Winter Solstice Healing and Family

This week is a very special week for me and my boys. It's the week of the winter solstice and a time of healing and balance. I suppose there is a built in time of healing every day and I work to ensure this component in these beautiful souls I've been entrusted with.

So much fills our days - joy, adventure, fun, exploration and discovery, expansion and love.

We have a new globe - an early Christmas gift for the boys. It started off with an exploration of the places we will visit in 3 years time and led to landing in TX where we started looking at the gulf and then that led to the store of the 8 dolphins of Katrina. We then studied dolphins for a short bit and learned some very fascinating

CASH FLOW from Rich Dad/Poor Dad fame Robert Kiyosaki is the game of choice right now. I'd like to play this until we attain mastery and the boys can not only do their own spreadsheets but for our family as well. We have a new focus - getting out of the rat race. This alone is a tremendous education - following the whole of finances. WOW. What and where I would be had I had this information at 9 or 11.

Ryder is still devouring his graphic novels. I suppose there are some with redeeming qualities but over all it still feels like this bite size text mentality that we are cultivating as a society. I do see where our ability to communicate and carry on a full, emotionally connected, empathic, compassionate conversation is becoming archaic. Yet I find myself working hard to embrace this component for the sake of staying abreast of current trends.

He loves Dilbert so I can't fault him too much. And it's always wonderful to hear him laugh out loud and share the latest guffaw.

My sweet precious Dax. The concussion and injury from the auto accident in 2016 with their dad has had lasting repercussions. Where we were when he was 7 and where we are now that he is 9 is noticeable from a teachers perspective. I am so completely grateful that I am able to homeschool my boys and to have seen this whole progression. The trajectory of his life could be so very different and very scary had I not been able to observe and assess and get the help he needs. Brain trauma is a frightening thing and there is so much on this one topic alone it's enough to leave one paralyzed with fear. Such gratitude for the amazing doctors who are helping him and gratitude to my own and his own Divine source that we have been able to come as far as we have. Truly so much to be grateful for. I have learned so much - to be less rigid - which is a constant work. But that to keep him on a time line of "now you must read at this level"...and nonsensical hoops and criteria is not what I would want for him out of his life.

As always, it is I who learns so much from our homeschooling days.

Ryder's 6th grade Block 1

Third week of official block 1 for 6th grade.

We are continuing with Roman History studies. Reviewed Alexander the Great.

TAI CHI (requesting more par kour moves will need to research where and how to create more opportunity for this type of movement)

PIANO LESSON/Practice

MAIN LESSON
Study of Aeneid by Virgil
6th Grade McGuffey for read aloud and elocution, articulation.

MATH BLOCK: Starting a business.
Attended Oregon Small Business Conference September 16, 2017. Met with a variety of
Will continue to gather and work on game creation as his business. World of Graph

Review geometry, using protractor.

HANDWORK block - WALDORF ANIMALS continue sewing cat. Add an additional animal and teach Dax who has expressed desire to learn to sew. Teaching, compassion, patience skill development as he helps younger brother.

AIKIDO master class with Akira Kushida Sensei and will continue weekly training with Christine. Originated his goal is to be at Purple belt level - highest rank to his age by next summer so that he can volunteer teach and assist teach being paid 1 week of the summer camps. (responsibility, character, agility, etc.)

LA Block focus on Mystery Writing. With the intention of awakening a deeper interest in story and long form writing. Graphic novels still take up the majority of Ryder's reading - 10+ graphic novels a day. We discussed how this might be planting the wrong kinds of seeds in terms of what he would like to harvest. Quality vs quantity. Depth versus width. Richness vs superficial. Nourishment vs quick gratification/junk food.

I have observed a shift and am encouraged as I know the 11-12 year age can be precarious. He has strong character innately so I feel confident he will weather this shift well.

Mystery story for LA

Short story # 1 Ryder
WRITTEN and TYPED BY RYDER

One day at the library. Jake's computer turns off. He moves to another one but that one then turns off as well. 

Besides him, there are three other kids at the library; Dave, Sam and Beth.
 
Beth is reading about animals; no surprise there, she loves animals.

Dave on the other hand is reading about electronics. He likes to program robots and things he made himself. 

Sam is watching cat videos. He is also closest to the outlets. 

Who did it?
     

 

Corn Palace Jun 2017 tour

A Wonderful Visit To Our Dear Friends in Knoxville, TN

So far we have logged just over 5000 miles - more than I've driven in almost a year total. We made it all the way to Knoxville and in to the Smokies.  I couldn't miss seeing my best friend and her family. She homeschools her two boys and owns her own business as well. This was a fabulous experience for all of us. To totally immerse ourselves in the lives of wonderful, caring and generous friends who are more like family, that's an experience I am so glad we made time for!

Curriculum I want to review and see if it's a fit for us:
Math U See
Reading Rods
Grammar books.
DuoLingo.com


Traditions and rhythm. Routine and etiquette. A home - a genuine family. So so wonderful. I have not been great at this - at the creating longevity with a home. I have always been more gypsy and have not found a place I want to settle deep roots into. Not sure if I ever will. But being with my best friend and living with them for the week - it made me covet that consistency home base.

Battle of Little Big Horn 2017 Visit

Glacier National Park 2017