Sometimes when I sit down to plan out the homeschooling week everything falls into place. Sometimes I sit and fiddle with it for what seems like forever and I'm still not pleased. Sometimes there's that one kid who throws a kink in an otherwise smooth knot.
Ah, moy malenki Mishka.
Liza and Alyosha's schedules came together like a dream. In fact, I'm excited about them. Liza is learning about ancient Greece so I'm going to assign Padraic Colum's The Children's Homer for extra credit. She's learning about cell mitosis for science, something I've spent a ton of time working on. Alyosha is still deep in the Revolutionary War and he's beginning astronomy for science (The Story of Science: Aristotle Leads the Way!)
Good stuff, right?
Yes, I was impressed as I wove together the threads of their homeschooling week. Then I got to Misha's.
Humph.
Misha is finished with the first quarter of OM1. Now it's time for him to take his review of the alphabet and begin putting the sounds together to form words. This is something he is ready to do. The problem is that Oak Meadow, being Waldorfy and artsy, suggests, for example, drawing seven little dogs and making word families from these dogs. The problem is that Misha hates to draw. Part of it is his fine motor skills, part of it is probably boredom--he's just not a sit and draw type of kid. Getting him to draw the pictures in his Main Lesson Book of the letters is stretching what he is willing to do.
I'm sensing that we're going to run into resistance.
I'm thinking of deviating from OM and instead using a more visual learning program, such as The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading or Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. I've already added to the math with a first grade Spectrum math workbook because he just wanted more...perhaps we'll have to just try different things and see what works.
One thing is for sure--we need to finish his scarf. It's cold outside!
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
Happy Thanksgiving!
I adore Thanksgiving. It's kind of like Christmas without the pressure of gifts. I am also truly enjoying a week off from classes. I still have to study like mad because there are only three weeks left of the semester, but I have no class and the kids don't have classes or lessons this week.
It's a bit like a vacation, only with homework.
I'm working on loading some Russian podcasts onto my iPhone for the kids. Later this evening I think we're going to go downtown to see the lighting of the Christmas lights. It looks like it's going to be a good day.
It's a bit like a vacation, only with homework.
I'm working on loading some Russian podcasts onto my iPhone for the kids. Later this evening I think we're going to go downtown to see the lighting of the Christmas lights. It looks like it's going to be a good day.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Completely Off Topic
Because of family feuds completely unrelated to me we are not having a big family gathering this year for Thanksgiving. As I enjoy a quiet Sunday morning with a cup of coffee and season 5 of 'Friends' on DVD I'm struck more than ever with relief about this fact.
I need to disclaim that I truly do love my family. They are a colorful list of characters (as am I, obviously) but I truly do feel affection for nearly all of them. For the most part we get along (before mentioned feud aside) and, while dysfunctions abound, we normally get together several times a year and enjoy each other's company. This is no easy feat, as my mom is one of eight (six living) and so there is a seemingly endless amount of aunts, uncles, and cousins. I joke that we're really a small tribe.
However, there is one thing that never fails to cause me an enormous amount of stress (and I'll admit here that most of this stress is internal and related to my obsessive compulsive habit of overthinking EVERYTHING): the family prayer.
My family is made up of a motley crew of Christian beliefs. There are some church-on-the-occasional-Sunday-and-Christmas-and-Easter Christians. There are more fundamentalist Christians. Some are elders of their churches. Anyway, the obvious point is that my atheist family is in the extreme minority. And, really, that's okay. Anyone who is an atheist in America, particularly in the Midwest, understands that they are a minority. You deal with it. I tend not to think of someone as Aunt Millie Christian and I assume they don't think of me as Cousin Sasha Atheist.
However, this all goes out the window when it's time for the blessing.
For several years we had gatherings at an aunt and uncle's house. My uncle would lead a prayer while everyone stood in a circle around the food, holding hands. As I was a guest in their house I complied, even though I felt uncomfortable.
Now, I understand that most Christians will not understand my discomfort. I also understand that other people who are religious minorities might not feel the same way as I do. However, *I* find prayers to be awkward. I don't care if other people pray, I just don't like to feel obligated to participate.
Then we moved our gatherings to neutral settings (restaurants, shelterhouses, etc). This, coupled with the fact that my kids are getting older, really upped my discomfort of prayer. It's one thing to be expected to be a respectful guest. It's another thing for a prayer to be expected when we're all guests. I've tried to head to the bathroom when the prayer circle is forming (they wait for me, plus the kids are still herded into the circle). I've tried to lag behind. But it never fails that we always end up in a circle.
I tried to stand quietly and just list in my head things I'm thankful for. But that, honestly, not only made me feel fake but also bred resentment. I don't like to feel fake. I don't like to feel coerced. I resent being in a circle listening to proselytizing while the food gets cold. I tell my children to feel confident in who they are, to be proud of their beliefs, but I wasn't practicing what I 'preached'. I don't like feeling like a hypocrite. I also resent that these aren't just quick "Thanks for the food" blessings. There are lots of "Jesus"'s and "Our Heavenly Father"'s and, you know, I'm hungry. I have four kids. The food is usually cold (not to mention picked over) by the time the Big Guy and I get to eat anyway.
I googled, trying to find out how other atheists handle this situation (after all, we know we're minorities). There were inevitably some replies--a few from atheists but usually from Christians--that were very dismissive. Be tolerant, they said. If you don't believe in God, what harm does it do you to pray? It's not like you believe in one god but are praying to another.
The only way I can answer this is to say that *I* feel uncomfortable. I feel like tolerance, especially with regards to religion, is a one-way street. Tolerance would be, in my opinion, Christians choosing to pause and say a prayer while I quietly prepare my plate (or eat it, depending on the circumstances). It would be intolerant of me to demand that nobody pray at family gatherings because I don't like it. I don't want *anyone* to feel uncomfortable--myself included.
I thought that perhaps coming out as an atheist would help. The Big Guy helpfully pointed out that maybe people don't realize I'm an atheist. It's perfectly obvious to me, of course, but maybe my family's vision is just clouded with the assumption that they are religious, I was raised in a (quasi) religious household, that even though I don't attend church that doesn't mean I don't *believe*. Fair enough. Over time I've made it clear that I am not only atheist but really rather wary of religion.
But then...
Last month we went to a buffet style restaurant for an uncle's birthday. The Big Guy had to work so I took the four kids and treated my mom as well. I went and got Seryozha a plate of food and when I came back--they were praying. All four kids, heads bowed, as another uncle lead the table in prayer. I will not mention the gnashing of teeth if I were to tell the children in my family what I thought of religion (and I wouldn't. It's disrespectful. Again with the tolerance both ways thing--tolerance is not just me making concessions).
And that was the last straw.
I still don't know quite how to handle the awkward before-meal prayer (which has grown to overshadow the rest of the event) so instead, I will sit back and be thankful that there is no get together this year.
I need to disclaim that I truly do love my family. They are a colorful list of characters (as am I, obviously) but I truly do feel affection for nearly all of them. For the most part we get along (before mentioned feud aside) and, while dysfunctions abound, we normally get together several times a year and enjoy each other's company. This is no easy feat, as my mom is one of eight (six living) and so there is a seemingly endless amount of aunts, uncles, and cousins. I joke that we're really a small tribe.
However, there is one thing that never fails to cause me an enormous amount of stress (and I'll admit here that most of this stress is internal and related to my obsessive compulsive habit of overthinking EVERYTHING): the family prayer.
My family is made up of a motley crew of Christian beliefs. There are some church-on-the-occasional-Sunday-and-Christmas-and-Easter Christians. There are more fundamentalist Christians. Some are elders of their churches. Anyway, the obvious point is that my atheist family is in the extreme minority. And, really, that's okay. Anyone who is an atheist in America, particularly in the Midwest, understands that they are a minority. You deal with it. I tend not to think of someone as Aunt Millie Christian and I assume they don't think of me as Cousin Sasha Atheist.
However, this all goes out the window when it's time for the blessing.
For several years we had gatherings at an aunt and uncle's house. My uncle would lead a prayer while everyone stood in a circle around the food, holding hands. As I was a guest in their house I complied, even though I felt uncomfortable.
Now, I understand that most Christians will not understand my discomfort. I also understand that other people who are religious minorities might not feel the same way as I do. However, *I* find prayers to be awkward. I don't care if other people pray, I just don't like to feel obligated to participate.
Then we moved our gatherings to neutral settings (restaurants, shelterhouses, etc). This, coupled with the fact that my kids are getting older, really upped my discomfort of prayer. It's one thing to be expected to be a respectful guest. It's another thing for a prayer to be expected when we're all guests. I've tried to head to the bathroom when the prayer circle is forming (they wait for me, plus the kids are still herded into the circle). I've tried to lag behind. But it never fails that we always end up in a circle.
I tried to stand quietly and just list in my head things I'm thankful for. But that, honestly, not only made me feel fake but also bred resentment. I don't like to feel fake. I don't like to feel coerced. I resent being in a circle listening to proselytizing while the food gets cold. I tell my children to feel confident in who they are, to be proud of their beliefs, but I wasn't practicing what I 'preached'. I don't like feeling like a hypocrite. I also resent that these aren't just quick "Thanks for the food" blessings. There are lots of "Jesus"'s and "Our Heavenly Father"'s and, you know, I'm hungry. I have four kids. The food is usually cold (not to mention picked over) by the time the Big Guy and I get to eat anyway.
I googled, trying to find out how other atheists handle this situation (after all, we know we're minorities). There were inevitably some replies--a few from atheists but usually from Christians--that were very dismissive. Be tolerant, they said. If you don't believe in God, what harm does it do you to pray? It's not like you believe in one god but are praying to another.
The only way I can answer this is to say that *I* feel uncomfortable. I feel like tolerance, especially with regards to religion, is a one-way street. Tolerance would be, in my opinion, Christians choosing to pause and say a prayer while I quietly prepare my plate (or eat it, depending on the circumstances). It would be intolerant of me to demand that nobody pray at family gatherings because I don't like it. I don't want *anyone* to feel uncomfortable--myself included.
I thought that perhaps coming out as an atheist would help. The Big Guy helpfully pointed out that maybe people don't realize I'm an atheist. It's perfectly obvious to me, of course, but maybe my family's vision is just clouded with the assumption that they are religious, I was raised in a (quasi) religious household, that even though I don't attend church that doesn't mean I don't *believe*. Fair enough. Over time I've made it clear that I am not only atheist but really rather wary of religion.
But then...
Last month we went to a buffet style restaurant for an uncle's birthday. The Big Guy had to work so I took the four kids and treated my mom as well. I went and got Seryozha a plate of food and when I came back--they were praying. All four kids, heads bowed, as another uncle lead the table in prayer. I will not mention the gnashing of teeth if I were to tell the children in my family what I thought of religion (and I wouldn't. It's disrespectful. Again with the tolerance both ways thing--tolerance is not just me making concessions).
And that was the last straw.
I still don't know quite how to handle the awkward before-meal prayer (which has grown to overshadow the rest of the event) so instead, I will sit back and be thankful that there is no get together this year.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Save for the Big Guy hitting his injured thumb, causing him some awful pain (I don't remember if I mentioned it but he nearly cut the tip of his thumb off last week at work), it was a pretty good day. I studied psych some (I have an exam tomorrow) and thought about studying anatomy and physiology, although I think I held the book in my lap as I watched television more than I actually studied.
(and now I'm sucked into the 365 crockpot blog...thank you, J!)
I need to get into the habit of planning a menu. Between my hectic schedule and the Big Guy's, the kids beg to have something besides frozen pizza (I wish I were kidding). It's unfortunate because both of us like to cook--we just don't have the time/energy. I think I can overcome this by planning better and using the ol' crock pot.
(and now I'm sucked into the 365 crockpot blog...thank you, J!)
I need to get into the habit of planning a menu. Between my hectic schedule and the Big Guy's, the kids beg to have something besides frozen pizza (I wish I were kidding). It's unfortunate because both of us like to cook--we just don't have the time/energy. I think I can overcome this by planning better and using the ol' crock pot.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Next Week's Schedules
Liza
Week 11
| | English | Social Studies (Crete) | Science | Math | Russian |
| Monday | Define each vocabulary word. | Read Day 1. Add the island of Crete and the Cycladic Islands to your map and label them. Include the Aegean Sea. Use the Usborne Encyclopedia to help you. Research Knossos online and write a paragraph about an aspect that interests you. | | Lesson 37 | Lesson |
| Tuesday | Use each vocab word in a sentence. | Read and summarize in writing the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. | Read about phototropism | Lesson 38 | Practice |
| Wednesday | Write 5 sentences in which you shade the subject of each sentence blue and the predicate red. See the rules in the “Sentence construction” section of your EM. | Draw a large and very complicated labyrinth. Start by following the directions for a classical three circuit labyrinth. Then expand it. | Read about gravitropism | Lesson 39 | Practice |
| Thursday | | Read Day 4 and 5. Research Minoan goddess worship online. Write a full page describing what you found out. | Complete project C—study plant hormones | Lesson 40 | Practice |
| Friday | | Draw a picture of Icarus and Daedalus. Write a poem about what you imagine their adventures with flying was like. | Complete lesson 11 test questions | Lesson 41 | Practice |
Alyosha
Lesson 11
| | English | Social Studies | Science | Math | Russian |
| Monday | Each day read “Johnny Tremain”. Look up words you do not understand. Take plenty of notes so you have information for your essay. Write definitions for your vocabulary words | Read “Spanish Explorers” | Read section on ponds | Lesson 42 | Lesson |
| Tuesday | Make an outline from the notes you’ve been keeping. Refer to the “Outlining” section of your EM. You might use a web to get your ideas down on paper before organizing them into an outline. Use each vocabulary word in a sentence | Research two of the southwest missions in California, Texas, or New Mexico. Write short reports about what you learn and draw a picture of the missions you pick. Include information on the founders, history, and activities of the mission. | Read section on rivers. Answer the questions. | Lesson 43 | Practice |
| Wednesday | Begin composing topic sentences for each of the major paragraphs in your outline. You will fill out these paragraphs to complete your report next week. | Read “French Explorers”. Look at a map and find the Appalachian Mountains. Can you see that they form a barrier between the area of the British colonies and the lands to the west? | Read about lakes. Visit one in your area. | Lesson 44 | Practice |
| Thursday | Review the four kinds of sentences in the “Sentences” section of your EM. Identify the sentences in your syllabus. | Choose one of the extra credit options in your syllabus and learn about it. | Read about water pollution. What threats to the water supply exist in your community? Try to think of at least two. (Hint: how much rain have we gotten this summer?) | Lesson 45 | Practice |
| Friday | Do the sentence exercises listed in Grammar #5 in your syllabus. | Finish reading the week’s readings. Imagine what might have happened if the French had won the French and Indian War. How might your life be different today? | Read about the water cycle. Complete #1 and #2 listed in that section. | Lesson 46 | Practice |
Misha
Week 11
Week 11
| | Language Arts | Math | Science | Social Studies | CW | Music | Crafts | Russian |
| Monday | Read “The Valley of the Weavers”. Draw Vv in MLB | | Read “The Story of the Root Children” | Read UILE pgs. 114-115 | V | Singing Recorder | Knit | |
| Tuesday | Read “The Wreath of Birds”. Paint Ww | Review four processes using tangibles. | Go on a nature hike. Notice ways humans and nature interact. | On Map 2 label the two bodies of water. Trace the Nile in blue. Trace in red the dotted line separating upper from lower Egypt. Shade the Nile Valley green and the Delta red. Do map key. | W | Singing Recorder | Knit | |
| Wednesday | Read “The Extraordinary Crossroads”. Draw Xx. Finger knit and paste the ‘x’s over the x in MLB | Teach how to count from 61-70. Count piles of 10-70 items. | Choose one way that human beings and nature help one another. Draw a picture of these interactions. | Color a picture from Egypt coloring book | X | Singing Recorder | Knit | |
| Thursday | Learn poems for V,W, X. | | Explore together ways we can help preserve nature. Refill bird feeders | Draw a map of your room, making sure to mark directions. | VW | Singing Recorder | Knit | |
Also this week, Misha and I will begin reading The Seven-Year-Old Wonder Book.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Enjoying a rare few moments when I'm (nearly) alone
Seryozha is still here, watching "The Land Before Time" on the computer via Netflix. He's actually not a screen-watcher so "watching" is a relative term. He seems to be spending more time talking to the screen than he does paying attention to what's on it.
The older kids are all at their Saturday Russian class. The Big Guy is usually working so it was nice to send them with him today, leaving me in semipeace for a brief time.
Homeschooling last week went very, very well. Liza learned about ancient Africa and photosynthesis, Alyosha continued reading Johnny Tremain, learned about biomes, and plants in the New World. Misha is *almost* done with Oak Meadow's alphabet review/Term One. Yesterday he worked on sounding out words with the Big Guy. He learned about how animals survive in winter, giving examples of animals that hybernate, migrate, and save food (as well as those who don't prepare at all). He learned how to use a compass (I used the one on my iPhone) and we're deep in a groove of knitting, singing, and playing recorder.
I'm doing some preplanning for winter for both little boys. I've been so out of the cooking habit--with the Big Guy's work schedule and my nursing courseload we eat pizza a lot--but the other day I started some beef stew in the crock pot before I left for my Thursday classes. It was so delicious that I'm going to have to get into the habit of using the crock pot. My mom was a you-cook-roast-in-the-crock-pot type and I don't care for roasts so I'll admit that I underestimate the wonders of crock pots. I do have a vegetarian crock pot cookbook that I need to drag out (well, it's sitting on the kitchen counter with my other cookbooks, but you know what I mean).
As Misha and I head into second term I would like to add History Odyssey (a modified version--I loathe History Pockets in all of its contrivedness and don't plan on using it, although I have it somewhere, probably at the old house). At the very least I'd like to start reading SWB's Story of the World as some sort of supplement. I just don't feel like OM's social studies is quite meaty enough for Misha.
I'm also planning a lot of great songs, crafts, and baking for the little boys and I to do together. Since starting preschool Seryozha has definitely decided that he wants to be more involved with 'schoolwork'. Seryozha adores preschool.
The kids' Russian teacher is leaving the beginning of December to teach about an hour away. Part of me is so sad to lose her but I'm also fighting burnout as my own fall semester is coming to an end--I'd just like a break from some of my responsibilities. I have 11 days vacation coming up for Thanksgiving break and then almost a month off between fall and spring classes, so hopefully that will give me time to recharge. I'm starting to feel like I have this semester mostly in the bag--I have A's pretty much clinched in Psych and Exposition and Persuasion, Algebra I have to get a C or better (although I currently have an A) and an A is within reach in Anatomy and Physiology (you can't really say, I have an A right now because it doesn't matter, all that matters is if you have the points at the end). But I'm tired and ready for new classes.
The older kids are all at their Saturday Russian class. The Big Guy is usually working so it was nice to send them with him today, leaving me in semipeace for a brief time.
Homeschooling last week went very, very well. Liza learned about ancient Africa and photosynthesis, Alyosha continued reading Johnny Tremain, learned about biomes, and plants in the New World. Misha is *almost* done with Oak Meadow's alphabet review/Term One. Yesterday he worked on sounding out words with the Big Guy. He learned about how animals survive in winter, giving examples of animals that hybernate, migrate, and save food (as well as those who don't prepare at all). He learned how to use a compass (I used the one on my iPhone) and we're deep in a groove of knitting, singing, and playing recorder.
I'm doing some preplanning for winter for both little boys. I've been so out of the cooking habit--with the Big Guy's work schedule and my nursing courseload we eat pizza a lot--but the other day I started some beef stew in the crock pot before I left for my Thursday classes. It was so delicious that I'm going to have to get into the habit of using the crock pot. My mom was a you-cook-roast-in-the-crock-pot type and I don't care for roasts so I'll admit that I underestimate the wonders of crock pots. I do have a vegetarian crock pot cookbook that I need to drag out (well, it's sitting on the kitchen counter with my other cookbooks, but you know what I mean).
As Misha and I head into second term I would like to add History Odyssey (a modified version--I loathe History Pockets in all of its contrivedness and don't plan on using it, although I have it somewhere, probably at the old house). At the very least I'd like to start reading SWB's Story of the World as some sort of supplement. I just don't feel like OM's social studies is quite meaty enough for Misha.
I'm also planning a lot of great songs, crafts, and baking for the little boys and I to do together. Since starting preschool Seryozha has definitely decided that he wants to be more involved with 'schoolwork'. Seryozha adores preschool.
The kids' Russian teacher is leaving the beginning of December to teach about an hour away. Part of me is so sad to lose her but I'm also fighting burnout as my own fall semester is coming to an end--I'd just like a break from some of my responsibilities. I have 11 days vacation coming up for Thanksgiving break and then almost a month off between fall and spring classes, so hopefully that will give me time to recharge. I'm starting to feel like I have this semester mostly in the bag--I have A's pretty much clinched in Psych and Exposition and Persuasion, Algebra I have to get a C or better (although I currently have an A) and an A is within reach in Anatomy and Physiology (you can't really say, I have an A right now because it doesn't matter, all that matters is if you have the points at the end). But I'm tired and ready for new classes.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)