Artist of the week....Learning about Winslow Homer

This week, Lydia and I started our study of American Artists using 13 American Artists Children Should Know.

Our first artist is Winslow Homer.  

He is most famously known to live in Prout's Neck, Maine.  You can still visit his home there, since it has been made into a museum.  

Homer was known as an adventurer, and enjoyed nature.  He began his career as an illustrator for magazines.  During the Civil War he  followed the United States Army to illustrate soldier's lives for Harpers Weekly.  After the war, he continued traveling and enjoyed boating, hiking and natural areas.  He also enjoyed the coastal areas of the Bahamas.

He painted everyday life.  One of his famous pieces is named, Snap the Whip...and it shows children playing in the school yard.  He is also famous for his seascapes.

We also found this nice little story about Winslow Homer and the opening of his museum.

Our project was to draw either a seascape or a day at the park.  Lydia opted for a seascape.  Lydia chose to use watercolor crayons, since Winslow Homer is known for his love of using watercolors.

 Here we are at the beach.....

I highly recommend this book...We are only beginning the study with this book, and already we are loving it.  I love the simplicity.  The information that is provided is actually sufficient for elementary children, and very little extra research is needed.  We did look up some of his paintings, and then I happened to find the above video when I was looking for a picture of his home in Prout's Neck, Maine.    There happened to be an activity suggestion for this artist, but it can be very easy to find an activity for each artist.

Next week....Mary Cassatt.

Using Google Docs for School Assignments

I have been trying hard to get Joey answering questions about what he is reading.  He is a super fast reader.  Trouble then is his comprehension skills...he doesn't remember anything.

Another major issue is his handwriting.  He knows how to form letters, but his brain doesn't always allow his hand to write as quickly as it needs to.  He struggles getting his hand to do what we wants.  He was diagnosed with a visual perception delay a few years ago.  He has made some progress, but it's slow going.  So I needed to come up with a way to have him type up answers to questions that I prepare about his work.

Now that he is in 6th grade, I am trying to encourage him to read more chapter books and learn how to research topics.  He doesn't enjoy workbook work, but I want to make sure that he is still taking in the information that he needs to learn.  I also want to broaden his interests out.  I actually just randomly select non-fiction books off the shelf at the library for him to read and answer questions about.  I check to make sure he may have a little bit of interest in this area.

I then take the books,  and basically write up a questions for each chapter of the book.   I would type these questions up and give him the sheets to fill out as he read throughout the week.  But then we came back to that frustrating handwriting issue.  I was doing this with his geography books, science topics and history books.  Lots of work for me...but so worth it when I seem him actually learning!!!

So one weekend, my brain was in overdrive trying to figure out how to handle the handwriting issue.  I couldn't trust Joey to open and save the files needed in his Word processor.  Eventually he would get it, but then I would have to be on his computer to check his work until he learned how to email me files.  

Out of the blue, my brain knew what to do....lol....yeah a light bulb went off!!

We started using Google Docs to create a form of questions for him.  Google Docs is a great program.  I use it to create sign up forms for field trips.  I can keep track of how many people are attending better this way.  But could I use this program for what I needed to do with Joey?

My first step was creating an email for Joey to use for schoolwork only.  He has been strictly warned about attempting to use this email address for anything other than communicating with me.  So far he has listened well, and we have had no issues.  

That was the easy step, next I actually pre-read his material. Then I start creating questions.  I try to limit the amount that I ask off of each page, depending on the subject.  I also limit each unit assigned daily to a specific number of chapters or to a set number of pages.

When I am ready to start creating questions, I select "Create" a new "Form" in Google docs.  I actually have my files split under each child, because I plan on using this more with Brayden also.

After filling in the title I choose for that set of questions, and I usually keep it simple...such as the one shown, I start adding my questions.

I do this by selecting 'Add Item' in the Upper Left hand corner of the screen.  From there you can choose text, paragraph text, multiple choice, checkboxes, etc.  I generally choose 'paragraph text', since Joey can see his answer, no matter how long it is.

I actually create the questions most time while I am reading.  I just keep entering until I am done.  I select duplicate to continue adding questions.  And to help him learn to search for the answer, I also include the page number where the answer is located to help him stay in the right area of the answer so that he does not get totally frustrated.

I also select a neat background for him.  Such as the one below.  There are over 100 different backgrounds, so it just depends on the topic.  But I am also careful to not make it too wild to cause issues with his eyes.

Once it is saved, I email the form to his email for schoolwork.  I also get a copy sent to my email.

I then include a reminder to visit his email and complete any emailed assignments on his daily assignment sheet.  We have done his spelling list this way now for a couple weeks.  It's great practice for him to type it.

I can check his progress on assignments by just logging into my Google Docs account and simply click on the assigned work.  A spreadsheet of my questions and his answers comes up.  I simply check his work and print it if I need to or save the file under his work tab.

We are still "tweeking" the system.  But so far over the past month, this system has been working for him.  I am very grateful that this program is helping Joey to work independently.  Who knew?!?!  

And the best part....the total cost.....FREE!!!!

I hope someone can use this information to help their child to learn to work more independently.