SCHOOL@HOME - Homeschool Blogger

SCHOOL@HOME - Homeschool Blogger We are a homeschooling family located in the suburbs of the Twin Cities in Minnesota. We loosely follow a Classical and Charlotte Mason format. Join us for education news, homeschooling resources, ideas, and a recap of our days. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tenn/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Wed, 14 Dec 2005 09:14:00 -0600 Wed, 14 Dec 2005 09:14:00 -0600 Walk the Bible     Check out a public television broadcast coming this January.  Maybe we will even pull out the bunny ears! Walking the Bible tpt2 Wednesdays, January 4, 11 & 18 at 7PM tpt2 Sundays, January 8, 15 & 22 at 6PM Part adventure, part archaeological detective work and part spiritual exploration, this three-part series follows storyteller Bruce Feiler on his inspiring 10,000-mile odyssey as he searches for traces of the great biblical heroes. Feiler travels by foot, four-wheel, camel and boat to re-create the journey he recounts in his best-seller, Walking the Bible. The series wanders through 10 countries on three continents, including volatile areas of the Middle East. Accompanying Feiler is Avner Green, one of the world's leading biblical archaeologists. Also showing in December Minnesota: A History of the Land tpt2 Wednesdays, December 28 and January 4 at 8PM This four-part documentary series vividly brings to life the epic story of Minnesota landscapes and people. From the retreat of the last ice sheets to the growth of today's suburbs - the series seeks to entertain as it enriches our understanding of Minnesota's past, present and future. Produced by the University of Minnesota's College of Natural Resources and Twin Cities Public Television, the series features visually stunning images from across the state and an original soundtrack by award-winning composer, Peter Ostroushko. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tenn/55905/ Wed, 14 Dec 2005 09:14:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tenn/55905/ Narnia Followup Activities After the movie the kids and I did several activities.  We printed out paper dolls they colored, a wardrobe with lampost and map of Narnia.  They printed out family trees with the shield and sons and daughters of their family.  Rhiannon and I had a Q and A about the movie, based off some of the materials found in the <a href="http://www.narniaresources.com/downloads/" target="_new">Narnia Resources</a> - here it is: How did you feel about each person as you first met them? I thought Susan was thinking she was always right Peter was a little bossy Edmund was a lying boy Lucy was a pretty truthful girl. I thought the professor was pretty old. How would you feel if you walked into a magical wardrobe? Pretty shocked.  After I saw what it was like I might try it.  At first I would have wanted to be like Susan and go home.   How would you feel if it was always winter?  Pretty stressed. Why?  Because I would never have my birthday.  Only daddy would have a birthday. What difference would it make to you if there was no Christmas? I would be so angry I don't know how to express it.  I would rather move away.   Why do you think the professor belived Lucy's story? Because he had been in Narnia before.   Why do you think Edmund lies about being to Narnia? Because he is liar and he wants to protect the witch's secret. Do you think Mr Tumnus is good or bad? Pretty much good, but some bad because he tried to betray Lucy but then he helped her get away.  What would you tell Mr. Tumnus to do? I would tell him to do what he thought was right?  If you take Lucy to the White Witch you will not hurt but she will - if you dont you will get hurt but she won't.   If Lucy is your friend would you be nice to her If you were Edmund would you take the candy? If I had been there before I'd heard the queen and known it was enchanted.  No because I know that I don't know this adult and I don't know if this is poisonous candy or something.  They might be trying to harm me or something.   Why isn't Edmund punished? Because Aslan forgave him and stood in Edmund's place Does that seem fair to you? Yes and no.  It wasnt fair because he did it and should be punished and the good thing was Aslan died for him so Edmund did not have to die and could be one of the kings. Why was Edmund so tempted by Tuirkish Delight? Because it was his favorite thing. What type of things are kids are tempted by today? Above all - Satan gives them things that tempt them. Like what? Like he tells them to steal a cookie.   What temptation do you struggle the most with? Candy.   What's the difference between temptation and actually doing something wrong? If you are tempted you just really really want to do something.  When you are actually doing it - its different because you can't turn back.   What can you do when you are struggling with temptation? Call on God. Ask Him to help me. What is the most courageous part in the story? When Peter fought the White Witch   What was your favorite part? When Aslan came back to life. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tenn/55903/ Wed, 14 Dec 2005 08:26:01 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tenn/55903/ Chronicles of Narnia Review We just returned from seeing Narnia today.  I organized a private showing for our group at a local theater.  It was fun we had around 60 people from our homechool group, quite a few fathers were able to take off work and join us as well.  It was nice to just have our group in the theater.  On to the movie. This is the main reason I really loved this film.  During the car ride home I discussed the film with the kids.  Rhiannon said Mom I realized something about Jesus and Aslan.  They both came back to life from the dead.  They both died for someone elses mistakes.  They both choose to die to save the other person.  Then we had a great conversation about the basics of Christianity.  Both my 4 and 6 year old really saw this message in a real way through this film.  Of course both of them know the story of Christ's death quite well but still they found it there themselves, atleast Rhia did and Ciaran understood and could articulate the point back to us.  We talked about the stone table cracking and the veil breaking.  We talked about Christ and us and how it was a similar story.  It was a very meaningful conversation.   If the movie encourages that kind of discussion then it is a great movie in my book.  Still on its own merits I thought it was a great movie.  Disney really managed to create Narnia.  Just as I felt a part of Middle Earth in LOTR I felt a part of Narnia.  The charachters were believable, Aslan was majestic and the movie captured the spirit of the book and stayed pretty close to the book overall.  The boy who played Edmund was fantastic and demonstrated the conflict very well, Tumnus and Lucy were also favorites of mine.   Having read these books many times I was pretty set to be disappointed or left unhappy - I was not, I really was pleased.  The movie is good even for those who have not read the books as a child adventure film.  The pacing is good, the storyline easy to follow and the adventure is there but never goes over the top.   Personally I feel it is an intense film and would not feel comfortable recommending it to kids under say the 8-10 range unless their parents saw it first.  Serona disagrees and thinks it is fine for younger children.  I say make a case by case judgement on your own child.  The scene where Aslan is taunted and killed is very intense.  The creatures are mythical and dark in nature and personally I think nightmare material for sensitive children.  Still we did take our very young children and they were fine.  They loved the movie.   Our decision was based on how much a part Narnia is to our family.  We have read the series aloud several times to the kids, they have seen The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe several times as a play, Serona has portrayed Aslan and they have watched the White Witch "kill" Aslan (their Dad)- therefore we felt they were prepared enough for this and they were but I would hesitate to recommend it for real young children.  Some of the creatures are a small step from LOTR IMHO.   This is a keeper, a good film.  One we will own and one we hope they will make sequels too.  It treats children with respect but does not cross over to make them superior to the adults around them.  It is an excellent child fantasy and adventure film.  Our whole family enjoyed it.   Peace, Tenn http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tenn/55880/ Wed, 14 Dec 2005 08:26:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tenn/55880/ Homeschool Blog Awards <a href="http://www.stillthinkinghq.com/blogawards/"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5826/159/1600/Spunky_Nominee_150x150%5B1%5D.0.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5826/159/320/Spunky_Nominee_150x150%5B1%5D.0.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a></a> It's official.  Voting for the Homeschool Blog Awards has begun.  There are many great blogs to visit.  Plan to lose a few evenings reading, being inspired and learning from some of the best homeschool bloggers around.   Thank you faithful readers for nominating us in several of the categories as well.  If you like what you read here you can vote for us as best blog in any or all of the following categories:  Best Homeschool Family Blog, Best Homeschool Blog Template Design, Best Homeschool Curriculum/Business Blog, and Best Homeschooling Mom Blog! Serona's blog Cyber Ecology is also nominated in the Best Current Events Homeschool Blog Rules - you can only vote once, you can only vote for one blog in each category (though you can vote for the same blog in different categories) and you need to give a valid email or url.  Voting is open now and ends December 26, 2005. <a href="http://www.stillthinkinghq.com/blogawards/" target="_new">Cast Your Vote Here for the Homeschool Blog Awards</a> Peace, Tenn http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tenn/55592/ Tue, 13 Dec 2005 14:19:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tenn/55592/ Gingerbread, Glue and Narnia Confession of a homeschooling mom - I hate glue!  I hate all projects related to glue.  Therefore arts and crafts is not my favorite time.  I have small children,  I have artistic children, we have lots of glue.  Lots of glue yields unhappy moments for mommy.  Wiping glue off kitchen table for 13th time.  Statements like "No you may not glue the board game to the stool" and "Keep the glue away from the dog" and "Your sisters hair does not look better with more glue added" have actually come out of my mouth.  Finding little pieces of paper glued places they should not be and that perpetual sticky feeling on my hands no matter how often I watch them for there is more glue waiting to be cleaned up.  I'm a great homeschooling mom, right?   Well I do let them get the glue out.  I try in vain to regulate it which turns into supervision which ultimately leads way to the two year old gluing her own pieces to the project because as she says "I do it myself".  Remember the days when you had one two year old and you never even thought of buying a stick of glue or pair of scissors but now you simply try to have more rules about when the two year old can touch them? Ah but she will perhaps be more artistic or atleast better skilled at removing glue from her own hair and clothing.   Why all the discussion of glue?  Because tonight we made a gingerbread house.  No not the real kind - the thought of tears over crumbled and broken gingerbread was too much to bear, even glue was more appealing.  Besides grandma sent a foam gingerbread house kit in the mail today and it was about 25 seconds before it was opened and being assembled on my couch.  I gave in and we moved to a semisafe location of the kitchen table.  We put placemats down but honestly why bother when it is inevitable they will find the one spot uncovered on the table and that is where they will glue and stick things to!   The house came out nicely actually.  The kids had a blast and my glue disasters were held to a minimum.  Because of the raging success tommorrow holds a foam nativity scene in our future as well.  Somewhere between seeing the Chronicles of Narnia (yay!) and watching the Polar Express (they got that DVD today too - thanks grandpa and grandma).   I think I should just give up on school for the month of December.  The entire month of December is tough for anyones concentration.  We have packages to mail, presents to make, cards to write, and kids who are very excited.  We still have field trips, AWANA, and other activities.  The snow makes the kids just want to be outside in the cold so they can come inside for more hot chocolate.  Of course I will keep trying to find those teachable moments and throw things in now and then when they are unsuspecting.  Besides tommorrow gives me a nice segway into many  <a href="http://schoolathome.blogspot.com/2005/11/chronicles-of-narnia-lesson-plan.html" target="_new">Narnia lessons</a>.   Maybe we will do some activities from this <a href="http://www.kinderhive.net/gingerbread.html" target="_new">Gingerbread Man Lesson Plan</a>, <a href="http://www.kidzone.ws/thematic/gingerbread/index.htm" target="_new">Gingerbread Activites</a> my favorite print out this great <a href="http://www.janbrett.com/gingerbread_baby_masks_main.htm" target="_new">masks</a> and act out the gingerbread man.   I think the notebooks and workbooks are away for the duration of the month and we will just have fun and play around with our lessons.  That's the way they like it best and truthfully they tend to remember more anyway.   Peace, Tenn http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tenn/55591/ Tue, 13 Dec 2005 14:18:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tenn/55591/ Homeschool Coop Showcase Over the years we have been members of several homeschool support groups and coops.  The one we are a part of this year is far and above our best group.  It is like finally coming home to an extended family with similar goals and values and a LOT of kids.   We have approximately 70 families and too many kids to count.  It seems that many of the families have 3 or 4 kids so you can do the math.  At first I was intimidated by this number but we have developed some closer friendships and still enjoy the entire group.   I jumped right in, having joined just last May - I volunteered to help coordinate and establish a field trip committee for this group.  Along with 5 other women we have just planned around 15 field trips a month for the months of Jan-May.  I am excited for this.  More details to come as we attend the trips.   The most exciting part for our family has been joining the Coop portion of this group (which is both a support group and a cooperative).  The group is very well organized and established even though the coop part is only in its third year.  I want to share a bit about the cooperative.  For those of you interested in starting one this format is an excellent one for a larger group. The group is divided into four main age groups.  Birth-2 in the nursery, 3-4 year olds in a class, 5-1st grade in another class, 2-4th grade in one group, 5-8th grade in another group.  The older two groups divide up into smaller classes and choose from different elective classes.  We have a three hour day, with three sessions.  Each parent teaches or assists in two hours and has one hour off to visit with and support other moms.  Some dads also teach or assist in the coop in a variety of ways.   We recently ended our first semester with this group.  We had one child in each of the first three age groups and none in the older two.  Our kids classes were set in format.  First hour they had a literature based book loosely following a Five in a Row format.  With age appropriate lessons and activities.  Second hour they had music, arts and crafts and a snack.  Third hour they had a PE type class.  My kids really enjoyed their classes and started to develop relationships through them. Rhiannon's highlights from her class as she dictates to me - Reading about Robert Frost and the Snowy Woods, playing at gym class, snack time, making new friends, making a sculpture of London, singing Sunbeam, making my Thanksgiving centerpiece, and reading Cranberry Thanksgiving.  I had fun at everything.   Ciaran's highlights from his class as he recalls them - My favorite book was about Jesus and the Candy Canes, my favorite craft was making blueberry buckets, making a manger with graham crackers and marshmallows,  and marching around Jericho to make the walls come down.   To highlight some of the other classes offered at the end of the semester the coop offers a showcase where each class stands up and demonstrates or discusses some of the things they learned.  This is very fun as we see all the coop offered and accomplished in a few short months.  Rhiannon especially enjoyed seeing all the classes offered and can not wait to be able to choose her own electives and try out some of the different classes.   This past semester the coop offered a wise variety of classes including drama, knitting, purse making, science experiments, chemistry, math games, fleece projects, literature class on Betsy Tacy, Backyard Ballistics (building different kinds of projectile items), and Contenders for the Faith (a boys practical life skill and spiritual discipline class - excellent).  There were others I am forgetting but you certainly get the idea.   At the showcase each class came up and demonstrated what they made (knitting, fleece, purse making, Backyard Ballistics, etc), what they learned (Contenders, math, science experiments, Betsy Tacy, etc).  Rhiannon's favorites were the drama classes (which gave dramatic presentations and did a dance) and the Chemistry one which played a game with a circuit they built and had the audience match elements to their symbols.  Ciaran's favorite was backyard ballistics, especially when they shot marshmallows into the audience with a projectile they made.  There were also PE classes for the older kids and a class called Snack Servants - where the students made and served all the kids in the coop (over 100) snacks for the day.   It was amazing to see how well this worked and all that the kids and teachers were able to accomplish.  More than what they learned though is the community that they are building.  Sitting at the showcase I saw a group of about 9 boys in the preteen age (I am guessing 12-13 range) who are clearly a community of friends after three years in the same classes.  Even my kids after just a few sessions have developed friends and sat with them in the general assemblies.   One memory from our coop that is burned into my mind is Rhiannon going to coop the week she realized she had to have her tonsils out.  She was very nervous and uncomfortable about it.  She went up to a few of the moms she knows there and explained what was going to happen and asked if they would please be praying for her.    She felt comfortable enough with these women to ask that and with the children in the group as well.  That is building community, that is an excellent coop.   I am so thankful that we were led to this group and have been accepted with open arms here.   Peace, Tenn http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tenn/55590/ Tue, 13 Dec 2005 14:17:01 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tenn/55590/ December Reading List Ten Little Ladybugs - Gerth, Melanie Today I feel Silly - Curtis, Jamie Lee What if Zebras Lost Their Stripes - Reitano, John Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon - Lovell, Patty Welcome Comfort (a Christmas story) - Polacco, Patricia Enormous Turnip, The - Tolstoy, Alexei Motorbikes - Oxlade, Chris Where the Wild Things Are - Sendak, Maurice Ship of Dreams - Morrissey, Dean Madagascar It's a Zoo in Here - Steele, Michael Stellaluna - Cannon Janell Looking for Atlantis - Thompson, Colin Library, The - Stewart, Sarah Pocket full of Kisses - Penn, Audrey It Looked Like Spilt Milk - Shaw, Charles Muncha!Muncha! Muncha! - Fleming, Candace One Morning in Maine - McCloskey, Robert Snowy Day, The - Keats, Ezra Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No good, Very Bad day - Viorst, Judith It's Spring - Berger, Samantha Anansi the Spider - McDermott, Gerald Magic School Bus at the Water works - Cole, Joanna Monkeys, Apes and Other Primates - Lucas, Andres Skywalker Family Albulm, The - Alfonsi, Alice Year at Maple Hill Farm, The - Provensen, Alice and Martin Duck for President - Cronin, Doreen Tails - Fleet, Martin Van Story of Jonah - Wickenden, Nadine Korean Cinderella, The - Climo, Shirley Giggle, Giggle, Quack - Cronin, Doreen On Morning Wings - Lindbergh, Reeve Cat in the Hat Comes Back - Dr Suess Go Dog Go - Eastman, PD Seven Days of Creation, The Sticker Book - Dayspring Cards Ten Little Monkeys - Dalby, Danny Rhainnon Reads Kirsten Story Collection (all six books) - Shaw, Janet Meet Kit - Trip, Valerie Changes for Kit - Trip, Valerie Hundred Dress, The - Estes, Eleanor Anne of Green Gables - Montgomery, LM (in progress as Read Aloud with mom) Pollyana - Porter, Eleanor (in progress as main read) Stopping By woods on a Snowy Evening - Frost, Robert Last updated - December 9, 2005 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tenn/55589/ Tue, 13 Dec 2005 14:17:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tenn/55589/ Just For Fun Play 20 questions online at http://20q.net/ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tenn/53455/ Wed, 7 Dec 2005 23:46:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tenn/53455/ Ciaran's Toilet Paper Game Today Ciaran was feeling creative and I was feeling patient.  It turned into a good combination but I must admit a twinge of panic arose as I watched my 4 year old son carry 12 full rolls of toilet paper into his bedroom.   I took a deep breath and let it go on.  He came to find me and ask me to play a game with him.  I said after he cleaned his room and he said that it was part of the game so I agreed.  Here is what I walked into.  Are you ready, do you feel my sense of panic and preemptive pain?.... It's not as bad as either you or I feared, it was creative and fun and he came up with it all by himself.  I found all twelve rolls of toilet paper stacked on top of one another on his top bunk (which has plywood not a mattress) He told me I needed to pick one. Seeing the confusion on my face he told me some of them had something hidden inside and we needed to see who got the most.  I choose one and stuffed inside the toilet paper roll (in the part you put on the roller) was a plastic frog (are you really surprised?)  I smiled and realized where this was going.  I was so proud of him to think of it and create his own game with what was around him.   We took turns choosing roles to see what we would find.  He hid 6 frogs in the dozen rolls.  He impressed me yet again when I chose one that did not have a frog in it.  He peeked in the top (when he thought I was not looking) and I was sure he was going to find one with a frog.  Instead he really surprised me.  He chose the top one which he knew to be empty.  He looked at me and smiled and said - I just wanted it to be even to help you out a little.   We tied in case you are wondering.  But it was great fun, simple and creative and straight out of the mind of my precious 4 year old son.  It was a shining moment in an otherwise challening indoor day in MN with temps to cold to send him outside.  It was a blessing.   Peace Tenn http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tenn/53452/ Wed, 7 Dec 2005 23:28:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tenn/53452/ Science Experiment on Oil Today after learning about plants and seeds we did a simple science experiment to see which fruits or seeds contain oil. We began with a brown paper bag.  We drew several circles on them.  In each circle we placed small broken pieces of each of the following: apples, orange peel, olives, sunflower seeds and walnuts.  We also placed several drops of water in one circle and several drops of oil in another.  We labelled each spot.   Then Rhiannon made a hypothesis about which would contain oil.  We wrote it here: Rhiannon's hypothesis Which will contain oil olives sunflower seeds oranges Which will not contain oil walnuts apples Then we ground each item into its circle.  Careful to completly wash and dry our fingers between each item to not influence the items.  Rhiannon made some observations as we did it.  Finally we threw out the items and let the items dry.  The results of our experiment were as follows: Experiment Results Those that contain oil Walnut olives sunflower Those that do not contain oil oranges apples Observations according to Rhiannon. "You could tell which ones had oil when you held it up to the light and the ones with oil in them made a patch you could see through, a white patch on the cardboard. The items with oil also left a stain on the paper where the water dried up" http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tenn/53448/ Wed, 7 Dec 2005 23:18:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tenn/53448/