Recently in Homeschooling Category

Ewan is at the age where I can still trick him into thinking that helping me with chores around the house is an awesome, big kid thing. He's eager to help, to prove himself. Liam, meanwhile, has reached the age where my elementary parlor tricks no longer work on him.

The other day I combined yard work with a science lesson - plus the bonus of the boys preparing the seeds for some inpatients and pansies that their grandmother had given them.


While Ewan chipped away at the ceramic eggs in order to get to the seed mixture, Liam wisely eyed the ten bags of mulch I had lined up beside the garden beds.


Whereas Liam looked at weeding and mulching as work, Ewan saw an opportunity to terrorize ants and push around dirt.


They also learned about soil, photosynthesis, and we made Ewan say "photosynthesis" a few million times because it sounded adorable.


They later dug their gloves into the dirt and we studied an ant colony. Which was gross, but they enjoyed it.



Now that the seeds are planted, let's see what germinates. Much like education.

Yesterday I went with Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn redux to an all-day field trip at the Arch.
 
   
Ewan just wanted to look at the animal skins. Liam was glued to his friend-who-is-a-girl-but-is-not-his-girlfriend, gosh, stop ASKING HIM ABOUT IT ALREADY. (Seriously, eight? Is this when this happens, people with children?)

Liam completed his Junior Ranger requirement, though he was a bit cross with me because I wouldn't let him rush through it so he could run outside.


Wah.

After their classes on the plains Indians and pioneers, the first half of our group ventured to the swollen river to board the Tom Sawyer and take a trip upstream. 


My whole life I've never lived more than a few miles from the Mississippi River. We pulled away from the sound of zydeco music and the smell of fried food and out into the muddy water. The river's current is deceptively strong; the kids were fascinated by the giant pieces of driftwood that floated past and bounced between the barges. Open this in a separate window, listen, and look:

Thanks for joining us. Full Flickr set here. Click the above photos for descriptions.

We recently began a study of the 13 colonies and of the American flag. I'm a huge history buff, so this is pure bliss for me to teach, though I had to correct Liam a couple of times from calling the colonists "colon nests." I have it scheduled so that by the time we get to the lesson on the Louisiana Purchase, we'll be boarding a riverboat for a cruise on the mighty Mississippi.


This is one of the reasons that we have school all year long; it seems a lot more fun to study the birth of our country near its actual birthday.


"And also because of the fireworks," Liam says.

Of course, the pyro. God bless 'Merica.

Every afternoon Liam plays on the piano. He's just a beginner, but he's learning. He already sings beautifully.


Ewan is fascinated by everything his big brother does and watches in earnest.


Some have asked how I am able to teach both of them at home. I credit Ewan's desire to match the pace set by his brother.
 

It makes him eager to step up for his turn.


Because Liam appreciates having a fan (or a minion, depending on the circumstance) he welcomes it and encourages his brother. Being an only child myself, this is a wonderful thing to witness.


Even if it's sometimes hard to catch the moments.