Today has been an orientation of sorts for our family into the world of homeschooling. I attended a seminar on Classical Education. (Without having to stop here and go into the various philosophies of education, I suggest that you Google the term….along with Charlotte Mason. These comprise the two methods of homeschooling that I plan to employ this year, but I digress).
Our “orientation” will last the next two days and my boys are signed up for “camps” while I am in various seminars. Will, the six year old, is in a geography camp. Jack and George are in a “play camp.” Jack and George are divided into two distinct groups since Jack is 5 and George is 3.
At the dinner table tonight, we were asking the boys all the things they learned today at camp. Will talked all about how he learned the names of the oceans, continents and where they are located on a map. Will explained to us that he traced the continents and enjoyed coloring them in with pencils. George told us that he liked to play outside and really wants to go back tomorrow to play “Duck, Duck, Goose.”
However……
This is the conversation between Mommy, Daddy and Jack:
Daddy: So, Jack, what did you learn today?
Jack: NUTHIN”
Mommy: Are you sure? Was there anything at all that interested you at camp?
Jack: Wellll….. (thinking)
Mommy: Yes?
Jack: There was this one dude. His mother died when he was little.
Daddy: Who are you talking about, son?
Jack: His name was Michael -somethin’ another. When his mother died, he got sad. I think that’s why he painted so much.
Mommy: (starting to get concerned) Who is this person, honey? What else did he do? Is he at camp with you?
Jack: No. This guy died. All I know is that he made a sculpture of a man, David.
Mommy: (brain clicking) Ohhhhhhh! You mean Michelangelo?! (thinking: Sweet Jesus, please let my son say this is who is depressed and creating various works of art).
Jack: Yeah. That’s the guy. He carved that man David…..NEKKID!!!!!!! (boyish laughter all around the table similar to when someone farts).
Daddy: Well, that IS interesting. What else did you learn about Michelangelo?
Jack: He could paint like this…..
(this is when Jack demonstrates how the Cistine Chapel was painted upside down)
Daddy: Wow, Jack! I’m impressed.
Jack: Well, he had to paint upside down because it was a really long time ago and I don’t think they gave him any ladders.
Mommy: Hmmmm. You are really teaching us something.
Jack: Well, I’ve got more for you, Mommy. Did you know he painted stuff from the Bible?
Mommy: That’s interesting. Anything else you learned?
Jack: Nope.
Daddy: I think you learned quite a lot today, Jack.
Jack: I guess. I just want to know one thing.
Daddy: Yes?
Jack: Did Michelangelo have a really cool moustache?
Mommy: Let’s find out….
(And we did)
Jack and Will: Cooooooollllllll Moustache AND beard!!!!! Whoa!!!!!
So, that’s what homeschooling looks like some days. Stay tuned because there’s more to come!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Wish you could meet my daughter, Katie. Buck knows her from B’ham. She is all into Charlotte Mason also. You seem to have lots in common with her. Good luck with your seminars and the boys camps. Tell Buck hello for me.
Knew you’d be a natural!