Khan Academy, Homeschool, & Chaos

I had to make a difficult decision on Monday that has been brewing for weeks. What do I do with my teenage son? In our area there are no school buses... it is all up to the parents to get kids to and from school. His carpool has been flaky since the beginning of the school year. He would have to cross 2 freeways to get to school so biking or walking was out.

There is another school down the street within walking distance. But its less than stellar (read horrifying) reputation has most parents shipping their students an hour and a half away to another school. We missed that bandwagon by agreeing to the carpool.

So I decided that despite doubling up on my grad school classes for the next 16 weeks.... I would homeschool him as well. YEP... I AM CRAZY! He is in 8th grade but tests at 11th grade so yea... I have a challenge ahead of me with him.

The high school here is better and in walking distance so next year, we are good for all kids being in school. The little two are still in school so that is at least a relief there!

I totally forgot about Khan Academy until my homeschool friends reminded me! It is all about science and math and its free! There are some amazing videos on there that I have used often but I did not know about their math practice section which includes calculus and trigonometry! SCORE!

While there are videos that provide information on the subject they are more of a refresher or a starting point to jump off of the topic and delve deeper. So it can't be used alone. The teacher's section allows you to add a whole class of students to it so yep... I am adding this as a resource for my classroom website.

My teen thinks it is fun. The graphics aren't top notch but they are much better than I have seen before and the fact that he adds a new star to his galaxy every time he masters a concept is exciting for him. My littles also practiced basic math concepts yesterday and loved it.

Now I just need 3 more computers so they can use the program and I can do my homework!

Football Sunday!

Have you all seen this sign? I totally need one for my house!

My oldest son's first word was football. Not mama, not dada, not even baba... football. I should have known what life had in store for me from that moment on.

Many of you know that I homeschooled my children for awhile but I have never shared the story of how it began or the frustrations that came with it. When my oldest was 2 I found him reading a book. Not the pictures.... the actual words. What sounds he hadn't figured out he made up.

I thought it was so amazing! He could read!! Little did I know the heartache this would cause. (To catch you up he has a form of Autism known as Asperger's Syndrome. He is very high functioning. He excels academically across the board but struggles socially).

Because he was so intent on learning, I taught him. It was sooo hard to keep up with his need for knowledge. One day when he was 4 he suddenly stopped learning. I was so happy but also concerned. He only wanted to know about football. I needed resources but couldn't find any. So I made everything myself... a huge massive collection of all things football. He loved it!

I have learned that sometimes to get students to move ahead we have to meet them where they are. My bff went into teaching before I did and has often pulled my football resources to get her reluctant students to write, learn vocabulary, or to do math.

So... Melonheadz and I have decided to create a complete line of football products! I am finishing them up now so they will be appearing in my store in the next few days BUT you can get a set early by leaving a comment below!

These are the original materials that I used all those years ago with new graphics to jazz it up! This packet includes 20 sentence stems/journal pages, 7 compare & contract activities, 2 goal pages, 4 pages of math, 6 pages of vocabulary, 1 geography activity, 3 class books/bulletin board projects, 1 research project, and 1 creative writing project. Over 60 pages of football fun!

My kids still love this packet. This is my baby's worksheet from today's game... he is working on adding more than 2 numbers together. Since adding is too simple for him he then groups each picture together and multiplies those and then adds. So the 2 field goals would be 2x3... it gets harder as the game goes on. =)

This is 17 weeks of greater than/less than score fun! Students record the score and then using > or < determine the winner. My son never understood Allie Alligator but he understood he wanted to be on the winning team and that the arrow always pointed toward the loser as their score was smaller.

And of course I had to do matching calendar numbers and a boggle board! We are working on getting a set out for every NFL team so if you are looking for a set, please let me know as I will put you on the top of the list.

What could be even better for football fans?? I will be selling exclusive Melonheadz Graphics for each of the teams as well. Again... I am a big tease as they are a work in progress but I couldn't wait to share with you!


I also wanted to share with you a post from Kinderzoo. I cannot imagine the grief she is going through at suddenly losing her husband, her best friend. I know that I would be devastated. She would hate it if she knew we were doing this but several of us would like to show our love and support during this difficult time.

If you have a moment - please visit her store and make a purchase. She has some amazing products. My favorites are her emergency Kinder plans. I could have so used them for that first week in school!!

September 11 & The Story of Us

Today is always a hard day for me. I can still remember the phone call that morning. Watching the news, holding the phone, and praying for answers.

My uncle was flying to New York that day. He was heading to a meeting at the World Trade Center. Where was he?  We waited for hours. Crying. We heard from friends who lost loved ones. We cried with them grasping for answers. Then we waited for days.

Finally we heard. He was fine. He was in hospital, he had a heart attack on his way to the meeting. With all that happened and was happening, they forgot to call his family. We understood just thankful that he was found.

We were lucky that we scrapped by with just a scare but the impact that day still ripples through our culture. It has forever changed the way we look at things. I remember growing up and not understanding Pearl Harbor. What was the big deal? Why are people still sad?

Now I get it.

I did several things to help my kids better understand. We created a scrapbook and added to it. Each year the kids ask to take it to school and share. Pictures, feelings, thoughts of the day all there in black and white. For my boys, history is important.

It saddens me that as we move into implementing the Common Core State Standards that history is not a priority. Understand the story of our culture, our past, and why we are who we are has been pushed to the side in an effort to prioritize the needs of the future. But how can we have a future if we do not understand our past?

I found some other resources that I wanted to share with all of you as well as my own students and children.


Don't forget the power of videos! Many kids need to see and hear it while for others it may be to frightening. I like focusing more on how to rebuild the future while honoring our past and so have chosen this film for my kids.

Be sensitive to those in your class as well. Before you start sharing, make sure it is something everyone is comfortable with!

One of my children's favorite movies is America: The Story of US. We used this with our history curriculum when we homeschooled and the kids still love it. In fact, this is another thing they take to school to share along with their timelines.

Today, the History Channel is offering the books to go along with the movie for free. I just got them for the Kindle on my iPad. I know there will be a fight later today on who gets to read them first. Just click on the picture to go to the History Channel to find out more or head over to Amazon to pick up your free copy of all 3 books.

WBT & Homeschooling

Most of my followers are teachers or are in school to become teachers. However, I have several friends who are following, reading my stories, and sending me private emails just as they have done for the last decade.

Who are they? Homeschoolers. Many of you don't know this about me but I homeschooled my children for many years. Why? Because it was the best and only option I had for my oldest son.

Go back with me in time for a moment.

My oldest was about 2 1/2 years old. I walked into our living room and there he sat reading a book I had just purchased. It was a story we had not yet read together, that he had not yet heard before. He asked me to come sit with him so he could read to me.

Okay... I thought. I can't wait to see what story he makes up to go with the pictures. Instead, he read the book. I was flabbergasted. I didn't know whether to cry or smile. It wasn't perfect but it was close.

(Imagine this child actually reading. 

Sorry none of his photos are digital.)

What he couldn't figure out, he made up. I knew right then that I had no choice. Either I taught him the right way or he would teach himself the wrong way. At the age of 2, there was no option. No one would teach him how to write a paragraph or multiple at that age.

It was up to me.

And so I became a homeschool mom. 

Teaching him was never easy. What I planned was often too easy or not enough. Others complained I pushed him to hard but those closest to me saw how I struggled. How I fought to teach him the right way while he fought to teach himself. It was a never-ending battle. A struggle that was often damaging to our relationship.

There were times when we simply had to stop learning and take a breather to ensure we could still have a good relationship. This continued until he was old enough for second grade and I found a school willing to met him and his special challenges.

He was brilliant. 

He had no social skills. 

Welcome to the world of the Asperger's.

I have always had to supplement his education. It is more of a part of who I am, who we are than homeschooling any more. My children truly love to learn and I believe it is because it is part of our values and culture at home.

Before I try anything in my classroom, I try it at home. WBT is no different. I received several emails asking can this work in a homeschooling situation.

YES! 

Oh my yes it can! 

When I think of all the tears, all the struggles, all the midnight ponderings to friends around the world. When I think of all the countless hours I thought I was the problem or this was too much... all I needed was someone who understood how his brain works and to share this secret with me.

I mentioned before how I turned class-yes to boys-mama. I use hands and eyes at home and switch. So many simple little things so much cooperation. I am also using the scoreboard. Parents vs. Kids. 

Does it work?
He is dressed. He brushed his teeth and hair (a huge achievement!!). He did his chores and his bed is made. Now if I could find the secret to teenage attitudes... I would have reached mama heaven!

Check out this video of WBT at home:

My son would have eaten this up if I had known about it a decade ago. So listen up all my homeschool friends... IT WORKS! I can't wait to here your success stories.

In fact my youngest was working with me just this morning on some new WBT techniques and while writing this post came into ask if there was any more fun stuff for him to learn. He also wants to take me for show and tell so he can have fun in school while learning. LOL!

SOOOO.....

it works in the classroom

it works at home

it works with autistic children

it works with gifted children

it works with normal children

it works with children with learning disabilities

it works with children with ADHD

it works with reluctant learners

How do I know?

Because I am a mom to all of these children

Because I am a teach students like these

AND

I have seen amazing results!