For those of you who are absolutely nuts about lists (like me), you can check out my previous posts for 2009 in the list department. They are at the bottom. If you are just tuning in, you may get the impression I'm crazy. You would be right. Lists are my thing. I love them. It's a love-hate thing, though. I've heard that if you set your expectations too high, it only leads to depression when you can't accomplish your goals. This doesn't seem to stop me. I do it anyway. The baby has helped me to be a bit more realistic, however. I gave up hoping to be perfect at least. Now I just struggle to…
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Sprittibee
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May, June... and The To-Do List Saga
1 Jul 2009 | 9:56 pm -
Blog Foolery
30 Jun 2009 | 9:32 pmFOTOSThe photo above and the photo I added to yesterday's blog post was from the camera on my iPhone. Pretty groovy, hu? (By the way, if you were wondering what that crazy baby's shirt says? "Don't be FOOLED by my SIZE". It's Old Navy. Ridiculously cute. Couldn't resist the bee!) I have been neglecting the Canon lately because the iPhone is attached to my palm as if by super-glue. It's rather handy as a camera, I have found. But it makes me want to get out and take some REAL photos... in November when it cools off. Dratted Texas summers really are a killjoy when it comes to photography. I… -
Bloggin' Live From the Convention
27 Jun 2009 | 7:10 amThis is my first attempt at an iPhone post. Brought to you straight from the nursing room at the Austin CHEACT Book Fair. I'm about to go in to hear Jessica Hulcy's son talk about how he's greatful to his parents for going that last mile to finish what they started. It is so easy to understand why homeschoolers give up when the kids get in high school! Not to mention why moms get burned out half way in to the journey of home education. Kind of like how this little peck and poke keyboard is burning me out half way through this post...But I digress...... And abuse elipses. Sorry.I better take… -
Third and Fourth Grade Learning Enrichment (& Summer Activites)
25 Jun 2009 | 1:33 pmEvery year, I keep a record of our homeschool journey here. Click the 'homeschool' link in my sidebar for more information if you are interested. You can use the ideas in this list for rainy days, to beat summer boredome, or to add to your school year as extra curricular activites. Or you could just do them in your free time with the kids and have fun.Below is a list of fun ideas we used as part of our learning enrichment for Grades 3 and 4. We did all these things while homeschooling during the 2006-7 school year. They were NOT a part of my curriculum (at least not scheduled for the units we… -
Free Wedding Photography and Happily Ever After
22 Jun 2009 | 11:06 pmCousin Kristen tied the knot this weekend. She looked like an angel. Of course, she didn't have to try hard, because she truly is one of the sweetest people I have ever met. I love being invited to weddings... especially weddings of those whom I know well enough to not appear crazy for taking photos. Because I am going to take photos. Just sayin'.Kristen never stopped smiling yesterday. I took over 400 pictures and never caught her without a glow and a shiny smile. I loved seeing her and her sweetheart - now husband - steal glances at each other. The other hundred or two hundred people might…
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Melissa Wiley
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Pink and Orange
1 Jul 2009 | 10:04 amThis is not an ordinary week. My big kids are off adventuring with their grandparents and cousin. The little ones and I are keeping busy at home—really at home because Scott’s car engine blew out on his way home Monday. He’s got the minivan for the week. We’ve got this. Sometimes I really think the backyard is the nicest place to be. -
Twitterlog 2009-06-29
29 Jun 2009 | 5:49 pmI could kiss the guy who invented the rotisserie chicken. Except he was probably some hairy, unwashed caveman fella, so, um, maybe not. # Um, but, but, WHY??? http://bit.ly/SfBvx # Matthew Lickona’s ALPHONSE may be the creepiest thing I’ve ever read. I mean that as a compliment. http://www.alphonsecomic.com # Baby is singing to me. OK, maybe it’s more like gargling. But still adorable. # Yup, she’s my kid all right: “Mommy, I want some pizza crustses.” # Boy, these farming games sure are good for math practice. Harvest Moon, Farmville, Farm Town. My kids… -
Links for June 27, 2009
27 Jun 2009 | 8:31 pmPrairie dogs return to Md. Zoo - baltimoresun.com - “It took just 10 minutes for a dozen prairie dogs to outwit the creators of the Maryland Zoo’s new $500,000 habitat.” Jezebel - Little Women : The Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves - little women - As websites go, Jezebel is not my cuppa. But I do like Lizzie Skurnick’s FINE LINES column about the novels that made an impression on her as a kid. This week’s column is on Little Women, and while I disagree with the bit about Meg “fading to domestic obscurity,” I really enjoyed this piece. Gameplay… -
Guernsey Literary Society Open Thread
26 Jun 2009 | 9:11 amWhy didn’t I think of this before? The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Schaffer and Annie Barrows. Have you read it? Let’s discuss! If you haven’t read it yet, be warned: there may be plot spoilers in the comments below. Hurry up and read it so you can come chat with us here! All those marvelous personalities. Who was your favorite? -
And Also? I Like Pie.
25 Jun 2009 | 8:49 pmWell, June’s just whizzing past, isn’t it? I must have picked about thirty tomatoes this afternoon. And that’s not counting the ones I harvested at Farm Town. A moment to hold: standing in the kitchen with Rose, eating sunwarmed tomatoes with fresh basil and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar, while Rilla practiced snipping stray basil leaves. A book I really enjoyed: the one Scott stole from me the other day, Shannon Hale’s The Actor and the Housewife. He finished it quickly and I got my turn. It’s a unique sort of book; I’ve never read anything like it—and…
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SpunkyHomeSchool
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School's out for the summer
2 Jul 2009 | 4:57 amSorry for the light blogging. We're trying to enjoy what little summer we get here in Michigan and to soak it all in. The cloudy days of winter arrive all too quickly for us.But not all parents appear as excited that schools out. Due to major funding cutbacks summer school has been closed for many kids, leaving parents to figure out what to do with them all day.“We’re working with her at -
Homeschooling in Real Life
20 Jun 2009 | 8:51 amThanks to the internet we don't need a major network to show the realities of homeschooling we're doing it every day one blog at a time. Every entertaining and informative post sends a ripple of hope to others that homeschooling can become a reality for them too.Here's a few homeschool families sharing their lives for all the world to see:Kimberly at RaisingOlives adds a little homeschool -
Homeschool Reality Show
19 Jun 2009 | 12:55 pmI found the following request in my inbox today, slightly editted to remove the network and series name (sorry no free PR for this one). Are you a home learner? Then (network name) would like to hear from you. (Network name's) award-winning documentary series, (“name of series" ) is producing a new episode about young people who are homeschooled. We’re looking for people who want to tell -
The New Homeschool Profile
18 Jun 2009 | 3:00 amIn support of a new proposal tightening regulations of British homeschoolers, the Daily Mail suggests they are necessary to protect children from abuse that would likely be detected if they were not schooled at home. The article begins with a very tragic story of abuse by a homeschool family and then states, "My point, of course, is not to suggest that all home-schoolers are abusers. But it is -
A "Common Standard" for Homeschoolers?
17 Jun 2009 | 9:32 amPresident Obama is justifying the violation of the Constitution and the take over of education by declaring that it is "inexcusable" for the United States to have 50 standards for education. Today's system of 50 different sets of benchmarks for academic success means 4th grade readers in Mississippi are scoring nearly 70 points lower than students in Wyoming -- and they're getting the same grade
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Why Homeschool
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The Carnival of Homeschooling is up
30 Jun 2009 | 6:56 amSherene is hosting this week's Carnival of Homeschooling at the Norfolk Homeschooling Examiner. She broke the carnival up into six posts:Part 1, "The lazy days of summer"Part 2, "To unschool or not"Part 3 , "This is the homeschool life"Part 4, "Books, books and more books"Part 5, "Crafty Homescholers"Part 6, "Online Resources" ----------Technorati tagshomeschoolinghomeschoolhomeschoolhomeeducationparentingchildreneducationCarnival of Homeschooling -
Working our children through summer
29 Jun 2009 | 4:24 pmToday I started a new summer tradition for our family. Before leaving for work I give each girl a short list of outside chores to be done during the day. (Janine is pretty much in charge of what happens inside the house.)About two out of three Saturdays I'll take the girls out into our yard and we'll work together. We'll pull weeds, trim trees, mow the lawns, garden, rake and so on. I am happy to work with my daughters for several reasons: It builds our relationships. They develop a strong work ethic. And I don't have to do all the yard work!I have a goal to do several family outings this… -
Another milestone!
29 Jun 2009 | 8:59 amBlogger says this is our 3000th post!We've been blogging for almost four years now. It has been a fun ride, though it is a bit of work.----------Technorati tagsblogging -
Long walks and how to start a task
29 Jun 2009 | 8:21 amThe following two are from Dan Galvin's Thought For The Day mailing list:I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.-Noel CowardAs Mary Poppins says, well begun is half done:It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.-William James, psychologist and philosopher (1842-1910)----------Technorati tagslongwalksattitudedifficulttask -
Interesting thoughts about the importance of writing
29 Jun 2009 | 7:50 amI'm working my way through History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon via DailyLit. If you've been meaning to read an old classic, but haven't been able to find time, give DailyLit a chance. I like getting snippets in my email. I will always make time to read another page.The Wikipedia entry on the book has:---------It stands as a major literary achievement of the 18th century because it was adopted as a model for the methodologies of modern historians. This led to Gibbon being called the first modern historian of Ancient Rome.---------The 117 installment (of 264)…
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AtypicaLife dot net
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Out of order
2 Jul 2009 | 9:27 amLook at that! The storyline here is becoming all out of order, episodes are mixed up, network negotiations are at a standstill, and I think there’s a writer’s strike. Oh wait, it’s just me and my blog. But what’s a gal to do? An Upcoming Features, that’s what. Spreading Grampy Around - our lovable family all gets together with the Toronto branch and heads out on a day trip where we go out to dinner, then try to covertly spread ashes in the ocean. Bonus scene: we reveal why we don’t give Addison crayons. Up at the movies - Mom and the girls go see… -
Quilty Fabricy bits
25 Jun 2009 | 5:30 amSeems weird to be right into quilting when the weather is getting increasingly hot out there. But I can hide in the living room, the Cave we call it, where it is still cool and blissfully dark. Oh, but I need a light for stitching. This quilt I kept having endless issues with. In an effort to use up some scraps, they were far too short for any speed strip piecing techniques. I would up spending more time fiddling with strips and ripping out seams than I did putting blocks together. I forged through until I got 16 blocks, then I stopped. It’s lap sized or wall hanging sized. It still… -
Minor tweaks
22 Jun 2009 | 8:13 amOver the weekend, I saw a LOT of family. (more in the next entry) Some of them complained - and rightly so - about the lack of latest Flickr photos in a prominent, above-the-fold area. Actually, it was more like “Where the heck did your pictures go? Sheesh, bring ‘em back will ya?” So I’ve tweaked the header just for you. I need to tweak it further, as I’ve never liked how the thumbnails link to just a small picture. I want it to go right to the Flickr page. EDIT: I updated the plugin, so now it does that! So click on any pics above. Anyway, we had a busy… -
May I always have time to quilt
13 Jun 2009 | 6:24 amMeaghan sorted my fabric for me. It’s not all my fabric: this pile is just the large pieces of quilting cottons, the ones I have plans for or need to be inspired by, or have to look at to check against another piece. The “in use” pile. Not to be confused with the container of just flannel, the large bin of scraps which may have large forgotten bits in it, and the other large container of knits and non-quilting type fabric. Oh, and the bin with in-progress projects that had to be put away for a while until I feel like working on them again. Meaghan’s making a quilt too. -
More weekend stuff.
7 Jun 2009 | 6:45 amI uploaded a bunch of pictures to my flickr. I seem to do them in batches. And I’m annoyed at ebay buyers. I sold a small pile of stuff, answered a HECK of a lot of questions about shipping (yes, I’ll combine) and then after they won, I sent combined shipping charges, no payment. I sent a reminder. No payment. If it was one person, that would make sense, but out of 4 buyers, two have neglected to pay after a week. Both for multiple items. One won two auctions, the other won 4. I may have to threaten them with neutral or even negative feedback. But! I sold an item on etsy! I was…
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Notes From A Homeschooling Mom
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Report on homeschooling
2 Jul 2009 | 9:36 pmHere's an interesting report on homeschooling. I notices some inacuracies or over generalizations especially in the comments below the video. comments from video "Home schooling is a growing force in the United States, where families opt out of the public education system in favour of parent-supervised study. The country's growing evangelical Christian communities are largely behind the growth, -
Did you know Micheal Jackson's kids are homeschooled
30 Jun 2009 | 9:51 amIt looks like they won't be allowed to continue.His father is professing that the kids will get "a proper education like they are supposed to". As homeschoolers we know that means public or private school and no more home education. That's interesting though because Joe Jackson did not get his kids a "proper education like kinds are supposed to have" considering he was dragging them all over -
Recent homeschooling articles
29 Jun 2009 | 8:58 amHere are some of the homeschooling articles I have written latelyHomeschool Q & A: Homeschooling for Senior Year in High Schoolby Andrea Hermitt22 Jun 2009 06:55 AMI recently received the following question by email: I am going to be a Senior in High School. I don't want to go back to high school because I am having a bad experience and I have had enough.Homeschool Cash: Can homeschooling be -
My comments on Ramifications of Homeschooling
28 Jun 2009 | 10:03 pmMy comments on Ramifications of HomeschoolingCommentary on video in question:... Playing with other children, Engaging aspects of childhood was something we were unable to do because of lack of seeing children outside of their families. Homeschooled kids face the same consequences. A child who hasn't effectively learned how to deal with childhood conflicts cannot deal with adult conflicts. A -
Homeschool Curriculum review: Educator.com
26 Jun 2009 | 8:27 amI was blessed to discover this new online curriculum that teaches via video web instruction from some of the brightest minds in the country. For anyone with students looking for AP instruction, you really need to check this out.Students will be able to learn all maths, including Calculus AB, and Calculus BC. They will also learn chemistry and other science topics.Read the my full review at
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PHAT Mommy
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Homeschool Blogs, Links & Giveaways
1 Jul 2009 | 5:21 amTime for some homeschool links! I have a guest post up at blogs.com listing the Top 10 Homeschooling Blogs. I listed some of my favorites, but I’d love to hear about yours. Leave me a comment with the URL of your favorite homeschool blogs. Now, let’s talk giveaways. Journey2Learn has a 2009 Schoolhouse Planner~Review & Give Away. This planner looks pretty amazing, with 375 pages of forms, resources, and even recipes. ChoosyHomeschooler has an ongoing Wednesday Winner Contest. Just subscribe to their newsletter to be entered to win something new every week. And I’ve got… -
Do I Really Want My Daughter on TV?
26 Jun 2009 | 6:17 amI have just 4 days left to make a decision. There is this contest. For kids. Kids who might want to be on a PBS show called Raggs. Raggs is looking for “animated, talkative and clever kids,” which clearly defines my daughter. I’ve taken some video of her. I just need to put it together and submit it. But I have all these nagging feelings. Do I really want my daughter on TV? What if she is chosen and we go to a taping and she hides behind my leg, or cries, or is just generally uncooperative? On the flip side, what if she’s fantastic and we’re bitten by that… -
To Blog Or Not To Blog?
24 Jun 2009 | 9:20 amI almost quit blogging this past week. Whenever I spend time traveling, on field trips, or working on projects around the house, I come back to my computer and wonder if this blogging gig is a good use of my time. It’s definitely not a big money-maker, so it’s more for my own personal satisfaction and quiet time. Which is fine, but there are so many other things I want to do that would also fill that need. Scrapbooking. Traveling. Photography. Gaming. I’d love to have a blog that is a “business.” Something I can brand and promote and make money from. And… -
What I Learned From Preschool
23 Jun 2009 | 8:00 amMost readers of this blog know that I homeschool my children. Many also know that I sent my daughter to preschool this past year. Now that preschool is over, several people have asked me if I’ll send her on to kindergarten in a traditional school. My answer is no. Preschool was fun. Playtime, with some education and social etiquette thrown in. It was a good experience for our whole family and it actually taught me to more fully embrace homeschooling. I learned that as much as I yearn for more “me” time, I like being with my kids and sharing their learning and growing… -
Operation Baby Bear
19 Jun 2009 | 4:12 pmWhen my daughter was born my Mom bought her a stuffed bear with a blanket for a body. As soon as Cassie was old enough to know what it was, it was dubbed “Baby Bear” and carried around everywhere. It is well-loved and still in pretty good shape, except for the paws that are nearly dismembered and the silky ribbon on the bottom which has been worn to shreds and fallen off. Being the (somewhat) crafty Mom that I am, I brought my daughter to Michael’s and had her pick out some silky ribbon. I pulled out my sewing machine and prepared for Operation Baby Bear. When she first saw…
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Misty's Musings
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Surgery is done
26 Jun 2009 | 10:35 amI had my surgery yesterday and am feeling OK. The areas where my drains are hurt a bit, but it is not too bad. I can't wait to see the end results in a month or two when the swelling and bruising go away. Yay for perky girls again.A friend lost her 14 year old son yesterday in a accident involving a gun. That is all I know. I cannot imagine her grief. Please pray for them. He was always -
Jucy Lucy
14 Jun 2009 | 3:21 pmYes, I misspelled that on purpose. My husband made Jucy Lucys tonight and they were yummers. I spent today with the girls at WalMart doing some much needed grocery shopping. The dogs are infested with fleas because apparently they can become immune to Frontline. So, tomorrow I get to go to the vet to try to find flea medicine that will actually kill the fleas. We put Flea Stoppers on our -
Bloggy thoughts
11 Jun 2009 | 6:23 pmCan I just say that I am so happy that Molly is blogging again? I love Molly. I love her honesty and her spiritual journey. I love that she can write so well that you can see exactly what she is trying to convey. Oh thank you Molly for blogging again. My good friend, Cheri, is also blogging again. Since I love and adore Cheri I think you too should read her blog. Oh, and I found out from a -
Sundays are the best
7 Jun 2009 | 3:54 pmWe went to Callaway Gardens today so the family could enjoy the beach. I absolutely despise the beach and everything it entails. I hate getting sandy, I don't like the heat, I won't wear a swimsuit. The beach is torture for me. But, the littles had fun and that is all that matters. Ummmm....right? Camille sat with me in the shade and we complained about how hot is was and how Olaf wasn't -
Summer Break
4 Jun 2009 | 8:23 amCaleb is out of school and the summer break has started. I have ordered the DVD's for the next school year for the three who will be homeschooled. I am little nervous about Josiah starting first grade though. I didn't do a great job this year and I fear he will be behind. It will be interesting to say the least. We are counting down until our Disney vacation. A little less than four months
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Homeschool Blogger
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Wowza
27 Jun 2009 | 6:06 pmOh my goodness, it's been so long since I've posted any entry. Again. I feel horrible. I haven't been doing a very good job on keeping up here. Sorry. I used to be so good about posting entries- and now, I never do it anymore. I don't have much to post about- just a few things that I've been doing since the summer has started. I've been babysitting for three boys, ages 7,8, and 9. It are really good boys- and they don't give me much trouble. It's not a everyday job, I just do it every now and then- when their mother needs me. I get paid, so that's good. :) When July hits, we'll probably start… -
Lines, Vines and Trying Times
15 Jun 2009 | 9:01 amA while I pre-ordered the new Jonas Brothers CD, "Lines, Vines and Trying Times". Well, it goes out into stores tomorrow, June 16th, but I got mine in the mail today! I didn't expect to get it early, but I'm glad that I did. My favorite songs on the CD so far are: "Paranoid" "Fly With Me" "What Did I Do To Your Heart?" and "Before The Storm" featuring Miley Cyrus But I really like them all! Except for one, called "Don't Charge Me For the Crime" which features a band called "Common". It's like a rap group or something. Not sure that I like it! :P Maybe I just have to get used to it or… -
Sam, Natalie, Mandy, Jennifer, and Kayla
10 Jun 2009 | 2:35 pmAs you all know, because I posted about it last week- I was meeting up with Samantha, Natalie, Mandy, Jennifer, and Kayla. Well, I had about the best time ever. Thursday was the start of the homeschool convention- and I was so excited to get there, because I would be spending the night at Natalie's house, with Sam, Mandy, and Jennifer, oh, and Natalie. The first person I met, was Natalie- and unlike I thought she would, she didn't have Sam along with her- so I met Natalie first, all by herself. Here is a picture of us, right after we'd met: After about a half an hour, Sam and Kayla came… -
Haircut
1 Jun 2009 | 8:42 amToday- I got my haircut (hence why my title is what it is!) I have some pictures to show what it looks like- but first, I'll show a picture from before- it's definitely a change! Before: This look was very shaggy, and since my hair is VERY, VERY thick, it didn't do much for me! :P :P After my haircut, I looked like this: And here are just some random pictures- that I took a while back: My shadow- I was going around, taking random pictures outside- and I just had to take a picture of my shadow! : Gracie: And of course,because Gracie was getting her picture taken, Ian wanted his taken too: and… -
Hello All
28 May 2009 | 2:51 pmI don't have much to post about- but I feel bad since I haven't been posting much in the last few months! :P It is exactly a week until I meet Sam, Natalie and Kayla, and I can't wait to meet them! I think this next week will go by really slow- because it's something to look forward to. :) My weekend isn't busy at all- but we might go and see Night at the Museum Two: Battle at the Smithsonian. It looks really good- and I can't wait to see it. Well, I'll be posting again soon (hopefully). ~Ashley
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Home Where They Belong
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Hand in Hand
29 Jun 2009 | 10:03 pmHand in Hand I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. (3 John 1:4) A couple days ago after shopping at the local hardware store, I walked one of my younger children across the street and through a busy parking lot to our car. While we were both in the store, my child had more freedom to roam around, always staying within eyesight of me but never too far. As we walked out of the store and into the busy parking lot, I reached for her hand as she reached for mine. We walked together hand in hand across the street, through the maze of cars and safely to our van. Between… -
A "Common Standard" for Homeschoolers?
22 Jun 2009 | 10:11 pmPresident Obama is justifying the violation of the Constitution and the take over of education by declaring that it is "inexcusable" for the United States to have 50 standards for education. Today's system of 50 different sets of benchmarks for academic success means 4th grade readers in Mississippi are scoring nearly 70 points lower than students in Wyoming -- and they're getting the same grade. Eight of our states are setting their standards so low that their students may end up on par with roughly the bottom 40 percent of the world. That's inexcusable. Hmmm. Currently, homeschooling laws… -
It's Summer: Have You Planted or Watered Lately?
17 Jun 2009 | 10:18 pmWith all the talk about education overhauls and the continuing decline of the public alledgeducation system, most of you probably read this blog and breathe a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness my kids are safe at home,” you say, or “I pity the neighbors’ children, that they can’t be home like mine.” You can’t actually bring other people’s children home, to their own homeschools or to yours, but there may be something you can do to encourage their parents, to plant a seed which may in time grow into a homeschool opportunity for… -
Train Them Up
17 Jun 2009 | 10:34 am“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 A homeschool mom recently shared with me an interesting conversation she had with a confused friend about Proverbs 22:6. Her friend’s distorted reasoning can be summed up as follows: since we, as sinful parents cannot save our sinful kids, why should we try to follow the guideline/command given in Proverbs 22:6? First off, anyone who believes they can save their child's soul needs to re-read the Bible, especially Ephesians 2:1-10. “For by grace are ye saved through… -
Britain's New Homeschool Regulations are Extremely Invasive
17 Jun 2009 | 9:41 amParents in the U.K. who are homeschooling or intend to homeschool can now expect home visits from government officials who will make certain the children are learning according to government standards. For instance, if your child can't read by the age of 8 then the parents may have to send their child to a government school. What happens if your child has a learning disability? Does it magically go away for those children who attend state schools? Not likely as those same schools are full of remedial reading students. Can we go in and pull those students out because the state hasn't met…
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By Sun and Candlelight
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Happy 1st of July!
1 Jul 2009 | 5:29 amIn vain the cruel skies their hot rays shed; The lily does not feel their brazen glare. In vain the pallid clouds refuse to share Their dews, the lily feels no thirst, no dread. Unharmed she lifts her queenly face and head; She drinks of living waters and keeps fair. (from A Calendar of Sonnets by Helen Hunt Jackson)I always know July is upon us when the roadsides are bursting with bright orange daylilies. I've come to think of them as the 4th of July Flower, and honestly, when you look at them they do look like colorful fireworks, exploding… -
The Sweetness of Summer: A Second Winner!
28 Jun 2009 | 5:54 amWell very early this morning I filled Crackerjack's bright yellow bucket hat with tiny slips of paper - each one baring the name of one of the Summer Fun commenters - there was probably an easier way to do this but at this early hour and on limited caffeine, it was all I came up with lol - we mixed them all up and then the boys chose a name, our second summer winner is ...... Melissa R.!Congratulations, Melissa! Please zip me a note at drhanigan AT comcast DOT net when you have a chance and we'll discuss the mailing details. :)Now, what summer pastime does Melissa NOT want to miss… -
And my 11,111th commenter was ...
27 Jun 2009 | 3:44 am... fellow New Englander and frequent commenter, Penny in VTPenny's favorite things not to miss in summer are: "Smores made outside over an open fire!" (This particular smore was made in NH, not VT, but close enough!)Congratulations, dear Penny! Please shoot me an email at drhanigan AT comcast DOT net and we will work out all the mailing details. :)In the meantime, I want to THANK EVERYONE who participated in my contest! I enjoyed reading through all your "summery" thoughts - 83 as of first thing this morning! I plan to do two things with all your comments… -
A Little Summer Something Fun ...
25 Jun 2009 | 11:37 amI happened to notice my blog is coming up on an interesting number of comments so I thought I'd do something fun. I'm not going to tell you how many I have to go to reach this number but whoever is the 11,111th commenter will get a little summer treat mailed to them from me! (I did something similar back in September when I gave away a copy of The Wind Children.) If you would like to enter this "contest" (for lack of a better term lol) please leave me a comment below answering this question ...Summer comes and goes so fast, and every year I think of little things… -
Quick Note re ~ File Crate Questions
24 Jun 2009 | 7:50 amWell, so much for being "Wordless" today, lol, but I wanted to pop in real quick and catch up. I want to let you all know that I am working on that File Crate Follow-Up, cutting and pasting questions from this post to answer in a new draft, but it's taking me quite a while to finish it up. (I'm up to 20 questions at last count!) I hope to work on it when I have time over the next few days and post it over the weekend. Thanks for your continued interest and patience! :)In the meantime, I hope your week is going well. I also hope your weather is drier than ours is here!
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Dewey's Treehouse
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A blog to go visit
2 Jul 2009 | 6:15 pmCoffee, Tea, Books and Me has an excellent pantry post today; but if you go over there, be sure to browse back through some of her other recent posts as well--it's always a nice place to visit. -
Time's almost up to win a Karito Kids doll
2 Jul 2009 | 7:30 amShopaholic Mommy is giving you the chance to win a Karito Kids doll. These girls are BIG: 21 inches. And they're pretty cute, too. (Crayons decided she likes Zoe best.)All the ways you can enter are on the blog post: commenting, tweeting, blogging, whatever. But time's almost up: the giveaway ends July 3rd. -
Missing your freebies?
2 Jul 2009 | 6:10 amHomeschool Freebie of the Day is back from holidays. -
Update: our surplus photo
2 Jul 2009 | 5:12 amI added a photo to our surplus shopping story. -
Happy Canada Day! :-)
1 Jul 2009 | 1:36 pmHappy Canada Day! ~~Ponytails :-)
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Eclectic Education
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Urgent Prayer Request for Missing Little Girl
27 Jun 2009 | 7:44 pmA woman that writes for eHow asked for prayer for a little girl named Lindsey. Lindsey is her daughter's best friend and Lindsey left her home (the eHow woman's) last night (walking 4 blocks in a small town) and never made it home. They are not sure if Lindsey ran away or if she was abducted. Lindsey is only 10 years old so either way this is a very serious matter. The part that gripes me is they waited to get the dogs out and waited to post an Amber Alert because they thought she may be a run away. Hello??? She's only 10. A little girl missing for… -
Great Site for High School Students
25 Jun 2009 | 7:52 pmEducator.com is a wonderful resource for homeschool families with high school kids. Educator has a huge list of video lectures with demonstrations in some of the hardest to teach classes. It has classes where you can learn chemistry, biology, algebra, algebra 2, calculus 1, AP Calculus BC (calculus 2), statistics, and computer science (Javascript). Educator also has a section that goes over some of the commonly missed math problems on exams. I don't know about you, but I definitely want help with teaching classes like AP Calculus AB and computer… -
Yet Another Reason to Homeschool...
16 Jun 2009 | 9:29 amIn two communities in southern California, elementary students are going to have to make up 34 days this summer because of a clerical error. They are being tough with the schools, so schools don't try to shave off 5 minutes here and 5 minutes there. So they want to set an example. Well, it's the kids that are going to suffer here and their families. Hopefully, some of them will pull their kids out and homeschool them over this!!! It's so ridiculous. The stupid part is, they had to have 180 minutes of instruction to make it a "day" and many of the days they… -
Updates
15 Jun 2009 | 8:18 amIt's been a while... Ooooops!!!!! Things have been really busy around here. I'll try to be brief. First, yes my oldest son, Prince Caspian, is back for good. It has been an adjustment for everybody, but we are getting there. I want to thank everyone for their prayers over this. It has been a very long year for us. I mentioned last time, that I may be diabetic. Well, that has been confirmed. *sigh* It has been a big adjustment for me. I am a very picky eater with a sweet tooth. My… -
Savings Coupon at JoAnn.com
1 Jun 2009 | 10:29 amGet great savings at JoAnn.com, a great place to buy fabrics and craft items! Click on the image button to get the savings and don't forget to use the promotional code!!
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Heart of Wisdom Blog
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Lessons from Peter
30 Jun 2009 | 8:18 amIf I walked on water with Jesus you better believe I would be blogging about it within the hour. I would immediately be thinking how could put it into 140 characters for a Tweet on Twitter. But Peter never mentions this or the other miracles he was involved with in his epistles! What a lesson in humility. We studied Peter last week in Boomerang Express Vacation Bible School. I put together a timeline of highlights from Peter’s life for our classroom wall to help the children get a good overview of Peter’s life. As usual, preparing for children’s study taught me much! -
There Was a Heartbeat
25 Jun 2009 | 5:49 pmThe beautiful song is a heartwarming story of a young girl’s choice of adoption over abortion. Read the moving story behind the song here -
If I Have Diplomas and Not Love, I am Nothing
19 Jun 2009 | 10:13 amIf I have the language ever so perfectly and speak like a pundit and have not love that grips the heart, I am nothing. If I have decorations and diplomas and am proficient in up-to-date methods and have not the touch of understanding love, I am nothing. If I am able to worst my opponents in argument so as to make fools of them, and have not the wooing note, I am nothing. If I have all faith and great ideals and magnificent plans and wonderful visions, and have not the love that sweats and bleeds and weeps and prays and pleads, I am nothing. If I surrender all prospects, and leaving home and… -
Death is Not Dying
17 Jun 2009 | 2:19 amThis is one of the most powerful testimonies I’ve ever heard. Please stop whatever you are doing and take the time to watch this moving video. Rachel, the 37 year old wife and mother of two is facing imminent death. She has weeks to live. For Rachel, the essence of life is not in her illness, it is found in her relationship with God through Jesus. And that’s why Rachel is convinced that death is not dying. Death is not Dying Video from Rachel Barkey On March 4, 2009, what started out as a small talk to a women’s group at her church grew into an event attended by 600 women… -
Deathbed Letter from My Great, Great Grandmother
15 Jun 2009 | 6:59 amThis is a letter to my Great, Great Grandfather from my Great, Great Grandmother in 1887 (original spelling). She wrote this letter as she lay at death’s door. She died before it was completed. My favorite line is in bold letters. What a joy it was to find the thing she desired most for her children was the needful thing Jesus spoke about to Martha. I hope it touches you in as emotionally powerful a way as it has me. “This you shall find some day. Dear John, when I shall have past away forever,and the cold white stone will be keeping its lonely watch over the lips you have sooften…
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Suite101: Homeschooling Articles
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Learn to Read with Starfall
27 Jun 2009 | 6:20 pmStarfall is a free homeschooling resource for beginning readers. Learn to read online with easy reader books, phonics games, and spelling videos. -
Teaching Math with Online Math Games
26 Jun 2009 | 10:17 amLearn about teaching math and learning math with games on the internet. Kids and adults enjoy playing games and these games are designed to sharpen your math skills. -
Encouraging a Love of Science in Children
24 Jun 2009 | 9:52 pmSometimes children think that science is dry, boring and difficult. Help them discover how exciting science really is. -
Teaching Kids About Fingerprints
24 Jun 2009 | 3:04 pmFingerprints have a purpose. Including a lesson on those little swirls and ridges in science class can be fun for all involved. -
A Thomas Jefferson Education
24 Jun 2009 | 2:23 pmAre today's youth prepared to be the leaders of tomorrow or is the American education system simply delivering mediocrity?
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Mrs Hannigan's Home for Girls
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I’m breaking copyright rules AND setting the record straight
2 Jul 2009 | 7:49 pmI don’t think I’ve ever in the history of writing online, EVER copied an entire article into a blog post. I wanted to respond entirely, though. This piece called “Some may call it unschooling, I call it educational neglect” by Norfolk Homeschooling Examiner, Shireen Silverberg In my opinion, John Holt, the education reform advocate has a lot to answer for. He coined the term “unschooling” and actively promoted this form of non-education. Radical Unschooling says the following: In general, unschooling is a form of homeschooling in which children follow their… -
Art
30 Jun 2009 | 12:52 amThe Artist's WayOne of my favorite parenting books EVER- is called “Guiding Your Child to a more Creative Life” by Fredelle Maynard. It’s out of print and almost totally impossible to find. I’ve seen it at yard sales & thrift shops, I have a copy here at home & every now & then I pick one up whenever I stumble upon one. You should, too. I give spare copies away whenever I can. I first read it when my oldest was very small, it talks about how parents can avoid accidentally squashing their children’s creativity. It offers practical tips for… -
Cream with your 1/2 naked coffee?
22 Jun 2009 | 2:57 pmWow- this crazy town I live in. Last week the news was all over the fact that our town was listed by Business Week magazine as the #4 best place to start over, something like that. Today, however, we’re making headlines for something a bit more… stupid. Apparently coffee drinkers in this town need to be protected from accidentally seeing butt crack. Recently, a rash of bikini coffee shops have been popping up in our town. Apparently it’s the work of the devil. Surely no one is really buying coffee there, right? I mean, why would someone get a cup of coffee at an… -
The Sparkling Martins
20 Jun 2009 | 4:55 pmDayna Martin & FamilyLast year at the Rethinking Education Conference, one of the most memorable people I met was Dayna Martin. Simply being at the conference was like a hallucination. Everyone around me was me- only cooler, clearer. It was the strangest feeling of one-ness that affirmed my unconventional lifestyle and inspired me to want to be even weirder. My head was spinning when it was over and it took me a long time to feel like myself again. In fact, I was supposed to have been doing a stand-up comedy routine, but as the week wore on, nothing seemed funny anymore. It’s one… -
A specific time to sleep?
17 Jun 2009 | 7:27 pmSo Gabriella just learned something new. She didn’t realize that some kids are supposed to go to bed at a certain time. Around here, we just go to bed when we’re tired. She comes skating over to me bewildered. (Yes, we rollerblade in the house, there’s no pavement here) G- “Mom, how can someone invent a bedtime?” Me- “What do you mean?” G- “Bedtime. If you don’t go to bed at bedtime, then it’s not bedtime anymore. Why do people say that a TIME is bedtime? What if someone is busy and doesn’t go to bed? Bedtime should just be…
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Camp Creek Blog
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our willingness to reimagine
29 Jun 2009 | 6:16 amThere is a rabbinical teaching that says if the world is ending and the Messiah arrives, first plant a tree, and then see if the story is true. Inspiration is not garnered from the litanies of what may befall us; it resides in humanity’s willingness to restore, redress, reform, rebuild, recover, reimagine, and reconsider. “One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began, though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice,” is Mary Oliver’s description of moving away from the profane toward a deep sense of connectedness to the living world. -- Paul… -
open thread
26 Jun 2009 | 4:19 am”That’s just how parents are,” Henry explained wisely as he ate the cheese off the top of his slice and wiped his greasy hand on his jeans. “They like to talk about how they used to do things or about how they plan to do things someday, but parents aren’t very good at right now.” — Any Which Wall thank you, Diana, for sending me this quote! -
teaching kids to hate reading
16 Jun 2009 | 6:21 pm“Mom, I hate reading. I did not want to tell you that, ’cause I know that it’s your job and reading is a big deal to you, but I really really hate it. I dream of the day when I will never have to do reading again. If I was on a desert island, I would rather die of starvation, than read a book. And, if you think I am weird or something, you gotta know, all my friends feel exactly the same way.” — Angela Maiers, Reading Without Meaning — Heartbreak at Home Here’s the question. Is it just reading they’re learning to hate? -
open thread
12 Jun 2009 | 4:27 pmIf an activity can be made fun, will that help a child pick up new knowledge? … The process of evolution, Geary says in the study, has resulted in students being able to acquire certain types of new knowledge and skills in a relatively “effortless” manner, through processes that are “child-centered” and fun. … Schools have attempted to use child-centered and fun methods, in the belief that students' natural curiosity will lead them to take on certain, more difficult tasks, like learning to read or do fractions, in the same way they learn language or how… -
the qualities of play
8 Jun 2009 | 6:38 amWhen productive work is suffused with the qualities of play — that is, with freedom, creativity, and imagination — we experience that work as play. … In our culture today, those people who have the most freedom of choice and opportunity for creativity within their work are most likely to say they enjoy their work and regard it as play. — Play Makes Us Human, Freedom to Learn Blog, Psychology Today
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Principled Discovery
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Discussing diversity with the homeschooled child
1 Jul 2009 | 11:25 pmCatholic Dads recently asked how other homeschool families discuss homeschooling with family, friends and paticularly with the homeschooled children. Particularly the questions of children seem to draw out uncertainties. After all, we have so much power to frame the entire discussion and insert our views into our children. Catholic Dad’s questions echo my own thoughts as I attempt to answer my daughter’s questions: But how do we explain this [the reasons we homeschool] to a five year old without a.) giving him the impression that he’s missing out on something… -
Suburban Chicago school district strikes a compromise with homeschoolers
23 Jun 2009 | 10:41 pmThis happens so rarely, I thought I should make note of it: For once, I agree with the school district. -
Mouse’s first interview
23 Jun 2009 | 5:11 amCheck out my daughter’s interview over at The Creative Homeschool regarding her e-zine. Just one more thing to add to the list of what she has been learning through blogging… -
Do we need a parental rights amendment?
21 Jun 2009 | 11:36 pmLast week, Michael Farris tweeted that Senator Jim DeMint had introduced the parental rights amendment into the Senate, followed by a Friday tweet announcing that the parental rights amendment had garnered 100 supporters in the House. After Michael Farris predicted that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) would come before the senate in the fall or spring, I figured the debate would begin heating up again. Recent government actions in England and Sweden seem to have added a little fuel to the fire. Eric Potter urges me to take a look at the Parental Rights Amendment,… -
Little kitten no name needs your help
19 Jun 2009 | 9:56 pm…in finding a name, of course. Mouse rejected the idea of calling the kitten “Mouse,” and dad scratched the very popular “Sassy” from the list. After watching her this evening, I’m thinking Dust Bunny wouldn’t be a bad name. She certainly likes them enough. She is a beautiful little thing and looks like she has a bit of Siamese in her with those beautiful blue eyes, though mom is a tabby cat. To inspire our creativity and give us a broader range of names not featured in either Dora the Explorer or Diego, Mouse is hosting her first contest and…
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Camp Creek Blog
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our willingness to reimagine
29 Jun 2009 | 6:16 amThere is a rabbinical teaching that says if the world is ending and the Messiah arrives, first plant a tree, and then see if the story is true. Inspiration is not garnered from the litanies of what may befall us; it resides in humanity’s willingness to restore, redress, reform, rebuild, recover, reimagine, and reconsider. “One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began, though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice,” is Mary Oliver’s description of moving away from the profane toward a deep sense of connectedness to the living world. -- Paul… -
open thread
26 Jun 2009 | 4:19 am”That’s just how parents are,” Henry explained wisely as he ate the cheese off the top of his slice and wiped his greasy hand on his jeans. “They like to talk about how they used to do things or about how they plan to do things someday, but parents aren’t very good at right now.” — Any Which Wall thank you, Diana, for sending me this quote! -
teaching kids to hate reading
16 Jun 2009 | 6:21 pm“Mom, I hate reading. I did not want to tell you that, ’cause I know that it’s your job and reading is a big deal to you, but I really really hate it. I dream of the day when I will never have to do reading again. If I was on a desert island, I would rather die of starvation, than read a book. And, if you think I am weird or something, you gotta know, all my friends feel exactly the same way.” — Angela Maiers, Reading Without Meaning — Heartbreak at Home Here’s the question. Is it just reading they’re learning to hate? -
open thread
12 Jun 2009 | 4:27 pmIf an activity can be made fun, will that help a child pick up new knowledge? … The process of evolution, Geary says in the study, has resulted in students being able to acquire certain types of new knowledge and skills in a relatively “effortless” manner, through processes that are “child-centered” and fun. … Schools have attempted to use child-centered and fun methods, in the belief that students' natural curiosity will lead them to take on certain, more difficult tasks, like learning to read or do fractions, in the same way they learn language or how… -
the qualities of play
8 Jun 2009 | 6:38 amWhen productive work is suffused with the qualities of play — that is, with freedom, creativity, and imagination — we experience that work as play. … In our culture today, those people who have the most freedom of choice and opportunity for creativity within their work are most likely to say they enjoy their work and regard it as play. — Play Makes Us Human, Freedom to Learn Blog, Psychology Today
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The Common Room
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Banana-Split Cake
2 Jul 2009 | 5:42 pm1 12 ounce bag vanilla wafers3/4 cup melted margarine or butter2 cups powdered sugar1 cup softened margarine5 sliced bananas1 20 ounce can crushed pineapple, drained1 large carton whipped topping1 cup chopped nutsMaraschino cherry halvesCrush vanilla wafers and combine with melted margarine. Press into 13X9X2 inch pan. Combine powdered sguar and butter and spread over crumb crust. Layer other ingredients as follows; sliced bananas, crushed pineapple, whipped topping, chopped nuts. Garnish with maraschino cherry halves. Cut into 20 party sized servings. -
Signing Statements Are Now Okay
2 Jul 2009 | 1:45 pmI guess it's just a matter of who does them. -
Tyrannasaurus Debt
2 Jul 2009 | 1:00 pmIt's an old one, but wow.Via the Corner. -
The Place-Holder in the Cap and Trade Tax
2 Jul 2009 | 10:36 amMichelle Malkin has a screen shot. No kidding- a bill that has a part labeled, "Section Reserved."They can fill it in with anything, really. Look at it for yourself.Now, since everyone in Washington is so concerned with fine print, why don’t they show us the fine print of the missing section of this bill. Where is it? Has the Energy Czar seen it? Will the members of the Senate see it? How about the GOP’s Cap-and-Tax 8? Call them. Ask them -
Clothesline
2 Jul 2009 | 4:41 amDO YOU REMEMBER THE CLOTHESLINE?A clothesline was a news forecastTo neighbors passing by.There were no secrets you could keepWhen clothes were hung to dry.It also was a friendly link,For neighbors always knewIf company had stopped on byTo spend a night or two.For then you'd see the fancy sheetsAnd towels upon the line;You'd see the company tableclothsWith intricate design.The line announced a baby's birthTo folks who lived inside,As brand new infant clothes were hungSo carefully with pride.The ages of the children couldSo readily be knownBy watching how the sizes changed,You'd know how much…
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A Family Runs Through It
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Hiawatha 2009
2 Jul 2009 | 11:42 amWe took another excursion on the Hiawatha Trail this week.I think it's the ultimate family bike trip. 17 miles of incredible mountain scenery, through nine tunnels, and across seven high trestles.And best of all, it's all downhill.My kids normally tire out after two or three miles of bike riding, but the Hiawatha's gentle grade allows them to pedal without pushing too hard. Which is good for me, too.We introduced some friends from Minnesota to the trail, and they loved it. Especially at the end when the shuttle bus was waiting to take us back to our car.If you want to know more about the… -
Reminders
30 Jun 2009 | 3:13 pmWe're not here right now. We're riding the wild bike trails of North Idaho.In the meantime, I appreciate the reminder emails you've sent me.Yes, I know, I said I would post my daughter's Second Grade Super Test. And I promised to show "after" pictures of our new patio. And there's that Summer Beach Bag book giveaway.I'm sure there are a few other things that have slipped my mind. Let me know if you remember better than I do.I hope you're packing as much fun into summer as we are. There are only two months until school starts up again, so get busy! -
Missing Mommy
26 Jun 2009 | 12:52 amDay Three of the single-dad act and all is well. Except tonight, my daughter finally uttered those words I was expecting:"I miss Mommy."I've been trying to keep the kids occupied with other thoughts and activities. Games, movies, bike rides, swimming lessons, McDonald's, gardening, and Legos. But none of those can match the power of the Mommy!Speaking of swimming lessons, my son had a breakthrough this week. He figured out how to dunk his head underwater without flooding his sinuses. He did it by humming, and now he hums a merry little tune while gliding through the water.It's a small… -
Sadness and Victory
24 Jun 2009 | 1:42 amYes, I know. I'm late picking the five winners of the Father's Day book giveaway.We had some sad news on Monday. My wife's paternal grandmother passed away after a long illness. What's even sadder for my wife is that this comes just two months after her maternal grandmother died. Feels like too much loss in such a short time.But that's life. We grieve, and then we need to move on. There are hungry kids to feed, dirty laundry to wash, cluttered counters to clear, and overgrown lawns to mow. And this week I'm doing it all by myself as my wife travels to another state with her family to put… -
Birthday Rules
21 Jun 2009 | 11:55 pmFather's Day? What Father's Day?Today was my son's birthday, and we made the entire weekend out to be a celebration of his 11th year of life. So, there was little time for me.But that's okay. One part of the birthday rules is that BIRTHDAYS RULE!At least I got to participate in the festivities.On Saturday we met up with friends for a leisurely bike ride along the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes, between Cataldo and Kingston.We found a perfect picnic spot, where the kids could explore along the shoreline. They found all the cool things: a dead snake, an old tire, a beaver dam, and fresh mountain…
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Paper Bridges
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No comments, please
1 Jul 2009 | 5:09 amDon’t comment on anything, guys. I’ve got some behind the blog things going on and any new comments here on monicabrand.net will be left behind. So don’t leave me any new comments here, okay? In a day or two things will be back to normal. Thanks! Post from: Paper Bridges No comments, please Related posts:Does the book Eat, Pray, Love preach Christ? Comments aThis week I anticipaBlogs need loyal commenters to build community A blog wi Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin. -
Seen and heard: unprompted love
30 Jun 2009 | 5:20 amSusan and Edmund the other day, and for no apparent reason that I could detect: I love you, Edmund! I love you, Susan! And a mutual bear hug as if to convince the sibling. Cool, huh? Post from: Paper Bridges Seen and heard: unprompted love Related posts:Book giveaway: Love as a Way of Life by Gary Chapman Thanks to Seen and heard: at the breakfast table Said one I heard a rumor Lent starts Wednesday And like a Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin. -
Team Brand: we work well together (which is convenient since we’re married)
27 Jun 2009 | 6:34 pmWhat began as a lame Saturday, even with me writing a whiny journal entry, turned into a really, really good day. Really! A ton of work accomplished on the back porch and yard, stuff I didn’t think would get done, because of the way the day started. It was a happy Saturday surprise. Are you like me? I love to see a large section of work accomplished. Dramatic “before” and “after” photos. I’ve noticed I’m totally that way with homeschooling too. I have a stack of papers from when Susan was nine. Why I still have those papers, when we don’t need… -
Looking back: Creation Festival 2007
27 Jun 2009 | 6:06 amJust a few pictures of us at Creation in 2007, the last time we were there. Today is the last day for this year. I hope they all didn’t get too wet. I wonder what I’m thinking in this picture? Post from: Paper Bridges Looking back: Creation Festival 2007 Related posts:Summer 2007: camping at Creation music festival (aka “Don’t take my picture!”) Post fromA book tour for Earth Day: Gardening Eden (How Creation Care will Change Your Faith, Your Life, and Our World) by Michael Abbate Happy EartPause, stop and rewind I travele Related posts brought to you by Yet… -
How mommy exercises without going to the gym
24 Jun 2009 | 6:48 amSee more Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom. Post from: Paper Bridges How mommy exercises without going to the gym Related posts:It’s no joke, more artwork from my kids See more Self portrait by 3-year-old girl She says, Healing See more Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
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Blessed Among Men
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I Wish I Could, Dear
26 Jun 2009 | 7:46 amMy husband is working from home this morning before we leave. I'm scrambling to finishing packing and Zachary is very eager to get out the door. After all, he has cousins to see.Zachary: Mama, don't you think you should call to cancel Papa's work so we can go on our vacation? -
Behind On Email and Going Away
25 Jun 2009 | 7:20 pmWow. My post on homeschooling boys seems to have met a need. I'm so pleased. I have never had so many emails concerning a single post in the history of this blog. Many of you are asking more questions and that's great, but we're leaving on a big crazy wonderful, family-trip-thing tomorrow so I say keep the questions coming and when I get back I'll see if I can compile them into a follow up post. If not, I'll try to get back to each of you individually and eventually. Thank you, everyone, for your interest and it's great to hear from so many wonderful moms out there! -
Look What Jack's Building
25 Jun 2009 | 1:19 pmRight across the street. Those trees there are on our lawn, so this is our view from the front porch where, you might imagine, my boys have been camped out watching this thing come together. They're convinced that's a swing set being built on the roof which is why Alex wants us to buy the house. He thought if I offered to buy it "as is" I could get a good deal. It takes all my effort to keep them away from this site when the crew goes home at night and it doesn't help that all the "grown up" neighbors go exploring it after hours. -
And Here they are Today
24 Jun 2009 | 10:06 pm -
An Old Picture
24 Jun 2009 | 9:46 pm
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Cottage Blessings
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Prayers please
20 Jun 2009 | 7:37 pmA very dear friend just miscarried at fifteen weeks. A tiny baby boy.Please say a prayer for Mary and her family. -
Some good news to start your day
15 May 2009 | 4:07 amGallup poll: Most Americans consider themselves pro-lifeNow let's just hope those same Americans realize the issue is a desperately important one. -
The Rosary: Keeping Company with Jesus and Mary
9 May 2009 | 8:27 amI placed the pre-order through Amazon months ago, so imagine my joy to receive Karen Edmisten's book, "The Rosary: Keeping Company with Jesus and Mary," in the mail yesterday, just in time for Mother's Day!As always, Karen writes with sincerity and clarity, drawing others to the rosary through a narrative that is intensely personal and deeply spiritual. Without so much as a word wasted, the book is a course in Marian history, apologetics, scripture and prayer that I cannot wait to share with my teenagers. (Truth be told, fifteen-year-old Agnes has… -
Tact
24 Apr 2009 | 4:11 amAm I the only one who found this video of Susan Boyle more troubling than triumphant?God bless Miss Boyle--I am happy she did well, though not convinced that the judges weren't expecting her that day. What bothers me though is the whole genre of shows that seem to be the modern day equivalent of the Roman Coliseum. No matter how Susan Boyle looked--and whether or not she had an iota of talent--she should not have been treated so rudely by leering judges or a jeering crowd.One of the most important lessons a child can learn is the virtue of tact which, at base, is the art of not… -
"Fathers for Good"
20 Apr 2009 | 12:09 pmDon't miss this profile of Commander Francis X. Castellano, native Long Islander, Knight of Columbus, and commander of the USS Bainbridge--the naval ship involved in the rescue of Captain Phillips from Somali Pirates last week.While you are there, take a look around the website of "Fathers for Good," an initiative for men by the Knights of Columbus.HT: Cranky Conservative
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Karen Edmisten
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Ramona Learns Something New
1 Jul 2009 | 5:19 pmLast night Ramona and I were reading Eating the Alphabet: Fruits & Vegetables from A to Z by Lois Ehlert. When we got to K, Ramona said, "Oh! I always thought a kumquat was a type of monkey! Apparently, it's a fruit or vegetable." You just never know what you'll learn when you're a reader. -
This could be helpful
30 Jun 2009 | 6:41 pmTwitter for Busy People.(H/T: Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda) -
Dishing on the Next Food Network Star
29 Jun 2009 | 8:00 amDo you watch The Next Food Network Star?Let me start by admitting that it's contrived and the challenges are ridiculous. But, this year, I promised my daughters that I would stop saying such things as, "Oh, that's just silly! If she had her own show, she would never be put in that position! That's not fair!" (I'm big on justice, and normally not so big on so-called reality shows.)But.I love watching this show. Last year, it became a family event, and so it goes this year (although, I've gotta say this: they need to cut the innuendo off right now ... this is supposed to be a G-rated… -
Electronics and Us
28 Jun 2009 | 6:07 amThanks to everyone who has commented about PCs vs. Macs, and feel free to keep the comments coming. We're still in decision-making, budgeting mode. But thinking about the electronics around here got me thinking about our last TV-buying decision.You see, we like to get our money's worth out of things. Call it frugal, call it cheap, call it an attempt at good stewardship, but we hate to replace things that still work. That's why, when our incredibly comfortable couch became so frayed that it had reached the embarrassment-saturation point:instead of buying a new one, I bought some fabric and… -
Summer Boredom Setting In?
27 Jun 2009 | 6:52 amI honestly don't remember the last time I was bored. I have too much to do, and too much interest in doing it to get bored. I can always think of something to do. Or read. Or write.But, my kids have sometimes been tempted to use that awful word, that bored word. When they do, I tell them that I'll start clearing the house right, this minute of all the clutter -- the books, the puzzles, the games, the toys, the crafts ... if it's all too dull, we may as well get rid of it, no? They generally scatter and find something at that point.If that doesn't work, or if you're too nice to do that, then…
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S/V Mari Hal-O-Jen: SailBlogs
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Wordless Wednesday: Happy Hour
24 Jun 2009 | 1:06 pm(Continued...) -
I Need this Shirt
15 Jun 2009 | 4:31 amOf course, I'd cut it down and make it look girl-like rather than huge and baggy (which is how it would look on me) but this shirt definitely made me laugh yesterday! -
Capt Hal's Favorite JBug Came to Play Yesterday
12 Jun 2009 | 12:24 pm(Continued...) -
Wordless Wednesday: The Answer
3 Jun 2009 | 4:26 pm(Continued...) -
Cory's Going to Hate this Picture
2 Jun 2009 | 6:12 amHate to tell you this, Cory, but the planes returned yesterday after the very silent 9 days that you were here. They brought Army helicopters with them. Marianna could tell you what sort of plane this is, etc... etc... but all I can tell you is that it isn't the really loud ones. Those I can identify! Those are the ones they would not let Marianna sit in the cockpit for! Those are the ones that shake the martini glasses on the boat! They are the ones the Sigsbee Elementary "Super Bee" kiddos are named after (according to Hal)! (Continued...)
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Mental multivitamin
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Yeah, yeah, yeah.
29 Jun 2009 | 8:11 amYou don't read Newsweek. That's what so many of you have been telling me for nearly six years. Well, that's too bad because the current issue has a number of neat features:■ What to Read Now. And Why■ Now, Read it Again■ The Write Stuff■ Best. Books. Ever. -
On the nightstand
28 Jun 2009 | 6:58 amHere we go again...Books read■ The Actor and the Housewife (Shannon Hale)Melissa Wiley recommended this novel, but based on the description at Amazon ("a platonic relationship between a dashing movie star and a Mormon housewife"), I thought I would hate it. I didn't. You see, its implausible premise was undergirded by likable characters, easy banter, and emotional honesty, and I was completely charmed.In the interest of full disclosure, though, I must confess that four-fifths of our little borg collective have been sick, sick, sick these last two weeks. Fever and lethargy, coughing and... -
The man in the mirror
26 Jun 2009 | 5:48 amOne could argue that just as the words, the text, can (and should) stand alone, the songs, the performances, can.Some of my favorites:■ "I Want You Back"■ "She's Out of My Life"■ "Human Nature"■ "Man in the Mirror" -
No kidding.
26 Jun 2009 | 4:22 amFrom "Not Every Child Is Secretly a Genius" (The Chronicle Review, June 15, 2009):Perhaps in a naïve effort to deny that inconvenient truth, the debate about intelligence has become largely political, at times even facetious. Intelligence certainly is not the only predictor of success in work or in school, college, or scholarship, but it's as strong as any. Unfortunately, it's also largely genetic. Social justice, treating people the same, bringing out their best abilities are all worthy ideals. Yet we must be cautious when ideals conflict with reality. The world in which we live has no… -
20 Jun 2009 | 10:01 pm
20 Jun 2009 | 10:01 pm
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Heart of the Matter Online
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Showing a Reluctant Writer the Power of Words
2 Jul 2009 | 9:00 pmProof that God has a sense of humor: I have a child who at age 10 thinks computational fluid dynamics is a cool concept. This same child can fall into a complete meltdown when asked to write a paragraph. Since I am learning to choose my battles carefully, teaching my reluctant writer has necessitated some, ahem, creative encouragement. Try these tips to free your child’s inner Shakespeare: Let your child start a blog. Free sites such as Blogger and Wordpress make blogging easy. Settings can be made private, so you control who has access to your child’s work. Blogging gives children an… -
Welcome our new contributors
2 Jul 2009 | 10:13 amI am super pleased to introduce you to our new contributors. Each brings their own passion and style to Heart of the Matter Online and we can’t wait to read their articles, which I know will be loaded with encouragement and practical advice. I also would like to present to you a new page that shows off the beautiful people here who make Heart of the Matter possible. We have a good looking team don’t we!! Brenda is a classically eclectic mother of 5, who has a wonderful husband that encourages her to be the best woman that God has created her to be. Together they are very… -
Contributors
2 Jul 2009 | 10:07 amI am pleased to present to you a new page that shows off the beautiful people here who make Heart of the Matter possible. We have a good looking team don’t we!! Share and Enjoy: Related posts:Welcome our new contributors -
Learning Disabilities Stressing You Out?
1 Jul 2009 | 9:00 pmConsider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ~ James 1:2-3 “Consider the following four dead-end kids. One was spanked by his teachers for bad grades and a poor attitude. He dropped out of school at 16. Another failed remedial English and came perilously close to flunking out of college. The third feared he’d never make it through school–and might not have without a tutor. The last finally learned to read in third grade, devouring Marvel comics, whose pictures provided clues… -
Summer Fun: Ice Excavation and the States of Matter
30 Jun 2009 | 9:00 pmSummer does not mean that the learning has to stop. In fact, it is an ideal time to do this cool, hands-on science project! It was so beautiful outside yesterday that after the kids were done playing I got the bowl I’d been saving in the freezer and set up a mini-excavation site on the back porch. I told the kids they could use salt, a spoon, and warm water to try and figure out the best methods for extracting all of the little things frozen in the ice. I also announced that the person who collected the most would win a prize. They loved it–and they learned a few things too…
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Kitchen-Table Learners
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Update: Frankie
24 Jun 2009 | 9:56 pmEmotionally: Lots better. I'm still not fully recovered from everything, but I am so in a better place. I still get weepy when I see old men in jeans with black tennis shoes. I cried the other night at our town parade when the WWII vets were driven by. I miss my Dad. Yet, life goes on and so have I. I trudged along like I was walking knee-deep in water, then got a little closer to the shore, and -
Update: Bob and the Dogs
24 Jun 2009 | 9:07 pmWhy not lump a husband in with the dogs? He'd appreciate my humor!Bob: Nothing new. Same old. Still enjoying his job, although he's very, very busy at work at the moment. He's been my rock through everything. We'll be celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary this September. I cannot remember life without him. I know I wouldn't have fared as well without him. Our precious Apollo and Tesla--they -
Update: Thomas
24 Jun 2009 | 8:33 pmThomas has completed the seventh grade. He has grown up so fast this past year it amazes me. He is one inch shorter than I am. It is very strange standing and being able to look him in the eye. He seems so old now. Not that 13 is old, but he is maturing quickly.At this very moment, he's away at summer camp. The first day he was gone, I missed him fiercely. Now I'm fine, knowing he's having fun. -
They're Back
24 Jun 2009 | 8:15 pmSaid to the tune of the sweet little girl in the movie Poltergeist!I've done a bit of tweaking to the old blog here. Like the monkeys? We're not monkeying around, though! We've been busy.Will give a long overdue update tomorrow!Frankie =) -
March
18 Mar 2009 | 9:06 pmIt's March, it's spring fever time. We're in middle school, not too exciting to blog about.I think I'm going to take a blog break for awhile.I'll be back after awhile, when I feel inspiried to write something, anything.
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SCHOLA
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Demon-Haunted
24 Jun 2009 | 9:58 amIronic isn't it that my religious friends seem to think the world is becoming more wicked, ruled by Satan, and headed towards its ultimate demise, Armageddon, when really it seems to be an increase in ignorance, majorly perpetrated and propagated by religion, that could cause our demise?The Tree of Knowledge, ha. -
Camp Reports
24 Jun 2009 | 9:31 amSarabelle is up in the northern part of the state, or, as she first referred to it on her Facebook status, "Tallastupidhassee," at the 4-H Legislature, and here are the texts I've received so far:Monday - We r basically at the place so tell dad okMonday - This is gay I want to come home loads of weirdos and nerds and I don't get what I'm supposed to be doing I haaaaaaaaaate thissssssss but yay for sat and sun don't ever make me do this again ok? Love [Sarabelle]Tuesday - This sucks I hate it and want to come hooooome its so boring it makes me hate politics so muchWednesday - [Upon receiving… -
Summer Reading Lists
24 Jun 2009 | 8:30 amGrice's summer reading list has yielded a few good reads for me. I devoured The Secret Life of Bees, her selection for English, and am onto her honors biology suggested selections now. Can I just try and tell you how happy I was when I saw the choices?Only a Theory: Evoution and the Battle for America's SoulYour Inner Fish: A Journey into the 3.5 Billion-Year History of the Human BodyThe Making of the Fittest: DNA and the Ultimate Forensic Record of EvolutionThe Weather Makers: How Man is Changing the Climate and What It Means for Life on EarthThe Selfish GeneAmerican Women of ScienceGorillas… -
"Come with us now on a journey through time and space..."
14 Jun 2009 | 8:38 amOld Form ancient Greek comedy: All male cast consisting of a handful of performers playing numerous roles; costumed chorus; the agon, or dispute between characters; the parabasis, or choral section halting the action and speaking directly to the audience; scatological and sexual references; ridiculous and surreal plot lines used as a means of discussing political and social realities; pointed satires of well-known individuals.Sounds like The Mighty Boosh to Sarabelle and me.Some highlights from Adult Swim: -
What Are the Odds?
31 May 2009 | 4:57 pmGrice and I attended the inaugural class luncheon and tour for her new collegiate high school yesterday. I was amazed at the turnout. The group seemed to be pretty balanced between boys and girls, and minority students were fairly represented along the lines of our county's demographics. I thought it was interesting that a random draw would produce such an equitable result. My friend was more skeptical about the supposed randomness of the draw. I don't believe there was enough room for tampering, but then again, I don't know enough about statistics. If there were 100 students chosen out of…
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Home*School*Home
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I hate trying to think up a title.
1 Jul 2009 | 7:29 pmI have no idea how to title today. It was busy, but I've already titled a post 'busy day" I tried using the title "well" but it was used already too. I've used "okay" before too. Today was really just okay. We did some things, none of them too terribly exciting and now I'm supposed to be working. Actually I am working, except for right this minute, when I'm transmitting reports on the world's slowest internet and so having a minute to blog. I finished the Bartimaeus Trilogy of books by Johnathon Stroud. (spoiler alert!!!) I was… -
I spoke too soon.
1 Jul 2009 | 7:00 amI did not get the easy dictations last night. Oh well. Nothing is ever easy is it? -
Cleaning.
30 Jun 2009 | 10:00 amI finally broke down and bought the book "The house that cleans itself" (after checking it out of the library at least twice) and we are going to try and implement as much of it as we can. The thing is with our house that everything doesn't have a place. We have too much stuff for our available places to put stuff. Decluttering works somewhat but we are always aquiring new things, it seems like, even if we don't buy things, people give us things. I'm just as bad as everyone else. I'm trying to balance things out a bit for example, I bought new books at the book swap so I got rid of the books… -
The pool is up!
29 Jun 2009 | 6:40 pmI tried to share pictures of it but I can't find my camera cord (again!). It'll turn up eventually. I took a few pictures of the pool itself and then my silly family all getting in the pool before it was even filled up all the way (cold water!), before I left and went to the neurologist, but I couldn't share those even if I found my cord, because they threatened that if pictures of them in the pool turned up on my blog, that soon, film of me snoring would show up on America's Funniest Videos. Apparently, Freckles and I have a great synchronized snoring show that… -
Almost pool time!
29 Jun 2009 | 6:36 amMy father-in-law came over yesterday with his tractor and helped us move the gravel and sand to try and make a flat place on the side of our knob and it's almost ready to put the pool there and fill it up. My husband has gone to town to get a tarp (the one we had wasn't big enough) to put the pool on and then we'll inflate it and go. Very exciting! Today, I'll be taking my mom to the neurologist (fun!) who I suspect makes only morning appointments and afternoon appointments and makes everyone wait until they just feel like they might die. I'm not sure what the reason…
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Homeschool Math Blog
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Office furniture giveaway
30 Jun 2009 | 10:06 amHere is your chance to win a piece of office furniture in this little giveaway contest:First go check www.csnOfficeFurniture.com website and find a piece you'd like to have if you are the lucky winner. It needs to be $135 or less in value.Then, to participate, purchase any of the Math Mammoth or Make It Real Learning products at Kagi store between now and July 9, 2009.In the comments field on the order page, put either the name of the piece of furniture you'd like to win or the URL to its web page. If you leave this comment field blank, I will not know that you wish to participate so it is… -
Math Teachers At Play #10
26 Jun 2009 | 3:00 amWelcome to the tenth edition of Math Teachers At Play blog carnival! Here with the heat of the summer, "less is more". We concentrate on teaching issues, but also get to "play" a bit with binary numbers, geometry, integers, and an optical illusion.TEACHINGWhat's a math teacher going to do with Wolfram | Alpha ?In case you haven't heard... Wolfram|Alpha is a new, computational search engine. And if you're a math teacher, you should be aware of it.Collection of Web Freebies discusses Wolfram|Alpha as your Personal Free Online Math Assistant.I wrote an introduction to Wolfram|Alpha as well. I… -
Wolfram|Alpha is here
22 Jun 2009 | 9:27 amWolfram|Alpha is a new, computational search engine. If you do a query where the answer has quantitative data, Wolfram|Alpha probably gives it.For example, try enter your last name. Wolfram|Alpha gives you information about the popularity of that name. For example, "miller" ranks 6th within the US and there are about 1,128,000 people with that surname.Enter a first name, and it will even give you a graph showing the name's popularity over the years. I just found out that Cindy's popularity peaked in about 1960. No wonder it is a common first name among the mothers who ask me questions about… -
Measuring worksheets
18 Jun 2009 | 2:45 pmI finally got around to creating another worksheet generator that had been "lacking" for a while from my "collection" - measuring units worksheets. Those where you ask kids to convert 6 cups to ounces, or 5 kg 40 g to grams.Measuring units worksheetsThese are free and printable. I've made lots of ready-made links for some common type worksheets, but of course with the generator you can customize it how you want. Both metric and customary units are included; however I did not include all possible metric units, because the focus here is for grades 3, 4, and 5. -
Integer subtraction
9 Jun 2009 | 10:02 amI recently finished another video of mine, this time on the topic of subtraction of integers. You can watch it here:Subtracting IntegersIn it, I explain three different models that we can use to justify the rules for subtracting integers to the students. The three models are:1) number line jumps;2) concept of difference;3) counters.Please read about these models in more detail in my updated article How to teach operations with integers.
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Crazy Everyday Blessings
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These days are busy...
8 Jun 2009 | 8:00 amMy sister bought him some sunglasses to take to Floriday. We were waiting at Publix and he kicked back on the hammock. I guess that means it is summer - time to relax and have some fun!As often as I hope to blog, I have something dragging me away. I thought summer would mean less on my plate, but the truth is that June is insanely busy! I don't have much on the calendar for July, but I am sure that is set to change rapidly. I have probably lost all of my readers because I have become that awful blogger I used to whine about. The one that sucked me into reading about her family that I didn't… -
Good friends...
2 May 2009 | 7:41 amTricia (or Patty as some of you know her as) and Me!!!This is another "trip to Illinois" post. One of the main reasons I wanted to go to Illinois was to see my friends. These are my friends I grew up with. They are home. They are actually where I did begin in many ways. Tricia and I have been friends since we were 2 years old. We don't remember ever not being friends. She is my sister - my family. When I think of her I feel love. Sometimes we don't talk for awhile. There have been times when we haven't talked for close to a year. It doesn't matter - we are family. At this point - we hadn't… -
Visit with Great Grandma in Illinois...
1 May 2009 | 6:49 amGoofy boy on a Cow!The kids with Great Grandma Gladys.More ice cream pictures on my blog, imagine that!She did one with a normal smile, but I like this one better.While were were in Illinois, we got to have lunch with the kids' great grandma. Grandma Gladys is Tim's maternal grandmother. We met her at Colonial Ice Cream one day. I asked my friend, Jorgena to go along because we were staying with her. The minute I told her Colonial - she started to laugh. I was like, "What the heck is your problem?" Then I remembered. Colonial has some very odd memories for us. When we were teenagers her mom… -
30 Apr 2009 | 9:04 pm
30 Apr 2009 | 9:04 pmThis past Monday, my sister-in-law, Karen and I were at Girl Scouts with Savannah and Karis. I was talking to one of the other moms there. I was telling how Tim had been laid off last week, blah, blah, blah. This mom is one of the sweetest people I know and she was really concerned. She very kindly asked if I was okay. I told her I sat in my closet and cried for about 30 minutes and then I came out. Our conversation went on to reveal that I wasn't always this calm about things. Nope, not in the least. A few years ago, I would have been in a full on panic over a lay off. Two unemployed adults… -
More snow pictures...
23 Apr 2009 | 8:19 amWe are off to field day with our homeschool friends, but I wanted to upload more stuff. I looked at my new blog layout and noticed it showed total number of posts by year. You can see my total has tanked this year! So, I am aiming to get blogging. Here are more photos from our one day of snow in Illinois.He was so funny! I loved his silly face in this one!Her very first snowman - EVER!!!Making his first snow angel.Isn't it pretty when you know it will only be there for one day?
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Holy Experience
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Old Love
1 Jul 2009 | 9:00 pmHe came bearing jam from a dead woman's hand,found at the bottom of a freezer he was cleaning outand when he handed it to me,like a ruby artifact dug up from the bowels of Pompeii,I could only think of her bones in the cemetery these two long years,rain and snow and sun falling on silent gravestone,and yet still she will serve us jamand still we will thank her and lick our lips,tasting the sweetness of love.But it took weeks before we finally broke the jar's seal,(who could bear to? lid with her handwriting that made me hurt),before we popped that lid open that she had screwed tight three… -
Journaling as a Spiritual Discipline: 8 Reasons to Journal (& some inspiration)
30 Jun 2009 | 10:00 pmMy longings lie open before you, O Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you." ~Ps. 38:91. Because journaling is a place to be unmasked and meet GodSo we lay ourselves out on the page....“A journal can become a sacred place,” writes Magaret Feinberg. “Mere blank pages are transformed into a site where you can record the most intimate parts of your soul. A place where you can travel with your deepest thoughts and confessions. A place where you can slip off the mask of who you are supposed to be and slip into something more comfortable: who you really are.”We lay who we really are before… -
Conversation: How Can I be a better Wife?
29 Jun 2009 | 9:30 pmI ask him at the end of the trail, the end of the weekend, the end of fifteen years. I ask him before we set out again.We sit under the oaks, green banners flying in the wind. There had been a pause in our passing of words back and forth and it was what I was really wondering, so I’d stepped out into the fear (who knows how’d he answer?) and just released the words, slow and quiet, one at a time.“How could I be a better wife to you?”His eyes hold me. Like he knew we were coming to this. This bare, unashamed place. Intimacy is only a possibility when we slip out of small talk and… -
Multitudes on a Monday
29 Jun 2009 | 1:30 amCounting the multitudes on a Monday... the best way to begin a week!1026. It had been too long since I stretched out and watched leaves dance.Lures on the ends of twigs, bobbing in blue, they caught me and I floated.1027. In early morning still, our words unfurled at water's edge over glasses of orange juice, a long conversation blooming a delicate memory.1028. When he slammed it over the fence, I squealed louder than the kids, and we all wildly cheer him in over home plate. I feel eighteen again when he flashes that grin.1029. He's always wanted to fly. Come summer, he takes to the sky. The… -
State of the House and Poets' Dreams
26 Jun 2009 | 1:30 amI think of it every Thursday, our cleaning day. We dust and pick up and scrub down and toss out and tidy up all our creativity still in process, the necessary trail of our 10,000 hours (the legos, the wood, the paper, the nails, the books, the paints, the material, the pots and pans) and I think of words from the novel, The Diary of a Country Priest:"A parish is bound to be dirty. A whole Christian society's a lot dirtier. ..."Some filth! Which all goes to prove, boy, that the church must needs be a sound housewife -- sound and sensible. My nun wasn't a real housewife; a real housewife knows…
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radio free school
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Students learn K-6 math in less than 20 weeks
2 Jul 2009 | 4:59 amAnd 'Rithmetic, by Daniel Greenberg -
Sudbury Valley School
1 Jul 2009 | 12:21 pmSudbury Valley School (founded in 1968 in Framingham, Massachusetts, United States) practice a form of democratic education in which students individually decide what to do with their time, and learn as a by-product of ordinary experience rather than through classes or a standard curriculum. Students are given complete responsibility for their own education and the school is run by a direct democracy in which students and staff are equals.There are now over 30 schools based on the Sudbury Model in the United States, Denmark, Israel, Japan, Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. -
Reaching goals-a communal effort
28 Jun 2009 | 6:03 pmShe lost her nerve; she couldn't play the piece she'd played perfectly two weeks ago. Mistakes kept cropping up. Panic ensued. She refused to play at the concert but mum wouldn't let her give up, nor stew in her frustration either. She knew that her daughter needed a way to tackle her trouble. Mum asked the music teacher if, when the other kids had gone home after the concert she might go over the trouble spots with her daughter. The teacher applauded the idea.Enter the helping team:over and over student and teacher worked out the difficulties while grandma and grandpa,parents,sisters,and… -
Dream Big
24 Jun 2009 | 9:55 amM told me she wants to be a famous actor. I said 'one step at a time'- you have to work towards your goals. She said if you don't have a dream, and if you don't actively keep envisioning it than it can not come true. I realize that she is right. I don't dream enough. I have been afraid to dream- to 'dare to dream.'Elder's Meditation of the Day - Wednesday, June 24, 2009, "Believing people can soar beyond ordinary life." --Fools Crow, LAKOTA We are created by God to be vision people. First we set the goal and then we see. If we create within ourselves a picture or vision and we hold that… -
Open it up!
22 Jun 2009 | 9:27 amOkay, so I am on a John Taylor Gatto roll. You will be seeing, listening and reading more of Gatto on this blog because what he has to say is of greater urgency than ever before. Our physical world is threatened by our stupidity, yet we keep educating (read 'schooling') our kids based on the same principles we've been upholding since state education became compulsory 150 years ago.In this really long video you will listen to Gatto talk about a strategy of learning called Open Source Learning. Inspired by Linus Tovalds's Open System (in contrast to Microsoft's hoarding approach) Open source…
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Unschooling Site News, SandraDodd.com
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Piaget, School/"child-led", typical overnight
27 Jun 2009 | 8:07 amPiaget's Stages of Cognitive Developmenthttp://sandradodd.com/piagetI made a page from an unschooling point of view; it's worth knowing but it's not worth making a religion about.On the page about public school on your own terms, I've added a note (in a box, halfway down on the right). That article is twelve years old, in September, and I wanted to note some changes in my awareness. http://sandradodd.com/schoolchoiceTypical day (though it was at night)http://sandradodd.com/day/robynnight(The photo is Kirby and Marty, in Austin, a few days ago. They are 22 and 20 years old. There's a shadow… -
Being friends, eye contact, fathers' day thoughts
21 Jun 2009 | 8:42 amKeith and Holly, two days agoPam Sorooshian, mostly, on whether children need a parent or a friend:http://sandradodd.com/friendSome comments on the value and uses of making eye contact:http://sandradodd.com/eyecontactOn Being a Father, "Father's Day maunders," link, quote and backup link added tohttp://sandradodd.com/dads -
Quality time, things to hear
15 Jun 2009 | 11:55 pmWhat do we mean by "quality'? What do we mean by "time"?http://sandradodd.com/being/withNew index page about things to listen to:http://sandradodd.com/listenFor the "Big Book of Unschooling" I'm working on I needed a single link instead of several. I had expected the book to be created from the website; didn't know the book would be building on the website, but that's fine. -
Help needed with a project
14 Jun 2009 | 5:05 pmLee Stranahan who, with his wife Lauren, performed the technical wizardry that made Peaceful Parenting and some of my other talks available to hear free, has been interviewing me quite a bit, and Holly some, and plans to interview Broc and Brenna (maybe Gail and Logan) later this month, and who has personal family experience to share, is creating a DVD about unschooling but needs starter funding. Click that box for more details.That's their daughter, Olivia, in the photo.Some of the things the Stranahans have already made available to unschoolers on my… -
To read and to hear and attend
12 Jun 2009 | 9:07 pmHolly and Ben in Silver City this week.Two new transcripts for videos,http://sandradodd.com/video/sandra2http://sandradodd.com/video/sandra3One new-improved (I found the handout) audio file from when my kids were 9, 7 and 4 years old:http://sandradodd.com/introductionMonkey Platter Festival Confirmed for November 10-12, 2008, Albuquerquehttp://sandradodd.com/festival09
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Sandra Dodd
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Two New Cats
28 Jun 2009 | 9:12 amThese cats have been here a month, but they were nervous and unhappy at first, so they lived in the library and the other pets wondered what was up. Today for the first time I carried Mina, the Siamese-looking-one (she's a Birman) down the stairs from the library into the yard. The other one, Nuee (re-tagged "New Age" and then "Sketchy" by Holly), has been going outside for a couple of weeks, but Mina ("Mina Felina") has only been as far as the main upstairs, to sleep under Holly's bed a few rooms away, a few times. Here they are this morning, outside.These two had their first intro to human… -
Kirby and Marty and friends in Austin
27 Jun 2009 | 9:34 am -
Broc Higgins on video
23 Jun 2009 | 8:00 amThere's part of a longer interview with Broc here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/968679247/unschooling-the-movie/posts/385Lee also interviewed Brenna McBroom here yesterday. It would have been nice if they could have had their beautiful home as a backdrop rather than my own cluttered house, but use your imagination. All their rooms are beautiful. We shared Father's Day dinner in a window corner of Fuddrucker's, and though I double checked to make sure I had a camera when we left, I forgot to take a photo of Keith and Broc sitting together, which they did without even a photographer's… -
New, out the back gate
22 Jun 2009 | 3:00 pmEarlier today:After years of vacant lot, they built a Popeye's Chicken behind us, but it didn't even last a year, I don't think. It closed a few months ago. There've been construction guys there for a week or so, and today The News:"Fastino's. Never heard of it. Looking...Holly had said "I hope it's drive through Italian!" I said it would probably be Mexican, but Holly's right. It's a Pizza Hut subsidiary. COOL!I don't know where this one is, but as I can find very little about it, I've lifted this from a business article:The new Fastino's menu includes Italian specialty pastas, such as… -
A Hippie Wedding
21 Jun 2009 | 11:32 amHolly and I went to Steve and Beau's wedding yesterday, a nearly two-hour drive into what seemed the middle of nowhere, but I do know vaguely where we were, in the southern Manzano Mountains. We were calling it a hippie wedding, but the groom referred to it as "a Pagan, Native-American, Buddhist, Jewish ceremony conducted by a heretic Catholic priest."Keith had been out there all of Saturday a week ago, half of Friday, and is still up there to break down all the tents and bring back the tables and chairs and tents that were ours.Keith was brushing his hair to tie it back, and Holly and I had…
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Learning in Freedom
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My travelin' kid
23 Jun 2009 | 7:29 pmWhile we've been gardening and playing with friends and working and such, Jared has been doing things like climbing "The Butte" in Palmer Alaska:He ran in his first race this week, a 10k at 10pm called the Midnight Sun Run in Fairbanks. I ran it a few times in High school, once with my Dad and sister Heidi (the same sister with whom Jared is living right now and ran the race again this year, along with my nephews Tristan and Kevin).He's already changed and I'm not even there to watch it happen. It's cool and a bit strange but I'm really excited about all the amazing things he's doing. Life… -
Being your child's friend
21 Jun 2009 | 8:10 amI remember a moment very clearly from my teen years. My Mum and I had another of our screaming matches and I had stormed off to my room, slamming the door while crying those big, heavy, uncomfortable sobs. I was still sitting on my bed a while later, trying to find some comfort in my space when she knocked and asked to come in. She had cooled off a bit and was trying to reach out. I remember telling her, through all the snot and tears, "I just need you to be my friend". Her response? "I can't be your friend, I'm your parent".She wasn't trying to be mean, she was buying into the conventional… -
Lovely synchronicity
18 Jun 2009 | 12:29 pmToday, Sierra and I were uploading and editing pictures from the last week, photos of Music on the Square with the Gavins, Bowmans, Chittums and Traaseths, photos of the storms moving through the last couple of days etc...As I sat out in my art room organizing just now, a song came on from a CD that Zenmomma mixed. It was a James song titled "Waltzing Along". I had that weird feeling of "knowing" but I couldn't figure out why...there were words in the song that were familiar not by having heard them before but something else.Then it hit me!! The words were on Laura's shirt she wore to Music… -
Trip to the NW: The Beach
17 Jun 2009 | 6:26 pmWe spent the 18th driving to Tillamook to visit the cheese factory, Cannon Beach where we explored Haystack Rock and then on to Seaside for some shop browsing and arcade fun.The cheese factory is much more sterile and touristy than it was when I visited as a kid. But the ice cream and cheese are still amazing.I love Haystack rock where you can get up close and personal to sea creatures, the smaller variety anyway.The kids seem to spend most of their time in the very cold water and digging in the wet sand until their lips are blue.Hot coffee and no water play were in order for me....thank you… -
David Carradine
17 Jun 2009 | 1:06 pmI just wanted to post this video of David Carradine on the night that I briefly met him! He was at the party I attended in Beverly Hills. I adored Kung Fu returns and the Kill Bill series...sure wish I'd gotten a pic with him. Anyway, here is the video interview of him that night. Rest in Peace Mr. Carradine.
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Home Schooling News
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Home schooling for young robbery perps
1 Jul 2009 | 5:07 amUnder the program, youths under 18 arrested for robbery will work with cops from Police Housing Area 5, who will visit their homes and teach their families how to prevent them from falling into a life of crime, police said. -
Response: This clampdown on home education doesn't help children | Carolyne Willow
30 Jun 2009 | 10:35 amFundamental changes to the law affecting the rights and the freedom of about 80,000 children may be sneaked into a bill going through parliament, after the review into home education by Graham Badman . -
'The parenting police' - you hit out at home education plans
28 Jun 2009 | 10:30 amParents are hitting back at plans for what they believe are Big Brother-style powers to inspect home schooling. -
Home schooling priorities [Pharyngula]
26 Jun 2009 | 10:11 amThe Week In ScienceBlogs: Sign up for our newsletter. Profile I reserve the right to publicly post, with full identifying information about the source, any email sent to me that contains threats of violence. -
HOME-SCHOOLING: School districts receive net gain
25 Jun 2009 | 3:58 amComments In my ongoing search for information and studies on the impact of home-schooling, I found an interesting study by John Wenders and Andrea Clements called "Homeschooling in Nevada: The Budgetary Impact." This study, sponsored by the Nevada Policy Research Institute, an independent research organization that neither seeks nor accepts any ...
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HomeSchoolBuzz.com
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NASCAR’s Homeschooled Star
2 Jul 2009 | 8:07 pmNASCAR’s Homeschooled Star This past weekend, Joey Logano became the first home scholar to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup series race. Who said that homeschoolers, numbering around two million, only make the news for succeeding at spelling bees and outscoring the competition on standardized tests?Adding to the historic nature of the victory, Logano, all of 19 years old, became the youngest NASCAR winner ever. He did it at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, and even overcame a crash to do so. Blowing by the competition, which included Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Jeff Gordon, Logano made Home… -
Carnival of Homeschooling - multi-part edition
30 Jun 2009 | 12:03 pmCarnival of Homeschooling - multi-part edition A multi-part theme to this carnival of homeschooling by Sherene at examiner.comWelcome to part 1 of the 181st Carnival of Homeschooling. I've broken this carnival into separate parts, each one dealing with a specific topic. Part one combines musings on summer activities with ideas for activities. Read more...The 183rd Carnival of Homeschooling - Part 1, "The lazy days of summer"The 183rd Carnival of Homeschooling - Part 2, "To unschool or not"The 183rd Carnival of Homeschooling - Part 3 , "This is the homeschool life"The 183rd Carnival of… -
Homeschooling Losing ground in Europe
28 Jun 2009 | 6:01 amHomeschooling Losing ground in Europe Michael Smith in the Washington Times:While home-schooling freedom and flexibility continues to improve in the U.S., it appears to be going in the opposite direction in Europe. Germany leads the way as the most oppressive European state, because it routinely fines and threatens to imprison home-schoolers.While other European countries have not embraced the German methods, there is a move in some countries to crack down on home-schoolers. Read more... -
Homeschooling: from fringe to mainstream?
26 Jun 2009 | 4:40 amHomeschooling: from fringe to mainstream? Via Yahoo NewsCOLUMBIA, Maryland (AFP) – When Elizabeth Dean was four, her mother took her out of kindergarten to teach her at home because she could already read the children's classic "Charlotte's Web" while the other kids were just learning how to write the letter "C".That was 10 years ago and homeschooling was "still on the fringe of acceptability", Elizabeth's mother Lisa Dean told AFP in between classes in the family home on the history of ancient Rome, the writings of Edgar Allen Poe, online geometry and English for Elizabeth, 14, and… -
Girl left school at 13, to college at 15
25 Jun 2009 | 4:46 amGirl left school at 13, to college at 15According to this article the girl felt her creativity was being suppressed by the government school. “It was Lottie’s decision to leave school,” explained mum Melanie.“She felt the school was killing her creativity especially her creative writing. She was so advanced with her grammar and spelling that her teachers did not believe her words were her own which really upset her. She is also very artistic and highly intelligent for her age.”“It was her decision to leave, which I of course supported,” added Melanie. Read more...
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The History of the (Whole) World
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Further thoughts on Sanford…
2 Jul 2009 | 7:58 amThat is, if you’re not sick of the topic. Here are a few of my thoughts: in the Washington Post, and in two audio interviews that ran on NPR stations this morning. on-public-grovels-long-version on-public-grovels -
How not to respond to a bad review
30 Jun 2009 | 9:51 amIf you read my Twitter updates, you probably saw this one: “Never, never argue with a bad review. Chant fifty times. Repeat ad infinitum.” It’s so tempting to explain exactly why a reviewer who didn’t like your book has the comprehension skills of a mole. But every writer I know who’s done this regrets it. The following is courtesy of Publishers Marketplace Go Ask Alice: Author Hoffman Shows Authors Not to Tweet In Anger, Apologizes With one angry electronic outburst novelist Alice Hoffman may have changed how many readers view her. After novelist and longtime… -
Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-06-28
28 Jun 2009 | 12:21 pmGetting ready to watch another global-disaster mini-series. I think the moon is going to hit the earth. I LOVE these. # Off the grid for family day (not to be confused with “day off”). # Email box is down to 115 messages! Woo hoo! # DS12 is making pumpkin cookies. # DS12 is eating pumpkin cookies. # Never, never argue with a bad review. Chant fifty times. Repeat ad infinitum. # Darn it, I can’t find my cell phone… # Note to self: When you call lost cell phone, remember that bottom of purse is apparently inside Cone of Silence. # DS12 doing math tutorial by Skype, DS15… -
An hour and a half at the TV studio, a fifteen-second soundbite, and then…
26 Jun 2009 | 9:30 amMichael Jackson swallowed the entire Fourth Estate. Whole. So yesterday was my Writing Day, the day I usually try to go off the grid to get some actual WORK done. But by the time I got to my office, I already had four emails and five voice messages from reporters asking for comments on Governor Sanford’s lame confession. (You may remember that I wrote a book about this.) In how many ways was it lame? Here are the top four… 1. Never said “I sinned.” Just, “I hurt people” (a good thing to admit, but makes it sound like an accident), “I apologize”… -
I want this guy’s life.
23 Jun 2009 | 8:57 amMaybe it’s just an aftereffect of doing all the history, but I want to make up universes for the next ten years for $$$$. One Million Pounds= = Slightly Less
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The Thinking Mother
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The Old Days
2 Jul 2009 | 3:00 pmI have no clue now what the heck they were looking at.This photo is so cute.Love it.Back then my boys were aged 3.5 and 6.5.You know the cliche. It is true. Time does fly. Enjoy your little ones while they are little.Photo taken by ChristineMM in April 2004.copyright 2005-2009 The Thinking Mother -
Thought Provoking Criticism of Science and Health in America
2 Jul 2009 | 3:00 amLast weekend CSPAN’s BookTV re-ran a book author lecture that originally was taped on 5/28/08. It was author David Michaels talking about his book “Doubt is their Product: How Industry’s Assault on Science Threatens Our Health” which was published in April 2008.I found the author’s talk easy to understand as a layperson who already had some ideas and knew some information about the way the studies and government agencies work. I was already aware of how conflicts of interest that individuals have who are on boards for the government that make decisions about whether to approve a… -
My Little Bob the Builder
1 Jul 2009 | 3:00 pmAh the carefree days....to have them back again...My kids have a much better childhood than I did, it's a fact. I work hard to provide them with a better experience than I had.I hope they realize how good they had it.My kids have no clue how crappy some kids' lives are, even American kids. They are lucky to be spared some of the really bad real life experiences that some American kids live with.Photo of my younger son when he was 3.5 years old.Photo taken by ChristineMM in April 2004.copyright 2005-2009 The Thinking Mother -
Singapore Math Scope & Sequence Online
1 Jul 2009 | 3:00 amIn case you are looking for, or are curious to see the Sinagpore Math scope and sequence, it took me a few minutes to find on the site. Today I found it located inside the product information for the textbook under a tab called "contents and samples".I started at this list of Singapore Math for grades 1-6 (Primary Math).Then I clicked on the Textbook, then on the right tab that says "contents and samples".As of today the workbooks I looked at did not have a scope and sequence, just the textbooks.I find the site a bit hard to navigate.Technorati Tags: Singapore Math, Primary Math, math scope… -
It Sucked and Then I Cried Book Review by ChristineMM
30 Jun 2009 | 2:53 pmIt Sucked and Then I Cried Book Review by ChristineMMTitle: It Sucked and Then I Cried: How I Had a Baby, a Breakdown and a Much Needed MargaritaAuthor: Heather B. ArmstrongPublication: Simon Spotlight Entertainment, March 2009Star Rating: 4 stars out of 5 = I Liked ItSummary Statement: Good Storytelling, Funny, Not Serious or Deep ReflectionsThis is a memoir capturing the intentional conception of the author’s first child, the pregnancy and the first nine months of mothering. Very important to the author’s story is that she had suffered from clinical depression and was under prescription…
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Throwing Marshmallows
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And How About Another One
2 Jul 2009 | 7:47 pmStill having fun playing around with Photoshop actions. I think there are some benefits to having black and white dogs…they make great B&W pictures! -
Cute Puppy Picture
30 Jun 2009 | 8:02 pmWith a title like that you just had to look, right? Here is our Miss Jez out on our back deck…she really is too cute for words. Wishing I had more hours in the day because I really want to play around in Photoshop more now that I have discovered actions. I am also realizing how much better my photos can be with even a little bit of post processing. I had decided that I would never post any photos if I worried about getting them “just right” with any kind of post processing so I did not worry about it. But am now starting to wonder if maybe I can find a middle ground and… -
Let Summer Begin
24 Jun 2009 | 8:51 pmThe boys and I made it down (up?) to Ocean City and I finally feel ready to start summer. Still lots of unpacking to do and stocking up the refrigerator, but we already made it to one of our favorite places, Anthony’s, for dinner and plan to hit another favorite, Laytons, for breakfast. Not sure what we will try first (guess it depends on the weather, which from what I have heard has not been all that great). Jez and Ellie have been exploring the yard (I have lots of weeding to do!) and really like the dock. We’ll have to see if the cats keep me up all night like they have… -
Survived Our First Tent Camping Experience
19 Jun 2009 | 6:17 pmThanks only to the help of wonderful friends! We had a great time, but this experience has reinforced the idea that camping is done best with friends and I will never try it on my own. But despite leaving half my tent poles at home (please don’t ask me how), having my battery die 3 times at the campsite and a huge midnight thunderstorm, we had a great time. We camped on the beach with 4 other homeschool families at Breezy Point, Maryland. Luckily it was plenty warm for swimming and the evenings were beautiful. There was a pier where some of the boys hung crab traps (and caught several… -
ABC's of Me
12 Jun 2009 | 7:42 amI am busy packing for our camping trip with friends this weekend (our first time tent camping!), so I figured that I would use this meme I did over on Facebook to tide you over until I got back. Enjoy! A - Age: 41 B - Bed size: King C - Chore you hate: Keeping the house picked up D - Dog’s name: Current - Ellie and Jez, Childhood - Snoopy, Buffy, Bootz E - Essential start your day item: Shower and time to fully wake up (hate to be rushed) F - Favorite color: Not sure I have one…ilke strong colors, NOT pastels G - Gold or Silver: Gold H - Height: 5’2” I - Instruments…
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The Informed Parent
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Butter through the ages
2 Jul 2009 | 4:00 amButter - the everlasting delight of the gourmand, the faithful ally of the culinary arts, the constant symbol of good living. Butter through the ages -
Wild Word Game
1 Jul 2009 | 4:00 amWild Word West -
Bookmobile History
30 Jun 2009 | 4:00 amThis Bookmobile: Past. Present. Future. from Tulsa City County Library offers many resources about their Bookmobile. How it started, what it does now and where it is going. I’m sure other cities have similar stories to tell. Bookmobile: Past. Present.Future -
A Rapping Math Teacher
29 Jun 2009 | 6:00 am -
Life is like a cup of coffee
28 Jun 2009 | 6:00 am
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HOME ED MAG NEWS
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Oregon Homeschooling-Don’t Ask Alice
1 Jul 2009 | 6:06 amHome school in the Willamette Valley By Therese ONeill WillametteLive If there remains one way to shock friends and family in an open-minded 21st century society, it is to tell them that you are considering home-schooling your children. Home education is a burdened concept, calling to mind the odd classmate from high school that couldn’t make eye contact [...] -
Florida: Homeschooling is “Rich Soil for Learning”
29 Jun 2009 | 7:26 amGreat looking “home-grown” veggies in the pictures Homeschooling offers a rich soil for learning Tampa Bay Times By MINDY RUBENSTEIN, June 27, 2009 They [homeschool support group] go on field trips to local parks and to the zoo. And they work together to tend a large, thriving garden at one member’s Zephyrhills home. They grow herbs, watermelons, strawberries, corn, [...] -
Going Mainstream
25 Jun 2009 | 1:36 pmI thought this article below was interesting, in that it came from business media in Dubai. But the piece covered a Maryland homeschooling family, and the usual (not necessarily accurate) rendition of modern homeschool history. Homeschooling goes from fringe to mainstream in US Emirates Business 24/7 - June 25, 2009 At the height of the hippy culture [...] -
Home-schoolers embrace Free Minds
25 Jun 2009 | 10:01 amEncouraging to read this piece about homeschooling in PA. Home-schooling is not about staying at home, a misperception that makes many home-school parents roll their eyes. In fact, home-schooled children are usually out exploring the community, or attending classes designed for home-schoolers at Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Science Center, the zoo, libraries or nature [...] -
Living and Learning on the Farm
25 Jun 2009 | 4:58 amMy daughter Sophia, the one who wears a princess dress to pick slugs out of the woodpile so she can feed them to the chickens, seemed content with Brian’s answer about meat. She was curious enough, too, to come out on the morning when Tom the butcher came to visit. We got an anatomy lesson [...]
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Consent Of The Governed
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Another Stimulus Story - Your Tax Dollars Hard At Work
2 Jul 2009 | 8:01 pmHow do you like THAT use of taxpayer money? -
Hyperinflation - Audit The Fed - End The Fed!
2 Jul 2009 | 5:30 amThe economic cycles of inflation/expansion/recession/depression are a direct result of deliberate manipulation of the money supply by the Federal Reserve. Believe it!Bernanke and company know EXACTLY what they are doing.National Inflation Association -
Helicopter Parents, Letting Go, And Homeschooling
1 Jul 2009 | 5:05 amI had the pleasure of attending a college orientation program these past two days. "The girl" went to the students sessions with her freshman peers, and the husband and I got to be with the parents.Oh my goodness.... all I can say is what a blessing that we homeschooled our daughter!First of all, many of these helicopter parents were a mess... the school was literally handing out Kleenex. Talk about separation anxiety!! Well, I know this is our third going off to college - but honestly... you'd think these people would get a grip. The kids are adults already! They have lives of their own… -
RFID Micro-chipping Of Everyone Is On The Horizon
30 Jun 2009 | 4:00 amCredit cards now have (Radio Frequency ID) RFID chips in them.Supermarkets are already tracking your purchases with shopper cards and now scanners. This was talked about back in 2002.Chipping people by implanting chips subdermally is already here.This is going to be part of your Universal Healthcare too.Why do you think they want to digitize all of our records?They say it's to make healthcare cheaper... so do you believe that?Currently they are chipping some soldiers and first responders, prisoners, the elderly, school children's backpacks and clothing, and the willing. When they get enough… -
How Is Federal Stimulus Money Being Spent In CT?
29 Jun 2009 | 5:00 amYankee Institute cites a report by PoleEcon Research that claims that less than half of the $3.5 billion of program funding in so-called "stimulus" money allocated to Connecticut will be spent on things that might actually stimulate the economy. Overall, CT will get $5.1 Billion in stimulus money ($3.5 Billion in program funding, $1.5 billion in individual tax breaks, and $111 million "net" corporate tax breaks). Here is a CT Stimulus Update.The report states that most of the $3.5 billion in government stimulus money is actually just being spent to replace existing state money, which will…
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Trivium Academy
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Things I'd love to do...
21 Jun 2009 | 11:50 amI was looking at upcoming events and these are definitely things I'd love to do. Charleston Harbourfest is coming up next weekend but I'm not sure how much fun it would be with a massive crowd. I'm still thinking about it.Blues & BBQ HarborCruises06/25/200907/09/200907/23/2009Location: Aboard the Carolina BelleAddress: Maritime Center, 10 Wharfside St.Phone: 843.722.1112Web Site: http://CharlestonHarborTours.comCruise Charleston harbor, enjoy a Home Team BBQ Buffet and hot Live BLUES from Shrimp City Slim.Tickets: $29.50 + tax. Cash Bar. Book online or call 843.722.1112 or 800.979.3370… -
Father's Day
21 Jun 2009 | 7:09 amA Boy and His Dadby Edgar GuestA boy and his dad on a fishing-trip—There is a glorious fellowship!Father and son and the open skyAnd the white clouds lazily drifting by,And the laughing stream as it runs alongWith the clicking reel like a martial song,And the father teaching the youngster gayHow to land a fish in the sportsman's way. I fancy I hear them talking thereIn an open boat, and the speech is fair.And the boy is learning the ways of menFrom the finest man in his youthful ken.Kings, to the youngster, cannot compareWith the gentle father who's with him there.And the greatest mind of… -
Glowing
8 Jun 2009 | 7:31 pmNot so shy anymore with photos. Documenting all the good changes. -
Two Letters
28 May 2009 | 4:38 amI've received two letters as of late, one welcoming me to the bank that I'm working at starting Monday and my acceptance letter to Florida Institute of Technology. I'm a matriculated student now.A friend voiced concern on whether or not I'll be able to handle working full-time, college work and taking care of myself and the kids. I've weighed all the pros and cons long before the conversation but my confidence faltered for a minute because I know I'm not just working on those things but trying to become financially healthy and working out at the gym to become physically healthy. Add finding… -
Big Church
24 May 2009 | 12:26 pmBig churches just aren’t my style. I realized that today as I sat in a Sunday School for 30-40 year olds with younger children. There were two elevators in the church! Amongst the hundreds of faces I saw today only the kids’ Sunday School teachers introduced themselves to me. Ideally, I would like a medium size church, 150-250 people, with children’s programs and a Wednesday night fellowship supper. A weeknight Bible study with childcare provided would be icing on the cake. Another thought I had while I was there is what can I give? I don’t have time or money and I cringed when I…
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HERP&ES
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ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST
2 Jul 2009 | 1:00 pmAn interesting CNN piece on performing CPR. -
JUST TO BE CLEAR
2 Jul 2009 | 7:47 amDon’t let the big logo and the direct link fool you. The National Guard does not endorse HSLDA. [H/T Mary] -
EVEN BIGGER IDIOTS
28 Jun 2009 | 5:33 pmOneNewsNow, of course: Many clear-thinking Americans believe that Marxists are in control of our country — and that there is no reason to believe they will ever give up their power. -
STILL AN IDIOT
28 Jun 2009 | 3:10 pmSarah Palin, of course. -
THANK GOD!
27 Jun 2009 | 3:25 pmThis lede should never had to have been written. Local volunteers from Turning Point Church can no longer evangelize at Totem Middle School in Marysville, Washington. Alas, it’s a OneNewsNow piece, so they just don’t understand why volunteer teachers aids shouldn’t be contacting the students at home and inviting them to church.
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Pass The Torch
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Kelly’s Excellent Summer Book List
30 Jun 2009 | 6:14 amSummer seems to be the only season I take the time to read books for pleasure. I’m pretty selective about what I pick up, since I only have those few weeks to get my annual page count read, so I only read what’s tried and true - and highly recommended by people I respect. [...] -
LOST Homeschool Lessons - Character Arc
23 Jun 2009 | 7:22 amThis is the second part of our LOST homeschool curriculum - an ongoing discussion about character development and arc (PART I - THEMES is here.) We’re keeping notes (a very large chart) on the main characters and how they develop and how our feelings change about them as we watch the series. NOTE: If you [...] -
10 “Dos and Don’ts” Travel Tips - Kids in DC
17 Jun 2009 | 5:25 amMy sister-in-law is planning a trip to DC with her family this summer, and I shared some of the tips that worked for us when we visited last year. I thought you might enjoy my “Top 10″ list as well. 1. Do stay at the Hotel Harrington - it’s affordable, historic and close to everything. [...] -
LOST Homeschool Lessons - Themes
12 Jun 2009 | 7:15 amWe’re doing some summer homeschooling (plan is here) and a large part of it centers around the analysis of the TV series, LOST. NOTE: If you watch the series, this will all make sense to you. If you don’t watch the series, I highly recommend it, but you have to watch it from [...] -
Finding a Balance - Summer Youth Programs
8 Jun 2009 | 5:33 amThis month’s Positively Speaking column has been published, and I explore summer youth programming. Please click over to 5 Minutes for Mom to read some tips on ways your kids can benefit from summer programs, without running you ragged. You may also be interested in these recent posts on Pass the Torch: Our Summer Homeschool [...]
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Homeschool Journal Dot Net
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Driveway Math!
2 Jul 2009 | 7:41 pmHere’s a quick and fun way we did math today. Victoria and Jack helped me draw circles in sidewalk chalk on the driveway and write numbers in them, and then we played a hopping great math game with them. For Jack, I said things like “take away 4″ from the number he was on and he had to hop to it. For Victoria, I just called out random math problems, mostly division. It got tricky when they had to hop around each other or fit in the same circle. The hopping was their favorite part! Except for Victoria, who is far too mature and sophisticated to enjoy hopping in… -
A home full of love
2 Jul 2009 | 6:24 pmLast week, in what could be described as a four-day worship service, I had plenty of time to calmly reflect on my life and think “big” thoughts free from the mundane of daily life. The overall life-lesson I’ve brought home with me is to focus on love. By that, I mean that I want to focus on feeling and acting out of love, and avoid actions and energy-uses that are motivated by other things. This will mean that I can’t just categorically say I will stop doing certain things, such as cleaning or buying myself new clothing, but instead I need to work on identifying… -
Unpacking the craft supplies
2 Jul 2009 | 3:02 pmAs always I have been remiss with the photos so there isn’t really a “before” shot of this. Too depressing to contemplate anyway. This is the view from my desk after todays contribution to the effort. The craft room 2 July 09 When we moved in, those boxes were at least 2 high. You couldn’t really see the windows. And there wasn’t anywhere near as much visible floor. Those bookshelves on the left were bought in an earlier phase of getting unpacked. I decided we needed to have bookshelves that left wall space to hang art on. IKEA afficionadoes will recognize that… -
College - A Brand New Challenge
2 Jul 2009 | 12:30 pmHey there! Remember me? I’m all grown up, and guess what? I’m attending college at Brigham Young University! Yes, I’ve been waiting a long time for this life-changing experience. It was really painful for me to wait. My younger brothers were driving me crazy, and I was so ready to meet new people my age! When the day finally arrived, with my parents and I flying out to Utah, I was bursting with excitement! But…nothing could have prepared me for the roller coaster ride that awaited me. College was not as glorious as I had built it up to be,… -
Need something to do for the 4th of July?
2 Jul 2009 | 10:14 amCheck out my ‘Things to do in Denver’ page. I put all the stuff that I added to our HS groups message board there too.
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The Homeschool Jungle
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The Object of Education
2 Jul 2009 | 1:25 pmThe object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives. Robert M. Hutchins -
6 Tips For Using ALEKS Math Successfully
1 Jul 2009 | 9:28 amIf you have read my articles for very long either here or on Pure Homeschooling you will know that I always recommend a math program called ALEKs math. ALEKs is very strong program that works well for homeschool families. If you want more information specifically about the program then you will want to read, All About Aleks Math 1. The initial assessment which is basically a placemnt test takes about ½ hour. Some students get frustrated because they can’t tell how long the test is. One question at a time pops up on the screen. If you see them struggling, just have them answer that… -
All About ALEKS Math
30 Jun 2009 | 9:31 amRecently we discovered an online math program that uses artificial intelligence. It was developed by a professor from UC Irvine, California. It’s called ALEKS math. ALEKS math gives students immediate feedback, increasing learning while lessening frustration. Students only work on concepts until they master them so there is no busy work. Review of each concept is woven in, as are assessments (tests). You can check the student’s individualized report online at any time and see how many more weeks/hours left until they complete their math course. There is a tally of how many hours… -
How To Make Your Child a Reader For Life
29 Jun 2009 | 9:49 amHow to Make Your Child a Reader For Life by Paul Kropp will give you paractical advice to instill a love of reading in your children’s hearts. I love what he writes about in Chapter 1 Dr. Snow (Harvard University) writes about the importance of family in the reading achievement of children. She demonstrates again what researchers have long known-that families who have books around the house tend to have children who read. She also found that the educational expectations set by the mother are very important in motivating a child to be a reader. We have read together as a family since our… -
Learn Nothing Day
27 Jun 2009 | 8:43 amLearn Nothing Day is a special day for unschoolers. According to their site… Unschoolers need a holiday. When people ask if they homeschool in the summer, they say yes. When people ask when they have a break from learning, they say never. This has gone on for a long time now. July 24 is Learn Nothing Day—a vacation for unschoolers.
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Little Blue School
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How to Make Chess Team T-Shirts Using Fabric Spray Paint
14 Jun 2009 | 6:28 amFor full instructions on this project, see my other blog post about making t-shirts here. I used the same general technique for making the chess team shirts but with some specific embellishments.Materials:Aerosol fabric paint. Something like this. In black.White t-shirts.A cardboard rectangle big enough to slide inside the shirts.Xacto knife and cutting board.Freezer paper.IronIron-on letters (optional)1. Find or draw your design. You are looking for a simple silhouette of a chess piece. You can use whichever piece is your team's favorite. We used kings because our coach refers to the kids as… -
Benny's First Crush
10 Jun 2009 | 8:30 amBenny has had a serious crush on a little girl named Cecelia for almost a year. He has had dear, close friends who are girls before, girls he's planned to marry, girls he's been devoted to -- like his deep abiding love for Zoe since he was four years old. But his love for Cecelia is different -- more frantic, more urgent. She's a beautiful, sweet girl with long glorious hair and he just adores her. They hold hands, do art together, play Warriors together, and sometimes he just drags along behind her, worshiping. She is kind enough not to rebuke him, although the intensity of emotion isn't… -
Leroy
3 Jun 2009 | 6:03 amMy friend Susannah took this awesome picture of my dog Leroy. -
North Carolina State Tang Soo Do Championships
31 May 2009 | 5:59 pmOn May 9, the children competed in a Tang Soo Do tournament in Fayetteville. It was Sadie's first tournament and Benny's second. Sadie was the littlest little warrior there, with a pink mani-pedi, pink sparkle gel in her hair, and a sparkly butterfly hair tie holding her braids together. She was astonishingly cute, I confess.The tournament was not well organized. It started (late) at 10:30 and then the children in Benny's ring (the biggest age group) were told to sit around the edge of the ring while all belt levels performed first for and then sparring. Benny is a child who sits still as… -
Homeschoolers in the Semi-Finals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee
27 May 2009 | 4:55 pmFor a list of all 41 spellers who made the semi-finals, click here.For a list of the nine *homeschooled* spellers who made the semi-finals, scroll down:#16 Josephine Kao, Sacramento, California.#36 Claudine Broussard, Nova Scotia, Canada.#40 Veronica Penny, Ontario, Canada.#65 Serene Laine-Lobsinger, West Palm Beach, Florida.#158 Tussah Heera, Las Vegas, Nevada.#168 Kevin Drew, Buffalo, New York.#218 Connor Aberle, Portland, Oregon.#270 Andrew Traylor, Charlottesville, Virginia.#276 Tim Ruiter, Centreville, Virginia.Go homeschool!
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My Home Sweet Home
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Super Soaker 50 Celebrates its 20th Anniversary!
29 Jun 2009 | 9:53 pmSometimes review products come into our home and sit calmly in the box until we’re ready to evaluate them. Not so with Hasbro’s Super Soaker 50 Water Blaster. The phrase “pandemonium ensued” pretty much summarizes what happened as soon as the package was opened. My 18-year-old son walked in and asked, “Where did that come from?” with a gleam in his eye. Within minutes there were wet, squealing kids running through my house. After establishing a couple of rules, primarily not for indoor use, the soakfest moved outdoors and a fabulous time was had by all. Our… -
I ♥ Faces: Wedding Bells (week 25)
28 Jun 2009 | 9:22 pmOne of this week’s themes at iHeartFaces is “Wedding Bells” and the guest judge is Jasmine Star! This is a photo I took at my sister’s wedding last year. I love the play of emotions on my sister’s and daddy’s faces: the mixture of excitement and nervousness as she prepares to walk down the path to where her outdoor wedding will take place; the joy on his face as he escorts his youngest daughter to her future husband. -
Notable NAPP Links for the Week of June 21, 2009
27 Jun 2009 | 9:00 pmBefore and After video from Matt Kloskowski Creating a Rule of Thirds Custom Shape in Photoshop as a Cropping Guide Lightroom 2 Adjustment Brush Fading Filters in Photoshop Installing an Image Slideshow in WordPress Quick Shapes in Photoshop 2nd Annual Worldwide PhotoWalk on Saturday, July 18, 2009 Sign up for Photoshop World newsletter Have you joined NAPP? (Don’t forget promo code DAWN to get Corey Barker’s “Adobe Photoshop CS4 Design Effects DVD” as an added bonus!) A new feature has been added to the members-only NAPP website: The NAPP Print Center, your… -
Enter your photo to win a one-year subscription to National Geographic and a sample of Energizer Lithium Batteries!
26 Jun 2009 | 10:38 amTHE CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. The final entry is #52, Our Lincoln Log. I’m not sure how to “close” a Mr. Linky! The winner will be announced after Angie and Amy have had a chance to choose. [Edited to add: Limit of 2 entries per person (I meant to make it one, but forgot to include it. Since there are people who have already submitted two, we'll leave it at that.) Giveaway open to U.S. residents only.] Energizer and National Geographic are currently extending an invitation for any level of photographer to enter their most inspiring photographs for a chance to have the winning… -
Wordless Wednesday: State Capitol out the Window of My Car (don’t try this at home)
23 Jun 2009 | 8:57 pmI’m a NAPP Evangelist (National Association of Photoshop Professionals) – see how this could benefit you! Visit 5 Minutes for Mom or Wordless Wednesday for more Wordless Wednesday participants. Are you a photographer with white balance problems? Check out the White Balance Lens Cap!
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The Official HSB Community Blog
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Communication Corner ~ Freedom of Speech
1 Jul 2009 | 11:49 amOur Founding Fathers fought and died for our right to various freedoms including freedom of speech. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Most Americans remember the first part where "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" but precious few (and fewer each year) remember or… -
Homeschooling Through High School ~ Summertime Counts! (Part 1 of 3...)
1 Jul 2009 | 11:42 amGreetings and blessings to all the homeschooling high school families! My name is Lori Havens, and I'm honored to be writing for The Front Porch . . . I'll be taking over for Lori Lane, who is on to new and wonderful adventures! As I've read through Lori's past entries, I've realized that I am stepping into some very gifted shoes. My thanks to her for the blessing her writings have been to me and to countless others, no doubt. I pray that my humble musings here will be a blessing to you all, as well. Summertime has finally come to Illinois. Weather-wise, it… -
Kitchen Moments ~ Cook Up a Little 4th of July Fun
29 Jun 2009 | 9:17 pmHere are a few quick and easy ideas for the kids to make to celebrate the 4th of July. Most can be done with just a little adult supervision, making it even more fun for the children. They love to tell friends and family, "I made it myself!" For a delicious and healthy breakfast treat, layer plain or vanilla yogurt (depending on your family's tastes) with sliced strawberries and blueberries in clear glass serving dishes (if you have a large group, use clear plastic punch cups). Top with a sprinkle of granola, and garnish with a whole strawberry and a few more… -
Taming the Chaos ~ Let Freedom Ring
29 Jun 2009 | 9:15 pmI remember watching a disorganized individual finally "see the light" of organization after his ministry paid professional organizers to help everyone on staff. They overhauled his office, discussed scheduling, and explained the principles of an organized life to him, and he suddenly "got it". Oh, he remained delightfully spontaneous and laid-back, and his office continued to have a top-layer of free-spirited clutter about it, but beneath the clutter a structure began to form. He was startled to realize that the structures he had always assumed would limit and bind… -
Favorite Animal Contest Winner!
29 Jun 2009 | 11:30 amHello again, boys and girls! You did an AWESOME job on this contest! It was so fun reading what you had to say about your favorite animal. My kids are helping me with the drawing, so we thought we could tell you something about their favorite animals as well. CameRon wanted to go first. He has a cat, a basset hound dog, two goats and two pigs of his own. Of course, he isn't sure which is his favorite, but he chose to do a picture with the pigs. Here are his interesting facts about pigs: 1. Pigs are really very clean animals. 2. When they are born they weigh less than 9 pounds but when full…
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The Homeschool Lounge
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Making Sure That Your Child Is Learning What They Need To Know
How do you make sure that your child is learning what she/he is suppose to learn at certain grade levels? I know that I don't want to limit my child to a grade, but I do want to make sure that I'm not missing any basic things. Can someone give me some direction as to how I can stay on point with what my kids need to learn, etc.? Zinnada<><</body> -
Who's Planning Their Fall Schedule Already?
I confess, my mind is starting to churn as to what I'll be doing next year. I plan to start looking online for the kindergarten, first, and second grade requirements soon. In fact, I might glance at it tonight. Who's with me? I mean, brainstorming about their fall curriculums. LOL Zinnada<><</body> -
Great free homeschool resources
This is an awesome list of nearly 100 free educational resources for homeschoolers. http://www.squidoo.com/homeschoolfun My daughter learned to touch type from one of the links. I am always amazed how much free stuff is out there. -
My dear husband found a man dead about an hour ago...
I can't give any other details now. Please be in prayer for my dear husband, and this man's family and friends. We knew the man. Thank you. Betty -
Multi-aged curriculum?
What curriculum would you recommend for teaching several grades at a time? I'm really interested in a science we could all do together, down the road. But other subjects too, such as history.
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CalifmomHomeschools
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Summer Reading: Ideas for Every Reader
5 Jun 2009 | 2:59 amLooks like every Tom, Dick, and Harry has a summer reading list this year. Whether you’re looking for eco reads, Caldecott Medal winners, or NPR’s suggested summer reads, hop over to Rebecca’s Pocket for a compilation of Summer Reading lists. She’s broken the list into two sections; one for adults and one for children and young adults. It looks like she’ll be making additions as they become available. With this comprehensive resource, you should be able to find a book for everyone in your house, even the family dog. Related articles by Zemanta Summer Reading - 06/01/09… -
Wrapping Up
21 May 2009 | 9:40 pmImage via Wikipedia As our school year comes to a close of sorts, I’ve been looking back through photos and posts in our private blog, among other notes and things that will be used to create our portfolio of the year. It’s astounding to see how the kids have grown this year, mentally and physically. They no longer peruse the shelves of the children’s section of the library, having moved on to more challenging reads. Their feet are nearly as big as my own. They’re developing interests and identities that continue to reflect who they are and what they believe. Peanut remains one with… -
Get Creative: Finding Activities That Fit Your Child
13 May 2009 | 2:04 amImage via Wikipedia Some homeschoolers are perfectly content participating in traditional sports and what might be considered extracurricular activities – baseball, gymnastics, soccer, piano lessons, or maybe swim team. My kids tend toward the avant-garde. When it comes to organized activities, their interest is piqued by things outside the box, especially when it comes to my son. While my daughter is content with horse camp or pottery classes, my son’s socks went up and down when I let him know he’s finally old enough to sign up for the welding camp this summer. He nearly did a back… -
Homeschooling During A Family Crisis
14 Apr 2009 | 5:57 amIt happens. We can’t plan for it. That’s what makes it a crisis. It’s also what makes it life. Life isn’t a neatly planned series of events. That’s a textbook. Life is not a textbook. In case you don’t read my main blog, I’ll give a quick summary of our crisis. In late February, my husband felt like he had a pill stuck in his throat. Allergies, thought the doctor, but he ordered blood work to be on the safe side given the family history of lymphoma. The blood work came back fine, but a lump appeared near Hubs’ collar bone. So, back to the doctor he went. This time, a CT scan…
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The Simple Blog
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Jul 2, Simple Schooling Middle School Physics!
2 Jul 2009 | 7:00 amThe best thing since sliced bread! This full year course has it ALL - tests, quizzes, workbook, textbook, animations, video, hands-on lab, and computer lab! Students who complete Simple Schooling Middle School Physics will have a head start in high school because they will already have been exposed to the theory and will simply need to focus on the calculations. That takes away half the battle of physics right there! This series is a complete physics education geared for the Middle Schooler. No calcultions, that can wait until high school (or at least until they have taken algebra!) Your… -
Jun 17, Vote for Your Favorite Homeschool Classroom!
17 Jun 2009 | 1:28 pmThe contest is now closed and we have some FABULOUS homeschool classrooms to choose from. Make sure to stop by and choose your favorite! -
Jun 16, Learning at home in a forest!!!
16 Jun 2009 | 4:44 amMy kids learn at home, on the deck and Starbucks while enjoying some milk. Their favorite place to read is on the deck. My first grader and -
Jun 15, Schoolin' Al Fresco
15 Jun 2009 | 10:41 amWe use out deck as our classroom when the weather is nice. We get to observe birds and bugs while we do our book -
Jun 14, Allion Academy
14 Jun 2009 | 1:51 pmWe have 4 children - 18 (recent homeschool grad!!), 15, 8 & 6. We've homeschooled for 8 years now and have accumulated way too much! Our little
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Successful Homeschooling
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Prairie Primer Review
22 Jun 2009 | 6:47 amDo your children love unit studies? Is Little House on the Prairie a family favorite? Find out why this mom and grandma loves The Prairie Primer. -
An Occupational Therapist's Review of Callirobics
16 Jun 2009 | 8:45 amHas handwriting been an ongoing struggle for your child? Find out why Lynda, an occupational therapist, recommends Callirobics handwriting exercises. -
K-12 Review
12 May 2009 | 5:24 amDoes your child need a challenge? Read this mom's review to find out why K-12 is great for learning-driven children! -
K-12 Review
2 May 2009 | 9:14 amAre you thinking about using K-12 in your homeschool? Check out this informative review from a mom of 3 who says "K-12 wasn't for us!" -
Math U See Review
23 Apr 2009 | 7:18 amDo your children's math lessons end in tears and frustration? Read this review from a mom who is "So Thankful for Math-U-See!"
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Heart of Wisdom Blog
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Lessons from Peter
30 Jun 2009 | 8:18 amIf I walked on water with Jesus you better believe I would be blogging about it within the hour. I would immediately be thinking how could put it into 140 characters for a Tweet on Twitter. But Peter never mentions this or the other miracles he was involved with in his epistles! What a lesson in humility. We studied Peter last week in Boomerang Express Vacation Bible School. I put together a timeline of highlights from Peter’s life for our classroom wall to help the children get a good overview of Peter’s life. As usual, preparing for children’s study taught me much! -
There Was a Heartbeat
25 Jun 2009 | 5:49 pmThe beautiful song is a heartwarming story of a young girl’s choice of adoption over abortion. Read the moving story behind the song here -
If I Have Diplomas and Not Love, I am Nothing
19 Jun 2009 | 10:13 amIf I have the language ever so perfectly and speak like a pundit and have not love that grips the heart, I am nothing. If I have decorations and diplomas and am proficient in up-to-date methods and have not the touch of understanding love, I am nothing. If I am able to worst my opponents in argument so as to make fools of them, and have not the wooing note, I am nothing. If I have all faith and great ideals and magnificent plans and wonderful visions, and have not the love that sweats and bleeds and weeps and prays and pleads, I am nothing. If I surrender all prospects, and leaving home and… -
Death is Not Dying
17 Jun 2009 | 2:19 amThis is one of the most powerful testimonies I’ve ever heard. Please stop whatever you are doing and take the time to watch this moving video. Rachel, the 37 year old wife and mother of two is facing imminent death. She has weeks to live. For Rachel, the essence of life is not in her illness, it is found in her relationship with God through Jesus. And that’s why Rachel is convinced that death is not dying. Death is not Dying Video from Rachel Barkey On March 4, 2009, what started out as a small talk to a women’s group at her church grew into an event attended by 600 women… -
Deathbed Letter from My Great, Great Grandmother
15 Jun 2009 | 6:59 amThis is a letter to my Great, Great Grandfather from my Great, Great Grandmother in 1887 (original spelling). She wrote this letter as she lay at death’s door. She died before it was completed. My favorite line is in bold letters. What a joy it was to find the thing she desired most for her children was the needful thing Jesus spoke about to Martha. I hope it touches you in as emotionally powerful a way as it has me. “This you shall find some day. Dear John, when I shall have past away forever,and the cold white stone will be keeping its lonely watch over the lips you have sooften…
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Katie's Homeschool Cottage
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Only taking Paypal right now
20 Jun 2009 | 2:54 pmI apologize for the inconvenience. I had to take off our new sales page for a short time, due to problems with the purchase option for Paypal. My service is only accepting payments through the paypal system only, no credit cards outside of Paypal. If you would like to purchase the Insect ebook, you should be able to do so through Paypal; I have contacted my service to fix this problem and they are working on a solution. If you have a problem or question, please let me know by comment or email me at Katieshomeschoolcottage@yahoo.com. Thank you again to those who brought this to my attention… -
A Super Summer Special Sale!
18 Jun 2009 | 8:00 pmIt’s my 21st anniversary today! And to celebrate and remind myself – yes, it really is summer somewhere (just not where I am), I am having a Special Summer Sale on my Insects – A Unit Study using Charlotte Mason Methods and More ebook! I am doing my best to finish my next one – Nature Study, Nature Journaling, and Poetry – but life has gotten in the way these past two months. (So for all those who signed up for my newsletter and have entered for the drawing of a free copy, I apologize for the delay – I haven’t forgotten. It’s coming soon!)… -
TOS Schoolhouse Planner
16 Jun 2009 | 9:01 pmLooking for a way to organize your homeschool for the new school year? How about your materials? Your home and budget? Yourself? Have I got a solution for you! My first TOS Homeschool Crew review discusses the many things the Schoolhouse Planner can do for you. The new 2009-2010 planner is available now at the TOS Magazine’s Schoolhouse Store. This planner, in e-book form, sells for $39.00 and supplies you with forms you can use endless times for every part of your homeschooling and home organization. This e-book can be printed off or you can enter your… -
Homeschool Blog Carnivals
9 Jun 2009 | 5:55 pmCheck out these blogs for the new entries for the Carnival of Homeschooling at Principaled Discovery and the Charlotte Mason Homeschooling Carnival at Barefoot Voyage. There are alot of links to many homeschooling blogs with interesting articles about homeschooling in general and homeschooling using Charlotte Mason methods. It’s a smorgasbord to be savored over time! I’m sure you’ll find something you can use and will enjoy. Posted in Favorite Resources Tagged: homeschool, homeschool blogs, homeschool resources, homeschooling methods -
Using Dictation
8 Jun 2009 | 5:00 pmUsing dictation goes hand in hand with the use of copywork in our house. We use copywork and dictation differently than posted on other Charlotte Mason websites and blogs. We study the same piece of copywork everyday for four days, focusing on different spelling and vocabulary words, literary devices, capitalization, punctuation, and various sentence structures. For more details about how we use copywork, please see the article entitled “Using Copywork.” After studying a piece of copywork all week, at the end of the week, we use that piece as our dictation piece. As I read the…
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Homemaking 911
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Is it July already?
2 Jul 2009 | 4:23 amJune was such a busy, busy month. Ordinarily I try to keep my life fairly simple. Over the years, I have eliminated a lot of the distractions of being overcommitted as I know in this season of womanhood I need to focus most of my time and attention at home, but occasionally things are scheduled that we know the Lord is calling us to do, and sometimes they are all in the same month! June is a big month for our family. It is our anniversary month, my parents’ anniversary, my mother’s birthday, and father’s day. In addition, we decided to go on a quick mission trip to… -
Touched Twice Clinic in Eastern KY
30 Jun 2009 | 8:49 amMy husband and I have always wanted to do a mission trip together, but with four children, work, and our usually very tight budget, it seems like going away on a trip for missions together has always been just out of our reach. Well, several months ago we heard that touched Twice was going to Harlan KY (4 hours from here) to do a Touched Twice Clinic in Appalachia Ky. When we heard the date, just a few days before our 18th Wedding Anniversary, we knew this was going to be the trip for us! We books my dear mother to come from Michigan to keep the children, and we committed to… -
Sarah’s Touched Twice Birthday Party
30 Jun 2009 | 7:50 amMy husband and I learned about an upcoming touched Twice Clinic (more coming in a future post) taking place in Harlan, KY- about 4 hours from us via car. For quick basics- it is a mission oriented trip where the guests who come to be served come to have their physical needs met by a team of doctors, nurses, photographers, hair dressers, food preparers, etc who are all Christian who come to serve in the name of Jesus. This is a very short description, and I will share more later. But this post is about Sarah’s Birthday Party. Instead of having her friends over to shower… -
Reb Bradley’s Special
29 Jun 2009 | 5:24 pmWhen we get asked about parenting issues, I very often found myself referring folks to Reb Bradley Family ministries. Reb and Beverly Bradley are two of the most inspirational and practical speakers we have heard that speak on the topics most relevant to us: Parenting, Marriage, and Christian living. One of the most important messages I think you can hear about parenting is their series, Influencing Chiildren’s Hearts. For the Next TWO DAYS, I can offer this to Homemaking 911 readers at a 25 % Discount. You can immediately order this 4 CD set for only $21.00. **Also, if you order it… -
Making Veggie Pizza
27 Jun 2009 | 5:54 pmThe girls have enjoyed the "Very Veggie Video Class" we have been taking. Here is one lesson: From Veggie Pizza These are the veggies we started to cut for the pizza. From Veggie Pizza Prepping Veggies for roasting From Veggie Pizza The pizza fresh from the oven. From Veggie Pizza The proud Chefs! Sarah (11) and Anne Mary (8) This quick 4 week class went far too fast! We really enjoyed it! Want to learn about the Very Veggie Video class next time it is offered? Check it out here: Very Veggie Videos Happy Homemaking! Malia Russell
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by {His} grace
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25 Jun 2009 | 10:26 pm
25 Jun 2009 | 10:26 pmWell I am packing up and moving on.Stuff that is.Too much to unpack in this space about my heart's journey this past month. Often I have sat down to spill over but the words just weren't there. Earlier this year I tackled my battle with fear and as I type this right now I can still see the words etched in chalk dust above my mantle that I spelled out some months before:2 Timothy 1:7For God does not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of POWER, of LOVE, and of SELF DISCIPLINE.So many layers to unravel to find understanding. All wrapped up in just causes, but really woven out of… -
20 May 2009 | 9:18 pm
20 May 2009 | 9:18 pmSweet and bumbling voices tumble their way through words... in unison, but really, mingling and weaving unevenly.I John 2For the third week in a row we daily return here. Today little ears hear an apparent paradox:"Dear friend, I am not writing you a new command but an old one" (verse 7)...... (and verse 8) "Yet I am writing you a new command..." But we know from our catechism question #4, that the Word of God (Old and New Testament) being given by divine inspiration, are the Word of God, the only INFALLABLE rule of faith and practice.So we rest and all agree that our questions only reveal… -
15 May 2009 | 10:58 pm
15 May 2009 | 10:58 pm -
Daily Serving
10 May 2009 | 10:29 pmOn the tails of my previous post, here are a few educational websites that offer daily doses of photographs:UBC's Botanical Garden's Botany photo of the dayNasa's Astronomy Photo of the DayThe Cloud Appreciation SocietyInteresting facts:Brain Drops from the Franklin Science InstituteAn amazing resource for families wanting to go into all the world with their prayers and a perfect geography curriculum!:Global Prayer DigestA bit heavy on US content, but a quick, timed, fast paced quiz that lends itself to launching more discovery and learning:National Geographic's GeoBee Challenge -
7 May 2009 | 9:58 pm
7 May 2009 | 9:58 pmIf I had to pin myself down to a homeschooling flavour I might say that we are "Classically bent with with a splash of Charlotte Mason and a stack of Evan Moor".I largely follow Veritas Press for Literature and History. Commonly we are reading through a dozen books at once and much of our grammar is done orally with Simply Grammar (although I have at hand and often sift through several other resources to satisfy curious minds. )... and then I have my stack of Evan Moor workbooks.As you can see I am partial to the daily workbooks. The layout is so appealing and easy to follow. The kids are…
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Moms Inspire Learning
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Favorite Family Read Alouds
2 Jul 2009 | 7:27 am© iStockphoto/digitalskilletWhen I asked my daughter (StrawberryGirl) what some of her favorite books of all time were, she mentioned one that I had read aloud to her (along with her younger brother, GreenGuy) when she was still in elementary school. She liked it so much that she read it again to herself later on.Her mention of that book made me think of the many books that I read aloud to my children over the years. Sometimes I read picture books, but we would also read more advanced novels together, especially during the summer. Most of these books are intended for independent readers… -
Important Notice to Readers
1 Jul 2009 | 9:54 amIt has come to my attention that someone may be sending spam emails which appear to come from Moms Inspire Learning, but really are from another source. No one has told me they received one, but I received a weird email that led me to believe it's a possibility. I wanted to make you aware of this situation so that you can be on the lookout for any such fraudulent emails. I would never send any kind of spam email. You should only be getting an email from me if you subscribed for email updates (which would not be affected by this), or if I am replying to a specific comment or email you… -
Picture Books for World Change?
30 Jun 2009 | 6:42 pmIt may sound silly to many of you, but I believe that peace can start with something as simple as a picture book. Do you remember the postPicture Books for Peace? I recommended some very powerful pieces of children's literature. When you combine stunning photographs of children from around the world with thought-provoking words written by people of all ages, races, and backgrounds, what do you get? World change. That's what Richard and Michele Steckel had in mind when they researched and photographed The Milestones Project: Celebrating Childhood Around the World. It's "the only project of its… -
Sight Words Game Giveaway for Ages 4 Through 6!
29 Jun 2009 | 7:45 amIt really upsets me that a lot of parents and nursery school teachers are pushing 3 and 4 year olds into academics. Preschoolers learn so much through play. Why rush them into worksheets when they'll be exposed to so many of them once they start elementary school?That's why I'm always happy to find educational games. Children learn valuable skills by playing with a wide variety of board games, cards, dominoes, etc...But today, I'll be giving away a game specifically for children, between the ages of 4 and 6, who are learning to read. Please keep in mind that while I did teach both of my… -
Friday Photo Fun: Savor Those Strawberries!
26 Jun 2009 | 8:54 am© iStockphoto/Yvonne Chamberlain video1Whether you get out there and do some strawberry picking,© iStockphoto/David Franklinhatman12or sit down and enjoy some berries along with a cup of tea....I hope you have a fantastically fruitful weekend!
