Week 5: Thinking About Art

This week has blown by, and now it's Sunday and I realize that I haven't written anything! I know that I'm hitting a groove when I find that I have little to say about the school week and begin thinking about non-school things like watching Downton Abbey (again), and art, and playing the guitar, all of which are in the forefront of my mind at the moment.

On Friday the 18th Molly and I went into the city to see the Gustave Caillebotte exhibit at the National Gallery of Art. It was incredible. Add him to the list of my favorite artists. I had the opportunity to really observe how my daughter interacts with great works of art. She appreciated Rembrandt and the Dutch Masters and the big, showy works of the Neo-Classical era. We walked through those galleries without much emotion. Then we came to the galleries that housed religious art and icons from the middle ages. We found that section to be a tad creepy. I suppose I always have, and Molly was not at ease with them, either. Right after that we walked into the gallery that houses the major impressionists, and Molly's mouth dropped open and she just stared. She walked over to this painting and stood looking for a bit. I walked up beside her and she said, "Now THAT'S art!"

Renoir: Girl with a Watering Can

I'm not entirely sure why this was the painting that caught her eye, but after that we looked at all the Impressionist paintings carefully, and she was awed by them. Then we went to the Caillebotte exhibit and the first thing I saw walking in was this painting:

Something in me jumped, then felt as if I had just arrived home from being gone for a long time, and I knew I had seen that painting somewhere before. Walking up to it, I realized that its home is the Chicago Art Institute, and of course--I had been there quite a few times when I was in my last months of single life--a poor grad student wishing that I could live a care-free life as an artist and writer. I love this painting. 

But then we turned our attention to this one, and this was the one I really had wanted to see:

We stared at it long and hard when we first went into the exhibit, then toured the whole gallery, then came back and observed some more. Cumulatively we stared at this painting for about 30 minutes. If it wasn't that long, it sure felt like it. We were both captivated by it and fascinated by the play of light and the colors and the delicate attention to detail. Molly asked to return to the exhibit after exiting several times, just for one last look. I obliged, of course.

We both agreed that this one was not our favorite. 

Yuck! I'm not entirely sure why he felt compelled to paint that, but apparently it has enough of that je ne sais quoi to hang in the museums of the world. Okay, moving on. I love art, don't get me wrong. I don't like raw meat. Fine art and raw meat cancel each other out. This should not exist based on that little corollary.

Now I am informed that the last edition of the Apostle's edition of the St. John's Bible has just gone exhibit at the Library of Congress. This is a trip we need to take, and will do, ASAP. I have waited to see this for years. I cannot wait!

The Seven Days of Creation Illumination, St. John's Bible

Week 3: In Which I Exhale

We have successfully sustained three full weeks of school work. I find that I place high standards upon myself, especially when we first get started. I have the habit of over-planning, and then having to pare back a little from my original plan--kind of like grocery shopping when you're hungry. You get home and ask yourself, "Why on earth did I buy all this food?"

Anyway, yesterday Molly and I allowed ourselves a girl's day out. We went and got our hair and nails done, went out to dinner with girlfriends, and did a little shopping at the new organic market that just opened up.

We came upon this in the store, and found ourselves very amused.

Ew. I'm not against recycling. They just might want to re-word the packaging.

Overall it was a good week.  The Biology class collected pond water from a local pond to grow specimens of various organisms. I didn't get to go because I was teaching the girls how to draw lemons in a bowl, but it looks like they had fun. 

Somewhere down the line this week I started to relax. I think the kids are working hard, finding a routine, and managing their time well. Now I can take the days as they come and feel more at ease. 

Week 2: Law of Inertia

We had another great week--busy, tired at the end, but very productive. It appears to be a season of hard work for our family, and we are okay with that. Work hard, play hard--I know we will be grateful for the breaks when they come.

Over the last year since losing my mom, life has gradually taken on its regular pace. I am very glad that I allowed myself the time to grieve and to take school and commitments lightly. I believe it is why we are able to attack this term's objectives with purpose. We have enjoyed a long season of rest. Now it is time to get back to work.

We accomplished a lot this week! Here's a look:

Matt

Biology: Finished chapter 1 text, labs, notebook and test
Tapestry of Grace: Finished week 20 (Year 2) assignments and started week 21 after meeting for co-op
(this includes significant amounts of reading, a written response question, timeline and map work)
Algebra: Worked on reviewing skills that got a little rusty over the summer.
Grammar: Continued work in season 3 of Analytical Grammar
Latin: Completed the week's assignments given by his online instructor
Bible: Started week two of his study of John

Molly

Zoology 1: chapter 1 and notebook pages
Math: still working out the summer kinks. I expect to add some new material later this week.
Grammar: Jr. Analytical Grammar, Lesson 2
Spelling: Phonetic Zoo
Writing With Ease: Week 4
Tapestry of Grace: week 20 completed, started week 21

Matt got in five workouts, I got in four, Molly and Dad got in three each, so it was also a great CrossFit week!

I have been amazed at how hard the kids have worked, their growth as students (while I wasn't looking) and their great attitudes. I realize that they are hungry for routine as much as I am.

I went snooping on an old hard drive today and found a video I made when the kids were small and Molly couldn't talk yet. We used to say she spoke "Mollish" I can hardly believe she was ever that little, and yet it seems like yesterday. This evening we took them out for a rare and overdue dinner out at a nice restaurant and we reminisced about how we used to think we would never be able to go out to dinner without them creating a scene. Tonight we four sat and had a very civilized and pleasant meal together and enjoyed each others' company. There is no one on earth I'd rather be with than my peeps...I know the time is flying.

Week 2: Starting Back to Co-op

It's Wednesday. That means co-op for us. It's a great day for the kids to look forward to a break from the regular grind and gives them accountability and an opportunity for them to interact with other students and the material they've been studying.

Today was our first week of 27 that are planned for the whole school year.

It looked something like this:

From 9:30-10:45 the younger (upper grammar age) girls did art using Artistic Pursuits as their base curriculum.

Learning to find the outside edge of an object in drawing.

The rhetoric level students reviewed their first chapter in Apologia Biology and did their lab.

The pros and cons of home education...you get to stay home, but the cat helps.

Identifying the parts of a cell

At 11:00 the younger girls started their science discussion and lab from Apologia's Flying Creatures book. 

Test flying gliders of different wing-lengths

Then we took a nice break, ate lunch together and headed over to our friends' house for Tapestry co-op. This is the first major location shift we've had in a while as we've always had it at our house, but we've decided to move this year so babies and toddlers and little siblings can nap and play and not be disturbed. It worked out great!

History discussion

I was a little nervous coming into today. We had not had co-op for most of last school year, and when we did decide that it would be better to have some kind of group work three students of our regular group was missing, and it was only for writing and lower-grammar stuff. We had not really tackled the main Tapestry of Grace topics for over a year together, and there have been changes in all the kids over the last year. We went from a group of early middle-schoolers to high-schoolers, and we're now working with the material on a higher level. When we sat down to discussion, however, I was gratified to see how hard everyone had worked on the assignments that they had been given, how well they understood the material, and how well they could discuss it and synthesize the information. My job was very easy. We covered everything from the founding of Jamestown, the 30 Years' War, to Don Quixote and literary terminology pertaining to it. 

I'm so proud of the kids and all their hard work, and can't wait until next week to do it all over again!

Week 1: Tired. Delusional. It's Fine...

I went out to lunch today with three of my favorite homeschooling friends to celebrate one of our birthdays--not mine. All but one of us had households who started back to school routines this week, and the fourth is easing in.

We three who had started back into it sang the praises of our kids--how hard they worked, how they proved themselves, how they checked off all the assignments we gave them and kept a good attitude all the while. It was stellar--delusional, even. Then Candace said, "Wait a minute--can we just stop here and remember this moment for a few months down the road when we AREN'T having a week like this?"


Truth. 

We did have a great week if you count success in terms of things done, but life is not always about that, and I will have to remind myself of that again and again, I'm quite sure. I mean, we are not exactly novices at this, but every year we seem to go through through the same ceremony of planning, reworking, setting the bar, making the schedule. It always ends up sort of the same in the end--never exactly according to our original plan, but somehow, we always manage to get it done.

We had to make a couple of major lifestyle adjustments with this new-fangled plan due to the fact that we have not had a school routine for quite some time. Both kids (who are night-owls) wanted to get their work done earlier in the day and have more afternoon time free, so I made sure that they were up by 7:30 every day and working by 8:30. This Friday evening as I write, we are all completely knackered, but the productivity that resulted was very rewarding. They both completed all of their assigned work, finished early today and had the whole afternoon free to play and cut grass or do whatever else life called upon them (and me) to do. In my case it was to go out to lunch at a fantastic restaurant and have some laughs with friends. I realized once I was out I really did need some time out and away.

All her practice paid off and she had a great lesson this week!

reading for Tapestry of Grace

Biology...classification of stuff... 

Got their C-cards! It's official!

Let's see if we can keep this pace next week. I'm looking forward to tackling some of the new challenges with the older kids at our first co-op--Discussing Don Quixote, digging into the history of the world, Old and New, unraveling some government documents, and having fun doing it.

But let me keep in mind that we are off to an amazing start and things don't always stay this way--I've been doing this long enough to know that one virus or too many phone calls in a day can really throw us of a game-plan. Hopefully...after 15 years of this...I won't sweat it too much.

Week 1: Getting Back to Routine, Starting High School!!!

Wow...I'm pooped! It was a good, but full day! I'm so proud of how both kids jumped right in and got to work on their academics.

Today marks the beginning of my son's high school journey, my daughter is starting 5th grade (whatever that means) and my hubby is attending his first graduate class for his MBA! It's going to be a busy year!

Looking ahead at the year, I am feeling slightly daunted, knowing that my son has chosen to pursue a fairly rigorous course of study, which includes Tapestry of Grace's rhetoric level work. My daughter constantly challenges me with her unconventional learning style which is both the greatest delight to me and a source of frustration at times.

It has been a while since we have been in our "normal" (haha) routine. When my mom passed away last fall it was difficult for me to keep up with things at the same level that I had done in the past, and the kids did a great job of keeping up with things that they could do on their own. I was much less present than usual. Now, however, I feel both ready and eager to help steer them through this year, and rediscover the joy that has been our experience up to this point.

I am hoping to "live-blog high school" so to speak. Looking back, I've had this blog since 2006, and while it doesn't reach many people, I do find that some seek me out and express that it has in fact encouraged them. Hopefully, our high school journey will be a way to continue encouraging parents who truly want to see this thing through.

So, it's a journey of firsts for all of us--and I begin a new blogging adventure, as well!

Week of Feb. 16: In Which We Finally get a Snow Day

Finally. It snowed this week! I find winter to be a bleak experience in the absence of snow, and finally this week we got a sled-able amount. Is that a word? I don't care...

We even had plans to go skiing at one of the local ski resorts on Friday, but the temperatures plummeted into single digits and below-zero wind chills...We'll shoot for next week.

And isn't that the absolute joy of homeschooling? We can just decide what we do and when, and I don't have to write a note, check a schedule, make sure homework is made up--nuthin. We just go and when we do, we get the place to ourselves, practically. No lines, no crowds. It is this lifestyle that makes it very hard to choose another path. Sure, we talk about it sometimes, that maybe it would be better to go to school for x-reason or y-reason, but when we weigh the pros and the cons, the pros in  favor of homeschooling always win, and lifestyle is one of the heaviest factors on the list.

So with schools being cancelled and the government allowing Dad to be home to telework, we have had a very loosey-goosey school week. It has been week 7 of the winter / spring and it occurs to me that from past observation, we have the stamina to stay very focused on lessons for about six weeks at a time, and then we really need a lighter week or even a break. I have seen folks that schedule lessons for six weeks on, six weeks off, and work year round. I like this idea a lot and have considered it myself, but we have consistently been wildly unsuccessful at schooling through the summers, so I'd have to tweak that idea a bit.

All in all it has been a restful, snowy, very cold week. Next week we pick back up with our co-ops and goals. Happy snow day to all!

Week of Feb. 9: In Which The Stars Align Perfectly, or, Our System Works

Did you feel the effects of the strange astronomical anomaly this week? I didn't feel it directly, but I can prove that there was one for sure, because everything on our board managed to get checked off this week! What? That almost never happens! There always seems to be something that gets left dangling out there to be picked up for the next week or (worst case scenario) be finished over the weekend. So, if you are reading this wondering if you are the only one whose kids can never quite seem to get it all done, you are not alone. Guess What! They don't get everything done in school, either! Or they may, but there is this thing called the bell curve. Right...no one has the opportunity to really master their educational content except the students at the highest end of the spectrum. So don't worry, you (and I) are doing just fine. 

Everyone seems to work out their own system for what works for keeping track of assignments but it seems that they are always on the hunt for what might work better. For what it's worth, I have found that in spite of all the wonderful spreadsheets and assignment charts I have ever made, my kids will never, ever look at them and check things off unless I write it on the board in front of their faces every week, so that is what we do. I've been doing this for a couple of years now, and it is with this system that I have the greatest return on their work. I have a huge white board in my basement where we do most of our school work. I write their assignments up on the board, pull the necessary books for the week and fill a folder with any math, grammar, and writing exercises they need to accomplish for the week. They have a cubby with their books, a cubby for their notebooks, and and bookshelf for the "books on deck." I try to keep only the ones we are using in a particular school year on this shelf, to avoid confusion. Books from previous years are stored away, unless they are reference books. I have a special shelf for atlases, encyclopedias, and art books. 

Handy reference shelf

End of the week - time to clean up!

Mom, am I done???

In general the system has worked now for me for several years. This week it worked flawlessly. That is not the norm, but hey, it's getting done.

Happy Friday, and Happy Valentine's Day tomorrow. I'm more than ready for the weekend.

Monday at our House, For People who Wonder What Homeschoolers Do All Day

For so many who wonder what homeschoolers do all day...Wonder no more. Here it is. It ain't pretty, but it's real.

8:30 a.m. - CrossFit Kids class. Good workout. No workout for me because I decide to wait for afternoon class. Friend got stranded on I95 and couldn't make it to class, so I said I'd wait and work out in the afternoon.

10:00 - 12:00 - Visit with weekend boarder-friend as she prepares to leave, then grab instruments and begin playing guitar and mandolin until we tire of that. Work out the melody and harmony of Minuet in G by Bach. Matt practices piano. Molly walks neighbor's dog, does spelling and listens to "Black Beauty" on her iPod. Everyone grabs a bite to eat.

12:30 - Go downstairs. Time to get to work, except Matt finds new volumes of Shakespeare and begins reading Henry V out loud, dramatically, to his sister's dismay. She is trying to read Botany. Shakespeare is not on his list this week. Oh well.

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...for he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother! 

1:30 - One has a meltdown. Won't say which one or over what, but it was absolutely not worth the emotion invested in it. Dad (who is teleworking today) goes upstairs to get the skinny on why school isn't being done. Got it...needs time alone to regroup. Cool. Always was the one to go to timeout without being told. Still does it.

1:45 - Apology is made by offending sibling and peace is made with a coveted candy from private stash. All is well.

2:00 - Math for Molly. Sandwich for Matt. He may or may not have said, "You got that London broil for me, right Mom? 'Cause I used most of it." Yup.

2:40 - Sandwich for Molly. It's going to be a late dinner.

3:00 - Go pick up car-less friend to go to CrossFit. I need to work out. My head is not my own...Everyone keeps talking to me, and I can't complete a thought of my own. About. to. Implode.

5:09 - Come in the door of the house complaining loudly at my husband because today's workout was the worst I've done in a very long time, despite hitting a personal record on my back squat. He did it this morning and said "it wasn't so bad." Closest I've come to puking during a WOD since I first started. 6 rounds of 10 thrusters, 12 burpees. Ugh. "But you did it Honey...you can't take it back." True that. Gotta be proud. Calories burnt.

Daughter informs me of all the school work she finished, proclaimed herself "dismissed" and I concur...not bad. She ended up working pretty hard this afternoon on her reading and assignments. Haven't heard from the son yet.

6:25 - Dinner is cooked. Chicken noodle soup with enough for leftovers tomorrow. Made the soup from my own gelled bone broth and all organic ingredients. Not boasting, just sayin'--real food is what's for dinner around here. Standing at the stove, sipping a glass of wine, tired and done...but completely content. By no means was this a textbook day--didn't keep the "schedule," kid had meltdown, nearly cried during my workout, exhausted as you-know-what. But happy. Completely happy with life.

7:45 - Looked at the white board downstairs. Realized that there were all kinds of examples of fractions written, but not by me. Brother was teaching sister about how division and fractions work, just for fun. Said that she understood. Great. I've heard it said you only have to teach the first one. Maybe it's true after all.

8:00 - More practice with son on Minuet in G just for giggles. Both of us are tired so not as successful as we were this morning.

8:25 - Downton Abbey recorded from yesterday. Haven't heard any spoilers. Happy.

Early bed night. Husband has to commute in tomorrow at Oh' Dark Thirty. Glad for the van pool. Glad for telecommuting. Tomorrow we'll be home all day digging deep in our weekly assignments.

And that is a "regular" school day. In case you were wondering.

Planting Seeds, Making Music, Moving Heavy Stuff

It is often said that absence makes the heart grow fonder. Last semester, indeed my heart was absent from our school experience and the step back gave me time to really miss what we do. I wonder if in fact we should be more cognizant of the fact that maybe we need more time than we give ourselves to contemplate, regroup, and remember. The past month of lessons have been so rich and the fun seems to be back in our studies. Setting goals and meeting them is not the drudgery that it has been at other times in the past, when burnout was settling into our winter bones. 

This week we began our new science series in botany, and the cats thought it might be fun to observe the lessons. They can never stay awake through the whole class though, and they tend to fight over who sits / lies where.

Winnie can't stay awake

Planting seeds to place in a light hut

This is my notebook, find another one.

Our friend joins us on Wednesday for science, literature, sign language and art. The kids are thoroughly enjoying learning how to communicate under mom's nose while I have no idea what they are saying. (my friend is teaching the ASL and science.) 

Abi practicing

Sign language vocabulary challenge

Molly has been wanting to learn violin for a long time, and finally I gave in and said she could take lessons, but I wasn't ready for her to give up piano. She agreed and will do both for a while. She had her first lesson this week, and we are so excited for her! I am so grateful for her wonderful teacher who instills not only knowledge about the instrument and music that is assigned, but an overall love for music that is simply a rare gift. Her enthusiasm for all things musical is contagious. I hope she never moves away! 

Molly had her first violin lesson this week!

Learning how to hold the bow properly

Learning how to bow, her first notes!

Matt continues his study of Mandolin

Matt competed in his third Olympic weightlifting competition, and achieved a personal best.

Busy week. I'm satisfied. and tired. 

Returning to Our Normal

I wish I had pictures of the beautiful ski day that my family had yesterday, but I don't. I was just. too. busy. flying down hills and taking in the sunshine to bother pulling out my phone. I must be better about this in the future. But that happened, and it felt right and wonderful to be doing something crazy together again.

It is now the fourth week in January. We chose to take lessons very easy last semester after my mother's passing to give me the mental space to grieve, which was one of the best decisions I've ever made. The kids kept up with some math, science and history reading, but we did nothing that would require planning on my part or lots of mom-intensive teaching. By January 1, we were all ready to get back to more rigor and a more normal lesson schedule. We are now four weeks in and things are going quite well.

When grief strikes no one can prepare you for it, warn you about it, or explain to you what it might be like. It is a vast, unknown wilderness for everyone who experiences it. On the other side of this are many who have already passed through, and I have found these special people to be dear companions and friends in this season, as they are the only ones who can give sound advice about how to traverse this mysterious place. I am thankful for everyone who gave loving and knowing guidance and support, and am so thankful that I listened to them along the way.

There is not a day that passes that I do not consider my mother--her voice, the memories of her, who she was as a mom and a friend is with me more constantly and more clearly than ever, and I miss her horribly. There are still tears, and often. Even so, the time has come to learn to live again without the shadow of Alzheimer's that lingered for so long.

I will pull out the camera, dust off my writing hat, and return to the things that I love so much. At the very least I want to return to weekly reports of schooling efforts, and continue writing thoughts and contemplations as time allows.

Meanwhile, here are some things that have been happening here in the last month!

   

 PJ school returned to normal

Have enjoyed teaching my little artist...

Been cooking quite a bit, and introducing new veggies to the family, with good results.

Went with good friends to see a theater version of C. S. Lewis's The Great Divorce--a perfect evening out, and a fantastic production

Watched my beloved Green Bay Packers win against the Cowboys in the playoffs with my big bro!

Made peace with my Cowboys-loving neighbor after the game.

Have enjoyed doing lessons with Molly's BFF once a week.

Here they are with their finished spider webs, their final project of the science unit on arachnids.

January is almost passed and February is full. Check back for updates--the one who said she would never homeschool is suddenly faced with decisions about homeschooling through high school--it will be a wild ride, I have no doubt!