Schola Abdico

Do You Teach Depth or Breadth?

2011-08-03T10:29:00.000-05:00

I had this grand plan of blogging on our first REAL day of homeschooling as a family. I was going to have photos, examples of work done, and it was going to be a happy, uplifting and encouraging piece of writing.

But then real life kicked in.

No, it’s not that the first day was terrible at all. In fact, it went very well! It’s just that between trying to work out assignments lists, grade papers, answer questions, conduct science experiments, while still doing all the normal “mom” stuff, and taking three college classes myself, and trying to figure out how to run errands with my kids in tow (or at home alone?)... I have had a hard time trying to prioritize in this blog!

So now we find ourselves in the third week of homeschooling and things continue to go well. The kids have found their stride, I think, but I am still struggling a bit to keep up with everything. (My Facebook obsession certainly isn’t helping matters any!) It’s getting better though and I am sure I will get in the groove of things soon.

All of this brings me to the real purpose of this blog post... two questions about how YOU teach your kids.

Number One... On Sundays I make a schedule for the kids of the work they need to accomplish each day the next week. There is a wide variety of subjects. Some classes are from textbooks, others from workbooks, and others on the computer. But the “problem” is that they are done by noon most days. They’ve put in 3 1/2 to 4 hours of work by that point, which I know is solid work time (unlike in a traditional school). I’m wondering, though, if it is enough and if I should add more work. How many hours do your kids school on a typical day?

Number Two... If I add more work, should I be adding depth or breadth? Do you teach a wide variety of subjects at once or do you have your kids study fewer subject more deeply?

I know there is a wealth of homeschool knowledge out there and I am a “don’t reinvent the wheel” kind of girl... I look forward to hearing your advice and ideas based on how YOU homeschool.

Why Do We Celebrate the 4th of July?

2011-07-03T17:26:00.002-05:00

After watching THIS VIDEO, my heart sank. Are people *really* that ignorant? Is this what our public education has done to us? I decided to immediately find some information for my kids to read and for us to talk about during our 4th of July meal tomorrow. I *think* they know the meaning behind they holiday, but I need to be sure. I will NOT allow my kids to be clueless about why we celebrate the 4th of July!

I gathered up some info from here and there on line and put together some reading material for the kids. I post it here so you can read and share it too.

The 4th of July

Independence Day also known as 4th of July is the birthday of the United States of America. It is celebrated on July 4th each year in the United States. It is the anniversary of the day on which the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress - July 4, 1776. The day they announced to the world that the 13 colonies no longer belonged to Great Britain. Independence Day was first observed in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776.

On July 4, 1777, the night sky of Philadelphia lit up with the blaze of bonfires. Candles illuminated the windows of houses and public buildings. Church bells rang out loud, and cannons were shot from ships breaking the silence.

The city was celebrating the first anniversary of the founding of the United States.

The Fourth of July soon became the main patriotic holiday of the entire country. Veterans of the Revolutionary War made a tradition of gathering on the Fourth to remember their victory. In towns and cities, the American flag flew; shops displayed red, white, and blue decorations; and people marched in parades that were followed by public readings of the Declaration of Independence.

In 1941, Congress declared July 4 a federal legal holiday.

The 13 Colonies were
Connecticut
Delaware
Georgia
Maryland 
Massachusetts Bay
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina 
Virginia

In America, there are several symbols that represent our freedom. Our flag is probably our most important symbol. Here is a look at what they mean and the history.

BETSY ROSS AND OUR FLAG
The first flag representing the United States was sanctioned by George Washington using colors from The British Kings Colors. It was called the Grand Union flag. Soon, it was decided that a new flag was needed to represent America, and it was decided to be red, white, and blue, with stars and stripes representing the colonies. It is said that George Washington, Robert Morris, and George Ross (Betsy Ross's late husband’s uncle) came to Ross's home and asked her to sew the new flag. Originally, George Washington had wanted 6-pointed stars on the flag, but Betsy Ross demonstrated how to cut a 5-pointed star in a single snip, and the committee was so impressed that they allowed Betsy Ross to sew our new American flag, using the 5-pointed star.

On June 14, 1777, at Philadelphia, the Marine Committee of the Second Continental Congress offered the resolution which resulted in the adoption of the Flag of the United States. As new states were admitted it became evident that the number of stripes in the flag would have to be limited. Congress ordered that after July 4, 1818, the flag should have thirteen stripes, symbolizing the thirteen original states, that the union would have twenty stars, and that a new star should be added on the July 4th following admission of a new state. The permanent arrangement of the stars is not designated, and no star is specifically identified with any state.

Since 1912, following the admission of a new state, the new design has been announced by executive order. The original resolution read: "Resolved: that the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation."

On the Flag, red stands for hardiness and courage, white is the symbol of purity and innocence, and blue is the color of vigilance, perseverance, and justice.

 THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

I pledge allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America
and to the Republic for which it stands.
One nation under God,
indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all.

History of the Pledge of Allegiance
The original Pledge of Allegiance was written by Francis Bellamy. It was first given wide publicity through the official program of the National Public Schools Celebration of Columbus Day which was printed in The Youth's Companion of September 8, 1892, and at the same time sent out in leaflet form to schools throughout the country. School children first recited the Pledge of Allegiance this way:

"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all."

"The flag of the United States" replaced the words "my Flag" in 1923 because some foreign-born people might have in mind the flag of the country of their birth instead of the United States flag. A year later, "of America" was added after "United States."

No form of the Pledge received official recognition by Congress until June 22, 1942, when the Pledge was formally included in the U.S. Flag Code. The official name of The Pledge of Allegiance was adopted in 1945. The last change in language came on Flag Day 1954, when Congress passed a law, which added the words "under God" after "one nation."

Originally, the pledge was said with the right hand in the so-called "Bellamy Salute," with the right hand resting first outward from the chest, then the arm extending out from the body. Once Hitler came to power in Europe, some Americans were concerned that this position of the arm and hand resembled the Nazi or Fascist salute. In 1942 Congress also established the current practice of rendering the pledge with the right hand over the heart.

The Flag Code specifies that any future changes to the pledge would have to be with the consent of the President.

AMERICA
The song "America" is sung across America as one of the National Anthems. It was written by Reverand Samuel Francis Smith in 1832. It was first used at a children's fourth of July picnic in Boston. Lowell Mason discovered the tune in a collection of German melodies and recommended it to Rev. Smith. The music to "America" is the same as that of the British national anthem, "God Save the Queen." It is said that Henry Carey put the melody into its present form.

My country, 'tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died.
Land of the Pilgrims' pride,
From every mountainside
Let Freedon ring.

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL
"America The Beautiful" was written as a poem by Wellesley College professor Katherine Lee Bates in the year 1893. After riding to the top of Colorado's Pike Peak whe was inspired by the "spacious skies" and "purple mountain majesties". Her poem was later set to music.

O beautiful for spacious skies,
 For amber waves of grain, 
For purple mountain majesties 
Above the fruited plain! 
America! America! 
God shed his grace on thee 
And crown thy good with brotherhood 
From sea to shining sea!  

THE LIBERTY BELL
The Liberty Bell represents America's freedom. The Liberty Bell is located at the Liberty Bell Pavilion on Market Street between 5th and 6th Streets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was cast in London and was made of 70% copper, 25% tin, and small amounts of lead, zinc, arsenic, gold and silver. Written on the bell are the words, "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof".

The Liberty Bell gained iconic importance when abolitionists in their efforts to put an end to slavery throughout America adopted it as a symbol. As the Bell was created to commemorate the golden anniversary of Penn's Charter, the quotation "Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof," from Leviticus 25:10, was particularly apt. For the line in the Bible immediately preceding "proclaim liberty" is, "And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year." What better way to pay homage to Penn and hallow the 50th year than with a bell proclaiming liberty?

Also inscribed on the Bell is the quotation, "By Order of the Assembly of the Province of Pensylvania for the State House in Philada." Note that the spelling of "Pennsylvania" was not at that time universally adopted. In fact, in the original Constitution, the name of the state is also spelled "Pensylvania."

The Liberty Bell cracked the first time it was rung. It was repaired in 1846, and cracked again. The bell has not been rung since.

FUN FACT - Every 4th of July the Liberty Bell is tapped - not actually rung.

STATUE OF LIBERTY
The large copper statue that stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor is a remembrance of our Nation’s freedom.

France gave the statue to America in 1884 as a symbol of friendship and of the liberty that citizens enjoy under a free form of government. The statue’s proper name is “Liberty Enlightening the World.”

The statue represents a proud woman, dressed in a loose robe that falls in graceful folds to the top of the pedestal on which the statue stands. The right arm holds a great torch raised high in the air. The left arm grasps a tablet bearing the date of the Declaration of Independence. A crown with huge spikes, like sun rays, rest on her head. At her feet is a broken shackle, which symbolizes the overthrow of tyranny.

THE EAGLE
In 1787, the newly formed United States adopted as its emblem a bald Eagle with wings that are outspread. The Eagle is shown with a shield on its breast, an olive branch in one foot, and a sheaf of arrows in the other foot. When the Eagle is placed on the American coat-of-arms it carries a scroll in its beak bearing the Latin words E Pluribus Unum, meaning “one out of many.”

FUN FACT - The first Eagle on an American coin appeared on a Massachusetts penny in 1776.

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

The Declaration of Independence is a document written by our Founding Fathers declaring America's independence. A committee of five men, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston were appointed to write the document.

The first draft of the Declaration was written by Jefferson, in seclusion. He spent several days writing it. John Adams was the first person to revise the document, followed by Benjamin Franklin, and finally by the full Congressional Committee.

It was altered a total of 47 times before independence was declared.

Independence was declared on July 2, 1776, and 39 more revisions to the document followed.

John Hancock was the first signer of the Declaration of Independence, on July 4, 1776.

The Declaration of Independence is on display at the National Archives.

President Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal..."

"Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and other to be, totally dissolved."

Thomas Jefferson, was the 3rd President of the United States of America, from 1801 to 1809. Congress had appointed 5 men to prepare this proclamation, and  Jefferson was the greatest contributor of the words contained in the document, and described the Declaration of Independence as "An expression of the American mind."

FUN FACT - One lucky Philadelphian purchased a $4.00 picture at a flea market. What they found behind the picture was an original 1776 printing of the Declaration of Independence. It was sold to TV producer Norman Lear for 8.1 million.

The Men Who Signed the Declaration of Independence
Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died.   Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.   Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army, another had two sons captured.   Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.   

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

What kind of men were they?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.   

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.   

At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He urged General George Washington to open fire anyway. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.   

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.   

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year, he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later, he died from exhaustion and a broken heart.   

Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates.   

Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more.   Standing talk straight, and unwavering, they pledged:

"For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."

They gave you and me a free and independent America. The history books never told you a lot about what happened in the Revolutionary War. We didn't fight just the British. We were British subjects at that time and we fought our own government!

Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't.

So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July Holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid. Remember: Freedom is never free!

The Homeschooled Garden

2011-06-21T11:05:00.000-05:00

I live on federal property on a military installation which has a rule that we are not supposed to plant a vegetable garden in the ground because 70 years ago there was a pesticide used that may or may not have been used in the housing area and may or may not still be on the surface. But about a mile and a half from our house is a “community garden plot” that allows each family who wants one to work their own 25x40 foot plot. I’ve had successful gardens in the past, and decided we would get a plot for our use this summer.

But the idea of a garden in the community area was far better than the reality. In addition to the fact that produce from other gardens has already been stolen by random people who decide they want to take from others' hard work, the inconvenience of the distance from the house, the sharing of one water spigot between every 4 plots, and the amazing number of weeds I’ve had to deal with (because I have empty, unworked plots on two sides that now have chest high weeds that are reproducing right into my plot)... it has turned into a nightmare.

I went last weekend to do some maintenance and nearly cried. I was so frustrated with it all... all my hard work and effort... and outside influences (inconsiderate garden “neighbors,” thieves, and the weeds) were ruining what should have been a fun and fulfilling experience for my family.

It kind of reminded me of our public school experiences.

So then I got to thinking... if I brought my kids home to “grow them up” the way I think they should... why not “homeschool” my plants too?

I have a couple of those Topsy Turvy plant bags I found on sale for a fraction of their normal cost a year ago but never used and a few empty pots I’m not already using for flowers and herbs. I bought some shepherd’s hooks to hang the Topsy Turvys and have been watching the back yard for sun light exposure so I can put them in the right spot.

We’ve snooped a little and discovered other homes have in fact dug gardens into their back yard (including one that received the coveted “Yard of the Month” award... so it isn’t like the no planting rule is being enforced). So we have decided to till out a small spot to put in a few plants as well.

I’m going to be able to tend to my plants on my schedule, using our resources, and not be dependent on others. The kids will have a far easier time tending to their own plants and will be able to make decisions about what care is needed with a simple look out the window instead of a drive to the garden plot. I will be able to grade them for their efforts and how well they take the initiative to care for their plants. Plus, they will be rewarded for those efforts, without the fear of their produce being stolen.

It will truly be our “Homeschooled Garden” ... I just hope that we don’t end up in THIS situation...

Does It All Count?

2011-06-15T12:35:00.000-05:00

The plan is to homeschool year round with more frequent short breaks rather than one long summer vacation, but we still haven't started “real” homeschooling. The kids have worked on some “summer bridge” worksheets most weekdays but that’s it. We have been too busy having fun, going to camps, and just hanging out to have do anything formal yet. As for record keeping, however, our official homeschool year started June 1st.

But that brought me to a question... What exactly counts as “curriculum” or “official” homeschooling time?

Does an outing to the swimming pool or the bowling alley count as PE? How about Nick’s overnight camping trip?

What about watching the *excellent* television show “How the States Got Their Shapes?” Surely this counts as Geography or History or Social Studies... or all three.

Is VBS officially Religious Studies... or even PE, Art, and Music?

This week we have gone to the US Space and Rocket Center, watched an Army Material Command Band orchestral concert, and to the Huntsville Botanical Gardens. We will also go to Sci-Quest, Huntsville Museum of Art and Burritt on the Mountain this week as well. (It seems like a busy schedule, but it’s Armed Forces Week and as a military family we get into these places for FREE!) Do I list all of these outings as part of Science, PE, Art, and History?

This weekend will we have “community service” when we work for a while at a Homes For Our Troops build?

Nick has Aviation Challenge Camp next week while Emma has Horse Camp... Science and PE?

We divided our garden up into sections and each kids is responsible for their own little plot... A “Home Economics” grade?

I don’t want to get bogged down in record keeping, but it seems to me that almost everything we do could be assigned to a certain curriculum subject, and maybe that’s a good thing. Do I track it all or only the truly core things they do with a specific intent at “schooling?”

How do YOU do it?