Well that is the name of our blog and our school. LOL. www.homeschoolingheathens.blogspot.com
This is what I wrote to answer questions within a few of my homeschooling groups on how I homeschool without OHVA or some other prepackaged curriculum. Forgive the format, I just cut and paste it here. I will have another blog up soon about out VERY BUSY weekend!!
I am Dani and, I homeschool my 4 ungrateful heathens. I blog about it almost weekly LOL (I forget A LOT LOL) I am not sure what to classify myself as. I use a traditional classroom setting, a truck load of worksheets, a chalk board, a kitchen, and independent study for my older two.
Fifi is my preschooler/kindergartener. She will be 5 in November and is doing Kindergarten work but is considered a Preschooler here in OH. The week she is working with Eric Carle books.(yes again for those that read my other blog). We are using the words for spelling and Spanish. We are using the pictures for art (recreation) We are working using his bugs for math with basic addition (none of the sums are more than 20) I must admit, we went to Applebee's and they were giving children these little pamphlets for Eric Carle's work so I asked for extra (I now have 10 or so) and the have mazes, puzzles, and other games. We also picked up a spider puzzle and made Mr. Carle's bugs our of playdough (noting size relationships and shapes). Last but not least, we read as many of the books as we could find in our collection and at the library.
Coco is my 3rd grader. She is 8 years old. She was diagnosed with PPD and high functioning autism but I cant see it and neither can my friends. She is shy and a bit immature for her age. She is also the most loving and considerate child I have ever known. Each week she particpates in a creative writing class, roller skating lessons, theater programs, art classes, and, girl scouts.
Lola is my 6th ot 7th grader. She is 11 years old. She particpates in cheerleading, girl scouts, theater programs, art classes, and Japanese Anime Club. She loves school and loves being in charge. I have found that letting her lead some of the younger childrens classes allows me to have some free time to cook lunch, start dinner, do laundry... You know, " mom things"This is our first week without the added child (We were homeschooling an extra child but is didn't work out)
I try to keep Coco and Lola doing similar things just at a different level as much as possible. The only differences are Science where Coco is studying Earth Science and Lola is studying Human Anatomy and Math. however, this month their Math is the same.
We are starting fractions in math. I have this great kit my mother sent us from CT called Ready to Learn Fractions and Decimals. We also use my "Bible" the Comprehensive Curriculum's Best of Grade 3 (Grade 6 for Lola). We use www.aaaspell.com and www.aaamath.com for alot of our work and practice. All of the older children use these at some point each week. Spelling every week is pretty much the same. We get our word list for www.aaaspell.com and make flashcards on Monday, Write sentences using the words in a way that makes sense on Tuesdays. I make crossword puzzles on www.theteacherscorner.net for Wednesdays and a word scramble on Thursdays. We also put our words in ABC order on Thursdays. On Fridays we talk about their parts of speech and what ways the words can be used (i.e. note is a noun and a verb but if we make it notable it is a __? What about music notes?...) We don't test for grades, we test because they want to.
Language Arts this week is Homonyms. I get alot of my worksheets from my CC book but I also use www.enchantedlearning.com. It is $20 a year but totally worth it! Lola is using her CC book as well. She is also still working with compound words, prefixes and suffixes.
Science this week is a review of landforms for Coco. We finishing up the Earth and moving on to Oceans next week. We use mostly books from the library and http://www.enchantedlearning.com/ for our worksheets and lesson ideas.Lola is working with the Human Brain. She started the Nervous System last week. Next week we will be moving on the the senses and how they work and why. I also get alot of her Science worksheets from enchantedlearning. I get some of her work from www.bogglesworldesl.com too. Some weeks we just read about the systems and I have to make my own worksheets too. This week, we got lucky and the worksheets were on www.enchantedlearning.com
Geography this week is Florida. Last week was Delaware. We are going in alphabetical order. Each week we start with reading the Celebrate the States book during lunch of the state we are starting. Lola also loves to make the state flag out of construction paper every week. Then on Tuesday we do an art project pertaining to the state. Wednesday we work with the states history. I usually make a quiz sheet on important historic facts but sometimes they find something they want to run with. (when studying CA they were hooked on Levi Strauss and the gold rush...) Thursdays is all about the wackiest facts we can find in books and online about the states. It is also the day we make our Thank You Cards for our friends in that state who sent us the information, map, magnet and list of fun facts. If you want to be one of those friends let me know LOL... Friday is the day we do our worksheet from www.abcteach.comThey color in the flag and write out in complete sentences the three most memorable facts about the state. We also use enchantedlearning.com for geography and www.nationalatlas.gov for maps and facts.
The girls are also taking sign language. They use Micky Flodin's Books and Signing Time videos. We have all of the videos and 4 of the books now. They teach themselves a few (up to 10) new words a day and on Fridays they show me what they have learned. Once a month they put on a show for the folks at the library. The third Thursday of the month is Seniors Night. They write and produce their own "shows" including costumes, music and script. We were going to take a class with other homeschoolers but it wouldn't work into our schedule. We do try ot attemd some of the field trips if not classes with the other homeschoolers in the area. Mostly for my sanity. I have made some wonderful friends within the two groups we belong to.
Coco also takes a creative writing class on Wednesday nights at the same library. We do weekly creative writing projects as well. Each month we focus on a type of writing (i.e. Legends, poetry, fables, fairy tales...) This month we are doing poetry. I have gotten the girls to write a poem a day whether it be
M-makes me breakfast
O-outstanding reader
M-makes me lunch
M-Makes me dinner
Y-Yells when I don't do my work (written by Nahco age 14)
to
Roses are Red
Violets are Blue
Lola stinks
Exactly like Poo (by Coco age 8)
Nacho is my 8th or 9th grader. He is 14 years old. He has PTSD and is moody and sullen most of the time. He pretty much hates all schooling except his World Studies. He takes Japanese Anime, Cooking Classes, Boy Scouts, Fusion Classes and Guitar Lessons. Nacho is a huge help to me when it comes to almost everything not school related. He babysits, does laundry, dishes, takes care of the pets... He just hates school. He hates writing anything out.
We use alot of text books bought online for Nacho. Once a week I write out assignments on his sheet and once a week, I read what he finished. Some weeks, we redo what was done the week before.In math we are beginning Algebra. We are talking about Quadratic Equations. I use the book(s) and the white board to try to explain them. We also use www.aaamath.com and www.aaaknow.com Im science we are talking about matter. We also have a few science text books and a workbook. I love www.amazon.comThat is where I get most of my books. We also have this great book Middle School Science Experiments. Nacho loves randomly picking out an experiment and doing it.
Instead of regular old geography, Nahco is doing a World Study. Each month he focuses on a new place in the world and studies their Mythology, Religion, Foods, Languages, Herb Lore, Politics (which he hates) and History (again he hates) We cook their foods, research recipes, listen to and view their languages (www.youtube.com is excellent for this!), and attempt to discuss their politics. We also have our own version of lap-booking. Nacho Has specific binders for Herb Lore and Mythology. Each week or so he adds more pages from what he is learning. For Herb Lore he puts them in a usage category. For Mythology they are ordered by regions. This month is Japan.
Nacho also studies Wicca and takes classes monthly at a local pagan store. These are the highlight of his month! www.spiritapothecary.com The owner Matt teaches classes on incense making (this month was Samhaim incense including all of the herb lore) He also helps Nacho from home. I love this store!! Check them out. Saturday the owners held a pot luck dinner that was geared to helping me homeschool. Regional foods, regional music, regional herb lore and mythology books... even regional jewelery! I cant help but advertise for them. LOL
Nacho and Lola also take Spanish both online and with books. We use www.livemocha.com, Rosetta Stone and Ariba! This is one of their chosen independent studies.As well as Nacho's World Studies cooking, Nahco, Lola and Coco all take "home ec" This means they cook for the family two or three times a week. This is everything from muffins (from a box) to full dinners for their grandparents. I belong to a group on www.Cafemom.com called the Cooking Cafe. You can check it out for a list of what they will be making this week and recipes.
If you have found the gaps, yes, I don't make Nacho take a Language Arts. He is required to read and dissect short stories, poems, plays and what not. Its like pulling teeth from an angry croc. We do all his Language Arts work out loud, over dinner most nights.
One top of all of this, all three of the older children are required to read 30 minutes each day and log what they have read (with a summary) in their reading logs. They choose their own books for the most part. www.bookadventures.comhelped alot!
Monday, October 13, 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Holy Crap its Ocotber 8th!
I am a bad bad blogger. I think about you dear blog, I really do. Then my world crowds in around me and silly things like actually homeschooling my children take precedence. Seriously we have been busy. We have fought illnesses, braved making new friends, watched Gabe at his attempts with dating (which Hello he isnt allowed to date!) We have been grounded, gone on job interviews for jobs we dont want, lost a tooth, gotten haircuts... I wont promise to write more often cause I hate breaking promises. I will try to be a bit more consistent though.
Fifi:
In the past two weeks, Fifi my darling Fifi has master Addition with gummy bears, skittles, Care Bears and is now.. completely out of order, working with money. She gets it. She hasnt really ever worked with subtraction but to her money makes sense (cents LOL I am so tired I am slap happy)
Fifi is also working with more three letter spelling words. She insists on doing the same things Coco does so she is trying to write sentences, put them in ABC order and do a crossword puzzle. Umm, yeah, shes 4. She cant write sentences, ABC order requires ALOT of help and I can't make crossword puzzles with 3 lettered words. If anyone knows a site that will let me, tell me.
All three of my girls are also going to be in a play next month. Lola got one of the leads and Coco got a decent part and Fifi is grouped with all the other preschoolers in the play. We have rehearsals three to 5 days a week for the next month. I will youtube the play for those that want to see it.
Coco:
Coco is in the process of learning fractions. We have completed the math facts through the 12's table and are working on moving on to the wonderful world of fractions. My mom bought this great kit a few weeks ago and Coco was so excited to break it out. Its called Five Fun Ways to Learn Fractions and Decimals. I think she got it at the Christmas Tree Shop.
Since Mimi has stopped coming here, Coco has done so much better with her spelling and language arts. We are working with punctuation in Language Arts but in three days she was though periods and such. She is working on semi colons, commas, and quotation marks now. I am using the CC for most of it. I love our Comprehensive Curriculum guides. I bought new ones for next year and the year after for Coco and Fifi. Lola wants to go to public school next year.
In Science we are revisiting the formations of the planet. Apparently, Coco was distracted the first time. We are doing it over again as we start our chapter on lithospheres. We started working with matter but she knew it as well as I did so we went backwards for a bit.
We are finally on Delaware. The girls insisted we actually study Connecticut. They liked the easy week LOL. We made art projects of historical moments in CT history. We looked up all of our friends and family on the maps. We talked about the land forms that we had been too, the state parks, the beaches, the mountains... Now we are on Delaware.
Both of the older girls are now taking ASL as an independent study. I have provided them the books and videos and they are learning with each other. Once a week, they show me what they have learned.
Coco is also taking a new creative writing class at the library. She loves it!
Lola:
Lola has started fractions again too. We are reviewing adding and subtracting fractions from last year before we start the tough stuff.
Her spelling is damned near perfect as always. They are all still using http://www.aaaspell.com/ and http://www.theteacherscorner.net/ for most of our spelling needs. I love that aaaspell puts all of my work together for me and theteacherscorner lets me make crossword puzzles, word scrambles, word searches, math sheets and more...
We are working on the nervous system in Science now. It is not as easy as I thought it would be. I have been searching online for a body systems workbook. There are very little printable work for certain systems so we are just reading and talking about it. I have had to read the work first and make my own worksheets for her. A few of our sites have some printables like http://www.enchantedlearning.com/ and even theteacherscorner. Todd also went online and found some National Geographic specials on the human body. If anyone has any ideas on how to teach specific systems please let me know. Later this month we are starting the skeletal system, I plan to use the Hannah Montana Bone Dance song lol.
All four kids have been working with poetry this month. We worked on legends last month. The girls each wrote 2 legends and this month they have written a million poems. I have everything from
M-Makes me breakfast
O-Outstanding reader
M-Makes me lunch
M-makes me dinner
Y-Why because she love us.
Roses are red
Violets are blue
Lola stinks
Just like poo
We are now reading Shel Silverstien with Fifi and Coco and Emily Dickenson with Lola. Nacho is reading Poe but not saying much about what he is reading. I would hate to ruin poetry for him but quizzing him.
Lola is also learning Spanish, ASL and Creative Writing independently. I get some great stuff from her when I don't tell her what to do. I wish that worked with all of them but alas, I have Nacho...
Nachos entire homeschooled day comes from the text books we bought online. Every Sunday I sit down and review the work he did do independently and write out his next weeks schedule. He also spends about three hours every Sunday catching up and finishing the work he didn't do. This system, as much as it drives the controlling neat freak in me crazy, works for him. He understands the work. He asks questions and is actually doing quite well. It drives me nutty that he does it all in one day but hey... whatever works right?
I know he is working on quadratic expressions, properties of matter, Vikings, Norse mythology, building an herbal remedy for eczema (which he has) and poetry. He isn't writing any but he is reading them and I honestly think that is more important.
He working on 6 to 8 Spanish verbs a week in three tenses and making sentences that make sense on weekends. He is using some of the http://www.livemocha.com/ stuff and some Rosetta Stone but not much, he doesn't like them.
All in all, we are finally making some friends here. We have been able to get out and go on a homeschool field trip with them. Nacho has a sudeo girlfriend who is also not allowed to date. Lola loves the whole play thing and being the center of attention. Coco loves her creative writing class and roller skating. When asked what her favorite part of the writing class she replied, no one else from our family is there... And Fifi loves her art projects and roller skating. She is also loving the fact that we got for her all of the Disney classics on DVD so she can watch movies that seem like old hat to us but sadly they are all new to her. She loves Robin Hood and Cinderella. Who knew she had never seen them?
Fifi:
In the past two weeks, Fifi my darling Fifi has master Addition with gummy bears, skittles, Care Bears and is now.. completely out of order, working with money. She gets it. She hasnt really ever worked with subtraction but to her money makes sense (cents LOL I am so tired I am slap happy)
Fifi is also working with more three letter spelling words. She insists on doing the same things Coco does so she is trying to write sentences, put them in ABC order and do a crossword puzzle. Umm, yeah, shes 4. She cant write sentences, ABC order requires ALOT of help and I can't make crossword puzzles with 3 lettered words. If anyone knows a site that will let me, tell me.
All three of my girls are also going to be in a play next month. Lola got one of the leads and Coco got a decent part and Fifi is grouped with all the other preschoolers in the play. We have rehearsals three to 5 days a week for the next month. I will youtube the play for those that want to see it.
Coco:
Coco is in the process of learning fractions. We have completed the math facts through the 12's table and are working on moving on to the wonderful world of fractions. My mom bought this great kit a few weeks ago and Coco was so excited to break it out. Its called Five Fun Ways to Learn Fractions and Decimals. I think she got it at the Christmas Tree Shop.
Since Mimi has stopped coming here, Coco has done so much better with her spelling and language arts. We are working with punctuation in Language Arts but in three days she was though periods and such. She is working on semi colons, commas, and quotation marks now. I am using the CC for most of it. I love our Comprehensive Curriculum guides. I bought new ones for next year and the year after for Coco and Fifi. Lola wants to go to public school next year.
In Science we are revisiting the formations of the planet. Apparently, Coco was distracted the first time. We are doing it over again as we start our chapter on lithospheres. We started working with matter but she knew it as well as I did so we went backwards for a bit.
We are finally on Delaware. The girls insisted we actually study Connecticut. They liked the easy week LOL. We made art projects of historical moments in CT history. We looked up all of our friends and family on the maps. We talked about the land forms that we had been too, the state parks, the beaches, the mountains... Now we are on Delaware.
Both of the older girls are now taking ASL as an independent study. I have provided them the books and videos and they are learning with each other. Once a week, they show me what they have learned.
Coco is also taking a new creative writing class at the library. She loves it!
Lola:
Lola has started fractions again too. We are reviewing adding and subtracting fractions from last year before we start the tough stuff.
Her spelling is damned near perfect as always. They are all still using http://www.aaaspell.com/ and http://www.theteacherscorner.net/ for most of our spelling needs. I love that aaaspell puts all of my work together for me and theteacherscorner lets me make crossword puzzles, word scrambles, word searches, math sheets and more...
We are working on the nervous system in Science now. It is not as easy as I thought it would be. I have been searching online for a body systems workbook. There are very little printable work for certain systems so we are just reading and talking about it. I have had to read the work first and make my own worksheets for her. A few of our sites have some printables like http://www.enchantedlearning.com/ and even theteacherscorner. Todd also went online and found some National Geographic specials on the human body. If anyone has any ideas on how to teach specific systems please let me know. Later this month we are starting the skeletal system, I plan to use the Hannah Montana Bone Dance song lol.
All four kids have been working with poetry this month. We worked on legends last month. The girls each wrote 2 legends and this month they have written a million poems. I have everything from
M-Makes me breakfast
O-Outstanding reader
M-Makes me lunch
M-makes me dinner
Y-Why because she love us.
Roses are red
Violets are blue
Lola stinks
Just like poo
We are now reading Shel Silverstien with Fifi and Coco and Emily Dickenson with Lola. Nacho is reading Poe but not saying much about what he is reading. I would hate to ruin poetry for him but quizzing him.
Lola is also learning Spanish, ASL and Creative Writing independently. I get some great stuff from her when I don't tell her what to do. I wish that worked with all of them but alas, I have Nacho...
Nachos entire homeschooled day comes from the text books we bought online. Every Sunday I sit down and review the work he did do independently and write out his next weeks schedule. He also spends about three hours every Sunday catching up and finishing the work he didn't do. This system, as much as it drives the controlling neat freak in me crazy, works for him. He understands the work. He asks questions and is actually doing quite well. It drives me nutty that he does it all in one day but hey... whatever works right?
I know he is working on quadratic expressions, properties of matter, Vikings, Norse mythology, building an herbal remedy for eczema (which he has) and poetry. He isn't writing any but he is reading them and I honestly think that is more important.
He working on 6 to 8 Spanish verbs a week in three tenses and making sentences that make sense on weekends. He is using some of the http://www.livemocha.com/ stuff and some Rosetta Stone but not much, he doesn't like them.
All in all, we are finally making some friends here. We have been able to get out and go on a homeschool field trip with them. Nacho has a sudeo girlfriend who is also not allowed to date. Lola loves the whole play thing and being the center of attention. Coco loves her creative writing class and roller skating. When asked what her favorite part of the writing class she replied, no one else from our family is there... And Fifi loves her art projects and roller skating. She is also loving the fact that we got for her all of the Disney classics on DVD so she can watch movies that seem like old hat to us but sadly they are all new to her. She loves Robin Hood and Cinderella. Who knew she had never seen them?
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