here they are.....

A picture of the boys at the Acupuncture Open House. They had Martial Arts demo, art display, tribal instruments from different countries, food, needles, message, and more.

Ki got Ear Points and a massage. I just got a massage.

The boys sent me their intended class plans for school. for a few months. We'll try it till our winter break and see if adjustments need to be made. Unless of course it REALLY doesn't work and we need to adjust sooner. I am hoping they will self adjust. Ki is usually good at self-adjusting.

Connor's List:

3600 seconds of math statistics and probability a day
- www.khanacedemy.com
- TopShelf Statitstics (Book *click here to see)

- Possibly, Standard Deviants supplement and brushing up on Alg if needed

read "Lord of the Rings" before next year

1 chapter of science a week (*until finished with the Chemistry Course, but I think it takes 2 weeks to do a good job on a chapter. I'll let him try 1 a week and see how long it takes to change his mind.)

learn Japanese for 2700 seconds a day - with Gavin. (program TBA)

Computer Illustration class at Allan Hancock College 8 hours a week(inc lab)

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GAVIN'S LIST:

2 chapters 3rd edition calculus and analytical...geometry (Brian's College Book)
*Supplemented with the following if needed:
-google
-khan
-dad
-Standard Deviants, other online or library sources as/if needed

30 minutes Japanese a day
-unless it has chapters on the program.
-May use flash cards and google

*We have not chosen our program yet. and I will suggest 45 minutes, but 30 may work. He'll be working with Connor.

Drawing livestream it from about 6 to 10+ pm Tuesday Wednesday and maybe Friday
(*he needs to show me he can have his morning work done by 9Am without reminders and with getting up on his own before I will permit computer drawing until 10PM)

Read one book of "LOTR" by end of Sept

Computer illustration at AHC

(he will be finishing up Chemistry, too)

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KI'S List of "EVIL SCHOOL"- as he put it

-math 1 Khan video and 30 min of work a day *(I will ask him to follow a course, in order)

-read 3 pages a day in LOTR

-get to 3 pull up in a row (*he also makes sure he rides his bike a few times a week)

-register for acting class at Pismo- * not sure what the dates/times will be for that.

-you were going to give me science. *He will be doing Apologia General Science CD-Rom. I will have him look up extra experiments (that are more fun that theirs- which are boring) and videos.

*And I have him cook a couple meals a week as part of his school- since he wants to be a chef. but he usually asks to, so it's not really like making him.

College Classes start on Aug 23 (for G&C). I suggested C watch some Pre-Cal vids on Khan before he starts in his book (Sept 6)

Ki likes to ease into school, so I will leave that up to him. I will tell him he needs ti figure out what he needs to do to ease into school, becuase we will be starting 'full day' on Sept 6. he is good at making his own plans for stuff like that.

Had The Talk....

So, I has to have the talk with my young men today. That talk parents have once the children reach a certain stage in life. I gathered them together and handed them notebooks and pencils and then proceeded to give The Talk.



The "What do you plan on doing this year in your education?" Talk



Ki has requested an acting class and will be doing the Apologia General Science this year (to get a firm base from which to choose his science next year).For Science I asked if he wanted to make the syllabus or if he wanted me to make. He wanted me to. Then I asked if he wanted me to just tell him something like "Start on Chapter 1 and there is a test in 2 weeks over chapter 1" Or if he wanted what to read daily or weekly. He asked for a Weekly Plan, He asked for a WEEK PLAN. So instead of "Monday:read pages 1-4, Tuesday read Pages 5-6 and do experiment, WED: read pages 7-10.." He wants me to plan "Have read pages 1-15 by Friday and have done the experiment listed on page 6".



I told him that he has reached that stage of life and education which requires me to keep a transcript of his classes and what he's learned, so I want him to chose 1 area (in science or math or whatever) and work through it, so I will feel comfortable saying he did, in deed, take "Biology" or "Algebra" or "Culinary Arts" or whatever. I asked him to make a decision on what he wants to learn in math and then to make a plan on how to do it. He said he'll probably choose KHAN academy for math. I told him to give me a plan. To write something like how much time each week or each day. Or he can plan to learn "X" amount of sub topics each week"....



I asked all the boys, yes even the almost 18 yr old, to give me a short term reading plan. A few books they want to read and their personal goal of when they plan to have them finished. Again, Ki prefers the almost-daily goals, like "read 45 minutes a day" instead of just "have the book finished by Thanksgiving"



I gave the older 2 the same talk about Math- Choose something to learn (Trigonometry, Prob & Stats, Calculus, etc...) Then figure out what resources (KHAN, Take a Class, Use a text, etc) and then a game plan,. It can be general like "complete the course by March" or as specific as "Do 1 section in the book a day" or "Complete 6 online tasks at the particular website a week"The older 2 are doing Computer Science. Their Computer Illustrations class at the local college is 8 hours a week and whatever they need to work on at home.



I told G&C to think of something else to learn.. a language, a new art they don't know, a time in history, a country.... make a plan of how and when. (Ki's Acting Class fills this gap for him)I also told them that this plan does not have to be for the whole school year. We'll try their plan for a couple months then they can decide if it is working (or I might have to step in with some structure)

Gavin already decided on Calculus and Japanese and, I think, Lord of The Rings. (we'll see if that changes by Friday)



They are to have their list, plans, goals, schedule ready by Friday and we'll go over what they come up with. They can hand write or email it to me. Gavin prefers to email me these things usually.

Truth Is... Scrambled Pancakes are good

Truth Is..... I have had this headache since Saturday. Or maybe Friday. I forget. I am out of Fioricet.
Truth Is..... I am wondering if my husband's Vicodin from his surgery will work in place of Fioricet.
Truth Is..... I am too scared to try it, though.
Truth Is..... My son just brought me a bowl of Scrambled Pancakes. Breakfast in Bed. He 'scrambled' the pancake batter while cooking the pancakes, like one would scramble eggs. Then sprinkled them with Cinnamon Sugar.
Truth Is..... they were pretty good.
Truth Is ..... I don't like coffee at.all. But I do like espresso.
Truth Is..... I am a week late mailing a birthday card to a friend's daughter in Japan.
Truth Is..... I am thinking of having the boys make their own school schedules this year.
Truth Is..... Gavin spends most the day on the computer. Perfecting his art skills. Check out his Videos he posted today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axYukjlbxHw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39nZJUh21WI&feature=related
and here is the 3rd in his series today:


Truth Is...... Apple has inefficient shipping. I got my iPad Power Adapter today.... my iPad won't be here until next week. Apparently, Apple thought it was important to have the adapter with nothing to adapt to yet.. Now there is a lonely power adapter in the drawer waiting to be joined by an iPad.
Truth Is....... my iPad2 will be here next week!

Location	Date	Local Time	Activity
EPZ, China	07/14/2011	2:22 A.M.	Origin Scan
China	07/14/2011	11:15 P.M.	Order Processed: Ready for UPS

Thorough Thursday:

I was debating between doing a THANKFUL THURSDAY or a TRUTH IS: THURSDAY.
I decided to do both, thus making it a Thorough Thursday.
Truth Is: I probably complain too much to Gavin about being on the computer. Most of what he does on the computer is drawing with his tablet and art program, and making videos. Or researching stuff. He keeps his gaming to about an hour a day I guess. I feel like he is on the computer a lot. too much. But the computer art and programming is the directins he wants to go after school. If he wanted to be a chef and was cooking all the time I'd not complain. Or if he wanted to be a chemist and was always doing stuff with the chemistry set, I'd not complain. So if he wants to go into computer programming or computer animation, I should not complain about him doing that often.

Thankful: that he has a passion and talent and practices to improve.

Thankful: that homeschooling gives him lots of time and opportunity to hone his skills.

Here is his latest video/drawing. He'd LOVE if you went to youtube and left him a comment or friendly critique. (for more videos by Gavin, visit his Yutube Page; dashermkii)

Truth Is: I am sporting fake fingernails. The kind you buy at Rite-Aid and glue on. I fingernails are thin, peel, rip, and split. I had 4 ripped/split nails last week and got tired of it. They kept catching on things and getting ripped further. If I had time & money I'd have a nail salon just paint them with acrylic- so I don't look like... a chick with long pink fingernails.

Thankful: for options to improve my fingernails.

Thankful: for Superglue- good for fingernails AND lifting fingerprints!

Truth Is: We raise and harvest mosquito larvae.

Thankful: I can't really think of thankfulness for this one... I am thankful that over 20 of the tadpoles survived into froghood.

Truth Is: I found some recipes in my new book "Food the Die For!". Recipes that sound yummy and I want to make. But, truth is, no one else in my immediate family will eat this stuff.

Thankful: for friends who will come to my house for garlic soup and squash & chestnut stuffed ravioli.

Truth Is: I would LOVE to serve on Jury Duty. I have been 'called' 3 times but they always end up not needing me. :: pouty face :: But the people that do NOT want to serve and try to get out of it- end up the ones that get to do it.

Truth Is: I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING MY BOYS IN THEIR PLAY NEXT WEEK... darn fake nails and trying to type. I hit the CAPS LOCK,

Thankful: for the chance for Connor and Ki to act and perform!

Connor as Henry the Night Watchman

Play: "After Hours"- performed by Central Coast Homeschool Theater Ensemble.

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conversation

(I didn't hear the 1st part of the sentence)".............. .............. nipples. So we cut them off"
[me]"you cut off it's nipples??"
[youth pastor]"No, we cut the whole thing."
He is now all the way down the steps carrying the mannequin.The mannequin with missing arms and two holes in it's chest.


it's not actually the youth pastor's mannequin. I think it is the pastor's.
I guess when wearing the T-Shirt, the mannequin nipples showed through, so they just gave the mannequin a complete mastectomy.
I need to Lysol the openings. The mannequin chest holes smell like a stinky boys locker room.
WHY did I have this armless, boob-less, church mannequin at my house?Because my pastor asked me to sew a Priest Outfit for the mannequin.


I won't be putting pomegranates along the bottom hem, but will find some sort of bell.

The verses say to use a braid along the neckline to keep it from tearing. So as binding. I asked if the pastor wanted me to use a brain or regular binding. He said 'regular'- But I added a 'fancy stitch'- to make up for the lack of a braid.


Today I will be looking for the fabric of 'woven blue, purple, and scarlet' and the bells.
*****************************SCHOOL TODAY:
Gavin finished his 10th Aleks topic (his weekly assignment)- so he'll be starting KHAN next week.Connor is piddling through his last 3 topics in ALEKS, because he is spending most of his time at KHAN doing math challenges there.
The Unschooler says- Just Switch Him now! It's what he wants and what seems to work.The responsible parent in me says : He needs to learn to finish things. It's not a bad or harmful or evil thing. He's good at it. Khan is just 'more fun'. So he can finish the Aleks.
So the Combined Mom that I really am, made the compromise of:If the finish their weekly assignment this week- well- they can switch to Khan next week- even if they aren't at the "90% Completion Goal" we had set together.
IN OTHER NEWS: Gavin & Connor found an online art program/computer illustrator they want to buy. They pooled their finances together and had enough to purchase it.It's $60. They asked me if maybe dad could help them a little with the cost.Well, I just paid $60 on Ki's Culinary Kit- so I am fine paying $60 for their Computer Graphics Program. I told them dad said he'd help them out with it and he'd let them know know how much later. We will be paying it- obviously,- with a credit card or Pay Pal- and they have their money to pay us back.


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ROCKET POWER!~

I have an AWESOME video to show you, if my husband can get it uploaded. It is of their Rocket Engine in a 2L Bottle Experiment. I was watching and taking pictures, but didn't get a picture of the rocket in action, ZOOMING at Ki's head with the fire tail twirling. I about wet my pants. Why did I let them talk me into these things??

I'm so excited for January! Yesterday I worked on J-Term planning. It was pretty easy. The older 2 are doing Computer Programming, You can CLICK HERE to read those plans. Brian will be teaching them the actual programming and assigning projects, I just planned a few research things to round it out a bit.
Brian took them out on a Computer Programming Field Trip yesterday. J-Term got a head start, thanks to the Movie Theater. My computer Programming Class went to see TRON.

Ki's Theater Plans are a little more extensive. (click to read). And we will doing an IMPROV DAY on Wednesdays and hope a lot of our homeschool friends will join us!


And, of course, our BIG PLANS are the C.S.I Classes!! I wrote those plans already (CLICK HERE to read our CSI Plans!) But spent some time reviewing them, making a few adjustments, and nailing down some time slots. On Monday we will have a Crime Scene in the front room. Gun Shots, a victim, other clues. Plus we'll make our own fingerprint powder. I can't wait! I'll be taking pictures and maybe even do a SKYPE with some Out-Of-State homeschool friends!

I LOVE J-TERM!

I love our Quasi-Unschooling!

One of the boys friends is at our house for the Day Thursday. "P". He is a really good kid. The 4 of them together will most likely play lots of MTG and doing some Amtgard. His mom works in town (they live in Pismo) and will drop him off on her way to work- 7:15 AM. (yes, I wrote this Wed Night. I figure Wed night in Cali is Thursday in most of the US)
I had planed on driving to see the river/levee. I guess we could all do that still, with "P". I hope to get some good pictures.
We had a big rainbow out back Wed Evening. Brian was getting ready to hop in the van to take the boys to see TRON. The boys were in the van already, then I hear Brian yell for for me as he comes back to grab his trip to get pictures. Here are my pictures. (I need a photo stitching program)


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THIS BLOG ENTRY IS PART OF THE FOLLOWING BLOG HOPs:

Computer Programming J-Term

G&C are doing Computer Programming. Brian will be overseeing a lot of the actual programming projects & learning. I added some research and writing to round out the class. at their age they just need a fairly basic list of what to do and they can find a lot of the info on their own- so it is not as detailed as Ki's Plans.

computer programming

• history-make a timeline (on the computer). Google a couple different information sites.
  
• report- write a 2 page report on computer programming. Include an outline.
  
• people- make bio-pages for important people in the history of computer programming (include pictures when possible)
  
• careers- make a Power Point presentation highlighting different careers. include pictures & graphs
  

some links to get you started:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_programming (this has people to add to your bio pages)
  
• http://www.lingoworkshop.com/Articles/A_brief_history_of_computer_programming.php (this has people to add to your bio pages)
  
• http://www.ehow.com/about_5068181_history-computer-programming.html
  
• http://www.ehow.com/list_5976327_benefits-computer-programmers_.html
  
• http://www.ehow.com/list_7221607_video-game-programmer-job-benefits.html
  
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Programming_language
  
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_programming_languages
  
• How to Write a Research Paper: http://www.aresearchguide.com/1steps.html
  

How to Write a Research Paper: http://www.ehow.com/how_9263_write-research-paper.html

CHANGES!

Did you notice the change? It is a bit subtle. The green background changed to a gradient blue. Gavin (my son) did that for me. He did that so my blog would match the Blog Button he made for me! I wanted to have a neat button like so many other blogs I read, so I asked him to make one and he did. He 'drew' it (no clip-art). He also changed to color of the links (the base program had them orange and grey). he is working on designing graphics for my header today. Gotta love this 'quasi-unschool' concept.

I can not figure out how to make the little box with the HTML Code for you to copy. I tried 4 different codes. If anyone can help me, PLEASE let me know!! If you scroll down you will see my button on the side.. waiting for a HTML Code Box....

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iGoogle has How To's featured each day. Both of Todays seem aimed right at Ki....

How To Control Your Temper When Sleep Deprived. - Ki needs LOTS of sleep or gets grumpy.moody.Lack of cone=concentration/cognitive skills.... Mon & Tues were fine examples of that. Next week they have Drama/Theater practice all 5 days of the week, ending with 2 performances. Ki will be too tired by Wednesday!

Protect-Your-Teeth-from-Acid-Wear - He had had issues with Acid Reflux since birth (we think), His teeth are so yellow and prone to getting cavities. Poor Kid. I feel badly for him.

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SCHOOL: Not much to report from Yesterday. Well, maybe there is.

Eschatology Class went well. We will have that class today and tomorrow, too.

Computer Design- Gavin made my Blog Button and changed my page background.

Chemistry- Went well for C&G. K had a HUGE MELTDOWN TANTRUM. He ended up sitting at a desk doing a pile of worksheets. We rarely do worksheets, but I needed something that could just sit quietly and do easily. I'm making changes to that class today. Ki will only do the hands on and easy notes, then he will go off and do worksheets or reading while C&G learn the more complex stuff with me. But- it is great to homeschool and be able to change at a moments notice as soon as I see something is not working, instead of waiting 2 weeks for a teacher meeting, then 4 weeks for a new IEP, then 3 more weeks for the new IEP to be implemented. With Ki's Sensory Disorder, Dyslexia, Anxiety- this class is just not working for him as it currently is- esp with the long nights at Skit Practice.

Performing Arts- G&I helped K&C rehearse lines, then C&K went to their 3 hours of Skit Practice.

this blog is part of the following hops:

It's Almost Friday

Thirsty Thursday (and I am thirsty right now, from that quesadilla)