Joyoflearning
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Posts posted by Joyoflearning
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This is the first year we have to file an affidavit and it requires that I have a name for our school. I thought about it all year and never came up with anything and here I am still STUCK. I plan to homeschool long-term and don't want to pick something lame that my kids are going to be embarrassed about putting on an application when they're older.
We like _______ Christian Academy. We thought about Classical, but we're really more ecclectic.... and there are several with the name Classical Christian Academy. hmm. We don't want it to be too long or too stand-outish but I also don't want it to be where there are 20 other schools named that in CA. We thought about Liberty or Heritage but they seem pretty common and sound like they are linked with other schools. We wouldn't name a school after where we live as there is nothing grand about it.
I welcome suggestions. I might be having a harder time naming our school than I did with picking baby names.
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When I was younger, my sister and I each took a big black garbage bag and cut out a hole for the head and arms and painted in big white letters M&M on it. :lol:
I made my daughter a neon green fleece glow worm hat with yellow yarn out the top a few years ago which was pretty easy.
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I highly recommend gymnastics for children. Even if they don't have a natural ability for it, it helps with so many things. That being said, not all homeschool gymnastics classes are equal. Think about your goals and your budget and observe some classes. Some are glorified "play dates" with the kids running around and jumping on a pad.. and for some that meets their goals. Some people desire that their kids get that type of play and have a fun first exposure. I personally couldn't justify spending the time or money on that because it was not one of my goals. However, my oldest two (just turned 6 and 4) are in a wonderful homeschool gymnastics class that is quite structured and they work on flexibility, strength, coordination, following directions, self-confidence, and trying their best. The owner also trained where I did as a child so I am confident with the type of instruction. Also, my children only do floor which is fine, especially at this age, as I don't see them going professional in the future.
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ENTJ
Extravert(22%) iNtuitive(38%) iNtuitive Thinking(25%) Judging(22%)
You have slight preference of Extraversion over Introversion (22%)
You have moderate preference of Intuition over Sensing (38%)
You have moderate preference of Thinking over Feeling (25%)
You have slight preference of Judging over Perceiving (22%)
I'm not sure if my indecisiveness on curriculum (meaning needing 3 different things for every subject:001_huh:) has anything to do with my personality, but for any ENTJ's out there, I'd be interested in knowing what you use. :D
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Shannon,
I ended up buying http://www.amazon.com/Brother-MFC9325CW-Wireless-Printer-Scanner/dp/B0067PTW3I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347083832&sr=8-1&keywords=brother+printer+9325 from Costco this summer when they were having a sale. It works well for my needs but it has its limitations. It scans nicely onto a thumb drive and the copy feature works well. The printer says it’s out of ink early after only a few uses and then it won’t allow you to print anything. There were reviews online that warned about this issue, but on the Amazon review someone linked the directions on how to change the printer settings to work around this issue and it easily fixed the problem. The toner cartridges are expensive but I believe you can just buy the toner online and refill the cartridges and that looks MUCH cheaper. I have not experimented with doing this yet so hopefully it will work.
Originally, the printer was easy to set up to our network. However, recently it says the printer is asleep or offline. It’s been like that all week even after my husband reinstalled the drivers so I haven’t been able to print from my computer.:confused: I don’t know if this is a printer issue or just our networking/ internet issue; likely it’s the later. It has duplex printing, but it is manual in that you have to print odd pages first, then flip the pages over the correct way in the feeder before printing the even pages. For a printer at this price point, it should have automatic two-sided printing. Brother has an app we downloaded onto our ipad so we can print from it. It was a pain the few times I tried to use it so I haven’t fooled with it much since. Maybe somebody more techy than myself would have better luck. Now I’ll just save things into my “dropbox†and print from my computer if I need something. I like the printer fine and it seems to be closest I could find to meet my criteria, but I’m disappointed nobody’s figured out yet how to make something that can overcome these glitches.
HTH
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And a good education should be broad enough and deep enough in every field to get a child into a good college so they have that option if they choose to take it. I would never short change a child's math, science, or English. However, if the question is at what age do I intend to start tailoring the subjects more to my kids' interests, then yes, by the end of middle school, I definitely hope to be doing that. Before that point, we follow rabbit trails now a little, but my kids aren't super into that and as long as they're up for it, I want to give them as broad an exposure as they'll take to all kinds of content subjects. And the real focus is going to be skills in the elementary years anyway.
ETA: I think what I'm trying to say is that I see the child's investment in their education as really key beginning around that age and certainly by the start of high school. And if they don't find their "thing" until later, that's fine. I just want it to be a partnership at that point. And I think turning over greater control of what the elective study is a big piece of that. Algebra, Geometry, a year of US history, four years of science, etc. etc. are not negotiable, but a lot of other things can be and that's the age at which I think kids should be taking control of what they study - while they're at home, while they're still young and being guided by the parent.
One of the great things about homeschooling is that I feel like a child can be gung ho into one subject and you can beef that up for them. And then, two years later, they're not so much anymore. And better that they figured that out before going and majoring in it in college. But then you can change gears and beef up a different subject. Or make everything more well rounded.I know that a lot of people on this board are hoping to follow a pretty set path for schooling at every stage, but I just don't plan to.
:iagree::iagree::iagree:
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I'm a new homeschooler and I lack experience but I am not a total idiot.
:iagree: This would make an awesome signature.
I appreciate the posts on this board that are written by thoughtful, conscientious homeschooling parents, even if they are people who homeschool with a different style than my own. I can think of Mrs. Mungo, Farrar Williams, MommyFaith, 8FillTheHeart, Halcyon, Rivka and so many more that when they post something I take the time to read what they have to say because I know that even if we are going about our homeschooling differently that they have valuable insights that I can learn from. Some of these ladies haven't been homeschooling much longer than I have but I still find their posts invaluable in helping me learn how to be a better teacher. I care more about how people are homeschooling than what they are using, if that makes sense.I have finally caught up on reading this thread and I love it! I would have to put an :iagree: next to more than half of what was posted. Thanks for all the wisdom!
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If I had less kids, we'd be done by lunch. :lol:
We start about 9, and I fit in math and language arts with the 6yo, reading lesson with the 4yo (he gets angry if I skip it), and PreK work with the 3yo (who is SO EXCITED to have her OWN THING). Usually in between this I've changed a few diapers, soothed a few bumps, quelled a couple of squabbles, and held a toddler in snatches. We finish up the AM stuff somewhere around 11/11:30, do lunch from noon to 1, quiet time from 1-2 (though it's stretched a little later being early pregnant), and then science OR history in the afternoon.
So yeah, if I didn't have all those interruptions, my first grader could be done by lunch. BUT, if I didn't have all those "interruptions," there would be nobody for the first grader to play with, and not as much fun and love at our house. :D
EXACTLY This!:tongue_smilie:
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I've only used free printables from Confessions of a Homeschooler but I did consider using their LOTW. There was a recent discussion regarding purchasing LOTW and one person said they used http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.net/tag/Preschool/ as their main curriculum and supplemented with the LOTW since there was so much there.
1plus1 is all pieced together for you and it comes in themes and it's free.
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to leave a boxed curriculum that I love to try to piece together something else! I'm so stressed out about this! I'm set for this coming year, but I'm already planning for the next because I piece together my books throughout the year (it's better for us financially this way). Well, I love HOD, but I'm looking to try to somehow get my oldest two combined for history, science and bible. I can't find a satisfying way to do this with HOD because in the other subjects, my DD and DS are too far apart in skills for it to really work.
So if I leave HOD and try to make my own plan, am I going to regret it? This is a fear of mine because we can't afford to just keep replacing things that don't work and I'm worried about losing a year of HOD as well if we end up having to come back.
Sorry I can't really answer your question since I've actually been struggling with the exact same thing this summer. Everything is ready to go for Beyond, but I'm just not sure if it wouldn't be better to piece together my own. We're already covering every subject in a different pieced together way and I don't think I need two curriculums but I can't let go of HOD. Now, about combining kids, I would think about eventually combing DS and younger DD instead of older DD and DS. I'm planning on eventually combining my DS (almost 4) and younger DD (just turned 2). In our family, my first two are so far apart in skill that it would not make sense to combine them, which I've heard can be typical with an advanced first child/ girl. My 2nd (a a bright boy, but later bloomer than my girls), and 3rd being a girl makes it ideal to combine them later. Just a thought.
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1. Don't skip snack time! DD loves snack time and works better if she can look forward to a special snack. Snack time improves her attitude. It is also a good time to read poetry, devotions, or our read-aloud.
2. I can't do anything that looks remotely interesting with the youngers without dd (almost 6) abandoning her work to join. :glare:
3. If older DD had an abacus, then little DD (just turned 2) also needed an abacus (or coloring page, or whatever older DD would have).
3. Keeping nap/ quiet time sacred saves my sanity. All must do quiet time.
4. If I want DD interested in something, I have to pretend it doesn't have anything to do with her schoolwork. I check out library books about the subject and leave them around the house. She finds them and reads them on her own and then tells me about the neat book she just read. :tongue_smilie:
5. DD does better if I set a timer on how long to do her work with a good attitude so she has a goal and we don't spend all morning on one subject.
6. All work needed to be done by lunch if it was going to get done that day.
7. School starts and 9 is done by lunch (with breaks and snack of course).
8. Take short breaks. If too long, she doesn't want to come back. These breaks are a good time to do something with younger ds or dd.
9. Have materials ready to go or I lose her during prep. :auto:
10. I have much less patience when I don't get enough sleep. My attitude most affects the kids attitudes. It is worthwhile to stop school for the day to address discipline issues than to push through anyways and let them get away with poor behavior.
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I was thinking that if your children were able to do independent work while you are working you can save the more teacher intensive stuff for the days that you are home and still cover plenty.
Here's some suggestions for independent work they can do while you are working:
-Computer Programs: Dreambox for Math, Spelling City (free) on the computer to practice current spelling words, online class (we are using VP history self-paced this next year).
-Free reading is always good.
-Sometimes Evan-Moore or Scholastic has good workbooks for other things you might want to work on such as Grammar or Geography.
-Puzzles or Games they can play with each other that develop certain skills
-You could have the kids do flashcards or give them lists to memorize and quiz them in the evenings or the next day.
-Have them pick something interest led and on the days you are at work, they do research, read books, and draw pictures of what they've learned in that area.
-Dover coloring books have pictures of paintings from famous artists. Have them color pictures from one of those on that day to sneak in some art appreciation. They also have other educational coloring books.
-Download Music for them to listen to either for music appreciation or that helps them memorize facts, timelines, etc (we do this with CC).
-Have them listen to Audio books (SOTW).
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I had not heard of of it, but it looks nice. I did a brief search and found it at CBD which has sample pages. http://www.christianbook.com/nature-drawing-journaling-lessons-through-natures/barry-stebbing/9780971787452/pd/635635
I also found a review of it from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. http://thehomeschoolmagazine.com/Homeschool_Reviews/5202.php
HTH
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With DS5 this past year I've used Singapore Earlybird (nearly finished) and RightStart A (just over half-way through). I agree with the pp that Earlybird is mostly just something to do, although it is useful. I prefer RightStart A. I've also read some very positive reviews of MEP maths here (which is free).
:iagree: Exactly this! We did RS A with DD (5) supplementing with Singapore Earlybird. All dd's learning came from Rightstart and Earlybird was just something for her to do because she prefered the worksheets. RS A gave her a wonderful foundation. We didn't start 1A until we started RS B. We should have started 1A half way through RS A because now that we're in RS B, she could probably just skip to 1B. For a child who understood word problems and addition, but counted and didn't know number bonds, RSA was brilliant in teaching her the skills she needed (number bonds, place value, skip counting, etc..) I thought Singapore was fine, but I was a little disappointed it encouraged counting rather than focusing more on grouping in the books I've used. I'm guessing there's more focus on grouping later in Singapore.
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.Chronological history is NOT what makes a Classical curriculum. It's a nasty rumor. I fell for that rumor for years and just told everyone, "I'm not Classical. I just teach a lot of Latin and Greek and The Great Books". :lol:You are completely right. :001_smile: I realize chronological doesn't make a classical curricuclum. I wrote "chronological" in the post to make the distinction, but forgot to change the title to say "chronological" instead of "classical". I do like the idea of a classical curriculum, but my question was in regards to not doing a chronological history cycle from the beginning. It makes sense to learn it all in order, but I also realize that kids, when they are young, are going to remember different experiences not that they learned history in order.
I don't recommend any of the curriculum suggestions in it, but you might benefit from reading Latin Centered Curriculum.
This is on my "to read" list. I'm trying to find someone who can lend it to me so I don't have to buy it. I am curious about what it recommends studying and how it the early years. I would love to hear more about it.
Also poke around at some college websites and see what a degree in Classics is all about. Harvard.
That's what I did when I first started homeschooling. The idea of a classical education or Great Books study got me excited about homeschooling. Now I lean towards many different approaches. I'm more confused then when I started. :001_huh:
Part 2 of Climbing Parnassus is a must read, when trying to figure out what "Classical" means.
I just received this book and I'll be tackling it soon.
Ummm...can someone help me with capitalization here? Classics? Classical?
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Thanks :001_smile: You are right, SOTW could be considered a unit study.
I guess I should change my question. Has anyone regretted not starting the Chronological history cycle from the beginning?
and
Does anyone wish they kept things simpler in the younger years with more interest led studies?
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Thanks!! This is awesome!
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My original plan was to start SOTW this next year when DD turns 6 after we finished HOD LHFHG. I'm now thinking about sticking with HOD or even trying out other unit studies for some added fun. If I change my plans now, it will throw off the history cycle. Is the history cycle really that important at this age? I thought it was but I am now reconsidering.
Has anyone started with a chronological history cycle and switched to a unit study approach for history for their younger children? Has anyone started with unit studies and later switched to a history cycle with their younger children? Which have you preferred and why?
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OP here! We used Heart of Dakota too! Love those plans laid out for me. And I also agree with the other poster who said I could have already planned SOTW by now if I hadn't wasted so much time looking and looking! :001_smile:
YES! I totally get this!!!!:tongue_smilie:
As a former Heart of Dakota user planning our first year with SOTW, I am going through the same issues. HOD is laid out for you by day, and is entirely open and go. I LOVED having my planning done ahead of time, but realized I don't quite love having everything scripted and inflexible. What I decided is to actually make my own Guide for the entire year this summer. I'm using SOTW 1 and Activity Guide as my spine, but also including the Veritas Press Timeline cards to add in a bit more Biblical History. I only have a few weeks done but it is turning out awesome, if I can be so blunt :-). If you are doing ancients, and are interested in taking a look, PM me and I could email you what I have. It probably won't be complete until the end of July, though. But maybe it'll give you an idea of how to work your own.This must be a HOD user hangup!! ;) LHFHG was a great K overview of History. I love HOD but I've had my heart set on studying Ancients this next year. I have been spoiled by the HOD schedule, but found that it wasn't exactly what I wanted in each subject, but it was great in other ways. I kept telling my husband that I should write my own plans like HOD (with the neat boxes) but that was scheduled 4 days a week (one day blank for co-op or field trips), started with SOTW, had devotions scheduled daily, a better Science, etc... I already use my own LA and Math. We may still use Beyond this next year as DD enjoys it (but she does well with anything). Please let me know if how to make those neat HOD boxes on the computer. I would love to see your plans and am interested in knowing what other resources you are using.
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Pbt: has anyone linked you to: http://www.guesthollow.com/homeschool/history/ancient/books.html? It has SOTW, AG, and read alouds scheduled. Just ignore the Mystery of History parts. ;) (not yelling. I just didn't want you to miss it from my ramble above. LOL!)
Thanks for this! I had tried to see that schedule in the past but it wouldn't open. This might work with a little tweaking.
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Alright, I've done SOTW 1 in Sonlight format and I'd be happy to share it with you, with the caveats that we went slowly, did not cover the whole book in 36 weeks (but we were close), and the additional reading/books that I pulled from the AG are those that were available in my library. My plans also have the science & science materials we were using at the time included, so you'd have to ignore those rows.
I will PM you!
I HATE PLANNING!!!I started a thread last week about lesson plans for SOTW and got some really great helps. Although some are soooo tempting none of them are EXACTLY what I want. I have downloaded at least 6 different lesson plans!
Every schedule seems to have SOTW scheduled with a diff. history or something. They all have aspects that I love, like one has the activities lined up for you. One has comprehension questions and vocabulary all there for you with the answers. One has scheduled just SOTW and one of the Usborne books (what I want) but doesn't use the activity guide.
I know, I know, I should just plan my own schedule, but I have 7 kiddos including a 2 month old who nurses constantly! Can't someone just read my mind and write it for me?????:tongue_smilie:
I know exactly what you mean and actually posted about the same thing a few months ago. I have been driving myself crazy trying to make my own schedule. I've tried to combine every resource. The problem is that I can never do it all and I have a hard time picking and choosing. This is why I have not taken on TOG. Instead of it planned out as a week for me to decide what to do each day, I need individual days planned. I want it "open and go" so I can't just wait until that day to decide which aspects to do. I want a schedule that says for example:
Day 1: Read ___ section of ch. 1 and do coloring page from ch. 1 AG and do narration pages for the section. Pick a read aloud from Ag and read one fourth of it. Make sure to have any supplemental lit available for child to read on their own.
Day 2: Read ____ section of Ch.1. Do narration page. Do map work for this chapter. Read a section of the read aloud. Have child pick a book to read on their own.
Day 3: Read a section of the read-aloud. Read supplemental lit. from Ch. 1 of AG. Do one of the projects listed in AG. (Say which project and supplies needed) or watch ________video about the subject.
Day 4: Read 1st section of Ch.2 and do coloring page and narration.
I don't do well when it's tied to a day of the week because if something comes up, then I'm thrown off my whole schedule. I like to just continue on to the next day. I don't think that what I want would be a copyright issue as it doesn't give the material being read, the specific questions asked, or the directions/ explanations of the projects.
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I am not necessarily waiting as intending to buy it, but I am certainly curious about it.... I spoke to them at length at convention last week, but am still not sure I completely get it. :confused: (Well Planned Day that is!)
Waiting to buy it would be more accurate. I wish they would show a good example of how or if one could add multiple lessons easier. Ex: add lessons 1-20 and have them auto populate.
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I've been waiting for The Well Planned Day Software.
And now that I've read this thread, I'm waiting on Song School Spanish. :tongue_smilie:
History & Bible decisions: HOD, VP? (Xpost from LC board)
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted
I'm on board with the others who said to do the self-paced NTGR if he likes the computer and you want history done quick, fun, and painless. However, If you are looking at HOD for combining subjects and working on heart issues then my suggestion is to do Bigger. It sounds like it would be a good fit with his skill level (the dictation fits, time to develop his writing, still in the right age range) and what you are looking for (Strong Biblical focus, Proverbs study). This would also take care of your science, poetry, and anything else you want HOD to cover for you. My daughter is doing VP self-paced OTAE this year and Beyond. She really loves the VP history! However, there are parts of Beyond that we both really love (story time, poetry, projects). It might seem like overkill, but next year we plan on using HOD Bigger and NTGR. HOD helps us work on the heart issues. Obviously, there are many devotionals and other ways to work on these, but God keeps leading us to HOD. It is when we sit down with our HOD guide that our best heart discussions tend to be initiated. I feel called to HOD and she sees VP history as fun computer time. Either way you can't go wrong.