30 April 2015

End-of-Year Celebrations

EVERY time we finish a subject for the school year, it's time for a celebration.  This was part of our maths celebration.  Today's bundt cake will be a lemon language arts celebration!  We'll count that as home ec.  Yummers.

We have more time for games and trips to the park.  Woodjie LOVES Candy Land.

Apparently we removed our kid's nose somehow.  Ok, anyway... Rose has been busy playing with the new IQ Fit game.  It's full of brain-teasing puzzles. 


29 April 2015

American Academy of Pediatrics: Send Your Kid to School With Lice

Why bother to do the considerate thing and wait until your child is completely nit-free before shipping her off to school to share combs?  Schools really need the state money and your kid?  Works for the school.

I mean, you can go to school with lice eggs all over yourself.  You don't feel sick with lice and lice can't jump, so it should be okie-dokie and all the other parents ought to be perfectly happy about it when your kid shows up with the cooties.  It's not as though lice could, you know, hatch during the day and spread or anything.  As long as the entire class of 30 exuberant kindergarteners somehow never touch each other during circle time, play time, lunch time or any other of a hundred activities they participate in daily, it's not a problem.

And really.  How hard can that be?

I can't believe this is a real recommendation but apparently?  Yeah.

26 April 2015

Language Arts Curriculum 2015-2016

We'll be working with Horizons Spelling and Vocabulary, Grade 2 from Alpha Omega Publications.  I took the workbooks to Office Depot and got them spiral-bound for just under $10.  It's another expense, but I figure it'll make using the books so much easier.  I really like how they turned out.  The dictionary that comes with the program defines each word and often includes a small picture.  It's a nice little book and matches the set.
A sample page from the speller. We'll also be practicing our words on the BigIQ Kids website.
We'll also be finishing our Grade 2 English curriculum from BJU Press and beginning Grade 3 sometime in the fall.  There are plenty of grade 3 samples at this link.  I find them to be very friendly, if sometimes a bit difficult for little people.  Much of the third grade is a review of the second, which is fine because a LOT of material is covered in the second grade.  We'll also be writing in our journals occasionally so that we can hone our writing skills.  

22 April 2015

The Berenstain Bears: God Bless Our Country

Reading a Berenstain Bears book is like a vacation in a friendly country town.  Mama and Papa Bear lovingly teach their cubs a life lesson in each story.  In this book, the Berenstain Bears prepare for Bear Country's Fourth of July celebration as the story of our country's founding is retold.  Your four- to nine-year-old will enjoy the energetic illustrations and learn to thank God for the blessings He's given to America as he reads.

Mike Berenstain brings his own perspective to the Berenstain Bears line, as he now writes and illustrates the series begun by his parents, Jan and Stan Berenstain.  Mike Berenstain's writing is different in that he very deliberately directs children to the Bible and advocates an attitude of thankfulness and praise for His mercy and protection over our land.  I think his illustrations are even better than the originals! 

"Woodjie" (8) is very much enamoured of this book.  I had to snatch it from him for a bit to write this review.  He's not sure where he will put the stickers that come with the book yet, but his sister might get one or two.  He helped me read the story and giggled at some of the pictures. 

I'm going to be reading this one several more times myself.  Looking through the book, you're almost in the country with Mama, Papa, Brother, Sister and little Honey Bear, watching the streamers fly in the breeze.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

21 April 2015

And.  The really cool kids had the box of 64 crayons with built-in sharpener.  You know who you are.

18 April 2015

Homeschooling in the Mitten State

Michigan looks like a mitten and is located at the top of the map.
Looks like Mitchelle Blair killed her kids and put them in a freezer, and the crime wasn't discovered for two years.  Two years.  I gather Grandpa called or otherwise tried to make contact, but he was able to be convinced for a time that they couldn't come to the phone and/or visit because they were homeschooling.

That's right.  He's pretty smart.

And the neighbours never saw these kids for the past two years.  These kids never emerged from their home, because they were homeschooling.  Makes total sense, right? 

Michigan State Rep. Stephanie Chang held a press conference to remind people that homeschoolers are normal people and they're not all murderous thugs keeping their kids inside for years at a time.  Similar conferences have been held after terror attacks to remind citizens that every Muslim is not participating in some crazy jihad.   Everybody stay calm.

Kidding.  That response would have been the normal thing to do.  Instead, in true "make a law to fix some weird situation that just happened and probably won't again for another 20 years" fashion, Chang just decided to make up a new law.  Under her proposed regulation, homeschoolers would have to "register" and be checked twice a year to be sure they're not dead... or something.  Snarky internet comments indicate that really, freezers are to blame just as much as homeschooling, so we need for everyone to have a semi-annual freezer check as well.  Get ready to let the cops into your house so they can peek at your frozen pizzas, folks.  :)

Update:  Michigan State Senator Phil Pavlov has vowed to fight this and not allow it to get out of committee.  Here's his facebook page, which you can look at for more details.

14 April 2015

Congrats to Emperor!


Emperor answered 39 of 40 questions correctly, barely missing a perfect score on the National Latin Exam.  He's hanging his ribbon up in his room as I type this. 

10 April 2015

The Story for Kids

The Story for Kids is a gentle introduction to familiar Bible stories for children ages 7 to 12.  The paperback is very simple to read and about an inch thick (264 pages), divided into chapters by story.  It makes a good reader for first- or second-grade homeschoolers, so guess what we're working on now?  Woodjie often has difficulty with reading fluently, but he's doing a pretty good job on this book.  Each chapter has a small introductory paragraph and a few questions to consider at the end.

Max Lucado and Randy Frazee simplified the text while preserving the gist of most of the stories.  If you have a child who's struggling through his King James Version, this would be a great book for him to read before tackling a passage.  I like how the explanation of the text is woven into the story itself.

A word of caution, however:  this is not the Bible.  Either for the sake of simplicity or sparing young viewers graphic detail, the stories leave out the more upsetting bits of Scripture.  Let's just say that David didn't just make "bad choices," ok?

And it's a real shame they didn't add colour to the illustrations of Fausto Bianchi.  Isn't the cover of the book gorgeous?  So much depth and feeling is missing from the black and white drawings inside the book.  I have a feeling the originals are stunning, however.

I think this is a nice supplemental book for your elementary schooler or for a preteen who has a bit of difficulty with the more advanced versions of the Bible.  

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Here's An Easy And Fun Craft!

 


I bought a 100-pack of hair clips from Amazon for less than $5.  Got a glue gun and some buttons, sequins and fake coins.  The children arranged the buttons and other items and we just popped them on.  (I operated the glue gun.) They've been happily arranging the clips for a good part of the afternoon. 

Woodjie wanted a clip for his "man doll," so we went for the fake coin look and put the hairclip on the doll's pants.  Woodjie says that this means the man is very rich, upon which Rose said, "Hey!  Let's make our dollies get married now!"

Poor man doll didn't have a chance at the single life.





09 April 2015

Liebster Luv!

Bethany Carson at Liberty or Death has given me a Liebster Award.  The Liebster Award is a fun way of learning more about fellow bloggers by asking them questions.  I've answered Bethany's questions below:
 
1.  Would you share a favorite quote and a favorite Bible verse?  Well, I don't know that it's a favourite, but I have been thinking on Isaiah 5 lately.  The things God is warning Israel of are the things we are seeing happening today.  There is so much hatred for the poor and for people who want to live righteously, and even now in this country which (for all its faults) I do believe God has blessed.
 
2.  What would you like to accomplish before the year is over? I'd love to lose 40 pounds, but I'd be happy with 20.  It has taken me a year and a half to lose 40 so far.  After I lose five more pounds, I will no longer be obese.  I'll just be fat, like the rest of America.  Knowing I have a thyroid problem and being on medication just means this takes me a bit longer.  :/ 
 
3.  What is your ancestry (e.g. German, Italian)?  I think every rabble-rousing tribe from Europe has contributed to my ancestry.  Did you know I had relatives from Mexico(It's a city in New York state, but it sounds more ethnic and impressive if I leave that bit out.) 
 
4.  What is your favourite genre of music?  I like Indian music!  I just only have one recording of it that I got from a rice box years ago.  When I lived in Australia, my best friend was the daughter of the Indian Vice-Consul to Australia, and they listened to cool Indian music, had lots of parties, and ate great vegetarian food.
 
 5.  Do you have a favorite bird or flower?  I have a very un-favourite cardinal that hangs around one side of my house and enjoys the vehicles in our driveway.  He sneaks up when no one is looking, sits on our rear-view mirrors, and poops his little guts out!  I used to like cardinals before, but I think I have it in for this little fellow. 
 
6.  What is the most encouraging thing anyone has ever told you/or that you've ever read?  I don't remember where I heard it, but it helped me so much to learn that God has given me enough time to accomplish everything that God wants me to do.  So obvious, but so deep. 
 
7.  What is your go-to meal for when you need to cook something quickly?  Now that I am starting on this crazy gluten-free stuff, I don't eat anything anyone else eats, really.  So I have bags of cheese and crackers, yogurt, microwaveable rice, and veggies and fruits.  I rarely cook. 
 
8.  Do you have a favorite word?  Lolloping!  Well, that's one favourite.  It sounds like what it is.  "And the big brown bear came lolloping over the mountain."  Remember that quote in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang?  Hate the rest of the movie, really, except for the child-kidnapper fellow with the lollies.  He's symbolic of socialism, I think.
 
9.  What is your favorite tv series?  I just got done watching all the Amazon Prime episodes of Flashpoint.  It's about elite Canadian police doing tactical stuff.  I find myself wondering how they get all their information so quickly and in such a high-tech manner.  When I had to call the cops about a local threat on twitter, they asked me, "What's twitter?" 
 
10. If you could have a gift card to any clothing store, including online, what would it be for?   I would order a skirt in size 12 from Delarosa Custom Jean SkirtsYou know, as a goal for when I'm done losing 20 more pounds.  Gorgeous handmade stuff. 
 
11. If I were to visit you in your hometown, what would be the first place you'd want me to see?  I suppose we'd have to go drive by the bank that Jesse James robbed.  If I were entertaining Mormons, first stop would be the jail in which Joseph Smith was held.
 
My nominees (if they'd like to participate):
 
Kerrie The Kerrie Show
Merle @ Merlesworld 
 
And anyone else who would like to participate, please feel welcome!   
  

07 April 2015

Adopted Children Should Have Rights!

Adoption is supposed to mean that a child not born to you has the same legal rights as a child that you birth. In the United States, the child's original birth certificate is routinely sealed and a new, amended birth certificate is drawn up listing the adoptive parent(s) as the child's birth parent. (I don't agree with this practice; I mention it only to show you that our legal system recognizes an adopted child as the same as a birth child.)

So, this man was adopted by not one, but two abusive families. One gave him up... the other has been charged with rape, sexual abuse and criminal mistreatment of their adopted and foster children. They kicked him out at SIXTEEN over an argument over the phone. Homeless and alone at sixteen... he became involved in criminal activities.

Now, he lives a honorable life. He is married and has three children, another on the way... and our government would like to send him back to Korea. He doesn't speak Korean. He doesn't remember Korea. He knows no one there.

The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 was supposed to fix this, but it didn't grandfather in those adoptees who were over 18 on February 27, 2001. What a grave miscarriage of justice. If we are not going to protect those who come here as vulnerable littles...

Everything about this man's life has been a tragedy.  Here's the petition.  Please sign!

-- written by my friend Julie Suelter Clobes, mother of three adopted children.

06 April 2015

Homeschool Supply List

Is homeschooling expensive?  It depends on who you ask.  I'd say no.  I'd also say that it isn't free, either.

You're going to find as you look into homeschooling that there are plenty of places that advertise "free" or very cheap curriculum.  Or an easy three-step answer to your child's academic problems.  I'm not going to do that.  But what I do want to do is tell you that this is my ninth year homeschooling, and it's far easier than you think it is to get started and do well.  Here's what I think you'll really need:


1.  Two three-ring binders and hole punch.  


Keep your child's academic work in one binder, and another for his "to-do" work or other records.  Organize this by subject with dividers.  Cost:  about $20 for the binders... and wow!  I just googled "three-ring hole punch" and found a nice one for less than $25.  So $45... and then add notebooks, pencils, scissors and that sort of thing.  Maybe $80 total here.  But you can use the binders and hole punch for several years.

Here's a sample from Emperor's "Latin" section.

 2.  A caddy or convenient location for your supplies.


Old mugs are free, but we spent just a little on an organizer because why not.  Cost:  $0 to $20. 

3.  Readers.  


Every child needs something to read.  When you first begin homeschooling, use the library until you get a good feel for his reading level.  It simply wouldn't do to get a bunch of books that are too easy, or that he is not interested in.  But often books are not expensive, particularly readers.  Check on Amazon for used books if you prefer to have your own.  We also have a kindle and there are a large number of free or 99-cent titles.  Cost:  $0 to $100, depending on how much you read and the quality of the book itself (hardcover, new or used, and so on).

 4.  Curriculum.  


Choosing curriculum is a whole 'nother ball game.  I would strongly recommend - especially for a younger child - to not buy everything right away.  Get to know your child's learning style and about "where he is" while you investigate which curriculum to buy.  Check out the sample pages.  Give your child the placement tests some curriculum providers put online.  Take your time here.  If you prefer worksheets, buy cheap workbooks and so on from Sam's Club or your local school supply store.  Don't spend a lot.  Or you can print these off from the internet (google "free math worksheets" and so on).   Some great websites that provide worksheets you can print for small people would be abcteach or schoolexpress.

Want an honest cost estimate here?  I've seen "free homeschooling" links and even curricula, but you will be driving yourself crazy printing things and lining up lesson plans and materials if you go this route.  I spend about $400/child on printed materials because I want an easy life and a happy family.  I spend more on math and science than any other academic subject. I find children can hone their writing with help using only a 50 cent notebook and a few hints from Mom.  It doesn't have to be expensive. 






 5.  Optional:  computer and printer.

There are plenty of online games and tutorials around if you take the time to look for them.  A printer is an especially nifty thing to have if you can afford it.  I'm not going to give a cost estimate here because that sort of thing can really vary and besides, most families already have at least the computer.

 

 6.  Sports equipment and fees, membership passes.


Know what this is?  It's a MonRoi.  We actually spend more on chess tournaments, equipment and membership fees than all of our other homeschooling expenses combined.  This is an area in which public school parents and homeschoolers are exactly alike.  Many public- and homeschool parents have their children participate in sports or other extracurriculars.

We also have a zoo membership, and I think homeschooling helps us get much more value out of that than we would have had otherwise.  If I were starting out again, I'd budget about $300 for passes and fun outings.  You will see what your child is truly interested in and take it from there.  Even $300 may be on the high end for a smaller child.

7.  Some things to think about.


Your child won't need as many new clothes for school or a backpack, so you'll save money there.  You also won't get hit up for fundraisers and "volunteer opportunities" nearly as much.  It's almost worth the daily work of homeschooling right there, isn't it?  Factor in all the lost jackets and the cost of the school lunches, and you actually might come out ahead.
Your largest expense is going to be time, it really is.  You're going to be so glad you spent it, too.



Bringing Garbage Home

Some people up the street were throwing this table away. It was in pretty bad shape and one of the legs was off. I've glued the leg back...