Did I say Friday was great?.

FIELD TRIP

!YEAH!

Today we went to the FAKE snow. Did I mention it doesn't snow where we live?

So here are the reasons that

WE KNOW

that this HAD to be fake snow

1. It was not cold enough for snow. 30 degrees Fahrenheit 0 degrees Celsius

2. There weren't the right kind of clouds in the sky

3. There were NO snow crystals (they are actually BUBBLES)

4. So our conclusion is that before the snow hit us

IF IT WAS REAL SNOW

it would have turned into RAIN

The Avalanche

Friday we had a FANTASTIC Afterschooling day. We talked about Avalanche's and did a fun science experiment. And just to prove that we learned something we decided to write a story about an Avalanche. We all worked together and tried to add some good Avalanche lingo...

THE AVALANCHE

written by:

Our Family

There was a peaceful town in Colorado. Matthew lived in a house close to the mountains. There was a storm blowing and the wind was pushing the snow. It started snowing new fresh snow like crazy. Matthew was worried that there would be an avalanche. He could see a heavy layer of snow forming from the East. Just then the snow began to fall and Matthew heard a loud noise. He could see a mountain with snow rolling down. He could see the starting zone of a heavy avalanche. He evacuated his home as fast as he could for his home was located in the run out zone. The only place of safety was down by the road where his vehicle waited for him to drive away fast and get away from the avalanche. He watched sadly as his home was destroyed. Weeks past and the only evidence of the avalanche were the tracks that it left behind. Because his home was destroyed by an avalanche Matthew decided to move to a warmer climate where hopefully he will stay clear of rock slides.

THE END

Snow Sculptures

Our lesson today called for SNOW!! Well not where we come from, if we have snow it is MAN MADE. So that's what we did we made snow with our handy dandy Pampered Chef Ice shaver.

Lesson: 3-D Snow Story Scene

Each one of our Kiddos chose a Story to read. After they read the story they chose something out of the story to create out of SNOW. When their creation was complete they painted it with water colors. SO FUN!!!

After all of the creations were complete each kiddo took their turn presenting their 3-D sculpture and giving a synopsis of the story they read.

Diary of an Afterschooling mom

I have decided that I needed a way to express my success, frustration, excitement, failure and all other emotions that come with our new adventure. So this will be my first of I am sure many entries into my DIARY OF AN AFTERSCHOOLING MOM.

Dear Diary,
This is my first week of Afterschooling with my children. I can't believe how much we have learned already. Not only academically but we have learned so much about each other our emotions, talents, desires, ambitions for learning and for a lack of a better word our STAMINA. I really think for my own benefit I will begin with my (our) success. Afterschooling has brought our family together in a way we have never experienced. We are shut in a room for an hour focusing on one thing only and that is each other. Since daddy is home in time for Afterschooling it is ALL of us!! Homework is less chaotic, chores get done, the kids get more positive attention and I have slept so much better this week (no guilt). Time to get a little more specific.... Spencer loves art and crafts and he is loving Afterschooling, Matthew is sharing the things he learns with his teacher and his class, Kendal has been play cooking more (daddy loves her cooking), and this is REALLY hard to believe but after just 4 days Maggie is reading. YEAH FOR US!!!
I wish that was it, it is PERFECT! Of course that would not be speaking the truth. There have definitely been frustration and points of feeling like this isn't working it is going to fail. Part of our program is playing right after school, taking a good break. Well, all of the other kids in the neighborhood do homework first which puts us on an opposite schedule. That is a big bummer for mostly Matthew and he does not hide emotions. Speaking of emotions, Kendal is a bit fussy during Afterschooling and that has posed a few problems. And yesterday Matthew had quite a bit of homework and Piano lessons which did not leave much time for our activities we had planned. I am also having trouble getting the math enhancement in, I need to make it more fun. Because I am good at voicing my frustration and very bad at hiding it my GREAT husband asked me for more specific things he can do. So he is going to start helping with the more in depth lesson plans that include Science experiments, Internet research and multiple day data entry. I am so thankful that he gets to be and wants to be a part of this.
Overall I have to say the success definitely out ways the frustrations and I am so excited to continue this ADVENTURE with my FAMILY.

It is snowing in our new Afterschooling room

We did it! We started our first theme, Let It Snow. We spent most of the day Saturday rearranging our house to make room for our new ADVENTURE and then we set sail. We learned about how Snow Crystals are formed and why sometimes snow crystals turn into sleet, freezing rain or just plain rain. Next we got crafty...................

It is snowing in our Afterschooling room

Catching Snow Flakes

While the boys were laying in bed last night Spencer said "Hey Matthew, since snow flakes have to start with a piece of dust, dirt or bacteria we probably shouldn't eat it." HE WAS LISTENING!!!

Sunday Baking

GINGERBREAD MEN, ALIENS and PATRICK (from Sponge Bob)

We talked about what would need to happen for it to snow on our Ginger-creatures and let the kids loose with the Powdered sugar. Which is our hot weather version of WINTER SNOW!!

As much as the kids learned and as much fun as they had I think the most lasting effect is the time we spent TOGETHER. Oh yeah and we learned that Daddy is a professional Snow Flake constructor.

Let it SNOW

So I am very SERIOUS about this! I just selected our first THEME, LET IT SNOW. I actually purchased a downloadable theme off of The Homeschooling Learning Network. I figure it will give me an idea of what is available and a head start on getting going ASAP. Plus how fun will visiting the snow be for our fieldtrip.

The Plan

After reading articles, blogs, visiting websites and well reading up on what Afterschooling is really all about, I have come up with a plan. The article that really gave me direction had no personalized information. This helped me to visualize our own plan and the needs of the children in my family verse going off something someone else has already created. The article did this by giving topics and questions which I was able to answer with ease.

First: Decide what you want to emphasize.
I want to supplement what they are learning in school as well as provide more challenge in the areas of Math, Grammar and Writing
Introduce History
Have a monthly Theme that will provide for our additional learning and experiences that are not available at school
Encourage more reading and older sibling assisting in reading to and teaching younger siblings
Life skills, chores, shopping, cooking, couponing
Spiritual growth

I know this seems like A LOT but not all of these areas I would like to emphasize will seem like school and learning. I also had my eyes opened to the endless opportunities and times to sneak learning into your childs day. I really want to try to make this FUN, I want them to know that learning can be FUN and mostly I want to be right there to tell them how well they are doing and how great they truly are.

Second: Gauge your time.
I would like to spend an hour a day on Afterschooling and 2 hours on Saturdays. Now keep in mind that Afterschooling includes much more than SCHOOL WORK. Our program and the one hour will consist of homework, chores, theme activities, field trips, shopping together, cutting coupons together, cooking together, reading books, doing crafts, and other things.

Third: Find your sources.
This is something I am still working on and that I am sure is never ending thanks to the INTERNET. Here are some of the sources I have already found:
Story Of The World History Curriculum
Home Schooling 101 It has prepared themes with math, science, art etc.
AIMS Education Foundation
Googol learning Good list of resource sites
I am still on the look out and would love suggestions.

So in a nut shell this is the plan. AHHHH I HAVE A PLAN! Now all that's left is getting started, ready or not here WE GO!

New Adventures

About four years ago my first son was tested and found to be GIFTED. Exciting right? Well after three full years of being my sons advocate for receiving this higher education I have yet to make a break through. I have become frustrated and am now taking a new route. I learned about Afterschooling on the Internet when I was collecting information on the character traits of the gifted child to present at yet ANOTHER parent conference. The more I read about the Afterschooling program the more I thought this may be exactly what I am looking for. I have read all of the fun warnings that beware: Most Afterschooling parents decide to become full time Homeschoolers. Well whatever happens this is a start and a step in a positive direction. Yes I will continue to be an advocate of education for my gifted son and my other children as well but in the mean time we have new direction and are moving on instead of pacing and waiting. So wish us Good Luck as we begin our ADVENTURES IN AFTERSCHOOLING!!