Third Grade Approaches

I have been absolutely terrible at updating this blog.  I guess I've had a fairly unproductive 2nd Grade year with creating anything for my TeachersPayTeachers account, which is part of the purpose of this blog.  Besides talking about the struggles we're having with homeschool and some of our wins.

Last year was a mix of highs and lows.  The year started out great, but then I made the mistake of enrolling in an online college program to study comic books and graphic novels as literature and art.  It was an exceptional class, which I really enjoyed and even wrote a little mini-comic from it.  However, because of my lack of attentiveness for those 6 weeks of studying, Chase regressed into an uncooperative state and the rest of the year was a battle.  He would spend 1-2 hours on a single assignment, refusing to write a single word.  Sitting there, doing nothing, no matter how much I asked him to or offered rewards and punishments.

I could sit right beside him telling him what to write for each word, but it was an endless struggle.  These assignments would take him less than 5 minutes if he were actually just doing them.  School dragged on as a daily chore of frustration and anger.  School became like a punishment.  Only towards the end of the year did we seem to be getting through to him that he must do the work and stop causing our stress levels to peak.  Perhaps the goal of summer was his beacon.

He doesn't want to go to Public school, and he honestly is not ready.  The aides assigned to us at NISEC have done absolutely nothing.  They haven't even returned my e-mail.  They were supposed to schedule an interview with an IEP school, where Chase could attend partial days with peers who were also struggling with adapting to school.  In a class with only a handful of students instead of more than 20.  And a teacher who is trained to help students with special needs.

I'm fairly certain that Chase is Asperger's.  I've looked at the signs and he seems to exhibit all of them.  I've addressed this with NISEC, but they haven't referred us to anyone to get him examined.  We don't really know what to do to help him.  Other than be cheery every day, grin and bear it and really pour my entire life and free time into teaching.

I feel selfish and uninspired.  I can't draw.  I can't create.  I'm constantly stressed and public school would be worse.  We had such anxiety every day during the first 2 months of Kindergarten where he was sent home constantly.

So, I must ready myself within the next few days.  I've filled in the school calendar and school begins on Wednesday by Tri-Creek Elementary's schedule.  We've been using theirs.  Of course, we don't have to.  But it is easy to track if I'm following theirs.  In case I skip marking the attendance record.  Last year, I used Class Dojo's records, but it is really inadequate.  I've sent them a suggestion to improve that which they replied it would be something they would work on as a new feature.  I like them and do intend to use them again.

I'll be using Sokikom, Scootpad and Class Dojo again this year as my main online school apps.  I've enjoyed each of them and they all have excellent content.  I may use Glogster again as well.

Ah, righ tnow, I should be getting our school station prepared, rather than bloggin here about it....

Week 1 Impact

My impact report for our first week is up (ignore the school year stats, that isn't right).  He seems to enjoy ScootPad so far.  He is enthusiastic about the practices and likes earning rewards.  And he likes knowing the answers, so far, he has gotten some good marks.

Almost prepared for next week.  Have to put a few more assignments into his notebooking pages.  I've got some great Common Core aligned activities lines up.  I've been using resources mostly from TeachersPayTeachers.  I've been collecting the freebies from the newsletter and clipping what I need for his notebook.

Riddle Me This! Apple Pickin' Edition Freebie from Teacher Bits and Bobs is superb.  I've printed them all smaller so I can fit them in the notebook, then pasted the answers onto the backs of the clues.  This leaves enough room to make a fold flap, which I glue down to his notebook.  Then, under each flap I added an apple fact.

Other recommended resources, Sticky Notes & Glitter, The Lesson Plan Diva, Notebooking Pages, Spoonful, It's the Little Things...  I'll add more links as I come across them.  

First week - Midway through

Chase has a strong interest in game development.  So we found this Google Chrome app called Gamestar Mechanic.  It is a fun site that he can make his own maps and level difficulties.  He'll be working on this during computer lab today along with his ScootPad assignments.  This is his reward for following directions and staying on task in class today.

We've been having issues with cooperation, which resulted in him getting computer restrictions.  He has had to earn his free time back.  The last two days without computer has been torturous (for us as well as him), so he is excited about computer lab today.  He has earned his free time after school today, so it should be a good day for me to relax and get more work prepared for the rest of the week.  

I am out of assignments readied for Math and Language Arts.  We're notebooking for these.  Fo L.A. I've made his reading and comprehension questions more interesting by modeling the stories on his favorite characters and toys.  So far, I have a Lego City story which I used the Lego Comic Builder to make a colorful little comic book to print out and paste into his notebook.  I made a Calvin & Hobbes story for his next day's assignment.  I drew a few frames to paste in and wrote up a summary of the strips.  And Day 3, I made a Ninjago story, paraphrasing some of the world origins from their site.

Fortunately, he has lots of interests, so the list is endless what I can write about.  But I only made 3 days ahead and now I need more assignments!

Tears and Cheers

So the first day of school was a mix of emotions.  He was kind of combative at first.  We had to do a restart.  He had started gaining then losing behavior rewards before I could even show him what the reward system would be like.

Sokikom and ScootPad are both roaring successes.  He loved the fractions game on Sokikom and said "I love fractions"!  And he eagerly wanted to do the tests/practices on ScootPad once he learned you can earn 50 coins for math and 25 for language arts/reading practices.  And the spelling assignment was 'easy peasy'!  After the student does a few tests the site places them on a learning path to determine their pace and placement.  So the level will be perfectly tailored to him.

And ScootPad allows you to add in your own rewards.  I need to adjust the prices, making sure there are plenty of low priced items.  He really liked the "Stand up and dance" reward/  I played Blue October's Jump Rope song, a favorite of his.  So he got out some sitting at a desk energy and enjoyed himself.

We only did light work today, mostly focusing on getting him familiarized with what programs we'll be utilizing.  After school was over, he still wanted to play on the math games for Sokikom.  ;D  He does love math.  The word problems he kind of balks at, but just straight out equations seem to be no problem.

His overall review of the day, "Boring and fun".

Scootpad Fundraiser

I've been adding in more assignments today and fully setting up my Scootpad profile.  So far, I really like this site.  Very clean management and it has core aligned assessments and assignments included.  I'm going to start a fundraiser so we can have the Premium plan all year long.  You start with a trial, which mine ends the second week of school.  The Basic does not include spelling, etc.  But it is a good start for Homeschool plans.  Otherwise, you can go through your school and they can set up a free administrator account.  I set up Three Creeks as my school, as that would be the school Chase would attend if he weren't homeschooling this year.

I was not referred to the site, but one way that you can earn Premium time ($4.99/month) is via referrals.  So, if you already are on Scootpad, I can list you as my referral to help you earn time.  This is a one time offer, since I can only be referred by one person.  If no one requests me, then I'll just make it one of the teachers from my district at random.  Here is my URL if you would like to add me as your referrer: MsGillianIvy.

Okay, so about the fundraiser.  I'll be holding fundraisers throughout the year to help negate costs for homeschool.  I'll be offering things like my artwork, crafts, and maybe mailable baked goods.  I found an awesome cookie that tastes like a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup!  For this fundraiser, I will be offering prints of my artwork 8x10 "Das Faerie Gotik" on donations of $10+.  If donations are higher, then I may add extras into your shipment.  Do not overpay on this fundraiser.  The funds only can be used on this site.  I do not know if funds are transferable to other accounts, etc.  If the goal is reached and you would still like to support us, please check my Etsy store, Miscellaneous Juxtapositions,  for other artworks on sale.

Ms. Gillian Ivy Homeschool Fundraiser