his writing. He tries hard. He is doing a dictation almost every day, sometimes he will write a letter or do some creative writing instead. But the regularity of doing dictation every day is improving his writing a lot.
He also demanded to do Spelling, I think thats funny.
Genevieve is really beginning to work independently. I am thrilled. She can do her maths usually independently, then her Logic puzzle, her Vocab from Classical Roots, and Wordsmith Apprentice, and, at her insistence, her handwriting book, then her reading. Sometimes she does her Latin alone too, sometimes we do it together. Together we do R&S grammar (she does any worksheets alone), any outlining (she is still learning this and needs a fair bit of supervision), and I set her up ready to do her writing from Writing Strands, or a History report, which she does alone on the computer when everything else is done. I am really happy at her independence though, it frees me up to work with Jared.
This week I started our days with Science, and that worked well. Its too easy to drop off the end of the list, but I wouldnt drop anything else off . I am feeling ok about Science this week. We did about half an hour every morning, including looking through our telescope at the moon, and lots of reading and discussion. Genevieve did outlining from How the Universe Works.
It feels so good that everything is running smoothly.
Geneiveve is now in Water Scouts, which has been a great experience so far. Jared has been in Cubs for ages, but she changed from Brownies straight into Scouts this term. It's walking distance from where we live, and she goes out boating on Cats, yachts and canoes most weeks, but also on Saturday afternoons. They are thrilled with her. She had literally never been on a boat before this (poor deprived child) but they have asked her to go in their big yearly competition, they reckon she's a natural. She also pitches in and works hard. I am happy for her, it is really giving her something challenging and worthwhile to get her teeth into.
Poor Jared is jealous but he still loves his Cubs. He doest get to go to Scouts for another 18 months.
Friday, February 25, 2005
Science
Well its been a while since I blogged.
The issue thats been fired up in the last day or so on the WTM boards is how to do/ get to Science? It seems many of us love history and find it difficult to teach, or find the time to teach, Science.
Its been an issue that I have thought about a lot.
I love Science. I just don't like the mess, the making it into work, the dryness of turning it into a subject.
I think Science is Life. It's real, it's nature, it's the world around us, and you have to get out there and touch, feel, taste, listen to it. Thats why I dont like 'studying' it. I don't want to turn my own love of nature or my kids' into a subject. I dont like doing Science experiments, like growing beans in different environments, because they are too contrived, and my kids already know the result, because we have a garden. Anyone with a garden knows.
All right, there are other things we could do as experiments that they wouldnt know, maybe. But it just seems so messy. I think I want to learn Science naturally. Or, get someone else to teach my kids, someone who is passionate and loves to teach it.
However, we are doing Science. Apart from the nature walks, and the discussions, and the documentaries. We do 'do' Science. Genevieve is outlining Science from How the Universe Works. Jared is reading lots. We read together.
We do it on alternate weeks to History. That way, we do it. But I am still not happy with it. We all prefer history. We can sit on a couch and be enraptured by the story of history. We can read it ourselves and be fascinated. But my kids do not naturally pick up a National Geographic or any book on Science and just read it. I have to make them. Yes, they will watch documentaries.
I read Science. I like it. My dad is a scientist. But its just not cosy and comfortable to teach.
Maybe its because I dont have a good curriculum, but I dont think so. I have tried a few 'good' ones and I still dont even use them, they dont excite me. Even maths excites me nowadays. Even grammar. Wierd. Just not science. I love it for myself, just not to 'teach'. Maybe I should let my kids loose a bit more with it, let them find their own passions, and go from there. Maybe.
OK, I am getting myself down about this. We are ok. I know I am not alone in this anyway.
The issue thats been fired up in the last day or so on the WTM boards is how to do/ get to Science? It seems many of us love history and find it difficult to teach, or find the time to teach, Science.
Its been an issue that I have thought about a lot.
I love Science. I just don't like the mess, the making it into work, the dryness of turning it into a subject.
I think Science is Life. It's real, it's nature, it's the world around us, and you have to get out there and touch, feel, taste, listen to it. Thats why I dont like 'studying' it. I don't want to turn my own love of nature or my kids' into a subject. I dont like doing Science experiments, like growing beans in different environments, because they are too contrived, and my kids already know the result, because we have a garden. Anyone with a garden knows.
All right, there are other things we could do as experiments that they wouldnt know, maybe. But it just seems so messy. I think I want to learn Science naturally. Or, get someone else to teach my kids, someone who is passionate and loves to teach it.
However, we are doing Science. Apart from the nature walks, and the discussions, and the documentaries. We do 'do' Science. Genevieve is outlining Science from How the Universe Works. Jared is reading lots. We read together.
We do it on alternate weeks to History. That way, we do it. But I am still not happy with it. We all prefer history. We can sit on a couch and be enraptured by the story of history. We can read it ourselves and be fascinated. But my kids do not naturally pick up a National Geographic or any book on Science and just read it. I have to make them. Yes, they will watch documentaries.
I read Science. I like it. My dad is a scientist. But its just not cosy and comfortable to teach.
Maybe its because I dont have a good curriculum, but I dont think so. I have tried a few 'good' ones and I still dont even use them, they dont excite me. Even maths excites me nowadays. Even grammar. Wierd. Just not science. I love it for myself, just not to 'teach'. Maybe I should let my kids loose a bit more with it, let them find their own passions, and go from there. Maybe.
OK, I am getting myself down about this. We are ok. I know I am not alone in this anyway.
Saturday, February 05, 2005
books and reading ability
Well, I am sitting here, and I only wrote on my blog yesterday but I feel like writing again.
I am about to go and read the kids the next chapter of The Hobbit. They are so into it. Less than a year ago I tried it and they just begged me to stop, they didn't like it. Now, they beg me to read it at mealtimes and late into the evening. Just goes to show what a bit of extra maturity will do.
I went to a private Christian girl's school (where we learnt Latin and had to wear hats AND gloves)
but we must have had a good English staff because in my first year of highschool, which is year 7 where I grew up, I was 11, we had to read The Hobbit. Well, of course I loved it, we al ldid, my best friend called her dog Bilbo.
We also had to read a book called The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart. If you havnt read it, and the next 2 books in the series (the Hollow Hills, and The Last Enchantment) I highly recommend them. The first is the story of Merlin, or rather the Arthurian legend through Merlin. Its so wonderful. I remember finding it a little bit of a challenge (as was the Hobbit) but VERY worth it.
I have just given it to my 10 year old, as we are doing Medieval this year, and told her, dont worry, if its a bit too much for you, (it is an adult book), you dont have to read it now, you can wait till you are older. She is hooked, she loves it, and says its not too hard at all.
Which really makes me think, all this reading we do is definitely helping their reading skills- and I was a prolific reader as a child, but I remember finding the Crystal Cave a little challenging, at 11-12, yet my daughter is only 10. Thats good!
As for myself, what am I reading? I have a pile of spiritual books next to my bed. However I am not at the moment really INTO any particular book. I miss getting into a good novel, but I got out of the habit many years ago and have only read non fiction since then. As in, reading for a reason, rather than just for pleasure, for the comfort and joy or enrichment of being into a good book. There are so many good ones out there, but I dont know any at all. Sounds silly, but I am looking.
I did read Siblings Without Rivalry recently, that is still next to my bed. I highly recommend it. My kids were really fighting a lot over the summer holidays (Christmas hols here in Australia) and I was at my wits end knowing how to deal with it. The book really helped. They really just want to be heard. I listened, and threw the solving of it back to them, and it was miraculous. I dotn always have the patience for it, but it really does work.
I tried Don Quixote and perhaps I will try it again. I found it surprisingly good, yet not good enough to be a high priority for my time, and the library needed it back long before I finished.
So, I am still on the lookout for a good book. Its unlike me to not have one. Maybe its all this homeschool reading I do.
ok, time to go read The Hobbit. over and out for today
I am about to go and read the kids the next chapter of The Hobbit. They are so into it. Less than a year ago I tried it and they just begged me to stop, they didn't like it. Now, they beg me to read it at mealtimes and late into the evening. Just goes to show what a bit of extra maturity will do.
I went to a private Christian girl's school (where we learnt Latin and had to wear hats AND gloves)
but we must have had a good English staff because in my first year of highschool, which is year 7 where I grew up, I was 11, we had to read The Hobbit. Well, of course I loved it, we al ldid, my best friend called her dog Bilbo.
We also had to read a book called The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart. If you havnt read it, and the next 2 books in the series (the Hollow Hills, and The Last Enchantment) I highly recommend them. The first is the story of Merlin, or rather the Arthurian legend through Merlin. Its so wonderful. I remember finding it a little bit of a challenge (as was the Hobbit) but VERY worth it.
I have just given it to my 10 year old, as we are doing Medieval this year, and told her, dont worry, if its a bit too much for you, (it is an adult book), you dont have to read it now, you can wait till you are older. She is hooked, she loves it, and says its not too hard at all.
Which really makes me think, all this reading we do is definitely helping their reading skills- and I was a prolific reader as a child, but I remember finding the Crystal Cave a little challenging, at 11-12, yet my daughter is only 10. Thats good!
As for myself, what am I reading? I have a pile of spiritual books next to my bed. However I am not at the moment really INTO any particular book. I miss getting into a good novel, but I got out of the habit many years ago and have only read non fiction since then. As in, reading for a reason, rather than just for pleasure, for the comfort and joy or enrichment of being into a good book. There are so many good ones out there, but I dont know any at all. Sounds silly, but I am looking.
I did read Siblings Without Rivalry recently, that is still next to my bed. I highly recommend it. My kids were really fighting a lot over the summer holidays (Christmas hols here in Australia) and I was at my wits end knowing how to deal with it. The book really helped. They really just want to be heard. I listened, and threw the solving of it back to them, and it was miraculous. I dotn always have the patience for it, but it really does work.
I tried Don Quixote and perhaps I will try it again. I found it surprisingly good, yet not good enough to be a high priority for my time, and the library needed it back long before I finished.
So, I am still on the lookout for a good book. Its unlike me to not have one. Maybe its all this homeschool reading I do.
ok, time to go read The Hobbit. over and out for today
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