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Quarter Note

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Posts posted by Quarter Note

  1. On 4/28/2022 at 4:11 AM, madteaparty said:

    We travelled around the world for 6 months when DS was in 8th. Learning definitely happened, it was just based on what we were seeing/experiencing as we went around. He even took an AP class and test that year, so not at all unschooling. 

    Oh, madteaparty, I'd do this in a heartbeat if it were possible.  But I need my husband to have his job at the end of it.

    • Like 1
  2. On 4/26/2022 at 8:56 PM, Jean in Newcastle said:

    We went to a more project based schooling model for middle school. 

    Thank you, Jean, and everyone else.  But my goal is for me to not be involved, and I don't think she's self-motivated enough to focus on a project, even of her own choosing.  I want her to be out of the house with others, and so I'm intrigued by what sounds to me like an "eighth grade internship".  We already have her signed up for three online classes next year, but that's not going to keep her busy.

    Didn't SWB once say something along the lines of, "All eighth graders should be sent to work on a farm for a year."  If I could figure out a way to get her active and outside for the whole year, I'd do it.

    • Like 1
  3. SWB mentions this in Rethinking School, and I just looked up the original article.  I'm intrigued.  My newly thirteen-year-old will be in eighth grade next year, and I'm at my wits' end.  Sure, we all watch our kids change as they hit adolescence, but I'm really wondering if there's a better answer to what to do with her than either "continue on with the same old thing, even though no one's having fun" or "put her in public school, because that's the default when homeschooling gets unbearable".  

    Thoughts?  Ideas?  I'm wondering if we could really do something different (not so different that it would involve my husband quitting his job to travel all year!), that would make her eighth grade year, as the author of the article says, "life-changing".   

  4. On 4/17/2022 at 8:06 AM, KrissiK said:

    I just saw this thread, but I wanted to chime in good thoughts, QN, and am thankful the surgery went well. I am 10 years past a melanoma removed from my ankle. Margins were clear and that seems to have take care of it, but this week I had my annual and they took another henky looking spot off, so I am a little emotional until I get word of the biopsy results. 
     

    Prayers are with you!!

    KrissiK, I hope that your biopsy turns out negative!

  5. What keeps us going this time of year is that as we finish up the formal work, we replace it with Great Courses lectures to round out our 180 days.  Usually in February I have the kids each pick a course they want to do.  This year we have just started Understanding Greek and Roman Technology, and we'll either start Vikings or World War II: A Military and Social History, depending on which kid wins Rock-Paper-Scissors.  (Sometimes that's how our school decisions are made!)

    Hang in there, @AnneGG.  I'm with you!

    • Like 2
    • Haha 1
  6. Friends, I'm so sorry it's taken me this long to get back on the forum to update you.  Just wanted to let you all know that I decided on the lumpectomy and had it three weeks ago.  The pathology report says that the surgeon got clean margins.  Except for the ugly scar, I think the surgical site has healed. (I've even started doing some gentle aerobics.)  

    Next up is radiation, but that seems to be slow to get started.  

    Thank you all for your prayers, good wishes, and information that you've shared.  I can't even tell you how much it meant to me to have so many of you ladies sharing your stories and rooting for me.  😊

     

    • Like 44
  7. On 3/26/2022 at 6:29 PM, Lucy the Valiant said:

    The most fun thing (yes school, but not exactly curriculum) we've done over all the years is to schedule "school parties" - pick whatever we're learning in history or science, circle a date on the calendar, invite a few friends, and then divvy up "volunteer assignments" (yes, the friends, too). We've had homecoming parties to welcome Odysseus home, we've had "Scat Parties" with owl pellet dissections and (ewwwww) tootsie-roll "kitty litter" cake, we've had in-costume Shakespearean parties where we watched Hollow Crown (Benedict Cumberbatch) Richard III and played busking games, we've had brain-wave synapse relay races with candy-constructed brain diagrams, we've "encamped" through many different nations / centuries / discoveries. 

    @Lucy the Valiant, you're the homeschool mom that I want to be.  😊  You are amazingly creative!

    • Like 4
  8. We have these cups, and we use them all the time - but not for drinking!  They are the perfect size for melting butter in the microwave, thawing frozen fruit for a smoothie, putting in just a little bit of leftover something to store in the fridge - all kinds of uses!

    The little saucers are great as spoon rests, or as plates for just a slice of toast are piece of fruit.

    • Like 4
  9. Louisa May Alcott!  I'm a huge fan.  She was a staunch abolitionist and supporter of women's rights.  When Concord, MA allowed women a limited suffrage, she was first in line to cast her ballot.

    But there are so many 19th century women who used voice and pen to make the world a better place.  I admire them all!

    • Like 2
  10. @Mrs Tiggywinkle, let me just add my own voice to all the others:  Congratulations!  When I think about all the struggles you have shared on the forum over the last few years and all your victories in so many areas, I am in awe of you.  You are doing amazing things, and your kind heart is going to bless that young family and encourage your own kids for the rest of their lives.  Great job!  Make sure that you find a way to celebrate!

    • Like 2
  11. 3 minutes ago, Mom_to3 said:

    I am so sorry! Since I currently have a 5th grader, I wanted to mention that one thing he likes to do is research an animal (he has a lot of nature books) and write a little report about it. He probably spends a couple of hours on this by himself, and then proceeds to read this to one of his grandparents over skype the next day (I proofread the spelling - my kid is not a great speller, but this is so much more fun than spelling exercises). You could start something like this in an area that interests your kid and have them read to you while you lie down to recover from radiation.

    Best wishes for your treatment!

    Oh, I love this idea!  My 5th grader would probably research WWII jet fighters, but if it kept him busy and got him writing, I'd happy to listen to anything he had to say.  Thank you!  (Between you and me, though, I'd probably rather listen to reports on animals!)

    • Like 1
  12. On 3/8/2022 at 7:50 PM, pehp said:

    Whew, I have been through this also, and I want you to know I'm thinking of you and cheering you on!  

    My husband had cancer in 2018 and we had to live in North Carolina for a couple of months for treatments.  Plus there was a brutal recovery period and three surgeries, one of which was extensive and involved a week-long hospital stay.  

    During that time, I wrote this. The next year I was asked to give a talk on this topic at a homeschooling conference.  My primary tips are:

    *stay consistent with math. I wish I'd done this better!  But, live and learn. I'd say this is the one thing to keep on with as steadily as possible. 

    *simplify and make things easy on yourself in every way possible. Accept all the help you can get. Give yourself lots of grace.  Don't expect perfection. It'll be alright.

    *audiobooks and lots of other books!  Books, books, books.  And those documentaries are great, too. 🙂 I was surprised at how much learning my children did during that year of our lives.  Impressive!  

    We are going through a similar situation now with my dad who has been diagnosed with incurable extensive small cell lung carcinoma.  My approach has changed a bit because my children are older, but with younger children, I definitely stand by the above advice.

    Sending lots of love and healing to you. 

    pehp, I read your beautiful journey entry.  Thank you very much for sharing.  Your courage with your own experience is inspiring.  I love your tips, too!  

    I wish you much peace as you walk with your dad through his cancer, and continued health for your husband.  I will be spending more time on your blog.  May your house be ever more joyful!

     

    • Like 1
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