A Visit to Sam

One of the things I love about living in a small town is that my kids have made friends with people who I doubt they'd make friends with in a city. In a city each kid would have there own friends of the same age and gender as them, but here it is not so. One of the people we're friends with is 87 year old Sam who lives and breaths photography. He has his own dark room and since we still don't have a digital camera he's happy for us to use it. The kids love to help develop our photos, not to mention the wonderful stories Sam tells. Today we took the trip we take every few weeks to visit him. Of course Noah was car sick and Katherine got really restless a few times but mostly it was wonderful. He's a pretty amazing guy. He has a farm, lives more in the middle of no where than us (!), is faster than most of my kids when it comes to cross country skiing and yes, he's 87!
We've got some pretty great pictures too (and film, which he supplies full of charge).

Happy Farmer cont'd

Hailey had her lesson today and proudly played Happy Farmer for her teacher. She's been begging to play it at the recital tomorrow but I''m not so sure. It's scratchy, and well not at normal recital level. Then again Twinkle, Twinkle has been going on for ever it seems like and listening to her play something else is wonderful. I decided that our violin and viola teacher who happens to unschool her kids and be a good friend of ours would know best. She listened to Hailey's first line of Happy Farmer and beamed. Scratchy or not Hailey will be playing Happy Farmer for the recital along with Twinkle, Twinkle. Her siblings are so proud. She is now wanting to ware her "farm clothes", we'll have to see about this too.

The super strict curriculum

The soon-to-be school has been asking for curriculum or rather, the people running the will-be school have been asking for curriculum ideas. So, my kids decided that they would send in a curriculum. I'd thought they would send in something very unstructured maybe even a letter ranting about how no curriculum was needed, but I could not of been more wrong. They've spent hours writing it out. If the "school board" chooses this (which I hope they don't because it is horrendously structured) there would be absolutely no planning needed, my kids have it timed to the minute as well as every single textbook and workbook you could ever want, probably more than you'd ever want. It doesn't suit the philosophy my kids have been brought up with and when asked if they would use this curriculum there was a definite "no way!".

Playing with Picasso

Martin is naturally drawn to art and has been taking classes since January. The art teacher was quite reluctant at first. Teaching a just turned 4 year old? However, after seeing that Martin really did have some skill she took him on. They have explored many artists and today they did a project an Picasso.
None of my other kids want to take art class (which is fine for me) but are always keen to see what Martin has done. The Picasso project looked so fun they all wanted to do it. First they drew each others faces and then changed them so that they looked less realistic. This was fun! They then set up a "Like Picasso" area at their stall. It was more of a success then the other things. The goat cheese was fairly popular but there are too many others who grow rhubarb.

Goat cheese and rhubarb pie

The kids have set up a stall on the street like they do every summer. Right now they are selling (or trying to sell) our home made and home grown rhubarb pies and goat cheese. Sales aren't usually very big but we do sell a bit. The kids do most of the work. The baking of the pies, picking of the rhubarb, milking the goats, making the cheese, selling ect... What we sell changes frequently, mostly it's food but sometimes you can by Christmas tree ornaments, candles, once we even sold Italian "dictionaries".
When we first started (when Sarah was 7) we decided that the money would go to seeds, homeschool resources, and "Green Team". It has been like this ever since.

The Teaching Company

When I asked for a good intellectual challenge for Sarah I was told of The Teaching Company. I (and my group of kids) to a look at it and everyone seemed to find a course they wanted!
We've settled on : A History of European Art, Dutch Masters: The Age of Rembrandt (Martin is a Rembrandt worshiper!), World of Byzantium, Vikings (Katherine's request), Shakespeare: Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies (Lisa will not miss anything Shakespeare) and High School Level-Chemistry.
Thank goodness our homeschool group like the sound of it and were willing to pitch in with the money!

Another fun day

Today didn't look quite so drab, the morning was actually warm enough to go out for a hike and paddle on the lake.


However, the afternoon was very cloudy.

We retreated inside and had a wonderful afternoon. First we watched TV, ( we hardly ever do this in spring) Canada: A People's History. Then we did a few science projects from Real Science 4 Kids Chemistry 1& 2.After that we talked about ideas for the community "Green Team" and did some Latin. In between was 3 hours of cello lessons (thank goodness Grandpa teaches them and lives next door).

I'm loving life right now.

Sarah wants a challenge

Sarah asked me a few days ago if I had any good ideas for an intellectual challenge. She's already finished Teaching Textbooks Pre-Algebra and is eagerly awaiting Algebra 1. She's read Galileo's Dialogue, is on her first draft of a 521 page novel, is a talented musician and dancer. She can spell about 50% of words from "Spellbound", has been reading adult books since she was not quite 9, loves brain teasers, speaks Italian, German, French and some Latin. She seems to be good at everything. For many kids that would be plenty, but not Sarah.

When she asked me for a challenge we decided to put an article in the community newspaper. The suggestions we've gotten have been very disappointing:

"Take some high school courses."

This doesn't work because:
a. The high school is about three hours away
b. Sarah is only 11 y, she would feel very uncomfortable being there.

"Read, read, read."

She does read. But that doesn't challenge her.

"Get a curriculum, obviously unschooling isn't challenging her."

Where do they think she's learned what she has. She's only been to school for one day, many years ago. Sarah is becoming more structured with her learning, but she has told me she never wants to use a curriculum.
I'm sure we'll find something to do, but, right now, any ideas??

Drab looking day, lots of fun

We woke up today to big black clouds and rain. The kind of day you would expect to drag on and on. But it didn't. Its sped by. First the kids did some splashing and rolling (yes, rolling) in the mud. Then, they came inside completely soaked and covered in mud so they went in turn and had showers/baths. We had some hot chocolate and dandelion muffins then played numerous games ( 10 Days in Africa, Europe and USA, Carcassonne, Settlers of Catan and Mystery of the Abbey) and read some books aloud, (International Children's Bible, Anna of Byzantium, Story of the World:Ancient Times and The Story of Science: Aristotle Leads the Way).
The kids (except Hailey who can't read yet) are all reading their own books too, of course:
Sarah: A Tale of Two Cities and Alice MacLeod, Realist at Last
Lisa: Romeo and Juliet
Noah: Chemical Chaos and The Amber Spyglass
Janet: Run
Katherine:D'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths
Martin: A Weekend with Rembrandt

They spent a while reading these while Hailey and I baked bread.
After lunch we had a mini concert with the pieces we'll be playing for the upcoming recital and had a run thru of Hamlet.
In the mail we found both Rosetta Stone Italian and Japanese as well as Martin's handwriting program. We installed Rosetta Stone at our community library and left Sarah and Noah to try it out while the rest of us went home and did some table work (math and handwriting).
Lisa, Katherine and I made dinner and Ian is now reading poetry as the kids knit/weave.

It's been such a wonderful day and I find myself wishing for another tomorrow or at least soon.

Mathematical Triumphs

It's not exactly world news breaking but my kids are proud so they are triumphs:



Sarah has finished Teaching Textbooks Pre-Algebra http://www.teachingtextbooks.com/PreAlgebra.htm so we've ordered Algebra 1http://www.teachingtextbooks.com/Algebra1.htm and also Algebra 2 http://www.teachingtextbooks.com/Algebra2.htm (so its there when she's ready).



Lisa is halfway through Math 7 http://www.teachingtextbooks.com/Math7.htmand loving it. Which is strange (but good) as she's always hated math.

Noah has just begun Singapore 5A http://www.singaporemath.com/Primary_Math_Textbook_5A_U_S_EDITION_p/pmust5a.htm

Janet is almost done Singapore Math 3B http://www.singaporemath.com/Primary_Math_Textbook_3B_U_S_EDITION_p/pmust3b.htm

Katherine is working steadily through Singapore Math 2Bhttp://www.singaporemath.com/Primary_Math_Textbook_2B_U_S_EDITION_p/pmust2b.htm

Martin recently asked if he could do formal math and amazed us all by being ready for 2Ahttp://www.singaporemath.com/Primary_Math_Textbook_2A_U_S_EDITION_p/pmust2a.htm

And if everyone else was doing math Hailey wanted to do it too so she pulled a very used copy of 1Ahttp://www.singaporemath.com/Primary_Math_Textbook_1A_U_S_EDITION_p/pmust1a.htm and got working!

Reading the Bible

About a month ago Martin said he wanted to read the Bible. He took a look at a copy we have and decided that the full version was not for him. So I looked into more the storybook kind of style. Many we found were too simple but finally we found the http://www.amazon.com/International-Childrens-Bible-Word-Publishing/dp/0849932866/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_1/002-1911654-1252830?ie=UTF8&qid=1178578638&sr=1-14 It's great. Even Thor loving Katherine poked her head around the door and listened last night. Sarah and Lisa wanted to read the real thing, but are finding the International Children's Bible to be helpful for those parts they don't understand.
We aren't Christians (despite what many people think) but knowing about different religions has always been something we think is important. Reading the Bible is so far proving very interesting so we shall continue.

Viking Fractions

Katherine has been trying and failing to get a grasp on fractions for a while now and today she just about completely gave up. But once again Thor and his worshipers saved her.
I took a sobbing Katherine and showed her that if 1/2 the percentage of Vikings were men and 1/2 of them were brave and only men could be warriors and all men were worriers then 1/4 of the population would be brave worriers. She loved this.We went on to say that 3/4 of those brave warriors went to Valhalla so 1/4 don't. If 1/8 of the Viking women decided to go be worriers then 7/8 decided not to be worriers.
Later when I was folding laundry and Katherine was sitting there watching me she said "You just folded Martin's shirt into 1/4. "

She really seems to have the hang of fractions now.

Another Birthday

Yup, another birthday! Only this time we celebrated Constantinople's b-day. Because on May 11 it was named and this according to us was need of a ceremony. So our history club had a last minute meeting and, just about read the complete Byzantine Empire magazine from Learning Through History, made mosaics, ate Byzantine Food, sang "Happy Birthday" and read some of "Anna of Byzantium".
It really was a lot of fun and a great learning experience. Even Katherine who plugged her ears and left the room when I began reading it as it was "no where near as good as the Viking magazine" enjoyed herself. Maybe her idea in Thor as all mighty ruler will change!

Science Magazine Mania

Yesterday 3 of our 8 science magazines arrived in the mail. Yes mag http://www.yesmag.bc.ca/ Know magazine http://www.knowmag.ca/ and brand new for us, Zoobooks http://www.zoobooks.com/. Noah must of read Zoobooks cover to cover as his nose as been in it ever since it arrived and despite Swallows and Amazons being one of his favourite series he refused to listen to it last night as Zoobooks was "10 zillion times more interesting" and then as an after thought "Sorry Arthur Ransome". So between reading Zoobooks and looking up the animals in our Animal Encyclopedia he must be the animal expert in the family, although he probably already was.
The other two magazines Yes mag "On Top of the World" and Know "Kitchen Chemistry" were not quite as popular this time, although we did have a lot of fun making chocolate chip cookies and we're planing on making mock apple pie and serving it to our friends and seeing if they think it's apple pie. Martin thinks that the most likely reason for them to guess is Katherine will be so eager to tell them she'll spill the beans. We'll have to see.

Allison

What's Your Homeschool Style

I stumbled onto this one recently:http://www.quizilla.com/users/guiltfree/quizzes/What%20Type%20of%20Homeschooler%20Are%20You%3F/


Here's our result:
Swiss Family Robinson If you can grow it, pick it, preserve it, or butcher it, you own it. Otherwise, you do without. Youd prefer to live off-grid from the power company, since youre nearly self-sufficient already. You enjoy unit studies for the way they utilize all facets of life and truly incorporate life and education as a whole, not as separate entities.

Then I found this one:http://www.homeschoolviews.com/quiz/evaluate-quiz-teaching.html

My result:
Unschooling or Child Directed: Parents who choose an Unschooling or Child Directed teaching style base their approach on the interests and natural learning patterns of their individual child. This style avoids use of textbooks, reviewing, quizzing, or even formal testing. The child's natural curiosity and interests are the key to the daily activities. There is a large emphasis on imagination, nature, art, music and almost no formal curriculum is used. There is no use of lesson plans, a defined "school" time, or even any type of grading. The child's environment, though controlled, is used as the bases of learning. A great curriculum choice for this type of teaching style is Unit Studies. Unit Studies allow the child's interests to control the basis of study.

And this one:http://www.love2learn.net/hsinfo/gettingstartedworkshop/hsstylequiz.doc

Result:
30-36 total strongly suggests you would have no problem creating your children’s educational program.


Now Janet and Ian are making their own homeschool style quiz, I'll post it soon!

Allison

Joy of spring

We spent all weekend out side, gardening, at the beach, in the forest behind our house and playing Noah Ball ( base ball Noah style, where you must cart wheel between bases and there are no strikes). You would think every weed had been pulled out of the garden but somehow another one pops up. Some rabbits have decided to move into our garden and each day there are a few more leaves gone from our plants. The kids decided to spring clean there tree houses and have spent a lot of time in the forest which is nicely situated behind our house. I love how, now that it is spring we can kick off our shoes and fly across the sweet smelling grass so freely. No more bundling up, which, with 7 kids takes a long time. This is the time when I'm so glad that the kids aren't stuck in a stuffy classroom but rather enjoying spring to it's fullest. All formal math as been abandoned but that is fine with me as mother nature provides us with a beautiful math of it's own which is there just you don't think about it. I'm a big fan of Richard Louv's "Last Child in the Woods"http://www.amazon.com/Last-Child-Woods-Children-Nature-Deficit/dp/1565123913 and am always keen for the kids to go outside which works well as they too are always keen to be outdoors.

Allison

More music trauma

After Sarah did her violin practice today she was extremely frustrated. She stormed out of the room she was practicing in and said her fingers felt "as big a huge sausages" and that she would "rather people gobble them up then have to use them again." However later when she at down at the piano she launched into her grade 9music and had no complaints.
Hopefully violin goes better tomorrow.

Allison

D sharp trouble

Today Martin came to me looking very serious. I thought I was in for an "I want global warming to stop this very instant" rant. But no.

Martin:"I've got a problem"
Me:"What is it?"
Martin:"I composed a piece, but my D sharp sounds to natural."
Me:"Any ideas on what to do?"
Martin:"Not really, can you help me."
Me:"I could try but I don't have a good ear.

Martin is so serious,especially when it comes to music. He is very critical of his playing.

Allison

Tomatospheare

Okay, I should talk about what we're doing.
We are currently working on a Tomato project:http://www.tomatosphere.org/
Katherine loves it,she is quite the gardener and is always saying "Mum, we should get planting some vegetables."
We have our suspicions about which group is which. I can't wait to find out!

Allison