Photography

Everyone knows that great photography begins with a good basic camera.  Scored this Nikon D40 DSLR off Ebay for a small fraction of the price new ($500).

CPR Training

As apart of a well-rounded, practical, useful, thoughtful, relevant educational program, we arranged for the children to learn CPR.  What a fabulous day we had learning about the ABC's of emergencies in preparation for life.  

After checking the scene for safety.  And after making sure the person needs help.  Hana does adult chest compressions.  30 compressions, then two breaths.  Heel of hand, just below the nipple line.

In an adult, call 911 first (because a defibrillator is typically very useful, and ultimately the only way to possibly save their life is with advanced medical intervention).

 And this is a AED.  There are 2 patches that go on the anterior chest wall.  The electricity is designed to go through the heart to help abolish abberrant rhythms and help the heart return to a state of allowing a  spontanous and effective circulation.

 Choking intervention.  Just above the belly-button, try to force a foreign object out of the mouth with abdominal thrusts just under the rib-cage.

In infants, do CPR first.  Cover nose and mouth with your mouth.  Use only 2 fingers for compressions.  If all else fails, be sure to do compressions at least.

And we conclude with infant choking intervention.

What does Haley think about going to homeschool?

Readers of this blog know the my impetus for treading down this homeschool journey was Haley.  We've been blessed with great elementary school teachers so far.  Yes, Haley has been in 7 schools in her 10 years on this Earth...but each move was designed to remedy a certain undesirable situation.  And then, I (finally) realized...that perhaps there isn't a (traditional) school that will optimize Haley's potential in all of her ENTJ glory as a true natural born leader.  (Because we know that leadership is not a desired attribute in school where conformity is expected and encouraged).  


Going through the past.
First there was the hole in the wall pre-school.  Very mom and pop in a traditionally decent part of town.  We chose this spot because our 1st baby was going to day-care (at age 1) and this seemed to be close to a "home-like" environment.  But, times change.  And the "good part of town" apparently no longer included this school.  After the gun-man episode, we were out.

And yes, we overcompensated by putting the (now 2 year-old) child in the most bourgeois Montessori school on the rich side of town.  This school (in all of their Montessori-do-whatever-you-want-to-do splendor) left my child undisciplined and crazy-rowdy.

So the following year we decided that we like the "child centered" aspect of instruction, but with RULES and guidelines.  So we went back across town to the Hippie tie-dye school where she actually thrived (although I'm not sure she actually learned anything distinctly academic which was disappointing).  But that was okay because she was from ages 3 - 4)

Then we moved 400 miles north.  So we used my mother to help us pay for a College Laboratory school. Haley was now a 4yo *pre-K* student and I liked the thought of it being on the college campus, and the energy student teachers bring.  But, it was too expensive (and ultimately too far from home after we finally settled into our new house).

So we opted for a less expensive, very close to home, Christian school to begin kindergarten (with the thought that we'd be able to settle down here and let the kids come up thru this school).  We loved this school.  The teachers were great, and Haley was accepted and seemed to thrive.  But, the school was only an elementary school, and there weren't any real options (practical inexpensive options) for her after she 'graduated' from this school.  She stayed at this school for kindergarten and 1st grade.

With now 3 children to consider, we decided to move again to a place with lower cost of living and higher rates of pay and bountiful job options.  And we chose our house because of the local Public school system.  5 stars.  Exemplary.   Parent involvement.

Haley stayed at this Public school for 2nd - 4th grade (the school which Ian attends and Hana will be enrolled).  And this was great for her.  Sure, I think she could have learned more.  And I absolutely had issues with the testing situation and the teaching methods.  But I felt my child is adaptable, and it's "easier" to correct minor deviations in her coursework then it is to *create* the course-work and teach it!! So homeschooling wasn't something that even made sense to me then.  I realized the necessity to supplement the school curriculum, which is how Taylored Curriculum (officially) got started two years ago.

Then she switched to intermediate school for 5th grade...

And Taylored Curriculum could NOT undo all that was being done...AND then fill in the gaps of knowledge she had.  And with each passing month, things got more and more crazy:

"pseudo-suicidal" friends.
blow-jobs in the boys bathroom
teachers who are always absent
excessive testing
bullying (verbally at *least*)
inadequate academic instruction

And Haley's reaction to the "new stressors" was anxiety and diminished self-confidence.

Taylored Curriculum couldn't undo these things.  The only purpose school served was to occupy time.  TIME (our most valuable asset).  Time spent doing things that didn't matter.  Time taken away from her own interests.  Time taken away from family.  Time taken away from academics!  Time...gone.  With nothing to show for it.

So I made the decision to do a new thing.  I'm good at doing a new thing...and Haley is fluid and goes with the flow.  So, now...on her 8th school in her 10 years here on Earth...I am optimistic that I (as her mother) can step in and together with our village, create a better 'school' for our little girl.

Haley:  what do you think about me pulling you out of Public school and putting you in this university model 2 day a week homeschool hybrid situation?

Initial response was:  "Then I'll be the new kid again...and have no friends."

1 week later when one "friend" disowned her, and another got sent to alternative school...

"I realize that my friends aren't really my friends.  I will not miss them.  I am excited to spend more time with you and Daddy...learning stuff so I'll actually be smart!  It's so frustrating to me to 'feel stupid' every time I'm around similar aged children and they know things that I don't know.  I think to myself 'how did they KNOW that?  They've never taught that to me at my school!"  

The thing is, those kids aren't learning these things at school either.

So I'm feeling pretty good about our decision right now.  And as added validation, I appreciate Quinn's honest response below.

from Adventrues in Homeschooling: 

Take Part: As Alice gets older, do you think you'll continue to homeschool?

Quinn: I think it is my responsibility to try my best to keep my ego out of her education. I think we have to watch her and let her watch herself and let her speak up. If she wants to be in brick and mortar schools, and it's the right thing for her to do, I would hope that I would have the sense and the grace to say, "Alright, let's get you set up."

STAAR Test

Haley completed her STAAR testing yesterday with Science being the last topic.  Earlier this month she sat for her Reading and Math portions.  Those results were released today.

It's interesting because while I didn't do anything (what-so-ever) to help "tutor" or prepare Haley for this exam, I WAS hoping she'd do well enough to fly below the radar.  Of course, we hope for a spectacular performance.  But knowing my girl, I know she could use some practice simply LEARNING how to take a test.

Unfortunately, having a child take an all day test...then releasing only her score...doesn't help her improve her performance.  If taking these tests were really about practicing test-taking...we would have a test booklet, answer key, and a lesson on missed items.  That is not the case.  So, it really is not for the benefit of my child that she takes these exams.  And I take issue with that.

And to add insult to injury, the exam scores are incorporated into classroom grades and used for promotional purposes.  So the test isn't simply to assess where the children are as a group (and as individuals) to allow for adjustments or tailoring of their curriculum or learning.  But rather, is simply punitive if they don't make a satisfactory score.  And really, why is it necessary to hold a child back when her classroom grades *all year* are As and Bs, but on an exam she scores low?  Does that mean that is doesn't matter at all what the child does in class for 8 months?  It seems so...

So why did I allow Haley to sit for this exam (when, last year, I didn't)?

Well, she took an exam in 3rd grade that stressed us all out.  So when 4th grade came around, the math being taught was incorrect and damaging.  However, it was "in line with testing materials."  It seemed as though the teacher was more concerned with getting everyone to understand backwards math to score well on the test, than she was in actually *teaching* MATH.  So we opted to have Haley not take it.  That way the teacher could relax and stop pushing backwards math on our daughter as we worked at home to "deprogram" it.

This year, however, we decided to allow her to test since it IS a public school requirement for promotion to the 6th grade - which is odd because in the land of 'no government  one would think that I could decide for myself whether or not I want my child to take this test with no negative repercussions imposed by the government.

And, we did it without kicking, screaming, or even preparation because we know she will not be taking the STAAR...maybe never again.  So this gave us a chance to see how she would do, honestly.

While a friend of hers scored outstanding, Haley "only" scored satisfactory.  Satisfactory is all that is required to fly below the radar.  So I am relieved.  I am relieved because, as we exit the Public School System, I know (and the District knows, and the teachers know, and the children know...) that we are exiting, NOT because they couldn't "hack it" in Public school.  NOT because there was a "problem" or an "issue" that needed to be address in an academic or behavioral sense (which is why I'm still a stickler for attendance and performance these last few weeks).

The last thing I want is to give the impression that we don't take education seriously, or that we couldn't get them to school every day....or that there was a "family issue" or "learning issues" or anything else that made it to where we had no other alternative.  

I want them to exit the Pubic School system gracefully.  Performing on level.  Behavior top-notch.  Relationships normal.  Attendance (since that's a big deal here with school districts that rely on State/Federal funding) acceptable.  So there is no question in the future as to why they were pulled out.  AND...IF we happen to decide to re-enroll them into Public school, there's less to "explain."  (I'm all about keeping options open).

Summary:  While the test is useless in terms of learning, I am happy to report that Haley did just fine.  Her report card is 2 As and 2 Bs with Satisfactory Excellent behavior.  And I now have a starting point to help her improve her test-taking skills (because, ultimately, test-taking skill *does* matter in our society today).

P.S.  Ian does not yet take the STAAR exam.

Kung-fu Update

Kung-fu success!!  Ian practiced, tested for, and earned his white sash.  Congratulations!!

“So you’re going to homeschool them? What do the children think about that?”

Hana:  is *ecstatic* to be going to school!  She is looking forward to carrying her back-pack up the school ramp.  She’s shared with me that it’s “her turn” to shop for school supplies and lunch boxes.  She already knows her kindergarten teacher, because she will very likely have the same teacher Ian had.  She is looking forward to being invited to classmates birthday parties.  She wants to sit in a circle on the rug, and raise her hand…and be *schooled*!! 

So when asked, “Hana, would you like to continue learning at home?” 

(as she has been her entire time with us less 6 months of pre-school when she first arrived here because I mistakenly thought that she’d thrive and adjust *better* if immersed in ‘normal’ nursery-school age activities)

She promptly replied "I want to go to Public school like Haley and Ian did.  I want to have friends, and go away someplace to learn new things..."

And while I am transitioning into a home-schooling advocate as I delve further along this path, I am ALSO an advocate that traditional public school does work just fine for some students.  I feel like I (as many of my peers) did well with (maybe in spite of) public schooling.  For some personalities, public school works better than for others. 

Hana is an ENFP who thrives in social settings, collaboration, and being around people energizes and motivates her.  It’s not surprising that school may be a great option for her.  

Ian:  isn't particularly fond of going to school...but rather he endures it as a good-spirited little boy.  I've carefully chosen all of his teachers based on ideals and personality (insight I gleamed from navigating the process with Haley).  He's been well-matched with his teachers, and the classes are a good size (16 or 17 students).  He listens, and does well.  He's learning quite a bit, albeit very slowly as the presentation of information is a snail pace.  

So when asked, "Ian, would you like to be homeschooled with Haley, or continue going to Public school?"  

He had no prompt reply.  As an ISFP, this is a typical and expected response.

After a couple of days marinating on the idea, he came to the conclusion that he doesn't have friends at school anyway (Ian is not a 'typical' rough/tumble kinda guy, and he looks at those other boys like they are all crazy when they wrestle around and hit each other with sticks).  He determined he's not learning anything anyway.  "Ever since I left Mrs. Irma, I haven't learned anything at school."  [Mrs. Irma was amazing!  Again, a well-matched teacher!]

So his conclusion was "yeah, I think it'll be better for me to be home-schooled because then I get to wake up late and learn things I like."  

Khan. Math. Music. Blog.

I stumbled upon Khan Academy (https://www.khanacademy.org/) and I am impressed.  The 3-5 minute math videos on single/discrete topics kept my daughter interested and engaged for an hour.  She went from knowing *nothing* about ratios and proportions to nearly mastering them (even the word problems) in 15 minutes.  She learned about negative numbers, and order of operations in math equations.

After I corrected her arbitrary placement of random parenthesis in the math statements, we were good.  We even squeezed in some percentage concepts and reviewed some basic long division (which is weak because the school spent all of last year teaching to the test and all the kids were forced to learn the "box method."  And because of this "lost" year...and this stupid method...there will be lots of kids who just never properly learn to multiply and divide.  And that's a shame.

I am determined to give Haley a *real* opportunity to fall in love with math.  So I signed her up for a summer math camp that meets once per week throughout the summer to go over concepts that she can expect to see in the upcoming academic year.  I've been in contact with the teacher, and she's excited to have Haley in her class (we've become Facebook friends).

Haley and I started a blog for her (which has motivated her to start writing on her own, I hope).  (http://www.atweenmind.blogspot.com/).  First post was a huge hit.

And...she had her piano competition, placed 3rd (which is awesome considering the children are judged by grade level, and not piano level...and Haley started lessons less than 2 years ago, and some of those kids have been playing for 6-8 years).  Remember, Haley is a YOUNG 5th grade.  And with this transition, she will essentially be a 5th grader all over again.  So, maybe...she'll fall into the next lower level and dominate.

Anyway, the STARR test has come and gone except for the science.  The school year begins it's slow decent into summer...until after this last test next week, then it will be a free-fall academically until June.

"Ammunition" to homeschool: Guns. Institutions. Lord of the Flies.

As focused as I am on finding more opportunities to earn money working from home (so I can be more fully available to engage in this homeschooling project) it seems as though I find *more* time to blog and think about strategy while at work out of the house.  I'll have to keep that in mind moving forward....

I saw this on Yahoo today:

GUNS



5th Graders Plot to RAPE and Kill Classmate ["because she was really, really annoying"]

The 10-year-old responded that he and the 11-year-old were going to “get [the girl] away from the school and do her in”. He said the 11-year-old was going to stab the girl with a knife and the 10-year-old was supposed to keep everyone away, according to court documents.

The 10-year-old indicated he and the 11-year-old had been planning this for awhile, and that another student was aware of their plans.

Rogers then spoke to the 11-year-old. She asked him what the deal was with the knife and gun. He told her he had no idea what she was talking about. Rogers got more specific, asking about the knife, the gun, and the girl. Rogers indicated the 11-year-old became agitated, walked around a little bit, and then asked, “Do you really want to know? OK, fine. I’ll tell you.”

Court documents state the 11-year-old stated he and the 10-year-old were planning to gill the girl “because she was really annoying.”

When asked what they were planning, the 11-year-old indicated, “I was going to kill her with the knife and [the 10-year-old] was supposed to use the gun to keep anyone from trying to stop me or mess up our plan.”

Records state the 11-year-old also admitted the girl was not the only one they were going to “get”.  Rogers pulled out a class list and the 11-year-old showed her six more names of students they were going to target.

TWO boys aged 10 and 11 have been committed to stand trial for conspiring to rape and murder at least one of their classmates.

And after Sandy Hook elementary school massacre, Ian asked me:

So if a shooter comes into my class, do you think I should run, or play dead?

And now, they are having "active shooter drills" where the kids are practicing for this sort of thing (which is good, since it's obviously a real threat, I guess)...but...really?

AND to add insult to injury...of course it's WAY more difficult to PARENTS to get their OWN children these days from school because CRAZY boys decide to shoot up the place.  AND (to add further insult to more injury) they even have it arranged where the kids may leave the school and go to an "undisclosed second location" for "their protection" where the parents wouldn't even know where their own child went!!

Institutionalized "learning" (forcing round pegs into square holes) - I am so.  Over.  It

And this comes riding in on the coat-tails of the STAAR test for Haley that ended this week.  The 4 hour exam that spans over 3-4 days (depending on grade and whether or not they do writing).  Where the walls are covered in paper (including the clock, although it's a TIMED test so you'd gander to think the clock would be useful).  Where the kids are forced to give up days of their lives so "no child is left behind."  

THEN I have a fellow local mom share with me the "fact" that the score on this test determines whether or not my kid is placed in the "you'll be something great, so we'll let you take AP classes and apply for 4-year universities" pile OR whether they'll be relegated to "you're a dumb-ass, and you are only allowed to sign up for junior college - even-though you have a diploma...because we're going to "tag" your diploma with a 'mark of stupidity so everyone will always know...you are stupid...." pile.  

Over.  It. 

"School yard socialization" i.e. discrimination and bullying (based on any/everything that makes  people unique and celebratory)

And finally (for now) I appreciate this blog post by Penelope where she brings to our attention that:  

Research demonstrates that "school-yard discrimination" can have long-lasting detrimental effects on children (particularly girls) leading to drug use, risky sex, and low self-esteem.  And we know that the link between low self-esteem and subsequent abusive relationships, infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and HSV (herpes), single motherhood, poverty, and criminal activity is real (and does not require much extrapolation).  

This 6-year longitudinal study examined girls’ peer-nominated social preference and aggression in
childhood as predictors of self- and parent-reported externalizing symptoms, substance use (i.e., cigarette, alcohol, and marijuana use), and sexual risk behavior in adolescence. Participants were 148 girls from diverse ethnic backgrounds, who were initially assessed in Grades 4–6 and again in Grades 10–12. Results supported a moderator model, indicating that social preference changed the nature of the association between childhood aggression and adolescent outcomes. When accompanied by peer rejection, aggressive behavior was moderately stable over time and significantly associated with adolescent girls’ substance use and sexual risk behavior...

And when your girl is in any way "different" she has a higher likelihood of being ostrasized.  Anytime anyone is different for any reason, they have to be prepared to "defend" their difference.  

And if they are outnumbered and unsupported...and TEN YEARS OLD...

...they are more apt to negatively internalize their feelings, resulting in elements of self-destruction.

So, in summary:

Guns (fear and unintended consequences).  Institutions where expectation of conformity over-rides common sense (and all kids learn to do is take tests).  Plus the "Lord of the Flies" mentality on the playground = current school situation and cements my decision to do a different thing!!  

Over.  It.