Teacher, Teach Thyself

After much contemplation with how to proceed in our writing instruction, I finally made a decision. I have decided to send myself back to school, at least in a writing class. No, I'm not signing up for a class, I'm much too stubborn to do that. I have multiple resources in my home to use. I working through a rhetoric book. Okay, I just started this week, but I have a goal to finish by the end of June.

My first assignment was to write an essay on a topic of choice. There was a helpful list in the back of the book, topics from A-Z, controversial to mundane. We're supposed to write about what we know, right? I chose aging.

I chose my point of view, I completed a spider diagram, and then I wrote my rough draft. Mostly I'm doing this to be an example for Z. I found I had some strong opinions on aging. I printed two copies of the rough draft. In the first one I highlighted where I had used the points from the spider diagram. In the second one I started editing. That's the stage I'm at now, editing. I may end up changing my entire thesis, based upon the discovered opinions I have on aging. I'm laughing because I didn't know I was so emotional about the topic.

Tomorrow I'll share my new found enthusiasm with Z. He may not be as passionate about my opinions on aging, but at least he'll know I'm not asking him to do anything I'm not willing to do myself. I'm talking about the writing, not the getting old part. I'm still not sure how I feel about that one.

Our Travels with Michael Palin

As part of our Asian Studies I had put the first disc from Michael Palin's Himalaya into our Netflix queue. When it arrived I had no clue what a wonderful door it would be opening for Z and me. We hastily watched episodes 1 and 2. Then Z asked if there were more. Much to my delight they are currently on Netflix streaming. So we watched 3 more episodes that day. I asked Z what part he liked best and he said he liked all of it. Good thing I was sitting down.

Eons ago, when cable television first entered my world, my mother and sister and I were flipping channels and discovered this silly show that made us laugh out loud. Monty Python's Flying Circus. We learned about wink-wink-nudge-nudge, silly walks, and to this day I still laugh when I hear Michael Palin sing the Lumberjack song.

So exposing my son to a more educational passion of Mr. Palin's has been a joy. Michael Palin is a wonderful travel host. He is friendly, kind, and really works to meld into the culture, not just be a travel tourist.

The series itself is stunning. The scenery is gorgeous, the people beautiful, and most important for me, my son is interested. We've had many discussion about the program and we've moved into watching Michael Palin's Sahara this week.

I'm not exactly what it that makes this so interesting to Z. Perhaps it's that genetic need to wander and wonder that I'm sure I passed down to him. I once longed to travel the globe. I still do, but I am realistic about the restrictions placed on me by time, health, and money. Z once asked if we could go to Mt. Everest. I laughed and told him he was was welcome but I would sit out that trip. I don't think my exercise induced asthma would enjoy that, plus it's too cold there.

Whatever his interest we're continuing down this rabbit hole for a while. We'll be watching Sahara this week. We started Bill Bryon's African Diary yesterday, and after that we will read Three Cups of Tea. If you're interested in reading more about Michael Palin's travels you can visit his website Palin's Travels.

This is Your Brain...

This is your brain on algebra. I'm no mathematician, but I find he study of numbers fascinating. I find the observations of where my son's brain travel during algebra even more fascinating. Last week it was an odd reference recalled hip replacements, this week we started with Back to the Future, ended up on flux capacitors, found our way to thinkgeek.com to look at the flux capacitor replica, Minecraft t-shirts, Star Trek t-shirts, and somehow that traveled back to dragons, and ended up at the Irish Civil War. Tired? Me too. All because there was the number 88 in his equation. I love this kid and, yes, he got the algebra problem correct as well.

What is a Writing Philosophy and Why Do I Need One?

Someone recently asked me about my writing philosophy. Writing, as in the process to teach my son how to write everything from a quality sentence to a properly cited eloquent essay. The truth is, I don't know. It's kind of the David and Goliath of our schooling right now. I'm not even sure who is David and who is Goliath. I'm pretty sure I am Goliath standing there in all my armor waiting for that one simple answer, like a rock, to smack me in the head and take me down.

When he was younger, it was easier. Writing was important, but there was a greater emphasis on learning how to think. Believe me that is still there and I am amazed at some of the ways my son can put together a thought. However, I realize that when he jaunts off to college the professors are not going to want to listen to him give oral essays, they don't have time for that.

Having one child and homeschooling one child has its perks. You can truly tailor the education to that one child because that is your only student. You can listen to them expound upon the wisdom of ______(whatever) and take the time to do it. You can modify, tweak a program or even write your own with that ONE student in mind. So when I think about MY writing philosophy it's really asking what is the philosophy which is best for my son.

I'd love to pick up an already existing program and use it verbatim, but my son is not wired that way. Now if he were one of five students, or seven of nine (just had to throw in that Star Trek reference) it might be different. He has no issue telling me stories or thinking of things to say, but when I would tell him to put it down on paper I'd get a blank stare. When this first happened a few years ago I was stunned. I don't remember learning to write, I just always have. I don't say I can write well, but I knew how to do an assignment. Back in the dark ages when we had to hand write reports my teachers loved me. I had one report admitted to our school library when I was in ninth grade. Got and A+ and 50 extra bonus points, the maximum. I still have that report. I had another report in high school on knights that earned me an A+ and a bunch of extra bonus points because I enclosed a bunch of drawings. Still have that one too. Read parts of it to Z last year when we studied the Middle Ages. So getting a blank stare from my son who was so willing to be creative in an oral capacity was not planned.

Fast forward to middle school and now the writing seems so serious. I've read many different writing philosophies, I see merit in all of them. They are the experts, not me. But I am the expert on my son and as he grows in his writing ability it doesn't always grow according to the philosophy of Provider X. I'm not going to name all the providers I've looked at or used, most of them have been great programs, just not the right one for us at this particular time.

Maybe my philosophy is that I want my son to learn how to think and along with that put his thoughts down on paper. Somewhere along the way we'll learn to format correctly, how to cite sources, how to use good grammar, strong sentences, analyze some literature, properly document a science report, and how to research. Amidst the programs I already own I'm sure I can pluck out those pieces.

In the last week I've asked a lot of questions from those with more experience than me. I've received some wonderful responses, responses which I am pondering. I'm reviewing the programs I already own to see how they can serve us. I wish we had the budget to buy some of these programs to preview and absorb, but that would probably only confuse me more. Fortunately I know what we're doing for the remainder of this year. I have a vague idea of where we need to be when he graduates high school and I'm willing to do what it takes to get him there.

I guess the key is when that David, the one little program with the right idea, swings that rock, you know like a V8 moment, I shouldn't duck.

One Literature Study to Rule Them All

My copy arrived today, thanks to another WTMer! I've been looking forward to doing this study for the last two years, we'll start our journey next fall. You can check them out for yourself at HomeScholar.org

Necessity, a Snowstorm, and a Makeshift Bookcase

Today seemed like a good day for a snow day. Considering the ten plus inches of snow outside the door anyway. While Z helped Tigger shovel that glorious white stuff (read my sarcasm) I decided to work on classroom organization.

Most of our belongings are still in storage many miles away, I'm missing a few things. As you can see one of those categories is bookcases. This pictures represents the small portion of books I own that I've been using on a regular basis for school and myself.

Even the dog looks overwhelmed. I've had them all crunched in the corner, the books, not the dogs. The second photo is the natural state of my desk. Actually this is supposed to be Z's desk. I borrow it when we are not doing school. See the red thing on the chair. It's a robe. I wore it most of the day. This was one of those days I did not change out my pajamas.

I've been working on my minimalist mindset and decided that I would utilize what I already have to make a bookcase. No sense buying what I already own, even though it's in storage in another state (frustration does not translate well on a blog). It was an exercise, like a puzzle.

This is the finished product. It's totally temporary. The cardboard box on the bottom in the middle was left empty on purpose. It's the new hiding place for the cat. It was kind of fun, figuring out how to put all these boxes together.

The snow is piled high outside and tonight Z's desk is clear. Tomorrow we'll be back at school and hopefully I'll be more organized.