Portfolio

The end of school is upon us, and we are thankful :0) We love school, but this has been a crazy year! We have adopted 5 kids and did the first half of the school year with an online charter school, coming home for the second half of the school year. we enjoyed each of these things, but there was more change in this year than we are used to! LOL
At the end of each school year my state requires that every student from 3rd grade and up have an evaluation done and have a portfolio made. This is quite and undertaking and takes a bit of time. For those of you who may not know what a home school portfolio is let me explain :0) Pa state law required a portfolio containing samples of the childs work throughout the year, and other documents that are required; like a log and booklists.
I thought I would share how I put mine together :0) I have only 3 students who are required to have a portfolio made..5th grade and (2) 3rd graders. Here is a list of what I include in mine.
Math~ we use Teaching Textbooks, so I just print off and include their grade sheet..as well as 5 extras, like math worksheets or games.

English~ 8 writing samples that very in length and topic
5 grammar sheets
8 spelling tests
booklist

History~ 12-18 pages of notes

Science~ 12-18 pages of notes

Art, Music, Gym...~ I just do a simple write up on what we covered in each and include some samples of art.

Field Trip list and write up of each one

Geography~ I include maps and a write up of what ws covered.

Pa History~ I include any worksheets or essays

Civics~ write up

Safety & Health~ about 5 samples and write up

I also include as many pictures as I can...the pictures range from school things to the kids being silly. I always make sure I take lots of pictures throughout the school year! I make these up scrapbook style, so they are special.

I include my list of objectives and affadavids...and any other necessary paperwork

I include any lapbooks or other large assignments that would be interesting and show what we were covering, many subjects can be covered at one time using this style of learning!

I have created a checklist that I use to keep on track throughout the school year. I just simply know what my evaluator wants to have and through the year I keep those things in mind. As I come across a great paper to include in the portfolio I simply slip it into a folder marked portfolio and the childs name...then I immediately go to my own folder and put a checkmark next to the item that was put away. this way I always know what I have and what is still needed. I find this way to be MUCH more organized and simple than ways I did before! One year I threw all the papers into a box and had to sort through each and every paper at the end of the school year to make a portfolio! It took FOREVER and I was STRESSED to the max! this way there is little to no stress at all!! When the end of the year comes along, I just grab my folder, a binder, and page protectors...and within a few hours I am done! I know moms who stay up late and get very worked up when this time of year rolls around as they have not kept track of their days (log)...have no booklist, or papers! EEK! At the end of the year I am also ready for the next school year...I will also hand in all papers necessary for next year so we are going to be all set...books bought & plan made! Summer is for summer... not mom at the computer trying to plan next school year...I want to be in the garden and pool with my kids :0)

*** Spell check wouldn't work...be sweet...forgive any errors you may find! Thanks :0)

What Our Day Looks Like

It has been a few weeks since we started back with trditional homeschooling, after doing a charter school at the beginning of the year. Our days are running much better now :0) We were having a lot of issues with timing and getting thngs done and keeping kids on task. Another big problem I had was knowing what to do with all the little kids...they were mostly running "wild" while I was trying to get everything the charter school required done. We are much happier now. I thought I would give you a peek at what our new schedule looks like.

8:00 breakfast
8:30-9:00 chores
9:00-9:15 or so is devotions as a family
9:15-11:00 the big kids all have folders with the work they can do on their own (spelling, grammar, writing, math, and reading) During this time I have all 6 small ones with me...we do circle time where we sing and read books, then we go to the table and we all do lessons together and on special occasions we all watch a PBS kids show and then do a coloring sheet to go with it.
11:00-11:30 lunch
11:30-12:45 break time
12:45-1:00 clean up time for all
1:00-3:00 little ones rest/nap while big ones sit at the table with me and I do a read aloud and then a comprehension sheet we make up ourselves, science (M & T) and social studies and civics (W & Th), during this time we do other things we "want" to do...at the moment we are doing a poetry unit. We watch movies that go along with our subjects and read lots of books and take notes...we draw tons of pictures in our notebooking...
Things are going SO much better, I really like the "schedule" we are on! things happen and we don't always stick to the time of everything...but most days we do!
Fridays are different...we do art, gym, spelling tests, library trips, cooking/baking, and any field trips...things like that! I am working on fitting it "all" in, but feel so much more freedom at what to teach and do...it's great!

Ahh...That's Better!

We finally switched back from the online charter school to traditional homeschooling! Boy, am I ever relieved! I didn't realize how much I was not liking the charter school until I was no longer doing it. We are back to our "normal"...The bigs do independent work like spelling and math...from 9-11 am while I am JUST with all the littles....doing littes school :0) I have seen a major improvement in little kid behaviors....this is because they have ME....then the Bigs all do group teaching with me from 12:30-2:30 while the littles are resting and napping. That's it...we are ALL together and happy about it! No more jumping from topic to topic...we are actually going to LEARN something....Ahh....that feels much better!

Half Way Point

We are at the half way point of school and I feel so mixed up! We are using an online charter school and I think I like it. But am not really at peace with it either! My mind has became so consumed with this mess...do leave the charter school and go back to what I know...traditional homeschooling?? What I did was make a list of all the things that were bothering me, then I wrote those same things down again...but this time with a possible solution while staying at the school online. I wanted Friday's free to group teach my kids, as that was how I used to school them...so I had to have them all double up on lessons through the week to have this day free. Next week will be our first full week with the changes I have made. We shall see how it goes! It still seems like a bit much to me. It helped my heart to look at the pictures I have taken over the course of this year and it appears to be good...they look happy! ARGG...my head is such a mess! Please pray for me! Bottom line is I want more TIME with my kids....LIVING....DOING things...one of the major issues I have is that I am not a good planner, this school is all planned and laid out...and my time is not spent planning...which makes hubby happy. There are more things...but my time on the computer is up :)

I'm Calmed Down Now :0)

I think I have calmed myself down from the upset I was having about homeschool yesterday. I hate it when I get feeling like that, and it usually comes when I start comparing myself to other moms! This is not a healthy or wise thing to do! I "think" ...at least for now... I am going to try to stick with this school for as long as we can make it work. There are many things about this school that I like and many that I do not. BUT....the actual "school" part is just that...school. I really want to focus more on the training of my children and being with them. This school does not require much of ME...so I am free to do more with THEM. This I like :0) I am going to try to pick apart the lessons more and add what I can. I did find a similar program that is NOT a "school"...it is traditional homeschool, but it's an online curriculum that you buy. I could school them for about $400 a year. That's not too bad for 7 kids...I might look into this later on, if I feel led to do so. I would have much more wiggle room...which could be good...or bad! Ha! I am so wishy washy! I know myself so well, and I am too soft...anyways...this is the choice for now :0) I really want to try to make the best of what we are doing....we shall see! Wish me luck!

Here we go again!

UGH! I feel like I am always in this same position...the homeschool rut! I LOVE teaching and doing homeschool...but it seems as if I never am happy with the material, or the set up, or something! Well, this year we decided to do a charter school...I as in ME...I really like this school...it is easy for me, there is no planning, no scheduling, it's free, there is support, you have cool extras....there are lots of things that make it easier for ME...some of the kids like it and some don't...I'm ok with that. I don't expect all the kids to like every single thing we do. My issue now is this...my husband (I do think he's right) thinks that things are moving too fast. They introduce a new math concept daily and my oldest student is having a hard time! For example, they introduced multiplication for the third graders and they stayed on it for only 4 days...tops. They had them do up 3 tables a day! Then after the 4 days they were on to something new. I LOVE the younger grades in this school...they cover all that I could dream of! Another issue is time, this school takes a lot of time and there is not much wiggle room as far as days off goes. But then, planning regular homeschool takes a lot of time too! I can't really take days off of my choice freely...which "I" like...I NEED that! In years past, I have been known to get sucked into many different things and not do as good of a job on school as I should have! This school keeps attendance, records, EVERYTHING! No need to get a GED or do a diplomacy program...great for "me"...and them, really. But are they learning....really learning?? Another example....for third grade they touched on Lewis & Clark...it was one PARAGRAPH! For 5th grade...the Boston Tea Party was a chapter! There is so much more to learn here! I try to weight the pros and cons...I am really struggling. This school year has been the most organized, and on task year we have had to date! The kids HAVE to do their lessons because it's a public school online, they would have serious repercussions if they didn't....in the same breath...we got behind while I was tending to the hearts of people who are in need....when the kids might not feel well, I still push them through school because we HAVE to do it...this is good and bad. Good, because it teaches them perseverance, and bad because they should be able to rest. In the past, I found myself taking too many sick days...I am a push-over. This school helps me stay focused and on task. There is no time left to supplement any extra materials, and the curriculum moves too fast to even add anything extra. I am not sure what to do! Here are my;
Pros
1. free books
2. free support
3. free record keeping
4. keeps me and kids accountable
5. no planning for me, it's all done
6. lots of free resources available, and I DO use them...a lot!
7. love the structure..
8. teaches kids and myself to keep plugging along, even when we want a day off...much needed for a softy, like myself
9. don't have to make a portfolio
10. don't have to have an evaluation
11. don't have to figure out diploma issues
12. free computers
13. they pay for your internet use


Cons
1. secular education, which we are adapting to by teaching them this is what the world thinks, and here is what the Bible says is true.
2. curriculum moves too fast
3. too much work to do
4. would have to pay LOTS of money for books for this many kids
5. not enough time for the fun stuff
6. no wiggle room
7. have to do PSSA's with a class and not with the evaluator
8. too strict
9. I have to figure out what to teach them and make sure they learn all they should, this scares the day lights out of me!
10. if I didn't do this school, I would have to search for and buy books,,,takes up $ and time.


To be honest only #'s 1,2,5,6 bother me at all. Any suggestions would be great! Here is what my wish list would be...
not too much planning as I don't have much free time (although, for my kids education I would MAKE the time if need be)
it would have to be cheap...I don't have much money
it would need to be organized

my head is spinning, and I'm not sure what I want to do. I just need to find something and stick with it! I thought this was it.....intil hubby told me his thoughts...HELP! LOL

Preschool Activities...

We needed a revamp of our preschool activities as winter has set in and the kids aren't playing outside as much. I like them to have things to do...so they don't run wild and kill each other! LOL

1. cutting and pasting
2. art box...this has magazines to cut and paste and odds & ends
3. baby care...baby bath, crib, swing, bottles...etc..
4. play dough
5. pudding bags...put pudding in a gallon zip lock and they write on it with their finger
6. grocery store
7. books
8. blocks
9. an educational movie about community helpers and a sheet for example
10. kitchen
11. water in a big oblong tub...put boats and measuring cups.
12. coloring
13. number and letter games I made from ideas found online :0)
14. bingo dot art
15. play Dr.
16. play "school" using unwanted homeschooling items I already have.
17. restaurant...I printed off pretend menus...some will be servers, others will be diners
18. "office"...with fake computers and phones...they will "dress up"

I have most of these items on hand, others I do not and will need to buy...I hope this helps keep little hands busy while we are cooped up for the winter!

Pajama Party!

We had a pajama party last week in school! It was a BLAST! All the children got to stay in their pj's all day! We read books, sang songs, made cupcakes, made a craft, and did our regular school in our pj's :0) I think it's good to mix things up a bit for the kids. When we are home, I often forget about trying to do fun school related things and we just do regular life...which is fun too...but it's nice to have a mixed up school day once in a while too!

My Homeschooling Day!

We LOVE homeschooling our kids! I thought it would be fun to post about a typical day of homeschooling at my house :0)

We do an online charter school, all the books and computers are free...they even pay for your Internet! We are really enjoying this school. Before this year we just did traditional homeschooling and liked that too. I just felt like I needed the support and I also couldn't afford the school books for all these kids!

Anyway....we wake up early and the kids watch shows and visit until the little girl I babysit gets here around 7:40 a.m. Then we eat breakfast at 8:00. Before we eat we always sing "This Is The Day" together and pray :0) After we eat we all do chores and meet for "circle time" at 9:00...during circle time we sing LOTS of songs from my full size Scholastic Flip Chart...we talk about whatever topic the preschoolers are doing...like we are doing the 5 senses right now...then we do our pledges to the Christian Flag and the pledge to the Bible, and devotions. After that we split off....littles go and play in the playroom upstairs, and I sit and work with my kindergartner...while bigs do independent work (they work until 11:00 a.m. or so)...my kindergartner is done around 10:30 for a break and then I sit with the preschoolers for their lessons. We all break at 11:30 for play and lunch. After lunch we clean up, littles nap/rest and I then sit down and work with the 3rd graders...5th grader is working on her own. At about 2:30 the 3rd graders are done and I sit with the 5th grader for her subjects she wants help with. After that I finish with the kindergartner as her rest time is over. After school we have animal chores, dinner to make, showers to take, and playing with Daddy! Our days are full...but we make time for fun! Sometimes we take time off in the morning to go play with another family, and then we will make up our work Saturday morning. We also do fun things like do experiments, read books, the girls do hair and nails...play outside...hunt...We feel so blessed to be able to be home all together!!

In the Groove

I was just talking with my hubby this morning before he went hunting about how we are in the "groove" as far as school is concerned. I like this time of year because we all know what it expected of us. Not that we always meet the mark, but it's easier to catch up now that we are in our "groove". I like it when things run smoothly....well, as smoothly as they can considering I live with my youngest son! He's an "interesting" fellow! LOL...cute as a button, but keeps mommy hoppin'! I am happy with our choice to use the charter school...it is very hard curriculum, but I LOVE the ease of it all....no planning for me, no record keeping for me, I don't have to make a portfolio, I don't have to schedule testing, I don't have to search for and buy curriculum....the pro's outweigh the con's as far as I am concerned. So, this week as everything else is spinning out of control with all I have to do...which is A LOT....I will know that school will not be put on the back burner because I don't have the time to plan and print stuff, it's all done for me....all I have to do it teach it..and that's the fun part!

Newest Student

This is my DD working hard at her Math lesson.
This is my DS working at his counting book.

and this....this is my newest student! Can a baby really do third grade language arts?? We shall see!!

Have a blessed day!

Laura Ingalls Wilder's Birthday

I just wanted to pop in and let you all know that Saturday (the 7th) is Laura Ingalls Wilder's Birthday. She was born in 1867. We are using this for school. I found a map of her travels, and interactive time line...and of course we will watch Little House and read a biography...and probably eat something from the Little house cookbook...and look up lots of pictures about the REAL Ingalls family, I want the kids to see the real people and not just the pretty tv people...lol...

Have a blessed day!

Frugal Doing for Saturday

My frugal posting today will be about the school books I bought, some new, some used, but we are all stocked up for next year! I have not paid full price for any of these books.

I could actually get by until 6th grade if I needed to...(my oldest is in 3rd)...I did not post all the books I have as some were stored away in a closet upstairs. So, I am pleased as I didn't spend much money at all, and will put the savings to good use! We will be able to do more filed trips and things like that!

Have a blessed day!

Manic Monday...and creepy crawlies!!

Well, Today is "Manic Monday"!!! there is SOO much to do today! I already feel as if my head is spinning! LOL...

The baby is sick (foster child) and he needs to see a Dr. ASAP! His breathing is very labored and congested, so we need that checked out. Also, my 16 yr old (foster child) has a dentist apt.....so we will have to do that along with house chores and homeschool and babysitting. We shall see how it goes!

Today DD is starting a lapbook about the Underground Railroad. She has shown a great interest in the book she read, which is a great encouragement as she has not shown much interest in reading... getting to do a lapbook after reading a whole book really helps it be more fun! We have already done a few lapbooks and I think they will really enjoy them as they get older, it will be fun to look back and see what they did.

As for the creepy crawlies part....last night as I was sleeping I got woke up to DH hitting me on the rear end! It shocked me and I sat up like a bolt! come to find out, DH was killing a SPIDER that was crawling on me! The thought of a spider crawling on you when you are sleeping was too much for me! I was grossed out!!! Needless to say... I didn't sleep well the rest of the night! LOL

In His Service,

Kim