My parents just got back from an amazing trip to Jordan, Israel and Egypt. When they came to visit us for the weekend, we got to see their slide show and we each received some souvenirs!
On a cruise up the Nile.
Grandma and Grandpa Oldham used to be teachers so when they visit it's always fun to let them home school.
Making a clay map of Egypt.
Thank you grandma and grandpa for sharing your adventures with us!
Our history lesson today was on the "Middle Ages", or the "Dark Ages" in Britain/England/Ireland/Scotland. We sort of learned the difference between Britain and England, but I am still confused. England is everything BUT Whales, Scotland and Ireland? Is Britain all? We learned about the Celts, the Anglo-Saxons and the story of Beowulf. We are also having fun reading stories from Celtic Fairy Tales and Celtic Memories. Here they are in their cloaks with their brass dragon brooches. After our history lesson they ran around in their cloaks playing Harry Potter. I guess that's what they associate with England and cloaks. (Notice Sylvia's wand.)
This morning we went on a much needed Costco trip and then had a pot luck lunch at Kollen's house. Many women came, kids all over the place and food galore! It was great. During all of the commotion, I was able to talk with Andrea, a fellow home schooler. She started home schooling this last year when I did, but we haven't gotten together very often. I confessed to her that I only have a math curriculum and everything else is whatever we want to learn or think up. She said that math is the only subject that she has a curriculum for as well. Most home schoolers that I've run into use curriculum for most subjects and so it really made me feel at ease that Andrea is teaching her children in a very unschoolish way as well. I know I shouldn't look to other people to validate the way I teach my children, but I must admit, seeing that Andrea teaches similarly to the way I do made me feel not so crazy. Or maybe I just found a fellow crazy.
I also met a woman who has two girls the same ages as mine. When it came out that I home school and she mentioned that she had thought about doing that I really encouraged her. Her girls are very bright it is apparent that she was doing a great job home schooling them before her oldest daughter started Kindergarten this school year. On a selfish note: More home schoolers in my neighborhood means more of a support group for me and more friends during school hours for my kids!
Tonight we will do some school stuff at the kitchen table while we make cupcakes for tomorrow's Leap Day Party.
