10/31 Monday

Reformation Day!

Went to WUG in the morning to help clean up after the celebration.

1 John 4:5-6
Acts 7
CA

MUS #9C

J read in Abeka Grade 3 science book on oceans. Saw the experiment information and wanted to do it, but once he read it, he knew the results and didn't want to bother.

E read a couple of Thanksgiving books, did great.

RA: 5 Children and It

Homeschooling Myself

Isn't that the title of a book? It struck me yesterday that I spent so much time thinking about my kids' educations I keep forgetting about my own. I know parents should constantly be learning themselves. This not only keeps us from getting stale (and boring?) but is good for the kids to see too. I neglect that, badly. I do think about the future and being alone with my husband again without the kids to talk about. What will I be able to talk about?

For our vacation I had lots of reading plans. But I only ended up reading a few pages here and there, out of several books, didn't finish anything and didn't really get much benefit from what I did read. I lost my Bible midway through the trip so didn't really do much Bible study - though Cris had his and most places had Gideon Bibles in the rooms...

I vaguely remember a comment, perhaps made by Charlotte Mason, about a mother's reading. Perhaps it is part of her "Mother Culture" philosophy. I believe she recommends always having 3 books going, or maybe it's 4. The Bible, daily, of course. Also, "a stiff book," something to learn from or make us think. And something just plain enjoyable. If there was a 4th, I can't think what it would be.

Also one has to find time for enjoyable pursuits. Gardening could be one of these, and that's necessary too. Then there's time to knit, and increase my knitting skills - getting tired of washcloths... Sewing, other home crafts. I should learn to do basic home improvement, so I could do things like paint a wall now and then. Whew! Hard to imagine doing this while homeschooling. Yet, women do and have done so, with more children! Maybe they could fit it in because they didn't hahve the internet calling their names all day long...

Back home...

I'd planned to post while on vacation but internet access wasn't as easy as we'd expected. Vacation was also much busier than we'd anticipated but I did get some time to think about education and, most importantly, lots of time to observe my children and think about their progress, the way they learn, and what we should be working on.

We learned a lot on this trip. James is a museum freak; we spent an entire day in the British Museum and had to go back for more. He can't tear himself away! Eleanor always wanted to know where the gift shop was... but while on this trip we found that she can pretty much read now, after minimal "teaching" from me. What to do with all those Explode the Code books??

We also talked a lot about things we'd like to do and how we'd like our home to work. We agreed (and we'll see how this works in practice) that we'll get our "basics" - reading, math, writing - done in the morning without arguing or delaying, so we'll have more time for the more fun stuff. We have a few projects planned... including some gardening, and learning to sew and cook, and of course lots of reading aloud. Oh, and teatime every afternoon. If anything, travel has made them - James especially - even more curious and wanting to know everything about everything. They were very happy when I pulled out Story of the World today to read about the Wars of the Roses - a topic with which they are fairly familiar after visiting the Tower and York Minster.

Those basics, though, are still going to be a struggle, especially for James. He has lost what little grasp on math facts he had. And I hate to think what handwriting will be like for him, since he barely put pencil to paper for a month. The journals I brought didn't quite work out - we were so busy doing that we didn't take much time for the reporting. But I'm feeling pretty good about our "school year" which, I guess, has started!

Will we ever learn?

Cris asked me tonight: "if we were flying out on Tuesday instead of Monday, would we still be running around at the last minute getting things done?" I believe the answer is yes. We always think we have more time than we actually have.

So, off to finish the laundry and get the clothes packed! This time tomorrow we'll be on the plane, so anything left unfinished will have to stay that way.

Girly girls and their dolls...

This has nothing to do with homeschooling and everything to do with it.

Eleanor is getting ready to drop her doll, Sarah, off with friends to care for while we are away. (We decided that we wouldn't want to leave Sarah on a train, or in a hotel room. Also, Sarah can be a little high-maintenance and I didn't want to deal with her. But Eleanor doesn't have to know that part.)

So it's a little bit of a sad time for her. Today we went to the grocery store and oh, the sweet looks she got from the old ladies as she walked through the store, holding Sarah in her blanket, just like a good new Mama. Then she decided Sarah should ride in the cart, so she spread out the blanket and gently sat Sarah in the seat, then strapped her in safely. (Actually, I had to remind her not to put the strap around her neck, but rather under her arms. No chokeholds, please.)

I was thinking about the way our culture encourages girls to grow up so fast, with sophisticated clothing to wear and icky Bratz dolls to play with. Then I realized I'm happy to have her assume the role of Mama to her baby doll. That's growing up too. But it's a world of difference, isn't it?

Heat Wave

I've been looking forward to cool weather on this vacation. Everyone who's known me for very long knows I don't like heat. London average temps are about 70 in August and 66 in September - that's F, not C. (Hey! Another learning opportunity coming up! Better find a conversion chart to bring along.) But the day we arrive the forecast says 77, and rising over the next few days as high as 86!

I know, I know... quit complaining. It's not a serious complaint. Believe me, I will be happy whatever the weather. Cris and I have been talking about this trip almost since we first met. It's very thrilling that it's happening now, and we get to show our kids these wonderful places!

Now Comes the Hard Part...

The clothing is all piled on the floor, ready to go in the suitcases... most of the housecleaning is done... laundry is under control...

Now, what should I take to read?

I think it's down to: Sense and Sensibility (Austen), Johnson and Boswell's Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland and Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides With Samuel Johnson, The Heart of Homeschooling (Klicka; a freebie from joining HSLDA) and of course my Bible and new study book Becoming a Woman of Prayer. Oh, a Tabletalk magazine, too. We've been getting it for a while, though I never read it. Now's the time. Maybe.

For the readalouds with the kids: Mr. Pipes and the British Hymn Makers (Bond; a re-read but we may get to visit the real city in which the fictional story takes place), Black Beauty (Sewell), and The Enchanted Castle (Nesbit). Wanted to take Duncan's War (Bond, story of Scottish Covenanters) but there don't appear to be any girls in it, so Eleanor would object.

Of course I suppose it's possible we might find a book or two to buy while we are there.