We officially started our "school year" back in June.  I continued our search for a method, trying to find a way of "doing school" that would work for Jack.  And work for me as well.   It seems that ever since we started homeschooling, we have been testing out different ways and methods.  We would start with one---tweak it a little---then a little more---then give up and go another way! 

All along I heard people talking about unschooling---and I even read a lot about it myself.  I liked the idea of it, but I was way too nervous to take the full plunge!   I tried incorporating some of the child-led aspects of unschooling into our approach.  I had Jack choosing what subject he wanted to study---or choosing what pages to do out of a workbook.   No sane person would ever call us structured, but we weren't exactly unstructured either!

Today we had an epiphany in our HSing journey.  Although we have been pretty relaxed HSers so far, last week seemed especially relaxed.  This week I decided to not plan anything out and just write down what Jack does all on his own that could be considered educational.  I was really surprised at the amount of stuff there was to write down!

First of all, Jack does an incredible amount of reading that he doesn't get "credit" for (now he does!).  Then there are a lot of things I had viewed before as just playing around that I now realize have educational value in them!  For example, today Jack was using a swimming pool noodle (with a hole through the middle) to listen to our heartbeats.  Then he listened to the cats and dogs heartbeats---and breathing.  Then we listened to our digestive tracks, and it was so fun and interesting!  Before today I would only have considered it a fun thing to do---now I see it's also educational.   I wrote it down in the book as a "science experiment"---because that's what it was.

In just the last 2 days, I have 5 science entries, 1 logical thinking entry, and 2 each of literature, music, and technology entries!   I used to use the planner to plan what he would be taught, now I am using it to log what he has learned.  I feel like we are finally hitting our groove!  =o)

It all became clear today when I was showing Jack my planner, and he saw everything educational he had done for the past 2 days.  His eyes got big along with his smile and he said "I feel so smart!"   He was so excited that he just glowed and it hit me that this is what it's all about.  This is why I homeschool him and this is how I always want him to feel about himself and his education!

 

---Shannon =o)

It's been a while since I've blogged, but here I am! =)

 

We have been studying Science the past few weeks.  it's going pretty well.  I really like being able to delve deeply into a subject.  It really seems to help with retention---at least for Jack it does!

We have also been reading quite a bit.  I just read The last 2 Harry Potter books.  Jack is re-reading the first.  He had read the 1st three, but decided to go back to the first.  I guess it's because it has been a while since he read them---I can understand that!  In fact, I could probably read the entire series several times!  I told my mom that I finished the series and she couldn't have been more unimpressed.  She said I was "such a child"!  I was like---"yeah, I'm the only adult who reads Harry Potter!"    Sometimes the things she says are so far from reality that I begin to wonder how I ever take her seriously!!  =oP

Right now Jack has his PS friend staying the week with us before he has to go back to school.  They are having a great time, but I am getting a little crazy(er)!! =o)

---Shannon ♥

First, I just want to say that Harry Potter OOTP was awesome!!

I knew it would be! Even though it differed from the book in lots of ways, I loved every minute of it!

The American Idol concert rocked! (pun intended!)

It was so much better than last year. They all came out at once singing "Let's Get it Started" together before going on to their separate sets. They all sounded really good---even Sanjaya! But LaKeisha blew everyone away with her "I Will Always Love You"!

The part where it goes.... " BOOM!---and I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-EE-I-I-I-I-I-EE-I-I-I-I-I- will always love yooooouuuuuuuu..."

...was SO good!

Jordin was so cute! She was nervous because she sang a Jewel song while playing guitar and she said it was the 1st time she had performed that in front of such a big crowd! I love her!

Phil sang God Bless America dressed in his Navy uniform with a big American flag above him and a couple of the girls (also in Navy garb) behind him. At the end he saluted and the crowd went crazy!

It was Hayley's birthday so the entire crowd sang to her! =o)

Chris R. looked (and sounded) GOOD! (rrrrrrow!)

BUT...
The best of the night, of course, was my favorite---and the favorite of every girl (and some guys) there...

Blake!

He was so cute and cool, and he sounded so good! He can also dance really well! His beatboxing was incredibly entertaining. I can't wait to hear his CD when it comes out!

I really enjoyed it and will probably go again next year! Jeff said he wants it to be a family tradition---I agree!

Jeff will be starting his new job on Monday. I am hoping we can finally settle into some sort of groove instead of always feeling like we're in transition!

Jack and I were trying out an online curriculum this summer. Unfortunately, it did not work at all for us! Well, more like it did not work for HIM! He was not into it and I quickly found out it was not the way for us to go. Now we have started doing unit studies---kind of.

When we first started HSing, we did one subject a day.  Now we have decided to take that same concept a step further.  I purchased Core Knowledge K-8 and "What your 6th grader needs to know".  We are going to focus on one subject for as long as we need to before moving on to the next subject.  We will use textbooks, websites, and the library.  This will be the best way for him to retain the information, I believe.  So far it has been working really well!  We are doing science.  We use the core knowledge as our base and then expand on that. 

We also add things like video game design so he doesn't get burned out on one subject!  =o)

I'm still winging it here.  I have often thought of making it easier on myself and just going with Calvert---which I really like---but I am afraid that he will hate it, and that's a lot of $$$ to take that risk on!  Plus I want to be able to personalize his education as much as possible---that's part of why I started HSing to begin with!

I think I have rambled on enough for now!  lol

But I do want to let you all know that in my photo gallery, I posted a picture of me 1 week after my kidney transplant---and then another of me 1 year after.  I gained over 100 lbs due to the steroids!  My Dr. is weaning me off of them now, so I have stopped gaining weight.  But there for a while I thought the weight gain would never stop!  =o(

Goodnight!

---Shannon ♥

 

I cannot begin to tell you the craziness that has transpired over the last few months!!

Well, first of all, we are not going to be moving.  The entire reason we were moving was because Jeff got a new job that was 75 miles away.  He recently got an offer for a much better (and closer) job---so he accepted it!  Now we have no reason to move---but  I have to admit that I am kinda relieved as I REALLY hate moving!  The stress of moving is legendary. =oP

So in the midst of all the job/moving mayhem---our computer crashes!  It was such bad timing, not that any time is ever good!   I hope I never have to live without my computer!  Just the short time I was without it felt like an entirely different existence! =o)

OK, maybe I am exaggerating a little, but seriously---it's not cool!

I'm glad we are back up and running!  I appreciate everyone's nice comments and messages!  I love hearing from you all!                                                                                                 This site is growing!  =o)

I will check in again soon---this weekend is a little busy as we have plans to see "HP Order of the Phoenix"---and on Sunday night we are going to see the American Idols in concert!!   I am SO excited---I love that show!  =o)

 Bye for now...

---Shannon♥

 

Thanks to everyone for your kind words of support during my bad day last week!  I wish I could say it was the first (or last!),  but you would all know better!  =o)

 

Well, we found a house and are in the process of buying it.  Oh this is SO not fun!!  I will be so glad when it is all over with.  I hate paperwork---especially financial paperwork!  UGH!

 So just wake me when it's over, K?

 

Jack is trying out an online curriculum for the summer called 'Global Student Network'.  Anyone heard of it?  If he likes it, we'll use it this fall---if not, it's back to the drawing board.  I have been giving unit studies some reconsideration.  I don't think we gave it enough of a chance last time.  It seems like immersing yourself into a topic for a while is such a good way to learn and retain the info.   Case in point---our 6 year unit study on video games!  ;o)

This week has been pretty busy.  Besides doing all the house stuff, we've had Dr. appointments, had to take our dog, Pepper, to the vet (she's OK!), and we have Jack's best friend, Elias, staying with us all week.  They have been best friends since they were 6 and they act just like brothers.  (including the arguing!)  They love hanging out together---but they inevitably end up bickering  and getting on each other's nerves---and mine!  =o)    I am best friends with Elias' mom, Robin.  She is also the wonderful person who I call my kidney donor!  She donated her kidney to me in March of '06 after she saw my health going downhill fast.  I had been on dialysis for 7 years and my body was just hating it.  I was throwing up everyday, I was in and out of the hospital and ER constantly, and I spent the entire month of October '06 in the hospital with pericarditis.  I had to have surgery on my heart to drain the fluid around it.  My Dr. admitted later that healthwise, I was a "train wreck"!  That's when Robin insisted on getting tested.  I thanked her profusely all the while thinking that there was no way she would match---I thought the chance was way too small.  But she did---and here we are!  =o)     I am 100 lbs heavier (thank you, Prednisone!) but happy and healthy and wouldn't change a thing!  =o)

Well, I'm off to sleep---but thanks again to everyone!  You all are so cool and I love being here!

 

---Shannon =o)