I am leaving for France in the morning and will not be checking my mail until we get to Paris and figure out how to use the internet in our apartment there (so maybe not at all.)
But hopefully it won't be long before I will be able to post of my experience.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
2 bd / 2 bth + Den
We have moved five times since Z was born.
She was born in Fairfax, VA. We had a very nice and big apartment. That was back when we were living' large. *grin* That was the place were I was pregnant and where "baby Z" existed.
When she was nine months old we moved out here to Los Angeles and lived in a cool 1930's era apartment in L.A. proper, near this cool area known as the Farmer's Market and The Grove. That house is where Z learned to walk.
When our one year lease was up there, and Z was 18 months old, we moved to Oxnard, to the Channel Islands house and we lived there for 2 years. That was where I started to homeschool Z and where we used to watch the sunset on the beach in the winter.
When Z was 3 1/2 I bought the bookstore and we moved to the apartments on the campus of Channel Islands University, which used to be a Camarillo State Mental Hospital. Some have said it was the place behind the song Hotel California. It was creepy at the college but the apartments and grounds were beautiful and surrounded by hills and deer. That was where we found out that Z got into the Davidson Young Scholars and where my good friend and neighbor jumped up and down on the sidewalk and cheered for her.
When our lease was up there we decided to move closer to Pere's work, much, much, closer. We got a 3 bedroom right across the street and he comes home for lunch and at odd times during the day. This was where we met a lot of good friends, Z started piano and acting and I started blogging again.
Well our lease is up again in October and they are raising our rent here. I called around and found out there is a 2 bedroom with 2 bath plus den available in our same apartment complex. It is only a little smaller and the rent is a good amount less so we can still save money to buy a house.
So, one week after we return from France we are moving again, but not too far. :)
She was born in Fairfax, VA. We had a very nice and big apartment. That was back when we were living' large. *grin* That was the place were I was pregnant and where "baby Z" existed.
When she was nine months old we moved out here to Los Angeles and lived in a cool 1930's era apartment in L.A. proper, near this cool area known as the Farmer's Market and The Grove. That house is where Z learned to walk.
When our one year lease was up there, and Z was 18 months old, we moved to Oxnard, to the Channel Islands house and we lived there for 2 years. That was where I started to homeschool Z and where we used to watch the sunset on the beach in the winter.
When Z was 3 1/2 I bought the bookstore and we moved to the apartments on the campus of Channel Islands University, which used to be a Camarillo State Mental Hospital. Some have said it was the place behind the song Hotel California. It was creepy at the college but the apartments and grounds were beautiful and surrounded by hills and deer. That was where we found out that Z got into the Davidson Young Scholars and where my good friend and neighbor jumped up and down on the sidewalk and cheered for her.
When our lease was up there we decided to move closer to Pere's work, much, much, closer. We got a 3 bedroom right across the street and he comes home for lunch and at odd times during the day. This was where we met a lot of good friends, Z started piano and acting and I started blogging again.
Well our lease is up again in October and they are raising our rent here. I called around and found out there is a 2 bedroom with 2 bath plus den available in our same apartment complex. It is only a little smaller and the rent is a good amount less so we can still save money to buy a house.
So, one week after we return from France we are moving again, but not too far. :)
quick note to my friends
I went back and responded to the responses you left on my recent posts.
One thing I don't like about blogger.com is that posts are not threaded and do not notify the person I am responding to with an email. When I get a new blog client I am going to look for that function.
One thing I don't like about blogger.com is that posts are not threaded and do not notify the person I am responding to with an email. When I get a new blog client I am going to look for that function.
Z's Room, by Z
This is the wall behind my bed. There is a sombero, a hat from Thailand, a shirt from Japan and a shirt from Mexico on my wall. There are also four pictures of me as a baby and pictures I've colored of comic book characters. By my lamp there is a shirt from musical theatre that every one signed.
This is a picture of my bassinet from when I was a baby, my Mimi (grandma) made it for me. The umbrella was made by Mimi and Papa too. I keep most of my stuffed animals in the bassinet.
This is a picture of my bed. I read the books at night time to help me fall asleep. Under by bed is a bin that is my toybox.
This is a picture of my Sailormoon poster and a board that I keep my mementos on, like Playbills from musicals I've seen, a chimpanzee head from summer camp, photographs, a karate medal, and my name tag from the Davidson Gathering.
This is a picure of my fiction bookshelf. There is an umbrella on top and an Audry II that I used at my Talent show.
This is my non-fiction books shelf. It also has toys, more mementos and my collections on it. I have a Hello Kitty collection, a Matrioshka (Russian Nesting Dolls) collection, a Japanese dolls collection, and a rock collection.
On my closet door I have posters from Harry Potter movies and a picture of the milky way that I made. But I couldn't take a picture of them because my closet door is a mirror.
When I was studying to be a princess I made a door hanger that says HRH (Her Royal Highness) is IN, on one side and HRH is Out on the other.
I think my room is very pretty.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Salon
This morning I went to the salon to get a pedicure since I will be wearing sandals most of the time we are in France.
Z really wanted to get the pedicure treatment too so I told her I would give her one when we got home.
So later in the afternoon I got a bucket and filled it with hot water and put in bubble bath. Then I gathered my tools and invited her into the bathroom to sit on her "chair" and get a pedicure.
I rubbed her feet with lotion first and then so softly, just for effect really, I rubbed them with a pumice stone. Then I did stuff with my nail kit, I barely touched on her cuticles and barely buffed her tiny little toenails.
Then I massaged her feet and legs with scented lotion.
For color I chose a nude or buff type color because I don't really like to paint her nails - they always chip quickly and I don't want to maintain them. But she was happy with the buff color because at least it was something.
After we finished with my nail salon she set up a beauty salon in her room with some of the hair things and pretend make-up (the only real stuff she has is chapstick) and jewerly. I let her do me and then I made her up and then I was tired of the game so she made herself up in various looks for awhile.
It was cute. :) and I like that Z seems to like getting her nails done too.
Z really wanted to get the pedicure treatment too so I told her I would give her one when we got home.
So later in the afternoon I got a bucket and filled it with hot water and put in bubble bath. Then I gathered my tools and invited her into the bathroom to sit on her "chair" and get a pedicure.
I rubbed her feet with lotion first and then so softly, just for effect really, I rubbed them with a pumice stone. Then I did stuff with my nail kit, I barely touched on her cuticles and barely buffed her tiny little toenails.
Then I massaged her feet and legs with scented lotion.
For color I chose a nude or buff type color because I don't really like to paint her nails - they always chip quickly and I don't want to maintain them. But she was happy with the buff color because at least it was something.
After we finished with my nail salon she set up a beauty salon in her room with some of the hair things and pretend make-up (the only real stuff she has is chapstick) and jewerly. I let her do me and then I made her up and then I was tired of the game so she made herself up in various looks for awhile.
It was cute. :) and I like that Z seems to like getting her nails done too.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Interesting exercise
or just another case of me thinking too much?
Yesterday I found out that we will not be doing the ISP this year. We sent in our application too late and we only got on the waiting list. But I found a person who's kid is acting and who signed the R-4 and had no trouble getting the entertainment work permit so I have no reason really to go through the ISP. Other than missing the money (we may have to cut a class for Z) I am not sad about it.
But to make our homeschool sound more official (so there are no questions from the work permit people) I was thinking that maybe I would change the name of our school. That does make me kind of sad because Gray's Academy has been the name I have been using since we started three years ago. But I worry that having the school name the same as our last name may look suspicious to whomever is going to send the work permit.
Anyway I am not the kind of person who can just pick any old name for our school. The name has to be perfect. It has to embody my educational philosophy and not already be in popular use.
So I came up with a some names
The Journey School
I was imaging a letter head showing the back of a figure holding a tall walking staff heading off down a path. I like thinking of our education as a journey.
Explore Academy - Education through Exploration
This one gave me a good feeling too. It would almost be a guidepost in our homeschooling. The name might help me to remember that a good education can come from exploring the many wonderful ideas and place in our world and out of it.
I also came up with
Progress Academy
Odyssey Academy
Reach Academy
School of Immersive Study
and the
Paideia School
which, unfortunately is already in popular use. Although the ideas of Paideiaand Arete are very compelling to me and could be a guide in our homeschooling.
I would also love to use the word Study somehow because I love the definitions
-noun
1. application of the mind to the acquisition of knowledge, as by reading, investigation, or reflection.
2. the cultivation of a particular branch of learning, science, or art.
3. Often, studies. a personal effort to gain knowledge.
4. something studied or to be studied.
5. research or a detailed examination and analysis of a subject, phenomenon, etc.
6. a written account of such research, examination, or analysis.
7. a well-defined, organized branch of learning or knowledge.
8. zealous endeavor or assiduous effort.
9. the object of such endeavor or effort.
10. deep thought, reverie, or a state of abstraction.
11. a room, in a house or other building, set apart for private study, reading, writing, or the like.
12. Also called étude. Music. a composition that combines exercise in technique with a greater or lesser amount of artistic value.
13. Literature.
a. a literary composition executed for exercise or as an experiment in a particular method of treatment.
b. such a composition dealing in detail with a particular subject, as a single main character.
14. Art. something produced as an educational exercise, as a memorandum or record of observations or effects, or as a guide for a finished production.
15. a person, as an actor, considered in terms of his or her quickness or slowness in memorizing lines.
–verb (used without object)
16. to apply oneself to the acquisition of knowledge, as by reading, investigation, or practice.
17. to apply oneself; endeavor.
18. to think deeply, reflect, or consider.
19. to take a course of study, as at a college.
–verb (used with object)
20. to apply oneself to acquiring a knowledge of (a subject).
21. to examine or investigate carefully and in detailn.
22. to observe attentively; scrutinize.
23. to read carefully or intently.
24. to endeavor to learn or memorize.
25. to consider, as something to be achieved or devised.
26. to think out, as the result of careful consideration or devising.
but then I started thinking about the difference between the word "study" and the word "explore" or even "journey". They really have a different flavor to them. Which one really would define our homeschooling?
I have sometimes described what I am doing with Z as giving her a "gourmet" life. I have wanted to introduce her to the best of everything (plus some Spongebob) and develop in her a taste for it. The best in books, music, art, etc has been laid out for her like a banquet and we have encouraged her to be at home with them.
I didn't do this to make her different, although I knew this would be an outcome, but because I believe in those things and I believe in the power they have to change a person for the better.
I have also always wanted Z to understand her own power and to know that it is _her_ power to draw on. I want to encourage and support her natural passion for learning. Some of the times I have seen her the happiest is when I have seen her work through a daunting challenge and I want so much her to have the confidence to know that she can and will do that again and again.
But I have also seen her happy and relaxed creating something that is all her own, things that I sometimes don't understand. And I want to protect that.
That is what my school is about and I don't have a name for it. We do study, quite passionately and we explore the world given to us with excitement every day and certainly all of our life and learning is a journey that will never end.
Thus I cannot settle on a name for our school because words are too meaningful to me and I haven't found the right one yet.
Yesterday I found out that we will not be doing the ISP this year. We sent in our application too late and we only got on the waiting list. But I found a person who's kid is acting and who signed the R-4 and had no trouble getting the entertainment work permit so I have no reason really to go through the ISP. Other than missing the money (we may have to cut a class for Z) I am not sad about it.
But to make our homeschool sound more official (so there are no questions from the work permit people) I was thinking that maybe I would change the name of our school. That does make me kind of sad because Gray's Academy has been the name I have been using since we started three years ago. But I worry that having the school name the same as our last name may look suspicious to whomever is going to send the work permit.
Anyway I am not the kind of person who can just pick any old name for our school. The name has to be perfect. It has to embody my educational philosophy and not already be in popular use.
So I came up with a some names
The Journey School
I was imaging a letter head showing the back of a figure holding a tall walking staff heading off down a path. I like thinking of our education as a journey.
Explore Academy - Education through Exploration
This one gave me a good feeling too. It would almost be a guidepost in our homeschooling. The name might help me to remember that a good education can come from exploring the many wonderful ideas and place in our world and out of it.
I also came up with
Progress Academy
Odyssey Academy
Reach Academy
School of Immersive Study
and the
Paideia School
which, unfortunately is already in popular use. Although the ideas of Paideiaand Arete are very compelling to me and could be a guide in our homeschooling.
I would also love to use the word Study somehow because I love the definitions
-noun
1. application of the mind to the acquisition of knowledge, as by reading, investigation, or reflection.
2. the cultivation of a particular branch of learning, science, or art.
3. Often, studies. a personal effort to gain knowledge.
4. something studied or to be studied.
5. research or a detailed examination and analysis of a subject, phenomenon, etc.
6. a written account of such research, examination, or analysis.
7. a well-defined, organized branch of learning or knowledge.
8. zealous endeavor or assiduous effort.
9. the object of such endeavor or effort.
10. deep thought, reverie, or a state of abstraction.
11. a room, in a house or other building, set apart for private study, reading, writing, or the like.
12. Also called étude. Music. a composition that combines exercise in technique with a greater or lesser amount of artistic value.
13. Literature.
a. a literary composition executed for exercise or as an experiment in a particular method of treatment.
b. such a composition dealing in detail with a particular subject, as a single main character.
14. Art. something produced as an educational exercise, as a memorandum or record of observations or effects, or as a guide for a finished production.
15. a person, as an actor, considered in terms of his or her quickness or slowness in memorizing lines.
–verb (used without object)
16. to apply oneself to the acquisition of knowledge, as by reading, investigation, or practice.
17. to apply oneself; endeavor.
18. to think deeply, reflect, or consider.
19. to take a course of study, as at a college.
–verb (used with object)
20. to apply oneself to acquiring a knowledge of (a subject).
21. to examine or investigate carefully and in detailn.
22. to observe attentively; scrutinize.
23. to read carefully or intently.
24. to endeavor to learn or memorize.
25. to consider, as something to be achieved or devised.
26. to think out, as the result of careful consideration or devising.
but then I started thinking about the difference between the word "study" and the word "explore" or even "journey". They really have a different flavor to them. Which one really would define our homeschooling?
I have sometimes described what I am doing with Z as giving her a "gourmet" life. I have wanted to introduce her to the best of everything (plus some Spongebob) and develop in her a taste for it. The best in books, music, art, etc has been laid out for her like a banquet and we have encouraged her to be at home with them.
I didn't do this to make her different, although I knew this would be an outcome, but because I believe in those things and I believe in the power they have to change a person for the better.
I have also always wanted Z to understand her own power and to know that it is _her_ power to draw on. I want to encourage and support her natural passion for learning. Some of the times I have seen her the happiest is when I have seen her work through a daunting challenge and I want so much her to have the confidence to know that she can and will do that again and again.
But I have also seen her happy and relaxed creating something that is all her own, things that I sometimes don't understand. And I want to protect that.
That is what my school is about and I don't have a name for it. We do study, quite passionately and we explore the world given to us with excitement every day and certainly all of our life and learning is a journey that will never end.
Thus I cannot settle on a name for our school because words are too meaningful to me and I haven't found the right one yet.
Monday, August 28, 2006
Z's upcoming fall schedule
This is our homeschooling schedule
Music Appreciation (over breakfast.)
Finish 2nd grade math book - 2 pages a day (I thought this would have gotten done over the summer but alas... it has not.)
2nd/3rd grade Daily Grammar books - 2 pages a day
Review Japanese homework
Writing assignment
Reading aloud done by me
Reading aloud done by Z
Study of Middle ages for History (includes timeline and geography)
Study of the Human Body for science (Z creates Lil' Books based on what she has learned)
Piano practice
Free time or Art before lunch
Free time except for classes after lunch.
Classes
Tuesday - Piano 1hour (afternoon)
Wednesday - Shakespeare 1 1/2 hours (morning) and Voice 1/2 hour (afternoon)
Thursday - Gymnastics 1 hour (noon)
Friday - Japanese 1 hour (afternoon)
We have field trips planned to
The Los Angeles Zoo
The Natural History Museum
The Getty Art Museum
The Walt Disney Concert Hall
The Science Discovery Center
The Kids Place Science Museum
and many more.
I would like to do at least one field trip a month perhaps with friends.
Music Appreciation (over breakfast.)
Finish 2nd grade math book - 2 pages a day (I thought this would have gotten done over the summer but alas... it has not.)
2nd/3rd grade Daily Grammar books - 2 pages a day
Review Japanese homework
Writing assignment
Reading aloud done by me
Reading aloud done by Z
Study of Middle ages for History (includes timeline and geography)
Study of the Human Body for science (Z creates Lil' Books based on what she has learned)
Piano practice
Free time or Art before lunch
Free time except for classes after lunch.
Classes
Tuesday - Piano 1hour (afternoon)
Wednesday - Shakespeare 1 1/2 hours (morning) and Voice 1/2 hour (afternoon)
Thursday - Gymnastics 1 hour (noon)
Friday - Japanese 1 hour (afternoon)
We have field trips planned to
The Los Angeles Zoo
The Natural History Museum
The Getty Art Museum
The Walt Disney Concert Hall
The Science Discovery Center
The Kids Place Science Museum
and many more.
I would like to do at least one field trip a month perhaps with friends.
intrinsic motivation
This morning Z and I talked about our forthcoming trip to France. She got excited and wanted to listen to our new CD of French songs and read along with her French lyrics book over her breakfast.
Then she skipped into her bedroom and found all her books on France and French and read a children's travel book on France and then a a French language book. She sat on the couch readig for almost an hour.
I love that my kid, when she is interested in a subject, will go find a book about it and learn. I love that she does this all on her own. I love that she figured this out.
She knows we are going to start studying medieval history after we get back from France so she made a point of reading books on Castles last night when we were at Barnes and Noble. I love that she is already in the mindset of handling her own education.
Since we are homeschooling this all bodes well.
Then she skipped into her bedroom and found all her books on France and French and read a children's travel book on France and then a a French language book. She sat on the couch readig for almost an hour.
I love that my kid, when she is interested in a subject, will go find a book about it and learn. I love that she does this all on her own. I love that she figured this out.
She knows we are going to start studying medieval history after we get back from France so she made a point of reading books on Castles last night when we were at Barnes and Noble. I love that she is already in the mindset of handling her own education.
Since we are homeschooling this all bodes well.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Big Girl and Little Girl
This weekend Z had the opportunity to be both the little girl and the big girl with another child.
Saturday some friends with a PG 9 year old came for a visit at the Channel Islands house and their daughter and Z played together for hours. They played imaginary games the whole time. Sometimes we parents caught a little of their game whilst they were running up and down the stairs. I liked how they were totally caught up in it, staying in character as much as possible. I think the imaginary game was richer than Z usually plays with her age mates, her older friend brought so much to it.
Then today we visited a neighbor with a younger girl and I could hear Z playing the "mommy." Since Z usually plays with older girls she almost never gets to play the authority figure. I think she enjoyed the opportunity.
I am getting really excited about our upcoming trip!
Saturday some friends with a PG 9 year old came for a visit at the Channel Islands house and their daughter and Z played together for hours. They played imaginary games the whole time. Sometimes we parents caught a little of their game whilst they were running up and down the stairs. I liked how they were totally caught up in it, staying in character as much as possible. I think the imaginary game was richer than Z usually plays with her age mates, her older friend brought so much to it.
Then today we visited a neighbor with a younger girl and I could hear Z playing the "mommy." Since Z usually plays with older girls she almost never gets to play the authority figure. I think she enjoyed the opportunity.
I am getting really excited about our upcoming trip!
Friday, August 25, 2006
Some more headshots
Okay so we got the rest and I like these new ones.
What do you think of these compared to the others? Which ones you like best and for what "look" i.e. sweet, serious, etc.
http://graysacademy.blogspot.com/2006/08/some-of-zs-headshots.html
What do you think of these compared to the others? Which ones you like best and for what "look" i.e. sweet, serious, etc.
http://graysacademy.blogspot.com/2006/08/some-of-zs-headshots.html
Cool and Exciting news
Z had her first audition for a television show next Monday!
I don't want to give away what it is yet, I like to write about those things after the fact. But I am really excited. :)
I might be going to the Channel Islands house for the whole weekend again so if I don't update over the weekend that is why.
I don't want to give away what it is yet, I like to write about those things after the fact. But I am really excited. :)
I might be going to the Channel Islands house for the whole weekend again so if I don't update over the weekend that is why.
homeschooling advice
A mother in my apartment complex is going to homeschool her 5yo daughter this year. She came over here two days ago to ask me some questions about homeschooling. She was absolutely sure that she was going to go with this big Christian homeschooling company that supplies all your books in all the subjects for the entire year with very detailed teaching manual. This company's "ultra" homeschooling package cost's about $700 which is way more than you have to spend on homeschooling a kindergartener.
Last night, during dinner, we get a knock on the door. It is my neighbor and she says that she really needs to talk to me about other options, now she wants me to help her put together her own curriculum.
She had her list of classes and in about an hour I had saved her about $600. I completely changed her Language Art curriculum. Instead of a handwriting workbook and a phonics workbook and a writing workbook and a reading comprehension workbook, etc I advised the more holistic (and as she put it, the more common sense way) of Charlotte Mason. Pretty much everythnig could be handeled through their normal reading of classic literature along with narration and copywork. So basically, if you have a library card and some paper Language Arts is free.
For math I recommended Singapore which is about $7.50 each for four books that would last a normal kid the whole year. And I recommend the free resource Livingmath.com and gave her links to free math games and math practice on the internet.
Science? Again, use the library, take field trip to the zoo, natural history museum, botanical gardens, science museums (it helps to get memberships.) And I reminded her that the library even has books with science experiments in them if she wants to do that.
I let her borrow my copy of What your Kindergartener Needs to Know and it covers the human body, weather, plants, and other basic science topics that can be jumping off point for her.
She had history covered with the booklist she had downloaded from the original curriculum she was going to buy and had already checked that many of them were avialable from the library.
She ended up staying for more than 2 hours. We got into talking about Libertarian politics (now she thinks she might be a little libertarian, *wink*) and towards the end some about religion. She is born again but I hope I made it clear in a kind way that I was not interested in her trying to convert me, but I don't mind talking about religion.
Her little daughter who is almost 5 played dress up with Z in Z's room. It is kind of funny to see Z being the "older" kid in the relationhip. Z is usually the younger one. They were playing some game where Z was the Queen Wicked Witch and C was the Princess Wicked Witch and Little C kept calling Z "mommy."
Anyway it was fun to help her. She was so grateful and excited to pick up where I left up and create the rest of the curriculum. I think she might be a good homeschoolers because that is how you are supposed to feel.
Last night, during dinner, we get a knock on the door. It is my neighbor and she says that she really needs to talk to me about other options, now she wants me to help her put together her own curriculum.
She had her list of classes and in about an hour I had saved her about $600. I completely changed her Language Art curriculum. Instead of a handwriting workbook and a phonics workbook and a writing workbook and a reading comprehension workbook, etc I advised the more holistic (and as she put it, the more common sense way) of Charlotte Mason. Pretty much everythnig could be handeled through their normal reading of classic literature along with narration and copywork. So basically, if you have a library card and some paper Language Arts is free.
For math I recommended Singapore which is about $7.50 each for four books that would last a normal kid the whole year. And I recommend the free resource Livingmath.com and gave her links to free math games and math practice on the internet.
Science? Again, use the library, take field trip to the zoo, natural history museum, botanical gardens, science museums (it helps to get memberships.) And I reminded her that the library even has books with science experiments in them if she wants to do that.
I let her borrow my copy of What your Kindergartener Needs to Know and it covers the human body, weather, plants, and other basic science topics that can be jumping off point for her.
She had history covered with the booklist she had downloaded from the original curriculum she was going to buy and had already checked that many of them were avialable from the library.
She ended up staying for more than 2 hours. We got into talking about Libertarian politics (now she thinks she might be a little libertarian, *wink*) and towards the end some about religion. She is born again but I hope I made it clear in a kind way that I was not interested in her trying to convert me, but I don't mind talking about religion.
Her little daughter who is almost 5 played dress up with Z in Z's room. It is kind of funny to see Z being the "older" kid in the relationhip. Z is usually the younger one. They were playing some game where Z was the Queen Wicked Witch and C was the Princess Wicked Witch and Little C kept calling Z "mommy."
Anyway it was fun to help her. She was so grateful and excited to pick up where I left up and create the rest of the curriculum. I think she might be a good homeschoolers because that is how you are supposed to feel.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
End of summer
It is almost the end of summer. Soon Z and I will start our new school routine and our homeschooling group will be meeting once a week again.
I am hoping things work out with this ISP. Even if they don't at least I will have given it a try.
I am looking forward to starting the new school year. When I was a kid I always loved the newness. I loved getting new back-to-school clothes and nice clean shoes. I loved picking out new pencils and notebooks and folders - all clean and full of promise.
I always imagined that this year would be different. That this year I would be different. I thought I could be someone else, a "normal" popular girl, a girl who didn't attract too much of the wrong kind of attention.
A rarely hoped that the other kids in school would be different. I didn't try to imagine some wonderland where kids appreciated my differences or even had the decency to be kind. I knew that wasn't going to happen. I knew that I had to be the one to make a change.
Sometimes I think I did fit in for a day or two. But inevitably I would raise my hand too often in class. I would give away that I already knew what the teacher was trying to teach by trying to have a conversation about the material covered in class. My need to talk to someone about the topics that interested me always led me away from my plan to be "normal".
God, school was so hard for me. There we a few shiny examples - some older students, a teacher here and there that took an interest in me - but mostly it was painful. I couldn't understand how people could be so cruel, I still don't. I developed reputations that really had nothing to do with me. I was, at various times, a bitch, a champion to the underdogs, notorious, dating the most popular boy in school, a brain, a weirdo, a teacher's pet, a badass, and strangely enough a few times I was the best friend to the most popular girl in my class.
Was it all bad? No. School was the place I daydreamed, read, fell in love, got into fights, stood up for my values, won awards, got suspended, made friends, and made enemies.
I went to 13 different schools in 12 years.
I hated school but I got there early most days because I wanted to be part of whatever was going to happen that day. I was used to life not making sense and hurting me but I wanted to be in it all the same.
I am hoping things work out with this ISP. Even if they don't at least I will have given it a try.
I am looking forward to starting the new school year. When I was a kid I always loved the newness. I loved getting new back-to-school clothes and nice clean shoes. I loved picking out new pencils and notebooks and folders - all clean and full of promise.
I always imagined that this year would be different. That this year I would be different. I thought I could be someone else, a "normal" popular girl, a girl who didn't attract too much of the wrong kind of attention.
A rarely hoped that the other kids in school would be different. I didn't try to imagine some wonderland where kids appreciated my differences or even had the decency to be kind. I knew that wasn't going to happen. I knew that I had to be the one to make a change.
Sometimes I think I did fit in for a day or two. But inevitably I would raise my hand too often in class. I would give away that I already knew what the teacher was trying to teach by trying to have a conversation about the material covered in class. My need to talk to someone about the topics that interested me always led me away from my plan to be "normal".
God, school was so hard for me. There we a few shiny examples - some older students, a teacher here and there that took an interest in me - but mostly it was painful. I couldn't understand how people could be so cruel, I still don't. I developed reputations that really had nothing to do with me. I was, at various times, a bitch, a champion to the underdogs, notorious, dating the most popular boy in school, a brain, a weirdo, a teacher's pet, a badass, and strangely enough a few times I was the best friend to the most popular girl in my class.
Was it all bad? No. School was the place I daydreamed, read, fell in love, got into fights, stood up for my values, won awards, got suspended, made friends, and made enemies.
I went to 13 different schools in 12 years.
I hated school but I got there early most days because I wanted to be part of whatever was going to happen that day. I was used to life not making sense and hurting me but I wanted to be in it all the same.
Monday, August 21, 2006
homeschooling stuff
I sent out an application today to join a public charter independent study program.
Let me explain, public means that it gets public funds and has to adhere to certain state/federal regulations. Charter means that it doesn't have all the same rules as a regular public school but can be quite different from and in our cause much more flexible than a regular public school. And independent study program or ISP for short, means that I teach Z myself with some oversight from the school.
I found the most flexible ISP that I could. They just seem to require that your child is making progress in the basic subjects. An E.S. (educational specialist) comes for a visit every twenty days and looks at samples of the child's work in the various subjects.
Since Z is 3 - 5 (6?) years ahead of her official grade level I don't see that there is going to be any problem.
It will mean that I will have to be more "routine" with our homeschooling... er, routine. Which can be a good thing.
Also they do not require you to be sitting at a workbook to be "learning". I asked them about our trip to France, which is during the school year and this is what they said:
During the trip, they would need to do schoolwork, but since the community (in this case the world) is our classroom, that shouldn't be difficult. I am sure they will be visiting many interesting places, historical sites, museums, cathedrals, etc. They will be observing cultural and climactic differences. They will be traveling probably via airplane and perhaps by train, cab, etc. which could lead to a study (conversation, maybe some reading, perhaps a report) of modes of transportation. There's always money conversion and budgeting for a trip, purchasing souvenirs, tracking how much do they spend on food, etc. They could do a report when they return to summarize/capture some of the learning - perhaps a scrapbook or photo album which would contain tickets, pamphlets, writings and drawings as well as photos. A travel journal is always a good tool, too. There are many options of what to do. They could even take some of their texts or workbooks and do a bit of more traditional school on the trip. Some of this depends on the age of the student, but much can be done during a trip that can count as schoolwork.
See, doesn't that sound good?
Also they give us money to spend on educational resources. I am thinking about using it to get Z EPGY classes - EPGY math that is. It is supposed to be the very very bestest math for gifted kids.
And I am kind of looking forward to having someone else to look at what I am doing with Z and give me some feedback. That might be nice, though I guess it depends on who the E.S. is and how we get along.
Anyway I am excited about it, this will be with first time I am working with someone to homeschool Z. :)
The reason I am doing this instead of just homeschooling on my own and doing my own thing is because I need a school official who is not me to sign her entertainment work permit. Anyway I am going to try it work awhile.
Let me explain, public means that it gets public funds and has to adhere to certain state/federal regulations. Charter means that it doesn't have all the same rules as a regular public school but can be quite different from and in our cause much more flexible than a regular public school. And independent study program or ISP for short, means that I teach Z myself with some oversight from the school.
I found the most flexible ISP that I could. They just seem to require that your child is making progress in the basic subjects. An E.S. (educational specialist) comes for a visit every twenty days and looks at samples of the child's work in the various subjects.
Since Z is 3 - 5 (6?) years ahead of her official grade level I don't see that there is going to be any problem.
It will mean that I will have to be more "routine" with our homeschooling... er, routine. Which can be a good thing.
Also they do not require you to be sitting at a workbook to be "learning". I asked them about our trip to France, which is during the school year and this is what they said:
During the trip, they would need to do schoolwork, but since the community (in this case the world) is our classroom, that shouldn't be difficult. I am sure they will be visiting many interesting places, historical sites, museums, cathedrals, etc. They will be observing cultural and climactic differences. They will be traveling probably via airplane and perhaps by train, cab, etc. which could lead to a study (conversation, maybe some reading, perhaps a report) of modes of transportation. There's always money conversion and budgeting for a trip, purchasing souvenirs, tracking how much do they spend on food, etc. They could do a report when they return to summarize/capture some of the learning - perhaps a scrapbook or photo album which would contain tickets, pamphlets, writings and drawings as well as photos. A travel journal is always a good tool, too. There are many options of what to do. They could even take some of their texts or workbooks and do a bit of more traditional school on the trip. Some of this depends on the age of the student, but much can be done during a trip that can count as schoolwork.
See, doesn't that sound good?
Also they give us money to spend on educational resources. I am thinking about using it to get Z EPGY classes - EPGY math that is. It is supposed to be the very very bestest math for gifted kids.
And I am kind of looking forward to having someone else to look at what I am doing with Z and give me some feedback. That might be nice, though I guess it depends on who the E.S. is and how we get along.
Anyway I am excited about it, this will be with first time I am working with someone to homeschool Z. :)
The reason I am doing this instead of just homeschooling on my own and doing my own thing is because I need a school official who is not me to sign her entertainment work permit. Anyway I am going to try it work awhile.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
weekend
We had a really nice time this weekend.
Saturday morning we went to the zoo with some friends. I love this picture I got of the giraffe. :)
Then we went up to the Channel Islands house. Z stayed with her Grandmere and Grandpere while Pere and I went to see a movie (yay! Date night!)
Today was such a nice sweet lazy day. It is especially nice to have lazy days up there because of the beautiful weather. The house is right on the water with a deck hanging over the channel. It feel so good to lie out there under the warm sun and feel the breeze. We all (except Z) take turns napping and reading and just being quiet.
In the morning we went out with Z and caught butterflies and moths in her net and put them in her specimen jar and studied them and then released them. Pere is really good at catching them!
In the afternoon Z was up in her room there which has dollhouse and she worked on setting it up for awhile and then she called me up to see it. I really liked that in the attic she had set up a "homeschooling" room that she put a toy easel and little doll books and some toys. :) I like that homeschooling is so much a part of her life that she builds it into her dollhouse.
She also made a Haunted Mansion in her room where she had me walk blindfolded through things with no shows on and told
me that I was stepping on dead bodies (a pillow), blood (a thin book), and goo (some wadded up clothes.) it was really funny!
We took the boat out before dinner and just tooled around for awhile.
Pere made a wonderful chili for dinner, a recipe he has been working on since spring. It is getting better each time. :)
I am so grateful that we have to place to go to. :) But I am glad to be back home and have access to the internet again.
Saturday morning we went to the zoo with some friends. I love this picture I got of the giraffe. :)
Then we went up to the Channel Islands house. Z stayed with her Grandmere and Grandpere while Pere and I went to see a movie (yay! Date night!)
Today was such a nice sweet lazy day. It is especially nice to have lazy days up there because of the beautiful weather. The house is right on the water with a deck hanging over the channel. It feel so good to lie out there under the warm sun and feel the breeze. We all (except Z) take turns napping and reading and just being quiet.
In the morning we went out with Z and caught butterflies and moths in her net and put them in her specimen jar and studied them and then released them. Pere is really good at catching them!
In the afternoon Z was up in her room there which has dollhouse and she worked on setting it up for awhile and then she called me up to see it. I really liked that in the attic she had set up a "homeschooling" room that she put a toy easel and little doll books and some toys. :) I like that homeschooling is so much a part of her life that she builds it into her dollhouse.
She also made a Haunted Mansion in her room where she had me walk blindfolded through things with no shows on and told
me that I was stepping on dead bodies (a pillow), blood (a thin book), and goo (some wadded up clothes.) it was really funny!
We took the boat out before dinner and just tooled around for awhile.
Pere made a wonderful chili for dinner, a recipe he has been working on since spring. It is getting better each time. :)
I am so grateful that we have to place to go to. :) But I am glad to be back home and have access to the internet again.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Used bookstore finds
Sometimes I miss not owning a used bookstore anymore but I still know some places to go. Today we hit the Friends of the Library bookstore and I can't believe some of the cool books I found.
The best find were six American Girl historical "World" books. They are kind of like the Eyewitness series books in that they have lots of beautiful photographes of real items, and they are factual. But they tie into the time period of the various American Girls. The books are normally $15 each and I got them for $2.50 each.
Z is really excited about them and wanted to read the Felicity book, since that comes first in chronological order, as soon as we could. Then I had her do a little narration and here is what she came up with so far
Welcome to Felicity's World is about whether Felicity should be a Loyalist or a Patriot. A Loyalist is someone who supports the King and the Patriot is someone who doesn't like what they King does. What they don't like is that the King makes them pay taxes on every little thing without letting vote about it.
The delegates went to Philadelphia to talk about the King's blockade of the Boston Harbor. A delegate is someone who represents their colony. Some people wanted to get along with England and some didn't want to do what the Kind said. Then delegate John Adams wrote to his wife that they might have a war - he said "a storm is coming." But none of the delegates wanted a war.
In Felicity's days a family of five would have been small. Many families had eight or more children. Nearly half of colonial children died before the age of six and a "sad doll" helped a child understand when her brother or sister died. A "sad doll" has a white/tannish dress and lies in a coffin. Well-to-do families had Christening dresses for their babies when they are Christened. Some families gave their babies beer to quiet them down.
Children played with lots of toys in Felicity's time. Lot's of toys were handmade but some other toys were transferred from England and were very valuable and were given to younger sisters and brothers. Children made up games easily. They played games that we know like hide and seek and checkers and hopscotch.
I typed it and I guided her some. Like when reminding her that other people haven't read the same things she has so that she has set up information so that it makes sense.
I also found these two books on Presidents that I have comtemplated buying for full price at B & N (I got them for 75 cents and a dollar) and I found a book on elections with Spongebob on it that I think Z will really enjoy. but the best out of this group is the Brown Paper School Book book, Making Cents - all the books from this publicher are great for homeschoolers and I covet them.
I found Ivanhoe and Jungle Book graphic novels and
Since Z likes Agatha Christie's Poirot so much I thought she might like to read a kid version of a Sherlock Holmes book. I didn't look through it until we got home through and the reading level is really easy. I think Z could read all three mysteries in the book in half an hour.
Interestingly she saw the Poe book and asked to read it at the store. I don't like Poe myself probably because I was trying reading him the same time I was reading Nathaniel Hawthorne whom I thought was better. But I did read Z the Raven last year and she really liked it. She also is familiar with Poe from the song Edgar Allan Poe from the Snoopy musical, which I am planning to use in a unit study this year. So she saw the Poe book and I got it down from the shelf for her and she started reading aloud from Descent into the Maelstrom in a very tense and eerie voice. It was pretty awesome. *hee hee*
I know I have no business buying more books for Z. I have enough to start my own homeschool resource center but... I am a book junkie, especially classic and educational children's books.
The best find were six American Girl historical "World" books. They are kind of like the Eyewitness series books in that they have lots of beautiful photographes of real items, and they are factual. But they tie into the time period of the various American Girls. The books are normally $15 each and I got them for $2.50 each.
Z is really excited about them and wanted to read the Felicity book, since that comes first in chronological order, as soon as we could. Then I had her do a little narration and here is what she came up with so far
Welcome to Felicity's World is about whether Felicity should be a Loyalist or a Patriot. A Loyalist is someone who supports the King and the Patriot is someone who doesn't like what they King does. What they don't like is that the King makes them pay taxes on every little thing without letting vote about it.
The delegates went to Philadelphia to talk about the King's blockade of the Boston Harbor. A delegate is someone who represents their colony. Some people wanted to get along with England and some didn't want to do what the Kind said. Then delegate John Adams wrote to his wife that they might have a war - he said "a storm is coming." But none of the delegates wanted a war.
In Felicity's days a family of five would have been small. Many families had eight or more children. Nearly half of colonial children died before the age of six and a "sad doll" helped a child understand when her brother or sister died. A "sad doll" has a white/tannish dress and lies in a coffin. Well-to-do families had Christening dresses for their babies when they are Christened. Some families gave their babies beer to quiet them down.
Children played with lots of toys in Felicity's time. Lot's of toys were handmade but some other toys were transferred from England and were very valuable and were given to younger sisters and brothers. Children made up games easily. They played games that we know like hide and seek and checkers and hopscotch.
I typed it and I guided her some. Like when reminding her that other people haven't read the same things she has so that she has set up information so that it makes sense.
I also found these two books on Presidents that I have comtemplated buying for full price at B & N (I got them for 75 cents and a dollar) and I found a book on elections with Spongebob on it that I think Z will really enjoy. but the best out of this group is the Brown Paper School Book book, Making Cents - all the books from this publicher are great for homeschoolers and I covet them.
I found Ivanhoe and Jungle Book graphic novels and
Since Z likes Agatha Christie's Poirot so much I thought she might like to read a kid version of a Sherlock Holmes book. I didn't look through it until we got home through and the reading level is really easy. I think Z could read all three mysteries in the book in half an hour.
Interestingly she saw the Poe book and asked to read it at the store. I don't like Poe myself probably because I was trying reading him the same time I was reading Nathaniel Hawthorne whom I thought was better. But I did read Z the Raven last year and she really liked it. She also is familiar with Poe from the song Edgar Allan Poe from the Snoopy musical, which I am planning to use in a unit study this year. So she saw the Poe book and I got it down from the shelf for her and she started reading aloud from Descent into the Maelstrom in a very tense and eerie voice. It was pretty awesome. *hee hee*
I know I have no business buying more books for Z. I have enough to start my own homeschool resource center but... I am a book junkie, especially classic and educational children's books.
Piano
I am having one of those days like my friend was was having over at KaytlinGrace.com the other say, with the ice skating.
Poor little Z is crying because she can't find the right chords to play along with a song. She is trying to find the chords on her own to go with the melody. Then she couldn't find the chord she was searching around for and didn't like any of the ones she was hearing and she started to cry.
Then Pere comes home and since he is a musician I am happy to hand over the lesson to him and he shows Z what he does when he is trying to find chords. He ends up making Z cry more because he said he was going to play a B chord but actually played an A and then he wasn't listening to her and didn't understand what she was trying to tell him.
But things are all better now. They are playing chords and Z is playing Pere her favorite ones, her most "beautiful ones." She likes an F sharp major add nine and Pere likes a major seveth. Z said it was blah! until she showed her it was from the beginning to Into the Woods. Now they are just playing around and Z is happy again and not crying.
Piano is one of the few things these days that can make Z cry - I think because she pushes herself pass her comfort zone. And I think that is great, even though I hate to see her crying.
Poor little Z is crying because she can't find the right chords to play along with a song. She is trying to find the chords on her own to go with the melody. Then she couldn't find the chord she was searching around for and didn't like any of the ones she was hearing and she started to cry.
Then Pere comes home and since he is a musician I am happy to hand over the lesson to him and he shows Z what he does when he is trying to find chords. He ends up making Z cry more because he said he was going to play a B chord but actually played an A and then he wasn't listening to her and didn't understand what she was trying to tell him.
But things are all better now. They are playing chords and Z is playing Pere her favorite ones, her most "beautiful ones." She likes an F sharp major add nine and Pere likes a major seveth. Z said it was blah! until she showed her it was from the beginning to Into the Woods. Now they are just playing around and Z is happy again and not crying.
Piano is one of the few things these days that can make Z cry - I think because she pushes herself pass her comfort zone. And I think that is great, even though I hate to see her crying.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Shots and summer cleaning
Z had to get her shots today. The charter school we are trying to sign up with needs the same kind of stuff a real school would, including a physical check-up and her 5yo shots. Shots are a big deal to Z. She is really afraid of them.
When she was a newborn she was the loudest screamer at the Doctor's office. She sounded like she was being murdered. Everyone in the waiting room would look up and look around frightened when they heard her. I know because the Doctor asked me to sit out there once to see if she would scream less if I wasn't there. I think she screamed louder.
When she was a toddler and pretty smart and mature I still had to hold her down when she got shots or gave (took is more like it) blood. It was awful. My oh so reasonable child just couldn't be reasoned with.
Today I fully expected her to cry hysterically. But, even so, I talked to her about how I never cried when I was a kid. How I wanted to be tough and strong and make my father proud so I didn't cry. I told her that shots don't worry me at all and that they are just like a little pinch and then only uncomfortable while the needle is in me.
I asked her which person she thought hurt more - the person who told themselves that getting a shot wasn't worth crying about and remained calm or the person who started crying and hyperventilating at the word "shot" and had to be held down while they screamed. I acted out both people and she thought it was really funny.
At the Doctor's office we practiced her deep breathing too.
And I am happy to report that Z got five shots (including a tb test) and they took some blood from her finger tip and she didn't cry. Yay!!! I am so happy because she learned today that she can control a great fear of hers.Tonight when she said her prayers she thanked God that she was able to not cry when she got her shots. :)
Something else I am not sure if I should worry about but she weighed one pound less today than she did last spring!
But she had plenty of energy and does eat (although not huge amounts). Pere said we should try to fatten her up but I said that when I was a kid I was very skinny too - just like Z, and when I was older I ate lots of fattening food and it didn't do any good. I was still skinny only I was skinny and ate unhealthy foods. When I was in my early twenties I still ate anything and everything but it finally started to show and it has been hard to fight 20 years of bad eating habits.
Z gets plenty of healthy food set in front of her everyday and she gets a small amount of sweets everyday. I think she is just naturally slender.
++++++++++
This afternoon Z and I did a little summer cleaning. I cleaned out her closet and in her toy box under her bed. It is actually a huge space meant for a trundle bed but we keep her toys in it. I organized all the little "treasures" that she loves to keep (she wants me to call them treasures and not junk) into some glass yogurt jars so she can display her feathers, shells, rocks, bits of pretty colored fluff, special buttons, and shiny bits that she has found and fallen in love with.
I also cleaned out and reorganized my homeschooling closet. Tomorrow I want to go and buy some things for the coming year. I want to be more organized so I am going to buy a binder for her different subjects and start putting her papers into them instead of into random piles on shelves and under books. *grin* I kind of know that they probably wont stay so organized but I like trying anyway.
Plus we are having some friends over tomorrow to go swimming.
I think I have written here, or on other boards that Z used to have a great girlfriend in our old neighborhood. This girl is nine and had the most interests in common with Z than any other girl I know. She loves Harry Potter, Miyazaki movies, Sailor Moon, Wicked, Pirates, making up songs and dances, etc.
We didn't see them for awhile and I thought it was because her mom was freaked out that her older daughter was playing with a much younger kid. But recently we have got back in touch with them and they have been wanting to hang out more. I am hopeful - Z used to always asked about this friend and it was so sad for me to say that she couldn't have a playdate with them. I hope tomorrow works out. People do change and as this girl grows she may end up out growing Z yet. But Z is in a better place friendship wise these days - lots of gifted kids both online and in real life. Funny how things work out that way.
When she was a newborn she was the loudest screamer at the Doctor's office. She sounded like she was being murdered. Everyone in the waiting room would look up and look around frightened when they heard her. I know because the Doctor asked me to sit out there once to see if she would scream less if I wasn't there. I think she screamed louder.
When she was a toddler and pretty smart and mature I still had to hold her down when she got shots or gave (took is more like it) blood. It was awful. My oh so reasonable child just couldn't be reasoned with.
Today I fully expected her to cry hysterically. But, even so, I talked to her about how I never cried when I was a kid. How I wanted to be tough and strong and make my father proud so I didn't cry. I told her that shots don't worry me at all and that they are just like a little pinch and then only uncomfortable while the needle is in me.
I asked her which person she thought hurt more - the person who told themselves that getting a shot wasn't worth crying about and remained calm or the person who started crying and hyperventilating at the word "shot" and had to be held down while they screamed. I acted out both people and she thought it was really funny.
At the Doctor's office we practiced her deep breathing too.
And I am happy to report that Z got five shots (including a tb test) and they took some blood from her finger tip and she didn't cry. Yay!!! I am so happy because she learned today that she can control a great fear of hers.Tonight when she said her prayers she thanked God that she was able to not cry when she got her shots. :)
Something else I am not sure if I should worry about but she weighed one pound less today than she did last spring!
But she had plenty of energy and does eat (although not huge amounts). Pere said we should try to fatten her up but I said that when I was a kid I was very skinny too - just like Z, and when I was older I ate lots of fattening food and it didn't do any good. I was still skinny only I was skinny and ate unhealthy foods. When I was in my early twenties I still ate anything and everything but it finally started to show and it has been hard to fight 20 years of bad eating habits.
Z gets plenty of healthy food set in front of her everyday and she gets a small amount of sweets everyday. I think she is just naturally slender.
++++++++++
This afternoon Z and I did a little summer cleaning. I cleaned out her closet and in her toy box under her bed. It is actually a huge space meant for a trundle bed but we keep her toys in it. I organized all the little "treasures" that she loves to keep (she wants me to call them treasures and not junk) into some glass yogurt jars so she can display her feathers, shells, rocks, bits of pretty colored fluff, special buttons, and shiny bits that she has found and fallen in love with.
I also cleaned out and reorganized my homeschooling closet. Tomorrow I want to go and buy some things for the coming year. I want to be more organized so I am going to buy a binder for her different subjects and start putting her papers into them instead of into random piles on shelves and under books. *grin* I kind of know that they probably wont stay so organized but I like trying anyway.
Plus we are having some friends over tomorrow to go swimming.
I think I have written here, or on other boards that Z used to have a great girlfriend in our old neighborhood. This girl is nine and had the most interests in common with Z than any other girl I know. She loves Harry Potter, Miyazaki movies, Sailor Moon, Wicked, Pirates, making up songs and dances, etc.
We didn't see them for awhile and I thought it was because her mom was freaked out that her older daughter was playing with a much younger kid. But recently we have got back in touch with them and they have been wanting to hang out more. I am hopeful - Z used to always asked about this friend and it was so sad for me to say that she couldn't have a playdate with them. I hope tomorrow works out. People do change and as this girl grows she may end up out growing Z yet. But Z is in a better place friendship wise these days - lots of gifted kids both online and in real life. Funny how things work out that way.
Homeschooling Meme
1) ONE HOMESCHOOLING BOOK YOU HAVE ENJOYED
The original Charlotte Mason 6 volume series. Those books really influenced my parenting and homeschooling
2) ONE RESOURCE YOU WOULDN’T BE WITHOUT
Internet
3) ONE RESOURCE YOU WISH YOU HAD NEVER BOUGHT
Only one? There are a lot of books that I thought we would use but we didn't. Basically I need to use the library more and spend less at Barnes and Noble
4) ONE RESOURCE YOU ENJOYED LAST YEAR
My homeschooling group - Z loved the Shakespeare class and playing with her friends.
5) ONE RESOURCE YOU WILL BE USING NEXT YEAR
I am planning on joining a charter school that will give me resources (books and money) as well as having another person to look over Z's work.
6) ONE RESOURCE YOU WOULD LIKE TO BUY
A new desktop computer for Z with a flat screen monitor.
7) ONE RESOURCE YOU WISH EXISTED
I wish a had a guest house where I could invite friends and family from all over the world (Hello, New Zealand!) to stay with us for extended periods of time.
8 ) ONE HOMESCHOOLING CATALOGUE YOU ENJOY READING
I don't get any. :(
9) ONE HOMESCHOOLING WEBSITE YOU USE REGULARLY
Wikipedia thought it is not just for homeschoolers
10) TAG FIVE OTHER HOMESCHOOLERS
I only have the same friends who have already done this. Wickentree, Mariposa, Larkside, Red Sea School and Kaitlyn Grace.
The original Charlotte Mason 6 volume series. Those books really influenced my parenting and homeschooling
2) ONE RESOURCE YOU WOULDN’T BE WITHOUT
Internet
3) ONE RESOURCE YOU WISH YOU HAD NEVER BOUGHT
Only one? There are a lot of books that I thought we would use but we didn't. Basically I need to use the library more and spend less at Barnes and Noble
4) ONE RESOURCE YOU ENJOYED LAST YEAR
My homeschooling group - Z loved the Shakespeare class and playing with her friends.
5) ONE RESOURCE YOU WILL BE USING NEXT YEAR
I am planning on joining a charter school that will give me resources (books and money) as well as having another person to look over Z's work.
6) ONE RESOURCE YOU WOULD LIKE TO BUY
A new desktop computer for Z with a flat screen monitor.
7) ONE RESOURCE YOU WISH EXISTED
I wish a had a guest house where I could invite friends and family from all over the world (Hello, New Zealand!) to stay with us for extended periods of time.
8 ) ONE HOMESCHOOLING CATALOGUE YOU ENJOY READING
I don't get any. :(
9) ONE HOMESCHOOLING WEBSITE YOU USE REGULARLY
Wikipedia thought it is not just for homeschoolers
10) TAG FIVE OTHER HOMESCHOOLERS
I only have the same friends who have already done this. Wickentree, Mariposa, Larkside, Red Sea School and Kaitlyn Grace.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
some of Z's headshots
Z and I got together with the photographer today to take her headshots. The photographer sent me a few pictures to tide me over until I get all of them sometime next week.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Which ones do you like?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Which ones do you like?
My first Davidson Gathering
Ah... where to start? It was a long weekend, though many of us would say not long enough. We got to Reno Thursday evening and left Monday morning. For five days we connected with the families of PG kids as often as we could, somedays going from 7:00 in the morning till 10:00 at night, which is a lot when you have a five year old.
First I have to thank the Davidsons. I can't really wrap my head around why they want to help these kids that most people figure they already have enough going for them and view them as oddities. But helping PG children is their project and they are doing a damn fine job. They are smart, creative, ambitious and extremely generous people. Thank you!
Boy - there really are so many things to write about... I will break them into sections so they are easier to read.
1.) Girls Girls Girls
In Z's group of 4 - 7 year olds was made up of mostly girls, cute and sweet girls. :) I was amazed and heartened by the amount of girls. Z is certainly not going to get the idea that being gifted or "brainy" is a boy thing. :) Not that the girls acted particularly brainy. It is not like they were all sitting around discussing black holes or anything. Mostly they played creative games together like Caboodle and Apples to Apples.
Z connected with some of the older girls too. One evening, in the game room, Z and another six year old girl played Apples to Apples with a nine year old, some teenagers and one of the Family Consultants. One of the father's remarked that Z is amazingly confident with older people and said I should try to protect that. Good advice I think.
There were some boys that joined Z and the other girls from time to time at games, on walks, and during meal times. I noticed with the older kids as well that the groups of kids were not that divided by gender - I think it is because gifted people usually have more androgynous interests.
The girls that Z mostly hung out with were almost 6 and up to 7 years old. They had a lot in common with Z and they all really bonded. I can't wait to see them all again next year and for many years to come.
2.) Jim Delisle
Mr. Delisle gave a seminar for the parents while the kids were in classes. It was really inspirational. First I have to say that he is younger than I pictured. *grin* During his talk he shared many quotes from gifted children and brought most of the women in the room to tears several times (can we say "intensity of emotions" anyone? :P )
It think it was so good and so painful because it was so true. So many of the parents there were gifted children themselves and lived through all the isolation that comes with being different. And now we are here trying our damnest to save our own children, sometimes without much success, and it just hurts.
One thing I took away from the seminar is that hiding your child's giftedness is not going to help you or anyone else advocate for a more appropriate education for your child. He talked about how eventually the parents of disabled children took a stand and demanded changes that lead to more suitable educational opportunities and how the gifted community needs to do that too. He kind of put the blame on us, as parents and as members of the gifted community. More of us have to speak out and do something. I don't know what though. I am trying to figure that out. I think my problem is that I want to find a way to do it that is easy for me and that doesn't offend anyone. But I think not rocking the boat only makes sense if you are happy with the boat you are in. KWIM?
3.) Z highlights
At the seismologists lab Z was offered a job because when the kids were asked on what two days of the year is the length of the day the same at any latitude. And Z said "like the first of spring, the first of summer, the first of fall and the first of winter?" which was half right. :)
When Jan had her talk with the children and related her story about being the smallest kid in her school Z raised her hand and got the mic and said "Er... I think that I am pretty much the smallest kid here." LOL. Everyone laughed, which was what she was going for I think. Jan reminded her to "Think Big!" (personally I thought the kid who asked Jan why she didn't just build a taller robot version of herself was the funniest.)
When I asked Z how it felt to play with and be with the other Davidson girls she said it was "More." I think that it a great way to describe it.
When we went to the mineral and gem museum on the campus Z made a list of all the rocks she saw that she saw that she wanted to add to her own collection.
I will try to write more as I can.
First I have to thank the Davidsons. I can't really wrap my head around why they want to help these kids that most people figure they already have enough going for them and view them as oddities. But helping PG children is their project and they are doing a damn fine job. They are smart, creative, ambitious and extremely generous people. Thank you!
Boy - there really are so many things to write about... I will break them into sections so they are easier to read.
1.) Girls Girls Girls
In Z's group of 4 - 7 year olds was made up of mostly girls, cute and sweet girls. :) I was amazed and heartened by the amount of girls. Z is certainly not going to get the idea that being gifted or "brainy" is a boy thing. :) Not that the girls acted particularly brainy. It is not like they were all sitting around discussing black holes or anything. Mostly they played creative games together like Caboodle and Apples to Apples.
Z connected with some of the older girls too. One evening, in the game room, Z and another six year old girl played Apples to Apples with a nine year old, some teenagers and one of the Family Consultants. One of the father's remarked that Z is amazingly confident with older people and said I should try to protect that. Good advice I think.
There were some boys that joined Z and the other girls from time to time at games, on walks, and during meal times. I noticed with the older kids as well that the groups of kids were not that divided by gender - I think it is because gifted people usually have more androgynous interests.
The girls that Z mostly hung out with were almost 6 and up to 7 years old. They had a lot in common with Z and they all really bonded. I can't wait to see them all again next year and for many years to come.
2.) Jim Delisle
Mr. Delisle gave a seminar for the parents while the kids were in classes. It was really inspirational. First I have to say that he is younger than I pictured. *grin* During his talk he shared many quotes from gifted children and brought most of the women in the room to tears several times (can we say "intensity of emotions" anyone? :P )
It think it was so good and so painful because it was so true. So many of the parents there were gifted children themselves and lived through all the isolation that comes with being different. And now we are here trying our damnest to save our own children, sometimes without much success, and it just hurts.
One thing I took away from the seminar is that hiding your child's giftedness is not going to help you or anyone else advocate for a more appropriate education for your child. He talked about how eventually the parents of disabled children took a stand and demanded changes that lead to more suitable educational opportunities and how the gifted community needs to do that too. He kind of put the blame on us, as parents and as members of the gifted community. More of us have to speak out and do something. I don't know what though. I am trying to figure that out. I think my problem is that I want to find a way to do it that is easy for me and that doesn't offend anyone. But I think not rocking the boat only makes sense if you are happy with the boat you are in. KWIM?
3.) Z highlights
At the seismologists lab Z was offered a job because when the kids were asked on what two days of the year is the length of the day the same at any latitude. And Z said "like the first of spring, the first of summer, the first of fall and the first of winter?" which was half right. :)
When Jan had her talk with the children and related her story about being the smallest kid in her school Z raised her hand and got the mic and said "Er... I think that I am pretty much the smallest kid here." LOL. Everyone laughed, which was what she was going for I think. Jan reminded her to "Think Big!" (personally I thought the kid who asked Jan why she didn't just build a taller robot version of herself was the funniest.)
When I asked Z how it felt to play with and be with the other Davidson girls she said it was "More." I think that it a great way to describe it.
When we went to the mineral and gem museum on the campus Z made a list of all the rocks she saw that she saw that she wanted to add to her own collection.
I will try to write more as I can.
Last Wednesday Camping in Mammoth
Z in the lake. It was really clean, beautiful, blue and COLD!
The campsite
the little bear that stole some potato chips from a boy fishing on the lake. The bear that came through our camp that night was much bigger.
at the top of the falls looking down into the Twin Lakes
Z sitting on some hexagonal rocks
The Devil's Post Pile, a very interesting natural formation
Cool hollowed out tree on our 4 mile hike to Rainbow Falls
A huge freaky bug that landed on Z. Anyone have any idea what kind of bug it is?
The Falls, Z said it was the most beautiful thing she ever saw
Monday, August 14, 2006
We are home
We had a really wonderful time at the Davidson Gathering. It was so great. There is so much I want to write about - the insights, inspiration, and the bonding. It is too much to write about tonight. It is too much to write about in even one post, I am going to have to do installments. :)
I missed all my friends and family. Let's catch up soon.
I missed all my friends and family. Let's catch up soon.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
beach with friends
Today Z and I went to the beach with some friends and there was a new girl in the group that Z became fast friends with. They live pretty far south from us though so I don't know how often we can get together.
We are lucky that we have so many nice kids for Z to get together with.
Over last weekend we were able to get together with a some old friends that Z made when she was a toddler and we lived in the Channel Islands house. The girl is Z's age but Z always got along better with her older brother - he is eight now. Z has a crush on him. :)
Z has two other girlfriends from the old neighborhood that Z still gets together with - one is in Davidson too and used to live on our street. Another is Z's bestest friend from preschool.
Then we have some boys and girls from our new (I say new but we have been here for a year) neighborhood and the gifted group we go together with today. Plus we have our homeschooling group and we seem to meet new friends often - like this girl today and the kids Z meets on auditions.
Z even has some online friends that she is penpals with that she is going to get to meet in real life soon.
I have to laugh when people, who hear we are homeschooling, have concerns about socialization. Z has a lot of really nice friends - all kinds of good kids.
I think we are pretty lucky.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Is it only Monday?
Ever have one of those days where you keep forgetting what day it is? :)
Not much to write about today (but I'll try anyway).
Z had another audition, this time for a video game. She loved what they had her do on the audition. They had four kids in at a time and they had them run around and play with a bunch of inflatable toys and make as much noise as they wanted. All the kids thought it was a lot of fun.
I guess I could describe what it is like to take Z on an audition.
First, because we are in L.A. and the traffic can be horrible, you have to give yourself a lot of extra time to get to the audition. So sometimes I get there 60 - 30 minutes early. Last time the audition was two blocks from a bookstore so we hung out there until it was time to sign in.
Today it was a block from the famous Hollywood and Vine intersection, which, these days means I was having to walk Z around a completely seedy area with bars, lingere stores, and shady characters.
So today we sat in the car for thirty minutes and listened to a couple chapters of the fourth Harry Potter book in tape. Z was happy to because we are at a particularly good part.
Okay, so when it is finally your time you go in about fifteen minutes early (if you can) and sign in.
Then you fill out a stat's card where you put in their dress or suit size, as well as the size of their chest, hips, inseam, waist, shoes and their hair and eye color. Then the assistant to the casting director takes the card and the copy of your child's resume and headshot that you brought with you (they should already have a copy from your agent but just in case you are always supposed to bring one) and they take polaroid of your kid in the outfit they have on.
Then you sit and wait for them to call your child. If there are lines to be memorized your child can work on that. Or they can read, or color or play the Harry Potter guessing game or patty-cake. :)
When your child gets called they go in for 10 minutes or less. All they do it say their name and age into the camera and then act out whatever they would be doing in the commercial. Really it might take only five minutes.
Then your kid comes out and you sign out and go home. Hopefully you can get your kid to describe what when on in there so you can have some vicarious fun. :)
If you get a callback it is mostly the same thing - you will see some of the same people, and you don't have to give them your kids resume or headshot again or fill out another stat card.
Z has been able to make friends with the other kids at each of her auditions. Today a girl was their that we met at her first audition and they hugged each other and started coloring together. :)
It is kind of interesting when you see people that you recognize. I saw the red haired boy who plays one of Felicity Huffman's son on Deparate Housewives at one. And today was a guy that I totally recognized but... I can't think of what from right now. They were casting something else in the next room that had handsome but grubby looking males and older asian men in black martial art outfits. :)
Not much to write about today (but I'll try anyway).
Z had another audition, this time for a video game. She loved what they had her do on the audition. They had four kids in at a time and they had them run around and play with a bunch of inflatable toys and make as much noise as they wanted. All the kids thought it was a lot of fun.
I guess I could describe what it is like to take Z on an audition.
First, because we are in L.A. and the traffic can be horrible, you have to give yourself a lot of extra time to get to the audition. So sometimes I get there 60 - 30 minutes early. Last time the audition was two blocks from a bookstore so we hung out there until it was time to sign in.
Today it was a block from the famous Hollywood and Vine intersection, which, these days means I was having to walk Z around a completely seedy area with bars, lingere stores, and shady characters.
So today we sat in the car for thirty minutes and listened to a couple chapters of the fourth Harry Potter book in tape. Z was happy to because we are at a particularly good part.
Okay, so when it is finally your time you go in about fifteen minutes early (if you can) and sign in.
Then you fill out a stat's card where you put in their dress or suit size, as well as the size of their chest, hips, inseam, waist, shoes and their hair and eye color. Then the assistant to the casting director takes the card and the copy of your child's resume and headshot that you brought with you (they should already have a copy from your agent but just in case you are always supposed to bring one) and they take polaroid of your kid in the outfit they have on.
Then you sit and wait for them to call your child. If there are lines to be memorized your child can work on that. Or they can read, or color or play the Harry Potter guessing game or patty-cake. :)
When your child gets called they go in for 10 minutes or less. All they do it say their name and age into the camera and then act out whatever they would be doing in the commercial. Really it might take only five minutes.
Then your kid comes out and you sign out and go home. Hopefully you can get your kid to describe what when on in there so you can have some vicarious fun. :)
If you get a callback it is mostly the same thing - you will see some of the same people, and you don't have to give them your kids resume or headshot again or fill out another stat card.
Z has been able to make friends with the other kids at each of her auditions. Today a girl was their that we met at her first audition and they hugged each other and started coloring together. :)
It is kind of interesting when you see people that you recognize. I saw the red haired boy who plays one of Felicity Huffman's son on Deparate Housewives at one. And today was a guy that I totally recognized but... I can't think of what from right now. They were casting something else in the next room that had handsome but grubby looking males and older asian men in black martial art outfits. :)
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Our nice weekend
Pere Z and I went to the Channel Islands house this weekend to celebrate the wedding anniversary of Grandmere and Grandpere. Pere and Tante made dinner for us all - a cheese course, dinner with duck, shrimp and pork and chocolate covered fruit for dessert. It was great!
I also bought Z a new princess dress. She wore it most of the day.
Today we went to the park with some old friends of our from our old neighborhood. It was sunny and windy and with a beautiful blue sky. Pere flew our kite and helped all the kids do so too.
For dinner tonight we went to our old favorite sushi restaurant.
This is how Z looks when she is upset about something. I don't remember what that was about.
Here is a picture of Z eating some baby squid. She loved it and we thought it was cute.
Here she is ordering her sushi.
Friday, August 04, 2006
tempo
The main problem Z has with playing the piano is keeping the proper tempo. She tends to want to speed up and so doesn't hold the notes for long enough, like a half note she usually plays like a dotted quarter note.
So all this week I have had her play her songs saying "One and Two and Three and Four and" aloud and with the right notes. Today I let her play one song while saying it in her head and she did a good job. I don't know if this will take but it can't hurt.
I asked Pere if maybe we should talk to her piano teacher and let her know that we don't see Z becoming a professional classical pianist. But that we can see her writing music - not sure what type, right now it seems like musicals. I wonder if that would change whatever plans she might have in her own mind (if she has any.)
He said that he didn't think we needed to do that and he is probably right. It would probably sound weird to her to hear me say that I see my five year old writing songs when she is older. But from here it seems quite possible.
This morning she asked if she could play her own stuff for awhile (on the piano) and I said sure anda little while later I realized that the music I was listening to was quite good, very melodic and soothing, and that Z was playing it. She played for a long time and it was very nice, kind of like slow jazz. I was one of the best things I have ever heard her make up.
So far she doesn't usually make up lyrics to sing while she is making her own music on the piano. She has kept that separate. I don't think she can play the piano well enough to sing along because I think much of what she plays is really just discovering. When she sings I think her tunes are more deliberate.
Here is a picture of Z last Halloween, she had just started playing piano.
So all this week I have had her play her songs saying "One and Two and Three and Four and" aloud and with the right notes. Today I let her play one song while saying it in her head and she did a good job. I don't know if this will take but it can't hurt.
I asked Pere if maybe we should talk to her piano teacher and let her know that we don't see Z becoming a professional classical pianist. But that we can see her writing music - not sure what type, right now it seems like musicals. I wonder if that would change whatever plans she might have in her own mind (if she has any.)
He said that he didn't think we needed to do that and he is probably right. It would probably sound weird to her to hear me say that I see my five year old writing songs when she is older. But from here it seems quite possible.
This morning she asked if she could play her own stuff for awhile (on the piano) and I said sure anda little while later I realized that the music I was listening to was quite good, very melodic and soothing, and that Z was playing it. She played for a long time and it was very nice, kind of like slow jazz. I was one of the best things I have ever heard her make up.
So far she doesn't usually make up lyrics to sing while she is making her own music on the piano. She has kept that separate. I don't think she can play the piano well enough to sing along because I think much of what she plays is really just discovering. When she sings I think her tunes are more deliberate.
Here is a picture of Z last Halloween, she had just started playing piano.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Duran Duran and Music Videos
Tonight I introduced Z to the concept of a music video via Duran Duran.
When I was young I _loved_ Duran Duran, full blown crazy love. I had all their tapes, my bedroom was plastered with their posters, I colelcted every teen mag with them in it and I hated Madonna for knocking Reflex off of the number one spot on America's Top 40 countdown. I even had a VHS of all of their videos including rare ones like Girls on Filrm, Night Boat, and The Chauffer.
Pere, God love him, is also a big fan of Duran Duran. On a recent trip to the desert we were listening to Rio and Seven and the Ragged Tiger in the car and I told him about this video I had. We decided to look for it on Netflix when we got home.
Well it arrived today and tonight after dinner Z and I (and a couple times Pere) danced to the New Wave groove of Duran Duran Greatest Hits Volume One.
About at Wild Boys I realized that these are the first music videos Z has ever seen. I explained to her that there are whole channels devoted (hardly these days) to playing music videos. I told her some are mostly just singing like Reflex and some are "concept" videos like Hungry like the Wolf or Wild Boys and they tell a story.
I think she would enjoy watching more music videos but everything is too mature on MTV and even VH1. Maybe I will have to keep renting complilations from Netflix.
Perhaps because I basically grew up on MTV but I always make up my own music videos, only in my head of course, of music that I listen to. I guess I am much more of the writer director type. Some of you know that I think Z might be a songwriter/singer when she grows up - so I am curious to see how she continues to respond to music videos.
When I was young I _loved_ Duran Duran, full blown crazy love. I had all their tapes, my bedroom was plastered with their posters, I colelcted every teen mag with them in it and I hated Madonna for knocking Reflex off of the number one spot on America's Top 40 countdown. I even had a VHS of all of their videos including rare ones like Girls on Filrm, Night Boat, and The Chauffer.
Pere, God love him, is also a big fan of Duran Duran. On a recent trip to the desert we were listening to Rio and Seven and the Ragged Tiger in the car and I told him about this video I had. We decided to look for it on Netflix when we got home.
Well it arrived today and tonight after dinner Z and I (and a couple times Pere) danced to the New Wave groove of Duran Duran Greatest Hits Volume One.
About at Wild Boys I realized that these are the first music videos Z has ever seen. I explained to her that there are whole channels devoted (hardly these days) to playing music videos. I told her some are mostly just singing like Reflex and some are "concept" videos like Hungry like the Wolf or Wild Boys and they tell a story.
I think she would enjoy watching more music videos but everything is too mature on MTV and even VH1. Maybe I will have to keep renting complilations from Netflix.
Perhaps because I basically grew up on MTV but I always make up my own music videos, only in my head of course, of music that I listen to. I guess I am much more of the writer director type. Some of you know that I think Z might be a songwriter/singer when she grows up - so I am curious to see how she continues to respond to music videos.
nerves
The night before last I had this dream that kept repeating.
It was that we were at the Channel Islands house and there was a huge tidal wave coming and would destroy everything at sea level for miles around. For some reason's Z was off with her Tante and Tante Sarah - they had gone to the market to get supplies - we were waiting for them and then we would all get to higher ground.
But they were taking a really long time to get back and all the cell phone circuits were busy so I couldn't get through to her. And when we went out into the streets to look for them the roads were gridlocked.
I didn't know what to do. I heard on the radio that the police had blocked the roads coming into our area and were turning everyone around and that our area was advised to evacuate. But I didn't want to leave without Z.
btw, I have had a fear of tidal waves every since I was 6 or 7. I used to sit on the sand at the beach and imagine seeing one coming over the horizon. Even now I am kind of afraid of going on cruises (but I would still do it.) because I am afraid a tidal wave will hit us. Remember that movie Deep Impact? I think it contributed a lot to my dream.
Anyway in my dream I just didn't know where Z was and I wanted to wait for her but then I was worried that she got turned away and wouldn't be able to come and that I needed to go find her but I was afriad to leave our house in case they were coming to us from another direction. And the dream just kept going on and on. I remember waking up at 4:00 and then again at 6:30 still having the same dream.
I know my nightmare was brought on by my stress over Z doing acting. . I like our life the way it is and any possible big changes effect my nerves.
It was that we were at the Channel Islands house and there was a huge tidal wave coming and would destroy everything at sea level for miles around. For some reason's Z was off with her Tante and Tante Sarah - they had gone to the market to get supplies - we were waiting for them and then we would all get to higher ground.
But they were taking a really long time to get back and all the cell phone circuits were busy so I couldn't get through to her. And when we went out into the streets to look for them the roads were gridlocked.
I didn't know what to do. I heard on the radio that the police had blocked the roads coming into our area and were turning everyone around and that our area was advised to evacuate. But I didn't want to leave without Z.
btw, I have had a fear of tidal waves every since I was 6 or 7. I used to sit on the sand at the beach and imagine seeing one coming over the horizon. Even now I am kind of afraid of going on cruises (but I would still do it.) because I am afraid a tidal wave will hit us. Remember that movie Deep Impact? I think it contributed a lot to my dream.
Anyway in my dream I just didn't know where Z was and I wanted to wait for her but then I was worried that she got turned away and wouldn't be able to come and that I needed to go find her but I was afriad to leave our house in case they were coming to us from another direction. And the dream just kept going on and on. I remember waking up at 4:00 and then again at 6:30 still having the same dream.
I know my nightmare was brought on by my stress over Z doing acting. . I like our life the way it is and any possible big changes effect my nerves.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Speaking of moving fast
Z got a callback for the juice commercial audition she did yesterday. I was surprised. I thought some of the other kids were "cuter" with their ringlets and lisps.
I am a little stressed about it. If she gets the job the shoot takes us right up to the day we are supposed to be elsewhere for a cool fun and new out of state event. We had planned to have a day camping and then another day hanging around with friends before the cool fun events starts. But if she gets this commercial we will be cutting things close.
I wouldn't miss our cool fun event for the world though. I told Pere that this acting thing is not her whole world and that she had other important things in her life that aren't going to come second.
I will try to write again tonight about other things.
I am a little stressed about it. If she gets the job the shoot takes us right up to the day we are supposed to be elsewhere for a cool fun and new out of state event. We had planned to have a day camping and then another day hanging around with friends before the cool fun events starts. But if she gets this commercial we will be cutting things close.
I wouldn't miss our cool fun event for the world though. I told Pere that this acting thing is not her whole world and that she had other important things in her life that aren't going to come second.
I will try to write again tonight about other things.
Haunted Mansion
Z did her voice over today. It was for the Disney movie Haunted Mansion, the one with Eddie Murphey. Disney is releasing it in the new Blu-Ray HD format with special footage. Here is the technical information aboutDisney's Blu-Ray DVD's.
Z is the voice of a creepy statue of a little girl in a graveyard. She had to hum Frere Jacques and bunch of different ways. The guy would say stuff to her like "This time do it like you are walking through a graveyard and you are scared."
She also had to whimper "Mommy" a bunch of different ways and scream. When we hear it synced with the movie it was really creepy.
The studio guy said she is a natural at voice overs. He said most kids just do it the same way everytime and it is hard to teach them to say things a different way. He said Z did it without even asking, she just naturally tried out different intonations.
I thought it was really cool! Z loved it.
Z is the voice of a creepy statue of a little girl in a graveyard. She had to hum Frere Jacques and bunch of different ways. The guy would say stuff to her like "This time do it like you are walking through a graveyard and you are scared."
She also had to whimper "Mommy" a bunch of different ways and scream. When we hear it synced with the movie it was really creepy.
The studio guy said she is a natural at voice overs. He said most kids just do it the same way everytime and it is hard to teach them to say things a different way. He said Z did it without even asking, she just naturally tried out different intonations.
I thought it was really cool! Z loved it.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Z booked her first job
It is a very teensy weensy part in a direct to video Disney movie about a ghost.
But it was kinda funny how she got the job. The voice over lady called me today and told me that she had a job for Z and wondered if she was free to do an audition right then over my cell phone (we were driving home from piano.)
That made me laugh and I said "Sure!" and handed the phone back to Z in her car seat.
The "audition" went like this
Z says "Yeah... Yeah... Yeah...."
Then there was some humming. I figured Z was on hold or something.
Then more "Yeah... Yeah..." Then a little more humming.
Then another "Yeah."
Then she gasped!
Then she said "Okay Mommy here is the phone" and handed the cell back up to me.
(I am realizing that some of you here might be upset with me because I answered the cell in my car. Yep. I do that.)
I got the phone back and the voice over agent asked if Z could go do the voice over tomorrow morning. I said sure. But then I had to ask "I didn't hear her audition."
The agent told me "All she has to do is hum two songs an then sound shocked." LOL
********
Also Z had another audition for a commercial today. I doubt she will get it though. I mean I don't know what the casting director was looking for but I think I would have picked some of the younger kids.
The lines for the commercial, about juice, were very short and basic and about... juice. The smaller kids who had lisps and babyish voices sound really cute, cuter than Z I think.
But it was kinda funny how she got the job. The voice over lady called me today and told me that she had a job for Z and wondered if she was free to do an audition right then over my cell phone (we were driving home from piano.)
That made me laugh and I said "Sure!" and handed the phone back to Z in her car seat.
The "audition" went like this
Z says "Yeah... Yeah... Yeah...."
Then there was some humming. I figured Z was on hold or something.
Then more "Yeah... Yeah..." Then a little more humming.
Then another "Yeah."
Then she gasped!
Then she said "Okay Mommy here is the phone" and handed the cell back up to me.
(I am realizing that some of you here might be upset with me because I answered the cell in my car. Yep. I do that.)
I got the phone back and the voice over agent asked if Z could go do the voice over tomorrow morning. I said sure. But then I had to ask "I didn't hear her audition."
The agent told me "All she has to do is hum two songs an then sound shocked." LOL
********
Also Z had another audition for a commercial today. I doubt she will get it though. I mean I don't know what the casting director was looking for but I think I would have picked some of the younger kids.
The lines for the commercial, about juice, were very short and basic and about... juice. The smaller kids who had lisps and babyish voices sound really cute, cuter than Z I think.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
