Our Homeschool Year

We school more or less year round, but this year, I'm schooling 2 full time and one part time. I decided to put everyone on a more traditional schedule.

We started our new year in July, right after summer classes ended. I added a bunch of new stuff last year, so there was a ton of (largely unnecessary and VERY stressful) catch up work. I've decided to mellow things out a bit and skip Ben ahead to a more reasonable grade level. 

This year, I feel like we have a very comprehensive curriculum. I am an unschooler at heart, but I didn't find that approach to be working for my oldest. In researching resources to fill in the gaps, I found that the Classical Method, which I had previously dismissed as complex, overwhelming, rigid, and frankly, intimidating, though delightfully thorough and, well, classic, is not only a great fit for me, but also for my kids. I'm still in the process of adding and subtracting some things, but for the most part, our core curriculum is set, and it's working amazingly well. 

We use a block schedule. Core curriculum is done 3 days a week, and the other stuff is split between the other 2 days. 

Here is the line up as it stands right now. 
Ben:
MWF
Singapore Math/Timez Attack
Handwriting Without Tears cursive
First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind grammar
Writing With Ease

Jeffrey:
MWF
Singapore Math
Handwriting Without Tears printing
First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind grammar
Writing With Ease
Starfall reading
Explode the Code phonics workbooks

Jason:
MWF (as desired)
Donna Young Penmanship Readiness worksheets
Starfall ABCs
Assorted Kindle Preschool apps
Lots of picture books

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we all work together as a group.

Tuesday:
Story of the World, Volume 2, The Middle Ages, supplemented with a historical atlas, globe and videos
Spanish Vocabulary and Salsa videos with lesson plans
Donna Young Art 1a drawing lessons
Free classic audiobooks from Librivox.org
Crafts from my Pinterest board

Thursday:
Simple Science-each child working at his own level
Buddhist Tales
More crafts from Pinterest
Board games of their choosing
More Librivox.org



In addition to this, Jason has a home teacher who comes once a week to help with his cognitive skills and speech therapy once a week at the local public school. He is working one-on-one with his therapist now, but will soon be joining the preschool class and working with other kids his age. 

So far this semester, we have not signed up for any extra-curricular activities. I recently opened a new homeschool group in my area, which I'm hoping will lead to playdates, parkdays and field trips. I'm in the process of lining up music teachers for the kids as well. 

Everyone makes mistakes

In the interest of honesty, I thought I would do something a little different.

I have read a few different articles accusing bloggers like myself of presenting an unrealistic, unattainable image of perfection, there-by causing other, less perfect women to feel inferior. At the very least, blogs like mine have been labelled as brag fests.

The brag fest label absolutely applies to my blog. I think I do some fun stuff, usually inspired by someone else's brag. I like to share the fun stuff, record it for myself and my children in the future and maybe inspire some other women to do something fun with her own little blessings.

I confess that I carefully stage some of my pictures to hide the clutter and the hideous disaster that is my stalled-out kitchen remodel. I only post my successes. Because why would I post things that didn't work? So  someone else can replicate my failure? Eh. No thanks.

But this time I will.  Here ya go.

I wish I could say these were tasty in spite of the ugliness, but they weren't. I also wish that I could say that the second batch was better than the first, but it was worse. They actually look much better in the picture than in real life. They look a lot better than they tasted, too. My kids, bless their hearts, ate the overcooked, 8 inch wide, greasy embarrassments without a single complaint. 

Next time you find yourself browsing Pinterest and feeling like a crappy mom for not hand sewing personalized quilts for your children, or designing custom crafted wardrobes for yourself and your family, or having an amazingly decorated house, or packing cute bunny shaped sandwiches in your kids' lunches or whatever you perceive your failings to be, let go of that feeling. We are all imperfect. Success is the result of practice and love, not magic. Ease up on yourself and go something fun that you love to do. Appreciate the results for the experience they provide. If you aren't having fun, you are missing the point. 

Bottle Bubble Blowers

To make a bottle bubble blower, cut the bottle off a soda bottle, dip the open end in bubble solution and blow gently. Any size or shape plastic bottle will work. These toddler friendly blowers make huge, delightful bubbles. If you inhale instead of blowing, or blow and then remove your lips, the bubble will slide back up the inside of the bottle. I had as much fun with these as the kids did.

This bubble solution is one cup of dish soap, one cup of water and a bit of corn starch. I'm still working out the kinks in the recipe. The good part is that it retains the color and scent of the soap. I used the cheap, pink, flowery stuff. It smells good and I find the color appealing. At $1 for a large bottle, we should be all set for a long time. Also works as bubble bath.

My first attempt at embedding videos:

Waffled Latkes

Let's begin today with a vocabulary lesson.

What is a latke? Latke (pronounced LOT kuh) is sometimes called a potato pancake. It is made of shredded potato and fried like a crispy hash brown patty. It's a bit gooier inside and a bit cakey, and a touch more flavorful than a hashbrown.

Latkes are traditionally served for Channukah with warm applesauce and sour cream.

I love latkes. My kids are completely berserk over them. But they are starchy and oily, and definitely a sometimes food.

Until now.

These latkes are toasted, not fried, made with whole grain flour, just a touch of healthy oil, and I used less-starchy, waxy, small red potatoes instead of the usual russets. Why, they are practically health food.

Also, very easy. That's a must.

You will need:
2 large, 3 medium, or 6 small potatoes
half an onion, diced
1 egg
1 TBS whole grain flour of your choice (I usually use wheat, but today, I used spelt)
dash of s&p
1TBS olive oil (or other)

Preheat waffle iron.

Shred the potatoes. If you are using a starchy variety, place the shreds in a strainer in the sink and let the liquid drain. If you are using a waxy variety, skip this step. They won't give up their liquid.

In a medium bowl, combine potatoes, onions, egg, flour, and s&p. Mush it around with your fingers until evenly mixed.

Pile the mixture up in the waffler. Use a generous amount. Clamp it shut and let it cook until very brown. If it starts to crumble when you touch it, cook it some more. It should be one solid piece.

Place on a plate and serve warm.

Makes 4-5 large waffle latkes.

Waffled hash browns

A waffle iron is a versatile and underutilized bit of kitchenry. It can easily cook many foods quickly, due to the top and bottom plates heating foods from both directions at the same time, with less fat, and without heating up the kitchen.
Case in point: Hash browns.
I LOVE homemade hash browns. Potatoes are one of the least expensive and most available foods. They homemade version is easy, quick and free of scary ingredients found in the packaged stuff. In fact this recipe has 4 ingredients, potatoes, oil, salt and pepper.
My homemade potatoes always turns out greasy and never as crisp as I'd like. These babies are not greasy at all and crispalicious. And waffly-fun. Everything is better waffled.
A starchy potato, like a russet, will give you a very crispy, nicely formed patty that holds it's shape well. A waxy potato, like a Yukon Gold or Red Rose, will give you a softer, creamier, less formed hashie, with a nice crunch just on the outside.
Let's get started.

1 large, 2 medium, or 4 small potatoes
drizzle of oil
salt and pepper

Wash and shred potatoes.
Spread shreds generously and evenly over waffle plates.
Drizzle very lightly with oil. I use a silicone basting brush.
Sprinkle with S and P.
Close the iron. Cook until crispy and brown.

Makes approximately 4 waffled browns.

Pink pickles

My kids won't eat radishes because they are too spicy. Pickling them lightly in vinegar and sugar removes most of the heat and leaves them tasting crisp, sweet, tangy and tinted a cheery pink.

10-12 ounces or so of radishes ( one packet)
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
2 tbs sugar
water

Slice radishes and place them in a glass quart jar.
Add vinegar and sugar, and top with water to cover.
Shake.
Chill for 1 hr.
Enjoy on salads, in sandwiches, in sushi or as a snack.
Store, sealed, in the refrigerator for up to a month.

Cinnamon roll waffles

I am certainly not the first to do this, but I'm posting it anyway, on the off chance that the entire internet hasn't already seen it.

Step 1. Open a can of cinnamon rolls. Place in waffle iron. Cook.

Step 2. Drizzle with frosting. Optional: add sprinkles.

Step 3. Eat with fingers.

These are quite small, and very tasty. Total prep time was about 15 minutes. I served them for my baby's 3rd birthday. A fun little birthday breakfast.