Saw this article today in a nursing home industry news letter: A kindergarten everyone should attend.
The author is amazed at how well both the children and the residents do when the two generations spend so much time together. Hmm. Sounds familiar. Sounds like something we've been saying for years. (That's the collective "we" the homeschool fanatics.)
Maybe the crazy idea of not isolating children only with other kids of the same age will catch on.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Feeling Better already
Notice I haven't been posting much lately? I've been so busy, running hither and yon. We went to Homeschool Day at Six Flags (great fun!) and spent a day out of state with the in laws. Work has been busy and we've been trying to get ready for vacation (starting Saturday morning!). Plus the Girl Scout season has started up and that's been busy. Oh, and 5th grade started of course!
Well, yesterday was my biggest day of all. I had to drive three and a half hours, spend time at a trade show booth, give a presentation, attend a social function, and finally collapsed into bed at 10 pm. Ten is the earliest I think I've gone to bed in months. When I finally got to my hotel room I was so tired (and had maybe one more appletini than I should have - just enough to make me really tired), I just crawled into bed.
It was my first presentation before a live professional audience in more than 5 years. I've done audioconferences, where they can't see me reading my notes as I go. I've done training sessions and reports to Girl Scout leaders. That's not quite the same either. I had a last minute co-speaker (my original co-speaker, actually I was to be her co-speaker, resigned from our firm). But I had written the session and gave most of it. (I was so glad to have the co-speaker though because she was most familiar with the section I was least familiar with.)
There was a slight panic attack before the session started when I couldn't figure out where to get my computer plugged in. My poor co-speaker started running off to get hers from her hotel room. Luckily we figured it out and caught her before she'd gone too far. I'm lucky she didn't kill me, but I had warned her I wanted to get there early to figure it out. I haven't spoken since before the days of hooking up your own computer to their equipment.
Anyway, our session was packed. It went well. Kind of bummed that we had no questions to fill our time allotted for questions and we ended early. The attendees didn't seem to mind. Hopefully the association sponsoring this won't mind. Don't know when we will get our evaluation summary...
But that doesn't matter, because now I'm all but on vacation! In a few minutes I'll head down to the breakfast buffet and hopefully meet a few co-workers there. I'll need to check out of my room - I'm heading home tonight! I want to attend a session later this morning, I have to work the trade show over lunch (I'll still get my oh so yummy box lunch though provided by the conference), and I'm sitting in a round table discussion but in the audience not in panel (my boss is in the panel and has asked a few of us to be there in case any questions come up that she's unfamiliar with). Then I drive back home.
Compared to yesterday, today is a cake walk!
Well, yesterday was my biggest day of all. I had to drive three and a half hours, spend time at a trade show booth, give a presentation, attend a social function, and finally collapsed into bed at 10 pm. Ten is the earliest I think I've gone to bed in months. When I finally got to my hotel room I was so tired (and had maybe one more appletini than I should have - just enough to make me really tired), I just crawled into bed.
It was my first presentation before a live professional audience in more than 5 years. I've done audioconferences, where they can't see me reading my notes as I go. I've done training sessions and reports to Girl Scout leaders. That's not quite the same either. I had a last minute co-speaker (my original co-speaker, actually I was to be her co-speaker, resigned from our firm). But I had written the session and gave most of it. (I was so glad to have the co-speaker though because she was most familiar with the section I was least familiar with.)
There was a slight panic attack before the session started when I couldn't figure out where to get my computer plugged in. My poor co-speaker started running off to get hers from her hotel room. Luckily we figured it out and caught her before she'd gone too far. I'm lucky she didn't kill me, but I had warned her I wanted to get there early to figure it out. I haven't spoken since before the days of hooking up your own computer to their equipment.
Anyway, our session was packed. It went well. Kind of bummed that we had no questions to fill our time allotted for questions and we ended early. The attendees didn't seem to mind. Hopefully the association sponsoring this won't mind. Don't know when we will get our evaluation summary...
But that doesn't matter, because now I'm all but on vacation! In a few minutes I'll head down to the breakfast buffet and hopefully meet a few co-workers there. I'll need to check out of my room - I'm heading home tonight! I want to attend a session later this morning, I have to work the trade show over lunch (I'll still get my oh so yummy box lunch though provided by the conference), and I'm sitting in a round table discussion but in the audience not in panel (my boss is in the panel and has asked a few of us to be there in case any questions come up that she's unfamiliar with). Then I drive back home.
Compared to yesterday, today is a cake walk!
Saturday, September 5, 2009
8 things that have happened recently
So much to tell you, so little time to blog. Don't you hate it when responsibilities get in the way of your internet life? I sure do!
1. I bought a new outfit for my presentation in a couple of weeks. What do you think?
2. We had a possum on our deck the other night. He was in the corner birdfeeder. We couldn't figure out why one of our cats was glued to the deck door. We turned on the light and there he was. Haven't seen him again, but we are kind of hoping we do.
3. School got off to a pretty good start this week. Violet isn't too sure about this working on her own from her list. But I keep telling her it will get easier. I was helping her more at the end of the week. I assured her there are a lot of adults who couldn't take a to do list and have it all done by the deadline without any interference from anyone else. I work with a bunch of people like that. She's going to be so far ahead of the game when she gets to college if she masters this.
4. If you come to our house and we cook out, you might want to pass on the turkey burgers. We were cooking some on the grill tonight (or rather Mr. Incredible was, I was playing a game with Violet). First we ran out of gas in the tank and he had to microwave them to finish them. Then while we ate some in the other room, one of the cats (the possum spotter) jumped up on the counter and licked them! I'd recommend ordering a pizza.
5. I bought my first pair of shoes from Zappos. Man, is that the coolest sight ever or what! I bought a pair of plain, white, comfy Keds for walking. Got them a couple of days later. No shipping charges. And if they hadn't fit (which they did) free shipping back. I love them. I told Mr. I to put a parental supervision lock on that sight on my laptop.
6. Speaking of Mr. I. we celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary this past week. Yep, 20 years he's put up with me. We didn't do anything since we are going on a trip in a couple of weeks and that is our present and celebration. But he did go out to the barber during the day and stopped at the store to bring me back flowers. And I had a Girl Scout service team meeting at an ice cream shop that night and brought him back a piece of apple pie.
7. At 5:00 am this morning, someone set off fireworks in our neighborhood. We actually heard them first in the front, then in the back, then in the front again. 2 people (groups? families?) setting them off at about the same time in the very early morning? I have no idea why.
8. Anyone remember when I was on the Girl Scout day camp committee a few years ago? I worked way too hard. Violet hated camp. We both vowed never again. Well, we've kept our word. But now we have a new Service Unit Manager and she has a very good idea. She is right that in the past the committee has been dysfunctional to put it very mildly. No punches have ever been thrown. No charges ever filed. But it came close a few times. She is calling a meeting of everyone who has been involved to air all the dirty laundry and come up with a good plan to move forward with. Long overdue and very brave of her. Not something I have any interest in being a part of. I've finally forgotten most of it. Luckily, she set up the meeting while I'm at the convention. Oh darn. Tee hee. I am going to send her a couple of notes on things I can still remember.
I'm sure there's more that I've forgotten to tell you, but that's what I can remember right now. Have a good remainder of the holiday weekend!
1. I bought a new outfit for my presentation in a couple of weeks. What do you think?
2. We had a possum on our deck the other night. He was in the corner birdfeeder. We couldn't figure out why one of our cats was glued to the deck door. We turned on the light and there he was. Haven't seen him again, but we are kind of hoping we do.
3. School got off to a pretty good start this week. Violet isn't too sure about this working on her own from her list. But I keep telling her it will get easier. I was helping her more at the end of the week. I assured her there are a lot of adults who couldn't take a to do list and have it all done by the deadline without any interference from anyone else. I work with a bunch of people like that. She's going to be so far ahead of the game when she gets to college if she masters this.
4. If you come to our house and we cook out, you might want to pass on the turkey burgers. We were cooking some on the grill tonight (or rather Mr. Incredible was, I was playing a game with Violet). First we ran out of gas in the tank and he had to microwave them to finish them. Then while we ate some in the other room, one of the cats (the possum spotter) jumped up on the counter and licked them! I'd recommend ordering a pizza.
5. I bought my first pair of shoes from Zappos. Man, is that the coolest sight ever or what! I bought a pair of plain, white, comfy Keds for walking. Got them a couple of days later. No shipping charges. And if they hadn't fit (which they did) free shipping back. I love them. I told Mr. I to put a parental supervision lock on that sight on my laptop.
6. Speaking of Mr. I. we celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary this past week. Yep, 20 years he's put up with me. We didn't do anything since we are going on a trip in a couple of weeks and that is our present and celebration. But he did go out to the barber during the day and stopped at the store to bring me back flowers. And I had a Girl Scout service team meeting at an ice cream shop that night and brought him back a piece of apple pie.
7. At 5:00 am this morning, someone set off fireworks in our neighborhood. We actually heard them first in the front, then in the back, then in the front again. 2 people (groups? families?) setting them off at about the same time in the very early morning? I have no idea why.
8. Anyone remember when I was on the Girl Scout day camp committee a few years ago? I worked way too hard. Violet hated camp. We both vowed never again. Well, we've kept our word. But now we have a new Service Unit Manager and she has a very good idea. She is right that in the past the committee has been dysfunctional to put it very mildly. No punches have ever been thrown. No charges ever filed. But it came close a few times. She is calling a meeting of everyone who has been involved to air all the dirty laundry and come up with a good plan to move forward with. Long overdue and very brave of her. Not something I have any interest in being a part of. I've finally forgotten most of it. Luckily, she set up the meeting while I'm at the convention. Oh darn. Tee hee. I am going to send her a couple of notes on things I can still remember.
I'm sure there's more that I've forgotten to tell you, but that's what I can remember right now. Have a good remainder of the holiday weekend!
Monday, August 31, 2009
First Day
We weren't going to start school until after Labor Day. We had decided that before we realized how late Labor Day is this year. I was going to stick to that. I made a promise. I don't like to go back on things school related.
Then today Violet was bored out of her gourd. She drove me crazy. Which wasn't hard to do because I feel downright awful today. I've been having stomach pains, I'm achy and I'm tired. Could be the flu. Could be bad shrimp fried rice at the outlet mall on Saturday. Could be allergies, mold counts have been through the roof. Or could be fatigue.
Anyway, I ended up yelling at her this afternoon. Felt bad about that. We sat and read outloud later. That's what we always do when we get mad at each other. Cool off, then read together. On the drive to swim lessons I suggested we start school tomorrow, September 1st, instead of waiting. She agreed. That's how bored she was.
I told her it made sense that she was bored. She'd been off since before Memorial Day. Her best friend, Red went back 2 weeks ago and hasn't been around to play. The weather really cooled off so we're taking the pool down early (that and it turned green and we couldn't clear the darned thing up again). I promised a light week to start with.
So when we got home I made up her school list for the rest of the week. Instead of math books her math assignment this week is to do the Math Whiz Badge. Next week she can do the Puzzlers Badge. I didn't think we needed to start out crazy.
Cutting this short to get to bed. First I'm going to have a bowl of Cheerios. That sounds good to my stomach. Normally I'd have a glass of wine and some sort of nuts (honey roasted peanuts are my favorite, but cashews and mixed nuts are always good, also a cajun flavored trail mix - yum!) But tonight my stomach says plain and simple.
I hope I'm feeling better tomorrow. I hate plain and simple. I want my late night snackies.
Then today Violet was bored out of her gourd. She drove me crazy. Which wasn't hard to do because I feel downright awful today. I've been having stomach pains, I'm achy and I'm tired. Could be the flu. Could be bad shrimp fried rice at the outlet mall on Saturday. Could be allergies, mold counts have been through the roof. Or could be fatigue.
Anyway, I ended up yelling at her this afternoon. Felt bad about that. We sat and read outloud later. That's what we always do when we get mad at each other. Cool off, then read together. On the drive to swim lessons I suggested we start school tomorrow, September 1st, instead of waiting. She agreed. That's how bored she was.
I told her it made sense that she was bored. She'd been off since before Memorial Day. Her best friend, Red went back 2 weeks ago and hasn't been around to play. The weather really cooled off so we're taking the pool down early (that and it turned green and we couldn't clear the darned thing up again). I promised a light week to start with.
So when we got home I made up her school list for the rest of the week. Instead of math books her math assignment this week is to do the Math Whiz Badge. Next week she can do the Puzzlers Badge. I didn't think we needed to start out crazy.
Cutting this short to get to bed. First I'm going to have a bowl of Cheerios. That sounds good to my stomach. Normally I'd have a glass of wine and some sort of nuts (honey roasted peanuts are my favorite, but cashews and mixed nuts are always good, also a cajun flavored trail mix - yum!) But tonight my stomach says plain and simple.
I hope I'm feeling better tomorrow. I hate plain and simple. I want my late night snackies.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Not as crabby
I'm better tonight. A few things have worked themselves out.
I forgot to tell you what I did at the Girl Scout dinner the other night. It was kind of cool. Remember Camp Icky and all the problems we had there? Well, at my table was a teenaged girl who'd been to that camp too. I asked if the camp director had gone around in flip flops while she was there. The girl hadn't noticed actually. But who was seated at my table and got to hear some of my stories about the poorly run camp at the Council we're merging with? Our long time Director of Programming. Who happens to have had started out as a camp director way back when. Now, her job is up in the air along with everyone else's there, but I'd say she was a pretty darned good person to have heard about it. Plus she likes me. I've put together a couple of badge workshops in a box for them.
Too bad the new CEO wasn't at my table too.
By the way, the other girl didn't care for camp either, but it sounded like she just didn't like resident camp all that much. She did do the rappelling wall while she was there. I told her I was impressed. I didn't even try.
So, people are still being morons, but I'm working behind the scenes to change things as always. I didn't actually kill any morons today, but I'm making no promises about tomorrow.
I forgot to tell you what I did at the Girl Scout dinner the other night. It was kind of cool. Remember Camp Icky and all the problems we had there? Well, at my table was a teenaged girl who'd been to that camp too. I asked if the camp director had gone around in flip flops while she was there. The girl hadn't noticed actually. But who was seated at my table and got to hear some of my stories about the poorly run camp at the Council we're merging with? Our long time Director of Programming. Who happens to have had started out as a camp director way back when. Now, her job is up in the air along with everyone else's there, but I'd say she was a pretty darned good person to have heard about it. Plus she likes me. I've put together a couple of badge workshops in a box for them.
Too bad the new CEO wasn't at my table too.
By the way, the other girl didn't care for camp either, but it sounded like she just didn't like resident camp all that much. She did do the rappelling wall while she was there. I told her I was impressed. I didn't even try.
So, people are still being morons, but I'm working behind the scenes to change things as always. I didn't actually kill any morons today, but I'm making no promises about tomorrow.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Crabby
That is the only word that can be used to describe my mood today. Crabby. It isn't my fault. People are being especially annoying lately. And previously normal people have morphed into morons.
Last night was the training dinner for Girl Scout's Fall Product Sale (you know the one where I'll be hitting you all up for e-mail and snail mail addresses to get the magazine pitch sent to - the one where Violet earns patches for e-mails and mailings sent, in addition to sales). I was asked to arrive at 6, the dinner started at 7. I was to help set up. Fine. I'm looking at this year as my swan song in Girl Scout volunteering. The last year of anything major as a volunteer. Why not?
I get there at 6, everything is already set up. There is nothing to do for an hour. I stood around talking to one of the program specialists at council and got a bunch of great leads on where to rent kayaks and take lessons. (She says I don't need to bother with lessons if I'm experienced in a canoe.) Great info. Nice gal to talk to, really fun person. Worth getting there an hour early? Probably not. I think she's saying the same thing about me. Why were we there so early? We could have been home with our families.
Dinner is nice, it is a nice restaurant. Oh and I got to meet the new CEO of the realigned council. Seems nice enough, but I don't trust her. Not yet.
After dinner the guy from the magazine, candy/nut company does his thing. He covers everything I'm supposed to later in the evening. I get cut from the program. I'm not a Fall Product Chair person. The only sales I'll be involved in are Violet's. I don't need to be there. Three hours later, I'm home. The only good thing was that I snagged some magazines they had there. Not the current issues, but ones I didn't have and want to read. But, I could have gotten them at the library.
Can you say crabby?
I won't go into all the ways my family has been annoying me lately. You know how families are. Underfoot, in the way and doing it all wrong!
I keep feeling like I am going in circles with things because people are morons and can't figure it out the first time. It was rainy and dreary all day.
Another example: Violet wanted to do a science kit today. I told her to go pick one out (we have a small stockpile). I must remember to read the instructions first. We used most of the eggs in the house and ended up making brownies after one cracked prematurely in the experiment. I figured I could use the chocolate, the egg was perfectly good, just not for the experiment. Yes, next time I must read the instructions before signing on.
Yes, I'm crabby. Maybe a glass of wine and a good night's sleep will help. Maybe I'll go moron hunting in the morning.
Or maybe I should just go out and rent a kayak tomorrow afternoon and paddle my cares away.
Last night was the training dinner for Girl Scout's Fall Product Sale (you know the one where I'll be hitting you all up for e-mail and snail mail addresses to get the magazine pitch sent to - the one where Violet earns patches for e-mails and mailings sent, in addition to sales). I was asked to arrive at 6, the dinner started at 7. I was to help set up. Fine. I'm looking at this year as my swan song in Girl Scout volunteering. The last year of anything major as a volunteer. Why not?
I get there at 6, everything is already set up. There is nothing to do for an hour. I stood around talking to one of the program specialists at council and got a bunch of great leads on where to rent kayaks and take lessons. (She says I don't need to bother with lessons if I'm experienced in a canoe.) Great info. Nice gal to talk to, really fun person. Worth getting there an hour early? Probably not. I think she's saying the same thing about me. Why were we there so early? We could have been home with our families.
Dinner is nice, it is a nice restaurant. Oh and I got to meet the new CEO of the realigned council. Seems nice enough, but I don't trust her. Not yet.
After dinner the guy from the magazine, candy/nut company does his thing. He covers everything I'm supposed to later in the evening. I get cut from the program. I'm not a Fall Product Chair person. The only sales I'll be involved in are Violet's. I don't need to be there. Three hours later, I'm home. The only good thing was that I snagged some magazines they had there. Not the current issues, but ones I didn't have and want to read. But, I could have gotten them at the library.
Can you say crabby?
I won't go into all the ways my family has been annoying me lately. You know how families are. Underfoot, in the way and doing it all wrong!
I keep feeling like I am going in circles with things because people are morons and can't figure it out the first time. It was rainy and dreary all day.
Another example: Violet wanted to do a science kit today. I told her to go pick one out (we have a small stockpile). I must remember to read the instructions first. We used most of the eggs in the house and ended up making brownies after one cracked prematurely in the experiment. I figured I could use the chocolate, the egg was perfectly good, just not for the experiment. Yes, next time I must read the instructions before signing on.
Yes, I'm crabby. Maybe a glass of wine and a good night's sleep will help. Maybe I'll go moron hunting in the morning.
Or maybe I should just go out and rent a kayak tomorrow afternoon and paddle my cares away.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Planning 5th Grade
We'll be starting school in just a few short weeks (and sneaking in some learning between now and then) so it was time this weekend to get planning.
First our subjects are divided into "core classes" and "enhancement classes" (title groupings lovingly stolen from Wendy).
Core classes:
Each Sunday Violet will be given the week's list of work. She can schedule it however she'd like (except of course things outside our control like swim lessons). She'll have until the following Saturday to complete it. She'll have a set amount of core classes to complete (x pages of math, y chapters in history, etc.) and a suggested amount of enhancement work (for example, pick 3 of the following 5 activities).
Most stuff we'll work together on still, leaning towards more independent work. Magic Tree House studies will be more independent. She'll read the books on her own, Mr. I or I will help her choose a project (art project, writing assignment, science experiment, etc.) and she will do it as independently as possible. For the book about volcanoes (Vacation Under the Volcano) she's already said she wants to build a volcano since she hasn't done that in a long time.
I'm pretty excited about the new school year. I think it will be a good one. We have a lot planned, but not so overwhelmingly much like I've tried to do in the past. I think the lean towards independence will be a good one.
First our subjects are divided into "core classes" and "enhancement classes" (title groupings lovingly stolen from Wendy).
Core classes:
- Math - Key to series
- Science - Young Scientist Kits, and various other books
- Grammar - Editor in Chief
- Writing Assignments that we make up
- Literature - reading on her own and out loud, plus Novel Thinking Charlotte's Web and Reading Detective
- Spelling - to be determined, probably just with the writing assignments
- Building Thinking Skills
- A History of US
- Magic Tree House studies (made up by us, she reads the book, the research guide, another book on the subject, then does a project of her choosing)
- Latin - Latin Minimus, followed by Secondus
- Cooking and other life skills
- Art - various art projects and studies of artists
- Music - listening to music and studies of composers
- Girl Scout badges, etc.
- Which Way USA books - since we still have some lying around
- PE - swim lessons and other
- Camera Skills - she and Mr. I. plan to study their cameras and the instruction manuals and learn lots of cool things about photography
Each Sunday Violet will be given the week's list of work. She can schedule it however she'd like (except of course things outside our control like swim lessons). She'll have until the following Saturday to complete it. She'll have a set amount of core classes to complete (x pages of math, y chapters in history, etc.) and a suggested amount of enhancement work (for example, pick 3 of the following 5 activities).
Most stuff we'll work together on still, leaning towards more independent work. Magic Tree House studies will be more independent. She'll read the books on her own, Mr. I or I will help her choose a project (art project, writing assignment, science experiment, etc.) and she will do it as independently as possible. For the book about volcanoes (Vacation Under the Volcano) she's already said she wants to build a volcano since she hasn't done that in a long time.
I'm pretty excited about the new school year. I think it will be a good one. We have a lot planned, but not so overwhelmingly much like I've tried to do in the past. I think the lean towards independence will be a good one.
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