so NOT cool :: Everyday Photos by Jodi Anderson

the ashleys

I do believe that this month marks ten years since X left public school.  It was mid-first grade and none of us could stand for her to be in that place one minute longer. 

Over the years, I've heard her horror stories about the dreaded Ashleys*, chidings by the teachers for diabetes-related issues (extra trips to the bathroom, yawning), continually being singled out in front of the class, and the school's absolute intolerance for individualism. 

I am aware that she would set up the other children and teachers in ways that would bring her secret satisfaction, like mentioning to The Ashleys that her favorite group was Portishead (at the time, true that).  The Ashleys immediately proclaimed to have listened to lots of Portishead and, oh, THEY WERE BIG FANS.  In first grade.  In bum-hick-redneck-middle-of-the-woods-ville.  A place that I loved, by the way (other than the school compound). 

(An aside:  She does this to me as well.  I recently learned that, knowing I have very mild OCD, she changes the volume level on the television and radio to something that isn't a multiple of five.  You need to understand ... NUMERIC LEVELS MUST BE KEPT AT A MULTIPLE OF FIVE.  Or, the number 23.  Just saying.)

ANYHOW, I thought that I'd heard all of the war stories from her short amount of time in school, when yesterday she revealed another, about altering the Pledge of Allegiance at age five, even being careful to use a one-syllable word in place of god so that no one would notice, and recited ... "one nation under Ra" ... the teachers none the wiser. 

I'll add another chalk mark to X's tally. 

This post is anticlimatic.  I know. 

* Years later, the cartoon, "Recess", also featured a group of girls called "the Ashleys". 

H-to-the-O-to-the-M-E school

It seems like most of the other homeschooling moms did back-to-school or NOT-back-to-school posts, but I let the beginning of the school year go by unnoticed. 

That's because there is no beginning or end for us.  We're unschoolers.  (Like many of you, I know.) 

There is some loose planning, like I insist that X must work on a website and/or blog for the next two years.  (I'll let you know when that is up and running!)  She also needs to find a new volunteer job, start a D&D group, and get her driving permit.  I have a few more vague requirements involving things like math, but fortunately, like me, X loves all-things math. 

Other than that, who knows?!

A lot of people inquire about homeschooling, so here are some answers to commonly-asked questions as well as some random thoughts ...

• X has been mostly unschooled, although we have been purchasing curriculum for her "high school" math classes and a few other subjects. 
• She is very curious and has always been a voracious reader, so I have done very little in terms of leading her through learning any particular topics. 
• Like her father and I, X is naturally very interested in science, math, history, and engineering.  Like me, she is crazy about grammar and vocabulary.  (I'd add satire ... if it was considered a mainstream class.)
• We get the daily newspaper (Wisconsin State Journal) and she reads it most of the time.  Okay ... all of the time. 
• In the photo above, you can see To Kill a Mockingbird, which we are both reading.  We are using the Oak Meadow English 10 Syllabus in conjunction with this. 
• Despite common misconceptions, she gets plenty of socialization ... Mostly via a teen advisory board at the library, mixed-martial arts (or other sports), art classes, music lessons, various other classes, a youth conservation group, hanging out with friends, and (less and less often) Girl Scouts. 
• It is difficult to find good resources for homeschooling during the teenage years.  In fact, it is more difficult to just find resources for parenting during the teenage years.  (Does anyone know of any teenage parenting magazines?  I can name at least five for just toddlers.  BTW, if anyone knows of a magazine for parenting teenagers, LET ME KNOW, please.) 
• While covering the basics in education (per her age) through the years, she has also been able to excel, and explore in an unlimited way, those things in which she has been exceptionally interested, such as mythology, ancient cultures, certain areas of science, et cetera. 

This does not, by any means, encompass even a portion of her education and experience , but does touch on a few that are meaningful to us.

I can't tell you how much I love mornings.  So very much.

I am glad to have them back.

During the "school year" X takes classes at a local fine arts center once a week.  In the summer, the classes are held daily.  So, we've been scooting to the city (Madison) every day last week and this one.  We'll do that a few weeks each month for June, July, and August. 

So far this month, she has taken an animal sketching class (as seen in these photos at Vilas Park Zoo last Thursday) and comedy improv, which she takes repeatedly throughout the year.  Today, she starts "Printmaking: Warhol's World".  She is so geeked about it.  Between art, music, and acting, it really adds up, but it is worth every penny. 

One day last week, I came downstairs after I was finished with work and found a fleet of origami swans on the dining room table.  There were mother swans with their babies ... each family with different markings than the others. 

X:  The markings signify the different elements.  There is fire, wood, metal, water, chaos, celestial, and earth. 
Me:  Wow.  Those are awesome. 
X:  These ones here don't represent anything because they are made out of notebook paper. 
Me:  Oh.  Were those the first ones that you made? 
X:  No.  They were the last ... after you said that I couldn't take anymore paper out of the office. 

Oops. 

I distinctly remember that, after about the tenth time of her opening my office door and pulling paper out of the printer, I said, "Please stop doing that.  I am going crazy."

Doh.