I know that I have not done a good job in updating this blog. Things have been crazy at our house.
One of my goals for this coming year is to update each of my blogs once a week, I figure that would be consistent enough for the reader and not so much pressure for me.
On the right hand side of the blog you can see a list of curriculum that we are using this year, when you click on them it will take you to the web page. Please note that a few are available on Amazon and I made note of that so please click on the amazon link under the curriculum links so we get credit for the clicks. Thanks!
I thought that I would say something about each of the curriculum that we have used so you can have an idea why we use it and why we like it. That being said, here goes:
American Girl Kirsten, I love the American Girls series and read them all when I was younger. I love to read them with my girls! The reason we started with Kirsten is because we had all her books--that's all the logic behind the choice! Anyway, if you click on the next link it will take you to a page where they have most of the American Girls series lapbooks. We are making the lapbook as we go. We have read book one and are almost done with book two. There are six books in the series with a couple mini books that they have come out with later. After we read that day we fill out a part of the lapbook.
A quick side note about lapbooks for those who are not familiar. Lapbooks are a great tool that I am trying to utilize more in my homeschool. A lapbook is a fun way for the child to organize the ideas they have learned--it's also a great thing to show grandparents, my husband, and other friends and family members to give them a quick overview of what we have been doing. They can then ask questions about the things on the lapbook and the child can "teach" them what they have learned. You use file folders for the base. To learn more about lapbooking check out homeschoolshare.
We used Exploration Education's Elementary Physical Science this year, and the girls loved it. We actually finished it the first semester because the girls were so excited, so we are now supplementing this second semester with other science activities. I really liked this curriculum as it was easy enough for the girls to do on their own. They start on the computer where they are introduced to the next science concept, they learn the definition and what it means. They then do a simple experiment to illustrate the concept, they computer program guides them step by step through this process. And then they do a worksheet to reinforce the concept. And one of the best things about this curriculum is that it comes with everything you need for each experiment, with the exception of scissors, pencils, crayons, etc--we kept a set of these in the box with the curriculum so it was easy to find.
We are using the Handwriting Without Tears for our manuscript practice as well as learning cursive. This program is good for those just starting and I wish I would have used this way back when my girls were first learning to write, the beginning is a bit simplistic for the girls and they got bored easily. This was easily fixed by not doing all the repetition. I got the manuscript as a way for them to practice and make their printing neater, so we only do a page or so. And I wanted something that would streamline into cursive which this seems to do nicely.
Magic School Bus A Journey Into The human Body, is our first supplemental science curriculum that we are using. I had bought these a year or so ago and they got lost on our shelves and they were rediscovered as I was packing for our move. We have just barely started this but the girls love it so far and are excited about continuing to use this set. This comes with a lot of the things you need but there is quite a list of more items that you will need to find to complete all the tasks.
Math U See, what can I say about Math U See I think that just saying "I LOVE IT" does not fully cover how much I love this curriculum. I always have struggled with Math and thus it was my hated subject growing up. But with this curriculum it has become so clear to me and I often tell Erik, my husband "Why didn't anyone teach it to me that way? It make perfect sense, now!" It is easy to learn and there are enough practice sheets that you can practice until you truly do get the concept or skip past all the practice if you get the concept. The girls sped through the second year curriculum and finished Beta the first semester. We are now moving onto Gamma the second semester. The whole concept of Math U See is to build it, say it and write it. Thus covering all the ways people learn, making sure that the technique you learn best is there and reinforcing it with the others. I would so recommend this curriculum to anyone who is having trouble with math.
Since we live in Southern California and part of our extended family speaks Spanish we decided to learn Spanish. And let me tell you Rosetta Stone is the best curriculum for learning a new language. I was really sceptical about how it would work especially since it costs so much but we are so pl;eased with it. The girls are learning Spanish at their speed and Erik and I are learning Spanish as well! I took four years of French in high school and I remember next to nothing but I am retaining the Spanish! Definitely try Rosetta Stone if you want to learn another language!
We love Signing Time! We were first introduced to it on PBS and we started recording the episodes on DVD but there was always a few we missed and it was such work to try and get them all and forget about getting them in order! So we jumped at the chance to buy the DVD set with the CDs that have all the songs on them. It is such a well done program that Erik and I are learning from it along with our girls, and we don't feel like it has been dumbed down for their benefit. We all now know a bunch of sign language and have gone on to but a sign language textbook to help with the signs that are not covered on the DVDs.
Spell to Write and Read, i did a post about this curriculum last year. I love this curriculum because after the initial investment you are ready to go for years to come! This has really helped the girls in spelling new words as well as sounding out new words they come across when reading.
This year I wanted to get History curriculum instead of trying to make my own. I just don't have enough hours in the day to do everything I want. So, I asked around and Story Of The World was one of the curriculum that came highly recommended. And now I see why. The text is written in a fun and easy to understand way, making this a great resource for my girls. It keeps their attention and they are not bored while reading the text. I remember to well the boring history texts that I had to read as a kid in school and how little I paid attention because my daydreams were much more exciting and because of that I can't tell you much about History. But this curriculum keeps my attention too and I find myself going "That really happened? I never knew that!" There are also great activities that go along with each section that the girls get to do as well as the worksheets and tests.
I think that I got most everything we are using. What curriculum are you using?
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Reading Incentives
My youngest Emma use to be a reluctant reader, until I discovered some tricks that have made reading more enjoyable to her.
As many of you know, we are avid readers. My husband and I love to read and s did our oldest, Miriam. So, we were concerned when our youngest was more of a reluctant reader. We read to them all the time and they were always surrounded by books. We have so many books in our home, that we do not have enough room for all of them!
One trick I discovered completely by accident. I had picked up some books at a library sale, can't pass up a great deal on books. I usually pick out books with one or the other of the girls in mind but I tend to give them to them all together. Well, that day I happened to show my husband the books first and had told him why I chose each book and who I was thinking would enjoy it. So, he told our girls that mommy had picked out some books special for each of them, so when I got home Emma met me at the door bouncing up and down and asked what books I had gotten special for her. I gave her the books I had picked out thinking of her and she sat down and read them! So, giving them a special book especially for them might help.
Half the time during school I pick out what we will be reading/studying and the other half of them time I will let the girls choose. Well, what I pick isn't always what they are most excited about but when I would let them choose Emma would take forever and she would start whining about not knowing what to pick. Which would lead to me getting frustrated, just pick a book we have a ton! Then one day I chose a few books for her to choose from and asked her to choose from those, which she happily did and sat down to read no whining and no tears. Lesson learned, sometimes too many choices can be way too overwhelming for a beginning reader.
And the I came up wit the idea to chart the books we were reading and give them a reward when they reached a certain level. Sometimes it's a toy from the dollar store, a candy bar at the grocery store, picking a craft to do together, picking the movie for movie night, picking dessert, or anything else I come up with. As you can see it's usually inexpensive as well.
Here are the girls' reading charts. They can fill in the squares by coloring them or with a sticker. Because Mia is a more advanced reader she has to read a few more books than Emma to reach each level.
To solve the problem of having them reading the easiest books to fill up the most spaces faster I came up with a point system. Each book is given a certain number of points determined by me based on difficulty as well as their individual reading levels. Also they are allowed to read the same book again but it loses one point each time it is read, so if a book is worth 3 points the next time it is read it is only worth 2. We do have some books that are so ridiculously easy that they are worth 0 points! They love to see their charts filling up as well as getting their rewards.
Do you have any tips to helping a reluctant reader become an avid reader?
As many of you know, we are avid readers. My husband and I love to read and s did our oldest, Miriam. So, we were concerned when our youngest was more of a reluctant reader. We read to them all the time and they were always surrounded by books. We have so many books in our home, that we do not have enough room for all of them!
One trick I discovered completely by accident. I had picked up some books at a library sale, can't pass up a great deal on books. I usually pick out books with one or the other of the girls in mind but I tend to give them to them all together. Well, that day I happened to show my husband the books first and had told him why I chose each book and who I was thinking would enjoy it. So, he told our girls that mommy had picked out some books special for each of them, so when I got home Emma met me at the door bouncing up and down and asked what books I had gotten special for her. I gave her the books I had picked out thinking of her and she sat down and read them! So, giving them a special book especially for them might help.
Half the time during school I pick out what we will be reading/studying and the other half of them time I will let the girls choose. Well, what I pick isn't always what they are most excited about but when I would let them choose Emma would take forever and she would start whining about not knowing what to pick. Which would lead to me getting frustrated, just pick a book we have a ton! Then one day I chose a few books for her to choose from and asked her to choose from those, which she happily did and sat down to read no whining and no tears. Lesson learned, sometimes too many choices can be way too overwhelming for a beginning reader.
And the I came up wit the idea to chart the books we were reading and give them a reward when they reached a certain level. Sometimes it's a toy from the dollar store, a candy bar at the grocery store, picking a craft to do together, picking the movie for movie night, picking dessert, or anything else I come up with. As you can see it's usually inexpensive as well.
Here are the girls' reading charts. They can fill in the squares by coloring them or with a sticker. Because Mia is a more advanced reader she has to read a few more books than Emma to reach each level.
To solve the problem of having them reading the easiest books to fill up the most spaces faster I came up with a point system. Each book is given a certain number of points determined by me based on difficulty as well as their individual reading levels. Also they are allowed to read the same book again but it loses one point each time it is read, so if a book is worth 3 points the next time it is read it is only worth 2. We do have some books that are so ridiculously easy that they are worth 0 points! They love to see their charts filling up as well as getting their rewards.
Do you have any tips to helping a reluctant reader become an avid reader?
Friday, July 24, 2009
Workboxes!
We have jumped on the new homeschool bandwagon of Sue Patrick's Workboxes.
We have tweaked her system so it fits myself and the girls better. I know that in her book she says that it is best to follow her program and how she sets it up exactly. But what can I say I'm a rebel!
I love how it helps the girls learn how to work independently and to be self motivated. They also have a visual reminder of what they have done and what they have to do. So they know exactly when school will be done--when they get through the boxes!
Anyway, here are some pictures of how we do it!
There is a link at the bottom of the page for you to click on to buy your own copy of the book so you can get started with this fun new craze.
Here is our box system. We got this cart a few years ago at Costco, I think. She says to use 12 separate boxes per child, but I have found that the having one set of boxes they share works just as well for us, takes up less room, and was cheap because we didn't have to buy anything. I have two sets of numbers on each box, one for each girl.
These are their schedule sheets. Sue Patrick tells you to make it a strip but this works just as well for us. You can see how it looks without the numbers and also how it looks with some numbers put on. I used paper that I had on hand already and covered them with contact paper. She suggests that you laminate all the card, numbers, sheets, etc. But I already had contact paper on hand.
On our front door hangs their chore charts and the daily schedule.
Here is our basic schedule. Of course it is always open to slight changes when needed.
Emma's Chores
Mia's Chores. You will notice that they have the exact same chores but they each have their own chart to check off. This helps keep them accountable for what they have done.
We have tweaked her system so it fits myself and the girls better. I know that in her book she says that it is best to follow her program and how she sets it up exactly. But what can I say I'm a rebel!
I love how it helps the girls learn how to work independently and to be self motivated. They also have a visual reminder of what they have done and what they have to do. So they know exactly when school will be done--when they get through the boxes!
Anyway, here are some pictures of how we do it!
There is a link at the bottom of the page for you to click on to buy your own copy of the book so you can get started with this fun new craze.
Here is our box system. We got this cart a few years ago at Costco, I think. She says to use 12 separate boxes per child, but I have found that the having one set of boxes they share works just as well for us, takes up less room, and was cheap because we didn't have to buy anything. I have two sets of numbers on each box, one for each girl. They are so close in age that they pretty much do the exact same thing. And if I want them to different things for that box I write it on a card. Like if I want Mia to work on her Spanish on the computer with Rosetta Stone and I want Emma to read books I write on the card "Mia-Spanish. Emma-Read" And then the next box will have them switch.
I use the top of the cart to help keep things organized.
For things that are too big to fit in the box there is a large amount of space on top where I can put those needed oversized supplies.
I also have a 3 drawer container that helps keep things organized. The top drawer is where they put any work they have completed so I can look it over and decide what we need to still work on or if we can move on. My husband, Erik, wants to be involved with homeschooling but because of his work schedule he is not able to be home for most of it. So, to help keep him in the loop he grades all tests. So the middle drawer is where the girls put their tests and when Daddy comes home he grades their tests and then goes over it with them, even if they got everything correct. The bottom drawer contain supplies like pencils, erasers, rulers, pencil sharpeners, etc--anything they might need to complete their work that day.
Here is a close up of a few drawers and the numbers on the front. You number each drawer and also have a removable number on the front as well. Because i use the same drawer for both girls I have to sets of numbers in different colors on the front. I use that sticky tack stuff, I use it because that is what I had on hand.
Here is a close up of a few drawers and the numbers on the front. You number each drawer and also have a removable number on the front as well. Because i use the same drawer for both girls I have to sets of numbers in different colors on the front. I use that sticky tack stuff, I use it because that is what I had on hand.
These are their schedule sheets. Sue Patrick tells you to make it a strip but this works just as well for us. You can see how it looks without the numbers and also how it looks with some numbers put on. I used paper that I had on hand already and covered them with contact paper. She suggests that you laminate all the card, numbers, sheets, etc. But I already had contact paper on hand.
On our front door hangs their chore charts and the daily schedule. 
Here is our basic schedule. Of course it is always open to slight changes when needed.
Emma's Chores
Mia's Chores. You will notice that they have the exact same chores but they each have their own chart to check off. This helps keep them accountable for what they have done.So this is how we use the workbox system for us! Hope that helps someone visualize another way to use the system.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Our Adventures As CSIs
Sorry it has been so long. Our computer was down for about a month and then things have been crazy trying to get everything done online!
Anyway, a few months back we went to the California Science Center on a field trip. Even more exciting was the fact that Daddy was able to go with us as well!
The girls tried out rock climbing! I am so proud of them for trying it out. Emma didn't want to at first because she thought it looked too high, but then when we told her she didn't have to go all the way to the top she was game to give it a try. Both girls were so excited and wante dto go again! 
Anyway, a few months back we went to the California Science Center on a field trip. Even more exciting was the fact that Daddy was able to go with us as well!
The Science Center was having a CSI exhibit as their special program, and for all you who know me I LOVE the show CSI! So, this was great for all of us. We got to view a "crime scence" and figure out what we would need as clues from the scene to solve the murder mystery. And then we went through the "lab" and examined all our clues and data that we had "retrieved." We even got to go to the "autopsy room" and view the body and talk to the doctor. And the whole time were being guided by the dreamy CSI Investigator, Nick Stoles from the TV show. Okay, so maybe the rest of the family wasn't as excited as I was. After completeing all the parts we got to check and see if our conclusion was the right one. And guess what, we were right! I guess all those hours watching CSI paid off!
The girls tried out rock climbing! I am so proud of them for trying it out. Emma didn't want to at first because she thought it looked too high, but then when we told her she didn't have to go all the way to the top she was game to give it a try. Both girls were so excited and wante dto go again!
We also watched the IMAX movie Under The Sea in 3-D. It was really cool but the 3-D started to give me a headche, again. The girls had a great time watching it and it was really fun and educational. We learned about all different kinds of sea life. It talked about most of the sea animals that are in Finding Nemo. Just keep swimming, just keep swimming!
And of course we tried out all the different exhibits.
The whole time we were having fun and learning at the same time! Now that's my idea of school! I love the freedom that homeschooling gives us to take a day and go do something fun!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
New Spelling List
Here is our new spelling list for this week. With Spell To Write And Read it's not always about giving them words to learn how to spell. They teach the spelling of the word, what it means, when to use it, etc.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Spell To Write And Read
Every week I give the girls a new spelling list of 10 words. I get the spelling words from the spelling curriculum we are using, Spell To Write And Read.
The Spell to Write and Read Program took alot of effort on my side at the beginning, reading and rereading all the material and trying to understand how the program works. I actually spent the first semester of this year reading and rereading and feeling very overwhelmed because I wasn't understanding the program. The teacher's book, Spell to Write And Read actually tells you, "Your first goal is to get a general overview. A more solid mastery will come as you teach." (pg 18) "Complete Understanding is not expected at first. . . .Understanding grows for both the student and teacher as key insights are repeated in application to a variety of words over a period of time." (pg 19) I wish that I would have listened to that instead of trying to learn it all first. I took 3 months to learn it, and when I started teaching it I still didn't feel like I knew what I was doing. I have discovered that I have learned the most and easiest when I was teaching it to the girls. It all fell into place and made sense.
Now that we have started the program I am loving it. It is easy to use and the girls are learning a lot! I wish I would have started using it when Mia was in Kindergarten instead of waiting until she was in 2nd grade and Emma in 1st. There is a great simplicity in the way the program presents spelling rules and phonograms. Even I am learning things that I never learned, I knew things were spelled a certain way but I didn't know why. Now I do!
The program is actually pretty economical. I know that about $100 sounds like a lot to pay for a spelling curriculum. But, when you realize that I won't have to pay for another curriculum for 6 years or so, it actually works out to be quite cheap!
This week I started anew thing that for their bonus words each girl picks one word they want to learn how to spell, or that they have had trouble with, etc.
Here is their spelling list for this week. I like the site kidsspell because I can create customized spelling lists, that the site then incorporates into the spelling games on the site. The girls then visit this site throughout the week and play games that help them practice their spelling words. You can use this site, even if your kids attend public school. Just upload their spelling words for the week, bookmark the link, and then you child can visit and practice their words!
Sanseri, Wanda. Spell To Write and Read. Milwaukie, OR: Back Home Industries, Inc., 2007.
The Spell to Write and Read Program took alot of effort on my side at the beginning, reading and rereading all the material and trying to understand how the program works. I actually spent the first semester of this year reading and rereading and feeling very overwhelmed because I wasn't understanding the program. The teacher's book, Spell to Write And Read actually tells you, "Your first goal is to get a general overview. A more solid mastery will come as you teach." (pg 18) "Complete Understanding is not expected at first. . . .Understanding grows for both the student and teacher as key insights are repeated in application to a variety of words over a period of time." (pg 19) I wish that I would have listened to that instead of trying to learn it all first. I took 3 months to learn it, and when I started teaching it I still didn't feel like I knew what I was doing. I have discovered that I have learned the most and easiest when I was teaching it to the girls. It all fell into place and made sense.
Now that we have started the program I am loving it. It is easy to use and the girls are learning a lot! I wish I would have started using it when Mia was in Kindergarten instead of waiting until she was in 2nd grade and Emma in 1st. There is a great simplicity in the way the program presents spelling rules and phonograms. Even I am learning things that I never learned, I knew things were spelled a certain way but I didn't know why. Now I do!
The program is actually pretty economical. I know that about $100 sounds like a lot to pay for a spelling curriculum. But, when you realize that I won't have to pay for another curriculum for 6 years or so, it actually works out to be quite cheap!
This week I started anew thing that for their bonus words each girl picks one word they want to learn how to spell, or that they have had trouble with, etc.
Here is their spelling list for this week. I like the site kidsspell because I can create customized spelling lists, that the site then incorporates into the spelling games on the site. The girls then visit this site throughout the week and play games that help them practice their spelling words. You can use this site, even if your kids attend public school. Just upload their spelling words for the week, bookmark the link, and then you child can visit and practice their words!
Sanseri, Wanda. Spell To Write and Read. Milwaukie, OR: Back Home Industries, Inc., 2007.
Valentine's Party
For Valentine's Day, our homeschool group does an annual Valentine's Party at Chuck E Cheese every year. If you want to see the details about the party visit our family blog: http://campfirerereflections.blogspot.com/.
If you just want to read the article here is is: http://campfirerereflections.blogspot.com/2009/02/valentines-party.html
If you just want to read the article here is is: http://campfirerereflections.blogspot.com/2009/02/valentines-party.html
Welcome
I just wanted to take this chance to welcome everyone who has decided to stop by!
We are a homeschooling family here in southern California. Mom, Marci, is the Administrator and Head Teacher at our homeschool. Dad, Erik, is the Principal and Secondary Teacher. Mia and Emma are the students and often times little teachers as well, as they are constantly teaching us new things!
We know that homeschooling is not for everyone. So, don't feel like we are trying to push our views on you. We feel that we have been guided by our loving Heavenly Father that this is the right choice for our family at this time.
I love to have my kids with me through out the day and watching them learn and grow. (Well, at least most days.) ;) My favorite part of any teaching day is when I see the "light bulb" turn on and it all makes sense to the girly-girls!
So far the girls love homeschooling as well. We ask then every so often if they would rather be in public school and they always answer no. They enjoy being at home and having more freedom to try different activities and spend time on things that interest them.
Mia's favorite thing about homeschooling is that, "There's lots of fun in Science!" Science is her favorite subject because, "There is a lot more action. And I am an action girl!" We do a lot of experiments and hands on learning with a lot of our subjects, but almost all of science is hands on.
Emma's favorite thing about homeschooling is "Mindbenders and learning about Space. Because they are fun and easy." We just spent almost two months exploring space, Emma's request! Spanish is her favorite subject because, "You get to learn another language." We are using the Rosetta Stone Spanish, Latin America curriculum.
We started using the Charter School option this year and we are loving it! We are using Sky Mountain Charter School, and we have the best Educational Specialist (ES) ever, we love you Peggy! We meet with our ES every 20 days and give her our attendance as well as list of things that we have been working on and learning. She collects writing samples, samples of their work, and even pictures of what they have been doing. All of this goes into their portfolio.
We are given a certain allotment of funds that we can use each semester to buy supplies, curriculum, and to to pay for classes throughout the year. This is how we were able to afford Rosetta Stone, Math U See, their dance classes, Art class, as well as others. We are given the freedom to use the money to purchase what we feel will be most beneficial for our girly-girls. There are guidelines and rules on what the money can and can not be used for.
Mia will be taking the STAR test this year, Emma is too young to take the test this year, she will also have to take it next year. As well as the STAR test they were both given an Assessment test at the beginning of the year to mark where they were.
If you have any questions or comments please leave them below. We would love to hear from you but please keep your comments non confrontational. We are not trying to convince you that this is the only way to go, if you don't like what you are reading then leave, please don't be hateful. And please don't leave comments that we need to send them to public school, we are following the law as well as our hearts, you're not going to change our minds.
Happy Learning!
We are a homeschooling family here in southern California. Mom, Marci, is the Administrator and Head Teacher at our homeschool. Dad, Erik, is the Principal and Secondary Teacher. Mia and Emma are the students and often times little teachers as well, as they are constantly teaching us new things!
We know that homeschooling is not for everyone. So, don't feel like we are trying to push our views on you. We feel that we have been guided by our loving Heavenly Father that this is the right choice for our family at this time.
I love to have my kids with me through out the day and watching them learn and grow. (Well, at least most days.) ;) My favorite part of any teaching day is when I see the "light bulb" turn on and it all makes sense to the girly-girls!
So far the girls love homeschooling as well. We ask then every so often if they would rather be in public school and they always answer no. They enjoy being at home and having more freedom to try different activities and spend time on things that interest them.
Mia's favorite thing about homeschooling is that, "There's lots of fun in Science!" Science is her favorite subject because, "There is a lot more action. And I am an action girl!" We do a lot of experiments and hands on learning with a lot of our subjects, but almost all of science is hands on.
Emma's favorite thing about homeschooling is "Mindbenders and learning about Space. Because they are fun and easy." We just spent almost two months exploring space, Emma's request! Spanish is her favorite subject because, "You get to learn another language." We are using the Rosetta Stone Spanish, Latin America curriculum.
We started using the Charter School option this year and we are loving it! We are using Sky Mountain Charter School, and we have the best Educational Specialist (ES) ever, we love you Peggy! We meet with our ES every 20 days and give her our attendance as well as list of things that we have been working on and learning. She collects writing samples, samples of their work, and even pictures of what they have been doing. All of this goes into their portfolio.
We are given a certain allotment of funds that we can use each semester to buy supplies, curriculum, and to to pay for classes throughout the year. This is how we were able to afford Rosetta Stone, Math U See, their dance classes, Art class, as well as others. We are given the freedom to use the money to purchase what we feel will be most beneficial for our girly-girls. There are guidelines and rules on what the money can and can not be used for.
Mia will be taking the STAR test this year, Emma is too young to take the test this year, she will also have to take it next year. As well as the STAR test they were both given an Assessment test at the beginning of the year to mark where they were.
If you have any questions or comments please leave them below. We would love to hear from you but please keep your comments non confrontational. We are not trying to convince you that this is the only way to go, if you don't like what you are reading then leave, please don't be hateful. And please don't leave comments that we need to send them to public school, we are following the law as well as our hearts, you're not going to change our minds.
Happy Learning!
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