[Story of the World - Teaching Structure]

When reading SOTW, I have found retention is best when my girls either color as I read or we walk as I read. That second one is challenging - and possibly slightly dangerous for me - but the physical action of walking while listening seems to cement the words into their brains.

[Best Christmas Movies?]

Many listed, plus Family Man

 

[Ds has expressed interest in learning Greek]

Does your son want to learn modern Greek or Koine (Biblical) Greek?  If he wants to learn Koine Greek, a good resource would be a Bible college grad who wants to keep up their skills and knowledge by teaching them.  I got two years of Greek ed that way in HS.

[I'm a font snob]

Ugly fonts cause me anguish. :)

[If you buy cereal in bulk, what do you put it in once the bag is opened?]

Costco had (has?) a 3-pk of Rubbermade Cereal Storage Containers we've been using. Love them!

Pic: http://www.containerstore.com/shop/kitchen/foodStorage/bulk?productId=10025839

[you know you live in the PNW when:]

My favorite PNW uniform: socks with sandals, shorts, and a hoodie. 

 

My DD was about 5 and asked what an umbrella was. Proud moment for this PNW mama! ;)

[My son is in tears over art assignments, what to do?]

Your son sounds a lot like my brother - now a 27 yr old with a Masters in Mechanical Engineering.  We were reminiscing about homeschool co-op recently. He recounted how he HATED the art classes; he still feels a little frustrated when he thinks of them.  

 

Life gives perfectionists many opportunities to learn when excellence is required and when "good enough" needs to be sufficient.  In my personal opinion, making little kids deal with this issue in pseudo-educational situations (paper bag puppets) is counter-productive. 

 

I guess I'm a rebel, but I probably would have told the teacher we'd be passing on this assignment...Oh, wait. I did that a few times. Now we're homeschooling. :)

[Frustrated (actually, really ticked off!) RE HS Stereotyping!]

My text would be "Bless your heart."  'Nuff said.

 

Editing to add: What did you end up doing about your verbose brother?

[Book template or software]

If you use a PC, the simplest solution is probably MS Publisher.

 

 

[Building a website]

I love Weebly.com. It is incredibly easy to use with a potentially excellent and polished finished product.  I have used a variety of platforms, but weebly is definitely my favorite.

[Which movie scenes do you cry at even though...]

So many on this list! Must add:

 

Shadowlands - When Jack and Douglas cry together, missing Joy

 

Saving Private Ryan - "Earn this."

[Can someone explain this to me?]

We've been homeschooling since February.  In the public school, my third grader brought home one "close reading" assignment after the other with political overtones. Racism. Environmentalism. Gang violence.  The gang violence assignment was over the top - the correct answer to one of the questions was that an elementary age girl stopped gang violence by making signs, essentially picketing the gangs at the nearby high school. 

 

It is my opinion that eight-year-olds do not need to be exposed to politically-charged and potentially emotionally stressful topics unless their parents feel it is appropriate to address the topic one-on-one. 

[Homeschool Mom Encouragement Day]

Personally, childcare provided while I get a manicure, sip a mocha, and chat with other homeschooling moms sounds like the perfect way to be encouraged. :)

[Were you homeschooled?]

I was homeschooled 4th-12th grades. My husband was not - and has hellish memories of school.

 

Two of my best friends graduated with me in 1995. All three of us are now homeschooling parents.

[I am worried about physical fitness]

We found a book called "Homeschool Family Fitness" by Bruce Whitney that's proving useful. We also have made use of the plethora of YouTube videos. 

[Why do daily calendar time?]

We do. It takes about 90 seconds for us.  When you don't leave the house every day, it can be easy to lose track of days.  For us, calendar time not only reinforces understanding of the calendar, but helps us keep track of where we are in time.

[Positive homeschooling comments today... Just have to share]

My brother is finishing up his BA-Psychology at a private university. In one of his classes, the professor always sets aside specific sessions to require each student to participate in discussions as this has consistently been a problem.  With my brother's class, he has not had to do that as everyone participates.  The prof was trying to figure out what the difference was.  Finally, he asked, "How many of you were homeschooled?"  The majority of students raised their hands.  My brother is 25 years old - and he said it was one of the best moments of his college career. :)

[Saxon Author Stephen Hake, Part 4 ("Math Wars")]

I am very much enjoying the Hake series. Thank you so much! 

[Your Goodreads list?]

The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald

Catherine the Great by Massie

The Torn Veil by Esther

 

[How long do you allow screen time?]

Our t.v. stays off during the week, but they can earn 30 minutes of "Cool Math" on the computer.  We have a deal for Saturday mornings, though.  As long as they are quiet and don't wake us up, they can watch t.v.  It's incentive for them to let us sleep in. :)

 

We usually watch a movie Friday or Saturday night.  AND we have been known to have marathon movie weekends.  (We have been known to binge-watch Downton Abbey, for example.) 

[Question: if you've homeschooled a student who is now in college]

My kids are little like yours, BUT I was homeschooled and attended college. 

 

I had two different professors ask if I had been homeschooled.  One was in a literature class and the other in a history class.  Apparently, it is unusual for eighteen year olds to comfortably discuss Cromwell and Puritans.  Another professor told me he enjoyed having homeschoolers in his classes, as they were self-motivated and focused. 

 

My opinion is that is was good preparation.  This is true in several ways:  First, I have an ingrained love of learning.  Second, I know that *I* am responsible for my education.  Third, I was taught study habits that reap results. 

 

In retrospect, I realize the curriculum we used homeschooling couldn't hold a candle to the curricula available today.  The primary impetus for success was a lifestyle of learning.  My parents used LIFE as a springboard for educational focus. For instance, when my grandfather was diagnosed with lung cancer, we did a six month unit study on the lungs and cancer.  That was in seventh grade.  I remember small details about that study. 
 

We also read individually and as a family.  We had one t.v. and it was strictly controlled.  I hated it at the time - SO not fair!  Now, I am grateful. 

 

My parents also focused in on our interests and let us run with them.  I loved to write, so they bought me a typewriter.  I love libraries, so they facilitated my volunteering in libraries and setting up a library for our church (at 13). 

 

They always made it clear I could learn about anything - do anything - become anything - if I was willing to commit to it.  That paid off in college big time! :)

[placemats for learning - do you use? make your own?]

Walmart has U.S. Presidents and U.S. States place mats for $1.00

[Teaching young left handed writers?]

Both my spawnlets are lefties.  I found a very useful, basic book called "Your Left-handed Child: Making Things Easy for Left-handers in a Right-handed World" by Lauren Millsom.  For us, the most important change we made was purchasing left-handed scissors for our (then) five year old.  

[Can anyone suggest a WWI documentary or movie...]

A study of WWI is also an excellent excuse to watch Seasons 1 & 2 of Downton Abbey. :)  One of my favorite books (although you didn't ask. Sorry!) set in WWI is "Rilla of Ingleside," by L.M. Montgomery.

[Changing definitions of words/cursing in children's literature]

Quote: "I am reading Huck Finn out loud again and I still find it hard to get that particular N word out -  I keep feeling that the Inappropriate Language Police will swoop in and get me"  Lol!  When my brothers were little my dad read Huck Finn out loud to them. He replaced that word with "black gentleman" all the way. Unfortunately, it seemed like he had to say "black gentleman" a lot.

 

At age 11, I asked my mom what ejaculate meant. Turns out, a previously more widely used meaning of the word was to interrupt or interject a comment into a discussion.  (Thank you, L.M. Montgomery!)