What It's Like To Teach A Grade School Boy

Never quite sure if I should be proud or appalled. My boy makes me laugh, though, and surely that counts for something.

 

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School Pictures For 2012-13

I've been homeschooling my kids from the start. So far, no one has landed behind bars, so I'd call our educational style a RAGING SUCCESS. They can all read and write and converse with humanity, but really, how important is that when there's texting and chat? 

Oh, I kid.

Here are the three monkeys that make up our school.

My firstborn mini-me is in fifth grade this year. He likes Minecraft so much that he wishes all school subjects could be learned with that program.

Next is my third grader, who will read Harry Potter or a Lightning Thief book in one day and then flip back to the start to read again.

And then there's my girl. She's in first grade and learns best by talking and moving and talking about moving. Her perfect day of school involves six outings and 300 people. 

Here's a collage showing the kids a little closer to reality. Well, take away the clean clothes and add in some bed head. 

Last but not least is a picture of me, "Teacher Extraordinaire" and "Boss of the World" but my students call me "Mom." Well, sometimes its "Dr. Torture," but only when I'm doling out work. 

Head on over to the iHomeschool Network to see photos of other homeschooling freaks families!

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Our School Room Looking The Best It'll Look All Year

I've homeschooled in five different houses over seven school years. In that time, I've had big yards, tiny yards, a bunch of storage, zero storage, built-in cabinets, creepy basements--the whole nine yards. You'd think that having more square footage would mean a more organized home, but it simply means there's more space for stuff to spread out.

When starting out, I assumed that "school" would take place at the same spot every day, like in a classroom. It's never worked that way. True, the kids need some table space, but they also need places to cuddle with a book, and a place or twelve to escape their fellow classmates.

I'm not sure how the public schools do it, but they somehow manage to get thirty kids in the same room doing the same thing without (for the most part) pestering one another. But put two siblings to work at the same table and THE WAR GAMES ARE ON. I could write a book entitled, "101 Ways To Annoy Someone Who Is Sitting In The Same Room."

So to keep a little peace in the home, I've made our "school room" a collection of spots around the house. And I stagger their work so that one does math while another reads alone. You'll notice I've completely skipped past the root problem of them annoying each other at will. See the white flag a-waving?

With all the house-hopping I've done over the past few years, I've noticed a theme in what makes a successful "school room." Here's what works for us:

Comfy Spots

...for listening to books on CD, audio files, a parent reading aloud
...for watching programs on TV, Netflix, DVDs, clips online

Flat Surfaces

...for doing workbooks, art projects, writing assignments
...for typing lessons and educational games on the computer

Storage Places

...for books and resources in use for that year
...for books and stuff not being used that year
...for workbooks and items specific to each child
...for library books

Depending on the house, those places might overlap, or be completely separate spots. The one thing that has added to my husband's sanity is to have a place for the junk to go home to at night. Out of sight, out of mind. Homeschooling is a full-time job, and my evenings feel a lot more relaxed if everyone has tidied up and "clocked out" at the end of each day.

Okay. Here are some pics. In full disclosure, I cleaned each area before I took the shot. My house rarely looks this tidy. My boys read a lot in their bedroom, but I did not include a photo of that. Your eyeballs should thank me.

 

 

 

 

 
 
  

More school rooms to look at over at the iHomeschool Network.

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Curriculum Plan For 2012-13

It's not unusual for strangers to come up to me and say, "Hey, you're a teacher, right?" And I answer, "No, but I play one on TV."

I don't know what it is about me, but I must walk and talk like a teacher. No, not the sweet kindergarten type. The large-and-in-charge know-it-all type. It's these traits that cause me to create my own curriculum from scratch each year. It's also these traits that allow me to go nutso at the same time. A win all around!

I'm entering my seventh year of homeschooling, with three kids who are in fifth, third, and first grades. I've gotta tell you--these are fun, fun years in our little one-room schoolhouse. The subject matter is manageable and my kids still adore me. Well, until I give them an assignment they dislike, which happens only ninety percent of the time. So you see? Bliss.

Here's my subject-by-subject plan for the upcoming school year. Read at your own level of risk interest.

Math

I have used Math-U-See since the beginning and it works for all sorts of styles. I have two math geeks and one artsy child with learning disabilities on the side--and even she 'gets' math, thanks to the lessons on DVD, the simple workbook, and manipulatives.

Critical Thinking

I love logic and thinking and I really have to stop myself from doing every single page of my kids' workbooks when they're not looking. Each kid will use a different book this year, but they're all in the same critical thinking activity series: Grades K-3, Grades 4-6, and Grades 7-12.

Science

We're spending a full year on the human body, which equals to about three weeks on each system plus some time spent on health and medicine. I'll use the library almost exclusively for this subject. The Complete Book of the Human Body is my spine (pun intended!), and we'll fill in with picture books from there. Easy peasy. My kids will be enthralled with the reproduction segment, of that I am certain.

History

Oh, history. We're doing half of world history this year, using The Usborne Encyclopedia of World History and A Little History of the World as our guides. I have read and read and asked and asked and looked and looked for a satisfactory grade school curriculum that is both age-appropriate and unbiased. Ha. Unbiased. As my husband likes to quote, "History is written by the winners."

Geography

Another one of my loves. Such a neat and tidy subject! We'll study the Eastern hemisphere this year and the Western the next. My kids will learn the names and locations of countries using online games, and we'll do the questions and map work found in the Trail Guide To World Geography. We're also memorizing famous world landmarks, which is a different post for a different day. Gnarly dude!

Read-Alouds

Along with a pile of history books, we're also reading together some books just for fun. The Swiss Family Robinson, Pippi Longstocking, Eric Liddell, Around the World in 80 Days, The Princess and the Goblin, King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, The Phantom Tollbooth, Danny the Champion of the World, and King Solomon's Mines.

Poetry

We're going to spend the whole year going through Favorite Poems Old and New. I'm hoping my husband will orate so that the poems sound more like "beauty" and less like "the beast."

Foreign Language

We hobble along each year trying to pick up some new vocabulary or grammar. This year, I'm borrowing the Vocabulearn Spanish CDs from the library, and my grand plan is to listen to a bit each day. I've also picked out fifteen new Latin roots to memorize. Ambitious, right?!

Music

I teach my kids piano during their early years, as I simply can't stomach thirty dollars for a half-hour lesson on the basics. In a few years, I might change my tune (PUN ABSOLUTELY INTENDED), but for now I like not leaving the house. And since both my husband and I are band geeks, one with a music ed degree and one who played sax--my blessed fifth grader is getting lessons on how to play. Let the honking begin.

Art

Throughout the year, I find things for the kids to draw that match up with their schoolwork. In our study of artists, I'm attempting my very first lap book, which may or may not give me the hives.

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I've rambled on before at how language arts is a big ol' name which encompasses many, many subjects. Here's what I've picked to move my kids along the language arts road:

Grammar

Both my third grader and fifth grader will be doing Easy Grammar and Daily Grams. These workbooks are quick and to the point. My first grader will continue through the Explode the Code workbooks, which are very good for a child still learning to read.

Spelling

I've used the Sequential Spelling workbooks since the early days. I've got two who are natural spellers, so they breeze through their lessons. For my one who has a hard time with spelling, the pace is much slower and I plan to use Spelling City to help her along the way.

Handwriting

My first grader will review using My Printing Book, my third grader starts cursive, and my fifth grader merely needs practice.

Writing

I'm working up the nerve to order the Institute for Excellence in Writing beginner pack. Hold me.

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Outside of our work at home, we participate in monthly field trips with other homeschoolers, and we take classes at the community center when the mood so strikes. 

That's the essence of my plan. I've got it printed out and stuck in a binder, which my ten-year-old lovingly refers to as, "The Torture Book." See what fun we're going to have?

This post is part of a big ol' curriculum roundup found over at the iHomeschool Network.

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10 School Supplies Every Homeschooling Family Needs

I got to talking to my kids about the whole "buying school supplies" phenomenon that takes place every year at this time. With homeschooling, there's really no need for us to go out and buy a box of Kleenex or Ziplocs for the class. So we had a little impromptu session on Public School Culture, shall we say.

In the midst of the conversation, I asked my boy, "What school supplies does a homeschooling family need?" And he said:

1)  A smart mom, and...  

2)  DUMB KIDS

See? Can't exactly pick those things up at the Stuff Marts, now can we?

But now that I've got some years of homeschooling under my belt, I figured it was time to pass on my expertise to the world. Listed below are:

Ten School Supplies Every Homeschooling Family Needs

EVERY.

FAMILY.

NEEDS.

Okay, so it's just what works for me. And honestly, I think this list is general enough to apply to non-homeschooling families as well. After all, "homework time" is "homeschooling" time too.

So let the list begin.

1. Quality pencil sharpener. I've purchased more than my share of cheap ones. Office stores carry "school quality" manual sharpeners as well as electric ones too. A good supply of pencils is essential (really?!), but make sure to have a set of colored pencils on hand as well. Crayons and markers are okay, but colored pencils are neater and work better when doing workbook assignments.
   
   
2. White board. You can pick up a large square of white board material at your local home supply store for much cheaper than what a framed piece will cost. A dry erase board is great for spelling words, memory work, drawing class, pictionary, and for the Sassy Mom to illustrate lessons and boss around as needed.
   
   
3. Computer with internet access. Many times I'll walk through the store and see a workbook or educational game my kids just "have to have," and not two seconds later think, "they can use a free site on the internet instead." Math games and geography games are the two most often types of sites we use.
   
   
4. School book storage. Bookshelves can work if that meshes with your current stage of life and decor, but I've re-used diaper boxes in the past, one for each kid. (I know! Classy!)
   
   
5. Library book storage. Throughout the day, my house looks like a library threw up there. But once it's clean-up time, I make sure the school books and the library books are split up and sent to their own happy homes. For us, this means a shelf. And by "shelf" I mean, "three shelves."
   
   
6. Globe and/or world atlas. Look til you find an inexpensive one; they're out there. And well worth every cent you do end up spending on one. We use ours a lot, and not always for official school stuff. Our global society makes owning a world map essential.
   
   
7. Pocket dictionary. Find something small enough (like a smartphone!) that can make its way around the house as needed. Just like with the globe/atlas, I'm amazed how often my kids ask, "what does that word mean?" And if the word is longer than five letters, I have to look it up.
   
   
8. Scrap paper. We go through an enormous amount of paper in our house, and I've found it's greener and cheaper to keep a ready supply of scrap paper around. I go so far as to hide the clean stuff--knowing that we rarely need to use it with the work we are doing. A paper recycling bin is a must-have, too. Save the trees!
   
   
9. A box of fidgets. Some kids focus better if they have something (appropriate) to do with their hands. I don't generally have to go out and buy fidgety kinds of things--it's usually stuff that's just lying around my house. Squishy toys, pipe cleaners, little plastic toys that make no sound, etc. Basically a fidget toy can be anything that keeps the hands busy but the mind free.
   
   
10. Non-messy snacks. I've found that scheduling snack time around certain subjects makes life easier on everyone. Read-aloud time is a great time for mom to read and kids to sit quietly and snack. Possible choices include popcorn, trail mix, dry cereal, and fruit. I also like for each kid to have a non-spill water bottle as well.

What would you add to this list?

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***This post was originally published in 2009 and updated in 2012.***

Summer Art Rejects, Errr Projects

The warmth of summer doesn't hit the Northwest until after July 4th. So we spend the bulk of June indoors, enjoying the cool temps and of course, the rain. After doing nary an art project with the kids during the school year (oops), I decided to take the month of June and ART IT UP during the summer. I find it's easier to do a bunch of projects at one time, while the supplies are out and we're in the creative mood. Of course that mood can, without warning, shift into I'm A Total Failure and I Can't Do Anything Right and that's how we know when we're done.

My favorite supplies from the five projects we did were the watercolor colored pencils, the oil pastels, and the watercolor paints you squeeze from a tube. With those things, our idea book, and a stock of good paper, we felt like Picasso--complete with the angst and odd drawings.

Pics of the art and ar-teests below!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disclaimer: All amazon links are affiliate links. The small percentage I receive helps me to buy more paint, paper, and books on rebuilding self-esteem in kids made to do art.

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Olympic Food

Not five minutes after my boys watched synchronized diving on TV, they went and got graham crackers and proceeded to eat them in unison. Up up up, bite, chew chew chew chew. The Olympics no doubt inspire us to action; that action just happens to be "eating." 

My kids are old enough to remember themed parties we've held in the past, so there was no getting away with skipping the Olympic-style food during the opening ceremonies (and the entire first weekend of the games). Here is photo evidence that we are quite dedicated to the sport of chowing down.

Rice Krispie Treats topped with M&Ms to represent the Olympic rings:

 Fruit kabob American flag (I stuck the skewers in a block of styrofoam):

Olympic torch filled with cheese-flavored popcorn (I created a funnel out of the yellow piece of paper and wrapped the red sheet around the vase):

Funions, which are nutritious and delicious:

Greek-style frozen yogurt, very authentic:

Ribbon salad made with the colors of the Olympic rings (grape jello tinted black, green jello, yellow jello, blue jello, red jello):

And from a party in the past--frosted sugar cookies topped with fruit in the colors of the Olympic rings (pineapple, black grapes, blueberries, strawberries, kiwi):

 

There. There's what we consumed this past weekend, which might explain why we are not currently moving swifter, higher, or stronger. Go team!

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Mapping The Olympic Participants

The first Olympic games I watched hour after hour were the ones in '84. Specifically--the summer games, as I wouldn't have had school to mess with my TV time. I mean, truly, there is nothing more satisfying than watching lean, athletic performers while lounging around eating chips all day.

I have Mary Lou Retton to thank for my undying love of gymnastics. Oh, don't think I participated in gymnastics, my goodness, the thought! I just watch on the telly, and will stay up to all hours to see the flounces and bounces and hold my breath the entire time so that no one falls and breaks a neck.

Speaking of moments I'll not forget til I'm a crotchety old gal (check!) -- Greg Louganis. Oh, be still my heart going pitter patter pitter patter OH MY WORD HE DID NOT JUST HIT HIS HEAD! Yeah. Saw that one live.

So as you can see--I'm a bona-fide Olympic fan. And when the games roll 'round, our family turns into TV junkies because that is what good mothering is all about. How else is Michael Phelps gonna swim real fast unless we're yelling at the TV? See? THERE IS PURPOSE TO OUR LIVES.

I wanted my kids to get ready for the Olympics with a little training of their brains. I told them we'd be outlining every country that is participating in the London games. My ten-year-old immediately went to the computer and printed out a map showing that very thing and said, "I'm done." Oh, he is something else.

So I slapped my laminated map up on the wall and printed out the list of 193 countries and 11 territories that are participating in the games. Little did I know that there are only 196 countries in the world, which means we could have scribbled out three countries and called it "done." Guess I see where my son gets his laziness efficiency from. However, as the kids and I worked through the enormous list, it was great practice at learning (or relearning) where the countries are.

This summer project was our little way of showing support for the Olympic games. As my husband likes to say, "If you're not in athletics, be an athletic supporter."

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Homemade Playdoh Flag

Who's got Olympic spirit but doesn't know how many stripes are on the American flag? That's right! WE DO!!!

The kids were bored one 60° day this past week, and wanted me to make a big ol' batch of playdoh. Well, we ended up making three batches of playdoh, which gave each of my kids a sizable blob. I then asked them to work together to create an American flag. Let's just say the Olympic spirit was alive and present during that task, that is, if "Olympic spirit" equals a name-calling boxing match.

I mentioned to one child that he could make 50 little balls for the stars. You can see who won that battle. And as for the number of stripes? Lethargy wins again!

Speaking of slothfulness, I didn't have it in me to make the five colors of the Olympic rings. It took merely two colors to make the flag. Look at me being lazy patriotic.

For those of you who haven't been struck by the summer sloth, here are some Olympic activities that require a skosh more effort. Greeky geeky kid-centered fun! 

Now. Back to the playdoh. Here's the recipe if you are so inclined to make some yourself. I used one complete batch for each color, leaving the white one plain.

Homemade Playdoh

1 cup flour

1/2 cup salt

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 tablespoon oil

1 cup water

Food coloring

In a saucepan, mix the three dry ingredients and then mix in the wet ingredients and food coloring. Turn the heat to medium-low and scrape constantly until the mixture is difficult to stir and resembles a playdoh-like consistency. Knead with a little flour to finish.

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This Little Piggy Went To Market

What is the internet for if not to post pictures of what I'm eating? Well, there are cat videos to watch, I suppose. Maybe I should post a picture of what my cat is eating! That'd get me some likes!

He likes grass, by the way. The extra-tall kind.

I like my food to be fresh, too. That's why I set a goal for myself to have one meal this summer made primarily from locally grown foods. My backyard garden donated some peas, strawberries, dill, and potatoes (grown by accident in the compost bin). And the farmer's market supplied me with cherries, asparagus, broccoli, and English muffins still warm from the oven. I could have bought some eggs at the market too, but they were selling for six dollars a dozen. SIX. DOLLARS. A. DOZEN. I figure those chickens must be living better than I am. What do they rest in? A Sleep Number Bed?

Would you like to know what I made with this bounty? Of course you do! Suckers! We had Egg McMuffin sandwiches (yes I call them that) (and the eggs, of course, were from the evil grocery store conglomerate), boiled potatoes with dill, steamed broccoli and asparagus, peas, and fresh berries and cherries. It was a feast for the eyes and I felt so doggone self-righteous the whole meal! Oh, it was glorious.

There. I ate (mostly) locally one time this year. Nothing can stop me now.

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