Tuesday, September 30, 2008
I Love My Little Cadillac
0 comments Posted by Speaking from the Heart at Tuesday, September 30, 2008
That's what my family calls my bike. Compare to theirs, mine is the top of the line. It has a cushioned seat and it rides smoothly.
Because of my high blood pressure and high cholesterol, I ride 45 minutes a day. I started riding 5 miles 3 times a week. However, I am up to 10 miles a day, and it takes me the same amount of time. My weight has remained the same, but my stress has decreased, and my energy has increased. It's amazing what a difference exercise does for me mentally and physically. Besides the health benefits, I meditate on God's Words, as I cruise around the neighborhood.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Silent Breast Cancer- Inflammatory
3 comments Posted by Speaking from the Heart at Monday, September 29, 2008
My dear blogging friends,
Please take the time to watch this video. It might save your life. I wasn't aware of this type of cancer, until mom sent me the video. You are too important to me, your friends, & family.
Planning The Inquisitor's High School Years
1 comments Posted by Speaking from the Heart at Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Laura Lee's Lifesong Giveaway
3 comments Posted by Speaking from the Heart at Sunday, September 28, 2008I became a Christian when I was 12 years old. Not until recently, I thought that by accepting Christ and being good, I will get to heaven. Thanks to my church, I now know that there is more to that. As my faith grows, the thought of leaving my unsaved friends and loved ones behind saddens me. During my morning cycling and one-on-one time with our Father, I was trying to think of ways can become a better witness to them, when "What If" by Nicole Nordeman came on my Ipod.
What if you're right?
And he was just another nice guy
What if you'reright?
What if it's true?
They say the cross will only make a fool of you
And what if it's true?
What if he takes his place in history
With all the prophets and the kings
Who taught us love and came in peace
But then the story ends
What then?
But what if you're wrong?
What if there's more?
What if there's hope you never dreamed of hoping for?
What if you jump?
And just close your eyes?
What if the arms that catch you, catch you by surprise?
What if He's more than enough?
What if it's love?
What if you dig
Way down deeper than your simple-minded friends
What if you dig?
What if you find
A thousand more unanswered questions down inside
That's all you find?
What if you pick apart the logic
And begin to poke the holes
What if the crown of thorns is no more
Than folklore that must be told and retold?
You've been running as fast as you can
You've been looking for a place you can land for so long
But what if you?re wrong?
I've heard this song many times before, but I never understood the message. However, on this day, the song laid heavy on my heart. As I listened to it, I realize that God is telling me that I have to stand firm on my beliefs, before I can witness to friends and families.
 |
The biggest sign of all is DH and The Inquisitor watching college football games all day and night long. Needless to say, Minnie isn't happy having the games monopolizing her favorite TV shows. However, she is a being good sport about it. While the game was going on, she had the opportunity to clean her room and to read her library book. LOL this is a blessing in disguise. Although I don't care for football, it brings me joy to see DH and The Inquisitor bonding (priceless). They cheered whenever their favorite teams made a touchdown, especially Alabama. They talked about football , the upcoming college polls, etc.
Friday, September 26, 2008
I can't believe we will be going into our eighth week of schooling next week. We have two more weeks of school before The Grandma Factor. What is The Grandma Factor? It is the days that we take off from school when grandma comes for a visit. She visits twice a year to celebrate The Inquisitor's and Minnie's birthdays.
BiologyThe Inquisitor and I like the co-op biology teacher. I observed her and the kids playing Biology Bingo. There are 5 by 5 spaces on the card. at the bottom of the cards, are vocabulary words. The kids get to choose 25 words to put in the boxes. Instead of calling out numbers, the teacher reads the definitions. The students must then match the definitions with the vocabulary words on the card. The Inquisitor won 3 out of 3.
From Speaking from the Heart I was impressed. Because I want him to CLEP biology at the end of the school year, I expect more from him than his teacher.
Algebra 2
The Inquisitor is doing well in Saxon Algebra 2. On a rare occassion, he misses more than 2 out of 15 problems. I like the curriculum, because it introduces new concepts in each section. At the same time, it reviews old material. What I don't like about Saxon Algebra 2 (second edition) is that it does not having a solution book to tests. Nevertheless, it has been blessing. It keeps my mind sharp, because I have to solve any problems that The Inquisitor misses. It gives DH and me some quality time (LOL) as we work together.
When The Inquisitor learned how to read, my days reading to him was long gone. Minnie's desire to read is not as strong as The Inquisitor's. Instead of forcing her to read something she doesn't enjoy, she and I have started to listen to audio books in the car. Sarah, Plain and Tall was our first audio book. Right now, we are listening to Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor. We will be listening to The Cricket in Times Square afterwards.
Besides keeping up with schoolwork, Minnie is studying her lines for Aunt Hattie's Attic production.
 |
Despite of their extra curriculum, The Inquisitor and Minnie have kept up with their assignments. That is why I am surprised when moms question me about my kids' school work load. The Inquisitor and Minnie know what I expect out of them and what will be the consequences if their weekly work is not complete. For right now, this is their life's dress rehearsal, and I am the director. Sooner than I want, they will be on stage and I(the director) will behind the scene. I want them to be ready for that life's curtain call.
Record-Keeping, the Essentials
0 comments Posted by Speaking from the Heart at Friday, September 26, 2008
Theme :
Do you keep a grade book? Does your state require attendance sheets or a portfolio? What are some of the best methods of organization that you have found to keep up with all of the school records for the year? Are you an organizational expert or do you find it to be a hassle? What about online forms--can you recommend some good sites to others? Share with us your greatest successes and your greatest flops in this area!
I've been using Edu-Track for 3 plus years. It helps me keep track of the kids' attendance. school work, as well as keeping be accountable to weekly assignments. The software also includes chores, a place to list reading books, medical records, and a place to keep track of things you borrow/ loan. I've tried other programs, as well as online form, but I always return to Edu-Track.
Florida requires me to keep track of attendance and a portfolio. Since I am under an umbrella school, I follow the school's rules. The umbrella school which we belong to requires 2 annual mandatory meetings, a report card due at the end of January and June. It also requires us to turn in our attendance records.I try to be organized. I only have a window of opportunity to teaching the kids, grocery shopping , cooking, cleaning, paying bills, and chauffeuring the kids from one activity to the next. I try to use my time wisely.
For this week's CFC Speech assignment, Minnie had to be prepared for an impromptu (unplanned/spontaneous) speech. The teacher asked if she would rather have a strict teacher who teaches well, or a fun teacher who does not teach well. Minnie had 60 seconds to think about the topic, and 2 minutes to present her argument. This is her response:
"I would want a fun teacher, because I already have a teacher (mom) who is strict. So, you could either have a strict teacher who taught well and you can be smart and go to college; you can have a fun teacher, be dumb, and not go to college"
Thursday, September 25, 2008
CONSUMER HEALTH INTERACTIVE
The deep blue of a blueberry, the red of a tomato, the orange of a carrot. They're more than just colors -- they're also virtual nutrition labels.
Fruits and vegetables get their colors from phytochemicals, natural plant substances such as pigments, proteins, and vitamins that may offer remarkable health benefits. A red tomato contains lycopene, an antioxidant that may help reduce the risk of heart disease and some types of cancer.
Blueberries are blue thanks to anthocyanins, another group of phytochemicals that may ward off cancer and, according to one study on rats, may help prevent age-related memory loss. Nutrients such as these may be deployed as a defense against disease, aging, and the harmful effects of the environment. So if the only color in your diet comes from Skittles and Cheetos, it's time to rethink your approach to eating.
Without a doubt, most of us could stand to add a little more healthy color in our meals. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges everyone to eat five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables every day. But counting servings isn't enough -- you should also eat all the colors of the rainbow. Each type of pigment may help the body in different ways, so to reap the full benefits of fruits and vegetables, you'll have to cover the spectrum. As the CDC explains it, you can meet the five-a-day benchmark with one cup of raw spinach, a tall glass of orange juice, a half-cup of tomatoes, a half-cup of yellow peppers, and a half-cup of blueberries. That's a lot of color -- and a lot of flavor -- without much effort. Here's a look at the colors that should be part of your daily diet:
Blue/Purple
Examples: Blueberries, blackberries, purple grapes, raisins, prunes, plums, eggplant
Benefits: Scientists believe the antioxidants in these foods may help prevent heart disease and cancer. Antioxidants work by ridding your body of free radicals, the dangerous by-products of your body's oxidation processes or of exposure to hazards such as radiation or tobacco smoke. Blueberries are loaded with antioxidants, some of which may protect the brain: A 1999 study by researchers at Tufts University found that blueberries can slow memory loss and improve coordination in rats, a finding the researchers believe may have implications for aging humans. Fresh blueberries are seasonal and spoil easily, so you may prefer to buy frozen blueberries and add them to your cereal.
Consider also the benefits of purple grapes: Some studies have found that grape juice may reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, and a phytochemical in grape juice called resveratrol may even prevent tumor growth, at least in some preliminary studies. How's that for a berry found in backyards across the country?
Red
Examples: Tomatoes, grapefruit, watermelon, cherries, beets, strawberries, raspberries, radishes, red peppers
Benefits: Red pigments may prevent heart disease, lower the risk of some cancers, and perhaps help guard your brain against aging. Lycopene, found in red tomatoes, has been linked to a lower prostate cancer risk in men, according to a study reported in the journal Cancer Research.
A 1995 Harvard study showed that men who ate 10 or more weekly servings of tomato products cut their risk of prostate cancer by 35 percent. Interestingly, eating lots of processed tomato such as tomato sauce or tomato paste was linked with the lowest risk of cancer, possibly since levels of lycopene are concentrated during the cooking process. Lycopene may also defend the heart and lungs against oxidative damage, which may translate to a lowered risk of heart disease and respiratory problems.
Strawberries and raspberries are another reason to love red foods. They are rich in ellagic acid, a chemical compound that helps to fight cancer, and animal studies suggest that they may even protect the brain from age-related problems such as memory loss. Enjoy a large slice of watermelon as a dessert -- or make a potluck salad that combines watermelon, papaya, strawberries, and raspberries. You may also want to juice some of these fruits together for a delicious smoothie.
Green
Examples: Spinach, broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, green peppers, kale, collard greens
Benefits: Aside from making Mom happy, eating your greens may have other health benefits, such as preserving eyesight and preventing cancer. Lutein, one of the primary antioxidants in the eye, is a pigment found in spinach, broccoli, kale, and collard greens.
But even if you're not likely to develop age-related macular degeneration (AMD), you can still reap the rewards of lutein. Cataracts or glare sensitivity often accompany aging, blurring your vision and making seeing difficult in dim light. You may be able to lower your risk of these conditions by eating a lutein-rich vegetable regularly. Not only will your eyes benefit, but green vegetables may be yet another weapon in the battle against cancer, according to recent research. Scientists are focusing on chlorophyll -- the green plant pigment -- as a potential cancer inhibitor.
Cabbage, brussels sprouts, and kale (all "cruciferous" vegetables, in nutritionist speak) may help lower your risk against cancer, according to Tufts University researchers. Try planting some kale or collard greens in your backyard or a window pot -- they're easy to grow, and the trip to your stove will be shorter than ever.
Yellow/orange
Examples: Carrots, pumpkins, apricots, oranges, grapefruit, lemons, pineapple, yellow peppers
Benefits: These fruits and vegetables contain carotenoids and flavonoids, chemicals that no body should go without. They may boost the immune system, protect the eyes, and, like other phytochemicals, lower the risk of heart disease and cancer, according to studies.
Many of us know that carrots contain the carotenoid called beta carotene, which is a major source of vitamin A. This vitamin plays a large role in protecting vision and the immune system, and it may help keep cancer at bay as well. In 1996, the World Cancer Research Fund reviewed 206 human studies, and carrots were linked to lower rates of cancer. Beating out carrots in beta carotene content is the sweet potato, which is also rich in vitamins A and C, folic acid, and potential cancer-fighters such as quercetin and chlorogenic acid.
The orange is another food jam-packed with phytochemicals. Oranges contain a flavonoid called hesperetin, which can slow down the replication of viruses such as those that cause herpes and the flu in cell cultures. And one study found that the hesperetin in a daily glass of orange juice can lower your risk of a stroke by 25 percent
White
Examples: white onion, garlic
Benefits: Yes, even white has its place on the spectrum of healthy colors. Members of the garlic and onion family may keep your immune system strong while protecting the heart and lowering the risk of cancer. A German study suggests that garlic may protect the arteries by preventing LDL, or "bad cholesterol," from forming plaque on artery walls, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
Compounds in garlic are also thought to be responsible for antibacterial and antifungal activities, and have even been shown to fight the viruses that cause colds and flu. Both garlic and onions contain organosulfur compounds, which are thought to protect against stomach and colorectal cancers. And like their cousin garlic, onions may also guard against cardiovascular disease: Their organosulfur compounds prevent plaques from forming, helping your arteries to remain clear.
Going for the gold (and the red, blue, and green)
The pigments, vitamins, and minerals in these foods all work together to bring you good health, so the best way to get your share of these powerful phytochemicals is through your diet -- not multivitamins. It doesn't take a lot of effort or money to add color to your meals.
Here are a few tips to help you get started:
- Have an 8-ounce glass of fruit or vegetable juice in the morning. That's more than one serving before the day really starts! (Note: Juice is sugary, so toddlers should only have 4 to 6 ounces each day.)
- Spruce up your morning cereal or yogurt with raisins, frozen blueberries, banana slices, or other fruits.
- Have a mixed green salad or vegetable soup with your lunch or dinner.
- Add some leafy greens and a tomato to your lunch, and carry an apple, carrots, celery, and bell pepper for snacking.
- Keep a bowl of ripening fruit in the house at all times.
- Fruit smoothies make a great family treat. Simply blend frozen fruit with fruit juice, ice, and low-fat or nonfat milk.
- Go for variety -- sample new foods while mixing and matching your old favorites. With so many choices out there, you'll never run out of new ways to brighten up your diet.
-- Chris Woolston, MS, is a health and medical writer with a master's degree in biology. His reporting for CHI on occupational health earned him an award from the Northern California Society of Professional Journalists. Karisa Ding is the research director for CHI.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
It's Too Early to Quit
3 comments Posted by Speaking from the Heart at Wednesday, September 24, 2008
The Inquisitor wanting to drop debate reminded me so much of myself 2o something years ago, when I wanted to drop out of College of Engineering. I was failing several courses. If I didn't bring up my grades, I would not be returning the following semester. I tried to take the easy route by telling my late dad that I didn't have what it took to become an engineer. Of course, he didn't fall for it. After a long discussion, I told him that I was failing. Instead of screaming at me, he made an appointment with the Dean of Engineering.
 |
Dad and me (1989) |
Now that I am a parent, I understand. Like dad, I don't want to raise quitters. The habits that I am instilling in The Inquisitor and Minnie will be their habits of tomorrow.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Balancing "Mom" and "Teacher"
2 comments Posted by Speaking from the Heart at Sunday, September 21, 2008
,
I've always thought that a line between educating my children and being a mother is fuzzy. As I prepared to blog about this topic, I realized that the line is not as fuzzy as I thought. Whether I am a teacher or a Mom, I want them to:
- lean on God for guidance
- nurture their minds with great thoughts, for the sky is their limit.
- persevere when things gets tough. They will become a better person in the end.
- be financially independent, once they are on their own
Saturday, September 20, 2008
The moon follows the sun as it turns around.
Though the wind does not make it turn,
it's how the sun and the moon turn.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Friday Show n Tell- Love Notes
6 comments Posted by Speaking from the Heart at Friday, September 19, 2008
|
| From Speaking from the Heart |
Before Dear Sister leaves Mom's house, she hides little notes throughout the home. Mom finds them whenever she comes upon them. Minnie has carried on the tradition of Leaving Notes for Mom. I found my first note "It is time to surf the web" on my laptop. As I wandered around the house, I found my first set of loves notes in the fridge, under the bathroom rug, on the wall, etc.
I had gone to a Bible Study tonight. To my surprise, Minnie had cleaned the kitchen, loaded the dishwasher, and set out my nightgown on my bed. She was also busy hiding the second set of notes. The one on my bed told me told me to look under he bathroom rug. There was a coupon with an offer of either she makes my bed or washes the dishes every other week.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Thankful Thursday & Homeschool Weekly #6
8 comments Posted by Speaking from the Heart at Thursday, September 18, 2008
- I am thankful for DH's wisdom- Because The Inquisitor is stressed over the amount of research he has to do for CFC debate, I seriously thought about allowing him to drop the course. However, DH feels differently. He wants the Inquisitor to complete the course. DH reminded me that we should be teaching The Inquisitor perseverance instead of being a quitter.
- I am thankful for teamwork (DH & me)- We're a team when it comes to algebra 2. A dear friend gave us a Saxon Algebra 2 curriculum (2nd edition) set. The set included the textbook, solutions manual, tests, and test answers . Whenever The Inquisitor takes a test I would pray that he would get the answers right. Because I do not have the solution to the test, I would have to work each problem that he gets wrong. Sometimes the problems are easy to solve. Other times it would take me several hours just to solve just one problem. Monday night was one of those nights where I spent many hours on finding a surface area of an odd geometrical shape. Around 9:30, I decided to take a break and read a bedtime story to Minnie. When I returned to the classroom a half hour later, DH was sitting at the table work on the problem. After several attempts and an hour later, the problem was solved.
- Because of our diligent work in solving one math problem, I am thankful that The Inquisitor witnessed Dh's and my perseverance. If we want our kids to do the same, we must first set examples.
- I am thankful for Minnie's love language (service)- While I was helping The Inquisitor with his schoolwork on Tuesday night, Minnie was in the kitchen washing the pots and pans. I don't know when was the last time that I had dishes done before 8:30, had time to watch a movie with Minnie on a week night.
- I am thankful for The Inquisitor's good attitude - The thirteen year old Inquisitor scored 87% on his Rosetta Stone test, but he had to retake it three times. The program repeats the test, if it is below 90%. Although he wasn't happy with the repetition, The Inquisitor did it with a good attitude.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Homeschool Memoirs: A Few of My Favorite Things
4 comments Posted by Speaking from the Heart at Wednesday, September 17, 2008
THEME:
This week Mrs. Jocelyn is taking a break from Homeschool Memoir themes and do something fun. She wants us to list a few of our favourite things. This list can go get mighty long. Here are a few of my favorite things:
- Blogging
- Creating new templates for my blog
- Reading blogs from friends and families
- Dr. Pepper
- Starbucks frappuccino
- Knitting
- Create digital slide shows with music
- Reading to Minnie
- Riding my bike
- Swapping homeschool ideas with other moms
- Enjoying the view from my Lanai
|
A View from my Back Porch
1 comments Posted by Speaking from the Heart at Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Extra Activities, Helping or Hindering ?
0 comments Posted by Speaking from the Heart at Saturday, September 13, 2008Out of the eight years we've been homeschooling, this has to be the busiest year. We are out on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. The extra activities have been a hindering to us. Although the classes outside of the home are beneficial to the kids, I feel strongly that they should continue with their core curriculum at home. The Inquisitor has 7 high school subjects he has to stay up to date, like wise for Minnie and her elementary courses.Wednesday is the busiest day of the week. We usually leave around 9:30 for P.E. Instead of going home for a couple of hours, we would crash at the church until it is time for The Inquisitor's Video Game Animation class and Minnie's acting class. Our day should end around 5;30; however, we don't get home until 8:30 or later. The Inquisitor goes to Youth Group Bible Study at 7:00. We are literally living out of our car and at our church.
There's no doubt, I am not relaxed with too many outside activites. I am constantly telling the kids to get their work done, even on Saturdays and Sundays. I sound like a broken record player. It seems like we are always behind and we need to eliminate some activities. However, The Inquisitor and Minnie feel differently. They love going to P.E. on Wednesdays. They are willing to do their work in order to continue, because they know that P.E. will be the first activity to be eliminated.
Friday, September 12, 2008
What happened to the fourth week update? We had school, but wasn't able to access to the internet for an update. I combined the summary of our week with Thankful Thursday.
Although we had many interruptions, we tried to have school whenever possible. The Inquisitor spent his time surfing the web, searching his debate topic on"the United States Federal Government should significantly change its policy toward India". It was a hard assignment, because the information wasn't available. When he wasn't researching, he was working on his other assignments.
Because their schoolwork was incomplete for the week, Minnie and The Inquisitor had to cancel their social activities, and make it up on Friday night and Saturday. However, Minnie had other plans. She was determined to go see Comedian Tommy Tooms and to have a friend spending a night on Friday.
At 8:00 A.M. on Friday morning, she began to work on her assignment: 3 pages of Abeka math, 2 sections of history, 1 section of Science, writing, spelling, and 2 pages of Daily Grams. It was a surprise to the rest of the family,when she completed everything by 2:00 P.M. This is the same child who takes 2 hours to complete one Abeka math lesson I knew all along that she is capable of doing her schoolwork in a timely manner. She just need a little incentive and less threats.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Homeschool Memoirs: Something New
3 comments Posted by Speaking from the Heart at Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Planning your homeschool is a lot of fun, especially if you’re going to be trying something new. Just like finding a shiny new penny you’re excited to use it. This week I hope you’ll share something new you’re using, why you’ve decided to use it, and if you have used it how you like it. Make sure to include the publishing information and where you got it from so others can look into if they like.
Thankful Thursday and Homeschool Weekly # 4
12 comments Posted by Speaking from the Heart at Wednesday, September 10, 2008For more Thankful Thursday, clip on the clipart
Homeschooling was tough this week. We spent our time driving to our church, so The Inquisitor can use the internet to do his debate research. Debate has taken alot of his time. He barely has enough time to do anything else. He had his first Apologia biology co-op this week. He likes his teacher. Her teaching methods are totally different from mine. The Inquisitor welcomed the change. Biology will be another course that requires his attention. I have already told him that I want him to learn the material thoroughly so that he can CLEP it in the spring.
The idea of sending him to an International Baccalaureate (IB) High School has been in the back my mind since last spring. I thought I could prepare him, by giving him lots of schoolwork and a little stress. I didn't realize that I am giving him 100 times over. He's doing well.
I finally got my courage to tell DH of my plans for The Inquisitor's high school years. Besides having a school in a bad location, DH is all for it. Those who have gone through the program has gotten accepted and/or scholarships to University of Florida, Emory University, Purdue, etc.
I am excited about this IB program, because I know my teaching days with The Inquisitor is almost over. He is way beyond what I can teach him. He needs more challanges. He admitted to me that he does school just to get by. I told him that I knew that all along. After what he will be going through this year, I truly believe his first year will be a breeze. Looking over his freshman courses, it will be a repeat of this year. Hopefully, he'll be able to get credit for it and move on. The school is going to send us an invitation to an open house in October. We'll go from there.
Please keep us in your prayers.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Homeschool Memoirs: Routines
2 comments Posted by Speaking from the Heart at Wednesday, September 03, 2008
I hope last week’s theme helped you get a bigger view and maybe some ideas about different ways to homeschool or curriculum. There is so much to share and so I hope this helped, especially the new homeschoolers, narrow things down a bit. I am sure some of you are still getting into your homeschool routines. I know some people are very routine oriented while others may be more “day-by-day”, and it all depends on your family and what works best for your life-style. This week please post what your planned homeschool routine is. The theme banner should give you some ideas on how to do that. I had fun making that and adding in real info (except for the times! lol).
When you’re done posting your routines please share your prayers for this school.
6:30 wake up 30 minutes before waking up the kids. I like to gather my thoughts and agenda, before waking up the kids.
7:00 Wake up the kids. They have an hour to eat breakfast, play on the computer, and be ready for school by 8:00
8:00 -12:00 Each child work their assignments independently . Once The Inquisitor and Minnie understand their assignments, I would either Walk Away (2 miles) the Pounds with Leslie Sassoon DVD or ride my bike for 45 minutes
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-? One-on-One time with each child. This is the time when we go over History & Science questions, oral spelling words, correct math problems, etc. Except for Monday and Friday afternoons, The Inquisitor and Minnie have classes outside of our home:
Monday: Stay-at-home day. I truly believe that the outcome of our week depends on the setting of our Mondays. For example, if we take off to visit a friend or go on a field trip, I sense that we will not accomplish much for the remainder of the week. No matter how hard I try, the feeling of being behind will always be in the back of my mind.
Tuesday: Biology Co-op, Piano Lesson
Wednesday: P.E., Video Game Animations, Musical acting class, Middle School Bible Study
Thursday: Speech and Debate
Friday: Our home school group usually have something fun ( skating, field trips). Unless we have caught up on our schoolwork, we usually avoid these activities. On rare occasions, we would go to a friend’s house, under the condition that school will be made up on Saturday.
Dear Lord,
Help me to "stop and smell the roses". I get so caught up in academic and meeting goals that I forget to stop and observe my children's talents, self-motivation, goals, dreams, and allow them to enjoy being kids. Help me to express more positive feedback via words and body language. AmenTuesday, September 2, 2008
Minnie's First Piano Lesson
0 comments Posted by Speaking from the Heart at Tuesday, September 02, 2008
|
Until today, our family was musically challenged. Minnie was determined not to be like the rest of us. Considering this is her first lesson, she is a quick learner. By bedtime, she confidently played "Merrily We Roll Along" for Dad. Minnie had heard horror stories where the student has to practice an hour a day. She was relieved to know that she only has to practice a minimum of 10 minutes each day.
Monday, September 1, 2008
When The Inquisitor and Minnie were learning to tell time, they were only allowed to read from the clock that is hanging in our classroom.
While they were doing schoolwork, I would at random ask them for the time. They excused themselves, by saying that they had to go to the bathroom. Instead, they detoured to the kitchen to look at the on the stove. After a few times of this, I caught on and made them told me the time before leaving the classroom.
That was 4 years ago. The Inquisitor and Minnie can tell time from an analog ; However, it doesn't come to them naturally. DH and I have gone back to give them time quizzes daily.
When we don't practice our skill, we lose it.
