Anticipate fewer posts!

 It’s November.  Rob and I volunteer and lead a tax site.  Rob’s in charge and I help with training.  There are weekly tax meetings; we’re adding FSA or DIY taxes—which means more meetings and training.  Our training starts in two weeks.  In the mean time we need to do a ton of scenarios (fake tax returns) and prepare the training materials. We have a ton of volunteers to train over several sessions.  Once training starts, we’ll have a steady stream of  volunteers stopping by our house.  The passwords, websites, and Chromebooks are confusing.  There are seven different sites we use.  Arrrrggggghhhh!  Part of training is just navigating the websites and managing passwords.  Don’t ask about setting up the routers at the library.  We may have to double up the routers. Won’t that make access easier?   I can’t make this up.  Rob and I will spend days and days in January at the library quietly praying we can set up the Wi-Fi to print from our Chromebooks.

A friend just asked me to lead a few sessions about how to write grants.  I wrote a bunch in another life.  Presenting grant workshops is one of my favorite things to do.  Afterwards, I like to support the newbie grant writers.  They need help tailoring grants for foundations.  Naturally the workshops coincide with the beginning of tax training.  I’m excited!

We still have Co-op classes.  Kiddos stop by for extra help.  (By extra help I mean they are behind and we make them stay and catch up.)  We sub for religious education; there are four sessions each week.  We are trying to approximate a life and love our family; Paul and Lily love to visit!   Did I mention I just had major surgery?  It’s been six weeks; however, it takes a while to recover your energy.  So if you are wondering why there are fewer posts it’s because things are chaotic.  Sound familiar?  

Co-op Tips: Use Announcements!

 Do you use Google Classroom in your Co-op class?  I sure do!  In addition to assignments, I post how-to videos, articles, and helpful resources.  This year, I’ve been posting more announcements.  (A few screenshots are below.)  I can see a difference!  I still get texts and emails; the announcements help families stay on top of assignments.  For example, several kiddos missed the lab report deadline.  After I posted the announcement, more flew in.  (Not all.  Yes, I’m missing two.  Surprise!   All of the reports I did receive have errors and need editing.)  Job one is getting the assignments more or less on time.  I need any tool which helps.  Announcements are working.

Are you taking full advantage of the library?

 What resources does your library offer?  Our local library system serves a large region and offers many resources and services.  But I’ve visited many, many libraries, even tiny ones on bases, where my son has served.  Do you use rooms as meeting spaces?  Some Co-ops meet weekly at the library.  Does the library have a puzzle or game swap?  Book sales?   Library of Things?  Tax services?  Maker space? Loaner laptops?  Borrowing an armful of books is always fun.  But are you taking advantage of everything your library has to offer?

Art and Literature

Add more art to your literature.  We’re slogging through Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.  (Here is an abbreviated lesson with an illustration.  We’re investing three hours to read the entire poem.)  Writers and artists influence one another.  Look at these Green Knight illustrations from the British Museum. Another example is to look at these Pride and Prejudice illustrations or these from A Tale of Two Cities.  Look at the beautiful art N.C. Wyeth created for Robinson Crusoe.  (The Brandywine Museum of Art houses several Wyeth collections. They have an excellent Model Train exhibit open donuts before Thanksgiving through the New Year’s.)  

How can you add art to literature?  Here are some questions.  (Yes, I cringe whenever I see Common Core, too.  But the questions are good!) In terms of illustrations for a poem or novel, I think the discussion can center on illustrations.  What does the artist want to convey?  What do they reveal in terms of the story?  Does the artist evoke emotion?  (N.C. Wyeth is renowned for his illustrations.  Ask your kiddos why?)  How does the artist capture the story?  

Do you have littles?  Khan Academy has a lesson: What do pictures bring to a story?  Who knew?  I’m sure you’ve watched your kiddos decode a story from the pictures or images.  Be sure to ask, ‘What do you think happens next?’ as you read a new story.  Let them draw their own illustrations as you read them a story!  Let’s bring more art to literature!  (Yes, I do have one or two prints on my walls, on the shelves—even decorating the bathroom.  We’re at the point where we select postcards from museums to frame instead of prints—we’re running out of room!)  More art!  More beauty!

 

Happy Halloween!

 Happy Halloween!  I’m not much for decorations, especially outside.  My preference is a flag and coordinating mailbox cover.  However, one of the students gave me a porch goose—with clothes.  (Max loves costumes himself.)  I will say the goose looks jaunty with a bandana—his customary garb.  Happy Halloween!  I hope yours is fun!

Fun Day Friday! Hands-on History!

 Make plans for Friday afternoon.  Let’s use that big block of time for fun projects!  Wow!  Look at these ideas; #2 is a living wax museum.  Yes!  Wouldn’t a family of historical figures be fun for Halloween?  Another suggestion is to build a historic landmark or make a diorama.  Make a salt dough map or diorama. Which coincides with the era your family is studying.  Set aside an hour on Friday.  See how far you get with the project.  If your kiddos are engaged, let them stay on task.  However, littles do tend to tune out.  Clear space on top of the fridge to store away unfinished projects for next week.  Take loads of pix for your portfolio!  Be sure to publish the finished project on social media for your family to admire.  Gird your loins for snarky comments such as ‘Is that all you do?’  Be ready to explain that the Quill and Parchment project was part of their study of the Constitution or the Fried Bread is a traditional Nez Perce recipe.

Co-op Tips: Manage a lively class!

 I am teaching a lively class of Middle-Schoolers this year.  It’s a chemistry and physics class; there are many labs and hands-on activities.  What are some tips?  First, have all the materials ready.  You can’t afford any lags.  Fine. Time you spend sorting labs is time the class starts to act up. Give the kiddos clear instructions.  My class needs step by step directions whenever we do any activity.  I have large bins we use to help contain messes.  (I’m looking at you, Elephant’s Toothpaste.)  Manage seating.  Separate any pairs who get into mischief.  (Yes, I separated a pair.) Tuesday, one boy’s squishy burst under the table.  We had a discussion about bringing toys in general.  We use two tables. I rotate kiddos to create different lab partners every week.  Make clean-up a consequence.  Normally, everyone cleans up after labs—not if they act up.  In fact keep a list of chores to assign as a consequence.  I have a white-board with the list posted.  (Yes, it does include cleaning toilets!) We also have a 15 minute session at the end of Co-op class to clean up and catch up.  It’s a good time to discuss any issues which may arise. Run a tight ship!  I’m glad the kiddos like the class.  I don’t want things to get out of control.