My Tech High - Learning Logs 7

Miriam's Learning Log:

Math
I practiced multiplication word problems and learned to multiply more than two numbers.  I also worked on division facts.

Language Arts
I reviewed adverbs in my grammar lesson.  I started reading a new novel.  I worked on my handwriting workbook.  I wrote in my journal.

History
I learned about the Taiping rebellion.  I read about Thomas Jefferson.  I started learning about the Civil War.

Tech - Photography
I read about good body positions for taking pictures in my photography book.  I did an exercise to help me learn about composition.

Elective - Music
I went to choir practice and worked on the songs and dances we are going to perform in December. I went to my ukulele class where we practiced Scarborough Fair and Life's a Happy Song. I also read some more about Beethoven in a library book.

Josie's Learning Log

Math

I learned about line graphs and how to make them.  I also learned about long addition and did some addition puzzles

Language Arts

I continued working on nouns and articles.  I wrote in my journal and practiced my cursive handwriting.  I started reading a new book called Serafina and the Black Cloak.

Science

I listened to my sister's science lesson and learned about the continental shelf.  I did an experiment with alka-seltzer and vinegar.

Tech - Minecraft

I turned in my escape plan for my room.  Then I started on my scaled drawing.

Elective - LEGO Movies

I read about positioning LEGO minifigures.  Then I practiced what I learned by making another video clip.

My Tech High: Learning Logs 6

Miri's Learning Log (see below for Josie's)

Math:
I learned that long subtraction - you're supposed to do on paper - but I always do it in my head.  I started long multiplication and practiced my multiplication facts.

Language Arts:
I practiced my handwriting and learned how to make some new cursive letters.  I reviewed some of the parts of speech with my mom.  I finished reading The Land of Stories.  I wrote a page in my journal.

History and Geography:
I learned that Italy used to be a bunch of small territories but in the 1870's it was united into one kingdom.  I read about Arkansas and listened to some Scott Joplin music - he grew up there.  I also learned a little about Thomas Jefferson.

Tech/Photography:
I read some pages in my photography books.  I did a lab where I went on a walk and took 30 pictures in 30 minutes.

Elective/Music:
I went to ukulele class and choir practice.  I listened to some Scott Joplin music and read some more about Beethoven and listened to some of his music.

Josie's Learning Log

Math:

I worked on my addition facts and learned some harder addition skills.  I also played 3-13 with my family and helped add up scores.

Language Arts:

I learned about nouns and articles.  We went to the children's museum and I learned about different methods of communication.

Science:

I listened in on my sister's science lesson and learned about ocean currents.  There are surface currents that are caused by the wind and deep currents that are caused by the temperature and saltiness of the water.  I also learned that the Salt Lake is so salty because it has no outlet to the ocean.  

Tech/Minecraft:

I worked on my Minecraft lesson.  I learned about emergency preparedness.  I talked to my mom about 72-hour kits and started on my emergency escape plan.

Elective/LEGO Movies:

My brother helped me set up my studio for photographing LEGOs.  I did the pictures for a short movie clip.  I will put them together in a movie this week.

My Tech High - Learning Logs 5

Miriam's Learning Log

Math - I practiced multiplication facts. Helped Mom at the grocery store and practiced doing cost comparisons.

Language Arts - I did some reading in "The Land of Stories." I also went to Yearbook class and was assigned to interview the preschoolers at our co-op.

History - I read about David Livingstone and his travels in Africa.  I also read about John Adams, the second president of the United States.

Tech/Photography - I took some candid pictures for the yearbook at co-op.  I am having trouble with my camera so I used my mom's. I will start my proper photography lessons next week.

Elective/Music - I went to my ukulele class at co-op and learned some new chords. I went to choir practice and got better at the choreography we are doing.  I also listened to some classical music at home and learned a bit about Beethoven.

Josie's Learning Log

Math - My sister taught me about fractions.  She also started teaching me about multiplication.  I helped my dad measure boards for his building project.

Language Arts - I wrote a letter to my penpal.  She lives in Ohio.  I took notes in my writing class at co-op.  I didn't do any reading this week like I usually do.

Science - I learned about magnetism in my science book.  I soaked an egg in vinegar until the shell dissolved.  I also learned about speed in my co-op class.

Tech/Minecraft - I finished my rocket.  I played a puzzle map with my brother and my sister.  It was a lot of fun.

Elective/LEGO Movies - I read some in my LEGO book.  I learned about framing and lighting. I also started thinking about a story for my first movie.

Getting Started on the School Year

So here's my weekly report for our second week of school for the year:

Monday - OWLS was cancelled this week 'cause the church was holding another event that trumped us, so they held a park day instead.  We didn't go - several of us came down with a bad cold on Saturday that we are still trying to get over today (Saturday).  We did, however do some school work and a few of the chores.

Tuesday - More of the same.  Trying to get over colds, catch up on chores and do some school work.  Oh, and we've been getting one or more packages of school supplies in the mail every day for the past week or so.

Wednesday - Grocery day.  I sent Dad, since I was still feeling rotten.  We managed to do some more chores and school work.

Thursday - We managed to actually do most of a day's worth of school work.  Josie had put an egg in vinegar on Monday and the shell was all dissolved by Thursday.  It was pretty cool until Eli picked it up to firmly and it broke.

Friday - Miri had choir in the morning and then we went to the library.  We got chores done in the afternoon...

Saturday - We spent the morning working on the basement.  We got another 8-foot section framed.  Slowly but surely we will get the job done.

It seems like it's taking us forever to get going this school year.  The colds didn't help.  Hopefully things will start to pick up this week.

What did you learn?

My Tech High - Learning Logs 4

Miriam Robinson:

Math
 I learned about tally marks and did some multiplication facts in my regular math.  I also worked on dividing my decimals and money math.

Language Arts
I read some more in my book club books and wrote some journal entries.  I went to my yearbook class at co-op and learned about the parts of a yearbook.

History/Geography
I read about the history of Arizona and did some mapwork about India.  I also watched a video about John Adams.

Tech - Photography
I started reading in my new book.  I learned that DSLR cameras are the same as SLR's but the D stands for digital.

Elective - Music
I went to choir practice and worked on the songs and dances we are learning.  I also went to ukulele class and got a bunch of new music from the teacher.  I also talked with mom about things I'd like to learn in my music class.

Josie Robinson

Math

I learned about graphs and started learning the multiplication tables.  I also started learning about fractions.

Language Arts

I learned some new compound words in my workbook. I also went to co-op classes and practiced parts of speech and took notes in my writing class.

Science

I did some more reading about density in my science book.  I also got my new snap circuits set and my brother taught me about how circuits and switches work.

Tech - Minecraft

I learned a bunch of stuff about Minecraft that I already knew.  I also learned a couple of new things.  I started building my rocket for the first assignment.

Elective - LEGO Movies

I got my new books and started reading through them.  I am excited to make more videos.

My Tech High - Learning Logs 1-3

(Note from Mom: We didn't get our Canvas accounts until after the due date for these learning logs, which means we also got a late start on school. Please take that into account when grading these.)

Miriam Robinson:

Math
I did some review of adding and subtracting big numbers.

Language Arts
I practiced parts of speech and read in my book club book.  I learned to play Scrabble.

History/Geography
I talked with Mom about the sorts of things I'd like to learn in history this year.  I want to know more about Edwardian England and World War II.  I also want to read more mythology.

Tech - Photography
Mom and I discussed what I'd like to learn about in my photography class.  I went to my yearbook class and learned about what makes a good candid photo.

Elective - Music
I went to choir practice and worked on the songs and dances we are learning.


Josie Robinson:

Math

We played some card games with math in them. 

Language Arts

I helped Mom choose a family read-aloud book (Harry Potter) and read part of my book club book. 

Science

I started reading in my science book and doing experiments.  My two favorite parts were buoyancy and density.  

Tech - Minecraft

I hadn't started the class yet.

Elective - LEGO Movies

My brother helped me set up a space to start making some videos and I made a really short one with his help. 

Trying Something New

So we are trying something new this year that will allow the kids to take some classes and do some activities that we previously couldn't have afforded.  I'm hoping it will have the added benefit of forcing us to keep a little more on track.

It's called My Tech High and it's pretty much a way for homeschoolers to use public education funds for their homeschool.  Technically they are enrolled in public school in order to use said funds and I'm really struggling with that idea.  We also have to report to the school on a regular basis and have our plans "approved" by the school.  I'm also struggling with those two things.  But, in spite of my misgivings, I decided to give the program a try.  I've enrolled Josie and Miri this year and next year plan to add Eli, Sarah and (possibly) Will.  We'll see how it goes.

So far, my plans haven't changed much other that adding "official" electives and planning to do much more hands on stuff that normal.  (That's the stuff that gets expensive.)  Eli, Miri and Josie are currently exploring the possibilities of the Snap Circuit set I got for Josie's science and are learning all sorts of things on their own.  I think the extra supplies and activities will be worth the hassle of reporting and the dislike of being connected with the public school system.

Anyway, so Josie's and Miri's reports will be shared here on my blog and we will send a link to the appropriate post to the "powers that be" each week.  I hope to continue blogging here at least once a week to share the stuff that doesn't end up in their learning logs, including stuff the other kids are doing as well as the not-so-successful attempts at various endeavors.

After I finish this post, we are going to create our first two learning logs (we got into the program after school had started so we are already behind) that we can share with the school.

For now, I'd like to report that our first week of school has been off to an okay start.  We started OWLS on Monday and the kids seem to like their classes.  Miri is doing a local homeschool choir, Eli is continuing to work on his Minecraft videos that he hopes to someday make a living at, and Josie has already done about 20 pages in her science book and is excited about the chemistry lab kit and aforementioned Snap Circuits set I got her.  Sarah and Will haven't done much yet but we plan to get them going a little more next week.  I'm excited to start a new year with new supplies and fresh minds.  Hopefully we'll have a more successful year than we've had in a few.

What did you learn this week?