This time of year...

causes most home ed blogs to have long bouts of silence. I try to plan ahead and have at least some interesting links, videos or something up as I know that the warm weather, outdoor activities and outdoor responsibilities take up a good majority of my day - especially with CJ on the road so often -, but I thought I would take just a few minutes to write a sort of wrap up to our 2011-2012 educational year.

KM has stayed the course and continues to excel as she has for quite sometime now. She is really at a point that she is taking charge of her education, enjoys the lessons that she has chosen and works pretty independently. She has been very busy with volunteering, activities at the library, and finishing up her spring session lessons. She is finally feeling better and we have been able to be out and about quite a bit. She should be able to finish things up over the next week so that she will have the full month of June as a break from book work and will begin her summer lessons the week after the 4th of July. She is really looking forward to getting into her cosmetology books, working on her GED essay skills and to continue studying Japanese.

DN will be working over the summer and things will be a bit different for him in the fall. He will begin working toward his GED with no extra studies. We have all tried to peak his interest in something, but it all just seems to be a waste of time. I don't know if he just truly doesn't know what he is interested in or if he just has no authentic interest in anything. His retention skills are extremely limited to things that we have physically done - certain science experiments - and/or covered repeatedly - the basic information about the revolutionary war - and then he often needs hints or multiple choice to get the answers correct. He wants his hand-held through every step and at nearly 16, that is just not reasonable when there is no positive outcome. It really is frustrating for all involved and feels as though it is just a waste of time. I have to wonder if the situation would be different if he were here all the time, but as that is not an option, I try not to let my thoughts dwell in that arena for any length of time.

Before I get attacked by anyone who might say something like - "Just because he cannot regurgitate the information for a test, doesn't mean that he is not getting something out of it." I want to clarify a few things; first of all I fully acknowledge that this is true, he is getting something out of it, at the very least he is being exposed to things that he otherwise would not encounter. Secondly he not only doesn't remember things in a "sit down and take a test" situation, but even basic conversation or contextual situations he doesn't recall information that he read about, watched a show about, did a project on or even discussed at dinner  - I don't want to get into disclosing the specifics of the information, but believe me I have tried everything and been quite astonished at the things that have gone in one ear and out the other. Thirdly, I am quite aware that all kids learn differently and at different ages, so this is not a "you need to know this by this time type of situation," by any means. I have tried strewing books on things that he has mentioned having interest in, going on field trips to places he says he wants to go or that have things we think he might like, going to the library to look up information on a topic of interest, searching the internet for the answer to something that we weren't sure about, all to no avail. So for this child, who is unlikely to go to a four year college that would accept a transcript for a home educated student the GED really seems to be the best route to the next stage of his life. It will give him a wide variety of options, including starting out in a community college and then moving on to a four year if he find it necessary, but not limit or cause him to be looked down upon if his application just says "homeschool graduate." Also focusing specifically on GED related materials will free up his time and lessen the stress on his relationship with all the adults in his life that feel as though they are pushing him and although there is no resistance, there is no results. This will give him a concrete end goal. 

2012-2013 Ed Outline

KM has been quite under the weather over the last few weeks and feeling like she didn't want to go anywhere, which gave me a TON of time to get next year's education outline completed for both kids - YIPPEE!!! AS I ALWAYS SAY - I don't have this carved in stone, but I feel SOOOOO much more confident when I have it all planned out. DN will be 11th grade next year and KM will be 10th grade, however since KM is a bit ahead and DN has some remedial work to catch up on, there a few areas where they are working on the same things and a number of areas where KM is actually doing higher level work than DN. DN will also be working this summer and therefore will have a more intense schedule over the fall, winter and spring sessions.

Education Outline

Summer 12 – Spring 13 Sessions

Subject	Summer '12	Fall '12	Winter '13	Spring '13
ELA - Literature & Writing	Historical Fiction - K Steck-Vaughn GED: Language Arts, Writing  - K	Movies as Literature - Both Steck-Vaughn G: Language Arts, Writing  - K Glencoe Literature - D	Movies as Literature -    Both Steck-Vaughn G: Language Arts, Writing  - K Glencoe Literature - D	Movies as Literature -    Both Steck-Vaughn G: Language Arts, Writing  - K  Glencoe Literature - D
Math	Hands on Banking for Teens - K	Applying Algebra (Applied Math Series)  - K SF Algebra Book 1 - D	Applying Algebra (Applied Math Series)  - K SF Algebra Book 1 - D SF Algebra Book 2 - D	Applying Algebra (Applied Math Series)     - K SF Algebra Book 2 - D
Science		Chemistry (Science) -    Both Janice VanCleave's Chemistry for Every Kid: 101 Easy Experiments that Really Work - Both	Chemistry (Science) - Both Janice VanCleave's Chemistry for Every Kid: 101 Easy Experiments that Really Work - Both	Chemistry (Science) - Both Janice VanCleave's Chemistry for Every Kid: 101 Easy Experiments that Really Work - Both
Health & P.E.	Bowling - K ExerBeat - K	Bowling – K ExerBeat - K	Bowling - K ExerBeat - K	Bowling - K ExerBeat - K
Social Sciences – Current Events, U.S. History & Geography	A History of US Books 5-9 - K Story of the US DVD - K U.S. History – Basic Not Boring - K	A History of US Books 5-9 - K Story of the US DVD - Both U.S. History – Basic Not Boring - K Hip Hop History - U.S. - D Living Books & Historical Fiction - D People and Events: 1865-Present - Both CNN Student News - Both Election Study	A History of US Books 5-9 - K Story of the US DVD - Both U.S. History – Basic Not Boring - K Hip Hop History - U.S. - D Living Books & Historical Fiction - D People and Events: 1865-Present - Both CNN Student News - Both	A History of US Books 5-9 - K Story of the US DVD - Both U.S. History – Basic Not Boring - K Hip Hop History - U.S. - D Living Books & Historical Fiction - D People and Events: 1865-Present - Both CNN Student News - Both
Elective	Milady's Standard Cosmetology - K  Theory Workbook-- K Practical Workbook - K Japanese from Zero!  -    K	Cosmetology - K  Meet the Great Composers  - Both Stossel in the Classroom - Civics - D	Cosmetology - K  Meet the Great Composers  - Both Stossel in the Classroom - Civics - D	Cosmetology - K  Meet the Great Composers  - Both Stossel in the Classroom - Civics - D

Here is what the planned schedules will look like -

KM - Summer Schedule ~~~

KM - Fall Schedule ~~~~~~~~

DN - Fall Schedule ~~~~~~~

Backyard Science

Baking soda rockets and microscopes -----

Sketching at the park -------

Pooh sticks and snake identifications--------

What could be better on an incredible spring day!!!

Free Science Projects for Kids from Home Science Tools

The Home Science Tools site is one of my first stops for anything science related. They have a fantastic Free Science Projects for Kids section that includes project ideas in every area - Biology, Chemistry, Microscope Projects, Dissection Guides and so much more!

Weekly Update - Looking Ahead to SPRING!!!

This past week is the last one of our winter session and things went really smoothly. This was DN's first full session and though there was some trips and a few stumbles all and all it seems as though we are all getting our feet firmly planted beneath us! He was here over the weekend and finished up things smoothly and with no issue. He also completed a few "pre-tests" in writing and in U.S. Geography so that I know exactly what I am working with. He really surprised himself on the writing evaluation as he thought he was going to do poorly on the entire thing, but only a few areas - 4 out of the 21 - that he needs to work on. As for U.S. geography, we have a ways to go, but I think it will all come together without too much of a problem if he puts his mind to it. He was at home for the rest of this week and will be going on the road with CJ next week. This should be a very interesting experience for the both of them, as they have never spent that much time together - 24 hours a day in close quarters for an undetermined number of days. I am confident that this will help them to understand each other a bit better.

KM finished up some areas, but will not be taking a full break over the next two weeks as she has to complete her Literature Skype class which doesn't end until 3/28. She has also decided to keep watching the Liberty Kids episodes and may need to do one or two other things as she is HOPING to have her turn to on the road with CJ the first week of April. This will also be an interesting endeavor as has never been away from me for more than two nights and although I know she will be fine and CJ will take good care of her, I will also be staying at home all alone for the FIRST TIME EVER - dun, dun, DUN! I will be fine, but will probably not know what to do with myself after the first day. I bet they will come back and the whole house will be rearranged, organized and unrecognizable.

As we were ending our winter studies, this included the ant and earthworm habitat studies, so it was time to release the critters. Although I know it is not recommended that you release harvester ants in our area as they are sure to not survive, there were only two left and we really didn't think that it would be long before they would be gone as well. They seemed so sad and lonely in there. As for the earthworms, they were going strong and KM had a great time making me jump and squirm nearly as much as the worms were - I know it is an irrational fear, but I think it is more that I just don't LIKE them than that I am afraid of them. So we released all of the critters close to home and right into our compost container. KM was delighted to see all the worms that were already crawling in there and felt Herbert and his friends would be in good company there. We will be freecycling the Anthill and remaining supplies so that another family can enjoy learning about these incredibly complex creatures. For next session we will be hatching frogs and are awaiting the arrival of the embryos.

I had a personal break through this week that I want to mention - I FINALLY learned how to skate backwards. Yes at 33, my 14 year old daughter found the key to unlocking my ability to skate in reverse. I have been trying all season to figure out how it is done. I watched others, I tried it myself, I listened to suggestions, but for some reason I just could not get more than two or three little movements before I would be in a dead stop or a spin. Well today we got to free skate a few minutes early and had the entire place to ourselves. We got right out into the middle of the ice and started playing around, spinning, turning, attempting to go backwards and suddenly I was doing it a little bit more than I had before. KM was making different suggestions to me and I was trying all the different things when suddenly I had made it from one side of the rink to other, it was jerky and no where near smooth, but I made it. At this point some other skaters arrived and I was nervous about them being behind me. When I would glance over my shoulder my whole body would move causing me to feel unsteady and catch my skate. I just kept trying though. KM was very supportive and started skating in front of me to keep an eye out when she suddenly said, "Move like the samba"  - WELL DUH!!! That was it, I moved like I was doing the Samba and I skated backwards flawlessly. That was my key, she kept trying and finally found a way for me to understand what she was doing.  I was so proud of myself, but I was even more proud of her. She didn't get frustrated or give up on me, she just kept trying. I feel like this is what I do every day with her and DN - I try to find just the right words, programs, approach, resources, games etc. to help them reach their potential and her she was doing the same for me!

And on that note here are some pics from the week -

U.S. History Lesson Plans - Screenshots

As I have gotten a number of emails after posting the resources that we have used for our U.S. History study from people asking about how we implemented it I figured the easy thing to do would be to take screenshots from the Homeschool Tracker program to show exactly what we are doing and here they are --

Just a few notes --- We have all reading and worksheets assignment due on Wed, but we tend to spread them out over the course of the week which allows for extra flexibility in our schedule. Some experiments, activities and movies are listed on Mondays so that KM and DN could work on or watch them together, as they are both following the same time line, but DN is not using the Story of US textbooks at all. We take a two week book break in March - starting this next week - but KM decided that she wanted to keep watching Liberty Kids during this time and so that is why there is two weeks of just the show listed. The "Book 2 Part 3" references are based on the break down used in the Assessment Book and has worked really well for us. I will be adding additional historical movies and documentaries on things like Lewis and Clark, Westward expansion etc. as they come along in the Story of US series. I had been trying to read ahead, but just have not had time to do that so I get a general idea and plug in something ahead, but for the most part we read a section together and then once I know what it is fully covering I will look up on netflix or in our library for corresponding and relevant materials. Hope that makes sense. I am more than happy to answer any questions anyone has, but it is really helpful to others if you leave them in the comments section!