Sunday, October 30, 2011

Friends
We do not make our friends, we find them only
Where they have waited for us for many years;
One day we wander forth when feeling lonely
And lo! a comrade at our side appears.
'tis not discovery, 'tis recognition~
A smile, a glance, and then we grasp a hand~
No explanation needed, no condition
That we are friends is all we understand

These past few weeks (and maybe even longer) have been quite challenging on this subject of friends.
Many events have led to deep contemplation on what I might need and what I'd like to teach my children about what friends are all about.
The first lesson which has come from pain and sadness is, be true to yourself.
Both Morgan and I have been faced with this Maya, illusion, so it seems, of how our actions(or in actions) have been perceived. This is a tricky spot. It is important for me to look at myself (not always an easy thing to do) and thus, teaching my children to look at their part in any drama. With kids, it is not easy to get the whole story. Knowing this, it can be challenging to accept another parents account of what their child said or perceived to be "the truth" or to be right on.
I really am not too interested in getting into details on this. I was about to, but it feels like re-opening a can of worms that has already started composting the scraps.  With that said, time heals. And so does acceptance. And in this case, it is acceptance of allowing all that has happened, to just be what it is.
A big part of homeschooling encompasses the desire to protect our children. I think this is a fairly accurate assumption when it comes to the majority of homeschoolers I have encountered. Part of the challenge with this protecting is being fearful when they get hurt. In this recent case, emotionally. And, well, it just brings me back to letting go and moving forward. Relationships change. When they change, we change. What is wrong with that? We grow, we learn about ourselves and others. There are certain behaviors that we just do not tolerate anymore. Maybe within ourselves... time to change our own behaviors, work on paying closer attention and being more diligent in being present. With ourselves and with each other. And, maybe we let go of the old relationship that is not aiding us in a positive way. 

"A friend suggests, wisely, that the hokey-pokey may be what it's all about, but only if you really DO turn yourself around." - John Perry Barlow
 
"... we must undergo metamorphosis, transform our consciousness into new and different forms." - Rudolf Steiner
Drama... our culture is addicted to drama. When we do not engage in the drama, it can be perceived in many ways.  It really is silly to attempt to know what is going on for other people. It's not my job to try to figure out what they think or if they are even thinking anything. Why,... that is just too much thinking!
And so, another lesson, stay still. Still in mind, still in heart... allow the world to reflect back with the utmost clarity, when we are still. There is no need for judgement. That just brings pain. It is not my business to know what and how others may be judging me or my children. If at all.......
And so, We just move forward. Attempting to better ourselves and trust in the true friends we have and that more will come when we are ready.

"When human beings meet together seeking the spirit with unity of purpose then they will also find their way to each other ..." - Rudolf Steiner 
I guess this has taken up much of my mental space. The stories we have been reading for school, with Morgan, have been helpful in ushering Morgan into the nine year change. With that comes some of this insecurity she has expressed throughout these past weeks. The bible stories, read as stories and not doctrine, can do as much healing as any myth when presented without judgement. And now we are moving forward in our house building block. Building our metaphoric houses also, those that house us, our spirit, our true being. Time to get building something spectacular.....

Monday, October 10, 2011

School updates


         Well, despite the small numbers at our Michealmas festival (The Tesserau's and us) we had a fantastic time! We made swords, crowns, meteors (out of tinfoil w/ streamers) ate caramel apples(made from scratch, my own, home made "corn syrup") and had our play!  It seems everyone had a great time and felt a part of the whole festival. Xavier and Hunter were both St.Micheal(I read the lines) Morgan and Deva were the princesses who were offered up to the dragon. And the Dragon was Adom, Christopher and Tyler. We sang, acted out the story and threw our meteors! I would say, it was a success!

         So, I am finally finishing up my first blocks of the year!  With Tyler, we began with an English block. It has gone nicely, hand in hand with his English class that he attends once a week. We went over adjectives, adverbs, positives,comparatives and superlatives.Much is review and some is at least, new terminology. One thing about Waldorf education is that a lot is covered in the early years, there just are not many terms set to the actual work. This is so not to bombard with too much information and dull the mind so it doesn't shut down. Typically , artistic activity is the medium at which these often "boring" topics are presented. But, I have been a bit challenged with incorporating more artistic ways of presenting to an Eighth grader. I plan to work on finding more beauty in bringing the work to Tyler. I think next week we will get into some Astronomy and Meteorology that we did not cover last year.We can do more outside with this. And make some nice drawings and models!
Tyler is taking a math class also. I had hoped not to have to do too much with him on this, but, nonetheless... as a homeschooler, I need to still work with him. It is so challenging for me. I am a mathaphobe! (is that a word??) So, Saul Khan via the Khan academy, gives Tyler some hope and sparks interest. This is such an awesome website! It has everything and it's Free!! http://www.khanacademy.org.

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Vimala Alphabet
     With Morgan, we have been covering the Vimala alphabet.  The book I have been working from with this, is "Soul development through Handwriting". It has been wonderful!! It is not our traditional cursive writing. Many letters are different than what we are used to, yet some are similar to what we know. The letters themselves, when practiced, work on us. Specific letters work on different issues such as, self- worth, dealing with others, stubbornness, and so much more. Here is a good example which is done by the woman, Jennifer Crebbin, who wrote the book we use. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLOP9BvshWI .
The Cover page for the Seven Days of Creation


So, we have been studying Old Testament stories. We have painted and are finishing up our book of creation, which we painted with wet-on-wet watercolors and are writing a short description in the newly learned Vimala alphabet. It is looking beautiful!!

We've been working on our upper tables. Mostly 6-12. We will continue this all year. It has been fun to write out our numbers on the parking lot with sidewalk chalk and walk or skip them so to get them into the body....not just the mind. I'm sure I will have to keep working on fun ways to make these times tables fresh.
God said:" Let there be light", and so there was light.
Also, Adam and Eve and the expulsion from the Garden of Eden was told. This is a big story for children. It goes right along with what is going on in the life of an eight year old, going on nine. Moving from the innocent world of being protected by Mother and Father(God ,in the story) and having their awareness move to the bigger world. Their eyes are open more, so to speak. They are more aware of their bodies(like Adam and Eve) ready to do more for themselves. Cook, build, create.Something Adam and Eve had to do once they left the Garden of Eden.
For direction medicine wheels, made with beeswax and willow.




 We also told some Native American creation stories and did some crafts, also aiding us in learning the 4 directions.
I think our next block will be a farming one. We will visit farms and work our own soil here at home and learn about animals. More outside time!! Hooray! Maybe we will even get that chicken coop built!!