Homeschool blog
It All Adds Up: A Day in the PBS Kids Lab
- Friday, 10 May 2013
- Eva Wilson
Photo Credit: Will Cocks Photography for PBS Kids
They are so glad I have a blog.
Days (like today) that I am glued to the computer, phone, or tablet - not so much - but when they get to hang out with Curious George and try out the new apps and games that PBS Kids has developed with their partners, just for kids their age, yes.
They've been talking about wanting to go back to the PBS Kids Lab ever since they went and tried out some very cool apps like this one...
October 2011
As a homeschooling mom of three, tools for education are important to me - especially when we are on the go. Truthfully, I don't let them use my tablet much (if at all). I'd prefer that they listen to music on their mp3 players or read a book until they get car sick, rather than let them put their greasy (but lovable) little fingers on my tablet. The hubby doesn't mind though, so I share the info that I get when it comes to apps and games with him.
*sponsored post - I was invited to PBS Kids headquarters and given lunch and a goodie bag. As always, my opinions are my own.
The day started with pics with Curious George, and lunch. For lunch, the kids went their way, and the parent bloggers went ours. On the table in front of us were iPads and laptops so that we could experience the "It All Adds Up" program using different platforms - after we ate of course.
The program is aimed at at risk and low income children between the ages of 2 and 8. Now of course, I , like the rest of the moms there were wondering - if it is aimed at low income families, how do they expect them to have access to iPhones, iPads, laptops, and other tools so that they can take advantage of all that the program has to offer?
In short, the community support given by PBS is awesome. They work with libraries and schools who have the equipment, so that they can reach the kids. They also employ outreach programs with local groups.
Although research shows that math skills at kindergarten entry can be an even stronger predictor of school achievement than reading skills, many children do not realize their full potential in mathematics. While a variety of factors contribute to lagging math skills, a new survey released today by PBS KIDS suggests parents place less emphasis on math, since they view other skills as “the greatest predictor of achievement later in life,” ranking reading and literacy (26%) and the ability to pay attention and work hard (47%) as most indicative versus math (14%). ~ PBS Kids Press Release on "It All Adds Up"
Apparently, a lot of parents are just as uncomfortable with their math skills as the kids, if not more so. One of the aims of the program is to support parents in working with their kids on math. I homeschool mine, so I usually don't have a choice when it comes to working with them on things they don't understand, but for parents who send their kids to brick and mortar schools, the support that PBS kids gives is outstanding. There are apps that the kids can use while you go to the grocery store or eat at a restaurant, that incorporate the trip. If you don't allow the kids to use devices at the table or in the store, the PBS Kids website has great ideas and resources for parents who need to incorporate math in their daily lives to help the kids "get it." We parents use math every day - we just have to share that with the kids.
After we learned about all of the games and upcoming goodies from PBS Kids, we were reunited with the kids, who where given the opportunity to try out apps with us on iPads and laptops.
Photo Credit: Will Cocks Photography for PBS Kids
My children are right in the target age group, so they found plenty to do at the different tables.
Here are some of the new apps and games that my kids were able to try out...
PBS Parents Play & Learn App - This is the first PBS KIDS app designed specifically for parents. It has more than a dozen math and reading games for parents to with their kids. Parents can work on counting, measuring, estimating, and reading with their kids in places where they spend a lot of time, like shopping at the grocery store or taking a bath. Where can you get it? The App Store on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Google Play for Android phones and tablets. More info at pbskids.org/mobile.
Math Mentors - Educators and educational bloggers share ideas with parents to help them pick up on math concepts and see math in their daily lives. There's more information on Math Mentors in the PBS Kids Lab.
Ruff Ruffman’s Monumental Mini-golf - This game is intended for six to eight year olds. Kids will help Ruff build his monumental mini-golf course. The game is a still in development, but available for the public to try out. At the end of the game, kids get the chance to the play mini-golf in the course they created. For more on this game and others, visit pbskidslab.org.
For more on why I love PBS Kids, visit EvaLoves.com - http://evaloves.com/this/index.php/family/29-eva-loves-pbs-pbs-kids
PBS Kids is one of the most widely used resources for parents. Do you use it? How do you use it to help your kids learn reading and math?
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New Activity Sheets: Cloud Types
- Tuesday, 26 February 2013
- Eva Wilson
Today's science lesson was about cloud types, and for some reason my little ones just weren't getting it. One of the great things about homeschooling, for me, is that I can change my approach on the fly to match the learning styles of the kids. The second time that I went through the material, I assigned a dance to each cloud type. Anytime I said that cloud type, they would have to break into that dance. Well, they remembered the dance... cloud type, not so much.
Next, I took to Google images to see if I could find a worksheet of some sort that no only summarized the characteristics of the clouds, but also gave me good images - found some, but none that I liked. So, while the kids worked on a worksheet provided by K12, I created some worksheets of my own. The kids loved that I had made them on the fly just for them, and they finally got it. The poems may be a little corny - I didn't have a lot of time to get fancy, but the kids liked it!
These worksheets summarize everything with rhyme, ask three questions, and give the kids a picture that they can keep in their minds.
Download them here:
Cumulonimbus Cloud Coloring Sheet, Poem, and Questions
Cumulus Cloud Coloring Sheet, Poem, and Questions
Stratus Cloud Coloring Sheet, Poem, and Questions
Cirrus Cloud Coloring Sheet, Poem, and Questions
Let me know what you think! Do you have any interesting ways that you have taught your kids about cloud types?
Add a commentMaking "Gingerbread" Houses
- Monday, 17 December 2012
- Eva Wilson
The little ones were looking forward to face to face today so that they could make gingerbread houses. No big kit... no gingerbread... just some graham crackers, candy, an empty milk carton, and their imaginations.
The kids were so creative! I saw everything from gingerbread farms (which apparently raise gummy bears of various colors) to full on wedding processions in snow crafted out of white frosting. Mine stuck to just building nice affordable housing... and eating their building materials.
Here's what they used:
- frosting
- paper plates
- empty milk carton
- graham crackers
- pretzels
- marshmallows
- plastic knife
- candy canes and various other colorful candy
The classroom was packed with little gingerbread architects working and proud moms and dads snapping pictures. Here's one of my favorites.
Afterwards I took them home, and had a lunch that included a generous serving of broccoli for lunch before starting our lessons for the day. Needless to say, they found it very difficult to concentrate with all the sugar coursing through their veins, but it was a much needed break from school work.
The holidays will be here soon - do you have any special activities planned for your kids while they are at home?
Add a commentHomeschooling My Teenager: It Starts with a Plan...
- Saturday, 01 September 2012
- Eva Wilson
This year at the 2 to 1 Conference, I went to a session about homeschooling a high schooler.
It was really inspirational, and I felt prepared to deal with my soon to be teen when I got home. Almost. I was a mess as a teenager. What I didn’t do – didn’t exist for the most part. I still shudder to think of the things I got away with. Apparently payback is a… well… let’s just say there’s payback. The only difference is that I am with my teen every day all day, and I was with my parents just long enough to ask them for some money and the car keys, so I can’t compare my experience as a teenager to his.
I really don’t believe that parents are meant to know EVERYTHING their teen does. We need to know enough to make sure they don’t harm themselves or the community.
As a family, we focus on making sure he doesn’t harm himself...
- Physically – that includes protective gear for sports, teaching him how to kitchen appliances and utensils, the iron, and trying to manage that overall teen awkwardness/clumsiness that could lead to falling down… a lot. I swear sometimes they are like baby deer learning to walk all over again.
- Emotionally – he is so curious about everything these days, but some things he isn’t ready to know about or see, even though he thinks he is. It is tough to monitor all the movies he watches and books he reads, since he does visit friends and family sometimes, but we try to steer him in the right direction. If he does have an experience that is less than age appropriate, we try to help him work through what he doesn’t understand.
- Spiritually – yesterday, he asked me why the church in the Middle ages was so opposed to science. He is a science and history fanatic, so his questions as we go through both subjects are becoming deeper and more complex. I am glad that I am here to answer those questions according to the faith of our family. That is one of the cool things about homeschooling – I get to be there to answer the questions before his teen brain comes up with its own reasoning based on the hormones and other strange influences that parents just don’t understand.
We monitor his impact on the community by...
Add a comment Read more...Notebooks, Pencils, Crayons, Patience: The School Supply List for Parents
- Monday, 27 August 2012
- Eva Wilson
As August approaches, parents begin to ask one another, "do you have everything you need for back to school?" I don't think we ask each other that just in case we can help - we just want to know if we are the only ones painfully unprepared.
Why doesn't my best attempt at organizing our school space even come close to the wonders on Pinterest? I'm just sayin...
Last night I used up most of my patience checking to make sure all of the books were on the shelves, and that we had our supplies in order for class today. So there I was, after 3:00... still doing the SAME subject with the boy. I was pretty far past annoyed, and trying to keep calm - but as the minutes passed, my patience was running terribly low.
Here's my school supply list for parents - homeschooling or not. I wish I had this last week so that I could make sure I had all that I needed. Now I have to work on getting everything I need on this list at the last minute... :)
Source: socamom.com via Eva on Pinterest
See the full size infographic here: http://socamom.com/soca/en/graphics/470-school-supply-list-for-parents-2012-2013
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Preparing for Back to School - Year 2, 5 things I wish I'd done Year 1...
- Friday, 17 August 2012
- Eva Wilson
We're homeschooling again this year! I know that plenty of family and friends are like "why?" - Here's the standard parent answer: Because we said so.
I am a little behind in organizing. The bookshelves need to be emptied from last year, and the new books put up. Thank goodness the workspace from last year worked out well - I don't have to rework that.
Baby Girl at the computer. Yes, that is her flash drive clipped to her belt. #raisinggeeks
I have big plans for this year, as we all do. Last year was good, but hopefully this year will be even better! Here are the top 5 things that I wish I had done my first year of homeschooling.
5. I wish we had traveled more. We got to do our fair share of outings, but not nearly as much as I would have liked to do. If this is your first time homeschooling, especially if you have older kids, plan some trips - not just field trips. Think about taking the train or the bus to an interesting place that can be spun into school work - historical sites are a nice option. This past school year, we did Williamsburg, VA which is full of history, but also has Busch Gardens so you can have a little fun too. Roller coasters... isn't that physics?
Baby Girl driving a boat in Hilton Head, SC. We both learned a lot about wildlife in the bay, conservation, and dolphins that day.
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