Alright, so after getting my Penguin week all setup, something is really bothering me.        I think I killed a tree!   I will be honest.  I haven't really ever planned activities to this extent and deepth.   I have been really inspired, and I have just dove into this with lots of enthusiam.   Its just that I feel like a tree killer with all the paper we are going to be using.  I mean sure it will get recycled, but it really just hit me how "preschool" in general is incredibly unfriendly to our earthly resources.   

Does anyone have some good ideas?  Or maybe help me feel less guilty about the tree I just killed?  (okay I didn't kill a tree but we are heading in that direction.)    How do you make learning more eco-friendly without using the computer or television?  Its not that I am opposed to television or computers.  I just have that part covered.  Thanks!

I think its all common sense really.  There are millions of people without television across the world, and guess what, they have no access to the joy of reading and knowledge (that is not to say they are without joy).  You see they (the "experts") are trying to pinpoint why there is so many ADHD/behaviorally challenged children in the United States.    Its pretty easy to just blame the television.   Heaven forbid we blame parents or society.

I don't know much about other societies, but I believe that our (United States) society suppresses the natural tendencies of children.   You see from my experience, my children have a tendency to run every where they go.   I will wake my child at night from her sleep to take her to the bathroom, and guess what, she runs (half asleep) to the bathroom and back to bed.  Its so cute and funny, but its completely natural to her.   I do everything in my power to not suppress that.  It may look like my kids are wild to others, but to me, I am encouraging their natural and healthy tendency to run.   I take them on trails all the time, and guess what, they run.  Grocery store?  Yep they run there too.  Are they polite and look where they are going?  Yep as much as you can expect from little ones.  Do I care if someone rolls their eyes at me?  Nope.  Kids are just as likely to run into someone walking as they are running.  Sure they could fall, but gosh, skinned knees are nothing in my house.  They laugh and move on.  I wish someone had let me run like that.   I would probably love to run. ...Anyway that is my point, they have a natural love to run and I don't ever want to take that from them. 

Babies have a natural love to learn, and lets just equate that as a natural love to live life without restraints...my kids probably seem ADHD to others but really, they are soaking up a lot of material because they love to learn.   Do they wiggle and move while learning?  Yep, but that is okay.  I realize that they can still learn while groving.   All day long, my son says, "Mommy, please let me learn something."  ( , my response, "Um, Can I make lunch first?  I need more energy to learn.")    I use Television and the Computer as resources for my little sponges, and I refused to feel guilty.   I will home school my kids because I understand my children, and I know my antiquated society will only suppress their wonderful, natural desires.   (My kids do slow down.  Thank goodness.  Otherwise I would have to learn how to read and run at the same time, and that seems dangerous.)   

I really enjoyed the article.

Sometimes to be at peace with your own decision you have to first be at peace that with the fact that other people have their own opinions.   No matter how you say or what you do she is probably going to want to "wish" to have her way or insert her opinion.   The key to living at peace with a well-meaning controlling person is to not give them control.  Be prepared for opinions by not preparing a rebuttal but having a plan in place that is unwavering.   Having a daily schedule and plan for your child's at home education allows for little room for a well meaning mum to interfere.  She can insert her opinion, but you can still go about with the schedule. 

I actually learned this from a controlling member of my family.  I always wondered how she got her way without anyone trying to control her.  You see its human nature to want to be in charge and control the situation.   Some people just choose which situation they want to be in control of.  Some like to be in control of everything and others just like to be in control of a few things.  Others don't know how to gain control.   My sister (the controlling member) always had a plan in place and she was unwavering in her plan.   She never argued to get her way or made a big scene.  She was just the first to have a plan and so it was always so.  She never made it a discussion or asked for anyone's input.   She always did it with a smile and positive attitude.

It takes a lot of practice, but stay firm.   Don't waver and don't let it be a discussion.  Always smile and divert to another topic.  The key is being at peace with the fact she is going to have an opinion regardless.   

You guys are so inspiring!  I decided to take on my first themed week!  I am really excited!  I found some great activities and games that I can't wait to try!  I went to the largest library in town, and I am now armed with ten penguin books!   

I decided to share my resources and the books that I choose, so here goes!

Favorite Internet Resources:

http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/penguinsPolarBears.htm
http://www.kidzone.ws/animals/penguins/activities.htm

Favorite Penguin Game I found:
http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/PenguinSightWordFeed.htm

I love this idea because it can be turned into a subtraction game, a upper/lower case letter matching game!   This will be a game that we hopefully won't get bored with.   There are even blank fish cards that I am going to turn into Spanish sight cards.

Book List:

"If You were a Penguin"
"Penguins and Their Chicks"
"Penguins"
"Where is Home, Little Pip?"
"Mr Popper's Penguins"
"The Penguin Problem"
"Tony Baloney"
"Flip and Flop"
"The Penguin Problem"
Spanish Penguin Books
"El Pinguino Pedro y Pat"
"El Pinguino Pedro Aprendiz de Marinero"

Wish me luck and lots of energy! 

Thanks!  I love it!

http://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/lessons/lessons.htm

I ran across this tonight and had to share.  Its a free curriculum on American Sign Language.  It includes pictures and videos.   I am on a roll tonight.

http://www.papertoys.com/

Well, I think this site is fun.  For those of us who can't afford to 3-D object of the Great Wall of China, Taj Mahal, the White House or numerous other buildings, this is a great site.  I am excited to add some fun to my little one's history lesson.  Its completely free.  Just print, cut and fold....

I found this site today.  It is very neat.  It takes Google Earth and Literature and turns them into great lessons all for free (you can get the books from the library if you don't want to buy them or don't own them). 

There are a variety of lessons that are combined with several books for varying age groups.  For example, "Pedro's Journey" written by Pam Conrad is a book about a young boy who journals about his journey across the ocean to the New World with Christopher Columbus.  If you download google Earth, you can then import Pedro's Journey file which will map out the journey of the young boy.  It allows the child to immerse themselves into the geography of the book while experiencing the historical view of the young boy on his voyage across the ocean.  There are many more books with lessons that import into Google Earth.

Happy Learning

http://www.googlelittrips.com/GoogleLit/Home.html

I found this review helpful on Jones Geniuses.  Its a bit more informative. http://grhomeschooling.blogspot.com/2010/09/jones-geniuses-matrix-math-review-ages.html
I would email Dr. Jones about if its suitable for your child specifically.  If she has reached the right milestones, she could be ready for it.  I believe Dr.  Jones would give you an honest answer.  He appears to me as a man of good and honest character. 

I think most people who use LM have used it for children that are under three.  I have no experience with LM.  Its just what I have seen by the posts I have read on the forums.  I have heard lots of positive feedback on LM for that age group.  Any older and they usually recommend something else.  HTH

My son is three, and I am going to be starting Jones Genius.  I like their program because it allows you to progress as fast or as slow as you want (I prefer fast).  It says the program can have your child performing at least algebra by the time they are 8 or 9 years old.   It appears simple and easy enough and begins at the very beginning with simple learning 1-1 concept and how to write your numbers.  They now have it where you can get a digital copy making it easy for international customers to obtain the program.   Plus, the organization is a non-profit.  There is like three or four levels, and as they advance through the levels they learn to do mental math (which is important to me). 

I found this review very helpful.  http://grhomeschooling.blogspot.com/2010/09/jones-geniuses-matrix-math-review-ages.html

I have really contemplated the soroban, but without the knowledge and know-how of using the soroban abacus myself, I find it intimidating to teach it to my children.  Plus, I have concerns that it doesn't allow the child to develop a strong sense of numbers.  It appears to turn more into rote memorization of how to manipulate the beads to answer equations. 

Of course, this is how I made my decision.  Every person's circumstances differ.  You might find an abacus class near by and that might make all the difference in the world.  Out here in the Midwest of the US, there isn't an abacus teacher to be found.  Good luck!

You guys shouldn't feel the less bit guilty.  You will be surprised at how much you have already taught your little ones.  I think everyone's schedule is completely different.  It looks like you guys are already heading in the right direction.  If you stumble across something that you like, then add it, but you will find yourself easily overwhelmed if you add too much at once.  If you are too overwhelmed, the baby will be too, so just relax.   Plus feeling guilty isn't good for the baby either, so be happy with how you have already spent time with the little one.  It was full of love I am sure so that's all that matters. 

Add a fun activity here and there, and before you know it you will have a full schedule and will have to pick and choose your activities.  There really is so much to choose from once you realize you baby's potential.   I am having so much fun on this forum.  The women here on this forum are inspirational and very encouraging.  I learn something new everyday. 

To be more focused, come up with a list of what skills and knowledge you want your baby to gain and even think ahead a little.  There is so much knowledge to share with the baby that you can easily get overwhelmed and (this was me at first) be all over the place.  Again, have lots of fun because if you aren't having fun than it will impact the learning experience of the baby.   

I gave up on a schedule!   I have three under four, so my day can be all over the place.  What I found that works for me is keeping a list of activities handy.  I then choose what to do based on my kids are acting.  If they are full of energy and are about to explode, we either go outside if its nice (which it has been lately) or we jump on the bed.  I usually turn jumping on the bed into a learning activity after we say a few affirmations.  We either count our jumps in Spanish, English or Chinese.  We are up to ten in Chinese, twenty in Spanish and I am usually counting to seventy five in English. hahaha.   

We have art time.  I generally give them art supplies, and I don't usually have a planned art activity.  They like to be creative on their own without any restrictions.  I will sit side by side with them and do my own.  If what I do interests them, then I help them or show them what I am doing.   

We have Spanish time.  I show them a powerpoint that coincides with the episode they are about to watch.  We watch fifteen minutes of SALSA (kid's Spanish program).   We then get the play dollhouse after that and practice using Spanish with toys.  (I am not fluent, so I just insert key phrases and ideas introduced in the short video we just watched.)

I play memory games with them.  I made a Spanish Memory game that coincides with words from the tv series.  My son is more interested in memory games than my daughter right now.   We also play the memory linking game, too.

We always go to the gym in the mornings.  They get to go play in the kid area while Dh and I get a break to workout (After 3 kids in a row, I am ready to get my body back).  We then pick them up from the kid area and take them to the gym to practice dribbling soccer balls or basketballs.   Tuesdays, my DD takes them swimming individually. 

Flashing sessions are intermittent throughout the day.  (I am working on my own series of powerpoints that are similar to tweedlewinks, but if I had the money I would so have those videos).  Something is better than nothing right?  Lots of reading...library trips weekly.

For music, well, I show them a Solfege ppt.  I just lack musical talent, so I feel bad that I don't sing to my kids.  I am going to look for a little keyboard to pick up for the kids at a yard sale.   Again, something is better than nothing right?

We have memberships to the zoo and the children's museum so we go there a couple times a week.  My DH has a random schedule that changes from week to week day to day, so its very hard to schedule anything.   We are a very spontaneous family.   I have learned to make any moment a learning opportunity on a whim.  It causes you to be constantly engaged to look out for an opportunity.   Plus my list is pretty handy.   I would be lost without it. 

To my own disappointment, my children do not take naps.  I gave up along time ago.  They just can't settle down for a nap. Plus, if I gave them a nap, it would take forever to get them to sleep at night.   Instead, they are in bed at 7 pm every night which works for me.

Just a couple more weeks and I will have LR!  I can't wait.  I will say that flashing powerpoints is great, but I find myself all over the place.  I think LR will help me give a more focused flashing lesson twice a day. 

Thanks ShenLi!  That's very helpful! I think the peg system is exactly what I am looking for! Your blog is very helpful!

You know I was thinking of how to incorporate real-life applications of memory linking with my kids, and I never thought to use the shopping list.   So thanks Mandabplus3!   
And what a great job in improving to 30! 

My question on memory linking in general is its great for remembering lists, but what is its long term applications for long term memory?   Obviously you don't need to remember a grocery list from last Monday for the rest of your life?   Is memory linking used for long term memory? 

How would this be applied to academics besides studying for a test?  I am still trying to wrap my mind around memory  linking.  Thanks for any help!

For a young  children, I would check out this fun eye tracking game.  http://www.vidipress.com/allkids/touchthebubbles.php   
I can't remember how I stumbled across it.  Its also good hand eye coordination too.  At least I think. 

This is boy oriented eye tracking game I found on youtube.  Look out for Superman....

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/8al09FHxBkY&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/8al09FHxBkY&rel=1</a>

Someone else pointed to this website: http://www.sgparenting.com/  You have to join the forum, but you will find under "Sharing of Resources" that the first post has dozens of downloads and I got several powerpoint slides with fun disney characters that are eye tracking exercises. 

I don't have memory magic, but I found you can use almost any picture for memory linking.  I am running out of memory linking material.  .  My son is turning four and he can get up to ten right with no prompting.  I tell him the story with the pictures (I have been using an old memory card game), and then I take away the cards, mix them and put them randomly in front of him.  He just puts it in the right order and tells me the story as he remembers it.  He think its a fun game.  He asks to play all the time.  I found good memory linking material on the sgparenting site as well.  Hope that helps!