Week 1: I added Indian content: vhs: "500 Nations"-series of videos from our library. We watched #4 "Nations, on American Indians", and watched a video on Christopher Columbus. Books: "The Apaches, American Indians", "Life In A Longhouse Village", "Daily Life In a Plains Indian Village 1868", "Who was First? Discovering The Americas", "If You Lived With The Sioux Indians"
(I own lots and checked out lots of books about this genre; and let dd go through these and read that she wanted; the books I have listed are the ones I read to her. But, she did read a lot on her own that I didn't document or 'count'. We have a 'reading corner' that I put current book ideas for her to look at. I had more of the "If you live with the Hopi" and "If you lived with the Iroqouis" in the stack too. But, I don't count the stack-does that make sense?)
Week 2: I added Columbus, Incan, Mayan, and Indian content. "The Birchbark House" by Louise Erdrich, An American Story: First City, People of the Longhouse, The Lost Colony", "Children of the Wild Water", "Before Columbus, Early Voyages to America" Video: Ancient Mysteries/Mysterious Spirit of the Mayans" Ancient Civilizations: For Children: "Ancient Maya" and "Ancient Inca" and Drive Thru History: Columbus, the Pilgrims, and Early Boston.
Week 3: content Indian related: "Meet Kaya": American Girl series. We've read this series before. I read Book 1 to her again and let her read more on her own. "Little Hawk's New Name". Weetamoo: Heart of the Pocassets, Massachusetts - Rhode Island, 1653 (The Royal Diaries) by Patricia Clark Smith (this is the only book so far that we started; but didn't finish)
Weeks 4-7: our add-in's were not related to history. We added "The Secret Garden" and "Matilda"; two of our favorites. Also not listed is :"The Story of the World 3" we listen to the disc's, color the activity pages, etc. This is ongoing and we do some every week. "The Thanksgiving Story"
Week 8: added in Jamestown: "The Adventurous Life of Miles Standish" , "My America: Season of Promise-Elizabeth's Jamestown Colony Diary Book 3"
Week 9:add in content related to Mayflower-Plymouth content: "The Mayflower Secret", My America: Our Strange New Land:Elizabeth's diary book 1", "Pricilia Alden and the First Thansgiving" , "Our Colonial Year", If You Were At the First Thansgiving", "Giving Thanks:The 1621 Harvest Feast", "The Mayflower Compact: American Documents" "Roanoke:The Lost Colony:An Unsolved Mystery", "John Smith Escapes Again", "Who's Saying What in Jamestown, Thomas Savage", "Daily Life in the Pilgrim Colony 1636", "Samuel Eaton's Day-A Day in the Life of a Pilrim Boy", "Sarah Morton's Day-A day in the life of a Pilgrim Girl", "Top Ten Worst Nasty Pirates You wouldn't want to meet" , "Pirates"
Week 10: "My America: The Starving Time: Elizabeth's Diary, Book 2", *We added in Hands and Hearts:Early American History Discovery Kit and did a different craft each day after our lessons--this is a lot of fun. "William Penn:Founder of Pennsylvania" , "American Girl: Kirsten (we've read this series before; but we just read Book 1 again to get the feel of the voyage over to America.)
VHS: movie:"Keeping The Promise" based on the book:"Sign of the Beaver", dvd: "Felicity: An American Girl"
Week 11: add in related to the new frontier : The Light in the Forest
Audio: Felicity: an American Girl -book 1, book 2, and book 3 (so far) (we've read the series before; but we are listening to it again while working on projects)
Week 12: finished "The Light in the Forest", Struggle for a Continent: The French and Indian Wars: 1689-1763 (The American Story) by Betsy Maestro and Giulio Maestro
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
June 1, 2011
Technically I do Week 1 of the IG; then I take the next week off from the IG and supplement my own bible (Swordfighting), and continue with the RA, Readers, Math, and spend our time this week focusing on either Science or Language Arts. I try to have Science and LA alternate every other week. I am planning on having Art coming in as soon as I can get my act together!
We really enjoy the History and Literature; but haven't focused as much on WWE, FLL, AAS, and Science. I lean more towards the Better Late Than Early style and only started 'spelling/AAS' when dd turned 8. So, we are on AAS 2 currently. We will finish FLL 2 today. We will start WWE 3 next IG week. (I am the geek who can't skip any lessons!)
When I was doing the IG the way we it is written; I wasn't getting my electives in each week. So, I am trying this method so we can build a strong foundation in our LA , Science, and soon Art. I am hoping once we get a good foundation in those areas; and once dd can do some things on her own that we can go back to the style I did with Cores K, 1, and 2 which was 2-3 weeks of IG and 1 week for 'left-overs'.
I can really see a huge improvement in dd's writing, grammar knowledge, spelling..etc. This has actually been a good choice for us; technically for her electives and also b/c we have fit in lots of extra books on history.
It was really good for me to not be a slave to the IG, like I have been. I am beginning to feel secure in my homeschooling choices and for the first time I think I could survive hs'ing without SL; not that I am going to leave SL; but now I don't NEED SL to show me how to do a day. I always figured that SL would teach me how to homeschool; and it actually has! I am thankful for that. As a new hs'er I had no clue what to do or how to do it and SL has mentored me. Now, I am trying to make the curriculum work for me--like I've heard many old timers say!
June 2, 2011
 |
| Lost a tooth! |
So Lessons on Tuesday were pretty horrible. Dd didn't want to behave at all. We made it through a few things before the collapse. Wednesday was almost as bad as Tuesday. We managed a few things before the collapse; but this time she had to do some homework (writing) after Eric came home and we were planting more in the garden. She didn't dally for long b/c she wanted to plant too. I also fit in a hair cut for her. She wanted a new 'bob' for summer. I did a great job; if I do say so myself.
Today; Thursday we had my doctors appointment in the morning. Then on our way home we stopped by the library to get some books that were on hold for us. To our surprise there was a Magic Show that was just about to start. So, we enjoyed Magic John for about 30 minutes and then came home. We managed about 2 hours of our lessons before we had to start thinking about our scheduled Canoe Trip with our 4H club. The 2 hours were not her best; and she was still stuck in her inattentive ways. But, we had given our word that we would show up for the canoe guy b/c last year no one who said they would show up actually showed up and we had to promise to keep our commitment...so I did keep it; but really dd didn't really deserve it after her poor performance this week.
The canoe trip on Boone's Pond was pretty great. I remember my last summer with my dad; and how he took a canoe trip with just me and it is a memory I cherish still to this day. So, I got to get in a canoe and paddle around the pond with my own daughter....nice.
The man that ran the canoe trip gave us all lessons for over 30 minutes. He did a great job teaching us all the strokes. Dd and I had a great time finding little coves and exploring. I spotted quite a few bobbers and fishing lures. We paddled over into the tall grasses and retrieved the hooks, lead, and all. We saved a future bird, turtle, or fish from that mess.
It was a very busy day-doctor, library, magic show, lessons, canoe trip, and watering our new seedlings in our garden. Now, I can't sleep! I wish I had pictures from today; but I don't.
May 31, 2011
We are on Week 12. We are really enjoying this process of doing one week on IG and one week off to focus on our electives. We did our cores K, 1, and 2 with way less 'left-over weeks'. But, now dd is able to really 'get' her AAS, WWE, SL Science, FLL. Speaking of WWE; we finished WWE 1 last week.
We were really busy last week. We somehow managed to get a ton of our lessons done, add-in's done, and went to the A. Park *Twice* and went to the Indianapolis Children's Museum *TWICE*, and we took dd fishing!
I took "The Light in the Forest" off of dd's reader and turned it into a Read ALoud. We camped in our backyard on Saturday and Sunday and had DH read that book to us each evening. It really gives you a different perspective from the Indians point of view; similar to that of Birchbark House, that we read earlier.
For audio we have been listening to SOTW so much that we needed a break. We started relistening to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and have really been enjoying that in the van. For our inside audio story; we have been relistening to the books from the American Girl Felicity series and are half way through them (books 1-3 completed).
The other fun thing we have done each day is that we start with our audio: 1)the track the IG requires each week, 2)the song of the books of the old testament, 3)the song of the books of the new testament, 4)FLL songs on our grammar terms-articles, conjunctions, verbs, prepositions... maybe a hymn off a cd to start the day with a smile.
We finished one week of SL Science 3 and dd has voiced her strong approval of the new material. I have been looking forward to this level of science. Annie had recommended a stereo microscope from Home Science Tools, and I will buy that next week. Dd contributed all her b-day money b/c she wanted one so bad. So, I contributed all my b-day money and wa-lah we will have it!
We were really busy last week. We somehow managed to get a ton of our lessons done, add-in's done, and went to the A. Park *Twice* and went to the Indianapolis Children's Museum *TWICE*, and we took dd fishing!
I took "The Light in the Forest" off of dd's reader and turned it into a Read ALoud. We camped in our backyard on Saturday and Sunday and had DH read that book to us each evening. It really gives you a different perspective from the Indians point of view; similar to that of Birchbark House, that we read earlier.
For audio we have been listening to SOTW so much that we needed a break. We started relistening to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and have really been enjoying that in the van. For our inside audio story; we have been relistening to the books from the American Girl Felicity series and are half way through them (books 1-3 completed).
The other fun thing we have done each day is that we start with our audio: 1)the track the IG requires each week, 2)the song of the books of the old testament, 3)the song of the books of the new testament, 4)FLL songs on our grammar terms-articles, conjunctions, verbs, prepositions... maybe a hymn off a cd to start the day with a smile.
We finished one week of SL Science 3 and dd has voiced her strong approval of the new material. I have been looking forward to this level of science. Annie had recommended a stereo microscope from Home Science Tools, and I will buy that next week. Dd contributed all her b-day money b/c she wanted one so bad. So, I contributed all my b-day money and wa-lah we will have it!
May 27, 2011
We have had such a busy week. Mon & Tue we went each day to the library and Arbuckle Park for nature fun. Wed & Thur we went each day to the Indianapolis Children's Museum for science fun.
Wed. we made soap in the Science Lab. The best part was getting to use all the equipment which made it seem more 'science-y'. We used their plastic balance; filling up the cups until we had equal parts. We dyed the soap with green tea so it wouldn't be just plain white.
In the Science Port dd dissected a flower; made slides for viewing under the microscope of salt, sugar, grass seed, tree pollen, vermiculite, sand..., rock art: lentil beans glued in the shape of a bumble bee, oh- and her favorite; she planted one pinto seed into this small little plastic cup with a lid. She used a hole-punch and put two holes into the side and then threaded a string into it; and it became....ta-dah: a necklace!
We went again on Thur. for the class on Microscopes. This is good timing b/c we are researching microscopes right now. I asked lots of questions and learned a bit more about them after the class was over. I want to thank Annie for already answering so many of my questions. I finally decided to get a 'stereo' microscope. Those are the kind that you can put a big bug, rock, leaf, petal...on it and view it. I think we can wait on the compound microscope until dd gets a little older.
We also watched a show on our universe at the Planetarium. It was great to see our universe, lit up across the dome.
We have finished The Witch of Blackbird Pond. I am so happy with how it all ended. All the couples matched up how I had wanted.
I am thinking today we will just stay home and work. We've had such a crazy week. We had Tornadoes touch down; just south of us. The yard is soaking wet with all the rain; and yet it needs to be mowed so badly.
Wed. we made soap in the Science Lab. The best part was getting to use all the equipment which made it seem more 'science-y'. We used their plastic balance; filling up the cups until we had equal parts. We dyed the soap with green tea so it wouldn't be just plain white.
In the Science Port dd dissected a flower; made slides for viewing under the microscope of salt, sugar, grass seed, tree pollen, vermiculite, sand..., rock art: lentil beans glued in the shape of a bumble bee, oh- and her favorite; she planted one pinto seed into this small little plastic cup with a lid. She used a hole-punch and put two holes into the side and then threaded a string into it; and it became....ta-dah: a necklace!
We went again on Thur. for the class on Microscopes. This is good timing b/c we are researching microscopes right now. I asked lots of questions and learned a bit more about them after the class was over. I want to thank Annie for already answering so many of my questions. I finally decided to get a 'stereo' microscope. Those are the kind that you can put a big bug, rock, leaf, petal...on it and view it. I think we can wait on the compound microscope until dd gets a little older.
We also watched a show on our universe at the Planetarium. It was great to see our universe, lit up across the dome.
We have finished The Witch of Blackbird Pond. I am so happy with how it all ended. All the couples matched up how I had wanted.
I am thinking today we will just stay home and work. We've had such a crazy week. We had Tornadoes touch down; just south of us. The yard is soaking wet with all the rain; and yet it needs to be mowed so badly.
May 25, 2011
I hope you all are doing well this Wednesday. We are doing well. We started SL science week 1 yesterday and dd LOVED it. I've tried the Apologia's Zoology book with her twice and she hadn't been ready to comprehend what I was reading; but she understood all the classifications perfectly yesterday. She said how very exciting this topic is and how much she is liking it....very cool! The last weeks of SL science 2 were covering a lot of machines (planes, boats, ships, combines, tractors....) and I was more bored than dd. I am glad we are back to more naturey-sciency stuff. Dd liked the machines; it was me who didn't.
We went fishing on Sun night; went to a park Mon; and went back to that park Tues. So, we have been face to face with mosquitoes and birds, plants, bugs, you name it. It has been good to be outside. We've been reading our Witch in Blackbird Pond at the park and enjoying it. Dd can play in the stream while I broadcast our book for all to hear (slightly embarrassing).
We are really enjoying TWOBP. I finally had to read the last chapter while dd wasn't looking b/c I just had to know how it turns out. It is really unlike dd to not ask to read extra chapters.
Dd is not enjoying The Light in the Forest yet. If she likes a book I give her as her own reader; she usually finishes it in a few days. But, she says that this one is not very exciting. I think I read or heard somewhere that the beginning is very slow.
I am thinking of reading Calico Captive next. I haven't fully decided. Calico Captive by Elizabeth George Speare
I have quite a few books that would fit in nicely next. Hmmmmm.
Our library is finally having a book club (I've asked for 5 years) for 3-5 graders. They are doing it on the book: Artemis Fowl (new cover) by Eoin Colfer
has anyone read this?
Well, we are planning on going to the Indianapolis Children's Museum this morning and do some science with microscopes. We will do our lessons after we get back home. We are getting close to finishing our FLL 2 and WWE 1; maybe in the next week or two! I love when we complete curriculum that we've worked so hard for so long on.
We went fishing on Sun night; went to a park Mon; and went back to that park Tues. So, we have been face to face with mosquitoes and birds, plants, bugs, you name it. It has been good to be outside. We've been reading our Witch in Blackbird Pond at the park and enjoying it. Dd can play in the stream while I broadcast our book for all to hear (slightly embarrassing).
We are really enjoying TWOBP. I finally had to read the last chapter while dd wasn't looking b/c I just had to know how it turns out. It is really unlike dd to not ask to read extra chapters.
Dd is not enjoying The Light in the Forest yet. If she likes a book I give her as her own reader; she usually finishes it in a few days. But, she says that this one is not very exciting. I think I read or heard somewhere that the beginning is very slow.
I am thinking of reading Calico Captive next. I haven't fully decided. Calico Captive by Elizabeth George Speare
I have quite a few books that would fit in nicely next. Hmmmmm.
Our library is finally having a book club (I've asked for 5 years) for 3-5 graders. They are doing it on the book: Artemis Fowl (new cover) by Eoin Colfer
has anyone read this?
Well, we are planning on going to the Indianapolis Children's Museum this morning and do some science with microscopes. We will do our lessons after we get back home. We are getting close to finishing our FLL 2 and WWE 1; maybe in the next week or two! I love when we complete curriculum that we've worked so hard for so long on.
May 22, 2011
I forget what week we just finished (maybe 11). Next week is a low-left over's week. We are still reading The Witch of Blackbird Pond. Dd is way ahead in her readers; so I gave her: Light in the Forest (Paperback, 2004) by Conrd Richtsr
We sold some of our extra/duplicate books at a curriculum hs'ers sale on Friday. I met another SL'er named "IndyMama". She couldn't believe I recognized her by her name. It was good to get rid of some of our boxes of books. Then we went to a book sale to buy some books on Saturday. We ended up spending much less than we made so that is a bonus!
I forgot to mention that 2 weeks ago dd finished her SL Science 2!!! Yeah!! Whistles blowing; cars honking!! I was so ready to finish that one up and move onto this one. We plant and garden so much I thought it would be great to look at our gardening from a scientific point of view for a change. We should be able to get a little science done this week.
Last week we listened to:
The Basket of Flowers : Lamplighter Theatre (Dramatic Audio) by Christoph Von Schmid and John Rhys-Davies (Audio CD - 2009) - Audiobook
and The Hedge of Thorns : Lamplighter Theatre (Dramatic Audio) - Audio CD - Audiobook
Our library got them for us ILL (inter-library loan) and they were so great.
We sold some of our extra/duplicate books at a curriculum hs'ers sale on Friday. I met another SL'er named "IndyMama". She couldn't believe I recognized her by her name. It was good to get rid of some of our boxes of books. Then we went to a book sale to buy some books on Saturday. We ended up spending much less than we made so that is a bonus!
I forgot to mention that 2 weeks ago dd finished her SL Science 2!!! Yeah!! Whistles blowing; cars honking!! I was so ready to finish that one up and move onto this one. We plant and garden so much I thought it would be great to look at our gardening from a scientific point of view for a change. We should be able to get a little science done this week.
Last week we listened to:
The Basket of Flowers : Lamplighter Theatre (Dramatic Audio) by Christoph Von Schmid and John Rhys-Davies (Audio CD - 2009) - Audiobook
and The Hedge of Thorns : Lamplighter Theatre (Dramatic Audio) - Audio CD - Audiobook
Our library got them for us ILL (inter-library loan) and they were so great.
May 19,2001
Thanks for talking about Writing in your homes; it really gives me some ideas. Right now for writing we do either WWE 1 or RFW "T" or AAS 2 or ETC or SL Science! We do lots of narration and discussion about material-verbally. But, I would like to help dd get a little more comfortable with her ability to write. I think doing the AAS has really showed her she can spell more than teaching her to spell. We are on AAS 2 and except for a ramdom word she already knows how to spell these words or can figure it out. The thing I saw, and liked, at the ps was that the kids wrote down ideas with a few words without that being the issue. I've always leaned more towards the "better late than early" mode of thinking b/c they said that the kids would naturally move toward doing things themselves but I really don't see my specific dd leaving her groove!
Today we am off to sell some of my duplicate books at a curriculum sale at a church. I've never done anything like this; but I am tired of all the boxes of extra books in my spare bedroom. Maybe this will be a good start in my pursuit of saving up money for the new writing program! My van is all loaded up; now I have to go wake up my dd who never gets up this early....this should be interesting! But, she made some signs herself that say "books for sale" and she is encouraging me to wander around the sale and she will take care of the business. That is not like her at all! Is she growing up?
Today we am off to sell some of my duplicate books at a curriculum sale at a church. I've never done anything like this; but I am tired of all the boxes of extra books in my spare bedroom. Maybe this will be a good start in my pursuit of saving up money for the new writing program! My van is all loaded up; now I have to go wake up my dd who never gets up this early....this should be interesting! But, she made some signs herself that say "books for sale" and she is encouraging me to wander around the sale and she will take care of the business. That is not like her at all! Is she growing up?
May 17,2011
Today we went to the public school for a field trip. I haven't really processed it all yet; but it was very interesting. The teacher was actually great. She goes to the same church our therapist goes to (and the principal too). She treated the kids well. We sat in on "Writing" b/c that is our dd's worst subject currently; and that just happens to be Mrs. Johnson's favorite subject. She did a very good presentation on comparing and contrasting and how as adults we are always trying to compare and contrast to make good decisions. Her example was parents looking at new cars/vans and how we research and research until we find the best one for our needs. Later when the kids went to Recess I asked to look at one of her students writing folders and saw some examples. The folder I read actually had a story that the girl had written about what she would do if *she were President* and the first sentence said how she would make 'all students homeschooled, and they could sleep in until 10 am'!!!! How funny!
This student had written long complicated stories; with great spelling and imagination. I was impressed with her ability. But, the teacher had specifically picked out this student's folder b/c she said she was one of her best students. The teacher said how ISTEP (Indiana's State Regulations of some sort) regulates or requires all third grade students to be able to write for a minimum of 50 minutes without stopping. Yikes, read that sentence again. It must just be me; but I know my dd could NOT do that. I know how she rocks in certain areas (geography, history, bible), but this was definitely a big blow to us. We really need to work on - I need to work on teaching dd how to write stories and/or write her thoughts down. I don't know if WWE and FLL will get us there or if I need to look at adding in another 'extra' that could teach me how to teach this to her. Any ideas here would be appreciated. If any of you have found a good curriculum that helps frame up how to write ideas; please feel free to educate me. I really need some help here.
The teacher had 30 students; broken up into 6 groups of 5 students sitting in a pod/grouping. There would be one 'teacher's helper' in each pod/group that would go get things for the group. When they were working on the writing exercise, the teacher's helpers would go up and get the small dry-eraser boards for the other kids in the group. They did their brain storming on the dry-erase board and wrote down final ideas on paper and put those in their writing folders.
The teacher had a "smart board"; or is it "smartboard"? We actually had just used one at the Children's Museum last week. It is a touch screen on the white dry-erase board. It is like the screen on our computers/laptops but on the board where our teachers use to write with chalk. It was very high-tech and impressive.
I couldn't really say anything bad about the experience. The only thing was that they did a Science class after their Recess class and it was very condensed. She covered some major science topics (force, gravity....) very quickly. I just wonder if that is all she had planned to spend on those big concepts. We would have spent a lot of time going over those ideas at home and she just tackled them fairly quickly.
Dd opinion was that in some areas they are ahead (writing) and in some areas she was ahead. Dd was pretty happy that the teacher told us she hasn't had the time to teach cursive handwriting. That is one area I have really been focusing on the past few months and here these p.s. kids didn't even know how to do it!
Dd said that she thought if she went to p.s. she would probably learn more. Why? dh and I asked-- she said b/c they spend so much more time there than we spend at home on our lessons. We tried to clear that up and also give dd the idea that we would be happy to spend more time each day on our lessons; but she (dd) really has to work on her attitude being more positive.
We didn't get to see any history, math, recess, english, grammar, spelling, reading....She had planned on doing something after her science class; but some schedule got switched around and they had to go outside and do another recess or something like that. If the kids do things right; they get incentives which they can add up to get another recess, or something like that. I decided we didn't need to stay to watch the kids playing when we had a long drive home.
Literally after we had been in the classroom 45 minutes dd was complaining that this seat was too horrible and she really needed to get up. I told her we had to wait; and imagine those kids having to sit there 7 hours a day...yikes. That part was the hardest on her; just sitting. But then it seems like the teachers have that planned out too; kind of; they seem to do 45 minutes intervals of each subject.
I don't know if you all wanted all that detail, but their you have it. The thing I took away from it was that I definitely have to get better at teaching writing. It would be so much easier if dd didn't act like she was having a root canal every time she has to write for more than 5 minutes. I should admit that she is getting a little better about it every week. I do see improvement in the amount she can do without complaining. I also need to work on being more PATIENT with her.
*side note on the therapist-She has NO idea about homeschooling and hasn't been able to help us AT ALL. I wanted to try it and see if it would help; but it hasn't. We did get this public school field trip idea from her and that maybe the only good that came out of the experience. She can't see how us mom's can put on the loving/nurturing hat and then be able to put on the teacher hat too. She doesn't understand it and that makes helping us about impossible. I think that if I could find a local/experienced actual hs mom that has done this longer than me; and knows what it is like dealing with a 'challenging' kid that would be the best way to learn how to improve my teaching and my parenting skills.
This student had written long complicated stories; with great spelling and imagination. I was impressed with her ability. But, the teacher had specifically picked out this student's folder b/c she said she was one of her best students. The teacher said how ISTEP (Indiana's State Regulations of some sort) regulates or requires all third grade students to be able to write for a minimum of 50 minutes without stopping. Yikes, read that sentence again. It must just be me; but I know my dd could NOT do that. I know how she rocks in certain areas (geography, history, bible), but this was definitely a big blow to us. We really need to work on - I need to work on teaching dd how to write stories and/or write her thoughts down. I don't know if WWE and FLL will get us there or if I need to look at adding in another 'extra' that could teach me how to teach this to her. Any ideas here would be appreciated. If any of you have found a good curriculum that helps frame up how to write ideas; please feel free to educate me. I really need some help here.
The teacher had 30 students; broken up into 6 groups of 5 students sitting in a pod/grouping. There would be one 'teacher's helper' in each pod/group that would go get things for the group. When they were working on the writing exercise, the teacher's helpers would go up and get the small dry-eraser boards for the other kids in the group. They did their brain storming on the dry-erase board and wrote down final ideas on paper and put those in their writing folders.
The teacher had a "smart board"; or is it "smartboard"? We actually had just used one at the Children's Museum last week. It is a touch screen on the white dry-erase board. It is like the screen on our computers/laptops but on the board where our teachers use to write with chalk. It was very high-tech and impressive.
I couldn't really say anything bad about the experience. The only thing was that they did a Science class after their Recess class and it was very condensed. She covered some major science topics (force, gravity....) very quickly. I just wonder if that is all she had planned to spend on those big concepts. We would have spent a lot of time going over those ideas at home and she just tackled them fairly quickly.
Dd opinion was that in some areas they are ahead (writing) and in some areas she was ahead. Dd was pretty happy that the teacher told us she hasn't had the time to teach cursive handwriting. That is one area I have really been focusing on the past few months and here these p.s. kids didn't even know how to do it!
Dd said that she thought if she went to p.s. she would probably learn more. Why? dh and I asked-- she said b/c they spend so much more time there than we spend at home on our lessons. We tried to clear that up and also give dd the idea that we would be happy to spend more time each day on our lessons; but she (dd) really has to work on her attitude being more positive.
We didn't get to see any history, math, recess, english, grammar, spelling, reading....She had planned on doing something after her science class; but some schedule got switched around and they had to go outside and do another recess or something like that. If the kids do things right; they get incentives which they can add up to get another recess, or something like that. I decided we didn't need to stay to watch the kids playing when we had a long drive home.
Literally after we had been in the classroom 45 minutes dd was complaining that this seat was too horrible and she really needed to get up. I told her we had to wait; and imagine those kids having to sit there 7 hours a day...yikes. That part was the hardest on her; just sitting. But then it seems like the teachers have that planned out too; kind of; they seem to do 45 minutes intervals of each subject.
I don't know if you all wanted all that detail, but their you have it. The thing I took away from it was that I definitely have to get better at teaching writing. It would be so much easier if dd didn't act like she was having a root canal every time she has to write for more than 5 minutes. I should admit that she is getting a little better about it every week. I do see improvement in the amount she can do without complaining. I also need to work on being more PATIENT with her.
*side note on the therapist-She has NO idea about homeschooling and hasn't been able to help us AT ALL. I wanted to try it and see if it would help; but it hasn't. We did get this public school field trip idea from her and that maybe the only good that came out of the experience. She can't see how us mom's can put on the loving/nurturing hat and then be able to put on the teacher hat too. She doesn't understand it and that makes helping us about impossible. I think that if I could find a local/experienced actual hs mom that has done this longer than me; and knows what it is like dealing with a 'challenging' kid that would be the best way to learn how to improve my teaching and my parenting skills.
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