April 26, 2010
As every homeschool year draws to a close, I like to recall all of the read-alouds that we have done. The read-alouds alone make homeschool worth it to me, but of course the kids have learned a lot of math and some history and science, too. Not to mention Latin.
Anyway, this year we set about finishing the Little House books as read-alouds. When we read aloud, the kids and I take turns reading, of course.
We read On the Shores of Silver Lake, The Long Winter, Little Town on the Prairie, These Happy Golden Years and the First Four Years. We also read both Penderwick books, which the kids absolutely loved -- The Penderwicks and The Penderwicks of Gardam Street. We just finished The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis And we read saints stories, some of the Gospel readings and the occasional story from The Book of Virtues.
Two of my favorite math add-ons this year were the I Hate Mathematics Book. And Penrose, the Mathematical Cat.
On their own, the kids have discovered favorite authors. Olivia loves Beverly Cleary and Joey seems fond of Eleanor Estes of The Moffats fame.
They both did book reports this year, as well. Olivia on Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm and Little House in the Big Woods. She currently is reading Lassie Come-home - her last assigned book of the year.
Both of Joey's book reports were on historical fiction. The Childhood of Famous Americans story of the Wright Brothers was one of them.
When I remember all they've read, I'm pretty sure they are getting a decent education.
If I were to change anything in the coming year, it would be to increase the Catholic content of my homeschool. I am going to use some book recommendations from the free, online Charlotte Mason curriculum - materamabilis.org
Showing posts with label homeschooling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label homeschooling. Show all posts
Monday, April 26, 2010
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Green homeschooling
Jan. 15, 2009
For some reason, I have been thinking today about how homeschooling reduces my carbon footprint. So much less driving! That is not to say that we stay home constantly. But I do not drive to work daily, nor do I drive the kids to school.
My kids don't ride the bus, they don't eat school lunches made from food bought in bulk and likely transported across the country
We drive to co-op once a week. And I take the kids to Girl and Boy scouts, but that is only one mile away. My daughter is in Little Flowers, but I'm the leader and it's at our house so not much of a carbon footprint there.
Because we are homeschoolers, we eat at home just about 95% of the time. Maybe 99% of the time. We also shop local markets in season. I would like to reduce my carbon footprint (and my grocery bill) even further this year by planting a good-sized garden on our flat yard of 1.25 acres. And we don't throw away leftovers. My homemade vegetable soup incorporates all vegetable leftovers, and it's actually pretty good. I'm making it today. Maybe that is what got me on this random train of thought.
I make the most of the small town where live, doing all errands such as banking, grocery shopping and library-going here. The mid-sized city 8 miles away fulfills most other needs.
I did visit Sam's Club this week. Talk about a carbon footprint. I decided it wasn't for me. It makes me buy more than I need and it is a good 30 minutes away in traffic. I'd rather go to Kroger, buy generic and get only what I need.
For recreation, the kids have a huge yard and a favorite park about 3 miles away. For exercise, I walk my neighborhood and ride my rickety, old exercise bike. Can't think of other ways we keep our footprint small right now. But if anyone out there has any ideas, please chime in.
For some reason, I have been thinking today about how homeschooling reduces my carbon footprint. So much less driving! That is not to say that we stay home constantly. But I do not drive to work daily, nor do I drive the kids to school.
My kids don't ride the bus, they don't eat school lunches made from food bought in bulk and likely transported across the country
We drive to co-op once a week. And I take the kids to Girl and Boy scouts, but that is only one mile away. My daughter is in Little Flowers, but I'm the leader and it's at our house so not much of a carbon footprint there.
Because we are homeschoolers, we eat at home just about 95% of the time. Maybe 99% of the time. We also shop local markets in season. I would like to reduce my carbon footprint (and my grocery bill) even further this year by planting a good-sized garden on our flat yard of 1.25 acres. And we don't throw away leftovers. My homemade vegetable soup incorporates all vegetable leftovers, and it's actually pretty good. I'm making it today. Maybe that is what got me on this random train of thought.
I make the most of the small town where live, doing all errands such as banking, grocery shopping and library-going here. The mid-sized city 8 miles away fulfills most other needs.
I did visit Sam's Club this week. Talk about a carbon footprint. I decided it wasn't for me. It makes me buy more than I need and it is a good 30 minutes away in traffic. I'd rather go to Kroger, buy generic and get only what I need.
For recreation, the kids have a huge yard and a favorite park about 3 miles away. For exercise, I walk my neighborhood and ride my rickety, old exercise bike. Can't think of other ways we keep our footprint small right now. But if anyone out there has any ideas, please chime in.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Homeschooling roundup and Adoration
May 1, 2008
Counting down the days. Yes, in just two short weeks, we will be done with school. I can't believe it, but it is true. We will have completed our schoolbooks by then and the kids also have taken their achievement tests, which is required by law annually in VA if you do not homeschool through religious exemption.
Sometimes, when I don't feel I'm doing enough, it really helps to think of all that they have done this year. Not only have they completed their English grammar and Prima Latina, we will finish Story of the World, Book 1, and the Abeka Science books for their grade level. Joey finished first grade math around Christmas and math is a continuing occupation for Olivia and me - continuing through the summer, as well. But I am happy to say she is making progress and scoring at grade level.
But what really makes me happy is to think of all the books we have read aloud this year - or will complete by the end of school.
D'Aulaire's Greek Myths
Marigold Hunt's The Life of Our Lord for Children
Geraldine McGaughren's The Jesse Tree
C.S. Lewis' The Silver Chair
James Baldwin's 50 Famous Stories Retold
A couple of the Odyssey books from Mary Pope Osborne
Misty of Chincoteauge (just for fun)
And many, many stories from the library.
Joey and I are also buddy reading the Childhood of Famous Americans life of John F. Kennedy, his favorite president.
And both kids have read tons of library books on their own this year including many American Girl books. That is what Olivia has been reading since moving to VA. Joey is particularly fond of anything to do with history, the military or presidents. He just likes to read.
Today, I took the kids to Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at our local cathedral - St. Andrew's. It is a parish of about 1,500 families and they have four hours of Adoration on the first Thursday of the month. I have always heard of it being done on the First Friday. But anyway, we went for about half an hour and it was beautiful, of course. I came away as refreshed as if I had been on a retreat. There is really something special about that devotion.
But afterward, my son said something I did not expect to hear from him: "I like Adoration."
Ya-hoo!
When I asked why, he said it was because he got to read. But he was reading his First Communion Catechism. I figured he would need something to look at besides the church, so I let him have that. And both kids talked to me on the way home about what they prayed for, which
means they actually were praying. Yay, again. I'm thinking and hoping they actually may have understood what we were doing.
But right now they are outside playing homestead in which they pretend to be pioneers who have set up camp on a muddy island in our creek and make stew out of wild onions and creek water and pretend to shoot deer and moose and things like that.
Fun, fun. It's great to be a kid. And it's great to be a mom, too.
Counting down the days. Yes, in just two short weeks, we will be done with school. I can't believe it, but it is true. We will have completed our schoolbooks by then and the kids also have taken their achievement tests, which is required by law annually in VA if you do not homeschool through religious exemption.
Sometimes, when I don't feel I'm doing enough, it really helps to think of all that they have done this year. Not only have they completed their English grammar and Prima Latina, we will finish Story of the World, Book 1, and the Abeka Science books for their grade level. Joey finished first grade math around Christmas and math is a continuing occupation for Olivia and me - continuing through the summer, as well. But I am happy to say she is making progress and scoring at grade level.
But what really makes me happy is to think of all the books we have read aloud this year - or will complete by the end of school.
D'Aulaire's Greek Myths
Marigold Hunt's The Life of Our Lord for Children
Geraldine McGaughren's The Jesse Tree
C.S. Lewis' The Silver Chair
James Baldwin's 50 Famous Stories Retold
A couple of the Odyssey books from Mary Pope Osborne
Misty of Chincoteauge (just for fun)
And many, many stories from the library.
Joey and I are also buddy reading the Childhood of Famous Americans life of John F. Kennedy, his favorite president.
And both kids have read tons of library books on their own this year including many American Girl books. That is what Olivia has been reading since moving to VA. Joey is particularly fond of anything to do with history, the military or presidents. He just likes to read.
Today, I took the kids to Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at our local cathedral - St. Andrew's. It is a parish of about 1,500 families and they have four hours of Adoration on the first Thursday of the month. I have always heard of it being done on the First Friday. But anyway, we went for about half an hour and it was beautiful, of course. I came away as refreshed as if I had been on a retreat. There is really something special about that devotion.
But afterward, my son said something I did not expect to hear from him: "I like Adoration."
Ya-hoo!
When I asked why, he said it was because he got to read. But he was reading his First Communion Catechism. I figured he would need something to look at besides the church, so I let him have that. And both kids talked to me on the way home about what they prayed for, which
means they actually were praying. Yay, again. I'm thinking and hoping they actually may have understood what we were doing.
But right now they are outside playing homestead in which they pretend to be pioneers who have set up camp on a muddy island in our creek and make stew out of wild onions and creek water and pretend to shoot deer and moose and things like that.
Fun, fun. It's great to be a kid. And it's great to be a mom, too.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Nutrisystem, Homeschooling and Imagination
Jan. 31, 2008
So here we are on the last day of January and you may be wondering what the three items in the title have to do with one another. Let me explain.
My dear husband, who will be 50 in the summer, has started Nutrisystem in order to lose around 50 pounds or so. It's all in the interest of health -- and permission to purchase a new (read different....we can't afford new) motorcycle on his 50th birthday. It's amazing that one month of food can fit into a foot locker-sized cardboard box. And it's providential that my husband and father-in-law installed new cabinets in the laundry room over the holidays as that is where the Nutrisystem food is stored. All in neat little boxes. Red for dinner, green for lunch, etc.
So, hubby is sticking to the diet so far (week 1) and losing a few pounds, but the box itself is worth its weight in gold. We have two children, 7 and 8, and they have turned the box into a time machine set for different times such as the Civil War, WWI, WWII, Columbus' time, Pocahontas' time, and, of course, dinosaur time. The box is complete with buttons which are accurately labeled. During breaks in homeschooling they travel to a different time and have adventures. I have to mention that these times correspond with the history dates they have so far memorized for homeschool. And their adventures are significantly augmented by their reading of the Magic Tree House books in which a brother and sister, ages 7 and 8, go back and time and have adventures. Funny how art imitates life in this case.
So, here in the cold heart of winter as we prepare to enter Lent, I am grateful for many things: For my husband's health, for my childrens' ability to be children and avoid the consumeristic appeal of Webkins and American Idol and video games. And I am grateful for imagination -- the forerunner of hope.
So here we are on the last day of January and you may be wondering what the three items in the title have to do with one another. Let me explain.
My dear husband, who will be 50 in the summer, has started Nutrisystem in order to lose around 50 pounds or so. It's all in the interest of health -- and permission to purchase a new (read different....we can't afford new) motorcycle on his 50th birthday. It's amazing that one month of food can fit into a foot locker-sized cardboard box. And it's providential that my husband and father-in-law installed new cabinets in the laundry room over the holidays as that is where the Nutrisystem food is stored. All in neat little boxes. Red for dinner, green for lunch, etc.
So, hubby is sticking to the diet so far (week 1) and losing a few pounds, but the box itself is worth its weight in gold. We have two children, 7 and 8, and they have turned the box into a time machine set for different times such as the Civil War, WWI, WWII, Columbus' time, Pocahontas' time, and, of course, dinosaur time. The box is complete with buttons which are accurately labeled. During breaks in homeschooling they travel to a different time and have adventures. I have to mention that these times correspond with the history dates they have so far memorized for homeschool. And their adventures are significantly augmented by their reading of the Magic Tree House books in which a brother and sister, ages 7 and 8, go back and time and have adventures. Funny how art imitates life in this case.
So, here in the cold heart of winter as we prepare to enter Lent, I am grateful for many things: For my husband's health, for my childrens' ability to be children and avoid the consumeristic appeal of Webkins and American Idol and video games. And I am grateful for imagination -- the forerunner of hope.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
School's Out!
Dec. 20, 2007
School's out, school's out, teacher let the monkeys out. My monkeys went out and played in the mud when the bell of freedom rang.
I paid bills and wrote out Christmas cards. I'm glad for a break, I have to admit. Homeschooling is great, but sometimes you just need a break.
We learned about constellations this week, thanks to Prima Latina. It is really interesting. I find that I learn a lot along with the kids. I never knew the zodiac was in Latin, or even how to define the zodiac -- the constellations through which the sun passes.
I read an article this week that said only 47.8% of parents read to their children, ages 0-5, daily. What a shame.
I remember going out to buy some of my favorite children's books to read to Olivia when I was just pregnant with her. And then reading one to her when I was on maternity leave, so I'm sure she did not get the gist of it. But she listened as I rocked and read.
Although my kids read really well for their age, I do read to them for at least 30 minutes each day - usually on a topic we are studying. Maybe it is a Greek Myth or Story of the World.
Our latest is The Jesse Tree by Geraldine McCaughrean. I can't say enough positive things about this book. It presents the major Bible stories in an engaging and extremely well-written way. My kids always want two chapters, if not three, when we sit down to read it.
And I learn. I never knew much about the prophet Elijah, but we read about him today. And his great faith really captivated me. Knowing you are but a tool in the hands of God, and that with God anything can be done.
Good to know.. if only we can believe that when the rubber hits the road.
Well, the rubber is hitting the road. My sister does have cancer -- papillary carcinoma. It apparently is very treatable with a radioactive iodine that you drink. But it's just a terribly hard time for her with a new baby and her husband in a new job and in one of those very Northern states where it snows all winter.
I'll be flying up sometime in January, whenever she says she needs me to come. I'm glad I get to go, but I pray that this road to recovery is not too trying for her, because she has hit a lot of rough spots in the past few years. None of them of her own making. That is where faith comes in. We never know why difficulty comes to certain people, but we know always that God is with us in our trials and in our triumphs.
School's out, school's out, teacher let the monkeys out. My monkeys went out and played in the mud when the bell of freedom rang.
I paid bills and wrote out Christmas cards. I'm glad for a break, I have to admit. Homeschooling is great, but sometimes you just need a break.
We learned about constellations this week, thanks to Prima Latina. It is really interesting. I find that I learn a lot along with the kids. I never knew the zodiac was in Latin, or even how to define the zodiac -- the constellations through which the sun passes.
I read an article this week that said only 47.8% of parents read to their children, ages 0-5, daily. What a shame.
I remember going out to buy some of my favorite children's books to read to Olivia when I was just pregnant with her. And then reading one to her when I was on maternity leave, so I'm sure she did not get the gist of it. But she listened as I rocked and read.
Although my kids read really well for their age, I do read to them for at least 30 minutes each day - usually on a topic we are studying. Maybe it is a Greek Myth or Story of the World.
Our latest is The Jesse Tree by Geraldine McCaughrean. I can't say enough positive things about this book. It presents the major Bible stories in an engaging and extremely well-written way. My kids always want two chapters, if not three, when we sit down to read it.
And I learn. I never knew much about the prophet Elijah, but we read about him today. And his great faith really captivated me. Knowing you are but a tool in the hands of God, and that with God anything can be done.
Good to know.. if only we can believe that when the rubber hits the road.
Well, the rubber is hitting the road. My sister does have cancer -- papillary carcinoma. It apparently is very treatable with a radioactive iodine that you drink. But it's just a terribly hard time for her with a new baby and her husband in a new job and in one of those very Northern states where it snows all winter.
I'll be flying up sometime in January, whenever she says she needs me to come. I'm glad I get to go, but I pray that this road to recovery is not too trying for her, because she has hit a lot of rough spots in the past few years. None of them of her own making. That is where faith comes in. We never know why difficulty comes to certain people, but we know always that God is with us in our trials and in our triumphs.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Dec. 12, 2007
Today is one of those good days of homeschooling - so far. To finish Latin, math, religion and history before lunch is always good. But to enjoy doing it is even better. I am reading to the kids This Country of Ours by H.E. Marshall, an older history of the United States that is written in an adventurous and articulate style. They enjoy the wild stories of early colonists and learn words like fetters and gibbet.
With the freedom of schooling at home, I am able to teach them the story of Our Lady of Gu adalupe and then give them a picture of her, free from chcweb.com, to color. They are practicing saying the Act of Contrition and Joey is learning many verses in his copybook, where he also draws illustrations.
We are 3/5 of the way through Prima Latina and are reviewing for the unit 3 test. I am so proud of their progress in learning all of the vocabulary and three whole Latin prayers. Better still, the lessons in Prima Latina support what they are learning in First Language Lessons -- all those parts of speech.
During free time, Joey made about 20 paper "bullets" for his homemade slingshot and Olivia drew a complete picture of Santa's Workshop, even though she has learned the truth about Santa this year.
So now we have some reading aloud to do and our grammer lesson. I hope to take them to Tinker Creek so that we can do more observation of our water environment. We are making a little scrapbook about it as we learn about water. They also have piano lessons today.
All of this sounds great, yet I still worry they are missing things like being in the school Christmas play and meeting lots and lots of friends. We have friends here but don't see them every day because that isn't how it works when you homeschool. Ah, well, to enjoy the beauty of the day you have - that is one of the keys to a happy life, I'm sure.
What follows is a prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe, which I pray for the special intention of my sister who is awaiting a pathology report following thyroid surgery. My prayer is that she is cancer-free.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, we find you among the poor, the small, those the world counts for nothing. You remind us of how precious each of us is to you and to your Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ. You comfort us in our suffering. You challenge us to use our strengths. You call us to do whatever He tells us (John 2:5).
May we heed your message given us at Guadalupe: to acknowledge God's love, to protect the innocent, to replace our fear with trust, to keep our priorities in order. We ask this through the mercy and grace of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Today is one of those good days of homeschooling - so far. To finish Latin, math, religion and history before lunch is always good. But to enjoy doing it is even better. I am reading to the kids This Country of Ours by H.E. Marshall, an older history of the United States that is written in an adventurous and articulate style. They enjoy the wild stories of early colonists and learn words like fetters and gibbet.
With the freedom of schooling at home, I am able to teach them the story of Our Lady of Gu adalupe and then give them a picture of her, free from chcweb.com, to color. They are practicing saying the Act of Contrition and Joey is learning many verses in his copybook, where he also draws illustrations.
We are 3/5 of the way through Prima Latina and are reviewing for the unit 3 test. I am so proud of their progress in learning all of the vocabulary and three whole Latin prayers. Better still, the lessons in Prima Latina support what they are learning in First Language Lessons -- all those parts of speech.
During free time, Joey made about 20 paper "bullets" for his homemade slingshot and Olivia drew a complete picture of Santa's Workshop, even though she has learned the truth about Santa this year.
So now we have some reading aloud to do and our grammer lesson. I hope to take them to Tinker Creek so that we can do more observation of our water environment. We are making a little scrapbook about it as we learn about water. They also have piano lessons today.
All of this sounds great, yet I still worry they are missing things like being in the school Christmas play and meeting lots and lots of friends. We have friends here but don't see them every day because that isn't how it works when you homeschool. Ah, well, to enjoy the beauty of the day you have - that is one of the keys to a happy life, I'm sure.
What follows is a prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe, which I pray for the special intention of my sister who is awaiting a pathology report following thyroid surgery. My prayer is that she is cancer-free.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, we find you among the poor, the small, those the world counts for nothing. You remind us of how precious each of us is to you and to your Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ. You comfort us in our suffering. You challenge us to use our strengths. You call us to do whatever He tells us (John 2:5).
May we heed your message given us at Guadalupe: to acknowledge God's love, to protect the innocent, to replace our fear with trust, to keep our priorities in order. We ask this through the mercy and grace of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
