Unschooling Unexpected Benefits and Challenges {Friday Five}

We jumped into unschooling without many expectations. Self-education is still an experiment in which we are all learning how to support each other. As the primary educator, I've been surprised to find the following challenges:

1. Money - I want to do more than we can reasonably afford. I want to travel more, take more classes, and buy more supplies. We carefully select what experiences are the most appealing and invest in those.
2. Time management - I don't mean in the 'we don't have enough time' but the 'what the hell do I do now' sense of the word management. I am a planner but Lil and Alex are not. They have no trouble filling free time with games, reading, and entertainment but I am often at a loss. We're working on the right balance to please us all.
3. Difficult subjects - We are not tracking Lil's learning per se but I do note where there are gaps and try to incorporate more teachable moments into our life around difficult subjects. For instance, math facts don't come naturally to Lil. Whether we incorporate addition and subtraction into games, everyday life, or written work, she feels frustrated and wants to give up. I don't believe that coercing a kid ever results in true learning so we just bear on with sneaking practice in where we can.
4. News - Goodness I miss listening to NPR news. Now that Lil listens too, I usually have to turn it off. Answering her multitude of questions, 'who died?' and 'what's rape?' and 'why will Texas kill him?' and 'the United States army?',  is too hard on us both.
5. Me time - Of course, lack of time to myself wasn't unexpected. But until it actually happened, me going for weeks without an hour at home without another person in the house, I didn't realize how I would feel. I have had to shift patterns in my life because I now almost never have uninterrupted time to write, pay bills, or just think. Strangely the lack of quiet time makes me crave my family more because it just seems too quiet and I am too lost without them.

And of course, there are unexpected benefits:

1. Stretchy pants wearing - There isn't much need to dress for class when you teach from morning through the night. I do typically change into public-friendly clothes once a day but I admit to wearing pajama or yoga pants an awful lot of the time.
2. Educator discounts - Retailers from JoAnn's to Barnes &  Noble to World Market give teachers discounts. This list includes 66 discounts (hat tip Cbus Mom) and I'm sure there are more. Most allow home educators to partake. I appreciate the generousity because homeschooling is an expensive proposition, see number 1 above.
3. Sleeping in - Lil is the best daughter in the whole world because she loves a late wake up as much as Alex and I do. Seriously, most days we are all asleep past 9 am. We are so NOT morning people that now I wonder if we could ever get her to school before the first bell.
4. Noticing leaps in understanding - This week something 'clicked' and Lil suddenly understood how to read music note rhythm. This isn't something I taught her because she has resisted my instruction. Suddenly she wanted to learn and BOOM! she was clapping rhythms like a Suzuki champion. I don't know if I would notice Lil's progress so distinctly if she were in school.
5. Support of family - Initially I felt like homeschooling was going to be 'my' thing. A truly delightful surprise is that Alex, both sets of parents, and all Lil's aunts and uncles are taking a role in educating her. They give her learning supplies, experiences, and support in ways that I could not have imagined when we started this year. Thank you, family, for sustaining us both.

Any other unschoolers want to add their benefits and challenges?

Homeschool Report Card Fall 2011

One of my favorite tasks when I taught at the Jewish day school was grading and writing report cards. It has to do with my judgmental nature, I think. Of course I delighted in making this report of our first official quarter homeschooling. Dates: August 2011 - December 2011

Achievements: Reading fluency Writing complete sentences Spelling creatively but understandably Basic addition fluency Counting coins Butterfly life cycle Plant bulb life cycle Basic anatomy and dissection principles Acids and bases exploration Weight, distance, and volume measurement Basic American revolutionary war history Natural and Ohio history Finger knitting Hand sewing Digital photography Water color painting Making lardo and many other meals Literature - Thanksgiving picture books, Winter holiday picture books, Bone series, Saving the Griffin

Classes: Weekly Creative Movement class Weekly African studies Culture of Japan class (6 weeks) Homeschool gym (6 weeks)

Field Trips: Ohio Historical Society Franklin Park Conservatory Columbus Museum of Art Columbus Zoo The Wilds Urbana, Ohio - Johnny Appleseed Museum, Freshwater Fish Farm, Cedar Bog Serpent Mound and Murphin Ridge Inn in Southern Ohio Laura Ingalls Wilder Play Cuyahoga Valley National Park Nutcracker School Program Lawrence Orchards Branstool Peach Orchard Apple Hill Orchard

Forcing Bulbs with Kids {Lesson Plan}

Every year I force bulbs into blooming to brighten the dull days of winter. Alex delights in the 'dominance over nature' implied by forcing but Lil and I just love watching things grow. This year, our bulbs became a science project for Lil.

Lil chose several paper white narcissus and one amaryllis bulbs from our favorite local nursery, Oakland Park. Fancy-grade amaryllis can be very pricey but the $6 version thrill kids just as well as the unusual and expensive bulbs.

We set up the bulbs in little pots and jars around our dining room with south facing sun. Lil chose three that we would study.

We worked together to make a graph that would measure the height of the bulb. We labeled the x-axis with 'date' and the y-axis with 'height in centimeters'. We decided to measure from the top of the round part of the bulb and recorded our first height. Lil chose three symbols to represent the three different bulbs so we could record them all on the same graph.

Every two or three days, Lil measured and recorded again. After one week we had to add a second sheet of graph paper for the ever-increasing height of two of the bulbs.

In two weeks, two bulbs had bloomed and reached their maximum height. We thought we had a dud in the third bulb but now, three weeks after the forcing began, the third bulb is growing.

I used a similar set of bulb activities to teach measuring, estimation, and natural science to a class of second and third graders when I worked for Torah Day School of Virginia. They loved watching their individual bulbs grow, though we all agreed that twenty blooming paper whites in a room created an overwhelming smell.

Below, find a basic lesson plan for anyone who is unfamiliar with forcing bulbs and might want to do this with a group of children.

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Forcing Bulbs Activity

Age: 6-10 years old Time: two weeks divided as 1 30-minute set up, 1 30-minute conclusion, 10-minutes every two-three days Objective: Gain experience measuring, estimating, and graphing. Observe parts of a plant and bulb growth.

Materials: 2-4 paperwhite or amaryllis bulbs per individual or small group of 2-3 students; bulbs should be specifically labeled for forcing, i.e. they have been exposed to very cold temps for at least 3 weeks. one half pint jar or other container per bulb sterile peat moss (for amaryllis) toothpicks graph paper (print your own here) foot-long ruler bamboo stake and twist ties (optional) pencil with eraser

Procedure: 1) Use toothpicks to suspend bulb just under the top of the jar or container. The thick base of the bulb should be slightly submerged in water when you fill the jar. For amaryllis, plant in a pot of peat moss with the skinny top well out of the soil.

2) Fill jars with water and water amaryllis pot.

3) Set up a graph with date along the x-axis and height in centimeters on the y-axis. Allow space for at least 14 days and 70 centimeters.

4) Use foot-long ruler to measure the initial height of all bulbs. Choose a consistent base from which to measure which might be the emergence of the white tip out of the brown bulb.

5) Every two or three days, measure height and record on the graph. Water when bulb is no longer touching water or soil is dry. Optionally, ask children to record their observations in a log for every measuring date.

Questions to pose: What is happening to the bulbs? Look on the top, the bottom, the sides. What are the parts called? Reference this bulb anatomy diagram as necessary. What do you think will happen next? How much do you think this bulb will grow in the next few days? When do you think it will bloom? What makes you think that? Which plant has grown the most? Which grew fastest? Use student generated graphs to answer.

6) As the plant becomes very tall, insert a bamboo stake in the jar/pot and use twist ties to stabilize if necessary.

7) Conclude by asking students to draw, verbalize, or otherwise express what they learned.

8 ) Enjoy the blooms!

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Are lesson plans something you would like to read more often? If so, what additional info do you need or what is extraneous?

Vote For Ohio's Community - No on Two

Halloween decorations are still up when we celebrate our second favorite fall holiday - Election Day. Alex and I value voting and have taken Lil to the polls with us since she was a tiny babe. We always try to explain the issues to Lil. Defining the differences between politicians is difficult for her to comprehend but issues are usually more understandable. Here's how the discussion on Issue 2, the proposed repeal of an Ohio Senate bill that restricts bargaining rights of public sector employee groups, went down:

Rachel, explaining: "In our country when you work for a company, workers are allowed to form a group called a union to talk about how much money they are paid, what hours they will work, and how the company treats them. Government workers, like Alex, police officers, firefighters, and teachers, can form unions.

Some of Ohio's senators passed a bill that doesn't allow union groups to negotiate with their bosses. Issue 2 is about whether that bill was a good idea or not. What do you think?"

Lil's answer: "I think that unions have to be able to talk to their bosses. I think that if people want to have workers, they have to be nice to them. If they aren't nice to them, they won't have good workers." Smart cookie, I say.

This year, Alex became a member of the American Federation of Government Employees. I asked him to include his opinions about Issue 2:

Public sector unions serve an important role in protecting the rights of public employees and enhancing the services they provide to the general public. Firefighters and police officers are able to bargain for better safety equipment, leading to improved efficiencies. Teachers are able to bargain for smaller class sizes and deliver higher quality of education. Administrative and technical personnel bargain for improved working conditions, retaining highly qualified employees who might otherwise be attracted to work elsewhere.

Over the past several years my union has bargained on issues concerning the conditions under which employees at my agency work. We have negotiated flexible work hours, enhanced job training and an expansion of telework policies. The union also serves as a very functional tool by which employees can resolve grievances with their management. Without these improvements in the workplace, I and several co-workers likely would have looked for work in the private sector. A high turnover of well-qualified employees costs tax payers.

Proponents of Issue 2 argue that the majority of the bill is about reducing pay and benefits due to tough budgetary times. While the argument that we should all race to the bottom in terms of compensation and turn into wage slaves should be discussed on its own merits, it is a red herring. Issue 2 is plain and simple about union busting. Certain segments of our political spectrum view unions with loathing and believe they should be brought low at every opportunity. Issue 2 is about reducing the influence of unions and increasing the absolute control the government has over its workers.

I will vote no on 2 to preserve my ability to unionize effectively, to retain high quality workers in government service, and to maintain efficient public sector practices.

When you go to the polls, we hope you will support the public sector community of Ohio and vote No on 2. If you disagree, we still hope you go vote, as it is our most precious national right.

Consult the Ohio Secretary of State election page for info about where and how to vote.

PS. Ironically, the only other time I used this platform to address politics, I was also advocating a No on Ohio Issue Two. I wonder what Issue 2 will be next election cycle?

Jar Jack-o-lanterns

When I saw this idea combining three of my favorite things (canning jars, pumpkins, and Halloween), I knew we had to make jar jack-o-lanterns. I dug out a stash of not-acceptable-for-canning jars (ones without a brand name) and our acrylic paints.

Lil, her friend, and I each painted three jars in shades of orange. The girls played while I painted the top black and let them dry. About an hour later, we painted black faces over the orange.

Lil lined up our jar jack-o-lanterns as the sun set. Tea light candles brought the scary and sweet faces to life.

I love the rustic look and can't wait to light our homemade luminaries on Beggar's Night!

Country Living Fair 2011

I presented an apple cooking demonstration at the Country Living Fair on the Ohio Village campus this morning. Enough people asked for a review that I'm providing a quick one today for those who want to visit Saturday or Sunday. The Fair is organized by Country Living magazine and reflects their aesthetic for earthy, farm decor and crafts. Vendors of such items are positioned throughout the location. Many Ohio Village buildings are open, housing appraisals, magazine subscription sales, and demonstrations. Caterers, food trucks, Jeni's and farms sell food ranging from typical fair fare to more upscale and local dishes.

Children can explore the grounds of the Village, watch artisan demonstrations, and play with Victorian era games. They will likely not enjoy visiting vendor booths where breakables are tempting and space is confined.

The Fair was very crowded by the time I left at 1 pm on Friday afternoon. With good weather predicted all weekend, I expect visitors will fill the cobblestone streets daily. I plan to take Lil back on Sunday morning early, hopefully before the bulk of guests arrive.

Country Living Fair Columbus 2011 Ohio Village 17th street exit off 71 Parking: $5, free for Ohio Historical Society members Admission: $16/day or $20/weekend pass, includes admission to the Ohio Historical Center

Country Living Fair is also going to Atlanta and Austin this year. Visit the Country Living website Fair page for more details about additional locations.

Disclosure: In exchange for presenting at the fair, I received a stipend and weekend passes for me and my family. This profile was not expected, nor compensated for.

Autumn 2011 {Events and Classes}

Fill your calendar and your belly with some of the local food events scheduled for this autumn! Hounds in the Kitchen classes at Franklin Park Conservatory: register by calling 614.645.5923 or download, print and mail a registration form.

Puttin' Up Keep the summer bounty easily at hand all year long with tried and true preserving techniques. Homesteader Rachel Tayse Baillieul will guide class participants to make freezer basil pesto, water-bath canned applesauce, "sun" dried tomatoes and home frozen fruit. Sun., September 11, 4 – 6pm $15 Members (Member Madness Pricing!); $35 Non-members

Fermented Foods Fermented foods, like traditional sauerkraut and kefir, are believed to improve digestion and increase absorption of nutrients. Plus, they taste delicious! We will sample a variety of fermented foods and demonstrate how to easily make kefir, buttermilk, sourdough, pickles, and sauerkraut at home. Sun., October 16, 4 – 6pm $30 Members; $35 Non-members

Whole Bird Cooking Fear the holiday turkey and goose no more! Participants in this class will practice carving, eat a small meal, hear tips and tricks for flavorful juicy roasting, and learn how to use leftovers to best effect. Leave with the confidence to add roast birds to your menu year round. Sun., November 13, 4 – 6pm $30 Members; $35 Non-members

Fruit or Vegetable? PreK Using the powers of observation, preschoolers will identify what is a fruit and what is a vegetable, explore the gardens to see crops growing on trees, vines, and plants and then cook and taste nutritious recipes with local and seasonal produce. Thursdays, September 8, 15, and 22; 11am – 12pm $30 Members (Member Madness Pricing!); $70 Non-members (for the three-class series, price includes one child age 3-6 and one adult)

Harvest Fun PreK The harvest season is full of kid-friendly foods and activities. Kids will cook with local favorites including apples, potatoes and pumpkins during this series. Each week series will include a food-related craft. Thursdays, October 13, 20 and 27; 11am – 12pm $63 Members; $70 Non-members (for the three- class series, price include one child age 3-6 and one adult)

Whole Grains PreK Kids will explore nutrient-dense grains, from familiar rice and wheat to exotic tabouli and quinoa, through measuring, cooking and tasting a wide variety of grains. Your family may find a new favorite! Thursdays, November 3, 10 and 17; 11am – 12pm $63 Members; $70 Non-members (for the three-class series, price include one child v and one adult)

Hounds in the Kitchen Classes at Wild Goose: register online through Wild Goose

Apples Year Round Rachel will share her favorite ways to enjoy apples in all seasons by dehydrating, canning applesauce, and storing long term. We'll focus on more advanced ways of preserving apples including making cider vinegar and hard cider. Tuesday September 20, 6:30-8:30 pm, $30 per individual, $55/pair (one person takes two classes or two people take one class)

Home Charcuterie Learn how to make pancetta and bacon at home with no special tools or equipment! We'll also demonstrate how to stuff sausage and sample a variety of home cured meats. Tuesday October 18, 6:30-8:30 pm, $30 per individual, $55/pair (one person takes two classes or two people take one class)

Hounds in the Kitchen appearances: Bacon Camp 2011! Rachel will be part of the judging team for the annual bacon camp hosted by Wild Goose Creative at the North Market. There are still tickets available for next Saturday's event. August 27, 1-4 pm, $10 for bacon samples and fun. Register online.

Country Living Fair Held on the beautiful Ohio Village, the Country Living Fair is an annual gathering of fans of antiques, farm fresh cooking, and crafting. Rachel will present "New Ideas with Ohio Apples" on Friday at noon. The fair runs 10 am to 5 pm Friday, Saturday, and Sunday September 16-18. Tickets are for sale online ($13) or at the gate ($16).

Recommended Events:

Hungry Planet at Franklin Park Conservatory - August 20 - November 6 The conservatory hosts a food show this harvest season. See food art installed throughout the horticultural displays, tour the Edible Campus, and wander through a blown glass garden. A Food for Thought lecture series and special events like Market Days and Food Truck Sundays compliment the exhibits.

Lobster Days at The Hills Market Join The Hills Market in Worthington as they serve traditional Maine Lobster Rolls (filled to the brim with 1/4 pound of fresh lobster placed atop a buttered and toasted roll) with Ballreich's potato chips (from Tiffin, Ohio), lemonade and a slice of Judy's blueberry pie (from Waldo, Ohio.) Seatings are at 1 and 5 p.m. August 27 and September 3. Reservations for the $15 dinner are required by calling 614.846.3220.

Farm to Table Dinners at Murphin Ridge Murphin Ridge in West Union, Ohio will offer two different opportunities for travelers to enjoy the inn's memorable farm-to-table dining experience, with dinners slated for Sat., Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. and Sat., Oct. 1 at 7 p.m.  The dinner is only $50 per person or $65 for wine pairings. Lodging is also available.

Horn of Africa Benefit at Solay Bistro> The Horn of Africa benefit dinner at Solay Bistro promises to be one of the most interesting cultural exchanges in Columbus this fall, and a delicious one to boot. Solay Bistro will prepare a African foods buffet on September 7 and 14th to raise funds for starving Africans, many of whom have relatives living here in Columbus. Tickets cost just $35 each and proceeds will go to CARE, a highly regarded non-profit doing work in the Horn of Africa.

Taste the Future - Columbus State Community College The 23rd annual culinary showcase, Taste the Future, will be held on September 13, 2011. More than 50 chefs will prepare samples for guests to enjoy on the Columbus State campus. All proceeds benefit student scholarship. Be sure to read Hounds in the Kitchen this Monday for a ticket giveaway!

Kids World at Independents Day - Saturday, September 17 10am - 8 pm at Gay Street and Pearl Alley Kids World will be a special area for children up to the age of 13 along the Gay Street sidewalk between Sugardaddy's and Pearl Alley during the Independents Day celebration. Openheartcreatures will perform in body puppets, the Cooking Caravan will put on a performance and pass out food samples, there will be a kids fashion design/creation hour and fashion show, and an art station where they can make music shakers and bird feeders. The SBB will host a "Start Your Own Business" seminar for kids with ideas of how they can get involved with the community through entrepreneurship, and then will run a kids parade through the fest to show people that children are our next community leaders.

North Market's 6th Annual Microbrew Festival The North Market will toast the end of summer with the 6th annual Columbus Microbrew Festival on September 16 and 17. Celebrate locally brewed ales, lagers and stouts in the company of the brewmasters from participating local microbreweries. Admission free; beer tasting is $20.

Farm to Table Dinners at Jorgensen Farms After an informal tour of Val's organic herb and lamb farm in Westerville, guests will enjoy a chef-prepared meal of seasonal ingredients every third Sunday through December. Dinners start at 5 pm and cost $40 per person.

Local Foods Week - locations across Columbus, presented by Local Matters From a movie night to local drink tastings to the harvest ball, September 30 - October 8 will be a celebration of all things local. Events for are scheduled for foodies of all ages. Stay tuned to Eat Local Ohio for details and registration.

I know there are more events out there. What did I miss?

Be My Guest and Meet Will Allen {Giveaway}

A week ago, I shared that urban agriculture genius Will Allen is visiting Columbus. Tickets are still available to the Friday keynote and Saturday-Sunday workshop intensive.

Thanks to a donation from Scotts via Slow Food Columbus, I am able to give away a ticket to the keynote address this Friday, July 15, 2011 at Franklin Park Conservatory. The winner can attend both the semi-private meet & greet session at 5 pm and the 6 pm talk, a $50 value!

All you need to do to enter is leave a comment with the reason you want to attend.

I'll start. I can't wait to hear Will Allen because:

• he has all the dirt on building healthy soil. I aspire to be more than a lazy composter.
• a former basketball player, Allen now builds hoop houses. I need to have one of these some day.
• he believes in the transformative power of edible gardening. I look forward to being inspired by his radical back-to-the-earth ideas.

Leave a comment with your reason and a way to contact you before midnight Wednesday July 13, 2011 when the contest ends. I'll draw a random winner and notify them by 10 am Thursday.