Showing posts with label Homeschooling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Homeschooling. Show all posts

Homeschool Co-op Wraps Up

Posted by My Heart Song

 4/26/2022


We had another great year with our homeschool co-op. 

We meet on Wednesday mornings for 12 weeks in the fall and 12 weeks in the spring. 

We enjoyed an end-of-semester program to show parents and guests some of what the children were up to during this semester of co-op. 

My oldest son is in 8th grade and chose to take these classes: Engineering Challenge, Gym, Minecraft, and Stomp. Gym is always a favorite for him. This was his second semester of Minecraft. First semester, the students built a new scene from a historical time period each week (think Ancient Egyptian pyramid, Ancient Greek stadium, Viking ship, etc). Second semester, the theme was Bible-based and included things like the Garden of Eden, the parting of the Red Sea, houses built on sand and rock, a scene from Revelation's new heavens and new earth.


Stomp class was more of a musical challenge, involving drumming out rhythms with sticks, chairs, buckets, and bodies. This was fun to watch them perform at the program. 


Engineering Challenge was a good experience for my son, who has a tinkering mind. The challenge was to build a tennis ball launcher that would launch the ball 20 feet and land in a bucket, consistently. Bonus: use items you already have at home. My son rocked this challenge and his catapult won first place in the class, consistently getting 7 balls in to the bucket and 6 that hit the rim but didn't quite make it. We are proud of him! In this picture he is on the stage at the program along with his teacher and 2 classmates as they demosntrated their launchers in action.


My 8 year old daughter's class roster included: Rhythm and Sticks (a simpler version of Stomp), Drawing, American History, and Fruit of the Spirit. In this picture she's on stage with her Rhythm class as they perform a clapping/dancing song. 


My 6 year old son's classes this semester were: Frog & Toad, Dr Seuss, Gym, and Weather & Seasons. These classes do lots of reading and crafts, but they didn't perform anything at the program. 


Here he is with some of his K/1 classmates. 


And here's one of the crafts he made when talking about spring. Planted grass which grew on this funny face at home during the next week. 


And in Weather & Seasons, they got to meet some goats as they talked about spring babies.


My youngest son was in his last semester of Preschool. Here he was during the program with his classmates singing "Peace Like a River." Then he was given a graduation certificate and just like that, I have no more littles in the nursery or Preschool. 


He just loves Preschool.


The last day of co-op each semester is "dress crazy day." Here are my youngest three looking their silliest!


I helped with leadership this semester, so my schedule was flexible to just help fill in and meet needs as they arose.


 At the program, we honored our friends who are stepping down from leadership positions after this semester. Next semester will be different as I lead along with a new friend stepping into the co-director role alongside me.


We took one huge all-families group shot this semester (which we haven't done in the last 10 years). This is about 50 moms and about 150 children. Blessed by this co-op in so many ways!

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Another co-op semester wraps up

Posted by My Heart Song

11/26/2019


Last week our fall semester of co-op wrapped up. Our co-op lasts for 12 weeks in the fall, takes a long break for December and January, and then resumes for 12 weeks starting in February. This schedule works really well for us, as a co-op and for our family personally. We always enjoy co-op for those 12 weeks but are also ready for a break as the semester ends. 


My 16 year old daughter took Chemistry (what a relief for me, to have her taking this class with a more qualified teacher and with other students who struggled as much as she did), Show Choir, Study Hall, and US Presidents. Her Show Choir class performed at the final program. Here she is with a few of her friends.




My 11 year old son had some very easy classes this semester: Games, Gym, Arts and Crafts, and Math Puzzles/Games.


 

My 5 year old daughter loved her K-1 classes: Music, Gym, Mercy Watson, Dance.


Her music and dance classes both performed on stage, which she loved. 


And she has a best friend, Addy, at our co-op that she just adores. They also share a birthday, so their relationship is extra special.


My 4 year old son was in PreSchool. Here he is with his class at our final program, singing Jesus Loves Me. So dapper on the bottom right! I didn't realize until they were all on stage that there are only 2 boys in the class amongst all those girls! 

My 2 year old son was in the Nursery.


This was my second semester co-leading the co-op with two other moms. Both of them have been leading for many years, but this is still fairly new to me. It is beginning to feel more comfortable as time goes by.

As a co-op, we memorized the first half of Psalm 103. We plan to memorize the second half during our spring semester. I do love the fact that Scripture memory is part of our group's values. 

Each semester is a time of giving, of receiving. 
Of learning, of growing - for moms and children! 
We love our co-op!

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Homeschool Co-op End of Semester

Posted by My Heart Song

5/14/2019

We have once again come to the end of a semester of our homeschool co-op. 


This semester was different in a few ways. First, my oldest daughter (age 15) opted to sit this semester out. She stayed home and did her usual school work while the rest of us participated in co-op. She quickly found out that she missed co-op and was very bored by herself at home and has decided to rejoin co-op for the fall semester. I'm glad! 

Secondly, this was my first semester in a new role at co-op. I had previously served as the Treasurer for our group, but began as a Co-Director this semester. I have learned a lot more about the behind-the-scenes planning that takes place to make co-op so great! Working alongside two other gals, I was able to be a part of the initial planning of meetings, overseeing the computerized class registration process, laying out the schedule for every kid and every mom to know where to be all 4 hours, helping make morning announcements, filling in wherever help was needed, taking pictures throughout the semester, and helping to plan the final program. This was a growing experience, for sure! 


For my kids, this was another great co-op semester. My oldest son was in Gym, Nerf War, Christian Heroes, and Creatures that Defy Evolution. 


He had to do a presentation on the Christian Hero of his choosing. He chose John Bunyan. We read some books about him and researched together, creating a posterboard. This was his first ever presentation in front of a class. He did well! Here he is with some visual aids he used - a copy of Pilgrim's Progress and a Lego scene with John Bunyan in jail. 



My 5-year-old participated in K-1 classes this semester. She took Gym, Art, ABC Show & Tell, and Cook & Book. She enjoyed all of her classes. Here she is showing the page of her ABC book for the letter S with her drawing of our bird Skittles and a sunshine.


Here she is with a little cake she decorated in art class.


Her favorite part of co-op is being with her good friend Addy!


My 3-year-old moved up to PreSchool this semester. This means more structured learning time, with a focus on one community helper each week. They also play big group games in PreSchool gym, which he loved. 



My littlest guy was in the nursery all 4 hours. I popped in occasionally but was not in there regularly. He handled it so well. He has no attachment issues whatsoever. 


He loved the days when there were balloons to play with.


And the brave nursery leaders let the kids paint (something I'd never let him do at home). He loved that!

Our Scripture passage for this semester was Ephesians 3:14-21. "For this reason, I kneel before the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you being rooted and established in love may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know this love that surpassed knowledge that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to His power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." 

We practiced this passage each week, working to memorize it. At the end, any kids who can recite it from memory receive a small reward. So we always practice it at home as a family so even the littlest ones know some of it by heart.

We're so thankful for our co-op. It's so encouraging to see each mom using her gifts to teach or lead or facilitate or help. And I love sharing in my kids' excitement over something new they learned or a game they played or whatever. We always have to take turns in the van on the way home so each person can share what they did at co-op. So much enthusiasm and excitement. We love our co-op!

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Homeschool Co-op Semester Ends

Posted by My Heart Song


11/19/2018



Another homeschool co-op semester has come to an end. Our co-op meets for 12 weeks in the fall and then takes a break until spring when we'll meet for 12 weeks again.

As a big group we memorized Philippians 4:4-9 this semester: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything but in every situation by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received from me or heard from me or seen in me, put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you!"

My oldest daughter had these classes this semester: Show Choir, Introduction to Economics, Study Hall and Beauty School. Above is her Show Choir class performing "Hot Chocolate." They also did a song called "Ugly Christmas Sweater." 
My oldest son signed up for: Gym, Games, Science in the Bible, and Public Speaking. He always loves Gym. His games class involved learning some new games and even making a few games, including this Foosball game. In Public Speaking class, he learned how appropriate behavior for public places like restaurants, stores and libraries.


My littler girl was in Preschool with her best friend Addie. She absolutely loved co-op this year. She loved her teachers and seeing Addie on a weekly basis. The Preschool class wraps up the semester with a Pajama Party and a movie. So much fun this semester! My girl and Addie will both be moving up to Kindergarten classes in the spring semester, so they received a diploma as a Preschool Graduate at the final program. 



My two littlest boys were in the Nursery. I was in there with them for 2 of the 4 hours this semester. My 3-year-old did great in there, not caring whether I was there or not. He has come a long way over the last year! 


My 1-year-old also did very well. He has always been a little more independent and less attached, so he too didn't mind whether I was present or not with him the nursery. 


The schedule in the nursery is: 
1st hour -  free play and storytime
2nd hour - Cheerio snacks 
3rd hour - free play and a craft 
(as well as a change of all diapers) 
4th hour - Goldfish snacks and clean up 

I taught a Senior High Speech class this semester. I've taught this material before, a few years ago. I had 5 students who presented object, demonstration, inspirational, persuasive, impromptu and historical-character speeches throughout the semester. In this picture, student Ellie is handling a cockroach, which fellow student Nolyn brought in for his speech on cockroaches as pets. 

We're thankful once again for our co-op -- for the friends we've made, for all that we've learned together, for the focus on glorifying God and learning Scripture together, for the freedom to gather together and learn together.

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Homeschooling 10th Grade - Goals

Posted by My Heart Song

6/18/2018


10th Grade! Sophomore year!


Some people start homeschooling with the intention to go all the way through high school while others take a year-by-year approach. We're pretty solid in our conviction to homeschool and our oldest daughter has no desire whatsoever to change things up at this point. 

So we find ourselves gearing up to start 10th grade! I find this a bit daunting. Homeschooling high school carries a pressure that is much heavier than the younger grades. Transcripts loom. College-prep or dual-credit classes become options. Questions abound as to whether our student will be ready for whatever step they'll take after high school. The material itself is complicated and much of it is over my head as "the teacher."


This is where I am thankful for the curriculum we've used for many years now... Sonlight! Sonlight reassures me that they've chosen excellent books to teach what my student needs at this stage of her schooling. We'll be studying 20th Century history and literature this year. I'm excited about this, as more recent history is far easier for me to understand and enjoy than ancient times. Sonlight includes dozens of great books (NOT TEXTBOOKS) that make studying history fun, bringing the people and events to life.

For math this year, my daughter will be using Teaching Textbooks for Geometry. For science, she will be taking a laid-back approach while helping teach science to her younger siblings. Nothing heavy this year for science. Science for the last 2 years has been intense and she's not a science-brained kid so I'm cool with the choice to take a little break in this area. Instead she's going to focus more on Language Arts where we "coasted" last year. There will be more research papers and creative writing this year. I delight in the freedom I have as a homeschooler to adjust our lessons to life, to what works best for our family or for this girl specifically.


We will also be having an ongoing dialogue about her future plans so we can start taking steps in whatever direction she chooses. We will also continue to discuss technology and her use of computers, smartphones, tablets, etc. as it relates to responsibility and growing in trust in these areas. 

And in the far back of my mind... I will start researching options for Driver's Ed! 

But for now, we are enjoying organizing our books and lesson plans. We'll put together a loose calendar for the school year. 


This girl has already found a book or two to start reading immediately. I love that about Sonlight! The books draw you in. The stories "sneak up on you" so you don't even realizing you're learning history while reading a great book!

Here's to another year of loving Jesus by being intentional about spending time with these children learning about this world God created and finding our places in it. We're growing as disciples so we can go make disciples! 

Thank you, Sonlight, for putting together excellent material that helps us meet our goals! 

And thank you, God, for Your faithfulness to us on this homeschooling journey!

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Field Trip: Air Zoo

Posted by My Heart Song

5/11/2018


Recently our entire family traveled to Kalamazoo, Michigan to the Air Zoo. This was part of a field trip coordinated by our homeschool co-op, so we enjoyed the day's attractions with many other friends.


After the front desk to pay, you walk "through the clouds" into the museum.



My oldest daughter loved the painted mural that surrounds the main room. 


Beautiful and so detailed!


And imaginative!


My little girl loved the rides. 
These were like carnival/fair rides, but inside. 


This was an individual ride. Still fun. 


My oldest daughter rode too. Silly!


My son liked the military planes and paraphernalia.


There was an exhibit on NASA and space exploration too.


Daddy showing the little boys the big planes.


There were models of hundreds of planes and real-sized replicas of a few dozen. You could spend hours looking at each one and studying the details.


One of the big planes painted so fancy. 


I was glad that the museum was kid-friendly. They had an activity area for the little ones to get some energy out. More beautiful sky-themed murals throughout that area also.


My baby boy sat with me at the gate of the rides, watching the older kids enjoying it all.


And everyone was exhausted at the end of the day.

Thumbs up for the Air Zoo!

 PS: Our family visited the Air Zoo 7 years ago. It's fun to look back at the pictures of the kids. Here is my blog post about that visit.

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