1850MOD: Week 3 Days 2 & 3

Trying not to be a slacker in keeping up with the blog.

Let's see, yesterday went pretty well. I think the new order is working okay, except for Rabbit's down time.

So we start with Bible, and I'm really enjoying the Young Person's Guide to Knowing God. For the copywork, Rabbit and Tigger have the verse on the top half of the page, and the lower half is lines for them to write. I expect Rabbit to do it completely in cursive. Tigger will do words where he knows all the letters in cursive. For Pooh, I have the verse in gray (done with StartWrite software) for him to trace. On dictation day, I expect Rabbit to be able to completely write the verse from dictation. For Tigger and Pooh, I give them papers with the harder words filled in and space to write the rest of it. Tigger knows more words, so he has less words filled in. Pooh only has to write the simple words and trace the filled in words.

Rabbit is pretty consistent about getting her independent work done. She even does typing. I do try to find time to check her English and Spelling. I usually get Spelling done with the boys before morning snack, but not always English - which puts us about 20 minutes behind where I'd really like to be. English usually doesn't take us the full 10 minutes each, but the other boy is usually working on Rosetta Stone, so sometimes we take the full 10 minutes so they can finish their Rosetta Stone lesson. 

Reading time is going well. I only schedule 10 minutes for the boys to each read to me. Usually though there is only a half page left to finish the story so we go a little over. I count their Book Basket time as reading, too, at this age.

It is Math that usually takes so long. They've been learning about regrouping (carrying) this week. Tigger picked it up, but Pooh has to use manipulatives to see it. In order to keep him on task I have to sit by him while he does his math book. I was really hoping to use that time to look over Rabbit's stuff. I'm hoping as he gets those math facts better, he'll pick up speed. Handwriting usually doesn't take them too long. 

For History, I've been doing the U.S. Facts and Fun first with the boys, then we did the President sheet. Then I do the advanced History. So far we've not done any of the projects in the Activity Book. The outlines are a little bit tricky, so I'm glad we have the answers. 

Yesterday we read the science for the boys, but the T.M. said the experiment didn't work well and to skip it. And we just talked about what a family tree is and how the boys inherited different traits from me and Dad. 

After lunch we finished up Art (just reading the lesson, not doing it). The boys did book basket while Rabbit did Math yesterday, today they did it while we had History. Yesterday Rabbit had a math test and scored an 85% - much better. My husband said to be a little easier on Rabbit on her math tests, so if she did things like forget to put decimal points or reduce a fraction, I would let her go back and fix them. I wouldn't tell her what the problem was, I would just say, "I think you forgot something here," and then let her see if she could figure it out. I think the fact that I copied it onto graph paper for her really helped that go better. Then today she had a science test and scored a 91%.

Since Rabbit did her science test this morning during her independent time, we had time to work on the Progeny Press stuff and Writing Strands. We finished by 2:00! That is great for us.

1850MOD: Week 3, Day 1

Well, we did it. We added in Story of the World, and it went fine. The boys didn't take as long as usual in Math (there was no textbook time, and just 2 pages in the workbook), so that helped. Plus, we got Bible done in a reasonable amount of time, except I forgot to have the kids work on the memory verse for the week - so we did it during English time. 

The boys seemed to enjoy doing the U.S. Facts and Fun books. They each have one. I read the passage, and then they answered the questions. Tigger filled in the blanks by himself. I wrote for Pooh.

Then they did book basket while I did History with Rabbit. The boys could have sat in on today's history, but I'm fine with them not doing so. I had typed up the review questions, but I think I won't do that next week. Rabbit did pretty well answering those. The outline was okay. I'm not sure I 100% agree with how that first outline was written, so I'm sure glad I have the answers to make sure we're going in the right direction. It was already well past noon once we got the map and timeline done, so we didn't do the activity. We did read through it. I'm guessing Rabbit might not do as much of those.

This afternoon I did Math and Science with Rabbit. Today's lesson seemed to have a lot more practice problems. Tomorrow she has a test. I copied the problems onto graph paper, so she has room to work them and won't have to copy from the test page to her paper (that is where some of her mistakes come in). In Science we finished up the module reading and went ahead and finished in the study guide. Then I had her go through the flashcard website to do some studying. I'm wondering if I should rework this week's test into a multiple choice. Writing is such a challenge for her.

While folding laundry after school, I watched a little more of Indoctrination. It made me wonder if Rabbit will really be ready for college in 6 years. I question if I'm preparing her in the right way by making accommodations for her dyslexia. It's not that she is "unmotivated," as some people implied in the movie. (One teacher was talking about how the students are given learning disability labels like "non-reader" so the teacher must accommodate the student to help them pass.) It really is very hard for her and things that should take someone 10 minutes take her 45. I can see she works hard. But, I'm going to keep watching the movie and keep on homeschooling as long as God allows.

1850MOD: Week 2 Day 5

You would think a lighter day would take less time! Not in this house.

We started with Bible time. Basically, on Light & Independent day we listen to the hymn and pray for Bible time. Then, I decided to do History since I had everyone's attention. So, we added Alaska and Hawaii and did the post-test. Rabbit got a 100%! She only got 29 right on the pre-test. Tigger got 46 out of 50, after only knowing 4 states at the beginning. Pooh got 38 out of 50, knowing 11 states at the beginning. I'm thinking about putting the CD in the car and just listening to it whenever they're all in there to nail down those states just a little more. But, that's awesome improvement.

Math took a VERY long time today with the boys. It was introducing carrying. Pooh could do it if he had blocks, but he struggled otherwise. Tigger eventually got it. Sigh. I wish math wasn't taking so long.

The boys got their Start Zone's last night for AWANA, so I recorded their verses onto their mp3 players so they can listen and follow along. So, that's been added into things. 

Rabbit still had Math and Science today. Math only took us 45 minutes! And we spent about 45 minutes on Science. The reading was not that long, but we decided to start reviewing for the test a little bit. Still need to figure out how to work in Writing Strands. Sigh.

It was a good day. The boys still dawdle some at transitions. I know we'll get there as we keep working at it.

Nervous about starting Week 3

We won't actually start week 3 until Tuesday, but week 3 is when things kick it up a notch. Tomorrow (Monday), we'll do Week 2 Day 5 - the post-test of learning the states. I think the kids will do pretty well. I'll probably have to write for Pooh and Tigger. Rabbit will do fine, except spelling them correctly of course.

My nervousness has to do with having the 2nd/3rd grade supplement and the regular History and how much time it will all take. I've been reading the 2nd/3rd grade supplement read aloud at bedtime, and that is working fine. The boys enjoy that, and Rabbit usually listens in. This week we add in U.S. Facts and Fun and See the U.S.A. These first couple of worksheet pages will be fine. We'll have to see how the rest go. We also add in the Story of the World Volume 4 this week for Rabbit. I pre-read this week's, and the boys could join in for Day 1 (and would probably enjoy helping build the Crystal Palace). Day 3 and Day 4 both have wars, but nothing graphic or anything.

I did type up the Review Questions from the Story of the World Activity Book for Rabbit. I often forget to have the kids narrate (either as we read or listen to the CD, or at the end of the reading), so I thought having the questions typed up with space to answer them might help. Plus, at the beginning here, I'm going to read through the questions and the outline before we read so that we know for what we're suppose to be listening. 

This week won't be quite as busy as last, so that will help too. 

1850MOD Week 2 Day 4

Ahhh. School goes a little faster when the boys don't have English.

So, we didn't start until 8:30ish, but Bible time was relatively short today. So, we got Spelling done, and the kids got their snack break, and we were back on by 9:30. Reading went fine (Pooh is getting better - reading 6 to 7 pages a day in those 10 minutes). Math still took an hour. It was the first time introducing carrying (regrouping). They know they're doing it, but they don't quite understand it. Handwriting was quick, as the letter y is just a combination of the letter u and the letter g in Handwriting without Tears. We had to listen to the Middle States song a couple of times more for Pooh and Tigger to be able to name the rest of the states, but we were able to finish off History, and read yesterday's and today's science readings.

Rabbit worked on her independent work while I did the above, but I can tell she wasn't as focused as previous days. I helped her some with her Progeny Press guide (she was having trouble finding words in the dictionary) while the boys were doing math. We're having trouble squeezing Writing Strands in somewhere, though.

After lunch, we did the science experiments scheduled for the day. We couldn't get the one with the water bottle to work, but I think it is because we used a small water bottle, and the 3 holes directed the water too far away from each other. The pepper one is of course very cool, and we've floated a paper clip before. But the kids decided the most "epic" experiment was the milk, food coloring, and dish washing soap one. The results of that one:

I thought it was interesting that the colors never really blended to form purple or green (but they did when I dumped them in the sink that had water left over from lunch dishes). Anyway, the kids really liked this one.

I read through the art lesson in God and the History of Art, but the kids aren't really interested in doing the drawing. I'm not going to make them do it.

The boys still had Piano and Book Basket to do, so they did that while I worked with Rabbit. Science only took 15-20 minutes with her (no experiments today). We used the new Student Notebook that arrived yesterday to take notes in and answer the "On Your Own" questions. (I may write up a separate review of it.) Then we did math. Rabbit can do converting proper fractions to improper, but the other way is harder for her. She'll get there, eventually. Math took less than an hour. It was one-step multiplication problems that were way easier than the ones in Singapore, so we just read through the first example, then did the Lesson Practice and Mixed Practice.

Life group is at our house tonight, so we are about to spend a couple of hours cleaning and baking.

1850MOD Week 2 Day 3

Life has seemed hectic this week. Between hair appointment, vet appointment, life group, Dance classes, and a used curriculum sale things are busy. 

The boys are taking longer than I thought they would for math. Closer to 45 minutes to an hour! Which I think is a little too long for 3rd graders, but I'm not sure how to speed it up. I am trying to decide what to do with Rabbit during this time. She is usually done with her independent work by the time we get to math. It takes me about 15 minutes to work with the boys to explain their lesson. Then they could work on the workbook by themselves - we'll Tigger could. Pooh needs lots of encouragement to stay on task. But, I could possibly do the warm up with Rabbit during this time, but I want to be available to the boys, but she gets frustrated when she is interrupted in math. And sometimes I get frustrated too, when I am constantly interrupted by the others. I could have her listen to her science. I don't know. If the boys take too long in math, then we don't get history and science done before lunch and the days go really, really, long. (I probably should pray about it.)

Things would go better if we would start earlier, but we have been having trouble starting by 8:15. I don't think it's an unreasonable goal, but when the dog has to be at the vet's office between 8:00 and 8:30, it does throw your day off.

What would a perfect day look like?

1. Children would be ready to start school with a good attitude.
2. Children would move immediately to the next thing when the timer goes off.
3. Children would go to the bathroom during snack and lunch breaks and not interrupt class time.
4. Subjects would actually take the time allotted, and not longer.

Well, I can dream, can't I?

1850MOD Week 2 Days 1 & 2

Well, things are cruising along.

Yesterday I was sure the kids hadn't memorized the Eastern border states, but when I tested them today, they did know them. They really LOVE playing state rummy. We decided that you could make a run as long as the states were touching in some way. So, like New York and Massachusetts could be a run, even though they're not touching along a border.

Almost all subjects went fine yesterday, even though we started a little late. We still got through History by lunch (and there was no science).

After lunch Rabbit had a Math test - she got a 60%. Sigh. Most of her mistakes were typical of her: reversing numbers, not realizing she needed to borrow, switching to subtraction in the middle of an addition problem. Her dyslexia does that to her. And, all the stuff she missed was from Lesson 1 and Lesson 3. So, I've decided we're going to have to work ALL the mixed problems until her test scores improve.

I had to leave for an appointment, so she read her science to herself after I left. She took some notes, but I told her not to do the experiments.

Today went okay, though we didn't finish until 3:45. The boys had a practice page in Math, so I wrote their problems for them in their notebooks, and they worked the problems. Pooh needs lots of encouragement to stay on task, but he did get it done. Everything else is going pretty smoothly. We're not moving very fast in spelling with Pooh, but it is hard for him to remember how to write letters.

For Rabbit, we did Math until I saw that she was shutting down (got through Mixed Practice #16). So, we took a quick snack break and switched to Science. We did the experiments from yesterday, and then today's reading. After that, we finished the last 14 problems in math in 15 minutes. She was surprised, so we talked about how when her brain shuts down at math, it is okay to switch to something different, and then come back to it. I wasn't sure if we really needed to do the word problems exactly as the Saxon book said to do them. The word problems were all easy (as compared to Singapore), and she knew how to solve them without setting them up the way the Saxon book recommended. She didn't like having to do more work when she knew how to solve them, so I would set them up, and then she would solve them. I know why the book did it that way, but part of me says if you can find the right answer then it is fine.

I'm really pleased with how Rabbit is doing on her independent work. She doesn't always get the answers right, but she does work hard and try to get it done.

Only two more days this week, as Friday I have a used curriculum sale to go to and try to sell off my old Abeka stuff and maybe my MFW 1st grade. Not sure if I want to let go of 1st grade yet.