Thank you to Doc, Ron and Andrea for the new Country Fair! Becky posted the first Country Fair awhile back here.
Now this is a blog carnival I can get excited about.
The Rules for the secular Country Fair are:
Posts should be homeschool related.
No posts/links to/from HomeschoolBlogger. No posts supportive of HSB or TOS.
The hosting blog owner reserves the right to accept or decline submitted posts.
This is NOT an anti-Christian Carnival. Christians (or Muslims, or Homosexuals - everyone) are more than welcome to participate.
No spanking posts. None. Nada.
Now it's time to start thinking of interesting topics!
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Petty Me, but thank goodness for homeschooling
Much to my son's dismay, today I have stolen bits and pieces of time on the good computer. I've been reading blogs and enjoying my selfish desire to keep caught up.
For some reason on this latest "stolen internet moment" I decided to hit our local school district's website. I do this from time to time for many reasons: 1) To see what they're doing and compare it to what we're doing 2) To reaffirm my choice in homeschooling 3) To see if any photos of kids I (we) know are on the site. I did see some great pictures of some of my son's former and a couple of current friends.
While looking at the website today, I just had a sick visceral feeling. I cannot fathom sending my son back to public school. Looking at the photos made me smile to see kids I'd forgotten, but made me ill to see the desks in weird configurations -- not conducive to learning. Really, who can do work when you don't even have a personal space zone of at least two feet?? What if you hate the kid sitting next to you? What if that kid doesn't bathe? What if that kid is a bully? What if that kid sneezes in your direction? I know that PS teachers change the classrooms around a lot for interest, but sitting on top of each other just doesn't work for all kids. What if the kid next to you had ADHD or is a chatterbox or taps his pencil constantly? Ugh.
I looked at the walls which were plastered with so much junk that it made my head spin. Don't they realize less is more? That is a big issue to me, the amount of clutter on classroom walls.
It makes my mind dizzy because it is so cluttered. When we were touring the school the spring before DS started kindergarten, we walked into one kindergarten classroom and I promptly stated to my husband: Thomas would not survive with this teacher. There wasn't any wall space between all the posters and room decorations. She had stacks of crap (I normally would have used the word stuff, but trust me, crap is the preferred word here) everywhere. Her desk had not one single bare spot. Every single surface in that classroom was covered. She even had stuff taped to the floors!!!
As a side note, guess who my son's kindergarten teacher was? Yup, the crap-filled-room teacher. And halfway through the year we were in the principal's office demanding a new teacher, which we got. That is a blog entry for another day.
As I continued looking at the photos posted on the school's website I just kept thinking: Why do people send their kids there? WHY? It is so foreign, fake and unreal. A small majority of the kids were actually smiling in the photos. Why? I couldn't do it again ... ever.
When I finished looking at the 4th grade class sites, I took a peak at the 5th grades'. None of those teachers put up photos or do anything to share what goes on in their classroom -- except two published their schedules.
Class one:
8:00-8:15 Morning greeting/Question of the day
8:15-9:15 Math
9:15-10:05 Art/Music/PE
10:15-11:10 Reading
11:15-11:45 Science/Spelling
11:55-12:35 Lunch/Recess
12:45-1:00 Planner Check and Read Aloud
1:00-2:00 Language/Social Studies
2:10-2:55 Choir/Orchestra/Band/Study Hall
2:55-3:01 Announcements and dismissal
Class two:
8:00-8:15 Welcome/Morning Announcements
8:15-8:20 Question for the day
8:20-9:15 Math
9:15-9:30 snack break
9:30-10:05 Science
10:05-10:55 Phy.Ed/Music
11:00-11:45 Social Studies
11:45-11:55 Planner check
11:55 -12:45 Lunch
12:45-2:10 Language Arts (spelling, reading, grammar, writing)
2:10-2:55 Respect Mondays, Band, Choir, Study Hall
2:55-3:01 Announcements and Dismissal
I think I've blogged about schedules before, but just taking a look at these classroom schedules and comparing it to what we accomplish on an OFF day at home is laughable. It eases my mind that we are not doing enough.
I'm not typically a big public school basher. My son had two really good teachers, one good teacher, and one that had no business around kids, but it was an okay education. Public school doesn't even compare to the education he's getting at home.
And the best thing is, he can sit wherever he wants. Added to that best list, he can wear pajamas if he wants to, he can and does have his Tamaguchi's at the table every day, he can snack when he's hungry, he can break when he needs it, he can go to the bathroom without asking or announcing it to the world, he can play with the cat as he's doing his work. He can choose books he wants to read and they don't have to be from a list (even though I do have a required reading list, he gets input and freedom), he can do art projects the way he wants, he can sing, hum, make hideous noises while working (he does and it drives me crazy). He has a say in how our classroom is decorated. He chose the theme and did the decorating. He can choose the class pets. He can choose their names. He can finish his work early and not have to waste time waiting for others. Or, he can take his sweet time (driving his mom nuts) and finish when he finishes -- learning in a more relaxed style.
He can stay up later, start school later, and accomplish more in a few hours than his peers do at school -- even while taking his sweet time.
He can choose whatever type of pencil, pen, maker, etc., he wants to write with. He can choose folders, notebooks of his liking rathern than from an assigned list. He doesn't need a separate pair of tennis shoes for gym class. We can buy the forbidden "Pentech, Sanford or foil-wrapped penciles" and use them. He can use the pencil sharpener whenever he needs to. He can use fluorescent glue if he wants. He can use glitter glue. He no longer needs to worry about his snacks being stolen (unless his mom gets into the Hostess muffins) as they were in public school. He does not have to put his name on everything he owns.
I need to stop. I've had a big chuckle this afternoon. Thank goodness for homeschooling.
(p.s. please forgive any and all spelling errors, I can't get my spellchecker to pop up and I'm too lazy to proofread this.)
For some reason on this latest "stolen internet moment" I decided to hit our local school district's website. I do this from time to time for many reasons: 1) To see what they're doing and compare it to what we're doing 2) To reaffirm my choice in homeschooling 3) To see if any photos of kids I (we) know are on the site. I did see some great pictures of some of my son's former and a couple of current friends.
While looking at the website today, I just had a sick visceral feeling. I cannot fathom sending my son back to public school. Looking at the photos made me smile to see kids I'd forgotten, but made me ill to see the desks in weird configurations -- not conducive to learning. Really, who can do work when you don't even have a personal space zone of at least two feet?? What if you hate the kid sitting next to you? What if that kid doesn't bathe? What if that kid is a bully? What if that kid sneezes in your direction? I know that PS teachers change the classrooms around a lot for interest, but sitting on top of each other just doesn't work for all kids. What if the kid next to you had ADHD or is a chatterbox or taps his pencil constantly? Ugh.
I looked at the walls which were plastered with so much junk that it made my head spin. Don't they realize less is more? That is a big issue to me, the amount of clutter on classroom walls.
It makes my mind dizzy because it is so cluttered. When we were touring the school the spring before DS started kindergarten, we walked into one kindergarten classroom and I promptly stated to my husband: Thomas would not survive with this teacher. There wasn't any wall space between all the posters and room decorations. She had stacks of crap (I normally would have used the word stuff, but trust me, crap is the preferred word here) everywhere. Her desk had not one single bare spot. Every single surface in that classroom was covered. She even had stuff taped to the floors!!!
As a side note, guess who my son's kindergarten teacher was? Yup, the crap-filled-room teacher. And halfway through the year we were in the principal's office demanding a new teacher, which we got. That is a blog entry for another day.
As I continued looking at the photos posted on the school's website I just kept thinking: Why do people send their kids there? WHY? It is so foreign, fake and unreal. A small majority of the kids were actually smiling in the photos. Why? I couldn't do it again ... ever.
When I finished looking at the 4th grade class sites, I took a peak at the 5th grades'. None of those teachers put up photos or do anything to share what goes on in their classroom -- except two published their schedules.
Class one:
8:00-8:15 Morning greeting/Question of the day
8:15-9:15 Math
9:15-10:05 Art/Music/PE
10:15-11:10 Reading
11:15-11:45 Science/Spelling
11:55-12:35 Lunch/Recess
12:45-1:00 Planner Check and Read Aloud
1:00-2:00 Language/Social Studies
2:10-2:55 Choir/Orchestra/Band/Study Hall
2:55-3:01 Announcements and dismissal
Class two:
8:00-8:15 Welcome/Morning Announcements
8:15-8:20 Question for the day
8:20-9:15 Math
9:15-9:30 snack break
9:30-10:05 Science
10:05-10:55 Phy.Ed/Music
11:00-11:45 Social Studies
11:45-11:55 Planner check
11:55 -12:45 Lunch
12:45-2:10 Language Arts (spelling, reading, grammar, writing)
2:10-2:55 Respect Mondays, Band, Choir, Study Hall
2:55-3:01 Announcements and Dismissal
I think I've blogged about schedules before, but just taking a look at these classroom schedules and comparing it to what we accomplish on an OFF day at home is laughable. It eases my mind that we are not doing enough.
I'm not typically a big public school basher. My son had two really good teachers, one good teacher, and one that had no business around kids, but it was an okay education. Public school doesn't even compare to the education he's getting at home.
And the best thing is, he can sit wherever he wants. Added to that best list, he can wear pajamas if he wants to, he can and does have his Tamaguchi's at the table every day, he can snack when he's hungry, he can break when he needs it, he can go to the bathroom without asking or announcing it to the world, he can play with the cat as he's doing his work. He can choose books he wants to read and they don't have to be from a list (even though I do have a required reading list, he gets input and freedom), he can do art projects the way he wants, he can sing, hum, make hideous noises while working (he does and it drives me crazy). He has a say in how our classroom is decorated. He chose the theme and did the decorating. He can choose the class pets. He can choose their names. He can finish his work early and not have to waste time waiting for others. Or, he can take his sweet time (driving his mom nuts) and finish when he finishes -- learning in a more relaxed style.
He can stay up later, start school later, and accomplish more in a few hours than his peers do at school -- even while taking his sweet time.
He can choose whatever type of pencil, pen, maker, etc., he wants to write with. He can choose folders, notebooks of his liking rathern than from an assigned list. He doesn't need a separate pair of tennis shoes for gym class. We can buy the forbidden "Pentech, Sanford or foil-wrapped penciles" and use them. He can use the pencil sharpener whenever he needs to. He can use fluorescent glue if he wants. He can use glitter glue. He no longer needs to worry about his snacks being stolen (unless his mom gets into the Hostess muffins) as they were in public school. He does not have to put his name on everything he owns.
I need to stop. I've had a big chuckle this afternoon. Thank goodness for homeschooling.
(p.s. please forgive any and all spelling errors, I can't get my spellchecker to pop up and I'm too lazy to proofread this.)
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
It's been how long???
I can't believe I haven't blogged since April 19! Wow.
School's been going *very* well lately, knock on wood.
My husband had a safe trip to Africa for work. He's glad to be home. He was missed very much.
He was gone two weeks and worked in the desert. He said the "locals" were extremely warm, friendly and wonderful. The trip he dreaded wasn't so bad, except that it took forever to get there.
I killed my computer. Long story short, while he was in Africa our Norton's expired and when I renewed it I somehow got the 2003 version instead of the current version and we got hit and hit hard with viruses. My husband has been plugging away on the computer but hasn't got it fixed. We decided to back up everything I need (all my Word files and links) and reformat. I'll be busy this weekend.
In the mean time, trying to get time on the good computer that DH built has been futile. Both DH and DS are runescape addicts. The time I like to spend surfing is when DH is online. Argh. So until my old faithful is faithful once again, I'll be scarce.
I am starting to prepare for next year. I'm trying to get a bunch of one- to two-week science units prepared. Next to impossible when you don't have a computer!
For my Georgia Peach friend, we've been studying geology and really enjoying it. That "a rock is a rock is a rock" mentality has left my brain and I've actually enjoyed our studies as much as my son! This was the topic I really dreaded because I thought it would be so boring. I was wrong, I admit it.
Nothing else new in my corner of the world. I think that's a good thing. =-)
Will blog again if I ever get the good computer all to myself.
School's been going *very* well lately, knock on wood.
My husband had a safe trip to Africa for work. He's glad to be home. He was missed very much.
He was gone two weeks and worked in the desert. He said the "locals" were extremely warm, friendly and wonderful. The trip he dreaded wasn't so bad, except that it took forever to get there.
I killed my computer. Long story short, while he was in Africa our Norton's expired and when I renewed it I somehow got the 2003 version instead of the current version and we got hit and hit hard with viruses. My husband has been plugging away on the computer but hasn't got it fixed. We decided to back up everything I need (all my Word files and links) and reformat. I'll be busy this weekend.
In the mean time, trying to get time on the good computer that DH built has been futile. Both DH and DS are runescape addicts. The time I like to spend surfing is when DH is online. Argh. So until my old faithful is faithful once again, I'll be scarce.
I am starting to prepare for next year. I'm trying to get a bunch of one- to two-week science units prepared. Next to impossible when you don't have a computer!
For my Georgia Peach friend, we've been studying geology and really enjoying it. That "a rock is a rock is a rock" mentality has left my brain and I've actually enjoyed our studies as much as my son! This was the topic I really dreaded because I thought it would be so boring. I was wrong, I admit it.
Nothing else new in my corner of the world. I think that's a good thing. =-)
Will blog again if I ever get the good computer all to myself.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
The Math Worksheet Site
I thought I would share this. The Math Worksheet Site is one of my favorite free worksheet generators. I've been making some worksheets today and just happened to come across the free open house. My printer is almost smoking now! lol
The Math Worksheet Site
Look to the right and click preview. The User Name is open and the password is house. The subscription area will be open to everyone through Sunday, April 23. If you wish to subscribe, it is $25 a year or you can subscribe for one month for $2.50. Not too bad of a deal.
This is one of my favorite sites because the worksheets are nice and clean, big, and have lots of room to work -- a necessity for my son.
The Math Worksheet Site
Look to the right and click preview. The User Name is open and the password is house. The subscription area will be open to everyone through Sunday, April 23. If you wish to subscribe, it is $25 a year or you can subscribe for one month for $2.50. Not too bad of a deal.
This is one of my favorite sites because the worksheets are nice and clean, big, and have lots of room to work -- a necessity for my son.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
It's Carnival Time
The 16th Carnival of Homeschooling is up! Beverly Hernandez is hosting. You will find it here.
Although I've always read the carnival in the past, this is the first time I've participated in it. What fun it is! I do challenge all the bloggers out there who have been too chicken like me, too reluctant or just haven't contributed to the carnvial to give it a shot and submit something for the next week.
Although I've always read the carnival in the past, this is the first time I've participated in it. What fun it is! I do challenge all the bloggers out there who have been too chicken like me, too reluctant or just haven't contributed to the carnvial to give it a shot and submit something for the next week.
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Household mediocrity revisited
In February, I wrote about mediocrity. This is one paragraph from that entry:
After I wrote this, I felt liberated. Just getting that frustration out and into the open enabled me to clear my mind and come up with a solution. Thinking about the mediocrity in our day-to-day life did me good and inspired me, which in turn carried over to our family. Harmony and teamwork. That was the answer. I needed to distinguish between my work as a wife, mother, homemaker and the work that belonged to the entire family unit. I needed to reflect on what I was teaching my son. I needed to teach him that a good work ethic applies to more than just school work.
"Back to my contemplating: Why is it that if we have a really good school week, everything else is mediocre or dismal. School was great which means my house is not. Why can't I have both? My kitchen looks like a tornado went through it. I've got bills stacked to pay, checks to order, checkbook to balance, library books to return, a telephone line to get fixed, a broken car window motor to fix, a house to clean, menus to plan, groceries to buy, prescriptions to fill, sheets to change, laundry to wash, floors to vacuum and scrub, etc. Why can't I "do" both and do them well?"
After I wrote this, I felt liberated. Just getting that frustration out and into the open enabled me to clear my mind and come up with a solution. Thinking about the mediocrity in our day-to-day life did me good and inspired me, which in turn carried over to our family. Harmony and teamwork. That was the answer. I needed to distinguish between my work as a wife, mother, homemaker and the work that belonged to the entire family unit. I needed to reflect on what I was teaching my son. I needed to teach him that a good work ethic applies to more than just school work.
I called a family meeting. We’re not big on official family meetings, but this needed to be done. My husband was less than enthusiastic to come to the table, sit down and start discussing. My son wanted to play. We did it anyway. I explained the problem about the mediocrity, the house and household responsibilities being chaotic if we had a good school week. I admitted that I could not do it all. That was obvious. I asked for ideas on what we could do. My son was great with coming up with ideas. My husband knew what was coming and again was less than enthusiastic but he did participate. I clearly defined my expectations. All I wanted from my husband was a couple of hours each weekend to help clean the house. I was surprised but he didn’t put up a fight.
When the meeting was over, I started work on the chore chart my son requested. After working on it a bit, I decided it wouldn’t work. Charts are great for some things, but I knew we needed something more tangible. So I got out my colored index cards and Sharpie markers. I made a list of things that needed to be done each day to keep the house in the shape that we desired and deserved. Then I wrote one chore on each index card in my best kindergarten-style handwriting. I highlighted the top of the cards in pink to denote daily chores. Then I did the same thing for our weekly cleaning tasks. The weekly cards were highlighted in green. It needed to be simplistic for everyone to participate fully. It needed to be easy because all the family members have a tendency to go off on tangents. All the cards went into an index box.
Every morning when we get up, the first thing we do is lay the daily cards on our counter. Every morning we start our school day with home ec. Home ec consists of the daily chore cards. We cannot start school until all the tasks have been completed and the cards have been put back in the box. There is something very gratifying about starting the morning with a counter full of cards and watching the pile dwindle down to nothing.
Last week I added two cards to the box. They were: balance checkbook and pay bills. That takes just a few minutes, but those two tasks done on a daily basis have taken a massive amount of stress away from me. I hate paying bills, but somehow I was the one that got that responsibility in this marriage. I used to pay bills and balance the checkbook once a month. As of the last week, when one came in the house, it was paid the next morning. Although I’ve only been at this for one week, I will continue. The results are too good not to. This took a major amount of dread and stress away from my life.
I have a few more ideas that I will add to the box in time. For now, I’m just happy to know that I can run my house well while homeschooling.
Our Daily Tasks
Thomas shower
Mom shower -- yes, we included showers, more cards to put away ;-)
feed and water pets
general house pick up
empty dishwasher
load dishwasher
gather dirty clothes
sort laundry
start load if needed
make beds
empty trash
empty recycling
plan supper
swiffer dust (my son's choice, he loves to dust)
wipe down bathroom
wipe down kitchen
swiffer or vacuum floors
checkbook
bills
Our Nightly Tasks
pick up house
rinse snack dishes
Our Weekly Tasks
mass pick up
kitchen
vacuum basement
put laundry away
laundry
basement bathroom
vacuum floors upstairs
cobweb removal (Minnesota has too many spiders)
mop floors
windex
empty garbages
cat box
dust upstairs
upstairs bathroom
bedrooms
vacuum furniture (1 dog, 2 cats)
vacuum drapes (1 cat lives in the window and gets hair on the drapes)
vacuum stairs
wash bedding
clean out cars
ready trash and recycling for pick up
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Friday, April 14, 2006
Writing Links
This is a very rough draft of a project I just started working on. I haven't even linked for all my topics yet. Aim is for my son or 4th-6th grade. I will be revising this list often.
SENTENCE WRITING
http://www.tustin.k12.ca.us/cyberseminar/paragraph.htm
http://www.stackthedeck.com/tips-getting.html
PARAGRAPH WRITING
Topic Sentences:
http://www.uottawa.ca/academic/arts/writcent/hypergrammar/partopic.html
http://www2.actden.com/writ_den/tips/paragrap/index.htm
http://www.uottawa.ca/academic/arts/writcent/hypergrammar/paragrph.html
http://www.gigglepotz.com/para.htm
http://www.english-zone.com/writing/para-strctr.html
http://www.swc.utexas.edu/highschool/hsopenpara.shtml
BASIC WRITING SKILLS
| | |
Outlining
http://www.albany.edu/eas/170/outline.htm
http://www.pb5th.com/outline1.htm
http://killeenroos.com/adm/essayo.htm#Criteria
http://www.adellshay.com/domain%20site/BUS%2032outlineformat.htm
http://www.cmsnet.org/stdlife/Summer%20ESS%20Website/outlinefacts.html
Prewriting:
http://www.studygs.net/roughdrafts.htm
Rough Draft
http://www.swc.utexas.edu/highschool/hswritedraft.shtml
http://www.cc.utexas.edu/student/utlc/lrnres/handouts/1234.html
http://www.arc.sbc.edu/roughdraft.html
Revising: Improving
http://personal.ashland.edu/~cdawkins/Student%20Tools/Revise%20a%20Rough%20Draft.htm
Final Copy
DESCRIPTIVE WRITING
- describing a person
- describing an event
- describing a thing
NARRATIVE WRITING
EXPOSITORY WRITING
PERSUASIVE WRITING
BOOK REVIEW OR REPORT
http://www.caledonia.k12.mi.us/kettle/otherpages/k-5pages/bookreportform.htm (book report outline)
http://hewitthomeschooling.com/pdfs/spnbkrpt.pdf (excellent outline and sample book report)
CREATIVE WRITING
POEMS
RESEARCH REPORT
FIVE PARAGRAPH ESSAY
http://web.uvic.ca/wguide/Pages/EssayWritingBody.html
http://www.geocities.com/fifth_grade_tpes/Handyguide.html
http://www.geocities.com/fifth_grade_tpes/five.html
http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/English/essay/index.html
http://homepage.mac.com/mseffie/handouts/paragraph.html (monster diagram)
http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/acen/writerslab/handouts/organization.htm (wizard theme)
MISC.
http://www.geocities.com/fifth_grade_tpes/five.html
http://www.rscc.cc.tn.us/owl&writingcenter/OWL/HowtoBegin.html
HANDOUTS: (MAPPING, GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS)
http://www.cusd.com/calonline/englishlab/module03/03image/0303mapping.gif (mapping)
Tax Time, Homeschooling Expenses and Planning
This week I finally got my taxes done. In my state, we get to claim the cost of the majority of homeschooling expenses. It can’t be religious stuff though. So the only thing I couldn’t claim was my Rod and Staff English program.
I spent over a $1000 on homeschooling last year, which was up a few hundred from the year before. This year I bought tons of books because I hate relying on the library. I guess in reality I can’t compare 2005’s expenses with 2004 because ’04 was the first year we homeschooled and only covered Sept – Dec.
I noticed a pattern starting. It seems in the spring, when spring fever was high and I felt like climbing the walls last year my spending went way up. I started ordering this spring as well. So I’ll be prepared next spring to not spend so much money.
I will continue to use Rebecca Rupp’s Home Learning Year by Year and Doc’s secular resources as my guide. Kixque shared an email from Doc with some additional links. I hope that Doc comes back to blogland because I miss her terribly.
Doc wrote an entry about goal planning versus scheduling that I printed and have read many times. What a great resource that is. Doc also wrote a big list of what should be studied. I can’t find a link to it on her site or else I’d place it here. I printed that out as well. Finally, she had a link to a high school 9th-12th grade planning sheet. I adapted that and made my 5th-8th grade plan. Well, I’m still working on it, but I have the outline and am happily filling it in. What a valuable resource that is. I had never thought to do that before and it has helped me tremendously.
Thank you, Doc, my son’s education has been touched by you. You’ve helped me tremendously.
As for upcoming expenses, I have decided to set a $1000 budget for the next year. I will continue to buy used, haunt Ebay and half.com. This summer I will again go to garage sales and make a bee line toward the books. I’m learning a lot about smart choices and spur of the moment mistakes. An ink cartridge for my laser printer is $90 and will print thousands of pages. Last cartridge lasted about two years. I can buy a ream of paper for $2.99 at Kmart or splurge and buy pretty pastel paper at Office Max for $5.99 a ream. The internet has tons of free teacher’s guides and lesson plans on almost every subject imaginable. Unless I buy a lot of reading material again, or go hog wild at Carolina Botanical’s website, I can’t foresee spending $1000 next year. For that, my husband will be thankful.
If I were really good, I'd take this year's tax refund and put it in a separate account for our homeschooling expenses. I'm not that good, though, and would rather play with that money now.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Fun on the net
I needed to clean my basement today, desperately. So while my I was doing tasks that my son could not help with, he needed something to divert his attention besides the Sims, Puzzle Pirates, or Runescape.
I found a fun website. It has simple machines, virtual knee surgery and a weather unit. My son is playing online and having fun. There are teacher's plans at the site as well.
Just thought I'd share.
edheads
I found a fun website. It has simple machines, virtual knee surgery and a weather unit. My son is playing online and having fun. There are teacher's plans at the site as well.
Just thought I'd share.
edheads
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
I made him do it
I made him do it, I made him...
CUT MY HAIR.
My ten year old son. He cut my hair.
Long story short, I've been growing my bangs out for a year. They're below my chin and just so out of sync with the back of my hair that was to the bottom of my shoulder blades. It's getting hot and I don't want so much hair when it's hot.
So why don't I go get a professional haircut like most normal people? Because I'm not normal. The urge to cut usually strikes me at night. And when it strikes, I want it NOW not tomorrow or later in the week.
My husband was passed out on the couch and I turned to poor Tommy and said, "It's time. Come into the bathroom with me."
Poor child was shaking like a leaf. "Mom, I'm nervous!" I said you can't mess it up, just cut straight across here and pointed to where I wanted him to start.
"Now I know what you feel like when you cut my hair" he almost cried.
I'm such a mean mom.
He did it. He did a fine job, too. It's perfectly straight. Should I pay him $20 that I would have paid a pro? Nah. I'll count it as school. Cosmetology 101.
I cut his hair half the time. He likes buzz cuts so I bought clippers a long time ago. Saves a lot of money. My husband has *never* had a professional hair cut since I've known him. He used to cut it but I could stand it no longer so got books from the library and a few videos and learned how to cut his. I've also picked up a few cosmetology textbooks from garage sales and book sales through the years. His is difficult because he's naturally curly. But I use the clippers on him now, too, because he likes it super short.
Ah, we're a weird family. I just cannot ever be normal. Making my 10-year-old son cut my hair is strange, but he lived. And I'm happy.
Gotta love instant gratification.
CUT MY HAIR.
My ten year old son. He cut my hair.
Long story short, I've been growing my bangs out for a year. They're below my chin and just so out of sync with the back of my hair that was to the bottom of my shoulder blades. It's getting hot and I don't want so much hair when it's hot.
So why don't I go get a professional haircut like most normal people? Because I'm not normal. The urge to cut usually strikes me at night. And when it strikes, I want it NOW not tomorrow or later in the week.
My husband was passed out on the couch and I turned to poor Tommy and said, "It's time. Come into the bathroom with me."
Poor child was shaking like a leaf. "Mom, I'm nervous!" I said you can't mess it up, just cut straight across here and pointed to where I wanted him to start.
"Now I know what you feel like when you cut my hair" he almost cried.
I'm such a mean mom.
He did it. He did a fine job, too. It's perfectly straight. Should I pay him $20 that I would have paid a pro? Nah. I'll count it as school. Cosmetology 101.
I cut his hair half the time. He likes buzz cuts so I bought clippers a long time ago. Saves a lot of money. My husband has *never* had a professional hair cut since I've known him. He used to cut it but I could stand it no longer so got books from the library and a few videos and learned how to cut his. I've also picked up a few cosmetology textbooks from garage sales and book sales through the years. His is difficult because he's naturally curly. But I use the clippers on him now, too, because he likes it super short.
Ah, we're a weird family. I just cannot ever be normal. Making my 10-year-old son cut my hair is strange, but he lived. And I'm happy.
Gotta love instant gratification.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
A different carnival this week
Because the Carnival of Homeschooling is being hosted by someone who blogs at homeschoolblogger, and because I boycott homeschoolblogger, I was thrilled to find that Becky at Farm School made up her own substitute carnival for the week! Take a peak!
Thank you, Becky!!!
Thank you, Becky!!!
Friday, April 07, 2006
Was it really a day off from school?
My husband took the majority of the day off from work today. He was at work and back home before I was even out of bed. We cancelled school for the day. So much possibility for my day -- I was going to go out shopping, during school hours, by myself -- something I haven't done in almost two years now.
I didn't. Instead I putzed around the house. I'm still in my bathrobe. And dare I say, I'm enjoying the heck out of my day!
I always find it so surprising that when we take a day off from school, we don't really take a day off. I mean we don't do our scheduled schoolwork, but learning is still going on.
Today my son decided to do an experiment with a pound of acorns he brought back from South Carolina. Some are soaking in water, some are planted in dirt, some he cracked with a hammer, others he left alone. He has continued to work on his forester project for scouts without my asking. Woo-hoo.
He researched, outlined and wrote a report on hermit crabs.
He snuggled up with me in bed and we read more about the American Revolution.
He's been studying geology a little this afternoon.
He's been in the garage with his dad using the band saw again. I have no clue what they were doing.
He made his first fried eggs today. He was disappointed that he cracked the yolk in one egg and overcooked the yolk in another. I told him that was okay because I'm 40 and I still can't fry an egg.
For phy ed, he went outside and played in the pouring rain. He splashed in puddles. He tried to get the dog to play with him but the dog just wanted back in the house.
My husband bought some concrete mix on his way home from work, and they mixed it up and did something with it. I have no clue what they made.
So today we've done science, history, cooking, reading, construction and phy ed.
Not bad for a no-school day. The day is only half over. I wonder what he'll come up with next!
I didn't. Instead I putzed around the house. I'm still in my bathrobe. And dare I say, I'm enjoying the heck out of my day!
I always find it so surprising that when we take a day off from school, we don't really take a day off. I mean we don't do our scheduled schoolwork, but learning is still going on.
Today my son decided to do an experiment with a pound of acorns he brought back from South Carolina. Some are soaking in water, some are planted in dirt, some he cracked with a hammer, others he left alone. He has continued to work on his forester project for scouts without my asking. Woo-hoo.
He researched, outlined and wrote a report on hermit crabs.
He snuggled up with me in bed and we read more about the American Revolution.
He's been studying geology a little this afternoon.
He's been in the garage with his dad using the band saw again. I have no clue what they were doing.
He made his first fried eggs today. He was disappointed that he cracked the yolk in one egg and overcooked the yolk in another. I told him that was okay because I'm 40 and I still can't fry an egg.
For phy ed, he went outside and played in the pouring rain. He splashed in puddles. He tried to get the dog to play with him but the dog just wanted back in the house.
My husband bought some concrete mix on his way home from work, and they mixed it up and did something with it. I have no clue what they made.
So today we've done science, history, cooking, reading, construction and phy ed.
Not bad for a no-school day. The day is only half over. I wonder what he'll come up with next!
Thursday, April 06, 2006
I'm a snot
I'm a snot and I admit it.
I was at a meeting tonight. Before the meeting started, a friend introduced me to a friend of hers. We were visiting and the topic of homeschool came up. The new acquaintence had a baffled look on her face. Then she asked THE questions.
How do you do it? Doesn't it drive you crazy to homeschool? How can you be around your kids all day?
I smiled and said, "I love being with my son."
Then I stared at her.
She got the point.
I'm a snot and I love it. I just don't get why it drives people crazy to be with their kids. *That's* what drives me crazy.
I was at a meeting tonight. Before the meeting started, a friend introduced me to a friend of hers. We were visiting and the topic of homeschool came up. The new acquaintence had a baffled look on her face. Then she asked THE questions.
How do you do it? Doesn't it drive you crazy to homeschool? How can you be around your kids all day?
I smiled and said, "I love being with my son."
Then I stared at her.
She got the point.
I'm a snot and I love it. I just don't get why it drives people crazy to be with their kids. *That's* what drives me crazy.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Cool Time and Date
Did anyone get up early this morning and look at your digital clock at 3 seconds past 1:02? At that time it was 1:02:03 on 04/05/06.
This will never happen again. That is, unless you are one of those people that puts the day in front of the month. In that case, you will have to get up early on May 4.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Changing clocks
I hate daylight savings time. Really, I hate it. Who can go to sleep an hour earlier? Not me, not my son. Who can get up an hour earlier? Definitely not me. Not my son.
Of course if I had a job in the "real world" I would. We survived when my son was in public school, too.
The animals are all on old time still, the human animals are too. We're not hungry at lunch and dinner time. It just stinks.
My son and I were discussing it this morning. He woke up late again and we didn't get school started until 10. Of course last week that would have been 9 and would have been fine. But starting at 10 really puts us behind. It puts us in a bad mood. My son declared that while the majority of America does the daylight savings time thing, we should not. I then asked him how he would keep track of appointments, den meetings, play dates and the like. He thought it would be easy. We discussed it further and he started to change his mind. He then expanded his thinking and came up with how it would be difficult to go to the movies and watch favorite TV programs. In other words, he figured out it would be a royal pain in the butt.
So he decided it would be best if we conform and change our clocks. I hope within a week we're good to go.
Everybody is too crabby here right now.
I've had a friend tell me many times which is "real time." I don't know if fall time is real or spring time. I don't care. I just don't want to change clocks anymore. Can't we do away with it? Is it really necessary in today's society? Really?
Bluch.
Of course if I had a job in the "real world" I would. We survived when my son was in public school, too.
The animals are all on old time still, the human animals are too. We're not hungry at lunch and dinner time. It just stinks.
My son and I were discussing it this morning. He woke up late again and we didn't get school started until 10. Of course last week that would have been 9 and would have been fine. But starting at 10 really puts us behind. It puts us in a bad mood. My son declared that while the majority of America does the daylight savings time thing, we should not. I then asked him how he would keep track of appointments, den meetings, play dates and the like. He thought it would be easy. We discussed it further and he started to change his mind. He then expanded his thinking and came up with how it would be difficult to go to the movies and watch favorite TV programs. In other words, he figured out it would be a royal pain in the butt.
So he decided it would be best if we conform and change our clocks. I hope within a week we're good to go.
Everybody is too crabby here right now.
I've had a friend tell me many times which is "real time." I don't know if fall time is real or spring time. I don't care. I just don't want to change clocks anymore. Can't we do away with it? Is it really necessary in today's society? Really?
Bluch.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
I am very proud to report...
My son won 1st place in his Webelos Den in today's Pinewood Derby. He then went on to the pack champion finals...
and won.
Second year in a row.
He'll be going to districts in May and hopefully he'll do well there. He won that last year.
I am so proud of him.
I am also proud to report that my husband placed 1st in the dad's race. Two women and one boy scout entered the dad's race this year. There were a total of nine entries in the dad's race. I am very evil, but I am proud to report that I won second place and the boy scout won third. We smoked the other five men and the other female den leader in the races. I'm just kind of proud because a WOMAN placed second in the DAD'S race.
After the races, someone came up to me and asked me what was my husband's secret for building fast cars. I said, "Well, WE worked on the cars every night for a few weeks." I think people assume my son did not build his car -- but he did. He designed it, he cut it out on the band saw, he did axle work, he sanded it, he primed it, he painted it, he clear-coated it and he applied the graphite. My husband did help a with the axles and stood over his shoulder for guidance -- but MY SON BUILT HIS CAR.
I designed mine, my husband cut it out, he helped me with the axles and paint, but I did a lot of the work on the car. Really. And I'm NOT making one next year because it was a lot harder than I thought.
So what is our secret for winning? Well, researching good designs -- a thin, flat slab works best. (I chose a wedge because I like them better.) Weights in the back. Straight axles and wheels. Sometimes the wheels that come in the kit stink so you should buy more than one kit. Lots of graphite work and not too much handling before the races. That's all we do. BUT...we work on the cars every night.
Someone else asked me if we actually had fun building the cars. Yep. Every night after supper we would clear the kitchen table and go to work. We did this for a few weeks. I'd call it good quality family time. My son really enjoyed teaching me how to build a car this year.
I am very happy and proud of my son for all his hard work. He did a great job.
Next year I hope they rename the dad's race to an open class race.
and won.
Second year in a row.
He'll be going to districts in May and hopefully he'll do well there. He won that last year.
I am so proud of him.
I am also proud to report that my husband placed 1st in the dad's race. Two women and one boy scout entered the dad's race this year. There were a total of nine entries in the dad's race. I am very evil, but I am proud to report that I won second place and the boy scout won third. We smoked the other five men and the other female den leader in the races. I'm just kind of proud because a WOMAN placed second in the DAD'S race.
After the races, someone came up to me and asked me what was my husband's secret for building fast cars. I said, "Well, WE worked on the cars every night for a few weeks." I think people assume my son did not build his car -- but he did. He designed it, he cut it out on the band saw, he did axle work, he sanded it, he primed it, he painted it, he clear-coated it and he applied the graphite. My husband did help a with the axles and stood over his shoulder for guidance -- but MY SON BUILT HIS CAR.
I designed mine, my husband cut it out, he helped me with the axles and paint, but I did a lot of the work on the car. Really. And I'm NOT making one next year because it was a lot harder than I thought.
So what is our secret for winning? Well, researching good designs -- a thin, flat slab works best. (I chose a wedge because I like them better.) Weights in the back. Straight axles and wheels. Sometimes the wheels that come in the kit stink so you should buy more than one kit. Lots of graphite work and not too much handling before the races. That's all we do. BUT...we work on the cars every night.
Someone else asked me if we actually had fun building the cars. Yep. Every night after supper we would clear the kitchen table and go to work. We did this for a few weeks. I'd call it good quality family time. My son really enjoyed teaching me how to build a car this year.
I am very happy and proud of my son for all his hard work. He did a great job.
Next year I hope they rename the dad's race to an open class race.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Thursday, March 30, 2006
The English Language
I know this email has been circulating for years, but it came across my screen recently and I printed it out for my son. We laughed ourselves silly reading it. Actually he laughed at me because I actually read a few of them wrong and had to correct myself.
This may be a fun reading exercise for a rainy day.
The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
We must polish the Polish furniture.
He could lead if he would get the lead out.
The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
I did not object to the object.
There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
They were too close to the door to close it.
Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?
I shed my clothes in the shed.
Let's face it - English is a ridiculous language.
There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in a hamburger; neither apple nor pine in a pineapple.
English muffins weren't invented in England, nor French fries in France.
Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which are neither bread nor sweet, but meat.
We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.
And why is it that bakers bake, but grocers don't groce?
If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth beeth?
One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese?
If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?
Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? We ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell? How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?
You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which an alarm goes off by going on.
English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race (which, of course, isn't a race at all).
That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.
This may be a fun reading exercise for a rainy day.
The bandage was wound around the wound.
The farm was used to produce produce.
The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
We must polish the Polish furniture.
He could lead if he would get the lead out.
The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
I did not object to the object.
There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
They were too close to the door to close it.
Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?
I shed my clothes in the shed.
Let's face it - English is a ridiculous language.
There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in a hamburger; neither apple nor pine in a pineapple.
English muffins weren't invented in England, nor French fries in France.
Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which are neither bread nor sweet, but meat.
We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.
And why is it that bakers bake, but grocers don't groce?
If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth beeth?
One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese?
If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?
Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? We ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell? How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?
You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which an alarm goes off by going on.
English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race (which, of course, isn't a race at all).
That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.
And finally, how about when you want to shut down your computer you
have to hit "START"?
have to hit "START"?
Label Me This...
This is in response to a thread at odonnellweb.
Don't label me as a Christian homeschooler. I am a Christian, I am a homeschooler, but I do not homeschool for religious reasons. I do not define myself as a Christian homeschooler.
Don't label me as gay. I'm not.
Don't label me as anti-gay. I'm not.
Don't label me as a Marxist. I'm not.
Don't label me as anti-Marxist. I'm not.
Don't label me as an Atheist. I'm not.
Don't label me as an anti-Atheist. I'm not.
Don't label me as a Libertarian. I'm not.
Don't label me as anti-Libertarian. I'm not.
Don't label me as an ACLU Supporter. Sometimes I am, sometimes I am not.
Don't label me as an ACLU hater. I'm not.
Don't label me as an anti-Christian. I am not.
Don't label me as a person who hates people that are different and unique and that have different opinions or ideas, a different faith or lack of faith than I do. I do not hate them.
Go ahead, label me as an Home-Educating Parent. I am.
Go ahead, label me as someone who is trying to polarize the Christian community. I am someone who is trying to "spread the news" that physically punishing your child is wrong, wrong, wrong.
Go ahead, label me as an action hater. I don't hate people. I hate some of their actions. Hitting a child with a hand or anything else is something I hate.
Don't label me as having a hidden agenda. My agenda is loud and clear: STOP CHILD ABUSE
Do not assume that because we share a belief that Jesus died for our sins, that all our beliefs are the same.
Don't think that I will actually believe this boycott will do no good and will make homeschoolers in general "look" bad.
It is time for "THE OTHER HOMESCHOOLERS" to speak up and out. We're not all denim-jumper-wearing, husband-obeying, blind-faith people. Some of us educate ourselves on issues. Some of us can think for ourselves. Some of us can separate ourselves from our husbands. Case in point, as I blogged earlier, my husband does not support this boycott only due to "the censorship" issue. Because I am a Christian, that does not preclude me from stepping up to the plate and honoring my beliefs. I have a voice. I will use it. If it causes a polarization of the Christian community, so be it. I guarantee it will NOT reflect poorly on the homeschooling community.
The point, though, is that if saves just one child from being hit, then "we" have won the battle. Hopefully it will save many more, I hope we will win the war.
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