I can't believe it's the end of tthe year and only 2 months since I've been officially homeschooling.
We've been doing so much it's hard to keep up.
We visited the Museum of Natural History today. Nala won tickets from a contest with the library last month. We got free admission into the museum and admission to a special exhibit. We chose the Space show. It was great. The whole museum is just amazing. The creations are so real and life like. It's just too big to do in one day. All the kids seemed to enjoy it. In the African exhibit Nala recognized the Nile River and knew it ran through Egypt. We've been learning about Ancient Civilizations in Egypt so I was glad to know that she remembered the river.
I'm making more connections with groups and such and therefore adding more activities to our calendar. I'm trying to keep trips at 2 days a week and now with swimming and recorder weekly, some monthly geography (2 country presenations clubs and 1 state clubs), monthly science group and possible a weekly history class it's just getting really busy. I may need to pick and choose some activities so it won't be too hectic. I just want Nala to be around the same kids weekly in some group so that she will make some friends. I know this will take time and just hopefully through joining different things she'll meet people.
Our homeschooling experience is really very good. Homeschooling has really brought out the best in my daughter. She carries her notebooks around with her to write and draw. While we are reading (currently Charlotte's Web) she's noticing the language being used and most importantly the spelling words I'm giving her she notices in the book. It really helps with ehr learning the words faster and learning new words that come up often. She liked school, she has her days where she still wants to go back but when we talk about all of the wonderful experiences we've had so far homeschooling, the freedom she has in what she learns and all the creative ways she can express her learning, she has told me how much she loves homeschooling and does not want to go back to school.
Although we still do "school" how she has learned and feels comfortable with, (She still calls her spelling list word study like school) she has more control over what she does each day and how she does it. She doesn't have to do math sheets how she did in school because she doesn't like sheets. Instead we play scrabble or dice games to learn math. I found a grammar book that she loves where she corrects the sentences and does a bar graph at the end to show her progress. I read with her or to her sometimes and we discuss what we read. Her vocabulary is growing and she is doing alot of hands on learning, because I know this is how she learns best.
I'm looking forward to another year of continued success and more learning for both of us.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Thursday, December 6, 2007
What I'm learning about Nala and Math....
She doesn't like Math but she seems to do better when it's in a game form, anything other than worksheets/book form. We haven't done math worksheets since our 3rd week and we're in 6th week now.
We have played Scrabble, Candyland, some games from Family math, store, where she has counted through keeping score or something like that. She did well for the most part however she has her moments where I believe she's being difficult due to boredom or maybe ready to go to bed. She will call out the wrong answer on something I deem easy and totally make me feel like I'm failing as her parent and teacher. I try not to push her but I want to make sure she either really knows the answer or really doesn't know the answer so I know what to do. I'm ready to move on to some other sort of math and I think she is too.
I just need to know that I'm doing my job and helping her with her weaknessess.
We have played Scrabble, Candyland, some games from Family math, store, where she has counted through keeping score or something like that. She did well for the most part however she has her moments where I believe she's being difficult due to boredom or maybe ready to go to bed. She will call out the wrong answer on something I deem easy and totally make me feel like I'm failing as her parent and teacher. I try not to push her but I want to make sure she either really knows the answer or really doesn't know the answer so I know what to do. I'm ready to move on to some other sort of math and I think she is too.
I just need to know that I'm doing my job and helping her with her weaknessess.
Trips and other things
Fri November 30 I met up with the group that I met with at the Native American Museum. It was so nice. Nala and I did a presentation on our culture and brought homemade cranberry sauce. There were alot of vegan, vegetarian and desserts. It was a really nice group of women and I'm looking forward to seeing them later this month. Nala enjoyed seeing other homeschoolers like herself and that's what I loved.
Saturday December 1, I took the girls to the Scandanavia House in Manhattan. I was really excited about going for some reason. It was nice but the lunch was not kid friendly and expensive although the soup did seem like real Scandanavian soup (real chicken breast, quinoa, some sea vegetables and pretty bland) The kids got to play in this beautiful room painted with caves, volcanos and mountains...like Iceland. The had a ball dressing up and in another room it was a big play room, blocks, books and a train set. We spent 2 hrs there just playing, talking with other parents and caregivers. I bought a couple of beautiful traditional Scandanavian ornaments (anywhere I go it has to be traditional and true from the place I visit). The express bus was perfect...fast and comfortable.
Tues December 4 we met up with some families from a group I belong to at the Hall of Science. I loved meeting new homeschoolers as well as show Nala that homeschoolers are all over the place and no need for her to feel different. It was extremly crowded at the Hall of Science which was new to me and I was disappointed. Before becoming members we would go on Fridays from 2-5 for free hrs and it was empty. I'm still ok with spending the money on the membership. We can get into some other free places throughout the city, long island and nj so it was a good investment.
I registered the family at the YMCA. Now Nala can take swimming classes and I can work out.
Other good news is I was on the waiting list for a class and was called to participate: Nala will be doing a really cool hands on science class monthly along with learning the recorder. Although we started and do it from time to time, its not regular when we started off.
I think we're done planning winter activities. I have a couple of trips planned for January but between swimming and science and music she'll be plenty busy.
Saturday December 1, I took the girls to the Scandanavia House in Manhattan. I was really excited about going for some reason. It was nice but the lunch was not kid friendly and expensive although the soup did seem like real Scandanavian soup (real chicken breast, quinoa, some sea vegetables and pretty bland) The kids got to play in this beautiful room painted with caves, volcanos and mountains...like Iceland. The had a ball dressing up and in another room it was a big play room, blocks, books and a train set. We spent 2 hrs there just playing, talking with other parents and caregivers. I bought a couple of beautiful traditional Scandanavian ornaments (anywhere I go it has to be traditional and true from the place I visit). The express bus was perfect...fast and comfortable.
Tues December 4 we met up with some families from a group I belong to at the Hall of Science. I loved meeting new homeschoolers as well as show Nala that homeschoolers are all over the place and no need for her to feel different. It was extremly crowded at the Hall of Science which was new to me and I was disappointed. Before becoming members we would go on Fridays from 2-5 for free hrs and it was empty. I'm still ok with spending the money on the membership. We can get into some other free places throughout the city, long island and nj so it was a good investment.
I registered the family at the YMCA. Now Nala can take swimming classes and I can work out.
Other good news is I was on the waiting list for a class and was called to participate: Nala will be doing a really cool hands on science class monthly along with learning the recorder. Although we started and do it from time to time, its not regular when we started off.
I think we're done planning winter activities. I have a couple of trips planned for January but between swimming and science and music she'll be plenty busy.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
November 23, 2007
Today was strange. Nala started off doing writing and wanted to read a book she picked out from the library. The Box Car Children. The book looked a little advanced, the chapters were longer several words that were too big for her but I thought she could still read it and get the idea. She started reading and was just not happy with it. I kept telling her you don't have to read it but she kept saying wanted to but would mumble through everything. I finally just got up and left saying when you're ready let me know. She was just difficult and we were both frustrated...at what I don't know.
I don't force her to do anything. I think our style is a bit structured at times because Nala seems to like that it's like school (sitting at the table) and I do enjoy actually "seeing" what she's learning, through a lesson, plan etc. We are also eclectic because it's not always the same everyday, I allow her to choose what she wants to do, and I'm up for playing games all day or just going on a trip and hanging out. Sometimes I'll suggest something and if she's like no I say ok what about this.
Hubby let her get on the computer and they've been going to Nick Jr to play games and sing songs there. About a 1/2 hr later I asked if she wanted to read some more and she said no. I said what about a science project and she agreed. So off we went to the park to do a nature walk and look at a wild field. This study of non living and living things was probably meant to do in the spring or something but it is fall and very cold and we didn't see anything moving around except the ducks. When we came back in she wrote in her nature journal.
I found a cool website that has sample lesson for gifted children and we did cardinal locations which went along with our map study we've been doing. Nala was very interested and I was so excited about that. I found a game a while back where you pick a card and follow the directions "move north 2 spaces", "move west 1 space". Nala did excellent and she knew each direction.
There's still a 2nd part to the lesson and we'll do that in the next couple of days.
I also see I'm getting more relaxed. I would say Ok lets do some math and she's like I don't like subtraction and I would say ok we'll only do 10 minutes of it and she would say ok. I see that I could get a better reaction if we do it informally--in the car, cooking etc.
Example: Today on the way back from our nature walk I point out that the leaves left a print on the sidewalk from the rain..she starts counting, all the way up to 130. She got stuck on how to say 110 so I helped her and she was able to count the rest of the way herself. Another time we were in the car eating cookies..and I said there were 10 cookies, i have 2 to you and 2 to Nina, how many were left. She said the correct answer.
Today out of no where she says Look 4 quarters equal a dollar and 2 quarters equal 50 cent. I was so pleased cause I told her that informally and she remembered!
We also learned about Ancient Mesopotamia and with the arts and crafts she really seemed interested. That's a great little book I found, I'm glad it's working.
Today was a good day.
I don't force her to do anything. I think our style is a bit structured at times because Nala seems to like that it's like school (sitting at the table) and I do enjoy actually "seeing" what she's learning, through a lesson, plan etc. We are also eclectic because it's not always the same everyday, I allow her to choose what she wants to do, and I'm up for playing games all day or just going on a trip and hanging out. Sometimes I'll suggest something and if she's like no I say ok what about this.
Hubby let her get on the computer and they've been going to Nick Jr to play games and sing songs there. About a 1/2 hr later I asked if she wanted to read some more and she said no. I said what about a science project and she agreed. So off we went to the park to do a nature walk and look at a wild field. This study of non living and living things was probably meant to do in the spring or something but it is fall and very cold and we didn't see anything moving around except the ducks. When we came back in she wrote in her nature journal.
I found a cool website that has sample lesson for gifted children and we did cardinal locations which went along with our map study we've been doing. Nala was very interested and I was so excited about that. I found a game a while back where you pick a card and follow the directions "move north 2 spaces", "move west 1 space". Nala did excellent and she knew each direction.
There's still a 2nd part to the lesson and we'll do that in the next couple of days.
I also see I'm getting more relaxed. I would say Ok lets do some math and she's like I don't like subtraction and I would say ok we'll only do 10 minutes of it and she would say ok. I see that I could get a better reaction if we do it informally--in the car, cooking etc.
Example: Today on the way back from our nature walk I point out that the leaves left a print on the sidewalk from the rain..she starts counting, all the way up to 130. She got stuck on how to say 110 so I helped her and she was able to count the rest of the way herself. Another time we were in the car eating cookies..and I said there were 10 cookies, i have 2 to you and 2 to Nina, how many were left. She said the correct answer.
Today out of no where she says Look 4 quarters equal a dollar and 2 quarters equal 50 cent. I was so pleased cause I told her that informally and she remembered!
We also learned about Ancient Mesopotamia and with the arts and crafts she really seemed interested. That's a great little book I found, I'm glad it's working.
Today was a good day.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
November 22, 2007
I am so old fashioned. I love writing but I prefer the paper and pencil way. Although I love being on the computer it's hard to keep up with this blog thing.
I feel like we havent done much work. With trips and holidays we have just gotten in some reading and writing in the early morning but none of the science and history I had planned. We have done math in regular everyday activities like shopping and cooking.
I'm trying to stay cool and let Nala take the lead and be ok with it. A few days she was like I don't want to do this or I don't want to do that. I'm like look you can't just sit around and do nothing. When I fight and push she doesn't want to do anything but when I stand back sometimes she takes the lead and says I want to write or something. Tonight she was writing and doing this worksheet I found where it introduces similar sounding words, they have to unscramble the words and then write them in sentences that have to have at least 5 words in them and not start with I. She does really great. I'm so proud of her. When she was done she says can we do a spelling test. I'm like uh sure. Its 830pm, who says learning has to take place during the day right?
So I give her a spelling test of all the words we have been doing with the vocabulary building worksheets...There's only like 3-5 she doesn't know so we will do like she did them in school. mostly cause i think it really works: write them 3 times, put them in a sentence, alphabetize them and then we'll have a spelling test. I'll also do an oral spelling test so she can get used to spelling off her head as well as written.
I got tips from another fellow homeschooler. She does dictation. I don't remember how old her children are but I think that would be great skills for Nala. Something small, something she already knows like the girl scout promise, law and song.
We joined a group where Nala looks up info on a particular country and we bring in food related to that place. The country next month is Mongolia and Nala decided to talk about music. She says she doesn't want to do it but I'll have her write a couple of sentences about their music, we'll bring in a sample and I'm making Eggplant Salad. Of course she will help. I hope she will begin talking and playing with kids. That's what i really want.
I'm looking forward to the 28th and the 30th though, I finally get to meet up with a new group I'm interested in joining. The leader is extremely helpful and I really want Nala to hit it off with some kids in the group. We'll see, I'm very excited though. There is a dinner on that Friday and I'm making cranberry sauce.
I've talked to a few other people family, friends and associates about my decision to homeschool and their first reaction is "What was wrong?" LOL i laugh. Does something have to be wrong? Does my child have to be doing horribly in school? Does she have to have a problem of some sort? Maybe I just felt like it. That should be my new reason and maybe the discussion won't be so long...with some of the older people "Why arent they in school?" "Don't you get tired of being with them all day?"
The experience has been getting better and better though. However Nina will be going back to preschool, until this summer. She gets a nap there and she really needs one. This will free up more time for Nala and I to get work done or get out and about. But come Sept 2008 when Nina starts kindergarten, I will bring her home to homeschool. She wouldn't get a nap in kindergarten and by then hopefully she won't need it, but for now I believe this is really the best choice. I'll continue to be an active parent and teacher as I have been and she will understand homeschooling better next year. Now she just wants to go back to school. Still deciding if Natasha will try school or just stay home with in January. It would be nice to have some quiet time with just Nala to get things done without all the interruption. As she gets older it will be easier, but she's 2 ya know.
I feel like we havent done much work. With trips and holidays we have just gotten in some reading and writing in the early morning but none of the science and history I had planned. We have done math in regular everyday activities like shopping and cooking.
I'm trying to stay cool and let Nala take the lead and be ok with it. A few days she was like I don't want to do this or I don't want to do that. I'm like look you can't just sit around and do nothing. When I fight and push she doesn't want to do anything but when I stand back sometimes she takes the lead and says I want to write or something. Tonight she was writing and doing this worksheet I found where it introduces similar sounding words, they have to unscramble the words and then write them in sentences that have to have at least 5 words in them and not start with I. She does really great. I'm so proud of her. When she was done she says can we do a spelling test. I'm like uh sure. Its 830pm, who says learning has to take place during the day right?
So I give her a spelling test of all the words we have been doing with the vocabulary building worksheets...There's only like 3-5 she doesn't know so we will do like she did them in school. mostly cause i think it really works: write them 3 times, put them in a sentence, alphabetize them and then we'll have a spelling test. I'll also do an oral spelling test so she can get used to spelling off her head as well as written.
I got tips from another fellow homeschooler. She does dictation. I don't remember how old her children are but I think that would be great skills for Nala. Something small, something she already knows like the girl scout promise, law and song.
We joined a group where Nala looks up info on a particular country and we bring in food related to that place. The country next month is Mongolia and Nala decided to talk about music. She says she doesn't want to do it but I'll have her write a couple of sentences about their music, we'll bring in a sample and I'm making Eggplant Salad. Of course she will help. I hope she will begin talking and playing with kids. That's what i really want.
I'm looking forward to the 28th and the 30th though, I finally get to meet up with a new group I'm interested in joining. The leader is extremely helpful and I really want Nala to hit it off with some kids in the group. We'll see, I'm very excited though. There is a dinner on that Friday and I'm making cranberry sauce.
I've talked to a few other people family, friends and associates about my decision to homeschool and their first reaction is "What was wrong?" LOL i laugh. Does something have to be wrong? Does my child have to be doing horribly in school? Does she have to have a problem of some sort? Maybe I just felt like it. That should be my new reason and maybe the discussion won't be so long...with some of the older people "Why arent they in school?" "Don't you get tired of being with them all day?"
The experience has been getting better and better though. However Nina will be going back to preschool, until this summer. She gets a nap there and she really needs one. This will free up more time for Nala and I to get work done or get out and about. But come Sept 2008 when Nina starts kindergarten, I will bring her home to homeschool. She wouldn't get a nap in kindergarten and by then hopefully she won't need it, but for now I believe this is really the best choice. I'll continue to be an active parent and teacher as I have been and she will understand homeschooling better next year. Now she just wants to go back to school. Still deciding if Natasha will try school or just stay home with in January. It would be nice to have some quiet time with just Nala to get things done without all the interruption. As she gets older it will be easier, but she's 2 ya know.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Reading Levels
I was concerned about trying to find the right reading level for Nala. When we were at the library I picked out some books I thought would be perfect for her. While on the bus she sped through all of them. I asked her what each one was about and she told me. Wow, so they're way too easy for her.
I went to the library later that day on my own and looked around. I found a book part of a series called Miami Jackson plays it straight by Patricia McKissack. It seemed to be a 2nd grade level intro to chapters. I showed it to Nala and she immediatly said it's too hard. It did look different than the books she was used to. The words were smaller and it was more pages. The next morning we sat down and started to read. She did fine. Sure there were a few words she didn't know. Some she sounded out, some she couldn't, I wrote it down, helped her pronounce it and gave her the definition. I wrote questions down as she read. She read about 4 pages and then I asked her about 5-6 questions about it. She answered all of them right but one. She understands it! I was happy that I finally pinpointed her level. So now we have a reading book and I'll write down questions from the books we read and she can answer them.
I mentioned this to my new friend, founder of the homeschooling group I will be joining, and she said I was doing the right thing. She also encouraged me to read while she listens as this is another skill that she needs to learn.
I'm glad I'm on the right track to helping Nala become an excellent reader.
I went to the library later that day on my own and looked around. I found a book part of a series called Miami Jackson plays it straight by Patricia McKissack. It seemed to be a 2nd grade level intro to chapters. I showed it to Nala and she immediatly said it's too hard. It did look different than the books she was used to. The words were smaller and it was more pages. The next morning we sat down and started to read. She did fine. Sure there were a few words she didn't know. Some she sounded out, some she couldn't, I wrote it down, helped her pronounce it and gave her the definition. I wrote questions down as she read. She read about 4 pages and then I asked her about 5-6 questions about it. She answered all of them right but one. She understands it! I was happy that I finally pinpointed her level. So now we have a reading book and I'll write down questions from the books we read and she can answer them.
I mentioned this to my new friend, founder of the homeschooling group I will be joining, and she said I was doing the right thing. She also encouraged me to read while she listens as this is another skill that she needs to learn.
I'm glad I'm on the right track to helping Nala become an excellent reader.
Playing Catch up
Wow almost a week since I've written. We've been to the library twice this week. Nala has been reading for a 1/2 an hr in exchange she is getting a dollar off her library fines. Although it's mostly fun reading for her, easy, it's still a chance to learn some new words and do something she really enjoys. I didn't even have to force her and when we went back the 2nd time she was so excited to do it. Gotta love that!
I'm still waiting for my books I ordered from Classical Eduation, the History and Science books. I've been looking for books that I need to complete the book list for the History portion but I can't find them. I alread bought one from Amazon. I'm so disappointed. I may just send the History book back because it's basically just a lesson plan book and doesn't make any sense in keeping it if I can't find the books to go with it, On a positive note I ordered these history pocket for the ancient world was which to support the History Lesson book. I can keep the pockets because there's a fact sheet and activities/coloring to do. I can find my own additional resources to compliment it. So basically I'll be making up my own History curriculum.
We tried the Singapore Math and I think it's a great book. It seemed to be really good with teaching grouping and I think Nala really understood it. I'm eager to get to the addition and subtration section as this is an area I beleive she is struggling with.
We have been doing coins again for the 2nd day in a row. She knows the values, she knows how to count by 5s and 10s and 2s but she's having trouble going from 10, 20, 20 to a nickel then back to a dime again. She doesn't even have to know that as a first graders, so maybe this is a skill she is just not quite ready for and we'll revisit it later in her first grade year. I found myself getting frustrated so I let it go. I think this is the best approach.
I think I will focus on the basics, what she's supposed to know, I'll try going a little further and if she doesn't get it then fine move on and re visit it later, just as long as she knows and understands the basics that's all that I really want.
We have a full schedule this month. I'm excited about all the places I have scheduled for us to visit. Nala is excited too. She started double dutch on Wednesday and she did so great. She really loves it and the kids that were there were so helpful and just plain nice. I hope she makes friends. I'm even more excited about the homeschooling group I'm going to join. I've been speaking with the President and she is just a wealth of knowledge, helpful and always answers
any questions I have. They only meet once a month, there are trips about 2x a month but there are just so many people to meet. If I can just meet 2 families who have kids similar in ages to mine, it would be so great to meet weekly. I am just really driven on Nala meeting other homeschooled girls and boys. I want her to fully enjoy this experience as much as I am.
I'm still waiting for my books I ordered from Classical Eduation, the History and Science books. I've been looking for books that I need to complete the book list for the History portion but I can't find them. I alread bought one from Amazon. I'm so disappointed. I may just send the History book back because it's basically just a lesson plan book and doesn't make any sense in keeping it if I can't find the books to go with it, On a positive note I ordered these history pocket for the ancient world was which to support the History Lesson book. I can keep the pockets because there's a fact sheet and activities/coloring to do. I can find my own additional resources to compliment it. So basically I'll be making up my own History curriculum.
We tried the Singapore Math and I think it's a great book. It seemed to be really good with teaching grouping and I think Nala really understood it. I'm eager to get to the addition and subtration section as this is an area I beleive she is struggling with.
We have been doing coins again for the 2nd day in a row. She knows the values, she knows how to count by 5s and 10s and 2s but she's having trouble going from 10, 20, 20 to a nickel then back to a dime again. She doesn't even have to know that as a first graders, so maybe this is a skill she is just not quite ready for and we'll revisit it later in her first grade year. I found myself getting frustrated so I let it go. I think this is the best approach.
I think I will focus on the basics, what she's supposed to know, I'll try going a little further and if she doesn't get it then fine move on and re visit it later, just as long as she knows and understands the basics that's all that I really want.
We have a full schedule this month. I'm excited about all the places I have scheduled for us to visit. Nala is excited too. She started double dutch on Wednesday and she did so great. She really loves it and the kids that were there were so helpful and just plain nice. I hope she makes friends. I'm even more excited about the homeschooling group I'm going to join. I've been speaking with the President and she is just a wealth of knowledge, helpful and always answers
any questions I have. They only meet once a month, there are trips about 2x a month but there are just so many people to meet. If I can just meet 2 families who have kids similar in ages to mine, it would be so great to meet weekly. I am just really driven on Nala meeting other homeschooled girls and boys. I want her to fully enjoy this experience as much as I am.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)