Weeks 1 and 2 were spent learning some hand sewing. I've read on several lists I've been on how important that can be, so we started with a small lavender sachet out of felt or fleece. We taught the running stitch, the blanket stitch, and how to sew on buttons. Showing others how to do something is an entirely different thing from doing it myself; it took some doing to figure out how to explain the blanket stitch.
Weeks 3 and 4 we worked on making aprons--starting with learning some very simple pattern basics and how to use a sewing machine. Some girls had experience using machines already, and some did not. The pattern was a very basic apron with a pocket. We used ribbon for the neck and waist straps.
The last two weeks we learned rotary cutting and strip piecing in order to make lined tote bags. Not all the girls were able to finish these during class, but most got at least the outside pieced and straps done.

It was a good experience and fun to plan. I am definitely more of a planner than a teacher though. One-on-one I can do okay, but a whole class of kids looking at me is a bit scary. ]]> Sewing http://julie.tedsmoker.comindex.php?itemid=360 Tue, 8 Dec 2009 18:31:41 -0600 http://julie.tedsmoker.comindex.php?itemid=327 PA grand canyon near Wellsboro, PA. One of the signs there is about 3 birds you often see in the area: the bald eagle, the turkey vulture, and the osprey. DH showed it to the HoneyBee and they talked about the birds and the differences between them.
As we were leaving, they reviewed the birds again in the van. The Little Chimp chimed in with his understanding of the fowl. When daddy asked about the bald eagle, the Little Chimp exclaimed, “They eat balls!” “No, they don't,” daddy said. “Some do!” was the Little Chimp's response.
We decided to move on. Daddy next asked about turkey buzzards (aka turkey vultures). “They buzz?!” interjected the Little Chimp. Trying to explain that buzzards do not buzz was fruitless.
So, now we know that bald eagles eat balls (later conversation determined that they are blue balls) and that turkey buzzards/vultures *buzz* like bees. The things you learn from a three-year-old.]]> Mommy-ing http://julie.tedsmoker.comindex.php?itemid=327 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:53:09 -0600 http://julie.tedsmoker.comindex.php?itemid=325 Ambleside Online. This is our first year of “real” school, as the HoneyBee is now in year 1 (aka 1st grade). We are currently in week 6 of the first term and things are going fairly well.
One of the main aspect of a CM education is narration. This is where the student is to tell back a story once he/she has heard/read it. It is not as simple a task as it sounds at first, and the HoneyBee was really balking at it. I was doing a great deal more prodding than I felt I should be and neither of us were enjoying it. So last week, we tried out something new I'd read about online: a narration jar. Instead of simple asking for her to tell me the story once we've read it, she now gets to choose a slip of paper out of a jar. This slip of paper tells her the manner in which she gets to narrate the story. Here's some examples:

• Create a short comic strip based on the reading.


• Act out events in the reading.


• Give a puppet show of one or more interesting parts of the story.


• Write and perform and original song that tells the story.


• Narrate into the recorder.


• ...and many more.