New Year of Homeschool:

At the Bird's Nest, we have started our third year of homeschooling. We have one Pre-teen and one teenager. I always like to evaluate how everything is going about every four months. I have learned already, expect change, and expect more change.

The first time I evaluate is the beginning of the Year. I knew we needed to add in a little more fun and less academics from books. I know my kids are more visual learners so I wanted to add more of that. I also know the love to learn on the Computer as much as from a book.

The kids were wanting to learn instruments and foreign languages. I was wanting them to learn a little more technology related things, like coding. Since they are very independent learns, by personalities, I had to find something they could do at their own pace and by themselves.

My husband, aka The Mister, was really starting to participate more. I have chronic health problems and that was very much needed. He was wanting to do my science related things, like simple mechanics.

It was getting time to pull this all together for the new school year. (We go year round but tend to take June off.) I had been for months reading about this method and that method. I decided to detour from our normal way. A way, I might add, that was pretty much working.

So I spent a week making a schedule, and it lasted part of a week. It was too ridged for us. I didn't have set hours or time limits. It was just a list of subjects to study everyday. There was no spaces of : I want to finish this, or I want to do the science experiment and not wait until whatever day. Plus to be honest, my kids and their parents, are good for about 4-5 hours. We can do six, but.....

There also wasn't anytime to allow for our numerous dr. appointments. For instance, we have 4 this week. We did some school on Sunday, the kids are doing some projects that don't require adult help, so they do whenever they feel the need during the week.

This is what work for us, we use an outline. We, meaning I, write down things to do for that day. I usually do it the night before and sometimes do two days in a row. There is one thing we are going to do religiously, math. I feel we need to kick this up a little more, and they also asked to do more. We go down the list checking off activity by activity. It roughly resembles loop schedule. I do have a list of things I want to do this week and I compile that usually on Sunday(my planning day). I keep looking for one I haven't wrote on the back of a math worksheet or envelope of a bill. It goes something like this:

Math(Khan) 60 min.
Code 45 min.
Camp google
Doc. on Netflix
Youtube Video
Report: Ocean Animal
Reading:
    Independent 60
    Classic 30
     Book in the Box  30
Craft

I go into a little more detail, and this one doesn't have music or the ten other things we have going on.  Sometimes, I do write down specific things on certain days. For example: We are just going to do Code on Tuesday and Thursday(which didn't happen, the kids have asked to do it everyday. I figured why the have interest is the best time to learn.)

I looked into other math programs for us and came back to Khan. That was working and I really don't know why I was looking to change. I'm supplementing with worksheets, games and everyday life.

Science:  We are doing life science right now. My kids are visual learners. We are using Documentaries from Netflix, YouTube, DVR, the library, etc. We also are big into STEM (which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.) We also have started into STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) We are going to bump up how many experiments we are going to do a week. My husband is starting some stuff  like small machines, carpentry, pulleys and gears, etc. We plan to start adding in some chemistry, the second part of the year.

Language Arts: I feel like we are going radical into language arts. Basically, we are focusing on creative writing and have done some worksheets here and there. We have found a few things on the web, and I look forward to seeing how the work for us. I have read articles, and I'm going to stay the course, and re-evaluate at third sections. Next year, I may be panicking.  We also have started blogging and do reports.  I hope to have the opportunity to throw in a little grammar here and there.

Coding: We have decided to have our kids start learning code and computer programming. We are using Code.org at the moment.

We are using Duolingo for foreign language. We are just started.

I'm so excited to see how this year goes for the kids. They have changed back into the kids that I sent off to Public school. My son is even wearing sandals/flip-flops. You will never know how that is such a big deal.

                                         Now some pictures of last year's learning and fun!

Here is the kids working on Engineering fun.

Mini Me is modeling the paper chain Anaconda. We learned about Anaconda's when we studied the rain forest.

Mini Her took this picture for our ongoing Photography class.

Field trip on the Missouri River.

The Mini's showing off their paintings.

The Mister and the Mini's rescuing a turtle.

Mini Her learning a new life skill on a field trip.

Mini Him doing some reading.

The mini's showing off there Viking ships.

Mini Her working in the Garden.

We are a Canning Family!

Here is a subject that I Love!  I love to can and know what my family is consuming. This year's crop is pretty much a wash out.  We have good luck with our raspberry bushes:

I was able to make some Raspberry Jalapeno Jam and also a Mixed Berry Jam. We were fortunate also to receive a whole gaggle of strawberries. I'm talking quarts and quarts of strawberries.

I decided it would be a good time to have my kids brush up on their canning skills. To us it is just another life skill that we feel the kids should know. I like to use recipes that have pectin in them. I can lots of things, but when it comes to jams and jellies, I need more confidence. Even though, I probably make 20 batches of jellies and jams a year. I'm not brand loyal, so no pimping products here. For straight Strawberry Jam, I use the recipe on the box. So I'm not going to give a detailed how to. It will mainly be some helpful tips and maybe some wisdom I have picked up over the years.

Always pre-measure out your sugar. When things get going, they tend to get going. The kids usually do this part when the help me.  Also open the pectin you are going to us.  Have a handy dandy timer on hand.  I also like one of the grease skins you can get for pots. It has saved me from a few burns when making fruit butters and spaghetti sauce. 

This is a mat you can get at you favorite "box store."  The design is intended to put drying dishes on, I love it for my jars fresh out of the "canner." I keep everything lined up and within arms reach. You will thank me for this tip.

My little canners have helped me can for a few years. As pre-teen and teen and teenagers, they help more and more every year. Her is Mini Her smashing Strawberries. We like using a potato masher. Mini Him is cutting the strawberries. 

Sometimes it feels like you have to keep.........

                                                                         Mashing...........

and........Mashing

It always nice when it starts going (BTW.....after this picture we had to switch pans. Every year, I start with the wrong one. Of course, I never remember.)

You will notice I have no recommendations on Jars, and lids. I'm also not going to add the way of canning and how I do it. The USDA recommends.  http://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/publications_usda.html  You want to download, the number seven pdf.   That is a good way to start. Don't forget in your box of pectin, it also gives you helpful hints.

 Cleaning as you go is also a helpful tip. Of course, trying it as you go, well that is just an added bonus.

In the end, you have these beautiful jars of jam.  We also make different ones with jalapeno's added, plus ones consisting of an array of peppers. We make a Honey Lemon Jelly and my husband likes a pomegranate jelly I make.  All the kids in our lives love our Dr. Pepper, Root Beer, and Mountain Dew flavored jelly. I have made Cherry jam and plum jam. I almost forgot I made a tomato jam one year. I guess you can say that we like our jams and jellies.

Concrete Stepping Stones.

We have started our new school year at the Bird's Nest. We go all year round and after a few weeks off, we were ready to go.  Our family is pretty hand's on when it comes to anything. Mister, aka my husband, has started to teach the Mini's how to do some life skills that I have only had an observer roll.

The first step was gathering all the needed materials. My husband gathered disposable shapers. (The thing he bought was actually the lids to cover food for summer picnics. He then taped the holes. He also used my rolling, potted plant holder.) I've seen lots of tutorials, DIY's, etc. on Pinterest. I will post a link to my board on there. https://www.pinterest.com/jodiebird55/concrete-stepping-stones/.

He also gathers protective guards like gloves, eye shields, etc. These are very important. I would also suggest older clothes that have seen better days.

He bought ready mix concrete. How great is that stuff? Yes, it takes away some of the chemistry fun, but is breaks it down really simple for people who have never done it. You will also need a container to mix the concrete that you may never be able to use again.

He also borrowed some things from my gardening bench. These were helpful in stirring and spreading  the concrete. The bag(at least the one he bought gave helpful tips on what to use.) My husband also had some things he used when putting in a tile floor for his brother.

As you can see, he borrowed one of my garden shovel. My husband is pretty finky about things, so it can back even a little cleaner than when he borrowed it.

At this point, he had me gather the kids together. Our job was to find things they would put in the stone. We used some sea animals toys from the Dollar tree, buttons, beads, marbles,etc, It was basically, any small thing we found that wouldn't be destroyed because of the elements.

He then put the concrete mixture in our forms while the kids watched. At this time, they were a little more hands on and sometimes just observers.  I was just told this point of the process, but still get to watch.

He smooth the concrete flat and then they waited a few hours for the mixture to get a little more set. At this time, the kids then were able to put their goodies in the concrete. My husband let them do whatever they wanted. As we found out with Mini Him's creation, push it in far enough but at the same time not to far. For those instance it didn't get to the right depth-E6000, the wonder glue fixed it. You can find it in the craft isle but my husband uses it for more than that. I may too, but I will not admit it or deny it.

You can see here how my husband flattened the surface and cleaned around the edges. You can also see one of the tools her used.

Now to let it set, the length of time recommended on the bag. When ready pop it out, but let it set for just a little more.

And you have the finished project. If you had decided not to put in "jewels", you can now paint that.

Do you wonder what my husband used his concrete for? He made holders for some of his fishing poles and he also made a holder for our big sun umbrella.