Jump to content

Menu

hsm

Members
  • Posts

    119
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by hsm

  1. is any virtue, if there is any praise think on these things:)

    Yes, momof 7 spoke beautifully, and truthfully which in reality are the same....

     

    Practically, don't try to do too much at once...that's what I caught myself doing. basics are beautiful---they make sure foundations for the castles that are in the making. Just remember to Schedule in something that nourishes your soul with your kids--for us, it's nature study, tea parties and literature. What is it for you?

    here's a blog post I read on a somewhat related idea

    http://ebeth.typepad.com/reallearning/2007/10/c-is-for-childr.html

  2. I find that I do not teach "nature study" at least generally. WE walk at study and see what is before us...But, I think planning an natural history education is important--at least to our family--and this is why (and different things work for differnet families). Our Science study is built on nature study, not the other way around. My goal is for my chidren is see that Heaven and Nature declare the glory of God. And to know what is their direct world around them.

     

    I want our outdoor times to be free and spontaneous, for the most part. we do have the focused session sometimes--look for this thing in particular, observe this tree, find this, etc. Really stretch their observational skills/sketching etc.

     

    But to hear others' excitment about their experience in the form of a living book is inspiring. it gives the children ideads about what to look for--now you can teach this directly, but we've enjoyed this apporach alot.

    for example; we have read all or are reading all the Burgess books animal, plant, seashore, bird slowly over a year. They've made their own field guide based on the despriptions in the book and looking at our field guides at home. They'v studied, contemplated, and internalized-- all in fun. Then, when we go outside, they know what things are already. It's worked well for us. I really enjoy designing my own nature curriculm, and thought I'd never use a premade text, but once after a baby was born, I used an Apologia elem book (mixed with my own stuff) --just to simplify. I really don't like "chummy" writing, but the children responded well, it gave them pegs to look for specific things during outdoor time. I really don't want to enter into the young earth conversation--because I have nothing wise to say on the matter---other than those parts can be dealt with easily if that's an issue. The simple activites/free notebook pages were a blessing for that season of my life.

     

    But to respond to your specifics:

     

    The Science in the supermarket and other books are hard to come by, at times, And you can easily substitute with whatever experiment books you have on hand. We love Burgess, Pagoo and his other books (those have alot of detail--can be used with older children as well), Herriot, those are great! lot of the older years of AO science narratives are fun and online, VanCleve and Backyard Scientist are also fun--some better than others. I really like Vancleves's Microscope book--it is more microbiology than chemistry. Some of the suggestions for nature reading at Tanglewood we've used and really enjoyed. Voskamps ist geography book is fun. I think biology and geography/earth science are more important than chemisry, physics, etc in the k-6 years. Although we do chemistry and phsyics experiments for fun, because they are...but we generally do it in the context of how it illustrates a life/eath science principle--unless wer're just playing:) You have handbook of nature study? just pre-reading the intro and questions can give you a great focus if you really want a "sturctured nature study"

     

    sorry for rambling

  3. haven't read everything but what about CLE (or something similar )at whatever grade she tests at---Primarily.

     

    When the basics are getting done slow and steady maybe consider:

     

    something like ourlosbanyos.com or

     

    a simple history read aloud like SOTW or This Country of OUrs/An Island Story or maybe this

    http://books.google.com/books?id=mMMXAAAAIAAJ&dq=inauthor:Edward+inauthor:Eggleston.

    and a science/nature book on whatever she's interested in...

  4. these are what I would have said, too. Dont' forget to just see what is free at mainlesson (one of my favorite places), guttenburg, and libravox. It's ok just to read and do narrations!!!

     

    another free history book with questions, map,work etc

    http://books.google.com/books?id=mMMXAAAAIAAJ&dq=inauthor:Edward+inauthor:Eggleston

     

    free curri you can do mostly online or with library card.

    http://www.ourlosbanos.com/homeschool/index.html

  5. with this

    http://www.classical-homeschooling.org/celoop/1000.html

     

    quality literature is qualitly literature no matter what the reading level!!!these can be great read alouds to children (and practice for yourself) or just good reads yourself.

     

     

    If you need more than just reading practice: several Adult education/ GED programs have reading instructional services in the online form. and it's free. maybe that's something you can check out??

  6. and I am so sorry about your friend. Yours and her family will be in my prayers...

     

    actually. I just love the Martha story---later in the story, she is the first one to meet Jesus....she took her "talking to" with a good heart attitude.

     

    I guess I was reaching for an example. you, know I do those things you talked about--laundry before school, tidy before bed. After reading your post,I must admit somewhere along the line I started multi-tasking too much, all the time and created a bad habit. Thank you for the reality check.

     

    I am really sorry to hear of your friend....Oh Lord teach us to number our days... here's a quote I read the other day.

     

    "Here dies another day

    During which I have had eyes, ears, hands

    And the great world around me;

    And with tomorrow begins another.

    Why am I allowed two?"

    - G.K. Chesterton

     

     

    icon18_wrench_allbkg.png

  7. what kinds of things do you do to avoid becoming a "Martha" Honestly, what we do hasn't really changed as my family grows...we're still a CMish type, educationally things are going as they have and pretty content with materials and instruction and we are pretty organized...but I soemtimes I feel a little " ok let's get this done so I can go to the next one" bad attitude creeping in and I think what a poor model of patience....obviously prayer and grace, but what else has helped you avoid this..or am I the only one? :)o

  8. I like the little golden insect guide. Also the spider one is fun. Drawings but very clear. A great website is whatsthatbug.com There is one for trees which is pretty good. but for trees, I like photos For the trees, I'd go with one specific to GA if at all possible or get an Eastern Forests one--but I'd really try to look a bookstore/nature place if at all possible. Some are just organized in ways that make more sense to you "personally" over another. Also, Sams/Costco type places often have nice field guides in their gift book area. From a family who often reads these as bed time stories....you should get some great responses to this post !

×
×
  • Create New...