Setting the Record Straight

     I just finished reading Lee Binz's book Setting The Records Straight. This book tells how to make a highschool transcript and it goes into detail about course descriptions. Lee includes several samples. I like her explanations on how to keep track of credit hours. Lee described how she researches alot when she is nervous and I do the same thing. I think I could have figured out everything without this book but it would have taken me many hours to track down all the info. I love that I have it all in one place and it is set forth in an easy to understand way. I'm glad I found this book before I have a high schooler because I hope to keep my records right from the start. Lee also has tons of free info on her website.

Life in a Camper

The day begins with a morning walk to the dog park on the other side of the campground.

We walk the dogs 4-5 times per day.

Then, if it a school day... we do school. Homeschooling in the camper should be a separate post. After school the girls ride bikes, swim, play with toys, read, and play with friends from the campground.

The laundry is a quarter mile away. We always walk... it's all part of my exercise plan.

Haley loves to cook. She has been having a Bake Sales about every other week. She is saving half the money to give to church when she gets home (over $80 so far). She uses the kitchen in the camper and the clubhouse.

We have been so happy to see so much of our family while in FL.

There are activities at the campground like special meals, music, card making, line dancing, craft sales, and etc.

On Wednesday, the girls go to a big church for youth group and Awana. On Sundays, we go to the campground church with about 50 other campers. They love to sing hymns at the campground church and they were overjoyed when the girls played Amazing Grace on their string instruments.

After a long day at the campground we ALL end up in the master bed (but then Macy sleeps in the loft and Haley in the back bedroom). We are looking forward to getting home to our BIG house but I'm sure we will never forget family bonding in close quarters.  

Our curriculum

     Just the other day, someone in the laundry room of the campground asked me what curriculum I used. Perhaps they think there is a short answer to this question. I tried to be short and vague... but we use a wide variety of curriculum so it's not easy to give a short answer. I thought I would tell all here. I'm definitely an eclectic homeschooler.

    
Haley (7th grade)
   History and Reading: Sonlight's World History Part 1 Level G. We love Sonlight! It is a curriculum that uses tons of books. I first came across Sonlight when Haley was a book devouring 4 year old. I ordered the pre-school program just so I could have great books to read to her. She went on to regular school for K but when we started thinking about homeschooling a few years ago I immediately ran back to Sonlight. I've looked at some other curriculums but nothing has tempted me away. I love the many cultures we are exposed to and I love all the missionary books. I love that the kids learn World History at a young age. History was never my thing in school but I enjoy reading Sonlight's books (a big perk to homeschooling). The resale value is excellent but we all can't bear the thought of parting with the books. (Haley has done levels D-F, but she has read many of her sisters books in levels A-C)
   English Language: Sonlight's Language Arts G. This was included with our History package so we thought we would try it again (we didn't care for it in 5th grade). It's gone fine but Haley and I prefer a logical, linear, step by step program. Sonlight's LA is a "natural" approach which is like learning as you struggle to do.
  The Institute for Excellence in Writing's Student Writing Intensive Level B. Haley did level A in 5th grade and it was wonderful. This program teaches writing in a step by step manner. This is an engaging dvd program. She started level B with some friends and we will finish it up this year.
  The Institute for Excellence in Writing's Fix-it for grammar practice. Grammar is my least favorite subject. Haley and I struggled through several grammar programs (Winston Basic was our favorite). This program lets the student practice grammar through editing. It does not take much time and seems to teach a very practical skill. There is 5 years worth in one inexpensive book.
  Vocabulary Vine teaches Greek and Latin roots and thus helping to decipher thousands of words.
  Science: Apologia General Science. Haley is enjoying this book. It is written to the student. She started the year doing all the experiments with 2 friends of hers. That has really helped because she tells me she doesn't like science experiments (GASP). We are on our own in FL but she looks forward to returning to NY and finishing the year doing experiments with her friends. I am a "collector" of science books and I personally prefer to read BJU Press science books but Apologia is very solid science and more homeschool friendly (and Haley friendly).
  Arithmetic: VideoText Algebra Module A (so far). Haley started the year with a the Keys to Percents, Fractions, and Decimals series. I wanted to make sure her understanding of the basics was very solid before proceeding into Algebra. I really liked how VideoText emphasizes learning the why and not just the how. Haley likes is so far so we will see how it goes.
  Haley uses Rosetta Stone French. We also supplement with lots of extras: HLACNY classes (like digital photography, claymation, french, and art),  library art classes, card making classes, instrument lessons, gymnastics, karate, horses, etc

Macy (3rd grade)
  History and Reading: Sonlight's Into to World History part 2 Level C. We just can't get enough of these Sonlight books! (Macy has done levels A & B). We also read other US History books.
  Language Arts: Shurley English Level 3 This is a great program but I find it to be advanced. We have done level 1 & 2 but I've slowed down with this level. I think even a 5th grader would benefit from level 3. I hate grammar but I'm so glad Macy knows so much grammar that she won't have to struggle learning it when she is older. It teaches parts of speech using silly jingles. It includes vocabulary and writing. We pick and choose on the writing assignments because I plan to start Macy on IEW's SWI level A next year (see above).
  All About Spelling Level 4. Wow! Love this spelling. Both of my girls seem to be naturally good spellers but I am not. I'm a horrible speller. This program is the best I've ever seen in teaching spelling. It is multi-sensory and logical. I have learned so much and Macy is wonderful at it.
  Science: Apologia Zoology 3. Macy and I have tried a few science programs (Sonlight & BJU). This year we have been working through this Apologia mammal book. Macy is enjoying it. It is well written and has good activities that are integrated throughout the text. I am struggling with it. I find myself not enjoying studying mammals ALL year. I prefer touching on a wider variety of topics. Because Macy is enjoying it I am staying the course this year... We also supplement with selected Sonlight science books (no schedule).
  Arithmetic: We started the year with Horizons 3. I love Horizons (through 6th grade). I love the brightly colored workbooks. I love the spiral approach. I find it presents difficult concepts early in easy bite sized steps. Love it. Macy HATES Horizons. HATES it. After much weeping & gnashing of teeth... I caved and got Teaching Textbooks level 4. Macy LOVES Teaching Textbooks. She likes the audio-visual computer graphics and fun little characters. She seems to be doing well. I think it appears too easy... but I hope that staying one grade ahead will compensate for that.
  Macy does Rosetta Stone (but at a slower pace than Haley) and she has all the same activities...

I think that is all the curriculum we use... of course we dabble with other fun educational stuff...

I have a book crazy girl in 7th grade... She reviewed a bunch books on her blog...
http://fingerlakeshorsegirl.blogspot.com/2013/03/books-books-and-more-books_4.html

Bee Thankful

     Before we arrived in our campground in FL, I prayed we would get kind neighbors. I was concerned that retired couples would not be overjoyed with a family moving in next to them. Well, the first person we met was Jim in the camper next to us (on our awning side). First he said that Porter, our Rhodesian Ridgeback, reminded him of his dog back home (oh good - a dog lover). Then he told us he was a bee keeper from MI (neat job). Next he explained that his kids were grown but that he and his wife had homeschooled them when they were younger.
                    YEA, I'm so glad to have a homeschool friendly neighbor.

      Jim told us he would take us out to see the bees after they returned from pollinating the almond crop in CA. He had 1 x-small suit, 2 hooded jackets, and 1 just veiled hat. Jeff agreed to leave his arms bare. Macy was a little nervous so we suited long before approaching the hives.
    



     Jim showed us a queen he had ordered from HI. She came in this little box that has a food plug. He puts her into a hive and by the time the plug of food is eaten then the new queen "smells" like the rest of the hive.

     The smoker causes the bees to eat honey... then they are full and happy and not too cranky. Jim used his hive tool to move the frames. The bees "glue" everything with something called propolis. When he lifted the frames we looked for the queen. Macy was brave enough to hold up a frame.



On the left is a picture of a brood frame. This is where the baby bees will come out. 

The picture below on the left shows the pollen the bees have collected. The different yellow colors represent different pollen sources. The picture on the right is a drone. He doesn't have a stinger. His only job is to wait to mate with a virgin queen. He hangs out with other drones in a "congregation."

We found the queen. She was busy laying eggs.

              Ahhh, Honey, the fruit of their labors. Yum!

Thank you beekeeper Jim for the great field trip to see the bees!

 

After the great field trip we were at the library and we saw this movie and decided to check it out.

 

It is called Vanishing of the Bees. A very educational and sobering look at the importance of bees to our food production.

Regret?

    
     Recently, while the whole family was having fun in the pool, a woman from Canada asked me "Does your daughter regret not going to public school?" Now I'm used to the socialization question but this was a new one for me. What a strange question. Since Haley was at the other end of the pool I answered for her "She enjoys all the great books she is reading and she loves how quickly she can get all her work done. She has more time for riding her horse and other activities."
     When you homeschool you get a lot of strange questions and comments. A very sweet older family member once said they were sad my kids would not have any friends. I said "Have you met my kids?" The truth is they have gobs of friends. They have more free time now to spend with friends than they did when they went to school. When we are home in NY, Macy sees her best friend 4 times per week. In fact, her friend spends enough time at our house that her parents affectionately replace her last name with our last name. Haley sees her closest friends on Tuesdays when we go to Community Bible Study. This year she started doing all of her science labs with 2 of her friends who are going through the same book. (We are missing those sweet girls while we are in FL but with texting and facetime we are somehow muddling through). Honestly, when we are home in NY, my girls are in too many activities (something I want to re-evaluate when we get back)...swim lessons, gymnastics, karate, Friday co-op (HLACNY shown in picture), plus instrument lessons, horse lessons, and church activities. Unsocialized these kids are not.
    Once someone told me that my kids needed to go to school so they could learn how to handle bullying. Wow! I'm all for learning conflict resolution. My kids get loads of conflict resolution practice (we are spending 3 months in a camper after all). We have even had some small scale bullish behavior from kids for friends and kids in the campground... These are excellent opportunities to teach the girls to not take offense too quickly and to forgive... But bullying is a whole different animal in my mind. Bullying destroys self-esteem. It doesn't "teach."
     Back to Regret... Will Haley regret being homeschooled? I hope not. I hope she views her parents through the lens of mercy. We truly feel homeschooling is giving both girls the best education we can give them (academically and emotionally).  I hope she realizes that regret for the past is just a waste of spirit.  I hope she knows that God will not waste one little experience but will use it all to make her into his child.
     I did talk to Haley about it. She said she likes homeschooling. She remembers going to school and how long everything took. She loves to read her history books and readers. She does miss a few of her school friends but she has wonderful homeschooling friends. She also gets to come to FL and spend time with Grandpa, Great gram, Aunt Kerry, and Uncle Ken. You know, now I'm glad this Canadian lady asked me this question. I'm glad I had a chance to talk it all over with Haley. What an amazing young lady she is.

Flying School, a play by Macy

Monkey- Wake up!! Wake up!!!! Time to give flying lessons!!

Bird- HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU???

I DO NOT GIVE FLYING LESSONS!!

Zebra- Okay, okay!! Stop arguing about the whole flying thing or whatever it is.

Monkey- Zebra, this is our argument! Please stay OUT!!!!

Zebra- Okay, but stop arguing!! All of Africa can hear you guys!!

Bird- (Raspberries the zebra)

Monkey- Okay, back to argument. Looks like somebody forgot bed time last night.

Bird- I DID NOT!!!! Now if you do that ONE MORE TIME, I will wake you up and tell you to give me swinging lessons!!

Zebra- ENOUGH WITH THE FLY-

Poacher 1’s gun- BANG BANG!!!

Zebra, Monkey and Bird- WATCH OUT!! DUCK!!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

(All duck and cover their heads)

Bird- Come on!! Let’s go somewhere else! I have a feeling that those poachers are out today.

Monkey- Yeah!!

Zebra- Come on!!

(Curtains close)

(Curtains open)

Poacher 1- Where did those animals go??

Poacher 2- I dunno.

Poacher 1- Hey, look! There’s a rhino!

Poacher 2- Shootitshootit!!!!

Poacher 1’s gun- BANG BANG!!!

Rhino- (Charges the poachers)

Poachers- AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

(Curtains close)

(Curtains open)

Bird- We need a plan.

Monkey-For what?

Bird- To drive the poachers away, silly!

Zebra- you’re right!!

Monkey- I know!! I’ll bite their fingers off!

Bird- No No No! this was my plan. Zebra, you neigh to distract them.Then monkey, you run in front of them. Then I’ll peck them. That will drive them away!!

(Curtains close)       

(Curtains open)

Zebra- neigh! neigh!

Monkey- (Runs in front of poachers)

Bird- (Pecks the poachers)

Poachers- LET’S NEVER COME HERE AGAIN!!!!!

(Curtains close)                 (Curtains open) (bows)