This Page

So much of what I do is pieced together.  I would love to be able to say that we've used such-n-such curriculum for so many years.  I'd love the safe feeling of having one curriculum to fulfill all our needs; one program to follow year after year-insuring no learning gaps.

I'd love to be that together.  Okay, I'd love to seem that together.  But I'm not. {obviously}

What I am, it seems, is eclectic.  And meandering.
And rambling. 

I was contemplating the other day on how my homeschool life seems to be one of making homeschool soup.  We use a bit of this, a bit of that,  the recipe this year might taste great, but next year I will change it up a bit.

We just started using Writing With Ease by Susan Wise Bauer for writing with the 3 Littles and for Josie.  This is week 2 and I'm loving it, still.  That 's a good sign, right?

I love the philosophy behind her method, I love that she is a college writing professor, beside homeschool mom- and that she obviously knows what she is writing about.  I love that the directions are in the front of the book, and I can tear out worksheets at the back.  -remember my worksheet lust?

A review will be forthcoming, after I've used it a few weeks, promise. :)

Here are a few other stand-outs in our years of making homeschool soup:

• Five in a Row.  -gentle.  If you are starting out with littles, I encourage you- do this, a smidgen of Math and that is all!

• Headsprout phonics -online!  Because I am too tired/bored to teach phonics. again. -and my boys won't sit still.

• Story of the World.  I keep coming back to this.  The activity book has worksheets! {lust}

• Growing with Grammar - I was a diagramming fool in Jr. High. Diagramming makes me happy and squishy inside. -nerd much??

• Math U See.  the lesson each week is on video.  Each week is predictable, we do a page a day and then a test. :)

• Abeka cursive handwriting

• Sonlight.  -this has made homeschooling my elders much simpler. I love the books.  The lack of worksheets brings me seriously down, tho.  -I tweak, I stir, it comes out good...

Labels: curriculum, homeschool, show and tell

Headsprout Phonics Review-

Headsprouts Early reading program is an online phonics program designed to teach your child to read, in a fun-interactive manner without a lot of teacher (mom) input.
Yeah! -A phonics program for the mom who has already taught phonics 3 times now...the slightly overwhelmed mom/the tired mom/the A.D.D. mom/the mom who is tired of tying her boys to the chair to do phonics... or who is teaching 5 kids and is having trouble staying consistent with the whole phonics instruction-thing.

ahem,

My Homeschool Secret-Weapon #2 is:
Delegate what you can. And, electronic/computer delegation counts, too.

Headsprout will take your child from the very beginning of learning-to-read; basic letter sounds,- to reading at a solid 2nd grade level once he has gone through all 80 lessons. Headsprouts is phonics-based, but also has quite a bit of sight-word learning. Each lesson ranges from 15 to 20 minutes long and features great animation and different game type activities as the child progresses. Each lesson has a variety of matching sounds by sight, listening to the sounds said out-loud, point and clicking on the correct answer, and prompts for the child to say the sound. The lessons are individualized for the child and adapt to the child's learning progress during each lesson.

There are times when the child will be prompted to go get an adult for a section so the child can read out loud. (just in case you were in the other room wrangling kidlets, cleaning up after the dog, or telling someone how to find the area of a triangle...)


This program is pricey, but you get discounts for extra kids. I am not saying that you cannot teach phonics with a simple program...just that for kids that can't sit still, or for moms that have done this too many times, Headsprouts could be the answer.

For me, it was sooo worth it.

With your subscription, you get a packet containing a map-poster with stickers to track your child's progress. (Mine loved the map) ..the map also alerts you to days you need to get a booklet out for extra practice - the program will also email you to alert you of this. -A.D.D. mom loved this!
You also get a set of booklets for reading practice and a certificate for when your child finishes the program. Extra reading comes in the form of booklets and flaschcards you print off your computer..again, you will be emailed and prompted at the end of the lesson. These printable booklets are useful for coloring fun, too.

I appreciated the visual and auditory training for blending this program gave. I also liked how the later lessons left the game-style behind, and presented book pages- highlighting the sentences they were working on, and once finishing the passage, asking comprehension questions. The comprehension questions were usually in the form of a picture, read the sentence and choose the right picture to go with it. Once the correct answer was chosen, the child was rewarded with an animated story.

After each lesson, you get an email detailing progress made that day, what booklets the child can read for practice, and very detailed information about which sounds/blends were covered. I found this part very, very helpful for my record-keeping needs for my charter school program.

Cons: * price. Still worth it to me. *student has to start at beginning of program. This could be a problem if your child is reading some, already. When we started, Demi-Sky was already reading at almost a 1st grade level. I decided to go with it, and I could see the need to start at the beginning, because Headsprout teaches sounds with a different sequence then the other programs I have used...many things were too easy for him, but there was also some new sound patterns he didn't know. *The types of games over time would become predictable. The program did a good job of mixing things up, though. Blocks of lessons involved different 'worlds' and different characters, so as things became too repetitive, the 'world' usually changed.
*no teaching of phonics 'rules'. No, 'magic e' or 'when two vowels go walking, the first does the talking' sort of rules to remember. Learning seemed to happen from repetition, sight recognition and practice. I do think to get a good, rounded experience that will produce a great speller, you are going to need to add on a program like Explode the Code or All about Spelling. -Not necessarily at the same time. I took 3 children through this program, 2 landed at a solid 2nd grade reading level- and this with no outside program. (My 3rd student has an auditory processing disorder, so his progress is a whole 'nother playing field)

I whole-heartedly recommend this program. It's very, very well done and can take the pressure off of a struggling student and/or a struggling mom. It's fun, gives a good mix of visual and auditory learning and the animation is top-notch.

Headsprouts has just unveiled a new reading comprehension program for grades 3 through 5, which will be Available Jan. 11, 2009. It looks like another winner, and I am giving it serious consideration.

this is an unsolicited, non-compensated review of a program I purchased myself. :)

Labels: homeschool, reviews, secret weapon, show and tell

There is a group of dedicated homeschool moms who participate in a
weekly Homeschool report on their blogs. (You can follow the link to Trivium Academy's blog and see a list there. I've always wanted to do it, but I am just not all that together- usually.

Here is my offering, a few days late- they seem to do theirs on Fridays. It has taken me a good chunk of time to do...so this might be the first of reports few and far between. I have found some good curricula finds, and some good homeschool hints while visiting these reports- it's really a worthwhile thing, if you can find the time!

(this is the first part of 2, the second half showing the work of the older students can be found *here*)

Labels: homeschool, show and tell

This is the second half of my week's report, for the week of Oct. 5-10th.
go *here to see the first part, which includes work all the children did together and the work of the youngest 3.


The older students (Josie-11 and Meg-13):

*Math-U-See: Josie finished up a 2 page unit test for lessons 1 thru 20. She then finished up lesson 21 by completing 2 review pages and then the test.
Meg finished up lesson 18 by completing the test. She then watched lesson 19 on DVD, and then completed 3 practice pages for that lesson. Both girls also work from Daily Math Practice workbooks, each day they are given 5 problems that review different types of math problems, these are helpful to use because the Math-U-See focus on one main theme each level, for instance Meg's level focuses on fractions. Josie also completes notebook pages each day covering 2 times tables written twice. (she has trouble sticking these facts in her mind, so this is the solution we came up with.)

*Growing with Grammar: Josie is working out of book 3 and covered lessons 2.19-2.22 plus the 4 page chapter 2 review. Meg is working out of book 5 and covered lessons 3.2 - 3.6. Some of the subjects covered included; direct objects, linking verbs, predicate nouns and included diagramming sentences.

*Handwriting- Josie completed several cursive pages from Abeka, Meg doesn't have any yet- I am looking at Spelling Wisdom dictation for her...we'll see.

*History

Beside the history we all did together from our TOG assignments, Josie was also assigned
Life in Ancient China. Meg was assigned The Ancient Chinese. Both Meg and Josie were assigned Why Snails have shells and had a literature worksheet for 2 of the stories from this book. Meg was also assigned the section on Chinese religions in The Usborne Encyclopedia of World Religions.

*Writing, for a combination writing/History assignment, Josie and Meg were assigned a short 1 page report on a Chinese invention of their choice. Meg chose paper, Josie chose gunpowder. Our subject had gone over into the next Monday and Tuesday- just lots to cover, so their report will not be due until Tuesday.

I think that covers it...I'm sure I forgot something! The kids also have outside activities and classes such as skateboarding, Irish dance, art, and music lessons. (I'm going to pass on covering all that here, my head is spinning!)

here is a slide show of some of their work samples, enjoy!

Labels: homeschool, show and tell

Flipping through my Tapestry of Grace curriculum guide, I noticed that we would be coming up on The Odyssey in a few weeks. I am very much looking forward to this, and I already had planned on checking the library for The Adventures of Odysseus by Barefoot Books- to read with my 3 youngest students. If they didn't have it, I was going to purchase it, because it just looks beautiful. This week at the library I stumbled upon it and checked it out, what serendipity!

Demi-Sky pounced on it, curling up with it the other day- and he asked me to read to him the page about the sirens, wondering what the bird-like creatures with women's heads were.

I have to tell you that this book is a simplified re-telling of The Odyssey for children. I studied The Odyssey in a High School AP class, years ago- but frankly, we rarely had time to actually read the works we studied- I was lucky if we read one of the stories (I can't remember), most likely we outlined it and discussed major themes and literature types and importance.

I sat down with Demi, Sky was in the room listening, and read this aloud;

...."The shimmering song began. I begged my crew to change their course. I threatened them and cursed them but they were deaf to my pleas....

....As for me, I could see nothing. I could only hear a song so searingly beautiful I nearly lost all reason.

In the song I heard so many sounds: the beating of a swan's wings, the hiss and drag of the sea on sand, the moan of the wind as it blows across the broad face of the world, the rythm of the passage of the seasons, my wife singing-and all the sounds I heard were in harmony. For those few moments I heard the Song of the Spheres. Ever since then, all music has been clatter to me; the sound of a shield as it falls on a cobblestone floor."

I began to choke up, and I looked at Sky and said, "dang, if this is a simplified paraphrase, I have to read the real thing now!" (-I know, I'm profound and poetic, aren't I? Just keeping it real, bloggy friends...)

just wow.
go get this book! You can buy it at the Chinaberry catalog here* or from any other bookseller.
The illustrations are beautiful.

Labels: book review, homeschool, show and tell

Time for Homeschool Show and Tell! We just started a nifty program called
English from the Roots Up. This program teaches Greek and Latin vocabulary words pretty painlessly. All you need is the book, index cards,and a box to put your index cards in, but you can also purchase the pre-made word cards. I purchased just 1 set of the pre-made cards for my older kids to use as a model, I actually wanted them to make their own cards, I strongly believe that the process of making them and writing them will help them learn them.

Here is a photo of the cards I started Sunday night. I used a smaller card as a template for the borders. The red borders are for the Latin words, the green for the Greek words. I wrote the first word on the cards, and left the back blank for the 2 older students. For the 3 young students (ages 6, 8 and 8) I wrote the derivatives on the card since my handwriting is neater and you have to write small, I had them print the definition themselves during our lesson.

For the lesson, I used a whiteboard to write the word and defintion, gave the definition and talked about the derivatives and their meanings. It took a few minutes, tops.

We did the word "photos" for this week. I am toying with the thought of doing two words a week, since it was so simple and easy...but I'm not sure if it would be too much for the 3 littles, I want them to actually 'retain' the info, kwim? We will be starting Latin next week, so I don't want to throw too much at them. I do think the two older girls (ages 11 and 13 ) could easily handle two words a week.

This program is really easy to use, and the instructors book is very informative and lays out each lesson in a concise, easy -to- follow way.

This one is a definite keeper!

Labels: homeschool, show and tell

Here's a new homeschool show and tell, I haven't done one in a while... I thought I would share a program I started using mid-year and really, really like.

Growing with Grammar is a gentle, no-frills program that is designed to be used independently by your students. I love, love, love this fact. I am homeschooling 5 kids...I just can't be all things to all people, and I only have so much time in the day to teach 'one on one'.

I ordered this for my two older students last year, in the middle of the year when Josie was in 5th grade and Meg in 7th. Each lesson is presented in the Student Manual, and is written expressly for the student- not scripted for mom. The lessons are very clear, to the point, and gentle. For each lesson presented in the student manual, there is a corresponding lesson in the student workbook. For grammar now, my students grab both books and get to work, I have a small answer key on a shelf. No more teacher book with test key, answer key, oral work, flashcards and student workbook. Whew! Too many parts wore me out when trying to use other programs.
Growing with Grammar is clear and basic grammar and does teach diagramming. The web-site has a thorough listing of subjects covered for each level and great sample pages you can click- on. The student book is spiral bound on the top, for ease of use for left-handed students.
The work pages are just the right length and when a subject is reviewed, the page is given so the student can check the manual if needed.

This program is a definite keeper in our homeschool. I will be starting my younger 3 students on it mid-year this year after finishing up First Language lessons, which is a very gentle- mostly verbal grammar.

Labels: show and tell

Homeschool Show & Tell

I have to share with you one of my favorite teaching resources. We were first introduced to these books when Meg was in a preschool co-op, oh so many years ago.
A Child's Book of Character Building by R. Coriell presents 13 different character traits such as "attentive", "obedience", and "contentment". My girls can still, years later give you the definitions of many of these traits.

Each trait is introduced with an easy to remember definition and a Bible verse, then you are given 4 stories-
for example: "Attentive" - "listening with my ears, eyes, and heart" the stories that follow are; "Attentive in the Bible", "Attentive at home", "Attentive at school" and "Attentive at play".

We always started with "obedience" - it's just flat out needed if you are going to homeschool... then followed with "Attentive", also really needed for homeschooling- if for example, I have a student goofing off during read aloud, we can talk about what part of attentive they are missing...are they using their ears?, are their eyes somewhere else? Can you just imagine all the teachable moments for these traits?

I wrote earlier about adding a new student to our homeschool, we fairly early hit on some behavior problems- and I immediately reached for these books and introduced them as a subject we tackle first thing with the 3 youngest students. Because of the dynamics we were facing with our new student, I jumped to Book 2 of this series and started our first week with the word "responsible", which means "doing what I know I ought to do".

We start each day repeating the word and definition together several times, and we try to point out how they are demonstrating the word in our day to day life or when we see it in others. When we were in co-op, the lesson was stretched into two weeks and we were given a chart with the word, places to put stars for the child saying the definition daily, and a place for stars when caught demonstrating the word. I am skipping with the chart this time around, and just chanting it a lot with the kids.

I really cannot praise this series enough, it is really time well spent- and wonderful, needed attributes to hide in your children's hearts.

Labels: book review, homeschool, show and tell

Again, I am opening up my homeschool closet to share my curricula-abundance with my fellow curricula-junkies, and with any new home-school moms treading the waters for the first time.

This gem of a find is published by Evan-Moor and part of a series covering several different subjects. I picked up
Daily Math Practice for Meg and Josie. We are currently using Math U See, and we are pleased with it...and yet I was a little worried the girls would forget facts learned in previous years and perhaps not learn any new facts that might show up on our yearly standardized testing.





Daily Math Practice is a painless way to add a little bit of review into your student's day. Each week you get 5 problems for each day and a little progress chart to track work done. I think the 5 problems is just enough, considering the girls have already tackled their Math U See work for the day.

It's a good thing, and- I picked it up at Barnes & Nobles with my educator's discount...very cool.

Labels: homeschool, reviews, show and tell

Maybe someone can benefit from my ever-growing stash of homeschool curriculum....

I love good stuff, and there is an abundance of good stuff out there in homeschool-land; I thought I'd share a peek into the things in my closet and describe a little about what they are and how they work.

We just started with Math U See this school year, after using a traditional, spiral, textbook curriculum (Abeka) which was very good and thorough...but frankly, it is designed for classroom use- and the price for all the different books needed for each grade, and the time needed for teaching each grade was overwhelming me.

Math U See is not "traditional" in the er... traditional textbook way- it reminds me very much of a Montessori approach, very hands on- using manipulatives to "build" your problem and then "teaching" it back to prove mastery. Math U See is also not "traditional" in the sequence and bundling of math skills covered in each book. For example, one of the books we are using this year is Gamma- and it covers multiplication...and pretty much only multiplication. A parent might get uneasy that division is not being covered in the same time as would be traditional. However, once the student moves on to the next level and subject, I think the subject will be very thoroughly mastered. We do yearly testing in our charter school, I am a little worried about long division skills being forgotten, so I am using a daily exercise book for the student's grade level for practice.

I switched to Math U See mainly to use the Dvd's that come with each level. I watch the dvd with the child each day (sometimes not, if I am familiar with the concept and teaching style) the lesson is maybe 10 minutes long and then the child works on the practice pages which include the "building and saying" part of the program. Also included in the practice page are word problems and review problems using a few skills taught in an earlier book or lesson. After the student has completed enough pages to show understanding, they complete a test page to show mastery and then you move on to the next lesson.

I really love not teaching the main lesson anymore. And it is a huge time saver for me, I can ideally watch my 2 older girl's lesson the night before- they are not long, and then let them run the lessons by themselves the next day as I work with the youngers. I do make a point to watch the younger kid's lessons because it is a new way of teaching for me.

The Math U see webpage does a very good job of describing the program and subjects covered in each level, and they offer placement tests to help place the student in the right level. I thought the books affordable, and I loved that the teacher book had the answer key incorporated into the book...I did not have to spend more money for the key. All the separate books I had to purchase for our other program made my head swim.

My kids don't grumble about math anymore (wow!) and I can see that Meg understands fractions now in a way she didn't before using the other program.

Labels: homeschool, reviews, show and tell

Labels: homeschool, projects, show and tell