Lindy's Homeschool: Birthday boy, Emulsions, and Tasty Acids and Bases

Sunday, May 1, 2016

Birthday boy, Emulsions, and Tasty Acids and Bases

The last two weeks I feel like I've got more on track with school. Although now I feel like I'm running until summer.

I will be going to Florida for a short trip in a couple of weeks. Then I will be going to Arizona in the beginning of June for a complete educational assessment for Hyrum. I will also get tested to become a Barton Dyslexic tutor and I will also get my dyslexic screening certificate.

And of course we're MOVING, or at least there's a good chance of that.

In other words, I need to get done with school ASAP. No problem j/k. STRESS!!! Finish our math books? Finish ancient history? Whew. Okay, I can do this!

We have been learning quite a bit about medieval times. We went to the lake to make sand castles as our activity, but no one was that interested, and the results were less than amazing

We also have been studying ancient Africa, which is mainly stuff about oral traditions since they didn't keep very many written records. We were supposed to make puppets to tell african stories with, but my kids wanted to make stuffies instead.

We also touched on info about Genghis Khan, but I think I might have to talk about him a bit more for there to be any lasting impression.

As far as science goes, last week we talked about emulsions and we finished up our crystals. I had the kids make crystals out of borax which worked REALLY well, but they ended up looking EXACTLY like our sugar crystal candy that was ready for them to eat that week. Thankfully we had no incidents of kids trying to eat the borax!!!

Last time I taught about emulsions and colloids, none of the kids had any clue what I was talking about by the end, so I had a few youtube videos do my teaching for me this go around, and we were all happier and smarter for the change ;)

We made fun glue art as one of our experiments.

This week's science was pretty much the lamest science of the year. It was basically "Acids are sour, here's a lemon. Basis are bitter, here's a tums."

Well, maybe not that bad, but I didn't mind the relaxed lesson myself.

Of course, perhaps one reason I was so relaxed was I had already done a huge social event that week in the form of Daniel's BIRTHDAY! He's 7 already! He wanted a minion party, and I got out my computer and we pinterested out a pretty successful incredible Minion party!

So every week my boys go to robotics where they learn programming as well. This is a definite highlight of their week. They love it SO much. Cayleen sent me pictures to show record their efforts. THANK YOU CAYLEEN!!!

And last but not least, we went to the Family History Fair that the town put on. It was really impressive. Especially since it was put on by our tiny town. I was so amazed at all the work and accomplishment. And check out my little men who look like they came straight out of the 1900s:

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The "awkward and unprepared" Myth

There are many misconceptions and biases against homeschooling, and many people really think that I've never heard them or considered them. Many people worry about the "inevitable social awkwardness" of homeschoolers or that they are "unprepared for the world." In my experience, I've found that homeschoolers tend to be as socially "normal" or "awkward" as their parents. As far as "unprepared for the world" is concerned, that depends on how they are taught, but I have seen many successes first hand. Basically, I know the ins and outs of the decision I've made, thanks.

Why I Homeschool

When I was first married, I fell in love with the kids of the Leavitts and Schafers (my sisters-in-law families.) They were...and still are...confident, leaders, innocent where they should be innocent, creative, and accepting. They were also homeschooled. I wanted my future kids to be like them, and if homeschooling was part of that equation, then I was willing to make the sacrifice. Now, after years of study, prayer, and experience, I want to homeschool for many reasons. I want my kids to be family oriented not peer oriented. I want to include the gospel in every aspect of what they are taught. I want them to think out side of the box. I don't want them to be obsessed with what is "cool." I want them to feel loved by those around them. I want them to know who they are and what they stand for before they are bombarded by outside influences. I know that many families can do this without homeschooling, but it seems a lot harder to me. Basically, I'm a control freak. I want to be in control of my children's learning and social life....homeschooling makes that easier.

Also, now that I've realized they are severely dyslexic, I think homeschool is the best place for dyslexics to learn.

And there's the statistics.

My Schedule

7:15

START OUR DAY

Daddy does scriptures

Breakfast

Devotional w/ videos

Come Follow Me

Goals/mindfulness/memorization

9:00

School Starts

Maxwell

School of Hope Online

Hyrum's 3 "R"s

IEW Grammar and Writing

Video Text Algebra

Spelling (Word Wasp)

Daniel's 3 "R"s

Writing Prompts

Rightstart Math level "G"

Spelling (Wasp)

William's 3 "R"s

All About Reading

Creative Writing

Rightstart level "D"

Abraham's 3 "R"s

Logic of English

Handwriting Without Tears

Rightstart level "B"

Activity in afternoon:

Social Studies

Science

Art

Chess

field trips

Literature Club

WAS classes

My Curriculum

For math, I do RightStart Mathematics, which is an abacus based math, Times Tales to memorize multiplication, Video Text for Algebra, and Mathantics or other supplements on youtube.

For Devotionals, I use Come Follow Me.

For Reading, I have used the Barton Reading and Spelling program, but right now I'm experimenting with All About Reading and Logic of English.

For Writing, I use Handwriting Without Tears, IEW Fix It! Grammar, and IEW Student Intensive Writing.

For History, and Science, I use The Four Year Plan (which I LOVE.) This year we are using the "Family Jubilee" book which covers Biology, Modern World History, and New Testament.