Field Trip Pics

Here are some of the photos from our field trip last week. It's not all of them (I took a few hundred), but it should be enough to give an idea of how our trip was. I got many more pics at the natural history museum, because it was less crowded & there's not much hands-on stuff. The science museum, though, has a lot of hands-on activities & there were more people, so we were in constant motion going from one thing to the next, and there were always people in the way. Plus, the cameras were already acting up quite a bit by then (both our digital cameras died that day).

In a mood

I've been in a mood lately. It's kind of an anti-social mood. I just really have no desire, right now, for contact with other people, even online. I've barely visited my forums. When I do visit them, I only lurk, looking over recent conversations, but not finding any that I care to join. I don't even bother to sign in. I've been to G+ even less. I'm stopping by FB daily, but only to play some games & check on a few family members that have been posting updates (mainly about medical stuff going on with other family members). I haven't even been reading many of the blogs I read.

I'm not entirely certain what has caused this mood. I've always found dealing with people (in real life) to be rather exhausting. It takes a lot out of me to get through a family holiday or birthday celebration for a friend. Normally, online communication is much less exhausting, since I can end conversations faster, leave the site if someone is irritating me, etc. Lately, however, online is taking just as much out of me as if I were around all these people face to face. So, I'm being a bit of a hermit.

Busywork is NOT Universal!

One of the great things about homeschooling, is that we can streamline our children's education - keeping what we feel is important and/or useful and leaving out the busywork. However, what many people don't seem to understand is that busywork does not mean the same thing to everyone. What is busywork to one child is necessary for, or greatly enjoyed by, another. I've seen many people get offended by someone saying that 'X' is busywork, because 'X' is something they do a lot of & their kids enjoy or need. Just because 'X' is busywork for family A, that doesn't mean that it is also busywork for everyone else. Family B might find it quite useful.

So, what is busywork? Simply put, busywork is work that does not enhance or improve the person's learning experience and only takes up their time. In other words, anything that your child gets something out of, isn't busywork. If your child enjoys and learns from applying the knowledge they've learned about mummification, by mummifying something, it is time well spent, not busywork. If your child learns best with worksheets, they are not busywork. If your child needs lots of review, those extra pages of Math problems are not busywork.

Now, for us, excessive practice of concepts is busywork. My kids grasp & master concepts quickly. Once they master something, they don't need or want much review. So, we don't do extra pages of Math problems, unless they need it. I often have Jay do only part of a page of his Math, once he has proven mastery of the concepts covered. If he doesn't do a good job on the page, he has to redo the incorrect problems and do extra problems for the needed practice. As long as he's doing them properly, though, I see no reason to make him to unnecessary work. Dea only has to do the odd numbers on her Algebra assignments (it's a college text, so the lessons have anywhere from 70 - 130 problems).

Science experiments may be extras to some and busywork to others, but to us, they are an important part of the learning process. We do a lot of hands-on projects, especially in the lower grades, like making pyramids, making mummies, building longhouses, making dreamcatchers, building castles, etc. Now, some people might see that stuff as silly, stupid, busywork, etc. However, with my kinesthetic learners, that stuff is an opportunity for them to apply their knowledge, prove their comprehension/mastery of a subject/topic, and enjoy the learning process. We make models. We make posters. We create things. We design things. We take things apart to see how they work. We experiment with new ways to do things or new materials to use. We like to get involved, get our hands dirty. That's how they learn best. So, this stuff works for us.

Some people prefer worksheets. After reading about something, instead of building it, testing it, etc., they prefer to answer questions on a worksheet about it. To them, the stuff we do might be busywork.

Some people use penmanship programs, expecting their kids to do pages of penmanship workbooks daily. Some chose to work on penmanship through dictation & copywork. Others don't do anything formal for penmanship, because that kind of work would be busywork for their kids. That is not meant as a slight against those who choose to work on penmanship formally. It's simply a difference in style, preference, and needs.

Some use flashcards & drill Math facts. Others see rote memorization as busywork and choose more entertaining ways to help their children master Math.

It's not that one is superior to the other. It's not that one is right & the other wrong. It's nothing more than the fact that people are not all the same. We don't all have the same interests, tastes, or needs. We don't all learn the same things at the same pace. We are different. Therefore, when it comes to education, no method or material will work for everyone. There is no universal 'perfect' scope & sequence. There is no universal 'correct' method. There is no universal 'best' curriculum. Not even the meaning of 'busywork' is universal, because there are so many differences among us.

Remember, just because someone says something is busywork, that doesn't mean you shouldn't do it or that it is useless/dumb/pointless/unnecessary/etc. It just means that it isn't useful to them.

Plans for next year

It's coming close to time to purchase our materials for the 2012-2013 school year. So, I've been working on finalizing the purchase list. I'll do one more finalization of it, after we get our taxes done, when I know exactly what my school budget is. I don't intend for it to change much. If anything, we'll be able to add a few things that we want, but will raise the total quite a bit. So, here's the current plan & what we hope to use/do for the next school year:

Dea (9th grade)
Math:
Geometry - Geometry: Seeing, Doing, Understanding (Jacob's Geometry)
Accounting - online at UniversalClass for spine, supplementing with LIFEPAC (I know AOP is a Christian company, but this was the only Accounting course I could find that has a real business simulation with it), we also have multiple Accounting textbook here that she can reference

English:
Grammar - Easy Grammar Ultimate grade 11
Writing - online classes at UC
Vocab - 2 words a day
Literature - World Literature, 12 books (we have a list of 24 for the next two years, she chose which to read each year, though the list is subject to change) Lord of the Flies, Three Sisters, Dracula, To Kill a Mocking bird, The Count of Monte Cristo, Anna Karenina, Don Quixote, The Divine Comedy, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Uncle Tom's Cabin, The Lovely Bones, something by Stephen King (undecided as to which book)

Government: online at UC, supplemented with various materials as needed

Economics: online at UC, supplemented with various materials as needed

Science: Geology - online at UC for spine, supplement with various materials

History: Middle Ages - course designed by Dea & me, no specific materials required

Art: Photography

Foreign Languages:
Latin: if doesn't finish Oxford Latin this year, will continue with it next year, also using free online course
ASL: will continue using Signing Time dvds & ASL Interpreter dvds at library, if fits in budget will also get Joy of Signing 5 dvd set & Complete Language pack (Joy of Signing book & 2 puzzle books)
Spanish: continue with Tell Me More Spanish
Irish(Gaelic) - if in budget will get Rosetta Stone v3 Irish level 1-3, also using free resources at BBC Languages

Computer Programming: continuing with Logo Adventures & adding Logo Works

Geography: The Power of Place, project of Geography in literature

Music: possibly learning flute

Jay (3rd grade):

Math:
will be doing the books on Fractions and Decimals & Percents in Mastering Mathematics (the program he's currently using), will also add Life of Fred Decimals & Percents and Fractions books to do simultaneously
Tall-Tale Math book 1: Number sense (because he enjoys doing story problems) & book 4: Data & Measurement
continuing with fun Math games, Khan Academy
continuing with Key to Measurement & Metric Measurement (if doesn't finish this year)

Language Arts:
Spelling: All About Spelling levels 3 & 4
Writing: Check the Deck and Flip the Deck
Vocab - word a day
Grammar: Easy Grammar 3 & 4
Reading: continue reading books of his choice

Geography: study of the States, various resources, continue with Geography games, continue with self-directed Geography study, project of Geography in literature

Logic: Logic Safari book 2, various logic puzzles from books of logic puzzles

Art: leather working, charcoal

Computer Programming: continuing with Logo Adventures, adding in Logo Works

Music: continue learning about different styles & genres of movement and different artists, continue playing recorder & Native American flute, possibly start drums

Foreign Language:
Latin: Latin for Children B
ASL: continue with Signing Time dvds
Spanish: continue with Tell Me More Spanish

Science: Meteorology, Geology, Water
experiments, activities, narration, lots of books, dvds, internet resources, Netflix, etc.
we're getting a Science kit, some fun stuff (like snow & solar beads), and still deciding on which weather station I want to get him
notebook, journal, or some other long-term project for each topic (book, museum exhibit, video, etc.)

History: Middle Ages, Renaissance, Pirates & Explorers
activities, narration, lots of books, dvds, internet resources, Netflix, etc.
building a castle, trebuchet, pirate ship
notebook, journal, or some other long-term project for each topic (book, museum exhibit, video, etc.)

Week in Review Feb 3, 2012

Well, it's really more like 2 weeks in review.

We'll start with Dea. She is still working on finding a schedule that works for her. She is getting a little better about getting her work done, but is still not doing everything that's required. This week, she did get more than one Math lesson done, and that is an improvement. She also did work in her online Writing course and signed up for a Poetry Writing course at the same place. She has been spending a lot of time working on History, but still has nothing to show except notes. She's putting in a bit more effort in Latin & ASL, and seems to be finally enjoying the languages. She has finished reading Eaters of the Dead & watched The 13th Warrior. Next, she needs to read The Lord of the Ring Trilogy. She's got about 10 library books out right now that she plans to read. She's been really enjoying our reading challenge, Exploring Genres, and our Poet of the Month. This week was a bit strained for everyone. So, I'm hoping to see more improvement next week.

Now onto Jay.

Math: DD p.44 - 49, fun Math games,Timez Attack, Division Attack, Khan Academy, Key to Measurement bk1 p.16 -18

Language Arts:
EG2 day 124 - 132
AAS2 Step 9, 10, and review of steps 1 - 10
Writing - online research on Giganotosaurus and organizing notes
Vocab words (we missed several days): Action, Monotonous, Zoology, Mythomania, Tyrannosaurus, Exclaim

Latin: LFC A Chapter 10, Headventure Land

ASL: ST vol 4 Family , Feelings, Fun, and ST vol 6 My Favorite Things

Spanish: TMM Spanish 2 days

Logo Adventures Lesson 10 & 10A

Music: Recorer & Native American Flute 3 days each

Art: CLD3 activity 19 & 20

Science:  read I've Discovered Electricity!; Ben Franklin: His Wit & Wisdom From A-Z; Circuits, Shocks, & Lightning; The Remarkable Benjamin Franklin; How Does a Waterfall Become Electricity
did narrations on 3 of those books
studied & drew the parts of an atom

History: read: Viking Longship; The Gruesome Truth About the Vikings
did narration on one of those books
did map work showing where the Vikings lived & some places they traveled, will continue adding as we learn more
Who Am I? activity on Viking explorers & settlers
read from Learning Through History Viking issue
watched Leif Ericson: Voyage of a Viking

Now, this week was a bit light on schoolwork for two reasons.
1) Monday was a day off for us. My husband took the day off work and we took a field trip. We visited a Natural History museum. We had a great time wandering through it, looking at the exhibits, visiting the paleontology & biology labs, petting a live snake, and taking tons of pictures (both my digital cameras stopped functioning properly & we went through 8 batteries in 2 museums). We visited exhibits on Geology, Native American, Dinosaurs & other prehistoric animals, local flora & fauna, and the traveling exhibit on Ice Age Mammals. The kids bought rocks in the gift shop, to add to their rock collections.
Then, we went home, had lunch, and walked the dog. After lunch, we went to a Science museum. We spent the next few hours playing with electricity, air pressure, lasers, farm equipment, a flight simulator, virtual reality sports, simple machines, magnets, bubbles, and puzzles. We assembled a human body(well, its organs, anyway), typed Morse code messages to each other, watched a cyclone form from smoke, looked at our fingerprints, and looked at optical illusions.
After all of that, we went out to dinner at a local sandwich shop we'd never been to before. It was a great day & we all had fun.
2) The second reason wasn't so fun. On Tuesday, Jay poked himself in the eye. He has really sharp, thin nails. Apparently, he gouged his cornea, not scratched it, gouged it. The doctor was really worried about scar tissue causing permanent damage to his vision. Just what every parent wants to hear - "Your child has a gouge in his eye and the resulting scar tissue, that may form while it heals, could impair his vision for life." He prescribed antibiotic drops and said to give him Tylenol or Ibuprofen for pain. We had to take him in the next day to check how it was healing. He surprised the hell out of the doctor when they looked and saw it completely healed. It's common for minor corneal abrasions to heal in 1-3 days, but more severe ones (you know, like a gouge instead of a scratch) should take longer to heal. Not in the case of my son, though. They said to continue the drops for a few extra days, just to be safe. After all, the eye is not a good place to get an infection. His eye hurt quite a bit, even after it healed, so we eased up on the amount of reading he does. I let him take it easy this week, doing less than a full week of school, and much less reading & writing than usual.

Narration

For the last few weeks, Jay has been fighting about doing narrations for History & Science. I don't really understand why, since he naturally narrates to me about almost every book he reads for fun. Somehow, though, having to narrate for school is different. So, we discussed narration and what our possible alternatives are.

Narration does a lot of things. If the parent/teacher is reading aloud, it improves the child's listening skills. If the child reads & then narrates, it improves reading for information (as opposed to reading for fun). Oral narration improves public speaking skills - volume, talking speed, and diction. Written narration improves writing skills. Any narration improves attention, comprehension, and memory. Narration uses (and thus improves) multiple study/note-taking skills, such as organizing thoughts, focusing on the important parts of the text, and putting the information into their own words.

That is a lot to be covered by one simple process! So, we discussed these benefits of narration & why they are needed. Then, we discussed the alternatives, which basically comes down to doing a lot of extra work, because I can't think of anything else that covers all of those things at once. So, he still isn't thrilled with doing narrations (and I still don't know why, since he can't/won't give me a real reason), but he has decided to continue with them, anyway.

February is

*Note: This is not a comprehensive list.

Black History Month/National African American History Month
National Snack Food Month
Responsible Pet Owner Month
Creative Romance Month

Holidays/Observances
1 Imbolc
2 Groundhog Day
13 - 21 Parentalia - Roman celebration of the dead practiced in ancient times, we're bringing it back (at least for our family)
14 Valentines Day
20 President's Day
22 Ash Wednesday
22 Washington's Birthday
27 International Polar Bear Day
29 Leap Day

Phases of the Moons:
7 Full Moon
14 Last Quarter
21 New Moon


Birthdays:
2 James Joyce
3 Norman Rockwell
4 George Romero
4 Charles Lindbergh
4 Rosa Parks
6 Axl Rose
7 Charles Dickens
7 Garth Brooks
8 Jules Verne
10 Lon Chaney Jr.
11 Thomas Alva Edison
12 Ray Manzarek
12 Judy Blume
14 Jimmy Hoffa
15 Galileo
15 Susan B. Anthony
18 Alessandro Volta
19 Nicolaus Copernicus
19 Tony Iommi
20 Ansel Adams
21 Alan Rickman
22 Frederic Chopin
23 George Frederic Handel
25 Pierre Auguste Renoir
26 Levi Strauss
27 John Steinbeck
27 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow