I have been thinking a lot lately about our style of homeschooling... I don't even know what I would call ours. I find so many different styles fascinating. One style I am not, is super strict. Due to working part time I have had to learn to be very flexible. I don't believe I have to create school at home. Yes we do the three r's.But there are many ways to accomplish the 3 r's then in a sit down school environment. I love when she has such a love for learning that she starts to look up stuff on her own, or watch history type shows or just picks up a book to start reading. I love the nature based creative part of Waldorf style, the imagination part of waldorf, working with the child at her level of development, the hands on approach of Montessori, the copy work and living books of Charlotte Mason style and doing unit style studies tying everything into one. (I don't think I explained Waldorf that well) But I do love the natural part of its learning method, to bring rhythm into our daily lives.
So here is my goal for the 2014-2015 school year grade 4:
For me to be more relaxed in our approach. To not compare everything to what others or public school are doing. For Samantha to complete fourth grade with the skills of a fourth grader. To foster the love of learning beyond the text books. To bring the outdoors more into our schooling. To embrace who Samantha is and and help her mature into who she is meant to be not who I thought she would be. To show compassion for her struggles. To adjust to her learning style not enforce what others think it should be. To bring more hands on learning experiences to Samantha's day. To keep looking outside the box more. To keep the wonder and magical part of her life in our every day lives longer because before I know it she will be grown. To keep God a big part of our daily lives. To help Samantha to be kind and compassionate.
So here is a schedule I hope to follow loosely.
Monday- Five in a Row, math, spelling, Grammar, science and history (Heart of Dakota). get out into nature
Tuesday- (hockey season time) Homeschool skating time, FIAR, math, spelling, grammar, Heart of Dakota, get into nature- when homeschool skate is not in session to use that time to explore something like yoga for children or some form of physical fun activity.
Wednesday- Spindle City Co-op science class, Math, Spelling, Grammar, music, get out into nature
Thursday- FIAR, Math, Spelling, Grammar, Heart of Dakota, Health, History project, get out into nature
Friday- FIAR, math, spelling, grammar, Heart of Dakota, States learning. get outside
My ideas of getting out of the house and into nature more:
doing school work outside in our backyard, doing a nature hunt in the woods, go to the beach, go bird watching, nighttime star gaze, art projects using nature things to make creations, bring school work to the park, woods or beach, go to the playground, study nature, or simply just get outdoors and enjoy it. Enjoy each season for what it brings to our lives.
History project: in history she started learning about people immigrating to America. She is going to research her roots and do a mini report on it, trace our ancestors travels on a map, learn about the culture she is a part of, cook a meal from one of her nationalities. There is so much more I will add to this. I plan on it being at least a 4 month project. I want a poster board done with her drawings of anything to do with our ancestry. My mother has already done a book on some of her side of the family ancestry. This will make some of it easier for Samantha, I want a timeline for one branch of our ancestry. I expect her work to be done at her level.
Art & Gym- Heart of Dakota does art woven into the history. I might add some hands on projects like learning to weave, knitting, kite making, wood building(with Daddy) sewing, embroidering, and well other fun things I can think of.
Gym is all her physical activities- baton, ice skating, running around, and gym class at Calvary bible church.
I will also look into other opportunities like she had last year. Sam visited my great Uncle in the nursing home weekly. Well he has passed on. I need to find something else to help her keep on learning compassion and kindness. Maybe some kind of volunteering opportunities.
I know this all seems like a lot but when you actually break it all down its doesn't take too much time to complete. Her spelling curriculum said it shouldn't take her more then 10 minutes for the written part of the work. Some things aren't done every day. Heart of Dakota we only follow the history, science, geography and art portion of it. That doesn't take long as you don't do all each day... science is each day and some part of history is each day. Some things like reading is done on her own time.
I am sure I will add to this and take things away. But this is my goals. Once school starts up again for us I will do a few post of this ... a day in the life of our homeschool .... I will try to document each day once a week through out the first month of school.
Stay tuned for Samantha's view of our goals and what her goals will be
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Our Summer fun times...
Here is a picture post of all the fun we have had so far this summer.... Its almost over so hopefully we get to make a few more memories before we start school....
Friends and fun times.
Church Service in the park.
fun at the wading pool
Daddy Daughter dancing at Grandparents 50th anniversary party
Movie in the park. Can you guess the movie??? Yes that is snow in July.
playing in the down pouring rain... so much fun
July 4th
pool time with Charlene
planting day at the Scattering Gardens. Always doing it in Memory of Abigail Lynn
Playing with her young cousin Aaron.
Alien story time at the Library
Summer ice theater show The Lorax she was the nice Oncler
Her solo at the Summer Show doing the song Popular
Last field trip of the school year to Lego Land Boston
VBS at Calvary Bible Church
First day at VBS Calvary Bible Church
VBS at South Swanse Baptist Church Theme of the day a Super Hero.. She was Super Mom because I am super mom she said
Wear Gold Day at South Swansea VBS
American Stonehenge New Hampshire
At Stonehenge. We had so much fun together.
being a human sundial. She loved it.
Fun at Soulfest New Hampshire she was a little scared but she did it
Listening to her favorite singer Britt Nicole! She was in her glories.
showing off their ity bity little cup of Italian Ice
Beekeeping 101 demonstration we went to
Our Trip to NC visiting Mike and his girls. Sam and Selena being silly
Fun sleeping in the living room sheet tent. Fun summer memories. Look at how Evee sleeps her hands above her head so adorable
Sam and Evee
Beach time with friends.
I didn't think we did so much this summer until this post. Glad we are making memories. We are so lucky to have such great family and friends to enjoy our times with.
I hope your summer was as fun as ours.
Thoughts on homeschooling..
I posted about this before but... I find it funny what others think about homeschooling.
I find it funny how many people will quiz my daughter on what she is learning. Sadly she is just like her public school peers if asked what did you learn today most kids will say nothing. My daughter is no different. If you really want to know ask her it differently. You might want to ask me first and I can tell you all about our learning then you can engage my child in a discussion and she will tell you more then you want to know or maybe not.
At dance class a new mom found out we homeschool and she commented on how she could never do that she would kill her kids if she had to be around them all day long. That I find very sad. Sad for the mom all she is missing out on. Not saying homeschooling is for everyone. BUT to feel that way.
At her other dance class one mom commented on how we do so much. she turned to her daughter and said well that's how homeschoolers keep from being so isolated and unsocialized. Yes I bit my tongue on that one. I really wanted to say Since we homeschool and Samantha is not in a school for over 7 hours a day and then comes home with 1 - 2 hours of homework we are able to pursue her interests. We have the time.
I do love the support I have from some friends who thought we were crazy when we started and now they sing my praises. I even have a few friends who have come over to the dark side of life and are beginning their own homeschool journey! :)
but mostly I find it funny what people think. Mostly those who have no clue what they are talking about and don't want to know. Just look up on the internet and you will find all kind of false information about homeschooling.
I do find it sad when parents of public schooled kids get defensive and put down homeschooling just because it makes them uncomfortable. Its sad that in today's world people who do things differently and lets face it we all do things differently people tend to put down what your doing. Its like that with anything from schooling to parenting to what kind of clothes you wear.
I love that we homeschool. I love that I am the one who will teach my daughter. I also know that its not always easy. That we have those moments where I wonder if I am screwing her up for life. Then I see her get it and know we are on the right path for my family. I also love that through homeschooling we have meet so many wonderful people from all walks of life and my daughter is able to grow an open mind and hopefully wont get judgmental to others choices even if they aren't the ones she will choose.
I find it funny how many people will quiz my daughter on what she is learning. Sadly she is just like her public school peers if asked what did you learn today most kids will say nothing. My daughter is no different. If you really want to know ask her it differently. You might want to ask me first and I can tell you all about our learning then you can engage my child in a discussion and she will tell you more then you want to know or maybe not.
At dance class a new mom found out we homeschool and she commented on how she could never do that she would kill her kids if she had to be around them all day long. That I find very sad. Sad for the mom all she is missing out on. Not saying homeschooling is for everyone. BUT to feel that way.
At her other dance class one mom commented on how we do so much. she turned to her daughter and said well that's how homeschoolers keep from being so isolated and unsocialized. Yes I bit my tongue on that one. I really wanted to say Since we homeschool and Samantha is not in a school for over 7 hours a day and then comes home with 1 - 2 hours of homework we are able to pursue her interests. We have the time.
I do love the support I have from some friends who thought we were crazy when we started and now they sing my praises. I even have a few friends who have come over to the dark side of life and are beginning their own homeschool journey! :)
but mostly I find it funny what people think. Mostly those who have no clue what they are talking about and don't want to know. Just look up on the internet and you will find all kind of false information about homeschooling.
I do find it sad when parents of public schooled kids get defensive and put down homeschooling just because it makes them uncomfortable. Its sad that in today's world people who do things differently and lets face it we all do things differently people tend to put down what your doing. Its like that with anything from schooling to parenting to what kind of clothes you wear.
I love that we homeschool. I love that I am the one who will teach my daughter. I also know that its not always easy. That we have those moments where I wonder if I am screwing her up for life. Then I see her get it and know we are on the right path for my family. I also love that through homeschooling we have meet so many wonderful people from all walks of life and my daughter is able to grow an open mind and hopefully wont get judgmental to others choices even if they aren't the ones she will choose.
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Its that time of year again
that I in planning mode for the new school year. I tend to follow when the public schools start. Its easier that way. We will begin in September 1.
After a lot of thinking, praying and thinking some more I think I know what I will be doing for the fall.......
Fourth Grade school year 2014-2015 (Shedding a few tears that my baby is entering the fourth grade)
Five in a Row Volume 4
Heart of Dakota for History and Science - finish off Bigger Hearts for His Glory then move on to Preparing
Math workbook from FlashKids and Easy Peasy All in One homeschoolimg
Grammar- workbook and Mobymax (internet)
Spelling You See Level D
Health- The Care & Keeping of you: The Body Book for Girls and the go along lap book
Outside the home classes and groups:
Calvary Bible homeschoolers - art and gym
Spindle City Co op science class
Life Homeschool Group for field trips
Newport Country Childrens Choir (Hopefully they will do it this year again)
Outside the home extra activities:
Baton at the rec center
Ice skating lessons
Free homeschoool ice skating at the Abby
Looking at this list it seems like a lot. But really its not.
Some of what we are using this year is not what I originally planned. But life has a way of changing things up when we least expect it. My job is no longer. My client lost her medicaid due to turing 65 and no long qualifying for it. That who paid me. So until they decide if they will still allow me even if she no longer has that insurance I will be collecting until I can find a new part time job or get my old one back. But this threw a wrench into my plans on buying the rest of my curriculum. So I looked for what fit our needs the most. So Math u See was out for this year instead I picked up the workbook at the bookstore and will supplement with the internet. Same goes with the grammar I didn't even begin to know what I wanted to use but no money. The rest I already had.
I am meeting up with the leader of the Life group and we will be planning how we will co lead this group. Then after this year I will take over leading it. I am nervous and excited to take over this group. Over the last few years enrollment and participation has been very low. I am looking forward to trying to grow this group and taking it to a different level. More internet connections will help.
Along with 2 good friends we also started Spindle City Co-op. We are starting with only one class for each level and see how that goes. We are hoping its a great success. I would love to add one more class per group. We will see. Praying it all works out.
*Edited to change what health program I will be using. Thanks to a friend who told me what she is using this year for health I realized I had the same book and decided that I could use the same with the lap book.
After a lot of thinking, praying and thinking some more I think I know what I will be doing for the fall.......
Fourth Grade school year 2014-2015 (Shedding a few tears that my baby is entering the fourth grade)
Five in a Row Volume 4
Heart of Dakota for History and Science - finish off Bigger Hearts for His Glory then move on to Preparing
Math workbook from FlashKids and Easy Peasy All in One homeschoolimg
Grammar- workbook and Mobymax (internet)
Spelling You See Level D
Health- The Care & Keeping of you: The Body Book for Girls and the go along lap book
Outside the home classes and groups:
Calvary Bible homeschoolers - art and gym
Spindle City Co op science class
Life Homeschool Group for field trips
Newport Country Childrens Choir (Hopefully they will do it this year again)
Outside the home extra activities:
Baton at the rec center
Ice skating lessons
Free homeschoool ice skating at the Abby
Looking at this list it seems like a lot. But really its not.
Some of what we are using this year is not what I originally planned. But life has a way of changing things up when we least expect it. My job is no longer. My client lost her medicaid due to turing 65 and no long qualifying for it. That who paid me. So until they decide if they will still allow me even if she no longer has that insurance I will be collecting until I can find a new part time job or get my old one back. But this threw a wrench into my plans on buying the rest of my curriculum. So I looked for what fit our needs the most. So Math u See was out for this year instead I picked up the workbook at the bookstore and will supplement with the internet. Same goes with the grammar I didn't even begin to know what I wanted to use but no money. The rest I already had.
I am meeting up with the leader of the Life group and we will be planning how we will co lead this group. Then after this year I will take over leading it. I am nervous and excited to take over this group. Over the last few years enrollment and participation has been very low. I am looking forward to trying to grow this group and taking it to a different level. More internet connections will help.
Along with 2 good friends we also started Spindle City Co-op. We are starting with only one class for each level and see how that goes. We are hoping its a great success. I would love to add one more class per group. We will see. Praying it all works out.
*Edited to change what health program I will be using. Thanks to a friend who told me what she is using this year for health I realized I had the same book and decided that I could use the same with the lap book.
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