Spring Break, Well Sort Of

While signs of spring may be showing in my yard, illness is in my house. I'm just getting better, and Z has been sick. He was much better yesterday but we still called off school. Now Tigger has signs of the bug. What's that motto, the family that stays together, shares viruses together? No, that's not it, but is true in our household.

On the up side this has been a week of research for me. As I prepare for the forthcoming school year I have been stepping a little further down the path of Z's education. True, he is only in 4th grade, but I'm still searching out the best curriculum paths for down the road. I spent the better part of one day charting a course for high school math, another part of the day looking at science plans for the next three years. I've even looked back into a few different methods of teaching.

The first year we homeschooled I tried to understand the different styles and methodology, it made no sense to me. I wish I had gone back with that first year under my belt and looked at the methodology again. I would have switched direction a little.

I think homeschool parents should be challenged to look at different methods. Understanding the homeschooling methods and finding one or two you want to use can greatly influence your curriculum choices. In my own pursuit of understanding it has given me confidence in my choices for the upcoming year and beyond. It has also helped me not to be swayed by the "popular curriculum" of the moment. While it might be a great curriculm I want to chose it based upon our need, not because everyone else is doing it.

I also want Z to be challenged in his education, I want to pick the very best materials available, not just what is on the front page at any one website. Z is very science focused and has spent the better part of the week(while sick) watching the history and the science channels. Yesterday he was watching a show about magnetism and he make a comment about using magnet to hold in the plasma he needs to build his lightsaber. I had tuned out the program, but he was still learning, while sick! So, even though science is not my forte it is my job as his educator to find the "best" path for his gifting, even if that means looking at other styles of homeschooling.

This spring break has given me a lot of food for thought. I am excited about finishing out our school year and starting our path for next year as well. Now that I have cleared the path it is nice to be able to see a little further down the road.

Wordless Wednesday: Signs of Spring

Our First Sick Day

Today we are having a sick day. Now that I am getting better, now Z is sick. He has some nasty stomach bug and spent most of yesterday in bed. He is normally a very healthy child and in fact this is the first official sick of school in the last two years.

In third grade he got a perfect attendance award. This year I've been sick, but he didn't miss a day of school. So he was surprised when I told him he didn't have to do any school work today. Bless his heart.

I'm sure he will bounce back quickly, but for today we're focused on 7-up and saltines.

Freaky Friday

Z is learning about "independent study" as I have been sick on and off for two weeks. He has learned that he is quite capable of working on his own on some subjects. Ironically, I think it has given him increased confidence and ownership of his education.

One thing he has always been great at is working to make sure mom feels better. He'll bring me card games, rub my back, pat me on and arm and say "I hope you feel better." Today he told me funny jokes. He's told me he heard it on Scooby-doo, but it was perfect for today.

Z - "Ask me how I am."

Me - "Why?" my first mommy thought being that he was sick now too.

Z - "Just ask me how I am."

Me - "Okay, how are you?"

Z - "I'm fine." He then proceeds to put a small pocket flashlight on top of his head, "Ask me how I am again." he was grinning from ear to ear.

Me - "How are you now?"

Z - "I'm feeling a little light headed."

I just cracked up, it was exactly what I needed to lighten the day. May your day be as bright.

Wordless Wednesday

Somewhere between childhood and manhood

My precious son is growing up fast. Today he went out to play with his friend and left the house in shorts and a tshirt, while carrying a few "weapons". (Yes, it's warm enough for shorts here) Anyway, two minutes later he back in the house and had run through a thorn bush. He's a fairly resilent kid but doesn't like being hurt. He did have a few thorns still stuck in his leg, but nothing to undermine the importance of being able to play with his friend.

We cleaned up the minor cuts and applied some band-aids. I asked if he wanted the sympathetic mommy speech, or the "you're a solider in the battle, get back out there" speech. Only because he had a toy automatic weapon sitting on the bathroom counter. He and his friend were playing war.

I told him it was time to put on long pants and he could go back out to play. Still stinging from his "war wound" he said in his little boy voice "Okay, but let me get the UZZI out of my pocket first". I almost fell on the floor laughing as he pulled another toy weapon from his pocket. He's still that little boy that needs four band-aids for four small scratches, yet loves to play war with his friends. At least he's not growing up too fast.

Almost Wordless Wednesday

My parents who celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary last month.

Kid's Say the Cutest Things

We are using Apologia Astronomy for science this year. One of the chapters covers space rocks. After studying it for the day Z told me in his best 10 year old cool guy voice that . Space ROCKS, Complete with a hand gesture that looked something like hook 'em horns.

Later that day in Easy Grammar we were discussing grammar rules. So again I hear Grammar, RULES! with more gestures.

While reading a sentence in vocabulary we read about paper jams. We both jumped on that one, say it with me, paper JAMS! (insert your own hand gesture).

So from the perspective of my Z......

Space, ROCKS! Grammar, RULES! and paper, JAMS!

The Countdown has Begun

Forget the groundhog, the determing factor for the end of winter begins tonight. Yes, folks, the 2008 NASCAR season is about to begin. I start breathing easier about this time of year. There is nothing like the sound of a roaring engine to calm the withdrawl I have suffered from November until now.

To say we are NASCAR fans would be an understatement. Now I wasn't always such a huge fan, then I met Tigger. His enthusiasm for the sport was contagious. We ended up taking our honeymoon to camp (yes, I said camp) on the grounds of Atlanta Motor Speedway. Why, you ask. It was Richard Petty's final race. Good enough for me. Did I mention it was a tent?

Fast forward several year and Z came to an understanding. We started gauging his growth by taking his picture at the tractor display that was at the Speedway every year. Tigger and I were even blessed with tickets to the night race at Bristol a couple of times. That was the epitome of cool. (No, we no longer have Bristol tickets) We took Z home some toy cars one year. I had been trying to get him to say Kyle Petty for months, yet Mark Martin rolled off his lips as soon as he got the #6 car. We even attended a autograph session one year and at age four Z stood in line for two hours just to meet Mark Martin. He signed the cereal box.

There is something addictive about watching a race. One TV, it's one thing, but to attend a real race is a treat. I love a sport where, for the most part, the drivers are good role models. I enjoy that they are allowed to openly talk about their faith, that you can pray at an event, that you take off your hat when they say the pledge and everyone sings the national anthem.

The Bud shootout is tonight and next week the greatest opening weekend of them all, Daytona! Ironically I find the roar of 43 engines as calming as the ocean waves.


Here is a picture of my two winners.








This is me posing with my favorite driver, Kyle Petty. I love that this picture looks like we are just hanging out together. Actually is was an autograph session. I admire Kyle Petty because his exudes character. On this particular day he had not qualified for the race. Yet he stuck around to sign autographs the next day. He signed these huge pictures from Sprint that showed the his car in front of the track and the date of the race. While he might have been "contractually required" to stay, he did so with grace and smiled and took time with everyone that morning. To me, that is what a sports role model should be.

GENTLEMEN START YOUR ENGINES!

Wordless Wednesday

How rare is your personality?

Your Personality is Very Rare (INFP)

Your personality type is dreamy, romantic, elegant, and expressive. Only about 5% of all people have your personality, including 6% of all women and 4% of all men You are Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, and Perceiving.

How Rare Is Your Personality?

That's about right from the other personality tests I have taken. Click on the link to see how rare you are!

Pineapple anyone?

For the last two days it has been in the high 70's and low 80's. I have the windows open and am enjoying the breeze. It it beautiful here. This also makes me think of how much beach withdrawl I am going through. While looking through the photos of our trip to Costa Rica I ran across this wonderful picture of my Tigger. We were eating pineapple on the beach after our snorkeling adventure. I love this photo of him, in his very bondesque pose.

Costa Rica is a very beautiful country. Here's another view of the beautiful landscape. If you even have the opportunity to visit this country you will not be disappointed.

Thinking Ahead

It's started already this year and it's just February. While I'm still undecided a few subjects most of our plans for next year are firmly in place. I already have a shelf of readers I have picked up here and there. I just ordered two books from PaperbackSwap last night. One was a textbook for Singapore Math, I was so excited!

I also just ordered a DVD to round out our French studies for the remainder of the year. I settled on Visual Passport French. We had checked it out from the library and I liked that it would be useful for auditory and visual learners. I think it will work as a great first exposure to the French language.

I even ordered a book for myself last night. I had to overcome the guilt feeling of not ordering another book from the school list. It has since passed.