Cathy in SoCal
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Posts posted by Cathy in SoCal
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Part of what my husband does for a living is schedule large projects with lots of little pieces that are contingent upon each other. He suggested that I put each book (or project or whatever) I'm considering on an index card so I can lay them out like the periodic table and play with them until I get the books ordered into threads (like first finish this, then do this), and tentatively put into years. He suggested that I could use colour to help me see what is going on. He also said that if I had some of it typed into the computer, I could enlarge the font size, print it out, snip it up, and tape it down to cards. He says this is sometimes faster than transfering the information to the cards by hand.
If I were starting from scratch, I don't think I'd need the cards, but I have multiple book lists from my older son that I want to consider for my second one and I've been feeling rather overwhelmed at the quantity of material to be organized. I need some way of seeing it all at once so I can reduce it to a doable amount of material. And it needs to be rearrangable because I know it will change. It has already, since I began to look at it a month ago LOL.
HTH somebody
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I like this idea and might try it with all the Great Books/possible Great Books/need-to-look-at Great Books/need-to-look at Sparknotes for this Great Book/what project--composition--discussion ?s ideas for particular Great Books....you understand....:D
That way I can whittle down my 15 lists and notes in spirals-that-I-can't-find lists about possible Great Books. :001_smile:
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Just finished the plan, but it looks much shorter than everyone's lists...(yikes?) :confused:
Saxon Geometry
Great Books/History--TWEM/TWTM
Rhetoric--A Rulebook for Argument
Vocab--Classical Roots
Writing--Put That In Writing
Latin
Philosophy--Thinking About God: First Steps To Philosophy
Biology--Apologia
Boy Scouts--working toward Eagle
It looks much more daunting on my Homeschool Tracker agenda grid. :001_smile:
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and keep getting a million posts of just the words alone. I have searched with " ", such as a particular curriculum, "Put That In Writing" but still get all of them with the word put, that, writing, in....
Can someone help me?
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I am planning to use A Rulebook for Arguments and The New Oxford Guide to Writing by Kane for Rhetoric for my upcoming 9th grader in the fall. Just wanted to ask all of you out there who have used this how it went and any tips on getting the most from it. My ds's favorite subject has been Logic, so I think he'll really enjoy going the next step. What has been your experience?
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Yes, this was what I was referencing in my previous post. Suffice it to say the Vision Forum folks, et al and I seem to have different standards as far as what's noteworthy.;)
To be honest, I'm not particularly keen on Christians removing themselves from mainstream arts in order to create their own niche. I'd much rather simply be true to the faith while producing arts rather than force a heavy-handed message along the way.
I agree with you in theory. However, practice is another matter....since Christianity has become marginalized in our society, we are not invited to the table of ideas any longer. (Conservative actors--not even religious conservatives--have trouble getting work in the industry right now.) Therefore, I'm afraid one of our only choices may be to earn the respect from outside the fold first before we get invited back again. I do agree that we still have a ways to go even in respect--better acting to name one (although Kirk Cameron did a spectacular job). We can also go incognito into the industry and blossom once respect is gained, like I believe many of our young graduates are doing.
This has much broader implications than just in media, of course. We're just seeing the reverberations of it in our discussion now. The ideas have been sown into the fabric of our culture for over 100 years; it will take quite a bit to come back. And even if we never do, we can't stop trying with excellence. (The excellence part is in process too.)
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I agree that Christian film making is not top-shelf at this point. Content & substance, excellent--and God love 'em for it. But quality of production, we are behind.
Just as an encouragement, however, some are really working to change that. We just came upon the Christian Filmmaker's Academy in San Antonio, TX, who are attempting to train people (and students) to change the culture with professional, excellent-quality media. I just saw it is hosted by Vision Forum. It brings in the best Christian producers, directors, stunts people, tech people in the business for workshops and training. And it looks like they're well-funded.
http://www.independentchristianfilms.com/academy/
Also, Biola University, here in La Mirada, CA, has a great mass communication program and is producing excellent grads who are getting into the industry and making a difference.
and I know there are other schools.
So, be encouraged. There seems to be a strong current of growth in this area.
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praying for you all day and will continue to as the Lord brings you to mind.
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Usually Reformed and Calvinism are used interchangeably. There are some important distinctions to Calvinism/Reformed theology that should be considered, however. The main one is the way free will is defined. Here is the spectrum:
Determinist (everything has been determined prior to including your desires and/or decisions) --Some Reformed
Compatiblist (try to hold to some form of freedom, but a truncated view--God places the desire in you so that you are compelled to "choose")--Some Reformed
Libertarian Free Will (one has genuine free will while God's sovereignty is not thwarted)
Molinism (Middle Knowlege--philosophical view that has had a resurgence that brings together both areas of Scripture of God's sovereignty and genuine free will/responisblity. Many Liberatrian Free Will also hold to Middle Knowlege.)
Arminianism (holds to a robust view of freedom at the expense--some say--to God's sovereignty)--Catholicism
It sounds a little picky to look at these and wrestle with them, however, when one holds to a view the practical effects are genuine. For instance, the issue of prayer, missions, purpose, sanctification...which get played out in sermons and Bible Studies within a church body. This can be difficult at times.
My husband and I hold to Libertarian Free Will/Molinists (but not dogmatically) and finally found a wonderful church in our area, after searching for several years, that was not anti-intellectual and took the Scriptures seriously. They happen to be Reformed. We are fine with this as long as there is charity within the body. My husband had lunch with the pastor before we decided on the church to ask him about charity. The pastor adimently said yes, of course charity. Our kids get a heavy dose of Reformed theology, but we are trying to respectfully/graciously give them the other side here at home so they can grapple with the issues at hand for themselves.
A great book to read on the subject is: Why I am Not a Calvinist:
Also Why I am Not an Arminian:
I know the first is very fair on all sides and does some scholarly work with passages of Scripture. The 2nd is within the same series, looks good, but I haven't read it yet.
Blessings to you as you grapple with this....
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After all you've been through, 6 days a week is quite a bit. But, of course, I applaud you for your great effort!
It does sound like you were dehydrated. My performance with and without adequate water prior to exercising is drastically different. I can hardly get through my workout w/o 1-2 glasses of water first, and I feel like Wonder Woman when I do have it. Water is incredibly important.
Don't be afraid to give yourself a day off in between work outs to give your body time to rest and rejuvenate especially with your history. You're in it for the long-term. It is a life-style change, so keep telling yourself not to worry about results right now. If you change your life-style, the changes will come. You can count on it.
Bless you!
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I too wanted to write so majored in English and got a writing minor. I ended up in publishing as an editor in college editorial--health/science textbooks.
I must say that my major wasn't really in English (lit) but in Deconstructionism due to the postmodern ideas that had obviously influenced my professors (and now all of university thought). So I spent (wasted) my time deciding what I thought a text meant or said instead of learning any objective meaning that the author may have had in mind. My writing classes were good--the best being my grammar class in which we learned real rules and objective facts about language.
So, what I might add to the discussion is to research carefully the English departments of the schools in which you are interested -- the professors and their focus and backgrounds (who they studied under) to determine if there is at least one who is not a Stanley Fish fan. Of course, Susan, you are in the best position to know who these people might be.
Lastly, publishing was an incredible field to work in. We need many more Christian intellectuals who are serious about influencing our culture for good in this area. Especially college editorial. I have some really fun stories...... feel free to pm me if you want to hear more.
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These would be definitely on the fun side b/c they are probably pretty easy for your son...but have you looked at the Dear America series? There are many about boys--journals from boys at different times in history.
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I believe you just hit search at the right top. I'm so sorry to hear about your son. Can you call his doctor? I always am hesitant to call the answering service, but it sounds like you don't need to be in this case. I'll pray for him now.
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So good to chat with other CAs! I don't tend to get offended easily and am usually a steady-eddy. But I must say that my first reaction was very mother-bearish. I was very angry at the audacity of the court. I had been helping my husband study for his political science comps for his Ph.d. and the history of the courts was one the areas he worked on. Knowing the history of how the court has operated under the Marshall court to begin with--in which the Supreme Court saw itself as using judgment and never WILL--to the 50s/60s when the court intentionally began seeing itself as a social engineer using WILL with no objective document (the Constitution) to base any judgment on anymore....it was very interesting timing.
I don't know what will happen, but I do think that the outrage around the country has been very helpful to us. I sincerely hope the court ends up embarrassed, if this is possible, and will be set back quite a bit. This is needed. For those of us who intentionally place our confidence in God--who is good and wants good for our lives (and the lives of our children)--I think we have reason to be confident that He will grant us our request.
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LizzyBee asked how far the judgment went in regards to location in CA. We are in Orange County (and the decision was made in the San Fernando Valley) and have been told by a lawyer that it does not pertain to us here.
I had a friend get a knock on her door at 8:30 in the morning the day after the ruling by a (well meaning) neighbor telling her, "It is against the law to homeschool starting today!" Of course there is much confusion right now. But the ripple effects (neighbors, superintendents, police starting to take matters further without proper understanding) for now might prove more a problem. I certainly hope not.
Honestly, I'm not convinced we have a ton of allies within CA (although we were very happy to hear Schwarzenegger's comments yesterday), so the uprising from all over the country has been incredibly helpful to us. Thank you to all of you!
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We are in CA and were glad to hear what our governor said yesterday. As far as credentials go, if you read the decision that the court made, it specifically says the credential would have to be for the grade you are teaching and the subject you are teaching. This effectively bans homeschooling; and I believe they (the judges) were quite aware of this. For Jr. High and High School that means every subject, every grade. No one, of course, has this type of education, nor would they have the time to get it. By the time they were out of school, their kids would be too. That is what is so outrageous about this.
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I understand your concerns and agree with Karen in that WTM gives you the whole bananas in one book, but not even Susan Wise Bauer says she follows it to a T every day (and didn't when she was homeschooled herself). However, I have to say, 98% of the suggestions in curriculum/methods I have found are nothing short of excellent if you desire a classical education. Each time I have entered a new stage with the kids (unknown territory) I have started with WTM's suggestions for texts, etc. because I have come to trust their brand of excellence.
We started out, 7 years ago, with your oldest in a Classical school for Kindergarten. It was a wonderful school, however, I saw in the upper grades how rigorous it really got for them. We wanted rigor, but also wanted our kids to be kids, and therefore decided to do it on our own. So, I have chosen to scale back in some things each time I can tell it is too much. I really appreciate that control. My 7th grader does a solid 6 hour day of work every day. If he were in the regular Classical school, he would also have 2-3 hrs of homework a night as well.
The hard part is that it takes a few years to experiment with time/child to see what is too much and when you can challenge more.
The Well Educated Mind
in General Education Discussion Board
Posted
I tend to be a by-the-book-kinda-gal, pun intended, and when I did let loose and started marking (in pencil--haven't in pen yet....not that loose) all over my books, there was a type of euphoric feeling that is hard to describe........suffice it to say I've got notes everywhere, BABY--margins, sides! below! above! end of chapter!!!!.....I can hardly take IT ALL IN!!!!
So as a word of warning....if you let loose and be free, there's potentially no stoppin' :driving:...And if you ever reread, you may need to pad the budget for an extra copy so more notes can be taken b/c of course you'll see even more in the next reading!!! Yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!