Well let me tell you, this Lewis and Clark unit, is certainly taking us on a bazillion different rabbit trails! I intended for this unit to be over with by now. But, the story is so interesting and there are so many different areas to explore. Fauna. Flora. Geology. Earth Science. Geography. and lots of History. Not to mention Indian studies. I've decided instead of rushing it...we'd just relax and see what unfolds?

Today, it was all about rivers. I had purchased the two books above...sometime ago..at Goodwill. Both are full of easy, understandable information. Drainage basins, underground rivers, caves and dams. Which, I might add...Tommie thoroughly enjoyed saying, "dam" over and over. And, over again. The first picture he's building a dam, in the bathtub. Which led to a deep conversation about hydro-electric power... actually, this was discussed at Cub Scouts last night... he had a lot of questions... Brad was able to explain things to him...I'm just not into turbines and generators.

Well, would you look below? That's the poster I was telling you about in the previous post! That's the posterboard! Those are the colored pencils! smile, wink, nod.
About Language Arts. What makes the most sense to me is using real facts about whatever unit we're on. Yes, it does take a little extra time on my part. But, it reinforces the unit as well as applying LA to living literature.

We're doing the notebook method...Tommie works out of one 3 ring notebook for each unit. I made two pages full of true sentences. He is required to dissect them...noun, proper, personal nouns, verb, adverb, adjectives, modifying predicates, articles, etc.

"Meriwether Lewis was suffering from severe carbuncles."

"The Shoshone Indians made canoes by covering a wooden frame with bear skin."

"Lewis and Clark brought Thomas Jefferson a black bear back from their expedition and Jefferson kept it in a cage at the White House."

It really makes me feel like I'm accomplishing something when we "cross-curriculum!" Plus, I'm really enjoying learning right along with him!

Today, found me wondering about this thing we call education? No doubt, each family has to define what it means to them.... but, I really wonder which road is best, sometimes? Will my son fail because he never had homework? Will he be a success because when he didn't get something...I figured out a way so he would? Will he fail in life, because he never held a textbook in his hands? And, never strapped a backpack on? Or will he soar, because he only used living books and had chores every morning while the buses smoked by? Ummmm, I guess only the big guy upstairs knows the plan he has for him. I can only add salt.

Sometimes, I sprinkle on the salt with media education! Yep! I really always have. There are just so many wonderful educational videos out there! And, channels, too. Last night, we watched a dvd, that Brandi loaned us... Master and Commander, the far side of the world. In fact, our Michigan History teacher recommended it. I was glad Brad watched it with us- it was a bit over our heads...Brad was able to intercept. It certainly was well done.

I subscribe to PBS'S on-line t.v. schedule..it's sent right to my email. We've watched so many worthy educational shows and movies! Click here to sign up for the free schedule!

We also enjoy the History Channel ...listed on my sidebar. They too, can send you a schedule.

Yesterday, we went to a local Youth Theatre, with our homeschool group. Which consisted of just one other family. Besides the homeschooler who was in the play. The theatre was so very cozy. The play, Tuck Everlasting was awesome. Better then awesome! Phenomenal. There were a couple of school bus loads of children in the theatre, too. I was happy to see them out of the brick and mortar walls. You know...out in the real world! They all seemed to love being out, too!

Today, I needed someone to call. Someone to say...just relax...he IS learning.

You see, I had this great little one day unit on salmon and learning about rivers. Oh yes, Tommie was going to ENJOY and LOVE learning about estuaries, gorges, deltas and tributaries! I just knew this would be quality education- according to Holly...(smile, wink, nod!). Why.... I had a poster out, colored pencils, a good book... yeah, I thought, this is good! I even had a few vocabulary words for him to look up and identify... about salmon: spawn, sperm and red blood cells.

Instead...he decided to rewire his dad's semi lights. He made several samples of different battery operated -wire connected lights. Hauled them in the house. Tried and tested various batteries. And, hot glue gun.

I'm standing with the colored pencils. I looking down at the poster board. Thinking...what about delta's?

At this point, I wasn't interested in being an authority figure and commanding him to obey my schedule... I clenched my jaw...took a deep breath and let his interest lead him. When he was finished, he did complete the poster board and river terms. But, on his own good time... not when I cracked the whip. And, it was pleasant for both of us.

For our homeschooling, I find that, "when the student is ready... the teacher will appear." And, isn't that true for us adults? If we were forced to learn something exactly at 11:10- and we really wanted to complete a project...how would we feel?

Well, it's something to think about anyway.

Just blogging about a really good school lunch that I conjured up! TACO POCKETS! What helped is... I was able to get each of these tubes of Pillsbury crescent rolls for .30 cents each at Krogers! They're on sale for a dollar and I had a stack of six .35 cent coupon-- Kroger's doubles. Needless to say....I loaded up.

You just roll them out so they're a rectangle...fill with your filling of choice: hamburger seasoned with taco seasoning, Mexican cheese and leeks.


Pinch the sides together and sprinkle more cheese on top! Bake as normal-- or what the package on the tube says!

Serve! Plus, you can make these up ahead of time- bake, cool and stick in the refrigerator. Reheat the next day! My growing boy, gobbled two of these up at one meal! Yowza!

First things first.


SHAMROCK


SHAKES


ARE OUT!


This is a bad picture of inside the cup...but understand, I was going for creative photography. Unsuccessfully.

Have you heard about the 5 Finger Paragraph Rule? They've been talking about it over at Five in a Row. It's basically this: opening/topic sentence, 3 supporting/detail sentences and a closing sentence. Let me tell you...this method works wonderful for my reluctant writer! Not because he is creatively alive in his thoughts and he's on fire to get them on paper... No! Not at ALL! But rather...he knows what is expected. So far this week, he's written GOOD and ORGANIZED paragraphs on topics from his Lewis and Clark book: rattlesnakes, salmon and The Continental Divide. This may not seem like much to you... but if you knew how weak we were in writing...it's a giant step forward!

NOW MORE GOOD STUFF!

If you are a mother of a son, then you'll certainly understand how easy it is to explain The Continental Divide, the backbone of America to your BOY!!!!

Here's how I did it... go outside, straddle a rocky pile of snow, dirt, rocks, etc. Point out that the ridge is the Continental Divide. Dividing the waterway system. You can both take sticks and draw out connecting, branching rivers, streams, etc.

Meanwhile, while your straddling in your stance you can add that Antarctica is the only continent that doesn't have a divide. Tell him he doesn't need to remember this. (It's reverse psycology and believe me he'll want to know why...which will open up a window of teachable opportunity on Antarctica.) Hence, retaining it.

Okay, feet firmly planted, you then tell him that you're standing on top of the Great Divide...what? I thought it was the Continental Divide! Right. But, it can also be called the Great Divide. Teachable moment. Okay, back to the stance. You point North and tell him that the mountains run right into Canada, point South and tell him that then end in Mexico. But in United States, they start in Montana and end in New Mexico.

Tell him that if you were to straddle the ridge/peeks of the Rockies and SPIT to the left...his spit would go to the Pacific Ocean. If he spit to the right, his saliva would go to the Atlantic. Unless it got caught up in a basin (teachable vocabulary word) or although rare, it could get caught up in the desert. Now, he's going to be jumping around and wanting to take a turn at spitting. So, let him.... meanwhile you can ask him questions and explain what he's learned. Now tell me, do they do this in school? I never remember my teacher telling us to SPIT!

Give your kids a break... call a surprise trip...and head up for a SHAMROCK SHAKE!

The last quarter for Tommie's collections was found during Christmas time! All of us, grandparents included, enjoyed searching and examining the different designs! But, now that the collection was complete...it was like, okay now what??? I was happy to find a U.S. Presidential Dollar display folder at Family Dollar...for just a dollar! You can see he has a whopping collection of TWO!
Did you know....last Thursday, they issued 2009's first Collectors Dollar Coin? It's President Harrison. I pulled up to the drive in window, asked for the new coin and surprised Tommie with it. The instructor in our Michigan History class, had just spoke of Harrison-- so it ended up being a nice review! Right there in the car. Right in the bank parking lot! Keeping my eyes open for those teachable moments that are just all over the place!

I'm excited to share a few things we've been using, this past week in our homeschool! I found this wonderful Boy Scout Field book, this past summer at our library book sale. It's very vintage... but it's in excellent condition and loaded full of really incredible things for boys! Since, we're on the trail with Lewis and Clark...I thought it would be wise to have Tommie, look up, identify, draw and write about edible plants. Cattails, chicory and dandelions. More will be added this week.

A couple of other good resources that we're using is "Don't know much about President's." I highly recommend this book... it is written in very short paragraphs with a lot of punch. I've been making up reading comp questions, applied math and other question and answers for it. We were both surprised that Lewis and Clark brought Thomas Jefferson a bear back...and Thomas kept in in a cage at the White House. The other book is a beautiful Lewis and Clark book...it has a lot of good pictures and maps.

Tommie's been keeping his hands busy during read-alouds...he really got into leather crafting this week and needlepoint. Although, he would be embarrassed if I showed you this picture! I think it's sweet.

This week finds us still on the trail with Lewis and Clark and we'll be heading out to see Tuck Everlasting on stage .... what's your week look like?

Today, I got this bright idea...to head to our local nature center and recreate a fraction of the journey Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery made. It was rainy. Cold and damp. And, muddy. And wet. But, I knew the trails and river walk, would be welcoming for explorers like us! And, lend a lot of different elements to the unit we're going through.

First things first. Lewis and Clark had to go to the Tim Horton's drive-through for a couple of Hot Chocolates!

Here's a bunch of snaps of things we saw! I thought the coolest was this flaming orange lichen...growing on a branch!


Wet and muddy...but we pressed forward...pretending to carry our keel boats and homemade canoe...which we covered in Elk Skin (it's suppose to float better)...but it doesn't...according to our study.

Here's something you can't go through life, NOT knowing... Sacajawea nickname? Know what it is? It's Janey.

My feet didn't get wet. But, my blindly obedient son..the one who totally does what ever I ask... without complaining or comments...(I'm being sarcastic!) refused to wear his snow boots. His feet were soaked. And, he made the childish mistake of telling me... my answer to him? "Well, that's how you learn!"

We counted a total of 37 deer! And, 3,000 turkey's. Okay, maybe not 3,000...but at least two dozen! Here's just one of 3,000 foot prints we saw along the trail...

Could this be sap? Probably so! I bet Lewis and Clark flipped their coonskin caps into the air when they discovered this!

Tomorrow, I'll be pulling out a vintage Boy Scout Field book..and having Tommie- chart and learn about edible plants in the wilderness. You know, just in case this recession gets worse...we can always eat cattails, chicory and yellow lily pad flowers.

Tell
Thomas
Jefferson...
we're on our way!


And, we'll be
back with photos from
our digital camera!

Stay tuned!

I'm happy to say, that our week long unit with Eli Whitney is complete! It wasn't the most colorful unit we've ever done.... but, we both learned a great deal. How he supplied 10,000 muskets for the Revolutionary War...which meant Tommie spent all day, everyday.... making shooting-bang-pop noises! Rolling my eyes. Oh sure, you may think that's funny... but after serpentining around my house- dodging Nerf gun bullets all week... sort of got old. Okay, where was I? Of course, he was the Father of Mass Production and the cotton gin. And, I did pull out 15 spelling words, dictation and narration was also added. I just happened to have a handful of real cotton...with real seeds inside the bolls, too. It is pretty tough trying to pull those seeds out! Those poor slaves...what a tedious job. Although, the cotton gin "seemed" like a good invention... it really wasn't. The price of cotton was so valuable here...because England was just absolutely crazy for it... and paid us big money for it...that, the cotton gin machine enabled more farmers to grow cotton, hence buying more slaves! Gin is short for engine.



I gave Tommie a taste of what school away from home would be like... I bullied his scooter away from him and took off on it!

At scouts, he made this beeswax (yes, he rolled it) and bean candle holder. Dang, that beeswax sure melts fast! But, we really enjoyed it! And, it smelled so...beeswaxy!

Off to start our day....

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF!

Channel surfing at just the exact time last night, we tuned into Fiddler on the Roof! I've seen it twice on stage... nothing beats the heart pounding energy of live theatre--especially when Topal bellows out...deep from within his heart.... IF I WERE A RICH MAN and flings his arms up...dancing...but the movie last night, was every bit as entertaining. AND EMOTIONAL.

It's funny, how at different times in your life, you "get" certain messages from things. I remember in my late 20's seeing this on Broadway in New York... electrifying and energizing.... however, only appreciating the superficial.
Now, sitting in my tiny home, on the couch under an afghan with my family...it means more to me then any $85. ticket, did. Today, I have a much clearer understanding of what the Fiddler signifies. I didn't back then. I "get" the heart wrenching sadness of children disappointing you, coming into their own with their own ideas and opinions and the inevitable changing times and beliefs. No matter how hard we try as parents. And, I "get" the feeling of having your hands tied with governmental issues...although America is not that extreme. Yet. I "get" the fact....that in hardship...sometimes you just have to whistle the theme of the fiddler and keep moving forward.

The movie gave me an opportunity to enrich Tommie's thinking. A chance to see life inside a small Jewish village, traditions and different beliefs. Although, not as profound as mine. That's something he will need to acquire on his own..from his own experiences and life lessons. Hopefully, he will "get" the depth of life's wisdom on his own someday. But, for now... it was a gentle introduction to the good, kind hearted Jewish people in Russia.

I love this weather vane. Sunrise. Sunset.

Just popping in here this morning, to share some goofy unschooling stuff that we've been doing around here.... by the way, we do use Horizon's Math 5 and Geometry 6 for math... although, I use it mostly as a spine. And, I always have the salt shaker hidden in my hand.. adding salt when he's not looking!

Yesterday we met up with a couple homeschool families to enjoy a 4 mile hike around a local walking trail... never in my life, had I seen so many dead carp! Our friend Pam, was pretty knowledgeable about the theory of why this happened- same thing happened in her pond...and Brad validated it...not enough oxygen. Pam also showed us how to look for hibernating turtles! This morning, I'll have Tommie write a paper and research this on his own. I swear, I'm not in any hurry to eat a fish stick.

Sometimes, to spice things up, I take a kitchen towel, and hide a dozen or so items underneath it on a tray. I let yours truly, study it for 30 seconds... I then remove 3 items and see if he knows what is missing. It's a great way to weave critical thinking into the day... I copied the idea from his Building Thinking Skills workbook. It's just more fun to use real items, I think.

And, why not teach your child map skills using the real thing? I've been guilty of buying the fake workbooks with made up places and names... jeesh, I said to myself... if I'm going to have him do this, he might as well be learning REAL places. That said, and since it's Eli Whitney week here, I used Massachusetts...shame on me...he didn't know what a "sound" was... as in Cape Cod Sound. See what I'm telling ya? It's good to use the real stuff...because sometimes I just take things for granted. I used this atlas and made up a homemade, three page treasure hunt.

I confess, fractions don't mean anything to me on paper. There, I said it. Just doing problem after problem, not really knowing why, is probably why I loathed math in school. It's just going through the motions. UGH. I don't really want to teach things, without a reason. So, when it came time to review fractions this week, I chipperly (is chipperly a word?) decided to make it real. I made up four plates full of items... valentine candies, legos, cars and different size glass jars... then I made up a homemade worksheet, write the fraction for blue cars, yellow lego's, red candy kisses, small jars.... reduce the fraction and then number them from largest to smallest. BING, BANG, BAM. 12 problems done, standing up at the kitchen table, without hesitation---umm, I mean complaining or dawdling and concept understood. For review, we did it orally. Much easier for us, when I keep it real and hand's on. EXHALE.

I recently read this encouraging blurb about homeschooling, well, it was in my latest issue of Home Education magazine... I loved it and thought it was worth sharing! I hope it makes your day, too!

The future for our homeschooling community is about what kind of world we leave our kids and grandkids. Will it be a world where they can and do have family and a larger community to rely on? Or a world where their needs are met by institutions and governmental policies?

I love this next part: A world where mandated tests, grades and the accompanying labels define them? Or a world where they have the opportunity to define themselves by the responsibilities they chose to assume?

Our plan for the future should include helping our children understand and accept the importance of examining the options they are presented with, whatever form they may take, and helping them learn to make good decisions about those options.

As homeschooling parents we have reclaimed responsibilities that had become the sole province of educational institutions. In assuming these responsibilities, homeschooling families have rediscovered an understanding about children and learning that cannot be learned via educational institutions.

What's your opinion?

Not only are homeschool mom's... lesson planning, throwing a load of towels in, disciplining, answering phone calls, trying to be a perky teacher... laying a firm foundation for the love of learning into their super-ultra obedient and always willing children... they're also the school nurse, janitor, art teacher, historian-try-to-be, grocery-getter, driver and let us not forget of course...we try to capitalize on every possible teachable moment that crosses our path! On sick days...we don't have a substitute to step in and cover us...even on our worse days, we press on! It's a wonder, my roots aren't grown out farther then they are.. that reminds me, I need to shave my legs! Look, I only have one child. I know I'm wiped out at the end of the day... I'm not sure, OKAY CLUELESS as to how those with more then one, do it? Which brings me to yet another hat, that we as homeschool mom's wear...that is SCHOOL LUNCH COOK! WHAT DO YOU MAKE FOR YOUR CHILDREN'S LUNCH? For us, it's a garden salad or peanut butter sandwich and chips. Occasionally, it's a little platter of ham, crackers and cut up vegetables. Soup: chicken noodle, potato leek and vegetable. Today it occurred to me.. I could make freezer hot lunches! So, I did that today. I made eight lasagna lunches, with mini peasant bread (above). I put the meals into single servings...because I know if I made extra...my fork would be dipping into the dish! WHAT'S COOKING AT YOUR PLACE?

Yesterday, Friday... we finally did an art project, that I've been wanting to do for some time! The idea actually came from Lynn at A Mother's Journal blog (the link is on my smile, wink, nod blog!) Mosaics! I always save these wooden crates, that clementines come in... it occurred to me, just yesterday...that they would make wonderful outdoor flower planters in the springtime! Especially since they already have holes in the bottom of them, for drainage.

Remember, in my previous post...the picture of a towel? Well, inside that towel were several chipped dishes that I had no use for... I had Tommie wrap them up and take a hammer to them...smashing bits and pieces into mosaic art pieces!


Using self-adhesive grout, broken plates, buttons, sparkly gems and odds and ends...we created these flower planters! I think this one will be adorable with an herb plant in it on our patio in the summer! Oh, I should mention...Tommie did this one, using a coffee can. I wish he would of used more grout...but he had his own ideas of what "his" art should be....

This is the one I made out of a clementine wooden box... I can't wait to plant pink and purple annuals in it! And, I especially look forward to making more of these! I just looooovvve those quick and quirky crafts!

First things first. We finished the book, "The Invention of Hugo Cabret," ..... if you remember my blog entry a few posts back, I mentioned that our persnickety librarian- shot down this book and freely told me how much she disliked it. Well, for the record...IT WAS EXCELLENT! In some spots, it was a little deep for my son...but it really did have profound wisdom towards the end...and the last page, really made you smile, snap your fingers and think. I had to break it down and discuss the ending with Tommie, so he understood the authors point. I'm thinking our persnickety librarian isn't into deeper thinking and defiantly isn't into seeing the world differently. To each his own...but this didn't win the Caldecott for nothing! Okay, off my soapbox.

Here's a couple of good freebie links you might like to include in your homeschool:

BIRD COUNT AMBASSADOR KIT BY CORNELL UNIVERSITY and

OIL SHOCK COLLEGE CURRICULUM

Tomorrow, I'll unveil what's this picture is about....well....okay, here's a hint: it was a great art project, made from recycled items around the house, useful, quirky and made from start to finish in less then 2 hours.

YOU'RE GONNA WANT TO TRY THIS ONE!

The past couple of days, has been NO circus around here.... Tommie's been hit with a creepy stomach flu bug. Headachy, lethargic and sleeping on and off. And, a fever. He seems to be about 50% better, tonight. He ate a good dinner and a bowl of pretzels. He's craving ice water. I get the heebie jeebies and break out in a rash, if the t.v. runs too long... so, for the good part of yesterday and today, I spent time reading to him. The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Apologia Science, Waiting for Anya. I also pulled out a stack of educational videos and dvds. One on Biodiversity. One on How Money is Made-The Mint. And, World War 2 videos. Tonight, we're watching Because Of Winn Dixie, which I picked up for free at the library last night. I'm really tired of just sitting around. We're forgoing our homeschool co-op tomorrow, I don't want to expose others to this. Raising my coffee cup and hoping for a better day tomorrow. Salute!

Looking for homeschool inspiration? A shot in the arm? Something to perk you up and make you smile? Then waltz on over to....

THE HEALTHY HOMESCHOOL February NEWSLETTER by Lynn!

I especially like the pargraph that talks about "the smile is intact." I bet you will, too!

Call me anal. Call me high-strung. Call me wired to tight. Maybe even type A (which I am not at all)....but, I can't even begin our day homeschooling if certain things around the house are not "organized!" I swear, here at this house...we have little gnomes that come out through the woodwork at night- making clutter! I can't homeschool in clutter. Oh sure, throughout the day...we "make our own homeschool clutter and lots of it...but to begin with, NO...I just can't begin my homeschool day with clutter! Here's what has to be done...before I even think about starting at 9:30 am:

1. beds made and all rooms picked up!

2. both of us dressed- me with make-up and light jewelry on, including tennis shoes or other comfortable shoes. No sweats...unless we're dying.

3. garbage pails emptied and trash taken out to the garage!

4. load of laundry going/drying

5. dish washer emptied

6. kitchen cupboards cleaned off

7. rabbits fed outside

8. all the shades opened

9. candle lit

10. afghans folded and pillows on the couch organized

11. laptop shut off until lunch time!

Now, time for me to sign off and do steps 1 thru 11. See you at lunch!

Today, I finished our read-aloud, The Loner...a 1964 Caldecott Award winner. And, I can see why! It was really excellent...especially for my 11 year old boy! In our hands this week (and next), our read aloud is, Waiting for Anya.... click HERE if you'd like the Amazon review! It is about WW2 and lends nicely to Number the Stars!

Tommie's hermit crab died. I'm not sure when. But it must of been some time ago...because it was really smelly! I scooped it up and put it in a clean baby food jar...which will be added to our nature table!

Today was a pretty uneventful day. Which, sometimes is really okay! smile-wink-nod!

Nature Study from inside!

Nature Study from inside? It can happen! For us, I feel that I owe it to myself and my son (and husband), to just stop what I'm doing for a few minutes to identify and share! But, then again...I'm all about those free teachable lessons that can last a lifetime.... here's our story:

Most every afternoon this past week, this beautiful....I mean beautiful red-shouldered hawk, has been sitting on top of our bird feeders (even leaving his imprint in the snow!), and get this...he's just 5 feet away from our windows! He's perched up very confidently.....waiting to gobble up a chickadee or another small bird! Each time I try to snap a picture of him... my motion scares him off... this picture is from my favorite on-line bird site: CORNELL ORNITHOLOGY! where you can actually hear the sounds the birds make! I have to tell you, this bird's markings resemble a pheasants! Just gorgeous! While I hate the thought of some naive chickadee innocently flitting around the feeders...oblivious to her future... I do realize the food chain must go on! Have you seen anything new this week in your neck of the woods? If so, leave a comment and post a link to your blog!