Day #108 & 109- History, Nature Study, Home Ec, Science, and P.E.

Monday I worked until 4pm and the kids did…nothing Well, that isn’t entirely true. They read. A lot. Percy Jackson books mostly. Would that count as historical fiction? They are well versed by now in mythology.

It was a pretty ‘lost’ day in regards to school. We watched a show on the Greeks. More ‘history’

Today, Tuesday, really hasn’t been much better. We did some grocery shopping and the kids picked out fruit {weighed it as well- does that all count as home economics??}. The weather today is amazingly warm. Right now the kids are outside playing- and scrounging apparently {physical education?}.

They brought in a buckeye seed (not the one pictured, my batteries are dead) and so we looked up some info about that. {nature study??}

I think we will watch some How It Works (or is it How It’s Made?- well, whichever) later tonight, after dinner. {Would those fit in with science??}

So…can I count them as school days? Yes, I certainly can and will. They just were not as good as I’d planned {by that I mean not as full of actually doing school- learning always takes place}.

That’s been our last two days of school. Tomorrow might be better

Highlighting Links by Subject for Schooling- Home Economics

Each week there will be a post {or two or three} highlighting some links that have been collected and compiled on the Links by Subject for Schooling page on my blog. At this point, I plan to go alphabetically through the subjects because that’s how I am but the websites most likely won’t be alphabetized…sorry for any confusion!

Home Economics

This isn't just for girls!

FCH Handbook- although this is directed towards females with the mentality that they will be the homemakers, these are good skills for all to acquire- that way if they (the boys) don't have a female to 'make their home' they will be able to do it themselves! (no longer free *sniff*)

Home Baking Association- This site does offer free resources but you have to dig some. You can find recipes, sign up for a newsletter and find baking activities

Food Forum- free worksheets pertaining to dealing with and preparing food. Designed for younger ages/grades. It is a UK site therefore wording is UK-style *wink* I didn't try all the links but most of them and they download just fine.

Home Economics Lesson Plans- these range from middle school to college/university. They do not include any extras just the 'plan'. I thought it interesting what is included in 'home economics' in this list...

Home Economics/Work and Family Studies- includes a link list of sites that may have some good home economic resources. I've not checked them all.

Those are some all of the links for Home Economics that have been collected. If you have more, please share! Stay tuned for more link ‘highlights’ every so often.

Highlighting Links by Subject for Schooling- Computers

Each week there will be a post {or two or three} highlighting some links that have been collected and compiled on the Links by Subject for Schooling page on my blog. At this point, I plan to go alphabetically through the subjects because that’s how I am but the websites most likely won’t be alphabetized…sorry for any confusion!

Computers

Microsoft- The link will take you to lesson plans that are available at Microsoft but you will need to search through them to find computer related plans. Or here is a page that offers curriculum for faculty that includes cloud training, Silverlight, programing for gaming, and more. Or if you look here you can find software for teachers.

Alice- “is an innovative 3D programming environment that makes it easy to create an animation for telling a story, playing an interactive game, or a video to share on the web. Alice is a teaching tool for introductory computing. It uses 3D graphics and a drag-and-drop interface to facilitate a more engaging, less frustrating first programming experience.” This is suitable for upper elementary through college and it’s free.

eLearning for Kids- Geared towards kids ages 5-12, this site offers free basic ‘courses’ that help kids learn how to use computers. Courses pertain to Word, PowerPoint, Excel and internet search and safety.

W3Schools- Free site for leaning html, web design, css, xml, browser and server scripting, and much more. It says for beginners and experts but I’m not sure how much of a beginner. Certification is available but does cost.

Free Computer Training Sites- This is a page on a site that has a list of free training that you can take for computers. I’ve not checked all the links. It has quite a few ads interspersed throughout. It was last updated on 4/2/11.

Those are some of the links for Computers that have been collected. Stay tuned for more link ‘highlights’ every so often.

The Highlights (1/27/12)

In my life this week…
…just illness, mostly…such fun.

In our homeschool this week…
Monday {day 103} was by far the absolute best day of this week- in terms of schooling. In other things, well, perhaps yesterday was. It’s difficult to say this week. I was sick (just feeling mostly normal today- one week later), Lee and Fox both felt sick one day and dh is as bad as I was, now that I feel better.

Tuesday {day 104} I believe was the day that I could barely get off the couch. It was a rough day.

Wednesday {day 105} is the day that both Lee and Fox were feeling under the weather and so not much was done. They read a lot that day.

Places and people we’re seeing…
Thursday {day 106} we ventured out to the Wal-Mart that is about 15-20 miles from us. Do you know how long it took us to get there? Almost an hour. We don’t go out much. Almost every trip- even just to the store that is 4 or 5 miles down the road- seems to take half an hour. It’s just crazy.

Friday {day 107} was another hang-around-the-house-and-not-get-much-done-day. The kids did get some school work done and also there were chores done but more reading was done than anything. We did receive a package in the mail from my mother-in-law with many goodies: a prism, origami papers, drawing curriculum {that she’d used with her youngest son in the late 90s- still is in good shape!-and not too shabby as far as instructions go }, and some other books. That consumed the three of us for hours.

Oh! She also included two sweaters that were hers when she was in her 20s. They are over 30 years old. They look brand new. Lee can probably wear them but they look so tiny My m-i-l is only a tad over 5 feet tall.

The best thing this week…
School was done every single day. I didn’t say that all school was done every day- you did catch that right? But I was surprised looking back that some school was done every day. That’s good. Very good.

We also received a book in the mail {that I ordered} for Lee to help her with editing as well as a review Bible from Crossway. It’s always fun to get items that are {and aren’t} expected

I cannot believe there are only 73 days of school to go. If we did school every day, we could be done in April! We aren’t going to do it that way though lol. As it is, we will finish the second week of May {or so} and take off until July.

I have to put here the school doings for Wednesday through Friday since I cannot recall doing so earlier.

Day #105-107 (1/25/12-1/27/12)

Lee:
Bible: Reading (Deut. 33 & 34); verse (Colossians 3:1-16); Mark Commentary (FINISHED)
Math: Life of Fred Beginning Algebra (FINISHED)- she got to take the rest of the week off from math {she finished on Thursday LOL}
Science: Biology (read chapter 7 summary; electromagnetic spectrum labeling exercise)
History/Geography: Western Civilization (read pages 365-371)
English {because I’ve been informed that for high school ‘language arts’ is the incorrect term}: Westward Ho!, Excellence in Literature (still reading Around the World in 80 Days but I think she is very close to being done)
Citizenship {used to be ‘Civics’}: Current Events (see her blog post)

Fox:
Bible: Reading (Deut. 24 & John 2); verse (Romans 12: 1-2); Saints & Heroes (Calvin, pgs 71-75- was supposed to read 66-70)
Math: Saxon Algebra 1 (read pages 19-27; page 28 problems #1-15, 29, 30)
Science: The Story Book of Science (chapter 36); Murche’s (Lesson 42); School of the Woods (chapter 10)
History/Geography: Story of the Greeks (chapters 76-78); Alexander the Great; Around the World in 180 Days (still working on Asia)
Language Arts: Jensen’s Grammar (Lesson 15); Animal Farm (chapter 3)

Photo I’m sharing…

Our backyard guests. This photo was taken shortly after Christmas but it’s looked like this a couple times since. I really love living here.

I’m linking up with Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers and The Mother’s Homeschool Journal.

Spelling City

I’m super excited. I’m ecstatic, actually. Do you know why?

I've been given a premium membership to VocabularySpellingCity.com for a candid, personal, online review.

VocabularySpellingCity.com helps students study word lists using 25 different learning activities such as MatchIt Sentences, HangMan, and Word-O-Rama.  Parents can create their own spelling lists, find published lists already available on the site, or use any of dozens of  free teaching resources on topics such as analogies and compound words.  Be sure to come back in three weeks to read about my experience.

 

There might be more free memberships available for bloggers.  If you're interested, find out how you can review VocabularySpellingCity.com.

Current Events: Week of 1/23–1/27

Hi everyone! It's time for your Current Events of this week! We’ve only really got one worthwhile (meaning it doesn't have to do with politics; no one wants to listen to that! ;) ) story today…
Planning on going on a cruise? Well, I wouldn’t be so sure about doing that… The Costa Concordia ran aground near Italy after the ship’s captain decided to go off course to show off the expensive boat. (View some photos here.) 16 people died, and 17 people so far are missing. Also, the cruise liner could possibly leak oil and fuel into the wildlife sanctuary that it ran aground in. They are planning to pump out the oil by Saturday. Now people are questioning the cruise liner industry. Lately the standards for training for captains and crews in things like safety information are not very good. The cruise liners are not controlled like the airline industry, where the pilots are directed by a certain flight plan. Captains are able to alter the courses of the boats however they wish, though there are GPS’s and other instruments that are supposed to keep the liners on a certain course. Cruise liners’ growing sizes raise a problem too, as they are able to hold more people that way, and so evacuations can be harder. So, the cruise liner industry is under great discussion right now, and I’m not sure how that’ll affect you, but to be sure, there’s going to be changes!
Well, there you go! See you next week!

Highlighting Links by Subject for Schooling- Bible

Each week there will be a post {or two or three} highlighting some links that have been collected and compiled on the Links by Subject for Schooling page on my blog. At this point, I plan to go alphabetically through the subjects because that’s how I am  but the websites most likely won’t be alphabetized…sorry for any confusion!

Bible

Bible Study Program- Site offers 117 free bible study packets, in pdf form, that you can print out and use to study the Bible as you read through. The study will involve reading/studying 6 OT chapters and 2 NT chapters per week. There are also answers to the questions available, also in pdf form.

Pathlights Jr- This has moved to the TEMKIT website. You’ll click on either the kitten or the white horse button on the site. The “kitten” takes you to 23 links for free activities and stories that can be used in homeschool and/or Sunday schools for teaching Bible to a younger audience, I believe. Clicking the “white horse” takes you to a site that discusses magic, wizardry, etc. and how it is viewed in the Bible.

Bible in Living Sound- Although this is not a free site, it does offer audio resources for studying the Bible. Dramatizations of Bible stories from the Old and New Testament. On the main page you can listen to a demo of the work, “David and Goliath”.

Keys 4 Kids- Free site that offers daily devotionals and Bible reading for kids. Presented in real-life scenarios, scriptures can be more applicable for children. You can choose how you receive Keys 4 Kids- mail, email, purchase a subscription, on facebook, twitter, through RSS feed, and/or listen to a podcast.

Answers in Genesis- Free resources throughout this site that present creationist viewpoint, literal six day creation. One page particularly offers free access to books online that can also be purchased. Some titles include In Six Days, Evolution Exposed: Biology (or Earth Science), One Race One Blood, The Pilgrim’s Progress, etc.

Those are some of the links for Bible that have been collected. Stay tuned for more link ‘highlights’ every so often.

Day #104- Could Have Used A Substitute Teacher

Monday I posted the goals for the day and I’m happy to put here that all were accomplished {with the exception of dishes- the sink wasn’t quite fixed}.

Yesterday, although there were goals, I didn’t post anything here because well, I was on the couch almost all day with a fever and just being sick. It was a day that a substitute teacher would have been nice to have.

As it turned out only a few subjects were left by the wayside. Latin, Artist Study and Composer Study. We are getting a bit too far behind in the Latin for my liking, though. We did listen to WCLV almost all day. It was so soothing for me and put me right to sleep a couple of times. When I wasn’t sleeping I watched an episode of Sherlock, on PBS {Season 1, The Blind Banker}. Quite good, I thought.

By around 7:00 pm I was feeling somewhat ‘alive’ and attempted to do some dishes. I didn’t get very far {the kids helped me some as well} but the sink is indeed fixed. What I could not do oh so long ago, my dear, dear hubby could do in just a short amount of time. I love that man

Here is what the kids were able to do almost entirely on their own {with a few “Mom…?” moments}:

Fox
Bible: Reading (John 1); verse (Romans 12:1-2)
Science: Murche’s Lesson 41 (digestion); School of the Woods (chapter 9)
Language Arts: Jensen’s Grammar (Lesson 14)
Math: -
History/Geography: Heritage History Classical Curriculum (The Story of the Greeks chapters 68-70); Alexander the Great by Abbot (read this in its entirety this week and next- might stretch a bit farther

Lee
Bible: Reading (Acts 26); verse (Colossians 3:1-16); Mark Commentary (says she will be done 1/25)
Math: Life of Fred Beginning Algebra (Lesson 107)
Language Arts: Excellence in Literature (reading Around the World in 80 Days); History of English Literature (chapter 49)
Science: Biology (read chapter 7.5 outline and pages 126-127 in book)
Govt/Citizenship/Logic: Current Events; Utopia
History/Geography: Western Civilization (writing about the role of husbands and wives during the religious reformations of the 16th century)

We’ve yet to see what we can do today. I’m feeling somewhat human but Lee woke with a headache {which is how my illness started almost a week ago}.

Highlighting Links by Subject for Schooling -Art

Each week there will be a post {or two or three} highlighting some links that have been collected and compiled on the Links by Subject for Schooling page on my blog. At this point, I plan to go alphabetically through the subjects because that’s how I am  but the websites most likely won’t be alphabetized…sorry for any confusion!

Art

Drawspace- This site offers over 200 free lessons on drawing, from beginner to advanced. Choose solo lessons {free} and/or guided learning courses {payment required}. Certification is also available through guided courses directed by professional art educators.

HodgePodge’s Free Pastel Tutorials- Wonderfully done pastel tutorials presented by “Nana” at HodgePodge. The lessons range from a mug of hot chocolate to a chickadee to a Medieval castle to tree reflection. These can be implemented with any age.

Watercoloring Painting- That link goes to the tutorial page where there are step by step illustrations for different ‘skills’ of watercolor. You can also click on the Learning tab on the page to ‘look, read, learn to make art’. Really, have a look all around the site; it is a great resource.

Learn to Draw Portraits- YouTube videos by “EclecticAsylumArt” that give some good tips for drawing portraits. Each video is about 10 minutes in length. My daughter went through the ‘series’ and thought it was helpful.

Jan Brett’s How to Draw…- The name says it all This is a collection of videos from Jan Brett showing how to draw various characters, from her books. The videos are not exclusively of her drawing but are generally short.

Those are some of the links for Art that have been collected. Stay tuned for more link ‘highlights’ every so often.