As we finish week three of our homeschooling experiment, I feel we’ve made some progress in my understanding of my kids’ academic needs, as well as the structure of our homeschool days.

This week’s theme was geography, which is a subject we could happily study for a month. But instead we’re using a few days of focused lessons as a basis for integrated geography studies throughout the schoolyear. Craig was reading about “communities”, so we also created a “community” play mat for their cars, and according to Darla’s journal, it was a hit. Here are a couple photos of the planning process for our six-foot square play mat. Alas, we ran out of paint, but I hope to show you the final product next week.

What went well
The subject matter was of great interest to our kids, as we enjoy traveling and have spent a fair amount of time looking at maps and globes in the past. The geography unit lended itself well to visual activities and games, where the kids learned the material without me having to tell them everything.

The markable map from Sonlight is AWESOME. Even though I was not using any Sonlight curriculum this week, the map was an excellent resource. The kids loved being able to write on the map and show me what they knew. Seeing it AND writing it helped with memorization. They invented ways to play with the map even during breaks and lunch.

Darla was in charge of organizing the games that we played to reinforce geographical locations. I think asking her to write the quiz questions helped her to review, while learning her own new material. And I was able to focus on other subjects with Craig. We’ll add to the index card “quiz questions” throughout the year and quiz each other periodically. I used games from Ten-Minute Activities.

And we had lots of fun reading the book, the Scrambled States of America (thanks for the idea Leslie!)

Writing with Craig was a lot less stressful this week, mostly because I lowered my expectations after so many of you responded to my pleas for help about this. Thank you to Charity , Kristin and Kathy Jo for the great insight about boys and writing.

I replaced much of his formal writing with discussion about writing and grammar. I’d ask him questions and I’d write his answers on the little whiteboard, or we’d just discuss the lesson. As a result, he wrote on his OWN far more. I’ve decided I won’t correct his grammar at all on journal entries or whiteboard notes. I just want him to write. The “correctness” will improve as we learn and read.

Challenges
Once again, Math reared it’s ugly head. Well, actually Darla reared her ugly head. But our only altercation occurred on Wednesday, when Darla gave her, “I know everything” speech, when she didn’t. I think she’s on board with me now, however. Thursday and Friday came with much more productivity and fewer rolls of the eyes. She’s figured out that she gets to skip lessons she clearly understands, if she’s being respectful to me and we’re working together. If we’re not working well together, then she gets to do it on her own, and write all the answers instead.

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.

Because of our pieced-together curriculum, and the fact we just started at the beginning of the books, I’m noticing that Craig’s grammar, reading and phonics practice never line up. I need to study these books and align the lessons for him. I think this will streamline his language studies if I organize the resources into themes (duh). And he loved playing noun charades. I can think of about a hundred ways to modify this game;)

Tonight both kids are on playdates with friends and watching their interaction just reminds me I need to pursue more opportunities like this. I should follow up on the contacts I’ve researched and make inroads with homeschooling families, as well as the public school friends they’re visiting today.

Next week
For the next several weeks, we’re switching gears from social studies into science. Craig’s study will focus on animals (mammals, amphibians, reptiles, life cycle, etc), while Darla will learn about the human body. I’m looking for fun, interactive lessons that would help in either of these units. And I know from experience that you all have INCREDIBLE IDEAS!! Please share your thoughts with me this week as well.

Thank you for all your help!

(The curricula and resources we’re using are listed on my curriculum page. As I discover materials and use them, I add to the list and make notes. So the page is changed weekly. 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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