Spread Your Wings And Fly

MAD LIBS & MAD LIBS JR

2009-04-27T18:30:00.005-04:00

MAD LIBS....

Remember those? I know they've been around forever... and are still going...

Well, I hadn't thought much about them, but we've worked with some basics of grammar this year in our schooling. In one of the multiple activity books we have, Gabi stumbled across something that she didn't understand... it was, in short, a mad lib, though by another name. She and Beth really liked it and went in search of others in the same book.

So I got to thinking... it's fun, it reinforces the parts of the sentences we've already gone over, and easy for on the go or "I'm bored" time. In looking for Mad Libs (which there are so many in every topic) I noticed there are also MAD LIB JRs... the difference... well, the book is a bit bigger with bigger print to start with. The major difference, however, is that instead of having the kid think up the noun, adjective, etc all by themselves, there is a word bank for each category (a different set of word banks for each story). This helps the kids to begin to identify which words are what. It also only has three categories - Noun, Adjective, Verb and MISC - which simplifies things.

I got the Jr version for Beth not knowing exactly what it was. It's perfect... though she's probably somewhere between that and the original version for skill level. What she does is use the word bank, but if she thinks of a word that she wants to use, then she double checks with me as to which word bank to add it to. I think that's great because it helps her process different words herself.

Anyway - we love them... they'll be around for a long time...

Maine Wildlife Park

2009-04-27T18:25:00.002-04:00

So the Planetarium wasn't a big hit, but the Wildlife Park was! They loved it. We spent 3 hours there and only left because it was dinner time and the kids wanted to eat. They've all asked to go back again - we'll be going again when Bob's folks come to visit. It's not huge, but it was interesting enough that the kids really watched the animals and asked questions. Gabi wanted to take time to draw them all - the boys wouldn't wait that long though.

It was set up kind of like a zoo - all animals who aren't able to be in the wild. I'm not sure if the ones we were able to see were all ones who will never be able to be back in the wild, or just not at that point. But the place works with animals that need rehab so they can be released back into the wild as well. Unlike a zoo, though, the animals are all native to Maine - so, sorry, no elephants or Lions or Monkeys or the like...

I'd say it's certainly worth going to!

The Planetarium in Portland

2009-04-27T18:21:00.002-04:00

Okay, so we went... to Portland, Maine... to the Planetarium. Not what I was expecting. Not bad either, just not something I'd take young kids to. The "show" turned out to be a slide show of information - I had thought it would have been a "movie". My kids (7, 5, nearly 4, and 2) did really well.... okay, so the 2 year old fell asleep, the nearly 4 year old decided 45 minutes into it that is was just too boring, the 5 year old was also "done" about 10 minutes to the end. The 7 year old, though it was her favorite topic (or one of them), said we didn't need to stay and see the other show. Partly because she was afraid it might be scary (the topic was Black Holes), but also, so she told me, because it wasn't as fun as she thought it would be.

So... I'd say 3rd grade age and up would be fine. Anything less than that, make other plans.

Of Interest - and a Meteor Shower

2009-04-21T15:20:00.003-04:00

Okay, Okay... so we've not been around much. If would certainly seem that we've all been busy doing all the wonderful things (and maybe not so wonderful) that stream into our lives over the last few months... I'm here, though, because I wanted to share some more gems of interest.

My family is into stars - the children received a telescope from Grandma and Grandpa for Christmas (which hasn't had a lot of use yet because it was always sooooo crazy cold on good clear nights). With that in mind, we're planning a bit of a field trip and the logical place would have been the planetarium in Boston... but wait, I found one closer.

Actually, I seem now to have found two closer. One in Fairfield and one at USM. The links can be found below. The one in Fairfield, best I can tell, is a traveling one. Sounds pretty neat... and it'll be at the Kingfield days for anyone interested. The one at USM has all sorts of shows and workshops. Go ahead and check them out.

Northern Stars Planetarium
Southworth Planetarium

I also thought you'd be interested to know there is to be a meteor shower tomorrow morning before dawn. (Not sure we'll be able to see through the clouds for it, but it would be neat to see if the clouds break).

Explode The Code

2008-12-05T08:53:00.003-05:00

Okay, so I typically baulk at programs suggested for me by other people... at least initially, though I do usually check them out myself. Well, since I had two children reading in the early "pre-school" years, I didn't really give a good look at Explode the Code. Yeah, I'll admit it, I'm good at assuming everything is wrong, and then having to admit that I'm wrong instead!

I have been using notebooks to do reading comprehension (I read the book, or chapters, and write down questions, she answers them) and then also for writing prompts (I either start the sentence and she completes the "story" or I suggest an idea and she has to write around that). I really like this method because it forces her to come up with her own ideas and thoughts!

However, my mother works with younger children learning to read. She mentioned that children who learn to read young, and who read at very advanced levels, will suddenly stop comprehending the material because they can read words that they don't understand and they have never had to "work out" what something means. PROBLEM. RED FLAG. Not that we were at that point yet, but I didn't want to get there either.

Since she had also given me many of the Explode the Code books that were left over from last year, I decided to try them out. I was not too impressed.... they seemed overly simplified. Almost belittling to my "smart" child. But as I thought more about it, I realized that the program forces children to "slow down" and "study out what they've read" by using sentences that make sense with the picture, but would not make sense in real life along with normal real life ones. It also uses tremendous repetition.

I started my oldest two (ages 6 and 4) on these books, at different levels. They love them. So I let them continue. I know that I started Gabi lower than her level, but I wanted her to get the handle on the program without the frustration. She's already half way through her second book and we only started this last month.

She has added new words to her vocabulary (our family seems to know more big words then little... at least our children). She's learned to "speak up" and ask what something means. (She's also learned how to look up the word in a dictionary) And I've seen this spill over in our daily conversations as well. Big words that she was using correctly, she'll actually ask for the definition of, and then either admit that she'd done it right, or correct her own sentences. And she's going back and re-reading books that she loved before and coming back with more information.

My third child also wants to get started... since he's 3 and has just started to read, I'll get him the "Get Ready for the Code" books to start with. They will help him to get his writing skills down, and be better at reading so he's not frustrated with the Explode the Codes when he gets there.

Glad To Know You're Still Checking In!

2008-12-05T08:48:00.002-05:00

A quick apology to anyone who reads this - or tries to - on a regular basis... it's that time of year when we're all in the middle of the schooling process, and now it's the holidays too. Anyway, we're glad that you're still reading and hopefully we'll have more useful information for you all to use.

You can check out our individual blogs as well, as many of us publish our "daily" adventures there which might give more information or ideas to you. We tend to use this one more for passing on information that we know is helpful in other people's decision making in curriculum, teaching, and to ask and help try to answer questions we might have.

An Affordable, Hands-On Math

2008-10-15T08:43:00.002-04:00

I've done a lot of research in regards to math programs. I knew I wanted something very hands on, but I wanted to know that my children would be learning what they needed to. I also did not want to spend a bunch of money on the program (say $1000.00 just for a math program every single individual year!). So, with my husband and my mother working in different school systems, I was able to gather a lot of ideas. Unfortunately, I kept coming back to the price. I figured, for that price, I could get the manipulatives and create my own curriculum. My biggest fear was that I might miss a critical step some where that wouldn't be noticed until later on - when it was truly needed!

Anyway, I really liked what I had seen about the Bridges Program and even some of what I saw from the Investigations programs. Both programs are designed for classroom use - thereby, they are very expensive. And then I stumbled upon this program:

RightStart Mathematics. It's affordable (one years lessons, worksheets, and necessary manipulatives is no more than $180.00 with add on kits less then that - or the whole set (5 years of lessons, worksheets, and necessary manipulatives ) for $500. The do have a geometry set (2 years) that is less than $200.

Anyway, I chose this program because it's hands on, it's affordable, it has great reviews, and it works with the idea of quantifying and not just counting. If this is the kind of program you're looking for, then check it out. The customer service was wonderful and pleasant too!

What we are doing this year

2008-09-15T19:46:00.003-04:00

I am glad you posted (KS) what you ordered. It is nice to see what others find useful, as well as seeing how others go about teaching for the year.
So for this year for liliana this is what we are doing. She is 3 1/2 so it is still mostly 'free' time

Alright so I bought the following book:
"Honey for a child's heart"- It has loads of wonderful time tested suggestions for books/media for various age groups that are available in most libraries. I picked up a similar book (also wonderful), called, "Best of the Best for children", between both of these books, each week I go through them and pick out books/media that I would like to check out that week to use for both my girls. What has been amazing to me (we are on week 3 now) is liliana's response.
So without her knowing it I go around the library and pick a few of these 'treasures' as well as random books i see that look good. Most of the 'treasure' books are old, or classics.
Within 24 hrs of having her new stash she has picked out her favorites for the week and it is always the treasure books that i selected from both of the books i purchased.
Her favorites right now are the Beatrix Potter books. She just loves picking two new ones out each week and will hardly let them out of her sight. Mr. Jeremy Fisher even goes to bed with her (some nights when she is having a hard time sleeping, we give her a wind up flashlight and a few favorite books and she reads in her bed for a bit).
So if anyone knows where I can get the peter rabbit books (complete set) please let me know. Online it is like 80-100$!!!
If any of you ever go into Twice Told tales, if you see it and it is 50$ or cheaper I will pay you to get it for me. We would like to give the set to our girls for Christmas.
Anyway, I am getting off topic. KInd of. I mean. I love that she loves these books that I keep picking out and enjoy a resource like that.
There are a few things we may order from Rainbow and I have been narrowing down some selections. We are still working on a workbook set I bought a few mts ago and we do that 3 days a week, at her request. It includes a bible story/coloring. As well as 5 other skill workbooks. She is really into the whole cutting/pasting, beadmaking or necklace making. She has also started to want to spell everything, in sound and writing. So we do alot of either actual writing (whatever words she chooses) or we use magnet letters to spell words out.
She also started her very first dance class last week. We are fortunate to have a studio here that is cheap enough to afford. Only $15/month for a 30min class once a week. If I told them I could not afford even that she would still be allowed to dance for free. So she really enjoyed that first class.
We meet every friday (right now at a park) with a homeschooling group that we have become close with. We do little field trips with them, like we are going apple picking in a few weeks. We have been to the dairy farm, will be going to the fire station. So that is another resource.
She is still watching her signing time and now enjoys helping Mattie learn how to sign.
We also go by UNE's library once a week, they have some wonderful educational DVD/Video's to check out. LIke right now she watches, The Blue Planet and mostly likes that.
Before I know it the week is full. This is how things are going for us right now.

Rainbow

2008-09-13T16:10:00.003-04:00

I always find it interesting to see what others order for the year. I just put a big order in and wanted to share, incase anyone is interested. If not, feel free to delete this post.
Part of our school day on Friday was looking through our Rainbow catalog to get some cool ideas of what we wanted to study this year. Caleb said: physics, more about the great outdoors, Maine history and geography. Lundi said: how money works (economics), geology, horses, more Shakespeare and writing.
Harrison said: rocks and crystals, more ETC, microscope observation and dogs. Lauren said: nature, more ETC, babies (don't need to order anything for this one) and crystals.
With this in mind, here is what I ordered:

Cartoon Guide to Physics
Exploring Physics
Physics and the World Around You
Explode The Code (x5)
Spectrum Phonics
Shakespeare for Young Readers
Any Child Can Write
Writing Warm-Up
Pet Tornado
Geology By Design
Cave Book
Rocks and Fossils
Break Your Own Geodes (x2)
Glow in the Dark Geodes
Smithsonian Crystal Growing Kit
Sticky Stones
Fossil Collection
Pocket Full of Pinecones
Knot Tying Game
Oh, Wilderness
Spotters Guide to Birds of Prey
Spotters Guide to the Night Sky
Spotters Guide to Rocks and Minerals
Spotters Guide to the Weather
The Way Babies Were Made (not for Lauren)
Where Do Babies Come From? (not for Lauren, either)
Engineering the City
Historical Who-Dun-Its
The Smithsonian Guide to Horses
A.O.P Switched on Schoolhouse /Maine
Whatever Happened to Penny Candy?

All I have left to get are our regular consumables (math, grammar, history and writing) and we are......good. to. go!

KKS

Book It - Free Pizza

2008-09-08T14:03:00.003-04:00

For anyone who is not familiar with the Pizza Hut Book It Program, it's a wonderful way to encourage reading for children in grades K-6. They have certain reading requirements for each month (a 6 month long program starting in October). Every month in which they complete the requirements, they receive a certificate for a free personal pan pizza! As long as your child loves pizza it's great fun and motivation (not that they all need motivation, but what's a little reward anyway)!

There is a pre-school program, but you cannot do it from your home as it's designed as a classroom only program. I'm going to look into if we can do it with a group of pre-school aged kids through home school... though you can't do it individually. It only runs 8 weeks and starts in March.

You can do it individually for your K-6 grade child. Just got to the link below and sign up to get your materials mailed directly to your house! Remember, it starts in October... so sign up right away!

Also, under the teacher link, there are things to help - printouts and so on. Check it out... sign up... and I'll let you know if there is a way to do the pre-school group if we get them together!

PIZZA HUT BOOK IT PROGRAM

This is the one....

2008-09-07T22:49:00.002-04:00

OK....here is my favorite assignment sheet. I love how it has all the subjects listed, then also room to add your own. I have used it with multiple kids, I just keep them in a binder behind a tab with their name. I also put a copy in their binder so they can work independently.
http://www.geocities.com/gpielstick/Homeschooling_Forms.html
KKS

Another Interesting Link

2008-09-06T15:10:00.002-04:00

Hey, I was organizing all my bookmarks and came across this one for free educational materials (including simple piano arrangements for beginners!). I've not explored much of what they have yet - I had book marked it for the music. But it is all free, printable - you just can't sell it! So, check it out if you want something more, something different, or if you're just stumped!

Garden of Praise

Free Printable Schedule

2008-09-03T12:59:00.001-04:00

http://www.oklahomahomeschool.com/pdf%20documents/Weekly%20Plan_Blank.pdf

I have a better one that I am still tying to find the link to, but this one is very similar. I'll post the other one when I find it.
KKS

Getting The Year Under Way.....

2008-09-03T12:32:00.002-04:00

Tara mentioned that she wanted to start grammar with Gabi, so I thought I would share a free curriculum that I have used. It's pretty straight forward and covers all the basics. I hope you find it helpful.
Here is the link: http://www.sfreading.com/resources/ghb.html
KKS

K12 Homeschool

2008-07-28T12:53:00.003-04:00

I just heard about another homeschooling option. Some of you may have checked it out already, and many may be like me and have never heard of it. Anyway, the enrollment fee is extremely low, but it gives you the full course curriculum. You do have to buy materials though, and I must admit that I did not add it all up to see what the final per year cost would be. Anyway, if you're interested, check them out using the link below.

K12 Homeschool

Back - Pictures Coming

2008-07-28T12:51:00.004-04:00

We're back and I promise that I'll put up some pictures and information from our trip as soon as our house is back together. We had carpet installed in almost the whole house just after we returned and so we're in the putting everything back together.... requiring ourselves to organize and create a real home for everything as we go (something we didn't do when we moved in). Any, I expect to be able to give the update sometime this week.

We're Soon To Be Off

2008-06-21T11:07:00.002-04:00

Well, our family is off for vacation... in a few days. We've got some things planned that will be both fun and educational. For one, we're going to climb a volcano! Yes, we'll take lots of pictures and maybe even find some time to post the information about it for you guys! We're really excited about this as it's one thing that Gabi has been wanting to do all year... she still loves volcanoes. We're also going to one of the national train museums. So we'll have all sort of information about the old fashioned trains!

Aside from those two major things, nothing else is "set in stone"... although I'm sure we'll find lots of other fun and educational things to do along the way!

new question?

2008-06-13T16:50:00.002-04:00

well, I went to the curriculum sale. I really enjoyed it. I got there 45 mins after it started and still found quite abit of good stuff. If it happens to be during a good time I will go next year and hopefully I will get there even earlier so that I can get some more good things.
I have a question for everyone. Hoe does homeschooling happen when life is so disruptive? I mean, when kids are in school people have to get their kids to school and then can deal with whatever crazy is going on in their life, but when kids are still home how does one still concentrate to help them learn what they need to (prepare lessons, or atleast prepare materials for them to teach themselves, assuming they are at that point). How does homeschooling not become a luxury that occurs when things in life are smooth?

Used Curriculum Sale

2008-05-14T10:05:00.002-04:00

The nitty gritty-details have finally become available. The sale is coming right up. If anyone wants to ride together, let me know. I will surely be going.
It is mentioned in the information that it's best to come sans enfants. I will add my recommendation to that. It's pretty (very) stressful to keep track of them, clean up after them and look at their many, many requests and still focus on the things that you need to. If you can imagine, it's even worse than taking ALL the kids shoe shopping-around lunch time, when you and them are cranky, the baby needs a nap, won't stay in the stroller and everybody has to pee-.....all by yourself. Ya, it's that bad. You will enjoy yourself so much more if you leave the littles home. Here is the link:
http://homeschoolersofmaine.org/uc08.htm
KKS

Simplest Problem Solving

2008-05-12T06:33:00.002-04:00

I've mentioned before that my children are rather young. A common problem, and one that I've been dealing with, is for children, especially such young children, to simply tell you a condition, usually in whine or without pausing before repeating and allowing their voice to escalate.

Instead of just jumping to meet their demands (ie, in the morning I hear "I"m hungry" and then I would typically ask what they wanted to eat and then go get it), I've been making them stop and rephrase their words so there is a solution. (ie, "Mama, could you get me some yogurt, please?)

Even my two year old can rephrase his expressions into "solution based questions" with only the simple reminder of "Can you change that to a solution?" They no longer get their "needs" fulfilled simply by stating the condition.

I think this will be beneficial. It will teach them to think of the solution and be more polite. It will also help me to feel appreciated and not like my nerves are being grated with a cheese grater! After all, little children must, at some point, grow to be full functioning adults. This is one step to keep the peace and teach them a valuable lesson at the same time. And one step to becoming full functioning adults.

new resource

2008-05-06T07:01:00.002-04:00

Well it has been awhile. I have been wanting to post about something that I came across. My lack of post has really mirrored my life. I don't feel like I have done a whole lot with Liliana, in terms of on purpose teaching or using her materials already purchased. We both miss our little 'school' time (i don't call it that, but she refers to it as 'project' time, or "mom, can we do a project)...for her doing a project can mean using her Kumon cutting book which teaches her how to cut various shapes and styles (lines, wiggles, round circles, etc), or her Kumon sticker/paste book, which, after an item is cut out she has to glue it into the right spot to complete a picture (we have used these books all up, they came in handy for stake/general conference), we also have a Kumon Folding book, a little more challenging for her (to fold on a line indicated to make a picture), so that one is not used up yet. I ordered these from Discount homeschooling and will order part two of all of them, which is just building on part ones skills...
What I really wanted to post about is, www.sonlight.com
I would recommend requesting a catalog...They have curriculum's, but the neat thing is in their catalog they list every book/resource used in each particular curriculum (so you can check it out from the library, or maybe you already have it). What is also really neat is that you can buy separately a 'teachers' manual, see sample at www.sonlight.com/samples.html
I plan on getting a manual, life is not as predictable as I would like, and I don't always have prep time for homeschooling, but this makes sure you already know what you can do the next day (but still offers flexibility) and it is not pricey, the teachers manual for pre-k/K is only 21.00 (for the whole year). If you do decide to order a whole program they let you try it out every day for a whole year (kids grubby hands all over the books, writing all over everything, etc...) and if it doesn't work you can return everything for a refund, no matter what condition it is in...
This catalog will become a huge resource for me, maybe you can also find some great ides in it...enjoy

Sorry...I Gotta Go.

2008-04-22T22:19:00.003-04:00

I am sorry to do this so suddenly, although the decision wasn't sudden. I am withdrawing from the group. I will not be homeschooling next year and I am trying to get myself situated with my schooling as well. Sorry for my discontinued participation. On the other hand the blog is still something I am interested in since educatiion doesn't end at public school or even begin there. Home is where it is at...

Things To Do - Green Up

2008-04-18T18:40:00.002-04:00

It seems we're all getting busy and this site isn't staying updated. Sorry to anyone who waits to read. I'm sure a lot of it has to do with the wonderful weather we've been having. I'd love to hear about some learning adventures, or science experiments or anything else. Everything we share helps to add another person in their quest for good education.

Our family went out for a walk the other day and the kids took notice of the trash that was no longer buried under piles and piles of snow! They wanted to clean it up, so we got a trash bag and cleaned as we went. It was a wonderful opportunity for them to serve the community and beautify the earth. We even talked about how this earth is a gift from our Heavenly Father and how we should not only be grateful for it, but respectful of it too.

L.L.Bean

2008-04-11T16:56:00.002-04:00

I just wanted to let you guys know that L.L.Bean is hosting a Kid's Fun Festival. It will be held from April 24th through April 27th and all the activities are free. I am planning on going on Thursday but may change my mind and go on Friday. If you need more info, let me know.

sale

2008-04-07T20:34:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone,
Well here are the details for the sale I posted about earlier. Let me know if you think you might be coming so I can look out for you there.

Spring Homeschool Books and Supplies 'Swap and Sell'
When: Saturday April 12th
Where: at St. Nicholas Episcopal Church
350 US RT #1 in Scarborough (across from the Scarborough Downs entrance)
Time: 2:00pm to 4:00pm

ALso, let me know if you need directions..