We have already been busy this school year since we aren't on a calendar like the public schools. We are year round unschoolers. The learning doesn't stop just because it's summer time. Lately, we have been enjoying doing math on khanacademy.org and watching the videos done by Vi Hart. She makes math exciting for a 12 year old! His favorite ones...
http://www.khanacademy.org/math/vi-hart/v/doodling-in-math--spirals--fibonacci--and-being-a-plant--1-of-3
http://www.khanacademy.org/math/vi-hart/v/how-to-snakes
http://www.khanacademy.org/math/vi-hart/v/open-letter-to-nickelodeon--re--spongebob-s-pineapple-under-the-sea
We've also been exploring the similarities of different wars and the causes of them. Noodle is interested in WW1, the Civil War, the Revolutionary War, and the current war going on today. Also, keeping him captivated these days is the recent landing of the Mars rover Curiosity. That started his search for answers as to why we are so obsessed with Mars. He is one of these people and has recently begun watching "Ancient Aliens".
All this talk about space led into what caused the dinosaurs to go into extinction. Dinosaurs have been a source of fascination for him since he was a toddler. We are now talking about finding a dinosaur dig in Florida to check out.
Another topic Noodle is obsessed with- Atlantis! He loves to read all about and watch everything he can find on the subject.
We have also been utilizing our Grossology books to learn interesting things about the human body.
Livvy has been busy learning like a two year old should by exploring outdoors, coloring, having lots of books read to her, painting, her favorite shows, watching her siblings, and her new favorite things: markers(washable, of course) and play-doh. We also recently joined a group for the kids to have some extra opportunities to do extra activities, such as her creative movement class, which she loves since dance is her obsession at the moment. She also loves to make up stories and act things out.
I can't wait to see what this school year will bring!
The joys of moving halfway across the country
I having posted in quite some time because we were in the process of moving back home to South Carolina. I was quite nervous about the effect this would have on our unschooling. I researched like crazy and found that it's actually much better for my TS son since SC homeschool laws give you an option that doesn't require yearly state testing. Hooray for us! My son can not sit still for testing because of his tics, anxiety, and his ADHD. One of the reasons we decided to homeschool to begin with was his lack of ability to focus on school work. We have chosen NOT to medicate. Being home, he is free to learn without feeling self conscious. At the present moment, his passions are Astronomy, Mythology, Cartoon Art, and Science Fiction.
My kids are also excited about being close to the beach again. One of the favorite things to do is to hunt for shark teeth.
Living in this mess we call our life
Isn't it amazing how so much time can be spent cleaning just to have it destroyed again in five minutes by your children? I am trying so hard to change my way of thinking. I don't want my kids to grow up and think the only thing I did for them was clean the house. I just hope one of these days one of them will wake up and decide to help out without me having to coax it out of them.
The aftermath of a compulsive reader
I download free books for my kids and myself from Amazon every day. Lately, there have been quite a few vampire books and I know my daughter loves that genre, so I always get them. Yesterday, while going to the car, my daughter(17 yrs old) informs me it's good that it isn't dark yet because she wouldn't be going to the store with me if it was. All the vampire stories have left her a little afraid of the dark. I think maybe she should lay off for a few days.
Self motivation
So far this month, my son has learned about ratios, fractions, myths from all over the world, and dinosaurs. We installed an astronomy program because that is his passion right now. It's called Stellarium and is an awesome program that you can set it to a different time in the past or future and put in where you live so it is the night sky above you. He's already been on the hunt for a telescope for his birthday.
Christmas
My 2 year old has an obsession with everything Christmas. Still. She sings "Jingle Bells" everyday and loves to watch "Elf" over and over. She has this little dress that is red with white fluff on it. It's her Santa dress and she loves to wear it a few days a week. I think it would be more if I didn't hide it. Maybe by Easter, it will die down.
Moving
We are moving back to SC in about two weeks. It has been pretty stressful for the last month! My son keeps unpacking his things every time we get a box packed. Two year old daughter is enjoying that we already got rid of some furniture and she has room to move. Today, my daughter and I worked on cleaning makeup and nail polish out of the carpet in the bedroom of my teenage girls. Gotta love 'em.
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