School Daze!

I don't typically start our young ones on "real school" until they are 6. We've simply learned over the years (18) that they do wonderful with lots of hands on math and science, listening to great books and then hitting formal academics a bit later. Studies have been done, in fact, that show that students who do a lot of hand on science in their early years- nature studies, experiments - (vs. lots of phonics) are the better readers by the end of their elementary years. We've see that our children can wait and begin phonics when they are six (unless they ask to learn to read earlier) and by the end of 2nd grade they've caught up and excelled in their phonics programs. We learned this AFTER starting our first two on phonics when they were FOUR. LOL All are good readers....the one who learned to "read" at 4 - isn't the voracious reader that the one who learned to read at 10 is. I often wonder if all the tears over phonics at such a young age left a lasting taste. I pray not. LOL BTW - I know that many families have found the exact opposite - they are really into structured academics from an early age - go for it. God has made such a diverse universe - I doubt he expects us all to educate the same way, or dress the same way, or attend the same church. ::snort:: BUT since this is my blog - I'm sharing my thoughts. LOL

It became apparent that Zander wanted to do school this year (he's 5). I've had him doing our hands on TOG stuff, our science units, and listening to SOME of our TOG readers/history etc. He isn't interested in learning letter NAMES at all but wants to READ - so we began the 100 easy lesson book last night. Last night, because THAT is when he said, "Can you teach me to read?"

I've also been using the Learning Posters that Jen created to go along with the Brightly Beaming Curriculum (free, online, pre-school). Hey - Jen are there more posters in the works? LOL Both of these are great resources. I use the program LOOSELY....because I believe early childhood is for FUN and not formal school..... ::snort:: I quickly realized that Zander was not interested in learning letters of the alphabet. Why did I let him quit? Because he IS interested in learning to read. I've become fairly confident in following the children's interests in 18 years of homeschooling. I KNEW from reading Ruth Beechick that really SOUNDS are what are needed to learn to read. I went to find the little books I had bought over 15 years ago and now they are sold as ONE book. . . The Three R's . These are inexpensive and have enough ideas and tips to actually TEACH a child to read and write and do beginning math. A caveat - in one of her later books Ruth teaches some math that is very confusing to me and not what I wanted to do....but these little books were helpful and built confidence.

ANYWAY, I've been using the learning posters to review shapes and colors and to focus on one theme a week. For instance the first week I got a ton of books on cows from the library and made sure he knew the word calves. The last couple of weeks we've focused on Jungles and vines. I'm having a blast finding great new children's books at the library - and some old favorites.

**Animalia** and **Jungle Drums** by Graeme Base

What makes these books special are the artwork! I love it. Bright, bold, vivid, detailed...the story lines really aren't spectacular in these books - but they did help us discuss jungles, vines, and we loved looking at the photos. I immediately googled to find artwork to HANG in my home from this book. I loved THIS one:

It sells for only $550.00 - I took a photo of the pages in the books....two lions at the library surrounded by great books. LOL If the photo turned out I'll post it - I guess because we LOVED these illustrations so much and found such great things to look for hidden in the photos that I'd like to show them to you all.

**The Baby BeeBee Bird* by Diane Redfield Massie. This is a book I found at the library that I THOUGHT would go along with our "letter B" or our Jungle theme...it did NEITHER - but it is a WONDERFUL book. Deja, it's now a favorite. I've read it a couple of time today and Zander laughs and laughs. It's contagious. This book is worth finding at your library...I think it may even find its way into our home this Christmas. The story line is darling; I especially liked the conclusion: "Nighttime is really best for sleeping...especially for very little birds." I think the kids found this so humours because I've often worn the very same expressions on the faces of the whimsical animals in this book. Now, if I can move them from hysterical laughter to embrace the concept.....I may get some sleep. Though, SLEEP IS FOR WIMPS!

Just thought I'd share - now off to make Egyptian lamps. YES - we have moved on. I am in Ur etc now....but THEY are stuck on Egyptian crafts. What can I say? I love homeschooling!

"Blessed Child" by Ted Dekker & Bill Bright

What would it be like if we saw the power of God move in OUR culture as it did in Biblical times? Caleb, raised in seclusion in an Ethiopian Monastery is about to show the world what simple faith looks like.


"A Man Called Blessed" by Ted Dekker & Bill Bright

In this sequel to Blessed Child, Caleb is a young man and struggling with the reality of his faith. This book is set in the struggle of the middle east for dominance in the region. It involves a search for the Ark of the Covenant - and I found it to raise intriguing thoughts as well as being a good book.

I was introduced to Ted Dekker last year when I read a couple of his Heaven books. I loved them. I then read "House" and wasn't so sure. I've not ventured into Blink, Three etc....but I got these from Paperback Swap (link in sidebar) and finally got around to reading them. They are wonderful. I was going to put them back on PBS, but the girls would like to read them. I'll ship them off this week. Maybe they'll bring them back at Christmas and I can list them. LOL

Oh yeah, these are part of my Fall Reading Challenge, but I've not got around to posting about that yet. I'm a bit out of order. LOL

Jamin's Discussion with Jeff Baldwin

I'm sure we'll be hearing bits and tidbits for weeks to come about camp. When I asked Jared if there were any books we needed on the resource table at camp, he said, "They were all books we already have." LOL

Jamin was able to have a discussion with Jeff Baldwin. Jeff has written: "The Deadliest Monster", "The Twelve Trademarks of Great Literature", and "Super Thinker Worldview Primer" (for teaching worldview to your grammar students - I plan to get this one). He may have written more books.

His advice to Jamin is to self-publish his first book. He said if your book sells 50,000 copies they will come and ask YOU to let them publish your book. He said if you get a writing agent and your book doesn't sell, your career is over.

My questions are: 1. How much does it cost to self-publish? 2. Are "they" really watching the self-publishing world enough to spot a book that is doing well? 3. How do you market a book on your own well enough to sell that many copies?

Guess we have more food for thought in this maze that Jamin has pulled us into. ::snort::

Reading Anyone?

I am quite sure that Zander is not going to sit still for the bells and whistle phonics program that has helped five of the children learn to read. Bre learned with Abeka. Jamin was JUST LIKE ZANDER and got so fed up with the phonics program that we laid it aside. He then picked up Calvin and Hobbes and taught himself how to read. I'm not sure HOW - but he's written a 300+ book so I guess he's got the whole LA thing down fairly well. ::snort:: Seven children that now read with varying fluency.

I am thinking Zander will be a lot like Jamin and not put up with a bells and whistle program. Today in the mail I received a gift from an online friend of "Teach Your Child to read in 100 Easy Lessons". Sheri, a local friend, has loaned me "Reading Made Easy" by Valarie Bendt. I have Alpha Phonics. I checked out "The Ordinary Teacher's Guide to Teaching Reading" by Jessie Wise. I'll be comparing and reading about reading for the next bit of time. ::snort::

I'm currently trying to decide if I want to teach him letter names or skip it and teach sounds. Josiah was reading fluently before he decided he needed to know the letter names. Really - you don't NEED them to read - only to spell and answer questions in Sunday School like "How do you spell your name?" ::snort::

Cookbook Giveaway

I weed out the cookbooks every move. I STILL have an entire bookshelf full of cookbooks. Our eating style has changed so drastically that I really don't use more than 3 or 4 of them any longer...but I'm not ready to make a complete break. ::snort::

In my search for Pampered Chef Season's Favorites book I've happened upon zillions of those little cookbooks that you can buy for a couple of dollars at the check out stands. I have Pillsbury, Betty Crockers etc. All sorts. If you are interested in adding to YOUR collection...leave a comment below. We'll choose a winner or winners on Wed. I'll put as many as can fit into one envelope for each winner. LOL

BTW, it was FUN to thumb through the Pampered Chef books and see how recipes have changed from just the 90's till now. ::snort:: I've spent so much time trying to find the "right" recipe for a yummy ring, that I no longer have time to make one. I'm going to just take an assortment of fruit, granola bars, and make a pan of something (maybe brownies)....pretty much what we've been doing - why fix it if it isn't broken? ::Snort:: Next time I sign up I'll do brunchy things. Maybe.

Biking thoughts....

The weather was cool this a.m. Curves doens't open unitl 10:00 on Saturdays. Mike was sleeping in the room with the exercise videos. All lined up for a BIKE RIDE. LOL

As I was biking, I began to think of a couple of things. Help me out here!

1. You know all the wonderful Pampered Chef recipes? Thinking of the rings here....what would you substitue for crescent rolls if you wanted to make a ring from scratch. I have food for the fellowship hour tomorrow and was thinking....... LOL I love my PC recipes, but haven't used them much since we changed our eating style since so many are made from highly processed foods.

2. Texas Pride
I love Texans. Wonderful, friendly, helpful, salt of the earth types. I'm not so crazy about the scenery, bugs, or HEAT (one season - summer) of TX.....but Texans really, really love their state. As a military family we look for "state" mementos to take with us when we move. I love the ease of finding TX mementos....but as I rode this a.m. I was struck by the pride folks down here take in their STATE. Tiles on their houses that say "Texas" (in case you forget where you are?), stepping stones in yards and gardens in the shape of the state, cast iron signs on houses that say TX or are shpaed like TX, huge tomb stone like stones in the shape of the state planted in the yards.....this was only a 20 - 30 minute ride. I love that Texans love Texas. I have heard from several military kids that it is TOUGH to NOT be from TX and attend the schools (public and private) around here. But I love the pride in TX.....so I'm not dissing TX - it just made me go "hmmm" and then "huh". I also noted that Texans are inordinately loyal to the colleges they attended....

I've lived in many states.....I loved Oregon. I loved Montana. I really loved Alaska. I don't remember seeing the shape of the state in lawns, on houses, children's notebooks, bags and purses... tell me is this common in the state you live in - or is this uniquely Texan - or have I been totally unobservant everywhere I live? Note this is not a random house here and there - many, many houses down here are decorated with shapes of the state.

Now what should I do about snacks tomorrow?

TGIF

Friday - shew. The last few weeks have been "out of the ordinary" - and I like my routine. ::snort::

Deja and her kids came and helped with produce co-op today. She's a champ. She'd offered to come help before I even realized I'd NEED help with Jamin and Jared both gone. Thank you, Deja.

Michael spent the day doing odd jobs around the house.

I had put BBQ in the crock pot this a.m. I made 2 more loaves of bread and 18 hamburger buns for dinner. The funny thing is that the boys got home right as the buns were coming out of the oven. Jared sniffed and said it smelled so good - fresh baking bread. I couldn't have planned that better.

Arielle prepared sidewalk art for the homecoming

Great to have them home - and they pitched right in and cleaned up dinner LOL

We've been catching up. They had a GREAT time at camp. I heartily recommend the camp. Jared was surprised that there was a boy from Elmendorf AFB at the camp- hows that? I guess we could always fly the boys back to this one in future years. They both want to go again. If you sign up the last day of camp you receive a discount...but the military lifestyle being what it is - we opted not to sign up today. LOL