I continue to be amazed at how quickly the school year is moving along, and the kids have been quite busy, so I really haven’t had a chance to update.
Due to the soaring gas prices, and the shortening amount of time that we had for activities, we scaled back on a few extra-curricular items this year. So what are they doing now? Both Bonnie and Clyde are taking a pottery class. They finished their cornucopias last week, and we’ll be grateful to use them to grace our Thanksgiving table. The next project involves making Christmas ornaments, which lets me know that I really need to get cracking on shopping.
Both Bonnie and Clyde are still involved in the chess club. They meet once a week and play practice games, work on chess puzzles, and do some tournament-type play. It’s almost time to re-up for that, so we’ll see if they want […]
Original post by bonnieandclyde
At the start of the summer, while I was considering what history period to study this year, I decided that we hadn’t really spent enough time on the Revolutionary War period - I really felt like we flew through it, and the kids had missed a lot. There are still field trips to take, and there are games to play, etc.! So, I decided to back up a few historical years, and go back and re-cover the American Revolution at the end of the summer, and for the beginning of the fall…
To help with that, I thought it might be fun to tackle a lapbook on the subject. At the homeschool convention, I purchased the Time Travelers DVD on the American Revolution from Homeschool in the Woods. Now, I scrapbook, and I absolutely LOVE the idea of lapbooking. My children, however, don’t seem to quite have the knack for it. […]
Original post by bonnieandclyde
The summer break, that is. The new school books have all arrived. I’m currently planning out schedules for the fall. The kids are squeezing in their last few play dates. While my public-school mom-friends are anxiously waiting the start of school (and the start of more free time!), we will miss these lazy days of summer.
Not that we’ve been particularly lazy.
We’ve made numerous trips to the pool, and the library. We’ve helped out friends. We’ve spent the day at Ikea, and then we spent two days putting together our new bookcases and cabinets to hold all our lovely school things. We’re even squeezed in a lapbooking project. We’ve played games, we’ve seen family. All in all, a successful, albeit jam-packed summer.
And while I’ve particularly enjoyed this time off from the more formal schooling that we do, I hope the kids didn’t forget […]
Original post by bonnieandclyde
We went to a park day today, and a PE game spontaneously broke out.
One of the things that I love about homeschooling is that my children spend a decent amount of time with other kids of a wide variety of ages. It’s not 5th graders only playing with 5th graders and shunning the little kids, it’s cooperative play across all the ages. The ground is fertile for mentoring, and I love that they don’t have the idea that someone is “too old” or “too young” to play with.
In fact, when people bring up socialization “issues” as reasons to not homeschool, it’s all I can do to not point out the restrictive nature of school socialization. When, in real life, do we ever just work with or communicate with people our exact same age? The last time I was in a group of just my age-peers, since […]
Original post by bonnieandclyde
It’s here. The end of the school year. The end of 2nd and 4th grades. No more teachers, no more books …
For a week.
Yep, that’s about the length of our “official” break because really, we don’t stop doing things over the summer. We run to fewer classes, and we spend more time learning about aquatics, but we also do reading and enjoy learning, even if it’s bad form to call it “summer school”.
Clyde wrapped up his writing class at the author’s celebration this past weekend. I had video’d it so that his dad (who was out of town) could see it, but alas, the video appears to have been eaten in the computer fiasco this past weekend. Talk about bugs - I had digital cockroaches roaming over my screen. Ick! Sorry, Clyde. Maybe I’ll have him read it again just so […]
Original post by bonnieandclyde
So, I had started writing this BEFORE the adventure with the pink fashion accessory, so now I return …
Bonnie and Clyde have been enjoying some “good weather” days lately. See, we don’t take “snow days” - because what’s the point? If it’s lousy weather outside, we might as well stay in where it’s warm, and drink our hot chocolate. But, nice weather? You know … 70-75 degrees, sunny, no humidity. Well, they’re not that common around here, so we take the day off. We particularly enjoyed a park day last week with a newly formed local group - and we look forward to doing more with them sometime soon.
So, while Bonnie and Clyde enjoy a few days off, we’ll take a moment to contemplate the hazards of homeschooling.
Let’s start with wasps. Yes, wasps. It used to be, before we were homeschoolers, that […]
Original post by bonnieandclyde
We have it. It’s official. It’s that time of year when the outside starts looking so fresh and friendly. The sun calls to us, and the warm air. The time of year we just want to let our responsibilities slide and play hooky. But, ironically, this is the busiest time of the school year for us. So, we can’t let everything slide. But, we still manage to work in a little extra fun!
We had our share of extra fun this past week. A game day with other homeschoolers, camping with the Brownies, fishing with Grandpa, and selling more cookies!
Game day. We have tried not to limit the children to traditional gender roles. DH helps in the kitchen. I have mowed the lawn. Bonnie played with trains and trucks. Clyde played dress up. But put 25 kids […]
Original post by bonnieandclyde
The 5th week in a month has the luxury of having very few extra activities scheduled, so this week’s focus ended up being on the drama production that was held today.
Bonnie and Clyde both participated in a play called The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Based on the Brothers’ Grimm fairy tale, the play tells the tale of how a cobbler figures out the mystery of the dancing princesses who, though they are locked into their bedroom each night, continually wear out their dancing shoes.
Clyde had the part of the page, and until today, he thought his favorite part was going to be wielding a whip and whipping a suitor off the stage. I know! I wouldn’t arm him either! But, his actual favorite part was being allowed to do the sound of the rooster crowing during the play. One of the princesses commented, “It’s kind of eerie how he does that.” […]
Original post by bonnieandclyde
January. Short days. Cold weather. And the inevitable realization that we’re about halfway through the school year (only halfway??) and that curriculum planning is going to start soon for NEXT year’s adventure. It’s a lot of pressure for such a bleak month.
Halfway through the year, and what are we doing? It seemed a good time for a review.
We’re starting to get to the “good stuff” in American History. You know, starting to talk about the 13 colonies, and the Revolutionary War. Stuff that lends itself easily to field trips near and far, and also has immediate relevance in the kids’ world. Don’t get me wrong, they enjoyed Ancient Civilizations, and the Middle Ages, etc., but this is stuff that they can really get their minds around. Talking about Virginia and Massachusetts, Delaware and Pennsylvania. They’ve BEEN to these places, and […]
Original post by bonnieandclyde
As if the rest of the family and neighbors don’t think we’re odd enough for homeschooling in the first place. Heard around our house today (from Clyde).
“Mommy? Do you like my boobies?”
They traveled to the Galapagos Islands today in art, and he’s working on his red-footed and blue-footed boobies.
Now to figure out how to stop him from saying this out in public …
Original post by bonnieandclyde
Our first full week back to school, after vacation, and what do we do? We went to a show! Some members of our homeschooling group went to see The Mystery of King Tut which tells the dual stories of Howard Carter’s challenges to find the tomb of the boy king, and one of the possible scenarios surrounding King Tut’s mysterious death at a young age. It was a little advanced for many of the kids in the audience - there were subtleties and complexities that had to be explained to my 4th grader, but all in all, it was well done. The hard part for them will be to remember that it’s historical fiction, not fact.
Clyde continues his struggle against the use of protractors. He thinks they were created by a man, with the last name of “tractor”, who just wanted to torment people who […]
Original post by bonnieandclyde
I’ve run out of things to do this year, except for some math. I’ve tried buying a K level lapbook on autumn (lame) and printing out some worksheets, or perhaps they called it a unit study, from Enchanted Learning on firemen (more lame).
I’m at a bit of a loss.
So I figured I’d start looking for stuff for next year and maybe I’d find something for now too. AND I’ve decided I want a boxed curriculum for next year. I think that would be much easier for me.
I never realized how frustrating it would be to find one. Boxed curricula are expensive. Its not like spending $20 on a subscription to EL to see what it’s like. Some are close to $1000. I can afford that, but its not an amount I want to invest in a product without being pretty sure its right […]
Original post by momcat
The last week of November was pretty uneventful for school, though the kids did discover that if they actually do their WORK instead of DAWDLING, that they have a remarkably easy Friday. Go figure, eh! Let’s see if that carries into the next week!
Clyde finally finished his macaw art project.
It was fairly complicated - it took 3 weeks to work on it in class, and then he brought it home to color it in. So, they’re finally going to move out of the Rain Forest. Bonnie’s class has already moved on to Antarctica, but she didn’t bring her picture home, so I have no idea what’s on it yet. Oh yeah, penguins.
This was the last week of kids’ yoga until after the New Year, so both kids are sad about that. Remember the instructor who taught the Brownie Scouts? She made a neat […]
Original post by bonnieandclyde
When I was a kid, school weeks just did not go by this quickly. Especially near holidays. I remember thinking each day was going to last FOREVER. Why doesn’t that work out now? The weeks are going by so quickly! Another week has come and gone and we’re already down to the last 100 days of school, too. Part of me is thrilled. Part of me is panicked. What do you mean I have to start thinking about next year’s curricula soon?
So in our very quickly moving week, Bonnie enjoyed a field trip with the other girls in her girl scout troop. They ended up going to a local yoga studio and taking a kids’ yoga class! They fulfilled requirements similar to this yoga fun patch, and they earned a patch for their vest. The girls had a great time! The instructor is a former girl scout leader herself, so […]
Original post by bonnieandclyde
A friend of mine passed along a little treat this week called “The Bitter Homeschooler’s Wish List.” It’s a listing of those judgmental questions that homeschoolers can get tired of answering over and over again, and the somewhat snippy answers you sometimes think, but would never actually say in polite company. Though the language is a little rough, it certainly captures the frustration that is felt when asked these questions by people who are judging (negatively) your decision to homeschool. And I certainly don’t mean that everyone who asks these questions are being judgmental, there’s a definite tonal element involved. Bitter indeed.
So I’ve been mulling over this list all week, and while it’s bitter, there’s that certain element of truth that makes it funny. Gallows humor funny. But the one question that’s not on there, that I’m often surprised with is, “How […]
Original post by bonnieandclyde
I need a new title for these updates - every time I try to think of one, I can’t help but think of the Weekend Update skits from SNL. Not quite the tone I’m shooting for.
We’re entering into the “grind” months for us. Not as many fun field trips with the weather getting colder, and not as many play dates as the days get shorter. But, if we can get lots done now, then we feel better about taking off extra time around the holidays, and then when the nice weather of Spring rolls around!
We’re coming to the end of the semester for art, but we still don’t know which art projects will be in the art show. Last week, the art class traveled to the Amazon. Bonnie’s class drew ants walking along blades of grass, and I thought she did a pretty […]
Original post by bonnieandclyde
So, besides the forays into cosmetology, you’d be surprised to learn that we DID actually do “real” school work this week, right?
The kids missed out on the field trip earlier in the week because of sickness, but we were back in the saddle by the middle of the week. Clyde is learning how to manipulate mixed numbers and improper fractions. Bonnie is learning how to do addition and subtraction word problems.
Clyde’s IEW writing workshop was this week -they played Jeopardy to review the rules for Units 1 & 2. His favorite activity, though, was playing football in the park. It’s all about football these days. I could probably actually do a unit study with football as the base - it might be the first time a unit study was successful around here!
In art this week, the classes went to the rain forest of South America. […]
Original post by bonnieandclyde
Thank goodness, the McDonald’s monopoly game ends tomorrow. We can now resume our “normal” eating habits. Didn’t win anything this year, and Bonnie and Clyde are kinda disappointed. Not only did they not find Boardwalk, but they also only won a free coffee (would only stunt their growth), and two online computer games. I guess we’ll download those, but seems like pretty meager winnings for such spirited players.
School wise, it was a slower week. But I think we also needed that.
Monday, we went on a field trip to view some pre-automobile-era transportation. I would love to tell you that Bonnie and Clyde were fascinated and thrilled, but really, I think the high point was (1) playing with their friends and (2) seeing a dead chipmunk. I was really hoping for a historical/socio-economical lesson - not a biology one. Ah well, can’t […]
Original post by bonnieandclyde
But Bonnie and Clyde haven’t grasped that it’s more likely that you WON’T. Currently obsessed with the McDonald’s Monopoly game board, they’re trying to convince me that economically, we need to eat there every day. “If you don’t eat there, you can’t get pieces. If you don’t get pieces, you can’t win!” Way to go, McDonald’s. Your marketing works even on children who don’t watch TV.
Another busy week has flown by. Bonnie and Clyde are enjoying practicing Christmas carols for their piano lessons. That’s right. Christmas carols. It’s not even Halloween folks! Though I hope that someone learns how to play O Holy Night, and DH is hoping that they get Linus and Lucy from the Peanuts. No pressure kids!
Last week was Bonnie’s rededication into Girl Scouts. She’s officially a Brownie scout for another year! It was a fun ceremony - the Juniors and Brownies did a skit together to […]
Original post by bonnieandclyde
Sometimes school is just gonna have to be about those little life lessons. Like, it’s not always the principle of the thing. And, it’s better to tell the truth and face the music, than be caught in a lie. And that two stubborn parents can genetically yield offspring that are more stubborn than the sum of the two parts.
Yikes.
Keeps the days from being boring, though!
Last week’s field trip was a trip to the zoo with the Brownies - that was great fun! But due to the freakishly warm weather the favorite attraction was not the wild animals, but rather the sprinkler that misted the passersby as they tromped along the walkway. But the girls are going to donate some money to their zoo charity, and they enjoyed the little scavenger hunt to find the different animals along the way. It was a ton of […]
Original post by bonnieandclyde
This is rolling by on one of my widgets, so I’m going to link it here so that I can find it again. Anyway, it’s an article on the positive nature of yoga for kids, and how some schools are incorporating it into their curriculum.
Does that mean we’re on the leading edge?
Kids use yoga to learn …
Methinks it’s time today for a stretch!
Original post by bonnieandclyde
The first week of October, already gone. It would be nice to be thinking fall thoughts, but we’re too busy sweating!
Bonnie and Clyde have been busy, busy. All the activities are underway, and they’ve even been in their first drama production of the season. They both starred in the production of Sourdough Sally, a play about Alaskan customs, and what it means to be a true Alaskan.
Bonnie played the part of Edith, the friend of Sourdough Sally. She enjoyed dressing up in her winter clothes - and we were pleased that we could hear her, even in the back of the room.
Clyde played the part of Sourdough Charlie, a miner who had struck it rich. Here he is with his friends sporting the different color beards…
They really enjoyed being a part of the production. Even the singing parts.
What else?
They’ve both gotten back with their respective Scout troops. Clyde is a […]
Original post by bonnieandclyde
Only 34 to go, right?
As September rolls along, our outside activities have started to ramp up, too. The kids’ had their first drama rehearsal last week, and were charged with learning all their lines. They have them memorized, almost, but I still haven’t done MY job of figuring out what they need for props and costumes. They’re doing a play about the Alaska Sourdough - really interesting!
Bonnie and Clyde’s art classes started up this week, too. This year’s theme is a “Trip Around the World” and the kids started their portfolio by drawing their face on their “passport”. Bonnie’s class went to visit the mammals under the sea (she drew Barbara Manatee and her baby, and we were treated to the song on the way home). Clyde’s class went to the Everglades for him to work on an air-boat traveling through crocodile infested waters. They’re excited to see their […]
Original post by bonnieandclyde
I’m trying to be more diligent about keeping you updated on the happenings in school. We’ll see how long it lasts.
Bonnie and Clyde are adjusting to our new school routine - we have a full load of “stuff”, and just haven’t started the activities, so we’re still finding our groove. I wish I could be more of an unschooler, but things just wouldn’t get “done” and would leave us all feeling really out of sorts.
So, the first full week has gone pretty smoothly. The kids are adjusting to the new things that we’re learning, and they’re adjusting to their new chores. Our big focus for this year for Clyde is to focus on his writing. He’s a fantastic reader, but he really struggles to get his thoughts onto paper.
So, when I saw the first writing assignment of the year in Sonlight’s LA 3, I cringed. I pictured the battle. […]
Original post by bonnieandclyde
Sorta.
We really started last week … introduced some new things, let the kids see their new books. But today was really the first day with the full schedule.
Some changes from last year: it’s a little more directed by me. There was too much dawdling at times, so I wanted to help them see that they could get their work done quickly if they didn’t stop to pick on each other.
It seemed to work! Today, anyway.
So, what are we doing? The usual suspects - some math and some language arts. We’re using Sonlight to start American History, and we’re looking forward to some cool field trips to go along with that this year. We’re using a new spelling program this year, and both kids are into cursive handwriting - though I’m not sure how much I’ll push that. Is that really a skill that they’re going to need in the […]
Original post by bonnieandclyde
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