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Saturday, November 17, 2012
Saturday, October 27, 2012
A Day in the Life of Our Homeschool
A few activities from ONE day of our homeschool :-)
#1) I see Samuel coming down with the microscope because
Mrs. Vick used a microscope in science class today. Hannah can’t resist and she
joins him for a while looking at things under the microscope. Samuel asks me to
please let him know the next time I let bread mold so he can look at it.
#2) Faith goes to violin lessons. A neighbor takes her for
me.
#3) I have a conference with Isaac. I assign specific due
dates for a response to literature, a memorization quiz for the preamble to the
constitution, a chemistry lab, and history project involving the names of local
areas. I had watched the lessons on the response to literature the evening
before, and was again reminded how much I love this curriculum with its
encouragement of a personal walk with the Lord.
#4) Faith has a lesson on Beatrix Potter. Since Justin is
studying “authors” and “illustrators” this week in K5 with an emphasis on
Beatrix Potter, I let him watch the lesson with her. Faith has a print out of
the characters that she cut out and attached brads and straws so they are movable. She plans to do a shadow play with them today.
#5) Samuel insists that I go back and watch Lesson 46 in his
reading. So, I sit and watch it with him while eating my lunch. It is a
hilarious poem about a girl who talks to her plants. The teacher discusses
alliteration, assonance, and reading aloud with appropriate emphasis. She also
explains “overstatement” and Samuel prints off a cartoon page where he can
write his own overstatements. We giggle about those all day, and everyone he
shows it to comes up with their own ideas.
The teacher also shows different kinds of plants and how to
put them together into a gift basket. She explains to the students that this
can be a type of ministry for them. (We did a similar thing for a grandma
recently and this is why Samuel wanted me to watch it.) I learned that I can
plant my daffodils behind my hastas and hide them after they’re no longer
pretty. In the afternoon, Faith and Samuel dig up some tiny cedar trees that
were going to be trodden and replanted them for future gift basket use.
#6) Faith asks me to get her a notebook or folder to save
her special work in. She’s especially proud of her poem about Tow Trucks with
the picture she drew.
#7) I find Hannah on the porch with her portable DVD player
and her math book. Yes, it’s a beautiful day! She’s watching her math lesson
and enjoying the great outdoors at the same time.
#8) Faith has made a game (looks like some sort of board
game) and is playing it with Justin. I’m not quite sure what lesson that went
with, but I have time to bake a meal for a new mama.
#9) Justin asks me how to spell several words for a birthday
card for Faith. He also draws a really neat volcano just because he wants to.
I love all this activity in my house. I wouldn't like directing all this activity at my house,
but I love smiling and encouraging their projects.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Hannah, Samuel, Faith, and Justin's School Year Plans
Hannah’s School Plan
BJU Press J
Math 7 – DVD Distance Learning with Mr. Harmon
Life Science 7 – DVD Distance Learning with Mrs. Vick
Writing and Grammar / Explorations in Literature – DVD Distance Learning
Spelling 6
History with the Youngers to cover a piece of American History I hadn’t covered with her – with additional readers and memorization.
Plus Extras. We're kind of still thinking on that.
Samuel’s School Year Plan
Reading 5 – DVD Distance Learning with Mrs. Walker
Science 6 – Online with Mrs. Vick (before it ends in December)
English – Online Mrs. Cox until it ends in December
Math – finishing up Book 4 with Mrs. Vick as quickly as possible
Handwriting, Spelling, History, Bible all with Mom – and all BJU Press
When I pick up teaching English in the spring, I plan to add some Charlotte Mason type activities: copywork, dictation, and memorization, etc.
Faith’s School Year Plan
Reading 4 – as much as we can finish before December
English 3 – until December
Math 4 – starting in December
Handwriting, Spelling, History 4, Bible, and Math with Mom – and all BJU Press
When her Online Reading expires in December, I may combine BJU Press with Rod and Staff for a semester. My older kids learned so much Bible with the BJU Press readers, and I don’t want her to miss them. I will NOT be using R&S workbooks though.
Justin's School Year Plan
K5 Beginnings –covers everything but math and Bible
Bible – a few lessons from MFW K, Bible story books
Math 1 with Mrs. Lawson
Lots of Read-Alouds – I pulled a whole shelf full of books, and I want to make sure to read to him.
Speech: s blends and final consonants Language: Using subject pronouns correctly.
Free Educational Websites I Actually Use
Spelling –
Missed words from their writing and spelling journals into Spelling City. I put them straight into here and send them to work on those words when we have a small block of time to fill.
Writing-
Set up a private classroom blog. Editing is allowed. We put in Grandma and Grandpa from out of town and they LOVE it. It’s also great for keeping members of our family who sometimes “miss” things “in” on things. If our children ever leave home (and I’m in no hurry), I hope they’ll still post their stories for us.
Math-
This is great for fact practice. They practice each day for a very short time. They log in by clicking their name. It tells them when they’re done. I get an email report of progress once a week, and a notification email if they don’t log in and do their practice. The student tries to get the facts in 3 seconds for a smiley face, but it gives him 10 seconds before giving the answer. It’s just what I’ve always wanted and it’s free.
Reading –
Five to Ten Question Quizzes on lots and lots of books. Brian found this for me when I asked for something similar to Accelerated Reader. We don’t use it a lot, but it gives me an extra record of a few of the books they’ve read and reminds them to read carefully. I have started writing on my own books if there is a book adventure quiz to go along with them.
I know there are LOTS of other really cool websites – but there is only so much I can use! LOL!
*I use BJU Press as my "core" for all these subjects. These are great little extras in less than 10 minutes and fit well with BJU Press.
Spelling words from their own writing mistakes. I mostly use their journal entries from spelling, but if I've noticed another word from another subject I'll add it as well.
Xtra Math instead of (or in addtion to depending on the child) fact practice printoffs from the Teacher CD
Book Adventure - as a quick report of all that extra reading their reading teachers have encouraged
KidBlog - to tell about their projects, to publish their writing, to tell how much they love school (yes - they've done this), but mostly to tell their stories. :-)
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Isaac's School Plan
School Planning: High School
That would be Isaac. He’s in 10th grade this
year. Several of his courses are technically Grade 11. That doesn’t necessarily
mean he’s a year ahead. He’s doing ALL his core courses with BJU Press Online
Distance Learning. I’ve come to the place where I technically could teach these subjects, but I have
difficulty doing them justice with the time in my day. I did feel a little bad
when I found an old note from Isaac that said, “I’m glad I have a mom who can
teach me algebra.” We got lost in Saxon
Algebra 2 and with its spiraling style I couldn’t figure out where we got off
track. No biggie – he’s a 10th grader. If at first you don’t
succeed, try, try again!
Here’s the short version:
American History
Algebra 2
Chemistry
Spanish 1
Writing and Grammar 10
Literature 10
For Bible, I’m combining Isaac and Hannah and teaching the
Bible Truths C. (A BJU Press book – but not the one used for distance
learning.) He’ll continue working in Balancing the Sword and watch a lot of
online sermons.
Other extras – a little bit of Rosetta Stone, a little bit
of music theory & piano & maybe guitar, continue photography, Haiti
trip, lead some P.E. days with the younger children, and spend some time at the
gym.
I’d love to do Spanish 1 with him “just for fun” – I can
probably do it through the first couple of weeks. LOL! Ja, Ja, Ja!
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Getting Ready for School
This morning with an online Bible study group, a friend posted this status:
Matthew 12:34b "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." This is so neat. It's a really easy way for us to evaluate our own hearts and our kids' hearts. No wondering what is really in the heart. Do our words primarily build up? Complain? Argue? Thank? Express Joy? Love? Anger? Spite? Pride? Love? Judgment? etc. It's easy to look at other's words and know their heart, but sometimes it's easy to deceive ourselves. Maybe you/we could ask a close friend, child or husband what primarily comes out of your/my mouth? (If you truly want the truth). =)
I read it rather quickly, and decided I'd watch things I say today. (This is much easier than asking someone you love for the truth.)
A little later in the morning, I was making some last-minute phone calls to try to book fundraisers with the local schools. I have a dozen last-minute things I (notice the capital I) want to get done before our school year starts. Calling principals was top on my list.
I like to read the principal's message on the school's website before I call. It gives me a little reminder of what they are like. This morning I read this principal's message. Here's the last part:
I can't wait to get started. When we get down to mere days before the start of school I get a huge surge of excitement. That is one of the many great parts of my job. It is just like being a kid again and getting excited for the first day of school. I will get to see all of my friends again. I usually buy new pens and notebooks, and even think about what I will wear for the "first day of school," just like I did when I was ten. I hope that all of our teachers, staff, students and families are just as excited and pumped for the new year. I know it will be a great one!!!
It really convicted me.
She’s excited about the upcoming school year.
Really excited.
Have I been that excited about our school year?
Um. No.
I don’t think I’ve been actually complaining out loud, but I’m afraid to ask.
Either way, I also haven’t been expressing abundant joy about the task.
That’s because I forgot to be thankful.
Ladies, it is a tremendous blessing to be able to homeschool our own children. My mother worked as her children got older. My grandmother worked when her children got older. We’re getting to spend some precious years WITH our children. MORE time than our grandparents had. We get to share both the gospel and the wonders of God’s creation. We have no constraints. We have no testing. We have no meetings we have to attend. We have no standards to meet but God’s and our own.
We should smile – a lot. We should tell the children how thankful we are that we can home school them this year. We should let them know that we are so excited to see them in the morning and to spend the day with them. We should set a high standard in the Lord and cheer with great joy as we watch them reach it. I’m getting pumped as I type!
Hmmm. . . what to wear?
Conservative pajamas?
Homeschool-mom skirt/blouse and a matching pen behind my ear?
Mad scientist outfit with a lab coat and crazy eye-brow glasses?
Wildflowers and tie-dye?
The kids would think I’m crazy, but they’d probably smile. ;-)
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Why 4 Year Olds Need to “Do School”
For today’s lesson, we counted 100 pennies in groups of 10 and traded them for a dollar bill.
Me: Justin, can you remember what metal is in pennies?
Justin: Copperheads.
Me: A copperhead is a snake. When we talk about a metal, we just say “copper.”
Perhaps he’s heard that verse about the love of money being the root of all evil and associated it with snakes?
Me: Justin, do you remember whose picture is on the penny?
Justin: Abraham Lincoln
Me: Very good.
Justin: “Father Abraham had many sons, and many sons had Father Abraham.”
Me: Different Abraham. This one was a president. Ok, Justin all those pennies in your hand are really heavy and it would be hard to get them all in the store without dropping them so we can trade them for this one dollar bill that will buy the same thing.
Me: Now this one dollar bill also has a picture of a president on it. His name is George Washington.
I lay the one dollar bill on the table perhaps with a bit of flair.
Justin: Slap George Washington.
Too much Slap Jack perhaps?
So there’s a reason to “do school” with your four year old. . . It’s just too funny to skip.
Oh, and certain four year olds need refinement.
Monday, February 13, 2012
He Still Sings Even When We Pluck Strings - by Isaac Moore
He Still Sings, Even When We Pluck Strings
By Isaac Moore
Have you ever studied poetry? If so, how often are you hearing it? In our culture, you probably hear it every day at least once. You may possibly already know that music is another form of poetry, but have you ever searched it for meaning or encouragement? I know it is easy to ignore the words in a song when you listen to it while you work, but why not take some time to listen and judge our hearts. “Am I worshipping God with my life like he’s talking about?” God speaks to us often through brothers and sisters in “songs, hymns, and spiritual songs.”
Jesus said in Matthew 7:8, “Everyone who asks receives, he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” When we ask God for a word of encouragement or wisdom, He gives it to us. When we look for that word, we will find it, and if we want to know the meaning of the words, we should ask Him. Then He will tell us the mystery.
Okay, do you know of a lyricist who was a prophet? How about David? We know about him, but check this out.
1Ch 25:1 Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was:
1Ch 25:2 Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph, which prophesied according to the order of the king.
1Ch 25:3 Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD.
1Ch 25:4 Of Heman: the sons of Heman; Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth:
1Ch 25:5 All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
1Ch 25:6 All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.
1Ch 25:7 So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight.
This and other passages lead me to believe that many anointed songs are truly prophetic messages in disguise. Of course, like prophecy, we must still judge them by The Word no matter how true they sound.
God says that His mercies are new every morning. I believe that His encouragement through brethren is also new. Musicians, when they want to encourage, will often use music to get the message across. Though they are always fresh, certain words of knowledge or encouragement may stick with us the rest of our lives.
But we must remember this, the most important use of music is to worship and glorify God, just as the most important use of everything else in our lives is to worship and glorify God. The last six lines of a song I wrote, The Psalmists’ Cry, is meant to sum up this subject.
The psamists’ cry goes out across the land,
O and the psalmists cry goes out again.
This, the psalmists’ cry, will speak His words,
Following His will, glorifying Him.
Glorifying him, following His will,
Will speak His words, the psalmists’ cry.
*By the way, the Hebrew word for prophesy in this verse actually means prophecy. =)
Naba
Naw-baw’
A primitive root: to prophesy, that is, speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse) – prophecy (-ing) make self a prophet
-from Strong’s Concordance of the Bible (KJV), phrases in parentheses mine
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