Tag Archives: homeschool

Teaching Textbooks Review

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FINALLY, since I’ve mentioned it three or four times now, I will regale you with the details of our new math program, Teaching Textbooks.

I’ve been looking at this math program since we began homeschooling. I will be honest with you in telling you that I chose Singapore Math over it for two reasons: First of all, Teaching Textbooks doesn’t begin until around a third grade level. Second, it is far more expensive than a year’s worth of materials for Singapore math. I also had concerns about switching programs as we were going, and Singapore Math can be used pretty indefinitely. (I may as well add that I’m also a hard-core homeschool convert and the word ‘textbook’ is a total turn-off for me.)

We finally switched because I felt the children were not all getting enough one-on-one time with their math, and it won’t be long for Shooter (if he continues to choose homeschooling) before he will need to be utilizing other resources (read as: Not me.) for his math lessons. Teaching Textbooks is an all-in-one package. It contains the lectures, practice problems, assignments and grade book. It does all of these things on a computer.

We are in our 6th week of using Teaching Textbooks and all I can say is that I wish we had tried it sooner. I love it. The boys love it. It gives them a level of independence to schedule and manage their own math lessons (Farmer Boy usually tries to get his done before breakfast while Shooter is practicing his horn for band). It makes the problems fun to do. If a problem is solved incorrectly, there is a second chance to find the right answer. The student can also, at any time, ask to see the solution, where the program will work the problem step-by-step for the child to see.

The narration is excellent. There are hints to new or difficult problems, different funny little characters the student can utilize, and the ability to go back and try a problem or listen to a lecture again at any time. The graphics are fun and easy to read. Because we have a laptop, our math is portable and the boys have done their lessons all over the house as well as on the road. Shooter typically does his while Farmer Boy has phonics tutoring, and several times Farmer Boy has brought his along to do in the Suburban while Shooter is in band.

I’m especially pleased with my dyslexic son’s abilities with this program. He just *shines* with Teaching Textbooks. Math has been an exercise in hard work and frustration for him for a long time – Singapore is heavy on the word problems (one of the reasons I love it – Singapore focuses on practical math) which were a constant struggle for him. He also found it intensely frustrating that I continued to insist on seeing his work (all the writing was just another piling-on). With Teaching Textbooks, the problems are all read to him as he goes, and the computer doesn’t require showing any work (he just keeps scratch paper at hand).

I was concerned about being able to know they were ‘getting it’ since I would not be going over/looking over their math every day with them. It has been quite the opposite. Teaching Textbooks gives me the ability to look at every single try on every single problem if I want to (I don’t) and keeps a running grade book of each lesson and quiz. It’s awfully simple to tell at a glance how well a child is mastering the lessons.

See how well my Farmer Boy is doing?! He is so proud.

The last reason I am loving Teaching Textbooks is the least important, but it still matters a great deal. It is saving me truckloads of time. I also appreciate the frustration it is saving the boys when they needed to wait for, wanted a review of, needed a check about, or just didn’t understand the way I was explaining their math.

The only drawback? Little Cowgirl wishes *so badly* that she could do her math on the computer. Next year, my darling.

Do you have a third-grader or older you are homeschooling and your math time isn’t fun and easy? I recommend giving Teaching Textbooks a try. We bought ours second-hand at the used curriculum sale last spring and I intend to pay full price for any grades in the future I can’t find a used copy of. The bottom line is that this program is worth your hard-earned money.

Disclaimer: Teaching Textbooks did not ask me to do, nor gave me anything for this review. I am not actually an important blogger or any sort of celebrity (cue song “If Wishes Came True” by Sweet Sensation – WOW I’m dating myself) so I doubt they will ever know my review exists. But it doesn’t take away from the fact that this is a great product. Consider yourself notified.

Preschool Homeschooling

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I’m over at Growing Your Homeschool today, where I’m a regular contributor, talking about homeschooling with a preschooler.

I write about homeschooling older children along with a preschooler, and give a few tips that worked for our family in regards to including our youngest and avoiding situations like this:

While mommy was busy helping someone else with math…

It’s preschool week at GYH, which makes me think of one of my favorite blogs, Four Plus An Angel, who recently began homeschooling one of her youngest babies. (Take tissues along if you are heading over there, she absolutely breaks my heart and makes me want to be her best friend all. the. time.) Thanks to Alison at Writing, Wishing for introducing me to her.

Upcoming posts: The review of our new math program I keep promising will *actually* be delivered, plus why I am a great and poor homeschooling mom at the same time.

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Surprise Vacation, Day 5

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After leaving Saint Louis, we had a beautiful drive across Missouri. Our final stop before home was Fort Scott, Kansas.

Fort Scott was a Frontier Army Fort, then a Civil War Fort where Union supplies were held and Union Soldiers were trained.

There were far more buildings and displays then I ever expected. If you are within driving distance of Fort Scott, Kansas, I would encourage you to make a trip there. We spent four hours touring the buildings and learning about so much of that time period in Kansas.

A volunteer dressed as a Frontier Army soldier from the 1840s told us all about his weapon after the small fire arms demonstration.

Another volunteer posing as a Union Soldier talks with us about the Civil War, the first ever black regiment in that war, and the government’s broken promises to the Native Americans during that time period.

The buildings were really amazing and filled with interesting items and informative displays. This may have been our favorite stop on the entire trip. This was something we were all interested in, it was not crowded, the volunteers were helpful and informative, and the children spent their energy hurrying from building to building in their eagerness to see what was next. We developed an understanding of what sorts of supplies were necessary to sustain an Army Base of that size, what sorts of punishments soldiers might suffer, how and what they were fed, how weapons were stored and why. We learned about Dragoons, a special soldier who was trained as a calvary and foot soldier. We saw how different ranks of soldiers were housed and felt transported into the past.

The kids in the bakery, consulting the map as to where they would like to head next.

Most importantly, we were experiencing it all together.

What was one of your most memorable vacations with your family as a child (or with your children)?

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Surprise Vacation, Day 4

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What did architect Eero Saarenin design aside from the John Deere Corporate Headquarters? Why, the Jefferson National Expansion Monument, of course.

More commonly known by it’s nickname, The Saint Louis Arch.

The children were captivated by The Arch; it is remarkable to see in person. They liked being able to understand what was intended by the memorial, and thinking of St. Louis as the ‘gateway to the west.’

Here they are watching a barge go by on the river. We talked a lot about waterways being the key to commerce throughout human history.

While we didn’t go into the structure itself (this was a holiday weekend – it would have meant hours of waiting that we didn’t have to spare), the Museum Of Westward Expansion beneath the arch itself was more than worth the drive.

Here are Little Cowgirl and Farmer Boy posing beside the display of a prairie sod house.

I think this is the only picture of me from this vacation. Cowgirl was very impressed with the giant bison.

It can be challenging to go through a museum with one child who wants to be sure he has read every single word and seen every single artifact, while at the same time the youngest sibling is pretty much done. The parents split up a bit to try and help each person move through the displays at their own pace.

See my three amigos? (and some other random child.)

Most importantly, we were learning and having fun all together. This was a great stop on our trip and we only wish we’d had more time to devote to everything the area near The Jefferson Westward Expansion Memorial.

Next up, the final installment of ‘look at all our vacation photos!’

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I’m Back…

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Hi! We had a very nice rain last week and took an unplanned, unexpected vacation. It was a blast. And yes, I’m going to bore the gourd right out of you the rest of this week with photos. So buckle up.

In the mean time, let me share with you a pictorial expression of how we are all feeling since we got back home:

We needed to leave the house the next morning, and after loading a few things into the vehicle I came back inside to find the note you see laying in the doorway. Little cowgirl couldn’t find her shoes and it made her VERY sad! She was in her room crying. Coming home after an entire week can feel pretty disorienting!

We have vacation hangover. I’m thankful for the flexibility of homeschooling, it has made our transition back to ‘regular life’ a little gentler.

What has been happening in your world this past week?

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Field Trip – Heading West on the Missouri River

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We are studying westward expansion in history this year. Our first historical novel (we are a ‘living books‘ sort of homeschooling family) is set on the Oregon Trail and the Cascade Mountains in the year 1844. Lots of our conversation has been around the route and the ways in which pioneers moved across the western frontier of this time period.

We had the opportunity to visit a museum recently that displays artifacts from a sunken steam boat. The boat sank in 1856, and was loaded with supplies that families were taking west with them, along with crates and boxes and barrels headed for the mercantile shops that were springing up along the westward trails. It was full of amazing displays that brought the period of history to us in a real and tangible way.

We took some cousins along, making it even more fun. You can see a mural of the boat behind the children.

There were trading beads, gun powder flasks, muskets, and beautiful dish ware in the collection. There were buckets of nails, hundreds of pairs of boots, wax-and-cork sealed jars of pickles and medicines. There were tools of every kind, wool fabrics (all the cotton fabrics disintegrated in their 132 years under the river/buried in silt). There were bottles of whiskey, tin ware of every imaginable sort, school slates, trunks, and candle molds.

They also reconstructed one of the boat’s original paddle wheels with as much lumber as they could save and using the original motors.

It was huge, paddling a small pool of water, and quite a site to see.

Along with the paddle wheel there were many various parts of the internal mechanisms of the boat, giving the children (and their mother) a good understanding of how this steam boat operated.

Fortunately there was someone along with us who understands and finds all of the gears-and-shafts-jargon fascinating. Here he is explaining something (I was trying to frame a good picture, not actually listening).

Other points of interest were a lab with an entirely open wall where you could see the technician who was on staff that day. There were so many artifacts on the boat that they are still (more than twenty years later) restoring items. You could speak with the friendly worker, who would explain any and everything in the lab. There was a short tour at the beginning of the museum, followed by a movie made by the family who found the steamboat about its recovery and the development of the museum. We spent a little over two hours in the museum from start to finish.

It was a wonderful trip back in time, and the children all wrote voluntary reports about the museum and the steam boat. As a surprise, I purchased pencils and postcards for each of them. They were online as soon as we got home to look up even more facts about the boat. I declared our first field trip of the year a huge success.

I remember a field trip to a long-dead volcanic crater in New Mexico in late grade school. It was the first time I’d ever been really interested in geology. Did you have a field trip experience that was a real educational gold-mine when you were a child?

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A closer look at our school week.

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A quick glimpse in pictures of some activities that have made our first weeks of school (even more) fun:

I enjoyed coffee on the porch with a friend as the sun came up.

One thing I don’t miss about sending my children to school somewhere else (and there *are* things that I miss) is the morning rush. Our mornings still begin bright and early, but without the same pressure.

Someone else thought time on the porch sounded like a great idea.

Another perk of homeschooling is our gigantic classroom space. Our classroom is like water; it molds to the shape of any container it’s placed in.

We did some science experiments that were ‘charged’ up.

Each time I think my children might find a portion of what we are doing boring or repetitive, I leave it in the lesson to see what their reaction is. Often I am wrong – the things they find fun and interesting I might have left out, and the parts of the lesson I imagine they will find new and exciting are something they already know. I love being able to follow the lead of my children rather than my curriculum.

Look to the right – see who was waiting and watching for the bus? That’s right, it’s little brother.

Shooter started band this past week. One day each week (the district’s late-start day) band is the last class of the day, and the transportation department was really excited to drop my son off on that day regretfully informed me that yes, they were obligated to bring my child home as I requested after all. On a scale of 1-10 (one being ‘this bites’ and ten being ‘that was so much fun, I can’t wait for next week’) he gave it a five. He is happy to be back to playing under the instruction of the same fun and excellent teacher from last year.

We also finished up corn harvest, and may or may not have done a bit of sleeping in the combine.

Coming soon: our first experience with Teaching Textbooks math AND our first field trip of the year!

Also, a question for all my institutional schooling friends – Why (for the love of all that is holy) is there a late-start day? What is the benefit? Thank you in advance for enlightening me xo.

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More about easing into our first week

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This year we are homeschooling for our fourth year.

Shooter is a sixth grader.

Farmer Boy is in fourth grade.

Little Cowgirl is in second grade.

During our first week, we like to take pictures to commemorate the beginning of a new year. This year, I also included a surprise field trip! I told the children to bring their backpacks and they were thrilled when I parked at the library. I then handed out sheets of paper for a ‘book scavenger hunt.’

Everyone had individual instructions for what type of book they were off to find.

I tied the book hunt into our history studies (everyone’s favorite part of school). Little Cowgirl was looking for books about covered wagons. Farmer Boy was after information on the Crow Indian Tribe. Shooter was instructed to find books about Westward Expansion or The Oregon Trail.

I helped Little Cowgirl search the computerized library catalog. Shooter and Farmer Boy managed without me.

We have been using the books as enrichment alongside our reading of “Moccasin Trail.” I plan to incorporate this strategy again as we move from book to book in our history novels.

There is still more to come about our year’s start. Is there anything in particular you would like to hear about?

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Beginning Our Year – In First Gear

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We began our new homeschool year last week. It was the best first week of homeschool we have ever had.

The stage has been set for a great year.

I gave the children each a new pencil sharpener (Shooter’s idea), their own clipboard, a ‘clicky’ pencil (this is what we call ever-sharp or refillable pencils) and an erasable pen. Farmer Boy, my dyslexic and dysgraphic perfectionist, received a special set of very nice ergonomic erasers (which has already proved to be a *winner* as there are no holes in his papers and rather than making frustrated growls when he needs to erase he is happy to have a chance to use the new tool that only he received).

My Little Cowgirl, who has never been to “regular school” (as my children call it) mentioned to me this year that she wished for a backpack. She really has no need for one, but if that is what she feels she is missing I’m happy to oblige her. She chose a princess pack and has worn it every day from her room to the kitchen table. She takes along work from our house to big brother’s tutoring. It makes her feel big and happy and even more excited that she has officially become a second grader.

It’s a great way to hold your things while you water mommy’s plants.

My friend Sam wrote a post about how she approaches the first week of school at her house. Number Three (Ease Into It) really struck a chord with me. I typically spend our first week of school PUSHING to be sure we get everything in, so that everyone gets a feel for how much we can do in a single morning.

This year, I took Sam’s advice. We worked on our social studies core, had some fun wth science, and began dabbling in our language arts and critical thinking books. We didn’t touch math, writing, copy work, spelling or grammar. We did some of our favorite things, listened to lots of music and took extra time to enjoy each other.

I’m going to spend the next several posts talking about our first week, some new and exciting changes we have made in our schooling this year, and a few special activities we included in our first days. We will continue to shift into higher gears in the coming weeks, but this first slow week was an excellent way to warm up.

Is anyone in your family starting school soon?

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No Time Tuesday – More Corn Harvest Pictures

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Corn Harvest 2012 continues to roll along – The kids and I have been in the field so I have no time to write, but here are some fun photos.

This was the view from my front porch last week.

Here is a picture from one of the days we ran grain cart. So fun!

Shooter took this picture while I was driving the tractor along side the combine as it unloaded grain into our cart.

Watching Dad and Brother go by...

I was busy watching the watchers (Dr. Seuss reference).

Everybody took turns riding with Mom or Dad.

Here is grain cart duty round two.

<3

A look down the cutout...

This picture is for the benefit of our farming readers; can you believe the traffic? And I didn't wait to time this picture, there are always that many vehicles zooming down this road.

We have also started school (more to come on this) and have been so happy for a few cooler days (less than triple digits for the first time in weeks). What is happening in your neck of the woods?

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