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Sacrifice

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What can I say?  This word sacrifice offered up by Kate this week had my mind going in different directions.  Wanting to honour Christ’s sacrifice which more than one friend simply can’t comprehend.  Wanting to note sacrifices people need to make in their everyday lives.  To considering the best way to make choices.  This poem in the end result. 🙂

Sacrifice, choose this day

Sometimes when you have a goal in mind.
A choice needs to be made.
Do you choose what emotions tell you.
Or follow now your brain?

I’m making choices lately.
Most good but others not.
After almost three months of illness.
I find that I just want out!

I want to go for night walks
Even though the cold makes me cough.
And next day leaves me winded
A good choice? Maybe NOT!

My emotions long for chocolate.
A good pick me up you see.
But chocolate isn’t so good
For really any part of me!

So I ask my Lord for help
And an answer he did give.
He let me nap the eve away
No chocolate slipped through that sieve.

I woke up with the emotion
Much less intense you know.
A much alert body
Have no fears, it won’t unwanted grow!

I heard from a lady
Who wanted sore to quit
But remembered a call God placed
On heart, again on fire lit.

I mention this because
A reminder for me it is.
A call that is placed,
Demands from me a sacrifice.

So choices I make
Emotion or mind.
Following true
The call placed.

Despite how hard
The choice may be.
Choose this day
Whom You will serve.

Sacrifice

Kate has a word for us for five minute Friday … and it is sacrifice.  You can write for five minutes (without worrying on the editing).  Link up and then encourage those who have gone on before.   🙂  Come on, it’s fun!

Fever Year

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Raincoast FTC

Last year when my son and I were studying WW1 we learned about the Spanish flu.  What a horrifying disease.  Raincoast recently sent me a book to review called Fever Year.  Using graphic novel format, Don Brown sets out to educate middle schoolers about this world-wide flu.

Fever Year Review

What I am Reviewing

Don Brown is the author and illustrator of Fever Year: the Killer Flu of 1918.  A hardcover graphic novel of 96 pages published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.  The talented Whitney Leader-Picone did the jacket design.  

This book is written with youth 12 years of age and up. It is factual without being overly dramatic.  The goal is the help middle schoolers understand the horror of this disease, and how frustrated the medical profession was at trying to find a cure.   I am reviewing Fever Year on the behest of Raincoast books. 

The Details of Fever Year

The war is raging in Europe.  The battle is being fiercely fought, and now America has entered the battle.  But ….. people are getting ill, dying in droves. What is this threat?   It’s the Spanish flu.

Fever Year sample page

This is the story of how the battle unfolded.  The frustration of the medical personnel.  The fear of the common people.   It was a hard time.  Through clear, careful illustrations Don Brown brings these emotions across.  With colours ranging in sepia, tan, dark shadings you can sense the horror of those days quite keenly.  This isn’t a happy book, but it is instructive.  

It is divided into three parts, the first act when it first showed up in 1918.  Act two it’s movement around the globe, and finally act three with flare ups in 1919 through to 1922. 

fever year sample page

The shades of black and brown add to the tone of this informative book.  It’s less of a story than a walk through the progression of the disease.  A discussion into the curious nature of it’s movement.  It could move across a continent in a day affecting the lives of 100’s of people, and yet take 3 weeks to traverse 80 miles. 

Fever year Sample Page

The reader learns the life cycle of the influenza virus as well as the technical names that go with it.   For a student looking for an introductory book into the wonders/horrors of the Spanish flu, this book would top my list. It asks good questions, provides interesting answers and begs the reader to ask more. 

Fever Year book cover

Should you get it?

I know that Fever Year will not be everyone’s cup of tea.  It is not an easy read. The topic is difficult and the ending leaves one feeling concerned for the future. Setting that aside though, the information about the plague, the struggle to endure, the mystery of how it spread, and how it disappeared again.  Such a really interesting story. 

If you have any interest in learning about the Great War and one of the many factors affecting it.  If you have a strong curiousity in history, medical or otherwise, Fever Year is a great primer into exploring the questions surrounding The Spanish Flu. This reviewer thoroughly enjoyed it and would happily read other books by Don Brown. 

Canadian Online Homeschool Conference

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Put on by Canadians, but not only for Canadians. 🙂    Welcome to the Canadian Online Homeschool Conference.   34 speakers, about 40 topics.  In both French and English (not all sessions, just some).  Sessions for parents, kids, youth, highschool, homeschooling, preparing for beyond college and more.  

canadian Online Homeschool Conference

Some details for you

REGISTRATION FOR THE 2020 CANADIAN ONLINE HOMESCHOOL CONFERENCE IS OPEN!

This year, you have two options. The first is to join us for free – this will give you access to daily sessions for 24 hours (until Midnight Eastern) starting on February 5th.

The second is to grab a Complete Access Pass. It’s only $17 (until Feb 12th). You will get lifetime access to all sessions on the 5th to watch at your leisure.

Find out what sessions we have this year, see the speakers that we have lined up, and grab your spot now!

access pass for Canadian online homeschool conference

Some Sessions To Perk your interest

Homeschooling Sessions

  •  How Can I Get My Kids To ‘KNOW’ Their Times Tables?
  • Gameschooling
  •  Why Homeschooling Your Child With Unique Needs is a Good Choice

French

  • Découvrir les étoiles et les constellations 
  • Apprendre en s’amusant avec les technologies

Kids and Youth

  • Learning About Rabbits  
  • Start Your Own Business
  • Watercolour Ice Cream Cones
alphabet

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I Stand Amazed in the Presence

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I saw this song in my hymnal and my heart just smiled.  I stand amazed in the presence is a great song that answers my hearts question.  

and wonder how he could love me
a sinner condemned unclean

i stand amazed in the presence caption with person looking at mountarin

Lyrics

I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how He could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.

Refrain

O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
Is my Savior’s love for me!

For me it was in the garden
He prayed: Not My will, but Thine.
He had no tears for His own griefs,
But sweat drops of blood for mine.

Refrain

In pity angels beheld Him,
And came from the world of light
To comfort Him in the sorrows
He bore for my soul that night.

Refrain

He took my sins and my sorrows,
He made them His very own;
He bore the burden to Calvary,
And suffered and died alone.

Refrain

When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see,
’Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of His love for me.

Refrain

Author and History

Charles H. Gabriel of this fantastic song.  He also wrote Send the Light.  In the ways of music, Mr. Gabriel was a self-taught man, teaching himself to play the reed organ in his formative years. 

Charles Hutchison Gabriel spent the firsts 17 years of his life on his Iowa farm. In his early years he was interested in military bands and wrote several marches.  He devoted his life to music putting together music books, composing melodies, writing a variety of songs, and writing how-to books for playing instruments. 

Pondering

What happens when you stop for a moment to recognize how wonderful something is?  Do you feel taken aback, surprised, delighted, afraid, or something else?   

We should feel all these things when we are faced by the Lord, after all we just saw last week how he is majesty and meekness at the same time.  But I Stand Amazed in his Presense asks us to hold dear to us the Love he holds for us.  Not just at the moment of salvation but throughout our lives.

I don’t know about you, but two things happen to me. Either I’m amazed that Jesus came, loved me, and then died for me.  I don’t truly understand such love.  Or the flip side happens.  I know of his love but I don’t pay it the heed it should have. I don’t marvel at it, seem impressed, afraid or even awestruck.  Hymns such as this one draws me back to that wonderful and it’s FANTASTIC to sing about it with others who love the same Lord. 

Gloom Town

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Raincoast FTC

My current review is about Gloom Town, a sad town sitting on a seaside coast. Everything about this book bespeaks a grim sad life where everything is a struggle.  Gloom Town has little to draw to it and fewer opportunities indeed.  Then Rory gets a job!  He’s able to help him single-parent mom out! This story is about what happens next. 

Gloom Town

What I am Reviewing

Raincoast BooksClarion Books published this intriguing read Gloom Town by Ronald L. Smith.  This 32 chapter book rounds out to 288 pages.  I received a trade paperback advanced readers copy to review.   It will be released in February as a hardcover.  Reviewed on behalf of Raincoast Books. 

Gloom Town contains some horror, magic and suspense all at a middle school level.  You’ll find humour to break up the tension as together together, Rory and his friend Isabella set out to uncover exactly what Foxglove and his otherworldly accomplices are planning. Can they devise a strategyto defeat them? 

Gloom Town, backcover synopsis

The Details of Gloom Town

Two best friends form the foundation of Gloom Town.  One brave enough to work at the scariest place in town.  The other learning skills that most don’t know about.  Together they learn the importance of friends working together to solve problems. 

Gloom town

This illustration at the beginning of the book spells out the tone really well.  When I opened up this page I wondered what type of book I was getting myself into.  The characters proved interesting, the bad individuals chilling, and the helper lads were a mixed bag with humour mixed in. 

Gloom town

You’ll find some surprises hidden within the pages. Moves that you might expect a character to make the didn’t happen.  Events transpiring that make you think what? What just happened there??  One such instance was how the whole story ended, it was totally not one that I had anticipated. 

Gloom Town, table of contents

Recommendation

It’s honestly not the sort of book I would normally read.  I don’t tend to read scary or creepy books well.  I think that Gloom Town being a middle school read was it’s saving grace.  It means the creepy stuff isn’t as bad and you know that somehow they will get through it. 

I loved how they needed to use their wits, build upon skills they already possessed, and count on each other. Friends who KNEW they were friends and could totally count on each other. Good stuff in that. 

disclosure

New Direction

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It’s Five Minute Friday again!  This week the word is Direction, and since I’ve been searching for an “N” post for the blogging through the alphabet challenge, I added the word New to the front of it.  🙂  We have the privilege of moving into a new year, perhaps with it will come a new direction.

New Direction

New Direction

Regardless of where you go,
In what direction you take
The path is always new,
And yet it always the same.

Direction
It’s always new.
Whether it seems the road continues
Or turns a time or two.

Every step you take
Is a new one don’t you see?
It’s step you haven’t taken
Even if it seems alike to thee.

In the course of years I’ve lived
In the course of time it’s passed.
Every new direction,
Is the same as the one before.

One step and then another
Alike as the one before
Heel to toe,
Step, step, step

BUT even though are steps
Are all the same,
The attitude of the heart
Can make the path new.

Or the company one keeps
Changes the tenor of the way.
An unexpected discovery,
Conversation brightens your day.

Sometimes easy,
Other times fraught with challenge.
Directions new,
Methods old.

Check who walks with you.
Follow the direction given.
Brighten your day with discoveries.
And accept the new shown.

abcblogging

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Review: Ultimate PreK-12 Annual Membership

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FTC disclaimer review

Are you looking for a complete curriculum, all in one place, where one price meets the needs of your entire family?  Let me introduce you to SchoolhouseTeachers.com.  It is my pleasure to once again review their Ultimate PreK-12 Annual Membership.  In this membership you will find a variety of  video-based, printable text-based, and/or interactive courses. 

Ultimate PreK-12 Annual Membership, image for review

What I am Reviewing

SchoolhouseTeachers.com is a premier homeschooling site, particularly if you use their Ultimate PreK-12 Annual Membership. It is host to a complete PreK-12 education.  Loaded with resources for child, youth, teen and their parents you will find it a treasure trove of information.  Many of these courses are video-based, others are PDF’s, and yet others are interactive lessons.   You get parent resources and access to World Book Online (a fascinating resource).

You can find SchoolhouseTeachers.com on facebook, twitter, and pinterest.  Normal price is $179 for the Ultimate Membership, or $19.95 monthly.  Stayed tuned for the current sale later in this post!

schoolhouseteachers-statistics

Learn more about SchoolhouseTeachers.com

SchoolhouseTeachers.com has so much potential to explore. There is quite literally something for everyone. 

I would like to show you two of the programs we are actively using.   My son is a high school student, and this past semester he is using French.   

SchoolhouseTeachers - French class logo

My son loves that he gets to hear the French spoken, and has easy to print off PDF’s.  He saves them to his laptop and then prints off what is needful.  This class is just PDF’s to download and listen to, standard worksheets to fill out and learn from. I would love to show you some of his work, but my 14 year is becoming quite private in his studies (at least in an online format). 

I’ve been investing some time in learning the Inkscape program.  This is a video series that walks you through the different aspects of using a graphic design course. I started it back in October but then hit a spell of bad health and am just picking it up again.  Learning how to make rectangles and ovals all over again.  🙂

schoolhouseteachers - inkscape course

Future Plans

Next semester I will pick up a bible class called foundations for teens.   Videos from RightNow Media along with worksheets makes a class that sounds appealing to my lad. 

schoolhouseteachers - foundation for teens banner

We will also be doing a daily grammar, working through the world war materials in the World Book Encyclopedia Online and Dr.D’s geometry course over the next semester.  Plans are in the works to take Latin down the road as well. 

Doing the courses is easy, you can do a couple of things depending on the class.  Go straight to the class lessons, or open the lesson plan. 

class lessons

 Most of the courses have a lesson plan which is a suggested plan of action for completing the course.  Just like with anything homeschooling though, tweak as needed. Most of the time you’ll find an overview, and then a daily activity list.  Some courses will have both, others will just have the overview, it all depends on the needs of the course.

schoolhouseteachers.com - lesson plan

My son gains access to these courses easily by using the bookmarks feature.  This feature is found through the member dashboard.  You can make a new section for every member of your household.   My son has a desire to take Latin down the road, will be taking geometry with Dr. D in semester two and is currently studying WW2. We’ll be adding the foundations for teens to his collection. 

schoolhouseteachers.com - bookmarks

Focused Learning Centres

One of the interesting parts of SchoolhouseTeachers.com that many people are not aware of is the focused learning centres.  These focused centres narrow in on one topic such as math, reading, science, highschool, careers and seasonal just to name a few. 

schoolhouseteachers.com - focused learning centres

Opening up the highschool centre led me to discover the mirade of help for highschool like making transcripts, exploring careers, and figuring out the scope and sequence of each grade level. 

schoolhouseteachers - highschool focus

Flexible and Customizable

One of my favourite things about SchoolhouseTeachers.com is how you can make it your own.  You can make a curriculum for your children just by letting them pick what they want to learn (with your guidance).  Alternatively you can use the scope and sequence to choose.  

They present their material in a variety of formats.  You can look under subject matter, grade level, or see all the courses in the grade level chart.

Below you can see a comparison of the various math courses (just part of the list).

schoolhouseteachers.com - grade level chart

Whatever method works best for you, use it.  The process of choosing curriculum is made as user friendly as possible. 

Video Library

If you can think of a topic, the chances are high that it will be covered somewhere in SchoolhouseTeachers.com video library.  Art, bible, history, math and so much more.  Watch for fun, watch to learn. 

schoolhouseteachers.com - video library

Do I Recommend?

I’ve been using The Ultimate PreK-12 Annual Membership by SchoolhouseTeachers.com for much of my son’s educational needs.  We don’t use it for everything as we are Canadian, therefore we need more Canadian content in our learning.  🙂 

I could easily have my son do most of his schooling through SchoolhouseTeachers.com even without the wanted Canadian content.  Perhaps, I should help create more Canadian focused content on SchoolhouseTeachers.com just to make it even better.  What do you think?  🙂

Promotion

SchoolhouseTeachers.com January Promo

SchoolhouseTeachers.com is currently running a promotion.  The Fresh Start sale where you can get the year for $99 (only99 is the code you’d use).  Or monthly for $12 (need code only12).  My affiliate link for this deal.

Read More Reviews

106 other members of the Homeschool Review Crew have reviewed the Ultimate PreK-12 Annual Membership by SchoolhouseTeachers.com.   Click on this link to read those reviews.