Mom Schools

I've now waded through both A Thomas Jefferson Education and the Thomas Jefferson Home Companion. Both contain great information - and lots of it. In many ways, this method of education overlaps with what I've found most helpful in The Well Trained Mind and the teachings of Charlotte Mason. It's not a radically different philosophy, but there are many helpful, insightful pieces worth repeating here. I want to tackle my favorite parts so today I'll start with the idea of the Mom School.

Before reading this book, we found ourselves in a Mom School for the first time this year. (Of course we don't call it that, but after reading DeMille, that's exactly what it is). Every other Friday afternoon we meet to discuss a chapter of Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day. The host mom is responsible for that week's discussion: we have the children do reports, we do the experiments from the chapter, we play games relating to the lesson, we go on field trips. It's amazing! Last week's host mom is a science guru herself, and knowing there may not be time for reports, said it was optional. My girls begged to do one. That's how inspiring this group is (I'll get to the "inspire, not require" part of DeMille's book another time).

Because this group has been so successful - and so much fun - I've decided to start a Liberty Girls Club using the same basic idea. (The Home Companion has lots of ideas for this exact club). We'll read a designated American Girl Doll book, talk about the historical time period, do a craft/project that relates to the book, you get the idea. There's something very important about both the parent and the child being invested in learning together.

"Mom Schools greatly enhance children's education...Through group learning, children share their enthusiasm with each other, strengthen desire for knowledge and enjoy mutual inspiration and encouragement. Adults benefit from combined strength, and we all pull each other up."

A Thomas Jefferson Education Home Companion

What Home Schooling Really Looks Like

The other night I had coffee with a friend who recently decided to home school. Her three children are young, preschool and under. She was wondering how it all works with toddlers and babies in the house.

The short answer for me was: this year is easier than last year because the boys can entertain each other. Those are the good days. But there are plenty of days when that doesn't happen. Days when Toddzilla insists on building a conveyor belt with our math linking cubes right in the middle of the school room. Who can resist that? So we all end up working on his conveyor belt for a while, and then I try to cajole them back to their studies.

Then there are days when Crockett finds Bobo's reading about the French and Indian War so interesting that he just can't resist plopping down right on top of her.  

It's certainly a challenge, but it also warms this heart of mine when a baby straddled on another child's back doesn't even phase the older student. She keeps right on reading.  Or when the new reader in the family sits down with a Dr. Seuss book again and again to satisfy that same young boy.  

To me this is socialization at it's best. And I wouldn't trade it for anything.  

Heard around the house...

As I was culling papers and paying bills, Elbow yelled, "Hey, don't throw away my Boo Barack Obama sheet!"  It seems I had almost tossed her precious political statement, which she worked on while trying to fall asleep last night.  

Apologies to our extended families.

Coffee, Scutes, and Trees

• The girls got to play at a coffee house last night - a fun twist on children's recitals.  

• We had a great (but cold) nature walk with a ranger this morning. We got to see or discuss a few of our current science topics (carapace, scutes, and brumation - none of which I had ever heard of before studying them this week with mes petites.)
  

• We may be winning the battle of the trees!

Little Revolutionaries

There's a movement afoot at Living Waters.  It's called tree-hugging and it has nothing to do with the Sierra Club.

The power company wants to take down the trees that house this.  Needless to say, that idea is not going over well.  Papa (my dad) advises chaining the children to the trees in open revolt. They think it's a lovely - and heroic - idea.  I'm not so sure... 

I'm not missing the irony that when I first posted about our children's dream backyard (which of course was a major reason we bought the house), I wrote about the transitory nature of our dwellings on earth.  God continues to share his sense of humor with me; it's just not so funny right now!

Monday, Monday...

Wouldn't it be nice?

Saturday Morning

Hubby's in the garage working on a project and blasting some classic rock on the girls' Hello Kitty boom box. Toddzilla is "helping" by sawing styrofoam with a small cutting tool and Crockett is climbing to the top of Hubby's ladder. I keep my eyes closed and stay far, far away.  

The girls are awaiting their first customer for the newly created "Lawn and Landscape" company. Their motto: "service with a smile."

I'm still reveling in the little getaway we had last night - date night!

Happy weekend!

Wednesday's Thoughts

• Gearing up for the big debate tonight. Jennifer's got some ideas for an election night party.
  
• We're studying conjunctions in Latin, which of course led to, "Can we get Conjunction, Junction from iTunes?" Which of course was yes. Between Latin and Schoolhouse Rock, I think we've got grammar covered.
• Haircuts for the boys today. There's nothing cuter than seeing your children's eyes again after a long absence. Which reminds me of my freshman history teacher, Mr. Fure. We had a particularly interesting speaker one day; after which, my teacher said, "Michelle, it's the first time I've seen your eyes all semester." I guess I was tired that year.
• The host family of our science club next week is offering to send any interested child home with an African Dwarf tadpole. Is this a good thing? Experiences?

And Now We Rest...

We've had a busy but fun filled weekend. Our Friday science group had a field trip to see the Manatees after their individual study of seals and sea cows. God definitely created some strange but wonderful creatures! (Did you know it takes $30,000 to feed one manatee for a year, and their basic diet consists only of lettuce? I thought my little brood was expensive to keep fed).

Hubby gathered the big three for one last camp out of the season. It's been a beautiful weekend; sunny and 70s with the prettiest fall colors all over. Crockett and I had a quiet night at home. (He went to bed at 7 PM. I dug in to A Thomas Jefferson Education. More on that later).

Around 8 AM, I hear my oldest burst through the door, yelling, "We're not back for good! I just have to get Toddzilla some new clothes." He managed to get the only outfit he packed wet, and it was chilly in the morning. They convinced me to come along for the rest of the morning, so we took a gorgeous hike through the state park, had some Jiffy Pop over the fire, and took down the tent.

After a little down time, we headed to our first Buckeye football watching fiesta at a friend's house. I have to say I haven't gotten all that excited about Ohio State football, but it's basically sacrilege to avoid the whole thing altogether. So off we go, usually the only ones not completely decked out in red and white.

And of course, Sundays in general are a bit crazy for this pastor's family. I'm ready for the week to begin - it's much quieter around here!

Home School Shout Outs

Both McCain and Palin have tipped their hats to home schoolers recently.  At the Saddleback Forum, McCain was asked about our education crisis in America and part of his response was that "home schooling works."  

Greta Van Susteran asked Palin tonight how she keeps up this incredibly busy schedule. Palin said something about how many moms - "like home schooling moms" - are busier than she is. Not quite sure about that one, but it's nice to hear some political discussion about our little (but growing) part of the world.

I wish the candidates would have discussed education more last night at the Town Hall debate. It seems amazing that as American schools continue to score at the bottom of the barrel among the nations tested, no one bats an eye.  If the candidates are serious about cutting funding for programs that don't work - as they both said they were last night - where does that leave the public schools?

Amazing Doll Clothes

I hear doll clothes are hard to sew; mainly because of the little tiny seams, armholes etc.  I wouldn't dare try myself!

Knowing Bobo loves ancient Egypt and has an American Girl Doll, one of the little girls at her party gave her this amazing outfit for Nellie.  Her mother made it.  I'm in awe.  Check out those shoes!

In other unrelated news, I finally ordered A Thomas Jefferson Education. I've been waiting forever to read it, hoping either my library would have a copy our I'd find it venturing through Barnes and Noble. No such luck.  (Do you ever find anything you're looking for at Barnes and Noble? I actually found Misty of Chincoteague there recently, but that's been the only book on my list in the last few years they've carried in the store.)

To Infinity...

... And beyond!

Toddzilla was quite pleased to receive this great Buzz Lightyear get-up from his great-aunt today.  He's still wearing it for the neighborhood after dinner games.

The girls spent the early afternoon making a "Golden Reader Book Company" to create stories for little ones. Their first book was full of poems about ocean animals, which they hope to share with the younger siblings of their science group on Friday.

Here's a sampling:

"A little manatee rests her head by the shore,

Go to bed manatee, and don't you dare snore."

"Walrus, Walrus, swimming in the sea.

Playing, playing, oh so happily.

Swim this way,

Swim that, 

Hold on to your hat!

Eight.

My oldest is eight today.  Eight!  That sounds old to me.  

Last night we were joking around, saying she was half way out of the house already... To which she replied, "People! I'm still seven and you're trying to move me out of house and home!" 

Us? Never.  

Happy Birthday sweet Bobo!  We love you so much!

Fun Fall Skirts

These little Lazy Day Skirts were too cute to pass up for my girls.  They were easy to whip up in an afternoon (but I could never manage the "before dinner skirt" that Soule Mama has perfected. I can't add anything to the pre-dinner melee, let alone a full fledged sewing project).

    

That'd Be Bratwurst, My Friends!

Hubby pointed out that not all the world calls bratwurst "brats," like we do.  I hope no one thought I was calling my precious little crew brats!

My First Real Promo

Country Bob sent me his famous "All Purpose Sauce" for review here at Living Waters.  Last night the children doused their chicken in it and loved it.  Toddzilla asked, "Can I drink it?"  To be fair, he would drink just about any condiment (especially ranch dressing) if we let him. When I brought it out again tonight for our brats (bratwursts), we were all pleased with the results.   

You gotta love a company that boasts, "Christ is our CEO."  

Six thumbs up from the crew at Living Waters.