It has been a few days since I wrote and I can't be happier.  We took our first field trip (LST 325 from WWII was docked in Pittsburgh).  We toured the ship and then went to the Carnegie Science Center / Sports Works (Social Studies, Science, Phys Ed all in one day - woo hoo!)  We bought an annual membership which will be put to good use.  We are going back this week because they have a current exhibit on Water Cycle / Water Use / How water effects our environment - which is perfect for right now.

  I guess I need to regress and explain how I am coming up with my daily assignments, etc.  I have our school districts books for 4th and 5th grade.  I am using them as a guideline for what to cover, but we are not using them in particular.  For example, they are reading their Social Studies books, but I am adding assignments and interactive features to each chapter.  For example, Connor is in a chapter on Native American Indians (yes, only 1 chapter, 7 pages for our entire history of Native American Indians, just sad), he read the whole 1 paragraph on the Hopi Indians, then I assigned him to research the Hopi Indians and give me 10 facts he finds out.  He did his research and came to me soo excited.  He found a website with not only 10, but more like 20 facts, so he used the most interesting ones.  This assignment was used for writing, computer, and social studies - he asked to be able to research a couple more tribes.  I am going to expand this into an essay assignment, then a compare and contrast between a peaceful tribe, like the Hopi Indians compared to a warring tribe like the Apaches.  I love seeing him excited to learn and not minding the writing or research.

   We had our first spelling week... words?  Just words I think they need to not only know how to spell, but also how to use (think there, their, they're) correctly.   Last couple years, did you get your spelling test back?  did you get your spelling test back?  This year - DAD, WE BOTH GOT 90% on our first spelling tests!  The minute he walked through the door.  They each missed two, but instead of ending it there - they had to write each word they missed 10 times and every 4 weeks we will be doing a review spelling test... If you take a test, then never revisit it, how can you be expected to retain it??  I am a travel agent - ORD, MCO, SEA, BDL, BHO mean nothing to you, but I use them everyday and I am fluent on airport codes.  School should be treated the same way!

  Math - this is going a little slower, I am making sure they have the basics down (addition with 3, 4, 5 numbers up to 6 digits), subtraction (just 2 numbers up to 6 digits right now), multiplication (still mastering the 7s, 8s, 9s).  I decided to do exponential next week - Connor should have learned them in 4th grade, but obviously they were not on the PSSAs, so they were never even looked at!  Working into expanded subtraction (245 - 45 - 100 = ), but of course not that easy.  I figure we should be starting basic algebra by December - January.. going to introduce it slow and build.  Nathan is very good in math and I think they are on the same level even though they are a school year apart.

  Science... this is loose.  Today (yes, Nathan was doing school work on a Sunday) we found a really neat spider in the garden.  Photographed it, showed Nathan how to upload and them use google image search to find it on the internet.  He read all about it, now he will do an essay on it for a report.  We also have the crawfish to do a report on.   Weather / Nature / Animals will be have year round ongoing lessons.  Going to start introducing the Periodic Table 1 element at a time and making them into a Super Hero... ie. Captain Baronium - then using the properties to describe.  I really believe this will help them to understand and memorize each element.  I know I will :)

   Reading is a part of everyday, we are keeping track of books read and we will be reading a few Civil War type books the next couple weeks in preparation for our trip!

  Expecting to go to the trampoline zone this week for a phys ed class.  It has been cool for a couple days, so no swimming (they have been swimming, exercising at LEAST an hour everyday).  So as you can see it is an easy, laid back curriculum, but they do not fight with me and they do their work with enthusiasm because I allow them to complete it at their leisure (same day, of course).  I read an article about how a mom was ready to pull her hair out in the first weeks of home schooling and that she was constantly ready to throw in the towel, but had to persevere.  The first few days, that was what it was like, but I realized I took them out of traditional school so they could get a better education, a more rounded education; so why was I trying to teach them like they were in school???  Let it go!  That is all I can say and it is working...  I am not frustrated, they are not frustrated and they want to learn because it is interesting and they like being able to pick the books they read.  Nathan is no longer trying to pick books that are too easy, though he enjoys me reading them to him again - this I love because last year in school he didn't want me to even read to him in the evenings!

  Let's hope Monday starts another good week... Connor is finishing a report on the Chippewa Indians (Nathan asked if he could help because he wants to learn about them, too), new spelling list, new math concept, and going to start reading "What Was The Battle of Gettysburg?"

Day 3 went amazingly!  Connor has realized that he can have a majority of his day to do as he wishes if he just sits down and does his work.  Today, all capital letters in cursive, multiplication math sheet, and start a book... Connor's first reading is humorous fiction, so he is reading The Attack of the Shark Head Zombie..  We will discuss irony and the make-up of a story.  We have not dipped our toes into the science content, yet (other than the crawfish hunting - that report is coming up).  I want to approach it in a way that will make them want to have science.

The kids have been swimming and active which is what I wanted.  Connor helped me shop, added everything up in his head in the cart (rounding off the costs $39.99 = $40) and came up with the correct total!  Looking for ways to implement learning in every part of the day.

Nathan waited until the end of the day to do his work (probably OK, he is not feeling well and slept until 10am), but really got into his book... reading a page, then telling me about it - enjoying Horrible Harry in Room 2B.  Needs to slow down between sentences, he is still just trying to get done!  Did all of his multiplication without a mistake.

I think we are moving on to division, then to math that requires writing out the work to figure the answer.  Have to retrain them on how to do real math, not what they call math these days!

      Well we made it through our first day, but it was not without some bumps in the road.  Nathan was up by 730am and ready to go.. Did his first cursive assignment (write a letter in cursive, so we can rewrite the same letter at the end of the year to show progress) with some gusto!  Then concerned himself with when recess would be...  I made a big breakfast, so he got to eat before starting his Social Studies.. read Chapter 1 and we will discuss ????  Couldn't answer the first 3 questions, so I set about typing up 9 questions (chapter is only 6 pages with lots of pictures).. that would convey the direction of the chapter.. Reread the chapter and answer these questions.... You would have thought I asked him to chew his arm off??  OMG!  He complained the whole way through, but finished! To be fair, this is no more resistance that I would have met with when he got assigned his first homework from school, so no biggie - we will persevere! 

      Connor got up a little later, so he began his writing and finished while eating breakfast.  Not too much resistance and he really tried his best!  Social Studies Chapter 1 (a little longer 8 pages with lots of pictures).. same thing read and we will discuss.  I asked 3 questions, 3 wrong answers (chalking it up to waffle brain - the inability to think when plied with fluffy waffles).  I set about typing up 15 questions to cover his first chapter.  After arguments, 30 minutes for recess and procrastination.  He went about answering and got 6 wrong!  We will redo questions tomorrow morning after some discussion.

     I stopped with this today, as schools are just starting to actually teach and we will be way ahead by the end of the month.  It is a hot and humid evening, so they will get in an hour of physical activity for gym class tonight swimming.  Planning a trip to the trampoline park for next week for gym class, might have to add that as a little bribe for tomorrow.  :)

   I realize this will be hard until we get into a routine and are able to do some things that are more interesting and fun, if not this is just like school (this is what I was told today)!  

Today was the first day of school in our district...

        I knew it would come and it did with all the fanfare of any other "first day".  I felt bad and a little guilty that my kids would not be getting their first day pictures, seeing all their friends, finding their way to their classes,  and navigating a crazy lunch room setting for just the right place to sit.  It consumed me for most of the morning, then I realized why I made the decision to home school and what it will mean to their futures and I forgave myself.  Both boys were still in bed when everyone else was shuttling to school - we are starting our school year next week, and I realized they were not missing all of this as much as I was.. so then on to other things.

        I am going to try to keep a record here of what we are doing and how I am trying to change the way they see learning and hopefully see a spark, that spark that says they get it and they want to learn, want to find the answer!   I hope to use this to show what a true education is, not this pseudo learning public schools are now spoon feeding everyone.  We will not be using anything related to Common Core, but also not using a specific curriculum either.  I am drawing from what the district is teaching and expanding it tenfold.  We will use travel and field trips to reinforce the concepts and ideas, to show how that battle over 200 years ago effects us still today.

      I am hoping this diary, as you will, will keep me on track and accountable - it is their education after all and they only get one, no do overs!  Let the adventure begin....