Homeschool on the Run!

I just took a long blogvac (blog + vacation).  Not really by choice.  I was just so overwhelmed getting organized for school, family visits and a Disney vacation that I just couldn’t blog as well.

Anyway I am back now!

We started school August 31st.  I decided to try using the box system with 12 boxes aka Sue Patrick which I heard good things about.  I thought it would be great for Speed who needs some structure to keep on task.  Chuckles immediately wanted the same thing for her as she loves a plan, compartments and to be in control of her time.  I decided I needed it also to make sure the children had a variety of lessons and to keep me on my toes, as far as preparing thoroughly enough.

…sometimes I get sucked into watching a favorite TV show and have to wing it in the morning.

Not any more!  I am organized.

Also this year I decided to observe my children and try to teach them effectively in a style that works for them, not what is written in my Montessori curriculum exactly.  Speed is not satisfied with just doing Montessori science (geography and biology), he wants to do physics and chemistry experiments every day. I have also been using Susan Wise Bauer’s writing and grammar books (Classical) with him with great success and making century books (Charlotte Mason style), but starting at the beginning of the Earth and then doing  the Montessori history and the timeline of life. Basically I am doing whatever works, that results in instilling a love of learning.

Anyway, so far so good.

We have started Lego League.  I will post about this in more detail after our next meeting.  Right now the kids are designing highly maneuverable robots that can run a course without knocking things down.  We have to also research transportation options in our community and produce a presentation suggesting solutions to transportation issues.

Also we just spent a week in Disney world, participating in Carolina Homeschoolers yearly Disney trip.  It was fabulous.  The children attended classes at the parks.  There were very few people and the weather was beautiful. The only problem was that it was too short and we couldn’t fit everything in…but there is always next year!

We spent this beautiful fall day in Massachusetts at Old Sturbridge Village, a town set in the 1830’s.  It was our best experience there to date.  The children spent 30 minutes in the school house rote learning! and then attended home school classes on farming and cooking.  Afterwards they made tin candle holders and candles.  They enjoyed most the “hands on house” (Fitch House) where the exhibit invites the children to dress up and touch and play with everything in the house.  It’s a wonderful place for children.

So now you are all caught up. 

And I will blog tomorrow now that my life has quieted down somewhat.

September 15th, 2009 | Category: Family | Subscribe to comments | Leave a comment | Trackback URL