...

If we value the pursuit of knowledge, we must be free to follow wherever that search may lead us. ~ Adlai Stevenson

Sunday, May 31, 2015

Big Fairy Tales...

The Girl does not want to do the Big History Project with her brother this upcoming year (see this post for more details on that course of study). She wants a study of her own, so based on her interests, I am creating a "Big Fairy Tale Project".

I was originally inspired by this gorgeous chart, which links YA versions of books together...


Everything from fairy tales, to classics, to Shakespeare and mythology, but we've decided on a primary focus on the fairy tales this year. I then researched and found this book, which will help expand on several key themes/story styles...



The book above explores six "tale types": "Little Red Riding Hood," "Beauty and the Beast," "Snow White," "Cinderella," "Bluebeard," and "Hansel and Gretel". We've decided to skip the "Bluebeard" section, and substitute in Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream", or doing a focus on The Little Mermaid/Hans Christian Andersen. What I've come up with so far is to read a beautifully illustrated classic version, then explore other versions (ethnic, cultural, twisted), and then either longer YA versions of each, OR, we'll simply read through The Sisters Grimm series in 2015-2016, as I am not sure I like some of the YA versions of stories for The Girl... at least not yet.

As far as history, I am not worrying about it with her for the upcoming year, though we may or may not read something like Our Island Story. And for science, maybe TOPS Science, or GEMS Guides or continuing with the Prentice Hall Science Explorers or ??? I'll get it figured out soon enough!

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Big History & Science...

The Boy and I have been working hard on planning out his first year of high school. First, he had decided that after a year of physics (for the most part anyhow), he really wanted a more integrated approach to science. Secondly, he also wants to attempt fulfilling the common state standards for high school graduation, so we chose to go with a year of world history.

We looked at books, online programs, and such, and finally settled upon the Big History Project.

https://www.bighistoryproject.com/home

According to the website, the Big History Project "examines our past, explains our present, and imagines our future." Additionally, "Big History teaches students to examine their intuition, looking at the authority, evidence, and logic of claims across disciplines and scales. Students learn to apply a thoughtful, consistent, and rigorous approach to engaging with new ideas and information and using evidence to construct effective arguments."

Since we love the idea of everything being interconnected, the whole idea has immense appeal.

We plan to add to it to make it a full and rich course for ninth grade. Possible science resources include:





And if we need more for history, I plan to look at Big History: From the Big Bang to the Present


There are, of course, other books and resources I hope to add in -- some shorter titles on specific topics, some documentaries both scientific and historical. The Big History Project has hands-on projects, writing assignments, and more, as part of the teacher resources, so I will be culling through those along the way. I'm also looking at GEMS Guides, which would offer some really good hands-on approaches to expanding the science.

I'm not sure yet if The Girl will tag along, using some different supplements, or not. While in some ways, it is much easier to have both kids doing the same program/covering the same topics, I don't know that this one would be as much up her alley as it will be for The Boy!   She said no. See this post for more details!

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Woods and Wildflowers...

We spent our Memorial Day out in nature, at Armstrong Grove State Natural Reserve. The ridge-top hike was very peaceful, though the lower redwoods area was very crowded with people from out of town, out of state, out of country... we will have to go back again on a quieter day! Still, there were quite a few moments of loveliness...













Thursday, May 21, 2015

Today...












Fourteen years old today, fourteen years since I first got to hold him, to be blessed with his presence in my life. He's been an incredible boy, and he's turning into an incredible man.

My Boy, I love you forever!

Monday, May 18, 2015

Monday Musings... 4 weeks to go!

I always get both excited and a bit panicked when we reach the end of our school year, and with only four more weeks to go, I am definitely feeling both those things!

Outside My Window...
We had some rain last week! This week looks like it will be cloudy at least half of each day, but no rain on the forecast. It is definitely cooler than it was a couple of weeks ago, back in the 60s and 70s. I've seen a lot of gorgeous wildflowers lately, and despite some seasonal allergies, we are enjoying spring!
Blue Chicory (Cichorium intybus)

In Our Garden...
We have been eating a lot of artichokes this year -- two of my three plants are about 6 feet tall, and there are probably still about 12-15 artichokes waiting to be harvested. Our cherry tree is covered in tiny green fruit, and the first apples are beginning to round out. M and I just watched a documentary called Urban Fruit, which has given us both renewed interest in really gardening. I think my kids should watch it too... And Straw Bale Gardens is a gorgeous book, full of inspiration!

In Our Home and Kitchen...
I made some simple checklists of what needs to be done daily and weekly in each room, so I could assign rooms to the kids for cleaning and maintenance. I figure this way they can't tell me they don't know what needs to be done! And I think they are both old enough to help out more than they have been. Luckily, they seem to agree!

I also need to get back to better meal planning. Lately it's been more of a catch-as-catch-can approach, which isn't quite as good for the budget as planning ahead.

In Our Homeschooling...
The Boy is on track to finish his prealgebra book by the end of our school year, and The Girl will likely finish at least two more of the Elementary books. The Boy will be doing the last prealgebra book over the summer, and plans to tackle a few more of the earlier books. Writing work (plus grammar for The Boy, spelling for The Girl) is ticking right along!

Reading and Watching...
We're more than halfway through An Everyday History of Somewhere, which I am using both as science/nature readings and California history. We've decided also to review ancient Roman times over the next few weeks with the first volume of K12's Human Odyssey, so we'll be ready to move into medieval history in the fall. We're about done with Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and then I think we might read In Search of a Homeland for our last school year read-aloud. The Boy is slogging through Frankenstein (he's actually really enjoying it), and The Girl loves The Emerald City of Oz!

We've started watching The Amazing Race again, tracking the journeys on a large-scale map I printed out. And we are on season 10, the final season, of Friends. Both kids have been talking about watching Lost again, so they can discuss it with their friends. I think we stopped somewhere in late season 2. The Boy has caught up on his Top Gear watching, and The Girl has been making a second, or third, pass through the Dear America series.

What We've Been Up To...
Both kids were in the local annual parade this weekend! Trying to get each of them, with the appropriate gear, etc., to separate staging areas was a bit of a challenge, but we managed... I'm really glad M was off work and could help.

The Girl skating in the parade

The Roller Skate "float"

The Boy walking in the parade with his fencing club, stopping here & there to fence

On the Agenda...
We have a fourteenth birthday coming up this week! And then there is work, fencing practice, derby practice, a car show, a fencing tournament, and a derby bout. I think by Saturday night, we will be officially worn out! Plus I have the final for my juvenile justice class, but I have all week to approach that, online, so it isn't too much trouble.

Unfortunately, we need to get the water pump checked on the car, as it appears to be leaking. The Boy thinks it might be as simple as the gasket... we will see.

My grease monkeys tracking the leak


Have a good week!

Friday, May 15, 2015

A Weekly Report and Hmmpff...

Things are generally going okay. 

Notes of Interest:
M has a new job at an upscale French-style bistro, and he loves it! He started low on the totem pole, but there is definite interest in moving him up (from him, and his co-workers/bosses).
The Boy is getting ready for his last in-club fencing tournament of the season, next weekend.
Which happens to be on the same day as a fantastic vintage car show he wants to attend with his best buddy.
And The Girl's next derby bout is that evening. Thank goodness they are all at different times!
Plus, we have a birthday coming up! Yes, my boy will be 14!
Both kids are in a local parade this weekend, to be followed by short demos. I am glad M has the day off, and has offered to make sure The Boy is where he needs to be, so I can do the same for The Girl.

Homeschooling Notes of Interest:
The Boy is making great progress with Life of Fred prealgebra, and he's learning interesting biological facts along the way. He'll finish this book in the next few weeks, and will be doing the last prealgebra book at a relaxed pace over the summer. He started reading Frankenstein last week, and so far is doing well with it, especially since we found this awesome Steampunk-illustrated version!

The Girl finished Cats this week, and plans to finish Dogs and Edgewood by the end of our school ear. She too will be continuing with Life of Fred over the summer, albeit at a more relaxed pace. She's eager to get back ahead in math! She's also discovered she can spell if she puts her mind to it! Right now, I'm using a combination of books I have on hand to make spelling lists for her, but hope to use Spelling Works with her in the fall. She has fallen in love with the Oz series once more, having picked up The Emerald City of Oz last week. She also spent an hour rearranging the books in her bedroom bookshelf, and says she wants ti full by the end of the [calendar] year (it is half empty right now)!

History and science are sadly lacking these days, which brings me to my duh moment of the week...

I've been reworking my Learning Page, and just realized why our homeschooling doesn't seem as effective these days. Wow, do I ever have too many resources! No wonder I feel grumpy and overwhelmed!

So that got me thinking, what if I actually pared everything down?

What if, instead of this hot mess, it looked like this?

Language Arts:
The Boy --
Thinking in Threes (this year), followed by Fairview's Guide to Composition & Essay Writing (fall) 
Hot Fudge Monday: Tasty Ways to Teach Parts of Speech (this year), followed by Excavating English (fall)


The Girl --
Writing Skills (this year), followed by Jump In! (fall)

Homemade spelling lessons (this year), followed by Spelling Works  (fall)

Math:
Just the Life of Fred series, unless we really needed some supplementing

Science:
The Boy --
Choose ONE of three (Conceptual Physics (wants to finish this someday); Conceptual Chemistry; Exploring the Way Life Works), or spend 12 weeks working in each, and finish the books in tenth grade

The Girl --
Just selections from Science Explorers "Small" books, and her choice of titles from the
Scientists in the Field series

History:
Review [late] ancient times over the next few weeks with A Little History of the World, then in the fall, start with medieval times, using volume 1 of K12's Human Odyssey, then go right into volume 2, up through the Renaissance/exploration. Pick a few good books to go alongside (I like most of this list), add in movies/documentaries as desired. 

Geography:
Either Mapping the World with Art or National Council for Geographic Education's Geography Club activities  

Of course we could keep the Afternoon Basket, and go back to one title for each rotational day...

Simplicity... I don't know... Can we do it?


Tuesday, May 12, 2015

[Pre] Mother's Day Beach Trip....

We found this in place, and added a few rocks of our own

I love my daughter



Wildflowers in bloom everywhere


A favorite flower

We've always thought of this as the Watching/Singing rock

There were little blue jellyfish everywhere... their name is "velella velella"

They are also called "by-the-wind sailors"

All along the high tide mark... apparently the victims of changing wind currents and warmer ocean temperatures

Such a nice way to spend an afternoon... I always leave the beach feeling very refreshed!

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Wishing....

All the Moms Out There A


I hope you all have a wonderful day! Mine started out with sunshine, and a lovely breakfast in bed, courtesy of The Girl. I get to have lunch with my own mom later today, and after that, life returns to normal, with M going to work, The Girl to derby practice, and getting ready for my work week to start back up tomorrow. But I'll take today's moments as they come.

"Most of all the other beautiful things in life come by twos and threes by dozens and hundreds. Plenty of roses, stars, sunsets, rainbows, brothers, and sisters, aunts and cousins, but only one mother in the whole world."
-- Kate Douglas Wiggin