Park Day and Djeco Decouvrir les Couleurs

I am happy to report that this homeschool thing is falling into place.  At least for today.  It does feel kind of roller coastery since we have the new curriculum.  My big accomplishment was feeling confident enough to write out lesson plans for the whole next week.  In pen.  I wrote them in pen!  I'm shocked.  I know all you experienced homeschool parents are laughing at me right now.  

I did not change much with the curriculum.  It gives a certain security in all that structure.  I heard another mom saying she started first grade with nothing.  She just let her son pick whatever he wanted to read, wherever.  I saw her son and he didn't look like an illiterate serial killer, so maybe it's o.k. to relax some.  I did skip ahead 40 pages in the phonics book to where Beauty left off in public school.  Her reading is on track but she is still guessing at some of the harder words.  I could take the book she'll read next week and pull a word list from it and have Beauty work on those.  

Beauty continues to thrill me with her math skills.  Mostly when she quietly sneaks over to the homeschool bookcase and pulls down the cuisenaire rods or builder blocks.  I must remember to nurture her interest, but in a way that looks like I'm not interested.  Does that sound weird?  Beauty is one of those children who love praise and compliments, but not when you actually say it out loud.  She likes quiet recognition.  The knowing glance, slight nod of Mrs. Mother's approval.  Like this is more sincere to her than lavish praise.  

We went on a picnic Thursday to meet with the homeschool group.  We made a picnic with some extras to share.  

This week there were 7 other kids all ranging 1 to 2 years of Beauty's age.  She was so wonderfully happy and joyous.  Maybe this is where she fits in?  One child showed up in his Robin Hood outfit, complete with homemade bow and hat.  Another child spent the entire playtime drawing on her arm in the style of hemp tattoos.  It was actually quite pretty.  We stayed for 3 and a half hours.  I found out I had gone to school with one mother.  We laughed and reminisced about the good old days in a town we both hate.  One mom heroically killed a bee which was annoying everyone, since we were trying to talk about all natural foods and raising animals.  I felt a certain contentment as we left.  Looking in the rear view mirror I could see a sweaty, smiling 7 year old.

At home we had Art class.  I've decided to take her some of her classes and only work on them once a week:  Art, History, Language Arts, and Science.  Today was art day and we used the Djeco Decouvrir les Couleurs kit.  This kit includes brushes, paints, paint mixing cards, 8 paintings, and an instruction booklet.  Luckily the instruction booklet has picture instructions because it's written in French.  Beauty likes art and painting.  She enjoyed this activity.  She wanted to do one again the next day.  This kit is meant to be used only once a week.  I think we will use it once a week and then move on to art/painting projects of our own creation.  

I've decided to make Friday, or at least some time during the weekend, Science Day.  This week we will build a volcano.  As it turns out Mr. Father and Mrs. Mother never built a volcano.  What could possibly go wrong?

Cuisenaire Rods and Decorating

After last night's bout of insomnia I slept in till 8:30 this morning.  We had service plans but I decided to scrap it entirely and have a nice day of early school.  Beauty continues to be interested in the globe puzzle ball and worked on it with no supervision except for me being in the same room.  She is just over half done with it.  Another manipulative she likes to play with are Cuisenaire Rods.

Beauty says she knows all about these and used them at her old school.  I'm not sold on them as there seems to be a lot of them and they look like it would probably hurt if I stepped on one.  I'm sure this is just childhood memories of my brother's leggos.  Otherwise these little sticks keep Beauty occupied for quite a bit of time.

After the day's regular school work (with a rising level of resistance.  Is this normal?) and a few extra activities I decided we would go to town.  We stopped by the library and checked out some more books.  Mostly books with the words 'Pink' and 'Princess' in the titles.  Then there were just a couple of stores I hadn't been to in a long time and was having withdrawal symptoms.

I picked up that wonderfully interesting lamp and a near perfect condition 1965 Heidi book.  That one was on my list of books to read to Beauty.  The table is being replaced soon...I hope.  (It's Beauty's old IKEA kid's table.)

Tomorrow is the homeschool park day.  It looks like there are a couple of more new families we might get to meet. 

Globe Puzzle Ball

I have insomnia tonight due to the delivery of the second box of curriculum.  This was the box with all the hands on learning tools aka "toys."  I decided to go ahead and review one of the items Beauty was drawn to.  

Beauty has been eagerly awaiting the arrival of this puzzle, the Globe Puzzle Ball.  I have, too.  We have never made a sphere shaped puzzle.  The teaching instructions say to work on this once or twice per month until mastery.  I think we may finish it tomorrow.  It's pretty addicting.  

Beauty figured out the secret to putting it together.  The pieces are numbered and have an arrow showing which direction the next piece will fit.  It didn't take her long to decide to separate out pieces 1-10, then 11-20, and so on.  

The pieces are very hard plastic.  She does need help putting it together and keeping the pieces connected.  It requires a coordinated touch.  The rest she is able to think through.  I think I can literally see her brain growing.

Tomorrow I hope to use Block Builder and MiniLuk, when I figure it out...after some sleep.

Of Snowmen and Rabbits

On the weekend is when we have time to indulge in a little science.  During the week Beauty is working on all her required subjects:  readin, writin, and rithmetic.  If we have time then we'll do a science experiment which is cleverly disguised as an art project.  This past weekend Mr. Father and Beauty made artificial snow and an igloo using a kit from Dune Craft.  This was kind of cute and a little fun.  At this point there's not a lot of need for in-depth experiments.  We addressed the topic of chemistry changing water and other ingredients into solids or even a powdery substance.  

I decided since Beauty was taking on learning new things that I also need to learn or experiment with new things.  I decided to cook rabbit meat.  I was very careful with cooking and there was lots of anticipation at dinner time.  We were thoroughly disappointed.  It tastes exactly like...chicken.  It even looks like it.  Oh well, not every hypothesis is right.

Why Did You Take Me Out of School?

This was the question I heard today.  Yep.  Fully one week and one day after being out of public school Beauty has completely forgotten why.  Actually she suggested it was because of the mean kid.  This is one part true.  

One part has to do with beliefs.  We believe one way about things and most others don't believe the same.  My understanding is that a lot of class time is running interference and crowd control.  There's not a lot of time or interest in making sure activities or learning is refined to everyone's beliefs.  Once Beauty came home from school we were running interference on attitudes, etc. picked up from school.  After one week of home school we have noticed a much more pleasant Beauty.  

The second part is she was not learning to read well.  There are people in every profession who simply do not want to be there.  There's also the fact that just because a person went to college for a degree in a certain profession, means they're any good at it.  I work in a field which requires college education.  Some have more education than me and some have less.  I can tell you they are not automatically better for having more education.  In some cases worse.  I think this is probably found across the board in every profession.  While true, teachers have gone to college and have been exposed to, hopefully, the best the profession of teaching has to offer, it will not automatically make them a great teacher.  

Beauty also has a different learning style and Mr. Father and I reached a point we were moved to halt the ever onward progress of the collective group (her class) in favor of Beauty actually learning to read.  We couldn't accept Beauty being in school for 8 hours, then being asked to attend an after school tutorial session, and then coming home for more reading homework.  We couldn't rationalize Beauty being made to feel she was "behind" when maybe she isn't.  She is now reading every day and at her pace.  She feels less pressure and now likes to read.  

The third part is time.  We are no longer on a traditional schedule.  I like this a lot.  I'm still getting used to it.  As a family we are more relaxed because we don't have to follow the "It's a school night" schedule.  Things don't have to end by a certain time.  We can stay up late, which never happens because we like to go to bed early, but we could if we wanted.  Beauty can sleep according to my her schedule.  Oh sure, she still has to get up but it's not in the "night morning."  One thing we enjoyed last night without the school night schedule was a fire, roasting marshmallows, and looking at the moon and stars.  Lovely, simple, tranquility.

I'm Going To Get Fat

Another round of cooking class.  This time we made muffins using the recipe for banana bread from Paula Deen.  The recipe will make a dozen regular size muffins.  The baking time was 25 minutes. 

Curriculum Ordered!

Today was the day!  I ordered Beauty's curriculum.  

What an exciting day.  The long awaited moment of ordering actual curriculum.  I've looked at books online till I'm numb in the eyes.  I decided to get the complete 1st grade curriculum from Timberdoodle. 

I decided to order from them because I liked their reviews and a friend of a friend likes their customer service.  It looks like there is probably more than enough work to do.  I'm sure some of it is unnecessary.  There's probably some things missing.  Since this is our first go at home schooling I'll just have to deal with it.  I'll go more into it once it arrives.

By the way, we tried doing school at the library today which was a total fail.  

First Few Days

I was all ready to blog dutifully about THE first day, except I forgot I wouldn't be teaching the first day...or the second day.  I worked the first day and Mr. Father did the teaching.  Mostly it involved nervous text messages about if Beauty would do her work.  The second day I forgot I had an appointment in the morning and the rest of the day I taught her algebra slept off the pain meds.

Days 3 and 4 have gone much more according to plan.  Beauty will finish off this week with having done 50 pages of work.  Most of this is review, assessment, and getting into a routine.  Am I working her too hard?  I don't know.  Beauty did sleep ten and a half hours last night.  I think this is great.  Perhaps she is lacking enough sleep which causes her to not want to read.  I'm grateful I no longer have to get up at 6:00 to put her on the bus.  

We went to the park today to meet the home school group.  Not much of a turnout.  The weather was cold and everyone is going through the yearly sicknesses.  Beauty did get to play with a few kids.  I don't know if we'll stick with this group.  

Beauty decided to make these for her cooking class.  They were delicious and exceptionally crunchy, ahem.  

    
Tomorrow is school away from home day. 

The Letter Was Sent

This was the part I have been most nervous about.  The actual withdrawal from school.  Because this means things just got real.

Friday I printed out my lovely, concise form letters and addressed them to all the  proper people.  

Even though this state is very lenient about homeschooling, I still want to do it right the first time.  I also asked the homeschool group about proper withdrawal procedures.  Some said to just go to the school and fill out the withdrawal papers.  Others said to only send the letter.  Also, make sure it's certified, return receipt requested.  There's a myriad of legal situations where this is prudent.  One, a person shouldn't fill out forms and answer questions if it isn't required.  Two, having the certified letter fulfills legal proof of the date of your actions blah blah blah in case someone wants to drag you to court.  This includes grandparents.  

Since I opted for the letter notification, we are now officially homeschooling.  I'm still in the I-can't-believe-it stage.  

Over the weekend Mr. Father and I have been reminiscing about all the times we sent her off to school.  In the end we don't like to send her to school.  We actually like her and love to spend time with her.  Beauty also likes us and loves to do things with us.  We are actually a happy family.  

Today I will look over her books and decide what we will work on this week.  I enjoy this kind of stuff.  Mr. Father looks at me and shakes his head in the way that says, "You are so nerdy."  

First Trial Day

Last week we saw one of the usual school illnesses:  sore throat and fever.  Beauty stayed home and looked flushed, then normal, then flush.  She took her medicine and still looked a little puny that night.  I resolved that I would let her stay home one more day.

The next day Beauty told me very seriously that she was sure her throat was still sore and really would need to stay home and play outside.  

Mr. Father and Mrs. Mother were already on to her game and quite sure that Beauty was faking it.  *Gasp*

Mrs. Mother decided we would pull out ALL the books she had bought during the summer and would just have a trial of homeschool for the sickly child.  The worst that could happen is she would fall asleep.  

Beauty thought this was a wonderful idea.  She still had homework from regular school to complete so we did that first.  I had determined that we would work for 3 hours to see if we could really do a solid day's work.  She practiced her handwriting, read, and did math worksheets.  

     I even gave her buttons to use to help her with math.  It turns out she doesn't need them.  This is a huge relief to me.  She's further ahead in math than I suspected.  She spent her time dividing all the buttons into matching piles.  This led Mr. Father to look at me and shake his head in the way that implies she is a little more organized than he prefers, like her mother.  

At the end of the day I told Mr. Father, "You know, I didn't realize it but we have everything we need.  We are ordering her official curriculum next week, but we have all the subjects she needs right now and we could pursue those more intensively till the curriculum arrives.  We could pull her out of school."

Mr. Father said, "Then pull her out of school."

And that's exactly what I did. 

It's Almost Real

I was taking a break, and giving you a break, from all the election...stuff.  Now that it has passed I can move on with my life.  This in no way negates any feelings I have about said election. 

To finish off my reading list is this book:  A Survivor's Guide to Home Schooling by Shackelford/White.

Again a 1988 version.  I sense a theme.  I exited the public education scene in the 80's and this is where I pick up when trying to research it?  Sort of.  This is a book at Half Price Book Store.  What should I say about this book?  It nailed it.  It is almost real.  Just the schedules, assessments of your neighbors inferior children, and discipline caught my eye.  I appreciated the many examples of how other moms/dads are inflicting their curriculum. 

I talked with several parents after reading this book.  One who has home schooled and one who has not.  The one who home schooled was supportive but focused more on websites that have helped her kids get ahead in reading and math.  She gave me websites to find grade appropriate wholesome reading,  I'm following her advice and we are 10 chapters deep into Charlotte's Web.  Beauty still doesn't know if Charlotte is really Wilbur's friend or just a bloodthirsty killer.  Our next selections will be Alice In Wonderland, Through The Looking Glass, Little House In The Big Woods, and Little House on the Prairie.  Mr. Father says we need to include Moby Dick.  And so we shall.

My other friend has her child in a private school.  The child cannot follow the rules of being still.  The parents are wondering if it's time to pull her out due to the child acting like a regular child or do they tough it out another semester.  I'm passing on my websites to see if it will help them.  Their daughter also plays violin and so is gifted in that area.  *Have We Outgrown The Public School System?*  That is a big question I have. 

Everyone else I have talked to have been supportive.  Even the couple we had over for dinner on Sunday.  They home schooled their son many years ago.  At some point I mentioned, "How can a person actually fail kindergarten?"  Apparently one of them had.  So, foot in mouth, I accepted defeat.