Browngirl Speaks

I just came across the cutest of resources, one for note taking and one for creating your own newspaper. They can both be found on the ReadWriteThink website. The website is full of student materials and information related to literacy. Now, these are ahead of my first grader, but I had to share. I just hope they’re still available when it is appropriate.

The ReadWriteThink Notetaker is an interactive tool that let’s the student choose from built-in formatting. They can select bullets or Roman numerals, for example, and type their reading notes directly on screen then print them out. This could be great for those who don’t like to hand write notes and/ or reinforcement of the proper note taking format.

My favorite is the ReadWriteThink Printing Press. Another interactive tool that let’s the student create a printable newspaper, brochure, booklet, or flyer. I toyed with the newspaper option a bit and loved it! This is an amazing resource for teaching kids the proper layout of each of the aforementioned types of publications. It has kid friendly tool bar for formatting color and font size. There’s also a guide, that can be turned on or off, which explains what each section in the layout should include. This should incite so many hours of fun. This could be a great way to document your homeschool happenings in print for relatives that may not have computer access for reading blogs. Think how much the grandparents would love to receive your homeschool newspaper in the mail periodically!

This is just something else that makes me wish we had the internet when I was a kid…

If anyone actually completes a project on the printing press tool, please do share. I’d love to see a finished project.

P.S. To THL, for the HOH my top choices are Homeschool Boutique and Rainbow Resource Center.

My bff and I have had numerous discussions regarding home schooling especially in the Black community. She’s a relatively new mom and doesn’t have plans to home school her little one, but always has encouraging words for my family’s doing so. I understand that for her, it may not be her calling to home school. However, she has pointed out that I should not see myself as a sacrificial lamb by making the choice to home school. By that I mean that I shouldn’t worry about the sacrifices made by our family with only one income. Also, that I’m not utilizing my talents and skills for more gainful prospects as my dad has mentioned a few times. My bff says that the real reason more Black folks don’t home school is not necessarily that they can’t afford to but, most likely, because they don’t want to give up things. Things that they value more than their children’s standard of education. And I’m sure this applicable to other groups, but even in my personal experience talking about home school with other Black families, it’s always “Oh, we can’t afford to do it.” An “aha!” moment.

Now to my point.

You might think that I would feel privileged anyway, since I get to stay home and not work. But, that’s not what I consider the privilege. Anyone can stay home and not work, but not everyone will take on the sole responsibility of educating their children. Are we “well off” financially? Hell nah! But I’m not focusing on sacrifices and have nots.

So, whatever your ethnic background is, do you view home schooling as a sacrifice or privilege? Either way, how so?

We finished our Earth Day lapbook. Also, we planted peppers and basil in organic soil and reused food and beverage containers. Cross your fingers for those because I have never tried to grow anything.

Here are Zion’s simple tips(in his own words)for saving the earth:
*3Rs- reduce, reuse, recycle (mom’s note - the milk and juice cartons exemplify all 3)
*take short showers
*plant tress and flowers for growing
*turn off the lights

I am so excited about this variation of a lapbook I’ve recently discovered. First, a lapbook is like a mini book made from file folders usually on a specific topic that aids in mastering facts and whatnot for said topic. When I first showed them to my husband, he thought that every teacher in every school should be using them. But we know better. Yet, another reason on the laundry list as to why we homeschool.

So, I was entering a bloggy giveaway on a homeschool blog when I saw a link to another blogger’s post about mini offices. I had to check it out and was almost immediately running out to get more color file folders. The mini office seems to cover entire subjects more broadly. I knew right away what the first would be–MATH! Fortunately, I already had some sticker project paper that I’d bought on clearance a couple of years ago. But, regular paper and packing tape works just fine.

Supplies needed:
file folders (2-3 depending on how big you want it to be)
glue (i used spray adhesive)
clear packing tape(for the printouts and to reinforce the folds)
paper or sticker paper(for the printouts and the sticker paper comes in full size sheets at any store–Target, WalMart, Michaels)
scissors
printouts
laminator (optional)

Here’s our first mini office, in all its glory…

Resource list:
addition and subtraction charts: www.busyteacherscafe.com
number, ordinal numbers and skip counting charts: www.busyteacherscafe.com
ruler: www.vendian.org/mncharity/dir3/paper_rulers/
months of the year chart: http://www.teachingheart.net/monthsmo.pdf
shapes, coins, order words: http://www.teachingheart.net/mini_office_page1.pdf
paper currency: http://www.scribd.com/doc/3829228/Mini-Office-Worksheets
short ruler: http://www.abcteach.com/free/r/ruler1.pdf (this one has 1/2, 1/4 and 1/8 markings)
fraction circles: http://www.lapbooklessons.com/MiniOfficeMath.html
how to tell time: www.busyteacherscafe.com
color chart: http://www.teachingheart.net/minioffice.html

These are some great resources for information on mini offices:
http://abcteach.com/free/m/minioffice_directions.pdf
http://www.squidoo.com/minioffice
http://sheilasjourney-sheila.blogspot.com/2008/04/math-lapbook-mini-office.html

I have begun to outline plans for Bible/Character, Language Arts, U.S. Geography/Civics mini offices. Also, an Earth Day lapbook is planned for April.

Bonus

While I was looking printables for this project, I came across this full sheet for practicing place value. I decided that this would be great to laminate for re-use instead of printing multiples.
I got this one at www.superteacherworksheets.com.

A "happy accident" has led me to teach my son the Trivium. It all started with a Google search for a curriculum form. I needed to find a form that had some sort of breakdown by subject or… something that would let me just "plug in" the materials I want to use. Well, I came across Tanglewood curriculum. This is a curriculum that combines Charlotte Mason and Classical education.

Side note: A Classical education is the Trivium–three stages of learning: Grammar(focuses on absorbing facts) , Logic(focuses on analyzing facts), Rhetoric (focuses on written and verbal conclusions of facts). Charlotte Mason is a famous educator whose approach was centered around "living books". This is a literature based approach as opposed to textbooks.

Well, after a year of researching homeschool and about three months into our Kindergarten year, I have come across both CM and Classical education quite a few times. I finally took this moment to see what it was all about and discovered that this could be the way we need to go. Tanglewood’s CYOC form sealed the deal. I LOVE the format and for those familiar with Charlotte Mason, this unique approach is more flexible. I needed to incorporate more multicultural literature than a strict CM program calls for and I didn’t want to follow any one curriculum to the letter. I’m incorporating some elements I never imagined like nature studies. I’m not a nature person but it’s definitely going to be a special addition to our curriculum to observe and sketch the world around us.

So here’s our first grade curriculum plan:

Bible/ Character Building: God’s Wisdom for Little Boys: Character-Building Fun from Proverbs

History spine: The Usborne Internet-Linked Encyclopedia Of World History(We will study Ancient history and I haven’t picked all the readers yet)

Science: I have to choose a few topics and so far I’ve chosen butterflies along with the requisite birds. For birds, we’ll use The Burgess Bird Book for Children. More topics to come–primarily on the human body and plants. I’ve got my eye on potting soil and seed packets that’s to go on sale @ Walgreens soon. Our nature notebook will also fall in this area.

Literature: These are books I read aloud to Zion from several genres and include: The Dream Keeper and Other Poems, Cool Melons - Turn To Frogs!: The Life And Poems Of Issa, Amigo, Charlotte’s Web, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Richard Wright and the Library Card.

Grammar: I’m using some free materials online creating spelling lists myself on spellingcity. And I just now discovered the free resource I was planning to use for grammar is **GASP** gone! Back to the drawing board there.

For handwriting, we’re using Draw Write Now which will coincide with art.

Reading: Z will continue with some Level 1 readers and begin some Level 2–haven’t picked any yet; it’ll be whatever I find on BookMooch most likely.

Math: Modern Curriculum Press Level A (first grade)

The Arts: Along with Draw Write Now for applied art, we will continue to visit museums,read about and view the work of a different artist each month, and read about and listen to music of jazz musicians and classical composers.

Foreign language: Still at a loss because this is probably the most expensive subject to cover. Zion loves languages–he’s figured out how to watch his dvd’s in french and insists that it not be changed. He’s also shown interest in Spanish (he already has a good vocabulary there) and sign language. All the programs and software available are pricey. So just say a prayer over this one.

Time4Learning is a good online homeschool resource for those with auditory and visual learners.  My son, a Kindergartner, adores the computer and catches on very quickly to games and activities on it.  His comprehension skills in general leave much to be desired, so this was a welcomed addition to his curriculum.  The graphics and audio are fun and engaging.  This is very well paced and digestible for children and parents–they are nice enough to include a curriculum guide  and record keeping on the site.  I loved that access was given to the preceding and succeeding grade level in each subject.  For Kindergarten, this includes language arts and math only.  This program can be completed at the individual learner’s pace and is available 24-7.  I had two concerns with Time4Learning.  The first was a technical hiccup that occurred twice in one session.  Nothing’s perfect, so I can forgive this.  The second was approaches to comprehension of a lesson.  Each lesson on a skill begins with it being taught then follows with exercises to show the skill has been mastered.  A time or two, the comprehension exercises were not accurate in assessing that my son learned the skill.  Fortunately, these were skills he did, in fact, already know.  This is, however, a common and not necessarily a major issue that can be a factor in almost any educational program.  Do I consider these drawbacks?  Absolutely not.  This educational program is commendable for being technologically and educationally sound, as well as affordable.

If you’re looking for a curriculum suitable to any learning style that’s self paced and, most importantly, budget-friendly, then give Time4Learning a try.

I live smack in the middle of the infamous "Bible Belt".  Everything homeschool around here is Christ-centered.  Do I have a problem with Christ?  Absolutely not.  He is the head of my life and has been for most of it.  However, a Christ-centered education is very close-minded and non-inclusive.  It seems hypocritical of the teachings of Christ for the majority of the homeschooling community to not only go out of their way to be non-inclusive but also, sometimes, shun those who do not adhere to or even believe in a Christ-centered education.  I want my son to choose Christ just as I did, but I also want him to be able to function in this world that is also comprised of non-believers.  I want him to be informed and filled with intelligent thinking, not narrow minded and unable to think outside the box.  I’m not saying Christians are narrow minded or I’d be calling myself as such and I’m far from it.  I’m saying that a form of education that ignores a number of truths about our world is unacceptable.  Public schools teach a very Eurocentric curriculum and homeschoolers are opting for curriculums that are Christ-centered AND Eurocentric.  This seems like a step further in the wrong direction.  I already see an area that is very lacking in available curriculum that I will have to create my own.  I do hope that more secular curriculum becomes available and soon.  I also hope that the homeschooling community becomes more inclusive because Christians don’t own the rights to it. 

kids bible info - extensive list on character building with scripture reference

free world u - flashcard based curriculum for Pre K- 12 (also includes Pre-Medical through fourth yr. Med.)

spelling city - create your own spelling lists-that can be saved- and the site will teach and generate quizzes and games for you. 

Scott Foresman Online Grammar and Writing Handbook -  these are pdf files of workbooks for grades 1-6 grammar and writing exercises.  these are printable and can be bound into an actual workbook.  the corresponding textbook is not necessary to use these. 

your child learns - includes "bridge to reading" program, printable maps of any size, map puzzles and online atlas.  very good site for geography.

Stay tuned for my review on Time4Learning…

I’m still recovering mentally from a computer crash which left with no choice but to do a hard reinstall of Windows XP thus lose ALL of my files.  Yes, it was gut wrenching and I’ve learned my lesson about backing up data.

Moving on…

A member of my local hs support group recommended a site called Letter of the Week for free language arts curriculum.  Well, I became more intrigued with their Country of the Week lesson plans.  It’s still a work in progress, but they have 2 or 3 countries complete.  The full list of countries they plan to include is listed and I was able to take the core breakdown and we will learn about a place not on the list–Trinidad and Tobago.  Why T&T?  Z’s paternal grandmother is native to Tobago.  I’ sure we would’ve gotten to eventually, but I thought it’d be a fun way to start this new learning activity.  I’m still hunting down a few resources online for enrichment but here’s the plan so far:

Reading List:

Trinidad and Tobago  Patricia R. Urosevich

Trinidad and Tobago  Sean Sheehan

A Wave in Her Pocket: Stories From Trinidad   Lynn Joseph

An Island Christmas  Lynn Joseph

Jump Up Time: A Trinidad Carnival Story  Lynn Joseph

Web Resources:

One World - Nations Online

Other Activities:

make a flag from construction paper

listen to calypso music online

make a lapbook