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A Net in Time

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Songs that Help us Remember Christmas

December 14, 2020 By Annette1 14 Comments

Here we come a-caroling
Among the leaves so green,
Here we come a wand’ring,
So fair to be seen.

Yes, it is the season to be caroling, to find songs to help us celebrate. To make a joyful noise with each other. The fun, the jolly-ness. It’s good, isn’t it?  I just love singing good songs (and silly ones too) with loved ones. 

You know what else it is though?  It’s also the season to take time. To find songs to help us really remember Christmas, you know… the spiritual significance to the season. These songs help us remember that God made a promise, then kept it! God made a sacrifice so that we could be brought back to him.

Songs that Help us Remember Christmas

Songs that help us remember

Every year on my blog I blog about these songs. Sharing the lyrics, the author, and this year adding thoughts about the songs themselves.  I find this draws me more into considering the gift given. 

A child born, a promise kept.   One of my favourite songs.  I don’t know WHY I like this song so much, but I do.  🙂 

  • What Child is This
  • O Little Town of Bethlehem.
  • Silent Night.
  • Mary’s Boy Child. 
  • Hail to the Lord’s Anointed. 
  • Come thou, Long-expected Jesus. 
  • The Race that Long in Darkness Pined. 
  • Away in the Manger. 
  •  
Songs that Help us Remember Christmas

The news spread. Angels, shepherds, 

  • How Great our Joy. 
  • Angels from the realms of Glory. 
  • Hark the Herald Angels Sing.
  • Go Tell it on the mountain.
  •  

The future promise

  • Comfort, comfort Now His People. 
  • Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates.

What Songs help you remember Christmas?  Do you have favourites?  If so, what are they? 

Filed Under: Faith, Homeschooling Tagged With: Christmas, faith, Music

Go Tell it on the Mountain

December 13, 2020 By Annette1 2 Comments

I originally wrote about this Christmas song Go Tell it on the Mountain back in 2015 on my weebly blog.  I figured it was about time for me to write about it again.  It’s a lively song, quite different than many of the traditional Christmas carols that we sing. 

Go Tell it on the Mountain

Lyrics

Refrain

Go, tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain,
That Jesus Christ is born.

While shepherds kept their watching
O’er silent flocks by night
Behold throughout the heavens
There shone a holy light.

Refrain

The shepherds feared and trembled,
When lo! above the earth,
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed the Savior’s birth.

Refrain

Down in a lowly manger
The humble Christ was born
And God sent us salvation
That blessèd Christmas morn.

Refrain

Author and History

There is some discussion about who actually created this piece.  Some scholars think John Wesley Work, Jr. wrote “Go Tell It On The Mountain.” Work was the first African-American collector of Negro spirituals.  He was also a composer and scholar.  It is thought he either composed it in 1907.

While other scholars think that slaves had been singing this American folk carol since at least the 1860’s.  If that is the case Work could not have composed it since he was born after that.  

This upbeat hymn didn’t become popular until the mid-20th century after the advent of jazz, blues and early rock. 

Discipleship Ministries has posted the original lyrics. 

Ponderings

One of the things I found fascinating about this hymn is how the words have changed over the years.  From the original spiritual with the slave overtones, to the common verses we sing today.  I’ve sung this hymn most often with the verses written above but occasionally with these verses added: 

When I was a seeker
I sought both night and day.
I ask the Lord to help me,
An’ He showed me the way.

He made me a watchman
Upon the city wall,
 
An’ if I am a Christian
I am the least of all.

These two verses are well worth singing as well don’t you think?

As I consider these last two verses I”m struck by the thought of how we can’t do anything unless God shows us the way first.  We can’t tell what we don’t know.  We can’t do a job we haven’t been given.  God is the one who sent his son, to give us a message, and then a job.  Go, Tell.  The nations, everyone around us, he did that.  His job, his mission, for us to carry out.

Are you doing the job he’s given you?

Filed Under: Faith, Homeschooling Tagged With: faith, history, Hymn, Music

Stuck in Learning?

December 10, 2020 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Today I was working on the Canadian Online Homeschool Conference.  It’s on from Feb 3-9, 2021. Anyways, my topic is on Developing independence in your students.  I was putting together my worksheet and thought hey!  I’ve never done a post on what to do when your student is stuck in learning.

I see it over and over on the homeschooling facebook groups.  The posts often read something like “help, my _________ can’t figure out ________.  How do I help them grasp this concept so we can move forward?”   Let’s talk today about some of the steps you can take to help your students move forward when they are stuck in learning something new or difficult.s

Stuck in Learning

The Scenario

Much of the things we learn in life are linear.  You learn how to do this, before you learn to do this next thing.  Ergo, when you are stuck on a concept it’s difficult to imagine moving forward until that key concept in learned.  

I know that with my lad we ran into a few roadblocks along the way.  Different steps that we took let us move through difficult learning moments. That’s part of the beauty of homeschooling isn’t it?  We can take the steps we need to help our children achieve their long-term goals through short-term adjustments in our learning strategies.  🙂 

asian teen writing structure of primitive organism on whiteboard
Photo by Katerina Holmes on Pexels.com

Seven steps to Take when Stuck in Learning

Power through.

It’s an option right?  To simply keep doing what you are doing until finally it clicks. It’s a method a lot of people use quite successfully.  It’s not a method that works for everyone, but it does work.  My son has used this with the odd math problem, working it and reworking it until he finally figures out how to get to the answer.  Through that process he cements the mathematical formula and totally owns it. 

Take a step back

Sometimes you just need to take a step back.  To put away the books and do something different.   When you do that a couple of things happen.  You take off the pressure and you allow your brain to work it out.  Not a fool-proof thing, and sometimes it requires the next action, but often if you remove the pressure and just let the brain work, marvellous things happen. 

Look at the concept from a different perspective

We often find this is the best way for my son when a concept is difficult, especially if he combines it with the action above.  There are SO many ways to learn concepts.  Look at all the ways to learn to read.  Or how to learn scientific concepts.  So if one method doesn’t work, why not check out a different method?  It might click right away, such as when my lad was trying to figure out long-division, or it might require you to sleep on it. 

Stuck in learning
Doing the stages out of order

Sometimes, just sometimes, learning things out of order works. Kids do it all the time.  Little ones listening in on lessons for their siblings. Learning about archaeology before  Youngsters listening in on church sermons and learning big concepts they don’t hear in Sunday School. Hearing big words read (and explained) during story time increasing their vocabulary.  So many ways that we can learn things outside of our age/study range.

So your daughter doesn’t get fractions, but she can figure out how to build a birdhouse and understands how to put the ratios together to make that all happen. It might not be book work, but she’s had to understand the fractions on the measuring tape.  She’s had to double-check that her math is all good.  Perhaps that’s all your daughter needs RIGHT NOW.  Later on, when she’s mastered some other concepts, or relooked at how puzzles and pizzas are put together, or discovered all the measurements she’s done add up to inches, feet, and yards, it will all click for her. 

Not ready yet

You know there are grade and age level things we’re expected to know? These are arbitrary decisions made by generalities.  So MOST of the population at that age/grade is able to learn that concept.   Occasionally you get children who can learn that concepts quicker, and sometimes you meet children who just aren’t ready for it.  AND THAT’S OKAY.  It really is.   Just because Johnny isn’t ready to read at age 7 doesn’t mean he won’t ever read.  Just because Sally can’t figure out nouns and adjective by grade 10 doesn’t mean she never will.  Some concepts are just harder for different people to master.  So give it time.  It’ll come, or that knowledge will simply become something that person needs help with.  

For instance, I am directionally challenged.  I think I always will be. BUT I have a hubby AND a son who generally know what direction we going in.  So I don’t have to fret about one bit!  Amazing isn’t it?  Could I be deemed a failure in map reading?  Probably…but it doesn’t really affect me much as an adult.   I manage just fine.  If you don’t learn something, there’s always a way to work around it. 

Stuck in Learning
Back up when you are Stuck in Learning

When running into new material that is too hard to learn, the best decision to make simply might be backing up.  Figuring out what it was that you missed that was a needed precursor.   If you don’t understand place value before doing multi-digit addition and subtraction it makes the learning more difficult.  If you don’t know how to draw a straight line or haven’t learned how to draw perspective, doing good art is harder to do. 

Time

Sometimes that’s all people need.  Time.  Time to step away, time to consider other options, time to come back and revisit an old problem.  As I frequently tell my son,” it doesn’t matter if there are things we missed in your education, it’s not like you can’t learn them later!”  Once you know how to learn, the world of knowledge is waiting for you. 

The more you help your students figure out what to do when they are stuck in learning a new or difficult concept, the more you help them on the road to independence.  Help your students cultivate these skills so necessary to living an independent life. 

Filed Under: Homeschooling

Cleo Porter and the Body Electric

December 9, 2020 By Annette1 2 Comments

Oh, sometimes you read a bit and it hits a bit close to home.  Cleo Porter and the Body Electric is one such book.  Imagine a world wide pandemic and countries take the ultimate step of isolating individuals and their families.  Now imagine that a medical emergency happens.  How would you handle it?   Follow along with Cleo’s response.

Cleo Porter and the body electric

Learning about Cleo Porter

Jake Burt has postulated the question: What would happen if you were isolated physically in a locked building after a global pandemic? What would happen if you knew someone needed help and only you could help them? Cleo Porter and the Body Electric helps us answer those questions.  Jake Burt, a grade five teacher and author, uses humour, wisdom, and a plucky character to bring this story to life for his readers. 

This middle-school, science fiction read takes place over 288 pages and is published by Feiwel and Friends.  I am reviewing this adventurous chapter book on behalf of Raincoast books.  Humour, folk wisdom, fear, determination, and a surprise twist round out this story.

From the Cover

In a future forever changed by a pandemic, a girl survives in total isolation.

A woman is dying. Cleo Porter has her medicine. And no way to deliver it.

Like everyone else, twelve-year-old Cleo and her parents are sealed in an apartment without windows or doors. They never leave. They never get visitors. Their food is dropped off by drones. So they’re safe. Safe from the disease that nearly wiped humans from the earth. Safe from everything. The trade-off?

They’re alone. Thus, when they receive a package clearly meant for someone else – a package containing a substance critical for a stranger’s survival – Cleo is stuck. As a surgeon-in-training, she knows the clock is ticking. But people don’t leave their units.

Not ever. Until now.

What you get

In this illustrated edition you’ll fid the occasional image.  Not a whole lot, but the ones you find help to showcase the story. 

You’ll find well written prose with well-developed characters.  The determination of Cleo shines forth.  She makes mistakes and then recovers from them.  It was so interesting watching Cleo having to think on her feet.  You can really see her intelligence and compassion showing through in everything that she does. 

Humour was scattered throughout,  causing me to guffaw at unexpected moments.  This had it’s benefits with a lad curious about what made me laugh.  I’ll be passing this book along to him later for reading. 

Should you get it?

The fact that this book is about the results of a pandemic and a world-wide response might hit too close to home for some readers.   Cleo Porter and the Body Electric takes its time building, but once it gets going is fairly fast-paced.   The issues of isolation are real as is the fear of being out in the world.  It’s like issues in the world today, and for some young people it might be too real, and yet for others, due to how these issues are addressed, it might help it all make more sense. 

I enjoyed the folk-wisdom of an older lady who talked about how she made the decisions that she did and how confusing it is to want to help when others let fear rule them. The ending was different than I expected which a delightful surprise.   Overall I found Jake Burt’s novel to be well-balanced.  

 

Filed Under: Homeschooling, Reviews Tagged With: Books for Middle School, Raincoast

The Fun of Christmas Ornaments

December 7, 2020 By Annette1 15 Comments

One of the goals we have as parents is to help our children prepare to be out on their own. We need to help them learn to be independent.  At the same time I don’t want to make things more difficult, AND I want to help provide continuity for him.  So that even when he’s not at home, he’ll have a tie back to us with happy memories.  To that end, I looked at the fun of Christmas ornaments and said “that’s a nice tie-in”.   Prepare the lad to leave home, yet send him off with Christmas ornaments.  So every year I give him a new Christmas ornament and try to tie it in with something about the year that preceded us. 

The fun of Christmas ornaments

Some of the Lad’s Ornaments

One year we had a huge amount of fun attending our local White Squirrel festival.  The lad was just young yet, and just had a hoot.  So that Christmas he received a white squirrel ornament. 

white squirrel ornaments

You know how there are cat people and there are dog people?  There are also bunny, snake and spider people too…but I digress.   Anyways, my boy is a cat person through and through.  He’s gotten more than one cat ornament over the years.  It’s good to celebrate the things a person loves don’t you think?  That acceptance helps burgeoning independence. 

cat ornament

One year my lad was big into jumping spiders.  I asked him what he wanted for an ornament and he immediately piped up “Spiders!  I want spiders!”   Oh my… I am SO glad that the dollar store had these tiny spider earrings forgotten on a shelf.   The lad.. ABSOLUTELY delighted.  He still insists on putting them up on the tree.  It’s such a fun reminder of all the jumping spiders he has kept over the years. 

spider ornament

A year of studying Canada brought out this beaver maple leaf ornament. 

Did you know that SchoolhouseTeachers has a whole section on ornaments and Christmas?  They’ve put together a good list to help people enjoy this holiday season. 

Every year we celebrate the fun of Christmas ornaments.  A year of good memories. Laughter and conversation.  It’s such a good thing while remembering the saviour and all he’s done for us. 

This year I got my lad an ornament from Trending Custom.  I hope in a year when our old cat is really showing his age, and starting dementia, that this ornament I got for him will remind him of good times with his cat. 

So what Christmas traditions do you have the will help your children go off well into adulthood? 

Filed Under: Homeschooling

My Pencil and Me

December 5, 2020 By Annette1 1 Comment

raincoast FTC

Do you have a child wanting to learn to write?  OR perhaps you need some inspiration for yourself?   Check out Sara Varan’s newest book “My Pencil and Me”.   A rollicking ride into the word of Sara’s pencil, don’t you wonder what it has to say?  

My Pencil and Me

Learning about My Pencil and Me

:01 FirstSecond Books produced this fun-loving stroll through the story of writing a book when you really don’t know what to write about. Just what does one do when you don’t know what to write about? Well…. you could just ask your pencil…. Thus, a story is born!

48 pages of creatively illustrated pencil musings spelling out the creative writing process.  A user-friendly guide for both children and adults wanting to write their own tale. Struggling with writer’s block is a difficult thing regardless of how old you are.  In My Pencil and Me, Sara wants to help young readers combat it. 

I received an ARC copy from Raincoast Books in order to do this review. 

What Do You Get?

Clever prose, a helpful pup, and a talkative pencil. Three elements for a highly successful story.   Which as it progresses, becomes an even better story as certain necessary elements for the story fall into place. 

Bright and clean lines with simple colours help tell the story.  Aren’t the images fitting?  Don’t they just bring the story to life? Not a whole lot of white space on the pages, but the light blue sets up a similar feel doesn’t it?

From the Cover

Sara loves to draw and tell stories, but sometimes it can be difficult to get started. What if she doesn’t have any good ideas or her drawings turn out terrible?!

Lucky for Sara, she has a friend who is always by her side – her pencil. With a little help from Pencil, Sara learns it’s okay if her story isn’t perfect, as long as she’s using her imagination and having fun.

Who is My Pencil and Me for?

Although it’s geared to elementary students, honestly.. anyone struggling to write could find good value here. Simple language and spot-on illustrations show how letting your imagination run, can bring a story out you didn’t even know was there!

You’ll love the real-life pictures at the close of My Pencil and Me with Sara working at her desk with her pup at her side. It was a really nice touch.  

Should you get it?

Yes, not only does My Pencil and Me tell a good story, making it fun to read with your students, it teaches a good lesson.  There are lots of “talking points” contained within and it would be so easy to read with a group of children gathered round.  

It would be good to stop and ask yourself (or your listeners) what’s the first thing that your pencil is thinking about? Do you want real characters or pretend ones? Would you create a game to play, or a position to fill, or what will your characters do?  What sort of conflict might occur?  Do you want a happy or sad ending? What do you think of the story Sara’s pencil came up with?  What would you change?   Or of course, you could just read the story and then say “Go make your own!”  🙂 

Filed Under: Homeschooling, Reviews, Writing Tagged With: Books for Children, Elementary, Raincoast, writing

Fun Games for your Family

December 3, 2020 By Annette1 3 Comments

The other day I was suffering from lack of sleep and feeling rather grumpy and decided that keeping busy was far preferable to sitting around feeling growly.  Getting busy is generally the best attitude adjustment I can make.  Do you ever have that?  

Anyways, I decided to clean off our games shelf.  I’ve been feeling a bit dissatisfied with it lately and games were starting to scatter throughout the house.  I wanted to share with you some of our favourite games, perhaps they might become some of your favourites as well.  Today let’s learn about fun games for your family.  I’ll give amazon affiliate links if you want to look into them further. 

fun games for your family

There are all sorts of games available for us aren’t there.  Card games, ball games, board games, dice games and so much more. Playing games helps us build good memories, learn new skills, learn to think logically and just have fun. 

Strategy Games

strategy games

I have a teenage son, and overall he likes playing games with his mom, but he prefers them to be strategy games.  Games that are pure chance don’t interest him a whole lot.  By FAR his most favourite games require strategy to win.  Games like Everdell, Risk, Settlers of Catan, Carcassonne, chess, viticulture and Blokus.  He just adores figuring out the best way to play a game and is really good at figuring out the best way to combine moves. His skill surprises me sometimes. I’m even getting used to losing with grace! It’s not as easy as it sounds……

Quick Play Games

quick play games, uno, skipbo, etc.

Some nights we just want a game we can play quickly. A game that doesn’t take a lot of brainpower and still makes a lad smile.  These are generally card games.   Uno, Saboteur, SkipBo, War, Tenzi, Wizard, and such like.  Fast-paced, no full strategy, who wins depends on how the cards are played.   Mind, when we play war it’s with a regular deck of cards, I was surprised to see they actually turned it into a card game.

Games that make us laugh

When we play a game in the afternoon rather than in the evening we’ll often play a game that takes a different skill set.  Games like wonky, topple, jenga, frustration/trouble, and the like.  These games provoke a lot of laughter!  🙂 

It’s fun watching someone try so hard to balance and object, exercising so much care, and then it topples completely.  It’s a good-natured fun time.  Or get almost around the board and then be sent home. GAH!  It’s a lot of fun isn’t it?

Other Games Related Posts

Other posts I’ve done on games you might enjoy

  • Best card games.
  • Best board games.
  • adding board games to your homeschool.
  • Recently I wrote a post for the Homeschool Life Magazine on using games for math. 

Have I missed any essential Fun Games for your Family?  What games are favourites in your household? Tell me about them if you would please. 

Filed Under: Homeschooling Tagged With: affiliate, Games

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