sketch tuesday: R

Hurry!  If you finish up your sketches early this morning, you could still get them in for this week's sketch tuesday slideshow!  The theme is 'starting with the letter R'.
E-mail your sketches to Barb HERE.

Here are ours:





Obviously, in an ideal world, Barb prefers that we submit our sketches before Monday... but if you're like I was at first and you keep forgetting 'til the last second, well, Barb's so nice! ;)  Just get them in right now, and then next week, maybe you'll remember earlier.  The way I remember now is, I make it a Sunday afternoon {quiet time} suggestion... but today the kids beat me to it and brought it up today before I even had a chance to mention it :)

Map Skills: What we do

If you read this blog even remotely regularly, you'll catch on that I've ever-so-slightly had geography on the brain lately.  :)   See here and here if you doubt my words ;)  It's not that geography is all that we do... it's not even one of the MAIN things, so I'm not sure of the reason for all the latest craze!

But here we are.  :)

I've mentioned here that we've been using A Child's Geography: Explore The Holy Land by Ann Voskamp for the second half of AOy5 into the first half of this year.  In addition to mapping the readings for AmblesideOnline (which we have NOT been uber-faithful in doing for EVERY book over the years) we also hone our map skills using map drills ala SimplyCharlotteMason style. 




Here's what we do:

In AOy4 or AOy5, we formally begin Map Skills (depending on the child's skill level).  We use blackline maps and do the same sort of thing as we would do with picture study only with maps!  It's fun.  We pick a continent/region to concentrate on each term.  I give the boys their maps, they spend about 5 minutes looking at/memorizing what they can from the labeled map.  When they're done, or the time's up, they turn over the map and fill in everything they can remember - the country names/oceans, etc.  After a couple of weeks, once they have the general idea of the continent being studied, they usually like to spend time looking from various atlas maps as the coloring and such varies and makes it more interesting.

Now, since we do this weekly, there is no need to be sloppy.  They are to memorize one or two states or countries perfectly (spelling & capitalization) and fill them in.  Or, they are to remember as many as they possibly can and then refine the spelling later on (I prefer the former, my kids the latter ;).

They either hand this in for me to look over, or they self-correct using the labeled side of their map, or an atlas (this depends on my own assessment of how detail-oriented they are, or in need of encouragement).  They then wipe off their maps and store them away.

Also, since there are years of school ahead... I don't stress out about how much they remember (by the end of the term it is pretty amazing what all they know!).  Of course I want them to put forth their best effort, but they'll have other opportunities throughout the years to look at a map as it comes up in their readings and other studies.  What I'm aiming for is a good understanding of who is neighbors with who, which countries border the sea, which are land-bound, etc.  I also do try to choose a map that corresponds with what they'll be studying in the AO year they are in.

Materials:

Blackline map of the region desired.
Sheet protectors (with a glossy finish).
Fine tip, wet-erase pens (overhead markers).
Clear packaging tape (optional).
Sponge for wiping (optional).







How-to:

1. Print off maps (preferably find a map that has both labeled and blank versions of the same map, otherwise you'll have to fill in one neatly...)
2. Tuck into the sheet protector one labeled and one blank map back to back.
3. Tape the open edge shut (this will prevent your map from getting yucky when little people clean it off.
4. You are good to go!

Helpful Links:

THE 3 best sites online for FREE labeled and blank outline maps of the various regions -
National Geographic (print detailed, basic and even as simple continent outline, in .gif or .pdf!) &
Eduplace.com (available in .pdf only)
PrintableMaps.net

Expo Vis-A-Vis Wet Erase Markers, 8 Colored Markers - $7.50!  (pack of 4 pens is $6.50)
Avery Diamond Clear Heavyweight Sheet Protectors, Acid Free, Pack of 25 - These are the ones I use, cost a little more but are VERY good quality!  A great investment.

Nature Study: One of the Constants

"a child has natural relations with a vast number of things and thoughts: 

so we must train him upon physical exercises, nature, handicrafts, 

science and art, and upon many living books..."

Charlotte Mason, vol 1. pg7

 

I'm happy to say that nature study finally happens just about  every day around here.

I just treasure it when my littlest kids will bring me something from outside they've taken the time to acquaint themselves with. My eldest children will joyfully grab their journals and sit; observing, thinking and then sketching.  Ahhh. The JOYS of implementing study of the lovely...




It hasn't always been this way. Nature study used to be one of those things on the list that carried over from week to week rarely getting done. In years previous, nature study (or actually the time separated for, and labeled as such), used to be a hit and miss thing for us... but it has now come into full bloom over the last few years, and now is one of the things we never stop doing.  I can almost say that we are now pretty much constantly studying nature.  What happened to bring about this metamorphosis?




Things had to change.
Here's a list of our changes I've noted over the course of the last several years:


Several ways to make nature study one of the constants at your house...

1) Don't look at nature study as a school subject, but as a lifestyle.

Noticing creatures and plants and giving God glory for them is a WONDERFUL way to live. It doesn't have to fit into a time slot, or into a certain notebook. It's just a way that we can begin to think about and look at life. It is extremely refreshing!

2) Look out for living things EVERYWHERE.

Open your eyes and see what can be seen. We've seen bugs in parking lots, in the car, as well as on the trail. We can watch the landscape from car windows as well as from the ledge of a mountain hike. Pull out your camera and snap a shot if you don't have time to really look at it right at that very moment.  (You'll need to get into the habit of having a camera handy as well!)

3) Force yourself outside regularly.

Take a few moments to make yourself go outside, every day if possible. Even if it is just standing on the patio, or with your head out your open window! Schedule it if you have to. This helps especially when just beginning to make nature study a habit.  Don't even worry about whether or not this transfers to your kids or not.  Just make it your OWN habit... believe me, the excitement has a way of naturally transferring.  :)

4) Let yourself stop to wonder at the complexity and beauty of God's creation.

Sometimes, we let ourselves get SO busy that we don't even notice loveliness around us!  How sad is that?!  When we're busy we have to make a conscious effort to stop, slow down and smell the honeysuckle.  :)  When you see something, take the time to notice it and ask yourself questions about it. For example, 'WOW! Look at the eyes on that praying mantis! Ooh, I think he's watching me... I wonder if I move over here if his eyes will follow...' etc.

"So exceedingly delightful is this faculty of taking mental photographs, exact images, of the beauties of Nature we go about the world for the refreshment of seeing..."

Charlotte Mason, vol.1 pg 48

Now. For lots of years, nature study was an 'extra' around here (along with lots of other wonderful subjects)... And you know what?  It's okay... that was my yesterday... and I know it was just a stage. (Albeit a stage I hope never to regress to!)

The guilty conscience....  Probably all of us have been tempted to wish we had done things differently.  But, we don't need to beat ourselves up about what we've done or NOT done in the past.  We might be tempted to think we've wrecked our kids, and that the damage is irreversible.  Do you give yourself a hard time about stuff like that?  Would you rather not?   First, we need to accept things as they are... our reality.  We admit we're unhappy with how things have been, and let that motivate us to do things differently from this point forward.  It's never too late to start doing things better! (of course this carries over to ALL parts of life, doesn't it?)

Do you *do* nature study? 

How has it morphed in your life?

If it's your goal to begin... 

What will you do to make nature study part of the new you?

P.S.  I'm hosting the Charlotte Mason Blog carnival next Tuesday... have you submitted your post?

sketch tuesday: float

I LOVED the theme this week.  Lily pads are one of my FAVORITE floating things EVER.

One of the reasons I love Monet is because he painted lily pads...

One of the reasons I love the botanical garden in Trujillo is because of the lily pads...

and I SO loved making my sketch of lily pads!

I must say that interest has been somewhat waning on the whole sketch tuesday thing, because I refuse to make it a forced thing with my kids.  But this week, the two older boys really spent a good amount of time on theirs... what a worthwhile way to spend a quiet part of the morning!

{check out all the other entries here}

Ambleside Online, Geography {part two}

I just knew that you all were just sitting on the edge of your seats waiting for the sequel to the really long post with lots of book titles on it...  and I will not let you down!  ;)


Geography covered by region (AOy1-8): 

Now, you'll note some of the regions have more resources listed than others, that is in part due to the fact that several years list several book options.  From my estimation of things, The Book of Marvels in Y5, really adds a LOT to AO Geography...  Oh, and with exception to Kim in Y5 I haven't listed books under other categories such as Literature that might also add to the overall study of Geography **(see note below). Also, see AO's rotation for covering basic geography in years 1-6, here & click over to each year's booklist on the AO site to support them with your amazon-linked purchases, if you will!

I've also purposefully left out AO y9-11 because there is such a wide variety of books available, and much is left to parent/student discrimination/discretion.  :)  Feel free to mention certain geographical locations covered in any of those titles in the comments as well..  (see this post for complete list of Ambleside Online Geography titles - Years 1-11)






N. America:
(Y1) The Great Lakes (Canada/U.S. ) [Paddle-to-the-Sea by H.C. Holling]
(Y2) U.S. states of the Southwest [Tree in the Trail by Holling]
U.S. east coast, around South America, west coast of U.S. and to the Orient.[Seabird, Holling]
(Y4) Mississippi River; US States along river; Gulf of Mexico [Minn of the Mississippi, Holling]
(Y5) (The Bay Bridge, California), (San Francisco, California), (Yosemite Falls, California), (The Grand Canyon, Colorado/Arizona), (Boulder Dam, Colorado River), (Niagara Falls, Canada/New York), (New York City), (Washington DC) [Book of Marvels: The Occident, by Richard Halliburton]
(Y5) (Gulf of Mexico), (central Mexico), (Chicen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico) [Book of Marvels: The Occident, by Richard Halliburton]
(Y5) ch5 (American colonies); ch6 (Washington DC); ch7 (New England); ch8 (New York); ch9 (New England); ch10 (Great Lakes USA); ch11 (Mississippi River); ch12 (Florida); ch13 (western US); ch14 (Grand Canyon, Yellowstone western US); ch15 (California); ch16 (Alaska); ch17 (Canada); ch18 (Mexico); ch19 (Central America) [A Child's Geography of the World, Hillyer]







Carribean/S.America:
(Y5) (Haiti), The Panama Canal (Central America), (Machu Picchu, Peru), Iguaza Falls (Argentina/Brazil), (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), [Book of Marvels: The Occident, by Richard Halliburton]
(Y5) ch20 (Caribbean, Cuba, Haiti, etc) ch21 (Ecuador, Peru); ch22 (Amazon River, Brazil); ch23 (Argentina, Chile) [A Child's Geography of the World, Hillyer]
(Y7) Spain, Atlantic Ocean, Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Canary Islands, Cuba, Lesser Antilles, Greater Antilles, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Trinidad, Venezuela, Central America [Christopher Columbus, Mariner
by Samuel Eliot Morison] OR [The Life of Christopher Columbus by Edward Everett Hale]
(Y7) Peru, South America, Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands [Kon-Tiki by Thor Heyerdahl ]






Africa:
(Y5) (Timbuctoo, western Africa), (spray from Victoria Falls, south Africa) [Second Book of Marvels: The Orient, by Richard Halliburton, 1938]
(Y5) ch64 (Egyptian pyramids); ch65 (Morocco, Sahara Desert); ch66 (Africa, Livingstone); ch67 (African jungles); ch68 (South African diamonds)  [A Child's Geography of the World, Hillyer]
(Y6) Mid-Southern Africa [The Story of David Livingstone, Vautier Golding]






Europe:
(Y3) Mediterranean Sea, Italy, Adriatic Sea, China, South (east) Asia, tiny bit of former USSR? [Marco Polo, see AO site for recommended authors]
(Y5) Gibraltar (Spain), Carcassonne (castle in southern France),Mount St. Michael (castle in northern France), (Reims Cathedral, France), The Tiger of the Alps (Matterhorn, Switzerland), The Monastery of St. Bernard (Switzerland/Italy), St. Peter's (Rome, central Italy), (Mt. Vesuvius, southern Italy), (Pompeii, southern Italy), (Blue Grotto, Capri, off Italy), (Athens, Greece), (Simopetra, Orthodox monastery, Mount Athos, northern Greece), (Moscow), (Santa Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey)
[Book of Marvels: The Occident, by Richard Halliburton]
(Y5) ch25, 26 (England); ch27 (Wales, Ireland); ch28, 29 (France); ch30 (Belgium, Holland); ch31 (Gibraltar, Granada); ch32 (Madrid, Portugal); ch33 (Switzerland); ch34 (Venice); ch35 (Florence); ch36 (Rome, St. Peter's); ch37 (Mt. Vesuvius); ch38 (Germany); ch39 (Denmark); ch40 (Scandinavia); ch41 (Norway, Sweden); ch42 (tip of Norway); ch43 (Russia); ch44 (southern Russia, Caspian Sea,); ch45 (Poland, Romania, Yugoslavia); ch46 (Greece); ch47 (Turkey) [A Child's Geography of the World, Hillyer]
(Y7) North along the west coast of Ireland [The Brendan Voyage by Tim Severin]
(Y7) Britain, places in beloved storybooks (Winnie-the-Pooh Country),(Robert Louis Stevenson’s childhood home), (Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons), the River Thames, looking for Toad Hall by Kenneth Grahame in The Wind in the Willows, Pook’s Hill (on Rudyard Kipling’s farm), the heights of Tintagel, etc. [How the Heather Looks by Joan Bodger]

Middle East:
(Y5) Middle East [How the Heather Looks, by Voskamp]
(Y5) The Travels of Demetrius (Greece and Ephesus, Turkey), (King Mausolus's tomb, western Turkey),
The Colossus (Rhodes, off Turkey), The Pharos (lighthouse, Alexandria, Egypt), (Sphinx and Pyramids, Egypt), The Pyramids Today (Cairo, Egypt), The Labyrinth (Knossos, Crete), (Mecca, Saudi Arabia), (Petra, Holy Land), The Dead Sea (Holy Land), (Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem), (Solomon's Temple, Jerusalem), (Temple of Jupiter, Syria), (Queen of Palmyra, Syria), (Bagdad, Persia/Iraq), Babylon (Iraq)[Second Book of Marvels: The Orient, by Richard Halliburton, 1938]
(Y5) ch47 (Turkey); ch48 (Asian camels); ch49 (Asia Minor); ch50 (the Holy Land); ch51 (Jerusalem, Israel); ch52 (Nineveh, Bagdad); ch53 (Arabia, Mohammed); ch54 (Persia/Iran)






Asia:
(Y3) Mediterranean Sea, Italy, Adriatic Sea, China, South (east) Asia, tiny bit of former USSR? [Marco Polo, see AO site for recommended authors]
(Y5) (Madrasa College and Isfahan, Persia), (Udaipur, western India), (Palace in Udaipur, western India), (Taj Majal, Agra, India), (Taj Majal, Agra, India), (Mt. Everest, Nepal/Tibet), (Lhasa, Tibet), (Bhuddist Dalai Lama, Lhasa, Tibet), (Hindu temple, Madura, southern India), (Indo-China temple, Angkor, Cambodia), (Great Wall, China), (Fujiyama, Japan), [Second Book of Marvels: The Orient, by Richard Halliburton, 1938]
(Y5) ch48 (Asian camels); ch49 (Asia Minor); ch55 (Calcutta, India); ch56 (Bombay, Hindus); ch57 (Siam, Thailand, Burma); ch58 (Tibet); ch59 (China); ch60 (China); ch61 (Siberia); ch62 (Japan); ch63 (Fuji, Japan)  [A Child's Geography of the World, Hillyer]
(Y5) India [Kim, Rudyard Kipling]

Australia/Oceania: ?!?!?!?
(Y5) ch69 (Australia)  [A Child's Geography of the World, Hillyer]
What in the world?!?  You Aussie ladies have got the right to protest!
Give some suggestions here, PLEASE!! 

Atlantic Voyages:
(Y5) ch 24 (Atlantic Ocean) [A Child's Geography of the World, Hillyer]

(Y7) North along the west coast of Ireland, then north-west and north to thread through the Hebridean islands, north again to the Faroes, then west to Iceland, west again to Greenland, then south-west along the coast and the edge of the Arctic pack ice to Labrador and Newfoundland. [The Brendan Voyage by Tim Severin]
(Y7) Spain, Atlantic Ocean, Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Canary Islands, Cuba, Lesser Antilles, Greater Antilles, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Trinidad, Venezuela, Central America [Christopher Columbus, Mariner
by Samuel Eliot Morison] OR [The Life of Christopher Columbus by Edward Everett Hale]

Pacific Voyages:
(Y5) ch70 (South Sea Islands, Hawaii) [A Child's Geography of the World, Hillyer]
(Y7) Peru, South America, Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands [Kon-Tiki by Thor Heyerdahl ]

General Geography: understanding oceans, topography, mountains, atmosphere, etc.
(Y4)  ch1 (General Earth Intro); ch1, 2 (Atmosphere); ch3 (Continents); ch4 (Oceans); ch5 (Seasons, Climates, Weather); ch6, ch7 (Inner Earth, Core, Tectonics); ch8 (Volcanoes); ch9, ch10 (Latitude, Longitude) [A Child's Geography: Explore His Earth, Ann Voskamp]
(Y5) ch1 (the world from space); ch2 (mentions millions of years evolution); ch3 (cross section of the earth); ch4 (all the people on earth) [A Child's Geography of the World, Hillyer]


**Please point out any errors you see, and/or any additions in the comments...

Tips for a successful school day

After about 5 years of teaching my children, I have finally figured out ahead of time what will help me to have a good day!  I've experienced huge motivation to get my act together after too many days when everything that could have HAS gone wrong, everyone's upset and I feel that I'm failing miserably in this daunting task called homeschooling.  In the last 4 years I've been somewhat consistent at implementing these changes and I can attest to their awesome improvements!

very hilarious, OLD photo!  awwww...

So, here's a list of things, that if I can manage to accomplish all these things, I am pretty much guaranteed a successful day of learning in our house.

1. Wake up on time 

For me sadly, this is no small thing. I am the queen of sleeping in. For years I've not thought it possible for me to consistently wake up early. I do think my body needs more sleep than some to stay healthy, and for this to happen realistically, I have to get to bed at a regular hour the night before. Truthfully, this has taken a few years to realize how really important this is and how it affects my attitude and even my outlook on life.

2. Read the Word of God

Taking time to focus my day, my attitude, my priorities. Vital. I do this before I even get out of bed.

3. Turn things over to Him

I recognize that I will mess everything up if left all to myself (constant reliance on the Spirit throughout the day, I need LOTS of reminders). This is VERY important.  - Included here, is the fact that I must be willing to turn things back over to Him if they start getting crazy...  :)

4. Get dressed and shod...

... and not just sweatpants and t-shirts, when I'm really dressed I feel better and if someone comes to the door, or I have to run out quick, I'm ready. In our line of work and in this country, people show up at ANY time and it used to be such a frustration for me... but NOT anymore, 'cause I'm ready for 'em ;) Now if I only could manage to have a meal ready at all times... heheh.
Being nicely dressed whether or not I have plans to leave the house, I've found, has helped my Beloved to relate to me in a manner I really like as well. I dress everyday with him in mind.

5. Establish the kids in their own morning routine.

I'm actually in the middle of implementing this right now. My kids wake up before the crack of dawn, NO MATTER WHAT time they went to bed. They would wake up and play (boys play loud) and then play until lunch time if left to themselves. I would regularly get frustrated when I called them down to breakfast that they weren't dressed and their room was a mess. Now, I've created a checklist of things for them to do before 8am - breakfast. I now just need to get them a clock for their room to make sure it's all done on time, and without reminders!

6. Have plan in place for breakfast, the night before.

This could be as simple as just knowing what we're going to eat, or it could mean actually preparing it ahead and having the table all set.

7. Do not turn on the computer before starting school

I know myself. I have a hard time just checking mail! In my mail there are ads that I just have to read, my AmblesideOnline or Spell to Write & Read and MathUsee yahoo groups to browse, and then there are notes to respond to and links to freebies and all the rest, and before I know it, I'm late starting... again.

8. Keep the little kids nearby at all times.

This is vital to a peaceful day. If the kids are nearby, I can sense when trouble is afoot. When I get busy or distracted and they are left to themselves, I discover little messes around the house made by sneaky, hungry kiddos. Not to mention, I get frustrated at the frequent sometimes fierce combats that ensue upstairs that cause me to have to run up to play policewoman before someone is killed. If they are with me, this doesn't happen. We like being together :)

9. Having a plan 

Sounds obvious, but... Knowing what I'm supposed to be teaching and what the kids are supposed to be learning and doing each day, let alone at certain checkpoints throughout the day, is absolutely essential. I need several planning days a year (speaking of which I haven't had one for...TOO long - no wonder I'm a mess ;), in order to keep on top of all of the kiddos learning requirements. I actually benefit from having a daily schedule that keeps all of life a little more trackable.

10. Keep 'em busy!

My Beloved and I have had a tumultuous last year with moving back here to Peru, hosting various guests - some with moderate stays, and just the extreme busy-ness of ministry and cross-cultural dealings. We don't have TV, and limit movies to once a week or so. The kids don't play outside in the neighborhood because it is unsafe... all this has meant many days where school consists simply of the basics and the kids are left with lots of free time. While free time cultivates creativity perhaps, my kids creativity doesn't seem to need any cultivation, it's in full bloom! What they need more of is direction. So, making sure their assignments are clear, giving them work to do around the house, and even providing directed play or project ideas has been very helpful. This includes keeping the little ones busy while we do school with the older ones. Having toddler and preschool activities on hand at all times has helped immensely.

So there you have it :) That's what we do...

What do you do? 

a repost from the archives...