I've been pretty busy writing book reviews this past week. Here is my review of Bonnie Worth's Would You Rather Be a Pollywog? Bottom line: this book really surprised me. Told using Dr. Suess' style and character, this book does not talk down to children. This is a great beginning reader that will open doors to further conversations and investigations about pond life.
Results tagged “review” from Learn at Every Turn - Creative, Enriched Homeschooling
Click here for my review of Daniel Loxton's Evolution: How We and All Living Things Came to Be.
This is an excellent introduction to the concept of evolution for children. Loxton does not talk down to children and addresses many of the arguments against this theory rationally and without rancor.
This is an excellent introduction to the concept of evolution for children. Loxton does not talk down to children and addresses many of the arguments against this theory rationally and without rancor.
Here's a link to my review of The Smash! Smash! Truck.
Bottom line: This is a great children's book. Potts' talks about recycling by way of the Big Bang theory with various earth processes thrown for good measure. It's intelligent and eye-catching, and it will open the door to many great discussions.
Enjoy!
Bottom line: This is a great children's book. Potts' talks about recycling by way of the Big Bang theory with various earth processes thrown for good measure. It's intelligent and eye-catching, and it will open the door to many great discussions.
Enjoy!
I think I've mentioned that I write book reviews for the Sacramento and San Francisco Book Reviews. Rather unsurprisingly, many of the books I review are children's books or related to children. So, with my editors' blessing, I've decided to start linking to my reviews.
Today, I'm linking to my review of Thad Krasnesky's That Cat Can't Stay. This book is fantastically fun to read aloud to little ones.
Enjoy!
Today, I'm linking to my review of Thad Krasnesky's That Cat Can't Stay. This book is fantastically fun to read aloud to little ones.
Enjoy!
Okay, I mean the subject line half in jest, and I will explain that by the end.
I've started this post several times only to delete it and start again. Last semester was so busy with outside activities, I had little time for reflection. Now, having had a peaceful week after Christmas and having restarted teaching with a less hectic schedule, I think I see our homeschooling with much clearer vision.
My conclusions? Some changes we made this year have been worthwhile. Other aspects need to change. Some of those changes will occur immediately, while others will probably have to wait till next year to be fully accomplished.
I'll start with a review of our texts and materials and conclude with a review of our activities.
Singapore Math: I have no regrets about choosing this text. It appears to be an excellent fit for both boys. They are being challenged reasonably without mind-numbing repetition. I can see where Singapore is smoothing the transition into more advanced mathematics. Honestly, I can say enough good things about this text.
Moving Beyond the Page: I have mixed feelings about MBtP. I realize that no curriculum will be a perfect fit. I like how MBtP makes cross-curricular connections. Many of the activities are clever and fun. Still, several issues trouble me.
First, MBtP is advertised as a boxed curriculum for gifted learners. However, gifted learners are often asynchronous, and I doubt any boxed curriculum can adequately address that issue. In our case, I've come to realize that, while the boys tend to work a year ahead of grade level in most subjects, they are significantly further ahead in science. The science portion of MBtP does not begin to challenge them and, frankly, was a waste of money. Since we are paying little attention to it, the boys are not getting the full benefit of the literature tie-ins as a further result. While I will continue to thumb through the science units, I am going to create our own science curriculum to keep the boys adequately challenged. This will consist of hands-on projects at home and science museum field trips.
I have less difficulties with MBtP's literature and social studies units. Here, I would only say that, although the boys occasionally have grammar activities, I think they need a more systematic and organized approach. Similarly, I believe they also need a spelling book which provides rules, rather than what appears to be a random list of words from their reading. Furthermore, I wish the boys were receiving more in terms of world history. However, by the time we work through the social studies activities, the boys have little patience or attention for more.
Finally, I wish the boys were receiving a better education in art. While MBtP definitely gives the boys many creative opportunities, it offers little in terms of technique or history. I have a lead on a better art program. However, I will probably not be able to implement it until next year.
To conclude, I suspect we will not return to MBtP next year or at least not the entire curriculum. In the meantime, I will be making what we have work for us by editing as the need arises.
Rosetta Stone: I am pleased with this aspect of our curriculum. Landry comprehends fairly complex sentences, and Kipp, who just started this year, seems to be following suit. However, because this isn't state-mandated, I tend to give this lower priority when I feel we don't have enough time. I would like to remedy that since they appear to be learning from this program.
Lord of the Rings: Giving credit where credit is due, MBtP suggests reading aloud to your children for one-half hour each day. For that reason, we started reading Lord of the Rings aloud, and I think this is one of the nicer parts of our curriculum. Even after the most trying day of homeschooling, it's nice to end the day on a good note with a few pages of LotR.
Faith First: I describe our homeschooling as secular because our religious beliefs do not influence how I teach subjects like science. That said, I do teach our children catechism. We use the Faith First series, which I like very much because it emphasizes love of God and neighbor and good works over arcane doctrinal principals. Again, however, it does get pushed aside more than I would like, if we are pressed for time, and I would like to change that.
Outside Lessons: Our school will continue to pay for martial arts and piano for part of this semester, and we will continue with these. This is yet another area that would benefit from a more consistent practice routine.
The issue of consistency leads me to the last part of my review. I'm not quite sure how our last semester evolved into what it did. We are fortunate to live in an area that affords us many opportunities for interesting field trips, classes, and outings. Looking back, I cannot say that I regret any one activity. Each event, however, came at a cost in terms of consistency of our study routine, our energy, and family time.
I noticed the cumulative effect, especially in the quiet days after Christmas. It felt good to be home. We seemed less stressful because we weren't always running out the door. And, although we have only been back to the homeschooling routine for a few days, all three boys manifest a different attitude toward their studies when they have several, uninterrupted days to accomplish their tasks and a predictable rhythm structures those days.
Does this mean that we are going to become hermits? No. I would not want that, even if it were possible. However, we will choose our activities and outings with a careful eye to the cost involved this semester. In particular, I will seek activities that will help to remedy what I see as some of the shortcomings in our current curriculum.
So, that is why I half-jokingly entitled this post. The home school stereotype that these children are not socialized because they rarely leave home is far from accurate, at least in our house. On the contrary, we need a little less social interaction for the time being.
Of course, it's all a matter of balance. Then again, isn't it always?
I've started this post several times only to delete it and start again. Last semester was so busy with outside activities, I had little time for reflection. Now, having had a peaceful week after Christmas and having restarted teaching with a less hectic schedule, I think I see our homeschooling with much clearer vision.
My conclusions? Some changes we made this year have been worthwhile. Other aspects need to change. Some of those changes will occur immediately, while others will probably have to wait till next year to be fully accomplished.
I'll start with a review of our texts and materials and conclude with a review of our activities.
Singapore Math: I have no regrets about choosing this text. It appears to be an excellent fit for both boys. They are being challenged reasonably without mind-numbing repetition. I can see where Singapore is smoothing the transition into more advanced mathematics. Honestly, I can say enough good things about this text.
Moving Beyond the Page: I have mixed feelings about MBtP. I realize that no curriculum will be a perfect fit. I like how MBtP makes cross-curricular connections. Many of the activities are clever and fun. Still, several issues trouble me.
First, MBtP is advertised as a boxed curriculum for gifted learners. However, gifted learners are often asynchronous, and I doubt any boxed curriculum can adequately address that issue. In our case, I've come to realize that, while the boys tend to work a year ahead of grade level in most subjects, they are significantly further ahead in science. The science portion of MBtP does not begin to challenge them and, frankly, was a waste of money. Since we are paying little attention to it, the boys are not getting the full benefit of the literature tie-ins as a further result. While I will continue to thumb through the science units, I am going to create our own science curriculum to keep the boys adequately challenged. This will consist of hands-on projects at home and science museum field trips.
I have less difficulties with MBtP's literature and social studies units. Here, I would only say that, although the boys occasionally have grammar activities, I think they need a more systematic and organized approach. Similarly, I believe they also need a spelling book which provides rules, rather than what appears to be a random list of words from their reading. Furthermore, I wish the boys were receiving more in terms of world history. However, by the time we work through the social studies activities, the boys have little patience or attention for more.
Finally, I wish the boys were receiving a better education in art. While MBtP definitely gives the boys many creative opportunities, it offers little in terms of technique or history. I have a lead on a better art program. However, I will probably not be able to implement it until next year.
To conclude, I suspect we will not return to MBtP next year or at least not the entire curriculum. In the meantime, I will be making what we have work for us by editing as the need arises.
Rosetta Stone: I am pleased with this aspect of our curriculum. Landry comprehends fairly complex sentences, and Kipp, who just started this year, seems to be following suit. However, because this isn't state-mandated, I tend to give this lower priority when I feel we don't have enough time. I would like to remedy that since they appear to be learning from this program.
Lord of the Rings: Giving credit where credit is due, MBtP suggests reading aloud to your children for one-half hour each day. For that reason, we started reading Lord of the Rings aloud, and I think this is one of the nicer parts of our curriculum. Even after the most trying day of homeschooling, it's nice to end the day on a good note with a few pages of LotR.
Faith First: I describe our homeschooling as secular because our religious beliefs do not influence how I teach subjects like science. That said, I do teach our children catechism. We use the Faith First series, which I like very much because it emphasizes love of God and neighbor and good works over arcane doctrinal principals. Again, however, it does get pushed aside more than I would like, if we are pressed for time, and I would like to change that.
Outside Lessons: Our school will continue to pay for martial arts and piano for part of this semester, and we will continue with these. This is yet another area that would benefit from a more consistent practice routine.
The issue of consistency leads me to the last part of my review. I'm not quite sure how our last semester evolved into what it did. We are fortunate to live in an area that affords us many opportunities for interesting field trips, classes, and outings. Looking back, I cannot say that I regret any one activity. Each event, however, came at a cost in terms of consistency of our study routine, our energy, and family time.
I noticed the cumulative effect, especially in the quiet days after Christmas. It felt good to be home. We seemed less stressful because we weren't always running out the door. And, although we have only been back to the homeschooling routine for a few days, all three boys manifest a different attitude toward their studies when they have several, uninterrupted days to accomplish their tasks and a predictable rhythm structures those days.
Does this mean that we are going to become hermits? No. I would not want that, even if it were possible. However, we will choose our activities and outings with a careful eye to the cost involved this semester. In particular, I will seek activities that will help to remedy what I see as some of the shortcomings in our current curriculum.
So, that is why I half-jokingly entitled this post. The home school stereotype that these children are not socialized because they rarely leave home is far from accurate, at least in our house. On the contrary, we need a little less social interaction for the time being.
Of course, it's all a matter of balance. Then again, isn't it always?
We have been using Moving Beyond the Page for the past three and a half weeks and are finishing up our first units in both social studies/science and literature. I've intended to post my thoughts on this curriculum, but haven't had enough time at the computer to compose them. Today, however, I typed off a long email to my education specialist as for her thoughts. In the process, I articulated my own feelings fairly completely. For that reason, I've decided to post substance of that email.
Hi there,
I wanted to give you some things to think over before out next
meeting.
I guess you could say my problem is a wealth of riches. The
Moving Beyond the Page materials are absolutely fantastic. The
boys seem to enjoy their lessons. Landry, who is used to
my cobbled curriculum, says that he likes these materials much
better, although he will be the first to tell you that he
would prefer to do neither.
I don't think anything in MBtP is beyond the boys' abilities.
I take some dictation from and do some reading to Kipp, but
the concepts and activities are generally not beyond their
comprehension. That said, the number of activities in any
given lesson requires me to just keep pushing them through
the day to keep going. Yes, I think my boys work hard at
escaping work, but I'm feeling like a drill sergeant.
This is resulting in two problems:
(1) I'm not enjoying this much. I'm constantly worried
that we are falling behind in the materials and wont
finish by the end of the year. I think that affects the
boys' view of learning. At the same time, I find it
difficult to cut activities because they all seem to
have some value, if only as fun. And I question if
I'm failing as a homeschooler if I start letting
things slide.
(2) More importantly, I have a genuine concern that the
boys are not retaining the material. I know they get it
at the point they see it, but they are seeing such a
quantity of great material with no real opportunities
to review that I don't see how they could have long term
retention.
To add to this, we are about to start losing one day per
week to outside lessons. On Mondays, we will go to martial
arts, piano and engineering (Kipp). Add in the
Expeditionary Learning crew meetings and field work at the
charter, and I don't see how we can keep up the pace.
So, I guess what I'm asking is how would you, as a teacher,
prioritize? What would you do?
Thanks.
Annie
I don't know if every homeschooling parent feels the way I do, but sometimes I get so focused on the trees, I completely miss the national forest I'm standing in. I read on various lists and blogs about homeschooled children who literally dance to their studies each day with complete and utter delight at the prospect of spending their day on their books and materials.
They don't live in my house.
Mind you, the boys have moments when they are driven to keep going out of interest, but those moments do not occur every day. We do not unschool, and I like to expose the boys to a well-rounded curriculum. As a result, I get the unenviable task of keeping everyone at least relatively on track in their studies.
Between those moments of curiosity-driven learning, we sometimes slog. I've never found that the boys are unable to understand what's put before them, but they do have times when they just turn off. So, we switch subjects and try something new. Eventually, however, they need to move forward. Therein can lie my pervasive sense of frustration.
That's where our charter provides a surprising benefit. We meet once a month to review the boys' progress. I usually spend the weekend before the meeting finalizing lessons plans and quickly reviewing with the boys. I am surprisingly heartened after the rough moments of the month to see how much the boys have learned and later hear what they have to say when the education specialist talks with them. They are getting so much more than I realize and are aware of so much more than they would even have the opportunity to be exposed to in a more traditional setting. Frankly, it gives me the energy to go home and start again.
So, if you are feeling burned out and wondering if you are making a difference, try backing up a month and reviewing with your children. You will probably be wonderfully surprised.
They don't live in my house.
Mind you, the boys have moments when they are driven to keep going out of interest, but those moments do not occur every day. We do not unschool, and I like to expose the boys to a well-rounded curriculum. As a result, I get the unenviable task of keeping everyone at least relatively on track in their studies.
Between those moments of curiosity-driven learning, we sometimes slog. I've never found that the boys are unable to understand what's put before them, but they do have times when they just turn off. So, we switch subjects and try something new. Eventually, however, they need to move forward. Therein can lie my pervasive sense of frustration.
That's where our charter provides a surprising benefit. We meet once a month to review the boys' progress. I usually spend the weekend before the meeting finalizing lessons plans and quickly reviewing with the boys. I am surprisingly heartened after the rough moments of the month to see how much the boys have learned and later hear what they have to say when the education specialist talks with them. They are getting so much more than I realize and are aware of so much more than they would even have the opportunity to be exposed to in a more traditional setting. Frankly, it gives me the energy to go home and start again.
So, if you are feeling burned out and wondering if you are making a difference, try backing up a month and reviewing with your children. You will probably be wonderfully surprised.
