Breakfast is served!

Ah .. she makes me laugh!

After whizzing up a couple of bananas, a handful of strawberries, some yoghurt and a few ice blocks, she pours it into the largest drinking container she can find and says "I'm ready for my story now!"

40 minutes and 2 chapters later, she's still working her way through it!

Opening our children's eyes to consumerism

Teaching our children about how marketing works can start at a young age, especially as it's the young who are often targeted.  But immaturity does make the emotional reasoning difficult to control, so consistent education about how it works is necessary through to adulthood.

The very young and their mothers are 'set up' so that products will be bought because of nagging and/or tantrums, and those who are setting up the market will admit to this tactic.  From there we see the learned behaviour of satisfying wants with unnecessary consumerism escalate right through the age brackets, and more deliberate targeting to those audiences, right through to setting up levels of socio-economic status quos.

How do we then teach our children the real difference between a real NEED and a want?  How can they see through the perceived bargains and look for quality and the true cost of items?  How can our children outsmart the system?

There are many places you can start, but I remember deliberately starting by asking my children to help with the shopping.  They had a shopping list (not too long, about six items) and they needed to find the items on the shelves themselves.  Then, they were asked to find the prices of the different brands, and tell me on which shelf the most expensive and least expensive was placed.  If they could write the prices down, they did.  Sometimes we had to calculate the better deal when there were different weight options; is it better to buy 2kg or 500g to save money in the long run?   Even now, my children know that when they help me with the shopping, I expect a good reason why they chose a particular brand, not just grabbing the first one they could see.

Then, a good look at advertising on the television, radio, magazines (if you buy them) or catalogues (junk mail) is another really good eye-opener.  If you turn the sound off and watch a tv commercial, can you guess what they are trying to sell to you? Are they telling you (body language) that their product is going to make you smart, have fun, look pretty/handsome?

One thing is for certain: you can very easily find a teaching point at almost any venue when it comes to marketing.  Being armed with some knowledge and the time to slowly figure things out (instead of rushing into any purchasing) is necessary.

I've been very thankful for some documentaries which have been on television.  Now that Maestro is 13, we're allowing him to watch one that is currently viewing on Thursday evenings, called Secrets of the Superbrands.  It is on late, so we've recorded it and then watched it together later, discussing key points.  Due to some more sensitive topics, we'll not watch all of this with Mariposa (age10) until she's a little older.

After that series finishes, I think it would be worth us having a look at The Corporation.  I'd first seen this on tv, but then borrowed it again from the library.  The 'Behind the Scenes' interviews were huge eye-openers, as this is where marketers admitted to appealing to a nagging child to make a sale.  Our children need to hear that this is how they are trying to make their money, so they can be wise enough to not be outdone and lose theirs.

Then there's a book entitled Affluenza, which I had borrowed some time back and wouldn't mind reading again.  The focus is on Australia's addiction to over-consumerism, the acquiring of so much that ends up being thrown out, and discusses what the real meaning of choice is.

We want our children to be wise about this subject, so that they are in control as opposed to being controlled.  If you know of other great documentaries or books on this subject, please do share!  We're including these sorts of studies in our work with regard to media studies and economics.

To finish up, I'll share a song that one of my older singing students is learning.  She's asked to perform it at a competition in July, and when I read the lyrics I could see why the satire appealed to her.  It's on a bit of a tangent to what I've been discussing, but it's certainly a symptom we're all familiar with.  I hope you enjoy it!



The trouble with the world today, it seems to me,Is coffee in a cardboard cup.The trouble with the affluent societyIs coffee in a cardboard cup.No one's ever casual and nonchalant,No one waits a minute in a restaurant,No one wants a waitress passing pleasantriesLike "How're you, Miss?""How're you, Sir?""May I take your order please?"The trouble with the world today is plain to see,Is everything is hurry up.It's rush it through, and don't be slow,And BLT on rye to go,With coffee (I think she said)Coffee (I know she said)Coffee in a cardboard cup.
The trouble with the helter-skelter life we leadIs coffee in a cardboard cup.The trouble, the psychologists have all agreed,Is coffee in a cardboard cup.Tell me, what could possibly be drearierThan seafood from the Belnord cafeteria?Seems to me a gentleman would much prefer"Afternoon!""How've you been?""Would you like the special, sir?"The trouble with the world today is plain to see,Is everything is hurry up.There's ready-wear, and instant tea,And minute rice, and my oh me,There's coffee (I think she said)Coffee (I know she said)Coffee in a cardboard cup.
The trouble with the world today, beyond a doubt,Is coffee in a cardboard cup.The trouble is the way we like to take things out,Like coffee in a cardboard cup.No one knows the meaning of utopiaIs dining at the corner cornucopia,Seems to me we wouldn't be such nervous wrecksWith "Hello, there!""Be right back!""Would you care for separate checks?"The trouble with the world today is plain to see,Is everything is hurry up.It's all become looney tunesWith sugar packs and plastic spoonsAnd coffee (I think she said)Coffee (I know she said)Coffee (I'm sure she said)Coffee (She must have said)Coffee in a cardboard cup.
Thank you for dropping by!

Homeschooling is teaching me ...

I am definitely on a learning curve again.  Sometimes my children are a great source of gentle reminders that there is still something I am yet to master about how their forming minds work, or something I thought I knew needs refining.  Right now it is all about PATIENCE!

Mariposa has been going so well with her learning of fractions, that I was presented with a stumbling block when she suddenly didn't understand the concept of mixed fractions.  "Why don't you understand this, but you can make equivalent fractions so easily?"  No matter how many times I tried to go over it all again, we couldn't move up to the next step.  Okay .. time out!  I didn't want to drive Mariposa to despair over this, and I could feel my anxiety going up a notch too.

What do you do when what you are teaching to the best of your ability just doesn't seem to be working?

I know that it's not only maths which can cause learning anxieties, but I'll continue with my example as my point of reference.

Mariposa needed time to see, again, how she did know that 5 thirds are the same as 1 and 2 thirds.  We'd done this before (this is where cooking is a GREAT way of teaching fractions!) but she'd forgotten.  The material needed to be married back into a context she could understand.  I needed to give her time and space to experiment and remake those connections.

Approaching learning in small, gentle steps encourages the child's mind to begin to think through how a new idea works and see how it relates to every day life.  When we hit a 'road block' it's time to really slow down.  Both of the children have taught me that if I try and tick all the boxes to be learnt by a certain date,  I'm only satisfying my own need to say 'done it!'  They don't learn the lessons so well that way.  They need to own the learning, having had time to digest the material and make connections to the other 'knowns' in their lives, before I can serve up the next stage.

Another example is something that Maestro told me last week.  He's discovered the label of 'Classical Learning' somewhere in his findings lately and has told me that he prefers this style.  He's a very systematic person and also enjoys being challenged.  His developing interest in classical literature has been slowly on the  increase.  Whilst he enjoys a good range of literature, he told me that he also wants to read "Robin Hood" and "King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table."  Later this week we're also going to have a look at Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" as part of his Medieval history.  (Help! I haven't read that yet!)

What came about last week was Maestro patiently explaining to me that he finds that he's not really learning anything new using a particular book.  He'd rather spend his time trying to work through some of these books with older English, and he could spend time later writing a book report.  "The vocabulary in the other book is already in those stories, Mum.  If I get stuck, I can easily look them up, but most of the time I can understand it all already.  I'm just a slow reader, though, so maybe we can get some of them as audio books, please?!"  Okay ... so, again, I have to learn to stand back a little and watch what is developing instead of being mandatory about the 'tick the box' syndrome and complete a book from which he's not really learning.

To top it all off, I must muse on how different these two children are from one another.  They come to the solutions in such different ways, leading me on a journey I wouldn't have taken myself.  I'm still learning to be patient enough to stand back a little and see that bigger picture, though.  It's so easy to expect them to do it all my way!  There is a time to ask for my methods, with the love and respect that should happen in a family, and then there's the time to let them grow into their own maturity.  ... See!  I'm learning, slowly! :)

Thank you for dropping by!

Ginger Meggs is 90 today!

Who remembers the comic strip of Ginger Meggs?  I'm sure many do.  Even Maestro remembers reading some old comics; "Yes, he was very arrogant!"

Ginger started his life in 1921, in the Sydney Sun before being relocated to the Sunday Telegraph in 1951.  He's the 12 year old Aussie larrikin who had a healthy disrespect for authority.

In 1982, a movie was released featuring Paul Daniel and Gary McDonald.  I actually don't recall ever seeing it before, but after watching this small part remembered the satire about a young lad dealing with the tougher side of society.




I have better memories of seeing a film based on the musical "The Girl from Moonooloo" with Jacki Weaver.  This was set in the 1930s, where Jacki's character ends broadcasting Ginger Meggs on a radio show.  If you ever come across a recording of this, it's well worth the viewing. In fact, I'd take the children to see this musical if it ever came back to the stage in Melbourne!

Comfort reading

On cold nights, a book to read in the comforts of a cosy bed is very rewarding.

I found this book in our library catalogue, so put in a borrowers request. When it arrived, a quick scan through the pages had me looking forward to getting some time to read it. 

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: Our Year of Seasonal Eating is a writing about a new lifestyle, set in southern Appalachia, USA. Barbara takes us through her memoirs season by season, adding her journal investigative thoughts throughout. Moving from light, humourous conversation to political and environmental issues keeps the reading interesting.

Barbara starts with the first harvest season after a cold winter, when asparagus spears begin to emerge. We're still waiting for our first asparagus of the season, so by the end of chapter 2, I'm out there in the garden inspecting any signs of progress. No, it's too early here still.

Reading on, we move through the stages of garden productivity, when to expect what vegetable in it's seasonal order, and some recipe ideas shared. I'm now only in chapter 7, but the excitement of Spring's possibilities have whet my appetite sufficiently to start sorting through my seeds and seriously plan what we want to be eating in a couple of months.

I love the humour in the book, too. The light-heartedness side of family life, where personalities blossom with innocence, is a lovely side to read. I relate to her youngest in this book, as she sounds so much like Mariposa. Here's an excerpt from page 94 that I had to read aloud to my husband; it made us both laugh:

As weeks passed and her future on the farm began to take shape in her mind, Lily asked if she'd also be able to have a horse. Her interest in equines surpasses the standard little-girl passion of collecting plastic ones with purple manes and tail; she'd lobbied for riding lessons before she could ride a bike. I'd long assumed a horse was on our horizon. I just hoped it could wait until Lily was tall enough to saddle it herself.

In the time-honored tradition of parents, I stalled. "With your egg business, you can raise money for a horse yourself," I told her. "I'll even match your funds - we'll get a horse when you have half the money to buy one."

When I was a kid, I would have accepted these incalculable vagaries without a second though, understanding that maybe a horse was out there for me but I'd just have to wait and see. The entrepreneurial gene apparently skips generations. Lily got out her notebook and started asking questions.

"How mush does a horse cost?"

"Oh, it depends," I hedged.

"Just a regular mare, or a gelding," she insisited. When it comes to mares and geldings, she knows the score. I'd recently overheard her explaining this to some of her friends. "A stallion is a boy that's really fierce and bossy," she told them. "But they can give them an operation that makes them gentle and nice and helpful. You know. Like our daddies."

... and it goes on. Lily is a second grader, so a couple of years younger than Mariposa is now, but still so very much like her in character.

There have been parts I've related to Maestro also, but his interest in the animal world isn't quite as passionate. He really just wants to build things and experiment with his growing manly strength. When I suggested beekeeping as a possible interest, he squirmed with irritation at the thought of bees landing over him whilst collecting the honey. The idea of the money making side appealed though. Hmmm ~ that gets me thinking that there's usually a honey show happening here in August, so I may need to enquire about some type of 'excursion' to explain the practicalities of apiculture.

Scattered throughout the memoirs are her writings on issues, similar to those found in books I've already read, such as Food Inc. They are good reminders of why we should take care of what we eat and how it is produced.

Recipes are available on the Animal, Vegetable, Miracle website, HERE.

Now it's time for me to roll up my sleeves and get some practical work done outside, even though this morning's air is still so very crisp. Our fruit trees need pruning, and I need to make sure that the asparagus stays safe. Last year, our dog, Midgy, was the first to enjoy eating this vegetable, and I don't want that to happen again this year!

Ruminatin'

An old family friend passed away a few years ago.
I remember hearing him recite a poem in my youth,called "Ruminatin'"

His daughter found the poem written in his notes and passed a copy along to me in remembrance.

Put on your old English accent and enjoy this one.

Ruminatin'

I've tended this old garden now,

Nigh three score year and ten, 

For I started as a tiny lad,

Squire's granfer owned it then.

An' now the squire be gettin' grey

So quick the years do pass,

While ruminatin', ruminatin'

Cuttin' of the grass.

I ruminates on men an' things

Long dead an' gorn they say,

But I can tell 'ee different

I sees 'em ev'ry day.

P'raps they're ghosts why 'oo can tell?

They're plain to me I know.

While ruminatin' ruminatin'

Leanin' on me hoe.

They come into the garden

The gents and ladies too.

They've all a word for gar'ner Joe

Wot's close on eighty-two.

But 'ale an' 'arty - God be thanked,

An' still obeyin' orders,

While ruminatin', ruminatin'

Clearin' up the borders.

So when me last long path is swept,

An' Joe is laid to sleep,

I 'opes they'll put me 'andy like

So as I still can keep,

Me eye on these 'ere flowers o' mine

Though I be lost to sight,

Still ruminatin', ruminatin'

Around these walks at night.

A. Lester Beadles & Harry Hudson.

This morning's priority: art in gumboots

Now, who wouldn't have a chuckle to themselves when they find their daughter already up, having made herself breakfast to eat out on the decking and then launched straight into artwork?

The sun is warmer today.  Even though we really appreciate the rain we've had, having some warmth in the morning and sunlight streaming into the house certainly lifts the mood.  Who can resist enjoying it,  beginning first thing in the morning?

And we have apricot blossoms! Yay!  Spring must definitely be very close.

Any fans of Spaghetti Westerns?

I can't remember what show we were watching, but it was on late at night and was hosting a lot of different bands. I think it could have been SBS or ABC, but as we don't usually purchase a television guide (as we don't usually spend time watching television) I just can't rightly recall. Anyway, on this occasion we saw a fabulous band playing "The Good, The Bad, The Ugly" theme. Later they came back to play "A Fistful of Dollars".

Having really enjoyed the performances, hubby and I wanted to find who these people were so the children could watch it also. Well, yay!, they're here on the internet. Great inspiration for children to get ideas on composition with percussion instruments and vocals.

Anyone who is a fan of Spaghetti Westerns will most likely enjoy hearing these themes again too, but I really liked the talent and humour/facial expressions portrayed by the performers. So, I'd like to present the "Spaghetti Western Orchestra".

(Ummm ... yes, this first one starts out a bit unexpected. Sorry! The children will most likely have a good laugh, though.)

Dogs can learn some amazing tricks!

Thank you to a friend for showing us this!

Mariposa especially enjoyed watching it several times, wondering how she could train Midgy in such clever tricks.

Practice your phonetic punctuation

Hubby has set the children a challenge as of tonight, to begin using phonetic punctuation.  Out came the video player to show them what he meant.

You can use it when reading a story, or while singing a song!



Just try to do it without laughing too much or the punctuation may come out all wrong!

Creative blogger

Thank you Ganeida for your nomination. Such a pretty logo! The problem with this award is often I can have too much to say, about things that only interest me .. and I've done a similar award before, so I need to check that I won't be repeating myself.

Okay, the rules:

1. Thank the person who gave this to you ~ Thank you Ganeida!

2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.

3. Link the person who nominated you.

4. Name 7 things about yourself that no one would really know.

5. Nominate 7 other bloggers & let them know they are nominated.

Well, Ganeida actually inspired a few responses, so following her cue:

1. I am an eldest child. Very organising (not necessarily organised), and learnt to delegate jobs to my 8 younger siblings very well. I believe this is a good trait and freely exercise it now with my family.

2. Mum sort of started homeschooling me, as I didn't go to kindergarten. I still remember her teaching me to write my name on a blackboard, and making cut-out puppets with her.

3. When I did start at school, Mum cried in the doorway while I got stuck into playing with real clay for the first time. I don't remember her leaving.

4. As soon as I started learning to play the recorder, I couldn't stop. I was only allowed to practice up near the back fence, NOT in the house. Now that I'm married and living in my own house, I still play the recorder, but INSIDE!

5. I used to teach dance at a youth summer camp. In my time-out, I'd take advantage of the large room and speaker system, sitting back and listening to Dvorak's New World Symphony.

6. One of my favourite foods is a Chicken Curry Laksa, hold all the seafood products and with extra chilli on the side.

7. oooooh ... I've struggled to find this 7th one, but here goes: I'd like to explore my drawing skills more. My high school art teacher was very unsupportive of my work and 'turned me off', so I think I should try harder to turn that back on.

I'd like to pass this award on to some lovely people I've met in blogging land:

- Louise from The Fig Tree
- Sandra from Jumped the Ditch
- Melanie from Sweet Blue Sky Days
- Jeanne from A Peaceful Day
- Cee Lew
- Kendra from Pumpkin Patch
- Joanne from Thrifty's Garage Sale
- Rialla from With Both Hands

Okay, take it away ladies! :)

Family movie

I first saw this film on a family night out in the 1980s. Now my children have discovered it and have been enjoying watching it in fits of laughter.

The Gods Must Be Crazy is all on the circumstances which arise when a Coke bottle falls from the sky in the Kalahari. Once found, it becomes a means of discontent, so the bushman goes on a journey to return it and thereby re-establish harmony amongst the tribe. Of course, he's not experienced white culture, and the narative presents in a 'child like' fashion as he makes his observations and experiences. It's about the differences in cultures, with lots of slap-happy comedy thrown in and light look at some of the harsher realities of war also.

Baby Snooks

Homeschool Radio Freebies introduced us to Baby Snooks a couple of years ago. Fanny Brice is very clever and funny; my children have been thoroughly enjoying these old radio shows. We even found a few sites today with episodes we hadn't yet heard: RadioLovers, OldTimeRadioFans and FreeOTRShows.

Maestro has been enjoying writing out the scripts (self-imposed dictation!) to re-enact the plays with Mariposa. This may even lead to them becoming playwrites themselves (or am I just being hopeful?)
☺

In Winter I'm Rounder

In winter I'm rounder
and fatter than before.
I'm wearing coats and sweaters
and woollen hats galore.
My hands are as plump as kittens
when I'm wearing winter mittens.
My legs in thick, snug snow pants
look like an elephant's.
Indeed, I must confess
that when I do undress,
I feel as small and light
as a bird flown out of sight.

~~By Sandra Liatsos..~~

poem from here

Sound of Music

When someone shares a good thing, it's only fair to keep sharing with others.

A fellow homeschooler on The Rockpool Forum posted this up. We all enjoyed it so much, especially after watching the movie "Sound of Music" this week.

I really hope this give you a laugh/cry/feel good boost for the day, too! :)

Speaking of hens ...

What sort of mother hen are you?

I took the Montessori Mom test and the result was:

What type of Mother Hen Are You?
by Montessorimom.com: Educational Resource

All a bit of fun. :)

Recommended viewing

I've just been watching Sir Ken Robinson on You Tube, giving a very interesting talk on education. He discusses how creativity is just as important as literacy and how the 'education revolution' has influenced the whole current education structure to aspire toward academics and universities.

This is a 20 minute presentation, but it is worth it. :)

Seeing the week through

I feel sorry for those in SA as they have been suffering with this heatwave a lot longer than we have. Let's hope relief is soon on it's way.

In the meantime, I did take my own advice and put alfoil on the windows. It's made a difference already, but let's look at the long-term (end of the day) temperature. Last night it was 35degC in the house (after a high of 44degC outside) when we were putting ourselves to bed, with the children getting up intermittently to sit in a shallow bath we'd left for splashing ourselves down and wetting our hair.

I'm planning on some read-alouds again, view a dvd documentary (probably on Antarctica!), then we're doing art at a friend's this afternoon. Dinner has been very simple, and will probably be similar tonight, with salad, cold roast chicken, lentils and pita (pocket) bread. Lots of fresh melons, frozen bananas on a stick (need to make more, though, as Mariposa loves these!), oranges ... and the essential ice blocks!

So, yes we'll get through another hot day. :)

LOL! A friend has sent me this picture via email. PLEASE!!!! don't let this happen to you today!

Horsing around

A friend directed me to her blog today and I really enjoyed having a read.
She had a very elegant poster up of a horse which is a reflection of her personality - a true noble lady. Curious, I thought I'd give it a go also ... I usually end up with a very 'practical' version of these things!
Yup! Here I am:

What breed of horse are you? Find out!

Well I guess I can take consolation that Black Beauty was a Quarter Horse, LOL!

Here is Mariposa's horse:

What breed of horse are you? Find out!

And Maestro's horse:

What breed of horse are you? Find out!