Teaching Moments

Still struggling with her lack of motivation to pursue anything on her own, but there are moments that do come and go. After her reading the Helen Keller story (4 times) and seeing the movie, we're learning some sign language.

Another "educational" project that is more about character building has us going for walks and picking up beer cans and bottles. Conversations are all over the place, and she's gaining an appreciation for helping the environment on a personal level. The added bonus is that we get 10c for each bottle or can. Our plan is to collect all these dimes and try to save up to adopt a tiger through the World Wildlife Fund. She's really excited. Our local roads have never looked better, though I'd be a little happier NOT to find 15 beer containers within 1 km stretch of rural road. Not good for a few reasons.

Anyway, I'm a crappy blogger and will likely start using this page more for offering up more secular worksheets, ideas and unit studies that I've been building. There are so few options for getting secular material that I would rather focus on that instead of my own personal chattering. So stay tuned for some new stuff.

March Break Blizzard

Today's social afternoon is cancelled due to yet another blizzard, and my work schedule is seriously hurting. I don't think my clients care about weather, homeschooling or March Break disruptions.

Thankfully, my wonderful other half has my girl engaged in a big LEGO project. I've written 500 words so far! I'm half way to my goal for today!  I hate having to turn the "don't bug me" sign on but I really don't have much choice. I wish I could be a full-time homeschooler and leave some of these other things behind.

I hope to start blogging and doing my own work again soon, but sometimes paying work is kind of necessary to keep the budget out of the toilet.

Note to self

We're making cardboard armor today to help learn about Middle Ages knights. She's been dying to do it, but since she can't really cut through corrugated cardboard on her own, I'm doing most of the work. Interest and attention are quickly waning.

Next time, plan out a project that she can be more hands-on for. Great ideas aren't so great when I have to do all the work.

off to hot glue!

Happy Birthday to Me

Taking it "easy" today. Still managing to spend most of my time researching future units and creating new worksheets. Creating your own piecemeal curriculum is a lot tougher than I had thought, I have to admit.

Today we continued with equivalent fractions and skipped grammar since I was busy opening presents this morning. A look at heraldry and coats of arms took up most of the afternoon, with Em using a bunch of clipart and blanks to create her own lovely piece of artwork. Adding in some French vocabulary about family relationships has rounded out our day. She's finishing up by reading another King Arthur short story.

I am a little worried about what the heck we'll do once the big Middle Ages unit is done. I think I will add in my own science unit or our days are going to be pretty light. Solar system or states of matter....

Just a share

Wanted to share a great little article about some common homeschooling fears, particularly for folks with single children.

7 Fears about Homeschooling

I agreed with just about everyone of these, except that my daughter is 9 rather than a kindergardener.

Back to it

We lost a day of work last week due to Family Day which threw my schedule off way more than it should have. We still had fun with some snowshoeing though. Then another lamb was born unexpectedly, which interrupted another day and the fact that the mother ewe needed a vet call was another problem too. So this week should be smoother. Let's see how that works out....

Middle Ages are going nicely. I do like the unit study concept where we can really look at a topic in depth. This week is more about knights now that we've covered castles. Last week, Em built an impressive box castle for an afternoon project.

I saved up boxes for months  :)  Here is our castle model, complete with working drawbridge at the front, two watchtowers with crenelations, an open baily and a secure keep at the back. She's been building Lego additions ever since.

Need to find a typing program for her and also get started on a little research "paper". She needs work on collecting facts and putting them all together, knowing what to keep and what to leave out. I've been stalling but am determined to start this week. The topic is Eleanor of Aquitaine . She read a great fictionalized diary about her life (check the link), and she is actually a distant relative. The interest is there, so I am hoping that there is motivation to do some work too.

Ok, now I'm just rambling and not getting my own work done.

Getting the Vibe

I seem to be changing a little when it comes to our day-to-day rhythms. Letting go of some specifics and details, and letting our day flow how it does. Not quite ready to ditch the plans and schedules yet but I'm starting to really enjoy the freedom.

Spent a fun evening going ice sledding in the dark a couple nights ago, and had a grand time. Between runs, we looked at the stars and pointed out the 3 constellations we know (note: learn more constellations!). Days have more free reading and I take time for errands when I feel like it.

She's now getting into fractions, improving her cursive and starting to do typing practice too. Grammar is going to take a backseat to a broader writing plan. Stories and short essays, including editing and formatting are what I'm thinking but we'll see how that works out.

The middle ages are really fun and I'm not so stressed about all the specifics anymore. Plenty of books are around, and I have a handful of interesting hands-on projects waiting in the wings.

Life has brought my some unexpected challenges lately which has led me to consider putting her back in school next year. Still not sure how I feel about that.