Today the kids had discussion group. They have been learning about debate skills and practicing some basics. Today we tackled the topic of healthcare reform. The law fondly referred to as ObamaCare and is it constitutional.
Prior to class they watched an overview of the topic put out by CSPAN. http://www.c-spanclassroom.org ( a totally awesome resource). Then during class they discussed the topic and watched some brief video clips describing what the law is and a few different points of view. Then they discussed their thoughts on the matter.
Afterwards, we lightened things up by letting them choose a topic for next time. Then we assigned them a for or against designation. For the next gathering they will research their position and present a persuasive essay on it.
On a side note-Mister B had his volunteer orientation at the no-kill animal shelter yesterday. RBARI (Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge) www.rbari.org. As a Junior Volunteer he gets to work with the cats. After the orientation he stayed for a half hour playing with the cats. His biggest role will be in helping to socialize the kittens. There will also be some litterbox clean up and folding of laundry. He is committed to volunteering one hour per week.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Back in the game
After the bumpy start on Monday we are getting back in the groove. Everyone is doing what they are supposed to be doing (well, most of the time) and getting it done.
The kids had philosophy this week. Which, as usual, they loved. More talk on fairness, justice, and where does peoples energy go when you die.
So far, this week we have plowed through lots of vocabulary (turns out, I can be strident. Love my kids), lots of solving for unknowns. Distributive math problems, some critical thinking skills, gravity and plants, and Isaac Newton.
It feels good to be getting back on track.
Of course, the week would not be complete without swim practice Monday, Wednesday, & Thursday
The kids had philosophy this week. Which, as usual, they loved. More talk on fairness, justice, and where does peoples energy go when you die.
So far, this week we have plowed through lots of vocabulary (turns out, I can be strident. Love my kids), lots of solving for unknowns. Distributive math problems, some critical thinking skills, gravity and plants, and Isaac Newton.
It feels good to be getting back on track.
Of course, the week would not be complete without swim practice Monday, Wednesday, & Thursday
Monday, April 23, 2012
I live in that house.....
I have been neglecting my blog since grandma's birthday. Right after the birthday celebration came Passover. We spent it with my sister and her family. The cousins all had a great time together. Once we returned from that we got a little school work done only to be confronted with the public schools spring break. "Pleaseeeee, can't we skip school and see our friends......pleaseeeee!"
I did manage to get a little formal learning in there. Music class, philosophy, dance class, a little math.
Today we jumped back in whole hog so to speak. A bit of challenge getting back into things.
What does this have to do with the title of this post..I live in that house....well the other night our windows were open and we heard some of the neighbor kids and their friends outside. "That is where xxxx lives" in a whisper, we hear. "It is pronounced xxxx" is the next whisper. "Let's moon them" Don't ask. I have no idea why they thought that would be entertaining. They ended up not mooning our house. Instead they mooned the traffic. This led to my husband and I having a discussion about our neighbors.
We were never very close with the neighbors. When the kids were little we would all be outside together. The kids would all play together. Moms and dads would chat a little. But as our kids got older it became obvious to me that we were not in sync with our neighbors. Our kids were in public school at this point so it wasn't the homeschooling. It was a general our priorities/values/core beliefs are different. We would invite them over for a bbq. Some would come, some wouldn't. We were never invited in return. Okay, some people don't entertain. Everyone is still nice to one another outside.
As the kids got older interests changed, alliances formed, the easy carefree block kids was now rife with kid politics. Parents were hands off, let them work it out for themselves. OK. Still going with the flow. Then we decided to homeschool.
The first year everything was still OK. Friendly hello. Kids still played together. The next year. Oh, your still doing that. Fewer rings of the bell for the kids to come out and play. Then we got a dog.
Not just any dog. A mixed breed that looks a lot like a pit bull. The sweetest, kindest, most lovable dog you will ever meet. One neighbor told his child that the dog is a killer and to stay away. OK, I get that. He looks scary. No one else on the block has a dog. Not everyone is a dog person. But then he and his child proceeded to tell everyone on the block that the dog is a killer. Not so cool anymore. I feel a chasm open between us and the neighbors. Oh, everyone is still friendly when we see each other but no more rings of the bell at all.
A couple of years later, we are still homeschooling. My kids are on a swim team and we are rarely home. We still have that dog. We are busy with other friends and other interests. We are not around to chat with the neighbors. We are that house. I think they think we are freaks.
Having pondered that for awhile now I realize that I am okay with that. I proudly let my freak flag fly. Our family values/beliefs/core is not in line with theirs and that is okay. As long as we can all be pleasant and lend a hand during a crisis (like last years flooding) I don't need anything else from the neighbors. So the kids can point, and whisper, and moon the house. We will continue to be who we are.
To end with my favorite t-shirt that I saw online....I have seen the village and I don't want it raising my children.
I did manage to get a little formal learning in there. Music class, philosophy, dance class, a little math.
Today we jumped back in whole hog so to speak. A bit of challenge getting back into things.
What does this have to do with the title of this post..I live in that house....well the other night our windows were open and we heard some of the neighbor kids and their friends outside. "That is where xxxx lives" in a whisper, we hear. "It is pronounced xxxx" is the next whisper. "Let's moon them" Don't ask. I have no idea why they thought that would be entertaining. They ended up not mooning our house. Instead they mooned the traffic. This led to my husband and I having a discussion about our neighbors.
We were never very close with the neighbors. When the kids were little we would all be outside together. The kids would all play together. Moms and dads would chat a little. But as our kids got older it became obvious to me that we were not in sync with our neighbors. Our kids were in public school at this point so it wasn't the homeschooling. It was a general our priorities/values/core beliefs are different. We would invite them over for a bbq. Some would come, some wouldn't. We were never invited in return. Okay, some people don't entertain. Everyone is still nice to one another outside.
As the kids got older interests changed, alliances formed, the easy carefree block kids was now rife with kid politics. Parents were hands off, let them work it out for themselves. OK. Still going with the flow. Then we decided to homeschool.
The first year everything was still OK. Friendly hello. Kids still played together. The next year. Oh, your still doing that. Fewer rings of the bell for the kids to come out and play. Then we got a dog.
Not just any dog. A mixed breed that looks a lot like a pit bull. The sweetest, kindest, most lovable dog you will ever meet. One neighbor told his child that the dog is a killer and to stay away. OK, I get that. He looks scary. No one else on the block has a dog. Not everyone is a dog person. But then he and his child proceeded to tell everyone on the block that the dog is a killer. Not so cool anymore. I feel a chasm open between us and the neighbors. Oh, everyone is still friendly when we see each other but no more rings of the bell at all.
A couple of years later, we are still homeschooling. My kids are on a swim team and we are rarely home. We still have that dog. We are busy with other friends and other interests. We are not around to chat with the neighbors. We are that house. I think they think we are freaks.
Having pondered that for awhile now I realize that I am okay with that. I proudly let my freak flag fly. Our family values/beliefs/core is not in line with theirs and that is okay. As long as we can all be pleasant and lend a hand during a crisis (like last years flooding) I don't need anything else from the neighbors. So the kids can point, and whisper, and moon the house. We will continue to be who we are.
To end with my favorite t-shirt that I saw online....I have seen the village and I don't want it raising my children.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Spring Fever!
Things have been a little crazy around here. My grandma just turned 100 a few days ago. Yes, 100! She totally rocks. My mom came in a few days early from Arizona for the party and we had a great visit. And, mom, thanks for cleaning the refrigerator coils, it is running great.
On top of the festivities for grandma, hubby also had family visiting from California. It was a party week-end. While my mom was visiting I kept the lessons light. We went to see The Hunger Games, we got manicures and pedicures. It was a lot of fun.
This week, we have been busy getting back in the swing. Monday, mom went home. Tuesday, back to normal-math, grammar, science, and music class. Wed. Philosophy class. Today, all subjects. Can't say Mister B is too thrilled with that but that is life.
Spring Training for swim team started this week as well. The kids are very happy to be back in the pool and seeing their swim friends. I am happy to see my swim mom friends and that Spring Training is not as intense as during the season so we get home a little earlier.
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| Here is grandma with 3 of her great-grandchildren. |
On top of the festivities for grandma, hubby also had family visiting from California. It was a party week-end. While my mom was visiting I kept the lessons light. We went to see The Hunger Games, we got manicures and pedicures. It was a lot of fun.
This week, we have been busy getting back in the swing. Monday, mom went home. Tuesday, back to normal-math, grammar, science, and music class. Wed. Philosophy class. Today, all subjects. Can't say Mister B is too thrilled with that but that is life.
Spring Training for swim team started this week as well. The kids are very happy to be back in the pool and seeing their swim friends. I am happy to see my swim mom friends and that Spring Training is not as intense as during the season so we get home a little earlier.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Kefir
I just had to post that I am making my own kefir. Another homeschooling mom had a plethora of kefir grains and was giving them away. So, I met her and found out what to do. Turns out it is a very simple process.
Kefir Grains
Milk
Glass Jar
Cheese cloth
Rubber band
Put grains in glass jar. Fill with milk. Cover with cheese cloth. Hold in place with rubber band. Leave on counter and walk away for 3 days. Strain into another glass jar. You now have kefir. So easy, even I can do it.
Kefir Grains
Milk
Glass Jar
Cheese cloth
Rubber band
Put grains in glass jar. Fill with milk. Cover with cheese cloth. Hold in place with rubber band. Leave on counter and walk away for 3 days. Strain into another glass jar. You now have kefir. So easy, even I can do it.
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| My first ever jar of kefir |
Art Work
Here is the pottery and Calder sculptures that the kids created in art class.
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| Little Miss M's creations. |
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| Mister B's creations. |
Monday, March 19, 2012
Back to School
Now that the birthday celebrating is over it is back to work. Mister B had a grand time with friends Saturday evening with his friends. A gaggle of teenagers playing silly party games (I had them pass an orange without using hands, they tied balloons to their feet and had to try to pop their friends, and they had to search for the m & m in a pie tin full of whip cream), eating pizza, and playing manhunt. Such a let down to have to return to the basics.
Today the kids had their 2nd to last art class. They made Calder (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Calder) sculptures today. I had to make the choice today if they were going to continue for another session. The kids are really enjoying it but I think I am going to pass. It is a little over half an hour away, and with the price of gas on top of the cost of the class I just don't think it is feasible. I am going to search for a more local option.
Today the kids had their 2nd to last art class. They made Calder (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Calder) sculptures today. I had to make the choice today if they were going to continue for another session. The kids are really enjoying it but I think I am going to pass. It is a little over half an hour away, and with the price of gas on top of the cost of the class I just don't think it is feasible. I am going to search for a more local option.
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