Great Films

We are wrapping up our study of Australia and I ordered a couple of DVDs from the library. The first is one of a series called "Families of the World" and we brought home "Families of Australia." It was only 30 minutes long and showed a day in the life of a child in rural Australia and one from the city of Sydney. It was excellent! The back of the box says, "Each DVD focuses on a different culture, their way of life, family interaction, foods and celebrations." It is not a lecture but rather a visual glimpse into other lives. The girls noted interesting facts, such as the Australians driving on the opposite side of the road and how the toilets were different from ours. They loved listening to the dialect too.

Yesterday we started to watch the other DVD called "Australia the Beautiful." It is a Reader's Digest film. Since it is 170 minutes long, I figured we would just skip around and watch a little bit of different segments. But we were absolutely mesmerized by the gorgeous, breathtaking photography! Australia's landscapes and wildlife are fascinating. We only saw the first third--"Treasures of the Coast" about the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree, Lord Howe Island, and Shark Bay. We are looking forward to the rest--"Riches of Deserts and Wetlands" and "Marvels of the Mountains". Highly recommended!

Finishing Up

Three more days. "How much longer?" Liana asks continually. According to state law, we have to complete our 180 days, but besides that, we need to wrap up a few things before taking a summer break from school.

Liana finished her study of bats but never finished the lapbook she started. In May I bought a social studies series called Around the World in 180 Days and it looked so interesting I decided to do a short unit before school ended. We chose Australia. The girls (and I) have learned so much about this fascinating continent. Liana wants to visit Uluru someday, after her tour of India. We left our study of the Civil War hanging but I think we found a good stopping point and will continue that in the fall.

Arielle worked very diligently this year and completed Abeka's Language Arts for 6th grade. She will take her final science test on electricity today. She found out a friend of mine who homeschools her children plans to continue their school work one morning a week throughout the summer. Arielle asked if we could do that too. The girls both like Teaching Textbooks, so it will be an easy way to keep up their math skills by doing those lessons. Liana spent the year memorizing the multiplication tables and it would be such a loss to let them go for three months. And of course, there is reading. I couldn't stop Arielle from reading if I wanted to, but Liana will need a little prompting.

With every day revolving around school, I always feel a little lost when the year ends. There are plenty of activities ahead and there is always my house that needs attention after nine months of neglect. But it's a shock to wake up to a day without a schedule.

Transition

I took a class at church and since the girls are homeschooled, we had no choice but for all of us to go together for these three mornings. Their regular classwork was postponed until afternoon while some real-life work was done at church. The girls were asked to help in the nursery.

Arielle loves little children and I knew she would be an asset to the women caring for the little ones. But Liana? I had my doubts. She never seems interested in babies. But the first day after class, the women said she was a big help. Liana entertained babies and fed babies and rocked babies in the rocker. She went home feeling useful and proud of herself. She's growing up. My own baby is nine, after all.

After lunch I found Liana in her room. She was dressing her Bitty Baby, cuddling the doll in her lap. "Doesn't she look adorable?" she asked me. Liana carried the doll around all afternoon, even preparing a dish of "food" to give her. I treasure moments of watching her play like this because these times will soon be gone.

This little girl rejected books in favor of her own imagination played out on the carpet in her room as she created Polly Pocket towns and Polly Pocket lives. Liana would lie down, eye-level, and I would hear the dialogue she invented for each of her tiny dolls. She still does this occasionally, but more often she wants to dictate stories to me as I try to type as quickly as her words tumble out. The girl who delighted in dressing up as a princess now draws her royal designs on paper and reproduces them on her sewing machine. She dresses up in heels, with attention to coordinating accessories, but still loves her tiara.

Liana enjoyed her new responsibility in the nursery, but she isn't ready to leave childhood behind. And I'm glad about that. I'm not ready to give up my little girl.

Chinese Babies

This morning at church a Chinese couple was dedicating their baby daughter. The family sat right in front of me. The baby, about 2 or 3-months old, was sheltered in her mother's arms, round and pink. Her thick black hair was pinned back with a felt clip. Her eyes were thoughtful and serious, watchful. She was calm and trusting, unafraid of the strangers around her. She bore a striking resemblance to Arielle as a baby. And I couldn't hold back tears.

The baby quietly observed us from the safety of her mother's shoulder and I studied her perfect features. Why the tears? Because when my precious daughter was that age, she was not yet mine. I wasn't able to hold and comfort her. I grieve for that lost time. This baby is so blessed. She seems to have everything. I protest again the circumstances that tore my daughter away from her birth family. But then, if not for that, Arielle would not be my daughter. I can't imagine life without this child! She has so enriched my life with her ideas, her laughter, her calm spirit. She has challenged me with her questions. She asks so many questions! She wants to know everything and she makes me reconsider, re-evaluate.

I'm sad as I look at this baby because my baby is gone. The sweet little face with the bright smile that greeted me each morning from her crib. The curious little girl so fascinated with life that she would page through picture books for hours before her world really exploded when she learned to read. The child with the shiny black hair that I danced with in the kitchen while dinner cooked. But look who has replaced that baby--my gracious, poised, intelligent 11-year-old. The girl who is wise beyond her years. She is a deep thinker, still watchful and serious, yet so confident and courageous. I still study her perfect features and imagine the woman she will soon be.

Outdoor Education

Once again we trekked to camp for the twice-yearly Homeschool Days. The girls look forward to meeting up with friends and canoeing in the creek and riding in the haywagon through the fields. Moms enjoy a peaceful day in one of the most beautiful places I've ever been in Pennsylvania. We also like the hands-on educational session. In the past there was a chemistry and physics demonstration. The kids have also learned about wetlands and conservation and plant identification. Today's program was about trees. We could sign up for special classes on creation or raptors or even the Underground Railroad. This camp was once a stop.

We had a wonderful day in the bright sunshine and fresh air. The kids had some freedom to roam and explore, race up mountains, play tetherball, and practice their skills on a wire bridge across the creek. Liana has become quite good with rowing and Arielle enjoyed wading in the cold water. But weather conditions were just right for the majestic, lovely trees to disperse their pollen. Liana and I were sick by the time we got home with itchy eyes, drippy noses, headaches and coughing. Two days later, another price to pay for our wonderful day: poison ivy. Oh, you say I should have been more careful? I am careful to the extreme when it comes to poison ivy. I touched NOTHING. I still haven't figured out how I manage to get it every year.

Bird Lapbook

Liana finished her study of birds and completed her lapbook. She said, "I'm sad it's done because I enjoyed working on it." I told her she can make many more lapbooks in the future.

Liana's book answers these questions: Why did God make birds? What helps a bird to fly? What makes a bird a bird? How does a bird know witch way to go? Why is a girl bird so plane? (I don't make corrections on her lapbook. This is her creative work.)

Liana has information on how birds are classified in the animal kingdom. She has a diagram of the inside of an egg, pictures of different nests and which birds make them. She has pictures and descriptions of different types of feathers. The most fun we had on our bird study was to actually watch the birds at our feeder. Liana began her "life list" of birds and she made drawings of them in a chamois-covered journal. (Like John James Audubon did.) But for the lapbook we photocopied pictures and identifying features into a section called "Birds in Our Backyard." She listed 14 birds! We never knew before we had such a variety.

Our main text on birds was Jeannie Fulbright's Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day. From the author's website we printed a page called "Migration Route of the ______." The page has a place to glue a picture and space for a short report, plus a map to chart the route. Liana chose the puffin and the arctic tern to study.

The importance of this lapbook is that Liana knows her book. She can easily explain all the information to anyone who would take the time to listen. She is proud of her work and is excited about learning. A lapbook is a great teaching tool for right-brained, hands-on learners.

In addition to our textbook, we used:

How Do Birds Find Their Way? by Roma Gans

Science and Nature Guides: Birds World Book

Eyewitness Books: Bird DK

The Boy Who Drew Birds by Jacqueline Davies

Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater

Night of the Pufflings by Bruce McMillan

Ducks and Ducklings by Anita Ganeri

Woodpeckers by Julie Murray

New Friends

Arielle used to attend a homeschool co-op at our church, but our church is not close to our house. The morning drive during rush hour became just too stressful. We left the co-op and the girls joined Awanas instead for their social time. A co-op should be educational as well as a social outlet, but I felt I could provide the academics at home. Up to this point I really have not needed help teaching my girls. But I realize their needs change as they grow older. My friend Connie who also homeschools lives very close, but otherwise, the girls and I are somewhat isolated from any other homeschool families. Not isolated! But we haven't mingled much with other families like ours. People always seem to be so concerned about that "s" word--socialization. My girls are quite socialized! Anyway, things have changed.

Connie called to tell me a group of moms were trying to connect with other homeschooling families and would I like to join them? Some of the families had recently moved here and were trying to find friends for their children and some support for themselves. So last week we all had lunch together. This kind, generous woman opened her home to all these moms and kids. They all live within a few miles of here. I never knew. We are not alone! And best of all, there were some girls Arielle's age. We moms discussed our state's laws and the required evaluations and portfolios that will soon be due. We talked about books our kids love and textbooks we use and like. We planned possible field trips and considered interesting co-ops in the area. It was very encouraging to find like-minded women. My girls had so much fun with their new friends and we all look forward to seeing each other again soon.