The Week That Was Beautiful…

One thing that has always amazed me is how, when I get an idea from a blog or article about something I want to try in our HS, I see it everywhere.† Everyone is interested in the same thing.† I don’t know if I just read like-minded bloggers or what but the sharing of ideas, resources and things that work has always been one of my favorite parts of home education. Love it!

I have been interested in Project Based Learning for some time.† I have a folder for it and the earliest information I have is from 2010.† The idea of it appeals to me, in fact in my perfect world I would gather all my favorite bloggers and friends and let our children do nothing but projects, one after another, always learning and laughing and exploring.

Keilee mainly makes her own “Weekly Plan“.† This past week was “Do a Project”

She has 2 ideas she is working on at once but the one she spent the most time with this week is a Movie on iMovie.† She is doing her version of “Wonderland”† It is called Wonder Glass.

She has spent hours this week writing a script with Scripts Pro on the iPad, doing a complete storyboard after researching storyboards and exactly what they are supposed to do, picking out costumes, writing down locations in our town where she wants to film and talking to a friend about being in her film.† She has been so ‘busy’. Don’t you love it when you kids are so busy and involved that they just don’t stop?

The Script:

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The Storyboard [This is 11 pages!]

2013 March1She has picked out some costume choices, she wants it to be modern age.

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I am looking forward to her doing more and more of this Project Based Learning sort of things.

Another thing that has interested her this week is “Coding”† She has been a little interested in computer programing at different points in her life.† I got Scratch years ago and she programmed on it on and off.† I also have Alice which she likes.† She and I watched a video that was on FrogCreek’s site and since then she has been raring to go.† She has found a couple of apps:† “Daisy Dinosaur” and “Move the Turtle“† Also Code.org is a great place to start.† Here is the video that inspired her: [Thanks Frog Creek!!]

What I Am Watching:
Sherlock – Ok people have been telling me forever that I should watch this.† The thing that held me back is that it is only 6 episodes.† But they are 6† lovely, 1 1/2 hours each, episodes.† This is my new favorite show.† I just got consumed watching it.† I loved it so much.† Netflix Streaming, watch it now!† It is brilliant!† I promise.† When the last episode was coming to an end I was very sad.† Keilee was in her room and I screamed “I wish Sherlock would text me”† [He texts a lot].† She came into the den to ask me what was going on and I explained how the show was wrapping up and I wasn’t too happy with it.† Well about 15 minutes later I get this on my phone:
Recently Updated8I was cracking up.† She had snuck into the den and changed her name on my phone to Sherlock, went back to her room and sent me a text.† Love her.

They made cupcakes and homemade cinnamon rolls in Co-op:
Recently Updated4Other things in our week:
Recently Updated51.† Cartwheels in the street.
2.† Maggie, one of our dearest friends, needed to do a poster on Animals. [She is in Public School] and Keilee begged to help her.† They had a great afternoon and Keilee got out her Rainforest Lapbook and they used components of that.† Turned out awesome.
3.† On the way to Co-op, the blue is the Tennessee River.
4. Texas Hold Em app.† Seriously we have both spent hours on this.† So much fun!

Here is the poster:

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In other news this week, Keilee got an iPhone!† She has had one for years but it functioned like an iPod.† She had a text app for texting.† Well this week my Daddy called and said to have her ready.† He picked her up and next thing I knew she was texting me.† He got her a 4S iPhone and she is loving Siri.† 🙂

Today was her 2nd day of her internship and she had a blast.† I got these texts from her.
Recently Updated7She already has a name picked out see? Silly girl.

It is a small chance of snow tonight.† March 1st.† Like I told Jenn at Little Homeschool on the Prairie, “I will believe it when I see it”.

Happy Friday!
Homeschooling Rocks!
Karen

“I think the big mistake in schools is trying to teach children anything, and by using fear as the basic motivation. Fear of getting failing grades, fear of not staying with your class, etc. Interest can produce learning on a scale compared to fear; as a nuclear explosion to a firecracker.” ~ Stanley Kubrick

Happily Linking with
Mary at “Collage Friday
Savannah at “Hammock Tracks

13 thoughts on “The Week That Was Beautiful…”

  1. Yummie those rolls look good! I used to write out comics with stick people when I was in high school. Hahaha!! They are a lot of fun. 🙂

  2. I am glad you’re liking Sherlock so much. I have thoroughly enjoyed it too. And Kei is amazing as always, I am in awe of the way you inspire her in her passions. The script, the storyboard, and the rain forest lapbook are so cool!

    My daughter has been writing a screenplay, and I’m encouraging my son to learn coding.

    I’m not really sure what Project Based Learning is — I need to Google that.

  3. You have the most amazing girl!
    I love what she is doing and learning, especially all the planning and writing for her movie. Awesome!

  4. It was a beautiful week, wasn’t it?! I SO LOVE your idea about gathering all of us up and letting the kids work on project after project! That would be awesome 😀
    I’ve had Scratch on our laptops for quite a while, but the girls just aren’t into it at this point. If/when they become interested, I’ll be ready!
    Sweet, smart girl to text you as Sherlock 🙂 There is a TV show on CBS called Elementary that is based on Sherlock Holmes.
    I just love reading your posts, Karen!

  5. OK — now I’m thinking about Coding. My husband (who codes for a living!) is sitting here watching this video nodding his head emphatically. Thank you, Karen! I learn something every time I visit your blog! 🙂

  6. Karen, I too love the concept of Project Based Learning, though it’s a new one for me. I’m reading the book by Lori Pickert, Project-Based Homeschooling and gathering a lot of new ideas! Have you visited her site http://www.project-based-homeschooling.com/? Now I wonder how long it’ll take me to collect all the project “stuff” and put it in a single project room?! Tell K that those homemade cinnamon rolls look divine!

  7. Looks like you guys had a great week too. I love everything that she is doing with writing scripts and film. Please be sure to show us some of the video when she starts filming. Isn’t it funny how a lot of us do think alike (that is probably why we all home school, lol). Looking forward to see what Keilee does this week with her time.
    Blessings
    Diane

  8. Sounds like a great week!! We are leaning more toward interest/project based learning. I just can’t let go of Math and latin yet…

    Piper is really enjoying emailing with Keilee. They have a lot in common–Piper is always writing scripts and filming something. Sometimes she plays multiple roles and just edits it splices it together. I have watched her and been amazed!!

  9. That was such a fun, sweet thing Keilee did with your phone and texting you as Sherlock. I have that show on my watchlist, but haven’t gotten to it yet. We are still watching Robin Hood (I seriously like the Sheriff and Guy of Gisbourne better than Robin Hood in this version).

    I just generally so impressed with Keilee’s co-op classes. Those cinnamon rolls look yummy!

    I’ll have to look into the coding ideas you mentioned. I won a copy of KidCoder recently, but we haven’t started yet. You’d think I would do a better job getting Amber started on programming, given that I have a degree in Computer Science. Amber never seems overly concerned with it though. She more interested in space.

    Have a great weekend and tell Keilee congrats on the iPhone!

  10. Coding sounds really interesting. It’s true that there is so much that isn’t taught in schools today.

    Another wonderful week in your house, friend! I love all of the things that your daughter accomplishes! Awesome. I want to come and visit! 🙂

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