Youtube channels Biology

I like to use the expertise of youtube for my kids when I can.

Most days we use Crash Course for something.

For science I try to keep everyone in the same field, though I do have slightly different goals for the younger ones than the older.

This year Science is Biology, for Punk the main focus is in basic concepts of microscopic organisms, and lots of general info about all kinds of plants and animals.  For the older kids I am hoping for a much more in depth look at cells, animal classification, genetics and plants.

Right now we are going through the Crash Course Biology.  I find it decent, though sped up, which makes sense being a 'crash' course and all.  So we also use Amoeba Sisters, which is a much calmer, slower plan for basically the same information.  I haven't found an amazing biology book, so we have a couple, and Princess is using the Life of Fred Pre Algebra plus Biology.  Which actually does cover the same types of things as both youtube courses.

The videos are short so I don't feel like I am overdoing it, and at three a week each we will still finish.

I also sometimes use youtube to find what we were supposed to be looking at under a microscope - because we really still have no microscope skills!

Apparently August of 2011 I played the Ikea game myself

I found the post below in drafts on here, I enjoyed remembering both my childhood fun, and the relaxed time spent under a sleeping Punk.

When I was a kid we used to play a game with the Ikea catalog.  My brother and I would design a room for the lowest price, to fit inside a certain budget, or a dream room.

Yesterday while wandering around Ikea (looking for free AC)  I alternated between fantasizing a dream house, and reminding my kids not to jump on the furniture.

Sadly with 5 of them it is rather hard to design the perfect place.  Thankfully there is the internet to help me out.

Though there are better ways to waste my time, I can't think of one more fun right this second.  With a snoozing baby on me, and a laptop handy.

Entertaining Toddlers while dealing with academics

While this year things are easier than in the past, the twins still require a lot of attention while I am helping kids with readings and math and whatnot.

I have a box by the desk with various toys in it, and I attempt to pull them out one at a time to hopefully distract the twins.  Most of the time they are not troublesome, just loud, messy and taking attention.

So far we have:

• Glass beads to count, sort, make patterns of and enjoy the sound in a tin can.
• Molecule set, while they have no interest in learning names of atoms, or how they fit together to make any particular molecule, it ends up being a nice building toy, or sorting toy.
• Magnets and various metal
• a set of Beat Bugs matching cards (maybe some matching as E calls it)
• Playdough (a LOT of playdough!)
• book of coins and lots of coins

I also have for them special markers, crayons, notebooks and paper.

Sometimes I do a simple craft, like cutting, or filling rice socks.

Most days though they disappear on us and later we find their room in chaos, or worse some other room!  Having twins is both easier in some ways and way harder in others, they entertain each other, and get into everything!

Huh, this still exists also boo boo twins

I am always amazed reading old babble of mine (sometimes at the cuteness of kids, sometimes at the lousy grammar, sometimes and the idiotic stuff I thought I would like to see years later).  This used to be a fun place to put various thoughts, and then I got distracted and forgot about it.  Spammers did me a favor, they posted their usual click bait and Blogger sent me an email to let me know.  So here I am wondering if I should waste my time or not - since I don't journal, I don't save any work it might be worth it to look back in the future - if I can find it!

Today the twins both decided to fall off the couch, first one - partly due to his brother having a pillow fight.  Then the other just because he wanted to lean back and well there was nothing behind him.  Super E was crying when his twin hit the floor because 'now he has a booboo toooooo'  On the other hand M was pretty sure it wasn't his fault that his twin fell and he didn't want to stop throwing pillows.  Different kids for sure!

The Lesson has been taught

I put a lot of effort into teaching the kids behavior (and academics).  But sometimes I have to admit they don't seem to be learning anything.  I keep reminding my kids:

"The lesson has been taught, if you choose not to learn anything from it, there is nothing I can do about it"

We spend a lot of time working on behavior, character, honesty and personal responsibility.

Most days I feel nothing is getting through.  The kids will sulk after creating a problem and complain "it's all his fault".  Instead of learning what they themselves did wrong they just focus in on how so and so ruined everything.  Which is exactly the wrong way to look at things.

But then there are some days that you feel something must be happening right.

Last night Dude gave away two of his ATCs that he traded for in Cub scouts, because the girls didn't get to make or trade any.  He actually hunted them down to ask "Did you guys get any?  If not I'll give you some"  Then later he was fetching snack and said 'I'll give you one first' (instead of taking the first one for himeself).  And earlier he had offered to carry something for one of his sisters.  It really was an amazing evening of helpfulness.

Kids learn the oddest things at the oddest times.  That is why we really need to be good examples all the time, you never know when they are watching!

Princess is in a hurry with math

For some reason the past few days Princess has been barreling ahead with her math, doing two or even three lessons in a day.

She said she wants to finish the book early so she can do something different, which is rather cute.

I am thinking instead of getting her another book, letting her play with Khan academy.  I tried it for Little Man and it was a bit difficult, though the work starts with basic adding, it really doesn't have that much to do for his grade (1st or 2nd)  I am hoping it will be interesting for Princess (3rd grade)

I really want to let Dude go to town (algebra), but he wants to finish his Saxon book first.

Mission: "Entertain the baby during the 'Witching hour'"

I tried the 'edible finger paint' for my Punk (1 year old) from this site here.

I was not impressed.

Though I did decide that dinner time was a great time to amuse her in her highchair.

If she can play I can cook, the older kids can clean.

So one day we tried oatmeal, I thought it might be like a sandbox, only edible (sorta).  In truth it kept her the most occupied of just about any toy in ages!  But someone had to sweep all the oatmeal up, almost none of it remained on the tray.

Another day I tried some milk and some food coloring.  I wondered if she could splash a bit and maybe my Baby Girl (3 year old) could try some soap to see it swirl.  Instead it went straight to splashing and all over (though really the mess blended right in with her dinner a few minutes later)

A random assortment of plastic cups bowls or spoons doesn't seem to entertain her long.  Crayons work a bit, but she tends to 'scrape' them with her nails.  Tape doesn't hold her interest for long (though she loves it) as soon as it is stuck to itself she throws it away.

So far the best way to keep her happy (aside from her being on my hip) seems to be assigning Princess (7 year old) the job of entertainment.  Which would be great except Baby Girl (3 year old) wants in, and Princess isn't so good at keeping them from fighting, and there are plenty of chores she aught to be doing.

So I am still on the lookout for a better way to keep her entertained while I cook.