Commonplace books are a means of coping with information overload! They help us select, organize, classify, and remember key moral precepts. "When it came time to put away childish things, the role of the copy book was assumed by its close cousin, the "commonplace book." The process of maturation required the production of more-personal collections of writings, meant to provide inspiration, direction, and moral fortitude. Reading the commonplace books of historical figures like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, or any number of antebellum Southern ladies gives us an interior view of each person's self-image and the words that motivated him or her. -- Rachel Toor "Commonplaces: From Quote Books to 'Sig' Files" The Chronicle of Higher Education May 25, 2001" http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/KarlaAkins/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Tue, 25 Sep 2007 14:07:00 -0500 Tue, 25 Sep 2007 14:07:00 -0500 Where I've Been I thought I should pop in and explain my absence!  My dear friend, Mary Sharp, has been in and out of I.C.U. for the past six weeks.  She is two hours away from me in Indianapolis so between working and praying for her and going to see her, I haven't had much energy left to blog.  School is going great!  I have super sweet kids this year at the cottage school -- ten in all.  We are studying the middle ages.  I will be posting more about what we are using for our books this year.  We are having an awesome time!  Well, okay,  I am even if the kids aren't! I also have a new family member!  I just got a rescue dog, a "Golden Doodle."  He is ten months old and he is a cross between and standard poodle and a golden retriever.  He is sooooo cute!  I can hardly wait until my camera gets fixed and I can post pictures.  He's ten months old and he's full of joy.  I just love watching him leap and run.  He makes me giggle. Another delay in my blogging life is that my computer has crashed again.  It has given me the death screen, so please pray I can get it running!  I really don't have the extra $$ right now to even take it to a repair shop so I'm going to try and fix it myself.  Please pray I have wisdom! Thanks for checking in!  I promise I will be back with full vigor eventually! Woof! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/KarlaAkins/397418/ Tue, 25 Sep 2007 14:07:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/KarlaAkins/397418/ I love being a grandma.  My friend who is now a great-grandmother sent me these quotes in an e-mail.  I couldn't resist including them in my Commonplace blog. What a bargain grandchildren are! I give them my loose change, and they give  me a million dollars' worth of pleasure. ~Gene  Perret Grandmothers are just "antique" little girls.  ~Author Unknown Perfect love sometimes does not come until the first grandchild. ~Welsh Proverb Never have children, only grandchildren. ~Gore Vidal Grandma always made you feel she had been waiting to see just you all day and now the day was complete. ~Marcy DeMaree Grandmas never run out of hugs or cookies. ~Author Unknown Grandmas hold our tiny hands for just a little while, but our hearts forever. ~Author Unknown If I had known how wonderful it would be to have grandchildren, I'd have had them first. ~Lois Wyse My grandkids believe I'm the oldest thing in the world. And after two or three hours with them, I believe it, too. ~Gene Perret Grandchildren are God's way of compensating us for growing old. ~Mary H.Waldrip You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother. ~Proverb An hour with your grandchildren can make you feel young again. Anything longer than that, and you start to age quickly.~Gene Perret The best baby-sitters, of course, are the baby's grandparents. You feel completely comfortable entrusting your baby to them for long periods, which is why most grandparents flee to Florida. ~Dave Barry Grandmother-grandchild relationships are simple.  Grandmas are short on criticism and long on love. ~Author Unknown Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children.  ~Alex Haley A grandparent is old on the outside but young on the inside. ~Author Unknown One of the most powerful handclasps is that of a new grandbaby around the finger of a grandfather. ~Joy Hargrove It's amazing how grandparents seem so young once you become one.~Author Unknown Grandchildren don't make a man feel old; it's the knowledge that he's married to a grandmother. ~G. Norman Collie Grandparents are similar to a piece of string - handy to have around and easily wrapped around the fingers of their grandchildren. ~Author Unknown http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/KarlaAkins/231131/ Thu, 2 Nov 2006 13:59:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/KarlaAkins/231131/ "The Morality of the Roman Empire""Immorality was the fad of this era.  Obscene pictures decorated the outside walls of dwellings for everyone to see.  Divorce was at pandemic proportions, and family life was falling apart.  Infanticide was socially acceptable.  Unwanted infants were left in the street, or pitched in a ditch to die from exposure.  It has been said that baby skeletons by the cartload could be taken from the bottom of the Tiber River.""Unwanted children were also abandoned in the city forum, on a hillside, or even in the streets.  Often deserted girls were picked up to be reared as prostitutes.  Young boys would have their legs and arms broken and twisted so that they could be used as deformed beggars to touch the emotions of passers-by.""In contrast to all this, what did the Lord Jesus teach concerning children, according to Matthew 18:1-6, Mark 9:36-37, and Luke 9:47-48?"Matthew 18:1-6At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?[2] And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,[3] And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.[4] Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.[5] And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.[6] But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.Mark 9:36-37And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,[37] Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.Luke 9:47-48And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,[48] And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/KarlaAkins/210725/ Thu, 28 Sep 2006 15:47:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/KarlaAkins/210725/ "Field Trips"   "Take field trips frequently.  Take time to attend concerts and plays, museums and exhibits.  Visit workplaces.  Give your child experiences from which to build his understanding of the world -- experiences he will draw upon and perhaps revisit when he is older.    "Do not let your child explore the world only from a cathode ray tube.  Children need real experiences to relate to.  Seeing a jet take off on television is not the same as seeing a jet take off in front of you.  Hearing an orchestra on television or radio is not the same as hearing an orchestra in person.  Watching a computer simulation of a scientific experiment, or watching a video of it, is not the same as doing it in front of your very own eyes.  Yes, you can learn some things by the tube.  But it is not the same -- there are also some things which you are not learning.    "When your child is four or five, begin attending your local Science and Engineering Fair.  Observe all the different kinds of projects and experiments.  Encourage the child to think of what kind of experiement he could enter when he is thirteen (at the Understanding Level).    "Early on, form the habit of visiting the library on a weekly basis.  At a young age, the child will become familiar with where to find the different assortments of books, and how to ask the librarian for help.  Later, you will teach the child to use the computer catalog and the reference section of the library.  Around age thirteen (which is the beginning of the Understanding Level), take your child to a good college library and familiarize him with doing research, using the Library of Congress system.  At age fifteen, take him to a large university library.  By the time a child is in his later teens, he should know how to perform research in his library.    "When I was no more than eight years old, Grandma Haigh took me to one of the tiny branches of the Des Moines Public Library.  To this day, I can recall the wonder and amazement which filled me when I saw all of those books.  After that visit, I yearned to have a library card of my own.  It was another three years before my wish was fulfilled.  In 1963, when I was eleven, my family moved to San Diego, and there we were given a free card to the public library.  For the next year, every Monday night, after doing the grocery shopping, we would visit the library.  I began at the "A's" in the juvenile fiction section, checking out six books every week.  I do not remember how far I went down the slphabet, but that "year of the library" provoked in me a life time love for reading." http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/KarlaAkins/194561/ Fri, 1 Sep 2006 19:38:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/KarlaAkins/194561/ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/KarlaAkins/154608/ Wed, 21 Jun 2006 14:07:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/KarlaAkins/154608/       "And, moms, make sure that your children know your prayers.  Maybe you will want to do something like what Hannah may have done.  Take the time to write down a speical prayer for your children and give it to them.  Maybe you could write it down in the iniside cover of your child's Bible.  (Keep a copy; kids have a habit of loosing things.)   "The power of such prayers over your child cannot be overstated.  The day will come when your son or daughter will see the hand of God and say in amazement:  'This is what my mother was praying about years and years ago.' "Your prayers have power because they mingle your love with the even greater love of your child's Heavenly Father."                                                            --Michael P. Farris http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/KarlaAkins/154465/ Wed, 21 Jun 2006 10:20:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/KarlaAkins/154465/     I was discussing this very thing on a mailing list I am on:  "What makes a book a classic?"     I agreed with someone that Anne of Green Gables is a classic book because the stories "stay with you" and are universally beautiful and thought-provoking.     I love all the lessons in those books.  My favorite one is when Anne says she is "in the depths of despair" and Marilla replies, "to be in the depths of despair is to turn your back on God."  Whoa.  What a lesson!!  I have carried that in my heart for so many, many years.      How many books really touch you in a way that you ponder what they have to say in your heart for as long as you live?  I think that's another test of whether a book is a classic or not! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/KarlaAkins/141336/ Fri, 26 May 2006 19:52:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/KarlaAkins/141336/ Check out the new photos in my photo gallery! Go to my cottage school website: http://libertyscholars.com Click on 2005-2006 Photo Gallery in the side bar. It will take you to the new albums! Enjoy! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/KarlaAkins/141225/ Fri, 26 May 2006 12:37:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/KarlaAkins/141225/ Edgar Guest is one of my favorite poets.  Here is a poem I came across tonight that I wanted to share.  I think the hardest part of being a parent is letting go and saying Good-bye.  Whether we release our children to the Lord for eternity or give them away to their spouse at the altar.  Our children are only with us for such a little while. . . I'll Lend You For A Little Time A Child I'll lend you for a little time a child of mine."He said. "For you to love while he lives, And mourn for when he is dead. It may be six or seven years, or twenty two or three. But will you, till I call him back, Take care of him for Me? He'll bring his charms to gladden you, And shall his stay be brief, You'll have his lovely memories as solace for your grief. I cannot promise he will stay, since all from earth return, But there are lessons taught down there, I want this child to learn. I've looked the wide world over, In search for teachers true, And from the throngs that crowd life's lane, I have selected you. Now you will give him all your love, Nor think the labor vain, Nor hate me when I come to call, to take him back again? I fancied that I heard them say: "Dear Lord, Thy will be done." For all the joy thy child shall bring, The risk of grief we'll run. We'll shelter him with tenderness, we'll love him while we may, And for happiness we've known, Forever grateful stay; We'll brave the bitter grief that comes, And try to understand. --Edgar Guest Edgar Guest and his dog whose name I do not know. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/KarlaAkins/134838/ Mon, 15 May 2006 15:51:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/KarlaAkins/134838/ LOVE thy mother, little one!  Kiss and clasp her neck again-- Hereafter she may have a son  Will kiss and clasp her neck in vain. Love thy mother, little one! Gaze upon her living eyes,  And mirror back her love for thee,-- Hereafter thou mayst shudder sighs  To meet them when they cannot see. Gaze upon her living eyes! Press her lips the while they glow  With love that they have often told,-- Hereafter thou mayst press in woe,  And kiss them till thine own are cold. Press her lips the while they glow! Oh, revere her raven hair!  Although it be not silver-gray-- Too early Death, led on by Care,  May snatch save one dear lock away. Oh, revere her raven hair! Pray for her at eve and morn,  That Heaven may long the stroke defer;-- For thou mayst live the hour forlorn  When thou wilt ask to die with her. Pray for her at eve and morn! var iColWidth = 2 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/KarlaAkins/130655/ Sun, 7 May 2006 23:12:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/KarlaAkins/130655/