Time Tracker

I am currently enjoying the weariness that only teachers and homeschoolers completing their first week of school can truly understand. School this year starts at 9 and ends at 4. It's the only way to fit everything into four days instead of five. This is the first year I've decided to hold firm about homework. If they don't finish within the given hour, they must do it in the evening. It helps that we've banned all electronic media, including the internet during the work week. Tokens for weekend use must be earned by completing the work on time. I thought this was going to be a real drag, but I bought the above device--the Time Tracker--and it really has worked small miracles. They decided to divide the hour evenly between the three sections, and they do try to beat the clock. When the red zone beeps and lights up, the atmosphere in the room changes. The price for this gadget seemed high when I bought it. Now, they could charge me more.
The schedule isn't as bad as I thought it would be. We begin with phonics/writing. On one level I'm teaching the ABC's on the other they are writing essays and preparing speeches. The second hour is math which Kurt grades so I just have to get it done and on his clipboard. Third hour is reading time ranging from The Bug Bag to How to Read a Book. We take a break for lunch and a walk, then we come right back for spelling and handwriting. I still can't believe I have to teach those, but any time I come across my own work I had the same problems. Amnesia is a kind friend. My favorite hour is the sixth where we alternate between Chemistry and history. I wish the whole day could be devoted to science and history. The last hour we work on grammar. This week it was very easy to skip it. I'll have to be more disciplined as the book shifts gears from introductory stuff that's pretty useless to serious instruction.
I have 18 years left of being a mom. Motherhood hasn't had an expiration date before. Bumping into it makes me feel like the clock has left the green zone and entered the yellow. Knowing that makes all the work feel trifling and pleasurable.

Another Milestone

I was updating my poetry file and I've written over 50 poems. They vary in quality and kind, but I'm still proud to have done it at all. Maybe my next milestone should be writing 50 good poems. :)

East Meets West

I've got too many good ideas and not enough time. I have an essay for this blog that I can't get out of the brainstorming phase. I have my novel which is finally picking back up. I rewrote one section 3 times before I had a version that I didn't hate. A character that I thought was a minor throwaway is now refusing to go quietly. I'm trying to think how I'll get rid of him without either rebalancing the ending or making my readers hate me. I just found a fun website where I could play around with T.V. School called WeBook. On top of all of that, I'm haunted by this project and the first story in it. I'm writing a series of children's books about the great ideas. I'm doing my best to incorporate details that while they'll just be furniture to the child as he/she grows they'll become good jokes. My parents suggested one of the best. The dog in the story about justice will be named Hammurabi.
The thing that has begun to worry me is that I'm taking a Western approach. If I want to write something that will last it has to include Eastern wisdom. The broader an approach I take, the more inclusive it will be in the long term. We're in the age of getting acquainted. For the first time in human history it's more difficult to find solitude than it is to find company. I'm not talking about emotional solitude, emotionally we are more isolated than ever. I mean that even at The Center of the Earth (fun movie) there is always your cell phone or satelite phone or something. I'd like to write a book grounded in that new reality. I'd like for the series to bring people together.
The problem is I'm not as familiar with Eastern wisdom. I'm also wondering if I try to do too much if I'll ending up doing too little. Sometimes it's best to stick to what you know.
Duty calls.

An Ordinary Day at Home

Kurt and I are trying to get back on the winter schedule, so the alarm rings too early and we ignore it. The second alarm does the trick which is good because baby wants his breakfast. Baby gets fed. Everyone else is excited because Dad bought sugar cereal. Reminders about unfinished chores need to be given, but most of the kids comply without further reminding.
I decide that all the books I'd hauled upstairs need to be returned to the classroom. I'm hoping inspiration will hit me because I'm in the right setting. The schedule is a problem with our new four day school week. I am sure that joining a homeschool group is a good thing for our girls as finding faithful friends has been a struggle recently.
Once I'm settled in the basement, the need to bring the room back up to school year standards strikes and I try to get the kids excited about digging through bins and throwing out last year's worksheets. Baby gets hungry and unhappy. The cleaning crew ditches me for lunch.
A friend comes to visit the oldest, so I relax things for everyone. Most of the kids head out to the yard, and then migrate to the garage. Baby gets his nap. I try to make progress, but I just can't seem to focus. Summer fever isn't only for kids.
I panic about dinner and then I remember I put one of the meatloaves in the crockpot. Some potatoes and green beans and we're good. I'm not sure what I'll do after the frozen meals run out. We can see the bottom of the freezer. I originally thought I'd be ready to sign up for another marathon cooking day, but I miss working with fresh food. The Cook's Illustrated bug is reasserting itself. If nothing else we have to make that French Onion Soup again.
The outside became boring, so the children flowed back into the house. Two of them must have a bath and an older girl volunteers to supervise. The oldest takes over watching the baby and I hit the treadmill. I take inventory of the damages after my workout. We've lost a large quantity of shampoo--otherwise not bad.
Kurt arrives home and we head downstairs for our new joint workout. He takes on the treadmill and I use the stationary bike. Someday I will be able to ride a bike but for now the stationary bike is as good as it gets.
We eat the meatloaf, and the kids enjoy the treats Dad bought them yesterday. Baby goes to bed, and I have a little time to work on that schedule.
Maybe I'll get around to it tomorrow.

Live-in Library

The start of school sends me checking around the house for appropriate books. I know that certain subjects or authors have taken hold when books begin migrating. Recently we counted them up and we have 15 bookcases. The only rooms without books are the kitchen and dining room, and, well, you know.
This time I'm on the hunt for books about the medieval period that are appropriate for our ten year old. So far I have The Imitation of Christ, Ivanhoe, Robin Hood, King Arthur and His Knights. I'm debating using the Chronicles of Narnia and The Once and Future King. Tales from Shakespeare keeps trying to sneak in. I might use it and then reuse it next year to double up William's impact.
The other subject I was trying to find books for is chemistry and I've had little luck. Even the chemistry section in the childrens' wing of our local library is limited. The good news is that NOEO Science is based on reading books, so they had us buy a bunch. They look interesting. I just hope they can get us motivated to memorize the Periodic Table.

Rebecca's Nose

I woke up late
after pounding marathons
in my sleep
to find blank canvas
at sea

School already? Where did the time go?

School is coming. For the first time in years I'm not really planning. I've got the curriculum pretty set. The schedule is working itself out. There is no need to fuss with decorating the basement. I had hoped to paint it blue, but you can't have everything. Maybe blue would have been a bad call. I wish I could move our kitchen table down to the basement so that we'd have more room for everybody. This year we have five students, and a teacher who has vowed to set a good example by studying and working right along with the kids. Our current table is very nice, seats four and is built for children around the age of 9. I think I'll be able to spread things out, and one child will be doing the bulk of her work on the computer.
None of it really matters. What matters is the attitude with which we approach our project and everyone is being positive. I was mulling over the difficulty level of my oldest's work and she reassured me that she'd already read some of the titles I was considering and she was sure she could keep up. I hope she's right. Our second struggles with spelling, but after working together this summer she seems ready for more challenge. Number three will be working on the computer. She's been watching older siblings do it for years and she's kind of excited. Number four is eating any challenge I throw at her for breakfast. I just hope I've got enough for her. Our little son is demanding the same kind of attention his sister used to, so we're going to start him on work that is a year beyond his age. If it doesn't work out, he'll be more prepared for next year. Baby will be busy sleeping, eating, burping and drooling. We expect excellent work for his first year. :)
My fears about the Chemistry have subsided. NOEO science is helping me with the younger people. My videos and reading have been doable. I'm pleased to discover it isn't as bad as it seems. Everything else is exciting. This year feels like the first year where I know what I want to accomplish and how I want to accomplish it. Ironic since this is the least planned for year in our history. I guess I just needed to find my own groove.