Wired For Noise

What is your goal in homeschooling? To foster a life long love of learning.

What one expression of you do you want to pass on to you children? From me a love of nature, from Dearest a love of music.

There’s one more question to answer about the “treasure of our home”, but short of putting on a pirate patch and shouting “Arrrg, matey!” I’m not sure how to answer that right now. Perhaps the treasure is having endlessly weird parents who do things like put on pirate patches and shout “Arrrg, matey!” in the middle of the afternoon. Oh, and play Pretty Fly For A White Guy at full volume before bed for a late night booty shaking fest. Sure the boys loved it now but in 15 years they may disown me. Especially when I pull out the video footage.

Technorati tags: homeschooling, children, family life, silly

I was asked what songs I’m using to transition (and why did some of the comments to that post dissapear?). I don’t have af luid day worked out, but here goes. In the morning and at night I found a couple nursery rhymes in the Mother Goose book that I am using. After breakfast we do some stretching which leads us into a short morning circle, I sing Raffi’s Roots and Shoots to transition us into that. Actually we listen to that CD a lot. To tranistion him from an inside activity to going outside I sing Boys and Girls, that seems to get him excited enough that its ok to give up what we’re doing. That also works to get him in the car if we suddenly need to go somewhere. Mother Earth and Father Time helps to relax him and get him into a calm state for nap time, though I haven’t found a good song to transition us out of nap yet. He wakes up from nap in an aweful mood, just unbarable. I also need to find something to help transition us from outside play to back inside, that’s another rough area for E that I can’t figure out how to smooth over yet.

That’s all I’ve got so far. I’m sure I’ll have more as I try to find new ways to help. I would have never guessed that a song would be so comforting to him, but it honestly seems to be helping him. Before this any transition from one activity to another was dreadful, a complete nightmare. I’m not sure if he’s typical for his age or if there are some issues, but so far things are a lot smoother.

Technorati tags: children, songs, nursery rhymes

I’ve been trying to map out our daily rhythm and see what that gives us in terms of making a daily plan. For the most part it seems easy. E is always grumpy after nap so story time goes there, I never feel awake in the mornings so we’ll do our walk then to stimulate bloodflow.

Just the basic things that I already know in my heart but never got down on paper.

I also worked out a rough sketch of a circle time plan. I don’t like the term “circle time” but I’m not sure what else to call it. A special time set asside every morning for E and I to talk about the day to come, sing songs, and maybe learn something new. Ok circle time is easier to say. I just wanted a plan that moved up and down, like stretches then dancing then sitting down for finger plays.

I’ve also been picking out transitional songs, E does not transition well at all so hopefully having a familiar song every day will help him move from one thing to the next much more gracefully. Now if only I could find some more nature songs to look through.

My goal is by Monday to begin moving into an Enki approach.

Technorati tags: homeschool, preschool, Enki education,

5 books I’m reading:
How Children Learn - Holt
Real Boys - William Pollack
Sacred Pleasure - Riane Eisler
Reading Lolita in Tehran - Azar Nafisi
Homeschool Handbook - Mary Griffith

5 things on my to-do list:
Dishes
Work on quilt
Buy Post-it notes
Call back on book shelves
Work on PPD essay

5 wants for next week:
A few nicer clothes that fit
A call back for the lactation counselor position
Some “mommy time”.
Cooler weather.
To win the lottery.

5 interesting things I’ve said recently:
“We don’t take our pants off in the waiting room.”
“No honey, the doctor doesn’t want to see your bottom.”
“Please don’t stick your sunglasses up your nose.”
“I’m pretty sure Matthew wants to keep his birthday presents.”
“I’m glad you love the mop but can I use it to clean the floor?”

5 fun facts:
Expensive make-up is destined to land in the used toilet.
A baby will hold his poop until the doorbell is ringing.
A toddler will hold his poop until nap time.
As soon as you close your eyes destruction will occur.
As sounds you make will be repeated the next day, loudly, and in front of the elderly neighbors.

Technorati tags: Friday five, meme

A moment of silence…

AP - Thu Aug 24, 9:49 AM ET

PRAGUE, Czech Republic - Leading astronomers declared Thursday that Pluto is no longer a planet under historic new guidelines that downsize the solar system from nine planets to eight. After a tumultuous week of clashing over the essence of the cosmos, the International Astronomical Union stripped Pluto of the planetary status it has held since its discovery in 1930.

When I’m old I’ll complain to my grandkids “Back in my day gas was $3 a gallon, everyone had a blog, and there were 9 planets! Humph!” Then I’ll cross my arms and grumble about walking to school barefoot in the snow uphill both ways but the grandkids won’t hear me because they’ll be laughing at how uneducated we used to be. *deep sigh*

Technorati tags: Pluto, news, changes

On the end table to the left of my couch I keep a stack of books; mostly books on pregnancy, childbirth, and post-partem care. But there are also a few reference books that i like out so that I can flip through them from time to time; one full of activity ideas, one on budgeting tips, and one on toddler and preschool child behavior. On top of this stack is How Children Learn by Holt, the book I’m trying to finish. Sometimes E will pull a book or two from this pile and thrust it upon me, begging me to read. I never do. I am always thinking that he will get frustrated by the adult language and bored by the lack of colorful pictures. I try to brush him off, which works sometimes as he happily bounces into his room to get one of his books for me to read to him. But sometimes he is very insistant, very determinned that I will read to him from one of my books. If he’s in a calm mood and I know he won’t rip them to shreds I’ll let him flip through them, but I’ve never actually set down and tried to read to him. It just seemed like a silly idea.

Then tonight, after the boys were in bed sound asleep and Dearest was off at the store I flipped on the small table light and began reading from Holt.

“There’s no reason to feel, either, that we must always read aloud to little children from ‘easy’ books that they can ‘understand’. If we are reading something we like, with great expression and pleasure, a child may well like it, at least for a while, even if he doesn’t understand all of it. After all, children like hearing adults talk, even though they can’t understand much or most of it. Why not reading as well?” - How Children Learn; Holt p.103

So maybe the next time E tries to shove upon me one of my “adult” books I’ll sit him down and read to him. Whats the worst that could happen - besided him explaining childbirth tohis grandmother at the dinner table? *snickers*

I got 2 new books today. Well, used but new to me. Dearest rolled his eyes and grunted out “More books!”

Why, what ever could he mean? Of the two built in bookcases in the living room only one is full of books, the other is set up as my personal space ton relax and meditate.

Of course I’ve got a stack of nursery rhymes book on the dining table, one end table covered in curriculum/theme books, the other my workbooks and study book for my doula training, the back of the toliet has the book I’m reading for an online book group, the top of the computer desk has several spiritual books, the kitchen counters are full of various cookbooks (including a blank one), and E’s room has a tall bookshelf thats full of various kid’s books/coloring books.

Why dear, I don’t think I have nearly enough books yet. In fact today I posted on Freecycle asking for another bookshelf so I’ll have room to add new books.

Technorati tags: books, Freecycle