Friday Is Art And Music Day

Last year Fridays were test days. This year it will be a little different. Fridays will be mainly for reading, writing, music, and art. I don't follow a particular music curriculum, after all I can't play an instrument myself. We do have a I Can Play Piano, that the kids use. We also listen to various music pieces, and learn about musicians. I would like to thank all of you who stopped by to wish us well wishes after our very tough day yesterday. Today was a smooth day, with just some I am missing Krypto tears. We were able to catch up on all the lessons, except the archaeology dig, which will be done eventually. I have to say about The Story of the World curriculum, DJ loves it so far. He is so interested in the ancient maps, and what happened thousands of years ago. Caitlin however could give a rats behind, and I don't think barely listened to anything we discussed. I know a lot of homeschoolers teach the same curriculum to all their children for ease, but I won't be doing this one with Caitlin this year. I will switch to something more appropriate, and she will learn first grade related material based on Native Americans, being a good citizen, community helpers, phone numbers etc. I can copy the worksheets, so when she is old enough I can still use it for her without buying another student workbook. We are supposed to be doing sign language as well, but somehow I can not find the book I bought. So until I do, we will use the videos posted in the archives.

Lesson Plans For 09/10/10:

DJ:
Art: Rosa Bonheur animals with texture skills, and Birch bark canoe from Draw Write Now
Music: I can play piano
Reading: The Story of Mount Vernon book with book report
Writing: My summer vacation, blog post
Cursive Writing
Proofreading: Worksheet

Caitlin:
Art: Rosa Bonheur animals with texture skills, Birch bark canoe from Draw Write Now
Music: I can play piano
Reading: Book one of Animal Antics series: Fat Cat
Printing Practice
Calendar Work
Clock Work


A quick note for all of you who get the History Channel. On Saturday at 9 PM, they will be having a special on 911. I will be recording this for the kids to watch at a later date. We have discussed this in the past, and I think at least DJ is old enough to watch it. Also on 09/17 on the History Channel website, is a live webcast for children to learn about the importance of the Constitution, from 12-12:45 PM. I hope to remember to have them watch this.

Learn To Draw A Dog

Today is DJ's official last day of Art class for the fourth grade. So I let him pick he what he would like to draw. He picked a dog. Below you will see a video to learn how to draw a cartoon dog. Let your kids, or yourself, give it a try. That is the beauty if you want to learn to draw, you can use all the videos too.

So I have been going through next years lessons, and books. Naturally I thought math was going to be the hardest, and wanted to get a jump start, so I didn't catch a surprise. Ha the math was no big deal, the Language Arts will be my nemesis. All the rules of grammar are exhausting to try to remember, and teach them all. Ugh I think I might cry. Calgon take me away!!!!

Lesson Plans For 05/24/10:

DJ:
Cursive Writing
Science: Rocks, and rock formations, review
Vocabulary
Math: Subtract and check, milliliters, division

Caitlin:
Printing Practice
Reading: Pick one book from reading list
Flash Cards
Site Words
Math: Number to word identification
Phonics: Ending Sounds

Wish Me Luck, I Need It!

Ok so maybe I don't need it, but it wouldn't hurt. I am undefeated so far in my Fantasy Football league. It is week four, and I am hoping to win again. My star running back, is on a bye, so I am keeping my fingers crossed. A little luck thrown my way, would be greatly appreciated. Tomorrow DJ is learning to draw automobiles. Watch the very cool video, and see what amazing car you can drive.

Lesson Plans for 10/05/09:

Caitlin:
Rhyming words: worksheet
Alphabet Book: Letter O
Reading: HOP Pig Wig Can Hit, this one is a bit harder, week two working on it
Site words
Printing Practice
Numbers Math adding
Arts and Crafts: Complete the face

DJ:
Cursive Handwriting
Art: Learn to draw an automobile
Reading: Read chapter 2 of Dolphin Diaries with summary
Writing: Mountain Lion
Spanish: Book one meet Felipe and Margarita
Spelling/Vocab: Look up the definition for each word
Language Arts: Prefixes, homophones
Math: Numbers to one million

Some Thoughts, And Art Work

I have to make a quick post on health care, and then I have to move on. I am kind of getting tired of listening to the nonsense surrounding it. I watched about 30 min of President Obama's speech last night, and there were two things that especially caught my ear.

1- About the supposed tax hike on the rich, to pay for it. He very clearly said, it was not really a tax, but a change in the way the very rich make itemized deductions bringing it down to the same as a middle class family. I think that is reasonable, and certainly not as drastic as liberals are making it sound.

2- The comment, I have good health insurance, and so does every Senator, and Representative. Yes, they do, and all us tax payers pay for it. They never get denied treatment, go to only the best doctors, and hospitals, are treated like kings, and queens. Want to know how to pay for it, how about we take that benefit away from them. They are rich, they certainly could afford to pay for their own health insurance. Or they could pay for it out of their own pockets, like they seem to see nothing wrong with Americans doing. How about we turn the table, and show them how it feels. Why should we Americans, pay big taxes for them to have cushy health care benefits, when they don't give a damn if their fellow Americans even get any? I say that is the answer to the problem, how much money do you think that would generate? Call them, ask them if they think they would be willing to give up their health insurance, and go on Medicaid, because you know that is such a great program, or go without health insurance at all, and their kids, and spouses too. Do you think you will get an answer?

OK now onto something I truly love, and that is my children's love of art. They both picked their favorite art work pieces, from this school year. Caitlin, who is 5, picked her Spongebob picture. Her art has progressed so much, from even six months ago. DJ picked his Batman, and flower pictures, because he feels they were the best. The other two items are sharks, that we made with a kit, and painted. As you can see Caitlin's is very colorful, where DJ's is more traditional. It is funny, because when he was five, he let his imagination run wild, as he gets older he chooses more traditional art styles. This coming school year, is the first year, I actually purchased an art book. They learn from videos on youtube, and looking at pictures. Just giving the oppurtunity to do art, gives them the desire to do it.

Gilchrist County Friends, Art Classes, Obama and McCain Views On Homeschooling

I have a lot to blog about today. I could post all of these as individual posts, but I always have more to say lol.

First, I would like to just mention a yahoo group I just started. It is called Gilchrist County Friends, and it is not just a homeschool group. If you live in the Gilchrist County area, and have children under the age of 12, that need some extra friends, then come on and join. I am new to this, and it has just started, to sign up go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gilchristcountyfriends/ I am hoping to get at least 5 or 6 children, interested in the group. I will be making a button to put on this blog, to advertise it.


Second I would like to share with everyone, a great Art class, that is offered for a minimal fee to Homeschool children. Here are the details for the class

Title:

Art Classes for Homeschool Families

Date:

Monday October 6, 2008
Time:

10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Repeats:

This event repeats every week until Tuesday June 2, 2009.
Next reminder:

The next reminder for this event will be sent in 2 days, 1 minute.
Location:

Gainesville, Florida
Notes:

Discover and Create With the Visual Language of Art” Come discover the wonder of art and artists throughout time. Explore where artists get ideas and how they make them personally meaningful. Create artwork from your own imagination using the visual language of art: line, shape, color, balance, symmetry, etc. Learn to investigate artworks; looking carefully, describing and relating them to what you already know so that you can make informed judgments about the works. Projects include drawing, painting, collage, printmaking, sculpture, hand building with clay, and more! New this year is a reflective writing component for each lesson recorded in a personal sketchbook/journal.Mondays beginning August 25th Ages 4-7 (10-11am) and Ages 7-older (11:30-12:30) All classes are $10/student or $15/2 students and include sketchbook, supplies and an informational handout about the media, process, and artist studied. Email or call for location, class descriptions, and to answer any questions!Jane Gravoisflcreate@yahoo.com 352-595-3071

Third, is a topic that should concern all Homeschoolers. Where does each Presidential candidate, stand on Homeschooling. This information, was shared at one of the Homeschool groups I belong to. One Homeschooling mom, called Obamas local campaign offices to try to get his specific views on Homeschooling. Not only did they not know, but they told her to buy his book, to see if the information, was in the book. They gave lots of indicators for what he wants to do for Public education, but could not give a view on Homeschooling. A second Homeschooling parent, provided this information from Obamas book: On page 344 of The Audacity of Hope, he writes: “none of these policies need
discourage families from deciding to keep a parent at home…For some
families, that may mean doing without certain material comforts. For others it may
mean home schooling….Whatever the case may be, such decisions should be honored

Now I am not certain what he was referencing there, but it was not Homeschooling directly. So there is still no clear, and concise point of view from Obama as to how he feels about Homeschooling. I find this very disturbing, his ambivalence, and vagueness, when getting to the point of any questions.

McCains views on Homeschooling are very clear, he supports Homeschooling, as does Sarah Palin. Sarah Palin, has a daughter that has been doing virtual schooling, for some time. This is an exerpt from a fellow Homeschoolers email sent to me, stating information about McCain's view on Homeschooling: McCain has said in several speeches, forums and interviews he believes homeschooling works. He believes it's a family's decision.

Of course as a Mom, who Homeschools her children, I find this to be of much importance, when choosing who I will vote for. I will have to hear more definitive responses from Obama, to even consider that he is for Homeschooling.