Snow Days

Within the last few weeks, we’ve had several days of ice & snow that have caused the local schools to shut down. In fact, there was one week when we had mail delivery only three days out of six.

We continued to have school here on all those days. We had to reschedule a field trip because the place we were planning on going was closed due to the weather. So, we did a complete day of school that day, too.

We’re doing half-days this week and next (not including Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Years). Math is every other day. Spelling is every day, although a shorter lesson each day. Science is every day (since we need to get through more lessons in that than any other subject).

Speaking of Science, we’ve had some fun experiments lately in our God’s Design for Chemistry book. We made whipped cream and butter one day when we were studying milk. We dissolved LifeSavers (TM) yesterday (cold water vs. room temperature water vs. hot water, crushed vs. whole, and still/moving tongue around in our mouths) as part of our lesson on ’solutions.’ We made mayonnaise today as part of our lesson on ’suspensions.’

The two kids took a quiz on Monday on mixtures, elements, and compounds. After they tried it by themselves, we used it as a review activity instead of a ‘grading opportunity.’ So they both got all the questions correct after going over everything three times.

The kids have gotten plenty of opportunity to go outside to play in the snow. They climb snowdrifts, throw snowballs, slide down various hills, play with the neighbor kids (who are out of school either on a snow day or for Christmas break), and get themselves cold & wet on a regular basis.

I found some snow pants for the older two at a local resale shop and had some just the right size for Child #3 already. Only Child #4 lacks them although he tends to stay out just as long no matter how cold & wet he is. The only time he comes to complain is if he lost a glove. It appears to be his Achilles ‘hand’ (so to speak).

Science . . . Again

As I continue in our science studies this year, I can’t help but think about next year. I already know I’m not going to continue to use God’s Design, even with the new (full color) design because the Physics level texts are too high level for my youngsters. (The Chemistry ones are too high level, IMO, and that was a mistake.) I was leaning toward Science in a Nutshell kits or TOPS. Then, I thought maybe I might just go ahead and break the bank with NOEO.

I revisited my curriculum post from almost a year ago. It reminded me of Pandia Press. I’m relooking at their Chemistry curriculum and wondering if it is too late to start over with their course. (I’m only slightly joking.) I’m not ready to switch (yet), but I saw a sample page on their website about explaining states of matter and it seems to do a better job of speaking to my kid’s level. (It is designed for Grades 2+. God’s Design for Chemistry is designed for Grades 3+.)

But while I was there, I checked out the blog of Pandia’s owner. This blog piece caught my eye. It is a brief review of a speech given at a homeschool convention.

Many homeschool moms and I have discussed this topic. One of the homeschooling Yahoo groups I am on is currently discussing the problem of selecting a “good” science curriculum, especially for the high school level. I agree, in principle, with what she is saying. (I don’t agree with everything she says in the blog piece. I do agree with the basic premise.) It is hard to find a science (or history) curriculum that doesn’t have an “agenda.” I, too, would rather the agenda be front & center so I can either steer clear of it, embrace it (if that is what I wish), or Sharpie it out.

Three States of (what) Matter

At the beginning of a recent science class, I was reviewing what we have learned recently. I started with, “The three most common states of matter on the earth are . . . ” I paused, waiting for the kids to chime in.

My #2 child piped up, “Solid, liquid, and gratitude!”

Science Quiz

After much deliberation, I choose to purchase Answers In Genesis’s God’s Design for Chemistry series for our science this year. As it is designed for Grades 3-8, it is a bit of a stretch for our young family. I figured my (young-for-her-grade) 3rd grader would grasp most of it and my first grader would be along for the ride. They both love experiments and the texts (Properties of Matter & Properties of Atoms & Molecules) have a fun activity or experiment almost every single lesson.

Both have really struggled grasping the concepts. I didn’t realize how much trouble they would have. The first quiz (Lessons 1-4 in Properties of Matter book) didn’t go the greatest. But the second was really dismal. The older child grasp the concepts as shown in the short answer portion of the quiz but doesn’t have a clue on the terminology. The younger child can figure out the terminology as shown by her fairly decent score in the matching portion of the quiz but doesn’t get the underlying concept.

But that’s not why I’m posting about this. I just wanted to share Child #2’s answer on one of the “short answer” questions because it had me rolling with laughter. I must set this up by saying that 1) we studied astronomy last year and 2) the chemistry text discussed the concept of buoyancy with examples of swimming in a pool filled with rubbing alcohol (where we would likely have issues staying afloat) and a pool filled with mercury (which would be a bad idea, obviously, but where we would easily stay afloat) due to the different material densities.

Quiz question: “If an object floats in one liquid but sinks in another, what does that tell you about the densities of the two liquids?”

Child #2 answer, “The one that sinks is probably rubbing alcohol and the other is probably Saturn or Uranus or something you can float on.”

[Obviously, she was trying to think of the word "mercury" and substituted names of two other planets instead.] Is this funny to anyone else or is it one of those “you had to be there” moments?

H1N1 or the regular flu?

I was listening to the top doctor in the state I live in talk on the radio the other day about the H1N1 flu. She promotes vaccines and is highly respected. I can’t remember her title, but she’s the a medical doctor with a title tied to the state somehow.

Anyway, the guys on the radio were asking her questions and letting her promote the H1N1 vaccine. I wish I could link you to an audio of her interview, but the radio station doesn’t have a podcast up of it. I’ll paraphrase what she said, but I realize that audio of it would be better proof than me typing my remembrance of what she said.

She repeated the mantra that certain target populations should receive the vaccine. She said that even if you thought you had H1N1 already, you should STILL get the vaccine. When questioned on this, she said that you could have had the regular flu or a respiratory infection instead, so you should still get the vaccine.

About five minutes later, when asked about how it has been reported that doctors are being told to report all flu cases as H1N1 – even without testing to determine which one they are, she said it was very simple and easy to tell the difference between H1N1 and the regular flu because of the severity of the illness. (She said something like, “Ask someone who has had H1N1 and they will tell you it is completely different from the regular flu.”) When one of the radio guys asked about a respiratory infection (which she had just used as an example of something that could have been mistaken for H1N1), the doctor said that of course the symptoms were very different.

I thought to myself, “Mrs. Dr. Lady, you can’t have it both ways!”

She said that 90+% of the cases of the flu that they are seeing are H1N1. When asked how she knows this if they are assuming all cases are H1N1, she replied that it isn’t regular flu season yet.

I wish I had the audio to post. It was incredible! And the radio guys on with her just let her get away with it. (The next hour, the next guy on seemed to have caught some of the inconsistencies, but he didn’t dwell on them.) Absolutely amazing.

We are not getting the immunizations. I’m trying to keep us from getting the H1N1 while we have a newborn in the house. At some point, if the house is exposed to it, at least we will have the immunity to this strain of it after we recover. I would just rather we not get it while the baby is so little and vulnerable. So, we wash-wash-wash and we stay away from those who have been sick as much as possible (+ a week that they say you can still be contagious). But our town has been overrun with the flu (H1N1 or regular, I don’t know!).

How Crunchy Are You?

Are you “crunchy?” You know, are you the “granola” type?

I never thought of myself as being a Granola Mom. I do have several friends who fit that description. However, after taking a version of this quiz a couple of years ago, I realized I’m crunchier than I thought (“Pretty Crispy”) For a different type of “crunch” factor, you can try the one here. (This one shows I’m “totally mainstream” with a 21% crunch factor.)

It sank in the other day when my mother referred to me as “Earth Momma.” She was getting her hair done by the lady who fixed mine for my wedding (oh, so many years ago). The lady said, “I just can’t imagine your daughter homeschooling.” My mom replied, “You mean, “Earth Momma?” The lady said, “Yes, I always thought she’d be a professional woman.” To which my mother replied, “Well, she is both. She’s a professional engineer. She just has a more important day-to-day job at home.” 

Ah, and that important job is calling me. I can hear one of the kids now . . .

Are Books A Distraction?

Once my children can hold something in their hand and move across the floor in any way (crawl, walk, roll), they have grabbed a book, brought it to me (or my spouse), and insisted (verbally or non-verbally) that we read it to them. My spouse & I are big readers. My oldest now loves to read. All the others (except the baby) bring books to be read aloud to.

I’m trying to start back up with homeschooling. We’re still only doing a few subjects – with the goal of ramping up to “full” homeschooling schedule in another two or three weeks. Every day, however, I realize what a challenge that will be for us right now.

Not because of the baby.

Because every time I try to get started with something (anything – dinner, sweeping, laundry, doing history/science/religion with the older two), someone will bring me a book and ask me to read to them.

And, being me, I stop and read to them. Maybe it is only a chapter. Maybe it is only a page or two. That’s why there is a broom sitting against the kitchen table with a small pile of noodles that hasn’t been swept up yet. That’s why the laundry is still in the washer and the dryer door is open – waiting to receive the clean but still wet clothes.

In our house, books are a pleasant distraction from the rest of life. They are a distraction, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Eventually, the laundry will get done. We’ll get to the school work at some point.

And, I have a confession. Sometimes, I mean only to read a chapter. But, I get into the book just as much as the kids . . . and we end up reading two or three chapters. Or sometimes, we finish the whole book in one sitting and by the time I look up from our read-aloud, lunch is almost an hour late. That’s life in our house.

Kindergarten Readiness

I know this is the wrong season for posting about “kindergarten readiness.” But this has been sitting on my computer desk for awhile and I’m finally getting around to it.

We receive a newsletter from our pediatrician’s office quarterly. There are usually articles about keeping kids healthy, preventative safety tips, and an article on a health topic (immunizations, out-patient treatments for whatever, symptoms of the most recent outbreak disease, etc.). On the back of this particular one, there was an article about “Kindergarten Readiness.”

They went into general indications your child is ready in such areas as behavior, verbal ability, and motor skills. The last paragraph was what stood out to me. See what you think:

“Remember, the object of kindergarten is not to make your child a star in the academic Olympics. It is to guide your child to the overall maturity that is needed for a solid start to a good education.”

Comments are welcome.

School Status

I planned to do no school this month. However, a couple of weeks ago, I felt really good with how we were doing with the new arrival. I thought about it and figured that starting one “fun” subject would be ok. So, we started doing history using Story of the World 2. We just started Chapter 4 on Thursday and we are going pretty slow – using my lesson plans but spreading the work out over a couple of days. This has been good since I have a LOT of books for most of these chapters, so we do read-alouds most days.

We’ve “eaten like Roman soldiers” and recently also “eaten like monks.” We’ve made our own ink and quill pens. We’re learning to draw mythical creatures from a book we checked out to see how to draw Grendel from the Beowulf story. (Child #2 is very artistic.)

This past week, we also started our religious studies. So, if I feel adventurous, we’ll add science this week. I still have a few weeks until I planned to start “full school,” so whatever we get done now is “gravy.” The kids love history & science, so they enjoy it and I still have time to keep up with the laundry, house, and feeding a newborn.

New Arrival

Just a note to let you know that Number 5 arrived Sunday evening. I’ll save you the gory details, but will tell you this –

It’s a boy. He was almost 10 lbs. It was a “normal” delivery. We arrived at the hospital at 5:35 p.m. He was born at 5:56 p.m. He has the coloring of Number 3 (which is different than all the others).

We are all home and it will take awhile to adjust to having a little one in the house again. (Mostly, it is an adjustment for the other kids.)