This is off topic for homeschooling but I just had to share Austyn's new hair. LOL!! It reminded me of PeeWee Herman.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Art History can be addictive. LOL!
We read just about anything and everything. I think that in our case we reach most of our subjects through books. This book kept them busy for a long time yesterday. They were really into it.
Art Up Close by Claire d'Harcourt is a Book that helps children explore famous art pieces in history. It titles them by name, artist and year. There are circles with parts of the picture featured in each circle and the goal is to find where that piece is in the picture. It's a bit like "Finding Waldo" but with famous masterpieces throughout time.
One warning: For sensitive children some of the graphics may be too graphic.
“Art is a lie that makes us realize truth.” ~ Pablo Picasso
Some Small Lego Innovations
Here are some more Lego objects built by Austyn. The last one has a moving part. While building he does math. Inspired by the Lego video games he makes objects from ten pieces or ten sections. He decides how many pieces he needs to finish the object to equal ten.
I'm sure these will be added to his project presentation for the project fair.
Snow removal help.
This pose is priceless. He asked me to take a picture while he posed. Of course Zoe needs to be in the picture as well. LOL!
100 Books-A-Month Challenge
This is where we are with our reading so far.
January 2010 Reading List
Read to both children:
1. A Place To Sleep by Holly Meade
2. Baby Duck’s New Friend by Frank Asch and Devin Asch
3. Bubblegum Delicious by Dennis Lee
4. Cactus Hotel by Brenda Z. Guiberson
5. Chester by Anyano Imai
6. Choo Choo Clickety-Clack! By Margaret Mayo and Alex Ayliffe
7. Draw Me a Star by Eric Carle
8. Everyday Materials Glass by Andrew Langley
9. Fly High Fly Guy! By Tedd Arnold
10. Green Wilma Frog In Space by Tedd Arnold
11. Pete and the Ghosts by Janet Amsden and John Beder
12. Hit the Ball Duck by Jez Alborough
13. I Am The Mummy HebNefert by Eve Bunting
14. I’ll Never Share You, Blackboard Bear by Martha Alexander
15. Knock-Knock Jokes by Pam Rosenburg
16. Leaf Man Lois Ehlert
17. Let’s Clean Up! By Peggy Perry Anderson
18. Love is a Handful of Honey by Giles Andreae and Vanessa Cabban
19. Math Attack! By Joan Horton
20. Math-terpieces by Greg Tang
21. More Parts by Tedd Arnold
22. Mummies, Pyramids, and Pharaohs by Gail Gibbons
23. My Friend Bear b y Jez Alborough
24. My Little Sister Hugged An Ape by Bill Grossman
25. On Beyond a Million by David M. Schwartz
26. Peanut by Linas Alsenas
27. Pyramids and Mummies by Simon Seymour
28. Rumpelstiltskin by marie-Louise Gay
29. Rupunzel by Amy Ehrlich
30. Stagecoach Sal by Deborah Hopkinson
31. Starry Safari by Linda Ashman
32. Still My Grandma by Véronique Van den Abeele
33. Stop That Pickle! By Peter Armour
34. The Contest Between the Sun and the Wind by Heather Forest
35. The Elves and the Shoemaker by Jim LaMarche
36. The Giant Jelly Bean Jar by Marcie Aboff
37. The Inside Story Pyramid by Dana Meachen Rau
38. The Magic Toolbox by Mie Araki
39. The Raft by Jim LaMarche
40. The Shortest Day by Wendy Pfeffer
41. The Tale of the Turnip by Brian Alderson
42. Too Many Frogs! By Sandy Asher
43. Tumbleweed Stew by Susan Stevens Crummel
44. Up by Jim LaMarche
45. Up, Down, and Around by Kathrine Ayres
46. Welcome to the Green House by Jane Yolen
47. Wiggle and Waggle by Caroline Arnold
48. Wild and Woolly Mammoths by Aliki
49. You Can’t Buy a Dinosaur with a Dime by Harriet Ziefert
Read to Zoe:
1. Mama’s Day by Linda Ashman and Jan Ormerod
2. Hug Me by Patti Stren
3. Raggedy Ann and Andy The Little Gray Kitten by Polly Curren
4. Raggedy Ann and the Cookie Snatcher by Barbara Shook Hazen
5. The Bun A Tale from Russia by Marcia Brown
6. Bug Dance by Stuart J. Murphy
7. Hello, Good-by by Arlene Alda
Read to Austyn:
1. An Egyptian Tomb
2. The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe
3. Thomas Edison by Mike Venezia
4. Cough, Sneeze, Burp, Hiccup, Blink, Yawn, Sweat, and Shiver? Jean Stangl
5. Flying Giants of Dinosaur Times by “Dino” Don Lessem
6. Sea Giants of Dinosaur Times by “Dino” Don Lessem
Novels/Reference (usually with Austyn only and only read parts of the book):
1. Earth’s Core and mantle by Gregory L. Vogt, Ed.D. (read only interesting parts)
Books on Tape/DVD:
1. Reading Rainbow Ocean Life – Humphrey The Lost Whale by Wendy Tokuda and Sam the Sea Cow by Francine Jacobs
My own reading:
1. The Tao Of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff
2. Alter This! By Alena Hennessy
3. Quiet Mind. A beginner’s Guide to Meditation by Susan Piver
Read to both children:
1. A Place To Sleep by Holly Meade
2. Baby Duck’s New Friend by Frank Asch and Devin Asch
3. Bubblegum Delicious by Dennis Lee
4. Cactus Hotel by Brenda Z. Guiberson
5. Chester by Anyano Imai
6. Choo Choo Clickety-Clack! By Margaret Mayo and Alex Ayliffe
7. Draw Me a Star by Eric Carle
8. Everyday Materials Glass by Andrew Langley
9. Fly High Fly Guy! By Tedd Arnold
10. Green Wilma Frog In Space by Tedd Arnold
11. Pete and the Ghosts by Janet Amsden and John Beder
12. Hit the Ball Duck by Jez Alborough
13. I Am The Mummy HebNefert by Eve Bunting
14. I’ll Never Share You, Blackboard Bear by Martha Alexander
15. Knock-Knock Jokes by Pam Rosenburg
16. Leaf Man Lois Ehlert
17. Let’s Clean Up! By Peggy Perry Anderson
18. Love is a Handful of Honey by Giles Andreae and Vanessa Cabban
19. Math Attack! By Joan Horton
20. Math-terpieces by Greg Tang
21. More Parts by Tedd Arnold
22. Mummies, Pyramids, and Pharaohs by Gail Gibbons
23. My Friend Bear b y Jez Alborough
24. My Little Sister Hugged An Ape by Bill Grossman
25. On Beyond a Million by David M. Schwartz
26. Peanut by Linas Alsenas
27. Pyramids and Mummies by Simon Seymour
28. Rumpelstiltskin by marie-Louise Gay
29. Rupunzel by Amy Ehrlich
30. Stagecoach Sal by Deborah Hopkinson
31. Starry Safari by Linda Ashman
32. Still My Grandma by Véronique Van den Abeele
33. Stop That Pickle! By Peter Armour
34. The Contest Between the Sun and the Wind by Heather Forest
35. The Elves and the Shoemaker by Jim LaMarche
36. The Giant Jelly Bean Jar by Marcie Aboff
37. The Inside Story Pyramid by Dana Meachen Rau
38. The Magic Toolbox by Mie Araki
39. The Raft by Jim LaMarche
40. The Shortest Day by Wendy Pfeffer
41. The Tale of the Turnip by Brian Alderson
42. Too Many Frogs! By Sandy Asher
43. Tumbleweed Stew by Susan Stevens Crummel
44. Up by Jim LaMarche
45. Up, Down, and Around by Kathrine Ayres
46. Welcome to the Green House by Jane Yolen
47. Wiggle and Waggle by Caroline Arnold
48. Wild and Woolly Mammoths by Aliki
49. You Can’t Buy a Dinosaur with a Dime by Harriet Ziefert
Read to Zoe:
1. Mama’s Day by Linda Ashman and Jan Ormerod
2. Hug Me by Patti Stren
3. Raggedy Ann and Andy The Little Gray Kitten by Polly Curren
4. Raggedy Ann and the Cookie Snatcher by Barbara Shook Hazen
5. The Bun A Tale from Russia by Marcia Brown
6. Bug Dance by Stuart J. Murphy
7. Hello, Good-by by Arlene Alda
Read to Austyn:
1. An Egyptian Tomb
2. The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe
3. Thomas Edison by Mike Venezia
4. Cough, Sneeze, Burp, Hiccup, Blink, Yawn, Sweat, and Shiver? Jean Stangl
5. Flying Giants of Dinosaur Times by “Dino” Don Lessem
6. Sea Giants of Dinosaur Times by “Dino” Don Lessem
Novels/Reference (usually with Austyn only and only read parts of the book):
1. Earth’s Core and mantle by Gregory L. Vogt, Ed.D. (read only interesting parts)
Books on Tape/DVD:
1. Reading Rainbow Ocean Life – Humphrey The Lost Whale by Wendy Tokuda and Sam the Sea Cow by Francine Jacobs
My own reading:
1. The Tao Of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff
2. Alter This! By Alena Hennessy
3. Quiet Mind. A beginner’s Guide to Meditation by Susan Piver
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Full Day of Kindergarten good for 4 and 5 year olds?
Although we homeschool, it is always interesting following the changes going on in the public school system. With recent research into unschooling I have to wonder if society is wrong in believing that it's a good thing to put kids in school all day in Kindergarten. Most of the Moms I chatted with on local forums are happy about it because they don't want to pay for daycare on other days and want to or feel they need to work out of the home. They also believe it's a good thing academically and it prepares them for school (why not start when they are a day old? I mean won't it just keep getting younger?).
According to the news they have two reports to prove that this move is necessary. Premier Dalton McGuinty states,"I've always said from the beginning, a strong start makes for a strong finish". I tried to look up the details of the Pascal Report and the Unicef Report but I'm having a hard time finding the most current reports. I also must mention that the older reports that I did find were clearly typed up by the government complete with their logo. I can't help but think that this is for their benefit only. Who is thinking of the children? They make it sound like they are but this action seems like it's not for the children to me. Parents just trust the news and the government so easily without research. I'm glad my kids aren't in school because my research would be much deeper than this.
I know from many of the studies coming out of the United States this sort of move seems to make matters worse. Our system isn't working... let's do the same thing but start the kids earlier... let's keep them there longer... let's give them more work... let's give more tests... let's pressure the poor teachers etc... I wish I still had the books I borrowed from the library in the past year. I could have quoted some numbers from the studies conducted and who did them.
I'm pretty sure that what the government is thinking about is only education. They still are not providing for the whole child in school. If only they had options for parents and custom teaching methods to each child. Less focus on testing would be nice too. But to force 4 and 5 year olds to be in school so young. They are missing out on so much. Don't parents see this? What does sitting in a room with kids of the same age ALL DAY LONG provide them so young?
I would be interested in learning what other homeschoolers think of this from other areas of the world.
Here is one news channel:
http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090615/childcare_report_090615/20090615/?hub=TorontoNewHome
"You cannot teach a person anything; you can only help him find it within himself." ~Galileo
"It is... nothing short of a miracle that the modern methods of instruction have not yet entirely strangled the holy curiosity of inquiry; for this delicate little plant, aside from stimulation, stands mainly in need of freedom; without this it goes to wreak and ruin. It is a very grave mistake to think that the enjoyment of seeing and searching can be promoted by means of coercion and a sense of duty." ~Albert Einstein
According to the news they have two reports to prove that this move is necessary. Premier Dalton McGuinty states,"I've always said from the beginning, a strong start makes for a strong finish". I tried to look up the details of the Pascal Report and the Unicef Report but I'm having a hard time finding the most current reports. I also must mention that the older reports that I did find were clearly typed up by the government complete with their logo. I can't help but think that this is for their benefit only. Who is thinking of the children? They make it sound like they are but this action seems like it's not for the children to me. Parents just trust the news and the government so easily without research. I'm glad my kids aren't in school because my research would be much deeper than this.
I know from many of the studies coming out of the United States this sort of move seems to make matters worse. Our system isn't working... let's do the same thing but start the kids earlier... let's keep them there longer... let's give them more work... let's give more tests... let's pressure the poor teachers etc... I wish I still had the books I borrowed from the library in the past year. I could have quoted some numbers from the studies conducted and who did them.
I'm pretty sure that what the government is thinking about is only education. They still are not providing for the whole child in school. If only they had options for parents and custom teaching methods to each child. Less focus on testing would be nice too. But to force 4 and 5 year olds to be in school so young. They are missing out on so much. Don't parents see this? What does sitting in a room with kids of the same age ALL DAY LONG provide them so young?
I would be interested in learning what other homeschoolers think of this from other areas of the world.
Here is one news channel:
http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090615/childcare_report_090615/20090615/?hub=TorontoNewHome
"You cannot teach a person anything; you can only help him find it within himself." ~Galileo
"It is... nothing short of a miracle that the modern methods of instruction have not yet entirely strangled the holy curiosity of inquiry; for this delicate little plant, aside from stimulation, stands mainly in need of freedom; without this it goes to wreak and ruin. It is a very grave mistake to think that the enjoyment of seeing and searching can be promoted by means of coercion and a sense of duty." ~Albert Einstein
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Growing Green Kids
Every once and a while I research different books on different subjects. I've been doing this more the past couple of months because we've changed direction in the way we homeschool. I'm looking for alternatives to the traditional (sit down) school work scenario. Here are a couple of books I found with fun activities for bringing up kids who are aware of the environment. I borrowed them both from the library but I now want them to keep here at home.
The first one is "Grow Your Own Tree Hugger by Wendy Rosenoff". It is a book full of activities to do with great photography illustrating each activity. Here is the chapter break-down.
Here is the other book: "i love dirt! 52 activities to help you and your kids discover the wonders of nature, by Jennifer Ward". This book is full of activities to do outside, in nature. The sections are set up by seasons. This one seems more appropriate for my kids. The activities seem like they are meant for younger children or at least activities that could be shared with different ages at once. They are all fun activities but with underlying lessons. This book is set up in a smaller version that could be brought into the trees easier than a larger book.
Both books were great finds. Each one had a purpose and I believe they are both worthy of being on the bookshelf of our home library.
The first one is "Grow Your Own Tree Hugger by Wendy Rosenoff". It is a book full of activities to do with great photography illustrating each activity. Here is the chapter break-down.
Section 1: The Lab Report - Science Projects
Chapter 1: Chemical-Free Zone
Chapter 2: Grow Organic and Eat Local
Chapter 3: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
Chapter 4: Alternative Energy
Chatper 5: Save our Natural Resources
Chapter 6: Endangered Species
Chapter 7: Sustainable Living
Section 2: The Kitchen Sink - Food Projects
Chapter 8: Chemical-Free Zone
Chapter 9: Grow Organic and Eat Local
Chapter 10: Fair Trade
Chapter 11: Alternative Energy
Chapter 12: Save our Natural Resources
Chapter 13: Endangered Species
Chapter 14: Sustainable Living
Section 3: The Studio Gallery - Craft Projects
Chapter 15: Chemical-Free Zone
Chapter 16: Grow Organic and Eat Local
Chapter 17: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
Chapter 18: Alternative Energy
Chapter 19: Save Our Natural Resources
Chapter 20: Sustainable Living
Here is the other book: "i love dirt! 52 activities to help you and your kids discover the wonders of nature, by Jennifer Ward". This book is full of activities to do outside, in nature. The sections are set up by seasons. This one seems more appropriate for my kids. The activities seem like they are meant for younger children or at least activities that could be shared with different ages at once. They are all fun activities but with underlying lessons. This book is set up in a smaller version that could be brought into the trees easier than a larger book.
Both books were great finds. Each one had a purpose and I believe they are both worthy of being on the bookshelf of our home library.
Time to organize again.
Things have gotten a bit out of hand here. We are just so busy and now I feel like I'm recovering nicely from Holiday burnout. So, I've told myself that I've got to get my act together. Don't get me wrong. We are doing a lot here in our home, but I've got to start purging our things again and do more with our homeschooling.
I had (what looked like a mess), in our basement, boxes all organized and set out to be given away or sold of things we don't use or need. It's not like that anymore! Over Christmas we had some helpers, and apparently my hubby as well, who got in there and everything I spent DAYS sorting is now piled up again in the roughed in bathroom. I guess I need to resort it AGAIN. Bless their hearts for helping us in other ways and doing their best.
I'm not good at finding buyers for things. I just find it a frustrating process and time consuming. Things sit and get messed up again for me to sort again. It is frustrating. So, I think I'll just give it all away and take my losses. We need the money, but not as badly as before. So, I feel more comfortable passing things out to those who need it. Some larger items I'll sell.
I am making a list this morning of everything I'd like to accomplish and I'm going to get the kids involved. They will also be going through their toys again. After Christmas it feels like we need it even though they really didn't get a lot of large items. We just have so many things that it would be nice to minimize stuff and maximize space again.
I am not sure how I'll do it but I need my hubby to get rid of the clothes he doesn't wear so I can fit blankets in that closet, but he never seems to find the time to do it. Hmmm... I wonder if I pull everything out and try to do some of it myself if he could just confirm for me. Maybe that would help, because we really need to address that issue. I mean... he has way more clothes than I have and wears only a few.
I think that when we are home most of our time homeschooling that organizing our home seems to be something that has to happen many times a year. This has been my experience so far. Well, here I go again. I must not be good at this since I keep having to do everything over and over again. It does appear to me, however, that our house is more orderly than a year earlier, so I guess I'm getting somewhere.
I had (what looked like a mess), in our basement, boxes all organized and set out to be given away or sold of things we don't use or need. It's not like that anymore! Over Christmas we had some helpers, and apparently my hubby as well, who got in there and everything I spent DAYS sorting is now piled up again in the roughed in bathroom. I guess I need to resort it AGAIN. Bless their hearts for helping us in other ways and doing their best.
I'm not good at finding buyers for things. I just find it a frustrating process and time consuming. Things sit and get messed up again for me to sort again. It is frustrating. So, I think I'll just give it all away and take my losses. We need the money, but not as badly as before. So, I feel more comfortable passing things out to those who need it. Some larger items I'll sell.
I am making a list this morning of everything I'd like to accomplish and I'm going to get the kids involved. They will also be going through their toys again. After Christmas it feels like we need it even though they really didn't get a lot of large items. We just have so many things that it would be nice to minimize stuff and maximize space again.
I am not sure how I'll do it but I need my hubby to get rid of the clothes he doesn't wear so I can fit blankets in that closet, but he never seems to find the time to do it. Hmmm... I wonder if I pull everything out and try to do some of it myself if he could just confirm for me. Maybe that would help, because we really need to address that issue. I mean... he has way more clothes than I have and wears only a few.
I think that when we are home most of our time homeschooling that organizing our home seems to be something that has to happen many times a year. This has been my experience so far. Well, here I go again. I must not be good at this since I keep having to do everything over and over again. It does appear to me, however, that our house is more orderly than a year earlier, so I guess I'm getting somewhere.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Book Sharing Monday
Math Attack! by Joan Horton is a book that Austyn requests to read. He really enjoys this one. We've been hogging it at our library. It's about a little girl in school who gets asked a math question by the teacher and the numbers get so jumbled up that it causes number chaos in the town. Here is how the book starts and from there the problem just gets worse and worse every time someone asks her the math question.
It was Monday at school and our teacher, Miss Glass,
Announced, "Now it's time for arithmetic, class.
Can somebody tell me what's seven times ten?"
She was looking at me when she said it again.
I was thinking so hard allmy circuits were loaded.
Then all of a sudden, my brain just exploded.
And numbers flew out of my head by the score.
They stuck to the seiling; they bounced off the floor!
Kids in the classroom dived under their chairs.
Some pushed through the hall and flew down the stairs.
"Enough," yelled Miss Glass. "You're disrupting the class."
She ducked as more numbers went whizzing on past.
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