CBS Homeschooling Report... Being a non-TV household I did not watch this morning's report, however there is a write-up of the story here.
It is not an earth shattering story, not much new here. It mostly has a positive light on homeschooling and talks about how there are many opportunities for homeschooled kids to do activities. The story also cites Dr Ray's research that you have all probably read about.
I blogged about it back in October. You can read more here.
Part of me just wonders when the "socialization" issue will go away. I'm not going to rehash the issue here again, but the reality is for MANY homeschoolers (ourselves included) the biggest issue is finding time to just stay home and school. There are endless opportunities for our kids and the large group of other kids they interact with.
I shouldn't complain, at least this is a step in the right direction for CBS. They are after all being positive about homeschooling and picturing the kids in a "normal" light (atleast on the web - I can't attest to the video segment). However, they still have a long way to go in my eyes to recover from "The Dark Side of Homeschooling excuse for journalism reports in October. Since my October archives beat this issue to death, I will leave it alone now.
Peace,
Tenn
January 30, 2004
Oh What a Morning... I awoke at 5:30 to Serona's frustration with our faithful Australian Shepherd who had pooped throughout our living room on our nice new carpet. I got up to assist him in cleaning up the piles of this, what a way to start the day! There are now toilet paper markers throughout my living room so we can avoid all the spots and pray that the enzyme cleaner works to get it all up. I will need to schedule a carpet cleaning because I just keep thinking to myself - Sirah will be crawling on this carpet in not too long.
As if that was not enough - Serona's car is in the shop - so we are again a one car family. No biggie I have no need for the car - but unfortunately the dog does. Since he is obviously sick a visit to the vet (with three kids in tow) is in order so we now must drive Serona to work. We wake up all the children - who are NOT pleased to be getting up and dressed at this hour, but we have no choice as Serona has an important meeting early this morning.
So we pack into the van and drive him off to work. But our garage would not close it was so cold - so Serona got out in the cold to fight with it. The kids thankfully fell back asleep in the car under their blankets and all bundled up. Thankfully the heat works well in our car though it did still feel pretty cold since the actual air temperature is -23! Yes you read me right it is 23 degrees BELOW zero this morning BEFORE you factor in the wind chill! There are weather warnings that exposed skin will get frostbite. And oh did I mention that WITH the windchill it feels like -40 according to weather reports! Though honestly once it is below zero it is just cold period - I don't feel the degrees anymore, I just want to run inside and hide.
Well atleast we are home now in our nice warm house and it is worth the 200 heating bills, just like when we lived in Georgia it was worth the 300-400 dollar air conditioning bills! I can't imagine doing school right now. A video is on, I am going to figure out breakfast and how to keep the kids away from the "landmines" and keep the dog from having more accidents (I can't even leave him outside today), until we all bundle back up and head to the vet. Hope your day is starting off better!
Peace,
Tenn
As if that was not enough - Serona's car is in the shop - so we are again a one car family. No biggie I have no need for the car - but unfortunately the dog does. Since he is obviously sick a visit to the vet (with three kids in tow) is in order so we now must drive Serona to work. We wake up all the children - who are NOT pleased to be getting up and dressed at this hour, but we have no choice as Serona has an important meeting early this morning.
So we pack into the van and drive him off to work. But our garage would not close it was so cold - so Serona got out in the cold to fight with it. The kids thankfully fell back asleep in the car under their blankets and all bundled up. Thankfully the heat works well in our car though it did still feel pretty cold since the actual air temperature is -23! Yes you read me right it is 23 degrees BELOW zero this morning BEFORE you factor in the wind chill! There are weather warnings that exposed skin will get frostbite. And oh did I mention that WITH the windchill it feels like -40 according to weather reports! Though honestly once it is below zero it is just cold period - I don't feel the degrees anymore, I just want to run inside and hide.
Well atleast we are home now in our nice warm house and it is worth the 200 heating bills, just like when we lived in Georgia it was worth the 300-400 dollar air conditioning bills! I can't imagine doing school right now. A video is on, I am going to figure out breakfast and how to keep the kids away from the "landmines" and keep the dog from having more accidents (I can't even leave him outside today), until we all bundle back up and head to the vet. Hope your day is starting off better!
Peace,
Tenn
January 29, 2004
New Form of Matter... For all your young budding scientists. This story will surely be interesting. BBC is reporting that a lab has created a new form of matter.
Peace,
Tenn
Peace,
Tenn
CBS on Homeschooling... I just received this from a homeschool listserv:
"The Early Show on CBS TV is planning to air a several-minute segment
on homeschooling this Friday, January 30, 2004 during the show's
regular 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. time slot. As of the writing of this
announcement, CBS thinks that the homeschool story will air at about
8:15 a.m. (but this specific time during the two-hour slot could be
changed).
It is likely that the story will focus on the opportunities
for "socialization" and "social interaction" that the home educated
have today and the activities in which they actually participate. And
it is likely that the story will include an interview with Dr. Brian
Ray in which he will present findings from his recent research which
is reported in his full-length report (book) entitled, Home Educated
and Now Adults: Their Community and Civic at
here.
Dr. Brian Ray and his organization National Home Education Research
are dedicated to providing feedback and evaluation regarding the
homeschooling movement. If you are not familiar with his work and
interested in the topic, I think you would find his research invaluable.
Another important source is from former New York Teacher of the Year,
John Taylor Gatto. Mr. Gatto was, I think, a stockbroker turned
teacher in the New York City school system and taught in the system
for approx 25 years or so. His conclusions are staggering. "
Keep an eye on it.
Peace,
Tenn
"The Early Show on CBS TV is planning to air a several-minute segment
on homeschooling this Friday, January 30, 2004 during the show's
regular 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. time slot. As of the writing of this
announcement, CBS thinks that the homeschool story will air at about
8:15 a.m. (but this specific time during the two-hour slot could be
changed).
It is likely that the story will focus on the opportunities
for "socialization" and "social interaction" that the home educated
have today and the activities in which they actually participate. And
it is likely that the story will include an interview with Dr. Brian
Ray in which he will present findings from his recent research which
is reported in his full-length report (book) entitled, Home Educated
and Now Adults: Their Community and Civic at
here.
Dr. Brian Ray and his organization National Home Education Research
are dedicated to providing feedback and evaluation regarding the
homeschooling movement. If you are not familiar with his work and
interested in the topic, I think you would find his research invaluable.
Another important source is from former New York Teacher of the Year,
John Taylor Gatto. Mr. Gatto was, I think, a stockbroker turned
teacher in the New York City school system and taught in the system
for approx 25 years or so. His conclusions are staggering. "
Keep an eye on it.
Peace,
Tenn
Today's activities... We've had a good morning - no formal schooltime but it is just too cold outside and the kids are too full of beans that I've just decided to have one of those work the teachable moments into the day kind of days. We started off with a video which was all children's praise and worship songs that allowed them to dance, sing and follow simple directions. Then while I cleaned up from the morning Rhiannon worked on some simple workbook sheets on phonics, short A and handwriting. Then she listened to part of "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" by CS Lewis - this book on tape has gotten a lot of mileage in the past two weeks! Together we played some board games including the sausage game and then bird game from Ravensburger First Games series (excellent games for young ones). Ciaran played Discovery Toys what's that sound game. Rhiannon played Little People and Ciaran made designs with tangrams. We made brownies together (working math skills in) and then the kids did some puzzles. Rhiannon has done some reading including a bob book and some more from her current Primary Phonics book (she doesn't have the patience to make it straight through these books anymore - they are about 13 pages long now with several sentences a page). They are finishing out the morning with some Model Magic making puppets for a puppet show we will do later. They are still begging me to go outside, but it is negative 15 before the windchill.
Peace,
Tenn
Peace,
Tenn
Recent Activities... I've been a bit busy to blog through the days this week so I'll just recap some of my favorite moments. Rhiannon at snack time decided to make letters out of her pretzels by biting them into shape, she made C, J, r, t, o, f, e and l that I remember. We've been using our refrigerator magnets quite a bit, Rhia to practice reading and Ciaran to learn the sounds of the letters. We worked on our nursery rhymes and poems - we are up near twenty memorized and able to be recited now (even Ciaran has taken to this). Sirah is starting to babble more and using consonant sounds. Yesterday she made the d sound so I know she will say dada first like the other two. _Sigh_
Ciaran and I have played soccer and cars and snuggled together. We've started just talking more and he is so cute, I love his age. His tempers are back in check for the most part and I'm thankful to be over that recent stage. Rhia has been into making crafts and reading for the most part. I find that the time we spend on school these days is mostly focused on reading as that is where her interest is these days and she is burning through these Primary Phonics and Bob Books. Dr Suess still frustrates her as there are many more words that are not so easy to sound out or have more blends and long vowel sounds. I am still trying to build her confidence and gradually challenge her so the Primary Phonics and Bob Books work really well.
Singing and dancing is popular these days. Listening to Vivaldi a favorite and talking about Monet once or twice a week. Yesterday Rhiannon and I talked about Earth and the continents and oceans for science time and we just seem to work math into our days. Bible memorization is going well, it truly is amazing how much of a sponge they are now - they find it easier than I do. Play-doh is a favorite. I finally broke down and bought some - our homemade stuff was only lasting for a few weeks at a time and then it was VERY sticky! WE have a TON of cookie cutters and alphabet and number cutters that they can use to play with. I have been slow to bring the paint out in the new house - I admit it - I am much better about that in the spring and summer when cleanup is so much easier.
We of course have been reading - I'll try to get our list up later today. Lincoln log and block constructions have been a hit and Rhia has really taken to doll play recently (no barbie or polly pockets here though) and seems to be developing friendships with her dolls. The wintertime is also a time they get to watch more videos. As I type this Karen Henley's "Grow, Grow, Grow" is on. I really like her videos because they are interactive - the kids dance and sing and learn about God through them. Sometimes we also watch Veggie Tales or Little Bear. They are also more tolerable for us as adults.
Well I need to get to my responsibilities of the day.
Peace,
Tenn`
Ciaran and I have played soccer and cars and snuggled together. We've started just talking more and he is so cute, I love his age. His tempers are back in check for the most part and I'm thankful to be over that recent stage. Rhia has been into making crafts and reading for the most part. I find that the time we spend on school these days is mostly focused on reading as that is where her interest is these days and she is burning through these Primary Phonics and Bob Books. Dr Suess still frustrates her as there are many more words that are not so easy to sound out or have more blends and long vowel sounds. I am still trying to build her confidence and gradually challenge her so the Primary Phonics and Bob Books work really well.
Singing and dancing is popular these days. Listening to Vivaldi a favorite and talking about Monet once or twice a week. Yesterday Rhiannon and I talked about Earth and the continents and oceans for science time and we just seem to work math into our days. Bible memorization is going well, it truly is amazing how much of a sponge they are now - they find it easier than I do. Play-doh is a favorite. I finally broke down and bought some - our homemade stuff was only lasting for a few weeks at a time and then it was VERY sticky! WE have a TON of cookie cutters and alphabet and number cutters that they can use to play with. I have been slow to bring the paint out in the new house - I admit it - I am much better about that in the spring and summer when cleanup is so much easier.
We of course have been reading - I'll try to get our list up later today. Lincoln log and block constructions have been a hit and Rhia has really taken to doll play recently (no barbie or polly pockets here though) and seems to be developing friendships with her dolls. The wintertime is also a time they get to watch more videos. As I type this Karen Henley's "Grow, Grow, Grow" is on. I really like her videos because they are interactive - the kids dance and sing and learn about God through them. Sometimes we also watch Veggie Tales or Little Bear. They are also more tolerable for us as adults.
Well I need to get to my responsibilities of the day.
Peace,
Tenn`
Preschool... Yesterday was our second preschool class at our home. We have four children ages near the age of 3, three boys and a girl. With siblings we end up with 10 children in the house! But three of them are infants so for the time being it is pretty manageable. One of the moms taught a lesson on the seasons and then the kids made snowflakes out of paper. It was interesting to watch them all with scissors. It was certainly cold enough to explain winter to them with temps staying negative all day before the windchill!
Overall yesterday went better than the week before, the kids are paying more attention and seemed to concentrate for short spurts. I think it will get progressively better, after all they are young. If nothing else it is nice for them to be making friends their own age and feeling like they are the ones with a special activity (as several have older siblings) planned just for them. It is nice to spend time focusing on kids that age and I always love the answers they come up with and watching them learn.
Peace,
Tenn
Overall yesterday went better than the week before, the kids are paying more attention and seemed to concentrate for short spurts. I think it will get progressively better, after all they are young. If nothing else it is nice for them to be making friends their own age and feeling like they are the ones with a special activity (as several have older siblings) planned just for them. It is nice to spend time focusing on kids that age and I always love the answers they come up with and watching them learn.
Peace,
Tenn
January 28, 2004
Reading Progress... Well Rhiannon is really enjoying reading we are on Book 6 of the Primary Phonics Set 1 and Book 7 of The Bob Books first. This morning I put a video on for Ciaran and she actually choose to sit on the couch and read while I cleaned up for the morning and got ready for Ciaran's preschool class! I am so excited for her and today she asked if we could put "the" and "of" on the fridge with magnets so she could look at them and remember.
More after preschool...
Peace,
Tenn
More after preschool...
Peace,
Tenn
January 27, 2004
Yet Another Reason to Homeschool... CNN news headline "Rats prompt Chicago school cleanings" is good enough for me. Funny that DCFS is not knocking down the door and shutting down schools that have rat and mouse droppings in their kitchen. Read more.
Peace,
Tenn
Peace,
Tenn
Surprise... Homeschoolers go to college and often have less adjustment problems than their peers. As many homeschooler's have more independence they find the adjustment easier. A recent CNN article discusses it further.
Peace,
Tenn
Peace,
Tenn
Mommy Education... Serona and I have decided to start classwork again to change the intellectual side of our brains that so often can be left ignored. Last night on our date we went to a wifi coffehouse and sifted through some MIT OpenCourses to decide on a class. It came down to Political Economy of Development, the History of the Middle East, or Technology in a Dangerous World. We then went to look for the texts and readings for the class and realized how difficult and expensive it would be to track those down and decided at this point we will need to take another tactic.
So we headed off to Barnes and Noble's bargain book section and browsed for something that peaked our interest. We decided a study in US President's would be interesting and we picked Ronald Reagan basically because of the selection that was there. We picked up three books on Reagan to use as our course texts. Two are from Reagan "true believers" and one is a "unbiased" review of his presidency. We will also rent some films on him. The plan is to kind of immerse ourselves in him for a little while - with assigned reading of one chapter a week in the main book and each of us working through the other books to bring different perspectives to the discussion. When we are finished we plan on each writing a paper on our studies and then picking up another topic of interest.
It is so nice to be married to a man who thinks this is a fun way to spend our alone time and who's interests often coincide with mine (politics, argument, science fiction, apologetics, environmentalism) and who can also stretch me (economics, deep philosophy and medieval history are not my cup of tea) and who I can stretch (identity politics, power, social movements and media studies aren't his) so we can sharpen each other like "iron sharpens iron". We are contemplating starting another blog to follow the progress of our studies if we do, I will be sure to let you know.
For now it is exciting to add to my self-study list. Currently I keep up with breastfeeding research, homeschooling, parenting, whole foods and nutrition, and I try to stay on top of current affairs such as world affairs, us politics, and privacy issues. But a class type structure really appeals to me, sometimes I truly need the discipline, even though I am a life long learner.
Peace,
Tenn
So we headed off to Barnes and Noble's bargain book section and browsed for something that peaked our interest. We decided a study in US President's would be interesting and we picked Ronald Reagan basically because of the selection that was there. We picked up three books on Reagan to use as our course texts. Two are from Reagan "true believers" and one is a "unbiased" review of his presidency. We will also rent some films on him. The plan is to kind of immerse ourselves in him for a little while - with assigned reading of one chapter a week in the main book and each of us working through the other books to bring different perspectives to the discussion. When we are finished we plan on each writing a paper on our studies and then picking up another topic of interest.
It is so nice to be married to a man who thinks this is a fun way to spend our alone time and who's interests often coincide with mine (politics, argument, science fiction, apologetics, environmentalism) and who can also stretch me (economics, deep philosophy and medieval history are not my cup of tea) and who I can stretch (identity politics, power, social movements and media studies aren't his) so we can sharpen each other like "iron sharpens iron". We are contemplating starting another blog to follow the progress of our studies if we do, I will be sure to let you know.
For now it is exciting to add to my self-study list. Currently I keep up with breastfeeding research, homeschooling, parenting, whole foods and nutrition, and I try to stay on top of current affairs such as world affairs, us politics, and privacy issues. But a class type structure really appeals to me, sometimes I truly need the discipline, even though I am a life long learner.
Peace,
Tenn
Good friends... Sometimes in our busy lives I think it is easy to overlook our friendships and not say thank you or take time to appreciate those that mean so much to us. This morning we haven't gotten much school done yet because we had a playdate with some friends we hadn't seen in awhile. The girls go to church together and see each other in Sunday school but as moms we haven't managed a playdate in awhile. Reason being, our schedules fill up quickly or we have other things come up (sick kids, husband's work, church responsibilities, etc) and we need to reschedule. The thing that I appreciate about this friend is she is easy to understand and accept when life happens and we need to change the plans of the day. At this stage in our life our days can be unpredictable and we often need to change the momentum and plans to fit the needs of the moment, I love friends that can understand and appreciate this and go with the flow. I have several very good friends - who no matter what understand when life happens and you can understand when life happens to them - it is nice to have the kind of relationship that can pick up where it left off and move forward from that point. I hope you too have friends like this in your life, they are worth so much. So thank you to all of you and take a moment to thank those people in your life.
Peace,
Tenn
Peace,
Tenn
January 26, 2004
Today's reading...
I Spy A Book of Shapes by Patricia Hall
My Many Colored Days by Dr Suess
Snappy Little Dinosaurs by Silver Dolphin Pop Up
If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Numeroff
Clap Your Hands by Lorinda Cauley
Goldi's Locks by Ready Readers
Sheep on a Ship by Margot Apple
Chicken Soup with Rice by Maurice Sendak
Tiny Rabbit Goes to a Birthday Party by John Wallace
Horton Hears a Who by Dr Suess
Rhia's Reads
Hop on Pop by Dr Suess
Tim by Primary Phonics
The Jet by Primary phonics
Infant Read's
Close By Me
My Light
Little Things
My Heart
Jesus Loves Me (all little board books)
Winnie the Pooh Senses by Disney
I Spy A Book of Shapes by Patricia Hall
My Many Colored Days by Dr Suess
Snappy Little Dinosaurs by Silver Dolphin Pop Up
If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Numeroff
Clap Your Hands by Lorinda Cauley
Goldi's Locks by Ready Readers
Sheep on a Ship by Margot Apple
Chicken Soup with Rice by Maurice Sendak
Tiny Rabbit Goes to a Birthday Party by John Wallace
Horton Hears a Who by Dr Suess
Rhia's Reads
Hop on Pop by Dr Suess
Tim by Primary Phonics
The Jet by Primary phonics
Infant Read's
Close By Me
My Light
Little Things
My Heart
Jesus Loves Me (all little board books)
Winnie the Pooh Senses by Disney
I'm so blessed... I truly am blessed with a gem of a husband. There could be no one better for me than Serona and he manages to put up with all my quirks to boot! We are so alike in so many ways that sometimes it is scary - though we certainly have our differences as well. Debate and a love for competition running deep in our veins always keeps our marriage interesting and fun. The whole concept of "they married so they could argue more conveniently" from "A boy and his horse" by CS Lewis does sometimes apply - but we both love a good argument so all is well. But I'm not writing about our differences here, but rather an amazing blessing we have.
We are each other's best friends and I really mean that. We have both gone through stages where we were each other's only real friend and we are always the person that the other most depends on and trusts. Recently we have both been struggling to find "iron to sharpen iron" for ourselves. We have tried our church and it seems each class we take only reaffirms our need for more, I feel like I am perpetually stuck in 101 classes when I need 500 or 600 level classes, at most we can find 200 level - if we work real hard to stretch something into that. We chatted about it and realized that it comes from missing the true exchange of intelligent arguments that occurs in both debate and graduate school. So we've decided to start taking a class on our own together to challenge ourselves (yes papers and all) and we turned to MIT Open Course Ware an online resource of actual MIT courses. We are reviewing them and picking one to work on together on our date nights!
Okay so if you didn't think we were weird enough I am sure I just pushed you over the edge - instead of going to a movie or out for dinner we are going to have a graduate level class each week - just the two of us. I am so glad that I married a reader, a philosopher, a writer and an intellectual. Someone who truly loves to talk about and get involved with politics and his faith. Someone who rises to a challenge and has a lifelong passion for learning and bettering himself and his family. And he is a nice and fun guy to boot! I am so blessed. Thanks Serona for being you and being the best!
Love,
Tenn
We are each other's best friends and I really mean that. We have both gone through stages where we were each other's only real friend and we are always the person that the other most depends on and trusts. Recently we have both been struggling to find "iron to sharpen iron" for ourselves. We have tried our church and it seems each class we take only reaffirms our need for more, I feel like I am perpetually stuck in 101 classes when I need 500 or 600 level classes, at most we can find 200 level - if we work real hard to stretch something into that. We chatted about it and realized that it comes from missing the true exchange of intelligent arguments that occurs in both debate and graduate school. So we've decided to start taking a class on our own together to challenge ourselves (yes papers and all) and we turned to MIT Open Course Ware an online resource of actual MIT courses. We are reviewing them and picking one to work on together on our date nights!
Okay so if you didn't think we were weird enough I am sure I just pushed you over the edge - instead of going to a movie or out for dinner we are going to have a graduate level class each week - just the two of us. I am so glad that I married a reader, a philosopher, a writer and an intellectual. Someone who truly loves to talk about and get involved with politics and his faith. Someone who rises to a challenge and has a lifelong passion for learning and bettering himself and his family. And he is a nice and fun guy to boot! I am so blessed. Thanks Serona for being you and being the best!
Love,
Tenn
Rhythm of our day..,. This afternoon has been good - Rhiannon and I read another phonics reader - she is really doing very well - it is so much fun to be a part of. She also worked on matching number sets up to 12. We had some nice reading time and got quite a bit read. We played dress up all together and did some fashion plates. Ciaran recited Hot Cross Buns and Rhia practiced her Irish step dance. Sirah and I read some books, played peek-a-boo, pat-a-cake and "This little piggy". Ciaran took a two hour nap which made Rhiannon's reading time go better. We sat in the library together so dad could hear her reading from the office while he did his work. Then she began stringing a necklace together and Ciaran is now helping her finish it. A nice moment where they are actually cooperating to accomplish a task - I should probably go get the video camera out! I even got some quiet time today. I'm trying to read through the bible in a year and be faithful about journaling, I'm running about 50-50 so far this month, but it is a start. Not sure the kids are going to get outside today, that may have to wait until tomorrow - but it certainly isn't like the snow is going anywhere! Off to start dinner and set the kids up with their Nature Notebooks while I make it (what that is I am still unsure). Today I'm going to have them draw the snow covered yard while they listen to the Winter movement from Vivaldi.
Peace,
Tenn
Peace,
Tenn
Snowed In... We are all hunkering down and enjoying the snowfall. Serona even decided to work from home and is tucked away downstairs in our office. We have had a good weekend setting things up around the house, getting our home network working and setting up our new wireless Lyra that transfers computer radio and mp3s to our surrond sound system. I really realized how blessed we are and how wired of a family we are. I type this blog entry from the computer on our kitchen counter, listening to classical streaming music while Roomba cleans the bedroom floors. Serona is working from home downstairs on our network listening to some loud streaming music through his headphones and there are classical and world music mp3s playing in the schoolroom while the kids have some free playtime and Sirah is asleep on the bed. We truly are blessed and I love being a wired household.
So far today we have reviewed our bible memorization verses and learned a new one. Rhiannon wrote a letter to her grandparents and her cousin and was very excited to put stamps on them and get them ready to mail. Ciaran played with his animals and built a row of blocks all neat together. We read a chapter of "Little House in Big Woods" and had some time discussing Monet's works. I really enjoyed listening to them describe what they saw in each picture and then having them tell me what it should be called. Rhia recognized the reflection in Monet's Japenese Bridge at Giverny and Ciaran really like the table set in The Luncheon. We talked about colors and how the paintings made us feel.
We cleaned and did laundry and the kids were very excited to have a snack of chocolate chip cookies. This afternoon's agenda includes Rhia continuing her reading of Hop on Pop, Phonics blends, dress-up and playing in the snow. Roomba will finish my floors and I will take 15 minute breaks to clean. Ciaran can hardly wait until bedtime as he is excited to read the next chapter in his Frog and Toad book. All in all a nice way to spend a snowy Minnesota day.
Peace,
Tenn
So far today we have reviewed our bible memorization verses and learned a new one. Rhiannon wrote a letter to her grandparents and her cousin and was very excited to put stamps on them and get them ready to mail. Ciaran played with his animals and built a row of blocks all neat together. We read a chapter of "Little House in Big Woods" and had some time discussing Monet's works. I really enjoyed listening to them describe what they saw in each picture and then having them tell me what it should be called. Rhia recognized the reflection in Monet's Japenese Bridge at Giverny and Ciaran really like the table set in The Luncheon. We talked about colors and how the paintings made us feel.
We cleaned and did laundry and the kids were very excited to have a snack of chocolate chip cookies. This afternoon's agenda includes Rhia continuing her reading of Hop on Pop, Phonics blends, dress-up and playing in the snow. Roomba will finish my floors and I will take 15 minute breaks to clean. Ciaran can hardly wait until bedtime as he is excited to read the next chapter in his Frog and Toad book. All in all a nice way to spend a snowy Minnesota day.
Peace,
Tenn
January 23, 2004
Today's Read's... Well it has been awhile since I updated our reading list and some books have gotten lost in the shuffle. For those who are curious we did meet our personal family goal of reading 300 books in 3 months to help with the service project of donating books to students and classrooms in need. Our group actually managed to read 1000 books! The kids really enjoyed it and everyone benefits, that is the best kind of service project in my opinion.
I am going to try to keep a running monthly log of the books we have read - but I have not been faithful for January up until this point - so I will just start with the books we read yesterday and today.
A Song for Little Toad by Vivian French
Ten Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gerth
Cinderella by Disney
The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood
Coutning Our Way to Maine by Maggie Smith
Night Tree by Eve Bunting
Meet Kirsten An American Girl by Janet Shaw
The Red Shoes by Barbara Bazilian
Baby's First Bible by Reader's Digest
When I Grow Up - Cool Jobs I might try - by Bruce Lansky
Learn Your Numbers by Sparkle Books
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague
A You're Adorable by Martha Alexander
Infant reads (judged on how good they taste and withstand drool):
Kisses by Cyndy Szekeres (one of my favs)
God Made All the Colors by Lion Publishing (another favorite)
Pooh's Colorful Shapes by Disney
Touch and Feel Baby Animals by DK
Touch and Feel Wild Animals by DK
Thomas and Friends by Josie Yee
Rhiannon's Reads:
Mac and Tab by Primary Phonics
The Tin Man by Primary Phonics
Al by Primary Phonics
Touch and Feel Baby Animals (
I am going to try to keep a running monthly log of the books we have read - but I have not been faithful for January up until this point - so I will just start with the books we read yesterday and today.
A Song for Little Toad by Vivian French
Ten Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gerth
Cinderella by Disney
The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood
Coutning Our Way to Maine by Maggie Smith
Night Tree by Eve Bunting
Meet Kirsten An American Girl by Janet Shaw
The Red Shoes by Barbara Bazilian
Baby's First Bible by Reader's Digest
When I Grow Up - Cool Jobs I might try - by Bruce Lansky
Learn Your Numbers by Sparkle Books
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague
A You're Adorable by Martha Alexander
Infant reads (judged on how good they taste and withstand drool):
Kisses by Cyndy Szekeres (one of my favs)
God Made All the Colors by Lion Publishing (another favorite)
Pooh's Colorful Shapes by Disney
Touch and Feel Baby Animals by DK
Touch and Feel Wild Animals by DK
Thomas and Friends by Josie Yee
Rhiannon's Reads:
Mac and Tab by Primary Phonics
The Tin Man by Primary Phonics
Al by Primary Phonics
Touch and Feel Baby Animals (
Good Habits... Thank goodness for having developed some healthy habits or my kids would not have gotten much out of today. Between Ciaran cracking an egg purposefully inside my fridge and his half hour temper tantrum I felt like I was losing my mind. But still Vivaldi played, Monet was available for viewing and their entertainment options were limited enough that they chose to do a stages of life butterfly puzzle, sew, string beads and build with their blocks. Rhainnon wanted to read us all another story and Ciaran asked to do flash cards. This is all good because I don't think I had any creativity left in me. Sirah has been sleeping nearly all day (as long as she is in a sling or backpack on me) and it is quiet time for the kids. I am thinking leftovers for dinner and folding laundry are on the agenda now. I suppose it is good to have days like these once in awhile.
UPDATE
We all got a second wind this evening and Rhiannon practiced her dolch sight words flash cards - she got pretty stuck on that and of - but otherwise did pretty well with the basic 10. Rhia also worked on lacing cards and Ciaran helped clean and cook. We had some special reading time on our new couch until Sirah could take it no longer and then it was dinner time and now they are getting ready for bed - an early night in hopes of Serona and I spending some time together.
Hope you have a good weekend.
Peace,
Tenn
UPDATE
We all got a second wind this evening and Rhiannon practiced her dolch sight words flash cards - she got pretty stuck on that and of - but otherwise did pretty well with the basic 10. Rhia also worked on lacing cards and Ciaran helped clean and cook. We had some special reading time on our new couch until Sirah could take it no longer and then it was dinner time and now they are getting ready for bed - an early night in hopes of Serona and I spending some time together.
Hope you have a good weekend.
Peace,
Tenn
How Cool is this Ice Palace?
We hope the bitter cold calms down soon to take the family to see it. To find out more about this ice palace check out this story.
Peace,
Tenn
We hope the bitter cold calms down soon to take the family to see it. To find out more about this ice palace check out this story.
Peace,
Tenn
January 22, 2004
GREAT DAY!... Today was one of those great days you just want to clone. We got so much accomplished and I even managed to get a homeade soup and bread on the table for dinner and a mostly clean house! I just got back in from having a Mom's Time Out (well Sirah was with me) with a dear friend. The kids did really well today and we had a very special moment.
Today Rhiannon READ! It was as if it all just clicked together with her and the light bulb went on. She had been telling me she was bored with our phonics practice - so I said we could try reading a book instead (a phonics primer) and I truthfully was not expecting much - but she did it. She was able to sound out nearly every word in a simple phonics book of three letter words and sight words. She was so excited that she was actually reading it and I was so proud of her. Later that afternoon while dinner was cooking and I was nursing Sirah she asked if she could read another book to Ciaran and I - so we piled onto the couch and she read the second book in the set and only needed help with the sight words and being sure of the b and d's (she actually always knew which one it was but wasn't confident enough so always asked). I know it is just a simple phonics reader - but she is just 4 and she was really doing it and you could tell it made sense to her. The best part of it all was seeing her excitement and enthusiasm!
In addition to this milestone we actually did some other things. Rhiannon practiced putting numbers 1-16 in order , did addition and subtraction with manipulatives, finished several worksheets in her big K skills book (same, different, big, small, sequencing, alphabetical order, nominal order and handwriting practice on g, j, and k, drawing stars, and connect the dots), she "taught" another class on the moon and earth and we discussed death a bit (a very good friend of the family died last fall and it seems to be really hitting her now), she did some art with stampers and helped keep her sister happy throughout the day.
Ciaran also did stamp art, built a city with blocks for his cars, then built a race track for them, he did a shape file folder game, practiced his colors, and had free art time on the easel. He played with his trains and with his Leap Phonics magnets. We read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom together and pointed at the letters. My favorite moment with him was watching him teach Sirah "Old MacDonald" with a hand puppet of all the animals - it was very sweet.
Sirah is loving sitting on her own and she is starting to babble more and more. She loves to play with her toes and flip pages in books. She has two rattles that she really enjoys holding and a busy cube that she loves hitting and touching all the different textures. She still wants to be held most of the time and protests when she cannot see or feel me. She enjoyed watching Roomba clean the floors as well.
Today was one of those days that made me LOVE being home - which is great because last week I had one of those really tough days where nothing ever seems to go right. But being a part of Rhia's first time reading, listening to Sirah's babbling and watching Ciaran teach his baby sister with puppets were too precious for words and I will treasure this day and the many more to come.
Peace,
Tenn
Today Rhiannon READ! It was as if it all just clicked together with her and the light bulb went on. She had been telling me she was bored with our phonics practice - so I said we could try reading a book instead (a phonics primer) and I truthfully was not expecting much - but she did it. She was able to sound out nearly every word in a simple phonics book of three letter words and sight words. She was so excited that she was actually reading it and I was so proud of her. Later that afternoon while dinner was cooking and I was nursing Sirah she asked if she could read another book to Ciaran and I - so we piled onto the couch and she read the second book in the set and only needed help with the sight words and being sure of the b and d's (she actually always knew which one it was but wasn't confident enough so always asked). I know it is just a simple phonics reader - but she is just 4 and she was really doing it and you could tell it made sense to her. The best part of it all was seeing her excitement and enthusiasm!
In addition to this milestone we actually did some other things. Rhiannon practiced putting numbers 1-16 in order , did addition and subtraction with manipulatives, finished several worksheets in her big K skills book (same, different, big, small, sequencing, alphabetical order, nominal order and handwriting practice on g, j, and k, drawing stars, and connect the dots), she "taught" another class on the moon and earth and we discussed death a bit (a very good friend of the family died last fall and it seems to be really hitting her now), she did some art with stampers and helped keep her sister happy throughout the day.
Ciaran also did stamp art, built a city with blocks for his cars, then built a race track for them, he did a shape file folder game, practiced his colors, and had free art time on the easel. He played with his trains and with his Leap Phonics magnets. We read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom together and pointed at the letters. My favorite moment with him was watching him teach Sirah "Old MacDonald" with a hand puppet of all the animals - it was very sweet.
Sirah is loving sitting on her own and she is starting to babble more and more. She loves to play with her toes and flip pages in books. She has two rattles that she really enjoys holding and a busy cube that she loves hitting and touching all the different textures. She still wants to be held most of the time and protests when she cannot see or feel me. She enjoyed watching Roomba clean the floors as well.
Today was one of those days that made me LOVE being home - which is great because last week I had one of those really tough days where nothing ever seems to go right. But being a part of Rhia's first time reading, listening to Sirah's babbling and watching Ciaran teach his baby sister with puppets were too precious for words and I will treasure this day and the many more to come.
Peace,
Tenn
Another Reason to Homeschool... In California lawyers are trying to help parents reclaim their rights to educate their children in certain areas. According to the article:
""Given the ever-increasing attempts by educrats who believe 'we're the experts, you're just parents, and we know what is best for your child,' to impose their political agenda and views on students in public schools, it is vital that parents take an active part in the education of their children," said Gary Kreep, education attorney and executive director of the United States Justice Foundation (USJF), a conservative legal organization."
Of course this situation is avoided for the most part by the choice to homeschool. I feel for the parents who feel that they have lost control of educating their children to the system. But of course my first thought is - you chose to give the system that control the day you sent your kids to their school.
Read more about it at New 'Opt-Out' Form Gives Calif. Parents Greater Control Over Children's Education.
Peace,
Tenn
""Given the ever-increasing attempts by educrats who believe 'we're the experts, you're just parents, and we know what is best for your child,' to impose their political agenda and views on students in public schools, it is vital that parents take an active part in the education of their children," said Gary Kreep, education attorney and executive director of the United States Justice Foundation (USJF), a conservative legal organization."
Of course this situation is avoided for the most part by the choice to homeschool. I feel for the parents who feel that they have lost control of educating their children to the system. But of course my first thought is - you chose to give the system that control the day you sent your kids to their school.
Read more about it at New 'Opt-Out' Form Gives Calif. Parents Greater Control Over Children's Education.
Peace,
Tenn
January 21, 2004
Daily Round-up... Sirah is sick and I spent most of the day holding her and tending to her needs. I tried to work in as much as I could around this. Rhia worked on phonics - she is really enjoying and making progress in her consonant blends and ending sounds of words. She practiced writing numbers 1-10 and counting groups of objects. We finished Kirsten An American girl today and she "taught" our science class about the earth and the moon and landing on the moon with a lunar module. She drew on the whiteboard and described the process and then made me hold a rock as the moon while she demonstrated how to land on it with her own dime. It was cute, fun and she really seemed to understand and explain it well.
We practiced reciting our nursery rhymes - their current favorite is "Hot Cross Buns". We read Dr Suess ABC's and did some phonics jumping on our big floor mat. Ciaran and I practiced letter recognition and sounds and the read an old edition of Animal Baby, played the games and identified the animals. We did flash cards at his request on shapes, colors, numbers, weather and directions.
They made a house, then a fort, then an animal cave out of a big cardboard box. They made it rain money - then practiced cooperation and persistence for the near half hour it took to clean up, while I practiced patience. They asked me to play tetris so they could watch (no joke), we ate tofu, pasta and popcorn for lunch and took a family nap.
It was a wonderful but exhausting day - it is amazing how much energy holding a 5 month old sick baby takes from you. She is almost asleep in the sling as I type this standing at my kitchen counter - doing the mommy sway.
Peace,
Tenn
We practiced reciting our nursery rhymes - their current favorite is "Hot Cross Buns". We read Dr Suess ABC's and did some phonics jumping on our big floor mat. Ciaran and I practiced letter recognition and sounds and the read an old edition of Animal Baby, played the games and identified the animals. We did flash cards at his request on shapes, colors, numbers, weather and directions.
They made a house, then a fort, then an animal cave out of a big cardboard box. They made it rain money - then practiced cooperation and persistence for the near half hour it took to clean up, while I practiced patience. They asked me to play tetris so they could watch (no joke), we ate tofu, pasta and popcorn for lunch and took a family nap.
It was a wonderful but exhausting day - it is amazing how much energy holding a 5 month old sick baby takes from you. She is almost asleep in the sling as I type this standing at my kitchen counter - doing the mommy sway.
Peace,
Tenn
Blogging March Madness... Be sure to check out and enter your favorite blog post of 2003 in BlogMadness 2003!
Peace,
Tenn
Peace,
Tenn
Music Man Politics... Some of you may know "The Music Man" is one of my favorite movies - so I couldn't help but love this rewrite about the Dems. Check out Drumwaster's Rants!: You're in Ioway.
Peace,
Tenn
Peace,
Tenn
Just for the fun of it... Okay so I may be a little loopey as I've been up for a few hours with a sick baby, but I thought this Online Etch A Sketch was fun. I also found the Virtual Bubble Wrap to be therapeutic.
Thanks to Beth for the link.
Peace,
Tenn
Thanks to Beth for the link.
Peace,
Tenn
January 20, 2004
Missed Opportunities... I don't know why I am continually amazed at the apathy of Americans and the disinterest in the governing of our country, but I am. I suppose it is an optimism buried somewhere deep inside me thinking "This time it will be different" - but sadly it never is. Tonight was the State of the Union address and I wonder how many watched or listened to it or read it online. I did, Serona did and our kids did, did you?
As many of you know we do not get television stations (network or cable) in our home for a variety of reasons. The only time I miss this is when the president is speaking, there is a political debate or the Olympics is on. Tonight being one of those nights I headed to our local gym which has TV's everywhere. What followed should not surprise me but it did sadden me.
I arrived right as the president was walking in to find that on the big screen TV in the main sitting area was a sportscenter show. One gentleman was watching it and I kindly asked him if we could switch it. Now this is not something I would normally do, but it is the State of the Union. He seemed exasperated but consented so I put it on. He sat for awhile and watched and then got up and left. People drifted in and out, I was the only one to watch it start to finish (granted there may have been others in the gym as there are many TV's in the general exercise area) but many people were walking in and out of the gym while this was going on, several making wisecracks as they passed by. I couldn't help but think to myself "HELLO PEOPLE, THIS IS THE PRESIDENT OF YOUR COUNTRY SPEAKING ABOUT THE STATUS OF YOUR COUNTRY. DON'T YOU CARE?"
I don't think it matters your politics - you should be interested in what is going on. Even when it was Clinton and I knew I literally could not believe anything the man ever said again I still made myself listen and be respectful - he was the leader of our country. But so many people I saw tonight did not appear to care. The saddest to me was watching the kids and their parents at the gym. Parents who passed by or let their kids run around the area without so much as mentioning "That is President Bush" to their kids. _Sigh_ would that really be that hard to do?
Perhaps you would say I expect too much from people, I don't think so. Now I am not saying everyone needs to do things the way we do. Most people think we are nuts making our 2 and 4 year old listen to the president and involving them with political campaigning and taking them to see Ralph Nader, President Bush, First Lady Bush and our governor and senator speak. Our kids can recognize the president by his picture and know their governor's name - but I know that is unusual - but I still think it is sad.
I wonder how many people missed out on a great opportunity tonight to teach their kids about our land, our president, our laws, the good and the bad. Many may have had reasons but it saddens me that there seems to be so little respect for the governing leaders of our country. What are we teaching our kids? To me it was awe inspiring to see almost all the leaders of our country in one room and to be reminded of all we have accomplished as a nation and to dream and plan for all that is to come. I want to share that passion and experience with my kids and I am saddened that others don't.
Just like we can raise our kids to eat well, learn the basics and the finer things in life, we can and should teach them to be active and responsible citizens. That begins by being active and responsible citizens ourselves and then making the political, legal, and legislative process tangible, interesting and a normal part of their everyday life. No wonder so many people grow up thinking they can't make a difference. Let's make changes in our own families and spheres of influence. We can and should take the teachable moments life hands us and use them to the best we can. A State of the Union address is one such opportunity that far too many pass up.
Just my .02
Peace,
Tenn
As many of you know we do not get television stations (network or cable) in our home for a variety of reasons. The only time I miss this is when the president is speaking, there is a political debate or the Olympics is on. Tonight being one of those nights I headed to our local gym which has TV's everywhere. What followed should not surprise me but it did sadden me.
I arrived right as the president was walking in to find that on the big screen TV in the main sitting area was a sportscenter show. One gentleman was watching it and I kindly asked him if we could switch it. Now this is not something I would normally do, but it is the State of the Union. He seemed exasperated but consented so I put it on. He sat for awhile and watched and then got up and left. People drifted in and out, I was the only one to watch it start to finish (granted there may have been others in the gym as there are many TV's in the general exercise area) but many people were walking in and out of the gym while this was going on, several making wisecracks as they passed by. I couldn't help but think to myself "HELLO PEOPLE, THIS IS THE PRESIDENT OF YOUR COUNTRY SPEAKING ABOUT THE STATUS OF YOUR COUNTRY. DON'T YOU CARE?"
I don't think it matters your politics - you should be interested in what is going on. Even when it was Clinton and I knew I literally could not believe anything the man ever said again I still made myself listen and be respectful - he was the leader of our country. But so many people I saw tonight did not appear to care. The saddest to me was watching the kids and their parents at the gym. Parents who passed by or let their kids run around the area without so much as mentioning "That is President Bush" to their kids. _Sigh_ would that really be that hard to do?
Perhaps you would say I expect too much from people, I don't think so. Now I am not saying everyone needs to do things the way we do. Most people think we are nuts making our 2 and 4 year old listen to the president and involving them with political campaigning and taking them to see Ralph Nader, President Bush, First Lady Bush and our governor and senator speak. Our kids can recognize the president by his picture and know their governor's name - but I know that is unusual - but I still think it is sad.
I wonder how many people missed out on a great opportunity tonight to teach their kids about our land, our president, our laws, the good and the bad. Many may have had reasons but it saddens me that there seems to be so little respect for the governing leaders of our country. What are we teaching our kids? To me it was awe inspiring to see almost all the leaders of our country in one room and to be reminded of all we have accomplished as a nation and to dream and plan for all that is to come. I want to share that passion and experience with my kids and I am saddened that others don't.
Just like we can raise our kids to eat well, learn the basics and the finer things in life, we can and should teach them to be active and responsible citizens. That begins by being active and responsible citizens ourselves and then making the political, legal, and legislative process tangible, interesting and a normal part of their everyday life. No wonder so many people grow up thinking they can't make a difference. Let's make changes in our own families and spheres of influence. We can and should take the teachable moments life hands us and use them to the best we can. A State of the Union address is one such opportunity that far too many pass up.
Just my .02
Peace,
Tenn
Enterprising Teen... Now as many of you know I am not a huge Microsoft fan. Though I have had to admit that I sadly need to keep windows on atleast one of my machines because Linux is simply not compatible enough with what I use my computer for. Still I am enjoying the Mike Rowe story.
This teen bought the domain name MikeRowesoft.com - his name is Mike Rowe and now Microsoft is trying to take the domain name from him - claiming they are protecting their trademark. The most appalling part of it all - is when Microsoft sent him a cease and desist letter and he said no - they offered him $10.00. Come on people!!!! What was I just saying about not taking kids serious enough? What a joke and how offensive to offer him 10. I hope that he wins and Microsoft backs down. I believe they are overstepping their boundaries - I mean it is HIS name after all. Of course I am not a lawyer.
Anyway you can see his website and read his story there. His site has had so many recent hits he needed to shut it down for a time. So visit and support him in whatever way you can and get the word out!
Peace,
Tenn
This teen bought the domain name MikeRowesoft.com - his name is Mike Rowe and now Microsoft is trying to take the domain name from him - claiming they are protecting their trademark. The most appalling part of it all - is when Microsoft sent him a cease and desist letter and he said no - they offered him $10.00. Come on people!!!! What was I just saying about not taking kids serious enough? What a joke and how offensive to offer him 10. I hope that he wins and Microsoft backs down. I believe they are overstepping their boundaries - I mean it is HIS name after all. Of course I am not a lawyer.
Anyway you can see his website and read his story there. His site has had so many recent hits he needed to shut it down for a time. So visit and support him in whatever way you can and get the word out!
Peace,
Tenn
January 19, 2004
The Finer Things in Life... I really want my children to grow up with an appreciation for some of the finer things in life - like good art, music and food. I would read Jane Austen and love that art, music and poetry was such an important and normal part of their lives and was sad that it seemed not to be the case for me and would it be for my kids? I've made a commitment to make it be and in the simplest way possible - make it always available to them and treat it as the norm rather than the exception. This is the way we approach healthy food and it works very well in our lives in that area and so far it seems to work nicely in art appreciation.
Just as my kids are growing up with tofu, avocado, edamame, broccoli and hummus as normal and good food in their lives (yes they actually request and love these) so I want it to be with Monet, Vivaldi, Frost, Van Gogh, Mozart and Shakespeare. They will grow up hearing, seeing and learning these things from a very early age and they already show a love of it. I don't know about you but I think Vivaldi is much more enjoyable than Barney and my kids think so as well. Rhiannon always asks to listen to classical music and she really enjoys dancing to it. Ciaran has shown a love for art already at such a young age.
And it is far more simple to accomplish than I ever thought. I read in The Charlotte Mason Companion an idea to pick an artist and a composer for a term and concentrate on only them. We decided to choose 4 artists and composers for the year and study one of each for three months at a time. We began in January with Vivaldi and Monet. I play "The Four Seasons" at each mealtime and while we have quiet play or arts and crafts time and Rhia sometimes will ask to listen to it at bedtime. We also have some other Vivaldi pieces we will listen to. My children do recognize his work and as soon as he comes on they say "that's Vivaldi". Now the true test will come after we have studied a few composers and they can discern between them - but still how many 2 and 4 year olds recognize the piece? How many adults for that matter. I was skeptical in the beginning as I thought it would get boring - but I am really enjoying it and realize I am learning as much as my children.
For art I bought some calendars on clearance at the bookstore and a cheap book stand and we pick one painting a week to study until the kids can recognize the painting and discuss it. I just put it on display in our school/playroom and they can look at it whenever they want - occasionally I will ask them what they think of the piece and who the artist is. We began with Monet and are on our third piece, so far their favorite was "The Luncheon". They have taken to this far better than I would have expected and it is so easy to do,
For poetry we listen to a sonnet a day by Shakespeare (I may not read all of them or skip a particular passage if I feel it is inappropriate for children) and I have them stand up tall with arms at their sides and recite an age appropriate poem or nursery rhyme - they think it is great fun and it is getting them used to public speaking and proper manners at an early age. We are also trying to read a chapter of proverbs each day (the corresponding day). We are reading a chapter book and try to read a chapter a day. We did The Eb White books first, then the Chronicles of Narnia and we are now doing Little House on the Prairie.
My kids really enjoy all these things and it makes me smile to know that they are being raised with a diet of good food - both for their bodies and for their minds. Kids will surprise you - they often rise up to the challenge - I wish we would all stop talking down to them and giving them such inane entertainment as if that is all they could appreciate. Then we wonder why teenagers balk at Shakespeare, Poe and Dickinson when faced with it. Not all literature, art and music is appropriate for young children - but let us give them a steady diet of the best instead of letting the media choose what is best for them.
Just my .02
Tenn
Just as my kids are growing up with tofu, avocado, edamame, broccoli and hummus as normal and good food in their lives (yes they actually request and love these) so I want it to be with Monet, Vivaldi, Frost, Van Gogh, Mozart and Shakespeare. They will grow up hearing, seeing and learning these things from a very early age and they already show a love of it. I don't know about you but I think Vivaldi is much more enjoyable than Barney and my kids think so as well. Rhiannon always asks to listen to classical music and she really enjoys dancing to it. Ciaran has shown a love for art already at such a young age.
And it is far more simple to accomplish than I ever thought. I read in The Charlotte Mason Companion an idea to pick an artist and a composer for a term and concentrate on only them. We decided to choose 4 artists and composers for the year and study one of each for three months at a time. We began in January with Vivaldi and Monet. I play "The Four Seasons" at each mealtime and while we have quiet play or arts and crafts time and Rhia sometimes will ask to listen to it at bedtime. We also have some other Vivaldi pieces we will listen to. My children do recognize his work and as soon as he comes on they say "that's Vivaldi". Now the true test will come after we have studied a few composers and they can discern between them - but still how many 2 and 4 year olds recognize the piece? How many adults for that matter. I was skeptical in the beginning as I thought it would get boring - but I am really enjoying it and realize I am learning as much as my children.
For art I bought some calendars on clearance at the bookstore and a cheap book stand and we pick one painting a week to study until the kids can recognize the painting and discuss it. I just put it on display in our school/playroom and they can look at it whenever they want - occasionally I will ask them what they think of the piece and who the artist is. We began with Monet and are on our third piece, so far their favorite was "The Luncheon". They have taken to this far better than I would have expected and it is so easy to do,
For poetry we listen to a sonnet a day by Shakespeare (I may not read all of them or skip a particular passage if I feel it is inappropriate for children) and I have them stand up tall with arms at their sides and recite an age appropriate poem or nursery rhyme - they think it is great fun and it is getting them used to public speaking and proper manners at an early age. We are also trying to read a chapter of proverbs each day (the corresponding day). We are reading a chapter book and try to read a chapter a day. We did The Eb White books first, then the Chronicles of Narnia and we are now doing Little House on the Prairie.
My kids really enjoy all these things and it makes me smile to know that they are being raised with a diet of good food - both for their bodies and for their minds. Kids will surprise you - they often rise up to the challenge - I wish we would all stop talking down to them and giving them such inane entertainment as if that is all they could appreciate. Then we wonder why teenagers balk at Shakespeare, Poe and Dickinson when faced with it. Not all literature, art and music is appropriate for young children - but let us give them a steady diet of the best instead of letting the media choose what is best for them.
Just my .02
Tenn
Overview of recent days... We have done too much lately to recap it all so I'll just hit some of the highlights. We are listening to and learning about Vivaldi - current piece "The Four Seasons". We are also studying Monet and have looked at three works so far. We have visited a model train museum and studied space and astronauts. We are reading "Little House in the Big Woods" by Laura Ingalls and the plethora of books we check out of the library. Our bible memorization is going very well and we are working through Phonics Pathways - blends now. We are also working on number recognition and counting to 100 for Rhiannon and 10 for Ciaran. Those are some of the highlights atleast.
It has been too cold to be outside much, so we have spent a lot of time setting up the new home and settling in. We are slowly formulating routines and figuring out our new spaces. We are very happy with the move, it has been a good one for us.
Our homeschool group recently did a group class on Jamie Lee Curtis book "Letting Off a Little Self-esteem, I'm gonna like me". We had a fabulous time at the class. The kids drew their bodies on posters and each took turns looking into a mirror and saying why they were special, it was very touching and interesting to hear the kids responses. Rhiannon said "Because my daddy calls me a princess" and Ciaran said "because I love Jesus". The class went really well even with a large age difference. We look forward to more of them.
We have started a pre-school cooperative for Ciaran and will meet regularly. I am glad to be doing something that focuses on him as I often feel he gets dragged along to things we are doing for Rhia. He has several friends and I look forward to seeing how those relationships develop.
Sirah is sitting up very well and loves to be a part of it all. She enjoys her jumper and riding in either the backpack or the sling. She is not the world's best sleeper but I figure that will come in time and if she learns to sleep through the night consistently before she is 3 1/2 she will have Rhiannon beat. On the other hand Ciaran is my sleeper - he will actually ask to go to sleep.
All in all we are doing well and are happy to be up online again.
Peace,
Tenn
It has been too cold to be outside much, so we have spent a lot of time setting up the new home and settling in. We are slowly formulating routines and figuring out our new spaces. We are very happy with the move, it has been a good one for us.
Our homeschool group recently did a group class on Jamie Lee Curtis book "Letting Off a Little Self-esteem, I'm gonna like me". We had a fabulous time at the class. The kids drew their bodies on posters and each took turns looking into a mirror and saying why they were special, it was very touching and interesting to hear the kids responses. Rhiannon said "Because my daddy calls me a princess" and Ciaran said "because I love Jesus". The class went really well even with a large age difference. We look forward to more of them.
We have started a pre-school cooperative for Ciaran and will meet regularly. I am glad to be doing something that focuses on him as I often feel he gets dragged along to things we are doing for Rhia. He has several friends and I look forward to seeing how those relationships develop.
Sirah is sitting up very well and loves to be a part of it all. She enjoys her jumper and riding in either the backpack or the sling. She is not the world's best sleeper but I figure that will come in time and if she learns to sleep through the night consistently before she is 3 1/2 she will have Rhiannon beat. On the other hand Ciaran is my sleeper - he will actually ask to go to sleep.
All in all we are doing well and are happy to be up online again.
Peace,
Tenn
January 17, 2004
January 5, 2004
Back in the Saddle Again... Well we started back up now after a VERY long hiatus. It was a good morning beginning, I wanted to go slow to ease them into everything. We started out with a bible memory verse in the library and a story to help us understand it. I really enjoy the resource we are using for this Susan Hunt's "My ABC Bible Verses" it is helpful and easy to follow and my kids really seem to relate to it. Today we reviewed a verse we memorized awhile ago Proverbs 15:1 and learned Matthew 5:9.
Then we headed into the schoolroom where Ciaran played with a pegboard with Rhiannon and I worked on handwriting the letter A upper and lowercase and then brainstormed words that began with the letter A. We did a little phonics work in the style of Phonics Pathways on the letter A. Then she took a break and played with a wooden pattern sorter - you make tangrams into shapes and pictures. Ciaran had now moved onto playing with clay. Rhia and I sat down on the couch with Sirah and read the bible story of creation and talked about each day and what was made. Then we played a game I found online - with cutouts that I have laminated where she matches pictures that describe what God made on each day. It was fun, the set also included the actual scripture so I could read it and then she matched it. She felt just like she was playing rather than learning. Then she wanted some free art time so she colored while I nursed Sirah and talked with Ciaran.
Then she wanted to practice her letters so we printed out her bible verse in manuscript letters from this great site and she wrote that. She was getting frustrated with it but I made her finish it and she was glad when she accomplished it. Then we decided to take a break and have snack. I decided to take on my media company _again_ about our terrible internet service and the kids asked very nicely if they could watch a short movie while I was on the phone. I agreed and was glad I did, I get so frustrated with this media company and I am pretty fed up with the bad connection we keep getting. I thought I would take a minute to blog and relax.
This afternoon's schedule includes science and math, nature notebook and an introduction to Vivaldi - who will be our composer for the next few weeks or months. We will also be trying out our new Roomba. There are many advantages to being married to a techie! I'll give you a full report later.
Peace,
Tenn
Then we headed into the schoolroom where Ciaran played with a pegboard with Rhiannon and I worked on handwriting the letter A upper and lowercase and then brainstormed words that began with the letter A. We did a little phonics work in the style of Phonics Pathways on the letter A. Then she took a break and played with a wooden pattern sorter - you make tangrams into shapes and pictures. Ciaran had now moved onto playing with clay. Rhia and I sat down on the couch with Sirah and read the bible story of creation and talked about each day and what was made. Then we played a game I found online - with cutouts that I have laminated where she matches pictures that describe what God made on each day. It was fun, the set also included the actual scripture so I could read it and then she matched it. She felt just like she was playing rather than learning. Then she wanted some free art time so she colored while I nursed Sirah and talked with Ciaran.
Then she wanted to practice her letters so we printed out her bible verse in manuscript letters from this great site and she wrote that. She was getting frustrated with it but I made her finish it and she was glad when she accomplished it. Then we decided to take a break and have snack. I decided to take on my media company _again_ about our terrible internet service and the kids asked very nicely if they could watch a short movie while I was on the phone. I agreed and was glad I did, I get so frustrated with this media company and I am pretty fed up with the bad connection we keep getting. I thought I would take a minute to blog and relax.
This afternoon's schedule includes science and math, nature notebook and an introduction to Vivaldi - who will be our composer for the next few weeks or months. We will also be trying out our new Roomba. There are many advantages to being married to a techie! I'll give you a full report later.
Peace,
Tenn
January 2, 2004
Weekly Roundup... Rhiannon asked me the other day when all the craziness would stop. Between prodromal labor, Sirah joining our family, moving and the holidays we have been crazy non-stop since mid August. Some days I think my kids look at me and wonder where there mommy went. I keep reminding myself that this is only a season. However, some days it feels like a very long season that I want to be over. So I'm trying to compromise more and have more playtime for them - with me and with other kids.
Earlier this week we had another 3 year old boy come over for awhile (his mom just had a baby last week) and it was great for everyone. We played cars, blocks and animals. The kids played Candyland and with flash cards. They built a fire and a castle. They ran around and played many imaginary games. We sat in the library and read several books and we ate dinner and calmed down. All in all it was a great day. Though I am glad we only have 3 under 5 and my heart goes out to those with more than that in this age range!
The next day we had two families from our support group come over to play and help out with the kids so I could unpack. It was very nice and I even got something accomplished! Then we had a day of errand running and the New Year's eve party which was a blast and then a nice relaxed family day at home. Today I have tried to finish up the unpacking and cleaning so we can start a more "normal" life next week.
We have a calm weekend ahead of us and then I hope to start our "routine" next week. We have a field trip planned, a playdate and the first preschool cooperative class for Ciaran, it should be a good week.
Peace,
Tenn
Earlier this week we had another 3 year old boy come over for awhile (his mom just had a baby last week) and it was great for everyone. We played cars, blocks and animals. The kids played Candyland and with flash cards. They built a fire and a castle. They ran around and played many imaginary games. We sat in the library and read several books and we ate dinner and calmed down. All in all it was a great day. Though I am glad we only have 3 under 5 and my heart goes out to those with more than that in this age range!
The next day we had two families from our support group come over to play and help out with the kids so I could unpack. It was very nice and I even got something accomplished! Then we had a day of errand running and the New Year's eve party which was a blast and then a nice relaxed family day at home. Today I have tried to finish up the unpacking and cleaning so we can start a more "normal" life next week.
We have a calm weekend ahead of us and then I hope to start our "routine" next week. We have a field trip planned, a playdate and the first preschool cooperative class for Ciaran, it should be a good week.
Peace,
Tenn
January 1, 2004
First Drama... Well tonight the kids had their first public acting experience. We had a big New Year's Eve celebration at our church for families with small children and Serona was in charge of creating a short drama for the kids, the whole family participated, yes he even got me to take part!
Rhiannon and Serona were really the show - but Ciaran and I had little parts and Sirah joined us in the sling. Rhia was so excited and she did a really good job. They played a tired dad and a hyper kid and practiced counting down with Serona messing up and Rhiannon laughing and correcting him. They were very cute. Ciaran got to bang pots and pans together to wake up a sleeping dad and we finished up with a countdown and confetti poppers with a balloon drop. The kids had a grand time and they played their parts well. The rest of the party was great and our kids actually feel asleep within minutes of laying down (very unusual especially for Rhia) because they ran and jumped so much and played so hard.
The party was well put together - dinner and dessert than crafts (noisemakers and party hats), face painting, a variety of games and an inflated jumping air trampoline (which the kids loved) ending with the drama and a countdown. It was alot of fun and nice for the kids and to be with friends from church.
We are settling in to play some Gin Rummy and stay awake until midnight.
Peace,
Tenn
Rhiannon and Serona were really the show - but Ciaran and I had little parts and Sirah joined us in the sling. Rhia was so excited and she did a really good job. They played a tired dad and a hyper kid and practiced counting down with Serona messing up and Rhiannon laughing and correcting him. They were very cute. Ciaran got to bang pots and pans together to wake up a sleeping dad and we finished up with a countdown and confetti poppers with a balloon drop. The kids had a grand time and they played their parts well. The rest of the party was great and our kids actually feel asleep within minutes of laying down (very unusual especially for Rhia) because they ran and jumped so much and played so hard.
The party was well put together - dinner and dessert than crafts (noisemakers and party hats), face painting, a variety of games and an inflated jumping air trampoline (which the kids loved) ending with the drama and a countdown. It was alot of fun and nice for the kids and to be with friends from church.
We are settling in to play some Gin Rummy and stay awake until midnight.
Peace,
Tenn
New Resource... Check out A Common Reader -- For Young Readers - The Company of Books. This site has listings and brief descriptions of a variety of books grouped by subject and age.
December 29, 2003
Home Library... I am so excited I can hardly contain it! We have mostly finished the library. This is a dream come true for Serona and I and we can hardly believe it has been accomplished before we are even 30! I thought I would share some photos with you.
The other side of the room:
And there is a walkway into the office between those shelves. It is beautiful and I am so excited. God has truly blessed our family and we hope to be able to use this to serve him well. Just wanted to share.
Peace,
Tenn
The other side of the room:
And there is a walkway into the office between those shelves. It is beautiful and I am so excited. God has truly blessed our family and we hope to be able to use this to serve him well. Just wanted to share.
Peace,
Tenn
December 28, 2003
ClassroomsCare Reading List
This is a list in roughly the order we have read the books. I will update it somewhat regularly. Our goal is to read 100 books by December 31 so that Scholastic Book Clubs will donate 100 new books to one of its charity partners. I am NOT including the "real little" books we read. Though I wonder if our storybooks are what they had in mind - and yet we are reading age appropriate books so that is what I will count. I am also only recording each unique book we read once, not every book we read as we read many of these books several times in a week (and often in a day).
LIST BEGUN October 25th, 2003
Mr Brown Can Moo, Can You by Dr Suess
Ten Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gerth
ABC by Dr Suess
Quick as a Cricket by Audrey Wood
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
Angelina and the Butterfly by Katherine Holabird
Butterfly Kisses by Bob and Brooke Carlisle
Mama Do you Love Me by Barbara M Joosse
Cinderella the Masked Ball by Walt Disney
The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton
Hard Scrabble Harvest by Dahlov Ipcar
Jacob's Gift by Max Lucado
You are Special by Max Lucado
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBranty
Thomas Gets Tricked by Rev W Awdry
Never Ride Your Elephant to School by Doug Johnson
Little Bird and the Moon Sandwich by Linda Berkowitz
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
The New Baby by Mercer Mayer
The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood
Because I love you by Max Lucado
Sailor Moo by Lisa Wheeler
My Five Senses by Aliki
Just the Way You Are by Max Lucado
All You Ever Need by Max Lucado
Butterfly House by Eve Bunting
DW's Library Card by Marc Brown
God Made You Special by Zonder Kids
The Ugly Stepsisters by Walt Disney
Crawdad Creek by Scott Sanders
Meeting Trees by Scott Sanders
Bashi Elephant Baby bu Theresa Radcliffe
Homeplace by Anne Shelby
Poppleton in Fall by Cynthia Rylant
Clifford's Busy Week by Norman Bridwell
The Looking Book by Mary Ann Hoberman
Let's Count it out Jesse Bear by Nancy White Carlstrom
Prayers for Family by Merrigold Press
Cinderella by Walt Disney
I spy A Book of Shapes by Patricia Hall
There was an old woman who swallowed a fly by Books, Incorporated Ladybird
Cliford's Itchy Day by Norman Bridwell
Who's Got Game? The Ant or the Grasshopper by Toni and Slade Morrison
Kipper's Toybox by Mick Inkpen
When the Chickens Went on Strike by Erica Silverman
Four friends together by Sue Heap
The Race by Caroline Repchuk
A Name on the Quilt by Jeannine Atkins
Johnny Appleseed by Steven Kellogg
Right Here on this spot by Sharn Hart Addy
Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino
La Nina Sin Nombre by Jose Luis
You Can't Smell a Flower With Your Ear by Beverly Collins
Kisses by Cyndy Szkeres
Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik
Emily is a Flower Girl by Claire Masurel
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault
If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Numeroff
If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Numeroff
Silent Movie by Avi
Does a Tiger Open Wide by Fred Erlich
Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel
Frof and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel
Finding Nemo by Disney Pixar
My First Purse by Rebecca Bartlett
If You Were My Bunny by Kate H. McMullan
Amelia Bedila and the Surprise Shower by Peggy Parish
SWIM! by Matchbox
The Silver Chair by CS Lewis
Crocodile and Hen by Joan Lexau
Mrs Chicken and the Hungry Crocodile by Won-Ldy Paye and Margaret H Lippert
County Fair by Eilsha Cooper
Coyote in Love with a Star by Marty Kreipe de Montano
The Giant Carrot by Jan Peck
Chicken Little by Sally Hobson
How Chipmunk Got His Stripes by Jospeh Bruchac and James Bruchac
Carlo Likes Counting by Jessica Spanyol
My "C" Sound Box by Jane Belk Moncure
Circle of Thanks by Susi Gregg Fowler
Crab by Rebecca Stefoff
Cars by Hal Rogers
Cats Colors by Jane Cabrera
Caves and Caverns by Gail Gibbons
Cats by Gail Gibbons
Constellations by Diane Sipiera
Clever Tortoise by Francesca Martin
Growing Crystals by Ann Squire
Coyotes by Emilie Lepthien
Clifford Takes a Trip by Norman Bridwell
The Costume Ball by Katherine Holabird
Camping Out by Richard Scarry
Outside Over There by Maurice Sendak
Corduroy by Don Freeman
What Do You See in a Cloud by Allan Fowler
The Caboose Who Got Loose by Bill Peet
Cars! Cars! Cars! by Grace Maccarone
Copy Me, CopyCub by Richard Edwards
It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G Shaw
Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina
HOORAY - 100 BOOKS DONATED - November 5, 2003
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Little Cloud by Eric Carle
Calico's Cousins by Phyllis Tildes
Circus by Lois Ehlert
Clown by Quentin Blake
Sector 7 by David Wiesner
Czech Republic by Henry Pluckrose
Count-a-saurus by Nancy Blumenthal
Parade Day: Marching Through the Calendar Year by Bob Barner
Canals by Elaine Landau
Castles by Franklin Watts
Circus Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina
Going West by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Circulatory System by Darlene Stille
Cicadas by Ann Squire
Cows by Rachael Bell
A Ticket to Costa Rica by Tracey West
China: Picture a country by Henry Pluckrose
The Cat in the Hat by Dr Suess
Curious George Goes to a Chocolate Factory by Margret & H.A. Rey
Curious George Goes Camping by Margret & H.A. Rey
The Cabin: The Sound of "C" by Cynthia Klingel
Canada by Elaine Landau
Fun with Color by Maria Gordon
Cars & Trucks by Karen Rissing
Moses in the Bulrushes by Mary Auld
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
Once a mouse by Marcia Brown
My Little House Songbook by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Manners by Aliki
Old MacDonald Had a Farm by Glen Rounds
All the Mamas by Carol Shough
The Mean Hyena by Judy Sierra
Music From the Sky by Denise Gillard
Follow the Money by Loreen Leedy
Eye Wonder Mammals by Sarah Walker
Clickety Clack by Rob and Amy Spence (a hold out hiding in our library basket from last week)
Me on the Map by Joan Sweeney
My Map Book by Sara Fanelli
A Picture Book of Martin Lutehr King Jr
Marsupial Sue by John Lithgow
Young Mozart by Rachael Isadora
My Mother is Mine by Marion Dane Bauer
Is Your Mama a Llama by Deborah Guarino
Malls the Sound of M by Cynthia Klingel
Mona Lisa by Letizia Galli
From Metal to Music by Wendy Davis
Market Day by Lois Elhert
Mabel Dancing by Amy Hest
Our Marching Band by Lloyd Moss
The Mitten by Jan Brett
Mountain Dance by Thomas Locker
Table Manners by Vladimir Radunsky (definitely DO NOT recommend this one)
The Calico Mother Goose Book of Games, Riddle, and Tongue Twisters (we skipped a few pages)
Monkeys are just like us by Allan Fowler
Mama do You Love Me by Barbara M joose
One Lighthouse One Moon by Anita Lobel
Going to Town by Laura Ingalls Wilder(no real M connection)
And if the Moon Could Talk by Kate Banks
The Moon Book by Gail Gibbons
Mountains and our moving earth by Pam Robson
Marshmallow by Clare Newberry
Mustang Canyon by Jonathen London
Marshmallow Kisses by Linda Brennan
Mirror by Alexandra Day
Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Jan Brett
My Great Grandmothers Gourd by Cristina Kessler
Green by Sarah Schuette
Gold Fever by Veria Kay
Geoffrey Groundhog Predicts the Weather by Bruce Koscielniak
Grandfather's Dream by Holly Keller
I Wanted to Know All About God by Virginia Kroll
Marvin K Mooney will you please go now by Dr Suess
Before I Dream by Karen Henley
Lou Gehrig: The Luckiest Man by David Adler
Goodnight moon by Margaret Wise Brown
God Knows My Name by Debby Anderson
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr Suess
Going to Sleep on the Farm by Wendy Lewison
Curious George Takes a Job by HA Rey
My G Soundbox by Jane Belk Moncure
Good Night God Bless by Susan O"Keefe
God is Like by Julie Waters
Gifts for Gus by Peg Ballard
The Gas we Pass by Shinta Choh
Postcards from Greece by Denise Allard
Give me Grace by Cynthia Rylant
David and Goliath by Mary Auld (do not recommend)
Giant Ape by Michael Goecke
Gathering A Northwoods Counting Book by Betsy Bowen
What the Sun Sees by Nancy Tafuri
What the Moon Sees by Nancy Tafuri
Giraffes by Julie Murray
Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say
George Washington A Picture Book Geography (not for the real young readers)
Baby's First Bible by Reader's Digest
Fox in Socks by Dr Suess
Winnie the Pooh Nightime Mystery by Walt Disney
A Tiger Cub Grows Up by Joan Hewett
Taste by Patricia Murphy
HOORAY - 200 BOOKS DONATED - November 26, 2003
Sam and the Tigers by Julius Lester
How Teddy Bears Are Made by Ann Morris
Emma and the Silk Train by Julie Lawson
God Made You Special by Big Idea
The Tangerine Bear by Betty Paraskevas
Giraffes by Lepthien
Gymnastics by Christin Ditchfield
Grizzly Bears by Stuart Kallen
A Place to Grow by Soyung Pak
I'm Taking a Trip on My Train by Shirley Neitzel
Little Bear by Else Homelundd Minarik
LIttle Bear's Friend by Else Minarik
Jeremy by Jan Karon
Machines at Work Fire Truck by Caroline Bingham
Big Machines at Work Dump Trucks by Jean Eick
Touch by Brenda Walpole
Trumpets by Pamela Harris
Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton
How Do We Think by Carol Ballard
Shamu and the Adventurous Seal Pup by Marc Shulman
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Curious George by Ha Rey
I Hear I See I Touch by Helen Oxenbury
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
The Sneetches by Dr Suess
Sky Tree by Thomas Locker
Ten Go Tango by Arthur Dorros
Pete's a Pizza by William Steig
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
River Story by Meredith Hooper
The Children's Book of Virtues by William Bennett
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
A Baby Sister for Frances by Russell Hoban
Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus
William's Doll by Charlotte Zolotow
George Shrinks by William Joyce
Baby Says by John Steptoe
From Head to Toe by Eric Carle
Freight Train by Donald Crews
Bed Time for Frances by Russell Hoban
The Stinky Cheese Man by Jon Scieszka
The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado
Learn Your Numbers by Grandreams Books Inc.
What if the Zebras Lost Their Stripes by John Reitano
You're Adorable by Martha Alexander
How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? by Jane Yolen & Mark Teague
The Little Merbaid by Walt Disney Pictures Gallery Books
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
If You Take a Mouse to the Movies by Laura Numeroff
The Star of Christmas by Big Idea Books
The Travels of Babr by Jean de Brunhoff
Last Updated December 28, 2003
This is a list in roughly the order we have read the books. I will update it somewhat regularly. Our goal is to read 100 books by December 31 so that Scholastic Book Clubs will donate 100 new books to one of its charity partners. I am NOT including the "real little" books we read. Though I wonder if our storybooks are what they had in mind - and yet we are reading age appropriate books so that is what I will count. I am also only recording each unique book we read once, not every book we read as we read many of these books several times in a week (and often in a day).
LIST BEGUN October 25th, 2003
Mr Brown Can Moo, Can You by Dr Suess
Ten Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gerth
ABC by Dr Suess
Quick as a Cricket by Audrey Wood
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
Angelina and the Butterfly by Katherine Holabird
Butterfly Kisses by Bob and Brooke Carlisle
Mama Do you Love Me by Barbara M Joosse
Cinderella the Masked Ball by Walt Disney
The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton
Hard Scrabble Harvest by Dahlov Ipcar
Jacob's Gift by Max Lucado
You are Special by Max Lucado
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBranty
Thomas Gets Tricked by Rev W Awdry
Never Ride Your Elephant to School by Doug Johnson
Little Bird and the Moon Sandwich by Linda Berkowitz
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
The New Baby by Mercer Mayer
The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood
Because I love you by Max Lucado
Sailor Moo by Lisa Wheeler
My Five Senses by Aliki
Just the Way You Are by Max Lucado
All You Ever Need by Max Lucado
Butterfly House by Eve Bunting
DW's Library Card by Marc Brown
God Made You Special by Zonder Kids
The Ugly Stepsisters by Walt Disney
Crawdad Creek by Scott Sanders
Meeting Trees by Scott Sanders
Bashi Elephant Baby bu Theresa Radcliffe
Homeplace by Anne Shelby
Poppleton in Fall by Cynthia Rylant
Clifford's Busy Week by Norman Bridwell
The Looking Book by Mary Ann Hoberman
Let's Count it out Jesse Bear by Nancy White Carlstrom
Prayers for Family by Merrigold Press
Cinderella by Walt Disney
I spy A Book of Shapes by Patricia Hall
There was an old woman who swallowed a fly by Books, Incorporated Ladybird
Cliford's Itchy Day by Norman Bridwell
Who's Got Game? The Ant or the Grasshopper by Toni and Slade Morrison
Kipper's Toybox by Mick Inkpen
When the Chickens Went on Strike by Erica Silverman
Four friends together by Sue Heap
The Race by Caroline Repchuk
A Name on the Quilt by Jeannine Atkins
Johnny Appleseed by Steven Kellogg
Right Here on this spot by Sharn Hart Addy
Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino
La Nina Sin Nombre by Jose Luis
You Can't Smell a Flower With Your Ear by Beverly Collins
Kisses by Cyndy Szkeres
Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik
Emily is a Flower Girl by Claire Masurel
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault
If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Numeroff
If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Numeroff
Silent Movie by Avi
Does a Tiger Open Wide by Fred Erlich
Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel
Frof and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel
Finding Nemo by Disney Pixar
My First Purse by Rebecca Bartlett
If You Were My Bunny by Kate H. McMullan
Amelia Bedila and the Surprise Shower by Peggy Parish
SWIM! by Matchbox
The Silver Chair by CS Lewis
Crocodile and Hen by Joan Lexau
Mrs Chicken and the Hungry Crocodile by Won-Ldy Paye and Margaret H Lippert
County Fair by Eilsha Cooper
Coyote in Love with a Star by Marty Kreipe de Montano
The Giant Carrot by Jan Peck
Chicken Little by Sally Hobson
How Chipmunk Got His Stripes by Jospeh Bruchac and James Bruchac
Carlo Likes Counting by Jessica Spanyol
My "C" Sound Box by Jane Belk Moncure
Circle of Thanks by Susi Gregg Fowler
Crab by Rebecca Stefoff
Cars by Hal Rogers
Cats Colors by Jane Cabrera
Caves and Caverns by Gail Gibbons
Cats by Gail Gibbons
Constellations by Diane Sipiera
Clever Tortoise by Francesca Martin
Growing Crystals by Ann Squire
Coyotes by Emilie Lepthien
Clifford Takes a Trip by Norman Bridwell
The Costume Ball by Katherine Holabird
Camping Out by Richard Scarry
Outside Over There by Maurice Sendak
Corduroy by Don Freeman
What Do You See in a Cloud by Allan Fowler
The Caboose Who Got Loose by Bill Peet
Cars! Cars! Cars! by Grace Maccarone
Copy Me, CopyCub by Richard Edwards
It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G Shaw
Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Little Cloud by Eric Carle
Calico's Cousins by Phyllis Tildes
Circus by Lois Ehlert
Clown by Quentin Blake
Sector 7 by David Wiesner
Czech Republic by Henry Pluckrose
Count-a-saurus by Nancy Blumenthal
Parade Day: Marching Through the Calendar Year by Bob Barner
Canals by Elaine Landau
Castles by Franklin Watts
Circus Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina
Going West by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Circulatory System by Darlene Stille
Cicadas by Ann Squire
Cows by Rachael Bell
A Ticket to Costa Rica by Tracey West
China: Picture a country by Henry Pluckrose
The Cat in the Hat by Dr Suess
Curious George Goes to a Chocolate Factory by Margret & H.A. Rey
Curious George Goes Camping by Margret & H.A. Rey
The Cabin: The Sound of "C" by Cynthia Klingel
Canada by Elaine Landau
Fun with Color by Maria Gordon
Cars & Trucks by Karen Rissing
Moses in the Bulrushes by Mary Auld
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
Once a mouse by Marcia Brown
My Little House Songbook by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Manners by Aliki
Old MacDonald Had a Farm by Glen Rounds
All the Mamas by Carol Shough
The Mean Hyena by Judy Sierra
Music From the Sky by Denise Gillard
Follow the Money by Loreen Leedy
Eye Wonder Mammals by Sarah Walker
Clickety Clack by Rob and Amy Spence (a hold out hiding in our library basket from last week)
Me on the Map by Joan Sweeney
My Map Book by Sara Fanelli
A Picture Book of Martin Lutehr King Jr
Marsupial Sue by John Lithgow
Young Mozart by Rachael Isadora
My Mother is Mine by Marion Dane Bauer
Is Your Mama a Llama by Deborah Guarino
Malls the Sound of M by Cynthia Klingel
Mona Lisa by Letizia Galli
From Metal to Music by Wendy Davis
Market Day by Lois Elhert
Mabel Dancing by Amy Hest
Our Marching Band by Lloyd Moss
The Mitten by Jan Brett
Mountain Dance by Thomas Locker
Table Manners by Vladimir Radunsky (definitely DO NOT recommend this one)
The Calico Mother Goose Book of Games, Riddle, and Tongue Twisters (we skipped a few pages)
Monkeys are just like us by Allan Fowler
Mama do You Love Me by Barbara M joose
One Lighthouse One Moon by Anita Lobel
Going to Town by Laura Ingalls Wilder(no real M connection)
And if the Moon Could Talk by Kate Banks
The Moon Book by Gail Gibbons
Mountains and our moving earth by Pam Robson
Marshmallow by Clare Newberry
Mustang Canyon by Jonathen London
Marshmallow Kisses by Linda Brennan
Mirror by Alexandra Day
Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Jan Brett
My Great Grandmothers Gourd by Cristina Kessler
Green by Sarah Schuette
Gold Fever by Veria Kay
Geoffrey Groundhog Predicts the Weather by Bruce Koscielniak
Grandfather's Dream by Holly Keller
I Wanted to Know All About God by Virginia Kroll
Marvin K Mooney will you please go now by Dr Suess
Before I Dream by Karen Henley
Lou Gehrig: The Luckiest Man by David Adler
Goodnight moon by Margaret Wise Brown
God Knows My Name by Debby Anderson
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr Suess
Going to Sleep on the Farm by Wendy Lewison
Curious George Takes a Job by HA Rey
My G Soundbox by Jane Belk Moncure
Good Night God Bless by Susan O"Keefe
God is Like by Julie Waters
Gifts for Gus by Peg Ballard
The Gas we Pass by Shinta Choh
Postcards from Greece by Denise Allard
Give me Grace by Cynthia Rylant
David and Goliath by Mary Auld (do not recommend)
Giant Ape by Michael Goecke
Gathering A Northwoods Counting Book by Betsy Bowen
What the Sun Sees by Nancy Tafuri
What the Moon Sees by Nancy Tafuri
Giraffes by Julie Murray
Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say
George Washington A Picture Book Geography (not for the real young readers)
Baby's First Bible by Reader's Digest
Fox in Socks by Dr Suess
Winnie the Pooh Nightime Mystery by Walt Disney
A Tiger Cub Grows Up by Joan Hewett
Taste by Patricia Murphy
Sam and the Tigers by Julius Lester
How Teddy Bears Are Made by Ann Morris
Emma and the Silk Train by Julie Lawson
God Made You Special by Big Idea
The Tangerine Bear by Betty Paraskevas
Giraffes by Lepthien
Gymnastics by Christin Ditchfield
Grizzly Bears by Stuart Kallen
A Place to Grow by Soyung Pak
I'm Taking a Trip on My Train by Shirley Neitzel
Little Bear by Else Homelundd Minarik
LIttle Bear's Friend by Else Minarik
Jeremy by Jan Karon
Machines at Work Fire Truck by Caroline Bingham
Big Machines at Work Dump Trucks by Jean Eick
Touch by Brenda Walpole
Trumpets by Pamela Harris
Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton
How Do We Think by Carol Ballard
Shamu and the Adventurous Seal Pup by Marc Shulman
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Curious George by Ha Rey
I Hear I See I Touch by Helen Oxenbury
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
The Sneetches by Dr Suess
Sky Tree by Thomas Locker
Ten Go Tango by Arthur Dorros
Pete's a Pizza by William Steig
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
River Story by Meredith Hooper
The Children's Book of Virtues by William Bennett
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
A Baby Sister for Frances by Russell Hoban
Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus
William's Doll by Charlotte Zolotow
George Shrinks by William Joyce
Baby Says by John Steptoe
From Head to Toe by Eric Carle
Freight Train by Donald Crews
Bed Time for Frances by Russell Hoban
The Stinky Cheese Man by Jon Scieszka
The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado
Learn Your Numbers by Grandreams Books Inc.
What if the Zebras Lost Their Stripes by John Reitano
You're Adorable by Martha Alexander
How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? by Jane Yolen & Mark Teague
The Little Merbaid by Walt Disney Pictures Gallery Books
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
If You Take a Mouse to the Movies by Laura Numeroff
The Star of Christmas by Big Idea Books
The Travels of Babr by Jean de Brunhoff
Last Updated December 28, 2003
December 26, 2003
Been awhile... I think this may be the longest I have gone without blogging, including when Sirah was born! The move has gone quite well, thanks to all of you who have stuck with me during this time. We are recovering from yesterday. We had an amazing outpouring of generosity and love that came our way in the form of presents and phone calls from our family who live so many miles away. Thanks again!
The kids are coming off their sugar highs (we let them have some candy and other sweets throughout the day - pretty unusual for them) and they are enjoying playing with all their new presents. I am busy trying to find a home for all the new items and referring squabbles that occur over who gets to go first. I just put the kids down for some quiet/naptime and thought I would try to sneak a few minutes to blog - before I get booted off the computer again from our terrible cable connection - which rumor has it is supposed to be fixed next week.
Serona and I are busy creating our home library. Yes I said home LIBRARY! A dream come true for the both of us. Last night he put together two more bookshleves to bring the total up to 8, tonight we will finish the last two for an even 10 and hope our books will all fit in them. We are also going shopping for a nice reading table and a few other little things to make that room have the feel we want (and can afford at this point). We sat on the futon looking at the full wall of shelves and both thought it was a beautiful sight and shared how we were happy to have married a fellow reader instead of TV watcher.
Today the kids have put on dances and concerts and have played dress up and considerable time with the new wooden train set. We have played a butterfly catch and had breakfast and lunch and even squeezed a little cleaning in there. We have worked on thank yous and had a good day so far. Hope all is good with you and yours and I hope to be back to consistent blogging after next week.
Peace,
Tenn
The kids are coming off their sugar highs (we let them have some candy and other sweets throughout the day - pretty unusual for them) and they are enjoying playing with all their new presents. I am busy trying to find a home for all the new items and referring squabbles that occur over who gets to go first. I just put the kids down for some quiet/naptime and thought I would try to sneak a few minutes to blog - before I get booted off the computer again from our terrible cable connection - which rumor has it is supposed to be fixed next week.
Serona and I are busy creating our home library. Yes I said home LIBRARY! A dream come true for the both of us. Last night he put together two more bookshleves to bring the total up to 8, tonight we will finish the last two for an even 10 and hope our books will all fit in them. We are also going shopping for a nice reading table and a few other little things to make that room have the feel we want (and can afford at this point). We sat on the futon looking at the full wall of shelves and both thought it was a beautiful sight and shared how we were happy to have married a fellow reader instead of TV watcher.
Today the kids have put on dances and concerts and have played dress up and considerable time with the new wooden train set. We have played a butterfly catch and had breakfast and lunch and even squeezed a little cleaning in there. We have worked on thank yous and had a good day so far. Hope all is good with you and yours and I hope to be back to consistent blogging after next week.
Peace,
Tenn
December 18, 2003
Great Political Resource... Serona has been all fired up lately about Howard Dean's statment that "the capture of Saddam has not made America safer." so I decided to find the whole speech text. I'll let you read and decide for yourself.
My search brought me to this wonderful website called Project Vote Smart , I highly recommend it. Here you can type in a candidates name and find things such as: Backgrounds, Issue Positions, Campaign Finances, Performance Evaluations and Voting Records. There is a lot of valuable information to be found here and an easy starting place for a lesson on voting and learning about the candidates position.
Peace,
Tenn
My search brought me to this wonderful website called Project Vote Smart , I highly recommend it. Here you can type in a candidates name and find things such as: Backgrounds, Issue Positions, Campaign Finances, Performance Evaluations and Voting Records. There is a lot of valuable information to be found here and an easy starting place for a lesson on voting and learning about the candidates position.
Peace,
Tenn
The Joys of Moving, Not... Don't get me wrong - I love our new place but I would like to have reliable internet service. My ISP is spotty at best and hasn't really worked since it was installed on Monday _sigh_ hope to be up and running again soon. Of course I also hope to have th boxes out of my garage soon and my daughter keeps reminding me how many days until Christmas!
Peace,
Tenn
Peace,
Tenn
December 13, 2003
Mid-move... Well we are mid-move here and I have only a few moments. Things are crazy - we still have internet access for another few hours (at the old house) and then we will be without access until Tuesday. We are almost fully moved out and are cleaning the old place and have a garage full of boxes and possessions to unpack (how do we collect so much stuff) and it seems like we will already fill the new house that has almost 800 square feet more!
The kids are holding up amazingly well and I have to thank our homeschool support network again. Two of the moms from the group came and helped today - we could not have done it without them. They watched and held kids, played with them, brought treats, packed boxes, cleaned and made car runs. I can't think of anything they didn't do - Thanks! You were amazing! They also helped us hire two men to lift the big heavy things for us and we had another generous friend from church helping us. The move has gone about as smooth as one could ask for in the snow and freezing weather.
Serona is incredible and has been working hard all day and we will be working well into the night. Will touch base again sometime next week. Hope all is well with you and yours.
Peace,
Tenn
The kids are holding up amazingly well and I have to thank our homeschool support network again. Two of the moms from the group came and helped today - we could not have done it without them. They watched and held kids, played with them, brought treats, packed boxes, cleaned and made car runs. I can't think of anything they didn't do - Thanks! You were amazing! They also helped us hire two men to lift the big heavy things for us and we had another generous friend from church helping us. The move has gone about as smooth as one could ask for in the snow and freezing weather.
Serona is incredible and has been working hard all day and we will be working well into the night. Will touch base again sometime next week. Hope all is well with you and yours.
Peace,
Tenn
December 11, 2003
A Heartwarmer... It seems so rare these days to find feel good news stories - but here is one. This very caring 13 year old girl, Makenzie Snyder, has given over 28,000 foster children duffel bags and stuffed animals. Read more here.
Peace,
Tenn
Peace,
Tenn
Lessons While Moving... Just two days left until the move and our stress level is very good. Today is the final big packing day (I need to pack all those things I needed to leave out - a box or two in each room) and we are going to tie up loose ends (get the rest of the utilities working at the new house, change our address, etc) and the kids will make going away cards for our neighbors. They are excited about the move, but will miss some of our neighbors. I am trying to help them with the transition by allowing them to draw pictures and visit people.
We have also been counting boxes - practicing stacking objects - some piles nearly reach the ceiling, practicing self-restraint in climbing and of course getting out energy by climbing in "safe" areas, and a million other little life lessons this move has given us opportunities to teach. I have learned how creative my kids can be with very few toys and learning materials. And they have enjoyed that they get to watch a video nearly every day (not the norm in our house).
We have been listening to music (Christmas carols, classical and praise) nearly all day long and taking breaks to dance all together or in different pairs. The kids have taken little breaks to color or do worksheets or file folder games or play with play-doh. Today we will work on stewardship lessons and teaching them to care for all the things God has given us and to leave our home in excellent condition for it's new owners. This will be taught mostly through practical cleaning exercises, LOL!
Actually I have learned that my kids really enjoy cleaning and fufilling tasks. Even ones they aren't so fond of are made fun by the use of a timer and a reward if they get done before the timer. You would be amazed how fast my children really can put their toys away when they feel motivated. Part of me just wants to put videos on all day so they will be "busy" and I can get alot done. But the larger part of me knows I would regret losing all those "teachable moments" we will have. So it will take us a little longer but we will do it together and they will learn and we will have fun and be all together. I'll save the video for the hour I need to make phone calls to set up utilities and the like.
Well I guess I better be off for our final day of packing and cleaning in our current humble abode. Thanks for your patience with me through these crazy times.
Peace,
Tenn
We have also been counting boxes - practicing stacking objects - some piles nearly reach the ceiling, practicing self-restraint in climbing and of course getting out energy by climbing in "safe" areas, and a million other little life lessons this move has given us opportunities to teach. I have learned how creative my kids can be with very few toys and learning materials. And they have enjoyed that they get to watch a video nearly every day (not the norm in our house).
We have been listening to music (Christmas carols, classical and praise) nearly all day long and taking breaks to dance all together or in different pairs. The kids have taken little breaks to color or do worksheets or file folder games or play with play-doh. Today we will work on stewardship lessons and teaching them to care for all the things God has given us and to leave our home in excellent condition for it's new owners. This will be taught mostly through practical cleaning exercises, LOL!
Actually I have learned that my kids really enjoy cleaning and fufilling tasks. Even ones they aren't so fond of are made fun by the use of a timer and a reward if they get done before the timer. You would be amazed how fast my children really can put their toys away when they feel motivated. Part of me just wants to put videos on all day so they will be "busy" and I can get alot done. But the larger part of me knows I would regret losing all those "teachable moments" we will have. So it will take us a little longer but we will do it together and they will learn and we will have fun and be all together. I'll save the video for the hour I need to make phone calls to set up utilities and the like.
Well I guess I better be off for our final day of packing and cleaning in our current humble abode. Thanks for your patience with me through these crazy times.
Peace,
Tenn
December 10, 2003
Weekly Update... Just a few minutes to blog - we are a one car family this week and need to head out to pick up Serona from work. Three days until we move and I can't pack another box until Thursday night (how is it we need so much stuff for just three days?) but seriously our progress is really good this time. We are excited for the move.
It's been a good week, we got a bunch of snow (hooray) and it has even been nice enough for the kids to be outside playing with their friends, sledding, building snowpeople and making snow angels. They have had alot of fun doing that recently. We also managed to make cookies with them - snickerdoodles which were fun because they rolled them in the cinnamon and sugar mix themselves. We even had some apple cider.
I have given up on doing anything for the next few weeks. We just found out grandpa is coming to stay with us next week - yay that will be alot of fun for the kids and I can get some unpacking done. Well I had better be off.
Peace,
Tenn
It's been a good week, we got a bunch of snow (hooray) and it has even been nice enough for the kids to be outside playing with their friends, sledding, building snowpeople and making snow angels. They have had alot of fun doing that recently. We also managed to make cookies with them - snickerdoodles which were fun because they rolled them in the cinnamon and sugar mix themselves. We even had some apple cider.
I have given up on doing anything for the next few weeks. We just found out grandpa is coming to stay with us next week - yay that will be alot of fun for the kids and I can get some unpacking done. Well I had better be off.
Peace,
Tenn
On Vaccines Again... I decided to leave this soapbox over at CyberEcology but it is worth a click to find out about problems with the recent CDC study on the link between autism and mercury in vaccines.
Peace,
Tenn
Peace,
Tenn
December 9, 2003
Kindergarten Behavior... Reading this article both saddens me and reinforces our decision to homeschool and to have a full-time stay at home parent with our children.
Time magazine reports Does Kindergarten Need Cops? and while the headline seems a bit aggressive the article is even sadder. There are serious behavioral problems being seen in children in larger numbers and in earlier ages throughout the country.
The article highlights some sad examples and then discusses some reasons people are citing for the behavior. One woman states:
Time magazine reports Does Kindergarten Need Cops? and while the headline seems a bit aggressive the article is even sadder. There are serious behavioral problems being seen in children in larger numbers and in earlier ages throughout the country.
The article highlights some sad examples and then discusses some reasons people are citing for the behavior. One woman states:
Many cite economic stress, which has parents working longer hours than ever before, kids spending more time in day care and everyone coming home too exhausted to engage in the kind of relationships that build social skills. "Kids aren't getting enough lap time," says Karen Bentley, a seasoned elementary school administrator in Miami, who sees increased aggression in young students.
Not enough lap time? That to me is so sad - and one thing my kids will not be lacking. It is so sad to me that children are unable to enjoy their parents and to spend time with them in meaningful ways. I am again thankful for the gift Serona gives me in enabling me to stay home full time with my children.
So today when you get stressed with your kids while they don't want to follow a lesson or get something done, think about what other families and children are facing today and put your kids in your lap and read a story or just enjoy some quality family time together.
Peace,
Tenn
December 8, 2003
Little by Little
"Little by little" an acorn said
As it slowly sank in its mossy bed;
"I am improving day by day
Hidden deep in the earth away"
Little by little each day it grew;
Little by little it sipped in the dew;
Downward it sent out a thread-like root;
Up in the air sprung a tiny shoot;
Day after day, year after year,
Little by little the leaves appear;
And the slender branches spread far and wide,
Till the mighty oak is the forest's pride.
"Little by little" said a thoughtful boy
"Moment by moment I'll well employ,
Learning a little every day,
And not spending all my time in play
And still this rule in my mind shall dwell
"Whatever I do, I will do it well'
Little by little I'll learn to know
The treasured wisdom of long ago
And one of these days perhaps we'll see
That the world will be the better for me."
And do you not think that this simple plan
Made him a wise and useful man."
-Anonymous
"Little by little" an acorn said
As it slowly sank in its mossy bed;
"I am improving day by day
Hidden deep in the earth away"
Little by little each day it grew;
Little by little it sipped in the dew;
Downward it sent out a thread-like root;
Up in the air sprung a tiny shoot;
Day after day, year after year,
Little by little the leaves appear;
And the slender branches spread far and wide,
Till the mighty oak is the forest's pride.
"Little by little" said a thoughtful boy
"Moment by moment I'll well employ,
Learning a little every day,
And not spending all my time in play
And still this rule in my mind shall dwell
"Whatever I do, I will do it well'
Little by little I'll learn to know
The treasured wisdom of long ago
And one of these days perhaps we'll see
That the world will be the better for me."
And do you not think that this simple plan
Made him a wise and useful man."
-Anonymous
December 7, 2003
Brief update.... Well I have been packing like a madwoman for the past 45 minutes and decided to take a break - just 15 minutes of course. The move prep is going very well actually - we have packed up almost everything but the essentials we need to make it until the weekend. The only room left untouched so far is the kitchen - which I will tackle tomorrow. We are living amongst towers of boxes - the kids really just want to climb inside them or better yet on top of them. We have even cleaned out the attic already - seems everything is on track.
We went to get our pictures taken for Christmas cards and what a fiasco that turned into. Rhiannon refused to smile, Ciaran kept giving the 2 year old "CHEESY" grin and Sirah just wouldn't look at the camera. It was an event - sometimes I am convinced a snapshot captures my children far better and far cheaper! I get complaints from family and friends that our kids don't get "professional" pictures done (we may do it once a year - yes even when they are babies) but our experience has not been good and they are always so expensive. I will admit it - I am NOT a "creative" memories mom. My memories will be passed on to my children in the form of this blog, their personal journals and probably a shoebox of photos and a ton of digital pictures and the occasional video. Each mother is different I suppose - hopefully my kids can appreciate our written history and the snapshots that go along with it. I simply don't have time or interest in cutting paper into pretty shapes and gluing things into a book.
Hope you had a great weekend and please be patient with me this week and next as we move (we will actually be without computer service for atleast 4 whole days _sigh_).
Peace,
Tenn
We went to get our pictures taken for Christmas cards and what a fiasco that turned into. Rhiannon refused to smile, Ciaran kept giving the 2 year old "CHEESY" grin and Sirah just wouldn't look at the camera. It was an event - sometimes I am convinced a snapshot captures my children far better and far cheaper! I get complaints from family and friends that our kids don't get "professional" pictures done (we may do it once a year - yes even when they are babies) but our experience has not been good and they are always so expensive. I will admit it - I am NOT a "creative" memories mom. My memories will be passed on to my children in the form of this blog, their personal journals and probably a shoebox of photos and a ton of digital pictures and the occasional video. Each mother is different I suppose - hopefully my kids can appreciate our written history and the snapshots that go along with it. I simply don't have time or interest in cutting paper into pretty shapes and gluing things into a book.
Hope you had a great weekend and please be patient with me this week and next as we move (we will actually be without computer service for atleast 4 whole days _sigh_).
Peace,
Tenn
December 5, 2003
Clay Field Trip... Today we went on a very interesting filed trip to a clay factory. The kids seem to enjoy themselves and the tour guide did a great job explaining the process to their age level. The tour included viewing the materials, machines and process for mixing and packaging the clay and the glazes. We also saw the kiln and they actually took our pieces out with us there- we helped, it was very interesting. The kids made some ornaments and coasters and pinch pots and had glazed them as well.
It felt good to be out doing stuff again, we have been self-quarantining ourselves since we were exposed to chicken pox - but the incubation is over and it appears to have passed us by _whew_ so it was nice to get the kids out. They behaved so well I was so thankful and very impressed with them. All the kids on the tour did actually - it was a nice time.
Peace,
Tenn
It felt good to be out doing stuff again, we have been self-quarantining ourselves since we were exposed to chicken pox - but the incubation is over and it appears to have passed us by _whew_ so it was nice to get the kids out. They behaved so well I was so thankful and very impressed with them. All the kids on the tour did actually - it was a nice time.
Peace,
Tenn
Our Favorite Children's Books...
I've tossed the idea of reviewing all the books we read on this site - but we simply read too many. Instead I've decided to highlight a few favorties from each family member. My choices are books that I enjoy reading to them or that I love the story. They are not in any particular order, just as they came to me.
Rhiannon
Quick as a Cricket by Audrey Wood
Anything with a Disney Princess
All the Angelina Books
The Little House Series (both the regular and the storybooks)
Ciaran
The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood
Ten Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gerth
Marvin K Mooney will you please go now by Dr Suess
Goodnight moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Thomas the Train books
Both of them
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Numeroff
If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Numeroff
Sailor Moo by Lisa Wheeler
Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Any Curious George
Before I Dream by Karen Henley
Any Pooh Bear stories
Mommy
Mr Brown Can Moo, Can You by Dr Suess
You are Special by Max Lucado
Butterfly House by Eve Bunting
Meeting Trees by Scott Sanders
It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G Shaw
Sector 7 by David Wiesner
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
My Little House Songbook by Laura Ingalls Wilder
All the Mamas by Carol Shough
The Mitten by Jan Brett
God Made You Special by Big Idea
The Children's Book of Virtues by William Bennett
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
A Baby Sister for Frances by Russell Hoban
Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis
Blueberry Shoe by Ann Dixon
Mama Do You Love Me by Barabara Joose
The Napping House by Don and Audrey Wood
I've tossed the idea of reviewing all the books we read on this site - but we simply read too many. Instead I've decided to highlight a few favorties from each family member. My choices are books that I enjoy reading to them or that I love the story. They are not in any particular order, just as they came to me.
Rhiannon
Quick as a Cricket by Audrey Wood
Anything with a Disney Princess
All the Angelina Books
The Little House Series (both the regular and the storybooks)
Ciaran
The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood
Ten Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gerth
Marvin K Mooney will you please go now by Dr Suess
Goodnight moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Thomas the Train books
Both of them
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Numeroff
If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Numeroff
Sailor Moo by Lisa Wheeler
Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Any Curious George
Before I Dream by Karen Henley
Any Pooh Bear stories
Mommy
Mr Brown Can Moo, Can You by Dr Suess
You are Special by Max Lucado
Butterfly House by Eve Bunting
Meeting Trees by Scott Sanders
It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G Shaw
Sector 7 by David Wiesner
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
My Little House Songbook by Laura Ingalls Wilder
All the Mamas by Carol Shough
The Mitten by Jan Brett
God Made You Special by Big Idea
The Children's Book of Virtues by William Bennett
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
A Baby Sister for Frances by Russell Hoban
Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis
Blueberry Shoe by Ann Dixon
Mama Do You Love Me by Barabara Joose
The Napping House by Don and Audrey Wood
Moving Progress... I thought I would post an update for those of you following my move.
Days to Move: 7
Boxes Packed: 39 - plus two storage units full
Closets Left - 2
Stress Level - Low
Family Health - Good
Actually we are doing the best I have ever done in our 5 moves in the past 4 years, I guess you just get better each time. I feel like there is little I can do this week - I have already thinned our clothes down to what we need to wear - the kids toys have almost all been packed. I left out a basket of blocks and a basket of puppets and hard vinyl animals and a little rubbermaid tub of cars and some books of course. I have even packed up the desk and all our files and office and school supplies. The only major things I have left are the kitchen - which I always wait until the end for and our linen closet. So I really can't complain this time.
Tenn
Days to Move: 7
Boxes Packed: 39 - plus two storage units full
Closets Left - 2
Stress Level - Low
Family Health - Good
Actually we are doing the best I have ever done in our 5 moves in the past 4 years, I guess you just get better each time. I feel like there is little I can do this week - I have already thinned our clothes down to what we need to wear - the kids toys have almost all been packed. I left out a basket of blocks and a basket of puppets and hard vinyl animals and a little rubbermaid tub of cars and some books of course. I have even packed up the desk and all our files and office and school supplies. The only major things I have left are the kitchen - which I always wait until the end for and our linen closet. So I really can't complain this time.
Tenn
More Reading Lists... Well we aren't making as much progress on the ClassRoom Cares List as I had hoped, because we need to read "unique" books and we have be in a reread all our favorites stage. The kids keep requesting the same books over and over again and I am not going to deny them their picks (though I do sneak a few new ones in) so we are still reading alot but I am not writing down all the titles over and over again. Some recent new reads include:
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
River Story by Meredith Hooper
The Children's Book of Virtues by William Bennett
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
A Baby Sister for Frances by Russell Hoban
Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus
William's Doll by Charlotte Zolotow
George Shrinks by William Joyce
Baby Says by John Steptoe
From Head to Toe by Eric Carle
Pete's a Pizza by William Steig
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Freight Train by Donald Crews
Bed Time for Frances by Russell Hoban
The Stinky Cheese Man by Jon Scieszka
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
River Story by Meredith Hooper
The Children's Book of Virtues by William Bennett
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
A Baby Sister for Frances by Russell Hoban
Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus
William's Doll by Charlotte Zolotow
George Shrinks by William Joyce
Baby Says by John Steptoe
From Head to Toe by Eric Carle
Pete's a Pizza by William Steig
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Freight Train by Donald Crews
Bed Time for Frances by Russell Hoban
The Stinky Cheese Man by Jon Scieszka
December 4, 2003
Screwed Up World.... Okay warning this has nothing to do with homeschooling - skip it if you like. I am VERY FRUSTRATED right now about the status of the National Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign.
I started out hopeful and excited - for once a message that stated the truth - not just "Breast is Best" but that choosing not to breastfeed has potential and proven consequences. The campaign ads were to illustrate that children who are not breastfed have a "higher risk of developing asthma, diabetes, leukemia and other illnesses."
But lo and behold in comes the formula manufacturers to express their displeasure at the risks of not breastfeeding being highlighted (THESE ARE A REALITY PEOPLE) and suddenly the AAP changes it's position. From the article:
I started out hopeful and excited - for once a message that stated the truth - not just "Breast is Best" but that choosing not to breastfeed has potential and proven consequences. The campaign ads were to illustrate that children who are not breastfed have a "higher risk of developing asthma, diabetes, leukemia and other illnesses."
But lo and behold in comes the formula manufacturers to express their displeasure at the risks of not breastfeeding being highlighted (THESE ARE A REALITY PEOPLE) and suddenly the AAP changes it's position. From the article:
The campaign has divided physician members of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Joe M. Sanders Jr., the academy's executive director, and Dr. Carden Johnston, its president, sent a letter to Tommy G. Thompson, secretary of health and human services, in early November expressing their concerns about the tone of the campaign and the soundness of the science providing the base for some of its claims. That upset the academy's own breastfeeding experts, who had been working with the government on the ads and supported their aggressive message.
Dr. Lawrence M. Gartner, the former chairman of the pediatrics department at the University of Chicago and current chairman of the academy's executive committee on breastfeeding, said he believed that academy officials might have sent the letter to appease formula manufacturers; some of them are large financial donors to the group.
The Dr's claim they were changing their position before the formula companies objected because some members were "concerned that the advertisements could make mothers who chose not to breastfeed feel guilty if their child later developed leukemia or another medical condition."
While I empathize with their point - these mothers are ENTITLED to the truth and not to be shielded from the truth for fear of hurting their feelings or potentially making some people feel guilty. They should only feel guilty if they KNEW the risks and chose to do it anyway. The AAP and formula companies seem to be advocating hiding the truth from parents - letting the soft "Breast is Best" campaign continue.
Don't get me wrong I am all for supporting "Breast is Best" but our breastfeeding initiation and continuation rates in this country show that it has not been enough. I believe many parents simply don't realize that there are risks if you don't breastfeed and then chose to bottle feed. If these parents knew that breastfeeding would offer their children not only advantages but be preventative of many other things perhaps some would choose to breastfeed than.
It just enrages and saddens me that we live in a culture that will put babies and small children's health at risk for fear of hurting someone's feelings and so some companies can make more money. It is disappointing and disgusting in my opinion. Perhaps people need to be offended and feel a little guilty to instill a necessary change in our country. Progress isn't always comfortable - but that doesn't make it wrong.
Read the article for yourself. Breastfeeding Ads Delayed by a Dispute Over Content.
Peace,
Tenn
Bringing in the wood... I love children's imaginations. Rhiannon went to see Little House Christmas yesterday and now she is leading her brother in an imaginative reenactment of scenes from the play and the books. As I type this they are using several of the empty packing boxes to "bring in the wood" and make a nice warm fire. They are sitting by the fire to warm their feet and they are talking about different things from the book. Rhia wants me to call her Laura and Ciaran Mary and I am to be referred to as Ma and Sirah as Carrie. Pa is off at work. They are so cute. Perhaps I will try to just stay with the Little House theme all day to get them to do what needs to be done.
Peace,
Tenn
Peace,
Tenn
December 3, 2003
Little House Christmas... Today has been a great day for our family. Serona took the day off to have a special date with Rhiannon, they went to see a performance of Little House Christmas. They really enjoyed it, she is very into the series, we have been listening to it on tape so far and we will be giving her the set of books for Christmas. They had a special date complete with a chocolate treat from what I hear.
Meanwhile Ciaran and I had some special playtime while they were gone and Sirah was sleeping. We built castles with blocks and then drove cars around them. He played with his "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" cutouts and we read some books together. His favorite is Still "The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear" by Audrey Wood. We then made pancakes together and had a lot of fun - he loves to cook and to wash the dishes.
When Sirah woke up we all sat on the floor together and listened to Christmas music and sang while we played with the blocks. Serona and Rhiannon came home and then he headed out to run an errand with Ciaran and left me with the girls. Then he headed over to pick up Ciaran a new life like animal - a treat he loves for less than 5.00 and it lasts and gets played with over and over again.
This time Rhiannon and I worked on a few things. She drew a replica of our front door wreath complete with pinecones and bow in her nature study notebook while I did our online bills and banking and then we read several books. Her favorite was "Harold and the Purple Crayon" by Crockett Johnson. Then we did a few review questions and discussion from the play she saw this morning (provided on the theater's website) and talked a bit about Little House in general. Now she is playing quietly by herself and Sirah is in the swing while I write this - I am going to try to pack a bit now.
Peace,
Tenn
Meanwhile Ciaran and I had some special playtime while they were gone and Sirah was sleeping. We built castles with blocks and then drove cars around them. He played with his "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" cutouts and we read some books together. His favorite is Still "The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear" by Audrey Wood. We then made pancakes together and had a lot of fun - he loves to cook and to wash the dishes.
When Sirah woke up we all sat on the floor together and listened to Christmas music and sang while we played with the blocks. Serona and Rhiannon came home and then he headed out to run an errand with Ciaran and left me with the girls. Then he headed over to pick up Ciaran a new life like animal - a treat he loves for less than 5.00 and it lasts and gets played with over and over again.
This time Rhiannon and I worked on a few things. She drew a replica of our front door wreath complete with pinecones and bow in her nature study notebook while I did our online bills and banking and then we read several books. Her favorite was "Harold and the Purple Crayon" by Crockett Johnson. Then we did a few review questions and discussion from the play she saw this morning (provided on the theater's website) and talked a bit about Little House in general. Now she is playing quietly by herself and Sirah is in the swing while I write this - I am going to try to pack a bit now.
Peace,
Tenn
Days and Nights... Why do babies get these mixed up? Sirah has been sleeping during the day and ready to party at night. Right now I so want to go to sleep but she is still up and raring to go. Serona is working late and there is no choice but to be awake. I used to never really mind but with three it is harder as one is awake when the others are asleep you know the others will wake up when this one falls asleep and then you have lost all that sleep. I am reminded of the Bare Naked Ladies song" Who Needs Sleep? Well your never gonna get it." Yet even as I complain I don't really mind. I know these days pass by too quickly and I know I will sleep again someday - as my father told me you can get a few good years in between the youngest turning 5 or so and the oldest becoming a teenager - then you never sleep again until they are fully out of the house. I have learned to function on less sleep though I am a much happier mom when I get more rest. Perhaps I can go bore her to sleep now.
Peace,
Tenn
Peace,
Tenn
December 2, 2003
Good Afternoon... Before the chaos of bedtime hits I would like to let you know we had a great afternoon. Rhiannon started her Nature Study notebook with two drawings of the flowers on our table and a short poem from The Children's Book of Virtues "Try, Try Again". She also had me jot down a little note about one of the flowers and God. It was a nice moment. She worked on her art while I danced around the room with Sirah and Ciaran took a nap, a nice peaceful moment in an otherwise loud and crazy household.
The kids are making forts and houses and climbing on all our moving boxes those that are full and those that are empty. Sirah has slept away much of the day so I am anticipating a long night. It seems whatever sickness we had has passed us by and that is wonderful!
I am trying to psyche myself up for the bedtime routine and reading some stories now and then heading back down here to the mess to try to pack up some of my desk and file all the stacks of paper that have collected around the house. Hopefully I won't miss any bills during this crazy time. Keeping track of paperwork is always the hardest on me during a move.
Peace,
Tenn
The kids are making forts and houses and climbing on all our moving boxes those that are full and those that are empty. Sirah has slept away much of the day so I am anticipating a long night. It seems whatever sickness we had has passed us by and that is wonderful!
I am trying to psyche myself up for the bedtime routine and reading some stories now and then heading back down here to the mess to try to pack up some of my desk and file all the stacks of paper that have collected around the house. Hopefully I won't miss any bills during this crazy time. Keeping track of paperwork is always the hardest on me during a move.
Peace,
Tenn
Raising Whole Children... I have recently been reading A Charlotte Mason Companion:
Personal Reflections on The Gentle Art of Learning by Karen Andreola, and I can't say enough good about it. I LOVE this book and I love almost everything I am hearing in it.
Sometimes I feel like each new book I read awakens a part of me I never realized was there before. It seems each new homeschooling book (almost) I read teaches me something that I decide I want to utilize in our home and family - but this one was different. This book reinforced what I am already doing in my home and helped me think of better ways to do it. That is a special book - kind of like the first time I read The Baby Book and The Discipline Book by Dr Sears and found someone describing the way I was parenting. It is nice to find yourself in a book and to find new and better suggestions.
Some ideas that we have decided to start implementing right away (ok AFTER our move) are a Nature Study Notebook, Narration, and studying one composer and one artist for 3 months. I really want my children to grow up cultured and I suppose I have a very different definition of culture than what it seems is promoted to children these days. I read a Jane Austen novel and I love that they had a thorough appreciation for art, classical music, poetry and worked on these skills. I want my children to recognize and love Bach, Beethoven, Monet, Manet, Keats, Dickens, and Shakespeare to name a few. I want them to appreciate and love beauty in everything and I want them to be whole people.
I recognize this culture starts in the home and in the atmosphere you raise your children in. We are already clearly a family of readers and reading is encouraged and cultivated at every turn in our lives (including a library in the new house!!!!) and that will continue. But as of recently I realized I have been so focused on literature that I have let music and art appreciation slip through the cracks, not to even mention poetry. Now don't get me wrong my children are still very young and I know they have plenty of time - but how easy it is to play classical music while we make and eat lunch. How nice it is to read a simple and short poem as a respite between play. How wonderful to show the children real art masterpieces and encourage them to truly draw themselves. How much more can that enrich their lives. I can't do it all at once. But in true FLYbaby style I will babystep it one step at a time.
It is easy to get several CD's by a single composer and big art books from the library (or as our budget affords) and keep them on display and on the stereo for three months at a time. It is easy to listen to classical music for just 30 minutes a day and read one poem a day. We recently began reading one proverb a day (corresponding with the date) and I found it didn't take long to become a routine and it doesn't take much time at all.
Again I come back to my "I can do anything for 15 minutes philosophy" and I realize how easy it is to introduce my kids to a large variety of culture and in a meaningful way. We will work on introducing classical works, art masterpieces, wonderful poetry and sketching God's creation into our days and I am sure that is a decision we will NEVER regret. I want to grow whole children and I think there is much wisdom in the days of past we can and should learn from.
Pick up a copy of A Charlotte Mason Companion:
Personal Reflections on The Gentle Art of Learning by Karen Andreola and find yourself refreshed and inspired. The pictures alone in the book are worth it. They represent the kind of atmosphere many of us want for our children. They show children at peace, at play and in an atmosphere that promotes the love of learning and the growth of a whole child.
Warmly,
Tenn
UPDATE: AS I was reading this morning Linda's blog had a link to get a sonnet a day. How easy some things are in the days of the internet and email!
Personal Reflections on The Gentle Art of Learning by Karen Andreola, and I can't say enough good about it. I LOVE this book and I love almost everything I am hearing in it.
Sometimes I feel like each new book I read awakens a part of me I never realized was there before. It seems each new homeschooling book (almost) I read teaches me something that I decide I want to utilize in our home and family - but this one was different. This book reinforced what I am already doing in my home and helped me think of better ways to do it. That is a special book - kind of like the first time I read The Baby Book and The Discipline Book by Dr Sears and found someone describing the way I was parenting. It is nice to find yourself in a book and to find new and better suggestions.
Some ideas that we have decided to start implementing right away (ok AFTER our move) are a Nature Study Notebook, Narration, and studying one composer and one artist for 3 months. I really want my children to grow up cultured and I suppose I have a very different definition of culture than what it seems is promoted to children these days. I read a Jane Austen novel and I love that they had a thorough appreciation for art, classical music, poetry and worked on these skills. I want my children to recognize and love Bach, Beethoven, Monet, Manet, Keats, Dickens, and Shakespeare to name a few. I want them to appreciate and love beauty in everything and I want them to be whole people.
I recognize this culture starts in the home and in the atmosphere you raise your children in. We are already clearly a family of readers and reading is encouraged and cultivated at every turn in our lives (including a library in the new house!!!!) and that will continue. But as of recently I realized I have been so focused on literature that I have let music and art appreciation slip through the cracks, not to even mention poetry. Now don't get me wrong my children are still very young and I know they have plenty of time - but how easy it is to play classical music while we make and eat lunch. How nice it is to read a simple and short poem as a respite between play. How wonderful to show the children real art masterpieces and encourage them to truly draw themselves. How much more can that enrich their lives. I can't do it all at once. But in true FLYbaby style I will babystep it one step at a time.
It is easy to get several CD's by a single composer and big art books from the library (or as our budget affords) and keep them on display and on the stereo for three months at a time. It is easy to listen to classical music for just 30 minutes a day and read one poem a day. We recently began reading one proverb a day (corresponding with the date) and I found it didn't take long to become a routine and it doesn't take much time at all.
Again I come back to my "I can do anything for 15 minutes philosophy" and I realize how easy it is to introduce my kids to a large variety of culture and in a meaningful way. We will work on introducing classical works, art masterpieces, wonderful poetry and sketching God's creation into our days and I am sure that is a decision we will NEVER regret. I want to grow whole children and I think there is much wisdom in the days of past we can and should learn from.
Pick up a copy of A Charlotte Mason Companion:
Personal Reflections on The Gentle Art of Learning by Karen Andreola and find yourself refreshed and inspired. The pictures alone in the book are worth it. They represent the kind of atmosphere many of us want for our children. They show children at peace, at play and in an atmosphere that promotes the love of learning and the growth of a whole child.
Warmly,
Tenn
UPDATE: AS I was reading this morning Linda's blog had a link to get a sonnet a day. How easy some things are in the days of the internet and email!
Reading List...
Little Bear by Else Homelundd Minarik
LIttle Bear's Friend by Else Minarik
Jeremy by Jan Karon
Machines at Work Fire Truck by Caroline Bingham
Big Machines at Work Dump Trucks by Jean Eick
Touch by Brenda Walpole
Trumpets by Pamela Harris
Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton
How Do We Think by Carol Ballard
Shamu and the Adventurous Seal Pup by Marc Shulman
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Curious George by Ha Rey
I Hear I See I Touch by Helen Oxenbury
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
The Sneetches by Dr Suess
Little Bear by Else Homelundd Minarik
LIttle Bear's Friend by Else Minarik
Jeremy by Jan Karon
Machines at Work Fire Truck by Caroline Bingham
Big Machines at Work Dump Trucks by Jean Eick
Touch by Brenda Walpole
Trumpets by Pamela Harris
Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton
How Do We Think by Carol Ballard
Shamu and the Adventurous Seal Pup by Marc Shulman
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Curious George by Ha Rey
I Hear I See I Touch by Helen Oxenbury
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
The Sneetches by Dr Suess
December 1, 2003
What to Do With Little Ones... Karen Andreola (author of The Charlotte Mason Companion) has a great site with excellent resources. On this site is a nice page of ideas for preschoolers during class time. Check it out.
Peace,
Tenn
Peace,
Tenn
General Malaise... Well we are sick here now _sigh_ with less than two weeks to the move. Rhiannon is having general not feeling well symptoms: low grade fever, upset stomach, sore muscles and tiredness. She doesn't have energy to smile, laugh or talk. She just wants to cuddle, sleep, watch movies and listen to stories. We were exposed to chicken pox two weeks ago and I am wondering if it coming now. Of course it could also be this terrible flu going around. Time will tell - but I will be out of commission for awhile.
Peace,
Tenn
Peace,
Tenn
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