Science, Organization and pictures.

 Wow! What a week. In science we've started covering liquids and solids. Reese decided to present a challenge to me - find something that could be a solid, a liquid, and then a solid again. I thought about using ice, but that wasn't tricky enough. So we went out and bought some glycerin (any excuse for a Michael's trip!). At first we simply melted it down and let it reform while we recorded our observations and discussed the process. Then we took it a step further and turned it into soap. We've made a few scents - Reese is showing off the cucumber lemon lime (green), strawberry vanilla (red), as well as the chocolate cinnamon.
When Lauren came home from school, he had a great time telling her how it was made, and did a great job explaining the process. Tomorrow, he's going to do the process with her and explain step by step so she can understand. Might make a video of that. The deal is, if he can properly explain things to Lauren, he won't have to do a written test about what we've covered so far.

 We've also been playing with a lot of liquids. I love these worksheets - so great for teaching him how to properly record his observations. This one in particular, we were testing solids in liquid. Reese was allowed to pick any three objects to see if it would dissolve. He chose Lego (to trick me), a candy and a piece of paper.

 Nothing quite like starting the day smelling different liquids. I wish coffee had been on the list! Reese was pretty bummed that I didn't have any rubbing alcohol - we'll have to grab some for tomorrow and finish that part up.

 Both of us enjoyed mixing different liquids. On Friday Reese is allowed to select what one 30 minute learning block will be. He's already told me we'll be spending that time mixing different liquids and recording our observations. I'm SO glad he's into science!

  Organizing an entire collection of work is difficult. I'll admit, I toss out most of what normally comes home from school. If it's decent, I take pictures and throw out the real copy. I only end up keeping about 5 real items per school year. Now I have to keep every.last.thing. Ahhh!
  At this point I've put various notebooks into binders. After we complete a lesson, I staple it in right away. It ensures everything is always in a proper place, and JP and I are able to take turns assessing Reese's work.

It's a bonus sorting everything this way. Reese does date every piece of work he's completed, but I also date and write what the topic was. I'm left with enough space to jot a few notes underneath about how the lesson was (ie: 'review again in a week', 'too easy', etc.). 

 The kid LOVES math. I don't know where he's getting that from, but math is for sure his favourite subject. Even above science.

 Everything was going to be completed in workbooks like this. Until I realized, when it comes time to review his portfolio, I'm carrying A LOT of random workbooks to meet with the teacher overseeing us. It felt too unorganized.

 The one thing I absolutely loved about 'real' school was the word wall. After the class added a new word (via spelling tests), it would be added to the word wall for easy review. It's something that I absolutely wanted to carry into home. This isn't the final product, this is what we've come up with for now. I want to make a better version, but I'm drawing a blank. Suggestions are always welcome. :)

Reese can tell time, but with the way homeschooling works, it's hard to estimate exact times (so far, at least). If I say "This lesson will only take 20 minutes" and it takes 40, I'd be facing a meltdown. If I say it takes 40 but really only takes 20, I'd have a kid wanting to have 20 minutes of free-time for no reason. That just doesn't fly. So instead of focusing on time, we're focusing on tasks. Again, this will be made to look prettier eventually - this was slapped together for fast results.
Each orange task has Velcro on it. It covers all of the basics. As we complete one task, his picture from the upper right moves on to where we were. Now he's able to see "Okay, we've completed spelling and math, so I have free-time next!". It's easier to focus on jobs than minutes at this point.

 The biggest problem I'm facing right now - Reese had A LOT of freedom at school. There didn't seem to be a real standard of 'acceptable' work. If he slapped some words on a piece of paper, that was good enough. Even if the words weren't legible. It's been a real shock to him, because I actually expect better results. I know he's capable of more. I have samples of his work from 3+ years ago, and his printing was clearer than it is now. I'm not sure HOW they let that happen, but it has. Now I have to undo three years of sloppy behaviors.
 Reese was also given a lot of free-time at school. He seems to expect a break after the smallest things. Printing your name and dating the paper does not require a break - your hand can't be sore after that! 

 Reese has handled the change WAY better than I thought. I was slightly worried he'd crack, or pull things like, "You're mom, you can't be my teacher!". In the past two weeks, he's only needed a few small reminders to keep on task. I think it helps that our classroom is on another level of the house - there's no need to go into that room except for work, and he's working really hard to respect that.

 Now, off to organize our tomorrow tasks. :)

-K