High School Is Scary!

There are so many different things that should be taught and can be taught in high school that J.T. and I are feeling kind of overwhelmed with out usual "let's just pick out something that sounds fun" approach.

So, for 10th grade, we're checking out http://onlineschoolsolutions.com/. With online school, there's still the individuality that we want but with as much structure as we choose to add. And there are great choices like testing and transcripts and help with those classes that terrify me ;)

I would like to introduce...

Gunny, Rosie, and Gene.

J.T. did all the naming. Gunny is after R. Lee Ermey (J.T.'s a huge Mail Call fan) and Rosie as in Rosie the Riveter. Gene is the canary and we don't know what sex it is. For now, "he's" Gene as in Gene Simmons (yep, J.T.'s a KISS fan too lol) but if he turns out to be a she, we'll switch it to Jean.

Mystery Food

Yesterday, J.T. and I did grocery shopping at Sav-a-Lot.

In the checkout line, J.T. spied a table full of discounted food. Some of this food was dented cans and cans missing labels. He was very intrigued by the label-free cans and asked if he could get one. I figured why not. It was most likely a vegetable and we like just about all of 'em.

After a few more minutes of picking through the cans, he found a short round one without a label.

JT: "Look, Mom, it's probably tuna or canned chicken!"
Me: "Hmm"
JT: "Can we get it?" "It's only 20 cents!"
Me: *sigh* "Fine." "But no more mystery food!"

After getting home and getting all the groceries put away I started pulling out lunch ingredients. We were having tuna sandwiches with celery and peanut butter. J.T. excitedly came in and presented the short little can that he was convinced was tuna and wanted me to open it. I shook the can and it didn't sound like tuna. So I looked at the bright orange sticker on top. It said: Label Missing
.20
CAT FOOD

Yes, in big, bold letters like that. CAT FOOD.

Me: "Didn't you READ the label?"
JT: *cackling hysterically* "What if you would have eaten it!?"
Me: "I would have realized it was cat food before I ate it!"

No, we don't have a cat. Yes, Baby would have probably liked the cat food. But, I just gave it to the neighbor's outside cat or whatever other stray cat might have wandered over to eat it.

Note to self: Check the labels of things J.T. wants to buy.

Poodle Vs. Bigfoot

Thought I might have a really amazing YouTube video to support my title? Nah. Not really.

This afternoon, we were supposed to go to the library to learn about Bigfoot. Well we showed up, but he didn't. He had strep throat. Okay, not really. But the members of the Ohio Bigfoot Research Team had strep throat so they couldn't come do their presentation. I really hope they reschedule. They're supposed to bring some slides and maybe video and footprint casts. Should be fun. And a bit nightmare inducing for me. Since they couldn't be there, the library gave us bigfoot souvenirs. Which were simply a square of faux fur material.

J.T. and I brought ours in and Baby fell in love! She HAD to have the bigfoot fur. Had to!

She didn't want to play with it like a stuffed toy. She wanted to lay and chew on it and threaten to kill anyone that came near her. It's not real animal fur, I swear. I don't know what her fascination is.

In other news...when we picked up J.T.'s PS3, I told him he couldn't play it until he let me take a picture of him with it. This is what he gave me.


Praying to the Sony gods. Yes, he thought he was hilarious.

Late November Update

We have been schooling, honestly! I just haven't been updating :-p

We're continuing with Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows for reading. On chapter 8 or 9 I believe. I can't wait until the end of the book so....
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I can say "I told you so!" to J.T. about Snape not being evil. Heehee.

Our last and current chapter in History deals with slavery in early America. It's quite interesting because, for now, it is focusing on *how* slavery got started. The conditions that made America and England able to enslave Africans and why we didn't try to do the same to the Native Americans...and is also getting some into intentured servitude of whites in America. I think the whys and hows of history are very important to learn to help prevent similar mistakes in the future.

Today's Science was a Nova program on PBS. I believe it was called "Master of the Ants" and showed a tribe of people who use a breed of ants to fight termites when they have an infestation. I only half listened while J.T. watched, but it sounded pretty interesting.

In English...we're learning personal correspondence. We just finished "Thank You" letters today. Now I need J.T. to get something so I can make him send out a thank you note. LOL


On a Mom note, I'm doing a homemade holiday this year. I've made dog biscuits for all the doggies that belong to the families on my list and my mom's dog is also getting a couple of handmade toys...complete with squeakies inside ;-) I'm also doing popcorn balls for everyone and sewing some gifts...already sent my grandma's box to her and my mom and her husband's box will go next. So, other than schooling, that's what I've been amusing myself with.

I hope everyone has had a wonderful November!

Mmm...Chocolate...

Check out this contest to win a theobromine molecule t-shirt. And, while you're there, look around a bit. Fun blog! Added to my "blogs to read" list ;-)

History!

And this should end my curriculum posts. Right? If not, let's just pretend like it does, 'kay?

We own our history book...used of course ;-) because our library didn't have it and I knew for sure this is what I wanted for history this year. Last year, J.T. focused on ancient history...mostly roman times. This year, I wanted to do some American history. But real American history, not the stuff they teach in public schools.

The book we're using is A People's History of the United States of America by Howard Zinn. I use the abridged teaching edition.

This is actually a book that is used mostly in college classrooms, but I find that it's quite easy to teach from. I don't mean that J.T. is some amazing whiz kid at history, we just read each chapter together and it's not hard to understand. Now...the questions at the end of the chapter are a bit advanced so I pick and choose there and/or just do my own comprehension questions.

Zinn tries, with his book, to present history from a real person's POV rather than the leaders and heroes that other books generally focus on. Such as talking about the cultures Columbus destroyed rather than his "heroic" exploits.

With J.T.'s vacation break, we haven't gotten very far into the book yet, but already J.T. was disgusted with Columbus Day talk this year ;-)

I don't want to necessarily teach against everyone who is generally considered an American icon, or try to show that general American history knowledge is completely wrong (because not all of it is) but I do want J.T. to realize that when progress happens it's generally at the expense of someone or something...and to be aware of those affected negatively as well as being aware of positive results.

It's a pretty intense book and I haven't figured out yet if we'll complete it this year, but it is a very interesting book to delve into...even to just read for your own knowledge if not teaching from it. I also like that there are gobs of other programs, movies and books to compare and contrast with.

I think with History that pretty much sums up what we're using for curriculum this year. There is so much learning that J.T. does just on his own and not as "official" school stuff...I just have to get better at recognizing it in a way that the school board can understand.