Haven't accomplished any school today or yesterday. I don't feel blue or depressed I'm just sitting here surfing the net instead of doing school with 11yo. Why has our school suddenly tanked?
Possiblities:
We school sitting beside each other. Since 11yo found out I have lice, she won't sit near me. I don't blame her, but it does make it hard to tutor/school her the way we are used to.
I spent a good portion of yesterday doing laundry and preparing to pick nits from hair. I was doing something yesterday just not school.
It is overcast. I should have put this as my #1 reason. This happens to me every year. I make plans when the sun is shining and I feel energetic (for me) and then autumn arrives with its overcast weather. I must not give in to this again! It ruins my feelings of self worth as I dwell on what we didn't accomplish every year not to mention doing 11yo an educational disservice.
Okay. Getting off the computer, brushing my teeth, and finding some way to have a successful school day with what is left of the day.
Friday, September 27, 2013
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Head Lice
Yes, homeschoolers do get head lice. Big Fat Sigh!
I have head lice. Arg! I am almost 50 and have never had head lice in my life. Since I'm the only one in the family who has lice (two have nits, two have no signs of infestation), apparently I'm the one who brought them home. To think that I had these for weeks without being aware gives me the willies.
There are a lot of remedies.
This is what we are trying: The Lice Program.
I have head lice. Arg! I am almost 50 and have never had head lice in my life. Since I'm the only one in the family who has lice (two have nits, two have no signs of infestation), apparently I'm the one who brought them home. To think that I had these for weeks without being aware gives me the willies.
There are a lot of remedies.
This is what we are trying: The Lice Program.
Friday, September 20, 2013
September 20, 2013
Tired. This might end up being the theme for the remainder of this blog. I hope not but it might.
New science textbook arrived and I've been too tired to sit down and enjoy it. Hopefully I can find some cuddle time this weekend. ;)
We finished a couple of resources recently: D'Aulaire's Greek Myths (Memoria Press study) and The Magic School Bus DVD's. 11yo loves Greek Myths and wants to start over. I am happy to donate the Magic School Bus DVD's to my grandson. We enjoyed them but the theme song was about to make me bonkers.
'
I rediscovered a book at the library, Get Oregonized: Oregon's History, People, Natural Resources, & Agriculture, and have added it to our reading of A History of US. It is an older edition than the one pictured above.
And...one more book added which will help us with the beginning of our Memoria Press study of Famous Men of the Middle Ages.
New science textbook arrived and I've been too tired to sit down and enjoy it. Hopefully I can find some cuddle time this weekend. ;)
We finished a couple of resources recently: D'Aulaire's Greek Myths (Memoria Press study) and The Magic School Bus DVD's. 11yo loves Greek Myths and wants to start over. I am happy to donate the Magic School Bus DVD's to my grandson. We enjoyed them but the theme song was about to make me bonkers.
'I rediscovered a book at the library, Get Oregonized: Oregon's History, People, Natural Resources, & Agriculture, and have added it to our reading of A History of US. It is an older edition than the one pictured above.
And...one more book added which will help us with the beginning of our Memoria Press study of Famous Men of the Middle Ages.
D'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths
Math - Distance, Rate, and Time. Started working with fractions.
Spelling - grown, loud, join, coat, and cook
English - Sentence fragments, run-on sentences, and diagraming statements.
Latin - derivatives for vocabulary C, Horatii and Curiatii, finding the subject of a sentence.
Composition - continuing KWO and summaries of paragraphs (beluga whales, narwhals, chameleons, vulture bees, and fungus gnats).
Sayings - (from the Core Knowledge Sequence) It's raining cats and dogs, Where there's a will there's a way, A.M. and P.M., An apple a day keeps the doctor away, and Fish out water.
Literature Studies -
Classical Studies - Starting Famous Men of the Middle Ages - "The Gods of the Teutons, section 1"
D'Aulaires' Norse Myths - introduction and "The First Gods and Giants."
Christian Studies - Three lessons (10, 11, and 12) about Joseph in Egypt.
World History -
American History - Core Knowledge What Your First Grader Needs to Know - "Crossing the Land Bridge." A History of US chapters 5-7 (Inuit, Anasazi, and PNW). Getting Oregonized - pg. 2-5 (first people, archaeology, and tribal regions.
Geography - chapter in We Visit Israel.
Science - lesson on crustaceans, visited the pond to see burrowing crayfish. Watched several Magic School Bus shows - wetlands, cells, stars, gravity, smell, electricity, and computers.
Art -
Music - CK What Your First Grader Needs to Know - "Instruments and their families" and "The Orchestra." The Story of the Orchestra - Bach.
Never enough time. We still need to do something with art!
Saturday, September 14, 2013
September 14, 2013
A positive thing happened this week. 11yo decided that we need to have a schedule so that we get to all of the subjects in her logbook. She happily pulled her science textbook and Christian Studies books off the shelves and plopped them on the end of my bed. I was happy to see her take an interest in what she is learning. : )
Car schooling - we had a couple of 1/2 days this week and car schooling made it possible to still feel like we had a successful day of learning. Before leaving the house spelling, grammar, Latin, composition, and most of math were finished. Both times I brought chalkboards with problems from the remainder of her math lesson, D'Aulaire's Greek Myths on CD, The History of US volume 1 (she read to me),flash cards (math and Latin vocabulary) and Core Knowledge classical music CD's. In general the first hour on the road was our most productive time. I reserved music CD's for the return trip.
The following may not look like much on "paper." However, we do daily lessons and it does take time! The 3R's plus Latin fill our mornings (8-12).
Math - two-digit multipliers
Spelling - meet, kept, shape, thin vs. thine
English - compound subjects and verbs
Latin - review of conjugating 1st conjugation verbs
Composition - more ownership of the KWO process. She reads the paragraph, underlines the three key words, and writes the key word outline. Mom still acts as scribe for the paragraph.
Classical Studies - Calydonian Boar Hunt, The Apples of Love and The Apple of Discord, Helen of Troy
Christian Studies - Joseph and His Brothers, Joseph in Egypt, Pharoah's Dream
World History -
American History - chapters 2, 3, and 4 of A History of US
Geography -
Science - The Science Experiment, Unit 1 review, and Air Pressure (Magic School Bus)
Art -
Music - Core Knowledge CD's (prek-K and grade 1 and 2). We read about Antonio Vivaldi in The Story of the Orchestra and Lives of the Musicians. We also read Vivaldi's Four Seasons by Anna Harwell Celenza.
Car schooling - we had a couple of 1/2 days this week and car schooling made it possible to still feel like we had a successful day of learning. Before leaving the house spelling, grammar, Latin, composition, and most of math were finished. Both times I brought chalkboards with problems from the remainder of her math lesson, D'Aulaire's Greek Myths on CD, The History of US volume 1 (she read to me),flash cards (math and Latin vocabulary) and Core Knowledge classical music CD's. In general the first hour on the road was our most productive time. I reserved music CD's for the return trip.
The following may not look like much on "paper." However, we do daily lessons and it does take time! The 3R's plus Latin fill our mornings (8-12).
Math - two-digit multipliers
Spelling - meet, kept, shape, thin vs. thine
English - compound subjects and verbs
Latin - review of conjugating 1st conjugation verbs
Composition - more ownership of the KWO process. She reads the paragraph, underlines the three key words, and writes the key word outline. Mom still acts as scribe for the paragraph.
Classical Studies - Calydonian Boar Hunt, The Apples of Love and The Apple of Discord, Helen of Troy
Christian Studies - Joseph and His Brothers, Joseph in Egypt, Pharoah's Dream
World History -
American History - chapters 2, 3, and 4 of A History of US
Geography -
Science - The Science Experiment, Unit 1 review, and Air Pressure (Magic School Bus)
Art -
Music - Core Knowledge CD's (prek-K and grade 1 and 2). We read about Antonio Vivaldi in The Story of the Orchestra and Lives of the Musicians. We also read Vivaldi's Four Seasons by Anna Harwell Celenza.
Saturday, September 7, 2013
2013-2014 In the Beginning
Where we are:
Math:
Rod & Staff 4 Mathematics lesson 102/170
After a short stint with Math Mammoth she asked to return to Rod & Staff. I'm still hoping to use MM as enrichment.
Spelling:
Logic of English is on hold while she practices "missed" words from The Logic of English Levels 1 & 2 lists.
Grammar:
Rod & Staff English 4 lesson 10
We are doing both lessons and worksheets. We may or may not read through the writing/composition lessons.
Latin:
Lively Latin Big Book One lesson 3
We are reviewing all lessons from the beginning.
Read lesson, watch video, read a section of history.
Composition:
IEW Student Writing Intensive Level A (SWI A)
Fables, Myths, and Fairy Tales (finished Unit 1 lessons)
We just finished working through lesson one of SWI A (Sea Snakes, Desert Tarantula, Pillbug, Deer Flies, Oysters, and Pearls). I've been doing the writing. This next week she'll be using easy articles from IEW's "Articles & Stories for Notetaking & Summaries" with less guidance from me.
Literature Studies:
On hold. The books we have are for the Middle Ages and we aren't there yet.
Classical Studies:
Greek Myths lesson 30/31 +review
Famous Men of Rome is basically covered in Lively Latin. We may use the review questions from Memoria Press.
Famous Men of the Middle Ages - haven't started.
Christian Studies:
MP's Christian Studies Volume One lesson 9/25 +5 review lessons
World History:
SOTW Vol. One: Ancients chapter 18/42
Ch. 18 Life in Early Crete
I hope to also read to her Usborne's World History, Usborne's Ancient World, and Usborne's Internet-linked Encyclopedia of the Ancient World.
Geography 1:
MP's Geography I reviewing Israel
We only covered about five countries and are reviewing from the beginning using library books.
Science:
Rod & Staff 5 Science lesson 2/48
Magic School Bus DVDs - We've finished six out of eight DVD's. Once we finish one we give it to my grandson. I'm seriously tired of the theme song. ;)
Art:
We have a subscription for Creativity Express. We haven't started it yet.
Music:
Core Knowledge CD's and books. Plus, we have the CK songbook.
The Story of the Orchestra
Lives of the Musicians
So far we've listened to the CK Preschool and Kindergarten CD while driving to married sister's house (two hour round-trip). I hope to combine The Story of the Orchestra and Lives of the Musicians.
Math:
Rod & Staff 4 Mathematics lesson 102/170
After a short stint with Math Mammoth she asked to return to Rod & Staff. I'm still hoping to use MM as enrichment.
Spelling:
Logic of English is on hold while she practices "missed" words from The Logic of English Levels 1 & 2 lists.
Grammar:
Rod & Staff English 4 lesson 10
We are doing both lessons and worksheets. We may or may not read through the writing/composition lessons.
Latin:
Lively Latin Big Book One lesson 3
We are reviewing all lessons from the beginning.
Read lesson, watch video, read a section of history.
Composition:
IEW Student Writing Intensive Level A (SWI A)
Fables, Myths, and Fairy Tales (finished Unit 1 lessons)
We just finished working through lesson one of SWI A (Sea Snakes, Desert Tarantula, Pillbug, Deer Flies, Oysters, and Pearls). I've been doing the writing. This next week she'll be using easy articles from IEW's "Articles & Stories for Notetaking & Summaries" with less guidance from me.
Literature Studies:
On hold. The books we have are for the Middle Ages and we aren't there yet.
Classical Studies:
Greek Myths lesson 30/31 +review
Famous Men of Rome is basically covered in Lively Latin. We may use the review questions from Memoria Press.
Famous Men of the Middle Ages - haven't started.
Christian Studies:
MP's Christian Studies Volume One lesson 9/25 +5 review lessons
World History:
SOTW Vol. One: Ancients chapter 18/42
Ch. 18 Life in Early Crete
I hope to also read to her Usborne's World History, Usborne's Ancient World, and Usborne's Internet-linked Encyclopedia of the Ancient World.
Geography 1:
MP's Geography I reviewing Israel
We only covered about five countries and are reviewing from the beginning using library books.
Science:
Rod & Staff 5 Science lesson 2/48
Magic School Bus DVDs - We've finished six out of eight DVD's. Once we finish one we give it to my grandson. I'm seriously tired of the theme song. ;)
Art:
We have a subscription for Creativity Express. We haven't started it yet.
Music:
Core Knowledge CD's and books. Plus, we have the CK songbook.
The Story of the Orchestra
Lives of the Musicians
So far we've listened to the CK Preschool and Kindergarten CD while driving to married sister's house (two hour round-trip). I hope to combine The Story of the Orchestra and Lives of the Musicians.
Meh week
Okay, the weather here has stunk! Overcast and rainy ... to the point of flooding our back patio which usually doesn't happen until November or after. It was too overcast too soon. My body couldn't handle it and I started feeling blue. In fact, we didn't even do school Thursday. I had to make myself get up and get going Friday and even then we only accomplished a half day.
Last night as I sat there contemplating how dissatisfied I felt, I realized that it wasn't just the weather. Our studies had felt disjointed. This is what I think happened - I focused on box checking (making sure that we hit each subject at least once during the week). Even if 11yo asked to keep reading science I said no because we had other things we HAD to accomplish. If she wanted to read history, I said no because we had other subjects that we needed to cover. It meant that we were only getting bits and pieces rather than a bigger more satisfying picture.
I still think that the first half of our day is good - 3r's (math, spelling, English grammar, Latin, and composition). It's the second half, the loop, that needs some tweaking. Box checking the content subjects doesn't work as well. I end up feeling tied to "must do x number of lessons by ____ date."
Here's my tweak. I'm going to keep a running list of things I want to read or accomplish under each subject heading. We'll just keep going until we hit a good stopping place then we can move on to another subject. I'll have to keep track and make sure nothing is getting left out (um, usually art or music).
Last night as I sat there contemplating how dissatisfied I felt, I realized that it wasn't just the weather. Our studies had felt disjointed. This is what I think happened - I focused on box checking (making sure that we hit each subject at least once during the week). Even if 11yo asked to keep reading science I said no because we had other things we HAD to accomplish. If she wanted to read history, I said no because we had other subjects that we needed to cover. It meant that we were only getting bits and pieces rather than a bigger more satisfying picture.
I still think that the first half of our day is good - 3r's (math, spelling, English grammar, Latin, and composition). It's the second half, the loop, that needs some tweaking. Box checking the content subjects doesn't work as well. I end up feeling tied to "must do x number of lessons by ____ date."
Here's my tweak. I'm going to keep a running list of things I want to read or accomplish under each subject heading. We'll just keep going until we hit a good stopping place then we can move on to another subject. I'll have to keep track and make sure nothing is getting left out (um, usually art or music).
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