HSMJ the one in which Sir N features in the paper

In my life this week…

It's been a busy three weeks around here.  So much is going on that it's been rather difficult to find time to blog for fun it's all been work work work and for that I apologize.  I do not want a review only space here.  This is where I want to record the good things we do too.

This past week I really enjoyed reading this photo journal of children enjoying the great outdoors and playing together.  Grab a cup of tea and I hope you will enjoy them too.   30 Magical Photos Of Children Playing Around The Worl. 

Two weeks ago we had the privileged of going to the zoo and meeting a Bandicoot and seeing the new enclosure at the zoo as well as working with the press in a photographic session.  This is the picture that featured in the local news paper recently. You can see the article online here: Werribee Zoo opens new nocturnal hub in fight to save endangered bandicoot


In our home school this week…

• Sir N enjoyed a first aid course presented by BUMPS First Aid.
• Continued with recorder lessons.  They are definitely improving.  Hear them play.
• Done two lessons from the Drawing Textbook.
• Watched part one from the documentary The Map Makers.
• Completed book three of the Little House books and started the audio book By the Shores of Silver Lakes.
• Lots of reading.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

• If you are studying the second World War take a look at this Nazi 'perfect Aryan' poster child was Jewish
• If you're in school planning mode be sure to read How I Planned for My Homeschool Year
• School starting age: the evidence
• Written by a Homeschool graduate The Homeschool vs. Public School Struggle. 
• Here is a comprehensive Artist Study Resource
• Gwen shares on How to Make Unit Studies Work for Your Family. 

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

• The Zoo.  We have been three times in nearly as many days.  We went to enjoy the Night Zoo experience at Werribee Open Range Zoo.
• BUMPS first Aid Class
• Library craft class.
• Met some of Paul's instagram buddies and joined them for an Open Vehicle Adventure at the zoo.
• We used Sir N's birthday gift and spent an afternoon at Dinosaur Adventures.

My favourite thing this week was…

• I loved finding this great post How to Speak Your Spouse’s Love Language (and What to Avoid)
• One of the things that saddened me a couple of weeks ago was watching The Whittington Family: Ryland's Story.  Today I read a beautiful post over at lindsay leigh bentley titled I am Ryland – the story of a male-identifying little girl who didn’t transition. I admire how balanced her story is and just how she has put everything into perspective and balance.  In a world full of pyschetry and political correctness it's time to find healthy balance.
• Wow wow and wow.  A new place to add to my bucket list to see World's Largest Cave, Son Doong, Hosts First Public Tours
• Reading this adoptive Mom's explanation of loving her adopted son K is for Knit (a word study)

Questions/thoughts I have…

• Have you read this Why My Family Doesn't Do Sleepovers what are your thoughts ?
• Why on earth would you write a book like this for 5 year old children ???  :( When I see things like this that I am pleased that I'm on the home education journey ...

Things I’m working on…

• Experiencing History Through Music Review. 
  
  
• A review of our faourite history program at present Veritas Press - Self Paced Hisory
• A review on WriteShop. 
• Making a Pharaoh Headdress with Sir N
• A recipe for Lemon Butter Cake in a Mug (gluten free and THM approved)
• Please Don't Say Cheese - Online Photography Class
• Experience History Through Music {Review}  We have really been enjoying this product.

In Bloggy world I’m reading…

• Fabien Cousteau Leads "Aquanauts" in Record-Breaking Undersea Expedition
• Such a funny read Ten Things New Dads Should Know About New Mums
• I've been looking at catablog a blog directory for Australian and New Zealand bloggers
• Please pray for this family as they walk through the loss of their baby girl Aila Jane Walker | June 24, 2014
• So sad to read this ... Mugabe says remaining white farmers must go
• Meriam Ibrahim says her baby may be disabled
• Justina Pelletier’s Family Promises to Sue Massachusetts for Abducting Their Daughter
• A Precious Baby Died Today
• 12 Sure Signs Of Menopause 

I’m cooking…

• .I looking forward to a Thermomix class at the end of the month.  I really need to learn to use it a lot better than I am.
• I really do wish I could find the right tweak to get this recipe to work ... Mug Cheesecake
• I cooked this great recipe I found on Pinterest:  Loaded Cauliflower Low Carb.
• Cheesy Zucchini Recipe
•  A recipe for Lemon Butter Cake in a Mug (gluten free and THM approved)

On Pinterest I found...

• Loaded Cauliflower Low Carb. This was very detectible although next time I make it I will use less cream.

I’m grateful for…

• Encouraging bloggers who show practical ways to live.  I enjoyed 4 {Radical} Ways To Love Your Husband & Children
• Because sometimes bedtime takes forever … and it should. 

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Loved watching this YouTube clip about Wild Nights at Werribee Zoo and seeing Paul in it.


Blessings

Chareen

Photo collages made with: Photoscape a FREE photo editor

WriteShop Primary Book B {Review}

Writing around here is like pulling hens teeth!  It is just plain difficult. It's not that I don't know how to write myself (my biggest problem is limiting my words ...)  and I know how to teach writing but what I have on the shelf was just not working for Sir N.  I was beginning to worry as I wasn't sure what we were going to do.

Thankfully I was recently introduced to WriteShop.  I took sometime to read over the author's How to Choose a Starting Level and looked over the sets available and decided that since Sir N is a reluctant writer we would start off with WriteShop Primary: Book B Set.


What we received

• Teachers Guide (eBook Edition) 228 pages in PDF (30 MB).  I saved it to my Samsung Galaxy Tab.  
• Activity Pack (eBook Edition) 25 pages.  PDF format 99.12 MB). I have printed these to have on hand and they are stored in a magazine box in the cupboard.

How we used it
After downloading the two eBooks.  I printed all the pages from the Activity pack. Next I took a few days to become familiar with the  Teacher's Guide.  It was well worth taking the time to read this introduction. The how to section is 32 pages with some wonderful hands on ideas on how to create an environment to help your student become a successful independent writer.


There is a really helpful 'Planning Your Schedule' section in which Nancy makes some suggestions with examples of one, two or three week routines for each lesson.   I love the flexibility these plans have provided for me.  Some lessons we have done using the two week plan and some we have used the three and some the one week plan depending on Sir N's understanding of the work presented.  There is even a "How to teach children at different levels" section. 

The program consists of 10 lessons.  Each lesson has a specific focus and theme.  For example Lesson 1 is Writing a letter and Lesson 7 is Humour.

This is Sir N's second guided writing practice and the very first letter he has ever written by himself.  I was his dictionary and I am so pleased with the results.  He was very reluctant to start with but by the end he was happy to write it.

Through out the program we enjoyed doing hands on projects.  These contribute to the learning in  a practical engaging way and Sir N enjoyed making things for the program. Each lesson has eight activity sets to complete.

Here is a sample of one of the "At a Glance" boxes and the reason I so appreciated the Teacher's Guide. I am apt to push through and stay until it's finished which can at times be detrimental to learning. I loved these highlight boxes which encouraged me with how, when and why behind each action.  My guide has really empowered me as the facilitator I have benefited from the scripted lesson plans.

Each lesson uses a short book as part of the program.  The recommended books are an excellent resource in finding books which provide quality literature which in turn benefits your students understanding of producing good writing structure and style.  The list provided is divided up into lessons with up to 12 suggestions per lesson.

One of my favourite parts of the program is that Sir N has not had to do a lot of independent writing.  We share writing duty.  As he has seen his work unfold he has been happy to do a little more each day as he gains confidence and endurance to write more.  The biggest blessing has been seeing him start to write little notes for himself.

Nancy is really good at encouraging me the tutor to separate out penmanship from composition.  The Teacher's Guide is like having her sitting with me gently coaching and encouraging me what to say, what to prepare or what to do next.  She is a tremendously encouraging and her explanations are empowering for me as I understand what I am doing and the purpose behind each step. The best part is that her wisdom is there for me to go back and re-read when ever I need to.

WriteShop differs from other how to teach composition titles in that it doesn't tell you what to write, or copy.  It provides you with specific questions and prompts to help the student to structure their thoughts and accomplish the task at hand.  By the end of the lesson through dialogue your student has gone from a blank page to a completed task.

The final part of a lesson is publishing the work.  This could be anything from writing a letter and mailing it to someone to making a basket of  "Story Loves" (page 119).


The Activity pack contains a handy evaluation chart. Upon completing the 7 activity sets for each lesson you are provided an evaluation of the student in the following areas

1. Content
2. Writing Skills
3. Mechanics

You are not left to wonder what the author means in any of these areas as beneath each subsection there are specific questions pertaining that skill for you to answer using a three letter key provided.  As I used this I gained an accurate view of where my student is at and can see at a glance his progress and where he still needs help.


**Cost of WriteShop Primary Book B

• Teachers Guide (Print Edition) - $35.95
• Activity Pack (Print Edition) - $5.95
• Teachers Guide (eBook Edition) - $29.95
• Activity Pack (eBook Edition) - $4.50

** Prices are current at time of review and can change at any given time at discretion of the company.  Please double check the price before placing your purchase.

Recommended Age Range

• Ideal for students in first and second grade.
• May also be used with reluctant third graders. 

This program is an excellent way to introduce composition to reluctant writers and primary school aged students.

Connect with WriteShop



Final Thoughts
We are both enjoying the learning to write journey with WriteShop.  I am enjoying having Nancy tutor me through the guide and Sir N is learning through delightful activities rather than mundane writing projects.

I like doing the projects with him because they are not simply busy seat work they specifically designed to be a creative way to help him remember the new things he is learning each time we do WriteShop. It's ultimate purpose is for Sir N to learn that Writing = Fun! and in the long run also preventing the meltdowns over writing we have had in the past.   The best part is that I don't have to come up with the ideas they are all provided for me.


Blessings
Chareen

Thank you to WriteShop for blessing our homeschool with this excellent product.

Pharaoh Headdress {Virtual Fridge}

This Week
It's the winter school holidays here in Australia and our local public library has been hosting some craft afternoons for the children.  We went to one with an Egyptian theme this week.  Sir N made this neat pharaoh head dress.

The template for the Pharaoh Headdress is available at firstpalette.  This is an excellent resource if you are looking for FREE craft based printables.

Featured This Week

Cindy over at Two Muses Homeschool shares an excellent post on Block Printing with your children.  It is choc full of how to tutorial's and resource links.

Over at a Glimpse of Our Life take a peak at Heathers new Sketch Journal.

Nikki at Angels of Heart has been busy with a wooden clothes pin and satin flowers!

Your Turn

I invite you to take some photo's of your children's artistic pursuits put them in a post and link up with me I would love to come over and see the wonderful art your children have enjoyed doing.

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Blessings
Chareen

Connect with me

 

The Virtual Fridge a weekly art meme where we can hang our children's art on a virtual fridge. This meme was started by Jennifer over at A Glimpse of our Life who kindly invited three other bloggers to co-host this weekly meme.

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An InLinkz Link-up