Mom offered to buy us some curriculum guides from Concordia Publishing -- the Missouri Synod Lutherans, I think. Here's what I told her:
I'm currently working from the Sunshine State Standard for 3rd (and 2nd) grade:
http://www.fldoe.org/bii/curriculum/sss/
I do have a couple of curruculum guides:
Making the Grade: Everything Your 3rd Grader Needs to Know http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0764124781
Third Grade Success: Everything You Need to Know to Help Your Child Learn http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0471468215
The first one is more of a curruculum book, and the second is a book of extra activities to support them. I was also heavily influenced by the following book to go ahead and do it as I see fit. (My kids are square pegs, so one size does NOT fit all for us.)
Homeschooling: Take A Deep Breath - You Can Do This! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0972807152
(All of these are available through the public library.)
I wasn't aware that there was a Christian way to do math. ;) I haven't checked out their social studies or science. Any book that says that the earth is less than 6000 years old gets burned in the front yard -- by my husband, if not by me. I have to be careful with history because at this age, anything more than 50 years ago is often viewed as akin to Narnia.
We'll probably follow the election a little, study mosquitoes, maybe continue our catapult work. I'm also planning some life skills -- tying shoes, riding bikes -- along with The Social Word of the Week (i.e. consideration, concern, politeness, cooperation, etc.) and the weather chart. I may also graph the groceries and/or electric bill, do a little comparison shopping in the Publix ads. Not exactly sure yet. We'll be mapping, measuring, weighing, maybe doing a little buoyancy. A lot of that stuff is in the "Making the Grade" book and the Sunshine State Standards.
I hadn't planned on teaching any historical bible, but if I could find a chronological study, it might be fun. (I never understood why the bible was assembled out of order!) The old testament is pretty gory and exciting, really. (Mayhem, gore, treachery, beheadings -- ooh! Vocabulary words!!) Speaking of vocabulary, I was planning to pick that up from their reading as we go along. Spelling's not really a problem for The Boy, and as The Girl proceeds, I'll be looking for words that she gets wrong.
Anyway, I think I'm set for curruculum for now, but I could panic and decide to pick up some more later. Until The Boy gets over his phobia of library books, I'll be picking up books from Amazon from time to time. (I own a "free shipping" membership, so it's no big deal, really.) I would still really like to have that Smithsonian Digital Microscope, for the mosquito unit and others. (You can capture pictures and embed them in your reports!) I haven't decided between World Book Encyclopedia and Encyclopedia Brittanica -- both are on CDROM for under $30. I've postponed the decision on the YMCA. Right now, I'm not sure what else I need, but I may submit a grant proposal later in the semester.
Anyway, that's what's going on. As soon as we pick out our mascot, I'll send you a JPG to put on our t-shirts! ;) I'm leaning toward squirrels -- because the kids make me nuts and taking them to the store is like herding squirrels. The Boy wants sea sponges ("We soak up knowledge") but I think it's mostly because he wants a SpongeBob t-shirt. I wonder how a mud skipper would work out...
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Notice has been given...
Ta-dah!! Finally threw my hat in the ring. (See email below.) We'll be starting our school August 18, with the faculty returning the 11th. ;)
Nominations are still open for the school mascot. The Boy thinks sea sponge -- "We soak up knowledge." But I think that's just so he can get a t-shirt with SpongeBob on it. My personal favorite is the squirrel, as in "It's like herding squirrels!" or "They're driving me NUTS!"
From: Sent: Monday, July 28, 2008 4:58
Subject: Sharon Barry
Regretfully for us, but good for her children, Sharon has decided to leave the university and homeschool her children. Her last day will be August 8th. Please stop by to wish her success!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Back to "work" (lol!)
Yeah, well at least I'm quitting work. SOON. My attitude is much better today. This morning before "work", I got to finish my new book case, fix the mini-trampoline cover, and get the hamburger into the freezer before it rots. (How it is possible for hamburger to rot in the fridge THAT fast?!) And I left the dishwasher full of dirty dishes for The Husband! I'm such a spitwad! ;)
Oh, and The Boy and I had a long talk about doing what he's told. Here's the premise. We stop at red lights because 1) it's the law and 2) it keeps us from getting hurt. We don't put tacks in our mouth because 1) Mom said so which makes it a rule and 2) it keeps us from getting hurt. There are always two reasons; the first is that it's the rule/law, and the second is either it keeps us safe, it doesn't belong to us, or it makes a mess. Sheesh! Don't chew on the nail file because Mom said so and it's not yours! Don't play with shredded cheese because Mom said so and it makes a mess! Don't hit that thing with a hammer because Mom said so, because you could hurt yourself, because it's not yours, and because it'll make a mess!!!! Go find something to play with!
The Boy had a terrible day at Multi-Media Mania Computer Camp yesterday, which is actually good. (Hear me out!) It was the usual over-tired plus overloaded, and he cried until they called The Husband to come get him. I told The Boy I felt his pain, and gee, wouldn't it be great to never go to school again? ;) "Remember how I said some families stay at home for school, and we're going to be one of them? You won't ever have to do that again until you're ready." I think he's buying it!
The down side was that I had to pick up his buddy at camp and keep him until 5:15 when his dad picked him up. By 6:00, his dad hadn't even called. We had just decided to go ahead and feed him dinner, when the dad called and said he's be another 20 minutes. No apology, no groveling, just "thanks for dinner". Heh? His wife had just left town with their other child for a tennis tournament in Nashville, but the dad is usually pretty good at being on time and being cool about this. Maybe I missed the part where if you say you're going to pick up your kid before dinner, you DO IT. Good thing we had enough. Weird...
Oh, and The Boy and I had a long talk about doing what he's told. Here's the premise. We stop at red lights because 1) it's the law and 2) it keeps us from getting hurt. We don't put tacks in our mouth because 1) Mom said so which makes it a rule and 2) it keeps us from getting hurt. There are always two reasons; the first is that it's the rule/law, and the second is either it keeps us safe, it doesn't belong to us, or it makes a mess. Sheesh! Don't chew on the nail file because Mom said so and it's not yours! Don't play with shredded cheese because Mom said so and it makes a mess! Don't hit that thing with a hammer because Mom said so, because you could hurt yourself, because it's not yours, and because it'll make a mess!!!! Go find something to play with!
The Boy had a terrible day at Multi-Media Mania Computer Camp yesterday, which is actually good. (Hear me out!) It was the usual over-tired plus overloaded, and he cried until they called The Husband to come get him. I told The Boy I felt his pain, and gee, wouldn't it be great to never go to school again? ;) "Remember how I said some families stay at home for school, and we're going to be one of them? You won't ever have to do that again until you're ready." I think he's buying it!
The down side was that I had to pick up his buddy at camp and keep him until 5:15 when his dad picked him up. By 6:00, his dad hadn't even called. We had just decided to go ahead and feed him dinner, when the dad called and said he's be another 20 minutes. No apology, no groveling, just "thanks for dinner". Heh? His wife had just left town with their other child for a tennis tournament in Nashville, but the dad is usually pretty good at being on time and being cool about this. Maybe I missed the part where if you say you're going to pick up your kid before dinner, you DO IT. Good thing we had enough. Weird...
After the Vacation...
Well, we got home okay. After two weeks of eating fast food, we gained 5 pounds and finally caught a cold. Actually, I blame the train trip for the cold, and it's more of a nasty sinus-headache thing. But still. We've almost recovered.
The heat here is oppressive. There are a few other words that could describe it, but that's the only one that'll pass the obscenity filter. It's so hot and we've all had such headaches, that I haven't even been out to check on the weeds yet. The neighbor did come over yesterday and ask that we cut back the plants that are surely just about to push down her vinyl (hurricane-proof) privacy fence. As if.
I did manage to drag my butt out to buy some 5-cent markers and other practically free school supplies. Then I dropped by my dads for an hour. I went up to Penny's and picked up some Dockers and running shoes -- both half-price. I actually bought The Husband a (half-price) polo shirt off a mannequin -- it was the only size small in the building -- and then made them special-order another cheap pair of Dockers. All in all, a pretty productive afternoon. I ALMOST felt sorry for the sales clerk, but not quite! ;)
Work is still boring, stressful, and futile. And yet, they still pay me to be here, so I should do some work.
The heat here is oppressive. There are a few other words that could describe it, but that's the only one that'll pass the obscenity filter. It's so hot and we've all had such headaches, that I haven't even been out to check on the weeds yet. The neighbor did come over yesterday and ask that we cut back the plants that are surely just about to push down her vinyl (hurricane-proof) privacy fence. As if.
I did manage to drag my butt out to buy some 5-cent markers and other practically free school supplies. Then I dropped by my dads for an hour. I went up to Penny's and picked up some Dockers and running shoes -- both half-price. I actually bought The Husband a (half-price) polo shirt off a mannequin -- it was the only size small in the building -- and then made them special-order another cheap pair of Dockers. All in all, a pretty productive afternoon. I ALMOST felt sorry for the sales clerk, but not quite! ;)
Work is still boring, stressful, and futile. And yet, they still pay me to be here, so I should do some work.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
School "services" lost and the Classical Education Model
My BFF is worried that my kids will lose the public school services if I homeschool. That is, even though her kid is in a private school, she's still entitled to "services" such as audiology through the public schools. Psht! She lives in a "blue state"! I live in a "red state", and believe me, we won't be losing services -- because there aren't any to begin with.
The school system here only provides services based on the "academic model". That is, if your child can move himself from the classroom to the cafeteria, he doesn't need physical therapy. If your child can print legibly, he doesn't need OT. If your child can speak without a lisp, he doesn't need speech. Voila -- my kids don't need services! See? Not missing much. My health insurance covers better than that.
New books bought for school this fall:
The school system here only provides services based on the "academic model". That is, if your child can move himself from the classroom to the cafeteria, he doesn't need physical therapy. If your child can print legibly, he doesn't need OT. If your child can speak without a lisp, he doesn't need speech. Voila -- my kids don't need services! See? Not missing much. My health insurance covers better than that.
New books bought for school this fall:
- Second Grade Success: Everything You Need to Know to Help Your Child Learn
- Third Grade Success: Everything You Need to Know to Help Your Child Learn
- Homeschooling: Take A Deep Breath - You Can Do This! (really good for lesson planning)
- The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book: Boil Ice, Float Water, Measure Gravity
- Addition the Fun Way Book for Kids: A Picture Method of Learning the Addition Facts
- Times Tables the Fun Way: Book for Kids: A Picture Method of Learning the Multiplication Tables
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