Project Results

The Researcher found her foray into homeschool quite a wild ride! Thing 1 has been learning a ton of things these past few months, and has definitely benefited from the one on one attention and support.

The Researcher was taken by surprised how much work is involved to homeschool progeny! It was a wonderful experience that will continue on in some capacity throughout the summer, but since June is now here we are going to step back from accelerated academics and enjoy the remainder of our days at home.

Thing 1 was wait-listed to three prominent private schools here in the Bay area this past spring. He recently received word that there was an opening last week. But, in a happy turn of events he was also accepted into a progressive lab school for talented and gifted children just last Friday! We are very happy and proud of Thing 1, and can't wait to see what he will do with this magnificent opportunity in the next coming school year!

In conclusion, the researcher enjoyed her experiment thoroughly. She realized a lot about her own capacities and limitations as an educator, and her patience has grown by leaps and bounds. She's also realized, that in the long run, homeschooling is not for her. She has so much more appreciation for all the educators of the world, and is very much appreciative of the magnificent teachers Thing 1 has had in the past and both kids will have in their futures :0)

Thing 1 enjoyed his homeschooling, but is very much looking forward to being in a classroom next year and the adventure of a new up-and-coming school where both our talents will be put to good use for sure!

Homeschool Field Log: Day 20

Homeschooling is harder than The Researcher ever thought it would be (see Examples 1 and 2). We face daily challenges from apathy, to pure pigheadedness (on both our parts).

But Thing 1 is learning, and he's making rapid progress thus far. His reading specialist said he has come a long way in a short amount of time. He read the first chapter of The Boxcar Children all on his own yesterday. It was one of The Researcher's favorites as a kid. He loved it so much we read the whole book in two hours! So we're setting to work on the second book asap.

Example 1, Reading quietly with the cat

Example 2, Darn you Thing 2!!!

Homeschool Field Log: Day 12

Thing 1 has been trying this hand at photography this week. Look at the pictures he took (with a tripod), not bad, eh?

Homeschool Field Log: Day 11

Thing 1 is very much in love with all the science experiments he's able to run-a-muck with. This week's unit has been on liquids, solids, and gas. We're also testing the scientific method and logging our data.

The Researcher and Thing 1 have had long discussions about friction lately, too...he's very into less friction by means of ice and roller skates...sounds like a fast way to break his neck if you ask me.

Example 1, Tiny bubbles

Example 2, Keep on logging

Homeschool Field Log: Day 10

Oh my, The Researcher has been a bad blogger. Over the weekend we traveled up to Berkeley to partake in Cal's Dig Day through the Archeological Research Facility. The whole post about our adventures can be found here and here.

Example 1, grid system mappings

Example 2, making a pinch pot

Homeschool Field Log: Day 9

The Researcher has been a lazy blogger of late. We have been very busy doing lots of activities, and this week has been spring break for all the local schools. Therefore, we've given ourselves a small break from the academics and been focusing on fun outings with our friends who are home right now (see example 1)!

Example 1, Thing 2 about to take a dip

There is one really great project Thing 1 put together this week, though. He was given a task to devise a contraption that shows wind in motion. The materials were a straw, a piece of string and some tape. Here's what he came up with...I thought it was rather clever since I'd have done it a different way (see example 2).

Example 2, wind flutters the string

Homeschool Field Log: Day 8

Today Thing 1 was very cooperative doing all the mundane workbooks and lesson plans The Researcher worked him through. He was rewarded by going to his favorite class: Comic Book Drawing at CSMA in Mt. View. The teacher just showed me some of the anatomy work he did last week...I thought he had the wrong drawings...wow! Thing 1 is a very decent drawer...who knew all those stick figures were just because he was too lazy to take the time to fill in all the fine details. The researcher forgot to take a picture of the work...will try to remember next week.

Thing 2 and The Researcher stuck around while Thing 1 was in class...used the time as photo shoot practice...

Control Variable loves this shot...he is an Apple guy through and through (RIP Microsoft).

Homeschool Field Log: Day 6 and 7

The Researcher and Things 1 and 2 have turned into petri-dishes for some viral air-borne pathogens. We all have fevers and coughs :0( We're taking it easy, sipping tea, and being lazy.

Homeschool Field Log: Day 5

Day 5 is Field Trip Day. We joined a good friend and his mom at Coyote Point Museum for Environmental Education. The museum is full of rescued/non-releasable animals, gardens, and educational exhibits. It's also right near the bay, a giant play-park, and some great walking trails.

We arrived around 11, and The Things all set out exploring. At one point, The Researcher found an exhibit and thought she was learning about a tornado, but Thing 1 corrected her. "It NOT a tornado, it a vortex because there's fluid in there." Excuse me *humph* I think we need to work on parlaying information without the attitude. We also learned about how bees make honey, and and about what turkey vultures eat.

Example 1, Squirrel habitat

Example 2, Currents

Example 3, Spectrophotometry

Example 4, Thing 2 liked this one.

Example 5, The History of The World.

Example 6, Took a nice little stroll along the marina.

Example 7, Thing 1's animal log. Poison Toad is my favorite.

Homeschool Field Log: Day 4

Example 1, classroom

Thing 1 started his new science class at Rock-It Science. It's run by a robotics engineer who is an amazingly nice and engaging person. Thing 1 was a bit nervous when we first arrived, but then he saw the kids taking apart an old fax machine, and waved The Researcher off without so much as a backwards glance. *sniff* When I returned Thing 1 said that he'd had a great time, and learned all about lighting eggs on fire...hope he doesn't try that at home!

Example 2, deconstructing some hardware

Example 3, The Researcher is a bit worried for her toaster...

Homeschool Field Log: Day 3

Day 3 started off rather early. Our session with the reading specialist was at 9:15am, and we barely make it in time because Thing 1 insisted on making her a love note (see Example 1). Thing 1's appreciation for pretty, smart women is something The Researcher fears come college time.

After, we stopped by the grocery store to pick up supplies for The Researcher's Dinner Club meeting tonight.

Thing 1 has some sensory issues that make food a constant battle. He is very picky about textures and tastes (he's got a strong gag reflex for all things green). He is also very active and burns more calories than he takes in each day. In an attempt to get him to eat better we try to integrate food into our day as much as possible (see Examples 2 and 3).

Thing 1 was given an allotment of $5.00 to purchase his lunch. His only stipulation was the meal must encompass all 5 of the major food groups (veg/fruit were lumped together). His choices were a bowl of chicken noodle soup and a GIANT doughnut. Well played my friend, well played.

Example 2, calculations

Example 3, Researcher should also stipulate majority of meal should be healthy next time, props for hitting all 5, though.

After lunch, Thing 2 went down for nap, and Thing 1 and I decided to try out some of the new memorization games through calisthenics I've been researching. We're working on increasing Thing 1's inane math factoid base to make for more rapid computation. More complex word problems are coming up fast so this should be helpful (see Examples 4 and 5).

Example 4, Math bounce

Example 5, core balance while adding by 3's.

Homeschool Field Log: Day 2

Example 1, macro bubbles

Day 2 of Homeschooling starts off well. We woke up reasonably closer to our target start time (9:30am). Breakfast was quick and efficient, and then we got down to business. We worked on syllables, phonics, and basic mathematical word problems. We also conducted a bubble experiment regarding the subject of "Inquiry" (see Examples 1, 2, 3, and 4). We collected the needed materials and had a good time making lots of bubbles and a big soapy mess (at least the counters are squeaky clean now).

Example 2 (Exhibit A - Glycerine and sugar added, Exhibit B - no sugar added)

Example 3, logging observations

Example 4, finished log entry

Thing 2 was especially needy today since all focus seemed to be on his counterpart. He wants desprately to do all the things Thing 1 does, but finds himself coming up short (literally). But good news for Thing 2, his buddy (we'll call him Muchachito) and Muchachito's nanny are willing to put up with him 3 hours, 3 mornings a week starting next Monday! She's also Spanish speaking so Thing 2 will get some good practice in before he goes to Immersion pre-school next year.

Unfortunately, we didn't make it to the pool to chill with Thing 1 and 2's friends this afternoon, but hopefully the weather will hold out this week so we can get some swim time in soon. The evening was ended with The Researcher reading Thing 1 the 2nd chapter of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Homeschool Field Log: Day 1

Coursework was supposed to start at 9am...already The Researcher is off to a bad start seeing as none of us got up till almost 10.

Day progressed smoothly enough. Yoga was integrated first thing to get the blood going, and large muscle groups warmed up (see Example 1). We covered math by adding large sums and carrying digits. We practiced handwriting by copying the back of the Young Indiana Jones DVD. Fractions were discussed while cooking lunch by halving, quartering and eighth-ing an onion. Typing course via on-line study was amusing. "Type on me!"

Example 1, Tree Pose

Highlight topic of the day: Chaos Theory's Butterfly Effect. It started with a book called, "Because A Little Bug Went Ka-CHOO!" (see Example 2). Thing 1 read the book, and grasped the concept rather quickly, "It's like when I hit Thing 2 and he cries, and then you get mad, and then when The Control Variable comes home he goes AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" *insert wild flailing arms and dramatic snarling here*

Example 2

In the afternoon, Thing 2 fell asleep on the way to the reading specialist, and delighted The Researcher by giving her one whole hour to indulge in magazine reading bliss while Thing 1 was in sessions.

In all, the researcher is pleased the first day was successful.

Homeschool Field Log: The Introduction

I've decided to comprise a log of my adventures in homeschooling. Let me preface this by explaining something I've reiterated again and again...I HATE THE IDEA OF HOMESCHOOLING MY KID. I never thought I'd be in this position, but the universe has colluded against this researcher. Our son's private school for learning disabled children wasn't working out, and somehow I find myself stranded for the rest of the year with only one option: Homeschool. These next two months will be a case study in my ability to homeschool my son (Thing One) while additionally handling the daily demands of my toddler (Thing 2) and still maintaining a semblance of a grown-up relationship with my husband (Control Variable). If successful, this researcher may consider homeschooling again for the next school year.

The paradigm of my study will be composed of collective materials, research, and modalities across a broad spectrum of education methodologies (Open Court, Lindamood-Bell, Slingerland, Waldorf, and Montessori). It will also encompass local resources (classes, specialists, and facilities), and will involve a fair amount of trial and error. A hands-on, rigorous curriculum has been devised for the next 2 months, and research funds for allocated extracurriculars have been secured.

Now, let us delve into the specifics:

Thing 1 was born healthy and developed typically for the first 18 months of life. He was an early talker, but then a major regression came about, at which time he did not talk again until he was almost 4 year of age. During that time he underwent massive amounts of early intervention therapies that resulted very favorably. Thing 1 streamlined into a normal kindergarten but was frustrated by lack of learning style options, so we enrolled him at a school that specialized in small class sizes, experientials, and a child-centered curriculum. School recently shifted it's core values and we are now homeschooling for the remainder for 2nd grade. Thing 1 is extremely bright and creative, highly intelligent in all aspects of visual analytics and problem solving, and fascinated with all things "Indiana Jones." He also suffers from a audio processing disorder, sensory integration dysfunction, and displays some other learning disability characteristics. He falls under the category of "Twice Exceptional" which really translates into "Twice Screwed" for anyone familiar with the Educational System of America.

Thing 2 was born via emergency C-section. He was, and continues to be, a voracious eater. Spoke first identifiable word at 4 months. Started testing parameters at age 1, and made his first jailbreak from the CA Academy of Sciences 3 months later. Thing 2 is a conniving little miscreant, but we love him dearly.





The Control Variable, aka Better Half, is a baby genius computer whiz in his own right. He's the voice of reason, and the one who keeps us all sane. He's also the funding behind this little endeavor.



I, your humble researcher, display no quantifiable smarts, and no real talents other than a large vocabulary, dismal spelling, and a gift for rhetoric. I'm also lazy.

In a last ditch effort to organize my life I electronically entered our syllabus and schedule for the next 10 weeks. See Examples 1 and 2.

Example 1

Example 2, Typical week

I also parlayed with Thing 1's teacher and reading specialist and have devised an appropriate curriculum that encompasses all four major subjects (reading, writing, math, and natural science), and have devised my own supplements in the categories of cooking/baking, life skills, calisthenics, foreign language, fine arts, social studies, and general badassedness.

I submitted all the paper-work to CA Dept of Education, and we dubbed ourselves "The Indy School" as a throwback to our indie-progressive educational stance, and well, as a tribute to Thing 1's idol, archeological wunderkind, Indiana Jones.

Coursework starts at 9am, with two hours of core subjects, followed by an hour break and another 2 hours of core subjects. Fridays are reserved for experiential outings and shenanigans.

Now, let the experiment begin!