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Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Shoopa 2010
If a picture is worth a thousand words I should be able to get by without any commentary concerning this vacation. However, it was such a treasured week, I think you'll probably get to hear a bit about our Shoopa adventures. For now, enjoy the pictures and know that it was even more fun than it looks.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Sunrise at the Beach
Our first day of vacation, I woke at a ridiculous hour. 5:28a.m. I haven't willingly gotten up at that time EVER. I treasure the opportunity to sleep late, especially on vacation. I spent many years getting up early by necessity. I feel as if I deserve my rest. I've earned it.
I eyed the clock at 5:34a.m. and rolled over, readjusted and intended to go back to sleep. No luck. The sky was dark, my body was still but my mind was moving. It occurred to me that I'd never seen a sunrise on the island. It occurred to me that I was probably awake early enough to make it to the beach before the sunrise. It occurred to me that I didn't want to miss this opportunity.
I got out of bed, made coffee, filled my travel cup and walked to the beach. At first, I thought I'd missed the sunrise. The sky had lightened. Pinks and peaches painted the lower part of the sky. There was a band of clouds above the horizon. Even without a spectacular sunrise, I settled in to enjoy the quiet of the beach at dawn. There was something special about being alone, awake so early, by choice.
As the sky continued to lighten, I watched pelicans fly in formation. They skimmed the water then broke and dove. Missiles shooting into the water. It was impressive that such awkward birds on the ground had such grace and purpose in the air and water.
After watching the pelicans, I walked down the beach. The sky became brighter pink and lightened. The peaches darkened to neon orange. The band of clouds lightened. I began to hope that there might still be a sunrise to be seen.
The smell of salt and sea air moved around me as I walked. The call of birds. The roll of the waves. The sparkle of sun on water. The lightening of the sky. The coolness of the firm sand under my feet. All worked to sooth my senses and bring a deep sense of well being. It felt great to move down the beach in silence, in wonder, in joy.
The sun, hidden, then visible. A dark orange ball. The sky streaked with brilliant pink and light blue. A brilliant piece of art in a strip below the clouds, above the ocean. The water reflected an ever moving interpretation of the original suspended over head. The sunrise surprised and blessed me.
I couldn't have planned a better beginning to my vacation. Sometimes planning isn't necessary. Sometimes it's enough to get out of bed and show up.
I eyed the clock at 5:34a.m. and rolled over, readjusted and intended to go back to sleep. No luck. The sky was dark, my body was still but my mind was moving. It occurred to me that I'd never seen a sunrise on the island. It occurred to me that I was probably awake early enough to make it to the beach before the sunrise. It occurred to me that I didn't want to miss this opportunity.
I got out of bed, made coffee, filled my travel cup and walked to the beach. At first, I thought I'd missed the sunrise. The sky had lightened. Pinks and peaches painted the lower part of the sky. There was a band of clouds above the horizon. Even without a spectacular sunrise, I settled in to enjoy the quiet of the beach at dawn. There was something special about being alone, awake so early, by choice.
As the sky continued to lighten, I watched pelicans fly in formation. They skimmed the water then broke and dove. Missiles shooting into the water. It was impressive that such awkward birds on the ground had such grace and purpose in the air and water.
After watching the pelicans, I walked down the beach. The sky became brighter pink and lightened. The peaches darkened to neon orange. The band of clouds lightened. I began to hope that there might still be a sunrise to be seen.
The smell of salt and sea air moved around me as I walked. The call of birds. The roll of the waves. The sparkle of sun on water. The lightening of the sky. The coolness of the firm sand under my feet. All worked to sooth my senses and bring a deep sense of well being. It felt great to move down the beach in silence, in wonder, in joy.
The sun, hidden, then visible. A dark orange ball. The sky streaked with brilliant pink and light blue. A brilliant piece of art in a strip below the clouds, above the ocean. The water reflected an ever moving interpretation of the original suspended over head. The sunrise surprised and blessed me.
I couldn't have planned a better beginning to my vacation. Sometimes planning isn't necessary. Sometimes it's enough to get out of bed and show up.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Plans for 2010-2011
This is what we'll be doing for next school year. I'm listing by child though we'll continue to do as much together as we possibly can. Sharing our learning was a large part of what we enjoyed this past year.
K13 - Ninth Grade
We are beginning work on our equivalent to a high school diploma with honors for our state. As a compromise for K, she'll be attending the local high school for Algebra, French and Band. We participate in Community Bible Study as a family. This year we'll be learning about The Acts. We also participate in a local choir and drama group that is planning to stage a performance of The Sound of Music in the spring. The remainder of her studies will be at home.
English : Analytical Grammar, Writing Strands 5-6, Spelling Power, Elements of Style, A Rule Book for Arguments and selected reading
Physical Science: High School Physical Science in Your Home, selected reading
History: The History of the Medieval World: From the Conversion of Constantine to the First Crusade, The Medieval World, selected reading
Latin: First Form Latin
H11 - Sixth Grade
Bible: Community Bible Study - The Acts
Drama/Chorus: community group
English: Analytical Grammar, Writing Strands 4-5, Spelling Power, Fallacy Detective and Thinking Tool Box, selected reading
Math: Math on the Level, Life of Fred Fractions and Decimals
Physical Science: grade level version of High School Physical Science in Your Home, selected reading
Latin: First Form Latin
History: Story of the World: Volume 2 The Middle Ages, The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia, selected reading
Music - Flute
S8 - Third Grade
Bible: Community Bible Study - The Acts
Drama/Chorus: community group
English: Rod & Staff Grammar 3 - Beginning Wisely, Writing Strands 2, Spelling Power, Draw and Write Through History, Building Thinking Skills Book 1 & 2, selected reading
Math: Math on the Level
Physical Science: grade level version of High School Physical Science in Your Home, selected reading
Latin: Song School Latin
History: Story of the World: Volume 2 The Middle Ages, selected reading
Music - Violin
M5 First Grade
Bible: Community Bible Study - The Acts
Drama/Chorus: community group
English: Phonics Pathways, First Language Lessons, selected reading
Math: Math on the Level
Physical Science: grade level version of High School Physical Science in Your Home, selected reading
Latin: Song School Latin
History: Story of the World: Volume 2 The Middle Ages, selected reading
K13 - Ninth Grade
We are beginning work on our equivalent to a high school diploma with honors for our state. As a compromise for K, she'll be attending the local high school for Algebra, French and Band. We participate in Community Bible Study as a family. This year we'll be learning about The Acts. We also participate in a local choir and drama group that is planning to stage a performance of The Sound of Music in the spring. The remainder of her studies will be at home.
English : Analytical Grammar, Writing Strands 5-6, Spelling Power, Elements of Style, A Rule Book for Arguments and selected reading
Physical Science: High School Physical Science in Your Home, selected reading
History: The History of the Medieval World: From the Conversion of Constantine to the First Crusade, The Medieval World, selected reading
Latin: First Form Latin
H11 - Sixth Grade
Bible: Community Bible Study - The Acts
Drama/Chorus: community group
English: Analytical Grammar, Writing Strands 4-5, Spelling Power, Fallacy Detective and Thinking Tool Box, selected reading
Math: Math on the Level, Life of Fred Fractions and Decimals
Physical Science: grade level version of High School Physical Science in Your Home, selected reading
Latin: First Form Latin
History: Story of the World: Volume 2 The Middle Ages, The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia, selected reading
Music - Flute
S8 - Third Grade
Bible: Community Bible Study - The Acts
Drama/Chorus: community group
English: Rod & Staff Grammar 3 - Beginning Wisely, Writing Strands 2, Spelling Power, Draw and Write Through History, Building Thinking Skills Book 1 & 2, selected reading
Math: Math on the Level
Physical Science: grade level version of High School Physical Science in Your Home, selected reading
Latin: Song School Latin
History: Story of the World: Volume 2 The Middle Ages, selected reading
Music - Violin
M5 First Grade
Bible: Community Bible Study - The Acts
Drama/Chorus: community group
English: Phonics Pathways, First Language Lessons, selected reading
Math: Math on the Level
Physical Science: grade level version of High School Physical Science in Your Home, selected reading
Latin: Song School Latin
History: Story of the World: Volume 2 The Middle Ages, selected reading
Year in Retrospect
I promised myself that I'd allow some time to unwind before I began to critique the school year we just completed and set to work on the school year ahead. I've had two weeks to unwind and I feel ready to face homeschool again for a few moments. It's easier for me to truly evaluate myself and our school now. I'm not feeling so connected or so fragile about our progress this year. We did well and I'm pleased with all we accomplished.
Highlights: We made it through! Four children completed a more than adequate amount of learning at four different grade levels and no one ran screaming from the house never to return. That, in and of itself, is an accomplishment worth noting.
Our curriculum choices last year were sound. There wasn't anything that didn't do the job it was designed to do. Rod and Staff English was not a hit but all my children will admit that they learned from it.
All four of the children have a better grasp of spelling, grammar, history, math and science than they did when we began.
We've enjoyed being and learning together.
I'm benefitting from homeschool in ways that I never thought about. I'm more organized, focused and forward thinking. I'm working to educate myself in areas that I've neglected or forgotten over the years.
Lowlights: We were never able to incorporate logic and Latin as part of our routine school day. Now that we've got the basics going smoothly, I will start the year with both these subjects rather than trying to add them later.
We read so much this year but didn't write much of it down. Next year, I want each child to keep a reading list so they can see what they've read and so I can too. I will also keep track of what we read, listen to and watch together.
As I think about our school year I believe that we met our goals and accomplished what we set out to do. Our children are less stressed and more confident. Our family relationships are stronger. We know more about God, ourselves and the world around us. It's been a good year.
Highlights: We made it through! Four children completed a more than adequate amount of learning at four different grade levels and no one ran screaming from the house never to return. That, in and of itself, is an accomplishment worth noting.
Our curriculum choices last year were sound. There wasn't anything that didn't do the job it was designed to do. Rod and Staff English was not a hit but all my children will admit that they learned from it.
All four of the children have a better grasp of spelling, grammar, history, math and science than they did when we began.
We've enjoyed being and learning together.
I'm benefitting from homeschool in ways that I never thought about. I'm more organized, focused and forward thinking. I'm working to educate myself in areas that I've neglected or forgotten over the years.
Lowlights: We were never able to incorporate logic and Latin as part of our routine school day. Now that we've got the basics going smoothly, I will start the year with both these subjects rather than trying to add them later.
We read so much this year but didn't write much of it down. Next year, I want each child to keep a reading list so they can see what they've read and so I can too. I will also keep track of what we read, listen to and watch together.
As I think about our school year I believe that we met our goals and accomplished what we set out to do. Our children are less stressed and more confident. Our family relationships are stronger. We know more about God, ourselves and the world around us. It's been a good year.
The List
Thoughts flutter about my head
Darting, buzzing, distracting.
I pluck them one by one
From the air.
With my shiny black pen
I fasten them securely,
Making a tidy collection.
Darting, buzzing, distracting.
I pluck them one by one
From the air.
With my shiny black pen
I fasten them securely,
Making a tidy collection.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Head Clutter
I've spent the last two evening trying to write something, anything. I go through my days thinking of topics I'd like to write about later. Later arrives and nothing comes easily. I guess this is writer's block. It feels more like being buried.
My head is cluttered. I try to get a hold of one corner of something to write about. I give it a little tug and either it sticks fast or causes a landslide. A piece breaks off leaving me with a useless idea and no words.
I'd like to write about my recent struggles with feeling like myself. I'd love to spend a few days exploring my frustrations and contemplations concerning relationships and connecting with others. I long to share my thoughts about religion, politics, priorities, homebirth, safe cleaning products, sunscreen or dog food. Unfortunately, I'm clogged.
As a result, you have an entire post on how I can't think through anything to write. It reminds me of eighth grade English. I survived that so I'm fairly certain I'll survive this too. I hope you are still around when I figure out how to sort the clutter.
My head is cluttered. I try to get a hold of one corner of something to write about. I give it a little tug and either it sticks fast or causes a landslide. A piece breaks off leaving me with a useless idea and no words.
I'd like to write about my recent struggles with feeling like myself. I'd love to spend a few days exploring my frustrations and contemplations concerning relationships and connecting with others. I long to share my thoughts about religion, politics, priorities, homebirth, safe cleaning products, sunscreen or dog food. Unfortunately, I'm clogged.
As a result, you have an entire post on how I can't think through anything to write. It reminds me of eighth grade English. I survived that so I'm fairly certain I'll survive this too. I hope you are still around when I figure out how to sort the clutter.
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