"To Catch a Fish" by Eloise Greenfield To Catch a Fish BY ELOISE GREENFIELD It takes more than a wish to catch a fish you take the hook you add the bait you concentrate and then you wait you wait you wait but not a bite the fish don’t have an appetite so tell them what good bait you’ve got and how your bait can hit the spot this works a whole lot better than a wish if you really want to catch a fish Poetry Lesson Ideas: 1. Draw or paint the image or feeling this poem inspires. 2. Memorize and then recite this poem to a friend or family member. 3. Read this poem to your pet. 4. Write your own poem inspired by Eloise Greenfield's writing. 5. Read some other writing by Eloise Greenfield. P.S. for more homeschooling ideas, go to Blossom Learning.
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Homeschool Holiday Gift Guide Everything about this year has been like no other and the holiday season is no exception. With homeschoolers spending more time than ever at home, there has never been a greater need for fun things to do! What better way to fill your home with occupied kids than engaging (maybe even a tiny bit educational) gifts for the holidays?
I've put this list together of well-loved, homeschool kid tested items that you can use as a buying guide - or send to those family members that never know what to give. I hope this makes your holiday season bright during this long winter. Happy new year! GAMES Site Word Builder Shelby's Snack Shake Sentence Building Supper Sleuth The World Game HOME ITEMS The Echo Dot (The Echo Dot is my most-used homeschooling tool. It's great for listening to podcasts, language learning programs, spelling and vocabulary quick answers, and it's totally family friendly!) Bamboo Artist's Organizer Cushioned Lap Desk SCIENCE KITS Clean Water Science Earth Science Kit Chemistry Science Lab Electric Robot Kit Slime Lab KEEP THEM BUSY PROJECTS Wooden Farris Wheel Easy Crochet Kit Fairy Potions Easy Origami SUBSCRIPTIONS Little Passports Crate Joy MEL Science Raddish Kids Cooking Club P.S. for more homeschooling ideas, go to Blossom Learning. The Light of Stars by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow When reading a new piece of poetry, I like to read it out loud without any knowledge of the poet or meanings of new vocabulary. Then, after a read-through, you can slowly unpeel the onion of understanding. First, get to the know the poet. This often gives a whole new perspective on the piece. Then, break down any new language to get further meaning. After all of that, have a little discussion about it to explore individual feelings and ideas.
This is such a great way for students to develop communication, reading comprehension, and critical thinking skills. If you want to get really fancy, you could encourage your student to start their own poetry journal. They can add new poems you read together along with some art, and maybe even some poetry of their own. Here's a new poem to explore. Find information about the poet by clicking on their name to read a full biography. After a read-through try some of the following questions with your student to expand their prospective. The Light of Stars BY HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW The night is come, but not too soon; And sinking silently, All silently, the little moon Drops down behind the sky. There is no light in earth or heaven But the cold light of stars; And the first watch of night is given To the red planet Mars. Is it the tender star of love? The star of love and dreams? O no! from that blue tent above, A hero's armor gleams. And earnest thoughts within me rise, When I behold afar, Suspended in the evening skies, The shield of that red star. O star of strength! I see thee stand And smile upon my pain; Thou beckonest with thy mailèd hand, And I am strong again. Within my breast there is no light But the cold light of stars; I give the first watch of the night To the red planet Mars. The star of the unconquered will, He rises in my breast, Serene, and resolute, and still, And calm, and self-possessed. And thou, too, whosoe'er thou art, That readest this brief psalm, As one by one thy hopes depart, Be resolute and calm. O fear not in a world like this, And thou shalt know erelong, Know how sublime a thing it is To suffer and be strong. Explore the poet HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW Explore some new vocabulary beckonest (en-archaic second-person singular of: beckon) mailèd (Armored in, protected by) erelong (before long; soon) sublime (of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe) Question prompts for discussion What do you think the writer meant by "And the first watch of night is given To the red planet Mars?" How does Mars differ from a "cold light of stars" from the second verse? What do you think the writer meant in the fourth verse when he wrote a "hero's armor gleams" while describing the "tender star of love" and "the star of love and dreams?" Do you get any pictures in your mind from the fifth verse now that you know "mailèd" means armored? Who do you think the writer is addressing in the eighth verse? What is he trying to convey? In the end, how does it make you feel that the writer describes suffering and strength to be sublime? Does this poem spark your imagination in any way, does it conjure and memories or dreams? P.S. for more homeschooling ideas, go to Blossom Learning. Carrying Light into the Darkness My daughter attended a Waldorf school eight years before we started homeschooling. Her first November in school we were introduced to the Lantern Walk Festival that is a tradition in many Waldorf schools. Being a Jewish girl from California, I knew nothing of this celebration. So I, like a child, was able to experience the wonder with her for the first time.
I was new to the Pacific Northwest at the time and was not yet accustomed to our long, dark winters. I have to admit, I was struggling with the gloom of fall and was anxiously awaiting the next season. My daughter's very wise teacher explained to the parents the purpose of the Lantern Walk and the symbolism of it. But it wasn't until I actually participated that I understood the power of carrying your own light into a dark night. I helped my daughter fashion a small lantern made from a jar and some colored paper. Then we headed off to the park where our friends were casting streams of spells from their handmade lanterns' light. My daughter was scared at first, after all, she was only four years old and had never been out in the dark without the safety of her father or me holding her. We lit her lantern and bravely she ventured off following the older children in reverent silence. On the way home that night, I couldn't help but notice a change in my daughter. She seemed older, wiser all of a sudden. Her confidence had grown and expanded on that dark walk. As for me, it was a lesson in bravery and self-reliance. I, too could carry the light of strength and inner love through any darkness that life may bring. Even if we don't see it in them, our children have been living through one of the darkest times in our history. Each of them carry the ability to bring gifts of love, generosity, kindness, creativity, and change into the next period of our world. This November consider sharing this tradition with your children. Make some beautiful lanterns and venture off into the dark night carrying your own light. Here are some lantern making craft ideas: https://austinwaldorf.org/parent-corner/a-balloon-lantern-how-to/ https://homesongblog.com/autumn/on-martinmas-lantern-making/ For more information about the meaning of the Lantern Walk Festival see: https://waldorfinspiredlearning.com/the-lantern-festival-overview/ -As always for more lessons and homeschooling ideas, go to Blossom Learning. Poem of the month - A Map to the Next World by Joy Harjo Every week, in my homeschool we do a poetry exploration. Sometimes they are picked for their seasonal themes, other times they are picked in connection to other lessons we are working on. No matter the topic, it's one of our favorite homeschool activities.
My daughter favors poems that describe the beauty of nature. But I've found pieces that are more of a rally cry or a political statement can really get her fired up and spur some of our most interesting discussions. This week we read and discussed A Map to the Next World by Joy Harjo. At the end of the poem, my daughter said, "Good, she got it right." I wasn't sure what she meant by that and she couldn't really elaborate on her statement. She seemed to be holding her breath through the reading and then was relieved in the end. I took her reaction to mean that she had connected with the poet and hoped she was with her, then in the end that was confirmed. It's not really important for me to understand her opinion, the most significant outcome was that there was an actual connection. I think there is no better way to walk in another's shoes than to read their soul; and that is exactly what poetry allows us to do. I encourage you to try out this poem with your homeschooler during this week of Indigenous People's Day and see if you can try following the map to the next world with Joy Harjo. -For more poetry lessons and homeschooling ideas, go to Blossom Learning. A Map to the Next World BY JOY HARJO for Desiray Kierra Chee In the last days of the fourth world I wished to make a map for those who would climb through the hole in the sky. My only tools were the desires of humans as they emerged from the killing fields, from the bedrooms and the kitchens. For the soul is a wanderer with many hands and feet. The map must be of sand and can’t be read by ordinary light. It must carry fire to the next tribal town, for renewal of spirit. In the legend are instructions on the language of the land, how it was we forgot to acknowledge the gift, as if we were not in it or of it. Take note of the proliferation of supermarkets and malls, the altars of money. They best describe the detour from grace. Keep track of the errors of our forgetfulness; the fog steals our children while we sleep. Flowers of rage spring up in the depression. Monsters are born there of nuclear anger. Trees of ashes wave good-bye to good-bye and the map appears to disappear. We no longer know the names of the birds here, how to speak to them by their personal names. Once we knew everything in this lush promise. What I am telling you is real and is printed in a warning on the map. Our forgetfulness stalks us, walks the earth behind us, leav- ing a trail of paper diapers, needles, and wasted blood. An imperfect map will have to do, little one. The place of entry is the sea of your mother’s blood, your father’s small death as he longs to know himself in another. There is no exit. The map can be interpreted through the wall of the intestine—a spiral on the road of knowledge. You will travel through the membrane of death, smell cooking from the encampment where our relatives make a feast of fresh deer meat and corn soup, in the Milky Way. They have never left us; we abandoned them for science. And when you take your next breath as we enter the fifth world there will be no X, no guidebook with words you can carry. You will have to navigate by your mother’s voice, renew the song she is singing. Fresh courage glimmers from planets. And lights the map printed with the blood of history, a map you will have to know by your intention, by the language of suns. When you emerge note the tracks of the monster slayers where they entered the cities of artificial light and killed what was killing us. You will see red cliffs. They are the heart, contain the ladder. A white deer will greet you when the last human climbs from the destruction. Remember the hole of shame marking the act of abandoning our tribal grounds. We were never perfect. Yet, the journey we make together is perfect on this earth who was once a star and made the same mistakes as humans. We might make them again, she said. Crucial to finding the way is this: there is no beginning or end. You must make your own map. "A Map to the Next World" from How We Became Human: New and Selected Poems: 1975-2001 by Joy Harjo. Copyright © 2002 by Joy Harjo. Used by permission of W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., www.wwnorton.com. Source: How We Became Human: New and Selected Poems: 1975-2001 (W. W. Norton and Company Inc., 2002) P.S. for more homeschooling ideas, go to Blossom Learning. Poem of the month - The School Where I Studied by Yehuda Amichai The School Where I Studied BY YEHUDA AMICHAI TRANSLATED BY CHANA BLOCH I passed by the school where I studied as a boy and said in my heart: here I learned certain things and didn't learn others. All my life I have loved in vain the things I didn't learn. I am filled with knowledge, I know all about the flowering of the tree of knowledge, the shape of its leaves, the function of its root system, its pests and parasites. I'm an expert on the botany of good and evil, I'm still studying it, I'll go on studying till the day I die. I stood near the school building and looked in. This is the room where we sat and learned. The windows of a classroom always open to the future, but in our innocence we thought it was only landscape we were seeing from the window. The schoolyard was narrow, paved with large stones. I remember the brief tumult of the two of us near the rickety steps, the tumult that was the beginning of a first great love. Now it outlives us, as if in a museum, like everything else in Jerusalem. Next week we will begin a new year of schooling in my home. My daughter is in 11th grade now and I'm doing my best to raise my game in order to challenge her ever-expanding mind. We’ve been exploring a poem every week since our first year of homeschooling. In fact, that’s how we began our homeschooling journey. I was lost in a sea of curriculum choices and well-meaning advice, and just didn’t know what to do! Since my daughter loved to draw but hated to read, a friend suggested I use poetry as a bridge between art and reading. We would read a simple poem together, discuss it, and then she would draw her interpretation of how it made her feel. Years later, here we are still doing our poem of the week. But things have changed! My daughter is older and wiser, the world is different and more baffling than ever. So, our poetry selection has grown to fit the needs of my daughter’s curiosity and the answers she is seeking from our world. I picked The School Where I Studied by Yehuda Amichai to start us off on our first poem of the week. Here are some of the questions I will pose to my daughter to kick-off our discussion: 1. What do you think Amichai meant by, “I have loved in vain the things I didn't learn?" 2. What aspects of life could you compare Amichai’s, “botany of good and evil?" 3. To me, “windows of a classroom always open to the future” is such an interesting phrase given much of what is taught in school is historical. What do you think? 4. Now that most students are doing school from home, do you think the way in which they learn will change? 5. Did this poem bring up any memories or reminiscence for you? 6. How did your perspective change of the author and the poem after you read the last line? For further discussion we will be learning more about the writer after our exploration of the poem from: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/yehuda-amichai. If you are looking for more learning ideas for your own homeschool and would like support in how to create lesson plans customized for your child, or would like to order a custom lesson plan on a particular topic contact me through my website: https://www.blossom-learning.com/. Help! My Kids Are Bored.  Blossom Blog – Help! My Kids Are Bored
It’s summer… and there’s a pandemic. So, it’s no surprise that parents are feeling a little desperate to find ideas to keep their kids busy. I thought I’d share a few of my ideas with you. Here it goes… Educational/Fun Podcasts We have an Echo Dot in our kitchen that is perfect for listening to podcasts. It’s great for entertainment while cooking dinner or doing art projects. Here are some great podcasts just for kids:
Artist-Inspired Fun Mix a little education in with that art. Pick a famous artist with your child and then go BIG with an oversized art piece. Try this idea: A Car Ride with Audible We’ve been taking a lot of car rides lately to get out of the house and have a little change of scene. Add in a great audiobook to let the imagination run wild. Here are some ideas: Plant a Pasta-Themed Garden In a large pot or container, plant all your favorite pasta dish ingredients. The options are limitless: basil, mini zucchini, and tomatoes; chilies, Thai basil, and eggplant; peppers, onions, and garlic; spinach, broccolini, and chives. For more themed garden ideas, visit: Learn a Regional Cooking Style Explore exotic flavors and create theme nights by cooking around the world. Here are a couple of fun resources: Online Classes I’m partial to Outschool.com since I offer classes there, but really there are endless options for all ages and interests. Handwork Projects I always think of great handwork projects, but by the time I gather all the necessary items, it just seems to be too much money and effort. But I just figured out that you can buy great project kits that include everything you need, and they’re very affordable. Here are a few that I’m going to try: Make a Fairy Garden With the world feeling a little sideways right now, what better way to get grounded than to make a fairy house or garden with your kids? These creations can be made simply with items collected around your house or yard. This project can keep kids engaged for days with scavenger hunts to find materials, drawing up plans, and designing their own furniture with clay or wood. You can even plan a tiny fairy tea party when they are done. There are limitless possibilities! Get inspired:
Whatever you decide to do to keep your kids busy this summer, just remember—it’s all about building memories. They’ll never forget the time you spend together, no matter what you are doing. Happy summer! P.S. For more homeschooling ideas, go to Blossom Learning. Have Faith in the Homeschooling Gods  Have Faith in the Homeschooling Gods
The first year we homeschooled, I was in a panic to perfectly deliver every prescribed subject to my daughter for her grade. I was convinced I was going to be struck by lightning if I missed anything. I diligently tried to follow a typical public-school schedule, basically trying to recreate school at home. That year we were “supposed” to be learning about the Industrial Revolution. We were also doing a little poetry block (which we have continued ever since). I thought it might be a good idea to combine the two and started searching for a poem about the Industrial Revolution. I came across Daffodils by William Wordsworth written as a reminder of the beauty of nature in a society that was becoming more and more industrialized. We read the poem after our boring textbook assignment, then went to feed our neighbors’ cats. On our walk we discovered, to our surprise, the daffodils were blooming all around our neighborhood. It was then that I got the first glimpse of the Homeschooling Gods. Since that experience I have learned to become less fearful of missing important milestones, of doing things the “wrong” way at the wrong time. Every year, I spend the summer exploring what our next homeschooling year will entail. I get a general idea and keep a list. Last summer I realized we hadn’t done much in the way of World Studies since middle school. My daughter was asking questions about our heritage and wanted to explore some genealogy. So, I plugged that into my notes and waited for the Homeschooling Gods to work their magic. Sure enough, I was listening to a Podcast on Food Writing and they were interviewing a writer with a new book out called The Black Sea by Caroline Eden. The book was a traveler’s eating guide to the countries surrounding the Black Sea. It was perfect! It had recipes, history, culture, geography, and even tied into our family roots. That book served as our “textbook” for World Studies that year. This year I knew I wanted to get some kind of Civics study into the mix but had no idea how to go about it. My daughter was not at all interested and I always like to find a way to bring her a subject that she’s going to be able to personally identify with. So, I put it on my list for the year and let it go. I have enough faith now that I know somehow the Gods will come through for us. We got all the way into May without any hope of an interesting Civics idea, when again, I was listening to a news Podcast and heard that because of the Pandemic, the Supreme Court was going to hear oral arguments live over the telephone! That was it. It all immediately fell into place. We started with a review of the Constitution using a student-friendly website. Then we read some fun articles about the Supreme Court, even one about how they have dealt with epidemics throughout the history of the court. After that we read the biographies of each justice and printed out their pictures. We looked at which cases were on the schedule and picked the one that my daughter was most fired up about. For the next week we delved into that case, listening to Podcasts, reading articles, and discussing all the angles. Then the day finally came, we sat together with our pictures of the justices and listened to the arguments. We paused to discus and question and look up other cases they were siting, and now we wait for their decisions. In two-weeks’ time, we did a more interesting Civics study than we could have by reading a textbook for the entire year. I don’t think either of us will ever forget the experience. Now we are wrapping up our school year and already I’m putting things on my list for next year. Right now, they are just hopes and prayers, but I know when the time is right, inspiration will come and the Homeschooling Gods will provide. It’s not too late… If you’d like to follow our Civics course, I’ve provided all the links you need below. And as always, if you would like personal help in organizing you homeschool year, contact me through my website www.blossomlearning.weebly.com. I believe that every child deserves the best education they can get no matter what their economic situation. So, I’m offering homeschool help by donation of whatever works for your family. Please have a happy and healthy summer! Supreme Court Civics Study Links: https://www.usconstitution.net/constkids.html https://www.supremecourt.gov/ https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/10/us/politics/supreme-court-group-photos.html https://supremecourthistory.org/history-of-the-court/Epidemics%20and%20the%20Supreme%20Court/ https://www.scotusblog.com/author/scotustalk/ Poem of the Month - The Rice Fields by Zilka Joseph  I find that poetry is a wonderful way to explore perspectives and life experiences in a very personal way. It allows for a deeply intimate peek into a writer's identity.
I like to start with a cold reading. Just read the poem once through with no background information. For older students, they can read it to you. After that, read a biography of the poet. Talk a little about the poem, allow for questions, do some Google searching for any new words or unfamiliar concepts. Then, read the poem again. Now you will see flashes of recognition as your child personally identifies with that poet's life and inner voice. More layers of meaning will be uncovered. Once your student knows who the poet is, where they were born, what time period they lived in, they will start to identify with the poem in a new way. Now they can place themselves into the life of that poet and see through their eyes just a moment... just long enough to glimpse into their world. Try it with this Poem of the Month by Zilka Joseph! The Rice Fields By Zilka Joseph Miles of them grow in my carry-on and travel with me across continents but the customs officers are suspicious they eye my old suitcase and ask me to open it Pickles? they ask sniffing deeply prodding a packet or two say Sure ma’am you’ve got no jeera or chilies? (now they’ve learned the Hindi word for cumin so the new trick is to joke with us) And one time I saw three burly officers question an elderly couple disheveled as I was from 20-plus hours of travel from Kolkata and as disoriented (and yes as usual all the usual “foreign” suspects are sent along to “Agriculture”) and they poked around in their overstuffed bags (where some rice fields appeared but they couldn’t see them of course) and one officer said Duck? Bombay Duck? It’s a fish?? Dried fish your son wanted? Sorry no fish allowed or birds (The officers looked at each other again and again: expressions priceless) So another time I land at Detroit airport and I shake my head at the silver-haired officer say Sir, no, no pickles meat or cheese I buy them here at Bombay Grocers and Patel’s (give them a sweet Colgate smile) Yes, yes, sweets, only made of lentil No dairy, no dairy The red-gold cardboard boxes of sweets he can see but not the rice sprouting beneath the young green shoots No our rice fields he will never see we carry them wherever we go P.S. for more homeschooling ideas, go to Blossom Learning. Great Free Online Learning Stuff!  Many families are homeschooling for the first time with really no preparation. If you are in that boat; be easy on yourself. Most homeschooling parents spend months preparing. You, unfortunately haven't been given the luxury of time.
Even if your school is providing online work for your learners, you may find you are lacking resources to help you with teaching topics. You also may have bored children to deal with during school downtime. For those of you who are veteran homeschoolers; I know how easy it is to get complacent in your routine only to have your child start complaining that they are sick of the same old stuff. Sometimes you just need something fresh. No matter what your situation, I've put together some trusted, FREE, online resources to add to your repertoire. For the Littles Reading Rockets A Mighty Girl Science Toys Enchanted Learning Positive Vocabulary Words Kids National Geographic Ask a Biologist American Literature Poetry Foundation For Youth Narrative Essays Time4Writing Middle School Chemistry CK12 Scholastic Lessons and Ideas Education World Mensa for Kids Poetry Foundation Teens The Amoebas Sisters Spark Notes NASA It's amazing just how many high quality FREE resources are generously offered online. They are all there just waiting for discovery! P.S. for more homeschooling ideas, go to Blossom Learning. New to Homeschooling Do’s and Don’ts.  New to Homeschooling Do’s and Don’ts
The Do’s DO take a breath. The transition from school to homeschooling is a difficult one for parent and child. Allow some time to collect yourself and give your child some time to adjust. Attempting to jump into a full-time homeschooling situation will be overwhelming for you all. Don't worry. Your child will NOT fall behind. Take a moment to enjoy each other and connect. DO be flexible. Digging your heels into a specific mode of learning will most likely end in tears; yours and/or theirs. This is a learning process for you both. There is no one right way to do this. If you are pushing your child to anger or frustration, just stop. Rethink and adjust. Talk to your child and get their input on what would work better for them. This is a time to build trust between you, and only in that way will you create a safe space in which to learn and grow. DO utilize your library. Depending on your county, you most likely have the option of getting an educator’s library card. This allows you an almost limitless number of books, extended checkouts, and no late fees. Your library will also have great FREE online resources. Many libraries also have a library of things! Instruments, sewing machines, tools, and lots of other interesting offerings. Libraries also have free passes for cultural field trips. Take time to make friends with your neighborhood branch Librarian. They will be an invaluable resource. DO take time for yourself. Homeschooling and parenting are jobs that never end. It’s so important to refuel yourself so you can be your best for your homeschooler. Read a trashy novel, chat with a friend on the phone (not about homeschooling), take a class just for you, learn a new skill. Remember not to lose yourself in this new lifestyle. One day your homeschooler will be off in the world and you might actually want to pursue your own goals. DO laugh! Everything is better when it’s fun. Trying to be a strict “teacher” to your child will end up hurting your relationship and stifle free exploration. So many parents think they are doing their child a favor by forcing them to sit and finish all their work through tears and tantrums. Why? Taking the stance of a co-learner opens the door to silly inside jokes, making mistakes together, and learning through spontaneity. The Don’ts DON’T rush out and spend hundreds of dollars on curriculum courses, materials, and equipment. When I first started homeschooling, I thought I really needed a top of the line iPad for my daughter to do online homeschooling. Well, it ended up online homeschooling was not the right fit for us. I’m so glad I waited on buying that computer. Turns out, my daughter can’t stand doing schoolwork on the computer. I had no idea! Really the piece of equipment that we have utilized the most is our microscope. It is a never-ending source of amazement. DON’T Google homeschooling. Trust me. Performing a search for “how do you homeschool” will send you into a blizzard of information. Since there is no one “right” way to homeschool there are thousands of opinions on what homeschooling is and how you should do it. Instead of diving into that sea of ideas, take some time to think about what kind of homeschool would work for your child and your family. Use your imagination to dream up what life would look like without the restrictions of traditional school. Then, get the advice of a trusted friend or experienced homeschooler to point you on some already trodden paths. DON’T fill your plate too fast. You don’t really know how your child learns until you start working together. So, starting with small tasks will help you gain some understanding on what will work and what won’t. Let’s say you begin with picking one book of high interest for you to read together. Reading that book can spark some great lessons, such as a small spelling or vocabulary exploration. Depending on the book, it could lead to some discussions of society, history, or culture. It may even introduce a new interest to follow. Starting small may not seem like a lot, but once you start down that path you’ll be amazed where it can lead. DON’T isolate. It’s easy to get caught up in doing hours of homeschooling a day and forget to be out in the world. Join a group through 4-H, or a Meet-up, or Facebook. Register for a class or two in your community. Remember to go on field trips or just do some schoolwork in a coffee shop instead of home. When you’re out and about, you never know who you’re going to meet. DON’T panic! I know what it feels like to wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat with your heart racing. How am I going to give my child everything they need to learn? How will they succeed in life? What if they fall behind their grade level? What if I’m not smart enough to teach them? Just take a breath and know that your child will learn what they need to know when they need to know it! School curriculum and grades are designed as a wide structure that is meant to house lots of different kinds of learners. Homeschooling allows your child to learn in whatever style suits them. It just looks different and that’s okay. All you can do is give your children learning opportunities and encourage curiosity. As my very wise homeschooler likes to tell me… Don’t school it up so much! P.S. for more homeschooling ideas, go to Blossom Learning. Poem of the month - The Unknown Bird by Edward Thomas  The Unknown Bird
By Edward Thomas Three lovely notes he whistled, too soft to be heard If others sang; but others never sang In the great beech-wood all that May and June. No one saw him: I alone could hear him Though many listened. Was it but four years Ago? or five? He never came again. Oftenest when I heard him I was alone, Nor could I ever make another hear. La-la-la! he called, seeming far-off-- As if a cock crowed past the edge of the world, As if the bird or I were in a dream. Yet that he travelled through the trees and sometimes Neared me, was plain, though somehow distant still He sounded. All the proof is—I told men What I had heard. I never knew a voice, Man, beast, or bird, better than this. I told The naturalists; but neither had they heard Anything like the notes that did so haunt me, I had them clear by heart and have them still. Four years, or five, have made no difference. Then As now that La-la-la! was bodiless sweet: Sad more than joyful it was, if I must say That it was one or other, but if sad 'Twas sad only with joy too, too far off For me to taste it. But I cannot tell If truly never anything but fair The days were when he sang, as now they seem. This surely I know, that I who listened then, Happy sometimes, sometimes suffering A heavy body and a heavy heart, Now straightway, if I think of it, become Light as that bird wandering beyond my shore. Poetry is a wonderful way to explore ideas in your homeschool. Reading a poem with your child can be as simple as an excuse for reading practice or can expand into an expansive learning opportunity. P.S. for more homeschooling ideas, go to Blossom Learning. Poem of the month - Prayer Rug by Agha Shahid Ali  Prayer Rug
By Agha Shahid Ali Those intervals between the day’s five calls to prayer the women of the house pulling thick threads through vegetables rosaries of ginger of rustling peppers in autumn drying for winter in those intervals this rug part of Grandma’s dowry folded so the Devil’s shadow would not desecrate Mecca scarlet-woven with minarets of gold but then the sunset call to prayer the servants their straw mats unrolled praying or in the garden in summer on grass the children wanting the prayers to end the women’s foreheads touching Abraham’s silk stone of sacrifice black stone descended from Heaven the pilgrims in white circling it this year my grandmother also a pilgrim in Mecca she weeps as the stone is unveiled she weeps holding on to the pillars (for Begum Zafar Ali) Agha Shahid Ali, “Prayer Rug” from The Half-Inch Himalayas. Copyright © 1987 by Agha Shahid Ali. Poetry is a wonderful way to explore ideas in your homeschool. Reading a poem with your child can be as simple as an excuse for reading practice or can expand into an expansive learning opportunity. P.S. for more homeschooling ideas, go to Blossom Learning. Poem of the month - November Cotton Flower by Jean Toomer November Cotton Flower
By Jean Toomer Boll-weevil’s coming, and the winter’s cold, Made cotton-stalks look rusty, seasons old, And cotton, scarce as any southern snow, Was vanishing; the branch, so pinched and slow, Failed in its function as the autumn rake; Drouth fighting soil had caused the soil to take All water from the streams; dead birds were found In wells a hundred feet below the ground-- Such was the season when the flower bloomed. Old folks were startled, and it soon assumed Significance. Superstition saw Something it had never seen before: Brown eyes that loved without a trace of fear, Beauty so sudden for that time of year. Jean Toomer, "November Cotton Flower" from Cane. Copyright 1923 by Boni & Liveright, renewed 1951 by Jean Toomer. Poetry is a wonderful way to explore ideas in your homeschool. Reading a poem with your child can be as simple as an excuse for reading practice or can expand into an expansive learning opportunity. P.S. for more homeschooling ideas, go to Blossom Learning. Learning for the sake of learning...  Recently I had lunch with a friend whose daughter has severe dyslexia. We often share and commiserate about our children and their learning challenges. The thing we have most in common is our hopes for our children.
We want them to find their joy, to be happy and fulfilled as adults. Of course, we have different ways of approaching these goals. For her it was very important that her daughter attend a private college preparatory high school. Whereas, we took the path of homeschooling. When we first began homeschooling, I was panicked about keeping in step with traditional school subjects. I wanted to make sure my daughter could jump back into school, if she chose to, for high school or college. But I soon realized this was hampering the actual act of learning. Checking off boxes of completion for subjects from textbook quizzes was grueling and making my daughter hate schoolwork. When I loosened the reigns and let her drive the subject matter, things began to really shift. We had moments of pure joy while learning! She began to light up. She started asking questions, making observations, begging to read just a bit more of that great book we were reading. Learning about one thing would spark a new interest into learning something else. It became organic and the topics we were studying started to connect in almost magical ways. So, this is real learning, I thought! “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” ― Benjamin Franklin Then I had lunch with this friend who was talking about her daughter struggling through Geometry, Physics, English; pretty much every class subject. She has special tutors for each class and my friend spends every night helping her with hours of homework. They have basically built a scaffold around her that props her up and enables her to get through school. I had to ask… to what end? If the goal is to find joy and happiness how is pursuit of an out-of-reach education supporting that? The high school is focused on preparing kids for college acceptance, but my friend knows that her daughter won’t be able to keep up this pace of academics on her own in college. So, they are spending four years pushing this kid to a phantom goal. I must admit that during the conversation I started getting that old feeling of panic back from our early days of homeschooling. The worries that: my daughter is behind, my daughter will never be able to get into college, my daughter will never be able to get a job, she will never be independent. Wow. It’s so easy to get to that dark place. But then I remembered we are not on a typical path. We chose a different life. What is education if a child is not learning? I don’t know where my daughter will end up. No one knows how their children’s lives will unfold. What I do know is that my daughter is learning to be herself. She is learning to think her own thoughts, she’s learning to express her intellect, she is learning that learning for the sake of learning is the truest form of education. And that is the goal. P.S. for more homeschooling ideas, go to Blossom Learning. Poem of the month - Learning to Read by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper Learning to Read - By Frances Ellen Watkins Harper
Very soon the Yankee teachers Came down and set up school; But, oh! how the Rebs did hate it,-- It was agin’ their rule. Our masters always tried to hide Book learning from our eyes; Knowledge did’nt agree with slavery-- ’Twould make us all too wise. But some of us would try to steal A little from the book. And put the words together, And learn by hook or crook. I remember Uncle Caldwell, Who took pot liquor fat And greased the pages of his book, And hid it in his hat. And had his master ever seen The leaves upon his head, He’d have thought them greasy papers, But nothing to be read. And there was Mr. Turner’s Ben, Who heard the children spell, And picked the words right up by heart, And learned to read ’em well. Well, the Northern folks kept sending The Yankee teachers down; And they stood right up and helped us, Though Rebs did sneer and frown. And I longed to read my Bible, For precious words it said; But when I begun to learn it, Folks just shook their heads, And said there is no use trying, Oh! Chloe, you’re too late; But as I was rising sixty, I had no time to wait. So I got a pair of glasses, And straight to work I went, And never stopped till I could read The hymns and Testament. Then I got a little cabin A place to call my own-- And I felt independent As the queen upon her throne. Poetry is a wonderful way to explore ideas in your homeschool. Reading a poem with your child can be as simple as an excuse for reading practice or can expand into an expansive learning opportunity. In my homeschool this poem is another piece in our exploration into an attempt at understanding the African American experience. Here are some ideas on how you could use this poem to launch your own lesson exploration:
P.S. for more homeschooling ideas, go to Blossom Learning. Sow the seeds of learning...  Why is it that I spend every January dreaming of summer and every August longing for fall? Each winter, I receive a colorful Burpee Seed catalog in my mailbox. I spend days poring over the pages of that catalog, fantasizing about the perfect garden that will flourish in my yard later that year. In August, while I’m hiding from the heat in front of my loud portable air conditioner, my imagination starts to wander towards that first day of homeschooling fast approaching. Just like my dreams of sprouting seeds, I fantasize about what my daughter and I will learn in our home classroom this year. I look forward to our first day of school together like I did when I was a kid. Crisp fall days, school supplies perfectly lined up and ready, new books with uncracked spines, and the possibilities of learning something truly wonderful. The big question that parents ask is: how do I plan my homeschool curriculum? Well, there is no easy answer. I believe each child is an individual who deserves an educational plan designed just for them. No out-of-the-box solution is good enough. The plan for a child’s school year should start with that child. Over the years, I’ve built trust with my daughter by learning from my mistakes. I’ve planned elaborate projects and lessons that were duds in her opinion. So, I listened and adjusted. When she shows interest in a topic, I expand on it or take notes to remind me to pick it up the next year. I struggle with the reflex to follow what a “typical” school curriculum would be, but luckily my daughter usually whips me into shape by reminding me that this is her school and she’s anything but typical! Last month, she made a firm request to study mushrooms and fungi. So, for science this year, we will be diving into the world of Mycology. Last year, we decided to spend one afternoon a week focused on children’s book art. While attempting to paint the charming animals of Beatrix Potter, we found out that she was an under-appreciated Mycologist and had created an entire body of scientific illustrations. When I heard “mushrooms,” I immediately knew that Beatrix Potter and her art would serve as our guide. Imagine all the great mushrooms Oregon fall will provide. Can you see why I’m getting excited? Instead of dreading the first day of school, my daughter is asking when we can start. The seeds have been planted, and they are already starting to sprout. P.S. for more homeschooling ideas, go to Blossom Learning. THE END... OF THE SCHOOL YEAR  It seems like just yesterday it was September, and you were just beginning your homeschool adventure. Now it’s June, and it’s coming to an end. You look back and think about how quickly it’s gone by, but at the same time, it seems like you can barely remember what you’ve done all year. So, how do you capture and celebrate all the accomplishments and memories to fully honor your great work? Trip Down Memory Lane: When the school year is wrapping up, I like to sit with my daughter and talk about all the things we’ve learned. I remind her (and often she reminds me) of books we read, experiments we tried, trips we took, interesting people we met, and all our usual mishaps that happened along the way. I often use that time to give her feedback on her efforts during the year. Now that she’s in high school, I tell her the grades for each course that will go on her transcripts. I describe to her the growth I’ve seen in her, the improvements she’s made, and the talents she’s honed. I also ask her to think of ways she could improve on things she struggled with for next year and how I can help with that. We also use this time to brainstorm about activities for the next school year. Now that she’s getting older, she’s excited to give me requests for what she’d like to learn in the coming year and things she’d like to do. I keep a running list of notes for the next year to look at again in the summer when I’ll start my planning. Commemorate the Year with a Gift: When my daughter was in school, I would always pick her up on the last day with a gift in hand. It was very difficult in those days for her to get through the school year, so I always wanted to reward her with a present. Once we started homeschooling, I kept up the tradition but tried to stick to a theme related to our curriculum. One year, we studied Medieval Europe, and my daughter had designed her own family crest in her lesson book. For her end-of-the-year gift, I found her a wooden medieval shield. She spent the first few weeks of that summer sanding and then painting her shield with the amazing family crest she had designed. Another year, my daughter had spent a good portion of the year studying the history of China. We ended the year with a homemade Chinese banquet and a Chinese calligraphy set. Show and Tell: One of the downsides of homeschooling is missing that opportunity for your children to show off their work. I find, with my daughter, if she doesn’t have the incentive of someone else seeing her work, she’s less likely to do it completely and beautifully. So, have a party! End the year with a gathering of friends and family to show off and tell all about the amazing things you’ve learned throughout the school year. To make it extra fun, play off a theme from your studies to get everyone into it. It’s a great opportunity for your child to show what an expert they have become in what they learned. Make a Record: While everything is fresh in your mind, make a record of everything you did for the year and the resources you used! At some point, these records can turn into transcripts if you need them. But I find even by May, it’s difficult for me to remember what we did in October, so it makes things much easier to keep good records right away and collect all work for the year to be stored together in one place. Years from now, you’ll be happy you did. This is also a great time to look ahead and start the process of thinking about your next year’s plan. Take a Long Exhale: Take a breath! You did it. Instead of jumping into summer planning and that next cleaning project, take a break for yourself. If you can, treat yourself with something totally selfish! A day off with some of your friends, a day at home by yourself watching junk TV, or a moment to read something non-homeschool related. Homeschooling is wonderful and rewarding, but let’s face it; it can be exhausting as well. You will do better for your family if you get some self-care in there as well. Okay, I’m off to take my end-of-the-school-year bath now. I’ll try my best not to start fantasizing about lesson plans for next year… I’m not making any promises. Happy summer! P.S. If you’d like help with planning your next school year or writing transcripts for your high school student, contact me for support. Poem of the Month - Pan with Us by Robert Frost  My daughter and I read a poem together weekly and then discus it. Sometimes it even leads to a little research to figure out symbolism. Once in a while a poem will inspire my daughter to do some art in response. This week I wanted to find something that would invoke images of spring. So I looked through my collection of Robert Frost poetry and started skimming. When I saw the use of the word "bluet," I knew this was the perfect one to read. My daughter got pigeons to use in 4-H a few weeks ago and they are called "Bluette Satinettes." I was sure peak her interest when she heard it. Also, she's always loved the mythology of Pan and what could be more reminiscent of spring? We'll see if this sparks any drawing interest. Since she usually draws animals in human form, I'd love to see what she does with Pan's image! Enjoy this poem of the month for May and our beautiful sunny weather. Pan with Us Robert Frost, 1874 - 1963 Pan came out of the woods one day,— His skin and his hair and his eyes were gray, The gray of the moss of walls were they,— And stood in the sun and looked his fill At wooded valley and wooded hill. He stood in the zephyr, pipes in hand, On a height of naked pasture land; In all the country he did command He saw no smoke and he saw no roof. That was well! And he stamped a hoof. He heart knew peace, for none came here To this lean feeding save once a year Someone to salt the half-wild steer, Or homespun children with clicking pails Who see so little they tell no tales. He tossed his pipes, too hard to teach A new-world song, far out of reach, For a sylvan sign that the blue jay’s screech And the whimper of hawks beside the sun Were music enough for him, for one. Times were changed from what they were: Such pipes kept less of power to stir The fruited bough of the juniper And the fragile bluets clustered there Than the merest aimless breath of air. They were pipes of pagan mirth, And the world had found new terms of worth. He laid him down on the sun-burned earth And ravelled a flower and looked away— Play? Play?—What should he play? Brought to you by Blossom Learning -coaching for the homeschooling parent and child. If you'd like to explore ideas for creative lessons designed just for your child and their interests, come visit me at www.blossomlearning.weebly.com. Poem of the Month: If - by Rudyard Kipling  If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies, Or being hated, don’t give way to hating, And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise: If you can dream—and not make dreams your master; If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools: If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’ If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son! Brought to you by Blossom Learning -coaching for the homeschooling parent and child. If you'd like to explore ideas for creative lessons designed just for your child and their interests, come visit me at www.blossomlearning.weebly.com. Homeschooled: How American Homeschoolers Measure Up.
Failure to Launch  Starting when my daughter was only two years old, we got pressure from friends and family to get her into nursery school. Dutifully, we paid for a very expensive one-day-a-week program in our synagogue. It couldn't have been more baby-friendly. It was two hours of play with other children and sweet teachers. There was only one problem: my daughter didn't want to go. She cried every time I left her and continued to cry while I was gone. Everyone told me to be patient, "she'll get used to it, she'll be fine, it's good for her." We had the same experience in Kindergarten. In 1st Grade it turned into my daughter needing to be picked up at school several times per week. In 2nd Grade, it became daily torture to get her out the door and pushed into the classroom. This only escalated as she got older. It wasn't until my daughter was in 5th Grade that I started to question the societal pressure to keep sending her away. Why was I constantly trying to push her out of the nest? It's what looks "right" or "well-adjusted." We all know the stigma of the adult child living in the basement of their parents' house. What a loser! This is the image we automatically conjure up. The first year we homeschooled, my daughter joined 4-H. It was through her involvement over the last several years that we have come to know a few adults who are 4-H graduates. They are involved, in adult roles now, and offer such a great model for the kids and teens that look up to them. The interesting thing about them, is their unique relationships with their parents. Their parents are still there supporting them in really active ways. When my daughter is showing her animals and taking care of them at hot, dusty fair grounds, I'm helping take care of her. I help her with her supplies, get her water, and in general support her. Well, these parents of adult 4-H volunteers do exactly the same thing! I see them toting cages and books and food while their grown-up children work with the kids. Their relationships outside 4-H is the same, supportive and they are just as close as when they were young. At first, I had the typical societal reaction to this. I judged them as being a little sheltered or immature. But then, I watched these families interact and I started to see the beauty in it. It's not weird, it's wonderful. The relationships we have with our children are the most important and influential ones we have. Why should that change as they get older? Why should we push them away? I worry because we homeschool, that my daughter doesn't have as many opportunities to experience typical teenager relationships. Recently, we were talking about friendship. I was telling her that I always had a best friend growing up to talk to about anything. Someone I could rely on to always be there for me during tough times. She said, "just like us." Well, I don't care what anyone thinks... I don't know what could be better than that. This is the kind of thing that most parents can only dream of. I'm proud to be my daughter's best friend and I will go on supporting her no matter how old either of us are! Even if she wants to live in the basement. If you'd like to explore ideas for creative lessons designed just for your child and their interests, come visit me at www.blossomlearning.weebly.com. The Library... a Homeschooler's Best FREE Friend.  When I was a new homeschooling parent, I would take trips to the Library with an agenda like a research student. I had this fantasy that I would sit with a wise Librarian who would know just the right books I would need for every subject I was teaching. The reality was, it was more like a guy standing behind a counter looking through key word searches online in the Library system... just like I could do at home!
Soon after we started homeschooling, a new building went in next to our local Library. The parking lot was cut down to five spaces, two of which were marked Handicapped. So, we were forced out. We took our first trip to the neighborhood brand close to our home. I had previously written this branch off because of it's small size. I figured it wouldn't have as much to offer. I'm happy to say that I was proved wrong. As soon as we walked in, a kind woman asked what we were looking for. We told her and she proceeded to spend the next 45 minutes sitting with us, talking and asking questions, searching and mulling over just the right books to put on hold. It turns out she was a research Librarian for a University in her previous job and she LOVES research. This wonderful Librarian asked me if I had an Educator's card. A what? It turns out, that if you show written proof that you homeschool, you can apply for a special Library account that offers all kinds of great benefits. In our county, my Educator's card allows me to have no late fees, longer check outs, and endless holds from other Libraries. Every county is different, so I recommend asking your local branch. The other thing this amazing Librarian introduced me to, are all of the great online learning resources that are offered to us for free through my account. Here are just a few: InfoTrac Student Edition This periodical database is designed for high school students, with access to a variety of indexed and full-text magazines, newspapers and reference books. Novelist Plus Novelist will help you find a good book. The database provides readers’ advisory, read-alikes, and "What to Read Next?" information covering over 100,000 titles. Pronunciator Pronunciator is a language-learning service with 80 languages and 4,000 available courses. Learn how to speak a foreign language with the help of a variety of interactive techniques. Science in Context An in-depth, curriculum-oriented science database that provides a one-stop resource for all science-related research needs. The lesson to be learned? Search around for a great Librarian, not just a great Library, register for an Educator's Card, and start using all the FREE educational resources the Library offers. Oh, did I mention free Cultural Passes to Museums and Resources Centers? Okay, we're off to the Library now to pick up our books on the History of France. Later we'll do our French Lessons using the Pronunciator. As always, for homeschooling ideas go to Blossom Learning. Happy homeschooling!  Four Lessons in Learning to the Homeschooling Parent of a Special Needs Child. 1. Focus on your child’s strengths and interests. As parents of children with Special Needs or Learning Disabilities, we hear a lot about what our children can’t do. Although it is important that we are aware of their difficulties, it is essential that we not dwell in the “problem.” Children with Special Needs are not the problem: the problem is that traditional education is not flexible enough to embrace the strengths of these children to allow them to flourish. With homeschooling you have the luxury of customizing your child’s curriculum to their exact needs and interests. If your child loves learning about Space and is obsessed with NASA, center their subjects around that topic. Reading, Math, Spelling, Writing, and History can all revolve around the topic of Space and not just Science. If you have a child with a learning challenge that makes it difficult to read; use videos, games, documentaries, audiobooks, and field trips to bring subjects to life. You do not have to recreate the traditional school structure at home. Leave that behind, think out of the box… because I would bet, that’s what your child is doing! 2. Show your child’s progress, not their progress compared to other children. School is set up to judge children’s progress based on their grade and how they compare to each other. Homeschooling is all about your child and their progress, alone. When setting academic goals, try to erase what you know of traditional school. Really focus on your child and the goals that are meaningful to your family. Each skill can be treated as a discreate object. For example: your child may be an avid reader and fly through a novel in one day, but at the same time can struggle with the most basic math skills. Progress in reading could be to take basic technical reading to the next level and focus on comprehending complex themes and expressing original ideas based on the material. For Math it may be a real accomplishment to learn how to use a calculator as a useful tool instead of drilling memorization. Or for your child: progress might be getting through one afternoon without an outburst or setting a record by sitting for 20 minutes at the table for school. The most important thing to remember is your child should only be compared to themselves, NOT others. 3. Give your child the tools they will need to be successful. If they can’t hold math facts, don’t keep hitting them over the head with flashcards: hand them a calculator. Parents worry how their children with special needs will function well in the world as adults. We as adults function better every day with the use of computers. Make that tool your child’s friend by teaching them how to use it most effectively. If they experience anxiety or stress in social situations, safe online communities might be a great way for them to make friends remotely. Give your child the gift of life skills. Instead of stressing academic facts, engage your child with real-life activities that will help prepare them for their future. Think about starting a local Facebook group to attract other homeschoolers that would like to participate in some fun life skills meet-ups. Get a group of kids together to plan a meal. Give them a budget and have them make shopping lists. Taking a group of kids to the grocery store and then making a meal together can be a great learning experience and a wonderful opportunity to make new friends. 4. When in conflict, choose the relationship over academic gains. Trust is the key! Reach out to your child by entering their world. I had a client whose son was Autistic and struggling with sensory over-load from a recent school experience. During his de-schooling phase, he retreated to a large refrigerator box where he had created a small, safe world for himself. I suggested his mom get into his box with him and just hang out. The results were amazing. He made a special comfy space for her to snuggle with him in his box. They spent time in it together chatting and laughing. Soon he was telling her stories from his time at school and sharing some hurts he had experienced. After that, he trusted her enough to enter her world a bit. A safe learning space she was creating just for him. He learned that his mom was a kind and patient teacher who would listen to his needs and bring lessons to him in a way that worked just for him. I can’t say enough about the value of the relationship between parent and homeschooling child. It’s the difference between constant arguments and successful, joyful learning. At the end of a long homeschooling day the true accomplishment is the love between you and your child. Blossom Learning -coaching for the homeschooling parent and child. If you'd like to explore ideas for creative lessons designed just for your child and their interests, come visit me at www.blossomlearning.weebly.com.  My daughter and I are reading I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by, Maya Angelou together. We're loving it so much I though I'd throw in some poetry by Maya as well. I love A Brave and Startling Truth for it's anthem-like call. It reveals the ugly truths of human kind but then cushions the blows with the beauty and love that people can show to each other. Even though it was written in 1995 it's amazing how absolutely relevant it is today! Here is a wonderful recording of Angelou reciting A Brave and Startling Truth to the United Nations. A Brave and Startling Truth - Poem by Maya Angelou We, this people, on a small and lonely planet Traveling through casual space Past aloof stars, across the way of indifferent suns To a destination where all signs tell us It is possible and imperative that we learn A brave and startling truth And when we come to it To the day of peacemaking When we release our fingers From fists of hostility And allow the pure air to cool our palms When we come to it When the curtain falls on the minstrel show of hate And faces sooted with scorn are scrubbed clean When battlefields and coliseum No longer rake our unique and particular sons and daughters Up with the bruised and bloody grass To lie in identical plots in foreign soil When the rapacious storming of the churches The screaming racket in the temples have ceased When the pennants are waving gaily When the banners of the world tremble Stoutly in the good, clean breeze When we come to it When we let the rifles fall from our shoulders And children dress their dolls in flags of truce When land mines of death have been removed And the aged can walk into evenings of peace When religious ritual is not perfumed By the incense of burning flesh And childhood dreams are not kicked awake By nightmares of abuse When we come to it Then we will confess that not the Pyramids With their stones set in mysterious perfection Nor the Gardens of Babylon Hanging as eternal beauty In our collective memory Not the Grand Canyon Kindled into delicious color By Western sunsets Nor the Danube, flowing its blue soul into Europe Not the sacred peak of Mount Fuji Stretching to the Rising Sun Neither Father Amazon nor Mother Mississippi who, without favor, Nurture all creatures in the depths and on the shores These are not the only wonders of the world When we come to it We, this people, on this minuscule and kithless globe Who reach daily for the bomb, the blade and the dagger Yet who petition in the dark for tokens of peace We, this people on this mote of matter In whose mouths abide cankerous words Which challenge our very existence Yet out of those same mouths Come songs of such exquisite sweetness That the heart falters in its labor And the body is quieted into awe We, this people, on this small and drifting planet Whose hands can strike with such abandon That in a twinkling, life is sapped from the living Yet those same hands can touch with such healing, irresistible tenderness That the haughty neck is happy to bow And the proud back is glad to bend Out of such chaos, of such contradiction We learn that we are neither devils nor divines When we come to it We, this people, on this wayward, floating body Created on this earth, of this earth Have the power to fashion for this earth A climate where every man and every woman Can live freely without sanctimonious piety Without crippling fear When we come to it We must confess that we are the possible We are the miraculous, the true wonder of this world That is when, and only when We come to it. If you'd like to explore ideas for creative lessons designed just for your child and their interests, come visit me at www.blossomlearning.weebly.com. |
