Oh, What A Spectacle!

Just some thoughts....okay rambling

There are times when I second guess my chosen "occupation" of stay at home wife/mom/unschooler/homemaker/breeder. But, it is not very often. Usually, it's when someone isnults my intelligence or tries to correct my parenting or wife skills. I have no degree for a college or university, I am short, fat, a minority and come from uneducated parents. Admittedly I can be found around 3om watching Real Housewives of...(wherever they are). I will text or chat and use LOL  way too much.  Instead of working outside the home I have chosen not to, I have chosen this role to enrich my kids lives and because I am a bit paranoid. Day care sucked for my oldest as he was always sick. However, despite my lack of job or degree I am in no way stupid.

I am a very well read person, or so I think. Since I was very young I have read almost everything and anything these brown hands could grab. By ten I was reading Kerouac and Burroughs. When I was entering junior high I had read all of the works of Shakespeare. Yes, I had also read all the fun stuff  by Beverly Cleary and Laura Ingalls Wilder. It's in me to absorb everything and make my own opinions on things.

Honestly, sometimes I think too much of whatever think of my intelligence. For some reason it something fretful for me. When I was in seventh grade I tried to fail because my same aged cousin would get mad at me. "Stop being so smart! I am tired of being compared to you!" "Nerd!" "Geek!" "Four eyes!" which came with the mandatory spit infused fingerprints in my lenses. The best and most hurtful of all was "You know, 'Nita boys don't like girls who are smarter than them." In the gut and hear at the same time. Something in me lead me to believe them, I had never had a boyfriend and they were practically engaged at 13. Or so it seemed.

So for years I yo-yo'd with my ability to be both smart and worth of a boy or man. I say boy because I am sorry a sixteen year old is not yet a man. Whenever I would meet someone who seemed to be able to carry on an intelligent conversation with me they'd end up with some girl who bathed in lip gloss and read Cosmo as if were the truth the way and the light to life. Or sometimes they would end up with a friend of mine who was inclined to shake her ass  from underneath her skirt. That just wasn't me. 

For sometime in my late teens and early twenties I thought maybe those words were correct. Never was I able to have an intelligent relationship. So I really did dumb myself down and became a person I still am not able to reconcile. The old me would still come out from time to time, caught reading a book or writing some poetry made me "intriguing" or "different". But, off to the next girl... Honestly during this time there was maybe a couple of guys who were willing to deal with my brain and eccentricities but, I just could not believe them. I gave up hope. Forget the fact that any women I dated at the time were....possessive NO THANKS!

Some morning I feel like I need a good slap in the face and remember that I am married. I do have some great friends, some wonderful children and am intelligent. This is all okay and I just need to forget what the world thinks of it all.  I read sociology books for fun, NPR is on my iPhone and I bake bread. Why do not just I but, women and people in general feel they need to fit perectly into categories?

Like I said lot's of rambling.

 

Love and The smell of a new book.

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co-sleeeping

I wish I had not lost my pictures. We started co-sleeping with our oldest son from day two. The first night I was at the hospital with him. It just seemed easier to have him in our bed with us. Afterall, I was breastfeeding and had no need to leave the bed. At the time I had no clue of the term "co-sleeping", I just knew that it felt right. So we have continued the practice with all five of our kids. In 11 years we have had many size beds from two twin beds pushed together, full, queen, california king and now a full and twin pushed together.

The kids who still wander in at night like to crawl into the twin bed. They feel like it's their own bed yet, they are still close to us. The littlest still sleeps with us unless he falls asleep on th couch. He loves the couch. I don't blame him it's comfy.

Sometimes in the morning I have even been woken by a dog or two crawling into bed. Imagine a big lab or husky snuggling a baby or two. This is all just part if  a journey. An amazing journey to keep our family close and secure. If I had to go back the only I would change would be the have a giant bed from day one.

The journey still continues.....as does my love for our kids.

Much Love and Snuggles,

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A Day In Pictures (not today)

dishes

family table

cleaning cabinets

I can see my living room when I prep or make bread.

Maggie put socks on Stan Lee.

Hez sleeping on momma

watching Ellen

much love,

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Links I Love/Like

UnSchooling, Homeschooling etc.

Play=Learning

The Virtues of Play (Wired Science)

Living Math

UnSchooling.com

1000 Great Books

I'm Unschooled. Yes, I can write.

The Anti-Schoolers

 

Housekeeping, Homemaking, Cooking and such

Hips Girls Guide to Homemaking

50's Housewife Experiment

Canning Across America

Food In Jars

Mesaure Free Hippie Cook

 Drying for Freedom

Clothesline Article New York Times

Project Laundry List

Music

NPR Music

BBC Music

Echoes from the Bin (My friend Jeremy's Music Blog)

Last.Fm (my profile)

Grooveshark

Shawn Madden Music

Adelle The Great

 KCRW

Daytrotter

Parenting

Peaceful Parents, Peaceful Kids

Attatchment Parenting International

 

 

Unschooling Manifesto

Just encase someone wants to know and thinks my kids are running wild in the backyard naked...well maybe not today ;)
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Unschooling Manifesto For the Sherman Children of San Jacinto, Ca

Dexter d.o.b 11.23.1999
Joaquin d.o.b. 08.05.2002
Margaret d.o.b 06.02.2-004
Waylon d.o.b 06.26.2006
Hezekiah d.o.b 09.28.2008



Broad Curriculum Areas

The family will learn at home, in the company of their mother. Their father will also play a major role, as will various family and friends, and members of the community
We see education as a marathon rather than a sprint, and are focused on their long-term education. It is our hope that at the end of her homeschooling, they will be able to happily do whatever it is they wants to do with their lives and continue to want to learn.

Their education will be flexible and able to be adjusted as each of their needs change. They will be involved in the construction of their own curriculum, based around their particular interests.

We believe that life is not compartmentalised in to subjects and neither should education be. All subjects overlap and are inherently intertwined.

LITERACY

Our goal for all our children is that they be able to communicate on all levels, and that reading in particular will become a life-long pleasure for all of them.

We also hope that all of the childrens reading ability will become such that they are able to understand and enjoy all forms of written material.

Dexter, Joaquin, Margaret, Waylon and Hezekiah will become competent in Literacy in the following (and more) ways:

* Conversations with us, each other and others.
* Being read to.
* Reading for themselves.
* Listening to books on cd, tape or record.
* Writing in their journals
* Writing notes, cards, and signs
* Watching movies based on books
* Creating new endings to stories we read
* Playing board games
* Playing with words (rhyming, alliteration,
* Acting out parts of stories
* Re-telling stories
* Telling stories in different forms, eg: suitable for a toddler
* Writing their own stories
* Illustrating their stories
* Writing/talking/thinking about characters in books
* Writing letters, addressing envelopes, and writing in cards
* Writing on competition entry forms, and bank slips
* Making lists of things to do, or items they would like
* Writing stories, poems, and captions for artwork
* Making books
* Visiting the library regularly
* Choosing and buying books
* Reading newspapers and magazines
* Reading signs and labels
*Margaret is having some reading troubles and we will be evaluating her for Dyslexia.



NUMERACY

Our goal for Dexter, Joaquin, Margaret, Waylon and Hezekiah is that theywill enjoy mathematics, that they all will have good number-sense, and become competent in all basic areas. We also expect that they will have an understanding of how mathematics is woven in to our everyday lives.

Numeracy will be learned in the following (and other) ways:

* Baking and cooking (fractions, measurement)
* Noticing patterns, symmetry and shapes, etc
* Shopping (currency, arithmetic, measurement)
* Counting objects (eg: ponies) or counting time (eg:hide and seek)
* Counting Pocket Money and working out ways to use it
* Playing Board Games, eg: Monopoly (currency, addition, subtraction, value)
* Playing Card Games
* Playing Dice Games, eg: Yahtzee (addition, recording)
* Constructing Lego models from Instructions and imagination
* Playing with Math-U-See blocks, tangrams, linking cubes, counting teddies, pretend money, dice, dominoes, magnetic numbers, rulers, calculators and other mathematical resources we purchase
* Observing times, dates and seasons
* Playing computer games online, and on cd-rom (eg: Reader Rabbit Math)
* Discussing Math and math concepts
* Reading math books (eg: The Grapes of Math)
* Drawing
* Doing puzzles and mazes
* Doing Sudoku and other mathematical puzzles
*Math-U-See DVD's

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Our goal for Dexter, Joaquin, Margaret, Waylon and Hezekiah is that they will develop a positive interest in science to develop their scientific thinking skills. We want them to be competent and comfortable with all aspects of technology, and to find enjoyment using them.

They will study science and technology, related to her personal interests and surrounding environment in the following (but not limited to these) ways:

* Watching Science-related documentaries and DVD’s .
* Reading Science books (from our own collection and the library)
* Visiting the Zoo, The Western Center of Archaelogy and Paleontolgy, The Water Education Center, Tierra Buena Community Gaden, meetings for the San Jacinto Valley Green Coalition and other musuems and places.
* Exploring our backyard and garden
* Assisting in the garden. They all loves to plant and care for seeds, and watch them grow
* Attend community awareness events with family
* Discussing environmental issues with family, friends and each other
* Conducting science experiments
* Making and recording observations
* Visiting Science Fairs
* Exploring at beaches and on our walks
* Observing the world around her
* Meeting scientists
* Being involved in recycling and composting our waste
* Using technology in the home and beyond
*Going to Science Saturday's at the Western Center for Archaeolgy and Paleontolgy and other events they offer

The children has free access to our computers (and a laptop), and is encouraged to make use of them as often as they like. They enjoys playing on various websites designed for children, (PBS Kids and NASA for kids).and using some of the programs on each pc (eg; Word and Paintbrush).



They will read various scientific and technological publications as each of their interest leads.

HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

Our goal for Dexter, Joaquin, Margaret. Waylon and Hezekiah is that they each understand the necessity of a healthy body, and to continue to care for her body’s needs. There are many opportunities to learn about health in a home environment, and many ways for them to be physically active.

They will learn about health in the following ways:

* Discussion with family and friends
* Shopping for and preparing food
* Discussing the essentials of a healthy diet
* Discussing various diets around the world
* Reading books on health and disease
* Being prepared in an emergency
* Participation in fire drills, and drawing up escape plans
* Discussing self-esteem
* Discussing her own health issues and those of the rest of the family
* Visiting family and friends in hospital, or when sick
* Discussing various stages of life
* Attending homeschool classes such as gymnastics, swimming lessons, sports groups, as her interest dictates
* Walking regularly- we have made the decision to do without a car during the week, so we walk everywhere we can, and take buses when we need to go further away.
* Bike riding
* Play on our various outdoor structures- geometric dome, bikes and trikes.
* Playing with balls, and sports equipment
* Swimming at our local pools and beaches
* Watching documentaries about the human body
* Cuddles and care, having fun together
* Discussing personal safety
*We live next to a park and go there often
ART AND MUSIC

Our goal for Dexter, Joaquin, Margaret, Waylon and Hezekiah is that they will continue to enjoy being creative, and develop her own style... They will have an opportunities to develop their creativity every day, and will learn more about Art and Music in the following (but not limited to these) ways…

* Painting, drawing and creating at home and away.Joaquin and Margaret has a particular interest in arty things.They like to make an incredible array of things out of paper, card, and masses of cellotape and glue
* Doing craft kits, and copying craft/art activities out of the books we own, and those we borrow from the library
* Dancing, singing at home and away. They sing every day, usually songs about her day or what she is feeling at the time
* Listening to the radio or CD’s (various genres)
* Watching musical events on tv or You Tube
* Attending concerts and community events, as their (and our) interest leads
* Dexter is teaching himself to play guitar and the other children are interested in music as well.
* Learning about famous artists and composers
* Entering competitions, eg: from newspapers, shops and tv
* Making music with the various instruments we own, and those we make/invent
* Experimenting with playdough, clay, plasticine, fimo, etc
* Creating things at the library, museum, etc
* Making cards for family and friends

HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY

It is our goal that Dexter, Joaquin, Margaret, Waylon, Hezekiah will gain a firm understanding of their places in the world, both in location and time. We expect that they will have a fair understanding of how events unfolded to shape the world we live in today, and a possible idea of how things will look in the future. It is our hope that these subjects will enrich our childrens lives.

We feel it is important for them to understand that “history” happened to people like us, and we will shape the “history” that future generations of people will study.

We expect that an understanding of History and Geography will be infused naturally, in the following (amongst other) ways:

* Looking at wall maps (and smaller maps, and map books) of The United States and the World
* Reading and being read to from various encyclopaedias (People, Histories of the world)
* Looking on maps when family or friends are travelling
* We are members of a groups of homeschoolers who send postcards to each other from all over the world
* Looking at a globe
* Visiting local museums and museums of places we visit.
* Playing Trivial Pursuit and Around the World
* Watching channels like PBS and History Channel (when we get SkyAngel again)and DVD's from Netflix
* Discussion of customs and food of other cultures
* Trying and creating food from other places
* Watching television programs showing different geographic locations
* Reading historical fiction, biographies, books about different countries, children’s atlases and accounts of various events
* Talking to other people about their travels, and memories from when they were younger
* Talking about, and looking at photos of when Aimee was younger
* Noticing places we visit, and the routes we take
* Travelling to other parts of the country, and possibly beyond (one day)

Bible/Faiths
*Reading Daily Devotionals.
*Attending services.
*Reading books relating to our faith and others.
*Meeting and talking with people of other faiths.
*Stewardship and tithing
*Listening to radio shows and podcasts.
*Reading biographies of great men and women of faith.
*Reading the Bible for themselves



Community

We consider the whole world is available to Dexter, Joaquin, Margaret, Waylon and Hezekiah in their educations. They are not separated from the rest of the world, but very much a part of it.

We are always on the lookout for interesting happenings in our community and beyond. Virtually any trip outside our gate is used to “extend and enrich” their educations(as well as nearly everything inside our gate).

On weekends we will attend church, family get togethers, Science Saturday's and Kids Workshops as hey become available.

We will visit the museum again, and swimming pools, beaches,

We will get to as many homeschool get-togethers as we can manage, particularly as the weather improves.

Social Contact

They have constant social contact with their mother and father. They also have public school friends and church friends. Margaret has Girl Scout friends and the boys will be starting a scouting program when one is avilable.

They see people every day, from neighbors, to friends, to check-out operators.They enjoy people of all ages,races, religions and ethnicities.

We see family regularly.

We have several friends that visit our home, and get together with other children/families as often as possible. Many of our friends have large families as well.

Dexter also writes to a few people we know, and some we have never met (via the internet, or postcards) and enjoys keeping in touch in that way. The other kids will soon follow.

They talk to family on the phone, and sometimes friends as well. We see this increasing as each child gets older.

It is very important to us that our children be able to get along with people from all walks of life, regardless of their differences. To this end, we believe we are providing for them very well socially, and will continue to do so- adjusting our schedules and acquaintances to reflect their ever-changing needs.

Joaquin is a high functioining Autistic and even he does not do one on one socialization he is having "contact"with others. He has a dog that is helping him with his needs by being his gateway to talking with others.

Assessment and Evaluation

We are able to assess all the children on a daily basis, as we watch them discover new things, and observe their skills improving.

We have the privilege of being “on the spot” when “a light turns on” and they makes a new discoveries.

We don’t have any timetable for when they will learn each new skill, and trust that they will learn everything they needs for their life in her own time.

Consequently there is no need to assess or compare them to others.

We are able to describe in great detail where they is at in every subject area, due to the constant contact we have with our children.

We are endeavouring to keep a blog about our family’s learning.

Regularity

Dexter, Joaquin, Margaret, Waylon and Hezekiah's educations are very important to us, and we believe they are learning no matter what activity they are engaged in. Therefore, they are learning (or being taught) all their waking hours. It would be very difficult to separate when they are learning, from when they are not. We believe living and learning are inextricably linked.

We believe they is being “taught” at least as regularly in a public school, but probably more considering they are with us everyday.

Our weeks are filled with interesting activities, which we think provides an exceptionally rich education for them. Our days are structured around ordinary routines, and the necessity of meals, though there are never two days the same.

Every day we are committed to their well-being sand educations, and endeavour to provide them with a memorable and excellent foundation for their futures.

We are always learning, and have read some excellent resources on home education, and how children learn. We make great use of the internet in learning new information, challenging assumptions, and assessing our curriculum.

Our routine is changeable- we see this as a positive thing- being adaptable to the needs of our children. Our love for all of them is not, however, and what is best for each of them is always at the forefront of our minds. We are very proud of our children, and plan to help then have the very best education they can possibly have.

june 4, 2010

Adapted with permission from: Shell in NZ http://sandradodd.com/curriculum/NZ

sweet dreams

some things that are sweet grow on vines and trees.

some grow from love.

love and sleeping toddlers,

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life is...

full of so many unexpected things, so many blessing, so many memories. I took BayLee for a walk this morning and got to think a bit. Thinking about where I grew up and how we used to take our german shepard for a walk all the time. He was such and outside dog. Amazing and loving....I miss him.

I also got to enjoy the warm sunlight on my bare face and feel it's warmth through my black hoodie. It felt nice to feel my Nike's hit the sidewalks and roam for a bit. I had the latest podcast of This America Life on and felt amazing. Despite that I had a molar and a wisdom tooth pulled yesterday and it is "shark week" it was a wonderful walk.

Jimmy is off work for four days in a row...it's almost like a staycation. Well, for me because he knows my pain comes and goes. The pain in my mouth, head and foot. Hopefully soon his day off will be a staycation for him.

We have been enjoying some nice time outside. We have a gazebo in the backyard with some chairs and my beloved papasan. We also have a nice firepit for night time marshmellow roasting and for warmth when stargazing.   Jimmy hung my windchime in the gazebo today so I could listen to it sing.

Earlier in the day when my face was hurting a bit, I lay upon the papasan and closed my eyes. I let the sun warm my cheek and I drifted off for a bit at Hezzie lay in my lap. It was nice to have that therapy.

Today Maggie and Waylon returned home from my moms. They always come back looking so fresh and clean. Wonder if they are really dirty when they leave. Mom washed out Maggie's baby dreads. She goes back and forth with wanting them anyhow.

Spring is coming and I am hoping for a change in myself....weight, hair, attitude and such. Spring is always beautiful to me. It makes me want to have picnics and go on long walks. Makes me think of flowers and spring sprouts. Makes me thinks of hugs, kisses and babies in arm. Pretty dresses and bike rides.

:Life is wonferful:

Peace and Blessings.

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Today

I sat on my burnt orange couch with my left foot on my old wooden coffee table. The window behind me open, I can feel the sun on my shoulder and a warn breeze across my neck. There was the faint smell of wet grass waifing in and I closed my eyes and lay my head back. My mind drifted to last year at this time. Memories of a dark apartment and the feeling of impending doom took over my mind for a moment. Then memories of my garden last year. Spring was beautiful, I walked barefoot on the wet soil and watched life grow for seeds. I am looking forward for more this year.

I heard my wind chime sing and I opened my eyes.  My life is so much better than I could have imagined a year ago...when people were trying to take my kids away. When people were questioning my life and my beliefs.

Love and Joy

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Meet Veruca

This is Veruca. She is my middle toe and my left foot. She is a loverly shade of purple-blue on her underside. Yesterday a White Sewing Machine attacked th whole foot and she suffered the wrath of heavy metal. I let out a nice "Shit!" when it happened. Then went on limping around trying to finish cleaning my house. I had to sit down and ice my foot.

That is when it was noticed I had a blue toe. I named her Veruca. She is mean and nasty and demanding. "STAY OFF ME!" Oh Veruca, don't you know I have a husband, five kids and two dogs to tend to? Don't you know that I need to clean, cook and lose some of this winter weight? Oh Veruca, please please go away.

Veruca has a contusion, stone bruise or whatever you want to call it. She needs to be elevated and iced. Spoiled brat!

Well, for now that is all on her. She does not need so much attention.

Love and Falling Sewing Machines,

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Little Artist

Maggie is our artist in residence. She love to draw Anime type things but, she also paints. She wants to paint some more so we are looking into helping her out with that more. One of the many wonderful things about our type of un/homeschooling is letting our kids find their passion. This is Maggie's passion.

She had her first art show yesterday. She sold my favorite painting for $10 to  my cousin and her boyfriend. My cousin is a strong supporter of my kids. Although, she is blind she came over 150 miles round trip to support Maggie. She loves all my kids and is an Auntie to them. I feel like crying right now.

Maggie was so proud she made some money but, kind of sad to see something that had been hanging on our wall go. Quiet honestly, I wanted to keep that painting. Knowing how shy Maggie is and critical on her work even at six years old I held my tongue. She told me last night, "Mom one day I want my art to hang in an art museum." My heart melted and all the fits, moods and what not became worth it.

She also was given several gifts of art supplies. She was supprised and greatful of those things. Our friends Karl and Liz brought her flowers which she loved.

I say help your kids discover their passion and give them the gift of encouragement!

"Above all, we are coming to understand that the arts incarnate the creativity of a free people."

- John F. Kennedy

"So you see, imagination needs moodling - long, inefficient, happy idling, dawdling and puttering."

-Brenda Ueland

 

Love and Colored Walls,

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