Part 2 of our Unschooling Journey
Here we are to part 2 of our unschooling journey. I originally had 52 text modules in the original lens. It didn't take me long to realize that would make for way too large of a lens. I am breaking the year up into 5 lenses instead. I hope you will check in often on how and what we are doing.
Jasmine
Week of March 8, 2009
It's been spring break this past week for the public school children. Jasmine's been telling others all week how mean I am making her do schoolwork during spring break LOL The weather turned cold, so there wasn't much outside time for anyone!
This week Jasmine worked on the stamp collection.
She attended our own soup supper and Lenten service at our church since Awanas was out for the week.
She read in her Charlie Bone book.
She did a math worksheet on greatest common factors.
She did a mini page entitled Get Organized for School (she said oh boy on this one)
She did 2 cursive writing pages.
She found a new website to play a game on. The game was one where she had to solve math problems, go through mazes, memorize, etc to go on to the next level. She had a notebook keeping track of things and figuring things.
She finished the anime lapbook after 3 weeks or so. It's not very educational, but it's hers and she is proud of it.
I don't think she did bad at all this week considering the grandkids were home from school all week.
This week Jasmine worked on the stamp collection.
She attended our own soup supper and Lenten service at our church since Awanas was out for the week.
She read in her Charlie Bone book.
She did a math worksheet on greatest common factors.
She did a mini page entitled Get Organized for School (she said oh boy on this one)
She did 2 cursive writing pages.
She found a new website to play a game on. The game was one where she had to solve math problems, go through mazes, memorize, etc to go on to the next level. She had a notebook keeping track of things and figuring things.
She finished the anime lapbook after 3 weeks or so. It's not very educational, but it's hers and she is proud of it.
I don't think she did bad at all this week considering the grandkids were home from school all week.
Week of March 15, 2009
I'm still not liking this unschooling thing very well. I know that Jasmine is learning even if she's not writing anything down or not using any texts. I still want to see worksheets and work put in notebooks. Jasmine got on to me this week for telling her what work to do. She says it's not unschooling if she is still using books.
Jasmine is on her computer a LOT. However, I would say at least 80% of what she does on it is educational. She's working on writing a story, anime style of course. She often asks me how to spell a word. She plays a lot of games that do involve math and other thinking.
Last night she was learning the Greek alphabet. (She has up to the letter E memorized)
Earlier in the week my grandson brought home books on Venus and Neptune from his school library. That prompted her to look up some of the space related words such as Nova to see just what they mean. She also looked up and read up on the planet Venus.
She's also been studying her zodiac sign, which is Libra.
She attended Awanas.
She and Allen played a long game of Magic.
She did a lot of her drawing.
Things I had her do:
We worked in the Health curriculum that I have on nutrition labels. She got really in to it and we spent the rest of the week reading labels as we ate our meals.
I had her read 2 articles in the latest Lutheran journal, one on animal hibernation and another on the history of the English Bible.
I also had her 2 mini pages, one on the Democratic National Convention and the other On the Campaign Trail.
If you unschool, I would really appreciate if you would leave me a comment and let me know how you think she is doing. Thanks!
Jasmine is on her computer a LOT. However, I would say at least 80% of what she does on it is educational. She's working on writing a story, anime style of course. She often asks me how to spell a word. She plays a lot of games that do involve math and other thinking.
Last night she was learning the Greek alphabet. (She has up to the letter E memorized)
Earlier in the week my grandson brought home books on Venus and Neptune from his school library. That prompted her to look up some of the space related words such as Nova to see just what they mean. She also looked up and read up on the planet Venus.
She's also been studying her zodiac sign, which is Libra.
She attended Awanas.
She and Allen played a long game of Magic.
She did a lot of her drawing.
Things I had her do:
We worked in the Health curriculum that I have on nutrition labels. She got really in to it and we spent the rest of the week reading labels as we ate our meals.
I had her read 2 articles in the latest Lutheran journal, one on animal hibernation and another on the history of the English Bible.
I also had her 2 mini pages, one on the Democratic National Convention and the other On the Campaign Trail.
If you unschool, I would really appreciate if you would leave me a comment and let me know how you think she is doing. Thanks!
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Jasmine On Her Computer
Week of March 22, 2009
Sunday Jasmine upset me as I've been on her for 3 weeks to get her room cleaned and organized and keep it that way. She wouldn't stay off of her computer, so I took it away. (She still gets on my computer when I am napping or busy doing something else). She won't get it back until her room is clean and stays that way and that's not looking like anytime soon.
So....this week I've called her over to me to do certain things each day. The rest of each day she was on her own. I plan to continue to do this although she is still telling me it's not unschooling if I am making her do worksheets and things. I know, technically, it's not.
This weeks we worked on the stamp collection 2 different days. We have stamps out the you know what and we are still cutting them off envelopes!
She attended Awanas.
I have a health curriculum that I picked up free online. This week we've been learning about nutrition labels and about the different nutrients listed on those labels.
She did 2 mini-pages. One on the Iditerod and the other entitled Dr. King's Work Lives On.
We had a couple of nice days before this snow storm hit so she had quite a bit of outdoor play time as well as helping to get the yard cleaned up. She even found some wild onions to pick.
Jasmine and I walked to the grocery store on one of the nicer days. She really noticed how much I save with my coupons, and helped me find the products I was looking for.
We did some grammar worksheets on subjects and predicates, and on dependent and independent clauses.
She did some math worksheets on fractions and mixed numbers in fractions.
She read an entire joke book, reading out loud the ones she thought were really funny.
She used a lot of imagination and several cardboard boxes and built a house for the kittens to play in.
So....this week I've called her over to me to do certain things each day. The rest of each day she was on her own. I plan to continue to do this although she is still telling me it's not unschooling if I am making her do worksheets and things. I know, technically, it's not.
This weeks we worked on the stamp collection 2 different days. We have stamps out the you know what and we are still cutting them off envelopes!
She attended Awanas.
I have a health curriculum that I picked up free online. This week we've been learning about nutrition labels and about the different nutrients listed on those labels.
She did 2 mini-pages. One on the Iditerod and the other entitled Dr. King's Work Lives On.
We had a couple of nice days before this snow storm hit so she had quite a bit of outdoor play time as well as helping to get the yard cleaned up. She even found some wild onions to pick.
Jasmine and I walked to the grocery store on one of the nicer days. She really noticed how much I save with my coupons, and helped me find the products I was looking for.
We did some grammar worksheets on subjects and predicates, and on dependent and independent clauses.
She did some math worksheets on fractions and mixed numbers in fractions.
She read an entire joke book, reading out loud the ones she thought were really funny.
She used a lot of imagination and several cardboard boxes and built a house for the kittens to play in.
Week of March 29, 2009
After she got over being upset with me for taking her computer away, Jasmine finally decided this week to get serious about cleaning her room. She got her computer back Thursday evening.
This week she attended Awanas. She completed one book and has moved on to the next one so she did some extra work at home as well.
We did some grammar work with adding ideas to sentences.
She did one page of cursive writing.
We did 2 mini pages: 2008 Republican Convention and Discover China
She did a lot of drawing, although Ive not added any of them to her anime lapbook yet.
For Health we continue to work on nutrition labels, daily values and the nutrients.
She's read through (more than once) 2 different vegetarian booklets I've gotten in the mail. At one time she wanted to be vegetarian, now she wants to give it a try again.
Today we went to the book sale at the public library. She picked up a wide variety of books and magazines that will keep her busy...and has kept her busy all of today.
We had quite the exciting week with the snow storm last weekend. She spent a lot of time last Sunday out in the 18 inches of snow building snow people and even a snow dog. By Tuesday most of the snow was melted away and we observed as a crew re-roofed the house in just one day.
This week she attended Awanas. She completed one book and has moved on to the next one so she did some extra work at home as well.
We did some grammar work with adding ideas to sentences.
She did one page of cursive writing.
We did 2 mini pages: 2008 Republican Convention and Discover China
She did a lot of drawing, although Ive not added any of them to her anime lapbook yet.
For Health we continue to work on nutrition labels, daily values and the nutrients.
She's read through (more than once) 2 different vegetarian booklets I've gotten in the mail. At one time she wanted to be vegetarian, now she wants to give it a try again.
Today we went to the book sale at the public library. She picked up a wide variety of books and magazines that will keep her busy...and has kept her busy all of today.
We had quite the exciting week with the snow storm last weekend. She spent a lot of time last Sunday out in the 18 inches of snow building snow people and even a snow dog. By Tuesday most of the snow was melted away and we observed as a crew re-roofed the house in just one day.
Find Unschooling Books on Amazon
Jasmine Working on the Anime Lapbook
Week of April 5, 2009
It's been a busy week around our house....or maybe it's just me that feels that way.
This week, here is what I have written down for what Jasmine did:
Grammar lessons on Compound and Complex Sentences
Cursive Writing practice
I printed off several sample pages of math products from brainemporium.com to have her do so I can find some math that she will enjoy doing.
She attended Awanas, and also an Awanas egg hunt.
We walked to the bank, then to the school where I sometimes work to buy books. She chose to buy a booklet of Naruto posters and a book called "Shakespeares Secret" with her allowance money at the Scholastic buy 1 get 1 free sale. After buying books we then walked to the store where we shopped a lot before coming home.
She's spent a lot of time drawing this week as well as reading the Manga magazines that she picked up at the library book sale last weekend. She also spent a lot of time reading the Seventeen magazines that she also picked up.
She watched the movie "The Ten Commandments"
Lots of outdoor time this week. We got our dog back from the animal shelter after his quarantine...lots of time and attention spent on the dog. We really missed him.
For fun she had me buy her sugar cubes at the store. She said that "L" (from Deathnote) builds with them. She spent a whole evening doing just that, and even took photos of her masterpieces.
She's also been working hard at her vegetarian diet. She has picked out items at the store just for her such at refried beans, tomatoes, tortillas, ramen noodles, soy milk, etc. She helped me cook her up a batch of great northern beans, which we put by servings into the freezer. We also cooked up pinto beans and put them in the freezer by family servings to make our own refried beans.
This week, here is what I have written down for what Jasmine did:
Grammar lessons on Compound and Complex Sentences
Cursive Writing practice
I printed off several sample pages of math products from brainemporium.com to have her do so I can find some math that she will enjoy doing.
She attended Awanas, and also an Awanas egg hunt.
We walked to the bank, then to the school where I sometimes work to buy books. She chose to buy a booklet of Naruto posters and a book called "Shakespeares Secret" with her allowance money at the Scholastic buy 1 get 1 free sale. After buying books we then walked to the store where we shopped a lot before coming home.
She's spent a lot of time drawing this week as well as reading the Manga magazines that she picked up at the library book sale last weekend. She also spent a lot of time reading the Seventeen magazines that she also picked up.
She watched the movie "The Ten Commandments"
Lots of outdoor time this week. We got our dog back from the animal shelter after his quarantine...lots of time and attention spent on the dog. We really missed him.
For fun she had me buy her sugar cubes at the store. She said that "L" (from Deathnote) builds with them. She spent a whole evening doing just that, and even took photos of her masterpieces.
She's also been working hard at her vegetarian diet. She has picked out items at the store just for her such at refried beans, tomatoes, tortillas, ramen noodles, soy milk, etc. She helped me cook her up a batch of great northern beans, which we put by servings into the freezer. We also cooked up pinto beans and put them in the freezer by family servings to make our own refried beans.
Week of April 12, 2009
Seems that we had a really good week this past week.
We worked on the stamp collection.
My 17 yr old took Jasmine with her a couple times and they studied in a book I bought called The Human Body...Jasmine even took notes!
She attended Awanas.
She worked some more on those math sample pages. She's decided which she likes the best so I need to see about getting it ordered.
We only did 1 mini page this week, it was titled Meet Astronaut Barbara Morgan.
We continued in the health lessons with more work with the nutrition labels and nutrients.
She helped cooked her own meals as well as helped with what I was cooking too.
On Tuesday we spent the afternoon doing some volunteer time. We were volunteering with the Adopt a Highway program and picked up litter on a 2 mile stretch of highway about 30 minutes out of town. It was definitely a learning experience as well as a LOT of exercise. Both of us still have sore leg muscles 4 days later.
She read in her new book Shakespeare's Secret.
And, last by not least she worked on a lot of drawing. Now I need to see which of it she wants put in to her Anime lapbook.
We worked on the stamp collection.
My 17 yr old took Jasmine with her a couple times and they studied in a book I bought called The Human Body...Jasmine even took notes!
She attended Awanas.
She worked some more on those math sample pages. She's decided which she likes the best so I need to see about getting it ordered.
We only did 1 mini page this week, it was titled Meet Astronaut Barbara Morgan.
We continued in the health lessons with more work with the nutrition labels and nutrients.
She helped cooked her own meals as well as helped with what I was cooking too.
On Tuesday we spent the afternoon doing some volunteer time. We were volunteering with the Adopt a Highway program and picked up litter on a 2 mile stretch of highway about 30 minutes out of town. It was definitely a learning experience as well as a LOT of exercise. Both of us still have sore leg muscles 4 days later.
She read in her new book Shakespeare's Secret.
And, last by not least she worked on a lot of drawing. Now I need to see which of it she wants put in to her Anime lapbook.
Homeschool Items on Ebay
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
Week of April 19, 2009
This week Jasmine worked in the Math Riddle Book. I found it online. The link is below. It's basic math done in a fun way, and you can print the preview free.
She did some grammar on personal narrative and improving sentences.
We only did one mini page and it was called Energy for the Future.
She attended Awanas. This was the last week as next week is the ending program.
We walked to the grocery store and with the nice weather she's done a lot of walking. Her and my other daughter Heather took quite a long walk on my birthday finding me flowers.
She made homemade salsa, first with a recipe that I printed for her, then making up her own recipe which she liked better.
She read the current issue of Seventeen magazine, and read in some older issues as well.
She did a lot of drawings, some will be added to her anime lapbook.
She also watched several episodes of Ripley's Believe it or Not. I watched some of them with her...some of that stuff sure is unbelievable!
She read more of her book Shakespeare's Secret.
Math Riddle Book
Practicing Math Can Be Fun!Week of April 26
The big thing that we did this past week was to get the garden planted! We spent time Monday and both the grocery store and Wal Mart buying plants.
Tuesday we spent the afternoon getting the garden planted. We planted 9 blue lake green bean plants, 7 tomato plants, 2 banana pepper plants, 2 strawberry plants, 4 bell pepper plants and a row of lettuce seed.
Other things she did this past week:
Read the book Amelia Bedilia Saves the Day
worked on the Math Riddle book worksheets
We did a mini-page called Following George's Rules (on George Washington)
She attended her last week of Awanas which was awards night. She received a certificate for where she was in her books, a certificate for perfect attendance, a medal for completing a book, and a Bible for Teen Girls for moving up to the next level.
In grammar we worked on combining sentences.
Her and my grandson did some science together while he was home sick from school by making a volcano.
She did her usual drawing.
She's really into reading her Seventeen magazine, and thrilled that I was able to get a free 6 month subscription for her. She got a 2nd issue already. She mostly reads up on the beauty tips and exercise. She made her own weights with gallon milk jugs of water and is following a routine with those as well as walking and jogging.
Tuesday we spent the afternoon getting the garden planted. We planted 9 blue lake green bean plants, 7 tomato plants, 2 banana pepper plants, 2 strawberry plants, 4 bell pepper plants and a row of lettuce seed.
Other things she did this past week:
Read the book Amelia Bedilia Saves the Day
worked on the Math Riddle book worksheets
We did a mini-page called Following George's Rules (on George Washington)
She attended her last week of Awanas which was awards night. She received a certificate for where she was in her books, a certificate for perfect attendance, a medal for completing a book, and a Bible for Teen Girls for moving up to the next level.
In grammar we worked on combining sentences.
Her and my grandson did some science together while he was home sick from school by making a volcano.
She did her usual drawing.
She's really into reading her Seventeen magazine, and thrilled that I was able to get a free 6 month subscription for her. She got a 2nd issue already. She mostly reads up on the beauty tips and exercise. She made her own weights with gallon milk jugs of water and is following a routine with those as well as walking and jogging.
Cool Homeschool Merchandise
Week of May 3, 2009
It was a strange week last week with lots of time away from home for this reason or that.
We didn't walk to the grocery store. Instead we got a ride as I knew we would buy way too much to try to get back home. She always observes how I compare prices with and without coupons. She even bragged about my shopping to others this past week since I saved 47%.
We did an evening of child care together at Headstart. She loves to work with the children and we took the baby room. She's good with them.
We planted a small flower garden this past week.
She says to add that she did lots of exercises. She's read up in her Seventeen magazine about 3 weeks to being swimsuit ready. She kept up with a regimen of walking and exercise. She filled 2 gallon milk jugs with water to use for weights.
We attended Sunday school and church.
She did her normal amount of drawing. I hope she pursues that further as a career as she gets older.
I know she diid some reading all the past week. She's been reading a Goosebumps book then also one of those books where you choose the ending, choosing both endings just to see what would happen.
We are drawing to the close of the public school year so I won't push her as hard as I have in the past. A new lens will be started for the next 10 weeks. I do hope to find lots of educational things over the summer.
We didn't walk to the grocery store. Instead we got a ride as I knew we would buy way too much to try to get back home. She always observes how I compare prices with and without coupons. She even bragged about my shopping to others this past week since I saved 47%.
We did an evening of child care together at Headstart. She loves to work with the children and we took the baby room. She's good with them.
We planted a small flower garden this past week.
She says to add that she did lots of exercises. She's read up in her Seventeen magazine about 3 weeks to being swimsuit ready. She kept up with a regimen of walking and exercise. She filled 2 gallon milk jugs with water to use for weights.
We attended Sunday school and church.
She did her normal amount of drawing. I hope she pursues that further as a career as she gets older.
I know she diid some reading all the past week. She's been reading a Goosebumps book then also one of those books where you choose the ending, choosing both endings just to see what would happen.
We are drawing to the close of the public school year so I won't push her as hard as I have in the past. A new lens will be started for the next 10 weeks. I do hope to find lots of educational things over the summer.
Week of May 10. 2009
I thought last week was the last week for this lens but then noticed this is week 20 of me keeping track.
It's been a crazy week with dr. appts and extra shopping. What a ride! However, I didn't end up with a thing written in my notebook where I keep track of what Jasmine is doing.
I had to have a conference with Jasmine over lunch today to see what was accomplished.
She attended Sunday school and church.
She did her usual amount of drawing.
She says she can't remember reading any actual books but has been reading anime stories on her computer.
We had a discussion on honey bees as we watched a lot of them go from flower to flower in the front yard.
She did do a couple pages from the Math Riddle Book.
Today we are going to the Kansas Cosmosphere. I plan to make a whole lens about that in itself. I will put a photo of 2 of Jasmine while we are there in the next unschooling journey lens that I will put together next week.
With the public school having just 3 days left I'm not sure how hard I can "push" Jasmine to do a lot that is educational. I am guilty this week of when we were home I was more concerned about her getting her bedroom cleaned and organized again.
I pulled out a math story type book that I want to start with her as well as a Home Ec. book. I think we can get both of those in over the summer and have fun with them too.
It's been a crazy week with dr. appts and extra shopping. What a ride! However, I didn't end up with a thing written in my notebook where I keep track of what Jasmine is doing.
I had to have a conference with Jasmine over lunch today to see what was accomplished.
She attended Sunday school and church.
She did her usual amount of drawing.
She says she can't remember reading any actual books but has been reading anime stories on her computer.
We had a discussion on honey bees as we watched a lot of them go from flower to flower in the front yard.
She did do a couple pages from the Math Riddle Book.
Today we are going to the Kansas Cosmosphere. I plan to make a whole lens about that in itself. I will put a photo of 2 of Jasmine while we are there in the next unschooling journey lens that I will put together next week.
With the public school having just 3 days left I'm not sure how hard I can "push" Jasmine to do a lot that is educational. I am guilty this week of when we were home I was more concerned about her getting her bedroom cleaned and organized again.
I pulled out a math story type book that I want to start with her as well as a Home Ec. book. I think we can get both of those in over the summer and have fun with them too.
Our Other Homeschool Related Lenses
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Homeschooling
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I am building this lens to help other homeschoolers and get to know other homeschoolers. You will see one section where you can add your own homeschool website and another section where you can add great resource websites that you find. I would als...
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Kansas--Our First Lapbook!
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After Jasmine made the mini-math office, which is close to a lapbook, I started finding all these lenses about lapbooking. I had bought a package of file folders. I watched her interest in building the math office and thought this is it! Why didn't I...
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Our Unschooling Journal
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My 12 year old, Jasmine has been telling me that she wants to "unschool" for some time. I ran across an unschooling squidoo lens the other day which intrigued me to find out more and to pursue her wishes. Jasmine is ADHD, unmedicated, so she is up an...
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Jasmine's Lapbooks
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I am building this page to highlight the different lapbooks as Jasmine makes them. It will be updated with each one as she finishes it. This lens is for the smaller lapbooks, the larger ones will have their own lens.
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Homeschoolbuy
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I am building this lens on homeschoolbuy.com to get the word out about this great auction site. If you list homeschool or homestead items, there are NO fees unless you choose to add special features. This is a great opportunity for you homeschoolers...
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Our Unschooling Journey 4
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Here we are to part 4 of our unschooling journey. Mom (me) is still pretty unsure on the whole unschooling thing. I hope you've enjoyed reading the previous lenses and I hope you will continue to enjoy reading about our journey to learning.
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Our Unschooling Journey 3
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Here we are to part 3 of our unschooling journey. I'm not sure about it yet after 20 weeks of reporting! I still call Jasmine over and do some work with her, as well as tell her what work I want done for the day...and keep on her until it's done. I...
