Altilab2005 - Distance Education Blog

Every military deployment is different and in some way each are the same. One thing that will never change in this family is what I do while the General is away.

Some military spouses start shopping, or a new hobby, take classes, some "hole-up". There are many things, but almost all military spouses do something that they wouldn't do had their spouse been home. Something to fill the time and the gaping hole that has been left in their lives.

I follow this truth as well. But, I don't have much time, and the kids truly try and compensate for the "hole".

But, I have managed to complete a few "Wahoos". (To get an idea of what I'm referring to please go here.)

Now, the biggest Wahoo of all is the fact that the General doesn't have a clue as to what's been done! Now, don't go giving me grief about that! He knows family type things, the stuff that is important to him. . .but just as I don't know what he's done "over there"; he doesn't know what I did here.

But, Wahoos really only count if you can tell someone. The General will be coming home today, so he'll get to see for himself. I will "spell it out" for you all.

I completed the following schedules: Advanced Math, Calcuus, high school American Studies (including Gov't, Economics, History, and American Literature), Algebra 2, Pre-Algebra, Traditional Logic, Jr. High Literature, and early Literature (for younger two),

I cleaned and organized the following rooms: my bedroom, little guys bedroom, front closet, 3rd floor kitchen, school room. Also cleaned all the fans, which in a house without A/C is a nasty job!

Added some pictures to the walls.

Assembled this "pantry":

Went on vacation to see the folks (Photos previously posted here).

Transformed the guest room:

The folks came here to visit, as well as my Grandma, my brother and one of my uncles. (brother not in photo). Even went to Amish country while they were here.

Transformed little guys' room:
(Please note the original color was a lovely shade of "primary blue"; and quality like the kind of crayon you would get for your kids at a resteraunt.) I created a "school wall" in there as well, so they have their own area in which to do their school.

 (Please note the "journal" area of these photo pages is kept blank for the purposes of "security" on this blog.)

Painted guest bathroom (not completely done "transforming" it, so no pictures yet).

Took in 7 large boxes of books to the homeschool consignment store.

I did all the doctor runs, vet visits, Mrs. Fix-It jobs, chauffeur, etc.

I managed to keep all of us healthy, and out of the emergency room.

I managed to keep my sanity!

And today, the General returns!!!

He did ask for some things upon his return. He wants some hot spiced cider, and pumpkin spice bread.

Would you care to join us, in our little celebration? Here's the recipe for Pumpkin Spice Bread (hope you enjoy it).

Pumpkin Spice Bread (2 loaves)

3 c. sugar
1 c. oil
4 eggs
16 oz. solid pack pumpkin
3 1/2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 tsp. ground allspice
1/2 c. water

In large bowl, combine sugar, oil and eggs. Add pumpkin and mix well. Combine dry ingredients; add to the pumpkin mixture alternately with water. Pour into two greased 9x5x3 inch loaf pans. Bake 350 for 60-70 minutes or until bread tests done. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire rack; cool completely.

(Degrees temp. is given in Farenheit, for those on Celsius it's ~ 175. )

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Now, I'm off to finish that house cleaning and baking!

Everyone, enjoy your day and those you love around you!

We've been working with our stash of felt. Yum, yum, yum. I basically gave the chldren free range to pick their colours and cut and sew. Eeeek! That was brave, no!?!

So, first we had this:

And then a bit of this:

Some of this to help the little one feel part of it all!

and then Tiger's tree design:

Followed by Frog's:

Bird made a pink felt bag, but I don't know where she has stashed it away!
I have started a cake pin cushion:

And I received a beautful gift from seeking taqwa; a tissue holder which is sewn so carefully that I know I'd like to take some classes with her. Jazakillah khair.)

Now I know this might sound silly, but we had been "forgetting " to put Will to bed.  It sound insane but it isn't.  Will gets into a happy groove at night and plays really well, then all of a sudden we realise it's 10pm and we have to drag a very grumpy ( because he is so overtired) Will upstairs kicking and screaming.  What a joy, I wont even go into how restless his sleep has been.  This is kind of my excuse so forgive the somewhat weak argument.

Will is the only little boy in the house, so when he plays well we sort of "forget" that he is a little boy that really really needs sleep, and not a teenager that thrives on late nights. Last Friday I was so tired, I made a plan to do a

toilet

teeth

books and

sleep

routine with Will, I warned him bed time was in 5 minutes.  Then he happily went and did all the above. I sat with him in the family bed till he went to sleep. We have been doing it all weekend and so far Will is so much happier and so are we, his night time dancing has settled right down.

The boys have also changed bunk beds so now Erik is on the bottom and Riley is on top.  For some reason this has made Erik sleep much better.  So much better in fact that today he sat with Riley and showed/taught him how to read an analog watch.  Riley has wanted a watch with a face not a digital time for awhile, but no matter what I did he didn't get it.  Today after a few minutes it finally clicked and he has been happily announcing the time every 15-20 minutes since then. 

Life is great when it all comes together.

Oh and on the weekend we went to Trafalgar square to see the Diwali celebrations but that's for another post

Click on the file for this week's home ed.

home-education-bulletin-oct29-nov2.pdf

I mean not now, it was yesterday that this ocurred.  But it was really. .  . hmmm. . ."upsetting".

Remember me talking about the payment plans?  Well, Jackson lost a couple of days (or so) of tv in one fell swoop.  Why?  Because he got mad at me.  So?  Well, he decided to take out his anger. . .

He took Tealc's school work (after Tealc spent a good deal of time and effort on it), and cut it up!  (This apparently ocurred whilst I was downstairs making lunch.)

This was infuriating to me, not the least of which because it was a "keepsake" page.

Tealc actually took it okay.  I mean after the first saddened squeal had susbsided.  He's a bit of a perfectionist, and it hadn't quite been up to his standards.  He was immensley relieved that he would now have another opportunity to attempt his form of perfection.

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Then, Jackson had another fit later on. . . Started screaming that he wasn't "part of this family".  Ggggrrr!  I told him he was indeed part of this family and stuck with us.

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This morning he keeps coming in and giving me hugs.

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I have to tell you, with this teaching on 3 different levels I'm still trying to get some sort of schedule worked out.  Carter informed me this week that he actually needs me to help him with some things.

For the record, I all ready knew that.  However, Carter is a bit "stubborn". (Snort!  *Gasp* HA! heehee That's a major understatement!!!!)  And it's one of those "you can lead a horse to water. . ." dealies.

Anyway, the fact that Carter owned up to it suggests that he's willing accept my help.  That means I need to somehow get him into my "teaching" schedule.

It also means I'm going to have to come up with some techniques to deal with him when he gets that mightier than thou attitude of his. . .

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The kittens are currently tackling my feet.  Right now, they remind me of toddlers.  I am constantly having to take things out of their mouth.  Telling them "no".  (as in "No, don't chew the electrical cord."  and "No, get off the table." and "No, we don't scratch the furniture.")

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Oh, I am being called upon as Mrs. Mechanic and have to fix one of the boys' toys.  I need to get to that so I can get my morning chores done in peace, then start school.

The kids are still in Holiday mode, I can't get anyone to do anything.

All the boys will do is xbox, I can't even grasp some far out concept of how this is educational, I might of come up with some imaginary argument a few years ago now it is old and boring.

I can only get Logan to read at her leisure.  This is great,but, her and Erik have a list a mile long of catch up work for GCSE's.  After a mini argument with Logan where I once again got the " Well when am I going to use this in life" I answered back

" I don't care if you never use it but I want you to do it, remember it, pass a test on it and get into college, Got it!! "

She still hasn't picked up Macbeth though.

I am feeling deflated at the moment and worry that they will aspire to nothing and end up working in McDonald or something worse.

 I need to talk to someone who can say " yes I feel the same way" but at group no one ever says anything bad it is always rosy.  I wouldn't put them into school but I need a plan to get them motivated again.

I think this is all stemming from Will and his inability to sleep nice and almost still at the moment. He has never had his own bed and I have happily fed and  him held him to sleep.   He self weaned awhile ago and now I want him to get the hint he needs to sleep in his own bed.

I spend the night with him wrapped around my neck.  That or lying across my belly.

Will is having a great comfy sleep every night, so he tells me every morning.

At least one of us is

Oh, but first. . . 8 MORE DAYS!

The boys are on a "payment plan".  Much to their dismay.  It's for attitudes that I've been getting recently.  (Sure sign that it's a good thing this deployment is ending soon.)

Tealc pays me cars.  I've now a whole collection of hot wheels that I can play with whenever I wish.  He has to pay me a car whenever he says, "I hate you!  You're stupid!  You're dumb!"  (usually because I'm not letting him do something he wishes to do).  He has to pay me 5 cars whenever he's caught going into an older brother's room without permission (he swipes things).

Jackson pays me in tv time.  I get a day for everytime he swats or screams at me.

Now, Tealc has been on his plan for about 3 weeks now; Jackson, just started.  Because they are younger they can "earn" back.  So, everyday that Tealc goes without sceaming nastiness at me, and doesn't got into an older brothers room he gets another car returned.  At this point, with him, I'm returning more than I'm "earning".  I have to say, I like that.

Jackson, as I said, just started 2 days ago.  I'm still "earning".

Oneill is on the plan too.  That child is forever telling me how to parent, or attempting to parent the younger two himself.  It's an innitiative I have no desire to encourage, and it is extremely un-helpful.  In fact, it is very destructive.  His payment plan is $1.00 for each time he chooses to behave in this manner.  (He doesn't get to earn it back.)

Now, the day before I started his plan, I counted his infractions and determined I could easily make over $25 in a day.  I was thinking that's a great payment plan!  Sadly, that kid is not a dummy and I've only recieved $6.  It's been 4 weeks for him!  Bummer.

Carter is not on the payment plan; he just gets grounded.  Of course, there are days when I think a day at a military boot camp would be an excellent payment (with 3 drill sergeants, and he as the only trainee). . .

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Some Halloween/fall time fun:

http://www.coasttocoastam.com/timages/page/pumpkin_sim.html

carve your own pumpkin without the mess.

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This is a 40 minute clip that I haven't really had a chance to watch (I've seen the first 5-10 minutes).  I am adding it here to remind me to watch it after the General returns.  You, of course, may watch it earlier.

I think it may have something go along with a discussion on mastery vs. testing. . . which has been appearing on a lot of homeschool groups.  (I mean, I realize it has more than that. . . it's just a note to remind myself of "thoughts".)

I think it would be interesting to let the older two watch it as well.

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I get a word count as I'm typing this.  I avg. 500 words.  I read a thing long ago that was saying to be a popular blog you should be short and sweet.  Well, guess that would explain the lack of popularity.  (But, to be honest, the "big" blogs that I have chanced upon; tend to be very wordy, so that makes little sense to me.)

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Hmmm, had something else to say, but it left me.  I may as well get moving.  It's a nasty, rainy, cold, drizzly, kind of day.  Perfect for staying inside and getting some much needed work done.  And I've only got 8 MORE DAYS!

After just under a year being in my school, I face a conundrum – will I always have some refer to me as a teacher with a “sweet gig,” or will they learn to value what teacher librarians do within the day. It seems to be the fate of all teachers who do something different, whether it is being a technology teacher or being a teacher librarian that we are no longer regarded as the same as other teachers. (Please understand that I realize that not all teachers feel this way, and I really value the relationships with other teachers that I have formed over the past 10 months. This blog is exactly what I claim it to be…an internal monologue of thought.)

Although I do not have a classroom of my own, I love teaching in the library. Yes, my job is still that of a teacher, and no, I don’t have the same responsibilities (like marking loads) that others do, but I still feel that it is my professional responsibility to continue my daily work outside of the hours of 9:00 to 3:30. Sometimes I wish that I was in a classroom, and only dealt with the “regular responsibilities” of other teachers. Do others who also have a “sweet gig” face this in their schools, or is it just another example of how the grass is always greener on the other side?

In my position as teacher librarian, I have the opportunity to teach not just five classes a semester, but potentially all of the classes in the school (well, maybe not the gym classes, but you never know!) Although I do not have a prep to call my own, I have the ability to meet with any teacher at any time to be able to collaborate on units, lessons, or as I often find, just to bounce ideas off one another. For example, the drama teacher came down a few weeks ago, and I was talking to her about a really cool science assignment that one of our teachers does using GarageBand. After expressing interest in the project, we applied the same technology to her class, Drama 9. Instead of using the old, cumbersome tape recorders to have the students create radio plays, where everything has to be done in order, (for example you could never go back and fix something without affecting the rest of the tape) we collaborated together to create a new assignment. The students would learn to use GarageBand for their radio plays, incorporating all of the elements of the old assignment (like having to create original sound effects) but also adding to it, and improving quality and productivity. After an introduction by the drama teacher to their new assignment, the students came down to the library for instruction on how to use the software programme specific to their assignment. After receiving instruction, the students started their radio plays using the editing rooms in the library. Both the drama teacher and I were there to help answer questions, and in my case especially, get those darn microphones working! Not only did we improve upon an assignment, we incorporated some pretty neat technology. In addition, the project increased student responsibility (always a good thing!) They became responsible for their behaviour in the library editing rooms (somewhat different than what it would be in a drama class,) booking the editing rooms with our library staff, and coordinating among themselves when they would work on the projects.

After all of this, perhaps I need to start regarding what I do as a “sweet gig” and not just “my teaching job.” Perhaps, as I do, others are just experiencing the “grass is always greener” syndrome. In conclusion, I love my job, my sweet gig, and the limbo of always learning that it provides. I am always learning; about new technology, new resources, new ways to collaborate with others, and of course, about the students whom we help to achieve academic success.

Count down that is?

YES!  The General is due home in 10 wake-ups. 

Egads!  That's not near enough time!  Do you realize what needs to happen in that time????  Well, trust me, it's LOTS!

I'm feeling the need to bake cookies. . .

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There are 3 things I missed most (missed a lot, but I'm only listing the most) while he was away. . .I can't quite figure the order though, as some times I would prefer one thing to another.

Therefore, in no particular order:

• his hugs
• his conversation
• his energy

Honorable mention goes to his laugh lines.  Yep, I really miss seeing those.  They truly help to remind me how good life is, and how I should not be so stuffy and uptight.

Makes you wonder what he missed most about me???  (certainly not my cranky attitude. . .poor man, I shared that long distance!  Although, I will say, it's terribly easy to share crankiness long-distance; but, not near as easy to share the love.)

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There are also a number of things that I have learned to appreciate that he does and to be honest I have probably never given him enough credit or recognition for it.  Again, I have a threesome:

• his energy -- to play with the kids even after his workday
• yardwork
• er, yardwork  (I know, this seems like a blow-off. . .but, I truly didn't realize how much he does in the yard!)

He's also my "mechanic" and "home repair dude"; but thankfully, he took care of all that before he left and the car and house basically behaved themselves while he was gone.

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That's it for my lists today.   I'm sure I have others, but I've got 10 wake-ups to spell them out!

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There was a radio report today that caught my attention.  It was saying that if you were a consumer of bottled water (as in you only drank bottled water), and got all of the recommended 64 oz. per day that you would spend $1500 / year!!!  Can you imagine?

Well, I couldn't, and I heard this report on the way to the commissary (grocery store), so I did a look-see there.  I can buy a 1 gal. jug of water for $0.90.  That would serve 2 people in a day, and there's 6 in my family.  Total that it comes to $985.5 / year.

I don't buy water, but I still like those savings.  : )

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Big news:  Carter, our teen who refuses to shave, was inspired this weekend.

No, he didn't shave, but he did get a haircut.  He asked me to cut it 1/2 inch.  That, I did, while informing him that his sideburns would now be longer than his hair.  Apparently this didn't sit well with him, so he borrowed the clippers and cut them down.

I'll take any small victory I can get!

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Oneill is working with me on his history.  I figured out a way to kill two birds with one stone so to speak.

I need to create a history program / schedule for the younger two.  Also, Oneill needs to have an overview of American History, which we haven't done.  So, he is working (with my direction) on finding things to use to create the younger twos American History program.  This is fantastic!  He's doing research on the computer, timeline work, map work, reading, etc. (Of course, he's doing this at a much faster pace than they will be.)

He is also learning how things "tie" in, instead of just learning "In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue," as an example.  Learning about the different boats, the navigation advancements, etc.

And, much to his extreme dismay, he is learning how much effort I've been putting forth to create his history programs / schedules in the past.

It would be nice if he could find it in himself to appreciate that work.

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It is due to rain.  In fact, it's calling for almost a solid week of it.  Right now the skies look heavy, but the rain isn't coming down so I have Jackson and Tealc outside playing.  It means we haven't done school today. . .but, I don't see that being a problem much longer, and I think they should enjoy the outside while they can.

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Remember me saying there's LOTS to be done?  Yep, guess I had better get to it.

I went blog surfing the last few days and saw many beautiful things. When I was really moved I left a comment. I guess I should have left a lot more, but I find it hard to drop a note if I'm not really, truly moved to do so. I struggle with small talk quite a bit too, ( but not loong talk on a topic I'm passionate about!!!).

Anyway, then today I read this in Ayat Jamilah: Beautiful Signs. It's a kind of children's equivalent to The Way of the Sufi.

'The human race is created from the one source. If one man feels pain, the others, from the same source, cannot be indifferent in it'

On my blogland travels I saw much pain, much joy, much hope - and strength in knowing our differences. I liked one lady's blog on her being herself in her space; because we cannot be other than we are. I did wonder how I would deal with the same kind of issue. It seems slightly less socially acceptable these days to talk about beliefs. Maybe it was never.

Tiger is reading more and more, but tires very quickly and gets frustrated. It is interesting to see his process. Frog keeps finishing words off for him as he sounds them out. Really quite funny. That bit hasn't yet annoyed Tiger, (would drive me craaazy). I think he quite likes it tbh. What has also amazed me is Frog's confidence at guessing words and his total indifference as to whether or not he gets it right, ( which it normally is anyway). This is in contrast to Tiger who is reading a word by sight, and then going back to sound it out and check if it is what he first read. That must be pretty tiring!

We had an eid party at the weekend and a dinner party too. Have had a couple of birthday surprises and pretty cards, both online and by mail. Boys went to work with their Daddy so we girls could have a trip out too. Clay working, crayoning, sticker making and stamping. Plenty of friends, food and visits in general. I love this time of year, but more hesitant about heading into the depths of Winter. Thank you God for heating.

Hoping to go train riding tomorrow to visit a friend with new baby. Am also intending to do an encyclopedia of me thing. Cos I like to be a bit out of fashion, ie: late ,P

And loooook who has a new arrival too! CONGRATULATIONS SALLY AND CO.