"THUH" or "THEE"?

Isaac and Bekah have the BEST grammar curriculum! First Language Lessons is teaching ME so much! Today in Isaac's 3rd grade level we learned...

The article the is pronounced "thuh" before a word that begins with a

consonant sound. It is pronounced "thee" before a word that begins

with a vowel sound or if you are trying to emphasize a word.

Please tell me I am not "thee" only one who didn't know that? Another reason to homeschool... to get an education =)

Interesting Homeschool article in Stanford Magazine

I read this article on a site of one of the great families in our homeschool group, Education Abode It is about Standford and a study they did about their homeschooled students. This is an excerpt on socialization, but the entire article can be seen on her blog. Thanks for sharing Amy =)

by Christine Foster

HALL'S DISCOMFORT RAISES A WORRY often cited by critics of homeschooling. Can these students learn to live with the rules of the larger world? Are they properly socialized?

Parents say they can hear the socialization question coming before it's asked--and it clearly annoys them. (They even call it the "s" word.) "People always ask in this tone of voice that suggests they're the first to have thought of it," Baruch says. "I sometimes answer, 'Yes, I think the way school kids are socialized is a terrible thing; I don't know what to do about it.'" She dismisses fears that homeschoolers aren't well socialized. "I don't think [those worries] are borne out at all, in any way."

Backing her up is a 1999 survey organized by Brian Ray, president of the National Home Education Research Institute. Ray found that the typical homeschooler takes part in at least five social activities outside the home every week--from dance classes and sports teams to scout troops and community theater. He also collected previous findings by educators and psychologists suggesting that children taught at home are actually socially and emotionally healthier than those in schools. They are more comfortable interacting with adults and less likely to pin their self-esteem to the fads and whims of teenagers, Ray says.

The way these youngsters learn social skills--modeling themselves after adults rather than peers--is more consistent with the way children have been socialized through most of history, Esther Baruch asserts. "Until about a hundred years ago, the rich kids learned from adult tutors, and poor kids went to work early," she says. "Now, [kids in schools] model themselves after the other kids, who model themselves after tv characters--and the results of that are clear."

Homeschoolers tend to meet adults in the community during the day when they're out running errands, doing public service projects or seeking out mentors. Becca Hall, for one, is grateful for her friendships with adults. One of her closest confidantes is 35--"and that's fine," she says. "I also have younger friends. I think that is more healthy than every one of your friends being your age."

Sculpey - Adult Playdough

Last year I had a friend use the word Sculpey and I looked at her like she was from outer space. Well, she had the same look on my face when I asked her what she was talking about. Well, today we used Sculpey for the first time =) I bought some to try and never did. Today we went on a Nature hike to Sherwood Forest (Wrightwood mountains) to see oak trees (we saw Live White Oak and Black Oak) and then were supposed to make Sculpey acorns to hang on our journals. Yea, well the pack of earth tone Sculpey was left at home with my camera! Fortunately, I have wonderful friend who took a picture (or 3) for me =) Anyway, we came home and made acorns. They turned out pretty well =)

After our hike, one family took Isaac and Bekah, along with others, on a little Goecaching trip. Only 1/2 miles up the road (or so they thought). It turned out to be more like 1 mile up the side of the mountain, and Robin Hood and Maid Marian both got tired of carrying their capes, so the wonderful Prara Girls gathered Isaac's and Bekah's belongings along the way. Thank you Prara Girls! Anyway, Isaac met a new best friend, Mr. Prara. He is into archery... he and Isaac already planned a date to make arrows and go to the local archery club meeting to shoot arrows.

Speaking of friends. One concern of homeschooling I had was that my children wouldn't get to have any close friends. Well, while they were off Geocaching, there were a couple of boys looking to play with Isaac and a couple of girls looking to play with Bekah. All of these children are being raised with the same moral beliefs. What a great group of children to pick a best friend from!

Ways to Homeschool

1. Enroll your child through the local school district. They will give you all the curriculum, at the child's grade level. Your child will meet with a teacher once a week and turn in their work and they take all the required tests.

2. Enroll your child in a charter school that provides all the curriculum. You the parent do more grading, and meet with a teacher less often. Your child takes all the required tests.

3. Enroll your child in a charter school that allows you to pick all your own curriculum. You meet with a teacher once a month. Your child must take all the required tests.

4. Enroll your child through the state as being enrolled in your own private school. You must take attendance (that no one sees). You are able to teach whatever you want. Your child in not required to take any tests (unless you ask for them or if your child wants to go to college).

Last year we choose option 4. We choose to study Folklore Around the World. We read fables, myths, fairy tales, and legends from each of the 6 continents (yes, we know there are 7, but Antarctica isn't inhabited). We had lots of fun.

This year we are doing option 3. I am loving it. My children don't really know the difference because last year everything came out of my pocketbook and this year most things are coming out of Sky Mountain's pocketbook. The beginning of the year tests were simple and the children were surprised when they ended =) We are able to take classes and buy curriculum to use throughout the entire year instead of just borrowing from the library. We are also able to get this (science and foreign language) that we just couldn't afford. Thank you Bridey for giving us the information!

Art

I am not the world's greatest artist, but I am willing to put forth SOME effort =) Here is the latest art we did:

It is supposed to look 3-D =) This website is wonderful!I really love the tutorial for making a small handbag AND the Sudoku quilt!

Welcome to our Homeschool Blog!

In attempt to share our happiness with others, the children and I will be starting to share with you are experiences with our schooling. This is a great year to begin this, too! We are studying Medieval History and how to become a valiant, virtuous Knight! We have a WONDERFUL group with so many creative people! There is always something fun to do. To help supplement the costs, we signed-up with a charter school, http://skymountaincs.org/. In exchange for taking all the state tests, we get $1600 a year to buy WHAT EVER WE WANT! Well, almost =) So far it has been great! We are learning the periodic table (chemistry), chess, martial arts, illumination (art), Spanish, memorizing scriptures, killing dragons with our virtuous acts, going on field trips, sewing, joust reading, and gymnastics (beginning soon). I am sure I have forgotten something, but I think that covers it for now =)