We have been blessed to live in Saline County and to have The Saline County Public Library System (a public library in Benton and Bryant) that does so much...for free! Our library is doing a Summer Reading Program for kids and adults. They have a program for 0-7 years old and then a program for tweens, teenagers, and adults.
The program for 0-7 years old is a "read to your child" for so many minutes a day (whatever is the goal for your child) and then mark it on the log they give to you (Monday through Friday). You don't have to log the titles of the books, just that you read to your child for the goal that you have set (20 minutes for Ruthie and 15 minutes for Zeke...it ends up being the same amount of time because I read to them at the same time). At the end of the week, you take the log to the library and they receive a prize for meeting their goals for that week. At the end of the Summer Program, if they have met the goals for every week, they get a t-shirt.
This is has been awesome for my homeschooling "curriculum"...Part of our "school time" each day is to have "reading time" where I read to them. The great thing is that Ruthie has been a part of the ABC Dawson Cooperative Education Preschool for the last 2 years. At the end of the year, the Co-op has given the kids a bunch of paperback books. So, we have used those as part of our reading time. I have been keeping a log of each book that we read, so that we can look back at the end of the summer and see how many books we've read (and to see if we can keep from reading the same book twice). We're also planning on checking out books from the library to read as well. Not to mention that "Read-a-long" CD books count as well...anytime your child is being read to. We also "count" our Bible Story time that we do as a family before bedtime as part of the reading time. We use The Jesus Storybook Bible and it's awesome!
The library is also having a lot of events as part of the Summer Reading Program. This last Monday (June 13) was the "kickoff" of the program. They had a "Global Scavenger Hunt." They gave you a "passport" and had different booths set up for different countries. You go to each country and have your passport stamped. It was fun, the adults participated, too (as part of the Adult Reading Program). On the 23rd, they are having the Museum of Discovery come in to do a program.
The Adult Reading Program is different. There is not a set Reading List. You read whatever books you want and keep a list. You get one point for each book you read and 3 points for each event you attend. The goal is to get 50 points (and get a t-shirt). That seemed a little steep to me, but you can read really short books, even some "juvenille" books, so that helps.
Anyway, this has been a good addition to our "curriculum" for our summer homeschooling. The kids really look forward to our reading time...and to marking off their "X" on their page (and they don't even know that they get a prize at the end of the week yet!).
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
The Tools and Materials
For the actual education portion of our summer homeschooling, I am using workbooks.
For Ruthie, the workbook is called "Summer Bridging Activities" (Pre-K to K) and I got it at Mardel for $14.99 (plus tax). It's basically a workbook that is a review from everything she has learned in Preschool this last year. Her teacher reminded her class that "If you don't use it, you lose it." (Which I have found is also true about foreign languages) This portion of our day, for Ruthie anyway, goes by pretty quickly. Her Pre-K teachers mentioned to us that she is fairly advanced and is definitely ready for kindergarten. Right now, she is really into coloring, puzzles, and watching episodes of TV shows on PBS. Her favorite is "Fetch with Ruff Ruffman." She does not take a nap and really never has...not even as an infant. But, her teachers actually got her to take naps in her Pre-K class and for the last 2 days, she has taken a small one. And that has been nice...because mom needs a nap, too.
For Zeke, the workbook is a Preschool Workbook that I found at WalMart for $24.99, but I couldn't find a link to it. It's mostly learning colors, shapes, etc. He mostly scribles on the pages, but Ruthie is helping him learn the colors. Zeke has been my challenge because he has a short attention span and is in that 3 year old phase...requiring a lot of discipline.
For our "Devotional Time," we are learning The 10 Commandments. Each week, we go over the same ones every day (like this week, we go over 1, 2, & 3 every day). For the month of June, that will be our Devotional time. At night we, as a family, read a Bible story from The Jesus Storybook Bible. We've read through it 7 times and it is awesome.
Now, you may be wondering about the P.E. portion of our day...We have outside playtime in the morning for about an hour. They play in the backyard while I sit on the porch. Because of my UV allergy, I can't actually stay outside in the sun with them for very long. But, the real P.E. time is with Joshua when he gets home from work. He takes them to ride their bike, jump on the trampoline, play on the swingset (more than in the morning), and splash around in the blow-up pool he got at WalMart for $10. I've always been the "inside" parent and he's been the "outside" parent. Our nextdoor neighbor came over to ask if she could have an egg for something she was making. She said, "So, I notice that I never see you outside with your kids, it's just your husband...why aren't you ever outside with them" I told her I was allergic to UV rays (essentially, the sun). She said, "That's probably why you're so pale, huh? Well, you're husband is so good with them." Ya think? Tact much? I'm use to that kind of reaction. But, I did resent the implication that I'm not as good of a parent.
For Ruthie, the workbook is called "Summer Bridging Activities" (Pre-K to K) and I got it at Mardel for $14.99 (plus tax). It's basically a workbook that is a review from everything she has learned in Preschool this last year. Her teacher reminded her class that "If you don't use it, you lose it." (Which I have found is also true about foreign languages) This portion of our day, for Ruthie anyway, goes by pretty quickly. Her Pre-K teachers mentioned to us that she is fairly advanced and is definitely ready for kindergarten. Right now, she is really into coloring, puzzles, and watching episodes of TV shows on PBS. Her favorite is "Fetch with Ruff Ruffman." She does not take a nap and really never has...not even as an infant. But, her teachers actually got her to take naps in her Pre-K class and for the last 2 days, she has taken a small one. And that has been nice...because mom needs a nap, too.
For Zeke, the workbook is a Preschool Workbook that I found at WalMart for $24.99, but I couldn't find a link to it. It's mostly learning colors, shapes, etc. He mostly scribles on the pages, but Ruthie is helping him learn the colors. Zeke has been my challenge because he has a short attention span and is in that 3 year old phase...requiring a lot of discipline.
For our "Devotional Time," we are learning The 10 Commandments. Each week, we go over the same ones every day (like this week, we go over 1, 2, & 3 every day). For the month of June, that will be our Devotional time. At night we, as a family, read a Bible story from The Jesus Storybook Bible. We've read through it 7 times and it is awesome.
Now, you may be wondering about the P.E. portion of our day...We have outside playtime in the morning for about an hour. They play in the backyard while I sit on the porch. Because of my UV allergy, I can't actually stay outside in the sun with them for very long. But, the real P.E. time is with Joshua when he gets home from work. He takes them to ride their bike, jump on the trampoline, play on the swingset (more than in the morning), and splash around in the blow-up pool he got at WalMart for $10. I've always been the "inside" parent and he's been the "outside" parent. Our nextdoor neighbor came over to ask if she could have an egg for something she was making. She said, "So, I notice that I never see you outside with your kids, it's just your husband...why aren't you ever outside with them" I told her I was allergic to UV rays (essentially, the sun). She said, "That's probably why you're so pale, huh? Well, you're husband is so good with them." Ya think? Tact much? I'm use to that kind of reaction. But, I did resent the implication that I'm not as good of a parent.
The Schedule
Not only do I thrive on a schedule, but so do my kids. When they were both home with me, we had a pretty strict schedule. Ruthie had a set schedule in preschool and I wanted to continue that with our summer homeschooling. So, here's the schedule:
So, if it looks like a person with OCD constructed this schedule...it's because she did. And when I say she, I mean me. I am one of those people that likes knowing what's coming next. Josh gets a little irritated because he is not one of those people. But, since I'm the one home all day doing this, we do it "my way" somewhat. So far, it has worked out and the kids have been cooperative. :)
7:30am to 8:00am Get Dressed, Brush Teeth & Hair
Make Beds, Straighten up rooms
8:00am to 9:00am Breakfast
TV Time
9:00am to 10:00am Devotional/Scripture of the Week
Daily Reading Time
10:00am to 11:00am Backyard Playtime
11:00am to 12:00am Lunch
TV Time
12:00pm to 3:00pm Nap Time—Zeke
Quiet Time—Ruthie
(Computer, DVD, Reading, Napping)
3:00pm to 5:00pm Snack
Movie
5:00pm to 5:30pm Playtime with Dad
5:30pm to 6:00pm Supper
6:00pm to 7:00pm Outside Playtime with Dad
7:00pm to 8:00pm Bathtime
8:00pm to 8:30pm Clean-up Rooms/Toys
8:30pm to 9:00pm Bible Storytime
Good Night Songs
9:00pm Bedtime
So, if it looks like a person with OCD constructed this schedule...it's because she did. And when I say she, I mean me. I am one of those people that likes knowing what's coming next. Josh gets a little irritated because he is not one of those people. But, since I'm the one home all day doing this, we do it "my way" somewhat. So far, it has worked out and the kids have been cooperative. :)
Confirmation...
So, God has put it on our hearts (mine and Joshua's) for a while that we want to homeschool. Actually, we have known it since before Ruthie was born, but I "fell ill" after Ruthie was born and it looked like an impossibility. I got pretty sick and went from doctor to doctor to find a diagnosis and treatment. After Zeke was born, I found an awesome doctor who did both. We also dealt with some behavior problems with Ruthie. We felt that her attending a preschool with a structured schedule would be good for her (and it was), also I was still dealing with some flare ups that are standard for autoimmune disorders.
Though it was still a desire (and a calling, we felt) for us to homeschool, it was looking more and more like an impossibility. But, turns out that the structure of public preschool was great for Ruthie and her behavior became better, more manageable. Also, my Remicade infusion therapy had my flare-ups, basically under control. We praise God for Dr. Chi and his wisdome...and endurance and insistance that the drug company pay for my Remicade treatments (because it's never been used for my condition before).
Although, we feel that Ruthie should attend kindergarten in the fall, Zeke will be at home with me for another year (for preschool). Then he will be in kindergarten. After that, we'll see what God has in store. But, for now, we have some confirmation...This summer is our "test run."
Though it was still a desire (and a calling, we felt) for us to homeschool, it was looking more and more like an impossibility. But, turns out that the structure of public preschool was great for Ruthie and her behavior became better, more manageable. Also, my Remicade infusion therapy had my flare-ups, basically under control. We praise God for Dr. Chi and his wisdome...and endurance and insistance that the drug company pay for my Remicade treatments (because it's never been used for my condition before).
Although, we feel that Ruthie should attend kindergarten in the fall, Zeke will be at home with me for another year (for preschool). Then he will be in kindergarten. After that, we'll see what God has in store. But, for now, we have some confirmation...This summer is our "test run."
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