Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Dispatch from the Revolution: Homeschooling

Olympic Blvd. Los Angeles 2014




Virus or no virus, the show must and does go on. I woke, if not refreshed, then certainly feeling better, and Oliver and I both got busy, our second week of homeschooling. This eighth grade year will be a bit more scheduled -- more homeschool and less unschool, but it's still a daunting task that I am at once thrilled by and terrified of messing up. We're using some curriculum for writing and vocabulary, and today's "lesson" included the use of concrete nouns in a one page description of a painting or photographic scene in an art book. Oliver can't spell anything -- and I mean anything -- but he is a damn good writer. He generally writes something out on paper and then dictates it into an app on his iPad. Then we go through each sentence and proof it. Let's give a wild round of applause for technology! This year, we'll be doing the following:


  1. Writing - we're using a textbook called Wordsmith by Janie B. Cheaney. I got this recommendation from a homeschool mentor, and it's a great, simple program, albeit a bit old-fashioned. I believe it's from a Christian homeschool source, but so far I've not encountered anything objectionable (we did a lower level book under the same title last year).
  2. Grammar - Oliver is taking a high school grammar course at a very cool secular homeschool place called Urban Homeschool. He took a science class there last year, and while he has reservations about the kids that go (I think kids that have been homeschooled all their lives are different than the kids Oliver hangs out with), he appreciates having someone other than moi to work with him.
  3. Reading - Can you believe that Oliver read three books on his own this summer? That is definitely more books than he's probably read in all the years that came before this summer. They were close to grade level, and he listened to the audible story as he read on his Kindle with the words magnified. Let's hear it again for technology! We'll hopefully continue with this and supplement his study of American history (see below) with novels and poetry geared toward it.
  4. American History -- I'm so excited about the history book that we're reading. It's Howard Zinn's A Young People's History of the United States. It's adapted from Zinn's adult history book and basically tells history from the point of view of the people -- the farmers, the slaves, the Native Americans -- as opposed to what Zinn calls the leaders and the conquerors. This historical perspective is upsetting to many conservatives, and I believe it's part of the basis for that polemic of a movie America: Imagine the World Without Her. Since I have some family members who rhapsodize about that film, I'm not going to go into it here, but I'm as likely to go see it as I am to see a triple-x porn flick. Come to think of it, Michael Moore's movies, from the other side of the spectrum irritate the hell out of me, too.  Here's an excerpt from Zinn's book:  People who write and read history have gotten used to seeing terrible things such as conquest and murder as the price of progress. This is because many of them think that history is the story of governments, conquerors and leaders. In this way of looking at the past, history is what happens to states, or nations. The actors in history are kings, presidents, and generals. But what about factory workers, farmers, people of color, women, and children? They make history, too. I could probably type out the whole introduction for you -- it's that interesting.
  5. Math - I don't do math and won't do math. Oliver goes two to three times a week up the street to a math tutoring place and works at his own pace. As far as I'm concerned, unless he expresses some over-riding interest in the subject, I hope he'll learn algebra and geometry, as well as functional math and then call it a day. I really don't understand why people are forced to take math well into high school, particularly if they abhor it. Oliver actually likes a lot of it, though, so who knows where he'll end up?
  6. Science - Next week, Oliver will be starting at a school that provides one-to-one teaching and will be taking a Life Sciences course twice a week. The class is expensive, but it's a novel idea (originally used for kids who are professional actors or athletes or who just can't hack ordinary school) and really excited both of us when we toured the place. Options for high school abound -- you can basically take any high school requirement, AP classes and electives, art and music. When the proverbial ship comes in, I might transfer him there full-time and return to Bora Bora on that same ship. You know Bora Bora is my true home.
  7. Electives - We've started with this free, cool program called OnInnovation that builds on Oliver's natural entrepreneurial instincts and have downloaded the lesson plans, watched videos and worked through the discussion sheets. Again, let's hear it for technology! I've signed Oliver up for free science classes once a month at the Science Museum of Los Angeles County, and we'll take advantage of field trips organized by the homeschooling group that we joined again.


Speaking of technology, I had the best exchange with my dear friend Marie Ange, whom I wrote of here the other day. We instant messaged one another for a half an hour early this morning -- a half an hour of heartfelt words and memories and laughter. I know many of you think technology is a burden, a time suck, and a destroyer of community, and I might be one of the world's biggest contrarians, but I am grateful for it every single day. I'm not just grateful that it's provided a way out of crippling isolation for the legion of persons with disabilities, but for me in particular to keep in touch with people I love who I ordinarily might have let slip away into fond memory.

16 comments:

  1. Based on what I just read there is no way in hell you are at risk of messing up. You have got your shit together lady. Here's to an awesome school year!!

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  2. I just couldn't do it. I get so frustrated with the girls just trying to do one stupid sheet of homework. Oliver's curriculum sounds fantastic.

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  3. I'm grateful for technology so I can keep in touch with you!

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  4. You know, I never understood the math push either. Of course, the basics are absolutely necessary, but what's with the calculus, trigonometry and the algebra when most kids have no idea how to create a budget (much less balance one), manage a credit card or understand how the stock market works? Now THAT is the sort of math that needs to be taught.

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  5. The history book DOES sound interesting. I've seen arguments for treating higher math as a specialty subject -- for those who enjoy it or anticipate a career in engineering or whatnot -- rather than something EVERY college-bound person should be expected to take. Makes sense to me. I never took Trig or Calculus and it hasn't harmed me in the least.

    As for technology, it undoubtedly has its good and bad moments. :)

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  6. Have to give a positive shout out to math! It can be an interesting subject and can also open doors to many fields of study. Calculus is required for much science and engineering. Mathy kids would probably say the same thing about reading Beowulf or reading Cervantes in Spanish - why do they need to know that. I hope you can encourage Oliver's love of math and keep outsourcing it.

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  7. Thanks, Meg! Like I said in my post, I don't really understand why higher levels of math are REQUIRED in high school. I feel the same way about Beowulf and Cervantes in Spanish -- unless you're so inclined. There was interesting article about math a while back that I realize is arguable, but it resonated with me. I imagine one could easily make similar arguments about the arts and literature, too! http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/29/opinion/sunday/is-algebra-necessary.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&

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  8. Sounds like a wonderful plan for Oliver's next year of learning. You are doing a great job with this home schooling and I admire your fortitude. x0 N2

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  9. I'm very impressed. This is phenomenal. You are on it girl!!

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  10. I wish I had been able to go to a school like yours...am grateful for the good public education I had, but your school sounds IDEALly suited to your son's personality and needs. You are such a great, creative mother!

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  11. Sounds like a wonderful year coming up. You are lucky to have so many resources to call on.

    There is a whole world of math that I learned about from those who love it way back when I was a member of the AOL homeschooling community. It's not just the text book stuff. I'm glad Oliver's finds it interesting. I'm glad when anybody finds anything interesting, actually.

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  12. To me, it is unfortunate that so many seem to argue that math is too hard. The value in something like algebra is, to some extent, the ability to learn to problem solve in a systematic way. Should a math class bar a kid from obtaining a college degree or a high school diploma - of course not. There should be some other pathway for a non-science, non-math major. Or a way to teach a kid with a math learning disability. OTOH, it seems that most college students should be able to pass a basic algebra class which is often taken by kids in middle school. That being said, math teaching should also be improved. Just my opinion, but trying to change the perception of math as "too hard".

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  13. Greetings. My mother homeschooled my sister and me from in my case 4th, in her case 2nd grade onwards. It was the best decision she ever made for me. I have tons of experience if you can use me, and for what it's worth I'm a totally blind Aspie. If I can answer any questions or do anything to help, please feel free to let me know.

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  14. Oliver has just blossomed since you took over his schooling. I'm so impressed with you both.

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