One of the challenges I have in homeschooling, is coming up with tests and quizzes to evaluate Zack's work. Most of the time, I'm able to use the tests and quizzes that come with the textbooks and teacher materials. However, there are times when I modify the work, or I use a video to teach the lesson instead of using the textbook. For these situations, I came across a free website that allows me to create my own crossword puzzles, match up quizzes and fill-in-the-blank worksheets. The link for this website is: http://www.theteacherscorner.net/. Under the category "Printable Worksheets," you will find "Puzzle Worksheets." From there, you can choose several options including "Crossword Maker," "Word Search Maker," "Word Scramble Maker," "Fill in the Blank," and "Match Up Maker." I found "Crossword Maker" to be great as a study aid, and "Fill in the Blank," and "Match Up Maker" good for testing.
After completing the required Health course during the first semester of 11th grade, Zack chose Geography to fulfill his social studies requirement during the second semester. I used a Pearson Education middle school textbook entitled My World Geography. Although it was below his grade level, it covered everything he needed to learn for Geography. I chose this textbook for him because the lay-out of the book was more exciting and colorful than the recommended high school textbook. And, because it was at a lower level, it was easy for him to read by himself. Furthermore, it had all the on-line support that has made learning interactive for him such as reading of the text (he listened once, then read it himself once), videos of teens from around the world, maps and quizzes. He also continued to use www.learn360.com for videos of the land and resources that he was studying.
At the end of April, Zack decided to discontinue his drama class. The noise of the teenagers was beginning to grate on his nerves and he decided he needed a break. To continue lessons at home, he read No Fear Shakespeare Hamlet. We read the play out loud together, assigning ourselves different characters. Www.sparknotes.com had the entire book on line as well as a video summary of the play and a quiz for assessment. PBS also had a nice program called Shakespeare Uncovered: Hamlet with David Tennant that was interesting and informative. I also found a wonderful book called Magnificent Monologues for Teens by Chanbers Stevens. Each learning period, Zack's assignment was to choose a monologue and memorize it for recital in front of either his speech therapist or his certified teacher. Practicing monologues was a great way for him to apply the techniques he learned from his speech therapist, such as modulation and intonation. It is my belief that the memorization and chacterization of the monologues gave Zack skills that have helped him speak more fluently in his every day language.
Zack was enrolled in a cartoon class the first semester, but didn't re-enroll for the second semester. The class consisted mostly of 4th through 8th grade students. As the oldest in the class, Zack enjoyed being a role model and loved the positve feedback he received from the teacher and other students, but he just couldn't handle the boisterousness of the class. At home, we found a couple of great websites for him to explore on-line cartooning. One was www.pixton.com and the other was www.toondoo.com. He continued to work with Bruce Blitz's book The Big Book of Cartooning and www.youtube.com videos. For his final project, Zack created his own comic strip. University Art and Michaels has comic book art board "paper" that really helped Zack keep the panels of his comic strip organized and well spaced.
The highlight of this semester for me was watching Zack at the Spring Dance! He asked a good friend of his to accompany him and they danced the entire evening (3 hours) only stopping for water and snack breaks. Our charter school does not have a Junior Prom or a Senior Ball, but this was a wonderful event that gave Zack the chance to practice his social skills. It was truly endearing for me to see him doing so well at a "normal" social function.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Interactive Digital Textbooks and Videos Prove Crucial!
Now at the end of the first semester of Zack's junior year of high school, I am reflecting once again on the advantages of our technological age. Zack's subjects this semester were: English 3, U.S. History, Health, Drama, Cartooning, PE 3, and Driver's Education. We are continuing with the Pearson Literature program. I bought the textbook for Zack and the All-in-One workbook as well as the Reader's Notebook- Adapted Version. Pearson has a wonderful on-line platform where you can access the digital text which includes an audio read of all the selections. Most of the lessons pertaining to Literary Analysis and Reading Strategies were also available with an audio playback. The audio is in a "real" person's voice, as opposed to a computerized voice. This feature helps speed up his lessons. The on-line program also has vocabulary definitions and games for each unit and grammar tutorials. It also contains worksheets, graphic organizers, tests, and answer keys. I could've opted to print all Zack's materials instead of buying the All-in-One workbook, but decided it would cost more for ink than the cost of the physical workbook. The Adapted Version of the Reader's Notebook is not part of the on-line materials.
The U.S. History program I went with is Prentice Hall United States History: Reconstruction to the Present. I went with this program for the same reasons as above. There is wonderful on-line support with an audio read of the textbook, videos, and tests. If you purchase the textbook with on-line support, you don't need to purchase the Teacher's Edition or test booklets and answer keys. Everything you need is on the website! While Zack listens to the audio playback, he follows along in his physical textbook and I have the Teacher's Edition pulled up on a seperate computer. I can answer the questions that are embedded in his textbook. This is true of the Language Arts program as well. (Pearson and Prentice Hall are both divisions of Pearson Education) The glossary can be accessed on-line, which is quicker for Zack than leafing through the pages of the glossary in the back of the book. He doesn't have to go through the alphabet in his mind when trying to look up a term. He just clicks on the letter of the word he is looking up, and then scrolls through the words to find the one he is looking for.
I was also able to find a digital version of his health book on-line. It too had an audio playback feature. All I bought for this course was the workbook and the answer key. This was a one semester class, but Zack had a great deal of information to cover. It got to be rather overwhelming, so I interspersed videos from www.brainpop.com to break up the monotony. Brainpop is a fantastic website with hundreds of animated videos covering Science, History, Social Science, Math, Technology, English, Arts and Music. After Zack watched the video, he would then take the corresponding quiz provided by the site. It was a fun, wonderful way for Zack to learn. He loved Brainpop and often preferred to watch three videos with quizzes rather than complete a lesson from the textbook.
Speaking of videos, another great website is www.learn360.com. Our school has a subscription to this website and I am able to access it for free. It contains an enormous amount of videos covering all subjects related to academic learning. Although Zack didn't like these videos as much as Brainpop because they aren't animated, it had proven to be a helpful supplement to his history studies. As a matter of fact, to get a temporary break from the textbook, we are currently using history videos on www.learn360 from the publisher Media Rich Learning. Zack is studying The Roaring Twenties right now. Media Rich Learning has a 30 minute video on this subject. Their website, www.mediarichlearning.com, has corresponding lessons that include vocabulary, website activities, quizzes, and answer keys. You need to register on the site, but it is free.
One more place where audio playback was crucial, was on the Driver's Education website. Our school uses www.driveredtogo.com. The lengthy reading was really getting Zack down in the dumps. He almost dropped the course, but I found an option to add audio playback for $5.00. Again, a person's "real" voice read the material for him as he followed along in the text. What a life saver! Zack finished the course and passed the final exam. He is now eligible to go to DMV to take the test for his permit.
The U.S. History program I went with is Prentice Hall United States History: Reconstruction to the Present. I went with this program for the same reasons as above. There is wonderful on-line support with an audio read of the textbook, videos, and tests. If you purchase the textbook with on-line support, you don't need to purchase the Teacher's Edition or test booklets and answer keys. Everything you need is on the website! While Zack listens to the audio playback, he follows along in his physical textbook and I have the Teacher's Edition pulled up on a seperate computer. I can answer the questions that are embedded in his textbook. This is true of the Language Arts program as well. (Pearson and Prentice Hall are both divisions of Pearson Education) The glossary can be accessed on-line, which is quicker for Zack than leafing through the pages of the glossary in the back of the book. He doesn't have to go through the alphabet in his mind when trying to look up a term. He just clicks on the letter of the word he is looking up, and then scrolls through the words to find the one he is looking for.
I was also able to find a digital version of his health book on-line. It too had an audio playback feature. All I bought for this course was the workbook and the answer key. This was a one semester class, but Zack had a great deal of information to cover. It got to be rather overwhelming, so I interspersed videos from www.brainpop.com to break up the monotony. Brainpop is a fantastic website with hundreds of animated videos covering Science, History, Social Science, Math, Technology, English, Arts and Music. After Zack watched the video, he would then take the corresponding quiz provided by the site. It was a fun, wonderful way for Zack to learn. He loved Brainpop and often preferred to watch three videos with quizzes rather than complete a lesson from the textbook.
Speaking of videos, another great website is www.learn360.com. Our school has a subscription to this website and I am able to access it for free. It contains an enormous amount of videos covering all subjects related to academic learning. Although Zack didn't like these videos as much as Brainpop because they aren't animated, it had proven to be a helpful supplement to his history studies. As a matter of fact, to get a temporary break from the textbook, we are currently using history videos on www.learn360 from the publisher Media Rich Learning. Zack is studying The Roaring Twenties right now. Media Rich Learning has a 30 minute video on this subject. Their website, www.mediarichlearning.com, has corresponding lessons that include vocabulary, website activities, quizzes, and answer keys. You need to register on the site, but it is free.
One more place where audio playback was crucial, was on the Driver's Education website. Our school uses www.driveredtogo.com. The lengthy reading was really getting Zack down in the dumps. He almost dropped the course, but I found an option to add audio playback for $5.00. Again, a person's "real" voice read the material for him as he followed along in the text. What a life saver! Zack finished the course and passed the final exam. He is now eligible to go to DMV to take the test for his permit.
Highlights of 10th Grade
Summer break was just what we needed after the tumultuous school year. My health returned and my husband was doing fine with an improved diet and exercise. A better option didn't show itself, so we marched on with our homeschooling charter school.
10th grade was a quick year, a satisfying year, a well organized year, and a year of accomplishments. It was our last year of math (Geometry) and our last year of science (Biology). We had an English class, a World History class, drama, and PE.
Helpful technology included MP3 audio files for our Biology textbook, online virtual labs, KhanAcademy.org for Geometry, Pearson Prentice Hall online textbook for literature and grammar, and Steck Vaughn online quizzes and interactive activities for World History.
Zack had a fun and informative time with the vendored science teacher for his Biology labs. His favorite labs were dissections! He dissected a frog, a snake, a sheep's heart and a turtle.
His love of drama continued in a class at Sutter Street Theatre which he took once a week for several months. He memorized several short scripts and perfected improvisation. He had two performances in February that he nailed. He then went on to Studio 24 where he began learning how to audition for various roles in acting. He continued to practice improvisation techniques and memorization of short scripts.
Some of the curriculum we used for English was Expressive Writing and Sequential Spelling. They both use incremental teaching strategies. They are for special needs students. For our drama unit, Zack really enjoyed No Fear Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. This wonderful series gives the original play alongside a modern version. I read the original text out loud, and then Zack would read the modern interpretation. We had a lot of fun with this!
In February, Zack took the CAHSEE (California High School Exit Exam) for the first time. It took two months to get the results back, but it was worth the wait. He passed! We were all ecstatic with the good news! He will now receive a diploma upon graduation instead of a certificate of completion. This should make a big difference when he applies to college and when he applies for employment.
I think one of the reasons Zack had such a good year is because of the nutritional and emotional support we provided him. Every morning he did a meditation called Kirtan Kriya that harmonized his left and right brain hemispheres. It's a meditation that has been tested on Alzheimer's patients to help with cognitive functioning. I think doing it every morning got Zack's brain ready to receive the lessons of the day. It certainly brought down his overall anxiety, not just in school, but in all areas of his life. He also began taking 1 mg of melatonin at bedtime and Magnesium Citrate which helped him sleep better. The other new supplement was D3. I began giving him 2500 mg per day.
10th grade went by quickly and smoothly. All of his toughest classes are done. I'm looking forward to a more relaxed 11th grade experience.
10th grade was a quick year, a satisfying year, a well organized year, and a year of accomplishments. It was our last year of math (Geometry) and our last year of science (Biology). We had an English class, a World History class, drama, and PE.
Helpful technology included MP3 audio files for our Biology textbook, online virtual labs, KhanAcademy.org for Geometry, Pearson Prentice Hall online textbook for literature and grammar, and Steck Vaughn online quizzes and interactive activities for World History.
Zack had a fun and informative time with the vendored science teacher for his Biology labs. His favorite labs were dissections! He dissected a frog, a snake, a sheep's heart and a turtle.
His love of drama continued in a class at Sutter Street Theatre which he took once a week for several months. He memorized several short scripts and perfected improvisation. He had two performances in February that he nailed. He then went on to Studio 24 where he began learning how to audition for various roles in acting. He continued to practice improvisation techniques and memorization of short scripts.
Some of the curriculum we used for English was Expressive Writing and Sequential Spelling. They both use incremental teaching strategies. They are for special needs students. For our drama unit, Zack really enjoyed No Fear Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. This wonderful series gives the original play alongside a modern version. I read the original text out loud, and then Zack would read the modern interpretation. We had a lot of fun with this!
In February, Zack took the CAHSEE (California High School Exit Exam) for the first time. It took two months to get the results back, but it was worth the wait. He passed! We were all ecstatic with the good news! He will now receive a diploma upon graduation instead of a certificate of completion. This should make a big difference when he applies to college and when he applies for employment.
I think one of the reasons Zack had such a good year is because of the nutritional and emotional support we provided him. Every morning he did a meditation called Kirtan Kriya that harmonized his left and right brain hemispheres. It's a meditation that has been tested on Alzheimer's patients to help with cognitive functioning. I think doing it every morning got Zack's brain ready to receive the lessons of the day. It certainly brought down his overall anxiety, not just in school, but in all areas of his life. He also began taking 1 mg of melatonin at bedtime and Magnesium Citrate which helped him sleep better. The other new supplement was D3. I began giving him 2500 mg per day.
10th grade went by quickly and smoothly. All of his toughest classes are done. I'm looking forward to a more relaxed 11th grade experience.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
The End of 9th Grade
Shortly after my last blog in January, my husband had a heart attack. He is doing fine, but as you can imagine, it was quite the shake-up. For three months, he stayed home to recuperate while Zack and I tried to keep up with our school day routine. Being together was comforting to all of us.
Then, I thought perhaps I, too, was having a heart attack! But, I have been assured by my doctor and a few tests, that my heart is healthy. However, there were days when teaching Zack was out of the question; I just didn't feel well. Fortunately, he was able to do a good deal of the work independently and we were able to finish the school year.
It's already been two weeks since we finished 9th grade. Zack took a week off and then went to a local summer camp for Anime cartooning. It was a 3 hour class every day from Monday through Thursday. I wasn't sure if he'd be able to be in a classroom for that long, but he loved the class! He will take the second part of the course in two weeks for the same duration. I am thrilled that he was able to participate in this class. It gives me hope for future classes that he may want to take. The solution is to find a high-interest class, a good teacher, and a classroom of nice students.
Considering the health challenges my husband and I have had this year, it makes me wonder if the stress of being a one-income family has been too hard on us, especially my husband. Should we find a different school setting for Zack? Would a regular public school be appropriate for him now that he's older? Maybe a different charter school that has more classes? Would that free me up so that I could work and contribute to our income? Seeing how independent Zack can be when needed, and seeing how the right class can work for him, I feel like we do have more options. However, it would be less stressful to change schools, and there are so many positive benefits with our current situation. Maybe the changes we need to make as a family have more to do with finding a better balance...
Then, I thought perhaps I, too, was having a heart attack! But, I have been assured by my doctor and a few tests, that my heart is healthy. However, there were days when teaching Zack was out of the question; I just didn't feel well. Fortunately, he was able to do a good deal of the work independently and we were able to finish the school year.
It's already been two weeks since we finished 9th grade. Zack took a week off and then went to a local summer camp for Anime cartooning. It was a 3 hour class every day from Monday through Thursday. I wasn't sure if he'd be able to be in a classroom for that long, but he loved the class! He will take the second part of the course in two weeks for the same duration. I am thrilled that he was able to participate in this class. It gives me hope for future classes that he may want to take. The solution is to find a high-interest class, a good teacher, and a classroom of nice students.
Considering the health challenges my husband and I have had this year, it makes me wonder if the stress of being a one-income family has been too hard on us, especially my husband. Should we find a different school setting for Zack? Would a regular public school be appropriate for him now that he's older? Maybe a different charter school that has more classes? Would that free me up so that I could work and contribute to our income? Seeing how independent Zack can be when needed, and seeing how the right class can work for him, I feel like we do have more options. However, it would be less stressful to change schools, and there are so many positive benefits with our current situation. Maybe the changes we need to make as a family have more to do with finding a better balance...
Friday, January 7, 2011
Being Present
The hardest months to homeschool are January and May. January, because the sun isn't shining and I want to stay in bed all day; and May, because the sun is shining and I want to play all day. This week has been all about getting back into the swing of things after our holiday break. It's been relatively smooth, but I just haven't been in the mood. I find myself being distracted by other things that need to be done. Bills, appointments, housework. But mostly, I just want to go back to my warm, cozy bed.
It's helpful for me to take the job of homeschooling as that: a job. If I was working for someone else, I would have to put those personal agendas aside, and just do my job. When I am able to be 100% present for Zack, I enjoy the school day so much more. Sitting beside him, working the math problems with him, learning Earth science with him, and listening to his writing, a certain peace comes over me. Sometimes I think, "My gosh, how can I do this for 3 and 1/2 more years? I'll never make it!" But then, I rethink it, and say, "Wow, only 3 and 1/2 more years!" This time is so special right now. We won't always be here at the kitchen table, me with my tea and him with his juice, opening the textbooks to see what we will learn today. In just 3 and 1/2 years, this particular schooling will be behind us. It will be a memory that I will probably think, "My how fast it went!" Or, "Oh how I wish it was like that again!" On Monday, I vow to be in that place of complete presence again, not only for my son, but for me as well. Because it is in that state of being present that I am at my best and the best of Zack is revealed.
It's helpful for me to take the job of homeschooling as that: a job. If I was working for someone else, I would have to put those personal agendas aside, and just do my job. When I am able to be 100% present for Zack, I enjoy the school day so much more. Sitting beside him, working the math problems with him, learning Earth science with him, and listening to his writing, a certain peace comes over me. Sometimes I think, "My gosh, how can I do this for 3 and 1/2 more years? I'll never make it!" But then, I rethink it, and say, "Wow, only 3 and 1/2 more years!" This time is so special right now. We won't always be here at the kitchen table, me with my tea and him with his juice, opening the textbooks to see what we will learn today. In just 3 and 1/2 years, this particular schooling will be behind us. It will be a memory that I will probably think, "My how fast it went!" Or, "Oh how I wish it was like that again!" On Monday, I vow to be in that place of complete presence again, not only for my son, but for me as well. Because it is in that state of being present that I am at my best and the best of Zack is revealed.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Live to Dance?
Dance class resumed this week at its usual time of 10:30 in the morning. It's an hour and 15 minutes, great exercise, and a lot of fun for the kids. Unfortunately, it makes Zack really tired. When we got home, it was time for lunch and then we sat down to continue the school day. We got through spelling, grammar, and note taking for his Great White shark report, but then his energy crashed. We weren't able to get through the science. I used to ask him to push through the sleepiness, but I've come to the conclusion that it isn't worth it. It takes twice as long to get through the lesson, and he doesn't retain the information. I have discovered that it's much better if we cover the heavy subjects like math and science before lunch, and leave the easier assignments and the P.E. requirement for the afternoons. I am thinking of dropping the dance class, but it's the only time Zack is exposed to pop music. (He only likes to listen to Disney movie tracks.) Plus, it's an opportunity for him to socialize with other kids his age. For now, dance stays and the brainy subjects get moved to a different day!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Back to It!
The Christmas tree has been picked up by the Boy Scouts for recycling, or whatever they do with it. The decorations have been boxed back up and stored in the garage. There's still fudge and gingerbread boys in the refrigerator, but it's been pushed to the very back due to over-consumption. It's Monday and that means, back to homeschooling.
Let's see, where did we leave off? Ah, algebraic equations, volcanic activity, and Great White sharks. I like getting back into the routine of it all. But, the stress of getting ready for the holidays has been replaced with the stress of getting assignments done for the end of the learning period. The learning period was split in half due to the holidays. I left off in convenient places, though. Finished chapter 9 in science, stopped after a review and a test in math, and got a good chunk of all the other subjects done. It shouldn't be too hard to pick up where we left off.
I'm apprehensive as we get started. Usually, Zack has a hard time after a weekend break. What would two weeks do to him? It's nice to have a break, but often, I feel like we shouldn't take any at all. We lose so much momentum.
Nice surprise! Zack is doing well with all his subjects today. Math, which is usually the hardest to continue with, went amazingly well! I wonder if it has anything to do with the Pharma GABA tablets I've started to give him. Or, maybe reviewing the difficult areas before going on break made the difference. I'm hopeful that the rest of the week will go smoothly, and we won't have to review too much from before the break.
Let's see, where did we leave off? Ah, algebraic equations, volcanic activity, and Great White sharks. I like getting back into the routine of it all. But, the stress of getting ready for the holidays has been replaced with the stress of getting assignments done for the end of the learning period. The learning period was split in half due to the holidays. I left off in convenient places, though. Finished chapter 9 in science, stopped after a review and a test in math, and got a good chunk of all the other subjects done. It shouldn't be too hard to pick up where we left off.
I'm apprehensive as we get started. Usually, Zack has a hard time after a weekend break. What would two weeks do to him? It's nice to have a break, but often, I feel like we shouldn't take any at all. We lose so much momentum.
Nice surprise! Zack is doing well with all his subjects today. Math, which is usually the hardest to continue with, went amazingly well! I wonder if it has anything to do with the Pharma GABA tablets I've started to give him. Or, maybe reviewing the difficult areas before going on break made the difference. I'm hopeful that the rest of the week will go smoothly, and we won't have to review too much from before the break.
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