tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87877671812148295942024-03-13T12:31:41.869-05:00Homeschool CaddyWisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787767181214829594.post-90659978532431037302007-10-10T17:22:00.000-05:002007-10-10T20:13:48.274-05:00Final Leg of M. Arronax's JourneyThe final chapters of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea provides much fodder for the curious mind. If you're just now joining us on the out of book journey check here and here for the other installments.Different varieties of whales make their appearance in this last section. Visit the American Cetacean Society to satiate your need to know. They have fact sheets, resource lists, and curriculum. Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787767181214829594.post-23260538479987522902007-09-26T11:44:00.000-05:002007-09-26T12:54:08.067-05:00CleopatraWe have been fumbling around in Ancient Rome even though we are supposed to be studying the Middle Ages. Our study was supposed to begin with the fall of Rome, but last year we never finished Ancient Rome, so we decided to do a quick journey through Rome. Getting additional resources from the library can be fraught with delays and poor choices if you have to order your books blind and online Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787767181214829594.post-58108893478463370112007-09-26T11:06:00.000-05:002007-09-26T11:44:30.559-05:00Picture Books for the Whole FamilyA couple of weeks ago Susan at Chicken Spaghetti published a reading list for her son's third grade class. I wasn't familiar with The Library by Sarah Stewart, so I ordered it from my library for my third grader. While I was online, I also noticed that the library also had two other books by Sarah Stewart, so I reserved them too.I'm glad I did. We (and I mean the whole family) loved them all.Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787767181214829594.post-37553360018767657872007-08-27T16:43:00.000-05:002007-08-27T20:19:22.295-05:00Deconstructing PenguinsJove wrote about Deconstructing Penguins a couple of weeks ago here and here. I commented at her blog without having read the book, so then I felt I needed to find a copy and make good. I was able to order it at the library and read it this weekend. In this short book Lawrence and Nancy Goldstone show that meaningful discussion of books is not beyond the capabilities of children, and they show Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787767181214829594.post-58874615543574002642007-08-25T07:14:00.000-05:002007-08-25T08:10:46.312-05:00Was There A Real King Arthur?I found a good history book at the library for mystery loving learners, Mysteries of History by Robert Stewart. With topics like Why Did the Pharaohs Build the Pyramids?, Was Marco Polo a Great Explorer or a Liar?, Was Napoleon Poisoned?, Why Did the Hindenburg Explode? and Was There a Real King Arthur?, inquiring minds are sure to read.Each topic has a duel timeline that highlights events Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787767181214829594.post-9744474067433764622007-08-21T07:13:00.000-05:002007-08-21T17:40:27.100-05:00More 20,000 LeaguesWe have been having a blast with 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. In fact here are a few more interesting side trips we took. Don't forget the first ones if you are just joining me on this journey.The Great Barrier Reef - Complete with diving sounds, submerge yourself in this very cool resource to get a realistic impression of the reef, not to mention information on predation and parasitism, Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787767181214829594.post-29220445351083283992007-08-08T15:58:00.000-05:002007-08-09T21:34:59.457-05:00As promised, The Medieval Literature SelectionsThe Medieval Reading List for next year is long. There are so many truly worthy and enjoyable stories for this time period. You'll find an assortment of fiction here to compensate for the age differences of my children and the need for diversity. We usually stay close to unabridged versions of books, but make a few exceptions when needed when the material is too bawdy or too difficult to sort Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787767181214829594.post-59303985639261251552007-08-08T07:24:00.000-05:002007-08-08T16:03:48.875-05:00History of the Middle AgeEdited to add web resources that I forgot and to repair a link.Last year we studied Ancient Times, so this year we will move into the Middle Ages and finish with the Renaissance. Excitement does not begin to describe what my children feel about this new study. In fact, I received a few books from Rainbow Resource Center last week and many of my resources have been consumed. Alas, what a Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787767181214829594.post-21041448907641199162007-08-03T09:12:00.000-05:002007-08-04T07:05:54.249-05:0020,000 Leagues Under the SeaI know it's summer, but the learning opportunities are so fantastic with this book that I haven't been able to resist throwing in a few tidbits of more structured learning. K chose 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea last time we went to a bookstore and since I had never read it, we decided to do the book as a family read aloud so I could hear it too.We read Jules Verne's Around the World in Eighty Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787767181214829594.post-66799965731914743242007-05-13T13:56:00.000-05:002007-08-04T13:58:07.023-05:00If you are planning Early American HistoryThere is a wonderful article by Charles Mann in the May National Geographic that gives a believable account of the the settling of Jamestown including a cool map. At their website they have an interactive map and other interesting stuff. Charles Mann wrote 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus. I will have to add this one to my list along with the children's book, 1607: A New Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787767181214829594.post-70162501343184761142007-03-17T13:53:00.000-05:002007-08-04T13:54:38.909-05:00The Birchbark HouseOn the drive to and from the beach we listened to Louise Erdrich's The Birchbark House. I chose it because Susan at Chicken Spaghetti was going to read it with her child. I had not heard of this book, so I investigated and thought it would be a good match for our family. I couldn't get a copy of the book without special ordering, so I downloaded the book for my iPod.The children and I loved Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787767181214829594.post-61575629285922319602007-02-28T13:55:00.000-06:002007-08-04T13:56:15.241-05:00Ecce RomaniWarning: I am a complete foreign language imbecile. I once had a teacher tell me to "Give it up! With your lazy tongue you will never be able to do anything more than drawl."But I keep trying. . . For two years we used Latin Primer, but at Christmas we moved to the story based Ecce Romani. Pink Panther and I learned a good bit of Latin with the Latin Primer Program. We still review many of Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787767181214829594.post-19675558150796689432007-01-25T13:51:00.000-06:002007-08-04T13:52:55.752-05:00The List - Picture BooksOriginally posted at Twice Bloomed Wisteria, my other site.As promised, here is THE LIST! This task was more difficult than I imagined. I could name a few from memory, then I went to the children's bookcases. Each asked what I was doing and I told them I wanted to make a list of our absolute must have picture books. At this point, they both started screaming favorites and pulling them off the Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787767181214829594.post-16497354657504424542007-01-23T13:49:00.000-06:002007-08-04T13:50:45.411-05:00Papyrus PaperRemember my weekend post about the benefits of a cluttered office or home. Manufacturing of papyrus paper has been one of the causes of the clutter, recently. We have made recycled paper on several occasions and when I saw these kits in the Rainbow Resource catalog, I thought it would be a fun, though not taxing, addition to our Ancient Egypt study. In reality we have had papyrus pulp soaking in Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787767181214829594.post-84170244077068453902007-01-07T13:47:00.000-06:002007-08-04T13:49:26.917-05:00A Broader ViewOriginally posted at Twice Bloomed Wisteria, my other site.As I teach my children at home using materials that are essentially derived from a classical approach to education, I find that I must be ever vigilant that our readings don't narrow our perspective rather than broaden it. With traditional suggested readings for our grade levels, the world view is presented in a typically Euro-male Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787767181214829594.post-50610830889003114952006-10-18T13:58:00.000-05:002007-08-04T13:59:29.233-05:00Searchable Charles DarwinThis is unbelievable - a searchable online Charles Darwin complete with pictures. Sometimes, I am completely blown away by the wonderful resources on the internet. Usually, I am astounded by the junk, but today, I bow to the people who worked so hard to make an almost complete works of Darwin available online for free!!Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787767181214829594.post-26743598555239627752006-09-29T13:42:00.000-05:002007-08-04T13:44:12.317-05:00Letters From EdenThis entry was originally posted at Twice Bloomed Wisteria, my other site.I've received my copy of Julie Zickefoose's book, Letters from Eden. It is part nature journal and part art book. I have been experiencing life through Julie's eyes since I found her blog through a National Public Radio podcast. She is a nature artist, writer, NPR commentator, mother, wife, bird watcher, and dog lover. Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787767181214829594.post-23036182952929765882006-08-29T13:39:00.000-05:002007-08-04T13:41:36.873-05:00Having fun in historyThis entry was originally posted at my other site, Twice Bloomed Wisteria.I think I have mentioned earlier that our home school is using The World in Ancient Times series published by Oxford for our history reading. We are loving the stories about archaeologists, anthropologists, and paleontologists in the first book, The Early Human World, who are making discoveries and attempting to place the Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787767181214829594.post-85695329876261731612006-08-22T13:37:00.000-05:002007-08-04T13:39:05.119-05:00Extinguishing FiresMy sister gave my children a bunch of puzzles. Among them was a 3-d house puzzle, a glow in the dark puzzle, a 3 little pigs puzzle, and various animal puzzles, especially horse puzzles. I love puzzles - jigsaw, pencil and paper, visual, logic - and I am fairly good at them. Herein lies a problem.I realized the problem this weekend as the children and I were assembling. As I was plipping Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787767181214829594.post-49842043262898289002006-07-29T13:34:00.000-05:002007-08-04T13:36:08.403-05:00GrammarThis was originally posted at my other site, Twice Bloomed Wisteria.Our homeschool has been floundering with the study of grammar for a couple of years. Why, you ask, would a trained English teacher let her children flounder in the formal study of grammar? Well . . . I don't have an excuse except an inability to commit to a method and my false belief that I didn't know enough about teaching youngWisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787767181214829594.post-49002127948961091492006-06-26T13:15:00.000-05:002007-08-04T13:17:15.550-05:00Cool Free Resources for On the Go HomeschoolersThis entry was originally posted at my other site, Twice Bloomed Wisteria.We spend a great deal of time in the car or waiting for a lesson to be finished. I always take books, books on tape, math fact practice, or Latin pronunciation practice. But, sometimes we want more - a little something different. I have found a solution or a few solutions - Podcasts!Podcasts have become popular because so Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787767181214829594.post-27568682424204219642006-06-25T13:18:00.000-05:002007-08-04T13:19:01.793-05:00Typing 101My son's handwriting is not great. We will keep pursuing legible writing, but I will begin to teach typing/keyboarding or whatever it is called now. I took typing in ninth grade when there was no question what to call it with an ancient rigidly coiffed teacher who gave "business" (secretarial) instructors the type in stereotype. We all rushed to that class, not because the class was so exciting, Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787767181214829594.post-55216699419866381022006-06-09T13:21:00.000-05:002007-08-04T13:22:28.094-05:00Summer LearningOfficial school ended a few weeks ago. Yet, Summer is perfect for learning. The slower pace, fewer organized activities, and the longer days stimulate learning. Children are drawn outdoors and left to their own devices and amazing truths of nature are observed, the laws of physics are tested, muscles are developed, art is created, stories recounted, and mysteries solved. By letting children play Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787767181214829594.post-74919268994959467402006-05-16T13:27:00.000-05:002007-08-04T13:30:48.137-05:00Geography 2006This entry was originally posted at my other site, Twice Bloomed Wisteria.Geography is one of our least formalized studies. We read books about the countries we visit in history. We also study geography in science. This year, in our most formalized study, we read Kon Tiki by Thor Heyerdahl and Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne and plotted the course of their travels on a map. HoweverWisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787767181214829594.post-84070964706851136842006-05-08T13:26:00.000-05:002007-08-04T13:27:01.014-05:00Taming the Paper AnimalConstruction paper in at least two sizes, plain white printer paper, notebook paper, handwriting paper, graph paper in a few sizes, worksheets, narrations, art projects, math work, flash cards for math, sight words, and Latin, art cards, and more have found a way into our house and have taken up residence. I am amazed at the quantity of paper we produce, use and store in our homeschooling Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com1