I copy/pasted this definition is from the Online 1828 Dictionary. http://www.1828.mshaffer.com/
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How can a group of people be so demanding? I just don't get it. We exclude ourselves (as a group) from the way the majority rule educates their children. Then, we demand to be included in everything that's available to them. I'm not sure I understand how a group like homeschoolers can be so fickle. Aren't we the same group that cries foul about the Boy Scouts having to accept leaders and members that don't fit a certain criteria. We don't consider it fair that the Boy Scouts have to bow down to the politically correct mandates, yet, we demand to be included in a writing contest. Suppose it was a matter of vocabulary? If the original contest stated that it was open to public and private school students, how many of us are considered to be private schools LEGALLY? At least in Texas, homeschooling is a form of private education. Why all the fuss? Just enter as a private school (assuming you were really going to enter your child's essay in the first place). I'm willing to bet that most other people don't think about the fact that there are homeschoolers out there in the rest of the world. Maybe, just maybe the Subway folks were creating a contest and intended it to be for people 18 years and under. Once questioned why the word homeschool wasn't mentioned, they had to deal with their chosen vocabulary and the fact that words mean different things to different people. I could be wrong. Maybe they did want to exclude homeschoolers. Seems plausible, but in the grand scheme of things, a little silly. Either way, they heard from the homeschoolers, didn't they! Now that they've bowed down to the toddler style fit, I certainly hope that those who complained will actually be as ruthless at causing their children to write exceptional essays (by themselves) to enter into the "Summer Special." If they do not, shame, shame on them. I received a post from an e-group that included information on the recent developments. In it, Mr. Jim Bob Howard, editor-in-chief of Homeschooling Today Magazine had this to say about the new contest. " I wanted to let you and everyone else know that Subway has revamped I am really thankful that Mr. Howard gave an accurate wording for this situation. It concerns me that so many homeschoolers feel so "disenfranchised." Aren't there homeschooler only contests? What is the big deal? If, as a group, we act like crybabies every time we're "excluded," we're sending a mixed signal. Or, am I wrong? We step away from how "they" do things and then want to be included in what "they" are doing? I'm not sure anyone will appreciate that demand for "freedom." What was the goal of the contest? A cash prize? A scholarship? How many opportunities are there for homeschoolers to "win" these types of prizes that they aren't participating in at this point? I certainly hope that those who threatened Subway enough to include them actually participate. Otherwise, they need to quit crying foul! Have we really stooped that low? Should we really demand to be included in absolutely everything in order to not have our feelings hurt? That really seems to be the behavior of a child somewhere between two and eight years old. (Yes, I have a couple of those kids right now). I'm a Subway customer from time to time. They sell something I like to eat every once in a while. I don't care whether they let my kids have a shot at a prize, or not. Just like I don't care whether they approve of the way I raise my kids, or not. It's none of their business how I educate my children. It's none of my business how they choose to market their product. Think about it. It is a marketing strategy after all. How many homeschoolers really boycotted Subway for not opening a contest to their children? Once the thing "blew over," did they find themselves at Subway without even remembering that they didn't inlude homeschoolers in the original contest? The ages for the "Summer Special" are PK-6th grade. Are the angered parents' children such exceptional writers (without coaxing and editing by these same parents) that they deserve these prizes? Bother! Have any of us ever considered that "they'll know we are homeschoolers by our rants, by our rants, yes, they'll know we are homeschoolers by our rants." ?
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I think the formal study of grammar is quite controversial. There are those who demand it. There are those who reprimand it. There are still others who don’t know how to find the balance between the two camps. Shall we “parse?” Shall we develop an appreciation for all things grammatical by osmosis? If familiarity breeds contempt, shall we ditch it altogether and not think twice? We’ve used a few things with success on a hit/miss basis. Learning Language Arts Through Literature’s “Red” book is out of print. I’m pleased to tell anyone that will listen that it is a book we actually finished with our three oldest children. It was a blessing. It’s simplicity made learning the information a fun experience. Not that learning needs to be fun, mind you. But, it was neither dull for the learners (our oldest three), nor intensive for the teacher (me). I am kicking around the idea of using it with our eight year old a little later this year. It was designed with “first and second grade” in mind. Its 45 lessons are based on copy work and dictation suggestions by Ruth Beechick and others. The other two favorite grammar books that we’ve used over the years are Emma Serl’s Primary Language Lessons and Intermediate Language Lessons. They are similar to the Red LLATL, or should I say LLATL is similar to Serl’s books as they were written years earlier? They have done well for us in the later elementary/junior high aged time period, again on a hit/miss basis. Robinson Curriculum has Jane M. Orient’s Old-Fashioned English Grammar on disc 1. IF I’d begun using RC when my older children were young, this is what I’d have used all along as it fits nicely with the books within the RC. It is a very sturdy review for our children. I think it will find its place for at least the youngest three of our children as they will be the ones to mainly use RC. The older two may benefit from the review as well. I hope to have each of our children complete Our Mother Tongue: A Guide to English Grammar, by Nancy Wilson during their “last year” of learning at home during the traditional age/timeframe that most kids cover the first 12 years of schooling. I’m not sure they will all need it, but the exercises are based upon literature samples that I do not plan to require them to read. Therefore, it would be a minimalist’s way of exposing them to other literature without having to read the books. Both the RC grammar resource and Our Mother Tongue include diagramming. I’m not interested in mastery as much as awareness. I think of parsing as a personal interest. Some “get it,” devour it, and thrive on “solving” the problems. Others need to appreciate the technique I suppose. It appears to be grammatical mathematics. Grammar has always been a hot topic in home schooling circles. I hope to remain basically neutral to the whole issue. I want to provide the basics as required by Texas law, but don’t see a need to become fully consumed by the manner in which it is taught. I’m not a purist on this issue. I’ve seen curricula that are structured in a traditional approach. They are well written by grammarians. I’ve also seen very nice ways to “learn grammar by living it.” So, as we piece our way through learning, we fall somewhere in the middle. We “git ‘r done” and hope to speak and write well. Writing well and speaking correctly can be done whether or not we can identify a gerund, but it is nice to know when you’re playing Trivial Pursuit.
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http://www.menuplanningcentral.com
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A More Excellent Way by Henry W. Wright READ IT! Here's to your health!!!!
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Posted in Laughter
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I used to count the days until the Rainbow Resource catalog came. It came a few days ago. It's larger than ever! The only thing I looked at was the last pages to see just exactly how many pages are in the thing. There are 1370 if you count the order form! What a crazy number of choices! I'm wondering if it could get into the Guiness Book of World Records? WHY?!? I'm so thankful that I look back through history to a time when things were simple so that I can keep things in perspective. Just think if the Hebrews had to carry the Rainbow Resource catalog with them for 40 years and that each year it got bigger! ACK!
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Posted in Learning
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Here are some ideas from what we've done in the past at our house during the learning to read phase. You can use either Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons by Nice lists of dolch sight words, high frequency words, math words, and more can be found at http://www.janbrett.com. It may be too flashy for some children. I had one that didn't like all the extra stuff all over the pages....too distracting. Ideas from her site can be tweaked for your needs if necessary.
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Posted in Love
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I think one of the most beneficial books I've read during our homeschooling life has been Discover Your Children's Gifts by Don and Katie Fortune. I thought I'd jot down some quotes so I can refer back to them later. TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO [AND IN KEEPING WITH HIS INDIVIDUAL GIFT OR BENT], AND WHEN HE IS OLD, HE WILL NOT DEPART FROM IT. (emphasis mine)....Proverbs 22:6 TAB "Each child is uniquely gifted by God and that will help determine the most effective type of training." "....each child has a gift -a motivational gift-or a bent-a direction in life to be fulfilled by using his motivational gift(s).....we have a responsibility to discover our children's gifts and to encourage their development, so that when they come of age they will use their gifts to the glory of God." "....each child comes into this world with gifts giving him a distinct personality even in infancy." I noticed this each time we had another baby. They were all different from the moment they were born....except for the beautiful eyelashes. Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them: [He whose gift is] prophecy, [let him prophesy] according to the proportion of his faith; [He whose gift is] practical service, let him give himself to serving; he who teaches, to his teaching; (He who exhorts, encourages), to his exhortation; he who contributes, let him do it in simplicity and liberality; he who gives aid and superintends, with zeal and singleness of mind; he who does acts of mercy, with genuine cheerfulness and joyful eagerness. -Romans 12:6-8, TAB "...we should employ them to benefit one another..." "We possess these gifts!" "These are grace gifts!....Because God has created us with free will we can choose to use them appropriately, neglect them, or even abuse them." The list: Perceiver Server Teacher Exhorter Giver Administrator Compassion person As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. I Peter 4:10, NAS For You did form my inward parts, You did knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will confess and praise You, for You are fearfully wonderful, and for the awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are Your works, and that my inner self knows right well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was being formed in secret and intricately and curiously wrought (as if embroidered with various colors) in the depths of the earth [a region of darkness and mystery]. Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days of my life were written, before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them. Psalm 139:13-16, TAB “…our motivational gifts produce interests, abilities, enthusiasms, and actions to make us effective members of the Body of Christ.” It would really be nice if we all remembered this....hands, feet, ears, eyes, shoulders, hearts... “Many conflicts within the family arise because its members fail to discern each other’s gifts.” WOW~! We need to keep this posted in every room!!!! “…all gifts are equal…” “It is a parent’s privilege and responsibility to help each child develop in his giftedness!” PRIVILEGE! PRIVILEDGE! PRIVILEDGE! YES! “What you are is God’s gift to you; What you make of your life is your gift to God.” “In a large family almost every gift may be represented.” I can see that here at our house. With seven of us, I'd like to see if we have all seven gifts listed in this book. I can spot a few of them, the others are still a bit hidden. “God seems to bestow some gifts more frequently than others….because more people are needed in certain functions.” Thank God for His provision! 30% Compassion person “…we desperately need love and compassion in the world.” “Servers get the work done and exhorters offer encouragement to keep us all going.” “All the gifts, when used properly, are blessings.” I think when we see a specific character flaw flare up, we need to think in terms of what the opposite would be and remind each other that the gift we should be using is the opposite of what we're doing at the time. “Each child has been gifted by God. Discover those gifts and train him up to use them for the glory of God and to fulfill God’s purposes for his life!” The above quotes are from Ch. 1 “Every Child Is Gifted By God”, Discover Your Children’s Gifts by Don and Katie Fortune. http://www.heart2heart.org/
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Posted in Love
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"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." -Galatians 5:1
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Posted in Love
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"For the LORD is our judge, The LORD is our lawgiver, The LORD is our king; He will save us-" Isaiah 33:22
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Posted in Learning
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What was the most important thing you learned about today? How can you use what you've learned in the future? What will you do in order to help someone else learn this information? What was the least important thing you learned about today? How will you be able to use this information in the future? How can you improve your writing skills tomorrow?
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Posted in Living
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If I don't get my eating habits back under control, I will be dealing with Type 2 Diabetes. I considered joining Weight Watchers as my sister-in-law has done excellent on it and is keeping her weight off over a year after joining. But, the cost and distance are prohibitive at this point. We could squeeze to do it, but it's a matter of self-control. I need to do this because it's the right thing to do, not because I have to weigh in front of others. I have to weigh in front of God (even if I don't weigh). I do well when I have set things that I can eat. Controlling options is very liberating for me. It works with school, it works for the toy/game situation in our house, and it works for my eating plan. So, I bought some of the South Beach Diet frozen dinners. I need to mostly stay away from carbs to keep yeast at bay anyway, so this is the one I chose. I won't do this very often as my plan includes recycling the little dishes that they come in to make my own dinners from the food that I cook for my family. The choice of meal doesn't matter. It's whatever's in the next box. No decision necessary. The portion is controlled. Grab the box, heat it up, I'm good to go. Breakfast has an A/B rotating plan. Every other day it will be different. A: oatmeal, small banana, glass of milk. B: 2 scrambled eggs, grilled onions, cheese, grapes. I like these two breakfasts. They are quick, they give me the energy I need to get through the morning, and I don't have to think about it. Snacks in the evening are suggested on the Type 2 Diabetes chart. 1 starch, 1 milk. That means popcorn and milk, or granola and milk. Simple. I can rotate this every other day, or stick to one, then the other for a while. Exercise: Early morning pilates stretches are a must to get my back in shape again. Morning walk with the stroller and the kids on bikes. Afternoon rebounding when our study time is finished. Evening walk to the pond and back with Daddy. I have 35-40 pounds to lose to get to my target BMI weight. When I stuck to the Type 2 plan after our fourth child turned 2, I lost the 30 pounds that I needed to get to that weight. I will do this!
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