Recently Aaron talked to me about a show he saw on TV about the history of classic American foods. I was thinking how cool it is that he watches things like that. Not only is he learning a lot, he's getting experience reporting on what he learned... and I didn't even have to ask him to do it. No assignments necessary and he's learning the same kinds of things that kids stress over in school (oral reports, history). One more reason I love homeschooling.

I looked for information about that show on TV. He doesn't remember what channel he saw it on... Here's a similar show called History on a Bun... maybe the same show but he doesn't recognize the name.
  ¶ 4:09 PM  

  I'm done with my summer break already. Though I haven't been writing here for almost a month, I've been thinking about what I want to do about curriculum for the coming year... plus got involved with a local homeschool controversy (more about that later).

I would love to get Aaron to help me build a couple of easels. Here's the plans. I'll be turning our back bedroom into an artist's studio and office so these easels can be stored there. Aaron is an incredibly good artist but he doesn't realize that yet. I've been watching his artwork for years. He has talent.

My other plans for the coming year include reading this book to him out loud:


Gift of Dyslexia: Why Some of the Smartest People Can't Read and how They Can Learn

I'm planning to read it out loud to him because its HIS problem and I want him to get ideas on how to handle it. He told me recently, "You think I never try reading? ...Look at this!" He showed me a print-out of playstation2 cheat codes. I'm glad he's trying to read something, even if its just for a video game. Maybe those video games really are good for dyslexic kids!! LOL

I'm trying a new track with the reading/writing process by using this book starting in August:


The Writing Road to Reading: The Spalding Method for Teaching Speech, Spelling, Writing, and Reading

I've already discussed it with him so he knows what to expect. I explained that I want him to have the capacity to write down his outrageous and imaginative fiction... regardless of whether or not the spelling and grammar are right. He asked that I'd correct his spelling and I promised to do that for him.

I'm also considering Math-U-See for him this year. It will cost around a hundred dollars to start (workbooks and manipulatives) but seems like it would be worth the investment for a more visual way to learn math. He's done a lot of boring workbooks already - but still needs practice, especially with multiplication, division and fractions.

We will also be using The Phonics Game again.

Something else I'd like to do with him this school year - is to read a book written by one of our neighbors north of town... called In the Logging Woods. My son is entranced by this guy's property because he's got LOTS of old classic trucks, many of them from his now-defunct logging business. His wife (she's on the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce with me) invited us to go there and said her husband would be happy to give Aaron a tour of the trucks. I think it would be great to read his book first, then go meet him. He's never at the meetings so I haven't met him either... she told me he's decided to stay away from town events and is working on another book now.

  ¶ 1:31 PM