Trying Something New

Something new is trying

Fire hydrants captured on one of the walks with the photography class I taught.

For the fall of this school year, we decided to try a new co-op homeschooling program. In fact, I worked all through last summer with the other co-founders, shaping it into something I thought our family could use. Just before the beginning of the first term, I felt that we had accomplished that and I was super excited to start the fall. 

Unfortunately, ideas on paper don't always match up to reality. There's only so much planning you can do. A group movement is going to gain momentum, but it might not go the way you want it to, or the way you thought it would. All these cliches being said.... the co-op was a roaring success. Just not for my family.

A few of the goals of this new endeavor, for many of us, were to reduce the amount of searching for classes, reduce the amount time spent driving across town, and to have consistency with seeing people during the week. I agreed with all of these. I wanted all of these goals to be accomplished. And it was accomplished. But the reality of it didn't fit our family's style and I became VERY frustrated and disappointed. 

Then, "hello, kismet"! I read Julie Bogart's (creator of Brave Writer) article with the following excerpt:

..........I've noticed a trend in home education products and services. More and more they resemble the schedule, trappings, and services of school. In fact, I remember a friend saying to me one time that she felt like she lived in her car. She was driving to sports practices, music lessons, a co-op, tutoring for math and science, and her kids were also in an acting company.

Her comment cracked me up: "Wouldn't it be great if all of these services and classes were in one building and happened all day in a row? It would make my life so much easier."

I thought she was joking, but when I saw that she wasn't, I said, "That does exist. It's called school."

Now she cracked up! "You're right! Oh my gosh, you're right. I didn't even think of that! What am I doing?"

That was a good question.............

A good question, indeed. We gave it a good try. The experience was VERY trying on our family. We found ourselves on the schedule of the co-op. We were asked to fundraise for the co-op. We were asked to give, give, give to the co-op. Class sizes were varied, but some were too big, creating situations where teachers (OK, I can really only speak for myself and what I heard from my own kids) had to spend a lot of time wrangling or disciplining kids. The kids were exposed to behaviors from other kids I would deem inappropriate, but I felt powerless to change it. We felt the stresses of being an introverted, oddball, anxiety-ridden family amongst many extroverted mainstream families. Situations that bothered us, didn't bother the most of the families. So change seemed to be an uphill battle. 

Most of our time, ok, most of my time was spent preparing for the classes I taught, or relaxing from a harried day. Thus, no time was spent doing what we have found to love in the first three years of homeschooling. I felt like we were back in the public school system. I had to say no too many times to my kids' curiosities. I felt all my energies were spent going towards other people's children rather than my own. 

I'm sad that we lost a year. I'm ready to hit the ground running this fall with something OLD. Go back to what we know works for us. I'm really trying to keep a positive spin in that we tried to fill a need, and even thought it went terribly wrong for us, we tried. I'm trying to model another cliche, "if at first you don't succeed, try, try again."  

P.S. There were a few pros to our experience. I did teach a photography class. Taking the kids on walks each week to photograph a concept I just taught them was fun. I enjoyed watching them be excited to share their creative photographs. The experience even reignited my own interest in photography. I'm back looking through the view finder and I'm feeling good about that. 

(written July 31, 2015)

Gratuitous Post

Just bragging here...

Things I continue to love about homeschooling that feel like bragging when we talk about it:

Getting to go out on a weeknight with little to no repercussions.  Here the kids are having watched the university acrobatic tumbling team compete. It was a Thursday and we didn't have to worry about getting up early for school the next day. Sleep in everyone!

I guess this one, most people can still do, but I associate it with homeschooling because it's not something I would ever have done if the kids remained in public school. This photo is from one of our Poetry Teas. This Poetry Tea was accompanied by mass amounts of chocolate, trying to get rid of all that holiday candy!

I love that we can do "school photos" whenever we want. This year, we delayed until November. Not on purpose, but that's how our schedule worked.  And we get to do "non-traditional" poses. And we get to do more. 

Community Helps

Thank you for the opportunities

I am still grateful for our homeschool community. This year was full of changes for us all and we found it harder to get together with all of our busy schedules. But we did find time and we went on some great field trips. 

A chemist lights gas on fire!

Above the large aquatic tanks.

It doesn't hurt to ask, right? We asked if we could to the "behind the scenes" tour at the aquarium (normally reserved for older kids) and they said yes! So, all our kids got to see how they feed the fish, clean the aquariums, and care for sick species. 

(written July 31, 2015)

Re-Learning

We're all learning

I love it when I get to learn something too. The kids were doing some homework for a Chemistry class they're taking. I helped the younger one with a few of the calculations. In doing so, I realized, I LOVED what they were doing. I vaguely remember doing it, myself, way back in time. But I didn't remember these calculations having the specific name, stoichiometry. It's all about balancing. I'm really good at it... when it's on paper... between molecules. I just wish life balancing was as easy.

(written July 31, 2015)

No Hallmark Celebrations

Celebrating Other Holidays

Have I said this before? One of the greatest things I've experienced in homeschooling, is the leaving behind of every-single-celebration. We no longer have to bring a snack to holiday parties or 35 Valentines for each kid in the class. If we do celebrate a holiday, we can do it however we want to, without offending someone or modifying it due to large numbers and short amount of time. OMG, it's fantastic. I didn't realize how much stress I had due to holidays celebrated in public school.

This year, we're back to celebrating Groundhog Day with a small group of friends. This year, a pancake breakfast (last year we had a cookie exchange).




(written July 21, 2015)

Déjà Vu

Haven't we seen this before?


Preparing for a class, the kids were asked to watch the sun patterns. Something we did as our very first theme unit! It was fun to chalk our outlines again to see how tall we were in the morning, at noon, and in the evening.

It was also good for me, as the main teaching parent, to see that they remembered a lot of what we learned a few years ago. Some of it sunk in and stayed there!


Something else we rediscovered were our marionettes we made during our first year of homeschooling. Here's one of the marionettes (on the left) posing with its inspiration, Tiny (on the right). We create much fewer products homeschooling than the kids did in public school (I'm still trying to catch up on scanning all their art, homework, projects from school!)

(written July 31, 2015)

Dad Gets Invovled!

Building a computer

We were all happy when Dad decided to help the kids build their own computer from scratch. It ended up being a little bit "more" of a project than we initially thought. But, that got our youngest helping with the research for parts! As for me, I got to relax for a little while, as Dad did the work.

(written July 31, 2015)

Be Careful What You Research

It May or May Not Pay Off

As part of our yearly activities, I have had the kids do a project on an animal of their choice. The first year, the kids made dioramas to incorporate what they learned. The second year, one of the kids wrote a comic strip full of facts they had learned. This year, the younger one filled in a traditional report (habitat, diet, etc.), while the older one made a presentation on all that she researched about hedgehogs. We had discussed the possibility of allowing her to get her own hedgehog, but that we needed more information. She researched everything from how to purchase one, how to feed one, to how much it might cost per month to care for one. What a great way to end this assignment with the purchase (she used her own money) of Blizzard, the newest family member.

This process definitely proved the correlation between interest and motivation and how we all learn.


(written March 20, 2015)

Mandalas, Jelly Beans, Sheep Shearing

What an Eclectic Life We Lead

Watching monks create a Mandala. Struggling with homemade Jelly Beans. Watching sheep get shorn.

With Facebook, Instagram and other social sharing sites, I sometimes get overwhelmed with what others are doing. More to the point, what I am NOT doing. So, once in a while, I look back at what we did do and I realize that we, too, are doing cool stuff I never expected to do.


(written March 20, 2015)

Love and Loss

Getting to Live Life

I keep coming back to the idea that homeschooling is a new way of life for our family. One that I could never have understood before entering it. One that I can't seem to explain to someone who strongly holds onto my old way of life.

I've said it before, and I feel like I say it at least once a week, that opportunities seem to have opened up to us now that we've made the switch to homeschooling. That different parts of our lives seem to entwine in ways they never did before. I feel like when big life events happen, because we homeschool, our family is able to process our emotions on our own time and in our own way.

This month of May has brought us together with love and loss. On May 19, 2014, the state of Oregon courts supported marriage equality. The kids and I were able to go downtown and witness, not only some of the first marriages under this new law, but also the supportive families, friends, and community. I'm not sure the kids were as impacted as I was, but they were there. They will remember.

Also in this month, our family pet of 16 years passed away. It was a very traumatic experience for us all. But I am grateful that we were able to go through it as a family. That there was no shame in our grief.

What does this all have to do with homeschooling? What do marriage equality and our cat dying have to do with the other? I don't know. It made sense when I started this post and now it seems like I'm forcing the connection. But what I do know is that when I signed-in at my chiropractor appointment, I noticed this saying written by an office worker. I swear they don't normally put quotes on their sign-in book. Or if they do, I only noticed today. And there. Bam. Kismet. Serendipity. Connection. A quote, just for me. Just for this month of May that was filled with love and loss.

Still, what does this all have to do with homeschooling? I just feel that all these big life happenings are happening more. Or that my eyes are open to what's happening around us more. Or... oh I don't know.

Just go hug your family and revel in love.


(written March 20, 2015)

The Weight of It All

What is worth more, a pound of quarters or a pound of dimes?

The kids wondered if this were true. They set out to find out. Luckily, we had a dragon-coin-bank filled with coins. They separated out a pound of quarters and a pound of dimes. Then they added up the monetary worth of the coins. Their results showed that a pound of quarters and a pound of dimes equal approximately the same amount of money (about $20).

The numbers came out to be a little different, but very, very close. The kids new this would happen, but seeing it proven through their own actions was exciting for them. They came up with their own ideas as to why the two pounds of coins might not be worth exactly the same amount:

1: the scale isn't precise

2: the coins are all used, so some might be too old and thus "rubbed" to be less weight than a new coin

3: perhaps all the coins weren't made of the same materials, depending on when they were minted

It's definitely times like these when I see "it all working" the way it's supposed. They started with a question, a curiosity, or theory. They figured out how to investigate. They came to a conclusion. They accounted for margins of error. This experience was worth a lot more.

(written July 31, 2015)

On a Roll With Units

Or Rolling the Units

We still love learning via unit studies. Or call it what you like, but for us, it's all about making connections. So, while we don't do "Sushi-math" while studying sushi, we do get a lot of books from the library to read all about the history of sushi. We look at maps to understand the geography. And the best part is the "final product", because we got to make and eat sushi. Darn tasty.

(written March 16, 2015)

Successes and Failures

Winning and Losing 

Homeschooling is like every day life, there are some days you do really well and other days where you'd like a do-over. Why would I think it would be any different? Why do I think, that any time we take something out of our life, that we'll have all this free time to do more of what we want and be less adherent to the almighty schedule? I thought I'd have more time to learn how to garden. That I'd be able to teach the kids about growing vegetables. And yet, here are my brussels sprouts. They've been ready to harvest for days and I just ignored them and let them get pummeled by a recent storm. All because I didn't have the time or energy to get out there.

And yet, on other days, I organize an impromptu clay-date with some left-over clay we had. And a dinner with friends turned into a group game driven and executed by the kids alone. I love it when times like this happen organically. Sometimes it feels the harder I try to get something together, the harder I fail to make it happen. But if we just sit back and breathe, something comes along and it surprises me how easy it can be.

(written March 16, 2015)

Resolutions

Happy New Year

So it's a new year and we've decided to climb the local butte as many times as we can. Here's our first of the year. It was a beautiful start. It seems as if the school year is deeply connected with the New Year. I mean, this is the time I read about a lot within the homeschooling community. The time when you're tired, winter is keeping you cooped up, you question what you're doing, blah, blah, blah. Just when we're all ready to start a new year afresh, it's also time to start homeschooling afresh. Get new ideas, get motivated, get out and about. Pump new energy into the daily routine.

-----------------------
Now, since I'm writing this way later, I can say, our goal of 20+ times up the butte in the year did NOT happen. It ended up more like 8-10 times. I couldn't even keep count accurately as I got bored after the first few times. So, like many homeschooling curriculums or plans, I was excited about the hiking plan, I propagated the hiking plan, tried the hiking plan, and then didn't continue the hiking plan, I just set that plan on the shelf with the other unused curriculum.

(written March 16, 2015)

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!