Hi Everyone,
We will head back to school in July, since this allows us to take extra time off when we need to for family visits, vacations, and just needed mental health breaks. The kids have been off since the end of May. Our plan to start off slow, doing school work two to three days a week. We will start off by learning about Ants.
We will start off the year using our workbox system, our eclectic Montessori/Project based learning style, with unschooling mixed in. This rather patchwork system seems to fit everyone's needs, so we will go with it for the 2011-2012 school year.
So, here are some things we may do:
Learn about ants
read Hey Little Ant, and discuss themes around caring for the big and little in our lives. How caring for something as small as an ant is as important as caring for our friends, our neighbors and our world.
We will continue using the blue UU Kids book.
We will begin the year by reviewing our beliefs and adding new ideas, and beliefs to our wall. At the end of the year, we created a PEACE wall that features how to solve problems calmly, how we live our UU lives, and other related ideas. This is an evolving project.
I will add books to the blog list as we continue our year. I borrowed several books from our church to read over the summer. One is Unplugging the Christmas Machine, which we will also discuss as the summer turns to Fall. I want to incorporate more ideas on how to have a festive holiday without buying into commercialism. We also borrowed several kids book, one written by Nelson Mandela.
A friend of mine is attempting to do a pagan version of bible verses for her kids, and it gave me inspiration to consider making a UU version. I remember having fun learning bible verses as a kid, and gaining a feeling of accomplishment when I was able to recite the ten commandments. I wonder how I can create this same feeling with UU beliefs?
We will also continue using Ready, Set, Happy and other character building ideas. If you decide to use this curriculum, please consider giving a donation, they are a wonderful organization. The above link gives a one page summary for the program. You can google Ready, Set, Happy for the full document.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Monday Morning Material: The Giant Jam Sandwich
Good Morning and welcome to almost Summer Vacation. In our household we take off the month of June and begin homeschooling in July. In the summer we take a very relaxed approach, schooling three days a week until September, when we get back into the full swing of things.
One great way to enter into summer vacation is with a great book. I remember reading The Giant Jam Sandwich when I was a kid, it was a favorite in the family, and it opened up the world of moral stories to me.
Homeschool Share has a lapbook available for printing on their website.
Day 1-Strawberry Picking
Read story
Day 2- Jam making
Day 3- Bread Making, Make a Giant Jam Sandwich
Day 4- Learn about wasps and bees
Jam recipe to come soon
One great way to enter into summer vacation is with a great book. I remember reading The Giant Jam Sandwich when I was a kid, it was a favorite in the family, and it opened up the world of moral stories to me.
Homeschool Share has a lapbook available for printing on their website.
Day 1-Strawberry Picking
Read story
Day 2- Jam making
Day 3- Bread Making, Make a Giant Jam Sandwich
Day 4- Learn about wasps and bees
Jam recipe to come soon
Friday, June 3, 2011
The Common Question: No, School Today Girls?
Today is our annual yard sale trek, where we hunt down school items, household goods and any fun toys for the year. This year we have gotten our fair share of, "no school today girls?". After a brief moment, I reply, "no, we homeschool."
Now, most of the time we get positive replies, but today we got many blank stares. I chuckle to myself, since I could ask the same question to the adult, "no work today Lady?", but I don't since 1)it would be snarky and 2)it wouldn't really set the right impression.
Oh well, it isn't that people are trying to be mean, or pry into our life, they are just trying, awkwardly, to make idle conversation while cashing us out. I imagine they secretly wonder how such a normal looking family, could be one of those weird homeschoolers. Never fear, we were weird before we started homeschooling, so if and when we stop, we will still be odd.
In case you are curious to our finds- 1)hour glass, 2)view finder telescope thing, and 3)chapter books
Now, we odd ducks are off to help our church with their yard sale- and no, we actually didn't have school today, we are officially on vacation until July. It is one of the perks of homeschooling.
Now, most of the time we get positive replies, but today we got many blank stares. I chuckle to myself, since I could ask the same question to the adult, "no work today Lady?", but I don't since 1)it would be snarky and 2)it wouldn't really set the right impression.
Oh well, it isn't that people are trying to be mean, or pry into our life, they are just trying, awkwardly, to make idle conversation while cashing us out. I imagine they secretly wonder how such a normal looking family, could be one of those weird homeschoolers. Never fear, we were weird before we started homeschooling, so if and when we stop, we will still be odd.
In case you are curious to our finds- 1)hour glass, 2)view finder telescope thing, and 3)chapter books
Now, we odd ducks are off to help our church with their yard sale- and no, we actually didn't have school today, we are officially on vacation until July. It is one of the perks of homeschooling.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Monday Morning Material: FInal Living Tradition
We will wrap up our look at the living traditions, at least in a formal way, by examing our last:
Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.
This topic happens to be a favorite of mine and one I hold dear, so I imagine we live it in many simple, daily ways.
In fact, I haven't come up with a single activity or idea that stands out like in the previous weeks.
My mind does this: pottery- clay from the earth, maybe weaving- what about a garden loom, how about planting or volunteering at a nature preserve, cleaning up the beach is always a good idea, what about collecting and using herbs, how about a thankful spot in your garden- a place to leave treats for the birds and other animals, maybe a walk to look for animal footprints, of course writing to your representatives is always a good way to help celebrate life by protecting life.
See my problem? There isn't one way to go ahead celebrating the circle of life, or observing it and giving it the respect it deserves. I think our daily living reflects this cycle almost more than an activity. One area we are passionate about is preserving the harvest and eating foods in season. While this isn't always possible, given our cold, snowy winter- I do believe we can do our best to
show our deep gratitude and concern but leaving a smaller footprint.
And of course, one of the best ways to obtain ideas is to ask the kids what they think.
I know our family has enjoyed this adventure, I hope you did too.
Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.
This topic happens to be a favorite of mine and one I hold dear, so I imagine we live it in many simple, daily ways.
In fact, I haven't come up with a single activity or idea that stands out like in the previous weeks.
My mind does this: pottery- clay from the earth, maybe weaving- what about a garden loom, how about planting or volunteering at a nature preserve, cleaning up the beach is always a good idea, what about collecting and using herbs, how about a thankful spot in your garden- a place to leave treats for the birds and other animals, maybe a walk to look for animal footprints, of course writing to your representatives is always a good way to help celebrate life by protecting life.
See my problem? There isn't one way to go ahead celebrating the circle of life, or observing it and giving it the respect it deserves. I think our daily living reflects this cycle almost more than an activity. One area we are passionate about is preserving the harvest and eating foods in season. While this isn't always possible, given our cold, snowy winter- I do believe we can do our best to
show our deep gratitude and concern but leaving a smaller footprint.
And of course, one of the best ways to obtain ideas is to ask the kids what they think.
I know our family has enjoyed this adventure, I hope you did too.
NAEYC's Position Statement on Technology
The National Association for the Education of Young Children recently released their draft of the Technology Position Statement. NAEYC is an organization that is supposed to promote developmentally appropriate practice and play as two of its core values, but in recent years, that have begun to slide down hill and this draft, is another example of why I can't support them as a professional organization.
The draft, uses the same argument that many places, companies, schools and organizations use to push things on children that are unnecessary, "well, someday when they are out in the world, they will have to do it, so might as well start them young." This organization serves educators, parents and children from infancy to age eight. So you can see my concern, since they are supporting practices that will influence people who work with young children, NAEYC was the gold standard, everyone looked to them for guidance, support and for best practice models, policies and literature.
The Draft can be found on their website, www.naeyc.org
So When is Enough a Enough?
Technology with infants and toddlers is rarely, if ever necessary. My friend Faith, commented this, "Screen time for infants? I thought they need a heavy schedule of gentle body contact, interactive language, things to handle, and getting acquainted with their bodily functions. Where would tech fit into that? Same thing with toddlers, but then we add other children to the list of needs? Actually watching live squirrels and birds and flowers and.... watching people at work in the house and outside, exploring books, and a huge increase in spoken words. I used to use tech to find answers to questions, but also books, other people, and magazines. Just because they can use a mouse, doesn’t mean they should."
It is in my mind it is just plain wrong to encourage those who work with infants and toddlers to bring in and use "smart toy", e-books and other technology that removes the child from direct interaction with their world and their family/caregivers. Electronic toys are passive toys, they may be interesting because they blink, beep and move, but they offer little to no play value. When purchasing equipment, especially in these very difficult financial times, every dollar matters- daycares should be focusing in toys that help the child create the play for themselves, not the toy doing the work for them.
I am also greatly concerned with the mixed messages the document sends- on one hand, they note the very big disparity between those who have and those who don't, and then within the same paper, they comment on how technology can connect parents. It honestly feels elitist to me, and rather unrealistic of the life of so many parents and children.
Lastly, I am greatly concerned with the connection between organizations who are promoting technology and the research that was used to create this document. Personally, I find it questionable bordering on unethical to use such supporting evidence in your position statement.
In the last ten years, I have seen a noticeable shift in NAEYC's advertisements, their quality of articles and now, the addition of a technology position statement that promotes more technology in our children's lives, with very little, if any guidance, about appropriate ways, materials and uses. Sadly, I no longer feel comfortable supporting such an organization through my membership and feel less inclined to recommend them to others who are entering the field of early care and education.
The draft, uses the same argument that many places, companies, schools and organizations use to push things on children that are unnecessary, "well, someday when they are out in the world, they will have to do it, so might as well start them young." This organization serves educators, parents and children from infancy to age eight. So you can see my concern, since they are supporting practices that will influence people who work with young children, NAEYC was the gold standard, everyone looked to them for guidance, support and for best practice models, policies and literature.
The Draft can be found on their website, www.naeyc.org
So When is Enough a Enough?
Technology with infants and toddlers is rarely, if ever necessary. My friend Faith, commented this, "Screen time for infants? I thought they need a heavy schedule of gentle body contact, interactive language, things to handle, and getting acquainted with their bodily functions. Where would tech fit into that? Same thing with toddlers, but then we add other children to the list of needs? Actually watching live squirrels and birds and flowers and.... watching people at work in the house and outside, exploring books, and a huge increase in spoken words. I used to use tech to find answers to questions, but also books, other people, and magazines. Just because they can use a mouse, doesn’t mean they should."
It is in my mind it is just plain wrong to encourage those who work with infants and toddlers to bring in and use "smart toy", e-books and other technology that removes the child from direct interaction with their world and their family/caregivers. Electronic toys are passive toys, they may be interesting because they blink, beep and move, but they offer little to no play value. When purchasing equipment, especially in these very difficult financial times, every dollar matters- daycares should be focusing in toys that help the child create the play for themselves, not the toy doing the work for them.
I am also greatly concerned with the mixed messages the document sends- on one hand, they note the very big disparity between those who have and those who don't, and then within the same paper, they comment on how technology can connect parents. It honestly feels elitist to me, and rather unrealistic of the life of so many parents and children.
Lastly, I am greatly concerned with the connection between organizations who are promoting technology and the research that was used to create this document. Personally, I find it questionable bordering on unethical to use such supporting evidence in your position statement.
In the last ten years, I have seen a noticeable shift in NAEYC's advertisements, their quality of articles and now, the addition of a technology position statement that promotes more technology in our children's lives, with very little, if any guidance, about appropriate ways, materials and uses. Sadly, I no longer feel comfortable supporting such an organization through my membership and feel less inclined to recommend them to others who are entering the field of early care and education.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
You Don't Have to Be a Homeschooler to Enjoy this Blog
I asked my husband if he thought this blog was too specific, I mean, how many homeschooling families are Unitarian Universalist? I sat and thought about this question and came to the following conclusion- Yes, I am limiting my readers by including our homeschooling status as part of the title, and my initial goal was to connect homeschoolers to various lesson plans and ideas, similar to Christian homeschooling blogs.
However, you don't have to be a homeschooler to appreciate the lesson plan ideas, stories and various UU ideas. As the new RE director for our church, I believe this blog can also serve to connect others to Unitarian Universalism. (And if you know me, I am not preachy on the subject, I won't try to convert anyone. HA, lol.) So please, share this blog with others you know who are UU, and let them know, this blog is for You/them too.
(Does this remind you of, "this buds for you" commercial?)
However, you don't have to be a homeschooler to appreciate the lesson plan ideas, stories and various UU ideas. As the new RE director for our church, I believe this blog can also serve to connect others to Unitarian Universalism. (And if you know me, I am not preachy on the subject, I won't try to convert anyone. HA, lol.) So please, share this blog with others you know who are UU, and let them know, this blog is for You/them too.
(Does this remind you of, "this buds for you" commercial?)
Sunday, May 22, 2011
A Montessori/Reggio Setting the Environment Idea: Sorting Materials by Color
Yesterday during a conversation with a very wise friend, I mentioned that I was looking for small pails to sort our colored pencils, markers and crayons into and she found me some from Oriental Trading. They look perfect! Originally I had hoped to find a wooden bucket or jar that could be painted, but it was difficult to find ones bottom stable enough to hold markers.
In a Montessori classroom and also a Reggio inspired, placing items like colored pencils into the appropriate jar helps set the environment, reinforce sense of color, and maintain a tidy classroom.
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