Still chucking away... PROMISE

Oh I have been neglecting my blog. I even posted a few weeks ago about how I was going to try better. AND I have a bunch of plans to improve my blog and make it more fun and resourceful for all who browse. I just need more time or less ambition.

We are still working on our Continents and two out of three of my kiddos have completed their continent unit complete with; animal collage, report, craft and meal. Here are some pictures of the festive happenings.

Maggie studied Africa:

She is doing so well in school and loves school work. School work has actually replaced playing, all she wants to do is read, write and create pictures for her teacher and friends. No complaints here! Because this is her new love she was right on with her project and loved doing it.

AFRICA

Spencer studied Asia:

He is have a little struggle with writing. He is good at it and very creative he just doesn't enjoy doing it. So he had a little bit of a hard time putting in the extra work but he was glad when he was finished and got to present it at dinner. I really think making a production and having it be really worth their time helps with encouragement as well as success. He does love crafting so that part came very easy for him, he even learned some origami (check out his cup in the picture below).

ASIA

If you visit this website you will find cool kid friendly (stuff they will eat) recipes from all over the world; dltk kids.

Hello World

A little about me. I am kind of over the top, over achiever, never do anything half way. You may be thinking that is a good thing but I assure you it has its down falls too. On Sunday I took one of the steps to refocusing on Afterschooling and I sat down and read through all three of the Core Knowledge books for my children's grades. I took notes, compared, contrasted and came up with an entirely new Afterschooling plan. It really only took a few hours but it was totally worth it. I am not proud of my wishy washy up a little down a little schedules and ideas for Afterschooling but it is what it is. We learn as we go.

We just started a new World History unit (we will come back to U.S. History) and the kids are really taking to it. Each of the Core Knowledge grade levels has a World History unit that I will be using for our studies. We have already learned a song to memorize our 7 continents that Matthew taught us and we are working on our oceans. The kids have each chosen a continent to study independently and they will present a report (based on age related capabilities), a craft, an animal collage, power point of their favorite animal and a culinary night. They are so excited and already on their way to completing their reports and animal collages.

Yesterday was Veteran's Day and the kids had school off so we took their animal research and went to the World Wildlife Zoo. They each took turns taking pictures and reading about animals from their continent. I thought that they would get bored after a few animals but they stayed focused all the way to the end. As we were leaving the park they were still saying, "Hey that duck is from your continent" and passing the camera. Now they will take their digital photos and turn them into a collage to present at their continent night. It was a fun day and a good reminder for me that they want to learn. Learning is fun!

My new blog layout will have a section specifically for our daily schedule. I will have it posted soon in a location that will be easy to change (you know me).

Until Next Time

Artifacts

Wow, did we have a great Saturday! I love the end of a unit study that we are working on. I am totally into the "GRAND FINALE" of unit studies. We work so hard and learn so much that we all deserve a good fun ending to a job well done. We have been talking about Native Americans for some time now. We have been through all of the Native American studies in the Core Knowledge books, explored some good web sites and recently learned about the Native Americans in relation to the history of our country. It has been a fun study and perfect timing heading into Thanksgiving time. I hope that at school as they study about Thanksgiving and how it originated that the things they learn will be familiar and their knowledge will be added upon. So here it is our "Grand Finale" to our Native American studies.

Montezuma's Castle

Home to the Sinagua Indians

The kids had the opportunity to become Junior Rangers and learn additional information about the trees, plants, animals and structures that we were visiting.

They were very tentative and enjoyed looking at the artifacts and reading about Native American life. Most of the time they had looks of unbelief on their faces, "They wore that for a shoe?" "What did they play with?" "How did they make that?" It was a day of learning, fun and a lot of walking.

My favorite part was this diorama above of the inside of Montezuma's Castle. There was a recording that went along with the diorama and it really helped all of us to open our minds and really put ourselves there with the Sinagua people and better understand their lives. The kids picked a room, a job and thought about what the children may have done all day.

For those of you that know me you know that I WAS LOVING THIS! Not only did we get a great view of Native American life but we saw something else we don't get to see where we live FALL. The kids were in awe at the sight of these beautifully colored trees that are only talked about in school. It made me so happy!!

Montezuma's Well

This is the water source that kept the Sinagua Indians in this area. They built amazing irrigation canals to provide water for their crops.

It was a beautiful hike in and out to get to the well site.

Tuzigoot
More homes of the Sinagua Indians

This museum had many more interesting artifacts and the kids again were all eyes. Look at this, come here, you have to see this. Who knew they would be so excited.

This was another good uphill climb but absolutely worth it. We were able to go inside of the structures and climb to the top where we got a good look at the land all around. The Ranger explained to us where neighboring Sinagua communities were located,where they planted crops and where they traded goods.

The entire day was awesome! The best part, we were all together as a family participating in "good wholesome recreational activities". I love Afterschooling!!

Confessions of an Afterschooling mom

I started out with the title: Diary of an Afterschooling mom and decided that wasn't quite right. Today it is confessions.

I am a slacker! Or at least I feel like one. This past week my husband and I sat down together and I asked him to review my Afterschooling schedule with me because we really aren't hitting everything. As we looked over the outline and gave a nod to the things we have been working on and a moan to the things we haven't been working on discouragement set in. We both agreed that the outline was doable we just needed to post it and review it each day.

It really is a good outline and it took me a little over a year to come up with one that I really like. I just get lost in the "world". Sad, I know, but there is so much to do, see, create, play with and buy. It starts to absorb my time and energy so at the end of the day when it is time for Afterschooling I am tired and I don't give the 100% that my kiddos deserve.

When I first learned about Afterschooling it was all I could think about. I joined forums, online groups and even started this blog. It was so motivational to hear from others, to get ideas and share our frustrations. I guess the Honey Moon is over and now it is going to take effort and work to keep the spirit alive. After reviewing the schedule with my husband I decide to visit some of the forums that I had joined during my Honey Moon phase. They got me so pumped up and I gathered at least a couple of ideas to fire me back up. I guess that is why the world is filled with tons of people carrying an endless supply of knowledge and talents so we can work together, learn from each other and make our voyages easier to travel. I do love Afterschooling it's my favorite journey that I have been on as a mother.

I am going to recommit myself to the journey. Pull in my anchor and set sail. Full speed ahead!

Here is the schedule for this year (you know the one I haven't been following). I know that I have posted the areas that we will be focusing on this year (find it here) but I don't think I have posted my weekly schedule.

Before School
Chores
Music Practice

After School: 1 hr of play and then
Monday
Scripture Study, Unit Study, Homework, Extra Math
Tuesday
Scripture Study, History Studies, Homework
Wednesday
Scripture Study, Unit Study, Homework, Extra Math
Thursday
Scripture Study, History Studies, Homework, Spelling Test Help
Friday
Unit Study Project, History Theatre
Saturday
Catch up day, Field Trips
Sunday
Writing, Readers Theatre, Games (not all, we just choose one sometimes two)

I know making a schedule is the hardest part. With Afterschooling there is a fine line between to much and not enough. This schedule has great potential. Looking at it I can see where we are lacking and how easily and perfectly it would fit into our lives.

As part of my "recommitting" myself, I am going to change my blog around. I want to put all of my links I use, blogs I check out and web stores I purchase from in one place. Keep a look out for the changes!!

Now that's cool

I love the internet. I found a great website to go with our 50 states unit study. It is very challenging and fun. Really I couldn't stop playing, playing, playing.... I wasn't as bad at Geography as I thought I was. If you need a quick refresher you should check this site out. I mean, of course it's for the kids! The kids will love it.

Geography Game

I dare you to try Master Geographer.

GOOD LUCK!