Back in ... let's say June, I was researching stretches appropriate for bike riders. I came across this website called Loving the Bike. This website is LOADED with good information for bikers. One of the recent posts was about Brite Buds from Far End Gear. They are simply earbuds that are reflective. Why is this important? 1) Because I ride in the mornings, and I feel I need the safety of the reflective gear. 2) Because I love my music, and I love riding to music.
So, I signed up and left my comment, just like everyone else, not expecting anything. Imagine my surprise when I signed into Twitter this morning and Darryl says, "go look and see if you won," and when I hop over there, I've actually won!? It's so exciting, and cool.
The other cool part of Loving the Bike is #bikeschool. It's a chat on Twitter every Thursday night, where we get together, and talk bikes. It's fun to talk with other cyclists and to get all sorts of input. I've really enjoyed it.
If you are interested in riding, this is a good blog to be involved with. I've learned a lot.
Thanks Darryl and thanks Far End Gear for my new earbuds. I'm sure I'll LOVE them.
Hugs,
Melinda
Friday, September 07, 2012
Thursday, September 06, 2012
Learning Styles
Wednesdays are our library day. We have a wonderful library system that actually has a program for home schoolers! Yesterday was the first program of the school year.
Now before, Sweet Pea and Little Bit would go, and I would sit and listen. Not yesterday. Sweet Pea has decided she's too old for the programs. So she got to look at books and talk to a friend. I decided to go look for my own books, something I don't do very often. I don't have time to read anymore!
(There is a point to all that. Stick with me now.) Yesterday, I picked up a book called Talkers, Watchers, & Doers by Cheri Fuller. I have been struggling with Little Bit. I have been trying not to say it's ADHD, because I don't think that's it. And it occurred to me that she might have a different learning style than Sweet Pea.
Do you know about learning styles? There are three basic styles: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. Or: talkers, watchers, and doers. I have always known that I was visual. I just knew I was visual, because I have always loved to read. And I'm almost certain that Little Bit is auditory because she loves to talk. (lol)
So one of the first things that this book suggests is to not impose your learning style on your child and oh, here's a checklist of learning styles so you can check what yours is. Imagine my surprise in reading this checklist and seeing that I'm not only visual, but also auditory, and possibly even kinesthetic.
I'm not very far into this book yet, so I'll let you know what else I discover. I think it's going to be very interesting.
Hugs,
Melinda
Now before, Sweet Pea and Little Bit would go, and I would sit and listen. Not yesterday. Sweet Pea has decided she's too old for the programs. So she got to look at books and talk to a friend. I decided to go look for my own books, something I don't do very often. I don't have time to read anymore!
(There is a point to all that. Stick with me now.) Yesterday, I picked up a book called Talkers, Watchers, & Doers by Cheri Fuller. I have been struggling with Little Bit. I have been trying not to say it's ADHD, because I don't think that's it. And it occurred to me that she might have a different learning style than Sweet Pea.
Do you know about learning styles? There are three basic styles: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. Or: talkers, watchers, and doers. I have always known that I was visual. I just knew I was visual, because I have always loved to read. And I'm almost certain that Little Bit is auditory because she loves to talk. (lol)
So one of the first things that this book suggests is to not impose your learning style on your child and oh, here's a checklist of learning styles so you can check what yours is. Imagine my surprise in reading this checklist and seeing that I'm not only visual, but also auditory, and possibly even kinesthetic.
I'm not very far into this book yet, so I'll let you know what else I discover. I think it's going to be very interesting.
Hugs,
Melinda
Wednesday, September 05, 2012
School Days
So the overwhelming response to my little informal poll, was yes please. Or in other words, a little bit of everything. Specifically, more about homeschooling, more about Pinterest, and more about my bike riding.
Let me start with school first, cause we just finished for the day, and it's fresh in my mind (more or less).
Sweet Pea is using a curriculum called Sonlight. It's a reading based program, and if you know Sweet Pea, you know she loves books. It's been a perfect fit for her. She also uses something called Teaching Textbooks for math, and I really like the program. It explains the problem, has her do a problem, and if she gets it incorrect, explains the problem again. It's really neat.
Little Bit has been using Horizons for math, reading, and phonics. I don't know what I should say about it. It's both easier than I anticipated, and yet harder. I'm having trouble liking this curriculum, but we're in the middle of it, so I guess we'll finish it. I have estimated that by the time she is through with the "Kindergarten" level of books, she will be ready for 2nd grade.
The really interesting thing that we've been doing this year, is Expedition Earth from Confessions from a Homeschooler. It's basically a geography overview of several of the major countries on Earth. It's not real in-depth. I don't recommend it for Sweet Pea's age (13), but it has been a lot of fun for Little Bit and me to complete together. She gets a "stamp" in her "passport" every time we start learning about a different country. We do some reading, some history, some geography, some arts and crafts. It's all over fun.
Let me start with school first, cause we just finished for the day, and it's fresh in my mind (more or less).
Sweet Pea is using a curriculum called Sonlight. It's a reading based program, and if you know Sweet Pea, you know she loves books. It's been a perfect fit for her. She also uses something called Teaching Textbooks for math, and I really like the program. It explains the problem, has her do a problem, and if she gets it incorrect, explains the problem again. It's really neat.
Little Bit has been using Horizons for math, reading, and phonics. I don't know what I should say about it. It's both easier than I anticipated, and yet harder. I'm having trouble liking this curriculum, but we're in the middle of it, so I guess we'll finish it. I have estimated that by the time she is through with the "Kindergarten" level of books, she will be ready for 2nd grade.
The really interesting thing that we've been doing this year, is Expedition Earth from Confessions from a Homeschooler. It's basically a geography overview of several of the major countries on Earth. It's not real in-depth. I don't recommend it for Sweet Pea's age (13), but it has been a lot of fun for Little Bit and me to complete together. She gets a "stamp" in her "passport" every time we start learning about a different country. We do some reading, some history, some geography, some arts and crafts. It's all over fun.
This week has been Russia. Today, we made a matryoshka doll card, and we have a pirog (Russian apple pie) in the oven. It really has been a very fun study.
Homeschooling is like everything else. We have our good days and our bad days. Today... today has been a good day.
Hugs,
Melinda
Saturday, September 01, 2012
Options
I know it seems like I say this every other month or two, but ... I'm thinking about what I need to do and say on my little blog here. It seems like I've been so incredibly busy that I don't know where I should focus.
So I propose a poll. I'm going to list the things that have my attention right now, and you guys let me know what you want to hear about. Okay? Okay.
So, we are involved in homeschooling. I can talk about our day to day activities. I have been bike riding on almost a daily basis. I could share bike and trail photos. We've been doing a really good Bible study at church. I could share how it's changed me. I'm working on weight loss. I could share about the struggles and trials I've been dealing with. I could continue with the Pinterest testing if you want. I'm just not exactly sure who my audience is anymore, so I need to know what you want me to talk about. Oh, and I could talk about how I tried to have a garden this summer but we didn't get nearly enough rain, but I'm still harvesting tomatoes, and I may have a broccoli at some point.
And I could also talk about how I read a book called the Twitter Diet and how I'm now on Twitter and have been increasing my followers on a weekly basis. But as a result, that I'm also feeling a need for what I would call a "social media fast," where I would cut back my use of Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, possibly Blogger or the blog reader I use. I haven't decided yet. I don't think I'm letting it interfere with my parenting, but I do wonder if I need to cut back quite a bit.
Anyway... Let me know what you want me to talk about, and I'll try to make it happen. :D
Hugs,
Melinda
So I propose a poll. I'm going to list the things that have my attention right now, and you guys let me know what you want to hear about. Okay? Okay.
So, we are involved in homeschooling. I can talk about our day to day activities. I have been bike riding on almost a daily basis. I could share bike and trail photos. We've been doing a really good Bible study at church. I could share how it's changed me. I'm working on weight loss. I could share about the struggles and trials I've been dealing with. I could continue with the Pinterest testing if you want. I'm just not exactly sure who my audience is anymore, so I need to know what you want me to talk about. Oh, and I could talk about how I tried to have a garden this summer but we didn't get nearly enough rain, but I'm still harvesting tomatoes, and I may have a broccoli at some point.
And I could also talk about how I read a book called the Twitter Diet and how I'm now on Twitter and have been increasing my followers on a weekly basis. But as a result, that I'm also feeling a need for what I would call a "social media fast," where I would cut back my use of Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, possibly Blogger or the blog reader I use. I haven't decided yet. I don't think I'm letting it interfere with my parenting, but I do wonder if I need to cut back quite a bit.
Anyway... Let me know what you want me to talk about, and I'll try to make it happen. :D
Hugs,
Melinda