Today we went to the MN capitol for a homeschool rally. It was interesting though much of the scheduled program went over my kids. As much as I was interested in hearing was Rep. Mark Kennedy had to say my kids were much more interested in everything else going on in the building so I went with their interests.
Rhiannon really wanted to see the Senate in session believe it or not. So we went up to the viewing gallery. I must admit I was hesitant as I did not see this as a recipe for success. Ciaran is an active little boy and easily bored and well Sirah is at an easily distractable and demanding age but Rhia REALLY wanted to so I agreed to atleast try.
Before we went in to see them we went past the House room which was empty and they could view from outside we talked about how they worked. They looked at the desks and the buttons and the way the seats were arranged. We had a long chat about how when we were in the room there would be no talking or questioning. Then I took a long deep breath and entered. The guard did not look at me quite as strangely as I expected though I did feel compelled to say - "We will not be long just checking it out". We entered and took seats in the first row of the balcony.
The kids were actually quite interested in what was going on. It was very difficult for them to not ask questions and I was bombarded when we left the room and even still got a few. Mostly they needed help figuring out who was speaking and dealing with the fact that a lot of people were moving around on the floor.
The topic went completely over their heads they were talking economics and taxes, but they were there to see the process and get a feel for the atmosphere. We stayed through three people speaking to my amazement. Then it was Ciaran who needed to get up and move not Sirah to my amazement. We barely made it out the door before the chattering began, but they were good and did wait.
They wanted to tell me they could not work like that. Then they could not play or do the things they thought were interesting, it must be difficult to be quiet that long and think with all those people moving around. It was hard to understand who was talking. They thought the room was beautiful and both noticed painting on the ceiling and wanted to know if the painters laid on their backs like Michelangelo and Raphael (made me smile) after this week's ceiling art lesson. I forget all the other things we talked about but it led to discussion the entire way through the tunnel to the state office building where we visited with our local representative.
We have met this representative before but in a different context before. We met him while campaigning, both for him and for President Bush. I knew he would not recognize us in a different context and did not expect him to. He did recognize Serona's name when I mentioned it as he is involved with the GOP in a more official way then we were. We talked about homeschooling and I asked his position on it. He said he was supportive of it, just as he was supportive of public and private schooling. His position was it is good for our g-schools (he did not use that phrase) to have competition so more is demanded of them. He said he has met many fine children who were homeschooled and he himself has relatives who make that choice. Overall it was a pleasant meeting and then we just talked about what he does during the day and some other small talk. It was a short visit as the kids were rather shy, though polite with him and I could tell they were reaching the end of their time at the capitol.
All in all it was a nice visit. We toured the building (self-guided) and looked in on the Senate in session, the house floor and the supreme court room. We walked through and noticed the art and architecture, walked through the tunnels connecting the buildings, saw our representative and saw what their office atmosphere is like. As for the homeschool program that was going on today, we listened to some good music, I picked up pieces of the speeches here and there and we helped represent some of the numbers of homeschoolers in our state.
I think one of the neatest aspects of the program for the kids was having them get a sense that there are a lot of children who are homeschooled. I think this helps Rhiannon as she is still sometimes timid about answering the question "Are you in school, what grade are you in". I think sometimes it is still hard for her to find the words to express herself and our homeschool journey. All in all a nice day and I highly recommend a visit to your capital - even with small ones. Even Sirah did amazingly well in her little stroller which she is not used to.
Peace,
Tenn
January 31, 2005
January 30, 2005
Online Library Reserves
Reading Dy's comment made me realize how fortunate we are to have an online reserve system through our libraries. Our library is set up so I visit the website, type in my card number and can see all the books I have out and when they are due, I can also renew them. Very handy for avoiding late fees and finding that book that is due. I love this feature.
By far my favorite feature is the online reserve system. I search the catalog online and when I find a book I want I simply push a button to reserve it. The librarians find the book for me and place them all on a shelf near the checkout desk. I get an email notifying me that books are waiting. I zoom in pick up all the books on the shelf and zoom out.
At first I felt bad using this system as we check out a lot of books as most homeschooling families do. Then I realized this was the system they put in place and it really makes my life a lot easier. It does not replace me wandering the stacks, an important part of how we select curriculum but it does help save me time looking for just that book that I already know I want or need.
For example when Dy said she would print out my list to bring to the library I would open my list in my web browser, open a new tab (I use firefox or mozilla) and reserve the books at my library then pick them up. One of the benefits of living in a modern age.
Of course the traditional library user in me still talks to librarians for recommendations or questions about books and loves to utilize the organization of the stacks. Wandering to a section and then browsing to find what I need. But I thought I would share in case your library has a webpage and online reserve system you did not know about and can help save you time.
Peace,
Tenn
By far my favorite feature is the online reserve system. I search the catalog online and when I find a book I want I simply push a button to reserve it. The librarians find the book for me and place them all on a shelf near the checkout desk. I get an email notifying me that books are waiting. I zoom in pick up all the books on the shelf and zoom out.
At first I felt bad using this system as we check out a lot of books as most homeschooling families do. Then I realized this was the system they put in place and it really makes my life a lot easier. It does not replace me wandering the stacks, an important part of how we select curriculum but it does help save me time looking for just that book that I already know I want or need.
For example when Dy said she would print out my list to bring to the library I would open my list in my web browser, open a new tab (I use firefox or mozilla) and reserve the books at my library then pick them up. One of the benefits of living in a modern age.
Of course the traditional library user in me still talks to librarians for recommendations or questions about books and loves to utilize the organization of the stacks. Wandering to a section and then browsing to find what I need. But I thought I would share in case your library has a webpage and online reserve system you did not know about and can help save you time.
Peace,
Tenn
Weekend Round-Up
Friday the kids and I had a long power struggle. It was amazing that it took nearly 5 hours for them to clean their rooms. Mind you they were not that messy and could easily have been picked up within a half hour. They just did not want to do it and were content staying in their rooms all afternoon and simply playing. It eventually got done, but not much else did that day.
Serona came home early and finished painting our living room (well two walls of it) the other walls will be a different color. We have valuted ceilings and a split level staircase, so this was quite a challenge and I appreciate his hardwork.
When he was done I headed out with Sirah and went to the closeout sale of a local school supply company. They were having incredible deals though the store was well picked over. The deal was 21.50 for up to 100 items. I filled up baskets with paint, chalk, books, books and more books (file folder games, teaching tips, activites, and workbooks primarily), desk tapes (like numberlines, signlanguage, multiplication tables, cursive, manuscript, etc), pens, markers, and little odds and ends. Mostly consumables and books. It was a great deal and I was able to get some of those extras that I always want to get but can never justify the expense for. The best part, they were selling store fixtures. I showed restraint and did not get all that I wanted for I was not sure I could think of a place for them. But I did get two of those nice book display racks. The kind you face the books out so the kids can see them. They retail for around 50.00 and I got two for 5.00. Incredible, I immediately came home and put them up and put the books on them. I wanted to get more but they were gone today.
Friday evening was our couples bible study and we hosted it at our home. It was a nice time and everyone enjoyed themselves. It is nice to finally have a group of Christians that we really connect with. Sometimes I honestly find it harder to be real with my fellow Christian brothers and sisters than with non believers. We have 5 families in our study and they are all great people and I look forward to working through our study together.
I came to the realization when they were here that Serona and I are truly geeks (he prefers "Early adopters" as a term) but we are well liked geeks. From our home library with over 1000 volumes, to our multiple degrees, to our wireless computer network (currently 4 computers), to our streaming radio and music on demand, to our flat screen wall mounted monitor in our kitchen to our roomba. We have some things people are not used to seeing in people's homes. They are topics of interest and discussion and make us a little weird but usually people see them in a positive light. They have become such features in my life that I just take them for granted sometimes. Though I truly am thankful for them and we have worked hard (mostly Serona has worked hard) to make them a possibility and reality in our lives.
We also had an evening with good friends, a couple that we really enjoy spending time with. We spent the evening drinking wine, eating good cheese and talking by candlelight in our library exploring new bands through online music. We shared the stories of how we met and some of the dramas of our lives. We laughed and were very open with each other. It was an exceptional way to pass an evening.
Blogging will be late on Monday as we have a full day planned in the morning.
Peace,
Tenn
Serona came home early and finished painting our living room (well two walls of it) the other walls will be a different color. We have valuted ceilings and a split level staircase, so this was quite a challenge and I appreciate his hardwork.
When he was done I headed out with Sirah and went to the closeout sale of a local school supply company. They were having incredible deals though the store was well picked over. The deal was 21.50 for up to 100 items. I filled up baskets with paint, chalk, books, books and more books (file folder games, teaching tips, activites, and workbooks primarily), desk tapes (like numberlines, signlanguage, multiplication tables, cursive, manuscript, etc), pens, markers, and little odds and ends. Mostly consumables and books. It was a great deal and I was able to get some of those extras that I always want to get but can never justify the expense for. The best part, they were selling store fixtures. I showed restraint and did not get all that I wanted for I was not sure I could think of a place for them. But I did get two of those nice book display racks. The kind you face the books out so the kids can see them. They retail for around 50.00 and I got two for 5.00. Incredible, I immediately came home and put them up and put the books on them. I wanted to get more but they were gone today.
Friday evening was our couples bible study and we hosted it at our home. It was a nice time and everyone enjoyed themselves. It is nice to finally have a group of Christians that we really connect with. Sometimes I honestly find it harder to be real with my fellow Christian brothers and sisters than with non believers. We have 5 families in our study and they are all great people and I look forward to working through our study together.
I came to the realization when they were here that Serona and I are truly geeks (he prefers "Early adopters" as a term) but we are well liked geeks. From our home library with over 1000 volumes, to our multiple degrees, to our wireless computer network (currently 4 computers), to our streaming radio and music on demand, to our flat screen wall mounted monitor in our kitchen to our roomba. We have some things people are not used to seeing in people's homes. They are topics of interest and discussion and make us a little weird but usually people see them in a positive light. They have become such features in my life that I just take them for granted sometimes. Though I truly am thankful for them and we have worked hard (mostly Serona has worked hard) to make them a possibility and reality in our lives.
We also had an evening with good friends, a couple that we really enjoy spending time with. We spent the evening drinking wine, eating good cheese and talking by candlelight in our library exploring new bands through online music. We shared the stories of how we met and some of the dramas of our lives. We laughed and were very open with each other. It was an exceptional way to pass an evening.
Blogging will be late on Monday as we have a full day planned in the morning.
Peace,
Tenn
January 28, 2005
Favorite Children's Books
Okay so there is no way this is going to be a short list, so prepare yourself. I am going to try to be more selective though, these are books that our family returns to time and time again. There are MANY great books that we check out of the library or borrow that are great for the moment. There are also many good books that we own and read from time to time. This list however is the books that we come to time and time again and the ones I want to be sure my kids do not miss, in absolutely no order other than when they came to me, I will continue adding to this over time:
Miss Rumphius - Cooney, Barbara
Library, The - Stewart, Sarah
Sailor Moo - Wheeler, Lisa
Pocketfull of Kisses, A - Penn, Audrey
Kissing Hand, The - Penn, Audrey
Little Bear (all) - Minarik, Else Holmlund
Frog and Toad (all)- Lobel, Arnold
Quick as a Cricket - Wood, Audrey
Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear, The - Wood, Audrey
Napping House, The - Wood, Audrey
Goodnight Moon - Brown, Margaret Wise
Runaway Bunny, The - Brown, Margaret Wise
You are Special - Lucado, Max
Wide Mouthed Frog, The - Faulkner, Keith
Empty Pot, The - Demi
Jesse Bear (all) - Carlstrom, Nancy White
Little House, The - Burton, Virginia Lee
On Mother's Lap - Scott, Ann Herbert
Abuela - Dorros, Arthur
Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See - Carle, Eric
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom - Martin, Bill Jr.
Dr Suess (all)
Where the wild Things are - Sendak, Maurice
Little Sibu - Grindley, Sally
If You Give a Moose a Muffin - Numeroff, Laura (all companion series)
Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon - Lovell, Patty
Make Way for Ducklings - McClosky, Robert
Mama Do You Love Me - Joose, Barbara M.
Blueberry Shoe - Dixon, Ann
Wretched Stone, The - Van Allsaburg, Chris (really any of his)
How Do Dinosaur's Say Goodnight - Yolen, Jane
Christmas in the Big Woods - Wilder, laura Ingalls (all adapted n unabridged)
My A Soundbox - Moncure, Jane Belk (entire series and all bu author)
Very Hungry Caterpillar, The - Carle, Eric (many Carle books are loved here)
My Thank You Bible - Henley, Karyn
My Mama Had a Dancing Heart - Gray, Libba Moore
Elm Tree and Three Sisters, An - Sommerdorf, Norma
Tuesday - Weisner, David
Story about Ping,The - Flack,Marjorie
Frog Alphabet, The - Pallotta, Jerry
Love You Forever - Munch, Robert
Today I Feel Silly and other Moods that make my day - Curtis, Jamie Lee
Caps for Sale - Slobodkina, Esphyr
Stone Soup - Brown, Marcia
Day with Wilbur Robinson, A - William Joyce
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day - Viorst, Judith
Frogs - Gibbons, Gail (Gibbons is great for all nonfiction topics)
True Book Series (non fiction books for younger kids - great)
Guess How Much I Love You - McBratney, Sam
William's Doll - Zolotow, Charlotte
Bread and Jam for Frances - Hoban, Russell (all Frances books)
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs - Barrett, Judi
Pickles to Pittsburg - Barrett, Judi
Animals Should Definately Not Wear Clothing - Barrett, Judi
Chapter Books - Favorite Authors - read all of their books
Cs Lewis
EB White
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Illustrated Classics Collection (abridged and illustrated versions of classics)
Specefics unabridged
Barrie, JM - Peter Pan
Mary Poppins
Pollyanna
Anne of Green Gables
For Real Little Ones
Goodnight Moon - Brown, Margaret Wise
Time for Bed - Fox, Mem
Counting Kisses - Katz, Karen
Kisses - Szekeres, Cyndy
God Made All the Colors - Lion Publishing
Five Little LadyBugs - Gerth, Melanie
Jesse Bear What Will You Wear - Carlstrom, Nancy White
DK Touch and Feel Series (Pets, Wild Animals, Baby Animals, Cats, etc)
Baby Animals: Black and White - Tildes, Phyllis
Playing Poohsticks - Milne, AA (adapted storybook)
Tigger's Breakfast - Milne, AA (adapted)
My Many Colored Days - Dr Suess
Marvin K Mooney Will You Please Go Now - Dr Suess
Baby Games - Nayer, Judy
Good Morning, Good Night - Mitchell, Melanie
Carrot Seed, The - Krauss, Ruth
I am a baby - Hathon, Elizabeth
Learning Numbers - A Sparkle Book
Miss Rumphius - Cooney, Barbara
Library, The - Stewart, Sarah
Sailor Moo - Wheeler, Lisa
Pocketfull of Kisses, A - Penn, Audrey
Kissing Hand, The - Penn, Audrey
Little Bear (all) - Minarik, Else Holmlund
Frog and Toad (all)- Lobel, Arnold
Quick as a Cricket - Wood, Audrey
Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear, The - Wood, Audrey
Napping House, The - Wood, Audrey
Goodnight Moon - Brown, Margaret Wise
Runaway Bunny, The - Brown, Margaret Wise
You are Special - Lucado, Max
Wide Mouthed Frog, The - Faulkner, Keith
Empty Pot, The - Demi
Jesse Bear (all) - Carlstrom, Nancy White
Little House, The - Burton, Virginia Lee
On Mother's Lap - Scott, Ann Herbert
Abuela - Dorros, Arthur
Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See - Carle, Eric
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom - Martin, Bill Jr.
Dr Suess (all)
Where the wild Things are - Sendak, Maurice
Little Sibu - Grindley, Sally
If You Give a Moose a Muffin - Numeroff, Laura (all companion series)
Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon - Lovell, Patty
Make Way for Ducklings - McClosky, Robert
Mama Do You Love Me - Joose, Barbara M.
Blueberry Shoe - Dixon, Ann
Wretched Stone, The - Van Allsaburg, Chris (really any of his)
How Do Dinosaur's Say Goodnight - Yolen, Jane
Christmas in the Big Woods - Wilder, laura Ingalls (all adapted n unabridged)
My A Soundbox - Moncure, Jane Belk (entire series and all bu author)
Very Hungry Caterpillar, The - Carle, Eric (many Carle books are loved here)
My Thank You Bible - Henley, Karyn
My Mama Had a Dancing Heart - Gray, Libba Moore
Elm Tree and Three Sisters, An - Sommerdorf, Norma
Tuesday - Weisner, David
Story about Ping,The - Flack,Marjorie
Frog Alphabet, The - Pallotta, Jerry
Love You Forever - Munch, Robert
Today I Feel Silly and other Moods that make my day - Curtis, Jamie Lee
Caps for Sale - Slobodkina, Esphyr
Stone Soup - Brown, Marcia
Day with Wilbur Robinson, A - William Joyce
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day - Viorst, Judith
Frogs - Gibbons, Gail (Gibbons is great for all nonfiction topics)
True Book Series (non fiction books for younger kids - great)
Guess How Much I Love You - McBratney, Sam
William's Doll - Zolotow, Charlotte
Bread and Jam for Frances - Hoban, Russell (all Frances books)
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs - Barrett, Judi
Pickles to Pittsburg - Barrett, Judi
Animals Should Definately Not Wear Clothing - Barrett, Judi
Chapter Books - Favorite Authors - read all of their books
Cs Lewis
EB White
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Illustrated Classics Collection (abridged and illustrated versions of classics)
Specefics unabridged
Barrie, JM - Peter Pan
Mary Poppins
Pollyanna
Anne of Green Gables
For Real Little Ones
Goodnight Moon - Brown, Margaret Wise
Time for Bed - Fox, Mem
Counting Kisses - Katz, Karen
Kisses - Szekeres, Cyndy
God Made All the Colors - Lion Publishing
Five Little LadyBugs - Gerth, Melanie
Jesse Bear What Will You Wear - Carlstrom, Nancy White
DK Touch and Feel Series (Pets, Wild Animals, Baby Animals, Cats, etc)
Baby Animals: Black and White - Tildes, Phyllis
Playing Poohsticks - Milne, AA (adapted storybook)
Tigger's Breakfast - Milne, AA (adapted)
My Many Colored Days - Dr Suess
Marvin K Mooney Will You Please Go Now - Dr Suess
Baby Games - Nayer, Judy
Good Morning, Good Night - Mitchell, Melanie
Carrot Seed, The - Krauss, Ruth
I am a baby - Hathon, Elizabeth
Learning Numbers - A Sparkle Book
Self-Esteem Lesson
Every once in awhile I like to take some concentrated time to boost my kids self-esteem. Nothing set in particular, I just watch their cues and needs and this week I realized that Rhiannon was struggling a little bit and might need the pick me up. I have found the best way to reach my kids besides continual compliments, praise and sharing love is through reading (are you really surprised?) some particular books. I don't make a big deal about it, just try to work them in and then have natural conversations about them. I use a saturation technique where nearly every book I read will have something to do with loving yourself, being yourself, or being loved just because you are you.
Here is our book list that we read yesterday. Yes we did read them all yesterday. Remember many of these are picture/storybooks and my kids truly love to be read to. You could read these over the course of a week or so or just introduce one every once in awhile. They are all good stories and not overt in their message yet there is not much subtly there either if that makes any sense. The message is clear - you are special, I love you, God loves you, and you should love yourself even if you are different from others.
Self-Esteem/Confidence Book List
You are Special - Lucado, Max
I'm Gonna Like Me: Letting Off a Little Self-Esteem - Curtis, Jamie Lee
Quick as a Cricket - Wood, Audrey
Hooray for You - Richmond, Marianne
God Made you Special - Metaxes, Eric
Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon - Lovell, Patty
Best of All - Lucado, Max
Special because of differences
You are Loved Books
Here is our book list that we read yesterday. Yes we did read them all yesterday. Remember many of these are picture/storybooks and my kids truly love to be read to. You could read these over the course of a week or so or just introduce one every once in awhile. They are all good stories and not overt in their message yet there is not much subtly there either if that makes any sense. The message is clear - you are special, I love you, God loves you, and you should love yourself even if you are different from others.
You are Special - Lucado, Max
I'm Gonna Like Me: Letting Off a Little Self-Esteem - Curtis, Jamie Lee
Quick as a Cricket - Wood, Audrey
Hooray for You - Richmond, Marianne
God Made you Special - Metaxes, Eric
Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon - Lovell, Patty
Best of All - Lucado, Max
Library, The - Stewart, Sarah
Tiny Seed The - Carle, Eric
Put Me in the Zoo - Dr Suess
Miss Rumphius - Cooney, Barbara
Stellaluna - Cannon, Janell
What If the Zebra's Lost Their Stripes - Reitano, John
Kissing Hand, The - Penn, Audrey
Pocketfull of Kisses, A - Penn, Audrey
Love - Moncure, Jane Belk
Love You Forever - Munsch, Robert
Runaway Bunny, The - Brown, Margaret Wise
Little Sibu - Grindley, Sally
We have also done full blown lesson plans on the book Miss Rumphius and "I'm Gonna Like Me". For I'm Gonna Like Me we did the following with our hs group, from a previous post:
Our homeschool group recently did a group class on Jamie Lee Curtis book "Letting Off a Little Self-esteem, I'm gonna like me". We had a fabulous time at the class. The kids drew their bodies on posters and writing what they could do with different parts of their bodies. Then each took turns looking into a mirror and saying why they were special, it was very touching and interesting to hear the kids responses. Rhiannon said "Because my daddy calls me a princess" and Ciaran said "because I love Jesus".
These are touching books that help kids understand that they are special and loved. Of course the greatest way to express this to our kids is to tell them daily how much we love them and reasons they are special and we are proud of them. To remind them that we will always love them no matter what and that God loves them. To help them be confident in themselves.
Go hug your kids today,
Tenn
Software Beta Testers Needed
The original writers of the children's software JumpStart are looking for beta testers for their new software "My Reward Board" I was contacted directly by Barton Listick, CEO of the company. He is looking for some parents to help test out their new software program.
I don't know anything about the software other than what I am including in this post. We have decided to try the software and help work out bugs. If you are also interested you can contact him at beta@trylonix.com, let him know that Tenniel from SCHOOL@HOME referred you. Here is the information I was sent:
Peace,
Tenn
My Reward Board" Beta Test Program
-------------------------------------
As parents we all struggle to get our kids to do the things they should (or need to) do. Some tasks are practical, like helping with dishes or doing homework, while others are behavioral, like not teasing a sibling. The reason we care at all (beyond the benefits of a clean room!) is that we want our kids to grow into responsible, healthy and happy adults.
That’s where My Reward Board fits in. With reward coupons, fun animations and achievement certificates, this unique program turns chores and goals into fun and games. Before long your kids will be striving every day to do their best as they eagerly await the end of the week and their star points reward. The program is very configurable in order to accommodate different parenting styles.
Participants will receive a free copy of the program when it's released in 1-2 months.
The only requirements for participation are that you have children ages 5 to 12, and a Pentium II (or better) computer, running at 400 mhz (or faster), with the Windows operating system (Windows 98 or later).
If you agree to help out, the most important thing we ask is that you use the program frequently, try out all of the features, and give us as much feedback as possible. The first priority is to find and fix any bugs (problems) in the program, but we also want to hear your ideas on what you like and what could be added or changed to make it better.
If you'd like to apply please send an email to: beta@trylonix.com
I don't know anything about the software other than what I am including in this post. We have decided to try the software and help work out bugs. If you are also interested you can contact him at beta@trylonix.com, let him know that Tenniel from SCHOOL@HOME referred you. Here is the information I was sent:
Peace,
Tenn
My Reward Board" Beta Test Program
-------------------------------------
As parents we all struggle to get our kids to do the things they should (or need to) do. Some tasks are practical, like helping with dishes or doing homework, while others are behavioral, like not teasing a sibling. The reason we care at all (beyond the benefits of a clean room!) is that we want our kids to grow into responsible, healthy and happy adults.
That’s where My Reward Board fits in. With reward coupons, fun animations and achievement certificates, this unique program turns chores and goals into fun and games. Before long your kids will be striving every day to do their best as they eagerly await the end of the week and their star points reward. The program is very configurable in order to accommodate different parenting styles.
Participants will receive a free copy of the program when it's released in 1-2 months.
The only requirements for participation are that you have children ages 5 to 12, and a Pentium II (or better) computer, running at 400 mhz (or faster), with the Windows operating system (Windows 98 or later).
If you agree to help out, the most important thing we ask is that you use the program frequently, try out all of the features, and give us as much feedback as possible. The first priority is to find and fix any bugs (problems) in the program, but we also want to hear your ideas on what you like and what could be added or changed to make it better.
If you'd like to apply please send an email to: beta@trylonix.com
January 27, 2005
Mother Goose and Frogs
Sirah and I went through the Mother Goose book we have and I did actions and sang some of them to her. She especially enjoyed Old MacDonald and anything that had a picture of a dog. She kept coming back for me to read her more. She also played on the slide and trampoline with Ciaran and kept trying to color pictures and their floor playmat while her siblings were using markers and crayons. She has wanted to nurse continuously today. She also played several games with Ciaran. It is nice when they get along so well.
I asked Ciaran what he wanted to do today because he asked me to do "schoolwork" while Rhiannon was. His answer of course was frogs. So I printed out a life cycle book for him and he colored the entire book. He did a good job staying in the lines, though by the end he was wanting it to be done and I noticed the quality of his work decreased. He definitely does better with coloring if he is only working on one thing and he knows that is all he needs to do.
We started to do the art lesson with him, I thought he would be into coloring under his desk, but I was wrong. So he played with Sirah while Rhia worked on art. This afternoon we will finish his H collage and read some books together.
Peace,
Tenn
I asked Ciaran what he wanted to do today because he asked me to do "schoolwork" while Rhiannon was. His answer of course was frogs. So I printed out a life cycle book for him and he colored the entire book. He did a good job staying in the lines, though by the end he was wanting it to be done and I noticed the quality of his work decreased. He definitely does better with coloring if he is only working on one thing and he knows that is all he needs to do.
We started to do the art lesson with him, I thought he would be into coloring under his desk, but I was wrong. So he played with Sirah while Rhia worked on art. This afternoon we will finish his H collage and read some books together.
Peace,
Tenn
Ceiling Art
No Serona, relax I did NOT let them paint on the ceiling! We are talking about Raphael and Michelangelo today and I thought it would be fun after learning about them for them to try to paint like they did. Now I am not a glutton for punishment so neither paint nor a real ceiling was involved. Instead I taped a long piece of craft paper underneath their desk and gave them markers to lay on their back and make their great masterpiece with.
First I had them flip through pictures and review some works from the great artists. Rhiannon noticed that there were lots of naked people running around and angels. We talked about how much of their work was for ceilings of chapels and churches. She wanted to know why our church did not have such artwork!
Rhiannon sketched and then colored a picture of me and her in heaven singing and praising to God. One of our dogs was also in the picture. She wrote My God love on it as well as mommy and kaity. She drew a frame around it. She sketched with markers and then colored in with crayons.
Then we talked about how it felt to work on our backs and what it must have been like for them and how amazing it is that those beautiul works of art are on celings.
First I had them flip through pictures and review some works from the great artists. Rhiannon noticed that there were lots of naked people running around and angels. We talked about how much of their work was for ceilings of chapels and churches. She wanted to know why our church did not have such artwork!
Rhiannon sketched and then colored a picture of me and her in heaven singing and praising to God. One of our dogs was also in the picture. She wrote My God love on it as well as mommy and kaity. She drew a frame around it. She sketched with markers and then colored in with crayons.
Then we talked about how it felt to work on our backs and what it must have been like for them and how amazing it is that those beautiul works of art are on celings.
Math Equations Lesson
This morning we had a great math lesson. I need to give Serona all the credit for the lesson and the creativity behind it. I have noticed that Rhiannon is getting stuck with the concept of equations and reading math sentences. If it looks at all different then she thinks it should it is hard for her to get her head around. Especially if the answer is on the opposite side of the equal sigh then she is expecting (ie 3=10-7 instead of 10-7=3). Last night Serona and I had a great conversation about how to illustrate it complete with him drawing examples on our chalkboard wall.
So I began by talking about the equal sign and what it really means and how both sides of the equal sign should be the same even if they are written differently. I used flash cards to illustrate this with each part of the equation on a different flash card (10-7, 3, =,) I made two sets of each and then an additional set that separated 10,-, and 7 on their own cards. I began by putting the cards in the usual order 10-7=3 and then talking about the equal sign. I was not asking her to do any answering of math problems during this lesson so she could just focus on understanding. Then I showed her how if we switched the numbers so it read 3=10-7 it was still the same. Then I took a second set of cards and showed both sets of equations on top of one another with the equal sign lining up
10-7=3
3=10-7
We talked about how those are math sentences and I had her read me both sentences until she could get it right. I handed her another set of flash cards with different problems (this time addition) and her go through the same process. After she got it I let her test me.
Then we added cuisenaire rods into the picture to show her it could be done with things other than just the numbers and to help her conceptualize it better. We placed the right rods on each part of the equation and then using the rods showed how the answers were even on both sides.
We ended this lesson by playing a game with the rods and only the flash cards of +,-, and =. She made problems for me to solve and then she had to reorder the equation so it still meant the same thing even if it was said differently. Then I made equations for her to solve and I had to rearrange them.
She finished math today by showing all the combinations that add/multiply up to 6 with her rods. She does not fully grasp multiplication she uses language more like if you have three sets of 2 it equals six and I fill in the multiplication language for her. I have no expectation that she would grasp this yet but it doesn't hurt.
It was a great math lesson and nice to be away from worksheets. It taught so many different lessons in a carefree way. It introduced concepts of algebra and word problems, illustrating that math can be a spoken language as well as a numeral language as well as represented by items. Try it at home if you have little ones.
Peace,
Tenn
So I began by talking about the equal sign and what it really means and how both sides of the equal sign should be the same even if they are written differently. I used flash cards to illustrate this with each part of the equation on a different flash card (10-7, 3, =,) I made two sets of each and then an additional set that separated 10,-, and 7 on their own cards. I began by putting the cards in the usual order 10-7=3 and then talking about the equal sign. I was not asking her to do any answering of math problems during this lesson so she could just focus on understanding. Then I showed her how if we switched the numbers so it read 3=10-7 it was still the same. Then I took a second set of cards and showed both sets of equations on top of one another with the equal sign lining up
10-7=3
3=10-7
We talked about how those are math sentences and I had her read me both sentences until she could get it right. I handed her another set of flash cards with different problems (this time addition) and her go through the same process. After she got it I let her test me.
Then we added cuisenaire rods into the picture to show her it could be done with things other than just the numbers and to help her conceptualize it better. We placed the right rods on each part of the equation and then using the rods showed how the answers were even on both sides.
We ended this lesson by playing a game with the rods and only the flash cards of +,-, and =. She made problems for me to solve and then she had to reorder the equation so it still meant the same thing even if it was said differently. Then I made equations for her to solve and I had to rearrange them.
She finished math today by showing all the combinations that add/multiply up to 6 with her rods. She does not fully grasp multiplication she uses language more like if you have three sets of 2 it equals six and I fill in the multiplication language for her. I have no expectation that she would grasp this yet but it doesn't hurt.
It was a great math lesson and nice to be away from worksheets. It taught so many different lessons in a carefree way. It introduced concepts of algebra and word problems, illustrating that math can be a spoken language as well as a numeral language as well as represented by items. Try it at home if you have little ones.
Peace,
Tenn
Too Cute!
This is a great audio post from a great site. Thicket Dweler, frequent commentor here is an inspiring homeschool mom. She is spending 24 hours blogging her day today, check her out at Today's Lessons.
Peace,
Tenn
Peace,
Tenn
The Slow Creep of Commonality
All of sudden you wake up one day and you realize that your good intentions and convictions have gone past you and you are just living your life the "normal" way. It did not happen in a way you were conscious of, it did not even appear to be happening and you did not realize it until it was over. This is what has recently happened in our family with regards to nutrition.
Those of you who have known me for years know that I have some pretty strong convictions about nutrition and the food we eat. When it was just Serona, Rhia and I we were VERY good about eating proper nutrition and eating the "right things". I can remember not understanding why others would not make the simple choices that we were making for their own families. I could not understand what parents were offering their kids as snacks and why my own would eat healthy snacks and like them. This attitude of judgment continued after I had Ciaran as well. Then something happened, and I find myself with a kitchen that includes Teddy Grahams, Honeycombs, apple juice and pudding! To many of you this may seem like no big deal but to us when we realized it was a big deal.
For years I have been very into organic food and feeding kids whole foods and healthy snacks. I even gave a talk about how to get your children to eat healthier things. I called it moving beyond Goldfish, which for some reason seems to be the child snack food of choice. Then we started spending a lot of time around other kids and I found myself getting a guilty mom complex and my actions weakened while I knew my convictions were true.
You can only make your kids eat fruit leathers and tofu so long while others are eating chips, candy, and cookies all around you. The kids start to balk and you start to question your right to withhold those things from them. I found my standards weakening just a little bit at a time. First it was letting them share some of what their friends had brought, then it was buying some special things to have just at those times when we would be with friends who were having them. Then suddenly it became picking it up to have as treats around the house. It took Serona gently chastising me for some of my purchases for me to wake up and realize what we had been doing.
I balked at first, saying I only got this as a treat. Then he gently showed me all the "only as a treat" things I had recently purchased. It was when he helped me realize that I was allowing Sirah to have things like juice and pudding at 18 months that I realized what had happened. I would so rarely have let Rhia or Ciaran have these things that seem to becoming part of Sirah's diet. I know I need to loosen up some from our strict standards but we have moved far beyond that point. It was a slow creep but we are at the point now where it will quickly devolve into more if it is not curtailed.
I don't want you to get the impression that our children will never be allowed to have treats, but rather that I need to get back into the habits I once was in. A positive step this week. When we were in the grocery store (a mistake to begin with) for a treat I allowed each child to pick one item from the produce aisle. They were so excited. Rhiannon came home with a cantelope stuffed with grapes and Ciaran with a whole pineapple. It was better than chocolate to them and they can't wait to share them with us as a family.
I also don't want you to get the impression that I am judging your family or your choices, I am not. I have many friends who make very different choices for their families and feel they are the right choices. I totally respect that and feel strongly that each family needs to make the decisions that are best for them and other families are not likely to understand them. Especially in areas where morality is not at stake, people are truly free to choose whatever is best for them. This criticism is placed squarely on my own shoulders as Serona and I have made choices for our family with good reasons behind them and I have let them slip away slowly until I no longer recognize myself in this area.
I have to remember there are alternatives and more common ground than jumping to the Teddy grahams, goldfish, and candy. We can still have healthy treats, and it is not that they take more time or effort, just that you need to remember to do them and then stand up to the pressures around you. I have found that the problem is not so much my kids as it is my own guilt as a mother.
Part of me wants to allow them to enjoy what other kids do. Yet the bigger part of me needs to remember the reasons we made the choices we did in the first place. Do I really want them to be like everyone else? No, I do not. There are good reasons we have decided to be vegetarians, eat organic food, avoid pop and juice, not watch TV and eat healthier food. I need to remember them, be strong and teach my children the reasons behind the decisions we have made so they can embrace them as well. There are many advantages to the choices we have made and I need to keep them in perspective when the downsides rear their heads.
It is interesting to me that I have found this so easy to do when it comes to television and being a vegetarian, and yet in this one area it seems to have been a struggle for me. I know some of it is the convenience factor, much of it is becoming lax, and just a small part of it is wanting to give my kids what everyone else seems to have. But nutrition is an important area for our family and I need to reclaim and retrain my family in this area, starting with myself of course.
Now do we throw out the Teddy Grahams and cherry pie or eat it first?
Peace,
Tenn
Those of you who have known me for years know that I have some pretty strong convictions about nutrition and the food we eat. When it was just Serona, Rhia and I we were VERY good about eating proper nutrition and eating the "right things". I can remember not understanding why others would not make the simple choices that we were making for their own families. I could not understand what parents were offering their kids as snacks and why my own would eat healthy snacks and like them. This attitude of judgment continued after I had Ciaran as well. Then something happened, and I find myself with a kitchen that includes Teddy Grahams, Honeycombs, apple juice and pudding! To many of you this may seem like no big deal but to us when we realized it was a big deal.
For years I have been very into organic food and feeding kids whole foods and healthy snacks. I even gave a talk about how to get your children to eat healthier things. I called it moving beyond Goldfish, which for some reason seems to be the child snack food of choice. Then we started spending a lot of time around other kids and I found myself getting a guilty mom complex and my actions weakened while I knew my convictions were true.
You can only make your kids eat fruit leathers and tofu so long while others are eating chips, candy, and cookies all around you. The kids start to balk and you start to question your right to withhold those things from them. I found my standards weakening just a little bit at a time. First it was letting them share some of what their friends had brought, then it was buying some special things to have just at those times when we would be with friends who were having them. Then suddenly it became picking it up to have as treats around the house. It took Serona gently chastising me for some of my purchases for me to wake up and realize what we had been doing.
I balked at first, saying I only got this as a treat. Then he gently showed me all the "only as a treat" things I had recently purchased. It was when he helped me realize that I was allowing Sirah to have things like juice and pudding at 18 months that I realized what had happened. I would so rarely have let Rhia or Ciaran have these things that seem to becoming part of Sirah's diet. I know I need to loosen up some from our strict standards but we have moved far beyond that point. It was a slow creep but we are at the point now where it will quickly devolve into more if it is not curtailed.
I don't want you to get the impression that our children will never be allowed to have treats, but rather that I need to get back into the habits I once was in. A positive step this week. When we were in the grocery store (a mistake to begin with) for a treat I allowed each child to pick one item from the produce aisle. They were so excited. Rhiannon came home with a cantelope stuffed with grapes and Ciaran with a whole pineapple. It was better than chocolate to them and they can't wait to share them with us as a family.
I also don't want you to get the impression that I am judging your family or your choices, I am not. I have many friends who make very different choices for their families and feel they are the right choices. I totally respect that and feel strongly that each family needs to make the decisions that are best for them and other families are not likely to understand them. Especially in areas where morality is not at stake, people are truly free to choose whatever is best for them. This criticism is placed squarely on my own shoulders as Serona and I have made choices for our family with good reasons behind them and I have let them slip away slowly until I no longer recognize myself in this area.
I have to remember there are alternatives and more common ground than jumping to the Teddy grahams, goldfish, and candy. We can still have healthy treats, and it is not that they take more time or effort, just that you need to remember to do them and then stand up to the pressures around you. I have found that the problem is not so much my kids as it is my own guilt as a mother.
Part of me wants to allow them to enjoy what other kids do. Yet the bigger part of me needs to remember the reasons we made the choices we did in the first place. Do I really want them to be like everyone else? No, I do not. There are good reasons we have decided to be vegetarians, eat organic food, avoid pop and juice, not watch TV and eat healthier food. I need to remember them, be strong and teach my children the reasons behind the decisions we have made so they can embrace them as well. There are many advantages to the choices we have made and I need to keep them in perspective when the downsides rear their heads.
It is interesting to me that I have found this so easy to do when it comes to television and being a vegetarian, and yet in this one area it seems to have been a struggle for me. I know some of it is the convenience factor, much of it is becoming lax, and just a small part of it is wanting to give my kids what everyone else seems to have. But nutrition is an important area for our family and I need to reclaim and retrain my family in this area, starting with myself of course.
Now do we throw out the Teddy Grahams and cherry pie or eat it first?
Peace,
Tenn
January 26, 2005
Round-Up
I've been trying to limit my computer time lately and I hurt my back, pulled a muscle I think so I have been longer between posts. We have had a good school week. We are not involved with any activities out of the home this week, especially since next week will be a big week for us.
Ciaran has been really into play-doh and coloring this week. He made some neat "people" and has colored some nice frogs and owls. He also painted one of his big letters and hopefully we will finish our collage tommorrow. He has been on again and off agian with his interest level and I am going with that these days. Today he picked up our big Spectacular China book and looked at all the pictures, he was excited for them. He has also been into being read to. Rhiannon has stepped up as well and for the past two nights she has read to him in bed until he has fallen asleep from Frog and Toad and Little Bear.
Rhiannon has been reading quite a bit and we went back to daily Phonics drills as I noticed an increase in her whole word reading and an avoidance of sounding unfamiliar words out, she uses context and often will sound out the beginning and then guess until she gets it right. We just finished up working on different endings (ink, ank, unk, onk) and (ing, ang, ung, ong) and began work on long vowels. We are both enjoying working through Phonics Pathways. It is easy to follow and has the right mix of words with no context and words in sentences. She asked to do an extra page today. We have also finally added in the spelling portion of the book. Up until recently I felt she was too young to have to try to spell any of the words. I am not hard on her but she does need to do spelling from diction as part of each of her phonics lessons now.
She has been very into making little books and writing us letters. This week she made two books "The Story of My Life" and "A Book about Mom" she wrote a full page that she sounded out (spelling was sometimes difficult to follow) and then illustrated the book with her special pictures. She also made each member of the family, including younger brother and sister a special picture of her with them on a summer day. These have been precious to receive and a lot of fun.
Math this week has been exciting. We had been in a routine with Miquon math on the subject of addition and subtraction but on Monday Rhiannon asked if we could do math with blocks and we had a great time! We used our big unit blocks to show fractions and how different things can equal one another. We used blocks to represent half, quarter, and eigths. I showed how that worked with both vertical and horizontal blocks and we played around with it for awhile. Then we moved to money and I showed one dollar, half dollar and quarters. After she got her mind around this we set up both the blocks and the money on her desk so she could see the relationships. I also wrote the fractions on the board for her to see adding fractions and how they become whole numbers and then made flash cards with the fractions written on it. We ended this by playing a game where I would hold up either a coin or a block and she had to find the right flash card that represented it. She had fun with it and I think she really grasped it.
We continued with work in First Language Lessons, today we focused on aunts, uncles and cousins and for copywork she wrote the names of all her aunts, uncles and cousins, 9 in all. We talked about common and proper nouns and she worked on memorizing a new poem.
We have been reading through "Tell me the Story of Jesus" and "ABC Memory Verse: Hiding God's word in Little Hearts" for bible studies. Just tonight when we arrived at church for our midweek service she informed us that she thinks she is ready to be baptized and we should talk about this weekend. It was very matter of fact and not in the context of anything else from the car ride. We have been reading about John the Baptist during our bible study time though and she has been asking a lot of questions about how I came to be baptized. On the way home Ciaran was so excited about his class and what he learned and asked to keep coloring his sheet from class and shared all about the story they learned tonight.
Both Ciaran and Rhiannon have been very inquisitive this week, especially about my education and marriage. Today at lunch I spent the entire time answering questions about our wedding, honeymoon, how we met and how long we went to school. They also wanted to know if I ever had a job like dad before I stayed home with them. It was fun sharing all those things with them and interesting to me that they were suddenly interested. It was also suprising to me that the answer to how long I spent in school was 20 years!
Sirah has been a lot of fun. She is starting to use more and more words and finding different ways to communicate her desires and needs. She still does not want to sleep until nearly 11pm each night and naps are becoming more of a fight with her as well. She picked up a stack of books and climbed on my lap tonight before bed. We have also been playing peekaboo - it is very cute to see her play and cover her eyes. She gets so excited when you play with her. She knows almost all of her body parts and can tell the difference between my eyes and her eyes. She is learning her animal sounds and LOVES to color and play with playdoh. She was so proud this week when she colored a picture for me, it was so special to see her standing there holding out this piece of paper for me and realizing that she made it. It was cute to see her proud of herself. She is also very into taking off all her clothes especially her diaper. She has taken to putting her diaper into the toilet! If she were not so little I would see this as time to start potty training her. She keeps taking off her diaper and putting on Rhiannon's underwear!
I've been trying to take it easy to recover from hurting myself yesterday. Keeping laundry going, the house picked up, playing with Ciaran and Sirah and Rhia's school has been enough for me. I've also gotten some personal reading time in, a little crocheting and our 2004 taxes completed (HOORAY!). Serona is working hard on some preojects for work including some presentations he needs to finish. We are in the middle of painting our living room and we need to finish tommorrow as we are hosting bible study here on Friday!
Peace,
Tenn
Ciaran has been really into play-doh and coloring this week. He made some neat "people" and has colored some nice frogs and owls. He also painted one of his big letters and hopefully we will finish our collage tommorrow. He has been on again and off agian with his interest level and I am going with that these days. Today he picked up our big Spectacular China book and looked at all the pictures, he was excited for them. He has also been into being read to. Rhiannon has stepped up as well and for the past two nights she has read to him in bed until he has fallen asleep from Frog and Toad and Little Bear.
Rhiannon has been reading quite a bit and we went back to daily Phonics drills as I noticed an increase in her whole word reading and an avoidance of sounding unfamiliar words out, she uses context and often will sound out the beginning and then guess until she gets it right. We just finished up working on different endings (ink, ank, unk, onk) and (ing, ang, ung, ong) and began work on long vowels. We are both enjoying working through Phonics Pathways. It is easy to follow and has the right mix of words with no context and words in sentences. She asked to do an extra page today. We have also finally added in the spelling portion of the book. Up until recently I felt she was too young to have to try to spell any of the words. I am not hard on her but she does need to do spelling from diction as part of each of her phonics lessons now.
She has been very into making little books and writing us letters. This week she made two books "The Story of My Life" and "A Book about Mom" she wrote a full page that she sounded out (spelling was sometimes difficult to follow) and then illustrated the book with her special pictures. She also made each member of the family, including younger brother and sister a special picture of her with them on a summer day. These have been precious to receive and a lot of fun.
Math this week has been exciting. We had been in a routine with Miquon math on the subject of addition and subtraction but on Monday Rhiannon asked if we could do math with blocks and we had a great time! We used our big unit blocks to show fractions and how different things can equal one another. We used blocks to represent half, quarter, and eigths. I showed how that worked with both vertical and horizontal blocks and we played around with it for awhile. Then we moved to money and I showed one dollar, half dollar and quarters. After she got her mind around this we set up both the blocks and the money on her desk so she could see the relationships. I also wrote the fractions on the board for her to see adding fractions and how they become whole numbers and then made flash cards with the fractions written on it. We ended this by playing a game where I would hold up either a coin or a block and she had to find the right flash card that represented it. She had fun with it and I think she really grasped it.
We continued with work in First Language Lessons, today we focused on aunts, uncles and cousins and for copywork she wrote the names of all her aunts, uncles and cousins, 9 in all. We talked about common and proper nouns and she worked on memorizing a new poem.
We have been reading through "Tell me the Story of Jesus" and "ABC Memory Verse: Hiding God's word in Little Hearts" for bible studies. Just tonight when we arrived at church for our midweek service she informed us that she thinks she is ready to be baptized and we should talk about this weekend. It was very matter of fact and not in the context of anything else from the car ride. We have been reading about John the Baptist during our bible study time though and she has been asking a lot of questions about how I came to be baptized. On the way home Ciaran was so excited about his class and what he learned and asked to keep coloring his sheet from class and shared all about the story they learned tonight.
Both Ciaran and Rhiannon have been very inquisitive this week, especially about my education and marriage. Today at lunch I spent the entire time answering questions about our wedding, honeymoon, how we met and how long we went to school. They also wanted to know if I ever had a job like dad before I stayed home with them. It was fun sharing all those things with them and interesting to me that they were suddenly interested. It was also suprising to me that the answer to how long I spent in school was 20 years!
Sirah has been a lot of fun. She is starting to use more and more words and finding different ways to communicate her desires and needs. She still does not want to sleep until nearly 11pm each night and naps are becoming more of a fight with her as well. She picked up a stack of books and climbed on my lap tonight before bed. We have also been playing peekaboo - it is very cute to see her play and cover her eyes. She gets so excited when you play with her. She knows almost all of her body parts and can tell the difference between my eyes and her eyes. She is learning her animal sounds and LOVES to color and play with playdoh. She was so proud this week when she colored a picture for me, it was so special to see her standing there holding out this piece of paper for me and realizing that she made it. It was cute to see her proud of herself. She is also very into taking off all her clothes especially her diaper. She has taken to putting her diaper into the toilet! If she were not so little I would see this as time to start potty training her. She keeps taking off her diaper and putting on Rhiannon's underwear!
I've been trying to take it easy to recover from hurting myself yesterday. Keeping laundry going, the house picked up, playing with Ciaran and Sirah and Rhia's school has been enough for me. I've also gotten some personal reading time in, a little crocheting and our 2004 taxes completed (HOORAY!). Serona is working hard on some preojects for work including some presentations he needs to finish. We are in the middle of painting our living room and we need to finish tommorrow as we are hosting bible study here on Friday!
Peace,
Tenn
January Reading List
Black Beauty - Sewell Anna
Why Do Horses Neigh - Holub Joan
Bedtime for Frances - Hoban, Russell
Quick as a Cricket - Wood, Audrey
Cars and Trucks and Things That Go - Scarry, Richard
Robots: The Movie Storybook - Egan, Kate
Alice the Fairy - Shannon, David
Wishes do Come True - Capalija Ann Marie
Amelia Bedeilia - Parish, Peggy
Peter Pan - Barrie, JM (classical illustrated adaptation)
Frog and Toad are Friends - Lobel, Arnold
Frog and Toad Together - Lobel, Arnold
Shapes - Sparkly Board Book
Horses Wear Shoes: I Wonder Why - Kingfisher
My H SoundBox - Moncure, Jane Belk
Casey's New Hat - Gardella, Tricia
Horses - Klingel, Cynthia
One Gaping Wide-Mouthed Hopping Frog - Tryon, Leslie
I am Not Going to Get Up Today - Dr Suess
Sun Girl and the Moon Boy, The: A Korean Folktale - Choi, Yangsook
Wide Mouthed Frog, The - Faulkner, Keith
Clifford's Puppy Days - Bridwell, Norman
Clifford Gets a Job - Bridwell, Norman
Disney Princess CD Storybook - (includes Little Mermaid Cinderella, SnowWhite and Beauty and the Beast)
Empty Pot, The - Demi
Hygeine and Good Health - Gray, Shirley
Hershey's Kisses Addition Book - Pallotta, Jerry
Napping House, The - Wood, Audrey and Don
Horse Show - Hayden, Kate
How Do Dinosaurs Say GoodNight - Yolen, Jane
Wish-For Dinosaur, A - Moncure, Jane Belk
Good Morning, Good Night - Mitchell, Melanie
On Mother's Lap - Scott, Ann Herbert
Harvest Home - Yolen, Jane
Haystack- Geisert, Bonnie
Abuela - Dorros, Arthur
Helen Keller - Klingel, Cynthia
House in the Mail, The - Wells, Rosemary and Tom
Sky Hops and Belly Flops - Barber, Lynda
Harvest Time - Waters, Jennifer
Helen at Home and the Letter H - Klingel, Cynthia
Little Red Hen, The - Zemach, Margot
China - Pluckrose, Henry
Hippos - Markert, Jenny
Touch and Feel Kitten - Dk Publishing
Playing Poohsticks Milne, AA (adapted)
God Made all the Colors - Lion Publishing
Blessings Everywhere - Mackall, Dandi
Your Heart - DeGezelle, Terri
Welcome from China - Waterlow, China
Owl Babies - Waddell, Martin
Owls: Wild Birds of Prey - Kops, Deborah
Owl and the Pussycat, The - Lear, Edward
Owls - the Silent Hunters - Miller, Sara
Owl Moon - Yolen, Jane
Helen Keller - Walker, Pamela
China: Enchantment of World History to 1949 - McLenighan, Valjean (read portions)
Little House on the Prairie - Wilder, Laura Ingalls (in progress)
Touch and Feel Pets - DK Publishing
Oso pardo Oso pardo que vas ahi? - Martin Jr, Bill
Where the wild Things are - Sendak, Maurice
Bear Snores On - Wilson, Karma
Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See - Martin Jr, Bill
Home safety - Raatma, Lucia
You are Special - Lucado, Max
Stellaluna - Cannon, Janell
Little Sibu - Grindley, Sally
Animal Lives - The Frog - Kitchen, Bert
Curious George's Dream - Rey HA
If You Give a Moose a Muffin - Numeroff, Laura
Jesse Bear What Will You Wear - Carlstrom, Nancy White
Blessings Everywhere - Mackall, Dandi
Kisses - Szekeres, Cyndy
God Made all the Colors - Lion Publishing
Mother Goose - My First Treasury
Runaway Bunny, The - Brown, Margaret Wise
I'm Gonna Like Me - Curtis, Jamie Lee
Quick as a Cricket - Wood, Audrey
Hooray for You - Richmond, Marianne
My Favorite Book - Good Will Publishers
God Made you Special - Metaxes, Eric
Stand Tall Molly Lou Melom - Lovell, Patty
Best of All - Lucado, Max
Library, The - Stewart, Sarah
Pocketfull of Kisses, A - Penn, Audrey
Reads in Progress:
By the Shores of the Silver Lake - Wilder, Laura Ingalls
Farmer Boy - Wilder, Laura Ingalls
Tell me the Story of Jesus - Beers, V. Gilbert
Rhiannon's Reads
Owl at Home - Lobel, Arnold
You Read to Me and I'll Read to You
GingerBread Man, The - (retold by Roxanna Marino Knapp)
Little Red Riding Hood - (retold by Roxanna Marino Knapp)
Three Billy Goats Gruff, The - (retold by Roxanna Marino Knapp)
Friendship, Garden, The - Walt Disney Winnie the Pooh
I'm Gonna Like Me - Curtis, Jamie Lee
Clifford's Good Deeds - Bridwell, Norman
When I was LIttle - Curtis, Jamie Lee
Green Eggs and Han - Dr Suess
Shoe: Sound of SH - Ballard, Peg
This and That: Sound of TH - Ballard, Peg
Word Bird Makes words with Hen - Moncure, Jane Belk
Home Tools - Snyder, Inez
Hamsters - Klingel, Cynthia
Father Bear Comes Home - Minarik, Else Holmelund
Froggy Goes to School - London, Jonathan
Honesty - Kyle, Kathryn
Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea - Peck, Jan
Company's Going - Yorinks Arthur
Bear Wants More - Wilson, Karma
LIttle Bird and the Moon Sandwich - Berkowitz, Linda
Bear Stays Up - Wilson, Karma
Arthur's Family Vacation - Brown
If You Take a Mouse to the Movies - Numeroff Laura
Story of Jonah The - Wickenden, Nadine
Good-Night Owl - Hutchins, Pat
Owl and the Pussycat The - lear, Edward
Bear Snores On - Wilson, Karma
It's Hard to be five - Curtis, Jamie Lee
Frog and Toad are Friends - Lobel, Arnold
Frog and Toad Together - Lobel, Arnold
Frog and Toad All Year - Lobel, Arnold
Hockey - Klingel, Cynthia
Homes Around the World - Hall Margaret
Little Bear's Visit - Minarik, Else Holmelund
Snowy Day, The - Keats, Ezra Jack
Love You Forever - Munsch, Robert
What If the Zebra's Lost Their Stripes - Reitano, John
Tiny Seed The - Carle, Eric
Put Me in the Zoo - Dr Suess
Mommy Reads
Anna Karenina - Tolstoy, Leo
Christmas Promise, A - Kinkade, Thomas
Debt Proof Your Life - Hunt, Mary
Jedi Trial - Sherman, David
Reptile Room, The - Snickett, Lemony
Last Updated Jan 26, 2005
Why Do Horses Neigh - Holub Joan
Bedtime for Frances - Hoban, Russell
Quick as a Cricket - Wood, Audrey
Cars and Trucks and Things That Go - Scarry, Richard
Robots: The Movie Storybook - Egan, Kate
Alice the Fairy - Shannon, David
Wishes do Come True - Capalija Ann Marie
Amelia Bedeilia - Parish, Peggy
Peter Pan - Barrie, JM (classical illustrated adaptation)
Frog and Toad are Friends - Lobel, Arnold
Frog and Toad Together - Lobel, Arnold
Shapes - Sparkly Board Book
Horses Wear Shoes: I Wonder Why - Kingfisher
My H SoundBox - Moncure, Jane Belk
Casey's New Hat - Gardella, Tricia
Horses - Klingel, Cynthia
One Gaping Wide-Mouthed Hopping Frog - Tryon, Leslie
I am Not Going to Get Up Today - Dr Suess
Sun Girl and the Moon Boy, The: A Korean Folktale - Choi, Yangsook
Wide Mouthed Frog, The - Faulkner, Keith
Clifford's Puppy Days - Bridwell, Norman
Clifford Gets a Job - Bridwell, Norman
Disney Princess CD Storybook - (includes Little Mermaid Cinderella, SnowWhite and Beauty and the Beast)
Empty Pot, The - Demi
Hygeine and Good Health - Gray, Shirley
Hershey's Kisses Addition Book - Pallotta, Jerry
Napping House, The - Wood, Audrey and Don
Horse Show - Hayden, Kate
How Do Dinosaurs Say GoodNight - Yolen, Jane
Wish-For Dinosaur, A - Moncure, Jane Belk
Good Morning, Good Night - Mitchell, Melanie
On Mother's Lap - Scott, Ann Herbert
Harvest Home - Yolen, Jane
Haystack- Geisert, Bonnie
Abuela - Dorros, Arthur
Helen Keller - Klingel, Cynthia
House in the Mail, The - Wells, Rosemary and Tom
Sky Hops and Belly Flops - Barber, Lynda
Harvest Time - Waters, Jennifer
Helen at Home and the Letter H - Klingel, Cynthia
Little Red Hen, The - Zemach, Margot
China - Pluckrose, Henry
Hippos - Markert, Jenny
Touch and Feel Kitten - Dk Publishing
Playing Poohsticks Milne, AA (adapted)
God Made all the Colors - Lion Publishing
Blessings Everywhere - Mackall, Dandi
Your Heart - DeGezelle, Terri
Welcome from China - Waterlow, China
Owl Babies - Waddell, Martin
Owls: Wild Birds of Prey - Kops, Deborah
Owl and the Pussycat, The - Lear, Edward
Owls - the Silent Hunters - Miller, Sara
Owl Moon - Yolen, Jane
Helen Keller - Walker, Pamela
China: Enchantment of World History to 1949 - McLenighan, Valjean (read portions)
Little House on the Prairie - Wilder, Laura Ingalls (in progress)
Touch and Feel Pets - DK Publishing
Oso pardo Oso pardo que vas ahi? - Martin Jr, Bill
Where the wild Things are - Sendak, Maurice
Bear Snores On - Wilson, Karma
Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See - Martin Jr, Bill
Home safety - Raatma, Lucia
You are Special - Lucado, Max
Stellaluna - Cannon, Janell
Little Sibu - Grindley, Sally
Animal Lives - The Frog - Kitchen, Bert
Curious George's Dream - Rey HA
If You Give a Moose a Muffin - Numeroff, Laura
Jesse Bear What Will You Wear - Carlstrom, Nancy White
Blessings Everywhere - Mackall, Dandi
Kisses - Szekeres, Cyndy
God Made all the Colors - Lion Publishing
Mother Goose - My First Treasury
Runaway Bunny, The - Brown, Margaret Wise
I'm Gonna Like Me - Curtis, Jamie Lee
Quick as a Cricket - Wood, Audrey
Hooray for You - Richmond, Marianne
My Favorite Book - Good Will Publishers
God Made you Special - Metaxes, Eric
Stand Tall Molly Lou Melom - Lovell, Patty
Best of All - Lucado, Max
Library, The - Stewart, Sarah
Pocketfull of Kisses, A - Penn, Audrey
Reads in Progress:
By the Shores of the Silver Lake - Wilder, Laura Ingalls
Farmer Boy - Wilder, Laura Ingalls
Tell me the Story of Jesus - Beers, V. Gilbert
Rhiannon's Reads
Owl at Home - Lobel, Arnold
You Read to Me and I'll Read to You
GingerBread Man, The - (retold by Roxanna Marino Knapp)
Little Red Riding Hood - (retold by Roxanna Marino Knapp)
Three Billy Goats Gruff, The - (retold by Roxanna Marino Knapp)
Friendship, Garden, The - Walt Disney Winnie the Pooh
I'm Gonna Like Me - Curtis, Jamie Lee
Clifford's Good Deeds - Bridwell, Norman
When I was LIttle - Curtis, Jamie Lee
Green Eggs and Han - Dr Suess
Shoe: Sound of SH - Ballard, Peg
This and That: Sound of TH - Ballard, Peg
Word Bird Makes words with Hen - Moncure, Jane Belk
Home Tools - Snyder, Inez
Hamsters - Klingel, Cynthia
Father Bear Comes Home - Minarik, Else Holmelund
Froggy Goes to School - London, Jonathan
Honesty - Kyle, Kathryn
Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea - Peck, Jan
Company's Going - Yorinks Arthur
Bear Wants More - Wilson, Karma
LIttle Bird and the Moon Sandwich - Berkowitz, Linda
Bear Stays Up - Wilson, Karma
Arthur's Family Vacation - Brown
If You Take a Mouse to the Movies - Numeroff Laura
Story of Jonah The - Wickenden, Nadine
Good-Night Owl - Hutchins, Pat
Owl and the Pussycat The - lear, Edward
Bear Snores On - Wilson, Karma
It's Hard to be five - Curtis, Jamie Lee
Frog and Toad are Friends - Lobel, Arnold
Frog and Toad Together - Lobel, Arnold
Frog and Toad All Year - Lobel, Arnold
Hockey - Klingel, Cynthia
Homes Around the World - Hall Margaret
Little Bear's Visit - Minarik, Else Holmelund
Snowy Day, The - Keats, Ezra Jack
Love You Forever - Munsch, Robert
What If the Zebra's Lost Their Stripes - Reitano, John
Tiny Seed The - Carle, Eric
Put Me in the Zoo - Dr Suess
Mommy Reads
Anna Karenina - Tolstoy, Leo
Christmas Promise, A - Kinkade, Thomas
Debt Proof Your Life - Hunt, Mary
Jedi Trial - Sherman, David
Reptile Room, The - Snickett, Lemony
Last Updated Jan 26, 2005
January 24, 2005
Productive Weekend
This weekend was a big weekend. We were supposed to be in Duluth owling, but the snowstorm kept us here. We ended up making a homemade ice skating rink in our backyard, we are still working on it. Serona has been out there for a few hours each night spraying and smoothing the ice down to make layers of ice. First we shovelled off the snow into a large rectablge, then raked it then smoothed it with downspout plastic tubing. Then Serona flooded it. Our water pipes were too frozen to attach the hose outside so we had to run it from the sink in our laundry room!
We also painted two walls in our living room, or I should say Serona painted them while I helped with the kids. We have valuted ceilings and lots of wall over our split level staircase so this was challenging!
I made 5 scarves this weekend and did some work on a poncho, blanket and a prayer shawl. WE had a relaxing family weekend. We still ate takeout like we would have in Duluth. We watched movies, went sledding, played in the snow and shoveled. We made it to church and just got some things done around the home. Hope you had a good weekend.
Peace,
Tenn
We also painted two walls in our living room, or I should say Serona painted them while I helped with the kids. We have valuted ceilings and lots of wall over our split level staircase so this was challenging!
I made 5 scarves this weekend and did some work on a poncho, blanket and a prayer shawl. WE had a relaxing family weekend. We still ate takeout like we would have in Duluth. We watched movies, went sledding, played in the snow and shoveled. We made it to church and just got some things done around the home. Hope you had a good weekend.
Peace,
Tenn
January 22, 2005
Round-up
Rhiannon is getting back into the swing of daily work after a nice break with unit studies, horses, Little House on the Prairie, owls to name a few. We went back to Miquon math and she seemed to be thankful for the structure of it. She used a number line and cuisenaire rods to work through some subtraction problems today. It is nice when you see that she is going beyond being able to do the work to understanding what she is doing. For handwriting she wrote out the entire alphabet in uppercase and then in lowercase and then worked on H's and O's. She also made some pictures and cards that she wrote on. For reading time today she read me four books while I folded laundry. She also chose to read Ciaran and Sirah a book. I have noticed that she prefers "whole word reading" though so I think we will be pulling back out Phonics Pathways and working through that daily again. It is not that I object to her understanding words in context and recognizing them. The point is more that she needs to be able to sound words out and she has gotten further away from them as she has grown into a more confident reader. She keeps picking up more challenging story books each day to challenge herself. I am surprised at what she chooses and how well she can read many of them.
Ciaran asked to paint his letter H and then we worked on some math together. Practice recognizing sets of numbers from 1-9. Also on number recognition though the numerals still seem to not stick with him much. He did enjoy counting and playing games with the cards we were using. We also built a train and played with it together. We read and snuggled as well.
Sirah and I played with her farm today and she was trying to imitate my animal sounds. She got very into her play and it was fun. We also did some puzzles together, she is starting to get better at realizing the pieces can go back in instead of just come out. She prefers puzzles with the big handles. We also read together and played the body parts game. She sang and danced to something we were listening to and she kept climbing up on Rhiannon's desk trying to do "school" herself.
Tonight we had a family movie night after playing in the snow. We had pizza and watched the second half of The Happiest Millionaire. Then we got the kids to bed and Serona read on the couch while I finished off two scarves I was crocheting for friends. A few quick blogs and then off to bed to get rest for tomorrow.
Peace,
Tenn
Ciaran asked to paint his letter H and then we worked on some math together. Practice recognizing sets of numbers from 1-9. Also on number recognition though the numerals still seem to not stick with him much. He did enjoy counting and playing games with the cards we were using. We also built a train and played with it together. We read and snuggled as well.
Sirah and I played with her farm today and she was trying to imitate my animal sounds. She got very into her play and it was fun. We also did some puzzles together, she is starting to get better at realizing the pieces can go back in instead of just come out. She prefers puzzles with the big handles. We also read together and played the body parts game. She sang and danced to something we were listening to and she kept climbing up on Rhiannon's desk trying to do "school" herself.
Tonight we had a family movie night after playing in the snow. We had pizza and watched the second half of The Happiest Millionaire. Then we got the kids to bed and Serona read on the couch while I finished off two scarves I was crocheting for friends. A few quick blogs and then off to bed to get rest for tomorrow.
Peace,
Tenn
Finally! Snow!
The kids could not be more excited it is finally snowing. We are used to having much more snow by this point in the year. They have wanted to go sledding all winter and tommorrow they finally can. They got to do just a little bit of playing while I shoveled our long two car driveway! I got my workout and was exhausted. Tomorrow we will have a play day just enjoying the snow and shoveling some more.
Unfortunately the snow did make us cancel our mini vacation we had planned for this weekend with friends. We were going up to Duluth to see the owls. However 6-9 inches of snow in the Twin Cities and 16-20 in the Duluth area and hazardous winds made us decide it was not worth the drive. We were disappointed but we will have to just enjoy tucking in and enjoying the weather.
Peace,
Tenn
Unfortunately the snow did make us cancel our mini vacation we had planned for this weekend with friends. We were going up to Duluth to see the owls. However 6-9 inches of snow in the Twin Cities and 16-20 in the Duluth area and hazardous winds made us decide it was not worth the drive. We were disappointed but we will have to just enjoy tucking in and enjoying the weather.
Peace,
Tenn
Mall of America Scavenger Hunt
We had a scavenger hunt at the Mall of America this past week. Here was our search list, the kids did very well, they made it to 410 points - they needed 300 to get ice cream! We had alot of fun and I would recommend this activity to others. While we do have the advantage of having MOA right here it could be easily adapted for other malls. We did our hunt with a digital camera and the kids needed to take their picture with each item - they did NOT find the ones in bold (it was easier that way)
Picture of you with ...
10 points
tree
feather
recycling can (like the trash can not a pop can)
jango fett
harry potter
all on an escalator
in front of a fountain
a big fish tank
an alligator
all stuffed into a photo booth
20 points
a person dressed as an animal (can repeat with up to 3 different total)
a person dressed as a cartoon character (can repeat up to 2 different)
up on a stage doing a funny pose
some people you do not know waving with you
wearing funny hats
darth vader
a janitor doing his/her job
live animal
30 points - one winner per category
Biggest choc chip cookie
the biggest ice cream cone
the biggest dinosaur you can find
with the funniest sign you can find
the biggest box of cereal (try to be creative here)
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
store with the shortest name
50 points
each child touching the brass replica of Met Stadium's home plate
We also added a few things as we went along to try to keep their attention focused. In addition they found a penny, ball, frog, rock and some other odds and ends.
Try it some time and enjoy.
Peace,
Tenn
Picture of you with ...
10 points
tree
feather
recycling can (like the trash can not a pop can)
jango fett
harry potter
all on an escalator
in front of a fountain
a big fish tank
an alligator
all stuffed into a photo booth
20 points
a person dressed as an animal (can repeat with up to 3 different total)
a person dressed as a cartoon character (can repeat up to 2 different)
up on a stage doing a funny pose
some people you do not know waving with you
wearing funny hats
darth vader
a janitor doing his/her job
live animal
30 points - one winner per category
Biggest choc chip cookie
the biggest ice cream cone
the biggest dinosaur you can find
with the funniest sign you can find
the biggest box of cereal (try to be creative here)
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
store with the shortest name
50 points
each child touching the brass replica of Met Stadium's home plate
We also added a few things as we went along to try to keep their attention focused. In addition they found a penny, ball, frog, rock and some other odds and ends.
Try it some time and enjoy.
Peace,
Tenn
January 20, 2005
The Value of Play Silks
For years I have gone back and forth over the value of purchasing these playsilks. I always heard wonderful things about them but could not see why they were so special. I tried replicating it with a variety of blankets and cloths, which my kids did play with. I never saw them use these substitues the way people say kids use the playsilks so I could never justify the investment.
This past Christmas I suggested them as a gift idea for Sirah and she received an entire set of 7 bright rainbow colored ones. Now I see that what people say is true, they are probably my children's favorite thing to play with (and they have many things to play with). I would say Rhiannon and Ciaran enjoy them even more than her. I actually hardly ever see Rhia without one when we are home and it is only because I won't let them take them out of the house that they do not go with us.
They have been one of the most played with toys the kids received this Christmas. It is hard to believe I mean they are just squares of silk right? Yep, that is all they are, nicely colored, soft pieces of silk that are in big squares. The kids use them for everything. Yesterday alone these playsilks were: magic carpets, picnic blankets, sleeping bags, scarves, cloaks, skirts, hoods, capes, coverings, tents, spinners, curtains, doors and tablecloths!
So I guess if you are like I was and you are on the fence and you have kids that enjoy playing in imaginary worlds they are very worth it -atleast I found that to be the case with my own kids and I was in denial that they could rally be that interesting of a toy.
Peace,
Tenn
This past Christmas I suggested them as a gift idea for Sirah and she received an entire set of 7 bright rainbow colored ones. Now I see that what people say is true, they are probably my children's favorite thing to play with (and they have many things to play with). I would say Rhiannon and Ciaran enjoy them even more than her. I actually hardly ever see Rhia without one when we are home and it is only because I won't let them take them out of the house that they do not go with us.
They have been one of the most played with toys the kids received this Christmas. It is hard to believe I mean they are just squares of silk right? Yep, that is all they are, nicely colored, soft pieces of silk that are in big squares. The kids use them for everything. Yesterday alone these playsilks were: magic carpets, picnic blankets, sleeping bags, scarves, cloaks, skirts, hoods, capes, coverings, tents, spinners, curtains, doors and tablecloths!
So I guess if you are like I was and you are on the fence and you have kids that enjoy playing in imaginary worlds they are very worth it -atleast I found that to be the case with my own kids and I was in denial that they could rally be that interesting of a toy.
Peace,
Tenn
Owl Lesson Plan
It recently came to our attention that the great gray owls and northern hawk owls have migrated further south and we are planning a weekend long feild trip/vacation to go owling in Duluth with another family of friends from our hs support group. In preperation for the trip I pulled together some of the following resources.
We seem to have fallen into a unit study pattern these past few weeks and I think it works well for us in the winter months when everyone is bouncing off the walls.
Facts, Information and Lesson Plans
Owls
North American Owls
Owl Lesson Plan
Kids Summary
Crafts and Coloring
Craft
Tracing Page
Paper Plate Craft
Flying Owl Craft
Ballon Craft
Craft
Video and Sounds
Owl Video
Owl Calls
Online Game and Activity
Owl quiz
Jigsaw Puzzle
Books
Owl Babies - Waddell, Martin
Owls: Wild Birds of Prey - Kops, Deborah
Owl and the Pussycat, The - Lear, Edward
Owls - the Silent Hunters - Miller, Sara
Owl Moon - Yolen, Jane
We seem to have fallen into a unit study pattern these past few weeks and I think it works well for us in the winter months when everyone is bouncing off the walls.
Facts, Information and Lesson Plans
Owls
North American Owls
Owl Lesson Plan
Kids Summary
Crafts and Coloring
Craft
Tracing Page
Paper Plate Craft
Flying Owl Craft
Ballon Craft
Craft
Video and Sounds
Owl Video
Owl Calls
Online Game and Activity
Owl quiz
Jigsaw Puzzle
Books
Owl Babies - Waddell, Martin
Owls: Wild Birds of Prey - Kops, Deborah
Owl and the Pussycat, The - Lear, Edward
Owls - the Silent Hunters - Miller, Sara
Owl Moon - Yolen, Jane
January 19, 2005
China Endangered Animals Lesson
The second half of this weeks coop class on China was dedicated to learning about animals. My teaching partner started talking about different species and how you could tell a species based on whom they would mate with. Then she talked about how many endangered species there were in China. She explained what threatened, endangered and extinct meant through a game. She had us all (parents and kids) sit in a circle on the floor and wear panda bear masks. Then she asked several to move out of the circle and suddenly wer threatened. Then she asked more of us to move out until there were just two pandas left and they were endangered, then she had them move out of the circle and they were extinct this really hit home with the kids.
Then she brought out plastic dinosaurs and asked if they had ever seen real dinosaurs and explained how they were extinct now and how many believe an asteroid landed and killed them. She talked about other ways animals can become extinct, through hunting or destruction of their habitat. Then she brought out little plastic play figures for several endangered species in China including the snow leopard, panda, red panda and tiger. Then she had a big map of China that had small squares cut out with pictures of people and animals. She played a game with them – when they had a person they had to take an animal off the map to illustrate how the large population threatens certain animal species. This really seemed to hit home with many of the kids and they were passionate about not wanting the animals to become extinct.
As they were playing they were saying things like “This is so sad”, “those poor animals” and “we need to do something”. They started trying to come up with solutions they thought we should call China and tell them not to hurt the animals, or build really big zoos there to protect the animals. We talked to them briefly about things they can do here to make a difference and how there are animals in our own country as well that are endangered.
They finished by making a “Time is Running Out” clock with pictures of endangered Chinese animals for each hour. They could move the arm of the clock around and realize that as time goes by without changes animals are in trouble. They also had a visual reminder of some of the animals that are threatened and endangered in China.
This class went well, there was a lot of information presented. But we tried to do it in an interactive and fun way. This unit on China overall has been successful and for some reason I have noticed that the kids seem to remember more from this country than they did in other months when we focused on Israel and Iraq.
Peace,
Tenn
Then she brought out plastic dinosaurs and asked if they had ever seen real dinosaurs and explained how they were extinct now and how many believe an asteroid landed and killed them. She talked about other ways animals can become extinct, through hunting or destruction of their habitat. Then she brought out little plastic play figures for several endangered species in China including the snow leopard, panda, red panda and tiger. Then she had a big map of China that had small squares cut out with pictures of people and animals. She played a game with them – when they had a person they had to take an animal off the map to illustrate how the large population threatens certain animal species. This really seemed to hit home with many of the kids and they were passionate about not wanting the animals to become extinct.
As they were playing they were saying things like “This is so sad”, “those poor animals” and “we need to do something”. They started trying to come up with solutions they thought we should call China and tell them not to hurt the animals, or build really big zoos there to protect the animals. We talked to them briefly about things they can do here to make a difference and how there are animals in our own country as well that are endangered.
They finished by making a “Time is Running Out” clock with pictures of endangered Chinese animals for each hour. They could move the arm of the clock around and realize that as time goes by without changes animals are in trouble. They also had a visual reminder of some of the animals that are threatened and endangered in China.
This class went well, there was a lot of information presented. But we tried to do it in an interactive and fun way. This unit on China overall has been successful and for some reason I have noticed that the kids seem to remember more from this country than they did in other months when we focused on Israel and Iraq.
Peace,
Tenn
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