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Notes from Greencastle
Jan. 1, 2008
Resolved
A certain parent has observed that no matter how much the 2nd grader may have learned about the battle of Thermopylae, there was no one involved called the GRECRME. And, by the way, that math book looks a tad lonely. The corner public school, meanwhile, is home six hours a day, 180 days a year, to many happy, well-adjusted Children Who Know How to Spell.
Mr. Boy and I can take a hint. 2008 will be the Year We Get Our Act Together. Because we do not -- do not, do not, do not -- want to have to be out of the house at 7:20 am. If we're going to have to do the less-exciting stuff, at least let us do it at a civilized hour.
Trouble is, it's just so hard to put down a perfectly good history book in order to go Practice Things. Or to make a child put down a perfectly good history book, in order to go supervise the Practicing of Things. But we will do it. Because the alternative involves sitting at desks way too much, and doing other people's worksheets, and all kinds of dreaded fates, including going hours at a time without ever picking up a wooden sword or running out to chase squirrels real quick, I'll be back in just a minute, I promise.
So we will do it. We will learn to spell. And to say our math facts. And to use punctuation and spaces and to write left-to-right and top-to-bottom, every time. We will do it. We must.
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Apr. 16, 2007
Science Videos
When I put together a curriculum at the beginning of the school year, I prefer to list objectives rather than activities. So instead of say, listing the math book we plan to use, I list the topics we're going to cover (single digit addition, skip counting, etc.). I like to do this for several reasons. One is that I don't want to feel stuck with a particular approach -- if a given book isn't working out, I can change books without getting disoriented. Another reason is that it keeps me focused on our real goals. In math, for example, the goal is not for Mr. Boy to complete 36 weeks worth of first-grade worksheets. It is for him to become competent using arithmetic. The worksheets might in fact be the best means for him to reach that goal, but they aren't the goal itself.
Science is a subject where I don't really have a textbook at all, though there are a handful of textbooks sitting on our bookshelves, and sometimes we read from them, or consult them to get the answer to a question, or an idea for an experiment. In first grade, a lot of science happens in everyday life, like that garden that still isn't planted. (But will be! It will be!)
Lately though, I've been mining our public library for science videos. Our local branch has a massive collection, and Mr. Boy learns very well from videos. (Not everybody does.) Two series we've gotten multiple titles from are the DK Eyewitness DVD series (www.dk.com), and the Science Library collection put out by Schlessinger Media (www.libraryvideo.com).
The DK videos are a lot like the DK books. The photography is vivid an informative -- in the Butterfly & Moth DVD you can see up-close shots of caterpillars eating and moving, magnified to a detail you would have difficulty witnessing in person. The films explore a series of topics, and within each topic there are a variety of loosely tied-together facts. Very similar to the way the pages of an Eyewitness book are put together.
The facts are mostly science, but include bits of folklore and religion. The worldview is generic scientist: evolution* is taken for granted, and religions are just what people happen to believe. In the butterfly movie we get both reincarnation and resurrection mentioned in passing, in two separate places, just kind of tossed out as butterfly-themed curiosities. (Butterflies have been used as symbols of both, it appears.) I would think most Christian parents could use those moments as fodder for comparitive -religion discussions, though some might not be comfortable with the series as a result. Running time for Butterflies is 62 minutes.
The Schlessinger videos are designed to introduce science topics in the classroom. Running time for both the grades K-4 Physical Science for Children: All About Simple Machines, and the grades 5-8 Physical Science in Action: Simple Machines videos, are only 23 minutes each. The tempo is upbeat, with lots of images from real life serving as a backdrop. The narrator for the simple machines videos, by the way, is a hip, energetic twenty-something female, which may be helpful if you are trying to win over a girl who swears she hates science. (It happens.)
I found the explanations in the two simple machines videos to be both interesting and very helpful, and my almost-seven-year-old liked them too. (Some of the material in the upper-grade video was too hard for him, but he doesn't mind that. He likes videos. A lot.). Enough different examples are given to really help explain a concept. In addition to being accessible to students in the target grade levels, these would be a handy supplement for a parent who needs to brush up on fundamentals, or a high-school student who is having a hard time with a more abstract presentation of physical science.
If your library doesn't have these titles, the DK series is along the lines of what you find on educational television -- I wouldn't go out and buy them unless it's the kind of DVD you normally like to collect. In contrast, the Schlessinger videos are helpful enough in explaining science topics that they would be worth investigating for purchase, if you have a video-learner on your hands. Maybe try one on a topic that is particularly challenging, and if you find them helpful, see about persuading your friends to go in on a video co-op, or stick them on the Christmas wish list for eager grandparents, or something like that.
*For the record, there is no particular catholic belief on evolution, other than if it did happen, it was a means employed by God, not a God-substitute. Also, that all humans are descended from a single male an female (Adam and Eve). At this time, both literal and poetic understandings of Genesis are both valid theological opinions. And the Catechism is loaded with great stuff on these topics. You know, life, the universe, and everything. No sense me trying to write down section numbers, just go thumb through your copy. Or read it online here: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm
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Feb. 22, 2007
Happy Lent
We flew home yesterday, a suitably penitential way to open the lenten season. (God bless Continental, they served tuna sandwiches.) As we were driving over to my sister's house prior to going to the airport, I was trying to explain to the kids what Ash Wednesday and Lent are. Trickier because our flight schedule conflicted with the church service schedule, so there were no ashes for us this year.
There are plenty of things to focus on in Lent, giving rise to that peculiar genre of catholic writing "Everyone Else Is Observing Lent The Wrong Way". Still, I can't teach my kids every possible angle on Lent in one ten-minute discussion, and not every angle is appropriate the 5-to-6-year-old age bracket. We ended up focusing on gratitude.
We had a problem around our house some months ago with ingratitude. The SuperHusband (and sometimes I with him) would take some or all children out to a restaurant for dinner. Our children did not seem to understand that this was something special. Or at the very least, they didn't understand how to show their appreciation. For example, by not whining and fighting through their entire dinner.
So we broke down "how to show you are grateful" into a few simple steps. They are:
1) Smile
2) Say "Please" and "Thank you"
3) Use a nice voice
4) Follow instructions
This is the kind of behavior that makes the parents want to take you out again sometime.
Now Lent, I explained to the kids yesterday morning, is the time of preparing for Easter. Review: What is Easter? It's when we celebrate Jesus rising from the dead and opening up Heaven for us. If going out to dinner is something to be grateful for, getting to go to Heaven -- that's something to be really, really, really grateful for.
The first three elements of gratitude towards Mom and Dad have their corollary with God. How is our relationship with Him going? Do we talk to Him? Do we thank Him? Do we come to Him when we need something? Do we trust Him to do what is good for us even when it doesn't seem so good to us? And are we reverent towards Him? Do we treat him like God, Creator of the whole universe? Lent is a time to practice our relationship with God.
"Follow Instructions" is what ought to be flowing naturally from our relationship with God. If we love Him and trust Him, we will do what He wants of us. During Lent we practice so that we get better and better at following God's instructions for us, and we also work on cleaning out of our life anything that is getting in the way of following those instructions. If I have trouble sharing my toys with my siblings, during Lent I might practice sharing by spontaneously offering a toy I think my brother or sister might like to use.
There are plenty of other aspects of Lent for us to explore, but this is where we began. One of the joys of the liturgical year is that we get to do Lent over and over, year after year, each year focusing on what we are ready for that year. Gratitude is where our family is this year.
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Feb. 15, 2007
Red Rocks
My favorite place to go in Las Vegas is Red Rocks National Park. I finally managed to sneak over this morning, and did a short hike with the kids. The park faces east, so it is a lovely early-morning destination. Rain last night (this is the rainy season) put fresh snow on the mountains, though we stayed down in the wide valley below. Determined that Bun is still firmly in the toddler category, really not ready for hiking on her own.
Went ahead and purchased an annual park pass, if I make three more visits before we leave it will have paid for itself. This is not unlikely, as the park is pressed right up against the western suburbs of town (or, more accurately, vice versa), and only a twenty minute drive or so from my parent's home. Read this afternoon that the visitor's center now has a working seismograph, so one of the these days we will have to time our visit for after the center's opening hours, so that we can do that.
Meanwhile I've been helping my sister get my parent's house ready for an up-coming move. Not sure if I like de-cluttering other people's homes more or less than doing my own. On the positive side, I am honing my skills so that perhaps I can be a better tosser-outer when I get back to my own mess. On the negative, I keep finding stuff that I might like. Hmmn.
Also finished reading Cacique and will review it in the next post.
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Feb. 12, 2007
Las Vegas Field Report
We arrived safely -- thanks for the prayers. The kids held up remarkably well, despite some delay and re-routing. I was asked several times what my "secret" was. My only guess is that when people see four very young children board a plane with just one adult, they begin to pray. Even people who do not normally pray -- perhaps especially those people -- may well begin begging God for mercy. And He came through.
Thursday we relaxed and recovered from the trip. Visited with the cousins, and Bun took her first ever dance class, thanks to a very friendly local dance instructor, who doesn't mind the odd friend or relative tagging along with a regular student.
Friday we went to Hoover Dam. I'd never been there before. Really neat. The drive from Las Vegas out to the dam is just breathtaking, especially if you are the sort of person who loves mountainous desert landscapes. Tour operators are friendly, and our large crowd of six-and-unders (free admission!) stayed suitably entertained. Exhibits at the visitors' center at the end of the tour included several engaging kids activities that were not only entertaining but informative as well. And I learned how electricity is made.
Saturday we drove up to Mt. Charleston for a hike -- the weather has been too mild for snow, we were told. Not so. We played a little bit, scouted about, and came back Sunday properly outfitted. Had a great time sledding, building snow forts, and drinking hot chocolate. Truth be told, this is why I like to come to Las Vegas in February.
Today was quiet enough I had to actually break out school materials in order to gather enough educational activity to count it as a school day. Did take the kids to a local park -- there are lots of great local parks in this city, though be mindful some neighborhoods are safer than others.
Also started reading the novel Cacique by bishop Robert J. Baker. So far so good, but I will post a full review once I finish it.
Technically internet access is good, but free time is limited. (Go figure, I'm busy visiting all those people I flew here to see). Have been reading newspapers (not a normal behavior for me) so naturally there are six bazillion things I want to blog about. May yet get to a few of them. Am getting some strange formatting situations so my apologies if things appear weirder than usual.
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Jan. 10, 2007
Assorted castle news
There is a rumor afoot that Mr. Boy and I might attempt a 5-K this spring. To be determined. My calendar says "buy running shoes" this coming Saturday, which I had written in last summer, in a moment of hopefulness, when I purchased my academic-year calendar. I remembered how to do long division in order to discover a 5k was more miles than I had previously thought.
For the record, my competitive running career lasted from 1986 to 1987, with a brief renewal for a biathalon sometime in the mid-1990's. And my running is no more impressive than my singing or my bird-watching. Enjoyment and ability do not always coincide.
However, last winter when I tried to resume running (verdict: pregnancy and running don't mix), I discovered that Mr. Boy is so much fun. He doesn't run like a boring old adult. We only went on a few runs together before I reverted to other less ambitious forms of exercise, but it was something I gave up only grudgingly. I am hopeful the body will cooperate a little more this year, and if so, maybe there'll be a race in our future. Maybe.
Too much talent LP has a particular sort of gift for dance: She can watch a sample of any style of dance, and then capture it's essence with remarkable accuracy. Clogging, tap, ballet, Native American, Indian, Hula -- she can run through her repertoire, and informed onlookers will be able to easily identify each genre.
This was delightful until today, when I made the mistake of telling the kids I was going to exercise for my 20 minutes, instead of just sneaking away like I usually do. She enthusiastically runs back to the bedroom and starts doing that other genre of dance, which I sadly recognized immediately as "mom's aerobics". Oh dear. Is that what I look like? Good news: I had already been in the habit of pulling the blinds. Neighbors are thus spared the trauma.
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Jan. 8, 2007
Ordinary Time, coming soon
Today's the feast of the Baptism of Jesus. I'm a little disoriented, what with having just observed Epiphany yesterday, but we can work with it. Did some relevant reading and discussion this morning, and now we are gearing up for the return to ordinary time.
Mid-year progress report is finally in the mail. I think I send in way too much information, not sure whether that amuses or exasperates the administrator of our third-option group. But so far I haven't gotten any cease-and-desist letters, and my reports are useful to me.
Very strong coffee required if I'm going to get all these decorations back in the attic. Luckily we have gotten smart and don't bother getting out the fragile ornaments in the first place, so what is on the tree can be just tossed into the ornament basket. And the pretend tree's lights are permanently affixed. I think maybe the tree itself should stay up until the feast of the Presentation. It cheers up the dark season. Sort of a crescendo-decrescendo decorating process.
Our song for the week is "To Know and Follow Hard After You". It's a pop contemporary-christian praise-and-worship tune that came out a few years ago. I'm half-cheating, since I already know the lyrics. But it sums up my goals for the coming year, and I like it.
(Well, doing sit-ups every morning is not exactly discipleship, but it cultivates fortitude and good posture -- that counts for something, doesn't it? And there are other, loftier goals in my list of resolutions. Like not yelling at the kids so much.)
One thing I do want to do this year is work on getting our homeschool more in time with the liturgical year. I find that the better I synchronize my own life with that of the Church, the happier I am. This year I had just a wonderful Christmas because after observing even a slightly-penitential Advent, I could relax and enjoy the feasting that followed. Thus I uncovered the difference between gluttony and feasting -- I can't explain it yet, but at least my body knows. Likewise this year I've returned to reading the Bible in time with the Mass readings instead of doing my own schedule. Now to bring this rhythm into the children's lives as well.
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Jan. 3, 2007
Leatherworking Day of Christmas
We've been doing the days of Christmas here, primarily for practical reasons -- the kids have so many loving relatives, that if they opened all gifts on one day, they might develop repetitive-stress injuries from the sheer volume of unwrapping-work required. Also, it's more fun.
This year we had an unusual package, because my parents are in the process of down-sizing their housing. Dad must have decided he wasn't going to spend his retirement decorating belts and purses after all, because he took me up on my offer be the new guardian to all his old leather-working supplies. Here's an excerpt from the letter he sent to the kids:
Sister Lansatia, who was my 6th, 7th, and 8th grade teacher in Avon, Ohio, taught me how to do leatherwork. . . . She wanted to teach herself leatherwork, so she made it part of our classes. I enjoyed it a lot and even made some money doing projects (wallets, eyeglass cases, and purses) for my aunts and uncles. . . . Hope you have as much fun with the leather working tools as I did.
Dad included his old manuals and patterns, but I'm going to hunt around the library tomorrow to see if we can't find a few books on the topic. I'm not quite comfortable setting our very eager Mr. Boy loose with the the circa-1950 original text.
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Dec. 4, 2006
SOTW Update: Practical Trumps Liturgical
After a series of false starts throughout the month, we finished out November with "Crown Him With Many Crowns" for our Song of the Week, in observance of the feast of Christ the King. Very little singing was accomplished, however, due to a sore throat on a my part. For a day there, in fact, I felt practically benedictine, what with the silence that overcame me.
Advent is now here, and I had initially pencilled in some Advent songs on the calendar, but this morning I crossed them all out, and wrote in Christmas carols. Not because I have suddenly succumbed to the Holiday Spirit! of the wider culture, but because we are hosting a caroling party on the 23rd*. Would be nice for the kids to know at least a few of the selections, since even Mr. Boy is not yet literate enough to follow along in the song packet. Our top picks, in addition to "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" are "Angels We Have Heard On High" "Away in a Manger" "Joy to the World" and "Silent Night".
In other news, Squeaky has RSV and Bun has an ear infection. The pediatrician wasn't gravely worried about the RSV, but not exactly upbeat and reassuring either. The nurse who sent us home with the little electric penguin that nebulizes Abuterol was her normal matter-of-fact self -- I first met her when she was a NICU nurse and Bun was admitted with pneumonia the day after she was born. So this particular nurse is developing the distinction of being the person I think of when I think "baby with respiratory illness". Prayers appreciated.
Also fun around here is that we've been borrowing a couple extra kids for the long weekend. We have to return them tommorrow. Ton of fun, and a chance to really learn the meaning of the word "busy". Also I am starting to get an idea of how the ladies at the Losta Kids forum on delphi determined that five or more was the amount of children that officially made it a large family.
*And yes, we are succumbing to the wider culture on that point. Because our neighbors would be very confused if we came caroling on the 26th. And yes, I'm going to put out my very Christmas-y retro-style caroler-themed table cloth for the party, because my mother-in-law gave it to me, she is coming to the party, and a caroling party calls for a caroling table cloth. So it will be a little time warp here at the castle that day. |
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Nov. 27, 2006
Breaking News: Birds Not Starving
I did finally re-fill the bird feeder, but in the meantime I discovered that my slothfulness was not causing bird starvation. On the contrary, it appears my slothfulness has been a veritable feast for birds and other small creatures. What happened is this:
About a month ago, we got a good frost. The tomatoes died once and for all, and so did the lantana. I made a note -- perhaps even reported in this very blog? -- to clear away the dead matter. And I left it at that. Just a note, no actually pulling up of brown withered plants. Bad gardener, no biscuit.
But, it turns out birds like lantana berries. They also like something or another in the dead tomato vines -- possibly the frostbitten tomatoes, possibly the insects that feed on frostbitten tomatoes, who knows. They also like crepe myrtle seed pods, and they like to hide in the miscellaneous bushes and weeds growing up on the perimeter of the garden area. Squirrels, too, like all this stuff. It seems to me that squirrels are kind of bird-wannabe animals. Can't blame them.
Now the good news is that I'm all inspired to plant even more bird-friendly vegetation. It's just so exciting to finally have someone who is enthusiastic about the meager produce of our garden. The bad news is that dead tomato vines do not fall under that category of plants that can be considered "winter interest". So I did finally pull those up, re-filled the bird feeder, and made a note to figure out some different plants to feed the birds with next winter.
Other garden notes:
- The remaining marigolds have finally died their natural death.
- Pansies are going strong despite no applications of Pansy Food.
- The peas are sprouting here and there, but growing very slowly.
- I am unable to remember what else I meant to plant this fall, but whatever it was, I didn't plant it.
- Holly bushes are full of berries; due to a toddler in the house, there will be no bringing in of clippings this year. Phoning poison control is not a festive activity.
- The garlic that was growing so well in my fridge (inspiring me to finally put it in the dirt) has gone into hibernation.
- The rogue sunflower sprouts are not yet dead, we are watching in earnest to see what becomes of them.
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Nov. 26, 2006
living in the land of make-believe
You'd think King Friday were going to show up any minute. We have a pretend castle (the green one) in the backyard. We have a pretend fireplace in the living room. And yesterday, after years of agonizing over the live-versus-artificial debate (my vote: Christmas Philodenron) Mr. SuperHusband came home with a pretend Christmas tree.
I draw the line, however, at the can of pine-scent spray.
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Nov. 14, 2006
Bun is growing up on me
Bundle is 2.5 now. Tonight I
realized she had hit a major milestone: she can sit and listen to an
entire big-kids story. Green Eggs and Ham yesterday, If You Take a Mouse to School today. No more speedy flipping through a board book. But the most fun was last week, when LP "read" Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
to Bun. Being still firmly in the apprentice-readers category
(she knows her name and the words "mom" and "dad"), LP confused Brown Bear with its cousin book Polar Bear . . . What Do You Hear?. The result was really very good. Eric Carle should consider a re-write.
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Oct. 24, 2006
One of those days
The birds are starving again. I was able to keep up at first,
when just the nervous but brave little chickadee and the pair of
cardinals were visiting. There might have been hope when the
titmouse arrived, and perhaps even the mourning doves, who are good
about cleaning up what gets kicked into the mulch, could have managed
as well. But once those finches found out I was back in the
bird-feeding business, it was all over. Add to that a vacation,
and frankly it isn't looking so good for the birds these days.
But I'm resolved to get that feeder refilled by the end of the
week. Haven't decided whether I'm going to try to keep it full,
or just try to refill weekly, and when it's gone it's gone. That
chickadee sure is cute, I hate to disappoint.
Meanwhile inside the house, things petered out as well. Mr. Boy
may or may not have been faking a foot injury this morning in order to
get out of cleaning up after breakfast. I sent him to bed and
took it as my sign to do that "unpacking" thing written on my
calendar. I discovered that the trouble with de-cluttering the
camper is that I end up with all the camper-clutter in my house
instead. Which had trouble enough of its own as it was. I'm
about 75% "put away" now, if by "put away" we include piling things on
the guest bed because there isn't any other away to put them. And
then there's the cabinet I emptied in order to make room for the stash
of special backpacking food, which now has its long-awaited place, but
what about the ice-cream maker, orange-juicer, pasta pot, and I'm not
sure what else that got the boot in the process. A gang of
homeless appliances -- not a pretty sight.
No hymn this week, either. It should be "All Glory, Laud and
Honor", but I need to either pick out the tune on the keyboard (my
lifetime cumulative piano training: approximately twenty minutes) or
find a midi file to do it for me. I remind myself worse
things could happen than skipping the song of the week.
There is plenty of good news, though. Pop came through his surgery very
well, and is already home and getting around. He's a little
discouraged, but word is he's been prescribed a month of the ol'
see-food diet, so we're going to do what we can to help him get his
appetite back. (He's never been overweight -- probably errs on
the side of eating too little rather than too much.) The pansies
are still alive, too, thanks to well-timed rains, as are the one patch
of marigolds that were spared in the recent floral
upheaval.. And I had at least one other piece of good news
to share, but can't remember what it is.
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Oct. 16, 2006
Song of the Week #5
Assuming I
haven't lost count already. Even though school is technically on
hiatus during Mr. Boy's backpacking trip and then the Airstream rally,
we still have a song. I chose "Getting to Know You", from the
film musical The King and I.
I'm not actually a big fan of the film, but I like the song. It
evokes what is for me of the heart of parenting, and thus of
homeschooling. It is also a lot of what I love about teaching in
general.
It also reminds me of one
of the three purposes for mankind's existence, per the old children's
catechisms. I would be horrified to hear this song at mass, or
even as an ordinary praise and worship song. But compared to
getting, say, "What's Love Got to Do With It?" stuck in my head, as
sometimes has happened to me, child of the 80's that I am, "Getting to
Know You" can be an encouraging and inspiring reflection. And
since it does sometimes get stuck in my head, I might as well learn the
lyrics. (Sadly, I already know the lyrics to "What's Love . . .").
And it's just as well Mr. Boy is out, because the
girls are going to love it. I think it's pretty much a girl song.
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Oct. 10, 2006
About "Three On, One Off"
I'm expermenting with
a new schedule for school this year, and so far I really like it.
I call it "Three On, One Off", because we do three weeks of formal
lessons, and then take one week off. I use the "Off" week to do
major projects around the house, while the kids do independent
unschooling.
Here are the things I like about it:
-Three weeks is enough time to make some significant progress in the academic studies, and get into a rhythm for school.
-I can plan three weeks of school pretty easily in one sitting, and
still be comfortably close to plan at the end of the three
weeks. It makes a nice chunk for covering a topic in
science or social studies; so far it matches well with what our
curriculum calls for this year.
-After about three weeks of
intense lessons, Mr. Boy is ready to unwind and have some unstructured
time to process it all. I do go at a more demanding pace during
my On weeks, knowing we will have the break at the end. I noticed
during our break that he did a lot of pretty impressive little projects.
-We both came back to the On cycle refreshed and looking forward to more lessons, rather than tired and worn out.
-It's much easier for me to tackle significant projects if I have a
large chunk of time to work with. I've experimented with a short
time each day, or one day a week, and that just doesn't work as well
for me.
-It's much easier for me to ignore significant
projects during my On weeks, if I know that I have a time coming soon
to attend to them.
-Many major projects, such as preparing
for the holidays or doing taxes, come at intervals that work with the
Three On, One Off time frame.
-I have time to plan ahead so
that I'm ready to go when Off week arrives, with whatever materials or
equipment or appointments in place, ready for work. Because I
know in advance when a particular project is going to be done, I can
arrange carpools, babysitters, visits with Grandma, and so forth, to
accomodate it.
Obviously this approach
isn't for everyone. Some people do better if they get into a
school rhythm and stay there, and would find the Off week disruptive,
rather than refreshing and productive. And it does eat into
summer vacation. I include a certain amount of unschooling into
our curriculum, but my Off week is not going to be as densely
packed with instructional days (SC requires 180) as an On week.
If a long summer vacation were important to me, this approach would not
work.
Anyhow, that's what were doing. So far I really like it. As the school year progresses I will report back.
Editing to add: Also, note my oldest is only in first grade. When
my kids are working at a higher level, and working more independently,
this approach might not be as good of a fit. But for first grade,
it's great.
[Note for people looking for more details:
If I have a major disruption like a family vacation or a significant
holiday, I pause the cycle and then resume where we left off. So
this most recent cycle is going: 1st week On, camp, 2nd week On,
3rd Week On, one week Off. It'll take us five weeks to complete
the four week cycle, due to the camping getting in the way.
Likewise at Christmas, we have two weeks off for the holiday, which I
am leaving school- and project-free, since Mr. SuperHusband will be
home and we want to enjoy him!]
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Oct. 9, 2006
the week ahead
Fall break is over, and it's back to school. Our song this week
is "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot". It was supposed to be "Whom Shall
I Fear?", but I couldn't find the lyrics I wanted in my hasty
last-minute search. It appears there's a new song by that title,
but I want the old spiritual. Meanwhile Swing Low was in
the back of my head to include sometime, too. It's one of my
childhood favorites. The only problem being that it might cause a
little confusion with our home-grown "Naked Baby" song*, which has a
verse structure eerily similar to Swing Low. (And a chorus a lot
like "Davy Crockett").
Meanwhile, the marigolds are not much longer for this world. Mr.
SuperHusband came home Saturday with a flat of pansies (mums were
vetoed by royal decree from her highness). As I don't think it's
wise to keep the pansies on our kitchen counter much longer, we'll move
our special projects day from it's regularly-scheduled Thursday to
later this morning. So today it's a big clean-up from the
weekend (read: not one, but two cups of coffee for Mom), then
gardening. We'll resume the usual penmanship, reading, math, and
so forth tommorrow morning. And then at the end of the week Mr.
Boy heads off on a camping/backpacking trip, so the remaining three
weeks of formal lessons for this cycle will pick up again at the end of
the month.
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*The Naked Baby Song:
chorus:
Naked, naked baby. Naked as the day she was born!
Naked, naked baby. Naked as the day she was born!
verses:
I looked in the kitchen, and what did I see?
(naked as the day she was born!)
A naked little baby wantin' something to eat.
(naked as the day she was born)
I looked in the living room, and what did I see?
(naked as the day she was born!)
A naked little baby just a watchin' TV.
(naked as the day she was born)
etc etc.
To be sung during that time when the escaped toddler has not yet been
caught and returned to the changing area for diaper and clothes.
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Oct. 2, 2006
Those Handy DVD's
I love DVD's. And in particular, I love that
they come with foreign language tracks. We are studying French
this year at our school. (Reason: I speak French. So it's
much easier on the prep time. Plus, it's fun.) This week is
our off-week while I do projects on the house, and my rule is the kids
can watch as much TV as they want, as long as it's in french.
Since they are already familiar with the story lines of their favorite
DVD's, it's easy enough for them to listen to the foreign soundtrack
but still know what is going on.
I don't have any illusions that watching a movie or
two is going to turn them into little linguists, but it does give them
an ear for what the language sounds like when it is spoken
fluently. And even now, with only a little instruction, they can
probably pick out a few words here and there.
My next goal is to find some good native-french
DVD's. Both for the cultural experience, and because you miss
some of the instructional value of a live film when the mouth doesn't
exactly match the sounds being made. Unfortunately, most of the
french-language films available here are not suitable for children, or
only with a lot of parental guidance. So if anyone has
recommendations on french-language childrens' DVDs that are available
in the US DVD-zone, please speak up!
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Sep. 30, 2006
Our 2nd & 3rd Songs of the Week
Our second Song of the Week is "Simple Gifts".
I used the lyrics found at http://hometown.aol.com/musbuff/page40.htm
. I chose it because it is a catchy tune that I've always
enjoyed, and wanted to be able to sing. I found in the process of
learning it that it makes a nice reflection on humility and
repentance.
Another reason I chose this song is because I happen
to prefer the original lyrics over the "Lord of the Dance" lyrics, and
so I wanted to know the originals for when the tune gets stuck in my
head. I hate it when I hear " . . . I am the lord of the dance
said he" playing in my head six bazillion times a day. Curiously,
"'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be" does not seem to
stick quite the same way. Pleasant discovery.
Our third Song of the Week is going to be Edelweiss (in English). We're Sound of Music
fans here, and a few weeks ago LP was asking me to teach her the lyrics
to this song. Naturally, I don't know them. And now it
turns out this is one of the song played during LP's dance class.
I've always rather liked the song myself, so I figure it's a good fit.
There's an interesting discussion of the Edelweiss lyrics at Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edelweiss_(song)
And then there's the fascinating world of the Sound of Music shrine:
http://groups.msn.com/TheSoundOfMusicShrine
Wow -- things I never knew. Homeschoolings pays off again.
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Sep. 28, 2006
The Marigolds breathe a sigh of relief -- it's painting weather.
The marigolds are safe for another
week or so. Today is special projects day, and Little
Princess put in a request for painting. What a perfect day for
it, sunny and warm, gorgeous fall weather. I put the kids out on
the screen porch to paint, then sent them to the yard to hose off all
paint-laden items. Served a picnic lunch (peanut butter crackers,
bananas, and ice cream). Big kids continue to play outside while
the toddler naps and I make this entry. Later today we'll go to
the library. Tommorrow we'll be back to formal lessons for one
more day, then it's fall break for a week while I catch up on projects
around the house.
Award goes to my mother-in-law for supplying
me with the label "Fall Break". I was going to call it "no
school", but "Fall Break" sounds so much more official.
Apparently our local public school kids get Fall Break these
days. Makes sense. Fall is our best season here,
weather-wise.
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Sep. 27, 2006
Formal Gardening: D -
I'm about to fail my formal gardening class. Again. Luckily
I'm homeschooled, and even more luckily, the state truancy laws
don't cover thirty-somethings.
I absolutely love formal gardens. You would not guess this from
looking at my yard. It helps me, though, that I also like all the
other types of gardens, though I'll admit it took a long time for the
"suburban neglect" look to grow on me. But the clincher in
my formal-gardening failure is not neglect -- that can be cured with
time and diligence. It's that I'm not ruthless enough.
When I was studying in Paris (politics, not gardening, though my grades
in the former weren't all that great either), I learned the secret
behind those lovely french formal gardens: a hardened heart. The
gardeners at our school didn't have the least scruple about yanking out
plants that still looked okay, and replacing them with a fresher
batch.
Having learned this lesson years ago, I cannot plead ignorance.
When Mr. SuperHusband spruced up our kids' yard this summer, he bought
a little planter to put on their new little patio, just outside our new
little screen porch. I knew -- I even told Mr. SuperHusband in
advance -- that in order to
keep the planter looking tidy and cheerful, we would have to do like
the french gardeners, and yank out the old to replace with the
new. We resolved that we would buy replacement packs of annuals
from Lowe's on a seasonal basis, to keep that one tiny little planter
fresh with nice-looking flowers.
And now I realiize I just don't have the heart. Our marigolds
from this summer are getting quite scraggily. It's time to put in
fall mums. It was time about three weeks ago, actually. But
the marigolds are still alive! They have bloomed again! How can I
do this to them?? It's either muster a little
heartlessness, or fail Formal Gardening.
Thursday is our day for hands-on projects. We'll see if the marigolds
finally get the boot, or if they manage to escape eviction for another
week.
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