Recap Thursday, Feb. 12, 2008

Today is a travel day, since I have to take Cameron in a day early, so we completed a few assignments and will play "catch-up" by extending a couple of days next week.  Here is what we did:

1) Journal

2) Spacebar Invaders typing practice

3) Algebra practice, finding the missing answer

4) Pre-writing lesson, using this site for instructing and this site for graphic organizers

5) Completed pre-writing worksheet as I taught

6) Did his own pre-writing using any method (I taught tree, cloud, spider and star) he chose

7) Email

Recap, Wednesday--Feb. 11, 2009

1) Journal

2) Spacebar Invaders, typing practice

3) Scholastic Writing Practice, pg. 17-18

4) Complete Sentences review

5) Scholastic Reading Comprehension, Practice Test 4

6) Scholastic Subject and Object Pronouns (worksheets and assessment), pg. 23-28

7) Dictionary guide words and abbreviations worksheets

8) Math Drill--Division and Multiplication Review

9) Email

Recap Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009

Today was "Library Day",  so we had an abbreviated day and spent a couple of hours at our library.  

1) Journal

2) The Human Body, read pages 24-46 and completed worksheet

3) Completed Aristotle and Scientific Thought, Chapter 6, read and did worksheet

4) Reading

5) Email

Recap Monday, February 9, 2009

1) Journal 

2) The Human Body (book from Library), read pgs. 1-23 then did worksheet

3) Aristotle and Scientific Thought--read chapter and did worksheet

4) Dictionary worksheet (look up definitions, antonyms, synonyms and write context sentences)

5)  General Math Drills

7)  Math Arcade (Levels 1-23) 

8) Spell Check game on "hard"

9) Email

Recap Week of Feb 2-6, 2009

I have been horrible about updating for the past couple of weeks, due to some horrible cold I came down with after visiting Southeast TX for the weekend.  Finally I started feeling better this week, but I've just been so busy catching up that this is my first chance to update!

As for last week, since I was pretty sick, Cameron did a lot of independent work.  Here is what was accomplished last week:

1) Journal Writing

2) Scholastic packets--Reading Comprehension, Grammar, Writing Practice, Reading Tests

3) Brainquest packets--Language Arts & Math Practices

4) Order of Operations worksheet review

5) Independent Reading

6) Chapters 19-21 of Treasure Island

7) Chapters 2-4 of Aristotle and Scientific Thought book (worksheets and reading)

8) Math Drills

Just Musings...

So, today Cameron made his first friends and it was so cool.  I loved watching him outside, playing hide and go seek and tag with this little boy his age and a little girl.  He had a lot of fun, running around our courtyard with them.  

One of the things I seriously considered when I started thinking of home schooling was that age-old "socialization" question.  You know, the "how will he make friends" thing.  I read everything I could find on it and I discovered what I had already thought--that the "socialization" from 5th-12th grades in public schools is far more detrimental than good.  Peer-pressure, bullying, drugs, sex...it all gets progressively worse as they go through public schools.  I had a pretty good idea of it, but after reading the studies from all over the country, I was shocked at the statistics on the number of kids that come out of high school who have had sex, done drugs, been victims of all sorts of different things.  It's just ridiculous.  I have to say, it scared the hell out of me really, as I'm sure lots of parents can relate.  We did not choose to home school Cameron for this reason (although it probably would have been a good one!) but it's a definite plus, knowing he isn't being exposed to that.  (I plan to do a longer post on how we came to the decision to try home schooling later.)

Now, I don't want to be misunderstood here--children will push limits.  I get that, totally.  They will experiment with things and I accept that this is something that no matter how much you want to control, you just can't control all of it.  The thing is, that I want to make sure I am doing my part to limit the amount of access my child has to situations that he doesn't need to be in.  With the home schooling, Cameron will have friends in much more supervisory environments--outside with the kids in plain view, or in boy scouts under leaders (I'm getting him in that in February). It's done a lot for my peace of mind to see him out playing and having a good time, and knowing that it's good, clean fun. 

I know that the days are coming when Cam will be off and running, going to friend's houses and just getting into mischief, trying stuff I will warn him against, but for now, just that slice of time when he was out yelling and laughing, it's good to remember that he's still just a little boy with limits, yes, but so many possibilities as well.

Recap

We did a lot yesterday, so today was a shorter day, but we still got a lot done.

1) Journal

2) Brain Teaser

3) Order of Operations Worksheet (15 problems)

4) Brainquest Math Practices: Complex Subtraction Practice p. 167-168, Rounding Review, p. 147-148, Multiplying and Dividing Money, p. 207-208, Probability, p. 230, Word Problems, p. 240

5) Logical Reasoning, found this awesome site!!

6) Basic Grammar Exercises & Reading Comprehension

7) The last 2 activities from another great site I found today

8) Email

Recap

1) Journal

2) Brainteaser using this link

3) Today is "Cursive Day", so Cameron wrote out 4 lines in the handwriting tablet, then on regular ruled paper in his cursive folder.  He also wrote in cursive the rest of the day.

4) Order of Operations Lesson

5) Order of Operations practice and worksheet

6) Went to our library

7) Used the "Story Notes" worksheet mentioned earlier in the blog, and read "Hook or Me", answered questions after the story

8) Logical Reasoning worksheet 3, based off of this site.  I made up my own problems this time and had FAR better success by relating to video games and his toys (he's into bakugan at the moment).  He really seemed to pick up on it far easier today with real-life interests.

9) We checked out a book at the library, "Aristotle and Scientific Thought" (a Science Discoveries series).  I had him read the intro and Chapter One and I created a worksheet for him to use to answer questions on those parts.  Really fascinating stuff!

10) Found an old favorite of Cam's online (Battleship), so let him play that for a bit, working out the logic muscles a bit (but also just FUN!) 

11) Email

Recap: Tuesday, January, 27, 2009

1.) Journal

2.) Spelling review (last 10 words) and context sentences

3.) Art Lesson, Smithsonian activity/lesson

4.) Logical Reasoning problems from this site

5.) Treasure Island: Read chapters 16-18, wrote summary in Captain's log

6.) World Religions, discussion on all different cultures and religions around the world.

The objective of introducing all of these concepts is to broaden perspective and to reinforce the importance of inclusiveness, non-judgmental behavior, and introduction to anthropologic and philosophic ideas

7.) Email

Recap

12pm-5:10p

1) Journal

2) Spelling Test from Jan. 19-23 (Cam got 100!)

3) Spelling Words, using List Orange, Week 1 (rest of words)

4) Spelling definitions/sentences (first 10)

5) Finish science unit on Cells

6) Practice Science Test on Cells

7) Exponents practice worksheet with expanded problems

8) Typing Space Invaders practice

9) Email

Recap Thurs.-Fri., January 22-23

My father was in the hospital these days.  He had surgery to remove his gallbladder and some gall stones that ruptured, so Cameron and I spent those days at the hospital.  It was pretty scary, but thank goodness he is much better now!  

I did put together a packet for Cameron out of our Brainquest book, and he did Spelling & Vocabulary, p. 18-19, Language Arts, p. 33-34, Reading, p. 69-72, Writing, p. 113-114, Math, p. 144-146, Addition & Subtraction, p. 165-166, Fractions & Decimals, p. 193-194, Science, p. 287-288

Recap Wednesday, January 21, 2009

11:10a-3:30p

1) Journal

2) Spelling List 3--Week 1, Orange, (abbreviated list for this short week, 1-13 only (excluding already used words)

3) Spelling definitions and context sentences

4) Using the book from the library, How is My 4th Grader Doing?, we did the student book, pages 1-13.  Cameron read stories and I asked questions from the teacher book to assess his reading, organization, and writing skills.  We will continue onto the math portion tomorrow.  

After I assess his skills, I will know what areas he needs more help in.

5) Select a book from our recent library trip on Saturday for his "fun" reading--a chapter a day, silently

6) Math Drill: Basic Division/Multiplication

7) Pre-Algebra, Basic Exponents

8) Basic Exponents Worksheet, using numbers only up to 5 and exponents up to 6

9) Exponents Game

10.) Email

Recap, Mon-Tues, January 19-20

Monday was MLK day, so we were "off", but we did watch the entire "I Have a Dream" speech on CNN and talked about the work of MLK.

Tuesday was the inauguration of Barack Obama, so we watched all of the ceremonies throughout the day.  We also did an "Inauguration Packet", using this link, and Cameron wrote a brief paragraph using the starter sentence, "If I were President..."

Recap Friday, January 16, 2009

1) Journal

2) Spelling Test 2--Cameron missed none

3) Spelling Test 2: Sentences--Cameron missed one

4) Unit Study: Treasure Island, Chapters 13-15.  Read each chapter, then wrote a summary.  Discussed the chapters

5) "A Pirate's Tale" worksheet--helps Cameron branch out his ideas for his own pirate story

6) Cameron wrote his own pirate story--"A Treasure of a Lifetime"

7) Brainquest, Drafting a Personal Essay, p. 112, Using a Story Map, p. 111

8) Long Division Practice,  18 problems

9) Cells--Lesson 4 Review

10) Cells--Lesson 5: Tissues & Organs

Recap Thursday, January 15, 2009

Sorry for the delay; last week was crazy and this week so far has been unconventional (understatement)!  Also, Cameron has been grounded from the computer until today so his personal emails at the end of the day have been out, but will resume today!  Here's me playing "catch-up" though, and a recap of what we did Thursday:

1) Journal

2) Practice Spelling Test 2 Test (missed 1!)

3) Practice Spelling Test 2 Sentences Test (missed 2, but corrected them)

4)Brainquest Times Tables Review, p. 173, Factors Review, p. 174, Zeros, p. 175, Tens, p. 176, Hundreds, p. 177, Complex Multiplication, p. 178, Complex Division, p. 185, Missing Signs, p. 186

5) Brainquest, Reading Comprehension, p. 67-68

6) Typing Practice Game

Recap

Today was a rough day; woke up feeling pretty crampy and UGH, so we got a late start!  Had a lighter day than usual, but we had a heavier day Monday, so it evens out.  I think Friday we will go see about getting a library card at our neighborhood library.  Fun times!

12:05am-3:50p

1) Journal

2) Cursive Day, so we did our cursive practice on the tablet, then a regular lined paper

3) Spelled out last 10 words on our list, completed context sentences

4) Scholastic Worksheets: Writing, p. 9, Proofreading, p. 10, Simple & Complete Predicates, p.9, Simple & Complete Subjects and Predicates, p. 10

5.) Scholastic: Reading Skills Practice Test 2 (comprehension), p. 7-8

6.) Brainquest Worksheets: Possessive nouns, p.32, Contraction Review, p. 33, Homophones, p. 13, Synonyms, p.14-15, Antonyms, p. 16

7.) Brainquest Worksheets: Complex Multiplication, p. 179-180, Complex Division with Remainders, p. 183-184, Greater/Less than review, p.155, Roman Numerals (discussion, then worksheet), p. 156, Fractions, p. 190-191, Adding Fractions (discussion, then worksheet), p. 192

8.) Email

Recap

11:45a-4:00p

1) Checked email

2) Wrote in journal

3) Wrote 2nd 10 spelling words and wrote 10 context sentences to go with them

4)  Treasure Island, Read Chapters 10-13

5.) Wrote summary of each chapter

6.) Drew his own pirate ship

7.) History, Chapter 2--Ancient Civilizations

8.) Wrote out notes from chapter and review chapter

9.) Spacebar Invaders Game

10.) Math Baseball Game

Recap--Monday, Jan. 12, 2009

11:05a-3:15p

1.) Check Email

2.) Journal

3.) Spelling List 2 (Green List from Week 1)

4.) Use www.dictionary.com to write all definitions in spelling spiral

5.) Write first 10 words on dry erase board without assistance

6.) Write sentences for first 10 words in spelling spiral

7.) Typing Lesson 5, Lessons 1-3

8.) Typing Game using home keys only on beginner level

9.) Simple Division with Remainders and practice activity

10.) Complex Multiplication review

11.) Lesson 3 Cells Review

12.) Lesson 4: Cells Divide, answer fill in the blank questions in science journal

13.) Story Notes Worksheet for the story I read aloud: "The Cat and the Fox Again", from Pinocchio, by Carlo Collodi, excerpted by Della Rowland

14.) Wrote email

Recap Friday, 11/07/09

Today was  a travel day--Cameron's weekend with his step-mom and brothers.  We have an abbreviated day when we are going in for the weekend, but still got in a good amount of lessons.

10a-12p

1) Journal

2) Checked email

3) Spelling Test 1 (Cameron got a 100!) and 12 fill-in-the-blank sentences (missed 1).

4) Reading comprehension workbook, pages 6-7.  

5) Types of Sentences, Simple & Complex predicate, Reading Comprehension II, Vocabulary Practice Test--all scholastic workbook

6) (in car on way into southeast tx) Brainquest packet: Writing a Letter (p.115), Writing Email (p.115), Patterns (p. 151), Estimates (p. 152-154), Complex Addition (p. 163-164), Easy and Complex Division (p. 181-182), Word Problems (p. 241-242), Inventions (p. 255), 13 Colonies (p. 256)

Recap

11:ooam-3:35pm

1) Personal Journal

2) Practice Spelling Test 1.  I read the words aloud and had Cameron spell them on a practice test.  Then I wrote out 12 sentences with a blank for the correct word.  Cameron had to fill in the blank with the correct word using context clues.  He did very well!

3)  Treasure Island review of chapters 4-6.  Cameron boxed a compass and then created his own treasure map.  He also wrote a summary of the chapters in his Captain's Log.  He then read chapter 7 and wrote a summary of it, and so on until chapter 9.  After that, I had him write the sentence, "If I could bring along my own pirate crew to search for treasure, I would bring _____ because...".

4) Long Division problems in math journal.  Long Multiplication problems in math journal.  Math Test 2

5) Cell Lesson 3, stopped at the structure of a plant and animal cell.  Also did a review from lessons 1 and 2.

6) Review Prehistoric Humans history lesson.  Wrote a story about "The life of a Cro-Magnon."

8) Email 

Recap

11:45a-4:20p

1) Spelling review (wrote last 10 words on white board, created context sentences for them using previously written definitions)

2) Cursive practice (use handwriting tablet to write dictated sentences).  Check work for any improvements needed.  Write same dictated sentences on a regular sheet of paper and check work for any improvements needed. (Wednesdays are also "All Cursive Day", where Cam must write everything in cursive.

3.) English Packet from Brainquest Workbook.  I stapled together Pgs. 9-12 in Spelling & Vocabulary section, Pgs. 29-30 from Language Arts section, Pg. 10 from Writing, and page 66 from Reading and had Cam do these.

4)  World History unit using this link.  Cameron sat with me and I read aloud Chapter One: Prehistoric Humans, and had him write important notes from each page in his History spiral.  After, I had him write the sentence, "If I could be any prehistoric human I would be _________ because..."  He chose Cro-Magon of course!  After that, I asked him questions (orally) about the unit and had him do his best to give me the answers without looking at his notes.  He did a good job!

5) Typing Lesson 4, Lines 1-3

6.) Snork's Long Division Practice Game 

7.) Homework (!) Read chapters 4-6 of Treasure Island for tomorrow's assignment.

8.) Sent daily email

Recap

11:05am-3:45pm

1) Personal Journal 

2) Watched Bill Nye the Science Guy on Youtube (cells 1/3)

3)  Continued Cells, Etc. unit here and wrote questions to go with the lesson in his science journal again.  We stopped at "Golgi Apparatus".

4) Watched Bill Nye the Science Guy on Youtube (cells 2/3)

5) Spelling Review (next 10 words on list on dry erase board, context sentences using prior definitions)

6) Found a wonderful unit study for our first book, Treasure Island, here.

We did page 5, "Class One", but Cam read chapters 1-3 to himself during school.  He had a blast watching the youtube of the pirate songs, making his own pirate flag (his pirate name is Scurvy Kracken Leplank!), and making a "Captain's Log" (journal for the book).   We visited this pirate glossary before reading the book to get prepared for different sayings.  The book we have was $1 at half-price books, so I just had Cam highlight the words he didn't understand as he read.  Afterwards, we reviewed them.  He wrote in his captain's log a summary of the chapters after reading them.  Then, for fun, I had him write "If I were a captain and had my own pirate ship the rules would be:" in his captain's log.  He put some amusing rules in there!

7.) Typing Lesson 3, Lines 1-3

8.) Had him play this baseball math game online.  I set the difficulty to "hard", gave him scratch paper to do the problems on the sheet of paper if he needed to, and set it to incorporate the basic 4--addition, multiplication, subtraction, and division.  He did outstanding!

9.) I set up an email address for Cameron.  I decided the wrap-up journal about home school was pretty boring, so I decided that not only would he have contact with everyone, but he would also be practicing his typing and writing skills with his own email.  I told him to put one thing he liked and one thing he disliked about the day.  He was so excited about it!  (Of course, I have his password, for safety reasons!)

Also, I sent Cameron an email tonight letting him know some of the things we are doing tomorrow (history-intensive) and how smart I think he is.  That way, he will have something to open in the morning!

New to Home Schooling-Days 1 & 2 Recap

I've created this blog for a few purposes.  One is to keep a record of all of our home schooling activities, another is to keep everyone informed on how the progress is going, and last, to get some feedback from others out there who may be home schooling.  I plan to mainly just record what activities Cameron and I do every day, but from time to time I may add other things going on.  Cameron is in the 4th grade and was publicly schooled until we moved to Houston near the end of December.  We started our home school adventure on January 2nd and so far so good!  Here is a recap of our activities on those days:

Friday, 1/2/09

11:00am-3:30p

1.) Write in personal journal (a log in one of Cameron's folders for his personal thoughts and ideas--enhances writing skills and creative thinking)

2.) Use BrainQuest 4th Grade Workbook to study irregular vowels/verbs.  Did 2 worksheets on this.

3.) Spelling from this link.  Used "Week One, White" list.  Cameron wrote out each word and then used www.dictionary.com to define each word.

4.) Used Scholastic 4th Grade Grammar Workbook to review types of sentences; did worksheet.

5.) Used Scholastic 4th Grade Reading Workbook to review the main idea of stories, did 2 worksheets.

6.) Had Cameron play this spelling game online.

7.) Used Saxon Math 4/5 to do a review--Test 1 out of workbook.  Also did the division practice out of his workbook.

8.) Used this link to begin typing lessons. Lesson 1, Lines 1-3

9.) Had Cameron write in his journal again about his school experience for the day.

Monday, 1/5/09

11:00am-2:45pm

1.) Personal journal entry

2.) Spelling review--called out the first 10 words from Cam's spelling list and had him spell them on the dry erase board.  Had Cam write sentences showing he understands the context of the first 10 words.  He used his previously written definitions to help with this.

3.) Gave Cameron a "Story Notes" paper that I created.  It contains blanks for "characters", "action/plot", and "setting".  As I read a story, he can record anything that fits in these categories during it.  There are also 3 "after the story" questions--"What was the main idea?", "What are some problems/conflicts the characters had during the story?", and "What was the most exciting part of the story to you?"  I read aloud "A Mad Tea Party", by Lewis Carroll.

4.) Division practice from Saxon Math workbook

5.) Explained 2-digit division using Saxon Math teacher's guide.  Also found an awesome game that breaks the process down step-by-step here.  What a lifesaver!

6.) Long-hand 2-digit division practice (12 problems)

7.) Typing Lesson 2, Lines 1-3

8.) Geography--used Brainquest workbook to do the "Continents" and "The Earth Covers" worksheets.

9.) Began a science unit on Cells, Tissues, Organs, Organ Systems, and Organisms using this site. In Cameron's science journal (spiral-bound notebook) I wrote out questions that go along with the site above.  I had him stop at "Cell Membrane."

10.) Wrote in journal about school day