It has been nearly a calendar week since my last blog. So much has been going on that it has been hard to find a moment of silence where I didn't want to just stare at a spot on the wall. Right now the kids are playing a rousing game of Twister, and lunch is over in about ten minutes. Phew.
Tiny House workshop in Orlando this past weekend, with mixed results. Although I think it would have been a good place to start for someone considering a tiny house and without much research behind them, for us it didn't offer too much. This is good news in one aspect: the way we are studying at HoneyFern really works. La Petite has done such a good job researching, designing and building her model (and asking questions and making mistakes, all a part of good learning) that she has a clear understanding of what she needs to do, and so did not need much of the lecture from this past weekend. Even in the discussion of the seven principles of good design she was clearly ahead of the curve. The other good news is that we did discover how not to run a workshop; there was no hands-on aspect, and that is a very difficult way to learn for any age. La Petite turned to me at one point and said, "I guess this is my first taste of what college will be like." Hopefully not.
In other news, we are welcoming a new student next year to HoneyFern, Max. There is no telling what he will study yet, but we are so excited to have him join us. We are still looking for another three or four students for a maximum of ten for next year. HoneyFern is putting expansion plans on hold, as it simply does not make sense to pull my time away from the students to recruit a board. I started HF to teach, and expanding the school is taking up too much of my mental energy, energy that is best directed towards the kids. So the decision is made for me: we stay small but mighty. And that's alrighty.
Finally, as Twister is about to collapse, tomorrow begins the watch for Ella's chicks to hatch. She has candled all of them and six have something in there. We are so excited for these additions, and any news of a "pip" will result in a spontaneous field trip to Ella's house.
Have a great day!
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
Go-Kart Updates
It has been awhile since we posted a go-kart update; Will was struggling through his schematic drawings at the end of the calendar year, so I made him a deal. If he could persist and do some seriously awesome drawings, I would give him a huge surprise. The rules were as follows:
1. Standards for the drawings were very high. They had to be to scale and easy to understand for someone who had no idea what they were doing.
2. No guessing the surprise. Should the surprise be accidentally guessed, the surprise would immediately be taken away. Sounds harsh, but them's the rules.
3. If the schematics were not up to snuff, no surprise. Full stop. I did warn Will that if he didn't have them, or they weren't up to standard, then I would still tell him what the surprise was, and this would make him very, very sad.
This seemed to light a bit of a fire under him. In addition to finishing his schematics (it came down to the wire, and he had to re-do two of them that were shoddy and not clear), Will has been on a reading tear, finishing ten books in the last six weeks. All on his own. He has also decided to write a persuasive letter for a paint job on his go-kart.
So what was the surprise?
All he needs is an engine, which he has started looking around for and for which may design a fundraiser. The other students at HoneyFern are trying to convince him to paint it himself, but he wants a professional job. If his persuasive letter doesn't work, I will be posting painting pictures soon!
Go, Will, GO!
1. Standards for the drawings were very high. They had to be to scale and easy to understand for someone who had no idea what they were doing.
2. No guessing the surprise. Should the surprise be accidentally guessed, the surprise would immediately be taken away. Sounds harsh, but them's the rules.
3. If the schematics were not up to snuff, no surprise. Full stop. I did warn Will that if he didn't have them, or they weren't up to standard, then I would still tell him what the surprise was, and this would make him very, very sad.
This seemed to light a bit of a fire under him. In addition to finishing his schematics (it came down to the wire, and he had to re-do two of them that were shoddy and not clear), Will has been on a reading tear, finishing ten books in the last six weeks. All on his own. He has also decided to write a persuasive letter for a paint job on his go-kart.
So what was the surprise?
A go-kart kit!! Same basic design and all the parts.
All he needs is an engine, which he has started looking around for and for which may design a fundraiser. The other students at HoneyFern are trying to convince him to paint it himself, but he wants a professional job. If his persuasive letter doesn't work, I will be posting painting pictures soon!
Go, Will, GO!
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Meet HoneyFern
The weeks are flying by. I keep telling the kids that before they know it the end of the year will be here, but they remained unconvinced.
In the meantime, Ella's eggs are hatching next Friday (fingers crossed!), Will is writing a persuasive letter to get a two-toned paint job completed for his go-kart before he assembles it, Sicily is attending a tiny house building workshop in Orlando, Sarah is constructing a scale model of her greenhouse and refining her hydroponic system, and Alec is full steam ahead with his 3D game creation. They have no idea how soon they will be finished with their projects.
Thought I would take an opportunity to let the school introduce themselves. Short little video. Enjoy!
In the meantime, Ella's eggs are hatching next Friday (fingers crossed!), Will is writing a persuasive letter to get a two-toned paint job completed for his go-kart before he assembles it, Sicily is attending a tiny house building workshop in Orlando, Sarah is constructing a scale model of her greenhouse and refining her hydroponic system, and Alec is full steam ahead with his 3D game creation. They have no idea how soon they will be finished with their projects.
Thought I would take an opportunity to let the school introduce themselves. Short little video. Enjoy!
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Tiny House Construction, and a Nod to the Siegel Patriarch
This may be turning into a Siegel family project.
My late father, Marty Siegel, was famous for his contruction projects, many of which started and ended with demo and consisted of countless trips to the local Ace Hardware and 64 Lumber yard in Middletown, Maryland. The tiny house will be completed, but thus far our construction days have been held up by lack of materials or wrong materials. We have still managed to keep moving forward, and our plan is in place to have framing done by the ed of February, with help from La Petite's Indiegogo fundraiser. Eek!
Construction began in earnest on the tiny house this week, ending with the Eco-Foil on and floor joists in place and the quest for a table saw. Hopefully we will get the subfloor on by the end of the week, as we are going to the Tumbleweed Tiny House Workshop in Orlando this weekend (hello, 76 degrees and sunny!).
In film:
(Yes, Nana, La Petite knows the difference between plywood and a 2x4. She was nervous. La Petite is actually pretty shy. This whole video thing is a big deal for her.)
In pictures:
Taping together sheets of Eco-Foil like we were a little tipsy. There is a learning curve. And a tape curve.
Stapling it to the sill plate.
Laying out lag screws to attach the first 2x4.
My late father, Marty Siegel, was famous for his contruction projects, many of which started and ended with demo and consisted of countless trips to the local Ace Hardware and 64 Lumber yard in Middletown, Maryland. The tiny house will be completed, but thus far our construction days have been held up by lack of materials or wrong materials. We have still managed to keep moving forward, and our plan is in place to have framing done by the ed of February, with help from La Petite's Indiegogo fundraiser. Eek!
Construction began in earnest on the tiny house this week, ending with the Eco-Foil on and floor joists in place and the quest for a table saw. Hopefully we will get the subfloor on by the end of the week, as we are going to the Tumbleweed Tiny House Workshop in Orlando this weekend (hello, 76 degrees and sunny!).
In film:
In pictures:
Taping together sheets of Eco-Foil like we were a little tipsy. There is a learning curve. And a tape curve.
Stapling it to the sill plate.
That moment when you realize your 5 1/2" lag screws should be 5" lag screws. Off to Home Depot. Hey, we needed insulation anyway.
Laying out lag screws to attach the first 2x4.
Teamwork. Stapling the Eco-Foil to the frame.
Nailing in floor joists. The nailgun was an experience. Daddy-O was not keen on her using it, but I pointed out that it will be very difficult for her to build her own house if she is not, in fact, allowed to use the nail gun. Safety first. Only with supervision. Technically there should be some eye protection also. #NextTime.
Nearly finished.
And all of it summarized by the video above. We did this work in about three and a half hours, including the trip to Home Depot. It is great to look out in the driveway and see it taking shape.
Today featured a fruitless search for a table saw, so if anyone has one they would lend out, and you're local, give us a shout!
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
What Makes Finland So Successful?
How does Finland do it? What is so structurally different in their education system that puts their success rate head and shoulders above all other countries?
It is far too simplistic to write it off as demographics; using similar demographics in the United States, Finland still wins (especially when you consider one in three kids receives some kind of special services but are not sequestered in "special ed" classes).
SO how do they do it? Take a look:
Infographic courtesy of OnlineClasses.org!
It is far too simplistic to write it off as demographics; using similar demographics in the United States, Finland still wins (especially when you consider one in three kids receives some kind of special services but are not sequestered in "special ed" classes).
SO how do they do it? Take a look:
Infographic courtesy of OnlineClasses.org!
Monday, January 21, 2013
Why I Hate School But I Love Education
Every year for my entire life, except for about five years, I have returned to school in the fall, as a student all the way through my Master's degree and as a teacher for the last 14 years. As a student, August was filled with excitement and anticipation; I love to learn. I love buying new school supplies and back to school clothes. I love selecting classes and the newness of a college campus at the start of the fall semester, even after having been there for years.
"Education is about inspiring one's mind, not filling one's head."
And then the ball drops. For most of my 18 years as student, the month of August gave quickly way to the month of September when reality sank in. With the exception of four teachers in my entire academic career (Mrs. Lutz in 2nd grade, Mr. Zinc in 8th grade, Mr. Bunitsky in 12th grade, and Dr._____ in my senior year of undergraduate), I don't remember feeling inspired, appreciated or respected in school. I don't remember any teachers who had the time to get to know me or plumb the depths (or shallows) of what I knew. I don't remember putting myself into my work to any effect in any classes other than the ones mentioned (well, an 8th grade history teacher appreciated my Egyptian history essay on "The Amon Lady: a Study in Makeup.").
Suli Breaks addresses this clash of expectation and reality in the following spoken word video. Every year students return to school, not really knowing why they are going, not really getting what they need, under the mistaken expectation that school holds the key to an education.
"If you don't build your dream, someone else will hire you to build theirs."
Get to building. Time starts...now.
"Education is about inspiring one's mind, not filling one's head."
And then the ball drops. For most of my 18 years as student, the month of August gave quickly way to the month of September when reality sank in. With the exception of four teachers in my entire academic career (Mrs. Lutz in 2nd grade, Mr. Zinc in 8th grade, Mr. Bunitsky in 12th grade, and Dr._____ in my senior year of undergraduate), I don't remember feeling inspired, appreciated or respected in school. I don't remember any teachers who had the time to get to know me or plumb the depths (or shallows) of what I knew. I don't remember putting myself into my work to any effect in any classes other than the ones mentioned (well, an 8th grade history teacher appreciated my Egyptian history essay on "The Amon Lady: a Study in Makeup.").
Suli Breaks addresses this clash of expectation and reality in the following spoken word video. Every year students return to school, not really knowing why they are going, not really getting what they need, under the mistaken expectation that school holds the key to an education.
"If you don't build your dream, someone else will hire you to build theirs."
Get to building. Time starts...now.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
There's More to Life Than Being Happy
This is an excellent article from The Atlantic.
"Leading a happy life, the psychologists found, is associated with being a "taker" while leading a meaningful life corresponds with being a "giver."
'Happiness without meaning characterizes a relatively shallow, self-absorbed or even selfish life, in which things go well, needs and desire are easily satisfied, and difficult or taxing entanglements are avoided,' [psychological scientists] write."
So what does this mean? It is not enough to be happy in your life - you must also strive to bring happiness into the lives of others. Giving makes you happy. Making other people happy...makes you happy. The more of this happiness-making you induce, the happier you are, but the goal of giving or happiness-making is not happiness. The goal is the happiness of others, and the by-product is your own happiness.
That's a lot of happiness in that previous paragraph. Take a look at the article and see what you think. What is the meaning of your own life?
"Leading a happy life, the psychologists found, is associated with being a "taker" while leading a meaningful life corresponds with being a "giver."
'Happiness without meaning characterizes a relatively shallow, self-absorbed or even selfish life, in which things go well, needs and desire are easily satisfied, and difficult or taxing entanglements are avoided,' [psychological scientists] write."
So what does this mean? It is not enough to be happy in your life - you must also strive to bring happiness into the lives of others. Giving makes you happy. Making other people happy...makes you happy. The more of this happiness-making you induce, the happier you are, but the goal of giving or happiness-making is not happiness. The goal is the happiness of others, and the by-product is your own happiness.
That's a lot of happiness in that previous paragraph. Take a look at the article and see what you think. What is the meaning of your own life?
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