The Learning Nook

I've been having a (silent) philosophical difference of opinion with the current leaders of my daughter's Girl Scout troop. They're great people - we're not of different opinions there! But I think my idea of what Girl Scouts can be is a little overwhelming and too much to consider for them. But there is no way I would expect the leaders to change the way they do things! So, I decided to start my own troop this fall.

Do you know what Girl Scouts is all about? Oh, I know what you're thinking - the 3 C's. Cookies, camping, & crafts. While Girl Scouts CAN do those things, that's not really what Girl Scouts is all about. At least in my book. It took a lot of research, and quite a bit of soul searching to figure that out.

Instead, I have embraced the REAL 3 C's of Girl Scouts: Courage, Confidence, Character. Isn't that what we want for our daughters? To be courageous in the face of the unknown, to have confidence in herself and her ability, and to maintain her ideals to the highest moral character. How do you pull that off, exactly?

Girl Scouts has the answer with the Girl Scout Program. The 4 Program Goals are:

Relating to Others

Contributing to Society

Developing Values

Developing Self-Potential

See, for me and my daughter, I would like a focus on the learning, leadership, responsibility, and selflessness that the goals represent. How do I provide that to a troop of 5 thru 12 years olds? (Good question! If you have any answers for me, let me know!) I'm holding a Parent Meeting in a week or so to talk with some other Moms about this new troop and it's goals. I'm hoping that I am able to convey my belief in what Girl Scouts can accomplish for our girls. Because, from my vantage point, the sky's the limit!

When I was first tossing around the idea of a new troop, I sat down and focused my energy on what I want. I came up with a Wish List. Some have scoffed at this list because they think it is overly ambitious. Naively, I disagree. I have already witnessed some phenomenal Brownies making decisions that affected the whole troop (20 girls) with alacrity and respect. And they said it couldn't be done!

Anyway, I'd love some input from some seasoned pro's. Here is The Wish List...

A Girl Scout troop should stress the program goals. Supporting the mission statement and the program should be the focus of most meetings.

Badge work should be secondary to the meeting.

1. Spend time on The Law and have the girls talk about each partof the Law and how she can make it a part of her daily life.

2. Have girls determine how many badges they want to earn in ayear as a troop (encourage them to focus on program andlimit badge work to 4 or 5 - but be flexible!).

a. Each girl chooses 2 badges from the book

b. discuss them all as a group

c. Determine as a group which will be done togetherd. Maintain a list of all others suggested – they will be added to the schedule as time permits.

3. Additional badge work can be done at home. Girls should beprovided with a Badge checklist for them to keep a record.

A Girl Scout troop should focus on Service Projects. Have the girls discuss possibilities for a year-long Service Project. Girls can research, present ideas to the troop, and vote on which Service Project the troop adopts.

Ideas:

1. Adopt an Assisted Living Center facility – monthlyvisits, make cards, holiday party, Game Day, Show &Tell, COA

2. Storytelling to younger kids – coordinate with library?

3. Volunteer at Humane Society – collect supplies,promote adoptions

4. Random Act of Kindness – at troop or individual level; be sure to share during circle!

Have the girls choose at least 4 or 5 activities to do as a troop outside the meetings (examples):

Songfest

Sea Turtle

Workshop

KSC GS Day

Women in Engineering

Planetarium Overnight

Nature Hike

Family Picnic/Sports Day

Museum GS Day

Host a tea party

Father/Daughter Dance

Suggest having 2 camping trips a year. One for just the girls, the other for the families. Camporee would be in addition to these, if desired.

The girls determine funds needed to accomplish their goals and activities. Create a budget, choose money-earning activities, set fall product & cookie sale goals. Hold additional money earning projects as needed (car wash, craft sale, etc.). Vote on dues and activity fee annually.

The girls vote on whether their annual GS registration will be paid for by the troop. Will the adult volunteers (Mom’s) be paid for by the troop?

Recognize and celebrate important GS dates:

Juliette Low Birthday

Thinking Day

GS Birthday

The troop members birthdays

The leaders regularly meet with each girl individually (5 minutes at the end of a meeting?) just to touch base on badges being worked on at home, questions about program, goals, larger projects (Junior Aide, Silver Award, etc.)

The girls will create and use a Kaper Chart or “In” and “Out” bags.

Each girl gets a chance to moderate the meetings. Use a “talking stick” so each girl knows who should receive the attention.

The girls will develop a Code of Conduct and sign an agreement to follow it.

The girls can create an opening and closing to the meetings that they like: flag & Promise/Law should be in it. Could also include 1 or 2 songs, sharing time, etc.

The leaders should always participate in the opening circle.

The girls should take ownership of all Investiture, Court of Awards, and Bridging ceremonies. They can create ceremonies that are meaningful and signify the Girl Scout mission. Ceremonies should be practiced, invitations sent, and all the girls should feel ownership. These are AWARDS for their hard work!

The girls will collect & record dues, take attendance, and rotate acting as treasurer.

Give the girls the option of working on a Cultural Awareness Patch each year.

Have a troop Dream Box where each girl can add ideas of what to do as a troop – when in need of ideas, we can dream.

Never make a decision for the girls that they can make for themselves. Never do a job for the girls when they can do it for themselves. Above all, never make the girls do what the leaders have planned because, after all, the girls should have done the planning.

_____________________________________

The Leaders should:

Communicate constantly with parents – handouts to girls at meetings, email, Yahoo group reminders, parents meetings, follow ups if a girl misses a meeting, etc.

Automatically provide each parent with a copy of the Financial Statement completed for the Service Unit 3 times a year.

Be on time and prepared for all meetings.

Participate in all opening and closings at meetings.

Get to know each girl individually.

Recognize strengths and encourage overcoming weaknesses.

Support the girls decisions NO MATTER WHAT. If something they choose will “fail,” let them fail and help them learn from it.

Be democratic and fair.

Ask Mom’s for help if needed – be specific and provide resources inadvance. Follow up.

Meet with new leaders and co-leaders to discuss training and scheduleclasses. DO THIS FOR THEM IF NEEDED.

Provide new leaders with needed resources within 2 weeks: leader manual, training schedule, age-level handbooks.

Organize group orders for needed GS products: uniforms, shirts, books, etc.

Remind the girls of their goals and objectives if they seem to be straying.

Promote Girl Scouting and the troop in the community (newspaper, SUwebsite, etc.)

Treat each girl fairly, with respect, and with the expectation that she contributes a vital part to the troop. Require others to do so as well.

Require each girl to live up to the Girl Scout Law & Promise. Encourage (but not force) her to assume responsibilities and leadership roles within the troop.

Provide a list of Citrus Council GS Program Activities going on in Central Florida for the girls to do on their own (if not doing as a troop)

Keep an updated Yahoo calendar so parents will get automatic updatesand reminders.

Invite sponsors, friends, sister troops, to parties and COA.

Read the rest of This could be the start of something great!

Seems like it took years and years, but when an impatient Mom is coupled with an hiatus in bookwork - well, it can start to get ugly. In reality, it only took 2 months or so, but The Library is finally open. Sydney doesn't want to call it the "schoolroom," but it is basically where we do all our homeschooling. So she came up with "The Library."

The stars were traced onto WallPops and then cut out. Lots of the smaller stars and stuff were made with punches. Everything, rhinestones included, were put up on the wall one by one.

Sydney got a new dresser recently and I almost sold her old one at the garage sale. Then I realized it would make a great art & sewing cabinet!

Look at that! Empty bookshelf space! Looks like a trip to the bookstore is in order.

A close-up. The pictures don't do it justice, really. When the sun hits the room (most of the day) everything just sparkles!

Read the rest of The “Library” is open!!

Syd was assigned a new song to learn for piano class this week.  Fortunately, the music book prints the lyrics as well, and these (being the inquisitive sort) piqued Sydney's interest.  Exactly WHY would a monkey chase a weasel around a cobblers bench and exactly what happens when he "pops?"

Well, turns out most of it (in it's many variations) is derivitive of Cockney English and essentially means people were pawning their coats, or even tools of their trade, in order to get a few bucks to go to the pub.  We've had a rousing good time pondering over the hilarity of exactly what Moms everywhere are singing to their wee babes.

Care for a pint?

Pop Goes the Weasel Lyrics & Origin 

Read the rest of Pawn your coat for a trip to the pub!

Sydney spent the week at gymnastics camp.  It was her first all day camp and, though it presented some logistic issues because of her peanut allergy, it went quite well.  Sydney enjoyed the gymnastics and crafts, and I liked that she was getting some all day instruction in "the real world."  Invariably, she would return home with little to no lunch eaten.  hmmm...something to do with taking MUCH to long to eat (like I've been telling her all along!).

Read the rest of Monday, August 6 ~ Friday, August 10, 2007

July 31st was Harry Potter's birthday. We have been "All-Things-Potter" in this house for the last few months, so I thought it was fitting to celebrate the day. Syd decorated the cake and made him a card. She even insisted on a candle and singing Happy Birthday. Considering poor Harry is usually with the Dursley's on his birthday (not to mention what happens on his birthday in Deathly Hallows!), I think this was one of his finer celebrations.

So, Happy Birthday Harry. And thanks. For everything.

(And yes, the card says "71st" birthday. Either Sydney is numerically dyslexic, or it was her attempt at projecting his longevity and safety into the future!)

Read the rest of Happy Birthday, Harry!

A friend in my local homeschool group posted a link to a song that should become the anthem for all homeschoolers, educators, teachers, and parents who recognize that No Child Left Behind is one of the worse things to ever suck the life out of a student.

It's Not on the Test

Read the rest of It’s Not on the Test

     Are you one of those perfect homeschoolers with immaculate houses?  I'm not.  The house has an inch layer of dust, the dust mites have formed complete cities in the carpet due to lack of vacuuming, and I actually went out and bought everyone in the house more underwear just so I wouldn't have to do laundry as often.

The education part has been rather bumpy lately too.  We took off a month around the holidays and never fully recovered.  My daughter is beginning to resist most efforts to sit down and learn, and the arguments have been escalating.  Oh yes, the threat of public school has been bandied about more than once.   Of course, she'd rather have someone else as a teacher at this point, right?  Who needs a raving lunatic whose temper flares and patience is rather thin?

Sometimes you just get this Aha moment.  Sometimes...just sometimes...you are reminded of why you homeschool and reaffirm in your heart that this journey your family is taking is the right one for you.

Today I was looking through one of my daughters Disney Fairies books.  It is part book/part journal.  (Calm down - she gave me permission.)  One section was on Schools.  Usually she won't even look at this type of thing and just skips over it.  But, surprisingly, she answered a question.  Just one question on the whole 4 pages.

"Who would you want for a teacher?"

The answer?  "Mom"

Wow.

Read the rest of Who would YOU want for a teacher?

Me: "The Arctic terns migrate from the Arctic to the Antarctic every fall and then turn around in the spring and fly back from the Antarctic to the Arctic."

SmartAleck: "When do they go see Uncle Arctic?"

Read the rest of Frigid Relatives

I gave Syd a reading level assessment test today. Recently, I reviewed my blog entries from "the beginning" and noticed she was reading Bob Books back in April 2006. At some point during the year, I checked her and she was up around the 4th grade level. So, I thought this might be a good time to check again. I didn't expect what I got.

A sample of words she read with ease (nearly all of which she knew the meaning):

contemporary
theory
threshold
participate
ethics
desolate
eliminate
triumph
tranquility
humidity
alcove
humiliate
conspiracy
aeronautic
emphasis

According to the test, this reading level is about 7.5. As in HALF WAY THROUGH 7th GRADE! Did I mention the kid is 6 years old? What the heck am I supposed to do with her? I'm serious here. I'm not doing anything to get her to read and understand these words - she just knows them. How am I supposed to get her reading material at her grade level, yet is appropriate for a 6 year old? There are not too many books written for 7th graders that have content appropriate for a 1st grader.

I was so excited. When I thought she was reading at the 4th grade level, I discovered Ramona and Boxcar Children and that seemed to work for her. High reading level, medium content - perfect! There are TONS of books out there that are "high-interest, low-reading level" for kids who are older and can't yet read. But what do I do with the opposite problem? I can't just let her stagnate - she'll grow bored and/or lazy.

Any suggestions for books that are appropriate for a 6 year old but might have words like intrigue, audacious, or repugnant? How can I help her continue to learn and grow, and be challenged, without resorting to mature content?

Read the rest of Our Reading Level Assessment - YIKES!

(I wrote this for a a magazine that has since decided it cannot use the material. Yet I feel compelled to share it, so my personal blog is the best space. Maybe someone will stumble upon it who can actually use it.)

Homeschooling for Peanuts

“What made you decide to homeschool?”

We homeschoolers are often asked why we homeschool. As if we can sum up what has become one of the most monumental choices of our life in a quick 3-minute conversation. Sometimes, people are looking to pick a fight. They oppose homeschooling and want to tell you just how wrong you are and why. I haven’t met any of these people, but I have heard there are one or two lurking about.

Sometimes, people are just curious. Seriously. Think about it. Before you considered homeschooling for your own family (assuming the fact that you weren’t one of the lucky children who blazed the trail for us in the early years) didn’t you think homeschooling a tad, different?

Many people are looking for a reason they can dismiss out-of-hand as something that doesn’t affect their family. A reason that doesn’t apply to them would not create any doubt in their own choices. I mean, if we all told them we feel home education is just plain superior to traditional schooling, where would that leave them?

I think that is why so many people give me the understanding nod and the “Oh, of course” comments whenever I tell them my daughter has a life threatening allergy to peanuts. “Of course you homeschool. I mean, it’s to protect her life, isn’t it? But that’s not something my family has to worry about...”

It’s true. I was staring preschool down its beastly throat when a light bulb suddenly blinked: HOMESCHOOL HOMESCHOOL HOMESCHOOL. Never before had such a non-conventional thought entered my head. Being a stay-at-home Mom was “alternative” enough for me in this day and age. I had been a corporate queen for heaven’s sake! Towing the company line was my life.

So, I had this epiphany. Homeschooling would keep my daughter alive. Homeschooling was the answer. But even after making the decision, I didn’t get it. Just like so many people do not understand the seriousness, the complexities, the depth of what a peanut allergy means to a child and her family, I had no idea of what learning at home really meant.

Over the next few years of reading, researching, and embracing this life that I never thought I’d call my own, I began to realize something profound. A peanut allergy might have brought us to homeschooling, but this method of education, this lifestyle, truly is superior. If my daughter’s allergy were to evaporate tomorrow (unlikely) we would continue to learn at home and never miss a beat.

In some areas of the country, there are families fighting practical wars in their attempt to keep their children safe in a traditional school setting. Their kids are being bullied and harassed, often chased or threatened with the offensive food. The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network does not advocate banning peanuts from schools, yet the reality is that schools are unable to keep kids safe. (Definitely not as safe as Mom and Dad can.) Yet, these families bristle when their opponent suggests they homeschool. I am not advocating that families should be forced to teach their child at home because of a disability. Nor am I suggesting that all families could or should homeschool. But it is something to consider. Put down the boxing gloves for 5 minutes and take the time to consider an alternative. I wish I could take those scared, tired parents and sit them down and explain what it would really mean to their family….

You will never worry about a phone call in the middle of the day telling you that your child won’t be coming home. You will never get that call. You can now exhale the breath you have been holding each morning and begin to savor the day for what it is - a gift for you, your child, and your family.

You get to set your own schedule. You get to enjoy every learning moment of each day and share in some of the most profound discoveries. MOM! Did you know that ants travel in a line and can lift 50 times their own weight? Or that ice melts faster in the sun than in the shade? Or that caterpillars form a tube-like thing and EMERGE AS A BUTTERFLY?! Mom, this is AMAZING!

You get to decide what is best for your child, whether it be the book, the toy, the friend, or the food. Your child gets to socialize. Actually socialize. You can surround yourself with friends that support your family and it’s choices. Friends who won’t form a battalion and picket when you suggest a PB&J-free park day.

Of course, this lifestyle, coupled with this disability, does not give you carte blanche to rule the roost. It is about taking responsibility. About balancing the needs of others with the unquestionable need to keep your child safe.

My family is lucky, but I do not think unique. We have made a number of wonderful, close friends (and have found an incredible support group) who think nothing of changing the menu, going over nutritional labels with me, or buying specific brands if it means my daughter can participate.

Birthday celebrations at our monthly park day have morphed into PhillySwirl® treats instead of a traditional store-bought cake. The Girl Scout troop (made up of all homeschoolers) eliminated snack time. Start times for my daughter and I sometimes fall after lunch has been served at events. Field trip organizers often ask venues about the menu, doing some initial leg work to keep my daughter safe. Some events or field trips we choose to skip so that our needs will not alter the core of the field trip.

Homeschooling does not shelter children from the realities of their disability.  It affords them the time, space, and support to fully learn how to manage their allergy.   They remain safe, while getting the best education possible.

How do you do it?  With a lot of love and patience. With an open heart and the willingness to teach others about food allergies.   With the knowledge that, even without a food allergy that could kill, homeschooling is still, without a doubt, the best thing for your child and your family.

Read the rest of Homeschooling for Peanuts

I've been planning this all year. I live eat and breathe this... Yet somehow it feels weird. Like a sweater that is too tight.

We homeschool year round. We do not have a 5 day a week, with summers off, type of schedule. You will probably find us learning on weekends. In fact, most of our traditional book learning is on weekends. Summers are study time around here too. In Florida, it's hot. No, not "hot." HOT. Staying inside and hitting the books is preferable to spontaneous combustion outside as the sun crashes into the earth (as it does every day in Florida from May to September).

But I digress. I planned on taking a winter break. 5 or 6 weeks away from the books during the holiday season to work on projects, independent reading, holiday and family time.

But I feel like my sweater is too tight and I need to stretch it or something. This is just the "schooled" beast in me trying to break out, isn't it?

So, what have we been doing? Classes: drama, spanish, gymnastics, PE. Family visits. Learning how to hand-sew.  LOTS of audiobooks.  Not as much reading as I would have liked (but we've cracked out the Christmas books so the pace is picking up). Sydney has been doing more and more creative projects - she'll read something in a magazine or book and then try to approximate it. Today she asked me what a cigarette looks like. She is drawing pictures (and I am afraid notes) after reading Ramona and her Father by Beverly Cleary. We don't smoke, but she may feel it necessary to remind us of it's dangers as Ramona does to her father.

So, we've been keeping moderately busy. My too tight sweater is annoying, but it will have to do. I've seen too much learning continuing, even without what little book work we do.

Read the rest of Winter Break has begun….

Faith over at Dumb Ox Academy has a wonderful post on the Seven Habits of Highly Effective Homeschoolers.  Very insightful!

Read the rest of What we strive to be…

The Amazing Adventures of Lisa Hackerwood

by: Sydney P. (age 6)

Book 1

AUTHORS NOTE:

Hello! I am Sydney P. I made this book with a little help from my Mommy. She wrote all the words and I wrote all the pictures. So, get comfortable and enjoy my book!

From the author: Sydney P.
.

Chapter 1

A Very Unusual Find

One day, a girl named Lisa Hackerwood was sitting on her porch steps. A cool breeze rustled the trees. Lisa Hackerwood looked up. She saw a letter falling from the sky. She looked at the letter and what she saw made her gasp!

Hello. I am S.

If you find a fish for me,

you'll have a great reward.

S.

"Wow! I should find it. And a $100 reward?! WOW!"

"Hmmm... where can I find it? It must be fun going to dive down in the deep," said Lisa, "But where is the pond?"

"Well, at least look at this crinkled map. I can use that to get to the pond."

.

Chapter 2

The Way to Get to the Pond

"Wow, I think I will never get my way to the pond. Oh, wow! Lucky me, I see the pond in the distance - at least I could see it if the fog wasn't around," Lisa said.

So she started to run, and run, and run until she got to the pond.

"Uh-oh! I need to get my bikini," said Lisa, "and my goggles." (Her goggles were pink. Pink was her favorite color.)

So she hopped in the pond and she saw a shark's tail.

.

Chapter 3

The Merpeople

She tried not to get bit. So she swam, and swam, and swam. Then she thought she saw a mermaid's tail. And then a mermaid appeared in front of her, and then a merman!

"Hello," they both said.

"Would you like to swim with us?" asked the merman.

"Yes, yes, yes!" said Lisa, "I would love to!" (She never swam with a mermaid before.)

"Here. Here is a locket. When you want to turn into a mermaid, just open it," they both said.

"OK," said Lisa.

.

Chapter 4

Getting Bit

Well, Lisa wanted to become a mermaid, so she opened her locket and Woosh! tons of dust came out. Then she felt herself rising, rising, rising. She felt her legs become a tail.

Just then, she felt a shark bump the back of her tail! Then she felt her tail get bit.

"Oh, no!" Lisa wailed, "My beautiful tail! It's bit!"

"I want my legs back," Lisa wailed, "I think I could use my locket."

She zoomed up to the surface of the water. The merpeople came too.

"Hooray!" Lisa screamed when she finally got her legs back, "I love having my legs!"

"I wish I had my legs," said the merman.

"Well, get yours!" said the mermaid.

"Lisa," said the merman, "can I please have your locket for a second?"

"Yes," said Lisa.

"Oh my goodness! There's that fish I wanted, " said Lisa.

"Hooray!" shouted everybody when the merman had his legs back and when Lisa had her fish.

"I have to go home," said Lisa.

"Good-bye!" shouted the merpeople.

..............

All that Lisa could think about was returning the fish to whoever it belonged.

"Hello, Sarah," said Lisa.

"Hello, Lisa," said Sarah.

"Is this the fish you wanted?" said Lisa.

"Yes, why it is," said Sarah.

"Well, have fun with your pet fish," said Lisa.

"I will," said Sarah as she walked off into the distance.

THE END

Read the rest of The Amazing Adventures of Lisa Hackerwood

My sister is expecting her first child and has expressed an interest in homeschooling. I am SO excited! I want to put together a list of articles, books, and resources that will help her feel comfortable with her choice and to get an idea of just how diverse homeschooling can be. I am specifically looking for articles/books on:

Methods of homeschooling (Classical, Charlotte Mason, unschooling, etc)

"A Day in the Life" examples

Benefits of homeschooling

Books to encourage the new or veteran homeschooler (do you have a favorite author/writer/thinker?)

Putting together a curriculum

Homeschooling the upper grades

Homeschooling & college

Famous homeschoolers

I am going to maintain a page on this blog with all of this information, so anything you contribute can help others as well!

Read the rest of Looking for your favorite “new homeschooler” resources….

I don't know when it started ~ sometime during my childhood, I guess. But I have to admit that I have a problem. Don't they say that is the first step?

I am completely and utterly addicted to books.

I think that, even though homeschooling was never on my radar until 3 years ago, I am a natural homeschooler. I think homeschooling is just destiny's way of giving me a legitimate excuse to buy so many, so many, SO MANY books. Of course, I have now branched out from just books and have discovered the joys (however less rapturous) of educational games and (gasp!) quasi-curriculum too.

Tonight I hopped online to buy Singapore Math for first grade. Oh, and maybe Stepping Stones. Well, while I'm here, why don't I look for.....

$225 later, you can see how I fared...

Kit an American Girl (6 book set)

Welcome to Kit's World, 1934 : Growing Up During America's Great Depression (The American Girls Collection)

Literature Pockets, Folktales & Fairytales

History Pockets, Life in Plymouth

History Pockets, Native Americans

Pearl The Cloud Fairy

Stepping Stones Book 2

Stepping Stones Book 3

Singapore Math 1A & 1B (at least I actually got this!)

Literature Pockets - Caldecott Winners

History Pockets - Ancient Civilizations

Snap it Up!

Dino Math Tracks

Marie Antoinette

Napoleon

Christopher Columbus

Florence Nightingale

So, that eats up 2 1/2 months worth of my homeschool budget. Worth it? I think so. Sydney loves the Literature Pockets - Aesop's Fables we've been working on, so I stocked up on similar books. Hopefully she'll take to those as well.

Here's to addictions. I refuse the 12-step program.

Read the rest of I am a junkie…

Just trying to share the love... Thanks to Imperfect Genius for starting the Homeschool MeMe. Feel free to add your to comments too, or throw it on your blog.

1) What country/region/state do you live in? Florida, USA

2) How long have you been homeschooling? Just getting started, old pro or somewhere in between? Since June 7, 2000 - the day Syd was born. OK, we officially decided to homeschool when she was 3 - so it's been a bit more than 3 years.

3) Write a little something about your family. Ages? Stages? Tom and I have been married for almost 16 years, but together for 22. We waited until 10 years of marriage to have a baby so that I could be a SAHM and *WE* could raise her. Syd is our only, and is 6 years old ~ smart as a whip and, thus far, still in love with learning...and her parents.

4) Share some good homeschooling advice you’ve run across. Don't try to replicate school at home. If school doesn't work, why would you want to bring it home?

5) Tell us something you’re passionate about (besides your family and homeschooling, those are givens!). I am passionate about freedom of and from religion. Nothing gets me cranky faster than some fundamentalist ANYTHING trying to change the world to follow their faith.

6) If you could take the ultimate field trip, where would you go and why? I would love to go on a field trip to Europe and immerse myself in the rich art, architecture, and literature of the ages. Specifically, I would love to visit Paris, London, and Rome.

7) What is a resource you can’t do without? Books. Thousands and thousands of books. OK, if it supposed to be specific - how about the library?

How do you homeschool? Classical, Charlotte Mason, Waldorf, Unschooling, Eclectic? Eclectic unschooler with some basic required skills

9) Share a website or two that you visit often - can be your favorite blogger or a curriculum supplier, just any sites you really like. Rainbow Resource, Discovery Puzzle Maker, Homeschool Reviews, Mindware, Peanut Allergy.com

10) Tell us about one of your favorite projects/activities/trips you’ve had in the past few months. One of my favorite things has been Sydney's Summer Reading program that we devised. For every 100 pages she reads, she gets to pick something great. I have had SUCH joy just sitting and listening to her sweet voice read the words with adorable tone and inflection - it has absolutely been one of my favorite things in homeschooling yet.

11) What is a current/previous homeschooling challenge you’ve faced? In the past we were challenged because Sydney was entranced with the idea of going to school. When you homeschool from the beginning, kids only know the romantic vision of school days that they have been fed by the media. She is passed that now, but it was difficult to deal with about a year or two ago.

12) Share an accomplishment, something about you or your children. Come on, brag about it! My daughter can READ! I taught her letter sounds by loosely following Letter of the Week and then we tackled sight words, word blends, etc. by using games and manipulatives I found in The Mailbox. She was reading fluently by the time she was 5 and, months before she even turned 6, she could read at the 4th grade level. I told myself when we started this homeschool journey that if I could just teach her to read, I would feel confident and be able to teach her anything. Of course, along the way, I discovered that the best way is not to "teach," but to stand out of the way and let them learn.

13) What are you looking forward to over the coming year? I am looking forward to living and learning with my family. We have 2 babies (cousins) on the way, and I look forward to their arrival and thank our homeschooling lifestyle for affording us the opportunity to enjoy the time. I am also looking forward to reading more of the classics aloud to Sydney. We are just finishing up Heidi and I can't wait to start Swiss Family Robinson, Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, etc.

14) Name three things you like doing in the summer with your family. SWIMMING! SWIMMING! SWIMMING!

15) Have a favorite homeschooling quote? Share it here. I have to say that one of my favorites I actually first saw on Steph's blog Throwing Marshmallows... "Learning can only happen when a child is interested. If he’s not interested it’s like throwing marshmallows at his head and calling it eating."

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My brother sent me an email (on an unrelated subject) and asked how our summer is going, are we taking time off, etc. He is expecting his first baby (yea!) and he said that he and his wife (a newly minted public school teacher) will soon have to decide if they want to, or can, homeschool their own child. "When do they start school?" he asked, "3 or 4?" Of course, my response was, for him, it will start September 26th, 2006 (give or take a few days) . That is the day the baby is due and, in my mind, truly when learning begins.

OK, so the philosophical commencement of education aside, it got me thinking about learning, and education, and what exactly I want from this thing we indelicately call homeschool. (The indelicate part is the inclusion of the word "school.")

Do I want Sydney to have perfect penmanship? (Is that word even used anymore?) I was so anal-retentive in 2nd grade that I actually enjoyed endlessly writing "m" after freaking "m" between two lines because, as we all know, the longer you write in a small cramped space the better and more precise your writing gets. There is no such thing as boredom, or a cramp.

Anyway...No, I'm not looking for perfect handwriting. Does she have to know algebra, calculus, and trig? Hmm, my husband may disagree with me, but no - for my purposes, she does not.

Does she have to know that cumulous clouds, and not cirrus clouds, are the ones that produce rain? Or that Prohibition was passed by the Senate in 1917, but not fully implemented until January of 1919 and was finally repealed under FDR in 1933? Or that the element Pt is Platinum on the periodic table of elements? Or the capital city of every European nation for the last 2000 years?

No, for me and my house, I have a more abstract goal. I want to instill a love of learning. I want her to know how to learn. I do not want to cram her head full of facts and figures that disappear into oblivion 48 hours after "the test."

Long ago, someone posted their life goals for their child. I liked many of them, so I borrowed what I found to be appropriate. Some are not of the highest order, yet are important enough to include as a foundation for our homeschooling goals.

Life Goals for My Child

* Be literate.

* Be self-reliant.

* Compete well in their chosen field of occupation.

* Appreciate art, music, and literature.

* Be creative.

* Be inventive and resourceful.

* Be healthy ~ mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically.

* Maintain a strong sense of self-worth.

* Maintain a life-long curiosity, seeking knowledge as a way of life.

* Look to the future with a sense of excitement and adventure.

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.

Want to add any?

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We homeschooling families sacrifice a lot to participate in this wonderful opportunity of learning with our kids. I would say that many SAHM's do the same, except I think homeschool families are unique in that the sacrifices are usually longer and more keenly felt, while we take the time to form our extremely close family connections. I don't know if the same bond is possible when kids go off to school for much of the day.

Regardless, we give up a lot. I gave up a corporate job earning nearly 50K a year. And that was 6 years ago - I'd hate to think what I'd make today! Everything in my house seems to be breaking, the 17 year old TV is literally green. Jungles and rainforests look incredibly lush, but children's programming makes me want to break out the Pepto Bismol. My husband drives a 16 year old car with nearly bald tires (OK, that's not true - we're too into safety. They're not nearly bald, but they do need replacing - as does the car). There doesn't seem to be extra money to do what we need to do. Living where I do, I see housekeepers come and go; pool services; mobile car detailing, everything.

Forget about keeping up with the Joneses, I feel like I can't even get their table scraps. But, we planned this. I am grateful for this. Though, occassionally, I need the reminder that we are on the right path. In fact, I loathe the alternate path because I now see it as an American consumerism abyss propagated by the schooling of our children. (But that's a whole other blog post. )

Tom found a great article on Yahoo today called Keeping Up With the Joneses Can Put You Behind. It really made me remember that not everything is how it appears and, though we cannot afford much of what we want, we know what is important to us (homeschooling, retirement, college) and continue to fund that.

The Joneses, the media, and American culture

will forever seduce us to betray what is genuinely meaningful

for what is comfortable, beautiful, and enviable.

So, the TV is green. So what. Fosters a discussion of the spanish word for green.

Verde.

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SHE DID IT!

Sydney has read 100 pages aloud to me! I am so proud of her!! She has chosen a Polly Pocket toy for her reward - we're on the way to Toys R Us now.

She's already asked to start the next 100 page chart. WooHoo!!!

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Tonight Syd couldn't sleep again. It gets so frustrating, but it is hard to be angry - especially when I have the same problem. Tonight I took pity on the poor kid and went in to lay down with her for a bit (in our house that is not done very often). I am so glad I did. Instead of getting angry about her restless energy, I spent a wonderful hour talking, giggling, dreaming, and reading. Oh! The READING!

At 6 years and 1 week, Sydney is a fabulous reader. Of course, I've been telling her that for a year, but she has a hard time believing it. She hates to read out loud. But when she "reads" to herself, it is hard to determine just how much she is reading. So for the summer, we designed our own reading program. For every 100 pages she reads out loud to me or Dad, she can pick something. Anything. Mom to do chores for the day. The right to pick all the food she eats in a day. A day at Disney. A new toy. Whatever. This seems to have piqued her interest.

Tonight she ASKED to read aloud to me. The sound of her sweet voice forming the words in the book, changing in tone and inflection (she's really good) as she reads the passages...well, that's got to be the most magical sound in the world. And tonight I was treated to it for an entire hour. She read 53 pages to me. WOW.

I am glad I took some time with her tonight. I think she needed it. She's been following me around lately, maybe I have been giving off cranky vibes or something. I know we've been crazy busy again and have had little time to ourselves. I think she just needed some quiet Mommy time. I know I appreciated the quiet Sydney time...

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