Nov. 30, 2009 - Classical Education ~ Racing Odysseus

The title of the book,  Racing Odysseus,  caught my eye before I even knew what it was about.  I think I ordered it from the library without ever knowing the topic.  It wasn't until I got into the car from going to the library  and had a chance to read the inside cover that I realized that I had picked up a book about a liberal arts education.  One can hope  with a title like this one but,  these days, that doesn't mean anything.

The premise of this book is intriguing.  Racing Odysseus is the memoir of a 61 year old college president, Roger Martin.  after a victorious struggle with cancer,  he decides to go back to college as a freshman.  This book journals his experiences. 

Martin decides to enroll at the Annapolis campus of St. John's College.  St. John's  is a liberal arts college.  Their teaching of every subject is based on the Great Books.  The method of teaching is based on the Socratic Method.  There is very little lecturing but  much discussion.  The facilitators ask a question to start off the class and then the discussion may go in any direction.  There are few rules to these classes.  The main one, though, is that everyone must participate in the class discussions.  If you don't, then you face failing that class.  The facilitators are there to make sure that everyone gets a chance to talk and that the discussions do not get side railed on to a non-related subject.  Liberal Arts people do not like rabbit trails.

Martin's book talks a lot about the Great Books that he is assigned to read for class.  As is common, Martin finds many analogies in the Great Books  that coincide with his life.  We are given a glimpse of Martin's early life via the Great Books.

We are also shown that  liberal arts' colleges are still needed and important in this day and age.  Liberal arts colleges provides an excellent foundation for anyone that wants to pursue any kind of education.  St. John's has turned out to be the first educational stop for many students who want to go on to be doctors,  businessmen, and lawyers.  The Great Books education teaches them perseverance and how to learn through hard work.  It also teaches them how to think and express themselves.  Martin had doubts about  this kind of education but his experience proved to him that a liberal arts education is a good foundation for any kind of line of work or vocation a person may decided to follow.

I found this book to be an exhilarating read.  Another vote was cast for the side of a liberal arts education.   It was nice to see this vote being pledged by someone like  Roger Martin.

 

Julia lives on the Canadian Prairies  with her husband, homeschooling their 3 children (10,8,6) and is attempting to give them a Classical Education.  You can read more at her blog.

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Nov. 25, 2009 - Homeschooling Through High School ~ Turkey Leftovers Plus a Brand New Meme to Join!

Thanksgiving Greetings and Blessings from Chicagoland!

I want to take this opportunity to share with my Homeschooling Through High School readers a new meme which you (and parents of all our awesome homeschooling teenagers) can join!  Hop on over to my HSB blog, "Plans4You" to learn all about...

Next, I have a simple recipe to share which your high schoolers can make with all your leftover Thanksgiving turkey!  Be sure to log the time they spend making this on their Home Ec time card so you can apply it to a Home Economics credit!
(If you're not sure what a "Home Ec time card" is, please read my posts from August 19, 2009, "Keeping Track of Credits," and August 26, 2009, "Clever Credits."  You can find them HERE.)

• Biscuit dough: arrange biscuits on top of turkey, overlapping the biscuits if necessary. 
• Drop biscuit dough: drop small biscuits on top to cover.
• Pie dough: roll dough out into the shape of your pan, place on top of turkey, and tuck the edges in against the pan sides. 

Brush the top of the dough with about 2 Tbs. (1/2 an egg) of beaten egg for a goldeny-brown glaze.

Bake 25 to 35 minutes until the turkey mix is bubbly and the topping is nicely browned.

TURKEY TETRAZZINI

1-1/2 Tbs. unsalted butter
8 ounces sliced mushrooms (about 2-1/3 cups)
8 ounces spaghetti, macaroni, or egg noodles
1/2 cup slivered or sliced almonds, toasted lightly
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Grease a 13X9-inch baking pan.

Heat butter in large skillet over medium-high heat until the foam begins to subside.

Add sliced mushrooms and cook, stirring, until tender...about 5 minutes.

Stir the mushrooms into the Turkey Master Blend.

Cook pasta according to package directions in a large pot of salted water until tender.  Drain well.  Stir pasta into turkey mixture along with almonds.

Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.  Bake 25 to 35 minutes until sauce is bubbly and the cheese is golden brown.

TURKEY CHILI PEPPER CASSEROLE

One or two 4-1/2 ounce cans of chopped mild or hot green chili peppers, drained (the amount you choose is determined by how hot you want this!)
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
4 ounces tortilla chips, lightly crushed (don't pulverize these...should have 2 to 3 cups after crushing.)
8 ounces grated Cheddar cheese (2 cups, lightly packed)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Grease a 13X9 baking pan.

To the Turkey Master Blend, add chili peppers (be sure to drain them first!) and cumin.  Mix well.

In the prepared pan, layer the turkey mixture alternately with layers of tortilla chips and cheese.  End with a layer of tortilla chips sprinkled with cheese.  

Bake 25 to 35 minutes until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese is golden brown.

TURKEY AND RICE CASSEROLE

1-1/2 Tbl. unsalted butter
8 ounces mushrooms, sliced (about 2-1/3 cups)
3 cups cooked white rice or wild rice blend
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans, toasted
1/3 cup dry, unseasoned breadcrumbs
2 Tbs. grated Parmesan cheese
1 Tbs. melted butter

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Grease a 13X9-inch baking pan.

Heat butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat until the foam begins to subside.  Add mushrooms and cook, stirring until tender--about 5 minutes.

Stir the mushrooms into the Turkey Master Blend along with the cooked rice and toasted nuts. Pour the mixture into baking pan. 

In a bowl, mix together breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and melted butter.  Sprinkle over top of casserole. 

Bake 25 to 35 minutes until sauce is bubbly and the crumbs are golden brown.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving, enjoy your leftover turkey (or make every single one of these with chicken and enjoy that!), and enjoy your teenagers! Be sure to visit me at Plans4You to check out the new meme.  May God bless you and your homeschool this week!

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Nov. 24, 2009 - NEA Puts Power Ahead of Kids

It's really no surprise to anyone ever that the NEA was more interested in protecting its power than educating children. What is surprising is that they actually feel confident enough in their power to admit it. Here's the NEA's General Counsel admitting as much in his retirement speech this past summer.

"Despite what some among us would like to believe it is not because of our creative ideas. It is not because of the merit of our positions. It is not because we care about children and it is not because we have a vision of a great public school for every child. NEA and its affiliates are effective advocates because we have power....

This is not to say that the concern of NEA and its affiliates with closing achievement gaps, reducing dropout rates, improving teacher quality and the like are unimportant or inappropriate. To the contrary. These are the goals that guide the work we do. But they need not and must not be achieved at the expense of due process, employee rights and collective bargaining. That simply is too high a price to pay.

(View YouTube video on this subject here.)


If you're a parent with children in the public schools you can voice your objections here. But the best way to object is by removing your children from their schools. Without your children they have no real power.

In a related story, future teachers in Minnesota are being "reducated" and become "culturally competent"

Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin in order to obtain a teacher certificate.

-Spunky

Cross-posted, with permission, from SpunkyHomeSchool

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Nov. 24, 2009 - Kitchen Moments ~ Thanksgiving Favorites

I've been sharing my family's favorite Thanksgiving recipes on the HomesteadBlogger Front Porch .  Stop by to see how our Texas family celebrates Thanksgiving.  I've invited the other bloggers to share their family favorites as well, so you are certain to find many delicious recipes posted throughout the community. 

Here's a link to a great sounding Mandarin & Cranberry Relish at Nourished Kitchen, a blog I visit often for healthy, delicious recipes. 

I pray your family has a wonderful Thanksgiving.  We truly have much to be thankful for.  And now, I must get back to my own Thanksgiving preparations ... some last minute shopping,  a little baking, a bit of  holiday decorating, and lots of family fun!

Blessings,

Catherine

 

Catherine Love lives in the heart of Texas with her husband Carl, and their 3 daughters, Sarah, Hannah, and Cana.  They enjoy cooking, gardening, and learning new things as they pursue a lifestyle of learning together as a family.  You can read Catherine's Kitchen Adventures and more on her blog- Seeds of Love.

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Nov. 23, 2009 - Happy Thanksgiving to You!

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Nov. 20, 2009 - Featured Blogger ~ AmandaBennett

Why blogging is so great reason #5,287: You get to meet some of your favorite homeschool celebrities without having to attend a conference! Amanda Bennett has been blogging here at HSB ever since it started back in 2005. Blogging builds good business, but it also builds good relationships, and Amanda is very friendly and relational.

You may think that the author of numerous unit studies has her life perfectly organized and that all of her science experiments turn out with nary a problem. Not so! Even Amanda learns from her homeschool lessons.

This Christmas will be a meager one for many families. Yet we can still make it special. The first step is remembering what it is that makes the season so important to us, aside from Christ, it's family. Amanda shares a story about a tough Christmas she had as a little girl. Be sure to also read Christmas: A Study of Love.

As this week, and next, we are talking about Thanksgiving I thought this post, Thanksgiving Learning--Gratitude? would be of interest to you.

Next week there won't be a new Featured Blogger, so you get two whole weeks to explore Amanda's blog and wish her tidings of comfort and joy! (Such greetings aren't just for Christmas!)

Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB

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Nov. 20, 2009 - Special Words for Special Needs ~ Thanksgiving is Changing Around Here

Welcome and soon to be Happy Thanksgiving!  Are you like me and still in need of that last minute run to the grocery store? I have a list that is huge but I hesitate to get it. Why? After all the big day is just days away!

This year has been rough on me physically. I am spending most of my day in a wheelchair now due to possible MS. I am use to being up and cooking for hours on Thanksgiving day. I wake up early and cook through the day making all sorts of special side dishes, baked goods and of course the big turkey. This year I physically can't do it.

How many of you also deal with these restraints? Maybe not a mobility issues but a fatigue issue. How do we accomplish this grand plan without leaving us useless or not able to finish? For me Thanksgiving has highlighted a problem that I have been ignoring for a couple weeks now.

I need to realize my weaknesses and plan accordingly. I tend to plan with high hopes and higher expectations of myself. If I don't reach those I can get discouraged and guilty feeling. This is not how the Lord wishes me to be. Paul exhorts believers to be strong and run the good race.

I now realize that my race may be slower than others. I chose to keep running. I chose to not stop. I need to learn to pace myself. This Thanksgiving may not be like we have had in the past. I believe it will be better!

If you are dealing with physical problems stop blaming yourself for the differences between your family and the "normal" family. You are normal, for you!

So join me in being thankful to the Lord for where we are right now! Blessings to you and your family! Happy Thanksgiving

Heather lives in West Virginia. She and her husband have been homeschooling their 5 children for 8 years.  Due to a genetic disorder their children have multiple special needs. Living life to the fullest for the glory of God is their goal!  Visit Heather's page at  www.homeschoolblogger.com/gfcfmomofmany/ or at Special Needs Homeschooling.

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Nov. 19, 2009 - Communication Corner~The Power of Thank You!

The Power of Thank You!

By JoJo Tabares

Did you ever notice how little kids show appreciation?  My son comes to me several times a day and says things like "I love you!  You are the best mommy in the whole world!"  The conviction of his words and the look on his face as he utters them are what touch my heart!  That's what true appreciation is.

Most of us teach our children to say thank you, but few of us really understand its power.  Showing appreciation is not only etiquette, but it is a responsibility especially during the holidays.

I was privileged to have been in the audience when Florence Littauer was speaking on "Silver Boxes".  It's what she calls her philosophy on appreciation and edification.  She quotes Ephesians 4:29.  "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."  She says that words are like a gift we give others that come in little silver boxes with bows on top.  This is how we should show proper appreciation.

Many of us remember to say thank you when we get a gift, but often forget to show others appreciation for the things they do for us on a daily basis. And just how much appreciation does our "Thank You" show?

"Gee thanks" isn't much of a Thank You.  "Gee thanks" is what is interpreted when you say..."Thanks for the gift Aunt Millie!"  or even  "I love it!" Even if your voice is excited and your face lights up when you say it, it can be empty.  Why?  Because in order for Aunt Millie to feel appreciated, she has to know what exactly you appreciate: The thought behind it?  Money she spent?  Time it took?  Trouble she went to?  And what exactly did you like about the gift:  The features? The time it will save you?

A proper thank you is one in which you show as much time and trouble to give thanks as the person did in choosing your gift.  Consider this:  "Oh Aunt Millie!  This is so generous of you!  I can hardly believe it!  This is a beautiful sweater and just the perfect color to go with the dress I was going to wear for my interview!  Oh it feels so soft and I just love how it fits!"  How much more appreciated does Aunt Millie feel now?  Notice you haven't even said the words "thank you".  It isn't the words you speak; it's the message it conveys that is important.

And how often should you thank Aunt Millie for this sweater?  MORE THAN ONCE!  I make it a point to wear my gift when I go visit the giver, call them on the phone when I am using it again, mention how I used it the other day and what a pleasure it was that I had it!  NOW how appreciated does Aunt Millie feel?

What about all the thank yous that go unsaid to the people in our lives who do little things for us day after day?  How many of us thank our mothers for raising us or our fathers for working so hard all those years we were growing up-not just on Mother's and Father's Day and not just a card or gift.  How many of us have told our parents exactly what they did that we appreciate?  Details!  A Mother's Day card once a year is an obligation.  A letter or conversation regaling them with the details of what you
appreciated about them over the years is true appreciation!

Is appreciation limited to our family?  Many of us never thank our friends or associates for what they mean to us or do for us each day.  How many of us belong to online communities?  How many times have you emailed the owner of the list or site to thank them for all the behind the scenes work they do every day that allows you to participate, fellowship, and learn?

Take your appreciation public.  How much more appreciated do you think Annie would feel if you posted a public message of appreciation for all her hard work behind the scenes at your favorite Yahoo group?:

"I want to thank Annie for all the wonderful articles she posts each week! I have really learned a lot and I have used many of these articles as homeschool lessons for my children.  Annie must work so hard to create all these fun activities and I want to thank her for donating her time and all the prizes and certificates she has given away over the years!  This group has been such a blessing to me and I have had so much fun as a member. Thanks Annie!"


A little thank you goes a long way! If Annie was feeling a little frustrated by the time the group takes to maintain, I bet she has renewed vitality after your post!  On the job, employers can get more out of their employees by showing them a little appreciation now and again.  You can create a closer relationship with your family and friends by showing them how much you appreciate what they do for you.

So this Christmas season, why don't you give the gift of true appreciation. The most appreciated gift is appreciation.  It's free to give and priceless to get!  Thank you for reading along with my thoughts today!

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JoJo Tabares holds a degree in Speech Communication.  Her Christian and humorous approach to communication skills has made her a sought after speaker.  JoJo's articles have appeared in various homeschool magazines and websites such as Dr. Laura.com.  Her Say What You Mean curricula is endorsed by The Old Schoolhouse Magazine and her eBook, Say What You Mean When You're in Business, has been used by direct sales leaders and small business owners alike.  For more information, please visit http://www.ArtofEloquence.com  or
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/CommunicationFUNdamentals/

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Nov. 18, 2009 - Homeschoolers and Health Care

For all my homeschooling friends who think ObamaCare will solve their financial and health insurance woes, think again. It may give you temporary relief for your financial headache, but it may also invite government nannies into your home to improve your child's well-being and health.

HR 3200 that passed the House of Representatives, currently has a provision for funding states that implement a "voluntary" home visitation program for parents with young children or who are expecting. (See Sec. 1904 sec. 440)

The intended purpose is to " improve the well-being, health, and development of children by enabling the establishment and expansion of high quality programs providing voluntary home visitation for families with young children and families expecting children."

In America we used to believe that was the role of the parent, but now it's the role of our benevolent and compassionate Uncle Sam. A gaze over the Atlantic will show us exactly where we're headed,

"Health and safety inspectors are to be given unprecedented access to family homes to ensure that parents are protecting their children from household accidents.

New guidance drawn up at the request of the Department of Health urges councils and other public sector bodies to “collect data” on properties where children are thought to be at “greatest risk of unintentional injury”.

Council staff will then be tasked with overseeing the installation of safety devices in homes, including smoke alarms, stair gates, hot water temperature restrictors, oven guards and window and door locks.

The draft guidance by a committee at the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) has been criticised as intrusive and further evidence of the “creeping nanny state”.

Where are the safety devices for the "creeping nanny" who keeps sticking her nose into our personal lives?

Why homeschoolers support this bill or President Obama is beyond my understanding.

-Spunky

Cross-posted, with permission, from SpunkyHomeSchool

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Nov. 18, 2009 - Homeschooling Through High School ~ Thanksgiving

Since my children were very small, I have tried to be very deliberate about establishing and keeping family traditions.  Many came from my own childhood, and were "imported" to my new home once I was married.  I still carry so many fond memories of the Thanksgivings of my youth back in Michigan, waking up to the wonderful sounds and smells of my mother's early Thanksgiving morning cooking routine.  I was determined that my children would awaken to the same things, and they do!

The onset of the winter holidays here in the USA lets me know that time is about to really FLY for the next 2 months.  It is easy to get overwhelmed, between holiday preparations, houseguests, shopping, and the rapidly approaching end of the semester.  I think that the high school years are unique in that there isn't always room in the schedule for too many interruptions, no matter how  wonderful the interruptions may be.  Gone are the years when we could take an entire month to study pilgrims, make model Mayflower ships out of popsicle sticks, or read nothing but books about Thanksgiving.  Our schedule is particularly heavy this year...so how can we put an old-fashioned "focus" onto Thanksgiving in the midst of Algebra 2, C++ Programming, Chemistry, American Government and Economics, English Composition, Foreign Language, Logic and Rhetoric, and CLEP prep? 

We enjoy turning to the Psalms in the evenings, seeking passages dealing with being thankful in the midst of tumultuous times.  Aren't we in the midst of a tumultuous time?  Do you think things are going to get even more tumultuous in the coming months and years?  I sure do!  What a wonderful habit for ALL of us to be in: giving thanks in all things!  And what a wonderful habit to instill in our young adults who, should Christ's return be yet a ways off, will have to live out their lives in a world far different from the one we grew up in. 

Our copy of William Bradford's "Of Plymouth Plantation" finds its way to the dinner table as well, and we enjoy reading it out loud.  There is nothing better than going directly to the source when the desire is to know the truth of an historic event.  Today's commentators and writers, whether secular or Christian, were not present in Plymouth with the pilgrims...but William Bradford was.  To read his words is such a treasure!  I pray that every Christian high school homeschooler (and every homeschooler, period, for that matter) would have the joy and privilege of reading Bradford's account of the entire journey, from start to finish!  It was translated from Elizabethan English into "modern English" in 1909, but it is still a challenging read to get into...at first.  By the end of the first chapter, especially if reading aloud, I found my brain and my tongue pretty well adapted to the style, and no longer had to read and re-read every other sentence to have it make sense!  It is well worth the effort. 

(An aside here...if American History is yet in the future for you and your students, strongly consider obtaining a copy of this book, and have your students begin it early, perhaps over the summer.  You will have a source of original "American truth," and can then use it as the standard by which you judge the material your purchased curriculum offers.)

Another fun, relaxed, and entertaining way to enjoy and focus on this special season of giving thanks is through a unique and free resource called "Homeschool Radio Shows."  Homeschool dad and entrepreneur, Jim Erskine, from Canmer, Kentucky, has long had a passion for old-time radio shows.  He's collected and catalogued hundreds (thousands?) of them, and makes them available at no charge to those who join his mailing list.  Right now, he has a couple of Thanksgiving-themed shows available for downloading.  You will receive links to a new show every week, and will, from time to time, be offered a collection of stories for a small price.  But they always maintain a wonderful weekly offering of free shows.  I have been a member of Jim's mailing list for many years now, and I've purchased a few of his marvelous collections.  The mp3 files can be burned to CD's, and we've enjoyed doing this in order to have wholesome listening entertainment during road-trips, or vacation days.  We love to gather around the CD/mp3 player during the colder months with a crackling fire, a sketch book or some hand-work, listening and laughing together.

However your homeschooling-through-high-school-family decides to bring its focus around to Thanksgiving, I pray that you will find the time and space in this busy season of life to simply do so!    

May God bless you and your homeschool this week!

Lori

 

Lori Havens has been married to Kevin for 24 years.  They live in Illinois with their two sons, Bryan (17) and Nathan (16), and dog Sunny (9).  Lori enjoys writing, gardening, reading, and the outdoors.  She is the author of "Should I Be A Nurse? A Journey of Self-Exploration for Those Considering a Career in Nursing" and  "7 Essential Questions Every Future Nurse Must Ask."     You can find her blogging at both Homeschool Blogger and Homestead Blogger  .

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