Posted in Lesson Plan Ideas

  As homeschoolers, from time to time we all go through the *Dole Drums* and *Dry Spells*.  The past couple of weeks had been a bit desert like for me in a couple of areas.  We engage in some wonderful learning in the area of science, history and are very excited about our new approach to math, but I had a nagging sense that we were leaving a few gaps in the Language Arts dept.  So off I go on a trip to our library wall or book shelf area in our home to look for some curriculum or textbooks to help ease my mind. (The Lord had already given us the necessary tools to make the study of language arts painless and real to life), I forgot.  I found some curriculum that we were already well acquainted with.  As dd began to complete the worksheet style assignments with quite a bit of ease, my imagined learning gap would soon be filled, or would it?  Something was missing.  Although a brush up of the mechanics of Language Arts had been occurring, the dryness remained!  The *life spark and learning excitement*, where were they? 

I decided to pray about the issue and pull a few more books off of the shelf.  DD is a budding writer, words seem to flow from her being.  I recognized the need to continue to encourage this wonderful gift that the Lord has been developing in her.  One of the books that I began reading is written by Cindy Rushton, *Homemade Books, Yes! You Can Be A Writer Too!*
Once again, the Lord placed the answer right in the palm of my hands!  I couldn't put the book down as EVERYTHING that I read left a positive check in my spirit!  I was immediately filled with so many wonderful ideas that I needed to quick jot them down on my post-it notes and affix them to the pages so I wouldn't forget.

There are checklists for writing that I intend to make copies of, oodles of topics listed as ideas for writers block.  Some of the main points from the beginning of the book, I made note of;

1. Dedicate all of your writing power to the glory of God.
2. Write what God leads you to write.
   
3. Write about what you love, what you know, or what you want to know.
4. Keep an idea book to brainstorm.  Journaling helps the writer continue thinking so that great thoughts can develop.
5. What to compose; letters, articles, research notebooks, stories, how to booklets, books, tip sheets, etc.

These are just the tip of the iceberg! I sense that this nudge from the Lord through Cindy is going to launch me into writing as well.  As we write, journal or engage in copywork, we become familiar with the parts of speech, grammar, punctuation, proper sentence structure and word definitions. We have quite a few grammar reference books and dictionaries that get and will continue to be used frequently.   Reading is key to developing a writer at ANY age.  Encourage reading on your own and reading out loud together.

I am so excited about how quickly the Lord answered my prayer!  When we look to Him for vision, guidance and direction, you can be sure He will meet us right where we are at!  Our purpose in understanding and studying Language Arts has been restored.  Writing and journaling is also good for you!  Remember, (Use It or Lose It!)  Our love of writing is well on the way to a fresh spark!  If you would like to check out some of Cindy's books, check out her blog here on HSB @  CindyRushton or visit her webite:  www.cindyrushton.com  There are two super sales going on (I'm on my way there now) One is called the Notebooking Super Sale and the 2nd is the *Organized Mom Superset*.  Organization is another area I'm working on with God's help, but we'll save that topic for another day!

Have a Happy Day of Learning this Day!

Picture of Cindy above is from www.cindyrushton.com website

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Comments

Posted by trinaleah

I have felt the same way recently about the writing and grammar. We need to work some more on grammar right now...ugghh. The boys are beginning to find their love for writing, and this makes me very happy.
One thing we started were blogs for the two teenage boys. They are writing more now that there is a younger crowd blogging. River, 16, has started some creative writing on it. I sure hope that they stay inspired. Plus I am teaching them html code as we play around with decorationg and adding things to their blogs. It takes a lot of time though to show them each one how to add, upload, place the coding, but its worth it!
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/riverthomas/
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/isaiahstorm/

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Posted by Dell

Thanks for sharing this "nudge"! I need this nudge myself! :)

Cindy is an encouragement. (You are too!)

RE: Your comment on my remembering the children's narrations (on my blog). Here's my secret: I either A) have them say them into a tape recorder, or B) have them tell me WHILE I type them. (I type very fast and used to take dictation this way for a doctor I worked for.) Typing them is EASIER for me, but the children do better with the tape recorder, I think. When I type, I am looking at them, not the screen, yet they tend to get distracted and try to watch my typing while they talk, and their thoughts don't flow as well. This time I was typing while they gave them, but they still did pretty well I think. :)

BTW: I love your blog background!

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Posted by AcceptanceWithJoy

I can't believe how often I read a blog and it says just what I need to hear just when I need to hear it. I had combined English and History this year. I felt (and from an adult point of view still prefer), that by having Marissa write about what we were learning in History, we could kill two birds with one stones. She had other thoughts.

Just today, she told me that I write well and asked how I learned. I told her that I learned to write well by writing. She than said, "Well, I used to like to write, but not anymore. All I ever get to write about is history. That is sooooo boring."

Ouch!

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Posted by danib

I just came back after a longer hiatus than I expected, and was so blessed to see your lovely Mom's Day post. Thank you so much!

I too received a lovely picture from my little one. A beach at the bottom, a big blue sea which blended into the big blue sky with a big sun, and me in the water swimming (and of course, only half my lovely stick body shows) and her little stick figure on the beach. Then there was a vase of lilacs from the front yard, that were unfortunately from the day before and she doesn't remember how much water they suck up, so they were dead. But sweet nonetheless. I guess it was the secrecy she attempted with all this that was so sweet. Ahh, lovely age.

Enough run-on sentences. Thanks again.

Dani

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Posted by eyecorn

Hi Cathy!

Just wanted to drop by and say "Hello". I've been on a short hiatus, but am trying to get back in the groove of catching up with blog friends.

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Posted by Leigh2

Thank you for posting this...I have a budding writer, too! :o)

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