Renegrademothering.com- therapy during holiday stress

I am having trouble staying asleep tonight. I feel holiday stress, when researching holiday stress, stress and cancer, what causes holiday stress, etc. I found the website renegrademothering.com. I laughed to myself really hard, quietly though since I am holding up my sick son who is breathing heavily. I regret now having him sing at the senior home, I regret not pulling him out of school the last week of school, I regret not giving him more vitamin c! Being a mom, teacher, caregiver causes intense worry, fully, regret, etc. How can I laugh more, judge less, create fun, not perfection?

Our tradition- carousel in Tilden park, Berkeley, ca

One of my son’s winter holiday traditions is to go to Tilden park’s carousel. Tonight is the last open night before Christmas! They are open until 8:30pm tonight! Tonight is the last night before Christmas! We have been going to this winter wonderland carousel since my child was really small!

Visit Christmas exhibit in el cerrito

Years ago, a man named Sundar Chadi created a holiday exhibit for his neighbors. He was a Shikh! This holiday display is at 7501 Mser Lane in El Cerrito, CA.

Highly Recommended multi sensory reading support in Walnut Creek, CA- Active Reading Center

My son tutored at the Active Reading Center for two amazing years and I highly recommend the multi sensory program they provide! Active Reading Center 25 Hillcroft Way Walnut Creek, CA 94597 (925) 944-5559 activereadingcenter.org

Barton Reading Program is a great tutoring system for children, teenagers, or adults who struggle with spelling, reading and writing due to dyslexia or a learning disability

The Barton system has the following qualities: *Orton-Gillingham influenced *Research and Evidence based *intense intervention *Approved by the California, Colorado, and Arkansas Boards of Education *Meets all requirements of No Child Left Behind *Supports Common Core *Created by Susan Barton bartonreading.com (watch the demo) 2059 Camden Ave. Suite 186 San Jose, CA. 95124 Main Office 800-1199 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC V6E 3T5 Okanagan Office 2193 Essen Rd. West Kelowna, BC. V1Z 1V2

Alphabet Rockers

See utube channel for Alphabet Rockers!

Happy Halloween from Hootenany at the Berkeley Plaza.

We are at Hootenany at the Berkeley Plaza.  There is Bluegrass music, and we are having sandwiches from Paris Baguette in the Plaza. Our friends are eating Chipotle.

Trunk or Treat

Trunk or Treaters go from trunk to trunk in the church parking lot collecting candy, playing games, and having fun!  

Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church

10 Moraga Valley Lane

Moraga, CA

94556

Messy Messie’s Studio in Crockett, CA- classes for children

Vanessa Eskildsen and Tianna Hazard are Co-owners if Messy Nessie’s Studio in Crockett, CA.  The schedule of classes in online.
Messy Nessie’s Studio
628 2nd Avenue
suite 203
Crockett, CA
94525
(510) 455-9014
Hello@messynessies.com

Recommended nutrition books for children, The Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon Morell

I was first introduced to Nourishing Traditions when my son was at a Sweet Pea program at East Bay Waldorf in El Sobrante, CA.

Both Nourishing Traditions as well as The Nourishing Traditions Book Of Baby & Child Care are written by Sally Fallon Morell and Thomas . Cowan, MD.

Suzuki Violin School

My son started doing the Suzuki style violin program when he was five years old at the Crowden School Of Music in Berkeley, CA.  He did two classes a week, one group lesson and one individual lesson.

We took a break for about a year and a half.  I found a great teacher this past summer and now we are taking violin and piano.  We are reviewing book one Again.


Suzuki Violin School
 Volume 1, book only 00-0144s
Book and CD, 00-28261
CD only, 00-28260
Alfred.com

What is worldschooling?

“Experience, travel - these are as education in themselves.”  Euripides

I homeschooled my son for 5 years.  He is now back in school.  It is most homeschooler parents dream to do worldschooling.

What is worldschooling?  Worldschooling is the combination of education and travel.  There are many ways to be a world schooler and every family that chooses to worldschool will find their own approach.  What worldschoolers do have in common is their unique mindset in regards to life and education.

Check out kid world citizen.org for more information about worldschoing.

Recommended online math- zearn.com

a recommended math website is zearn.com.

Oakland Zoo Moon Festival in Oakland, CA

We are at the Oakland Zoo, they are having a moon festival today!

Movie Review- Captain Fantastic

In Captain Fantastic, Ben Cash, (Viggip Mortensen) raises his six kids in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest. Cash has created an exacting and exhilarating curriculum that aims to not simply educate them, but to teach them to become virtuous and open minded citizens of the world.

Citizens Of The World is a book  that captured the  spirit of independent thinking that led Ben Cash to want to want to homeschool his family.

A recommended book inspired by the movie is James W. Loewem’s 1996 Lies My Teacher Told Me : Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong.

Movie recommendation: Stand and Deliver (1988)

This is a phenomenal movie for teachers this time of year!  September always reminds me of newly sharpened pencils and fresh roasted coffee in those early September cool mornings!  My favorite quote from Stand And Deliver are the following:

“I’m going to teach you algebra because I’m a champion.” (I love the confidence!)

saddle mountain ranch campground in Carmel Valley, CA

The Saddle  Mountain Ranch is in the Carmel Valley.  There is a tent area where cars aren’t allowed, it is close enough to parking lot to unload easily but safe for children and pets to run around.  It is very dog friendly!  There are not very many bathrooms considering the amount of people staying there. There are hiking trails.  A grill and picnic table is included but wood fires are not allowed.  There are community gas fire pits.  There is a library of games such as monopoly.

By Meghan Lisicich

Mo, a true story, read this wonderful story about my dog, by William

Mo is my dog, he is a nice dog, he likes to take walks, and I do too!  He also likes to run around in fields.  Sometimes I get worried about Mo running around in fields!  But it's always OK!  Mo has white fur, and he is fast!  He likes food, and he gobbles it down very fast!  Mo likes pillows, he likes to lay down on them.  Mo is very funny sometimes.  His favorite food is chicken apple sausage.  Mo is very, very nice!  I love him very much!

Catahoula coffee, Berkeley, cA

Catahoula coffee is super dog friendly with a wonderful patio, and friendly dogs with their families.  The book, Little Big Steps was written here.  It is about Arash Bayatmakou’s life-changing journey and his inspirational to overcome the odds!

Catahoula coffee
2080 4th Street
Berkeley, CA

Dog Friendly Restourant in Brentwood, CA- BJ's Brewhouse

BJ's in Brentwood, CA is super dog friendly, they even let you take your friendly dog inside the restaurant! My dog loved it! This is a family friendly chain, and serves familiar pub fare with an extensive list of house brews. Resources: BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse 2365 Sand Creek Brentwood, CA 94513

Best breakfast in Rockridge, cA

my son’s favorite breakfast place in Rockridge is the rockridge cafe on college ave!

Christmas Revels at the Scottish Rite Center

The Christmas Revels at the Scottish RiteCenter in Oakland, Ca has been a family tradition for my son and I for years. this year was extra fun as my son had a friend who was actually in the show! Because of our inside connection, we got to see the set being built, and we helped take down the set and even got invited to the cast party.

Cursive Workbook Recommendation

My son is really enjoying the Carson Dellosa Traditional Cursive book. He likes that it starts easy enough for beginners. Also, it ends with a child writing full paragraphs! Resources: Traditional Cursive Carson Dellosa by Suzanne Lowe Wilke Carson-Dellosa Publishing LLC PO Box 35665 Greensboro, NC 27425 ISBN 978-0-88012-826-1