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Review: Canadian History-Based Writing Lessons

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 Here I am today showing you an outstanding language arts curriculum produced by the great IEW people with Canadian History Content!!!!!    How wonderful is that eh?  It is called the Canadian History-based Writing Lessons. 

Okay, so I’ve heard it said that you can’t use IEW writing lessons unless you have a good grounding in how their system works. In fact their website will tell you this:  These lessons are designed to be used by an instructor who has been through the Teaching Writing: Structure and Style seminar.  In practice I have learned this fundamental fact, if you take your time and you follow the lesson plan, your students will learn.  That said, will they learn as much as if you took the time to do the lessons and fully understand their system?   I don’t know.  I do know that my son is learning and I sorta took the seminar but haven’t really retained the information.  I find the IEW people have been nothing less than helpful whenever I’ve called upon them for help as well.. so don’t let the instructor training part freak you out…really, don’t let it.


Trust your instincts and your ability to follow instructions and you will do just fine. 


Now that that, is out of the way, let’s talk about what you get.  For this review I received the teacher’s manual…wow…ever so helpful, and the student book…. lots of space to write even for my space hungry boy.

The particulars.
The student book sets out the scope and sequence of the course nicely.  Letting you know the history topic to be covered as well as the writing lessons: style, vocabulary and structure.   Very clearly laid out so you know what you are working towards.

The teacher’s manual contains copies of each of the pages, so that you know you and your student are working off the same page and lesson.

Instructions are very clearly laid out for your use.  You don’t have to guess what you are to do next.  Answers are provided.   Allowing you to guide your children if necessary and to check their work easily.

As I mentioned earlier, there is lots of space for the student to write (you’ll need one for each student).  My space hungry boy doesn’t complain about needing more room.  I’m not showing you pages of completed work as my lad is (the older he becomes) less inclined to let anyone potentially see his less than perfect handwriting or work!

My son, even though he tends NOT to be a fan of writing curriculum, has been delighted to learn about Canadian history while improving his ability to write well. It solves the “but why do I have to learn THIS” struggle as all I have to say is “good to learn more about Canada eh?” He automatically agrees.  🙂  Win win eh?



Now along with these two books you get downloads from IEW.  
The Student Resource Packet and Lesson Checklists.   The Student Resource Packet is an invaluable part of the program and shouldn’t be neglected.  Don’t forget to download it!  Printing it off and getting it bound would be a great way to keep it all together easily. 

The checklist is helpful to make sure you’ve covered everything you are supposed to in a given lesson.  If you are inclined to grade the work, a grading system is included.

What do we think?
It’s a great curriculum to use, we’ll be putting it aside to use as our language arts program next year.  It’s a lovely middle school program that will serve our needs well after we finish the writing program we are currently using.



Canadian History Based Writing Lessons 
IEW
Lisa Marie Fletcher 
Lori Verstegen
two books plus online resources
History, writing, curriculum.

Can be purchased these Canadian Resellers. 

This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

Art Book: Hand Lettered Life

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 Today I have a bit of a different book for you.  You know how sometimes I like to look at Adult Colouring Books?  Well today I have a new format of a ‘colouring book’ for you, called a Scratch and Create.  This one is called Hand Lettered Life and was put together by Shandra Smith.

art color scratch&create

This book is filled with 16 Scratch Board and 4 alphabet and ornament stencils to help you create your own quotes and colourful images.  In these pages, the colouring is done for you, all you need to do is create the colourful image.

To do so you have this handy dandy stylus to use.

Once you have your stylus in hand, you take your board (with perforated edge for ease of removal) and your stencils and then you basically scratch off the grey tile to reveal the bright colour underneath, using the stencil as a guide line.

I’ll show you what I worked at with one board.

I thought I’d try a couple of things to see how the stylus and board worked.  I punched out a dragonfly and thought I’d see how tracing goes, because sometimes you just want an outline of something, you know?  Tracing the solid stencil worked really well.  Easy to do with the pointed end of the stylus.

I found that using the outline stencil didn’t work as well.  I had to really push down on the edges of the outline to keep the lines smooth.  

It took some practice to figure out which end of the stylus was the best to use, and then how best to use it.  It’s a good thing they give four practice boards in the front of the book eh?   Very helpful that!

I learned that the colours on the outside of the board reflect the colours underneath the silver coating.  

I must warn you, keep a cloth handy to keep the silver coating from transfering to your clothes, it washes out easily, but if you are out at a gathering, you don’t need it on your nice clothes eh?

I can’t say I’m completely enamoured with how it all turned out, I don’t feel particularly creative to really make full use of this book. 

It also requires more attention to detail then what I am prone to give to any kind of art form.  Less forgiving of errors as well.  BUT overall I think for the right person this could be a stellar form of relaxation.  Sitting back and watching the colours come to life in front of you.

Hand-Lettered Life: design our own quotes with 16 scratch boards and 4 alphabet and ornament tiles
Shandra Smith
Series: Scratch & Create (four in series currently)
Rockport Publishers
24 pages
Colour, Stencil, Scratch, Art Book

Reviewed for: Quarto Group

Where Can I Find It?
Amazon.ca:  Hand-lettered Life.
Amazon.com:  Hand-lettered Life.

This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

Because I Said So

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My lad and I were talking the other day about how he HATES IT when parents say do it, or stop it, or whatever it … BECAUSE I said so.  So having the word prompt gives me a chance to talk about that conversation a bit.

Because I Said So
“I hate it” he said
“I hate it indeed”
“When you or another adult
say that word to me”.
“Why,” I inquired
“Do you hate it so?”
“What’s wrong with the words
Because I say so?”
“It gives me no information,
No reason, no why.”
He explained.
“It just says because I said so”
“Ah,” I replied
“Sometimes no reason is needed
and that’s why it’s said”
No reason at all.
“But mom, that’s not fair”
My son added on
“I have to give a reason, 
So why shouldn’t you”?
I acceded that my lad had a point. 
If I expect one thing from him
Why should I not model the same?
And then I remembered a reason I have!
“My son, but you know, quicker
thinking you are.”
Sometimes I say “because I said so” 
because my brain the reason can’t find.
And so he agreed, that reason did work
“But MOM you must try!”
And So I agreed.
Easy is not best.
So give it your all, 
not the easiest way.
Teach your children WHY
A reason do give.
Because that’s how they learn.
Train up a child in the way he should go
And when he is old he will not depart from It.

This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

Canada: Discover Canada

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Today I have something a wee bit different for learning about Canada.   It’s a game!  A brain game none-the-less!  I picked this game up a while ago to use with my lad, just a fun grab a card, look at it and see what you remember and can learn about Canada.  

Let me introduce you to Discover Canada by Brainbox.   You can learn more about Brainbox and even play some games while visiting them right HERE.

You might be wondering, what is this game?  What makes it interesting?   It’s a game meant for one or two people (making it great for mom and son).   Take a timer that runs for 10 seconds and a card.  Try to memorize as many details as you can in that 10 seconds and then answer the questions on the reverse side of the card.   The most answers right wins!  In the meantime you are learning facts about Canada.

They have a variety of categories from animals, sports, provinces, fur trade, inventors, first nations and more. Pictures, maps, questions.. fun with learning, can’t really beat that can you know?

If ten seconds is too short for you or your family, extend it!  It’s a game, have fun with it.  

Discover Canada
Brainbox
Game, brain game

Where can you find it?

Amazon.ca: Discover Canada
Amazon.com: Discover Canada by Brainbox

This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

Review: Spill Zone

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Spill Zone, by New York Times Best Selling Author, Scott Westerfeld, is an interesting book.  I admittedly, wasn’t sure of it when I first started reading it, but then I became very interested in how the story would turn out in the end, and I’d love to read book two.  ‘Cause I really want to know the complete ending!


It’s geared for teens, and as such, you’ll want to be mindful of language issues if letting your younger children read it.   I didn’t care the swearing, and that almost turned me off the book, but I kept reading because I wanted to know what would happen next. 

The images aren’t the grainy ones I’ve come to expect from many graphic novels, but are clear, well drawn, and carefully coloured.

The story follows Addison (Addie) as she ventures into her hometown taking pictures to sell to help support her and her sister.  She’s not supposed to go into her hometown ever since the disaster, but one has to find a way to support oneself eh?

Entering the Spill Zone is dangerous indeed but Addie has developed rules in order to stay safe.  These rules sustain her life. Then an offer she can’t hardly refuse comes her way. Is it worth breaking the rules?  You’ll have to read it yourself to find the answer to that!

It’s not a light happy read this book, it has this dark overtone, and you’re left wondering…there’s got to be a bad guy, who is it?   What is it?  Is it in the Spill Zone or is it COMING to the Spill Zone?  Will Addie and her sister be safe?

These are the questions I want answered…where oh where is book two??  Book one did an excellent job of setting me up.  🙂

Spill Zone
Alex Puvilland 
First Second Books
Graphic novel
Hardcover
240 pages
15-19 years
Reviewed for: Raincoast Books. 

Where can You Find it?

Amazon.ca: Spill Zone. 
Amazon.com: Spill Zone.

This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

Set in our ways… let’s Revise!

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Revise: to make a change, to reconsider, to alter a preconception, 

Tonight
a friend and I were talking, I mentioned how some friends are mine were
getting rather set in their ways and that I hoped I wasn’t getting set
in my ways.  She mentioned that it happens to all of us.  We get used
things being a certain way and come to expect it, it part of being
human.  My response “I DON’T WANNA!”   Silly eh?

I admittedly got to thinking about that.  Realizing that the “I don’t wanna”.  Comes from my heart.   I remember some seniors in my past that …oh.. if things weren’t a certain way would get all bent out of shape and angry.. and I don’t want to be that kind of person.

Yet as I sit here typing, I’m becoming aware of how “set in my ways” I am becoming and I don’t know that I’m too keen on that.  I need to keep changing things up a bit.

For instance.. I could have chosen today to just keep chilling in the house with the family, but instead.. I grabbed up my camera and went for a walk.

This week I could have chosen to do my normal thing and worked on the computer til late in the night, but instead I CHOSE to go to bed early!  I know a shocker eh!  🙂

I have even changed up our church candy..yes I’m one of those who brings candy to church, but for the last two weeks I’ve been bringing candy with wrappers on them.. and when I need to fiddle with something I can play with the wrapper and still be mindful of what the preacher is saying without eating more .. candy.  🙂

Not big things for sure, but… they are different from the norm… and if I keep making changes, perhaps that will keep me from getting TOO set in my ways that I get angry if I don’t get my own way.

There’s another aspect to all this that my friend so kindly reminded me… God calls us to put others before ourselves (or rather to love others like to love ourselves).  To be thinking of them as much as ourselves.  If we do that, don’t you think it will help break that “getting set in our ways” pattern?   Don’t you?  Makes me think that’s for sure.

What about you?  You finding yourself getting set in your ways?  Want to make a change?

Tell me about it, I’d love to hear!  🙂
 

This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

Just One Thing

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I keep thinking back to the writer’s conference and what I could take away from it.  Do you know why?   I don’t want to waste the learning.  If I don’t think about it and write about it, and keep the notes ready…then in three months it won’t have mattered that I went…and wouldn’t that have been a waste of hard-earned dollars!?!?!  Not my thing at all!

I keep coming back to a line I kept hearing.  Set a goal, just a singular goal.  Just change ONE thing.  Don’t do more than that.  Just one thing, one style, one character, one setting, one social media.  Learn to do that one thing and do that one thing well.  Then do one more thing.

goal setting one plans

So instead of looking at five things you want to do and (or in my case a million and a half things)….and feeling totally overwhelmed and stumped.   You break that down into ONE thing.  And yes, try to keep it to the ONE thing.  And yes.. I know .. it’s really hard to do that.  Perhaps we can practice together?  🙂

For instance, let’s say you want to increase your social media presence.  Should you tackle them all at once?  (just so you know, if you are thinking that way.. DON’T, just DON’T).  Take one, learn it, read about it, study it, try different things, until you have a good handle on it, and then .. tackle the next one.  OR don’t. Perhaps all your audience is in the social media presence you are currently using.   

Your next goal might be something else… like…if you are a novelist, really learning how to research a time period, or building a believable character, or learning to use action words without going overboard.  Learn that one thing, and then use that learning to go on to the next thing. 

So you aren’t looking at FIVE things (or a million and a half things) you are looking at ONE thing.  Just one.  Anyone can do ONE thing can’t they? 

What one thing do you think YOU can do?

Me… I’m going to move my blog so I can get my CSS something or other.  Just one thing to get, I found a lovely gal to help me out, got a goal of November 1st to get the finances done, and then a goal of mid-November to get the blog set up nicely.  Then Christmas will happen (and the busy-ness of the season) which will bring us to next year’s goal… to get a poem published in a magazine.  Should be doable you think?  Just one poem.. and who knows what the next step might be?   God knows, literally, cause I don’t.  

All I have to do is to make the ONE goal.  Going where I think God is leading me.  
Just one goal.

Tell me…what’s yours?

Original picture by Bill

 

This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites