.... Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 I'm not sure what train I recently fell off of...but in the last few months or so, I've really strayed from curricula with the 3rd grader and 2nd grader. Does anyone else use their own unique plan/curricula? If not, can someone lead me back to the herd? I'm not sure what happened to me, but we're really starting to wander away from things. I'm to the point where I don't even know "what kind of hsing" we do. :toetap05: To give an example, here's what we've done recently (last couple of weeks): Read 21 Balloons and Moby Dick (as read-alouds) Snap-Circuits Reading through CHOW Reading through a Kid's Encyclopedia about Climate/Geology - we're building a volcano Mozart Composer Study We've been doing Virtual Field Trips/Unit Studies online (oh, Geez, let's see...Endangered Species, Einstein, the Iditarod, Earth and Space-what is wrong with me?) Mondrian Art Study and a unit on Matisse (with art projects) Prima Latina and Conversational German Lots of math still (THAT hasn't changed) 3rd Grader is reading The Lightning Thief and we're doing a "Literature Discussion Circle" with it (is Lightning Thief even Literature???) We're still chugging away with WWE, CLE LA and McGuffey Readers :glare: A couple of weeks ago, I gave 3rd grader a poem from Goethe. And she read it. What is my problem? I'm surprised my relatives haven't called the authorities! Are we off on too many tangents?? :confused: Everybody seems happy. Have I just had too much coffee? :confused: Do I need to switch to decaf? Does anyone else homeschool like this? What do I need to do to get back on track? :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue G in PA Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 It all sounds quite refreshing to me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 I think it sounds great. A good way to get through spring. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.... Posted June 21, 2010 Author Share Posted June 21, 2010 :001_smile: Thanks for the reassurances. Ya' know...maybe it's the heat. It's over 100 degrees here and everybody's scared to leave the air conditioning. Maybe that's why we're doing so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyWImom Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 We are the same. I start the year planning on one thing, and by the end (of which there is none in sight!!!) it doesn't even resemble what I was going for. At this stage, I think it's okay. We are doing math almost daily now, they both read a lot, I read to them a lot, they are interested in everything, they spend hours outside exploring, playing, etc... I have different workbooks that they do, they love to quiz each other on state information, are constantly researching things; I could go on and on. But, no specific "curriculum", other than the math. We use FLL & WWE, as well as CLE LA, but nothing consistantly.:001_huh: I honestly think it's okay. More than okay. They are happy, they are learning, and they are playing creatively. It's all good.:001_smile: (Normally, I'm not this laid back-maybe I haven't had enough coffee) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandtinagilbert Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 Sounds great to me. Home schooling is for learning, not following curriculum! You're teaching, they're learning and you're driving forward in math, history, science and language arts...just for good measure, make sure they're writing about all this learning! Looks awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 Melissa Wiley had a great post on her blog a few years back about what she called "tidal" HS. Definitely worth a read! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyWImom Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 Melissa Wiley had a great post on her blog a few years back about what she called "tidal" HS. Definitely worth a read! I love this blog! And her "tidal homeschooling" posts. Thanks for putting it on here.:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaurainMD Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 Sounds like a lot of fun to me! And a boat-load of learnin' too. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama2two Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 Sounds wonderful!!! I'm not sure what train I recently fell off of...but in the last few months or so, I've really strayed from curricula with the 3rd grader and 2nd grader. Does anyone else use their own unique plan/curricula? If not, can someone lead me back to the herd? I'm not sure what happened to me, but we're really starting to wander away from things. I'm to the point where I don't even know "what kind of hsing" we do. :toetap05: To give an example, here's what we've done recently (last couple of weeks): Read 21 Balloons and Moby Dick (as read-alouds) Snap-Circuits Reading through CHOW Reading through a Kid's Encyclopedia about Climate/Geology - we're building a volcano Mozart Composer Study We've been doing Virtual Field Trips/Unit Studies online (oh, Geez, let's see...Endangered Species, Einstein, the Iditarod, Earth and Space-what is wrong with me?) Mondrian Art Study and a unit on Matisse (with art projects) Prima Latina and Conversational German Lots of math still (THAT hasn't changed) 3rd Grader is reading The Lightning Thief and we're doing a "Literature Discussion Circle" with it (is Lightning Thief even Literature???) We're still chugging away with WWE, CLE LA and McGuffey Readers :glare: A couple of weeks ago, I gave 3rd grader a poem from Goethe. And she read it. What is my problem? I'm surprised my relatives haven't called the authorities! Are we off on too many tangents?? :confused: Everybody seems happy. Have I just had too much coffee? :confused: Do I need to switch to decaf? Does anyone else homeschool like this? What do I need to do to get back on track? :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.... Posted June 21, 2010 Author Share Posted June 21, 2010 Melissa Wiley had a great post on her blog a few years back about what she called "tidal" HS. Definitely worth a read! Thanks for posting that. That sounds exactly like us - except for sign language :tongue_smilie:. My 7 yro did ask if I could put together a class on Lip Reading. :D Thanks for the encouragement!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 Starbuck, here's my "curriculum" lecture: "Curriculum" does not mean "that stack of books there." It means "the course of education offered by an institution of education." It is what you want your dc to learn, the content. You have "curriculum." What you don't have is a stack of books that look like school. You are using trade books and hands-on activities to cover your curriculum, as well as more formal instructional materials. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemykids Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 Starbuck, here's my "curriculum" lecture: "Curriculum" does not mean "that stack of books there." It means "the course of education offered by an institution of education." It is what you want your dc to learn, the content. You have "curriculum." What you don't have is a stack of books that look like school. You are using trade books and hands-on activities to cover your curriculum, as well as more formal instructional materials. :iagree: and copywork can replace writing in the early years, so they get practice without stressing out about coming up with content for papers. Have fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 LOL - sounds exactly like our typical days around here. Over the course of time you cover a lot of ground! If everyone's happy, carry on. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.... Posted June 22, 2010 Author Share Posted June 22, 2010 Starbuck, here's my "curriculum" lecture: "Curriculum" does not mean "that stack of books there." It means "the course of education offered by an institution of education." It is what you want your dc to learn, the content. You have "curriculum." What you don't have is a stack of books that look like school. You are using trade books and hands-on activities to cover your curriculum, as well as more formal instructional materials. Yeah, you're right. I must be having a temporary episode of "I'm ruining my kids too" paranoia. It's contagious! :D I also have an irrational fear of not mirroring the public school's curriculum. My two oldest kids don't seem to be fitting into clear-cut grade level molds anymore. I'm guessing the ps would say that is bad. :confused: Thanks for the encouragement! :auto: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 One thing that helps me is to keep a log of what my DD does-both formally "School" and not. Often I'm finding that when we've wandered away from curriculum that she's still learning topics in the curriculum-only in her own time and season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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