Bird's-Eye View of the Week: Co-ops, Red Tape, and Cicadas

We'll be seeing a LOT of these. Credit www.northjersey.com

The end is in sight! 

We've reached May. AND the sun has been shining as much as two whole days in a row! And I even have turned off the heat (most of the time)! This is sooooo un-Maryland. IOW, it's usually nicer, even hot at times. But, it HAS helped delay the emergence of the 17-Year Cicadas! So, I'll kwitmibitchen.


Some mile-markers this week! After the two straight days of rain and Dad out of town, putting on street clothes and heading to the orthodontist sounded like a party. And turns out, it kind of was! The doc put a 'hold' on rubber bands already after only a couple of months. (Doc: "Wow, her teeth are really responsive!" Me: "So do we get a rebate for less services required?" Doc: "Hahahaha.")

It's Official!

Bigger and better was Mei's American name being officially entered into the government record books. Changing her name was not something we just recently decided on; her American name was chosen before she came home 11 years ago. But just last year, through a fluke, we discovered that the INS never noted it when she arrived in the States, so as far as the US government was concerned, our daughter didn't exist, at least not by what we call her. Tell that to Social Security, however, who gladly issued her an ID card in 2002. Under the American name. Hmmm. Anyway, the event gave us an excuse to eat cake!


Our co-op days are winding down. The Thursday group is finished already and the Friday group has just one more week. On Thursdays, Mei participated in a good introductory writing course similar to IEW. After two years, she has gained a lot of confidence in her writing, but more importantly, in taking constructive criticism. For her, that is H-U-G-E! She will now be equipped to take on the next level offered on Fridays. Thursdays this year also offered art and speech. I was really impressed with how well the kids responded to the speech topic and was glad they had this exposure to something not normally taught to ones so young. Art was taught by yours truly and used the "Meet the Masters" program. I've been dying to write a review of it here; maybe when the chalkdust settles. For now I'll just say that all the kids gave it a thumbs up and so did this teacher!

Board games class for an only child. Perfect!

 Fridays have given Mei exposure to cake decorating, cooperative board games, health, and P.E. Mom has assisted in the cake class (:-D !! ), a sewing class, and her best hour of the week, Study Hall. ("SSShh! I'm trying to write a blog post!")

Both of these co-ops have enriched our studies, but more importantly, our interactions with other Christian parents and kids. It's been especially wonderful for our school-of-one, and I recommend it.

American History Scrapbook

For this final stretch, I've given Mei the option of creating an American History scrapbook to showcase all that she's covered in the last two years, 1600-1800. Basically, it's a ramped up lapbook. She is super-excited to work on it, and I'm going to give her all the time she wants. I was going to write about it here, but it was getting a little long, so I'm detailing that in a separate post.  I'll share my sources and stuff there. Take a look if you want some ideas! 

The end would be NOW if I went by counting school days alone. I was shocked to see we had completed 180 in APRIL! But when you don't take off for Rosh Hashanah, a week for Easter, or Staff Development Days, they stack up. Add in some school on weekends (educational trips), and woah! Nonetheless, we haven't met all our objectives yet, so I'll hide Mei's eyes from this post and keep the cat IN the bag (wink).

How about you?

Got the end in your sights? Done already? Or do you school year-round? Tell Mother All About It!

Linking up with other incredibly gifted and equally humble homeschool bloggers at Hammock Tracks "Homeschool Review", Homegrown Learners "Collage Friday,", iHomeschool Network's "The Homeschool Mother's Journal", and Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers "Weekly Wrap-up". Thanks for hosting, ladies!
 

The Homeschool Mother's Journal: Frogs and Princesses

.In my life this week…
(caution: whining ahead.) I'm getting more and more frustrated with the chronic pain which is now in BOTH feet due to "plantar fasciitis". It is really affecting my lifestyle and I am praying for healing. I broke down and began wearing the "splint" (medical word for "open-air ski boot") that I am supposed to be able to SLEEP IN, being forced to choose between its supposed therapy and getting rest. Hard to effectively school with your eyes closed. :-P

History class: The Royal Wedding

On the OTHER HAND, I really got a kick out of watching Kate and Wills' wedding! I got up before dawn thirty years ago to watch Di and Chuck tie the knot the same summer as I did, so how could I refuse to do it again?
Mei wanted to be a part of it too and I figured, after spending three years reading British history from
An Island Story, how could I ignore the fact that this too was educational? 
(She really preferred the horses.)

In our homeschool this week…

 It seems to be the "hurrier I go, the behinder I get." I spent hours two weeks ago completely revamping our schedule to make up for time that somehow slipped between the cracks this winter. I wasn't going to allow for more than Good Friday off, but Mei's P.S. friend needed watching during a family crisis so of course I said "yes." It cut into another day, but it ended up a real blessing even for "education" (see "my favorite thing this week.")

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

Theatreworks USA on Monday to see "We the People", a musical lesson in civics and government! If you've ever considered a Theatreworks production, GO! They are worth it!

My favorite thing this week was…
Our spontaneous one-day frog unit! On Monday, I got the call from our neighbor making good on the promise to alert us when there were tadpoles in his pool. Perfect! Mei had her friend over who loves that kind of thing! We grabbed nets and buckets and collected a few dozen in no time (let most go into a pond later.) To enhance the activity (and get a little school in), I found a Frog Lapbook on Homeschoolshare.com . I chose just enough to get done in one day and it kept the girls busy for hours. The friend's dad was so impressed he asked if he could send her to our school every day! :-) (Sure, for a fee?)

What’s working/not working for us…

A look inside the Plague. Eww!

 Lapbooks are working! My "reluctant writer" (which may just be a euphemism for "lazy")  has finished her lapbook on "The Plague". Now she can demonstrate knowledge without too many hand cramps and I have something else to show for our efforts at the end-of-school Closing Program and review. We all learned a lot too, even if it gave us nightmares...

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have…
What to add to our curricula for next year.   Ambleside Online and Charlotte Mason would have foreign language added around Year 4, but I have this "reluctant writer/learner" who does not beg for more work. (Oh, well. Who does?) Torn between: French, which I speak; Spanish, which will be more and more useful in the States the way our country's demographics are headed;  and Latin, which is the root of both and a boost to English vocab. (A friend gave me her Latin for Children, Primer A Teacher guide and CD's. All I need is the Student Text. That is swaying me.)
I welcome your thoughts.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…
/Frog Lapbook slideshow /
Plague Lapbook slideshow 

Follow me to The Homeschool Chick for more families' Adventures in Homeschooling!

Bird's -Eye View of the Week: Putting Some Spring In It!

   Oh, I'm SO trying to use anything to develop habits, habits, habits. This was an especial love of Charlotte Mason. If things are habits, everything is smooth and easy.   
   But, if I am not disciplined enough to do things habitually, how can I expect my DD to be habitual. (Note: this is not the same thing as being obsessive, compulsive or under some sort of legalistic pressure to be perfect.)
    So, this Weekly Wrap-up thing is a good example of a habit. It makes me focus, makes me feel accountable, and encourages me when I see that we have accomplished stuff this week. I might just shove this blog in front of my reveiwer at year's end!
    I have loosened up a good deal this term, maybe a little too much. Once you get out of a groove--in this case that dastardly winter--it's hard to get it back. Wasn't I talking about the need for habits?
     Now on to the Week That Was. I'll relate what might be the most interesting first for you homeschoolers out there. (Lots of links for books. Please don't think I'm making money off them. OK, about 2 cents. I'm just trying to make your life easier.)
     I have thought up an addition to the notebook pages designed for Pagoo at Homeschool Share . (If you want to try unit studies, lapbooking, or notebooking, this is a fantastic FREE resource!)
                           Mei will create a pull-out "paper tide pool" to extend out of her  Pagoo notebook. It will be along the lines of a lapbook with a long accordian section that will be made with blue folders and edged at the bottom with tan and rock pictures. Then she will color copies of the different tidepool creatures she learns about and giving information about them on the backs. They will be cut out, leaving a hinge to attach to the tide pool. When the reader looks at it, he can lift the flapped animal and learn more about it. MeiWei seems excited about this idea. I've begun making copies of the animals from the Peterson Coloring Book of Seashores. Can't wait to see how it turns out. If it's a success I will share it at Homeschool Share.


    This week we read from An Island Storyabout Henry IV. There were so many charcters, and such a complicated lineage thing going on that we had to draw family trees to keep track of who was the "real" heir to the throne. I learn a lot from this; it certainly wasn't covered in MY PS high school. And to think MeiWei is getting exposed in third grade. And she always remembers more than me!

     Mei completed Unit 28 in Math-U-See. This brings us to within TWO units of completing the Beta book. That alone excites me with evidence that we are getting near the end of the year! Because she struggles with word problems, I've been printing out extras from EdHelper.com . They have an awesome array of teacher helps like this, especially for math.  I've been using the Daily Word Problems for 3rd Grade and giving her just three or four a day since MUS already has her doing some. Some of the stuff she hasn't covered in MUS--multiplication--but we apply skip-counting which MUS HAS introduced and manage to arrive at the answer.
    We began Joan of Arc by Diane Stanley. Mei actually BEGGED to read it. I get so surprised and EXCITED when she shows such enthusiasm for subject matter that would be thought "too hard" or "uninteresting" to a third grader. Just goes to show what the kids ARE capable of!!
   We also finished The Wind in the Willows. What a lot of character study could go on with THAT book. It also paid off that we had read in The Burgess Animal Book about a lot of the animals depicted in that story.  We really understood what Ratty was thinking when he met the Norway Rat, for instance (dreaming of a life across the seas as told by a member of the rat family that has infested every continent habitated by man).  
     Finally we wrapped up our long-term appreciation of John Singer Sargent. (Read more about him here . ) Mei did a brief report on him, and surprised me a little by choosing "An Artist in His Studio" as one of her three favorite paintings by him. It's not particularly "pretty". When I inquired, she said it reminded her of her mommy. Awww. If only I HAD a studio!

Next week, I plan to move things around a bit in our schedule to get to the things that have been slipping by, like nature study. It's so beautiful this week that I'd be a fool to miss the opportunity.
     Hope it's nice where YOU are. Have a great next week!
Read links from others at Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers !

Rabbit Lapbook Update

Boy, I don't know about this. I can see why some AmblesideOnline people would say this is "twaddly." What a lot of work for a relatively small amount of end result! I've spent HOURS putting together these little minibooks, designing some by hand and hunting for others on Homeschoolshare.com.

For example, I was inspired by another mom's rabbit lapbbok her 2 daughters had made which included some math facts. Well, seeing as how we're talking RABBITS what could be more obvious than MULITPLICATION facts?? MeiWei is doing "pre-multiplication" with skip-counting by 2's, 5's and 10's as Math-U-See instructs. So I planned for nine little "matchbooks" that when closed displayed the fact and when opened revealed the answer. A template on HomeschoolShare showed a nifty book that would hold eight of the matchbooks inside. I could paste the ninth on the cover. Then I would cleverly entitle it "Multiplying Like Rabbits!"

So a couple of hours later, after downloading the PDF, copying to various papers, cutting, labeling and pasting the matchbooks into the cover, I place it on the lapbook. The "mini"book is too BIG for the lapbook. Wonderful! And this minibook was designed for lapbooking.

I had to cut the whole thing apart into little matchbook facts and redesign the cover (into thirds, mind you) to make it work. I don't like to gripe but I feel I've gotta go onto their Community Board and say a thing or two. Homeschool moms don't have time like this to waste.

Rabbit Lapbook

Well it looks like we'll finally bite the bullet and try this lapbooking thing. Apparently, in this Homeschool 2.0 universe that I now find myself in (Homeschooling in the internet age) you aren't home educating unless you're creating lapbooks. In Homeschool 1.0, you were cutting edge if you had foregone textbooks for unit studies. (We were sooooo clued. As in "Konos." Back then, the Hulcy kids were the kids. Not the grandkids.) In this millenium I'm feeling longer in the tooth and less inclined to build full-scale teepees in the backyard or create walk-through models of the ear.

So now it's these lapbooks.

A lapbook is like a pop-up book for showcasing a child's knowledge of a topic. Of course she could write a report or take a test. But if you are the grandparent at the holiday dinner, wouldn't you rather play with a pop-up book than read a book report?

This form of documenting MeiWei's knowledge may be well suited considering her aversion to handwriting. Oh, it's not that she has nothing to say! I have to persuade her that we only have so many allotted words we can use in a day and she shouldn't waste them.....(No, it's not true. You do what you have to do to get a little peace.)

With a lapbook, she can present bite-size pieces of info in the form of mini-books written by hand or even typed, it doesn't matter. And knowing that her audience is going to really love looking at her work is an incentive.

Need a visual? Check out the Queen of Lapbooking

So upon concluding the Rodent chapters of Thornton Burgess' Animal Book
I asked her what her favorite animal was and she quickly replied, "Rabbits!"

I got a good start with other mini-books (the bones of a lapbook) pertaining to rabbits at Homeschool Share

So here we go! Give us a week. We're going to try and have it done to shove in front of all the relatives at Thanksgiving.

Oh, and I found out that rabbits are not rodents. More later...