The ANT

Ants.  I don't like them, but I have to learn to live with them here in Alabama. 
Last month's nature study a la The Handbook of Nature Study blog pointed us to ants. 
Yes, we started with identifying their insect parts: head, thorax, abdomen, antennae. 
But I did not want to get out and explore the fire ants that abound around here.  It's just too risky.
I didn't know where these other ants were, if any of them survived the Fire Ant invasion of the 1930's.  After just a bit of research, I found out that other types of ants prefer undisturbed areas.  So off to find some non-fire ants. 

On a walking trail we saw some ant mounds ...

and some ant row homes. 

My camera skills are just too basic to actually capture the ant itself.  Even so, we didn't see very many.  Moreover, it was still very hot in September, and - well, we were ready to get out of the heat. 

SIGH.  Now what?  Well, nature gave us plenty of ant hills here in Lower Alabama, so ant hills it is.  At the very least, we compared their sizes.  

One thing's for sure:  Fire Ants sure know how to build a big house. 

Look at these things!

This one is up to Z's knees!  

Now that the weather is cooling off, these insects are moving their homes closer to the sidewalks which stay warm longer.  Now we have to be even more careful when we go outside looking for this month's subject:  trees.  
At least they don't bite. 

Critter Patrol

It wasn't on our nature study list.  
It wasn't convenient. 
But it was pretty cool.
Last Friday, I found what I think was a salamander in our yard.  It looked like a tiny snake at first.  In fact, a snake would have been a more likely find after the kids and I found a small corn snake in our garage last week!
But I much prefer finding this little guy.

 The closest description we could find was that of a three-striped salamander.  If anyone out there happens to know what it is, feel free to educate me.  
Now this next one is a little blurry, but it's the only one I have that shows his feet.  He wasn't exactly easy to pose.  

Unfortunately, Z was not home at the time, so I insisted we keep the guy in our handy dandy critter container until Z got home to see him.  That drove E a little crazy with worry for the little guy.  Three whole hours in captivity!  
Alas, we set him free in the same area we found him (or her; I don't know).  

Thanks for visiting!  Come back soon.  
(Now I'm going to read The Salamander Room with the kids.) 
 

Him?

So, I planned to start our hymn study this afternoon.  I had chosen I Sing the Mighty Power of God by Isaac Watts over a month ago.  
Before we got to that part of our day, we were driving to the library.  Instead of giving in to the request to put on Radio Disney, I asked the kids what a hymn is.  
One of my dears said something like this:  It's a slow, boring song that mostly old people sing in church.  Self-talk:  don't laugh, don't smile, move on.  The other dear says it's a God song that is old.  Deep breath.
You know what?  Though those would not have been my answers, a few weeks ago I didn't even know what exactly a hymn was, except to say I know it when I hear it!  I had to look it up.  
According to the Center for Church Music, "Essentially a hymn is a song of adoration to God meant to be sung in the church." 
Looking back not very far in my life, I remember going to a church where hymns were still sung.  Judge me if you will, but they made me laugh.  I mean, who still sings hymns in church?  
Now that I am taking the time to learn the history and the words of specific hymns with my kids, I appreciate them much more.  It reminds me of the time in my life when I really took the time to understand God's Word and what it meant for me as compared to the time when the Bible was out of touch and hard to read.  
I think the kids enjoyed listening to our hymn and singing along a little.   I know I did.  For your information, I don't know how I found this, but this website is a great source of information on hymns as well as audio all for free!   It even has a hymn of the week.  

A Black-Eyed Outdoor Hour

Ahh.  We are getting back on track with our Outdoor Hour Challenges this month.  I've been wanting to do this week's all summer, actually.  It's the Summer flower study of composite flowers - specifically, Black-Eyed Susans.  
Here in the deep South, these beauties have been in bloom for months.  So by now we find them waning.  

Even in their old age, we observed the 13 yellow ray flowers and the spiraling brown disc flowers (black eyes) that compose these composite flowers.  

The great part of this outdoor hour is that we got to share it with some new nature studiers.  (Is that a word?)  It's funny.  I am still new to the nature study culture myself.  And yet, I found myself sharing my love for it with another family.  
Then, kids being kids, they took to another challenge:  a big wall.

Here are some more pieces of our hour:

What in the world?

 I learned these are called Red Velvet Ants, that they are really wingless wasps which can inflict a painful sting!  Yikes!  

Ah, much better. 

What's more, today at Farm Class the kids were on a scavenger hunt.  You know what was on the list?  Composite Flowers!  And they knew just what to look for.  How great is that? 

How Should I ... ?

So, we started our new school year this week.  While they weren't exactly "smooth and easy days" a la Charlotte Mason, it was a good beginning.  
This year, I decided to have a scripture-theme.  I've read about families doing that, but I never got there.  Having re-evaluated my purpose for teaching at home (well, to be honest, I'm still doing that), I wanted to plant us on good soil.  
I spent some time reading scriptures about teaching children, about a peaceful home (!!!), and some spiritual fruits.  But when I came to what we call The Lord's Prayer, I was convicted.
It's not about me teaching the kids, really.  It's about God teaching us all.  And if homeschooling doesn't make you want to pray, then I don't know what will!  
To start, we are working on memorizing Matthew 6:9-13.  We're learning some of the sign language for the verses.  We are praying together.  

Matthew 6:9-13

This, then, is how you should pray:

Our father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.

 

One Year at a Time?

Five years ago, I did something I never thought I'd do - taught my first child at home.  It was crazy; I was crazy.  I loved it!

How long are you going to keep her home?  
I don't know.  One year at a time.
Two years later, I did what many said I shouldn't do - taught my second child, my BOY, my outgoing, social boy at home.  

He needs to be in school.  He's too sociable to stay home.  
He doesn't stay home.  One year at a time.
Two years after that, my boy wanted, insisted on seeing what school was like.  And we let him.  I'm glad that's over.  One year (at a time, remember?) was more than enough for this mom!  And now my social, outgoing boy is looking forward to staying home for school after all. 
This year we start our sixth year of home-school.  This year I am more ready than last year.  Maybe not as ready as others, or as ready as I'll be next year, but ready for this year.
This afternoon I read a short piece about missionary Amy Carmichael.  At the end the writer presented this thought:  "Sacrifice includes being willing to give up something for God"  in reference to the Indian Christian women who worked with Amy and who gave up their jewelry so that they would honor God, and not their status, with their appearance.  

What about me?  As much as I want our commitment to home education to honor God, sometimes I get caught up in the status of not belonging to the mainstream or to the social whirlwind of private schools in Montgomery.   What I want is to get caught up in a home education which is "only for God and pleasing to him, which is the spiritual way for you to worship."  Romans 12:1
With all I have, here is to year six! 

All the Livelong Day!

Recently, I listened to a lesson called "Laying Down the Rails" by Sonya Schafer.  It is an overview of her book by the same name which summarizes Charlotte Mason's series for educators.  I listened to it on the 3 hour drive from Warner-Robins, Georgia to Montgomery with my kids.  


It's about building good habits in your kids.  Not just any habits - character habits.  The three biggies?  Attention, Obedience, and Truthfulness.  Whamo!  
As to my own truthfulness, let me say that I have been feeling like an utter failure as a parent lately.  There are days I'm sorry I ever took one or both of my kids out in public.  There are days I wish I could lock them in their rooms and go somewhere, nowhere in particular, by myself.  Where did these kids come from?

Haven't I been trying to teach them to obey?  Haven't I read them the scriptures on obeying your parents!  Haven't I instilled consequences for disobeying?  Haven't I yelled loudly enough?  For crying out loud!  
In her lecture, Sonya says we can take 6-8 weeks working on a new habit.  How about 6-8 years?  
Maybe I should read the whole book now.  When my kids are locked in their rooms. 

Where in the House?

Many of my homeschool friends have a "school room."  Now I do, too.
When we first moved into this house, I was excited that we had this extra living room/den that I could turn into a school room.  It ended up being more of a play and storage room.  Hmm.
So, back around Mother's Day, I decided to work on changing that.  I realized over the course of the past 6 months, that E and I did most of our lessons in the living room, on or around the couch.  I thought if we could have a couch in the school room, we might spend more time in there.  Plus, there'd be fewer books and materials floating around my living room.  Right?
So, off to the mattress store for a futon mattress to fit the frame that has been sitting in our garage for the past 2 & 1/2 years.  
(Well, first, C spent days and days trying to put it back together.  One of the cons of moving is having to put things back together and not being able to find directions.) 
Then move some book and storage shelves around, hang up a few posters here and there, and voila!  Just in time for summer. 

The view from the opening to the room.  The room has no door, and this room is right next to the front door!

The shelf in the middle is filled with games, puzzles, paper, paper, art supplies, and more paper.  After sorting and trashing, I ended up with a whole drawer full of partially used notebooks and sketch pads, and yet another drawer of clean (because I tore out the 4 used pages) or unused ones.  The shelf on the right is full of kid books. 

On the left is a shelf of actual school books mostly.  There is a bin for the dry erase boards and crayons which we use a lot for math, a basket of reading materials for the current year, and one of teacher's guides.  That space under the clock on the left - I'd like to hang a bulletin board for show-off stuff. 

That's it.  I'm excited about our new room and hope it will help us stay focused this year. 

Summer Numbers

It's the first day of Summer here in the Northern Hemisphere (first of Winter in the Southern).  
Here are some numbers of summer. 
1.  June 20th or 21st marks the first day of summer every year.
2.  There are 93 days of summer until the first day of Autumn on September 22nd. 
3.  Phineas and Ferb somehow get 104 days of summer vacation.  They must not get a spring break, winter break, or any holidays in their school district.  

4.  Today, Anchorage, Alaska will have over 19 hours of daylight!  Montgomery, Alabama will have about 14. 
5.  Our dog turns 3 tomorrow, my son is 8, and my daughter is 10.
6.  There are 187 days until Christmas! (Click for the Christmas Countdown Page).
7.  Sunscreens have up to an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 70, though most dermatologists say you only need an SPF of 30 to prevent sun damage.  Wear sunscreen, people!

8.  Montgomery, Alabama has an average of 78 days a year above 90 degrees.  Big deal?  With about 80 percent humidity, you feel like you're melting.  
9.  The U.S. won 110 medals in the 2008 Summer Olympics, though China won more Gold medals (51 to our 36).  This year the London Olympics are from July 27 - August 12. 
10.  The American Pyrotechnics Association (APA) estimates that more than 14,000 fireworks displays light up U.S. skies each 4th of July. (nationalgeographic.com)

Summer Math (Yes, I did)

This summer the kids are trying this math program from Simply Charlotte Mason.  Each one will "run" his own store.  E has a pet store and Z has a sports store.  
This first week they are setting up their businesses.  Then each week after that they will track one month of sales which are provided in the workbook.  They will pay bills for their store and learn to write checks.  We will do this for 14 weeks which will take us a little past our summer.  It has only been a couple of days, but I can tell the kids are going to enjoy this math program.  
I thought it would be fun to have them write about their progress once in a while.  Today it was E's turn.  Enjoy! 

Today I started setting up my pet store. I had to pick how much of each item I wanted to have in my pet store.  Then I had to add up the prices by multiplying.
I have to spend a week starting my pet store. Every month I have to stock up on items.

This is my inventory list.  At the top I ordered 5 dogs and 5 cats for $50 each. 

So far my mom has told me that when we are done setting it up we will get word problems like asking to buy two puppies and a mouse, and I will have to multiply to figure out how much it will cost. 
Math is not my favorite subject or my best, but I  did not do bad today, probably because it was fun.  Not saying that regular math is  not fun, but I think I got better at multiplication by doing the problems over again because some of the prices are the same and so is my quantity.  It was fun, and I am looking forward to tomorrow!

This is my store logo.  Happy Pets.  Happy stands for Hugs And Pugs Pets Yay! 

Elizabeth

A Hole (or two) in the Head?

McKenna, Felicity, and Farm (who is not AG, but E's first big girl doll)

 American Girls.  As much as I wanted to resist them (for a variety of reasons), they sure do light up my daughter.
I believe she has three of them now:  Felicity and her best friend Elizabeth, and McKenna.  
Elizabeth , the fancy English loyalist that she is (the doll not the daughter), has pierced ears.  E thought it only fair that Felicity have hers pierced, too, but she doesn't come with pierced ears.  However, American Girl stores will pierce her ears for us for $18.  I've given that company enough money for the doll already, so I searched for self-help ideas.  
Oh yes.  I found plenty of support out there on the internet for piercing your own doll's ears.  They ranged from sticking a tack in her ear to drilling the hole.  Drilling a hole! 
I opted for heating a sewing needle and trying to burn the hole in her ear.  Let me tell you two things.  One, those dolls are solid!  The bent needle will testify.  Two, those AG earrings are BIG.  Ain't no sewing needle going to do this trick.  
So I got a standard nail, set some fire to it, and proceeded to burn that hole.  Oh yeah!  

My tools: needle nose pliers, a nail, and matches. 

I'm glad I stuck with it.  I was having second thoughts about that $18 for a while.  

Voila! 

  

A "Real" Last Day of School

May 31, 2012 

marked the end of our one year trial of "real" school for Zachary, who thought he was missing something by not going to a school.  
After a school year of joys and STRUGGLES, I still wasn't surprised that on the way to school he said he wanted to go back again next year.  What?!  
In the emotion of saying good-byes, he forgot the mornings when he'd cry and yell that he hated school and wanted to be home-schooled again.  The kid missed 17 days of school in just one semester!  And we were late 30 days.  We are not good morning folks.
So, I asked Z what he learned he was missing when he didn't go to school that he found at school.  His answers were friends at school and getting up early which he did NOT like.  
He did enjoy what they called Farm Class about once a week, though he was reluctant to admit it.  However, we may have the opportunity to have a home-school farm class at the same farm with the same farmer in the coming school year.  Maybe that will fill part of his need to be in school.  
I am happy to have the chance to teach my boy again.  I'll admit, he doesn't always make it easy.  That just means that I have some learning to do, too!  
Welcome  home, Zachary.  

Ordinary and Extra-Ordinary: Nature's Timing

We took the Handbook of Nature Study Challenge this week to find the Extraordinary in the Ordinary.  Actually, the extraordinary found us, and we used it. 
While we were walking our dog, E and I noticed lots of little butterflies around us.  It turns out they were painted ladies!  Simply beautiful.  (Of course, we're simply walking the dog, not prepared to take photos).  
Then we came across this different butterfly just hanging out on a blade of grass.  This little guy or gal let us sit right down next to it on the sidewalk and watch it for several minutes.

This is E's sketch of the Gray Hairstreak from her journal page.

What you can't read in her journal is that we could even see it rub the back of its wings together.  

Especially with a dog at our side, it was extraordinary how this butterfly, which we later learned was a Gray Hairstreak, just sat there soaking up the dew and sun in our presence.  
 

Now, our extraordinary discoveries did not end with butterflies.  Later that day, we went outside to complete an item on our May Grid - closing our eyes and smelling a flower.  

Since we have an array of lilies in our front yard, we simply walked out the front door to do this one.  This time, though, I was photo-ready.  

 

This lily is an example of a "perfect" flower with both anthers and stigma to produce a seed.  I took advantage of this Charlotte Mason moment to show this to E, who, sadly, was not very interested. 

However, it was pretty cool when this tiny little bee (E said it's called a Sweat Bee, but I think that's some kind of Southern euphemism; I'll have to look into that one) flew in and landed on one of the anthers, hopefully dragging some pollen with him.  (If you look closely at the 2nd anther from the left, you can see a reddish brown bulge.  That is the bee.)  Now THAT's extraordinary timing! 

What Grade?

That is an important question to many.  

"What grade are you in?"  my kids are asked.  

Even at church they are grouped by grade rather than age.  

Recently I was talking to a new homeschooling mom about curriculum choices.  She wanted to know if I "test" my kids.  You know - the standardized kind.

When I told her I have never tested my kids, she was shocked.  How do I know if they are working at "grade" level she wanted to know.  

I made a lame pitch against standardized grade levels that she didn't seem to really consider.  

I found myself saying out loud that I don't home-school my kids for academic reasons, but so that I can nurture them and their learning.  

Inside, though, I know that while my heart is to nurture their whole beings and teach them as they need, sometimes I do worry about meeting traditional standards.

So, here I am to reinforce my conviction against standardized "grades" and to encourage you to do the same.  

Since I'm not an authority, I've tracked down some real authorities for us.

1.  "Children are unique and delicate human beings with special talents, strengths and weaknesses. Each has his own developmental schedule, which we ignore at our peril."  (Raymond S. Moore, Better Late Than Early; love that book)

2.  “The question is not, -- how much does the youth know? when he has finished his education -- but how much does he care? and about how many orders of things does he care?  (Charlotte Mason, School Education: Developing a Curriculum)

3.  Michael Smith at HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Agency) said at my very first home school conference that our primary goal of educating our children is to get them into Heaven not Harvard.  Remembering that usually helps me keep my focus.  

While I'm legally and spiritually qualified to teach my own children, I do not always know what "grade" level their lessons would be.  They are learning.  They are learning to care.  
When someone asks what grade one of the kids is in, we usually follow the traditional roles and say whatever grade corresponds with his age.  
But I don't like it.   
As long as I am teaching with all my heart as if teaching for the Lord and not for man, though, I have peace.   Colossians 3:23

Summer Challenges

1.  To school or not to school?  
I'm not typically a year-round home-schooler.  Our summer schedules (see #2) don't usually lend themselves to it.  However, I need to get Z back in the home-school groove somehow, and E needs to press on in math.  
2.  One child with 3 mornings of gymnastics scheduled; one with 3 afternoons!  
3.  I promised myself that I would not commit to anything this summer other than one week of VBS.  No basketball camps, swimming lessons, dance class, art camp, or whatever looks too good to pass up; I'm passing.  

This one has already posed a challenge to my "try it all" spirit.  But so far, so true.  I want to be able to say "yes" to impromptu times with friends.  I want to take a day to drive to the beach without feeling bad about what we paid for that we're missing.  I don't want the summer to pass us by this year!

4.  Reading.  Most summers I offer the kids some kind of reading challenge.  They read X number of books, I'll get them the Y they've wanted.  

This year, I decided to make it monetary (don't judge).  For every 100 pages read they earn $2 up to 500 pages.  For every 100 pages after 500, they get $3 for 600 to 1000 pages.  If they pass 1000, they get $4 for every 100 pages.  My husband actually thinks I'm being cheap.  I was just going to make it $2 for every 100 pages period.  But I compromised with the sliding scale. 
5.  Our dear friends and former neighbors are moving to Boston!