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September
Ezine
- "The
great aim of education is not knowledge, but
action."
-
Herbert
Spencer
Hello and
welcome to the September ezine. I apologize for the
delay. The Homeschool Fair that we sponsored took a lot
of time, we had a minor website crash, and the
homeschool year started. I hope you enjoy this edition
of the ezine and please let us know how we can serve you
best.
Good luck on
your journey. Thank you for joining me on mine.
-Christine
In this
issue:
WHAT
IS MISSING?
As many of
you know I have been working toward creating a
homeschool resource center for some time. I have taken a
few approaches, analyzed what I want from it, tried to
fund it, tried to do it without funding, tried
fundraising...the list goes on. Everyday I take a few
moments to look at the possibility for me and my
family.
Why would I
want such a thing? Well, the answer came to me once
again at park day this week. We go to the park as a
family regularly. And when we go we have a fun time
together. We play with the dog, we dig in the sand, we
climb, run, sit and relax. And then there is park day.
Another day at the park, yet different. When my
kids are at park day the variety of activities and
the depth to which they are explored are different. This
is due to the fact that there are so many other
homeschooled children with their varied ways of playing,
thinking, interacting with each other. The incredible
sand city that was built this week was a collaborative
effort and a wonder at its conclusion. The variety of
tag games and the ages that played them. The indoor and
outdoor activities. No one controlled the structure or
the content. There were no lesson plans, no test for
mastery of skills. It offered myself and my children a
new and rich way to do the park. And park day is like
this each Tuesday. This is what I imagine in a resource
center. A place where children can create, interact,
share and learn together in a structured and
unstructured setting. Structured in that they are
experiencing a rather stable community of people.
Structured in that they are familiar with the setting,
the faces, the routine. Unstructured in that who they
choose to interact with and how are unpredictable.
This summer
I was offered the possibility of starting a new
homeschool charter. The charter is written and
pre-approved. It is supposed to start in September 2005.
But is this what we need? I am wondering if there is
anyone out there with interest in something like a
homeschool resource center but following a Sudbury
Valley Free School Model. It would not meet everyday,
maybe 2 or 3 times a week. Please see www.sudval.org
and read a little about them. There is a public charter
school that follows this model already. I believe they
are located in Oregon.
I may be
interested in pursuing this possibility if there is
interest out there. Contact me christine@sdhomeschoolcenter.com
if you think this may be something for you. I am
not willing to create this alone.
Enjoy the
ezine!
Christine
WHAT IS
RAI DIGITAL HIGH?
RAI Digital Charter School
Grades 6-12
Our programs are completely FREE and designed to best assist you with your educational goals. We have two paths to choose from:
1. THE INDIVIDUALIZED FLEXIBLE PLAN - This path offers you the freedom to provide an instructional program to meet your family’s needs and schedule, thus allowing us to help you custom tailor a program to best educate your children. This path allows flexibility with technology, materials, teachers, and various other options to allow your child the best possible education that fits within your lifestyle and needs. We recognize that parents know their children better than anyone. You are in charge and tell us how we can help.
2. THE RAI PLAN – This path is a very exciting program that eliminates many of the concerns that homeschool parents may have when providing a home education program for their children at the junior high and high school ages. This program allows your child to be educated using amazing technologies, credentialed teachers, and a wonderful classical curriculum. Students have access to teachers on a daily basis for classes, tutoring, and assistance. Parents can be very involved or less involved depending on their needs.
Again both of these paths are very flexible and designed to provide students with the best possible education. Enrollment is limited, so please call today. (866) 376-0291
Dr. Paul Cartas
Chief Educational Officer (866) 376-0291
OUR
UNIQUE CLASSES:
Have
you ever wanted to take an art class at a real art
studio. Here is your opportunity. The classes at the San
Diego Art Department are taught by artists who love
their art and want to share it with you. Choose from the
following for the first 8 week session: hand building
pottery, wheel throwing pottery, stained glass or a
workshop class in which children will be immersed for 2
weeks each in 4 different mediums, exposing them to the
rich variety that the art world has to offer.
Art
at the San
Diego Art Department starting in
September: 8 week sessions.
See details at their website
Reality
Spanish Theater starts in September: Beginning and
Intermediate levels. 12 week sessions. The class will
focus on actually producing the language and will be
held 100% in Spanish.
To be held at The Studio Academy in Sorrento Valley
Mondays from 10-12
cost $85 per month plus $25 reg fee
to register email christine@sdhomeschoolcenter.com
Filmmaking:
If you are interested in any aspect
of video production consider this class. Students will
use Canon XL-1 cameras, Arri Lighting Packages, and
edit their film on Apple G-4 and G-5 Final Cut Pro
Stations. Classes will include directing, camera,
screen writing, lighting, production and editing.
At The Studio Academy in
Sorrento Valley
Mondays, 12:30-2:30(2 hour class) beginning
minimum and maximum class size is
10 students
12 week course committment required
Set
up your own class with the great teachers in
the ONLINE
catalog for HOMESCHOOLERS
u
BOOK
REVIEWS:
The Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola
Reviewed by Rebecca Smith
Charlotte Mason was a turn of the century educator in England who ran a teacher training school based on her ideas for education. She also wrote books and published a magazine
“The Parent’s Review” to help parents teach their children at home.
Her ideas have been rediscovered by home educators in the U.S. who like many of her child-centered ideas and down-to-earth perspective. However, her own books (including Home Education) can be difficult reads for busy homeschooling parents. This is where The Charlotte Mason Companion comes in.
Karen Andreola has written an easy to read guide to the basic ideas of Charlotte Mason and includes ideas and inspiration for incorporating them in to your own child’s education. Some of Charlotte’s basic ideas are short lessons, the use of living books, and narration instead of testing.
Lessons are kept sort to help children develop the Habit of attention. Do just enough on any subject (usually 15-20 minutes in the early years) so that the children can remain focused on the lesson at hand... For example, if you child currently struggles, moans, whines, and can take all day to finish a page of math problems, you would set a time limit of 15 min. for them to accomplish what they can, be it the whole page or one problem – provided they are actually working on the assignment. When the time is up move on the next activity. AS the children mature and attention span increases the length of lessons can increase up to 45min. to an hour for the high school level student.
Another feature of the Charlotte Mason philosophy is the use of “living books” rather than text books. Living books are real books written by individuals who truly love and are excited about the subject they are writing about rather than text books that have been dumped down by committee and consist mostly of dry facts. Karen gives many examples of living books she has used with her family s well as guides the reader on how to find their own.
Narration is another major part of Charlotte Mason’s philosophy and Karen spends several chapters discussing it. Rather than quizzes which emphasize memorization of facts that are quickly forgotten after the test, children are asked to tell back what they know about the topic being covered in their own words. This is done very shortly after the “living book” has been read, and for young children might be on only a paragraph or two at a time. These narrations are done orally up until at least age ten so the child does not need to worry about grammar, punctuation, and penmanship at the same time as they are focusing on their knowledge of the subject at hand.
Other features of Charlotte’s method are a focus on nature study, the formation of good habits as a prime focus for the early years, and lots of time for children to pursue their own interests and to work on projects of real use (knitting or woodworking or other real world skills rather than cut and paste crafts) Karen Andreola explains all these concepts well and also includes chapters on many other aspects of education including, music appreciation, grammar, spelling, Shakespeare, and lots more.
Even if you are not searching for a whole new way of homeschooling many of the ideas presented could be incorporated into just about any method of homeschooling. I find that this book gives me inspiration and encouragement, and I love to dip in and read about this gentle way of education.
The book includes discussion questions at the end on most chapters to get you thinking or use with a group discussion if Charlotte Mason’s ideas. All the pictures are old fashioned etchings of the ideal Victorian childhood – Don’t be put off if yours is a very modern family and lifestyle – Charlotte’s ideas are as applicable to the 21st century as they were to the 19th.
One more note: although written from a Christian perspective, this guide has much to offer parents of all faiths just substitute the right ideas when you read or skip those parts – there is still much to be gleaned from this book.
Please send your book reviews to Rebecca at rsps1@yahoo.com
If you have read a wonderful book you would
like to tell others about, please send your review to
Rebecca at rsps1@yahoo.com
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WEBSITE
REVIEWS
by Marie Pineda
Math
Do you like games? Then go to this site for great math games for elementary students. Bingo, concentration, hidden pictures, and geometry.
http://www.aplusmath.com/games/index.html
Science
For those in North County or for those who don’t mind driving to Dana Point, there’s a wonderful ocean institute that was created for learning about our beautiful oceans and the life within them. Check it out!
www.ocean-institute.org
Worthwhile Retail Stores
If you only go to one teacher supply store, go to this one. You can order online, or go to the store. They give discounts for purchasing certain items that are typically found in a classroom, so they are fair to
homeschoolers!
www.lakeshorelearning.com
A second retail store I was really impressed with is Evan-Moore. They have every subject and even theme units you can buy.
http://www.evan-moor.com
If you are into History, especially California History, you might want to buy some books from this site. There is one book on the true beginnings of Hawaii also.
http://www.stagecoachpublishing.com/_wsn/page2.html
A DAY IN THE LIFE
OF…
and then there was Wednesday.
Denise (7yo) woke up on the wrong side of the planet. Munched her breakfast in silence. Groaned when asked to get dressed. By the time we sat down at the table to do anything, I was beginning to pick up on her mood. So, of course, she changed it. She became totally goofy. Repeated things back to me in gibberish. Bounced in her seat. Liana was all over the place as well. My nerves began to fray.
I said, "You know what? We're going to take a break today!" and put everything away.
Denise proceeded to make an R.I.P. construction paper and cardboard headstone as part of her ongoing effort to make her bedroom terribly spooky for Halloween. Since I am currently organizing a church costume party designed to encourage family togetherness and discourage this 'spook and begging' bit I don't find this particularly inspiring... but I wrote it in under art anyway. I probably should have noted it under science as well as it took Denise fifteen frustrated minutes to figure out how to bend and support the cardboard in such a way that the headstone would stand up.
We went out for a walk that day. I wrote it down under P.E. The kids played a lot that day. Watched me sew. Watched me bake bread. Took turns trying to knead the dough. We talked about how yeast is supposed to make it rise and how so many things can affect that (and why some of mom's bread turns out rather brickish). I wrote the bread baking down under math (measuring) and science.
When the 2yo had her nap, we did sit down for our usual reading session. Denise is really enjoying "A Bone From A Dry Sea". We looked up taphonomist and then checked on the internet to see if Elaine Morgan was a real person. Denise was amazed to find out that she is... Further reading took us to the place in the book where taphonomist was explained... Denise was thrilled that the explanation we read matched the one we'd found in the dictionary. Wrote all this down under language arts, science, and socials (taphonomist, an occupation, falls under socials when you're 7yo <G>).
This book doesn't interest Liana, so she came in here and played a computer game while we read. Then she and Denise fought over whether or not Denise could have a turn on the computer. Denise eventually won.
We went to a friend's house for supper. They don't have any children yet. Thanksgiving had been a manners disaster so I reminded the children on the way there of how to politely say no thank you to extra servings, ask to be excused, not fight, etc., etc., etc. Amazingly, it worked. After supper Liana played with the hostess's saved Barbie Doll collection. Denise played a computer game that consisted of her having to answer a bunch of questions to get to the end of a maze.
The hostess commented that she was surprised that Denise didn't know what "metamorphosis" meant. Gasp. Oh dear, thought I, we should have covered that thoroughly two years ago when most kindergarten kids do the caterpillar to butterfly routine. Agh. A hole in her education. Even though I *know* this is not a big deal (in fact, now she does know what it means <G>), I found myself wanting to counter with everything she does know. I found myself commenting that Denise could describe the entire digestive process from the moment you take a bite ... I would have said, "Oh yeah, well, do you know what a taphonomist is?" but I wasn't sure I'd be pronouncing it correctly <G>.
I noted the computer session in our log under 'various', "Explored interactive encyclopedia, answered a series of questions under various subjects as part of a maze-completion exercise."
I didn't get any housework done that day either. And we didn't sit down at the table to do a single bit of 'bookwork'. But we still managed to fill the log with art, math, science, socials, P.E. and 'various' other educational activities.
Even on 'bad' days when we get nothing done... we still manage to get a lot done. I think after you've been doing this for awhile you start to get a different picture of what constitutes 'educational' activities.
Gina
UNSCHOOLING
CORNER: FREE
FALLING
by Connie Colten
I’ve continually heard people compare their decision to begin un/homeschooling to falling out of an airplane without a parachute or jumping off a cliff. Why do we all feel that tremendous sense of danger? Is it because we are beginning an activity that is totally new, and we have no sense of the boundaries? Are we frightened because we are taking our children on a journey for which we have no map? Is it because the orderly progression of grades and achievement testing we experienced during our school years is removed? Or, are we scared out of our wits because we now have shouldered the responsibility for what our children will learn, when we assumed we would be sharing that responsibility with other people?
Here are some questions I’d like you to consider:
1. Have you ever made a significant decision in your life without some strong feelings of excitement or fear?
2. What is the worst case scenario?
3. Can you place a time frame on the choice to un/homeschool making it feel safer? (We’ll try this for a year and then evaluate?)
4. Even if your children do attend school, doesn’t the ultimate responsibility of their learning still rest with you and the child/ren?
5. Can you find a support system? (The internet lists, park days, and books to name a few?)
6. Is there ONE right way to un/homeschool? (Can you make adjustments in the plan once your family embarks on this journey?)
7. Do you realize that once the family is un/homeschooling it will gradually become your “normal” way of life? (Remember the adjustment in family life after the new baby, while the new normal was established?)
Yes, you may be free falling, but I’m here to tell you that in the end you’ll land firmly on the ground. You may have a few bumps and bruises from the experience, but you’d get those even if you didn’t keep your child/ren home to learn. That is just the nature of life.
In the words of Galileo Galilei: “You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself.
And who better to provide that help than the loving parents of the child?
www.homeschoolingreflections.com
Feel
free to e-mail me at hsreflections.com with any of your
un/homeschooling concerns, to possibly be addressed in
future columns.
______________________________________________________________
TEEN ARENA
Here is an article by Cafi Cohen about Homeschooling
Teens:
http://homeschoolzone.com/hsz/cohen.htm
How a homeschool teen made it on the Teen Advisory Board
for Seventeen Magazine:
http://homeschoolzone.com/faces/seventeen.htm
Teen Announcement:
The fourth Friday of the month is the designated day for
the San Diego Teen group activities. For more info
contact LaDonna at puma@adnc.net.
up
ANNOUNCEMENTS/EVENTS
"Let
Freedom Ring" Event:
One of the original Liberty Bells [there were 2 bells,
the famous one
has the crack, the other travels around the country]
& will be at March
Field Air Museum from Sept.
17--till--Sept. 23, 2004.
Sat. & Sunday, Sept. 18 & 19, 2004. There
will be a Revolutionary
War living history camp
set up on the front lawn of the museum's "Court of
Honor" The courtyard displays a "Freedom
Wall" with engraved granite plaques displaying the
Constitution, Bill of Rights, Dec. of Independence,
Washington's letters, Gettysburg Address etc. The Bell
will be displayed inside the museum nearby.
California
Coastal Cleanup Day
September
18, 9-12 p.m.
Join I Love A Clean San Diego and San Diego Baykeeper
for the 20th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day. As
the summer beach season ends and the school year begins,
Coastal Cleanup Day is a great way for families,
students, service groups, and neighbors to join
together, take care of our marine environment, show
community pride, learn about the impacts of marine
debris and have fun! With 50 sites throughout San Diego
County, along both coastal and inland waterways,
volunteering has never been easier. Visit http://www.cleanupday.org
or call 1-800-237-BLUE for more information. The
necessary...
ArtSplash
September
25, 10-5
ArtSplash in Carlsbad is a
FREE two-day, non-profit, family chalk art festival with
art demonstrations, street entertainment, food, fine
art, chalk art street painting, live music, and hands-on
activities! Bring your family and friends to Armada
Drive to enjoy this unique community event on September
25 and 26 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Purchase a 2x2 square
for $10 to create your own chalk art creation, using the
street as your canvas!...
More info: http://carlsbadartsplash.org
SALES
Got stuff you don’t need? Announce it here. Or
bring it to the used curriculum sale in September.
Send a short description with your contact information
to Christine@sdhomeschoolcenter.com
SUPPORT
OUR SPONSORS - including all
of the businesses listed in our
Online
catalog
In order to create and run
this fabulous center we need the financial support of
people and businesses. In exchange for this financial
support we can offer our patronage and our daily
word-of-mouth advertising strength to family, friends
and neighbors. We must show how much we truly appreciate
these sponsors. If you or someone you know would
like to sponsor our growth and success please send an
e-mail to info@sdhomeschoolcenter.com.
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Finish Guy
Mobile Furniture and Finish
Repair
Commercial/Residential
858-679-8837
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