BC Ed Plan: Inquiry Based Learning & More

Resource Center

BC Ed Plan: Inquiry Based Learning - Pippa Davies

One of the long time biggest draws to homeschooling is the desire of parents to empower their children to learn about things that excite them. 

The new BC Ed Plan finally acknowledges this as a value for all students. 

They call it “inquiry based learning”. 

Inquiry based learning allows children/students to follow their interests and pursue passions rather than always dictating to students what they must learn. It allows students the freedom to stray from prescribed outcomes to explore and learn about things that interest them.

For example: If a student is out for a walk and spots a family of great-horned owls and is motivated to learn more about them, there is not only the freedom to do that, students and teachers are strongly encouraged to do that.

The second piece of inquiry based learning is asking students questions and then having them discover and research the answers.

So how does inquiry fit into this plan?

1. Watch for things that pique your child(ren’s) interest. 
2. What gets them excited? What are they asking for books to learn about. This could be anything from dinosaurs, to drawing horses, to pulling apart ant hills.  
3.  Ask your children probing questions.  
   1. Why do you think that the dinosaurs grew so big?
   2. Why do owls clack their beaks and spread their wings when they feel threatened?
   3. What goes on inside an ant hill? How do ants survive the winter? 
4. Understand that you have the freedom to pursue learning opportunities and not feel restricted or tied to “the learning outcomes”. Isn’t that glorious news!?!

HCOS Resources

http://mysteryscience.com/rocks/rock-cycle-erosion-natural-hazards

Mystery Science is developing a complete K-5 science curriculum. The past two years, we've been piloting Mystery Science lessons for 2nd-5th grade (ages 6-11). For the upcoming school year (2016-2017), we’ll be releasing version 1 of our 2nd-5th grade curriculum. In addition, we’ll begin piloting lessons for kindergarten and 1st grade. For a complete list of topics see mysteryscience.com.

DimensionU offers students a real-time, multiplayer video game focusing on the content that you’re already teaching or need to review! Our interactive platform allows students to compete by answering Math or Literacy questions in a fast-paced environment.  Each game is designed with unique features to bring out distinct academic and strategic skills in students, with detailed reports available for teachers.  Click the link below to download our games, or visit us at www.dimensionu.com to explore our web versions! 

PC Installer v4.18

Mac Installer v4.19

Concept Mapping With Make-A-Map
Thursday, January 21st at 5:30 pm ET
Ideal For: All Users
This webinar showcases the IdeaphoraⓇ-powered Make-a-Map, which lets students create concept maps using keywords, movie clips, and other elements to connect their thoughts and illustrate comprehension. We’ll explore the theory and mechanics behind this tool and consider the best ways to design assignments and assessments around it.
Pre-register & Join • Password: moby

Google Docs- Kathy Kanda (Google teacher)

Kathy will share how to use Google docs, including the basics of Google Drive, sharing files and folders, forms, and if time permits some extensions on Google Chrome.

Where:  Blackboard Virtual Classroom

Who may attend:  Staff, parents, students.

When:  Tuesday January 19th 2016 1.30-2.30 pm PAC

Sign into the classroom here at this link on the day:

https://ca-sas.bbcollab.com/m.jnlp?sid=7345&password=M.3421B37C56B7601419027539FD1E99

A Moment of Reflection

Optimism and hope are radically different attitudes. Optimism is the expectation that things-the weather, human relationships, the economy, the political situation, and so on-will get better. Hope is the trust that God will fulfill God's promises to us in a way that leads us to true freedom. The optimist speaks about concrete changes in the future. The person of hope lives in the moment with the knowledge and trust that all of life is in good hands. All the great spiritual leaders in history were people of hope. Abraham, Moses, Ruth, Mary, Jesus, Rumi, Gandhi, and Dorothy Day all lived with a promise in their hearts that guided them toward the future without the need to know exactly what it would look like. Let's live with hope.

Living the Moment to the Fullest

Resource Center

Project Based Learning can be defined as a teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to an engaging and complex question, problem, or challenge. 

Have you ever witnessed your child so engaged in learning that they haven't wanted to stop?  They were so interested that for a moment you thought, "This doesn't feel like schooling!"

As parents you can watch, listen, learn and observe those things that peak the interest of your child and then given them an appropriate time to investigate. This is just one of the many gifts of homeschooling.

This week, I'll ask you to consider the question for each of your following children.

Tell me about a time of learning when your child did not want to stop.

Drop me a note! Let me know the answer. I'd love to hear from you.

A Moment of Reflection

Patience is a hard discipline. It is not just waiting until something happens over which we have no control: the arrival of the bus, the end of the rain, the return of a friend, the resolution of a conflict. Patience is not a waiting passivity until someone else does something. Patience asks us to live the moment to the fullest, to be completely present to the moment, to taste the here and now, to be where we are. When we are impatient we try to get away from where we are. We behave as if the real thing will happen tomorrow, later and somewhere else. Let's be patient and trust that the treasure we look for is hidden in the ground on which we stand.

Word from Around HCOS

Learning Camps - Just a reminder at the beginning of this year that if you and your family enjoys participating in HCOS Learning Camps it's advised to sign up for the announcement alerts. CLICK HERE We are finding that learning camps are filling up quickly.  

FSA's - If you have a son or daughter in Grade 4 or Grade 7 please be looking for emails from me about upcoming FSA's.

MissionsFest - If you live in the lower mainland please consider visiting the HCOS booth over the Missionsfest weekend.  (January 29-31)

Walking Peacefully

A Moment of Reflection

From "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young. This devotional is written as if Jesus himself is speaking directly to the reader.  Scriptures to refer to Exodus 33:14; Deut 33:25; Hebrews 13: 20-21; Psalm 29:11.

Walk peacefully with me through this day. You are wondering how you will cope with all that is expected of you. You must traverse this day like any other: one step at a time. Instead of mentally rehearsing how you will do this or that, keep your mind on My Presence and on taking the next step.  The more demanding your day, the more help you can expect from Me.  This is a training opportunity, since I designed you to deep dependence on your Shepherd-King. Challenging times wake you up and amplify your awareness of needing My help.

When you don't know what to do, wait while I open the way before you.  Trust that I know what I'm doing, and be ready to follow my lead.  I will give strength to you, and I will bless you with Peace.

Resource Center - Writing Memoirs

You'll have to let me know if this suggestion this week is all that helpful!  So far, over the weeks, we've been focused on writing and different genres.  We've looked at narrative, expository, persuasive, and creative writing. We also took a look at writing rubrics and the need to help kids evaluate their own writing.

This week, I'm going to make a suggestion that has the potential to tap into multiples subjects.  Memoir Writing can not only be an opportunity for your child to experiment with different writing styles, but could incorporate an art, music, health and career, math and others.

Here is just one site that talks about how you bring memoir writing to life: http://www.creative-writing-ideas-and-activities.com/how-to-write-a-memoir.html

Experiment with your children and have fun reliving some of the important memories of their lives!

Around HCOS

Portfolio Visits - If we haven't set up an appointment yet to meet about portfolios, please contact me so that we can get something on the calendar.

If you plan to e-copy me samples, please also let me know that is your plan.  Thanks!

HCOS Subscriptions

Our Little Earth  is no longer providing a Questions & Answers page for their issues, and HCOS has not been receiving notifications when their issues are released bi-weekly.  You can sign up for free at their homepage:  http://www.ourlittleearth.com/

Learning Commons

Here is our latest learning commons news!

http://hcslearningcommons.org/2015/11/09/december-news-from-the-learning-commons/

Refreshing Rain

A Moment of Reflection - Rain in a Dry Land

Atacama Desert in Chile is known as the driest place on earth.  Can you believe it has gone as long as 173 months without a drop of rain! 

This area received 0.96 inches of rain in one day in March. Doesn't seem like much, especially if you live on the West Coast), but get this - it was the equivalent of 14 YEARS of rain in one day. 14 Years!

I saw the picture above after the rain and at first thought, "oh that's beautiful". 

Then I thought about the spiritual application of this. Can you think of a time in life where you have felt in "desert" mode? (Maybe it's happening right now).  Perhaps it was feelings of emptiness, loneliness, sadness, or lack of purpose?  The times we're walking through this season it almost seems to much to bear.

But then. A drop of rain comes. A kind word. A smile. A note of encouragement. A resolved conflict. A great day of homeschooling after days of battling.    

I hope you're not walking through one of those seasons. If you are, I'm praying that through it all you will be reminded that the "rain" will come.  

Around HCOS

First of all Thank you for all of your attention to submitting work samples and signing off on SLP's.  It is greatly appreciated (especially since all of us are still settling into fall routines and the busyness of the start up of the year).  So Thanks for making my role so much easier!

Last week I introduced the idea of Portfolios.  Here is a bit more information this year:

• We discussed November 16th as proposed deadline (if this doesn't work for your family, please just let me know and we can work on a time line that work for your family)
• Think of this first visit as more of a "show and tell" rather than evaluation. Think of this first visit as a celebration and a chance to see how plans are working out for you.      
• The focus will be on Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science and Daily Physical Activity (DPA).
•  Try not to stress about learning outcomes (that's my job), or what I think, but rather gather meaningful samples that you feel best demonstrate your child's learning.  

For families living in the lower mainland it's best if we can meet in person, but if that doesn't work, please let me know.

For families living internationally, I love to meet you virtually, but again, if that doesn't work for your family it's not necessary.  You can use dropbox, google drive, etc and share samples with me.

Here are the dates, I have available (please note these are in Pacific Time)

• Monday - Friday, November 2nd - 16th (anytime after 5 pm)
• Weekends, November 7, 8, 14, or 15th - Flexibility on times to meet

So I hope this helps to take some of the pressure that can often come from portfolio time.  I'm looking forward to hearing from you soon about a good time to meet with your family.

HCOS Resources

Remembrance Day Activities.

1. The War Museum has a lot of great information for all ages.

•  http://www.warmuseum.ca
• http://www.warmuseum.ca/overthetop/game/    (this is a personalized and interactive game/story appropriate for grade 4 and up)

2. Reading -  http://www.readingandremembrance.ca/

3) Crafts and printouts:  Grade k-4 http://www.dltk-holidays.com/remembrance/

 in YO

Season of Portfolio Discussion!

Around HCOS 

If you can believe it...it's time to start thinking about portfolios.  

Here are a couple of things to consider:

• It's a time to celebrate and reflect on learning that has taken place
• Portfolios are a chance for you child to take the things they are most proud of this term and highlight it for their teacher
• Due date: November 16th

To help all families understand what is being asked for in the portfolios, please CLICK HERE for a checklist that will walk you through the whole process. 

**Note: If you've already submitted an example that will meet the portfolio requirement, please don't duplicate.  Just remind me in our talk of the sample that will meet the checklist request.

Scheduling

Please contact me about a time to meet with your family (virtually or in person).  

I have time Monday to Friday, November 2 - 16th, anytime after 5 pm.

On weekends, that's November 7, 8, 14, or 15th, I also have flexibility.  

  

A Moment of Reflection

This past Thursday and Friday, I was privileged to attend the Willowcreek Leadership Summit. There were many fantastic speakers including Jim Collins (Good to Great), Ed Catmull (Pixar), Brene’ Brown, Hoerst Schultze, Liz Wiseman, and Bill Hybels

I want to share with you one idea from Bill Hybels talk on the Intangibles of Leadership.  He spoke of developing GRIT in people.  GRIT can be defined as unrelenting- long term tenacity.  Those that become leaders and confident individuals play hard and overcome obstacles without getting hung up on challenges.  The development of GRIT within our character requires us to walk through difficult circumstances.

It made me think about how we can develop GRIT in our children.  

Do we create opportunities where our children face adversity and challenge without having the chance to give up on the difficulty that faces them?  

Resource Center - Writing Rubrics

This focus this week is on setting our children up for success in their writing.  How can we do this?   

One way is to start using a writing rubric with them.  By using a writing rubric, you can focus your child on a skill to be developed, it will help them in assessing their own work, and it will be setting a goal that they know they can meet.  

Please note you could use the same writing rubric over multiple weeks with a focus on different line items each time.  If you are teaching writing topic sentences, then that week, just use that line item to help assess and give feedback.

Here is an example of a writing rubric that can be used for older students.  

For younger students, here is an example.

Election Evening

A Moment of Reflection

I'm sitting watching the election results as I watch what is happening within Canada.  Regardless of political bend or who we think should have won or not....the result is very clear.  We need to continue to pray for leadership in our nation.

Resource Center - Narrative Writing

A narrative or story is any report of connected events, actual or imaginary, presented in a sequence of written or spoken words, or still or moving images.

Have fun with your students this week trying out some narrative writing.

For older students, here is a great graphic organizer.

For younger students, here is a graphic organizer:

Struggling for Writing Prompts:

Around HCOS

One of our sponsored coops made the local newspaper!  Thanks to Leah Pillet and Ridge Meadows Home Learners for representing home education and HCOS so well.

Check it out:

http://www.mrtimes.com/federalelection/332968241.html

HCOS invites you to join us for
a Scratch Programming and Makey Makey Camp
 
Don't sit around playing video games, come join us and learn how to program your own arcade style games.  This learning camp will teach computer programming concepts using Scratch.  Scratch is a user friendly, icon based program language created for kids at the MIT Media Lab.  In this class you won't just be writing code, you will be learning to think creatively and reason systematically.  Makey Makey will also be incorporated into some of the design challenges.  This is a great class for any aspiring programmer.

Registration deadline is October 29th.  https://fluidsurveys.com/s/ft-langley-scratch-program-and-makey-makey/

Post Turkey Talk

 A Moment of Reflection

It's the day after Thanksgiving here in Canada. I had an amazing long weekend with friends and time to get things done around the house that I've been putting off for ever. I got plenty of sleep and ate fantastic food.  Easy to give thanks.

Today. Day after Thanksgiving. Not so much.

I was reminded tonight that it's easy to give thanks when everything is going smooth, but not so easy when things don't all line up.  

How do you remind yourself to give thanks when things are not going well?  

Resource Center - Expository Writing

Here is a writing focus for the week!  Expository writing is a type of writing that is used to explain, describe, give information or inform, 

Here are some writing prompts that you might like to use:

For older students:

AROUND HCOS

Right Now Media has a new resource: https://rightnow.org/Content/KidsSeries/1176#1

Lunch N Learn: Highlighting the Subscription Databases

Bring your lunch and any questions you may have along to our next online Lunch n’ Learn:
Topic: Highlighting the HCOS Subscription Databases
Date: Thursday,October 15th
Time: 12:00pm-1:00pm PAC time

CLICK HERE