Summer Schedule for Homeschoolers

We are not year-round-homeschoolers by any means, but a long Summer without any schedule is a very excellent recipe for lazy children and an Autumn filled with regret for all the things we could have accomplished experienced.
Not really "bucket-list" enthusiasts that I often see online this time of year, I was very inspired when I saw a task list that a friend had shared.

I quickly opened up MSWord and re-created the list in my own document.

It's a simple list—black and white for my old printer. However, we have already seen its magical faerie dust swirl around our little home. I have four children, but only two are still young. So, I announced the list and while my youngest son had almost no reaction, my ten-year-old daughter hugged the paper like it was a new puppy. She is definitely a task-master, loves lists and was elated at the prospect of using this all Summer. My friend's list was placed under plastic and they are using dry erase markers each day. But, we old fashionistas have opted for modern day quill and ink on parchment aka pen and paper.

The bonus for me is that it can be interpreted in a few, "semi-manipulative you don't know I'm making you do this," ways when you get to the "PLUS" section. For example, If I had typed, practice your piano or practice your violin—it becomes daunting for them, some days. But, when my kids say, "Hmmm, not sure what I can do to be creative today." I can totally throw out "Oh, you can just practice your violin." And, they don't even know I told them to play their violin. Trust me. It works. 

Some detes on the PLUS part of the list:
20 minutes of reading: I'm looking forward to seeing the list they create of all they read over the summer. You know if it's interesting, it will be more than 20 minutes! 
20 minutes of writing: Write a thank you card; color; nature observation and drawing; writing a letter to Grandma—excellent practice in letter sending including addressing the envelope, stamping it, etc.
Made or built something creative: My son has "made up a story for his Legos (in his head). It includes a portal that scientists made to a whole other world. Guess what I told him? Yes, that's correct, now he has material for Twenty minutes of writing. He sighed a bit, but you know what...I don't care. I'm loving this. Why, because it's actually keeping me accountable to sticking to this type of schedule. And, while my son sighed, he came back in the room shortly after and said, "You mean like a whole book of people talking." I said, however you want to write it, you can make a script and he walked away...thinking about this. Bonus! 
Playing outside: for my kids includes running, walking, bike riding or shooting hoops as well as walking the dog or Grandma! 
Helped someone in the family: This is where it has been humorous. "I got her water, I got him water." They literally swapped it out. Ugh. I'll let it pass. Once. But, also I asked my son to help me measure something and little did I know he was checking off the box in his head while he did it. This is not what I had in mind when I copied this list, but if I can manipulate them into practicing their instruments, I'll take this mental note stuff.

This Summer Rules list works because it's clear, very simple and easily accomplished. While at first glance, the main objective may seem to not pass go, do not collect two hundred dollars, but go directly to use of electronics by quickly completing all of your tasks. Not-so-fast. This is really about all the BEFORES! But, I have not communicated that to my children. And, to be honest, it's what I've discovered only after implementing and seeing the process firsthand.

While you can easily Google a similar poster, I'm happy to share it and even personalize it with your child's name. Just comment or message me! 

I have April Rudman to thank for sharing your posters!
SUMMER DOES RULE!

Glitter Volcano: Science at Home

I am far from a stellar science teacher...as in not even in this galaxy. So, when another homeschool mom, aka Alicia, offers to facilitate a fun science project over Zoom...I RSVP "YES" faster than a shooting star! 😁 

I wanted to share this fun project that my son was able to do and show you that you too can administer a fun project with your kids at home. What age is this good for you ask? Well my son is nearly 14 and so are most of the kids that were in on the Zoom. So, I basically feel like...this is really appropriate for any age. I mean, I was mesmerized! 

What You Need:
●A cup or glass (We used a solo cup.) 
●Aluminum Foil or Salt Dough (See recipe below)
●Baking soda
●Vinegar
Optional: Dishsoap for bubbling effect!
Also optional: Food coloring and Lego guys!

Create the volcano base and tower by wrapping the salt dough or foil around the cup--open side up!
If using salt dough, this is when you can add food coloring to the volcano--my son used rubber gloves for this part.

This is where Alicia lead a very interesting discussion with q&a on volcanoes. You can choose how academic to make this. I was very happy that Alicia gave the kids some context and made them think about volcanoes around the world for a bit. It's not something we talk about often.

For the fun part: Add some baking soda to the cup. Then add dish soap if you'd like.

Then...pour in the vinegar and watch just how fun it is when "a new chemical called carbonic acid is made. This carbonic acid immediately decomposes into carbon dioxide gas. When you mix the vinegar and baking soda, it's the carbon dioxide gas that makes the bubbles." {Thanks Google.}

No silly, just watch the foam pour out and over. It's just like those videos you get stuck watching where you know the soda bottle will explode once the Mentos hit the Coca-Cola--but it's riveting! And, this is SAFE! 

Important: We had a deep tray under ours to avoid big messes. I highly recommend this!
Do it again and again because it never got old! 

Salt Dough: 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 1 cup water. Mix dry together well. Then add the water a little at a time and knead until dough forms. Then let sit for 20 min. Remember this is salt dough, so keep away from pets!

Have fun and let me know if you did this. I'll tell Alicia--because well, it's just the right thing to do to give credit where credit is due! 

Thanks Alicia! 

x

Encouragement For Those Not Homeschooling

As a homeschool mom of 15 years, having graduated one student and another this year, with two to follow-I can tell you that I have a lot of sympathy and compassion for my friends who are suddenly thrust into this world. While I do not consider what we as a community are currently doing to be authentic homeschooling--nonetheless I recognize that this is a trial-by-fire for many of you. When all of this looked like it would be a reality--the schools closing--I started out with sharing the funny homeschool memes and jokingly welcoming you to the family with the Marlon Brando photo. Unfortunately, this is very serious and sobering. You aren't homeschooling. Please don't be insulted because you're still invited in to the family. Let me explain.

You aren't able to take your children to library visits, sports classes, music lessons, art classes, museum visits, field trips, workshops, demonstrations and co-ops--these are all the things my family enjoys monthly, if not weekly. We actually do not spend the majority of our time doing book work and actual classroom time. My children learn mostly by experience and doing and aside from abundantly reading, the actual classroom stuff is really last on our list. While this is important and our Language Arts, Foreign Language, Math, History, Science etc takes place, it is conveniently added in, around our life experience. Unfortunately, like you, we are secluded and left without the normal way of schooling. For example this week alone, my kids are missing out on parkour, piano and violin lessons, a small gathering where they would be dissecting a squid and our weekly homeschool group which is always something engaging. We are also missing out on our regular time with friends whether it's casual or scheduled extracurricular.

However, I do realize that we have an advantage because we've been living this different way of life for a while. We probably have a better way of sitting our kids down and getting them to complete work. We have compiled resources that you don't have and a portion of that is emotional due to experience. We have the mental capacity because we've labored through months of getting to know our kids--to learn ourselves how they learn and how we learn and therefore, teach. So, that is where my compassion and empathy come in. I get how difficult this is. I mean, I really get it. I hear you, I empathize, I deep within my soul understand the angst, the frustration, the humble feeling of inability. I remember when one of my sons was in first grade and I would cry to my husband almost daily and tell him I was absolutely wrong and there was no way I could homeschool him. I "knew" I had made the biggest mistake of my life. My husband supported me emotionally and encouraged me that we could and should make this work. And, so, instead of escaping in my normal flight over fight mode, I persevered and found some resources that allowed me to meet my son's need for better organization and annoying fastidious scheduling. I had researched about a particular way of presenting materials and with a few simple adjustments, I was able to facilitate a better system for him. The next year, it was so mind blowing how he functioned like a different child. In fact, he was thriving and I was humbled and convinced every day, that we had made the right decision and I was so relieved that I hadn't given up. And, now as he approaches his own graduation--I find him to be a successful college student participating in dual enrollment--earning college credit and high school credits at the same time. Not only does he enjoy these classes, he earns excellent grades. For all the reasons that I felt like transferring him out of my homeschool as a first grader, he thrives as a high school senior/college freshman.

What does this have to do with having compassion for friends who are suddenly secluded at home and tasked with facilitating their child's education? Well, I want to encourage you to take the task before you as an opportunity. Don't be discouraged because you feel inadequate. Don't dismiss this life called homeschooling because it's been forced upon you and you are without proper resources. This is your child and I believe there is no one better to care and navigate him or her through this frightening and uncharted territory, than you. While you think you haven't been tasked with teaching them before, you're more than capable. But, you cannot expect it to come quickly. Just like the newness of first-time-parenting took you by storm in the first few days after their birth, so will this. Remember that feeling of that little stranger screaming and you didn't necessarily know how to soothe or protect them? It took time to get to know your child. But you did it--they ate, they slept, they got clean diapers--you did it! Just like potty training took some time and effort, so will this. Unless you're telling me your twelve year old isn't potty trained--you did it! Give yourself a break! Give yourself some grace and for goodness sake, do not expect to be excellent at what you are doing the first week you've ever had to do it. This has never happened to us before. So, slow your roll, lower and I mean just as you want that bowling ball to glide from your fingertips to the alley lane, lower your expectations. You will get through this. And, you just might enjoy it. You may learn a lot yourselves and in the midst of it, I promise you that you will get to know your child, you will learn more about them, you will bond in a way you never realized could happen. Additionally, you will forever treasure the trained and gifted public and private school teachers who have done this over the years. You may even possibly have new-gained respect for moms like me who have been authentically homeschooling their children. But, it isn't comparable. You're not public schooling and you're not homeschooling. You're raising your child. You can do it!

Leaf Craft: Transferring Leaf to Cloth

This is a really fun and unique craft to do. You can use the muslin to make a little wall hanging, a place mat, a table runner or even a pillow case.

Supplies needed: 

• fresh leaves: don't use dry leaves as the color won't transfer;
• muslin cloth (I purchased the $1.97 per yard, you don't need a high quality one, but depending on what you'd like to use the material for, you may want the thicker kind;
• packing tape; (and regular tape just to place the leaves)
• a pencil
• wax paper or something underneath the material because the color will bleed through onto the surface

Place the leaf face down onto the muslin cloth. Place packing tape over it making sure you completely cover the leaf. Once that is done, you are ready...just being by using a sharpened pencil (not too sharp) to apply pressure the leaf. You will press pretty hard. Using a pencil allows you to see what part of the leaf you have already "drawn over."
You can lift up the tape to take a peak, which allows you to see if you missed any spots.
In some cases, no matter how much pressure you put on, the color will not transfer. 

In the picture below, you can see that I already transferred the color of a pretty dark red leaf. I was then laying a light colored one here. 

Below you can see that I layered four leaves. A very light yellow one barely showed any transfer, so I then added a green leaf right over the muslin. Once I was done with the design, I simply folded the top of the muslin over a stick and used simple white glue to secure it.

 Here is another shot against a blue background, just to give another perspective. This craft isn't just for kids. A lot of the teens in our group really enjoyed doing this in years past and became very creative with what they made. You can choose a variety of leaves to transfer some great colors. For me, it's just very relaxing, feels a little earthy and relaxing and helps me to enjoy the change of season and our beautiful landscape for a little longer than just the few weeks we have in New England where the foliage is breathtaking! 

Please feel free to message me or comment with any questions.

To the Nurse Who Brought the Lamp

Dear Nurse who brought the lamp,

You have no idea what you did. You simply could not understand the depth of comfort you gave to me that night. The night you helped my husband and I set up an extra bed and you dropped off blankets and pillows for us. You spoke softly to us as it was night time and things were settling down on that floor of the children's hospital we had grown to call our second home for a summer. It was our fourth child, but our first daughter who would endure her third surgery during that stay. It was our fifteen week old, yet only seven pound and some odd ounce child who we rushed back to hospital for a suddenly dreaded and unexpected surgery. You were efficient, professional, kind-hearted and I'm guessing at least a few years younger than we were. But, when I reflect on that night as you cared for us and I mean all of us, I am fully immersed in the feeling of a mother setting up a comfortable bed and reassuring me that it would all be made right. The lights overhead were so bright, awakening and institutional. Then you brought in the lamp. You shut those harsh lights off and you plugged in that lamp and made a comment about how this might make the room more comfortable. I don't even know where you got it from, but it was a gesture and a deed that proved to be substantial. When I look at the pictures of that dimly-lit and cozy looking room, your gentle, motherly, abundant consolation abides in my heart.  At that stage, I was exhausted from months of caring for a sick child and balancing everything else in life (not so well.) I was traumatized from several life-threatening instances with my daughter and worrying about my other children. Blood tests; the awful, but needed replogle; hematologist; her [beloved] surgeons with news and reviews; gastroenterologists checking in for rounds; well-meaning residents who would tell us anything and everything that could be wrong with our daughter; surgery; blood tranfusion; medicines; the hundredth I.V. that would most likely blow in her teeny veins. Too many things that I can't really recall in which order they occurred, but when spoken of, well, it's somewhat mind-boggling. All wonderful and necessary medical advances of which I am so grateful, yet remind me of a lot of that very painful and somewhat chaotic time. But, then the lamp. And, that lamp reminds me that in the darkest of times, there was comfort provided. To the nurse who brought the lamp, thank you will never be worthy. But, no doubt, you will continue to bring it to others who need it.

Sincerely,
Katrina

MAGNETIC ADVENT CALENDARS

Several years ago I was searching and searching for the perfect advent calendar for my own kids.
When I couldn't find one that I felt would hold their interest, be fun to look at and really speak about what Christmas really is, I decided to try to make one myself! For a few years I simply made one for family and friends, then made them with our church and homeschooling groups. I received great feedback.

This year I am selling them and all proceeds will go to support a charity that is near and dear to my heart...
www.bemhaiti.org
CLICK on the JUST ONE WOMAN tab at the top. I will offer a discount if you purchase 3 or more. 

Here is my etsy store:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/KPittdesigns?ref=hdr_shop_menu

ADVENT CALENDARS:

(Please don't use this and copy them. 

It is an original design. I created the docs and title myself.)

My first holiday fair of the season where I sold the calendars.

Another fair of the where I sold the calendars.