The Joy of Field Trips

Academy of Natural Sciences

Nothing philosophical today simply a sharing of the joy that is the field trip. I did not take advantage as much last year and have been trying to make up for lost time. We went up to the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia on Friday ( near to the more well known Franklin Institute) and while small and easily seen in a few hours we had s great time. The kids were able to see the Dioramas of the animals ( moose and lions and bears and stuff) and best of all we spent quite a bit of time in the butterfly room. It was really fun to see all the different varieties, look at them eat. and they were everywhere, the walls and floors ( we had to tread carefully), so many colors and sizes. Jenny and Matthew semed to enjoy it the most. They also got to spend time a room called "Outside IN" with some live animals, animal bones, and hides, lots of things to touc and explore. Puzzles to do and all sorts of creepy crawly things to touch and see.

McFadden Glass Blowing



Then yesterday we went to a glass blowing shop, small and quaint in the garage of a guy. 20 active homeschoolers attended and everyone got to make either a pendant or a marble. And yes, they allowed the 4 year old monster ( aka Nate) to actually use a rod to get molton glass, and (with help ) pick colors and form it into a marble. Jenny got to make a pendant and I have to say, Really was one of our best field trips ever. No way would they ever do this in public school.

First they got the molton glass out of the furnace, then dabbed it in the additional colors they wanted. After placing it back in the rewarming furnace, they then they rolled it on a table, back to rewarm, then using the tongs, formed it into the shape and then knocked it off the rod. After placing it in insulation to cool, the rod goes into to barrel to cool off which pops off the extra glass from the rod. After 15-20 minutes the marble is cool enough to handle and the nub gets ground down to make it all smooth. It really was fun and different. This is the stuff that makes homeschooling worth it.

Fabulous Days.

Running around Homeschooling

I have been thinking a lot about homeschooling and running, and the parallel between them. For me, I approached both of these insane ideas with the same sort of resolute trepidation. OK, this is something that you must do, it is in your (and the kids) best interest. It will be something that you just have to endure.... and with both, I was surprised to discover, not only that I CAN do it, but there are benefits that I actually enjoy, and ( dare I say) that it is sometimes .....fun.

Now, there are many days that I simply would rather have a bikini wax than homeschool. I sometimes ponder the desire to skip a day ( or week) and just goof off. But, I gear up and settle everyone down to do as they should, and I slide into the familiar and BAM, before I know the day is done and we have accomplished everything that was scheduled ( well, more or less, I mean I am not Anne Sullivan). How does this happen? Besides simple ( ha ha- simple?) will power, I attribute this to a few things, I am getting better at motivating and scheduling the kids. They know what is expected, I have rewards and consequences and it is our routine. Also, I have great hubby who wants this for our family. While he doesn't necessarily know the day to day drama, he is glad I am doing this and allows me to freak out about it every now and then with love, support, and encouragement. I have the benefit ( and consequence) of being with my kids almost all the time, I really, really know them (and they me) the good, the bad, and the ugly. We have fun, we laugh, we play, we discuss the grammatical ways in which to use the word "fart" ( Did you know that "farting" is a present participle?). Also, I find that my kids have a fun knowledge of the obscure, are serious about reading, enjoy different experiences, are confident, are kind ( well not always to each other), and generally they are pretty good kids.

Now running, again, lots of similarities, I rarely want to do it ( but will admit that I have caught myself looking forward to it, once). I get up, get dressed, I put on my sneaks, and head out the door. Usually I am operating on routine, as I want nothing at all to do with crawling out of bed. ( Have I mentioned my pride at being a night owl and morning hater?) All the while, I am quietly being negative about it all ( hmmm lowering expectations?) convincing myself that today I am not going to run far, that I am never going to make it all the way this morning, that it is OK to slack a bit once in a while, that perhaps today I will walk some hills instead of running 4 miles. etc. etc. etc. But I start and then, BAM before I know it, its done. How does this happen? Well, same things, I am getting more conditioned and my body is able to achieve more ( and feel more, as the almost 42 year old knees seem to be giving me some trouble lately). Also, I have a supportive husband who praises my efforts, encourages me to keep at it, and balances the right amount of neutrality to my negativity and positive support to my enthusiasm. Finally, I also have a running partner, who I, quite literally, ran into one day. And as we had the same schedule and pace, we seemed to fall into a nice routine which sometimes proves to be the little extra I need to get out there and get going in the morning.

So, like all things that matter, achievement and success require patience, diligence, commitment, and much of the time, not too much heavy thinking. Blind adherence to routine can carry you pretty far and before you know it....You have Will Power. Will power is earned and comes not from magic fairy dust being sprinkled down from above, but from doing it, day after day. It is important to remember that when it really comes down to it, I only have today, and I had better get up, get going, and do what needs doing because you never know what tomorrow will bring....well, besides another 4 miles and a heavy school schedule.

Now if only I had the will power to blog weekly....

Thoughts on Running..... or thoughts while running.

Well a few weeks ago I said to PapaSchnuck, " I think I am going to run, everyday, for two weeks." (why 2 weeks? well, to be honest it, I just pulled it out of the air and it seemed like a reasonable time, too short to give up because of boredom, too long to claim temporary insanity). Well, being an experienced husband, he wisely bit his lip to keep the laughter from emerging and, rather noncommittally replied, "That's nice dear" ( OK, OK, he didn't really say that but it was something equally neutral and not very encouraging) I was expecting incredulity, or shock or awe, but got, nothing, or at least not much. (Hmm... I thought to myself, he is not saying anything because he doesn't think that I am really going to do it). Well, Monday morning rolled around and I asked him to wake me, but I was so worried about not getting up, I barely got any sleep that night, up checking the clock over and over. so at 7am I bounded out of bed and off I went. And the next day..and the next... ( OK truth is. the 3rd day I could barely walk, so while I did go out, I only ran about 25 yards and walked the rest of the two miles.) One day, the first week it was raining, and I put on a hat. I would be darned if I would give in to the (imagined) failure from PapaSchnuck. ( I have to admit, this was a very wise strategy on his behalf because I think he knew if I thought HE thought I wouldn't do it, even without saying anything, it would push me. And it did, thanks babe!)



So.. 6 days the first week and 6 days the next week ( yes, I took Sundays off, except when I swapped it for a Monday run) and the two weeks flew by. ( yeah right, the only time that flew by was the time between the actual runs. I would leave the house for 40 minutes or so and swear I had been out running for 3 hours). But time did elapse, and I was faced with 2 weeks down and now what... Well I am still figuring it out ( my new time frame is my birthday at the end of the month), but still running every day. Trying desperately not to 'miss' a day else I fear never starting again, silly, I know but I have always been an all or nothing kinda gal. And, needless to say, I have worked my run up to 3-4 miles a day an, consequently, have some time on my hands.....err feet, to think a bit. The primary thought every morning is, "Who the hell would ever do his willingly?" ( yes I KNOW that I am doing it, not under any coercion, but I do not consider it doing it willing, more a ....necessity.... to prevent myself from gaining any more weight, since I have proven time and time again, a complete and utter inability to control my eating ( remember that all or nothing kinda gal? I have got to keep up the exercise. Homeschooling removed my 5 day a week workout down to 2 and that is not good for my figure.)



So I have pretty much concluded that that......running sucks. Excuse my vulgarity, but the only thing that I have found, so far, about running that is good, is when it is over. I do it because I must and believe it or not that has freed up a great deal of willpower. There is a freedom in realizing, I do not have to like it ( or even love it) but I do have to do it. I have not (yet?) experienced that 'high' runners talk about or the joy or anything remotely redeeming about it. Well, except for the fact that I dropped 5lbs in 3 weeks without changing my diet at all, poof- 5 lbs gone.. ( well not poof exactly but hey).. So the decision to just do it ( sorry Nike) , and the weight loss makes it just a little bit better to lace up, get out, and lumber on down the road one more morning.



Next post: the analogy between (or is it metaphor about?) running and homeschooling .....or maybe not.

Hey, it's almost time for school.

hey, hello, how ya doin? Miss me????? Whew, how quick those 3 months went. Can I pretend that it was all a big plan to take time off and get rest and refresh myself? no?..... OK, truth be told, we took a few weeks off that simply was so delightful that it turned in to a few months. School got wrapped up and grand plans were made to continue through summer but reality hit me smack in the face and I realized that I really really wanted a break. so I took it. And it was simply lovely to do no planning, or database or cajoling, or begging, yelling (well..... I did do that), pleading and correcting. So....... instead, we have been camping, swimming, playing, sleeping, watching TV, cleaning, organizing, and overall having a terrific summer.

Now we are (almost) ready to begin anew. All four Schnuckies are signed on for homeschooling and, despite Ben's grand plan to return to fifth grade, even he has signed on for another year ( "But, mom, I'm going back in middle school really") I have decided ( as I sit here planning and organizing for the start of the new year) that I ought to dust off my blog and do my best to keep it updated for the one or two of you that I have managed not to lose in my unannounced absence. I feel very different going into my second year and am kind of excited to see how we progress. I know that I have learned a lot and will be making the changes from last year. I hope we all get through it positively and productively (and have a bunch of fun too).

so with two fully grown puppies now, and a new kitty, I have a Pre-K, 1st grader, 3rd grader and 5th grader. and away we go.....

Wow! We are almost done, or are we?

Almost done…ha.…besides the years looming ahead of me, besides the endless questions and infinite curiosity, finished if you don’t factor in the idea that we are only a tiny inch along in a miles long journey. Finished if you read that laced with heavy sarcasm.  Finished as a mere temporary measurement as the finish line is malleable and continually expanding. But I digress.

Wow, we are almost done with the year.  Our first year has been a fun, frustrating, fantastic, fundamental, filling, fabulous, fearful, ferocious, and fantastical feat. ( How is that for alliteration?)  It is hard to believe that we are in May, and wrapping up the academic year.  I have struggled regarding the decision as to whether I ought to continue through the summer or take it all off.  I’m hedging my bets and letting the kids know we will be doing some work but being deliberately vague.  All in all I would classify this as a very successful year  We had some pretty low points, and a great deal of aggravation and frustration at times, but we also had joy, and learning , and curiosity and accomplishments and progress, and most of all, we had fun!  Much more fun that I would have thought ( much more work than I would have imagined as well, now that I mentions it ) but I can honestly say, I think that it was a success. 

Academically, the kids have made progress.  Matthew is almost done with 2nd (Singapore) and 3rd (McRuffy)grade Math curriculum.  He has progresses a year and a half in Language Arts Grammar. A academic year of spelling, handwriting, science, and 2, half years of Science ( Life and Chemistry) and a whole lot of reading. Ben has completed 4th grade Singapore math, a mish mash of 3 different grammar programs, ancient history and spelling, handwriting, ( the 2 half years of) Science, reading, reading, and more reading.  Jenny, (I have to say this makes me the most proud) learned to read. ( I mean really, she can read – pretty well) It tickles me to no end that I taught her this, and it was worth every pout and while and complaint and tantrum.  I can now say…My daughter can read.  She also is most of the way through a 1st grade math curriculum (McRuffy).

They all both got excellent art instruction at my co-op, and Ben even got some karate training and Nate was even able to have some of a pre-school class, though I need to work more with him as he still has not mastered his letters…( but he knows the capital of Nebraska).

All in all, success.  However, I am still working furiously on how to post more here on the blog, as my ability to be witty, insightful, concise, and intelligent seems to be more and more rare and I hate to prattle along with no message or story line…as I seem now, to be doing. 

So, a few more weeks and then….plans for summer.

Matthew is 8 ( eight!!)

My posts must get repetitive as I seem to exclaim shock over every birthday and the passage of another year but Good Golly, stop already.  My kids are growing up so very fast.  This special time in our lives where family is the focus and we all are at the center of each other’s world is balancing precariously on an edge.  Ben is almost 10 and before I know it they will all be out and about and with friends and different interests and this special time will be gone.  Diapers and sleepless nights and  picking out clothes and begging for stories and hugs and snuggles is rapidly disappearing.  I know I will miss is so very much.

 

And so my sweet little sunshine, my laughing ray of cheer, my peanut, my little red tomato, and all those other nicknames I call him, Matthew is now 8 years old.  While I have a carbon copy of a younger version of him ( Nate) running around bothering me, they are very different.  

I see my sweet, contemplative, internal, quiet, little guy, growing up, getting smarter, and I love him so desperately it almost hurts.

Happy Birthday my sweet Matthew

 

 

(Matt and his best friend, Nate)

the sausage making isn’t always pretty.

Sorry, I have been wrapped up a bit in politics lately (no, don’t worry I will keep the blog politically pure), and so I had to borrow the phrase from the recent legislative process to describe the recent experiences of my life.  We are finally emerging from a few rough weeks and I am still processing it all.  I said I would be honest in this thing so here it goes.  I was really resentful and actually hating having everyone here all day all the time  Ok it was only for a brief time but it was not very pleasant.  I was getting wrapped up in my own stuff and becoming a bit resentful of all the time that was going into the planning and copying and preparing of the school day, then those little ingrates were not being very appreciative of my efforts, nor my ideas (shocking huh?). Additionally,  they would complain and whine and overall be a very difficult about working on their assignments. ( I mean they would fail to scream with delight when reviewing the day’s assignments, go figure).  Days started getting longer and longer and more full of yelling and cajoling and threatening.  It was becoming more common than not to throw in the towel (whether work was completed or not) at 5pm and push everything over to finish the next day.  I would be angry, frustrated, short tempered, and hostile and the kids would be exhausted and poor Papaschnuck was dreading walking through the door at night. 

So what did we do?  simple actually, I changed my attitude.  I tried to re-center myself and realize that :

1) It did no good to my children if I was resentful of the effort that was required.  That was part of it and I needed to do it and move on, not carry it into the day and expect appreciation.

2)  Homeschooling,while work, needs to be fun and engaging.  The more I hated it, the more the kids hated it, and the less we accomplished.

3) school time needs to be school time, not Facebook, not news reading, not ‘my’ time.  The kids want to goof off and do their own thing when I am doing my own thing, we lead by example and my example is the most powerful one.

4) expectations are needed in both attitude and achievement. Kids rise to the occasion if you let them.

5) rewards need to be present and consequences need to be in place so #4 can be successful.

6) You cannot stay home and do work all day, you must get out, have fun and enjoy the time even if you miss math once in a while.  it is OK to miss math once in a while.

and finally,

7) curriculum changes are needed to help the teacher as well as the student.  Even if a course is working well for a child it does not mean it works for the teacher. I need to be able to manage all the different subjects and making changes to make life easier on me is OK ( and I am doing some changes now).

The last week or so things are better, we are all more engaged, happy and feeling more empowered.  I must continue to remain flexible and open in order to make the most of this experience, for all of us.  I am only human and we are going to have highs and lows.  I am glad to be out of that low and eager to continue to grow and learn from this, after all, I am in school again.