Staying on Track

Or Forging New Paths

I like seeing the kids take pride in their accomplishments. I'm still figuring out how to allow them to follow their own paths and projects versus assigning them what I think school would assign them. As a result, the amount of "stuff" we have accumulated has gone down immensely. I'm still trying to catch up with scanning and cataloging all the "stuff" school sent home with my kids; paintings, homework, poems, short stories, and such.

So, when someone finishes something, I find myself making a big deal about it. Grab the camera, document it. If there's no photo of it, it didn't happen, so we MUST take a photo! It's a learning process for me to step back and allow myself and the kids to just enjoy things as they happen. In this case, after a rollercoaster was built, I asked the kid to take document with photos himself. Baby steps.










(written March 16, 2015)

Snow Day

School's Closed

I know everyone gets a day off school when the snow fall is too much. This winter wonderland is not unique to us homeschoolers. However, I like to think that we won't have to attach more days onto the end of our year as a result of exploring and sledding all day. This was a doozy of a storm and roads were closed for about three days. School kids will now have to tack on a few more days of school at the end of the year (or furlough days are being switched around). I smile when I think it's just another day for us and I'm grateful we have food in the refrigerator!








(written March 16, 2015)

Fixing Things

And Problem Solving

The kids have been fixing things lately. One has a love for twisty puzzles. All kinds. If he can't figure it out, he goes to YouTube, finds a solution video and teaches himself how to solve the puzzle. This particular puzzle, the Square 1, has been mixed up for sometime. With a resurgence of love for these puzzles, it was solved within an hour. 

The other one has a keen eye for details and organization. Our classic Pin Art toy came apart (loose screw) and all the pins came out. She decided to fix the toy and pin-by-pin, she put it back together. And of course, why not create a little art while at it?

(written March 16, 2015)

Woefully Behind

Getting My Act Together

Sigh. We have been so busy (or I have been too lazy) to keep up with the blog. I am going to add a few more posts to "catch up". I do this, mostly so I can keep track of what we've done, where we've been, and maybe, figure out where we're going. I like things in order, chronological order. Therefore, I will be post dating two years worth of "catch up" posts so that they fall in order on this blog in chronological order and in the way I want them to. I'll put the current date, I'm writing it, but the post date will be back dated. I don't now how other bloggers do this, but I'm making my own rules. Deal with it.


(written March 16, 2015)

DIY

No? Then I'll Make It Myself!

Something wonderful has happened here and I just need to talk about it for a moment. In a few instances, when I've said, "No" to something, the kids don't cry, complain or beg. Instead, they say, "OK," walk away, ponder quietly, and then create their own solution, free of charge, without suggestions from adults, on their own. I am so pleasantly surprised. I know this is how it used to be, how it should be, but in my household, it's a miracle. Let me enjoy it.

Case in Point #1 - The Wall Marble Run

Remember, back in our first year of homeschooling, we made a marble run on our wall? The kids remembered too. They were asking to do it again, and, "Where is all that cool pipe insulation stuff?" I informed them that it was so long ago, that "The Cleaning Fairy" must have tossed all the stuff away.

As I braced myself for a few tears, or at the least, begging to go buy it all over again, I opened my eyes to nothing. "Ok," they said and they walked away. They went into our craft closet, got out our big savings of empty toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, plastic bottles, and more.  "Can we use tape on the walls?" "Here," I say as I hand them painter's tape. And off they went.

Later, I was presented with a most awesome Wall Marble Rollercoaster that they had worked really hard to create. All from items we already had. All on their own. All while I had my morning coffee.



Case in Point #2 - The LEGO Advent Calendar


Have you ever gotten a LEGO advent calendar? They are fun but VERY expensive. It is common for me to buy two of many items so that I don't have to deal with "sharing" issues. However, the LEGO advent calendar is so expensive, that I just can't buy two. Even buying last year's model is still very pricey. So, I have only purchased one and they have had to take turns opening odd/even days.

This year, I decided to see if we could skip getting the LEGO advent calendars, leaving more money towards the "under the tree gift" money pool. Again, I braced myself for sad, long faces, heavy sighs, or loud comebacks. Instead, both kids just nodded their heads and said, "OK, we understand."

And again, without my help or knowledge, my kids (I think driven by my oldest one) made their own LEGO advent calendar. They had saved last year's box ( the outer one you see with the doors and scenery, and the inner box that has separate compartments for the pieces). They created 24 vignettes out of LEGO pieces to put into the separate compartments. Then they drew "instructions" and put them on the inside of the doors. After closing all the doors, they had a little trouble with pieces falling from one compartment to another (probably due to sagging of the reused, inner box). No problem! They just turned it on its side, to use gravity in their favor.

It's during moments like this that I am most proud of them. I can hear the critics saying it should always be like this, but it hasn't been for us. I really believe that slowing our family down and homeschooling is what is bringing this lifestyle into our lives, as it should be.

Purrrfect Grammar

Kitty Participation

The family cat continues to be a source of laughter during the school day (a.k.a. a major distraction).

Today, we were playing our common "Parts of Speech" game. The kids write a crazy sentence on the board and we identify each word's job in the sentence and assign it a part of speech. We made cards to help us remember what the parts of speech are. The cards include pictures drawn by the kids, examples and definitions. If we stumble upon a word we can't easily identify, we being elimination our options. For example, if we know it's not a preposition, we move that card out of the way. Not an adverb? Move that card too.

And this is promptly when the family cat walks in and takes a seat in the newly vacated spot.

No distraction here!

I'm a Poet and I Didn't Even Know It

Poetry - Tea

An idea from The Writer's Jungle by The Brave Writer. My younger child does NOT like to read and reading out loud can be excruciating for all involved. However, introducing the Poetry Tea has been miraculous. Both kids ask to do it and both kids participate with eagerness and smiles. Yes, there is something sweet to drink (no one really wants tea). There are Jelly Bellys or brownies, or something else sweet to go along with the sugary drink. So, yes, I understand that the motivation might be consuming mass amounts of sugar, but this is a small price to pay to see both kids running to the table to read poetry of all kinds out loud. 

We do have to make a lot of trips to the library, otherwise our poetry seems to be all Shel Silverstein!

We're On Fire (not literally, this time)!

Burning For Knowledge

Today, we went on a field-trip to a local glass company. Part of their business is to melt down recycled glass, gathered within the community, and reshape it into beautiful works of art for sale. We were able to see the furnace that burns all day and all night. We saw several old crucibles, where the molten glass is held. But the best part was watching a worker scoop out the molten glass and form it into a block. 

It was great that this field-trip tied into our discussions of stained glass and the historic period, Middle Ages, many of us are currently studying. Even better, learning about another business that is right here in our own community.

Science is Good

Until It Causes Nausea



We took another trip to Hatfield Science Center to take advantage of another Homeschool Day. The kids were excited and, as promised, the day turned out to be a lot of fun.

During our “Magnificent Marine Mammals” day, we learned a lot about sea otters and river otters. The kids learned how to tell the difference between to two different otters and how they live and eat. They learned about a special technology used to track seal lions and figure out why they almost vanished from our west coast. They even typed in an extremely long DNA code to figure out which whale meat they were seeing.

The day is long. The drive is long. But with friends also attending classes today, the kids had a lot of fun.

However, unbeknownst to us, Hatfield planned a necropsy of a river otter, special for us today. The kids watched part of it, but when the "skinner" began his work, many left to find other experiments to do. Some of us watched in a separate room, on a big screen, through laced fingers. In the end, it was fascinating, but also nauseating. I'm glad there are other people in the world interested in doing that kind of work, so I don't have to. 

The Glass is Full

Full of Experiences

I continue to love how what we do is connected to past experiences. Today, the kids created their own stained glass pieces. They drew inspiration and knowledge from previous days. During Gargoyle Day, they talked about rose windows and briefly discussed the usage of stained glass windows. When picking colors, the kids remembered the color wheel introduced on Color Day.

The day began with an informational and historical discussion. The adults were prepared to extend class over two days so the kids would not feel rushed and would have plenty of time to complete their masterpieces. Impressively, the kids were focused and everyone finished their brainstorming, line sketch, and finished stained glass piece.

All that is left? Waiting for them to dry!


P.S. They're dry now!

Crystal Clear

Clearly Having Fun

Today we had a few friends over to lend a helping hand to a traveling mama.

I softly suggested that two of the kids make a menu and take orders for lunch. A project that utilized creativity, planning, research, handwriting, spelling and presentation. It was also a great way to get help in feeding 5 children what they want. The two kids jumped at the opportunity to complete this project successfully and everyone got what they ordered and everyone left the lunch table happy. 

During our time together, we also did two experiments with crystals. One, done with Epsom salts was completed the same day. The other experiment, done with sugar, would be complete by the next week. The kids had fun mixing coloring into their mixtures and taking turns adding the sugar. Both experiments needed to be tweaked a little. We had to add more salt to get the crystals to grow and for the rock candy, well, I did the wrong math and had to add twice the amount of sugar after the kids had left. Then I added more. And still, we didn't end up with very good rock candy. So, one experiment was a success and the other... a tasty flop.

Gargoyle Day

Today was about viewing Gothic Architecture:

• Gothic Architecture is characterized by use of the pointed arch. Other features include: ornate facades, large windows which are often grouped or have tracery, rose windows, towers, spired and pinnacles. 

And learning about gargoyles:

• Most all stone carvings are called gargoyles, however, real gargoyles are animal-like and people-like carvings with wide-open mouths that spit out rain. Gargoyle is an old French word for throat. Our English word “gargle” comes from the same root. Other stone carvings on the outside of churches are meant to scare away demons so people could feel at peace inside.
• It takes four different specialists to create a gargoyle. A sculptor, a model maker, a stonecutter, and a stone carver.

Then, we spent the rest of our time creating:

The kids didn't finish their projects, so most took them home unfinished. A lesson for me, for sure, on scheduling time better. The thing of it is... I don't think I know what I learned, other than this project was too big for 2 hours.

It Takes a Community

The Village

Tie Dye * Dairy Palooza * Geography

This fall, four families, including ours, have decided to join together for group activities. Each mom takes a turn leading a project or learning session. So far we've each had a chance to lead a session and experience three other mom's leading. While planning my own session to lead has been a little stressful (Always wanting to please kids of a vast age range and their parents!), the month has been great. I have thoroughly enjoyed going to someone else's group to relax while someone else takes the helm!

Colors

Money Saving Tip

Or Money Boxes?

So far ever fall, before we begin our studies, we seem to do a big art projects. The first year was our classroom mural. The second year was another wall mural. Well, we ran out of walls to paint. So, our painting project was much smaller this year.

This fall, we decided to paint money jars. The kids get an allowance each month. They will separate their money into the three jars. One to save. We make periodic trips to the bank to deposit their money into their savings accounts. Two to pay taxes. Tax money will be paid back to us parents who are doling out the allowance. This is new. I have, in the past, just taken this money out before I pay them. I have put that money into their savings area and it has become what goes into their savings accounts. This may change, but for now, they will need to save money on their own and the taxes will come back to us, so that they can see how "getting paid" works for working folks. I think it's going to be a bit of a shock to their wallets. And finally, three to spend. This money is theirs to do with whatever they want (and we parents try to grin and bare it when they buy cheap toys and candy.)

Learn Locally

Eat or Shop Locally? Why Not Learn Locally, Too?

Today's field trip took us to a local wheat mill. The tour included a lot of hands-on activities. The kids saw the big mill grinding the wheat into flour. They were able to make their own label and fill a bag oby f wheat to take home. They even ground their own wheat by hand. It took a LONG time by hand... maybe making a tablespoon each in about 5-10 minutes. Fun as an activity on a tour, but none of us were sure we wanted to do that as a way to survive, although we thought about what we would do while making flour (tell stories, gossip, sing).

We're On Fire

The West Coast Is Burning

Northern CA

This summer we witnessed fire up close and personally. While we were visiting relatives in Northern California, a neighbor set their trash on fire and it got out of control. Really out of control. The fire burned more than 50 acres of land. I don't think any structures were lost or people hurt. But it was a very scary afternoon for us all, especially my family whose home was threatened. 

Something I saw, and I hope my children saw it too, is what Mr. Rogers has always been quoted for, the helpers. There were so many helpers. My cousin, my brother, the ranch hands, the homeowners. All were out there helping where they could, even if some were just standing nearby, they were ready to jump in and help with whatever was needed. There were those who were protecting the children, getting ready to leave at a moments notice. And thank goodness for the help of cell phones keeping us in touch with groups splitting up and the constant change that fire brings. The community definitely came together and with the BIG help of the local fire department, the afternoon fire was contained by dinner time and the hot dog feast was ON!

Just a few days later, The Rim Fire began and quickly became the third-largest wildfire in California's history. Camp Tuolumne was devoured by the fire, a place I went to with my family as a child. Having seen, up close, what fire can do and how fast it can move and destroy, made The Rim Fire even more sad and scary to us. 

I'm posting about these events, because the feeling of community, and their fierce desire to protect their homes, has stayed with me. The surreal feelings from our day at the "front lines" were so mild compared to the California wildfire and yet our feelings were "big". It is definitely a day that has left its imprint on in my memories and my children's memories. I definitely see it as a BIG day of learning about people and their will to survive and strength to rebuild. 

Around 1979. Camp Tuolumne, Berkeley Family Camp.

Golden Ratio

Or "That Fibonacci Thing"?

While walking on a trail, we found these beautiful tree cones on the ground. My son takes a look at one and says, in a breathless, awe-inspired voice, "Ohhhhh, it's a giant Fibonacci thing!" My smile was felt all the way through to my toes. It's definitely one of those moments where you feel that all you are doing is making a positive difference in your child's world. And you are reminded that they actually do listen when you're talking.

We also revisited Newton's Laws of Physics while visiting an amusement park. These explanations came in handy when realizing why we didn't need to worry about falling out of the restraints on some of the scary rides!

Stale Marshmallows

But Not Stale Time

I only remember getting bored once this summer. That's when we decided to make catapults to see how far we could launch large, stale marshmallows. Not sure this warrants a post, but thought it was fun!

Smash, Don't Trash

It's Still Good! In our attempts to slow down life through homeschooling, we have continued to see changes in our behaviors. Instead of throwing out an old, broken CD drive, we think, "Let's let the kids smash it with a hammer!" And then we find out, together, that a hammer isn't strong enough, we need pliers, a crow bar, and some patience. We get to see the motherboard, transistors, and the super shiny "thingy that spins".

Testing, Testing...

1, 2, 3...

This June my daughter participated in the standardized testing process, a requirement made by the state where we reside. The pressures surrounding the test are confusing to me.

As a homeschooling family, I feel more pressure to perform well than if we were participating in the public school system, where I already felt enormous pressure to be "top of the class".  I am trying not to put that kind of pressure onto my kids.

These tests and how the schools teach to the test are among some of the main reasons we have chosen to homeschool. I no longer believe the tests are worthy of finding the brightest or most well rounded kids. More and more, I believe it is an archaic system of the Industrial Age that no longer works for the Information Age. But, just because I don't believe in the methods anymore, doesn't mean other people aren't still holding onto the old ideas. So, we must partake in the standardized tests. And, to prove to the "nay-sayers" of our lifestyle, I feel we must perform well. It's odd to want to do well at something I think is invalid. So, I wouldn't be surprised if my kids are getting mixed messages.

We try to downplay any pressure surrounding the test. But the word "test" inherently brings our family stress. Through thoughtful discussions, we talk about how we feel about these tests and how best to approach them. We could spend time doing practice tests and studying the art of test taking. Or, we could just do our best, knowing the tests won't cover everything we studied and will cover things we haven't studied, therefore, our scores may be lower than those who attend public schools. In addition, taking note that some questions are written ambiguously with more than one answer, putting the student into a debate of, "Do I answer what I think is right," or "What the test writer is looking for?" We have found several of these kinds of questions on sample tests, where, depending on how you interpret the question, there are two good answers. Usually one answer is more straight forward and one is more thoughtful (in my opinion) and the correct one is usually the more straight forward answer (in my opinion). Another reason I think standardized tests are wonky and I try to make this point of view clear to my children. I hope these discussions allow my kids to come to the conclusion that however they perform on these tests is NOT a good indicator of how they will succeed in life. I hope my kids forgive me that, while I currently believe this to be true, I am still deschooling myself and it's taking longer than I imagined.

After all the hubbub, my daughter did just fine. She's happy to take the next three years off until her next state required test. Now onto next year when my son will be required to participate and we'll do it all over again.

Me Too

I'm Learning to Love Learning

One of the main goals I have in homeschooling my children is to teach them to love learning. What I'm finding, is that as I guide my children along this path, I am re-learning to love learning.

I went through a traditional schooling experience. I survived it. I succeeded at it. I came out ok. However, many of my "successes" are really just my success at coping with certain restraints or figuring out how to "work the system". I want my children's experiences to be more than just coping.

As I homeschool my kids, I find that I'm excited to learn too. I am still not interested in learning history, it's never been my favorite subject. But I am fascinated, that when I read about historical events, knowing there is no test later, I find that the information is much more interesting to me. I may forget the facts tomorrow, but the general feelings of events stay with me. I love putting different historical pieces together and seeing a larger picture. A new energy is emerging from me as I read about our world's history.

Perhaps one could argue my interest is peaking because I'm older now and history is more interesting to me at this age than when I was a teenager. But I think I'm having more fun because there's no test to measure how much information I'm retaining. No one is asking me if I can site 3 examples as to why my point of view is correct. I'm free to read in any order I want. I get to share my thoughts and interpretations with others without a grade attached to it.

I am also allowed to learn about things that interest me, like the photography business I have with my father. There is always something to learn in photography that will make my work better. I hope my children see that, while I may be scared sometimes (like shooting my first wedding event), I am attacking the learning curve around my passion. That I, willingly, spend the time to be sure I'm ready for a shoot. That "getting ready" can look like practice, information gathering, reading, and more. I hope they see how proud I am of myself after successfully completing a shoot I worked really hard one (not just on the day, but the days and weeks leading up to the event).

Motivation Works

 How A Motivated Kid Succeeds

I keep wondering how my kids can learn under the unschooling method. I want them to follow their passions. But at their ages (8 and 11), they seem to be passionate about YouTube and Minecraft. Yes, they have other interests. Yes, it is my job as the parent to facilitate learning for those other interests. But I keep reading about successful kids and how they followed their interests on their own. Because they were interested in the subject, they learned faster, deeper and without much direction from an adult. I just don't see that kind of behavior with my kids yet. They are young, and perhaps that is why. Or perhaps I'm too lazy and too hands off? Whatever the reason, this lack of motivation that fuels my desire to hold onto certain school paradigms I desperately want to let go.

This summer, my daughter participated in a day camp based on the theme of the Percy Jackson  novels. One of her tasks was to sharpen 10 sticks with a knife, unaided, so she could use them with a homemade bow. I was impressed with her dedication to the project. She stayed up late into the night, working in the dark, to get her 10 sticks completed.

I admit, I offered to help around 10pm. She refused my help, wanting to do it herself. I promised I wouldn't tell. I promised they couldn't figure it out. But she refused.

The cynical part of me thought this was only to avoid getting caught. Or to avoid being embarrassment in front of co-campers who she feared would finish without her. Or to avoid humiliation if she wasn't allowed to participate in the next day's events because she didn't finish. But, the optimistic part of me is proud of her. She was determination to do her own work, no matter how long it took. She made each stick "perfect". She kept her integrity about her and did all the work herself.

In the end, of course, the counselors realized the task was too long for one night and gave the kids another day to complete the assignment. My daughter, having finished the night before, enjoyed a night off, feeling proud of her accomplishment.

Is It Summer Yet?

 Can't Conentrate Anymore

I planned to be engaged in our routine until early or mid-June with the local public school system. However, this year, we went on a big family vacation at the end of May. Since returning home, I have NOT been able to get back into routine-mode. So, for our family, summer routines started early.

Thank goodness for a homeschooling community that continues on and invites us on wonderful field trips to local museums.

The Joy of Giving

Giving Together

The girls celebrated their birthdays together this year. We talked with them about having so much in our lives. We asked if they'd be willing to forgo regular gifts and ask invitees to bring donations for our local pet shelter instead. I'm proud that they agreed to do this and it was a great celebration that ended in warm and fuzzy feelings as we donated tons of dog and cat food.

My Mistake

Lead by Mistake

I think it's fun that my kids get to learn from my mistakes, not just their own. Being home with me, most of the time, they are able to see a lot more of my mistakes as I make them.

Today, I left the room while boiling eggs. I completely forgot I was cooking until I heard a loud banging noise. I thought the kids were hitting the wall with a stool or book or... I really couldn't imagine why they were making such a racket. When they yelled through the house that they weren't doing anything, I came to investigate and found my eggs like this. The banging noise I heard? Eggs exploding and popping all over the kitchen.

I am also reminded that even though we all learn through our experiences, we can forget and may need to re-learn some lessons. Things I re-learned today and hope my kids learned too:
1) Always set a timer when working in the kitchen
2) Exploding eggs are very loud and go very far (I was still finding bits and pieces hours later)
3) Forgive yourself for making a mistake you know you should have been able to avoid
4) No one's hurt? Then laugh!

Events Lead Our Learning

 Learning Day by Day

More and more, we are using the events of our days to drive our learning. Unschoolers learn through their natural life experiences, and I'm learning more and more how this type of learning looks as I try to separate from traditional schooling formulas.

The Dalai Lama was invited to speak in our town over 10 years ago and his visit was finally realized a few days ago. We read books on his life, spirituality, exile, and more. We also read about others who have received the Nobel Peace Prize. This event was an exciting opportunity that presented itself and drove our learning for the past few weeks. I continue to enjoy the freedom and flexibility to be able to focus on events happening right now without the fear that something else is being "skipped over" to make room for it.

Moms' Day Out

Follow the Leader

Spring fever is here and any chance we get, we are outside enjoying the sunshine. Today we walked around the local ponds again. This time we went with friends and had a great time looking for turtles. It was great to see a mama duck leading her ducklings in the pond, just as we were leading our "ducklings" around the pond (but to be honest, we didn't really lead our "ducklings" as much as they ran ahead!)

Hallway Walking

Walking the Hallway 


We visited a public middle school today. A friend was filming a project and invited the kids to participate. They had a blast, and while we were there, I snapped a few photos of the movie process. I got a few photos of what may never happen (my kids walking down the hallway with classmates, backpacks on, looking into their lockers...)?

Doing the Heavy Lifting

Physical and Nutritional Education

This year we have tried to be better about P.E. for the kids. Swim lessons, park play when it's nice out, hikes on the weekends, weekly meet-ups at the track... but it is a daunting task when it's so cozy inside with our books and computers. 

Nutrition, although it seems easier to discuss anytime, anywhere, is almost harder to explain. I'm constantly clarifying that food that is baked and not fried still may not be healthy. Is "less bad for you" really "good for you?" I mean, organic doesn't always mean what we think it should mean. So, nutrition always seems to be a lot of consumer awareness education, and not just eat a well rounded meal!

So, it was great to be invited to this field trip to a gym, where a trainer gave us a tour of the gym, weight lifting lessons, and a healthy snack. The kids even got a label reading lesson! It's always great to get information that supports what we're telling the kids on a daily basis.

Spring Fever

The sun is out, and so are we!

It rains a lot where we live, so when the sun shines bright, the whole town comes out to celebrate. We are no different.

The trees are bursting with leaves, the rhododendrons in full bloom, bees buzzing and we are definitely feeling spring fever. It's been hard to concentrate on studies, when the grass is calling for bare feet and the trees are begging to be climbed.

We've enjoyed several days of playing hooky. We know that we aren't in summer yet, so the sunshine can be fleeting. Thus, when it comes out, we call another homeschooling family and head to a local park.

Yay sunshine!

Marshmallow Shooters

Trouble shooting

Today we made Marshmallow Shooters using an Instructable tutorial. I've been wanting to do this for months and just never had the gumption to try it on my own with the kids. Finally, we found the time today and it couldn't have been easier! I just needed to be shown where the saw and vice were, then the shooters were super easy to make.

The interesting thing is that we loaded the marshmallows incorrectly at first. We were a bit disappointed with how our shooters were working (or not working) and we played for a little while. Then we figured out a way to load the marshmallow better and we started getting better results, but intermittently. Then we finally figured out where to put the marshmallow to get the best results and BAM! we were shooting super far with amazing speed. The sounds of the pop were satisfying and we found ourselves laughing amidst our joy and pain (When we got better at shooting and aiming, the marshmallows did sting a little bit when they found their target!)

I'm sure it would have still been fun if we figured it out the first time, but struggling at first and then figuring it out definitely made our success that much sweeter. Our failures definitely led to problem solving, experimenting and learning. Score!

Serendipity Continues

A great attitude does much more than turn on the lights in our worlds; it seems to magically connect us to all sorts of serendipitous opportunities that were somehow absent before the change. -  Earl Nightingale

I am finding that opportunities continue to present themselves to us. Opportunities that fit right into our lives and what we are doing. It's exciting each time we find experiences that strengthen what we have already studied and take our learning to a deeper level.

While on a trip to Southern California to meet our newest member of the family (baby niece of 5 weeks!) we found ourselves at the Upper Newport Bay Center. This center is a great resource that is free of charge. One exhibit concentrated on the migration of birds. Seriously? We JUST finished our unit on birds and migration. Cool that we were able to finish our unit with a free museum tour!


Then, a friend in our homeschooling community put together a "Brain" tour at the local university. The kids were able to learn about the brain and touch a few different brains! And yes, we did a brain unit just a few months ago!





And then, my daughter asked to study another animal this year. Turtles. She quickly decided to narrow her study to sea turtles. However, through her research, she did learn a lot about all kinds of turtles, tortoises and other reptiles.

In the meantime, I had been wanting to walk around the Delta Ponds near us, but never had. Not in the 6 years we've lived in this town. Someone just mentioned their latest walk around this area and said that they were able to see the turtles. I asked where to park and at the next sunny opportunity, we took off for the Delta Ponds and found no less than 28 turtles (the kids counted). During our walk, my daughter explained to my son and me all about turtles.  What a timely and wonderful experience for us all!