A Net in Time

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Week in Review: November 2017

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 It has been a while since I’ve written a weekly write up.   Things get away from me sometimes, and to be honest…this past month has been a bit of a struggle for me, trying to figure out what’s going on with my body. 

Anyways, enough of that though… just what have we done recently?

Today that lad made bread completely on his own (other than my finding him a recipe).

Last night we took a trip out to the KW Symphony.  They were hosting a new subscriber night, with a brass band and snacks afterward.  It was a good time, learning the behind the scenes stuff at the Centre in the Square and hearing fun music.  🙂   All three of us enjoyed it.

What else, oh…the lad is enjoying his schooling this year.  He’s been doing some neat stuff with Innovator’s Tribe.   This week he was supposed to make some furniture and he asked is he could make a formacarium instead and my response was “that’s ant furniture…sure go ahead”.  He did a good job.  🙂  I wish I knew how to save a picture of what he did for you all to see.  

He likes, for the most part, The good and beautiful curriculum we’ve been using for language arts.  It’s got a bunch of different components to it that are pleasing him.  
He’s not real sure about the art aspect of it, but I like it…and that has to count for something right?   We studied this artist this week, and the lad got to design his dream bedroom which he had a lot of fun with.    Mykola Bodarewsky;.  Anyways, look up this curriculum, it’s rather neat and its free if you do your own printing.

Tonight the lad helped me finish a project that’s been weighing on my mind but I just couldn’t manage to do.  Hubby helped me pick up the wood yesterday and today the lad and I set about building an end to the rabbitry.  It had turned into a wind tunnel with the wood sides and some of my buns were acting a touch stressed so putting an end on solved that issue.  🙂   Would have been nice to frame it all out and add a door but well..that wasn’t happening…so he worked hard and we got it done.  Hubby came out and offered advise when needed so it was great, just great to have us all working together. 

What else…. oh well… doctor’s appointments up the wazoo.
A darling mom in law who helped clean the house so I didn’t free frazzled about that.
A sweet mom who came and kept the lad company when I had my MRI.
mmm…hugs from a hubby.
Help from a boy child.
Letters and emails from friends concerned.  Prayers from kith and kin.

I am richly blessed you know… just so richly blessed.  God’s goodness shines through!

Anyways, I’ll be linking up at Kym’s.

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: Duct Tape Engineer

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I know you have already gotten a bit of a preview of the fact that my boy likes to build with duct tape. I KNOW I have shown you pictures of his knight’s outfit.  He is my duct tape engineer!   So when the chance came to review “Duct Tape Engineer” I thought WOW…this is a book made for me and my lad.

The Duct Tape Engineer: The Book of Big, Bigger and Epic Duct Tape Projects is filled with things that the lad and I want to build, even dad poked his head in and said “neat idea”.  We haven’t, at this point, actually built any of the items in the book to their full size, but we did build some mini versions of them.  🙂

 What can you build?   Included are plans for: 

14 different builds to delight you, inspire your creativity, and.. save you money.  Why spend 1000’s on a kayak, when you can build your own using plastic sheeting, duct tape and pvc pipe?  

Alternatively, you could do the math and downsize them and make doll furniture or child-sized seating.   All plans are for the adult person, so just doing the math and downsizing gets you inexpensive furniture that you can grow as your children do, or that can delight your offspring with doll furniture that they can pretty up to suit their tastes (or the preferences of their doll).  

 
Each project includes a set of clear ingredients.  I love that not only do you receive a written set, but are given a visual as well.

 Instructions are as well done as the needed supplies. Text along with pictures. Everything is so clearly spelled out it makes each project a dream to build.

 What did we make with it?
Nothing full sized….but we did make doll furniture using the plans just downsizing. 

 As you can see they also make excellent small polymer pet furniture as well!  🙂

My thoughts:
This is a fantastic book.  If you have a duct tape builder in your house, get this book.  If you have a creative child, who is also good at doing math (or needs to practice it) and likes to build with duct tape…get this book.  It’s fun and helps you see things that you too could create with duct tape.   This a goodly thing to do!  🙂 

 Duct Tape Engineer: The book of big, bigger, and epic duct tape projects
Lance Akiyama
Rockport
160 pages
softcover with built in fly
Crafting, duct tape, create, resource, math, engineering

Reviewed for: Quarto Group

Where can you find it?

Amazon.com: Duct Tape Engineer.
Amazon.ca: Duct Tape Engineer. 

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

Tabs Open in My Browser

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So, you know how it’s so easy to have all kinds of tabs open in your browser?  Well, I’ve got a few to share with you today.


Mirasee.   I’ve been reading from this blog off and on, trying to learn new things.   it’s good to look beyond your comfort zone with your life and blog sometimes.  This one pushes me to think a bit more. 

A google search on the isthmus of panama.   I know you may be thinking what???   My lad and i were reading a book and the lad didn’t know what this was.   In case you didn’t know: 

Robotics Workshop.  I was looking at this kit for the lad for Christmas but he wants something else very specific.    He also did a robotics class through HOPE so this isn’t quite what he needs right now.

Create and Sell Digital Products.  Walks a person through the different formats. 

Learning about the tailorbird and how they build a nest.  We were fascinated!

50 books your child should read before 12 years old.  Not sure I agree these are all must reads, but  many of them are good reads. 🙂

Learning what a Pilum is. One of our history books mentioned this weapon, which caused us to look through our weapons books after doing a bit of on-line research.

One day I was wondering how to make my own non-toxic cleaner.  I honestly can’t remember why because I use a damp cloth and rag and consider it good if I don’t see dust.   AND I do have a high tolerance for dust unless my mother is coming for a visit. 🙂  Anyways, if you are curious, I found something here that looked simple enough to be doable.

You know how we have the bermuda triangle?   Did you also know there is a DRAGON Triangle?   I know…shocking!  (at least I was shocked).  We learned about it in the wonderful series “The Unwanteds”.   We still need to finish that series yet… Image from here.

Troutwife’s Pizza quiche which I would like to try sometime. 

Story Spiel by my friend Lori.  I need to figure this method out a bit and see if I can implement it with the lad.  

A girl in my homeschool group CONSTANTLY listens to music, it’s part of her special needs to block out extraneous noise.   She highly recommended I listen to Kim Collingsworth, and she was write…GOOD music.  Here’s a piece you might like. 

My hubby actually sent me on this quest.  How to build a stone oven. I think it would be rather neat to put one together, though it would take some learning on how to do.   But imagine…fresh baked bread you made outside?  Be rather neat I think.

Free Civic Air Patrol Curriculum.  Looked intriguing at the time, haven’t really looked into it a whole lot yet. 

We’ve had two miscarriages in this family, so occasionally I read articles like this one.  Some of thoughtful and others well…better left unsaid.  This one I thought was well written.   10 ways to honor your baby after miscarriage or infant loss. 

Anyways, this list is getting a touch long, so I’ll write more in another post!  🙂

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: The Big Earth Book

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You know what?  I love Lonely Planet Kids books.  I find them to be well made and very interesting.  The Big Earth Book is no different. You are invited to discover how earth, air, fire and water shaped the world that we live … take a tour to discover the past, the present and the future of our world. 

 

The Big Earth Book starts off by introducing us to the fab four. Earth, Air, Fire and Water.   The entire book is divided into those four sections.
Here are some of the topics for each.

Earth:
Structure of the Earth, Geothermal, Digging for Treasure, The World Today

Air: 
Layers of air, Into Space, El Nino, Playing with the wind.

Fire:
Before Fire, Wildfire, Oil Rush, Beacons of Light.

Water: 
Origins of Water, Water and Farming, Canals, The Future of Water.

Colourful illustrations draw the eye in, helping you to want to learn the facts that Mark Brake wants to impart to us. Most of the pages are full of illustrations by Brendan Kearney. Occasionally full colour photos are added.  Aren’t they well done?   You can just see how the ocean currents and the air movements work together can’t you?

This isn’t just a book about four elements, we get history, geography, science and so much more.  The bright colours, the easy reading text, the well placed photos, all add up to a book chock full of good information for your upper elementary to middle school students.

The text is written at an easy to understand level without talking down to the student.  The purpose is to educate with good vocabulary to help the student think, but with enough good material so as to be informed.

I just love how the whole package fits together.   I learned so much leafing through the pages.  For instance, did you know that “trade winds” got their name because at the time “trade” meant “path” in the English language and these winds follow a path as they move about, sailors used them to trace a path across the Atlantic ocean…Neat eh?!

My Thoughts:
Lonely Planets Kids is not a christian organization, and as such follows the old earth frame of reference, this does not need to detract from the great information contained within it’s pages.  It’s bright, colourful pages provide numerous talking points, and help show what the text is referring to.  It’s well worth a look at whether you are secular or Christian.   I think it would be a great resource to add to any library or to leave sitting around for a curious minded child to pick up and leaf through.

The Big Earth Book
Mark Brake
Dr. Mike Goldsmith (consultant)
Lonely Planet Kids
256 pages
Ages 8-12
Hardcover, earth, geography, history, science, resource

Reviewed for: Raincoast Books. 

 Where can I find it?
Amazon.ca: The Big Earth Book.
Amazon.com: The Big Earth Book.

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

Writing … is it your Identity?

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On Being a Writer asks me this question:
What is my identity?   Do I identify myself as a writer?

I have to admit, I find that a hard question to answer.  


On p 19 I found this line
“If you demonstrate the intent and effort of a writer day after day yet hesitate to refer to yourself as such, take time to reflect on your journey.  You might realize you’ve crossed a threshold, or identified a moment, or experienced an event that affirms you in this role.”

And then on p 20
“If you haven’t felt it or said it, it’s time. Say it: I am a writer.”

GAH…I have such a hard time saying that.
I can easily say I’m a poet.  Writing poetry comes to me as naturally as breathing, so that I can do.  I can say I’m a poet.  

So why I ask, why is it so hard to extend that thought and call myself a writer? 

I’ve had an article I wrote I did published in a small book. I write on my blog almost every single day.  I love to put words to paper and I love to let word prompts spill out of me in the form of poems and thoughts.  It’s FUN!

You know what it comes down to?  
I read what others write and I think…boy… they did a great job on that.  I could never match that.  Never.  See how they put that turn of phrase, see how they made the character come to life, and WOW..they had an awesome introduction to that review product..makes me want to go right out there and get it!    

And I don’t see myself that way you know?
I don’t see anything I do as particularly awesome.   Sometimes I see it as well done, or I conveyed what I hoped to.  But nothing something that might inspire someone else in their writing journey.

Now…if I could inspire someone in their faith journey.. that would very cool indeed!  Wouldn’t that be just the very best thing?  Perhaps if I knew I did that…then just maybe I’d see myself as a writer.  

Until then maybe I’ll just be content to call myself a poet..who also puts together reviews, devotionals and other bloggy posts.  🙂

If you’d like to know more about this book On Being a writer, you’ll be pleased to know that Amazon.ca   or Amazon.com sells 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

Blue Ribbon Winners 2017

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It’s that time of the year again, time to vote for this years best review products from the Homeschool Review Crew.

 First up: my son’s favourite review of the year.  Innovators Tribe.  Thinking like an Engineer.  This boy loves this program and is looking forward to building a roller coaster.    I enjoy listening to him talk about all he’s learning.   You can find it here.

My favourite: Planet 316. Jigsaw, daily challenge, good stuff for this puzzling mama.

Others we enjoyed.
Dr. Aviation.  This is one that I worked most of my way through.  Loved the history in this course. 

Two that the lad is still working through.  Unlock Math and CompuScholar.  Unlock is a pre-algebra course that breaks things down into bite sized pieces to learning and retention.   CompuScholar teaches the lad essential computer skills.

Best book that I enjoyed reading:Shepherd, Potter, Spy – Star Namer. I liked it immensely, the lad tried reading it and it was a bit beyond him.   So sometime later in his reading life he may pick it up again.

Those are the reviews that made the most impact on our lives this year.   Looking forward to next year! 

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: Moving with Words & Actions

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Do you work with preschool or primary aged children?   If so, Shape America has come out with a really neat book for promoting physical literacy in children, from preschool through primary grades.  This book is called Moving with Words & Actions. 


Quick Book Synopsis:  
Moving With Words & Actions will help you develop physical literacy
and language literacy in your preschool and primary-grade students. The
text offers more than 70 lesson plans that are aligned with SHAPE
America’s National Standards and Grade-Level Outcomes for K-12 Physical
Education. The plans use an interdisciplinary approach and are adaptable
for various settings. 

Each lesson plan includes three learning tasks that help children apply a variety of action words and movement concepts to the moderate to vigorous intensity physical activities prescribed in the tasks. Most tasks are easy to implement, requiring no equipment or specialized setting.

The Book’s Purpose:
Moving With Words & Actions is geared toward helping a teacher equip their students with confidence in using their bodies well in a variety of environments. The students will be taught good action words as they learn to use their bodies better. 

Fun activities to help the children under your care learn actions and words. 

Set Up
The book is divided into two sections.

Section one to help you the teacher with
1. Selecting Age-Appropriate content
2. creating ad implementing lesson plans
3. making the most of every lesson
4. Assessing Children’s ability to move with words and action

Section two contains 70 lesson plans
5. Moving with Words & Actions to create healthy bodies
6. Moving with Words & Actions in our community
7. Moving with Words & Actions like living animals
8. Moving with Words & Actions in Science and Math
9. Moving with Words & Actions in Language Arts

I found the lessons to be thorough and working across disciplines, for instance “building structures” had children learning about arches, what they are, how they look, how to build one with their bodies of different heights and widths, and then how to move through them.  The lesson then closed with helping the children think about what they did.  What was easily or hard, how they moved through the arches…how they used their bodies to move through high arches or low ones. 

A thorough excellent book that will be of aid to anyone working with young children and is interested in helping them develop better body awareness with the language to go with it.   Recommend as a resource for preschool and primary teachers.

 
Moving with Words & Actions
Rhonda L. Clements
Sharon L. Schneider
Human Kinetics
Shape America
272 pages
Adult, teacher, resource, physical education

Reviewed for: Human Kinetics
 
Where can I find it?
Amazon.ca: Moving with Words & Action.
Amazon.com: Moving with Words & Action.

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