29 December 2015

A Cup of Homeschool Hatred!

via facebook.  Used w/ permission of Dawne Shelton
I thought this pic was sweet when I first saw it.  You know.  Grandma cooks in the kitchen, the kids have a nourishing and very special meal made just as they like it.  A professional chef can (of course!) do a wonderful job, but his food is just not made just for you like Grandma's.  It just isn't.

Well.  A homeschool curriculum provider posted this little picture on facebook and almost every teacher in the world blew up.  How dare you say that teachers don't love their kids??!  "I have heard this kind of thing so often over the last 24 years that it has actually worn away at my self confidence regarding my profession," wrote one disgruntled old hag.

"I too take offence at this," snapped some lady whose avatar pic appeared to have been taken in 1982. "It implies that having a teaching degree appears to negate my ability to love the students in my class."

Some other teachers were a bit more balanced in their approach, stating that this in no way is "downing" a professional chef or the work they do.  What's everyone's problem today?

I really couldn't tell you.  

It is rather akin to Folgers getting all butthurt because some family decided to grow beans and drink their own coffee or something.  The artisinal coffee, you know, could totally suck.  I've had "artisinal" crap before and about half the time it's marvellous and the other half?  Well?  Let's just say they'll never have to scale up their product for the mass market, ok?

What's with all the hate?  I mean, personally?  I don't want public school teachers "loving" my kids anyway.  Be nice to them.  Care for them.  But no thanks on all the love and stuff.  Ya weirdo.



 

28 December 2015

"Shipping" Children in School.

"You’ve never in your life looked at your friends and thought, 'Those two should date,' or 'Those two should break up.'  Ever?  EVER?  We spend more time with students than we do with our own families sometimes.  You’re asking us to not notice dynamics."  - girlwithalessonplan, on "shipping."

 

It's short for "relationship."  Teachers are said to be "shipping" students when they arrange seating so that friendships and/or love interests can develop.  It can also involve special groupwork assignments, tutoring or that sort of thing.  I'm not sure how commonplace this sort of student sorting is, but I don't see anything specifically against it in any student  handbook I've come across to date.  

"I don't want to know anything about my students' sex lives," California math teacher Darren blogged recently. "As far as I'm concerned, they don't have any.  I don't see how any good can come from my having such knowledge or being involved in any way.  I want to stay as far away from that as I possibly can."

tralalalala1234 wrote that more often than not, teachers "'antiship' because a kid's grades start dropping when he starts dating."

Yep.  The ol' "make trouble and you can't sit next to your friend" method of classroom direction.  Classic.

Have you heard of this phenomenon before?

26 December 2015

The Word of Promise, NKJV Audio Bible

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  Romans 10:17, KJV

 

There's something you get from listening to the Scriptures you can't receive in any other way.  Audio Bibles are a great way to listen and absorb God's Truths!

The Word of Promise audio Bible from Thomas Nelson features the New King James version.  Basically?  The King James you know without all the "thee, thy, thou" business.  Majestic but accessible for today's reader and listener.

This CD set isn't cheesy as several other renditions of the Gospel.  You know the kind.  Maybe you gave away those tapes about ten years ago because you never wanted to hear them again.  This version uses real actors and the background music "goes" but does not detract from the reading or overpower it. The books where there is really just one speaker (such as Romans and so forth) had music in the background, or ocean waves, or very light music playing.  They just barely made it seem less like the disc was recorded in the studio over several takes.  Who-ever "mixed" the sound recordings did a very good job. 

I think my favourite "character" in this series is Herod. He doesn't sound at all as though he's just reading a line, which is pretty tough to do in a Bible story.  The guy sounds almost like a Mafia character, totally pretending to keep his cool but ya know better than to cross him.

The only downside would have to be the packaging.  They crammed bunches of discs in a holder that really doesn't hold the first four discs in well.  I've popped them all in another holder which actually makes listening in order much easier.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this set 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.”




17 December 2015

What It's Like at School During a Bomb Threat

Emperor has been studying Latin for a bit and will go on to begin his freshman year as a Latin II student.  He'll be able to skip ahead because we are working very hard on our Latin and meeting monthly with the district's Latin instructor.

We met her today at (City Name) High SchoolWhen we went to sign in at the front office, we saw it was CRAWLING with cops, just CRAWLING. People in plain shirts but you KNOW somehow they are cops wandering about.  We explained who we were and attendance lady said, "Oh YEAH, I know they're here for the Latin teacher!" to the suspicious cop hulking just over her shoulder with a huuuge badge on a lanyard.   So we were sent on in and told to wait on a couch near the entrance.

Not allowed to walk through the school to her room?  hmm. 

A dog was brought in.  

"Oh, lookit the cute puppy!"  Emperor was overjoyed.  I felt a little nervous...

This isn't the high school Emperor would be going to next year.  So maybe, I reasoned, they have a discipline problem here and need lots of cops.  Maybe some kid lost his cool because it's finals week. You know.  Every school has one of those kids.  But why there would be six visible in the principal's office alone for one upset kid was a bit beyond me.  

Emperor's backpack.
The teacher came to meet us and brought us back to her room.  I later learned that there was a bomb threat at this particular school and at several schools in other districts but it wasn't a credible one.  (Copycats from the LA thing maybe?)  No credible evidence of threat but they are not taking chances.

At one point during our meeting we both (foolishly) let Emperor out of our sight to go to the car to get his backpack for materials and the teacher gave him a note.  So he shows the note to the office clerk on the way out, gets the bag from the car, and then comes running in past the officers with this big ol' overstuffed backpack... sheesh.

Then the officer detained him and Emperor (being himself) demanded to know what was going on, the officer said nothing is going on, please sit here.  Smartie Pants Emperor says obviously the cop is lying to him, else why could he not go upstairs?  And what's all this he heard about a "situation?"


Would you believe it never occurred to him to show the officer the note? 

Eventually, we began to miss him and went back to the office and cleared all this up.  But we're going to have to go over, just do what the officer says then and ask questions later rule.  I'm hearing from other friends in other localities around the nation that they also are dealing with threats at school.  If you're interested, here is a local story about several schools in the metro area that were threatened via email lately.

Sesame Credit



I couldn't believe this when my son Patrick brought it to my attention.  But it seems to be a real thing.  Wow.

09 December 2015

Christmas Tree!

We bought one of those pre-lit trees from Wal-Mart two years ago.  Only the top lit up when I assembled it this year.  D ran out to get some lights which I reasoned don't need to go all the way up the tree because the top still works.  Well.  Now look at it.  I don't want to crack open a whole 'nother box of Christmas lights.  D says I should open the other box of lights, but then?  I would have to go DOWN the tree with the extra and I'd be unable to light the star with the end of the plug.  Oh, these decisions. 

PS.  Yes, those are tag numbers 1, 2 and 3 so I know which order to assemble the tree.  Yeah. 

07 December 2015

Annoying Homeschool Questions

Seven Annoying Questions Homeschoolers Get Asked

Homeschoolers, share if you relate!

Posted by Blimey Cow on Monday, December 7, 2015


I've heard most of these, along with, "Well.  I know the school checks on you to make sure you know what you're doing" sorts of comments.  Um... actually... no.  They don't check on us.  We don't test.  We could totally be eating pizza and surfing the internet as the video implies.  I mean... we do sometimes.  Kids get off for their birthdays and so on but work through some school "vacations."  It all works out. 

Mom Knows You Don't Have a Dog

My teens are off in public school at least part of the day.  It's sooo different and there are many items to cart back and forth.  At home?  All your pencils are in the pencil case, there's the computer and all your books get popped right back on the shelf when you're done for the day.  It's almost impossible to lose an assignment and when/if you do?  Mom knows you don't have a dog.  Go redo it on your free time. 

Elf had to lose his iPad and all the joys of life for a time recently.  He fell behind on turning in his assignments and keeping his stuff together for class.  It's so much harder when you're in "real" school. 

It led me to think of all the steps that make for successful school projects:

1.  Pay attention in the first place when the teacher gives the assignment.
2.  Understand what the teacher wants.
3.  Make notes about what the teacher wants.
4.  Oh!  And be sure to write down when it's due.
5.  Remember to look at the notes.
6.  Start on stuff in a timely manner.
7.  Remember to pack your completed work in your backpack.
8.  Remember to not only hand it in, but "done well" and "on time."

*whew*

Elf has an IEP that I was thinking about ditching.  Nope.  He's still going to need a bit of "triage" (read: professional nagging from someone other than Mom) and help with his "organizational skills."  He is a hard worker but misplaces and forgets things.  His teachers think he is the greatest thing, though.  Without exception - and unprompted - every last one of them told me how polite and well-mannered he is during the last parent-teacher conferences.  Some even said they wished every child were just. like. Elf.

(I think in real-life if that happened, the teacher would have to rework things so that all assignments were done in class.)


06 December 2015

Holiday Gifts for the Homeschool Teacher!

Merrymaking hint:  leave this post up on your phone/ computer for your family to "accidentally" find!  Let the magic begin!

 All teachers love a little appreciation every now and then, including homeschoolers.   I don't know about you, though, but I don't want any apple crap.  So first rule:  no apple crap! 

Otherwise I'm pretty open.  I love getting gifts, even if it's just something small or simple.  One thing I love is when my children want to help out and make lunch or clean up or put their laundry away.  Or just behave themselves and get their math done.  This is a really big thing when you think about it.  

And from the adults in my life, the gift of coffee always shows love - or rather, someone not wanting an "I need coffee" emergency in the middle of winter after a big snowstorm.  Somehow, I always have a lot of coffee in my pantry during the winter months.  (Guess why.) Thanks, D! 

My gallery of homeschool appreciation pics:


Helping with lunch.

You could also get your favourite homeschool teacher some Polish pottery.  It is a scientifically proven fact that you can never have too much of this stuff. 
For those of you who are great at recon missions and stealth and the like, you could figure out which curriculum your homeschool teacher has been thinking about for ages, but hasn't gotten yet b/c it's too expensive.  And then buy it.  *Caveat:  check first if you're even the teensiest bit unsure... but I promise... this is really a super-nice gift that will be appreciated.  Even if it will be used on the children.  That's just how homeschool moms (and a few great dads!) are wired.

This is awesome.  There's nothing a I love more than a note like this.  Lookit this writing assignment from Woodjie.  His fave thing is to hang out with meee! 

05 December 2015

Birthday

Baby Power!  A slightly dated pic of Woodjie.
Welp.  I told Woodjie that I was very, very sad that I will never have eight-year-old Woodjie ever again. 

"Don't worry," he told me.  "I will be nine for a long, long time."

Like a whole year.  *sniff*

04 December 2015

Egg-Tastic Egg Cooker!

Woodjie can crack eggs!  Just not always neatly.
Woodjie is going to demonstrate the Egg-Tastic Egg Cooker for you today!  Because he wanted a cheese and egg sandwich.  Woodjie discovered he loves egg sandwiches after I began eating more eggs on my low-carb diet and I bought this thing on a whim.

Here's how he fixed his eggs:  he cracked eggs into the cooker.  We use two eggs and scramble them with a fork.  Next?  Plunk a slice of cheese into the egg (break it into pieces first).  Put the lid on and microwave according to Egg-Tastic instructions.  For two eggs in our microwave, it meant a minute and 20 seconds of waiting. 
Adding cheese.

The only thing I wish were different about the Egg-Tastic is that it has no handles (it gets HOT in the microwave) and that the lid and bottom come apart in pieces, meaning there are more items to clean.  On the whole, though?  Highly recommended, especially if you are doing low-carb.

PS.  Tell Woodjie "happy birthday" in the comments, will you?  He's nine this weekend.  :)

Yummers!  We are using paper plates because my dishwasher is broken.  The new one should arrive in a couple of weeks or so.

02 December 2015

Another "Homeschool" Murder

This time, Dad allegedly killed the kiddo and fed his body to their pigs.  After keeping this tiny boy in the basement for like, ever.  Somehow despite several calls to CPS from various sources, no one took this little guy and his siblings away or even did a thorough investigation.  Investigators are picking through bones and God only knows what other evidence and telling family members not to yap to the media.

Presumably this is because they are going to have a jury trial later.  I can't imagine why else it would hinder an investigation...

I have a lot of questions.  One is why they'd hire babysitters who would (I should imagine) witness symptoms of abuse, but not send children to school for the free babysitting.  I mean... I'm assuming from the whole "beating and murdering" thing that maybe doing their own childcare was just too much.  Why not farm it out eight hours every weekday for absolutely free?  Or... if they are "homeschooling" specifically to hide the great joy they get in beating and/ or murdering kids, why hire a babysitter? 

Help me out here.

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...