Tutoring

Four days a week, for almost two years, Frazer and Marmi Houff have been meeting for an hour a day.  She is well-trained in the Orton-Gillingham http://www.orton-gillingham.com/ method which helps dyslexics make sense of languages patterns and nuances in order to read, spell, and write.  A large part of what Marmi adds to the experience is root words in Latin and Greek (we recommend Rummy Roots and More Rummy Roots as as card games) and a comprehensive study of afixxes (either prefixes or suffixes).  Marmi presents much of what Frazer learns through games.  He has responded so well and is so diligent and persistent where I am not sure the other boys would be.  Frankly, I never knew what -ion meant (result of an action) or -en (to make) or many of the suffixes beyond number and tense.  And then to tie the affixes into the the part of speech such as -ion will make a verb a noun (which is more confusing to me than participles and gerunds).  Every day he meets with Marmi, Frazer ends the session with a drill deck of words that are broken in to syllable patterns.  It took him two years to go through the first deck (automacity is deemed at 100 words in 3 minutes).  He has almost finished the second deck (95 words as of today) in 6 months.  The progress is nothing short of astonishing if only judging him against himself.  And what else is there?  That's the best part of swimming.  I have really learned that there is so much value in even being able to inch towards inmprovement even if measured in hundreds of a second.  The road to Rome...

Frazer and I have been so lucky to have such a dynamic partner in his education.  I think this poor woman is in it for the long haul with Frazer.    We get along so well.  We are lucky!

There's A Brand Swordfish at Porter's House...

It's a ritual.  It's a rite.  It's a gift.  To spend one's summer lounging and lazing and playing poolside with awesome friends and warm wet showers and hiding from thunder claps and shooting hoops and hitting tennis balls.  All with friends.  In company of others whom you like and who relish the chance to be an old fashion kid.  Southampton is that and more for us.  And P-Bear gets to be mini-mite -- the greatest gift of all.  A novice (to be kind) swimmer who is greeted by coaches happy to see him, parents who will cheer him, and a day-after meet party.  Does not get much better.

Yesterday Porter was welcomed officially with his SRA swim cap.  There is nothing like the enthusiasm of a 5 year old who needs to try something out right now.  Don't know that he will take the pool by force but he will have fun.  And for all of us, SRA is a blessing.

Sick Day

When I choose to keep another child home from school because he is not feeling well, home is a treat and haven from the classroom.  OF course homework looms, but for those feeling fairly lousy sleep and rest are a treat.  A week of Frazer feeling rotten but not horrible has netted half-hearted school.  Reading several chapters a day to him from Curse of the Titan (Riordan), drill deck a few times, some modest attempts of subtraction and math review.  No car has been no Story of the World.

Yet, the best teachable moments have existed in a 500 piece Ravensburg horse puzzle.  Spatial work is definitely something that needs practice.  Puzzles are great for that work;  determination on what is unfolding must occur.  Mom must be patient while the picture unfolds itself.

The first lesson came in the 500 piece part of puzzle.  Frazer wanted to explore how many 50's were in 500.  We worked it on the kitchen wipe board.  I think he  is still grappling with it.  He understands two 50's in 100.  He understands five 100's in 500.  I showed how that can multiply.  His face easily lets me know when he may not have the concept but he has taken in all he could.  I am curious how we can revisit this.  I have thought of having him estimate how many pieces are still in the box and how already placed. 

Day one.  The puzzle was also something Frazer could do while I took Houlder to the dermatologist to have the margins removed form the mole.  He had my cell and William was going to be home in one hour.  At 10.5 it would be nice to be able to leave him to work on something while I run an errand.  I don't want to force bravery but nurture independence.  We have tried this out briefly when I run to pick up or drop off Porter which is only 20 minutes.  I think part of the challenge comes in him liking being with me.  The treat is mine that he feels like that because I know it does  not last.  Yet, there is a pride that comes from him doing something on his own.  He managed great and was less nervous.  More like, "Bye Mom!" 

Strawberry Fields 2010

The fruits of one's labor...juicy,red strawberries.  Today, Porter's preschool headed to the aptly named The Berry Patch.  Frazer did not join us as he was sick and was able to stay home with William.  We got there early and headed to the back fields as the gardener said that the weekend had been busy and the vines were picked over.  Porter and I were not to be denied.  Even though he initially wanted to hang in the front on the rows with his friends, he soon realized the back were full of berries both small and large but all ripe and warm to eat.  Yum!  He had tons of questions from how did the people get the strawberries in the ground, why were we picking them, how does one make money from the berries, how much did the land cost (guesses were from $20.00 to $60.00), to how many workers it would take to run the farm (21).  He was puzzled by the house and then the portable potties.  He said several times how he liked his work and that he worked to work.  He exclaimed, "I am a worker."  Indeed.  After 45 minutes of picking, he scored 5lbs of berries without help from me.  He chomped on these berries all afternoon and appears only wiling to share them with Houlder.  It was a great time with BAPP.  One can easily value how much work goes into a quart of berries.

Horticulture

One of the things I have learned about traditional school is that is spares a child some of the rigors of every day life.  If Dell is supposed to take out the trash and doesn't before he leaves for school, the trash either does not go out or someone else does it.  When a child is home for school, the pressing chores of life such as a barking dog or an unexpected neighbor or overflowing trash influence the school day.

I try not to answer the phone while we work.  I try to only clean up while Frazer is having a recess break.  I try to fold laundry while he works independently with me right there.

But, a gorgeous day and watering and planting to do...garden day has got to happen.  And again today it did.  While Frazer managed his math wrap ups in carpool, we spent the morning managing our plantings and adding to them.  Hopefully when we harvest this summer, we can remember the work we did.  Comfort comes in knowing schools give over entire days to facility clean or garden days or even field days.  There is learning the responsibility of providing food and caring for our home's outdoor habitat.  There is the joy in seeing Frazer finally do something out there as opposed to his previous roles of standing there and watching everyone.  Engagement in the outdoors other than play has been a challenge for him.

Next week there is strawberry picking with Porter's preschool.  There will be more planting and watering at home.  the work will fit in better once the big push is through. 

Seedlings waiting for garden to be ready      Porter,5, planting in the ground first annuals

Maybe a trip to Lewis Ginter Botannical Gardens.  Schooling at home means Frazer cannot turn his back on pressing familial needs.  He cannot escaped to the classroom because he lives in it.

                                  Goofy and proud

Sunshine and 92

Thursday's have become such a lovely treat of hanging with Comeuax's and watching Frazer ride. Frazer can be very inspired to get some work done with the barn looming.  We knocked out another book and did all his math by the time we hit the road at 8:30.  Usually we lay low on the "classwork" on barn day as we try to be outside.

On on ride back to Richmond, we listened to Story of the World about the Middle Ages.  The author discusses how the English language is like playdoh.  The English just have a big lump of brown playdoh always looking out for some fresh playdoh from other languages just so that it can get lumped together with the brown mass.  Then it discussed the Greek and Latin influences.  When the narrator said, "Do you know what video means?''  Frazer said calmly, "To see."  Those language roots at work!  Yipee!

We looked at stone for the wall and walkway at Southern States and ended up with some plants and flowers. Now, Frazer is willing to water a plant but nothing more. 

Today, he dug in the dirt and helped plant about 50 basil seedlings.  Until the stone work is completed our garden is going to have to wing it container style on the deck.  While initially regulated to just filling the pots with potting soil, he surprised me by helping out. 

Lastly, he saw that Houlder was his text book about the Middle Ages and the Crusades and told him that he had been listening to that today as well.  I think our study of the United States has been co-oped by the history of the world. 

Four weeks to Go

And what's in the middle.  Stuff.  Lots of it.  Pictures.  Field trips.  Over 40 books which shocks me.  Addition.  Subtraction -- maybe.  the History of the World. 

Keeping the daily blog overwhelmed me.  Then I quit.  Then guilt.  Then I wanted an inspired moment.  But, is every moment inspired?  Yes and no.

I will try to track some of the bigger things we are doing before we close out the year.  But one of my struggles has been to give Frazer what he needs.  I love to be organic and unstructured and follow his lead.  But how that looks is so different than I hope it to look.  But, that struggle is mine not his.  He remains pretty darn happy in his star chamber and with his tutor.




This photo is of Frazer in the big snow of February 2010.  He played and sledded on Southampton Hill.  While there was less book time than I planned, he played and socialized and experienced winter in wild ways.  He flew down the hill so fast that he slide under a chain link fence and was pinned.  Houlder leaped to the rescue and lifted the fence and pulled him out which itself was impressive.  But, in typical Frazer fashion,  he said, "That was amazing!  Did you see me fly under the fence?"  And climbed back up the hill again. 

Here is video of the Tinkering School.  William and I heard a piece on NPR about a year ago.  The entire time, we kept musing on how Porter would love it.  I found this tonight.  Still love it.

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/gever_tulley_s_tinkering_school_in_action.html