Room 108 Pen Pals
This site collects the names and e-mail addresses of pen pals from all over the globe. You can choose from pen pals in North America or elsewhere. I haven't checked further into this, so if you do, let me know!
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
Mad Math Minutes for Web
Mad Math Minutes for Web
Can you do this page in a minute? Lets you set the type of problems, number of problems, highest number given and more. Great customized practice for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
Can you do this page in a minute? Lets you set the type of problems, number of problems, highest number given and more. Great customized practice for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
Spelling Assessment
Assess your spelling
You need to have sound for this one. The program dictates a word to you and you spell it. You will be assessed using a standardized assessment method.
You need to have sound for this one. The program dictates a word to you and you spell it. You will be assessed using a standardized assessment method.
Virtual Lemonade Stand
Virtual Lemonade Stand
Do you have what it takes to run a successful lemonade stand? Decide how many lemons you need, how much ice, how many cups, what to sell for, etc.
Do you have what it takes to run a successful lemonade stand? Decide how many lemons you need, how much ice, how many cups, what to sell for, etc.
A Maths Dictionary for Kids by Jenny Eather
A Maths Dictionary for Kids by Jenny Eather
Did you know that a Magic Square is numbers arranged in a square so that the numbers add up to the same total vertically, horizontally and diagonally?
Did you know that a googol is the numeral 1 followed by ten zeros?
Do you know how to convert kilometres to miles?
This wonderful interactive dictionary defines math terms for kids in an easy and friendly way. It's a great tool when you come across a mathematical term whose meaning you just can't recall. It's also kind of fun just to read through the terms and practice the little activities accompanied by each definition.
I'd love to find something like this for science and language arts!
Did you know that a Magic Square is numbers arranged in a square so that the numbers add up to the same total vertically, horizontally and diagonally?
Did you know that a googol is the numeral 1 followed by ten zeros?
Do you know how to convert kilometres to miles?
This wonderful interactive dictionary defines math terms for kids in an easy and friendly way. It's a great tool when you come across a mathematical term whose meaning you just can't recall. It's also kind of fun just to read through the terms and practice the little activities accompanied by each definition.
I'd love to find something like this for science and language arts!
Monday, September 13, 2004
The Long Day is Over
Feeling tired
By the fire
The long day is over
The wind is gone
Asleep at dawn
The embers burn on
With no reprise
The sun will rise
The long day is over...
~Nora Jones
The end of our first day of academic focus is over. It was both good and bad. We had fun, and we had tears. It's amazing how living can be so hard on one's soul.
We began the day with a few workbook pages. Sweetheart did pages of a number book to learn to read, recognize and use her numbers. She was anxious to do them and was disappointed when it was time to move on to the KONOS stuff.
Monet started off with a workbook on multiplication and immediately deemed it "too easy." I assured him that what he was doing was only an introductory review and that it would, indeed, get harder. :-)
Edison started the day with a game of pizza math, something I picked up in the clearance aisle at Wal*Mart. It's a game that helps to understand fractions and division.
While they worked on their notebooks, I served up toast and gave The Baby some cottage cheese (her current favorite). After I finished with that, we moved right on to the KONOS obedience character study. We started with a game of Mother May I/ Simon Says where the three of them had to line up facing me. I would call out an instruction saying, "Mother says," or "Father Says, " or God Says," and they had to decide if they were to obey or not. The object was to get to me, so I would say something like, Mother says take three baby steps forward," and then they would decide if they should obey Mother, and if they should, they would. Then I would say something like, "A stranger says take one step backwards," and they would decide whether they should obey or not. The last instruction was, "Mother says give Mama a hug," so I got three big hugs. :-)
We discussed authority, helping 5 YO Sweetheart understand what the word "authority" means. We listed the different people who are in positions of authority over us, and we discussed what the Bible says about our obedience to God, to parents and to others. Later, in the car, Edison asked why it's so important that everyone vote, so we discussed what it means to have someone be in a position of authority over you, and how our founding fathers came from a monarchy where they weren't given any control over who would be in authority over them, and how hard they fought to have independence and a democratic government, or a government run by the people. If we don't vote, I explained, we can't complain about who has authority over us in the government.
We played another game where I let the children choose a room in the house, anywhere they wanted, and they had to listen for the dinner bell. As soon as it was rung, they were to come as quickly as they could and I would time their results. They were able to hone their skills down to eight minutes! I plan to give these drills daily.
We played another game where I would call out an instruction. The people who obeyed each received a point, and the one who obeyed the quickest received an extra point.
I assigned them to read the story of Abraham and Isaac and to dramatize the story in some way. Edison and Monet had a falling out over it and eventually I separated them and assigned them to each dramatize the story in their own way. Monet chose to make popsicle stick puppets while Edison chose shadow puppets. They'll put on their productions tomorrow.
Monet and I practiced counting by tens from any number, adding double digits, dividing and multiplying. We also discussed percentages as they relate to fractions.
Sweetheart and I did a reading lesson...she's still doing well. She practiced writing the letter "d" on paper and then in jello powder in a pie pan.
This evening, Edison and Monet had choir practice and then we stopped to pick up some old school lockers that I got from FreeCycle, and then we stopped for pizza, where Monet and I tried this trick on Bohemian:
Explain to a friend that you can predict a mathematical outcome based on the number of their choosing. Write down your prediction on a piece of paper, fold it in half and put in their hand, instructing them to place it in their pocket or some other safe place. Have them choose a number, any number, but suggest that it's one that will be easy with which to work because they will be adding, subtracting and dividing using the number. After they've chosen a number and written it down without telling you what it is, have them do each of the following steps:
Add your number to the next higher number. For example, if your number is six, add seven to it to get 13. If your number is 42, add 43 to it to get 85, and so on.
Add nine to the sum.
Divide that sum by two.
Subtract your original number from the quotient.
After they've done their math, checked it for accuracy and then checked it again, let them take the slip of paper out of their pocket and read it. They'll be amazed that you predicted right!
The reason? No matter what number they choose, the answer will always be five!
Lessons I learned today:
Do all of the workbooks and copying first.
Have finger snacks that don't cause stickyness. Toast is probably not the best choice for a worksheet table breakfast. :-)
Have Edison and Monet work seperately from the beginning.
Be flexible.
That's all for tonight. We'll see what tomorrow brings.
By the fire
The long day is over
The wind is gone
Asleep at dawn
The embers burn on
With no reprise
The sun will rise
The long day is over...
~Nora Jones
The end of our first day of academic focus is over. It was both good and bad. We had fun, and we had tears. It's amazing how living can be so hard on one's soul.
We began the day with a few workbook pages. Sweetheart did pages of a number book to learn to read, recognize and use her numbers. She was anxious to do them and was disappointed when it was time to move on to the KONOS stuff.
Monet started off with a workbook on multiplication and immediately deemed it "too easy." I assured him that what he was doing was only an introductory review and that it would, indeed, get harder. :-)
Edison started the day with a game of pizza math, something I picked up in the clearance aisle at Wal*Mart. It's a game that helps to understand fractions and division.
While they worked on their notebooks, I served up toast and gave The Baby some cottage cheese (her current favorite). After I finished with that, we moved right on to the KONOS obedience character study. We started with a game of Mother May I/ Simon Says where the three of them had to line up facing me. I would call out an instruction saying, "Mother says," or "Father Says, " or God Says," and they had to decide if they were to obey or not. The object was to get to me, so I would say something like, Mother says take three baby steps forward," and then they would decide if they should obey Mother, and if they should, they would. Then I would say something like, "A stranger says take one step backwards," and they would decide whether they should obey or not. The last instruction was, "Mother says give Mama a hug," so I got three big hugs. :-)
We discussed authority, helping 5 YO Sweetheart understand what the word "authority" means. We listed the different people who are in positions of authority over us, and we discussed what the Bible says about our obedience to God, to parents and to others. Later, in the car, Edison asked why it's so important that everyone vote, so we discussed what it means to have someone be in a position of authority over you, and how our founding fathers came from a monarchy where they weren't given any control over who would be in authority over them, and how hard they fought to have independence and a democratic government, or a government run by the people. If we don't vote, I explained, we can't complain about who has authority over us in the government.
We played another game where I let the children choose a room in the house, anywhere they wanted, and they had to listen for the dinner bell. As soon as it was rung, they were to come as quickly as they could and I would time their results. They were able to hone their skills down to eight minutes! I plan to give these drills daily.
We played another game where I would call out an instruction. The people who obeyed each received a point, and the one who obeyed the quickest received an extra point.
I assigned them to read the story of Abraham and Isaac and to dramatize the story in some way. Edison and Monet had a falling out over it and eventually I separated them and assigned them to each dramatize the story in their own way. Monet chose to make popsicle stick puppets while Edison chose shadow puppets. They'll put on their productions tomorrow.
Monet and I practiced counting by tens from any number, adding double digits, dividing and multiplying. We also discussed percentages as they relate to fractions.
Sweetheart and I did a reading lesson...she's still doing well. She practiced writing the letter "d" on paper and then in jello powder in a pie pan.
This evening, Edison and Monet had choir practice and then we stopped to pick up some old school lockers that I got from FreeCycle, and then we stopped for pizza, where Monet and I tried this trick on Bohemian:
Explain to a friend that you can predict a mathematical outcome based on the number of their choosing. Write down your prediction on a piece of paper, fold it in half and put in their hand, instructing them to place it in their pocket or some other safe place. Have them choose a number, any number, but suggest that it's one that will be easy with which to work because they will be adding, subtracting and dividing using the number. After they've chosen a number and written it down without telling you what it is, have them do each of the following steps:
Add your number to the next higher number. For example, if your number is six, add seven to it to get 13. If your number is 42, add 43 to it to get 85, and so on.
Add nine to the sum.
Divide that sum by two.
Subtract your original number from the quotient.
After they've done their math, checked it for accuracy and then checked it again, let them take the slip of paper out of their pocket and read it. They'll be amazed that you predicted right!
The reason? No matter what number they choose, the answer will always be five!
Lessons I learned today:
Do all of the workbooks and copying first.
Have finger snacks that don't cause stickyness. Toast is probably not the best choice for a worksheet table breakfast. :-)
Have Edison and Monet work seperately from the beginning.
Be flexible.
That's all for tonight. We'll see what tomorrow brings.
Our first day...
Today will be our first day to start formal academics and delve into themes and units for the year. Because we are learning-oriented and tend towards the unschooling philosophy, our whole family learns all the time about many different things, and we gravitate towards things that have educational (particularly historical) significance.
Today, we will begin a character unit study on obedience using the Konos curriculum. Throughout that study, we'll be learning about light, lighthouses, authority, kings and queens, printing, candlemaking, and more.
Today, we will lay the groundwork for the unit study. We'll begin copying verses and memorizing poetry. We'll begin practicing our multiplication tables. We'll begin timing each other to see how fast we can come when called. We'll play Mother May I and Simon Says.
Sweetheart will continue her reading lessons (she's doing so well!) and she is also doing pages from a workbooks called God's Colorful World and God's Animal Alphabet. I'm normally not into workbooks, but Sweetheart really is, and she asks me daily "what she can do," looking for ideas to feed her mind. Maybe she and I can make a book called, "What Can I Do Today?" to which she can refer when she's bored.
Yesterday, Monet asked when we were starting lessons. He said, "I think I'll do really great with lessons this year." :-) I think he will, too.
Here's to balanced learning...
Today, we will begin a character unit study on obedience using the Konos curriculum. Throughout that study, we'll be learning about light, lighthouses, authority, kings and queens, printing, candlemaking, and more.
Today, we will lay the groundwork for the unit study. We'll begin copying verses and memorizing poetry. We'll begin practicing our multiplication tables. We'll begin timing each other to see how fast we can come when called. We'll play Mother May I and Simon Says.
Sweetheart will continue her reading lessons (she's doing so well!) and she is also doing pages from a workbooks called God's Colorful World and God's Animal Alphabet. I'm normally not into workbooks, but Sweetheart really is, and she asks me daily "what she can do," looking for ideas to feed her mind. Maybe she and I can make a book called, "What Can I Do Today?" to which she can refer when she's bored.
Yesterday, Monet asked when we were starting lessons. He said, "I think I'll do really great with lessons this year." :-) I think he will, too.
Here's to balanced learning...
Saturday, September 11, 2004
Crazy busy
Today was full. After staying up half the night to mess with my blog, I woke up early this morning and didn't feel a bit tired. Strange. I had to force myself to go to sleep last night, and I laid in bed this morning for a half hour trying to go back to sleep before I decided it was no use. So I got up.
A trip to Wal*Mart (found a few learning materials, bought a couple of baskets, a wood carving set and whittling blocks for our upcoming unit on printing, got some more stuff for homemade pop) then a trip to the library, and then home, where I did some organizing and staining while Bohemian worked on the lawn. And that's a lot of work.
The kids watched an old Walt Disney video about birds...can't remember what it was called, but it was a special feature on The Rescuers. I stained the oak leaf carvings above the door, which was Monet's idea (of course), so he got to stain a few things, too. Looks nice. I'll post a photo when I can get the pics off of my digital camera.
Our tiger kitty had kittens in the barn, so Monet and Sweetheart spent a good part of the morning in the loft playing with the kittens. At one point, Sweetheart came in to inform me that Monet had fallen asleep in the loft with a kitten in his arms. :-)
The boys cleaned out the van and cleaned the windows. Afterwards Edison rode his bike to Richard and Penny's, and then Richard brought him home. Edison was in a really good mood and was very helpful. He even made the comment that when the house is messy, it "drives him nuts." He's been doing a lot of reading lately, too. I hope to interview him (maybe tomorrow?) about all of the books he's been reading.
I looked at the Rainbow Resource Center catalog today, the one that I picked up from the homeschool meeting. Wow! I know what my kids are getting for Christmas this year! I was so inspired! Cool stuff.
When we were in the car on the way home from the grocery store, the chocolate cupcakes that Sweetheart picked out went crashing to the floor of the van. It was kind of Edison's fault because he put them in a precarious place. A couple of people were giving Edison a hard time, but then Monet said, "Well, they still are what they are." Very good observation, indeed.
Bohemian and I spent the evening staining and polying the stair railing, window casings and windowsills. We'll be having a family gathering next month, so that has kind of lit a fire under our tails to get stuff done.
Bard is still in Chicago...or did I mention that before? She's spending two weeks nannying and helping my sister-in-law, who is a midwife in the Chicago area, because she has a lot of ladies due right now and a one year old who doesn't care to share his mother. My SIL has so graciously agreed to pay Bard her first month's China payment in return for her help. I miss Bard a great deal. She's a wonderful helper and a good companion. But it has also been nice to take this opportunity to try to train my sons to be keepers of a home, too.
The Baby is begging to nurse, so I'm going to sign off. There's so much more I want to say. Maybe I'll blog again tonight after she falls asleep. Until then...
A trip to Wal*Mart (found a few learning materials, bought a couple of baskets, a wood carving set and whittling blocks for our upcoming unit on printing, got some more stuff for homemade pop) then a trip to the library, and then home, where I did some organizing and staining while Bohemian worked on the lawn. And that's a lot of work.
The kids watched an old Walt Disney video about birds...can't remember what it was called, but it was a special feature on The Rescuers. I stained the oak leaf carvings above the door, which was Monet's idea (of course), so he got to stain a few things, too. Looks nice. I'll post a photo when I can get the pics off of my digital camera.
Our tiger kitty had kittens in the barn, so Monet and Sweetheart spent a good part of the morning in the loft playing with the kittens. At one point, Sweetheart came in to inform me that Monet had fallen asleep in the loft with a kitten in his arms. :-)
The boys cleaned out the van and cleaned the windows. Afterwards Edison rode his bike to Richard and Penny's, and then Richard brought him home. Edison was in a really good mood and was very helpful. He even made the comment that when the house is messy, it "drives him nuts." He's been doing a lot of reading lately, too. I hope to interview him (maybe tomorrow?) about all of the books he's been reading.
I looked at the Rainbow Resource Center catalog today, the one that I picked up from the homeschool meeting. Wow! I know what my kids are getting for Christmas this year! I was so inspired! Cool stuff.
When we were in the car on the way home from the grocery store, the chocolate cupcakes that Sweetheart picked out went crashing to the floor of the van. It was kind of Edison's fault because he put them in a precarious place. A couple of people were giving Edison a hard time, but then Monet said, "Well, they still are what they are." Very good observation, indeed.
Bohemian and I spent the evening staining and polying the stair railing, window casings and windowsills. We'll be having a family gathering next month, so that has kind of lit a fire under our tails to get stuff done.
Bard is still in Chicago...or did I mention that before? She's spending two weeks nannying and helping my sister-in-law, who is a midwife in the Chicago area, because she has a lot of ladies due right now and a one year old who doesn't care to share his mother. My SIL has so graciously agreed to pay Bard her first month's China payment in return for her help. I miss Bard a great deal. She's a wonderful helper and a good companion. But it has also been nice to take this opportunity to try to train my sons to be keepers of a home, too.
The Baby is begging to nurse, so I'm going to sign off. There's so much more I want to say. Maybe I'll blog again tonight after she falls asleep. Until then...
Friday, September 10, 2004
A ton of links...
I added a ton of links for learning resources in Ohio. I hope to add more for Holmes County as well. Searching for links, I'm amazed at the amount of stuff that's here to see! Ohio really is awesome. If you can think of any Ohio or Holmes County links I should add, please let me know and I'll do my best. In the meantime, be sure to visit a few of the links, and then a few of the places!
Homeschool Support Group Meeting
Well. I went. I did it. And guess what.
I survived. :-)
Actually, I had a good time! I met a few people, saw that there are actually a lot of very nice people there, and no one yelled at me. I didn't make a single enemy, and I actually may be on my way to making a few...ahem...could it be...FRIENDS? :-)
They served punch, not Kool-Aid. There were some wonderful people there, and there were some people I had even met before. There was a woman there named Connie (if you're reading this, "Hi, Connie!") who I'd seen at Wal*Mart once a year or more ago, wearing her baby in a sling, and I'd thought, "Oh my goodness! I should go talk to her! I've never seen another person wear their baby in this county!" But I chickened out and gave it to the Lord (I know...I must be a real geek to pray for friends...but I'm in a new community, for crying in the mud!). We had also seen each other another time at Edison's fiddle lesson, where she and her son had been taking lessons. It was really fun to talk to her and exchange e-mail addresses.
The Baby was a bit difficult to maintain. I'll have to make sure to prepare for that next time. I was able to pick up a Rainbow Resource Center catalog, which is very cool because I ordered one online and haven't received it yet.
There were quite a few people at the meeting. I'd say there were about 20-25 families there and it seemed like there were quite a few who were coming to the meeting for the first time, just like us. At one point (and I think you'll appreciate this, Heather...I thought of you), everyone was introducing themselves. When the families with quiverfuls or larger introduced themselves, people actually APPLAUDED! Where on earth would you ever find that kind of response??? There were many families with three or more, five seemed about average, and there was one with 11 (including adopted children).
The kids and teens all seemed to socialize well with each other, but I didn't hang out with them to see for sure. I'm looking forward to some more activities and opportunities to get to know people.
One of the cool "schooly" things that happened tonight was that they had a Human Scavenger Hunt which gave Sweetheart a chance to practice writing her name. One of the women prepared a list of about 30 attributes, such as "owns a horse," "speaks spanish," or "wearing a jumper." You had to find people with that attribute and have them sign your paper, and it had to be someone outside of our immediate family. One of the attributes was "under 36" tall." Many people had Sweetheart sign her name on the paper. It was good practice, but she was so nervous that she would forget how to spell her name. :-) Monet was really into the game, asking people to sign his paper and telling others which people he'd found that could sign for which things.
The down sides: no matter HOW many times I tell my kids, they will NOT stop interrupting me when I'm talking! Ack! I just can't get them to understand! It wouldn't be so bad if I had one child, but I have FIVE. So as soon as I finish telling one to stop interrupting, here comes the next. I swear, it seems like they have a meeting beforehand..."You go first. Tap her on the shoulder four times. If she doesn't answer tap again and again until she answers you. After she gets mad at you, I'll come up and ask her the question. That way she'll be mad at you and so exasperated that I'll get the answer. If that doesn't work, we'll send Sweetheart. She's not as hard on Sweetheart..." They took turns tapping and talking all evening!
And no matter HOW many times I tell them NOT to talk with food in their mouths, they still DO! I intentionally stopped at Burger King ahead of time so that they wouldn't ravenously attack the snack table, but they filled their plates to the brim and continually spewed banana bread crumbs from their lips. ACK!
And no matter HOW many times I tell them NOT to bicker with their siblings, they insist on nagging and picking each other over EVERY SINGLE THING! And they really don't care where we are! They'll come hollering. The exchange goes something like this:
So, yes. I survived. Barely. :-) And I actually think I'll go back next month. If I can get the kids to be civilized.
*NOTE: This is a dramatization. This did not ACTUALLY happen. This is a gross exaggeration! But...well...okay, it's pretty darn close. ;-) Still, if you have any suggestions on how to train these children in this area, please, please, please let me know!
I survived. :-)
Actually, I had a good time! I met a few people, saw that there are actually a lot of very nice people there, and no one yelled at me. I didn't make a single enemy, and I actually may be on my way to making a few...ahem...could it be...FRIENDS? :-)
They served punch, not Kool-Aid. There were some wonderful people there, and there were some people I had even met before. There was a woman there named Connie (if you're reading this, "Hi, Connie!") who I'd seen at Wal*Mart once a year or more ago, wearing her baby in a sling, and I'd thought, "Oh my goodness! I should go talk to her! I've never seen another person wear their baby in this county!" But I chickened out and gave it to the Lord (I know...I must be a real geek to pray for friends...but I'm in a new community, for crying in the mud!). We had also seen each other another time at Edison's fiddle lesson, where she and her son had been taking lessons. It was really fun to talk to her and exchange e-mail addresses.
The Baby was a bit difficult to maintain. I'll have to make sure to prepare for that next time. I was able to pick up a Rainbow Resource Center catalog, which is very cool because I ordered one online and haven't received it yet.
There were quite a few people at the meeting. I'd say there were about 20-25 families there and it seemed like there were quite a few who were coming to the meeting for the first time, just like us. At one point (and I think you'll appreciate this, Heather...I thought of you
The kids and teens all seemed to socialize well with each other, but I didn't hang out with them to see for sure. I'm looking forward to some more activities and opportunities to get to know people.
One of the cool "schooly" things that happened tonight was that they had a Human Scavenger Hunt which gave Sweetheart a chance to practice writing her name. One of the women prepared a list of about 30 attributes, such as "owns a horse," "speaks spanish," or "wearing a jumper." You had to find people with that attribute and have them sign your paper, and it had to be someone outside of our immediate family. One of the attributes was "under 36" tall." Many people had Sweetheart sign her name on the paper. It was good practice, but she was so nervous that she would forget how to spell her name. :-) Monet was really into the game, asking people to sign his paper and telling others which people he'd found that could sign for which things.
The down sides: no matter HOW many times I tell my kids, they will NOT stop interrupting me when I'm talking! Ack! I just can't get them to understand! It wouldn't be so bad if I had one child, but I have FIVE. So as soon as I finish telling one to stop interrupting, here comes the next. I swear, it seems like they have a meeting beforehand..."You go first. Tap her on the shoulder four times. If she doesn't answer tap again and again until she answers you. After she gets mad at you, I'll come up and ask her the question. That way she'll be mad at you and so exasperated that I'll get the answer. If that doesn't work, we'll send Sweetheart. She's not as hard on Sweetheart..." They took turns tapping and talking all evening!
And no matter HOW many times I tell them NOT to talk with food in their mouths, they still DO! I intentionally stopped at Burger King ahead of time so that they wouldn't ravenously attack the snack table, but they filled their plates to the brim and continually spewed banana bread crumbs from their lips. ACK!
And no matter HOW many times I tell them NOT to bicker with their siblings, they insist on nagging and picking each other over EVERY SINGLE THING! And they really don't care where we are! They'll come hollering. The exchange goes something like this:
*Me: So anyway, Mrs. Homeschool Support Group Organizer, your children are so well behaved. How do you get them to...?
One of my children: MOM! I WAS JUST ABOUT TO TAKE THE LAST PIECE OF BANANA BREAD, AND HE TOOK IT RIGHT OFF THE PLATE IN FRONT OF ME...
Me: (whispering in the child's ear) Please do not interrupt when I'm talking. you know that...
One of my children: DON'T YOU EVEN CARE? YOU DON'T EVEN CARE ABOUT ME. I WAS TRYING TO GET THE LAST PIECE OF...
Me: Okay, we'll talk about it later...wait a minute. You don't even
like banana bread...
One of my children: THAT'S NOT THE POINT! I WAS JUST ABOUT TO TAKE IT...
Other child interupts: YEAH, HE WAS JUST ABOUT TO TAKE IT BECAUSE HE HEARD ME TELL SWEETHEART THAT I WAS GOING TO TAKE THE LAST PIECE, AND THEN HE RAN OVER
AND TOOK IT AND...
One of my children: THAT'S BECAUSE I WAS GETTING IT FOR BABY! SHE WAS CRYING BECAUSE YOU TOOK HER DOLL AWAY...
Other child: DID NOT!
One of my children: DID, TOO!
Other child: DID NOT!
Me (looking back at Mrs. Homeschool Support Group Organizer whose mouth is hanging open in amazement): So, tell me, how do you get such well-behaved kids?
So, yes. I survived. Barely. :-) And I actually think I'll go back next month. If I can get the kids to be civilized.
*NOTE: This is a dramatization. This did not ACTUALLY happen. This is a gross exaggeration! But...well...okay, it's pretty darn close. ;-) Still, if you have any suggestions on how to train these children in this area, please, please, please let me know!
Carschooling
Carschooling.com - Over 350 Entertaining Games & Activities to Turn Travel Time into Learning Time
This is such an awesome idea. My sister-in-law, who is a midwife, was just telling me the other day how much time they spend in the car and how she often takes her homeschooled children's work along with her. I will DEFINITELY pass this information on to her. A fellow homeschooler in my area said she got her copy of this book from Wal*Mart.
From the website:
I have logged over 218,000 miles in the car with my kids. Here’s my solution to introducing fun education into traffic jams, cross-town jaunts, and endless road trips.
As a homeschooling parent, I spend a lot of time in the family car with my two sons. I cart them around to science, music and gymnastics lessons, to libraries, friends’ houses, and homeschool park days for recreation and socialization. I also take them on numerous field trips to distant points of interest.
This is such an awesome idea. My sister-in-law, who is a midwife, was just telling me the other day how much time they spend in the car and how she often takes her homeschooled children's work along with her. I will DEFINITELY pass this information on to her. A fellow homeschooler in my area said she got her copy of this book from Wal*Mart.
From the website:
I have logged over 218,000 miles in the car with my kids. Here’s my solution to introducing fun education into traffic jams, cross-town jaunts, and endless road trips.
As a homeschooling parent, I spend a lot of time in the family car with my two sons. I cart them around to science, music and gymnastics lessons, to libraries, friends’ houses, and homeschool park days for recreation and socialization. I also take them on numerous field trips to distant points of interest.
Homemade Pop and David Copperfield
Because of Edison's interest in magic, I've been renting some magic and illusion DVDs from Netflix. Over the last couple of days, we've watched David Copperfield: Illusion and today Mysteries of Magic: Volume I. Mysteries of magic contained a lot of history about illusion. From the Netflix description:
Last night, we made homemade soda pop ala Honest Pretzels by Mollie Katzen (I just looked her up and she has a webpage here, thought it looks like it may not be updated regularly). The soda was very simple. I used:
You might want to check the flavor as you add the lemon little by little, in case you don't like it as tart as we do.
Marvel at Houdini's escape from the Water Torture Cell. Watch illusionists stop everything from bullets to cannonballs with their bodies. And, see Penn & Teller perform the scariest trick of all -- conjuring up a million bees, on stage.
Last night, we made homemade soda pop ala Honest Pretzels by Mollie Katzen (I just looked her up and she has a webpage here, thought it looks like it may not be updated regularly). The soda was very simple. I used:
- 2 liters of club soda
- 2 cans of frozen apple juice concentrate, thawed
- 1 container of lemon juice (the little ones that look like a lemon)
- and the juice of 2 limes.
You might want to check the flavor as you add the lemon little by little, in case you don't like it as tart as we do.
First Meeting
I have my first homeschool support group meeting tonight. I am SO nervous. Will my kids swing from the ceiling? Will get there before it's over? Will I have time to take a shower or will I have to go in my pajamas with my hair in knots? Will The Baby want to nurse and pull my shirt up in front of the president of the support group? Will they all be right-wing fundamentalists? Will they all think I'm a left-wing liberal? Will all of the children be wearing headcoverings? Will they serve Kool-Aid? Will I get my finger food done, or will I have to take Triscuits and Spam? Will Bohemian get home in time to go with me? Will someone want to come and check my house to see if I'm a good enough homeschooler? Will I make any enemies? Will I make any friends?
Monday, September 06, 2004
Snoopy
Snoopy, the 80 pound lap dog who has to be eased into meeting new people, barks loudly at people she doesn't know and eats kittens. She's a beagle-basset mix which also makes her the perfect porch dog, because her long, velvety ears hang over the edge of the front porch where she lays, unmoving, most of the day, just like Fletcher from the Something Queer
Four Dogs
When the Man waked up he said, 'What is Wild Dog doing here?'And the Woman said, 'His name is not Wild Dog any more, but the First Friend, because he will be our friend for always and always and always.'"
- Rudyard Kipling
"No matter how little money and how few possesions you own, having a dog makes you rich." - Louis Sabin
I never would have thought we'd be a four-dog family. Four dogs is way too many. Four dogs is stupidly too many.
Growing up, I had one cat and one dog and never felt that it would be right to have more than one. After all, I was an only child. One of each was the exact right thing to have. How could you love them enough if you have more than one? How could you devote the time and attention that each needed if you had more than one? How could they be unique and special if you had more than one?
So we started out with just one dog. He was unique, sweet, and so very special. From the moment I saw him in the pet store, where my then 14 year old brother-in-law convinced me that it was okay to take home a puppy, I knew that this little golden guy was my doggie soul-mate. I dragged Bohemian back to the pet store later that night to buy the puppy I'd already named Gordon and took him home to be our one and only very special family dog forever.Whoever said you can't buy happiness
forgot little puppies. ~Gene Hill
But I accidentally hung that one. Long story, very painful. I'll spare you the details. We'll just say that what Bohemian said is right..." If you give a dog a long enough rope... " and we'll leave it at that.
"Heaven goes by favour. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in."- Mark Twain
It took me a while to get over the death of Gordon. I just kept thinking about how it was all my fault, how, because I'd been so careless, I had dashed all of the plans I'd had for him. Romping in the fields (though we had no fields at the time), accompanying my kids down to the fishin' hole (that didn't exist in our neighborhood) and taking long walks on country roads with us (even though we lived on a very busy road in the suburbs, which was the reason for tying him up in the first place, which was the cause of his hanging).
Labradors are lousy watchdogs. They usually bark when there is a stranger about, but it is an expression of unmitigated joy at the chance to meet somebody new, not a warning.
~Norman Strung
It was Edison's third birthday that finally inspired me to research what would truly be the best kind of dog for our family. After reading about all of the different dog breeds, buying a few dog breed books at the bookstore, and talking to different breeders, I brought home a dopey, four-month old black lab the week before we travelled to Chicago to help prepare for my sister-in-law's wedding, a time when he wasn't old enough to be left alone but was just old enough to tear the wallpaper off of my in-laws' bathroom walls (Note to my mother-in-law, Kathie: I'm very sorry for what Indy did to your bathroom).
For the fifth year in succession I have pored over the catalogue of dogs in the show at Madison Square Garden without finding a dog named Rover, Towser, Sport, Spot or Fido.Who is the man who can call from the back door at night: "Here, Champion Alexander of Clane o' Wind-Holme! Here, Champion Alexander of Clane o' Wind-Holme"?- Westbrook Pegler
The dog had no name (well, he did have a name, but we didn't like the name "Oscar," which reminded me of hot dogs) until we took him to the Indiana Dunes where he romped excessively in the lake and then collapsed on the beach, seemingly comatose. We thought he was going to join Gordon in Great Doggie Heaven. But he continued his dead-dog-like state only until he miraculously recovered his strength and was ready to jump up and do it all again. That's when we decided to name him Indiana, after the Indiana Dunes. We also thought it was a clever dog name, since it was mentioned in Indiana Jones ("We named the *dog* Indiana!"). He would be our one and only, very special, family dog forever.
Until one day about five years later, when our pastor and his wife mentioned the sweet yellow labs their son was selling to raise money to buy his new bride a bedroom suite. They wondered if we might want one. Well, we thought, Edison has a dog. Wouldn't it be nice for Bard to have a dog, too? It's for a good cause. And labs are such social creatures, you know? Indy really should have a pal. So we brought Nutmeg home and she would be our...other...very special family dog forever.
Until one day about five years later, when our pastor and his wife mentioned the sweet yellow labs their son was selling to raise money to buy his new bride a bedroom suite. They wondered if we might want one. Well, we thought, Edison has a dog. Wouldn't it be nice for Bard to have a dog, too? It's for a good cause. And labs are such social creatures, you know? Indy really should have a pal. So we brought Nutmeg home and she would be our...other...very special family dog forever.
But Meggy had wanderlust. We decided not to have her spayed because we thought we might want to become professional breeders. Before long, Meggy was a walking hormone. Even though she and Indy were both indoor dogs, she continually begged to go outside. Once out, she refused to stay in the fenced-in yard with Indy, who had officially become an "it" at six months old, and she decided to seek greener pastures and a more productive companion, digging new holes as soon as we'd fill the old ones and actually chewing through a section of lattice to get out of the yard. One fast-moving car, four sobbing children and a huge vet bill later, we were back to one dog.Happiness to a dog is what lies on the other side of a door. - Charleton Ogburn Jr.
My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet. ~Edith Wharton
One September day after we moved to the country, we were enjoying the activity of the local farmer's auction when there came an extremely tall Amishman named Big Ben. Big Ben was toting a dog kennel full of sweet, tiny puppies--toy fox terrier/jack russell mix.
Monet was smitten. I thought about taking home the little guy cradled in Monet's arms. The tiny creature looked just like a min-pin, the price a mere twenty bucks (is there every a "cheap" dog???). At the thought, my legs began to shake. I thought about the two dead dogs in Great Doggie Heaven. I thought about how Bohemian would react. He'd already told me "No more animals!" after I had, week after week, brought home chickens, guinea pigs, rabbits, goats, guineas, pheasants, pigeons, ducks and kittens. But I have a disease, I've since discovered, that causes me to make impulse decisions when it comes to living things. I picked up my cell phone and told Bohemian, through the spotty reception, that I had found a puppy who was just s-o-o-o cute, that he would be a great pet for Monet (who has an animal-acquisition disease, too), and that it was such a deal at a mere twenty bucks! "Whatever you think is best..." he said, his resigned voice trailing off as I lost the call and was left to interpret his response. Legs still shaking, I handed Big Ben my last twenty dollars and went home with that sweet little pooch. We named him Jack, after C.S. Lewis, and he is one of the best friends a little boy could want. He sleeps under Monet's covers, follows the kids to the creek, the neighbors' houses, the bakery.... He comes when you call and does cute tricks. Of course, he also kills chickens and chases rabbits, but I'm still so very glad we took the chance and brought Jack home with us. And I'm so very glad that we've kept him alive.
"Every boy should have two things: a dog, and a
mother willing to let him have one" - Anonymous
Two dogs is a nice balance. I could have been fine with two dogs. They were actually a good set, in a humorous kind of way. This big, clumsy, gentle giant of a black labrador and this tiny, rabbit-and-chicken-eating bundle of energy of a terrier. Two dogs. A good balance. Big and little. Yin and yang.
So when one of Bohemian's coworkers wanted to find her dog a better home on someone's country farm than she was giving her on her city lot, I was very clear about my intentions. I would do the co-worker this favor: Snoopy could come to us just to spend the weekend. We would keep her for a few days, see if we could find a home for her on a nice Amish farm, and if we couldn't, she would go back.
When Bohemian dragged her down the footpath to our cabin in the freezing rain, and I say dragged bccause she was absolutely adamant that she was NOT going to come willingly, I knew that she would be going back to her lot in the city. She growled at the kids, hid under the table, and was generally very anti-social. She caused us a panic attack when she ran away from home the first night, causing us to comb the neighborhood and put up fliers from dawn to dusk. As the darkness fell and I was certain I was going to have to call Bohemian's co-worker to tell her we'd definitely given Snoopy a home in the country, the silly dog slinked back to the cabin as if she'd always lived here, her huge tummy leaving a belly-shaped path in the snow as she waddled.
Cowardly dogs bark loudest. - John Webster
I now know that Snoopy is very shy, that coming into a house full of strangers was enough to cause her deep doggie depression. I know this because she weasled her way into our hearts over the course of that weekend and endeared herself to my dad, who also lives with us and refused to let her go back to the city.
So now, we have an 80 pound lap dog who has to be eased into meeting new people, barks loudly at people she doesn't know and eats kittens. She's a beagle-basset mix which also makes her the perfect porch dog, because her long, velvety ears hang over the edge of the front porch where she lays, unmoving, most of the day just like Fletcher from the Something Queer books. She's probably the dog who gets the most comments from visitors. "Love your hound dog!"
After a year and a half, I'd become fairly certain that our dog number was set, that we didn't need or have want for another dog until Indy, who will be 10 in March, goes to meet his Maker. And I would still feel this way today.
If it weren't for FreeCycle.
So now, we have an 80 pound lap dog who has to be eased into meeting new people, barks loudly at people she doesn't know and eats kittens. She's a beagle-basset mix which also makes her the perfect porch dog, because her long, velvety ears hang over the edge of the front porch where she lays, unmoving, most of the day just like Fletcher from the Something Queer books. She's probably the dog who gets the most comments from visitors. "Love your hound dog!"
After a year and a half, I'd become fairly certain that our dog number was set, that we didn't need or have want for another dog until Indy, who will be 10 in March, goes to meet his Maker. And I would still feel this way today.
If it weren't for FreeCycle.
"My dog is usually pleased with what I do, because she is not infected with the concept of what I "should" be doing." - Lonzo Idolswine
So far, through FreeCycle, I have given away two Zebra Finches and have acquired the following: two easy chairs, a very decent working refrigerator, a dishwasher (I don't know whether it's working or not because we haven't installed it yet), an antique upright piano, two old school lockers, and two potted plants.
I was supposed to be putting in a new lawn with Bohemian when I snuck inside to check my e-mail and saw the following FreeCycle post.
"FREE TO GOOD HOME: Black lab pup about four months old."
I resisted the urge to open the e-mail and read it...for about two seconds. When I replied to the post, it was only to encourage the woman who was having a difficult time maintaining her sanity after purchasing two lab puppies that were destroying her seed-selling business by uprooting and eating all of her flowers. I wanted to give her some advice, to let her know that crating a pup really works, that I've used the method on several occasions, and that it's the best way to go. Much better than hanging or locking the pup in your in-laws' bathroom (Kathie, did I ever apologize for that? If not, I'm so very sorry...)
Somehow, accidentally, my fingers typed:
"We live on a farm, have an older black lab, an 'adolescent' female bassett and a 3-year-old jack russell/toy fox terrier mix, all spayed/neutered. I'd love to take your little guy if you don't change your mind or can't find a more fantastic home for him. We're definitely a dog family. Our dogs live right along with us. We use gentle training methods and crates. We don't live close to the road, and they have plenty of room to romp and play. "
And then, I accidentally hit "send."
Within twenty minutes, the reply came back.
"OK Where do you live LOL, I had several replies, yours sounded the best to me and also you were the first one (by the time in my inbox), so you win both ways here LOL"
And then I slunk back outside to continue working on the yard.
Bohemian was trying to fix the old John Deere mower, again, so I sat on the hill to watch him. It was so hot. After a few minutes, he came and sat beside me, wiping his brow and shaking his head. As usual, the dogs started to congregate around the humans who were now at their eye level and not moving.To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious
afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring - it was peace. ~Milan Kundera
"Would you like another lab?" I asked, as if asking him if he'd like a big glass of ice cold, homemade lemonade. It really was a fair question. We've talked about getting another lab since Indy started sporting a grey beard. We've talked about getting another lab lots of times...when Indy passes to that Great Doggie Heaven to join Meggie and Gordon.
"Sure," he answered, "When we lose Indy."
"I mean now..." I ventured. I knew that I had to explain. Fast.
"AwomanonFreeCyclepostedablacklabpuppy.He'spurebred,butshegottwoand can'thandlethemboth.She'sgivingoneawayandIaccidentallyresponded andshejustreplied..."
Bohemian reached his hand out to pat Indy's old, black, greying head. Snoopy and Jack pushed their heads under his hand. Indy resignedly looked on. "Did she say we could have him?" he asked.
I nodded.
"Well, when do we pick him up?"
So now we have four whole dogs. I never thought there would be room in my heart for four whole dogs, but I've surprised myself. Or maybe the dogs have surprised me. Each one has a different personality, a different set of endearing qualities that makes each a very important part of our family: Indy, with his calm, mature, unconditional love; Jack, with his boundless energy and wiley ways; Snoopy, with her guarded enthusiasm and possessive spirit, and now Poochie (who isn't allowed to have a anme until Bard returns from Chicago), who's like watching Indy come home for the first time all over again. I guess dogs are kind of like a cross between children, snowflakes and flowers...they're so darn cute, no two are alike and you can never have too many."He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your
dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion." - Unknown
Well, unless you have five dogs. Five dogs, without a doubt, is way too many. :-)
"How can there be too many children? That is like saying there are too many flowers!" ~Mother Theresa of Calcutta
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