life is for learning

a young writer

If you were to ask Emily what she'd like to be when she grows up she'd say a teacher, a librarian, or a writer. Usually she'll say a writer. I believe this is due in part to her former writing teacher, Deb. Deb had a beautiful way of planting seeds, inspiring children, and most importantly helping them each to find their unique voice as a writer. Tuesday afternoons were always set aside for Writing Workshop. Now that we are homeschooling I was looking for a way to create our own writers workshop.

Writing is important for a young girl who loves words, and has a beautiful, often witty way of using them to express herself. She can be heard from the back seat of the car saying things like "I love this ribbon of road. Daddy, I feel like your driving us into oblivion." Spoken while travelling a winding, hillside in the country. The kind of road that provides many tummy drops and giggles. Or, also riding in the backseat (don't we hear so much from back there?), speaking of her hot chocolate she was sipping, "I think it's pretty confident it tastes good - it's self-esteam is high." Pun totally intended. Where do children come up with this stuff?

Two wonderful sources of inspiration recently came together and helped us to form our own Writing Workshop. First, at the library we checked out New Moon: Writing. We were excited to find it as their magazine is a favorite of ours. Second has been the website Young Writers Workshop, an incredible wealth of inspiration. Their list of writing prompts reminded me of Deb's writing seeds, I thought they'd be fun to choose randomly from a jar. I also liked the excuse to decorate the jar while Emily read the first chapter of the book. Because even for grown-ups playing with markers and scissors is fun! 

So far it's worked out well. We discussed the first chapter after she read it. It talked about finding inspiration all around you. Using your five senses and the environment as your greatest source... keeping a dream journal... read, read, and read some more... go to a museum... people watch... use your past... and so on.

New Moon books (there is a series), like their magazine is created by girls ages 10-14. (I think the magazine is written by ages 8-14.) Nine girls were chosen from all over the world to write these books and represent homeschool, public school, and private school. In this book they explore different forms of the written word, from poetry to plays, letters to articles. They've profiled female writers, both famous and brand-new, and there are many suggestions and tips for improving your own writing, overcoming writer's block, getting published, and having big time fun with words.

Then we dipped into our new jar of writing seeds and pulled out our first prompt. Emily got busy writing, feeling pretty pumped with ideas and direction. Eager to explore the world about to be created by the tip of her pencil.

orchard tour

Today we had the pleasure of attending our first homeschool "field trip" with many other homeschoolers in our community. It was a perfect afternoon to be guided through an apple orchard; pick fresh apples, learn about dwarf varieties of trees, watch cider being pressed, candy apples being made (providing a moment for a slightly sensitive discussion on the pros and cons of the assembly line), lots of mathematical opportunities as the kids calculated that 40 pounds of apples equals a bushel, the large wooden boxes held 15 bushels, which is 600 pounds of apples. The real life visual application of this was wonderful to witness. The kids would then multiply the large boxes (they were everywhere!), 1200 pounds, 1800 pounds, and so forth.  It reminded me of the Golden Bead Thousand Cube we are familiar with from Montessori. From there it was off to explore the inside of the biggest walk in refrigerator imaginable! It housed thousands of pounds of apples awaiting transport to the store. Next was cider sampling and we ended the afternoon with a caramel apple for the long, sweet and sticky ride home.

school room

We are slowly transforming the former yoga studio in our home into our learning space. In no way do we feel tied to be in this room all day, but being the Virgo that I am, I find there to be a sense of order and comfort in having this designated area. This room is an incredible space making setting up shop in here quite appealing and easy. It was important for me to add cozy seating for lots of quiet reading, knitting, sipping tea and chatting.

While I no longer teach classes in our home, I hoped to retain as much open space as possible, it is still my own practice space. We've always enjoyed having a wide open room in the house for Emily and her friends to play as well. There have been many late eighteenth century balls held in this room...

There are still little things to do in here, the area rug (wool, cotton or hemp) to put down in front of the shelves, with a chalk board or white board low on the wall to the right of that. An activity table (not too big or too tall, sitting on floor pillows height) on the rug for games and such. Emily also needs her own bulletin board by her desk, and a better shelf system to organize her things. For years my organizational efforts have revolved around wooden apple boxes, for the first time I seem to have a shortage. Must pay special attention at the flea market this weekend.

We also like how both of our desks are by the window so we can watch the birds visiting on the deck throughout the day. All in all, so far so good. Before we moved into this room we were taking over both the dining and living rooms, which was kind of sweet and cute at first but did begin to make me a little batty. Oh well, I've read in several places homeschooling and tidy houses do not necessarily go together.

We also have pretty cute classroom pets... Yes Mom, that is the beautiful shawl you made me for Mother's Day, Hazel and I share,sorry.

campus influence

Being homeschoolers living close to two major universities, one of which we live in the heart of, is proving to be a source of many learning opportunities. Last week we attended a musical performance during "lunch hour." The school will be offering this free program once a month, attendees may bring their lunch and listening ears as students and staff of the music program share their talents. It was low key, enjoyable, and something we will definitely return to next month.

Next week we will attend a daytime performance of Ballet Folklorico de Mexico. The costumes alone we are looking forward to! The University has put together this special time and price for all children; public, private, or homeschooled.

To this point our experience as a homeschool family in the public eye has been mostly positive. We find our area to be extremely inclusive and supportive to homeschoolers. There are no sideways glances when we are out and about during school day hours, it is seen as a valid (and often revered) method for educating children. My only source of angst has been that familiar place many homeschool parents have experienced where well intentioned people inquire about socialization. I'm not going to get into it because frankly it's exhausting. But I will say this; every time that sentiment comes into conversation, my mind flashes to the scene in Good Will Hunting where Matt Damon explodes in his doc's (Robin Williams) office because people ask the wrong questions, read the wrong books. That of course being the scene where many of us first learned of Howard Zinn.  I guess I'm learning to just roll with it as the questions come up.

every girl needs a pair

It was a very good day. Have a wonderful, bloomer filled weekend.

father and daughter crafting

There is an ongoing effort to not bring things into our home or our lives that aren't necessary. While still acknowledging the usefulness of certain objects, Adam and Emily decided to design and build this guitar stand out of objects found around the yard and in the workshop. It's something we've really been needing, and have been unable to find used. This solution showed Emily yet another way to do things for herself and lighten her impact as a consumer at the same time.

The cost was $0. The value for Emily to learn these lessons and have a little more practice with the power drill, well that goes without saying, priceless.

advice gladly taken

We seem to have found a "school" rhythm that feels right for us, for now. We spend 2-3 hours each morning working on various lessons at home. This can easily be done in two hours and often it is, but three hours allows for a pretty leisurely pace. So much happens during this time, I am continuously amazed. I have  a work schedule (tough word) written up and Emily can choose work in any order she desires. She has a binder that I keep loaded with any "work" related to each lesson, though much of what we do is interactive and involves a lot of reading aloud and discussion, exchanging ideas and learning from one another as we go. As Emily moves through her work choices, she checks them off as completed, which for her is very satisfying. She's quite self directed by nature and manages her time well allowing this system to work for us. I try not to put too much stock in this morning routine however. I am quickly learning how the richness of it all, the lessons that will stay with her for a lifetime and develop her further as an inquisitive learner in life, are the things that happen after we leave our work table and let her current interests direct the remainder of the day.

My friend Linda of Journey Seeds has been a wonderful mentor for me lately. Her daughter Emma, also a friend, was unschooled and is grown now but they have a unique bond as a family and I sense they will spend a lifetime learning together. I asked her recently about rhythm/routine and one of the things she told me was that often she would say to Emma "what would you like to do tomorrow?", and Emma's response would be the foundation of Linda's vision for how the following day would unfold. I shared this idea with Adam and he admired the simplicity and importance of this concept. I'm a little embarrassed to say that I have never thought of this exactly, but I suppose therein lies the importance of a good mentor; a person willing to pass down a tradition and the wisdom tied to it as well. Thank you Linda, for my first homeschool lesson. Here's how I put your sage advice to work...

The other day I asked Emily how  she wanted to spend the following afternoon. She asked to go for a hike on a trail that we had recently learned about and had not yet explored.

We set off for the trail. I had loaded my backpack with a few various nature drawing and identification books, two drawing pads, and colored pencils, along with plenty of h2o and sesame sticks. She had no idea about the the art supplies I was toting, I figured a surprise would be fun.

Eventually, I shared that I brought an activity she might be interested in and would she like to check it out. I pulled out the supplies and told her I had this idea that we could take a few minutes to soak in our environment, be inspired, and draw what we see. It could either be a scene of what was before us, or a close up study of little bits of nature found on the forest floor. She was totally down with this idea and jumped right in. We chatted, and sketched, shared snacks and favored colors in the pencil box, and completely lost track of time.

After some time of drawing what we "saw," I made a second suggestion. "What if we complete our drawings using our imagination as the guide, forgetting what we see?" She was open to this idea as well and filled in her close-up botanical study with butterflies and tulips, as for me and my forest landscape, I added a camping scene. Same place, same materials, totally different results, both authentic.

Emily already held the seed, just needed a place for it to grow. Thanks Linda.

Heather

art space

A glimpse into Emily's art space. We created this space to offer a spot in the house where her painting was available to her at all times, thus allowing for more spontaneous and frequent creativity. When her painting supplies were tucked away waiting for her next painting class, it seemed that out of site, out of mind resulted in very little between class painting. Now she is easily inspired to pick up the brush.

Heather

summer reading list

It seems appropriate to begin this school year blog by sharing Emily's summer reading list. The following are titles that she read to herself silently, or to various household pets and humans who were available for a little story time. This list does not include the books that were read aloud to her, she was a much better record keeper than we were. Some books you will see listed more than once, Emily will often re-read a book that she loved.

Any of the Ramona Quimby books come with the highest recommendation, Emily says she's "spunky."

1. Judy Moody
2. Ramona and Her Mother
3. Ramona and Her Father
4. Ramona's World
5. Ramona Forever
6. Because of Winn Dixie
7. Ramona the Brave
8. Beezus and Ramona
9. Which Witch?
10. Ramona the Pest
11. Pollyanna
12. Superfudge
13. Encyclopedia Brown
14. Kirsten's Promise
15. Kirsten's Promise
16. Matilda
17. A Series of Unfortunate Events - The Bad Beginning
18. Thunder From the Sea
19. Kit Learns a Lesson
20. Happy Birthday Kit
21. Meet Kit
22. Kit's Surprise
23. Kit's Surprise
24. Kit Saves the Day
25. Meet Kit
26. A Series of Unfortunate Events - The Reptile Room
27. Nathan Hale Patriot Spy
28. A Series of Unfortunate Events - The Wide Window

One of my favorite things is watching the books Emily is reading come to life in her imaginative play. Everything from the costume, to props, accents appropriate to the character, adopted time period social behavior, and so on. It's hard to put into words but is incredible to witness. So much happens during those hours, discoveries are made that could never be taught.

Heather