Monday, January 26, 2004
Here I am again. Doug is about to sit for his Board of Review tonight for First Class in Boy Scouts. There are times that I worry that as a homeschooler of a parent that works outside the home, that he isn't learning all that he should. I know that I will probably NEVER relax in that regard, but there are times like this that I feel a sense of satisfaction. None of this was "gimme" stuff; otherwise, all of the other first-year scouts would be at First Class level.
On another note, Steve and I were at the neighbor's house on Friday night. They both told me what a sweet kid Doug is, and what a hard worker he is. It's great that other people compliment me on that, but I wonder why he can be so lazy with me??? I know, he isn't really.
I am going to start a list of stuff that we have worked on so that I can keep track of it for school purposes. Maybe I will eventually put his lesson plans online. But anyway, I am going to put up what he has learned and is working on.
On another note, Steve and I were at the neighbor's house on Friday night. They both told me what a sweet kid Doug is, and what a hard worker he is. It's great that other people compliment me on that, but I wonder why he can be so lazy with me??? I know, he isn't really.
I am going to start a list of stuff that we have worked on so that I can keep track of it for school purposes. Maybe I will eventually put his lesson plans online. But anyway, I am going to put up what he has learned and is working on.
Wednesday, January 21, 2004
Here's my latest discovery - intralibrary loan through the public library. They even have videos!
Doug wanted to do Ancient Egypt for social studies. Fine. We found a couple of books. The problem is making sure that he REALLY read the books. Even though Steve is home, he is working on the phone and stuff, talking with customers. So I thought that I would have Doug write five questions about what he learned while reading a section. I just don't think that he really is learning - maybe regurgitating.
Videos, I think, are going to be more successful. I found an age-appropriate video that comes with a teacher guide. Even though the city library system is pretty big, the branch by my house is pretty rinky-dink. Our library catalog is online, though, so I can see what we have throughout the system, and I can order it and have it delivered to my branch. They even email me when it arrives at my branch so that I can stop by and pick it up once it's arrived. How cool is that? And it doesn't even cost anything!!
Still working on Grandma's Toni Dolls article.
Doug wanted to do Ancient Egypt for social studies. Fine. We found a couple of books. The problem is making sure that he REALLY read the books. Even though Steve is home, he is working on the phone and stuff, talking with customers. So I thought that I would have Doug write five questions about what he learned while reading a section. I just don't think that he really is learning - maybe regurgitating.
Videos, I think, are going to be more successful. I found an age-appropriate video that comes with a teacher guide. Even though the city library system is pretty big, the branch by my house is pretty rinky-dink. Our library catalog is online, though, so I can see what we have throughout the system, and I can order it and have it delivered to my branch. They even email me when it arrives at my branch so that I can stop by and pick it up once it's arrived. How cool is that? And it doesn't even cost anything!!
Still working on Grandma's Toni Dolls article.
Tuesday, January 06, 2004
I haven't posted in almost a month - but that's because I have been so busy. With the holidays and everything else happening, we have gotten NO school done since we let out for the holidays - not even a read-aloud story. We have had a series of visitors since Christmas, the last string of them will be leaving on the 11th. We'll start back up on the 12th. The problem is, I don't know that I'm going to have time to create a lesson plan before then. I guess that's where the term "flexibility" comes in - better known as "winging it."
The good news that happened over the holidays was my mother-in-law complimenting me and Doug about how much he has learned since we started homeschooling. She, being a former teacher, was definitely against homeschooling. I think she changed her mind when Doug, a 6th-grader, was able to fully discuss the Texas redistricting issues, when our 12th-grade government-schooled daughter - who is taking Civics right now - hadn't a CLUE about it! Score one for the Dougster.
I'm going to have Doug help out with Grandma's website soon - www.gloriasdolls.com. We can put that under Computer Skills, I suspect!
The good news that happened over the holidays was my mother-in-law complimenting me and Doug about how much he has learned since we started homeschooling. She, being a former teacher, was definitely against homeschooling. I think she changed her mind when Doug, a 6th-grader, was able to fully discuss the Texas redistricting issues, when our 12th-grade government-schooled daughter - who is taking Civics right now - hadn't a CLUE about it! Score one for the Dougster.
I'm going to have Doug help out with Grandma's website soon - www.gloriasdolls.com. We can put that under Computer Skills, I suspect!
I haven't posted in almost a month - but that's because I have been so busy. With the holidays and everything else happening, we have gotten NO school done since we let out for the holidays - not even a read-aloud story. We have had a series of visitors since Christmas, the last string of them will be leaving on the 11th. We'll start back up on the 12th. The problem is, I don't know that I'm going to have time to create a lesson plan before then. I guess that's where the term "flexibility" comes in - better known as "winging it."
The good news that happened over the holidays was my mother-in-law complimenting me and Doug about how much he has learned since we started homeschooling. She, being a former teacher, was definitely against homeschooling. I think she changed her mind when Doug, a 6th-grader, was able to fully discuss the Texas redistricting issues, when our 12th-grade government-schooled daughter - who is taking Civics right now - hadn't a CLUE about it! Score one for the Dougster.
I'm going to have Doug help out with Grandma's website soon - www.gloriasdolls.com. We can put that under Computer Skills, I suspect!
The good news that happened over the holidays was my mother-in-law complimenting me and Doug about how much he has learned since we started homeschooling. She, being a former teacher, was definitely against homeschooling. I think she changed her mind when Doug, a 6th-grader, was able to fully discuss the Texas redistricting issues, when our 12th-grade government-schooled daughter - who is taking Civics right now - hadn't a CLUE about it! Score one for the Dougster.
I'm going to have Doug help out with Grandma's website soon - www.gloriasdolls.com. We can put that under Computer Skills, I suspect!
Off Topic:
I retyped this article about Toni Dolls for Grandma's website (she wrote it originally). Doug helped format it. It's
I retyped this article about Toni Dolls for Grandma's website (she wrote it originally). Doug helped format it. It's
Grandma's website is gloriasdolls
Monday, December 08, 2003
This is my first post. I'm going to chronicle my life as a homeschooling parent who happens to hold a job outside the house. Let me start by saying that I don't leave my son home alone all day. My husband is fortunate enough to work from an office located in our home. I do the lesson planning, teaching, and grading in the evenings, on weekends, and on my lunch break.
I get a lot of mixed reactions when I tell people about my life. "You must be nuts," (that's possible, just ask my kids) "That must be an awful lot of work," (it is, but my son is worth it) and "Wouldn't it be easier just to send him off to school every day?" (Nope. In 6th grade, there is at least 2-3 hours worth of homework every night anyway, may as well be stuff that he and I want him to learn and enjoy it!)
I get a lot of mixed reactions when I tell people about my life. "You must be nuts," (that's possible, just ask my kids) "That must be an awful lot of work," (it is, but my son is worth it) and "Wouldn't it be easier just to send him off to school every day?" (Nope. In 6th grade, there is at least 2-3 hours worth of homework every night anyway, may as well be stuff that he and I want him to learn and enjoy it!)
