OH SO COOOL

Ok this is us all over it! Lego robotics! I really really want the Lego Education Wedo Robotics Homeschool Pack. It is 174.95 plus shipping. It is so COOOOLLLL! My son would LOVE it!

Commitment Time

Ok so I spent a week dealing with curriculum. I surveyed the web for free curriculum. The resources I already own, the Adult Ed section at the main library, and went to a curriculum fair.
Conclusions,

• The only things I really have to purchase at this point would be some basic supplies and lots of ink.
• English reading, I have every thing I need in hand. I can supplement as needed.
• English writing, I have everything I need in hand and can supplement via great resources from the web.
• English, spelling. I think we will just wait on this until mid year.
• Handwriting, I need to relax about it and make it fun! I am thinking we can practice letter formation without pencils and I need to think of fun ways to increase fine motor skills.
• Arabic reading, I need to settle on a curriculum from the web and stick to it, supplementing with the in hand materials.
• Arabic writing, we will approach this much the same way we did for English handwriting and will truly not worry about grammar yet.
• Arabic oral, I need to commit to everyday practice.
• Math, I have everything I need in hand and there are zillions of resources to supplement with on the web.
• Science, I need to settle on a curriculum and gather necessary materials. I should have the text I need on the web already.
• History, we will continue to cover it for the most part informally, naturally as it comes up and cover seerah on a more consistent baisis.
• Geography, I need to settle on curriculum.
• Islamic Studies, I need to fun-up the curriculum I have pulled together.
• Art, I need to make sure we have at least and hour of art projects. I also need to beef up in my knowledge of Islamic Art.
• Quran, mearly need to download more Juz 30 and we will be set.

So overall as far as curriculum goes all I need to do is  settle on the undecided ones, gather materials and fun-up. I will need to formulate a plan and schedule.
When all this is finished I will need to make myself a pacing guide and update the school room.
I also need to review my mission statement.

Highlights from the convention,

Ok so I attended my first HS convention. It was cool. I enjoyed just being around other HSers.
Highlights from the convention,

• Make a mission statement and use it
• Don't be afraid to barter for lessons
• Find mentors for your kids
• Don't over burden yourself with emotional baggage
• Of families that attended the UHEA we appeared to be 1 of 2 non average-white-families there, and apparently the only Muslims, geee what a surprise.
• There is a lot of HS friendly businesses in Orem
• Homeschoolers are polite and don't stare.
• Legos are cool!

Simple machines!

Wedges

 

Pulley?

 

Pulley

 

Pulley

 

Screw

 

Screw

Wedge

 

Inclined plane

He is so excited about learning about simple machines! Here are some simple machines he found around the house.

Science in a Pop Bottle

So a year or 2 ago I picked this Pop Bottle Science kit second hand at the thrift store. He has pulled it out a couple of times but last night he actually tied an experiment. Water, herbs, the bottom part of the bottle and a pencil are all he needed to see how the galaxy is spinning.
He LOVED it! He did it all by himself and spent a good hour exploring it. Then he ran down to me and exclaimed "MOM! Its like the spinning thing in the air!" We talked about it. I don't know how much this costs new but I do recommend it.

Writing about snail

Just this moment my little guy came in and told me about a snail he found in the back yard. He is now drawing a picture and writing a sentence about it. Yeayh! I asked what he was going to write and asked what are some more details he could tell about.
I asked "Where were you."
He responded "Outside."
"Where outside? You were by the tree right?"
"I was by the back, back tree."
"Ok, yeah, add that to your picture. What other details could you add? Think about it"
He added the sun, grass, the "back, back tree" our house, and he is drawing up a storm now. How can I tell, sound effects, lol. O he added this room, our basement. it is so cute!

I just told him to do a really good job with his best hand writing so he could share it on the internet.

The little thing above the n on the ground is the snail. He is in front of a tree. The back porch has striped awnings and he shows the stairs in our house.  The text reads "A snail was on the bottom of my hand when I was outside. The snail was going to the top." His handwriting is very nice here, mashallah.
If I am right behind him prompting him to hold his pencil correctly, sit up and hold his paper this is what his handwriting looks like. Sometimes we "chomp" that is we will tap each finger to our thumbs to practice coordination. I need to look up some more ideas for small little things that we can occasionally do to increase hand strength and coordination. Both his hands and mine get tired easily.  I'll post my findings inshallah.

So whats happening?

Well my wonderful friend Ms. A has been coming by after work, her grave yard shift and walking with me in the mornings. On days my husband is still at work, Little Baba comes with us.
In addition to maintaining my health these walks are helping to maintain my sanity. Seriously cabin fever is bad. LOL
So my little guy has come along 2 times this week. I'd like to think it will help his sense of geography, and observance of nature. Of coarse it also means he is getting exercise as well.
The hard part for when he comes along is getting him motivated to keep a pace. I try to get him to run a head or at least stay at my slow speed but he just doesn't want to. I bribed him with reading a story together today.
It seems like he is just harder and harder to motivate to do anything lately. Not sure what thats all about.
On the other hand he has been willingly playing outside! This is a wonderful development. He is out side now.