Things I Learn

A couple of years ago, Anthony wrote a paper about, why he should be allowed to listen to his Ipod while doing homework.  He really thought this out and did a lot of research.  He even convinced me that he should.  Not for all homework but mainly math and other subjects that didn't require reading.

A teacher discovered that letting his math students use their Ipods while working on problems or taking test, the students preformed better.  ADHD students are often distracted by the little sounds going on around us that most people can tune out.  By allowing an ADHD student to us their Ipod they can tune out all the little distractions and can control the level of sound they are comfortable with.  Also, telling the students that if they abused the privilege or didn't complete their assignments they would lose the Ipod privilege.  He found the students wanted to listen to their music and worked harder to keep the privilege.  I tried this out with Anthony.  As long as he was getting his work done and correctly he could listen to his Ipod.

So why do I bring this up?  I don't know if Jason has ADHD or if it is just that we homeschool and that's where the video games, tv, trampoline and all his other cool toys are.  We have days where this kid just can't focus.  So I decided to give this whole music thing a try.  I let him listen to his Ipod but it didn't work out well.  If I let him listen to his choice of music, he would break out in song and dance.  So I tried a cd that teaches Bible verses.  Great cd, but the words were distracting.  To me and to him.  We needed something that was just music.

One day it hit me.  I should be taking this time to introduce some classical music.  I let him choose Beethoven or Mozart.  He chose Mozart.  I picked up a simple book at the library of Mozart's life.  I wasn't looking for anything to detailed, just something to give Jason a feel for who Mozart was.  I also picked up a cd at the library and ordered "Amadeus" from netflix.  Jason didn't get to into the movie however Megan did. 

 Now, during the quite work times we listen to Mozart.  Jason is really enjoying it and has found he likes his music.  Not only is it helping Jason to focus, but he is learning at the same time.  He is in complete awe of Mozart and his story.  I have even found myself leaving the music on throughout the day.  Mozart has always been my favorite composer. 

We might pick up some Beethoven during this weeks visit to the library.  Or maybe we will pick someone that neither of us is familiar with.  Then we will both learn something new.

Changes Update

An update to my last post.

When you make changes to your schedule and get the kid all excited about it.  You might want to check the library hours.  They don't open until 11am.  Jason was not please with me today.

So we are still going to the library but won't have time to finish the activities we had planned.  So we are going to come home and make homemade cheese-its.  Not sure why but it seems like the right thing to do.

Changes

Fun changes happening around here in our homeschool day.  Jason made the comment that school is boring.  I started thinking about it and he is kinda of right.  I get a little obsessed with schedules.  The greatest thing about homeschool is the flexibility of it.  Unfortunately, I have been to focused on the schedules and not on the fun stuff.

The first thing we are changing is the location where we are doing our work.  Friday, we will be doing the bulk of our day at the library.  He will do his math work there then he will be free to roam the books and do his personal reading time there.  We will also be working in their resource area to work on an Oregon Trail project.

Speaking of Oregon Trail.  We live right on the trail so we have a wealth of information around us.  Next week we will take a trip to the Oregon Trail Interactive Museum.  We will be spending the day there working through the program the museum has set up.  We will have lunch then finish the day hiking the trails located there.

I have also let go of some of my control.  He now does personal reading without me looking over his shoulder.  He later takes a test online where he earns prizes.  It also gives me a way to check and make sure he is reading and understanding it.

I also asked him, "What is it you want to do."  MORE SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS!!!!!  This is an area that I am just not good at.  I don't get why magnets work and I don't care.  However, Steve totally gets it and likes it.  I asked him if he would like to take over science for me.  Steve not only said yes but is super excited.  I have been working on the solar system with Jason.  We are making the planets and writing the facts.  I think it is very cool.  But Steve and Jason took it to a level I would have never been able to pull off.  They are attaching motors to make the planets rotate and I think I heard something about moving space ships.  I will not only be taking pictures but videos.

These changes may not seem like a lot, but to Jason it means he is growing up. I am very excited for all the changes.  I believe that if school is fun and interesting kids will learn.  I will keep you posted.

p.s.  The picture of the lama has nothing to do with this post, it just cracks me up.

Another B. Day Post

This one also goes under my "what I love about small towns."


The family that owns this little drive in is very familiar with my son.  He has gone to school with the owners daughter for the last few years.  The weather was bad so it didn't go up on his birthday.  She finally put it up last weekend and has been up since.

I did what I do.  I park across the street with my zoom lens on and took pictures.  Jason said I looked like a stalker and I guess people in cars were passing me laughing.  Oh well, it's what I do.

Also, if you are in town, stop by Nell's. 

18

I can hardly believe that it has been 18 years.  Last night I was remembering those first days in the hospital.  Anthony had little pimple like things on his body and the hospital wanted to keep him for a few days until they were sure he would be fine.  After 4 days it was decided that he was fine and we could take him home.  I have to laugh, while in the hospital, the 49ers were in the playoffs.  Steve and I were in our hospital room watching the game.  The couple in the next room would stop in to check the score.  Our room was right across from  NICU were Anthony was.  Every commercial I would hop over and check on him and then back to the game.  The Oakland Raiders were playing as well, that day.  Anthony's doctor was a fan and joined us in the room to watch that game.  It was to funny when one of the nurse's would come in to check what all the noise was about.  It was the next day when the nurse rolled Anthony's crib in.  I looked at her and said, "I get him all to myself."  She hugged me and said "You get to take him home."  It was the first time I got to hold him without any wires or tubes. 

Anyway, 18 years later I am getting ready to watch the 49ers in the playoffs with my oldest baby.  We are so proud of the kind, caring and loving young man he has turned into.

Happy Birthday Sweetie.  Here are a couple of pictures from the last few years.

It's Starting To Look Like Christmas

Yep, it's true.  It's starting to look like Christmas however, it's January.  As I said in an earlier post, we finally got some snow.  Listening to todays weather, we are suppose to get between 7 and 11 inches in the next 24 hours.  On top of that, winds up to around 30 mph. 

Let me make this very clear, I like snow.  I like to watch the snow flakes fall from the sky and gently rest on the ground.  I like to run outside with my camera and take pictures, sometimes in my jammies.  I don't like snow when it comes down sideways and hits you in the face.  That hurts.  I don't like snow drifts on my sidewalk, it's hard to shovel.  I don't like when a wind gust hits your car and it slides on the ice it's sitting on.  Also, wind, cold and living in a 100 plus year old house doesn't always work well.

So, in case anyone is listening up there......SEND THE SNOW, KEEP THE WIND!!!

I hope you are warm and comfy where you are.

Happy January

We woke up to over 4 inches of snow this morning.  Which is great because we really haven't seen any this year.  We just go a little bit that lasted about two days back in November.

Updates on what has been happening.  I seem to have caught every one's cold so far this winter.  I have been feeling healthy for the last two weeks, so keeping my fingers crossed that it lasts.  No strike for Stevie.  They voted to accept the health portion of the contract however they are still in negotiations over the rest of the contract.  Jason is keeping busy with karate and hanging out with friends.  Megan is enjoying soccers off season by playing video games and Anthony is really doing well in wrestling.  He has been go so much we have hardly seen him.

I have been working on getting his senior protraits done.I took a bunch a few weeks back but wasn't really happy with them.  I didn't want to do them during wrestling season because he always looks so pale.  Here is a couple that I finished up last night.  Still have over 100 of them to go through.  I don't think either of these is going in the yearbook.  He picked a different one.



He is wearing his jacket and his hair could stand to be cut, but it's what he wanted.  I don't want a picture of him in a tux on my wall.  I want him looking like him.  And this is him. 

Have a good Martin Luther Kings day.