Arielle had her second literature class this week. She finished her book Invincible Louisa on time, but since she ended right before Christmas, it was difficult to get her to begin writing the three page report. What kid wants to do homework over Christmas break?
It isn't the mechanics of writing that challenges Arielle. She is fine with grammar and sentence construction. The problem is getting her to put her thoughts and ideas in logical order. She also wants to make her composition as brief as possible. I'm sure it is just a learning process and maybe if I compared her writing to another child's of her age, I might find she is doing quite well.
As she wrote and re-wrote, I helped her to take her good ideas and arrange them to flow smoothly. She was frustrated with me. But I reminded her how lucky she is to be able to compose on a computer because when I was young I had to write and re-write with pen to paper and if I made an error, I had to start again. I'm sure I never did as many drafts as Arielle did, though. By Wednesday morning, she had written a great paper.
Part of her assignment was to dress in a costume portraying her character and give an oral presentation to her class. We looked at pictures of Civil War era attire for women. I fixed her hair in a severe bun and she wore a button-down blouse with one of my long skirts. She was perfect for the role! But she wasn't happy and would not let me take her picture. After all, the outfit was not "cool."
With her sour attitude, Arielle went to her class. She came home glowing! Her teacher said she did very well and that she wrote an excellent paper. Good job, Arielle!
Friday, January 8, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
Happy New Year!
We were back to school today after a wonderful Christmas break that was relaxing and fun. In the past I did not allow the girls to take off the whole week like public school kids do. It seemed foolish to waste time when we could be clocking our days. We would fulfill our requirements by May and start an early summer. But as the girls get older I think they need this winter break. I think I did too. We had a successful first day back.
The girls' older sister who is a hair dresser cut Liana's long, long hair yesterday. Liana looks adorable! We joked with her that she looks like a new girl (and maybe she lost the attitude with the hair?) We could only hope. If today is any indication, yes, she did. She was cheerful and worked hard with any complaint. At one point I asked her to do an assignment that usually would follow with her whining, but no, not today. Right before Christmas she finished an adapted version of Oliver Twist and today it was time to choose a new book. Even that decision is often accompanied by moans of anguish and thumbing through the choices to make sure the book isn't too long and has large print and pictures. Today I gave her a stack of suggestions and to my amazement she chose the longest one--On the Banks of Plum Creek. I am excited to read this book again myself! Either Liana reads her boo aloud to me or she reads alone, but I pre-read so I can ask her questions to make sure she is comprehending. So in any case, I will be hearing this book again--one of my favorites from childhood.
Now Arielle was another story today. Her literature class meets on Wednesday and she is down and out about the report she has to do on Invincible Louisa. Writing just does not come easy for her. I think it really bothers her that she can't just breeze through a report because other subjects are not challenging at all for her. So poor Arielle was at the computer much of the day, writing, editing, and re-writing. Her reward for finishing will be to read anything she wants for the next couple of weeks, her choice entirely.
I wrote about Teaching Textbooks the last post. We are about ready to order the next in the series for each of the girls. Pre-Algebra costs $184.90! Wow! That is not in the budget. I just bid on a used one on ebay.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Teaching Textbooks
I've had mixed feelings about the popular math computer program, Teaching Textbooks. Arielle completed the sixth grade program last year and I thought it seemed very simple. She didn't seem to be challenged at all. It was easy for me because I just let her do the lessons on her own. I didn't pay much attention to her work, but could check the gradebooks each day. I felt kind of guilty. Arielle MUCH preferred this to Saxon Math that she had done previously, so reluctantly I ordered the next program for her.
In a few more weeks she will have completed Teaching Textbook's 7th grade program. This time I am not allowing her to do the lessons on her own. I sit with her every day. The lessons are becoming increasingly more difficult and Arielle really has to think. She is doing a great deal of work with percents and decimals. I also ordered the just published 4th grade program for Liana last spring. It is not as advanced as the Abeka she did last year, but with her learning style, it is perfect for her.
Here is what I like about Teaching Textbooks:
Every lesson begins with a lecture only a few minutes long. It doesn't really take long to teach a new concept. There are practice questions and then about 20-22 problems to work. The authors use a spiral approach so there is lots of review every single day. There is a good balance of challenging problems and easy problems. This is especially good for my easily frustrated child, Liana. The easy problems build confidence too. The voices of the men speaking are friendly and helpful. I think that's important because the girls are listening to these guys every day. On the 4th grade level there are periodic drills in addition and multiplication. These drills are in an exciting format, kind of like a game show. Liana, who despises timed drills, doesn't complain too much about these.
I've noticed something interesting watching Liana work on her math. She hardly ever uses paper! Even with addition and multiplication problems with carrying, she does them in her head. She even does borrowing mentally! She looks at the problem on the screen and then she types in each number as she completes each computation, from right to left, just as if she is working it on paper. Even when the problems are written horizontally instead of vertically, she can still do them without paper. She is learning math in a whole new way. I never could do any math in my head.
Because we worked on math all summer, Arielle will soon be ready for the next program--Pre-Algebra. And Liana in just a few more weeks will begin the 5th grade program. I am ordering both from Teaching Textbooks.
In a few more weeks she will have completed Teaching Textbook's 7th grade program. This time I am not allowing her to do the lessons on her own. I sit with her every day. The lessons are becoming increasingly more difficult and Arielle really has to think. She is doing a great deal of work with percents and decimals. I also ordered the just published 4th grade program for Liana last spring. It is not as advanced as the Abeka she did last year, but with her learning style, it is perfect for her.
Here is what I like about Teaching Textbooks:
Every lesson begins with a lecture only a few minutes long. It doesn't really take long to teach a new concept. There are practice questions and then about 20-22 problems to work. The authors use a spiral approach so there is lots of review every single day. There is a good balance of challenging problems and easy problems. This is especially good for my easily frustrated child, Liana. The easy problems build confidence too. The voices of the men speaking are friendly and helpful. I think that's important because the girls are listening to these guys every day. On the 4th grade level there are periodic drills in addition and multiplication. These drills are in an exciting format, kind of like a game show. Liana, who despises timed drills, doesn't complain too much about these.
I've noticed something interesting watching Liana work on her math. She hardly ever uses paper! Even with addition and multiplication problems with carrying, she does them in her head. She even does borrowing mentally! She looks at the problem on the screen and then she types in each number as she completes each computation, from right to left, just as if she is working it on paper. Even when the problems are written horizontally instead of vertically, she can still do them without paper. She is learning math in a whole new way. I never could do any math in my head.
Because we worked on math all summer, Arielle will soon be ready for the next program--Pre-Algebra. And Liana in just a few more weeks will begin the 5th grade program. I am ordering both from Teaching Textbooks.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
New Week, Bad Start
The girls' school work has been disrupted over the past five weeks because of Fred's injury. We left in the middle of the day to pick him up from his school and then had to resume in the afternoon. We had Thanksgiving the next week, along with out-of-town guests and lots of cooking and cleaning and shopping. But here we are in a new week! Fred finished his classes and besides, he's driving now! I had big plans for the girls in getting back to our routine.
But Liana is growling. Arielle is grumbling. They are bickering. It's impossible for them to learn when they are in that frame of mind. Lord, help! I throw up my helplessness in this situation to heaven. Then I remember the book my friend Leslie let me borrow. A book we didn't even look at yet because we have been too busy.
The book is called Poetry Speaks to Children, edited by Elise Paschen. It comes with a CD of poems actually read aloud by the poets. I bring down the little CD player and open the book. (Amidst sighs from Arielle. She says she hates poetry. Liana, however, looks a bit interested.) We begin. We read a couple of the poems ourselves, written by some poets I don't know, but they are cute children's poems. Then we listen to the CD and hear the author's intended rhythm and cadence. We hear Robert Frost's actual voice reading his beautiful poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening." And then another poem about a wolf reading fairy tales at night in a pine forest. Then, we begin school. Both girls are calm. Liana's blanket of frustration has lifted. Poetry certainly speaks to this child.
But Liana is growling. Arielle is grumbling. They are bickering. It's impossible for them to learn when they are in that frame of mind. Lord, help! I throw up my helplessness in this situation to heaven. Then I remember the book my friend Leslie let me borrow. A book we didn't even look at yet because we have been too busy.
The book is called Poetry Speaks to Children, edited by Elise Paschen. It comes with a CD of poems actually read aloud by the poets. I bring down the little CD player and open the book. (Amidst sighs from Arielle. She says she hates poetry. Liana, however, looks a bit interested.) We begin. We read a couple of the poems ourselves, written by some poets I don't know, but they are cute children's poems. Then we listen to the CD and hear the author's intended rhythm and cadence. We hear Robert Frost's actual voice reading his beautiful poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening." And then another poem about a wolf reading fairy tales at night in a pine forest. Then, we begin school. Both girls are calm. Liana's blanket of frustration has lifted. Poetry certainly speaks to this child.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Beautiful Book
We have begun a study of China-- geography, history, and culture. I am right now reading Life and Death in Shanghai by Nien Cheng, so the Cultural Revolution is on my mind. Maybe that seems a strange place to begin history with the girls, but since I am studying it myself, it is fresh on my mind and I can teach it better now. I am determined my daughters will know the truth about the history of their native country.
I wondered, are there books for children on the Cultural Revolution? Yes! We've read two so far. My favorite is a beautifully written and illustrated memoir called Little Leap Forward: A Boy in Beijing by Guo Yue and Clare Farrow. The story is tender and poetic, with nothing too disturbing for children. We also read Mao and Me by Chen Jiang Hong, a true story about the author's childhood and his family during this time. This book is a little more graphic, but considering we have been reading about our own bloody Civil War, the book was appropriate for my girls.
I also found a book called Sparrow Girl by Sara Pennypacker. It is written like a folk tale about the time Mao declared sparrows the enemy of the farmer and announced The Great Sparrow Campaign to kill them all. Of course, this contributed to the great famine in China, but that is not addressed in the book. It is sweet story about a little girl who hides some birds in a barn over the winter.
I just searched the library website of our local inter-county loan system (it's fabulous for homeschooling moms) and ordered a few more books about other periods of Chinese history. The girls remember the stories of real people. Facts and dull text are soon forgotten.
I wondered, are there books for children on the Cultural Revolution? Yes! We've read two so far. My favorite is a beautifully written and illustrated memoir called Little Leap Forward: A Boy in Beijing by Guo Yue and Clare Farrow. The story is tender and poetic, with nothing too disturbing for children. We also read Mao and Me by Chen Jiang Hong, a true story about the author's childhood and his family during this time. This book is a little more graphic, but considering we have been reading about our own bloody Civil War, the book was appropriate for my girls.
I also found a book called Sparrow Girl by Sara Pennypacker. It is written like a folk tale about the time Mao declared sparrows the enemy of the farmer and announced The Great Sparrow Campaign to kill them all. Of course, this contributed to the great famine in China, but that is not addressed in the book. It is sweet story about a little girl who hides some birds in a barn over the winter.
I just searched the library website of our local inter-county loan system (it's fabulous for homeschooling moms) and ordered a few more books about other periods of Chinese history. The girls remember the stories of real people. Facts and dull text are soon forgotten.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
A New Routine
Kids are so adaptable. We are making do with our new routine for school. This has been another great learning experience for me in letting go of my preconceived ideas of what school should be and look like. The girls are still learning despite our change of circumstances.
First of all, we've changed bedtime! I never thought I would do that, but since it wasn't working for Liana, we decided to do things differently. I kept thinking about what our doctor said, that Liana might just have a different inner clock, that she might be what we call a night owl. So bedtime is now 10pm. That's a little late for me, but miraculously, it has been working fine and Liana's sleep issues seem to have disappeared. She wakes up cheerfully on her own around 8am, so I know she is getting plenty of sleep. Problem solved!
We still begin school at 9am. That way we can get in all the core subjects before Fred calls us to pick him up from school. The girls certainly don't like the long ride, but we just got The Secret Garden on audiotape and all of us are enjoying this beautiful story. The girls have read abridged versions before, but to hear the original has been a joy.
By the time we get back home, maybe run errands on the way and then eat lunch, it is very hard to go back to school! But having language arts and math done, I feel we can do projects or reading in a relaxed way. We're almost finished with our study of the Civil War and I suggested they make a timeline to tie it all together. Arielle readily started to work on hers. Liana groaned, "Why can't I make a Civil War lapbook instead?" Well, that's fine with me. She is working on one for her insect study, so I didn't think she wanted to start a new one. We looked at one on-line: http://www.jimmiescollage.com/ Jimmie has great homeschooling resources! Her daughter's lapbook provided inspiration for Liana, but she wanted to do it her own way and set to work.
The girls spent about two hours on their projects. It was way beyond what I required of them that day. Arielle finished her timeline. It is so large I could only show a portion of it in one picture, and her small, precise handwriting doesn't show up well in a photo. Liana has more plans for her lapbook. I will post pictures of that when she is done.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Changes
"It is well for us that, amidst all the variableness of life, there is One whom change cannot affect, One whose heart can never alter..." Charles Spurgeon.
God is teaching me to be flexible. Our school has been turned upside down and we are adjusting to the changes little by little. Fred fell and seriously broke his leg a week ago. It will be at least 6 weeks until he heals, so we can't just give up on school. We have to work around it. I have to juggle doctor appointments and caring for my husband along with teaching my daughters. The girls and I need to leave the house between 11am and 12pm every day to pick Fred up from his classes--about a 40 minute drive. Then we must drive back home and run Fred's errands. The first few days I was so exhausted I couldn't do any school work in the afternoon with the girls. But we are forming a new schedule. Late afternoon work, reading in the evenings, even some creative, light work on the weekends. The girls protested about that, but they realize too that we all must adjust.
In times like this I think how much easier it would be if the girls were in a public classroom. If I just sent them off to school and then did what needed to be done with Fred without them. But I think it is good that they are part of the process. They learn how a family adapts to injury or illness, the concessions we have to make, and how we deal with fatigue and impatience. They see how we press on and serve each other. The girls don't need to be protected from this; they need to participate in it.
In the midst of life's changes, it is good to know that God doesn't change. His character remains the same and His promises still hold true, no matter what goes on in our little physical world. We call upon Him and He answers. Everything will work out.
"I am the Lord; I change not." Malachi 3:6.
God is teaching me to be flexible. Our school has been turned upside down and we are adjusting to the changes little by little. Fred fell and seriously broke his leg a week ago. It will be at least 6 weeks until he heals, so we can't just give up on school. We have to work around it. I have to juggle doctor appointments and caring for my husband along with teaching my daughters. The girls and I need to leave the house between 11am and 12pm every day to pick Fred up from his classes--about a 40 minute drive. Then we must drive back home and run Fred's errands. The first few days I was so exhausted I couldn't do any school work in the afternoon with the girls. But we are forming a new schedule. Late afternoon work, reading in the evenings, even some creative, light work on the weekends. The girls protested about that, but they realize too that we all must adjust.
In times like this I think how much easier it would be if the girls were in a public classroom. If I just sent them off to school and then did what needed to be done with Fred without them. But I think it is good that they are part of the process. They learn how a family adapts to injury or illness, the concessions we have to make, and how we deal with fatigue and impatience. They see how we press on and serve each other. The girls don't need to be protected from this; they need to participate in it.
In the midst of life's changes, it is good to know that God doesn't change. His character remains the same and His promises still hold true, no matter what goes on in our little physical world. We call upon Him and He answers. Everything will work out.
"I am the Lord; I change not." Malachi 3:6.
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