Comments on: A Little Goes a Long Way

By: Sisterlisa

Sisterlisa — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:58:31 +0000

Marsha, you are such an inspiration!!! Sisterlisa’s last blog post..Trivia or Trivial

By: Jen@ Balancing Beauty and Bedlam

Jen@ Balancing Beauty and Bedlam — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 03:14:30 +0000

You are truly lighting their fire. And that is the beauty of home schooling. It's the little things that are the BIG things. Jen@ Balancing Beauty and Bedlam’s last blog post..Designer wardrobe on a frugal budget

By: Marsha

Marsha — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:24:08 +0000

I hope you do blog about it! I'm hoping to do Jeannie's Astronomy this summer. I wish I had her books when I was in school. Marsha’s last blog post..A Little Goes a Long Way

By: Marsha

Marsha — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:22:54 +0000

Yup, you’re right about the quote, Bethany! I knew it was something like that. Being “book smart” only gets you so far, especially when you pass grade 12 and aren’t forced to learn more– a lifelong love of learning? Well, that just goes on and on and on.

Marsha’s last blog post..A Little Goes a Long Way

By: Marsha

Marsha — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:21:18 +0000

YOU are the fun one with your block printing and real live baby chicks! Marsha’s last blog post..A Little Goes a Long Way

By: Beth

Beth — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:47:39 +0000

Okay, I wish I had this post 1 month ago when we were out West. I love the tape thing.

One of the things I do is stop our reading when something significant stands out to me and we discuss it. These improptu discussions always seem to make more connections within our learning.

Currently, we are reading a bio on Theodore Roosevelt and it made me realize that one person’s life can have so many valuable lessons. I think that is what homeschool mom’s do best. They see the “lesson” within the lesson and bring that out too. I love the lessons like this that are not planned but sometimes have the most meaning.

Beth’s last blog post..King Tut, the Field Trip of the Year

By: EEEEMommy

EEEEMommy — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:32:31 +0000

What a great idea! We’re just beginning this period in history, so I’ll have to tuck that in my back pocket and hopefully remember to pull it out soon.

I definitely agree that when you can see what you learn, it cements it in your mind.

We’ve enjoyed using Jeannie Fulbright’s Exploring Creation series. To be able to study Botany and then go outside and find examples of what we learned about is so cool. Same with Flying Creatures. To read about birds and then watch them in action in our yard is great reinforcement. Long after we finish the book, we’ll still be learning about birds! Last weekend we watched parts of the Planet Earth program on Discovery, and it was so cool to get to see some of the things we’ve read about in action. It was like, “Hey, we learned about that!” And to hear comments like, “They must be precocial,” while watching ducklings fall from their nest is encouraging that they really are remembering those vocab words!

With History, some of the best times of reinforcing what we’ve learned has come through Bible study. There was much discussion of how proud and foolish General Braddock was while reading through the book of Proverbs. I don’t do well with unit studies, but in discussions like these where you can weave a couple of subjects together, I really do see the value of that way of learning! The more they overlap, the more reinforcement the kids are getting, and the more it makes sense and seems relevant.

Overall, it’s all about creating a lifestyle of learning where the learning spills over into life and isn’t self-contained in those 30 minute blocks of time which end once the book is closed. Hey, maybe I should blog about this myself?

EEEEMommy’s last blog post..On My Calendar

By: Nikowa@KHA

Nikowa@KHA — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:13:01 +0000

So true & what a great idea! Sometimes I feel like NONE of my lessons stick! LOL Nikowa@KHA’s last blog post..Have you heard about A Woman Inspired yet?

By: Lisa V.

Lisa V. — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:32:39 +0000

Great article! My 11-year-old is a real hands-on learner, whether it's letting a millipede climb his hand or swinging a bucket of water around with his arm. I let the boys choose books that interest them. Right now he's reading up on Communism. Lisa V.’s last blog post..Word-Filled Wednesday - Flower

By: Bethany aka 40winkzzz

Bethany aka 40winkzzz — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:51:55 +0000

About that “mind is a bucket” thing… No, Marshie, no, no. No bucket. “Education is NOT the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire.” (William Butler Yeats) That has been SUCH a helpful quote to me throughout my years of homeschooling.

I love your driveway schoooner! Way to light that fire!

(And I’m jealous that your kids are wearing shorts.)