This is our third year homeschooling, and each fall there is an excitement about all the possibilities for the year. After reading 'Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire' I have had even more enthusiasm about this upcoming year. Here are some things we will be doing that are different from last year:
1. Scheduled day...
2. Shakespeare...
3. Lyndsay & Grace will each be in a book club that meets once a month...
4. A few more field trips (not definite but hopeful)...
5. Weekly essays...
6. More group reading, like:
* The Phantom Tollbooth
* To Kill a Mockingbird
* Number the Stars
* Bridge to Terabithia
* Helen Keller
My ultimate hope for the girls is that they will love reading (Grace already does) and that this will lead to a love of learning. If they are given the freedom to pick what they would like to learn about and have the time to do it, then I hope that opens many avenues for them in the future.
It has been difficult getting them to realize they don't have to do everything together. It's fine to do things together, and I'm glad they enjoy it (for the most part), but it seems like they plan their day around what they're going to do together. Trying to get them used to the fact that everyone has their own talents and their own things they'd like to get accomplished on any given day has been tricky. I suppose I should've pushed this concept a long time ago.
Monday, August 5, 2013
Friday, August 2, 2013
Getting ready
Well, we are gearing up for school around here and have been, in earnest, for about a week now. The high schoolers got all of their supplies and a new backpack each. (Sarah's backpack was from 6th grade and I just have to say Lands' End has some quality stuff!) I picked up some things for home that I knew the other girls would love and they fulfilled their tradition of spreading out all the supplies on the floor and divvying everything up. High schoolers' bags are packed and ready to go.
New colored pencils are in the organizer ready to go.
New shelf bins are stocked and new notebooks are ready to be written in.
I saw this idea somewhere online - I honestly don't remember so I can't give proper credit, but it has been nice to change things around when needed before making a set schedule. For the past two years we have had more of an open schedule - just as long as they got everything done on their calendar for that day then I didn't care what order it happened in. This year I would like to try this and see what happens. They might get done a little quicker if they have a set time frame for things. At least that's the goal!
New colored pencils are in the organizer ready to go.
New shelf bins are stocked and new notebooks are ready to be written in.
I saw this idea somewhere online - I honestly don't remember so I can't give proper credit, but it has been nice to change things around when needed before making a set schedule. For the past two years we have had more of an open schedule - just as long as they got everything done on their calendar for that day then I didn't care what order it happened in. This year I would like to try this and see what happens. They might get done a little quicker if they have a set time frame for things. At least that's the goal!
Friday, July 26, 2013
Learning chess
I have wanted to learn how to play chess for a long time but just assumed that it was too hard for me, or that I wouldn't have the time to learn.
Meredith is always the first one up and she asked if I wanted her to teach me how to play chess one morning. I hesitated, thinking that there was no way she would be able to teach me. I've seen her play with her siblings but didn't think she would be able to teach someone else. I decided to say yes and see where it took us. I shouldn't have questioned her abilities! She not only taught me how to play in a way that I could understand (what does that tell you?!) but then we played a few games and I only won once because I'm pretty sure she let me :)
Meredith is always the first one up and she asked if I wanted her to teach me how to play chess one morning. I hesitated, thinking that there was no way she would be able to teach me. I've seen her play with her siblings but didn't think she would be able to teach someone else. I decided to say yes and see where it took us. I shouldn't have questioned her abilities! She not only taught me how to play in a way that I could understand (what does that tell you?!) but then we played a few games and I only won once because I'm pretty sure she let me :)
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Tuesday Drive
Eric has been busy working some electrical side jobs and he was planning on being gone most of the evening Tuesday so Lyndsay, Grace, Meredith and I went for a drive.
We sometimes go to Fuller's Resort in Buchanan, MI and one time last summer the owner came and sat with me on the beach and, after hearing that we are homeschoolers, stayed for a while. After learning that I enjoy taking nature photographs, she went and got a map and marked out some cool places to visit. I didn't actually label any of the places; they were just marked with x's or circles.
So, we took off for one of the x's that I thought she said was a horse farm. It was such a beautiful drive on a winding, hilly road I wouldn't have cared if we didn't find the farm, but we did. There were three Belgian Quarter horses out in the field so we pulled over, shut the van off and watched them for a while. They were curious about us, but didn't want to get too close.
We sometimes go to Fuller's Resort in Buchanan, MI and one time last summer the owner came and sat with me on the beach and, after hearing that we are homeschoolers, stayed for a while. After learning that I enjoy taking nature photographs, she went and got a map and marked out some cool places to visit. I didn't actually label any of the places; they were just marked with x's or circles.
So, we took off for one of the x's that I thought she said was a horse farm. It was such a beautiful drive on a winding, hilly road I wouldn't have cared if we didn't find the farm, but we did. There were three Belgian Quarter horses out in the field so we pulled over, shut the van off and watched them for a while. They were curious about us, but didn't want to get too close.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Beutter & Merrifield Parks, Mishawaka
The view from Beutter Park of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Mishawaka.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Heat wave
As I write this, we finally have a little bit of relief from the recent heat wave. Yesterday the temperature was 94 and the heat index was 104. Today it is only 84 and much easier to go outside without melting. It seems that even the animals can only take so much heat.
We keep finding these guys like this. Usually we just find their empty skins. It may or may not be from the heat, but they are interesting creatures. Their song is beautiful :)
This bunny doesn't seem bothered, but he's just so photogenic.
We keep finding these guys like this. Usually we just find their empty skins. It may or may not be from the heat, but they are interesting creatures. Their song is beautiful :)
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Great day for a picnic
We finally have a welcome break in the heat/rain/humidity/lack of sun and Lyndsay wanted to go on a picnic. I agreed with the stipulation that they had to pack all the food ;) which they willingly did. We chose Clay Park after getting our free Slurpees at 7-11 since it was 7/11.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)