We studied government for a week.
Having now completed our second full week of our experiment in homeschooling, we’ve had some pretty great days. But our euphoria barely survived a week of government — no offense to all the high-level Congressmen and women that read this blog.
What went well
By far our most memorable experience this week, was a tour of the county courthouse (Thanks for the idea Black Belt Mama). We even got a tour by a judge and the kids sat in her chair!. Deena describes the experience in her journal, Tales of a 4th Grade Guinea Pig. D read aloud to us: Duck for President (Thanks Meredith) and Amelia Bedelia 4 Mayor (thanks Leslie), which were perfect a fit for our studies and loads of fun.
D probably learned quite a bit creating her comparison chart for the political candidates, using newspaper and online sources (thanks Holly). She did a great job, even though I can’s say she “enjoyed” it…
So basically, if it weren’t for my blogging buddies that respond to my pleas for help, my week would have been a FLOP.
And D wrote a great story and gave it to me as a gift. As soon as I come up for air, I’ll help her edit it, but for now, you can read it in all its unedited glory.
Challenges
I tried to integrate the writing practice into what we learned in social studies and met with SERIOUS resistance by way of C. It seems he doesn’t like to write. At all. And he most definitely doesn’t like to write anything related to government.
Dinosaurs. I think I can get him to write about dinosaurs. And fish. Getting them to relate to government, hmmmmmmm…… If you have any bright ideas, please share them.
So after stumbling, falling on my face, and demonstrating my prowess as the WORST TEACHER IN THE HISTORY OF WOMANKIND, we just quit and went shopping.
Now there’s commitment.
Also, neither D, nor I had ever learned mental math. But this week, we learned it for five whole days. We’ve not been especially happy campers about it, but I think we’re actually working it out.
Notes to self
When Deena acts frustrated (which is very apparent because of the jumping up and down and the jagged carving of her pencil lead into the notebook), she is not mad at me. She is mad at Scott Foresman for publishing this evil textbook and not equipping it with a downloadable brain chip.
When Curt boycotts writing, it is partly because he is as stubborn as his mother, and partly because I don’t know what to expect from him. So I need to figure this out. The public school teachers in our community have been very willing to share their expertise. So I need to tap this resource. If you know of any gauges for writing, please share them. Number of complete sentences to write per week, number of reports per semester, etc. I’m also looking for curriculum that’s worked for resistant writers.
I need to lighten up the curriculum, or the pace, or both. Thus, the gratuitous expenditure on pipe cleaners and fabric paint.
Next week well put our supplies to good use in our discussions about community and an introduction to / review of geography. I’m looking for great read-aloud book suggestions about US geography. PLEASE SHARE!!
(The curricula and resources we’re using are listed on my curriculum page. I keep adding to this as I discover new materials. We do spelling, reading, writing, and math on a daily basis. Social studies and science are alternated every week or two in themes.)
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2:24 pm
Oh Kelly, I have so much I want to share! I wish I had more time for “air” myself so I could jot them all down. But I’ll pull some together and e-mail you! The most important thing you’re doing is noting both successes and disappointments and then making action plans for yourself – - THAT will not allow you to fail. You’re the bomb!
Hugs,
Holly
Holly’s Corner
Thanks, as always, for your support, Holly!!
4:13 pm
Hey cool!! I wasn’t sure if Duck for President would have been too “little” for them, but I guess you do have a second grader there, and my second grader loves that book!
I wish I could have given some more tips… but it sounds like you fared well on that one!
The book was perfect – and it was slightly above Curt’s reading level, so Deena read it to him. If I had sat with him, he could have pushed through the story, but it wasn’t easy. And they both loved the story. It was just an easy, fun addition to the week (and we need more stuff like that – so keep it coming!!)
5:12 pm
Curt
Government bores me, too.
Especially at election time.
Do you know who is on the “ballot” in your state elections this Tuesday. Curt: “No”
In my town we are voting on a city ‘WATER PARK’ with slides and wave actions and all that fun stuff. I voted YES
I can’t wait for it to be built and I can take my grandkids when they come to visit.
But, I have to help pay for it, too. Thats why I had the opportunity to vote yes or no. Curt: Good. I would like going to a waterpark. I would vote for it too.
Kelly: His studies were more about general terminology, while Deena studied the candidates on the ballot. Great example for a reason to go to the polls!
7:20 pm
It sounds like a good week, Kelly. Lots of learning for all of you. A bit bumpy in spots, but all journeys are. And, most importantly, you are noting the good and bad and using both sets of experiences to make the journey even better. Yay for all three of you!
Thank you red dirt mummy!
11:49 pm
Here are some great games for learning where the states are. There are different levels so you can start easy and work your way up.
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/web_games.htm
12:00 am
Last one for tonight– this looks awesome:
http://www.amazon.com/Scrambled-States-America-Laurie-Keller/dp/0805058028
THIS IS AWESOME!!! I checked it out online. Thank you so much!
12:24 am
oh girl – I have no help! I think my son and i would have serious problems homeschooling! Now when I help him with his “homework” learning how to print, it does not always go well. I must say I mose my patience much sooner than I would like to admit. Unless something comes up that makes me need to develop the gift of homeschooling my child, I will not be homeschooling.
9:05 am
Mom, yes, I am mad at that Scott Forsman book! (I would like mental chip) Deena
P.S. You never fell on your face.
9:25 am
[...] I submitted last week’s Friday post, “Just when I thought I knew what I was doing.” Filed In: The Experiment [...]
12:31 pm
For writing I suggest checking out “The Writers Jungle” by Julie Bogart.
Thank you Kristin! I will!
2:11 pm
I started homeschooling my two boys at the start of second/third grade. Neither one of them, but especially the third grader, wanted to write anything. I decided to let it go. I never put pressure on them. They did other things to demonstrate their knowledge – crafts, dictation to me, multiple choice quizzes.
Now, one-quarter into the following school year, they both are writing on their own with no problems, willingly.
For me, this is one of the great things about homeschooling. I don’t have to fight over things that I don’t think are important to fight over.
You don’t know how much I appreciate your insight and advice. Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I’m hearing the same things from so many homeschoolers. I’m so pleased I have this outlet!
8:34 am
[...] Notes to self This was a solid week of work, so we were pretty worn out already by Wednesday, let alone Thursday or Friday. (Notice a recurring theme here? Will I never learn??) I need to schedule relaxed days even on the weeks without planned field trips. I think I’ll put library on the calendar so we don’t forget. [...]
8:54 am
[...] Homeschooling Experiment milestones: The Beginning Week One – Starting with a Frazzle Five Steps to Drive Yourself off a Cliff Week Two – Just when I thought I knew what I was doing Week Three — Let there be CRAFTS! One-month Review D’s Review at One Month Week Five – Stress and frustration Week Seven – Flip-flopping curriculum Note to self – Consider having low expectations some weeks Two-Month Review — Some aha moments Three-Month Review — Not all peaches and cream Four-Month Review — Loving ancient history Five-Month Review — What I underestimated Six-Month Review – Let’s Just Skip this Month Seven-Month Review — Curriculum review D’s research paper — Save the Earth Saturday series Tales of a Fourth-Grade Guinea Pig All posts about the experiment — including WAY-COOL FIELD TRIPS! [...]
8:01 am
[...] Other Homeschooling Experiment milestones: The Beginning Week One – Starting with a Frazzle Five Steps to Drive Yourself off a Cliff Week Two – Just when I thought I knew what I was doing Week Three — Let there be CRAFTS! One-month Review D’s Review at One Month Week Five – Stress and frustration Week Seven – Flip-flopping curriculum Note to self – Consider having low expectations some weeks Two-Month Review — Some aha moments Three-Month Review — Not all peaches and cream Four-Month Review — Loving ancient history Five-Month Review — What I underestimated Six-Month Review – Let’s Just Skip this Month Seven-Month Review — Curriculum Review D’s research paper — Save the Earth Saturday series Tales of a Fourth-Grade Guinea Pig All posts about the experiment — including WAY-COOL FIELD TRIPS! [...]
3:29 pm
[...] Other Homeschooling Experiment milestones: The Beginning Week One – Starting with a Frazzle Five Steps to Drive Yourself off a Cliff Week Two – Just when I thought I knew what I was doing Week Three — Let there be CRAFTS! One-month Review D’s Review at One Month Week Five – Stress and frustration Week Seven – Flip-flopping curriculum Note to self – Consider having low expectations some weeks Two-Month Review — Some aha moments Three-Month Review — Not all peaches and cream Four-Month Review — Loving ancient history Five-Month Review — What I underestimated Six-Month Review – Let’s Just Skip this Month Seven-Month Review — Curriculum Review D’s research paper — Save the Earth Saturday series Tales of a Fourth-Grade Guinea Pig All posts about the experiment — including WAY-COOL FIELD TRIPS! [...]
10:06 pm
[...] Other Homeschooling Experiment milestones: The Beginning Week One – Starting with a Frazzle Five Steps to Drive Yourself off a Cliff Week Two – Just when I thought I knew what I was doing Week Three — Let there be CRAFTS! One-month Review D’s Review at One Month Week Five – Stress and frustration Week Seven – Flip-flopping curriculum Note to self – Consider having low expectations some weeks Two-Month Review — Some aha moments Three-Month Review — Not all peaches and cream Four-Month Review — Loving ancient history Five-Month Review — What I underestimated Six-Month Review – Let’s Just Skip this Month Seven-Month Review — Curriculum Review D’s research paper — Save the Earth Saturday series Tales of a Fourth-Grade Guinea Pig All posts about the experiment — including WAY-COOL FIELD TRIPS! [...]
8:47 am
[...] Other Homeschooling Experiment milestones: The Beginning Week One – Starting with a Frazzle Five Steps to Drive Yourself off a Cliff Week Two – Just when I thought I knew what I was doing Week Three — Let there be CRAFTS! One-month Review D’s Review at One Month Week Five – Stress and frustration Week Seven – Flip-flopping curriculum Note to self – Consider having low expectations some weeks Two-Month Review — Some aha moments Three-Month Review — Not all peaches and cream Four-Month Review — Loving ancient history Five-Month Review — What I underestimated Six-Month Review – Let’s Just Skip this Month Seven-Month Review — Curriculum Review D’s research paper — Save the Earth Saturday series Tales of a Fourth-Grade Guinea Pig All posts about the experiment — including WAY-COOL FIELD TRIPS! [...]
7:49 am
[...] The Beginning Week One – Starting with a Frazzle Five Steps to Drive Yourself off a Cliff Week Two – Just when I thought I knew what I was doing Week Three — Let there be CRAFTS! One-month Review D’s Review at One Month Week Five – [...]
7:58 am
[...] The Beginning Week One – Starting with a Frazzle Five Steps to Drive Yourself off a Cliff Week Two – Just when I thought I knew what I was doing Week Three — Let there be CRAFTS! One-month Review D’s Review at One Month Week Five – [...]
7:59 am
[...] Comments Pass The Torch » Share your best homeschool tips – a call for bloggers on Just when I thought I knew what I was doing…Pass The Torch » Homeschool Tips and Advice – Share your best links! on Homeschool Experiment [...]
8:44 am
[...] The Beginning Week One – Starting with a Frazzle Five Steps to Drive Yourself off a Cliff Week Two – Just when I thought I knew what I was doing Week Three — Let there be CRAFTS! One-month Review D’s Review at One Month Week Five – [...]
5:50 am
[...] The Beginning Week One – Starting with a Frazzle Five Steps to Drive Yourself off a Cliff Week Two – Just when I thought I knew what I was doing Week Three — Let there be CRAFTS! One-month Review D’s Review at One Month Week Five [...]