Our Favorite Music

I finally got this CD from the library. I'm so glad they got more because I can't wait to get the rest.
Under a Shady Tree

My 2 yob loves singing to music. And, he just started talking. It's helping so much for him. Right now he has taken the cushions off the big chair in our living room and is jumping up and down and saying Choc-O-lot!

Since, B&N isn't showing a picture..I will just have to add my own. I love the cover picture.

Art

We have started taking Thursdays to study Art, Classical Musical and Poetry. We try to have a nice relaxing day and just really dive into our readings and music.

Penny Gardner's Charlotte Mason Art Appreciation Page
I just had to update on our Art Study. We are going to start using a more Charlotte Mason type of approach. I plan to start with having them look at the picture for a few minutes. Then I will take it away and have them describe it to me. I might just start with the Katie books, since I have them already.


A Child's Book of Art: Great Pictures First Words

This is a great picture book for young children. We've had it for quite a few years and all my boys have enjoyed it.

Impressionism

Impressionism at Wikipedia


Katie Meets the Impressionists

We love the Katie series! A great introduction to Monet, Renoir and Degas.

Pointillism

POINTILLISM at Wikipedia.com



Katie's Sunday Afternoon

This book is about Pointillism and the artists Seurat, Signac and Pissarro.

The Idea School

When we lived in Northern California there were wonderful Charter Schools in our area. Most of them were a Waldorf mix. I really, really loved them. We almost stayed in California (we were getting out of the military) just because of those schools. Our present state won't pass Charter Schools. I love the idea of parents being able to make the choices in education for their children. I love giving everyone a chance to become more involved in their schools. The charter we looked into had to have Parents volunteer their time because they just plain needed it. They couldn't afford to take care of everything or pay attendants for children on the playground.

These kids were just plain awesome. They were kind and helpful. I saw older children tying younger children's shoes for them. I met one little girl who had a lot of potty accidents in Kindergarten. But, no one teased or taunted her. She kept clothes on hand and was able to get up if needed. Children could pee when they wanted. Children who needed more movement could get up and walk around. They were taught what things were disruptive but they were allowed the room they needed.

They had onsite childcare for younger children and afterschool care. There was a very fine line between the teachers and parents. All the kids used everyone's first name, yet I never saw a teacher disrespected.

I did see a lot of amazing learning and artwork.

I was just thinking this morning...What would I like to see in schools. I would really like to see year round schooling. That whole break things is just way too much. All you do is get into trouble and forget everything you learned. Most families now can't afford long vacations and they can't afford summer child care. I would like to see 2 hour work and school lunches. I would like to see more schools, so that we can have smaller schools in every neighborhood. I think children should be able to walk to school or go to a school in their parents work neighborhood. Many office buildings already have in house child care. How about if they got some kind of tax break for having an in house school. Wouldn't it be nice to go on downstairs and check in with your kids and walk them down to the park for lunch?

I read and I have been questioned on socialization of schools. That's the number one reason we don't want our kids in school. That isn't proper socialization. Someone becomes the leader and everyone follows. That's how kids work. If you leave them alone they just follow who is biggest and oftentimes baddest. On a sidenote I had to check to see if baddest was really a word. It was in the dictionary, but it is slang. I'll try not to use it in my daily language. Children need to mesh with different age groups. So, many families are only having 1 or 2 children. Those children need exposure to other age groups. It will help them be better adults and leaders. Mostly, it will prepare them for adulthood. It will prepare them to be better parents and spouses. It will prepare them for the working world where they won't just work with 25 year olds or 45 year olds.

Until my perfect little world comes around, I think we will just keep on doing what we are doing. So far, it's going really well.

Ancient China

I'm being dragged kicking and screaming towards Classical Education. I promise to fight back =) G (8 years old for one more month) is really, really enjoying The Story of the World. He keeps making me read more chapters. We are taking a bit of a stop on Ancient China per G (8yob). I'm not sure why I fight learning this way. It's not that I don't want to. I read The Well Trained Mind back when Gibran went into Kindergarten. I really would love for him to learn so much. And, if there is one thing I am lacking it's discipline in my own life. The Father of the house and the Mother of the house (that's me) had quite a big talk today about what we are all lacking in. All the things we wish for ourselves...and all that stuff we are passing down to our kids. So for now, we are going to be going all the way through History with The Story of the World.

So, here are the books we are reading for the next week or two.


Seven Chinese Sisters

Two of Everything: A Chinese Folktale

Tale of Two Pandas

Story of Chopsticks

Ancient China

Warlord's Fish

The Warlord's Beads

Warlord's Puzzle

The Warlord's Kites

The Warlord's Puppeteers

Treasures of China

Daisy Comes Home

Websites:

The British Museum-Ancient China
Enchanted Learning's Great Wall of China Site
I don't know this guy at all. We just found his site while googling. He has some great pics of China. Our favorites were the pictures of the kabob stand!

Notebooking

Jeannie Fulbright's Notebook page

Thanksgiving

I just realized that we haven't learned much about the American Thanksgiving. G-8 did when he was in school. I sure hope there are a few books left at the library. The boys have been begging for some activities and creative play, so I think I might have them put together a lapbook or small Thanksgiving Journal.

After doing a bit of online research and ordering some books from the library, I have come up a personal realization. I don't like learning about History. Well, at least not according to the traditional American Timeline. I don't know what it is about me, but I can't just take in information and spit it out. I just can't expect that of my children either. Yes, I was that kid who could not stop arguing with the teachers. I just couldn't stand that they wouldn't teach history. That we just read the book and did the tests and that was it. But, what about the other side of the story? Sometimes, I don't want to pass that trait along to my boys. I just want them to follow the line. I want them to be able to answer all the questions and do the right things. I think this is a personal "problem" I really need to work on. Is this just something I missed because I didn't finish college yet? Maybe kids just aren't read for so much in depth information. I admit that sometimes I start getting into a subject and I realize that even G-8's eyes have glazed over. I think I've even scared him a bit sometimes.

Here are two of the books I really want to read..but I'm afraid to do it.
History Lessons: How Textbooks from Around the World Portray U.S. History

I've borrowed

Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong

from the library and I just can't make myself read it. I'm afraid to read it. I'm afraid to think I had to waste all that damn time in those useless classes. Why couldn't I just read and enjoy myself all those years. Oh wait..this is about History right? I thought the reason we learned History is to understand the past and our older generations. To see where we have come from. To see how different governments are run and see what is successful and what has failed.

While searching through B&N for the ISBN's I came upon yet another book to burst my little bubble of confusion.


Everything You've Been Taught Is Wrong: Fact, Fiction, and Lies in American History: 14 Lectures (Portable Professor Series)

I think I'm going to dictate this poem to G-8. I really want to have start doing some more Waldorfy journal pages.
Thanksgiving Poem

Thankful Wreath
These are directions to make a paper plate wreath with a leaf template to cut out and color. We are going to use some cardboard from boxes. The boys collected some leaves to study and draw.

Map of the Mayflower journey and a quiz.

History Channel's Thanksgiving page

Timeline of United States Thanksgiving History

Christian Thanksgiving Bible Study

Environment

Here are some resources that lean towards environmental studies.

Nature Challenge 4 kids
Thinking about an exciting career in the environmental field? 

Books we like! (And, yes there are Barnes and Noble links here. No, I'm not asking you to go and purchase all your books from Barnes and Noble. If you must buy books online then try some discount online book sellers or your local small town bookseller. But, really ask your library and if they don't have them, then request they purchase them. Oh, and the reason I use the Barnes and Noble links is because I like the visual. If I see a picture of a book I can remember it a lot better if I see it later.)



Lorax

Henry Hikes to Fitchburg

Henry Builds a Cabin

Henry Climbs a Mountain

Henry Works

Order Free Teaching Materials about Forestry, Trees and Endangered Species
I haven't recieved these yet, but I'll let you know what I think when I do.

Phonics and Grammar

P(5) is finally ready to read this year. We are focusing heavily on that with him. I try to get some one on one time with him every day. G(8) is just learning about Grammar and the English Language. I'm so excited. I adore writing and I really need to work on my Grammar studies. We plan to spend time on Phonics and Grammar M, W, F. Our lessons are short and sweet and often happen on the couch or in my King Size bed. My bedroom is the warmest place in the house during the winter, so it's nice to snuggle in there.

And, if I haven't said it before I will say it again. I use the library for almost all my resources. If you library doesn't have these resources please contact your library. Talk to the reference desk. My library system even has an email address, so that I can email them the information for a new book to order. Many library systems have the funds for new purchases and are just waiting for suggestions!

Phonics

http://www.starfall.com Starfall.com Phonics "game" G(8) still plays this online "game". I love that they update from time to time.


Bob Books Fun!

There are quite a few Bob Books and each set builds on the last. I normally use the library for books, but I do happen to own these.

Ready, Set Read: A Start-to-Finish Reading Program Any Parent Can Use

This book works really well with the Bob Books series. It's the first book I have ever read on teaching reading that makes sense. It's simple and to the point. It does teach phonics and it's very child friendly. I love it. I use it with a deck of ABC flashcards although the book suggests sandpaper letters or large magnet letters.

Grammar

Online Grammar Games:
Funbrain.com Grammar Gorillas
Eduplace.com Grammar Blast



Grammar Manipulatives Kids Love!

You know we love Hands On! I love these Scholastic manipulatives books. These are great to make up and put in baggies. Then you whole punch the bottom of the baggie and it can go right in a notebook. Many of them are great for making up notebook pages or lapbooks.

First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind

This is going better than I thought it would. And, yes it's another library find. It's for First and Second graders, so we are just moving on through it with no problem. Gibran enjoys it and we have found a lot of ways to make it funny. I can't believe how much we were laughing yesterday!