The Beauty of Questions

While on our little Thanksgiving trip Will had a few questions that I thought were pretty great. He asked why it was getting dark so early and why it was colder and snowy in SL than in Las Vegas. He asked these questions at two different occasions but they were very connected. I told him in both instances that we could talk about these during home school. I taught these concepts in 6th grade and knew where to find some lesson plan resources but when I got to them they were very detailed and required materials I didn't have to explain this to Will so instead I found a website and a YouTube video that seemed to answer his quandary. One site was a Christian home school site, found here. Here is the YouTube video. I pulled these up and had Will watch and read them and then asked him if he knew the answer to the questions. He explained them well and then we discussed how crazy it was to think that right now in Australia it would be summer.
I loved this experience because Will learned from his own curiosity. I didn't have to follow any curriculum or standard or benchmark for him to wonder about his world and how it works. He read non-fiction science materials, then explained it in his own words all without me dictating or persuading him with grades or tokens to do so. He was curious, I supplied the resource and then he learned for himself. BEAUTIFUL.
As for the rest of school yesterday. . .
I found ants upstairs in the TV room and freaked out. So we spent a lot of the day moving the TV room back downstairs. Will has my assistant and we discussed how I was crazy and that was just part of who I was, he seemed OK with it.
We also finished the last 3 chapters of Bridge to Terabithia. I sat and cried through the whole thing and Will sniffled along. I had planned to read only 1 chapter but he urged me to finish as it was the climax of the story and he didn't want to stop. Again I was reminded of the beauty of home schooling and that it allowed us to finish when were at that tumultuous part of the story not wanting to put it down.
We also read scriptures and worked on memorizing the articles of faith as part of his faith in God and went over a new chore chart for a scout project.
Will was very sweet today. He jumped at my asking for any help and even though had a choice moment or two with his siblings was helpful and kind to them. He played bubbles with the kids and Bat man and Robyn with Ian escaping to the "Bat Cave". He also made the kids lunch all by himself without me even asking!!! So far I am thinking home school is where it's at!!!

Mom Share To the Rescue!

Mom share is what The Thomas Jefferson method uses in my opinion to ensure that even though you let kids choose and move at their own pace you still need to introduce things in order for kids to even know to choose them! I am using the "What your 3rd Grader Needs to Know" as my guide. I have laid out the remainder of the school year to hopefully at least introduce all the topics that my 3rd grader needs to know!!
Yesterday, I gave Will a little geography quiz. We discussed the 7 continents, 4 oceans, what a legend is and a few other basic geographical terms and concepts. Then we did a word sort. This is where you take a word, break it down into its letters and then make other words with that word. You can use this to discuss vocabulary, spelling and grammar rules. Beth gave me a web site called wordplays.com that breaks down all the possible words for you so you know what topics and rules you can discuss. As a final little part Will had to use all the letters to make one big magic word. I did the word continents. He had fun and I felt like he learned a lot from the two activities.
Also his daily plan is going well and I started "pillow talk" in hope to get him writing a little more. This was another suggestion from Beth. I told Will if he wrote me a letter before he went to bed I would answer it and put it under his pillow for him to find in the morning. I had to laugh when I got his letter asking me if I knew how people made fish food! The things kids think about is hilarious!
Anyway, another peaceful day. I so hope we can maintain!

Finding Peace

I think I found some peace. I know most people run around thinking what kids are doing right now is so important. People have their kids in every kind of activity possible with the good intent of turning out rounded, knowledgeable kids. But is seems like all of that looks and seems good but the consequence is the lack of time together as a family. What it feels like when I jump on that band wagon is stressed and no time for quality family time. The last few days I have simplified. I want my kids to know how to interact together in a positive way. I want them to play, share, problem solve. I want them to have a strong sense of right and wrong, service, caring for others and thinking of more than themselves. I want them to know the gospel and have a strong testimony of their own. Yes, I want them to read, write, be able to calculate sums and figures and to know that the Columbus sailed in 1492, but really, right now that is very secondary and to teach them those facts and figures I will do it in a way that is promoting my family core strength and values. I will play games with them, read to them, challenge them. . .I will do those things as we do the other more important things. I have found peace in looking at my completely amazing children and knowing they are so smart, so capable and that they will learn all those random and sorted facts and figures but they won't do it in a classroom, they will do it was we learn to be a strong and happy family.

Just another day. . .

Today was a little crazy, Ian was sick and luckily Dennis was home so he took him and Will to the doctor (Will wasn't sick but just tagged along-for fun!). Viv was OK she went to school as usual. Ian's little home school preschool workshop thing was having the parent workshop day and I didn't want to miss so I took Cadey with me to that and she got to do "school" today. She was super excited and made sure I packed her a backpack like I do for Viv and Ian when they go. Dennis ended up being at the doctor for 4 1/2 hours! They had to do tests and take x-rays and finally determined Ian has a bronchial infection. We all had lunch and then I decided that we still needed to do a little school time so the day wouldn't be totally lost. Ian and Cadey had quiet time/nap time for a bit. Will and I read a chapter of Bridge to Terabithia folded laundry and played a game called take two where you make words out of scrabble tiles. Will also did two science experiments out of a little book he has and read his chapter book "Super Goofballs". For some this may not seem like a productive school day. I might even have a sliver of my brain that is worried it's not that productive but considering what he would really accomplish in a school day the only thing really left out is writing and math from today. He read, he worked, he experimented, he thought about and manipulated words and he built his relationship with me, his dad and his brother today. I can't see what is too bad about that. As I am writing I am still feeling like I need to justify what we are doing. . .Still working on that!