Heart of the Matter Online Meme: Thoughts on Tom Bodett Quote
February 29, 2008 by The Amies
Today, our meme will be based on what your thoughts are on the following quote:
“The difference between school and life? In school, you’re taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you’re given a test that teaches you a lesson.”
~Tom Bodett
Post your thoughts on your blog and then please come back here and link directly to your Heart of the Matter Online meme post.
Giveaway: Homeschool Sports Insider Magazine
February 25, 2008 by The Amies
Homeschool Sports Insider Magazine is generously donating a one-year subscription to one of our lucky readers. All you have to do to be entered in the drawing is subscribe to Heart of the Matter by Feedburner. Simply enter your email address over there <—— in our left side bar and then check your email for a verification message. For those of you who have already subscribed, your work is already done! This could be the easiest contest you’ve ever entered! The contest will close Friday the 29th at 10:00 pm EST and the winner will be announced on Saturday.
Homeschool Sports Insider is a quarterly published magazine that promotes and advocates Homeschool sports and its unique student athletes and alumni from across the country. We’re here to represent The Homeschool Nation and to be their voice in today’s fast paced media. Our ultimate mission is to legitimize Homeschooling as an excellent educational alternative, and to honor the achievements, hard work and dedication of the Homeschool student athlete. The overall driving force of Homeschool Sports Insider is to provide the most comprehensive coverage of Homeschool sports in the country.
Happy Birthday Lee
February 24, 2008 by The Amies
We would like to wish our wonderful Lee a very blessed birthday. Please stop by her blog at The HomeScholar and leave her a birthday comment.
Living In The Moment
February 21, 2008 by Suzanne
As I sat watching tv one afternoon my oldest kiddo began using one of my chairs as a drum. Because my home is oh-so-clean, the dust flew in all directions in the light from the window. And, like moths to a flame, so kids to dirt will fly. My first instinct was to stop it from happening. After all, this is dirt we’re talking about and who wants the condition of their house thrown in their face? But then I saw the wonder in their eyes. And the excitement. And I let it roll. Afterwards we discussed particles, light, hidden dirt, germs. Oh, the science lessons.This playtime got me pondering all the learning that happens while we’re just livin’. I started thinking about some of the things that have become routine, but that my kiddos have learned from along the way. And I thought I’d share a few with you.
Like, how at night, when everybody was tucked into bed and we turned out the light everyone would cry that they couldn’t see. So we play a game now. When we turn out the light, everybody closes their eyes and counts to 10, we do this in English and Spanish (just depending on our mood). This teaches numbers, but we also used the first few times of wonderment to explain how our eyes work. We brought out a flashlight and showed the kids with our own pupils how they get large in the dark and shrink in the light and how that affects our vision. We talked about nocturnal animals and our kitty cat’s night vision.
Every time my kids get temporary tattoos (and my goodness, it’s more than I’d like!) while we’re waiting with the washcloth on their arm we sing the alphabet song twice. This makes waiting easier since they’re distracted and even my youngest ones can sing the alphabet after a few times.
While preparing our turkey to put into the oven my boys went spelunking with their flashlight (and, well, because their mama’s a bit of a blogging nut) my oldest also had to document his experience with his camera.
After eating hot wings one night my boys asked if they could make a bag of bones with chicken bones. “Absolutely not,” was my immediate reply. And then I thought – what could we learn from this? So I caved. I boiled them and bleached them and dried them. Oh, the excitement of being “archaeologists.”
There was the time we drank hot tea plain and then added milk and honey to try and grasp the imagery of a land promised to flow with milk and honey.
Habits
February 20, 2008 by admin
On our journey in home education I learned habits formed at an early age make life so much better for us moms later. Not just school work, but for the family. Life is and can be exhausting with kids at home 24/7. Especially if you have more than 1 or 2 children at home and teaching more than 1 or 2 children at the same time… it can get pretty tricky!
My youngest, RyLee, by far has had the better parent/teacher than my first two. Although I wasn’t a terrible mom, things were different for RyLee’s beginning. *Ü* I was more relaxed and allowed her to explore and enjoy her surroundings before introducing curriculum.
(August 1996)
I began to teach her very early what was expected of her, especially while teaching the other two. If she was old enough to take a toy out, she put it back. We began habits about how to treat books and how to sit at her high chair or on my lap. Some days it seemed like constant interruptions but that’s what it was taking to train her how to behave for while I was busy with the other two.
I confess, it was downright exhausting sometimes and I only had 3 children! Here this little one wanted to be like the big kids and I was trying to get her quiet long enough and not take my attention away from them. This was their time with mom. RyLee was also the baby and had a serious case of “I’m the baby”. She loved attention!
It wasn’t easy having a 1, 2 or 3 year old at the table, but with time, she began to sit at her booster all by herself and play with Tanagrams and Cuisenaire rods while I worked with the other two (I do not recommend Cuisenaire rods for 1 and 2 year olds). She loved pudding finger painting and wooden puzzles and she love the Little People computer games! I also had her snuggle with us while I read aloud. The trick was keeping things all shaken up so she didn’t get bored. It didn’t take to long before she was only interrupting us to show what she accomplished and not for attention.
RyLee 1997
Other tasks or habits that have been a blessing in our household, has been chore charts. This chart I am linking we have used for years in our house. It has only been the last 2 or 3 we have not used it. My kids are much older now. You can save it and type in your chores and initial or name who does them. The kids then mark off what has been done after I check it. Our children had chores every morning and every after noon.
Look for chore chart.
I now use another chore program with RyLee. Shawn and Christian, my two oldest know what we expect. Clean up after yourself and help out with extra when asked.
I love this quote below:
“The mother who takes pains to endow her children with good habits secures for herself smooth and easy days.—Charlotte Mason”
Although our days were not always smooth and perfect at our house, I know when I have worked on forming good habits in my children those things have become easier. Not perfect, but easier.
Brazos Bend State Park
February 19, 2008 by Sprittibee
Here’s my review of a fun National Park South of Houston, Texas… a place where gators roam!
Have you gone on some fun field trips lately? Be sure to share the love in the Mr. Linky below!
Brazos Bend State Park
By Sprittibee ~ January 27, 2006
The shelters at the park are nice and screened in with electrical outlets (for your fan, light or crock pot). There are RV hook-ups and a little bait store down the road. Be sure to take your mosquito spray if you tend to attract them! I think we came home with a chigger or two, also. Small price to pay for all that fun in the sun!
The observatory is a nice plus to this fabulous park. Not a far drive South of Houston, Texas – Brazos Bend is a wonderful place to camp and enjoy yourself.
I’ll give you a field trip photo tip… sick and dying insects make fun photography sessions! That little guy rode on Kaden for at least a mile after my son picked him up. Right before we let him go, I put him on Kaden’s nose and took that photo. It is one of my favorite pictures of all time. My little boy is an insect-lover, that is for sure!
What do you suppose?
A bee sat on my nose.
Then what do you think?
He gave me a wink
And said, “I beg your pardon,
I thought you were the garden.”~English Rhyme
From my Heart to Yours,
One of Those Days
February 18, 2008 by Guest
We were having “one of those days” when I realized that we needed to shut the books, put away the paper and pencils, and have some fun together. These days are usually few and far between, but I have found that making a mess in the kitchen is a great way to fix things up. Adding chocolate to mix only enhances things!
Browsing through cupboards, we found that “banana-peanut butter-chocolate freezes” were an option, and all I could say was “Lucky us!”
Here is what you need to make these:
Ripe bananas (each banana will make two freezes) Peanut butter Chocolate chips, crushed
This is where I get to warn you that these are very messy, but they are also quite yummy!
First, cut your bananas into 4 pieces, like this (kids can do this with a butter knife and some supervision):
Next, add some peanut butter to the flat part of each banana and then sprinkle one-half with chocolate chips:
Place the two halves together and then place all of the “banana freezes” on a wax-paper lined baking sheet:
Place the baking sheet in the freezer for 4 hours and then place the “freezes” in a ziploc bag for storage. These will last in the freezer for one week—if they last that long!
Enjoy!
Happy President’s Day Giveaway!
February 18, 2008 by The Amies
Congratulations to devil dog wife of Marine Corps Nomads who was comment #10.
Don’t you just love the new look of our redesigned blog? If you would like some help sprucing up your blog then hop on over to Split Decisionz. If you want to win a great prize then keep reading!
Today, we are giving away a Meet the Presidents! Unit Study from Homeschool Estore. Here is a description:
Every year, on the third Monday in February, Americans celebrate Presidents’ Day, a holiday set aside to honor all the men who have served as chief executive of the United States. Although 42 men have held that office, most Americans are familiar with the achievements of only a few. In this unit, we will explore and honor all of America’s presidents!
Lesson Plans Included:
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the White House (Grades 3-12)
They Also Served (Grades 3-8)
Show Me the Money (Grades K-5)
Trading Presidents (Grades K-2)
Symbols of the Presidents (Grades K-5)
Who Said That? (Grades 6-12)
A Presidential BioPoem (Grades K-12)
Who Wants to Be President? (Grades 6-12)Brought to you by the Home School Learning Network – an award-winning publisher of education content and unit studies on the web!
Each unit contains explanitory content, online resource links, book suggestions, 6-8 lesson plans and 2-10 worksheets. Days and days of learning and exploration within each unit!
To win this awesome study all you need to do is go to this post honoring our presidents and post a comment. You have until 10PM today, Friday, February the 22nd. A winner will be announced Saturday, February 23rd.
Around the Web in a Dozen Links – February 2008
February 17, 2008 by The Amies
Have fun surfing! And for future posts, if you have any fascinating, useful or educational links, please feel free to email me and share them.
- Castles on the Web is packed full of information, links and activities related to castles, knights and medieval times. There is an extensive book list with links, virtual tours of castles from around the world, a forum where you can post questions and enter discussions on all things from castle events to model making to travel, and much more. By far the link that was the most fun to explore was Ghosts in the Castle an interactive tour by National Geographic in which you are led by a mouse and talk to ghosts to discover information about the castle.
- The Archaeology page of the American Museum of Natural History has activities that lets children explore the ruins of an ancient city, be a part of an investigation, and learn about the tools archaeologists use in their job. The main page has some other subjects to explore, such as water, marine biology, Einstein, and earth, but the site as a whole is from an evolutionary standpoint, so pick and choose which you’d like to explore with your children.
- Web Elements is an award-winning interactive periodic table of elements that contains detailed information, pictures, and even a chemistry shop (know anyone who’d like a periodic table of elements mug?). My children are nowhere near chemistry age yet, but I hope this site is still around when they are!
- The total lunar eclipse is coming next week! I found this site that gives a wonderful overview of lunar eclpises for beginners. It includes pictures, the why and how, links to follow to find out more, and a list of eclipses through 2015. This will be a must in our school day on Monday and Tuesday!
- Sprittibee drew my attention to The Bug Guide, and what mom doesn’t want to know what bug their kid has brought home to show her? I shudder just looking at this site, but the kids would think it was cool. Must…not…show…fear…
- Edheads, also a link provided by Sprittibee, is a great interactive site with games all led by cute little characters that explain each step. There are activities on weather, simple machines, and car crashes, among other things. This is a site for mid-elementary and up, though advanced younger children could benefit from the activities with some help.
- Beginning March 1st, the Alaskan Iditarod will take place. The Official Site of the race has pictures, videos, information, biographies of the “mushers”, and more to explore. There is even a section for teachers with curriculum on the Iditarod written by other teachers and a book list to explore with your children.
- Geography 4 Kids is a website on physical geography- “all about the earth and what happens on the earth”- with subjects such as climates, energy, and atmosphere. It is laid out in a clear and easy to navigate way and has information, pictures and links galore.
- State-tris is a great web game of the USA. It is a form of Tetris only using the United States as its subject. It’s not as easy as it sounds!
- Game Goo is a place to find adorable and educational games about everything from rhyming to math facts. There are 3 levels and can be played by kids in elementary grades. My favorite is Squanky the Tooth Taker.
- Visit Just One More Book and read reviews on hundreds of books, interviews with children’s book authors and illustrators, and find links to discover more about reading with children. Not only is this a website but a podcast a few times a week to download or hear on the website. “Through this podcast and its website, we are building a lively, interactive community linking children’s book authors, illustrators, readers (children, parents, educators and librarians) and publishers.”
- I type with only a few fingers. I’ve done it so long that I am pretty quick, but I’d love my kids to learn the right way to type. Check out this typing website. The accents of the characters alone are reason to visit, but the practical skill learned is a must in this computer age!
Riding the Cool Bus
February 16, 2008 by Marsha
We’ve had many of those kinds of school days before. Y’know, the days where no one is listening, tempers are rising and that stinkin’ page of math is taking in excess of 3 hours (and counting).
The concept of the stockade goes from sounding like an antiquated idea to a rather brilliant idea! Okay, okay. I suppose the stockade isn’t the best way to handle those kinds of days, but can I at least reserve the right to consider it a Plan B?
To be honest, a great way to counter the homeschooling-is-currently-whooping-up-on-me blues is to make a list. Not just any old run of the mill list either. But a Hooray-for-our-Homeschool! kind of list.
Without further ado and for my future reference, here is a small sampling of my we-don’t-need-no-schoolbus-because-we-ride-the-Cool-Bus! (aka my mommamobile minivan) list:
- While my kids are not necessarily normal (they can’t help it– they take after me!), they think that having lessons on Saturday is normal.
- So is going to the (uncrowded!) beach on a Monday.
- My six year old can do second grade math while he’s still in the first grade. And when he’s ready to go even further, we don’t have to wait until after summer vacation to move on.
- If my boys finish their work early, who needs to have worksheets handy for extra credit? They can do something useful like sweeping the patio or folding laundry instead!
- Shhh… my boys don’t think there is anything wrong with reading a bedtime story about the American Revolution. They even LIKE it. A LOT.
- I’m sure it would be against the dress code elsewhere to start and end the day in pajamas.
- We take our ready-for-spring break in February. And guess what? No matter where we go, it’s not crowded! (Can you tell that I hate crowds?)
- Instead of loopy cursive, I get to teach my boys italic handwriting for the simple fact that *I* find it to be pleasant to the eyes. They also think nothing of the fact that as a first grader and a third grader, they are learning to write Italic Cursive at the same time.
- Snow days. We can take a day off to find a place that actually has snow and GO there. (The white stuff just doesn’t fall here in Houston). I know, a lot of you can’t even imagine seeking it out on purpose, but when you see three little boys desperately trying to make a snowball with a Snoopy Snow Cone machine… it just tugs at your heartstrings, y’all!
I don’t know about y’all, but my mind is still thinking of more reasons why I DO love this thing called homeschooling! And you know what? Sometimes I really do need a little help to refocus my thoughts and think on what is noble, what is true and what is of good report.So what’s on your home-is-cool list?
