Homeschoolers: February check-in

[SusanH]

A few random questions to get us going:

1. What are your favorite online resources?
2. Are you studying anything unusual right now (ie, not something that would normally be covered in school)?
3. What are your kids career goals, if they're old enough to have them?
4. Anything else you'd like to talk about?

[SusanH]

1. What are your favorite online resources? I was just sent a link to some of the Google educational stuff which looks interesting. Dh and dd have enjoyed using Scratch, which is a free computer programming language for kids. And we have lots of math game sites. Susy's favorite right now is iknowthat.com

2. Are you studying anything unusual right now (ie, not something that would normally be covered in school)? Programming is probably unusual since she's so young. She's also asked to learn a little Russian. Her major love right now is baking. She created and baked her own cookie recipe yesterday which actually turned out to be an edible cookie. I was impressed!

3. What are your kids career goals, if they're old enough to have them? Susy says she wants to be either a chemist or a baker - "They're both science, Mom. But one is tastier and the other has more science." Sam continues to want to be Batman.

4. Anything else you'd like to talk about? Has anyone done flat travelers (http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/flattraveler/) and would anyone be interested in doing it with us? We might not really be able to start something like that until after we move next month but I think dd would really enjoy it!

[ElizabethN]

Susan, it's probably too advanced for Susy to read by herself right now, but do you have a copy of Of Food and Cooking (http://www.amazon.com/Food-Cooking-Science-Lore-Kitchen/dp/0684800012/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1202408226&sr=8-1)? It's an absolutely fabulous book about the chemistry and history of cooking. Things like electron micrographs of wheat showing the different structures and explaining why hot-water doughs behave differently from cold-water doughs, etc. If Susy is interested in the chemistry of it all, it might be fun for the two of you to look at together.

[ebmomma]

I've been sick for the last week with the flu-quickly-followed-by-head-cold, so i have no extra energy to think of answers to your questions. For the next couple of weeks, we will do the same old, same old. Hoping it warms up soon, for more than one day at a time :rolleyes: so we can spend some serious time outside.

Susan, we would be interested in doing the flat traveler with you! I have a few thoughts on it, if anyone else is interested in doing it also. PM me when you are ready to do it!

[acorn]

Susy says she wants to be either a chemist or a baker - "They're both science, Mom. But one is tastier and the other has more science."

I'm just lurking, but I just cracked up at this. Tell her that she can also consider molecular biology. I always laugh that I do exactly the same things at lab and at home in the kitchen...baking just works more often and tastes better. If she really gets into science and cooking, there are some great resources out there. For example, Fine Cooking a few years ago had a great article on baking cookies that explained what the different ingredients so and how to alter things to change color and texture (for example baking soda is partially for leavening but also darkens cookies).

[SusanH]

I'd definitely love science/cooking resources if there are more to share. Thanks to you both!

Valarie, remind me of flat traveler after the move if I haven't contacted you. Some friends of ours are starting to try it and we're hoping to do one for them after we move. I told Susy about it and she thinks it sounds really fun.

[Cait]

1. What are your favorite online resources? Honestly? It's the Homeschool Library, which is a home schooling message board. I know there are a ton out there, but I've found this one to be a gathering of a lot of experienced, bright home schoolers and I've really got some great advice and found out about a lot of interesting projects/curriculum, etc.

2. Are you studying anything unusual right now (ie, not something that would normally be covered in school)? Not really. It was pretty funny though because last week we were out with some work acquaintances and there was a woman there who grew up in Athens. She and I were talking about Ancient Greece and I was telling her how much I'd love for her to come over and talk to Madeleine about growing up there since Madeleine was learning about Homer, Troy, the Golden Age of Athens, etc. in history, and also the Greek alphabet and the woman, who is a history buff, was saying how much she'd love to and blah and blah and how great it was how Madeleine was leaning all this and then she got a confused look on her face and interrupted herself and said, "They learn about Greek history in schools here?" I had to tell her no, I don't think so, but we're home schooling, so we are. So, yeah, I guess that's unusual. :lol: We also get into the nitty gritty and mechanics of grammar a lot more than I know kids in the public schools in our area are, but I don't know if that's unusual.

3. What are your kids career goals, if they're old enough to have them? DD1 wants to either be a teacher or a children's book author and illustrator. DS wants to be a rancher. :lol:

4. Anything else you'd like to talk about? We're going roller skating this month with our home school group; we're very excited! :clap:

[Cait]

Hey, that flat traveler activity sounds really fun. We'd love to participate!

[Mandowife]

1. What are your favorite online resources? I love reading the homeschool blogs
2. Are you studying anything unusual right now (ie, not something that would normally be covered in school)? We are doing Latin and also The Fallacy Detective (logic)
3. What are your kids career goals, if they're old enough to have them? Hannah wants to be a mechanic, Meggie will be a horse vet, with a horse farm and wants to sleep in the stables with her horses:lol:, Naomi wants to be either a fashion designer or an interior designer, Grace wants to be a small animal vet and Jack wants to be a train engineer, cowboy, fireman and semi truck driver...all at the same time:lol:
4. Anything else you'd like to talk about? We would love to participate in the flat traveler!!

[hapo2nd]

1. What are your favorite online resources? I love browsing the HSing message boards. My favorite is "the denim jumper".


2. Are you studying anything unusual right now (ie, not something that would normally be covered in school)? hmmmm. Sort of. We're currently learning about the Great Depression and while that IS taught in school, it typically isn't taught in 4th grade.


3. What are your kids career goals, if they're old enough to have them? DS wants to be a soldier like daddy (i'm working on changing his mind :eek: ). DD's goals change by the day. Today she wants to own a horse farm. Tomorrow, who knows!?!?


4. Anything else you'd like to talk about? I'm pretty tickled as I think I've finally figured out a writing program that DS will actually ENJOY. Also, we've started "read-aloud evenings" and it's a huge hit with the kids. They sit in the livingroom and sketch/color/sew/lego while I read aloud for 30-40 minutes. It's a great way for me to let them choose the books they WANT to read (independently), but still get to chose the literature/characters they're exposed to (as read-alouds are *my* choice ;) )

We'd LOVE to be involved with flat traveler! SUsan, hurry up and get settled in your new digs! :lol: