Inclusive Homeschool

One of the best videos I’ve seen on consumption and the impact it has on the environment and the world by Annie Leonard, http://www.storyofstuff.com

A description from their website:

The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns, with a special focus on the United States. All the stuff in our lives, beginning from the extraction of the resources to make it, through its production, sale, use and disposal, affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues and calls for all of us to create a more sustainable and just world.

I loved it. The fast pace is not initiated by tons of flashy images and a string of 20 second sound bytes. It’s strength comes from the veracity of the facts and statistics and the passion of Annie Leonard. It’s obvious how she leans politically, but since I lean in the same direction, I’m fine with it.

Regardless your political beliefs, the truth Annie Leonard shares about how our consumption is affecting the planet and everyone in it is invaluable. Our rampant consumerism affects everyone…and in the end, without prejudice.

More information about Annie Leonard from her bio on the website:

Annie Leonard is an expert in international sustainability and environmental health issues, with more than 20 years of experience investigating factories and dumps around the world. Coordinator of the Funders Workgroup for Sustainable Production and Consumption, a funder collaborative working for a sustainable and just world, Annie communicates worldwide about the impact of consumerism and materialism on global economies and international health.

With Annie’s first hand experience of witnessing the impact of our consumer driven society, I think Annie has plenty of room to be as passionate and direct as she is in her advocacy.

You know, much is made of “living books” in the homeschool movement, authors who write books on topics they are passionate about. I believe this is a “living video”, as the person with the passion for this subject is the one standing in front of the camera and not a narrator. It definitely comes across.

There are free downloadable pdf files - tips, invitations, taking action, group activities, discussion guides and posters to help facilitate a screening of the movie (which you can download for free, btw). The discussion and group activities pdf files make this a great homeschool resource for use in the home or in co-ops.

This movie is thought provoking and well worth watching. When Brhiannon comes home from her dad’s, we’ll be sure to watch this together and go over some of the discussion questions and activities.

Highly recommended.

Tags: environment, free resources, lesson plans, movies, Resources, Reviews-Movies, Science, sustainability, unit studies

Well, I haven’t posted here since the 28th of February. I’ve been busy dealing with other aspects of my life outside of homeschooling, things that demanded my advocacy and investigator skills - immediately.

You know, I’d love to be able to just be a stay at home mom and homeschool my kid. In all my years of activism, I’d have to say that homeschooling my child has been the most radical activism and the most rewarding I have ever engaged in.

But I’m a single mom, and I need to support myself and my child. And I have family, one in particular, my older brother, who is very vulnerable and needs me to be his advocate. And then there’s my dear friend who is dealing with a serious health issue and grandchildren, and adult children I want to find time for.

Survival takes a big chunk out of my time. That and advocacy and care giving.

Still, Brhiannon takes up the majority of my time, so when reality tosses some things your way that absolutely has to be tended to, you just do what you have to do.

It means less sleep for me and the amount I do get is interrupted in the middle of the night, when I just suddenly find my eyes have opened as if they had a mind of their own.

I’m learning to be protective of my time with my daughter. It’s so easy to have her time encroached upon by the urgent needs of others. That happened all the time with my two oldest, and then one day, I turned around and they had grown up and moved away.

I am more mindful of not letting that happen with my youngest.

I think, especially, when you’re a single parent, that you have to be even more vigilant against encroachment. So easy to put things off - whether it’s lessons or field trips. No where is it more important to be able to draw boundaries, to find a balance between service to others and service to yourself.

Because even in making Brhiannon my priority, which she is, I need to, also, take care of myself. Because when I am exhausted, I can’t teach her. Maybe I can meet barebones requirement, but that’s not why I’m homeschooling.

And I know you’ve heard this a million times, but they do grow fast. Problems will be there after your child has grown, but your child won’t - even if they stay in your life. For though they will always be your baby in your mind and heart, standing before you will be an adult never to be that child to you again.

Grandchildren will never take your children’s place. And they shouldn’t. So this is your one shot. They have a place that is beautiful and joyous all of their own. What you have with your child is what you have with your child and it’s only for a very short time.

It’s part of the reason we homeschool. Don’t let other things, even the important ones, cause you to sacrifice that.

Find what works for you, but make sure what works doesn’t cost you more than you’re willing to pay.

Tags: grandchildren, self-care, single mom