She will be totally embarrassed that I’m doing this - but I wanted to congratulate my best friend, Michelle, for completing NaNoWriMo. During the month of November, she wrote a 50,000 word (actually, a couple hundred over) novel. Woo hoo!
Original post by carrie
We had fun doing some of the 10 fun things to do that I posted the other day so I thought I’d brainstorm 10 more.
1. Make up polls and graph the results. We’ve done favorite ice cream flavors and colors in the past. We even graphed the favorite colors one in M&Ms (I bought Easter and regular colors to cover all the bases!). Let the kids pick their own categories to poll about and call friends and relatives to get their votes.
2. Report on a historical event as a news report. Let the kids pick an event and play news reporters to fill in viewers about what happened. If you have more than one child, let one be an anchorwoman, one a reporter, one a witness and so on. Videotape it if you can!
3. Chart the temperature. Find out the highs or lows for the past month (or week) […]
Original post by Alicia
I’ve been so blessed to have an amazing journey of learning through understanding and supporting my children as they find their passion and purpose in life. As I matured in this knowledge, my friend Rebecca (who I met on an on-line forum!) from Illinois and associated with the In-Home Conference for their state, asked if I would be interested in speaking. That was 2002. It would be the first step in the igniting of my passion regarding the right-brained learner. It was at this conference that my tentative steps at sharing the myriad of things that my children taught me about that learning style grew exponentially.
A few years ago, I decided I wanted to take the information about the right-brained learner further by writing a book. I wanted to be the means through which real change might occur in our current out-dated educational system regarding this learner. But I struggled. […]
Original post by applestars
My friend Jody (and hey, now that I’ve actually met her, that doesn’t sound so weird!) is writing an article for a national magazine and is looking for anecdotes:
Has your kids’ dad done anything truly out of the ordinary to make himself a great dad? I’m looking for specific stories. For instance, one dad dug through a dumpster looking for presents that got accidentally thrown away. The stories can be sweet, heroic, or just funny. The catch is that I’m looking for stories that involve kids 6 or under. I’m trying to clear a little wiggle room with my editor so I can use stories about kids who are a little older. If you have a story you’d like to share, can you please email me at jodymace@live.com?
If I’m able to use your story, the article would be a really neat surprise gift for Father’s Day!
Thanks,
Jody Mace
Original post by paradisefound
Again, this is a continuation from my post about homemade Christmas gifts. This post highlights the book Abbey made for JoJo, who was into Indians at the time, and particularly, his bow and arrow. My creative daughter is SO clever.
Original post by applestars
As a continuation from my previous post about homemade Christmas gifts, here is the complete book that Abbey gave to William when he was really into being a knight (click on each to get larger, I think). How she does these is to ask the boys to pose in different ways with different faces that she directs, but she doesn’t tell them what it will be for, though they know the subject, obviously. Then, she finds images online and cuts out the photos and superimposes them and/or glues them onto the page. She then puts each page into a page saver and binds it.
Original post by applestars
Several homeschool bloggers have been talking about what Christmas gifts to get their children, including homemade ones, such as at Magic and Mayhem and at Tricotomania. So, I decided to share a great idea from my creative daughter for her brothers for Christmas pasts that have been true favorites from each boy who has received it.
Adam is her brother with autism who loves alphabet books and numbers. So, here are three that have been made and a glimpse inside:
Another brother with autism loves our cats, and even has created personalities for each one: Socks is the patriarch and wise one, Xena is the tough warrier female cat (yes, her name fits perfectly), Sunflash is the large, fluffy wimp and Momma’s boy, Belle is the prissy female that loves to be beautiful, and Toby is the young rogue thinking he’s all that. This brother was just into reading short chapter books, […]
Original post by applestars
Yesterday seems to have opened some sort of literary flood gate for me. I made 3,002 words before calling it quits for the night and have barely been able to function the rest of the day today because I keep wanting to write things. Not just my NaNoWriMo project, but other things too. I wrote the first poem I’ve written in a long while. I journalled in both my regular daily journal and the one I set aside specifically for matters of spiritual exploration. I started the next volume of the elementary level art history textbook I need to have done by January. I finished an article on alternative education options for a natural parenting website. I’m writing this blog post. Heck, I even wrote a letter to my Godmother I’ve been meaning to get done for weeks now. I don’t know where this is all coming from or how […]
Original post by Crunchy Mama
At times I am certain I am living life at near terminal velocity. It is practically a compulsion. I am also almost certain I am pretty incapable of slowing down much at all. I find the need to be working on about ten to the google power at the same time. Books, I’m reading, various writing projects, something in a half finished state hanging out on almost every set of knitting needles I own, homeschooling the kiddos, baking muffins, bread or both, watching my latest television obssession (currently My Own Worst Enemy– Christian Slater is soooo back!) planning the latest class or activity I’m facilitating, listening to a variety of weirdo podcasts, and the list goes on and on. So, really, in theory, adding something to my plate is probably insane. But I have never been the picture of perfect mental health. Enter NaNoWriMo.
If you aren’t familiar with this particular brand […]
Original post by Crunchy Mama
This week’s theme at Unplug Your Kids is Smooth. The girls have been working on cursive and Jack has been working on printing, so I thought I’d make up a little handwriting project.
I got out some pans and waxed paper and a variety of unwanted materials to play with. I hate wasting anything so this was a good use for the awful instant coffee that had been sitting in the cupboard. :) I also used flour for one tray (I keep non-organic, cheap flour on hand just for stuff like this and playdough) and some cheap lotion from a hotel.
If you use lotion, make sure you do it on waxed paper or a disposable product, since it will seep into dishes and pans and you won’t be able to cook/eat with them again! I have an old black cookie sheet I use for this stuff, too.
I used some Handwriting Without […]
Original post by Alicia
I have got it. Don’t know what to do about it. Stuck.
Here’s the thing. I don’t know who my audience is. I want to communicate with other parents and love to talk about yoga and homeschooling and books and poetry and motherhood but … who is listening? I have tons to say and I want to use this forum to say it but … is anyone there?
Sigh. Please let me know if you are.
Lucy
Original post by themindfulhomeschool
As I was loitering at the children’s information desk in the library today, I leafed through a magazine from the Children’s Book Centre they had sitting on the counter. In it I came across details of a contest associated with Children’s Book Week (November 15-22). The contest deadline is December 15th and winners will be announced in April. It is open to kids in grades 2 through 6 and since school is based so firmly on age, I’m assuming you just figure out which grade you kid would be in where s/he in school. Individual kids can enter. They encourage teachers (and librarians) to use this as a basis of activities but it looks like it is not necessary for entries to come through schools. Details can be found here. And there is a link to a PDF of the entry form on that page.
It seems that in this house […]
Original post by jove
I’ve got an essay up online (and in today’s print issue) at the Christian Science Monitor about paring down. The last three grafs are a surprise addition and were not part of the original essay. They must have needed to fill a gap!
Original post by paradisefound
Assignment — Create several generalizations, then rewrite them, adding plenty of detail. (Done in one draft, unedited)
Generalization: That is one angry baby.
More Description: The newborn baby began to howl. It’s eyes were squniched shut and it’s face, was tomato red. Clenching its fists, it beat at its mother’s breasts with its hands, bawling as loud as it could. Tears ran down it’s cheeks and stained it’s onesie. The pet cat rushed across the carpet and darted under the couch, and the dog whimpered and hid in the bathroom.
Generalization: The dog was ugly.
More Description: The dog was completely bald except for a streak of hair running down its face, ubstructing its eyes. Its bald skin was covered in scabs and it looked like a walking breeding ground for fleas and ticks. The hair it had was covered in dirt and mange.
Generalization: That little girl is a brat.
More Description: “I want cookies!” […]
Original post by tribeofautodidacts
There’s some great posting going on over at the *shiny-brand-NEW* Christian Unschooling website. I am so honored to have been invited to actually contribute articles to this project now and then. The purpose of all the homeschooling writers that are contributing to the site is simply to offer:
Encouragement and resources for Christian unschooling, relaxed/eclectic home educating families–living in freedom in Christ.
I pray that it does so…
Heather at An Untraditional Home wrote an article recently posted, Confessions of a Homeschool Mama, in which she concedes,
Dare I say that we, despite our plans and ideals, are unschoolers?
Heh. And I just had to smile when I read it, as I could have written the same line. It seems to be the story of our entire homeschooling career! Me- planning like mad each summer and Fall, and then life happens, days slip into weeks, and my plans and schedules are trumped by one unplanned […]
Original post by Beth
You girls can register and play at this site. Afterwards, please write up a review for my blog and email it to me. It should have an intro sentence where you give an idea about whether you recommend it and what it is, a paragraph about what the site is about and what you like or don’t like, and a conclusion where you summarize in one sentence.
It looks like fun. Let me know what you think.
http://www.mypopstudio.com/
Here is an example of a review:
Parsley is a healthy herb and tastes good. Parsley is a green plant that you can eat. Lots of people grow it in their gardens. It tastes pretty mild and it makes dinners look fancy when you put a sprig of it on the plate. You can even chew it to get rid of bad breath! It’s easy to grow and […]
Original post by Alicia
Outside My Window… It’s a rainy morning. The pepper plants and marigolds that I transplanted over the weekend, from the garden boxes down by the apple tree, to a new bed here in the backyard, with a bit more shade, are looking much happier in their new home.
I am thinking… I’m trying to be more disciplined and consistent with my writing. Thus, even though it’s a day late, I’m still posting my weekly daybook here, on Tuesday. I also entered my last entry, livid in the library, into a carnival, which is a first for me. Renae did such a beautiful job of hosting the 139th Carnival of Homeschooling Edition this week. I just love her Women’s Independence Day theme. Be sure and check out the wonderful posts at the HS Carival if you get a chance sometime this week, or whenever.
I am thankful for… the rain, a wonderfully thoughtful […]
Original post by Beth
I can proudly say that I am not one of those home schooling moms who’ll make you feel intimidated and overwhelmed. My kids aren’t making their way through all the great classics, translating Latin, or winning geography bees. But they are — in most respects — right where I think they “should” be. James who is almost 10 is essentially just starting to master basic writing, grammar & spelling. Before I became acquainted with unschooling and Charlotte Mason, I would have been embarrassed to admit this. But I see things differently now.
James has really never done any writing except for occasional captions for his pictures and comics. He is a prolific artist (mostly monsters and dark creatures), a competent reader, an enthusiastic storyteller, and a kid who’s been able to give detailed, articulate narrations since about he was about 6. But he likes scratching out even a few sentences […]
Original post by tribeofautodidacts
Jack has been asking for kindergarten every day this week and so I’ve made time to do something special each day. We’ve made cakes, read books, done leaf rubbings and so on.
Yesterday he said he wanted to make paper dolls. We decided to do them freehand and I asked if he’d like alien or monster paper dolls. Both, he said!
It turns out that aliens don’t wear clothes anyway, so they were pretty easy paper dolls in that sense. They became quite a family production though.
I gave Jack some lavender cardstock to make his first alien. I gave him a glass to trace for the head. He needed to make extra heads though, since aliens have three. Of course!
Then he drew the body and we cut it out.
Even the baby helped.
Okay, help might be a stretch.
Now, he said, we need to make some alien babies. Aliens have 8 babies at a […]
Original post by Alicia
A few weeks ago, a woman who runs a Little House on the Prairie web site asked Victoria if she’d be willing to write up a guest blog entry about meeting the Greenbush Twins last month. Victoria jumped at the chance and finally got her entry written and emailed in yesterday. Here it is if you want to take a peek.
The essay was great for homeschooling besides just being a neat thing for Victoria. We went over how to write an outline, how to plan the body of the article, what sorts of things to say and how to edit to make it flow better.
We’d been so busy with camping, the latest play, swimming lessons, sleepovers and such that it took a while for Victoria to write it. I helped her write a rough draft Sunday night and we had Daddy take a look yesterday morning. I thought he helped […]
Original post by Alicia
It’s 5:20 AM!, and I’ve been awake for well over an hour now. I laid in bed for almost 40 minutes, trying to go back to sleep, but to no avail. My mind was whirling with thoughts, composing them, winding words onto skeins of memory, hoping that I could even find them to explore and ravel later, these prose lacking cohesive meaning. I deliberated over whether or not to risk waking baby S, whether to get up and write them out, lest they disappear with my consciousness if I sleep- elusive and so easily lost they are, like grasping at wind, trying to hold onto light. I was wishing that I had one of those writer’s pens with a light, but wondering would that even work, without waking S and Chris, both obliviously snoozing on either side of me… and so, as the thoughts piled and sleeping I was not, […]
Original post by Beth
Hey, I thought I should put some of my writing up from last school year before this school year begins.
I don’t rememeber when I wrote this, but I had really fun writing it.
Elliot, My Friend
Elliot is my favorite nephew. He is 7 month old, and lives about an hour away from me. Elliot is very short; he’s a baby. He is also really chubby. My mom calls him “thunder thighs”. He has very little, but he don’t doesn’t care. Even thoguh he has light red hair, bright blue eyes, abd pale white skin, he doesn’t look like an American flag. You know he thinks you’re funny when he pulls back is lip and “sniffs” at you. Elliot isn’t always happy. His lonely cry makes you want to pick him up and hug him. Once you’ve picked him, he smiles at you really big. Elliot loves being held, espacially by […]
Original post by learningon
Dreaming of finishing that novel and getting a six-figure advance and accolades? Sure, it happens, but author Laurie Halse Anderson has a reality check for you in her blog post, Cold Hard Facts About the Writing Life. If you’ve ever considered penning your own manuscript this is worth a read, as is the collection of comments.
Original post by paradisefound
From Googol Learning…
Crazy 4 Math Contest Deadline July 30th
The Crazy 4 Math Contest is once again receiving entries from all over the world, showing that mathematics, the universal language, is enjoyed by children everywhere.
This annual contest was founded in 2005 to help students keep up their math skills over the summer. Research indicates that children lose math skills over the summer. But this does not need to be the case. Math skills can actually advance! Summer is the perfect time for children to experience the wonder of learning by exploring and developing new interests. It’s also a chance for them to discover that learning happens all the time, not just in school.
To enter the Crazy 4 Math Contest, children simply have to describe how they use math in an activity they enjoy. Entries must be submitted online by July 30th at www.Crazy4Math.com. The goal is to generate a free […]
Original post by Alicia
Victoria and Daryl joined the Greenbush Twins’ (the girls who played Carrie on the Little House TV series) fan list online together last year when Victoria played Carrie in the local Wilder pageant. Victoria got chatting with them and sent them information about the pageant, and they contacted Walnut Grove and will be coming as special guests. She asked them if she could interview them before their visit and Rachel said yes. Victoria emailed her the questions and Rachel emailed her answers back.
Victoria turned the interview in to our local paper yesterday. The editor said he would like to interview Victoria soon about the whole experience too!
Here’s her interview.
My Interview with Rachel Lindsey, AKA Carrie on the “Little House on the Prairie” TV show.
By Victoria Bayer, age 10
(Note: Rachel and her twin sister, Sidney, played the role of Carrie. The Greenbush twins are visiting Walnut […]
Original post by Alicia