Quote of the Day
I love this dialogue from the ” Oil Wells” episode of I Love Lucy!
Ethel: You know, I think I’m going to like being a millionaire.
Lucy: Millionaire, millionaire…You know, I’ve said it so often it doesn’t mean much anymore.
Ethel: You know something?
Lucy: What?
Ethel: We might even get to be billionaires!
Lucy: Yeah, or even trillionaires!
Ethel: Or even zillionaires!
Lucy: Yeah, or even…what comes after zillionaires?
Fred: The income tax department!
Quote of the Day
Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34
You Can’t Do it All
I really have to wonder about the way some people choose curriculum
As I began searching for information on different companies and their curriculum options for the coming year, I came across a new forum that I hadn’t browsed before–there simply hadn’t been a need. And I found it very helpful, and full of lots of information, not just about specific curriculum, but homeschooling stuff in general.
But I have noticed many people there using two or three different curriculum together at the same time. Now, I can see adding some stuff to what you’re doing…I’ve done that pretty much since we started homeschooling, with things like themed units, and adding on subjects such as Latin. But I think when you’re taking three different curriculum (for example, Sonlight, Story of the World, and Tapestry of Grace), that all have the same purpose in teaching (history through literature), then you have a problem.
I can understand (but not afford) blending two different curriculum with two different approaches. Say, something like Winterpromise, which is very hands-on crafty, and something more substantial, like Sonlight or Tapestry of Grace. And I can see needing separate curriculum for different children, based on their learning styles. But the example mentioned above, (which is an actual attempt by at least one person in assembling curriculum), attempting to use three full curriculum (including all of the activities for Story of the World–not just the books themselves alone), suggests a complete lack of confidence in any one of them.
If you find it necessary to use that many different companies to teach what you think needs to be taught, doesn’t that suggest that none of them is truly right for your family? Yes, there are a lot of amazing options available, and I can see the temptation to use them all. But that’s just not feasible, unless you was a burnt-out teacher and students. That’s one of the reasons I’ve chosen to try something new in our next school year–I was adding and tweaking so much to our Sonlight curriculum (which I do still love), that I realized that perhaps it isn’t the best match for us, at least not right now.
I also really have to wonder how people find time to do that many different curriculum. Sonlight on its own is enough to kill your voice, and I’ve seen the Tapestry of Grace book lists. I suppose you could just add on the reading selections for Story of the World, but if you’re really using it as the curriculum it’s published as, there are additional readings, and activities, and I think even quizzes and tests.
That’s just a lot of work. I don’t know, maybe that’s why I’ve stuck with “open and go” curriculum thus far. I don’t want to have to figure out what to replace, and what to add, and what activities to do from each company. Sure, some tweaking is fine, but if you’re going to that much trouble picking and choosing, why not just come up with your own curriculum? It would probably be the same amount of work, less money, and then you’d know that really had what you wanted, and what worked best for your family!
Quote of the Day
Respect…simple respect. I expect nothing more, and I’ll accept nothing less. Loretta Swit as Major Margaret Houlihan on M*A*S*H
Quote of the Day
I have to admit, this passage from White Stallion of Lipizza make me choke up a bit. Must be the Viennese in me.
He stood up now and put both hands on the boy’s shoulders, holding them tight. Gray eyes looked into gray eyes for a long moment. Then, “Hans,” he said, “all Viennese are proud of the Lipizzaners. Even I who have never seen them. It is something wonderful we inherit from the past. But for most of us it is a thing to admire from afar. Like stars. Or the moon when it is new.
Making Connections
One of my greatest joys in homeschooling is seeing my children make connections to what they’ve learned, especially when the connections are made outside of our regular school-time.
We’ve been reading White Stallion of Lipizza, which is a fantastic book, and the children have been loving it. Even the two little ones have sat with us, and looked and listened–it’s just a great story. Last night, though, I got a glimpse of those connections being made, and it was so exciting!
In the chapters we read last night, there were several references to Greek mythology–both Atlas and Apollo were mentioned. And Turkey and Bunny were so pleased with themselves for knowing what those stories were, and figuring out how they related to the story we were currently reading. That’s another fun part of homeschooling–seeing their confidence grow as they learn.
We also stumbled upon the word coronation in our reading. Now, that may not sound terribly exciting, except that corona is one of our vocabulary words in Latin this week. Again, they were excited, because they recognized the root word, and knew that it was related to what we were learning. They needed a little guidance to come to the actual definition of coronation–how many of those do we see in America, after all–but the important thing was the fact that they could recognize a derivative when they heard it.
These connections show both that they’re remembering what they’ve learned, and that they’re getting how to apply it. And I have to say, that’s very beneficial to my confidence as teacher!
Tasty Tuesday: Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin
- 2 lb. pork tenderloin
- 1 envelope dry onion soup mix
- 1 cup water
- 3/4 cup red wine
- 3 Tbsp. minced garlic
- 3 Tbsp. soy sauce
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Place pork tenderloin in slow cooker with the contents of the soup packet. Pour water, wine, and soy sauce over the top, turning pork to coat. Carefully spread garlic over pork, leaving as much on top of the roast during cooking as possible. Sprinkle with pepper, and cook on low setting for four hours.
Quote of the Day
Ah, that’s the trouble with speeches. You end up convincing your friends, and boring your enemies. Harry Morgan as Colonel Sherman Potter in M*A*S*H
Going with the Easy Answer
Last weekend, after Sunday school, I asked Ladybug what she had learned in her class. Usually, I have an idea of the lesson, because I’m in the class with her and Moose, (I have to shadow him), but he had one of those weeks where he just wasn’t going, so I didn’t get to hear the story.
Her immediate response was “I don’t know.” I figured she had to remember something, so I asked again. This time, she told me there was a picture of a mail truck, and they had to circle some letters. OK, at least she’s remembering something. But, I decided to press further, and see if she remembered anything she learned that was actually from the Bible, as I’m pretty sure there’s no mail truck mentioned in Scripture.
She thought hard, then said, “Ummm…Jesus?”
Yes, she went with the most generic (and likely to be right) answer she could give. And she still said it as a question.
Oh, well. At least she knows that she goes to Sunday school to learn about Jesus. And it’s better than the time I told my parents that I learned about Jesus and the Three Bears. I guess we’ll work on the details later!
Baklava
We’re in the middle of learning about ancient Greece, so I thought it would be fun to make baklava. Yes, I know that baklava isn’t *that* ancient, and that there’s a good deal of dispute over its origin, but it *is* something that we identify with modern-day Greece, so it still works for our purposes.
