Tomorrow is Johnny's "First Day of School."
...Even though for the last several weeks (since Bellevue started on August 13), we have been acclaimating ourselves to what homeschool will look and feel like...and will require of us as parents.
Of course, this week is pretty packed - several meetings, phone conferences and applicant interviews to juggle, but it will be worth it I'm sure.
Here are our goals for the week/day:
Week:
Feed/change litter for cat every day without being reminded
Help plan/prepare/clean up from meals
Tuesday: Math Day
introduce MonArt's drawing alphabet, and systematic silence as a method for artistic expression
Review MathUSee Lessons 1-9
Practice building/writting/saying numbers using the "tens" position
Noah Webster's Reading Handbook pgs. 15-16
continue ixl.com systematic review of math concepts
Wednesday: Reading Day
worksheets from workbook - writing color names
Mission: Literacy Adam and Eve - Echo Read
practice MonArt drawing alphabet and systematic silence
Noah Webster's Reading Handbook pages 17-19
Science - bury the bug collector
Thursday: Science Day
Science - discover the bugs, sketch them
worksheets from workbook - review writing numbers 1-5
practice MonArt
Noah Webster's Reading Handbook pages 20-21
Friday: Health Day
Park or Library
Horizon Health Lesson: Unit 1, lessons 1-6 review; intro to lesson 7
Celebrate what we learned
Monday, September 2, 2013
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Family "Candle Time"
2012 has been a great year so far of continuing healthy habits. Just after Christmas the Fetzers worked through a post-Christmas advent wreath that my dad made for us. It was a great way to review the Christmas story, make the caroling season last and establish a fun and important new discipline in our lives.
Each day since then, we have committed to family devotions after one meal each day. Since the Advent Wreath included candle lighting, we have naturally continued this candle-tradition and have what we call "candle time" as a family.
The devotions are short, based on one Bible story and written for preschoolers. There are 4-5 questions following each lesson for the kids to answer and a Bible verse each week to try and memorize.
What I love is that my children - both of them - are memorizing scripture. Johnny has mastered Psalm 89:28, Proverbs 3:1, Proverbs 3:5 and Genesis 1:1. We are currently working on 1 Timothy 4:12.
Sammy is also catching on; he can't even pronounce the words, but he knows the verses. He often "fills in the blanks" as we go along...and John and I are hiding the Word in our hearts as well.
What a great tradition and discipline.
Enjoy our first monthly video celebrating our progress.
January Accomplishments
Independant Ministry Projects (not related to class):
Developing the BUSY PERSON'S RETREAT. (still in progess 2/15)
Johnny Five (age 4)- January Subject Goals
Reading - Mission: Literacy Book 1 (read)
Read Two Sentences based on words in the book (using stepping stone game). (read 1)
Writing: Introduce concept: sequence of letters when forming words (STOP does not equal TOPS) (introduced, not mastered)
Math: Get familiar with Math-U-See Manipulatives; Dad gets familiar with curriculum (continuing)
Science: Waiting on Curriculum (received)
Life Skills: Follow House Rules (knows them)
Character Development: Let Others Go First (new rule)
Spiritual Disciplines: Pray from the Heart (continuing)
Bible Memorization: One verse per week. (great job)
Accomplished: Genesis 1:1, Psalm 89:28, Proverbs 3:1, Proverbs 3:5
Units (kid's interests that we base activities on): Whales and Dolphins
-Draw a Killer Whale (check)
-Read the book of Jonah (check)
-Learn Raffi Song "Baby Beluga" (February Continue)
-Read 5 whale/dolphin books (check)
-Have a Killer Whale Party with friends and watch Free Willy (February Continue)
Sammy (age 2) - January Subject Goals (continue all into February)
Reading: Letter Recognition
Math/Science: Number, Shape, Color Recognition
Life Skills: Follow House Rules
Character: No More Biting
Spiritual Disciplines: Participate in Family Devotions
Bible Memorization: Participate in memorization sessions and "Fill in the blanks"
Accomplished: Genesis 1:1, Psalm 89:28, Proverbs 3:1, Proverbs 3:5
Units: babies and animals
Developing the BUSY PERSON'S RETREAT. (still in progess 2/15)
Johnny Five (age 4)- January Subject Goals
Reading - Mission: Literacy Book 1 (read)
Read Two Sentences based on words in the book (using stepping stone game). (read 1)
Writing: Introduce concept: sequence of letters when forming words (STOP does not equal TOPS) (introduced, not mastered)
Math: Get familiar with Math-U-See Manipulatives; Dad gets familiar with curriculum (continuing)
Science: Waiting on Curriculum (received)
Life Skills: Follow House Rules (knows them)
Character Development: Let Others Go First (new rule)
Spiritual Disciplines: Pray from the Heart (continuing)
Bible Memorization: One verse per week. (great job)
Accomplished: Genesis 1:1, Psalm 89:28, Proverbs 3:1, Proverbs 3:5
Units (kid's interests that we base activities on): Whales and Dolphins
-Draw a Killer Whale (check)
-Read the book of Jonah (check)
-Learn Raffi Song "Baby Beluga" (February Continue)
-Read 5 whale/dolphin books (check)
-Have a Killer Whale Party with friends and watch Free Willy (February Continue)
Sammy (age 2) - January Subject Goals (continue all into February)
Reading: Letter Recognition
Math/Science: Number, Shape, Color Recognition
Life Skills: Follow House Rules
Character: No More Biting
Spiritual Disciplines: Participate in Family Devotions
Bible Memorization: Participate in memorization sessions and "Fill in the blanks"
Accomplished: Genesis 1:1, Psalm 89:28, Proverbs 3:1, Proverbs 3:5
Units: babies and animals
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
The Importance of Motion and Curiosity
The beauty of starting home education with Johnny while he is still in preschool is that we can introduce concepts slowly, and not be bogged down with deadlines and "scope and sequence" requirements. It is necessary for this mom to do this at a slow pace because his learning style is so different from my own...in fact, he is just like his daddy, and opposites do attract.
Using The Salvation Army's Mission: Literacy materials, I have been introducing Johnny to both phonics and sight words, and was thrilled when he was able to read through book one with no problem.
The next night, at our family devotions after dinner, Johnny recited all three Bible verses that we've worked on throughout January.
Finally, at bed time, John came to get me in order to show off Johnny's truly amazing ability to memorize. Johnny has an entire early reading book about Transformers memorized word for word...which is wonderful...
Except that now I wonder if he knew how to read the book "In the Beginning," or if he just memorized it.
Thus, we have Challenge #1: How to evaluate the ability of our 4 year old to actually process and read words, as opposed to memorize them.
Challenge #2: How to evaluate this without discouraging him or creating a power struggle.
I once again turned to Mission Literacy materials and found a fun interactive game to test word recognition.
Using the words of the book itself, I made a sentence. I printed the words of the sentance in large font, cutting each one out on its own "card." I placed the cards on the floor, and Johnny had to read the word before stepping onto it.
He loved the game, and got some stuffed animals involved, too. We discovered that both Johnny and Puss in Boots are pretty good readers!
Thus I discovered the importance of MOTION to my child's learning style.
****
At the same time, I have decided that Charlotte Mason is truly genius, and am going to review her methods of teaching children to read which I will post on as soon as I find the article...but in the mean time, I found the most brilliant quotes in her book, "Towards a Philosophy of Education."
"...The Desire of Knowledge (Curiosity) is the chief instrument of education..."
"Education is of the spirit and is not to be taken by the eye or effected by the hand; mind appeals to mind and thought begets thought and that is how we become educated. For this reason we owe it to every child to put him in communication with great minds that he may get at great thoughts; with the minds, that is, of those who have left us great works; and the only vital method of education appears to be that children should read worthy books, many worthy books."
"The mind can know nothing save what it can produce in the form of an answer to a question put to the mind by itself." (this is an anonymous axiom that Mason quotes)
As I look for the Mason model of literacy training that I read in December, I have already made some changes to my approach with Johnny based on these ideals.
Firstly, we walked to the library on Saturday and checked out books on whales and dolphins. We checked out 5 child-friendly books ranging from national geographic to a story book on blue whales.
Secondly, I let Johnny read the books himself until he wanted to know what they really said.
He is entralled with whales and dolphins right now...but my tactics of using his interests have changed. At first I asked him to ask 4 questions that we would look up in books, and then endeavored to find the answers with him...boring even for me.
Much more exciting is to read and let the reading inspire curious questions in numbers so large we will never be able to answer them all.
To add bonus to blessing, tonight we watched Veggie Tales Jonah movie. I didn't put together that this movie fit our whale theme, but Johnny asked so many questions, related and unrelated to whales... For example: he asked if the catepillar was just an actor in the movie, or if he was real in the Bible. So, Johnny and I read the entire book of Jonah from the NIV Bible - no pictures - before bed tonight, talking about mercy, compassion and how silly it is to be more concerned for a weed than a whole city of people.
At this point, I think I've learned more this month than Johnny has. What joy it brings me to make homeschooling my hobby.
While there are no pictures to go along with this post, and it is awefully rambly, I can't help but to take time and capture these AHA moments as we discover together how to educate and train our children in knowledge and righteousness.
Using The Salvation Army's Mission: Literacy materials, I have been introducing Johnny to both phonics and sight words, and was thrilled when he was able to read through book one with no problem.
The next night, at our family devotions after dinner, Johnny recited all three Bible verses that we've worked on throughout January.
Finally, at bed time, John came to get me in order to show off Johnny's truly amazing ability to memorize. Johnny has an entire early reading book about Transformers memorized word for word...which is wonderful...
Except that now I wonder if he knew how to read the book "In the Beginning," or if he just memorized it.
Thus, we have Challenge #1: How to evaluate the ability of our 4 year old to actually process and read words, as opposed to memorize them.
Challenge #2: How to evaluate this without discouraging him or creating a power struggle.
I once again turned to Mission Literacy materials and found a fun interactive game to test word recognition.
Using the words of the book itself, I made a sentence. I printed the words of the sentance in large font, cutting each one out on its own "card." I placed the cards on the floor, and Johnny had to read the word before stepping onto it.
He loved the game, and got some stuffed animals involved, too. We discovered that both Johnny and Puss in Boots are pretty good readers!
Thus I discovered the importance of MOTION to my child's learning style.
****
At the same time, I have decided that Charlotte Mason is truly genius, and am going to review her methods of teaching children to read which I will post on as soon as I find the article...but in the mean time, I found the most brilliant quotes in her book, "Towards a Philosophy of Education."
"...The Desire of Knowledge (Curiosity) is the chief instrument of education..."
"Education is of the spirit and is not to be taken by the eye or effected by the hand; mind appeals to mind and thought begets thought and that is how we become educated. For this reason we owe it to every child to put him in communication with great minds that he may get at great thoughts; with the minds, that is, of those who have left us great works; and the only vital method of education appears to be that children should read worthy books, many worthy books."
"The mind can know nothing save what it can produce in the form of an answer to a question put to the mind by itself." (this is an anonymous axiom that Mason quotes)
As I look for the Mason model of literacy training that I read in December, I have already made some changes to my approach with Johnny based on these ideals.
Firstly, we walked to the library on Saturday and checked out books on whales and dolphins. We checked out 5 child-friendly books ranging from national geographic to a story book on blue whales.
Secondly, I let Johnny read the books himself until he wanted to know what they really said.
He is entralled with whales and dolphins right now...but my tactics of using his interests have changed. At first I asked him to ask 4 questions that we would look up in books, and then endeavored to find the answers with him...boring even for me.
Much more exciting is to read and let the reading inspire curious questions in numbers so large we will never be able to answer them all.
To add bonus to blessing, tonight we watched Veggie Tales Jonah movie. I didn't put together that this movie fit our whale theme, but Johnny asked so many questions, related and unrelated to whales... For example: he asked if the catepillar was just an actor in the movie, or if he was real in the Bible. So, Johnny and I read the entire book of Jonah from the NIV Bible - no pictures - before bed tonight, talking about mercy, compassion and how silly it is to be more concerned for a weed than a whole city of people.
At this point, I think I've learned more this month than Johnny has. What joy it brings me to make homeschooling my hobby.
While there are no pictures to go along with this post, and it is awefully rambly, I can't help but to take time and capture these AHA moments as we discover together how to educate and train our children in knowledge and righteousness.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Choices and Twaddle
As programmatic pastors (in training, of course), John and I pride ourselves on quality programs that keep a child's attention and speak to their hearts.
As aspiring home educators, we have researched a great deal on learning styles, developmental levels and "cutting through the twaddle" of curriculum material. Twaddle refers to "activities that fatten the teacher's manual but add no educational mass," (Pride, 2004, p 147).
Pride goes on to list her top ten twaddle list which includes anything that is:
- too big (kids don't have to save the planet)
- too long (never grow anything or get a pet for a school project)
- too silly (ie "make up an imaginary animal/planet/alien. Then draw it/write a story about it...")
- too unprepared (every assignment for which the kids have not yet been taught the skills to triumphantly complete the assignment)
- too unrealistic (create a 3d model of the human body out of toilet paper rolls)
- too intrusive (forcing kids to parrot piety or making them reveal personal feelings or embarrassments)
- too incomplete (spelling lists picked at random or an assignment to look up "all the Bible verses on Family")
- too unimportant or trivial (Ask Self: Why am I teaching this? How much of my life and my student's life is worth it?")
- too expensive (if you can't substitute a material you have on hand, it might not be worth it.)
- too time-consuming or too much effort (Do enough, but you can't do everything for your kids)
To this list I add:
- too expendible (any craft project that will be unquestionably thrown away by both student and teacher is not worth creating)
- too entertaining (education is not about entertaining, it is about teaching, challenging and developing young people. Don't be afraid to stretch the kids...they are waiting for it.)
My personal goal is to successfully "slash the twaddle" in all curriculum that I use for Salvation Army ministry and for home education. My first attempt at this was the lesson highlighted in this post.
John and I taught this lesson to 19 often-rowdy children two weeks ago and were THRILLED by the results. The group was a large age range: from 3 to 15, and the young adult helper wanted to participate as well.
The lesson is based on information from discipletown.com - How to Make Good Choices. The copyrighted material has been deleted from my personal lesson plan which is attached at the bottom of this post. However, the craft project is an original, and I'm just too proud not to show it off. The insert page and cut out stickers are available upon request: email me.
You should know that we just put all our CDs and DVDs into a CD case, so we had the plastic holders on hand. Magnet strips come with our denomination's Sunday School Material and often sit unused and we thought the dominoes were a worthy purchase.
The idea of using a magnetized CD case to create "lesson summaries" with your kids can be creatively recreated for any number of lesson units. Like the idea? USE IT!
I hope that this inspires readers in three ways: cut the twaddle, create keepable crafts and challenge children with your church programming - don't just entertain them.
Lesson Plan (minus copyrighted details)
Entrance: As Kids enter, music will be playing. After all children are seated, John will pray for snacks and explain rules. Make your behavior expectations clear, and explain that at the end of the lesson we will create a cool CD case. AND anyone who has made good choices will be given a CD of the music you are listening to.
Hook: "Let's Make A Choice: Upgrade Edition" (from Discipletown)
details of game deleted to protect copyright
"The Point: God has given us a lot, and yet the world tries to entice us to trade what we have for what we cannot see by promising to give us more and better things. But, the world's choice is always disappointing. Don't be fooled." -Discipletown.com
details of game deleted to protect copyright
"The Point: God has given us a lot, and yet the world tries to entice us to trade what we have for what we cannot see by promising to give us more and better things. But, the world's choice is always disappointing. Don't be fooled." -Discipletown.com
Look: "The Power to Choose" - Dominoes
details of activity deleted to protect copyright
Rows of Dominoes are used to illustrate small, medium and large choices - size is based on the consequences that follow.
Ask children to help you list 3 small choices, and 3 medium choices. Then ask each child to think of a big choice they they must make. Write these down on the board for early readers. We will use this later.
Lead the children in prayer, asking for them to be able to make the best choices they can this week.
Book: The 3 A's
Explain that there are three A's that we each get to choose every day.
Read each word, Scripture and ask children to explain them both.
This is directly from discipletown.com, but is the basis of the craft below.
A #1 - Allegiance (show Joshua 24:15 on a poster board
Explain based on discipletown lesson
A #2 - Attitude (show Philippians 2:4-5 on a poster board)
Explain based on discipletown lesson
A #3 - Actions (show Luke 6:31 on a posterboard)
Explain based on discipletown lesson
TRANSITION: Ask Kids to have a good attitude and right actions as they walk quietly back to the table to sit.
Explain that there are three A's that we each get to choose every day.
Read each word, Scripture and ask children to explain them both.
This is directly from discipletown.com, but is the basis of the craft below.
A #1 - Allegiance (show Joshua 24:15 on a poster board
Explain based on discipletown lesson
A #2 - Attitude (show Philippians 2:4-5 on a poster board)
Explain based on discipletown lesson
A #3 - Actions (show Luke 6:31 on a posterboard)
Explain based on discipletown lesson
TRANSITION: Ask Kids to have a good attitude and right actions as they walk quietly back to the table to sit.
Took: CD Case Craft: Lesson Reminder
Show the final craft project and explain the steps to make it. Then hand out the craft bags and assist children step by step.
Before this project, you must superglue dominos onto the CD cases just about the "consequences line" on the square insert. We also put together bags of all the cut out papers, magnets and cases for easy teaching.
Step One: Take out the paper square and help children fill in the blanks with glue on stickers
::My Big Decision (kids will fill in the big decision they listed before prayer time on a glue on sticker). Adult can help if necessary.
::A #1 Allegiance
::A #2 Attitude
::A #3 Actions
Step Two: Children will color in the word that they need to work on most (of the 3 A's). (in sample picture, ATTITUDE is highlighted)
Step Three: Based on the word that the child has chosen, help child select the correct "scripture cutout" and have them paste the scripture in the box provided.
Step Four: Have child color their paper and insert it into the case.
Step Five: If the child has made good choices, reward him or her with a CD of your church's praise and worship music to put into his or her case.
Resources:
Pride, M., (2004). Mary Pride's complete guide to getting started in homeschooling. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishing
Show the final craft project and explain the steps to make it. Then hand out the craft bags and assist children step by step.
Before this project, you must superglue dominos onto the CD cases just about the "consequences line" on the square insert. We also put together bags of all the cut out papers, magnets and cases for easy teaching.
Step One: Take out the paper square and help children fill in the blanks with glue on stickers
::My Big Decision (kids will fill in the big decision they listed before prayer time on a glue on sticker). Adult can help if necessary.
::A #1 Allegiance
::A #2 Attitude
::A #3 Actions
Step Two: Children will color in the word that they need to work on most (of the 3 A's). (in sample picture, ATTITUDE is highlighted)
Step Three: Based on the word that the child has chosen, help child select the correct "scripture cutout" and have them paste the scripture in the box provided.
Step Four: Have child color their paper and insert it into the case.
Step Five: If the child has made good choices, reward him or her with a CD of your church's praise and worship music to put into his or her case.
Resources:
Pride, M., (2004). Mary Pride's complete guide to getting started in homeschooling. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishing
Discipletown.com
"Hook, Book, Look, Took" format is from
Tolbert, L., (2000). Teaching like Jesus. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing.
Tolbert, L., (2000). Teaching like Jesus. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Carmel Popcorn in the Microwave!
Of course my first completed project post has to be edible. This recipe is in the "Cooking With Friends" Cookbook that The Salvation Army Central Territory Friends of Christ Session Cadets published over the summer.
Original recipe came from my Aunt Bonnie. Thank you, Aunt Bonnie. My night needed this.
It's so easy, cheap, and delicious.
Pop a large kettle of popcorn on the stove following directions on the bag'o'kernals. Pour into a clean paper grocery sack. Repeat until the bag is 1/3 full.
In a large microwave safe bowl
combine:
1 stick of butter (will experiment with transfat free margarine next time)
1 cup brown sugar (I wonder if Brown Splena works...)
1/2 t salt
1/4 cup light karo syrup
Mix and Microwave for 3 minutes, or until bubbly.
Add 1/2 t baking soda and mix, mix, mix.
Pour bubbly mixture over popcorn in the bag and mix, mix, mix.
Microwave the bag for 1 minute.
Shake up the bag.
Microwave for 30 more seconds.
Shake up the bag.
EAT!
You may want to make several batches. I live in community and had no less than 6 guests who came by because of the delicious smell wafting through the hallways.
Next time I'm trying Splenda and Margarine...then I'll experiment with making Popcorn Balls.
Original recipe came from my Aunt Bonnie. Thank you, Aunt Bonnie. My night needed this.
It's so easy, cheap, and delicious.
Pop a large kettle of popcorn on the stove following directions on the bag'o'kernals. Pour into a clean paper grocery sack. Repeat until the bag is 1/3 full.
In a large microwave safe bowl
combine:1 stick of butter (will experiment with transfat free margarine next time)
1 cup brown sugar (I wonder if Brown Splena works...)
1/2 t salt
1/4 cup light karo syrup
Mix and Microwave for 3 minutes, or until bubbly.
Add 1/2 t baking soda and mix, mix, mix.
Pour bubbly mixture over popcorn in the bag and mix, mix, mix.
Microwave the bag for 1 minute.
Shake up the bag.
Microwave for 30 more seconds.
Shake up the bag.
EAT!
You may want to make several batches. I live in community and had no less than 6 guests who came by because of the delicious smell wafting through the hallways.
Next time I'm trying Splenda and Margarine...then I'll experiment with making Popcorn Balls.
Of Habits and Hummingbirds
A week after Campus Sabbath Weekend and my life is still at rest.
This is just one of many dreams realized in my life in 2012.
The Fetzer Family has turned a new leaf of holy habits. We have often succeeded at shedding bad habits, but this year we are picking up new and healthy ones.
As Steve Hoskins (Sabbath Guest) told us "The Holiest Word to be found in the scripture is HABIT."
By practicing the Sabbath (resting from homework for 12-24 hours each week) I have learned that God truly blesses when we have faith enough to follow his directives that just don't seem to make productive sense.
Another area I feel lead to pursue is tracking the projects I complete with both our homeschool initiative and Salvation Army programming. My dreams always seem to exceed my resource of time, but by practicing good habits of time management and prioritization, I have been accomplishing many more of my dreams.
And so, this blog is born.
It started with my pinterest account, to be honest. I love to repost all the great ideas I find online and catalog future projects for corps and family life...but as a source of creativity myself I have a need to post my own pictures and ideas...I don't know how to upload pictures of my projects onto pinterest without having a website of my own...
So, this is part journal, part brag board, part resource for sharing inspiration.
I dedicate the whole endeavor to my Grandpa Fay who made a habit of watching the hummingbirds every day.
In the simple pleasures of life - in our dreams great and small - is inspiration to continue a holy-habit-filled life of quiet discipline.
This is just one of many dreams realized in my life in 2012.
The Fetzer Family has turned a new leaf of holy habits. We have often succeeded at shedding bad habits, but this year we are picking up new and healthy ones.
As Steve Hoskins (Sabbath Guest) told us "The Holiest Word to be found in the scripture is HABIT."
By practicing the Sabbath (resting from homework for 12-24 hours each week) I have learned that God truly blesses when we have faith enough to follow his directives that just don't seem to make productive sense.
Another area I feel lead to pursue is tracking the projects I complete with both our homeschool initiative and Salvation Army programming. My dreams always seem to exceed my resource of time, but by practicing good habits of time management and prioritization, I have been accomplishing many more of my dreams.
And so, this blog is born.
It started with my pinterest account, to be honest. I love to repost all the great ideas I find online and catalog future projects for corps and family life...but as a source of creativity myself I have a need to post my own pictures and ideas...I don't know how to upload pictures of my projects onto pinterest without having a website of my own...
So, this is part journal, part brag board, part resource for sharing inspiration.
I dedicate the whole endeavor to my Grandpa Fay who made a habit of watching the hummingbirds every day.
In the simple pleasures of life - in our dreams great and small - is inspiration to continue a holy-habit-filled life of quiet discipline.
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