Ecclecticmum
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Posts posted by Ecclecticmum
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Coming in a bit late here, but I have a wiggly boy too.
He's much more a "charggggeeeee!" with a sword type boy, LOL. He also until about 1 year ago, mostly communicated in shrieks and screams.
Wtih my kids, I tend to pull in a more interactive type program, and I try to include all of the children wherever possible. Videos, games, computer stuff, arts & crafts are all my top priorities for "type".
There's a book I have heard of, called something like "Get your child off the refridgerator and on to learning" that was recommended to me a couple of times, I have yet to look at it, as we found the niche that suits us, but it may be a worthwhile read for you.
What about focusing (not necessarily buying) on Oak Meadows Kindergarten? They tend to use nature to find the letters, so instead of your son sitting down with worksheets, he can be out collecting and making letters from nature. This is way I am looking into Oak Meadow for DS for next year.
I have found for Wiggly's, literature based programs like Sonlight (even if you add the hands-on stuff from Handle on the Arts) usually do not go down well. Before one story is up, the child has disappeared to build and knock down blocks or terrorise his sisters.
Don't underestimate the value of role play/dramatic play either. Children learn a lot from play i.e. Grocery shop - Maths, Tea Party - Manners, Post Office - Alphabet, Police Station (with "experiments" like fingerprinting etc) - science, Museum - History.
The best thing I have found is to have a period of about 1-2 weeks, where you just "watch" the child, figure out the sorts of things that hold his interest, and what he ignores, then you can tailor the program to his likes/dislikes.
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All About Reading The prelevel is very crafty, not a complete phonemic awareness program IMO, but good as a starter, fun supplement to keep kids engage and interested. We are doing it with all 3 kids this year (eldest is joining in just because she can LOL)
Explode the Code Primers - These to me had too, too much writing for my girl, but I have heard that people just get their kids to fingertrace the pages, rather than write. An interesting option would be to get the wall chart (we have this) its a felt-y pocket wall hanger with plush items for that letter (apple for A etc). And just get the teachers guide for the primers, and not the actual books. The teachers guide has ideas etc in it.
Or there is all about reading Level 1 (so not the pre-level) you could s-l-o-w-l-y go through this.
Another option is Happy Phonics which is very game based.
Hooked on Phonics seems to be quite popular
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Try to include her in the lessons. If your doing maths, get her a big preschool maths workbook (tall short, round square etc)
Other options include:
Sensory Table/Boxes/Montessori: countingcoconuts.blogspot.com
Bright Beginnings Preschool Curriculum
All About Reading Pre-Level 1
Roleplay/Center boxes: keep a couple of interesting tubs and bring one down when you need to be left alone
Playdough
Workboxes: Get a mini drawer workbox, and fill each one up with interesting toys, worksheets etc
My young DS is 4 and he has his own curriculum that ties in to when I need to do stuff with DD, elsewise he just follows along with her stuff (history, science etc)
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* All About Reading - Prelevel 1
* Oak Meadow Kindergarten (quite relaxed)
* Confessions of a Homeschooler - Pre-K & K4 Curriculums
* Sonlight P4/5 (or whatever it is called now)
* MFW K
* Ordinary Parents Guide to reading
*Galloping the Globe
Usually for K and before, all I really concentrate on is getting the to read (and the odd Maths lesson) we don't really "do" K around here, anything we do "do" is just phonics.
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Thats classic :lol:
There's a couple of actors/actresses I am not fond of too, it just means the movie has to be *that* much better in order for me to watch it, yes dicaprio is one of them, but I have watched both Titance & Catch me if you can, as well as several others that had good plot lines, but his one about the island seemed lacluster at best, adding him into the equation means I have never bothered to watch it. Then there are actors/actresses I love watching, Katherine Heigl is one, I have seen most of hers, Gerard Butler is another (although I still haven't gathered up enough courage to watch PS. I love you, as I think I would be bawling for most of the film - big hiccupy messy sobs :D )
Right, that was a ramble....*ahem* as you were.
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I usually count it as age too, not as the "age of the children". Although that being said, I am a young mother in both ways lol. I would not count someone in their thirties or very late twenties being a young mother, thats just a general time nowadays to have children.
I "was" a young mother, counts as being I had my children at a young age. Otherwise anyone could say they "were" a young mother, cause at one point all children were little :D
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It is considered rude to most of the time, but in reality, thats silly, age is just a number, and if no-one knows your age and birthday, then no-one can say "happy birthday" lol.
Considering how rude it is, even with the associated shock, I'm surprised how many people ask DH & I how old we are. I tend to not provide my age unless necessary, but when anyone finds out or meets me, they are usually quite surprised at my age. I had my children close together, and met DH soon before becoming pregnant. It was a whirlwind romance :p We met, married and had a baby all within the 1st year. With my husband, he looks much, much younger than what he is, people are surprised he's in the position at work he is, till they find out his age, and he still gets asked for ID, which used to be hilarious, but is now getting rather annoying :glare: when we are stopped at every turn because they think he's under 18! really?
If your aware of her birthday, thats all you really need to know I suppose, if your not, ask her, her birthday. Other than that, in manners terms it is considered rude, and I'm not sure hearing the number should make a difference.
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What everyone else said :tongue_smilie:
If I have an easel and a big roll of butchers paper, my kids would not bother me for the entire day, but they are very very art & craft orientated.
What about having 5 boxes or 1 box (however many times a week you need this solution) filled with fun stuff that hes only allowed to have during this time. Books, colouring books, toys, coins,magnifying glass (my littlies have been known to disappear off with the magnifying glass for hours, examining everything from themselves to the floor :lol: ) Or a workbox system for him to use (one draw filled with lacing cards, next with colouring, next with fridge magnets etc)
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I feel the same way, although not depressed (I used to be). I have settled in, and figured out its just the case in my situation.
Although I may come across as over-bearing sometimes on here, IRL i'm more bubbly, happy and very, very down to earth. I don't like any pretention (is that a word? :lol: )
Unfortunately I live in a more rural part of Aus, thus less people I meet, and the people you do meet in these sorts of areas are loud, brutish over-bearing people. As I am naturally quiet of nature, I don't do well with those type of people. As for homeschooling circles, the people also tend to be loud, take-charge kind of people. I'm more of a "let's hold hands and create peace" type of person. I like to laugh, be silly, and talk, without feeling like I am being looked down upon (which is the case 99% of the time, as I have my own unique personality and am quite open when you get to know me, and I'll admit, a bit of a chatterbox :tongue_smilie: )
If you were near me, I would invite you over :D We have lots of good messy fun round here :) Hopefully you find some good friends and some people close to you on here, I'm wishing for you honey xxx
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:iagree: As an introvert, I think that communication with strangers is the key. I don't interview well though I am highly qualified to perform the job skills. I just don't have that gift to gab that will wow the interviewer. Despite being an introvert does your son have the skills necessary to ace an interview or hold his own in the business world/social situations? If he can hold his own in those types of situations, then "don't fix what ain't broke". :)
Exactly! I perform admirably at interviews, usually landing whatever job I go for. At the jobs I have had have all been customer service related. I worked in Real Estate (starting with being a receptionist, then admin and all the way upto property manager), I've worked in clothing & pet stores, offices, Animal Rescues. All of these include dealing with potentially volatile situations & defusing them, and daily contact with a lot of strangers. I actually love customer service jobs and interacting with people. BUT, that doesn't mean I am the same in my personal life. I prefer solitude, and the most contact I have "socially" now is with forums like these. They give me the dose of the real world I need, without constantly being interrupted by phones or drop-ins when I just want to read, relax and have quiet. I can go a week without actually "talking" I doesn't mean I can't talk :lol: I even have a youtube channel with a "stranger" I met on a forum, we talk over skype and play games :) I have a social life, I just do it my own way.
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hmmmmm....I'm guessing I am the only one who likes fake grass? :D I actually bought some and laid it down in our giant playroom, along with a playset with a slide, swing etc. Indoor playground! Also had a tent and a little mini picket fence :tongue_smilie:
I was thinking of replacing the grass out part of the front of the farm with fake grass, and putting playground fencing around and a home-built playground in it. An area outside where the kids can be watched, and don't have to worry about dog poop from the dogs :D I love fake grass, but then we have had 2 acres to mow with only a whipper snipper and a normal lawnmower, we actually only got a ride-on today. So when you have been through that....fake grass seems like a miracle product :lol:
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hmmm...I knew nothing about this either. I may read the books, the watch the movie now, thanks! :)
I was wondering what was so big about this movie, but I am very fond of dystopian novels, so this sounds interesting!
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Well from what I have been researching, its pretty much 50/50 here on the boards for that.
50% saying it didn't live up to its hype, the IGs were higgledy-piggledy etc
and
50% saying they loved it and their child says it was the best year of their homeschooling
So :lol: Good luck LOL.
I love the look of Winterpromise myself. I suppose if you are one to pull it apart and start again, you'll definitely love it. If you use it as is, its a 50/50. If you are one to supplement, you'll probably love it as a spine.
A lot of people don't seem to like the LA though.
I know its not exactly what your after, but hopefully thats helped some :)
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Gosh, I do understand completely. I'm left-handed and if I had one wish right now it would probably be to be right handed. :lol:
The WORST bit of being a left-hander is smudging. I am constantly smudging words because the side of my palm brushes against them, and if I don't use my palm as a guide/brace then my writing ends up even more illegible. Maybe I should of become a doctor :lol:
I hope you find a solution honey xxx
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I agree with most people who have already replied.
I was & am a happy "social" person. I like talking, I like people etc. I take trips/holidays to see good friends & hang out with them.
But at the same time I am a big introvert. Meeting people I don't know, large groups etc, makes me shy & unhappy. I much prefer solitude, books, the computer and playing with my kids. For me it is a choice, not something I am stuck behind. If I wanted to, I could "play" social skills with the rest of them, have a horde of friends, constantly be on the phone or out chatting with mums, but it wouldn't be me. The thought of constantly talking to everyone, putting on airs & graces, being polite, etc, REALLY exhausts me. I'd much rather do crafts, cook or talk to my family. I did go through a period where I "became" the person my parents wanted me to be, to make them happy. And it did, and to them, I looked happy, apparently happiness includes lots of makeup and showers and constantly rushing out the door, and never being home :lol: But I was miserable. I wanted to be at home reading, talking to my parents (weird I know), watching TV, and only occassionally catching up with a good friend or two. During that time I was constantly at parties, smiling, laughing, and I would get home absolutely exhausted with a giant headache, only to get up and do it over again. After I moved out of their place, I was able to be myself again, and was much happier.
No matter what goes on, your first & only thought in this situation should be your child. Don't do what you "believe" is in his best interests unless you are really sure. Its best for both parents to sit down with the child and have a discussion (not an argument or debate) and try to put yourself in his shoes. If he's happy for the moment, then he's happy.
Have your DH try asking if theres anything he could help with that would make him happier. Maybe DH is seeing other kids and feeling his child is being "left out" and feels helpless and wants to do something. Try to make him understand its not necessarily good to be putting him in school just for social skills. Maybe all your son wants is a bigger desk and all Dad wants is to make him happy and bring out the best in him.
xxx
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To me they are both them same, BUT wait till I have finished writing :tongue_smilie:
The Ordinary Parents guide, 100EZ, Alphaphonics & Phonics Pathways are all the same in that they are taking the no frills, one simple book drill approach. So if this is the approach you are after, then these are the main books to choose from.
Each one slightly differs in their "Script", fonts and writing styles.
The Ordinary Parents Guide to Reading wins hands down to me. I tried this with my daughter, and it wasn't for her (we then moved on to ETC, which also isn't for her lol, we are trying AAR this year *cross your fingers for us*)
But even if it ends up not being used for the lessons as your curriculum, it is still super helpful for ideas, and how to help your child to read. Even though we no longer use it for our phonics, I use it as a reference tool, and I even recommend it to those using other programs.
HTH xx
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I have seen quite a number of homeschool mums selling & buying on there, there is even a homeschool category for stuff that only really applies to homeschool or is meant for one on one type situations.
I'm on there, may look at selling stuff later, but for the moment, I'm having fun buying little units and ideas on there.
I love it, its the first place I check when I'm looking for things, as the units are so much more interesting and ideal for us than commercial stuff.
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We have lots of supplements, but thats because DD has the same natural aptitude for Maths as I had (don't you love genes? lol) so I wanted to develop that fully. Supplements are also good to make sure you understand a subject fully, especially if you get them in different "ways".
i.e. the Challenging word problems is laid out/presented differently from the main workbook, so if you did want to get just one supplement, I would suggest that, as its meant to go along with it, so fits better. We have the Intensive Practives, CWP and Process Skills or something with an alien on it LOL. I also have Life of Freds Elementary series and Maths for a living education, both of these are more story type living maths books.
Really all you need is the books you have an manipulatives, if she doesn't "get" a certain part, play around with the manipulatives and ideas from the HIG. Worst case, if shes really failing on a certain "area" (addition, fractions, whatever) get a digital program that will cover just that one area (math mammoth etc) that way you have hte item instantly and when you need it, but without spending extra monet unless you need to.
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Its not secular, but its easy enough to ignore the bible bits, so I would suggest
Bright Beginnings
Its available from rainbow resource, two books $40, and a whole 1-2years (depending on how slow you take it) curriculum in phonics, maths, health, fitness, everything.
I prefer secular stuff too, as I like to keep my bible teachings completely seperate from the rest of the curriculum.
We're using Bright beginnings this year to do fitness ideas in for all of them and it will become E's preschool curriculum next year.
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Is there the possibility of dividing some of the yard? Not sure how big or the space that you have but a nice option would be both.
Have an english styled wildflower garden and make a hedge before the side or end of the yard (or bushes to make a hedge style thing) have one small gap someone could walk through into a empty zen type rock space, a little corner of the garden cut-off from the rest to meditate and relax :D
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Confessions of a Homeschooler has great programs, so if she has one out, I would have a look at that.
If I wanted to do something like that though, I would probably put it together myself, this allows you to get this stuff you'd be interested in.
For the moment we have two overviews of the composer's in our curriculum. MusIQ has one in our piano program, and Harmony Fine Arts has one in their Overview year we are doing.
But if I were actually concentrating on it as a "subject" I would find out composers by era, get a unit study (or make one) of an overview of that era (medieval, baroque etc), then do a study on each of the composers (or selected ones) from that era.
Wikipedia has a list to help you: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_classical_music_composers_by_era
e.g. Bach:
Squidoo Information & Links: http://www.squidoo.com/bach-composer-study
Mini Unit & Further Links: http://diyhomeschooler.com/johann-sebastian-bach-a-mini-unit/
Bach's Big Adventure Unit: http://www.homeschoolshare.com/bach_big_adventure.php
Don't forget Rainbow Resource & Timberdoodle when looking for whole curriculums or resources.
http://www.timberdoodle.com/homeschooling_music_s/32.htm
http://rainbowresource.com/prodlist.php?subject=17&category=5614
I'm going to go stickybeak at Confession of a Homeschooler's one now :tongue_smilie:
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Science:
Nancy Larson Science Kits
Magic Schoolbus Science Unit Kits
Noeo Science
Sonlight Science
Guesthollow Science (just purchase whats needed off amazon in one swoop)
Supercharged Science Kits
Switched on Schoolhouse (Home training tools have the kits)
Real Science (Home training tools have kit)
RSO Science (Home training tools have kit)
Real Science 4 kids (home training tools have kit)
History:
History is harder, theres no real kits I have seen, I'll just have to list ones and let you figure out whats interesting
Story of the World
History Odyssey
Truthquest
Tapestry of Grace
Myths, Maps & Marvels (free curriculum by bringing up learners)
Veritas History
Bibliplan
Mystery of History
Using hands-on activity guide books instead, like classical kids, Ancient egyptians and their neighbours
There's some ideas anyway :) xxx
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Ummmmm.....*goes to to my pinterest board*
Use Bottletops to make a bin:
http://pinterest.com/pin/171910910746012387/
DIY Angry Bird Bowling Set:
http://pinterest.com/pin/171910910746013959/
DIY Magnetic Putty:
http://pinterest.com/pin/171910910745529110/
Walk it Bubble/Tent:
http://pinterest.com/pin/171910910745529131/
Make & Play Hovercraft:
http://pinterest.com/pin/171910910745529137/
Fridge Magnetic Marble Run:
http://pinterest.com/pin/171910910745529121/
Balloon Ninjas:
http://pinterest.com/pin/171910910746032918/
Complete Craft/Activity Website for Boys:
http://pinterest.com/pin/171910910746014455/
Make your own Harry Potter Wand:
http://pinterest.com/pin/171910910746014110/
HTH xxx
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ErinE - By gosh, thats brilliant :lol: I love it. Sorry, but I'm going to steal your idea. I was all :bigear: coming into this thread and that post had me cracking up. Thank you!
GROWL! It's that time of year again...
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted
I'm getting that sort of way. I still have a little bit of time left before I have to start narrowing it down/looking at things. But whats currently sitting on my pinterest board is mostly wishful thinking I would say!
I can usually tone it back, and still be happy, BUT it would be really nice to have some extra dollars to get the literature, I really dislike using the library, number 1, its not close to us, and number 2, I prefer to have my children be able to re-read through it at their leisure and be able to actually "touch" the books. Because of E's temper and C's destructional habits, library books are kept locked away, and only I'm allowed to "touch" them, which is sad, but unfortunately, a neccessity if we don't want to owe the library money.
We used to have this HUGE charity shop (more like a department store LOL) and most books were 99cents. Everytime we went into town, more books would somehow end up saved from the charity store and be on my shelves, but now we don't even have that place to get books from, I actually counted on that place A LOT (from books, to cookie sheets for magnets, dress up clothes) to keep me within budget, so I have no idea what I am going to do now.....possibly a road trip to the next closest of that chain? *roadtrip!* :tongue_smilie: