Day 164

Today we used an idea I've heard Julie Bogart and Rita Cevasco talk about. It was sticky notes. We started working on some opinion papers we're going to write this week by putting one thing each on sticky notes. We put the topic on one and then answered some questions from Help for High School to get ourselves thinking. We put our opinion, in brief, on one and then we put what the opposing opinion would be on another one. We drew a little too. It was fun. Tomorrow we'll have to decide what order to put them in for our papers and start coming up with sentences.

We read some more of Frankenstein today. I'm getting to the point that I just want to read it until it's finished. It seems like I get to that point in every book. I get more and more impatient for the outcome. Today, Frankenstein agreed to make a female for the monster in order to save his family from being killed by him. I never expected the monster to be able to speak so eloquently or so convincingly. It's a little creepy.

Sarah's reading Shakespeare Stealer right now, and she was saying she doesn't remember a lot of things from when we read it aloud together. I don't know how long it's been since we read it, but we must have done it fast. Whenever we read a book too fast, we can't remember details about it later. I guess Charlotte Mason was right. She said to read a book slowly so you can mull it over in between readings. I guess our brains must think about it even when we don't realize it.

Sam's making his way through The Scarlet Letter. He didn't want to read it at first because it's by Nathaniel Hawthorne. That's who wrote The House of Seven Gables, and he didn't care for that. He says nothing ever happened in it. That it was about the family sitting around breathing. He's kind of right, but I liked it anyway. He's finding The Scarlet Letter quite a bit more interesting though.

I started editing Rachel's sequel this weekend. Ooh it's going to be good! I told her she should try sending Becoming Sencra's Queen to an actual publisher and see what happens. I think she's going to look into that. So exciting!

See you next time!

Day 163--Books are "Other Teachers"

I was having a nice chat tonight with a lady who was saying that she thinks it's important to have different people teach kids and to have a structured day like you get with an online charter school. She has some family members that have used one in the past but are now going to "do it themselves." She was perfectly lovely, and I just smiled and nodded and said, "Uh-huh." I didn't want to sound like I disagreed, because I don't completely; so I didn't say anything else.

Really all I wanted to say was, "All the books we read are written by someone besides me." Every author of every book is like a teacher for my kids. I think it's great to have an outside source occasionally (like the Brave Writer class I just registered Sam for); but I guess I feel like as long as I can explain what the kids need to learn, why wouldn't I? When there are things I can't help them learn, I can always get someone else to help. But what makes it automatically better to have a variety of teachers? Sometimes it is better, but that's not guaranteed just because they aren't me.

It was a perfectly pleasant conversation. It just got me thinking, and I love the idea that all the experts that have written the books my kids read are their teachers--and mine. I like that better than just my having a "stand-in" to teach math or grammar or whatever, because I truly don't need that most of the time.

Sometimes I do need someone else to be encouraging or to be a cheerleader for my kids. Like when Rachel took a writing class, got a terrific grade and some praise, and gained the confidence to write books. I love that, and it was very valuable. I suspect that will affect her for the rest of her life, since I don't see her slowing down on her writing at all. But I think if they had a constant stream of other teachers in their lives, it would not have the same effect.

See you next time!

Day 162--Waterfalls and What Else?

I have an old Natural Wonders of the World book and decided to include it as part of our World Geography credit this year. We'll just look up things that are located on the continent we're studying as we go. We looked at waterfalls today. One was Iguassu Falls at the border of Brazil and Argentina. It was just huge. We read about it and then looked at it on google maps. It let us see it on street view, and they have this pier thing you walk out on and get right above the falls. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't do that, although it would make the trip worth taking.

The other one was Angel Falls in Venezuela. We looked at that one because Sam remembered there was one that was 3000 feet high, he had read about in the encyclopedia. Mr. Statistics! It was crazy tall (the tallest in the world), but it didn't fall down into the usual kind of river. It was so narrow that it  seemed to dissipate into mist and ran down a strip of rocks into a stream that was lower down a hill. Then it joined a river a ways away.

I decided we wouldn't use the computer until after school today. It was so nice. I think we'll do that more often. The girls thought it was kind of funny not to even look up things we wanted to find out about until after school, like the waterfalls; but I needed to have a day off. I know I said just yesterday that I love being able to look up things when we want. So I'm fickle! Anyway, it was good.

I tried taking some pictures for the writing project book I'm working on. I'd love for each project to show samples of what we did for it. I think it would make the book more interesting. I was hoping to just take pictures of our stuff, but they looked awful. I think I'll have to try scanning them and inserting them into the file. I hope it works. I want to finish it this year. That way, in January, when everyone is feeling like they need something more for their homeschools; it'll be ready. Isn't January always like that?

We did some copywork today. I know how good it is for them; and even though they're teenagers, it's still so valuable. But I just never have them do it. I think I need to be more intentional about the passages, or teach more about them. Probably before would be better than after for the teaching. Then when they do it, they see what they're supposed to get out of it. Maybe I've just been doing it backward and haven't seen the benefits. I'll have to turn it around.

See you next time!

Day 161--Rabbit Trails

This morning Sam was reading about the history or architecture and he said, "The library has Doric columns."

"Oh, what's that?"

"Columns that widen out at the bottom so they don't look like they're collapsing."

"Wow, let's look at the library on street view."

So we looked, and sure enough, the columns were fatter near the bottom. Then we wondered how old the library was, so we looked that up. And there was a newspaper article about when it was built--1907, for $9,000! As he was reading the article, he asked, "Who is Carnegie Hall named after?"

"I don't know. Why?"

"Andrew Carnegie donated some money for the building of the library."

"Look him up and see if it's the same man."

Don't you love just letting yourself wonder about things and just going ahead and finding out? Now I don't advocate sitting on the internet all day or even jumping to search everything we wonder about. Sometimes we need to stay on task, but sometimes we don't. He's likely to remember those things, even if they're not supremely important. I'm very opinionated about wondering and how questions lead to learning. There's going to be a section in my homeschool book about it.

I got him signed up for the Brave Writer Comic Strip Capers class today! I'm totally excited. I just wish we didn't have to wait til October.

Sam was looking at the Lego website and found a big set with some kind of car thing that runs down the outside of the building on smooth tracks. So he looked up the building instructions to see how they did it and replicated it. It was pretty cool. Bubby like it too. He likes to watch Sam when his legos are in motion. See the car? It's the blur at the bottom.

We watched another photography lesson after lunch. This one will be easier to practice. It was about composition. How to place your subjects in the frame. No messing with camera settings. Hey, I think the picture above follows some of the rules he gave! Even though I did take it with photo booth on the computer, and I was just trying to make sure the lego creation and the cat were both in the picture. But it worked anyway.

Math was torture today. I'm not even telling you about it. You can thank me.

See you next time!

Day 160--Just sit there.

Yesterday, Sarah was working on her Biology and she was having to classify some bacteria. It's a little tedious, and she was working on it by herself. She usually works alone and asks me any questions she has. She kept walking in to the room I was in every few minutes and then going back to the table. She looked like she wanted something, but didn't say much. One time, she said it was kind of a pain; so I just went in and sat by her. I didn't say anything; I just sat there. She went back to classifying and did fine.

I was thinking about how I didn't have to do anything or explain what she was supposed to do. I just needed to be there. I love being there. Even when I don't have to do any teaching. I guess she felt more confident or it gave her more stamina or she just knew I could answer questions right away because I was sitting there. I also wasn't doing my own thing at the table. I was watching her work. I was with her, not simply next to her. Sometimes being next to them is the thing, though. Like when we're all reading silently. I don't sit and watch them; I read. My homeschool isn't about just getting them to do everything alone. It actually takes time, and that's exactly where I want my time to be.

I especially like editing with Rachel. We each read silently from the same computer screen and stop when we notice something. We usually notice the same things (I love that). Then we talk about it briefly and we always agree on how it should be in the end. Maybe it's genetics, because not everyone I edit for wants to do what I suggest. Editing together is fun, because I might suggest something to Rachel that sparks something better in her mind. So when we do it as a team, it's always the best we can make it.

here's the auto setting

I practiced taking some photos for our "assignment" from the Great Courses photography course. I tried several different settings to get more light or softer color or whatever, and the auto setting is always the best one! that may be because I can't keep straight which settings let in more light or how that works. I'd love to be able to change things to make more interesting pictures.

fast shutter speed

slower shutter speed

large aperture or slow shutter--I forget

I can't ever get the photos to go where I want them on this page! It's a little frustrating. If anyone knows how to do that, I'd love for you to tell me!

Last night, Rachel and I went to an activity for the women at our church, and we got to ride horses!! We loved it. A couple years ago, we spent the day riding in the Smokey Mountains. It was the first time we had ever done it. We were staying at a horse ranch and we got a little lesson and had a several hour ride. Last night was a similar kind of trail, but we only had about 20 minutes each. It was so fun though. We're definitely going to have to find a way to do more of that.

See you next time!

Day 159

We just did not feel like having school today. I don't like that feeling; it means I'm too tired. Jeff's been getting home from work at 3 am all month, and we are so ready for that to stop. He's got vacation for 2 weeks in August, so hopefully we can all catch up on sleep. We keep staying up late no matter how much we know we shouldn't.

So we did about 5 minutes of math today, a tiny bit of science, and I read Frankenstein aloud. Oh, and we played tennis. It was hot, though, and my arm felt like a limp noodle. Sarah and I pretty much stood off to the side in the shade, while the rest of them played. I can't wait until fall. I don't like summer too much. I've never really thought about that before, but I'd rather stay in the air conditioning all summer. And I generally do. Fall is my favorite. Spring's good too. Not winter though. I don't like being cold, or hot. Wow am I picky! I don't think I cared when I was young, but those days are gone.

I finished helping someone edit their book for self-publication tonight. I don't know if I mentioned that I was doing that. It's not easy to edit a book that is a little bit outside of what I would normally read. This is the first time I've done that. It was an experience. I guess the editing wasn't harder, just being excited to read the story as a reader. Plus I didn't have time to read it twice. I like to read through as a reader first and then go back and do the editing. Well, that may be a lie. I do like to make suggestions as I'm having my first impression too.

I think I'm going to have Sam take the Brave Writer class, Comic Strip Capers this fall. It would be perfect for him. He would hate taking a regular writing class. I think comic strips are similar to stop action videos, so he ought to be interested enough. And his drawing is amazing. Also, I'd like to have him accountable to another teacher for something. It's good for them. They can get another person's opinion, and not just think I'm always saying they're great because I'm Mom. Even if it is true.

See you next time!

Day 158

First thing this morning, I was reading one of my Peter Elbow writing books; and he was talking about how most people don't put their full attention on what they're writing. We're usually thinking about whether the grammar is right or spelling or punctuation. I know I make changes all the time as I write. So I had us all write about something familiar, like cutting the grass or what Bubby does in the mornings.

We were supposed to focus on the content of what we were saying and not make changes or worry about it being right the first time. It was impossible for me. For Sarah and Rachel too. Sam said he never worries about that stuff anyway! I knew he was good at it, since he doesn't care much about mechanics--or writing in general. I think Jeff worries too much about it as he writes and that makes him sound stiff.

So we all read them aloud and everyone else had to say what they liked about it or what they noticed. With Jeff's we all noticed the same part--the one part where he let his voice come through. After that, I asked everyone if they changed anything as they read it to us. Some did and some didn't. Then we marked anything we thought we'd change and traded and let each other mark them. It was fun.

I love that the whole world can be our curriculum! Any book I read or anything that interests us can teach us something.

We got to the chapter in Frankenstein today where the monster comes to life. But the guy gets scared and runs away, then it's months later and no mention of the monster! Isn't he responsible for anything that creature does? Isn't he worried he's out killing people or something? We couldn't believe it.

We didn't do too much else today. Math, individual reading, mowing the lawn, feeding my niece's dog and cat since they're out of town, trying to figure out the next season of the Lego Ninjaga show (we saw a snippet and it left us wondering), editing a book for someone. The usual.

See you next time!