Math -
Tom is thriving this year in math. All previous years were not challenging enough and he found them boring. This year his primary learning tools are:
* Art of Problem Solving - PreAlgebra. This is the first time using a real academic text-book and is well timed with my change in philosophy about how to teach math (partnering rather than independence). He will study Pre Algebra for 2 years and the focus right now is on exposure rather than complete mastery. We partner or work together on the lessons and this is a much better formula for success for him.
* Tom does extraordinary amounts of Prodigy Math - a video game based tool to practice math. He tested at 8th grade level and I assign the questions to work on based on what we are studying with Art of Problem Solving. Every 6 months I assign him a whole grade level of practice questions so we can make sure that any gaps are being addressed. He has completed literally thousands of math practice questions. Well worth the annual $60 subscription and after 2 years he is more engaged now than ever in Prodigy.
* Tom is working on online math courses this year too. He completed a 6 week Stanford class (at my request) on how to think about math (in other words, the need to have a growth mindset about math). He is now working on Binary Math 3 (after completing the 12 weeks of Binary 1 and 2) on GamEd Academy. I have never seen him excited about math before this class but he chose to do it and to continue to the next level. I think the key is "applied mathematics" - he sees a real life application for advanced math. Tom's "gap" in math right now is memorization of multiplication facts but he is very good at applying more advanced math concepts and has a great number sense. He despises traditional on-paper math questions like long division, multi-number multiplication, etc.
Em is learning the basics of number sense. She completed Teaching Textbooks 3 and will started level 4. She is currently working through Beast Academy 2A using both the Guide and Practice books and enjoys playing Prodigy Math. She is learning her multiplication facts and once a week (when we are not traveling) we use a box of manipulatives to practice time, large number reading, measuring, place value, fraction basics, money, etc. We also use occasional workbooks to practice any skills that benefit from repetition. We all like playing math games with Sum Swamp being the favorite.
For Language Arts we are successfully implementing a "Bravewriter Lifestyle" based on the work of Julie Bogart. #bravewriter. We are doing writing projects for Tom mostly from the Faltering Ownership writing program. He is doing The Arrow as the basis of our literature-based language arts program as well as weekly cursive practice. Tom also writes blog entries and we practice writing "forms" by submitting business letters to companies, writing postcards, emails, etc. He has a very successful YouTube Channel with 100+ videos including some live streams. He has ample practice at communicating to a live and replay audience and it is perhaps his greatest source of pride.
In addition to her own lessons, Em "absorbs" some of Tom's Arrow lessons. Just this week I was reading a book to her and she interrupted to tell me that it was written in third person and that she learned that idea from listening in on Tom's lessons several months ago (thanks #bravewriterlifestyle). Em completed All About Reading 2 and is nearly finished All About Spelling 1. She also does Write Source to learn about writing styles but this is all done Jot It Down style. She does a weekly fiction or non-fiction Jot It Down and printing practice. She also occasionally uses several other phonics workbooks as supplements.
We do a weekly formal poetry-tea-time with friends and enjoy that very much. We just completed a 6 month read aloud of Shakespeare by Candlelight.
A big part (at least in terms of time) of our homeschool is a weekly all day enrichment program. For Tom it is an outdoor school where he learns skills like shelter making, knife skills, fire building, social skills, game play, etc. For Em, her weekly enrichment program is offered through the local school district. She is in 2nd grade and does a traditional-style program in the morning (touching on science, language arts, math, and technology). The afternoons have an hour each of PE, Music, and Art.
We typically do school in the mornings 4 days week and the afternoons are spent in extra curricula activities like Nature Play, playdates, etc. But we are flexible and work around appointments, emotions, travel schedules, etc
Geography - We are using Expedition Earth and are enjoying all other hands on activities and the sheer variety of learning. So far we have done world geography (continents, oceans, etc), Australia, and New Zealand. We start each new unit with a recipe and craft project and do the activities out of the original order. We will probably take 2 years with this program and recommend it.
Science - In addition to the Mystery Science videos which Tom has completed and Em is working through, we are doing a in-depth Nature Studies program that I developed. So far we have done plants, and habitats and are moving on to rocks. We do a deep dive into each topic with tons of books, videos, experiments, field trips, craft projects, hands-on activities, etc. This, too, will probably take 2 years to complete.
We have many other learning opportunities but some of my favorites come from traveling - like learning science and history with the National Parks JR. Ranger Programs, or traveling to see a total solar eclipse, or getting up close to Joshua trees, or taking a surf lesson in the Pacific.
We are not putting an emphasis on other topics like history and lab sciences this year as we have done a ton in the past and only focus on 1 - 2 "other topics" (other than Math, Writing, and Language Arts) at a time. After our Geography and Nature Studies (in a year or two) are complete we will probably switch back to history and lab science.
For Art we primarily do Meet the Masters. We do the computer-based part of each lesson, then the kids go to a wonderful neighbor's house for the hands-on part of the art instruction. We have done some art appreciation by discussing art prints and videos from Artelier as well as completing art projects (like paper boomerangs) from our Expedition earth geography program.
We meet state requirements for government and civics by reading library books and watching DVDs.
Comments