Painting Planets

Sharing a little school time with our neighbor.




Solar system art! Good times.

Ah, the cycle of life

First things first...

Change of Season, thankfully

I'm excited to be about springtime business. We're having sunny adventures and enjoying "new life".

A Series of Homeschooling Lessons - Intro

Since I've just returned from the Mid-west Homeschool Conference , I would like to pour over the notes I took and organize my thoughts.

The plan is to review my notes from speakers I saw and heard in person and then to listen to and blog about the audio CDs that we purchased. From my perspective, I see valuable wisdom to be gained from those who have persevered through homeschooling for years. At the same time, we don't need to look to "professionals" to tell us how to teach, even professional homeschoolers. We don't look for the answers to our questions, we look for ideas and wisdom.

The first review is from Dr. Susan Wise Bauer's talk entitled, "Educating Our Own Minds: How to Teach Ourselves as We Teach Our Kids".

Summarizing the points that Dr. Bauer made:

*On Reading

Reading is a 3-level process
- The "grammar stage" - grasp and understanding
- The "logic stage" - evaluate for logic and truth
- The "rhetoric stage" - form opinions

Teach yourself and then your children to take the time to study and read something for a period of time before you form strong opinions.

She recommended reading and studying every subject chronologically. Dr. Bauer suggested studying one subject at a time and progressing chronologically through the subject so that you can see one idea build upon another. Over time, ideas will grow and change within a culture as a whole and many times you can see a progression of thought.

*On Self-education:

Take time to educate yourself several days a week so that you are growing.

Her tips:
- Morning is the best time to read (she suggested Plato!)
- Start short and build to longer readings (if possible)
- Don't schedule study every day
- Never check your email first

*On Cultural Ideas about Reading and Learning

Reading speed is not as important as comprehension and enlightenment.

Don't fall prey to the 'factory mindset' of learning: speed, efficiency and production being the greatest goals.

Giving Thanks

What a grand morning! I have been listening to a short story featured on Nancy Leigh DeMoss' radio program (via podcast) that I must share with my kids. Today.
I have been waging war against ingratitude as of late. This is a timely story for our family. It really complements the message of "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp. I'm trailing behind many friends who have finished the book. But, thank you to my friends that have suggested it to me!
Today, I suggest that you listen to this short story (with your kids) which will warm your heart! It is a Thanksgiving broadcast, but not themed around the holiday - only the message of giving thanks!
(Start the short story at the 11:45 marker on the broadcast. Windows Media marks the time.)

Not a Tragedy

So many times, we can lament the growth of healthy chilren as though it's tragic. They will (hopefully) grow into a new shoe size, outgrow their bikes, become more and more independent. I have to remind myself that these are good changes. It's easy to begin thinking that something healthy is tragic.

As I recently learned from GK Chesterton, even death by starvation is not so tragic as death itself.

I'm learning what true tragedy is - a lack or loss of life. I want my home to full of life...growing, changing, and yes, even becoming independent of Mom.

Sleigh Dumping

Winter fun...or as John boy calls it - sleigh dumping!