Well for those of you that know me you know that language arts isn't my strongest subject to teach from spelling to grammar! I do try my best and I do love to read and listen to stories with my boys. We read a lot of different stories and try to work our spelling,writing and grammar to go along with our favorite stories. This last week because of the holiday season we did "A Christmas Carol" which we borrowed an audio version from the library so that we ALL could enjoy the story. While we listened we did our art project for the day, making our gingerbread train(yes a kits but fin all the same!). By the mid point of the story we were done making the gingerbread train and on to EATING IT!
After the story was done we started talking about what happened during the story and started making our spelling lists. We came across several words that were hard for my 3rd grader to say or spell out so we found a compound word games for him to practice. I have to tell you that I had as much fun as he did with these games, they were well put together and very entertaining! We stayed on the site for a long time just playing that game and others that looked like fun. One of the things that I love about homeschooling my boys is that if we get off subject there is no bell to stop our learning fun. I tell a lot of the moms that I talk to that,especially if your kids have ever went to public school, that go with the fun and the learning will come.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Taking stock in what we did this year
I am having a hard time believing that this year is almost over seems like just yesterday we were celebrating 2010! But atlas, 2010 is almost gone and now it is time to take stock in everything that we have learned this year. (both good and bad!) I have learned that my boys do well when I give them jobs or tasks to do, that they are only too happy to complete tasks this way. But what about them taking it on themselves to do lessons that they know are coming due. (without me always saying something) My boys, a 3rd and 8th grader, are developing well in almost every area that I test them in. Something that I like to do to make sure that they are completing their assignments is to go in a check in on their daily log in on our favorite online teaching program, Time4Learning.
I love being able to check in quickly on what they have been doing (or not doing sometimes) during this busy time of the year. This way I can go into further discussion with them on the things that they aren't quite getting, like for example.. my youngest was having problems with the difference between rhyme and rhythm . After explaining what they were, we went onto a learning game for him to practice a bit more on how to tell the difference between the two. This is just one of the reasons that I love being able to have a backup way to "check up" on my boys progress. It also allows me to see areas that they might even know that they are having a problem in.
I love being able to check in quickly on what they have been doing (or not doing sometimes) during this busy time of the year. This way I can go into further discussion with them on the things that they aren't quite getting, like for example.. my youngest was having problems with the difference between rhyme and rhythm . After explaining what they were, we went onto a learning game for him to practice a bit more on how to tell the difference between the two. This is just one of the reasons that I love being able to have a backup way to "check up" on my boys progress. It also allows me to see areas that they might even know that they are having a problem in.
How Happy Holidays become Homeschool Lessons....
Turning the chaos of the holidays into a homeschool experience! Well, once again... another year has flown by and the holiday season is upon us! WHEW! Where did the year go... my baby is going to be 14 in 2+ weeks....*sniffle. Christmas is around the corner and this means that we get a break from homeschooling! But, I am not going to let the opportunity pass to make this a homeschool experience. My 7th grader and 8th grader are old enough to help and this in itself presents an excuse for Mom aka ME to turn it into learning! -Insert evil laugh here- The long list of holiday baking is a Science experiment as well as Math! You need to read the recipes and understand the abbreviations aka Language Arts! You mess up, then the whole creation is a disaster. Wrapping presents is definitely math! The item is an object and you need to figure out the area of paper needed! And the story of Christmas could be considered Social Studies depending upon your point of view. And whatever else I can think of to turn into lessons! So, despite my boys being off of "homeschool" for 2 weeks..... Mom will be sneaky and their "helping" will be using the lessons that they have learned to help me! And as far as I am concerned it is a double bonus because I do not have to do it all alone, plus I get some great one on one time with my boys! SCORE!
Happy Holidays Everyone!
Happy Holidays Everyone!
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