Day 146

Ben and I were working on learning some Flash programming this afternoon. I have not done any programming in a while and enjoyed doing it again. I think Ben could be a good programmer. He likes structure and routine but also likes to tinker, test, and extend what he has learned.

Today:

• Math Chapter 8 review
• Newsletter Article
• Ansel Chapter 7
• Betta Project
• Recipe

Days 141-145

Visitors for a family event have made it difficult for us to find much rythum the last few days. We had a more typical day and hope to get some things accomplished over the next couple of days.

Day 140 - Functioning

In math today I introduced the concept of f(x). Until now we have been talking about functions of the form y=mx+b. Today we modified that to f(x)=mx+b. Yes, they are essentially the same. Ben developed a mental block about the change. We had to set it aside and came back to it later but he still was frustrated by it. We will make a run at it again tomorrow.

Today:

• Library Trip
• Math 8-7
• Ansel Adams blog
• Betta Project
• Flash to Web

Day 139 - Focus

Other things going on at home unrelated to Ben and school have made school difficult to concentrate on lately. Despite competing anxiety, we had some good moments today. Ben has been struggling with a particular math concept and we made a breaktrhrough on that. We also got out next Newsletter outlined.

Things will continue to be difficult over the next couple of weeks but we will keep moving ahead.

Today:

• Reviewed Math 8-5
• Worked on Betta Project Board
• Outline Newsletter
• Read Adams chapter 5 and responded to blog
• learned about John Muir

Day 138 - Obscura 2

After telling my science teacher brother about our results with the camera Obscura yesterday he suggested that we do something additional. Yesterday we were looking at the image projected on a white board. Today I made a frame that I mounted a tissue paper on. Then the image was projected on the tissue and we viewed it from the other side. This greatly enhanced what we saw. The most important part was that we saw the shape of thie image. I was not circular like the hole. Instead it was rectangular - like the window. We took turns going out in the driveway and running around so it could be watched. It was a very fun afternoon.

Today

• Math 8-5 need to review
• Card for Shovana
• Baked Pie
• Camera Obscura
• Betta status
• Blog Response

Day 136 & 137 - Obscura

(Did not add a note yesterday.) It was a rather strange day at the School of Dad today because of a number of factors that had nothing to do with the school. Those items were mostly lowlights. The highlight of the day was building a Camera Obscura in Ben's room. We covered his window with black plastic, create a small hole, a were thrilled to see an upside down image of the view out the window appear on a foam board. It was cool and fun.

Today

• Math 8-4
• Betta Research
• Camera Obscura
• Adams Chapter 4
• Other misc

Day 135 - Perspective

As the lightbulb went on in Ben's while we worked on math today he said, "Some math concepts are crazy until you look at them in a different way."

Today

• Ansel Adams
  - Yosemite
  - Pandemic Flu
  - Sierra Club
  - Math Problem
• Math 8-4
• Betta Research
• Spelling Test
• Camera Obscura
• Music Lesson

Day 134 - Context

While a three day weekend does not qualify as a break, Ben and I still were a bit out of sorts getting going today. Our work is currently centered on an Ansel Adams biography that we are reading. Today I had him read the chapter and suggest topics from the chapter that we could explore to put it in better context. It is impossible for a 12 year old (or 46 year old) to understand what life was like nearly 100 years ago. I am glad that he is enjoying the book and identifying essential elements.

Today

• Read Chapter 3 of Adams book. Wrote Blog entry
• Worked on Research for his Betta Fish Project (independant)
• Math 8-3

Day 133 - Letters

Ben has been responsible for writing someone a letter each week. Early in the year he typed the letters. Since the beginning of this year he has handwritten them. (I have come to believe that handwriting is important in that it requires you to be connected to the page more directly then typing does.) One byproduct of handwriting has been that then content of his latest letters has been lacking. (I could review and request changes to the typed version.) I am focusing more on content now. Today he wrote a list to Kris about a book idea he had. I thought it was a significant improvement over other recent work but still could have used a rewrite. I am not sure if I will ask for a draft in the future.

Today

• long morning walk to coffee store
• while there wrote letter (him to Kris, me to Vet)
• Review Math 8-2 (not ready to move on to 8-3)
• Looked for Recipe
• Discussed Newsletter
• Worked on Betta Project.

Day 132 - World Fair

Ben and I have begun reading the book "Ansel Adams - America's Photographer" by Beverly Gherman. In the second chapter it notes how his father pulled his hyperactive son from school to homeschool him. When Adams was 12 his father bought him a pass to the 1915 Pan-American Exhibition in San Francisco (where they lived). The fathers bought the pass expectng that his son would school himself there (supplemented by some music and other work at home).

When I asked Ben what he would have thought about that arrangement he said it it would have seemed a bit like cheating. I assured him that Ansel was curious enough to take advantage of that opportunity.

We chose this book on a bit of a lark but we are both enjoying it. I am not sure Ben can appreciate how different the world was in 1915 - yet how much the ability to be successful is a product of the same basic personal skills.

Today

• Math 8-2
• Betta Project - organize research
• Ansel Adams Chapter 2
  researched Pan-Pacific Exhibition.
• Vocab
• Easter Letters
• Gym Class

Day 131 - No Dog

Our day felt a bit wierd today (every day has been feeling a bit wierd to me lately but that is another story) because our dog was not here. He is at the Vet being treated for heart worm. The treatment is serious and I was worried about him but so far he is doing fine.

We felt some momentum on our new projects which I hope will continue to build as the week goes by.

Today:

• Began Chapter 8 in Math
• Worked of Vocab 15 (first two pages)
• Worked on Betta Project:
  - added cards
  - organized data into a binder
• Ansel Adams project continued to evolve.
  - began writing note card for each chapter
  - gathered things into one binder.
  - wrote blog response
  - signed up for Flicker.
• Got some Easter cards ready for this weeks letters

Day 130 - New Book

We began reading a new book today - Ansel Adams, America's Photographer. This is our first non-fiction read. I am trying to work on a variety of connections. This week we are looking briefly at the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 and th 1915 Pan-Pacific Worlds Fair. Ben will have a weekly photo project. It will take us 6 weeks to read the book. I am pondering finishing the year by having him write a autobiography.

Today:

• Math Chapter 407 Review
• Begin Vocab 15
• Betta Projects - review sorces, begin note cards
• Mail letter to Flower Lady
• Review Flash
• Discuss Photo Project

Day 129 - Inadvertantly Forgot

Day 128 - Limping Along

It has been a tough week as we try to find rythum again. Ben's sickness yesterday did not help either of us. Today some unrelated news regarding the dog got me preoccupied - which was the last thing I needed. On the plus side, some of our projects are coming together in design and things should get humming soon.

Today:

• Review Math Chapter 10, Test for homework
• A few errands were necessary. Stopped at the Falls Park for a ncie walk.
• Finished Book report on Invisible Boy
• Set dates for Newsletter
• Set dates for Fighting fish and began Research.

Day 127 - Catching Up

Ben was sick today (wen) so I used the day to catch up. It was not as productive as I hoped it would be but I made progress.