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| Pretending to be a lightening rod (no rain or lightening involved) |
The following blog post is a portfolio of learning for Hazelwood Parham. It includes highlights, but not every aspect or incident of learning during the time between approximately early June 2023 and mid-May 2024. This year could be considered their “2nd-grade” year.
Attendance Statement:
In accordance with the Pennsylvania Home Education Law, Hazel has received “a minimum of one hundred eighty (180) days of instruction OR nine hundred (900) hours of instruction. . .at the elementary level.”
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| Parkouring at City of Asylum's Alphabet Reading Garden on the Northside |
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| Doing their impression of a siren🧜♂️ |
Book Log:
A PDF of most of the books (300 of them) read by or with Hazel and logged by Beanstack between the dates of May 31st, 2023, and May 10, 2024, can be viewed here.
Additional Reading Materials:
Highlights (magazine)
National Geographic
Dictionary
Thesaurus
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| Following app instructions for building with LEGO Mario |
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| Playing Tea Dragon Society card game w/ Elijah |
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| Pikachu getting sucked into a Pokéball, and an Allay and Vex from Minecraft |
Language Arts
Hazel has strengthened their independent reading this year and engaged in more writing. Their spelling still includes plenty of invented spelling, but is improving. Hazel signed up for this Summer Reading Challenge through the Woods Run branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, which starts on June 16th. Every day, Hazel has either been read to or reads aloud to one of their parents or brother. Hazel also completed all the lessons (270) and books (27) for 2nd-Grade in the Duo ABC app by Duolingo.
YouTube Channels/Series
Jewish Language Project
PJ Library
Shalom Sesame
StorylineOnline
Movies/Shows
Super Why
Games/Apps
Duo ABC (reading app)
various reading/spelling/phonics apps
Scribblenauts Showdown
Scribblenauts Remix
Scribblenauts Unlimited
Hebrew for Kids
Other Resources
Beanstack (keeping log of books read)
PJ Library (book subscription)
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh-Woods Run
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh-Main
Northland Library
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| First page of a story in a book in Minecraft |
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| Took turns w/ Michele writing & drawing a story (story picture below) |
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The resulting picture that Hazel & Michele took turns drawing & writing
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| Telling Michele the story of the comic they drew |
Mathematics
Hazel is able to count by odds, evens, 1s, 3s, 5s, 10s, 12s, & 24s well beyond 100. They can do three-digit addition and subtraction. Hazel has improved their multiplication and division abilities, including creating and discovering tricks and shortcuts. Hazel is provided with opportunities to work with fractions, measurements of various kinds, counting money, and making change. They are proficient using both Gregorian and Hebrew calendars and are improving their ability to read an analogue clock.
YouTube Channels/Series
Numberphile
ViHart
Games/Apps
Chess
Checkers
Backgammon
Dandelions (tile & resource-based)
UNO
various jigsaw puzzles
Minecraft
Tangrams
Maths Dice
various dice games
Hanafuda
Other Resources
Highlights Puzzlebuzz (puzzle magazine)
Connectagons
Magnetic Titles
Zoobs
Penrose Tiles
Pattern Blocks
Marble Runs
LEGO
Minecraft Math workbook (for grades 1 & 2)
Various Dice
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| Playing chess with another child at the library |
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| Playing with fractals & patterns using Penrose tiles |
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| Playing Rush Hour & using a maths workbook |
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| Playing Jenga with Pru & Thaddeus |
Science & Technology
Hazel has had a variety of experiences with different areas of science study: biology, anatomy, zoology, horticulture, ecology, physics, chemistry, astronomy, entomology, meteorology, and more! Hazel is still raising isopods and has successfully sold a small isopod vivarium to another person starting out on their own isopod adventures. Hazel continues their deep appreciation for the Earth, keeping rubbish and recycling out of habitats for animals and insects, and keeping our air and water clean.
YouTube Channels/Series
Discovery Snake (reptiles & amphibians)
Ants Canada (ants!)
Oh Worm! (awesome dissection videos)
NASA
National Geographic
ASAPScience
NOVA PBS Official
Clint's Reptiles
Discovery
Discovery UK
Hip Hop Science
Journey to the Microcosmos
Minute Physics
Sci-Show
Sci-Show Space
Sci-Show Kids
Sixty Symbols
Mike Likes Science
Movies/Shows
Battle Bots
Stinky and Dirty
Pokémon: Indigo League
Pokémon: Horizons the Series
Pokémon: Master Journeys
Pokémon: Ultimate Journeys
Pokémon: Journeys
Pokémon: To be a Pokémon Master
Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution
Pokémon: The Arceus Chronicles
Pokémon: Secrets of the Jungle
Pokémon Concierge
The Last Kids on Earth
Life on Our Planet (season 1)
Websites/General Research
Minecraft command block coding
Minecraft Redstone contraptions
Relationships in Biology (commensalism, parasitic, mutual, etc.)
Rube Goldberg and machines
Eclipses (Lunar/Solar)
Games/Apps
Doodle God
Toca Boca Toca Lab Elements
Toca Boca Toca Lab Plants
Aquicorn Cove (board game)
Other Resources
Welcome to the Museum: Anatomicum (Wiedermann & Paxton)
Children's Museum of Pittsburgh
Zoo Camp @ the Library
Magnets (various kinds)
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| Petting a snake at Zoo Camp @ the library |
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| Admiring their Nasturtium "forest" that they grew |
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| Working in Scratch |
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| Raising isopods & learning about their needs & behaviours |
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| Cooperatively building with Elijah @ Children's Museum of PGH |
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| Working on building a ball run @ the Rube Goldberg exhibit |
Social Studies & Geography
Hazel explored many cultures, especially those that are part of their heritage. They also explored aspects of Judaism and Sufism. They read many books (including biographies), listening to music, eating food, and talking with people to learn about cultures, traditions, and religions/spiritual practices. Hazel also covered topics pertaining to forms of government, voting, and Pennsylvania history. Hazel has a strong sense of justice, not tolerating bigotry, and calling out hateful instances and people.
YouTube Channels/Series
CrashCourse
CrashCourseKids
My Jewish Learning
BimBam
The Wise Channel
Life Where I'm From
HiHo Kids
Global Oneness Project
Movies/Shows
Story Bots
House of Anubis
The Haunted House
Hilda (seasons 1-3)
Websites/ General Research
Jewish/Mizrahi holidays, culture, & spirituality
Romani culture
African American culture
English culture
Indian (Punjab & Kashmir) culture
Lakota Sioux culture
Welsh culture
Czech culture
Persian culture
Irish/Irish Traveller (Minceir) culture
Spanish/Basque Culture
Racism & Antisemitism
Games/Apps
Geography Bingo
Cozy Grove
Tea Dragon Society (card game)
Other Resources
Grow A Good Citizen Kit & web resources
Tea & coffee cultural connections around the world
Children's Museum of Pittsburgh
City of Asylum's Alphabet Reading Garden
Listening to NPR in the car
Map of the United States
United States map puzzle
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| Hazel requested their own Hanukiah for Hanukah & was in charge of lighting it |
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| Working a US map puzzle & learning state facts with William |
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| Playing a tree balancing game as part of celebrations for Tu B'Shvat |
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| Decorating ears for dressing up funny for Purim |
Health, Safety, & Physical Education
Hazel is a very active child who enjoys all-weather and unstructured outside play, riding their scooter, and just about anything that involves gross motor skills. They like to try new and interesting foods, especially fruits! Hazel is included in meal-planning, cooking/baking, and food shopping. We have ongoing conversations about digital literacy and safety, kitchen safety, and safety around water and fire, including what to do if there was a fire in our home.
YouTube Channels/Series
Binging with Babish
Adam Ragusea
Adventure Agents
Blackforager
Clueless Bushcraft
North Spore
Pop'n'Olly
Primitive Survival
Queer Kids Stuff
Insider Food
Headspace for Kids
Movies/Shows
Nailed It
Jr British Bake Off
Floor is Lava
Holey Moley
Is It Cake?
Games/Apps
Olli Olli World
Toca Boca Kitchen
Toca Boca Kitchen 2
Inside the Body
Operation
Other Resources
What Makes a Baby? (Silverberg)
Sex is a Funny Word (Silverburg)
The Every Body Book: The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Guide for Kids about Sex, Gender, Bodies, and Families (Simon)
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| Hopscotch outside the library |
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| Balancing on their scooter while playing a tower defense style game |
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| Hazel asked for box braids & generally likes to try new things with their hair |
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| On an Autumn hike at our friend's cabin property |
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| Helping William bake a Persian Love Cake for Michele's birthday |
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| In the large, 2-story climbing structure @ Children's Museum of PGH |
Fine Arts
Hazel enjoys drawing, colouring, and making various crafts. They regularly take part in Kid Craft time at the library and make music using their father's synthesizers. They have used various media to express themself, including: origami, markers, crayons, coloured pencils, stickers, mosaic, playdough & clay, keyboard, synthesizers, stylophone, chalk, LEGO, loom, and miscellaneous craft/art supplies. Hazel also enjoys creating worlds and levels in various videogames.
YouTube Channels/Series
InfiniteDrift
Make:
Mumb Jumbo
North of the Border
NPR Music
PuzzLEGO
TrixyBlox
The Art Assisgnment
Games/Apps
Minecraft
LittleBigPlanet 3
Bloons TD6
Mario Maker 2
Other Resources
Andy Warhol Museum
Mattress Factory
Randyland
Kid Craft time @ Library
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| Read the directions & built this bouncy castle in Minecraft |
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| Made a solar eclipse chalk drawing @ Kid Craft Time @ the library |
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| Painted a shrimp |
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| Building "domino" runs using Qwirkle game pieces w/ Kingston @ library |
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| Playing guitar with William |
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| Making electronic music with William |
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| Wikki Stix creations |
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| Eclipse art ala Alma Thomas-style @ Kid Craft Time @ library |
Additional Resources
Additional resources that were not easily classified, but that were utilised during the year.
YouTube Channels/Series
Khan Academy
Khan Academy Kids
TED-Ed
National Geographic Education
PBS Kids
BrainPOP
Games/Apps
Terraria
Retro NES, SNES, N64, Game Boy games
Among Us
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| Playing with a fairly house @ Northland Library |
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| Being Finn/Fiona from Adventure Time for Hallowe'en |
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| Working on a puzzle |
