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shinyhappypeople

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Everything posted by shinyhappypeople

  1. shinyhappypeople
    I think the song is HORRIBLY written. I respect our current president. I voted for him. I think he has lots of good ideas. But, I don't worship him or any other human being. Just because some incompetent "songwriters" created a poorly written ditty for elementary students in one school doesn't mean all (or most) of us think of Obama as some sort of Messiah figure. Generalizing is ignorant. Just for fun, I googled the lyrics for Hail to the Chief. Let's vote. Who would have a problem with their kid learning these lyrics for a (hypothetical) school assembly? (Hail: "praise vociferously") Hail to the Chief we have chosen for the nation, Hail to the Chief! We salute him, one and all. Hail to the Chief, as we pledge cooperation In proud fulfillment of a great, noble call. Yours is the aim to make this grand country grander, This you will do, that's our strong, firm belief. Hail to the one we selected as commander, Hail to the President! Hail to the Chief!
  2. shinyhappypeople
    But, happily, I'm not charged with the task of teaching 100 children. With only 2 kids, I can customize. DD1 does best with a combination. DD2... well, we'll see. :001_smile: I find myself repelled by arguments saying that one method is THE best method for ALL kids. I don't need the best method for ALL kids. Just the best method for mine. That's one reason I love homeschooling :001_smile:
  3. shinyhappypeople
    :iagree: Learning a few key sight words means that DD can read real books earlier (currently, this means the Fancy Nancy early readers :D ) which motivates her to want to read. A strictly phonics approach would be a disaster. I wonder if this is just a difference between "parts" people and "big picture" people. DD1 and I are "big picture" people. Show us the whole thing and then break it down. If I'm presented with the parts FIRST without the big picture it drives me NUTS. However, I can see how some kids might be "parts" people and find "big picture" (not pure phonics) teaching confusing. To each her own...
  4. shinyhappypeople
    I saw the portion they aired last night on PBS. What a lovely family :) Is the show going to be aired online? Not sure I can talk the husband into missing The Office tonight...
  5. shinyhappypeople
    :cheers2: Congratulations!
  6. shinyhappypeople
    :iagree: I have learned SO MUCH in my year in RWA. Money's very tight right now, but you'd better believe I'll be scraping together my pennies to renew. It is SO worth it. I'm so grateful for the many pub'd authors who offer their help to the not-yet-pub'd. RWA is fabulous. Love it :001_smile:
  7. shinyhappypeople
    Yeah, I'm thinking about Nanowrimo... but if I don't have time NOW, how will I have time then, kwim? But, it certainly can't hurt to try :001_smile: I think it's awesome you write romance. I read a ton of those books! My current WIP isn't genre romance, but does have a romantic subplot, mostly because I can't help myself :D The main plot is a love story of a different kind (wounded child learning to love and trust her uncle who has adopted her).
  8. shinyhappypeople
    Just curious if there are any other writers (aspiring or otherwise) homeschooling their kiddos. :) I'm unpublished (for now), working on a love story. I'm having trouble finding time to write. My husband (also a writer) works into the wee hours of the morning. During daylight our little house is hopping with activity. I squeeze in an hour or two when I can, but it is SO frustrating. Today is one of those days when I'm *so close* to yelling, "Everybody GO AWAY! I want to write!!!!" I didn't mean to turn that into a mini-rant (sorry). So, anyone else here writing? How do you balance your time between kids and work?
  9. shinyhappypeople
    :iagree: But there's this narcissistic line of thinking I've observed among the few Christians who pull this kind of stunt that says "Whatever WE do is above the law." (I'm a Christian. I love Christians. I am not bashing them - or myself. I'm highly critical of certain stupid acts, though.)
  10. shinyhappypeople
    What a terrible example these men set for their students. They picked a battle that wasn't worth fighting, and disrespected both the law and non-Christian students (and parents). Whoo-hoo. Heroes. :glare: What if the prayers had been Muslim prayers or a pagan blessing? In public settings, let's just not go there. Let's allow our religion to be displayed in our behavior, in how we treat others. "Preach always, if necessary use words." But what the guys in the article did.... wow. Just wow. I'm a Christian and I'm horrified.
  11. shinyhappypeople
    I'd tell your little pup "Go outside and play." Playing outside is just as important as academics at this age. If he doesn't think he likes it (yet) then teach him. Plant a small garden. Do you have a swingset and some playground balls? Belly swing and play superhero. Teach him foursquare and kickball. Play catch. If you can, designate a dirt area he can dig in and get dirty (esp. with a huge Tonka dump truck). I meet so many terrific kids who don't know how to entertain themselves outside. It's really kind of sad. My suggestion is to focus on the "outdoor play" skill until he reaches "mastery," with as much enthusiasm as you and he approach academics. :) He'll thank you for it.
  12. shinyhappypeople
    That's good to know about the classics versus case files. I definitely don't want to introduce any romantic elements. She's precocious in so many ways, I don't want to go there until we have to. Although, I already have introduced her to the storyline of Pride and Prejudice... but that's different. That's Jane Austen :)
  13. shinyhappypeople
    I love that descriptor. :) Great suggestions, thank you :)
  14. shinyhappypeople
    I just read The Boxcar Children to my 6 yo DD and she *loved* it. Do you think she's old enough for Nancy Drew? It's been at least 25 years since I read them (I feel old now :tongue_smilie:) but I don't remember anything bad about them. I'm wondering, though, if she'd relate as well to an older heroine? I dunno. She gets very annoyed when we try to read "baby" books to her (pictures books for the 4-6 age range). Thoughts?
  15. shinyhappypeople
    *bump* I'm also interested. Does EPGY have a lower age limit? I was thinking of using it for younger DD (age 4-1/2).
  16. shinyhappypeople
    Ok, . Yeah, we've all seen it before but it's still funny (sort of Christian, but so stupid it's funny for people of any faith) :)
  17. shinyhappypeople
    Yes! I own the movie and have watched it so much it's kinda embarrassing. So funny :001_smile:
  18. shinyhappypeople
    Thanks. It's a greater shame that I was taught it at all. And even worse, that it's still BEING taught (thought not in so many words) by lots of churches. But that's a whole 'nother thread :001_smile:
  19. shinyhappypeople
    It was funny. I don't *agree* with it, though. I wonder why this was on a Christian site? It was a political video not related to faith. I know Tim Hawkins is a Christian, but so are lots of people who aren't conservative Republicans. I wonder if political satire from a liberal perspective would be allowed? This is a sensitive issue for me. I grew up believing that to be a Christian you basically had to say the "sinner's prayer", register as a Republican and then you'd be saved.
  20. shinyhappypeople
    I recently bought a lot of fall/winter clothing for the girls. I prefer shopping for them at thrift stores, because I find quite a few outfits in very nice condition that are cuter and more age appropriate (sweet, modest) than the stuff our local Target/Walmart type stores sell. Oh, I also found a beautiful, like new purple parka for older DD for $2.50. SCORE!
  21. shinyhappypeople
    Wow, thank you hmschooling. I'll pm you. A month or so ago I read The 3 R's and liked it, but dismissed it as being "not for us". I *wanted* to go a traditional way, because I though it would be easier for me. But my DD1 had different plans :) It's turning out really well, though. We're having fun :)
  22. shinyhappypeople
    I agree with you. Someone looked a little askance at me once when I made a case that "When You Give A Mouse a Cookie" is a great book, definitely not junk reading. The other person was complaining that her daughter didn't like... oh, I can't remember, I think it was the Andrew Lang Fairy Books or something like that. I suggested Mouse. Debate ensued. Charlotte Mason rolled over in her grave. Pretty crazy. Just because a book is colorful and fun doesn't make it "twaddle." Junie B. Jones is another issue altogether... she isn't allowed even for fun. :tongue_smilie: So, anyway, is there a list somewhere that summarizes how Charlotte Mason classified books - twaddle versus not twaddle?
  23. shinyhappypeople
    :lol: :lol: :lol:
  24. shinyhappypeople
    Yes, I've seen the living math site, which is what gave me the idea to include picture books. I need to explore it a little more in depth, though. I'm sure there are lots of good things I've missed. Is the yahoo group related to the specific living math curriculum or a general living math approach? I'm going to look more into Right Start math. Sounds like something that might be a good fit for DD1.
  25. shinyhappypeople
    How do you define it? What constitutes a "non-twaddle" book to you?
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