Weekly Report

I haven’t done “weekly” report since January!!

History – Our first week of doing SOTW3 together was GREAT! We really liked going learning about Captain Cook because 1. He explored locally. 2. We read about Australia and made another pavlova which was really good. 3. We got to read a lot of books. There we’re probably some other reasons but those are the most obvious. We’ll be finishing up on Captain Cook today and on Monday we’ll be doing the French Revolution, there are mixed feelings about this. We’re getting a bit tired of revolutions because we just spent two weeks on the American Revolution but we also know people who live in France and we’re asking them what they think about the revolution which will be interesting.

Science – Thoughts on science are whizzing through my brain faster than I can process them! Trivium Academy has been such a blessing because of their Science by Seasons plans which I’ve adapted for us and because there’s a lot of science planning going on there too. Right now we’re doing Green Hour (yes, we’re still doing them even though I haven’t been posting) and science projects for the upcoming science fair. By Monday I want everyone to have decided what they’re doing. We were doing chemistry and physics but they’ve been dropped except for informal reading which the kids do during free time.

Art and music appreciation – We’ve gotten back into them after a two month break. We studied Mozart and Rembrandt this week and will continue for a week or two. After that we’ll do Van Gogh and Beethoven, then Monet and Tchaikovsky (?) if we need to do some more I’ll think about that later. We’re really enjoying both our artist and musician, we do Rembrandt colouring pages while listening to Mozart. There was great disappointment over the fact that we couldn’t find any Mozart music in our violin/piano books.

Logic – We’ve stopped doing Fallacy Detective this year. I LOVE that book, love, love, LOVE it. But for now I feel that we would be more productive spending our time elsewhere. I have put our logic/critical thinking books and games in a prominent place so that if interested DC can take a look at them. When I’m not thinking about science I’m thinking logic. Next year Chelsea begins the “logic years” and I have every intention of her beginning a logic/critical thinking curriculum. David and Mariah will do Fallacy Detective and I know that Chelsea could too. She has a mathematical/logical brain and would be mentally ready for FD, but I’m not sure about emotionally. What really worries me is abortion, which seems to be a major topic FD. It would bring Chelsea to tears, it brings me to tears too but I’m not sure there is any way that she’d understand or want to understand. I’ve looked at other things, but FD still seems to be the best fit. I’m going to have to think and post about this.

I’m trying to organize all our books on Shelfari, now easy task when you have over 2,000! I haven’t done any in days, I think I’ll try for 25 a day and when I get more into it I’ll try for more. The hardest part is choosing where to start, I settled on first grade biology and I’m still there. :D I also have to buy our science books and there seem to be so few on biologists, ancient scientists and hibernation. I’m sure that as I buy and catalogue some more I’ll find even more topics that I can’t find books on. *Sigh*

Happy Birthday!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CASSIDY!!!!

You are such a joy to be with, so eager to learn and always ready to help. I feel like you’ve been four for ages, but now you are and I’m going to miss you being three. I think I’ll have to stop thinking of you as the baby, now we’ve got Joshua and I’m pregnant. Always remember, you are loved greatly by your family, friends, God and Jesus.

We’ll be having a simple, low key birthday. We had waffles for breakfast, Cassidy’s request. Then we’ll open some presents, we had to stay simple because we’re on a budget so she’s getting:
Homemade diary from my mom who I think is amazing because she can make books (I’ve tried and failed)
A gift card for Amazon because I gave up trying to choose a book for her
A paperweight with Cassidy written on it (homemade)
A packet of beads, she suddenly gotten into beading
Pink wool so that she can make a scarf
A book bag that says I am a bookworm (homemade)
Goodness knows how many birthday cards; Megan and Laura have been going crazy
Some gardening gloves

She’ll probably spend the rest of the day reading, knitting, beading and poking around in the garden. We’re still doing school but Cassidy who just does “preschool” will be left to her own devises as usual. DH is coming home from work early so that we can make pizza and have a picnic somewhere if the weather is nice or else we’ll just have fun at home.

Happy Birthday my little girl.

Natural, parent and child led

Today I met with a new to homeschooling mom. She's just pulled her two boys (5th and 3rd grade) out of public school and wants some help planning her homeschool. I offered to help so today we sat down and talked. We talked about what I do, what she wants to do, what different curricula are like, the different schooling philosophies and I have to say, I'm amazed at what I learnt about myself. Particularly this bit of our talk:
M: "So, what's your homeschool like, I mean, what's you teaching method."
Me: "We're classical homeschoolers, inspired by the Well - Trained Mind."
M: "Classical? Does that mean school at home?"
Me: "No, or rather, yes and no. We do bookwork but I don't try to duplicate school. I believe in a more natural, parent and child driven approach."
Whoa! Where did that come from? "I believe in a more natural, parent and child driven approach." We aren't school at home people, we have a schoolroom and do bookwork but I've never wanted to educate in the same manner as the school, I've wanted to avoid it! But the more I think the more I realize that we are a parent and child driven homeschool, despite my previous thoughts.
1. Custom curricula
I always consider which child I'm choosing a curriculum for before buying. While Douglas is doing great with Saxon Math Megan couldn't stand it. But Megan excels with Miquon Math and Douglas "looses" all his math knowledge when a Miquon book is placed in front of him.
Chelsea is happy to write about anything but David can only do writing in moderation. I'm working on making a plan of our curriculum for K-12th if I can but I know that it won't be what each child uses.

2. Asking DC
Before I make a firm decision about a child's curriculum I tend to check to make sure that it looks good with them. I am the mother, I have the last word, if they say "I don't want to do any math this year." too bad, they're doing math. If I say "Chelsea, would you like me to order Classical Writing Aesop for you?" and Chelsea says "Mom! I'm halfway through Homer A, I need Homer B, not Aesop!" I'll consider buying Homer B instead of Aesop. I'll take their input seriously, this is after all their schooling, but I won't let their every whim dominate my decision.

3. This is boring, I don't like this
If a child says "Spelling is boring." or "I don't like spelling." I will ask why. Sometimes they're just trying to get out of doing a subject but usually there really is something wrong. My kids are pretty honest they know that lying is wrong and bad and that I don't except lazily done work.
When DC is having a problem we try a different approach, games or some time off have often helped put the cheeriness back in school.

4. Letting them discover
I have decided to take a discovery approach to science. This means creating our own science library so that my kids have access to books and other resources when they feel in a science mood. I am also making a discovery based science curriculum because I need some structure.
I feel that a discovery approach makes sense for science because that is how science has come about, through discoveries.
I am also going for a more natural approach to spelling, no more "learn" to spell this list of words curriculum. Instead I am thinking of taking words from our reading and writing and having those be our spelling words. That way, DC will be using the words we are spelling and I will choose words that DC has trouble spelling instead of words that are in the curriculum but they already can spell.

I'm tiered and starting to make less and less sense so I think I'll go to bed. :D

Biology, earth and space science

Here they are! My biology, earth and space science plans for 1st-8th. I'm scared of high school science and am putting off making any plans for that. The idea is that we will cover each science (biology, earth/space, chemistry and physics) three times, in the grammar years (1st - 4th), logic years (5th - 8th) and rhetoric years (9th - 12th). Please note: These plans are likely to change, they are NOT final! So, here they are:

Biology:

1st grade
Fall – Animals, science project, nature study
Winter – Biographies, hibernation, science project, nature study
Spring – Baby animals, science project for fair, nature study
Summer – Plants, science project, nature study

2nd grade
Fall – Animals, focus on three, science project, nature study
Winter – Biographies, Hibernation, science project, nature study
Spring – Baby animals, science project for fair, nature study
Summer – Plants, focus on three, science project, nature study

3rd grade
Fall – Marine biology, mammals, science project, nature study
Winter – Biographies, Arctic and Antarctic animals, science project, nature study
Spring – Predators and prey, baby animals science project for fair, nature study
Summer – Flowers, birds, science project, nature study

4th grade
Fall – Marine biology, mammals, science project, nature study
Winter – Biographies, Arctic and Antarctic animals, science project, nature study
Spring – Predators and prey, life cycles, science project for fair, nature study
Summer – Flowers, birds, trees, science project, nature study

5th grade
Fall – Marine biology, primates, reptiles, science project, nature study
Winter – Biographies, human body, microscopes, science project, nature study
Spring – Nests, dinosaurs, extinct/endangered animals and plants, science project for fair, nature study
Summer – Trees, bushes, habitats, science project for fair, nature study

6th grade
Fall – Marine biology, primates, reptiles, science project, nature study
Winter – Biographies, human body, microscopes, science project, nature study
Spring – Nests, dinosaurs endangered plants and animals, focus on one plant and one animal, science project for fair, nature study
Summer – Habitats, trees, exotic animals, science project, nature study

7th grade
Fall – Amphibians, bugs, birds, science project, nature study
Winter – Biographies, microscopes, Creation/evolution, science project, nature study
Spring – Local plants and animals, dinosaurs, science project for fair, nature study
Summer – Domestic animals, mammals, trees, science project, nature study

8th grade
Fall – Amphibians, bugs, birds, science project, nature study
Winter – Biographies, Creation/evolution, microscopes, science project, nature study
Spring – Local plants and animals, dinosaurs, life cycles, science project for fair, nature study
Summer – Nocturnal animals, domestic animals, mammals, science project, nature study

Earth and Space science:

1st grade
Fall – Seasons, climate, science project, nature study
Winter – Solar system, biographies, science project, nature study
Spring – Deserts, forests, jungles, science project for fair, nature study
Summer – Arctic, Antarctica, weather, science project, nature study

2nd grade
Fall – Seasons, North America, South America, science project, nature study
Winter – Solar system, biographies, science project, nature study
Spring – Deserts, forests, jungles, science project for fair, nature study
Summer – Arctic, Antarctica, weather, science project, nature study

3rd grade
Fall – Planets, dwarf planets, stars, moons, science project, nature study
Winter – Galaxies, Universe, comets, asteroids, biographies, science project, nature study
Spring – Natural disasters, global warming, science project for fair, nature study
Summer – Weather, mountains, valleys, maps, science project, nature study

4th grade
Fall – Planets, dwarf planets, stars, moons, science project, nature study
Winter – Galaxies, Universe, comets, asteroids, biographies, science project, nature study
Spring – Natural disasters, focus on three, global warming, science project for fair, nature study
Summer – Weather, mountains, valleys, maps, science project, nature study

5th grade
Fall – Asia, Africa, oceans, beaches, science project, nature study
Winter – Biographies, space, telescopes, science project, nature study
Spring – Global warming, prairies, rain forests, earthquakes, tsunamis, science project for fair, nature study
Summer – Mapping, fossils, rocks, shells, science project, nature study

6th grade
Fall – Africa, Asia, oceans, beaches, science project, nature study
Winter – Biographies, space, telescopes, science project, nature study
Spring – Global warming, prairies, rain forests, deserts, science project for fair, nature study
Summer – Mapping, fossils, rocks, shells, science project, nature study

7th grade
Fall – Europe, Oceania, exploration, space travel, science project, nature study
Winter – Mercury, Venus, Mars, telescopes, biographies, science project, nature study
Spring – Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, science project for fair, nature study
Summer – Mapping, fossils, rocks, shells, forests, jungles, science project, nature study

8th grade
Fall – North America, South America, exploration, space travel, science project, nature study
Winter – Mercury, Venus, Mars, telescopes, biographies, science project, nature study
Spring – Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, science project for fair, nature study
Summer – Mapping, fossils, forests, rain forests, jungles, science project, nature study

Biographies will be for the time period and science we are studying.
I would like to have "Science Nights" for family and friends to come over and have fun with science. My kids will do a project for these each month. The one in the spring will also be for the local homeschool science fair.
I'm working on our chemistry and physics plans.

Where are we going, part two

Alright, I must stop saying when I'm going to write stuff because I'm NEVER on time.





Now, for the second instalment it the renaissance and reformation of my homeschoool.





Science





My children's love for science has not died, instead it is continuing to blossom. I've looked at more science curricula and I can't find anything that I want. I really want to stick to the classical ed. cycles, biology, earth and space, chemistry, physics and include nature study, science projects for fairs and child led exploration. I'll start getting a plan but then I feel it won't work and that I'm failing my kids without a curriculum. I really like Jessica's (Trivium Academy) science by seasons plan I wish I weren't so stuck on the whole science cycle thing.


WOW!! I like the science by seasons plan. I feel like such and idiot, I've been trying to arrange my subjects into months and here I am saying that I'd like to do it by seasons. Seasons seems so much easier, I have more flexibility and time. I feel like I'm in control again. This is so GREAT!

:D :D :D



Spelling



Spelling is kind of like science, I was going happily along with Spelling Workout (SWO) and then I realize that it's just busy work. Some of the words my kids have been spelling just right for years and there are other words that never seem to come up in SWO but my kids are constantly spelling them wrong. I can't find a spelling curriculum I like so I'm going to try to be brave and make my own.

Through the week I'll look at dc's spelling when they write. When they spell a word wrong I will take note of it and then next week their spelling words will be word, I'm just worried that they'll only use words that they can spell. I asked about this on the WTM Boards and got some great responses, I'm in full planning mode for spelling.

Latin

I want Laura to start Latin next year and I'm debating which curriculum, Latin for Children or Latin's Not so Tough! I'm leaning towards LFC which is considerably more rigorous tha Latin's Not so Tough! I think she'll get bored with Level One, I could do Level Two but my main reason for LFC is that I really like the way it's laid out. The activity books, history readers and DVDs all make the lessons so fun that I can't imagine teaching Latin without them. Mariah and David are having success with Latin's Not so Tough! and Chelsea is having success with LFC, so I guess I should choose the one I like more.

Literature

I would like Mariah, David and Chelsea to do some more literature studies. I really like reading and discussing for the grammar years but now that they're older I think they need more. I like Lightning Literature but the hard thing is which level to do. I think both David and Chelsea could handle LL7, I have more of a problem with Mariah LL8 seems to boring, she's read all the books and their next courses are estimated for fall '08, but it's only an estimation. I don't want to be scrounging for something at last minute.

There's lots more to think about, plan and post about so be on the lookout for more!

Where are we going?

So much for Thursday! :D We had family over for Easter and, well, things got busy.

I've decided to take this week as a brake. I feel behind on everything. I haven't posted a weekly report in ages and Green Hour #5 needs to be written about. Most of all I need to decided what I want for my children in an education.
Before Mariah, Laura, James, David and Douglas joined the family I had no trouble with our cycles. Before I began nature study I had no doubt about what to do in science. Before I began teaching with more curricula I knew just what I wanted to do. Now, I'm at a loss.

Here are the ideas that have benn tearing through my brain recently:

History

My options, as far as I can see are:

1. Continue what I'm doing, teaching Canadian history and SOTW 3. Next year teach SOTW 1 and SOTW 4 so that we can stick to the cycles. OR continue with SOTW 3 and Canadian history. In the summer do a highly condensed version of SOTW 4 and start SOTW 1 in the fall. OR continue SOTW 3 and Canadian history and next year do only SOTW 4.
I don't like any of these ideas. I'm finding getting everything organized for two history lessons tiring and I find it splits up our family into the adopted kids and the non adopted kids which I'm trying to get away from.
If I continue with two cycles now I don't want to do that next year. That would mean doing either SOTW 4 which I don't want to do because we had a catastrophe with it this year or doing SOTW 1 which would mean that Mariah, David and Laura would have skipped a year.

2. Drop SOTW 3 and do only Canadian history. Start SOTW 1 next year.
I don't like this idea either. We've been enjoying our study of Canada but I'm very worried about April and May. I'm planning on covering the first European explorers to Canada to the present day in two months. There is no way we can get a rich, fun and informative study in such a short amount of time. I could spread it out into June but Chelsea is so eager to study government and I don't know where we'd fit that in.

3. Drop Canadian history and do only SOTW 3 but read Canadian books. Next year do SOTW 4 or do SOTW 4 in the summer and SOTW 1 next year.
I like the idea of dropping Canadian history. We have Canadian history books coming out our ears which we could ready without the formality of it being school work. All the kids would be studying the same period which would mean less stress on me and more of a family feeling for the kids. The only trouble is tha Chelsea did SOTW 3 last year and she might find it boring. I asked her and she said it was one of her favourite times in history and she wants to do it again but still wants to read all those great Canada books.
Then there's next year. I really don't want to do SOTW 4, I'll have an 8th grader, 6th, grader, 5th grader, 3rd, grader, two 1st graders, a 4yo who really wants to be a big kid and a toddler who is desperate for his mothers attention. I'm sure the 8th, 6th and 5th graders could cope but I sense chaos, tears and the words "I hate history." with the younger ones.
So, that means doing modern history over the summer and starting SOTW 1 in the fall. I'm compiling a list of "must read" modern history books which I'll post soon. This seems to be the best decision.

I just realised we could drop Canadian history now and do it next year but I'm eager to get back to our history cycles. The winter will be an excellent time to watch the Canada a People's History DVDs and sit by the fire and learn about our history. I've got veracious readers who amaze me with what they have learnt through books everyday. If supplied with the right resources they will be able to discover their history and that of Canada.

Science

Never, right from the start of homeschooling, have I thought that RS4K wasn't an excellent curriculum, the perfect one for us. I've been so content with them and recommended them to everyone. Now, they've been moved off our curriculum shelf.
They aren't he perfect curriculum, they aren't the one for us. I've discovered the beauty of nature study and child led science.
Since we began our nature study science has been the most popular subject at Morning Glory Academy. Our nature journals our stuffed and it seems someone needs a new one daily. My kids our outside in all weather, observing all things and have decided that they'd rather study birds than flowers. They're noses are always in some science book, whether its on marine biology or engineering, inventors or pansies. Chelsea has been writing reports of her own free will on every interesting scientific fact she learns about and Laura has been doing narrations on ever science book in the house.
More than anything else science is driving our homeschool.
But will it stay like this?
I'm not sure but I do now that I just can't teach from a science curriculum. I feel as though I've looked through everything and it all has something "wrong". The curricula I previously thought were for unschoolers only now seem to structured.
What am I going to do? Where is this going? I've been asking this question about science, Bible, spelling, grammar, writing, memory work, copy work, handwriting, literature and logic. The only things I feel in control over are math and history, which I'm not totally in control of.

Coming tomorrow, "Where are we going? 2"

Catch up time!

I'm getting behind in my posting! Thoughts about things I must blog are charging through my brain but my time to log onto Blogger is very limited. I've decided to try to blog every other day. So, look for my next update on Thursday!