Battle Board

We love games in our family. And I mean LOVE! A day doesn't go by without a game or 3 played.

So is it any wonder that as I took a few minutes to update the blog Ryder took that time to create a new game using his legos. He and Dax sat on the porch and discussed the rules, the strategy, the meaning behind a lego landing a certain way. How I wish I had the flip right there. But I did grab the camera.

This is one of my proud parent moments although I do feel cornball city that I'm utterly gushing with joy and pride and well, admiration and awe. The thing is, for him to just come up with something so cool, on the spot and have fun with his brother like that - well it's so great!

Dragons Streak Across The Sky

It has been a very productive week here at TA.

We combine various components for our curriculum. I use Waldorf Essentials as as my guide and for my personal work and wisdom growth through Melisa's Thinking Feeling Willing course Waldorf Essentials TFW

Stories from Grimm's Fairy Tales continue. Form Drawing from the stories. Narration and dramatic play from the stories. Baking from the letters and form drawings.

Handwork we created this mobile that utterly delighted Dax. (Mobile was made from tissue paper and pipe cleaner - thread and items around the house modified from the book Creative Play

 Each day I see his creativity and love of the arts grow. Ryder needs to work more with fine details of working, feelings surrounding patiently working through a task to it's completion. This week I saw great strides of improvement in this area. (Nature Bags made of two pieces of felt sewn together - add a finger knitted strap. Children can decorate the outside as they desire. Also from Earth Schooling)

On his own he created this scene for his nature bag, painstaking focus to cut the fisherman, his boat and his pole as well as a complete wardrobe which he will keep in the nature bag for a when the fisherman needs - coats, slicker, etc.

 The tying off of the tiny strings and the specific actions required to bring the mobile to life 

We've completed our Water Color Project with our 3 primary colors - a gorgeous poem from Kristie Burns Earth Schooling guides us through this water color lesson. Both 4 and 6 year old enjoyed this immensely and learned a wonderful new verse just in time for Michaelmas.

We will keep COURTEOUS in our vocabulary and actions and bring in a new virtue for the next month. Being courteous - manners, respect, kindness, speaking and listening in an attentive way  were how this virtue has been defined by Ryder. We continue to improve - all of us.

THE BIRCHHOUSE BOOK - Louise Erdrich

Ryder will turn 7 in February. Although these books are recommended for 4th and5th grades I am choosing her series as a read aloud. After my husband's numerous requests for longer stories at night for the boys (although I believe Dax at almost 4 is too young for these, we'll see if he will enjoy the stories) I chose to do some deep research into books that Dad would enjoy as well. That is a requirement after all. Seeing that the story is actually told through a 7 year old's eyes will be perfect!

When I discovered Louise's books I was at once excited and intrigued. I am part Chipawa (also know as Ojibwa) as is the author.

Seems wonderful multiple unit studies around this subject, culture and tribe will be in our future!

SCIENCE, STOMACHS and BEARS OH MY!

Today we covered Science in detail.

NATURE:
Story: The Tree That Longed for Other Leaves
Nature Walk - find needles versus leaves on trees.
We discovered many wonderful trees and I encouraged lots of tree hugging. 
Differences and Similarties of Acorns and Pine Cones - the seed, the package
VERSE:
I am an acorn, the packet the seed
God is within me. God is the tree
I am unfolding the way I should be
Carved in the palm of His hand

ARTS: Gathered leaves for our Leaf Kites -
Daily movement - added counting in Spanish to our movement today, will continue this in our daily rhythm. Dax again shows a strong interest in dance - free style

BASICS: Made YUMMY Blueberry muffins from the organic blueberries we picked with Grandpa. We used our soaked (in green tea) wild and basmati rice, farm raised eggs, maple syrup, grapeseed oil, fresh stevia leaf (we have it growing in our garden) They turn out a bit more souffle like rather than cake/break like. Delicious. Dax is more interested in the kitchen, baking and such - he always wants to help and comes up with ideas for yummy smoothies.Incorporating hygiene, math (measurements, yields for batches - double and half size)

RESPONSIBILITY: Because I have advanced education in holistic health I spent time on the Digestive and Excretory Systems today. We went over about 20 minutes of a detailed functioning of the digestive - excretory systems. I believe this is very important to understand - from smell, to excretion of saliva, the enzymes, why we masticate our food rather than swallowing it without thoroughly chewing. Big subject here. We  used the puzzles - they love using the digestive puzzles. We even made up our own story and it ends with their favorite "The Poop Shoot". Best laugh award today!

Ryder is coming along with his next song in Suzuki Book 1 for the Violin.

Our belongings arrive today - they've been in storage for the last 5 months. It will be wonderful to sort through, get our big, wonderful chalk board set back up and our schooling supplies. Ryder was enthusiastic about building our "school house" while we were out on our Nature Walk. I think he was inspired from all the natural learning going on. Oh, I forgot, we met with some neat tracks on the way - Dax said, they are bear tracks. They weren't of course - but it was fun to do some research and discover - cat tracks! Cute! I love my JOB!

Meanwhile, on a personal note, I'm dealing with significant emotional and mental upheaval as I focus on Truth on my 35 year involvement in a religion. I know itis leading me to a wonderful breakthrough. I can feel it. The difficulty and confusion within and around the entity is proportional to the breakthrough! It's certainly "blowing" my mind. What a huge and fundamental disappointment. Hmmm, I believe in that there is a great lesson as well.

Oh and we will to continue to work on our virtues - COURTEOUS is top.

Gratitude, Thanks, Appreciation

Over the last week and a half we have had Grandfather visiting. As a result our lessons took on a whole new life as we explored and discovered our great environment. As part of First Grade we introduce letters through stories, most of them this year are from Grimm's Fairy Tales. We have gone over 5 letters so far this year and the main lesson books look so beautiful with much coming through about the boys' internal happenings - it's so clear when my sons write and draw - how they are feeling. Stunning actually. We move our bodies in the shapes of our letters, we find words in our environment with those letters, we use the letters for more than just sounds. There is much in them! The Waldorf approach is like no other and I find it healing for all who partake in this way of learning.

Mountains and Valleys - there is much to know in just these two - they tell us so much! Our greatest adventures were to Mount Saint Helens and Mount Hood where we climbed to tops and learned the powers of our earth. We explored the waterfalls not far from our home - some of the grandest in the country and discovered much about our history. Visiting The Dalles where we met up with cousins, we observed Ospry nests, met a Great Horned Owl and Red Tailed Hawk. We also learned about Lewis and Clark and their expedition. What a start to this "school year"!

As we continue to learn through stories, movement, form drawing and art it awakens so much in me, not only as a human being but a teacher - I mean learner! I learn more about myself and my world in every moment.

I am so grateful for this opportunity to work with my boys in this way. I am so thankful for our surroundings and mother earth and all she provides. I am so appreciative of my continuous desire to think for myself and foster this in my sons.

Here Ryder and Dax with their cousin dress up in the ice age costumes at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center www.gorgediscovery.org/ 

In the photo at the top the boys play in a boat - they loaded packages and got to be the explorers. I highly recommend this for families, home-schoolers, children of all ages. Hours and hours of dramatic play and discovery and healthy learning.

Memories of September 11th

Today is 9/11, and the memories of that day elicit a deep sadness for many. Here at TRIBAL Academy memories are tempered by the joyful presence of delighted children as they play in the yard, help bake bread and prepare for a visitor. A cool breeze and a low bright sun fills the day.We send a special blessing to the families and to a country who lost more than citizens. Sadly, much of our freedom has been thwarted as a result.

How To Resolve Conflicts with Kids

Rock Paper Scissors - a great way to resolve any conflict.

Official First Day for Portland

We have begun this day as we usually do. Flowing with our rhythm and routine and now adding a bit of orientation towards logistics of "learning" time. This day our learning time surrounded us creating our calendar with the days, months, year and past, present and future understanding. This came from what I learned when I was "homeschooled" by Mrs. Elkins.

I recall it as a ritual I enjoyed and look forward to sharing it with my children.

Preparing the teacher for First Grade

As I prepare for my oldest to begin First Grade - I find myself delving deeply into my own inner work I know is fundamental to how our year will flow. I believe the personal mom work is the most important place to begin.