Rantings about how I "got into" the Classical Homeschooling

When Stu and I got married, I started thinking about what I would teach my children academically. At first, I was just thinking I would supplement their less than perfect private school education. I started a notebook with ideas of required summer reading and scientific subjects I wanted to cover on the weekends or during the summer. I complained horribly to my mother the year I was homeschooled, but I learned a TON of information and it was very interesting (thanks mom for putting up with me!) Call us snobs, but our ideal "pre-child" education for our children at the time would rival statesmen and nobility with private tutors and training in personal defense.

We moved back to Bksfld.; enter MaryJo and her clan...She invited me to attend Polished Cornerstones. I learned along with the homeschool girls about being a Godly Women through short teachings from (She also expanded my palate much to my husbands delight!)

Then, we moved to Tennessee and I was enlightened by a whole new way of thinking about everything: politics, American History (esp. the Civil War:), country living, gardening/composting, bread-making and bread-eating!, self-reliance, liberty and personal responsibility, variations in Reformed theology and a variety of other things.

On the recommendation of Audrey and a few other homeschool moms I admire, I read The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home by Susan Wise Bauer. (I was pregnant with Therelene and James was not yet 2). I proceeded to purchase the Story of the World and the "adult" version, The History of the Ancient World: From the Earliest Accounts to the Fall of Rome. I was over-whelmed by the THEA conference in Chattanooga a couple of times with some direction from Audrey, advice from Nancy and Gretchen and a few others. I was soaking up information from my dearest homeschool-mom friends about the trivium and practical classical education. (I was also blessed to receive a lot of information about montessori-style learning from which I gleaned some good direction on toy and music purchases!)

It was hard to narrow-down the best approach to all of the information I wanted my kids to learn and how to manage teaching 3 or 4 children different curriculum all at the same time using the standard textbook model. Stu was a distance Calvert School pupil and he benefited from it, but we didn't like the "non-sectarian" worldview of the school. I like Christian Liberty Press but, the standard textbooks/grade-oriented curriculum program didn't get me super excited about homeschooling (our kids might be advanced in math and grade-level in reading). I thought of homeschooling as an option because I wouldn't be able to afford a good private school. In the past, I had toyed with developing my own unit study "curriculum" with varying depth based on age, ability, interest and grade-level for each child. I don't think this really would have been sane as I would be constantly having to reinvent the wheel. (I've been know to overextend myself; okay.. so I AM known, at least to my family, for overextending myself.)

FINALLY, Audrey and Chris introduced us to Classical Conversations. The philosophy and once-a-week program was an answer to our "one-room schoolhouse" stuffed into modern, grade-level oriented textbook problem. What a blessing! I believe this "program", due to the weekly public speaking practice and emphasis on questioning and "owning" all subjects including the hard ethical and religious ones during the Middle School years, and teaching and presentation during the High School years is more likely to help produce young adults that aren't hindered by the "awkward, overly-sheltered homeschooled child" stereotype. (Of course, as Cal wisely instructed us, I don't think they are mutually exclusive, but if I have to choose between a socially well-adjusted child and one who has been taught the Bible and God's Worldview, I choose the awkward one who has been taught God's Word and His Worldview.) May God grant us the grace to teach my children social adjustment and His Worldview.

More importantly however, Classical Conversations "allows" God His true place in all of learning: at the center and intertwined throughout all "subjects"; it is most important for me to teach my children the correct Biblical worldview in all "subjects" and life issues while they are young. The goal isn't to overly protect my kids from all outside secular influences, but to teach them how to correctly respond to these bad and good influences "on the spot" because I as a loving parent am there (to be in the world and not of it).

Succinctly, our goal is to teach our children God's Word and His Worldview when we sit in our house, when we walk by the way, when we lie down, and when we rise up.

Thai-ish Stir-fry

Inspired by the ingredients in my fridge & freezer along with this recipe from Bon Appetit from the menu at Vongerichten's TriBeCa restaurant, 66.

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/COLD-SESAME-NOODLES-66-231439

Of course, I changed everything, including the fact that I made a hot stir-fry!!!

THE SAUCE

In my wok, I simmered on low:

-the rest of my coconut oil (about 1/3 cup)

-the rest of my sesame oil (maybe a tablespoon)

-a few dashes of balsamic vinegar (maybe a tablespoon)

-a medium pour of rice vinegar (maybe about a 1/4-1/3 cup)

-a medium pour of cooking Sherry (salt added in the bottle)

-some fresh cilantro stems finely chopped (used my blender’s food processor attachment)

-a small cinnamon stick (not broken)

-two dashes of ground coriander

-a very small squirt of chile paste from a bottle

-a small pour of wheat free good quality soy sauce

THE CARBS PART ONE

I started soaking some rice noodles in tepid/lukewarm filtered water. (they soaked 10-25 minutes until I was ready to use them).

THE VEGGIES

After a little bit (maybe 5 minutes), I added the frozen veggies.

-the rest of an already opened bag of Bird’s Eye brand “stir-fry” veggies which contained mostly carrots, snap peas, a couple of onion slices and mushroom slices.

-the rest of an already opened bag of soybeans (out of pod)

While those “defrosted” on low in the pan with the sauce, I julienned the rest of an opened bag of fresh baby carrots (about 3 handfuls).

After finishing cutting the carrots (maybe 10 minutes), I turned up the heat to 7ish on my “highes-powered” gas burner and added

-the cut carrots

-sprinkled a good portion of crystallized ginger (maybe 1/8 cup or 1/4 cup since they fit loosely being non-uniform pieces)

-about 2 handfuls of halved cashews

-a shake or two of sesame seeds (I did not bother to toast)

THE CARBS PART TWO

While the Stir-Fry cooked & I stirred “often”, in my food processor attachment, I chopped together

-one fresh small green onion

-the “mostly” leaves of a handful of fresh cilantro

THE VEGGIES FINISH

I decided to add a dash of powdered garlic & a dash of my very old jar of Spice Hunter “Thai Seasoning” for a very slight thai chile boost (I didn’t have any separate today). I finished up the veggies with lots of stirring & put them in a neat Asian-style rectangular bowl made in Pasadena, CA from my Grandma Grace that she received from her dear friend Alice Wong.

THE CARBS FINISH

I never clean the pan, so I just added

-the rice noodles

-a touch of olive oil (I’m out of canola/soy or I’d use that instead)

-a small pour of some rice vinegar

-the chopped cilantro/green onion

and stirred continuously for a few minutes until done enough.

That’s it. We loved it. It was so good we had to write it down. Stu said it was better than any dish at our only localish asian chain restaurant.

Reid-Harkin Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (S.5)

Originally Posted: April 13, 2007

Attention fellow Pro-life Tennessee Voters:

I was very disappointed today to learn that Senator Alexander voted for the Reid-Harkin Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (S.5) on Wednesday. According to senate.gov, this is "A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for human embryonic stem cell research."

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00127

Senator Alexander had this to say about it on his website:

http://alexander.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=CommitteeStatements.Detail&CommitteeStatement_Id=147

April 11th, 2007 - “As I did last year, I voted to increase under carefully controlled conditions the number of embryonic stem cell lines that President Bush has already authorized for research. I did so because this research has such enormous promise for life saving treatments that may help cure juvenile diabetes, Parkinson’s, spinal injury and other debilitating conditions. Specifically, I voted for legislation that expands federal funding of research on stem cells derived from fertilized eggs that would otherwise be discarded at fertility clinics.

“I also voted for Sen. Isakson's legislation which makes clear that new stem cell lines may be created from fertilized eggs that have stopped dividing, and which also proposes to create an amniotic and placental stem cell bank.”

I was actually somewhat surprised to learn that Senator Corker voted against the embryonic stem cell research bill because I expect him to be more wishy washy than Sen.Alexander on everything. Alexander has a lot of "correct" votes in my opinion on most of the issues that I care about, but I called his office to inform them that I was very dismayed about his position on this particular vote regarding the sanctity of life.

From information I have read today, President Bush is posed to veto this bill. I will be calling him to thank him in advance.

In-utero and Neonatal Baby Links

Originally posted: Monday Jan 7, 2007
www.huggieshappybaby.com
www.askdrsears.com
www.drjacknewman.com/index.php
www.lalecheleague.org
http://parkridgeeasthospital.com
www.mana.org
www.narm.org
www.midwife.org
www.aap.og
www.cdc.gov/nip
www.acog.org
www.glycemicindex.com
http://store.peppermint.com
www.discoverytoyslink.com/wilson
www.berlitzbooks.com

Soup, No Salad Necessary

I’m making a variation of Olive Garden’s Zuppa Tonscana. It’s a great way to eat ground beef and get your leafy greens & carbs in one pot.

I got the recipe from http://www.tuscanrecipes.com/recipes/olive-garden-zuppa-toscana.html

Except I never follow portions and I try to always use one pot so this is my today variation:

1)-In a stock pot,

-Cook some ground beef and/or ground sausage with ground turkey, chopped hot dogs, chopped sausage, chopped pepperoni (etc)

2)-Drain excess fat in Colander after mostly cooked

3)-Return to pot and brown with fresh or dried sweet peppers

-and chopped leeks, chives or green onions

-and 2-4 frozen garlic cloves or dried garlic

-(add bacon bites if you want- makes nice flavor if using mild meat)

-(today I’m also adding chopped celery because I have it in the fridge to use up)

4)-Add filtered water as much as you want up to 2/3 of the stock pot

-Add chopped or sliced potatoes (almost any kind will work, I usually use small red potatoes or new potatoes but today I’m trying large yukon gold)

5)-Heat until Boiling and reduce to low or medium low

-Cook until potatoes are tender

5)-Reduce heat to low

-Add heavy cream and/or whole milk (I use a little bit of cream and some unsweetened plain soymilk or whatever type of dairy-style stuff is in my fridge)

-Allow diary to become warm

-Add salt to taste

6)-Add FRESH Kale Leaves NOT the hard STEMS about 5 minutes before serving (Today, I’m also using fresh mustard greens because there was only one bunch of kale left at the store. This is really the only part that you can’t change - you must use fresh leaves for it to taste good!!!!)

Yep, it tastes good. I served it to my husband with crushed red pepper on top. (Our 2 year old and I ate the mild version.)

Water Quality Regulations

Originally Posted: Nov 16, 2006

Being a self-labeled Political Conservative, I’m not generally for government regulations. Air Pollution and Water Quality Control however, are two environmental issues that I believe Federal, State and Local governments have the obligation to oversee/regulate. Our Water and Air are shared vital resources that require SOME protection (not over-regulation). We should be responsible stewards over the resources God gives us.

This is a letter I wrote to Environmental Working Group:

Dear EWG-

First, I'd like to commend you for your work regarding Tap Water Quality and the compilation of multi-state data. It is great to have access to hard, cold facts as a consumer. I have a BS in Civil Engineering from Cal Poly SLO, and I have been very interested in water treatment since my first Environmental Engineering class. Although I am not currently practicing, I worked in the private sector, not for a municipal water authority:)

It is very important that people are aware of the safety of their tap water for drinking purposes. It is also very important for individuals to be responsible for the water they ingest. The job of the EPA is to set general minimal guidelines, and it is the responsibilities of states and local governments to legislate in more detail based on their needs.

While considering the EPA standards for tap water, it is important to remember that our tap water is used for washing our cars, watering our lawns, flushing our toilets and washing our clothes among other "not necessarily"-potable uses. It is important that "basically clean" tap water be used for these activities but not necessarily to the extent of zero contaminants. For instance, membrane filtration at a municipal level would greatly improve water quality but would increase costs insurmountably and unnecessarily especially in light of the aforementioned "basically clean" tap water uses.

It is my opinion that the public should be encouraged to drink well-filtered bottled water (you have to be selective here) and/or have drinking filtration units in their kitchens to achieve optimal water quality for consumption. This is a much more feasible way to continue using our tap water for all of our "basically clean" uses while greatly reducing total contaminants in the water we ingest. I would like to encourage the EWG to focus their efforts on public awareness and possibly regional/local (not federal) legislation requiring in-home filtration units in areas that are lacking instead of over-regulating our "general tap water providers".

Sincerely,

C.P., EIT