What I do for school

• Sep. 21, 2009 - MFW 1st grade, spelling, completeness?

This is why I really LOVE MFW first grade. you don't have to add stuff to make it complete. I know from time to time people wonder if MFW first grade is "just phonics or just this or just that". No. It's everything you need. Even if your first grade age child is "ahead of the curve in reading", you might be tempted to not do MFW first grade. Please re-consider. Even kids who are ahead in reading and are first grade age will benefit from everything in here. My little youngest child (the one with autism) is "ahead of the curve in reading". go figure that. But, you know what, I'm realizing as I use this program again? Marie Hazell wrote scripts in this manual to teach spelling rules along the way. oh my! I was so stupid to rush my middle child through the first 20-30 days of the first grade program a few years ago. She was "ahead of it". right? Don't we all feel that way at times? come on.... admit it.... come on.... But in doing so, I missed those early spelling rules that Marie Hazell put in the manual. We're on day 16 this morning. I realized that already we've covered the vast majority of the rules that are in the suddenly popular spelling program All about Spelling, level 1. we've covered doubling consonants, and then today -- lo and behold.... there was it.... using CK for /k/ after short vowel. bingo. I almost missed it because I was thinking "my baby already reads this stuff and she really wants to make her spaghetti right now instead of marking vowels and letter....". then I looked down at the next thing (line 6): and there was Grammar in the program too. :thud: you mean I've been right all these years when I said that? (giggle). You mean we're teaching grammar (rules of punctuation at least) in this too, without it having to be rote memory work of parts of speech? wahoo!!!! Go Marie Hazell! so, can I make a public appeal to unknown, random mom/dad out there who has a kid who is reading, but is still first grade age ---- consider using MFW 1st grade for all language arts and math needs for your child (even if you have kids in older programs.) Why piece meal this thing and that thing and drive yourself crazy. ok.. so maybe the coffee was stronger than usual this morning. But even though this is my 2nd time using MFW 1st, I loooooooooooooove how complete it is without losing the gentle nature of a Charlotte Mason influence. I love that we were able to find real life applications of our memory verse this week while my daughter wanted to play outside in the rain (thunderstorm actually)..... Ok....  p.s. I have 3 kids. homeschooled all along. youngest is 7, and using MFW first grade b/c that is where she is.

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• Sep. 21, 2009 - Starting this blog over

I decided to delete everything from the old stuff.  So if you were looking for any of it. oh well.

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• Sep. 21, 2009 - God Speaks Nummanggang, review

Well, I ended up getting 2nd edition upgrades of MFW's ECC program.  Wow!    That manual is really awesome with new teaching helps and formatting and jr. high grid. yeah! I wanted to review one book in there.  God Speaks Numanggang. Here are my first week impressions of this children's story about the need for Bible translation. I have used ECC two times now. Both times it was first edition. When I did ECC in 2003, the program included a coloring booklet called What Language Does God Speak? It was my family's first time hearing much about the process of Bible translation. It had a lasting impact on our lives as God led us to do some things with fundraising to help with printing projects and supporting a missionary who takes God's Stories around the globe. That booklet went out of print and MFW wasn't able to find a replacement. I felt a little sad that others who were using ECC weren't having that same kind of seed planted. I prayed and asked God to help MFW find a replacement. Well, HE is faithful. The new book is God Speaks Numanggang. Well, like most of us, I wondered what that book is and even tried to find info and reviews on it. nothing. nothing, not even a title? hmmm... I had to buy it and see for myself. Now, I know why I couldn't find any info. I just got my copy of this book. and saw it was written by David Hazell and just printed this past month. Wow! Nice job, David! Awesome! This book, written by David Hazell and published by My Father's World, is a keeper. I think it will touch your children's hearts to see the great color pictures in this book. To read a simple out loud story (it's written in a style of listening to David talk about real life friends of his). I think parents will appreciate all that Bible translators and the whole process of translation is all about. This is a beautiful book to share with others. Even if you have ECC first edition sitting around, you'll want to order this book. I might get an extra copy as a gift to my church's missions team or Children's ministry. It's a simple story, beautiful pictures. Touching hearts. The book is about Bible translation and tells the story of one missionary family that David knows who has served among the Numanggang. There is mention of how Bible translation is not limited to need in just one area of the world and how families can be involved. It's not really about the people group per se, but about Bible translation in many languages. It reads as if a missionary is telling a story to your family. (And that is what David does in this book and in real life.) It says everything that a local friend of mine said about working in Bible translation. (Lisa and her dh were translators with Wycliffe and had some of their children while overseas. I should get her a copy of the book.) This book is not "deep" - so don't expect that.  It's just beautiful and to the heart. Isn't that how something on this subject should be? I felt so connected on some of the pictures where the men were happy dancing and jumping to have God's Word in their hands.

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