What about younger siblings? Hey! I'm doing school!

The young woman I'm home-schooling this year, Lacie, has four younger siblings.  The three year old likes to do school with her.  Little Sister has a tremendous attention span!  Now, I'm not an early childhood expert.  My background is with secondary science, Biology, Chemistry, etc.  But, I've worked with many ages at VBS and summer Science Camp.  So, Lacie and I are making up lessons for Little Sister. We made a short list of immediate goals: color recognition, shapes, number recognition, counting, and letter recognition.  Little Sister has mastered many of these already.  Before we branch into farm animals, weather, seasons, etc., we need to make sure Little Sister has mastery.  So we assembled cutting strips, practice letters, colorful objects to sort, and puzzles.  I had extra Lego Duplos. Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls has terrific ideas for Lego Duplo Math cards.  The child can count and do color patterning with the Duplos.   Another easy lesson is Do a Dot with printables.  Children can use bingo markers or  office dot stickers.  We are using the dot stickers; they are not messy and exercise fine motor skills.  I made simple paper books for VBS.  I stapled cardstock and copier paper to make the books.  Little Sister can use the book to glue pictures, stickers, stamps, scriptures, coloring etc.  The little book is a record of some of the activities and skills she has mastered.  Look!  Little Sister gets to be a big girl and do school with Lacie!  Lacie can focus more on her own work.

Are you making progress?

Lacie and I are learning how to home-school together.  Her parents agree that it's more important to be thorough than to be quick.  I did a math and grammar assessment.  We are starting over.  I have a copy of Easy Grammar 5 and 6.  The course syllabus specifies Warriner's Third Course, Vocabulary Workshop D, and a separate writing book.  All of these are on hold.  Instead, I hope to tackle Easy Grammar Grade 9 later--much later.  Right now, I'm giving Lacie writing assignments from Theology and Literature.  We're going over her compositions and making revisions together.  In the Chemistry class I teach, I insist the kids use the third person, present tense, active voice, and indicative mood in their lab reports.  I get many blank looks.  I'm showing Lacie how to write most of her work in the same manner.  It's a good standard for many essays.  She already understands how to write a five or six paragraph composition.  We're working on mechanics, stronger descriptions, and  punctuation (A colon follows a noun, not a verb.)

It's stressful to learn how to manage all of the assignments.  I decided to start slowly and working through a few subjects at a time.  Lacie has younger siblings.  We've created lessons for her three year old sister to do while Lacie works.  It's a work in progress.

Home-school lessons continue!

Lacie and I met today to review last week's assignments.  She finished reading Robinson Crusoe and wrote two drafts of a letter to her Dad.  We start at 10:00 and worked for 1 1/2 hours revising the letter and making corrections.  We saved all of the revisions for her portfolio.  My goal is for Lacie to be able to write a paper using the third person, present tense, active voice, and indicative mood.  Not easy!  We're spending time now as an investment for future papers.  I started to work on Latin.  Lacie and I are starting over in grammar.  It's hard to understand declensions without an understanding of subject, direct objects, indirect objects, object of a preposition, etc.  Today, I had Lacie copy the first declension for terra, terrae and porta, portae several times and assigned more for home work.  My technique is to copy noun declensions and verb conjugations over and over to learn them.  We took a break and Lacie had a guitar lesson with my husband, Rob, lunch, and more work.

I checked on her Chemistry summer assignment, Periodic Table cards, due next Tuesday.  We worked on Algebra, Theology (Sola Scriptura), and grammar.  Next week, things get real!  Right after Chemistry class, we're spending several hours reviewing assignments, giving direct instruction in grammar and Algebra, and learning the elements in the Periodic Table.  I plan to assign more first declension nouns to learn, but launching Latin slowly to teach the grammar simultaneously, including diagramming sentences.  Wooooo!

Lacie's Fine Arts credit is guitar.  Below is a photo of the chord cards and book she is using.

After guitar and lunch, we began grammar.  We are using Easy Grammar 5/6.  First, we reviewed prepositions, subjects, and predicates.  Once we completed the exercise, I introduced Lacie how to diagram simple sentences.  Next, we added prepositional phrases to the diagram.  As we went along, we talked about objects of a preposition, definite and indefinite articles, etc.  So, as we do exercises, we doing a bit more grammar.  This link explains how to diagram sentences.  Start slowly!  

Lastly, we did some Algebra.  We are starting with Lesson 1 to learn order of operations, and basic algebraic rules.  Tell me this isn't exciting!  It has been a long time since I've taught grammar or math.  

Home School Back to School!

Yesterday, Lacie, her dad, one sister, my husband, and I went to the Co-op picnic to launch the school year.  The local Co-op is tremendous.  They host weekly classes for elementary through high school aged students.  There was a meeting describing opportunities for this school year, everything from ski lesson, book clubs, lego clubs, swing dance parties, bowling, All Saints Day, peg dolls, Rosary Bonfires, and field trips, such as to the pumpkin patch.  Easily 50 families with their children attended the picnic at a local park.  After the meeting and lunch, the families have an exchange—largely books, DVDs, flash cards, etc.  This is the first time my husband and I attended because it’s the first time we are home-schooling.  He and I have taught high school children from Co-op the past three years.  We help with VBS, too.  My husband, Rob, and I know some of the families and wanted to make Lacie and her dad, James, feel at home.  James was happy to see so many large families with teens hanging out.  The little ones played on the playground adjacent to the picnic pavilion.  Rob and I want to help Lacie meet the kids and go to some of the events the Co-op sponsors and chaperones.

Does your Co-op host a picnic?  Our families brought their own lunches.  This time of year, the Pavillon Space is available without a reservation.  A picnic is a great opportunity to get everyone’s contact information for group emails or texts.  It’s also a good way to introduce new families to Co-op.  We all live near a military base; there is constant turn-over.  New people bring new ideas.  Here are prayers all of us have a wonderful year as home-schoolers.

Week Two: Lacie

The Co-op classes start after Labor Day.  Over the next two weeks, Lacie and I are working on reading Robinson Crusoe, jump starting Theology and History, all while doing pre-assessments in Math and Grammar.  The two of us are stilling receiving books ordered online and determining a good schedule.  I need to clarify her strengths and gaps.  Today, I checked all of last week’s assignments, gave her a paper to write for Robinson Crusoe, and two assessments, the first Algebra test, and this grammar assessment.  We corrected and scored the tests before reviewing the incorrect material.

We need to get a handle on grammar.  Here is my plan.  First read all of Robinson Crusoe.  Next we will finish two or three study units in Theology and History.  Mean while, the pre-assessment results indicate hat we should start over in Algebra and Grammar.

We are starting slowly.  In two weeks, we’ll introduce Latin and Chemistry, Algebra in three weeks, and postpone vocabulary, composition, and grammar until October.  So far so good!  Teaching every topic is an adjustment for me, too!

Lacie said that it’s hard to work independently.  Exactly!  Together, we’re transitioning from a teacher  centered approach to a home-school approach, in which Lacie becomes responsible for her own education.  So, we’re taking some time before Co-op to get into a routine, set up dedicated study time, and  a schedule.

This gives me time to read the history and theology material in order to assess her answers to questions, and time to prepare Algebra and Latin 1.   Woooo!

Human Skeleton Models

Michaels and Lowe’s are stocked for Halloween.  Yes, this is absurd!  However, it’s a good opportunity to buy an affordable skeleton model for Anatomy class.  Amazon has a skeleton for around $12.  Lowe’s and Michaels have skeleton models which range in price from $18-30.  Check prices at Target; the stores may have already stocked for Halloween, too.  At least, home-school families can buy affordable models.  Before the kids memorize the names of the bones, have them determine if the Halloween skeleton models are accurate.

How is it you believe you can teach home-schoolers?

Why am I so confident I can teach most subjects?  Great question!  I’m a science teach, certified in high school Biology and Chemistry.  I have National Board Certification in Chemistry.  I’ve taught in private and public schools.  Before I retired, my home-school Co-op classes were allowed to meet in my lab at the public school where I taught.  After I retired I taught in a small Christian school and worked with our church’s Co-op.  My husband and I moved three years ago to help with our grandson.  His daddy is the custodial parent; we watch him after school, vacations, sick days, etc.

When I first taught in a small, private, prep school, I taught French, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physical Science, Junior Literature,  AP Biology, and AP Chemistry.  Additionally, I’ve taught Human Biology and AP Environmental Science.  I’m not afraid of a challenge.  I’m good at languages, composition, and grammar.  I know where to draw the line.  I’ll teach Physical Science or Active Physics, not college level Physics.

I know that I have to work along with Lacie and do the same readings and exercises.  My husband, Rob, is good at math.  He was a math major before he switched to Accounting.  When Imrun in to an issue, he can help.

Experience has taught me how to tackle new topics.  The first time I teach a new topic, I stick to the textbook.  I may add a few assignments, such as timelines, mapping exercises, etc.  The first time, I go step by step through the book or follow the syllabus.  I haven’t had Latin since high school; I studied French in France and took upper level classes conducted in French at University for fun.  I took Spanish for fun, too.  We selected Latin because it helps with Science: we are Catholic!  Our church has a Latin Mass.  Latin is useful!  I can teach French—not Spanish.  My Spanish has a French accent.  Latin requires a great deal of grammar—I love grammar!

You can teach your child, too.  Enroll in a program such as Seton Home Study School, Mother of Divine Grace School, Kolbe Academy, or one of the Protestant programs, such as Liberty University   Homeschool, or Bob Jones University Homeschool.  Follow the syllabus doggedly the first year—even if it means teaching through the summer months.  I recommend starting in August, keeping a schedule (9-Noon, five days a week), and making the basics the priority: Faith, Literature, Composition, Grammar, History, and Science.  Add piano lessons, soccer teams, Scouts, etc. after you and your family is comfortable home-schooling.  Are you on track to complete each of the textbooks by June or July?  Are you having class five days a week?  Are you completing the syllabus for each subject?  Are you including regular writing assignments such as paragraphs, book reports, and compositions with writing prompts?  You can join a sport after your family has a schedule.

We’re on this journey together.  I’ll keep you posted.

New Homeschool Start

Hi!  I’m back!  This year I’m working with a young woman, entering ninth grade.  I taught Human Biology over the summer with four kids.  For several years, I’ve worked with Co-ops teaching Chemistry, Biology, and Physical Science, along with teaching in a public school, and a small Christian school after I retired.  Usually, I teach Biology or Chemistry.  This fall it’s Chemistry.

Lacie is enrolled in Kolbe Academy.  Today, we started her curriculum.  Our Co-op starts right after Labor Day.  I thought it would be good to get started early.  First, we made sure Lacie has all of the textbooks and study guides.  She is taking British Literature, Western Civilization, Algebra 1, Theology, Latin 1, Chemistry, and Guitar as a Fine Arts Credit.  Next, Lacie took this Saxon Math Algebra 1 pre-assessment.  She missed two questions which we corrected.  We went over her assignments and my husband, Rob, gave her a guitar lesson.  Lacie is working on the Periodic Table Cards, the summer assignment.

Kolbe provides syllabi and study guides.  Lacie’s family and I bought or borrowed her books from Amazon and eBay.  I set up Google Classrooms for each subject.  We are combining Literature and Language Arts.  I set up an assignment book and wrote her assignments into a document posted on Google Classroom.  I’m going to post our progress here in the blog.  The Chemistry blog is here. 

Over the next three weeks, I want Lacie to get ahead reading Oliver Twist, her History textbook, A Light to the Nations, and Theology, which uses the Bible, Catechism, and Fr. John Laux’s History of the Bible.  After Labor Day, we’ll add Chemistry, Algebra 1, Latin 1, and more Language Arts.  She is going to need to do some composition and vocabulary.  Once, we start Latin, we’ll start grammar concurrently.  How will that work?  The Co-op classes meet Tuesday and Friday.  Chemistry and my husband’s Statistics meet from 10:00-11:15.  My husband, Rob, is teaching Physics from 11:30-12:30 or so.  Labs may run later.  This year, our classes meet in our basement.  Right after Chemistry, Lacie, Gen, and I are heading upstairs to work on Chemistry immediately.  We might quiz on the Periodic Table, do over data, etc.

After lunch on Tuesdays and Fridays, we’ll review all of her assignments.  Then we’ll tackle Latin, and Algebra.  Once, we lay a foundation for math and Latin, we’ll add composition assignments with some literary analysis.  Yes, I want to use the questions from Kolbe’s syllabus.  But, I have some exercises in Literary Criticism I want to add as we study Oliver Twist, Pride and Prejudice, etc.

Lacie is getting a big head start in her Humanity subjects over the next three weeks.  Her syllabi, guides, and textbooks have all finally arrived.  Over the next three weeks, I’m going to read Oliver Twist and map out Latin and Algebra.  Thankfully, Chemistry isn’t a challenge; I’ve taught it for 25 years.  I help my husband organize Statistics and Physics.  He’s taught Physics twice.  We sit down and determine the labs together and pull the equipment before class.  Neither of us has taught Statistics.  The first week, we’re combining classes to introduce the graphing calculator his Statistics kids will use all year.  My Chemistry class uses it infrequently; I like for the kids to have exposure to the graphing calculator before college.

Here’s hoping for a great year!  It’s going to be a challenge!