PROJECT FAIR TONITE!

Including Science in Classical Education

I should have known that I'd home school for almost seven years when I watched the kids dig in the backyard (whether authorized or not). They love discovery.  I do to, but I thought those who homeschooled were CRAZY back then.  Discovery is one reason I became a science teacher and love learning.  But I haven't always shared that love of learning with others.  Many moms would ask me how I even get to science, actual hands-on exploration each week of homeschooling these three creative people.  And, sadly, I haven't always had good answers for my faith in the importance of science study.

The classical education is organized around reading and writing, arithmetic skills, and history.

The Well Trained Mind, p. 158.



Yes, we have to do spelling and grammar and math, but those moms just didn't understand why they should have to do science with their kids, when they themselves hated science from their own school classroom experience.  Well, I loved my science class, teachers and experience.  I couldn't put it into words until I watched my kids begin to use the scientific method in everyday stuff...how we've continued no matter how much we stick in our classically educated schedule (and sometimes it seems like too much), science is a mainstay and another reason I homeschool.

But for many, science isn't that easy to get to each week.  I've always regretted not having the information for moms who are struggling to give their kids science lessons each week. They would ask me what worked for me, and I answered that we were constructing a grammar stage curriculum that is (k-4) from some suggestions in The Well Trained Mind by Dr. Bauer. They looked at me blindly and changed the topic. I didn't understand their reluctance to use this book.  The book was easily available in my public library, and told me to study biology for one for one year, geology, meteorology, astronomy and oceanography another year, then chemistry and physics. I agreed because my Junior High science classroom experience taught me it was "wonky" to make kids study back and forth from one topic to the next in successive chapters from a book called "7th grade science" (otherwise known as integrated).

... classical education is...orderly.  ...use notebook pages for their drawings..your record of their narrations from read alouds.

The Well Trained Mind, p. 160.

Often these moms change the topic because Susan Wise Bauer wrote from a non-biased or non-biblical perspective (for example secular vs religious; many people can be religious about being secular as well). I rejoiced in the freedom of teaching my kids about God's creations within the framework of The Well Trained Mind structure that closely follows a traditional classical education method.  I've never been accused of being structured, so WTM recommendations gave me guidelines.  And I hadn't read about Charlotte Mason or The Bluedorns back when I found the TWM in the library. 

...read something every day touching on science or nature. Teaching the Trivium, p. 382.

Now, I am emphatic about the same scientific method that I loved before the struggle to actually study science.  I now suggest reading about nature and physics, chemistry and habitat. We record observations from all these experiences we have with science (suggested in nature study from HFA Mom) and the format we've learned in Elemental Science study.

 

Notebooking has become a wonderful way to document and solidify learning.  http://harmonyfinearts.org/notebooking/ 

I have bright kids and they seem to need more challenge.  So I introduced a creation based text book, really that's what it was, for them to study about astronomy.  This lacked what we needed, so we moved on to activities involving more hands on work to study astronomy. We moved back into the textbook route to study birds and then ocean habitats, but it never really kept them attentive. Then in 2nd/3rd grade (my children were born within a 16 month period so they follow the same topics for science and history each year) we found chemistry materials that moved us into a realm of challenge, structure and substance that directly tied into the WTM suggested guidelines for science. Even if you are an eclectic, secular vs traditional, Christian homeschooler who never "gets" to science, don't let your kids miss out.

"Noise"

So much of life is noise,  if you let it.  But, aren't you allowed to choose how you live your life?  That's what they told me in high school - aim high,  get a college degree, blah blah blah.  I chose a lot of things including a college experience,  a job and now marriage/family.  But I never chose to decrease the amount of noise in my life, until now. I homeschool.  I drive with the radio off,  sometimes.  I listen to books from my kindle text-to- voice because I can. I separate kids in my house into separate rooms in my house or tables at the library or benches at the park because they need to learn about reducing the noise in their lives too. Can't do that in the classroom,  or on the school bus or in the basketball team. Noise reduces how much we can hear ourselves think.  Discern. Appreciate. Life. Choose to live intentionally and reduce some noise each year. We aren't promised another day, but when we get it, choose to savor it. I do and continue to relish it.

"Field Trip Adventure"

So, you're a classroom teacher for 20 years and you're taking your classroom kids on the same field trip for the 20th time, and it really hurts, and you're tired.

Just think,  that could be me out there leading my earth science 8th graders to the Field Museum to discuss the goo-to-you ideas from the textbook. But, that would be surreal because I didn't stay in the classroom.

I don't use textbooks except the Bible (well, and Rod/Staff Grammar and Saxon Maths). I don't preach large scale evolutionary historical development on planet earth (old earth creationist is on the back of my t-shirt). I HOMESCHOOL. I HOMESCHOOL!  YES, SAY IT LOUD AND PROUD, I HOMESCHOOL! !!

I don't get a paycheck, 

I get hugs, 

slugs 

and debates with my own kids - 

E.V.E.R.Y.D.A.Y. 

I go on field trips to wonderful places I want to share with them, and wonderful places I want to explore with them. And I like it. And they're growing.in.a.love for intentional living that allows them to surrender the junk, simplify and savor what they have.

That's what it's all about.

The Peonies Popped and Logic Stage Year 2 is Over

Classical Education and gardening go together. We're always cultivating something around here.

 

And G1 makes his first trip to the state homeschool conference with me this weekend.

G2 graduates from Indian Princess at the Summer campout with the Daddy.

G3 enjoys all the time he wants with one of his favorite buds. 



A Landmark Event: Project Fair Participation

The 2013 Project Fair compiled 19 projects from homeschoolers represented by our parent support group.  The categories ranged from hobbies, animal reports, science experiments and demonstrations, travel, history and occupations.  These 3Gs didn't write their notes on cards for the short presentation time, but many did, and almost all the participants kept their in-the-spotlight time to less than 5 minutes.  Everyone took questions after each short presentation.  I'm so proud of my Gs.  They did a wonderful job researching, writing and conducting their projects.  I'm actually looking forward to next year when we do it all over again!

 Lego history

 Hippopotamus Report

 Sir Francis Drake

End of 4th/5th Grade

They look a little shaggy, but according to G#1 he's ok with that b/c he gets to eat what he wants for lunch at whatever time he wants; G#2 is ok with it because she is looking forward to the next field trip that involves time aboard an airplane; and G#3 because he gets to spend his whole day in pajamas if he wants. So the official last day ceremony and events takes place today. We'll see if the Daddy can handle all he has planned including the baseball game with fireworks tonite.

Quarterly Reports for 4th and 5th Grade

We don't have report cards. That would be kinda too much like the classroom. But, the three Gs here each got a separate and personal discussion with me about how each are doing really well with school, but not so well with grammar lessons. They pursue math with a vengeance, and hang back until the last minute to try the grammar lessons even when the topic isn't that challenging.  Maybe my grammar aversions are rubbing off on them.  Spelling, History, Science, Forest Habitats, Asian Flags and Band are right on par with the schedule. Superb!

Latin with the Daddy is falling to the wayside maybe due to the swimming 3 times a week, 2 trips a week to Bible study or the Lego building projects. Any other foreign language gets left on the to-do list also.  Art is always fun when we get organized and don't let ANYTHING detour us, but focus wanes.

First Day of 4th and 5th Grade

What more can I say, but that we got started! It was a hot day and very nice to be inside and proceeding according to precedent. 

FINISHED!

As of today...

one ten year old and TWO nine year olds. Each step is a new day and only made possible by the Grace of God the Creator and Sustainer of my faith, AND by the forgiveness and leadership of a fellow believer, The Daddy.

Kid Costumes

A neighbor with my boys and my own little version of the American Girl, Kaya (we call her Purple Feather).

A fun time was had by all. Even after a visit to a friend's church where there were games and candy.  A lesson about Reformation Sunday and Martin Luther was included.

Our Week and the Daily Schedule

This was the 2nd week of school, BUT this was the first week to get through almost everything. Including physics experiments AND an art project. We got to the pool AND the splash pad. So much done and all done together. Maybe, just maybe the conference last weekend provided some important skills, both for me and for the kids. Last Friday I sat the children down in their first home school conference meeting and explained that the lady speaking wrote our grammar AND our history AND recommended most of the stuff that we use and have used for the past three years! That is Susan Wise Baurer (ok, she didn't write the grammar stuff, but her mom co-wrote it and it was profound). My husband met SWB too. I don't need to go to any other conference after this now that I've seen that SWB is profoundly sincere in what she does. I just needed to hear her AND see her. Praise God that the Well Trained Mind book was in our public library for me to read and turn to when I made the choice to homeschool.

This past week went well because I set up a "suggested" schedule for us to follow throughout each day. The main purpose was that if it was not G2's time with me, she should WAIT for my attention OR move onto what you are able to complete.  So, we're putting Lewis and Clark behind us in history. We've reviewed all of the basic cursive forms of upper and lower case letters along with those phonics sounds. We'll work on groups of letters next week per the Spalding Phonics cards from, um, kindergarten. It definitely didn't follow at strict clock, but it was helpful and the computers were working in order to let bored kids work on their National Park Webranger account.

times                         G1, G2, G3
6:00 AM Daddy wakes kids for breakfix
6:45 AM Daddy says goodbye and delivers the first cup of coffee to Mommy
7:00 AM Mommy goes for second cup of coffee and is officially out of bed
7:30 AM Bible Study Everyone
8:00 AM SOTW4 Everyone
8:30 AM SOTW4 Everyone
9:00 AM Physics Everyone
9:15 AM Habitats Everyone
9:30 AM Artistic Pursuits Everyone
9:45 AM Monday Spelling, ETC, Handwriting
10:00 AM Handwriting, Monday Spelling, Monday Spelling
10:15 AM Break
10:30 AM Language, Handwriting, ETC
10:45 AM Math, Language, Flags
11:00 AM Flags, Math, Language
11:15 AM Typing, Flags, Math
11:30 AM Lunch Lunch Lunch
1:00 PM Grammar 3x/wk, Typing, Violin
1:15 PM Piano, Grammar 3x/wk, Typing
1:30 PM Mango 1x week, Piano, Grammar 3x/wk
1:45 PM Devotions Everyone
2:00 PM Fly free little birdies :-)

The Revolutionary War

We're ready to explore the fighting between the original English colonies and her Mother Land during our summer school lessons on Monday. Each of the 13 colonies were discussed, and what or who made them special enough to establish in the first place. So, The goal to discover the history of our United States of America is begun and continues with "This Country of Our" by H.E. Marshal, "Story of the World" by S.W. Baurer and some "Liberty's Kids" videos. We'll also use various stories including "Ben and Me." I enjoyed listening to "Johnny Tremain" with the kids a couple of weeks ago. I also enjoyed reading "Washington's Lady" by Nancy Moser on my own after hearing her speak in April. It's time.

Spring Soccer is Completed

Another Skip Counts by Three

Tuesday with Community Bible Study

CBS is a hit! I'm looking forward to this outlet for my kids to visit with other home schooled kids in a lesson setting. I've been reluctant to do co-ops because they usually cost so much and really didn't cover materials that I couldn't already do myself or with the Daddy's help. But, this group of kids made such a fun time that we went on a picnic afterwards at a nearby park. Where, my kids met a Turkish lady and her child playing on the slides. I wasn't bothered when my little girl was talking away with a strange lady in a brightly colored scarf covering her head because I knew that she was familiar with people who lived that way. But then one of the boys mentioned that the lady was from Istanbul and G#2 was telling her about the summer trip to Turkiye. I had to meet her and tell her how wonderful it was to meet her. I spoke Turkish just about as well has her little boy, but I had a few words that I remembered. I hope we find more Turkish people in the area again soon.

She looked hot in the sunshine and I remembered that it was Ramadan and she wasn't allowed water or lunch. She excused herself and said that she needed to get the little son to his lunch, but I prayed for her that we didn't keep her too long in the sunshine and she didn't get sick later in the day.

Speaking of sick today, my oldest got to wondering around in a little woodsy place and found some bees. His cohort got many stings and my son only the one, but you'd have thought he was going to croak! Well, we learned many lessons today including some about life and the Bible.

20 days completed? Are you serious?

Artistic pursuits instructed us to etch in oil pastels. So, that's what we did. G#1 etched a second picture of an apple with a worm in it.

G#3 etched a green tree with a bike and a doghouse.

G#2 drew a self portrait and she was pleased with that.

So, we have indeed finished 20 days of school. August has almost vanished. G#1 heads to Utah and Disneyland next week and he'll work on analog clocks in his math notebook as well as money exercises on the websites I found. The twins will also practice practical math and write the answers to Veritas Press's questions about Magician's Nephew. That's what G#1 did in 2nd grade, but now he is writing up the answers to The Horse and His Boy for 3rd grade. We'll keep schooling through the holiday weekend and get back together with the brother in a week.

Meanwhile, I'm going to practice some slow cooker recipes from http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2007/12/alphabetical-listing-of-recipes.html. Sound enticing, join me and tell me what you tried and if you liked it. Better yet, did your kids like it?

FIRST LATIN LESSON WITH THE DADDY TONIGHT

Memoria Press Prima Latina and Latina Christiana is in the house.

LAST DAY!

Did you know that there is a reading program for the summer from 1/2 price books? We'll work on that one AND the local library's reading program.

Last day of soccer and coach's party so we all signed his card. Then last day for cub scouts and enjoyed a bonfire and pool/sand party.