Let’s Teach Brit Lit!

 I’m compiling links for a British Literature class I’m teaching the local home-school Co-op this fall.  I taught it once before two years ago.  We are using Stobaugh’s British Literature textbooks with a wide variety of activities.  I have two spreadsheets with links I am developing for class started: Teach Brit Lit and British Literature Websites.  The class is reading Robinson Crusoe, Frankenstein, any Shakespeare play, and Pride and Prejudice over the summer.  I’m in the throes of planning class.  So much fun!  Here is an older post with a sample post for Brit Lit.

Summer Science

 Friends have told me they like joint science projects for their families, especially large families.  Summer is a great time for hands-on family science.  I checked out “365 Simple Science Experiments” from the library.  (Used copies are available for $5-$6.  Start with a theme.  365 Simple Science has Slow Start-Fast Finish, Keeping Your Balance, Soap Suds, Adventures with a String, and World Travelers.  Read over the experiments to see if you have the materials on hand, and let the kids select several activities.  

I like this book.  Clutching at Straws begins with how to make a paper straw and use it as a medicine dropper, atomizer, oboe, and trombone.  My favorite in this section is spearing a potato with a straw.  Will a homemade straw work as well as a plastic straw?  Each section has a brief explanation.  For example, the straw through the potato demonstrates inertia.  The index in the book has other experiments which demonstrate inertia.  

Let your kids take the lead.  Pick an interesting topic, try three experiments, and reevaluate.  Take loads of photos.  Do video demonstrations with explanations.  I would encourage older kids to take charge and organize the experiments.  Have them research the topic and explanations.  Schedule one hour blocks of time.  Have the materials set aside and ready.  Give summer science a shot.

It’s Portfolio Season!

 It’s definitely portfolio season.  Here are a few tips.  First, take photos or videos of everything: graded work samples, tests, projects, and activities.  Make short videos of outdoor activities: basketball, soccer, bike riding, etc.  Save photos and videos in a slideshow.    Here is the basic slideshow I’m using for Paul’s fourth quarter graded work samples.  I organized each section with photos of the textbooks.  I can see where to insert slides of graded work at a glance.  Slideshow are easy to attach to emails to submit electronically.  Get in the habit of writing paper using Word or Google Docs.  I save pdf files of the original and revisions to add to the slideshow of graded work.  Document everything, including field trips and camps.  Get in the habit of inserting those samples, pdf files, photos, and screenshots into a slideshow every week.  The product is a robust portfolio ready for submission.

Graduation Gift Ideas

 This post is pretty random.  We have a number of home-school friends and former home-school students. I teach science Co-op classes.  I have a ‘go-to’ present for high school graduation: an electric kettle and a case of ramen noodles.  Close family friends get an alarm clock, too.  My favorite alarm clock is Clocky.  It rolls over the dresser screaming; you have to chase it.  Electric kettles are about $15 and a case of ramen is $2.27.  Trust me this combo makes a great gift.  (I just found electric kettles for $7 each.  I ordered three. This is the first time using the website.  I don’t know if the site is reliable.)

Gifts

Look at everyday activities for informal lessons.  For example, our little household makes loads of presents.  Does yours?  One gift is popcorn with seasoning for DIY microwave popcorn.  Have your kids do a little research.  Create a budget of $5 or less per gift.  Have the kids price small jars for seasoning, paper bags, and bulk popcorn prices.  Research recipes.  Which popcorn seasoning can you make with the kitchen supplies on hand?  Brainstorm ideas for labels or hand-written recipes.  These types of economic lessons don’t fit neatly into a school curriculum.  But, think about how practical it is for kids to learn how to budget.  Call these lessons Economics and take photos.

Digital Prep

 Now is the time to set up digital resources for next fall’s home-school year.  Take pix of the textbooks.  I put the images into a slideshow.  Take photos frequently of completed work, tests, and projects.  Upload the images both to the slideshow and to Google Classroom.  Think about keeping a blog.  Write about fun projects, a successful science experiment.  Load pix!  These digital documents will make it easy to submit a digital portfolio to an online home-school.  If your state or county requires an extensive portfolio, you will be ready.  Set up Google Classrooms and four quarters of slideshows.  Take loads of pix.  Your portfolio won’t induce stress at all.

Brit Lit

 I’m in the process of planning a British Literature class for fall.  I have some plans in the works here and here.  The class is using Stobaugh’s British Literature, primarily for class discussions.  I’ll use outside websites, too.  This class is remote to save families miles trudging back and forth.  We already have Biology and Algebra II scheduled Tuesdays and Thursdays all morning.  The kids are reading Robinson Crusoe, one Shakespeare play, Pride and Prejudice, and Frankenstein this summer to prepare for the class. I’ll post more information and websites to the spreadsheets as I continue to plan the course.