Foil Boats

During the after school program, we had a mother who was also a science teacher come in and do an activity with the kids. They built a boat using just one piece of foil. Then they had to see how many pennies their boats would hold and talked about what made a successful boat.













Well, my girls wanted to do it again... so they each made a boat... and instead of pennies, we used pattern blocks... using up all of one size and shape before moving on to the next. All in all, Gabi's boat held 381 pieces (BTW - she and Bethie were also the 3rd place boat during the ASP - would have been 2nd if you didn't count the "helpers" who were in high school). Bethie's held 198.


















They had fun... and then so did Peter... he loves to pour things. A great skill to have and learn... but boys is he messy when he does it... which is any time he can get to liquid!

Dye and Crystals

So Gabi loves Science.... as in, she'd do that and nothing else if she was allowed. She loves to read about it, explore it, study it, do it.... she just loves science. So, she ends up doing a lot of that on her own... and I don't get many pictures.

But we thought about doing crystals... (we still need to get some Borax to do crystals that way - not so easy to find around here)....

We made up four glasses - one was warm tap water with sugar, another the same only with blue food coloring, then there was one with a super saturated (i.e. boiled and completely filled with sugar), and another the same but once again with blue food coloring.

We were trying to see if which would make better crystals - which started crystals the fastest - and whether or not the blue food coloring changed the effect.

I cannot say we had a complete success.... when we put in the food coloring, we noted that the dye moved faster through the warm tap water than through the super saturated solution - Therefore, the more sugar in the water, the hard it was for the food coloring to mix (without being stirred).

We set out glasses in the window sill behind the sink - the safest place for such a thing in our house right now.... apparently not safe enough - Bob managed to knock one over while doing dishes! But that wasn't the only problem... apparently it's a window with a lot of cold air flowing around it... the water cooled off too rapidly and we ended up with more crystals on the edge of the glass than on the lollipop stick!

We have decided to try again... in the spring... with the frigid air isn't a problem... still, we were able to see a few crystals that had formed.... and the girls thought they were mighty tasty! (Let's hear it for sugar!)

The Barred Owl

About a month or so ago, we decided to visit some friends and head out on a "field trip". It was a fun one - head off to the Children's Museum. There are lots around (just not close enough for us to be actively involved in regularly) and this one we had not yet been too. The kids were very excited to find out we were going to go "explore" and "play" there.

While we were there, we were able to enjoy a mini creature feature. We learned about the Barred Owl. It was really neat to see and touch the owl. It was especially fun to watch the gentleman show us what the owl could do (such as turning it's head all the way around to the back).

The kids had a great time telling Daddy all about the owl when they got home!

We also tried to go into the Marine Science Center to see some seals and turtles. However, there were classes in session and no turtles currently there. We'll be going back another time when we know the kids will be able to help feed the seal and see some turtles too!

After School Program

We've been busy.. busy, busy with everything. The harvest came in... we still have a few pumpkins and beets to put away. Math seems to be enjoyed - although Gabi sometimes rolls her eyes at the stuff she already knows. (She had a different program in school last year, so we're using the transition lessons right now to help her understand the part of this program before jumping into the level C that she's ready for... almost done with the transition though.)

Anyway, we're involved ourselves in the after school program (asp). Unlike most ASPs, this one is put on and run by the youth program committee of the rec. department. Therefore, I am co-directing it this year. We decided on a cultural theme. So, most of the days we focus on one country. A craft, a physical activity - game, cultural snack, and so forth. Several of the days we have someone come in and talk about their culture... or one they know a tremendous amount about.

So far, we've made rain sticks, and started African drums. Obviously these are mock items, as to make the real thing would require items we can't ready get a hold of, but the idea is there. They've also heard from a Penobscott Indian, and he shared some drumming and songs with them. We also had the children try Zimbabwe Sweet-Potato Cookies (which they loved). The also seemed to enjoy a native stew as well.

The younger children generally get to hear stories read about the culture we're talking about. Last week, I did a re-telling of Abiyoyo while they children ate their snack. They really enjoyed that.

We only meet two days a week... it seems to be enough for those of us putting it on... with out own kids and schedules to have to maintain as well.

What they learns is interesting, but it's only a taste of the culture. It gets the kids excited and interested. - And it helps to open their eyes to things that are different (and similiar) between their own culture and others. (We are, after all, a very small and "sheltered" community).

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!