...I started a new blog tonight.
Catherine's Homeschool Stuff will be snuck unto Catherine's Firefox Speed Dial page tonight and tomorrow when she wakes up dark and late (she's determined to stay up 'till midnight tonight) I'll get her on the computer and she can check out her days work! I don't know if this will last but I thought it might be fun PLUS I can link to any online activities I'd like her to try out. AND her relations can check out the blog. ALSO other people can get a glimpse of what a homeschooled kid might do in a day.
We'll see how it goes anyway.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Open Letters From a Teacher - A MUST Read
Here's an open letter from Taylor the Teacher to Mommy bloggers and another one, a fantastic one, for American parents. I'm not an American but the issues and problems outlined in Taylor's letters don't stop at the American border. Those of us in Canada have to deal with them as well. And I'm betting those in the U.K., in Brazil, in Indonesia and beyond have to as well.
The letters are a call to start talking about education. I hope that people also take it as a challenge to start talking about it beyond the cliques we've formed - the homeschoolers, the libertarians, the math reformers, etc. Yes, some of us talk about education but we do it in a piss-poor insular way that never gets loud enough for those outside our circle to hear. We let issues like class size, 'fuzzy' math and creationism in the classroom consume our discussions while the deeper truth is that they're simply symptoms of a system that has fundamental faults.
Anyhow, here's a taste of Taylor's You Got Punk’d: An Open Letter to American Parents:
It's my favourite bit because I can see that same strategy in place against parents, especially those of us who take a more active role in our children's education. Divide and conquer, eh?
Anyhow, read her letters and pass them on.
The letters are a call to start talking about education. I hope that people also take it as a challenge to start talking about it beyond the cliques we've formed - the homeschoolers, the libertarians, the math reformers, etc. Yes, some of us talk about education but we do it in a piss-poor insular way that never gets loud enough for those outside our circle to hear. We let issues like class size, 'fuzzy' math and creationism in the classroom consume our discussions while the deeper truth is that they're simply symptoms of a system that has fundamental faults.
Anyhow, here's a taste of Taylor's You Got Punk’d: An Open Letter to American Parents:
The establishment has convinced you to send your child to that place. On your dime. Then, they told you that teachers are your enemy. Even if they’re right about us, how can you allow THEM to alienate you from the people who administer your child’s education every day? Particularly if you believe we’re evil and incompetent?
It's my favourite bit because I can see that same strategy in place against parents, especially those of us who take a more active role in our children's education. Divide and conquer, eh?
Anyhow, read her letters and pass them on.
A Weird Look From the Atheist Spouse
Santa dropped off a great present for the family, an Indiana Jones Collection DVD set. It's one of those sets that a family NEEDS to have, like Star Wars (the original series anyway) and Lord of the Rings.
On Boxing Day we put in Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Catherine and Harry were having a great times watching until Catherine asked what the ark was exactly. Shannon replied that it was the ark of the covenant from the Old Testament, that it holds the 10 Commandments. She looked at him blankly. He turned around and gave me a weird look that said, "You're the freakin' Christian! Aren't you teaching these kids?"
See, bible stuff has sort of fallen by the wayside the last few months. We've actually had lots of discussion about Christianity but not been reading the Bible or doing related activities. And it was the atheist in the house that was taken aback by that.
We talked about it and both agreed that, religion aside, a good understanding of the bible and Christianity is important for cultural literacy these days. The creationism debate, the effects of native residential schools on the communities of friends, the French/English conflict in Canada, even our socialized medicine all have deep roots in the bible and Christianity. And pop culture...It makes even X-Men a richer read when you understand exactly what being a devout Roman Catholic can do to the demonic-looking Nightcrawler. It also helps when you're trying to figure out why yet another villain is named Cain.
So we're agreed. More Bible. And it was the unbeliever who insisted on it.
On Boxing Day we put in Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Catherine and Harry were having a great times watching until Catherine asked what the ark was exactly. Shannon replied that it was the ark of the covenant from the Old Testament, that it holds the 10 Commandments. She looked at him blankly. He turned around and gave me a weird look that said, "You're the freakin' Christian! Aren't you teaching these kids?"
See, bible stuff has sort of fallen by the wayside the last few months. We've actually had lots of discussion about Christianity but not been reading the Bible or doing related activities. And it was the atheist in the house that was taken aback by that.
We talked about it and both agreed that, religion aside, a good understanding of the bible and Christianity is important for cultural literacy these days. The creationism debate, the effects of native residential schools on the communities of friends, the French/English conflict in Canada, even our socialized medicine all have deep roots in the bible and Christianity. And pop culture...It makes even X-Men a richer read when you understand exactly what being a devout Roman Catholic can do to the demonic-looking Nightcrawler. It also helps when you're trying to figure out why yet another villain is named Cain.
So we're agreed. More Bible. And it was the unbeliever who insisted on it.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Curriculum Ordered
I went and spent much money this past week. As if I haven't been doing that for the past month, eh? But this is good, virtuous, educational money spending as it all went to new curriculum for Catherine.
Language Arts - We're dumping Easy Grammar. Easy Grammar is effective but we're both bored silly with it. Instead, I'm picking up Winston Grammar. I would really love to get Cozy Grammar but that's waaay out of our price range so Winston it is. Winston looks good anyway with activities that go beyond simple workbook stuff.
Greek - A Greek Hupogrammon
I'm getting this because Catherine's interested in Greek but without any kind of structured approach I've done absolutely diddly-squat to help her with that. So the Hupogrammon it is! It looks interesting, has good reviews and was only $15.
Math - From Singapore Math I got Primary Math Challenging Word Problems 3 and Brain Maths Volume 1. Though I'm following the Singapore scope and Sequence I'm not using their curriculum but rather Math Mammoth and the Key to series. I've finally got enough confidence to shape our own approach to math. However, if there's one Great Truth in the universe it's that there's nothing like Singapore math word problems and so I picked it up. Brain Maths just looks fun. And I was at the site anyway because I was ordering curriculum for...
Science - Yeah, I know, I know. I've said in the past that our science wasn't going to be based on curriculum but i had forgotten that both Catherine and the husband have a say in this whole homeschooling thing. Catherine wanted a more consistent approach to science and Shannon thought it was time for curriculum on the subject. Ah well. So I choose the only reliably secular company I knew of and then the most affordable science curriculum it offered and now I-Science from Singapore Math is winging it's way to us. We're starting with the Grade 5 books simply because anything lower seemed to be stuff we'd dealt with many times before.
And that's it. It was all less than $200 (bless the current US/Canada exchange rate!) so it will be a pretty affordable spring. The only other curriculum I would LOVE to get my hands on is Math U See Alpha but that's about $100 just by itself in part because Math U See is still charging Canadian customers substantially more than Americans despite the current exchange rate. Alpha would be for Harry to play with but Catherine also loved the Math U See demo DVD so I'm thinking she'd enjoy it as well (as review) and might even like to help Harry with it. What better way to shore up her skills then by teaching them?
That's the roundup. This time last year I was still a radical unschooler. Now I'm swept up in curriculum fever. But that's the great thing about homeschooling, the flexibility and ability to change your approach.
Language Arts - We're dumping Easy Grammar. Easy Grammar is effective but we're both bored silly with it. Instead, I'm picking up Winston Grammar. I would really love to get Cozy Grammar but that's waaay out of our price range so Winston it is. Winston looks good anyway with activities that go beyond simple workbook stuff.
Greek - A Greek Hupogrammon
I'm getting this because Catherine's interested in Greek but without any kind of structured approach I've done absolutely diddly-squat to help her with that. So the Hupogrammon it is! It looks interesting, has good reviews and was only $15.
Math - From Singapore Math I got Primary Math Challenging Word Problems 3 and Brain Maths Volume 1. Though I'm following the Singapore scope and Sequence I'm not using their curriculum but rather Math Mammoth and the Key to series. I've finally got enough confidence to shape our own approach to math. However, if there's one Great Truth in the universe it's that there's nothing like Singapore math word problems and so I picked it up. Brain Maths just looks fun. And I was at the site anyway because I was ordering curriculum for...
Science - Yeah, I know, I know. I've said in the past that our science wasn't going to be based on curriculum but i had forgotten that both Catherine and the husband have a say in this whole homeschooling thing. Catherine wanted a more consistent approach to science and Shannon thought it was time for curriculum on the subject. Ah well. So I choose the only reliably secular company I knew of and then the most affordable science curriculum it offered and now I-Science from Singapore Math is winging it's way to us. We're starting with the Grade 5 books simply because anything lower seemed to be stuff we'd dealt with many times before.
And that's it. It was all less than $200 (bless the current US/Canada exchange rate!) so it will be a pretty affordable spring. The only other curriculum I would LOVE to get my hands on is Math U See Alpha but that's about $100 just by itself in part because Math U See is still charging Canadian customers substantially more than Americans despite the current exchange rate. Alpha would be for Harry to play with but Catherine also loved the Math U See demo DVD so I'm thinking she'd enjoy it as well (as review) and might even like to help Harry with it. What better way to shore up her skills then by teaching them?
That's the roundup. This time last year I was still a radical unschooler. Now I'm swept up in curriculum fever. But that's the great thing about homeschooling, the flexibility and ability to change your approach.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Journal on Evolution and Education
This came to me through an email list (thanks Michael!)and seems like an interesting idea. Ars Technica reports:
The review at Ars Technica is mixed but it does make special mention of a couple of good articles from the journal. One in particular gets a thumbs up:
It certainly sounds like a resource Evolved Homeschoolers might not only find useful but might contribute to in the future.
EDIT: Duh! Forgot a link to the journal itself! Here it is, Evolution: Education and Outreach.
A new journal, Evolution: Education and Outreach, has been established with the intention of improving education in the topic by getting scientists and teachers to discuss issues and lesson plans related to evolution. The journal has just released its first issue, and all the content has been made Open Access.
The review at Ars Technica is mixed but it does make special mention of a couple of good articles from the journal. One in particular gets a thumbs up:
...T. Ryan Gregory steals the show with an essay entitled "Evolution as Fact, Theory, and Path" (and I'm not just saying that because he's said nice things about me at his blog, Genomicron). Working from the definitions of the National Academies of Science, he shows how the common understanding of terms like "law" and "theory" cause confusion about the place of evolution in the sciences, and how the observable fact of evolution is just one small part of the theory.
It certainly sounds like a resource Evolved Homeschoolers might not only find useful but might contribute to in the future.
EDIT: Duh! Forgot a link to the journal itself! Here it is, Evolution: Education and Outreach.
Ouch.
I took a tumble yesterday. I had to go out to let the dog in because the twit wound her chain around a tree. I looked out and saw that it didn't seem icy and so decided to go out in my slippers. But it wasn't the ice I should have been worried about, it was the frost on the deck. Just as I was about to go down the steps my feet slipped out from under me and I landed on my tailbone.
There is nothing like landing on your tailbone. It's one of those injuries where cartoon stars should appear over your head to show just how absolutely painful it is. I hobbled over to the dog, grabbed her and managed to get back in the house where I flopped on my stomach in bed for an hour. I took a couple of Ibuprofens and it finally started to calm down to something reasonable. For the rest of the day standing was tolerable, sitting was okay if I managed the right position but everything in between was horrible. Today it's about the same.
So I'll make a call to my doctor today. There's likely not much she can do but even a prescription for a good painkiller or instructions on how many ibuprofens are safe would be welcome. The worst of it though is how limiting it is. I've actually gotten into a cleaning routine the past couple of weeks and not being able to do all of it just about drove me crazy yesterday. I've stretched out a clothes hanger so I can grab laundry out of the washer or off the floor (bending over is out of the question) but I'll have to look for other creative solutions today.
There is nothing like landing on your tailbone. It's one of those injuries where cartoon stars should appear over your head to show just how absolutely painful it is. I hobbled over to the dog, grabbed her and managed to get back in the house where I flopped on my stomach in bed for an hour. I took a couple of Ibuprofens and it finally started to calm down to something reasonable. For the rest of the day standing was tolerable, sitting was okay if I managed the right position but everything in between was horrible. Today it's about the same.
So I'll make a call to my doctor today. There's likely not much she can do but even a prescription for a good painkiller or instructions on how many ibuprofens are safe would be welcome. The worst of it though is how limiting it is. I've actually gotten into a cleaning routine the past couple of weeks and not being able to do all of it just about drove me crazy yesterday. I've stretched out a clothes hanger so I can grab laundry out of the washer or off the floor (bending over is out of the question) but I'll have to look for other creative solutions today.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Happy Boxing Day!
To those who don't know Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated by Commonwealth countries (and a few northern US states). Wikipedia has a good rundown of its history. For our family this year it's our day of rest at home after all the excitement and running around of the past couple of weeks.
Anyhow, it gives me a little time for blogging and a bit of a rundown of our holidays.
First Christmas - We were at my parents for gift opening and Christmas dinner. They gave the kids the neatest old fashioned gifts including a magnetic spinning top. this was everyone's favourite. Harry loved it, named it 'Kaiser' ( I have no idea how he came up with that) and snuggled the thing whenever he wasn't playing with it.
The Whirl-O magnetic spinning top.
There was much eating, drinking and playing of cards.
Christmas Eve Eve - It had a very Canuckish flavour this year. We went out Christmas light watching and our first stop was for hot chocolate at Tim Horton's. It's a Canadian coffee and donut chain that's up there with the maple leaf and beaver in terms of symbols of national pride. Then we switched on the radio and found a local station playing all east coast Canadian christmas music. Jackpot! After we were done we went for poutine (french for 'heart attack'), a dish that's made up of french fries covered in cheese curds and then smothered in hot gravy. Yum.
Christmas Eve - My husband spent a few hours at works and came home with a new digital camera. I made fish/lobster/scallop/clam chowder and the in-laws came up for supper. Then we all heading off for the Christmas Eve service at my church where Catherine was doing another reading. She did a wonderful job this time. My mother-in-law really enjoyed the service and thinks she might head to church with me on her Sundays off. I don't think she's been to church (barring marriages and funerals) since my husband, then 3, first expressed his atheism by biting my father-in-law in the ass during a Roman catholic service.
Christmas Day - I had a horrible night as I knew I would. I never sleep well because I'm too excited waiting for the kids to get up. I go to sleep, wake up and listen for them, fall back to sleep and dream they DID wake up then realize it was a dream and start the cycle over. See, my kids are horrible. They go to sleep promptly and then don't wake up until 7 or 8. I don't get this. I don't understand this.
They finally did wake up and we had a great time. Just before lunch we bundled up and headed out for the in-laws. Once there we drank, laughed, ate and played cards. In fact, I thumped my husband 3 times in 45's, a previously unthinkable event.
Today was supposed to be a visit to a traditional Boxing Day get together with Shannon's extended family but we haven't had a day together by ourselves as a family in almost two weeks and the kids were dying to play with their Christmas toys so we're staying home. Pancakes for breakfast, light cleaning and much playing are on the bill.
All in all this was a fantastic Christmas for us as I hope it was for all of you.
Anyhow, it gives me a little time for blogging and a bit of a rundown of our holidays.
First Christmas - We were at my parents for gift opening and Christmas dinner. They gave the kids the neatest old fashioned gifts including a magnetic spinning top. this was everyone's favourite. Harry loved it, named it 'Kaiser' ( I have no idea how he came up with that) and snuggled the thing whenever he wasn't playing with it.
The Whirl-O magnetic spinning top.
There was much eating, drinking and playing of cards.
Christmas Eve Eve - It had a very Canuckish flavour this year. We went out Christmas light watching and our first stop was for hot chocolate at Tim Horton's. It's a Canadian coffee and donut chain that's up there with the maple leaf and beaver in terms of symbols of national pride. Then we switched on the radio and found a local station playing all east coast Canadian christmas music. Jackpot! After we were done we went for poutine (french for 'heart attack'), a dish that's made up of french fries covered in cheese curds and then smothered in hot gravy. Yum.
Christmas Eve - My husband spent a few hours at works and came home with a new digital camera. I made fish/lobster/scallop/clam chowder and the in-laws came up for supper. Then we all heading off for the Christmas Eve service at my church where Catherine was doing another reading. She did a wonderful job this time. My mother-in-law really enjoyed the service and thinks she might head to church with me on her Sundays off. I don't think she's been to church (barring marriages and funerals) since my husband, then 3, first expressed his atheism by biting my father-in-law in the ass during a Roman catholic service.
Christmas Day - I had a horrible night as I knew I would. I never sleep well because I'm too excited waiting for the kids to get up. I go to sleep, wake up and listen for them, fall back to sleep and dream they DID wake up then realize it was a dream and start the cycle over. See, my kids are horrible. They go to sleep promptly and then don't wake up until 7 or 8. I don't get this. I don't understand this.
They finally did wake up and we had a great time. Just before lunch we bundled up and headed out for the in-laws. Once there we drank, laughed, ate and played cards. In fact, I thumped my husband 3 times in 45's, a previously unthinkable event.
Today was supposed to be a visit to a traditional Boxing Day get together with Shannon's extended family but we haven't had a day together by ourselves as a family in almost two weeks and the kids were dying to play with their Christmas toys so we're staying home. Pancakes for breakfast, light cleaning and much playing are on the bill.
All in all this was a fantastic Christmas for us as I hope it was for all of you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)