No, I've not been sleeping....just busy!

I just realized it's been toooooooo long since I posted anything.  Homeschooling will do that for a person!  I've not figured out yet, how other homeschool moms blog everyday and still get everything else done.  Maybe I'll get it together one of these days. 

Today I want to post a something my oldest daughter wrote.

The Time on the Clock

The time on the clock's face

Does anyone notice it?

No, they run around at such a fast pace

They never stop to think that there will

Never be another time or place

Or when that clock may quit

They can't rewind it, they can't stop it

As time goes on, they may realize

That they've spent their lives

Running here and there

Time is a precious thing, don't waste it

Don't use it for needless things

Yet, don't spend it doing nothing

Let's spend our time doing the things that matter in life!

6th Grade Review

Here's my review for my youngest boy. 
6th Grade (11 year old boy)

Bible

• Who Is God and Can I Really Know Him? - We're doing this together along with memorizing scripture

Math

• Teaching Textbook 6 Textbook, CD-ROM,Workbook and Answer Key This is not a strong subject (especially multiplication) for him so he doesn't care for it.  But, in his case, it wouldn't matter what curriculum was chosen, he still wouldn't like it.  Grade wise, he's making A's so he can grumble and complain all he wants, but he still has to get the math done!  

Science

• Exploring Creation with Astronomy Textbook and Notebook Journal  He is really liking this, although, I feel that he already knows most everything in this book!  So, as soon as we finish this, we will probably move on to another Apologia book that he doesn't know so much about.   

Language Arts

• Basic Winston Grammar Set - I wasn't sure how this book would work out when I purchased it, but, to my surprise and delight, it is excellent.  It is a very easy way to learn the parts of speech and each lesson reinforces whats learned.  I will have to purchase the next book soon though because they are nearing completion of this one. 

• Total Language Plus:

1. The Sign of the Beaver -  While I think TLP is a very well-rounded curriculum, he hates it.  But once again, it's because he doesn't like reading too much.  So, I'm having to really pull it out of him on this one.  We will continue to do this curriculum because I feel that it challenges him.  This curriculum does require much of my time, but as we keep plugging along, he is getting better at it. 

History

• Story of the World III - Textbook, Activity Book and Tests - I did not purchase the Cd's because after listening to the samples, I feel that he would soon grow bored with them. He will also be reading biographies of some of the people he'll be learning about - such as some of the early American heroes.  This is an excellent and interesting book.  But, we had a huge snag the first few weeks.  As I said about my DS2, he isn't big on reading so he wasn't doing well at all on the reviews.  I considered purchasing the Cd's that go with it, but, decided that I'd just start reading it to him myself.  That turned everything around.  This book is very engaging and being read aloud to makes it even more fun.  He now looks forward to history class and my oldest son makes sure he's in the same room listening too! 

Foreign Language

• Spanish - We are working slowly on this.  He takes this class twice a week and continually reviews from the beginning. 

Fine Art

• Artistic Pursuits -  He loves drawing so this subject he's doing just fine in. 
• Guitar Lessons - This one is still up in the air yet, but he is begging to learn guitar and drums, but drums are out for now so hopefully the guitar lessons will work out.   We haven't started this one yet so I have no review on it.

Six Weeks Review - 3rd Grade

My approach to homeschooling was to go at it slowly, but steadily.  Since this is a new journey for all of us, I didn't want to overdo it and expect so much out of the children that they end up hating it.  I want them to love homeschooling as much as I love being the homeschool teacher.  They  have basically been working at their own pace and I'm quite pleased with the results.  According to my post in May on the subjects that they would have, here's a breakdown of how it is going in 3rd grade.  I will post the other grades on another day since they will be be lengthy: 

3rd Grade (8 year old girl)
Bible

• Who Is God and Can I Really Know Him?   - We do this together twice a week along with memorizing scripture

Math

• Teaching Textbook 3 Textbook, CD-ROM,Workbook and Answer Key   This is going very well.  I think the fact that she's able to be on the computer is helping because she loves playing games on the computer. 

Science

• Exploring Creation with Astronomy Textbook and Notebook Journal - We just finished learning about Mercury and made a model with homemade play dough.  That was messy!  It should be dry enough to paint next week.  This curriculum is great.  It's slow paced enough so as not to overwhelm  her with too many big words.   I read the lessons to her and DS2 and stop through out the lesson to explain what we're reading about.  DD2 is not a strong reader nor is reading (except at bedtime) her favorite pastime.   

Language Arts

In addition to the following books, she is also learning cursive writing.  I bought this book last year and we are just continuing it. 

• Explode the Code (books 5, 5 1/2, 6 - a little behind in phonics skills so we're starting at 2nd grade level)  These books are so fun.  We just started book 5 1/2 this week so she is moving along nicely.  However, I have back-tracked to a different curriculum to support this (Alpha-Omega Horizons Book 1)  She just didn't do very well in public school learning how to read.  It is amazing how the books, although written by different authors, compliment each other nicely. 

• Total Language Plus:   We are crawling through this curriculum.  But I do feel that it is very well written.  Although DD2 is not as advanced as she really should be to do this, we do it together.  At first, I was having her do spelling tests and although we worked on it daily, it did no good.  She is just not good at memorizing words yet.  But, I have put index cards on a ring with the spelling words and vocabulary meaning on the cards.  We go through these almost daily.  She is recognizing the words.  We may not get through as many books as I originally listed, but that's just fine.  I don't want to rush her through it to see how many we can get done, but I want her to fully grasp what she's learning. 

History / Art

• Draw and Write Through History (all 5 books)  These books are really cool.  However, DD2 is not that interested in drawing step by step.  She does love them and we read the history that goes with each drawing.  We will finish these in another 6 weeks.   I'll let you know what we do next.

Foreign Language

• Spanish  We are working slowly on this.  I decided not to rush through these so that the kids will retain what they are learning.  I'm doing the program myself so I can keep up with what they are learning.  It helps DD2 because I'll quiz her while we're driving or right before bedtime and most of the time she passes the "quiz".  I'm not having her do the writing part yet because she's struggling to learn to spell in the English language.  But if she can hear it and speak it, the writing will come later - at least that's my goal. 

Fine Arts

• Piano - private lessons and recital  - She's still taking lessons and will do a recital next spring.

I just wanted to share a post from the Daily Take Away that I receive everyday from our church.  This young man is 20 and there is such wisdom in his thoughts as follows:

I Corinthians 8:1-3

I know that this is short and simple, but this is what I felt that this Scripture meant: Of all man’s knowledge and all the things a man could say, using technical terms and such, God’s love reflecting from us in every aspect of our lives speaks even greater volumes. While there is nothing wrong with educating in the midst of any ministry opportunity to keep all on the same page, I want to make sure that I am speaking the Truth in love (Eph 4:15) first and foremost, and not trying to “puff up” my own image when witnessing, etc. Let’s go tell it on the mountain, but don’t tell everything you know. God Bless!

Ramzi

There is science in everything - including a can of tuna

We just finished our third week of school and it is going well.  Yes, there have been some challenges, but that is to be expected.  I love being a full-time home school mom to all of my children. 

In science, Andrew learned about  hypothesis, theory, and scientific law in module 2 of his science book - Apologia, General Science.  Yesterday, I was able to use a kitchen example to teach this.  My example may seem silly to some, but my mind works a little weird at times anyway. 

I have noticed over the past few months that the lids on the tuna cans have two different patterns.  The brand doesn't even determine the pattern.  When I open a can of tuna, I like to squeeze the water out using the lid.  Sometimes the lid just folds in half and that really irritates me!  So, yesterday, I made tuna casserole for dinner and made the children come in and watch the difference in the two different lids.   The lids with the spaced out circle patterns are stronger than the lids with the circles close together.  The spaced out circle pattern must make the lid a little stronger.  So, this time, I've made note of which pattern works better.  That way when I purchase tuna I can get the lids that work for squeezing the water out better.  I know - a little corny or weird, but it was fun teaching anyway.

Hypothesis:  My observation is that there are two different patterns on the tuna lids and one is probably stronger and will squeeze out the water from the tuna better.
Theory:   After opening can after can of tuna, the lid with the spaced out circle pattern is stronger and seems to be thicker than the lid with the circles close together.  The lids with the circles close together do not hold up to squeezing the water out of tuna. 

Of course this isn't a scientific law, but I was able to get a point across using a silly illustration.  It will also help me in the future when buying tuna.  I took pictures of the lids and the one on top (while it is bent) is actually the stronger lid.