Reflection on Walden

Felt I should re-post this entry from my other blog, back when it was the "catch-all" of my inspiration, homeschooling, etc.

Walden

It is long, but there are truths within it. (One could say that about the book by Thoreau that it come from, ironically enough.)  I feel that I am currently taking one of those "days with out bells" breaks that I refer to in it...only doing it for a longer stretch, feeling the pulse of my family (geo-conquest), observing the truths of some of our "natural" patterns (math, lol!), finding the beauty that is there and the ugliness that needs to be banished in true artistic fashion.  Funny, I didn't think about the four lenses as applied to my family but as I started writing that last sentence, it struck me what I was doing.  And yes, I am trying to figure out the direction and pulse that we need to follow in the near future in true leadership style.

A simulation, of sorts.  Interesting.

Back to the simulation.

Following the Spirit...finally

Sometimes I get caught up so much in routine, that I reason my way out of spiritual promptings...like the one that has been saying:STOP! for the past couple of weeks.

And I have been ignoring it.  Finally, last week God got serious and sternly reproached me for not listening.  So I started listening,...a little.  Not enough.

I am going to sign-out for a while and just try and follow promptings. Yesterday my schedule on the board just had up the bare minimum because I have kids who cling to schedules as reference points, even things like "breakfast, lunch, and dinner" and we still have things like basketball as a family and devotional that we are going to do...until I feel prompted that those, too, need to just go away from being scheduled in. Maybe I need to learn to be more spontaneous?

Anyway, I have learned that over the years, if I ignore the heavens, deferring it for mere mortal "logic and experience" I will just reach a lot of dead ends.

Maybe when we emerge, we will just have one lens per week (a direction I have been heading, feeling that this one a day is a bit hectic and doesn't allow me to really immerse myself in things)...mirroring what I did as a group as well.

I will still be working on organizing the website for Vanguard and making new videos (it is one of those things screaming for me to do on my "inspired list" but I won't be doing much email or other computer time right now.  I think the most important thing I need to do right now is just be there for my kids and just enjoy them and love them...almost a feeling that I need to get off "list mode" to find out what is truly important.

I know I will be thankful when looking back. Why is it so scary to just let go and trust?  Praying for me and anyone else who may be in this same boat.  Ironically (or not) it is Spring Break here.  Breathe.  Just breathe and trust, Mary.

St. Patty's Devotional and Bingo Cards

After a token Studio C, we tried a new video to sing along with for a patriotic song, per Avot's suggestion (still not sure what I think about it...):

Then we did a "picture study" from this website:
http://cottagepress.net/uploads/3/3/9/5/3395129/picturepdf_cassatt.pdf

We looked for what the artist was communicating, what shapes and shadows we saw, what we thought of.

My friend did a great post on art studies:
Melinda's Blog

I, like her, haven't done very many in the past year, but would like to start doing more.

We re-listened to a talk by Marvin J. Ashton on "The Tongue Can Be Sharper Than The Sword":

To help my kids pay more attention for these, I like to use bingo cards and then give them cereal (or chocolate chips) to cover and make bingos when the word is said. (Then they eat them.) I use bingo cards a lot for watching conference talks.

On Monday we had brainstormed after looking at a series of pictures showing families both fighting and happy, writing down words and phrases that came to mind.  I had them use these words to fill in a blank Bingo card for their own use and then we listened to the talk.  After the talk, I let them switch out words, telling them that we would listen to it again.  We did that today.  I like this method because it makes them think about what he said, focus on what he is saying and be quiet.

Ideally, they would just listen but we are making baby steps towards being able to just sit and listen.

At the conclusion of the talk, I asked for feedback and thoughts.  Brief sharing.  We then sang, "In This Very Room" in sign-language. It not only fit in with what we were talking about but I also wanted to review it for a performance we have coming up...two birds with one stone, baby!  That's how I like it.  This morning I was thinking, "I want to use this song in our performance but don't know when to squeeze in the practice."  Inspiration; "Do it during devotional!"  Bingo!

This devotional was much different from yesterday.  We were being civil by learning about and respecting customs by watching a series of videos about St. Patrick's Day:
Studio C: Celebirthsary

-Bet You Didn't Know
-Why Green?
-Veggie Tale History of St. Patrick

-Veggie Tale Kilts and Stilts

Lots of fun! Yes.  I love using videos and other people's media genius.

The day filled up with family reading (after abandoning lunch to anyone but the littles), of "Author's in the Attic," brief basketball, skipped Latin, Yoga with Lek, Quinn, the Goob, Liliputian and Chugger-dude, while Avot stayed home and went on a walk with the baby boys while supervising her Argentinian bread for supper with the missionaries.

Dinner: corned beef and cabbage, of course!

Science? What science?

Reality check...my laundry pile after a week of no Liliputian on laundry, and this is with Chugger-dude up through Avot doing their own laundry!

Fortunately I had a helper :).  Love this guy.  Hope the rope doesn't reflect anything :)...

SCIENCE

Okay.  It was getting towards the end of our school day on Wednesday.  The kids were just getting home from sign language choir and chess games at their cousins' house and Chugger-dude (11) came up asking, "Did we do science today?"

"Yah...kind of..." I replied, squirming.  "Remember those science books I threw out on the table this morning and how we talked about the scientific and mathematical way of arriving at truth?" He thoughtfully tried to recollect what I was talking about, but inside I knew we needed something more.  They have "Science" for one of their "check-offs" for the week for our New York records and they know that they are not getting graded on this, but it is just a record.  Something about making a record is powerful, though.

So...science.  Experiments! Pipalicious had been glancing though the "Flying Potato, Naked Egg" experiment book I had left out earlier and I "happened" to see an experiment on cleaning pennies with taco sauce.  I love that book because I normally have the ingredients for the experiments!  So I encouraged Chugger-dude to get that out and went back to finishing a blog post.

Half an hour later, dinner in the crockpot is almost done, and Chugger-dude is still wandering around, carrying the pennies he found to use.  Time to engage!  We grabbed some paper cups and engaged!

Did you know that hot sauce/taco sauce is great at cleaning pennies?  Did you know what it was about the hot sauce that did it? We didn't but now we do!  Process of elimination, baby.

So, that was for one of the kids, but I still felt "sciency" so during dinner we watched the following awesome video that Avot (19) had run across earlier that day:

After years of science classes, I think I finally understand potential vs. kinetic energy and why an egg drop works better in some cases than others!  And it is all so cool.  Gonna watch this one again and again :).

(Watch the whole thing and read the end...so inspiring and helpful with perspective about many things!)

Science?  Oh, yah, baby.  Keepin' the dream alive: I should have applied it to make it more core...but the crust can be so much fun as well!

--Possible core connections:
-the taco sauce: what things in our life clean us or our souls?  How do you know? Have you experimented upon the word?
-the egg drop: how do we protect ourselves from falling? What helps us get ready for the inevitable fall?  How do any of these "protections" that the scientist uses mirror the Atonement?

Oh!  I am so excited to ask my kids these questions now as we reflect on our week today!  So fun!  Ahhh...the power of writing and reflecting never ceases to amaze me. I think I get more out of this blogging than anyone!

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Had the discussion, starting with the purpose of using the crust exercise to strengthen our core...epic!

The Question that Never Gets Old

"What connections can we make from these videos?" or "...this book?"

Thanks to Tiffani's question about how to ask the right question, I have been paying attention to the questions I have been asking.  I tend to ask the above question again and again...and again. Or versions like the following:
"What did you learn from this?"
"What strikes you about these videos?"
"What stands out to you?"

As I was rocking my baby while nursing last night, my mind drifted to the question I asked in a recent post: what is the purpose of our education?

One of my goals is to get them to think.  I realized, rocking there, that as I ask that question every day of them--in so many ways--whether they answer or not, the idea is placed there that they can make a connection.  Some days, we hear crickets.  Some days, we compete with each other in the sharing.  Phrases like, "that reminds me of a video..." or  "that reminds me of a story..." are common.  Often, the younger kids will start with comments like "That makes me think of..." or "That makes me feel like..." and we are taught.

Whether the older kids respond or not, the seed is planted that there might be a connection or application and as some of them are opening their minds and hearts more lately in our safer environment (remember Pixar?), I am discovering that all those things we have been discussing over the years has actually been sinking in.

Their minds have been awakened and they know that they can apply what they learned.

This is what I do. I seek to find worth and application in everything I do. Maybe it is born out of a hyper-active desire to do what is worthwhile or validate what I am doing?  Whatever the moment, I am seeking to learn from it and apply it.  We have had some really cool connective conversations.  We have had a lot of quiet, non-answers or distracting situations with kids old and young making noises or being distracting.

But this question, repeated in so many ways, has been planted: what can I take from this?  How can this make me better?  Why does it matter?

Everything changes us, for good or ill.  Maybe if nothing else, my kids are learning this? I don't know!  I will ask them today :).

Sample Schedules

Sometimes, it is just nice to see what other people do, right?

For our "Great Books Discussion" this month we were planning on reading Machiavelli's "The Prince."  It didn't feel like quite enough but the next book in the 10 year reading plan didn't feel right.  Then I read this post by my friend Karen about reading "The Hunger Games" and voting for Trump. Hey, I thought.  We will read that series, "The Prince," and then discuss and maybe watch the movies.

Can I tell you how cool that is?  Heavenly Father knew that we would be on "The Prince," He knew that the elections would be happening at the same time and He inspired my friend to blog on it after doing it with her own kids!!  The connections have been amazing as my kids see both in our own nation and in the Hunger Games scenario the plays for power and struggles in governing that Machiavelli discusses.  Sometimes you really need to see that opposition to firm up on your own opinion! (See my article on "The Indispensable Opposition" if you want more on that concept.)

Now, I know "The Hunger Games" is not for everyone. I am not going to read parts of the book and have left it up to my children what they are going to read (it is just for my almost 15 year old young man and older).  I am not endorsing it but am trusting the Spirit that has accompanied the decision that the time is right. I could not finish them the first time I read them but I feel strongly that now is the time.

That is the power of personal inspiration and respecting it in others. I am grateful for the examples in the scriptures and powerful literature of the good and evil and am very aware of how cautious we should be in what we take into our spirits.  This is our time and I have been humbled and awed at the truths and connections we are making in a context designed by a greater Mind than my own :).

As for the day to day schedule, here is a look at a couple things we have been doing lately:

*STOP: you may only read on if you do not insert all those awesome things you do into my day.  This is it.  This is all.  I didn't do visiting teaching. I didn't call my mother (sorry, mom). I didn't do laundry. (I have a picture of my pile that I will post later.)  I didn't make an amazing dinner. I didn't run my kids around to amazing classes or activities.  I want you to see how simple my day is. How non-inclusive reality is.  It is okay. It is what my family needs.  Remember, this is the schedule for 11 people.  Is it enough? It has to be. :) It is all I am doing.

Monday: Leadership Day
Mom exercise with four of the kids who decided to join me at 6:30 am. (Notice: no "Aspire" class.  No one but me read it, so I included some of the material in a video I made as a way to "teach" it and a project of sort.  We will do it again next week :).  Hot chocolate and donuts, baby.  Yum!)

Work
Throw something in the crockpot for dinner

Devotional 9:00 am
Piano lesson Hava
Job check
WAM with Lily

Watch "Constitution Video" for the Constitution Bee with most of the kids, took notes and discussed it.

Lunch: leftovers
Math with the Goob
Quiet time: read "Remembering Isaac" to everyone 14 and under
Do my own catch-up reading of "Thinking about Thinking": "The Indispensable Opposition" for discussion with Avot and Lek at 2 pm
(End up having it at 2:30 with Lek and I taking quick naps because we are sick)
WAM with Kel

3 pm: played "Memoir 44" with the Goob as part of his final project for "Ender's Game" while the little ones played outside

6 pm dinner: late because of Game...worth it
FHE
Late scriptures and then Dad read to us.  Awesome!
Seminary with the Goob was late, but I am enjoying doing it online with him.
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Tuesday: Geo-Conquest Day
Work
Throw something in the crockpot for dinner
Avot (19) helped Liliputian (13) make cinnamon and orange rolls for breakfast, finishing around 9.

I encouraged everyone to look for examples in civility.  We watched the newest series of Easter videos from lds.org about Christ as a reminder of someone we could follow and learn how to be civil.


Piano lesson Pipalicious
Job check

Things ran later this morning with sickies.  Chugger-dude finished up his State presentation while I did piano lessons and just took care of life.

Lunch: Did State Presentation while eating.  Also did a quick "World Summit" lame discussion: highlight was the Goob (14) sharing something about how the Statue of Liberty has only 10 stories of elevator and then we have to walk the rest, with Daddy chiming in about how it was closed when we visited because it was soon after 9-11.

Quiet time: Mom did math with the Goob
I read more history and took a nap!

We went on a walk later, going to the library. I signed the kids up for a cultural experience the next week and we said "hi" to some friends.  Stopping by the chocolate shop on the way home, I also called to arrange classes with my friend/sister-in-law while the baby fell asleep. It was raining and good to get out and exercise a bit.

When we got home, dinner was ready but people were finishing up things so I got out a "math game" for everyone: "Ubongo,"  That lasted up to dinner, with the Goob and Daddy also planning some scout stuff.  The game is such a great time to spend positive time with the kids, teach them patience and how to handle competition in a healthy way, help them think analytically...worth the time!

Dinner was "Argentinian" fare, a cultural experience and celebration for Avot's mission all in one.

We watched the first half of "The Miracle Worker," thinking of civility and society, before we headed to bed and I was able to do seminary with the Goob before 9 pm!!
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Wednesday: Eureka
That is covered in the post just before this one...

As you can see, I love the core and crust concept.  I know that as I cover the different areas in their core and crust, my kids and I will be whole and able to make connections.  We are learning all the time, whether from me sharing my studies or from everything they are studying on their own. You can see that they have a lot of time to learn on their own and I love finding them reading to each other, playing games, teaching each other and inspiring each other. I also love finding them giggling and rolling on the tramp together :).

We recently tossed around my friend RaNae's "Master Chef Course" and have thought of ways we would adapt it to our family, another area of interest they can pursue.

I know that as you brainstorm the "blank page," follow the Spirit and open your mind to connections and follow your own loose structure that you feel inspired to follow, you will be amazed at what they are learning.

Just remember, I graduated with honors from high school and attended a prestigious university and still couldn't tell you much about what happened in American History from the Civil War to the present let alone most of the rest of history!  What is learning?  Good question.  When you can answer that question, you will know what you need to do with your own family :)!

Hey, The Frizz from the Magic School Bus playing on the computer next to me just said, "You just need to make connections!" Amen, sista!!

Devotional by Chugger-dude and Today's Schedule

Breakfast.  We go over the schedule, Hava blessedly remembering that we have a dental appointment.  Avot is calling the two families that do sign-language choir with us to arrange for a different location due to sickness here.  I remind the kids that we are doing "Eureka" day and go over the different ways of arriving at truth: Scientists seek for patterns in the unknown and through observation and deduction try to arrive at new truth.  Mathematicians take known patterns and try and apply it to arrive at new truth. Same goal...two different approaches. I have thrown out some of my favorite eye-catching "science and math are cool!" books on the table and they have taken the bait.

"Seek to strengthen your core and crust in Eureka today..." and I give a few suggestions depending on their current studies. I also tie in the video we will be finishing today, "The Miracle Worker," and ask them for connections with our effort to understand the role of civility in society and what it is.  We have a brief discussion and look forward to finishing the video later today.

Yes, Tiffani, I just try and follow the Spirit.

What power shall stay the heavens? As well might man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the Missouri river in its decreed course, or to turn it up stream, as to hinder the Almighty from pouring down knowledge from heaven.

It is amazing and miraculous...and something I can do!

Schedule:
9 am devotional
Hyrum Piano lesson
Kel Piano lesson

--Finish "Miracle Worker"
Lunch: 11:30 leftovers

12:15 Leave for Dentist

2 pm S-Lang choir and chess club to follow

Dinner: Black bean soup

6:20 Leave for Mutual

Notice no science in there?  They have math on their own lists, I threw out the science books, the kids planned some experiments.  Well, mainly Pipalicious and Chugger-dude who are more interested in initiating things like that.

For my personal list, I have had some things up since Monday, but added a couple more things to the list. I finished my history reading last night at 11 pm.   This week I have felt that I need to spend time "one-on-one" nurturing Liliputian so I haven't been as "me-focused" on my goals.  It is harder than I thought to let go of my own agenda!  The Holy Ghost keeps reprimanding me, "Go be with her!"  Right now, the Spirit told me that I could type up some ideas, so here I am, but then I will go be with my darling daughter.  I need to trust more!!!

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Chugger-dude just came up to me from his reflection time and had drawn "Triangle Man," a superhero with attire that has triangular designs: art and math combined...love it!

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This morning, Chugger-dude did a devotional on "Civility." (Wednesday is "his" day.) I handed him the book "Choosing Civility," suggested he glance through it for ideas and then be ready by nine.  We have a lot of sickness right now, so we are running slow, having cold cereal (usually just for Sundays) and just getting finished up with it by nine.  As Chugger-dude prepares (aka finds videos online), Pipalicious is hurriedly cleaning off the table from breakfast so we have a clean place for devotional.

I am sweeping up breakfast cereal to prevent spreading as the boys try to determine if they have time for a quick shower before we get started.  Chugger-dude finishes and we start about 9:15.  He pulls up "Google Translate" Studio C for the "greeter":

Someone throws in a quick tie-in: "This shows we need to be careful with what we say."  "And never use Google Translate to get to know someone online!!" someone else interjects.  Amen.

Chugger-dude picks "Fifty Nifty" (his all-time favorite patriotic song) and he starts marching in circles around the table.  Pipalicious joins him and I look up from the recipe book I am trying to put together when I have a couple minutes here and there.  I realize that I need to be present, put down the recipes and get up to march around. It becomes a race around the table, each of us chasing each other while we are singing.  Chugger-dude, Pipalicious, Spooner, Hava and I are in chase, Papaya is diligently coloring while singing and the older kids are all focused on an entertaining Zsa-man baby who is waving a flag of his own,--alternating between waving and stabbing, that is.

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Hava just came up to me with her own "circle woman" version of me!  Love inspiration of siblings!

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We gather our breaths, do the Pledge of Allegiance and watch the series of videos Chugger-dude picked.

Value of Civility

Value of Love

Value of Respect

We finish up with Jane Clayson's "I am a Mormon".  Afterward, I ask: "So let's discover truth.  What connections can we make with those videos, or between those videos and civility?"  We had some great answers, a bit of a discussion, and then we finished with my most recent favorite video:
the world's largest Hallelujah Chorus

We sang "I wonder when He comes again," chosen by our day's child (Chugger-dude, again!), and then we close in prayer.  Reflection time.  I asked God what He wanted me to do (I haven't been so good about being immediately diligent at following promptings...trust.)  He said, "Go document these things on the blog."  Will do!

Work Chart page above

Okay...it isn't in a good format, but the work chart idea that I stole from Karen Bates is now on the top above as a page link for people to access. I will try to figure out how you can download a better version in the future.

It gets the idea across for now.

Time to tend to sickies!

Three videos on approach to teaching and learning

In these videos I explore:

1) The value of including students of diverse ages and abilities.  
I find that kids tend to separate themselves into the classes they need by either coming prepared to indicate readiness or by being willing to sit quietly and respectfully.  When the invitation is available to all who are respectful or prepared, they include themselves as they are ready to meet the expectations of the class.

I generally open up any class to anyone who wants to even just sit in quietly to listen if the kids insist they want to do it with us, although some classes I require them to come prepared to share or teach before they can engage fully with us.  Some classes have prep; some don't.  I decide which and the kids decide for themselves if they want to come :).

It's amazing the levels of connection available to even young learners!

2) The power of  "coming prepared to teach."
I find that coming prepared to teach = coming prepared to learn on a deep level.  There is something about taking ownership enough of a subject to research it and teach it that makes the learning stick.

Here is a look at BYU-Idaho's approach that captures this same principle:

3) When knowledge is taken to understanding and then applied to create intelligence, genius is born.  The world is changed.

When you are aware of the levels of learning available, you can reflect on what is happening in your classroom and your home to see what level you are encouraging or experiencing.

Hope this helps!  Please feel free to ask questions, give advice or supplemental ideas or feedback in the comment section below :).

New Videos: Getting Started

Getting Started Part 1

Getting Started Part 2

This ones for you, Tiffani!  Best of luck and let me know if you need anything else or have any feedback!

Preparedness not "Perfection"

The goal of my homeschooling is preparedness, not perfection.  In other words, I teach to create individuals and shape them so they can in turn create and shape and think and apply...not just pass a test.  Perfection is for a test.  Perfection is for life.

As I have been going through and recording videos, it has been a refreshing "go back to basics" process: the why of what I do.  I think this important because we can see false examples of perfection around us (like many people who will read this blog not smelling the poopy diaper of a long-overdue diaper change standing next to me nor see the pile of unfolded--clean!--laundry tickling my "perfection" part of my brain.  Okay, not tickling.  Nagging.  Real life stuff.)

But what is beautiful about what I do at home is that my method is about concepts and principles.  As I seek to improve myself, inevitably I am shown something that I can share with my children along the way. Invariably my own hopes and dreams are tied up in their success.  My path of learning includes organizational skills, self-management (temper!), nutrition and fitness, historical context to the modern mess my children are going to inherit, expanding my own compassion by reading beautiful classics and poems and applying what I watch in movies to myself for the better or worse.  I am seeking to draw closer to God, become one with Him. I am seeking to serve as He would, both in my home and in the community and follow as He leads.

And I share what I am doing with my kids.

And the laundry and bathrooms and the cooking get done eventually.  Okay. I try for once a day, but sometimes the call to write, to share, to snuggle, to change that incredibly odiferous horrible diaper is just stronger. (And no, I don't iron.  The ironing board is simply a place to hang clothes.  Poor Quinn.  Thank goodness for the "wrinkle prevention" setting!)

And sometimes you have to just recognize that the learning for the day will all have to be through life and application and not much "bookish stuff"...like last week when I spent two days helping my oldest prepare for her mission and the others learned how to clean and maintain a home and care for younger siblings for hours on end.

Sometimes, that's what it is.

Because you know something? It has never been about the public school contrived image of "perfection": that 100% on a test or that "A".  What does that success stand for?  Really think about that.  Now think about one of the most capable people you know.  Are they the text-book example of "perfect"? No, chances are, they are prepared...even if it is just moments before.  And chances are, they are just following their gut and trying to find a little joy in the journey while they do it.  Maybe I am shooting for perfection, just a different look at perfection.

I like the following poem--this is my kind of perfection:

“I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails.
I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp.
I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children.
I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden.
I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder.
I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived.”--Marjorie Hinckley

What do you really want for your kids?  Stop looking around and look within.  God's idea is more along the lines of Joan of Arc or Mark Twain, not the most recent valedictorian, bless their hoop-jumping heart.  What works for some doesn't work for others and chances are, if you are even reading this blog, it is because you recognize that deep down your child is different from that valedictorian and you are seeking some validation.

So go and get that validation where it counts.  Brainstorm the blank page.  Write down at least one thing per child.  Then do it.  

You will be amazed.  

They will be prepared.