This week I decided to do an experiment. Sort of Unschooling. I am going to have two hours of the day when I direct their activity and the rest of the day they will have plenty of time to be on their own choosing what they do. There are a few stipulations. They must read and write something and they must record everything they do in a spiral notebook.
I posted a list of ideas on the refrigerator. I brought home several goodies from the homeschool convention. For the boys I got comic books, a couple of books about Runt the Brave, a packet of state maps with the state flowers and birds and a couple of packs of state flag stickers (the boys are really into maps), a cut-out medieval castle, The Field and Forest Handybook with instructions for a bridge over a creek that Luke has been interested in making. A nature book, a soft dolly with clothes in a purse-like case, and a US state coloring book for Annalise. I also got a state bird and flower coloring book for Hope. Kezzi bought her own stack of books while we were there.
I'm going to attempt what is sometimes called "strewing" in unschooling circles, which is leaving interesting things to do lying around. I'm going to get down that cool puzzle on the Revolution that I've been saving until we formally study that time period. Why wait when they have been begging for it? If this works, I will be watching for areas of interest and try to provide materials that they need and looking for creative fun ways to introduce other things too. I'll still have my 2 hours a day to read aloud or require other kinds of work.
So far this morning I am happy with what I see the boys doing. They have each already read their comic book and have plans to trade and read each other's. They are currently happily engaged with their state maps at the table. The bird field guides are out and the colored pencils. So far, so good.
Because this will be too much to keep track of here, I'll be taking a break this week on this blog. I'll evaluate their records at the end of the week and see if this is a routine that will work for us this summer.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Bible
US Geography: It Happened in America - Maryland
Current Events with Good Morning America while eating breakfast
Science: Kamana daily exercises
Math - boys only
Reading: Hope - Fallacy Detective, boys as usual
Busy day - Annalise has to be at a tea party at 11:00 and Kezzi is going with her. Priscilla, Candace and Annalise have to be at a neighbor's at 1:00 to get some pictures taken for the fourth book in Grandmother's Hope Chest series. Then as soon as they are done Pris, Kezzi and I are leaving for a trip to Missouri. We will be at the SHEM curriculum fair in Springfield, MO, where Pris will have a table selling her books and the accompanying kits.
US Geography: It Happened in America - Maryland
Current Events with Good Morning America while eating breakfast
Science: Kamana daily exercises
Math - boys only
Reading: Hope - Fallacy Detective, boys as usual
Busy day - Annalise has to be at a tea party at 11:00 and Kezzi is going with her. Priscilla, Candace and Annalise have to be at a neighbor's at 1:00 to get some pictures taken for the fourth book in Grandmother's Hope Chest series. Then as soon as they are done Pris, Kezzi and I are leaving for a trip to Missouri. We will be at the SHEM curriculum fair in Springfield, MO, where Pris will have a table selling her books and the accompanying kits.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Monday, April 23, 2007
Bible
Classic: Kidnapped - 1 ch.
Math
Reading: Kezzi - Sophie's World, Hope - Shadow Spinner, Luke and Abel - same as last week, Annalise - Beginner's Bible
I read Annalise a story from James Herriot's Treasury for Children (she always begs for this)
Copywork for all
History: boys and Annalise listen to side 5 of D'Aulaire's Greek Myths book, Hope - Ancient Romans, Kezzi - Carson's Basic History of US
Science: Outside observation time
Luke and I spent considerable time supervising the chickens free range time so we could see how the dogs are going to react. We also planted about a dozen tomato plants.
Classic: Kidnapped - 1 ch.
Math
Reading: Kezzi - Sophie's World, Hope - Shadow Spinner, Luke and Abel - same as last week, Annalise - Beginner's Bible
I read Annalise a story from James Herriot's Treasury for Children (she always begs for this)
Copywork for all
History: boys and Annalise listen to side 5 of D'Aulaire's Greek Myths book, Hope - Ancient Romans, Kezzi - Carson's Basic History of US
Science: Outside observation time
Luke and I spent considerable time supervising the chickens free range time so we could see how the dogs are going to react. We also planted about a dozen tomato plants.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Friday, April 20, 2007
Bible
US Geography: It Happened in America - Maine
Math: short math time today
Poetry/Music/Writing: drew names and copied and illustrated a poem for the person whose name we drew, listened to Mozart and had tea with lunch. Luke drew my name and copied When Mother Reads Aloud. This is from the boy who hated to have to listen to ANYTHING when he was younger, and even now rarely expresses any excitement over books.
US Geography: It Happened in America - Maine
Math: short math time today
Poetry/Music/Writing: drew names and copied and illustrated a poem for the person whose name we drew, listened to Mozart and had tea with lunch. Luke drew my name and copied When Mother Reads Aloud
Thursday, April 19, 2007
We watched the news and read some blogs about the Virginia Tech shootings and discussed current events and cultural issues, one issue being the duty of men and bravery.
Kidnapped- 2 ch. (which tied in perfectly with our previous discussion!)
Math
Reading: Kezzi - Elements of Style & Ourselves, Hope - Daughter of the Land, Luke and Abel - same; Annalise read a picture book
Science: Kamana day 7 morning session
Read Aloud during lunch: Education of Little Tree - 1 ch.
Art: Luke and Abel - lesson from Feed My Sheep
Priscilla read to Annalise - All of a Kind Family
Before bed Luke, Abel and Annalise listened to side 4 of D'Aulaire's Greek Myths.
The girls all went to a presentation at a local college about a battle that took place in our town.
Kidnapped- 2 ch. (which tied in perfectly with our previous discussion!)
Math
Reading: Kezzi - Elements of Style & Ourselves, Hope - Daughter of the Land, Luke and Abel - same; Annalise read a picture book
Science: Kamana day 7 morning session
Read Aloud during lunch: Education of Little Tree - 1 ch.
Art: Luke and Abel - lesson from Feed My Sheep
Priscilla read to Annalise - All of a Kind Family
Before bed Luke, Abel and Annalise listened to side 4 of D'Aulaire's Greek Myths.
The girls all went to a presentation at a local college about a battle that took place in our town.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
No books today for the boys and Annalise. We spent the day getting some chickens and finishing their pen. By the evening we had 3 eggs!
Kezzi and Hope did some work in the morning while we were gone.
Kezzi - Math and Reading with Learning Log; Hope - Biology and Reading with Learning Log.
Kezzi and Hope did some work in the morning while we were gone.
Kezzi - Math and Reading with Learning Log; Hope - Biology and Reading with Learning Log.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Bible
Math
Writing: copywork for boys and Annalise, Learning Logs for Kezzi and Hope
Reading: Hope - Fallacy Detective, Luke - Ginger Pye, Abel - Charlie and Chocolate Factory, Annalise - Beginner's Bible
Historical Fiction: D'Aulaire's Greek Myths audio
We spent a good part of the day cooking for a women's gathering at church tonight.
Math
Writing: copywork for boys and Annalise, Learning Logs for Kezzi and Hope
Reading: Hope - Fallacy Detective, Luke - Ginger Pye, Abel - Charlie and Chocolate Factory, Annalise - Beginner's Bible
Historical Fiction: D'Aulaire's Greek Myths audio
We spent a good part of the day cooking for a women's gathering at church tonight.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Monday, April 16, 2007
Bible
Classic: Kidnapped - 1 ch.
Math - except Hope who worked on her Biology text instead
Typing for boys
Reading: Kezzi - Sophie's World, Hope - Shadow Spinner, Luke and Abel - same as last week
History/Writing: ch. 22 SOTW with boys and they listed the differences between Sparta and Athens; Kezzi - Never Give In, Hope - Ancient Romans; the girls wrote in their Learning Logs
Science: Kamana studies - poisonous spiders journal page AND sack lunch outside at secret spots
Dad read The Swamp Robber to the boys.
Classic: Kidnapped - 1 ch.
Math - except Hope who worked on her Biology text instead
Typing for boys
Reading: Kezzi - Sophie's World, Hope - Shadow Spinner, Luke and Abel - same as last week
History/Writing: ch. 22 SOTW with boys and they listed the differences between Sparta and Athens; Kezzi - Never Give In, Hope - Ancient Romans; the girls wrote in their Learning Logs
Science: Kamana studies - poisonous spiders journal page AND sack lunch outside at secret spots
Dad read The Swamp Robber to the boys.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Friday, April 13, 2007
Church History: Trial and Truimph (switching to this from Saints & Heroes)
Music: finished Mozart the Wonder Boy and listened to Mozart music during breakfast
Reading: Kezzi - ABC's of Human Body, Hope - Screwtape Letters , Luke and Abel continue with their books
Typing and cursive practice for boys
Grammar workbook page with Luke
Math: Kezzi - Geometry
History: ch. 21 of SOTW with boys and Annalise and they listened to audio book of Greek Myths in the car; Kezzi read a little of Never Give In
Science: Day 6 of Kamana and outside secret spot observation time
Extra Freetime activity: the boys asked me for extra binders this morning in order to have a place to keep all of the maps they are making.
Music: finished Mozart the Wonder Boy and listened to Mozart music during breakfast
Reading: Kezzi - ABC's of Human Body, Hope - Screwtape Letters , Luke and Abel continue with their books
Typing and cursive practice for boys
Grammar workbook page with Luke
Math: Kezzi - Geometry
History: ch. 21 of SOTW with boys and Annalise and they listened to audio book of Greek Myths in the car; Kezzi read a little of Never Give In
Science: Day 6 of Kamana and outside secret spot observation time
Extra Freetime activity: the boys asked me for extra binders this morning in order to have a place to keep all of the maps they are making.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Bible: the dedication of the temple
US Geography: It Happened in America - Louisiana. Every day when we do this we review previous states and capitols.
Math - Annalise did some in MUS Alpha, Abel has been working in Miquon's Yellow Book, Luke has been skimming through MUS Delta, with lots of skipping pages when he's got a concept. Kezzi and Hope are still doing great with their Teaching Textbook programs.
Typing with Typing Instructor(boys)
Reading: Kezzi - Ourselves & Elements of Style, Hope - Daughter of the Land < both enter something in their Learning Log, Luke - Ginger Pye, Abel - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Annalise - The Beginner's Bible
History: D'Aulaire's Greek Myths audio with boys and Annalise, they look at the pictures in the paperback copy while listening; Kezzi - Never Give In; Hope - Ancient Romans
Science/Writing: Kamana studies - time at secret spots then they came in and divided their notebook page into 4 columns - sight, sound, smell and touch - and recorded things they observed in those columns.
Language Arts: Kezzi - Our Mother Tongue and Format Writing
Read Aloud: Education of Little Tree - 1 ch. Quite a bit of the word "damn" in this and the last chapter was all about whiskey making - just to forewarn anyone who might read our daily log and choose some of the same books.
Candace came home and whisked everyone away to the park for a little P.E. playing frisbee.
Film: Hoosiers
US Geography: It Happened in America - Louisiana. Every day when we do this we review previous states and capitols.
Math - Annalise did some in MUS Alpha, Abel has been working in Miquon's Yellow Book, Luke has been skimming through MUS Delta, with lots of skipping pages when he's got a concept. Kezzi and Hope are still doing great with their Teaching Textbook programs.
Typing with Typing Instructor(boys)
Reading: Kezzi - Ourselves & Elements of Style, Hope - Daughter of the Land < both enter something in their Learning Log, Luke - Ginger Pye, Abel - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Annalise - The Beginner's Bible
History: D'Aulaire's Greek Myths audio with boys and Annalise, they look at the pictures in the paperback copy while listening; Kezzi - Never Give In; Hope - Ancient Romans
Science/Writing: Kamana studies - time at secret spots then they came in and divided their notebook page into 4 columns - sight, sound, smell and touch - and recorded things they observed in those columns.
Language Arts: Kezzi - Our Mother Tongue and Format Writing
Read Aloud: Education of Little Tree - 1 ch. Quite a bit of the word "damn" in this and the last chapter was all about whiskey making - just to forewarn anyone who might read our daily log and choose some of the same books.
Candace came home and whisked everyone away to the park for a little P.E. playing frisbee.
Film: Hoosiers
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Bible: The Narrated Bible - Solomon's time
Classic: Kidnapped - 2 ch.
Math
Typing (boys)
Reading: Kezzi - Amy Carmichael, Hope - Book of Ancient Romans, Luke - Ginger Pye, Abel - Charlie and Chocolate Factory, Annalise - Beginner's Bible
History: D'Aulaire's Greek Myths audio book - the boys and Annalise, Kezzi - still working through Never Give In (she's going slowly through this but I was thrilled to hear her quote Churchill at my parents' house the other night.)
The girls had dance this afternoon.
Dad read Swamp Robber to the boys at bedtime.
Classic: Kidnapped - 2 ch.
Math
Typing (boys)
Reading: Kezzi - Amy Carmichael, Hope - Book of Ancient Romans, Luke - Ginger Pye, Abel - Charlie and Chocolate Factory, Annalise - Beginner's Bible
History: D'Aulaire's Greek Myths audio book - the boys and Annalise, Kezzi - still working through Never Give In (she's going slowly through this but I was thrilled to hear her quote Churchill at my parents' house the other night.)
The girls had dance this afternoon.
Dad read Swamp Robber to the boys at bedtime.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Bible: everyone on own
US Geography: It Happened in America - Kentucky
Math - except Hope who worked on her biology instead
Typing (boys)
Grammar: Kezzi - Our Mother Tongue, Luke - Keys to Good Language
Reading: Kezzi - Microbe Hunters, Hope - Fallacy Detective, Luke finished Mystery at Smoky Mountain and started Ginger Pye, Abel - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Annalise - Beginner's Bible (and she finished Greg's Microscope on her own last night).
Kamana: everyone went outside to their secret spot for 1/2 hour and then drew a bird's eye view and journaled about it.
History: SOTW ch. 20 with the boys and Annalise, Kezzi - Never Give In
US Geography: It Happened in America - Kentucky
Math - except Hope who worked on her biology instead
Typing (boys)
Grammar: Kezzi - Our Mother Tongue, Luke - Keys to Good Language
Reading: Kezzi - Microbe Hunters, Hope - Fallacy Detective, Luke finished Mystery at Smoky Mountain and started Ginger Pye, Abel - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Annalise - Beginner's Bible (and she finished Greg's Microscope on her own last night).
Kamana: everyone went outside to their secret spot for 1/2 hour and then drew a bird's eye view and journaled about it.
History: SOTW ch. 20 with the boys and Annalise, Kezzi - Never Give In
Monday, April 9, 2007
Monday, April 9, 2007
Bible: more verses on creation for our nature studies
Classic: 2 ch. of Kidnapped
Math
Reading: Kezzi - Sophie's World and Never Give In, Hope - Shadow Spinner, Luke - Mystery at Smoky Mountain, Abel - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Annalise - Beginner's Bible
Art: Picture Study with Annalise in Come Look With Me and she drew a picture from Draw Write Now.
Language Arts: Hope and boys - LLATL, Kezzi - Our Mother Tongue and Format Writing
Read Aloud: Education of Little Tree - 1 ch.
Kamana Studies: did the morning exercise and discussed how our studies were going
Read Aloud: finished Mr. Popper's Penguins with Annalise
Classic: 2 ch. of Kidnapped
Math
Reading: Kezzi - Sophie's World and Never Give In, Hope - Shadow Spinner, Luke - Mystery at Smoky Mountain, Abel - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Annalise - Beginner's Bible
Art: Picture Study with Annalise in Come Look With Me and she drew a picture from Draw Write Now.
Language Arts: Hope and boys - LLATL, Kezzi - Our Mother Tongue and Format Writing
Read Aloud: Education of Little Tree - 1 ch.
Kamana Studies: did the morning exercise and discussed how our studies were going
Read Aloud: finished Mr. Popper's Penguins with Annalise
Friday, April 6, 2007
Friday, April 6, 2007
Bible
Classic: Kidnapped - 2 ch. We are all enjoying this.
Picture Study: Brugel's Peasant Wedding.
Language Arts: Kezzi - Our Mother Tongue and Format Writing, Hope and boys - LLATL and Luke did a page in Keys to Good Language, Annalise copied a sentence from Keep the Lights Burning Abbie.
Reading: Kezzi - ABC's of the Human Body, Hope - Screwtape Letters and both girls used their Learning Logs, Luke - nearing the end of Mystery on Smoky Mountain, and Abel - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (and really enjoying it!), Annalise read some from Riding the Pony Express.
Nature Read Aloud - Education of Little Tree - 2 ch.
History: SOTW ch. 19 with the boys, Hope read her chapter in Ancient Rome book and we worked on our timelines; Kezzi read Never Give In
I worked on putting together grade-level reading lists for the boys and I'm happy to see that it looks like both of them are finally reading at grade level. Yeah!
Movie afternoon: Jump In
Classic: Kidnapped - 2 ch. We are all enjoying this.
Picture Study: Brugel's Peasant Wedding.
Language Arts: Kezzi - Our Mother Tongue and Format Writing, Hope and boys - LLATL and Luke did a page in Keys to Good Language, Annalise copied a sentence from Keep the Lights Burning Abbie.
Reading: Kezzi - ABC's of the Human Body, Hope - Screwtape Letters and both girls used their Learning Logs, Luke - nearing the end of Mystery on Smoky Mountain, and Abel - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (and really enjoying it!), Annalise read some from Riding the Pony Express.
Nature Read Aloud - Education of Little Tree - 2 ch.
History: SOTW ch. 19 with the boys, Hope read her chapter in Ancient Rome book and we worked on our timelines; Kezzi read Never Give In
I worked on putting together grade-level reading lists for the boys and I'm happy to see that it looks like both of them are finally reading at grade level. Yeah!
Movie afternoon: Jump In
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Bible
Classic: Kidnapped - 2ch.
Math
Grammar: Kezzi did Our Mother Tongue and Format Writing, Luke did a page in his grammar workbook
Science/Writing: Kamana Studies - we did the day's awareness exercises, journaled, and worked on the resource trail section about poisonous spiders.
Reading: Kezzi -Elements of Style and Oursleves , Hope - Daughter of the Land, Luke and Abel contine on..., Annalise read Keep the Lights Burning Abbie and a chapter from Riding the Pony Express.
History - SOTW ch. 18 with the boys and we started listening to the audio of Tale of Troy. Kezzi is still reading Never Give In and asking for Churchill's autobiography and the movie on his life.
Dad took us all out to dinner and we brought Eragon home and watched that together.
Classic: Kidnapped - 2ch.
Math
Grammar: Kezzi did Our Mother Tongue and Format Writing, Luke did a page in his grammar workbook
Science/Writing: Kamana Studies - we did the day's awareness exercises, journaled, and worked on the resource trail section about poisonous spiders.
Reading: Kezzi -Elements of Style and Oursleves , Hope - Daughter of the Land, Luke and Abel contine on..., Annalise read Keep the Lights Burning Abbie and a chapter from Riding the Pony Express.
History - SOTW ch. 18 with the boys and we started listening to the audio of Tale of Troy. Kezzi is still reading Never Give In and asking for Churchill's autobiography and the movie on his life.
Dad took us all out to dinner and we brought Eragon home and watched that together.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Bible
Math
**another chiropractor visit interrupted the morning
History: Kezzi read Never Give In, Hope read chapter 14 from Ancient Romans book, and I read ch. 18 of SOTW to the boys (beginning Ancient Greece)
Science/Writing: Kamana daily exercies
Dad read The Swamp Robbers (Sugarcreek Gang series) to the boys
Math
**another chiropractor visit interrupted the morning
History: Kezzi read Never Give In, Hope read chapter 14 from Ancient Romans book, and I read ch. 18 of SOTW to the boys (beginning Ancient Greece)
Science/Writing: Kamana daily exercies
Dad read The Swamp Robbers (Sugarcreek Gang series) to the boys
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Bible
Classic: Finished Through the Looking Glass (Thankfully, it's over)
**Kezzi had an extended trip to the chiropractor and missed school except for her Kamana studies.
Math
Science/Writing: last night's Kamana exercise and today's morning exercise and the girls and I listened to tape one of Seeing Through Native Eyes on the way to the lake - it's got so much "one with the earth" kind of stuff in it that I didn't care for the younger kids to listen to it.
Reading: Hope - Fallacy Detective with Learning Log, Luke - Mystery at Smoky Mountain, Abel - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Annalise - Greg's Microscope
We went to the lake to enjoy the last warm day for a while. We saw all kinds of LIFE, which was our Kamana assignment today. I identified a wildflower I had never seen before - dwarf blue flag. It was so cute, like one of my irises in miniture. We also saw salamander eggs, a huge toad, a large mouth bass, violets, fire pinks, buttercups, and some small mammal tracks that we couldn't identify right near the edge of the lake.
Bedtime Read Aloud: dad finished The Great Brain with the boys
Classic: Finished Through the Looking Glass (Thankfully, it's over)
**Kezzi had an extended trip to the chiropractor and missed school except for her Kamana studies.
Math
Science/Writing: last night's Kamana exercise and today's morning exercise and the girls and I listened to tape one of Seeing Through Native Eyes on the way to the lake - it's got so much "one with the earth" kind of stuff in it that I didn't care for the younger kids to listen to it.
Reading: Hope - Fallacy Detective with Learning Log, Luke - Mystery at Smoky Mountain, Abel - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Annalise - Greg's Microscope
We went to the lake to enjoy the last warm day for a while. We saw all kinds of LIFE, which was our Kamana assignment today. I identified a wildflower I had never seen before - dwarf blue flag. It was so cute, like one of my irises in miniture. We also saw salamander eggs, a huge toad, a large mouth bass, violets, fire pinks, buttercups, and some small mammal tracks that we couldn't identify right near the edge of the lake.
Bedtime Read Aloud: dad finished The Great Brain with the boys
Monday, April 2, 2007
Monday, April 2, 2007
Bible: We started working through the scriptures from Timothy Keyes Nature Study lecture, which he gave last summer at the CM conference. We will continue to work through these while we are focusing on our Kamana studies this month. I want to turn their attention from thanking the creation and glorifying the Native Americans and focus their thinking on thanking God and seeing His glory and character in His creation.
Classic: Alice in Wonderland - 1/2 chapter
Science: Kamana studies - Day one morning exercise
Math
Language Arts: Kezzi - Format Writing and Our Mother Tongue; Hope - LLATL dictation , Luke - grammar workbook page and copywork from LLATL, Abel - LLATL , Annalise - copied a sentence from Mouse Tales and wrote the title in her reading journal.
Reading: Kezzi - Sophie's World, Hope - Shadow Spinner (both girls wrote in their Learning Logs), Luke - Mystery at Smokey Mountain, Abel - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Annalise - finished Mouse Tales
Read Aloud: The Education of Little Tree- 2 ch.
Classic: Alice in Wonderland - 1/2 chapter
Science: Kamana studies - Day one morning exercise
Math
Language Arts: Kezzi - Format Writing and Our Mother Tongue; Hope - LLATL dictation , Luke - grammar workbook page and copywork from LLATL, Abel - LLATL , Annalise - copied a sentence from Mouse Tales and wrote the title in her reading journal.
Reading: Kezzi - Sophie's World, Hope - Shadow Spinner (both girls wrote in their Learning Logs), Luke - Mystery at Smokey Mountain, Abel - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Annalise - finished Mouse Tales
Read Aloud: The Education of Little Tree- 2 ch.
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