J is for Just doin' it...

Hey Everybody!

I hope all is well. What have you all been doing?

We've been doing it here at Daddioso's too! Here are some pics from our latest adventures...

Hanging out at the library...

Bike riding around the Harbor...

Visiting the Frederick Douglas Museum...

Playing at Thames St. Park in historic Fell's Point...

Visiting, Gardening and Grubbin' at Tish and Jim's (Nate's folks and our adopted grandparents)...

Rockin' Out at Home... (hey Pat and Kim, remember that dino-horse?)

Getting ready for bed and reading with Indy...

Remember...We get so excited to hear from you!

Please keep those letters, family recipes, stories, songs, and anything else you'd care to share coming...The kids just love getting their own mail!!!

Take care,

Daddioso

I homeschool...

Hey All!

Daddioso here, and yes, I homeschool.

Many of you have asked (or may have silently wondered) why we do what we do here at the home(made) school and pie shop. I have included in this post 6 reasons (in bold) why we homeschool, with some explanations below each. As always, we'd love to hear from you about this or anything else you'd care to share (keep those friend and family recipes coming), and take care!

While there are many more reasons that could be listed (google why homeschool? or look at the top 50 reasons to homeschool at the National Home Education Network site http://www.nhen.org/newhser/default.asp?id=228), I think that these are probably the ones that hit closest to home for us (or at least hit me between the eyes as I was typing this post).

Homeschooling improves homelife.

1. I love spending time with my children, and they love to spend time with their parents, each other and with themselves (and there is plenty of time for all of these options).
   
   


2. Homeschooling appropriately allows the most important mentors, teachers and leaders in children's lives to be their parents and siblings.




3. Homeschooling allows children to have more time to contribute to the well-being of the family and realize that they are a necessary and important part of our family life.
   

Who said, “Yeah, but what about their socialization?”
Homeschooling improves children’s socialization.

1. I feel that homeschooling allows for a more realistic socialization process where kids can work, learn and play independently when desired or necessary, or do so with others of various ages (happily), at home with their family and in their community with family, friends, and neighbors.
   


2. I feel that homeschooling allows for a better peer environment:
   -instead of antagonistic relationships with older or younger kids, children can have friends and work with, learn from and teach children of all ages,
   -with homeschooling, the development of imagination and uniqueness is cherished, not punished, boxed or teased away,
   -while society professes a value for diversity and creativity, schools often present some of the most conformist atmospheres where sexism, homophobia, racism and class discrimination abound.



3. I guess I feel that school ‘socialization’ isn't actually that great anyway:
   -you get yelled at for talking in class,
   -you often get in trouble for cheating when working together as a group, or
   -you get artificially grouped with 20+ other kids your own age (how many of your adult friends and coworkers are all exactly your age?),
   -peer pressure can turn 'sweet' kids into ones that will pick on the next kid to avoid negative attention,
   -schools can be violent, alcoholic and drug abusing atmospheres.
   

Homeschooling allows diversity of activity and environment.

1. Homeschooling=more field trips (always a plus, right?)



2. But won’t they be left out…? Sports teams, proms, carnivals, dances, chess clubs, etc., all take place outside of school buildings, too (especially as more and more people homeschool), and the best ‘hanging out’ never happened at school anyway, right? Homeschooling also allows for more time dedicated to the pursuit of what would be extra-curricular activities for another student.



3. Homeschooling allows more time for apprenticeships, volunteer activities, playdates and community service (yeah Meals on Wheels!!!)

Homeschooled kids are empowered and more invested in their own education and are learning based on necessity, joy and the sake of learning rather than learning for grades, competition, and other less important goals.

1. Children take more responsibility for their own education to facilitate the things they want to do in their lives, both immediately and in the future.



2. Homeschooling supports the belief that alongside of my children, I am the best guide of my children's education, as I have been since birth. (Why are we expected to teach our children all the most important things up until age 4, and then relinquish them to schools, where we can only hope for the best and/or try to supplement what they are missing?)




3. Homeschooling can remove the potential for negative school-related diagnoses. I feel that homeschooling is more responsive to gifted children, children with a potential for an ADHD diagnosis in a formal school setting or children with special needs. I believe that many ADHD diagnoses would disappear if children were not required to attend school as it stands in most districts, and that all children are in possession of both gifts and special needs that parents with the right resources would almost always be in the best position to provide for.

Homeschooling kids have an outstanding curriculum.

1. I like that homeschooling allows more diversity of curriculum and that Izaia, and Indigo (and soon Angel) play an important role in determining what, where and when they study.




2. Learning takes place at comfortable pace for children (as fast as they want) and they can follow their own interests and pursue them as they see fit (again, with loving parental guidance).




3. Plus:
   -there are no worksheets
   -there is no test prep booklet
   -homeschooling schedules allow more flexibility with depth and breadth of learning
   -kids get to learn more practical information/skills/trades
   -there is a better cafeteria
   -art and gym last longer than 40 minutes once a week
   -homeschooling schedules allow more time for sports/music/art activities and individual and group play

Homeschooling is flexible and works well for our family.

1. School does not begin at 645 or 7 a.m. (unless we want it to), and classes take place in your pajamas if that is what works best for you.



2. Our homeschool schedule is more responsive to Meg's hectic hospital schedule. We can eat when we want, nap when we want, vacation when we want, etc., all tailored in a manner that best supports our family structure.



3. We get to model loving interactions, and problem solving for my kids, rather than peers, teachers and principals doing so. These interactions and problem solving skills are the ones that work best in our family and in our learning environment.
   
   
   Hey thanks for reading and checking in. And thank you all so much for your continued love and support!!! (Here are some 'cool' pictures from our last Meals on Wheels run--Please tell the NFL experts that we're not claiming a set, we're just saying peace!)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   (sleepy baby peace)
   
   

H is for Home, Hoops and Happy Trails...

Hey Everybody.

I hope this post finds you well.

Izaia and Meg have entered the building...They have returned from their 2 weeks in the Minnesota woods at Camp Ajawah. They had a blast. Izaia camped with her cousins and 100+ girls, and sang songs, swam, cooked over campfires, played capture the flag, and played with her Momma, a.k.a. Camp Nursie. A beautiful opportunity for Momma and Zai to spend some time together and for Indy, Angel and Daddy to explore too!

Here we are at Loch Raven Reservoir...

Izaia and Indy are in basketball camp together this week!!! Imagine a wiry small forward and Mugsy Bogues-esque point guard. (I'll try to work on some better pictures this week!)

Indy working on his handles...

Who is that #23?

Izaia, coast to coast for the layin... (and look at the left handed dribble)

In addition to basketball camp, Izaia is working really hard on the gymnastics team--she's busting her butt 10-12 hours a week and she's getting ripped. (Don't make her flex on you!)

Indy's also working on his dance moves at the Y. His current favorite is Micheal Jackson's Man in the Mirror (spin moves and leg kicks galore). We are trying to find some options outside of the traditional ballet route and are hoping for the best.

Here is the blurriest ballet line picture ever!!!

Angel's doing lovely as well. She is saying things like, 'all done, more, hi, ball, yes (with an emphatic nod), yae-ya (her sister), Dee (her brother), momma, Duh (me?),' and regularly keeps us all in stitches with her fun and freespirited play. If God was trying to talk to us, she surely sent us a blessing in the form of Angel.

We were also blessed with the news that Megan would begin her cardiology training at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN next July. Thus in approximately a year's time, we will be headed on the happy trail westward to Minnesota!!! A homecoming it will be.

Thank you all for your continued support and best wishes. Keep the love and letters coming--the kids so appreciate your time, thoughts and consideration.

Take care,

Daddioso