mommy4ever
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Posts posted by mommy4ever
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This weekend dd6 and I went to a homeschool park day, and homeschool expo. I learned some things, and was very pleased with the park experience.
There was a girl, about 10-12, and she decided to strike up a conversation with me. Very sweet girl. She also asked if it was ok if she could play with dd6, she helped her on the more difficult climbing structures, keeping close watch on her. She had 2 younger brothers around playing, and they were polite and considerate, and they were a little bigger than dd, and giving her tips on the climbing wall, what rock was in her reach, etc.
Had dd11and dd13 been there, they would have made a friend that day. We plan on attending other park days as well. As dd6 had a blast, I met some very nice people.
It was so cute while I was signing on with the support group, one of the ladies asked how old my kitten was(dd6 still had make up on from her dance competition), dd6 giggled and told her. She was asked how old she was, she said she was 6. Then she was asked if she was kinder or grade 1. And dd6 says, "Grade 1 and I'm HOMESCHOOLED!!!!". The lady responded with much enthusiasm, and told her that was fantastic, and so great that mom and dad can do that for her. DD said, "Yup, because all we did at school was the smart board and recess, and MOM showed me how to READ! And I have my very own books and I READ!" I could have cried.
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DD13 had expressed an interest in homeschooling as well since her 2 younger sisters came home. Now she is floundering.
Her biggest concern is she isn't sure she can do it without people around her. She's a social butterfly. But she isn't expressing any thing else as a deciding factor.
I know she would do well and would quite likely enjoy it. We already know there is remedial work necessary, that we are doing whether she is at home or not.
As of next week, the younger 2 are taking a once a week art class with fellow homeschoolers, there is also a group for dd13 age as well. There are other fieldtrips and things our local groups organize. So I don't see her being isolated at all.
But what other things is a 13yo concerned about, in terms of leaving school to be homeschooled.
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I'm really at loss here.
I grew up in a family that didn't go to church, I learned about God and Jesus through the Catholic school and my dear grandma. My husband isn't much help here, as his parents were even less religious than mine, he never received any religious education what so ever.
I have brought my children to church, but have yet to find a 'home' in a church yet, all went to Catholic school for a period of time, ds15 2 years, dd13 - 8 years, dd11 - 5.5 years, and dd6 1.5 years.
I want to teach them more of God, however, the churches that we've been to, aren't teaching what I want them to know. I'm finding them judgemental, hypocritical, and I'm not comfortable having my children there. I will keep looking.
How can I teach them without being preachy or boring? DS15 was already traumatized by a Sunday school.... he had nightmares for weeks.
Unfortunately, our experiences with churches have been very negative. But I don't believe that going to a church defines us as Christians, especially when there is corruption within those 4 walls.
Is there any gentle books out there to help me guide the kids? I have no idea how to approach it. We tried Sunday school, and it was fire and brimstone and an unforgiving god. That isn't the God I know, not whatsoever. I don't want them to fear God, but to love Him.
I have a hard time teaching faith, when I myself have wavered with uncertainty in how to follow His path.
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WOW!!! Thank you all so much for the great ideas!!!
Guess how my 'free time' will be spent now? LOL
Merci!!
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NOw I need to think on this a little more....
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I use AAS, and love it. I was surprised with it. I actually emailed them to see if I needed a phonics program as well, as I was using OPGTR. I was told that AAS is phonics as well, nothing else needed, but that it fit will with OPGTR. I continued both. She just got her Beehive Reader, and is so proud. She earned the first story and read it outloud beautifully. I like using the OPGTR as it reinforces what AAS teaches, and AAS reinforces what OPGTR. The timing is pretty similar once you get through the alphabet sounds in OPGTR.
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Thanks for the tips. I plan to use the library but I just LOVE books and want the house to be full of them. I did put some bookcases in my closet and have created a small school area in there. I just saw where someone posted those Ikea shelves and I am thinking about putting those up... somewhere! My house is small and open--very littl wall space! GRRR! If only I could convince the hubby to get rid of the darn TV and huge entertainment center... that area would be PERFECT for a huge bookcase and baskets!
Ok, so you have open space... Would you be able to create a space by using a shelf where only the side is against the wall, as in the 15", the 3 or 4 going out?
I'm not good at explaining.. here is a link
http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/categories/departments/living_room/
scroll through to the 4th picture, it's has the Expedit shelf, it creates a separation, but can look quite nice, and give you more storage.
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I rarely drink pop. I don't like fizz. Maybe 2 in a year. I prefer ice tea :)
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My 6yo covers this in a day:
AAS - 1 lesson 15 min
OPGTR - 1 lesson 15 min on a wiggly goofy day
Math Mammoth - 2-4 pages... approx 30 minutes, some days she wants to do more, so we'll do another 3.
WWE 1 - 10-15
FFL - 15 min
Alternating days
SOTW - 10-20 minutes depending how engaged she is, sometimes it can be an hour, but it involves coloring, story books, and the reading from SOTW.
or Science - 15 minutes or so
This is broken up all over the day. Sometimes we're done by 10 am. Other days, she is restless and needs to run around outside, or craft or just be.
When she is focused she wants to work, so we work. Sometimes she doesn't know it is school work. She WANTS to read out loud to me. She LIKES to be read to, and answering questions naturally not realizing we're 'doing school'.
We do LOTS of actual math in a day. We play cards, adding numbers, throwing dice, playing with folder games. She is weak in her facts, but growing stronger.
You can cover plenty of 'work' without actually doing pages and pages of worksheets. Just keep a journal for a bit and see how it adds up.
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Thanks!!! I love your blog, it was one of the first I found when we decided to homeschool..lol
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Thanks!!!
So perhaps I'm thinking it must harder that it really is..lol.
What about primary sources and the notebook that is referenced in WTM?
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My 11 yo has struggle with hers too. What really helps is games, for her, so it's not so formal and 'work'.
We use decks of cards with no face card, tossing dice, education stores have the funky dice with more than 6 sides. There is a game online Timez Attack, that she LOVES. Great graphics. Plus we find several other little games that help.
DD11 saw us doing an addition game with dd6, and she was a little out of sorts, so we found some. She loves to do it, and the multiplication facts are coming along really nice!
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We are thoroughly enjoying SOTW 1 with dd6, and the activity guide. DD11 sits in and listens and enjoys the activities. How do I flesh it out more for her? She loves the ancients, and can't wait for more, but the AG is really aimed at the Grammar stage. I'm reading in WTM, on it, and really.. .my brain is on overload, and I'm missing something as I read..lol. Mental Block I guess.
So we would use a Spine of some kind. Usbourne History of the World or Kingfisher...etc. So She'd read it and take note of important things, then add to her timeline(I have NEVER done a timeline..lol...such a product of ps).
Then what? I have read and reread the section and I am not retaining anything.
It's all so overwhelming... So for now, I have her participating with the little one, asking her a few more questions, doing activities, she enjoys it well enough, it's light and fun. But she is ready for more.
Any guidance for this lost mommy..lol
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I've done a search and can't seem to locate what I am looking for.
I have been supplying books for the kids. I have a shelf in the livingroom that is library books I take out for the kids. It is working well. They are actually enjoying what I am getting so far. But I need more ideas!
DS is 15. Of course he likes action...
DD13, well, she like mangas, due to the influence of her newly acquired best friend... and I want them gone, or lessened for quality reading, but when she reads a novel, it's well below her ability...lazy girl. She has liked some classics...The little Princess, Anne of Green Gables. So I would love to get her reading more at her level with books that interest her.
DD11 - is pretty open to anything. She just started Harry Potter, but liked little Princess, Little House in the Big Woods. She needs good reading material for our reading in LA.
DD6 - she is a beginner reader. But loves to be read to. We are working through Little House on the Prairie Series, then Anne of Green Gables.
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Scholastics has a really nice one.
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We are working through it right now. We only started in mid April. My dd is 6, and was in school for K - did fantastic, and 7 months of grade 1, which was a huge waste of time. We are currently on lesson 48. We did the vowel section as a review and she wasn't that confident with them, but we skipped the consonants as we covered that in K, and she still know her sounds well.
We average 2-4 lessons a day, however as it is getting a little more complex, we are slowing down more, and letting her absorb it. We are working with AAS as well, as they are teaching the spelling in a very similar order. So it re-affirms what OPGTR.
We will work through summer, and be approx 1/2 way through and 'caught up'. May be we will be further, but the goal is to complete it around Christmas time.... imagine the fun books under the tree if she is reading well! She will be so excited.
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Is a child that receives funding from the government still a homeschooler ?
Where we live, every homeschool family is entitled to funding. We all pay an education tax. How much we get per year varies on the school board we are with. The minimum is 50% of the yearly allotment. Some boards are ps at home, cyberschool, correspondance and if you are fully aligned you can get the full amount, if you are blended you can get between 50-100%, traditional get only 50%. I chose to do my own thing, not fully align as there are too many important things that are missing in the foundations. This year, I get no funding as we registered so late, but in the fall, each of my kids will have $750 we can use toward curriculum, and I can do as I chose in terms of what learning we will do. But $750/year per child, to be able to do whatever remedial work is necessary is way better than $1500 and we MUST do what the province has set out...too bad if they are missing foundations.
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Another question then. Do you have to have completed FLL to go into WWE?
These programs confuse me so much, and I don't know why?
So, with FLL, you don't need another grammar, right? If you do FLL 1 with a 1st grader, do you need a phonics program? I think I just STILL don't understand what these are!!:confused:
I would highly encourage a phonics program, FLL is not a reading but a grammar. WWE is separate from this as well. They are 3 parts to the whole. OPGTR - Reading and phonics WWE - Writing and FLL -Grammar.
I do all three with my 6yo. And she enjoys all of them. I use the workbooks for WWE, not cause it's even necessary, but as it has all the busy work for mom done. All the excerpts are in it, but it gives ideas for read alouds later too if she shows interest in the story.
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Oh the irony!
Yesterday ds15 came home very upset. He failed his first assignment ever. Mostly due to grammar, he did lose a few points on content.
But the irony of it!
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That is quite a dramatic change in a short time! You must really be doing something right. :thumbup:
It's amazing what a little extra time to get things done will do for a person's disposition. Kids in school can be on such a rough schedule. Are they by any chance getting a lot more sleep? No doubt it's easier to eat better at home too.
Just hope it lasts--and don't forget to cut yourselves some slack on the inevitable bad days when it seems everyone got out of bed on the wrong side (mostly that would be me here :tongue_smilie:).
Darla, you are partially right. They ARE getting more sleep. We aren't leaving the house at 7:30 to catch the bus. Both have always been a bit night owl-ish. So now, they are going to bed a little later but sleeping until 8, and IMO that is perfectly find, on average they are getting 11 hours of sleep! The youngest IS eating better as she has TIME to eat. She is also a grazer, which she can't be in a school.
DD6, has made the transition really easy. She is frustrating to somedays, but what child doesn't have their moments. She is super fidgety some days. But I don't worry about it. Lately during dictation for AAS, I'll say the word, and she makes up the goofiest sentence she can, then laughs for several minutes....and forgets the words...argh..lol. There are times she will not sit to work, she'll whine and fuss, and it's time to go outside! Today she made her 3rd snowman for May. Yes... Snow in may. But she came in fired up and ready to work.
DD11 had one of those wrong-side-of-the-bed-days today. She woke with a head ache. But didn't want to do anything to help. Not take a Tylenol, not eat or drink, or lay in a dark room...just determined to be miserable and wanted everyone to do the same. I insisted she lay down for 20 minutes, let the meds kick in. She finally did. Came down a little better in demeanor, but couldn't focus on anything. So today became arts and crafts to her. She practiced her back stitching and made 2 sock monsters. :tongue_smilie: But it made her happy and pleasant, and the headache dissipated.
I try to be as patient as possible, i get short sometimes when overwhelmed. I never thought I'd be a homeschooler. Dh never was in support of it. But now he is. I do try to get a little down time. I also run a home daycare, so scheduling is interesting at times. But we're getting it figured out. DD11 is relaxing more and more, going with the flow more. She was sooooo we gotta do work! And of course, the school system isn't inline with the homeschool curriculum, :lol:, so it is somewhat frustrating. But since we have decided that she isn't returning to school anytime soon, that it doesn't matter, the next 2 months are for me to see what she has and hasn't learned so we can plan for grade 6, so she can have a fantabulous year, these next 2 months is research and learning how to do things. So she is doing a short school day, and filling the rest with reading, and crafting.
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Writing with Ease writing through copywork, reading comprehension(initially you write), narration to start the natural progression to putting thought to paper. Actual grammar coverage is First Language lessons, it includes poetry, stories etc, and actual grammar. Reading and phonics is the Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading.
We have all of the above. :lol: as well as SOTW 1 and the AG. So other than math and science... we're pretty much covered!
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My personal experience...
DD11 has had essentially NO experience with grammar. Our schools didn't teach it. :confused: I did purchase 3 for her, and she actually found it too difficult, and she is a reasonably bright child.
After fussing with a few different things, we are just going to FLL1 and working forward at whatever pace we feel comfortable. I have a feeling that 1 and 2 will fly by, and the momentum will slow a little in 3, and a little in 4, but we'll be at a place where she can continue to build from!
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My girls have now been home 6 weeks. We are still on a learning curve. But I would say overall, it's going well. In many areas, I just started over from the beginning, as dd6 learned nearly nothing, and we've found out that some things are simply not taught.
Anyway, I have noticed a few things.
When we are out, the kids are no longer begging for treats. That was something that drove me crazy. They always wanted candy. And even if there are treats in the house, these 2 aren't devouring them the first day. We even have most our Easter Treats left over. DD11, in particular, even turns offered treats down. I can't remember the last time she asked for soda. They rarely got soda, but that didn't stop her from asking.
What else I have noticed is dd6 has slowed down to smell the roses. She plays with TOYS. She runs around in the yard, singing, dancing, creating an imaginary world. Electronics have become an occasional thing. There are even days when she doesn't even use the computer or play her DS. This was something we had to really regulate with all the kids. She is pulling out toys she never played with, and is really enjoying them.
DD11 is enjoying the home daycare children. She is bonding with them, they are no longer an annoyance in her life. They are people, she is helpful, sweet with them. Part of her LA involves reading out loud. Right now, level doesn't matter to me, just do it. And she CHOOSES to read to the little people. She will be outside with them, and she is catching bugs and telling the little ones about the bugs, teaching them. She is so much more patient as a whole. Not necessarily with her siblings....:lol: but in everything else. She doesn't feel the need to interrupt as I am saying good-bye to kids as she did before. I feel there is less jealousy from her as well. If I am doing something with one, I'm not getting the 'well when do I get to do that. When do I get to have that?" That makes me happy!
So is it a 'side-effect'? Or coincidence? Did you notice anything with your kids when they came home from PS?
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DS15 is a great kid, drives me crazy some days, knows what buttons to push most :lol: Welcome to the world of teens.
As we are learning more and more about the school system, with dd11 who has just gotten home from Catholic school.... and some serious 'lackage' (as ds would say). He is in a really good school, I have to say it is fabulous, but they can't make up for the substandard curriculum the gov't dictates.
In a couple years he graduates. He is an honor student. He works HARD to get those grades, and in most areas, he is taking courses in high school now that were college level in 'the day'. Although lots of drivel has replaced some very good solid foundation work in the current curriculum along the years.
In about a year and a half to 2 years he will have to write 2 major essays that will affect 50% of his grade. I have found out dd11 didn't hasn't been taught grammar beyond noun, verb, adverb and adjective, and barely at that. We have had lots of frustration in starting homeschooling trying to see where she is really at.... to find out dd13 hasn't learned these things either... and tonight ds15 told me he hasn't either. Yet his final marks of his 12 years of schooling will be based on his ability to WRITE. It's not just content, it is QUALITY.
SO, I have approx 18-24 months to help him learn the art of writing well, and how to write an essay. Let me tell you this when the 2 youngest(dd6 and dd11) get to be 17, they will write a wicked essay, at least in comparison their ps peers. And I want to give him as much opportunity to improve on this!
What curriculum should I consider using? We have approx 10 of those months where he is NOT in school, he'll be in an apprenticeship program working, so schooling after work with no other homework will be tremendously successful and keep his brain working.
Helping dd13 make a decision
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted
She is fine with just a couple friends. that's all she's ever had year to year. She is in sports as well, so she has her team(s). We would be involved in the community that is here as well.