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)

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. 

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).

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.

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.

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!

Walking the Wetlands

Another timely opportunity

Today we went on a guided walk though our local wetlands program. The last time we visited the wetlands, it was a hot, early, October day and the wetlands were dry. This time, temperatures was near freezing, the wind was a bit nippy, and the wetlands were... wet. I had our new family binoculars to try out and the guides handed out binoculars to anyone who needed a pair, so the kids each had their own pair to use.

We are currently studying birds and migration for our thematic unit. So this field trip was perfect in its timing. There were six kids total on the trip, several retired persons, and many volunteers from the program leading the walk. I am still in wonderment as to how homeschooling (and living in a smaller town) has slowed me down as a person. I still remember the rush of being in a constant hurry, never having a minute to stop and talk. I still find moments where I behave this way. But more and more, I am learning to stop and listen. There were so many experienced bird watchers on this walk, all willing to share their knowledge with us and our children. And all forgiving when the kids ran ahead, skipping and making loud, happy, child noises.

I continue to enjoy learning alongside my children. One fact I learned today? This beautiful species, Anna's hummingbird, stays local throughout winter. Many do not migrate south along with the other species of hummingbirds as Anna's hummingbirds tollerate the cold very well. I hope this guy finds enough to eat, as I have brought in our hummingbird feeder for feer of freezing at these low temperatures. Perhaps we need to rotate feeders so we can always put out a warm one for those who stay in town.

Scientific Proof

Science is Amazing

Thanks to another homeschooling mom in our community, we were able to participate in another wonderful field trip. This time, we went to Oregon State University for some hands on experience in microbiology. This field trip was definitely worth the long drive in so many ways. 

First, the kids were able to look at samples using very nice equipment. The college students, who lead our kids, gave instructions on how to keep their work area clean, gave hands on help with microscopes and showed them how to use a bunsen burner. Our kids were exposed to aseptic methods, information on identifying samples and safety rules. 

Second, the group of college students that helped were diverse. Half of them were women and there was a sampling of different ethnicities. I remember being around 10 years old and meeting college students for the first time. They were so tall and so very important. I remember wanting to be one because they just oozed coolness. Now an older, biracial, woman (and mom), I was excited to see my daughter meet her first college student. How wonderful that she was able to see students from various backgrounds working in the science industry. 

Third, the main student who led our group was a very well spoken young man. I figured him for a graduate student, but found out he is an undergraduate for another semester. He not only led the kids in their work, but also gave us a tour of the campus. During the tour, he gave a lot of commentary on what college could be. Not only studies in academics, but also a lot of learning of life skills. He spoke of the mistakes he's made and how it's gotten him where he is today. He talked about the research OSU inspires and that the work they are doing is to affect real life, to make changes, to do something. I am not doing him justice, because in his quiet manner, he really said it well. A lot of what we parents tell our kids, but now it's coming from someone "cooler".

Overall, it was a fantastic field trip. One that will stick in my mind... if only to make me want to go back to college again!

Run, Salmon, Run!

A member of the homeschooling community set up a trip to see the Salmon Run with the guidance of one of her friends. I've read about how this is a perk of homeschooling, utilizing resources close by, but living it has been amazing. So, on his day off, our guide Tim, took us on a fantastic tour of the salmon. 

The weather cooperated very well. It rained off and on during the 50 minute drive, but once we got there, the rain eased up. I was worried I wouldn't be able to take photos, but I was lucky enough to take many, too many to choose from, so there are a lot in this post.

From the road, we were able to see and hear the flowing river. 

Beautiful trees watched us as we continued on our path.

Tim, our instructor for the day, asked that we be quiet as we watched the salmon swim. Loud noises could disturb the fish on their journey. It was extremely difficult to keep quiet. When you see a fish jump 5 feet into the air trying to go up a large waterfall, you can't help but squeal with delight, cheer the fish on, hoping it'll make it this time! We did get to see a few fish discover the fish ladder and make it up to the next level. I have never seen anything like it and was exhilarated by the experience of watching the salmon jump.

Our hike back up to begin the next segment of the trip.

Our next and final stop was a few minutes down the road. 

More beautiful sights awaited us.

The kids loved looking over the bridge to see the calmer part of the river where we'd be spending our afternoon. From the bridge, we did not see any live fish, but a few dead ones were spotted. We learned that scientists come out to count the dead bodies. To keep track of which ones have been counted, they cut off the tail, so if you see a tail, it has not been counted yet.

More beautiful trees surrounding us on this day.

And here is our classroom for the day. Love it!

I am not a fisherman. I have fished, but I am not a fisherman. There are fisherman in my extended family, but I am not a fisherman. I have always found a reason to be somewhere else when the fish were cleaned. Therefore, it was pretty cool to see the gills of this fish. Note: A sad part of spawning, for the female fish, is that after she lays her eggs, she dies a few days later.

This time, no cheers. We were on our best behavior at this part of the river. Giving our respect to the female fish trying to find safe places to lay their eggs and to the males trying to fertilize them. It was a majestic time with the quiet trickling of the river, soft steps of onlookers, and the occasional splash from a salmon.

Here you can see the tail fin and dorsal fin of a salmon near the rocks.

This seems to be a centipede? Seems to have one set of legs per body segment and segmented antennae. But, I'm no bug expert. I do know, however, that there were tons of them on this tree and that the younger boys were enthralled with them.

The Wetlands and What Grade Are You?

As we venture deeper into unschooling, I understand more and more why some people do away with labeling their kids in a certain grade altogether. We instantly did away with tests and scores, so why not grades? It seems harder to push aside as we live in a society that asks this question all the time. Sometimes it's just easier to answer with an acceptable grade versus explaining that you don't follow grades, or explaining that you might be a second grader in language arts, but third grade in math and first grade in science.

So, it was funny when we went on a field trip to the local wetlands and the leader asked the kids to yell out what grade they are in. When the leader got to my son, he just looked at the leader, then to me, then back to the leader. I interjected the silence for him and loudly said, "Second!" and we all had a good laugh.

On this field trip, we were able to see a lot of creatures that inhabit the wetlands biome. One of the first creatures we spotted, was this praying mantis eating its wooly caterpillar lunch.

As we walked around, we found lots of bugs to investigate, beaver dams, a controlled burn area and more.

National Parks and Geocaching

School On The Road

We decided to take a longer trip for Thanksgiving. I planned to make the most of it and printed out tons of activities for the kids to do. I didn't bring the math books, but I did bring some mapping activities, word puzzles, writing assignments and more. Long story short, we didn't do most of it. We were too busy doing other

activities. So, I'm not sure how other families study "on th

e road" but it didn't seem to work too well for our family. Maybe our trip was too short (two weeks) to find time for worksheets. We had an activity planned for almost every day, so by the time bedtime rolled around, we were all exhausted. We did look at the maps, to see where we were driving each day, but the rest of our school work grew cobwebs.

School Happens Everywhere

However, part of our new found thinking is that school happens everywhere, not just in books. When we knew we were going to visit Muir Woods, near San Francisco, my husband looked on line and found a great activity for the kids to do while we were there. We printed the pdf Redwood Discovery a Quest at Muir Woods at our hotel and armed each kid with a pencil. When we arrived at Muir Woods, the ranger station had a "junior ranger" program already there. If we hadn't had our quest, I think we would have done their program. It's great to know that there are activities at national monuments to keep kids involved and interested. The junior ranger program was similar to our quest, it asked kids to find things along the way. However, you then turned in your sheets, and later, they send you a junior ranger patch. The quest, on the other hand, gave you a sticker at the end (if you figured out all the clues to be able to open the lock). It was nice to have immediate gratification for our hard work.

Geocaching is World Wide

Geocaching, a GPS based treasure hunt, has been a great discovery for our family as well. Whenever we are away from home (or even at home), and in need of something to do outside, we think of Geocaching. There are thousands of little treasures hidden all over. On this trip, we found ourselves in Golden Gate Park. As we explored the trail system in the park, we discovered three geocaches in 30 minutes!

Joining a Community

Pumpkin Pals:

For a few weeks now, my daughter (9) has been asking to join the local homeschooling community. She has been craving company (other than her brother) and misses her old school friends. While we try to have friends over, with fall schedules well under way, it's hard to find time after their school and extracurricular activities.

We chose the pumpkin patch for our first activity. It was the first year in a while without a school scheduled pumpkin farm field trip. The kids had a great time and we met a few families with children the same ages. We even re-met a family who had been to our same public school a few years ago!

Alone at the Museum

Alone at the museum (sort of):

A friend was unable to use tickets, which were about to expire, to the aquarium. We decided to buy the tickets from her and went to the aquarium during the week. It was nice to be there when it was not too crowded. Most of the other kids that were there were younger (probably pre-school age?) We did see one other family there with older kids, but I didn't have to courage to ask if they were a homeschool family or not!

One obvious benefit of being able to go to popular places during the week is less crowds. Maybe less obvious is the benefit of the staff's expertise. I have found on more than one occasion that staff yearn to share their knowledge with you. They are hungry for an audience. In our case, one staff member sought us out to show us the new baby octopi. How cool is that? I imagine it's very different on the busy days when they spend a lot of time handling crowds.