Firstborn Writes

Here is Firstborn's final submission to his first online writing class:

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Coach Kevin put me on the pitcher's mound for the first time. My knees shook with nervousness, but I focused on the cather's mitt. We were in the third of four innings and I had already struck out two batters. There was a runner on second when the next batter came to the plate.

For the first two throws, I slipped my fingers over the stitched seams. Now there were two strikes on the scoreboard and I wanted the next pitch to be the final one of the inning. I rotated the ball in my hand and planted my fingers across the seams. I shut out all of the sounds around me and my eyes were like laser beams on the catcher's mitt. I drew my armback and let the ball fly. SMACK! The ball hit the catcher's mitt and the umpire called it, "Strrrike three!"

That day I used two of my best pitches. The last pitch was one I made up. It flies as strait as a wooden dowel. I usually use it when the batter has two strikes and three balls. It works well also against left handed batters. To deliver this pitch, you hold your fingers across the seams.The other two pitches I throw are the two-seam fastball and the four-seam fastball. The two are practically the same, except the two seam fastball curves a little more than the four seam. To throw the two-seam fastball, hold your fingers with the seams. The pitch the four-seam fastball hold your fingers across the seams at the curvy part.

Professional pitchers use all kinds of grips dependent on the situation. A few are the curveball, the knuckleball, the screwball, and the change-up. I sometimes use the change-up, too. For the change-up, the pitcher holds the ball with three of four fingers and across one with the seams, depending on which kind of change up is thrown.

Alive and Learnin'

So, judging by my sitemeter, it seems people are actually checking in to this sorry, neglected little learning blog. Well, we are still here and still learning. The silence here perhaps reflects just how busy learning we have been. Well, maybe. Anyway, the Autumn started out a bit slow it seemed to me. Though the children were eager to resume their academic studies, we just didn't find our groove. And then, Little Queen and I went out of town for a few days which really threw everything off. Now we are back. And we are grooving.

Rosebud is absolutely loving her work right now. She asks me first thing each morning (sometimes when I am still in bed) if she may please go do some handwriting and math. Pretty please. Umm...sure. And then she does more later when we've all joined up for some concentrated work. On Saturday morning, on Sunday morning, on Columbus Day morning, Rosebud could be found pouring over another page of her Getty-Dubay Italics handwriting book or polishing off another lesson in her beloved Math-U-See Primer. With just a bit of encouragement, she is sounding off a new set of words or another tiny tale from our well worn copy of the Little Angel Reader. She treasures her daily Bible story whether it is read to her by myself, an older sibling, or even on occassion, The Prof. Kindergarten is a simple delight for this simply delightful little girl

Sunshine embraces the growing challenges of her second grade work. She also began work in the Getty-Dubay series this year and enjoys the words and sentences and the stylized writing. Math is not a love, but comes quite naturally even as she starts in on the Beta book. Beta throws subtraction and graphs into the mix. History is interesting and First Holy Communion preparation an absolute favorite activity. In addition to memorizing the Baltimore Catechism, she is preparing an album. Moreover, she is joining her brother in studying the Mass which so far includes learning about the vesting of the priest (an small but elaborate ceremony in and of itself), liturgical colors and memorizing Psalm 42 (as numbered in the Douy-Rheims) found at the opening of the (traditional Latin) Mass.

Firstborn just completed a 6-week long online writing class given by Jean Hall via Bravewriter. What a great education for both of us. We look forward to more writing and more classes in the future. Math continues to be the unfavored subject, though with careful attention to detail, it comes easily enough this boy's mind. He is working through Epsilon (from our dear Math-U-See) , doing battle, it seems, with the addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of fractions. Fractions are presented in all of their fanciful and frightful forms here: from improper (oh my!) to mixed and everything in between. Our discovery of the past has finally brought us to US history. Coronado, Pizzaro, de Soto, St. Brendan, Columbus, Sts. Martin de Porres, Rose of Lima, and Juan Diego are the names whirling around in our minds, past our eyes and under our pencils these days. Thrilling tales of adventure, savagery and holiness, to be sure.

The two elders are both studying Latin; Rosebud in the old friend, Prima Latina and Firstborn leading the way through Latin for Children. Geography studies through the literary prowess of Holling C. Holling (what was his mother thinking? Holling?!) have captured my children's attention. And we are even trying our hands at a bit of letterboxing! (More to come on that venture soon)

The out and abouts include art class, ballet and...and, well, Firstborn really wanted to give fencing a try this year but it just didn't seem to fall into place. Maybe next year.

I am just relieved that we have finally found a rhythm, a constant to cling to as the weekends and evenings fill up in the flow leading to holidays.

digging in

We have been off to a pretty good start this Autumn. I am attempting to prepare a daily ordo for each child--a list to have ready for each child when they awaken in the morning. It includes the date, feast day, domicile contributions for the day, R & D assignments, listing of any out of home activities and a list of current and near future events of interest. For me, this is an advanced level of planning ahead and seems to be much appreciated by the children.

Here are some general ideas of the concentrations of study for the time being:

Rosebud (5yo, Kindergarten):

• Penmanship...she already had learned cursive letter shapes from the sandpaper letters last year. Now we are embarking on the Getty-Dubay italics print book along with alternative "writing" materials. For example, some days she "writes" and spells using the moveable alphabet and other days with rubber stamp letters. I am taking this nice and slow as a) I know how tiring writing is to the young arm and B) I certainly don't want to make anything about writing feel negative or overwhelming. The joy of writing is a difficult attitude to recover once trampled upon.
• Catechism...She is unintentionally learning the First Communion Baltimore catechism right along with her older sister and enjoys listening to the FHC stories I am reading Sunshine. In addition, she and I agreed to read stories together from her children's bible each week.
• Math...Again, I know better than to push this subject on any child who is young and not yet thirsting for it, but Rosebud was really thirsty. She did a grocery store pre-school math book this summer just for fun, but was begging for the real thing. So imagine her excitement when I agreed to purchase the Math-U-See primer for her. She loves it and is doing well.
• Reading...Tempered enthusiasm on this subject. She wants so very much to be a reader but considers the process to be hard work. So little snippets is our approach. One page or one story a day from the Little Angel Reader, Level A. But, she is showing progress even at that. Also encouraged when I show her a word in a book or on a sign that she can successfully sound out.
• Sewing...We will continue to work on this ever popular activity...more button sewing and then onto some large square gingham for little stuffed pillows and animals
• Music...to include piano study and concert attendance

Rosebud

• Penmanship...also has some mastery of cursive, but now we are switching to Getty-Dubay italics. I think she is enjoying this and does a page daily.
• Latin...Of course she already knows the prayers and phrases we use daily, but this is Rosebud's first formal study of Latin and we will use the time tested Prima Latina for her.
• Math...continuing on in Alpha...a topic not as beloved as it used to be, but not despised
• History...A semester long study of American history with her big brother and then it is back to Creation. We are trying out From Sea to Shining Sea this term.
• Catechism...Two-fold. Preparation for First Holy Communion, including memorization of the Baltimore Catechism, many read aloud books and an Album. Also, an in-depth study of the Mass to include DVDs, texts, and the creation of an Album.
• Science...nature walks and wherever they take us.
• Music...piano lessons, concert attendance
• Geography...Holling C. Holling books and study
• Home arts...embroidery...she is beginning a counted cross stitch sampler

Okay, it is getting late. I will write an overview of Firstborn's fifth grade course of study tomorrow evening. However, the goals listed above are limited primarily to the check list academics but not reflective of my real goals for the year. I am determined that we WILL cook more together, indulge in a museum membership and ballet subscription, seek out more concerts, learn water color painting, go on regular nature walks, and, of course, continue our constant read alouds.

and we're off...

It is funny, even though we don't take the entire summer away from academic learning and even though learning is an ongoing experience in this household, there continues to be a magic about starting fresh in the Autumn. New books are still arriving, new subjects are being explored and new routines attempted. But, after just a few short weeks of hiatus from the math, Latin, readers, history and penmanship the little scholars here at the Suburban Ranch were itchin' to get started again. Sunshine told me the days were so slow...she missed the routine and purpose that a morning spent huddled around books and writing implements brings, I suppose.

So, like all of our public school counterparts, we dove back in on Monday morning. It wasn't a typical start, though. No, I would never want our first day to resemble the first day of a brick and mortar school. That would defy part of our purpose in home education. Rather, we started a bit late (yours truly was up a bit too late the night before organizing the Study and the studies) in the morning. First task: the chef's apprentice (Firstborn in this case) prepared, with some assistance, Buttermilk Blueberry Muffins--spiked with some lemon zest and juice to give some kick.

We marched on thru our other planned topics with a few variations. Firstborn is starting the Bravewriter Kidswrite online writing course this term and there was a really fun pre-writing game that we played (even included Sunshine in on the fun-she couldn't resist). Also, I started Firstborn on reading the history lesson to us. And, above all, I didn't think Rosebud--officially a Kindergarten aged student now--was going to be able to contain her excitement at finally starting her first Math U See workbook. I think she wanted to try to complete the entire book in one sitting. I sure hope her enthusiasm continues for years to come.

It was a completely fun first day. A low-impact Monday enjoyed by all.

31 May 2007

Yesterday started out rainy and overcast. The children were absolutely itching to get outside and once the thunder & lightning had passed, they burst out through the doors. An hour passed while they collected worms in the street puddles to feed to our garden and our hens. On the long front porch, we timed each of the girls as they sprinted back and forth. We got out the jump ropes and practiced a new skill. Is it bad that none of them know how to jump rope yet? Yikes! Back inside, the elder three and I read the rest of a book about Shakespeare and then a picture book retelling of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Firstborn spent time playing Babble and then completed a painting he had started last week. The afternoon was filled with friends and "socialization." And, at last, the Scripps National Spelling Bee finals on prime time ABC. During one of the commercial breaks, everyone went out side to enjoy the first popsicle of the season.

All in all, a perfect day of learning! Art, history, drama, physical activity, socializing, spelling, science and off to bed exhausted and content...

Today Rosebud Read

Okay, sounded out. But it is official. She got out her reader, we snuggled on the couch in my bedroom and she sounded out some three letter words with very little to no help from me. We were beaming. This ranks among my favorite moments...first steps, first smiles, first spoken words, first words read.

Love it!

A Very Schooly Day, Thurs 10 May

Well, after having had a sort of unintended break from school in March and April, the little scholars were literally begging to return to their more formal studies. We have been back at it and while appreciate the return to routine as much as they do, I am getting a little squirmy about all our workbookish, schooly-school dependence. Still, we made thru to the ebb of outside life, so I am sometimes too preoccupied to get creative and surrender myself entirely to their intellectual souls. As I say, though, I am getting squirmy. Tomorrow we ARE heading out on a nature walk with camera, sketch books, picnic lunch, jars, guidebooks and I am NOT promising that we will use any of those things. But we will learn, explore and enjoy.

And then there was a very "proper" school day today...

Firstborn:

• Handwriting--New Workbook (!), pagaes 14-15
• MUS--Complete 19B & 19C
• Latin--Listen to chant CD and complete pages 44-45
• Memorization--Malachi 1:11
• Spelling/Vocabulary--Babble

Sunshine:

• Handwriting—page 17, first two lines
• MUS—Watch Lesson 27 presentation & complete 27A
• Memorization—Complete Heb 1:3
• Copywork—color illustration
• Catechism—Narrate new Just Like Mary reading
• Spelling/Vocabulary—Babble

We also read up on the Renaissance world explorers in our Kingfisher Encyclopedia...da Gama, Columbus, Magellan, etc.

Wednesday 9 May 2007

A simple, schooly morning. Tomorrow I hope we can be a bit more creative and together.


Firstborn:

Handwriting—New workbook! pages 12-13
MUS—Watch Lesson 19 Presentation; Complete 19A (watched the lesson alone, but seems to have caught on)
Latin—Listen to Chant CD two times (he neglected to listen yesterday)
Copywork/Memorization—Malachi 1:11
Spelling/Vocabulary: Babble

Sunshine:

MUS— Test 26
Copywork/Memorization—Complete verse from Heb 13
Catechism—Narrate new Just Like Mary reading
Spelling/Vocabulary—Babble

Rosebud

Magnadoodle phonics

7 May 07

On the days we've had time to work in some formal learning (which are beginning to increase again), we have been trying something a little new. I spend an hour at the beginning of the day, even before breakfast if possible, to work one on one with Firstborn. Then, about a half hour each with Sunshine and Rosebud. With Firstborn and Sunshine, I review their previous work (check yesterday's math, Latin, handwriting, etc) and we decide together their goals for the current day. I have started typing these goals on a Word document along with reminders of extra-cirricular activities and special contributions they may make for the day (sweeping the porch, filling bird feeder/bath, watering garden, etc) so that they can check back without my having to remember it all. I have even bigger ideas for these "Book(s) of Days" that I will write about in the future.

For today, Rosebud was so excited about her new bike and new rollerskates and new CDs, that I am just giving her the day to bathe in her happiness while honing new cooridination skills. She is absolutely beaming.

Firstborn: Chef's Apprentice

• Latin--pages 42 (derivatives) & 43 (grammar review); listen & chant with CD lessons 1-10
• MUS--Lesson 18 TEST and online multiplication drill with timings
• Handwriting--page 75 This completes the book! Also discussed prefixes and suffixes.
• Spelling & Vocabulary--Babble
• Listen to Science with Sunshine--Catholic Stories from Science 2, Soul Food and Germs Make me Sick
• Art/Painting
• Nature walk

Rosebud

• MUS--correct problems from last assignment
• Handwriting--two sentences
• Catechism--Discussed new page from Learning to Love God, copied (traced) illustration and copied half of scripture verse (complete and memorize tomorrow)
• Art/painting
• Nature walk
• Science (same as Firstborn, see above)

catching up

Oh dear, I fear I have ignored this learning blog for far too long. We had high gardening hopes for the month of March. Alas, a miraculously wet spring has disrupted our plans. The positive aspect is that the rain is making an actual dent in the extreme drought we have endured for years now. The negative, albeit selfish, is that as it is unhealthy for the plants and soil to be worked when wet, we didn't do even half of what we had planned. Nonetheless, we dug up nearly three 64 sq ft garden beds. One is planted with tomatoes, sweet and spicy peppers and a tomatillo. (Forgot eggplant?) One is planted around the perimeter with sunflowers in hopes of growing a little sunflower house. Normally it would be too late, but we are hoping to drop a few melon seeds in our third bed just to see if they might make it in this strangely wet and "cool" spring weather. There are few herbs to add (how could we make it through the summer without fresh basil?) and then we'll be stopped by the inevitable hot weather.

The fig tree looks gorgeous. The blackberry patch is flowering and putting out the preliminary green sours. And the peach reports from the orchards is good, so far.

In the meantime, we have made some irregular attempts at school work. Plugging along on math, Latin, and handwriting for Firstborn. Math & handwriting for Sunshine. A bit of history for the pair of them. And reading/writing for Rosebud. In the last couple of weeks, she has started some very primitive attempts at sounding out three letter words. We're on the brink of a breakthrough.

There had been a lot of days "off" this spring because, well because, outside life becomes so demanding in the spring. It is this way every spring. And Advent. The natural consequence of a flow in Life is an ebb in formal research and discovery. We very nearly fall into a patch of unschooling. And that is okay. It really is. The children are happy, we have read a lot, done some baking and cooking. Art, ballet, choir, music, and baseball mark the week and puncuate the education with bits of normalcy and formality. But now the children are begging. Mom, when can we get back to school? Can't you read us some history? When will I read? When will you get my new math book?

The flow of life is gradually ebbing and I've got the little scholars right where I want 'em: begging for more education. Bwah-ha-ha! Actually, I think it is their way of begging for my attention, for their routine and for our morning together time. We enjoy learning together and being together. Come to think of it, I am ready for a return to mornings in the Study.

We are trying some new formats and I am refocusing on spiritual preparation. More details forthcoming. I'll be writing more about these in the days to come.