pixc

Copywork and Observational Drawing

Two of my favorite homeschool activities.  Copywork and observational drawing. I think they're pretty self-explanatory.  Copywork is simply copying good writing taking special note of spelling, puncuation, and handwriting.  Observational drawing is observing for detail and drawing what you observe.  I think they teach much more than art and cheating copying.  =)

They help me to slow down and notice things I might not in an otherwise busy day.  They encourage (I hope) one (my kids!) to focus and study the creations around them as well as the way our language comes together to form its own kind of beauty.

This is mine from last night.  I encourage the kids to spend at least 10-15 minutes on their drawing.  I did mine at midnight.  Can you tell where I started falling asleep and stopped paying attention to detail?  The kids asked me today, "Oh, you just let Rachel scribble on that part?" 

Uh...no.

:)

In the kitchen

I love it when he spikes his hair.  Well, what I mean is...once I spiked his hair without him knowing it and I loved it!  Getting a picture...I shoulda bribed him.  After about a billion attempts:

So I left him alone hoping he'd think I moved on to other things.  That usually works.  The girls were sweatin' it out in the kitchen making cookies all by themselves.   My heart's always aflutter when my kids are working together creating.  Whether it be creating food, art, music, food, and especially relationships.  Flutter away.

And then! he snuck in to ogle the cookie dough.  He quickly pounded his head, but I got him!!!  This might possibly be my most favorite expression ever. 

Here's my favorite treat ever. 

Good.

Finger lickin' good.

Thank you, ladies. 

Please come again...

the bowl's awaitin'!

Creating and Becoming

I've toyed with starting a homeschooling blog for, I don't know...2 years now.  Some things take me a while to warm up to.  Others I hop into completely clueless, and it's usually apparent.  But, that's how I roll.  I guess.  Truth is,  it really just popped in my head so I did what any sensible blog writer does...wrote it.  (Please accept my apologies if you really are a sensible blog writer!  I'm just...me.)

I dream of having some definition or label for the type of homeschooler I am or even why I homeschool.  Sadly, or maybe gladly? it varies from day to day.  First and foremost I consider myself a mother, I don't want to be confused with a school teacher (and believe me, I'm not!).  Again, no offense to school teachers, after all, I am married to one! 

If I could just go off on a tangent....(okay, thanks).  Homeschoolers are opinionated.  I don't think they'd be homeschooling if they weren't.  One reason I hesitated to start a homeschooling blog is because I don't want to put myself and family out there for scrutiny (truth is we're already out there for scrutiny, blog or not).  I don't have it all figured out.  I'd like to say "it works for our family", and I often do.  But what that means is...uh...?!?  Maybe it means I'm trying to make it work for our family.  There.  That's the best I got.

So, the tangent I was going to get off on before I got off on that one (are you seeing my problematic pattern yet?) was the one about offending people.  Opinions...homeschooling...more opinions...I'm a bit of a people pleaser...well, a wanna-be people pleaser might be a more accurate description.  So.  When I'm on here offending people by doing things my way (which may or may not be your way, the best way or even the right way!) please know it's not my intent.  And, if it is my intent...I'll be sure and point it out.   I'm helpful like that.  And...if you want to chime in with your way, another way, or even the (gasp) right way, feel free.  Just be sure and, ya know, point it out if you're trying to offend me.  =)

So, back to my blog and homeschooling and who I am all that confusing stuff.  I've attempted to narrow or "label" this thing I call homeschool.  Two words:  creating and becoming. 

I'll write more on this another time, 'cause my heads all a-spinning with my run-away tangents and apologizin'ing.

Whew.