Subject Refusal

I needed to teach Simone that every sentence has a predicate (verb) and a subject.  I didn't think Max was too young to learn it.  He could at least be introduced to the idea.

Well, he was not interested.  He wanted to spell and write so I let him and would return to Grammar later. 

When he was done writing, he shared his thoughts.

As Michael said, "I should have known something was afoot when he asked, 'How do you spell fuck?'"

Time o'clock

Max always adds his flair to time. 

Lesson Plan

I'm going all out this homeschooling year.  Not only have I compiled the list of concepts the kids have to learn by the end of the school year, but I'm also constructing a schedule for when to teach the concepts.

My first year of homeschooling with Simone was tough in that she and I butted heads so much and I almost killed the love of learning in her.  Out of fear of shoving all this information into her, my anxiety passed on to her and learning was not fun.  I also didn't accept that she would not excel in Math.  Because of her lack of enthusiasm for the topic, I unfairly imagined catastrophic futures for her.  But she made it and passed her testing.  As predicted she scored so high in reading comprehension and language arts, but barely passed the mathematics section.

I did not want to squash Simone's love of learning so I took on an unschooling approach, didn't research the standards, and just went through some curriculum at her pace.  But panic again set in when it came close to testing and I realized that this child-led learning had its faults.  Luckily, with some cramming miracles, Simone again passed her test with the same results as last year.  This time however, she was tested in new subjects of social studies and science and she excelled in those too!

This past year was also Max's first year in homeschooling.  His drive to learn math mirrored my love of it, but his aversion to learning to read was foreign to all of us.  I still don't know exactly why he hates reading, but it could have been the content.  Just recently he has been reading new words on his own thanks to his desire to decipher the names of his Grossery Gang (a set of small, rubber figurines that resemble stale, decomposing food).  He also passed his test and predictably excelled in Math and was average in Reading.


As we approach the next year of homeschooling, I am determined to combine the successes and to avoid the failures of both years.  I'm adding structure to the learning, but leaving a lot of room for review of the concepts with which either child needs help.  I have always admired public school teachers who can wrangle 30 kids and teach them reading and math.  But these teachers also have it easy in that they teach the same topics every year.  I now have admiration for all homeschooling moms who have to construct a new lesson plan each year for their kid(s).  I'm finding it quite a challenge, but one that is worth it.

Scavenger Hunt

Today we explored Old Town Alexandria, VA, with a simplified map I created.  Michael had an idea that we could teach the kids about reading maps and orientation. 

It was a success!  Both kids found their envelope and got a dollar each.

Afterwards we are at an Irish tavern! I can't wait to come back to this adorable town, with or without a mission .

Experimenting

Max has been on a kick of experimenting with anything he can find that will fit in this cup.  He even included Lego figures!  I was always fearful that his cauldron of spices, food coloring, moisturizers, and leaves, would spill in the bus.  Yesterday, his food coloring splattered a little but on my white dress. 

After 3 days of  experimentation, I told him, "No more experiments!" Science would have to take a big break!  But then Max protested ...

"But Mommy!  Experimenting is playing!"

Ugh, he's right.  I may have a future scientist in my hands and I'm worried about my white dress that I can always bleach.  Science will only take a teeny, tiny break.

To vs. Too

Our lesson in homophones quickly deteriorated to scatological depths.

Horrific

I was explaining the word "horrific" to Simone and she gave me an example.

"I know what's horrific ... Your rules."

Following Suit

The good news ... Max is starting to spell.  Bad news (for the grandparents) ... His choice of words.

While Mommy's Away

Before I went to the laundry room to retrieve our clean clothes, I instructed the kids to practice their  penmanship.  Max did the lower case "b" and Simone the upper case "A."

Well they finished it alright.  When I returned I saw they had practiced their letters and then some.

Scary Stories

When my kids hang out with religious kids at the campground, Simone and Max are introduced to alternative scary stories. 

"There was this guy named 'Damien' and he was inappropriate." 😨

Dun dun duuuuuuunnnnnnn!!

Hats for Numbers

Here is Max practicing his writing.  He's adding hats to the 5s. 

Co-Teacher

Michael is helping me homeschool Simone!

Ice Skaters!

I didn't realize the kids were going be tested on their last day of ice skating class.  Both passed!!!

As in ...

Max has been learning to read! 

I finally found a good curriculum that matches his temperament.  But there are some days that he has just woken up on the wrong side of the bed and is grumpy.  Today was such a day.

When we did his reading practice, we came to the word "quit" and this is how he read it:

"Kwa ...i ...t.  Quit!  As in ,'I quit!'". 😠

I Gave In

Max did not enjoy his first swimming lesson.  He declared out loud that he did not want to do the tasks.  I think the teacher finds him the most annoying - more difficult than the autistic kid. 

I tried to be cheerful, but he also got on my nerves that I gladly ignored him when another homeschooling mom started talking to me.  After class the teacher said it was OK that I go hide in a corner so we can see if Max does better without my presence. 

The thing is that he did try the tasks a little bit.  He just made it known to everyone that he hated it and that his mommy is annoying.  The teacher even picked him up and he held onto the edge in protest.  What a rebel ... Just like his mommy.

In the locker room, he wailed and repeatedly told the world that he hates it when things are hard.  On the car ride home he did not let up.  There was no reasoning with him.  Reminding him that he used to find scooters and bicycles hard did not help.

But there was hope in appealing to his taste buds. 

I promised him that whenever he did his class without whining, then he could get a treat at the bakery on the way home.  He immediately paused in his tirade and said ever-so-sweetly-and-softly, "oooo kaaay."

I hope he doesn't develop an unhealthy reward relationship with sweets just because his mama was tired of doing real discipline.

"Victory!"

Ice Skating Lessons!

Last Fall, I felt I needed to get the kids in more activities than they usually have been.  After having enjoyed the friendships of the fellow campkids at Fort Meade, I sensed that Simone and Max would miss seeing other kids once we left for Fort Belvoir.  One of the activities that aligned with our schedule was ice skating lessons!

The kids were excited to try it, especially Max, who requested he  learn how to play hockey.  I told my friend Sherrie about the lessons and she warned that it would be expensive should they pursue it.  If the kids like it and do well in it, I think we'll find a way to pay for them.  For now, they are very affordable because we take the lessons through a county program at a recreational center.  

This class is geared towards homeschoolers so the kids in the class range from age 6 to 12.  Max was not only the youngest, but the smallest.  At first he was the slowest, but he kept on getting up and practicing his "marching."  One might admire the resilience of Max's determination to keep trying despite the number of falls he endured, but I noticed he was falling down with a little too much glee.  Either it was the comic in him trying to get some laughs or it was the stunt devil in him practicing his acting.  

Simone did well right away.  She had skated before when we were in Alameda and this tiny rink was set up in 80 degree December day.  She had done well, but that was well over 4 years ago so I wasn't sure if the muscle memory had stuck.  It did!  She was gliding pretty quickly!

When the class was done, the kids requested to partake in the public skate session that followed.  I obliged ... for a little bit.  We had to go see the tax preparer and stop by Target.  The kids were bummed that they could only skate for an extra 10 minutes.  This made me happy that they liked their lessons!!

Back to Homeschool

After a 5 week break, we are back to homeschooling!  They retained most of what they had learned last semester!  Max has less to do so when Simone is still doing Spelling, Max draws. 

I postponed Science today because the topic for Magic School Bus is Lunch!  So as the kids ate their lunch, they followed Ms. Frizzle as she led the kids through Arnold's digestive system!

 

Spelling with Anatomy

Sometimes our regularly scheduled Spelling lesson veers off into a different direction.  One of the kids - for whatever reason - uttered, "Cankles" and my juvenile self giggled. 

I just had to draw and demonstrate what this word meant.

Math Minute

The kids resemble Michael and me very much.  As different as he and I are with our love / hate relationship with Math (I love it,  Michael would like to throw all math books in the fiery depths of Hell),  so are Max and Simone.

Max told me there's only one manner in which he wants to be like me, "I want to be smart in Math!"  Simone's eyes,  however,  glaze into a daze when I talk about addition and subtraction.

Yesterday morning,  I tested Max on addition past the combinations of 5 and he did so well!   "Max, what's 6 + 2?"  He took one second and then shouted, "8!!!"  I asked him how he knew that and he said his brain counted it.

Later in the day,  we were driving in the car and I decided to practice with Simone some subtraction.  I asked her, "Simone,  what's 10 - 2?"  Her response to me was, "Whyyyy?"

Commutative

I recently taught Simone (and Max, but I doubt he was paying attention) to the concept of something being commutative.  When a process is commutative it doesn't matter which order things are done.  This applies to addition.  You can add the numbers in whatever order and you will still get the same answer.  This is not so with subtraction.

The book we were reading gave examples of non-commutative processes.  The order that you put your socks and shoes is important.  So is brushing your teeth and heading to the bathroom.  You have to do one thing before the next part can be done.  Do give them another example of something that is not commutative, I said, "You wouldn't put your pants on first and then your underwear, right?"

They agreed with a giggle, but before I could continue with the rest of the reading Simone thoughtfully added ...

"Unless you're a superhero."