She Reads

Once again "Spell to Write and Read" proves itself.

She reads!

My daughter, who is turning five next week, is reading! I'd forgotten over the past four years (since her older brother learned) the feeling of elation that comes with hearing those first words go from page to brain and pop out the mouth! She's enthralled with books and bounding with excitement.

And finally she's interested in "Between the Lions", the PBS phonics program that I religiously taped when son was in preschool. Great for 90+ degree days!

Unlike when son first read, daughter is reaping the benefits of homeschool experience and homeschool conventions. Instead of tripe to read, we're enjoying the likes of the McGuffey Readers, the Pictorial Primer, and the New England Primer. And this is only the beginning!

Celebrating Tasha Tudor Day

I have to admit, looking at Tasha Tudor artwork "awes" me. It is so delicate and beautiful! When I had a little girl, I renewed my interest in Tasha Tudor books; remembering my Mama and how she always wanted to dress me up like the artwork in the books!

I haven't given the artist, who just passed away this June, that much thought as I've grown older, but when I saw, over at Author Fiesta, an announcement for this date, I was excited. I only wish I had more of her books! I've done a bit of research and link-following and been inspired! So, while I read the books we have to the kids today, play in the garden, and share a tea party with them, I'll dream of all things "Tasha" and hope some of it rubs off on them (especially daughter!).

Here are a couple of links you may find interesting:

The Tudor Family Website and Store
Tasha Tudor Notebooking Pages

Mt. Comfort/Indy Air Show!

After living here in Indy for nearly four years, we finally made the effort to attend the Mt. Comfort/Indy Air Show! This airshow "ain't" your small town, county air show. "Really huge" about sums it up. I've never seen so many interesting aircraft in one place. The children were in awe.

Now, the heat of the day was oppressive. The noise was thrilling. The crowd was plentiful. But there was more...

An experience that not everyone gets: to meet not one, but ten WWII veterans; survivors of the USS Indianapolis (sitting the length of the table behind my son in the picture to the left) which was torpedoed and sunk toward the end of the war. Nine hundred men lost their lives aboard that ship that day, yet these survivors, all in their 80's cheerily told us how glad they were to be at the airshow! They spoke of their wives and children; of lying about their age to join up, and about a book that they had collectively written about their experience--a harrowing tale indeed.

We excitedly filled our children in on what their presence meant. We told our oldest son about this chance he was getting that would probably never come again. A chance that is a rare bit of history in the making. The opportunity to shake the hands of men who should have died, but lived a lifetime as heroes of a long ago war. What a thrill...for all of us.

But there was more! We saw all the usual acrobatics of various aircraft, as well as all kinds of displays of weapons (son was thrilled!) and uniforms. There was possibly too much. My favorite plane though? The Raptor!

Now, my husband's head is full of all the boy junk you can possibly imagine. He can recognize the make and model of every car, airplane and motorcycle ever made (even from the sound of their engine!). But even he was taken back by the presence of the F22 Raptor. Now, this jet was big and loud and maneuvered like nobody's business. This being a "show", we all cheered and exclaimed how "totally cool" this jet was, but the grown up in me also was quite humbled by a machine of war. A weapon. Plain and simple. Husband and I could not help but speak of the pro-military effects of a show like this. Lest we forget...

I highly recommend attending this air show if you ever get the chance! We hope to go back every year.

The God of All Comfort...Indeed!

I guess you all have figured out that I'm a huge fan of Steven Curtis Chapman. After the accident, in May, that took his youngest daughter home to be with the Lord, I've been even more endeared to them and their ministry. I've prayed, checked up on them as much as I could, prayed some more and passed on relevant links. Here is the latest series of interviews now airing on Focus on the Family. The 2nd part is today, third tomorrow. You will be able to hear them all here.

Carnival of Homeschooling: Women's Independence Day

Be sure to check out the Women's Independence Day issue of the Carnival of Homeschooling. Renae has done a fabulous job putting a very full carnival together! In case you've never checked out a carnival, it's like a compilation of homeschool blogger's most recent best posts. Not always on topic, but fit to the constant theme of sharing homeschooling tips, experiences, and resources. You're sure to find many gems!

And, with this week's theme, be sure to reflect on your 19th amendment right to vote! And go vote in...

70 days!

Review: "Hitty: Her First Hundred Years"

I had absolutely no idea what "Hitty: Her First Hundred Years" was about when I took it off my shelf to read. I had purchased it by author, Rachel Field, per the recommendation of Jan Bloom's book, "Who Should We Then Read". By author, is how I buy most of my "old" books.

I had purchased this book at a library book sale. It is a hard back and like brand new. From the markings, I can tell the library bought it in January of 2001. I know I bought it last year, so it sat on their shelf for seven years. It truly looks as if it were never touched. The amazing, and yet sad, thing about that is that it is a really, good book! One that I wish I'd known of when I was a young girl.

Hitty is a very, real doll, discovered by author Rachel Field, in an antique shop in New York City (1927). The story (a Newbery winner) is Hitty writing her memoirs of her hundred years. She is now on display in a library museum! You can see more pictures, like those above, of her here. At only 6 1/2 inches tall, she saw much! It is amazing to see history unfold around her as she experiences everything from riding the high seas on a whaling ship, to being lost in a hay loft for many years! She rides the Mississippi on a steamboat and witnesses the effects of the Civil War.

There are a few elements of faith in the book as Hitty once belongs to a God fearing little girl, and even the daughter of missionaries. The children, and adults, she encounters are far from perfect, which lends this book to great discussion and character lessons. Hitty has great, even exciting, adventures, that will keep children interested. It is really well-written. Obviously not watered down language of the current era.

I'm always thrilled to find a children's book of such high caliber. I even enjoy reading them just for myself. After all, so much written for adults is garbage! If you are looking for a great book to share with your kids, try "Hitty". There is no reason a boy wouldn't also enjoy it!

Prayer Journal for Kids

I'm still working on Bible resources and am adding these prayer journaling pages for our notebook. Our focus this year is on praying scripture, but we've also studied and learned about praying like Jesus prayed (The Lord's Prayer), so we will use both pages alternately.

My children are very thoughtful in their young prayers, so I'm encouraged to teach them more about the power that comes with those prayers and the power that is the Living Word of God!

Leading Ideas

I've been revisiting some of the basics of Biblical Principle Approach as I continue to work on developing our Bible lessons. In particular, discovering leading ideas in passages of scripture. I am, by no means, an authority, however I have gleaned enough from other BPA sources and friends to be dangerous!

So, what is a leading idea? According to the Foundations for American Christian Education (FACE), "A Leading Idea...is an idea that leads the reasoner down a pathway." This comes from researching the word "lead" in Webster's 1828 Dictionary. Some might argue that there is not much difference between a leading idea and a Biblical principle. They could be the same, however a principle will not be as "passage specific".

I really enjoyed Mandi's (can't find the specific post) write-up on "how to tell if you have found a principle" (or a timeless truth, as she calls it). Basically, she asks the questions...

1. Is it a statement about God's character? God never changes.
2. Is it reinforced in the New Testament? Then it's transcultural.
3. Is it a statement about the nature of man? We're still sinners.
4. Is the original audience very broad? Transcultural again.
5. Is it a reason for something? Reasons are often principles.
6. Is it given as a superlative statement? Always, never, everything...etc.

A great resource that I have, and hope to use more is, The Encyclopedia of Bible Truths, by Ruth Haycock. I can't even begin to explain to you all that is in the now four-volume set. Suffice it to say, it gives Biblical leading ideas, through scripture, for most areas of study.

Personally, my objective is not only to teach Biblical principles and foundations, but to more thoroughly examine the heart issues of our daily walk with Him who is greater than all our sin. I say "our", because this as much involves myself, as my children!

I made up a leading idea sheet for our notebooking, to cover our growth through these scriptural leading ideas. The second page can be copied multiple times as you continue your Bible reading. I wrote this, at the top of the first page, so I wouldn't 'forget' what we were doing!:

A Leading Idea is an idea that leads the reasoner down a pathway.
It is a thought that stands out in every single passage of God's Word.
It is always true.
It might be different each time you read the passage
(because of the leading and teaching of the Holy Spirit).
And, it will always spur you on to reflection, prayer, and action.

Project Up

We are soon to finish our third week of school and I've been feeling a bit restless. For someone who is very project-driven, to have months of school planning take off means I've got a clean "project" slate. This could be bad!

There is always the usual tweaking to be done with our school lessons, but I'm beginning to smell the winter craft bug. Images of crocheting, scrapbooking, baking, and rug making are filling my head. This is not a good thing! I have too much day-to-day homekeeping that I haven't mastered.

My typical reaction is shut-down mode. This is where, instead of continuing to be productive while I contemplate the future, I shut down. Zone out. Vegg. In other words, be worthless. Of course, it hasn't helped that the husband is business tripping it on the other side of the continent (more on that later). My vision isn't necessarily blurry; just my reality!

Those who know me well might tell you that I'm an all or nothing type. That would be fairly accurate. If I can't do it all, I do nothing--at least for as long as it takes me to get a grip. I'm getting a grip right now, by the way. So I start out daydreaming and end up cleaning like a tornado. Then I project plan to my heart's content! "I wanna..., I wanna..., I wanna..." is my mantra. I wanna make beautiful things. I wanna bake incredible goodies. I wanna have time for tea.

I think about my extremely creative and industrious grandmother and I sigh. I love all the things she loved, and I so wish she had lived past my eleventh year. My, oh my.

By tomorrow night, I'll know whether or not I'm truly out of my ever-lovin' mind. That's when the hubby returns...And hopefully I'll have the perfect project plan, up and running. Until then, the grip-getting continues...the tornado cleaning begins!

Why is that scrapbook table looking at me like that?

The History of Children's Literature

I stumbled across an interesting site recently, and had to share. It's a really neat telling of the history of children's literature. Personally, I can't get enough of the really good (aka "old") stuff! If you are a children's bibliophile, like myself, you'll find this interesting!

Abe Lincoln Visits Indiana

About a week ago, we were honored to attend the re-enactment of Abraham Lincoln's famous visit to Indianapolis in 1861, while on his way to Washington after being elected President. The speech was given on the steps of the State House and was hosted by the then governor of Indiana, Oliver Morton. After Lincoln's speech, a reporter questioned Lincoln and his responses were heard by all.

This re-enactment was so fun. They took great care with the details, (except that it actually took place on a cold, snowy, February day) including a world-renown Lincoln impersonator by the name of Fritz Klein. He was incredible! (If you ever get a chance to see him, you won't be sorry!) Both my children were mesmerized, which is saying a lot considering the speech was political, the sun was in our eyes, and daughter is just four. We were sad that there wasn't a bigger crowd, and that there were hardly any children, but some schools here had already started.

Having the governor and the reporter (actors) also present was like the icing on the cake. It made the experience a lot more real. Everyone seemed to really enjoy it and since we are deep into our Civil War studies, I was very curious to hear what the President-elect had to say on a few issues. Very interesting stuff.

After the event, we headed to the Indiana Historical Society for the afternoon. They had Lincoln crafts, Civil War & Lincoln exhibits and a great picnic spot on the canal, that we enjoy. This was all part of the Lincoln Bicentennial celebrating 200 years of Abraham Lincoln.

Next, we'll be heading to Springfield, IL (sometime this fall) to visit his home there. We've already been to Lincoln State Park in southern Indiana. That was a lot of fun too!

Updating Our Bible Time

I've put myself through the ringer about our Bible time. The first week of lessons, it became clear something had to change. To say I was dissatisfied about covers it. I love our "Judah Bible Curriculum", specifically the scope and sequence. However, what we have done the past two years (routinely) was not coming together with daughter now in the mix.

Some things have been greatly on my heart as of late: having son develop his own time of study, devotion and prayer, leading towards his own quiet times and his growing in his relationship with the Lord, and continuing to teach more directly character and habit. I've also not felt right about having separate Bible times for the kids. As I debated possibly replacing what we did last year with something else, a friend spoke wise words which set me free: "Don't be a slave to anything! Especially curriculum." Amen, Sister!

So, I determined that my newly directed focus (hopefully from the Lord!) would indeed provide son, and daughter, with the things on my heart. Here is our revised plan:

Monday
Read: "Child's Story Bible"--absolutely fabulous, by the way!
Narrate: daughter first/then son
Daughter: Coloring page
Discuss: story (background)
Read: "Our Young Folk's Josephus: (for historic context--here, or 1st thing Tuesday.)

Tuesday
Read: Bible passage
Narrate
Daughter: Coloring page (cont'.)
Write: Memory verse (to card)
Daughter: Trace/copy memory verse
List: Key words from passage

Wednesday
Review: Passage & history
Discuss: Character of Christ, as it relates to passage. (Biblical Principle/Theme for year)
Action: Pray memory verse (or passage)
Write: Prayer (Prayer Journal)

Thursday
Review: Books of the Bible & Habit ("Laying Down Rails") goals (review/accountability)
Habit: Focus on selected habit/Set goals
Learn: Quite Time/Bible Study (Choose one method--or aspect of method--to apply to passage.)

Friday
Overflow day. We do limit our time per day, for the sake of all so don't always get everything done!

Lost, But Not Found

There is nothing more frustrating to me than losing things. And I do it all the time. Just recently we had the tragic loss of a lovey (daughters) and now I'm suffering the tragic loss of all my winter jammers.

That's right. I cleaned out the closet and set a nice, neat stack of winter jammers in a nice, neat spot next to the Goodwill bag. You get the picture? Enter son who, with a smile on his face, offers to help Mama. Fast forward a few weeks and enter a chilly night. No jammers. I tore the room and closet apart before realizing how gone they really are.

Oh. And that's not all. Desperate me, crying over one particularly favorite old pair, drives cross town to Goodwill dump sight in "hopes" they'll still be there. Hello! Goodwill has a turnover of about a day! So if you happen across a really awesome pair of 4 yr old, red floral Eddie Bauer flannel jammers? They're mine. I want 'em back!

Record Keeping/Life Keeping

When I had children, I swore I'd keep track of all the milestones and special moments. I became an avid scrapbooker and was dedicated to my calendar where I recorded all the info.

When we began homeschooling, I didn't think about those "parenting" moments as much as I thought about the "learning" moments. I gave up the time-consuming scrapbook hobby and even quit buying my annual Mary Engelbreit wall calendar. I was counting on their notebooking for school being enough.

There were problems with this plan, however. First of all, daughter was too young for notebooking, and son wasn't likely to have the most valuable information in his math or history notebook. Something has been missing.

At the convention this year, I picked up the "Record of the Learning Lifestyle of..." Journal by the Notgrass family. This is a great spiral book which, like a calendar, allows you to daily record what your children are doing. But more importantly than that, it allows you to chart what they do in categories that visibly show areas of strength and weakness. For example, if your child has not done anything creative in a week, that space will be blank and if you are being mindful (which is the point of the book) you will realize there is an area of deficit that may need more attention.

I really love the way the categories are divided because they show each as foundationally important. They include such things as "Learning About the Thoughts of Others: Reading & Literature" and "Relating to Others: Character and Relationships". All academic subjects are covered as well as Biblical principles for growth, such as character and individuality (ie: creativity). This is also a year-long book, as opposed to a school-year record. You must also keep one for each child. How much or how little you write is up to you.

I thought that this might be too daunting of a task, but after just two weeks, I already see huge benefits. My Mommy brain is not what it used to be, and just the aspect of remembering when things happen is helpful. It's also nice to think about milestones again, such as riding a bike with no hands, or even recording special outings with Daddy. I've noticed right off how little Bible time daughter gets, compared with son.

I'm trying to take a few minutes each night to fill these in, it's hard to remember details back even a day or two. I think this will be a great resource and a good habit to keep.

So Much To Tell: Not Such A Surprise!

"Literature.": The second thing that son wrote down on his "positive reinforcement" list his first day of lessons (after proclaiming his loathing of school).

Son loves literature! It's no surprise, really. My children just love good books. The fact that he thinks he knows this story so well, since he's listened to the dramatization a hundred times! (It's really good, too!) This has not dampened his enthusiasm to hear it read aloud. He's only sad that I'm keeping to a slower pace so that we can notebook. Daughter is truly enthralled as well. Me too! It's been years since I read the story and I have my old copy with beautiful pictures to inspire.

I found a neat resource at CurrClick to go along with the book. There are some errors in the e-book, but it's still a great resource. Son has actually enjoyed recording his thoughts on our reading, as well as being introduced to ideas like compare and contrast, and we're only in the second week!

I look forward to our time with this treasured book.