Wanna See What I Look Like?

This is funny. I didn’t realize that a cached version of my site is showing on Technorati. I was messing around on my site admin dashboard and clicked on a link to see links to my site and saw this:

the old me

That is definitely a tiny version of me, but that is the picture I used to have on my site before THE TROLL came around. It is amazing what level highly educated people will stoop to when they feel threatened. *sigh*

Update 1/25/08 - They updated my link today. It is now showing the current picture of my eyes instead of the full head and shoulders photo I used to have here.

January 23, 2008 | Filed Under Fun Stuff | 3 Comments 

Should Boys Be Homeschooled?

Recently, somebody landed on my site with the search phrase “should boys be homeschooled.” Unfortunately, they didn’t find the answer to their question here. However, it did make me think (YES, sometimes I do think, despite what I said in my last post). As the homeschooling parent of 3 boys, I have definite opinions on the subject.

First, let me recommend a great article about boys and school. This link is to a small section of a larger story about boys in our society. The entire article is well worth reading if you have the time (follow the links on the page I have linked here). It is by Michael Thompson, Ph.D., host of the PBS documentary Raising Cain and he covers issues about agressiveness, school and masculinity.

Understanding and Raising Boys

I don’t think the differences between boys and girls are necessarily a stereotype (though my occasional reader, Cerulean Bill, may disagree!). There are some differences that I have observed over and over that seem to be hard-wired into boys. That’s not to say that some girls aren’t also wired similarly, or that some boys aren’t wired differently, it is just less common.

I used to think that we were just seeing boys differently because that is what we expected. But alas, my boys are definitely different (as the sixth girl in a family of girls, I may have a limited view though). I can’t remember the last time I saw a pile of girls. This isn’t because we discourage this sort of behavior in girls either. This just isn’t something girls do. Period. The activity level of boys dictates this sort of behavior. They are constantly on the move, looking for ways to have fun. My boys in particular are always pushing the limits. They play hard, fast and rough, and inevitably someone gets hurt. They know this, yet they keep doing it. They can’t help it. :)

So here’s how I’ll tie all this into education — schools discourage the sort of activity level typically found in boys. Should we corral them in and force them to comply? Afterall, they won’t be able to act this way in their jobs, right? Should we force them to sit down and read or write at the age of 5? To sit still and listen and pay attention for extended periods of time? Should we punish them for NOT behaving that way by taking away their recess?

Thompson offers several recommendations for schools (these are discussed in more depth in the article):

– Let them play.
– Create learning activities where boys use their bodies.
– Let boys read (and listen to) books that appeal to their interests.
– Read aloud to boys and have them read aloud to you.
– Allow boys to write about what interests them instead of what interests you.
– Allow discussion of topics boys may want to talk about (but teachers and girls may not).
– Allow boys to express humor in appropriate ways and at appropriate times.

Those are all great suggestions. Do you think this happens in the classroom? Do teachers have the time and resources to differentiate educational opportunities this way? I’m thinking not. They don’t even have the time and resources to differentiate educational opportunities for those who are identified as needing those opportunities, and technically required to receive them.

So Should Boys Be Homeschooled? You know what I think.

January 23, 2008 | Filed Under Homeschool Issues | 8 Comments 

Blog? What blog?

Yeah, I know. I’ve been neglecting my blog. But no more than usual, right?

There have been some great blogable homeschool stories going around lately (the presidential race and homeschoolers, the lady in DC who killed her kids); and I’ve found 2 really cool new bloggers (Wistful Wanderlust and The New Unschooler) that I’ve been meaning to write about; and I’ve had lots of personal stuff going on, yada, yada, yada).

Sometimes it is just too overwhelming to add THINKING to my list of things to do. And I’m not the type of person who can write without thinking.

Anyway, I hope to come back soon with something interesting. Maybe. In the meantime, go visit my fav new blogs!

January 17, 2008 | Filed Under Rants, Moods and Attitude | 7 Comments 

Pile of Boys (revisited)

For those of you who doubted me (or perhaps don’t have boys!), here we go again with the pile of boys. This phenomenon does not seem to be limited to just homeschooled boys though. This is a mixed crew (except that coincidentally, 2 out of the 5 Level 4 boys are homeschooled, and if you look at all levels, 3 out of 11 are homeschooled).

Pile of Boys Redux

Oh yeah, and just to get my little brag in, Theodore won First Place All Around again at this meet.

Here he is, with 7 medals around his neck (2 - 4th, 1 - 2nd, and 4 - 1st (including 1st Place All Around)). You’d think he’d have the biggest smile on his face! You know why he doesn’t? He didn’t get a TROPHY, only medals. For some reason, at this meet the trophies were only given to teams, not individuals.  Their team got one, but to him that doesn’t count.  He’s really mad about it and wants us to go to the trophy store and buy him one.

Sad Face

He asked me tonight if I thought he would go to the Olympics someday. I said that was pretty far in the future and perhaps we should just focus on finishing up Level 4 first.

(Updated 1/6/08 to fix/add photos)

January 6, 2008 | Filed Under Fun Stuff, Parenting | 5 Comments