Writing should be an integral part of our lives! Why not include it in your summer activities?
As I ponder how we will spend the upcoming summer weeks, I am reminded of the educational value of scrapbooking. Besides, I can't wait to get some scrapbooking done. I have missed doing it all last year.
In the past I have written about ideas you can use to teach your children writing and art techniques as you scrapbook. Since we enjoy scrapbooking so much, I plan to have my children make some scrapbook gifts and be ready for Christmas (wow). For many of the pages they create, they will be writing a paragraph about that page. Of course, I will use Excellence in Writing to work through the writing process by developing a brief outline, writing a rough draft and editing their paragraph for stylistic techniques and possible errors.
If your children are having a hard time deciding what to write about, then turn to any of Becky Higgin's books, by Creating Keepsakes (listed below). She will help you improve your artistic layouts, especially with Creative Sketches. Creative Sketches is filled with thumbnail sketches Becky herself uses that illustrate creative layout designs, unique enhancements, distinctive lettering and journaling ideas, and more.
Writing can take many forms throughout the summer. I love to hear what everyone is doing. Do you send out a Christmas letter updating your friends and family? Why not write your Christmas letter right now? If you finish it this summer, you might even turn it into a Thanksgiving letter (that is my goal thisyear). Let your children help you write your letter. For several years, our children are co-authors of our Christmas letter. When they were younger, they simply wrote sentences about events they enjoyed. Now, they are writing a paragraph about one of their favorite memories of the year and one of the lessons God has taught them this past year. You can use Excellence in Writing's unit on creative writing to develop a well-written paragraph.
One last idea is to have your children write down their favorite memories about the summer. In past years, I asked them several questions about the summer and holidays. Then each one wrote down their answers. I am keeping those answers in their journals. Won't it be fun to look back and see what they thought was important in 2005?
Kerry
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Christian Literature Guides
For several years I have used literature study guides by Peter Leithart. I highly recommend these books, especially for mentoring moms. Dr. Leithart guides you through a variety of books and novels as he offers a Biblical perspective on each specific book.
What I like about these guides are the helpful insights Leithart gives in bite-size chunks. He usually comments on a few chapters at a time, allowing you time to sift through the content you have read. At the end of each commentary, Leithart provides questions. Most of the questions have been discussed in his commentary. His digging deeper questions allow you opportunities to think about the readings on a deeper level.
One drawback to Leithart's study guides is the fact that there are no specific answers to his questions. Of course, if you are reading the book with your child like you should, this should not be a problem. It has not been a problem to me, but might be to other moms.
Personally, I have used the Shakespeare guide, Brightest Heaven of Invention, for the past 4-5 years. We usually read one Shakespeare play each year...aloud. I go to the library and get enough copies for everyone and then we take turns reading it aloud. We will be reading Midsummer Night's Dream next week since it will be performed at our local Trinity Fest in a few weeks.
This past year I would not have made it through Ancient Literature if it weren't for Heroes of the City of Man. Dr. Leithart helped me through the Iliad and Sophocles Trilogy.
This year we will be using Ascent to Love which comments on Dante's Divine Comedy. I know it will be helpful to our study and I'm sure any of the study guides will help other homeschool moms.
To see a listing of all the literature guides available, click here.
Kerry
What I like about these guides are the helpful insights Leithart gives in bite-size chunks. He usually comments on a few chapters at a time, allowing you time to sift through the content you have read. At the end of each commentary, Leithart provides questions. Most of the questions have been discussed in his commentary. His digging deeper questions allow you opportunities to think about the readings on a deeper level.
One drawback to Leithart's study guides is the fact that there are no specific answers to his questions. Of course, if you are reading the book with your child like you should, this should not be a problem. It has not been a problem to me, but might be to other moms.
Personally, I have used the Shakespeare guide, Brightest Heaven of Invention, for the past 4-5 years. We usually read one Shakespeare play each year...aloud. I go to the library and get enough copies for everyone and then we take turns reading it aloud. We will be reading Midsummer Night's Dream next week since it will be performed at our local Trinity Fest in a few weeks.
This past year I would not have made it through Ancient Literature if it weren't for Heroes of the City of Man. Dr. Leithart helped me through the Iliad and Sophocles Trilogy.
This year we will be using Ascent to Love which comments on Dante's Divine Comedy. I know it will be helpful to our study and I'm sure any of the study guides will help other homeschool moms.
To see a listing of all the literature guides available, click here.
Kerry
Transcript Help
I am not a big transcript person, but I have kept grades through the high school years for the sole purpose of having a transcript for college. That said, I am not a big college person, unless there is a purpose for going to college. I think the idea of college at home is fantastic because it allows you the opportunity to study what you need for your future mission and God's will for your life. Accelerated Distance Learning is a fantastic resource for studying at home.
I digress. Yesterday I had to develop a transcript for my oldest daughter because she is taking a class this year at New Saint Andrews, a local, private, Christian, classical college. I started working on my own and decided I needed some help. If you need help developing a transcript, here's your source at DonnaYoung.org
There are a few options for you. I chose the one I liked and then wrote directly on the webpage. I was then able to save it and print it out for her application.
Hope this helps,
Kerry
I digress. Yesterday I had to develop a transcript for my oldest daughter because she is taking a class this year at New Saint Andrews, a local, private, Christian, classical college. I started working on my own and decided I needed some help. If you need help developing a transcript, here's your source at DonnaYoung.org
There are a few options for you. I chose the one I liked and then wrote directly on the webpage. I was then able to save it and print it out for her application.
Hope this helps,
Kerry
Created To Be His Help Meet - more reviews
Spunky has added another addition to her review of Created to Be His Help Meet. You can view it HERE You may have to scroll down to yesterday's entry.
If you want to see other sources about marriage, motherhood, godly wives, christian parenting, check out this list HERE. I'll be adding reviews and descriptions through the week and will let you know when they are available.
Kerry
If you want to see other sources about marriage, motherhood, godly wives, christian parenting, check out this list HERE. I'll be adding reviews and descriptions through the week and will let you know when they are available.
Kerry
Driving & Writing
How do driving & writing go together????
Well, I was reviewing my website and came across a comment I wrote two years ago. How do I know it was two years ago? That's when my oldest received her driving permit. Now we are doing the permit thing all over again with daughter #2. I thought I'd copy what I wrote the first time. It is great "food for thought" all over again.
Last week I suggested some tips to teach and grade your child's writing. Also, last week, my oldest daughter obtained her driver's permit. As she drove home and throughout the weekend, I realized I needed to put into practice some of the ideas I suggested. I could not tell her every little thing I thought she needed to do to improve her driving. This was her first time driving on a city street...with cars and traffic lights all around. As we drive together, I make suggestions every so often and compliment her on the good points of her driving.
This is how it should be when we work with our kids on their writing. Make a suggestion or two each time they begin a new assignment and praise those well written sentences, descriptive words and paragraphs that flow from one topic to another. By the way, my daughter is actually a very good driver and I'm enjoying the times we spend together in the car. ;-)
Kerry
Well, I was reviewing my website and came across a comment I wrote two years ago. How do I know it was two years ago? That's when my oldest received her driving permit. Now we are doing the permit thing all over again with daughter #2. I thought I'd copy what I wrote the first time. It is great "food for thought" all over again.
Last week I suggested some tips to teach and grade your child's writing. Also, last week, my oldest daughter obtained her driver's permit. As she drove home and throughout the weekend, I realized I needed to put into practice some of the ideas I suggested. I could not tell her every little thing I thought she needed to do to improve her driving. This was her first time driving on a city street...with cars and traffic lights all around. As we drive together, I make suggestions every so often and compliment her on the good points of her driving.
This is how it should be when we work with our kids on their writing. Make a suggestion or two each time they begin a new assignment and praise those well written sentences, descriptive words and paragraphs that flow from one topic to another. By the way, my daughter is actually a very good driver and I'm enjoying the times we spend together in the car. ;-)
Kerry
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)