Glitter and Sparkle were fascinated by the gaping hole left by the old oven.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
New Oven
Our oven went out about a month ago. Wander tried to fix it, but was unable to get the parts he needed. So we had to buy a new oven. It arrived today, in time for Thanksgiving.
Glitter and Sparkle were fascinated by the gaping hole left by the old oven.
The guy who installed it was the same guy who installed our dishwasher. Sparkle recognized him, even though it's been two years and she saw him for only a few minutes. Does that girl have an amazing memory or what?
Brand new oven!
Glitter and Sparkle were fascinated by the gaping hole left by the old oven.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Love of Learning, or Pure Laziness?
Sparkle will be attending Pioneer Camp later this month. When I signed her up we received a list of books about pioneer times. We check out a bunch from the library and I pulled some books that we already own.
I told Sparkle that if she read the books she would have a better understanding of pioneer times and would get more out of the camp. Then I asked her if she wanted me to set up a reward system for reading the books. To my surprise, she said no, she would rather just read them. Then I asked if she would like a checklist of the books so that she could mark off which ones she read. She liked that idea.
I was a bit baffled. Why would she choose to read the books but not get rewards for doing so? Could this be evidence that she is on her way to developing a love of learning that needs no external rewards? No, let's not be delusional. I suspect that she chose to not have a reward system to avoid (1) extra pressure to read more books, and (2) more work involved in tracking and verifying books read.
I told Sparkle that if she read the books she would have a better understanding of pioneer times and would get more out of the camp. Then I asked her if she wanted me to set up a reward system for reading the books. To my surprise, she said no, she would rather just read them. Then I asked if she would like a checklist of the books so that she could mark off which ones she read. She liked that idea.
I was a bit baffled. Why would she choose to read the books but not get rewards for doing so? Could this be evidence that she is on her way to developing a love of learning that needs no external rewards? No, let's not be delusional. I suspect that she chose to not have a reward system to avoid (1) extra pressure to read more books, and (2) more work involved in tracking and verifying books read.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Sparkle Poetry
May was poetry month at our local library. The librarian put together a poetry contest, so naturally I had Sparkle enter. We looked through the poems she has been writing each week for the past few weeks and she selected her favorite. I typed it for her and she made a few more changes. I printed the updated version and we delivered it to the library the day before the deadline. Sparkle's entry was the first and only entry that day. However, apparently a few more entries trickled in the following day.
A few weeks later, the librarian asked if they could read Sparkle's poem at the family storytime when they announced the winners. Sparkle got really shy but gave permission. We couldn't make it to storytime, but the next afternoon we got a message on the answering machine to call the library. Sure enough, Sparkle had won.
Sparkle got her picture taken in front of the kids poetry section of the library, and she received a $25 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble. She also had to sign a photo release and she freaked out because she couldn't remember how to write her middle name in cursive. However, all was well.
Today I took her to Barnes & Noble to spend her gift certificate. Turns out Barnes & Noble sells lots more than just books. It also has Lego, games, journals, toys, note cards, and gadgets. It also has lots of books with colorful pages and comfy chairs. Sparkle would pull a book with a catchy cover off the shelf and start reading, as if she were in the library. However she agreed that most of the books she saw weren't worth spending the money on. She knew that we had many of the titles at home or could borrow them from the library. I started browsing for her and suggested different titles and toys, but none that she was willing to spend *her* money on.
As I reshelved the books and toys that didn't past muster, I saw a book by Shel Silverstein that I had never heard of before: Everything On It. I showed the book to Sparkle, and her eyes lit up as her arms automatically reached out for the book. Yes. this was what she wanted. She didn't even flip through the pages.
As soon as we got home we had poetry teatime. Sparkle read from her new book.
I thought, how appropriate. Sparkle wrote a poem for that won a poetry contest, and she used the gift card she won to buy a book a poetry!
A few weeks later, the librarian asked if they could read Sparkle's poem at the family storytime when they announced the winners. Sparkle got really shy but gave permission. We couldn't make it to storytime, but the next afternoon we got a message on the answering machine to call the library. Sure enough, Sparkle had won.
Sparkle got her picture taken in front of the kids poetry section of the library, and she received a $25 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble. She also had to sign a photo release and she freaked out because she couldn't remember how to write her middle name in cursive. However, all was well.
Today I took her to Barnes & Noble to spend her gift certificate. Turns out Barnes & Noble sells lots more than just books. It also has Lego, games, journals, toys, note cards, and gadgets. It also has lots of books with colorful pages and comfy chairs. Sparkle would pull a book with a catchy cover off the shelf and start reading, as if she were in the library. However she agreed that most of the books she saw weren't worth spending the money on. She knew that we had many of the titles at home or could borrow them from the library. I started browsing for her and suggested different titles and toys, but none that she was willing to spend *her* money on.
As I reshelved the books and toys that didn't past muster, I saw a book by Shel Silverstein that I had never heard of before: Everything On It. I showed the book to Sparkle, and her eyes lit up as her arms automatically reached out for the book. Yes. this was what she wanted. She didn't even flip through the pages.
As soon as we got home we had poetry teatime. Sparkle read from her new book.
I thought, how appropriate. Sparkle wrote a poem for that won a poetry contest, and she used the gift card she won to buy a book a poetry!
Thursday, April 26, 2012
homeschooling science
I've long maintained that I don't do science in my homeschool.
However, today I realized just how much science my kids are involved in even though I don't do science.
1) Both kids are now taking a weekly classes in science at a local science academy. Each class is two hours long, and the kids do a variety of hands on demonstrations / experiments and some "challenges" which are usually of a build something that does this or that.
2) Both kids go take classes at the downtown science museum once a month. Each month the kids have two one-hour classes in the morning, followed by a special exhibit at the sciences, and then wandering the main exhibit halls.
3) Both kids participate in once a month classes at our local nature center. The kids (and Wander!) are good friends with the staff. Each class is one and half to two hours and usually involves a nature walk with a very knowedgable and kid friendly guide plus some hands-on activities.
4) Both kids are in a three times a month co-op which happends to include a science component. And to top it all off, I'm the science teacher.
And that's not counting what Wander tells them, or the critters that they encounter on their nightly walks with Wander, or the monarch caterpillars that Sparkle found in the back yard and turned into pets. At one point we had at least eight caterpillars in the house, and eventually almost as many pupas. Wander even had to go out and buy more Butterfly Weed to feed the caterpillars. (We since gave most of them to the science acadamy.)
I don't know how much of this we'll continue next school year. We'll see.
However, today I realized just how much science my kids are involved in even though I don't do science.
1) Both kids are now taking a weekly classes in science at a local science academy. Each class is two hours long, and the kids do a variety of hands on demonstrations / experiments and some "challenges" which are usually of a build something that does this or that.
2) Both kids go take classes at the downtown science museum once a month. Each month the kids have two one-hour classes in the morning, followed by a special exhibit at the sciences, and then wandering the main exhibit halls.
3) Both kids participate in once a month classes at our local nature center. The kids (and Wander!) are good friends with the staff. Each class is one and half to two hours and usually involves a nature walk with a very knowedgable and kid friendly guide plus some hands-on activities.
4) Both kids are in a three times a month co-op which happends to include a science component. And to top it all off, I'm the science teacher.
And that's not counting what Wander tells them, or the critters that they encounter on their nightly walks with Wander, or the monarch caterpillars that Sparkle found in the back yard and turned into pets. At one point we had at least eight caterpillars in the house, and eventually almost as many pupas. Wander even had to go out and buy more Butterfly Weed to feed the caterpillars. (We since gave most of them to the science acadamy.)
I don't know how much of this we'll continue next school year. We'll see.
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