Nature Study

Nature Study has definitely become for us a day-to-day if not moment-by-moment happening around here (yay!!). Since we came to stay here in the jungle, you would not believe me if I detailed out all that we've seen and studied! I have killed LOTS of spiders, and let some live... (those that are smart enough to stay outside)

There is amazing variety! We have ants (at least three different species... do you use the term species with ants?!), centipedes, millipedes, ants, moths, grasshoppers of amazing size, crickets, beautiful butterflies, ugly ones, did I mention ants? We have a frog/toad (he's outside), wasps, praying mantis, flies, mosquitoes, gnats, geckos of varying sizes, a turtle...
We even have bats and possibly rats.

And all these are co-habitating with us IN our house!! Aren't you envious?! oh yeah! hahahaha.

Nature study at a whole new level.

We don't even have to go out our backdoor!

Amy

A Child's History of Art - Hillyer

Okay, I NEED the book "A Child's History of Art."

You know, in the same way I NEED every other book. :)

But I really know nothing of studying art. I'm just learning, and really don't know where to begin to teach my kids... well, okay I could start out where I start researching any subject known to man - google.com. I actually have already done that... but I love books best! And this seems like a subject you should read from a book about, not off the computer screen.

That said, I've been all over the internet looking for this book cheaper than $30. Everything I can find is either that expensive, in bad shape and really old, or more expensive, in bad shape and really old. So, I finally found a copy for $15! woohoo! Trouble is there was no description other than Child's History of Art, and there are several books with the same title but with different subtitles meaning they are actually only a part of the book (CHOW: Architecture & CHOW: Painting, for example). So, I went searching to figure out why this copy of the book was only $15 when I kept finding books that were upwards of $70!

Well, when I was searching I found it! There's a copy free online! Jackpot!

Now, why didn't anyone tell me this before I spent all this time searching?!


Without further ado... please go here and print yourself a copy too!
***Apparently, this book has been removed from archive.org.  
I'm thinking it's probably because of copyright issues...  I'm sorry about that.***



A Child's History of the World by V.M. Hillyer


I just made my own day! :)

Amy

PS. You can buy the book for around $25 at amazon.com or alibris.com
There is also a full course based on the text (includes the text) offered by Calvert School HERE.

Artist Study: Caspar David Friedrich (1774-1840)

Our Artist Study for this term is, Caspar David Friedrich (1774-1840).

Our favorites of the selections from his work are:

The Wanderer Above the Mists

and


Woman at the Window

Here's a page with more of his works and a link to his biography on wiki.

We're REALLY enjoying Artist study this term because we're finally actually doing it! In previous terms and years I'd print off the AO selections of the artist's different works but we rarely did anything formal, just took them out once in awhile. But this time it's on the schedule.
I took the files to the photo store and they printed them off as 4x6 photos. I'm going to get 8x10s of the ones above and maybe get them framed and find a permanent place in the house for them.

This is one of the subjects that adds a lighter element to our day and the kids probably enjoy it almost as much as I do ;)

In my imagination, I think the woman is waiting for her Wanderer to find her. The man is searching the world over for his Woman who will always wait in the window for him :)

Amy

Nature Study

An American Sparrow-Hawk paid us a visit this week WHILE we were doing nature study! What beautiful timing the Lord has!



As the kids and I were sitting reading in Handbook of Nature Study by Ann Comstock, the kids decided we'd learn about reptiles. After all, just last week they brought home a 10+ foot skin of a Montona snake from the Amazon regions of our jungle. So, we read the whole section on snakes. EEEUWWWW! I do NOT like snakes. But I find reading about them in a book a thousand times more pleasant than studying the live version, let me assure you!

Just as we were finishing up the section, a spotted sparrow hawk landed on our brick wall. It was there just for a few minutes, and I could not be dissuaded from attempting to retrieve my camera to get a permanent record of our welcome and admired guest... however he would not be persuaded to sit still for the photo and promptly left. Sad. Oh well, we will not soon forget him.

Then, as Science/Nature Study was on our schedule for Mondays, we finished our reading in the morning and then had a time-slot for an hour in our city's Botanical Garden in the afternoon. We witnessed them feeding the pigeons (they have several nests where they breed them, and harvest their eggs... they eat them!). We got up and close to the llama, but mostly just really enjoyed the pigeons. We proceeded to read the section in HNS on pigeons and answer the questions. All of us formed a relationship as Charlotte would say, with pigeons... which was a huge gain. I will post photos later on...

Amy


What a pleasure Nature study was for us this week!

2008-2009 Winter Composer Study - Liszt

Franz Liszt
Another AOer made up this playlist on youtube:


This one's fun for the kids to watch... Tom & Jerry cartoon - Hungarian Rhapsody No 2 Liszt



This one shows paintings/photos of Liszt while it has text of a mini biography of his life -
Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 Orchestra in C sharp

New FREE CM resources from SCM

Oh my wow. I'm extremely excited about FREE and I am really enjoying learning more and more about Charlotte Mason. SimplyCharlotteMason.com has recently offered 2 free e-books, today, The Swedish Drill Teacher and a week or two ago, Masterly Inactivity (it's still free).

As I write I'm printing off the Swedish Drill one. Over the past week with my older 2 boys gone on a trip with my Beloved, I was able to listen/watch the All-day Charlotte Mason Seminar on DVD. It was not free, but it was really great. I highly recommend this for someone who loves what they've heard about CM methods but maybe is struggling to put them into action in their homeschool. It's pretty practical and the accompanying workbook has some great lists and ideas as well. And if you don't have it already, you can order it with the Laying Down the Rails (an indispensable book on habit training) as a package deal! It goes through all the subjects and Sonya gives ideas of how to teach each subject CM style, plus answers questions. I learned.

You'd think I was getting a commission or something, but nope. I just am really enjoying SCM's resources as I am really digging in to learning more about CM and applying her methods in our homeschool. :)

Have a great day and go download some freebies!
Amy

Artist Study: Copywork method

Masters Copywork

1. Get a sheet of thin tracing paper.
2. Place it on top of the print of the chosen artist's selection.
3. Use a light pencil to trace as much of the painting as you can.
4. Use whatever art materials you have available: watercolors, colored pencils, and chalks work the best.
5. Try to make yours look as much like the original as you can.

or

1. Look carefully at the print of the chosen artist selection.
2. Draw freehand the main subject and things that stand out from the picture.
3. Finish with whatever art materials you have on hand.

Is the new CPSIA law hurting you?

**UPDATED below**
Have you heard about the new lead law? It potentially could put many small businesses out of business including many beloved family-run businesses that sell educational products to homeschoolers. If you own a small business being hurt by the new law please read the following and contact the HSLDA (Homeschool Legal Defense Association). For more info on the new law and regulations to be put into effect Feb. 10, read HERE and HERE.

From the Desk of J. Michael Smith

Will New Consumer Product Regulations Affect Your Business?
Dear HSLDA Members,

Help Us Protect You

If new consumer product regulations will harm your business, tell us
so we can tell federal officials. Contact HSLDA's Federal Relations
Department at 540-338-5600 or federalrelations@hslda.org. Many of you
have contacted us with your concerns regarding the impact of the
federal Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), and the
forthcoming regulations. We have addressed some of these concerns in
the online analysis, "Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of
2008."

However, we are concerned about the effect that this legislation and
the proposed regulations will have on small family businesses. It
appears that many of these vital businesses could be forced to close
due to the high cost of compliance with the CPSIA.

HSLDA is trying to help protect such family businesses, as well as
the homeschooling families who may purchase educational items from
such a family business.

We will be meeting with the commissioners of the Consumer Product
Safety Commission on Wednesday, February 4. It would help our efforts
if we had actual accounts from family business owners who will have
to go out of business, or make drastic cutbacks, as a result of this
legislation and the proposed regulations.

If you are interested in having us use your family business as an
example, please send us your contact information and a one- or two-
page summary of your family business, the impact of the CPSIA, and
what the likely harm to you will be. You may send this information to
Eric Lansing at federalrelations@hslda.org. You may reach Eric and
the rest of the HSLDA Federal Relations staff at 540-338-5600, if you
have additional questions. We will only share your first name, name
of your business, and your state of residence with the CPSC.

Thank you for your help. We are committed to doing all we can to
protect family businesses, and are ready to begin lobbying Congress
for an exemption to the CPSIA, if the commissioners are unhelpful to
our cause.
Sincerely,

Mike Smith
HSLDA President

Hey! They've grated a one-year reprieve! Thanks to all the calls, letters, etc. "The commission has been bombarded with thousands of calls, e-mails, letters and visits from people upset about the law, Martyak said." Great :) Here's a link to an article with more info.

Sincerely,
Amy

Notes on Habit Training

Is habit training more for me or for my children?

Anyone who has children will notice sometime that what we do, our children do also, in one form or another. If I were more perfect, I think I would naturally have better children. Of course, we know that we are all sinners. Yet, monkey say, monkey do. No?

Do your kids dawdle? Do you? Do your kids treat each other impatiently? Do you?

Now, I don't know what it's like in your family, but when I started contemplating some of the complaints I have about my kids, I mean really thinking about it, all of a sudden it dawned on me and I started getting a little nervous. I began to realize I too struggle with the same things in some form or other. That's not the worst realization, but the truly horrific was that they probably learned their bad habits from me in the first place!!
Yikes!

So, I started to realize and feel the burden that if I expect my kids to work on forming good habits, I've got to show a little reformation in my life as well.

At this point, I started realizing how important habit training really is, in all of life. No matter how young or old we are, there will always be areas to improve. I think habits are a life-long concern.

Stay posted, more thoughts coming on this whopper of a subject. I cannot say exactly when...someday is as close as I can get :)
Amy

A Charlotte Mason Education

We use AmblesideOnline! Want to know more? Click Here Ambleside Online is an online guide to a comprehensive Charlotte Mason education. The site has lists for study and reading at every level. There are lots of links to living books online, great tips and several e-mail groups that offer amazing support. Also on site are the original Homeschooling series by Charlotte Mason in their original language as well as a modern English version. I really feel this article written by Anne White gives a thorough look at what a CM education looks like. Download a printable brochure on the great features of AO.

A brief biography of Charlotte Mason HERE.

Books on Charlotte Mason's methods of schooling:
Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola - very good
Penny Gardner's Charlotte Mason Study Guide - only $5, haven't read yet.
Catherine Levinson has several books as well as many great articles on the subject on her site - I have one of her books ordered, received in Ptld... haven't arrived here to Peru yet.

Simply Charlotte Mason has a WONDERFUL growing selection of SUPER GREAT CM resources in paper and electronic format. I am using quite a few of their items. Jack's Insects, Your Business Math Series (living math), Laying Down the Rails, and Spelling Wisdom are some of the titles we are currently using. We just LOVE SCM. They have a planner/calendar that I just think would be great, but I made my own and it works just fine for now. They also have a free e-book
on how to create an atmosphere of learning CM style.

I found a site today that has a bunch of links to articles on CM methods here. I'll definitely be back there to have a read when I have a few moments. Another Amy from Heart of the Matter Online posted "How to Homeschool the Charlotte Mason Way" and had some great links as well.

I enjoyed reading this brief synopsis of some benchmarks of a CM education at HS unlimited.

Personally, our favorite things about CM homeschooling are
the emphasis on the importance of habit training (my fave ;),
short lessons, nature study as a subject,
and having lots and lots of books as friends...
among many, many, MANY other things :)

Enjoy!

Amy

Character/habit training links & resources

Okay, now I'm putting my links up here for this subject for easy access. Habit Training the Charlotte Mason way.

I will attempt to write more about each one later :)

Laying Down the Rails - A Charlotte Mason Habits Handbook @ Simply Charlotte Mason

“Laying Down the Rails is useful and practical and worth owning. Parents would do well to have it close by in order to refer to it often. Recognizing how powerful habits are and their potential helpfulness in the home school is the first step. Using this resource is definitely the second. Charlotte Mason had much to say on this valuable topic and this book has captured her vast wisdom and presented it in a friendly and easy to use format. I consider this work to be indispensable and will recommend it to all home schooling parents.”

—Catherine Levison, author of A Charlotte Mason Education, More Charlotte Mason Education, and A Literary Education

Free Habit Training Cards
Character Training Notebooking pages

http://www.characterjournal.com/

Plants Grown Up & Polished Cornerstones
We also use: For Instruction In Righteousness

An article on Habit Training by Catherine Levinson at CharlotteMasonEducation.com

Forms for an organizational freak... like me

Forms, forms and more forms. I am a listy girl!

A super amazing organization site is: donnayoung.org She has every form under the sun available. It is simply amazing. Most everything is free, but she does sell a cd of the website with even WAY more stuff on it. Cool stuff.

Some of the pages on her site:

Home Homeschooling Homeschool Planner Household Calendars Art English Handwriting History Math Science Planner Guide Planning Help Lists Administrative Lesson Plan Forms
High School Extra Sets Weekly Term & Subject By Columns Journal Unit Excel Weekly

Site CD

Have a great evening,
Amy

Kids Communicate

As we live far away from family and friends, my kids need to maintain relationships over long distances. I've recently downloaded a tool that I think will make the time that they are online with their grandparents, family and friends more fun and personalized.

Go have a look, check out if it's something that your family could use.
It's Skype for kids! Skypito

It's fun. The interface is really kid-friendly.
It's safe. Parents approve a list of people their kids can call/chat with.
It's free. Skype to skype calls are free!
(that means when we call someone else with Skype to their skype account it doesn't cost a thing!)

From the website:

Skypito is the world's first safe Internet chatting solution for kids, created in cooperation with Skype. It was designed to mimic the Skype application but created specifically for younger users, ages 2-14.

The idea behind Skypito appeared when we noticed that a safe chat and online communication tool for kids was missing from today's market. Being a company that focuses on family-friendly technology we felt it was our calling to make one.

Skypito was funded exclusively by EasyBits, and it can be enjoyed free of charge by children all over the world.

Have fun!
Amy

Commit this to memory

Memorization.
We've been kind of hit and miss with this important subject. Sure, we've done LOTS of memorizing, just not in an efficiently organized fashion. There are two systems that I think are the BEST and we have tried them both on and off. One of the most important aspects of memorization are the tactics used for review. After all, what good is it to you if you memorized a verse a couple of months ago but you can't remember it when you need it? Continual consistent review will lock these truths in forever!

Scripture Memory System FREE - this is great, the only downfall is that you have to write or type out the verses. We have used this inconsistently to review the verses we've already committed to memory, to try to retain them. If we would've used it more like recommended we'd have had better results. This is better if you're trying to memorize whole passages from the Bible.

Memlok Bible Memory System $20 - this really is SUPER, all the work is already done for you.
You can download and print the whole thing off at your leisure, or for $5 more you can order a CD... and they send you the plastic holders for review + 2 more downloadable gifts and shipping is free! This has verses in a topical format. Someone gave us the older version complete with a 3-ring binder. It is definitely the coolest memory system I've seen. Oh, did I mention that you can choose your favorite version!? You can add a version as well for only $8. You can also choose whether or not you want the visual prompt images on the cards.

Of course, we haven't fully put it into practice... yet. But it is something that we plan to do, starting this new year.

Are you planning on making any changes or starting anything new this year?

Amy

Links:
Here's an article by Ruth Beechick on Family Scripture Memorization

Nature Study Links

These are my favorite Nature study places posted here for easy reference...

AmblesideOnline's Nature Study schedules and info

Fantastic site in general and home of the Outdoor Hour (helps on how to do nature study):
http://handbookofnaturestudy.blogspot.com/

Awesome for nature journaling:
http://www.creatingnaturejournals.com/

Coloring pages of birds and insects
http://thecoloringspot.com/birds/index.html

E-mail support group (not currently very active)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UsingHONS

Full text of Anna Botsford Comstock's Handbook of Nature Study
same book on Google books

For my Texan friends: Outdoor Kids printable journal

If you know of other great links, please post them in the comments!

Amy

Artist Study Links

Here is where I'm storing all my links for artist study as recommended at AmblesideOnline.org. I'll be back here to post just as soon as I find another interesting one :)

So without further ado, here's the first one!

A site where you can print off coloring pages of some of the famous artists at colormeonline.com
Affordable Picture Study by Sheila Carroll
Links for getting images of the artists' works to print:

• AO Prints - All the AO recommended works for the term's artist in one handy pdf file
• AO_HEO_PictureStudy 8 1/2 x 11- ALL the AO recommended works for all the years, plus extras for the term's artist available in individual pdf files - also has images for timeline figures.
• AO_HEO_PictureStudy 4 x 6 - Same as above, just different size.
• AO Art Schedule page with links to the works on different sites, to download to your computer in jpg file, differing sizes.

Online (free) Books with bio information on many artists:

A Child's History of Art, V.M. Hillyer and Lives of the Italian Artists, Giorgio Vasari


Fisher Academy's Artist Study posts:
Artist Study: Caspar David Friedrich
Artist Study: Van Gogh

Dinosaurs!

At 8:30pm on Saturday evening Javen and Cullen were heading to bed with both arms full of books... this was not terribly out of the ordinary, except it WAS 1/2 hour past bedtime and they looked ready to spend the night in research for a thesis...
Cullen came to me and said, "Do you know of any more books about dinosuars? Mom, I'm going to look up in EVERY book that we have about dinosaurs. Then Javen and me are going to write everything down. We're going to do all kinds of research!"

2 problems.

First, I'm regularly pretty strict about bedtime, and it was Saturday night, meaning church tomorrow. It was on the tip of my tongue to say so... but I'm SO glad I didn't! They were up for another hour or so, scouring their books. Sunday after church they came back to their studies, and today they are still working on it! Javen has written several pages of notes. Did I mention he's a 10 year old boy? Cullen is 9 and he's become an expert on the Dodo bird.

I am very impressed.

The other problem is, that we don't do unit studies. We have regular stuff to do... you know, interesting stuff. Imagine the scene: It's 10am and 10 & 9 year old boys sitting on the couch buried in books, with their notebooks out and copying down interesting dinosaur facts... We have had a late start and I call to them to get started, "Come on, boys, we've got to do school!" Hahah. Joke's on me. Javen calls back, "Hey mom! We've been doing school all morning! I have to write more about the Lochness monster. I'm going through all the books' indexes looking for the Lochness and then writing stuff down. I've done that for a whole bunch of dinosaurs!"

I was SO impressed, actually that I kind of got into it too :) Here are some links that I thought were worth a second look, so I'm posting them here:

Cool interactive site with lots of different categories of dinosaurs : Genesis Park
Online Audios by Ken Ham at Answers in Genesis
Very cool 20 min. video online about dinosaurs by Christiansanswers.net
Kids 4 Truth Creation video online
Dinosaur quiz by Christiananswers.net
Article about Behemoth (long, I didn't read it all...)
Bible references to Dinosaurs by sixdaycreation.com

Enjoy!

Amy

2 things I can't live without... (figuratively speaking) ~ a memoir

Okay, honestly and to make sure I never come across as 'holier-than-thou', I admit to you that I seriously can not handle life, let alone school, without the Lord. I'd be a basket case. While many moms can and do probably go without spending much time with Him, I'm not that good (or crazy as the case may be :) . I get impatient with my kids, I say mean things, or even get just plain angry with my kids if I'm not regularly hanging out with the Lord.

I mean, I need time with Him and in His word like crazy.

Second to time with my Lord, is time with my man. My man is so sensitive to my weakness that he takes me out on a date weekly. I need him. This is the MOST valuable way he helps with homeschooling. Without this time, emotionally I break down. I just can't handle all that life and ministry, and these crazy & yet amazing kids can throw my way.

Now, this sounds like I'm somewhat dependent, and yes, yes I am. The Lord is my strength and he's my strength through provision of a strong man who loves me too :) I am so thankful.

The verses that I repeat over and over are:

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you."
Is.26:3

"Come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Mt.10:28-30

"Since ancient times, no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God like you who acts on behalf of those who wait for him."
Is.64:4

Boy, Scripture is so powerful, daily I read verses that are a constant help to me.
Living and active. YAY!

Amy

Free e-books from Trivium Pursuit

Special Offer from Trivium Pursuit and Christian Logic

Our readers have the opportunity to receive two free ebooks from Trivium Pursuit.

You will receive both of these ebooks when you subscribe to the Homeschooling with the Trivium newsletter.

1.The 73 page ebook of the entire text of Chapter Twelve: Ten Things to Do With Children Ages Ten Through Twelve from the book Teaching the Trivium: Christian Homeschooling in a Classical Style by Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn

2.The new 94 page ebook Ancient Literature: Significant Excerpts from the Books of Classical Authors Which You Can Use to Supplement Your History Curriculum - Volume Two: Alexander the Great.

This offer is only for new subscribers to Homeschooling with the Trivium and is good only through November 30. Go here to subscribe: http://www.triviumpursuit.com/list/


In addition, if you subscribe to Christian Logic's Fallacy Detective News you will receive two lessons from the logic textbook The Thinking Toolbox by Nathaniel Bluedorn and Hans Bluedorn (Lessons 12 and 13, along with exercises and answer key).

This offer is only for new subscribers to The Fallacy Detective News and is good only through November 30. Go here to subscribe: http://www.fallacydetective.com/news/

2008-2009 Fall Composer Studies - Bach

Songs on playlist:
Jascha Heifetz plays Bach Chaconne (part 1)

Jascha Heifetz plays Bach Chaconne (part 2)

1. Bach: Magnificat in D major (BWV 243) / McCreesh

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750).

I. Choir: Magnificat.
II. Aria (Soprano II): Et exsultavit spiritus meus.
III. Aria (Soprano I): Quia ...

2. Bach: Magnificat in D major (BWV 243) / McCreesh

V. Aria (Bass). Quia fecit mihi magna.
VI. Duet (Alto, Tenor): Et misericordia.
VII. Choir: Fecit pote...

3. Bach: Magnificat in D major (BWV 243) / McCreesh

XII. Aria (Alto): Esurientes implevit bonis.
XIII. Duet (Soprano, Bass): Virga Jesse floruit.
XIV. Cho...

Bach - Brandenburg Concertos No.6 - i: Allegro

Bach - Brandenburg Concertos No.6 - ii: Adagio ma non tanto

Bach - Brandenburg Concertos No.6 - iii: Allegro

Nageeb Gardizi plays Bach Art of Fugue Contrapunctus 1

Nageeb Gardizi plays Bach - Art of Fugue Contrapunctus 2

J. S. Bach (1685 - 1750): Contrapunctus 3 (Fugue) BWV 1080

bach - art of fugue - contrapunctus 4 - glenn gould

The art of fugue: Contrapunctus V, VI, VII (Koopman, Mathot)
The art of fugue BWV 1080
Counter-fugues, in which a variation of the main subject is used in both regular and inverted form
Contrapunctus V
Contrapunctus VI, a 4 in S...

The art of fugue: Contrapunctus 8 (T. Koopman, T. Mathot)
The art of fugue BWV 1080
Contrapunctus VIII

Ton Koopman, Tini Mathot, harpsichord

Nageeb Gardizi plays Bach - Art of Fugue Contrapunctus 9

The art of fugue: Canon alla Duodecima, Contrapunctus 10, Canon alla Decima (Koopman-Mathot)

Koopman and Mathot play Contrapunctus 11

The art of fugue: Contrapunctus 12-13 (Koopman-Mathot)
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

The art of fugue BWV 1080

Art of fugue(Contrapunctus XIV)

Canon alla Ottava, alla Decima, alla Duodecima (H. Walcha)