HyperHomeschool

We have begun a serious (but totally FUN!) exploration into the diverse ways technology can be integrated effectively in our homeschooling.  I have been inspired by many classroom teachers lately through my PLN.  I figure if they can take the risk and dive in head first, so can I.  I know many people are familiar with the different programs and sites we have been investigating, however, I still wanted to share what we have been doing and what we have learned.

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Language Arts

• Wordle: A great site devoted to creating word clouds and making learning fun.  It is very user-friendly and so much fun.  We have been integrating wordles in a variety of ways to enhance our learning.  Even our three year old as been given wordles to explore the alphabet.  Wow!  Cyber-preschool!  Check out the list below to see what we have done.

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  • created wordles of weekly spelling lists 
  • explored vowels vs. consonants 
  • identified the letters and sounds of the alphabet
  • color coded parts of speech
  • created wordles to give examples of figurative language
  • explored the main characters in Bridge to Terabithia
  • created wordles of our weekly Bible verse

• Spelling City:  A tried and true site by many parents and teachers, spellingcity.com provides an alternative to the usual "drill and kill" method of learning spelling words.  Through online games and activities, children can explore not only the spelling of a word, but also its meaning.  If you are one who still clings to handouts, printables are available for most activities.  You can even take weekly tests online and record student progress.

• Glogster:  Interactive learning at its best!  This has been a big hit with our children and a great way to revitalize our novel studies.  Our oldest daughter has been working on an interactive poster to summarize her unit on Bridge to Terabithia.  She has included videos, wordles, images, summaries, and many other treats to make this a multi-sensory experience.  To top it off, the enthusiasm as spread to her younger brother and sister.  Today, they decided today to create a glog for kinetic energy.  How exciting is that!  As the masterpieces are completed, I hope to post their finished product on our school site. 

• StoryBird:  These are short, visual stories that students (and teachers) create online.  It is intended to be a collaboration of ideas.  We have found it to be a way to spark enthusiasm into our creative writing.  Again, this site is user-friendly and free.  Not only can you create your own story-bird, you can read others creations. Check out the one I made for our three year old called Chasing Butterflies.  

• ToonDoo:  This is a simple, creative, online comic book creator that makes writing fun for our second grader. After journaling about a superhero this morning, he was inspired to create a comic strip version of his story. Once your account is created, you are able to choose from existing backgrounds, characters and props or you can create or upload your own.  It is a great way to bring out the artistic side of a reluctant writer.

• Grammar Ninja:    We just checked this out today.  This is an interactive game with three levels of play: beginner, skilled, and master ninja.  Throughout the game, you are asked to identify various parts of speech by choosing the correct word(s) from the given sentences.  It moves quickly and is a great alternative to handouts.  There is also a Grammar Ninja Sentence Creator available for download.

• Writing Fix:  This site provides a wealth of resources to enhance any writing curriculum.  Centered around the 6+1 Traits method, writing fix provides many writing prompt generators, lesson plans, and strategies for improving writing instruction.  We have used the right-brain writing prompt generator this week to kick-start our daily journaling.  The kids have really enjoyed writing and are actually excited to see what tomorrow might bring (for journaling, that is).

• Google Docs:  This is another way I have tried to make writing fun!  I created gmail accounts for each child and showed them how to access the word processor.  Basically, we have established a writer-editor relationship.  As a paper is created, they share it with me.  Then, I am able to make critques and/or suggestions and send it back to them.  Eco-friendly and fun!
  

Science

We are studying physical science this semester and are having so much fun.  It does help that their daddy is a physicist.  As a result, we have a wealth of resources available at our fingertips.  Using the ESET curriculum developed by San Diego State University, our students have been focusing on energy this week.  To supplement our discussion, we have used the following resources:

• BrainPOP:  I can't say enough about BrainPOP.  We love it!  There are many free movies available, but it id definitely worth the monthly fee to make the full repertoire available to you.  Each topic is complete with vocabulary explorations, graphic organizers, activities, and suggestions for further exploration.  Everyone loves when we learn with Moby and Tim.

• Motion Sensors: We have also used motion sensors and corresponding software to create speed-time graphs.  Being a math person, this has been really fun.  I am so excited to be able to provide opportunities for our children to lay a foundation in interpreting graphs and understanding relationships between data.  Modeling is essential in science and math.

• Google Docs: This has been an invaluable tool!  I plan to introduce spreadsheets as a means to further explore the relationships between data through graphical representations.  This can be so much fun and yummy too!  Here's one idea: Take a bag of Skittles and chart the amout of each color or what about a blind taste-test between who prefers milk or dark chocolate?  Oh the possibilities!

• Web Search: I have really pushed our oldest daughter this week.  Using her background knowledge of order of operations, exponents, multiplication and division, I asked her to investigate which animal would release more kinetic energy: a cheetah or an elephant.  In doing this activity, she had to use the internet to research the average mass and velocity of each animal and then take this information to compute the amount of kinetic energy released.  Check out the activity if you're interested.

History

 We are studying the Middle Ages throughout this school year using The Story of the World as well as History Odyssey Level 2.  We are so lucky to be living in the age of technology!  Here are a few things we have been doing to make history come alive.

• Google Forms: I have been using this to creative self-grading quizzes.  This serves as a review and a way to stimulate discussion.

• Walk Through Time:  This is an interactive history site created by the BBC for 7-9 year olds.  Lots of fun!

• History for Kids:  This is another wonderful site created by the BBC with a wealth of information and activities.

• Wordles: These word clouds are a great way to highlight central themes and review historical events for a particular region or timeperiod.

• Glogster:  We will be creating an interactive poster at the end of each region to highlight the important people and events.  Again, I will post these as we finish.  I can't wait!
  

Computer Programming

We use Scratch to introduce our children to computer programming.  This is an amazing program developed by MIT to encourage students to imagine, program, and share.  As a graphical programming language, students are able to explore the world of compuer programming without gettnig bogged down in syntax.  I am amzed at the possibilities.  Our oldest daughter, uses her Bamboo drawing tablet to create her own animations in Scratch.  They have created basic video games, as well as, tutorials.  Last year, Abby made a tutorial about poetry.  After selecting a type of poetry, you would be directed to a page with a definition, example, and an original creation.  Wow!  She proceeded to tellme this was more fun than simply writing it on paper.

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This is just a glimpse into some of the things we are doing around here.  Everyday is an adventure and I am thankful to be able to let our children have such wonderful opportunities.  It's funny!  I slowly find myself letting go of the rigors of traditional learning and embracing new ways of thinking about teaching and education.  I am amazed at the mind of a child and what it can accomplish if simply given the chance to imagine, discover and grow.