A gentle reminder, as you are working through your list of things to do this weekend, don't forget to send in a post for the next Carnival of Homeschooling. Sprittibee will be hosting. She is going with a theme of Autumn Blessings.
As always submissions are due Monday evening at 6:00 PM PST. Here are the instructions.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Friday, November 10, 2006
Report on bullies
The London paper reports that 7 out of 10 children are bullied at school.
Seven out of ten children bullied at school, says survey
Even I was surprised by the numbers. I would have never guessed the problem was that big. Though, this policy might explain why the problem has gotten so big.
Remember, at school there is no such thing as right and wrong.
Here's a few more interesting tid bits.
This is what I find most aggravating:
In high school I endured quite a lot of harrassment. The school was basically no help at all. The bullying stopped when I physically fought back. Actually, it was a tray of food dumped over someones head in the lunch room, but that's another story.
It was also when I decided that pacifism doesn't work. I did the whole "turn the other cheek" thing, and the harrassment escalated. I fought back and it stopped. I was suspended for three days because of the incident, but my teachers let me make up my work and perform with the band, even though technically that was against the rule. One of my teachers even sent me a congratulations card. This is just an example of how out of touch school policy and reality can be.
I wouldn't say that we homeschool to avoid bullies, but it was a factor in our decision. My experience negatively effected me. It was one of the reasons I was so eager to change my name when I got married. I felt safer. What a sad commentary on school.
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Related Tags: bullies, public school, home school, homeschool, home education
Seven out of ten children bullied at school, says survey
Seven out of ten pupils complained they had suffered at the hands of school bullies with each victim claiming their tormentors had used six different techniques.
These ranged from name-calling and bullying by text message to physical attacks.
The survey of more than 8,500 children, parents and teachers also showed that youngsters were regularly kept off school because of fears over their safety.
Even I was surprised by the numbers. I would have never guessed the problem was that big. Though, this policy might explain why the problem has gotten so big.
Some schools have adopted trendy "no blame" approaches which involve bringing tormentors and victims together to try to build "empathy" between them.
But the technique has proved controversial as culprits escape formal sanctions.
Remember, at school there is no such thing as right and wrong.
The survey, conducted by Bullying Online between January and July, suggested that reporting bullying to teachers failed to stop it in more than half of cases.
"What comes across is that school anti-bullying policies are not working. Even the best policies are only seen as successful by 53 per cent of children" added Mrs Carnell.
Here's a few more interesting tid bits.
More than half of bullied children had been physically hurt and 34 per cent needed to see a doctor. Three per cent of attacks had involved a weapon.
Meanwhile 65 per cent of the parents questioned said they had kept their child at home for safety reasons and 63 per cent of those pupils had missed more than five days at school.
This is what I find most aggravating:
"If assaults were happening in the workplace the attackers would be prosecuted, but in many cases the bullies are getting off scot-free without any punishment at all."
In high school I endured quite a lot of harrassment. The school was basically no help at all. The bullying stopped when I physically fought back. Actually, it was a tray of food dumped over someones head in the lunch room, but that's another story.
It was also when I decided that pacifism doesn't work. I did the whole "turn the other cheek" thing, and the harrassment escalated. I fought back and it stopped. I was suspended for three days because of the incident, but my teachers let me make up my work and perform with the band, even though technically that was against the rule. One of my teachers even sent me a congratulations card. This is just an example of how out of touch school policy and reality can be.
I wouldn't say that we homeschool to avoid bullies, but it was a factor in our decision. My experience negatively effected me. It was one of the reasons I was so eager to change my name when I got married. I felt safer. What a sad commentary on school.
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Related Tags: bullies, public school, home school, homeschool, home education
Thursday, November 09, 2006
More Absurdity
This news article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tells another story of absurdity in public education.
Parents risking jail / Truancy cases continued for 90 days in charter school dispute
So, why is the Pittsburg Public Schools complaining about the Career Connections Charter Middle School?
Why do the parents wish their children to attend this charter school?
The school district is threatening the parents with fines and even jail time because the district considers the children truant, even though they are attending school and being taught the required subjects.
The school district claims that it is a safety issue.
Most observers agree that the issue is money and the effect of declining enrollment on the Pittsburgh public schools.
Pennsylvania also makes it difficult for homeschoolers. I've heard it's a paperwork nightmare. We have a friend who just moved to Pittsburg. I suggested that they live in Ohio and commute rather than deal with the Pennsylvania homeschooling laws or the Pittsburg public schools.
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Related Tags: public education, Pittsburgh Public Schools, charter schools, Career Connections Charter Middle School, truancy laws, homeschooling, home education
Parents risking jail / Truancy cases continued for 90 days in charter school dispute
Shaye Carter and Janie Lewis each risked a $300 fine yesterday because they had refused to withdraw their children from Career Connections Charter Middle School and enroll them in Pittsburgh Public Schools.
So, why is the Pittsburg Public Schools complaining about the Career Connections Charter Middle School?
The board questioned the suitability of the Boys & Girls Club building where classes are being held, saying it didn't restrict public access the way schools generally do.
Why do the parents wish their children to attend this charter school?
Pittsburgh parents said they're standing their ground because they've found a good thing. They said the school's curriculum, small class sizes and welcoming environment are improvements over regular Pittsburgh schools.
The school district is threatening the parents with fines and even jail time because the district considers the children truant, even though they are attending school and being taught the required subjects.
The school district claims that it is a safety issue.
Lawrenceville resident NcGai Vason thinks her sixth-grade daughter, Morgan, is safer at Career Connections than she would be at the district's Arsenal Middle School.
"She would have gotten eaten alive there," Ms. Vason said. She said Morgan will remain at Career Connections until I am forced" to move her.
Most observers agree that the issue is money and the effect of declining enrollment on the Pittsburgh public schools.
Pennsylvania also makes it difficult for homeschoolers. I've heard it's a paperwork nightmare. We have a friend who just moved to Pittsburg. I suggested that they live in Ohio and commute rather than deal with the Pennsylvania homeschooling laws or the Pittsburg public schools.
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Related Tags: public education, Pittsburgh Public Schools, charter schools, Career Connections Charter Middle School, truancy laws, homeschooling, home education
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Pinocchio Parenting
I've come across a few news articles about a new book, Pinocchio Parenting: 21 Outrageous Lies We Tell Our Kids .
While I've not yet read the book, I'm inclined to agree with its premise that parents' dishonesty can be a bad influence on kids.
In this news article, the author (Borsellino) states that....
This whole topic reminds me of the self esteem push in schools. The more confident students become the more their performance declines. I find it a little scary when children have such a distorted view of themselves and their actual abilities. As a parent, there is a fine balance between encouraging and deluding a child.
From another article,
This can be a very painful process. I have a friend whose teenage daughter has a serious speech impediment which makes it difficult for her to be understood. Recently, this girl began seeing a new speech therapist that used video feed back. By watching herself on tape she realized for the first time just how far off the mark she truly was. With a more accurate picture of her disability, she made more progress with this speech therapist than any other.
It was a painful lesson, but her speech has dramatically improved. If her parents and teachers had continued to shelter her from the reality of her condition, she would have had little motivation for improvement. When she saw herself as others saw her, she was willing to put in the work. Previous to this point, this teen had received quite a lot of negative peer feed back about her garbled speech. With so much of peer pressure being arbitrary and unkind, she had disregarded it as garden variety meanness. Thus prior to the video feed back, she was genuinely unaware of the severity of her disability.
I've seen problems with this sort of thing in homeschooling circles as well. Parents can over shelter their children from all unpleasantness. Because the child has limited contacts outside the home, the child misses the kind of feed back that would motivate a legitimate course correction. Not all peer pressure is bad.
Many times parents use white lies, not to protect the child, but to protect themselves. It takes a lot of time and effort to help a child work through an unpleasant reality.
Hopefully, I can find this book at my local library. I look forward to see what this author has to say.
While I've not yet read the book, I'm inclined to agree with its premise that parents' dishonesty can be a bad influence on kids.
In this news article, the author (Borsellino) states that....
"If we justify white lies, soon we become color-blind, and then we start to change where the standard is," he says. "Our kids watch us move the bar up and down."
Borsellino's favorite parental lie is, "Looks don't matter -- it's what's on the inside that counts."
"This is a great opportunity to not deny the truth and retain your credibility by saying, 'Honey, looks do matter, but it is never more important to me than what's on the inside -- your character. That's what matters most to me,' " he says.
This whole topic reminds me of the self esteem push in schools. The more confident students become the more their performance declines. I find it a little scary when children have such a distorted view of themselves and their actual abilities. As a parent, there is a fine balance between encouraging and deluding a child.
From another article,
Lies set children up for disappointment and failure, he says, pointing to "You can be anything you want to be" as among the most egregious. Not all kids who aspire to play professional football or be a movie star will fulfill their dream. In fact, very few do.
"We want to motivate our kids to dream big and reach for their goals, but this tale goes over the line," says Borsellino, who discourages the use of absolutes - always, never, anything - in much of parenting.
. . . . Borsellino advises parents to talk with their kids about how their aspirations and skills mesh. For example, the child who wants to play in the NBA but lacks athletic ability may have the business smarts to make it in management. It's a parent's job to let him know that he can do the most with what he has and to help him achieve that.
This can be a very painful process. I have a friend whose teenage daughter has a serious speech impediment which makes it difficult for her to be understood. Recently, this girl began seeing a new speech therapist that used video feed back. By watching herself on tape she realized for the first time just how far off the mark she truly was. With a more accurate picture of her disability, she made more progress with this speech therapist than any other.
It was a painful lesson, but her speech has dramatically improved. If her parents and teachers had continued to shelter her from the reality of her condition, she would have had little motivation for improvement. When she saw herself as others saw her, she was willing to put in the work. Previous to this point, this teen had received quite a lot of negative peer feed back about her garbled speech. With so much of peer pressure being arbitrary and unkind, she had disregarded it as garden variety meanness. Thus prior to the video feed back, she was genuinely unaware of the severity of her disability.
I've seen problems with this sort of thing in homeschooling circles as well. Parents can over shelter their children from all unpleasantness. Because the child has limited contacts outside the home, the child misses the kind of feed back that would motivate a legitimate course correction. Not all peer pressure is bad.
Many times parents use white lies, not to protect the child, but to protect themselves. It takes a lot of time and effort to help a child work through an unpleasant reality.
Hopefully, I can find this book at my local library. I look forward to see what this author has to say.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
The Carnival of Homeschooling is up - week 45, homeschooling and libraries
Spunky, of SpunkyHomeSchool, is hosting this week's Carnival of Homeschooling.
Most homeschoolers make extensive use of libraries. My wife takes our daughters each week and they come back with dozens of books.
Spunky acknowledges the importance of libraries in this week's carnival as she weaves together all the fun posts.
Drop in and check out the carnival. Everyone has a library card for this carnival.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling, family
Most homeschoolers make extensive use of libraries. My wife takes our daughters each week and they come back with dozens of books.
Spunky acknowledges the importance of libraries in this week's carnival as she weaves together all the fun posts.
Drop in and check out the carnival. Everyone has a library card for this carnival.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling, family
Monday, November 06, 2006
Is the election getting to you?
I've been involved in politics ever since I was a child. My father took me along when he was helping to support various causes and campaigns. As a teenager he paid me a penny a word to write our congressman and our senators. I could pick the topic and say pretty much what I wanted.
In my twenties I ran for a state representative office and lost in the primary by something like a hundred votes. Since then I've continued to be involved in politics by helping on various campaigns. Over the last week I handed out about two hundred flyers for a friend of ours who is running for a city council seat.
There are times before an election when I do start to get tired of all the noise and rhetoric. My wife and I have even gotten tired of TV ads for our candidates.
Given all this I greatly enjoyed today's A Word A Day thought:
"People never lie so much as before an election, during a war, or after a hunt."
-Otto von Bismarck, statesman (1815-1898)
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Technorati tags: election, politics, Bismarck
In my twenties I ran for a state representative office and lost in the primary by something like a hundred votes. Since then I've continued to be involved in politics by helping on various campaigns. Over the last week I handed out about two hundred flyers for a friend of ours who is running for a city council seat.
There are times before an election when I do start to get tired of all the noise and rhetoric. My wife and I have even gotten tired of TV ads for our candidates.
Given all this I greatly enjoyed today's A Word A Day thought:
"People never lie so much as before an election, during a war, or after a hunt."
-Otto von Bismarck, statesman (1815-1898)
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Technorati tags: election, politics, Bismarck
Unschooling Voices #5 is up
Joanne of A Day in Our Lives has posted the monthly Unschooling Voices. There is a nice selection of thouhts about unschooling.
This week's Carnival of Family Life is up at The Pink Diary.
Some how I missed last week's Carnival of Family Life hosted at Everything Under the Moon. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the first post was by Chris Dolley. I really enjoyed his novel Resonance. He had a fun twist on the idea of parallel dimensions.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling, family, Family Life, unschooling, unschool, Family Life, family, Chris Dolley, Resonance
This week's Carnival of Family Life is up at The Pink Diary.
Some how I missed last week's Carnival of Family Life hosted at Everything Under the Moon. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the first post was by Chris Dolley. I really enjoyed his novel Resonance. He had a fun twist on the idea of parallel dimensions.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling, family, Family Life, unschooling, unschool, Family Life, family, Chris Dolley, Resonance
Childhood ends earlier, Adolescence extended
Take a look at this interesting news article out of the UK.
Childhood ends earlier as parents pressure children, says survey
A survey from the Cartoon Network reported that children stopped believing in magical creatures like elves and the tooth fairy four years earlier than their parents' generation.
While that doesn't necessarily worry me, these results did:
Quite a few UK papers reported different aspects of this research. For example, in Away with fairies 4yrs sooner it reported this:
The end of imaginitive play is a worry. Children are loosing the capacity to amuse themselves without parental direction. I've seen this with some of my friends. They schedule almost every minute of their children's time. Most unscheduled time ends up in front of the television.
Now back the the first article, here's a scary recommendation:
Yeah, right. Let me see if I understand this. School stomps out almost all creativity and put unhealthy pressure on children. It also leaves them with almost no free time. Parents are putting more pressure on children at home to keep up with the expectations at school. This phenomenon is imparring social mobility.
To fix the lack of social development, it is suggested that the school day be extended and parents be punished for not sending their children to after school programs which will leave the children with even less free time and more pressure. A bunch of tired, stress out kids together with little adult interaction are going to teach each other skills that lead to social mobility?
Actually, I do think it will lead to social mobility. It will move the high functioning kids down. That way everyone will feel better, even if more kids are messed up.
Makes me glad I we homeschool and live on this side of the "pond."
And last but not least, the article also points out that while childhood is getting shorter, adolescence has been extended to absurdity.
Homeschool families are not immune to teens who don't transition to adulthood. It is easy to fall into the pitfalls of a "school" mentality even when your children are at home. But, that is a whole other post.
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Related Tags: homeschool, home education, public school, after school programs, Cartoon Network, failure to launch, extended adolescence, testing, academic pressure, elves, fairies, tooth fairy
Childhood ends earlier as parents pressure children, says survey
A survey from the Cartoon Network reported that children stopped believing in magical creatures like elves and the tooth fairy four years earlier than their parents' generation.
While that doesn't necessarily worry me, these results did:
Increasing numbers of parents are pushing their children to read books aimed at a higher age to fast-track their education to the detriment of their development, it is claimed today.
Quite a few UK papers reported different aspects of this research. For example, in Away with fairies 4yrs sooner it reported this:
And while 88 per cent of parents could recall enjoying games like doctors and nurses, only half the next generation would admit to similar role-play fun.
The end of imaginitive play is a worry. Children are loosing the capacity to amuse themselves without parental direction. I've seen this with some of my friends. They schedule almost every minute of their children's time. Most unscheduled time ends up in front of the television.
Now back the the first article, here's a scary recommendation:
The IPPR report recommends that the school day be longer so pupils can develop skills through after-school arts and sports clubs or scouts, cadets and martial arts. Parents should face fines if they failed to make sure their children attended some of these clubs, it said.
Yeah, right. Let me see if I understand this. School stomps out almost all creativity and put unhealthy pressure on children. It also leaves them with almost no free time. Parents are putting more pressure on children at home to keep up with the expectations at school. This phenomenon is imparring social mobility.
To fix the lack of social development, it is suggested that the school day be extended and parents be punished for not sending their children to after school programs which will leave the children with even less free time and more pressure. A bunch of tired, stress out kids together with little adult interaction are going to teach each other skills that lead to social mobility?
Actually, I do think it will lead to social mobility. It will move the high functioning kids down. That way everyone will feel better, even if more kids are messed up.
Makes me glad I we homeschool and live on this side of the "pond."
And last but not least, the article also points out that while childhood is getting shorter, adolescence has been extended to absurdity.
"Adolescence is also being stretched at both ends, with children becoming 'teenagers' earlier and 'adults' later. For too many young people this transition to adulthood is complex, messy and unsuccessful."
Homeschool families are not immune to teens who don't transition to adulthood. It is easy to fall into the pitfalls of a "school" mentality even when your children are at home. But, that is a whole other post.
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Related Tags: homeschool, home education, public school, after school programs, Cartoon Network, failure to launch, extended adolescence, testing, academic pressure, elves, fairies, tooth fairy
You have just twelve hours to submit to the Carnival of Homeschooling
11 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds
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Spunky is hosting this week's Carnival of Homeschooling. You have less than twelve hours to submit your post.
Entries are due tonight by 6:00 PM (PST).
Go here for information on how to submit your entry.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
11 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds
11 hours 59 minutes 57 seconds
11 hours 59 minutes 56 seconds
11 hours 59 minutes 55 seconds
11 hours 59 minutes 54 seconds
Spunky is hosting this week's Carnival of Homeschooling. You have less than twelve hours to submit your post.
Entries are due tonight by 6:00 PM (PST).
Go here for information on how to submit your entry.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
Friday, November 03, 2006
Recent carnivals
The second Catholic Homeschool Carnival is up at Love2learn Blog. My oldest daughter said she loves the picture of the world they have in this carnival.
Carnival of Kid Comedy #27 is up at Life in a shoe. They say laughter is the best medicine.
The Median Sib is hosting this week's Carnival of Education. Lots of interesting posts.
The Carnival of Children's Literature is across the ocean at the Scholar's Blog.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, catholic, comedy, humor, children, literature
Carnival of Kid Comedy #27 is up at Life in a shoe. They say laughter is the best medicine.
The Median Sib is hosting this week's Carnival of Education. Lots of interesting posts.
The Carnival of Children's Literature is across the ocean at the Scholar's Blog.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, catholic, comedy, humor, children, literature
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Pumpkin Overload
I had quite the pumpkin week.
We grew pumpkins in our garden this year. We kept a few for jack-o-lanterns and sold or traded the rest at homeschool park day. On Tuesday, when we carved the pumpkins, I saved and cooked the seeds.
Yesterday, I cut up and cooked one of our jack-o-lanterns. For dinner we had pumpkin soup with rolls that we had received in payment for a pumpkin sold at park day. For desert, I made a pumpkin custard (pie without the crust). I got the recipe from a Moosewood cook book. It used honey and molasses and no processed sugar. It may only be psychological, but I feel better when I use honey instead of white sugar.
This morning, I made pumpkin muffins for breakfast. I have another jack-o-lantern to cut up and cook today. I'm freezing the cooked pumpkin for use at another time.
Here are the pumpkin recipes I used, just in case you have some pumpkin to use up.
Baked Garlic Pumpkin seeds
After removing seeds from pumpkin, rinse and drain. Toss seeds with olive oil and garlic salt. Bake in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. Stir every 10 minutes. At the end of 30 minutes, turn off oven and leave pumpkin seeds in oven to finish baking.
Pumpkin Curry Soup
Throw ingredients in a pot and simmer.
3 chicken broth (or water with bullion powder)
1 chopped onion sautéed in butter (or 2 tablespoon dried onion)
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon curry powder
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups pumpkin
1 tablespoon honey
After simmering for 15 minutes, add 1 cup evaporated milk.
Pumpkin Pie/Custard
3 cups pumpkin puree
3/4 cups honey
2 tablespoons molasses
1/4 teaspoons powdered cloves
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon salt
4 eggs slightly beaten
1 can evaporated milk
Mix and bake in a buttered dish at 350 degrees for about 50 minutes or till set.
Pumpkin muffins
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup apple sauce
1/4 to 1/2 cup honey
2 eggs
1 3/4 cup whole wheat floor
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 cup water
Mix dry ingredients in bowl. Mix wet ingredients in another bowl. Combine. Spoon into greased muffin tins. Bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees.
Tomorrow, I'm going to try a recipe for pumpkin rolls.
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Related Tags: pumpkin recipes
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Happy Anniversary to us
Sunday was our one year blog anniversary! A year ago we put up our first post. I had planned to post a mention on Monday, but got distracted with the carnival.
One of our original goals was to use the blog as a way to help write a book. That goal has been shelved for now. We now focused on exploring why homeschooling is such a great benefit to children and families.
With soccer season blogging has been light. The last games are just 17 days away. Then we'll get our lives back. With all three daughters in soccer we lose much of our Saturdays to games, and Tuesday and Thursday evenings to practices. I figure it averages around ten hours a week. Our daughters enjoy soccer, and it is good for them, but it will be nice to have those ten hours back.
We look forward to another year of blogging.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education
One of our original goals was to use the blog as a way to help write a book. That goal has been shelved for now. We now focused on exploring why homeschooling is such a great benefit to children and families.
With soccer season blogging has been light. The last games are just 17 days away. Then we'll get our lives back. With all three daughters in soccer we lose much of our Saturdays to games, and Tuesday and Thursday evenings to practices. I figure it averages around ten hours a week. Our daughters enjoy soccer, and it is good for them, but it will be nice to have those ten hours back.
We look forward to another year of blogging.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Carnival of Homeschooling - Week 44
Since it is Halloween, here's some holiday fun.
Much of the western world is celebrating Halloween. This is a time of tricks and treats, scary stories, and things that go bump in the night. Children enjoy dressing up. Many houses have scary noises and sights in their front yard. So we’ll run with a Halloween theme for this week’s Carnival of Homeschooling.
By the way, this is a picture of my middle daughter. She was born two weeks before Halloween. You can tell just how much she enjoyed her costume.
Tricks
Children knock on doors and yell the familiar “Trick or treat.” The option is given to the adult to either suffer some trick or pay off the children with a treat. There are many tricks to homeschooling. These are the good kinds of tricks.
Kelly, who has just started homeschooling, shares what she has learned in Starting with a Frazzle from Pass the Torch. She has learned a lot in one week.
The Learning Umbrella reminds us about The importance of goals in explaining how setting an end goal changed what she was doing.
One of the important homeschooling tricks for parents is figuring out what and how to teach their children. Alasandra reminds her readers Why it's Important to Teach Facts NOT Feelings.
From Trust The Children is a good reminder that we need to give children down time. It is tricky to find the right range of work and play. Breathing Out -- Breathing In gives some guidance in finding that balance.
Dana of Principled Discovery reports that Math shouldn't be fun. She found a recent study which suggested confident and happy students don’t do as well in math as those who lack confidence and enjoyment of the subject.
Tricks and insights
Homeschoolers are constantly improving and learning how to be better parents and teachers. They are willing and eager to explain the tricks they have learned.
Grizzly Mama in A Day In The Life Of A Sick Grizzly Mama found that you may not get as much done when you are sick, but even in those imperfect days you will have some very nice teaching moments.
Kate of I Think, Therefore I Blog had a similar epiphany in A Much Needed Break as she found that even when she was sick there was a lot of learning without textbooks and classes.
The Thinking Mother explains there are The Two Roles of a Homeschooling Mother; Planning/Scheduling and Actually Doing It. She has some ideas on how this affects what we do as homeschoolers.
Tricks and little children
Homeschooling with a wide age range of children can be a challenge. Kendra shares some ideas she has picked up in Tools at Preschoolers and Peace. I enjoyed her summary of the post: “I once knew everything about parenting. Then I had six children...”
Contentment Acres has some great ideas on how to keep a toddler busy while you homeschool older children in Homeschooling with a Toddler.
Treats - general
There are dozens of benefits to homeschooling. The “treats” include more time with children, being able to do more fun activities, helping children to realize their full potential, and building character.
From far off Australia, Bruggie Tales recounts a recent lesson in Family Maths. My husband greatly enjoys the way this family shares treats.
From My Domestic Church is a nice discussion about the fruits of homeschooling in Socialization. After 12 years of homeschooling a mother is pleased with how her children socialize.
Deanna of Marcy’s Musings also writes about Homeschoolers and Socialization and reports that she has found her children actually have the advantage over regularly-schooled kids when it comes to socialization.
Again and again many homeschool parents will talk about, write about, and explain how their families are stronger, largely because of all the time the family spends together. Julee Huy from Homeschool Daze Blog writes about a We Love Daddy Party which builds greater family unity.
Treats - learning
An important aspect of homeschooling is having a vision that learning can take place in so many places.
At The Common Room the Headmistress explains how Playing Taboo With a Wide Age Range helps the whole family to learn.
From the Little Blue School is a fun post on What did we learn at Disney World? Homeschoolers recognize that we can learn outside a classroom setting. And often we learn more.
Tami of Tami’s Blog talks about her recent trip to the beach and how she incorporated it into their studies in We took our homeschool on the road.
In a Fabulous Fall Field trip some children get great exposure to how education use to happen. Malissa's Merry Go Round recounts the trip Stony Hill School where Flag Day was started.
Homeschoolers are everywhere. Beverly Hernandez writes about California's First All Homeschool Marching Band from About Homeschooling.
From Why Homeschool is our entry this week on how homeschooling has More of life in the "real world."
Decorations
In the United States we are also gearing up for an election. This afternoon Henry took our older two daughters out so they could pass out brochures on a candidate we support. Our middle daughter was a bit fearful by some of the scary decorations. There were hanging skeletons and heads in glass globes.
At Halloween almost every house has pumpkins. At Crafty Mama’s Homeschool are some ideas on how to integrate pumpkins into the curriculum in Pumpkins, Pumpkins Everywhere.
From Apollos Academy the Tutor shares her daughter’s concern about bad decorations in Our Budding Environmentalist. Her daughter not only did her part, but went the extra mile to try and improve the decorations.
Scary
Halloween is known for scary stories and things that go bump in the night. Some people seem scared to teach their own children. They recognize many of the problems in public schools, but are too frighten to step into the unknown of homeschooling.
In What got us thinking about homeschooling Kat of No fighting, no biting shares what prompted her to seriously consider homeschooling.
And from the Dow Blog is another account of a homeschool mother who explains why her family decided to homeschool in Why We Homeschool.
In Wired for Noise Mama Chaos questions the validity of children having to learn to do School before school. She wonders why children have to learn how to do school at ages three and four.
Parenting is not for the faint of heart. From APMFormulators is a post on Parents who Study Pediatrics Naturally.
Who, Witch, Why, Where, When, and How
Spunky of SpunkyHomeSchool might be able to help me out with the above title since she wrote Teaching Grammar and Writing.
Who – Dani of Bureaucratic Daycare writes about Christian parents who are concerned about a humanistic public school education in A Godless Education.
Why - Scott Somerville submitted Spunky’s post about why she switched to Tapestry of Grace.
Where – Laurie Bluedorn explains where to get school stuff in New Internet Auction Site Launched to Help the Homeschool Community at Trivium Pursuit.
When – The NerdMom has some thoughts about when it is time to switch to homeschooling in 7th Heaven and Schooling from the Nerd family.
How – The Homeschool CPA explains how it tends to be more expensive to homeschool our children as they hit the high school years in The Cost of Homeschooling.
Things that go bump in the night
Seeing as how late it is, we’ll end with a post about sleep. Patti, of All Info About Home Schooling writes about teenagers and sleep in To Sleep, Perchance to Grow
If you have enjoyed this carnival, please spread the word. Please mention the carnival on your blog, and other appropriate places.
Much of the western world is celebrating Halloween. This is a time of tricks and treats, scary stories, and things that go bump in the night. Children enjoy dressing up. Many houses have scary noises and sights in their front yard. So we’ll run with a Halloween theme for this week’s Carnival of Homeschooling. By the way, this is a picture of my middle daughter. She was born two weeks before Halloween. You can tell just how much she enjoyed her costume.
Tricks
Children knock on doors and yell the familiar “Trick or treat.” The option is given to the adult to either suffer some trick or pay off the children with a treat. There are many tricks to homeschooling. These are the good kinds of tricks.
Kelly, who has just started homeschooling, shares what she has learned in Starting with a Frazzle from Pass the Torch. She has learned a lot in one week.
The Learning Umbrella reminds us about The importance of goals in explaining how setting an end goal changed what she was doing.One of the important homeschooling tricks for parents is figuring out what and how to teach their children. Alasandra reminds her readers Why it's Important to Teach Facts NOT Feelings.
From Trust The Children is a good reminder that we need to give children down time. It is tricky to find the right range of work and play. Breathing Out -- Breathing In gives some guidance in finding that balance.
Dana of Principled Discovery reports that Math shouldn't be fun. She found a recent study which suggested confident and happy students don’t do as well in math as those who lack confidence and enjoyment of the subject.
Tricks and insightsHomeschoolers are constantly improving and learning how to be better parents and teachers. They are willing and eager to explain the tricks they have learned.
Grizzly Mama in A Day In The Life Of A Sick Grizzly Mama found that you may not get as much done when you are sick, but even in those imperfect days you will have some very nice teaching moments.
Kate of I Think, Therefore I Blog had a similar epiphany in A Much Needed Break as she found that even when she was sick there was a lot of learning without textbooks and classes.
The Thinking Mother explains there are The Two Roles of a Homeschooling Mother; Planning/Scheduling and Actually Doing It. She has some ideas on how this affects what we do as homeschoolers.
Tricks and little children
Homeschooling with a wide age range of children can be a challenge. Kendra shares some ideas she has picked up in Tools at Preschoolers and Peace. I enjoyed her summary of the post: “I once knew everything about parenting. Then I had six children...”
Contentment Acres has some great ideas on how to keep a toddler busy while you homeschool older children in Homeschooling with a Toddler.
Treats - general
There are dozens of benefits to homeschooling. The “treats” include more time with children, being able to do more fun activities, helping children to realize their full potential, and building character.From far off Australia, Bruggie Tales recounts a recent lesson in Family Maths. My husband greatly enjoys the way this family shares treats.
From My Domestic Church is a nice discussion about the fruits of homeschooling in Socialization. After 12 years of homeschooling a mother is pleased with how her children socialize.
Deanna of Marcy’s Musings also writes about Homeschoolers and Socialization and reports that she has found her children actually have the advantage over regularly-schooled kids when it comes to socialization.
Again and again many homeschool parents will talk about, write about, and explain how their families are stronger, largely because of all the time the family spends together. Julee Huy from Homeschool Daze Blog writes about a We Love Daddy Party which builds greater family unity.
Treats - learning
An important aspect of homeschooling is having a vision that learning can take place in so many places.
At The Common Room the Headmistress explains how Playing Taboo With a Wide Age Range helps the whole family to learn.
From the Little Blue School is a fun post on What did we learn at Disney World? Homeschoolers recognize that we can learn outside a classroom setting. And often we learn more.
Tami of Tami’s Blog talks about her recent trip to the beach and how she incorporated it into their studies in We took our homeschool on the road.
In a Fabulous Fall Field trip some children get great exposure to how education use to happen. Malissa's Merry Go Round recounts the trip Stony Hill School where Flag Day was started.
Homeschoolers are everywhere. Beverly Hernandez writes about California's First All Homeschool Marching Band from About Homeschooling.
From Why Homeschool is our entry this week on how homeschooling has More of life in the "real world."
Decorations
In the United States we are also gearing up for an election. This afternoon Henry took our older two daughters out so they could pass out brochures on a candidate we support. Our middle daughter was a bit fearful by some of the scary decorations. There were hanging skeletons and heads in glass globes.
At Halloween almost every house has pumpkins. At Crafty Mama’s Homeschool are some ideas on how to integrate pumpkins into the curriculum in Pumpkins, Pumpkins Everywhere.
From Apollos Academy the Tutor shares her daughter’s concern about bad decorations in Our Budding Environmentalist. Her daughter not only did her part, but went the extra mile to try and improve the decorations.
Scary
Halloween is known for scary stories and things that go bump in the night. Some people seem scared to teach their own children. They recognize many of the problems in public schools, but are too frighten to step into the unknown of homeschooling.
In What got us thinking about homeschooling Kat of No fighting, no biting shares what prompted her to seriously consider homeschooling.And from the Dow Blog is another account of a homeschool mother who explains why her family decided to homeschool in Why We Homeschool.
In Wired for Noise Mama Chaos questions the validity of children having to learn to do School before school. She wonders why children have to learn how to do school at ages three and four.
Parenting is not for the faint of heart. From APMFormulators is a post on Parents who Study Pediatrics Naturally.
Who, Witch, Why, Where, When, and How
Spunky of SpunkyHomeSchool might be able to help me out with the above title since she wrote Teaching Grammar and Writing.
Who – Dani of Bureaucratic Daycare writes about Christian parents who are concerned about a humanistic public school education in A Godless Education.
Why - Scott Somerville submitted Spunky’s post about why she switched to Tapestry of Grace.
Where – Laurie Bluedorn explains where to get school stuff in New Internet Auction Site Launched to Help the Homeschool Community at Trivium Pursuit.
When – The NerdMom has some thoughts about when it is time to switch to homeschooling in 7th Heaven and Schooling from the Nerd family.
How – The Homeschool CPA explains how it tends to be more expensive to homeschool our children as they hit the high school years in The Cost of Homeschooling.
Things that go bump in the night
Seeing as how late it is, we’ll end with a post about sleep. Patti, of All Info About Home Schooling writes about teenagers and sleep in To Sleep, Perchance to Grow
If you have enjoyed this carnival, please spread the word. Please mention the carnival on your blog, and other appropriate places.
Go here for the archives of previous carnivals.Next week the carnival will be held at SpunkyHomeSchool.
We'd like to thank everyone who has helped out. Thank you to all the participants in this carnival. And thanks to all those who help promote the Carnival of Homeschooling.
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Monday, October 30, 2006
More of life in the "real world"
When it comes to the question of socialization, often homeschoolers are criticized for not preparing their children for the "real world."
So, here's a glimpse of the "real world" through the eyes of child at school.
Videos Of Assaults Found On Middle School Student's Phone
This lovely story decribes how groups of middle school children are beating up classmates and taping the assaults on their cell phones.
The article states that none of the attacks had been reported. None of the victims told their parents. I can understand that. When I was in school, I never told my parents about the things that happened to me either.
Many parents see articles like this and say, "Well, that doesn't happen at my school or to my kid."
My response is this. How would you know?
Anger management class ordered for student
This article continues with details of another student assualt.
So, when was the last time you were beaten up at work? Or a bunch of mom's at the park decide to assualt another mother so they can record it on their cell phones for later viewing entertainment?
Yet, this is the abuse that some insist that children need to experience as an integral part of childhood. I want strong, capably children, but is leaving them in bad company unprotected the way to achieve that end? I don't think so.
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Related Tags: homeschool, home education, public school, teasing, school violence
So, here's a glimpse of the "real world" through the eyes of child at school.
Videos Of Assaults Found On Middle School Student's Phone
This lovely story decribes how groups of middle school children are beating up classmates and taping the assaults on their cell phones.
Police have launched an investigation into a series of attacks being carried out by middle school students after videos of the assaults were found inside a cell phone confiscated from a 13-year-old Portola Middle School girl last week, El Cerrito police Detective Cpl. Donald Horgan said.
From looking at the videos on the phone, Horgan said that it appeared that middle school students had been sneaking up to other students and slamming into them while other students filmed the attacks on their video cell phones, Horgan said.
The article states that none of the attacks had been reported. None of the victims told their parents. I can understand that. When I was in school, I never told my parents about the things that happened to me either.
Many parents see articles like this and say, "Well, that doesn't happen at my school or to my kid."
My response is this. How would you know?
Anger management class ordered for student
Assault charges against a Roseville elementary school girl who beat up a classmate on a school bus for getting "all A's" will be dismissed if she attends anger management courses, a judge has ruled.
Besides attending anger management classes, the 11-year-old from Alumni Memorial Elementary School was ordered to stay out of trouble in the future. If she does, court officials expect the assault charge to be wiped off her record.
"Like most people, before this hearing I didn't even know this was offered. I thought anger management was something for adults," said St. Pierre, the girl's attorney in the juvenile case. "But it's offered through public libraries, and we were told there have been successful cases in treating even 5-year-olds for anger problems."
This article continues with details of another student assualt.
So, when was the last time you were beaten up at work? Or a bunch of mom's at the park decide to assualt another mother so they can record it on their cell phones for later viewing entertainment?
Yet, this is the abuse that some insist that children need to experience as an integral part of childhood. I want strong, capably children, but is leaving them in bad company unprotected the way to achieve that end? I don't think so.
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Related Tags: homeschool, home education, public school, teasing, school violence
Friday, October 27, 2006
These people would never get invited to the Dr. Phil show
This is a nice article about a succesful homeschool family.
Are homeschoolers prepared for the real world?
(Heavy sigh) To bad we won't ever see homeschoolers like that on tv. The article ends with this conclusion:
I'm glad to see positive articles about homeschooling in the news.
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Related Tags: Dr. Phil, homeschooling, homeschooled adults, college, school
Are homeschoolers prepared for the real world?
OZARK-Clever resident Patti Hobbs' eyes light up and the smile widens across her face as she begins talking about her six children. When Hobbs first ventured into the homeschool world nearly 20 years ago, many probably considered her family an outcast. Homeschoolers were thought to be socially immature and academically inferior. However, the Hobbs children, like so many homeschooled children in today's age, have proven those statements wrong.
Nate and Ben Hobbs have both graduated with honors with bachelor's degrees from the University of Missouri-Rolla. They are both currently enrolled in the doctorate programs at different universities.
(Heavy sigh) To bad we won't ever see homeschoolers like that on tv. The article ends with this conclusion:
There are exceptions to every rule. However, it appears that overall, homeschoolers are getting along just fine in the world. They are blending in with public and private school graduates and entering the same professions. They are involved with civic, community, political and religious affairs. And the number of children being homeschooled is on the rise.
I'm glad to see positive articles about homeschooling in the news.
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Related Tags: Dr. Phil, homeschooling, homeschooled adults, college, school
Don't forget to send in your submission for the next Carnival of Homeschooling
My wife and I will be hosting the Carnival of Homeschooling next week.
Have you written something especially interesting, profound, or funny about homeschooling recently? Please send it in.
Entries are due by 6:00 PM (PST) on Monday evenings. Go here for information on how to submit your entry.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling, Unschooling Voices, unschooling
Have you written something especially interesting, profound, or funny about homeschooling recently? Please send it in.
Entries are due by 6:00 PM (PST) on Monday evenings. Go here for information on how to submit your entry.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling, Unschooling Voices, unschooling
Selections from Astronomy Picture of the Day - 27 Oct 06
It has been awhile since I've posted about the Astronomy Picture of the Day web site.
Hidden Galaxy IC 342 is beautiful. I always get lost trying to imagine just how big is the universe. A picture of a galaxy helps a bit.
The Antennae Galaxies in Collision is also breathtaking.
Something like Markarian's Chain of Galaxies takes me up an order of magnitude.
A nebula is much smaller. This picture of An Orion Deep Field is very striking. As is The Prawn Nebula.
A fun place to wander around is the Astronomy Picture of the Day Calender. From here you can select a month and see a the snapshots of a month's worth of pictures.
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Technorati tags: Astronomy, Astronomy Picture of the day
Hidden Galaxy IC 342 is beautiful. I always get lost trying to imagine just how big is the universe. A picture of a galaxy helps a bit.
The Antennae Galaxies in Collision is also breathtaking.
Something like Markarian's Chain of Galaxies takes me up an order of magnitude.
A nebula is much smaller. This picture of An Orion Deep Field is very striking. As is The Prawn Nebula.
A fun place to wander around is the Astronomy Picture of the Day Calender. From here you can select a month and see a the snapshots of a month's worth of pictures.
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Technorati tags: Astronomy, Astronomy Picture of the day
Parental Involvement Deters Teens Drug Use
One of the things that attracted me to homeschooling was the opportunity to increase parent-child interactions. Good relationships take time. As a society, parents underestimate their influence upon their own children. On the other side, sometimes homeschool parents over estimate their influence upon their children. So, what parental factors most influence teen behavior?
This study about teen drug use caught my eye and answers that question.
Parental Involvement Deters Teens Drug Use
The surveyed teens were asked about identified risk factors for teen drug use including peer and sibling use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco, parental monitoring, and how they perceived their parents' tolerance of drug and alcohol use on a 5-point scale.
Along this line of investigation, I found Parents Make a Difference on the Project Cork web page. Here are some of their conclusions.
This quote from researcher Stephen Bahr best sums up the results:
"..... influence of peers is strong, but it is mediated by characteristics of parents..."
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Related Tags: teen drug use, parental influence on teen drug use, homeschooling, parenting
This study about teen drug use caught my eye and answers that question.
Parental Involvement Deters Teens Drug Use
The surveyed teens were asked about identified risk factors for teen drug use including peer and sibling use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco, parental monitoring, and how they perceived their parents' tolerance of drug and alcohol use on a 5-point scale.
For every point increase in parental tolerance of alcohol use, the frequency of teen use of alcohol increased by 80 percent.
For every point increase in parental tolerance of marijuana use, there was a 33 percent increase in the frequency of marijuana use.
The frequency of drug use dropped by 14 percent for each degree that teens perceived their parents as monitoring their activities.
Along this line of investigation, I found Parents Make a Difference on the Project Cork web page. Here are some of their conclusions.
The quality of family relationships and the amount of time adolescents spend with family is a more important influence on adolescent's substance use than is the kind of family in which teenagers are living, whether it is with both parents, a parent or step-parent, in a single parent home, or live with non-family members.
Adolescent's perceptions of the parenting style in their home are linked to adolescents' substance use. Teens who view their parents generally as authoritative (know what they are talking about), as not permissive (who have standards and clear expectations), and as less authoritarian ("do it because I say so") do better in school and also are less likely to use substances.
Experimentation and use among elementary age children is associated with parenting styles that encourage risk taking, by parent's substance use.
Adolescent drinking behaviour is found to be largely unrelated to the socio-economiccircumstances of the family. A supportive family environment is associated with lowered rates of alcohol use.
This quote from researcher Stephen Bahr best sums up the results:
"..... influence of peers is strong, but it is mediated by characteristics of parents..."
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Related Tags: teen drug use, parental influence on teen drug use, homeschooling, parenting
Thursday, October 26, 2006
One of the lessons we are trying to teach our children
As parents there are a lot of lessons we want our children to learn. Some lessons are more important than other lessons.
This came in from Dan Galvin's Thought For The Day:
Better to do something imperfectly
than to do nothing flawlessly.
-Robert Schuller
From the Masters
16 Oct 2006
I think it is one of the more important lessons.
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Technorati tags: Robert Schuller
This came in from Dan Galvin's Thought For The Day:
Better to do something imperfectly
than to do nothing flawlessly.
-Robert Schuller
From the Masters
16 Oct 2006
I think it is one of the more important lessons.
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Technorati tags: Robert Schuller
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
More College Grads Living with Parents
Since we are sort of been on a college theme, here's another article about college. This article support some of the arguments from The US Doesn't Need More College Graduates.
More College Grads Living With Parents
Exactly, when are these so called adults, going to actually take on adult responsibilities?
I haven't lived with my parents full time since high school. When I was in college, I only lived at home during the summer until my third year. I did live with other family members one summer and for about six months after I graduated. Then I shared a small apartment with 2 roommates.
My husband lived at home while he attended college. A few months after college, he moved into his own apartment which he shared with various roommates. After he worked for a few years, his parents suggested that he buy a house. By the time we got married, Henry had rented rooms to 20 or so different roommates.
A few years after we were married, one of Henry's old roommates came to visit with his wife and children. While preparing dinner, the former roommate commented that he used to have an apron just like the one I had one. I replied that, "It came with the house." We had a good laugh. I asked him if he wanted his apron back. He said no. Another funny thing, when we got married there were bits and piece of 10 different sets of plates, cups, and flatware in the kitchen. Henry could set the whole table with out matching one plate, cup or utensil.
I don't buy the argument about the high cost of housing being the reason to move home. It's about expectations. Young adults want right now what their parents took a lifetime to build. Also, as the first article mentions, more unmotivated students are getting diplomas and are working in low paying jobs that don't need a degree. Because they are burdened with college loans, they are finding it difficult to be independent.
As part of our home education curriculum, we are teaching our children that adulthood is not achieved by age, but by self-sufficiency and autonomy, and that money doesn't grow on trees.
I tell my kids that if they want nice things, they will have to earn it.
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Related Tags: Money Doesn't Grow on Trees, College Graduates, Adult children living at home, self-sufficiency, homeschool, home education
More College Grads Living With Parents
* Half of this year's graduates have moved back home and 44 percent of last year's graduates are still there, while 34 percent of 18- to 34-year-olds get cash from mom and dad — an average of $3,410 a year.
Exactly, when are these so called adults, going to actually take on adult responsibilities?
I haven't lived with my parents full time since high school. When I was in college, I only lived at home during the summer until my third year. I did live with other family members one summer and for about six months after I graduated. Then I shared a small apartment with 2 roommates.
My husband lived at home while he attended college. A few months after college, he moved into his own apartment which he shared with various roommates. After he worked for a few years, his parents suggested that he buy a house. By the time we got married, Henry had rented rooms to 20 or so different roommates.
A few years after we were married, one of Henry's old roommates came to visit with his wife and children. While preparing dinner, the former roommate commented that he used to have an apron just like the one I had one. I replied that, "It came with the house." We had a good laugh. I asked him if he wanted his apron back. He said no. Another funny thing, when we got married there were bits and piece of 10 different sets of plates, cups, and flatware in the kitchen. Henry could set the whole table with out matching one plate, cup or utensil.
I don't buy the argument about the high cost of housing being the reason to move home. It's about expectations. Young adults want right now what their parents took a lifetime to build. Also, as the first article mentions, more unmotivated students are getting diplomas and are working in low paying jobs that don't need a degree. Because they are burdened with college loans, they are finding it difficult to be independent.
As part of our home education curriculum, we are teaching our children that adulthood is not achieved by age, but by self-sufficiency and autonomy, and that money doesn't grow on trees.
I tell my kids that if they want nice things, they will have to earn it.
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Related Tags: Money Doesn't Grow on Trees, College Graduates, Adult children living at home, self-sufficiency, homeschool, home education
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Dr. Phil's hatchet job
I came across this post from a blogger who was in Dr. Phil's audience for the the so called "homeschool" episode. The level of manipulation was staggering.
For example, the homeschool guests were told that they couldn't bring anyone younger than 18 years old. Dr. Phil brought in bus loads of students from surrounding schools to be in the audience. Nothing like stacking the deck.
For another episode on breast feeding, Dr. Phil taped eight days at the home of a breast feeding family. They used 30 seconds of the footage on the show, all of it negative.
I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
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Related Tags: Dr. Phil, homeschooling, unschooling, hatchet job, parenting, school, yellow journalism
For example, the homeschool guests were told that they couldn't bring anyone younger than 18 years old. Dr. Phil brought in bus loads of students from surrounding schools to be in the audience. Nothing like stacking the deck.
For another episode on breast feeding, Dr. Phil taped eight days at the home of a breast feeding family. They used 30 seconds of the footage on the show, all of it negative.
I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
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Related Tags: Dr. Phil, homeschooling, unschooling, hatchet job, parenting, school, yellow journalism
The Carnival of Homeschooling is up - week 43, learn about Benjamin Franklin
Beverly Hernandez of About Homeschool is hosting this week's Carnival of Homeschooling. Beverly ties in the variety of posts into different aspects of Benjamin Franklin's life. Drop in an learn more about homeschooling and Benjamin Franklin.
This week's Carnival of Family Life is at Everything Under the Moon.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling, family, Family Life
This week's Carnival of Family Life is at Everything Under the Moon.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling, family, Family Life
Carnival of Kid Comedy, week 29
Welcome to this week's Carnival of Kid Comedy. It is our pleasure to bring you a number of entertaining posts about the funny things children say and do. Without any further ado, on with the show.
Funny things children say:
Kim has been busy with a film festival, so she submitted one of Melissa Wiley's posts: Sometimes It's Hard to Make a Positive ID at Here in the Bonny Glen. Melissa's daughter saw something. It was brown, but what was it?
Bruggie Tales tells us the result of children watching Star Trek at a young age in Clingon Assault.
From Trinity Prep School is a delightful picture with the perfect caption: Mommy, Look....We Found Kitties!
Parah tells us about her son's first brush with logic and cattle in Logical Cattle.
At Stand Up For Kids In Mississippi is the account of a son and driving in Comic Relief: The Demon Car.
From Contentment Acres a mother admits she had trouble understanding what Caelb meant when he said he didn't like Poe-Key-Toes.
While Holding It Down a mother asks You Bit a What? Active imaginations are often a source of trouble.
Just Call Me Jamin! tells about a 12 year old son explaing the value of candy in The Glorius Night of Candy Giving.
From the High Desert Hi-Jinks is Fuel for Thought. I'm amazed that children can come up with responses like this so quickly.
Karen Edmisten found out why Romona was awake in Why we were up as early as we were.
Funny things children do:
This is one of those times when at the moment it may have been stressful, but later it is easy to look back and laugh. At Questions for the Wise Rebeca tells us of her son who dialed 911 on the microwave in Carried on the Wind.
At Our Seven Qtpies we read that a young girl recognizes a plus of going to the hospital in Never boring in a home with kids!
In Musings from the Mahan School for Little Women is a video of a girl and Spaghetti. This girl will be forever typecasted as a comedian.
From Echoes of Cold Moon Zen Kitty shares More on "The Older Women Are On The Prowl" as she writes about her daughter being courted at five.
David writes about His Youngest at Working it out. It would have been fun to have seen the panda.
From Flock of Sllies, Silly Old Mom writes about her daughter and a book catalog in Kid, Meet Candy Store.
The Thinking Mother writes about Playing In a Cloud. There are times when life has a bit of magic.
At Lil Duck Duck a mother exclains The Things I do for this child. All that work to see Clifford the Big Red Dog, and what does he end up doing?
And finally we humbly submit our post in Here Comes the Bride as Janine tells two of the classic stories from our family.
We hope you have enjoyed this week's Carnival of Kid Comedy. Please tell your friends. If you would like to submit an entry for next week's carnival, go here, or you can send email to: Carnival.KidComedy at gmail dot com.
Update I: The Carnival of Kid Comedy will be held next week at Life in a shoe.
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Technorati tags: Kid Comedy, humor, children, comedy
Funny things children say:
Kim has been busy with a film festival, so she submitted one of Melissa Wiley's posts: Sometimes It's Hard to Make a Positive ID at Here in the Bonny Glen. Melissa's daughter saw something. It was brown, but what was it?
Bruggie Tales tells us the result of children watching Star Trek at a young age in Clingon Assault.
From Trinity Prep School is a delightful picture with the perfect caption: Mommy, Look....We Found Kitties!
Parah tells us about her son's first brush with logic and cattle in Logical Cattle.
At Stand Up For Kids In Mississippi is the account of a son and driving in Comic Relief: The Demon Car.
From Contentment Acres a mother admits she had trouble understanding what Caelb meant when he said he didn't like Poe-Key-Toes.
While Holding It Down a mother asks You Bit a What? Active imaginations are often a source of trouble.
Just Call Me Jamin! tells about a 12 year old son explaing the value of candy in The Glorius Night of Candy Giving.
From the High Desert Hi-Jinks is Fuel for Thought. I'm amazed that children can come up with responses like this so quickly.
Karen Edmisten found out why Romona was awake in Why we were up as early as we were.
Funny things children do:
This is one of those times when at the moment it may have been stressful, but later it is easy to look back and laugh. At Questions for the Wise Rebeca tells us of her son who dialed 911 on the microwave in Carried on the Wind.
At Our Seven Qtpies we read that a young girl recognizes a plus of going to the hospital in Never boring in a home with kids!
In Musings from the Mahan School for Little Women is a video of a girl and Spaghetti. This girl will be forever typecasted as a comedian.
From Echoes of Cold Moon Zen Kitty shares More on "The Older Women Are On The Prowl" as she writes about her daughter being courted at five.
David writes about His Youngest at Working it out. It would have been fun to have seen the panda.
From Flock of Sllies, Silly Old Mom writes about her daughter and a book catalog in Kid, Meet Candy Store.
The Thinking Mother writes about Playing In a Cloud. There are times when life has a bit of magic.
At Lil Duck Duck a mother exclains The Things I do for this child. All that work to see Clifford the Big Red Dog, and what does he end up doing?
And finally we humbly submit our post in Here Comes the Bride as Janine tells two of the classic stories from our family.
We hope you have enjoyed this week's Carnival of Kid Comedy. Please tell your friends. If you would like to submit an entry for next week's carnival, go here, or you can send email to: Carnival.KidComedy at gmail dot com.
Update I: The Carnival of Kid Comedy will be held next week at Life in a shoe.
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Technorati tags: Kid Comedy, humor, children, comedy
Monday, October 23, 2006
Here Comes the Bride
Since we are hosting the Carnival of Kid Comedy, I've been trying to think of some funny things our kids have said or done. So, this goes back a few years.
When my oldest daughter was about three years old and my second daughter was about one, Henry's brother got married. This occasion included a photo session after the nuptials, in which the bride and groomed posed with family and various members of the wedding party. The photographer directed people to stand in a certain way and so forth as he set up for each shot.
The next week my daughter decided to "marry" one of the little boys at preschool. My daughter took George to the play structure and directed him how to stand. After posing him, she took George by the hand, marched over the mothers watching and announced, "He's my husband and I'm his wife."
My daughter then directed George to another play structure. While walking away with George, she explained to the mothers that "We are going to the doctor's office. I'm going to have a baby."
After this little interchange, George's grandmother turns to me and says, "So, what's been going on at your house?"
This reminds me of another conversation between my second daughter and the next door neighbor boy when they were both four years old. As a reference point, my neighbors are from India. This conversation took place around the same time as the "God" conversation that I mentioned in this post.
My daughter: Are you going to marry another Indian?
Neighbor boy: (He shrugs and looks confused.) I don't know. I never think about it?
My daughter: (Very seriously) I think about it all the time!
It is funny how girls are different than boys.
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Related Tags: Carnival of Kid Comedy, Gender differences
When my oldest daughter was about three years old and my second daughter was about one, Henry's brother got married. This occasion included a photo session after the nuptials, in which the bride and groomed posed with family and various members of the wedding party. The photographer directed people to stand in a certain way and so forth as he set up for each shot.
The next week my daughter decided to "marry" one of the little boys at preschool. My daughter took George to the play structure and directed him how to stand. After posing him, she took George by the hand, marched over the mothers watching and announced, "He's my husband and I'm his wife."
My daughter then directed George to another play structure. While walking away with George, she explained to the mothers that "We are going to the doctor's office. I'm going to have a baby."
After this little interchange, George's grandmother turns to me and says, "So, what's been going on at your house?"
This reminds me of another conversation between my second daughter and the next door neighbor boy when they were both four years old. As a reference point, my neighbors are from India. This conversation took place around the same time as the "God" conversation that I mentioned in this post.
My daughter: Are you going to marry another Indian?
Neighbor boy: (He shrugs and looks confused.) I don't know. I never think about it?
My daughter: (Very seriously) I think about it all the time!
It is funny how girls are different than boys.
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Related Tags: Carnival of Kid Comedy, Gender differences
Rules of Writing
My mother-in-law forwarded this to me with a little note saying that "it might help children remember some writing rules."
So here it is, a fun way to teach grammar and punctuation rules.
"Rules of Writing"
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Related Tags: Rules of Writing, Teaching grammar, Teaching punctuation, homeschool, home education
So here it is, a fun way to teach grammar and punctuation rules.
"Rules of Writing"
- Verbs HAS to agree with their subjects.
- Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.
- And don't start a sentence with a conjunction.
- It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.
- Avoid cliches like the plague.
- Also, always avoid annoying alliteration.
- Be more or less specific.
- Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are (usually) unnecessary.
- Also too, never, ever use repetitive redundancies.
- No sentence fragments.
- Contractions aren't necessary and shouldn't be used.
- Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.
- Do not be redundant; do not use more words than necessary; it's highly superfluous.
- One should NEVER generalize.
- Comparisons are as bad as cliches.
- Don't use no double negatives.
- Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.
- One-word sentences? Eliminate.
- Use the apostrophe in it's proper place and omit it when its not needed.
- Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "I hate quotations. Tell me what you know."
- If you've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times: Resist hyperbole; not one writer in a million can use it correctly.
- Puns are for children, not groan readers.
- Who needs rhetorical questions?
- Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.
And finally...
- Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.
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Related Tags: Rules of Writing, Teaching grammar, Teaching punctuation, homeschool, home education
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