Library Visit

We made a visit to the main county library last night. I don't go there very often because it is a bit of a drive for me, and there is a local library that is generally sufficient. Every once in a while, though, I like to go to the bigger location because they have such a wide selection. When I select movies for our viewing, I tend to drift through the stacks and pick up whatever appeals to my interests as I wander. The selection of movies is far better at the main branch. I drifted along and selected about 16 movies last night, only to find that the checkout limits have decreased to a maximum of ten movies at a time. I had to finagle to get a card for my husband so that I could bring home all the movies I had chosen. It's just easier that way. In the end, I brought home all the movies I had selected, so it was worth the extra hassle.

I talked to the library assistant for a bit about audio books last night because Kira adores The Magic Treehouse audio books. Unfortunately, there is a limit to just how many of those books there are and how many my library actually has. After a bit of discussion and browsing, I chose to bring home 4 new audio books.

     - Judy Moody Declares Independence
     - Cam Jansen and the Ghostly Mystery (Kira enjoyed the story, but I did not enjoy the narrator.)
     - Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the U.F.O.
     - Kit: An American Girl (Okay, I have to admit that I was prepared to dislike this. I have a natural aversion to History in just about any form. I decided to bring this home at the last minute even though I knew I would be seriously miserable having to listen to the story. Last night, in hopes of boring Kira to sleep, I put this in. Kira and I sat up until nearly 1:00 AM listening to Kit's story. Even after Kira was asleep, I continued to listen. I was absolutely captivated. The narration is engaging and the story is just amazing. I will definitely be finding more of these. )

Along with the four audio books, I also brought home several movies.

     - I Want to be a ... Firefighter: Explore a Career in Firefighting (I would really like to know where THIS movie was last year when Kira first became obsessed with fire. This movie would have saved me a ton of hassle and frustration.)
     - Savage Skies: Fire and Rain
     - Wetlands: Georgia's Vanishing Treasure
     - National Geographic: Ballad of the Irish Horse
     - Mister Rogers' Neighborhood: Going to School (I watched all of 5 minutes of this and turned it off. Did I really used to watch this show? )
     - National Geographic: Ocean Drifters
     - National Geographic: Dolphins, the Wild Side
     - National Geographic: Born of Fire
     - National Geographic: Killer Wave: The Power of the Tsunami
     - Life Science: All About Fish
     - National Geographic: Dinosaur Giants: FOUND
     - Eyewitness: Shark
     - Amazing Animals: Endangered Animals
     - National Geographic: Volcano!
     - Amazing Animals: Armored Animals
     - Eyewitness: Elephant
     - Eyewitness: Jungle

I also picked up one book - Real-Life Homeschooling by: Rhonda Barfield.

What Is Unschooling?

I've been explaining the concepts of Unschooling for the last week to various different people. My niece was amazed that I would allow the girls to do as they please without making them do any school work at all. My daughter's Sunday School teacher was intrigued by the concept and wanted to know more. My sister and I had a discussion about Montessori Schools and Unschooling. My best friend worries that the girls will be ill equipped for life in a college classroom after growing up with their education being dictated solely by them.

I need to get my book written. It would be so much easier to direct those who want answers to read a book than to try to give them a detailed explanation in the span of a short conversation.  The outline is written. The thoughts are there. I just have to sit down and force myself to type out the words that are already buried within my mind and heart. Then comes the process of getting published - which is just plain scary for me. Luckily, I have a friend who knows the industry and will be helpful in getting me on that road to being published.

Numbers and Words

Well, the last couple of days has been pretty impressive around the Schonder School House. Somewhere along the line, Kira picked up some pretty interesting information. She has learned to divide sets of things in half. She has started writing words all on her own. She made leaps and bounds with her connections of content.

Last night, Dad and I were playing Tekken on the Play Station. Kira started sounding out some words. We didn't really think much about it until she brought us a piece of paper that she had written the word "bat" on. She explained to us that this was the bat you use to hit balls with and not the bat you see flying in the sky at night. She asked for more paper and continued writing out words. (Just WOW!!!)

This morning, she crawls in bed for some snuggles. After a few minutes she tells me, "Mom, 5 has a middle person. Four has a middle hole, but not a middle person."

blink blink blink

Mind you, it was very early and I am NOT a morning person. I had to ask her what she was talking about.

So she holds up her hand - with 5 fingers up. Then she tells me again... "Five has a middle person - see... *wiggling her middle finger*. Four does not have a middle person. It has a middle hole. *putting her finger in the middle space*

again... blink blink blink

My foggy brain found the capacity to discuss odds and evens with her.

Then I asked her how she would divide the 5 so that her and Marisa would get the exact same amount.

Dad started to help her, until I told him to hush. (he isn't usually home on Fridays...)

After a bit of consideration, Kira decided that to divide the middle person she would need to use a knife to cut it in half --- but only by asking a grown up to help her.

I think this is so awesome!