anyone use a doula for labor support, especially during a hospital birth? All three of my births have been at hospitals. I have had a doula for two births and wish I'd had one for my first birth. can you describe how the doula helped you during labor and birth? My doulas were the third arm my husband needed and didn't have. They got wet washcloths for me, socks for me, stayed with me when my husband had "to go", pressed one place while my husband pressed another place, helped me move... any regrets about using a doula? None. I think they are essential, for natural birth in particular. I have very large babies (over 9 lbs) and a long pushing phase typically, so I think the extra support is vital. I have had midwives for 2 of my 3 births and while they were also very supportive, I liked having a doula there, too (sometimes the midwife had to check on another patient). was the support provided worth the cost of doula services? Absolutely. would you use one again? Absolutely. And we plan on having one more baby. :) what do you think your labor and birth would have been like wihout the doula? It would've been far more stressful. They helped my husband help me; they were experienced with birth and labor and saw when and how to help almost before I knew I needed something; they were non-judgmental and had very soothing personalities. I think I would have given up had I not had their support (I definitely felt like it with those loooooong pushing phases!). www.dona.org is a great place to find a certified doula in your area. Good luck!

I make homemade bread, but I make it by hand. We use it just like pre-sliced bread. Your crust should not be that hard. The crusts on my homemade bread are often much finer and less "crusty" than store-bought. Perhaps the temperature setting on your machine is off??? I know nothing about bread machines, though. If the bread is falling apart (not due to the crust causing slicing problems) perhaps it was not kneaded enough and the gluten didn't develop well.??? Good luck!

I would add Elizabeth Bennet as a lady. She can speak her mind without being crude; she knows her own value as a person and stays true to herself and her values; she admits error humbly. Eowyn is also a lady. Just thought of something. Is there a difference in the connotation of lady versus ladylike? Might there be a distinction between the two? Perhaps I'm splitting hairs...

This is my favorite book. I reread it about every other year or so. Time to pick it up again. Amazing that it was written in the early 50s--the book is scarily prescient in so many ways. The seashells in their ears. The reality shows with "the family". The gigantic TVs that covered the walls. The quote about "snatching them from the cradle" that started this thread. My husband and I allude to this book far too frequently for our own comfort, I think. Too many real Mildreds. What books do you have in you? (Besides this one) :) Thanks for posting this (scary as the quote is)!

My creme brulee torch KitchenAid mixer and toaster Lodge cast iron pan Maya wrap ring sling and Babyhawk mei tai sling Bumbo My antique Singer sewing machine--works great and it's easy to use Our no-frills Mr. Coffee Leatherman Kecci diaperbag Corelle dishes Chicago cutlery Farberware pans Homemade wooden book-type shelves for my bottles of oil, vinegars and containers of dry goods Homemade wooden knick-knack-type shelves for all my spices SOS Sport solar oven Schwinn double stroller Canvas tote bags Physician Endorsed Naples women's hat (super wide brim) Honda Odyssey (or, if we still fit into it Subaru Forester) Radio/CD player/tape player Basics: :) running water dishwasher clothes washer and dryer gas stove electric refrigerator

When I taught 8th grade, I had a bunch of boys who got together on a regular basis and made their own films--think young Steven Spielbergs. Some students had "jam sessions" where they played their instruments together (piano, bass, saxophone). Others played card games, board games, put puzzles together, knitted or did handwork together, played hackysack or ultimate frisbee.

I received a degree in Secondary English Education. I distinctly remember (and being horrified by) the proposition being put forth by some of my "education" professors that explicitly teaching grammar was unnecessary because the students would "pick it up" as they read books. Yeah, maybe they'll "pick it up" somewhat, but their ability to deftly use language and parse meaning is hampered without it. Even my Mechanical Engineering husband agrees. He was also never taught phonics and wishes he had been (I'm so glad I received an old fashioned education, at least in part). Thankfully, I went on to teach in an excellent school district that taught grammar and spelling (etc.) despite the "prevailing wisdom" of some in the Ivory Tower.

Would you feel more comfortable teaching in a brick and mortar school if you had more control/freedom over how/what you taught? I cannot speak for the elementary schools in my former school district, but I can say that at the middle school I could essentially create my own curriculum within a set of guidelines (I was given a long list of suggested poems, plays, short stories, the novels they had on hand for an entire class; what concepts the students needed to understand--how to write research paper, identify various kinds of literary elements--things I would've had the kids do anyway). It did not matter what order I went in. I didn't have a Teacher's Manual, per se; I had textbooks, but we used them like an anthology instead of as the course. I could collaborate with another teacher and do interdisciplinary teaching (I worked with the history teacher on a Civil War unit--that was fun!). I could even go off the list of suggested readings (I did this occasionally with the poems and short stories). This freedom was both a blessing and a curse. It's wonderful to get to create your own curriculum pretty much from scratch and to get to follow the classes' interests (to a degree). But, it was very overwhelming as a first-year teacher! :) If you decide to teach again, I hope you have the opportunity to do so in a school like my old one.

I am not very far along on my homeschooling journey (my eldest is 4). However, I have long thought that most of my teacher education courses were not particularly helpful. I got my degree in English Secondary Education. The topics/subjects I found most helpful in the classroom were Educational Psychology, child development, and gifted education. I crashed a class once when one of my favorite teachers from middle school was the visiting lecturer. I learned far more from her in that semester than I did in most of my other required courses. In addition to the content of the course (teaching of reading, I think), she relayed useful classroom management tips(some of this often ends up being just good parenting-type tricks), her philosophy of teaching, interesting anecdotes, and her vast breadth of knowledge accumulated over 30 years of teaching. My required "methodology" courses were pretty well useless (e.g., I didn't learn any useful methods for teaching expository writing, so I had to wing it when I started actually teaching--I did not have an open and go curriculum where I taught; the teachers had guidelines for what needed to be learned in the course of a year so I got to pick, choose, and develop the rest myself). My speech class was actually more helpful, oddly enough. We did discuss learning styles and how to best teach towards those styles in my methodology courses, but we also did that in my educational psychology class. I was a secondary teacher so I cannot speak for the methodology courses for elementary education; I have wondered if they would've had more useful courses than what I received. I think gifted teaching (the kind of teacher I aspire to be :)) is the result of caring a great deal about the subject at hand, caring a great deal about the people you are teaching (and whether or not they learn something), a desire to maximize the learning experiences for your students, and the ability to organize and present information clearly, concisely, and meaningfully. A gifted teacher exudes enthusiasm for learning, treats her students as individuals, does her best to creatively meet challenges, has the flexibility and awareness to recognize a teachable moment and use it, reflects upon her teaching and analyzes where and how s/he could improve, and builds upon students' prior knowledge to help them learn and think independently. I don't think stuff like that comes from "some sort of class" but from experience and the individual teacher.

When I read that statement, I wondered if he had deliberately left the supporting examples out because they interfered with his preconceived notions and contradicted his intended slant for the article.

I think this is a very important point. He should have written the article in a cautionary voice, one that encourages people to research this endeavor rather than 'jump on the homeschooling bandwagon'. Ten plus pages of comments on the article is a lot to wade through. Has anybody actually written a concise, articulate, logical, diplomatic, well-researched rebuttal? I'd love to read it! [Note: I don't feel qualified to be the one to write it since I haven't 'officially' started homeschooling my kids yet (eldest is 4) and consequently don't have the voice of experience necessary to sound truly convincing.] :)

Not just look at you like a freak, they then try to rationalize why the fraud they are committing is okay! Argh! I'm not sure what to do at that point. I recently had an experience where I pointed out "the right thing to do is to pay the fine". After being met with a rationalization I did not pursue the matter (though it still irks me). Should the lack of logic be explained at this point? Should the matter just be dropped so one doesn't come across as condescending, parental or the aggressive type who has.to.be.right? I've run into this "victimless fraud" several times. It isn't victimless as some erroneously call it; it may be faceless but it is still wrong. What would Cicero do?

I'm 31 and have three children. My daughter is 4, my middle son is 2, and my baby boy is 4 months. Right now my kids are just learning about everything we encounter. We do lots of educational games and hands-on activities and lots and lots of reading. I lean towards Montessori and Charlotte Mason philosophies. As they get older, we'll move into a more Classical approach (though I think these 3 philosophies complement one another very well). I want my children to grow into wise, good, confident, generous adults who not only do what they love but love helping others, too. Since my daughter is 4, I have been homeschooling for that long. I am still undecided as to whether or not I'm up for the challenge. And, I liked so many of my teachers in school, and still keep in contact with some of them, that I would kind of like my children to also have the opportunity to experience these kinds of connections. So, I may be afterschooling or being a part-time homeschooler (go to school for some subjects, stay home for others????). I have a little while before I decide. And, it'll depend on the school district we're in when my daughter is old enough for school. We have a bad habit of moving every 2 years or so when my husband gets new, interesting job offers. :) I taught 8th grade English in an excellent school district before staying home. I love learning and want to pass this love to my children. While my own educational experience was, in many ways, pretty good, I look back and wish I had received less indoctrination on the part of some of my teachers, had not been bullied by some of my classmates, had learned more of the Classics and logic and Latin and had enjoyed a more rigorous academic life (my biggest lament). I've been considering homeschooling for quite some time. While I knew of The Well-Trained Mind and The Well-Educated Mind, I did not know of this forum. A friend of our family directed me to it! We've lived in Iowa, Ohio, Arizona, and Pennsylvania. I'm tired of moving all our books. My daughter is involved in Suzuki violin and gymnastics. My ds2 desperately wants to play the "lio-lin" just like his big sister. As a family we enjoy reading books, working in the garden, making crafts and doing artwork, going on nature walks, putting together puzzles, cooking and baking (though eating the food is another story--vegetables are scary for my kids apparently), singing songs, listening to music (classical, bluegrass, oldies, show tunes, big band, etc.), and playing outside. Some of my favorite books: The Killer Angels, John Adams, Pride and Prejudice, the Little House on the Prairie series, The Lord of the Rings, The Count of Monte Cristo, Fahrenheit 451, and many of Cicero's writings (why didn't I read "On Friendship" while in middle or high school?! it would've saved me a lot of grief). I like African violets, cats (we have 2), swing dancing, and baking bread. I love conversations over a nice hot cup of coffee. Things I need to work on: being more patient, doing more volunteer work (more than just writing checks), and keeping a better organized, tidier house than what I do (especially my poor desk). Oh, and getting to sleep earlier!

I love this thread. What a sweet way to promote honesty! I distinctly remember learning about honesty and respect for other's property when I was a little girl. One of my little sisters loved gum and one day she took a pack from the drugstore while we were out. My dad discovered she had the gum when we got back to the car. We all had to go back in to the store, she had to return it, and she had to apologize to the clerk for taking it. My dad did not buy it for her despite her sobbing. He also wisely used it as a teachable moment. Boy did it make an impression on me! :)

I agree that the banks were greedy and foolish (though they were not the only ones). Institutions (businesses, governments, etc.) are only as honest as the people within them. I hope you are right that "our goverment cannot wait to get out of this mess asap". But, I doubt they will--politicians like wielding power, and they are wielding more power over these banks and corporations than what is sound and wise, in my opinion. Politicians are always "taking some action"--whether it is really in the country's best interest or not, whether the action taken has been well considered or not, etc. (e.g., the CPSIA, No Child Left Behind, etc.). Sometimes I wish they wouldn't "take action"--I have a feeling things would turn out okay (quite possibly even better) without their interference. But, I could also be a raving loony. :) Cicero, from On the Good Life, "On Duties II," page 168-169: "The real answer to the problem is that we must make absolutely certain that private debts do not ever reach proportions which will constitute national peril. There are various ways of ensuring this. But just to take the money away from the rich creditors and give the debtors something that does not belong to them is no solution at all. For the firmest possible guarantee of a country's security is sound credit, and, once you cease to regard the repayment of debts as mandatory, soundness of credit is no more. The most vigorous of all agitations to cancel debts took place while I was consul. Men of every sort and condition were involved, and they took up arms and enrolled themselves in whole armies. I stood up to them: and the result was that this pestilential business was wholly rooted out of our national life. Never have debts been more extensive than they were at that time. And yet they were paid off more fully, more easily, than ever before or since: because once all hopes of evading the obligation had been dispelled, repayment was recognized to be inevitable... So the men in charge of our national interests will do well to steer clear of the kind of liberality which involves robbing one man to give to another. Instead, they must make it their foremost concern to ensure that the just operation of the law and the lawcourts shall guarantee to each and every citizen the safe possession of his own property. They must ensure that poor men are not swindled because they are poor. But they must equally guarantee that rich men are not prevented, by envious prejudice, from keeping what is theirs or recovering what was once theirs but is now lost."

You'd have to install one of those cool ladders that run on tracks! Wheeeeeee! I have shelf envy, too. We currently rent, so that dream will have to wait. Thanks so much for sharing! That picture and the pictures people have shared of their schoolrooms are being saved in my "Idea File" for someday.

Excellent questions and observations! Too bad we can't all actually sit down with a cup of coffee together over a good conversation! :) On the one hand, you're right, just knowing what is in / is not in the Constitution and Bill of Rights is important, it'll get you by--especially considering so many of us (myself most definitely included) do not know enough of what's actually in those documents. On the other hand, to grapple and converse the most effectively with issues of history, government, and social issues, I think one should know the details. You'll be better able to defend or advance your perspective or debate against a counter-perspective if you know them. This is one area that I'm starting to recognize as something I need to know much better--mainly so I can more effectively debate my friends across the political divide. ;) Very interesting ironic observation. I wonder if the problem stems from some of these elected officials' quest for power versus them actually having an interest in history and civics and wanting to serve the country with wisdom gained from an understanding of history. You're right--that issue does need more research. I think those are great questions. Some of the questions were worded poorly. However, I haven't had a history class in nearly ten years and didn't think the questions were too nit picky. Remember, we're homeschoolers, we're geeks. ;) I think, sadly, very few people actually take advantage of the wonderful documentaries and programs. The exit polls at the election were scary--people didn't know who President Obama's VP was, who Nancy Pelosi was, etc. I think one of the late night comedians used to do a "man on the street" during which passers-by were asked basic questions about history, current events, etc. and a horrifying number of people couldn't answer those basic questions. A good friend of mine (a history buff and former history teacher) lamented that history/civics was not taught better in schools--and he is one who lives and breathes the subject! Sigh. I remember there being an attitude amongst my peers that history was not only boring, but not important. What's wrong (besides the use of textbooks) with the way history is taught? Is it the preparation of the history teachers--are they even lacking an understanding of the flow of history? Should history be taught using a Socratic method? What could homeschoolers do to help schools teach history better? On a related note, my husband and I have frequently lamented the lack of real books being used in history courses--where was The Killer Angels or The Battle Cry of Freedom or At Dawn We Slept or any of the other award-winning history books?! Learning history would've been far more englightening had we gotten to use "living books". What other books out there could be added to this list of books?

I agree, some of the questions were oddly phrased. I wondered, too, at the reasoning behind some of them. For instance, there was one about what a government ought to do in response to a recession--I answered "decrease taxes and decrease spending". The right (?) answer was "decrease taxes and increase spending". Intuitively, that seems wrong to me, but then, I have very little knowledge of sound macro economics. I wonder, though, if that particular question is up for debate amongst economic experts. Or, maybe I'm just thinking of the huge deficits the government is currently running. I'd like to see the full test, too.

"Each year, approximately 14,000 freshmen and seniors at 50 schools nationwide were given a 60-question, multiple-choice exam on basic knowledge of America’s heritage. Both years, the students failed. The average freshman scored 51.7% the first year and 51.4% the next. The average senior scored 53.2%, then 54.2%. After all the time, effort, and money spent on college, students emerge no better off in understanding the fundamental features of American self-government." http://www.americancivicliteracy.org/2008/summary_summary.html This looks like a fascinating study. How well would homeschoolers score on this test, I wonder? I am biased, of course, but I wonder how much better. Some of my musings on this topic: Is this the consequence of multiple choice history tests used in most schools versus the use of essay or oral exams? I think few history classes help students understand the inter-relatedness of historical events, or, more importantly the relevance to contemporary politics (and therefore their lives). For instance, I didn't "get" that the Versailles Treaty was greatly responsible for the later problems in Germany (Hitler's rise) until I was lucky enough to get a fantastic history professor in college. Thoughts on this study and these issues?

most ps teachers have a tough time coping with independent thinkers, question askers and read aheaders. They prefer homogeneity. It's easier to manage a classroom when every kid is on the same page at the same time and asking the same questions, giving the same responses. I grew up and then taught 8th grade in an academic oasis--many of the teachers *gasp* encouraged independent thought--expected it even. It is a very sad state of affairs if (as it seems) my experience as a student and a teacher is NOT the norm. :( Unfortunately for my kids, we have moved very far away from this outstanding school district (4 states away, in fact). But I've had one teacher who pulled me aside after class to explain why she couldn't call on me all the time. she had to give the other kids a chance to answer. This kind of experience could easily become a reward, too, if the teacher handles it creatively. When I was a junior in high school, I was one of five other students who were the only ones who seemed to answer/ask questions in my English class. We were getting tired of being the only ones to talk, the only ones to explore the topics, and the only ones doing all the thinking for the rest of our classmates. The teacher got tired of it, too. One day, after patiently trying to pull teeth from all the other students, she picked the five of us out of class and told us to go to the library, get a tape recorder, and have our own discussion about the book so she could focus her attentions on the slackers. We had a wonderful, dynamic discussion that day. It was very liberating. :) But, like you said, elementary school students aren't quite to this stage typically. Still sad, though, that the teacher seems unprepared for an engaged and inquisitive mind.

I think Jessie Wise experienced something similar. If I recall, while she was trying to teach her eldest, Susan came along and said something to the effect of, "My read, too!" :)

Completely agree. I bought sets 1 and 2 of Old School Sesame Street because we don't have television. Of the two, I prefer set 2 because the characters fit my memory better (set 1 Big Bird and Bert and Ernie look really different). My kids love it.

Have you had a baby in the past year? I had post-partum thyroid issues. I was borderline low thyroid (starting around 3-4 months post-partum to 12 months post-partum). Since low thyroid or post-partum thyroid issues can take 12-18 months to resolve, my doctor and I decided to follow the "wait and see" approach. It did eventually resolve on its own.

If he was being satirical, he needs to reread Jonathon Swift for a lesson in well-done satire. I guess he couldn't argue against logic, couldn't admit his error and had to turn the blame on others. Did the first article have a response from the author? She, at least, seemed more uninformed than outright hostile. I'm gonna go try to answer my own question now... :)

We get Zimmerman's natural PB--only peanuts and salt YUM! We get the 32 oz tubs. We only refrigerate them to keep the PB from separating--and that only seems to be a big problem in the summer. During the cooler times of the year giving it a good stir before using it keeps the bottom from going "dry".