A More Focused Math

Well we're finally going to start in on a more formal curriculum. Not for everything. This is for math. Although Gabi comprehends a lot of math things, I fear that I'll leave out a critical step some where and then we'll be floundering. I'd rather avoid that. So, much like with the grammar and writing, we've found something we think will work for us.

This does not mean that we'll stop doing the other "non-traditional" math learning. I think that is still very important (and probably a lot more fun). We're just going to add this program to it.

We've chosen RightStart Mathematics because it's a full hands-on approach to learning. It also focuses on quantifying and not just on pure counting. It uses numerous manipulatives, which will give verity to the lessons. And there are lessons for the equivalent of K-6 grades (or all the way through geometry - the home school lessons are set up by level and the public school version - same thing - is set up by grade - My kind of program... recognizes that home schooling kids advance at a different pace!)

I really think we're going to enjoy this one. I've really looked around and this one sounds the most like what we had been discussing (and it's not nearly as expensive as the other programs comparable to it). We did not get the whole set right away. We got only levels A-C (because we're guessing that Gabi is at level C given what the estimator said, but aren't completely sure, and because Beth should be around level A (maybe part way through)).

Beth is funny because she's not interested in doing any of the "writing" and the "reading comprehension" - and since she's not officially school age yet, I said okay. But when Math was mentioned, she jumped all over that. She's a very hands on, numbers and lines kind of a kid. She loves numbers. And she has an incredible gift and talent for art and drawing. Gabi likes those things... but she LOVES reading and writing. She's the literal kid.

Using The School

I know there are some people who believe in order to home school you must do everything yourself. There are others who believe that you can do anything as long as you don't let your child enter school. Everyone has their own reasons for their thoughts on this subject. That's good. Because each individual, each case, each family is different and has different needs.

So, with that in mind, I thought I'd let you know that we've decided to try out partial time at school. It's something we considered doing, but knew the schedule would conflict with nap time at the school she would have normally been attending (since we're interested in the specials - art, music, library... that kind of thing). We received a call from the school next door (the one that is closing after this year, and which has kids from grade 2 through 5... the younger kids already bused out to other schools). They were offering us the option to let Gabi join these specials along with the 2nd & 3rd grade classes (which are combined). So, we accepted on a trial basis. So far it seems to go well.

She's doing art on Monday afternoon, library Tuesday afternoon, and music (where they are learning theory!) Wednesday afternoon. PE (or gym) is on Thursday afternoon, but it runs right up until the end of the school hours and they aren't letting the walkers leave until both bus runs have come and gone (for safety reasons) and we have to leave right off for Gabi's dance class. She would not have time to get changed. Since she's doing an hour and 45 minutes of dance every week and playing on the rec soccer team, I figure she's getting her exercise for now. We might see about making other arrangements for her to get right home so she'd have time to change and might try it next week.

She likes it... it seems to be helping with some of the structure, and she can do it because the school is literally right next door and so she can walk there and back by herself (no interruptions to nap time!). We're continuing to have our own "craft/art time" and "music time"...although getting to the library is still a scary thought for me (the baby isn't so good with books yet!)... so I'm glad I don't have to stress about that right now.

Anyway, I believe that home school is an experience which allows the child to learn and to grow at a pace, and in a way, which is right for them. One which teaches them values and empathy, while cultivating talents and appropriately challenging the academic mind. It is an experience which utilizes the best of all resources for an individual child. And that, I hope, is what we're doing. It's certainly what we're trying to do.

Notebooks

Reading and Writing are two essential elements to learning.

Yes, Gabi reads. She's been reading since she was four. Taught her sister to read a month later, and reads almost anything she can get her hands on. That doesn't mean that she always understands what she's reading. She just doesn't have the life experience - and sometimes the vocabulary - to fully grasp the story. So my focus is on comprehension.

Trying to find the best way to do this for us, I've done things from writing down questions which she has to answer to just talking about it. I feel that I get the best results when we do both. So, she has a reading journal (a simple notebook) where I can write questions for her to consider and then answer about the book as she reads, or where she can also just write the things she reads about. This second way allows me to see how much she comprehends without guided questions. We also talk about the things she reads. That's not a problem for her... like her mom, she loves to talk!

The second notebook we picked up is for writing... more specifically for creative writing. Gabi loves to write, but I don't want us to keep loosing her work... mostly because she'll do something of her own choosing and then we don't know about it. This will give her a place to write. I also plan to give her "writing prompts" designed to work along side the grammar and writing lessons which I use. (My main guide is free - found online at Scott Foreman Reading. It's not a complete set of lessons and practice, it's only the basic lesson. You do have to supplement yourself. But if you don't mind doing that (which I don't) then it's one way to go and saves you a bunch of money.) The notebook will also help to keep all this writing together as well!

And Then There Were Three...

Butterfly number three emerged today... another monarch.

We have another caterpillar which we think might be a swallowtail caterpillar... we'll know for sure after it goes through the change.

After we get through the butterfly stuff, we'll be on to stars. Gabi wants to learn about the constellations.

Remember The Unknown Caterpillar?

Well, Gabi just recently returned from visiting my mother, and she had a wonderful surprise! She did some home schooling while she was there! (okay, so really it's two surprises) And she discovered what that crazy caterpillar was called.... (go Here to see a picture. It's the top picture.)

Are you ready.....

Milkweed Tussock Moth Caterpillar

Wow... now how hard was that? She found it in a book! Let's hear it for research! Now we'll know what we're looking for when (if) the moths emerge!

Working Simple Math Skills

We love to play games. Games are a wonderful way to learn things, to practice things, and yet some how the kid doesn't think they are "learning" anything. Okay, sometimes they realize they are. But still, it's the fun that matters.

Gabi understands simple addition and subtraction. But when she was in public school she was taught and encouraged to "count it out". I think this is a good method, to a point, and then one needs to know certain basic facts and how to manipulate these facts to get to an answer quickly. (Bob thinks so too). So although we're helping Gabi to move forward in her math skills, we're also working hard with her on "speed" with knowledge (She loves a good challenge - the speed is a way for her to challenge herself - something we're trying to get her to focus on as opposed to racing against someone else).

As fun and reinforcement, Bob spent a late night teaching Gabi how to play Cribbage. She loves the game! She and I also played it again today with me encouraging her to "guess" the number using certain logics when adding the numbers together. She's starting to see how to break things into parts (ie: 5+8 : start with 5 get to 10 (5 more) what is left (8-5 or 3) 10 and 3, total is 13), as well as certain short cuts (like adding 10 to a number only means you increase the 10's position with the 1's position remaining the same). She really loves this. (Though there are times when you can see it's hard for her to work the numbers as quickly as she'd like without straight out counting)

Butterflies, Butterflies Fly Away Home

Well it finally happened. The amazing day of emerging butterflies. No longer caterpillars, no longer chrysalids. An adventure the kids were waiting so long for (okay, only two weeks), and which they were very excited for.

Monday morning I was dragging...the boys were still happy upstairs and I thought I'd grab another half hour of sleep before the noise settled in for the day. But then I heard Gabi's excited voice yelling from the kitchen "Mom, Mom something's happening to the cocoons!" (Just a side note, we learned that Butterflies form Chrysalids and Moth's form Cocoons)

Needless to say I hurried right out to see what was happening (believe it or not, but this was my first experience with this too). Sure enough, where we had still seen what appeared to be green chrysalids the night before, we now saw two "black" forms. We learned that a chrysalis will thin out so much that it will appear black. It will then continue to thin out so that you can see the colors of the wings through the "black". Really, it's all clear. Which, if you don't believe it, you can see after the butterfly emerges!

We did not want to miss this great experience (and it looked like we'd only have the one day to see it - not two), so we stuck real close. There was always someone watching, while the kids took turns playing computer, doing some language arts, and just staying near in the same room. I was back and forth doing lots of laundry. We were able to get some neat pictures of the various stages of the chrysalids thinning out.

The first butterfly emerged about 3:15pm. Gabi was on watch and got side track answering a question for Bethie, but she saw most of it. She called us over, and we were able to see it pull it's wings out behind itself and climb over the chrysalis to get to a good place to "stretch out" the wings to start the drying and stiffening process. It hangs upside down, pumps blood into it's wings, and then waits until they are completely dry. Then the blood is drained out of the wings, the tubes closed off, and the butterflies start to move them, testing them out.

Butterfly number two we were hoping to get a little movie of! Thanks to a very vigilant Gabi, we have one to share with you. It was really neat! Don't mind the back ground noise - not everyone was watching the little miracle!






We mixed up a little "nectar" from the butterfly book we have. I'm not sure if the butterflies ever ate any, but Bob said the butterflies needed to go this morning (though another time we're going to try out some of the gentle "experiments" - really observations - suggested in the book.

butterfly to crawl onto her hand. Gentle, they brought them out, and enjoyed having the onThis morning was very hard for Gabi. Bethie was relieved. She seemed to think it was a problem that the butterflies were in the Butterfly Garden we had for them. In any case, we carried them out in the Butterfly Garden, and then the girls each reached in and allowed onee their hands for a little while, then gentle placed them near to a flower and watched the butterflies crawl onto the flowers.

As today was not sunny, the butterflies weren't even 24 hours old yet, and it was getting ready to rain, the butterflies did not fly away. After the major rain storm, the girls went out to see if "Jack and Annie" (as they had named them) were still where they left them. Sure enough, they found them and the butterflies were willing to crawl back onto their little fingers. This was great for Jeremy, because he was able to have a butterfly crawl onto his finger too!

At one point, the one Gabi was hold flew up and landed on her cheek. It then crawled up and hung on her helmet (which was was hearing). After Jeremy and I went back inside, the girls continued to play with and talk to the butterflies. Then I noticed it was starting to rain again and called them back inside. As I did, each butterfly, in turn, flew off and away! Gabi was so happy to have had the chance to see them fly!