Januray 26, 2010

Third week of school. This week would be our monthly week off, but because the boys' Dad is working serious overtime at two jobs and didn't have the ability to have visitation last week, we just took last week as the week off just in case he gets some time off this week and he wants to spend some time with them. It doesn't look like he will be able to, but that's okay. Just in case.

The first two weeks of January we did our basics, Math and Grammar (and of course, Bible), in addition to a Martin Luther King, Jr. Unit Study. The study went rather well. Next year we'll see about going into more detail and extending the unit study past MLKJr Day, maybe for the entire month of January, and getting more into slavery or women's rights. Although now that I think about it, isn't there a Women's Rights Month? I'll have to research that. If there is, I know what we'll be doing then. ;-)

Our Soul Food Dinner turned out alright. We didn't invite extended family, it was just us. Cooking took ALL DAY. The boys helped out as much as they could, which isn't really much since I haven't REALLY taught them how to cook. .But we did get a little Math in in the form of fractions and measurements. Started cooking at 9am, didn't get done until 6:30pm. I was exhausted that night.

Here are the pictures of the food we prepared for our Soul Food Dinner: (click on the picture to be taken to the recipe)

Sour Cream Cornbread

I honestly don't know that I've ever had cornbread quite so moist and delicious! Which is actually saying a lot because I LOVE cornbread! It was a sweet cornbread, which I do prefer. Next time, though, I'm going to replace the sugar with agave nectar.

Collard Greens (modified recipe)

Becasue we don't eat pork, and it's near impossible ot find turkey or beef bacon that is as fatty as pork bacon, I had to modify the recipe a little bit. Instead of using smoked pork bacon, I used smoked beef brats. I don't know what traditional collard greens are supposed to taste like, but these were pretty darn good. For cooked veggies, anyway. Not something we'll make on a regular basis, but once in a while perhaps.

Sweet Potato Pie

MMmmmmmm.....Sweet Potato Pie. The kids didn't like it, but they don't like sweet potatoes. Which is interesting. They ADORED mashed sweet potatoes when they were babies and starting to eat "solids". *shrugs* That's okay. Just means more for me. ;-)

Corn Pudding

We may or may not try this again. IF we do, we'll eat it after it's been out of the oven for about 15-20 minutes so it's still warmish. Eating it cold is....well, gross.

Batter-fried Chicken

They couldn't wait long enough for me to get a picture of a FULL plate of fried chicken. It was enjoyable, except the batter tasted burned to me. Mike didn't think it did, though. Next time, I'll use boneless chicken instead of whole chicken so that the frying doesn't take as long and the batter is less likely to taste burned.

Seems I forgot to take a picture of the Apple Crisp. I could have sworn I took one. Maybe it's on my memory card (that's not in my camera because my camera took it's final nose dive. I did get my replacement today from Fed-Ex though, so maybe I can post the Apple Crisp later.

This week we're simply doing the basics for education, Math and Grammar. At least until I can get the stuff needed for our Winter Olympics Unit Study in honor of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Christopher's best friend is doing that right now. His Mom suggested it to me, it sounded good, so we'll see what we can do. I want to, because even *I* get bored with just the basics all the time. We have a Netflix subscription so we'll probably "rent" a video pertaining to the original Olympic games, and possibly do a lapbook. Along with other potential activities.

Whatever I can do to make their education more interesting.

They do seem to be doing very well. Math is still giving Christopher a little bit of a hard time, but he's finding it easier to learn the information, whereas before he couldn't even get to the point of understanding. I think it's the lack of pressure to get it done that's helping that issue. I do need to find the information I got from the SOESD about who to go to in order to get a PDP developed for him. Standardized testing time is coming up for us (we need to get it done by September) and I know that traditional testing doesn't work for either of my boys, but especially Christopher. He's working on it, but he still has a difficult time understanding the question when he has to read it himself, which means the wrong answer. If someone else reads it to him, he understands it better. If I can get a PDP created for him that will specify that someone needs to read the test to him, he'll probably do a lot better. We'll just have to see.

The boys' Dad told Micheal on the phone the other night that Oregon is trying to do away with the right to home school. Something to do with the public school system not having enough funding because people are pulling their kids out and homeschooling them so they want to do away with Oregon homeschooling so the schools can get more money. Poor Micheal almost died. He hates the idea of that possibility. He almost cried when he asked his Dad why they want to take away home school.

So I had to explain to Micheal some things. First, I explained to him that people still pay taxes, and a portion of those taxes goes to the school system. Yes, the school system isn't getting enough of the taxes, but that's another thing entirely. I also explained to him that MOST of the people pulling their kids out of public school aren't homeschooling their kids, they're sending them to private schools. So what is the government going to do? Deny private education as well? That's not going to happen. So he doesn't have to worry about not being able to home school. They may try to regulate WHO can home school, like Washington does by allowing only those who have at least a two-year degree be the educator, but even if they do something like that we will figure it out. Grandma and Grandpa have two year degrees. Grandma has home schooled before...she home schooled my little brother (who is now 22). It'll be taken care of. And even if we can't home school, I'll send him to private school before I send him back to the public school system that failed him and his brother.

So that's our life in a nutshell....up to now, anyway. I hope everyone's school year is going well.