A young girl came to my front door this morning. She couldn't have been more than eight years old--a cute little thing. She said she was a runaway slave and had seen the lantern on my hitching post. Was this a safe house?
Yes, it was.
She asked if she could stay a bit and get warm and rested. I invited her in, of course. Poor thing was breathless and shivering from cold and fright. Two big tracking dogs had been close on her heels.
She looked so bewildered and lost, and I suggested that perhaps learning to read and write would help her on her journey. I directed her into the living room to the makeshift school table and bade her look in my own daughter's Kitty Folder for a page of copywork. Pencils were already on the table. That would get her started.
Follow the Kitty Folder
Follow the Kitty Folder
For a page of copywork will help you read and write
If you follow the Kitty Folder
The little girl beamed and set about her work.
------------
If you haven't already guessed it, we enjoyed studying the Underground Railroad today and learning the traditional folk song, "Follow the Drinking Gourd." When Elli went outside for her break, she began to act out what she had learned, and brought it back to the house with her, hoping I would play along. She loves it when I do. Here are the links we used in our study:
National Geographic -- The Underground Railroad (an interactive simulated journey from plantation to freedom--very well done)
The Big Dipper, As Seen Through Other Cultures (a fun interactive look at the constellation, as it has been viewed in other times and places)
An overview of the meaning of the song and its lyrics
Teacher Tube -- Underground Railroad (an eight minute video overview)
Some guy singing the song with a guitar (a three minute video)
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Friday, September 26, 2008
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Least Favorite Subject So Far
You would think the boy was being asked to pull his own teeth or clean his room or something, the way he sulks every time I mention our composer study. We got to it finally today, in the form of reading the first part of a short biography and then listening to a piece of music. Our composer for this term is Johann Sebastian Bach, and the first piece we are studying is "Magnificat in D."
He tolerated the reading of the biography well enough, as this first section included a juicy story of how Bach was raised by his tyrannical older brother after both of his parents died, and how he had to sneak challenging sheet music in the middle of the night and hand-copy it by the light of the moon so his brother didn't catch him with it. The kids both love a good story, so they were intrigued, especially when the evil older brother found the boy's work and confiscated it, leaving young Bach to rely on his memory.
But when I said I was going to play the music while I made lunch and I wanted them both to listen to it, he protested vigorously. He wanted to read. He wanted to nap. He wanted to crawl under a rock and not come out until the twenty-minute playing time was over.
I told him he was welcome to read, that the music wouldn't be a distraction. He disappeared into his room to read. I dragged him back out to the living room where he could hear it.
He said he wasn't against studying music, but would much rather study someone likeThousand Foot Krutch, one of his favorite bands.
I told him that I would be happy to study TFK, as soon as their music has proven to still be culturally relevant and significant after 250 years, as Bach's has. He groaned and made a fledgling attempt at rolling his eyes.
His younger sister wrinkled up her nose and cocked her head to one side in confusion, "But we will be dead by then!"
Another low groan arose from the boy, this one in response to the little sister who still doesn't catch good sarcasm.
I personally think it is a part of a well-rounded education and don't plan to back down, but my son is digging in early for a good long fight.
It will be interesting to see how long it takes for him to gain at least a grudging respect for this music and that of the other composers we will be studying.
He tolerated the reading of the biography well enough, as this first section included a juicy story of how Bach was raised by his tyrannical older brother after both of his parents died, and how he had to sneak challenging sheet music in the middle of the night and hand-copy it by the light of the moon so his brother didn't catch him with it. The kids both love a good story, so they were intrigued, especially when the evil older brother found the boy's work and confiscated it, leaving young Bach to rely on his memory.
But when I said I was going to play the music while I made lunch and I wanted them both to listen to it, he protested vigorously. He wanted to read. He wanted to nap. He wanted to crawl under a rock and not come out until the twenty-minute playing time was over.
I told him he was welcome to read, that the music wouldn't be a distraction. He disappeared into his room to read. I dragged him back out to the living room where he could hear it.
He said he wasn't against studying music, but would much rather study someone likeThousand Foot Krutch, one of his favorite bands.
I told him that I would be happy to study TFK, as soon as their music has proven to still be culturally relevant and significant after 250 years, as Bach's has. He groaned and made a fledgling attempt at rolling his eyes.
His younger sister wrinkled up her nose and cocked her head to one side in confusion, "But we will be dead by then!"
Another low groan arose from the boy, this one in response to the little sister who still doesn't catch good sarcasm.
I personally think it is a part of a well-rounded education and don't plan to back down, but my son is digging in early for a good long fight.
It will be interesting to see how long it takes for him to gain at least a grudging respect for this music and that of the other composers we will be studying.
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