Oct. 2, 2008 - Win a copy of Andrea Carter & the San Francisco Smugglers
You may remember my sharing about this book awhile back, as my daughter Gracie is the cover model for the character of Lin Mei!
Susan is giving away a copy of the book and a little doll (from China) on her blog - you will want to be sure to check out her contest here.
Sep. 23, 2008 - History Woes....
We have dramatically altered our plan to use the Winter Promise History Curricula. After using it for five weeks, we have come to the conclusion that it is blatantly revisionist in its approach to American history. Basically, what we have learned so far is that all Native Americans were wonderful peaceful people, and all explorers and colonists were horrible, greedy people who murdered the Native Americans when they didn't convert to Christianity. Argh! I really thought I had done my homework on this curricula! I researched and researched, but obviously not enough. This is super frustrating. I have never spent this much on any subject ever! I culled through the books, salvaged what I could, and put the rest up for sale on E-Bay. Is it wrong to hope that someone else thinks it is the perfect curricula for them?
For this week and next, I've put together a plan combining: A First Book in American History and The Landing of the Pilgrims. I'm not sure what we're going to do after that. My tentative plan is to continue using the First Book in American History as a spine, and adding in other books along the way. Now, I just have to figure out what those other books are....
Sep. 12, 2008 - Thanks to everyone....
.....who e-mailed about the Magic Tree House audio books.
These two prizes have been awarded
(to Jason & Alayna).
I do not have time to respond to everyone's emails,
but I appeciate everyone who showed an interest.
You may check at your local Wendy's and see if they are still offering
these great audio books!
Keep watching for more giveaways-
Splish has plans for more giveaways, coming soon!
Sep. 11, 2008 - Just for fun - a giveaway
This summer, Wendy's restaurants have been giving away Magic Tree House audio books in their kids' meals. My family got 2 extra copies of the High Tide in Hawaii audio books and I'd love to bless two of you with them! These are great quality and are actually read by the author, Mary Pope Osborne!
If you would like to have one, please e-mail me and let me know. The first two people who e-mail me with their full name and mailing address will receive the cd's.
Sep. 10, 2008 - some interesting facts
Jessica (14) sent me some interesting facts about reading that she has discovered in her research. I thought they were worth sharing with you:
A FEW INTERESTING STATISTICS ABOUT READING IN THE U.S.
56 percent of young people [public school kids] say they read more than 10 books a year, with middle school students reading the most. Some 70 percent of middle school students read more than 10 books a year, compared with only 49 percent of high school students
15% of all 4th graders read no faster than 74 words per minute, a pace at which it would be difficult to keep track of ideas as they are developing within the sentence and across the page
The educational careers of 25 to 40 percent of American children are imperiled because they don't read well enough, quickly enough, or easily enough.
Sep. 10, 2008 - A Book Report by Jessica (age 14)
Alabaster Doves Book Summary
By Jessica, 14
Alabaster Doves is a non-fiction book by Linda Holland. It is full of true stories about real women whose lives were lead by their God-given strength and gentleness. In this book you will meet eight heroines who died to self every day of their lives. These women wholly knew how to be godly women. They were not perfect, these women of the past, but they are great heroines for both women and girls.
The Civil war officially started in 1861 and did not end until 1865. During that period of time, thousands of Yankee boys died dying before even tasting battle because of the lack of food, disease, unsanitary situations, and bad weather. Mary Ann Bickerdyke (1817- 1901) was know as “Mother” to soldier boys in the North because of her daring and unselfish care for them during their time of crisis.
Mary McLeod Bethune (1875)-(1955) rose up out of her poverty and received an education through hard work. After graduating from her local black school and two Christian colleges, she provided educational opportunities for black girls in the South, even while being threatened by the Ku Klux Klan.
After only just recently receiving Jesus Christ as her Savior, young mother, Vibia Perpetua (181)- (203), died a martyr’s death in a North African arena, and set an example that would one day lead thousands of people all over the world to Jesus Christ.
Even in the U.S. Donaldina Cameron (1869)-(1968) bravely rescued over 3,000 children from the Chinese Slave Market in Chinatown, San Francisco.
After she married, Mary Smith Moffat (1795)-(1870) and her husband moved to South Africa to be missionaries. Mary worked hard to support her husband buy giving him a home, taking care of her many children, and loving the “worthless” local children, and earning the respect from the natives.
The daughter of Mary Smith Moffat, Mary Moffat Livingstone (1820)-(1862) married a man whose one life goal was to clear a road that would lead to more missions in Africa. Mary Moffat died to self everyday of her life, sacrificing everything, even her and her children’s health so that her husband could reach his goal.
The saying goes; “behind every great man is a woman.” The woman behind Martin Luther was Katherine von Bora Luther (1499)-(1552). After escaping from a convent, she married Martin Luther. She spent the rest of her life serving her husband and children without the presence of self.
One of Normagene Pool Lovo (1924)-(1985) daughters was Linda Lovo Holland: the author of this remarkable book. Normagene left her children an image of what it looks like to pursue God with all of your heart.
Sep. 9, 2008 - A Poem by Abagail (age 14, written at age 10)
When I Was
When I was one, I learned to run.
When I was two, I could tie my shoe.
When I was three, I was stung by a bee.
When I was four, I could shut the door.
When I was five, I saw Sesame Street Live.
When I was six, my dog got ticks.
When I was seven, my rabbit went to heaven.
When I was eight, I learned to skate.
When I was nine, I wanted everything to be mine.
When I was ten, I got a sparkly new pen.
Now you'll have to wait until I turn double one to finish the poem of silly fun!
Sep. 8, 2008 - A Poem by Rebecca (age 11)
"School"
School, school, school,
We're finally back to school.
Summer's fun, but how I missed,
School, school, school.
School, school, school,
Math, Science, and History, too!
Spelling, writing, and grammar,
School, school, school.
School, school, school,
We're finally back to school.
Summer's fun, but how I missed,
School, school, school.
Sep. 8, 2008 - A Poem by Grace (age 5)
What I See from My Front Porch
Trees blowing in the wind.
A bird fluttering its wings.
A butterfly in the clouds.
The rain drip drops drip drops.
A cricket plays its music.
A frog croaks to his mom.
The sky is dark and gray.
The first star has come out
along with the moon.
Sep. 7, 2008 - The winner of our Rooter & Snuffle books is.....
NEHEMIAH
who says his favorite subject is Spelling.
REMINDER:
Please e-mail me with your book reports, book reviews, short stories, and poems
so that I can post them on Splish's blog!
Don't forget to include your first name and age.
If you have to write anyway, it's more fun to share!
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