Back to Co-op

We went back to co-op on Monday. With all the snow we've been getting this year (and I am not complaining) we have had off for weeks now.

When we first started to go we went at 9am and Jana took 3 class' while I taught 1. (She has always been in my class' and I generally teach geography). It was insane as we are NOT morning people. I tried to conform, but, being a musician it just isn't possible at all. So I delayed out entry until 10am. At that point I was teaching two class', middle school history (the exact title was Exploring World War II with the 101st Airborne), as well as geography.

This year with my work schedule (I am working 5 nights out of the week) and being at church until 9pm on Sunday I realized 11am is the perfect time for us to go in. It also helped that I was in the dreaded boot for the 1st semester. Getting out of the door was hard.

I am teaching a World Maps class. I love geography and I love reading maps. I have a pretty good class that really seems to like geography. My daughter does as well.

After lunch Jana plays chess. She definitely understands more than me. I spend my time in the class listening and helping with discipline if need be. Usually I get to work on our lesson plans for the week or for our next class. We meet once a week on Monday but I find if I don't jump on class quickly time will get away from me.

One thing we have started to do in our regular curriculum (My Father's World) is keep a geography vocabulary box. We write the definitions on cards and keep them alphabetically in a recipe box. We found one at the dollar store that even came with dividers. It reminds me of the U.S. History book we made last year. We can always reference back to it in later years because it is organized so well.

We are still in the country of Norway and will be leaving for France. There is so much to study about France. Before we depart Norway (my daughter actually uses a passport when we "travel" to another country), we are going to experiment with some Norwegian cooking. I will post the recipes and pictures as we progress.

Valentine's Homeschool Party

I remember the day very well. We were at the library for storytime and crafts and the craft was for all the children's Valentine Parties they would have at school. Jana's head whipped around and I could see it in her eyes "they have parties at school?". So, that would be the last Valentine's Day that we were without a Co-op. We joined Living Water Home Educators that spring.
Today was the annual Valentine's Day party for LW so we put the books aside for the day. It's not a huge deal but Jana loves it. We get together and the kids do a craft and exchange cards and candy according to age groups. They play some games as well. Most importantly though, it gives Jana a chance to have a school feel without having to depend on sending her to public school to get that. I really love the variety homeschooling gives. It's the best of both worlds.

Schooling on a Snow Day

I found out today that snow falling in huge amounts is a great motivator for getting your schoolwork done. Granted since daddy was home I shortened her school day but we got some work done. We were supposed to be on a field trip to the New Jersey State Museum. Not many people were out and about today in what is now known as the Blizzard of 2010.
Someone shared a cool new website with me so I am going to post it here to share as well. I love geography and agree with my friend Amy that games make it more fun than the pounding of facts. I have a book I love to use as well called the Geography Bowl. MFW curriculum also includes a geography game as we travel around continents.


http://www.iknowthat.com/com

Homeschool Tennis Day. Great sport for younger children.

Homeschooling

This is my first blog here. I wanted to leave my other (Random Thoughts-to be just that-random thoughts and my opinions). This one I am totally dedicating to our homeschooling journey.
We are from New Jersey and are using My Father's World. We have since K. My daughter is in 3rd grade and we are using Exploring Cultures and Countries.
Today we left South America and the country of Brazil to go to Europe and visit our first country of Norway.

Valentine Exchange

This year a fellow home schooler and friend told us about a yahoo group for home schoolers that is a penpal group. (Wow, I really surprised at that sentence since I teach grammar). I decided as an incentive to write, and also what kid doesn't like to get mail, to let Jana participate. Thankfully she has a great friend now who really likes to write her and keeps the ideas coming of subjects to write about. I was blessed enough to find her mother on facebook as well so now they can share more pictures and really get to "see" each other.

Another first for us this year is the Valentine Exchange. The cards could not be bought at the store. They had to be handmade. Our schedule is one of running and God blessed me two ways......
1. The homeschool toolbar which has so many link buttons to so many things. We decided on something simple but yet still fun to do together without tons of mess and tons of time. I admit that Art is not my art of choice (music and dance.

and

2. About 2 feet of snow. We were shut in and off from the studio and just about everything else for two days. Church services were even cancelled from the storm.


Geography is one of my stronger subjects and one that I enjoy teaching at our co-op as well. So, I am using this experience to reinforce her learning of the 50 states. The World just seems larger to a 8 year old girl with big dreams :).

Today we received two Valentine's from siblings in New York. That's an easy state for her because we have family there and I play there often. I am going to pull out our 50 state binder from last year so we can review the state facts (My Father's World - Adventures curriculum) and look at the Atlas from towns in New York. I love google and am addicted to "typing" information that I need to know.

Thankfully we met the deadline as well by the way. We were at the Post Office before 4pm and sent them on their way.................just before the next foot of snow falls.