Third Day in the Third Grade



Summer has been busy as usual.  I've blogged little but have kept my hands busy picking and preserving the harvest, packing for little trips here and there and am in a constant state of preparing for the family's next meal.



Today is officially Day 13 of homeschooling for us, but this is only our third day behind the desks.  Summer offers so many opportunities to learn hands on and we took advantage of all we could. 

 I've heard over and over again that Americans don't know where there food comes from.  What a sad disconnection in our society.  Summer School at this house is all about the seasonal produce.  I grow what I can and rely on the local farmers for the rest. 

Jonathan often goes down to the garden in the morning to pick blueberries or raspberries for breakfast.  In the afternoon he returns with basil leaves and tomatoes for supper.  This year the boys really contributed to the mountain of corn I purchased to freeze for the winter.  As soon as peaches were in season we went to Weaver's Orchard in Morgantown to pick a full bushel for canning.  I can't wait to take them back in the fall to pick apples. 

This school year is the first that the homeschooling is official for our family.  As required by law I filed several documents with the school district.  My apprehension leading up to the submission of paperwork is almost laughable now.  Jill at the district office was so kind and helpful.  I somehow got the notion in my head that my objectives were going to be handed back to me with a bad grade written in bright red ink at the top.  Instead the district employees just smiled at my three wiggly sons that couldn't contain their energy and laughter for the brief time that they sat in the office.  I was reminded how quickly they grow and before I knew it the paper work that I fretted over was handed back to me with a smile and an "OK, looks good." 

Because I found it so incredibly helpful to read the objectives that other homeschooling teachers shared online, I decided to make mine public as well.  My favorite objectives fall under the Social Studies category.  Oh how I enjoy history, especially American History.  As I reviewed the objectives with Jonathan on Monday his eyes became enormous with excitement that the Declaration of Independence was a real document, not just a pretend piece of paper from the movie National Treasure.   

Jason started Kindergarten this year
and is practicing the letter "S".

Speaking of the Declaration of Independence.  Has it occurred to anyone else that many in the next generation will not be able to read the original document located at The National Archives in Washington D.C.?  Why you ask?  Cursive Handwriting has been removed from America's public school system.  If I Ran the Zoo this would be one of the last things to go.   Do you know the many benefits of learning cursive?  I didn't until I read the article What Learning Cursive Does for Your Brain.  Check it out.

So, here are my objectives for the year (including Cursive Handwriting).  May they be of use to you if you too teach your children at home.

Third Grade Objectives
 

Bible/Behavior       

·         To continue participation in AWANA® Clubs. This year Jonathan will begin the Truth & Training Ultimate Adventure™ Book 1.  He will answer the below questions through Bible study and activities.   

-Why did God give us the Bible?

-Who is God?

-Who is the Lord Jesus?

-How does God want me to live my life?

·         To teach and encourage intentional courtesy and proper etiquette in a variety of social situations including:

-Considering the needs and feelings of others

-Manners of speech

-Rules for public transportation

-Ways to be considerate to adults

-Table manners

-Phone manners

-Rules for going to church

-Rules for traveling in the car
 

Language Arts/Reading

·         To continue teaching Jonathan to be a proficient and self-reliant speller and writer

·         To encourage more confidence and independence in reading skills. 

·         To introduce Cursive Handwriting. 

-How to write each letter of the alphabet

-Combining letters to make words

-Combining words to make sentences

Math/Thinking

·         To increase speed and accuracy in Addition and Subtraction.

·         To introduce more complicated multiple digit Addition and Subtraction.

·         To continue solving Word Problems.

-Addition and subtraction
-Reading graphs
-Drawing graphs and counting given concrete objects

·         To continue Geometry and Measurement concepts:

-Ordinal numbers
-Read and compare numbers to 1000
-Compose and decompose two-dimensional shapes
-Group two-dimensional objects and shapes by like properties
-Length (inch, foot, yard, centimeter, meter)
-Weight (pound, gram, kilogram)
-Capacity (pint, quart, liter)
-Time (to five minutes)
-Temperature (degrees Celsius, Fahrenheit)
-Money (coins and bills, $1, $5, $10, $20)
-Find the area of rectangles and squares using a grid

·         To introduce the game of Chess. 

Science

·         To study flying creatures including birds, feathers, the science of flight, nesting, bats, flying reptiles and insects.

Social Studies

·         To study American History from the first exploration of the “New World” to the 21^st century.

-Who explored the “New World” of America

-Who led the revolution against England

-What is the Constitution

-What do the branches of government do

-When were the great spiritual “awakenings”

-When did the U.S. become a world power

-Where did key civil war battles occur

-Where were the most important civil rights advances

-Why is the United States unique in the world

-Why can we trust God for America’s future

·         Make the connection between key historical events, geography, and people with Maps. Such as the Mayflower’s voyage, Lewis and Clark’s exploration, the Trail of Tears, the Transcontinental Railroad.

·         Reviewing the 50 States and their capitals. 

·         To read biographies of great Americans.

·         Review fire safety rules in our home, in the community, and in the wilderness during National Fire Prevention Month in October. 

Physical Education

·         To keep Jonathan physically active through outdoor play and to acquaint him with new sports and physical activities. 

Arts/Crafts

·         To study American artists and to encourage Jonathan to try their unusual techniques as he learns about architecture, drawing, painting, photography, and sculpture.



In Loving Memory of our sweet kitten Avery (black & white). 
He was struck by a car last Friday night. 
The boys are so devastated that they lost such a good friend. 

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Teaching at Home

I’ve had this blog post in my head for several weeks now.  It started when a friend asked what led me down the path to teaching at home.  After evil was unleashed in Connecticut a few days ago yet another friend is contemplating Homeschooling.  So I’ve done my best to pull my thoughts together.  I must admit it has been difficult.  Emotions are still so raw after the death of my friend Ruth a few weeks ago.  Now I’m so saddened at this loss of innocence.  Children have been murdered.  The survivors will be forever haunted by what they heard and saw that morning.  My heart aches for them.  On Sunday I drove to church with one hand on the wheel and one hand clutching the fingers of my four year old in the backseat. 
Lord, heal our land.

Homeschooling is a decision that you must make, if you do it because someone talked you into it, you’ll never make it. There are lots of negative reasons to teach at home – avoiding extra germs during flu season, that bully on the school bus and sadly the new norm of school shootings.  But these reasons will not get you through those difficult, stubborn days.  You have to ask yourself, what can I offer my child that is not available at the local school?  This can be an incredibly long list if you think about it.   Here are some of mine: 


Six years after Hurricane Katrina, Jonathan was
able to see firsthand what had happened. 
Biloxi, Mississippi has many empty lots to this day.

Our family is on our own schedule, not a school district’s.  With a husband who puts in long hours and serves in the Air Force Reserves, this is so priceless.  My boys never miss an opportunity to spend extra time with Dad on the Friday afternoons before he goes away for his weekends.  When my husband Jeremy spent a few months in Mississippi for training, we had the flexibility to be down there with him for an entire month.  School just relocated and my boys experienced a whole new culture that is a far cry from Lancaster County.  We went on a shrimp boat, experienced Mardi Gras (the child friendly version), went to the most incredible Air Show at Keesler Air Force Base and toured cemeteries in the French Quarter.


On a Shrimp Boat

 

A teachable moment during
the Keesler AFB Air Show.

Schools brag about their low teacher to student ratio.  But they have nothing on families that homeschool.  Even on those days that his little brothers are demanding, Jonathan gets so much more personal attention from his teacher than he would at school.  There is no possible way he is going “to get lost in the cracks” - that lousy excuse that is used to explain why kids in high school can’t read.  I can challenge my students when I see they are focused and ready to learn or I can take it down a notch if I see they are having a bad day.  There are days that the energy in this house is going to explode and I can tell Jonathan to go outside and write the alphabet on the driveway to help his little brother learn his ABCs.  This leads me to another reason…




While others kids are still riding the bus
home, Jonathan is building a house
for our cats that he designed.

Jonathan is learning to be a teacher as we go through school.  The demands of life sometimes call on Jonathan to help his little brother with his preschool work.  By doing this he is learning to be patient and is able to see how far he has come in his own learning experience.  It really boosts his confidence to be able to teach his little brother a thing or two.  I love those moments.  Kids in school are pretty limited when it comes to interacting with different age groups. 

But the absolute #1 reason I homeschool (and this reason gets me through those difficult days) is that I get to teach them about the Bible, about Jesus and about how a little boy should behave in society. I can recall my frustration in Sunday School as a child because I didn’t know the answers that came so naturally to other kids as the teacher asked questions about a particular passage of scripture or story.  My frustration mounted in 10^th grade Biology as Mrs. King tried to convince me (yes, her and I, one-on-one after class) that the evidence for evolution was clear and she tried to assure me that Charles Darwin was a Christian.  I knew Evolution was a lie, but I had little to defend my case.  It just so happened that our church was hosting a Creation Seminar with Steve Grohman as I was in the thick of things at school.  What an eye opener that was.  Today I use curriculum from Answers in Genesis and Apology to teach science and the Bible side by side.  My children know that they answer to the Creator of this world.  If only more people knew that. 

Many like to talk about gun laws after a tragedy.  But the problem is that some in our society have little to no regard for human life – from the womb to the nursing home.  We’re all souls in God’s eyes.  This is what I want to continually teach my children.      

I would never talk someone into homeschooling.  It’s not for everyone and can be difficult.  For me the hardest part is the time commitment.  Being in the classroom each day takes away from keeping up with things that need to be done around the house, spending time with friends and just having the freedom to do what I want during the day.  There are times that I’m jealous of Moms that get to put their children on a bus each morning. 

Resources available to parents who decide to homeschool can depend on you location.  If you don’t have some type of support I wouldn’t recommend taking on such a challenge.  Even if you cannot be a part of an official Homeschool Group, I think it is vital to at least have a close friend who is walking down the same path, so you can hold each other up along the way.  It is my prayer that God will put such a person in my life again as my main source of encouragement went on ahead of me to heaven.   Just last spring my friend Ruth and I went to the CHAP Convention(Christian Homeschool Association of Pennsylvania) in Harrisburg together.  (I still can’t believe she’s gone.)  The event takes place at the Farm Show Complex each spring.  It can be overwhelming, but what a great resource!  

Jonathan plays Little League with his best friend Jackson.

Many parents' first concern in regard to teaching at home is the fear of having unsocialized kids.  If you raise your kids to be hermits than that’s what you’ll get.  We do many things to change the scenery for Jonathan – Little League, AWANA Clubs, Indoor Soccer, Upward Basketball, CEF Summer Day Camps, VBS.  There’s really no  excuse to have unsocialized kids with so many local programs available.  Check with your local church or YMCA if you need some help in this area. 

Regardless of where your children are educated

it is your responsibility to raise them – not the teachers'! 

I think one of the best things a parent can do for their child is to regularly visit with someone that is elderly.  Nursing home residents light up when a child enters the room.  The connection that takes place between the oldest and youngest generations of this earth is hard to describe.  I often think of my two great grandmothers that passed on many years ago.  There was a bond that is hard to put into words.  Lessons are taught that will not be found in a book or classroom. 


Our recent visit with Pop Pop.

Am I doing the right thing?  There are moments that I wonder.  Then there are times that I have no doubt.  Jeremy had to step out of the church service on Sunday due to a bad case of the hiccups.  That left Jonathan in the worship service by himself because I was feeding Daniel .   When Jeremy returned he found this note.  It was so encouraging to us as parents and Jonathan just beamed when we told him about it.        

 May God grant you wisdom as you make the

many decisions that parenthood requires of you. 
 

Recommended Resources

www.starfall.com

www.itoadu.com

www.sheppardsoftware.com

www.upward.org
www.awana.org
www.chaponline.com

www.answersingenesis.org

www.apologia.com

www.creationseminar.net

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Organizing the School Room

Yes I am among the crazy parents that have decided to homeschool my children.  In my neck of the woods it is quite common but in other circles it is downright weird.  “How do you do that?” is the most common question I get.  So here is my answer:

Homeschooling isn’t always easy but it certainly isn’t too complicated for the average parent to achieve.  Our culture has shifted from the mentality that “one can accomplish anything if you put your mind to it” toward the “I should pay a professional to do that for me.” Where has our confidence gone?   Just a few generations ago folks didn’t pay for services or buys many goods readymade.  They built their own houses, baked bread, knit socks, collected eggs, you get the picture.  Never before have teaching resources been at our finger tips like they are today.  You don’t need to be an “expert” to teach your own kids.     

I consider myself an amateur; currently teaching my oldest son 1^st Grade.  As he learns to read and write I am learning not only how to teach, but how to motivate, encourage and juggle my time.  My secret to success is my “School Room”.  In one corner of our basement (that is in the process of being finished) I have a designated area that is strictly for teaching.  By having everything in one location I’ve been able to minimize the things that distract not only my students but the teacher who also struggles with focusing.  If you’re thinking about Homeschooling here are some other basics that keep me organized:

·         I have an AT-A-GLANCE®Teacher's Planner to record work in each subject. 

·         Each child has their own desk and chair.  This minimizes fights.  If you have kids you need no explanation here.  A friend gave me the desks and I picked up the chairs at Goodwill for $1.97 each. 

·         New to our school room is a Quartet® Porcelain Dry-Erase Board.  It was a little pricey because it is made of Porcelain instead of Melamine, but for me it was worth the extra cost.  Porcelain not only takes the abuse of 180 school days, it is magnetic.  So if you don’t have a lot of wall space your whiteboard can double as a bulletin board for posters, maps and your student’s artwork. 

·         Essential to organizing all of the curriculum is my ClosetMaid^® Cubeicals^® Storage Organizers from Target.  I labeled each cube with a different subject so we can go from Language Arts to Math without wasting time looking for books.

·         We have a daily schedule written on the board and a clock on the wall to keep us on time. 

·         Recess is a must!  No matter how bad the morning has gone the kids get recess half way through the school day.  For student and teacher it is an essential mental break.  The kids get some much needed fresh air and snack.  Unless there is a storm they go outside.  Hats, gloves, boots…if it takes three layers of clothing they go outside for 30 minutes a day.   

·         Do some homework on Color Psychology.  Colors can have an impact on mood.  I choose the color green for my school room because it is said to enhance concentration and have a calming effect.  If you know my high energy kids then you know why I'll take all the calming effects I can get!

“Keep on beginning and failing. Each time you fail, start all over again,

and you will grow stronger until you have accomplished

a purpose - not the one you began with perhaps,

but one you'll be glad to remember.”

-Anne Sullivan