homeschool

All posts tagged homeschool

You did not just say that, did you? (PG)

Published October 3, 2013 by Angela

Oh My Goodness. Church was interesting tonight. After several years of teaching youngsters of various ages many lessons, this is the first time I was speechless. Only for about 3 seconds though, then I tried to fix the problem.

The theme tonight? Saying you’re sorry. What do I do? Ask if anyone has had to apologize to anyone recently. All the hands went up, so I gave everyone a turn to answer. The last boy of about 8 or 9 years old? Yeah, he got me good.

Boy: “I had to apologize to my friend when we were playing soccer for hitting him in the balls with the ball.”

Me: JAW-DROP

Me again: “We can’t say that in here, we have to find better words to use.”

You would think I would have kept a closer eye on him for the rest of class, but noooooo, I tell everyone when it’s time to go to their next class to take their I’m Sorry cards they had made for someone with them. Without looking at them.

Thank goodness one of the other ladies happened to see his card before he got out the door and in his parents car because Yep, he made a card with a really accurate drawing of this said incident and wrote “I’m sorry I hit you in the nuts with my ball.”

😦 Let’s see if I can stay one step ahead of them next week. And how was YOUR night?

How to kill a dead chicken

Published October 2, 2013 by Angela

Yes, I said it. Yes, it’s an oxymoron 🙂 I am still trying to wrap my head around letting a chicken “rot” for 6 weeks in my refrigerator. Apparently all it takes is a raw chicken, 2 lbs of salt, a box of baking powder, and a box of baking soda. It needs to be checked once a week, and the salt rinsed off and changed if it is wet. We can add spices later if we want. Hmmm, I know when people were mummified back in the day (OK, way, way back) that sometimes they were covered in spices. To help with the odor, I would imagine.

Now I don’t know exactly what kind of spices I can find at my grocery store that would have been common back then, but I do know if this chicken starts smelling, he is going to be taking his deep sleep in cinnamon and pumpkin pie spices so he at least smells good 🙂

This experiment is set to begin Friday. Expect some rather disturbing pictures in the near future 🙂

I have to do What to a chicken??

Published September 30, 2013 by Angela

“Mummify it.”

 

Whaaaaat?

OK, I am sure this is going to be great fun for the kids to watch as the weeks go by, I am just not sure how comfortable I am having it in my refrigerator (or wherever in my house I may need to store it).

Being a bit of a germaphobe (There, I said it out loud!) I am not thrilled about having a rotting chicken next to my grapes in the fridge.

Other than that, the teacher for the Co-op classes is going to get me started, which I am grateful for, and I will post pictures of this incredible experiment as it moves along.

Has anyone done this before? What did you think? It is a surprise for the kids for their ancient artifacts class, but I am going to be the most surprised that I will actually allow this in my house LOL. The things I do for my girls 🙂

Well That Explains A Lot!

Published September 17, 2013 by Angela

For over two weeks I have been struggling to get my 12 year old to want to work on her Science homework. Even though both my 21 and 15 year old said “Mom, we didn’t do this stuff until High School” I said “It came with the 7th grade curriculum.” Lo-and-behold, after digging around on the internet where I ordered her books, her Science book is for 14-18 year olds, 9th grade school level. Now I didn’t buy her the easiest set they had, because she really is quite bright, but I certainly did NOT order the hardest set they had that would justify this book. All the other books in the set are age and grade appropriate for a 12 year old 7th grader. So today I get to go to the only local place I have that sells home school books and hope to find some type of Science books that she can work from. I did get quite the smile this morning though when I told her to just skip her science hour 🙂

I don’t think she realizes that this just gives her more time today to study for her math test! I will get the hang of this homeschooling thing yet, hopefully before she graduates 🙂

When did setting up a computer become so hard?

Published September 15, 2013 by Angela

So I broke down and got a laptop for my girls to use for homework, mainly for my 7th grade homeschooler. Titanium security was recommended for me and I was told I could lock out all websites and get reports. Not so, but it was only $17.00 for the 1st year and it does do what Norton Security does. Accessing my 12 year olds newly created account, it took me right to Facebook when I typed it in. So back to the Microsoft Family Safety site (which I was told not to use with Titanium). Sorry, but I am. I can get updates anytime I want on all activities of each of my children, and set allowed and blocked sites. We will see how it goes tomorrow morning when I finally her have the laptop.

Now if I could just get it to do what I want it to. The laptop that is, not my children 🙂 (I pretty much gave up on that years ago LOL) The toolbars are at the bottom, and I cannot seem to switch it. I think it is the new version of Windows and not the laptop itself. I guess I won’t let it bother me too much since I don’t necessarily need to use it. And when it comes to computers my kids are smarter than me anyhow 🙂

Downloading the software for two classes to their laptop, I am hoping I can lock out the kids from the teacher’s information while allowing my homeschooler to use the learning games and other tools that will help her.

Working full time and doing homeschooling has me feeling like I am working on my Bachelor’s Degree, again. I was going to start on my Master’s Degree this September, I am sooo glad I didn’t go down that road.

I Have Found it to be Impossible…..

Published September 11, 2013 by Angela

to homeschool without the assistance of the internet. I bring this up because I removed the family computer from my home about a month ago due to bullying on social sites as well as inappropriate activity. All of the books for the 7th grade curriculum have great lessons, hints, and games online to assist in the learning. I sat down with my student the other night on my laptop and went through 6 math quizzes which she did excellent on. The writing and grammer that she sometimes struggles with also has online assistance. So I believe Best Buy will again be getting a large chunk of my money this weekend. I have looked at the Microsoft Family Safety software that is free and it seems like between that and the parental controls, I can pretty much lock each child’s page to only the pages I will allow them to go to. Has anyone had any experience with Microsoft’s Family Safety software and what do you think of it? Any other suggestions? I do like that it will send me a report of all activity, and I also have one more download of Norton Security I can download onto a computer.

I am very nervous about having issues start up again, and if anyone has found a successful way to homeschool completely internet free I would love to hear about that too!

The Smartest 41 year old 7th grader……

Published September 5, 2013 by Angela

Will probably be me after this year of homeschooling 🙂 I am saying this with complete sarcasm, because after day two, I am actually enjoying going over the work with my daughter and helping her through her problem areas. Some of it comes naturally, some of it I have a distant memory of, and some of it is a whole new way of teaching I have never seen before (like how my local public schools teach basic math a “new” way and asked the parents not to show them “our” way.) Now how am I supposed to help them with math if I don’t know the “new” way? LOL

Right now I am trying to stay a few steps ahead of her setting her assignments, and have had great advice about not stressing out and that it will all fall into place! I truly believe that and am going to try to enjoy every minute of this new journey.

Excited for my meeting tonight for a Co-op that my daughter will be taking 3 afternoon classes at every Friday with other 6,7, and 8th graders. She is excited to make new friends and I know she will not get bullied there.

Well the Big Day is Finally Here!

Published September 3, 2013 by Angela

My oldest is away at her 3rd year of college, my 10th grader is at school, and my 4th grader is standing by the door with her backpack waiting for it to be time to go. My 7th grade homeschooler?…….She has just hit the snooze button for the 4th time. I am afraid this is going to be even tougher than I imagined. I am going to keep a positive attitude to show her I support and encourage her, and hopefully she gets ups pretty quick with that beautiful smile of hers. (As opposed to that other look she gives me that I would rather not talk about!) Does anyone else have a tough time getting them going on the 1st day, even if they have been homeschooled for years? (And there was the snooze for the 5th time LOL)

When It All Goes Wrong

Published August 21, 2013 by Angela

I have to have a positive attitude. That when it all goes wrong, it is really all going “right”. I am on a new journey of homeschooling for 1 out of 4 daughters. The books are on the way. $500.00 worth of “You will study and do this!” The desk is bought. The study area is set up. If I can go to college and get my degrees while raising girls, I can get one through homeschooling. I am scared, nervous, and unsure of what I am doing. But knowing I have no other options, I know her and I can make the best of this. Looking forward to getting the books and setting everything up.