30July2008
Posted by Amy Jane under: Homeschooling.
I don’t want anyone to worry about my children’s education.
That said, I’m not very good at expressing myself when I attempt to dispel concerns.
Last Sunday a retired teacher noted the rapidly approaching school year and said, “I bet you’re really busy planning now!”
Did I say, “I began researching in January, stopped buying materials in March and simplified my curriculum in July”?
No.
I told this career K-2 teacher that no, I wasn’t in the midst of planning, that I was only going to focus on reading, writing and arithmetic (feeling that’s plenty for a 5-year-old), and as Natasha can already read and we do other activities together already, “school” wasn’t going to look much different than life right now.
I know this lady trusts me, but I bet you a nickel she’s trying really hard not to worry right now.
I love the books I collected for teaching, but the reality is that at this point they are more for my comfort and enjoyment than to apply on my own child (just yet).
Tomorrow I will be attending a meeting for “independent homeschoolers,” a group defined mostly by it’s members’ choice to homeschool apart from state aid or direction.
I’ve been asked by a number of people (usually more than once!) why I’m not “taking advantage” of all the “great programs” that are designed to “give me money” to “do whatever [I] want.”
The easiest out is the one my mom suggested yesterday: it’s genetic.
Mom taught (and I learned) out of a random-yet-comprehensive collection of books salvaged from the school district’s annual text-dump (that, unfortunately, it doesn’t do any more).
My one experience with a structured curriculum, with daily assignments and a set amount to get through in a year was Calvert. Two years actually: 4th and 6th, if I remember right. I hated it and hope I would never do that to my children. There was just this unmitigated *weight* of never being done. Ever. It just dragged on and it was impossible to get ahead.
And I thought it was horribly wasteful– you couldn’t use the curriculum or any of the books from one kid to the next (I’d never have the pleasure of watching my little brother re-live my misery) but had to re-buy the whole set for the next kid.
Anyway, I’ve been told there are other experiences to be had, but as the mom/teacher, I’m going to stick for now with what I enjoy. And that means playing at school before I need to, in order to prove to myself and anybody who cares that I can do this without someone “official” hanging over me.
24July2008
Posted by Amy Jane under: Natasha.
Natasha this afternoon, very carefully and polite:
“Now, when you’re done with the comics, instead of throwing them away, I would like you to give them to me, because I’m interested in comics now. So many funny pictures.”
17July2008
Posted by Amy Jane under: Natasha.
Natasha got her first taste of teasing and rejection yesterday, but (thankfully) I don’t think she fully realized that’s what was happening.
The back door was open and I heard the 5-year-old next-door protesting to his mom that the other kids were being mean to Natasha. I went out then, but Natasha didn’t seem disturbed at all, only more serious-faced than usual.
I talked with her and she came inside with me. Then she told my one of the girls in {neighbor-boy}’s yard was being unkind.
“She was making fun of {neighbor-boy}—saying he was in love. And he’s not in love, he’s just a kid.”
I found the observation fascinating, and what I got out of the collective event was that the visiting children noticed the children’s friendship, tried to tease them about it, and like good friends, they noticed the intent-to-harm their friend over the attack on themselves.
Or at least expressed themselves that way.
I think there’s something precious in that sensitivity; I hope we’ll see it continue.
p.s.
Melody was coming out of our car a couple of days ago when it was so sunny, panting for effect, “Wow, that car is freezing- Hot!”
7July2008
Posted by Amy Jane under: Cute stories; Elisha; Family; Pictures.
Two weeks ago, now, Jay and I droe to Anchorage and back, leaving Friday afternoon and returning Saturday night.
The next weekend the Renaissance Faire got rained-out, but the girls still got to wear their costumes:
On Saturday to Papa and Grandma’s, and Sunday to church. Yes, Melody wore a shirt under that vest.
I find I didn’t get a picture of Elisha in his bi-colored “jester” outfit, but Mom got several, so I’ll have to get hers.
He didn’t really care for it on Saturday (thought we managed to “trick” him into wearing it, which is no small trick these days).
But when Elisha saw the girls in their costumes on Sunday he was excited to put his on again, and as soon as Jay tied the back you would have thought he was wearing a cape, because he began at once to make these flying leaps between pieces of furniture. I felt a little shell-shocked.
Something about costumes, I guess…
That same weekend a bird flew into our garage:
Elisha was the first to notice him (Jay and I couldn’t figure for the longest time what he was so excited about).
He was still stuck after hours with the door open and it took some getting to get him out, but it was finally accomplished. (A flashlight in a dark garage and a dry humidifier figured largely in this process.)
Just this last Saturday we did a lot of biking around, and Jay found a way to fit all three kids (and yes all buckled) in the bike trailer.
Yet another moment when I’ve marveled at the perfection fo God’s timing and design in giving us children of these ages and sizes.
18June2008
Posted by Amy Jane under: Natasha.
As I write this Natasha is creating stories behind me, and telling them to and with the toys that are here in the living room. I told the kids stories most of our (long) walk today, practicing concentration, volume and breath control as I pulled over 100# alongside an active road.
It just tickles me to see her feeding off shared experiences rather than the latest movie.
17June2008
Posted by Amy Jane under: Family; Management.
The whole, long story of thought and process.
Skipping the $500/month it would have cost us for two kids the first year.
Read the rest of this entry »
3June2008
Posted by Amy Jane under: Family; Management.
Busy here lately.
- Spent some time today talking with a couple Suzuki teachers, trying to nail down price and protocol for starting, and I’m totally understanding now why my friend was hedging when I asked her how much she was spending for her two kids’ lessons.
- I’m even uncomfortable to write it in this post, since we’re still kinda considering it. (E-mail me if you really want to know and I’ll say).
- If we go this route we’ll be dropping broad hints that “more music lessons” is a great birthday/Christmas/un-birthday present: share in the investment and reduce clutter all in one efficient gift.
- Okay, so it would just be not adding to the clutter, not reducing any.
- Elisha held his paintbrush in a perfect upright hold today. I was so surprised I looked for the camera, wanting a picture, but couldn’t find it. He changed his hold later, but was able to go back when I encouraged him to change.
- I have turned the kids’ rooms and sleeping arrangements all around
- Melody traded rooms with Elisha. I moved his crib into the blue room and set up a toddler bed (from under the house) for Melody.
- Natasha got a “new” toddler bed, too, and everyone got to pick out sheets today. I washed them during nap and the girls are sleeping on them now.
- I got both the big beds out of the blue room, and I’m in the process of rearranging the other pieces of furniture.
- Tonight I organized my craft shelf for the first time since, hmmm, Melody, at least.
- I am back to four baskets of laundry to fold, and still have to put the yellow room back in order, but I’m liking the new arrangements so far. (I still hope to move the big book case in the blue room, too.)
While trying to decide about Suzuki I keep saying, How could I eve be considering this? There is *nothing* I do every day except eat and sleep!
But just before I started this post I realized there’s one more thing. If it’s not every day it is pretty close: I write.
And I guess I sing and talk, too.
It’s randoms like these, along with an indefinable something, that haven’t let me trash the lessons-idea just yet.
22May2008
Posted by Amy Jane under: Melody.
This morning I heard Melody singing something weird and I discouraged it.
What did you just say?
She could tell I didn’t like it and gave me her ‘coy’ face, which at the moment meant, I can tell you didn’t like that, but I thought it was cool.
“It’s only a song,” she said, trying to put me off. I felt a tightness in my chest. Maybe words are too important to me. I don’t know. But I couldn’t stand to hear that.
Without a pause I told her very seriously, “But songs are words, and words are choices, and we want to make good choices.”
Don’t know if it meant anything to her, but, as it usually does, saying what I meant just at the time I wanted to comforted me.
21May2008
Posted by Amy Jane under: Management.
Well, I guess I have to admit I’m impulsive.
This is the second big project in a week I’ve dived (doven? divved?) into.
But, hey, it was done in an afternoon, and all that’s really left is watering and keeping the kids out f it.
It’s about 4 x 15 feet (click on the pictures to see what’s planted where) and I think it’s my first “real” garden, if I may define that as variety with planning.
The poppies and irises all came from seeds I picked at my parents’ old house years ago. They’re established and have come back year after year. Which, considering the way I abused them all today, I’m glad.
I’ve tried to keep all the perennials in front or to the left of the window, since Jay’s long-term plan is to build an arctic entryway out to the edge of the window, and planning now will save me transplanting later.
There is that little tree there that will have to be moved eventually, but it was so bitty and cute when we found it I enjoyed having it by the porch. We’ll just wait for now and watch how fast it grows.
Natasha liked the idea of having all the “cooking plants” (the herbs) right at the front near the door. The basil was sort of a fun find– there was a whole snarl of them bunched in a little 2″ pot, and I was able to separate them with little difficulty. No telling how many of them will grow to the projected 18″, but they all are perky at present, which is more than I expected.
I had some wire fencing from Grandma’s garden, so I bordered the plot with that, hoping the plants will survive long enough to produce (I tried to put everything enticing to little fingers out of reach).
So there you are. I turned the whole plot this morning (being careful of the established flowers) took the kids to pick out a handful of plants and seeds, then planted them all before Jay got home.
Of course, dinner wasn’t ready, and the mound of dirty laundry still sits and calls for sorting, but I feel a high measure of accomplishment.
I can’t remember ever thinking before how pretty clean, blank earth (i.e. sans weeds) looks.
19May2008
Posted by Amy Jane under: Family; Pictures.
We spent the morning at the Ewigs, and the kids had a ball, playing in the sand, riding in the canoe and generally enjoying being outside– without sunscreen.
I’m surprised Elisha shows as much color as he does, since he was the only id who brought a hat (his sister’s sunbonnet) and wore it much of the time.
This trip was also the first time he didn’t race to my side every five minutes, coming on the heels of his second sunday in a row of going to his own “class” for sunday school.
This has been a long time coming.
In other news, Natasha is loving her bike with training wheels. Last year she tried really hard but it was still too big for her. I think she’s ready for a real ride now. Haven’t gotten my bike down yet though, so we haven’t tried yet.
Jay bought two air purifiers in the last, hmmm, 3 or 4 months. He was preparing for alergy season which is in full bloom.
I got my first taste of his sorry condition this spring, with my eyes becoming irritated and the skin around them itchy and swollen. Not. cool.
The up-side, though, is that when I went to the eye doctor to verify allergies he gave me a sample of an eye-drop antihistamine. It’s been sooo nice. Not only does it directly target the problem area (eyes), there are none of the tiredness side-effects that come with systemic (oral) meds.
Jay’s used them too, and while they don’t eliminate his issues (as they mostly do for me) they have been a help.
I have to use a cortisone cream, too, on the skin around my eye. It fights the itchy feeling. I actually couldn’t use it at first because that tender skin was so raw. I used ointment on it for a few days until the skin healed and now between the drops and the cream I feel entirely human again.
My latest big project is making costumes for each of the kids for a “Renaissance fair” coming up. It’s taking place on Melody’s birthday, so she is thrilled about the big “birthday party” she’ll get to go to.
I’m hoping (especially if it goes annual– this is its first time) to mae this a dressing-up alternative to Halloween. I’ve been growing more uncomfortable with that over the last several years, and have been praying for an alternative since October.
When I saw the article in the paper and the coordinator’s comment encouraging costumes, “It’s like Halloween in the middle of summer,” I felt I’d found my answer. We’ll see how it goes, but I’ve trying to be very enthusiastic and creative here to mae this a more special/fun time.
Natasha picked out a princess-dress with bell sleeves, and an indigo fabric, Melody chose a fairy costume and bright pink. Elisha, of course, is oblivious, but I found a simple costume I described to the girls as a jester and they are pleased with the idea.
The article was asking for more era-correct entertainment on a volunteer basis, so I put a call in to the number to offer storytelling. I have several adult-length tales that I believe would be quite appropriate for the era.
The only drawback I can think of to the whole costume-thing is the all-or-nothing weather of summer.
Natasha’s dress is dark and long-sleeved, Melody’s light and sleeveless. Odds are somebody’s going to be uncomfortable. I just hope they have enough fun being out and about in their dress-ups that they don’t melt into complaining.
There is good hope for that. They’re already pretty excited. Piles of frilly, colorful stuff will do that for a girl, I suppose.
