| Home | Newsletter | Special events | Meetings | Contacts | Classes | Resources |
Northland C.O.R.E Volume 4, Issue 3, Summer 2001
"The object of teaching the child is to enable the child to get along without the teacher."
The Bulletin Board will become one of the benefits of membership in Northland C.O.R.E. (see C.O.R.E. Notes & News) and will increase from 5 to 8 issues per year: September, October, November, February, March, April, May and Summer. Deadlines for submissions will be the 10th of the month preceding the next issue (ex: Aug. 10th for the September issue).
As always, I am looking for contributors. In addition to Whats Happening? and C.O.R.E. Notes & News, I would like to include on a regular basis: a Kid's Page; Field Trip reviews; reviews of books, products, etc; favorite web sites; fun projects... the list could go on and on. Submissions may be sent to:
The Bulletin Board,
or email me at: [email protected]. Deadline for the next issue is August 10, 2001.
Thanks to everyone for your continued support!
Lisa B. Messerer, editor
Articles that appear in The Bulletin Board do not neccesarily reflect the views of the editors, nor does publication of said articles constitute an endorsement of views they may express. As with all things in life, please take what fits for your family and leave the rest.
Midsummer heat in meadows and marshes may slow us down, but it has not lessened the activity of insects, including bees, butterflies, dragonflies, and their cousins - the damselflies.
Half the size of dragonflies and narrow bodied, damselflies appear to be dainty and weak fliers; hence the name. Dragonflies hold their wings out sideways, perpendicular to their bodies when they are at rest; damselflies hold theirs parallel to their bodies. The thin abdomens of damselflies are often brightly colored with blues and reds.
Damselflies are never far from the water of their youth. Nymphs survive winter in ponds or lakes and emerge as adults in early summer. The predaceous life of the nymph continues when it becomes an adult and feeds on small insects near the water. Often, as it patrols its domain, a damselfly will land on a boat, dock, or angler.
Male damselflies use a tail clasper to grasp the female behind her head. Copulation takes place in the air, and they may fly in tandem for days before dropping eggs in water.
July 13
A couple of lesser-loved critters of midsummer are the deerflies and their larger cousins, the horseflies. We identify these insects as flies because they have only two wings; most insects have four.
Horseflies are large and may reach a length of one inch; deerflies are about half that size. Each has huge colorful eyes and mostly clear wings. A close look shows us that the wings are quite beautiful.
While the males are content to feed on nectar and the pollen of flowers, the females use their sharp mouth parts to cut skin and suck the blood oozing from the wound. To form eggs, these females need more protein than is found in flowers. many mammals, including humans, serve as blood donors, and these flies are named for common victims. We know as deerflies the bugs that fly around our heads and even get caught in our hair as they try to bite. Horseflies are more direct in their flight and bite ankles and legs rather than heads.
Both flies winter as aquatic larvae, pupate in the spring, and emerge in June to spend the midsummer in wet areas. Strong fliers, they range widely. If you can bear it, take a hand lens along on a summer hike and watch a horsefly take a bite out of your leg.
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
Parks and Rec., Summer Youth Recreation Program
Thursday, July 19
NEW for 2001 - Art and Field Day: Chester Bowl will be the gathering point for participants from all Community Recreation Centers for an exciting city-wide ART & FIELD DAY!
From 11am to 3pm children will be able to participate in a variety of arts and crafts, non-competitive new games, old-fashioned games, canoeing and kayaking on the pond, and playground activities.
A simple lunch will be provided. Children should sign up through their neighborhood recreation centers. Transportation provided from, and back to, community recreation centers.
Call Thom Storm, Duluth Parks and Recreation at 218-724-9832.
Thursday, August 9
Valleyfair Amusement Park. Road trip to the cities for a fun day of water
park rides and roller coasters. Buses will pick youth up at community
recreation centers.
Call Pam Page, Duluth Parks and Recreation at 218-723-3677.
The cost is $35.
Thursday, August 16
Sand modeling Contest - open to the public! A fun-filled day at the Park Point beach. Each community recreation center will create their own work of art in the sand.
Participants can also compete in the second annual
watermelon eating contest or the first ever banana eating contest. There will
also be kayaking and canoeing. Transportation provided from, and back to,
community recreation centers.
Call Ross Demant, Duluth Parks and Recreation at 218-723-3679.
Wednesday Night at the Races
July 25 - August 29. Registration from 5:00 - 5:50pm. All races begin at
6:00pm. 1/4 mile, 1/2 mile, and 1 mile races for kids up to 14 yrs old.
Ribbon awarded to all finishers and prize drawings for all registered
participants. Youth who participate in four out of six dates will receive a
medal and t-shirt.
For details call Grandma's Marathon at 218-727-0947.
Thursdays at Enger Park
Informal homeschoolers gathering every Thursday through the summer from 12 to
2pm. An opportunity to talk, play, and share resouces with other
homeschoolers.
Enger Park's entrance is located off of Skyline Drive, on Hank enson Boulevard (if you are coming from the east, turn right at Twin Ponds - rather than going left on Skyline).
Hope to see you there!
Skateboarding
Parks and Recreation has 9 locations with skateboard apparatus.
They are:
Entertainment Schedule
Chester Creek Concerts
All concerts are at 7:00pm and are free and open to the public.
Music in the Parks Concert Series
Thursday evening concerts held in Leif Erikson Park, Lester Park, Lincoln
Park, and Chambers Grove in Fond du Lac.
Concerts begin at 7:00pm and are
free and open to the public.
Fridays Live! At the Civic Center
Located at 5th Ave. W. and First St. Concerts begin at 12:15pm and are free and open to the public.
City Sounds on the Library Plaza
Concerts begin at 7:00pm and are free and open to the public. Most concerts feature the Big Band sounds of the 1930's and 40's. The Downbeats are an easy-listening vocal group.
Fun (& Wacky) Projects
Studying Ancient Egypt? Here's a fun, hands-on project from Artrageous
Projects by Klutz Press:
National Night Out - Tuesday, August 7
Organize a block party. Block off the street and play games with the kids.
National Night Out is a time to meet your neighbors and build a safer
community. The Duluth Police Department would like to know if you are
planning to organize an activity or if you want further information. There is
a neighborhood resource guide available.
Call Kelly Looby, Crime Prevention Specialist, at 218-723-3529 for more information.
Friends of the Library Annual Book Sale
August 23 - 25 in the Main Library's meeting rooms.
For more information
about the book sale or about useful donations, please call 218-723-3836.
Opportunities for Discussions by Kathryn Stout, August 1997
www.designastudy.com
August is a month of vacations--a chance to relax before starting a new school year. When we relax, we usually find plenty of opportunities for discussions. Use this month to find out just how productive those discussions can be so that you are comfortable including them as part of your school plans. Too often the pressure of handling both household and teaching responsibilities puts an end to this wonderful learning tool. Discussion provides a model for our children to follow, increases their ability to think, and encourages them to put their feelings into words.
Here are a few easy ideas for the summer:
OR
Someone who is easily angered is likely to be avoided. Here children recognize that they don't want to be near him because "he's always mad at me."
This is also an opportunity to teach children how to weigh what is said.
These simple conversations provide important direction for our children, but take little effort from us. Have a relaxing month and enjoy your family.
Enrichment Group Planning Meeting
July 24th, 10:00am
All who are interested are invited to a planning meeting on July 24th at 10:00am. Classes and activities for all ages are being decided, including for those in junior and senior high.
Parent involvement will be required, so please bring ideas for classes you want to teach (or help with) as well as those you would like to see offered.
Call for location of meeting by July 20th. Wendy at 218-626-4981; or Sue at 218-729-0818
Favorite Websites!
by Trina Legarde
Below is one of my favorite websites. It features a wide range of free, printable unit study lesson plans. I found a wonderful, 30+ page unit study on Australia from this site that the kids and I used in one of our hs groups this past year. It had some great ideas! Make sure you check it out.
The first annual organizational meeting was held in May. We discussed creating by-laws and other organizational details for our growing group. We decided to formalize some roles that individuals had taken on in the past (including general job descriptions), to meld The Bulletin Board with Northland C.O.R.E., and discussed meetings for the upcoming year. Further details are presented here on the CORE Notes and News page.
In addition to creating "offices" within the organization, we decided to
offer memberships:
A membership will cost $12.00 per year. Benefits will
include a subscription to The Bulletin Board (which will increase from 5 to 8
issues/yr); reduced admission to the Twin Ports Home Educators Conference;
and a member vote in Officer elections (officers were appointed for the first
term).
I would like to extend a personal thank you to all who attended the first annual Northland CORE Curriculum and Information Fair. It was a full day of information booths, vendors, and workshops. It was a great event and offered a lot for everyone.
The merger of Northland CORE and The Bulletin Board newsletter is going to be a great benefit as we all share support and information with one another. I encourage everyone to participate, not just with a membership, but also by sending in your thoughts and ideas.
Your CORE-dinator,
Anne Hjelle
Northland CORE Offices 2001 - 2002
We will be profiling each office in upcoming newsletters, including a description of duties and an update from that officer.
Each of the quarterly meetings this next year will focus on one of these areas providing ideas and resources that will help meet state requirements. This will be done with speakers, curriculum displays and even parents sharing how everyday living experiences fulfill these.
These meetings are open to everyone, not just those with a CORE membership. At this time we plan to continue meeting at Lake Superior College. Specific dates and times will be published in the September Bulletin Board.
CORE Calendar 2001 - 2002
September:
November:
January:
March:
April 6th (tentative date):
May:
"Hmmm...I cleaned up the house some but it's messy again. The dishes were done, but we used them again. I spent time cooking dinner but we ate it in fifteen minutes. We homeschooled---children, tell your father what you learned today!" (Young children give their mom a blank look, then sidle up next to her and whisper, "What? Tell me again!"). We've all probably had days like this!
One of the busiest seasons of life is when all the children are young -- on the other hand, when they are young, you can afford to be more relaxed about their homeschooling and cover the necessary work in just a few hours a week--while spending more time working on attitudes, obedience, sibling relationships, teamwork, talking and learning about the Lord, enjoying hugs and stories, learning about nature and why things work the way they do, counting spoons and subtracting and dividing cookies--and of course, answering lots of questions!
Are you viewing taking care of all the children's needs, changing diapers, answering questions, wiping tears, teaching obedience, mopping up spilled milk, etc., as "interruptions"? They're not, they are some of the MAIN occupations of a mom with young children!
So often during these years, our efforts seem to have no tangible results at the end of the day, but just because we can't always SEE what's been done, doesn't mean nothing has been accomplished. We are shaping young lives, and allowing the Lord to shape ours in the process as we yield to Him each day. We are ministering to the Lord as we minister to our family!
We do need to be on guard against time-wasters-- the telephone, television, too many outside activities, letting things go with the children and not taking time to train and correct them in a Christlike manner. (Otherwise, countless minutes are wasted by having to repeat ourselves every time we tell the children to do something!)
I no longer have very young children but I'd like to share something I wrote years ago when I had a nursing baby, an active 2 year old and homeschooled four older children. [Just so no one thinks I can't remember what it was like in those days!]
I used to like everything perfectly planned and in order, but I have had to learn to relax--six children and a "perfect" house just don't go together. I'll admit I still have days I'd like to have my own apartment just so I could have just one place kept perfectly neat! I have to be flexible because with so many young children, things often get put on hold. We do have a good basic routine, which helps, but I have to allow time for interruptions. I also make lists and then don't get upset if I don't get everything done. A new day begins tomorrow!
I have to remind myself that even though it may seem like I didn't accomplish much some days, I'm actually doing the most important work in the world--helping to mold and shape precious human lives with the Lord's help. What an awesome responsibility. We can provide a secure, loving environment for them in the midst of all the chaos in the world! We can lead them to Jesus, teach them His ways and help prepare them for the unique ministry that He has for each one of them.
Sometimes too, we must think of all the things that could have happened that day, but didn't! The children didn't throw a temper tantrum and talk back because we have been faithful to be consistent and train them in the ways of the Lord. (Not that they aren't still "in training" in some areas--we are, too!) They didn't experience rejection because we have demonstrated our unconditional love for them. They didn't grow hungry because we fed them peanut butter sandwiches and fruit! They were sheltered from many negative circumstances--they were safe in our care. They heard about Jesus from our lips and saw Him in our lives today, they joined in with singing songs to Him.
If the floor didn't get mopped, and the clothes are filling all eight baskets in the laundry room, what difference does it make? Eventually those things will get done, but in the meantime, our children have a mother who truly loves and cares for them, even during the less than glorious times!
Some days being a godly mother is all one can accomplish--and it is a BIG accomplishment. After all, I don't plan to take my baskets of laundry and the kitchen floor with me when Jesus returns--I do plan to take my family! And there won't be any quizzes for my 9 year old to make sure she knows her multiplication tables before she enters Heaven. We've got to keep things in perspective. Academics are important, but there are other things more important--and if we keep the right perspective, the Lord will bless our homeschooling, our mothering, and our family! [Please note--this was written years ago and I can now report that the nine year old is now a teenager and knows her multiplication tables well!]
Attempting to be "good stewards" of their time, some mothers crowd many activities into each day. Therefore, they end up pressuring themselves in ways God never intended! We need time to train our children and enjoy them--time to rest and meditate upon God's Word and allow Him to speak. Time to act in response to circumstances of daily life instead of reacting to the swirling events that surround us. Doing all things without murmurings and disputings--that we might shine as lights, holding forth the word of life--so we can say with Paul, that we will not have laboured in vain(Colossians 3).
If this has been a struggle for you recently, why not ask the Lord to give you His perspective, and allow Him to reveal any areas that need changing? He is so patient and long suffering with us, and the conviction of the Holy Spirit is always tempered with encouragement that we can repent, receive forgiveness and a clean slate. He delights in our dependence upon Him and freely bestows all the grace we need!
Don't allow a search for tangible accomplishments to distract you from the work the Lord is doing through you in your children's hearts. This ministry has eternal consequences and rewards, and truly you'll reap "treasures in Heaven" if you're faithful!
" And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work" --2 Corinthians 9:8
"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ." --Colossians 3:23-24
" And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." -- Matthew 25:40
"But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." --Matthew 6:20-21
� Copyright Tamara Eaton 1994-2000, all rights reserved. www.chfweb.com
In this case the parent who was criticized for not unschooling felt it necessary to defend her choices. She explained that she and her husband felt more comfortable spending some mornings concentrating on traditional school subjects such as math and spelling with their daughter. They also do hands-on science related to a child-initiated interest in oceanography.
This criticism, leveled at a family that works hard to meet the needs and interests of their daughter, led me to compare the two families. Just what were the differences between the two that allowed one family to garner the distinction as unschoolers? The "unschooling" family doesn't sit down and do academic subjects with their son, but he is enrolled in all kinds of classes outside of the home - music, swimming, horseback riding, art taught by someone other than the parents. Are they unschooling? How is unschooling defined?
Seems to me that both sets of parents are following the interests and parent-perceived needs of their children. I know that both spend a great deal of time with their children helping, explaining, exploring, listening, deciding.
What makes one of these families an unschooling family and the other a... a what? What do you call a family that chooses to pursue topics chosen by the parents as well as topics chosen by the child? I've met parents who introduce themselves as "unschoolers, except that we expect our kids to study math and Latin everyday." Perhaps the definition doesn't lie in who initiates study of the topic.
Is unschooling defined by whether one uses a textbook? I've met many a self-defined unschooler who sheepishly admits to using a phonics program or a math text.
Is unschooling defined by who is facilitating the learning, a parent or a private teacher? Or by the time of day the study of a given topic takes place, or by the location? If it is done in the morning at the kitchen table, it can't be unschooling. I understand that there is a philosophical difference between those who emulate institutional schooling and blindly follow experts who say kids need to learn certain subjects in a certain way by a certain age, but the family criticized for not unschooling is not doing this. They are thinking, questioning people. What defines or separates unschoolers from other homeschoolers is often a fuzzy line. It's a self-defined term. My first encounter with the term unschooler came six years ago when a friend of mine stated, with a hint of superiority in her voice, that they were unschoolers, not like the family down the street who did school-at-home all morning. I thought that this meant that my friend's kids didn't have to study anything they didn't want to, but, in fact, they studied math and history, though neither of these was child-initiated. "But", my friend explained to me, "except for math and history, the kids pursue whatever they want: acting, martial arts, dance." All of these with private teachers.
I never thought to call myself an unschooler before because there are some topics we want our kids to study even though they haven't chosen to, but since she said she was, I thought, I must be an unschooler too. We expect our kids to do math, writing, and some science each week. They are enrolled in private music and dance lessons at their request. And we help them pursue their other interests. Sounds pretty much like my friend's situation. I felt I had permission to join the club of unschoolers.
Then I met some "real" unschoolers. People who never buy textbooks, and never ask their children to learn something just because the parents want them to learn it. Oh, wow. I guess were not unschoolers after all. So, where do we belong? I sometimes feel like I am in the middle of an identity crisis. I constantly question the approach to homeschooling that we have chosen. We're too structured. We're not structured enough.
There are some who say we shouldn't use any word that has school as part of it to describe how our children learn. It's a thought-provoking idea, but for the time being, in the vernacular, we are still referred to as homeschoolers. Among homeschooling families, school-at-home and unschooling are the most common terms I hear used to describe the different ways people live their homeschooling lives.
Approaches to homeschooling are viewed as these two polar opposites. One either does school-at-home (as depicted in the media) or one unschools. Reality, of course, is different. Homeschooling might better be viewed on a continuum with school-at-home at one end, unschooling at the other, with varying degrees of each running along the continuum in between. Those of us who do bits and pieces of both, which is very likely most of us, can plug ourselves somewhere on the continuum and call ourselves eclectic. When confronted by a smug, self-identified unschooler, or a stern schooler-at-home, I can counter with, "We're eclectics." That gives me a good solid label.
But I still don't like the labels. They separate us from each other. I'd prefer that we share our resources, our ideas, our approaches, the way we share a potluck buffet. Try this dish, if you like it, you're welcome to the recipe. If you don't like it the way it is, perhaps adding a little salsa and taking out the olives will improve it for you. Maybe you're not in the mood for this dish tonight, but if I bring it to the next potluck, it might hit the spot. Maybe you'll never like that dish. that's okay. You don't have to eat it, but I brought it to share in case you'd like to try it. Why criticize each other for our approaches to homeschooling? Homeschooling is as personal as tastes. And it's difficult to put a label on tastes.
But, if there are so many ways to homeschool, what do all of us have in common? Well, obviously we don't send our kids to school. But what does that really mean? It means that what we have in common is control over what, when, how and with whom our children learn. Parents who send their children to school do not have this control. They may have a voice in some of these decisions from time to time, but they are not making the day in and day out decisions about their children's learning. They don't have any control in the big picture of their children's education. And their children have little, if any, input. We homeschoolers, no matter what our approach, are making these decisions constantly, consciously.
Perhaps a real-life anecdote will make clearer what all homeschoolers have in common. A dear friend of mine has a daughter who goes to school. One day the parents pulled her out of school for part of the day so that the family could go to the coast together. On the required excuse slip they sent to the school the next day, they wrote that the reason for her absence was "homeschooling". I was dumbfounded when my friend told me this. I felt incensed at this and couldn't quite put into words why it felt like a punch in the stomach to me. After all, I fully support them in pulling her out of school to spend time with the family. But I was incensed at having something I am so committed to, spend so much time thinking about, reading about, discussing with my husband, children and friends, something I live each day, trivialized. This family leaves the decisions of what, when, and how their children will learn up to the government institution of public school. Pulling a child out of school for the convenience of a vacation is not homeschooling. Homeschooling is a commitment, a way of life, not a convenient excuse. It's a commitment to making the decisions about our children's learning, all facets of that learning, and making it happen together everyday.
This use of the word homeschooling by my friend hit me deeply and made me think about what homeschoolers have in common with each other and how we truly are different from those who send their children to school, by virtue of our commitment to making the day-to-day decisions about our children's learning and by living this commitment.
Unschoolers, those who do school-at-home, and all of us eclectics have more in common with each other than we have differences. Let's rid ourselves of the labels and the snobbery. They are divisive. let's respect and support each other. Let's invite each other to the buffet table to share and continue our commitment to homeschooling in all its forms.
Melinda Roth homeschools in Oregon.
Reprinted with permission from
Home Education Magazine.
Back to current newsletter or back to the C.O.R.E. homepage.