Well, it’s been a busy weekend. I got a great book on almanacs at the
library and another great book on the mind. I told the children we would
be creating almanacs – calendars that contained practical and helpful
information about when the sun rose and set, what to do to help animals
and hints to make plants produce better, even recipes and verses we
might like to use or read. I’ve asked the children to think of things
around our home about which we should keep records, such as our fruit
trees, lawn care, even pets. This will give me an opportunity later to
talk more with them about stewardship and the Bible’s teachings on that.

I’m going to talk to them tonight about George Washington’s journals
which he sometimes kept in the blank leaves of an almanack. I told some
of them about Bannekar, the black man who wrote an almanac and sent a
copy to Jefferson to persuade him that his race was oppressed, not
inherently stupid. He was a brilliant man who was taught to read on the
Bible and built and repaired clocks, trained himself by taking a pocket
watch apart and building one like it.

I have looked briefly at FIAR and will go back to it. I’d really like to
try a volume but don’t know how to start. I joined an internet unit
study group and have decided to do the Beatrix Potter and the Simple
Machines so far. My brother brought me a bag of books and Peter Rabbit
was among them so that has spurred an interest in the little ones. A.J.
loves inventing machines and has spatial capabilities so the other is
basically for his benefit, to show him “school” really means learning
and FUN! That’s my real goal with him this year, converting him to a
happy learning lifestyle. ( He had rotten public school experiences and
then I didn’t spend lots of time with him while I was working.) He’s
super quick, though, so I want to encourage him.

*** called and said that RR has changed policies somewhat since we
attended years ago. She said that, at any rate, the homeschool group
rents the building and has no rule about the earrings. I’ve got to find
out when the family night is going to be since I lost my newsletter.

I have to take Holly to Texas Saturday and Allen is going to a State
Rally for CMA- he’s president [of the local group]. Well, I gotta run. It’s great to have
someone to teach me this un-schooling stuff as I’m not very creative!

Acorn Academy

here’s that unit study group I told you about. Do you have a pdf
viewer? I can show you a copy of the complete Potter unit study.

[I joined this group by paying online with a credit card. Money well spent, I assure you!]