momto2Cs Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 What is on everyone's agendas for another relaxed homeschool week? I'm planning on: More of The Graveyard Book Possibly adding back in books from A Picture Perfect Childhood, which I had dropped earlier this year as being too much trouble, but I do find we're missing them in our Afternoon Basket More Life of Fred Edgar Allen Poe's The Telltale Heart, followed by The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror, where Lisa deals with a telltale heart herself! History: Both Builders of the Old World and The Rainbow Book of American History Science will focus on energy for another week - hoping to get some hands-on going! Art projects for the calendars we are making as Xmas gifts There will be more going on, naturally, but these are areas I am focusing on. I also can't wait to get a hold of this book, which should be here tomorrow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halcyon Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 thanks for starting this! My back is still messed up, so I had originally planned to take most of today and do house stuff, but that isnt happening. I power washed the driveway which takes forever and that's what pushed my back over the brink. Sigh. Anyway, kids did math and latin, and some history reading. THey are watching Man v Wild right now while I rest, and then hopefully we will do some science this afternoon. I have patients this afternoon, so I really hope I feel better. For the rest of the week, assuming I feel better, we will definitely have a more laid back week, mostly because we have a bunch of doctor's appointments, vet appointment and dentist appts all over the place time-wise. My aunt is getting married this weekend too, so we are going to help my mother out in preparation. What else.....I definnitely want to keep moving ahead with Math with both boys, but will continue to go slow with Latin. I want to catch up with Science, particularly the experiments. I am doing better with being relaxed! I think I am getting the hang of this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 Well, the big "relaxing" news at our house this week is that I'm tossing BFSU. Shocking and sacreligious, I know, and I will be embarrassed to read my old posts where I raved about it, but you know what? It just isn't working for me. It is too darn slippery. I find that I will spend an hour or more reading and outlining a lesson, highlighting the main points, pulling together books, and then find that it takes about 10 minutes to present the concept to my kid. So then we read some books about it. And we're good. Except that I spent over an hour preparing for a 10 minute discussion and some reading! This is more time than I have to invest in prep for one subject. So, I'm done. I can get the same results using living books, docos, etc. and I'm just tired of struggling with it. This year's science is going so well, too. We're doing a second year of biology, this year focused on the cell & microbiology, learning to use the microscope, botany, entomology, and equine science (these last two Miss P's choice, things she really wanted to add into our study). So I don't really need the BFSU-induced angst! So this week's science will be equine science & entomology, while I'm waiting for books & docos from the library to start our protist/monera and fungus studies! We're really enjoying adding Hands-On Equations to our math studies, and plugging away with MCTLA, just doing the next thing. Miss P is really enjoying WWS, realizing how much she is learning from it. She did the summary excercise of the excerpt of The Hound of the Baskervilles this morning, and is dying to read the book now. In Latin, we're taking a pause before starting the 2nd declension to read and translate from Ecce Romani, making sure we get all the 1st declension endings & cases memorized firmly. We'll also finish Alice in Wonderland this week. All in all, a very good week planned! Theater is over, the play closed yesterday, so that is a great, big sigh of relief for all of us. Now Miss P is eager to start horseback riding lessons. Oh, and she went to the symphony with her dad on Saturday! She is living the good life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto2Cs Posted October 8, 2012 Author Share Posted October 8, 2012 Well, the big "relaxing" news at our house this week is that I'm tossing BFSU. Shocking and sacreligious, I know, and I will be embarrassed to read my old posts where I raved about it, but you know what? It just isn't working for me. It is too darn slippery. I find that I will spend an hour or more reading and outlining a lesson, highlighting the main points, pulling together books, and then find that it takes about 10 minutes to present the concept to my kid. So then we read some books about it. And we're good. Except that I spent over an hour preparing for a 10 minute discussion and some reading! This is more time than I have to invest in prep for one subject. So, I'm done. I can get the same results using living books, docos, etc. and I'm just tired of struggling with it. I can so sympathize with this. I have finally decided to use it as a once or twice a week checklist-type thing... I get ONE library book and a Bill Nye video for both kids to go with the "topic of the week", and additionally ds11 reads from The Kingfisher Science Encyclopedia. We might or might not do a hands-on to go with it. I did have more elaborate plans for BFSU, but it is a lot of work. Besides that for science we're following a focus, which right now is microscope work using The World in a Drop of Water (excellent book!) as our main "text", again once or twice a week. We watch science docs and go on a lot of nature walks in the evenings as a family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybear Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 It all sounds great and I think you're going to love Project Based Homeschooling. We have slowly started incorporating it into our lives. have you been to her blog/forum? http://project-based-homeschooling.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halcyon Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 I really like her book but haven't implemented it yet.younger will love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto2Cs Posted October 8, 2012 Author Share Posted October 8, 2012 It all sounds great and I think you're going to love Project Based Homeschooling. We have slowly started incorporating it into our lives. have you been to her blog/forum? http://project-based-homeschooling.com/ Yes, so I am dying to read the book! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrapbabe Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 I've always been more of a relaxed homeschooler and don't have much to add to this thread. But I am trying to incorporate more of a living math approach and a bravewriter approach to our homeschool day. So I'm hoping this thread and future weekly threads will get me motivated and I'll post what we are doing. Thanks OP for starting this weekly thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewelma Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 (edited) Well, the big "relaxing" news at our house this week is that I'm tossing BFSU. Shocking and sacreligious, I know, and I will be embarrassed to read my old posts where I raved about it, but you know what? It just isn't working for me. It is too darn slippery. I find that I will spend an hour or more reading and outlining a lesson, highlighting the main points, pulling together books, and then find that it takes about 10 minutes to present the concept to my kid. So then we read some books about it. And we're good. Except that I spent over an hour preparing for a 10 minute discussion and some reading! This is more time than I have to invest in prep for one subject. So, I'm done. I can get the same results using living books, docos, etc. and I'm just tired of struggling with it. This is very interesting to me. We just read and watch docos. Very relaxed (until the science fair :001_smile:) We are in the school holidays for 2 weeks, so super relaxed here. What is interesting is when not "doing" school .... my older has: read Song of Albion and 2 sequels Started Les Miserable Done 2 chapters of AoPS number theory Practiced the violin for an hour each day Watched 1 or 2 science docos each day My younger has read in 10 days: Where the red fern grows The neverending story The hobbit Mrs frisby and the rats of nim Invention of hugo cabret Railway children and is starting Swiss family robinson Watched 1 or 2 science docos each day Played violin every day They have been plenty busy, without me getting in the way. Very interesting. (but no writing, hummmmm) Ruth in NZ Edited October 9, 2012 by lewelma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Down_the_Rabbit_Hole Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 I am getting more into the relaxed way of doing things...no schedules this week. Certain things are easy to do, you just do the next lesson or read the next chapter. However I started keeping a notebook for each child on what skills/topics were covered. Nothing in depth, just a simple list something like: Date, dd English: articles, diagramming adjectives Math: estimate thousands, adding with carrying Science: Venus and spiders Geography: Antarctica Reading; Bunnicula Read-aloud: The Whipping Boy Audio: Peter and the Starcatcher I plan on doing some kind of spread sheet or computer thing so at the end of the yr I can print it out and put it in the packet we need to turn in. Theme this week was suppose to be Bats but we are extending the Spider theme because we didn't get everything done that we wanted to do. Big project of the week is getting dd to ride a bike. She turns 8 in a few weeks and has decided this is her goal. We tried a bike before but she was too petrified to even move. So for this week we are working on feeling comfortable on the bike and learning to turn without tipping...training wheels tend to do this id the turn is sharp. Ds is working with all the mushrooms we collected last week. We set them on paper to collect falling spores which he will look at under the microscope. I had him take pictures of them before we collected them and the pics will be part of his ongoing 4 yr High School project of recording Iowa City's flora. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 This is very interesting to me. We just read and watch docos. Very relaxed (until the science fair :001_smile:) Ruth in NZ Yes, you are one of the people who inspired me to toss the book out the window - you, regentrude, 8FilltheHeart, and a couple others. :D Seriously, I have gotten a lot from BFSU, so I don't consider it a waste at all. It's helped me to think about how to approach teaching science: fostering conceptual understanding, connection between disciplines, and no whizz-bang demos just for the sake of doing them. I still consider it an excellent resource for the elementary science *teacher*. I'm just not going to try to *do* the lessons as written anymore. For biology, it is really easy for me, because I've been studying and working in various aspects of biology all my life. So I don't need the "how to teach this" at the level that BFSU provides. My kids know so much of what is in the first two volumes just because we have been talking, observing, reading, and playing with stuff since they were little. With Physics (for next year) on the other hand, I'm pretty intimidated about how to teach this, and BFSU is way to slippery and hard to get ahold of to be any help. So I'm looking at other approaches, but I'm pretty sure it's going to resemble what you guys have described in past posts, rather than a search for the perfect curriculum. Yay! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halcyon Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 (edited) something i have been noticing, nad I hope someone can chime in here with thoughts: we are still getting a nice amount done, even though I am not pushing as hard and the days definitely are more relaxed. This is good. But. I am noticing that the QUALITY of my olders's work when I DO "push" him is higher. Not math-for some reason, the quality has improved there. But with writing, I feel he needs more attention and feedback than i am giving him. Now, i know attention and feebdack are far from antithetical to "relaxed" homeschooling. I also know that i have been a bit out of sorts due to a back injury, and overwhelmed with finishing taxes and such, so my attention has not been 100% on his work. But it's interesting to note that some subjects are better off done independently, with him coming to me specifically when he needs help (math, science, grammar) and some subject (latin, spanish, writing) are better done as a team......while History is a coombo-he PREFERS me to do it with him, but his work is pretty much the same either way. ANyway, today was a reasonable day. DS did a lot of work independently, again in the late afternoon, as the cat had a vet appointment and then the boys had piano so the morning was busy. I am surprised to see how productive my older can be even in the afternoon, ,assuming he doesnt do a ton of work in the morning that tires him out. Edited October 9, 2012 by Halcyon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodland Mist Academy Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 (edited) something i have been noticing, nad I hope someone can chime in here with thoughts: we are still getting a nice amount done, even though I am not pushing as hard and the days definitely are more relaxed. This is good. But. I am noticing that the QUALITY of my olders's work when I DO "push" him is higher. Perhaps it's not "pushing" but expecting more? Setting high goals often increases quality and quantity of work. Sometimes it just frustrates. ETA: I feel a bit out of place on this thread. Not quite sure I understand exactly what relaxed means. Feel free to ignore me entirely if I'm totally off base with the concept. We are 8ish hours a day homeschoolers with schedules, plans, goals, and routines, so maybe that automatically excludes us! :leaving: Edited October 9, 2012 by Hilltop Academy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodland Mist Academy Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 We have lunch and tea outside every day. Does that get us any points? ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halcyon Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 Hilltop u can def join! The way we are defining relaxed (correct me if i am wrong) is OUR emotinal state while homeschooling, not the number of hours or curriculum. We generally have pretty intense days, but i am finding that when i change how i feel, my approach, my children and i are happier. Welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halcyon Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 Perhaps it's not "pushing" but expecting more? Setting high goals often increases quality and quantity of work. Sometimes it just frustrates. ETA: I feel a bit out of place on this thread. Not quite sure I understand exactly what relaxed means. Feel free to ignore me entirely if I'm totally off base with the concept. We are 8ish hours a day homeschoolers with schedules, plans, goals, and routines, so maybe that automatically excludes us! :leaving: Yes, i expect a lot when i am hovering over him, lol. He cant get away with so much as a misplaced comma. Dial it back, Halcyon! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodland Mist Academy Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 He cant get away with so much as a misplaced comma. Dial it back, Halcyon! :lol: :smilielol5: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 (edited) Hilltop u can def join! The way we are defining relaxed (correct me if i am wrong) is OUR emotinal state while homeschooling, not the number of hours or curriculum. We generally have pretty intense days, but i am finding that when i change how i feel, my approach, my children and i are happier. Welcome! I agree completely!! My focused on relaxed = relaxed mama, not relaxed goals or expectations or standards or anything . . . What I'm trying to do is shift my focus from the schedule/plans/curriculum, and instead of letting that drive what we do each day, to focus on the *child* I'm teaching. This process is directed at improving myself as a teacher, not at criticizing anyone else, or comparing. It's just really helpful to hear from others who are trying to dance this dance too. Oh, and I still have schedules and plans - I am breathing after all!! ;):D Edited October 10, 2012 by rroberts707 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodland Mist Academy Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 Hilltop u can def join! The way we are defining relaxed (correct me if i am wrong) is OUR emotinal state while homeschooling, not the number of hours or curriculum. We generally have pretty intense days, but i am finding that when i change how i feel, my approach, my children and i are happier. Welcome! Thanks! I agree completely!! My focused on relaxed = relaxed mama, not relaxed goals or expectations or standards or anything . . . What I'm trying to do is shift my focus from the schedule/plans/curriculum, and instead of letting that drive what we do each day, to focus on the *child* I'm teaching. This process is directed at improving myself as a teacher, not at criticizing anyone else, or comparing. It's just really helpful to hear from others who are trying to dance this dance too. Oh, and I still have schedules and plans - I am breathing after all!! ;):D LOL I can relate to relaxed=relaxed mama, so I'll join in from that perspective. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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