Well Summer is upon us, at least here in KC it feels that way. Even though it is still officially spring it sure feels like Summer. The pool is set up in the back yard and already has many hours of use this week alone.
Most kids look forward to summer as a kind of R&R from school. I know our neighbor has been counting down the days till she could “Sleep in”, something she is looking forward to experiencing. Keep in mind, in the life of a 9 year old (her age) sleeping to 8:30 am is sleeping in.
Now Catherine asked me the other day, “Mom do I get a summer vacation from school.” The way our Home School works is this:
Labor Day through Memorial Day - Full School
Memorial Day through Labor Day - Light School
So we are officially in “Light School”. What does light school mean? Well for us it means we do a math time test and read some every day. We also find learning experiences as our days go. Such as this week we used a level and worked on finding the most level place in our back yard to set up the inflatable pool. We then talked about how to make the ground more level. We used a level ruler with a bubble in side and learned how to read it correctly.
As with past summers we will be participating in our local libraries summer reading program. For every 20 books the kids read they get a free book to add to our home library. After 100 books they get a gift, either a library tote bag, a butterfly beanie baby, or a book light. This is a great program and the best part is the cost----FREE!
This summer we are going to be starting our history in July. The reason for starting early is because we like to do one chapter a week in history. In order to do that and be done by Memorial Day we have to start on July 1st. Really it is no big deal, we enjoy the history we do and it is more fun then work.
So yes for us Pierce Family School does not stop in the summer but we lighten up.
So what does you family school do?
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Family is the Key
Home schooling is more the books, reading, and writing. Home schooling is a way of life. It is the only life where you can spend hour together and never get sick of each other. It is the only life in which kids and adults can learn and grow together. It is the only life that can cause you to really see the value in people of all ages. Most of all home school is about FAMILY. Family is number one and the only thing you think about. I find that by home schooling you really get past the "me me me" way of thinking. You thoughts are about your family and what you can do to help them learn and grow in life.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
The Joys of Co-Op's
This spring my family joined a Home Schooling Co-op. I have to say I feel this has been a great changes for both my children and myself. There are 90+ families in this co-op. One family had 12 children and is expecting #13. So total there are over 200 kids.
Each child has his or her own classes they can pick, 4 classes. Catherine is taking Ballroom Dancing, Art, Music, and Games. Anna is in a 3 year old class. Christopher is in a 2 year old class.
I think this is also very beneficial for myself as well. I have met many wonderful ladies (mostly moms come although you do see some dads). We have talked about everything from schooling to fun.
If you ever have a chance to find a co-op check it out, it might be a perfect fit for your family.
Each child has his or her own classes they can pick, 4 classes. Catherine is taking Ballroom Dancing, Art, Music, and Games. Anna is in a 3 year old class. Christopher is in a 2 year old class.
I think this is also very beneficial for myself as well. I have met many wonderful ladies (mostly moms come although you do see some dads). We have talked about everything from schooling to fun.
If you ever have a chance to find a co-op check it out, it might be a perfect fit for your family.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
New Year!
Well it is now 2008. Although most home schools continue where they are, some choose to begin all new.
In our home we run an "old fashion" school calendar. We officially work the day after Labor Day till the day before Memorial Day. So for us we are in the middle of the year.
Praying that your home school is blessed this year!
In our home we run an "old fashion" school calendar. We officially work the day after Labor Day till the day before Memorial Day. So for us we are in the middle of the year.
Praying that your home school is blessed this year!
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Road Trips
Our family just returned from a road trip to Iowa to see family for Thanksgiving. Now sitting in a van for 6 hours is not always a time people think of educating and making something that is meaningful. However after this road trip we have added new activities to our repertoire.
1. Mileage games - We worked with our oldest daughter on how to read mile markers. On how exit sign numbers go in order with the miles either left on the road or miles from the state line. After a while you can talk about how fast you are driving, we began with using the figure 60 mph, in other words you are driving 1 mile per minute. So that we worked on how far from one exit to the next, and how many minutes would it take. With time we progressed to 70 mph (which is how fast we where traveling).
2. License plate game - Keep a list of all the different license plates you see. If you have a copy of a US map then have the kids color in the states as you find the plates. This game is fun because you can talk about the different designs on each plate as well as where the vehicle began driving from, and where that place is located on the US map.
3. Road sign game - Keep a list of all the different road signs you see, talk about the colors of the signs, what that mean and the symbols they use.
1. Mileage games - We worked with our oldest daughter on how to read mile markers. On how exit sign numbers go in order with the miles either left on the road or miles from the state line. After a while you can talk about how fast you are driving, we began with using the figure 60 mph, in other words you are driving 1 mile per minute. So that we worked on how far from one exit to the next, and how many minutes would it take. With time we progressed to 70 mph (which is how fast we where traveling).
2. License plate game - Keep a list of all the different license plates you see. If you have a copy of a US map then have the kids color in the states as you find the plates. This game is fun because you can talk about the different designs on each plate as well as where the vehicle began driving from, and where that place is located on the US map.
3. Road sign game - Keep a list of all the different road signs you see, talk about the colors of the signs, what that mean and the symbols they use.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
The hidden world of the Library
The library is a place that I think many people take for granted. What other place can a person visit that has thousands and thousands of books, videos, and CD's? Well Barns and Noble I suppose but then it is going to cost you that very hard to get dollar. However, when you set foot into the library you can discover all of the above at a fraction of the cost.
I will say I am blessed with a wonderful library system. We belong to the Mid-Continent Public Library and I have to say it is wonderful. They offer on-line data base, so I can search for books we need for school and for leisure reading while at home. Once I have made my selection I can put a hold on the book and then go to my local branch and pick them up, they are waiting for me at the front desk.
I have found that if you do your research you can save your home quite a bit of money when it comes to home schooling. We currently use a history curriculum (Story of the World) and it has suggested historical reading and literature reading to accompany the text book. I have been able to find 99% of the book through the library. Through my time of searching I have not been forces to purchase any supplemental reading material for our home school.
Our library offers many wonderful programs. Every Tuesday we head to the library for Toddler Time, which is a story time program for children ages 18 months to 3 years old. So Anna and Christopher are able to go to story time, Catherine attends to and is a big helper to the little children.
For history our library has hosted events like a Veteran's Day event, where we were able to watch a Apache helicopter take off from side yard of the library. Different people where there with historical military items as well as stories to share. We even where able to create Christmas Cards for solders over seas.
So check out your library. You never know what wonderful treasures are hidden within the walls of a building few people seem to remember exist.
I will say I am blessed with a wonderful library system. We belong to the Mid-Continent Public Library and I have to say it is wonderful. They offer on-line data base, so I can search for books we need for school and for leisure reading while at home. Once I have made my selection I can put a hold on the book and then go to my local branch and pick them up, they are waiting for me at the front desk.
I have found that if you do your research you can save your home quite a bit of money when it comes to home schooling. We currently use a history curriculum (Story of the World) and it has suggested historical reading and literature reading to accompany the text book. I have been able to find 99% of the book through the library. Through my time of searching I have not been forces to purchase any supplemental reading material for our home school.
Our library offers many wonderful programs. Every Tuesday we head to the library for Toddler Time, which is a story time program for children ages 18 months to 3 years old. So Anna and Christopher are able to go to story time, Catherine attends to and is a big helper to the little children.
For history our library has hosted events like a Veteran's Day event, where we were able to watch a Apache helicopter take off from side yard of the library. Different people where there with historical military items as well as stories to share. We even where able to create Christmas Cards for solders over seas.
So check out your library. You never know what wonderful treasures are hidden within the walls of a building few people seem to remember exist.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Brief History
So who is the lady sitting in her computer chair? Well my name is Jeanette. Every since I can remember I have always wanted to work with children. Growing up I was one of those girls who was always trying to babysit and working in the nursery at church. I knew I either wanted to be a teacher or a nurse. In high school I realized I wanted to be a teacher so I could make the school system better for children then it was for me.
I attended Park College (now Park University) from 1994 till 1998. I majored in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education. I ended up graduating with a BA in Elementary Education, I am two classes short of my Early Childhood degree but did not want to student teach 2 times. My concentration in Education was in the Fine Arts (music, art and theater). The reason for the Fine Arts was because at Park your concentration could be in Art or the Fine Arts and I loved my Music Professor so much that I wanted to take more classes with him so did a Fine Arts concentration.
Since I graduated in December I had a rough time getting my first teaching job, but I found one for the following school year. I was hired as the 5th and 6th grade teacher for the little rural school of Mirabile. Mirabile is one of those towns if you blink you will miss it the entire two roads. It was the perfect teaching job for a new graduate, small class size, great teachers. While teaching in Mirabile the largest my class grew to was 14 kids and the smallest was 6, a public school teacher's dream. However, with this dream came many issues. This sleepy little farming town did not know what hit it when a family moved in from the inner city of Kansas City. This family brought with it all the issues a bigger district is use to, but this little town had never seen. They brought behavior issues, hygiene issues, parental issues, and drug issues. I will never forget one day when I was teaching the young man from this family was so upset with me that he hit me in the stomach, oh did I mention I was pregnant with our first child at the time. When I first started teaching at this school I thought, this is the prefect school I would want my children taught within, until this family. This family shaped the idea that I personally felt I can do better at educating my own children.
Once my teaching contract was up in May of 2001 and Catherine was already a part of our family I never set foot back into the traditional classroom. From that point on I was to make our classroom our home.
I attended Park College (now Park University) from 1994 till 1998. I majored in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education. I ended up graduating with a BA in Elementary Education, I am two classes short of my Early Childhood degree but did not want to student teach 2 times. My concentration in Education was in the Fine Arts (music, art and theater). The reason for the Fine Arts was because at Park your concentration could be in Art or the Fine Arts and I loved my Music Professor so much that I wanted to take more classes with him so did a Fine Arts concentration.
Since I graduated in December I had a rough time getting my first teaching job, but I found one for the following school year. I was hired as the 5th and 6th grade teacher for the little rural school of Mirabile. Mirabile is one of those towns if you blink you will miss it the entire two roads. It was the perfect teaching job for a new graduate, small class size, great teachers. While teaching in Mirabile the largest my class grew to was 14 kids and the smallest was 6, a public school teacher's dream. However, with this dream came many issues. This sleepy little farming town did not know what hit it when a family moved in from the inner city of Kansas City. This family brought with it all the issues a bigger district is use to, but this little town had never seen. They brought behavior issues, hygiene issues, parental issues, and drug issues. I will never forget one day when I was teaching the young man from this family was so upset with me that he hit me in the stomach, oh did I mention I was pregnant with our first child at the time. When I first started teaching at this school I thought, this is the prefect school I would want my children taught within, until this family. This family shaped the idea that I personally felt I can do better at educating my own children.
Once my teaching contract was up in May of 2001 and Catherine was already a part of our family I never set foot back into the traditional classroom. From that point on I was to make our classroom our home.
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