What homeschooling looks like today

Remember those school days when you just wished you could sit in a really comfy chair with your kitty beside you?  Well, that's what homeschool looks like here today:

...and just in case it seems lonely, here's a look at what homeschool looked like yesterday:

Homeschool Hooky Day 2011

When Public school started up a couple of weeks ago, we celebrated the first day of school by NOT doing any school! We went with friends for pizza!

 Then I taught Earthgirl's BFF (one of many BFFs) to chain stitch while Earthgirl took her piano lesson.  I couldn't quite go for hooky from piano  - I pay whether we are there or not.  Since we waiting gals were "hooking" on our crochet hooks, I guess it was still hooky.

And there was peace sign art, because Earthgirl just loves peace signs.  I did when I was her age, too!   So many styles and motifs from my growing up years are back in style.  Her friend just wanted to keep crocheting, and asked me to teach her to do a single crochet.  I think she will be a natural!

Earthgirl is in 6th grade this year.  What a blessing it is to be her teacher.

In case you are curious....

So here is the dissection of the cow's eye.

Old Math Joke

My good friend Science Geek posted a Cool Math Lesson today, and it reminded me of an old joke:

The young man comes home from college to his less-educated Daddy.  Daddy says, "Well son, whadya learn at that fancy college you're goin' to?"

The son replies, "Pi R square!"

Daddy shout, "Ya idiot!  Pie R round; cornbread R square!" 

Dream Job

The other day, Earthgirl asked me what my dream job would be.  Then she said, "I think I know.".

She was right.

I have my dream job.  I'm a wife and homeschooling mama.  I get to do some crafty artsy sewing-y things, and sometimes do a little technical work, self-employed.  That's what I want to do.  That's what I AM doing. 

Sometimes, though, I forget that I am in my dream job.  Sometimes I forget to thank God for my dream job, and for the husband and daughter who make it possible.  Sometimes I act grumpy.  I murmur and complain.

Mary Engelbreit did a piece of artwork years ago that has stuck with me.  It says, "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."  She attributes the quote to the very quotable Abraham Lincoln.  The quote is double-edged, isn't it?  There is the sunshiny, positive outlook of a woman who finds a way to take joy in  whatever place she finds herself.  Then there is the outlook that can grump even while living  her own dream.  I don't want to be viewpoint number 2 - I want to look around me and remember that I am in my dream job.

 At her Birthday Pajama Party: Though she is 10 now, Mama can still pick her up

1st Day of school and Homeschool Hooky!

Our local public schools got back in the swing of things Monday.  We follow the public school schedule, more or less.  In the past it has worked out well to be off when they are off - play days! - and on when they are on.  But on the first day of school, we play hooky! 

 We have friends who like playing hooky, too.

Why do we play hooky?  Just because we can!

So Tuesday was our first real day of school. 

During our breaks, we often take time to pet our mascot.

Read the directions

A couple of weeks ago while we were in Orlando, we visited IKEA.  Earthgirl and I had fun roaming among the IKEA-designed showrooms upstairs, and then grabbing office and kitchen goodies downstairs.  We never have really spent as long as we want in IKEA.  We've been twice to the store in Atlanta and twice to the one here in central Florida, but always there is a schedule to keep.  It's probably just as well - I'd probably try to redo the whole house if I had more time.

We picked up 3-slot document organizers; one in steel for me, and one painted white for her.  It seemed like a good tool project for her, so we grabbed screwdrivers and sat in the middle of the floor reading directions.  I use the term, "reading" lightly, because the directions were all pictures.  They made me think of Science Geek's recent post.  I wonder if she can interpret this one?

This was such a simple project - 6 screws, screw them part-way in, then come back when all are in place and tighten. Great practice.

Here are the finished products. 

What they are reading

Earlier this month I helped during our homeschool group's standardized testing.  (Here in Florida, standardized testing is not required for homeschoolers, but is one option to meet our state's requirement to evaluate our students.  This was Earthgirl's first time going through the testing process.)  Seventy-five 4th-12th graders took the CAT tests in our room. 

Our test coordinator encouraged the students to bring something to read in case they finished a test section before the time limit.  Almost all the students finished every section with time to spare.  I peeked over shoulders to observe what they were reading  during my walk-around.  Here are a few titles:

Bloomability
Twilight - New Moon
Twilight - a different one, I didn't see the name
Chicken Soup for the Soul
The Tale of Despereaux
Blink of an Eye
National Geographic Magazine
Treasure Island
Spiked
Only You Can Be You
Personal Journal - art and words
Dragonspell
Nancy Drew (2)
Banner in the Sky
Graphic novel, wordless cover featuring a teen girl with big, sad-looking eyes
Lord of the Rings

I was surprised that only one or two teens texted when they finished their test sections.  Along with reading, some drew (Earthgirl was fascinated with artwork being drawn by a highschool boy at her table), some wrote, some decorated their namecards, and one quietly made paper airplanes, which, of course, went flying during each break. 

There's a Periodic Table of Elements Here, Too!

My good friend the Science Geek has posted a link to a really nice visual Periodic Table of Elements. 

Here's another fun (for the geeky) version - a musical Periodic Table of Elements.  Back ca. 1985, we had a friend who could play and sing this song.  The first time I heard it, I could hardly believe it.  I'm still pretty amazed at simply how much singing ability one must have to conquer these tongue twisters, much less to write the song in the first place.

Science Geek in her element.

Something New for Me

Come visit me over at Sm'Arties and see what we are creating!

I can hardly believe I am featuring a boy wearing a UF shirt.

Illuminated Book

Here is a site out of the Victoria and Albert Museum (a place I want to visit someday) with directions and a template for making your own illuminated book.Earthgirl and I have not done this yet, but we will - oh, yes, we will! I don't remember where I first saw this, but a recent post in Jamin's blog reminded me.

In the meantime I started playing with one page, printed by accident on goldenrod paper, using watercolor pencils, a recent addition to our art stack. I love these! You color just like regular colored pencils, then can wash them with a wet brush.  The colors pop out, and you can blend a little.

I think this will be a popular project.  While I was preparing this post, 2 little almost-9-year-olds looked over my shoulder asking, "Did you do that?  Where is it?" 

First Day of 4th Grade

Home's Cool!

Tied Up in Knots

Here's what I am teaching in American Girls Club.



We are covering the Rebecca series, set in 1914. Rebecca crocheted. She crocheted better than her older sisters. Better than I do. But today, I taught the girls (age 7-15) chain stitching - a little. We plan to make little doll-size scarves.


Any helpful hints on teaching children to crochet?

Catch a Falling Star!

The night of August 11 an 12 we are in for some nighttime showers - meteor showers, that is. It's time for the Perseid Meteor Shower. I hope to get Earthgirl up early for a chance to see the bright streaks, which show up best early in the morning.

A few resources:

Classical Astronomy (I have their book, Classical Astronomy, and one of these years it will be our main science course. Right now, it's just a wonderful reference. I also receive their free e-newsletter - I recommend it!)

Sky and Telescope

Astronomy magazine

Lunar eclipse, 2007. Sometimes we get up early for a good show.

Art/Craft Resources

Have you seen the bumper stickers or T-shirts that read, "Homeschoolers Don't Stay At Home"? So true! I've heard that there are some Homeschooling parents who keep their children at home for the purpose of isolating their families from EVERYBODY, but I don't know anyone like that. The HS famlies I know are vibrantly involved with each other and the community. We meet, learn, and have fun with each other in classes, Co-ops, and clubs; we interact in the community in helping projects; we often see our non-HS friends in after-school events, classes and clubs..."Socialization?" -- we almost have too much socialization!

This school year, Earthgirl and I plan to meet regularly with a few HS friends for some schooldays together. I am loving gathering up project ideas to use during the art/craft/cooking segments. I pledge these children will NEVER receive from me any cut-outs of craft foam to glue together!

Here are just a few of the websites from whence I take inspiration. Each site has links to other sites equally idea-laden. They whet my appetite and make my fingers itch to get busy:

Not just kiddie crafts:

Art Projects for Kids

Deep Space Sparkle

Wonder How To

Dollar Store Crafts

Sewing School

Oodles of Art

Skip to My Lou

A Spoonful of Sugar

Do you know of some cool website not listed here that would inspire more real art and good crafts for our students (7-12 years)?

Busy Before 4

It's that time of year when I scan the emails and the newspaper ads to find out what cool deals Staples and Office Depot are offering this week. (Monday I picked up 5 packs of looseleaf notebook paper for a nickel.)

It's that time of year when Earthgirl scans the ads and shows me the cool back-to-school clothes she wants. --not that she doesn't have about 32 T-shirts that are just fine, along with associated shorts, skirts, skorts, and capris, and it won't be cool enough to need long pants until Thanksgiving.

It's that time of year when, after a day of childcare, exercise class, soccer tryouts, and a longish Homeschool group meeting (not that I am complaining), I sit on the church gym floor with my friends, admiring a beautiful dozing foster baby ( I got to hold him earlier- so sweet! - Lord please bless and keep Him with your love) drinking caffeinated beverages at 10 p.m., talking about plans for the school year. (Oh, and we have some great plans!)

So it's that time of year when I fall asleep at 11:30, but pop awake at 3:30 with ideas swirling in my head. Grab the two Mark Kistler books in the dark, come into the light to discover I've grabbed The Indispensible Calvin and Hobbes instead.

I love these books! They help a non-drawer learn to draw.

It's that time of year when all 3 of my spiral notebooks are in the car. No problem - just got new ones at Staples, open one up and start jotting.



Because I'll be in charge of Art.

For Children and Parents and Sunday School Teachers...

...and babysitters and aunts and next door neighbors...

Isn't it wonderful to see how much homeschool parents share information with each other? If you really had to do a year of homeschooling with not much more than pencil and paper, art supplies, a library card and the internet, you could do it!

In light of current economic situations challenging many families, Terri Johnson, of Knowledge Quest, has posted 5 Must-Have No-Cost Resources for Homeschooling. These make a good starting place.

December 2008, lapbook preparation

Not just for homeschoolers - so many available free scheduling worksheets, coloring and fun pages (baby-sitting that young neighbor? teaching Sunday School this week?) I just printed out a couple of Donna Young's printing readiness tracing sheets for the rising kindergartener we'll be caring for today. If they go over well, I'll print out some more for tomorrow.

A little school break project - I took a stack of colored paper, 2 sheets of notes, and 2 big folders over, and we made lapbooks on the Twelve Days of Christmas (thanks, Crispy, for the inspiration!)

--and now back to your regularly scheduled blog--

One of my favorite places to visit, Art Projects for Kids has put Earthgirl's Kimono Art on her sidebar! We are just tickled! I love Kathy's projects. We have done several, and plan to do more.

Oh, and regarding that title above, after these awe-filled days of prayer, waiting for news, and then the round-the-globe celebration with family, friends, and strangers, I don't feel like I'll be back to regularly scheduled anything for awhile. We rejoice, rejoice, rejoice, with thanksgiving to God for His care of our nephew. As we learn more of his ordeal, we see God's handiwork all over those days.

Field Trip!!! or, Hair Nets, A New Fashion Statement

Last week we took a field trip to our local grocery store. Now, there's something I never would have thought of, but when Science Geek invited us along, we jumped. In an unusual turn of events (a combination of small families plus childcare), I tied for most children. I had three with me. Yes, with this group, our child:adult ratio is usually 2:1 or better. Stop groaning, you mothers of many. When we are all old, my poor only daughter may be struggling with two ancient senile oldsters, while your children will say, "It's my month to ride Mother around to her doctor visits and store."

At any rate, I have bookmarked a site that talks about the many Factory Tours one can take. Their blog right now features a local favorite, Kennedy Space Center. We have not been there since Earthgirl was a baby, so it's about time to go back. In their archives, I found out about a cool-looking tour of Sally Corporation in Jacksonville, FL. I think we will just have to ride up there for that tour.

We loved looking down on the store from upstairs behind one-way glass.

Fun School

Earthgirl loves art. I find some of the best ideas for art from real live art teachers like Patty at Deep Space Sparkle and Kathy at Art Projects for Kids. The latter is where this kimono project originated. Like most homeschool mamas, I am reveling in the education I am getting.


Today we went to a wonderful presentation called Wilderness Tabernacle. We ran into my friend Science Geek there, along with the unpredictable J.D. and the effervescent Jax. (I love unpredictability and effervescence.) Her post shares all the important stuff better than I can, except for the rain delay. See the dark clouds? This post was after the rain.


Just to keep it real, I confess that we did not have a deep spiritual conversation on the way home, as they did. Our group (2 Moms, one of whom had to go to work, and 3 children, one of whom had the sniffles) conversed all the way on whether we should run by Chick Fil A or Sonic.