tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183368042012-01-27T14:03:42.884-05:00"A little rebellion every now and then is a good thing." - Thomas JeffersonKashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.comBlogger3141100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-47411442128502165452011-06-03T16:55:00.002-04:002011-06-03T22:36:35.100-04:00

Our "official" start date for the 2011-2012 school year was Wednesday. It being summer, we haven't done that much in the way of formal education. That said, the following all occurred.EG- Four activities in Sentence Composing for Elementary School; we started this late in the school year, so she was finishing up a section.- Typing practice x 3- Rosetta Stone (German) x 3- C25K x 2 (w1d2 on

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-92158543262655948892011-05-31T17:18:00.003-04:002011-05-31T17:37:02.595-04:00

It's only taken me six years of homeschooling (five years of reporting to the state) to finally decide upon the following course of action. For a couple of years, I've been very diligent at counting days for our state reporting, and only counting days where I felt we reached a certain threshold of learning. It occurred to me several times, though, that there were days we didn't count that were

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-45824842100794133162011-05-28T14:03:00.002-04:002011-05-29T14:07:34.536-04:00

We've been on a very light schedule for the past two months, really; we hit 32 weeks before our spring break week, and almost all of my lesson plans were written for 32 or 34 weeks. EG did have two webinars that both concluded yesterday. All of the extracurricular activities are done until autumn. And today, I wrote my annual summation of the year. Technically required. Y Georgia law, I'm not

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-33685125830479567502011-05-15T16:10:00.002-04:002011-05-29T14:07:06.988-04:00

For Mothers' Day this year, albeit a few days late, I got an iPad. A shiny, new, 64 GB iPad 2, to be more precise. I already loved my iPhone and my MacBook, but I think it might just be my iPad that persuades me to go paper free (in terms of homeschool organization and planning) at last. I've already added a lot of helpful apps. I'm also trying to figure out a way to swing making it work if we

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-42044251861871968612011-04-08T08:17:00.003-04:002011-04-08T08:44:53.485-04:00

We educate all year, of course, and I still require what most would consider academic or book work during most of the summer months. Overall, though, I tend not to identify us as year-round homeschoolers for one reason: summer camps.I'm a big fan of summer camps. Yes, kids need downtime, time to relax and just be, and so forth. I'm not denying that. For my kids, though, for whom every day might

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-56323646416720646382011-04-07T19:19:00.002-04:002011-04-07T20:44:25.533-04:00

Because I never got to finish NaVidPoMo, thanks to our internet service being down.First, the video I was going to post that day:And, for my daughters. My daughters who have to grow up in a rapists' culture. My daughters, who still seem to need these sentiments. No matter how much we hate that reality.

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-8910421333982486232011-04-05T15:39:00.003-04:002011-04-05T15:44:48.632-04:00

• We had no internet for most of last week, and then I took the kids to visit my parents for three days. The lack of internet was a huge downer. I did have my iPhone but it's not quite the same as a functioning internet connection on my laptop with its full keyboard.• I did manage to get a lot accomplished last week while the kids read a lot. I have more work I want to complete during the

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-5435669132509990902011-03-30T11:10:00.000-04:002011-03-30T11:11:13.060-04:00

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-22236950901412873762011-03-29T16:22:00.000-04:002011-03-29T16:23:38.868-04:00

I haven’t elaborated much on a lot of my current thinking regarding science. On the one hand, I think the model of studying the three “big” sciences (biology, chemistry, and physics) at the same time, a strand of each, showing how they intersect–that’s good, good stuff. On the other hand, I don’t have the desire nor the time to put that together right now. So, I’m going to take our cue from that

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-71713394615504226752011-03-29T10:30:00.001-04:002011-03-29T10:31:26.253-04:00

I went to get the URL for the one I'd chosen for today, and decided that today, there would be two. Because the second one is beautiful.

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-33632089249148429672011-03-28T20:16:00.001-04:002011-03-28T20:16:40.175-04:00

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-23613335000845682592011-03-27T22:46:00.000-04:002011-03-27T22:49:23.546-04:00

I totally, geekily love this.

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-41924518752755173282011-03-26T10:50:00.000-04:002011-03-27T22:50:20.616-04:00

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-55565062138766986212011-03-25T12:14:00.002-04:002011-03-25T12:26:06.172-04:00

Busy, busy, busy: a really full week.• FB turned six on Wednesday, which meant no schoolwork! He did read books, listen to a new book, play outside, go to the grocery store, and watch Schoolhouse Rock, which means that altogether I think he covered literature, physics, math, economics, and history, without even trying. ;)• FB also finished the Orange Miquon book today! Hooray! • EG started

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-39111158061837571092011-03-25T12:13:00.001-04:002011-03-25T12:13:46.818-04:00

Love this song. Love the original, love this version.

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-55598512667929056422011-03-24T19:53:00.002-04:002011-03-24T19:53:57.018-04:00

And now we come to Friday. The middle day. I’m going to add a logistical tip here that I’ll repeat in part three as well. I strongly advise not trying to drive home on Saturday evening. Yes, the conference is over by 5 or 5:30, and yes, it seems so reasonable if you only live 2 or 3 or 4 or even 5 hours away–but don’t. Thursday is made longer by driving to arrive there; Friday is a full day due

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-69443890225120658872011-03-24T12:16:00.001-04:002011-03-24T12:16:39.577-04:00

At heart, I still think of the internet as a vehicle for fandom, one way or another...

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-54690462225647427572011-03-23T19:40:00.001-04:002011-03-23T19:42:14.366-04:00

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-24451546833228478632011-03-23T17:04:00.004-04:002011-03-23T17:11:32.183-04:00

March twenty-third is a special day in our household. Six years ago, at 6:28 am, FB made his way out of me and into our lives. I'd say that he slid, but he didn't; he had his head born for a full three minutes ahead of the rest of his body. I heard him cry even as he was still kicking inside me. Each of my children has a song. I didn't pick the songs, I just recognized them. When they're

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-55128418557824413232011-03-22T14:58:00.001-04:002011-03-22T14:58:57.578-04:00

It’s going to take more than one post to talk about the Southeast Homeschool Convention, I think, so this is part one. All of us went, plus my parents, so you’ll see details about that.Thursday. For anyone local planning to go in a future year, we left between 9:30 and 10 am. We stopped for Starbucks at Exit 149 on I-85, and then at O’Charley’s for lunch, about 20-30 miles from the hotel & the

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-28915851568371431262011-03-22T10:10:00.000-04:002011-03-22T10:11:20.259-04:00

My current earworm!

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-583318495955008492011-03-21T13:56:00.001-04:002011-03-21T13:56:56.931-04:00

One of the gals on the WTM forum suggested blogging on Mondays about memory work. What a great idea! So, I’ll share what’s going on as far as memory work around these parts.Both EG & FB have memorized one level of IEW’s Linguistic Development Through Poetry Memorization this school year: level one for FB, and level two for EG (who memorized level one last year). Rather than continue onward

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-31888454777118888362011-03-21T10:03:00.002-04:002011-03-21T10:23:14.919-04:00

Last week was abbreviated by necessity, as we attended the Southeast Homeschool Convention. That will be subject of its own blog post(s); however, I will say that I definitely plan to attend one of the conventions each year. Next year it will likely be Memphis, because the proposed dates for Greenville include FB's birthday. Prior to attending, however, we did manage to complete approximately

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-4531512083056022412011-03-21T08:36:00.000-04:002011-03-21T08:37:41.502-04:00

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-76617824761411742552011-03-20T19:00:00.001-04:002011-03-20T19:00:32.186-04:00

Latter Days trailer. I do love this movie.

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-53546687340324996592011-03-19T15:59:00.001-04:002011-03-20T16:01:10.154-04:00

I think most homeschoolers will find at least three or four things with which they agree. I think I've spent the weekend surrounded by those for whom the majority is true. Eek!

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-63807706993699958682011-03-18T09:30:00.000-04:002011-03-18T09:31:36.252-04:00

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-80449254751592928662011-03-17T08:58:00.002-04:002011-03-17T09:01:00.462-04:00

Because I love this one. Go to about 1:00 if you just want the music.

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-34927034955816455092011-03-16T17:26:00.000-04:002011-03-16T17:27:08.286-04:00

An important message. Slight language warning.

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-34903285598690897102011-03-15T08:37:00.000-04:002011-03-15T08:38:00.292-04:00

Beware the Ides of March!That said, this has nothing to do with Julius Caesar or Roman history. Just plain ol' American history, and it's fun, too. What's for fun than a fiddling Thomas Jefferson?

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-8459414525653461132011-03-14T09:30:00.003-04:002011-03-14T09:33:51.415-04:00

Because I'm tired. Tired of the looks of disgust, the chortles, the rolling of eyes. Yes, I'm a liberal, and yes, I homeschool. And yes, I wear my politics on my car just as much as many of the conservative homeschoolers. I don't laugh at them, or roll my eyes where they can see, or give their vehicles dirty looks as they sit inside them. "I know you like to use that word 'liberal' as a crime.""

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-81041124670056701482011-03-13T09:57:00.001-04:002011-03-13T09:57:51.095-04:00

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-2787945146814541842011-03-12T19:18:00.001-05:002011-03-12T19:19:55.680-05:00

Abstinence classes that tell girls they’re dirty and used unless they “save it”; a culture that doesn’t believe women who are raped; porn-based beauty standards for our genitals; a moral compass for young women that’s based solely on sexuality. . . . There’s no doubt that we have a difficult fight ahead of us, but I know we’re up for it.So begins the final chapter of Jessica Valenti’s The Purity

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-20668865243652122052011-03-12T09:54:00.001-05:002011-03-12T09:55:27.652-05:00

One of the best love stories ever told. Extra bonus points because it's set to music from Love Actually.

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-318408219710097622011-03-11T13:52:00.003-05:002011-03-11T13:52:51.160-05:00

It's Friday, and nothing says awesomeness equivalent to Fridays like BSG does.

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-76787101158147103452011-03-11T13:39:00.002-05:002011-03-11T13:51:28.937-05:00

The weeks seem to just be rolling by... I am loving getting the infusion of new curriculum and I can't wait until the convention next week! Still, we're trying our darnedest to finish the year strong.FB finished McGuffey's Primer, which he's been reading aloud to me at a rate of one selection per day! He's thrilled, especially since I told him we'd wait a week or two before we started the next

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-40499234926366707612011-03-10T20:39:00.000-05:002011-03-10T20:40:03.951-05:00

“How long will you homeschool?”“Will you homeschool high school?”“Are you going to keep doing that through high school graduation?” Haven’t we all heard at least one of those questions, or a variation thereof? For whatever reason, it is deeply important to some people that they ascertain if we’re the homeschooler who is going to see it all the way through, until the bitter end. (Thank goodness

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-8479571079491527842011-03-10T07:50:00.002-05:002011-03-10T07:51:49.269-05:00

In honor of Discovery's final voyage, go here and scroll down to the video. Watch it!Also:

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-50052585305831614822011-03-09T22:18:00.003-05:002011-03-09T22:25:16.271-05:00

I find myself having this thought often, lately. "I'm just ONE person. What can I do? I can't change people's minds." I find myself despairing over common and prevailing attitudes. If you are, like me, despairing over the events in Wisconsin, I have something you can do. On this post, a commenter left a list of Koch Industries products to boycott. HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS:Quilted Northern®,Angel Soft®,

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-58019986738503626922011-03-09T09:51:00.004-05:002011-03-09T20:03:02.326-05:00

For those of you unfamiliar with the show par excellence that is The West Wing, Martin Sheen's character is President Josiah Bartlet, who in the show is both from the Democratic party and a devout Catholic. And yes, the things he says have been written before, but no one delivers them like President Bartlet.

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-77196102992485028462011-03-08T08:48:00.001-05:002011-03-08T08:48:24.982-05:00

I first saw this video within a day or two of it originally being posted. At the time, I'd never listened to any of the songs from Wicked; I was watching it solely for the Firefly part. It's a beautiful video, and it introduced me to this song. PC stops whatever she's doing and comes to watch it, whenever I play it. In utero conditioning, anyone?

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-76448472214972791202011-03-07T11:28:00.002-05:002011-03-07T11:28:52.395-05:00

I’ve posted previously that I just wasn’t happy with the way history was proceeding this year for EG. Logic stage history is supposed to be about making connections, discovering the “why” behind history, and delving into cause and effect. I felt like it had instead become a checklist and the result was merely a continuation of learning and approaches like those used in grammar stage. Ouch!I

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-4837148960068805272011-03-07T07:02:00.002-05:002011-03-07T07:04:59.108-05:00

Someone posted this a week or two ago, and suggested that if you substitute "homeschooling" for "baseball," it could be an encouraging video for homeschooling. Really, though, it can relate to anything.

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-69208118408732833672011-03-06T13:42:00.001-05:002011-03-06T13:42:54.941-05:00

This seems appropriate for a Sunday!

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-80090111558657232482011-03-05T08:39:00.001-05:002011-03-05T08:42:05.626-05:00

Special Bonus Weekend Theme Edition! :DThe one beloved by my children:The one for math geeks and nerds everywhere:And the one for homeschool moms:

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-8258655779646042662011-03-04T13:15:00.000-05:002011-03-04T13:16:28.229-05:00

Every February, I have witnessed a brain-growth spurt in EG. Then I spend March and April scrambling to challenge EG rather than present her with busywork. This year is no exception. Yes, I know, I should plan ahead, but I never know exactly how she'll spurt. Sometimes it's more in one area than another. The big news this week is that EG finished all of her art appreciation assignments for this

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-45706770364218082652011-03-04T09:30:00.001-05:002011-03-04T09:30:58.271-05:00

Who doesn't want to hear George Takei's voice saying "douchebag"? A tip of the hat to a friend whom I know would appreciate that I chose this one for her birthday. :)

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-63745495657057815372011-03-03T22:57:00.011-05:002011-03-03T23:11:06.033-05:00

Box Days! Some of this is for the remainder of this year, some is for May Term, and some is for 2011-2012. English Workshop Second Course (grammar workbook)Figuratively Speaking and Sentence Composing for Elementary School; the latter is really too easy for EG, but then, I wanted something light for the end of the school year. Ellen McHenry curriculum: Mapping the World with Art and Excavating

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-75636737247544319962011-03-03T15:58:00.002-05:002011-03-03T16:01:27.768-05:00

Flipping through the radio stations as we returned from buying milk for the week, I came upon "You're the One That I Want." After a few moments, EG asked where the song was from. "Grease," I stated confidently, and returned to singing along with the song.A moment later, I heard FB pipe up. "It's been translated," he assured his sisters. Greece. Grease. Just a slight difference.

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-19778253769654221392011-03-03T10:07:00.000-05:002011-03-03T10:08:09.959-05:00

I've often lamented, to myself and others, that I just need to find "the answer." When I find that answer, I think, I'll be able to accomplish all that I want to accomplish. The fact that I don't currently merely shows a lack of willpower, initiative, creativity, or problem-solving ability. This, anyway, is the thesis from which I work.What if my thesis isn't actually true?I have a number of

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-57082075352690282012011-03-03T08:18:00.001-05:002011-03-03T08:19:03.653-05:00

For all the other girls who aren't ready to make nice, for one reason or another.

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-11196025899455889802011-03-02T20:13:00.002-05:002011-03-02T20:14:05.423-05:00

Because this day has, against all reason, been a beautiful one:

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-83286855525948116192011-03-02T08:21:00.001-05:002011-03-02T08:21:48.893-05:00

This is one of my favorite vids ever. It's to "I Enjoy Being A Girl" and it features a lot of awesome women from various television shows. This is single-handedly responsible for my starting to watch BSG. I kept watching for other reasons, but I started watching for Katee Sackhoff's Starbuck.

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-73406452041794045962011-03-01T09:30:00.001-05:002011-03-01T09:31:21.407-05:00

As I stated yesterday, I'm going to post a vid every day. I have all these lovely youtube videos bookmarked and favorited, and rarely think to share them. I'm going to rectify that.I'm going to start with one for Babylon 5 that was originally done on VHS. It's an excellent video in terms of frames & music matching, and the limitations of the technology used at the time makes it all the more

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-83236444445242082072011-02-28T21:12:00.002-05:002011-03-01T09:31:47.227-05:00

Social media. I love it, but I also realize it’s created numerous additional digital “chores” that did not previously exist. I spent part of my evening clearing my inbox, followed by going through my google reader. I’m not completely content with google reader but it’s what I’m using for now. I’d be happy to take suggestions of other good blog readers. More than happy. More than the housekeeping

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-15272087153807659102011-02-25T07:49:00.000-05:002011-02-25T07:50:05.708-05:00

EGPerhaps the biggest news in homeschool-land is that we’re switching math programs. EG recently finished Life of Fred Advanced Algebra and the accompany Home Companion, so we had not planned on her starting the next LoF book immediately as it was. However, LoF will no longer be her primary math program. She’s requested that she continue to use it for review (she does review math on the weekends

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-69728780986380523002011-02-24T13:04:00.003-05:002011-02-24T13:11:15.396-05:00

I’m not really sure if I should post this, to be honest. To some, it may be viewed as unnecessarily airing dirty laundry. Others may just decide I’m whinging, and they may be right, as well. Ultimately, though, I think that there are others like me, and so I’m writing about this–for them. As I’ve stated before, I don’t think the homeschooling community and the rest of the world use the term “

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-34373459619859626002011-02-22T11:27:00.001-05:002011-02-22T11:29:26.296-05:00

Last week, a principal’s blog post was passed around on my facebook feed. The title was provocative: “We Need to Stop Teaching Our Students How to Write.” There were some interesting discussions that were generated by the link. I think he addresses larger issues though.01. The issue of change in education, in terms of both method and content02. The necessity of memorization03. The necessity of

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-33622792008893281982011-02-21T09:59:00.001-05:002011-02-22T11:29:12.180-05:00

Happy Presidents' Day!I still vaguely remember when it was called Washington's Birthday, and people remarked on Lincoln's Birthday as well. Does this make me old?EG & FB don't have Master's Academy today, because of Presidents' Day, but we're still having school here at home. I did manage to plan some Presidents' Day themed reading, though.FB and PC are going to listen to Anne Rockwell's

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-11527038848319597312011-02-20T09:02:00.002-05:002011-02-20T09:12:18.827-05:00

I feel vaguely defeated this week. There's no particular reason to feel that way; perhaps it's simply the fact that there's still a few months left, we're trying to finish up all the stuff that must be done so we can move, and so forth. Me• I did finish a piece of the "Hogwarts knitting," and started another. • I kept going despite strange food poisoning-like illness on Wednesday. Sometimes you

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-74203911554579959142011-02-12T19:21:00.003-05:002011-02-12T19:37:15.275-05:00

Just over a week ago, I was in Florida, enjoying 70 degree days while we played at Disney World. Reentering the cold, frozen land of Georgia (yes, I know, seriously, Georgia should not be cold and frozen) was a harsh reality check last Saturday. I had hopes that we'd buckle down and get a considerable amount of work done, since, after all, it wasn't very fun here. I forgot to take into account

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-80241336499716091092011-02-08T16:54:00.002-05:002011-02-08T16:55:16.553-05:00

In order to not think about the subjects I don’t have decided for 2011-2012, all of which fall under the category of “EG’s Sixth Grade Plans,” I’m going to write down all of my plans for FB, which are complete and therefore not a source of anxiety at the present moment. Language Arts     Spelling: Continue with Spelling Workout B and begin Spelling Workout C; this includes beginning to copy the “

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-19914198462875377652011-02-07T14:44:00.002-05:002011-02-07T14:50:08.134-05:00

Around this time last year, we thought that we'd be ready to sell the house soon. We took care of various needs, and the next items on the priority list were the remaining tasks to make the house ready to sell. Then the Spousal Unit's freelance work stopped for awhile. We've been paying for a storage shed for about seven months longer than we planned, already. Now it's restarted again, and while

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-34772318193177059082011-01-28T08:25:00.002-05:002011-01-28T08:32:32.183-05:00

EG • EG finished Caesar's English II and Essay Voyage this week!• EG also wrapped up her study of "ancient times" and is using the Celts to transition into middle ages/medieval history.FB• FB learned about addition with carrying, at least with manipulatives (the base 10 picture cards from Right Start), and seemed to grasp the concept!• FB finished his first "chapter" book - Henry & Mudge.PC• PC

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-64697593646445252172011-01-26T11:12:00.002-05:002011-01-26T11:13:19.204-05:00

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-46173331388160408252011-01-21T16:16:00.000-05:002011-01-21T16:17:26.873-05:00

Me• I knitted my first pair of socks this week. I also made two hair kerchief things each for the girls, and two headbands for EG. Next up: a hat for me, mittens for EG, and a scarf for FB. • I'm going slightly mad. It's strange to feel like you should be a Queen song. No, we just have a lot going on right now and then adding Disney planning and prep on top of it has made me feel slightly panicky

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-66747012290784631962011-01-20T13:34:00.001-05:002011-01-20T13:35:49.507-05:00

There’s a popular animation of a portion of a TED talk on changing educational paradigms. It makes some good points. Other treatises on education about improved technology can similarly make some good points. However. Kids still have to be able to spell, to write, to do arithmetic and higher math, and have basic knowledge about their world. In some ways, the proliferation of technology makes it

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-27872897133432722342011-01-17T12:28:00.003-05:002011-01-17T12:30:26.308-05:00

I hate it when I can't find someone's email!In other news, the radio told me that today (I don't know if they mean January 17 or the third Monday in January or what) is one of the "most depressing days of the year." I think they meant people feel down, not actual clinical depression. Supposedly, this is because Christmas is past, but it's so far to spring, et cetera. Whether it's true or not,

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-48792933791328553832011-01-16T13:22:00.002-05:002011-01-16T13:32:05.762-05:00

Let's visit my by 1 July 2011 list, shall we?By 1 July 201101. Decide on supplemental titles for Story of the World Volume Two. (FB)02. Plan out life science/biology with spines, supplemental books, and projects and activities. (FB)03. Work through the next sections of Art in Story for art appreciation. (FB)04. Make a better plan for grammar stage art projects. (FB)05. Make a tentative literature

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-48282115044490970792011-01-14T07:56:00.000-05:002011-01-14T07:57:37.928-05:00

There's nothing quite like some ice to shut down the greater Atlanta metropolitan area for a solid week. Every single one of the kids' outside the house activities was cancelled this week, from Master's Academy on Monday right on through to band which should have been this afternoon. All the metro Atlanta school systems and private schools declared snow days, and they'll be making up those days

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-57356909496948071522011-01-13T21:30:00.000-05:002011-01-13T21:31:44.590-05:00

Pretend that a first-year student at Hogwarts would take three electives; better yet, pretend that arithmancy, ancient runes, and muggle studies are not electives. Do continue to view divination and care of magical creatures as electives, since that explains their omission from this list.I've been working on my Hogwarts schooling idea from two different directions. I've started the knitting, and

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-62856511611457767622011-01-10T15:42:00.002-05:002011-01-10T15:47:20.585-05:00

This was outside my house last night:Can you find my driveway, sidewalk, or the street? Me either!I finished this scarf yesterday morning, and the hat yesterday afternoon. Just in time, apparently.Starbuck says "Best Day EVER!!"For now, it's not Hotlanta. . . it's Hothlanta.

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-46865107204733498082011-01-07T09:59:00.001-05:002011-01-07T14:34:12.817-05:00

We had an amazingly smooth transition back to school this week. I admit that it probably helped that I didn't have EG practice piano (her teacher's assignment over the holiday break was to "look in the Christmas book" and try to play some of the other songs for fun), and I know it helped that EG & FB didn't have Master's Academy this week, but it was still nice. They are gearing up for our

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-61437943917249438922011-01-03T10:23:00.001-05:002011-01-03T10:24:35.429-05:00

We had the best of intentions to do school for two and a half days the week of December 20. We did, in fact, do school on December 20. Around noon, I felt so sick and tired, and took a three hour nap (this should have been my first clue that something was off). EG finished up her schoolday, but the remainder of FB's work languished (just a bit of phonics, and memory work). The next day, I woke up

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-61955801130159739732010-12-28T11:20:00.001-05:002010-12-28T11:21:41.024-05:00

In addition to Christmas, we were invaded last week by a vicious flu. A vicious, vicious flu that slowly made the rounds through us all; myself, EG, and the Spousal Unit were first and hardest hit, but FB had a milder case that left him in bed all of Thursday and part of Christmas Eve, and PC had a middlin’ case that really only served to make her both more energetic than the rest of us combined

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-8522118080759087802010-12-19T16:19:00.000-05:002010-12-19T16:20:18.059-05:00

I wish I could remember where I saw The House of Intellect recommended. I thought perhaps it was on the WTM boards, but a search has not yielded a result when I enclose “House of Intellect” in the necessary quotation marks. So, then, maybe it was on a blog that I follow. If it was one of you reading this, I must say – thank you.I needed to read this book. It was written in 1959, and yet so much

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-43240910890305397372010-12-17T22:51:00.000-05:002010-12-17T22:52:18.797-05:00

I liked my big/small weekly report this week, so let's try it again!EG• EG took a video of herself performing an "ad" for her critical thinking class. Her father vetoed posting it on youtube, so you won't be able to watch her performance, but it was pretty funny. She created a "product" – a ever-tied hair ribbon. • The best discussion we had all week was probably about the nature of conclusions

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-24910645956486464932010-12-16T15:00:00.002-05:002011-01-20T13:12:07.199-05:00

I think too many homeschooling parents are afraid of hard work, with regards to what they require of their children. I see it in several areas. It seems at time like many are afraid of requiring "too much" work for a child. Others are afraid of being seen as "too rigid." Still others are afraid of accusations of being "elitist." Let's address the question of being "elitist" first. I'll quote

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-65521804824086984622010-12-13T13:01:00.001-05:002010-12-13T13:01:49.051-05:00

The most common, most recurring challenge in our homeschool is challenge itself. There’s a sweet spot in which I want my kids to be working. Neither too easy, nor too hard, ideally they’d be always working just on the edge of their zone of competence, to borrow a term from a book I read recently. If I err towards something that is easy, I risk boredom. In our house, boredom with schoolwork often

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-88220916559463164702010-12-10T20:51:00.003-05:002010-12-10T20:53:56.952-05:00

I am, frankly, too tired to write a full weekly report. Therefore, we have one BIG thing and one little thing for everyone.Me• One of my good friends had her baby on Tuesday night, which happened to be her actual due date. She had a quick, intense homebirth-turned-unplanned-UC. Mama & baby are healthy, happy, and gorgeous!• I updated my Ravelry account with actual pictures of my stashed yarn and

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-21111310414963903162010-12-07T11:33:00.000-05:002010-12-07T11:34:26.011-05:00

Okay, the easy planning.For language arts next year, FB will continue in his curriculum from this year, for the most part. He'll use Printing Power for penmanship, and Spelling Workout for spelling – probably Level B, but he could get into Level C before the end of 2011-2012. He'll also keep using First Language Lessons, and we'll continue his writing with Writing With Ease Level 2. Literature

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-73550852430880100662010-12-05T16:27:00.004-05:002010-12-05T16:41:14.206-05:00

And, of course, 2011 means that after 2010-2011 is over, there will be 2011-2012. How'd that happen, again?When it comes to next year and my two students, there's one for whom it's easy to list what we'll be doing. Then there's my darling EG.Thank goodness for Michael Clay Thompson's language arts. We'll be using the entirety of the level four package - grammar, poetics, vocabulary, and

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-1886634963073789942010-12-04T22:28:00.001-05:002010-12-04T22:31:32.663-05:00

As much as I appreciate that the kids have extracurricular activities, I admit to enjoying this time of the year, when they slowly drop away for a nice holiday break. Band finished before Thanksgiving, and Monday will mark the last day of Master's Academy until 2011! Even better news is that we passed our halfway point for the year!EG moved into studying ancient Rome this week. She did not write

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-574146945205215242010-11-28T09:35:00.001-05:002010-12-04T22:29:16.134-05:00

We did a two and a half day week for Thanksgiving, more or less. FB completed two lessons in OPGTR, six pages in ETC 2, and reviewed his last lesson from SWO A. We did two lessons from FLL together and finished WWE 1 Week 19. He also worked on writing lower-case 'j.' We continued reading Greek myths; Usborne Book of Greek Myths, King Midas and the Golden Touch, and Black Ships Before Troy were

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-39109331752418462402010-11-22T21:21:00.001-05:002010-11-22T21:22:43.461-05:00

I was conflicted over how much work we’d do for school this week. On the one hand, no matter how many days we do, we wouldn’t get a full five days completed, so we’d be uneven (I like my number of days at the end of each week to be divisible by five). On the other hand, I was planning to complete five days between this week & the week of December 20, so the more days we finish now, the fewer we

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-72732203969062484612010-11-20T22:08:00.003-05:002010-11-20T22:12:21.677-05:00

[Two years ago, I was holding my newborn baby girl and eating cinnamon rolls. Here's her story.]PC's story begins, I think, the first time that the possibility of her existence became known to me. Close to nine years before she was born, I was pregnant with my oldest child when I had a dream about my children. I saw three of them in my dream - the oldest a girl, the middle child the only boy, and

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-71842184666628000212010-11-20T22:04:00.002-05:002010-11-21T10:45:53.659-05:00

Busy week, busy people.Let's start with ME, because the mama is the most important thing, right? In addition to everything else I usually do, I knitted a shrug for PC. Cast it on Monday; cast it off Friday afternoon. Then I promptly wrapped it, because… Today was PC's second birthday! She had a chocolate Mickey Mouse cake that she enjoyed thoroughly. I gave her the aforementioned shrug plus a

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-11648306450437666402010-11-17T11:26:00.001-05:002010-11-17T11:29:27.038-05:00

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-77637356833459522512010-11-15T11:01:00.000-05:002010-11-15T11:02:07.697-05:00

My first internet love was not parenting communities, though I’ve dabbled in them sporadically over the years. Nor was it blogging, per se, or homeschooling communities. No, my first home online was the Harry Potter fandom. I was heavily involved for several years, and still pop in and check on it from time to time. I made friends in those years with which I still keep in touch on a regular basis

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-47626744679946735332010-11-14T17:33:00.002-05:002010-11-14T17:48:02.928-05:00

Nineteen• Is it horrible to say I'm thankful for Fridays? November seems so dreary at times, and I'm trying very hard to remember to be thankful for the turn of the seasons and the variety of types of weather. Still, this past week was very draggy, and I was happy to reach Friday.Twenty• Order. We spent a great deal of time doing some deep decluttering and cleaning on Saturday, but the end result

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-38489218747675964032010-11-12T20:07:00.001-05:002010-11-12T20:07:51.347-05:00

It's November. Weary, dreary November, which means this week's weekly report is a "highlights" version. Monday• FB did a great job with his narration about the Mycenaeans. • EG made her final decision about which pieces to perform at her 'recital' in December; her teacher's piano and voice students are going to visit an assisted living home one Monday morning in lieu of an official

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-56638383415649441352010-11-11T23:14:00.001-05:002010-11-11T23:14:44.512-05:00

The category says “social sciences,” not just “history.”In general, colleges want to see a year of American history/government. Yes, that’s how I keep seeing it listed. Government is not, strictly speaking, the province of history, but rather political science.Social sciences, however, encapsulates a range of disciplines. Wikipedia lists the branches of social science as “anthropology, economics,

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-30603891946663210282010-11-11T22:29:00.002-05:002010-11-11T22:46:16.369-05:00

Day Seventeen• After I posted on Tuesday, I went for a run. I had technically finished the Couch to 5K program almost four weeks ago, but I had completed it by focusing on time rather than distance. Tuesday, I ran a full 5K on the treadmill. I know it isn't for everyone, but for me, that runner's high is amazing and addictive.Day Eighteen• Today is my leaping day, so named from this quote from

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-9807524188515418682010-11-09T14:30:00.004-05:002010-11-09T14:39:07.488-05:00

Day FifteenPeppermint hot chocolate at Starbucks. I have a brand new investigation in my life. Does a hot chocolate with peppermint taste like warm, liquid York Peppermint Patties, or does it taste like warm, liquid Thin Mints? This is, obviously, an important question that I must endeavor to investigate at any opportunity. Day SixteenToday is just... going really well. Scarily well, even. The

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-22203328483616919212010-11-08T10:43:00.001-05:002010-11-08T10:43:49.924-05:00

What’s the point?I know exactly my aims in terms of grammar stage history. I want to introduce my grammar stage child (currently, FB) to famous people and personalities, and to the stories, myths, and legends of various cultures and time periods. Keeping this purpose firmly in mind helps me when choosing our overall curriculum (Story of the World), as well as when choosing supplemental titles,

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-57887277373468210732010-11-07T21:26:00.002-05:002010-11-07T22:25:51.660-05:00

I'm having a difficult time identifying specific things for which I'm thankful, today. It's not that I am not thankful; I am. It's just that any specific my mind lands on seems to be, inevitably, further linked to many other things. My thankfulness is nebulous today.So, then – I am grateful beyond measure that I do, in fact, have so many things from which to choose. I've thought in the past about

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-10660506511715508122010-11-06T17:45:00.002-04:002010-11-06T17:57:37.797-04:00

I know that this may seem a bit like jumping the gun; after all, aren't we all thankful for food and the harvest on Thanksgiving Day? I'm specifically thankful for the farmers' market, though.Each week, on Saturday morning, I get up, throw some clothes on, and head down to the farmers' market. Usually FB comes with me, unless he's staying at his grandparents' house. Together, we navigate the

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-42075443064672577962010-11-05T22:52:00.002-04:002010-11-05T23:00:40.338-04:00

Today, I am thankful for my massage therapist. Once a month, I get to leave the house (by myself!) and drive to his cozy studio, where I get a delightful massage with pleasant smells, and then feel nicely relaxed for at least a day or two afterwards. Even in the winter, when it's a bit chilly, or the summer, when it can get a bit warm (the building is over one hundred years old), it's such a

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-54619090481396909762010-11-05T15:59:00.001-04:002010-11-05T15:59:49.790-04:00

We had another "different" week this week. EG caught the cold that PC & I had last week, and stayed at home on Monday instead of going to Master's for piano lesson, public speaking, and Master's Academy of Fine Arts. My good friend Kelly from Rhode Island came to visit, arriving on Monday evening, so we've gone to Fernbank Museum of Natural History and High Museum of Art this week. I continued to

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18336804.post-84874584346601825682010-11-04T22:46:00.002-04:002010-11-04T22:59:04.236-04:00

Monday• This week, I have a Kelly visiting from Rhode Island. Kelly & I met online in 2002; we've visited back and forth several times over the years, and she was at FB's birth; she's the Harry to my Draco. ;)Tuesday• Rain, wind, and cold. I know, I know, they aren't normally things to be thankful for - and by the end of February, I'm sure I'll be sick of them. For now, though, I'm able to

Kashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02919872862510660397noreply@blogger.com0