Message Board

Just for the record...

Mingo — Thur, 21 Aug 2008 02:17:44 GMT

...I am fallable, even with history sources.

So, I've had this book for a while, Around the World in a Hundred Years I think it's called. It's a chronological survey of exploring and explorers for children written by Jean Fritz. I know her stuff is very worthwhile for American history (or so I've read/been told).

I skimmed through it a bit, checking the bias of some of the better known explorers and thinking about whether it was worth having, using, editing, etc. I decided to keep it for the people who are less-well-covered in most histories.

Therefore, I pulled it out today, for Henry the Navigator. He's a good-to-know character that started two things - he kicks off the "Age of Exploration" and the slave trade from Africa (though in his defense, he wanted to Christianize the people *in* Africa - the slavery bit came later when things got beyond his personal control.)

But, being me, I thought, "Hey! Let's read the intro, too" which explains the state of world knowledge of geography prior to 1450.

Imagine my *shock* when I read that the Christians had burned the library at Alexandria in order to destroy "pagan" knowledge, claiming all that was needed for humanity could be found in the Bible.

:yikes and

I was appalled.

And even as I'm reading that, I'm telling Kate, "This isn't right! I know this isn't accurate at all."

They followed this statement with a picture of a map, putting Jerusalem at the center of the world with Eden at the top (this was an illustration, NOT a real map, but these types of maps did exist).

And, remember, this was written by Jean Fritz! I am *so* going to pre-read her American history stuff now, having seen her world history bias!

She takes jabs at Henry re: the slave trade a bit, too - but that was immoral, though her take on it makes it squarely Henry's responsibility, which it wasn't.

Oh, and for the record. The destruction of the library at Alexandria has an indeterminate date, ranging from about 65BC to 615AD (give or take a few decades). Only one of the four potential "events" that lead to its destruction has *anything* to do with Christianity (a Christian emperor wanted all the pagan temples destroyed and a small part of Alexandria's library was housed in a former temple...but this is not the most likely event, either.)

AAAUUUGGHH!

Forum: Homeschooling Concerns

Homeschooling: Does it ever just 'hit' you?!

TXSuzie — Thur, 21 Aug 2008 01:28:58 GMT

Today was a very sociable day in our neighborhood. All the public schooled kids got postcards in the mail saying who their teacher is going to be. It was major excitement for the kids and mothers alike - Who did you get? We got... Who did Joe get?
Me? Blessedly left out in the cold. But - wow. It really hit me. I knew it would, but it still shocked me. Last year - first day of Kindergarten - hit me hard, as the realities of what we were doing really sunk in. I knew then that 1st day of 1st grade would be hard, as DS is now 'officially' school age. But hearing everyone chatting about their children's teachers hit me like a ton of bricks. Deep down, I'm rejoicing that we are homeschooling but I'm a little shell-shocked around the edges right now.
Does every 'first day of public school' hit you hard? Or is it just the first few 'official' ones?

~~~

On a related note. "Why I am glad we are homeschooling 101."
A friend was telling me about all the money she spent, getting her kids ready for school. She mentioned that she had to buy them all yearbooks. Now I knew that they had yearbooks in elementary school, as I saw a sticker on friend's daughter's T-shirt last year that said, "I want my yearbook! Buy me my yearbook!" (See why I detest marketing?!) But - really -- did y'all have yearbooks in elementary school? We didn't have them until junior high - and, even then, it was a crummy spiral bound thing. We didn't get a 'formal/bound' yearbook until high school. This school district has fancy yearbooks starting in Kindergarten! I somehow can't wrap my brain around that.

Forum: Chit Chat

Red Green

OKBound — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 03:19:04 GMT

I was feeling very guilty about hijacking a very serious thread with something frivolous like Red Green. So I'm starting a new thread and will crudely post what's been said so far.

OH!! I can't forget Winston, owner of his own business, Winston's Sewage Septic Sucking Services.
"It's Springtime and you know what that means, it's cabbage season."

Oh how high brow our humor can be.....

Oh, and Kim, I'll admit I'm perhaps a little leary that I've only been able to find the whole series being sold on DVD on two different websites that look an awful lot alike. They have a ton of old tv series and I'm just hoping it's not some piracy thing, someday getting a visit by g-men wanting to confiscate my DVD's. Will do a little research before purchasing. I'll PM the link to the websites tomorrow and let you be the judge. Gotta get offline for the night.

MomOfOneSon: Ellen

Quote:

Originally Posted by OKBound

Quote:

Originally Posted by MomOfOneSon

Well, as Red Green says to the guys -- "Don't worry -- we're all in this together!"

Don't forget about the Man Prayer:
"I'm a Man,
But I can change,
If I have to,
I guess."

Sorry, but I had to comment on this! Are you a fellow Red Green fan? The Dallas-area PBS station used to air this on Saturdays(I think) and then, poof, it was gone. We are going to splurge and buy the whole series. Found all 15 seasons for just over $100. Can't wait to see Harold again....hua!

Dh discovered Red Green soon after we were married. I don't know which is funnier -- the show, or watching how funny my dh thinks it is! It has really grown on me, though. I especially like the Handyman's Corner ("If the women don't find you handsome, at least they can find you handy!"). My dh's fave is "Adventures with Bill," which I think is sometimes too painful to watch, but can be very funny sometimes. And I never thought the shows were nearly as good after Harold left ...

Our claim to fame -- we actually MET Red Green once! He was at a home show in a town nearby so we went to see him. We got in a line to have him autograph a book. My dh always wears red suspenders (even BEFORE watching the show), and at the time he had a hat that except for being camo instead of solid green, looks a lot like Red's hat. He wore a plaid flannel shirt that day, and did I tell you my dh also has a full beard, which at the time was about the same amount of grey ... so it was almost like twins! I got a picture of them shaking hands across the autograph table ... have to look for that one of these days!

"Keep your stick on the ice!"

MomOfOneSon: Ellen

Quote:

Originally Posted by OKBound
Sorry to hijack the topic, but Ellen, if DH doesn't mind, you've got to post that pic in a new thread. What a scream!

Our favorite skits were the Ranger Gord ones, including the cartoon he would show.

Oh, yes, Ranger Gord -- what a character! I'll see if I can find the pic.

(and yes, Mingo, sorry for the hijack ... )

Mingo: Michelle

Quote:

and yes, Mingo, sorry for the hijack ... )

No problem. It was time.

I've seen Red Green a few times on Texas tv. Sorry, I just didn't get into it. Probably because we'd lived in Minne-soh-ta and it was just too recent to be funny.

Mimikitty: KIM

I'm just not getting around to reading this entire post! I'm LOL at the Red Green conversation! DH and DS are Red Green fans.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OKBound
We are going to splurge and buy the whole series. Found all 15 seasons for just over $100. Can't wait to see Harold again....hua!

I read this to DS and now he's begging for me to get this for him!

Forum: Chit Chat

There's a new Princess in town

OKBound — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 03:02:46 GMT

I just noticed that I'm a Princess now. I sure have been observant lately.......

Forum: Chit Chat

If your child likes paper dolls...

SunflowerMom — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:23:07 GMT

...check this out.

http://store.doverpublications.com/0486469794.html

DD asked me to order them.

Well, you know who we're voting for...

Forum: Homeschooling Concerns

A rainy start to the week

TXSuzie — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:44:08 GMT

We are having rain - actual rain! - for the first time since... May, maybe?! It has been so long, I forgot what rain felt like.
Not only is it raining - but I have nothing on my calendar for today and tomorrow. And we are on a break from school right now!
So what did I decide to do today?! Clean out our walk-in master bedroom closet. The closet it nearly the size of my childhood bedroom and was quite full of junk.
Honestly, I don't know when the closet was cleaned the last time. We have lived here 14 or so years and I think I have deep cleaned it once.
When DS was a year old, we got new flooring from one end of the house to the other so I know the closet was at least emptied out then. However, if memory serves me, by the time we got to that room, I tossed everything out, then just threw it back in.
I have just been going through my clothes. What a disaster! I think I have five shirts that fit me. Everything else has been too small for me for -- years and years. It is pathetic. I have a beautiful dress (classic, plain black dressy sleeveless dress) that I wore to a function probably 13 years ago! It hasn't fit in probably 11 years - so why is it still hanging in my closet?! It isn't any more. It is now in a bag to take to the second hand store.
And why do I have no less than five black purses?! And two red purses?! And shoes. Don't even get me started there.
I have tossed out bags and bags of clothes - and yet the closet doesn't seem any emptier.
Well, my 'break time' is over - gotta go back in to the dungeon and see if I can finish up the job. I have another walk-in closet in the office that needs some attention, too.

Forum: Chit Chat

A couple Southern vs Yankee observations

love2liv — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:45:26 GMT

I told a silly online quiz that asked "are you a southerner or a yankee?"   You all know the answer to THAT one but I was curious...my answer was,   "You're such a Yankee you've probably never even BEEN down south!"   Now, how did they know that?????

My sister has been living in TN for 2 1/2 years now, which for a girl from Maine has been QUITE an experience.  People have been fine for the most part, but someone did write on her van in the dirt "Yankees go home!" which is something I just don't understand.  I will admit we don't like people "from away" who come up here and try to change things too much.  But that includes EVERYONE else :) none of the other 49 staters are exempt, lol!

My sister did make an interesting observation on a trip home a couple of weeks ago.  She took a bus, and she said she had a real nice time all the way to Boston.  She always found a "buddy" to hang out with or someone to talk to until Boston.  In Boston, she got on the bus last and every single seat was taken up with 2 people, who were all reading or pretending to sleep.  So she was going to have to share with someone.  So she said, excuse me but can I share a seat with someone?  And no one would look at her, and she said it again...and finally just had to pick a seat.  And she thought, "Yep, I'm in New England!" And the woman next to her ignored her the entire two hours.

Is this something people would do anywhere, or is this very typical cold New England behavior?   Because I'll be honest with you, I would have probably pretended to sleep, even if it was my own sister, LOL! I've noticed that people up here have some serious personal space issues...and if someone is a "huggy" person I assume they aren't from here.  I like my personal space and I hate when people invade it.

What do you guys think?

Forum: Chit Chat

Submitting our declaration of intent

SunflowerMom — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:58:35 GMT

Although DD has never been in PS and this will be our 3rd yr HSing, Sept will be the 1st time we are submitting our declaration of intent.

The compulsory attendance for our state is 8 and our law states that you have to turn in the DOI by Sept 15 or within 2 wks of the beginning of any PS quarter. My DD doesn't turn 8 until mid-Oct so I guess technically I don't have to submit the DOI until then (???). But, I guess, to be safe, I'll just bring it to the Super's office in Sept.

I'm a little nervous about this. I'm doing it in person...I don't want to mail it, plus I'd like them to stamp it or something so I have an officially-reviewed copy to use for HS discounts at supply stores, etc. I hope it isn't received by someone who is anti-HSing.

But I'm also very excited b/c I feel like I'm *really* committing to HSing, if you know what I mean?

Any wisdom or comments on your experience would be appreciated.

Forum: Homeschooling Concerns

Writing programs

Briva — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:21:16 GMT

I've been looking for a writing/language arts program. We've done language arts using a classical/Charlotte Mason approach for years but from now on I need to lean on a less teacher intensive program. I've read some personal reviews and looked around on Cathy Duffy's review page and think I've narrowed it down to Christian Liberty Press' grammar workbooks along with Writing Strands. I know that Ms. Duffy recommends Abeka, BJU and Rod & Staff for English (her 100 Top Picks book) but they may be too intensive for my dd.

Anyone have personal experience with CLP's grammar workbooks? My oldest dd used EPS' Rules of the Game with success but I wanted something a little more comprehensive.

Forum: Homeschooling Concerns

Please Read!

DonnaC — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 23:25:20 GMT

I'd really like to have everyone update their signature to help in pegging in how old your children are, etc. (I can never remember and I'm sure I'm not the only one.) Something like Amy has would be fine:

Amy
married to dh 11 years
dd 5

or Mingo:

Mingo
An only hsing a 8yo dd
in IN

Quotes and any other info is FINE and DANDY! Blog links, etc. are great... but it really helps to have a handle on if you have a dd or ds (daughter or son) and how old they are. Having it set up in your signature insures it will be in each post and really does help.

Bare Minimum:
Your "real" name
ds/dd age

If you can/want to add your state or area (TX, Maine, IN, or Carribean, or Northern USA, WHATEVER) would be great also... but at least the bare minimum would be handy.

Thanks!

If you are not sure how to change or work on your signature, please ask! I'll be happy to help you! And if I'm not around, I'm sure one of the other ladies here can walk you through it.

Forum: Chit Chat

How was your summer?

TXSuzie — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 19:34:13 GMT

I loved reading about what everyone is planning for fall - wondered if anyone wanted to share about their summer?? (School or otherwise.)

We schooled most of the summer, though are now on a break until after Labor Day. In a lot of ways, summer seemed like it was over in a blink of an eye. Thankfully. I hate summers in Texas and am looking forward to fall. This was our second year of schooling through the summer. We do drop school plans for the day if outside activities come up, but I was amazed at how much school we could get done around swimming and play dates.

We started Apologia Astronomy in mid-May and got about half way through in six weeks before taking a break. After a 1.5 week break, we started in on a unit study of France (and the Tour de France) then the Olympics. Along with that, we studied anatomy. DS loved it. I was amazed at how much he got into watching the Tour de France and now the Olympics. (Now sometime this fall we need to get back to Astronomy and finish that up.)

DS took a week-long Lego robotics class in early summer. He loved the class - but, once again, we realized it was 'sensory overload.' He did better than last year's week-long art camp (probably because it was Lego's and only 3 other kids) but we still need to go slowly with activities like this. (And decided to wait another year, at least, before attempting VBS.)

He also took swim lessons this summer with the neighbor's grandson, at our neighbor's pool. They had a ball and both learned to swim and dive!! I am simply amazed with this experience. The boys have known each other from birth and get along great. But they were just so encouraging to each other, cheering each other on, pushing each other to swim better. The instructor was very young - but she was an incredible teacher and so patient with the boys, yet not putting up with any nonsense. Our neighbors have always invited to use their pool whenever we wanted, but we have never really taken them up on that. Well, this year - with the boys swimming - we spent most of the summer at their pool. It was good - with gas prices being so high and our summer being so hot and dry - we just walked across the street and hopped in their pool.

Our summer field trips were --- plays, plays and more plays. I just realized we went to six plays from mid-May until now. (One theater in a neighboring city has cheap tickets so we go to most of their performances.) Now that the heat will soon be over, I am looking forward to some outdoor field trips, like the zoo.

Forum: Homeschooling Concerns

It's a bit old, but...

DonnaC — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 02:14:40 GMT

Libraries deemed health & safety risk for children (even babes in arms) - dated Dec 7, 2007. College Library in St Marys College in Blackburn, England.

Like the mom can't keep her child safe and it's not her call on what's safe and what's not.... tsk tsk tsk...

Don't know if things changed in the case or not... as it is an old story... so don't be writing any letters! LOL ;)

Forum: In The News

Someone lend me a shoulder!

love2liv — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 23:17:27 GMT

Okay veterans don't laugh at me....I have had no less than 25 people that I vaguely know ask DD in the last couple of months, "Are you going to school???" DD has calmly answered every time, "We do homeschool." 99% of responses have been either,

1)blank stare...home WHAT?  (which really means, you don't LOOK Amish!)
2)nervous cough and a sudden intent interest in the produce section of the grocery store
3)Fake interested, "Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..." (but I can tell they think I am an idiot).
4)"I have a friend who does that but I could NEVER do that" (but what they mean is you're weird so it makes sense you would do something freaky like homeschool)
5)and a couple of "Good for you, the schools stink!" and I actually believe they meant it.

I was pleasantly surprised that people didn't care enough to get into a heated conversation about it. You can think I am crazy behind my back, that's your right.  HOWEVER, today I got the grilling of a lifetime from someone and it really RATTLED me.  This woman's husband is a friend of the family, and I didn't realize until afterwards that SHE is a public school math teacher. My dad had told her before I got there that we homeschooled and it was like she was waiting to pounce on me-I found myself stuck in a situation where I had to stand there and talk to her for a half hour alone.

The conversation went like this,

"DD tells me that you are...homeschooling." (Only coming out of her mouth it sounded like, "DD tells me you let her...sleep with her pet python."). I replied, "Yes, we are...." and added something inane about the weather ('cause I am no dummy :)!). Then a few minutes later she steers the conversation back, "So tell me about your homeschooling...does the state require you to use a specific curriculum?" Okay, innocent question, so I replied, "No, and you wouldn't believe the curriculums you have to choose from." I got a cold, "Yes, I know that. But do they require you to do standardized testing at the end of the year to make sure that certain milestones are reached?"  And I told her that you can do a portfolio review or a test, and that it didn't really matter right now because we weren't legally required to have her in school for 2 more years.  I also said that I felt my daughter was really young and we'd revisit the ps issue again when she was closer to 7.  Well, that was enough to set her off. She went on and on about how her daughter was 4 when she went to Kindergarten, and she was fine and I need to let go, and we all think our children are too young but they can handle it and it's just time to bite the bullet and send her...and on and on.  You would have thought my daughter was 37 years old and I wouldn't let her leave the house!!!! I wanted to jump up and down and scream, "MY DAUGHTER IS 5 YEARS OLD! FIVE!!!!!!" I just stood there and listened and then DD must have sensed something was up because she started singing, "Ring around the rosies!" really loud, and that's not like her at all.

I thought I was safe, but a few minutes later, and she starts in on me about math.  I barely listened to her....mostly because I was hatching an escape plan.  She talked herself around in circles. I think she was trying to be helpful in her own way, but by the end of a VERY one-sided conversation she admitted that I didn't need to really deal with "milestones, goals" and other educational-ese that I've never even heard before, until DD was in 3rd grade.

                                             !

Maybe I should get DD a pet python, so the homeschooling thing looks brilliant in comparison.

Forum: Homeschooling Concerns

Board games and only children

TXSuzie — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:14:16 GMT

One of Cindi's posts prompted me to ask something that has been on my mind lately.

My DS loves to play board games. Most board games are for 2-4 players. No problem there.
But DS likes to play - rather, he insists that we play with all four, not two or three. So he will either play the other colors/characters or he will have a stuffed animal fill in for that spot. It drives my DH over the deep end. Granted, it is really confusing to know whose turn it is... And it can be annoying... But after 15-30 minutes, DS kicks you out of the game because he wants to 'play, play' and not actually 'play the game.' DS will then continue on playing with the game with all four pieces for hours on end. We have two games that he will simply pull out of the closet and play with on his own - with all four players.
Tell me straight up - is my child strange?! Is he the only "only" one that does this?!
If we have the full amount of players, he is perfectly fine actually playing a 'real' game. And he can play cards with six people in a game w/no problems. So I don't see anything wrong with his behavior. It's just 'strange' to me. (You know, because I had a sibling and all we ever did was fight and throw game pieces at each other. )

Forum: Chit Chat

Olympics: Anyone else...

TXSuzie — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:15:18 GMT

have a child that wants to grow up and be in the Olympics?!

My DS was talking to the neighbor girl on the phone last night. DS was sitting on my lap so I could hear both ends of the conversation. She was telling him all about getting a new Webkins. DS told her, "My parents told me that I was only allowed to have one Webkin." She told him that he could always buy more when he grew up and was an adult and got to make his own decisions. DS told her, "No. I'm going to be too busy training for the Olympics then to play with a Webkin."

DS and the neighbor boy both watched synchronized diving on Monday night and Tuesday at swim lessons got in trouble for attempting to duplicate the dives. The instructor very nicely told them that they had to master a basic dive before they tried to jump off backwards and do a somersault!

DS has really caught "Olympic Fever!" It is so much fun watching him cheer on Micheal Phelps and the rest of the Americans.

Anyone else?

Forum: Chit Chat