When does school start? When does it end?

As principal and lead teacher at the Degonia School for Adventurous Boys, I marvel at the amount and variety of learning taking place-- especially on days when I don't teach!

As often happens on my court days, the boys were allowed a lot of freedom today.  Did they choose to play videogames or watch TV?  No.  They chose the library.  Spencer chose adult books on robotics and military aircraft; Denver chose four beginning reader books; and John Robert chose a book on military aircraft and a new science fiction novel.  They spent most of the day reading or playing outside.  Denver asked me to read his beginning reader books to him (he'll be reading them himself by next week), and then Spencer offered to read several more books to him.  They read on the couch together for over an hour!

After the library, we went to a favorite Thai restaurant, where the boys sat on couches and read while I had a meeting.  They enjoyed their fried rice, talked, and read without complaint for an hour and a half.  

At home, Spencer and Denver played outside and then came in and made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies together-- doing all the measuring, pouring, stirring, and egg breaking with minimal assistance.  Their cookies were delicious! 

I am amazed at how much the boys learn without instruction.  As a teacher with an education degree, it humbles me and makes me wonder how much my teaching is really needed.  Guidance and support is needed, yes; but not the extensive lesson plans and presentations that I am used to thinking of as part of a teacher's work. 

When curious parents ask about our homeschool schedule, I am hesitant to tell them the truth-- the boys can do their formal schooling in less than three hours (if they work with minimal disruption, which doesn't always happen!).  On a daily basis, formal instruction usually includes math, science, writing, Latin, reading, Spanish, and history.  They also do chores.  After their official work, I notice they do not stop learning.  Not at all.  In fact, it is after their required work that they often seem most engaged: recently, they've been learning about robots, roman war strategy, medieval weaponry, science fiction, studying mammals, and video game characters and strategy.

I learn so much from my children every day that I cannot help but believe they are raising me to be a good parent.  They teach me about patience, observation, and leaving my assumptions at the door.  I am learning to watch them, listen to them, and then make suggestions about what we should do with our time.  Instead of making out a complete lesson plan a month in advance, I leave space for whatever interest is gripping them.  Fascinated with robots?  Let's read a book and work on your Lego Mindstorm.  Interested in knights?  Let's go to Medieval Times to see jousting and then build castles.  Curious about physics?  Let's do some experiments.  Are you struggling with this algebra book?  Let's try this book with a different approach.

I set a baseline for our academics, but they guide "how" they learn.  This is a gift of time, attention, and individualized learning that cannot be given in a standard classroom, but is perfect for our three children in the Degonia School for Adventurous Boys.  When does our school start and when does it end?  I guess it starts when we wake up and ends for the day whenever we go to sleep . . . unless you have interesting dream that gets you started thinking about robots . . .  

My Karate Kid

Yesterday, Spencer recieved his blue belt.  Mimi, Paw Paw, John Robert, Denver and I attended his graduation ceremony at the karate studio.  It was hot and crowded, Denver kept running around with other children and having coughing fits, and John Robert complained the whole time.  But we weren't there for ourselves, we were there for Spencer.  And Spencer was so proud of himself!

Spencer stood before the crowd and performed his sets and forms.  His face was set in its typical angry scowl.  Only his family knows the scowl means anxiety.  Nevertheless, he seemed pleased with his performance.    

After the ceremony, Paw Paw generously bought the boys milkshakes on the way home.   His daddy, who had to work, recieved a full, detailed report of the entire ceremony over breakfast the next morning.  Spencer wanted to tell everything from beginning to end.  It meant so much to him!

A child psychologist wrote that no matter what you believe you have given your child or done for your child, the childhood he remembers is the only childhood he has.  For Spencer, karate provides a deep sense of success.  I couldn't be more grateful.  

   

Growing Up

While running errands yesterday, Denver told me he'd been considering possible careers.  Since we really hadn't talked too much about this, I was intrigued.  "What are you considering?," I asked.

"Well, I don't want to do anything where I might die," he said.  "So I don't want to be a pilot."

"Oh.  Well, Daddy's job can be a little risky.  How about a judge?," I asked.  "That's pretty safe."

"No, too boring.  Just blah, blah, you go to jail; blah, blah, you don't go to jail.  I'm thinking about being a pizza delivery man."

Oh my . . . I really have to get better about seeing these things coming!  I guess when you're six years old the thought of driving a car and eating pizza is about as good as it gets!

I never know what they're going to do to surprise me, but they always do!



Spencer and friend go incognito.



The Boys and the Bible

Last night, after a full day: trips to the eye doctor, library, Wal-Mart, swim practice, and completing our homeschool; we wandered over to Mimi's house with our flashlight and a bag full of snacks to enjoy the first part of the miniseries, The Bible.  Mimi recorded it for us last Sunday.  As a child, I learned in Sunday School about Noah's Ark, Abraham's sacrifice, Lot's wife turning to a pillar of salt, and Moses leading his people out of Egypt.  When I learned the stories, it was a solemn affair.  We read.  The teacher asked questions, not us.  We colored a picture and ate a cookie and waited for Sunday School to be over.  Not so for the boys.

Their behavior bordered on heresy; and yet, they enjoyed the stories and asked questions afterward.  When Abraham tied Isaac to the alter and told him to trust in God, we all agreed that if we were Isaac, we'd be thinking that our dad was CRAZY.  We also agreed that old Sarah could really cover some ground in her sandals when she needed to!

As Moses' people left Egypt and found themselves trapped at the edge of the Red Sea, John Robert pretended to be Moses, and stated in a deep voice: "I have an idea!  Does everyone know how to swim?"  Then we watched in amazement at the recreation of the parting of the Red Sea. 

They loved the angels who protected Lot's family-- they were warriors!  This especially appealed to Spencer and Denver.  They were less fond of those angels when Lot's wife looked back at Sodom and turned to a pillar of salt.  "Those angels sure are fickle," noted Spencer. 

As we skipped home through the woods after the movie, Denver said, "Wow!  I did not know about all those people!  I thought the Bible was just about Jesus."  He said he liked the stories because they were "actiony." 

It is a joy for me to see the boys learning about the biblical stories in a joyful way.  I remember being afraid to make jokes or ask questions.  I was never invited to imagine myself in the stories or think about what I liked or didn't like.  The boys felt free to express themselves and enjoy the stories.  I love that they felt such freedom to question and wonder.

We'll be back to Mimi's next week to watch the second part of the series or maybe we'll make time to watch it this Sunday at 8pm. 

Stretching our Legs, Arms, and Minds

For the last several weeks, our lives have been dedicated to homeschool routines:
Spencer has been tackling fractions; Denver is reading more fluently; John Robert is ready for a new math book.  It's been good, but we're all aching for summer, and we're tired of cold, windy, rainy weather-- even if the daffodils are in bloom.

This week, the boys took two field trips.  On Monday, they went indoor rock climbing with their daddy in Atlanta.  What I assumed would be just an hour of simple up and down exploring turned into most of the day.  The boys were so exhausted, they all fell asleep on the way home!  John Robert's arms were so tired the next day, he could barely lift his cereal spoon! 

  It was wonderful for the boys to have so much fun time with each other and with their daddy!  He seemed proud of them, too.  It was a day well spent.

My Three Monkeys

On Tuesday, we enjoyed a trip to Fernbank's new exhibit, Extreme Mammals.  Paw Paw came with us, too.  He had never been to Fernbank, and he seemed to have a wonderful time with the boys.  I'm not sure if it was showing Paw Paw all the things they knew, or the seemingly endless parade of cookies, ice cream, and other treats;but the boys had an especially good time.  Of course, Paw Paw commented repeatedly on our boys' intelligence and knowledge. 



Spencer, Denver, and PawPawsaurus



On the way home, the boys each read two books about the rise of mammals and the definition of mammals that we bought at the gift shop.  It was Denver's first study of what makes a living thing a mammal.  He learned a lot, and seemed very proud of himself.  Then again, he always seems pretty proud of himself!   



Denver and John Robert are amazed at the size of the
world's largest land mammal ever-- the Indricotherium. 
It  was as big as four elephants!





After two field trips, we're now settled back into our academic routine; with just a few minor changes.  Since John Robert is back on swim team, his body requires a lot of rest and recuperation.  As a result, we've had more afternoon homeschool this week as John Robert sleeps nearly twelve hours before feeling rested! 

Spencer and Denver love having more morning playtime together.  I love knowing the boys are well rested, and that even if we don't start homeschool until after lunch, we'll still have plenty of time.  After all, there's no school bell, and the learning never really ends.  Frankly, no matter what we're doing, it seems like we're always learning! 

The Best Knight Ever!

John surprised us today!  We hadn't done anything exciting as a family since our trip to Cartersville last month.  Things were getting stale around the Degonia Castle.  We needed an outing; but it was 24 degrees outside and windy.  In order to get away, we went back in time! 

John loaded us into the car after breakfast; and on the pretense of going to Dave & Busters, the boys' favorite place to eat burgers and play videogames, we drove to Atlanta.  The boys didn't realize they were in for a rare treat.  John bought us all tickets to Medieval Times!

The boys had been asking about Medieval Times for months.  Spencer has read almost every library book available about knights and castles.  Since we have been building catapults, ballista, and trebuchets all semester, and since we are just about to launch into our study of the middle ages in history, I could even justify the expense as an educational field trip.  The truth was-- it was fantastic for all of us.

The boys were thrilled when they realized we weren't just in Atlanta for a few videogames and a burger.  When John told them, Denver squealed with delight, and Spencer and John Robert grinned from ear to ear.  We walked into the entry hall of the "castle" and were given crowns to wear.  We toured the dungeon-- full of tools of torment-- and admired the real swords, suits of armor, and had our picture taken with the King and Queen. 

When the great doorway opened, we found our seats and were served an enormous meal of meat, soup, bread, potatoes, and apple pastries while a falconer performed with her bird and a parade of the royal court circled the arena.  There were knights jousting, there was swordfighting, there was a battle between our kingdom and another.  In short, it was two hours of heaven for our three boys.  Spencer and Denver were beyond thrilled.  Even John Robert, who had played it cool at first, yelled and cheered for the Green Knight-- the hero of our kingdom.

John and I smiled at each other again and again as we watched our guys enjoying themselves.  Denver waved his green banner and they all three cheered the whole time.  They loved the meal and audience participation.  In a few more years, they won't want to go with us to Medieval Times.  If they go later, it will be with their friends or girlfriends.  Now is our chance to spend time with our young princes.  

When we finally arrived home, Spencer and Denver continued to play knights-- bundled in their coats and running around the yard with sticks until well after dark.  After finally coming inside, they continue to battle as I write this-- if the house does not fall down, I'll be amazed!

It is not always easy to decide when it's best to be thrifty with our money, and when to splurge.  Judging from the joy in the boys eyes today, however, I am sure that today's big adventure was worth every penny.

  

  

A Lovely Valentine's Day

I LOVE Valentine's Day.  Not because of Saint Valentine or many of the American traditions of romantic love.  I love Valentine's Day because for me it is a celebration of all love-- love for my children, my husband, my family, my friends, my life, my health, God.  It doesn't hurt that there are a lot of cute, cheap decorations available either-- heart shaped bowls, heart plates and cups, valentine tablecloths, flowers.  I embrace it all with a silly exuberance.  Yesterday was no exception.

The boys awakened to chocolates at the breakfast table, milk served in heart cups, pancakes on heart plates.  They did extra work earlier in the week so that Valentine's Day was a free day.  They took gifts to Mimi and Paw Paw.  Nana bought them a new video game, and I paid for half of another video game for them to enjoy.  They were thrilled! 

Although they all played outside for a while, too, the big fun was holding a Wii remote and playing, playing, all day long.  I was amazed at the level of creative problem solving and teamwork involved in their games.  John Robert spent time pouring over the game guide.  They each read about their chosen characters and devised plans to upgrade skills and unlock new levels.  Sometimes their plans differed, and they had to call me to step in; but mostly they played joyfully.  They stopped intermittently for a Valentine's Day indoor picnic and to toast the day.  I received numerous hugs-- even from John Robert!

John flew over a thousand miles yesterday, and was exhausted when he got home.  I cooked a hearty, healthy dinner and gave him some dark chocolate with almonds for Valentine's Day.  He gave me a registration number for the St. Louis Marathon in April.  Whoopee!

While the boys enjoyed their new game, Lady and I went for a long run in preparation for the marathon.  We circled the subdivision for nearly two and a half hours.  I am so grateful my body is strong.  What a joy! 

May you be as filled with gratitude and joy as we were on this Valentine's Day!