Classical Unschooling

2012-10-14T04:51:00.000-07:00

Thinking of changing the focus of my blog...

Is anyone using this? The goal of this was to earn some extra cash, while doing what I love!! I do enjoy posting/finding books that can help parents. But no one is clicking the advertisements..and that is my only way to get earnings.

Anyways, is anyone using this? I have an idea where I don't have to advertise every month..

2012-10-11T14:22:00.000-07:00

For those that want to get started on the bird books early, I have found a lot of them!! I will keep adding, so keep checking when you run out. Consider this your 'reading unit'. You will be reading a lot of fun and interesting books, be sure to add a project or two after each book to make it fun. You have a lot of books to choose from!! I also have books included for older children that go more in depth.

Projects will be posted as soon as I have time. Sorry for being so late!! Getting over the flu here :(

Books

Spring, by-Gail Saunders-Smith

Birds, by-Peter Murray

Birds, by-David Chandler

Birds, by- Slim Goodbody

Birds, by-Camilla de la Bedoyere

Birds, by- Robert Snedden

Animal Colors (video) by-DK Vision

Amazing Book of Bird Records, by-Samuel G. Woods

Birds, by-Jen Green

Birds, by-Gallimard Jeunesse

The Bird Class, by- Rebecca Stefoff

Amazing Birds, by-Alexandra Parsons

Birds, by- Ann Hansen

Birds, by-Adele Richardson

Bird Watch, by-Terry Jennings

The Bird House, by-Cynthia Rylant

Classifying Birds, by-Andrew Solway

Bird Talk, by- Lita Judge

Spring, by-Darlene R. Stille

Amazing Birds, by-Brenda Williams

Birds, Nests and Eggs, by-Mel Boring

Robins, Songbirds of Spring, by-Mia Posada

Seasons of the Year, by-Tracey Steffora

Amazing Birds, by-Alexandra Parsons

Vocabulary
adaptation
anatomy
ancestral

ancestors
arboreal
avian
bill
biodiversity
Bird of prey
bogs

breed

bud

camouflage
cell
chirp
class
claws
colony
conservation
crepuscular
cuttlebone
digest
digestive system
diurnal
draft

Earth
endangered
energy
endotherm

equator
evolution
evolve
extinct
family

field
fledgling
flock
fossil
gene
genetic
genus

globe
grit

habitat

hatch

hibernate
hollow
horizontal
hover

incubation
instinct
irregular
kingdom

life cycle
Lovebird
lungs

mammals

mate

melt
millet
mimic

migrate
mineral block
mob
molt
mucus
nectar
nocturnal

Northern Hemisphere
order
organism
orinthology
paleontology
parrot
perch
phylum

plow
plumage
predator

predators
prey
range
roost

reptiles
reproduce
sac
scales

season
sift
skeleton
squawk

Southern Hemisphere
species

sprout

stem
strides

sun

tadpole
talons
taxonomy
terrestrial
territory

tornadoes
vertebrates
veterinarian

warm-blooded
webbed

wingspan

2012-10-05T10:33:00.001-07:00

Something to do while you're waiting for the

'Birds' Resources

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiKUbIvV2ho

Make your own bird nest out of chocolate!!

A fun way to get the kids interested in birds.

I have found there are a lot of books out there on birds, and I want to be able to sort through them all, so there may be a little delay. Have fun with this!! Go to the store and sort through what can be used. There is SO MUCH candy out there.

Look at prices, and prices per ounce. Which ones are cheaper? Why? Are your favorite ones the cheapest or most expensive?

(In my case, they always seem to be the most expensive;) My mom always said I had good taste;) )

The new resources should be up soon!

2012-10-01T06:40:00.004-07:00

Our next study will be on

'birds'.

Here are a few bird cam's to get you started.

Eagle/Falcon/Heron/Kestrel/Osprey/Owl

http://birdcam.xcelenergy.com/

http://watch.birds.cornell.edu/nestcams/camera/index

This site here has several different animals/birds

http://www.trmichels.com/AnimalCams.htm

ZooCam

http://wwwzoowebs.webs.com/birdcam.htm

This one here has a chat option

http://news.discovery.com/animals/top-5-bird-webcams-120326.html

2012-09-25T09:08:00.002-07:00

In making these unit studies, I cam to a realization- not only are unit studies a lot of work, they are quite rigid!
How can a person 'teach to a child's interests', if the unit study is already created?
This has always been the problem I have had with my own children. There was no perfect unit study for my children.
Sure, I tried making my own. But the work took its toll. So I decided to make a change to my site.

On this site, I will post all the books I have found of interest. These books should be available at the library, so simply order them online, have them sent to you (if that option is available at your library, or have them sent to your local library) and sift through them. Or, you can use them all as your traditional reading program.
I will have links included with fun exercises/art projects. Sift through these as well. Make it fun!
I will list all the vocabulary words I come across. The definitions will be up to you, but you can plug these into Spelling City
www.spellingcity.com

Or, you can make cards and play a game. Both are fun, but kids do have more fun when the parents are involved in the fun, so mine always went for the board games. We always included a 'candy' (m&m's and such) for each right answer. This made it more fun!:)

I will also list more academic ideas for older children.

This way you can create your study, and all the resources are right here! I can't order the books for you, but I can have the books listed, the links to all the art projects listed. Sift through, find what you want, and remember- have fun!

Spring

Spring, by Nicola Baxter

Spring, by Anna Claybourne

Spring, by Jane Burton and Kim Taylor

You may also find quick notes that will give you ideas for a project.

Spring, by Clare Collinson

Little Hands, FingerPlays Action Songs, by Emily Stetson and Vicky Congdon

Crafts to Make in the Spring,
by Kathy Ross

Spring, by Ron Hirschi

Spring, by Moira Butterfield

Professor Sniff and the Lost Spring Breezes, by Alex Shearer

Charlotte's Web, E.B.White

In Spring, by Jane Belk Moncure

Outside your Window, A First Book of Nature, by- Nicola Davies

Let's Look at Spring, by Sarah L. Shuette

Are You Ready for Spring? by Sheila Anderson

Spring, by Karen Bryant-Mole

Spring, by Vic Parker

Hopper Hunts for Spring, by Marcus Pfister

Hooray for spring! by Kazuo Iwamura

Vocabulary Words
(from books, add more as you see fit)

adapt
asparagus
axis
beltane
bloom
blossom
breed
breeze
bud
brood
bulbs
bud
catkins
celebrate
Celts
Christian
cold-blooded
crop
day-length
dew
duckling
equator
equinox
emerge
energize
fawn
fertilize
festival
flood
foal
frogspawn
germinate
graze
hatch
hemisphere
herbivore
hibernate
hibernation
holi
hormone
ice fishing
icicle
latent heat
lynx
mammal
maypole
microscopic
migrate
migration
moist
nectar
northern hemisphere
north pole
pasture
phloem
pollen
proboscis
pupae
rainbow
rays
sap
season
seed drill
seedling
sense
shed
southern hemisphere
south pole
spawning
species
spectrum
sperm
sprout
symbol
tadpole
temperature
territorial
tornado
tradition
traditional
ultraviolet rays
warm-blooded
wobbly

Activity Links

Homemade Bird Feeders
http://www.savvyhomemade.com/kids-homemade-bird-feeder.html

http://moffattgirls.blogspot.com/2011/02/toiletpaper-roll-bird-feeders.html

http://designdazzle.blogspot.com/2011/07/summer-camp-bird-feeders.html

Cake Pot Flowers
http://pinterest.com/pin/208784132695800614/

15 Ways to Celebrate Spring
http://www.ivillage.com/kids-spring-activities/6-b-435808?ivNPA=1&sky=ggl|all|all|dsatest|slides|

Thumbprint Flowers
http://pinterest.com/pin/133559945168691375/

http://pinterest.com/pin/39547302947956199/

Homemade Fruit Snacks
I got this off Facebook..so I think you need an account. Sorry!
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=439839872728922&set=a.195804983799080.50584.192082494171329&type=1&theater

Fruit Pizza
http://spoonful.com/recipes/pizza-night-gallery?cmp=SMC|spoon||FB|FruitPizza|InHouse|090412|Recipe|KN|famM|#carousel-id=photo-carousel&carousel-item=24

Seasonal Writing Paper
http://www.first-school.ws/theme/printables/writing-paper/themed/seasons.htm

Spring Projects
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/spring/index.htm

Spring Kids Games
http://www.ehow.com/info_7900273_spring-kids-games.html

Spring Ideas
http://holidays.kaboose.com/spring/

Spring Activities
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/spring.htm

Spring Activities
http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/spring/

Fried Zucchini
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=438371819542394&set=a.195804983799080.50584.192082494171329&type=1&theater

Academic Ideas

Ideas include:

Putting vocabulary words on index cards and using them in games like Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders

Spelling City

A few of the books listed are poems. Read poems together, discuss the rhythm and discuss how it sounds different from reading it normally. Write a poem together. If you really want to have fun, you can always get the book- Shel Siverstein, 'Where the Sidewalk Ends'.

Older children can write reports. Choose a particular interest they have that involves spring, and have them research on this project. They can present it to the family in an oral report. Graphs are always fun to add.

Go for a bird watch!

Make a nest by a window where you can watch. Can you label the type of birds that show up? Create a graph. You can also create a graph as to which time of day/temperature they show up as well. Make two and see which bird feeder they like better! (would not suggest one child make one and have the other make the other..this would be a competition where there is always going to be a loser. Have fun and do them together!)

Bake a cake in the shape of a bird.

What type of birds live in your area?

Do you have a bird sanctuary in your area? A zoo? A pet store? Go check them out!

Put up butcher paper (the biggest paper you can find) and hang it on the wall. Paint a mural of all that you've studied!

Does your library have a recording on bird sounds? Play this while you sleep. Or
go on youtube and listen to your favorite sounds. Turn out all the lights and sit in the living room listening to the sounds. Connect videos together so you can sit with a little light and have a picnic or something/while you play a game.

Find someone that has a bird/craigslist and offer to 'bird-sit' for a weekend.

Plant a garden

Use discarded milk jugs/boxes and make a planter for a flower (or something). The best part of boxes is when you plant them in the soil you just plant the box too, as it will dissolve in the soil!

Spring Cleaning!

Is there a farm in your area you can go visit?

The list is endless!!
Use your imagination and have fun!

2012-09-23T04:28:00.000-07:00

Here is an idea to do if you're

'In between unit studies'

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=307597.0

This looks like a lot of fun and could

take about a week.

2012-09-20T08:57:00.003-07:00

Our next study will be on

Spring!

Here is an idea to get your creative gifts started.

Bisquick biscuits shaped into fun, spring shapes

2012-09-16T07:53:00.001-07:00

The Easter Cub

Day 1

Read together with your child, 'The Easter Cub'. One idea is to have your child read along and when they get to a word you know they don't know just whisper it to them, so they can read it, and it flows (as if they're reading it themselves). If your child is too young/does not read yet, that is alright. You can read to. Another idea, if you have a child that gets overwhelmed easy, is to each read a paragraph/page, taking turns. That can be fun as well.

While you're reading, pick out words that your child is having trouble with. Use these as site words/vocabulary words. Make them into flash cards and use these in games such as 'Candy Land' (make each word a different color. The color on the card matches the square to move to) or Chutes and Ladders (each card has a number). When learning is fun, they remember more :)

Day 2

There are many routes you can take with this book. Some ideas would be: Easter, Spring, rabbits, animals in general, flowers or bears. I have chosen bears. Not to fret, I plan to do the others later on. Something to remember, however, is that no lesson is set in stone. Follow your child's interests! You can always come back when you're done. One lesson may say it only lasts a day, but you may find so many books/art projects you enjoy, it could last a week or even a month! Was your child learning something? Of course!! So what's the problem?;)

Below are a list of books on bears. All are available at the library and the best way to do this is to find our your libraries online ordering system, and order them online. This system goes through all the libraries in your county, and will have them delivered to the library of your choice. I live in a small, semi-rural area, so I have a feeling most other areas will have this also. If they don't, you shouldn't have much trouble finding them. They should all be FREE at the library, no need to buy!

I did not include reading levels, but browse through them all when you receive them. There is one chapter book included for older children.

Growl! A Book About Bears, by- Melvin Berger

The Moon of the Bears, by- George Craighead

Bearl-ly There, by- Rebekah Raye

Moon in the Bear’s Eyes, by-Stephen A. Swinburne

Are You Spring, by-Caroline Pitcher & Cliff Wright

A Bear’s Year, by- Amy Levin

One thing you may notice, is some of the books are not as difficult as you may expect for your child's grade/age level. Some may be more difficult. Not to worry! Many of these books have vocabulary words at the end of the book, some throughout and these words can easily be converted into games. Even with the easiest of books, they will still be able to learn. For older children, you may want encourage their learning by having them do a research paper/report on bears. What else could they learn? Perhaps they can present this report to the class? A zoo field trip would be a great reward to encourage this, as well.

Day 3

What have you learned?
This is a textbook quiz, more like educational ways to expand on what your child has learned.
http://www.fun4thebrain.com/addition/addbaxley.html

http://www.kidzone.ws/lw/bears/activities.htm

http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/mammal-games-videos/bear-games-videos.html

http://www.kidzone.ws/lw/bears/ws6.htm

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/themes/bear.shtml

http://www.nickjr.com/little-bear/

http://mamato3blessings.blogspot.com/2012/02/black-bear-unit-study-sunday-science.html

http://explore.org/#!/live-cams/player/service-puppy-cam

The last one is a series of live web-cams from zoos and such. You can watch the animals in action! Put the laptop on your counter and watch as you pass by or while you're working on something else. See if you can see the bear (even dogs) doing funny things.

Day 4

Art Projects!

Teddy Bear Bead Craft
http://www.billybear4kids.com/show/teddy/bearbead/pattern.htm

Cinnamon Spice Teddy Bear Ornaments
http://www.billybear4kids.com/show/teddy/cinnbear/cinnbear.htm

Circle Bear (great for the very young)
http://www.firstpalette.com/Craft_themes/Animals/circlesbear/circlesbear.html

Bear Ears
http://www.freekidscrafts.com/printable_bear_ears-e494.html

Fun Bear Crafts. You may find some similarities, but I noticed the ingredients are different.
http://www.kidactivities.net/post/teddy-bear-theme.aspx

Clay Bear
http://www.billybear4kids.com/show/teddy/claybear/claybear.htm

Bear Crafts
(I know these aren't our typical 'grizzly', it's a polar bear site. Replace the materials with brown, however, you will have our brown bear:) )
http://www.thecraftycrow.net/2012/01/penguin-and-polar-bear-crafts.html

Pom Pom Teddy Bear
http://www.billybear4kids.com/show/teddy/pombear/pombear.htm

Salt Dough Bear
http://www.clickacraft.com/salt-dough/salt-dough-bear-art-idea-children

A huge array of bear crafts!!
http://www.billybear4kids.com/show/teddy/crafts.htm

Choose one or more. Have fun!! This can last days. Be creative and make your own, all you have to do is tweak one a little- and it can be completely different!

Other ideas (although I do not have an example)
Draw a mural with a huge piece of poster board. Pin it on a wall and draw a huge bear and paint the beautiful surroundings.

Watch a bear show! Netflix has plenty of these options and you may also find some at your local library. The best way to watch these shows is to have it on while they're working on a craft. They will look up when they find something that interests them.

What do bears eat? Fish, berries.. Explore this. Maybe you can eat like a bear tonight for dinner!? Have fun with it! In our house, fish sticks would have to be the compromise, however;)

Day 5

Fun in the kitchen!

Bears in the Bubble Bath Mini Treats
http://www.food.com/recipe/award-winning-bears-in-a-bubble-bath-mini-treats-320840

Cinnamon Polar Bears
(a little too white? Add chocolate icing!)
http://www.food.com/recipe/cinnamon-polar-bears-335947

Gummy Bear Recipe
http://www.food.com/recipe/gummy-bears-15145

Lucky Bear Cookies
http://www.food.com/recipe/lucky-bear-cookies-cut-out-464572

Teddy Bear Snack Mix
http://www.food.com/recipe/teddy-bear-snack-mix-228237

Teddy Bear Vacation Cupcakes
http://www.food.com/recipe/teddy-bear-vacation-cupcakes-329363

Another assortment that may last more than a day;)

Have fun!! Hope you enjoyed this study.
Do you have any ideas?
Please share!!

Weclome to Classical Unschooling

2012-09-04T16:57:00.002-07:00

We are in the process of getting started. Please come back in the next couple weeks and I will have something up. As for now, look at my favorite site!

www.veritaspress.com

Read your childhood favorites here, get creative, and have fun :) Also check out all my favorite links, many of them free!!

Getting Creative with Lunches

2011-09-23T10:25:00.000-07:00

Peanut butter and Yogurt Dip, Tomatoes, carrots and celery

Peaches, carrots, celery with Peanut butter and Vanilla Yogurt

Blueberry Yogurt, Hard boiled egg, and cooked carrots with butter/brown sugar sauce

Here's what we found in our engine:

Ginger

Here he is with sisters

Neli

Reeses

sadly, no one has responded to the craigslist listing...and we can't keep all 3. So, at least 2, will be taken to the SPCA unless this occurs...

Good-bye kitties..hope you find a home...

September 9, 2011

2011-09-09T13:04:00.000-07:00

Oh, so much has changed!

I found a few great links that the kids are really enjoying! Those, along with a few worksheets a day seems to really sum it up:)

Study Ladder

http://www.studyladder.com/login/login

This is a great site and if you enter your umbrella school (or if you choose to be connected with the school district, just put in your local school) and it lets you on unlimited during school hours. As the teacher, which is what I put myself in as, you can assign tasks for your student to do, or just have them go on and play for fun. Fun, in any subject!

The other one I want to share is

Carrot Sticks.

This site, you can play by yourself, or against other kids. This makes it even more fun!!

http://www.carrotsticks.com/florida1

Something kids really enjoy!

So that is what is going on currently. FLVS is completely out. Back to old school and, to tell you the truth, liking it!:)

Happy Homeschooling!

September 2, 2011

2011-09-02T03:04:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't you know, only a week or so into the semester, and we're already at a loss again.

I saw the 'Florida Virtual' reviews, it sounded real good. But all it is is an online textbook. You simply read the lesson, and take the quiz. No teacher teaches a thing. There is nothing. Just a textbook, and a quiz. Sure, you can retake the quiz, but that doesn't work for my 10yo. The teacher is only available for questions, the don't teach anything unless you ask.

What!?

No wonder they don't get paid as much...

We're hanging on for math, though. I just have to teach the concepts, or find a site that will. She really likes her teacher, too. Although, phone-to-phone is NOT the way to teach her. I am going to have to find a tutor...

So we're on Weaver for Language Arts. We read together some poems by Shel Silverstein the other day, and their job is to write a poem this week.

We're going through a lot of freebies for worksheets. Fun, fun!;)

anyways, things keep changing. We had to drop Spanish, too. What language can be learned with no teacher to teach it? You can't just 'read' the lesson, with no video or anything....

What to do...
Happy Homeschooling!

August 25,2011

2011-08-24T03:54:00.000-07:00

School will be starting tomorrw. Rachel got a chance to speak with her teachers by phone, she was excited to meet them! Should be a fun day!:)

August 21,2011

2011-08-21T12:14:00.000-07:00

Kids had a fun day at a sleepover yesterday and I finally got caught up with Gracie for school! I still have to write down what Rachel will be doing on her Time4learning (it's all under one name, so they have to 'hand-key' the lessons..a tedious job, but worth the discount!;)

Anyways, Gracie was so excited, that she already started her work:) I think the '$$ for A's and B's' motivational tool worked! lol.. Colette started her K level (she does it with mommy..same site) work, and she has Pre-K games she does on her own, loves it! :) Couldn't be happier.

Will post pictures soon!!
FLVS hasn't contacted me yet..grrr...should had read that fine-print..they won't be LOOKING for a teacher till my start-date! Well, for next semester, NOW I know;)

Happy Homeschooling!

Great Recipe, Very Quick and Easy!

2011-08-21T03:46:00.000-07:00

I touched up one of my recipes the other day, and it came out great!

Meaty Cheesy
2 pounds ground beef, browned

Put in casserole dish

Put in some shredded cheese. Enough to taste. (a lot is good)
2 Jars of spaghetti sauce
Half of green pepper, diced
Half of onion, diced
Mix together

Put in oven at/around 300 degrees.
When warm, top with cheese.
Let it stay in till melted.
Yummy!

Fun Finds...

2011-08-19T05:31:00.000-07:00

They had a sale on watermelon the other week. I bought a bunch!! I think they went down, at one point, to $1.50 each! I cubed and threw them in freezer bags (pretty much, nearly, filling up my freezer;))..anyways, I found one thing. If you let them melt, slightly, throw them in the blender with a little fruit, they make great substitutes for ice in slushees! We usually throw in bananas and strawberries, but also like the occasional blueberry.

Just a thought for those looking for the cheaper treat..
God bless!
Stacey:)

August 19, 2011

2011-08-19T05:15:00.000-07:00

Oh, what a year. A year full of discoveries and finding out what is going to work for us. This year, we are leaning away from the unschooling route. Yes, I do believe that is the best route, but with my work schedule, and time issue, I don't think it can be done right when I am sleeping and the kids are left to their own devices. They did learn, do not get me wrong, Rachel going into grade 6 this year (skipping a grade) will speak truth to that one. It's hitting her, too, when she sees her friends (same age) going into grade 5! We had to do a little 'catching up', but I think she will be fine. I found FLVS.

FLVS (Florida Virtual School) is a free, public, school for public, homeschool and private students. All teachers are certified, and you simply go through them at home. Since my kids are legally private schooled, they can take a full load and NOT register with the program (i can enroll them in ANY grade i want ;)-and they can't tell me no, lol..)

Gracie will be taking grade 6 Spanish. (private schooled kids can only start at grade 6). Anyways, I am going to try and get Gracie ready, possibly, next year. What change have we made? Pretty much, early admittance to FLVS= Early graduation. Rachel is excited. It will be a challenge to her, since she is really not used to traditional schooling.
http://www.flvs.com/

Also, Gracie will be going back to Time4learning http://www.time4learning.com/ to get her ready, along with doing a combination of Abeka grade 2/3 workbook I made up. Abeka runs a grade or 2 ahead, so it will be really like doing a grade 4/5 workbook. This should get her ready, and then they will both be in this.
Both are excited!:)

For those interested, Rachel will be taking-
FLVS Math
FLVS Language Arts
Time 4 learning Grammar(I don't think that course has much grammar...that is something she missed...)
FLVS Science (middle school science looked really boring to me, but she wanted to do it!;)
FLVS Critical Thinking (semester long class)-i told her if she did good in this, she could take guitar next
semester!)
FLVS Spanish (a virtual tour through Spain! it looked so exciting, even my 8yo wanted in)
Rosetta French (FLVS only has French for high school)
FLVS World Culture/Geography
Time4learning American History (another area she didn't cover much on her own
Spelling City/Vocabulary City (FLVS doesn't seem to cover much of this..well, to my liking;)
http://www.spellingcity.com/

Gracie will be doing-
Time4learning-
Math
Language Arts
Science (mainly for reading experience)
History (same)
Abeka Math (supplement)
Abeka Language Arts (supplement)
Spelling City/Vocabulary City

Even 4 yo is getting involved! She wanted to do preschool 'so bad' so I am putting her on Time4learning.
Fun, Fun!!

Will post daily on how everyone is doing.

2011-07-26T09:58:00.000-07:00

Updating...

2011-07-26T09:52:00.000-07:00

Day 1

2011-01-09T13:09:00.000-08:00

Day 1

On this day we read together

Genesis 11:1-9 from the Bible.

We also read

Why did they build the tower?

Fear? Disobedience? A little of both?

More than likely a little of both.

"So God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.'

But they chose to stay.

Psalm 143:10

was our copywork

Discussed obedience

Look up 'obedience' in the dictionary, also in the thesaurus.

Another good resource is the Noah Webster 1828 dictionary, available online. It is interesting to see how the dictionary has changed through time.

http://1828.mshaffer.com/d/search/word,obey

You will also find many more verses on this 'definition' for copywork.

I like 'First Language Lessons', but McGuffey is also good to use. These are available online for free (McGuffey), I will post the link next week, or write me if needed.

For math, I wrote Book Samaritan and got a 2010 application disc for free, (you can use any grade, just need the application disc) and I am buying the SOS grades (any year) off ebay for $6. If you have the 2010 installation, it will run with any year.

We also use a math book from the late 1800's. It seems to work the same as 'Rays Arithmetic', at least I read a few samples. It has really helped my kids learn 'oral math', and understanding word problems.

http://www.archive.org/stream/anelementaryari10wentgoog#page/n14/mode/1up

A site worth looking at!!

For spelling, use McGuffey Spelling. We use grade 2 and 4.

They don't have links, but if you run the words, 'gutenberg project' through google, you will find all the old books online.

Excellent!!

Hope this helps.

Happy Homeschooling!

January 7,2011

2011-01-07T03:26:00.000-08:00

Wow, what a year!!

Many changes have been made this year. We actually 'seem' somewhat organized!!

First of all, we're waking up at 8am. Well, I'm waking them up at 8am;) they drag out of bed after about 30 minutes of being pushed around.

I am also making breakfast,

usually.

So this is a shocker!!

We have decided to do 'cooking day/unit study day' on Wednesday, so the followers that joined for the curriculum, I will add a day once a week.

I found this awesome site created by Kaplan. (the tutoring company) It can be either a supplemental or a curriculum.

http://www.theheadoftheclass.com/SplashPage/SplashPage.aspx

It's called, 'Head of the Class' and has everything from Spanish, Art and Math. A little more traditional then animated but it works and the kids really enjoy it. Best part, Rachel decided to move to grade 5, as most of her friends are older. Is that a problem? No, i simply have her take the grade 5 assessment (which actually won't be out till later this month) and it will fill in the gaps with what she doesn't know.

I enrolled Gracie in grade 3. The had those weird birthdays so i started them late, but I think they've caught up.

Next post-

Day 1

December 10, 2010

2010-12-09T21:36:00.000-08:00

I have begun to get real interested in products that are made in this country. Not so much 'health food' products. But brand names like

'Skippy'

'Peter Pan Peanutbutter'

and such...

Anyways, does anyone know what typical, grocery store brands are 100% American?

Also...

For those waiting for my curriculum postings..

The goal is to get it started by January.

Happy Homeschooling!!

December 5, 2010

2010-12-05T17:57:00.000-08:00

I was sitting down at work the other day with a jug of apple juice when I noticed something written on the bottle in barely visible writing

'apple concentrate from China/Argentina'

What!!??

On the label it read, 'Made in the Usa'. Apparently that was only the bottle!

I went to other juices, including Mott's, all generics, and noticed the same pattern. They were sneaky, including it on the bottle, smaller than size 10 print, Mott's didn't even have it in black. You had to hold the bottle to the light to even see it was there!

Anyways, I'm just sending this as an FYI. If China can not even produce toys that aren't poisoned, can you imagine what they are doing to our food? Not to mention their public relations issue!

Welches products use their own fruit.
I am still not sure if that means their fruit is 'grown' in China, however?? But if they are, I can only assume it means they oversee it a little.

Apple juice was difficult, but I finally found

Musselman's.

It read clearly on their label that all apples are American grown. Their juice is not the cheapest, as opposed to those shipped from other countries, but it does make me feel better I am supporting our business' that haven't sold out on us or our health!

Anyways, an FYI to those that didn't know. I had no idea till I got bored and started looking at the bottle. The print size couldn't even had been 8!

Look for writing like this

That above is about the right size.

December 1, 2010

2010-12-01T08:41:00.000-08:00

We're trying a different approach, and I think it's working!

We've been slacking on this reading, so we read an entire chapter of

Little House in the Big Woods together,

worked on our 1800 book math/First Language Lessons

Today we read the 'Christmas' chapter

I don't really 'bother' to do much with the First Language Lessons. I simply ask the kids, 'remember what a common/proper noun is? Give me an example. Do the same for the rest that is covered. It can be monotonous.

We also did copy work for

'Twinkle Twinkle'.

Before, copywork was a hassle. I would just give up on it, as it was just too much of a negative impact on our day.

:) Then I discovered bribery, LOL...

For each line they copy, they get 5 pieces of (their choice)

mini m&m's, reses pieces (3peices), gummies/sour patch are only 2.

They can stop wherever they want, and that has eliminated the whining!:)

I have also come tot he conclusion that since Abeka is a grade or two ahead, why are they doing a full page?

I let my 9yo know that half a page would be just fine, and this wouldn't put her behind at all. It may take her two years to finish the book, but that wouldn't put her behin, it would just put her at grade level!

We also made the Molasses Snow Candy!!

Snow Candy

"Laura and Mary each had a pan, and Pa and Ma showed them how to pour the dark syrup in little streams onto the snow."

- Little House in the Big Woods

You will need:

1 cup molasses

I cup brown sugar

Fresh, clean snow (or crushed ice)
(we didn't have a blender that could crush ice, so we used icy-semi frozen water on a saucer, and it worked fine!)

Measuring cup

Large pot

Wooden spoon

Candy thermometer, or cup filled with cold water

Shallow pan, such as a cake pan

Clean towel

Boil the molasses and sugar together in the large pot until the mixture reaches the "hard crack" stage on a candy thermometer, or until a spoonful dropped into cold water forms a hard ball and cracks. Remove the syrup from the heat.

BE VERY CAREFUL. THE SYRUP IS EXTREMELY HOT AT THIS STAGE.

Scoop fresh, clean snow (or crushed ice) into the shallow pan. Dip up a spoonful of syrup and dribble it onto the snow in "circles, and curlicues, and squiggledy things" as Laura and Mary did. It will harden and become candy. Lift the candy off the snow and onto a clean towel to dry.

Classical Unschooling

Weclome to Classical Unschooling

Getting Creative with Lunches

September 9, 2011

September 2, 2011

August 25,2011

More Photos to Post!

August 21,2011

Great Recipe, Very Quick and Easy!

Fun Finds...

August 19, 2011

Updating...

Day 1

January 7,2011

December 10, 2010

December 5, 2010

December 1, 2010