Homeschool Field Log: Day 20

Homeschooling is harder than The Researcher ever thought it would be (see Examples 1 and 2). We face daily challenges from apathy, to pure pigheadedness (on both our parts).

But Thing 1 is learning, and he's making rapid progress thus far. His reading specialist said he has come a long way in a short amount of time. He read the first chapter of The Boxcar Children all on his own yesterday. It was one of The Researcher's favorites as a kid. He loved it so much we read the whole book in two hours! So we're setting to work on the second book asap.

Example 1, Reading quietly with the cat

Example 2, Darn you Thing 2!!!

Homeschool Field Log: Day 12

Thing 1 has been trying this hand at photography this week. Look at the pictures he took (with a tripod), not bad, eh?

Homeschool Field Log: Day 11

Thing 1 is very much in love with all the science experiments he's able to run-a-muck with. This week's unit has been on liquids, solids, and gas. We're also testing the scientific method and logging our data.

The Researcher and Thing 1 have had long discussions about friction lately, too...he's very into less friction by means of ice and roller skates...sounds like a fast way to break his neck if you ask me.

Example 1, Tiny bubbles

Example 2, Keep on logging

Homeschool Field Log: Day 10

Oh my, The Researcher has been a bad blogger. Over the weekend we traveled up to Berkeley to partake in Cal's Dig Day through the Archeological Research Facility. The whole post about our adventures can be found here and here.

Example 1, grid system mappings

Example 2, making a pinch pot

Homeschool Field Log: Day 9

The Researcher has been a lazy blogger of late. We have been very busy doing lots of activities, and this week has been spring break for all the local schools. Therefore, we've given ourselves a small break from the academics and been focusing on fun outings with our friends who are home right now (see example 1)!

Example 1, Thing 2 about to take a dip

There is one really great project Thing 1 put together this week, though. He was given a task to devise a contraption that shows wind in motion. The materials were a straw, a piece of string and some tape. Here's what he came up with...I thought it was rather clever since I'd have done it a different way (see example 2).

Example 2, wind flutters the string

Homeschool Field Log: Day 8

Today Thing 1 was very cooperative doing all the mundane workbooks and lesson plans The Researcher worked him through. He was rewarded by going to his favorite class: Comic Book Drawing at CSMA in Mt. View. The teacher just showed me some of the anatomy work he did last week...I thought he had the wrong drawings...wow! Thing 1 is a very decent drawer...who knew all those stick figures were just because he was too lazy to take the time to fill in all the fine details. The researcher forgot to take a picture of the work...will try to remember next week.

Thing 2 and The Researcher stuck around while Thing 1 was in class...used the time as photo shoot practice...

Control Variable loves this shot...he is an Apple guy through and through (RIP Microsoft).

Homeschool Field Log: Day 6 and 7

The Researcher and Things 1 and 2 have turned into petri-dishes for some viral air-borne pathogens. We all have fevers and coughs :0( We're taking it easy, sipping tea, and being lazy.

Homeschool Field Log: Day 5

Day 5 is Field Trip Day. We joined a good friend and his mom at Coyote Point Museum for Environmental Education. The museum is full of rescued/non-releasable animals, gardens, and educational exhibits. It's also right near the bay, a giant play-park, and some great walking trails.

We arrived around 11, and The Things all set out exploring. At one point, The Researcher found an exhibit and thought she was learning about a tornado, but Thing 1 corrected her. "It NOT a tornado, it a vortex because there's fluid in there." Excuse me *humph* I think we need to work on parlaying information without the attitude. We also learned about how bees make honey, and and about what turkey vultures eat.

Example 1, Squirrel habitat

Example 2, Currents

Example 3, Spectrophotometry

Example 4, Thing 2 liked this one.

Example 5, The History of The World.

Example 6, Took a nice little stroll along the marina.

Example 7, Thing 1's animal log. Poison Toad is my favorite.

Homeschool Field Log: Day 4

Example 1, classroom

Thing 1 started his new science class at Rock-It Science. It's run by a robotics engineer who is an amazingly nice and engaging person. Thing 1 was a bit nervous when we first arrived, but then he saw the kids taking apart an old fax machine, and waved The Researcher off without so much as a backwards glance. *sniff* When I returned Thing 1 said that he'd had a great time, and learned all about lighting eggs on fire...hope he doesn't try that at home!

Example 2, deconstructing some hardware

Example 3, The Researcher is a bit worried for her toaster...

Homeschool Field Log: Day 3

Day 3 started off rather early. Our session with the reading specialist was at 9:15am, and we barely make it in time because Thing 1 insisted on making her a love note (see Example 1). Thing 1's appreciation for pretty, smart women is something The Researcher fears come college time.

After, we stopped by the grocery store to pick up supplies for The Researcher's Dinner Club meeting tonight.

Thing 1 has some sensory issues that make food a constant battle. He is very picky about textures and tastes (he's got a strong gag reflex for all things green). He is also very active and burns more calories than he takes in each day. In an attempt to get him to eat better we try to integrate food into our day as much as possible (see Examples 2 and 3).

Thing 1 was given an allotment of $5.00 to purchase his lunch. His only stipulation was the meal must encompass all 5 of the major food groups (veg/fruit were lumped together). His choices were a bowl of chicken noodle soup and a GIANT doughnut. Well played my friend, well played.

Example 2, calculations

Example 3, Researcher should also stipulate majority of meal should be healthy next time, props for hitting all 5, though.

After lunch, Thing 2 went down for nap, and Thing 1 and I decided to try out some of the new memorization games through calisthenics I've been researching. We're working on increasing Thing 1's inane math factoid base to make for more rapid computation. More complex word problems are coming up fast so this should be helpful (see Examples 4 and 5).

Example 4, Math bounce

Example 5, core balance while adding by 3's.

Homeschool Field Log: Day 2

Example 1, macro bubbles

Day 2 of Homeschooling starts off well. We woke up reasonably closer to our target start time (9:30am). Breakfast was quick and efficient, and then we got down to business. We worked on syllables, phonics, and basic mathematical word problems. We also conducted a bubble experiment regarding the subject of "Inquiry" (see Examples 1, 2, 3, and 4). We collected the needed materials and had a good time making lots of bubbles and a big soapy mess (at least the counters are squeaky clean now).

Example 2 (Exhibit A - Glycerine and sugar added, Exhibit B - no sugar added)

Example 3, logging observations

Example 4, finished log entry

Thing 2 was especially needy today since all focus seemed to be on his counterpart. He wants desprately to do all the things Thing 1 does, but finds himself coming up short (literally). But good news for Thing 2, his buddy (we'll call him Muchachito) and Muchachito's nanny are willing to put up with him 3 hours, 3 mornings a week starting next Monday! She's also Spanish speaking so Thing 2 will get some good practice in before he goes to Immersion pre-school next year.

Unfortunately, we didn't make it to the pool to chill with Thing 1 and 2's friends this afternoon, but hopefully the weather will hold out this week so we can get some swim time in soon. The evening was ended with The Researcher reading Thing 1 the 2nd chapter of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.