When does Blogging become a habit?

It's been a long time since I've blogged and I find that I miss it. I think that's a good thing.

We joined a charter school this year and have felt a monthly urge to gather papers and show "real" progress. It just confirms that real progress should not be measured by how many sheets of paper a child can produce a month. What the school misses is the daily interaction with my children: the conversations that spark new ideas; the questions that beg investigation; the projects that are three dimensional and don't translate to written description (at least, not well!). When I am doing things "right," I am not teaching my children. I am participating in a learning experience. On those days I feel happy and content.

Our big project that we want to share with everyone is the Cornell University Feeder Watch. We log how many and what types of birds visit our feeders for two days out of every week (or so). We have learned that different birds like different foods and some birds feed from the ground and others from a perch. We have watched hawks come hunting in our backyard. We have observed a squirrel consistently attempt to gain access to a feeder that is placed in more and more difficult places to reach. The learning of myself and my children has been amazing. And the boys are proud to call themselves "Citizen Scientists." If you are interested, visit www.birds.cornell.edu/pdf.

In the meantime, Happy Homeschooling