Showing posts with label austin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label austin. Show all posts
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Shaking up the system, the plan, the way we do what we do and the Curriculum, again!!!
I know, I know, I know; it's been a while since I updated, not for lack of thinking about it but for sheer lack of anything terribly new and exciting. I've also been terribly busy with other ventures and when I think I have the time and brain waves to sit here and share, something ALWAYS jumps in my way.
I didn't think there was anything worth posting. Well, that changed didn't it; enter the new and exciting.
We've had some major glitches lately. Some incomplete work, some dropped classes (unknown to me) and some "sure I did it..." when really, well, it wasn't done. I'm torn on the level of caring I need to invest on some of it. I mean, I told the Banker on more that one occasion that, if he didn't like something, we could change it out. I suppose I should have said specifically that if he didn't like something WE could talk about it and WE could think about options then WE could change it. I worry that he's suddenly playing with 14yroldboybrain and that combined with my perimenopausalIneedavacation brain doesn't make for the best levels of communication, seriously.
So, after our glitches, yeah, we'll call them that, and after my threats to send him to the worst public school district and the worst high school [[Not my finest mother moment]] we have decided to shake it all up for a few months.
We WERE going to continue through what we've been doing, 4 core and a few electives thrown in, for the foreseeable future. I think the Banker needs to be shaken up so we're going to scrap it! EEEK! *oh and by the way, my "oh my god I think I've broken him" lights and sirens are going off in my head like crazy*
I told him we are going to alter our schedule as follows:
1. Math: he is half way through Algebra using MathUSee. We are going to switch the 1 chapter/wk expectation to 1 chapter every 2 wks and the alternating week will be used to finish working through his World History, so that as well is now bi weekly.
2. English: The grammar, vocabulary and writing books are closed. Reading. That's what takes their place. I have a Life of Pi book project for him to work on and he has book club and whatever other book he wants to read.
3. Web Design: He has started at One Day Academy and is taking Web Design for Teens [which he ADORES]. That will be done as needed. His class is 9-10:30 one day a week and he'll have a few chapters home work. He's already spent hours on the phone with other kids who have taken the same or similar classes and listening to them chat about code is delightful! They're going to take over the world!
4. Language: He is finding a channel on You Tube to teach him a [conversational] language. I think Spanish is first because we have Spanish speaking friends that can help him out.
5. Art: He is spending a few days thinking of something that he would like to learn how to do. He can take the online lessons through You Tube. Painting, drawing, calligraphy, basket weaving ANYTHING that's artistic. I think that area of his brain isn't being stimulated, I look forward to seeing what he comes up with. I'm very curious actually to see what lights his fire, what sparks a passion.
It's SO hard not to suggest but it's surprising watching him crack under the pressure. I am relatively arty and I think he feels he's not good enough, well I know that because he's said so. I don't know how to express to him that it's not that I CAN do anything better than anyone else, it's merely that I DO it. I don't care how it comes out, I have no fear, there's no comparison and if I like how it comes out, great, if not, nothing lost.
I don't have fear to at least try and fail and that's the difference, he has fear. I'm treading lightly here because I don't want the fear to overtake him and stop him from trying.
6. Khan Academy. I asked him to cruise the site and see what strikes his fancy, strikes a passion. We are meeting next week to discuss it. They've expanded so much even since we started accessing the site, there are wonders to be experienced and I want him to have the freedom to try.
The new schedule will be worked by he and I meeting on Monday mornings, like we do now. We will lay out his weekly schedule depending on what other activities I have arranged like field trips, game days or whatever. He will be responsible for the final layout of the week and adherence to the schedule.
I noticed that we started to fall apart when I gave him the freedom to lay out his week without any grand plan and he played it by ear as he felt at the moment and he got a bit lost. It was too hippie of an option. The boy IS a Banker and needs structure and I am going to teach him how to structure himself.
I think planning the schedule together will help him learn how to do it. I think I just jumped the organizational gun on that one.
I'm also going to be checking work as he completes it as opposed to just asking or checking bi weekly. I dropped the ball on that one too.
We are taking the weekend completely off any work and we're regrouping on Monday. I need to keep repeating to myself that he's already more than half way done Grade9 when his contemporaries aren't starting any Grade9 work for another 3 months. It's not a race, it's an adventure. He WILL have all the knowledge and information he needs to graduate and he'll have a great time as he gets there, he has the opportunity to experience more than the public school kids, he doesn't DOES NOT have to pigeon hole himself and it's up to ME ME ME ME ME to be sure he doesn't. I pigeon holed him, bad bad bad homeschooling mother moment. I've realized it though and I'm opening the flood gates, I'll TEACH him how to plan his time so he can have the freedom he deserves and the structure he needs.
I'm worried that I'm fucking this up but we're still on the straight and relatively narrow. I don't think taking some 'book learning' time off is a problem at all. We are too close to the public school system and if it worked, we'd have stayed [D'OH].
I need to R E L A X. He's going to be fine, this is all on me. Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale.
Thanks for listening :)
Monday, March 4, 2013
yet another revisit to the New List Scheduling idea...
Well, we're rearranging out scheduling and planning yet AGAIN. Ya ya ya, this is my version of moving furniture around hundreds of times.
I have wanted to wean the Banker off the daily schedule broken down by day. As part of this exercise, I want him to THINK about his week, PLAN his time, ARRANGE his schedule and COMPLETE his work in a timely, organized manner. I think these skills need to be not a special class but an ongoing system of organization that he will use for the rest of his life. In university, no one will tell him what to do each day, at work, he'll be responsible for completing whatever task lay before him and his honey-do list will look something like this I'm sure. So, let's get going on this again, kiddo......
I tried the big list system with the Banker and he had a nervous break down, he couldn't cope with one all encompassing list. He needed his day listed with what classes he needed to complete on any given day so he had a visible beginning and end to his day when he sat down. He couldn't cope with a list of 12 classes that he had to schedule out on his own so we went back to the full week system. I've been giving him 5 pages of lists of what his responsibility was each day.
THEN I had an epiphany and started messing with the subjects on the days. I stopped putting times and started putting half work split between days. Then I started messing the days around so Monday stopped being math day and Wednesday stopped being science. I moved subjects around the week and told him it was a general guideline for the day. THEN I put all the really hard stuff on Monday and then a full day of easy quick stuff, I tried to make it really, really unbalanced and I found he organized the week on his own to balance it out. There started to be a natural system for completing work based on the general matter of the subjects like he tended to do science, physics and Astro-biology on the same day. He did world history, world study together and so on. He organized without even realizing it.
Way to accidentally change systems...nice stuff, Banker boy!
I held off till last week when I again raised the idea of the List system and surprise, he seems delighted with the idea ;) HAHAHA Way to go, Hippie Girl!
So, this is what his new weekly schedule looks like:
I have wanted to wean the Banker off the daily schedule broken down by day. As part of this exercise, I want him to THINK about his week, PLAN his time, ARRANGE his schedule and COMPLETE his work in a timely, organized manner. I think these skills need to be not a special class but an ongoing system of organization that he will use for the rest of his life. In university, no one will tell him what to do each day, at work, he'll be responsible for completing whatever task lay before him and his honey-do list will look something like this I'm sure. So, let's get going on this again, kiddo......
I tried the big list system with the Banker and he had a nervous break down, he couldn't cope with one all encompassing list. He needed his day listed with what classes he needed to complete on any given day so he had a visible beginning and end to his day when he sat down. He couldn't cope with a list of 12 classes that he had to schedule out on his own so we went back to the full week system. I've been giving him 5 pages of lists of what his responsibility was each day.
THEN I had an epiphany and started messing with the subjects on the days. I stopped putting times and started putting half work split between days. Then I started messing the days around so Monday stopped being math day and Wednesday stopped being science. I moved subjects around the week and told him it was a general guideline for the day. THEN I put all the really hard stuff on Monday and then a full day of easy quick stuff, I tried to make it really, really unbalanced and I found he organized the week on his own to balance it out. There started to be a natural system for completing work based on the general matter of the subjects like he tended to do science, physics and Astro-biology on the same day. He did world history, world study together and so on. He organized without even realizing it.
Way to accidentally change systems...nice stuff, Banker boy!
I held off till last week when I again raised the idea of the List system and surprise, he seems delighted with the idea ;) HAHAHA Way to go, Hippie Girl!
So, this is what his new weekly schedule looks like:
I told you, we're old school, paper, pen and a 3 ring binder. I like the binder system so that we can flip back and get a real, tangible sense of the sheer volume of work we've done this academic year.
He gets a master list with any special notes about the week so he can do a mental overview. Then he gets the list broken down into the details. I think it's visually easy to have a master list he can check off and organize in his head rather than my crazy loopy handwriting where it's broken down. He does like a smart list :) He can check off the master list as he completes tasks and has a quick and easy reference to what he needs to complete. I think it's a pretty balanced schedule.
We just reviewed the List, talked about expectations and the fact we'll be out playing all Thursday at a Minecraft fest at a library with other home school teenagers (allegedly) and then we may go visit a new home schooling friend to chat and drop hints and tips, as many as I have ?? I mean, c'mon, when did I become the go to person? ACK! I don't know what I'm doing but we're doing loads of it ;)
We'll see how well the Banker copes with the list and how well he balances his week. I have solid faith. I'll report back on Friday.
/tracy
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Week 6, 8th
Wednesday (see, only 2 days late)
WOW, what a great time we had with my mom here. We didn't do real touristy things but there was a lot of chicken watching, egg gathering (five of the six now lay consistently) and puppy wrangling. We also took in a guest pug to watch for a week and the chaos was palpable. I don't like guest dog sitting when I'm trying to train a puppy. At all. I really like the dog but not this week, when I've had my mother here and the chickens and home school and trying to keep a puppy organized with a dog (even a cute one) that is in the way and doesn't "do" our rules, messes it up just a bit. It didn't help that husband told me the dog was coming 2 days before then he went to pick it up and came home with it 2 days early from the original time he told me. I think the dog goes home Sunday and I can get into actually seriously training Alice without the distraction of an oversexed old pug or a mother I want to play with instead of paying attention to poop schedules.
School, oh that pesky thing; we did it fine. The Banker was on his regular schedule, more or less, and managed to get through it while we futzed here, played out and were generally distracting in either our presence or not.
Mum left yesterday, as did husband for a quickie business trip. My plans for 2 free days went out the window but it looks like I might get a portion of one today. I just want a day I don't have to go anywhere or cook or clean something, I just want to relax. I don't think that's in my cards but I will continue to strive for it in my head.
Back to school, I do digress, I think it's going well. Banker is managing to keep up with the 2 biggest subjects, history and literature. I have an expectation he complete a week's worth of work in one day on those subjects and he's producing beautifully. I think math is going well, he's mastering the subjects and we are ready to order the Algebra package. I think he's figured out how to learn from the dvd as opposed to watch it and then complete the problems using tools he'd gotten in school. I didn't realize that is why he was struggling through a couple of the lessons. I don't think the Banker thought he'd be learning actual new processes and formulas and got frustrated when the methods he'd learned in 6th grade no longer worked through the entire problems he was being given. Successes, like he's been getting now, breed success and joy and he's back to humming and singing while he does his math and that is always a good thing.
Physics is going well, he is working through the Khan Academy videos then doing followup activities on 2 websites and then he has an iPad book with activities and quizzes that he is working through. Good stuff.
Science continues to frustrate me. At the moment he's working through the Khan Academy astronomy and cosmology videos, taking fabulous notes and discussing the theories with me in reasonable detail. I still feel it's lacking somewhere and is the source of my fretting and worry that I am sending him down a path of becoming a terribly annoying (with just enough knowledge to drive people crazy) drive thru MacDonalds professional. *sigh* *this is a good place to throw in a "you're not breaking him" comment.
He has started to read Divergent, my mum brought it for him with high praise from my niece who is the same age as the Banker. I hope he learns to enjoy books again, he used to and has lost the love of it somewhere...it's a mission of mine to get him back into the sheer joy of books. I would happily let him use a book as a course, read 2001 and get back to me in 2 months... Here's your next subject, honey, and hand him a book.
HEY, wait a minute. That's a GREAT idea. And yes, that just came to me from my fingertips as I type this. Why don't I give him 2001 A Space Odyssey and have him review and research the details as he reads it AS his science class for the rest of this "semester". HEY, I'm going to think about that with a reasonable amount of seriousness today.
The Banker is doing well with his photography, he takes 20 pics on one subject matter. He edits then logs them and puts them in a cyber album. We review them and discuss the voice and feeling of the pictures. I'd like to get him a more sophisticated photo editing program, I'll look for something online I think initially.
He loves the CoOp and is working hard at it. He loves his Volunteering class where he assists the teacher in a 3-4 yr old class. He loves his Art Class and can't wait to show us what he's produced. He has a stronger affinity for the Art than I thought he would, excellent. He loves his Spanish Class and works hard in it. He has a lot of home work, considering it's a CoOp and takes it seriously to complete and complete well. I'm proud of him.
School, oh that pesky thing; we did it fine. The Banker was on his regular schedule, more or less, and managed to get through it while we futzed here, played out and were generally distracting in either our presence or not.
Mum left yesterday, as did husband for a quickie business trip. My plans for 2 free days went out the window but it looks like I might get a portion of one today. I just want a day I don't have to go anywhere or cook or clean something, I just want to relax. I don't think that's in my cards but I will continue to strive for it in my head.
Back to school, I do digress, I think it's going well. Banker is managing to keep up with the 2 biggest subjects, history and literature. I have an expectation he complete a week's worth of work in one day on those subjects and he's producing beautifully. I think math is going well, he's mastering the subjects and we are ready to order the Algebra package. I think he's figured out how to learn from the dvd as opposed to watch it and then complete the problems using tools he'd gotten in school. I didn't realize that is why he was struggling through a couple of the lessons. I don't think the Banker thought he'd be learning actual new processes and formulas and got frustrated when the methods he'd learned in 6th grade no longer worked through the entire problems he was being given. Successes, like he's been getting now, breed success and joy and he's back to humming and singing while he does his math and that is always a good thing.
Physics is going well, he is working through the Khan Academy videos then doing followup activities on 2 websites and then he has an iPad book with activities and quizzes that he is working through. Good stuff.
Science continues to frustrate me. At the moment he's working through the Khan Academy astronomy and cosmology videos, taking fabulous notes and discussing the theories with me in reasonable detail. I still feel it's lacking somewhere and is the source of my fretting and worry that I am sending him down a path of becoming a terribly annoying (with just enough knowledge to drive people crazy) drive thru MacDonalds professional. *sigh* *this is a good place to throw in a "you're not breaking him" comment.
He has started to read Divergent, my mum brought it for him with high praise from my niece who is the same age as the Banker. I hope he learns to enjoy books again, he used to and has lost the love of it somewhere...it's a mission of mine to get him back into the sheer joy of books. I would happily let him use a book as a course, read 2001 and get back to me in 2 months... Here's your next subject, honey, and hand him a book.
HEY, wait a minute. That's a GREAT idea. And yes, that just came to me from my fingertips as I type this. Why don't I give him 2001 A Space Odyssey and have him review and research the details as he reads it AS his science class for the rest of this "semester". HEY, I'm going to think about that with a reasonable amount of seriousness today.
The Banker is doing well with his photography, he takes 20 pics on one subject matter. He edits then logs them and puts them in a cyber album. We review them and discuss the voice and feeling of the pictures. I'd like to get him a more sophisticated photo editing program, I'll look for something online I think initially.
He loves the CoOp and is working hard at it. He loves his Volunteering class where he assists the teacher in a 3-4 yr old class. He loves his Art Class and can't wait to show us what he's produced. He has a stronger affinity for the Art than I thought he would, excellent. He loves his Spanish Class and works hard in it. He has a lot of home work, considering it's a CoOp and takes it seriously to complete and complete well. I'm proud of him.
I am doing my CoOp volunteering weekly. I think there are 9 weeks left. I can't even describe my own experience and out of respect to the people who work so hard to make it happen, I am not going to describe it here. There are 9 weeks left. I can do anything 9 times. I can do anything 9 times that results in the Banker, my sweet boy, being so happy and enjoying it so much. This, by the way is why I intend on being a burden to him when I'm older, not that I begrudge any happiness he may experience as a result of this but my unhappiness is the reason I'll show up on his door step with bags in my hand and a drool bucket over my arm..."I'm here, dear...remember CoOp". HAHAHAHAH
I think I'll grade some of the Banker's work from last week (ooops) and de-"my mom is coming!" my house. After that, I think I'll take the damned day off.
/Tracy
I think I'll grade some of the Banker's work from last week (ooops) and de-"my mom is coming!" my house. After that, I think I'll take the damned day off.
/Tracy
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Day three, 8th
Well, well, well. How beautifully is THIS curriculum, plan, schedule, idea, system, setup, idea working? Yeah, sure, it's day 3 but yeowza! The Banker keeps telling me how "professional" school feels this time. *insert happy dance here* I have to agree with him.
My biggest worry, ok, not biggest worry because there is the ever looming confidence I've screwed him up for the rest of his natural life, ruined any chances for success, education, joy or happiness of any kind. Besides THAT sorry I didn't know if we would be able to keep up with Ms. Zan's Literature and History schedule, hers being daily and mine being weekly. Well, much to my abject delight, the banker flew through the week's worth of Literature, handed me in a beautifully written and need composition book and didn't seem daunted by the taking on of 5 classes in one sitting at all. *insert yet another happy dance here*. He said he felt he learned a lot. He completely loves the formality and organization of it. Ah, that's my Banker.
He will tackle the 5 classes of History tomorrow, we'll see how that goes. I have a reasonable amount of faith he'll be able to tackle it. I purposely wrapped "elective" classes on the big work days like math, literature and history.
He isn't too bothered by the knowledge he's doing in one day what his friend is being asked to do in a week but then it all comes back to the schedule dilemma of many classes for a short period every day or a few for hours once a week. I think we'll continue on the one subject "stream" per day, he really likes wrapping his head in the one direction and staying in it.
Today got side tracked a little bit because of some leftover work, namely the worst book report i've ever read, so he started a bit late then there was math on top of the work so he is going to carry over his math test to tomorrow. I don't think it'll impede the day too terribly.
The Banker suggested he and FriendH do one of the personal writing options together and I think that's a great idea. I'll get with Ms.Zan about it, we already know which days FriendH will be expected to do the work. What a delight being able to peek into other people's children's work load!
We also helped FriendC and FriendA get some additional information for them to start the same math. Two of the Banker's friends are starting the program he's 3/4 through and one has completed the next level, it's lovely to have that resource available. Friends helping friends. Yeah, also brilliant.
I am in a tizzy about my various ventures. One seems to be on the cusp of taking off and I don't want any part of it and am finding it difficult to be motivated. The other seems also to be starting to pick up steam and I can't dive in until I finish the previous obligations. Gasp, hardly the crisis of the century but still it's making it a little bit more difficult for me to focus completely.
When I do get the rugs made and shipped, the setup we have here of us working in the same room, opposite sides is completely and totally conducive to a successful and fulfilling (for me) work space.
So far, three days in, it's a sweet deal all the way around!
/Tracy
My biggest worry, ok, not biggest worry because there is the ever looming confidence I've screwed him up for the rest of his natural life, ruined any chances for success, education, joy or happiness of any kind. Besides THAT sorry I didn't know if we would be able to keep up with Ms. Zan's Literature and History schedule, hers being daily and mine being weekly. Well, much to my abject delight, the banker flew through the week's worth of Literature, handed me in a beautifully written and need composition book and didn't seem daunted by the taking on of 5 classes in one sitting at all. *insert yet another happy dance here*. He said he felt he learned a lot. He completely loves the formality and organization of it. Ah, that's my Banker.
He will tackle the 5 classes of History tomorrow, we'll see how that goes. I have a reasonable amount of faith he'll be able to tackle it. I purposely wrapped "elective" classes on the big work days like math, literature and history.
He isn't too bothered by the knowledge he's doing in one day what his friend is being asked to do in a week but then it all comes back to the schedule dilemma of many classes for a short period every day or a few for hours once a week. I think we'll continue on the one subject "stream" per day, he really likes wrapping his head in the one direction and staying in it.
Today got side tracked a little bit because of some leftover work, namely the worst book report i've ever read, so he started a bit late then there was math on top of the work so he is going to carry over his math test to tomorrow. I don't think it'll impede the day too terribly.
The Banker suggested he and FriendH do one of the personal writing options together and I think that's a great idea. I'll get with Ms.Zan about it, we already know which days FriendH will be expected to do the work. What a delight being able to peek into other people's children's work load!
We also helped FriendC and FriendA get some additional information for them to start the same math. Two of the Banker's friends are starting the program he's 3/4 through and one has completed the next level, it's lovely to have that resource available. Friends helping friends. Yeah, also brilliant.
I am in a tizzy about my various ventures. One seems to be on the cusp of taking off and I don't want any part of it and am finding it difficult to be motivated. The other seems also to be starting to pick up steam and I can't dive in until I finish the previous obligations. Gasp, hardly the crisis of the century but still it's making it a little bit more difficult for me to focus completely.
When I do get the rugs made and shipped, the setup we have here of us working in the same room, opposite sides is completely and totally conducive to a successful and fulfilling (for me) work space.
So far, three days in, it's a sweet deal all the way around!
/Tracy
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Eighth grade is off to a fine start.
Obviously, we didn't start on Tuesday. Ooops.
We did start talking about the classes, looking at various websites and discussing what we thought was reasonable expectations for each class/course. I think that counts.
The new setup is rocking my world. I have been writing like mad. I started a second Etsy store to sell my recipes with full photographic tutorials, we'll see what happens there. I had the recipes anyway and I was making the bread and jam and marshmallows for myself so taking the detailed pictures was easy. I hope it works, it's what I'd love to do.
Of course, in the middle of working on writing, setting up a writing workroom and setting conducive to the fostering of the brilliance in me...I started selling rugs from the Tracy's Altered Reality store. Are you kidding me? I don't want to sew right now, I want to write! For Pete's sake! A gal wrote me asking for a coral rug, I flat out said "no". Really? and I wonder why on earth I'm not selling this things like hotcakes. Another gal asked for a large rug, I also replied with a firm, "no". The coral gal wrote back and said I could pick the color and the other ordered a smaller, white, rug. I find it ridiculous that I am trying to not sell something. Only in my head, only on my watch.
I think it's going to be a royal pain to un-de-sew this room for the week it'll take me to make the rugs. I hope I have enough tshirts because if I have to go out for them, I'll be in a right snit. The Banker packed them up by color for me in enormous boxes (brilliant move Banker!!!) so finding the white whole and cut t's will be easy.
Luckily, I have a new method of making the rugs so they'll go faster than the last ones. I had also wanted to post a tutorial on making the rugs so this is actually a blessing in disguise because I don't think I would have dragged it all out to take the tutorial pictures. I get so many people asking me how to make the rugs and what the trick of them is that I hope the tshag tutorial will sell. C'mon a girl just wants to make a living.
So, back to homes school matters. This week will be less fluid because I will be sewing in the same room he's schooling in. It'll work but it may be a bit distracting so he may have to go into the kitchen or living room for some of his work. We will go with the flow and see how it pans out.
The plan is to start on the 20th. Banker will have 3 classes per day. The online video lesson will require copious amounts of notes taken. He has a composition book for each class and will hand them in to me at the end of each day. The beauty of the system is that I have a full week to review any one class. Way to give yourself a break there, mom. I'm all about me this year. I don't need daily homework. The academic schedule is broken down like this for 8th grade:
I have field trips to planetariums and star parties planned as part of his science this semester which is all space, astronomy and cosmology. I am going to try to have an overnight trip to a very cool Planetarium in west Texas, we'll see how the budget works. The Banker is working on details with a couple of professors at UT for more astronomy opportunities over there so that would be way way way cool.
The banker joined a Minecraft meetup club so teenage boys can get meet up with their laptops and do together what they do when they're alone (HAHAHA) I think we will be able to meet at the Microsoft offices for the free WiFi, that would be fantastic. We are going to a computer animation tutorial there on Tuesday so I will be asking loads of availability questions.
There are evening functions, renaissance recreation events for archery and swordsmanship(!), and pick up soccer at Zilker Park we'll be throwing in the schedule whenever we can. He's joined a youth group for some diversion and more introduction into some religious study/exposure that we can discuss. I hope he'll meet some nice kids, he's in the 13-17 group. He's met some of the kids before as a guest so he's not too concerned about the whole 'new kid on the block' thing. I'm pleased he's also going to meet some kids more geographically convenient. I think this is going to be a great year.
Speaking of geographically inconvenient friends, I'm going to rant a minute. This is my blog, I can say what I want and it's about time I said this. The Banker had a great (I thought) group of (lifetime?) friends he played soccer with from the time he was 5 until he was about 10 then the team disbanded when everyone went to middle school. To my shock and horror, the kids turned into a**hole gang of thugs and completely ostracized him. The first middle school dance, where Banker paid for a girl to go, resulted in the Thug soccer kid picking the Banker up and walking him across the room to toss him into a group of girls (he still thought girls were icky!) telling him he wasn't welcome with the "team" that he could hang with the girls...and it started there. The Banker was more mature and never thought girls were icky (how ridiculous). He was shattered. I remember I was volunteering at the dance and when I saw Banker's face after the incident. Well, it took all of me not to punch the kid in the mouth. I wonder if part of it may have also been the fact he lived so far from the school so wasn't able to participate in some of the casual gatherings. I like to think it was just those particular kids are just idiots. Banker joined the band and clubs and was highly involved in extracurricular activities but didn't go to people's houses after school, we were on a tighter schedule. I never minded waiting on a school event but had to draw the line and just going to watch TV 40 minutes away from the house.
I'll admit, I cried many hours about seeing how hurt he was that the kids he'd played with weekly for years and years turned on him because one Napoleon kid needed to be a ruler and they all needed a victim to feel better about themselves. Hardly big men on campus at 11 years old. What better victim than a friend.
I was very proud of myself and didn't call any of the parents (or go punch out the children) involved in the bullying. Banker wasn't "allowed" to eat lunch with them or sit facing them. It was horrible and stressful. I thought about calling these people I'd known for years then realized there wouldn't be any repercussions anyway so why. The Banker found other (better) friends quickly and easily (he's a pretty easy going guy) and has maintained those friendships even since leaving public school. The Thug, the wimpy Follower, the uber-creepy "Eddie Haskell" and the weasel Sneak can go have ordinary, boring public school lives. The Banker is off on the adventure of a lifetime. He sings during science and hums during Algebra, there's an academic joy in this child that just has come alive when he learns.
The bullying by the "friends" wasn't any part of the reason I made the final decision to home school. I'd never give those kinds of people that sort of credit or power in our lives. The decision is all about offering The Banker the best possible opportunities for the best possible, coolest, most fun life. Anyone can be ordinary, I've opened a door to spectacular for him. I don't know why I felt the need to share that story today, I have never talked about it and feel better having gotten it off my chest. I saw one of the kids the other day on a drive and grinned to myself that we're well rid.
In any event, we are ready for Monday to learn, explore, (sew!), giggle...and generally enter this next phase of the adventure with great excitement and anticipation of something great.
Banker is excited and ready, I'm excited and ready. On your mark, get set..........GO!
/Tracy
We did start talking about the classes, looking at various websites and discussing what we thought was reasonable expectations for each class/course. I think that counts.
The new setup is rocking my world. I have been writing like mad. I started a second Etsy store to sell my recipes with full photographic tutorials, we'll see what happens there. I had the recipes anyway and I was making the bread and jam and marshmallows for myself so taking the detailed pictures was easy. I hope it works, it's what I'd love to do.
Of course, in the middle of working on writing, setting up a writing workroom and setting conducive to the fostering of the brilliance in me...I started selling rugs from the Tracy's Altered Reality store. Are you kidding me? I don't want to sew right now, I want to write! For Pete's sake! A gal wrote me asking for a coral rug, I flat out said "no". Really? and I wonder why on earth I'm not selling this things like hotcakes. Another gal asked for a large rug, I also replied with a firm, "no". The coral gal wrote back and said I could pick the color and the other ordered a smaller, white, rug. I find it ridiculous that I am trying to not sell something. Only in my head, only on my watch.
I think it's going to be a royal pain to un-de-sew this room for the week it'll take me to make the rugs. I hope I have enough tshirts because if I have to go out for them, I'll be in a right snit. The Banker packed them up by color for me in enormous boxes (brilliant move Banker!!!) so finding the white whole and cut t's will be easy.
Luckily, I have a new method of making the rugs so they'll go faster than the last ones. I had also wanted to post a tutorial on making the rugs so this is actually a blessing in disguise because I don't think I would have dragged it all out to take the tutorial pictures. I get so many people asking me how to make the rugs and what the trick of them is that I hope the tshag tutorial will sell. C'mon a girl just wants to make a living.
So, back to homes school matters. This week will be less fluid because I will be sewing in the same room he's schooling in. It'll work but it may be a bit distracting so he may have to go into the kitchen or living room for some of his work. We will go with the flow and see how it pans out.
The plan is to start on the 20th. Banker will have 3 classes per day. The online video lesson will require copious amounts of notes taken. He has a composition book for each class and will hand them in to me at the end of each day. The beauty of the system is that I have a full week to review any one class. Way to give yourself a break there, mom. I'm all about me this year. I don't need daily homework. The academic schedule is broken down like this for 8th grade:
- Monday: Latin (online video lessons). Science (online video lessons). Physics (online video lessons)
- Tuesday: Literature (book). Grammar (book). Reading (list to be determined).
- Wednesday: Algebra (CD learning program). Java (Stanford online video lesson). Photography (book and internet and me!).
- Thursday: World Study (book and internet). History (book). Geography/Geo-cache (outside)
- Friday: Volunteer (CoOp). Art (CoOp). Spanish (CoOp)
I have field trips to planetariums and star parties planned as part of his science this semester which is all space, astronomy and cosmology. I am going to try to have an overnight trip to a very cool Planetarium in west Texas, we'll see how the budget works. The Banker is working on details with a couple of professors at UT for more astronomy opportunities over there so that would be way way way cool.
The banker joined a Minecraft meetup club so teenage boys can get meet up with their laptops and do together what they do when they're alone (HAHAHA) I think we will be able to meet at the Microsoft offices for the free WiFi, that would be fantastic. We are going to a computer animation tutorial there on Tuesday so I will be asking loads of availability questions.
There are evening functions, renaissance recreation events for archery and swordsmanship(!), and pick up soccer at Zilker Park we'll be throwing in the schedule whenever we can. He's joined a youth group for some diversion and more introduction into some religious study/exposure that we can discuss. I hope he'll meet some nice kids, he's in the 13-17 group. He's met some of the kids before as a guest so he's not too concerned about the whole 'new kid on the block' thing. I'm pleased he's also going to meet some kids more geographically convenient. I think this is going to be a great year.
Speaking of geographically inconvenient friends, I'm going to rant a minute. This is my blog, I can say what I want and it's about time I said this. The Banker had a great (I thought) group of (lifetime?) friends he played soccer with from the time he was 5 until he was about 10 then the team disbanded when everyone went to middle school. To my shock and horror, the kids turned into a**hole gang of thugs and completely ostracized him. The first middle school dance, where Banker paid for a girl to go, resulted in the Thug soccer kid picking the Banker up and walking him across the room to toss him into a group of girls (he still thought girls were icky!) telling him he wasn't welcome with the "team" that he could hang with the girls...and it started there. The Banker was more mature and never thought girls were icky (how ridiculous). He was shattered. I remember I was volunteering at the dance and when I saw Banker's face after the incident. Well, it took all of me not to punch the kid in the mouth. I wonder if part of it may have also been the fact he lived so far from the school so wasn't able to participate in some of the casual gatherings. I like to think it was just those particular kids are just idiots. Banker joined the band and clubs and was highly involved in extracurricular activities but didn't go to people's houses after school, we were on a tighter schedule. I never minded waiting on a school event but had to draw the line and just going to watch TV 40 minutes away from the house.
I'll admit, I cried many hours about seeing how hurt he was that the kids he'd played with weekly for years and years turned on him because one Napoleon kid needed to be a ruler and they all needed a victim to feel better about themselves. Hardly big men on campus at 11 years old. What better victim than a friend.
I was very proud of myself and didn't call any of the parents (or go punch out the children) involved in the bullying. Banker wasn't "allowed" to eat lunch with them or sit facing them. It was horrible and stressful. I thought about calling these people I'd known for years then realized there wouldn't be any repercussions anyway so why. The Banker found other (better) friends quickly and easily (he's a pretty easy going guy) and has maintained those friendships even since leaving public school. The Thug, the wimpy Follower, the uber-creepy "Eddie Haskell" and the weasel Sneak can go have ordinary, boring public school lives. The Banker is off on the adventure of a lifetime. He sings during science and hums during Algebra, there's an academic joy in this child that just has come alive when he learns.
The bullying by the "friends" wasn't any part of the reason I made the final decision to home school. I'd never give those kinds of people that sort of credit or power in our lives. The decision is all about offering The Banker the best possible opportunities for the best possible, coolest, most fun life. Anyone can be ordinary, I've opened a door to spectacular for him. I don't know why I felt the need to share that story today, I have never talked about it and feel better having gotten it off my chest. I saw one of the kids the other day on a drive and grinned to myself that we're well rid.
In any event, we are ready for Monday to learn, explore, (sew!), giggle...and generally enter this next phase of the adventure with great excitement and anticipation of something great.
Banker is excited and ready, I'm excited and ready. On your mark, get set..........GO!
/Tracy
Saturday, August 11, 2012
We set up our space
The new school year is imminent.
We spent today getting school supplies, 10 composition books, pencils and new dry erase markers. We came home and set up our space. I like our space, so far.
At the moment, our classroom is our kitchen. We have a dining room table in the living room and the formal dining room in the house has been my studio for a few years. I have my fabric, yarn, mannequins, sewing machines, embroidery machine and serger set up in there. I'm thinking about moving our school into the studio. I already have decided that I want to spend more time dedicated to the art of writing, writing about food and all things crafty. I can happily and easily write while the Banker works this year. I can't sew while he works, I can't get into it because I feel the need to be more available to him. More available than sewing in another room makes me.
I'll be honest, I still resist moving us in there because it feels like an enormous failure on my part. A failure that the sewing didn't generate the income it was "supposed to". I think I put too much pressure on myself and judged failure where there was none. Husband hasn't said a word, I think he truly just wants me to find what it is that makes me happy and wants me to hang my hat there long enough to let it make me truly happy. The supposed failure is self imposed. My jury is still out.
In the interim, we are set up, organized and ready to go. We are going much greener this year. Banker is writing questions and answers in the composition books, we aren't going to print work sheets, he's a teenager who is eager and willing to work. He has the entire world available at his fingertips and can research and dive into anything that strikes his fancy. He is free to explore and learn... and doesn't require busy work.
We spent today getting school supplies, 10 composition books, pencils and new dry erase markers. We came home and set up our space. I like our space, so far.
At the moment, our classroom is our kitchen. We have a dining room table in the living room and the formal dining room in the house has been my studio for a few years. I have my fabric, yarn, mannequins, sewing machines, embroidery machine and serger set up in there. I'm thinking about moving our school into the studio. I already have decided that I want to spend more time dedicated to the art of writing, writing about food and all things crafty. I can happily and easily write while the Banker works this year. I can't sew while he works, I can't get into it because I feel the need to be more available to him. More available than sewing in another room makes me.
I'll be honest, I still resist moving us in there because it feels like an enormous failure on my part. A failure that the sewing didn't generate the income it was "supposed to". I think I put too much pressure on myself and judged failure where there was none. Husband hasn't said a word, I think he truly just wants me to find what it is that makes me happy and wants me to hang my hat there long enough to let it make me truly happy. The supposed failure is self imposed. My jury is still out.
In the interim, we are set up, organized and ready to go. We are going much greener this year. Banker is writing questions and answers in the composition books, we aren't going to print work sheets, he's a teenager who is eager and willing to work. He has the entire world available at his fingertips and can research and dive into anything that strikes his fancy. He is free to explore and learn... and doesn't require busy work.
We are going to have an introductory week, a brief review of each class on the day we intend to study it. We will make decisions about how and what we'll study and a generic plan for the semester.
The Banker is going to a CoOp this semester, 3 hour each Friday. He's been confirmed for the classes he's taking, Volunteer/Service then High School Art then Spanish. Brilliant. I have to assist in class rooms, we'll see how that goes. I don't mind the time but I am not sure I have the desire or interest to be a successful assistant. If I'd been on the ball and registered him earlier, I'd be teaching a class. The thought doesn't delight me, I'll be honest. I will give it my all, of course, and do the very best I can. I'll revisit the CoOp decision in December. I still think I prefer the idea of One Day Academy but won't make any blatant statements until after we give this a go.
We are going to spend time with MsZan tomorrow, which always delights me. Banker can spend some live time with FriendH. I'm really looking forward to it. Then, apparently we're back to it.
/Tracy
Friday, August 10, 2012
Some people ask me why...
Well, here's one of the 3,982 reasons:
http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/austin/schools-fail-to-meet-tougher-standards
Let's see, shall I use a Texas curriculum? Oh I think not.
/Tracy
http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/austin/schools-fail-to-meet-tougher-standards
Let's see, shall I use a Texas curriculum? Oh I think not.
/Tracy
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
August Preparation for 8th grade, Week 2
I've decided it's time to take some serious school related action. Real action, not the "fretting and worrying, staring at the ceiling all night long and sure that I won't get it done or that I'm going to break him and ruin his life" action.
I set a start day of August 13. That's got to count as serious preparatory work, a start date is very nearly like a list. If you have a list, you're half way to completion and that's how I'm feeling so very smug. I don't have a list, but I do have a start date. Did I mention it's going to be August 13th?
I'm wresting with sending the Banker to a weekly Co-op. It's local and he's been there once before to shadow FriendA. I like the idea of him getting out with kids his own age and frankly, since this is a very VERY reasonably priced Co-op, I have little to no interest in what classes he takes. Is that wrong? Like last year, we were kicking around the idea of having Friday be a catch up or review day. We rarely used it as such, let's be honest, it turned into TV, movie or go play with friends day. This Co-op runs for 3 hours each Friday, 10-1. Even I can wrap my head around those 3 hours.
I just emailed the administrator of the Co-op and said I was interested in the Banker taking Art, Volunteer/Service (babysitting in younger classes) and maybe yearbook? I was surprised at my nuts and granola choices. Dare I think I can bring him to the dark/hippie side? Oh doubtful. He was slightly disgruntled and asked if there were any REAL classes *that's my boy* so we are trying to get him into a Spanish class. There, Banker, real.
I think art is important, especially for a kid like the Banker. He needs the break from straight line thinking. Sometimes, much to his abject horror, he is going to have to grab a crayon, or worse a pastel, and simply go with the flow without direction. It'll be good for him.
Initially we were looking at high school English, high school Botany and high school Literature. Seriously? I bought books for the "big three" classes and fully intend on working through them here. I was initially just looking for a Science program to put him in, it's the one subject that causes me deep seeded horror. It causes me to get up, like today, sleeping pills or not, at 4:22am. I'm starting to fret.
I managed to catch myself though and rethought the choices. This is, after all, a Co-op we are just trying out. I found this one through a friend and although they're terribly happy with it I don't want to overload the Banker with too many high school credit academics just yet, he IS only 13 and this IS the first full year we are home schooling. Removing him from school for the last third of grade 7 was the dry run for this performance. I want to continue to investigate One Day Academy or Bronze Door, here in Austin, their reputations are stellar and if we're going to continue on this ride into high school that's the direction I want to go for the big gun classes like Science. There may be a cost feature to those but this is the Banker's education we're talking about and guaranteed any monthly fee is still going be a minute percentage of what we would have been paying through any public school year in enrichment fees alone not to mention sport, extracurricular, club and additional lab and/or supply costs.
I reviewed the classes we'd chosen, the big 3, and I wisely gave my head a shake. I think a first foray into a new Co-op should give him the opportunity to work around some other kids, meet some new kids and generally enjoy himself with some work thrown in there.
We have a heavy course load this year at The Williams School of Everything. Granted, unlike last year, there will only be one class per subject. I may have gotten over my fear of gaps in learning and won't be assigning 5 math classes, really, I'm past that. I will admit though, this year again will be math and science heavy.
1. Finishing Pre-Algebra then moving into Algebra then intro to Geometry.
2. Space, Cosmology and Astronomy (the science class that's brilliant in my head but still somewhat lacking on paper or process)
3. American History (thru 1877)
4. World country study (1 per month)
5. Physics
6. English Literature
7. Grammar/Composition
8. Photography (elective, 1/2 year)
9. (pick up soccer wherever we can find it)
10. Computer language/programming/intro to Java
11. Latin
Really, the boy didn't need 3 high school classes piled on top of these.
I'm going to teach him to cook and he'll do a couple of sewing projects because I need to shake his head up a bit. I think we'll revisit the mozzarella making. I may invite FriendA for a combined, one off, culinary class of sorts.
My plan, this week, is to finalize the course list and prepare the schedule. I will be ready on Monday to hit the ground running, in a perfect world it won't be done while screaming, flailing arms in the air and heading towards the edge of a cliff.
ON a completely unrelated note; there is a bonus to being up at 4:22 am and having culinary skills:
 |
| Dutch baby pancake, for 1 |
I made a "Dutch Baby" pancake for me, just for me. No one watched me (I HATE being stared at while I eat) No one commented, asked how I was doing, what I was doing or asked for a bite. I like eating in the wee hours.
Plus, it's not bad for one egg, a little flour and a splash of milk. Sure I put some maple syrup on it but not too much. Oh and yes, I did eat it all, it's just one measly egg and a little milk and a spoonful of flour, I can't see how it's different from a piece of toast with a poached egg on it and a glass of milk. Well, except for the volume and deliciousness factor of course. I'll put the recipe for the "mini" on the food blog: http://tracyloopers.blogspot.com/ when I get back from taking my limping dog to the vet. That's another story.
Hey, Happy Tuesday.
/Tracy
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
SUMMER - ITS AUGUST
HI! we're BACK!
Well, here we are facing the 8th grade. We are facing it in my kitchen, without supervision, state or federal guidelines or requirements. Ya, it's crazy free and although that could ultimately be my undoing, I'm trying hard to stay on the relatively straight and virtually narrow.
It's been a party crazy July. We visited with loads of friends and had loads of friends here to play. I wish we'd had any sort of vacation, I am truly burned out. Truly. I'm trying to pretend the time we've been off schooling full time has been easier or freer or relaxing. It's stressful and as much as I sing the praises of total freedom, it's totally exhausting.
I'm sucking it up though, August 1st already, and forging bravely ahead. Ok, not so bravely but I am at least facing in the direction of the path we intend on walking.
Firstly, the chickens are enormous! They are getting red neck hangy thingies (yes, that is the technical term) and their little combs are coming in and starting to turn from pale pink to pale red. The nesting box is completed and attached to the coop. They aren't afraid to come into the yard anymore and wander around eating green grass and bugs. Walter (the pug) will happily wander with them and he looks as though he's pecking in their herd but in reality he's looking for chicken poop. Lola (the boxer cross) is too bouncy for them and wants to play with them. The girls, Edna in particular, has no interest whatsoever in playing with Lola and when she pecks her face, Lola responds with an immediate herding of said girls into their pen. It's delightful to watch. I giggle at the dog herding the chickens when the chickens don't want to be herded and voice their opinions loudly. I never know who to root for.
The Banker failed miserably at reading all summer. I failed at nagging him. I will take the blame on the lack of reading, it was on me to harass him more regularly. I'm ready to start again there.
Poor kid had to learn a painful lesson about how friends grow apart and that people you thought were your inner sanctum can turn into people you don't need that close. I told him it's part of growing up, his herd will grow and shrink, inhale and exhale. He'll have to make choices and decisions and sometimes those decisions are made for you. Welcome to life, kiddo.
He made a couple of bad online decisions and we have had to spend time talking about some of the people he is spending online time with. I think we're dealing with a bit of an Eddy Haskell type kid and I'm wholly unimpressed. He was almost cyber bullied, definitely threatened (pathetic little attempt honestly) but I was furious...I managed to keep my tongue and wait, the moment passed without incident but I am on constant watch now. It's been an interesting social time for him. It's been quite a learning curve and there's been some difficult times. He's worked through it relatively unscathed, so far.
On the whole he's a good, hard working, happy kid. He's easily and deeply affected by meanness though, toughness will come with time and experience so I have to spend time smiling and nodding as much as I sometimes want to smack other people's children.
He succeeded brilliantly at working through his pre-algebra this summer. We did pretty well at our 'one chapter per week' plan. Sure we took some weeks off, it is summer after all and sometimes constantly party mode will reek havoc on an academic schedule. He's finishing up chapter 18 and isn't struggling with the work or content all. I said we were going to speed up to either 2 chapters a week or 3 chapter in 2 weeks and he's good with that.
He did a Shadow a Scientist program at University of Texas and loved it. He spent the day with an Astronomer and is in email contact with the professor about subsequent visits and programs he can be involved in with them. Brilliant.
We are starting to think about the schedule and classes for 8th grade. I have most of my classes listed, just some details to work out for a couple of them. I am still trying to decide whether to enroll the Banker in a Friday coop program. I would have to go and assist for 3 hours a week at the same facility (not in his class) and I really don't know if I have it in me to do that. I don't want to be selfish but I sort of don't want to give my time to it. I have a few days to think about it and am going to fret pretty consistently about it. I want to put him in one day academy but when I raised the idea with husband, he balked at the monthly fee. I'm sure I could push him through and if I cut down on grocery costs I'm sure we could swing it.
I've done some major soul searching in terms of what I want to do for me. I had long conversations with my 'originals' about my struggle with deciding how to focus my time and my talent to something for me. I've been feeling very lost inside this life I'm living and realized I need to take time and effort purely for me. I keep a small herd of the trusted and true, the friends who have known me since before I was someones mother, they know who I truly am on the inside. I am currently an avid cook, recipe creator, crafter and mediocre saleswoman. I feel as though I've played at doing a number of things moderately well. I don't want to do a bunch of things moderately well, I want to do one thing, and be brilliant. I want to pick one thing that I love to do just do it. I want to do it on purpose and with purpose. It's been a hard decision, well hard in that it took time. When I finally sat down in a quiet room with a piece of paper and a pencil, yeah, I went old school, I realized I wanted to do just that. I wanted to write things down. I'll keep doing what I love to do but I want, and need, to write it down. I'm going to suck it up and try desperately not to be so very afraid of what I write down. I'm going to write it for me, write it often and finally pursue the writing career I've been walking around for years. Not an unfortunate side effect is the fact i can do it sitting at the same table while the Banker is "doing" school on his laptop directly across from me as opposed to me trying to cook or sew, my other massive passions.
I have to prepare mentally for the implied disappointment from my family when I don't write a best seller right off the mark and I have to prepare for not being believed as "doing" anything but I am going to try hard to forge ahead and do what it is that I have wanted to do forever. It's now or never in my heart and soul.
So, with me set (insert hysterical laughter here) my biggest concern for 8th grade is science. I am struggling with a plan for science for the Banker. I worry about science. I spoke to a friend who said she'd give me science ideas. I need to get hold of her. Perhaps I should write that down.
I am going to try to keep it straight and simple for him this year. We are not going to take a million subjects in the hope we hit on the facts he needs to have put away in his head for later years testing and college placement. That format is too squiggly, we need a nice straight line for the Banker. We have 8 classes lined up and one of them is art. I need him to explore his creative side. It's an important side. We are going to break the year into 2 semesters for his "elective" classes. He has chosen photography as his 'art' class and I will have him pick another art for his second semester or he can delve more formally into photography, way to keep a squiggle class organized. We will see which direction he wants to take it.
He has shown a sudden interest in cooking and interviews me constantly when I cook. He's taken on the meal planning, shopping and cooking of the odd dinner for me. He's brilliant and has a knack. He's unafraid when it comes to measuring, tasting and trusting his own culinary instincts. Impressive for 13 years old. I don't think he'd cook for anyone else but me, just yet, but I hope to foster this love in him and maybe we can incorporate a culinary arts portion to his academics this year.
I feel relatively confident in my initial academic plans for the Banker and as per usual am racked with the perpetual fear I'm breaking him emotionally and of course, am fighting the solid belief my plans for myself are ridiculous and embarrassing. Other than that, we're ready to go.
/Tracy
Well, here we are facing the 8th grade. We are facing it in my kitchen, without supervision, state or federal guidelines or requirements. Ya, it's crazy free and although that could ultimately be my undoing, I'm trying hard to stay on the relatively straight and virtually narrow.
It's been a party crazy July. We visited with loads of friends and had loads of friends here to play. I wish we'd had any sort of vacation, I am truly burned out. Truly. I'm trying to pretend the time we've been off schooling full time has been easier or freer or relaxing. It's stressful and as much as I sing the praises of total freedom, it's totally exhausting.
I'm sucking it up though, August 1st already, and forging bravely ahead. Ok, not so bravely but I am at least facing in the direction of the path we intend on walking.
Firstly, the chickens are enormous! They are getting red neck hangy thingies (yes, that is the technical term) and their little combs are coming in and starting to turn from pale pink to pale red. The nesting box is completed and attached to the coop. They aren't afraid to come into the yard anymore and wander around eating green grass and bugs. Walter (the pug) will happily wander with them and he looks as though he's pecking in their herd but in reality he's looking for chicken poop. Lola (the boxer cross) is too bouncy for them and wants to play with them. The girls, Edna in particular, has no interest whatsoever in playing with Lola and when she pecks her face, Lola responds with an immediate herding of said girls into their pen. It's delightful to watch. I giggle at the dog herding the chickens when the chickens don't want to be herded and voice their opinions loudly. I never know who to root for.
The Banker failed miserably at reading all summer. I failed at nagging him. I will take the blame on the lack of reading, it was on me to harass him more regularly. I'm ready to start again there.
Poor kid had to learn a painful lesson about how friends grow apart and that people you thought were your inner sanctum can turn into people you don't need that close. I told him it's part of growing up, his herd will grow and shrink, inhale and exhale. He'll have to make choices and decisions and sometimes those decisions are made for you. Welcome to life, kiddo.
He made a couple of bad online decisions and we have had to spend time talking about some of the people he is spending online time with. I think we're dealing with a bit of an Eddy Haskell type kid and I'm wholly unimpressed. He was almost cyber bullied, definitely threatened (pathetic little attempt honestly) but I was furious...I managed to keep my tongue and wait, the moment passed without incident but I am on constant watch now. It's been an interesting social time for him. It's been quite a learning curve and there's been some difficult times. He's worked through it relatively unscathed, so far.
On the whole he's a good, hard working, happy kid. He's easily and deeply affected by meanness though, toughness will come with time and experience so I have to spend time smiling and nodding as much as I sometimes want to smack other people's children.
He succeeded brilliantly at working through his pre-algebra this summer. We did pretty well at our 'one chapter per week' plan. Sure we took some weeks off, it is summer after all and sometimes constantly party mode will reek havoc on an academic schedule. He's finishing up chapter 18 and isn't struggling with the work or content all. I said we were going to speed up to either 2 chapters a week or 3 chapter in 2 weeks and he's good with that.
He did a Shadow a Scientist program at University of Texas and loved it. He spent the day with an Astronomer and is in email contact with the professor about subsequent visits and programs he can be involved in with them. Brilliant.
We are starting to think about the schedule and classes for 8th grade. I have most of my classes listed, just some details to work out for a couple of them. I am still trying to decide whether to enroll the Banker in a Friday coop program. I would have to go and assist for 3 hours a week at the same facility (not in his class) and I really don't know if I have it in me to do that. I don't want to be selfish but I sort of don't want to give my time to it. I have a few days to think about it and am going to fret pretty consistently about it. I want to put him in one day academy but when I raised the idea with husband, he balked at the monthly fee. I'm sure I could push him through and if I cut down on grocery costs I'm sure we could swing it.
I've done some major soul searching in terms of what I want to do for me. I had long conversations with my 'originals' about my struggle with deciding how to focus my time and my talent to something for me. I've been feeling very lost inside this life I'm living and realized I need to take time and effort purely for me. I keep a small herd of the trusted and true, the friends who have known me since before I was someones mother, they know who I truly am on the inside. I am currently an avid cook, recipe creator, crafter and mediocre saleswoman. I feel as though I've played at doing a number of things moderately well. I don't want to do a bunch of things moderately well, I want to do one thing, and be brilliant. I want to pick one thing that I love to do just do it. I want to do it on purpose and with purpose. It's been a hard decision, well hard in that it took time. When I finally sat down in a quiet room with a piece of paper and a pencil, yeah, I went old school, I realized I wanted to do just that. I wanted to write things down. I'll keep doing what I love to do but I want, and need, to write it down. I'm going to suck it up and try desperately not to be so very afraid of what I write down. I'm going to write it for me, write it often and finally pursue the writing career I've been walking around for years. Not an unfortunate side effect is the fact i can do it sitting at the same table while the Banker is "doing" school on his laptop directly across from me as opposed to me trying to cook or sew, my other massive passions.
I have to prepare mentally for the implied disappointment from my family when I don't write a best seller right off the mark and I have to prepare for not being believed as "doing" anything but I am going to try hard to forge ahead and do what it is that I have wanted to do forever. It's now or never in my heart and soul.
So, with me set (insert hysterical laughter here) my biggest concern for 8th grade is science. I am struggling with a plan for science for the Banker. I worry about science. I spoke to a friend who said she'd give me science ideas. I need to get hold of her. Perhaps I should write that down.
I am going to try to keep it straight and simple for him this year. We are not going to take a million subjects in the hope we hit on the facts he needs to have put away in his head for later years testing and college placement. That format is too squiggly, we need a nice straight line for the Banker. We have 8 classes lined up and one of them is art. I need him to explore his creative side. It's an important side. We are going to break the year into 2 semesters for his "elective" classes. He has chosen photography as his 'art' class and I will have him pick another art for his second semester or he can delve more formally into photography, way to keep a squiggle class organized. We will see which direction he wants to take it.
He has shown a sudden interest in cooking and interviews me constantly when I cook. He's taken on the meal planning, shopping and cooking of the odd dinner for me. He's brilliant and has a knack. He's unafraid when it comes to measuring, tasting and trusting his own culinary instincts. Impressive for 13 years old. I don't think he'd cook for anyone else but me, just yet, but I hope to foster this love in him and maybe we can incorporate a culinary arts portion to his academics this year.
I feel relatively confident in my initial academic plans for the Banker and as per usual am racked with the perpetual fear I'm breaking him emotionally and of course, am fighting the solid belief my plans for myself are ridiculous and embarrassing. Other than that, we're ready to go.
/Tracy
Monday, June 11, 2012
Summer Schedule Week 4
WOW what a great weekend. Friends came, we played, we worked. I sewed on the weekend and today, husband worked around the garden! He dug up the only plants I like at the house but whatever. If he wants to kill off the pampas grass instead of fixing all the millions of broken things around here, truly, I could give a care less, it's better than laying on a recliner. I liked that he was active in his own life this weekend. I need to keep that momentum going for him.
The Banker and I had a rough start today, stress and drama and annoyance and regular mother and teenage son stuff. The day did turn around. Luckily.
I ultimately got some sewing done and Banker came in and joined me in the studio and we chatted about stuff and life and fabric and it was good time. We cleaned, tidied, then I cooked us a killer meal, then he swam, I watched and cheered. Husband came home and was gentle in his distance, I needed the calm.
Math day today. Banker worked through a new chapter in pre-Algebra and didn't struggle. Yay. It was an "easy part" for him which I think he needed to get some confidence in himself back, academically. He's just finished chapter 15 so he's half way through. I don't know if we'll be done by the time I want to start 8th grade Algebra but he'll be close. Excellent.
The Banker worked hard and straight. I left him to it and went to do groceries, in a snit, and I returned to a tidied kitchen, laundry in, dishwasher running and him working hard. Excellent plan, Banker. I think he enjoys the challenge and brain work of continuing to work through the summer. He didn't balk when I greeted him straight out of bed with, "MATH!".
We are having a party day here tomorrow. A couple of my friends are coming by with their kids and the children will swim and giggle and play. The mothers will drink wine and make bread I think.
I'm looking forward to a far less stress and angst and bad choices filled day tomorrow.
/Tracy
TUESDAY
Playday! No work, no school, nothing but playday. FriendS and FriendM and they're bringing FriendP too! There will be too many children and they'll play and swim and hang with chickens. WHO, by the way are getting ENORMOUS, the chickens not the children. The girls (chickens) are getting that scraggy neck thing, cool. I love those crazy birds.
I made bread to snack on and anticipate making more bread when they get here. I have wine and snacks, a pool, dogs, a hamster, a wii, an xbox and 6 chickens, there shoudn't be a bored child (or mother!)
Banker was less hissy today and has been basically helpful getting organized for friends to come. Luckily, these are low to no maintenance friends so I'm not fretting about doing a hospital clean :) I love low to no maintenance friends.
I reviewed Banker's math from yesterday and he nailed it. I will have him take the test Thursday which is our next nothing day, I try to save one per week. Free days not test days!
I'm off to cocktail and play with friends...spectacular. Banker is going to be the rock star to a 9 yr old and 2 7 year olds... they think he's cool and he giggles easily with them...also spectacular.
/Tracy
The Banker and I had a rough start today, stress and drama and annoyance and regular mother and teenage son stuff. The day did turn around. Luckily.
I ultimately got some sewing done and Banker came in and joined me in the studio and we chatted about stuff and life and fabric and it was good time. We cleaned, tidied, then I cooked us a killer meal, then he swam, I watched and cheered. Husband came home and was gentle in his distance, I needed the calm.
Math day today. Banker worked through a new chapter in pre-Algebra and didn't struggle. Yay. It was an "easy part" for him which I think he needed to get some confidence in himself back, academically. He's just finished chapter 15 so he's half way through. I don't know if we'll be done by the time I want to start 8th grade Algebra but he'll be close. Excellent.
The Banker worked hard and straight. I left him to it and went to do groceries, in a snit, and I returned to a tidied kitchen, laundry in, dishwasher running and him working hard. Excellent plan, Banker. I think he enjoys the challenge and brain work of continuing to work through the summer. He didn't balk when I greeted him straight out of bed with, "MATH!".
We are having a party day here tomorrow. A couple of my friends are coming by with their kids and the children will swim and giggle and play. The mothers will drink wine and make bread I think.
I'm looking forward to a far less stress and angst and bad choices filled day tomorrow.
/Tracy
TUESDAY
Playday! No work, no school, nothing but playday. FriendS and FriendM and they're bringing FriendP too! There will be too many children and they'll play and swim and hang with chickens. WHO, by the way are getting ENORMOUS, the chickens not the children. The girls (chickens) are getting that scraggy neck thing, cool. I love those crazy birds.
I made bread to snack on and anticipate making more bread when they get here. I have wine and snacks, a pool, dogs, a hamster, a wii, an xbox and 6 chickens, there shoudn't be a bored child (or mother!)
Banker was less hissy today and has been basically helpful getting organized for friends to come. Luckily, these are low to no maintenance friends so I'm not fretting about doing a hospital clean :) I love low to no maintenance friends.
I reviewed Banker's math from yesterday and he nailed it. I will have him take the test Thursday which is our next nothing day, I try to save one per week. Free days not test days!
I'm off to cocktail and play with friends...spectacular. Banker is going to be the rock star to a 9 yr old and 2 7 year olds... they think he's cool and he giggles easily with them...also spectacular.
/Tracy
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Summer Schedule weekend 2
Wow, what week. No school happened at all, not even a read. ooops. I don't know if I can really complain considering I am our leader and we were too busy to work with all the playing going on.
This weekend hasn't had the hellish start most have, it gives me hope for the next two days.
I got up ridiculously early and went outside to watch the Girls. They are enormous and happy happy happy in their new run. They hop to get fresh leaves which cracks me up, I post them on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkgDR-BF2ws
In other news;
I think I'm going to get us a manual treadmill. We have an elliptical which I can't use because it hurts my knees and hips to the point I have to lay on the floor afterwards. Sort of defeats the endorphin high I'm looking for after a workout. I don't want to sink money into a big treadmill in case we don't use it.
I think both the Banker and I would benefit from a daily walk, it's starting to get too hot here in Austin for me to do it outside. I think he needs the exercise too. He is getting the 13yr old boy pudge and he's upset by it. He doesn't eat candy or sweets or junk at all so it's all hormonal, he'll suddenly grow into his weight but in the mean time we don't need any bad body image moments for him. I think it's worth the $129, I can always run it back if it doesn't get used in the 30 days we have to try it.
We have plans both today and tomorrow for functions. We have husband's boss's son's graduation celebration to attend this afternoon. I shouldn't be disappointed it won't be a "bring a bottle of wine" affair. I'm sure we will enjoy over sweetened tea and hundreds of people we don't know. I'll smile and nod and be my most delightful self. Banker doesn't want to go but I think one boy he knows will be there so that'll help. I don't anticipate a very late evening.
I have a girl party to go to tomorrow, well I did up until 20 minutes ago when I saw it was cancelled. Unfortunately I'd arranged to take Banker across town (on my way to said girl party) for a sleepover so I'll still haul him over there even though there's no cocktailling at the other end. Actually, why do I need to wait for someone ELSE to arrange a cocktail moment. I think I'll get on the phone and find myself a date for after boy dropoff. Maybe a run to a store and buy myself something pretty. I'm sick of living in oversized free tshirts, I look like a slob and feel like one too. I don't need fancy but hell, I need something else.
Husband is in a reasonable humor, we're treading lightly but so far, so good. Banker is killing things online and I've been in chicken mode since 7am. I just put them back into the coop to come update my blogs and ponder the lack of any academics this week. Oh well, we'll work next week.
Wish me weekend luck, I'm trying to have a good one for a change.
/me
This weekend hasn't had the hellish start most have, it gives me hope for the next two days.
I got up ridiculously early and went outside to watch the Girls. They are enormous and happy happy happy in their new run. They hop to get fresh leaves which cracks me up, I post them on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkgDR-BF2ws
In other news;
I think I'm going to get us a manual treadmill. We have an elliptical which I can't use because it hurts my knees and hips to the point I have to lay on the floor afterwards. Sort of defeats the endorphin high I'm looking for after a workout. I don't want to sink money into a big treadmill in case we don't use it.
I think both the Banker and I would benefit from a daily walk, it's starting to get too hot here in Austin for me to do it outside. I think he needs the exercise too. He is getting the 13yr old boy pudge and he's upset by it. He doesn't eat candy or sweets or junk at all so it's all hormonal, he'll suddenly grow into his weight but in the mean time we don't need any bad body image moments for him. I think it's worth the $129, I can always run it back if it doesn't get used in the 30 days we have to try it.
We have plans both today and tomorrow for functions. We have husband's boss's son's graduation celebration to attend this afternoon. I shouldn't be disappointed it won't be a "bring a bottle of wine" affair. I'm sure we will enjoy over sweetened tea and hundreds of people we don't know. I'll smile and nod and be my most delightful self. Banker doesn't want to go but I think one boy he knows will be there so that'll help. I don't anticipate a very late evening.
I have a girl party to go to tomorrow, well I did up until 20 minutes ago when I saw it was cancelled. Unfortunately I'd arranged to take Banker across town (on my way to said girl party) for a sleepover so I'll still haul him over there even though there's no cocktailling at the other end. Actually, why do I need to wait for someone ELSE to arrange a cocktail moment. I think I'll get on the phone and find myself a date for after boy dropoff. Maybe a run to a store and buy myself something pretty. I'm sick of living in oversized free tshirts, I look like a slob and feel like one too. I don't need fancy but hell, I need something else.
Husband is in a reasonable humor, we're treading lightly but so far, so good. Banker is killing things online and I've been in chicken mode since 7am. I just put them back into the coop to come update my blogs and ponder the lack of any academics this week. Oh well, we'll work next week.
Wish me weekend luck, I'm trying to have a good one for a change.
/me
Friday, May 25, 2012
Summer Schedule day 5
Ah, brilliant yesterday. There was the longest list of chores I could think of to do and Banker did them all, well except one but that's ok, he'll do the math test today.
Banker cooked, cleaned, vacuumed. He did laundry, 4 loads. He moved furniture, swept and dusted. He fed chickens, put food away and emptied the dishwasher...twice. He did it with a smile, a good spirit and delightful mood. He was wise.
I think I may take us to the movies today. I feel housebound even though I'm not actually housebound. I mean, we were out both Monday and Tuesday of this week yet by Thursday night I'm feeling housebound? I think I need to balance out my mental health. A day and a half at the house does not a hermit make! Truly.
We have a big weekend ahead of us, invited to a square dance and a bbq cook off and Banker is going to a sleepover which will free husband and I up to spend quality time in our separate corners, quietly. No offense, Banker but it'll be nice. I thought about trying to convince the man to take me out on a date or to spend time out together. He would prefer to sit on the back porch, smoking and playing on his iPad I'm sure.
The Girls are getting giant. They are 8 weeks old and as personable as they are beautiful. We didn't have them out to play yesterday but I am planning on quality chicken watching time today.
I started a thread on my Facebook page about talking about myself in the third person. For some reason it completely cracks me up. I think I'll do it when we go out today. "Tracy thanks you" to the ticket guy perhaps? HAHAHA
We played all morning, we dashed out to see Men in Black 3, we wandered Walmart and stopped for a pizza. We laughed, the Banker was a normal, fun, kid. No angst, no eye rolling, no drama, no nothing, just a great day.
He is sweeping, dealing with the dishwasher, while he humms, and is about to transfer his fish, Cornelius, into a bigger, better aquarium he bought with his own debit card. He's in a delightful mood and look, no screens hasn't done a damned thing to him...except give me a happy kid. Hmmm
/Tracy (who thanks you for reading...)
Banker cooked, cleaned, vacuumed. He did laundry, 4 loads. He moved furniture, swept and dusted. He fed chickens, put food away and emptied the dishwasher...twice. He did it with a smile, a good spirit and delightful mood. He was wise.
I think I may take us to the movies today. I feel housebound even though I'm not actually housebound. I mean, we were out both Monday and Tuesday of this week yet by Thursday night I'm feeling housebound? I think I need to balance out my mental health. A day and a half at the house does not a hermit make! Truly.
We have a big weekend ahead of us, invited to a square dance and a bbq cook off and Banker is going to a sleepover which will free husband and I up to spend quality time in our separate corners, quietly. No offense, Banker but it'll be nice. I thought about trying to convince the man to take me out on a date or to spend time out together. He would prefer to sit on the back porch, smoking and playing on his iPad I'm sure.
 |
| LOOK at how beautiful they are...and how big! |
I started a thread on my Facebook page about talking about myself in the third person. For some reason it completely cracks me up. I think I'll do it when we go out today. "Tracy thanks you" to the ticket guy perhaps? HAHAHA
We played all morning, we dashed out to see Men in Black 3, we wandered Walmart and stopped for a pizza. We laughed, the Banker was a normal, fun, kid. No angst, no eye rolling, no drama, no nothing, just a great day.
He is sweeping, dealing with the dishwasher, while he humms, and is about to transfer his fish, Cornelius, into a bigger, better aquarium he bought with his own debit card. He's in a delightful mood and look, no screens hasn't done a damned thing to him...except give me a happy kid. Hmmm
/Tracy (who thanks you for reading...)
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Day One hundred two and one hundred three (weekend)
 |
| Edna |
I was surprised with a new tv today, husband likes to surprise me with things. That meant we were suddenly very tv heavy for the house. There are 3 of us in the family and we have more televisions than normal people should have. Banker became starry eyed at the mathematics of televisions here when he realized his bedroom was the ONLY room in the house without a cable hooked up tv. Well, besides the studio (I don't want one in there) and the bathrooms... although cool, it'd be weird. We do all have tv ready/worthy iPads so if you add the computer monitors that we can watch tv on plus iPads and iPhones, it's into double digits and that's so very weird.
I agreed to let Banker have a tv in his room for the summer. It's basic cable, not the box with the HBO channels so we'll see. I asked him, please please please, don't let me down with bad tv choices. I have limited faith. I don't want to be disappointed.
He does have some school to finish from the week with the playdays, I still have an expectation it'll be completed this weekend and/or week.
WalterPug is enamored with the Girls and spends lots of his time watching them through the netting. He could bust through but doesn't realize it. *yay* The Girls aren't the slightest bit concerned by him and he just watches. It's lovely to watch. Lola, is coping.
 |
| Walter and Peck |
 |
| Walter watching the Girls |
Husband is golfing tomorrow and I'm supposed to run errands at fabric stores and such but with the new 32" in my room, I may just stay in bed and watch mindless tv, eating bonbons and drinking coffee. Oh, yes, I like that plan!
/Tracy
Day One Hundred and One
We made it, we're done. Well, we're done formal daily school. I didn't think we'd get here but we did.
The Banker just completed his chapter 12 MathUSee test and scored 100, yay. He has some work to make up from the week that was waylayed by parties, playing and company that he will complete this weekend.
Monday starts summer schedule! 1/2 day of Math/week; 1/2 day grammar/language/week; daily reading; as much Khan as he wants and an online college (not for credit) computer science program (just for fun).
I have my list of 8th grade subjects and a general plan. I have some details to finalize and have to meet with a friend who is writing his science curriculum. I like being done.
Husband is home today, sitting outside, smoking playing on his iPad, getting annoyed with Banker singing and humming. I don't get it. I'll never get it.
We are heading to the movies, we're seeing Avengers! Then I hope to grab some netting to make a generic containment field for the Girls so that I can let them out to stretch and run in green when we get home.
FriendK and son are supposed to venture our way this afternoon and have happy hour here.
most excellent.
/Tracy
The Banker just completed his chapter 12 MathUSee test and scored 100, yay. He has some work to make up from the week that was waylayed by parties, playing and company that he will complete this weekend.
Monday starts summer schedule! 1/2 day of Math/week; 1/2 day grammar/language/week; daily reading; as much Khan as he wants and an online college (not for credit) computer science program (just for fun).
I have my list of 8th grade subjects and a general plan. I have some details to finalize and have to meet with a friend who is writing his science curriculum. I like being done.
Husband is home today, sitting outside, smoking playing on his iPad, getting annoyed with Banker singing and humming. I don't get it. I'll never get it.
We are heading to the movies, we're seeing Avengers! Then I hope to grab some netting to make a generic containment field for the Girls so that I can let them out to stretch and run in green when we get home.
FriendK and son are supposed to venture our way this afternoon and have happy hour here.
most excellent.
/Tracy
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Day ONE HUNDRED
Wow. What a great day yesterday we had. We didn't do any work but I got to spend time with grown up friends while the Banker visited then entertained. There was laughter emanating from my relatively destroyed game room for hours and hours. I chatted and visited. I commiserated and got some support from friends on some decisions. I made plans for next week. It was a grand day.
In school related news.
I am discontinuing Time4Learning today. It filled a gap, gave the Banker a curriculum to leap to from jumping the public school ship. I think it's too young for him now, it's time to move on. I am cancelling it today.
I am ending formal school this week. Math and English will continue through the summer, so will reading. He is going to have to read Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn and Uncle Tom's Cabin this summer. Luckily, FriendA has to read them too so they can moan together. I offered dinner and a "book club" review when they finish each book, that met with some support. I love a plan.
FriendE and I were brilliant yesterday. As we sat at the table talking about Texas education and Austin schools ... we suddenly realized Texas is 24th and has a "D" grade in education for the country, so we researched who had the best and came up with Massachusetts as the solid winner. We searched the MA education agency and schools and found fabulous links to the books, curriculum and plans for their 8th graders. Oh hello, yes, we'll be utilizing THAT information. The Austin 8th grade curriculum links are password protected. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? What's so secret about what you're teaching our 8th graders?? MA's 8th grade curriculum, online books and resources provides passwords and user names. Wow, way to support the youth of America. I will absolutely be utilizing out of state resources, the local ones are sad, archaic and apparently so secret that parents aren't to be trusted viewing them, or WORSE, letting the children see!
I have a really good feeling about 8th grade. I have solid plans and solid plans to get more information from friends and online. I think it's going to be great.
I haven't broken the news to Banker that this is his final "formal" week of 7th grade just yet but I am telling the home school mothers around me so they have a head's up. I'm all about the village :)
This is our remaining work day this week, we played all day yesterday and are playing all day tomorrow. Husband is off work and I decided to embrace it. We are all going to a 12:30 movie then FriendK and her son are coming up for a visit. I will throw the boys upstairs and she and I will drink wine, look at chickens and relax and visit. I'm really really looking forward to it. Really.
I'm going to make bread today, make smoothies, and I am actually going to sew something! I want to make a "mug rug" and dammit, I am going to! We used to call them mini place mats but now they have a hip cool name. Bigger than a coaster and smaller than a place mat, I can put my coffee and a small plate or just a pile of chips on it. It'll soak the condensation ring from the cold drinks and just look pretty under my hot ones. Banker and his microscope can move to the other side of the room, I am taking my studio back! After I make a couple, I am going to invite FriendA to come and make some for her mom, her house and her life. She needs to sew more anyway.
Ok, there's a day, there's a plan and husband went to work and Banker is still asleep. I am going to enjoy the complete and total silence for just a few moments.
*seriously, how DOES he do that?* as I was about to press "Publish" the child appeared on the stairs. Ok, so no silence today but that's ok, we have work to do.
/Tracy
In school related news.
I am discontinuing Time4Learning today. It filled a gap, gave the Banker a curriculum to leap to from jumping the public school ship. I think it's too young for him now, it's time to move on. I am cancelling it today.
I am ending formal school this week. Math and English will continue through the summer, so will reading. He is going to have to read Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn and Uncle Tom's Cabin this summer. Luckily, FriendA has to read them too so they can moan together. I offered dinner and a "book club" review when they finish each book, that met with some support. I love a plan.
FriendE and I were brilliant yesterday. As we sat at the table talking about Texas education and Austin schools ... we suddenly realized Texas is 24th and has a "D" grade in education for the country, so we researched who had the best and came up with Massachusetts as the solid winner. We searched the MA education agency and schools and found fabulous links to the books, curriculum and plans for their 8th graders. Oh hello, yes, we'll be utilizing THAT information. The Austin 8th grade curriculum links are password protected. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? What's so secret about what you're teaching our 8th graders?? MA's 8th grade curriculum, online books and resources provides passwords and user names. Wow, way to support the youth of America. I will absolutely be utilizing out of state resources, the local ones are sad, archaic and apparently so secret that parents aren't to be trusted viewing them, or WORSE, letting the children see!
I have a really good feeling about 8th grade. I have solid plans and solid plans to get more information from friends and online. I think it's going to be great.
I haven't broken the news to Banker that this is his final "formal" week of 7th grade just yet but I am telling the home school mothers around me so they have a head's up. I'm all about the village :)
This is our remaining work day this week, we played all day yesterday and are playing all day tomorrow. Husband is off work and I decided to embrace it. We are all going to a 12:30 movie then FriendK and her son are coming up for a visit. I will throw the boys upstairs and she and I will drink wine, look at chickens and relax and visit. I'm really really looking forward to it. Really.
I'm going to make bread today, make smoothies, and I am actually going to sew something! I want to make a "mug rug" and dammit, I am going to! We used to call them mini place mats but now they have a hip cool name. Bigger than a coaster and smaller than a place mat, I can put my coffee and a small plate or just a pile of chips on it. It'll soak the condensation ring from the cold drinks and just look pretty under my hot ones. Banker and his microscope can move to the other side of the room, I am taking my studio back! After I make a couple, I am going to invite FriendA to come and make some for her mom, her house and her life. She needs to sew more anyway.
Ok, there's a day, there's a plan and husband went to work and Banker is still asleep. I am going to enjoy the complete and total silence for just a few moments.
*seriously, how DOES he do that?* as I was about to press "Publish" the child appeared on the stairs. Ok, so no silence today but that's ok, we have work to do.
/Tracy
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Day Ninety Eight
I feel as though we are finally back in the groove. The Banker is sitting across from me with his gigantic banana strawberry smoothie, (I love my new Ninja! blender!) he has his schedule for the week before him, headphones on, MathUSee video program running on his laptop double screen and I'm furiously trying to get my blog/s done, bread is rising and my coffee is sitting in front of me slowly going cold. Ahhhhh, routine! Ahhhhhhh, math day.
It rained AGAIN on my girls (chickens 7 weeks old tomorrow!) last night, we threw a tarp over the 'open' area of their coop in an attempt to keep them slightly dry on that side. The shavings I put down on the weekend really helped stopping it from turning into a mud pit. When the rain subsides, I'll muck it out and add some dry shavings. I'll admit it, I secretly like being a farmer :-)
I let the Banker blow off, sort of, loads of time yesterday. He was SO enjoying the Walking with Monsters series (Netflix how I love you) and ended up watching the entire series in one sitting. Now then, look what I said, "blow off" time, really? I need to get over the idea that doing something unconventional isn't educational. Geesh, c'mon me.
There's got to be information in there and he shouted knowledge tidbits at me throughout the afternoon. You have to be absorbing information when you are so happy about being given it. I was also very proud of myself and did not have him take notes in my home school mantra of 'it's only educational and it only counts as "school" if you take copious amounts of notes'. See, it only took me 98 days to figure that out. I'm slow but I'm steady and I do get it, eventually.
After the documentaries, we decided to do some more microscope work, that thing rocks. I killed a fly in the kitchen which was immediately put onto a slide to be observed close up and personal. It was, unfortunately still twitching and freaked the Banker out. Me too! Later I squished another one, substantially more forcefully, pulled off a wing and legs to check out up close. Euwww, very hairy! and who knew they had hair on their wings?! Anyway, I put the body underneath to check out those mandibles and, oh my god, they were still twitching. I threw it away. No, seriously, it would have freaked the Banker out to see a fly STILL twitching after the removal of parts. Next time, I'll make very very sure it's very very dead. It's Science day again on Thursday this week, there'll be loads of microscope work, it's very cool.
I've been thinking about doing some sewing but still can't wrap my head around going in there to sew when he's sitting here working online. I keep saying it'll find it's level but really, I'd like it to be sooner rather than later.
I'm feeling a little housebound and a little friend challenged lately too. I see FriendC loads and cyber visit with friends through Facebook and Texting briefly but really, I need some 'live' grownup girlfriend time and am sending out invitations that aren't being answered (either way) as quickly as my lonely soul would like, I'm sure it's not personal that we're all as busy as each other so I'm not getting into a funk just yet but I reserve the right to delve headlong into a thumb sucking, "Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, I'm going out to the garden to eat worms..." moment in the not too distant future. I will organize another Ladies who Lunch soon as well, hopefully before school is out although I wouldn't mind doing a couple with a couple of the public school kids in tow, I like some of them. I'm also in a little funk for the lack of invitations anywhere. I think it's funny that when I throw that sentence out, I get loads of replies from friends telling me how busy I always am, I guess it's the perception sometimes, plus my mom was just here for 2 weeks and we were busy every day, maybe it's partly vacation hostess letdown as well.
I think when husband gets the pool up it'll help tempt my southside living friends up north to me to hang about. I've started making, "wow, when the pool is up it's going to be just perfect back here" noises. We will see if he takes the bait.
Ok, there's my moan d'jour. I feel good about the academics today and still plan on a massive review at the end of the week about wrapping this up and getting some dates set for completion.
I'm going to go blend something...Ninja style!
/Tracy
 |
| "Chicken" (the lover of the group) |
I let the Banker blow off, sort of, loads of time yesterday. He was SO enjoying the Walking with Monsters series (Netflix how I love you) and ended up watching the entire series in one sitting. Now then, look what I said, "blow off" time, really? I need to get over the idea that doing something unconventional isn't educational. Geesh, c'mon me.
There's got to be information in there and he shouted knowledge tidbits at me throughout the afternoon. You have to be absorbing information when you are so happy about being given it. I was also very proud of myself and did not have him take notes in my home school mantra of 'it's only educational and it only counts as "school" if you take copious amounts of notes'. See, it only took me 98 days to figure that out. I'm slow but I'm steady and I do get it, eventually.
After the documentaries, we decided to do some more microscope work, that thing rocks. I killed a fly in the kitchen which was immediately put onto a slide to be observed close up and personal. It was, unfortunately still twitching and freaked the Banker out. Me too! Later I squished another one, substantially more forcefully, pulled off a wing and legs to check out up close. Euwww, very hairy! and who knew they had hair on their wings?! Anyway, I put the body underneath to check out those mandibles and, oh my god, they were still twitching. I threw it away. No, seriously, it would have freaked the Banker out to see a fly STILL twitching after the removal of parts. Next time, I'll make very very sure it's very very dead. It's Science day again on Thursday this week, there'll be loads of microscope work, it's very cool.
I've been thinking about doing some sewing but still can't wrap my head around going in there to sew when he's sitting here working online. I keep saying it'll find it's level but really, I'd like it to be sooner rather than later.
I'm feeling a little housebound and a little friend challenged lately too. I see FriendC loads and cyber visit with friends through Facebook and Texting briefly but really, I need some 'live' grownup girlfriend time and am sending out invitations that aren't being answered (either way) as quickly as my lonely soul would like, I'm sure it's not personal that we're all as busy as each other so I'm not getting into a funk just yet but I reserve the right to delve headlong into a thumb sucking, "Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, I'm going out to the garden to eat worms..." moment in the not too distant future. I will organize another Ladies who Lunch soon as well, hopefully before school is out although I wouldn't mind doing a couple with a couple of the public school kids in tow, I like some of them. I'm also in a little funk for the lack of invitations anywhere. I think it's funny that when I throw that sentence out, I get loads of replies from friends telling me how busy I always am, I guess it's the perception sometimes, plus my mom was just here for 2 weeks and we were busy every day, maybe it's partly vacation hostess letdown as well.
I think when husband gets the pool up it'll help tempt my southside living friends up north to me to hang about. I've started making, "wow, when the pool is up it's going to be just perfect back here" noises. We will see if he takes the bait.
Ok, there's my moan d'jour. I feel good about the academics today and still plan on a massive review at the end of the week about wrapping this up and getting some dates set for completion.
I'm going to go blend something...Ninja style!
/Tracy
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Day Ninety Five and Ninety Six
We finished the day yesterday more successfully than we began. Bonus. The Banker and I reviewed the expectations to continue this home school experience. We both have ends to hold up and I hope the talk hit the right cords with him, I have cautious faith.
It's the weekend. I hate weekends. Although lately, not much has been the source of great delight. I just let the girls out of their sleeping area, they jumped off their perch! and they were so very excited to see me. They jumped into my lap and ate the treaties I'd taken out for them. I am going to find something today to dump in there so they can scratch it out over the mud, I slipped while straddling their stupid ramp and half twisted my ankle again. I am not going to moan too heavily about it. I am also going to find one portion of the porch to de-mud, baby steps because the entire project is too daunting.
Banker has some academics to finish this weekend and we will finish moving his bedroom from one room to the other. He slept between husband and I last night. I woke to both their snoring faces ;) Normally Banker would have gone back to his room after some TV watching with me and/or husband would have wandered to the guestroom bed but he didn't for some reason. I'd like to formally thank the maker of the King Sized bed for last nights sleeping. Everyone had room.
So, I'm going to de-mud a small portion of my newly decorated then destroyed back garden then play with my iPad a bit, then sweep 4,908 times to de-mud the back door every time anyone walks in and leaves their shoes on and stomps up the stairs grinding it in. But I'm going to keep it to myself.
No formal plans this weekend, maybe I should find a girlfriend and get out for a bit, oh wait, my sty eye is still swollen and red and itchy and driving me crazy...never mind.
It's Mother's Day tomorrow, I just want a coffee and some quiet and maybe for them to clean off the porch. Wow, I'm easy. I hope husband doesn't spend money, I don't want anything really, just be nice to me for a whole day, say something pleasant or even more frightening, tell me I did something well. That's what it'll take to make my day. I bet husband dashes out later and buys a card for Banker to sign, he HATES that and always tells me that he just wants to be able to go and pick a card from him to me, I don't understand why husband won't take him out to do that... I might take him out later if it comes to that actually, there's nothing worse, when you're a kid, than not being able to get to a store or worse, having someone buy something for you to give.
I'm going to go stare at chickens until the day starts then try and duck and weave my way through to Monday.
/Tracy
It's the weekend. I hate weekends. Although lately, not much has been the source of great delight. I just let the girls out of their sleeping area, they jumped off their perch! and they were so very excited to see me. They jumped into my lap and ate the treaties I'd taken out for them. I am going to find something today to dump in there so they can scratch it out over the mud, I slipped while straddling their stupid ramp and half twisted my ankle again. I am not going to moan too heavily about it. I am also going to find one portion of the porch to de-mud, baby steps because the entire project is too daunting.
Banker has some academics to finish this weekend and we will finish moving his bedroom from one room to the other. He slept between husband and I last night. I woke to both their snoring faces ;) Normally Banker would have gone back to his room after some TV watching with me and/or husband would have wandered to the guestroom bed but he didn't for some reason. I'd like to formally thank the maker of the King Sized bed for last nights sleeping. Everyone had room.
So, I'm going to de-mud a small portion of my newly decorated then destroyed back garden then play with my iPad a bit, then sweep 4,908 times to de-mud the back door every time anyone walks in and leaves their shoes on and stomps up the stairs grinding it in. But I'm going to keep it to myself.
No formal plans this weekend, maybe I should find a girlfriend and get out for a bit, oh wait, my sty eye is still swollen and red and itchy and driving me crazy...never mind.
It's Mother's Day tomorrow, I just want a coffee and some quiet and maybe for them to clean off the porch. Wow, I'm easy. I hope husband doesn't spend money, I don't want anything really, just be nice to me for a whole day, say something pleasant or even more frightening, tell me I did something well. That's what it'll take to make my day. I bet husband dashes out later and buys a card for Banker to sign, he HATES that and always tells me that he just wants to be able to go and pick a card from him to me, I don't understand why husband won't take him out to do that... I might take him out later if it comes to that actually, there's nothing worse, when you're a kid, than not being able to get to a store or worse, having someone buy something for you to give.
I'm going to go stare at chickens until the day starts then try and duck and weave my way through to Monday.
/Tracy
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