Egg Drop

You've probably seen this done before. We tried the famous egg drop experiment. Each kid got two eggs to wrap as they wanted. The idea was to see if the wrapping would protect the egg from breaking when dropped.#1 tissue and medical tape

#2 duck tape, duck tape and more duck tape

#3 attempted rubber band wrap.

#4 newspaper and yes, duck tape

#5 stuffing

Boy, very excited about dropping the eggs.

None of the eggs made it. The duck taped one cracked the least.

Problem Solving...

This morning I found myself explaining the relativity of pre-algebra to my 8Th grader.

My explanation probably was as relative as algebra itself.

Fun Science

In C's physical science we did a cool experiment. This is just water and a LOT of corn starch.

I have two incase you want to see it twice! LOL! We left it in the pan all day. You could pick up the dish and act like you were going to pour it but it would move but a bit! Pretty fun!

Come Along Way

What you can see in this photo...
A lone boy in a tree house doing his work (math).
My dirty windows...I had to sneak this photo from our kitchen.
The mug of coffee (flavored milk) I made him. He was up late with his dad last night.
A boy who is comfortable and confident at what he is doing. What you don't see...
The steam that is coming from his nose.
A boy who, when we first started homeschool, struggled with math and needed me to sit right by him, even if I wasn't helping.
The tears and frustration that happened along the past three years.
A happy mom behind the camera!

Don't give up! This photo was three years in the making!

Unexcepted Lessons

2 1/2 years: what I have learned/gained from homeschooling.

Distraction come, you will work them and everything works out just fine.

They will get it. After struggling through math, needing me to sit there (even if it was just doing nothing) dear son is getting it on his own!!! He has even done math for fun!!

I am not super woman, nor do I want to be!

I really do love my kids.

I can get mad like never before...where did it come from.

After working on school in the morning, my brain is on auto pilot. (What did you just say?)

Mixing it up and not going by the book is fun! We did math and grammar yesterday. Then went for an hour walk looking for objects that make letters (Christmas presents), talking, getting our vitamin D. When Dad got home we drove out of town to hear a presentation on ghost towns in our area. DH was really excited about this! It was put on by the Historical Society in a Good Samaritan place. Let's just say that it was full of senior citizens. At the end the DS got interested enough to stop saying his stomach hurt and get into it. (Luckily hubby sat between son and I!!!)

There are things homeschool kids learn that aren't in the books.

People expect homeschool kids to be smarter...even if it's there first year of homeschooling.

People think you can rearrange your schedule any ole time.

People are always telling me "that would be a great lesson for the kids." Do they tell that to public school kids...no! And just for the record, while you mean well, I really do have enough to teach, thank you!

SO many moms tell me they couldn't do it. Chance are, you can. I am proof!

I have really learned a LOT about myself too! (Sorry, I will spare you the boring details!)

I know there is more that I have learned, but I know the kids are about ready for me, so I am off!

Have a great day!

Science Takes Patience

You may not be able to see it all here in the photo. This is one of C's science experiments today. We have boiling salt water...

A lid with a bag of ice on the top...

And a bowl to catch the dripping (NOT) condensation.

Let me tell you, some of these experiments have taken a long time and have resulted in patience!

Can you see all of the white spots on the stove and the pan? That's the salt! Still need to wipe it down!

Teaching While Sick

We all have been sick for about two weeks here. The flu.

We have had no school all last week. But will start back today, albeit late.

With this in mind, as I am still a bit stuffed and blowing my nose, I wanted to write about teaching while sick.

I remember the first year of homechooling, I got sick one day and had to teach from the couch. Poor son, was so good about bringing his books to me, etc. I remember thinking, yikes, I wish I could call in a sub! But quickly knew I was the mom, the teacher, the janitor, the coach and the sub. I was it! I also felt more pressure to do school every day. (Whereas, I know now that I can skip a day here and there and will make it up later.) Last year wasn't too bad.

This year, so far has had enough sick days. So since the kids are feeling better. I will pull up my rolling chair, have cough drops in my pocket and tissue within reach and teach!

What do you do when you are sick?

Just What I Needed

So, we are into our third year of HSing and I feel much more confident, but this morning I kept pushing away the thought of maybe I am not doing enough for the kids. (Pause for a sentence check...we have been going over compound and complex sentences. I think I need the kids to check the first sentence. ;) )

Anyway, I am fighting the thought that "maybe I am short changing the kids' education. Maybe I will send DD to public high school next year."

We are in the post office when the the teller asks why the kids aren't in school. "They are homeschooled." I reply. She was taken back, just a bit. She starts to go on about how smart they must be and encourages me to keep it up. She says that she couldn't HS them at their ages. She really made my day!

You never know when you will say just the right thing at the right time to someone, so be nice!

Our Wall

I was thinking of repainting our walls, but I think this one will have to wait. It seems to be getting covered up. This is our dining room wall. As you can see it is also our main homeschool wall too. On it we have multiplication facts in colored story form, chemical formulas in colors (which I think only DD can read, she wrote them on teenage graphics), a calendar, the alphabet in cursive (as the kids need to write almost all in cursive now and we need the occasional reminder of how a letter should look), the ever essential dry erase board, and two maps for geography.

Last year we also had the US presidents running along the top of the wall. What does you wall look like?

Lunch Break Thoughts 2

Today, the kids worked by themselves for the most part and they did good! (usually I have to sit by DS to help him with his work or just to keep him focused.) I SOOO needed that too! The timing was perfect! I have a LOT to do and am going on a lack of sleep.

Thursday we are going to go on a field trip to the mtns nearby for some historical reenactments! Fri starts our PE group!

Lunch Break Thoughts

When I started this blog I intended it to be more or less my online diary of our homeschooling experience. I wanted to show the good and the bad, our triumphs and struggles. I write this not to complain or brag, but to hopefully encourage someone as I sort out my feelings.

For the most part this has been a wonderful ride...today however is one of those that I don't wish to ride again at least not for a long time. Let me explain. DD can pretty much work on her own. DS needs more of my help even of it's just staying focused. So, I sit with him as he does his grammar and math and work through each problem. Today he had a test. He was on his own. I left the room to get some things done. I had to tell them a few times to stop talking. They only got quieter. After a reasonable time I came back in to find that he only finished 6 problems on his test!! This and a few other things got to me. I was not the most patient mom today. These are the days that I have to stay focused on the big picture.

First "Half" Day

We are having our first 1/2 day. We started out school just fine. Then DD says she's not feeling well. Stomach.

Physical Science 101

DD is in 8th/9th grade Apologia Physical Science. We have done three experiment so far this week. Here's number three on Concentration.

She filled each glass with 1 c, 1/2c, 1/4c of vinegar added a Rolaid to each cup. We watched them dissolve.

Dumped those out, then added varying amounts of vinegar and water to equal 2 cups. Rolaids dissolved faster in the water that had more vinegar.

Grammar, What Grammar?

Day three and we are starting to find the kinks.

I have forgotten to do grammar two days in a row!
I have to do refresher sheets for DS in math. The info's there, just needs to be dug up.
DD and science are not clicking.
History seems to be working...well, for DS. DD said that she needs to let her brain warm up first. (We are doing history last!) As to when will it warm up, after DS answers the questions. Hmmm... He is the one taking notes.
Our days are longer and I don't know how to fit it all in. We are going to keep at this pace until we know if we can do some subjects every other day.
Geography will be M-W-F. We are ahead of schedule on that.
Spelling wisdom M & W.
Fri I want to do the "main" subjects then add the "extras" in.
We are also doing Expository Writing. Joy! The kids don't think writing is fun. But as a keeper of three blogs, I rather enjoy writing! I'd like to write everyday. We'll see.

I hope your school day is going smooth!

Day One Down

I am excited to tell you that today went great! Dh went grocery shopping for me! We all got up on time! It all ran smoothly.

Our days are going to be longer, like two hours longer. But it went much smoother. We did one experiment (Atoms & Molecules).