Homeschooling

After twenty years of teaching everything from pre-school to graduate school, of doing my 16-hour-a-day best to incorporate the latest educational trends, as well as a few of my own, I worked an addit--read more

Hi Everybody,--read more

Hi Everybody,--read more

The National Education Association seems to think it's time to step up their control of home schoolers.--read more

This is a poem Josie wrote on our front steps in chalk today:

Barbecue on the grill
You're in the pool to chill
Fireworks crack the sky
I can't see them!
Why?
Because it's the Fourth of July!

*sniff* I'm so proud.

Why did I list the topic as homeschooling? I don't know...a whim...--read more

I just haven't wanted to write lately, I'm sorry. I feel cramped in the brain, cramped in the fingers, but not cramped where I should be cramped. I blame menopause. I'm in the "pause" part of it, if you know what I mean, and it makes me antsy. One gets used to a monthly rhythm, and when it breaks off, one starts eyeing the pg tests. One of which, in fact, I took, and no fears; I'm just having an extra-extra-extra long "pause."

Leaving cardiac rehab has thrown me for a loop. I no longer have that three-times-a-week external structure and I am notoriously, chronically bad at structuring my life myself. The first week after, I walked on the treadmill religiously. The second week, I was sporadic; I didn't feel well and I was just wanting to curl up in bed or in a chair and not do anything or go anywhere or move, really. Not because I physically felt bad, I just didn't wanna. But I have a treadmill, and we got a resistance band set and a set of hand weights. I'm outfitted but was having a hard time getting past some psychic inertia.

I haven't talked about it yet, but I've hired a professional organizer, someone who's good at working with chronically disorganized people with ADD/ADHD (all four of us) and who's worked with homeschoolers to boot. It's already helping, though it's tough sledding. I wrote her for help and she came up with the following solution:

Make my treadmill workout part of Josie's school time.

Josie brings whatever we're wanting to work on upstairs and sits on the edge of the bathtub while I walk. She reads aloud to me and we talk about what we're studying. At first it was Greek mythology; Jo is a fan of the Trojan War, as it happens. Today it was Egyptian and Sumerian history (from "Story of the World"). I'm able to help her with her pronunciation, of both weird proper nouns like Telemachus and Euphrates and more commonplace English words, and our discussions always end up ranging far afield of the topic, because it's me, and I can't help getting from A to B via Z and Josie takes after me, the poor thing. For instance, today's discussion of the Great Pyramid of Cheops and the Sphinx led to the Napoleonic Wars, since his men blew the nose off of it in cannon practice.

We've both come to look forward to this time; she enjoys the attention, the workout goes quickly for me, we are guaranteed at least some formal school time, and Jo is there if I have a problem--even though I don't think I will have a problem. I know not to exercise when I don't feel well, and my heart troubles don't just turn up out of the blue. Just so no one thinks I'm putting a big burden on poor Josie, she doesn't know I'm reassured having her there.

Last week I managed maybe one day on the treadmill; this week I did Monday, Thursday and Friday, and I know I'll be on it tomorrow as well. I only missed Tuesday because we spent the afternoon in the ER after a heavy mirror fell off the wall onto Josie's foot (contusions only), and Wednesday I was just pooped. So, on the whole, it works!

Please put your hands together and give a big TNH welcome to our newest community member, Josephine. Why? Because she's my daughter, Josie (the user name was already taken)! She's been busy writing book reviews and is going to blog too. *sniff* I'm so proud.

I think we may be going to see Santa in a bit. Pray for me. *gulp* I hate malls.

• Stressed? Hold your husband's hand. Seriously. Neural scans show it literally lowers women's stress levels to hold their husband's hand, if they have a happy marriage. All together now: Awwwww!

• Daryl says why should an American care what happened in 1066? I say, because it's the year the English language changed forever, if nothing else.

• James Kim might still be alive, had the search for him been better coordinated. The take-away: Don't expect help if you get stuck in an emergency situation in southern Oregon. If you'd like to contribute to the fund for Kati and the girls, a bunch of crafters (including a lot of Portland gals) have contributed to an auction for the family, and there are instructions there for donations without bidding as well.

• Speaking of emergencies, for crying out loud, don't run generators in the house! If you don't have emergency preps in place, please, please, take these latest situations to heart and get moving. I think John and I may be doing a series on this soon. People, you just cannot depend on the authorities to help you. That's not libertarian cant; that's the truth.

• Libya has decided to lynch six health care workers, blaming them for a deliberate AIDS outbreak. Shameful.

• Over-the-counter probiotics are mostly dead by the time they reach you, says a new study. Big surprise. You don't have to buy probiotics; you're much better off making your own. Much, much, MUCH cheaper, too.

• And finally, Google has released the 2006 Zeitgeist, a list of the most popular searches of the year. What the hell is bebo?! How out of it am I? For that matter, how out of it are people who need to search for MySpace?!

--The real world?:

So, when was the last time you were beaten up at work? Or a bunch of mom's at the park decide to assualt another mother so they can record it on their cell phones for later viewing entertainment?

Yet, this is the abuse that some insist that children need to experience as an integral part of childhood. I want strong, capably children, but is leaving them in bad company unprotected the way to achieve that end? I don't think so.

Me neither. But then I'm one of those oversheltering, smothering homeschoolers...

--On a happier note, Halloween printables!--read more

• When it comes to TV appearances, if you're at all out of step with the "mainstream," whatever the hell that is, trust no one. It's not like I really thought Dr. Phil was a stand-up guy or anything, but this just proves it. [hat tip]
--read more
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Hey, if you want a shot at winning one of two copies of The Complete Organic Pregnancy be sure to enter by the end of today.

--And on that note, some news pregnant girls may wish to skip: Premature births responsible for many more infant deaths than previously thought.

Scientists now say a third of infant deaths are due to premature births — a much larger percentage than previously thought. ...The revised statistic may lead to greater efforts to counsel pregnant women about taking care of themselves and avoiding actions that can lead to preterm births — such as smoking and drug use.

It also may help organizations lobbying for more research into why some women who follow medical advice still have preterm babies. The March of Dimes is advocating to expand federal research into preterm labor and delivery and the care and treatment of premature infants.

--Doing animal studies? Check out The Macaulay Library and its huge collection of animal pictures, videos and sound--some in surround sound!
It's the world's largest collection, and it's free.

--Maybe it's time to bring back Saturday morning cartoons and ditch the rest of the week's TV? Weekday TV watching hurts schoolwork, according to a new study. Weekend TV watching doesn't seem to matter.

This is the first time I've been tagged with anything; Theresa got me:

1) ONE HOMESCHOOLING BOOK YOU HAVE ENJOYED

"Real Learning" By Elizabeth Foss (same as Theresa)--I'm reading it now. I'm not Catholic or even Christian, but I'm enjoying it greatly. I'm going to cheat and also add Linda Dobson's "The Art of Education."

2) ONE RESOURCE YOU WOULDN’T BE WITHOUT

The library! We have a fabulous library.

3) ONE RESOURCE YOU WISH YOU HAD NEVER BOUGHT

Live Education kindergarten curriculum. A waste. I hear their grades curricula are better but this was bad.

4) ONE RESOURCE YOU ENJOYED LAST YEAR

The Melissa and Doug sort-of abacus we got. We use it for lots of things, not just math.

5) ONE RESOURCE YOU WILL BE USING NEXT YEAR

Ambleside Online, though we won't be following that schedule.

6) ONE RESOURCE YOU WOULD LIKE TO BUY

Cuisenaire rods. I just don't have funding right now.

7) ONE RESOURCE YOU WISH EXISTED

In-home foreign language tutoring that I could afford. We want to learn Spanish together.

8 ) ONE HOMESCHOOLING CATALOGUE YOU ENJOY READING

Don't read any, unless you include Amazon as a homeschool catalog.

9) ONE HOMESCHOOLING WEBSITE YOU USE REGULARLY

I really don't, nothing specifically homeschool that isn't a blog. I read bunches of those via RSS.

10) TAG FIVE OTHER HOMESCHOOLERS

Shaun! Honey! Susannah! umm...I'm drawing a blank! Who else here homeschools again? *sigh*

I've been thinking about this a lot. With the kids gone to the beach with Grandma and Grandpa, I've been working on curriculum/lesson plans/generally freaking out about schooling here by myself. My mom (Grandma at the beach) is actually freaking out long-distance through me, but still. I'm a mom. I'm concerned about my kids' education, even though they keep learning stuff apparently out of thin air.

Anhata and I are gonna keep doing "Monday circle" together come September, and she's getting a little worried about actually teaching the kids something rather than continuing with our usual Mondays, which quite frankly are a great excuse for the girls to play and for us to drink coffee and knit. (Feel free to break in any time here, Hata.)

So imagine my delight when I found a quiz! What kind of homeschooler am I! Maybe this will guide me. Welp, to no one's surprise:

What Type of Homeschooler Are You?

Melting clocks are not a problem in your reality. You are an unschooler. You will tolerate a textbook, but only as a last resort. Mud is your friend. You prefer hands-on everything. If your school had an anthem, it would be Dont Worry, Be Happy. Visit my blog: http://www.GuiltFreeHomeschooling.blogspot.com
Take this quiz!

Quizilla |
Join

| Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

So. It's true. We're unschoolers.

Even so! Josie has a school fetish! There's really no other way of putting it. She comes up with school uniforms, school names. She assigns herself work and grades it, or rather, one of her Imaginary Town teachers does. (Imaginary Town is a whole nother blog post.)

And yet. Whenever I try to teach her in that style, she rebels. I mean, big time. As long as it's a game, and it's on her terms, it's fine. Which, frankly, makes her--yes--an unschooler.

My compromise: I'm putting together a web page for her, with a schedule she can follow in her own way. There's an "every day" section of things she needs to do every day:

• Check the calendar.
• Scan the newspaper.
• Do some handwork--needlework, knitting, etc.
• Practice music.

Then there's a section of reading, writing and 'rithmetic projects; she's to pick one of each every day and as she does them I'll swap out new ones.

And THEN, there's a bunch of "when you feel like it" projects in history, geography, language, art and science. As she completes those, I'll swap out new ones.

She hasn't seen it yet, so I don't know if she'll like it or not, but I'm optimistic.

Hi Everybody!

I am a stay at home mum who also runs my own private tuition business, I gave up teaching in a mainstream school after my second child was born. My eldest child goes to a very good school (excellent according to Ofsted) and has experienced no problems with learning or bullying (apart from the odd nastiness from silly boys or girls).--read more

DS14 just brought it to my attention that the longest day of the year is sometime this week. Wednesday, I think? Got me to thinking about the summer solstice, about which I know very little.

I thought it would be fun to get up early and watch the sunrise that day.--read more

At the end of the school year, that would be 4 weeks, we will officially be homeschoolers!!!!!!

YIIIPPPEEEE!

Life is starting to slow a bit so hopefully I will be able to check in more! Just had to share my happy news since so many of you have been inspirations!--read more

Every Monday, Anhata and I and our kids get together for what I call a half-@ssed Waldorf kindergarten. The girls go outside, feed the chickens and get the wiggles out, then we come inside, have a fairy tale and circle, do a craft and have a snack. Then they go play for a little longer.--read more

Is there a schedule you've found that works for you?

I am a morning person, so I thought we'd do some of our official "schooling" (e.g., piano, math, "literature") first thing and then have a break. Maybe it's the spring weather, but piano goes well and then DD is in outer space. Not every day, but some days.--read more

OK, offer your help, oh wise ones!

How do you balance working part-time (from home or otherwise) and homeschooling?

My main questions: do you ever see your spouse? do you ever rest?

I do have an almost-3 year old along with the homeschooled almost-7, so that is a big factor in the busyness.--read more

Today we made kites. It is amazing how much paper wants to be borne aloft in the wind. A fold, a staple, and some thread turns a piece of copier paper into a kite in less than a minute--a kite that wants to leap up when it feels a breeze. Amazing, truly.

Has anyone here used Calvert? We are looking into it (a few years early, I know), and wanted some feedback. I figure if I start looking early enough I'll find something I like before DS2.5 turns 4!!--read more

It's not a lie to say that I have a sore throat and I'm exhausted. So I seized on that to communicate primarily in writing with the school rather than face to face. (I am not the primary transporter -- DH and the carpool friends are.) Hey, I've never pretended to be an extrovert. --read more

This is how I cope with stress: I read constantly in the hope that it will prepare me for whatever is coming up. Reading makes me feel competent -- deluded perhaps, but you gotta fake it til you make it. So for me Step One is buying books. I didn't have the patience to put in the requests at the library. Not cheap, but cheaper than therapy! --read more

DH and I have each come home from school in tears in the last two days -- yes, I mean DH, not DD. We are struggling mightily to make school a fit, and I am ready to give up the fight. But I am full of self-doubt.--read more

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