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My Child, the Spy

Sharon Harris — 2009-01-22T16:44:36-06:00

(Photo by Xirannis en Off)

My daughter is obsessed with the idea of being a spy. Her favorite gift for Christmas was EyeClops Night Vision Goggles, she packed a backpack full of spy gear, she studied various spy WikiHows and she devoured The Daring Book for Girls. Reading and watching Harriet the Spy are assigned, of course!

My daughter’s suggested backpack contents
Always useful flashlight
Nightvision goggles, of course
Rope, used for climbing (jumpropes will work here)
Extra outfit (preferably black)
Folder full of wikiHow print-outs (see below)
Water bottle (stake outs can take time)
Lemon bars (idea from Nancy Drew movie)
Walkie Talkies

My daughter’s suggested wikiHows
How to be a Spy
How to be a Spy Kid
How to Walk Silently (good to practice in our old house)
How to Make an Invisible Ink Message
How to See in the Dark

Singing Patriotic Songs

Sharon Harris — 2008-06-26T16:34:48-05:00

(photo by zaphodsotherhead)

Now that July 4th is coming, I’ve gotten out my Wee Sing America CD. The youngest loves the CD (although she’s getting a bit tired of it Winking ), but the oldest thinks she is too old for it. Too bad. The collection is more than just the typical patriotic songs that I want my kids to learn; it also includes American folk songs and short quotes from famous documents such as the Declaration of Independence and from major political figures such as JFK and MLK.

My youngest is one of those children that actually listens to the words and constantly asks what phrases mean. (This gets me in trouble when I listen to my music!) We’ve talked about tall tales (“Why did they say John Henry laid down his hammer and died?) and history (expansion of West, Civil War). I will admit to looking up goober peas for her.

Enjoy singing some patriotic music!

25 When Johnny Comes Marching Home

33 John Henry 1

36 The Old Chisholm Trail

You Mean Water Isn't Free?

Sharon Harris — 2008-06-24T18:02:13-05:00

(photo courtesy of charity: water ©Scott Harrison)

My kids have been fascinated by water since American Idol (on AI Gives Back) demonstrated quite vividly the dirty water people throughout the world drink. “Ew, gross!!!! People drink that?”

The concept that clean drinking water isn’t really free even though it may feel that way in the United States is hard for them to wrap their heads around. “People pay for water? But water is free.”

They’ve read Magic School Bus At the Waterworks and seen MSB Wet all Over. I’m planning on doing a water filter experiment with them to introduce filtration. We’ve also explained that we pay water bills so someone else can clean our water for us.

I tried to sneak in some theory about hidden costs, but I think that went over their heads. However, the next time it comes up (clean air perhaps?), I’ll be able to use the water as an example. Thanks American Idol for that teachable moment!

Teaching with Singapore Math

Sharon Harris — 2008-06-18T16:54:14-05:00

I really like this YouTube. It isn’t glitzy or packaged. It isn’t set to hip music. But it clearly shows a teacher using the Singapore method for solving multi-step word problems (gade 4).

Here’s another example of using Singapore for two-step word problems (grade 3). This one doesn’t show the interaction with the students but uses an interactive board.

I use Singapore for afterschooling (mostly in the summer) and can’t wait until my district decides to adopt it ;) Watching others teach it helps me as I move into teaching those ---- word problems.

Jules Verne for My Reluctant Reader

Sharon Harris — 2008-06-17T16:17:43-05:00

While some may say that a child shouldn’t read abridged versions of classics, I’m all about the Great Illustrated Classics series as my reluctant reader son loved GIC 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne. We then proceeded to GIC Journey to the Centre of the Earth.

Action, adventure, large type, frequent pics, science fiction, not babyish at all—what more could a boy want? Verne has been a hit. Next we’ll try H.G. Wells.

Cleopatra as a Role Model? At Least My Daughter Likes All Things Ancient Egypt Now

Sharon Harris — 2008-06-16T14:35:14-05:00

A year and a half year ago my eldest daughter was looking through Target for cheap Halloween costume. I nudged her toward the Cleopatra one, and her love for all things ancient Egypt and especially Cleopatra began.

Later that year she chose Cleopatra for her person to research for her class’s wax museum—handy since she already had the costume. We read Royal Diaries: Cleopatra and listened to the section on ancient Egypt on Story of the World (deserving of its own full post later).

This year in school she went to a friend’s birthday party. Theme? Cleopatra! I did not know a small school could have two girls interested (dare I say obsessed?) with Cleopatra.

Over the winter she joined the Museum Club in which members worked in pairs to design miniature museums. She and her partner, of course, chose an ancient Egypt theme.

I haven’t let her watch Elizabeth Burton’s version of Cleopatra yet as I prefer the intellectual and resourceful take of the Royal Diaries girl. She’s growing up fast enough as it is.

Next year, students study river civilizations including Alexandria and the culture of ancient Egypt. I think my daughter will be ecstatic.

Mom, Is the World Ending in 2012?

Sharon Harris — 2008-06-13T09:35:07-05:00

I’m now paying for my educational TV only during the week policy, which I’ve attempted to maintain from the school year. I’m pretty liberal on the definition of educational; pretty much anything on Discovery Channel qualifies. (My goal is to limit Hannah Montanna and Suite Life of Zack and Cody. Mind candy! I will admit, however, Phineas and Ferb is quite clever.)

My daughter watched Cities of the Underworld: Maya Underground about the Maya and now tells everyone she meets how the world may end in 2012 and how the Maya sacrificed children when things were going really badly for them—droughts etc. They sacrificed adults if events were going not quite as badly. Killing children seems to have captivated her. Eek!

This makes for interesting dinner conversation, and now my family and friends are all wondering if Hannah would be better TV viewing for my young tween. Mmm....I’ll have to think about the Dracula’s lair episode focusing on Bucharest’s Vlad the Impaler.

(Sunday June 29 is Cities of the Underworld day. Set your Tivos! They are reairing Vietnam, Katrina, Jerusalem, Soviet bases, Maya and Bucharest)

We're Going on a Treasure Hunt

Sharon Harris — 2008-06-11T16:31:37-05:00

I’ve found an at-home “camp” idea for my National Treasure 2 - Book of Secrets loving daughter. I want to explore local landmarks and learn a little history; she wants to hang out with friends, preferably involving water. While this doesn’t include her new Super Soaker Aqua Shock Arctic Blast, it does involve mystery, clues and treasure. Since I’ll include friends, my kids should be in treasure hunt heaven.

Double Key Treasure Hunts is a local company (coming soon to a city near you!) which has organized historical treasure hunts taking kids all through St. Louis. They go to different places in the city ranging from the History Museum to the Old Cathedral to Ted Drewes. The kit includes original artifacts such as postcards and photographs from the turn of the century and is meant to be “found” by the kids in the attic, garage or basement to start the hunt.

Terreri had a lot of fun with her children, but the hunt took extensive work to set up. She decided that many families would be interested in these types of adventures if she put in all of the planning and work to make them easy on parents. With this idea in mind, Terreri set up her business in February. (stltoday.com)

What an entrepreneur. While I would love to spend the time to set up an elaborate treasure hunt like this—who am I kidding? It would never actually happen. I love this idea.

Here’s a link to an informative local media interview. There’s a commercial first.

Superhero Helps with Reading

Sharon Harris — 2008-06-10T10:23:49-05:00

My son is not the bookworm I am. Sigh. He’s a strong reader but definitely reluctant. I’m grateful to the Melvin Beederman books. They are close to the only books he’ll read that are not assigned by his teacher—and that’s only when I require it.

He thinks the books are funny and enjoys the graphics.

The Curse of the Bologna Sandwich (Melvin Beederman, Superhero) is the first one in a series of six. My son says that you can read them in any order, and can we please order the new one now?

"My 7-Times G Grandma Lived in a Castle!"

Sharon Harris — 2008-06-09T18:01:31-05:00

My kids did a culture project for school, so I snuck in the info about their ancestors’ castle (complete with pic ;) ). I’m hoping to someday inspire at least one of my children to be as interested in genealogy as I am.

My next genealogy project will be a little more obvious. I plan on having the kids come up with a few questions to ask their grandparents and then interview them on video. We can put this into my genealogy program.

I love the YouTube of the Flat Stanley genealogy trip for all the Flat Stanley fans.

Geysers! Rockets! Diet Coke and Mentos Make Fun Science

Sharon Harris — 2008-06-08T17:23:14-05:00

After my kids took soda showers during a Diet Coke and Mentos demonstration at VBS, we have been all about explosions of the wet and sticky kind. If you’re going to try this at home, I recommend Steve Spangler Geyser Tube for maximum effect, swimsuits and Mythbusters explanation of reasons for reaction.

Fancy Nancy is Exquisite

Sharon Harris — 2008-06-06T11:45:00-05:00

Fancy Nancy: Bonjour, Butterfly (Fancy Nancy)" rel="self">

Fancy Nancy: Bonjour, Butterfly (Fancy Nancy)" rel="self">Fancy Nancy Bonjour Butterfly combines my youngest daughter's love of butterflies and passion for all things glitter. I love the books because of the luscious illustrations and the vocabulary. Her favorite word from the book is exquisite.

She's been using Spanish words she's picked up from Dora and Chinese from a neighbor; now she can add French from Fancy Nancy.

The butterfly house Fancy Nancy visits looks just like our beloved Butterfly House. Youngest will sit for a very long time (she never sits!) looking for Blue Morphos.

It's Singapore Math for the Summer

Sharon Harris — 2008-05-30T14:07:01-05:00

Photo courtesy of Ansik

Afterschoolers don't always use curriculum (often don't in fact) but math in the summer lends itself to some help from a publisher. Luckily, this is one of the few areas in which there is a clear-cut favorite—Singapore Math. I'll write about this math curriculum often as I love, love, love it.

Saxon may be the most popular math curriculum for homeschoolers, but it is too time-consuming and hard to differentiate for afterschoolers. Parents can dip in and out of Singapore as the need arises and choose the level of support their kid needs.

If you use Singapore as your main curriculum, you need the textbook, which is paperback and cheap for a math book. It covers a semester's worth of material. The norm is to get the workbook that accompanies it. Some kids need the Extra Practice book, which provides...extra practice. Others might use the Intensive Practice, which is more challenging. Some use a combination of the above. I only use the textbook. You can see the options available. If you buy the books, be sure to buy the new standards editions, which are not available yet on Amazon.

Another option is the Challenging Word Problems book that supplements that word problems in the textbook. Singapore is known for its innovative way of teaching word problems, hard word problems. This book can be used by those that don't use anything else.

You will probably get tired of reading about Singapore Math because I'll write about it ad nauseum, but it really is a wonderful curriculum for afterschoolers.

Afterschooling? What's that?

Sharon Harris — 2008-05-29T21:08:40-05:00

Many parents afterschool and don't even know it. They take their kids to the zoo and actually read the plaques. They limit Hannah Montana and encourage Cyberchase. They check out multitudes of books from the library. They might even buy a workbook from Borders to help keep up with math over the summer.

Afterschooling is consciously supplementing your child's education, "plussing up" those family outings so to speak. In many ways it is a cross between homeschool families and those who leave academics up to the school. They may or may not use curriculum and afterschool for many different reasons, but they all see themselves as having the primary responsibility for their child's education.