PBS Showtime

Yesterday afternoon, Aidyn, David, and I watched an episode of Between the Lions, a remarkable PBS show that emphasizes the joy of reading. When I first saw it nearly ten years ago, I hoped that it would remain on air when I had children. Sadly, it's not a show that comes on often (if at all), so I rented an episode from the library's meager collection. Aidyn seemed to enjoy it, and I particularly liked the reference to Gawain (since I only just recently began reading Arthurian Legends!). What I loved was that the show blended both the whole word and phonetics approach to reading. I tend to side with the school of thought that emphasizes whole word learning because it instills a love for literature without specific phonetic goals; however, I think the phonetic approach is useful later. This show beautifully intertwines both viewpoints. This is definitely a series I will be purchasing in the future!

After Aidyn saw Between the Lions and ran amuck for awhile, he watched a Sesame Street rendition of Alice in Wonderland featuring Elmo, Abby, Cookie Monster as the Cheshire Cat, Bert and Ernie as Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, and many other SS characters in a show entitled Abby in Wonderland. While on this Fantasyland unit, I thought this would be a neat way to hear the original story told in a fresh way.

Later in the evening, David and Aidyn played together while I got some much-needed reading done. Aidyn and David even joined me in watching King Lear, and Aidyn, surprisingly, followed along until bathtime.

And the Wind, Wind, Wind Came Down Down Down

Yesterday was a relaxed, co-parent homeschooling day. When I got home from work, Aidyn and I worked at our round table and made PB & J Surprise Muffins. Aidyn assisted in mixing, stirring, and tasting while I read instructions and measurements aloud.

Because of the high gusts of wind yesterday, we commented that it looked exactly like the windstorm in Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day when poor Piglet in nearly carried away by the wind. Aidyn enjoyed talking about the wind and the noises it created and objects that pattered on our roof.

Later, per Aidyn's request, David reread Snow White despite it being a rather wordy book. Snuggled in bed, David read warmly aloud with Aidyn tucked in his arm with his head resting on his chest. I hope that's a memory that remains in Aidyn's mind.

These past two weeks, Aidyn and I have been counting down to Halloween. We began with nine and have since counted down. Every day I tell him how many days are left and we count them together on our hands. He is so excited!

Evening Reads with Daddy

This evening while I read Volpone to myself in my rocking chair, David and Aidyn gathered on the bed and took in two books. Together they read Snow White by the Brothers Grimm, and I heard David's strong, fluid voice carrying the story to Aidyn's attentive ears. Next they read a favorite of mine growing up: Rumpelstiltskin by Paul O. Zelinsky, and Aidyn seemed to enjoy the storyline and the silly little ending. I think David brings a different flavor to homelearning that Aidyn enjoys. Most importantly, I believe he is an excellent role model. Without the slightest need for influence, David reads his own books avidly. He zips through novels quicker than I do these days, and Aidyn sees this sort of behavior regularly. I think that what is equally important to reading to a child is allowing that child to see how much we enjoy reading our own books.

After storytime, David and Aidyn played all sorts of imaginative "boy" games while I wrapped up some schoolwork and sonnet memorizations. I appreciate the playing just as much as I do the readings. I owe many of Aidyn's admirable qualities to David.

Refreshed!

Our A.A. Milne week ended with more stories and viewings of Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day and the modern television show My Friends Tigger and Pooh. Next year we will definitely be revisiting Milne and his lovely stories!

With that unit closed, the family took a trip to the local library to stock up on new books. Because we're beginning the Fantasyland unit, I chose several fairy tales. Not limiting ourselves to stories within that land, I selected some like Rumpelstiltskin which have no ties to the park. I also picked up a video on a much-loved PBS series entitled Between the Lions for Aidyn to enjoy.

This past weekend (in all it's busyness!), I researched and customized a new approach to our home learning. "Official" school doesn't begin for yet another year, but I have crafted a new, enjoyable curriculum to prepare Aidyn for the fast-approaching school schedule. When the end of the year draws closer, I will share our new custom-fit plans for the 2010 year. I'm still hammering out the details but look forward to it being completed.

Sweet, Sweet Anniversaries

Today, October 24th, officially marks the day that David and I were married seven years ago. We have also now been together for eight years and the speed with which those years zoomed by surprises me. Yet, in the same breath, it feels like we have been together, happily, for much longer. Interestingly, when we announced our intention of marriage, not a soul mentioned, hinted at, pointed at, or accused us of being "too young" though we were only approximately 19 years old. It was wonderful to have that sort of unflinching support behind us, and now remarking on the quality of our relationship, I know why no one paused to say anything negative. When we did decide to get married, age was not a factor in my thinking. I just knew that David would be the person I would happily and wholly share my life with. I am no perfect person (far from it!) but I fit with David; he is also no perfect person, but he fits well with me.

In this day and age, marriage is fleeting, relationships spoil, and ties are so quickly broken. I have heard from others that, in this time, a strong marriage of seven years is something to be proud of. It seems silly to say that that accomplishment was effortless though, honestly, it sometimes feels that way. But what others call "work" in a marriage, we see as a normal process of building and reinvesting on our relationship. There are some keys points that I have thought of that indeed helps us to maintain a good relationship. These are not things we must consciously think about and aim toward, but they exist at the core of our actions.

• have a solid foundation of friendship with each other
• play together
• laugh
• work together toward similar goals
• meet and discuss events/topics thoroughly and openly
• flirt with each other
• two apologies (from each person) is always better than one.
• solve any dispute before laying your head down each night.
• be silly, goofy, crazy, hilarious, wild together
• hear each other, really listen
• make the relationship a priority
• love fearlessly
• hold yourself accountable for personal error and ask the same of your partner
• touch a lot
• be open to new things
• play games together
• talk a lot
• be gentle
• be yourselves

Additionally, this also marks the anniversary of Aidyn's first trip to Disneyland three years ago when he was a bubble-blowing, excited 10-month-old. I'd give anything to relive the magic of that particular trip. We worried that he wouldn't get much from the flurry of action and details of the Disneyland Resort, but he did! Oh, how he did! I will always remember the brightness in his little eyes and the eagerness each morning in the hotel room to get back in there and experience the magic. Since then, we have watched him progress: risking his bravery on larger rides (PotC, HM), and verbally choosing rides to go on ("go Hook ship:" translation: "I want to go on Peter Pan's Flight--the one where I sail on a pirate ship and see the twinkling streets of London below me before I soar to Never Land."). Now he talks about it regularly and has absolutely brilliant ideas ("Mama, let's just go to Dinneyland now," he'll say while I'm driving us the store).

Closing One Door to Open Another

When I got home from work today, I read Aidyn a few books while he was a captive listener. We read Davy, Help! It's a Ghost! by Brigitte Weninger and Eve Tharlett, and Aidyn delighted in the antics of the Rabbit Family creating ways to survive a night home alone. Afterward, we read Harriet's Halloween Candy by Nancy Carlson and talked about the importance of sharing and not overdoing it on sweets! We also read Tough Boris by Mem Foy and learned that even tough, sruffy, greedy pirates cry. To cap off, Aidyn requested his third hearing of The Ghost-Eye Tree by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault. Those books and conversations sealed off our last unit of New Orleans Square, pirates, and ghosts.

In the early afternoon, Aidyn and I made an impromptu trip to the library to stock up on A.A. Milne stories for our next short unit. Settled at home, Aidyn and David were both listeners to The Pooh Story Book. I read two lengthy sections of the story, and the boys laughed at the subtle hilarity of the author's narrative wit. To read classic Winnie-the-Pooh tales was simply touching, and we all enjoyed hearing them very much. For fun, Aidyn and I decided to watch The Book of Pooh which was a relatively modern live-action series about the stuffed bear and his Hundred Acre friends where they attempt to bring to life the joy of reading. Honestly, it had me falling asleep, and as it turned out, it had the same effect on Aidyn. I yanked the tape out and replaced it with another "classic:" Winnie the Pooh and the Day for Eeyore (1983). Much better!

When I had a moment, I researched A.A. Milne and his Winnie the Pooh legacy and learned some very interesting facts. During the short duration of our time with this chummy bear, I would like to sample the stories "through the ages." For instance, I would like us to continue reading the original tales by Milne, and watch several adaptations of the story starting from the 60's to the present My Friends Tigger and Pooh. This is sure to be a Tiggerific unit study!

Tentative End-of-2009 Schedule

Below is our tentative schedule leading up to our December 7th-11th Christmastime in Disneyland vacation. Because of our lack of time, we will be learning "in chunks" rather than in the original segmented units. Before this, we never attempted to turn a Disneyland vacation into a unit study as Aidyn is quite familiar with most of the subjects, but this curriculum was originally constructed for someone else as a collaborative, fun activity to enjoy together. Despite the other party's choice to drop out of the activity, I wanted to continue it, if anything for sheer fun and to teach Aidyn to turn potentially negative things into positives and to follow through. It has, at times, been dispiriting to do certain things/go certain places minus our other party whom we adore, but it has also been an opportunity to create more joy within our family.

October 22nd- Winnie the Pooh, A.A. Milne author unit
October 25th- Fantasyland
November 1st- Tomorrowland
November 8th- Sunshine Plaza/California
November 15th- Hollywood Backlot
November 22nd- A bug's land
November 29th- Paradise Pier
December 7th- Disneyland!

The remainder of the year will be spent doing Christmas and winter related units, and I intend to introduce a Christmas novella, perhaps A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.