This has little to do with Maggie and what she's doing. I'm mostly writing this for me to sort of straighten out my thoughts on the matter. This is about how I plan on teaching Maggie and why. That said, feel free to skip this one.
So, even though I hated school pretty much the entire time I went (all 17 years or so (ick!)), it never occurred to me to homeschool any future children I had. I didn't even think about it when I was pregnant. But at some point I saw or read something that gave me the idea and it was like an epiphany. I was sure that was what I wanted to do.
The reasons I don't want Maggie in a school (public or private) are probably too many to mention. Bullying (which is rampant in every school in America, regardless of any demographics), sexual harassment, learning mindless obedience, having teachers that don't like you, learning crap you don't care about, being ahead and bored or behind and frustrated, having zero control over most of your waking hours, being separated from your family for most of your waking hours, teaching to the test, consistently being taught and tested in ways that are accepted as the least successful ways of teaching and testing (ie paper and pencil) and on and on.
However, when I first decided to homeschool, I thought I would pretty much teach what's taught in schools now but teach it to Maggie in the best way for her so she could be more successful with the material.
But now I feel like about 99% of what's taught in schools is worthless. I think that 99% is probably different for everyone but beyond maybe the 3rd or 4th grade almost nothing is essential to know. Reading, writing and basic math are essential in life but beyond that, does it matter if I know the difference between a rabbit and a jackrabbit (an actual TEK for first graders)? Who cares? Not me. The more we force knowledge that kids see no reason to know, the more they resent school and come to hate learning. That's a whole nother thing so I won't rant about that.
Moving on. I believe that beyond the basics, kids should learn what they want to learn. However, I know I do better with structure and so does Maggie. I also know that things like video games and TV are addictive. So I wanted something where Maggie was self-directing her learning and had some sort of structure. Enter Project-based Homeschooling.
The idea of PBH is that you have set project time however often you decide but that's the end of your decisions. The child chooses her topic, her materials, her project and you assist as needed. Maggie wants to learn about space (shocking!). We went to the library today and I got a ton of books for her (I wanted to get a wide variety for her and then let her narrow them down). I found some documentaries on netflix and I'm sure there are lots on youtube. From here, I pretty much plan on trying to take the backseat and let her lead. This, of course, takes a tremendous amount of trust and I do feel a bit scared about it. I am excited to see how she takes to this and what she'll get from it.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Life
I got sick this week which caused us to miss school on Wednesday. Maggie was very disappointed. When we got ready to go (I tried to go to work), she asked for a snack to eat on the way to school. I told her uh, actually we're not going to school. She said ok. Then a few minutes later she asked, "Who told you there was no school today?" I said well actually mommy just doesn't feel good and she said ok. But she told me she was sad and she liked school and wanted to see her friends. I felt like an awesome mom. Or, you know, not.
For me, the most important thing about school is the relationships she has with the other kids. I want her to be able to have consistent friendships from the get go. And it's the first time she's ever told me how much she likes her school. So that was nice to know.
Later when I was really getting sick, I was doubled over in pain and she ran and got me a blanket and said, I'll take care of you Mommy. So sweet.
This week while working on Valentine's, Maggie got upset about something. I can't remember what but I told her I would talk to her when she calmed down and she got really angry and grabbed a piece of paper and her marker and put a bunch of x's on it and said these x's are for you. And then drew a stick figure with a frowny face, also for me. I get the frowny face but where did the x thing come from.
Later she saw the paper when she was calm and got this sad look on her face. She said, Mommy, I'm so sorry I was mean to you. She's so sweet.
Last night after reading her her nighttime story, I told her I loved her and that she was wonderful with a kind and loving heart. She told me, "Mommy, the inside of my heart is red and that's the good part. But there's a little part that's pink, that's the part of me that's bad." :( I told her that all of her was good and that she could make bad choices but she would always be a good person. I also told her that no matter what she did I would always love her.
After that she asked me if I was going to have another baby. I told her maybe someday. She said I don't know where the baby would go. So I told her if I had another baby I would first have to get married and we would have to move. It was a very odd conversation.
She's also been very curious about death recently. She asked me I was going to die. I told her yes but hopefully it wouldn't be for a very long time. I also tried to talk to her about ways you can be healthy and safe. I know it scares her. She wanted to know who would take care of her if I died. She tells me she would be so sad. :( Poor baby.
For me, the most important thing about school is the relationships she has with the other kids. I want her to be able to have consistent friendships from the get go. And it's the first time she's ever told me how much she likes her school. So that was nice to know.
Later when I was really getting sick, I was doubled over in pain and she ran and got me a blanket and said, I'll take care of you Mommy. So sweet.
This week while working on Valentine's, Maggie got upset about something. I can't remember what but I told her I would talk to her when she calmed down and she got really angry and grabbed a piece of paper and her marker and put a bunch of x's on it and said these x's are for you. And then drew a stick figure with a frowny face, also for me. I get the frowny face but where did the x thing come from.
Later she saw the paper when she was calm and got this sad look on her face. She said, Mommy, I'm so sorry I was mean to you. She's so sweet.
Last night after reading her her nighttime story, I told her I loved her and that she was wonderful with a kind and loving heart. She told me, "Mommy, the inside of my heart is red and that's the good part. But there's a little part that's pink, that's the part of me that's bad." :( I told her that all of her was good and that she could make bad choices but she would always be a good person. I also told her that no matter what she did I would always love her.
After that she asked me if I was going to have another baby. I told her maybe someday. She said I don't know where the baby would go. So I told her if I had another baby I would first have to get married and we would have to move. It was a very odd conversation.
She's also been very curious about death recently. She asked me I was going to die. I told her yes but hopefully it wouldn't be for a very long time. I also tried to talk to her about ways you can be healthy and safe. I know it scares her. She wanted to know who would take care of her if I died. She tells me she would be so sad. :( Poor baby.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Monday
There are two parts to learning how to read. One is learning phonics, the rules of sounds. What sound does d make, what about oo or ee? It's also learning to put these sounds together to create words.
The other is sight words. Sight words are common words that do not follow rules or are just easier to memorize. Was, this, I, on, etc.
Maggie and I work on both. I made up a million games to work on sight words, thinking that would be more interesting to her. But she just kept wanting to look at the cards and read them, ie flashcards. I prefer to learn like that as well but I think that's so funny. It's like she invented flashcards. "Mom, let's just look at each card and I'll read the word instead of this game."
Today after working on sight words, she read another one of our readers. It is amazing to listen to her read.
She's been requesting a lot of music lately. It's interesting to hear her choices. She's asked for I shot the sheriff (I talk to Sherry), Major Tom (Space Oddity) by David Bowie and One Way or another by Blondie. She told me she liked Crazy for You by Madonna but when I tried to play it for her again she said she didn't like it. Who knows?
She came home from her Dad's house today and, for the first time since she's had visitation with him, said that she had fun with him. Now, I think she does have fun with him but she always tells me no. This was the first time she said yep, she had fun. I was glad.
She also is usually awful on the day she comes home. Very sensitive and tantrum-y. No fun. But that's gone away mostly too. Today she was in a great mood. We did reading, math and writing and read several books together. She was very happy.
The other is sight words. Sight words are common words that do not follow rules or are just easier to memorize. Was, this, I, on, etc.
Maggie and I work on both. I made up a million games to work on sight words, thinking that would be more interesting to her. But she just kept wanting to look at the cards and read them, ie flashcards. I prefer to learn like that as well but I think that's so funny. It's like she invented flashcards. "Mom, let's just look at each card and I'll read the word instead of this game."
Today after working on sight words, she read another one of our readers. It is amazing to listen to her read.
She's been requesting a lot of music lately. It's interesting to hear her choices. She's asked for I shot the sheriff (I talk to Sherry), Major Tom (Space Oddity) by David Bowie and One Way or another by Blondie. She told me she liked Crazy for You by Madonna but when I tried to play it for her again she said she didn't like it. Who knows?
She came home from her Dad's house today and, for the first time since she's had visitation with him, said that she had fun with him. Now, I think she does have fun with him but she always tells me no. This was the first time she said yep, she had fun. I was glad.
She also is usually awful on the day she comes home. Very sensitive and tantrum-y. No fun. But that's gone away mostly too. Today she was in a great mood. We did reading, math and writing and read several books together. She was very happy.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Last Tuesday through today
Last Tuesday, Maggie, Ella, Aunt Laurie, Grandpa and Grandmo went to the Fort Worth Stock Show. I didn't go because I didn't think Jake could handle being awake and in such a loud, busy place for so long. Here's Maggie "keeping the bunnies warm."
School has been great. Maggie seems to really enjoy her classes. Although she isn't too interested in talking about them. Luckily I can peek in or just ask the other moms.
Last week we were doing a lesson on Martin Luther King, Jr. and I was trying to explain that people with black skin couldn't do the same things as people with white skin. Kyrie said, "Well, I have white skin, so that's okay." Ha!
Maggie informed me that Jake gave her a wedgie on her arm. I have no idea what that means.
Maggie decided she is okay with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Although I'm not sure she really understands what's happening. I'm thinking about shelving it for awhile and trying a chapter book that's easier for her to follow.
Tumbling is still going well. She loves the class and always looks forward to going. She has definitely decided she has no interest in ballet. I'm not sure what to think of that but I'm not going to make her go.
Maggie has been asking for a haircut forever so I set up a time when we could go visit Jan and cut Maggie's hair. The night before, while I was brushing her hair post-bath, I asked her how much hair she wanted cut off and she freaked out. She said she didn't want it cut. Then later she told me again. And the next day at Jan's she confirmed she didn't want it cut. She wouldn't even let Jan trim it (I think she was afraid we would cut it anyway). So, no hair cut.
Jan has a piano/keyboard in her living room and Maggie loved playing it. When I told her it was time to go, she said, "Let me play my goodbye song."
We were driving to Grandpa's house and Maggie said, "Mommy, look, that person has their Christmas lights all tangled in their bushes and they can't get them out. We need to go knock on his door and help him."
She also told me that a little boy in our homeschool co-op has a dumb face so she doesn't talk to him. :(
Here's Ella hugging a baby goat. Seriously, it doesn't get much cuter than that.
School has been great. Maggie seems to really enjoy her classes. Although she isn't too interested in talking about them. Luckily I can peek in or just ask the other moms.
Last week we were doing a lesson on Martin Luther King, Jr. and I was trying to explain that people with black skin couldn't do the same things as people with white skin. Kyrie said, "Well, I have white skin, so that's okay." Ha!
Maggie informed me that Jake gave her a wedgie on her arm. I have no idea what that means.
Maggie decided she is okay with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Although I'm not sure she really understands what's happening. I'm thinking about shelving it for awhile and trying a chapter book that's easier for her to follow.
Tumbling is still going well. She loves the class and always looks forward to going. She has definitely decided she has no interest in ballet. I'm not sure what to think of that but I'm not going to make her go.
Maggie has been asking for a haircut forever so I set up a time when we could go visit Jan and cut Maggie's hair. The night before, while I was brushing her hair post-bath, I asked her how much hair she wanted cut off and she freaked out. She said she didn't want it cut. Then later she told me again. And the next day at Jan's she confirmed she didn't want it cut. She wouldn't even let Jan trim it (I think she was afraid we would cut it anyway). So, no hair cut.
Jan has a piano/keyboard in her living room and Maggie loved playing it. When I told her it was time to go, she said, "Let me play my goodbye song."
We were driving to Grandpa's house and Maggie said, "Mommy, look, that person has their Christmas lights all tangled in their bushes and they can't get them out. We need to go knock on his door and help him."
She also told me that a little boy in our homeschool co-op has a dumb face so she doesn't talk to him. :(
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