This is a frequent visitor to our yard. We named him "Blackie" for obvious reasons. We have had many wild rabbits visit our yard, but this one has been visiting for about 4 months.
Sunday, July 31, 2005
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Finding Balance
Quote of the day: "Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony." ~ Thomas Merton
I'd like to share some information that I received vie e-mail. I had an opportunity to hear Kathryn Stout speak at a Homeschool Convention 3 yrs ago. She was very encouraging and shared a great deal of wisdom as an educator and homeschool mom. You can read more about her at www.designastudy.com
Here's an excerpt from a recent teaching help e-mail. I found this very helpful by reminding me about the importance of keeping balance in our home school:
Balance also applies to daily schedules. Even meaningful or appealing approaches will leave children discouraged if little time is allotted to building up areas of talent or extreme interest. There's often something a child just "must" do daily in order to feel calm. Some draw or work on a craft, others write. Some need to move-running, bike riding, shooting baskets, others need to build something. My daughter "had to" have time to read books of her own choosing, while my son "needed" to create songs on the piano or violin.
Adults look for jobs where the required skills come fairly easily, not where they must rely on weaknesses day after day. Therefore, kids need to spend time building talents and abilities, working on weak areas to the degree that they won't hinder their future. Therefore, a balanced educational approach will include focus on building our children mentally, physically, and spiritually over all, but with an eye to meeting their need for personal expression. We are each unique, with a God-given purpose. As homeschooling parents we are in a position to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in order to train our children in a way that will prepare them for their destiny in Him. ~ Kathryn Stout
I'd like to share some information that I received vie e-mail. I had an opportunity to hear Kathryn Stout speak at a Homeschool Convention 3 yrs ago. She was very encouraging and shared a great deal of wisdom as an educator and homeschool mom. You can read more about her at www.designastudy.com
Here's an excerpt from a recent teaching help e-mail. I found this very helpful by reminding me about the importance of keeping balance in our home school:
Balance also applies to daily schedules. Even meaningful or appealing approaches will leave children discouraged if little time is allotted to building up areas of talent or extreme interest. There's often something a child just "must" do daily in order to feel calm. Some draw or work on a craft, others write. Some need to move-running, bike riding, shooting baskets, others need to build something. My daughter "had to" have time to read books of her own choosing, while my son "needed" to create songs on the piano or violin.
Adults look for jobs where the required skills come fairly easily, not where they must rely on weaknesses day after day. Therefore, kids need to spend time building talents and abilities, working on weak areas to the degree that they won't hinder their future. Therefore, a balanced educational approach will include focus on building our children mentally, physically, and spiritually over all, but with an eye to meeting their need for personal expression. We are each unique, with a God-given purpose. As homeschooling parents we are in a position to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in order to train our children in a way that will prepare them for their destiny in Him. ~ Kathryn Stout
I hope someone finds this information as helpful as I did.
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Evaluating For Excellence
Quote for the day: "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit"
~ Aristotle
excellence- 1. The state, quality, or condition of excelling; superiority. 2. Something in which one excels.
As I continue to review curriculum, read books for literature, and create lesson plans, I am constantly looking for a structured way to monitor my daughter's work each year. I usually look over her yearly work and assess standardized test scores, but I did not have a general plan that I used each year to make these assesments.
I read about Evaluating for Excellence by Teresa Moon on a curriculum board, and came across a copy of it at a used curriculum fair. What a gem! It really gives direction for evaluating student progress and setting goals from year to year. It is definately a valuable resource.
___________________________________________________________________
Summer is quickly flying by! I am enjoying the extra time with my family, along with the summer heat.
I had anticipated blogging more during the summer, but it has turned out to be a less. I guess when the usual routine returns in mid August, then I will blog a little more.
~ Aristotle
excellence- 1. The state, quality, or condition of excelling; superiority. 2. Something in which one excels.
As I continue to review curriculum, read books for literature, and create lesson plans, I am constantly looking for a structured way to monitor my daughter's work each year. I usually look over her yearly work and assess standardized test scores, but I did not have a general plan that I used each year to make these assesments.
I read about Evaluating for Excellence by Teresa Moon on a curriculum board, and came across a copy of it at a used curriculum fair. What a gem! It really gives direction for evaluating student progress and setting goals from year to year. It is definately a valuable resource.
___________________________________________________________________
Summer is quickly flying by! I am enjoying the extra time with my family, along with the summer heat.
I had anticipated blogging more during the summer, but it has turned out to be a less. I guess when the usual routine returns in mid August, then I will blog a little more.
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