Kitchen Ranch

Home School Update...

Since I last posted about our home school days, two months have flown by.  In the last two months we have continued with our daily routine and I believe that things are unfolding rather well. 

Thanks to the local library, we have a steady flow of books to support research topics. The web is an outstanding resource; I am inspired by humanity and what it aims to document, research, and share.

I enjoy listening to Robert as he sounds out words and learns to read. Reading is beginning to click with him and he is now sounding words out in the grocery store, on signs, and on packaging.

Do you remember learning to read? I do. Learning to read was so exciting for me as a first grader. I asked my teacher if I could remain at school at the end of each day and practice reading with her. Her name was Mrs. Locke and she agreed.   

Do you like my high tech flashcards?

This month, the science requirement for Pixel requires a "meet the solar system" study. As it turns out, Pixel is fascinated by the solar system. I asked her to write a one page paper on the Rover Spirit and she produced what I requested along with a spreadsheet of facts about the planets, a Power Point Presentation about the planets and their moons, and a painted portrait of Mars.

What a gal!  

That is Mars there in the upper left of the photo.  About a two hours drive from us, I located an observatory that allows nightly viewings of the sky.

Guess where we are off to...

HomeSchool in Australia

ABOVE: Robert's rendition of an atom and it's basic parts-Chemistry is a favorite subject around here..

After much deliberation and research we have decided to homeschool the kids while we are here in Australia. Robert will simply opt out of kindergarten since it is optional in California. For Pixel, I plan to springboard from the California 5th grade requirments as well as follow her lead.

Thus far, school is going great. Don't get me wrong, there is a fair she of protesting and rolling of the eyes- once she is done with her display of complaint she gets down to it.

The days unfold in a pretty routine manner. We have assignments and projects we do Monday through Friday in the mornings. We finish up by 10 A.M. some days....by 12 some days. Some days Pixel will spend two hours writing an essay to meet a requirement for the state standard and some days she veers off standard course and does her own thing. For example, last week she found some odd shaped jellyfish looking creatures on the beach. She proceeded to collect them and bring them home in a jar. I noticed she was intrigued so I suggested she research and photograph her specimens then put together a 10 slide power point presentation on her findings.

We all enjoyed her presentation and learned a little bit about the local sea life. Learning together is a great experience to share.

After school, the kids have chores and then they are free to play outside.  On Monday afternoons, the older kids have a Circus Arts class in town. The class offers them training in juggling, trapeze, tight rope walking..... as well as an opportunity to make friends which they have done. 

I absolutely love the following post about learning by Leo Babauta over at Zen Habits 'What I've Learned About Learning'. 

Pixel whittling in her outdoor classroom....

...because every young lady needs a bow and arrow.

Math arrives in the shape of required worksheets as well as the programming of a video game.

So far.