Learning to do advanced geometry

One of the beautiful things about home education is that I get to learn stuff alongside my kids. 

Seriously, I think back to when I was in high school and learning Algebra and Geometry.  Well, "learning" might be a bit of an exaggeration. 

I showed up. I kind of did what I was told to do. I parroted answers that I had stored for the moment when I'd have to regurgitate them and quickly forgot what I had been "taught."  Besides, I was busy learning the things I wanted to learn.  I read voraciously. I taught myself to write.

It wasn't until I started researching homeschooling that I began to see where my own education had broken down. I was never taught how to think.

In fact, although I did well in Geometry (because I was a visual learner, a term which I'm sure my teachers back in the late 60's and 70's had never even heard of) I never quite understood Algebra.  It wasn't until I had to teach my own kids that I learned how to even do Algebra. 

Painful Flashback Memory:  I got a "D" in Algebra my freshman year of high school from Mrs. Gremmer, bless her heart.  It was a gift, really, because I think she felt sorry for me because I was trying so hard and maybe because I kissed up to her just a little, but that's not important right now. All that to say this: I just didn't get it and nobody cared.

So now I'm learning right along with them. And I couldn't be more delighted. I feel like I can learn anything. (Italian is next on my list. =D)

We're the type of family that has a dictionary at the dinner table at all times to contest a word or a spelling or a meaning of something.  (It's a lot more fun in real life than what I'm making it sound like here....) 

I once mentioned that one of the church worship leaders had a quavery voice and Eric challenged, so out came the dictionary which of course proved me correct.  =D

qua•ver (noun)
A shake or tremble in a person's voice.
Derivative: qua•ver•y (adjective)

So this week when I had some leftover picadillo and was going to make a combination emapanada/samosa, I looked to geometry to help me solve the problem.  (I know. Shut up. Go figure!)

I call them Empanadosas.

Just to prove that yes, you can use the things I'm teaching in real life. =D

I'm challenging you to do some Advanced Geometry to make these Empanadosas. 
Following this chart (which I created with Amy 's help):

Thanks Amy Kikita for your invaluable help.  The recipe is over at Babalú blog today. (I hope you're impressed.)

The truth is that this is really more my speed:  =D