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Thursday, April 24, 2008
We are excited about the next book discussion at HSB Literary Club, and we hope to have you join us as we read Rosa of Linden Castle
. In this unique von Schmid classic, a daughter''s love for her imprisoned father ensures us that though it was meant for evil, God always intends it for good. Through difficult trials, Rosa learns what it means to truly love her enemies and to wait for the Lord's perfect timing.One of our readers will even win a FREE COPY of Rosa of Linden Castle just by joining us for this discussion! These books are such little treasures with such powerful and eye-opening messages, we don't want you to miss out! We have also found that these books make wonderful family read-alouds and work well for character training in our homeschool. They are greatly enjoyed and understood by our children of different ages.
To join us, please visit the HSBLC blog and sign the Mr. Linky. Signing Mr. Linky automatically signs you up for the discussion and enters you to win the book.
To see the previous book discussions:
Helen's Temper by Mrs. George Gladstone
• HSB Announcements
• Ishmael by E.D.E.N Southworth
• Literary Club Announcements
• Rosa of Linden Castle
• Self-Raised by E.D.E.N Southworth
• The Hedge of Thorns by John Hatchard
• The Inheritance by Christoph von Schmid
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Helen's Nasty Temper
Friday, April 18, 2008
We finished reading Helen's Temper on the HSB Literary Club. I didn't finish it yet, but Amanda and Christina did. So did Eyebright. I am still plugging along on chapter 4.
I would like to thank Amanda and Christina for leading the entire discussion of Helen's Temper for the past month. Just being into chapter 4, I cannot believe how horribly mean Helen is. I mean, seriously. I am astonished. At first, I could not understand why Helen's mother is oblivious to Helen's temper, but then I had to think about the fact that she does seem to suspect something and seems distressed over it.
I do know how it is to see one of our children acting out in a sinful manner and not be able to control it. Sometimes, not even knowing how to address it. In Helen's Temper, Helen has fooled many. She and her prideful, snippy friends are just manipulative bullies who have not yet been caught. We all know children like this. We know Christians who behave this way, boys and girls... men and women. We have probably acted this way in some manner at some time in our lives. The question is, did we mature? The question about Helen is, "Is she really spiritually mature?".
On the outside, she appears spiritually mature, but on the inside, she is hateful, vengeful and downright nasty. Off to read the rest of the book.... I hope she matures.
You can read the discussion of Helen's Temper by Mrs. George Gladstone at the HSB Literary Club.
We will be announcing the next book soon. I hope you will consider joining us!
blessings!
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Busy With Reviews
Sunday, February 17, 2008
We all have been so busy writing articles for our blogs, Growing in Grace Magazine for girls, the Homeschool Blog Awards site, and HSB Literary Club. I haven't even gotten to get in an article to Tia for Home Where They Belong! Sorry Tia! :( I do have several things on my bookshelf to Review, including:
I have to not only write my own, but also edit and edit and edit with the girls, who are writing for several columns each, weekly and monthly. The February issue of GGM is published, and we are preparing for the March issue now.
Sentinel City of Destiny
by Landel Bilbrey
I am reviewing the book Sentinel City of Destiny by Landel Bilbrey. We have only just begun reading, but I did skim through the middle and end sections to get a feel for it. It has a Glossary to define some of the terms used, because the story is fantasy fiction, and some words are allegorical. The feel I get from it is like The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan. This story is set in more of a knights fashion, though.
Some other items I am reviewing are:
Seasons at Home Magazine by JoyousHome.com
LOVE this magazine. It is all-encompassing. It is for girls and moms, but also sets a family atmosphere. The present issue is supposed to have articles about home birthing, and I cannot WAIT to read it! I love the issue I have with its recipes, crafts and even a couple of articles that, as Amanda pointed out, could be used as unit studies.I am looking forward to writing a very positive review for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.
Generations of Virtue: Setting a Paradigm for Purity
by Julie Hiramine
I like this video. I like a lot of what she has to say. We stay away from the pop-culture youth group ideals, and I was afraid this was going to be up that alley. It isn't. I have n't finished watching it because I was having a hard time getting it to play. I tried it again the other day, though, and it worked, so I am looking forward to finishing it and writing up a review for TOS.Sally Ride Science Set
I wanted to start using this last week, but Eric being sick halted that. It is a classroom boxed set, and I can get to lesson plans and other ideas online. I am not happy with the first and foremost ideology of the focus being on girls education being so important (almost to the point of excluding boys), but I understand that society feels it necessary to give girls an "equal chance" to what boys are offered. I disagree with that notion, but I am looking forward to seeing how well this fits our "classroom".I will be writing a review soon, and I hope that, as a Creationist, there is not too much evolution I have to wade through, but we will see. I am pretty sure I saw that this is evolution-friendly.
So there you go! Some things I have been quite busy with lately. Matt and the girls are busy figuring out our taxes. We are determining what to use them for. We have not purchased homeschool books for a few years, so we may be doing a bit of that. Even Eric asked the other day, "Mom, when are we going to be ordering some new books? We haven't done that in awhile." I thought it was funny that he wants new books to work out of. Of course, I think it would be highly beneficial to get a computer lab set up, don't you? Maybe a couple of new laptops??
A CD I have not been asked to review, but I will give you a blurb right now anyway:
'Tis So Sweet CD by Steve Sensenig - Worship Keys
If I can sum it up for you: LOVE IT. You can find it at The Schoolhouse Store. There are a few technical things, like fading, but I honestly had asked Jocelyn the very night before if we had an instrumental hymn cd or something similar, and the next day, an envelope came from our dear friends Paul and Gena, and there it was! I immediately popped it into the laptop. I love it. Steve is an extraordinary pianist, and we all love it! Amanda even asked me if she could take it with her the other day when she was going into town. Sorry, I said, "No way!
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HSB Literary Club
Saturday, January 26, 2008
It is not too late for you to join is in our discussion of The Inheritance by Christoph von Schmid. If you would like to join us, we would love to have you! Sign Up To Read The Inheritance with us. Amanda and I have been enjoying being the moderators and love discussing these wonderful books with some new and old friends!
You can get your copy of this wonderful Lamplighter book for FREE SHIPPING - that's always nice! - through The Old Schoolhouse Store.
If you would like to see what The Inheritance is about, please read what the Lit Club members have to say about The Inheritance Chapters 1-3. If you would like to read our last book discussion, The Hedge of Thorns by John Hatchard, please feel free to!
Sign up to receive blog alerts from the HSB Literary Club and read new posts as they are posted.
blessings! And join us!
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Homeschool Resource Finds
Friday, December 28, 2007
Wow!! We are in the last week of 2007! I know this is a busy time of year, but if you find time, make these Memos in your schedule this week:
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HOMESCHOOL CURRICULUM
Brrr…. it’s cold outside here in Indiana! After 50′ weather on Saturday, the chilling wind has now blown in a bunch of snow. If it’s cold where you are, you may want to take advantage of the natural lessons of winter while studying the Antarctica Project Pack by Hands of a Child. For another fun winter-y unit study, you might look into Sled Dogs Project Pack - Hands of a Child
If winter study is not what you want to focus on right now, may I suggest the Christian Liberty Press Nature Readers. There are 6 readers, each at a different reading level.
I have been working with Amanda, ready to graduate, and then Jocelyn to follow next year, trying to get all of their records together. While there are different ways to keep records, and each state has its own laws, I am happy I found a couple of resources to aid me with a checklist I can print off and stick in their files. One that I will be using is What Your Child Needs To Know… according to the Bible, According to the State by Robin Sampson.
Another set we use sometimes, just as readers is The Core Knowledge Series by E.D. Hirsch, Jr. We read out loud from the books from the series which includes What Every 1st Grader Needs To Know. These books give me a standard of what knowledge to know when. This series goes from Kindergarten to Grade 6. It covers a lot of different information, and as with all books, I make sure I know what they are learning out of it!
If you’re like me, you would rather stay inside where it’s warm and work on all of your unfinished projects… or snuggle up with a good book. If you have been wanting your children to write more, winter is a great time to sit by the window and journal all the stories you can remember of all the winters past. If you haven’t taken time to journal your family’s life stories, you may want to invest in The Gift of Family Writing. It is available in hard copy, Ebook and also on an instructional workshop CD from Remembrance Press. 
As long as you are looking at Remembrance Press, take a look at the treat my friend, the publisher, sent our children a few days ago: The Pebbly Brook Farm Stories on Audio CD, written by her homeschool-graduated daughter, Claire Novak. These delightful dramatized stories will warm you on any cold day and brings giggles and bright eyes to each of your children. I popped one into the laptop the night we got them, and I had 3 children crowded around, ears turned in, listening attentively.
If you are looking for a good list of some great places to get good reads, Amanda did a great post … Saturday Poetry and Literature: Reading Literature
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PLACES TO FIND CURRICULUM, Books and Other Items:
When I am looking for homeschool materials, the first place I look is the TOS Store where shipping is free. If I am looking for Heart of Wisdom resources, I go directly to their store. Christianbook.com is another place I might look. They have their own Homeschool category with all kinds of homeschool products.
Besides your usual online homeschool stores, I read blogs and find other moms who have found a rare homeschool find at thrift stores like Goodwill, and I think to myself, “Why didn’t I remember that?”. Have you heard of http://www.FreeCycle.com? This is another place I have found free books and/or homeschool items offered. It is a free community service to recycle good items, large and small, instead of throwing them away. You have to sign up for the yahoo group closest in proximity to your town to get alerts.
Blogs are a great resource for homeschool curriculum. Many of the blogs you probably already read have their recommended Homeschool Resources in their sidebar. Sprittibee has a great list of links on hers.
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OTHER HOMESCHOOL RESOURCES
I really have begun using Dictionary.com quite a bit. It’s easy to use. You will find a search bar where you can also search the Thesaurus and Encyclopedia or all sources together.
Something I just found: The Homeschool Buyers Co-op has a fully searchable database of Free Curriculum and other educational Resources. I clicked through to a link to National Geographic: My Wonderful World geography games and information.
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SPECIALS for HOMESCHOOLERS
50% Off every Heart Of Wisdom Ebook!
Scholarships: Visions in Education has a page full of different scholarships available.
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HOMESCHOOL CONTESTS & GIVEAWAYS
*Barb at Harmony Fine Arts is having A Contest with Comments. Every person who comments on her blog in the month of December will be entered into a drawing for a free year of her art and music appreciation program, Harmony Fine Arts plan, year of their choice. Grades 1-8 are available. $19.95 value.
*The Company Front Porch has a great contest going on right now: “Visits to Terrestria” is a study guide covering all seven books in the Terrestria Chronicles allegory series. There will be 7 winners for this contest! 6 winners will each win “Book one AND the new study guide. and 1 winner will win a complete series including the new study guide! Now that is a dandy of a prize! All you need to do is leave a comment. You must be at least 18 years of age to enter and live in the U.S. Full contest rules can be read here. Contest ends December 28!
*The 
Heart of Wisdom is having a Giveaway! The Heart of Wisdom Blog Contest: Free Weekly Book Giveaway will be held every Monday through the months of December and January at the Heart of Wisdom Blog. Each week one Heart of Wisdom subscriber will be randomly selected o receive one FREE Homeschool Book or Heart of Wisdom Ebook from Homeschool-Books.com. A new title will be given away each week. Click here to enter.
*Calling all homeschoolers who think they can “Write Like Mike.” for the “Write Like Mike” Homeschool Writing Contest. Know any sports-crazy children between the ages of 8-12? Get them to write a sports column about a local or national event (250 words or less) and have them enter Walden Media/The Old Schoolhouse Magazine’s “Write Like Mike” Contest for an opportunity to have their sports column published in an upcoming issue of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine! SUBMISSION DEADLINE: February 14, 2008
*HomeschoolBuyers Co-op has announced an All-Ink.com: Scholarship Contest. All-Ink.com is committed to helping students pursue their goal of a higher education by offering $5,000 in scholarships to qualified students. If you are enrolled or planning to enroll in an accredited college or university program during Spring 2008 / Fall 2008 or Full-year 2008-2009 school year, you may want to look at this contest, but hurry! Deadline is December 31, 2007.
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Other Contests of Interest
*5MinutesForMoms has a great contest going on right now: “Orville popcorn for a year” coupon book, along with a 12 month, 2 at-a-time subscription to Netflix! You can enter by leaving a comment here at this post and linking back to this contest and to www.orville.com. They will announce the winner on January, 1st 2008.
*Enter to win a lounge set to keep your child cozy warm this winter. Stop by Amanda and let her know what your favorite item is from Creations by Lisa McGrath. Deadline is January 1st.
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CARNIVALS
The 30th Homesteading Carnival:The Heart Edition is up at A Pondering Heart.
Carnival of Homeschooling goes up this week on December 26th, hosted by Po Moyemu — In My Opinion.
Seventh Edition of The Charlotte Mason Carnival: Making Charlotte Proud (Freedom Academy)
Carnival of Education 151 will be at History is Elementary this week.
The 33rd Carnival of Space is up at Spaceflight, a blog from Germany.
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Now, that’s enough to keep everyone’s calendars full until next Memo Monday!!
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The Homeschooler's Book of Lists by Sonya Haskins, Part 2
Monday, December 17, 2007
I left off of Part One of the Review of The Homeschooler's Book Lists with question #5.
Here is a re-cap of the questions I came up with and the answers a homeschool mom might have before purchasing it for herself:
Q1. What is it? How can I use it?
Q2. What does it cost? (How much is the cover price?)
Q3. Is it really worth the money?
Q4. What ages is it geared for?
Q5. Will it work with the homeschool method I am using?
Q6. Have you used The Homeschooler's Book of Lists yourself?
Q7: What is on the CD that comes with it?
Q8: How well did it work for you?
Q9: How would I use that? - Why do I need it?
Q10: What, if anything, would you change about the book?
Now for the remaining questions:
Q6. Have you used The Homeschooler's Book of Lists yourself?
My Answer:
In the short time I have had the lists, I have looked it over and spent time going through it as much as I could. I have also read several lists to our children. My children have picked it up and sat down and read over it. I have not yet included it in our curriculum as a whole, but it was made evident the use we will get out of it as we read about Miles Standish on Thanksgiving Day, we started to talk about other Americans in history. When Eric brought up Ulysses S. Grant as someone he had read about, I said we would find a list of Presidents to memorize and Amanda said, "We have one: The Homeschooler's Book Of Lists." I can just pop the CD in and print it out. How convenient.
Q7: What is on the CD that comes with it?
My answer: Simple; every page from the book. The contents page is linked to each chapter, so you just click and you're there. The CD is in Abode format and very easy to use. I like the versatility of having a hard copy and the CD to use. I also like the way the pages are set up to just print off each list. There is no copying and pasting; just print and use.
Q8: How well did it work for you?
As far as the accompanying CD, it is amazingly easy to copy these lists. You just pop it in and print the page you need. The topics are fantastic. I am looking forward to using it a lot in my planning, but I know our children will be picking it up just for fun, too. Jocelyn wrote up a very nice, long List of The Lists, if you want to know more.
Q9: How would I use it? - Why do I need it?
My Answer: Well, in addition to all of the different lists on so many different school subjects, she also included these lists to help the homeschool mom:
• Comprehensive Curricula 452
• For Younger Children 453
• Phonics and Reading Curricula 455
• Language Arts Curricula 457
• Math Curricula 458
• History Curricula 459
• Science Curriculum 459
• Recommended Authors 460
• Recommended Reading for Toddlers and Preschoolers 461
• Recommended Reading for Early Elementary Students 462
• Recommended Reading for Older Elementary Students 465
• Recommended Reading for Middle School Students 467
• Recommended Reading for High School Students 470
• Unit Study Topics 474
• Creating a Portfolio 475
• Good Study Habits for Homeschoolers 476
• Standardized Tests 477
• What to Do When You Are Having a Bad Day 479
• Support for Home Educators 480Sonya has basically written a book that will save homeschool moms so much time of research and typing and organizing. Not only can you take the book with you wherever you go and have all this information available at your fingertips, but the CD allows you to go to any page and print off the list as a page. You won't have to cut some of the page off. Each page is the beginning of or the continuation of the list. You won't have to scour the internet or library books; just pull out your homeschooler's Book of Lists and start your planning!
If that wasn't enough, Sonya also has other home-specific character training lists for you.
• Supply Checklist for Public, Private, and Homeschool Classrooms 483
• Book Buying Bargains 485
• Having a Successful Field Trip 486
• # 247 Free/Inexpensive Field Trip Options 488 - This is a great list. It is six pages of great ideas for interesting field trips.
• Suggested Items for Bartering 494
• Chore Ideas for Toddlers 495
• Chore Ideas for Ages 3-5 495
• Chore Ideas for Ages 6-9 496
• Chore Ideas for Ages 10-12 496
• Chore Ideas for Ages 13-15 497
• Chore Ideas for Ages 16 and Up 497
• Tasks to Do in Five Minutes or Less 498
• Baby-Sitter's Checklist 499
• Boy Scout Merit Badges 500
• Five in a Row Books 501
• Cornerstones of Freedom Books 504
• Landmark Books 506
• Childhood of Famous Americans Books 512
• Caldecott Medal Winners and Honor Books 518
• Newbery Medal Winners and Honor Books 535
Q10: What, if anything, would you change about the book?
My Answer: I think this book is very complete in all of the main information lists Sonya has compiled. It is fantastic. The sections I would desire to see expounded on are the ones that are homeschool-specific, such as List#242.I suppose the real final question is: Where do I get this book? That answer, from Sonya's website: * Christian Book Distributors has the book at a great discount right now, plus you can look at their other wonderful titles. Visit Christian Book Distributors at www.christianbook.com and type "sonya haskins" in the search box and it will pull the book up right away. This is a great place to order the book!
I think there are a lot of websites that we can use as resources, such as The Old Schoolhouse. There are many websites that are a wonderful direction to send any homeschooler in. The nations blogs on Homeschoolblogger are also a great support site, as well as the Front Porch.
The Carnival of Homeschooling is a weekly resource that changes and is not all-inclusive to any particular method or faith or even age of homeschooling. The blog world is a great support group, even for those who read and don't blog. I love to read magazines, and there are many available that are homeschool-specific, and some that include other more specific areas in the ways of boys or girls or faith.
I would add more information to the Curriculum and Homeschool Methodologies Lists:
• Various School Settings 445
• Popular Homeschool Methods 447
• Curriculum Overview 451
There are a few more homeschool methods I think that could be added to the list, as well as more curriculum choices by subject. I don't think any of these things that I would add detract in any way from the value of the book, because the subject lists stand alone for the value and usefulness of this book. As a matter of fact, I was surprised to see the Curriculum and Homeschool Methods sections in the back of the book.
I also think this book is great for any age of school children, but I would be interested in seeing more high school resources.
So, bottom line: Buy this book!! It will save you time and money, and you will learn so much in the process. If anything, it is a book that your children will have to pick up just to see what they themselves know about each list!
blessings!
Jacque
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The Homeschooler's Book Of Lists Review Part 1
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
The Homeschooler's Book Of Lists Stats:
Author: Sonya A. Haskins
Publisher: BethanyHouse Publishers
ISBN: 10: 0-7642-0443-2 --- ALT: 978-0-7642-0443-2
Cover: Softcover
Pages: 556
Accompanying CD: Yes; in back cover
Category: Homeschooling
When Sonya contacted me to see if I might review her Book Of Lists, I was thrilled. As in most things, I was too late in planning to get my interview questions to Sonya for posting, but I thought I would come up with some questions and answers a homeschool mom might have before purchasing it for herself.
These are the questions I came up with:
Q1. What is it? How can I use it?
Q2. What does it cost? (How much is the cover price?)
Q3. Is it really worth the money?
Q4. What ages is it geared for?
Q5. Will it work with the homeschool method I am using?
Q6. Have you used The Homeschooler's Book of Lists yourself?
Q7: How well did it work for you?
Q8: What is on the CD that comes with it?
Q9: How would I use that? - Why do I need it?
Q10: What, if anything, would you change about the book?
First let's find out a bit about Sonya Haskins.
SONYA HASKINS
Sonya has written extensively on the subject of homeschooling and her work has appeared in magazines such as Homeschooling Today, Educational Dealer, Pastor’s Family, Guideposts for Teens, and Physician’s Practice Digest. Sonya is a founding member and the Web site administrator of a local support group for homeschoolers. She enjoys organizing moms’ nights out, counseling new homeschoolers, volunteering at various events including book sales, and coordinating other homeschool-related activities. Sonya has a heart for encouraging homeschoolers. She also teaches Spanish, Latin, and an Introduction to Languages class to home-educated students, and she loves discussing etymology (see List #148)!
The author of six books, all local bestsellers, Sonya is a popular guest speaker and advocate of home education. She lives in Jonesborough, Tennessee, with her family. You can visit www.sonyahaskins.com for Sonya’s more detailed biographical sketch and pictures of the author, her family, and their active life as homeschoolers.
Visit her blog, A Homemaker's Cottage.
Now for a proper review of and introduction to A Homeschooler's Book Of Lists by Sonya Haskins.
Q1. What is it? How can I use it?
My Answer: When we started homeschooling officially, fourteen years ago, we used a package-type textbook approach. Today, not only can we not afford that, but we use wonderful books like this one to mold the curriculum to our children's learning styles. The cover of The Homeschooler's Book Of Lists boasts that there are "More that 250 lists, charts and facts to make planning easier and faster!" It lists the topics covered in the book, which are: History & Government, Mathematics, Religion, Science, Geography, Great People, Quotations & Speeches, The Arts, And Much More... It also states it is "much more than a reference book," that it "is filled with facts and essential information that will supplement any elementary-level curriculum" and is "particularly helpful for teaching multiple grade levels or subjects."
It has "more than 250 lists about Great People, important dates, mathematical formulas, word origins, and more-- plus special checklists and ideas too, and lesson planning." The lists are "organized by academic area and can be used according to your child's specific needs, learning style, personality, and interests."
Q2. What does it cost? (How much is the cover price?)
My Answer: The cover price is $19.99.
Q3. Is it really worth the money?
My Answer: As with many homeschooling families, twenty dollars is something you want to spend wisely on curriculum. When we spend money, whether on clothes or books, we try to purchase items that will give us the most use for the rest of our children. There are some resources that just are not a good fit to every homeschool family's library because it doesn't fit their faith, or it doesn't fit their methods or the ages of their children. The Homeschooler's Book Of Lists is diverse enough that it is a great fit for each of these categories regardless of ages or homeschool method. It will be a very good supplement to the homeschool mom's resource shelf.
The lists Sonya has used cover so much. And, though the cover says that it is for elementary-ages, I feel it is a great resource for every age. We are huge history buffs. That means history of everything. Some Lists that interested me were:
List #11 - U.S. Presidential Election Results - was interesting to me because it lists the Election Year, the Elected President, his Opponent, the Electoral Votes, the Popular Votes, and the V.P. It also includes of notes of interest. It stats with President George Washington and runs through each election up to George W. Bush.
List #12 is Assassinations/Attempts of World Leaders. It was interesting to read details.
List #20 - Creating a Bill - Steps to making a law.
List #103 - Animals Once Considered Extinct.
List #154 - Famous People During Each Historical Era. What people in history were alive at the same time? What accomplishments happened in the same era? This is an interestign list.
Q4. What ages is it geared for?
My Answer: I feel, from a mom's viewpoint, I could use the information in The Homeschooler's Book Of Lists for any age child. It says it is geared toward elementary-level curriculum, but when do we stop using any of this information? Yes, parts of speech or basic Bible verses may be geared for younger children, but I myself picked up the book and looked through the lists because of the interesting content. Some of these lists may seem basic or elementary, but this is a great resource for older children as a reference book.
Q5. Will it work with the homeschool method I am using?
My Answer: We are basically an eclectic homeschool family. That means we use a little of several methods. We use textbooks/workbooks for math and science. We use reading books and unit studies for writing English, grammar, etc. Phonics - we use words and handwritten letters and everyday things in our home. For Bible, we use the Bible and the Heart of Wisdom Approach.
I don't know every homeschool method. I do know that this will fit most methods, and I would be interested to know what method it doesn't work with. The only homeschoolers who will be disappointed with all of these lists are those who want to avoid Christianity in their homeschools. Besides that, Sonya has listed different Popular Homeschool Methods, a description of each method and how to use The Book of Lists with each of them, including the Charlotte Mason Method, Classical Education, DVD/Video School, Eclectic Method, Internet/Computer Courses, Montessori Method, School-at-Home (Textbook Method), Unit Studies, Unschooling, and Waldorf Education. If your method of homeschooling is not shown, Sonya recommend Paul and Gena Suarez’s book Homeschooling Methods, published by Broadman & Holman Publishers in 2006 for additional information about the methods of teaching your children home.
Be looking for the answers to Q6-Q10 in the next few days:
Q6. Have you used The Homeschooler's Book of Lists yourself?
Q7: How well did it work for you?
Q8: What is on the CD that comes with it?
Q9: How would I use that? - Why do I need it?
Q10: What, if anything, would you change about the book?
Do you have this resource? What do you think about it? Does it sound appealing to you?
blessings!
Jacque
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Senior High: A Home-Designed Form+U+La - Great High School Planning Resource
Sunday, December 2, 2007
RESOURCE BOOK REVIEW:
Senior High: A Home-Designed Form+U+La
by Barbara Edtl Shelton
Homeschool Oasis
Senior High: A Home-Designed Form+U+La may look like your regular homeschool resource book, but it is not. This giant manual for the high school homeschool parent is stuffed with the instruction, information and encouragement I needed to feel confident in my planning and record-keeping.
As a home school mom with two in high school, I felt a bit overwhelmed in organizing all of the official high school records and crediting classes that are necessary to fill the state's requirements. The book opens up with a formula for formulating a high school plan. Barb's view on homeschool freedom is distinctly tied to her faith and freedom in her God. It then moves on to creating classes and requirements out of your own personal homeschool. It not only shows you how to count your own activity for high school credit, but it gives you samples, lists and pre-made forms for your own use in your homeschool.
There are plenty of testimonials and questions from other homeschool moms that Barb answers and encourages. There are sections on keeping high school records, know-how, recording homeschool classes as per the requirements in every state. She even takes you through personal experiences from her own children's high school records and classes.
It is created in such a way that it will work with most homeschool methods. She has written it so that you, the parent, record your classes and credits according to the way you homeschool in your own home. We all know that keeping record of class credits is necessary for our children's high school records. Barb helps you with your plan, your method and your records.
If you are looking for some guidance in your homeschool because you want to design your own classes, this is a great resource. I love to create my own lesson plans to fit what we see our children need. Barb gave me that inspiration and direction to continue on with this in our high school.
I needed a way to fit our State high school requirements into our homeschool without compromising our integrity or conforming to the public school agenda. I also needed to conform the classes to the resources we already own. I was relieved to see that she has taken her own experience and know-how and made it readily available in this book. Though I had already found all the information I needed for our state requirements, I couldn't quite make a fit, but this book opened my eyes to so much we are already doing to fulfill those requirements.
This book has worked incredibly well for me. It would be a good fit for any method of homeschool. Whether you work out of textbooks, design your own unit studies or follow the Charlotte Mason method, all of the learning can be recorded into the worksheets and implemented into their high school classes and transcripts. This book just shows you how.
If there was anything I could change it would be this: I wish it came in a binder. Now, grant it, I have taken books apart before, and Barbara even encourages you to do so, it would be a great benefit if it already came this way. Other than that, I'd have to give Barb a great big thumbs-up!
The money I spent on this book was well-spent. Add to that the fact that it can used for the entire high school experience, and divide it again if you are using it for more than one child, and it is a wonderful resource for the homeschooled high-schooler. I really love Senior high: A Home-Designed FormULa. I have used it over and over, and I know I will continue to use it.
blessings!
Jacque
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HSB Literary Club: The Hedge of Thorns, Chapters 1-3
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Have you considered joining the HSB Literary Club's discussion of The Hedge of Thorns? Some have their books, some don't have them yet, and we are just a couple of weeks into it. Here is my Discussion of Chapters 1-3. This book is really a wonderful little treasure.
I cannot say enough how much I underestimated this little book. When I said it was a little treasure, I really had no idea. I felt hope and a gentleness from the first page I read.
It is a shame that most books today are not written with the same honesty and the same conviction that they were when there was nothing to be made from them but a valuable life lesson. Of course, this is a true story from a journal, and most books are not written in that manner.
I was just drawn in by all of the words pictures the writer gave us to pull us into his life. I felt as though I was welcomed into his world, into his yard and his garden. The olde words drew me into the simpler way of life they obviously had. I felt their their poverty in material things, though they were juxtaposed to their wealth of desire for God and His Word. That was so humbling and inspiring at the same time.
The tender importance of his little sister was the sweetest picture to me. I know this first-hand and see daily the gentleness of a big brother doting on his new baby sister, so the gentle and loving way this was written was fresh and precious to me. His anticipation 'to teach her to say her prayers' was so lovingly impatient, that it didn't seem like impatience at all.
The Scripture that is woven into his story and his heart and his memory are told in such simplicity. It is a simplicity that I have a hard time weaving into situations in my own life. We make things way too complicated, I think. His parents and his teacher obviously made him very comfortable with and well-acquainted with the Word and its place in real life. For this family to sell a cow to obtain the Word. Wow.
In this very short first chapter, I was just breathing more relaxed and taken back to a simpler time, which in turn prepared me to move to Chapter 2, looking at this story through the eyes and heart of a quietness and child-likeness.
to pull us into his life. I felt as though I was welcomed into his world,
into his yard and his garden.
I felt myself completely taken back to my childhood as the hedge was described. I knew it was a figure of God's protective hedge in our lives, and it took me back to my sad childhood and the sad, distant little girl I have come to realize that I was. I pictured the hedge as HUGE. I pictured it as towering and dark and very full of thorns. I could see myself walking along the hedge, in simpler times, a little girl; I painfully remembered being a young adult seeking after everything and anything to fill that "God-hole" in my life. It made me feel the sin I sought after and just to feel in my heart how God was there, trying to reach me.
Was it something that was just a strength
of character of leadership gone wrong?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I found myself wondering what was on the other side of the hedge. I wondered if they would actually follow through with their plan, and was saddened at the tactics John used to sway his little sister to join him. Even to the point that she mimicked his "we might find some apples under the trees" idea (p.25). It was sad to watch him be totally consumed by this temptation. Did you notice it was first his desire, and he swayed her, and then, in his own mind, it was 'their' desire to see what was beyond the hedge? I wonder if it ever was Bell's desire. One of her last statements before being put into the hedge was, "Brother, I am frightened. I think we had better not try to get through the hedge; perhaps our mother will be angry at us for it" (p.28)
I kept asking myself why. Why did going beyond the hedge become so consuming to him? It seemed as though he had so many other hedges - his mother and father, his teacher, even his little sister. I understand human nature is to throw caution to the wind and assume "it will never happen to me", but I was perplexed at this total encompassing of his life. It made me wonder what John thought was so wonderful about the other side of the hedge. At the same time, it reminded me that boys do need to conquer. Was it something he needed to conquer? Was it something that was just a strength of character of leadership gone wrong? Will we see this rise up again and see the true strength of it in John's character?
'My brother, my brother,
the thorns, the thorns!'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(pp.28-29) Why, after hearing little Bell whining "that the hedge was too awful to get through" did he continue to prod her, as she whined, even to the point he "in a fit of passion, I pushed her forward with all my strength"? What must he have felt when he heard her sweet little voice cry out "in great agony, 'My brother, my brother, the thorns, the thorns!' " That was so heart-wrenching to read. Her body went silent. For a young boy of about 10 or so see her little face, bloodied, thorns stuck in her beautiful face. Her precious eyes. Can you imaging how he was swept back to her child-like love to wipe his tears with her pinafore?
Carrying her home the 2 miles must have been a long agony for him. He said it "seemed like endless torment." Pushing himself as he ran. Can you imagine all that was going through this little boys' mind? You know, one of those, "please let me take it back Lord" moments. Do you think he thought much of the hedge? I think he must have thought of nothing else but Bell. Maybe his parents, but only Bell's welfare and his sin.
And, his mother- the sense that something terrible had happened. It tore my mother's heart to even imagine. What of her admonishment? What of her having him hold his poor baby sister? What did you think?
So, Father comes home. This gentle teacher. This man who he greatly respects. He did not rant and go on teaching and quoting Scripture he surely had many times told John before. He walked in and silently took his baby girl and sat in front of the fire. Oh that pangs to the heart. His poor precious Daddy-heart. Something he could not fix for his baby.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He "looked so sorrowful that it pierced my heart and hurt me more
than if he had said a great deal to me."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Blessings!
Jacque
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The Homeschooler's Book of Lists by Sonya Haskins, Part 1
Monday, November 26, 2007
Wow, what a whirlwind it has been for the past few weeks. I was supposed to get a book review on here for this wonderful book I received from Sonya Haskins, and I did not get to get onto the computer to do it today. We are working with one computer now, have not gotten our dsl hooked up yet because of the laptop, and Matt finally got to get to the chicken coop after I have been planning to for 3 weeks. On top of all of that, we got some bad news about Matt's Grandma a few days ago, and I did not get the book review typed up and on here for Sonya. It would have been ok to spend time doing it today, but we have been in much prayer for Little Baby Susanna Suarez, who will more than likely arrive this evening sometime. Yes, Gena and Paul are at the hospital as I type. If you have missed getting caught up on Gena, visit Paulie's and Levi's blogs for the scoop and pictures.
The Homeschooler's Book of Lists: More Than 250 Lists, Charts, and Facts to Make Planning Easier and Faster with CDROM by Sonya Haskins
This is more than just a mom's resource. It is a book that will be very well-used by any reader in your homeschool. It is full of useful facts. Amanda made a list of many of those, but I just went through it amazed and more amazed. In the back, she has a section on homeschooling that I will talk more about tomorrow. You know, that is my passion - homeschool resources, ideas, and any help available.
With that said, I will have a well-written, very approving, thumbs-up book review for you tomorrow, I can only direct you to the book right now. I will also share about the cd that is included... wow.
If you would like to get to know Sonya better, please visit her blog, The Homemaker's Cottage.
blessings! -Jacque
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