I am thrilled to say that my blog has been nominated for the Best NEW Homeschool blog by The Homeschool Post! This is very exciting for me because I love writing on my blog & sharing our adventures in homeschooling & life! I would love the opportunity to have more people read my blog & hope that it would be an encouragment, load lifter, laugh, & idea sparker for the folks who find their way to my little slice of cyber space.
So What I am saying is...Please vote for me! Voting ends Nov. 21st so do it today!
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Voting for the 2009 Homeschool Blog Awards is underway. Learning Curve was nominated in the Best New Blog catergory. The polls are open for voting, and there are lots of categories to look at. There are some awesome blogs to check out!
At a homeschool convention last year, another vendor and I struck up a conversation. He had a lot of energy but seemed a bit uptight; however, he readily admitted that he felt totally out of place because he didn't homeschool and this was definitely not his "typical convention." Not really interested in finding out what his "typical convention" was like, I smiled and assured him that we all knew he was out of place the minute he walked in the vendor hall, but we're a polite group and so we didn't point or stare as we talked about him to each other. He grinned and relaxed a bit.
"Obviously, you're a pretty direct person," He said. "So I was wondering, how does a guy who knows nothing about homeschooling sell his product to homeschoolers?"
Ignoring the fact that this out of place "greedy capitalist" was there just to make a profit, I chuckled and asked him, "Why do you think homeschoolers would even want to buy your product if you know absolutely nothing about us?"
He didn't seem to want to answer that, so I continued, "Get to know us a bit and you'll figure out it's not that hard to sell to us. We're pretty frugal but can be gullible in the right circumstance with a promising product, especially at a homeschool convention."
"Fair enough." He replied. "Then I'd like to show you my stuff and see what you think. But first there's one thing I've been wondering about homeschoolers for quite a while now."
"Oh, and what is that?"
"Why do you homeschoolers have so many kids?"
"Umm, gee, maybe it's because we have more exciting things to do than watch Jay Leno after the kiddos go to bed?!?" (Okay, I didn't really say that but I did think it.)
Instead, I politely tried to explain that for some of us homeschooling isn't just an educational choice but a life decision based on a belief that children are as a blessing from God. He wasn't getting it and I was getting hungry so the conversation quickly died of natural causes.
If I ever run into him again, however, I'm sending him over to Ethan Demme (of Math-U-See fame) who gives a much more thoughtful and complete answer to the question, How do I reach the homeschool community? His post is directed at politicians but he starts from the same premise that you have to know something about us, past and present, in order to reach us.
As a homeschool grad and marketing guru, Demme provides an excellent round-up of information and resources to understand this growing but changing movement of homeschool radicals who actually believe they can teach their children at home and live to blog about it. Check it out and keep in handy if you ever run into my vendor friend at your state homeschool convention.
(Note to Demme: Please add a paragraph on fecundity and homeschoolers, thanks in advance.)
There is just so much to do with pumpkins this time of year- carving, roasting seeds, pies, painting- here's one more to add to your repertoire- stained glass pumpkins.
The best part of pumpkins is picking them so if you can grow your own or visit a local grower. Many pumpkin growers (at least in our area) don't plan to sell any after Halloween so they will give them away. Our crowd went & collected pumkins the other day so we could teach stained glass pumpkin art at our 4-H Club meeting. Here is F9 showing off for the camera!
Stained glass pumpkins are not only beautiful & make great Thanksgiving table centerpieces but they also complement a study of color wonderfully. We had a lesson on the color wheel & this project which utilizes layers of tissue paper allows the artist to experiment with color in so many fun ways.
Basically, you take a clean, dry pumpkin & wet a small spot using a sponge brush to apply a white glue/water mixture (about 50/50.) Then you take small pieces of tissue paper (several layered together for vibrant colors or one for a more transparent look) dip them in the glue mix & stick on the pumpkin. You use your fingertips to smooth out any bubbles or wrinkles & make sure the edges of the tissue paper are wet & flat. You continue around the pumpkin in any way you desire. With 20 kids doing this project you got 20 different styles & that is of coarse the best part of art. Here are our family's pumpkins, enjoy!
Nov. 9, 2009 - Perfect Picture Book for the Adventurous BOY!
Do you have an adventerous, inventing, imagination filled little boy at your house? Well, here's a really fun picture book to look for at the library. It's a bonus if you like Moon-Pies too! We actually checked this book out because my E6 is a real live Jimmy Zangwow look alike! When I saw the book I said, "E, if you were a drawing this is exactly what you would look like!" They are a match from the red hair, freckles, boots, goggles, scarf, & big belt. My E6 is all about costumes & accessorizing & he says he is going to an inventor when he grows up.
Jimmy Zangwow's Out-of-this-World Moon Pie Adventure by Tony Diterlizzi is a really fun imaginary adventure of a boy who gets turned down when he asks for his favorite snack-moon pies of coarse! And who can blame his Mom- she doesn't want to ruin his brussels-sprout-noodle-bean casserole. So to pass the time before supper he takes a trip in his junk jumbilee jalopy to see the moon, the Milky Way, Mars, some martians & one Grimble Grinder.
It's just a fun book with great art & it showcases the imagination of a little boy. It's also a really fun time saying expressions like "Gadzooks, Jumping June bugs! & zip pip kaboodle." This book could be be worked into a lesson on space, math (the milk is in pints, quarts & gallons & there are 999 mars men,) the spirit of inventing, sharing, or even poor snack choices (if you want to be a real downer.) My suggestion however, is to check this book out & buy a box of Moon-Pies to enjoy together after you read it.
By the way, loud burping is used to save the day in the end so if that offends you pass this one up. But let's be honest if you're not used to burping you probably don't need books for boys anyway! Here is my E6 with his own Junk Jumbilee Jalopy (what can I say, he was inspired!) It even has an emergency shoot (umbrella,) headlights (mason jars,) & a Moonpie holder (cardboard box.)
Now it is November, it is getting colder. We inevitably end up spending more time indoors and end up getting more done.
This month finds us preparing for Christmas, which means we are sorting presents and making lists. I find it sooo helpful to get everything done before the big rush. I make a list and the items just get ticked off.
On the homeschool front, Hosey and Kezzy are learning to read and write, they are doing the work together. I find it helps, as they spur each other along.
Cherry finished her first book, a while back and I am still editing that.
Jash and Izzy are grappling with algebra. Funny how it comes quickly to some and not others.
The rest are plodding along. Izzy had his Richmond test back, which showed he had not just made a years progress, but had also improved on that! It is so great when you have positive feedback, especially as moi, the teacher.
Our four day week is working great and also our schedule. So they will be staying. Just a little bit of order in a chaotic household!
Love to hear how others are doing. Please drop a comment.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields."
This week has been CRAZY for our family. Smack dab in the middle of it we had our local homeschool support group's History Fair. Usually we would not take on extra activities during this time of year since we also started making wreaths this week & are preparing to harvest Christmas trees BUT our boys (& our entire family) love history so much & we believe public speaking is such a vital skill that we couldn't pass this up.
F9 did his presentation on D-Day, on which he is an unofficial expert! He did this presentation 100% by himself including his display board, deciding what he wanted to say, & memorizing the speech Eisenhower gave the troops just before the invasion (which he used as his opening.) We were very proud of how well he did in preparing for this event & his love of WWII history.
E6 did his presentation on Cherokee Indians who are the American Indians who lived in the Appalachian mountains (where we live.) Here he is posing with his display table which was the most beautiful there (in my humble opinion!) E6 is ALL about the costumes & accessories! He made the small fringed bag at his side & we worked really hard (well, I worked really hard-he supervised) on the rest of his costume. He really had a great time & makes quite the little pale faced Indian! I so love the way he enjoys dressing up & gets excited about all that stuff because I love costumes & dressing up too & F9 is way too serious & practical for that sort of thing!
We all know the best learning takes place when it is self-motivated! We have borrowed a book from the library called Every Kid Needs Things that Fly! by Ritchie Kinmont. We got it to go along with L4's Fabulous FUN Family Friday on Airplanes but have kept it for several weeks because the boys are so interested in it.
Above are F9 & E6 trying out their modifications of one of the hot air balloon experiments. We did not have all the exact components on hand but they switched a few things around & tried it a little different. The goal was to make a hot air balloon with a basket that would carry an action figure. When their helium balloon would not lift the basket or the action figure by himself they decided to try a Playmobile man, then a legos man. When it wouldn't carry away even this tiny man they changed their idea & thought it might make a good parachute instead.
Here they are trying to do a paratrooper jump from their playground cabin. The wind blew their man way off coarse & then...he came untied!
The legos soldier landed safely in the sandbox but here is their hot air balloon escaping into the heavens above the tree field. Like most of life, sometimes we learn the most from our mistakes!
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"Each time he said, My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness. So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me." 2 Corinthians 12:9 -------------------------------------------------------
I am a mother of four beautiful blessings from the Lord and will gladly take all that He will give me! I have strong support from my husband and his love and encouragement give me joy in our journey. This is our family's 5th year of home education. We're walking in the grace to raise our children in a loving Christ-centered atmosphere so they can develop and mature into men and women used for Gods Glory. We base all our learning foremost on the Word of God and intertwine rich literary classics for a living book structure. Charlotte Mason, Ruth Beechick, Unit Study - Notebooking -Lapbooking, we do it all! Natural learning experiences are plenteous living in a rural area...watch out frogs and crayfish! Were members of several state and local Homeschool groups and enjoy meetings, field trips and additional learning opportunities with them. We also love "milking" our annual passes to the Childrens and Science museums, Zoos, Busch Gardens/SeaWorld, Historic Battlefields and whatever else we can get into!
Were licensed therapeutic foster/adoptive parents and are seeking God's will and his best in that and every area. I'm also a life long "professional" college student, always picking away at college classes in various disciplines (currently finishing up degree in Education). I'm also a Licensed Nurse (when the mood hits me :o) I enjoy Joyce Meyer, Ruth Beechick, Clay and Sally Clarkson, Raymond Moore, and This Old School House Magazine.
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Jimmy Zangwow's Out-of-this-World Moon Pie Adventure by Tony Diterlizzi is a really fun imaginary adventure of a boy who gets turned down when he asks for his favorite snack-moon pies of coarse! And who can blame his Mom- she doesn't want to ruin his brussels-sprout-noodle-bean casserole. So to pass the time before supper he takes a trip in his junk jumbilee jalopy to see the moon, the Milky Way, Mars, some martians & one Grimble Grinder. 
We all know the best learning takes place when it is self-motivated! We have borrowed a book from the library called Every Kid Needs Things that Fly! by Ritchie Kinmont. We got it to go along with L4's Fabulous FUN Family Friday on Airplanes but have kept it for several weeks because the boys are so interested in it. 
Here they are trying to do a paratrooper jump from their playground cabin. The wind blew their man way off coarse & then...he came untied!
The legos soldier landed safely in the sandbox but here is their hot air balloon escaping into the heavens above the tree field. Like most of life, sometimes we learn the most from our mistakes!
