Okay so you know you have a habit when your kids know your Starbucks order. FYI - it is not my habit. Back in November Serona had to spend a little over a month straight in NYC for work and he came home with a Starbucks habit. At least it is a cheap one as far as Starbucks goes - he just really prefers their coffee and likes a lot of cream in it.
We are a one car family and so when the kids and I want to have the car for the day we need to drive Serona into work first. Often, though not always we will stop at the Starbucks drive through on the way to his office and get his coffee. Today we were bringing him lunch and I decided to surprise him with coffee. We got to the drive through and Ciaran calls out from the back don't forget the "extra, extra cream" and I said what? He said well daddy likes the Venti Coffee with extra extra cream and don't forget to say "Cheers!" when they hand you the coffee.
So there you go - they are always observant and know our habits and preferences just as well as we do sometimes.
April 27, 2007
April 26, 2007
Movie Meme
Why Not?
THE MOVIE MEME
1. Name a movie you have seen more than 10 times.
Every one of the Star Wars Saga - especially A New Hope
2. Name a movie you’ve seen multiple times in the theater.
Revenge of the Sith
Attack of the Clones - notice a theme yet?
3. Name an actor who would make you more inclined to see a movie.
Tom Hanks
4. Name an actor who would make you less likely to see a movie.
Will Farrell
5. Name a movie you can and do quote from.
All Star Wars saga movies, Ferris Bueillers Day Off, Top Gun
6. Name a movie musical in which you know all of the lyrics to all of the songs.
Music Man, Mary Poppins
7. Name a movie you have been known to sing along with.
Sound of Music, Mary Poppins
8. Name a movie you would recommend everyone see.
Music Man
9. Name a movie you own.
Home Movie Collection
10. Name an actor who launched his/her entertainment career in another medium but who has surprised you with his/her acting chops.
Will Smith
11. Have you ever seen a movie in a drive-in?
Yes my parents used to take us all the time when we were kids.
13. Name a movie you keep meaning to see but you just haven’t gotten around to yet.
Night at the Museum
14. Ever walked out of a movie? Which one?
The Cable Guy. Went to see it because Matthew Broderick was in it - left pretty quickly thought it was TERRIBLE.
15. Name a movie that made you cry in the theater.
Schindler's List
16. Name a movie that surprised you that you ended up really liking.
ElizabethTown
17. How often do you go to the movies (as opposed to renting them or watching them at home)?
A few times a year - we use netflix now so we usually wait.
18. What's the last movie you saw in a movie theater?
Meet the Robinsons with the whole fam.
19. What’s your favorite/preferred genre of movie?
Upbeat happy movies or as Serona says - movies where basically good things happen to basically good people, and political thrillers with limited violence.
20. What’s the first movie you remember seeing in the theater?
Pete's Dragon at Radio City Music Hall in NYC
April 24, 2007
100 kids and 4,838 years
What is as tall as 70 kids standing on each others shoulder and so wide that 30 children need to hold hands at full armspan to get around it?
That's right General Sherman according to our best math estimates after using the numbers on this website. The numbers are a few years old but you get the picture. Then it was simply a matter of finding the height and armspan of a child - we used Ciaran's at age 6 because this little exercise came after Ciaran asked how many people it would take to hug the biggest tree in the world. And off we went on a research quest. It really did not take that long to discover. Got to love Google! Still when I look at the picture it seems bigger to me then even these numbers suggest - what do you think?
In case you are wondering what the next question was. "Can we see a picture of the oldest tree in the world?" which is currently Methuselah - though there are rumors that an even older tree has been discovered but the identity not released so people will not destroy it the way Prometheus was for research purposes.
The actual location of Methuselah is protected but this is a tree from the grove where it is believed Methuselah lives.
So now you know. We were reading in our Botany textbook today about bristle pinecone trees and great sequoias. Kind of made me bummed that we did not take the time when in California to go see these amazing trees. Well just means another family vacation is in order somewhere down the line!
That's right General Sherman according to our best math estimates after using the numbers on this website. The numbers are a few years old but you get the picture. Then it was simply a matter of finding the height and armspan of a child - we used Ciaran's at age 6 because this little exercise came after Ciaran asked how many people it would take to hug the biggest tree in the world. And off we went on a research quest. It really did not take that long to discover. Got to love Google! Still when I look at the picture it seems bigger to me then even these numbers suggest - what do you think?
In case you are wondering what the next question was. "Can we see a picture of the oldest tree in the world?" which is currently Methuselah - though there are rumors that an even older tree has been discovered but the identity not released so people will not destroy it the way Prometheus was for research purposes.
The actual location of Methuselah is protected but this is a tree from the grove where it is believed Methuselah lives.
So now you know. We were reading in our Botany textbook today about bristle pinecone trees and great sequoias. Kind of made me bummed that we did not take the time when in California to go see these amazing trees. Well just means another family vacation is in order somewhere down the line!
April 23, 2007
Finishing School
We are on track to finish school in mid May so we are heads down doing work when we are not outside enjoying the sunshine or on a field trip - though I must admit those things still take up considerable time for us :)
I have learned it is best for me to finish before the weather gets too nice as none of us can concentrate anymore. We found doubling up on a few sections in our math book should do the trick. Happy days to come over the next few weeks as entire subjects are closed for the summer once they are completed!
I have learned it is best for me to finish before the weather gets too nice as none of us can concentrate anymore. We found doubling up on a few sections in our math book should do the trick. Happy days to come over the next few weeks as entire subjects are closed for the summer once they are completed!
Tenn's Shared Items
Okay so I will admit the ability to share directly from my RSS feeder on my blog has made me lazier about linking to cool articles I find. Be sure to check out my shared items for news stories and blog posts that I find interesting. There is generally a selection of tech, geek and science information there along with a smattering of parenting and education links as well and of course the random thing I find interesting like the upcoming 30th anniversary of Star Wars.
Practical Math
Last week we had a practical math experience. Rhiannon and I were comparing fractions and she was having a hard time understanding why the smaller denominator made for a bigger number. I explained with food an easy thing for her to understand. If she had to split two cookies and share them evenly and one was split into 10 pieces and the other was split into just three pieces which one would be bigger. That made complete sense to her. Then she added to me - "If it was soup night I would want to invite 25 people over and share!" I knew she had her head wrapped around the concept then.
April 18, 2007
Down Sick
I have been sick or nursing sickies all week. Blogging to resume sometime in the future when we are all recovered. Enjoy the video clips...
April 13, 2007
April 12, 2007
Sibling Comfort
Sirah is sick. She has a cold but also body aches and a low grade fever. She is miserable and usually a cold does not stop her. She spent all afternoon either in my lap or asleep in her bed or on a couch. Tonight at bedtime Rhiannon offered for her to sleep in her bed with her, not a common occurrence. As I tucked them in tonight I could not help but smile and be encouraged at how loving and comforting the older two kids were being to her. Rhia read Sirah her favorite books at times throughout the day and offered to help her however she could. Ciaran was unusually patient with her and comforting to her, allowing her to play with some of his toys and even rubbing her back when she laid down. Their compassion and sensitivity was encouraging to see. But watching the girls lay in bed together was really a precious memory and one I know is comforting to both of them.
Three of Everything?
I always thought I would not be one of those moms who bought three of everything to keep the peace. There are somethings I still don't buy one of everything for each of them and they simply have to share and others I have just learned are worth the extra cost and space. We have general use crayons, markers, pencils and colored pencils but they fight over them or don't want to use them. This Christmas they all got some variation of the 80 piece art set with watercolors, pastels, colored pencils, markers, crayons, etc in its own carrying case. They love them. When it is art time they each get their own and I have repeats of everything on the table but they keep them neat, clean up after themselves and don't argue. Now who is going to argue with that. At first I thought it was the novelty but now 4 months into it and the results are the same. So as long as this works each kid gets their own art set at the beginning of the school year. Can't buy peace for that cheap.
Some other things I will concede is worth having one for everyone. Own watercolor sheet pad, own sketch notebook, own popcorn bowl (we now have cute tins they really like), own wireless remote controller for gamecube (wow how many fights stopped when we had more than one!), own basket of candy and three rollers for play dough. Just about everything else they have to share. I''ll make those small concessions to keep the peace and let them have their own "special" things.
Some other things I will concede is worth having one for everyone. Own watercolor sheet pad, own sketch notebook, own popcorn bowl (we now have cute tins they really like), own wireless remote controller for gamecube (wow how many fights stopped when we had more than one!), own basket of candy and three rollers for play dough. Just about everything else they have to share. I''ll make those small concessions to keep the peace and let them have their own "special" things.
Thinking about Curriculum
The annual MACHE conference is this weekend in Rochester Minnesota. I am not attending, I was uninspired when looking through the offerings and felt like much of it is the same as the previous several years.
Plus I have little self control when it comes to purchasing good books which are available to the excess there. Not curriculum mind you, I have a lot of self-control and selectivity when it comes to that but just good old used books, great literautre, non-fiction finds and all those treasure troves of books that I would come home with a car full of. So I decided to stay home this time.
Still everyone in my support group has been talking about next year and offering to purchase things for me so I can save on shipping and get some things a bit cheaper. Last year I was organized and sent a dear friend with a list and cheapest prices I could get online with shipping. If she could find it for less in her travels she would pick it up, she found about half cheaper and half I ended up purchasing online anyway.
This year I did not send a list - I am just not motivated to think about next year yet and I know I can get reasonable prices online, if even simply through Rainbow Resources who almost always has what I need at the cheapest price. Though they sometimes take forever to ship and have strict return policies and don't run specials. Between RR and Amazon I usually get everything I need. I have not wanted to buckle down and think ahead.
Some things of course are already decided for next year. Ciaran will follow the same basic things we did with Rhiannon for first grade modified to fit his learning style and with the exception of a workbook or two I have everything already. Rhia will continue with Story of the World Vol 3 which is really the backbone of our studies. I love teaching history as a chronological story with the activites and maps they provide and supplementing with books from the library. It fits our family well. We will continue with some combination of Singapore and Miquon math. We have our science textbooks here. She loves old style classroom textbooks like I used growing up that I supplement with non-fiction more in depth books from the library. I may consider the Astronomy Creation Science book to go side by side with that. We like teaching science from both the creation and the evolution perspective side by side and discussing them which typically requires using two very different texts. We will do Spelling Power, continue Handwriting Without Tears and begin Latin. So I guess I have thought about it - just need to decide on Language Arts beyond Explode the Code which we will continue and some more to supplement in Geography and then the usual stuff we add in as the year goes.
I love pulling things together and taking the parts I like and leaving the rest behind. So far I have not found a "box" I like.
Plus I have little self control when it comes to purchasing good books which are available to the excess there. Not curriculum mind you, I have a lot of self-control and selectivity when it comes to that but just good old used books, great literautre, non-fiction finds and all those treasure troves of books that I would come home with a car full of. So I decided to stay home this time.
Still everyone in my support group has been talking about next year and offering to purchase things for me so I can save on shipping and get some things a bit cheaper. Last year I was organized and sent a dear friend with a list and cheapest prices I could get online with shipping. If she could find it for less in her travels she would pick it up, she found about half cheaper and half I ended up purchasing online anyway.
This year I did not send a list - I am just not motivated to think about next year yet and I know I can get reasonable prices online, if even simply through Rainbow Resources who almost always has what I need at the cheapest price. Though they sometimes take forever to ship and have strict return policies and don't run specials. Between RR and Amazon I usually get everything I need. I have not wanted to buckle down and think ahead.
Some things of course are already decided for next year. Ciaran will follow the same basic things we did with Rhiannon for first grade modified to fit his learning style and with the exception of a workbook or two I have everything already. Rhia will continue with Story of the World Vol 3 which is really the backbone of our studies. I love teaching history as a chronological story with the activites and maps they provide and supplementing with books from the library. It fits our family well. We will continue with some combination of Singapore and Miquon math. We have our science textbooks here. She loves old style classroom textbooks like I used growing up that I supplement with non-fiction more in depth books from the library. I may consider the Astronomy Creation Science book to go side by side with that. We like teaching science from both the creation and the evolution perspective side by side and discussing them which typically requires using two very different texts. We will do Spelling Power, continue Handwriting Without Tears and begin Latin. So I guess I have thought about it - just need to decide on Language Arts beyond Explode the Code which we will continue and some more to supplement in Geography and then the usual stuff we add in as the year goes.
I love pulling things together and taking the parts I like and leaving the rest behind. So far I have not found a "box" I like.
The Best Kind of Snow
I am going to have a silver lining moment to our recent snow in April. It came quickly, it was pretty, the roads were easy to drive on, it was enough to sled on for an afternoon, it was warm and sunny to play in, there was no shoveling required and it is almost fully melted. The cost of course is that it snowed in April and we have had a cold month so far (other than our 81 degree day). Rumor has it we are headed back up to the 60's. Of course we are sick here now so not much enjoyment of the nice weather coming our way unless we have speedy recoveries.
Revisiting Old Friends
Revisiting favorite books is like revisiting friends. You just remember how much you love them. Right now I am reading the Bobsey Twins books aloud to my children. I remember reading them in first grade or so, it is fun to share with my kids these stories that I loved growing up.
Today I snuggled in Sirah's bed with her and read her several Madeline books. This was the first time she was hearing the books and it was fun to share them with her. She held Rhia's old Madeline doll and she pointed out how she looked just like the girl in the book. Madeline is like visiting an old friend as are Nan, Bert, Flossie and Freddie.
There are so many other good friends that I love revisiting with my kids like Aslan, Bilbo, Curious George, Wilbur and Charlotte, Peter, Wendy and Tink, and of course Laura and Mary. Yet there are also new ones I am enjoying discovering with them like Wilbur Robinson, the Box Car children, Ozma, Betsy and Tacy to name a few. I love reading with my kids especially on a day like today when there is snow on the ground in April and fevers burning, runny noses and achy legs to go around.
We do watch some movies and have found new friends there are well but it is still never quite the same as opening that book and saying "and that's where we will leave off until tomorrow" - the suspense and time you invest in reading a book and the imagination you need make it all the more enjoyable. Off to get the cookies out of the oven! Sirah's choice for mommy and me time today - bake cookies.
Today I snuggled in Sirah's bed with her and read her several Madeline books. This was the first time she was hearing the books and it was fun to share them with her. She held Rhia's old Madeline doll and she pointed out how she looked just like the girl in the book. Madeline is like visiting an old friend as are Nan, Bert, Flossie and Freddie.
There are so many other good friends that I love revisiting with my kids like Aslan, Bilbo, Curious George, Wilbur and Charlotte, Peter, Wendy and Tink, and of course Laura and Mary. Yet there are also new ones I am enjoying discovering with them like Wilbur Robinson, the Box Car children, Ozma, Betsy and Tacy to name a few. I love reading with my kids especially on a day like today when there is snow on the ground in April and fevers burning, runny noses and achy legs to go around.
We do watch some movies and have found new friends there are well but it is still never quite the same as opening that book and saying "and that's where we will leave off until tomorrow" - the suspense and time you invest in reading a book and the imagination you need make it all the more enjoyable. Off to get the cookies out of the oven! Sirah's choice for mommy and me time today - bake cookies.
April 11, 2007
Hold the Styrofoam PLEASE?!?!?!?!?
Now some may think I am heading up on a soapbox here about styrofoam and the environment briefly summarized here. While I am first to grant you I don't care for it because of those reasons my real reason lies all over my kitchen and living room floors, stuck to my children, in their hair, clothes and making Roomba quirky and very unhappy - I can not stand the way it falls apart and gets stuck to everything. It is also a child magnet, the way bubble wrap is. I love bubble wrap - send me some of that - just PLEASE hold the styrofoam? I will listen to jumping and bouncing and have fun popping with them. I will embrace the noise and the fun that goes with it but please leave the styrofoam OUT OF MY HOME!
The kids dug into a box with a styrofoam packaged item inside this morning. Since they are 6 and 3 why bother taking it out of the box - lets dig into it with our fists and see if we can dig it out! I was right in the next room and had one of those "they are too quiet" realizatios and came in to discover them completely covered in styrofoam along with my kitchen and dining room - one immediately ran into the living room leaving traces of it all over that floor to. We have spent the past hour cleaning and it is still not done. This is the second time in two weeks this sort of thing has happened. Why is styrofoam a magnet for kids to play in? Why do they package things in it? Really there are good alternatives now.
If you send me things please, pretty please leave the styrofoam at home? We will all be saner and happier for it. While I am at it - just a reminder leave the tinsel and easter grass home as well. I banned those (successfully) a few years ago. I know I am a mean one Mr. Grinch. Really I am pretty easy going but those three are pet peeves that make me grumpy! So I would be much obliged if we could simply leave it outside my door. Thank you very much!
April 10, 2007
17 Random Things I Learned Today
Random Things I have learned throughout the day.
-3 year olds should not wash their own hair
-Chameleons change color when they are angry or sick not for camoflauge
-It is possible to spend 2 hours in Target looking for ways for a 6 year old to spend his giftcard!
-2 hours in Target is wearing on a mom with a 7, 6 and 3 year old in tow
-The weatherman is not lying when he says it will snow in April - hopefully he is wrong about how many inches he is predicting!
-Orcas like their tongues rubbed
-Refrigerator liberation day is more palatable with Sprite to drink and the promise of a movie and popcorn for those who finish!
-For some reason math is easier when mom asks the question outloud rather than just reading it off the worksheet yourself.
-We can all hop on one foot, gallop and skip across a room.
-My dogs know how to open our gate and like to adventure through the neighborhood.
-A morphibian really does work in water - though it is messy in a bathroom and then they break and there are tears and tears and did I mention the tears?
-Giving everyone their own special popcorn bucket keeps the peace albeit with a bit more mess.
-Roomba is worth her weight in gold after a movie night with seperate popcorn bins!
-We currently have 71 books out of the library systems (we use two county systems) and have so many different due dates I keep track of them on my calendar yet we still have late fees. I notice the late fees tend to increase when I have more than 100 books checked out of the library. Hmmm...note to self which I will promptly ignore.
-Ciaran is in the 75th percentile for height and weight for kids his age.
-Fairies turn red when they turn bad accordng to Rhia's lovely artwork today.
Saving my favorite for last....
-Sirah now has 17 babies in her heart that one day when she is older and a mom they will come out and she is going to drive a big red bus with lots of baby seats in it!
There are some random moments from our day - how about from yours? Loving those teachable and precious memory moments.
-3 year olds should not wash their own hair
-Chameleons change color when they are angry or sick not for camoflauge
-It is possible to spend 2 hours in Target looking for ways for a 6 year old to spend his giftcard!
-2 hours in Target is wearing on a mom with a 7, 6 and 3 year old in tow
-The weatherman is not lying when he says it will snow in April - hopefully he is wrong about how many inches he is predicting!
-Orcas like their tongues rubbed
-Refrigerator liberation day is more palatable with Sprite to drink and the promise of a movie and popcorn for those who finish!
-For some reason math is easier when mom asks the question outloud rather than just reading it off the worksheet yourself.
-We can all hop on one foot, gallop and skip across a room.
-My dogs know how to open our gate and like to adventure through the neighborhood.
-A morphibian really does work in water - though it is messy in a bathroom and then they break and there are tears and tears and did I mention the tears?
-Giving everyone their own special popcorn bucket keeps the peace albeit with a bit more mess.
-Roomba is worth her weight in gold after a movie night with seperate popcorn bins!
-We currently have 71 books out of the library systems (we use two county systems) and have so many different due dates I keep track of them on my calendar yet we still have late fees. I notice the late fees tend to increase when I have more than 100 books checked out of the library. Hmmm...note to self which I will promptly ignore.
-Ciaran is in the 75th percentile for height and weight for kids his age.
-Fairies turn red when they turn bad accordng to Rhia's lovely artwork today.
Saving my favorite for last....
-Sirah now has 17 babies in her heart that one day when she is older and a mom they will come out and she is going to drive a big red bus with lots of baby seats in it!
There are some random moments from our day - how about from yours? Loving those teachable and precious memory moments.
2006 Homeschool Blog Awards
I have been nominated for the 2006 Homeschool Blog Awards in the Best Mom Blog category. If you like what you read here click over and vote.
There are a lot of great blogs in many different categories, new ones to discover and some old favorited to revisit!
April 6, 2007
A Moment to Cherish
Anyone who knows me or has spent any regular time on my blog knows I LOVE reading to kids. It is a passion of mine, it is one of those memories I hope my kids grow up to love and to replicate with their own children. We read and we read and we read a lot. Today we had one of those moments that makes me love homeschooling so much.
It was late morning we had just finished a snack of scones and hot chocolate and I decided to read to the kids. Our current mom chapter book (we also have a dad read aloud - currently Jedi Search by Kevin Anderson) is The Bobbsey Twins Red, White and Blue Mystery which they are really enjoying. Sirah and Ciaran got out a puzzle to do while they listened to me and Rhiannon picked up her nine patch sewing (for her Plum Creek class) and they sat nearby listening and keeping their hands busy. I read three chapters and they kept asking for more but after an hour at that time of day I was at risk of falling asleep during reading and needed to stop.
It was just one of those quiet moments where we enjoyed a good story together and everyone was engaged with each other and with their own quiet project. It was one of those moments that made me feel like a sterotypical homeschooler. Reading aloud to kids is one of those things that I know is common to many homeschools and many families in general and just something about the way it happened today made me feel a connection with families all across the world who were likely doing the very same things. We went on with the lessons and business of the remainder of the day.
This evening I took another break from all the cleaning and evening prep to just pull the younger two into my lap and read for awhile. One of the books we read was Reading With Dad and it brought tears and smiles to me. A sweet story about a little girl reading with her father throughout her whole life and the different stages of reading together. As I read it I happened to be sitting in our overstuffed leather chair with two kids on my lap (just like a photo in the book) and Ciaran noticed it. As I finished the book I placed a kiss on both their heads and told them how much I loved reading with them and how it was one of my favorite things to do and how they should do the same with their kids and always read with me throughout all their lives. They both turned around and gave me one of the biggest tightest hugs and I just felt so loved and so special in that moment. Just pure love and joy from a simple hug and shared moment with a book. It just does not get better...well maybe when I can no longer read and they read to me.
Easter Lesson Plan
Here are some of the things we do as a family with young children to explain Easter from a biblical perspective.
1. Children's bible versions of the Easter story and all the events around it here.
2. Resurrection Eggs - This is a dozen plastic egg kit that you can purchase at churches, online or Christian book stores or make yourself. Each egg contains an item that is a symbol of part of the Easter story and it is a powerful teaching tool. Here is a sample kit though the exact items can vary from kit to kit.
3. Sinful Heart/Blood of the Cross/Pure Heart
I make white hearts and laminate them then I have the kids use a black
wipe off marker and write each of their sins on the heart. For the younger I
have them just make an X as they tell me each sin. Then I use a red cross (made out of construction paper to symbolizes Jesus' blood) to cover over their heart and I erase the sins and show them how Jesus dying on the cross covered our sins and
makes our hearts pure before God. The heart is then white again, the way God will see our hearts because of Jesus' sacrifice for us. This seems to really bring the
lesson home for younger children.
--A friend of mine suggested modifying this by using a red/pink eraser and making it into the shape of a cross to show the erasing of the sins.
4. Jelly Bean Prayer This is a craft simple craft with a poem and some jelly beans that shows God's love for us with the cross. Print the poem here. Have younger children glue the bean next to each line have older children glue the bean and the copywork the saying or memorize it.
5. Family cross - Each year we make a large family cross with each members of the household represented on it. We take two big pieces of butcher paper and form them
into a cross. Then each family member traces his/her hand and writes
their name on it. We glue the colorful hearts onto the cross and
write Easter and the year on the top and have a heart for Jesus in the
center. We hang this each year to show how Jesus dies for each of our
sins. Then at the end of the year when we take it down to save it we
compare it to last years cross to see how our family has changed
(added members, grown in size, etc), it is a nice tradition to have.
6. Resurrection Cookies - These are cookies you make the night before that also help show the story of Easter. The recipe and details can be found here.
7. Easter night/morning enactment We have not done this before but it looks so good I think we will add this to our routine this year. A fun activity a family created to bring it home to their kids. Read more.
8. Easter morning - We read the Easter story from the actual adult bible. By now the kids are very familiar with the story and can follow along with ease and patience. Then we look for eggs and do some of the traditional secular activities.
April 4, 2007
Must Read Education Article
There are very few times I encourage an article as a must read for home educators but this is one that I HIGHLY recommend. While not about homeschooling directly it has some interesting points and conclusions that are well worth the read. Set aside about 15-20 minutes where you can really focus on what you are reading and check out The Future of Education by the DaVinci Institute.
The researchers outline what they are predicting as a radical shift in education and I would second many of their predicitions based on the way various technologies are already coming together. As homeschoolers we have the opportunity to be early adopters and on the cutting edge of much of the changes that occur in learning systems today.
I post here their conclusions, but please click over and read the whole article to understand their rationale. In many ways I think the facts they point out about technology and the possibilities it offers education are even more interesting then the conclusions they draw from it.
The discussion of folksonomies and education units being available in itunes format was especially interesting to me. Just last night at a Mom's Night Out for our homeschool support group we were discussing how you can take courses like MIT's open courses for free and how I predict soon we will see live tutors for individual subjects, questions, hours, etc that people can pay to help with certain areas. Subject matter experts for education, much like the business world has them now.
Anyway it is interesting to read and think about.
Blessings,
Tenniel
The researchers outline what they are predicting as a radical shift in education and I would second many of their predicitions based on the way various technologies are already coming together. As homeschoolers we have the opportunity to be early adopters and on the cutting edge of much of the changes that occur in learning systems today.
I post here their conclusions, but please click over and read the whole article to understand their rationale. In many ways I think the facts they point out about technology and the possibilities it offers education are even more interesting then the conclusions they draw from it.
With tools for producing courseware becoming widely available, people around the world will begin creating it, and we will see a courseware explosion similar to the dramatic rise of content on YouTube and iTunes.
As part of the rapidly developing courseware movement we will see education transition from:
* Teacher-centric to learning-centric
* Classroom-based teaching to anyplace, anytime learning
* Mandated courses to hyper-individualized learning
* A general population of consumers to a growing population of producers
Learning will become hyper-individualized with students learning what they want to learn, when they want to learn it. Most of today’s existing learning impediments will eventually go away.
As a result of this shift we will begin to see dramatic changes in society. The speed of learning will increase tenfold because of a combination of the following factors:
* Confidence-based learning will significantly increase learning speed and comprehension
* Learning what we want, when we want - shifting away from a prescribed course agenda to one that is hyper-individualized, self-selected, and scheduled whenever a student wishes to take it will dramatically change levels of motivation
* Technology improvements over time will continually improve the speed and comprehension of learning
The speed of learning will increase tenfold, and it is possible that the equivalent of our current K-12 education system will be compressed into as little as one year’s worth of learning.
In the future, we predict students entering the workforce will be ten times smarter than they are today."
The discussion of folksonomies and education units being available in itunes format was especially interesting to me. Just last night at a Mom's Night Out for our homeschool support group we were discussing how you can take courses like MIT's open courses for free and how I predict soon we will see live tutors for individual subjects, questions, hours, etc that people can pay to help with certain areas. Subject matter experts for education, much like the business world has them now.
Anyway it is interesting to read and think about.
Blessings,
Tenniel
Insanity
There is nothing quite like a Minnesota March. Where the weather ranges from 1 degree with windchills in the negative teens to 81 degrees! Where we can get two feet of snow and then have it all melt in just a few days.
Well today as I type this, yes in April it happens to be 20 degrees and feel like 4 with windchills. It did in fact snow last night. We did not get the 2-5 inch accumulation they were claiming we might, but I did have to borrow an ice scraper for my car last night to get the ice of my windshield. March and April are just crazy and unpredictable. If you don't like the weather wait a few days and it will just change again. After days and days of gloomy black rain it started to snow but atleast the sun is out again and rumor has it we should be back up in the 50's by week's end.
So what do we do in 20 degree weather in April? We go swimming! Off to the pool. Enjoy your day.
April 2, 2007
My Life in Forts and Bugs
I have nature lovers - especially Ciaran. It is a passion we have tried to build into them but one of the unforseen consequences of this is lots of creepy crawly and slimy things. We have drawn the line on keeping them as pets at this point because I don't want to feed frogs live crickets. When he is old enough to care for them himself then we will talk about it again. So for now we have lots of patience for little critters that come visit and then head back to nature. For his birthday he got this great gift that facillitates this process. The bug vacuum works pretty well, is easy to use and provides lots of fun for kids plus they want to clean up the bugs around the house. My rule is they must release them outside. We have brought two spiders outside just this morning. Maybe the box elders and ladybugs have met their match this season. We will see. The other half of the title of this post is forts. I am a patient mom when it comes to loss of my living room and couch spaces. We very often have large colorful blankets, pillows and an assortment of odds and ends holding them up over our couches, chairs, stools and whatever else they can find. Whole room sized forts with multiple compartments and individual spaces are preferable to just small one blanket forts. The current fort has 6 blankets in use - we are talking big afghans. One which was designed and crocheted by me to reach from one end of the room to the other. The others are all queen size blankets or quilts. While there is some overlap you can imagine how big the fort is.
Bugs and forts. I would never have thought I would enjoy and embrace them the way I have. But they lead to happy creative kids and this is what being a kid is all about. Someday I will miss the forts and the creepy crawly things that come in. My couches will all be neat and orderly and there won't be a million books falling all over the place (okay maybe there still will be too many books) and I will miss this. So I embrace it and enjoy it and live my life in forts and bugs with a smile :) Enjoy whatever your forts and bugs are today.
Peace,
Tenniel
April 1, 2007
Updated Reading Lists
Updated Reading Lists are Available.
Rhiannon's Second Grade Reading List
Ciaran Kindergarten Reading List
January 2007
February 2007
March 2007
Rhiannon's Second Grade Reading List
Ciaran Kindergarten Reading List
January 2007
February 2007
March 2007
Dyson Giveaway
Yes I know I am posting this on April Fools, but it is no joke. 5 minutes for mom is giving away a free Dyson Slim. Go on over and enter, it is easy and free and you never know.
March 31, 2007
Organized Chaos!
Also known as Ciaran's 6th birthday party. We had 14 kids between the ages of 3 and 8 playing board games for nearly 3 hours. The kids did really well, I was impressed with them and overall it was a fun and stress free time. It was busy and tiring and we could not have done it without the help of one of the other moms, Serona and I would have been seriously outnumbered. Still all in all it went well and Ciaran had a great time and my prayer was answered - no tears!
We had many different games out being played over the course of the time, the kids cycled through most of them. Here are some Zooreeka, Operation, Zitternix, Foosball, Zingo, Candyland, Parchessi, Chess, Guess Who, Toot and Otto, and Balloon Lagoon. We had games set up in two rooms at the tables and on the floor. We grouped the kids into teams and those teams were kind of fluid and changing throughout the time but were useful if we needed to quickly organize something or move kids to the next location. We set up in two main areas (upstairs and downstairs) and had several games all near one another so an adult could supervise several at a time. We had one adult upstairs, one downstairs and then a floater that moved between as needed. We set a timer for 15-20 minutes (though we did not strictly stick to it) and let the kids play the game for that length. Some of the longer games did not finish and we simply cycled more kids into the current games and had them pick up where the other players left off.
We had a really great group of kids that made this work nicely. We had a wide age range and both girls and boys (though the girls were really outnumbered) and they played well together in different combinations and age was never really an issue or even really apparent. They were even very including and patient with Sirah who is 3 and much younger than all of them. Sometimes the patience level of some of the kids was shorter than others with some of the games but they sort of naturally worked themselves into another game or kept occupied until we switched.
We had cake and ice cream of course and much to my surprise Serona's idea of heads up 7 up went over really well. In the future I would trim this party to 2 hours - 3 hours was just too much time for this age group and this type of party. But we survived and Ciaran had a blast and all the kids seemed to enjoy themselves.
Instead of goody bags we gave away books instead. Serona's great idea and it went over really well. Given the ages and wide ranging reading levels it was interesting to choose books. I picked some magic tree house books, and some leveled readers (like the I Can Read) series and set them out on the table. We had 20 books to choose from and 14 kids had to pick. I had them randomly draw numbers to go up to the table and pick their books. We also had some light up bracelets and sticky frogs. The books as a party favor went over really well with the kids, the parents and was easy to do. Highly recommend it.
Well I am exhausted! Off to recover. Peace, Tenniel
March 30, 2007
Star Wars Character Study
I have decided to teach a Star Wars Character Study class for our homeschool cooperative next fall. It will be geared for 5th graders and up with two levels of workload to choose from. I will focus on literary themes and let the kid each pick a character to apply the different themes to. Anyone ever do a class like this and have any great resources to point to? I plan to pull it all together myself but wondered if there is anything out there that anyone loves on this topic. Anyone know the name of this Jedi? Hint - she is who my costume is based off of - but not who my name is. Peace!
Ciaran's Bday
Each year on their birthday the kids get an opportunity to choose the meals and activities of the day. Ciaran recently turned 6 and for his birthday dinner he wanted Fruit Salad - that is all. A really nice and big fruit salad. I think it would have been cheaper to go out to dinner at the restuarant of his choice! Still some years they pick macaroni and cheese so there you go. So for dinner we had fresh fruit salad: pineapple, watermelon, canteloupe, apples, peaches, blueberries, strawberries, kiwi, and grapes. We also served Prima Donna Gouda cheese - my favorite Gouda which we had leftover from recently entertaining. It was delicious and wonderful this time of year, even if some produce was out of season and expensive.
For dessert we had Ninja Turtle cake - half chocolate/chocolate and half vanilla/vanilla - it came out quite well. Now for the predictable part we played video games all day. His first choice, going to the arboretum to find frogs was rained out so we stayed inside and played video games all day. I even played TMNT with him which made him excited.
He was excited for his birthday gifts and overall I think he had a great day. His friend birthday party is this weekend. We are doing something different from his usual frog party - which I am thankful for since it is supposed to rain all weekend. We are hosting a board game birthday party with a total of 14 kids including our own! Planning on having a fun time.
For dessert we had Ninja Turtle cake - half chocolate/chocolate and half vanilla/vanilla - it came out quite well. Now for the predictable part we played video games all day. His first choice, going to the arboretum to find frogs was rained out so we stayed inside and played video games all day. I even played TMNT with him which made him excited.
He was excited for his birthday gifts and overall I think he had a great day. His friend birthday party is this weekend. We are doing something different from his usual frog party - which I am thankful for since it is supposed to rain all weekend. We are hosting a board game birthday party with a total of 14 kids including our own! Planning on having a fun time.
March 29, 2007
Five Year Glimpses
Some blogs I read have been posting five year glimpses into their lives and I thought I would do the same - it was interesting to me at least.
1974 - I was born, my husband was not yet :) I have no recollection but rumor has it my grandfather would kick my cradle so he could wake me up and hold me. I also apparently learned to walk by holding onto pretzel rods which along with cheese were my favorite foods. Some things never change - at least I can walk without them now. That is positive progress for 32 years :)
1979 - 5 years old - I started kindergarten and knew how to read. I lived in a very Italian neighborhood with a very Irish name and recall being made fun of for that name. I think it was around this time when after watching The Little Rascals I decided to make it snow in my bedroom by dumping detergent all over the room. Apparently I recruited my younger brother to help. Parents were obviously not pleased.
1984 - I was in 4th grade and moved to a new town and new school, same state. We moved into our first house and out of small apartments. I remember dressing up as Henry Hudson for a history project for class. I learned how to swim and ride a bike that year as well. It was a big year doing all that at once.
1989 - Freshman in high school. I went to an all girls Catholic high school. I was very into sports, academics, a tom boy and not very into girls as friends. Since we all wore uniforms they needed some way to compete so it was all about purses - perhaps that is part of my resistance to a purse even to this day.
1994 - Moved to the cornfields of Illinois after spending two years at a college in upstate New York. One of my first memories of this farming community was stepping out of the car and smelling manure for the first time and wondering if I had made a mistake. I spent nearly all my time debating and somehow managed to fit some classes in. I visited Ronald Reagan's birthplace, I was dragged there. At the time I was an avid liberal, an aetheist, a feminist and not interested in Reagan at all.
1999 - Eight months pregnant and I walked the aisle to pick up my Masters degree - a few weeks later Rhiannon arrived. Eight weeks after she was born we moved to Georgia and I went through some serious culture shock. New mom, new state, no support,lots of bugs, heat and very different approaches to life and people - it was an interesting time. Still it was here we really settled into our attachment parenting style (not because it was common or popular there mind you) and God really worked on my heart about what it meant to be a wife and mother.
2004 - By now we have three kids. One year into our homeschooling journey and this blog. We moved into our current home in Minnesota and we formed our family hedgehog concept, and really tried to focus on living intentionally. We are in the middle of BUSY days with a 5, 3 and 1 year old, yet we campaigned heavily in this years election - feeling very passionate about it. I am now a Christian republican.
2007 - Okay so not a full five years from the last but to bring this post up to date. We still live in the same home (a miracle for us) and still have three kids - our only family addition was another dog. Still homeschooling and very active in the homeschool community, two are schooling now and one wants to be. Still blogging and reading all the time. We are finally out of diapers though still nursing, it has been over eight years of being pregnant and/or nursing consecutively now and it was 7 straight years in diapers! We survived and even enjoyed much of it, believe it or not!
So there you have it some peeks into my life, of course I left out all the bad stuff and the many years in between. Still you probably know way more about me than you may have ever cared to know. It was fun to do though and I encourage others to try the same and post it on your own blog. Peace
March 28, 2007
Robot That works
Roomba take four...We are now on our fourth model of Roomba, a robotic vacuum cleaner. Roomba is quirky and wonderful for our family, so far I must say this is the best one we have had. Roomba is not for everyone, he does not really get everything clean the way say a Dyson would - but he does get it done better than never doing it, which is an improvement for many.
The new Roomba we have - the Roomba Scheduler offers some major improvements and updates from the previous models that really are quite nice. The name says it all - you can program and schedule Roomba to clean for you - no joke. We left on Monday for our day at the park and returned to a nearly fully vaccumed living room and kitchen. Yes now you no longer need to remember to push the button to vacuum - once programmed Roomba will head off her base, vacuum, and return to base for charging. Very nice.
The second added feature is no more screwdrivers or tools required, period. The battery compartment on the walls even opens and closes without tools as does the brush compartments. This makes Roomba much more user friendly and enjoyable, a simple upgrade that makes a world of difference.
Additional new features: Roomba ships with extra brushes, cleaning tool and filter. The remote is actually useful and worthwhile and no longer are the clunky and unuseful wall mounts included. This model includes a light to indicate when your bin is full and requires emptying and it seems a bit quieter and larger. Overall these were much needed updates that really increase the user friendliness of Roomba.
We love Roomba and especially during muddy season where I can not keep up with the mud, dirt, rocks and everything else dragged in at a moments notice all day long. It is also shedding season for our two Aussies! Now our floors are vacummed/swept every day and I hardly do anything at all to accomplish this.
I recommend Roomba with hesitation though. The quirks and requirements of Roomba are not for everyone especially families with small kids. Your floors have to be really picked up - no wires, toys, or other odds and ends that Roomba can get stuck on. You have to accept and understand that Roomba takes a long time to vacuum a room (still Roomba does not take any of your time to do so) and follows strange unpredictable patterns (though after so many years - they are kind of predictable and understandable to me), Roomba does not vacuum to the depth of other traditional vacuum cleaners. I have no doubt if I ran a Dyson over my newly cleaned Roomba room Dyson would have more to pick up. Still my floors are cleaner than they would be with a Dyson because the Dyson requires me to use it every day - which simply would never happen.
Lastly Roomba breaks down, sometimes for no explainable reason simply stops working or spins in circles and does nothing else. To alleviate this concern I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you only purchase Roomba products through Hammacher Schlemmer or another store with excellent warranty and return policy. We have returned and exchanged models with no hassle whatsoever, where others who have purchased from say Target or Amazon have very different opinions - the extra money upfront is 100% worth it - buy from a place that will replace it if it breaks, because chances are high it might. Even with all the returns we have done over the years I love it and missed Roomba for the few months we went without him. Still there is nothing quite like coming home from a walk with the kids or sitting downstairs doing school while your robot is taking care of your floors. Meet the Jetsons....
The Man Purse
Okay 32 years I have resisted and now technology has dragged me over to the dark side and I concede I need a purse. We spent much of yesterday in stores for a variety of things and I actually really looked in the bag section and I was completely disappointed and disillusioned and convinced I have had it right for this long. Still summer is coming and I can not deny I really have too much stuff I carry with me regularly stuffed in my coat pockets and I do not always want to use the fanny pack that I do love.
Still I am convinced it is not a purse I need - it is a man purse, gadget bag or even a messenger bag. Really it is all my technology that is pushing me to consider carrying this at all. After bag diving for years now to find the thing I need mixed in with library books, kids books, diaper bag supplies, etc I think I am ready to move to some sort of smaller bag then my canvas grocery bags or my coat pockets.
Fashion rather than practicality seems to drive most women's handbags I have seen or maybe I do not have the same practical needs as most women. What I want to carry is my bulging wallet (from all our membership cards), my Blackberry (does not fit in most cell phone slots of women bags), my ipod, my digital camera and possibly our DVR. Note it is all technology. I would also like space enough to carry a brush (for our girls hair), a small paperback book (I wait a lot) and some tissues. That would be all I would need. The things I have in my pockets all year long. And something I can hook my keys onto - they of course are on a carabener.
Anyone else out there just need a purse for technology? Any great ones you use? I want easy and quick immediate access to my cell phone and wallet - am I asking too much? I think I am in now officially in the man purse market as a woman. Maybe it is Jack Bauer's bag I need.
March 26, 2007
We spent all day outside. Nature walks, nature notebook sketches, building tree forts, cracking ice, at the playground, at the park, in the creek and lots and lots of mud!I took a similar picture of Rhiannon today sitting in a tree sketching her nature notebook picture. She was so peaceful and happy and I wish that tree was in our yard so she could always read there. It was a giant oak perfect for climbing and sitting in. A few weeks ago I sent a picture to my family of my kids laying on our kitchen table side by side doing their school work, now it was in a tree - have to love the non-traditional spaces we learn and live and play in. So thankful for being able to remind our kids we are learners in all spaces all through our lives.
This is my spirit too - in a tree, on a hike at the beach - I just love being in nature. I felt a part of me come alive and out of hibernation these past few weeks as the spring thaw has come. Yes I know it will get cold again before we are warm for good but I am going to take in all the sun and these long awaited moments after our winter. I am a nature mom. I love being outdoors exploring when it is warm and sunny. It does my spirit good to be outside in the sun.
I even let the kids get head to toe muddy and simply hosed down their shoes and sent them right to the bath as they got home. I hate mud but sometimes you just have to love it. Now as I type this Sirah is clean as a whistle wearing a red satin dress, white tights and a beautiful tiara dancing to my music. Quite a contrast to her mud caked Incredible Hulk and red checked pants she was wearing earlier covered to her elbows in mud. I am thankful she is both and slides so comfortably between the worlds.
Well the fresh air beckons again. Have a great day and take a moment to climb into a tree and think for yourself or at least let your kids do it.
Peace,
Tenniel
We'll Be Outside...
Until November! Ahhhhh it is 75 in Minnesota and we are not coming indoors until we have to. Take care!
March 23, 2007
Addictive Time Waster
Here is my latest time waster that I can't help but keep doing. So far my high score is only 1100 - anyone beat that? What a clever idea for them and fun for us. Well I suppose it is only fun for a certain type of person - namely a geek. Well if the shoe fits...
March 22, 2007
Plum Creek Lesson Plan Week Three
These are my discussion topics for our Plum Creek class for 2nd-4th graders. We have divided the book up into 6 class periods - so read about 6 chapters before each session and discuss them. Since we draw many of our questions and topics from The Prairie Primer I do not print out the full lesson plan but rather just the topics we discuss. Which is an invaluable resource if you want to teach a class like this. After the discussion time the kids enjoyed fresh biscuts and homemade butter and continued work on their nine-patch quilt pillow
13 - How did their Christmas celebration compare to ours? What do you think of theirs?
15 -Footbridge incident discussion - what happened, lessons about disobedience and slippery slopes. Discuss strategies for not falling into temptation.
James 1:13-15 13When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death
Strategies for not falling to temptation that leads to sin
1. Realizing it is wrong and admitting it to yourself
2. Realize that it is sin against God
3. Quickly saying no
4. Reciting scripture to ourselves – Jesus used scripture to rebuke the devil when he was tempted in the bible.
5. Not letting ourselves talk ourselves into it as something different
6. Quickly removing ourselves from the temptation
16 – Discussion of the building process of their home and how we move into our homes. What is different and the same. Discuss giving work a lick and a promise
18 – Wading in the creek - comparison of the creek at different seasons. Discussion of the various animals and creatures they discover. Talk about upcoming attending school
March 21, 2007
Small Victories
There are some things I have really been trying to work on lately and today had some positive results for a change.
1. Floor Play with Sirah - I used to love being on the floor playing blocks, games, puzzles, etc with little ones. Over the years I have found my desire and patience to do so has decreased. I still play with Sirah but differently. I have been trying to really get down on the floor with her more. Today we had a tea party on the living room floor and she made me lovely treats and tea, pop, and fruit punch. It really was a positive memory to be treasured and a reminder of why I need to be down on the floor with her before she no longer wants to play like that.
2. Arts and Crafts time - I don't like it - I never have and I am not yet convinced I ever will but I have felt convicted to let them have more arts and crafts time. They have painted twice in a week and got to make free crafts with glue and such this week - that is a HUGE improvement over the time they usually get and it was not that bad. Okay washing all the tempera paint supplies and cups was but the rest was not too bad. I especially enjoy watercolors - they could do those every day now that they have real watercolor paper that absorbs rather than runs.
3. The Mud Battle - I hate mud and kids and dogs love it! Not good for me since I am seriously outnumbered with 3 kids and 2 dogs. The winter thaw is thus not my favorite time of year. I am especially unhappy with my crazy mud loving dogs at this time of year. So I alternate between going on strike and being hyper about it. The amount of dirt I swept up off my entry way floor tonight is truthfully embarrasing - but at least I finally did it. Looking at it I would think it was over a month of dirt but sadly just a few days. I finish cleaning the floor only to let my dogs and their muddy paw prints back into the house. It just feels like a futile battle. The victory was the decision to sweep and clean the floor even knowing it was going to look terrible in a few moments again. The second victory was ordering our new Roomba which does help keep me saner during this time of year. Our old one broke and I was waiting it out but we miss Roomba and a new one is on its way, hooray!
Small victories I know - but hey you have to be proud of something :)
Useful Websites
Here is a list of useful websites I put together for my support group's curriculum fair night. I have often quoted and listed these here. PLEASE add any ones you really love and use in the comments section. Thanks!
Ambleside Online
A free online Charlotte Mason styled curriculm divided by grade level. We use the art, music and nature study lesson plans as our guide. They also have many great links to free ebooks, including some tough to find classics.
Letter of the Week
A free online preschool curriculum based around studying one letter per week. Excellent ideas, resources and suggestions for lessons based around letters. Site is also expanding to include country and science of the week.
Grade Specefic Skill Builders
This is a website that has excellent games, links and skill builder websites for math, language arts, science and social studies. We have used many of the K-2nd grade links and enjoyed them.
Enchanted Learning
This is an optional membership site. To get all the privelages of the site you need to pay 20 per year. This has been my best 20 spent each year as their printables are far better and more comprehensive than others. I use this site atleast several times a week.
Starfall
Excellent resource for preschoolers and early readers. Fun phonics related games, books and lessons. My kids have enjoyed this site ages 2-7.
Ben's Guide to Government
Simplistic and fun but realistic depiction of US social studies and how our government works
Google Images
This is a search engine just for images and pictures. Type your search term in and receive thousands of pictorial responses. You can also easily switch to the google search engine to find out more general resources.
Google Earth
A free downloadable satellite image tool that allows you to see satellite images of places throughout the world. You can also get a sense of how far countries are from each other and see such detail that you may find your own backyard. Great geography tool and fun as well.
Rhiannon's favorite math game
This is a silly but fun way to build in speed math drills for younger kids. Watching a chameleon kickbox for each answer they get right with the time clock getting shorter each round is fun!
I Know That
An interactive website for all subjects. I especially like their science lab games and their math games.
A Kids Heart
This is where I get all my free manuscript printouts. They also have other teacher printouts, some lesson plans and ideas for younger children.
DLTK KidsM
Many free printable crafts and sheets, including bible activities - for the preschool to early elementary ages.
Learning Pages
Create and print free and custom worksheets on a variety of subjects. Registration is required but is free.
Educational Press
Print and create games, worksheets, puzzles and more on a variety of subjects and grade levels. Takes a bit of getting used to but then easy to use.
Puzzlemaker
Yet another puzzle and worksheet maker. Play around and find the one you like the most. They serve different purposes and I use them all for different things.
PBS Teacher Source
As with all things on PBS use your own discretion when following lesson plans and ideas here. There are some gems in here but you may have to wade through some junk too. Often lesson plans will coincide with shows seen on PBS.
History Channel Study Guides
Like many other educational TV stations lesson plans are offered to correspond to shows past and present.
Discovery Lesson Plans
Searchable index by age and topic for a wide variety of lesson plans. Written by and for teachers these lesson plans outline supplies and many details as well as future followup.
National Geographic Creature Feature
A very fun interactive way to learn about wide variety of animals. Includes video and sound clips as well as interesting facts about each animal. The whole NG for kids site has more resources available as well.
There are many other resources but this should give you a good start.
Peace,
Tenn
Ambleside Online
A free online Charlotte Mason styled curriculm divided by grade level. We use the art, music and nature study lesson plans as our guide. They also have many great links to free ebooks, including some tough to find classics.
Letter of the Week
A free online preschool curriculum based around studying one letter per week. Excellent ideas, resources and suggestions for lessons based around letters. Site is also expanding to include country and science of the week.
Grade Specefic Skill Builders
This is a website that has excellent games, links and skill builder websites for math, language arts, science and social studies. We have used many of the K-2nd grade links and enjoyed them.
Enchanted Learning
This is an optional membership site. To get all the privelages of the site you need to pay 20 per year. This has been my best 20 spent each year as their printables are far better and more comprehensive than others. I use this site atleast several times a week.
Starfall
Excellent resource for preschoolers and early readers. Fun phonics related games, books and lessons. My kids have enjoyed this site ages 2-7.
Ben's Guide to Government
Simplistic and fun but realistic depiction of US social studies and how our government works
Google Images
This is a search engine just for images and pictures. Type your search term in and receive thousands of pictorial responses. You can also easily switch to the google search engine to find out more general resources.
Google Earth
A free downloadable satellite image tool that allows you to see satellite images of places throughout the world. You can also get a sense of how far countries are from each other and see such detail that you may find your own backyard. Great geography tool and fun as well.
Rhiannon's favorite math game
This is a silly but fun way to build in speed math drills for younger kids. Watching a chameleon kickbox for each answer they get right with the time clock getting shorter each round is fun!
I Know That
An interactive website for all subjects. I especially like their science lab games and their math games.
A Kids Heart
This is where I get all my free manuscript printouts. They also have other teacher printouts, some lesson plans and ideas for younger children.
DLTK KidsM
Many free printable crafts and sheets, including bible activities - for the preschool to early elementary ages.
Learning Pages
Create and print free and custom worksheets on a variety of subjects. Registration is required but is free.
Educational Press
Print and create games, worksheets, puzzles and more on a variety of subjects and grade levels. Takes a bit of getting used to but then easy to use.
Puzzlemaker
Yet another puzzle and worksheet maker. Play around and find the one you like the most. They serve different purposes and I use them all for different things.
PBS Teacher Source
As with all things on PBS use your own discretion when following lesson plans and ideas here. There are some gems in here but you may have to wade through some junk too. Often lesson plans will coincide with shows seen on PBS.
History Channel Study Guides
Like many other educational TV stations lesson plans are offered to correspond to shows past and present.
Discovery Lesson Plans
Searchable index by age and topic for a wide variety of lesson plans. Written by and for teachers these lesson plans outline supplies and many details as well as future followup.
National Geographic Creature Feature
A very fun interactive way to learn about wide variety of animals. Includes video and sound clips as well as interesting facts about each animal. The whole NG for kids site has more resources available as well.
There are many other resources but this should give you a good start.
Peace,
Tenn
March 18, 2007
Playlist for Rhiannon
As I type this I am putting the finishing touches on a CD for Rhiannon. This is based off of some of her favorite songs and some songs with special meaning for us.
I Can't Wait - Sara Groves
Fatou Yo - Toure Kunda
Little Bitty - Alan Jackson
Help Pour out the Rain - Buddy Jewel
When New York Was Irish - Andy Cooney
Awesome God - Rich Mullins
I Want to Know You - Serengeti Trek
Let Us Pray - Serengeti Trek
Star Girl - Serona
No Matter What - Beauty and the Beast
My Little Girl - Tim McGraw
Prayers for this child - Sara Groves
Must Be Done in Love - Serengeti Trek
Station Wagon - Sara Groves
Have I Told You Lately That I Love You - Van Morrison
Jesus Take the Wheel - Carrie Underwood
More Love, More Power - Serengeti Trek
More Than You'll Ever Know - Watermark
Fireflies - Faith Hill
A Lot Like Me - Sara Groves
She's a Butterfly - Martina McBride
Small Piece of You - Sara Groves
In My Daughter's Eyes - Martina McBride
Wish for You - Faith Hill
May There Always be Sunshine - Sarah Pirtle
I Can't Wait - Sara Groves
Fatou Yo - Toure Kunda
Little Bitty - Alan Jackson
Help Pour out the Rain - Buddy Jewel
When New York Was Irish - Andy Cooney
Awesome God - Rich Mullins
I Want to Know You - Serengeti Trek
Let Us Pray - Serengeti Trek
Star Girl - Serona
No Matter What - Beauty and the Beast
My Little Girl - Tim McGraw
Prayers for this child - Sara Groves
Must Be Done in Love - Serengeti Trek
Station Wagon - Sara Groves
Have I Told You Lately That I Love You - Van Morrison
Jesus Take the Wheel - Carrie Underwood
More Love, More Power - Serengeti Trek
More Than You'll Ever Know - Watermark
Fireflies - Faith Hill
A Lot Like Me - Sara Groves
She's a Butterfly - Martina McBride
Small Piece of You - Sara Groves
In My Daughter's Eyes - Martina McBride
Wish for You - Faith Hill
May There Always be Sunshine - Sarah Pirtle
March 16, 2007
Parents blogging kids
A week or so ago I read this post on Parenting Blogs Respect Your Kids’ Privacy and this article on Cnet . I think the authors makes a great point and one that we all need to be reminded of. I ask my kids now before I post things about them and ALWAYS before I post their work. I have tried to limit the amount of negative posting I have done about any of them or about our family in general. Part of what gives off the image of "superhero" over here.
Since Sirah actually has the above shirt - I am sensitive to this. I also often wear an "I'm blogging this" shirt myself. I asked Rhia if she wanted a shirt like this and she rolled her eyes at me and said that sometimes she wishes we were just normal and not bloggers. Of course she then also asked me that same week if she could begin blogging herself. When they were younger I shared more but I guess right around age 6 or so I started asking them - when it seemed they cared and I have tried to respect that. Sometimes when discussing the way I handle something myself I suppose I am inherently revealing details about them as well.
I think it is a good thing for people to think through and to remember why they decided to blog in the first place. For me I started blogging so I could share some details about our family with family throughout the country, so I had a sort of written history of our days for the kids in the future, and so I had a place to keep all the lessons and ideas that were useful to me. My blog has evolved over the years and is continually changing. I am now at the point where I have people who know me in real life that read it as well as people who do not know me in real life. We are at the point where some of Rhia's friends parents read my blog though none of her friends do yet or for awhile I hope!
I have met people who later discover they have read my blog and suddenly they know a whole lot more about me then I about them. Or they have an image in their mind of what my life is - but that image is based soley on my blog and I have news for you - you don't see my whole life in this blog as much as it may seem like it. But that all comes with the territory. It is weird when it happens though.
I do think respecting the privacy of those we know in real life is important, especially our children and spouses. I guess in some ways I am protective in what I share and blog about - of course I am not always and you can read about some of our flaws and funny and not so funny moments here as well. But I do think through "Would I be okay if my kids read this?" before I post and if I change my mind later I delete it. As they get older I ask them before I post - interestingly the thing they are most sensitive about posting is their art work or I would probably share more of it.
So just a reminder to all those family bloggers out there if you have not thought through these issues yet (which I am guessing most of you have) take some time to think them through. Decide if you want to discuss it with your children, and you and your spouse should be in agreement with each other about what to share and not share about your family. It is a big web and it is true that you never know who will stumble across your blog and then stumble across you. Or who knew you in the past and now finds you again through the web. Or how many people you know in real life read your blog and don't tell you about it (which has also happened to me). Respect your family privacy.
March 15, 2007
Narration on Magellan
Magellan was a man who like Christopher Columbus wanted find the cost of India. He set sail on some ships, his people on the ship fell sick with scurvy and begged him to go back for there was very little water and hardly any food at all. He refused to go back when he had come so far. Magellan never found the route to India as he had set out to do. He was the first man to sail all the way around the world. During his journey he named an ocean he crossed the Pacific which means calm.
Magellan never actually made it around the world, just his ships did. But people just call it that he was the first one because it is easier to say that. He did not make it because he was killed in a battle in the Philippians with local warrior tribes. His ships carried on without him with only 35 men still aboard the rest of the ships had been drowned, lost or turned back. The last ship finally returned to Spain without Magellan aboard.
Magellan never actually made it around the world, just his ships did. But people just call it that he was the first one because it is easier to say that. He did not make it because he was killed in a battle in the Philippians with local warrior tribes. His ships carried on without him with only 35 men still aboard the rest of the ships had been drowned, lost or turned back. The last ship finally returned to Spain without Magellan aboard.
March 14, 2007
March 13, 2007
Choices
Warning to all readers, I feel myself stepping up on a soapbox now so you are forewarned.
For awhile my email signature has been:
"It's our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."
-Albus Dumbledore
I have had a wide variety of signatures over the years and often I don't have a signature at all. Every once in awhile though there is just a consistent message I feel like sending the world I guess. Right now it is about choices and how we all have them to make, and how our choices influence and show who we are.
Last night Serona and I were having a deep philosophical conversation about fundamental ontology and other things on our date. It went on throughout the course of the evening and on the drive home I mentioned to him that "When you get right down to it, our choices determine who we are far more than any innate abilities we have." Which I fully acknowledge is a rewording of my sig line. I also know it is not popular to say to some philosophy students. At that point we were talking about people who are inspiring and people who are looked up to. There usually is nothing truly unique and special about them, it is more honestly a collective combination of the choices they have made over the course of their lives. I suppose the special part is that they were disciplined and focused enough to make consistent choices that led them to become the person they are. I love reading presidential biographies and biographies of successful people because you get a glimpse at this very thing, seeing the collective choices and behavior they made through their lives.
There are times when we get that as homeschoolers. The whole "I could never do that" or the supermom stuff that comes along with that. Still there is really nothing special about us that makes us uniquely able to do the things we do. Other than the fact that we have made the choices to do so and the choices necessary to make it work. And that is not unique or a part of our innate makeup - it is just a choice that we consistently make. Also those positive choices we make affect other choices we don't. Remember there are reasons not to be my kid too.
We all face lots of choices every day. Everyone does and some of them we think about and many of them we do not. Yet when we realize that the continual build-up of our choices is creating the person we are becoming should we not take more care with some of our choices. Being more intentional in the things we do? I suppose it depends on where you are headed but really thinking through your choices and where they are leading you can generally only be a good exercise and habit to get into.
There is nothing special about me or what I am doing here or in my home that someone else can not chose to do themselves. Many may not want to do what I am doing or want to make the choices it requires to do so - just as I may not want to make their choices. Still we need to let each other off the hook and realize that saying "I could never be x" is not an honest statement (with rare exceptions) it is rather "I choose not to be x".
The importance of this is we can no longer give easy excuse for the things we don't do by simply saying we can't do them. We assume responsibility for our choices and our actions that we choose not to do those things. Not that we are called to do them, or even that we should, but to pretend we simply can't provides us an easy excuse and leads us to not be intellectually honest with ourselves.
I get asked about reading to our kids a lot. About when we find time to do so. We choose to do it, that is all there is. We make the choice to read each day. We make the choice to do it instead of something else. Where do we find time to play games, we choose to. Sure this inherently means we are making the decision to forgo other things as well.
More and more I realize it is not a question of "How do you do x?" because the answer simply is we do. The question really is "What leads you to make those choices above others?" So the next time you want to think you can not do whatever it is you are impressed someone else is doing remind yourself it is not likely that you can not do it yourself but rather you make other choices that right now prevent that from being an option for you. Realize I am using present tense - right now, that does not in any way mean that can not change.
My FIL is a pastor and conversation after conversation with him about a wide variety of issues comes back to the same two things. Change requires discipline and the Nike slogan of "Just Do It" really is true. There is no magic pill, there is not typically a justifiable excuse. We have lots of "yes buts...." but none of them can really avoid us accepting responsibility for our choices. If we want to affect change in our lives we need to look at our choices and bring our choices in line with our goals and desires. Then we can be intellectually honest with ourselves and accept responsibility for both the choices we make and the ones we do not.
There is no real benefit to come from fooling ourselves into thinking people are inherently better than us or can accomplish things we never can. We need to admit that we chose not to make choices and be okay with that fact. Each of us is walking a unique path and we are not all called to be the same or accomplish the same things and we need to be okay with that. Also always remember we are only seeing glimpses of each other, only seeing what we choose to show each other. We never see the whole picture. We never really see the messy floors, the anger, the house of cards finances or all the other flaws that people don't talk about when we see their shining moments. That is okay - but we need not fool ourselves into believing anyone is a superhero that no one can ever be like. Then take responsibility for the choices we are making as well as the choices we are not making and remember that when you get right down to it, our choices determine who we are far more than any innate abilities we have.
So improve the things you want to and accept responsibility for the ones you choose to not fully develop and be okay with the choices you are making. Just my .02 and I am stepping off my soapbox now.
Peace,
Tenniel
For awhile my email signature has been:
"It's our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."
-Albus Dumbledore
I have had a wide variety of signatures over the years and often I don't have a signature at all. Every once in awhile though there is just a consistent message I feel like sending the world I guess. Right now it is about choices and how we all have them to make, and how our choices influence and show who we are.
Last night Serona and I were having a deep philosophical conversation about fundamental ontology and other things on our date. It went on throughout the course of the evening and on the drive home I mentioned to him that "When you get right down to it, our choices determine who we are far more than any innate abilities we have." Which I fully acknowledge is a rewording of my sig line. I also know it is not popular to say to some philosophy students. At that point we were talking about people who are inspiring and people who are looked up to. There usually is nothing truly unique and special about them, it is more honestly a collective combination of the choices they have made over the course of their lives. I suppose the special part is that they were disciplined and focused enough to make consistent choices that led them to become the person they are. I love reading presidential biographies and biographies of successful people because you get a glimpse at this very thing, seeing the collective choices and behavior they made through their lives.
There are times when we get that as homeschoolers. The whole "I could never do that" or the supermom stuff that comes along with that. Still there is really nothing special about us that makes us uniquely able to do the things we do. Other than the fact that we have made the choices to do so and the choices necessary to make it work. And that is not unique or a part of our innate makeup - it is just a choice that we consistently make. Also those positive choices we make affect other choices we don't. Remember there are reasons not to be my kid too.
We all face lots of choices every day. Everyone does and some of them we think about and many of them we do not. Yet when we realize that the continual build-up of our choices is creating the person we are becoming should we not take more care with some of our choices. Being more intentional in the things we do? I suppose it depends on where you are headed but really thinking through your choices and where they are leading you can generally only be a good exercise and habit to get into.
There is nothing special about me or what I am doing here or in my home that someone else can not chose to do themselves. Many may not want to do what I am doing or want to make the choices it requires to do so - just as I may not want to make their choices. Still we need to let each other off the hook and realize that saying "I could never be x" is not an honest statement (with rare exceptions) it is rather "I choose not to be x".
The importance of this is we can no longer give easy excuse for the things we don't do by simply saying we can't do them. We assume responsibility for our choices and our actions that we choose not to do those things. Not that we are called to do them, or even that we should, but to pretend we simply can't provides us an easy excuse and leads us to not be intellectually honest with ourselves.
I get asked about reading to our kids a lot. About when we find time to do so. We choose to do it, that is all there is. We make the choice to read each day. We make the choice to do it instead of something else. Where do we find time to play games, we choose to. Sure this inherently means we are making the decision to forgo other things as well.
More and more I realize it is not a question of "How do you do x?" because the answer simply is we do. The question really is "What leads you to make those choices above others?" So the next time you want to think you can not do whatever it is you are impressed someone else is doing remind yourself it is not likely that you can not do it yourself but rather you make other choices that right now prevent that from being an option for you. Realize I am using present tense - right now, that does not in any way mean that can not change.
My FIL is a pastor and conversation after conversation with him about a wide variety of issues comes back to the same two things. Change requires discipline and the Nike slogan of "Just Do It" really is true. There is no magic pill, there is not typically a justifiable excuse. We have lots of "yes buts...." but none of them can really avoid us accepting responsibility for our choices. If we want to affect change in our lives we need to look at our choices and bring our choices in line with our goals and desires. Then we can be intellectually honest with ourselves and accept responsibility for both the choices we make and the ones we do not.
There is no real benefit to come from fooling ourselves into thinking people are inherently better than us or can accomplish things we never can. We need to admit that we chose not to make choices and be okay with that fact. Each of us is walking a unique path and we are not all called to be the same or accomplish the same things and we need to be okay with that. Also always remember we are only seeing glimpses of each other, only seeing what we choose to show each other. We never see the whole picture. We never really see the messy floors, the anger, the house of cards finances or all the other flaws that people don't talk about when we see their shining moments. That is okay - but we need not fool ourselves into believing anyone is a superhero that no one can ever be like. Then take responsibility for the choices we are making as well as the choices we are not making and remember that when you get right down to it, our choices determine who we are far more than any innate abilities we have.
So improve the things you want to and accept responsibility for the ones you choose to not fully develop and be okay with the choices you are making. Just my .02 and I am stepping off my soapbox now.
Peace,
Tenniel
March 8, 2007
On Demand Curriculum
Last night at dinner Serona and I were discussing some curriculum for next year and reviewing some of the modifications we have made to this years in the middle of the year. Serona made a comment that really resonated with both of us. He said "I am so thankful that we can make on demand curriculum choices."
How true that is and how different from traditional school settings. We got about halfway through the year and realized that Rhiannon's math program was getting too intense for her and was way beyond what she needed to know so we made an adaptation and changed curriculum. We plan to return to the original one sometime next fall most likely but we were able to adapt in the middle of the year to meet her needs.
Ciaran is learning to read and we are even more on demand in this area. While I have a traditional phonics program for him in Phonics Pathways and we have the whole Bob books series we realized that these were just not lighting his passion for reading. What we discovered was two fold. First Ciaran needs to feel confident and second he needs to feel rewarded for his progress in tangible and immediate ways.
So we discovered the Primary Phonics series - which we used briefly with Rhia when she was learning. Well this really connects with him - he likes the 16 page stories and the fact that he can read all the words unassisted and each book works on a single new rule at a time giving him time to work through that and master the skill. So rather than pushing through the Phonics Pathways book with him we are working through the individual reader and teaching the rule he needs to get through the next book. Then he has lots of practice in ways he enjoys on just that one phonics rule and reviewing others he already knows. No more saying "well that word is different because... or well that word is really hard ... or no the rule does not apply to this word" All of those phrases were really frustrating and discouraging to him and his learning style. So we no longer use library Level One readers - as there are always too many exceptions. He is much more confident and enjoys reading more now.
The other important part of this for him is tangible and immediate rewards. His favorite pastime right now is playing Gamecube video games. So for every half hour he reads he gets to play 15 minutes of video games. It is not immediate in the sense that he reads for 30 minutes and then plays for 15 minutes. Rather he knows he can not play until he is done reading for the day and I say it is time to play but his game time is limited by the amount of time he read that day. It also helps keep the constant reminder for him that reading is more important than the video games.
In the age of on demand movies and television why not have on demand curriculum? Google provides this as well as many times an inquisitive little mind asks a question and determines our lesson plans for the day found through Google and the wonderful resources available online and at our local library. Just one more benefit to homeschooling.
How true that is and how different from traditional school settings. We got about halfway through the year and realized that Rhiannon's math program was getting too intense for her and was way beyond what she needed to know so we made an adaptation and changed curriculum. We plan to return to the original one sometime next fall most likely but we were able to adapt in the middle of the year to meet her needs.
Ciaran is learning to read and we are even more on demand in this area. While I have a traditional phonics program for him in Phonics Pathways and we have the whole Bob books series we realized that these were just not lighting his passion for reading. What we discovered was two fold. First Ciaran needs to feel confident and second he needs to feel rewarded for his progress in tangible and immediate ways.
So we discovered the Primary Phonics series - which we used briefly with Rhia when she was learning. Well this really connects with him - he likes the 16 page stories and the fact that he can read all the words unassisted and each book works on a single new rule at a time giving him time to work through that and master the skill. So rather than pushing through the Phonics Pathways book with him we are working through the individual reader and teaching the rule he needs to get through the next book. Then he has lots of practice in ways he enjoys on just that one phonics rule and reviewing others he already knows. No more saying "well that word is different because... or well that word is really hard ... or no the rule does not apply to this word" All of those phrases were really frustrating and discouraging to him and his learning style. So we no longer use library Level One readers - as there are always too many exceptions. He is much more confident and enjoys reading more now.
The other important part of this for him is tangible and immediate rewards. His favorite pastime right now is playing Gamecube video games. So for every half hour he reads he gets to play 15 minutes of video games. It is not immediate in the sense that he reads for 30 minutes and then plays for 15 minutes. Rather he knows he can not play until he is done reading for the day and I say it is time to play but his game time is limited by the amount of time he read that day. It also helps keep the constant reminder for him that reading is more important than the video games.
In the age of on demand movies and television why not have on demand curriculum? Google provides this as well as many times an inquisitive little mind asks a question and determines our lesson plans for the day found through Google and the wonderful resources available online and at our local library. Just one more benefit to homeschooling.
Uplift Yourself and Others
My dear MIL sent me an interesting email yesterday, it read:
Describe me in one word... just one single word. Send it to me only. Then send this message to all of your friends and see how many strange & interesting things they say about you. This is really telling.
Here's how:
1. Hit the reply key and send me, my one word.
2. Then return to this message, and forward it to your friends (Including me) and see what people say about you, when limited to only one word!!!Should be interesting...
Well I did and the results have been encouraging and uplifting. Try it with your friends and family. But be ready with your one word for each of them. It is tough to limit it to just one word and to find an accurate word to describe your friends and family. Encourage and uplift one another.
Describe me in one word... just one single word. Send it to me only. Then send this message to all of your friends and see how many strange & interesting things they say about you. This is really telling.
Here's how:
1. Hit the reply key and send me, my one word.
2. Then return to this message, and forward it to your friends (Including me) and see what people say about you, when limited to only one word!!!Should be interesting...
Well I did and the results have been encouraging and uplifting. Try it with your friends and family. But be ready with your one word for each of them. It is tough to limit it to just one word and to find an accurate word to describe your friends and family. Encourage and uplift one another.
March 7, 2007
Weekend Retreat
This past weekend I had a lovely mom's retreat with a great group of women from our homeschool support group. We rented a cabin on a lake up in Northern Minnesota at a resort that included a wonderful Aveda Spa. We drove up north on Friday through the remainder of the snow that dumped on us (over the two weekends we have well over 2 feet of snow total) and blew the snow around. We arrived safely though three cars of women for a total of 10 lovely ladies and enough food to keep us going for over a week!
Friday night was a nice time of unpacking and getting settled in. We had a chili dinner and lots of yummy appetizers. We all joined in a rowdy game of Taboo and learned a bit about each other during the process. People then naturally split into groups that were following their interests. A few tried to go to bed early though we realized the walls were thin and we probably kept them up nearly all night. A few others joined in quiet places for intimate conversations. One group spent the evening watching Pride and Prejudice. I joined a group playing the card game Hearts and sharing stories from our lives. The last group headed to bed around 2am.
Saturday was a full day for many of us. A nice breakfast started the day as people got up at different times and helped themselves. I headed out for an early morning walk with a group of ladies which was refreshing but a bit chilly through just my jeans. We made a stop in the lodge for some coffee and warm up time by the fire before heading back to the cabin. We had some quiet time in the cabin and then I headed out again with another group of ladies for a horse drawn carriage ride - pulled by Clydesdale horses through a wooded snowy path - beautiful! Another group headed out for some cross country skiing and others were taking walks again.
Then it was time for my afternoon spa appointment. We all had different times and were arriving and leaving the spa at different times. They had a lovely relaxation room where we were able to sit around in robes and chat while we relaxed before or after our services, a sauna and everything you needed for showers and getting ready. I had a lovely 1 hour deep tissue massage that was wonderfully relaxing. I was truthfully being spoiled with the weekend.
Headed back to the cabin for another evening of fellowship and fun with my friends. There was good food and drink and lots of interesting conversations. Several went out to dinner though many of us stayed in to enjoy the many wonderful appetizers we had here. My dinner was made up of wonderful cheeses, veggies and fruit with a few other appetizers thrown in. A large group of us headed downstairs to watch the movie Calendar Girls while another group stayed upstairs to watch One Night with the King. Personally I think the movie Calendar Girls is a hoot and is fun to watch with a group of girlfriends. I started to not feel well and headed to bed early.
The next morning people went to spa appointments, skiing, walks, or just lounging around the cabin relaxing and enjoying our food. I slept in late and joined the group shortly before our service time together. We all joined in the living room for a mini service. We sang worship songs together and one woman shared some bible verses and we shared things on our heart at the time as women, wives, mothers and homeschoolers. One woman shared a beautiful testimony she had put together for her church service about how her home is her sacred space. It was touching and powerful and inspiring. We then shared prayer requests and prayed together for an extended period and closed with worship songs again. It was a special precious time where we drew together not just as friends but as Christian sisters. There were many tissue boxes being passed around our little circle of friends. What a powerful way to bring closure and transition back into our homes from our weekend away.
Each woman there was a gift to the others - each one blessed me in a special way and I am thankful for the time apart we had. Time to draw close to one another, time to laugh and let our hair down, time to have fun, time to cry, to share, to reminisce and to hope for the future. Time to share our stories and our lives with each other. Mostly we just had a lot of fun and it was really great to see each other in that context free from other responsibilities and worries if just for a few short days. Friendships were formed and strengthened, individuals were refreshed and inspired and ready to return anew to our families. Memories were made and time was cherished.
Thanks to all you wonderful ladies and I encourage everyone to take time away to enjoy their friends and to take care of themselves for just a few days.
Blessings,
Tenniel
Friday night was a nice time of unpacking and getting settled in. We had a chili dinner and lots of yummy appetizers. We all joined in a rowdy game of Taboo and learned a bit about each other during the process. People then naturally split into groups that were following their interests. A few tried to go to bed early though we realized the walls were thin and we probably kept them up nearly all night. A few others joined in quiet places for intimate conversations. One group spent the evening watching Pride and Prejudice. I joined a group playing the card game Hearts and sharing stories from our lives. The last group headed to bed around 2am.
Saturday was a full day for many of us. A nice breakfast started the day as people got up at different times and helped themselves. I headed out for an early morning walk with a group of ladies which was refreshing but a bit chilly through just my jeans. We made a stop in the lodge for some coffee and warm up time by the fire before heading back to the cabin. We had some quiet time in the cabin and then I headed out again with another group of ladies for a horse drawn carriage ride - pulled by Clydesdale horses through a wooded snowy path - beautiful! Another group headed out for some cross country skiing and others were taking walks again.
Then it was time for my afternoon spa appointment. We all had different times and were arriving and leaving the spa at different times. They had a lovely relaxation room where we were able to sit around in robes and chat while we relaxed before or after our services, a sauna and everything you needed for showers and getting ready. I had a lovely 1 hour deep tissue massage that was wonderfully relaxing. I was truthfully being spoiled with the weekend.
Headed back to the cabin for another evening of fellowship and fun with my friends. There was good food and drink and lots of interesting conversations. Several went out to dinner though many of us stayed in to enjoy the many wonderful appetizers we had here. My dinner was made up of wonderful cheeses, veggies and fruit with a few other appetizers thrown in. A large group of us headed downstairs to watch the movie Calendar Girls while another group stayed upstairs to watch One Night with the King. Personally I think the movie Calendar Girls is a hoot and is fun to watch with a group of girlfriends. I started to not feel well and headed to bed early.
The next morning people went to spa appointments, skiing, walks, or just lounging around the cabin relaxing and enjoying our food. I slept in late and joined the group shortly before our service time together. We all joined in the living room for a mini service. We sang worship songs together and one woman shared some bible verses and we shared things on our heart at the time as women, wives, mothers and homeschoolers. One woman shared a beautiful testimony she had put together for her church service about how her home is her sacred space. It was touching and powerful and inspiring. We then shared prayer requests and prayed together for an extended period and closed with worship songs again. It was a special precious time where we drew together not just as friends but as Christian sisters. There were many tissue boxes being passed around our little circle of friends. What a powerful way to bring closure and transition back into our homes from our weekend away.
Each woman there was a gift to the others - each one blessed me in a special way and I am thankful for the time apart we had. Time to draw close to one another, time to laugh and let our hair down, time to have fun, time to cry, to share, to reminisce and to hope for the future. Time to share our stories and our lives with each other. Mostly we just had a lot of fun and it was really great to see each other in that context free from other responsibilities and worries if just for a few short days. Friendships were formed and strengthened, individuals were refreshed and inspired and ready to return anew to our families. Memories were made and time was cherished.
Thanks to all you wonderful ladies and I encourage everyone to take time away to enjoy their friends and to take care of themselves for just a few days.
Blessings,
Tenniel
March 6, 2007
Updated Reading Lists
Here are our updated reading lists for February and the year. The individual child lists are for the entire school year they were started and regularly updated since September. I do my best to keep track of all our reading but books slip through the cracks, especially our family storybook read alouds.
February 2007 Read Aloud List
Rhiannon Second Grade Reading List
Ciaran's Kindergarten Reading List
February 2007 Read Aloud List
Rhiannon Second Grade Reading List
Ciaran's Kindergarten Reading List
Need Inspiration
This is a nice short video clip that reminds us all about the unique gifts of each child and how to encourage rather then quash them. Take a few minutes to watch it and remember the benefits of homeschooling.
Animal Paths
Animal Paths
March 1, 2007
Mall Scavenger Hunt List
We did our annual Mall of America scavenger hunt and it was a great success again this year. We had two divisions: K-3 and 4th grade and up. Each division had three teams and they all worked off the same list. They had exactly one hour to get as many pictures of their items as they could. The rule was all team members needed to be in each picture and they got extra points for doing each one in height order and for creativity. Final results are not yet in as I await photos. Thought I would share the list we worked off - it is slightly modified from my previous list if anyone has used that one.
This list is pretty Mall of America specefic given the items there but you could easily modify it for your own local mall by taking out some things and adding in others. I tried to make the list so they would need to be in as few stores as possible - with MOA that is easy as there is so much open space. Anyway Enjoy and feel free to email me with any questions.
Peace,
Tenniel
Mall of America Scavenger Hunt List
10 points
___tree
___Jango Fett from Star Wars
___all on an escalator
___in front of a fountain
___a big fish tank
___an airplane (not military one)
___all stuffed into a photo or song booth
___a bird
___lily pad
20 points
__wearing a funny piece of clothing (everyone in hats, boa scarves, etc)
__some people (more than one) you do not know waving with you
__doing a superman pose with Superman
__a janitor doing his/her job
__waterfall
__playing an instrument (only one person needs to)
__a store clerk with you (can not also count as person you do not know or janitor)
__a military plane
__red white and blue star – think MOA logo
30 points – only one winner each category per division – if the same item is selected judge will make final decision based on creativity
__up on a stage doing a funny pose (funniest pose wins)
__Biggest real food item
__the biggest balloon
__the biggest dinosaur you can find
__with the funniest sign you can find
__the tallest Lego tower you can build
__the tallest structure you see in the mall
__the largest stuffed animal you can find
__the biggest car you can find
__largest photo/painting of a movie star
__store with the longest name
__the most interesting picture with an item you decide (write what it is here__________)
50 points __ The baseball seat from Metropolitan Stadium that commemorates a 520 foot home run hit by Harmon Killebrew on June 3, 1967
-hint it is mounted on a wall 520 feet from home plate - “Run Forrest Run”
(75 points if you have pictures of both the seat and home plate with your team)
Extra Notes – to be used by judges only but you should read!
+2 points for every picture you are in height order.
-10 points every minute late!!!!!
Please write your team name on your sheet as well as your team letter
Please number your entries in the order you take the pictures
This list is pretty Mall of America specefic given the items there but you could easily modify it for your own local mall by taking out some things and adding in others. I tried to make the list so they would need to be in as few stores as possible - with MOA that is easy as there is so much open space. Anyway Enjoy and feel free to email me with any questions.
Peace,
Tenniel
Mall of America Scavenger Hunt List
10 points
___tree
___Jango Fett from Star Wars
___all on an escalator
___in front of a fountain
___a big fish tank
___an airplane (not military one)
___all stuffed into a photo or song booth
___a bird
___lily pad
20 points
__wearing a funny piece of clothing (everyone in hats, boa scarves, etc)
__some people (more than one) you do not know waving with you
__doing a superman pose with Superman
__a janitor doing his/her job
__waterfall
__playing an instrument (only one person needs to)
__a store clerk with you (can not also count as person you do not know or janitor)
__a military plane
__red white and blue star – think MOA logo
30 points – only one winner each category per division – if the same item is selected judge will make final decision based on creativity
__up on a stage doing a funny pose (funniest pose wins)
__Biggest real food item
__the biggest balloon
__the biggest dinosaur you can find
__with the funniest sign you can find
__the tallest Lego tower you can build
__the tallest structure you see in the mall
__the largest stuffed animal you can find
__the biggest car you can find
__largest photo/painting of a movie star
__store with the longest name
__the most interesting picture with an item you decide (write what it is here__________)
50 points __ The baseball seat from Metropolitan Stadium that commemorates a 520 foot home run hit by Harmon Killebrew on June 3, 1967
-hint it is mounted on a wall 520 feet from home plate - “Run Forrest Run”
(75 points if you have pictures of both the seat and home plate with your team)
Extra Notes – to be used by judges only but you should read!
+2 points for every picture you are in height order.
-10 points every minute late!!!!!
Please write your team name on your sheet as well as your team letter
Please number your entries in the order you take the pictures
Snowstorm
Well we have been enjoying our foot of snow from last week and we are now getting another foot-18 inches today!!! We have already shoveled our driveway twice, once last night and I just got in from an hour of shoveling which did not even include our sidewalks! The snow is still really coming down and schools are even starting to close early.
Time to stay home and read, play games, and play outside in the snow some. Think dinner is going to be soup and bread something I don't need to babysit much since I will be shovelling again in a few hours I am sure. Enjoy your day.
Time to stay home and read, play games, and play outside in the snow some. Think dinner is going to be soup and bread something I don't need to babysit much since I will be shovelling again in a few hours I am sure. Enjoy your day.
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