Geography, Traveling and Learnin'...

When we do geography lessons here, the boys are always pretty into it.  They seem to be genuinely interested in learning about other places, whether it's other states or other countries.  Generally, when they want to find out things like state capitals, the correct abbreviation, state flags and the like, they "Google" what they want to know. (The Googling thing is handy...I don't have to admit that I have no idea what the abbreviation is for Indiana, even though I should, lol.) 

Sometimes they want to know about homeschooling in other states.  Not often, but it does happen.  Usually when I'm filling out my attendance record.  They pop off with questions like "if we lived at the beach in Florida, would you still have to do that?"  While I am a big advocate of Googling for information, I really dislike having to cypher through a gazillion returned search results to find what I'm looking for.  Fortunately for me, our curriculum has a state homeschool information page, which makes it easy for me.  All I have to do is click on a state and I'll usually have several specific pages I can go to, so I can answer questions like that when they have them.

Why this interests them, I'll never know.  We have no plans to move, lol.  But there is always that "what if" in everyone's minds I suppose.  

As far as traveling goes, we don't do it often.  We go to Florida once a year, but we don't really get to see much of other states.  However, we are planning a trip in September to CT with friends and we are very excited about that. Well...almost everyone is excited.  The hubs has to work, so he's not going. :( It's going to be Tracy and myself taking the 4 boys.  The Bell's are from CT, so we are looking forward to meeting all of the family up north! 

Since the drive there will entail driving through several states that we have never been in before, you know we are going make it as educational as possible.  We are planning on having a big road atlas for the boys to look through, and I'd like to find some other things they can do in the car as we go through each state.  In the mean time, I am going to have them play some US state games.  This way they can become a little more familiar with the states, before we hit the road.

If anyone has any suggestions for traveling games, please feel free to share!! :)

Big Birthday Weekend!!

This weekend was a busy one for everyone!  Since the boys' birthdays are 2 days apart, we always hold one big party for them.  We had that this weekend, albeit a little earlier than we normally would because we are attending a wedding next weekend. We had a house full of family and friends and we had a great time! We got see some friends that we hadn't seen in a long while, and it was really good to catch up.

ISO in her party outfit! :)

                                                    

Marf! :)

EAO and her super shades!

Uh...like daughter, like mother?? ;)

Walter was the Master Chef, grilling burgers for everyone.  We had a good lunch, followed by a yummy chocolate, M&M cake. Then the boys' got to open gifts.  It really is kinda shameful to admit, but the boys are so spoiled rotten that they couldn't even think of anything they didn't already have to ask for in the way of presents.  So, they told everyone that they would like cash, so they would have some spending money when we go to Dragon*Con.  That seemed to work out for everyone, and the boys made out VERY well.  

Some of the kiddos eating lunch...

Chocolate on the inside, chocolate on the outside.  As it should be.  :)

"...Happy Birthday, Bailey and Braeden, Happy Birthday to you!"

A little gift opening...

After most of the party goers left, the Bell's and Mark stayed and we got to hang out some more.  We watched a decent movie while the boys were in their room watching TV/playing Wii. Zman got to have a sleepover with the eldest, and then we converged on the Bell's house on Sunday for more birthday fun.  Scott and Mr. X share a birthday with Braeden, while Mark's is just after theirs.  So we had a great spaghetti lunch and more cake for Scott, Mark and Mr. X.  All in all, a fabulous weekend spent with fabulous people!

Marf, Scott and Mr. X.

Pool time is always fun! :)

Being Sick but Staying Busy...

Not this past week, but the week before, I spent the week sick.  This is after Bailey had been sick and Braeden was recovering from Strep and an ear infection.  Braeden finishes his antibiotic and, this past Sunday, starts having problems with his asthma.  Blarg.  When we went to the Doctor for that, we discovered that his right ear was STILL infected AND his left ear was now infected.  Awesome.  So, he is on another antibiotic and an oral steroid for his asthma.  Unfortunately, steroid = demonic possession for my wee one.  But, he is doing well and will be done with the drugs by Tuesday morning when we return to the Doctor and see how things are...

Even though there are about a billion positives when it comes to homeschooling, there are a couple of not-so-positives. One of those downsides?  It's really easy for us to get behind when we are sick, especially if one of the sick ones is me. When I'm laying on the couch, curled around a box of Kleenex and an empty bottle of Nyquil, it can be hard to be motivated to get up and help the boys.  I know, bad Mommy.  But it happens.  When it does, I try to find something that they can pretty much do unassisted.  Printable handwriting worksheets are good because my boys ALWAYS need to work on their handwriting.  Also, it gives me an opportunity to throw some spelling words at them.

If they get done with something like handwriting and I still want to occupy them without actually turning to school work, I turn to old reliable.  The computers. :D

Bailey is a pretty good typist if you ask me.  Almost too good, lol.  Braeden does well, but he's still on the 2 finger-hunt-and-peck speed.  So I can get them to work on some online keyboarding games for a little while.  They are still technically learning, they get their competitive face on, and they practice/pick up speed in typing.  Win-win for all of us!

So here I am, ending the week exhausted but thankful.  Even though I complain about ickies and sicklies here, I know that things could be much worse. I'm very thankful that they aren't!

Games Instead...?

It's so funny because even though we homeschool, we look forward to Fridays just as much as the next person. A weekend is a weekend, right? As much as we love our weekends, we rarely seem to actually have any down time during them...something is always planned.  Ah well, such is life.

Throughout the year, Fridays are our play day, or finish up day.  Even though we don't follow a strict schedule or plan (they do have some school work to do), we like to make the end of the week a little more fun, while remaining "educational."

Any parent, whether they are a homeschooler or not, usually prefers their child to be interested in whatever they are working on.  This is especially true when you have a "school resistant" wee one like Braeden, lol.  Braeden does not like to sit and do schoolwork.  It gets done, but generally with a bribe.  Or threat. ;)

While Bailey is motivated enough on his own, both of the boys respond well when you say "game" rather than "lesson." So starts the mission of finding games that are fun to be played, yet can be disguised as learning. We have been lucky and have found several online games and activities for the boys.  Recently we found some new games (but from trusted websites we have used before) to throw into the mix.

Fun riddle games are good because they make Bailey think a little more, enhance his vocab words and work with rhyming. There's even some riddle/word games that are appropriate for Braeden's age, but Braeden prefers to play the educational animal games.  He loves the animals, and he says it feels less "schooly" to him, lol.

I am really glad for all of the online activities we have found to supplement with.  I can't imagine trying to get my kids to sit in front of a workbook for any length of time.  But then again, I wouldn't pick a workbook over a computer either...

Winding Down Summer and Looking Ahead...

I just found out that school starts here in like a week and a half.  Holy clap!  Where did the summer go? And how did I miss the back-to-school sales???? I have a...well, a thing...for glue and markers.  I don't know why, but every time these things go on sale in the summer, I stock up.  And by "stock up" I mean that I could probably provide these items to an entire school district.  *sheepish grin*  Oh well, at least they are things that we all use...

As much as I love my glue and marker bonanza, the back-to-school sales usually cause a teensy bit of anxiety.  When Bailey sees all of the school supply lists, lunch boxes, backpacks and other kids shopping for their new gear, I always wonder if this is going to be the year that he turns to me and says he wants to go back to public school.  

Fortunately, he is still very much on the homeschooling bandwagon.  I think it's a good thing that he went to public school, even if for only a short while.  He does have a few memories of things, and according to him, he doesn't miss a thing.  I guess it's hard to miss a 6am wake up call and being gone all day when he stumbles to his computer at 9-930am every morning, completes everything in a few hours, then has the rest of the day at his command, lol.

This upcoming school year, both of the boys are going to pass a pretty big milestone.  Braeden is going to work on 1st grade, which feels like a GIANT step up from Kindergarten.  I wouldn't call him excited, I would even go so far as to say he dreads it.  But it's a milestone nonetheless and I am looking forward to seeing how he will do, even if he isn't.   We will be using the same homeschool online program for him, Time4Learning, that we have used for Bailey over the last 4 grades. We started in the 2nd grade with Bailey, so the 1st grade program will be new to Braeden, as well as myself. Supplemented with handwriting and extra reading, I'm hoping we are good to go for the youngest wee one. :)

Bailey's milestone is pretty big...he's starting 6th grade.  Here, 6th grade is middle school and that's pretty impressive to my almost 11yo.  I wouldn't say I'm "Impressed-Mommy," as much as I would say I'm "curled-up-in-the-fetal-position-in-the-shower(cue Crying Game music)-wailing-about-where-my-baby-has-gone-Mommy." :D  He has done really well through 5th grade, so even though I am lamenting about how fast he is growing up, I am truly interested in what this year will bring us.  We will still continue with Time4Learning as our core curriculum.  I don't think we will supplement with too much...a handwriting and spelling program for sure, but that's about it.  Bailey does well with supplementing reading on his own, as well as science projects/activities and artsy stuffs.  I am considering signing him up for some homeschool writing classes, just to see how he will do.  But that will come after he starts the year, so I can see how things are going for him.

As far as what we will do the remainder of our summer?  We have the boys birthday party to plan, a wedding to attend and then... Dragon*Con!  Considering that I am sorely missing my brothers and sisters of dorkdom, Labor Day really can't get here fast enough!! Browncoats, Stormtroopers and Wookies, vampires (no, not the sparkly kind-the hot TrueBlood kind!) and Dark Hunters, my favorite authors, and more people-watching than I can handle...sounds like heaven, doesn't it?? ;)

A Little Camping Fun...

This past weekend, we went camping with our Scouts.  Even though I complained the whole time, (I always do...just not a big fan of camping in the summer, lol) everyone really enjoyed themselves.  Bailey and Braeden, along with most everyone else, spent hours swimming in the lake.

Bailey did a little fishing with everyone, as well as went Jug Fishing Friday night. No, I still don't know what that is.  He got on a boat, got off the boat in one piece and had a good time.  I suppose that's all the explanation I really need.

Saturday morning was spent working on the property that is to become their campground.  It's a pretty awesome piece of land, with a pond and "shelves" for setting up tents.  It's on Tracy and her dad's property.  In the near future, there will also be a pavilion and an outhouse.  For those of us (read: ME) that need potties, not grass to squat in.

Braeden with tree snipper thingys.  Initially I was worried about this...but he didn't lose a finger so it worked out alright.

Bailey, Zachary and some of the bigger boys hitching a ride on the tractor! 

After the "work" part of the morning was done, David decided to let the boys have a go on his bobcat.  Why this machine fascinates males of ALL ages is beyond me.

Saturday afternoon while our Master Chefs James and Melinda were making our fabulous dinner, everyone was trying their best to stay awake.  Notice below that Zachary and Braeden failed. :)  Having 4 1/2 hours of sleep the night before could do that...

All in all, it was a weekend well spent.  While we were most definitely glad that the boys had a good time, we (we, me...same diff, right?) were MOST definitely glad to be home in our beds when it was over!! 

How important is math, really??

I get that all the time from my oldest.  He does very well with homeschooling.  He is completing the 5th grade.  Reads at about an 8th grade level.  Enjoys all aspects of science and history.  Does well in language arts.  Hates math.  HATES math.  In his defense, he comes by it naturally.  The hubs also hated math, and still does.

Of course, I can point all the useful ways that math will be used in his life, both growing up and as an adult.  But that really doesn't make him like it any more, nor does it make it any easier for him.  Trying to find something, ANYTHING for him to do to reinforce certain areas in math can be a chore, for sure.  Since it's no secret that all of us prefer our reinforcement to come across our interwebs, rather than out of a book, we turn to websites and try to find an interactive math program to help us out.   

Flash cards are, and have always been, a great source of reinforcement, whether it's with math, language arts, or any other subject.  Surprisingly, it was easier than we thought to find some math flash cards online.  We don't have to go buy some, or make some with index cards (although that's not a bad idea...just...not computer-y enough for us, lol).

Hopefully all of the online help we find will help him improve his confidence. Not just in math, but in all of his subjects.  If his confidence improves and he starts breezing through his work, then that's just proof that I'm not failing.  Erm...I mean...that HE'S not failing...  ;)