My daughter Rose is 11, and she has always had a love of learning, like all children who haven't lost it yet... I always intended to homeschool (with an unschooling-based approach), however after Rose went to Nursery School, a wonderful, loving environment, she wanted to continue to public kindergarten with her friends, so she did. Kindergarten was great, 1st grade was OK, and 2nd was terrible, with a teacher who seemed to hate children. So, Rose went to Montessori school. The teachers were better but there was a level of elitism, as one may expect from a private school, that didn't feel good. When we decided to move for Peter's work, I decided to stop working and homeschool Rose. The first year I continually doubted her and myself, and she went back to school for a year for 5th grade. She made friends (whom she still sees and loves) but the work was remedial so here we are!
Here is a summary of some "learning activities" from the time of leaving public school up until this point, however since we are constantly learning, it is just a small view into Rose's learning.
May through October
Rose read a lot of fantasy - Cornelia Funke's Inkspell series, Brandon Mull's Fablehaven series, Madeleine L'Engle's Wrinkle in Time series, re-read the entire Harry Potter series
We have been working aloud through Cambridge Latin Series, books about Pompeii up to and including the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, that I used in 5th and 6th grades. Rose especially appreciates my hilarious drawings and additions to the illustrations!
June Trip to East Coast:
Mark Twain House, Hartford, CT: guided tour
CT capital and state house: self-guided tour, Rose told me a lot about the similarities and differences with the Arkansas State House which she visited with school.
Saw lots of old friends and family
Went to Washington DC and saw:
The Art of Gaman: Arts and Crafts from the Japanese American Internment Camps, 1942-1946 at the Renwick Gallery
http://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/archive/2010/gaman/
At the Museum of Natural History: Since Darwin: The Evolution of Evolution exhibit which focused on the significant role that Darwin’s theories have played in explaining and unifying all biological sciences
http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/darwin/darwinatnmnh.html
Gems and Minerals
Breeezed through Human Origins, Ocean Life, African Cultures, and Dinosaurs
A recreated Tibetan Shrine
http://www.theartistscenter.com/in-the-realm-of-the-buddha-opens-at-freer-sackler/2010/02/
A chain of monkeys made out of the word monkey in many different languages and alphabets, constructed of wrought iron - Rose wanted to stare at it for hours! http://www.asia.si.edu/exhibitions/current/xuBing.htm
Statue of Albert Einstein
Lincoln Memorial
French food in Georgetown
Missouri botanical gardens: Ottoman Garden, Rose Garden, lots of cool statues and glass sculptures, Mausoleum, Herb Garden, Maze, and Japanese Garden
July
Figure Skating Camp
Comedy Improv Camp
Musical Theater Camp
Took chickens to PelFreez to be processed
Went to our friend Ray's art opening
Firefly Fling festival at Botanical Garden - made a fairy house, watched fire-dancing show, played with friends
August:
Putnam Museum, Bettendorf, Iowa (where we went for a family wedding): River, Prairie and People exhibit
Zoo in Saint Louis. Saw sea lion show.
Live bluegrass at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks
Lots of sleepovers with friends
Swimming in pools and rivers
Rose made a diorama depicting collinear, noncollinear, coplanar and noncoplanar after reading about those terms in a Geometry text book
Played chess
Played rummy 500. Rose rapidly progressed to being a viable opponent. She overcame her frustration with losing at first and persevered.
Hip Hop Abs workout video
Fit TV shows: Namaste Yoga, Shimmy bellydance, Bollywood workout
Figure skating
Hip Hop class
Ozark Girls Chorus http://www.ozarkgirlschorus.com/
9/7/10 Rose is listening to Willy Wonka to prepare for an audition this weekend
9/8/10 We did geometry, geography and anatomy.
9/9/10 Party and orientation for treehouse homeschool coop. Rose hung out at the library while I got groceries. She talked to the librarians and helped me by sending a couple faxes.
9/29/10 Right after the Treehouse orientation, it came out that Treehouse had denied membership to a transgendered child, as well as imposing some illegal restrictions on public breastfeeding. The outrage about that effectively shut down Treehouse or sent them underground. Of course, much of the difference of opinion is based on religious beliefs. Luckily we have found a wonderful secular group, and we are starting a homeschooling cooperative. We are getting together each Friday morning for 5 weeks starting October 22nd to plan the coop structure and details.
9/30 Rose's Grandma passed away. Rose learned about the end of life.
10/1 Rose went with a friend to the Cherokee Heritage Center and heard stories and saw demonstrations of Cherokee crafts.
10/5 Rose has been reading and listening to all the Harry Potter books backwards in rapid succession. I suggested she look up all unfamiliar words as she read, which she did for a while.
10/7 Insect Festival at Universtiy of Arkansas. Saw demonstration of cotton gin, and heard a scientist tell us about her mother and grandmother picking cotton, and her own work developing less-toxic controls for boll weevils. Saw lots of interesting insects and spent time with friends.
10/8-9 We went with a group of homeschool friends to Ponca, Arkansas to visit the Elk Education Center http://www.agfc.com/education/Pages/EducationCenterPonca.aspx
and hike at Lost Valley, where we explored a cave with a friend of one of our friends who teaches at the Ozarks Natural Science Center.
10/23 Rose is taking more responsibility for caring for the chickens and earning money from selling eggs. We sold 5 dozen to friends from our homeschool group.
10/29 Rally to Restore Sanity. Rose's friend Will Phillips spoke. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Phillips
10/30 This week Rose decided to do a report on Marilyn Monroe after listening to Candle in the Wind repeatedly. She got movies and books at the library during her day in town with her friend wherein they walked the 6 blocks from her friend's mother's office unaccompanied. They are both gaining independence.
Rose has been working 10 hour shifts on some Saturdays at the Ozarks Figure Skating Club concession stand at the Razorbacks football games to earn money toward her skating expenses - registrations, costumes, etc.
Hiking http://www.exploresouthernhistory.com/naturalfalls.html
Birthday Parties
Playing with friends every Friday at the park
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