Oatmeal and Raisins

I’ve decided to combine this blog with my main one. I should’ve just done this in the first place. So it’s all at browngirl speaks.

Time4Learning is a good online homeschool resource for those with auditory and visual learners.  My son, a Kindergartner, adores the computer and catches on very quickly to games and activities on it.  His comprehension skills in general leave much to be desired, so this was a welcomed addition to his curriculum.  The graphics and audio are fun and engaging.  This is very well paced and digestible for children and parents–they are nice enough to include a curriculum guide  and record keeping on the site.  I loved that access was given to the preceding and succeeding grade level in each subject.  For Kindergarten, this includes language arts and math only.  This program can be completed at the individual learner’s pace and is available 24-7.  I had two concerns with Time4Learning.  The first was a technical hiccup that occurred twice in one session.  Nothing’s perfect, so I can forgive this.  The second was approaches to comprehension of a lesson.  Each lesson on a skill begins with it being taught then follows with exercises to show the skill has been mastered.  A time or two, the comprehension exercises were not accurate in assessing that my son learned the skill.  Fortunately, these were skills he did, in fact, already know.  This is, however, a common and not necessarily a major issue that can be a factor in almost any educational program.  Do I consider these drawbacks?  Absolutely not.  This educational program is commendable for being technologically and educationally sound, as well as affordable.

If you’re looking for a curriculum suitable to any learning style that’s self paced and, most importantly, budget-friendly, then give Time4Learning a try.

I live smack in the middle of the infamous "Bible Belt".  Everything homeschool around here is Christ-centered.  Do I have a problem with Christ?  Absolutely not.  He is the head of my life and has been for most of it.  However, a Christ-centered education is very close-minded and non-inclusive.  It seems hypocritical of the teachings of Christ for the majority of the homeschooling community to not only go out of their way to be non-inclusive but also, sometimes, shun those who do not adhere to or even believe in a Christ-centered education.  I want my son to choose Christ just as I did, but I also want him to be able to function in this world that is also comprised of non-believers.  I want him to be informed and filled with intelligent thinking, not narrow minded and unable to think outside the box.  I’m not saying Christians are narrow minded or I’d be calling myself as such and I’m far from it.  I’m saying that a form of education that ignores a number of truths about our world is unacceptable.  Public schools teach a very Eurocentric curriculum and homeschoolers are opting for curriculums that are Christ-centered AND Eurocentric.  This seems like a step further in the wrong direction.  I already see an area that is very lacking in available curriculum that I will have to create my own.  I do hope that more secular curriculum becomes available and soon.  I also hope that the homeschooling community becomes more inclusive because Christians don’t own the rights to it. 

kids bible info - extensive list on character building with scripture reference

free world u - flashcard based curriculum for Pre K- 12 (also includes Pre-Medical through fourth yr. Med.)

spelling city - create your own spelling lists-that can be saved- and the site will teach and generate quizzes and games for you. 

Scott Foresman Online Grammar and Writing Handbook -  these are pdf files of workbooks for grades 1-6 grammar and writing exercises.  these are printable and can be bound into an actual workbook.  the corresponding textbook is not necessary to use these. 

your child learns - includes "bridge to reading" program, printable maps of any size, map puzzles and online atlas.  very good site for geography.

Stay tuned for my review on Time4Learning…

I’m still recovering mentally from a computer crash which left with no choice but to do a hard reinstall of Windows XP thus lose ALL of my files.  Yes, it was gut wrenching and I’ve learned my lesson about backing up data.

Moving on…

A member of my local hs support group recommended a site called Letter of the Week for free language arts curriculum.  Well, I became more intrigued with their Country of the Week lesson plans.  It’s still a work in progress, but they have 2 or 3 countries complete.  The full list of countries they plan to include is listed and I was able to take the core breakdown and we will learn about a place not on the list–Trinidad and Tobago.  Why T&T?  Z’s paternal grandmother is native to Tobago.  I’ sure we would’ve gotten to eventually, but I thought it’d be a fun way to start this new learning activity.  I’m still hunting down a few resources online for enrichment but here’s the plan so far:

Reading List:

Trinidad and Tobago  Patricia R. Urosevich

Trinidad and Tobago  Sean Sheehan

A Wave in Her Pocket: Stories From Trinidad   Lynn Joseph

An Island Christmas  Lynn Joseph

Jump Up Time: A Trinidad Carnival Story  Lynn Joseph

Web Resources:

One World - Nations Online

Other Activities:

make a flag from construction paper

listen to calypso music online

make a lapbook

Well, here’s a look at what we did today:

Reviewed colors and greetings in Spanish

Reviewed 1-10 in Swahili (this is just for fun)

Reviewed tree parts and how they grow with two worksheets

Played mancala instead of reviewing addition facts

Played sight word and phonics games online and reviewed with two worksheets

Handwriting practice letter E sentences

Read Curious George: The Dog Show(read alone w/ little assistance) and Knots on a Counting Rope (read to Zion by mommy)

Made tree craft and did some painting

Read bible story in Early Reader’s Bible

I may teach him to play crazy eights today also.  I have a set of kids’ cards called "Bible Eights" I got at a local dollar store a few years ago when I was a summer camp counselor.  Off to play more mancala, though he’s still learning and it’s really for ages 7 and up, it’s never too early to learn strategy.

Some educators do not "believe in" multiculturalism.  Some claim it is a way to further marginalize minority students by presenting information in a "dumbed down" manner.  They have it wrong.  My idea of multiculturalism stems from inclusion and relevance.

Children should be taught from the beginning from a non-Eurocentric point of view.  This is where the idea of inclusion comes into play.  The very notion of marginalized minorities comes, not only from how we are educated, but also gaps and one-sided perspectives in that education.  Our children should not only learn about minority groups and their key persons in chunks the way most social studies and history texts usually present them.  They should be fluidly and consistently presented in a manner that is not saying: "Hey look! Black folks have a few smart people in history and look what they’ve done" or "Oh yeah, Native  Americans happened to be here when the Pilgrims landed".  It should not be presented as an afterthought and given only in sparse detail.  

The need to be inclusive is definitely important in the early years.  Kids are still free of prejudice and any other hang ups, especially concerning people.  This is the time to nurture that behavior so that it remains intact for life.  My son is a kindergartner and I’m simply making sure that we not only read about different countries and people in the realm of social studies, but also reading literature about children from various cultures.

Now we have relevance.  Today Z is 5 years old and learning social skills.  So, we read books that relate these skills but they are not just books featuring only white children or even only Black children, but kids from all sorts of ethnicities.   Basic concepts are universal and reading culturally diverse literature will also parlay the message that at out cores, we are all the same–human.  What is not relevant and adds no value to anyone’s life is the teaching of such things as ebonics.  Thankfully though, I think it’s safe to day that that ridiculous idea has been lain to rest.

Finally, multiculturalism is about being celebratory.  Not just for those who identify with a particular culture but others as well.  I want my son to appreciate and respect all cultures, not just his own.  And I want him doing so from the beginning, not when he gets to high school or college when most kids truly discover the world outside of their box.  I think that’s why some kids feel the need to "find themselves" during or just after college.  They often have their worlds rocked to the foundation by the spectrum of new ideas, beliefs and people they are exposed to and in a relatively short amount of time, thus the need to re-evaluate and retrospect.  Am I saying this will lead to more kids going to college or out into the world knowing exactly what they should do with themselves?  No.  We are all forever evolving.  However, more children would be welcoming of this often more liberal and diverse environment than overwhelmed by it.  Again I’ll mention that I’ve started a Facebook group for this topic called Culturally Diverse Homeschooling.

This week’s library books:

The Colors of Us  Karen Katz

Yunmi and Halmoni’s Trip  Sook Nyul Choi

Not So Fast Songololo  Niki Daly

Knots on a Counting Rope  Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault

Africa Is Not a Country  Margy Burns Knight and Mark Melnicove

Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions  Margaret Musgrove

Today we talked about trees.  It was a perfect day to be outside for a moment to look at trees and gather a few leaves.  We made a leaf print and did the old school leaf display using wax paper.

We visited a cute site with a video called  "Trees are Terrific…Travels with Pierre".  It explains trees, their parts, what they provide and being environmentally responsible with them for 5-8 years old.  There’s also a teacher guide page with enhancement ideas.

Also, I created a Facebook group for those who teach with an emphasis on diversity or want to but not sure how to incorporate multicultural materials, lessons, etc.  The group is called: Culturally Diverse Homeschooling.  I feel that there’s a need for discussing and embracing multiculturalism in homeschooling because we could so easily get caught up in a very narrow scope.  If you’re interested, join me in exploring this facet of education(you do have to join or already have a Facebook account).

Free World U is a great flash card program for grades K-12.  This site encompasses all the core subjects for elementary grades and required high school courses and is very user friendly.

Homeschool Buyers Co-Op is an excellent resource for those wanting to purchase curriculum without breaking the bank.  Membership is free.  They have contracted with a number of the top publishers of homeschool curriculum like Alpha Omega Publications and Click N Read Phonics to allow bulk purchasing of their products so that each family will spend less.  Yes, this works just like your farmer’s co-op.  You can even opt in on an offer when it gets to a specific discounted amount that suits your budget, though there’s no guarantee this will always work it’s good to have that bargaining option.  There are also exclusive discounts that don’t require group buy-ins and points are awarded for a number of activities that can be redeemed to purchase curriculum through the co-op.  Once you become a member, you can order for a nominal fee or print for free a homeschool ID. This is a site well worth utilizing.

Starfall is a site specifically for reading and writing.  Geared towards first graders, they insist that PreK-2 can benefit as well.  My son loves this site.  It’s very interactive and includes read aloud stories with audio and videos  on phonics that are like modern School House Rocks. 

Most of the freebies I found for lesson plans and such are for printing.  Even the templates that allow me to type the info. in can’t be saved, I have to print it on the spot.  Now, these are great forms for those who like a paper trail and maybe don’t have access to a computer all the time.  But, once I started to go through all the forms I liked to see which one would work best, I realized what needed was something electronic.  So, I designed my own on a spreadsheet. 

Also, I downloaded this free basic version of Homeschool Tracker.   There is a paid version which is customizable for $50, but the basic version gets the job done.  It tracks assignments, grades, attendance and has lots of reports that can be printed out to various specifications including report cards.  It also has a journal, a reading log, tracks field trips and can handle multiple students.  Trust me, the free version does quite a bit for FREE!