I think if we look more to our Founding Fathers we will gain insight. This is just a fabulous quote from Thomas Jefferson.
The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Quote of the day
I think we can learn so much from our Founding Fathers. Here is a great quote from Thomas Jefferson.
"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock."
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Feeling relieved (and grateful!)
I have been working part time at the church for our confirmation program - we have close to 390 students going through the confirmation program. In 6th grade, we have the kids going through communion instructions and then follow that up with a Seder Supper. The Seder Supper is also instructional as it teaches them about that tradition from the Old Testament. As part of the Seder Supper we incorporate communion - so it is the 6th graders chance to have their first communion after being instructed on the meaning and importance of communion.
The Seder Supper was last week Tuesday night. Set up takes all day. We had almost 400 people for dinner that night. It was fabulous. I was in charge of getting things ready and setting things up for that night. I am very grateful that things all went well. I wanted to do a good job for the church and for the families that were a part of that special event.
I am relieved that it is over and now I am concentrating on confirmation for the 8th graders (the next big event I have to plan! - pray it goes well!)
Friday, March 13, 2009
Virtual Co-op
I know that I have talked about it before but I wanted to add another post on our virtual co-op. What a blessing our virtual co-op has been this year. Our family has been just so blessed and happy with the virtual co-op. Some of the benefits ---
1) We do not have to travel anywhere to have class. Last year I felt always on the go. So much for being home - homeschooling. We were never home and it made it hard to get school work done. This year I cut back on outside activities and it has been such a blessing. Doing a virtual co-op allows us to still cut back on the lost time from getting coats on, driving to class, the social time, driving back home, etc. Now we just go on line and more of the time is spent getting the meat of the discussion.
2) It has also been a cost savings as we don't have to pay the gas to get to and from class.
3) We have gotten to meet some new friends. The other children and moms in the virtual co-op are really terrific. And we have enjoyed learning from what the other moms have taught.
4) It has challenged both my oldest and middle child to learn technology --- they like the online stuff and learning about how to make it work.
5) My middle child has watched my oldest participate. He felt left out and has decided that he wants to do the work to be able to participate too. He loves having a computer that is now 'his' and loves the virtual aspect. Being virtual has encouraged him to want to do the work of a higher level. He didn't want to be left out of the technology aspect and would do anything to be included. Awesome!!!!
Art Classes
I wanted to take a moment to talk more about our art classes. We are so fortunate to have a wonderful college level art teacher (she is actually head of the art department at a local college) that is willing to work with homeschoolers. I have known her for years. I organize the classes and she teaches. It works really, really well.
The art class is for K-12th grade. We do this so that as homeschooling moms we can leave the house once --- and not have to leave the house 3 different times just to have art for all 3 of my different aged children.
Many times the projects she has us do are ones that she has her college level kids do. Then she tailors the project for us - or has us do the same project but many times the difference is that our kids - being younger will be far quicker -- will take less time and be less detailed in their approach than the college kids. But this is also why K-12th grade works -- each child just works at their own level. It is marvelous.
Many times teachers are so stuck in the traditional school approach that they can't figure out how to teach to a class of kids that range in ages. We are so extremely blessed to have a wonderfully, Christian art teacher that is willing to expand beyond the traditional way of thinking. She is a very out of the box kind of lady and I love her dearly.
It is interesting to note that I have been doing art classes with this art teacher for approximately 8 years and we have only repeated a project once - and that was at my request. One Christmas we made stain glass stars but my children were too young to do the metal work and made stars with cardboard and tissue paper. She had divided the class into 2 groups - those old enough got to do the soldering. So when my two older ones got to an appropriate age for that project I asked to repeat it. We will have to do it one more time in about 5 years when my youngest is old enough. A mom with 3 kids can't end up with 2 stain glass stars. So that project will need to be repeated.
I am always amazed at the neat new projects that she comes up with. There is such a variety. We are learning about the elements of art and doing projects that will allow for discussion of those elements. We have talked about texture, line and shapes. For the last class, each student had to research a famous 1800 or 1900 artist. The student had to print off a picture the artist had done and study the artists techniques a bit. Then in class we had a portrait shape board. It had a head and shoulders. The kids were to use crayons, water colors, paint, yarn, pastels, colored pencils ---- she had all available --- but were to use similar techniques to their famous artist - and incorporate those techniques onto their portraits. It was awesome to see the results.
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