Thoughts on Core phase, that is. If you aren't familiar with the term, read A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver Demille. The core phase is the most basic phase all people need to have in their learning. It is best done in the earliest years at home with parents. This is the time when basic core values and morals are taught; "right/wrong, good/bad, true/false, relationships, family values especially spiritual culture, family identity including family history and mission, family routines and responsibilities, accountability, value and love of work and play" taken from Leadership Education, the Phases of Learning by Oliver and Rachel Demille.
In our efforts to implement this type of education in our home and family, my girls and I have basically been working on our Core Phase this year. There are a few bright days but lots of others where it's obvious we need to continue to work on it. And that's just it! It's a phase we never leave. We work on it all the days of our lives.
One of the things we do daily is to have a devotional in which we sing a hymn, pray, recite a scripture we are memorizing that coordinates with our monthly theme, say the pledge of allegiance, and write in our journals. We take turns picking the hymn to be sung and often we discuss, after singing it, how it can tie into our monthly theme or pick vocabulary words from it to look up.
Last month, our theme for March was virtue, specifically moral goodness. My daughter, C, chose to sing #307 In Our Lovely Deseret. As we looked at it and began to talk about it I was struck that the entire song is a list of things to be learned in our Core Phase. We quickly got out a piece of paper and began listing all of those things. My daughter then asked if she could make all of us a poster of those things to hang in our rooms to remind us of the things we need to be working on each and every day. This is one time when Inspiration spoke to all of us, and we heard it!
Showing posts with label Leadership Education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Leadership Education. Show all posts
Monday, April 07, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
My Book List
I have seen a few other people do this on their blogs and I thought it was a good idea. If I post my list of to read/have read books here then I will always know where to look. If I just try to keep track of my scrap of paper. . . .it will be lost in a day or two.
I'm hoping that by keeping this list I will be able to also write in future posts about some of these books as I read them.
*Green indicates that I have read, Red indicates that I have read to the children.
Potok, The Chosen(?)
Bronte, Jane Eyre(?)
Stratton-Porter, Laddie
Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice
Austen, Pride and Prejudice
Bastiat, What is Seen and What is Not Seen*
Johnson & Johnson, The One Minute Teacher
Covey, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Dickens, Great Expectations
Frank, Alas Babylon
Gardner, Multiple Intelligences*
Gatto, The 7 Lesson School Teacher*
Harward, A Market-Based Education
Holt, How Children Learn
Kavanaugh, Spiritual Lives of the Great Composers
Lewis, The Abolition of Man
Noebel, Understanding the Times
Hugo, Les Miserables
Shakespeare, five plays
Stowe, Uncle Tom's Cabin
Strauss and Howe, The Fourth Turning
Thoreau, Walden
Wister, The Virginian(* = articles found in the books Bastiat, Essays on Political Economy & Gatto, Dumbing Us Down)
Ten Boom, The Hiding Place(2007)
Monnett, Awakening to Our Awful Situation
Skousen, The 5000 Year Leap
Campbell, Eve and the Choice Made in Eden(2005)
Wilcox, Fire in the Bones(2006)
Lossing, Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence
Monnett, Revealed Educational Principles and the Public Schools(2007)
Lundstrom, Motherhood, A Partnership with God
DeMille, A Thomas Jefferson Education(2007)
Moody, Shaking the Nickel Bush(2007)
Aldrich, A Lantern in her Hand(2007)
Gaskell, Ruth(2007)
Gaskell, Wives and Daughters
Gaskell, North and South
Marshall, A Man Called Peter(2005?)
Marshall, Christy(2007)
Marshall, Beyond Ourselves(2004?)
Wallace, Ben Hur
L'amour, The Walking Drum(2007-family read aloud)
L'amour, The Lonesome Gods(2007-family read aloud)
L'amour, Bendigo Shafter (2007-family read aloud)
Keller, The Story of My Life(2007)
Van Dyke, The Other Wise Man
Hansen, Running With Angels(2007)
Robinson, Believing Christ(?)
Robinson, Following Christ(?)
Philbrick, Revenge of the Whale(2005)
Mandino, The Christ Commission(?)
Grandma Moses, My Life's History
The American Story
The Romance of North America
Holt, Exiled(2006)
History of the United States
To read with the kids:
Alcott, Little Women(2007)
Alcott, Little Men
Alcott, Jo's Boys
Lamb's Tales from Shakespeare
Rawls, Summer of the Monkeys(2008)
Rawls, Where the Red Fern Grows
Moody,Little Britches(2007)
Moody, Mary Emma and Company(2007)
Rinaldi, The Fifth of March(2008)
Rinaldi, A Break with Charity(2008)
Speare, The Calico Captive(2008)
Hale, The Princess Academy(2008)
Speare, The Witch of Blackbird Pond(2006?)
Wilder, Little House (series)(2007-8)
Wyss, Swiss Family Robinson
Dumas, Count of Monte Cristo
Twain, The Prince and the Pauper
Porter, Pollyanna
Porter, Just David(2008)
Burnett, A Little Princess
Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables(2007)
Speare, The Bronze Bow(2007-8, family read aloud)
Spyri, Heidi
Burnett, The Secret Garden
George, My Side of the Mountain (series)
Stevenson, Treasure Island
Swift, Gulliver's Travels
Forbes, Johnny Tremain
Crane, The Red Badge of Courage
Twain, Tom Sawyer
Twain, Huck Finn
Collodi, Pinnochio
Nordhoff, Mutiny on the Bounty
I'm hoping that by keeping this list I will be able to also write in future posts about some of these books as I read them.
*Green indicates that I have read, Red indicates that I have read to the children.
Potok, The Chosen(?)
Bronte, Jane Eyre(?)
Stratton-Porter, Laddie
Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice
Austen, Pride and Prejudice
Bastiat, What is Seen and What is Not Seen*
Johnson & Johnson, The One Minute Teacher
Covey, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Dickens, Great Expectations
Frank, Alas Babylon
Gardner, Multiple Intelligences*
Gatto, The 7 Lesson School Teacher*
Harward, A Market-Based Education
Holt, How Children Learn
Kavanaugh, Spiritual Lives of the Great Composers
Lewis, The Abolition of Man
Noebel, Understanding the Times
Hugo, Les Miserables
Shakespeare, five plays
Stowe, Uncle Tom's Cabin
Strauss and Howe, The Fourth Turning
Thoreau, Walden
Wister, The Virginian(* = articles found in the books Bastiat, Essays on Political Economy & Gatto, Dumbing Us Down)
Ten Boom, The Hiding Place(2007)
Monnett, Awakening to Our Awful Situation
Skousen, The 5000 Year Leap
Campbell, Eve and the Choice Made in Eden(2005)
Wilcox, Fire in the Bones(2006)
Lossing, Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence
Monnett, Revealed Educational Principles and the Public Schools(2007)
Lundstrom, Motherhood, A Partnership with God
DeMille, A Thomas Jefferson Education(2007)
Moody, Shaking the Nickel Bush(2007)
Aldrich, A Lantern in her Hand(2007)
Gaskell, Ruth(2007)
Gaskell, Wives and Daughters
Gaskell, North and South
Marshall, A Man Called Peter(2005?)
Marshall, Christy(2007)
Marshall, Beyond Ourselves(2004?)
Wallace, Ben Hur
L'amour, The Walking Drum(2007-family read aloud)
L'amour, The Lonesome Gods(2007-family read aloud)
L'amour, Bendigo Shafter (2007-family read aloud)
Keller, The Story of My Life(2007)
Van Dyke, The Other Wise Man
Hansen, Running With Angels(2007)
Robinson, Believing Christ(?)
Robinson, Following Christ(?)
Philbrick, Revenge of the Whale(2005)
Mandino, The Christ Commission(?)
Grandma Moses, My Life's History
The American Story
The Romance of North America
Holt, Exiled(2006)
History of the United States
To read with the kids:
Alcott, Little Women(2007)
Alcott, Little Men
Alcott, Jo's Boys
Lamb's Tales from Shakespeare
Rawls, Summer of the Monkeys(2008)
Rawls, Where the Red Fern Grows
Moody,Little Britches(2007)
Moody, Mary Emma and Company(2007)
Rinaldi, The Fifth of March(2008)
Rinaldi, A Break with Charity(2008)
Speare, The Calico Captive(2008)
Hale, The Princess Academy(2008)
Speare, The Witch of Blackbird Pond(2006?)
Wilder, Little House (series)(2007-8)
Wyss, Swiss Family Robinson
Dumas, Count of Monte Cristo
Twain, The Prince and the Pauper
Porter, Pollyanna
Porter, Just David(2008)
Burnett, A Little Princess
Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables(2007)
Speare, The Bronze Bow(2007-8, family read aloud)
Spyri, Heidi
Burnett, The Secret Garden
George, My Side of the Mountain (series)
Stevenson, Treasure Island
Swift, Gulliver's Travels
Forbes, Johnny Tremain
Crane, The Red Badge of Courage
Twain, Tom Sawyer
Twain, Huck Finn
Collodi, Pinnochio
Nordhoff, Mutiny on the Bounty
Books, Books, Books!
How I love books! I have been a reader of books all my life. It has taken me many years however to come to the point where I want to be much more selective of the books that I read.
Since being introduced to TJEd, the types of books I do read and want to read has changed quite a bit. I stopped reading romance-type novels(trashy) over 15 years ago, trying very hard to read historical novels that weren't smut-filled. They were a pleasant way to pass the time or reward myself when the work was done. Now, I long to read for the purpose of learning new things and opening my mind, expanding my understanding. The list of books I want to read has expanded as well. You know the song,"Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend"? For me, please change Diamonds to Books and it will be much more accurate.
I had the great opportunity last year to take home boxes of books that came out of my Grandfather's basement. Some of them had been his father's and grandfather's and some my Grandmother's and her mother's. So I have a large selection of books to peruse. Some of the most interesting ones I have found are:
A Progressive Course in Spelling by J.N. Hunt, copyright 1904(wondering if I should use this in homeschool?)
Treasure Island-given to my dad for Christmas in 1954
The History of the United States(my grandmother's text from high school or college), copyright 1924
Business Law for Business Men and Students,(my great grandfather's book-college in Iowa?), copyright 1901
Agriculture for Beginners(my grandfather's book), copyright 1903
A tiny, suedebound, 3x4 copy of Thanatopsis and Other Poems, by William Cullen Bryant, no date, (My great grandmother's)
I have loved looking through these books and seeing my ancestors annotations. My grandma and her mother were especially fond of writing in the margins of their books. It is neat to see what things caught their attention and to read their notes in their own handwriting. My husband abhors writing in books, but I think these books are a treasure. I'm compiling a list of what I'd like to read and including many of these wonderful old books.
Since being introduced to TJEd, the types of books I do read and want to read has changed quite a bit. I stopped reading romance-type novels(trashy) over 15 years ago, trying very hard to read historical novels that weren't smut-filled. They were a pleasant way to pass the time or reward myself when the work was done. Now, I long to read for the purpose of learning new things and opening my mind, expanding my understanding. The list of books I want to read has expanded as well. You know the song,"Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend"? For me, please change Diamonds to Books and it will be much more accurate.
I had the great opportunity last year to take home boxes of books that came out of my Grandfather's basement. Some of them had been his father's and grandfather's and some my Grandmother's and her mother's. So I have a large selection of books to peruse. Some of the most interesting ones I have found are:
A Progressive Course in Spelling by J.N. Hunt, copyright 1904(wondering if I should use this in homeschool?)
Treasure Island-given to my dad for Christmas in 1954
The History of the United States(my grandmother's text from high school or college), copyright 1924
Business Law for Business Men and Students,(my great grandfather's book-college in Iowa?), copyright 1901
Agriculture for Beginners(my grandfather's book), copyright 1903
A tiny, suedebound, 3x4 copy of Thanatopsis and Other Poems, by William Cullen Bryant, no date, (My great grandmother's)
I have loved looking through these books and seeing my ancestors annotations. My grandma and her mother were especially fond of writing in the margins of their books. It is neat to see what things caught their attention and to read their notes in their own handwriting. My husband abhors writing in books, but I think these books are a treasure. I'm compiling a list of what I'd like to read and including many of these wonderful old books.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
A Mother's Educational Course
Just thought of another thing I'm doing this year. As you may know I'm interested in gaining a better education for myself. I ran across a link to this website last year and did a half-hearted attempt at following it. This year I'm going to give it a better go! I think it dove-tails nicely into the TJEd Principle of You, not them. And I love the fact that we are reading A Thomas Jefferson Education as one of our education books for the year. If you've been wanting to expand your knowledge and mind a little bit, this is a great way to do that, so join in. Come on, you know you want to!
Here We Go!
Jump in, buckle up and hang on! 2008 is off and running.
As I get older I can't believe how quickly time goes by. There are so many things I want to do/see/read/experience and it feels like there just isn't time to do it all. So I'm really looking forward to 2008 to see what it brings to me and my family. I have a few 'resolutions/goals' that I'd like to work on. Most of them are just continuations of last year, but I feel very strongly that they are still important and that I need to continue to work on them. I'm trying to find ways to incorporate them into our homeschooling venture.
Speaking of homeschooling, I attended a co-op meeting and a parent support meeting last night. There are about 6 families in this co-op and it looks to be fun and interesting if not a bit hectic. I think we may have bigger plans than we have time allotted for, but we will see how it goes. I will be leading two book discussion groups, one with 10 yo and under and one with 11 yo and up. Yikes, I'm a bit nervous about that, but at least I'm not doing the science class and dissecting things.
At the second meeting got to hear some more from Donna Goff about TJEd and her experiences with it. She has been doing it with her children for nearly 14 years and has much to share. I have learned so much from reading her posts on MOO and her newsletter, Epiphanal Living, and from speaking with her personally. She is so willing to share and listen.
The boys went back to school today. I'm not sure they were ready, I know I wasn't. I remember when I used to think the Christmas vacation was way too long and now it's way too short. I find the shift in my thinking so amazing. I used to have that attitude that the world/society pushes on us; that having the kids around was a hassle and a burden and inconvenient. Since I made the decision to homeschool and have been doing it, I LOVE having my kids around and if I had my way they'd all just stay home and we'd just be together. I know they need the interaction with other people, (hence the co-op), but in my mind's eye, that would be my ideal.
J went down to Monticello two days ago to get his dental check up for his mission paperwork. I can't believe we are really at this point in his life. . . . . in my life! Again, time is just going by way too fast. He has a dr. appt on Monday and then we should be able to get it all submitted and wait for the call!
Good News of the Day: We got our Durango back! It's been in the shop for almost 2 months. It had to have a new transmission. That was a hefty bill, but it's nice to have it in working order again.
As I get older I can't believe how quickly time goes by. There are so many things I want to do/see/read/experience and it feels like there just isn't time to do it all. So I'm really looking forward to 2008 to see what it brings to me and my family. I have a few 'resolutions/goals' that I'd like to work on. Most of them are just continuations of last year, but I feel very strongly that they are still important and that I need to continue to work on them. I'm trying to find ways to incorporate them into our homeschooling venture.
Speaking of homeschooling, I attended a co-op meeting and a parent support meeting last night. There are about 6 families in this co-op and it looks to be fun and interesting if not a bit hectic. I think we may have bigger plans than we have time allotted for, but we will see how it goes. I will be leading two book discussion groups, one with 10 yo and under and one with 11 yo and up. Yikes, I'm a bit nervous about that, but at least I'm not doing the science class and dissecting things.
At the second meeting got to hear some more from Donna Goff about TJEd and her experiences with it. She has been doing it with her children for nearly 14 years and has much to share. I have learned so much from reading her posts on MOO and her newsletter, Epiphanal Living, and from speaking with her personally. She is so willing to share and listen.
The boys went back to school today. I'm not sure they were ready, I know I wasn't. I remember when I used to think the Christmas vacation was way too long and now it's way too short. I find the shift in my thinking so amazing. I used to have that attitude that the world/society pushes on us; that having the kids around was a hassle and a burden and inconvenient. Since I made the decision to homeschool and have been doing it, I LOVE having my kids around and if I had my way they'd all just stay home and we'd just be together. I know they need the interaction with other people, (hence the co-op), but in my mind's eye, that would be my ideal.
J went down to Monticello two days ago to get his dental check up for his mission paperwork. I can't believe we are really at this point in his life. . . . . in my life! Again, time is just going by way too fast. He has a dr. appt on Monday and then we should be able to get it all submitted and wait for the call!
Good News of the Day: We got our Durango back! It's been in the shop for almost 2 months. It had to have a new transmission. That was a hefty bill, but it's nice to have it in working order again.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
We Survived!
Whew!!!!!!!!!!!
We made it through another Christmas!
Everyone had a good time and no one complained about what they got or didn't get. It was a little strange for J this year. Not much for him to open since there just wasn't any point to getting him things that he would just have to box up in a couple of months and store for two years. And since he hasn't put in his papers yet and we have no idea where he will be serving, we couldn't even get him things he will need soon. So cash it was. The other kids enjoyed opening their gifts, but I think the best thing was watching S opening his gifts. He still doesn't really understand what Christmas is all about, but he liked tearing the paper and playing with the toys he got. Guess he'll get to go through all that again, next week when he turns two.
We have had a relaxing week, nothing much going on, just hanging out at home together. We did take the kids and go bowling on Wed. J bowled his best game ever, 171. He really had his work cut out for him since his 13 yo girl cousin was breathing down his neck with a 153. Fun to watch them all interact and play.
I've been busy today trying to determine what to do with Singing time tomorrow. My brain hurts from thinking and pondering it and reading a bunch of ideas online.....OUCH! But I think what I have planned will be lots of fun. I hope the kids enjoy it. The learning curve for this calling is pretty steep, especially when a person has very little music experience and/or Primary experience. I haven't taught Primary for 18 years. I've been in Nursery and been an Activity Days leader, but haven't been in Sharing and Singing time for 18 years except for a few times when I've substituted. So much to learn!
Also been busy doing more reading to plan for the resuming of studying and learning at home, more TJEd info study and C and I have also been refining our plans for our addition, which now has a deadline to be finished. Hallelujah! We have about 90 days. Of course, the actual replacement of cabinets and such won't probably be done, but the rooms will be liveable and we can get the kids moved downstairs into their new room. Can't wait to have all that space in the new dining room. I'll post pictures as it comes together.
We made it through another Christmas!
Everyone had a good time and no one complained about what they got or didn't get. It was a little strange for J this year. Not much for him to open since there just wasn't any point to getting him things that he would just have to box up in a couple of months and store for two years. And since he hasn't put in his papers yet and we have no idea where he will be serving, we couldn't even get him things he will need soon. So cash it was. The other kids enjoyed opening their gifts, but I think the best thing was watching S opening his gifts. He still doesn't really understand what Christmas is all about, but he liked tearing the paper and playing with the toys he got. Guess he'll get to go through all that again, next week when he turns two.
We have had a relaxing week, nothing much going on, just hanging out at home together. We did take the kids and go bowling on Wed. J bowled his best game ever, 171. He really had his work cut out for him since his 13 yo girl cousin was breathing down his neck with a 153. Fun to watch them all interact and play.
I've been busy today trying to determine what to do with Singing time tomorrow. My brain hurts from thinking and pondering it and reading a bunch of ideas online.....OUCH! But I think what I have planned will be lots of fun. I hope the kids enjoy it. The learning curve for this calling is pretty steep, especially when a person has very little music experience and/or Primary experience. I haven't taught Primary for 18 years. I've been in Nursery and been an Activity Days leader, but haven't been in Sharing and Singing time for 18 years except for a few times when I've substituted. So much to learn!
Also been busy doing more reading to plan for the resuming of studying and learning at home, more TJEd info study and C and I have also been refining our plans for our addition, which now has a deadline to be finished. Hallelujah! We have about 90 days. Of course, the actual replacement of cabinets and such won't probably be done, but the rooms will be liveable and we can get the kids moved downstairs into their new room. Can't wait to have all that space in the new dining room. I'll post pictures as it comes together.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Friday....whew!
Made it through another week. It's amazing to me how quickly they go by anymore. Must be a sign of my advanced age. haha!
The PALMS discussion last night was really good. I enjoyed it very much and was happy to note that the things the leader brought up to talk about were things I had made note of in my copy of the articles/essays. I guess my fear yesterday of not being able to read deeply or thoroughly was not confirmed. I love the reading I've been doing and the feeling of my mind and understanding expanding. It's something I've felt I needed for a long time but was not sure what to do about it. I knew I did not have the time or ability to attend a traditional college, but felt like I needed to be furthering my education. This is a good middle of the road approach for me. It's getting me to think and I'm even thinking of writing my thoughts(scary, I know) without costing me anything but time and there's no testing involved at this point.
Working on finishing up the laundry so that the kids and I have clean clothes to pack for our trip tomorrow. We are headed to Monticello and Bluff for Thanksgiving with my family. I believe that Thanksgiving is my FAVORITE holiday. I think it started because I love the food, but lately I love the fact that it gets skipped over by the marketing/retail world. I love that it's still a simple, faith and family-centered holiday. I pray they never figure out a way to commercialize it. I'm looking forward to spending the time with my parents and sisters and enjoying just being together. I have more gratitude this year for the understanding and light Heavenly Father has allowed me to have.
I feel so blessed.
I am.
The PALMS discussion last night was really good. I enjoyed it very much and was happy to note that the things the leader brought up to talk about were things I had made note of in my copy of the articles/essays. I guess my fear yesterday of not being able to read deeply or thoroughly was not confirmed. I love the reading I've been doing and the feeling of my mind and understanding expanding. It's something I've felt I needed for a long time but was not sure what to do about it. I knew I did not have the time or ability to attend a traditional college, but felt like I needed to be furthering my education. This is a good middle of the road approach for me. It's getting me to think and I'm even thinking of writing my thoughts(scary, I know) without costing me anything but time and there's no testing involved at this point.
Working on finishing up the laundry so that the kids and I have clean clothes to pack for our trip tomorrow. We are headed to Monticello and Bluff for Thanksgiving with my family. I believe that Thanksgiving is my FAVORITE holiday. I think it started because I love the food, but lately I love the fact that it gets skipped over by the marketing/retail world. I love that it's still a simple, faith and family-centered holiday. I pray they never figure out a way to commercialize it. I'm looking forward to spending the time with my parents and sisters and enjoying just being together. I have more gratitude this year for the understanding and light Heavenly Father has allowed me to have.
I feel so blessed.
I am.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
What we've been up to....
Yesterday we attended our monthly Princess Academy group. My girls really like it, even though they don't say much yet. It is run by Donna, who I contacted during the summer when I was trying to decide how I was going to go about this homeschooling adventure. She was very kind and met with me to give some of the benefit of her wisdom. I have appreciated being able to learn from her and participate in the Princess Academy with my girls.
There are several things we do while there, one of which is a book discussion. This month the book to be discussed was Anne of Green Gables. I have never read it myself, so although we have the movie version, we also undertook to read it. A problem surfaced, however, when I got a sinus infection and couldn't read because I a) sounded like a toad and b)coughed up my toenails whenever I used my voice too much. Enter NetLibrary. I was so happy to see that I could download the audiobook version and we could stretch out on my bed and draw and listen to someone else read to us. I imagine we will make use of this again. It frees up my hands to be able to work on things as I listen as well.
We loved the book and tried to identify our favorite parts. C couldn't pick, she loved it all. H liked the part where Anne is floating in the barge to Camelot and it sinks with her in it, leaving her stranded on the piling of the bridge. S couldn't pick either, but I think she has had a harder time comprehending what she's hearing. She's still pretty young.
We gathered at Donna's home and we began making hats on our hat looms for charity while Donna's daughter spoke to us about Rising Star Out Reach and the woman who started it. She shares with us each month about a woman of virtue. I find her 'vignettes' very inspiring and when I asked the girls if she inspired them as well, they all said yes! I am currently reading The Small Woman, about Gladys Aylward. This is the woman Julia spoke about at our first meeting in Sept. If you're curious about her, see if you can find the movie, The Inn of the Sixth Happiness, which is about her. It stars Ingrid Bergman.
After the vignette, we eat lunch, which is a potluck. It's fun to see what everyone brings, we try to make it tie into the story we have read. I asked C what we should take and she thought we should have raspberry cordial, I laughed and said maybe we should add liniment cake and plum pudding with 'mouse' sauce. We ended up googling 'Anne of Green Gables recipes' and we found a website with lots of recipes mentioned in the books. We made Mrs. Lynde's Lemon Biscuits, which turned out to be sugar cookies. Since I didn't want to take only dessert we stopped at Costco and picked up a case of Clementines to take along. While we ate, we talked about what we thought of and learned from the book. I sometimes think I do not know how to think deeply. They mention things I never saw until they point them out to me. I think I must still just read for entertainment, rather than seeking for wisdom and truth. After eating, the girls all went back to the living room and continued working on their hats, while we cleaned off the tables and prepared to leave. It's such a good time, and I'm glad my girls like going and that they are losing a bit of their initial shyness and starting to interact with the other girls. H told me yesterday that M(Donna's 9yo daughter) is one of her new best friends. I had to smile, cause she finds best friends wherever she goes.
Today we started a small unit study on Thanksgiving. We will probably be working on it for the next few days at least, if it keeps their interest that long.
Next month's book is Little Red Buckets. I need to see if I can get it at the Library.
Tonight I will be attending PALMS (Provo Area Leadership Mentoring Society). I hope I have anything worth saying. I tend to just sit and absorb what I'm hearing. It's really so great to be able to meet with others who are striving to improve their own education as well as their families and share. I'm thankful to have a group close by that makes it convenient for me to attend.
There are several things we do while there, one of which is a book discussion. This month the book to be discussed was Anne of Green Gables. I have never read it myself, so although we have the movie version, we also undertook to read it. A problem surfaced, however, when I got a sinus infection and couldn't read because I a) sounded like a toad and b)coughed up my toenails whenever I used my voice too much. Enter NetLibrary. I was so happy to see that I could download the audiobook version and we could stretch out on my bed and draw and listen to someone else read to us. I imagine we will make use of this again. It frees up my hands to be able to work on things as I listen as well.
We loved the book and tried to identify our favorite parts. C couldn't pick, she loved it all. H liked the part where Anne is floating in the barge to Camelot and it sinks with her in it, leaving her stranded on the piling of the bridge. S couldn't pick either, but I think she has had a harder time comprehending what she's hearing. She's still pretty young.
We gathered at Donna's home and we began making hats on our hat looms for charity while Donna's daughter spoke to us about Rising Star Out Reach and the woman who started it. She shares with us each month about a woman of virtue. I find her 'vignettes' very inspiring and when I asked the girls if she inspired them as well, they all said yes! I am currently reading The Small Woman, about Gladys Aylward. This is the woman Julia spoke about at our first meeting in Sept. If you're curious about her, see if you can find the movie, The Inn of the Sixth Happiness, which is about her. It stars Ingrid Bergman.
After the vignette, we eat lunch, which is a potluck. It's fun to see what everyone brings, we try to make it tie into the story we have read. I asked C what we should take and she thought we should have raspberry cordial, I laughed and said maybe we should add liniment cake and plum pudding with 'mouse' sauce. We ended up googling 'Anne of Green Gables recipes' and we found a website with lots of recipes mentioned in the books. We made Mrs. Lynde's Lemon Biscuits, which turned out to be sugar cookies. Since I didn't want to take only dessert we stopped at Costco and picked up a case of Clementines to take along. While we ate, we talked about what we thought of and learned from the book. I sometimes think I do not know how to think deeply. They mention things I never saw until they point them out to me. I think I must still just read for entertainment, rather than seeking for wisdom and truth. After eating, the girls all went back to the living room and continued working on their hats, while we cleaned off the tables and prepared to leave. It's such a good time, and I'm glad my girls like going and that they are losing a bit of their initial shyness and starting to interact with the other girls. H told me yesterday that M(Donna's 9yo daughter) is one of her new best friends. I had to smile, cause she finds best friends wherever she goes.
Today we started a small unit study on Thanksgiving. We will probably be working on it for the next few days at least, if it keeps their interest that long.
Next month's book is Little Red Buckets. I need to see if I can get it at the Library.
Tonight I will be attending PALMS (Provo Area Leadership Mentoring Society). I hope I have anything worth saying. I tend to just sit and absorb what I'm hearing. It's really so great to be able to meet with others who are striving to improve their own education as well as their families and share. I'm thankful to have a group close by that makes it convenient for me to attend.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Hey, it's May!
Wow, time flies when you're having...............fun? Is that what I've been having? I wouldn't classify it as fun, but hey, you gotta do what you gotta do.
For some reason the last two months of school always find me scrambling trying to keep up. There are so many projects due and papers due and activities to wrap up the year, and by the time the end of May comes I am WASTED, EXHAUSTED, DEAD!! This year is no exception. We've been pushing J to finish up his district packets and online course so he can graduate. I think he squeaked those in under the wire at the last minute. Then there were two required science fair projects this year. F has a big research paper type thing due tomorrow and I know he's not close to being done. I've been sewing and altering costumes for the Shakespeare play that the 8th graders are doing this year. They are doing 12th Night. M has the part of a sea captain, Antonio. He is supposed to have a sword fight, but there is talk of cutting that out and he is hoping they don't do that. That was what was most exciting for him. This week is Teacher Appreciation Week and I have been in charge of that for F's class. I have one more thing to put together for tomorrow and then that will be done. Hooray! And last but not least, I had to make my VT calls. I am learning how important it is to call your VT supervisor after doing your visiting teaching, since I find I'm having to do lots of chasing down of people to get their report. This is a particularly hard time of year with all the students moving and not calling their report in before they go. But it's done too.
The next things on my to-do list are making a couple of costumes for the girls for Shakespeare week, F too I guess, and getting pictures of J so we can make some graduation announcements.
At this point I am just trying to keep my head above water. Anyone who knows me knows that I can't stand to get water up my nose, which is why I only learned to put my face in the water without nose plugs at the age of 28 and that was for about 2 seconds. Hate that drowning feeling and I hate this one too! But this will pass.
On a brighter note, my FIL came by yesterday, in town for a few days, and framed the wall between my new dining room and mud room for me. It is so fun to be able to step out into that room and really be able to visualize the space and how it's all going to fit. So nice of him.
C is in Monticello today for a picnit for George Wythe College. They are in the process of trying to move their campus from Cedar City to Monticello. The land they have has been donated and purchased and it's on land that my father used to own. It's really such a coincidence, because C has wanted to attend that school for over 2 years now and when my parents told me that it was moving to Monticello I just chuckled. They had no idea that we had any knowledge of it. I'm really hoping that now the possibility for him to attend will open up and for our kids too. I am amazed at the 'education' they offer. Hope they have good weather for the picnic today.
For some reason the last two months of school always find me scrambling trying to keep up. There are so many projects due and papers due and activities to wrap up the year, and by the time the end of May comes I am WASTED, EXHAUSTED, DEAD!! This year is no exception. We've been pushing J to finish up his district packets and online course so he can graduate. I think he squeaked those in under the wire at the last minute. Then there were two required science fair projects this year. F has a big research paper type thing due tomorrow and I know he's not close to being done. I've been sewing and altering costumes for the Shakespeare play that the 8th graders are doing this year. They are doing 12th Night. M has the part of a sea captain, Antonio. He is supposed to have a sword fight, but there is talk of cutting that out and he is hoping they don't do that. That was what was most exciting for him. This week is Teacher Appreciation Week and I have been in charge of that for F's class. I have one more thing to put together for tomorrow and then that will be done. Hooray! And last but not least, I had to make my VT calls. I am learning how important it is to call your VT supervisor after doing your visiting teaching, since I find I'm having to do lots of chasing down of people to get their report. This is a particularly hard time of year with all the students moving and not calling their report in before they go. But it's done too.
The next things on my to-do list are making a couple of costumes for the girls for Shakespeare week, F too I guess, and getting pictures of J so we can make some graduation announcements.
At this point I am just trying to keep my head above water. Anyone who knows me knows that I can't stand to get water up my nose, which is why I only learned to put my face in the water without nose plugs at the age of 28 and that was for about 2 seconds. Hate that drowning feeling and I hate this one too! But this will pass.
On a brighter note, my FIL came by yesterday, in town for a few days, and framed the wall between my new dining room and mud room for me. It is so fun to be able to step out into that room and really be able to visualize the space and how it's all going to fit. So nice of him.
C is in Monticello today for a picnit for George Wythe College. They are in the process of trying to move their campus from Cedar City to Monticello. The land they have has been donated and purchased and it's on land that my father used to own. It's really such a coincidence, because C has wanted to attend that school for over 2 years now and when my parents told me that it was moving to Monticello I just chuckled. They had no idea that we had any knowledge of it. I'm really hoping that now the possibility for him to attend will open up and for our kids too. I am amazed at the 'education' they offer. Hope they have good weather for the picnic today.
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