Friday, August 21, 2015

Homeschooling begins again

Ready! Set! Homeschool time! 

I feel much better prepared than in he past. I've found inline Life Science with a teacher and you tube science experiences for Hayden. He is getting to do experiments like building DNA code and Owl Puke. He is working on a math for dyslexia program that he is already soaring thru. We are working on sight words and improving spelling. All things that need to be done. Hayden is also practicing on an online math tutoring site. And an online reading tutor. Combined with tons of homeschooling and educational apps and programs. 

The things we are both most excited and passionate about is American History. We have dived into it and just can't get enough. I highly recommend he Netflix series, The Story of Us which is broken into hour segments and has about 20 plus episodes. I've loved every minute. We have also loved watching, The Men who Built America, and spent about 12 hours learning about Carnegie, JP Morgan, Rockerfeller, Ford and more. And How the States got their Shapes. Plus listening to Abraham Lincoln stories on line and doing an on-line college based course. So fun. We are loving listening to audio books such as Flags of our Fathers. 

Another highlight of our day is learning and studying, The art of argument. We are discussing the fallacies of advertising and how to argue smart. Hayden loves the why's and analyzing and debating. He gets the rest done so we can work on this course and history. 

With homeschooling, Hayden has more time to study and earn more merit badges in Scouts. We have loved the citizenship merit badges and are working on achieving sustainability, personal fitness, emergency preparedness, communication and working on achieving new ranks. 

In addition to curriculum, Hayden is loving engineering and learning with his cloud it started kit. Designing Legos to win he international young lego engineering award. He is working on independent reading. We are loving Kingdom Keepers. And next will start on Peter and the Starcatchers. These are fun books after the classics are read. Our goal is to read either out loud or listening. To audio books all the major classics this year such as Huckleberry Finn, Call of the wild, all cs Lewis books, treasure island, Tom Sawyer, cricket in Times Square, wrinkle in time series, wonder, outsiders, and tons more. 

Each day he has a "specials" just like in school. Monday, in addition to scripture and gospel study as a family every night, we have family home evening. Since our scripture study right now is the New Testament, our focus for FHE has been Miracles and conference talks and Hayden preparing and teaching the lesson. We are working thru Preach my,Gospel and it is great. I want to prepare him in all things to be a missionary. So Monday's are planning days and organizing. There is cleaning dog poop, weeding, vacuuming, cleaning bathrooms, laundry and sweeping and mopping. We have life skills class on Monday and Saturday. 

Tuesday evenings, Hayden is lucky enough to go to Scouts. He loves it and has absolutely amazing leaders. He looks forward to it. 

Wednesday's are a highlight as Grandma Joyce comes over in the late afternoon and teaches Hayden cooking lessons. They cook together, plan menus, bake goodies, talk and laugh. They watch fun programs or play puzzles while the food cooks. Then Grandma stays for dinner and we do something after dinner all together like a movie or game. 

Thursday afternoon, Hayden gets one on one time with Grandma Julie, to learn photography, photo shop, endesign, online learning and infographics. They are also working on his photography scouting merit badge. He loves it. 

Friday afternoons, Aunt a Suzi takes him to art classes. Boy is he getting good. He loves it so much! 

Hayden is also taking an independent java class and mod design online. 

I'm so grateful for the many many people that have come together to make this homeschooling a success. 

I'm grateful that all of these things can be done from bed. I have to rememeber that school days are 180 days a year. There are 365 days in a year. So it's ok to not get anything done besides having my boy read to me. As long as we get family scripture study in, I call it a successful day. I'm so glad he can  do so much online and on the iPad. 

And I always remember that if I give my all, then the Savior will make up the difference. We are a team. We are in this together. He told me to homeschool my son. I told him yes, as long as I was promised His help. It's going to be a great year. 



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