Friday, September 2, 2011

Read Aloud Challenge- Pioneers and sailboats

We have done quite a bit of read aloud this week.  I am so proud!  We have family visiting this weekend, so we ended up doing more then I thought we would.

Bop is doing Ambleside Online this year (I know, I need to update my curriculum plans for you all, and I will!  I promise!) so that means that we do several read alouds a day for her school.  This covers history, geography, literature and natural science.  I am not going to list all of the books that we use for this, since we only read one chapter a week from each one.  I will mention one of our favorites, though.  :)


Paddle-to-the-Sea (Sandpiper Books)
Paddle to the Sea
Bop loves this book already!  However she is disappointed that we are only reading one chapter at a time.  It is great, though, because she is really remembering each chapter well.  For those of you who don't know, Paddle to the Sea is a book about a little wooden boat who sails from a snowbank high in the Canadian mountains, all the way to the Atlantic ocean.  This is our first geography book for the year, and it shows through literature how water runs downhill; from small trickling streams, to lakes and great rushing rivers, and finally to the ocean.



Little House in the Big Woods Book and Charm (Charming Classics)Little House in the Big Woods
This is another one of our Ambleside Online books, only this one is a free read book, so it is a TRUE read aloud.  We read as much as we want whenever we want.  This series of books holds the most memories for me.  I can remember my mom reading these books to us over and over again, and I still remember when we first got the set as a gift.  I am absolutely loving reading them again, and so far Bop and CJ are enjoying them just as much as we did.





Time of Wonder (Picture Puffins)

Time of Wonder
This is CJ's unit study for now.  We are taking this one casually.  No time limits, no schedules, some days we do it and some we don't.  It is a charming book by the well-known author of Blueberries for Sal and Make Way for Ducklings.  So far we have read it a few times, but not really done much more.  If we don't ever get around to it, oh well.  This is kindergarten take two, and this time we are just enjoying it.  :)





The Very Hungry Caterpillar

This one needs no introduction.  :)  We got this for Baby Girl's birthday because we (Shock!) didn't have this classic in our home library!  She loves this book, so I thought I would share a little video clip of her reading it to her baby doll.  She likes all of the book except the very end....




Thursday, September 1, 2011

Using Computers with Early Learners

 

Like most families, homeschoolers are not immune from the media problem. What is good, what is bad? How much is too much? What about 'educational' programs? While the American Academy of Pediatrics has decided on an amount that they think is appropriate for specific ages, I find their recommendations to be a little annoying. What is 'screen time'? Is all screen time equal? And what about online school programs, isn't that screen time too?

With young children it is easier to keep control over the screen time. Since most preschoolers and early elementary aged children are not likely to be turning on and using computers on their own, it is really up to mom to GIVE them screen time. Of course, some technologically minded kids can find their way around a computer pretty well at 4 and 5, but since this is really not safe for the child (or the computer!) most of the time it is up to the parents.

In our family I only have a few simple rules about computer use, and none of them involve a mandatory 2 hour limit. The first rule is NO screen time before school. I firmly believe that too much time looking at a backlit screen can, as I tell my kids, fry your brain. It is bad on your eyes and your brain is constantly working with a myriad of conflicting images of ads in sidebars, bouncing characters, and animated backgrounds. Of course some sites and games are worse then others, but I just don't see the point in limiting creativity and productivity when the day has just began.

Our second rule is about attitude. I have seen over and over how quickly computer and movie time lead to discontent, fighting, and bad attitudes in the kids. I don't know why this happens, and maybe it is just my kids, but if they show a sign of the grumpies, it is no computer time at all the next day.

 caiden on computer

 

So now that we have our ground rules set, how do we use the computer to add to our education? I find that for the very little ones, there is just not much they can do on the computer. But once they have mastered basic mouse and keyboard use a whole world of educational skills can be enhanced with a computer.

TYPING: While I am a firm believer in the value of learning handwriting, I am also not stupid. I can see how this skill is becoming less and less valuable as a tool (though it is still vital for motor skills) and how typing is taking its place. This is actually good news for a lot of kids! Pushing buttons is a lot easier then learning to carefully form letters, so children with motor skill issues can still progress in school. A lot of children simply prefer typing over writing; it is faster, neat (No eraser marks or sloppy letters!) and easy to use. So here are my favorite programs for teaching beginners to type. These programs can be used as soon as the child has patience to figure it out and hands big enough to reach the keys.

A membership-based typing and phonics program
A free typing program that Bop loves

 

MATH: The computer is a logical choice for some math subjects. Drills can be made fun, or at least tolerable, using the computer. Parents are spared the task of holding flashcards and the child has some independence. Complicated subjects can also be explained visually for older students, and there are even websites with virtual manipulatives! I am not sure this would help a tactile learner, since the whole point is to be manipulating the manipulatives, but they are fun to play with!

A lot of different games for all ages
Our favorite timed or untimed drill site

 

READING: There are a lot of programs that are supposed to promote literacy skills, but it seems to me that a lot of them are a waste of time. However There are a few that my kids enjoy, and even a few that have actually taught them something. Here are our favorites:

Starfall, everyone's favorite prek website, free!
A free, sequential reading skill site from PBS Kids

 

BEGINNING CONCEPTS: For the preschooler still learning logical reasoning, patterning, order, and a ton of other basic concepts, there are a lot of entertaining games out there on the world wide web. I limit this kind of game, because these things are easily taught by real life if the child has a lot of activities and hands-on 'fun stuff' to do. But the kids like them, and I tell myself that at least they are learning something.

Peep and the Big Wide World- A fun website with games and videos
Go Go Kabongo- Free and membership options for reading readiness
Salsa- Free videos and resources for learning Spanish

 

While we do enjoy using these websites sometimes, I still try to limit the amount of time the kids spend on the computer. I don't have a set number of minutes, but it is typically less then an hour a day. Some days they never get on, some days it is used more. I can usually tell when they have had enough, just by talking to them or watching them. I try to use the computer as a reward for willing helpers and happy attitudes during bookwork and chore time, but I don't have a set system. I just remind them that grumpies don't get to play on the computer.

What are your favorite ways to use the computer in education?

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