Only a Home Schooling Mom says...

Mom : "I found this dried up stink-bug with all its legs intact. Wanna keep it?"

DD10 : "Awesome! I'll put it with the cicada cases!"

Mom : " I read an article last night on how to mount them with pins - like at the museum. Then you can display them in your room."



My daughter's fascination with bugs has lasted four years. I finally brought her to the book store this weekend and bought her a field guide to North American insects. The next day she fixed herself on the couch and started flipping through the pictures, amazed at the many variations of the same type insect. Who knew there were a 1/2 dozen types of praying mantis? Time for a lesson on biological classification I think. Perhaps a lap-book on life cycles and anatomy. We have a science fair coming up in February, which she wanted to do on this subject, so this will be a good start.

Lapbooking Success

DD4 and I started our first lapbook this week, and I must say that it seems to have been a success. We are doing an "E" book. So far we have attached a fold down ear (we will put a quote about hearing behind that), and a mini-book on eagles. We have looked up African and Asian elephants and will put in a fold out about the differences between them. Also, we started some research about eggs. I think we will make a couple different egg dishes and take pictures of them to include in that part. I also want to attach an envelope with the letter of her name inside so that she can work on placing them in the right order. I am not sure what else....still thinking about it....maybe earthworms since she likes playing with them in the garden.
She was so proud of the work she had done, and was very proper in telling dad all about why African elephants have big ears.

DD9 has started assembling origami pieces for a unit on China, and DS11 is researching the Sun for a unit on Astronomy. We still have a long way to go on both of these, but I think that they are enjoying this "alternative" learning method. DS11 especially likes being able to use the Internet to find NASA photos of sun spots.

Seuss in her sleep

Sometimes as parents/teachers we wonder if we are doing it right or not. What if we are totally missing something important? Or are ineffective at teaching valuable skills or life lessons?
I was getting somewhat apprehensive because my 4yo did not like to be read to. Not nursery rhymes, not library borrowings, not books on tape. She thought it was boring and usually shot off my lap like a shot after two minutes (or less) from any "fun" reading book. Now, let me say that I LOVE to read, my son loves to read, my older daughter loves to read. Both older ones enjoyed being read to when they were in the pre-reading stage. Why was DD4 not enjoying books? Then I started getting ahead of myself thinking - What if DD4 hates reading? What if she NEVER learns to read? What if..... she doesn't appreciate the etiquette of Jane Austin, or enjoy being immersed in the rhythm of the Odyssey? I know. I was putting the cart before the horse, but what if...?
Well, last week she discovered The Cat in the Hat Comes Back. She also realized that when she asks me to read to her, she gets 1-on-1 snuggle time, usually with out the baby. So, for the past week I have read The Cat in the Hat Comes Back at least twice per day along with a variety of other Dr Seuss books. She loves them. She recites them. She looks at the pictures, and rolls her eyes and laughs at their silliness. When I am busy, she asks, "Please, momma, will you read it later? Before you go to bed?" YES, YES, YES!
Where does the title of this blog come in? As I was getting ready to leave for work tonight, I went to check on her. She was talking in her sleep. "nureau... neiling/ceiling... A wocket in my pocket -now that is just silly. silly Seuss cat - in a hat." A running dialogue of her Seuss filled dreams!
Perhaps she will like Homer's Odyssey after all.

New Blog

I decided to split my blog into two pages. This one will follow our home schooling efforts while the other will be for homesteading and comments on how life spins us through the universe (or through the wringer -depending on the day :)
I will be adding to our curriculum list and comments on what we do and how it works for us. I hope that my experiences and curriculum ideas are helpful to you.