It’s been a month since we started time4learning for Carter, 6. I always had the site in my bookmarks when considering what we should do with our homeschooling. In the past, we’ve done Five in a Row, Unit Studies, and a mish mash of whatever was working at the time.
But I was finding what I put into planning (hours of work), was not what I was getting out of it.
My son struggles with phonics, as do I. I was concerned that we couldn’t find a program that worked for him. With in a day of using time4learning, he was reading sentences! I love that the program uses a combination of sight words and phonics to make learning fun! I love that I can change his level if I feel it’s too challenging. Or in the case of Language arts, I started him in K and found it too easy, it was simple to bump him up!
Yesterday, was one month. I thought the decision to continue on would be hard at first, but it was not! We are learning and we have more time together for playing together!
Now, this is just my opinion and what is currently working for my family! If you do want to give it a try, please be sure to mention that I referred you There is a two week, money back guarantee! Thanks so much!!
I”m sure that I’m not the only blogger who has become completely disenchanted with their blog upon finding facebook right? It’s fun to share my pictures there where they can JUST be seen by family and friends.
So, what does this mean for the future of my blog? I have no idea, but I’m not ditching it yet! I really only ever considered it a place to share my simple kind of life with those who care. So, are there those who care that are not on facebook? I don’t think so….
Summer is over! Carter declared it a good summer! And it truly was! One where we were blessed with wonderful friendships and many adventures!
Lots of cottage trips
Berry picking (raspberry, wild blueberry, blueberry and elderberry!)
Christmas is over, things are settling down and the ’should be doing more’ syndrome has come over me again. Right now Carter is doing VERY well with the self guided/unschooling we’ve been doing. I’m trying to fit more reading time in and one on one workbook time. Especially since he INSISTED on a Math 1-2 book and needs a bit of help on it.
But I can’t help but think of all we don’t do….maybe I should be helping him more with reading. Is there something I can buy/rent/borrow that could help him and his very strong desire to read? We visit the library often, talk about, spell, read together….
I’m sure he’s not getting enough sit down science. But is that important? Is the science he’s getting from everyday life enough? When won’t it be?
He’s clearly doing well. Better than if he’d gone to K. In my opinion of course.
Then I feel terrible I don’t have him signed up for more extracurricular stuff (like we do any curricular stuff…). No sports (we do Jungle Java weekly), no music. We do nature programs and get together with friends often. But is it enough?
Is this sort of like the newborn baby. He’s happy, he’s growing, he’s learning. Is it really that important to measure what I’m giving him?
Sorry, just feeling down about myself lately. UGH. Must.get.out.of.funk. and breathe.
We mostly took the week off. Carter is still loving to write words down, play hangman, write mama love notes, talk about math, Christmas crafting, hang out with sister, play games, go to Jungle Java for some running around, play with friends, make up new games with those friends (such as ‘hide from the government’ hahahahahaha!), getting and decorating Christmas trees…. it was a very nice week of ‘we learn all the time!’.
I don’t even have any pictures, SHOCKING!
We continued with our Native American studies this week. It all started with a drumming circle at church. The children loved it! Skye was drumming and dancing. It continued all week long.
We learned more about the true story of Thanksgiving. Used some really neat interactivesites. Make and learned about dreamcatchers.
On Wednesday night we went to the 22nd annual Interfaith Thanksgiving celebration at a local Detroit church. We watched calls to prayer in different faiths, Hindu dancers, calls to meditation and more. It was great fun and I was really very happy with the length of time the kids were able to sit and (mostly) enjoy.
We watched the parade on TV. Not quite the same But had a lovely dinner with family. Then off to a retreat to the cottage. Unplug. Relax. Knit, read, sit by the fire, take long walks, visit with family, tie flies, play games and just relax! My memories of this short but sweet vacation will warm me through the winter.
Thanksgiving 2008 Pictures
Are these updates boring? Should I just skip them? It’s nice to have a record of what we’ve done…hmmm something to think about.
After much struggle with what to do with a Native American study (to supplement what they are learning in RE) we landed here
A nice unit study that we will continue with next week while we learn about Thanksgiving, the right way.
Some highlights;
Carter wanting to create a picture just like Little Gopher. So he did, everyday! We used crayons and watercolors.
Squishing fruit and veg to create colors.
Listening to Native American music on YouTube
Lots of many books and talks about Native Americans.
Carter is still writing love notes to me. I should save them all for when he’s older and won’t say I love you anymore!
A good friend suggested we label everything for Carter. So I did, he loves reading the words (chalkboard, bathroom, mirror…).
On a more personal front;
I made lotion (so easy!)
Took lots of walks outside (despite the cold!)
Went to a clothing swap (how fun!!)
The kids and I spent my Grandma’s 87th birthday with her. What a treat!
We went to a parade, at night!!
Today is Saturday and we are having a pj day! Relaxing and resting up for a busy next week!
We ‘rowed’ Owl Moon this week. Learning (lightly) about Owls and Moons and having lots of fun along way. Highlights; the kid ‘whoo who whooo’ing all week. Carter loving the learning about the moon (including a full moon this week!). In a few weeks we will go on an Owl Prowl and hopefully see our own owl!
Also this week; we baked bread, had a fun meeting with lots of friends, took a long and beautiful walk in the woods, had our last open gym class, visited with some playful kitties, and went to The Henry Ford Museum.
On the home front, Skye started seriously eating this week. Expect a growth spurt soon! The kids are learning about Hopi Native Americans in UU RE. They’ve made Kachina dolls and drums. We had our first snowfall, which means we watch Polar Express! Carter wanted a scarf so he chose the yarn and I proceeded to knit him the uglies scarf on the planet. But don’t tell him, he loves it. Even asked to pose by the tree and take a picture!
We did another week of unschooling. I have to say that I generally prefer these weeks. Not just because it’s less pressure on me to plan and get it all done but because I love having the free time the kids need to generate their own interests. For example, Carter this week asked for a math book. Which I had. He’s been breezing through it too! He also has been writing me notes. I picked up a little tip from the library to use scrap pieces of paper instead of full sheets, we cut them up. He writes words he knows or he finds words he knows in places such as books, boxes, posters, whatever! It’s refreshing to see this self motivation and love of learning!
Some of the weeks highlights;
Participating the the Day of the Dead @ church. Carter’s name was mentioned by the RE Director during the service for something he’d done the previous week. He glowed with happiness
Raking leaves, which of course means, jumping in leaves!
A golden walk outside with friends. Lunch under a really cool tree. Watching these homeschool kids (in a wide age range) all play together, make up games and just have fun in the woods.
Voting. The process was a bit long for the kids but they did well. Carter announced in line that we were voting for John McCain. So funny, because not only weren’t we, but only 25% of that line did! Yay Obama!!
Finding out that we have become a twice a week library family.
Skye loving cutting paper, all the time. All the time!!
Learning about birds with 40 other homeschoolers, then having the naturalist say ‘what the heck it’s too beautiful outside. let’s go for a hike!!’ and a hike with Mr. Matt is always cool!
Carter wanted to make a chart (guess it’s a math week). He wanted to put all meals and snacks on it so he can check it off when he eats it.
He’s also been wanting to put a sticker on the calender everyday (fun way to learn!)
Carter got to vote at the library for his favorite storybook characters. This was so fun for him! We get to see the results next week!
Miss Michelle’s storytime. She’s the best! We marched in an uninvited marching band and made mouse shape crafts.
The 3ft Library receipt. I think this might be a record for us.
Skye rediscovering her doll stroller. Then being a good mama all week to Baby Rainbow (named for the rainbows that hit the kitchen floor in the afternoon). He nurses her, strolls her, rocks her, changes diapers, brings her places in the sling.
Carter playing Kick Ball in Open Gym
(for Paul and I getting a night out to attend a tacky auction at church, soo much fun!!)
Playing with friends.
Going to the farmers market in the freezing cold. Buying apples without stickers on them! And farm eggs. yum!!
Wow, it really was a busy week for ‘taking the week off’
Halloween week! We read LOTS and LOTS of Halloween books, did crafts, went to many parties, hosted one of our own, one birthday party, Hallowe’en at Greenfield Village, Trick or Treating, visiting with lots of family, carved jack o lanterns and had lots of general Halloween fun!! We made glue ghosts and goop (lots of glue use this year…), sang pumpkin songs, watch the history of Halloween online, made apple pies, did lots of print ables, a fun week all in all! Ready to take next week off!!
We did some new things this year. I don’t know if it was right or not. We let the kids eat all the candy they wanted on Friday and that was it. The candy is gone. We NEVER let them have unlimited amounts of crap, ever. But I didn’t was a 2 month battle of begging for candy. I guess we’ll have to decide if we’ll do it again next year. But I don’t know…they really ate a lot of candy.
Please, do go to flickr to see the rest of the pictures and comment there too
There is a two week, money back guarantee! Thanks so much!!
But had a lovely dinner with family. Then off to a retreat to the cottage. Unplug. Relax. Knit, read, sit by the fire, take long walks, visit with family, tie flies, play games and just relax! My memories of this short but sweet vacation will warm me through the winter.
