I can't seem to post regularly. I think only my immediate family cares, but I like to keep everyone happy. We're are having a great time right now - knee deep in longitude clues (My 9yo: "This is so cool!"), Archimedes, and reviewing declensions (My 9yo: "First declension, woo-hoo!") They make me feel like I'm doing a good job.
I'm rereading "Dumbing Us Down" and it's making more of an impression now than it did a few years ago. I hyper homeschooled my daughter and she's very bright. No problem. I did (do) very, very little in the way of formal lessons with my son and he's turning out to be rather bright too. Interesting. He's picked up reading with only a few pauses along the way and he's teaching himself arithmetic. He also knows more about the natural world at age 5 than I did at 25. So this statement was particularly interesting to me:
When children are given whole lives instead of age-graded ones in cellblocks, they learn to read, write, and do arithmetic with ease, if those things make sense in the kind of life that unfolds around them.
And that's the challenge and greatest joy of homeschooling, isn't it? Creating that life that unfolds around them.
I don't agree with Gatto wholeheartedly on public/private schools (my experience just wasn't as bad as he describes) and I also don't know if his concept of community even exists anymore or can exist anymore. But it's all been interesting to revisit a few years into our education.
Unrelated: I finished up my second Chloe last weekend. A solid spring cardigan with a crocheted scalloped edge which I love, love, love and I'm tickled pink that I managed crocheted anything. Anyway, I have a full skein of leftover Cascade Sierra in Jasmine (pink) - 191 yards of worsted weight yarn. If you have a use for that particular yarn, leave me a note in the comments. I will send it along to the first person who claims it.
Regan was the quickest to claim the yarn! Thanks for the comments!
isn't crocheting lace fun!
and it's not so hard!
i love what you said about homeschooling.
so true.
i do wish my little one would sit "still" a bit more so we can get our reading lessons done. but i swore i was not going to push it. at least until he turns 6 which will be next month.
hmmm...i think i'd like that skein of yarn.
Posted by: regan | March 24, 2010 at 10:04 AM
Beautiful!
Crocheting is a hard one for me. Charlotte had to come down and show me how to do the hats.
I like what Gatto says. I try not to push the reading thing and it's nice to see it come together naturally for the child. My middle dd read at age 4; my last dd has no interest yet. She's content to be read to.
Posted by: KC | March 24, 2010 at 11:26 AM
I would love to knit my baby neice ahat out of that yarn. IT is so lovely.
Posted by: Carrie Blackwell | March 24, 2010 at 12:02 PM
I love that cardigan ... and the cushion ... and the chair!
Gatto's ideas really resonanted with me because I'm drawn to unschooling but was put off by the extreme philosophy of John Holt. I think in the end it comes down to serving each particular child's needs. One cheers over declensions, the other can't sit still for a reading lesson but then picks up reading on his own. Whatever works for particular children at particular times and phases is the best - and thank God with homeschooling we can do this.
Posted by: sarah | March 24, 2010 at 12:10 PM
Please don't enter my name for the give away...yarn sits way to long at my house :)
You picture of the pillow reminded me to do a post thanking you for the fabric scraps that you mailed me months ago! Thanks so much
http://webstersplace.typepad.com/onmymind/2010/03/shared-scraps.html
Posted by: Marcia | March 24, 2010 at 12:25 PM
Very cute cardigan. I'm not family, but I'm always happy to see a post from you!
Posted by: Caroline | March 24, 2010 at 12:26 PM
Beautiful sweater Jenn! You are amazing. I think I'll be done with mine in about six months. :)
My eldest would benefit greatly from a little hyper-homeschooling. :)
Posted by: Kristen Laurence | March 24, 2010 at 01:36 PM
Cute sweater. And I adore that patchwork pillow.
Posted by: MelanieB | March 24, 2010 at 02:44 PM
Cute cardi. :)
Posted by: 12ontheinside | March 24, 2010 at 03:35 PM
Haha, I can't ever post regularly either =) But I do love it whenever you post. I really like that cardigan too. May have to make one, although, by the time I finish it might be too hot for me to wear it.
Posted by: Elisa | March 24, 2010 at 05:12 PM
i have been so negligent with my blog.
I would knit my daughter either a hat, or shrug... oh man. you have the best stash!
Posted by: Jordin | March 24, 2010 at 07:57 PM
I miss cascade yarn and all cheap alternatives to Rowan!! The sweater looks so pretty. You made me so wistful over homeschooling but I do have to say that school hasn't been so bad for us either. We will see what tune I am singing next year.
Posted by: Chrissie | March 25, 2010 at 12:12 AM
Your new Chloe is so pretty. I think I prefer it in a solid color rather than stripes. I'm thinking about another one for in a Srping-y color. I still need to get a button on the dark red one I made recently.
Posted by: Carmen | March 25, 2010 at 06:16 AM
Great sweater. I'm just about to embark on a year of homeschooling (6yo and 3yo) and am both excited and nervous. Any tips for a novice?
Posted by: josie | April 14, 2010 at 03:05 PM