Speaking Video: Fruit

2nd Try...


Here's his latest to help fulfill his Speaking Requirement, and to help him overcome stuttering and nervous tics. The subject is one of his favorite things to eat: fruit!



Unfortunately, I'm STILL having huge problems uploading the video to this blog posting. I'm giving up!

Please check it out through YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgAlI9m__Fg

Be sure to leave a comment there for him! Thanks!

Speaking Video: Fruit

Here's the schoolwork speaking video we recorded on May 13 2009: Fruit. He loves fruit, and is prominant in his mind since we're eating even more than usual of it lately. Notice his tics and stuttering are lessening!

hold on ... troubles downloading video... need to reboot and try again after we run out and pick up some strawberry plants... come back in a couple of hours!

Speaking Video: Games

Here's the video we shot on April 29 2009 for his practice to eliminate stuttering and tics, and for speaking (schoolwork) requirement: Games to Play



Feel free to also watch it on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ6mU8mMNOs

New Videos Coming

We're a little behind - Son's made a couple of videos for his speaking practice, but I haven't had a chance to download and edit. Hope to catch up tomorrow (Friday).

Meanwhile, I have a cough and aches and am going to the doctor this afternoon (but I **know** it's not the swine flu so don't worry!).

"Bridge to Terabithia" Oral Quiz and Answers

These are the questions that I asked my Tween when he finished reading "Bridge to Terabithia" by Katherine Paterson. The answers are in red, and can vary slightly.

1. Why did Jesse get up early every Summer morning? To practice running to be the fastest kid.


2. What was the most favorite thing that Jesse loved doing? Drawing


3. Why did Jesse like Fridays? Miss Edmunds, the music teacher, was wonderful.


4. Why did the boys stop running during recess? Because Leslie won all of the races she ran, and girls weren't even supposed to participate.


5. Who was Janice? A mean, big bully


6. What was Terabithia? A make-believe play-place where Leslie and Jesse went to play. It was in the woods.


7. What did Jesse get Leslie for Christmas? A free puppy named Prince Terrien. What did Leslie get Jesse? A box of watercolors with 24 tubes of color, 3 brushes and a pad of heavy art paper - paint or art supplies.


8. How did Leslie die? She tried to swing over the swollen river to get to Terabithia by herself, and the rope snapped, fell, and hit her head on a rock.


9. Why do you think it was so important for Jesse and Leslie to create Terabithia? Tween said" Because they wanted a place of their own. To get away from their nonsense." More details: Jesse had problems at home, where he wasn't listened to, ignored, and felt he had too much responsibility compared to his sisters. Leslie was new in town, away from her friends and what she was familiar with. Creating an imaginery land was a wonderful exercise for their imaginations and bodies, building it and so on.


10. What was your favorite part of the book? Tween answered: the creating of Terabithia.... it was cool to use their imagination.

Tween answered all but question number 3 correctly.

Education Catch-Up

We're working hard to get Tween caught up. He has struggled understanding the most basic of math questions until suddenly, last week, he did a math problem in his head. It even had a "carry" number in this double-digit addition problem. Didn't use his fingers to count! I was properly enthusiastic (are you kidding? I practically jumped up!). Now I have to carefully mosey on down the path of math. I need to make sure he keeps this surge of enthusiasm and understanding.

Meanwhile, we're a little behind with the videos to help with his self-confidence and stuttering. Friday was a hectic day, and yesterday (Monday) was my birthday so we played hooky as soon as his regular schoolwork was done. He finished the book "Bridge to Terabithia", did a unit in spelling, read his history assignment aloud, and did a unit in math.

Today he started reading "The Hobbit", read his science assignment aloud, did another unit in spelling and a timed unit in math which he wizzed through!

We'll do another video tomorrow, along with a quiz about Terabithia, history, math and spelling. I'm thinking he'll also help me plant some lettuce and orange carrots (his favorite) in our raised-bed garden!

Speaking Video: Earth Day

Here's another video shot to fulfill our State's "speaking" requirement, AND to help Tween get over his stuttering and nervous habits. Enjoy!

If you get a chance, click here to view this video on youtube - leave a comment there and/or here! Thanks!

New Video for Schoolwork: Blue Moon

Here's the link to Tween's newest video, for state's homeschool speaking requirement. Please check out this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0MQBuZSbtA and leave a comment!

I just wish he's practiced a little more, and had more to say about the Blue Moon, and what it actually is.

Thanks for visiting!

Videos to Overcome Stuttering

Tween can be a little shy, has nervous habits like twitching and stuttering, and has OCD to a small extent (brought on, I believe, by ADHD drugs similar to Ritalin). We came up with a little school project to help these. The videos can also fulfill the state's requirement for "speaking" on the curriculum. So, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, we make a short video, on any topic he wants to talk about.

Wednesday was our first video, which he talked about his favorite breakfast: vanilla goat yogurt. We filmed it in the dining room, with an old green sheet covering some things. He did kinda ok, was really nervous and the twitching and nervous habits are obvious. Here it is below:



We shot his second video today - about his favorite drink: Blue Machine by Naked Juice. We filmed it in the living room; in the background were the stairs going up to the bedroom level. I'm surprised the dog didn't enter the screen! He didn't stutter nearly as much, and the nervous habits seem to be a little less but that could be a coincidence! He did ramble on a bit. Here's the link on youtube for this second vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8GXuvZTqa4 - be sure to watch it, leave a comment, and mark it as a favorite. Pass along the link, too. I feel sure that will help boost his self-esteem.

Thank you for your support in our project!

Updated April 28 2009: Welcome to the Carnival of Homeschooling!

Is HomeSchooling Tax Deductible?

Homeschooling must not count for much in the gool ole USA. At least, not by the IRS.

I was told, over the years, that expenses to educate my child at home can be taken off on taxes. We had help this year, and were adamantly told NO! That unless I'm a qualified teacher, then there's no way education is a legitimate expense. But the state I live in says a parent is considered a teacher and holding a school if they homeschool.

I'll look into this and will see what I can find out. Meanwhile... comments?