The Scooter Pies play many games of Forbidden Island and Sushi Go! with momWatercolor narrations from “As You Like It” clockwise from top left: by Peach Pie, Key Lime Pie, and Cherry PieKey Lime Pie’s Bear FamilyBanana Cream Pie’s Baby SealApple Pie’s Brown BearPumpkin Pie goes to Homecoming Dance
Second day selfies. By coincidence, we did First Day Field Trip and Second Day Selfies. Anyyone have any brilliant Ideas for me for Third Day? #alliterationisthebest #homeschoolisthebest
Yesterday, I spent the day in the first class required for Suzuki teacher training, “Every Child Can.”
First of all, it was an incredibly rejuvenating and inspiring and igniting experience to be in a room with other caring teachers and learn and discuss Shinichi Suzuki’s philosophy and method for teaching children. I learned so much. Additionally, often when a class member made a comment, the teacher would ask, “do you mean ‘…’ by that?” and rephrase their answer. Sometimes, the connections made were so unlike my own, that I got 3 new ideas from each comment: the idea of the class mate, the idea of the teacher, and the connecting idea that related the two.
I loved the ideals that Suzuki put forth. I loved the camaraderie of the class. I look forward to attending more in the future.
Things I learned:
Shinichi Suzuki was born in 1898 and died in 1998, nearly 100 years old. He trained musically in Germany in 1926 and married a German woman as well as becoming friends with Einstien. He and his family suffered much during World War 2.
This puts a context to his work with children. He was not just teaching music to children, he was trying to change the world.
“Teaching music is not my main purpose. I want to make good citizens. If children hear fine music from the day of their birth and learn to play it, they develop sensitivity, discipline and endurance. They get a beautiful heart.” ― Shinichi Suzuki
I also learned that Suzuki never stopped learning, himself. He called his teaching “research” and was continually trying new things and seeking more knowledge.
“To make a resolution and act accordingly is to live with hope. There may be difficulties and hardships, but not disappointment or despair if you follow the path steadily. Do not hurry. This is a fundamental rule. If you hurry and collapse or tumble down, nothing is achieved. DO not rest in your efforts; this is another fundamental rule. Without stopping, without haste, carefully taking a step at a time forward will surely get you there.” ― Shinichi Suzuki, Nurtured by Love: The Classic Approach to Talent Education
Until we die, we should spare no time or effort in changing our weaknesses to merits. To do so can be pleasant and interesting. We can become like the horse that starts last and yet outruns the field, reaching the wire first; it is the same fun.” ― Shinichi Suzuki, Nurtured by Love: The Classic Approach to Talent Education
As I listened and learned yesterday, I made many connections with what I learned reading Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism by Barry Prizant, PhD. I feel that both of these men see children as human beings worthy of respect, and this is what makes their work effective and inspiring. Charlotte Mason (whose educational philosophy I have written about before) also saw this when she stated as her first principle: “Children are born persons.” It seems like such an obvious statement, rather like Shinichi Suzuki’s statement “All Japanese children learn Japanese.” Yet it is recognizing a simple truth (which the majority of people have taken for granted) that changes the world.
Finally finishing our snow globe project. It got forgotten while I worried about lesser things like spelling and science 🧬😬I can’t even handle how awesome this project is turning out to be. #homeschoolrocks #artclass #watercolor
I do not know how she gets so many projects done with so many kids. I guess that bell forces them to finish.
I love the dimension Cherry Pie created with the dark edgeI love the energy and movement Peach Pie created with her sky painting technique Key Lime Pie was the first to put snow flakes in the air, and the only one to include a human.Banana Cream Pie included the Eiffel Tower like her big sister, Peach PieApple Pie’s buildings are full of mice!
The next day…
Lacking glitter for the snow, I was going to use sugar. The girls voted to use salt. So that’s what we did. Something odd happened. The salt pulled water out of our paintings. Perhaps the water came from the Elmer’s glue?
My friend who is a NASA scientist suggested:
It could be deliquescence–the salt pulling sufficient moisture from the air to create a brine solution. (One of my friends is studying the process on Mars.) https://www.britannica.com/science/deliquescence
Every time I visit George Washington Carver National Monument, I’m so inspired. He was willing to work so hard to help others. The Art in the Park homeschool day was so fun for my children. We each learned something new today.
Banana Cream PieApple PieUnidentified Scooter Pie“I live to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting system, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.” GWC
We took a couple of days to read poems by Federico Garcia Lorca (Romance Sonambulo, and Arbole, Arbole…) and then write our own poems full of color. I encouraged the girls to add a few Spanish words to their poems.
This lesson idea came from “Rose Where Did You Get That Red?” By Kenneth Koch, which contains some of the best poetry lesson plans ever.
Ley Lime Pie (age 10)
La Luna and the Mystical Place
La Luna shining in the azul sky Its blanca y plata Colores Up in el cielo Off to a mystical place Singing all the way Thinking of what’s there Could you take me with you To that wonderful place.
Peach Pie (age 13): (Untitled) There lies la Luna Swimming in a sea of lonely azul Ella esta llorando for the loss of her amore. Her face pale with grief. Little estrellas try to cheer her Twinkling and shining for her Trying to make her smile With their jokes. But try as they might, The night goes on La Luna llora For the loss of her amore.
Cherry Pie (age 16): Writers Block Dark, dark mind lies in ruins, long since abandoned by ideas. Dirty, Gris window fragments sit in ashy layers of drapery. Dreary, blue paint peels around the edges of the fireplace. Dank, green smoke stained the bricks not long ago. Dead head never left it’s bed.
Our friendly neighborhood mad scientist doing a demonstration about electrophoresis. #bananacreampie is asking great questions. First graders sitting in on lessons meant for seventh graders is what homeschool is all about!
This is a post I began 2 years ago. It got stuck in the purgatory of saved drafts, and I forgot about it. Reading through it was cathartic for me. The story had a happy ending. The little girl was reunited with her mother. The separation should never have happened in the first place, but they are together and happy now.
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Dec 1, 2016
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness
Today I went to a court hearing as a support to my friend. Due to an overreaction at school and some language barrier problems, and probably some racism, her 8 year old daughter was taken into state custody 46 days ago. She and her daughter have basically suffered all the agony of a kidnapping without the support of having a community behind them trying to help, because the state did the kidnapping. Today was the hearing to determine what should be done next. There is no evidence of abuse or neglect happening in the home, other than what the juvenile officers claim was told them by a little girl who has only spoken English for a year and was clearly asked leading questions that she nodded and smiled to because she didn’t understand what was being asked. I’m devastated that the decision was made for the government to retain custody pending more counseling for the daughter until March of next year, when another hearing will be held. That is months away. The harm and trauma it is causing this little girl and her mother can not be measured. I do not wish at this time to write a post about the terrifying amount of power that DFS and CPS have. My friend came to this country legally about a year ago, and our government has just bulldozed its way over her family.
I went to try to share my friend’s burden. I do not know how to comfort her. I cannot get her child back for her. But I was there, and I promised I would keep being there, and I assured her that in the end, right will prevail.
when I got home, I was pretty emotionally exhausted–too tired to do home school. I suggested to my girls that we do a service, and they voted to take cookies to our friend who is the primary care giver of her elderly mother with dementia. The girls enjoyed making the cookies, and delivering them lifted my spirits after such a difficult morning.
Best Oatmeal Cookies Ever:
1 cup coconut oil (the fragrant unrefined kind–butter also works here)
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1-1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
3 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1 cup raisins
1. Preheat the oven to 325*F
2. Cream coconut oil/butter and sugars together.
3. Add eggs and vanilla.
4. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
5. Add the flour to the coconut oil/butter and mix thoroughly.
6. Add the oatmeal and raisins and stir until they are evenly distributed.
7. Drop the cookie dough by rounded teaspoonfuls on an un-greased cookie sheet. Bake 18-20 minutes, or until the cookies are golden brown around the edges and firm when lightly tapped in the center.
Marvelous Pigs in Satin 