Math

Language and science seem to come naturally to me, but I often filled in my math column last when doing lesson plans. It also seems to be my least intuitive area when I just let learning flow throughout the day (with my new approach of gently guiding towards large goals using certain materials but no preplanned activities). This surprises me a little since I enjoyed it in school (up until my junior year of high school when I felt like I never really got the concepts, despite my decent grades).

I discovered today that I'm not doing so bad after all when I read this post on math goals for kindergarten. We're nowhere near counting to 100, but Raccoon is familiar with many of the ideas on the list (red are the least familiar to him). What a relief.

Curious?

This is the list:

count 1-100, by 1s, 2s, 5s, and 10s
count backwards 10-1
use and understand a number line, hundred chart, ten frame {identify numbers before & after}
estimate number of objects {20 or less}
sorting by multiple attributes {color, shape, size, etc}
patterns
basic addition and subtraction {understand +, -, and = symbols}
basic story problems
plane shapes ~ square, circle, oval, triangle, rectangle, octagon, hexagon {and more}
3D shapes ~sphere, rectangular prism, cylinder, cone {and more}
basic understanding of fractions {half, quarter, third}
basic understanding of symmetry
identify penny, nickel, dime, quarter, dollar
order by size, length, weight, amount
ordinal numbers to 1st-10th
graphing up to 10 {analyzing graph}
write numbers up to 20
read number words up to ten
positional words
basic understanding of telling time to the hour
understands time of day {morning, afternoon, evening, etc}
basic calendar skills {days, months}
basic understanding of temperature

The Unschooling Experiment: Day 1

Three weeks in to our homeschool adventure, I realized that what I was doing was not working. I did lessons plans, but was only getting a few things done. One reason is a lack of time to prepare materials, but I felt like there was a bigger problem. Neither Raccoon nor I really wanted to do some of the things on the list and at the end of the week I felt like a failure because we had done so little of what I had planned. This week, I decided to change course and instead write down what we did afterwards.

I am going to focus on three areas: language, math, and science. For now, this means learning the letters of the alphabet (names, writing, and sounds), number concepts, and following our science book which Raccoon is enjoying. Today we played with a four pan balance, wrote letters in the dirt on our daily walk, and then played with alphabet fridge magnets in a rice sensory bin (that was Kitty's activity but Raccoon joined in). We did several other things as well, and when I looked at the list at the end of the day, I felt successful. It was fun for all of us, and it flowed much more naturally as part of our day.

Since this is our trial year (technically Raccoon misses the kindergarten cutoff this fall but I think he's ready), my hope is that Raccoon will learn to read, count, and have fun.

Let the Games Begin!

We have officially started homeschooling as of this week. March 18 was our first day, odd perhaps but why not? That's what homeschooling is about - right? - freedom.

Celosia School Year D Week 1 (March 17-21)                    3 weeks on, 1 week off (make-up)



MONDAY             TUESDAY             WEDNESDAY      THURSDAY

Language	Math	Science	Music	Physical Activity	Alternate Activity	Art
Read Diary of a Worm, pick something he wants to record	Number sheets with noodles, rocks, household items	Scientific Salad Dressing p. 16 1) Oil w/garlic 2) Vinegar w/herb	Review instruments p. 6-11 CYHI #1	Monday 10 -11 am Recess at school	Read about Scat and Tracks	Take pictures for diary (him, cat, dog)
Diary of a cat entry, Raising Rock Stars	Add one, subtract one with cars, candy, marbles, money	Solvent or Solute? p. 17 1) water w/sugar 2) water w/sand 3) water w/salt 4 water w/rocks	CYHI #3	Gymbo Thurs 3 - 4 pm	Make a scat and tracks book with labels, Caleb trace first letters	Take photos of scat and tracks
Diary of a dog entry, Raising Rock Stars	Math book activity	Perfume Chemistry p. 19 1) Alcohol and cinnamon 2) Alcohol and orange peel 3) Alcohol and rose petals	CYHI #2	Trampoline, Soccer, and Running		Gymbo Thurs 6-7 pm

Books:

Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin
Super Science Concoctions by Jill Frankel Hauser 
Can You Hear It? (for music/art appreciation)

That's the plan and we're about halfway through. We got off to a slower start since he was sick on Monday.

Building a Schoolroom, and other things

It's not for sure yet - we'll make the final decision on Monday - but it looks like we're going to build a second floor on our little house on our land (currently nameless). We hope to have two guest rooms, an office for the King, and a schoolroom. I am so excited. I told Raccoon today that he wasn't going to go to school, but that he would do school at home with me. "I want to start right now!" he said. Me too.

I finally got our books out of storage, and as I put them on the shelves I thought of all the possibilities for projects and units. Being surrounded by books helps me feel much more confident in my ability to homeschool. My husband is better at sneaking in learning though, having a puppet ask Raccoon to count to ten. He's been able to count for awhile, but skips 3. I finally heard him count correctly, something he never would have done if I'd just asked him to count. He hates to perform, especially if he feels like there's expectations or the possibility of failure. We'll definitely have to work on his perfectionism. It's an ongoing theme in our household for sure.

If we do build, it should be finished mid-June, just when a friend is leaving. I bought all of her shelves and a small table. I can't wait to set up a space just for us. In the meantime, we've just been doing a lot of hands-on things like play-doh, nailing boards together, painting, and playing outside.

I've been focusing on character traits like perseverance, kindness (to his sister and our cats), hospitality (having friends over and what we do and say with guests), and respect.

Our internet is very slow, which makes it hard to post pictures, but I got two to upload.

 

Our current home, 80 square meters. I hope there will be a second 

floor up there in a few months! I long for a space of our own.

My first time with two at the table. Raccoon is tracing his hand and Kitty is eating the crayons. 

That's pretty much how school is going for now.

Nap Time: to school or not to school?

I am an introvert. Naptime is blessed relief for me. But only my daughter, Kitty, naps. My son needs one-on-one time with me, but this eats into my solo time to recharge. I don't know how to balance this. I don't know when to do school with Raccoon, because Kitty is right there and very curious, all the time. This week, my husband goes back to work and school begins, for all of us.

Wish me luck!!!

Against the Forceful Tide

I just saw this phrase and I love it. Raccoon has always marched to his own drum, and I believe he will do amazing things if I can help him stand up to the pressures pushing him down, trying to get him to conform, to be less of what he is. Sometimes, it's me. I actually told him today, "We don't need to talk about that anymore," when he obviously did.

My homeschooling phrase of the year is - let it go.

I want to study him this year, even as we jump into learning together. I have so much influence in his life right now. I worry so much about him. I don't want him to give up. He currently wants to be an inventor. I love that, except when he decides that the perfect time to make something is two minutes before we have to be out the door. I could have just given him rolls of tape for Christmas. Really.

The Whole Picture

There's blog life...

...and then there's real life.