W started going to a media lab in a museum once a week for stop-motion animation instruction. It's for 6th-9th graders, there's a couple of instructors, and the kids get to use the equipment. He likes it so far and I'm glad he's making movies again. He is making them at home, too, using some new clay, the video camera he got for Christmas, and some free software he downloaded on his computer. I love coming across these kinds of educational and fun opportunities around town.
I went to the Scholastic Store the other day to get W a couple of bridge workbooks (we love these and the Scholastic ones are wonderful). I found a 6th-7th grade one and a 7th-8th grade one. I also grabbed a couple of books for W to read: War Horse & Farm Boy (which is the sequel to War Horse). W loved the movie, so I figured he'd try reading the book. Scholastic gave me a FIFTY PERCENT educator discount on the workbooks and a 25% discount on the novels. I couldn't believe it. I am so going back there for more stuff soon.
I'm not crazy about Story of the World at all. It's boring. We started using The Story of Mankind instead (from our Ambleside stash) and we like it a whole lot more. We just read it together and he narrates. It's fun to use the chapters as starting points for further study, too. We're also getting a bit tired of Apologia. It's ok and the experiments are great, but we're just falling asleep reading it. I think it would be better if we use our own books/websites/documentaries/trips that pertain to each subject in order from the Apologia book and do the corresponding experiments. So we'll still be using the book and experiment supplies mainly because I really hate wasting money. We do love Sequential Spelling (although I'm also thinking about trying All About Spelling since it's much more multi-sensory). I've pulled out a few of our Basic Series books as well. These are for the "middle grades". The pages look terrible, but the activities are actually fun and thorough. We have one for World Geography, one for Government-Economics-&-Citizenship, and one for Map Skills.
I was doing some research on the Common Core curriculum that NY state will now be using in all the public elementary and middle schools. It seems a lot more advanced than what they used to use. The tests that W will have to take at a school in 7th grade will be using this new format. I checked out some samples and I really think that many kids are going to have a hard time with this. The ELA part is not so bad. It uses a lot of critical thinking skills rather than black & white answers. That's what W and I have been doing since he was in 2nd grade via the CM method, Ambleside books and creative narrations. The 7th grade math samples looked a bit overwhelming. It's not that they are particularly difficult, but they take so many steps to get the answer. The 6th grade samples looked a lot more reasonable and pretty much align with where W is right now. If we keep on the way we are with math, W should do ok on the test next year. I don't like this kind of stressful testing at all, but if W chooses public high school, he needs these grades. I swear, as I discover more and more of the amazing things NYC has for teens, and what a wonderful education W would get outside school walls, I truly wonder why we would even consider anything else.
Academics:
Math: Adding & subtracting mixed numbers, Review of ratio, percent, fractions, average, perimeter, GCF.
English: Helping verbs, Sequential Spelling, Independent reading (War Horse)
Social Studies: Story of Mankind chapter 1, Hemispheres, Continents, Oceans
Science: Review of scientists (names, years, beliefs, findings, etc) from Ancient Egypt to the Renaissance.
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Wednesday, February 06, 2013
February
We've incorporated some of the big, yellow, 6th-grade Complete Curriculum book into our week. One thing we're using it for is some gentle math review. After months of only Saxon, this is like a little reprieve from the plain pages. The yellow book is a bit more colorful and the problems are nicely spread out on the page. This week we spent some time reviewing fractions: equivalent, reducing, adding, subtracting, multiplying, & dividing. In Saxon, he's up to percent & ratio.
The big, yellow book was also used for the reading comprehension section. W read some passages and answered questions. This is keeping him on his toes and is a nice break from narrating. The other thing we focused on this week was reading aloud. Since his acting class started in full force this past weekend, he wants to be confident in his reading skills - especially in front of others. So, we found the old Aesop's Fables book (Milo Winter) and he read to me. The trick was to use a story-telling tone and create the voices and personalities for each character. His first attempt was choppy - he skipped words, stumbled through it, and nothing made sense. Then I remembered the blue overlay. Once he read the words through the blue colored plastic, it was close to perfect. He only hesitated at 1 or 2 large, unfamiliar words. He decided to bring it to the acting class and use it with his scripts. Thankfully, he's not shy about things like that.
The acting class was fantastic. He got there a little early and decided to go up to the instructor he had for the past trial four weeks to tell her he has dyslexia. I guess he just wanted to get it out in the open so no one would wonder why he reads so stumbly for his age. She listened to him and then told him she had dyslexia too. She said that words get all mixed up and she reads slowly. W was so happy someone actually understood. I got all teary-eyed when I heard this. He'll be fine.
We got Sequential Spelling the other day. We're starting with the first book like the website says since it doesn't correspond with grade level. I like the multi-sensory way it's done. I might go pick up another dry erase board and markers - but crayons/colored pencils/markers and white looseleaf work fine, too. It looks like a good program and I've heard a lot of great things about it. He seems to like it so far, too. The daily spelling tests and various writing assignments in the Student Workbook are just what he needs.
I keep reading and researching everything I can about dyslexia and visual processing disorder and one thing that stood out to me was that these kids need a break every 15 minutes or so while doing academic work. I haven't been doing that, so I guess it explains W's eye-rubbing and yawning and glazed look sometimes. I certainly will be taking short breaks with him from now on, though. The article suggest he get up and walk around during the break. This is another reason I believe homeschooling through high school would be so much better for him. I keep going back and forth. He still has no idea what he'd rather do. Like I said, I'll go through the motions of applying to everything and whatever he's accepted to, he can decide then.
The acting class was fantastic. He got there a little early and decided to go up to the instructor he had for the past trial four weeks to tell her he has dyslexia. I guess he just wanted to get it out in the open so no one would wonder why he reads so stumbly for his age. She listened to him and then told him she had dyslexia too. She said that words get all mixed up and she reads slowly. W was so happy someone actually understood. I got all teary-eyed when I heard this. He'll be fine.
We got Sequential Spelling the other day. We're starting with the first book like the website says since it doesn't correspond with grade level. I like the multi-sensory way it's done. I might go pick up another dry erase board and markers - but crayons/colored pencils/markers and white looseleaf work fine, too. It looks like a good program and I've heard a lot of great things about it. He seems to like it so far, too. The daily spelling tests and various writing assignments in the Student Workbook are just what he needs.
I keep reading and researching everything I can about dyslexia and visual processing disorder and one thing that stood out to me was that these kids need a break every 15 minutes or so while doing academic work. I haven't been doing that, so I guess it explains W's eye-rubbing and yawning and glazed look sometimes. I certainly will be taking short breaks with him from now on, though. The article suggest he get up and walk around during the break. This is another reason I believe homeschooling through high school would be so much better for him. I keep going back and forth. He still has no idea what he'd rather do. Like I said, I'll go through the motions of applying to everything and whatever he's accepted to, he can decide then.
J started tap classes at her high school and is in the advanced group. Yay! Being in advanced anything in this school means a lot. She's also in a choreography class this semester. Soon they start their Junior Projects. These are student choreographed numbers that the kids perform and count as a huge part of their grade. I can't wait to see these. At the dance studio, she is still teaching and keeping busy getting ready for all the competitions coming up. As one of the teachers, she went with the studio owner to another dance teacher convention. She spent a whole day at various classes that teach how to teach.
K's internship is more than she could have imagined it would be. It's a small office and she fits right in. They even invited her out with them for after-work drinks (no she won't be drinking, lol). She is already corresponding with clients, tagging along on face-to-face meetings, writing dozens of promo spots for social media sites, and she landed 3 new clients for them on her first attempt! Needless to say they are impressed with her - she got claps and congratulations from everyone there. She loves being in Manhattan 3 days a week, too.
K's internship is more than she could have imagined it would be. It's a small office and she fits right in. They even invited her out with them for after-work drinks (no she won't be drinking, lol). She is already corresponding with clients, tagging along on face-to-face meetings, writing dozens of promo spots for social media sites, and she landed 3 new clients for them on her first attempt! Needless to say they are impressed with her - she got claps and congratulations from everyone there. She loves being in Manhattan 3 days a week, too.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
It's All Good
I have a love-hate relationship with things going well. I can never shake the thought that the ball is going to drop any minute.
W has formed the beginning thoughts of what he'd like his future to look like. It all revolves around technology & computer programming. He is already getting a great head start. He's teaching himself things I can't begin to understand. We're having fun finding various online classes and programs. It's simply amazing how kids are like sponges when it comes to learning what they're interested in (but shut down almost completely when forced to study things that have no context and meaning in their lives).
He's all ready for the new semester to begin at his drama class. We watched a production today of the 12+ group doing improv games, monologues, and dramatic scenes. It was really really good. The kids were like little professionals - very confident, funny, and engaging. If that's what they teach there, then I'm over the moon ecstatic for W to join them. His class was a 4-week trial with about 8 other kids in a different part of the building. When the new semester starts, he will join those talented teens. He's a little worried about the scenes and monologues, since they require a lot of reading - and some cold reading - but it's not scaring him away. I think some out-loud character readings as a part of our week will help with that fear.
J has been working on her new dance solo like crazy, teaching her classes (3 classes - 3-4 y/os, 4-6 y/os, and 9-10y/os), and helping out with a brand new competition team at the studio. These kids are 8-11 years old and need to learn the ropes! J has been competing since she was 7, so she knows what she's doing. She's also really excited for her senior year. The studio owner has some great things lined up for her. We were also looking at some different things like professional companies, conservatories, musical theater groups, choreographing opportunities, etc. NYC has every kind of opportunity imaginable, especially once she's done with high school.
K went on an interview last week for an internship and they called her the other day to say she got it! It's right in the heart of Manhattan's Fashion District and she can't be more excited. She will intern there part-time (the hours are perfect) while still working her regular part-time job. She was so nervous before, during and after the interview, but feels she is so right for this. The fact that she went to a high school for journalism helped a LOT, majoring in marketing and management really impressed them, and her extensive experience with programs like InDesign and Photoshop blew them away. I have to say, her resume is fantastic. She did the research, found the listing, sent the email, got an interview, and nailed it. She's grown up, she's responsible, and she's ambitious. I can't ask for more. This is the field she wants to be in forever. I hope it's everything she wants it to be.
W has formed the beginning thoughts of what he'd like his future to look like. It all revolves around technology & computer programming. He is already getting a great head start. He's teaching himself things I can't begin to understand. We're having fun finding various online classes and programs. It's simply amazing how kids are like sponges when it comes to learning what they're interested in (but shut down almost completely when forced to study things that have no context and meaning in their lives).
He's all ready for the new semester to begin at his drama class. We watched a production today of the 12+ group doing improv games, monologues, and dramatic scenes. It was really really good. The kids were like little professionals - very confident, funny, and engaging. If that's what they teach there, then I'm over the moon ecstatic for W to join them. His class was a 4-week trial with about 8 other kids in a different part of the building. When the new semester starts, he will join those talented teens. He's a little worried about the scenes and monologues, since they require a lot of reading - and some cold reading - but it's not scaring him away. I think some out-loud character readings as a part of our week will help with that fear.
J has been working on her new dance solo like crazy, teaching her classes (3 classes - 3-4 y/os, 4-6 y/os, and 9-10y/os), and helping out with a brand new competition team at the studio. These kids are 8-11 years old and need to learn the ropes! J has been competing since she was 7, so she knows what she's doing. She's also really excited for her senior year. The studio owner has some great things lined up for her. We were also looking at some different things like professional companies, conservatories, musical theater groups, choreographing opportunities, etc. NYC has every kind of opportunity imaginable, especially once she's done with high school.
K went on an interview last week for an internship and they called her the other day to say she got it! It's right in the heart of Manhattan's Fashion District and she can't be more excited. She will intern there part-time (the hours are perfect) while still working her regular part-time job. She was so nervous before, during and after the interview, but feels she is so right for this. The fact that she went to a high school for journalism helped a LOT, majoring in marketing and management really impressed them, and her extensive experience with programs like InDesign and Photoshop blew them away. I have to say, her resume is fantastic. She did the research, found the listing, sent the email, got an interview, and nailed it. She's grown up, she's responsible, and she's ambitious. I can't ask for more. This is the field she wants to be in forever. I hope it's everything she wants it to be.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Reawakened to Relaxing
It is going to be freezing cold this week. W and I will be enjoying a week inside. We'll get to the gym as often as we can, but it's so fun being wrapped up in blankets on the couch, drinking tea, and watching movies. At home, he's been keeping pretty busy: cooking, making videos, training his parrot, and learning more and more things about gaming, research, and computer programming with the gaming laptop he got for Christmas. He is learning about new programs, watching tutorials, and creating his own sites. He created his own Minecraft server yesterday. It's so great to see him so focused.
He's doing great with academics, too. We've been trying only 2-3 subjects a day only for the last couple of weeks and it's seems to work out better. We get to stick with something a little bit longer each day and this has meant that more chapters are getting done each week.
He's doing great with academics, too. We've been trying only 2-3 subjects a day only for the last couple of weeks and it's seems to work out better. We get to stick with something a little bit longer each day and this has meant that more chapters are getting done each week.
He does 10-minutes of reading each day, gym is 3x a week, library is once a week, field trips are once or twice a month, and of course there's choir, theater, and CCD on the weekends. Keeping things simple is the best way for W. I will always believe in afternoons free, facilitating interests, and getting out and seeing the town as often as we can. I so wish I got this kind of wonderful education as a child. I almost feel like an unschooler again. :)
Last week's academics: Greatest Common Factor, Large number divisibility short cuts, Fractions, Past & present tense verbs, Hieroglyphics, Cuneiform, Papyrus, Science during the Dark Ages - up to 1500AD.
Last week's academics: Greatest Common Factor, Large number divisibility short cuts, Fractions, Past & present tense verbs, Hieroglyphics, Cuneiform, Papyrus, Science during the Dark Ages - up to 1500AD.
J went to her (hopefully) last Sweet 16 this past weekend. I think she's gone to 2 every month since last January. Dance competition season is in full swing. She's doing about 5 or 6 of them this year. It's a Nationals year, too. She will be finishing up her solo this week, all her own choreography once again. She also will be doing a duet, maybe a trio, a few small group numbers, and a few large group/production numbers. These include tap, contemporary, musical theater, jazz, and lyrical. I love competition season!
Friday, January 11, 2013
Staying Active
Going to the gym with W is really fun. He's so into it. We're spending a good 90 minutes there each day. The routine so far is 30 minutes on cardio (we use the treadmill, elliptical, stationary bike, etc - whatever we feel like that day) and 60 minutes on strength training. We work out the "push muscles" (triceps, quadriceps, chest) and the "pull muscles" (biceps, hamstrings, back) on alternating MWF days. Three days a week is what we're starting with for now.
The theater class W started going to is wonderful. It's run by all professionals and the kids are really serious about it. W and the other beginners went to their own space. B & I went for some breakfast while he was there. At the end of class, the instructor said the kids did very well and told me it's obvious that "W is much farther along" than the others. Hmmm. He hasn't acted since that summer workshop when he was 8 and he's only been in choir for a few months. I wonder why she said that. He did tell me he answered a bunch of questions. I feel weird asking for specifics, lol. I'm just glad he gets to spend his Saturdays doing what he loves.
I'm trying to coax him into doing some daily independent reading. He hates all the books we have so he's agreed to go with me to the library once a week and pick out a couple. SOTW is nice and easy and relaxed. We read it together and W answers all the questions in the activity book. I like that the activity book has maps to go along with the chapters. I usually have to figure out which one of our atlases has the best map of what we're talking about. Then we take what we've learned and look up different things online about it throughout the week. So simple and so effective. Since the first part of the book deals a lot with Egypt, I think a trip to the Egyptian section of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in a month or so is a great idea.
That's the way I'm doing everything lately. Relaxed and stress-free. Life's too short for worrying. Homeschooling gives us the freedom to live and learn as we like. I plan on enjoying this wonderful and very fleeting childhood time with my son. Having older teens has showed me how fast it all goes by.
The theater class W started going to is wonderful. It's run by all professionals and the kids are really serious about it. W and the other beginners went to their own space. B & I went for some breakfast while he was there. At the end of class, the instructor said the kids did very well and told me it's obvious that "W is much farther along" than the others. Hmmm. He hasn't acted since that summer workshop when he was 8 and he's only been in choir for a few months. I wonder why she said that. He did tell me he answered a bunch of questions. I feel weird asking for specifics, lol. I'm just glad he gets to spend his Saturdays doing what he loves.
I'm trying to coax him into doing some daily independent reading. He hates all the books we have so he's agreed to go with me to the library once a week and pick out a couple. SOTW is nice and easy and relaxed. We read it together and W answers all the questions in the activity book. I like that the activity book has maps to go along with the chapters. I usually have to figure out which one of our atlases has the best map of what we're talking about. Then we take what we've learned and look up different things online about it throughout the week. So simple and so effective. Since the first part of the book deals a lot with Egypt, I think a trip to the Egyptian section of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in a month or so is a great idea.
That's the way I'm doing everything lately. Relaxed and stress-free. Life's too short for worrying. Homeschooling gives us the freedom to live and learn as we like. I plan on enjoying this wonderful and very fleeting childhood time with my son. Having older teens has showed me how fast it all goes by.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Happy New Year!
It was a great Christmas. The kids made out very well and I'm proud of myself for not going into any debt. B and I exchanged presents too - he got me a Kindle Fire and I got him (us, lol) 2 tickets to dinner and off-Broadway show. So excited to have a date night!
We're staying home for New Year's Eve. J and a bunch of friends are having a sleepover party, so she won't be home. K usually goes to a big, swanky, New Year's Eve gala with the boyf, but they're not going this year. B and I enjoy being home. We get a whole bunch of pickin' snacks, some wine, sparkling red grape juice for W, and just veg out.
Wednesday it's back to the grind. J has school, W and I will start back on the academics, and I'm going to get back into the field trips again. W starts a new drama/musical theater class on Saturdays before show choir. They're both within a 10-minute drive of each other so it works out well.
We're staying home for New Year's Eve. J and a bunch of friends are having a sleepover party, so she won't be home. K usually goes to a big, swanky, New Year's Eve gala with the boyf, but they're not going this year. B and I enjoy being home. We get a whole bunch of pickin' snacks, some wine, sparkling red grape juice for W, and just veg out.
Wednesday it's back to the grind. J has school, W and I will start back on the academics, and I'm going to get back into the field trips again. W starts a new drama/musical theater class on Saturdays before show choir. They're both within a 10-minute drive of each other so it works out well.
If I can get my work hours changed from evenings to mornings he will also do basketball or soccer 2-3 times a week.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Almost Christmas 12/17-12/23
Christmas cards were mailed on Thursday, presents will all be wrapped today, and I'm looking forward to a wonderful, relaxing week. We're having Christmas Eve (and Christmas Day) dinner at my mom's house. She decided on something other than the fish we've been having ever since I married into an Italian family. I get it - it can be a huge mess and cleaning up that kind of dinner is the last thing we want to do on Christmas Eve. But B couldn't imagine not having that, so he made it all himself last night instead. K's boyfriend, J's best friend, and W's friend from next door all came over to eat. B made crab-stuffed mushrooms, shrimp parmigiana, fried calamari, & stuffed flounder. K's boyf brought over a red velvet cake from Martha's Bakery (my absolute fave) and a gift for me (a really nice wrought-iron hanging decoration that holds 5 photos). He's certainly scoring some brownie points with me.
On Thursday, some of W's show choir and a bunch of other kids and adults got together for some street caroling. We also ventured into some restaurants to sing to the patrons. A burger place gave us a huge clam-shell of half-moon cookies, a pizzeria gave us all free pizza and soda, and an upscale Italian restaurant gave us a generous donation to help fund a new piano. We didn't expect anything from anyone, but it certainly reaffirmed my belief in humankind - and that NYC is a friggin awesome place.
So, since I'm anxiously waiting for the day when I can switch my work hours to mornings rather than evenings - mainly so W can be a part of more activities and sports during the week - I decided to start going to the gym with him. That's right. They allowed him to take over K's membership (K will be joining a new place more easily accessible for her). The minimum age is 13, but they agreed to let him join since he does look like a teenager. Eh, he'll be 12 soon. I'm happy that he'll have a place to go to work out whenever he wants. And it gets me there too! I've been slacking lately because K has been so busy with school and work and I don't like going to the gym alone, leaving W at home. So this seems like the ideal solution. We'll see how it all works out. (heh heh, works out...gym, get it?)
Academics
Math: Rounding and estimating review
Language Arts: Continuing with simple subject/predicate, types of sentences, run-ons, fragments, and another lesson in the dyslexia workbook
Science: Another really cool experiment. We put some vinegar into a 2-liter soda bottle. Then boiled a few leaves of red cabbage until the cabbage water was a deep bluish purple color. Then W poured that water into the vinegar. Even though the cabbage water was a deep blue, the vinegar turned it to a bright pink. He then took a balloon, funneled in about 2 Tbsp of baking soda, and secured the balloon over the top of the soda bottle. He lifted up the balloon, pouring all the baking soda into the bottle. This caused the balloon to inflate due to the vinegar reacting with the baking soda - but since the baking soda neutralized all the vinegar, the bright pink color turned back to blue. It reminded me of how litmus paper works. W wrote about it in his student notebook and we read about science at the time of the Roman Empire and about alchemy.
On Thursday, some of W's show choir and a bunch of other kids and adults got together for some street caroling. We also ventured into some restaurants to sing to the patrons. A burger place gave us a huge clam-shell of half-moon cookies, a pizzeria gave us all free pizza and soda, and an upscale Italian restaurant gave us a generous donation to help fund a new piano. We didn't expect anything from anyone, but it certainly reaffirmed my belief in humankind - and that NYC is a friggin awesome place.
So, since I'm anxiously waiting for the day when I can switch my work hours to mornings rather than evenings - mainly so W can be a part of more activities and sports during the week - I decided to start going to the gym with him. That's right. They allowed him to take over K's membership (K will be joining a new place more easily accessible for her). The minimum age is 13, but they agreed to let him join since he does look like a teenager. Eh, he'll be 12 soon. I'm happy that he'll have a place to go to work out whenever he wants. And it gets me there too! I've been slacking lately because K has been so busy with school and work and I don't like going to the gym alone, leaving W at home. So this seems like the ideal solution. We'll see how it all works out. (heh heh, works out...gym, get it?)
Academics
Math: Rounding and estimating review
Language Arts: Continuing with simple subject/predicate, types of sentences, run-ons, fragments, and another lesson in the dyslexia workbook
Science: Another really cool experiment. We put some vinegar into a 2-liter soda bottle. Then boiled a few leaves of red cabbage until the cabbage water was a deep bluish purple color. Then W poured that water into the vinegar. Even though the cabbage water was a deep blue, the vinegar turned it to a bright pink. He then took a balloon, funneled in about 2 Tbsp of baking soda, and secured the balloon over the top of the soda bottle. He lifted up the balloon, pouring all the baking soda into the bottle. This caused the balloon to inflate due to the vinegar reacting with the baking soda - but since the baking soda neutralized all the vinegar, the bright pink color turned back to blue. It reminded me of how litmus paper works. W wrote about it in his student notebook and we read about science at the time of the Roman Empire and about alchemy.
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Tuesday, December 18, 2012
This Week 12/10-12/16
We had a nice week. Christmas is almost here. I'm done shopping, I'm sending out my cards in a day or 2, and I've been watching more Christmas movies than ever. Now I have to magically find about 3 hours to wrap everything.
Here's the academic wrap-up:
Science is so much more fun now. We did another experiment this week that showed the movement of atoms, this time using hot and cold water. The drop of food coloring in hot water colored the water quickly, while the drop in cold water just kinda stayed there. Doing these experiments while reading about what's happening is clicking well with W. I've always wanted to be creative enough to come up with cool experiments to do that actually correspond with what we were learning. Now I'm happy to say that someone else thought of it for me, lol.
SOTW went well. W read the introduction silently. He narrated back what he remembered and then I asked him the review questions in the activity book. He still has excellent comprehension - whether it's me reading to him or if he reads independently. Also, this seems like a good book for him to do written narrations with. We're still feeling it out, but I like it so far. Next week we'll check out the activities that go with each chapter.
We're on Lesson 16 in Saxon Math and it's still review. That's good, though. I'm all about review. IMO, it's the only way math concepts stick.
W is doing great with the Hake Grammar & Writing. We have covered types of sentences (declarative, interrogative, imperative, exclamatory), subject & predicate (and simple subject, simple predicate, nouns, & verbs), and fragment & run-on sentences. He gets it. All the skills he learned from paragraph editing have carried over and he doesn't forget a thing. This and the dyslexia workbook are improving his reading and writing so much. The handwriting, well, it's ok. It was actually better when he was 7, lol. I think his thinking is that he knows he can write and focusing on being neat has become way less important than understanding the work. Now I just ask for legible. :)
He started a new season of show choir this weekend, too. They're doing lots of classic rock n roll stuff again - which W loves. Eventually I'll see if he'd like to take private lessons there. The other 5 kids in the choir do. They are all 11-13 years old (one is a 9 y/o little brother) and are starting to prepare for performing arts high school auditions. Still not sure what W wants to do.
Sweet Charity at LaGuardia High School was unbelievable, as usual. That morning I watched J's dance classes at the school. K and W took the train in with me since we were seeing the show that night. They went for a nice lunch and then to FAO Schwarz while I was at the school with J. The dancers there are beautiful. It's amazing what they learn. This year besides ballet and modern, they had a semester of jazz. In January, jazz will be replaced by tap. J is looking forward to that. I met up with them around 4:30 in Columbus Circle. I love how gorgeous the area is over there. The Time Warner Bldg with the shops is always crazy decorated. Outside, all the trees are completely wrapped in small, white lights. Across the street is this awesome craft market. There must be 100 booths with thousands of handmade items - from flattened glass wine-bottle art to beef jerky to jewelry to fur hats, they have it all.
Here's the academic wrap-up:
Science is so much more fun now. We did another experiment this week that showed the movement of atoms, this time using hot and cold water. The drop of food coloring in hot water colored the water quickly, while the drop in cold water just kinda stayed there. Doing these experiments while reading about what's happening is clicking well with W. I've always wanted to be creative enough to come up with cool experiments to do that actually correspond with what we were learning. Now I'm happy to say that someone else thought of it for me, lol.
SOTW went well. W read the introduction silently. He narrated back what he remembered and then I asked him the review questions in the activity book. He still has excellent comprehension - whether it's me reading to him or if he reads independently. Also, this seems like a good book for him to do written narrations with. We're still feeling it out, but I like it so far. Next week we'll check out the activities that go with each chapter.
We're on Lesson 16 in Saxon Math and it's still review. That's good, though. I'm all about review. IMO, it's the only way math concepts stick.
W is doing great with the Hake Grammar & Writing. We have covered types of sentences (declarative, interrogative, imperative, exclamatory), subject & predicate (and simple subject, simple predicate, nouns, & verbs), and fragment & run-on sentences. He gets it. All the skills he learned from paragraph editing have carried over and he doesn't forget a thing. This and the dyslexia workbook are improving his reading and writing so much. The handwriting, well, it's ok. It was actually better when he was 7, lol. I think his thinking is that he knows he can write and focusing on being neat has become way less important than understanding the work. Now I just ask for legible. :)
He started a new season of show choir this weekend, too. They're doing lots of classic rock n roll stuff again - which W loves. Eventually I'll see if he'd like to take private lessons there. The other 5 kids in the choir do. They are all 11-13 years old (one is a 9 y/o little brother) and are starting to prepare for performing arts high school auditions. Still not sure what W wants to do.
Sweet Charity at LaGuardia High School was unbelievable, as usual. That morning I watched J's dance classes at the school. K and W took the train in with me since we were seeing the show that night. They went for a nice lunch and then to FAO Schwarz while I was at the school with J. The dancers there are beautiful. It's amazing what they learn. This year besides ballet and modern, they had a semester of jazz. In January, jazz will be replaced by tap. J is looking forward to that. I met up with them around 4:30 in Columbus Circle. I love how gorgeous the area is over there. The Time Warner Bldg with the shops is always crazy decorated. Outside, all the trees are completely wrapped in small, white lights. Across the street is this awesome craft market. There must be 100 booths with thousands of handmade items - from flattened glass wine-bottle art to beef jerky to jewelry to fur hats, they have it all.
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| Photo by Markets of New York City |
Monday, December 10, 2012
I Love December
Yay! I'm so excited we got the book shipment last week. I normally wouldn't have ordered anything this close to Christmas, but I couldn't wait. I was just so impressed with both SOTW and Apologia General Science - the samples, the reviews, and the love of science and history they seem to procure.
We started the science first. On Wednesday we did 2 days worth of "Module 1" (according to the lesson plan) including the experiment. It was a brief history of science, including what science is, ancient Egyptian medics in 3000 BC, ancient Greek scientists in 500 AD, and the first ideas of atoms. When we did some questions, W remembered the smallest details of just about everything. He didn't even mind writing out a several-sentence-long answer to a question in his Student Notebook. He even wanted to look up more info about papyrus.
The experiment was fun. I'm glad I bought the lab kit so I have all the major materials for the experiments. I know I would never go out and buy the individual things we need. You can't just go out and buy one small balloon, or 1/4 cup of corn syrup, or 5 thumb tacks. I would end up spending a fortune on full packages if things. And each module's materials come in it's own labeled ziplock baggie! Fits my Type-A personality perfectly. So, imo, the $75 was well worth it. Anyway, the first experiment was called "Density in Nature". W poured oil, water, and corn syrup in a tall, clear glass. All 3 liquids separated right away. I remember doing a similar experiment when I was little, but it still fascinates me to see it. Then he dropped in a small rock, a peeled clove of garlic (we ran out of grapes, but this worked perfectly), an ice cube, and a cork. Each item suspended itself in a different layer. This demonstrated the density of each liquid, which told us how loosely or tightly their atoms are packed together. W loved it. Yay.
We are starting Story of the World 1 next week.
Math is still going very well. W is learning new concepts so quickly and his mental math skills are right on. I owe a lot of that to the 4 function drills we did over the summer. I believe mastering the basics has been the best thing we've done. So far W has been reviewing things like fractions, lines perimeter, graphs, place value, inequalities, and negative numbers. There are also a lot of word problems. He is learning to take his time reading through it so he understands what it's asking. This is a challenge. He has a tendency to either skip or insert words or completely misread words when they look like other words. Recent ones include "navigate" for "negative" and "ingredient" for "integer". Word problems do force him to be more accurate, which in turn improves his reading skills overall. We stretch 1 math lesson out over 2 days. At the rate we're going we should finish Saxon 7/6 by next December.
We're taking the Hake Grammar just as slowly: 1 lesson over 2 days. I refuse to rush. It is way more important for W to fully understand everything rather than hurry him through a book just to be able to say it's completed. For W (and my girls too), 30-minute bite-sized chunks chewed slowly and savored are much better retained than 1-2 hour cram and binge lessons. And on that note, we've also started breaking the dyslexia workbook lessons into 2 days as well. It's getting a little harder and the last thing W needs is to get frustrated about reading.
W had his show choir recital the other day. There are 6 kids, they sang 5 songs, and W had a solo part! He did 2 shows. J's studio performed a reinvented "Nutcracker" show on Sunday. They only practiced for about a month, but it was the cutest thing. J played the Arabian dancer and was in 4 other parts as well (party-goer, soldier, snowflake, candy something). All the costumes were from previous competition numbers. I loved it and I want to watch it every year, lol.
I think we'll be taking some more breaks throughout December. I want to get into Manhattan for the Christmas stuff: Rockefeller Plaza, FAO Schwarz, Columbus Circle, store windows, etc. Two other things I'm looking forward to this we are: Parent Observation Week and "Sweet Charity" at Laguardia High School! I can't wait!!
We started the science first. On Wednesday we did 2 days worth of "Module 1" (according to the lesson plan) including the experiment. It was a brief history of science, including what science is, ancient Egyptian medics in 3000 BC, ancient Greek scientists in 500 AD, and the first ideas of atoms. When we did some questions, W remembered the smallest details of just about everything. He didn't even mind writing out a several-sentence-long answer to a question in his Student Notebook. He even wanted to look up more info about papyrus.
The experiment was fun. I'm glad I bought the lab kit so I have all the major materials for the experiments. I know I would never go out and buy the individual things we need. You can't just go out and buy one small balloon, or 1/4 cup of corn syrup, or 5 thumb tacks. I would end up spending a fortune on full packages if things. And each module's materials come in it's own labeled ziplock baggie! Fits my Type-A personality perfectly. So, imo, the $75 was well worth it. Anyway, the first experiment was called "Density in Nature". W poured oil, water, and corn syrup in a tall, clear glass. All 3 liquids separated right away. I remember doing a similar experiment when I was little, but it still fascinates me to see it. Then he dropped in a small rock, a peeled clove of garlic (we ran out of grapes, but this worked perfectly), an ice cube, and a cork. Each item suspended itself in a different layer. This demonstrated the density of each liquid, which told us how loosely or tightly their atoms are packed together. W loved it. Yay.We are starting Story of the World 1 next week.
Math is still going very well. W is learning new concepts so quickly and his mental math skills are right on. I owe a lot of that to the 4 function drills we did over the summer. I believe mastering the basics has been the best thing we've done. So far W has been reviewing things like fractions, lines perimeter, graphs, place value, inequalities, and negative numbers. There are also a lot of word problems. He is learning to take his time reading through it so he understands what it's asking. This is a challenge. He has a tendency to either skip or insert words or completely misread words when they look like other words. Recent ones include "navigate" for "negative" and "ingredient" for "integer". Word problems do force him to be more accurate, which in turn improves his reading skills overall. We stretch 1 math lesson out over 2 days. At the rate we're going we should finish Saxon 7/6 by next December.
We're taking the Hake Grammar just as slowly: 1 lesson over 2 days. I refuse to rush. It is way more important for W to fully understand everything rather than hurry him through a book just to be able to say it's completed. For W (and my girls too), 30-minute bite-sized chunks chewed slowly and savored are much better retained than 1-2 hour cram and binge lessons. And on that note, we've also started breaking the dyslexia workbook lessons into 2 days as well. It's getting a little harder and the last thing W needs is to get frustrated about reading.
W had his show choir recital the other day. There are 6 kids, they sang 5 songs, and W had a solo part! He did 2 shows. J's studio performed a reinvented "Nutcracker" show on Sunday. They only practiced for about a month, but it was the cutest thing. J played the Arabian dancer and was in 4 other parts as well (party-goer, soldier, snowflake, candy something). All the costumes were from previous competition numbers. I loved it and I want to watch it every year, lol.
I think we'll be taking some more breaks throughout December. I want to get into Manhattan for the Christmas stuff: Rockefeller Plaza, FAO Schwarz, Columbus Circle, store windows, etc. Two other things I'm looking forward to this we are: Parent Observation Week and "Sweet Charity" at Laguardia High School! I can't wait!!
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Time to Simplify
Now that we've pretty much gotten through the first third of the school year, I have a better idea as to what is working, what isn't working, and what new things I'd like to try with W. If someone a few years ago would have told me I would be using Saxon, Hake, Apologia, and Story of the World one day, I'd say they were crazy. But that's where we are now. Like I said before, if W decides to attend public high school, he wants to be completely ready. He's looking forward to some new stuff, and I'm looking forward to more structure. The good thing about what we've chosen is that most of it continues through high school. For now, though, here's our plan for the remainder of 6th grade.
6th Grade
I'm excited to try these new things and I hope W likes them as well. It's easier to stay with a program year after year rather than having to keep looking aimlessly for what might fit. We may hate everything after a few weeks or we may love it and use it all the way through high school. You never know what's in store for next year.
6th Grade
- Hake Grammar & Writing 6
- Daily Paragraph Editing Gr. 6+
- A Workbook for Dyslexics
- Spelling Skills 5 and 6
- Read & Understand Poetry Gr. 5-6+
- Classic Literature (various) with oral and written narrations
- Saxon Math 7/6
- Story of the World 1 (This will be independent reading and we'll be using the activity book with it)
- Apologia General Science (along with the Student Notebook, the Daily Lesson Plans, the companion CD Rom, and the full lab kit. We may stretch this into 7th grade)
- Artistic Pursuits Junior High Book 1 (1st half)
I'm excited to try these new things and I hope W likes them as well. It's easier to stay with a program year after year rather than having to keep looking aimlessly for what might fit. We may hate everything after a few weeks or we may love it and use it all the way through high school. You never know what's in store for next year.
In the meantime, W is doing very well academically. He is doing a lot more creative and dictation writing, aces his 2x/week spelling tests, and is a natural at math. He has always been great at reading silently - he is quick and has full comprehension. And I have noticed recently that his out-loud reading has improved tremendously over the last couple of months. This is huge. It seems he has learned to "fix" most of the reading issues he was having. He still does these things - but just a lot less often. It's wonderful to see his confidence now. That's one of the reasons I'm going to start with SOTW 1 - it's an easy independent read. I may even use it for more readaloud practice.
We're really looking forward to Christmas! I have about 75% of my shopping done and we'll be decorating the house this weekend. I have already decided that the new year will be all about simplifying everything in my life. I want to live as materially minimalist a lifestyle as possible. I'll begin with a huge decluttering this weekend. I'm so ready.
We're really looking forward to Christmas! I have about 75% of my shopping done and we'll be decorating the house this weekend. I have already decided that the new year will be all about simplifying everything in my life. I want to live as materially minimalist a lifestyle as possible. I'll begin with a huge decluttering this weekend. I'm so ready.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Writing, Schedules, & J
Ever since the storm, we've cut back on our field trips and have been spending more time on academics. W is doing wonderfully with Saxon Math. I still can't believe I didn't try it sooner. As far as reading, it seems that persistence, a varied choice of resources, and one-on-one interaction is working wonders. We're using the dyslexia workbook, paragraph editing, the 6th-7th grade bridge book, websites, and tons of hands-on and life-skills learning experiences. Reading is everywhere in everything and W has firmly refused to be an outsider looking in.
W has also started writing essays. Up to now, his writing has been made up of simple narrations, lists, and workbook stuff. Orally narrating back what we read together was (is) also a part of learning to write creatively. This week I decided to go for more. W's first essay was about why he thinks he should get a new laptop for Christmas. Apart from some basic technical stuff, it was very good. He hand-wrote that one. The second essay he did this week was a more involved narration on a bio of Thomas Edison. This one was typed out. Again, some spelling and sentence structure need some work, but overall it was a great essay. He seems to naturally know how to be continuous and creative with a defined beginning, middle, and end. So, do I need to bust out the writing workbooks? Do I need to teach him the 5-point essay? He's doing great on his own. J was never taught the mechanics of writing and she consistently gets As on papers. I think I'll go with my gut on this one and let him develop his own writing style.
I have also come up with a new schedule for science and social studies. I've decided to just follow the Worldbook layout for 6th grade (like my IHIP says anyway) but we'll alternate science and social studies every 2-3 weeks. We had just spent a few weeks on classification of living things and basic ecology. Next week is social studies and we'll take a few weeks learning about some continents, countries and cultures. Then, the next couple of weeks will be all about microbes, algae, and fungi (then 2 weeks on Native American culture, then 3 weeks on the Human Body, and so on until June). We'll be using text books, workbooks, documentaries, field trips, websites, projects, etc. I plan on making this as fun and interesting as possible. We'll see how it goes.
I think for 7th grade I'd like to try Apologia Science. Although I do prefer a more secular approach, I like how the series is set up. We'll try their General Science and if we like it, we may use the rest of the years as well. Since W is still unsure about public high school, I'm making sure to get all my ducks in a row just in case he opts out.
We went into Manhattan on Thursday to go to FAO Schwarz. W loves that store. We don't go to buy toys, it's just so fun to wander around and experience everything. W hung out with the Myachi guy for a while, learning new tricks and getting some cool advice. I love that the creators of this toy are the ones in the store demonstrating it for everyone. After she got out of school, J walked over to FAO to meet us. We hit the second floor of the store together (she loves it, too) and then we went for lunch at TGI Fridays. This weekend J had 2 birthday parties: a sweet 16 in Staten Island and a celebration in Bryant Park with ice skating. She is working the dance auditions again tomorrow at her school. The dance director said she did a great job last weekend and should return this weekend - and then 2 more weekends in December. J enjoys it a lot. She said all the 8th graders look so little and that she feels like it was just yesterday when she was auditioning. At the studio, she's still learning some new choreography for the season. They're doing a brief version of The Nutcracker in a couple of weeks, too (J is the Arabian dancer).
I'm so excited for the holidays.
W has also started writing essays. Up to now, his writing has been made up of simple narrations, lists, and workbook stuff. Orally narrating back what we read together was (is) also a part of learning to write creatively. This week I decided to go for more. W's first essay was about why he thinks he should get a new laptop for Christmas. Apart from some basic technical stuff, it was very good. He hand-wrote that one. The second essay he did this week was a more involved narration on a bio of Thomas Edison. This one was typed out. Again, some spelling and sentence structure need some work, but overall it was a great essay. He seems to naturally know how to be continuous and creative with a defined beginning, middle, and end. So, do I need to bust out the writing workbooks? Do I need to teach him the 5-point essay? He's doing great on his own. J was never taught the mechanics of writing and she consistently gets As on papers. I think I'll go with my gut on this one and let him develop his own writing style.
I have also come up with a new schedule for science and social studies. I've decided to just follow the Worldbook layout for 6th grade (like my IHIP says anyway) but we'll alternate science and social studies every 2-3 weeks. We had just spent a few weeks on classification of living things and basic ecology. Next week is social studies and we'll take a few weeks learning about some continents, countries and cultures. Then, the next couple of weeks will be all about microbes, algae, and fungi (then 2 weeks on Native American culture, then 3 weeks on the Human Body, and so on until June). We'll be using text books, workbooks, documentaries, field trips, websites, projects, etc. I plan on making this as fun and interesting as possible. We'll see how it goes.
I think for 7th grade I'd like to try Apologia Science. Although I do prefer a more secular approach, I like how the series is set up. We'll try their General Science and if we like it, we may use the rest of the years as well. Since W is still unsure about public high school, I'm making sure to get all my ducks in a row just in case he opts out.
We went into Manhattan on Thursday to go to FAO Schwarz. W loves that store. We don't go to buy toys, it's just so fun to wander around and experience everything. W hung out with the Myachi guy for a while, learning new tricks and getting some cool advice. I love that the creators of this toy are the ones in the store demonstrating it for everyone. After she got out of school, J walked over to FAO to meet us. We hit the second floor of the store together (she loves it, too) and then we went for lunch at TGI Fridays. This weekend J had 2 birthday parties: a sweet 16 in Staten Island and a celebration in Bryant Park with ice skating. She is working the dance auditions again tomorrow at her school. The dance director said she did a great job last weekend and should return this weekend - and then 2 more weekends in December. J enjoys it a lot. She said all the 8th graders look so little and that she feels like it was just yesterday when she was auditioning. At the studio, she's still learning some new choreography for the season. They're doing a brief version of The Nutcracker in a couple of weeks, too (J is the Arabian dancer).
I'm so excited for the holidays.
Thursday, November 01, 2012
Halloween Sandy
Well OK then. What a strange week. NYC just had the biggest storm and most destruction...ever. I'm lucky, though. I live in a virtually unscathed part of Queens. There were huge trees down everywhere, no public transportation, and closed roads, but we still had power. By day 2, the downed trees were chopped up and either loaded onto trucks or moved off the roads. The roads were clear to drive - I drove to work on Tuesday and Wednesday - no problem - not even one delay. The lingering problems now are that no gas stations have gas and we are on empty. Also, the subways are actually up and running already (although nothing below 34th St in Manhattan, which doesn't affect us) but there are delays. We're also lucky that B had off from work all week, K & J are off from school (and dance) all week, and K works in walking distance.
On the other hand, about 80% of people I know are still without power and/or flooded (including my mom & sister out in Long Island). J and her friends plan on donating clothes and books to the folks in Breezy Point (Queens) who got hit pretty badly - 80 homes burned down and the whole neighborhood is just gone. It's so great to see most neighborhoods come together and say they're grateful their families are safe and that they plan on rebuilding and getting their neighborhoods back together. On the other hand, you see people in other neighborhoods who complain, loot, do nothing, and demand others help them. It's a weird contrast to see on the news. Most places in NYC are, thankfully, the grateful, get-things-done type and because of that, they will probably get the most donations and help.
Halloween was in full-force around here, despite being in this "aftermath". We must have had over 100 kids trick-or-treat at my house. W had a great time trick-or-treating with his friends. His football player costume was just his jersey and black lines under his eyes, but it looked great (W has always kept his costumes low key - sometimes just a new mask every year worn with a hooded sweatshirt - scary and creepy is his usual Halloween tactic). He then helped MIL give out her candy, sitting on her porch with the aforesaid mask and hooded sweatshirt and huge candy bowl in his lap.
J got together with some friends and they all dressed up as ninja turtles. They went around trick-or-treating, too (lol). K has been getting over a cold and fever all week. She went to a big Halloween party at a club in Brooklyn last weekend dressed all in black with Dia de los Muertos face makeup. She looked awesome. She feels better today and went to work.
We laid off most of the academic bookwork this week. The girls and B have been home, so we couldn't really get anything done. Today we picked things up again, though. W did some of his dyslexia workbook, some Saxon Math, some paragraph editing, and right now, B is reading a chapter of Prince Caspian to him. W's Monday animation class was cancelled and will pick up next week. I'm planning on driving out to my mom's tomorrow to see my aunt who's visiting from out of state (great week for her to come, lol), but with no gas, I'm not sure what to do.
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| J posing with the tree in the road |
On the other hand, about 80% of people I know are still without power and/or flooded (including my mom & sister out in Long Island). J and her friends plan on donating clothes and books to the folks in Breezy Point (Queens) who got hit pretty badly - 80 homes burned down and the whole neighborhood is just gone. It's so great to see most neighborhoods come together and say they're grateful their families are safe and that they plan on rebuilding and getting their neighborhoods back together. On the other hand, you see people in other neighborhoods who complain, loot, do nothing, and demand others help them. It's a weird contrast to see on the news. Most places in NYC are, thankfully, the grateful, get-things-done type and because of that, they will probably get the most donations and help.
Halloween was in full-force around here, despite being in this "aftermath". We must have had over 100 kids trick-or-treat at my house. W had a great time trick-or-treating with his friends. His football player costume was just his jersey and black lines under his eyes, but it looked great (W has always kept his costumes low key - sometimes just a new mask every year worn with a hooded sweatshirt - scary and creepy is his usual Halloween tactic). He then helped MIL give out her candy, sitting on her porch with the aforesaid mask and hooded sweatshirt and huge candy bowl in his lap.
J got together with some friends and they all dressed up as ninja turtles. They went around trick-or-treating, too (lol). K has been getting over a cold and fever all week. She went to a big Halloween party at a club in Brooklyn last weekend dressed all in black with Dia de los Muertos face makeup. She looked awesome. She feels better today and went to work.
We laid off most of the academic bookwork this week. The girls and B have been home, so we couldn't really get anything done. Today we picked things up again, though. W did some of his dyslexia workbook, some Saxon Math, some paragraph editing, and right now, B is reading a chapter of Prince Caspian to him. W's Monday animation class was cancelled and will pick up next week. I'm planning on driving out to my mom's tomorrow to see my aunt who's visiting from out of state (great week for her to come, lol), but with no gas, I'm not sure what to do.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Settling In & Keeping Busy
We've been having a nice quiet few weeks, spending a bit more time on academics and getting ready for all the holidays. I have a whole list of Halloween stuff to do around Queens. There are a bunch of festivals, parades, haunted houses, performances, and craft workshops going on. Now I just need to work some of these in around everyone's busy schedule. I bought 3 nice-sized pumpkins last week and all 3 kids carved their own masterpiece. They helped each other and had so much fun together. K made a Cheshire cat, J made Jack Skellington, and W made a happy jack-o-lantern face. It was so nice to witness. Oh, and I'm glad I got a few pics because they went moldy after only a week (the pumpkins, not the kids).
W is back at both CCD and Youth Choir. Both groups joined forces this past weekend and W sang at a festival at the church where he has CCD. He had his first solo part in a song and he sang with a microphone in front of hundreds of people! Singing may actually turn out to be his "thing". I'll take him as far with it as he'd like to go. This should be interesting.
He has been doing great with Saxon 76, really enjoys Channel One News and Prince Caspian, and seems to be cultivating a brand new love of science after starting Science Essentials. I'm hoping this continues because we can do so many cool things with science. Experiments, nature study, and field trips are high on my list. We also started a new book called "Read & Understand Poetry". We have been studying poetry since W was in first grade, but this book really gets you into the poems. There are various questions and writing prompts that go with the poem. He answered all the questions thoughtfully and correctly and he's getting some good writing practice in, too. He gets it - he can read a poem and know and feel the meaning behind it. But the big surprise hit of the week was the paragraph editing book. What a wonderful and fun way to cover reading, spelling, vocabulary, and grammar. He has really taken to it. We always did this kind of editing in his Spelling Skills book and this has the same idea and uses the same symbols, but with many more. Correcting mistakes is something he's very good at. It's laid out with a set of 4 separate paragraphs that stay on one informative topic. He does one paragraph per day.
J is doing well in high school again this year. She loves it so much. She has such school pride - one of her friends is now a regular on Homeland and another friend is on The Voice (2 other LaGuardia HS alum are also on the show this season). She's trying to be as involved in the school as she can. She's auditioning for several things and will be working the dance auditions this year for incoming students. In other dance news, she will be going to another dance teacher event this weekend with the studio owner and 2 other teachers-in-training, is heavy into choreography for the new season, getting ready for next month's competition, working on her new solo she's choreographing, and coming up with weekly lesson plans and choreo for the 3 classes she teaches on Saturdays. She is incredibly busy and handles everything so responsibly.
K is enjoying her second year of college so far. She's still figuring out what exactly she'd like to do when she graduates, but she's got plenty of time. She has a few ideas on how she'd like her life to play out: college and trade school, work as much as possible before marriage and kids, then work from home while raising kids. It sounds like a great plan to me. I know she can do whatever she sets her mind to. I have to say I'm so grateful to be blessed with kids that always make me proud.
W is back at both CCD and Youth Choir. Both groups joined forces this past weekend and W sang at a festival at the church where he has CCD. He had his first solo part in a song and he sang with a microphone in front of hundreds of people! Singing may actually turn out to be his "thing". I'll take him as far with it as he'd like to go. This should be interesting.
He has been doing great with Saxon 76, really enjoys Channel One News and Prince Caspian, and seems to be cultivating a brand new love of science after starting Science Essentials. I'm hoping this continues because we can do so many cool things with science. Experiments, nature study, and field trips are high on my list. We also started a new book called "Read & Understand Poetry". We have been studying poetry since W was in first grade, but this book really gets you into the poems. There are various questions and writing prompts that go with the poem. He answered all the questions thoughtfully and correctly and he's getting some good writing practice in, too. He gets it - he can read a poem and know and feel the meaning behind it. But the big surprise hit of the week was the paragraph editing book. What a wonderful and fun way to cover reading, spelling, vocabulary, and grammar. He has really taken to it. We always did this kind of editing in his Spelling Skills book and this has the same idea and uses the same symbols, but with many more. Correcting mistakes is something he's very good at. It's laid out with a set of 4 separate paragraphs that stay on one informative topic. He does one paragraph per day.
J is doing well in high school again this year. She loves it so much. She has such school pride - one of her friends is now a regular on Homeland and another friend is on The Voice (2 other LaGuardia HS alum are also on the show this season). She's trying to be as involved in the school as she can. She's auditioning for several things and will be working the dance auditions this year for incoming students. In other dance news, she will be going to another dance teacher event this weekend with the studio owner and 2 other teachers-in-training, is heavy into choreography for the new season, getting ready for next month's competition, working on her new solo she's choreographing, and coming up with weekly lesson plans and choreo for the 3 classes she teaches on Saturdays. She is incredibly busy and handles everything so responsibly.
K is enjoying her second year of college so far. She's still figuring out what exactly she'd like to do when she graduates, but she's got plenty of time. She has a few ideas on how she'd like her life to play out: college and trade school, work as much as possible before marriage and kids, then work from home while raising kids. It sounds like a great plan to me. I know she can do whatever she sets her mind to. I have to say I'm so grateful to be blessed with kids that always make me proud.
Sunday, October 07, 2012
Groovin'
We are in a nice daily groove now. The Channel One News program is a hit. We watch it every day. Ten minutes of current events sets off a stream of questions and discussions for the day. Saxon Math - I wasn't keen on trying it at first. All these years I've avoided it, hearing it was too rigid, too plain, too tedious, etc. Turns out, after trying everything from Life of Fred, to Teaching Textbooks, to every bookstore shelf math book, Saxon is the one he likes the most. Who knew? We are going through it slowly, about 1-2 lessons per week. My goal is to make sure he understands and remembers. Math is one of those things that build upon itself - especially in the early years. You have to have a firm, solid foundation of the basics or anything beyond that will be more difficult than it should be. We spent all summer on addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division drills. He wasn't crazy about it, but he saw the value in it once he could speed through 30 problems in 10 minutes. Now he's learning a new concept with each chapter and he really gets it. This week was order of operations and fractional parts. I like the pace of the lessons and the way it explains the concepts.
This week we went back to A Workbook for Dyslexics. We've used that 3x this week. W is reading the words and sounds quickly, writing out dictated sentences properly, and taking an 18-30 word spelling test in each lesson. We finish a lesson in one sitting which takes about 20 minutes. W's improvements in reading have been remarkable. He still just guesses at unfamiliar large words and names, writes some letters backwards, and gets so physically drained in a short period of time, but overall he's still on grade level in spite of his dyslexia. Even the neurologist said that based on his scores, he shouldn't be able to do what he can do. That gives me such hope that we can overcome this and having dyslexia won't get in the way of him succeeding at anything he puts his mind to.
Prince Caspian is also going well. I'm really happy W likes this series of books. I read it to him and he narrates. I want him to realize that reading can be really fun and interesting and that the whole world opens up to someone who enjoys reading. He still won't read for pleasure, but maybe this will give him that spark to want to pick up something on his own. We are also reading The Complete Book of World History together. It's for 4th-8th grade and it's laid out well. We're at the beginning with early man and I think we'll make a visit to the Museum of Natural History to get an up-close, hands-on study of these chapters. Soon I'll give him the book to read on his own and do chapter summaries. He is still also reading silently for 20-minutes a day - whatever he wants. He needs to get more into the habit of reading on his own.
After we settle into this schedule a little more, I'll add back field trips, nature study, and art to fill out the rest of the week. And I just ordered 4 more books: one on understanding poetry, one on paragraph editing, one on science, and one on US history. I feel so good about how things are going so far.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Brooklyn Bridge Park
This week we went back to Brooklyn Bridge Park for another class on seining in the East River. The water was so pretty with soft, rolling waves - perfect for wading in. We seined in the spring and now we wanted to see what we'd find in the fall. The instructors told us different species are there in different seasons. The kids and adults pulled the nets in about a dozen times. Every time, all the kids would run over and try to see anything alive. It was fun. Some of the animals we found were cone jellies, silver something (can't remember the name), blue crabs, and sea squirts.
Academics this week:
Saxon Math 7/6 (variables & order of operations), Channel One News (W likes it better than CNN Student news), Prince Caspian readaloud w/narration (ch. 1.), Silent reading (W's book of choice. At this point I don't care what it is as long as he's reading. So, Diary of a Wimpy Kid it is.), Spelling Skills 5 (definitions, grouping), Simply Grammar (subject/predicate), & The Everything American History Book w/narration (Mayans, Aztecs, Incas, Spanish conquistadors).
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| Hauled in from the East River |
Academics this week:
Saxon Math 7/6 (variables & order of operations), Channel One News (W likes it better than CNN Student news), Prince Caspian readaloud w/narration (ch. 1.), Silent reading (W's book of choice. At this point I don't care what it is as long as he's reading. So, Diary of a Wimpy Kid it is.), Spelling Skills 5 (definitions, grouping), Simply Grammar (subject/predicate), & The Everything American History Book w/narration (Mayans, Aztecs, Incas, Spanish conquistadors).
Monday, September 24, 2012
Solar Power!
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| Discussing energy sources |
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| W's solar-powered car |
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| Right outside Solar1 |
This week's academics went very well. W helped me tweak our schedule and we had a nice flow all week. Each day, we watched and discussed CNN Student News, he did a few pages of Saxon Math, I read something to him and he gave a spoken or written narration, he did 1 lesson in one of the language arts workbooks (spelling, grammar, vocabulary, etc), he read a book silently for 20 minutes or so (right now it's a bio of Thomas Edison). And Friday was a field trip. Throughout the week, W did some science and cooking experiments, watched a few documentaries, did plenty of artwork, played basketball, tag, and X-box with friends on the block, and went to choir (he may have a solo this session!).
I took W and K out for our annual start of fall breakfast. This time it was at IHOP. I hadn't been there in at least 8 years. I forgot how great it is. J danced in a street fair on Sunday with the whole studio company. Several hundred people came over to watch! It was a nice set of their best stuff from last season. This season is well under way with lots of new choreography. I think I'm hearing that the first competition will be before the end of the year!
Saturday, September 15, 2012
September is in Full Swing
I'm feeling pretty good about the start of this school year. I have resigned myself to the fact that we just do not follow any particular homeschool style or method. We just do what we do, taking a little from everything. We are unschoolers, we are classical, and we follow Charlotte mason. As long as it continues to be effective and everyone's happy, then who really cares about labels?
W and I are both still happy with the daily plan we decided on. Now that we've been implementing it for over a week, I can say it's working well. We have 4-5 daily activities and then W picks another 2 things to do out of a list of about ten. The mornings are a lot more efficient and enjoyable when W has input and choices. J was the same way.
This week's math was a review of multiplication and division, going over words like: factor, dividend, divisor, addend, sum, product, difference, and quotient. Then he did a bunch of examples using the 4 basic functions in all different ways (with decimals, money signs, fraction bars, and parentheses). He prefers to work out his math problems using graph paper. I think it's great - it keeps everything lined up and he zips through it more quickly than with regular notebook paper. He then read a one-page story out loud each day to me. He used his blue colored overlay and can now read aloud very smoothly with hardly any stumbles. Then we did the discussion questions on the bottom of the page. And the daily CNN Student News site has been interesting and fun so far.
We read the introduction and first chapter of Age of Fable, a chapter of Minn of the Mississippi, a chapter of Physics Lab in the Home, and a chapter of The Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe. He did a lesson in his dyslexia workbook, Spelling Skills, & in Simply Grammar. He started youth choir on Saturday and CCD starts in a couple of weeks.
I still have no idea if W wants to start school next year, in 2-3 years, or if at all. I am remaining completely open to whatever he decides. No stress. No matter what he wants to do, I know it will be wonderful for him. I have dozens of links saved and I've researched almost everything I could find about all the "good" schools and also about homeschooling high school. So I'm ready (and he will be ready) no matter what.
J's junior year of high school is going really well so far. She has all her academics (math, English, history, science) and lunch in the first 5 periods of the day and her 4 dance classes are in the afternoon. Dance is made up of double periods of ballet and modern and this year she's also doing theater jazz, tap, and a choreography workshop. At her dance studio she's taking lyrical ballet, tap, pointe, Pilates, contemporary, and a jumps & turns technique class. New competition season choreo will include hip-hop, musical theater, and jazz as well. I love a new dance season.
W and I are both still happy with the daily plan we decided on. Now that we've been implementing it for over a week, I can say it's working well. We have 4-5 daily activities and then W picks another 2 things to do out of a list of about ten. The mornings are a lot more efficient and enjoyable when W has input and choices. J was the same way.
This week's math was a review of multiplication and division, going over words like: factor, dividend, divisor, addend, sum, product, difference, and quotient. Then he did a bunch of examples using the 4 basic functions in all different ways (with decimals, money signs, fraction bars, and parentheses). He prefers to work out his math problems using graph paper. I think it's great - it keeps everything lined up and he zips through it more quickly than with regular notebook paper. He then read a one-page story out loud each day to me. He used his blue colored overlay and can now read aloud very smoothly with hardly any stumbles. Then we did the discussion questions on the bottom of the page. And the daily CNN Student News site has been interesting and fun so far.
We read the introduction and first chapter of Age of Fable, a chapter of Minn of the Mississippi, a chapter of Physics Lab in the Home, and a chapter of The Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe. He did a lesson in his dyslexia workbook, Spelling Skills, & in Simply Grammar. He started youth choir on Saturday and CCD starts in a couple of weeks.
I still have no idea if W wants to start school next year, in 2-3 years, or if at all. I am remaining completely open to whatever he decides. No stress. No matter what he wants to do, I know it will be wonderful for him. I have dozens of links saved and I've researched almost everything I could find about all the "good" schools and also about homeschooling high school. So I'm ready (and he will be ready) no matter what.
J's junior year of high school is going really well so far. She has all her academics (math, English, history, science) and lunch in the first 5 periods of the day and her 4 dance classes are in the afternoon. Dance is made up of double periods of ballet and modern and this year she's also doing theater jazz, tap, and a choreography workshop. At her dance studio she's taking lyrical ballet, tap, pointe, Pilates, contemporary, and a jumps & turns technique class. New competition season choreo will include hip-hop, musical theater, and jazz as well. I love a new dance season.
Sunday, September 09, 2012
Finance & The Fed
This week's fabulous double field trip was to the Museum of American Finance for a class on Banking in America, then we got to go on a tour of the NY Federal Reserve.
The class on banking was so informative. The instructor talked about the history of money (in colonial America up to present times), recessions, depressions, stocks, loans, mortgages, foreclosures, Bernanke, bailouts, how banks earn profits, and the purpose of the Federal Reserve. The kids, as usual, were very engaged, asked and answered lots of questions, and even the parents got a lot out of it.
A couple of blocks away is the NY Federal Reserve. I love the whole Wall Street/Financial District area. The narrow streets are full of cafes, historical landmarks, and beautiful architecture everywhere you look. "The Fed" is where a lot of new money is made (literally) and where US monetary policy is implemented. We took an elevator down to the vault which lies 80 feet below street level (and 50 feet below sea level). It's underneath the bedrock of Manhattan. This vault holds over $500 billion in gold - more than 90% belonging to other countries. The security is amazing. There are cameras everywhere, a 90-ton steel cylinder door to the vault room, and a different person is needed to open each of the 3 locks with both a key and a combination. We got to go through the open cylinder door to the vault room and we saw stacks of gold bars (each one weighing over 20 lbs, and at around $1600 per ounce right now, they're worth about $600,000 each). Btw, if the cylinder closed and locked us in, there's enough air to last 72 hours.
Great day, great friends, great trip. W and I loved it.
I also took this picture of Federal Hall, which is the birthplace of American government and where George Washington took his oath as the first president. It's a standout structure right on Wall Street and is right across the street from the NY Stock Exchange.
The class on banking was so informative. The instructor talked about the history of money (in colonial America up to present times), recessions, depressions, stocks, loans, mortgages, foreclosures, Bernanke, bailouts, how banks earn profits, and the purpose of the Federal Reserve. The kids, as usual, were very engaged, asked and answered lots of questions, and even the parents got a lot out of it.
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| The whiteboard in the banking class |
A couple of blocks away is the NY Federal Reserve. I love the whole Wall Street/Financial District area. The narrow streets are full of cafes, historical landmarks, and beautiful architecture everywhere you look. "The Fed" is where a lot of new money is made (literally) and where US monetary policy is implemented. We took an elevator down to the vault which lies 80 feet below street level (and 50 feet below sea level). It's underneath the bedrock of Manhattan. This vault holds over $500 billion in gold - more than 90% belonging to other countries. The security is amazing. There are cameras everywhere, a 90-ton steel cylinder door to the vault room, and a different person is needed to open each of the 3 locks with both a key and a combination. We got to go through the open cylinder door to the vault room and we saw stacks of gold bars (each one weighing over 20 lbs, and at around $1600 per ounce right now, they're worth about $600,000 each). Btw, if the cylinder closed and locked us in, there's enough air to last 72 hours.
Great day, great friends, great trip. W and I loved it.
I also took this picture of Federal Hall, which is the birthplace of American government and where George Washington took his oath as the first president. It's a standout structure right on Wall Street and is right across the street from the NY Stock Exchange.
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| Federal Hall |
Sunday, September 02, 2012
The Future
As structured and prepared for high school that I want to be this year, I'm taking into account that W still does have a learning disability. I got the report the other day. In a nutshell, it states he has severe visual processing and visual-motor difficulties. Auditory and perceptual skills are in the superior range. So that pretty much lines up with what I thought it was - visual dyslexia. It seems he has dysgraphia, too. I'm going to speak with the neuropsych this week to go over the results in more detail. I can't imagine what being in school is like for kids like this. What a frustrating situation. At least at home W has kept his intense curiosity, enthusiasm for life, and love of learning. He reads (and retains) on grade level, writes legibly, can type up a proper story, is great at math, and knows a helluva lot about a helluva lot of things. The freedom to move at his own pace without deadlines and demands is what works with him. How on earth can a school - especially a high school - accommodate W effectively? I feel without a doubt that homeschooling has always been the best option for him. I have a feeling it may be the best option for high school as well. I'm leaving the choice up to him, though. Whatever he decides is fine and he has my 100% support.
So, after doing a ton of research I realize that many of these types of learning disabilities tend to only be an "issue" in a school setting. Yeah, W reads slower and writes with more difficulty than most other kids his age, but his creativity and self-motivation are through the roof. Throwing rigid structure at a kid like that every day just isn't going to work. Getting that neuropsych report was almost like a slap in the face, telling me to stop worrying about a structured curriculum and let the kid just learn. I think from now on I'll just present him with the books and tools scheduled for the week and he can choose what (if any) he'd like to use. Pushing my agenda on him if he is not interested in the subject will stress us both out and he'll learn nothing from it. Now that I know what the official diagnosis is, I have a better sense of what will be more effective.
He likes workbooks, most readalouds, science experiments, consumer math, art, field trips, gaming, making films, building things, and skill toys/games (Rubiks cube, yoyos, cards, miachi, diablo, cats cradle, cup stacking, etc). But most of all he likes independence. The unschooling side of him always shows through no matter what I try. I'm ok with that. W's real education is going to only come from what interests him, anyway. My old unschooly self is telling me it's the only way to do things. I'll loosen up and see what happens.
I don't know what each day will hold but I'm looking forward to finding out.
Grant's Tomb & Hamilton Grange
We met up with the homeschool group the other day for a double field trip. Our first stop was to Grant's Tomb (General Grant National Memorial). The ranger told us all about Grant's life. I found it very fascinating. He summed it up with the fact that Grant wanted to be buried in NYC and make sure his wife would be buried next to him. We then walked into the memorial and looking down, we saw the 2 coffins together, surrounded by several wreaths of flowers. It was touching.
All of us then walked 20 blocks uptown to Hamilton Grange. This is the actual home Alexander Hamilton lived in. It has been moved from its original location twice and has been restored mostly to its original state (they have put in bathrooms and changed where a staircase was to make it more visitor-friendly). We watched film on his life and a film on how they moved the house to its current location.
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| Grant's Tomb |
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| Inside the Grant Memorial |
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| The ranger knew everything about Grant's life |
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| The resting place of General Grant and his wife |
All of us then walked 20 blocks uptown to Hamilton Grange. This is the actual home Alexander Hamilton lived in. It has been moved from its original location twice and has been restored mostly to its original state (they have put in bathrooms and changed where a staircase was to make it more visitor-friendly). We watched film on his life and a film on how they moved the house to its current location.
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| A beautiful church across the street from the Grange |
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| Alexander Hamilton's 1802 home |
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| The main dining room in Hamilton's house (with original centerpiece tray) |
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| This is on the wall inside the main entrance |
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