Homeschooling Week 2

Recap of Week 2 of Independent Homeschooling.

Not as good as last week.  I think I over booked our days.  Last week felt like we flew through the subjects very quickly so I thought I could add a few other subjects.  Grammar and vocabulary.  But this week turned out to be much more stressful than last week.

It started on Wednesday when Bug for some reason had issues sleeping the night before.  He was up most of the night and because of that got very tired when we started to try doing a few lessons on Wednesday morning.  He was actually falling a sleep on me as I reading the story of Hansel and Gretel.  We were reading it to introduce FairyTales and I guess he thought we were going to bed.  Anyway, because he took a 2 hour nap that morning, we ended up moving several lessons to Thursday. 

Thursday we had already scheduled ourselves to attend the County Fair with a Homeschooling group.  My son asked if he could postpone the lessons to Saturday.  I was reluctant to do this, as he complains already when it is a normal school day (M-F) and I could only imagine how he would act if it was Saturday.  But he reassured me he would be positive, and not complain.  So I agreed.

We did have a great time at the Fair.

On Friday was out weekly Meet Up with the Homeschooling group we are in.  It was ART day for the older kids (8-18), and story time for the littles (3-8).  It was held at our local library really close to our home.  Bug was nervous about it and kept thinking he was a horrible artist.  I am tired of hearing him say this, and it is getting really old.  But he is worried, and can't help himself.  I kept my cool and reassured him several times that morning that all he needed to do was to try his best and he would pass.  And he just might have a lot of fun in the process.  

Here is a few pictures of the event.  

 Both groups were meeting in the same room and it made it very loud, and difficult to hear the the Art Teacher, but she did an awesome job.  We had a bunch of families show up.  These pictures were taken at the very beginning and by 20 mins into the hour it was doubled.

 Bug working hard on his Pencil Drawing.  He didn't enjoy it as much as the water color work they did after.  I was not able to take any pictures of those because I was helping refill water cups with clean water.

Saturday morning we went out as a family to ride all our bikes. My new bike arrived this past week. A cool post about that is in the works.  

Not the greatest picture but here is all our new bikes.  We rode to a park to let the kids play.  It was FUN!  I really enjoy my new bike!

That afternoon it was time to work on our lessons we put off doing on Thursday.  And I was not surprised when Bug got all whinny and grumpy that he had to do this work on a Saturday.  But I am really proud of myself. I keep my cool and I reminded him point blank that he promised me he would not complain.  I think the light bulb kind of went off.  I was firm with him.  I did have to close my eyes while he was working on his math as it was Painful to watch him.  I have had some deep thoughts about why watching him struggle with things is so painful to me.  I might feel comfortable to share and make it a post down the road.  When he started his science reading about Boreal Forests, I just gave him the book, told him how much to read and that he needed to start filling what he could on the work sheet.  Then I walked away.  He actually did this assignment all on his own.  I have to remember to do this more.  Make him take responsibility in his lessons.  It is hard, because in the past he has wasted all his time; drawing pictures, or trying to turn on the TV...you name it, he has tried.  So sometimes I have to just sit there to make sure he stays put.  Not fun for me when I have chores and household things needing to get done.

So that is week two.  It was not as fun and rewarding as last week, but I am not going to let it hold me back. I am going to learn from it and try and make next week better. I ended up changing some subjects that I had as 3 times a week to 1 time a week.  I think the main problem was I over booked us.  If we have extra time, I can still grab these subjects and add them to the day.  I have been entering our lessons in each night into a database to keep track of what worked and what didn't work.  This way I also have a record of what we did if anyone ever questions what we are doing.  I know he is only in 4th grade, but I want to keep track of what he has been working on.

~BreeAnn

Krispy Kreme

Our family got to attend a tour of our local Krispy Kreme Store.  It was very interesting to hear about how each type of doughnut is created, and then to watch how the OLD FASHION style were made.

 YUMMY!!!!

The Rock Ranch~ Field Trip 5.30.2014

I am here to report about another awesome Field Trip that me and my son got to attend.  It was a Geology type field trip at Livingstones Rock Ranch, in Greenacres, Washington.

After driving for an hour to the ranch, and almost getting lost we arrived.  Livingstones Rock Ranch is owned by Steve Livingstone.  He has put so much love and dedication into his Museum.  AMAZING is all I can say!  After a quick discussion on safety, we got to go into his Museum.  There must have been over 500,000 different rocks that he has collected.  There was even a dark room set up with rocks that will glow under black lights.  It was spooky!

Soon after we all got to head down to the mining digs.  YOU DIG IT, YOU FIND IT, YOU KEEP IT.  What ever you dig up you get to keep.  It was hot, but fun to dig in the dirt and locate treasures.  Bug's eyes lit up when he found a medium sized green rock, and then some stones that looked like gold.  It was fools gold but still amazing.

 Digging in the dirt

 All his rocks set out to look at

 Laying out his rocks on the washing tray to be sprayed down.

His rocks waiting to be sprayed down.

Here is a Video of the owner looking through Bug's Treasures.  

There was one that was very special that he pointed out.

Wish I could dig in my own back yard and find some pretty treasures.  Like a huge Diamond!

Have a great day!

Brenda

iApple~iMovie~Field Trip

Waiting Lists. Field Trip waiting lists.

I really don't like being on waiting lists.  It is hard to plan for things being on them.  Being a Homeschool Family we are members of a local homeschooling field trip organization called Exploring Families.  It is run by a local mom who homeschools her daughters.  She wanted to share all the different types of tours she learned about in the community.  There is such an amazing selection of tours and field trips to choose from.  We have been receiving her emails about monthly activities for a few years but just in the past 2 months we have been able to attend more.  That is because of my mindset of enriching my sons learning.  Thinking outside of the box.  

A few months ago I saw the field trip to the iApple store pop up on the Exploring Families website.  I excitedly clicked on the link to register.  It was FREE - even better!.  NOPE not better, worse because it meant that it filled up with in minutes of being posted. So I reluctantly signed up on the waiting list.  I was not sure he would get to go.  To be honest I didn't think so. It was difficult waiting it out, and wondering if it would happen.  

All that waiting did paid off.  Monday, May 26th I received an email from the lady who organizes all the activities, informing me that there was an opening and my son could attend.  I actually shouted and jumped up and down when I read the email!  I think I scared my dog a little, and I know my husband thought I was crazy.  Well he knows I am crazy...but he loves me anyway.

So Thursday, May 29th we arrived at the iApple store for the Field Trip to learn how to use iMovie.  My son had brought his own film footage to use for the assignment.  He was excited and eager to get started.  When they opened the doors several people walked in with us.  I was surprised how many people were there to shop, and not just for the field trip.  It was loud in the store and at times a bit overwhelming.  My son did so well with all the noise. The instructors showed all the students (13 total) how to get started and then each student got their own lap top to work on.  Unfortunately, my son's footage would not transfer over.  Despite this he was a trooper and happily used the stock footage saved on the lap top.  He had a blast learning how to use iMovie.  And after the hour and a half class was done he had created a mini movie all his own. 

Since that day, he has been pretty much been nonstop using my computer and the software I have on it to make his own movies at home.  It Windows Movie Maker, and it is pretty similar to iMovie.  My son has been quick  how to edit things.  Mostly the movies he has put together with raw footage are silly and meaningless but he is having fun.  I hope that over time the projects he creates are more meaningful, but for now he is having fun and exploring this new tool.

Bug with his Official Field Trip T-shirt from iApple and the wrist band that had his iMovie saved on it!

I am glad I did sign up on the waiting list and I am so happy he did get to go!  This Field Trip ROCKED!

I am off to watch another one of my sons movies.  :)  Have a great day!

Four Mound Prairie~ Bison Ranch *Field Trip*

With my new look on Homeschooling, I have also changed my mind set on field trips and learning.  Before it just seemed like there was not enough time in the day to get all the subject requirements done to allow us the opportunity to take some time off and pursue some fun activities or attend some educational field trips.  Well that attitude has all changed.  

There is a Homeschooling mother who has been organizing mini field trips to the local community where I live for several years.  I have been on her email list for almost 3 yrs now.  But I would longingly look at the activities she would post and think "Maybe next time."  Next time is NOW.  *smiles*  For the month of May we have signed up for a few tours.

Above is a photo collage of a tour we took to a local Bison Farm, where we got to get up close and personal with bison.  I know this might sound a bit weird but I find these huge fuzzy animals so stinking cute. And I am not talking about the calf, but the full grown male bison. They have the brownest eyes that just seem so peaceful. They have such soft fur too.  

When we were at the farm it was Molting Season- getting ready for summer, and all of the bison were dropping their winter coats.  You could find piles of the dark brown fur lying on the ground or attached to barb wire on fences.  We were allowed to take home this smelly but very soft keepsake to remind us of our time with the Bison.  I would love to create some cute craft with the collection of fur I brought home.  Maybe a Needle Felted little Bison? If I do I will be sure to take a photo and share it.

I will be posting photos on all the future field trips we take.  I hope you come back to see them.

~Brenda