2008-2009 Homeschool Plan

Like my friend Kim, I thought this summer would be really productive. My plan was to come up with detailed schedules - daily and weekly - for each kids' schoolwork. Tracking what historical fiction books they would read when, and coordinating those books chronologically with science, music, and art as well as the Story of the World curriculum by Susan Wise Bauer. Added to this should be daily math, Latin, grammar, and critical thinking. Well, I was not able to find time to do my detailed schedules - and maybe they're not really necessary anyway. Like Kim says - we'd just get behind or ahead after the first half hour. Who needs all that stress? I will put together weekly schedules based on where the kids are at at the end of each week. And, both kids find a daily schedule helpful to be able to check off - especially since being in 5th and 8th grade, they can both do most, if not all, of their work independently. I also plan to put together a rough plan to monitor how far we've come through chronological history - maybe every 6 weeks or so, since my plan is to get through American history in time to take a trip to the East coast this spring (yeah, another trip to plan!).

So, my rough plan so far is as follows:

RMD-

Math - Teaching Textbooks Math 7 - 45 minutes per day

History - Story of the World Volumes 3 and 4 - 45 minutes per day
A Child's History of the World
Learning Through History Timelines
Outlining - 20 minutes per day

Reading - Sonlight Intro to American History - 45 minutes per day
Free reading (anything but comics) - 45 minutes per day

Latin - Prima Latina - 1 lesson per week

Grammar - Grammar Ace - 20 minutes per day

Vocabulary - Wordly Wise - 20 minutes per day

Critical Thinking - Mind Benders - 20 minutes per day

Writing - Beginning writing through Labyrinth coop

Science - Animal Science and Grossology through Labyrinth coop

Spanish - Labyrinth coop

Musical Theater - Labyrinth coop & Studio East every Friday from 12 - 3PM

Music - Piano lesson with APD each week
Piano practice - 1/2 hour per day
Composer study based on chronological time period
Choir - every Thursday evening

Art - History based on chronological time period
Creative project 1/2 hour 3 days per week

Wilderness Awareness - every Thursday

Extracurriculars - Girl Scouts, Book Club, Swimming


APD-

Math - Saxon Algebra 1 - 45 minutes per day

History - Story of the World Volumes 3 and 4 - 45 minutes per day
History Odyssey Early Modern Level 2
The Story of Mankind by Hendrik Loon
Learning Through History Timelines
Outling - 20 minutes per day

Reading - Sonlight American History Core 100 - 45 minutes per day
Free reading (anything but comics) - 45 minutes per day

Latin - TBD

Grammar - TBD

Vocabulary - Wordly Wise - 20 minutes per day

Critical Thinking - Mind Benders - 20 minutes per day

Writing - Labyrinth coop

Science - Chemistry & Physics for Middle Schoolers through Labyrinth coop

Spanish - Labyrinth coop

Music - Piano lesson with Chopin Academy each week
Piano practice - 1 hour per day
Composer study based on chronological time period
Song composition / music theory - 3 days per week

Art - History based on chronological time period

Wilderness Awareness - every Thursday

ACT / SAT - 1/2 hour per day review - 3 days per week

Extracurriculars - Soccer, Swimming, Jazz Ensemble

School is starting and I'm happy!!!

Usually about this time of year I'm feeling a little melancholy. The days are getting shorter, the weather is cooling off, summer is almost over. And school is starting. While alot of mothers are thrilled to death that their kids are returning to school (some more openly then others), most years I was always a little sad. I think it's fun to hang out with the kids all summer - heading to a lake to swim, or meeting up with friends to hike. So every year, after we would buy school supplies and check the school roster to see who was in their classes, I would be thinking "Too bad summer is over." Well, not this year. This year I can't wait for school to start again - since it will be at home! And this year we have a full plan (well, sort of - it's in my head anyway). I don't have to drop the kids off at school or watch them get on the bus to head off to a place where the teachers get to have all the fun watching them learn. I don't have to volunteer at the school, copying or something else in the workroom. I don't have to monitor homework time and work around schoolwork for outside activities. And - this could be best of all - I don't have to spend the first few weeks after the kids are back at school having Pat come home from work and ask me what I did all day! So, I really like homeschooling. The kids seem to like it too. I know they do miss their public-schooled friends and the hanging out time at school, but hopefully Wilderness Awareness and the Co-op will make up for the decreased school-day social time. (It helps that this will be the first year APD's best friend is homeschooled and one of RMD's best friends is homeschooled as well!). APD says he likes to work at his own pace, and RMD likes the freedom to be more creative. As it is now, we're doing one year at a time, but as long as we are productive and everyone seems to be happy and learning, we'll continue our homeschool journey.

Will someone please push me in??????

Pat's chair is sad....

This is worth watching - no matter how you're voting!

YouTube - I'm Voting Republican

At the risk of exposing my political views, I'll recommend this satirical video. No matter which candidate you like, it is worth watching. So many of the issues that the US faces are addressed here. I made the mistake of letting APD watch it, and so now I hear it quoted several times a day.

We Cut the Cable

Well, not really, but figuratively. We cancelled our service right before we left for Peru. Of course we did not miss it while being gone 2 1/2 weeks, and were pretty used to not watching TV when we returned anyway. This was our first weekend at home without it though. And you know what - I loved it! I did not go to bed Sunday night with my ears ringing and a headache from hearing sports drone on and on all day! The kids did watch a few movies over the past couple days, but given APD's chicken pox and our return to what has to be the rainiest place on earth, I was okay with that. Instead of slumping in front of the TV in the evenings, the kids got out games. We played double solitaire, Apples to Apples and last night Scrabble. I hope this no-cable thing is here to stay!

Swimming, biking and running, Oh My!

See how little the kids were! September, 2003

Still smiling - not sure why though!!!!

A friend of mine asked me if I wanted to do the Danskin Triathlon next August - 2009. I'm usually game for this kind of stuff, so I said sure! Even though I really hate running. Anyway, this got me thinking about the first time I did a sprint triathlon. With friends Kathleen and Tammy, I signed up for the Black Diamond Sprint in September 2003. (Wow, was it really that long ago!) It was the first event that Black Diamond held. From Kathleen, I was inspired to work out to get fit (and drop a few sizes - please!). By the time I started looking around, the Danskin - a perfect beginner triathlon - was closed. I hated to wait a full year, so when I found this one, thought why not! We all read Eric Harr's Triathlon Training in 4 hours a Week. Despite the title, it really is a good book and very inspirational. Armed with images of Eric chugging down the road on his clunky mountain bike, determined to just finish his first tri, that's where I was too. Until I invited the kids to come watch with Pat. That's when I started hearing things like "Wow, Mommy, I hope you come in first!" ( the answer to that was "I won't") and "Mom, do you think you'll beat Kathleen?" - No. "Or Tammy?" - No. Or, "Are you doing this for speed? After all Sprints are so easy." (This from a friend - again - No). Then I realized that I had to tell people that I was just doing it as a personal trial - just to finish would be winning for me. The summer of 2003 I was told by my doctor that I had exercise-induced asthma and given an inhaler - which I refused, then and still do, to use. The only thing that happens to me when I really push myself is my heart rate (as determined by a monitor that summer) goes really high. High enough to concern friend and nurse Kathleen. But as long as I slow down, I'm fine. So, that's what I do. I'm fine for swimming, okay for biking, but running really kills me. Probably makes it worse since I hate running so much. Anyway, I digress.

So, at the Black Diamond Triathlon, I was really concerned about just finishing - that was my goal - and I would be proud no matter how I did. Good thing too, because I came in DEAD LAST! REALLY! It's even on the internet! Here's the link to prove it - Athlinks.com.

(Oh, just an aside... If I had started with the Danskin, like I had wanted to, I would have had 700 women behind me, given my Black Diamond time!!!!)

Manners and Volunteerism

After 2 1/2 weeks of watching the kids eat with their elbows on the table, return to the buffet while chewing food from round 1, and forget to push in their chairs when leaving the table (Pat is FAMOUS for this too!), I decided that they need an expert besides me to help them refine their table manners.

Searching for Seattle area etiquette classes for the kids I came upon a good website - Mannerofthemonth.com

The owner teaches classes but also has on-line lessons. She had a whole section on Manners and Volunteering. I really like the quotes - and have outlined them in bold. But here's the whole excerpt:


"Never before has man had such a great capacity to control his own environment, to end hunger, poverty and disease, to banish illiteracy and human misery. We have the power to make the best generation of mankind in the history of the world.” — President John F. Kennedy

Manners and volunteerism go hand in hand—both are about putting others first. When we use our manners as we volunteer, we are able to gracefully accomplish many tasks. Not only will we will feel better about our work, but we feel better about the way we have done it.

Tips for the Mannerly Volunteer

1. “Yes, I will do it.”
For many of us, serving our community is just one of the many tasks we juggle in an ever-growing list of to-dos. We must be realistic with our time commitments and know our limitations. Just as we would not take on five part-time jobs, we should not take on numerous volunteer positions. When we are tempted to over commit ourselves, we must ask ourselves this question: Am I volunteering to make myself feel good or for the good of the organization?

We should never have an attitude that we are “just volunteering.” When we commit to a volunteer position, others are counting on us to fulfill our role with integrity, quality, and hard work. Our work as a volunteer is one of the most important responsibilities we can undertake, and our efforts will affect the lives of those we serve and the organization. There isn’t a greater act of humanity than one human being helping another!

“We make a living by what we do, but we make a life by what we give.” —Winston Churchill

2. Think before saying, “Yes, I will do it!”
Take time to research organizations that you believe in and activities that you will enjoy. Take on jobs that will challenge you and play to your strengths. When you give because you believe in a cause, it is easier to participate with greater commitment, and organizations and individuals will gain more from your work. When we work from the heart, our work will often inspire others to join the cause.

“We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” — Mother Theresa

3. Follow through after saying, “Yes, I will do it!”
Do what you say you are going to do. One of the greatest character traits is being someone that others can depend on. If you agree to a meeting, be on time. If you sign up for a task, complete it. Be mentally and physically present. If you are working with a committee, use good communication: ask for help, share ideas, listen to the contributions of others. Volunteer work done well not only positively impacts the organization or person you are working with but also allows you to feel proud of the work you have done! Remember that quality is often better than quantity.

“No man can become rich without himself enriching others.” — Andrew Carnegie

4. “I thought I could do it.”
When you do commit to a task, it is always best to follow through and see it to the end. However, no matter how carefully we plan, at times we do become overcommitted or circumstances in our life change. Many times, over commitment makes us feel guilty. Rather than working through the situation, we see it as all or nothing; it seems easier to quit than to work out a solution.

When you feel overwhelmed, ask for help or admit to not being able to do it all. Remember that when you quit without creating a solution or smooth transition, the work doesn’t just go away because you have. Just walking away nonverbally communicates that you don’t care how the decision to leave might affect another person or the organization. Your departure will create extra stress and time for the individuals who have to pick up where you left off, even though they are probably equally busy with their personal schedules.

“You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

5. “He/she said he/she would do it!”
Demonstrate grace to those you work with. Unless we have fantastic personal commitment restraint, most of us have found ourselves in the situation where we cannot do what we said we could. When a volunteer leaves a task undone, don’t tear down their reputation or complain about the quality of work when we think we could do it better. Instead come alongside your fellow volunteer, ask what you can do to help, and encourage them along the way.