Oh, how I wish my daughter were able to read, because I would totally be into this for the summer.
If you do this, you'll have to let me know how you like it. I know it probably won't compare to any reading program your local library may be doing this summer, but I think this is so cool!
Here's the website: www.bookadventure.com
This website is run by the Sylvan Learning Center. You can select your child's reading level and the type of books they like to read. Up will pop a list of appropriate grade level books in the genre you selected. You can read the books from the list online, or check them out at your local library. Once the books have been read, your child can take a quiz online on the book. They earn points for prizes from taking the quizzes.
Some of the prizes cost a little money. Others are free. There is also a link where you can set up your own parent incentive program.
Pretty neat, huh? Like I said, if you try this, let me know what you think.
Lisa
Monday, May 31, 2010
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Saturday Art Activity
Rice Art
It's supposed to be 88 degrees outside today, so some kind of outside water play may be in order, but I also thought I better have an indoor activity planned, because I'm a wimp and can only stand so much heat being 7 months pregnant. So here's my Saturday Art Activity:
1. Find some white rice (I am pretty sure I have some in the cupboard)
2. Put rice in baggies (or other containers) with a generous portion of food coloring and shake.
3. Put rice out on paper towels to dry.
4. Once rice is dry, you can use glue on construction paper to create pictures and designs and sprinkle with the rice.
Have a great weekend! If I remember, I'll take pictures of this activity and post them so you can see!
Lisa
It's supposed to be 88 degrees outside today, so some kind of outside water play may be in order, but I also thought I better have an indoor activity planned, because I'm a wimp and can only stand so much heat being 7 months pregnant. So here's my Saturday Art Activity:
1. Find some white rice (I am pretty sure I have some in the cupboard)
2. Put rice in baggies (or other containers) with a generous portion of food coloring and shake.
3. Put rice out on paper towels to dry.
4. Once rice is dry, you can use glue on construction paper to create pictures and designs and sprinkle with the rice.
Have a great weekend! If I remember, I'll take pictures of this activity and post them so you can see!
Lisa
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Tidbits and Websites
Here's some random helpful stuff I've discovered lately and some cool websites to look at.
* If you are looking for good math curriculum-Most (90%) people I have surveyed in the past few weeks agree that Saxon Math Publishers have a better program than Math-U-See. Math-U-See has more manipulatives and may be better as a supplemental type program, but Saxon is more aligned with the standards and has higher expectations. If you go on the Saxon website, (google Saxon Math and you'll find it), they also have online math activities that you can use to supplement any curriculum you are already doing or that your child's teacher may be doing. It could be good reinforcement of certain skills your child may be struggling with. Activities start at Kinder level and go up to Grade 12. Also these activities could help keep your child's brain from becoming mushy over summer break.
*If your child/children are into astronomy, here's a fun website to explore. www.COSMOS4KIDS.com. This website includes Star Maps, information about our solar system and activities for kids to do. And to the best of my knowledge, it's free. We like free.
*Best FREE website I've found so far for pre-K to about 2nd grade level is www.starfall.com. We play on this one almost everyday. Their ABC game is great for pre-readers to learn phonics, and then the have "books" to help teach reading skills. LOVE IT!! They also have published curriculum that you can purchase, but to play online is free. This website would also be great for English Second Language Learners.
*Magic School Bus-My 3 year old has started to really enjoy shows like Sid the Science Kid and Magic School Bus, even though most of it goes over her head. Our local library has Magic School Bus Videos and books, but get this--Magic School Bus makes (gasp!) Science Kits!! Who knew? I am intending to explore this further and I will keep you updated, but how fun is that? Fun, I tell you. I also recently heard about these books for older kids (meaning 3rd-5th graders) called the Magic Treehouse Series. These are chapters books that explore science and social studies concepts. I have talked to some people who have said their kids really enjoy these, although some books later in the series go into the "magic" concept a little too much for their tastes. However, they highly recommend the books that are early in the series.
Hope these Tidbits gave you something interesting to chew on.
Have a great day!
Lisa
"Not all who wander are lost." -J.R.R.Tolkien
* If you are looking for good math curriculum-Most (90%) people I have surveyed in the past few weeks agree that Saxon Math Publishers have a better program than Math-U-See. Math-U-See has more manipulatives and may be better as a supplemental type program, but Saxon is more aligned with the standards and has higher expectations. If you go on the Saxon website, (google Saxon Math and you'll find it), they also have online math activities that you can use to supplement any curriculum you are already doing or that your child's teacher may be doing. It could be good reinforcement of certain skills your child may be struggling with. Activities start at Kinder level and go up to Grade 12. Also these activities could help keep your child's brain from becoming mushy over summer break.
*If your child/children are into astronomy, here's a fun website to explore. www.COSMOS4KIDS.com. This website includes Star Maps, information about our solar system and activities for kids to do. And to the best of my knowledge, it's free. We like free.
*Best FREE website I've found so far for pre-K to about 2nd grade level is www.starfall.com. We play on this one almost everyday. Their ABC game is great for pre-readers to learn phonics, and then the have "books" to help teach reading skills. LOVE IT!! They also have published curriculum that you can purchase, but to play online is free. This website would also be great for English Second Language Learners.
*Magic School Bus-My 3 year old has started to really enjoy shows like Sid the Science Kid and Magic School Bus, even though most of it goes over her head. Our local library has Magic School Bus Videos and books, but get this--Magic School Bus makes (gasp!) Science Kits!! Who knew? I am intending to explore this further and I will keep you updated, but how fun is that? Fun, I tell you. I also recently heard about these books for older kids (meaning 3rd-5th graders) called the Magic Treehouse Series. These are chapters books that explore science and social studies concepts. I have talked to some people who have said their kids really enjoy these, although some books later in the series go into the "magic" concept a little too much for their tastes. However, they highly recommend the books that are early in the series.
Hope these Tidbits gave you something interesting to chew on.
Have a great day!
Lisa
"Not all who wander are lost." -J.R.R.Tolkien
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Completely Unexpected
I took on a part-time job this year as a home/hospital teacher because like most businesses, my husband's was hit by the economy and we found ourselves in a precarious situation financially.
For the whole year, I had 2 students. Both with cancer. One was Victor, a 3rd grader, who is being treated for leukemia. He's doing so well on chemotherapy, that you can't even tell he's sick. Every once in awhile he has to have a spinal tap, which I imagine is no fun, and he definitely has some learning disabilities beyond just being sick, but overall, Victor seems like he's going to be okay.
The other student was Joshua. He died on Saturday.
I first met Josh in September, after he had been diagnosed with a type of cancer that most kids don't get. I can't even pronounce the name. I spent anywhere from 3-5 hours a week with Josh and I watched from the sidelines as Doctors and Nurses treated him. Josh would talk to me about his illness, sometimes giving me more information than I wanted (" They don't like my poop today."). Sometimes his mom and dad would share just enough with me to let me know how my job was going to go that day.
In the beginning, Josh seemed like any other kid. Except he was extremely gifted. He was a fourth grader who could read at a 7th grade level, at least. He loved math. And he was very artistic. His favorite show was Sponge Bob. His favorite books were Diary of a Wimpy Kid and The Bible. His favorite football team was the Dallas Cowboys. His wish for the Make a Wish Foundation was to meet the Cowboys, but since he never was allowed out of the hospital, he got a Dell Laptop instead.
Shortly after Christmas, Josh had a bone marrow transplant. It was from an anonymous donor because none of his siblings or other family members were a match. We were told he would be in isolation for 6 weeks. I could still go in to teach him, but everyone had to wear a gown and gloves to see him to avoid passing infection. Josh had a terrible time with his body trying to accept the transplant. Sometimes I would go in and he would be bundled up in 3 or 4 blankets even though it was a beautiful day outside. He broke out in this horrible rash on his hands that kept him from being able to write and he had a hard time focusing, so he could only read short passages at a time. I started reading out loud to him and we did math the best we could.
My favorite day with Josh was the day I decided to show off to him that I knew how to make Oragami paper cranes. I told him the story of Sadako and 1,000 Cranes (good book, check it out) and how we used to teach all our 6th graders to make paper cranes. How our goal was to make 1,000 of them. I told Josh we could make a bunch and then make a mobile out of them and hang them in his hospital room. I brought the directions with me, but had a very hard time remembering how to make the cranes. Josh and I both struggled for an hour trying to make those cranes, giggling the whole time at our ineptness. I left him that day, telling him we'd try again the next day.
We finally got it figured out and we made a total of 10 cranes. Not 1,000, but he was pleased nonetheless and I felt like we had really accomplished something. He said, "This isn't really school, is it?" I said, "Sure. It counts toward your Art grade." He smiled at me and gave me his famous "thumbs up" sign.
By the time April came around I was considering handing Josh over to another teacher. Josh had a stomach infection, his liver was damaged, we weren't really doing anything except watching science videos and reading, I was thinking I might catch something because I was pregnant and my immune system was weaker, I had a hard time watching a 10 year old boy I had grown to care about deteriorate before my eyes...I talked about it with my husband and friends. I prayed about it. I came to no real conclusion, so I just kept going to see him.
Josh was moved to the ICU about a week and a half ago. I had gone to teach him, not knowing he had been moved to the ICU, and his mom took me back to see him. When I walked in, I told him, "Hey! I missed you!" His mom said, "He can't hear you." Then she leaned forward and whispered in his ear that Mrs. Ross was there to see him. He was having a hard time breathing, but he opened his eyes wider and gave me a thumbs up. I started crying. I told his mom he was an amazing kid. I wrote him a note that his mom said she would read to him. I told him to hang in there and that I would be back to read to him soon. I never saw him again.
I wanted to do honor to Josh somehow by writing this. I don't believe in coincidences, I believe in Divine Intervention. I still haven't figured out why Josh was given to me as a student. I can honestly say I don't think it's because he needed me. I did nothing different than any teacher I know would do. I don't know what I'm supposed to learn from this. I do know that the doctors and nurses at Loma Linda Hospital are amazing people and that Josh's parents are some of the most incredible human beings on the planet.
God Bless You, Josh. See you someday in Paradise.
Lisa
For the whole year, I had 2 students. Both with cancer. One was Victor, a 3rd grader, who is being treated for leukemia. He's doing so well on chemotherapy, that you can't even tell he's sick. Every once in awhile he has to have a spinal tap, which I imagine is no fun, and he definitely has some learning disabilities beyond just being sick, but overall, Victor seems like he's going to be okay.
The other student was Joshua. He died on Saturday.
I first met Josh in September, after he had been diagnosed with a type of cancer that most kids don't get. I can't even pronounce the name. I spent anywhere from 3-5 hours a week with Josh and I watched from the sidelines as Doctors and Nurses treated him. Josh would talk to me about his illness, sometimes giving me more information than I wanted (" They don't like my poop today."). Sometimes his mom and dad would share just enough with me to let me know how my job was going to go that day.
In the beginning, Josh seemed like any other kid. Except he was extremely gifted. He was a fourth grader who could read at a 7th grade level, at least. He loved math. And he was very artistic. His favorite show was Sponge Bob. His favorite books were Diary of a Wimpy Kid and The Bible. His favorite football team was the Dallas Cowboys. His wish for the Make a Wish Foundation was to meet the Cowboys, but since he never was allowed out of the hospital, he got a Dell Laptop instead.
Shortly after Christmas, Josh had a bone marrow transplant. It was from an anonymous donor because none of his siblings or other family members were a match. We were told he would be in isolation for 6 weeks. I could still go in to teach him, but everyone had to wear a gown and gloves to see him to avoid passing infection. Josh had a terrible time with his body trying to accept the transplant. Sometimes I would go in and he would be bundled up in 3 or 4 blankets even though it was a beautiful day outside. He broke out in this horrible rash on his hands that kept him from being able to write and he had a hard time focusing, so he could only read short passages at a time. I started reading out loud to him and we did math the best we could.
My favorite day with Josh was the day I decided to show off to him that I knew how to make Oragami paper cranes. I told him the story of Sadako and 1,000 Cranes (good book, check it out) and how we used to teach all our 6th graders to make paper cranes. How our goal was to make 1,000 of them. I told Josh we could make a bunch and then make a mobile out of them and hang them in his hospital room. I brought the directions with me, but had a very hard time remembering how to make the cranes. Josh and I both struggled for an hour trying to make those cranes, giggling the whole time at our ineptness. I left him that day, telling him we'd try again the next day.
We finally got it figured out and we made a total of 10 cranes. Not 1,000, but he was pleased nonetheless and I felt like we had really accomplished something. He said, "This isn't really school, is it?" I said, "Sure. It counts toward your Art grade." He smiled at me and gave me his famous "thumbs up" sign.
By the time April came around I was considering handing Josh over to another teacher. Josh had a stomach infection, his liver was damaged, we weren't really doing anything except watching science videos and reading, I was thinking I might catch something because I was pregnant and my immune system was weaker, I had a hard time watching a 10 year old boy I had grown to care about deteriorate before my eyes...I talked about it with my husband and friends. I prayed about it. I came to no real conclusion, so I just kept going to see him.
Josh was moved to the ICU about a week and a half ago. I had gone to teach him, not knowing he had been moved to the ICU, and his mom took me back to see him. When I walked in, I told him, "Hey! I missed you!" His mom said, "He can't hear you." Then she leaned forward and whispered in his ear that Mrs. Ross was there to see him. He was having a hard time breathing, but he opened his eyes wider and gave me a thumbs up. I started crying. I told his mom he was an amazing kid. I wrote him a note that his mom said she would read to him. I told him to hang in there and that I would be back to read to him soon. I never saw him again.
I wanted to do honor to Josh somehow by writing this. I don't believe in coincidences, I believe in Divine Intervention. I still haven't figured out why Josh was given to me as a student. I can honestly say I don't think it's because he needed me. I did nothing different than any teacher I know would do. I don't know what I'm supposed to learn from this. I do know that the doctors and nurses at Loma Linda Hospital are amazing people and that Josh's parents are some of the most incredible human beings on the planet.
God Bless You, Josh. See you someday in Paradise.
Lisa
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Dissections
I have this facebook friend named Melissa. She's a homeschool mom. Recently, she posted pictures on facebook of her kids dissecting things. That's how cool of a teacher she is. She ordered all these dissecting kits and then actually followed through with the dissection part.
I know one of the things she had her kids dissect was a cow's eye. Ewwww. But I'm sure the kids thought it was cool. When I saw the facebook pictures I almost had a panic attack because in all my thoughts of homeschooling my own children, it had NEVER crossed my mind I might have to teach them something that makes me queasy just thinking about it.
I plan on keeping Melissa as a friend for a long time to come. Not only because she has such great ideas as a teacher, and she's a great person to know, but because when I get to the part in the science standards where I might have to teach dissecting to my children, I want to call Melissa and say, "Can you do it?"
My one memory of dissecting anything is from High School. We had to dissect a frog. I chose my friend Tony (male) as a lab partner because I knew he would do all the dissecting. We named the frog Otis Tyrone and I never had to touch it. I ended up taking him (Tony, not the frog) to prom that year because I was so thankful.
Melissa, I can't take you to prom, but I will take you out to a nice dinner if you dissect stuff with my kids when the time comes.
I know one of the things she had her kids dissect was a cow's eye. Ewwww. But I'm sure the kids thought it was cool. When I saw the facebook pictures I almost had a panic attack because in all my thoughts of homeschooling my own children, it had NEVER crossed my mind I might have to teach them something that makes me queasy just thinking about it.
I plan on keeping Melissa as a friend for a long time to come. Not only because she has such great ideas as a teacher, and she's a great person to know, but because when I get to the part in the science standards where I might have to teach dissecting to my children, I want to call Melissa and say, "Can you do it?"
My one memory of dissecting anything is from High School. We had to dissect a frog. I chose my friend Tony (male) as a lab partner because I knew he would do all the dissecting. We named the frog Otis Tyrone and I never had to touch it. I ended up taking him (Tony, not the frog) to prom that year because I was so thankful.
Melissa, I can't take you to prom, but I will take you out to a nice dinner if you dissect stuff with my kids when the time comes.
Good Literature
This first post will be short. My 3-year-old is hanging off my arm and giving me the not-so-subtle signal that I have spent too much time on the computer and now need to pay attention to more important things. Like getting dressed and out of the house.
Most ideas in teaching are not new. We borrow from each other. We exchange information. The most important lesson I learned as a teacher was that you can't do it alone. You need mentors and friends to bounce ideas off of. So if you are new to teaching or homeschooling, please find a mentor!
So, here's no exception to the rule. One of my fellow playdate moms shared this website with me via email. Here it is: www.bfbooks.com. Beautiful Feet books. They have an online catalog where you can search for individual books or actual literature units. The great thing is that all the books on this website are GOOD books. Good for teaching, character training, social studies, science, etc... They list many award winning books on their website. I poked around and had to restrain myself from buying books my daughter won't need for another 5 years.
You gotta love a good literature website. Thanks, Katie, for sharing.
Lisa
"Not all who wander are lost." -J.R.R. Tolkien
Most ideas in teaching are not new. We borrow from each other. We exchange information. The most important lesson I learned as a teacher was that you can't do it alone. You need mentors and friends to bounce ideas off of. So if you are new to teaching or homeschooling, please find a mentor!
So, here's no exception to the rule. One of my fellow playdate moms shared this website with me via email. Here it is: www.bfbooks.com. Beautiful Feet books. They have an online catalog where you can search for individual books or actual literature units. The great thing is that all the books on this website are GOOD books. Good for teaching, character training, social studies, science, etc... They list many award winning books on their website. I poked around and had to restrain myself from buying books my daughter won't need for another 5 years.
You gotta love a good literature website. Thanks, Katie, for sharing.
Lisa
"Not all who wander are lost." -J.R.R. Tolkien
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
