summer reads

“One benefit of Summer was that each day 

we had more light to read by.”

~Jeannette Walls

Each summer, my kiddos participate in the library's summer reading program. They get to fill out little sheets, full of stickers, and once complete, turn those in for a patch, a book of their choice, a packet of coupons for things like ice cream and ice skating. Their heads full of adventures and new words and (because I ask for it), practice reading out loud. They love it. I love it.

But something that had slipped away over the past few years was summer reading for me. Anytime reading for me, really. My brain is full of all we are doing and need to do and the muddle in there hasn't slowed down to savor very many books. So this summer I made a short list. And I am reading it. Sometimes one book at a time, sometimes alternating several books, but the mental engagement has been fulfilling and the satisfaction of completion reassures me that I do still have some will to follow-through.

Here is my list (so far). Some I am done with, some I am in the middle of. Some I have yet to pick up.

Slow Family Living by Bernadette Noll

The Writer’s Jungle by Julie Bogart

Essentialism (at least a summary guide)

Let’s Play Math by Denise Gaskins

Spelling by Hand by Jeremy Hermann

A Little History of the World by E.H. Gombrich

Homeschool guides; Christopherus overview, Christopherus Rough Guides for 6th and 7th; Waldorf Essentials 4th, Rhythms of Learning, and a skim through some of the other subject guides I have, for ideas to make note of.

And re-reads, if I have time, that always bring me calm and insight:

A Gift from the Sea

Simplicity Parenting

Last Child in the Wood

What are you reading?

52: 25

52 weeks of photos. A special moment during the week of June 18, 2017

52: 24

52 weeks of photos. A special moment during the week of June 11, 2017

beach camping

You might remember my post about camping with friends...two years ago! We never dreamed we'd be able to book this campground again, but lucky, lucky us. Take two (with two years' growth) was this week. Some of the photos look just about the same, although we were missing M, who had to work. Still sea glass hunting, but this time with more determination. Lala Bug had a competition with herself to beat the previous day's finds. There was also an interest in the geology of the location. The variety and history of the rocks and formations is incredible. There were fewer ships, fewer raccoons, more people, and a group of whales consistently entertaining us. And sunrise on an empty beach with a minus tide? Spectacular.

learning period 5: 2017

We homeschool through a charter (more here and here), which organizes us in 2-month chunks called learning periods. Here are my posts for Learning Period 1 (August/September), Learning Period 2 (October/November),  Learning Period 3 (December/January), and Learning Period 4 (February/March). Learning Period 5 (April/May), the final period of this learning year, is below.

Lala Bug contemplating a Monet, seen at an exhibit on our annual art outing with Grandma. Monet was 'playing' with paint to get the rippled light effect on that water.

Learning Period 4 felt full and engaged. Learning Period 5 felt inconsistent and heavily focused on trying to wrap things up while simultaneously prepping for and participating in testing while winding down the school year. It felt awkward. In addition, we had a lot of personal/family things happening during this time. In fact, it has taken me a long time to finish and publish this post because I am not even sure what we really did that I feel happy sharing!

Growth and progress definitely happened in spite of and because of all this, though.

Brown Mouse practicing typing and test taking (with new glasses!).

We covered a lot of subjects in non-traditional, non-Waldorf ways this learning period. Science was a lot of hands-on activities (eye related due to eye appointments) and in the field (nature!). Math was in the form of lots of math books for read-aloud and games and activities from Math Geek Mama. 

 Engaging science with Mystery Science.

We began an American Girl (Boy) Club with three other families during this time. Little Brown Mouse isn't the only boy and the group of kids, all homeschooled, are so engaged and seem to learn well together. I never thought a doll (with books series to go with each) would be the motivator for so much history and language arts, but this has been a hit. The history has taken us on rabbit trails, so our start with Kaya (Native American Nez Perce) lead us to be interested in Sitting Bull (Hunkpapa Sioux). The Birchbark House by Louise Erdich was recommended, so we read that and learned a bit about the Ojibwe. Then we talked about the differences and similarities. The was the source of copywork and other writing, as well.

The learning period felt short. The school year felt short. We didn't cover all that I had hoped we would, but maybe I never will. The years keep flying and I am feeling a bit stunned by it all. This year was one of tremendous growth. Bittersweet growth that has left me proud, yet reeling. Ages 9 and 12 are ones of incredible growth, particularly away from the parent, and I feel that. I am looking forward to a summer of mental rest. I know now from experience how much growth and knowledge can come from this rime of rest.

52: 23

52 weeks of photos. A special moment during the week of June 4, 2017

52: 22

52 weeks of photos. A special moment during the week of May 28, 2017

It has been a very full week. Good, but full. Growing pains and growing joys.
This little California Towhee found its way into our kitchen and it took both kids and me to help it find the open door way out.