Annalise's Weekly Update, 12/3/12

This is the first of my planned weekly posts to keep better track of Annalise's activities,as a precursor to categorizing them for her reports.  I hope to add at least a picture or two to most posts, to add life and spirit to these relatively dry words...Feel free to read and comment! =DAnnalise's Weekly Update, 12/3/12DoingCounting moneyCleaning and organizing in my office, and in other spaces throughout the house and yard.Preparing for our trip to the Woodman's this FridayMeeting many, many dogs, and a pair of reindeerWindow shoppingJobs for money to buy Kindle apps when her allowance ran short of her desires (she took a week's advance on Tuesday, for extra spending money at the toy store). Tasks included litterboxes, animal feeding, guinea pig cage cleanup, and general home tidying. She earned several dollars' worth of apps in this manner, and enjoyed the freedom of proposing deals and stating her price.Setting up and tending a fire (she doesn't feel ready to light the fire, just yet).Seeing/Listening toCostumed Victorian strollersCarolers, marching band, and street musicians (guitar and clarinet)Part of Ken Burns' The Dust BowlAssorted music and movies via her Kindle, and television programming.GoingDaddy Night (McD's; bounce house; toy store - both kids elected to get Kindles as early gifts, then have stockings at Christmas. So this was more of a browsing for the future. She purchased a makeup kit - makeup has become a big part of her animal role play).Victorian Street Walk (Saratoga)Soave Faire (art store) - MakingMusic (piano/voice)forts, nests, and burrows (she was a baby bird and a baby Seen)makeup for baby Seen playa bead bracelet for me, with my favorite turquoise!Virtual animal paper dress-up dollsdrawings (pencil on paper; baby birds with parents; baby mini-pegacorns with parents; trees; nests and background)Setting up and tending a fire (she doesn't feel ready to light the fire, just yet).PlayingBaby Seen (new animal species)Stuffed Unicorn Hospital (Rainbow was on suicide watch because an eye infection caused her to stab herself, and she suffered major head trauma, and needed an EKG drawn on a notebook page. She made a full recovery.)A lot with her new Kindle Fire. Virtual animal paper doll dressup of several varieties, Flow, horse training, animal rescue center, piano app, Coin Dozer, and claw machine. With Achoo the kitten, Corki the dog, and other dogs met along the way...Assorted games with Jeremiah.Bounce house (CPC).ExploringSemi feral kittens as they adjust to indoor life with peopleMaking deals, and keeping up her end of bargainsFairness in the community of our familyStatute of limitationsHer scrapbook, both of her brothers', and baby books. Plans for us to add to hers together.The Dust BowlHer new Kindle.New foods and drinks, trolley bus, and the Victorian Street Walk.Finances - budgeting, earning, spending, owing, counting, adding and subtracting.Many dogs - breeds, stories, names, personalities, ownersCuisennaire rodsTalking AboutEstrangement from certain family membersChild abuseFairnessStatute of LimitationsHer and her brothers' infancies; Elijah's deathFeral vs. tame cats (and big cats!)Our upcoming New Jersey trip, where we will experience Hanukkah with dear friendsIce skating, and if her skates still fitAccountability and responsibilityFuture financial plans - lots of money talk, of lateHer growing maturity

Ananlise's First Quarter Sciences, 2012-2013

Sciences -

• Annalise will continue to be supported as she indulges her myriad scientific passions, which include: anatomy and genetics; evolution; ecology and animal ecosystems; venomous snakes and insects; geology; and weather.
• Annalise's newly acquired ability to read independently has led to scientific reading. Some titles from this quarter include Scholastic early-reader volumes on floods and tornadoes; How Do They Do That?; Cats Into Everything; The Kids' Fun-Filled Question and Answer Book; assorted Zoobooks; National Geographic Kids; and others, including several National Geographic field guides.
• A trip to the New York State Museum included various exhibits of particular long-term interest to Annalise, including: Adirondack Wildlife; Birds of New York; Mastodont; and the live and preserved specimens in the Discovery Room.
• Annalise spent considerable time building The Visible Woman, which she chose at the Northeast Unschooling Conference Media Swap.
• Annalise continued her personal independent explorations of flora and fauna on excursions into our yard and surrounding areas; at the museum; at a state park in Massachusetts. She collected specimens and was particularly interested in caterpillars and birds throughout this quarter.
• Our Manx cat, Margot, died on September 11, and we discovered her in the yard the following afternoon. Annalise learned about rigor mortis,scavengers, and decomposition.
• Annalise enjoyed using her newly discovered reading abilities to more thoroughly research several topics of personal scientific interest, including: guinea pig care; nature documentaries; and weather reports, particularly on Hurricane Sandy, which postponed our travel plans to visit friends in New Jersey.

• Annalise will be presented with other scientific topics and concepts through excursions, activities, television programming, online and print resources, and real life opportunities to explore her deepening scientific awareness.
• Annalise has become more interested in rocks, gems, and minerals. We spent time exploring rocks at home (we have a growing collection); at the New York State Museum; and via field guides and reference books.
• Annalise's interest in anatomy and medicine was deepened as she independently explored online virtual knee surgery.
• Her interest in and understanding of scientific method have matured throughout this quarter.
• She will have ample time to explore as deeply as she wishes. 
• Annalise has had the time, support, and freedom she desired for all her scientific explorations throughout this quarter.

• Her parents will facilitate these explorations by providing time, space, materials, home and public libraries, programming, excursions, and conversation relevant to her discoveries and experimentation.
• As detailed above this objective has been met in a variety of ways throughout this quarter.

Welcome!

This blog has been created as a space to record activities and events that will appear in Annalise's quarterly reports.

These reports tend to take a great deal of my time, and this is an effort to streamline the process and allow our family more time for our learning.

Feel free to browse the included pages, and comment if you wish.