Every year as part of Maine State requirements of Homeschoolers we participate in a peer portfolio review, overseen by a certified teacher. I feel so fortunate to live in Maine, where the requirements are extremely minimal, and homeschoolers and unschoolers can learn how they choose and still meet requirements set by the state.
Our peer review is basically a gathering of friends. We sit, roughly divided by our children’s ages (young or old) and discuss what we do in our families to cover the various subjects. It ends up being a great way to share resources, frustrations, and success stories.
In the past I have used this blog as an ongoing portfolio–but it seems this year that goal got away from me. So, in prep, I sat with each of the kids and we did a quick review of our work this past year. It was such a good exercise I realize we should be doing that a few times a year, partly because Fall was so long ago none of us could really remember what we’d done, and partly because we all felt so proud of ourselves for all of our amazing work. Aside from math and writing, we rarely categorize our learning into subjects–but when you take the time to pull apart a year’s experiences and stuff them into boxes they really amount to quite a bit of education. You can learn a lot in a year (often without even trying!)
At the risk of boring you all, and for the sake of record keeping, I’ll record them here, interspersed with pics of what we’ve been up to these past months.
Family Read-aloud:
Mysterious Benedict Society, books 1-3
The Boy on the Porch
Half a World Away
Maniac Magee
Understood Betsy
Laura Ingalls Wilder books, 1-4 (so far, again)
Harry Potter, book 1
Juniper, 2016/2017
Independent Reading:
Land of Stories, books 2-5
The Family Under the Bridge
Bridge to Terabithia
Math:
Beast Academy levels 3C and started 3D (Multiplication, Division, Fractions, Measurement, Variables
Writing:
Book report on Bridge to Terabithia, work on an independent story set in colonial times, birthday cards, pen pal letters to cousin, poetry and song, typing and spelling through SpellCity online.
“Moving Beyond the Page” unit study on The Family Under the Bridge
Music:
folk songs
piano study (Bach, Beethovan)
Special Projects:
Paper mache crafting of convertible for Girl Dolls, Girl Doll furniture and accessories, Knitting 2 hats, babysitting certificate, drumming, song and dance, yoga, circus performance, film class, intensive nature and primitive skills studies (bow drill, wild edibles, shelter building, cordage making, basket weaving, etc), and bird ID.
Physical Education:, she has participated in swim lessons, soccer, and track and field.
Health Education:, she has helped shop for and prepare balanced meals, participated in Mother-Daughter group discussions about puberty and body changes, and helped prepare herbal remedies.
Kale 2016/2017
Reading/writing:
Bob Books
100 Easy Lessons, (occassionally)
SpellCity online
Birthday Cards to friends and family
Story narration
copy work
Math:
Beast Academy 3A (skip counting, multiplication tricks, hundreds charts)
Right Start B (mental addition, 5’s trick, 8’s trick, 9’s trick, go to the dump, addition war, adding 2 digit numbers in head, place value)
Special Projects:
sewing (hand stitching and machine)
painting
carving
nature study (bird ID, bow drill, knife safety)
Drawing
Chess
physical Education:
baseball
basket ball
hiking
biking
History:
Child’s History of the World–hunter/gatherers
Little House books
Timeline Inventions (the game)
Health Education:
Helping shop for and prepare balanced meals, physical and dental hygiene, garden help (growing your own food).
Wylie 2016/2017
Reading:
Number the Stars
Wonder
A Dog’s Purpose
Ham radio and short wave radio manuals
Math
Beast Academy: 3C (multiplication and division) 3D (fractions)
Writing:
Typing.com
Spellcity online
Independent story work
book report on A Dog’s Purpose
History:
“Moving Beyond the Page” Unit Study on Number the Stars
“Moving Beyond the Page” Unit Study on WWI and WWII
Special Projects:
Radio Station Volunteer work
Nature Study (primitive skills, knife safety, bow drill)
Video and Audio production
Photography
knitting (hat, almost finished)
drumming, music, and dance
Yoga
Wilderness First Responder Certification
Community First Aid Certification
Short Wave radio
Music:
Self-exploration of guitar and keyboard, sound engineering apprenticeship
Sound engineering apprenticeship
Exercise:
Biking
Hiking
Running
Health Education: Discussions on the importance of physical and dental hygiene. Books on puberty and body changes (boys), Assisting in shopping and food prep of balanced meals. Braces.
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