Homeschooling

Bass Pro Shop

July 3, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Last year while we were kicking about, I don’t know where more, we ran into a Bass Pro Shop.

Dad decided to go looking for fishing gear so the lad, our student and I wandered about randomly, we were surprised by this! Dad was attracted by our exclaimations of delight so headed over. I ended up taking this picture with him pointing something out to me. 🙂

bass pro shop aquarium

This was a really neat surprise! We so enjoyed spending time watching all the fish. Our student took lots of pictures to take home with him.

My son was captivated by the very large catfish but none of my pictures turned out.

bass pro shop fish

Some of the fish were immense! My hubby almost forgot why we wandered into this store, but eventually he wandered off to find what he needed. We just stayed and enjoyed the fish, it was a delightful stop for us. Just an amazing aquarium that surprised us. fish at bass pro shop aquarium

Finding the “ah ha!” Moment

July 2, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

You know when you are reading a poem and you hit a line in the poem that makes you go “ah ha!”? You find a line that causes you to see the entire point of the poem or line of thought the author is trying to convey? It’s like a touch of magic, is it not? Stay tuned for free worksheet attached.

When you are writing, don’t forget to look for that line, the line that causes you as the author listening to your own poem to go “AH HA!”.

What causes that moment?

sensory detail that surprises the reader
a lingering note, a sound that rings
an odour that brings a memory
a change in the structure of the poem
a detail described in an unexpected manner
the unexpected that cements a thought

But how does one prepare for the unexpected as an author? How can you build that into your verse? Can it be learned like how one used adjectives or adverbs better? How can you find those moments (which can be different for individuals) that turn the light on in a poem?

You prepare by reading verse looking for what hits you emotionally, surprises you making you say “NO!”, changes the way you think, gives a picture you won’t soon forget and/or rings true in your heart. Look for it, and in that looking, you’ll learn how to write it. Or if not HOW to write it, to at least be willing, to take risks in your art, to experiment with a new style of writing, and to be willing to even surprise yourself.

Don’t force it… just read, and write, and practice. Bring out your own true thoughts and play around with how you put them on paper. have your moments be so real, so poignant that the memories linger in the minds of your readers. Write your words down, re-read them, bring out the emotion and paint your pictures, and let the surprise and wonder and lingering memories happen.

Other writing posts can be found here. The photo courtesy of Ben White on Unsplash.

To practice this skill I’ve put together a worksheet that you might find useful.

Hawk Rising

June 30, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Maria Gianferrari has given us a book teaching us about hawks called Hawk Rising. In this picture book, Brian Floca, brings to life the story of Father Hawk and the young lady watching him.
The images in this book, I liked them. Really. Brian Floca did an excellent job bringing the text to life. He showed us the world from two vantage points, one of the hawk, the other of a young girl watching him. Crashing through tree tops, or watching a hawk sitting up high searching.
Maria Gianferrari writes out a story bringing to life one day in a life of a Father Hawk going about his business of providing for his family. Running into troubles along the way, but sticking with his objective throughout the day, feeding and caring for his family.

As he does this, he’s observed by a young gal and her mom. The back and forth between the two works.

Aesthetically the print is easy to read, a large nice font that if you wanted to read it to a group of children you could do so easily. It would be a good book to start off a study on hawks, or the food chain, or on how we can observe closely the world around us to learn much.

My thoughts:

I have to admit, I’m not sure what to think about this book. On the surface it seems okay, but by the time I was done reading my thought was “I would not want to read this to a young child”. It was a rather odd feeling so I asked a homeschool mom to read it as well and her reaction was “it’s a bit of a strange book, I wouldn’t want to read to a young child”.

There is much in this book that I do like.. the persistence in father hawk in caring for his young, the persistence of the young gal watching him. The care and determination displayed. So that lingering thing… I don’t really understand it. Ergo it’s a bit of a tough call. There’s nothing that says DON’T read this book. Nothing that hollers at me as being wrong or of false beliefs or anything, just this lingering lack of ease about it. I don’t know.

Hawk Rising
Maria Gianerrari
Brian Floca
Roaring Brook Press
40 pages, 4-8 years, softcover
Hawks, Science, picture book, Biology
Reviewed for Raincoast Books.
Where to Find Amazon.

Teach Financial Literacy

June 29, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Teaching financial literacy and investing is important to our children. It’s the best way to teach them to avoid debt, and to provide for their future. The question is, just how does one do this?

I admittedly haven’t embarked on a financial training program with my son yet, but I want to start giving him our grocery money for a month and say “you’re in charge of the groceries this month spend it wisely”. Teaching him to mind the sales (not that I do but it’s a good idea right?) It’s not like we don’t have food in the freezer (though sometimes it gets a bit light) and we’ll survive if he makes a big goof, but how else does a lad learn to handle doing the groceries if he can’t practice doing it? I suppose he could learn the hard way like I did!

Pretty soon he’ll get an allotment for clothes (or once he’s old enough to have a job, he can buy his own clothes). I’m fortunate in that he does already have money and he (at this point) seems a naturally frugal child.

Image holding money (teaching financial literacy) — Photo by Niels Steeman on Unsplash

He has money?

My son has been earning his own money for the past…. probably four years now? I raise rabbits and I used to raise guinea pigs and mice. My lad asked once if he could help or if he could earn money too. We started with he could pick a rabbit, and as long as he helped me with the work of caring for them. He made her a pet but helped me make the decision of who to breed her to and when, and he could keep the profits from her. My son finally decided that he REALLY liked the mice so four years ago I said “if you do all the work, you can keep the money from them”. Now he has some regular clients, though about half of what he raises goes to his snake now, but that saves him money too.

Gradual Growth

He does occasionally need help…and as he’s matured he’s been given more responsibility. For instance, I might not let an 8 year unescorted to sell some mice to a new guy, but I’ll let an 11 year do so as I watch from a distance, whereas my almost 13 year old can manage on his own. This coming year he’ll be writing his own ads for selling his mice on kijiji. He’ll be shocked by this, but it will be good for him. He’ll have to monitor more when the mice are old enough to find new homes, I’ll teach him more how to take a good picture of them, showcasing the beauty of the mice he has. I’ve taught there’s a cost to doing business as occasionally I’ll say “You owe me $20 for feed eh?” I’ll get that startled look and then gets me money from his latest sale. He’s already learned how to check the prices of the competition and how to make prices lower so we get the guys who only want 10 mice instead of having to order a 100. It’s a good way to figure out how to be an entrepreneur right?

This year he also helped with my annual yard sale (and NO, I’m NOT doing one next year). Most years I gave him a table and whatever he personally sold of plants, homemade goods, or his leftover toys he got to keep. This year I said “10% of the profits lad, as long as you help from start to finish, except when you have other obligations”. He worked hard and was pleased with the end results. ALL of this he squirrels away.

In the process he’s learning also how to save 10% for missions, and 10% for a rainy day. Everything he makes gets divided up. 80% that he squirrels away, and the rest goes into jars I maintain for him. Just helps him if I keep it separate for him. He’s been starting to talk about putting some in the bank which is great! It’s a gradual growth, but I’m hoping it will put him in a better place for when he’s older.

Money in wallet doing balance sheet — Photo by Artem Bali on Unsplash

Wake up call:

I remember working with a girl, she was barely into her 20’s but her parents had gotten her on the saving track when she was little, and with careful banking and saving everything she earned, she had enough for a down-payment on a house as soon as she was past her probation period at work. I was stunned that someone could do that! This I want for my lad. Wouldn’t you want that for your children? To have their college tuition on paid up and being able to afford to buy a home once they pass their probationary period at a new job? To own a home instead of being caught up in the whole throwing your money away on rent/debt trap.

The WHY:

Most adults don’t really understand financial matters, and therefore don’t teach their children how to watch their dollars well. I learned long ago, paying cash for everything was the very best method for me to watch my money. Put money in a private account that I can’t touch so it accrues over time. But no debt and VERY VERY little credit card action. Hubby is slowly learning the same. I want better for my son. I want him to understand where money comes from and how you need to safe guard what comes in so you are prepared for potential hits in the future.

It is hard to learn that one MUST always spend less then what you earn if you want to get ahead financially in life. In a day of easy credit and the use of debit cards, it is difficult to keep on top of spending if you don’t learn how to do so.

Teaching financial literacy, picture of coins — Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash

What should students learn?

How to make a budget and stick to it.
How to prioritize spending
Understanding Credit and interest rates
Paying yourself first
Understanding the effect of taxes on tax-home pay

The earlier students learn these skills, the better. It leaves them better able to cope with today’s changing society.

Resources:

I have found some financial literacy and investment training sites you may find useful

Practical Money skills (a Canadian based site) Practical Money Skills is a free financial literacy program to help Canadians understand the fundamentals of money management. Created by Visa, the program offers money management resources including calculators, games, and lesson plans tailored for use by Canadian families and educators.

Ontario Teacher’s Federation has a site with some useful links on it.

I am still awaiting more information on the “Making it Count” pilot program on Financial Literacy from BC. OH LOOK! I found the course on-line!!! GO HERE.

Games about Financial literacy for students in middle school and up. Along with a list of 30 different games to help learn financial literacy.

Play games like Life, Pay Day, Monopoly etc.

You can make or buy visual cues to help students save money.

Investopedia: Learn about different aspects of investing. Knowledge is a good thing.

Make it fun, make it real, make learning about money a practical skill for your students to learn as early as possible. Get them started well in life.

What steps are you taking to ensure financial literacy in your children?

Others in my you want to learn series

Coding.
Foreign Language.
Physical Education.
Math.

Wild Orca

June 28, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Do you love Orca’s? Have you ever heard of an orca called Granny? Granny was known world wide by the lovers of Orcas, particularly those who would go watch the whales out in British Columbia.

It is my delight to introduce you Wild Orca, a lovely picture book I reviewed on J-pod the Orca pod from British Columbia. This book focuses on Granny, the oldest Orca that was known to people. Brenda Peterson does a great job of bringing her and her family to life. This book was provided by Raincoast Books (a great company to work for).

Granny was the matriarch of three pods being studied, pods J, K, and L. They all contained members of her extended family, and every year a little girl called Mia would watch for her to return. Mia’s dad was part of the whale research team, so Mia had learned to watch for the whales to return.

Wendell Minor contributed excellent paintings to the text of this lovely, meaty picture book. It’s a great book filled with a lot of information about whales and about the times that Granny would have lived through.

Did you know that Orcas out in British Columbia predominately eat salmon and that they are endangered? Too many of them are being lost. Orcas should live to be about 80 years old and too many of them are not making it that long. Too many of the babies aren’t making it past their first year. Pollution, sonar tests, over fishing and dams causing problems for the salmon being the main culprits.

My Thoughts:

Oh this book, filled me with such knowledge, but the end of it I was smiling for the joy that is an Orca. 🙂 It’s a lovely book, It would be either a great introduction to the study of Wild Orcas, point to a tourism industry in British Columbia, or be a fine part of an endangered animal study. OR you could pick it up just to read about a great animal from Canada.

Wild Orca: The oldest, wisest whale in the world
Brenda Peterson
Wendell Minor (illustrator)
Christy Ottaviano Books (Henry Holt & Co)
40 pages, 4-8 years, softcover
Orca, Sea Animals, Sea Mammal, tourism, endangered animals, research
Reviewed for: Raincoast Books
Find it on Amazon.

What’s up Wednesday June 2018

June 27, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

What’s up Wednesday, I saw a gal do this last month and I thought it looked fun, ergo I’ll give it a whirl eh? You can find the link up here.

What We’re Eating this week:

Well.. since it’s hubby first week working 230 to midnight we’re trying to switch to having a hot meal at lunch instead of at the close of the day.

So far we’ve had “gah make something I’m hungry!… Hamburgers” on Monday. Tacos on Tuesday. Tonight my Sausage with veggies fry. Tomorrow.. I dunno, leftovers most likely, and Friday we’ll have soup I think. Or we’ll have soup tomorrow and leftovers Friday. Time will tell, it’s a week in progress.

What I’m reminiscing about:

Hmm… can’t say I’m doing that all. Though today I was talking with the ladies at the foodbank about how glad I am that Jim has a job again. A job where he can get out of the house and be busy again. How good it’s been for him.

What I’m Loving:

Doing devotions on John at the end of the day with my lad. It gives him the day to think about the passage he read. It’s good to talk and think about God’s word eh?

What we’ve been up to:

Still working on changing the house around. I’ve got most of the things moved out of Jim’s old office, just a few things to move yet. Part of it is getting hubby to lend a hand as moving stuff means that we need to change wiring and what not.

What I’m dreading:

Nothing. I think. 🙂

What I’m working on

Oh… I am moving things around in the gardens. Cleaning out the shed out back. Moving things around in the house. Supporting my hubby with his shift change. Book reviews.

What I’m excited about

Um… good question. I don’t know. I think I’m too busy to be excited about anything right now. THOUGH… I have two blue babies in my nestbox right now and I’m hopeful for girls this time. REALLY hopeful. 🙂

What I’m watching/reading:

Just learned about a new to me show called Army Wives that I’ve been watching. I’m reading a book called Auden Dare.

What I’m listening to

I’ve been listening to a book called DragonVein. I need to find more books to listen to, or good podcasts or something, but I don’t know where to look for those.

What I’m wearing

Clothes. Yes, I am wearing clothes. A no sleeve peach shirt and black capris. Nothing fancy, clothes generally aren’t too important to me. THOUGH I do have a new Sunday outfit that I like. To be honest my mom insisted I needed something new and so bought it for me. 🙂

What I’m doing this weekend:

Well, I think hubby is preaching somewhere, though perhaps not. I know that Sunday is Canada Day so WOOT WOOT we get to celebrate with the rest of town. We’ll probably attend services at Community Bible Church.

What I’m looking forward to next month

Oh.. FREE WATER! You see they are doing roadwork on our street and next week they’ll be hooking up our water to a common line meaning we have free water until the end of October. I’ll be able to water my garden all summer. Of course that will be less exciting if we have a cool wet summer and the added water won’t be needed….but for now WOOT WOOT!

What else is new

My son is enjoying his newest review product Coding for Teens, and um, he has a friend coming over tomorrow which will be lovely and I’ll be able to visit with his mom for a bit. My life is rather boring right now, and I’m okay with that. 🙂

Review: The Master and His Apprentices

June 27, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

When my son was young we would read through encyclopedias of history…you know those huge books you can buy that make excellent coffee table books, or that are just fun to flip through to gain a brief vision of history? Reading a variety of these books gave us an excellent overview of historical record. The Master and His Apprentices produced a book called The Master and His Apprentices: Art History from a Christian Perspective is a book JUST LIKE THAT. Historical overviews are wonderful.

My Impression and Realization

I have to admit, when I first started reading through this tome I wasn’t wildly impressed as it wasn’t what we had expected. I THOUGHT I was going to get a book about the history of art. So I imagined seeing images of art from throughout history, divided into time zones. That’s not what this resource is, this book is a history book! I know, I’m strange, takes me a bit to clue in sometimes, but once I figured out that The Master and His Apprentices was not a book about the history of art, it’s a history book with a focus on art. It’s a history book that uses art as a focus, but in essence, it’s a history book and just like any other history book it has it’s own focus (seeing God in action throughout history) and it’s own way of dividing up historical periods. We LOVE history books… especially history encyclopedias. Seeing history from a different vantage point is awesome. I now can say I LIKE THIS BOOK! It’s history with a solid dash of art (no nudity for those concerned). You will discover well-researched chapters that will describe various aspects of culture such as architecture, sculptures, mosaics, paintings, frescos, and other such art forms for each era discussed.

Art History Book

The first two chapters are devoted to understanding that all of creation starts from a biblical perspective. God’s creativity is what inspires the creativity of people. Therefore author Gina Ferguson walks us through the days of creation and all that we have to be thankful for. The rest of the chapters are devoted to different time periods. Gina has taught bible, art and history throughout her life.

Chapter 3: Ancient Near East
Chapter 4: Egyptian
Chapter 5: Aegean
Chapter 6: Early Greek
Chapter 7: Etruscan
Chapter 8: Roman
Chapter 9: Early Christian and Byzantine
Chapter 10: Medieval and Islamic
Chapter 11: Romanesque
Chapter 12: Gothic
Chapter 13: Proto-Renaissance
Chapter 14: Early Italian Renaissance
Chapter 15: High Italian Renaissance
Chapter 16: Northern Renaissance
Chapter 17: Baroque
Chapter 18: Rococo to Today
Chapter 19: Global Highlights

Like all histories, authors choose what they will focus on, and author Gina Ferguson is no different. Up until the Baroque period the history is explained well, after that the history is lighter. It makes sense right? If you were to include all of history thoroughly this 380 page book would be very large indeed. Ergo one focuses where one chooses and leave the rest for another book. 🙂

One of the things that is great about history books is the ability to pick a time period that are you interested in. You can read it start to finish or do what we did. We each had different interests and ended up discussing them together.

Now this history book is like any other… it gives you a good grounding in it’s perspective. Art started with the creation of the World, and God directs art in all it’s form throughout history. With that perspective comes marvellous full colour images that show the breadth of God’s creative touch.

As you delve more into how civilization developed you actually start to see some of the artistic forms that developed, like this, a melding of worldview into artistic expression.

I liked that we had the ability to pick and choose what we wanted to learn about. Now if we were using this as a full curriculum (and gain a full credit for history) I’d be minded to work through it from start to finish, but that’s not my focus right now with my lad. It’s called dive in, see what interests you and learn something new. It’s good to keep learning eh?

Each chapter provides an overview of the culture and period, followed by a discussion of the artwork and architecture developed during that time period. As the history is discussed, the religious beliefs and cultural background are brought up, showing that religion and culture define one’s worldview and that is reflected in the art that is produced. A timeline is included so you can see how it all fits together. One of the things I loved was the focusing on specific artists. It was great to be able to focus in on one person

Our attention was focusing using the worksheets that helped us think through ideas. We didn’t actually print them off, we did what we always do, we talked and splattered our thoughts about with each other.

Just what do you get?

I received digital downloads of the textbook at 380 pages and the teacher’s guide at 116 pages. You could choose to print off the pages (which I was tempted to do so but somehow just haven’t done that). The PDF’s are sent print ready making it easy to print off if desired. This is a highschool level course that could be used for a full credit or as supplementary material for other studies. I also received a PDF called “Print and Use” outlining how to print off the textbook and workbook in the most user friendly fashion.

End result:

I like a good history book. Reading history from different perspectives deepens our understanding of it. This book portrays a good amount of art in it (no nudes or other objectionable art) and gives a good look at various artists. Faith plays a big role in this book, understanding worldview and how religion plays into how we perceive the world and therefore make depictions of it. If faith is something you care to avoid, this would not be the book for you. If understanding how worldview and faith affects how you view the world, then this history will broaden your understanding.

The Master and His Apprentices
The Master and His Apprentices: Art History from a Christian Perspective
For pricing information go here. Available as physical or digital copies.
Art, History, digital, High-school, Christian art, biblical art history

The teachers guide: contains instructions for using this curriculum in classroom or homeschool settings, an attendance chart and grade sheet, a course outline, glossary of art term, expectations of student in regards to exams and papers, questions and answers for worksheets and the exams, along with helpful tips and reminders.

The textbook can be used over and over but the teacher’s guide with the worksheets is considered a consumable product, to use with additional students extra copies are merely $2 each.

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Homeschooling

Bass Pro Shop

Finding the “ah ha!” Moment