Why does math cause so much strife?
I certainly recall from my own days of youth, those fist forming, mouth pinching and head hurting moments. Thank goodness we had telephones, I would usually call up a friend (of course the ones much smarter than I was).
Jonah actually does great in math, he grasps concepts quickly and works on his own. There's the good news. The bad news is: he continually rushes through his work, doesn't "show" his work, and makes many sloppy mistakes. Often he fails to read the problem entirely before trying to reach a solution (word problems, oh the glory!).
All of you out there who have been the "math helper" parent can probably relate to this frustration!! What are your approaches to math woes? Doesn't it seem like it is math that causes the most headaches for parents and students? And yet we can all agree, you gotta learn math! No getting around it! The challenges build character! They push you to expand your brain cells! Students who are strong in math will have success in university academics! (I just made that last one up).
The program we use is called Singapore Math. I can credit my sister for the fact that we use this math program. After my son's 3rd grade year, I was informed that he should work on math over the summer (read: get some tutoring!). I decided to try to tackle the situation myself, begged for my sister's help (she had already been homeschooling for years and has a son one grade ahead of mine), and finally ended up trying out the math books that she had been using successfully at home.
The progress we made that summer was what sparked my keen interest in homeschooling. Jonah cruised through a lot of material in what was about 15 minutes, three or four times a week! He entered 4th grade with a solid foundation of the concepts he should know.
Working with him now, we are at a different level - one which I have a hard time grasping as the teacher sometimes! Thank the Lord that I have Answer Keys. I love those Answer Keys. I don't know what I'd do without them! But they don't help me in teaching the benefits of slowing down, reading a problem several times, doing the bar models (a method highly used in Singapore Math), using all the information given to you in the problem. And when your student is STUCK, and you absolutely positively cannot get him to budge towards the very simple next step of a problem (because of course you don't want to just give him the answer), and it feels like a tug of war, well now that is usually when the point comes to near-tears.
I admit it does not happen often, but it does happen. Typically I call for a 5-10 minute break, and when we return things usually go more smoothly.
Homeschooling the subject of math certainly has proven to be my greatest challenge and fear. Math wizard, I am not! But to be fair, I'll say that having a quiet home, the Answer Keys for Mom, time to take breaks, and a great Teacher's Manual have given me the tools to provide Homeschool Math. As we go forward and things become more complicated, I'm not sure what we'll do. But for now, we are just trying to avoid the Tears of Arithmetic.
Formerly known as: An unconventional homeschooler - Homeschooling only during the middle school years - Blogging about the joys, challenges and banalities of homeschooling and my little existence. NOW - exploring the world of private schooling...with lots of "homeschooling" in the form of homework helper!
Friday, December 17, 2010
HOMEWORK Commentary from Star Tribune - November 25th, 2010
I love this article, which appeared in the Star Tribune on Thanksgiving Day 2010.
What do you think?
Vianne Hubbell: Hit the books? I’d rather hide them
There's no evidence that piling on the homework leads to better learning.
By VIANNE HUBBELL
There are 24 hours in each day. Between school and sleep, I have five hours to spend with my school-aged kids.
One would think that those are five hours in which we could decide to play a game, go to a sporting event, read books, cook dinner together, do our family chores, go to a movie, attend religious education classes, play a pick-up game with friends or even (gasp!) watch television. One might think five hours is a long time. One would be wrong.
The decision about what to do with, and how to organize, those five hours has been made for us.
Our night begins with this: "OK, guys, get out your backpacks."
As every parent knows, what's in those backpacks then moves in to control the evening. Whether there are book reports, spelling lists, math problems, a science test or instructions on how to tea-stain paper, the moment the backpacks open, the night does not belong to me.
So often, what comes home seems either mind-numbingly excessive (25 long division problems, anyone?) or beyond the scope of what is reasonable (three-page book reports, typed please, and make a diorama to go with it). My experience as a mother of four and as a teacher with 18 years' experience has led me to the realization that practicing something, or being asked to produce something for which one lacks the skill, does not breed perfection, or even learning. It breeds frustration.
What comes of all this frustration? Typed paragraphs hang proudly in the halls of our neighborhood school. Beautiful dioramas ring the rooms. Take this from the eye of someone who has been evaluating student work for 18 years: A vast majority of them do not appear to be the independent work of children.
The perception that more homework will result in higher test scores is common. I know first-hand that teachers face constant pressure to be "rigorous," and that many parents and educators wrongly equate more homework with rigor.
One would think that those are five hours in which we could decide to play a game, go to a sporting event, read books, cook dinner together, do our family chores, go to a movie, attend religious education classes, play a pick-up game with friends or even (gasp!) watch television. One might think five hours is a long time. One would be wrong.
The decision about what to do with, and how to organize, those five hours has been made for us.
Our night begins with this: "OK, guys, get out your backpacks."
As every parent knows, what's in those backpacks then moves in to control the evening. Whether there are book reports, spelling lists, math problems, a science test or instructions on how to tea-stain paper, the moment the backpacks open, the night does not belong to me.
So often, what comes home seems either mind-numbingly excessive (25 long division problems, anyone?) or beyond the scope of what is reasonable (three-page book reports, typed please, and make a diorama to go with it). My experience as a mother of four and as a teacher with 18 years' experience has led me to the realization that practicing something, or being asked to produce something for which one lacks the skill, does not breed perfection, or even learning. It breeds frustration.
What comes of all this frustration? Typed paragraphs hang proudly in the halls of our neighborhood school. Beautiful dioramas ring the rooms. Take this from the eye of someone who has been evaluating student work for 18 years: A vast majority of them do not appear to be the independent work of children.
The perception that more homework will result in higher test scores is common. I know first-hand that teachers face constant pressure to be "rigorous," and that many parents and educators wrongly equate more homework with rigor.
The district my children attend proudly boasts about its graduation rate and high test scores. Rather than attributing those achievements to the fact that the median income in our district is among the highest in the state, the reasons cited include the rigorous curriculum and the demanding homework. Unfortunately, of the two, only the former is supported by research. In fact, there is no research that supports homework as a tool for increasing academic achievement in the primary grades. Its effectiveness is questionable even in high school. If anything, the research tells us that too much homework can actually decrease academic achievement.
So, if the homework is being managed ("OK, guys, time to get out your backpacks") and completed (even in part) by parents, not children, and if there is no research to support its effectiveness, doesn't it raise the question of what really is the point? And, just as important, what is the price we're paying?
Forget about the hours lost to math problems, vocabulary drills or the search for a glue gun to complete the big project. Is it possible that our children, rather than receiving benefit, are actually footing the bill? The increased incidence of anxiety, depression and obesity in our nation's children runs parallel to the push for more homework. Correlation doesn't prove causation, but it would be foolish to ignore a possible connection.
I can't help thinking that as those precious five hours between school and bedtime have shifted away from family time toward time for homework completion, our children are losing out not just on their childhoods, but on important childhood lessons that would otherwise help them become the thoughtful and engaged friends, partners, parents and citizens that we want them to become. Who's got time to learn to play nice with others when there's no time to play?
What lessons is homework teaching? That work is important? That children should have responsibilities? All I need is a full dishwasher, an unmade bed and a lawn that needs mowing to teach those. In fact, homework is just getting in the way.
I want my five hours back.
ViAnne Hubbell teaches at Hopkins North Junior High.
So, if the homework is being managed ("OK, guys, time to get out your backpacks") and completed (even in part) by parents, not children, and if there is no research to support its effectiveness, doesn't it raise the question of what really is the point? And, just as important, what is the price we're paying?
Forget about the hours lost to math problems, vocabulary drills or the search for a glue gun to complete the big project. Is it possible that our children, rather than receiving benefit, are actually footing the bill? The increased incidence of anxiety, depression and obesity in our nation's children runs parallel to the push for more homework. Correlation doesn't prove causation, but it would be foolish to ignore a possible connection.
I can't help thinking that as those precious five hours between school and bedtime have shifted away from family time toward time for homework completion, our children are losing out not just on their childhoods, but on important childhood lessons that would otherwise help them become the thoughtful and engaged friends, partners, parents and citizens that we want them to become. Who's got time to learn to play nice with others when there's no time to play?
What lessons is homework teaching? That work is important? That children should have responsibilities? All I need is a full dishwasher, an unmade bed and a lawn that needs mowing to teach those. In fact, homework is just getting in the way.
I want my five hours back.
ViAnne Hubbell teaches at Hopkins North Junior High.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Focusing on the positive
Last week I blogged about some frustrations.
This week has been better. We haven't had anything in our schedule (appointments for example) that have disrupted the routine. I'm also learning how to be clear on the work that I want Jonah to do, and I have put some consequences in place (earlier bedtimes) for being disrespectful or not obeying my instructions. I'm still working on finding activities within our curriculum that engage him, but don't require my constant supervision. Could I just sit next to him all day, work through every moment and math problem and grammar question and spelling word, well now, that would be lovely. But the reality is that I have a lot of things to do in this household, and he needs to be able to follow through with the assignments that I provide.
Interestingly, there have been a few times where I have been awed at his choice to paint a landscape, write a story, or read Greek Mythology - just for fun - spontaneously!! Here are the moments when I can grasp the concept of "unschooling", where there is no formal curriculum, no lesson plans, no particular subjects that are taught for the home school. Everything comes from within the student's desires to explore and engage in the world around him. How that works with math (okay maybe cooking, building, etc) I am not sure entirely, but it sure is a lofty concept and apparently has been very successful for some home school families.
Frustrations will be a daily part of this experience, but I will choose to focus on the positive. The precious time I am spending with my son at a critical moment in his development, and the ability to foster a sense of wonder in his learning keeps me encouraged to press forward despite my shortcomings and self-doubt!
This week has been better. We haven't had anything in our schedule (appointments for example) that have disrupted the routine. I'm also learning how to be clear on the work that I want Jonah to do, and I have put some consequences in place (earlier bedtimes) for being disrespectful or not obeying my instructions. I'm still working on finding activities within our curriculum that engage him, but don't require my constant supervision. Could I just sit next to him all day, work through every moment and math problem and grammar question and spelling word, well now, that would be lovely. But the reality is that I have a lot of things to do in this household, and he needs to be able to follow through with the assignments that I provide.
Interestingly, there have been a few times where I have been awed at his choice to paint a landscape, write a story, or read Greek Mythology - just for fun - spontaneously!! Here are the moments when I can grasp the concept of "unschooling", where there is no formal curriculum, no lesson plans, no particular subjects that are taught for the home school. Everything comes from within the student's desires to explore and engage in the world around him. How that works with math (okay maybe cooking, building, etc) I am not sure entirely, but it sure is a lofty concept and apparently has been very successful for some home school families.
Frustrations will be a daily part of this experience, but I will choose to focus on the positive. The precious time I am spending with my son at a critical moment in his development, and the ability to foster a sense of wonder in his learning keeps me encouraged to press forward despite my shortcomings and self-doubt!
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Yelling and pulling out hair
Time to get honest. This was a tough week. Is it the holiday "to-do" list that is making me cranky? Is it the kids' endless energy and being cooped up in this cold weather? Whatever the case may be, this was a hard week. Each day I thought to myself, "This is a new day! It will be better!". But we struggled most every day this week.
The typical scene unfolds: I set Jonah up with some school task. Then I go upstairs to get dressed, make the bed, etc etc... and upon returning, I find Jonah wrestling with his 6 year old brother. Then I ask him to return to his work, but then I get an important phone call, and when I get off the phone, the wrestling is going on again!
Little brother Josh, the 6 year old, is home until 12:10 each day, when the big yellow bus pulls up to whisk him away to afternoon kindergarten. When I prepared to home school, I had really envisioned him at the dining room table, coloring, doing puzzles, industriously attacking the stack of workbooks left over from Jonah and Ally....
Alas, he can usually be found making faces at his brother, nagging me to read him a story or play a game, or creating some kind of a mess somewhere in the house.
One day this week Josh had an appointment for a filling, and I told Jonah that we'd be doing "school" in the car and in the dentist's waiting room. I thought I was setting clear expectations. Lo and behold, when we got in the car for the 15 minute drive to the dentist, Jonah was shocked to hear that I demand he read Greek Mythologies out loud on the way there. Thus ensued a back and forth argument with him refusing to read and me demanding that he do so. Screaming while driving is never a good time, nor is it safe!
It's these kinds of interruptions, like dentist appointments, laundry, phone calls that I must make or answer, cooking and cleaning up after meals, errands and all the other day to day things that require my time and energy - these are the things that disrupt our home school. These are the things that provide opportunities for my student to check out, procrastinate, and slip away while I'm not looking.
Quite frankly, it is impossible for me to stand over his shoulder or hold his hand all day. UGH!! Sometimes, I think that is the only way we get things done!!
I've promised myself to be patient. This is part of the home school experience - to foster independent learning. However, there are days when I am pulling out my hair!
The typical scene unfolds: I set Jonah up with some school task. Then I go upstairs to get dressed, make the bed, etc etc... and upon returning, I find Jonah wrestling with his 6 year old brother. Then I ask him to return to his work, but then I get an important phone call, and when I get off the phone, the wrestling is going on again!
Little brother Josh, the 6 year old, is home until 12:10 each day, when the big yellow bus pulls up to whisk him away to afternoon kindergarten. When I prepared to home school, I had really envisioned him at the dining room table, coloring, doing puzzles, industriously attacking the stack of workbooks left over from Jonah and Ally....
Alas, he can usually be found making faces at his brother, nagging me to read him a story or play a game, or creating some kind of a mess somewhere in the house.
One day this week Josh had an appointment for a filling, and I told Jonah that we'd be doing "school" in the car and in the dentist's waiting room. I thought I was setting clear expectations. Lo and behold, when we got in the car for the 15 minute drive to the dentist, Jonah was shocked to hear that I demand he read Greek Mythologies out loud on the way there. Thus ensued a back and forth argument with him refusing to read and me demanding that he do so. Screaming while driving is never a good time, nor is it safe!
It's these kinds of interruptions, like dentist appointments, laundry, phone calls that I must make or answer, cooking and cleaning up after meals, errands and all the other day to day things that require my time and energy - these are the things that disrupt our home school. These are the things that provide opportunities for my student to check out, procrastinate, and slip away while I'm not looking.
Quite frankly, it is impossible for me to stand over his shoulder or hold his hand all day. UGH!! Sometimes, I think that is the only way we get things done!!
I've promised myself to be patient. This is part of the home school experience - to foster independent learning. However, there are days when I am pulling out my hair!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Our curriculum?
What do we do all day? What exactly are we studying?
How did I decide what books and educational materials to use for each subject?
I am grateful to my sister who has been home schooling for years and has allowed me to borrow materials. A good friend Sarah has also been home schooling for years. From their experiences I have learned much. The books "The Well-Trained Mind" and "Easy Homeschooling Techniques" are on my shelf, the former has wonderful lists of suggested curriculum.
Wanting to remain loosely within the 6th grade curriculum guidelines provided by our school district, one of the first things I did was to print those details from the district website. From there, I decided to follow Singapore's Math and Susan Bauer's "The Story of the World (Ancient Times) for history. For English, French, Science, Health, Gym and Art, I have pieced together a variety of resources. In Science, I am checking out books from our library that cover the subjects outlined by the district's 6th grade science program; Jonah reads them, takes notes, and narrates to me what he has read.
We go to a "co-op" organized by TEACH (http://www.teachct.org/) each Tuesday morning from 9-12. Here Jonah studies Science (the Human Body), Writing (Institute for Excellence in Writing www.excellenceinwriting.com/), Art, and Gym.
Perhaps in future blogs I'll go into more detail for each subject area, and share some specific examples of what we've done.
So, here is our Overall curriculum:
How did I decide what books and educational materials to use for each subject?
I am grateful to my sister who has been home schooling for years and has allowed me to borrow materials. A good friend Sarah has also been home schooling for years. From their experiences I have learned much. The books "The Well-Trained Mind" and "Easy Homeschooling Techniques" are on my shelf, the former has wonderful lists of suggested curriculum.
Wanting to remain loosely within the 6th grade curriculum guidelines provided by our school district, one of the first things I did was to print those details from the district website. From there, I decided to follow Singapore's Math and Susan Bauer's "The Story of the World (Ancient Times) for history. For English, French, Science, Health, Gym and Art, I have pieced together a variety of resources. In Science, I am checking out books from our library that cover the subjects outlined by the district's 6th grade science program; Jonah reads them, takes notes, and narrates to me what he has read.
We go to a "co-op" organized by TEACH (http://www.teachct.org/) each Tuesday morning from 9-12. Here Jonah studies Science (the Human Body), Writing (Institute for Excellence in Writing www.excellenceinwriting.com/), Art, and Gym.
Perhaps in future blogs I'll go into more detail for each subject area, and share some specific examples of what we've done.
So, here is our Overall curriculum:
Math – “Singapore Primary” 5B, 6A, 6B
History – “The Story of the World”, library books, Kingfisher History Encyclopedia, Kingfisher Atlas of World History
Science – TEACH Co-op (http://www.teachct.org/), “Handbook of Nature Study”, library books (follow roughly the subjects that are covered in 6th grade in our district) and Science Museum
English – Journal Writing, “Spelling Power”, “Core Skills Language Arts” 5&6, “Analogies & Idioms” 5&6, Poetry of Choice, Fiction of Choice, TEACH co-op writing.
French – « Grammaire Progressive du francais », «Geographie » & « Histoire » Nathan Collection Guilliver Cycle 3, fiction of choice
Health – Kingfisher Encyclopedia, library books
Phy-Ed – TEACH Co-op, Lifetime Fitness, soccer and basketball
Art – TEACH co-op
Monday, November 29, 2010
Love in a Time of Homeschooling by Laura Brodie
Ok, you can quit reading my blog now, and just go get the book "Love in a Time of Homeschooling: A Mother and Daughter's Uncommon Year", by Laura Brodie. Her book covers much of what I would ever want to say! The biggest difference between us is that she is a Smarty Pants. She has an undergraduate degree from Harvard and a PhD from the University of Virginia. She teaches at Washington and Lee University, and her husband is the band director at the Virginia Military Institute. When considering her eldest daughter's unique abilities and struggles within the traditional school setting, she decided to embark on a one-year sabbatical and home school her during that time.
From Amazon.com: "The more I looked into it, the more I discovered that short-term homeschooling is a growing trend in America, for a vast array of reasons." Chronicling the entirety of her homeschooling experience, from the decision-making process to Julia's successful re-entry into 6th grade, Brodie takes pains to show how difficult homeschooling can be: "How foolish I had been, to have believed that Julia's complaints over the past two years... stemmed from an institutional cause" (as it turns out, Julia simply doesn't like to be told what to do). Having been frustrated by other homeschooling books' Pollyanna attitude toward the parent-child relationship, Brodie's contribution to the field is full of honest revelations that make it vital for anyone considering homeschooling; happily, her gift for good storytelling and keen observation (of herself and others) make this an absorbing read for everyone else.
The book inspired me, challenged me, and ultimately helped me to feel like I had a daily companion in the sometimes lonely world of homeschooling. Sacrifices create an opportunity to home school, yet for the parent, this means giving up many freedoms. It doesn't work for everyone. In the end, I believe I will feel it is all worth it, and Laura Brodie shares these sentiments.
From Amazon.com: "The more I looked into it, the more I discovered that short-term homeschooling is a growing trend in America, for a vast array of reasons." Chronicling the entirety of her homeschooling experience, from the decision-making process to Julia's successful re-entry into 6th grade, Brodie takes pains to show how difficult homeschooling can be: "How foolish I had been, to have believed that Julia's complaints over the past two years... stemmed from an institutional cause" (as it turns out, Julia simply doesn't like to be told what to do). Having been frustrated by other homeschooling books' Pollyanna attitude toward the parent-child relationship, Brodie's contribution to the field is full of honest revelations that make it vital for anyone considering homeschooling; happily, her gift for good storytelling and keen observation (of herself and others) make this an absorbing read for everyone else.
The book inspired me, challenged me, and ultimately helped me to feel like I had a daily companion in the sometimes lonely world of homeschooling. Sacrifices create an opportunity to home school, yet for the parent, this means giving up many freedoms. It doesn't work for everyone. In the end, I believe I will feel it is all worth it, and Laura Brodie shares these sentiments.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Making Stock
My 11 year old son desperately wanted to make chicken stock this morning.
In fact, he was begging. Maybe it was an attempt to get out of doing his math problems. But whatever the case may be, I just couldn't say no.
We plunged in to that carcass. Actually we had two wonderful chicken carcasses from the evening before, when we had friends over for dinner. Together we pulled most of the meat from the carcass, set it aside, roughly chopped up carrots, celery and onion and threw it all into the biggest pot we own. Simmering now since morning, the whole house is filled with the aroma. My son walks through the kitchen as though he is in a trance, hypnotized by the swirls of fragrance filling the kitchen and spilling out into the rest of the house.
I'm supposed to be cleaning my house, making some phone calls, and pushing through our academics, but I just can't stop thinking about this soup. Probably because with each and every inhale, I'm reminded of it cooking over there on the stove-top.
The stock will simmer all day; this afternoon we will strain it and then make a delicious chicken noodle soup.
And my son will be licking his bowl, I guarantee it!
In fact, he was begging. Maybe it was an attempt to get out of doing his math problems. But whatever the case may be, I just couldn't say no.
We plunged in to that carcass. Actually we had two wonderful chicken carcasses from the evening before, when we had friends over for dinner. Together we pulled most of the meat from the carcass, set it aside, roughly chopped up carrots, celery and onion and threw it all into the biggest pot we own. Simmering now since morning, the whole house is filled with the aroma. My son walks through the kitchen as though he is in a trance, hypnotized by the swirls of fragrance filling the kitchen and spilling out into the rest of the house.
I'm supposed to be cleaning my house, making some phone calls, and pushing through our academics, but I just can't stop thinking about this soup. Probably because with each and every inhale, I'm reminded of it cooking over there on the stove-top.
The stock will simmer all day; this afternoon we will strain it and then make a delicious chicken noodle soup.
And my son will be licking his bowl, I guarantee it!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Limit Reached!
Yikes! We went to the library today, and I had maxed out my card! I felt like a shopper denied use of my credit card!
Now let it be known that our library allows 100 items checked out on a card.
I never really thought I'd have THAT many items checked out at once.
But, with a family of five....and now I'm homeschooling and using the library to the maximum (obviously!).
Having all the items checked out on my card means that I can track due dates on-line.
I had to stop and think, seriously, do I have THAT many items out???? it is possible?
When the librarian said limit reached, I had just moments earlier returned a huge bag of items that had not yet been entered into the system as "returned".
Now I'm back home....
I just checked my account on-line, and joy of joys, I'm down to 79 items!
Oops, gotta run, I'm headed back to the library!!
Now let it be known that our library allows 100 items checked out on a card.
I never really thought I'd have THAT many items checked out at once.
But, with a family of five....and now I'm homeschooling and using the library to the maximum (obviously!).
Having all the items checked out on my card means that I can track due dates on-line.
I had to stop and think, seriously, do I have THAT many items out???? it is possible?
When the librarian said limit reached, I had just moments earlier returned a huge bag of items that had not yet been entered into the system as "returned".
Now I'm back home....
I just checked my account on-line, and joy of joys, I'm down to 79 items!
Oops, gotta run, I'm headed back to the library!!
Monday, November 1, 2010
What To Do With All That Halloween Candy?
This has nothing to do with homeschooling, but everything with being resourceful.
I let my kids have their candy for about a week. They can eat some after lunch and dinner for dessert. I'm sure they sneak some for "snacks". Whatever, it's Halloween, and we don't have issues with diabetes or allergies or anything, so I figure it is the one week they get free reign on the candy.
Then, I take all the candy. My husband will often offer money for it, but he's much more generous than I am, I just take it! It goes into the Family Candy Bank.
First, I take all the Hershey's and M&Ms and put them in a bag for cookie baking.
Then, I take all the yummy chocolate bars (like Snicker's, Milky Ways, Kit Kats, Twix, etc) and put them in the freezer. They are perfect to chop up and put on ice cream for special treats or making your own Blizzards at home!
Then, all the sugary stuff (Laffy Taffys, licorice, Nerds, suckers, etc.) goes into the Family Candy Jar.
Also take a moment to think of special people in your life who LOVE a certain kind of candy. We had a piano teacher who loved Butterfingers, and it was fun to bring her one each week - for months! Stash a bag in the fridge with his/her name on it, and take one every time you see that person. You can get rid of a lot of candy this way!
Finally, some other random items (bags of chips, cookies, Raisins, sometimes the Reese's, etc.) go into the snack cupboard for exciting surprises in the lunch box.
Hey guys, that about covers all the candy. Some can go to Dad's office, some goes straight to Mom's hips, and I suppose some of it does get thrown away - but Very Little gets wasted!
Don't Throw Out The Halloween Candy!!
I let my kids have their candy for about a week. They can eat some after lunch and dinner for dessert. I'm sure they sneak some for "snacks". Whatever, it's Halloween, and we don't have issues with diabetes or allergies or anything, so I figure it is the one week they get free reign on the candy.
Then, I take all the candy. My husband will often offer money for it, but he's much more generous than I am, I just take it! It goes into the Family Candy Bank.
First, I take all the Hershey's and M&Ms and put them in a bag for cookie baking.
Then, I take all the yummy chocolate bars (like Snicker's, Milky Ways, Kit Kats, Twix, etc) and put them in the freezer. They are perfect to chop up and put on ice cream for special treats or making your own Blizzards at home!
Then, all the sugary stuff (Laffy Taffys, licorice, Nerds, suckers, etc.) goes into the Family Candy Jar.
Also take a moment to think of special people in your life who LOVE a certain kind of candy. We had a piano teacher who loved Butterfingers, and it was fun to bring her one each week - for months! Stash a bag in the fridge with his/her name on it, and take one every time you see that person. You can get rid of a lot of candy this way!
Finally, some other random items (bags of chips, cookies, Raisins, sometimes the Reese's, etc.) go into the snack cupboard for exciting surprises in the lunch box.
Hey guys, that about covers all the candy. Some can go to Dad's office, some goes straight to Mom's hips, and I suppose some of it does get thrown away - but Very Little gets wasted!
Don't Throw Out The Halloween Candy!!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
sweet moments and challenges in the first weeks
Sweet moments:
Knowing how nervous I was to start, I now see that it is all a blessing, and most of all I am grateful to my husband for allowing and encouraging me to try homeschooling. He works his butt off; and I am thrilled to be able to pour my heart into our home, children, and now their education....Thanks, love.
- seeing my son collect a towering pile of at least 20 books at the library - he could barely carry them all He said "I need this many books because I read like a whole book a day, Mom!"
- cooking together - he has chosen, on his own, to cook Tandoori chicken, a raspberry glace pie, and some others
- snuggling up on the couch to read history ("The Story of the World" by Susan Wise Bauer) and hearing pleas to "keep reading Mom!"
- being able to volunteer at Aunt Molly's school, helping two new French students (he used his French, helped others, and helped Aunt Molly too)
- being able to allow him to play outside in the afternoons with all the neighborhood boys, never worrying about homework or a "to do list"
- hearing him share with his little brother and sister and Dad all the interesting things he had learned during the day (even days when I felt like we didn't do much of anything)
- never (or more accurately, rarely) having to wake him up
- seeing him enjoy time with his 6 year old brother each morning
- having workers in and out of our house the first week of school - repairing ceiling and wall damage from a burst pipe in the basement
- getting sick the second week of school and fighting it off for 2 weeks
- trying to squeeze in errands
- trying to squeeze in exercise - I used to go to our health club mid-morning, now I'm trying to get up and exercise around 5:30/6:00, but we all know that doesn't always happen
- realizing that my perfect "school schedule" I had worked so hard on during the month of August needed to be thrown out the window
- feeling frustrated that we don't actually "do school" as much as I wish we would
- feeling like I am not spending enough time with my other two kids
- feeling like a frumpy mommy - lots of days staying in PJ's until noon, not taking a shower, never putting on nice clothes
Knowing how nervous I was to start, I now see that it is all a blessing, and most of all I am grateful to my husband for allowing and encouraging me to try homeschooling. He works his butt off; and I am thrilled to be able to pour my heart into our home, children, and now their education....Thanks, love.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Volunteer work!
I can't imagine that my son would have the opportunity to volunteer in an elementary school and delivering Meals on Wheels if we were not homeschooling.
Aunt Molly works as an English Language Learner teacher at a school 20 minutes away. She called the second week of school because she had a sweet family arrive from France with two children who spoke almost no English at all. She wondered if my son could come to help. What a terrific idea, Molly!
We have gone to the school twice to help translate/interpret for the two newcomers. My son is able to volunteer, use his French, and help children younger than he is, all in a couple of hours in an afternoon. The school staff really appreciate his help. And he senses the joy of helping. He will continue to help in the coming weeks as they adjust to the English language and academics.
We also deliver Meals on Wheels once every 5-6 weeks. It does not require a big commitment. It is a great way to serve together! This experience has revealed (to my children) the quiet, hidden members of the community who can be so easily helped with this small work of delivering meals.
My son doesn't volunteer tremendous hours of his time, but a little taste of serving others is a great helping of food for the soul at his young age.
Aunt Molly works as an English Language Learner teacher at a school 20 minutes away. She called the second week of school because she had a sweet family arrive from France with two children who spoke almost no English at all. She wondered if my son could come to help. What a terrific idea, Molly!
We have gone to the school twice to help translate/interpret for the two newcomers. My son is able to volunteer, use his French, and help children younger than he is, all in a couple of hours in an afternoon. The school staff really appreciate his help. And he senses the joy of helping. He will continue to help in the coming weeks as they adjust to the English language and academics.
We also deliver Meals on Wheels once every 5-6 weeks. It does not require a big commitment. It is a great way to serve together! This experience has revealed (to my children) the quiet, hidden members of the community who can be so easily helped with this small work of delivering meals.
My son doesn't volunteer tremendous hours of his time, but a little taste of serving others is a great helping of food for the soul at his young age.
Monday, October 18, 2010
READING
My first real entry for my blog….
It is only appropriate that I begin with reading.
- I want my kids to love to read.
- I want them to read A LOT.
- I want them to have leisurely time to read literature they have chosen all on their own.
- I want them to read literature that I have chosen.
- I want to read out loud to them.
With the demands that we place on children – long school days, homework, music lessons, sports and other wonderful activities, where do you fit in “leisurely” reading? Or reading at all?
This is one of the reasons that I am so thrilled to be homeschooling during the middle school years, when reading skills can really accelerate.
Homeschooling my 6th grade son has certainly given us that time. He reads an entire book every one to three days. What began back in 1st grade with the question of “Is he EVER going to READ?” has now become “Is he ever going to put the book down, turn out the light, and go to sleep?”
I felt quite a bit of stress during my now 6th grader's early elementary years, when reading skills emerge, because it is difficult not to compare your child to other children. Now I am experiencing those same feelings with my kindergartner, who really does not have any desire to read on his own. He LOVES to be read to, and he loves books – just looking at them on his own - but just doesn’t have the interest in deciphering the words. And although I feel some pressure, I am not pushing him and I am not going to worry about it. Am I?
My homeschooled son had some leisurely time at the library today, and when I found him with a stack of at least 20 books, it was a mommy moment of happiness. He really does love to read! I said, “Are you going to check out all those books?” He looked at me with a big grin and said, “Mom, I read one book each day!”
How cool is that?
Sunday, October 17, 2010
the beginning...
Disclaimer! Warning! This blog is not written by an experienced homeschooler! No, in fact, I've only been homeschooling for 6 weeks! In other words, I have no idea what I'm doing!
Furthermore, I have two children in public school right now. Perhaps I should not even refer to myself as a "homeschool mom"!
Here's the deal. I am proud of our public schools. We moved into this school district specifically for the public schools. I wanted my children to attend a language immersion school, and the high school here is continually rated as one of the best in the state.
So, what the heck? How is it that I write this blog?
Well, I'm at the beginning. I'm just launching here.... You know when you start some sort of a long-term project with no idea whether or not it will embark successfully or not? Whether or not you'll fall flat on your face, fail, end up feeling ruined...or whether you might soar to places never before imagined and experience a new found excitement?
This is An Experiment, folks. This is one of Those Projects that I have taken on, and I'm just in the beginning of it. I'm in my inaugural year.
It's quite simply that, well, I guess I just "want my children back" in The Middle. So here's my plan: I intend to homeschool my kids between grades 6 and 8. That's it.
Chances are, you know someone who homeschools, or have heard of someone who homeschools. Here I am in my second month of this little adventure.
I actually wanted my son to blog with me. To share with you his side of the story. Unfortunately, he detested that idea. And now I realize that I will have more freedom in writing, especially about him! Seriously! So, you'll get the one-sided view here.
Furthermore, I have two children in public school right now. Perhaps I should not even refer to myself as a "homeschool mom"!
Here's the deal. I am proud of our public schools. We moved into this school district specifically for the public schools. I wanted my children to attend a language immersion school, and the high school here is continually rated as one of the best in the state.
So, what the heck? How is it that I write this blog?
Well, I'm at the beginning. I'm just launching here.... You know when you start some sort of a long-term project with no idea whether or not it will embark successfully or not? Whether or not you'll fall flat on your face, fail, end up feeling ruined...or whether you might soar to places never before imagined and experience a new found excitement?
This is An Experiment, folks. This is one of Those Projects that I have taken on, and I'm just in the beginning of it. I'm in my inaugural year.
It's quite simply that, well, I guess I just "want my children back" in The Middle. So here's my plan: I intend to homeschool my kids between grades 6 and 8. That's it.
Chances are, you know someone who homeschools, or have heard of someone who homeschools. Here I am in my second month of this little adventure.
I actually wanted my son to blog with me. To share with you his side of the story. Unfortunately, he detested that idea. And now I realize that I will have more freedom in writing, especially about him! Seriously! So, you'll get the one-sided view here.