There are 2 notable and local homeschooling conventions coming up...
TEACH 2010 Convention (early registration ends June 4th, save $10)
Friday & Saturday, June 11 & 12, 2010
First Cathedral
1151 Blue Hills Avenue
Bloomfield, CT
TEACH also is having its 2nd Annual Used Curriculum Sale in Waterbury
Saturday, April 17, 2010
10a-1p
Waterbury Christian Fellowship
1 Dube Lane
Waterbury, CT
MASSHope 2010 Convention (early registration ends April 1st, save $10)
Friday & Saturday, April 23 & 24, 2010
The DCU Center
Worcester, MA
View the convention brochure
This is one of the largest conventions in our area. You have your choice among 5 or 6 workshops for each session. There are about 5 sessions each day, as well as a lunch session and general session. There are also separate sessions for teens. Ages 5-13 may also partake in a Children's Program.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Classical Conversations Groton/Mystic CT
Today in Hamden, we enjoyed a visit from Leigh Bortins, founder of Classical Conversations. She reviewed the trivium of the Classical model for Education and founding principles behind the CC curriculum.
Leigh has a weekly internet radio show called Leigh! At Lunch. You can access previous shows at her blog 1 Smart Mama. Also, her newest book "The Core", published by MacMillan, is geared toward a secular audience. It will be available for sale on Amazon.com in June. With this release, the CC community hope to make it a best seller by purchasing during the first week of its availability.
Additionally, we received her self-published book for being the ones who traveled the farthest at 1hr and 10 minutes. "Echo in Celebration: A Call to Home-Centered Education" sends "forth a call to anyone who loves children to consider the challenges of academically preparing sturdents during the age of global technologies... to teach children to echo in celebration the wonder of great thoughts well understood". The book "challenges parents to believe that they are created to competently pass on the love of learning aboutl life to their children"
I also met a family from East Hampton CT who were eager to here that I am opening a CC Chapter in Groton/Mystic for Fall 2012. Actually, they are praying that I open it this fall!
Our first year at CC Hamden (and first year homeschooling in general) has been an enjoyable learning experience. I've observed what it takes to smoothly manage a CC chapter, to tutor (I filled in as a Substitute Tutor), and to teach the curriculum to Rilla. Although I am eager to open a CC chapter in Groton/Mystic, I am planning to become an office Tutor while Rilla continues in her 2nd year and Max enrolls in his first year at the CC Hamden chapter. With that, it makes the most sense that I spend my third year increasing my responsibilities as a Director to Classical Conversations in Groton/Mystic for Fall 2012! This seems to me the most natural evolution of our journey. But what do I know? He may have other plans for me...
Leigh has a weekly internet radio show called Leigh! At Lunch. You can access previous shows at her blog 1 Smart Mama. Also, her newest book "The Core", published by MacMillan, is geared toward a secular audience. It will be available for sale on Amazon.com in June. With this release, the CC community hope to make it a best seller by purchasing during the first week of its availability.
Additionally, we received her self-published book for being the ones who traveled the farthest at 1hr and 10 minutes. "Echo in Celebration: A Call to Home-Centered Education" sends "forth a call to anyone who loves children to consider the challenges of academically preparing sturdents during the age of global technologies... to teach children to echo in celebration the wonder of great thoughts well understood". The book "challenges parents to believe that they are created to competently pass on the love of learning aboutl life to their children"
I also met a family from East Hampton CT who were eager to here that I am opening a CC Chapter in Groton/Mystic for Fall 2012. Actually, they are praying that I open it this fall!
Our first year at CC Hamden (and first year homeschooling in general) has been an enjoyable learning experience. I've observed what it takes to smoothly manage a CC chapter, to tutor (I filled in as a Substitute Tutor), and to teach the curriculum to Rilla. Although I am eager to open a CC chapter in Groton/Mystic, I am planning to become an office Tutor while Rilla continues in her 2nd year and Max enrolls in his first year at the CC Hamden chapter. With that, it makes the most sense that I spend my third year increasing my responsibilities as a Director to Classical Conversations in Groton/Mystic for Fall 2012! This seems to me the most natural evolution of our journey. But what do I know? He may have other plans for me...
Edible Books @ Bill Memorial Library
Today we presented our edible creations at the local Bill Memorial Library. Rilla chose "Madeline" by Ludwig Bemelmans and we both brainstormed ways to recreate it in edible form. She suggested building the Eiffel tower as shown on the book. I suggested it be made using a cookie dough. She came up with the peeps for the friends while Sam offered that Madeline be a single Madeleine cookie. Rilla added a bow made with Fruit Roll Up. I remembered having on specific cake pan on hand (Wilton 2105-2861 3D Choo Choo Train). Max agreed that it should be for "The Little Engine That Could" by Watty Piper. For both projects, I did the baking while the kids decorated, for the most part. Here are photos of the just-baked train and Eiffel tower pieces. The 2 faces are on top and 3 side pieces on bottom. I made an extra side piece just in case.
In the end, Rilla's hands hurt after decorating one side of the Eiffel tower with X's using the black icing tube. I finished the other side. Sam and I assembled the tower made of 2 decorated faces and 2 sides to give it a 3D look. Max colored the icing and covered the train blue. I added details. He dyed the coconut green and sprinkled this grass. I made the ascending platform/hill out of cardboard covered with foil. In all, a fun time designing, creating, and eating.
In the end, Rilla's hands hurt after decorating one side of the Eiffel tower with X's using the black icing tube. I finished the other side. Sam and I assembled the tower made of 2 decorated faces and 2 sides to give it a 3D look. Max colored the icing and covered the train blue. I added details. He dyed the coconut green and sprinkled this grass. I made the ascending platform/hill out of cardboard covered with foil. In all, a fun time designing, creating, and eating.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
7th Annual Irish Mystic Parade
What a beautiful day for a parade, Mystic's St. Patrick's Day Parade to be specific. Today was sunny and high 60's! It certainly brought out the crowd.
The parade was scheduled to start at 1p near the Mystic Seaport on Greenmanville and wind its way to Main St, finally crossing the drawbridge and ending near the bookstore and Mystic Pizza. We arrived a bit after 1p and grabbed a private spot in my friends driveway (Thanks Em!) just blocks from downtown. Good thing - parking was already overflowing onto Allyn street near the I-95 junction!
High school bands, fire departments, police departments, trucks, motorcycles, go-carts made to look like mini-fire engines and mini-trucks, plenty of bagpipes and pipers, local organizations, civic groups, scouts, and local retailers were represented for about 2.5 hours! The last was the traditional Wells Fargo, horse-drawn wagon bringing up the rear.
If you've never been, it really is a great site to see.
The parade was scheduled to start at 1p near the Mystic Seaport on Greenmanville and wind its way to Main St, finally crossing the drawbridge and ending near the bookstore and Mystic Pizza. We arrived a bit after 1p and grabbed a private spot in my friends driveway (Thanks Em!) just blocks from downtown. Good thing - parking was already overflowing onto Allyn street near the I-95 junction!
High school bands, fire departments, police departments, trucks, motorcycles, go-carts made to look like mini-fire engines and mini-trucks, plenty of bagpipes and pipers, local organizations, civic groups, scouts, and local retailers were represented for about 2.5 hours! The last was the traditional Wells Fargo, horse-drawn wagon bringing up the rear.
If you've never been, it really is a great site to see.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Tercentennial Playground, Groton CT
We love this playground - a variety of climbing playscapes, swings, slides, rubber turf floor, and sand playscape make it a local favorite. It is situated right beside Poquonnock Plains park which has several fields (great for playing ball) and a pebbled track around its circumference.
With our recent run of warm weather, we're finding that it gets pretty busy at noon through 4:30. Here are recent photos that I took early this morning...
One more than 2 occasion, an observing parent has asked Rilla: So, what grade are you in?
Rilla: (looks at me then looks at the parent not really sure what to say)
I jump in: I suppose you can say K/1st Grade. We homeschool (I say apologetically as if they won't understand)
Other Parent: (smiling) We do too! Glad to meet you...
And so begins our conversation of how we started, challenges, rewards, what we've found to work, etc. We are already part of several co-ops and networks, but it continues to be encouraging for me to have these chance encounters. It's like we've each stumbled upon this wonderful secret and delight in sharing our experiences.
With our recent run of warm weather, we're finding that it gets pretty busy at noon through 4:30. Here are recent photos that I took early this morning...
One more than 2 occasion, an observing parent has asked Rilla: So, what grade are you in?
Rilla: (looks at me then looks at the parent not really sure what to say)
I jump in: I suppose you can say K/1st Grade. We homeschool (I say apologetically as if they won't understand)
Other Parent: (smiling) We do too! Glad to meet you...
And so begins our conversation of how we started, challenges, rewards, what we've found to work, etc. We are already part of several co-ops and networks, but it continues to be encouraging for me to have these chance encounters. It's like we've each stumbled upon this wonderful secret and delight in sharing our experiences.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Irish Blessings
May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And the rains fall soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And the rains fall soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
I've started running a measley 20 minutes around Eastern Point beach in the mornings to get my day started. tofor the day. This is much needed as I haven't transitioned well with the time change. And with this blessing, I've gained a newfound appreciation for the phrase... "May the wind be always at your back,..." Nearer to the beach, I'm running with my face to the wind until I make that turn from Beach Club onto Shore Rd. Upon reaching this halfway point and having the wind at my back, it is quite encouraging indeed. Here's to a little Irish spring in your step...
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Daylight Savings Time is kicking my...
Today is our usual CC Hamden day when the kids and I are supposed to be out the door by 7:30a. I was in complete slumber until 6:45 when I quickly showered, ate, packed lunches, gathered teaching supplies. The kids had to be woken at 7:15 and we made it out the door 15 minutes late but arrived nearly on time at CC. The traffic was lighter than usual - I guess everyone else was DST challenged, too.
Do we really need to be adjusting our clocks nowadays? Might we take this moment to research the origins of DST and question its effectiveness?
Regarding DST as a benefit to farmers... "The chickens do not adapt to the changed clock until several weeks have gone by, so the first week of April and the last week of October are very frustrating for us.", Canadian poultry producer Marty Notenbomer.
Regarding DST encroaching on our individual liberties: "I don't really care how time is reckoned so long as there is some agreement about it, but I object to being told that I am saving daylight when my reason tells me that I am doing nothing of the kind. I even object to the implication that I am wasting something valuable if I stay in bed after the sun has risen. As an admirer of moonlight I resent the bossy insistence of those who want to reduce my time for enjoying it. At the back of the Daylight Saving scheme I detect the bony, blue-fingered hand of Puritanism, eager to push people into bed earlier, and get them up earlier, to make them healthy, wealthy and wise in spite of themselves." (Robertson Davies, The Diary of Samuel Marchbanks, 1947, XIX, Sunday.)
There are non-participants to DST in the U.S.: "Hawaii and most of Arizona do not follow daylight-savings time. The Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona DOES observe daylight saving time; the rest of Arizona does not. And the territories of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa do not observe DST. The Eastern Time Zone section of Indiana also does not observe DST."
For me, this tradition seems unnatural and inconvenient. I'd rather do away with it for the sake of simplicity.
Do we really need to be adjusting our clocks nowadays? Might we take this moment to research the origins of DST and question its effectiveness?
Regarding DST as a benefit to farmers... "The chickens do not adapt to the changed clock until several weeks have gone by, so the first week of April and the last week of October are very frustrating for us.", Canadian poultry producer Marty Notenbomer.
Regarding DST encroaching on our individual liberties: "I don't really care how time is reckoned so long as there is some agreement about it, but I object to being told that I am saving daylight when my reason tells me that I am doing nothing of the kind. I even object to the implication that I am wasting something valuable if I stay in bed after the sun has risen. As an admirer of moonlight I resent the bossy insistence of those who want to reduce my time for enjoying it. At the back of the Daylight Saving scheme I detect the bony, blue-fingered hand of Puritanism, eager to push people into bed earlier, and get them up earlier, to make them healthy, wealthy and wise in spite of themselves." (Robertson Davies, The Diary of Samuel Marchbanks, 1947, XIX, Sunday.)
There are non-participants to DST in the U.S.: "Hawaii and most of Arizona do not follow daylight-savings time. The Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona DOES observe daylight saving time; the rest of Arizona does not. And the territories of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa do not observe DST. The Eastern Time Zone section of Indiana also does not observe DST."
For me, this tradition seems unnatural and inconvenient. I'd rather do away with it for the sake of simplicity.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Beware...
the Ides of March. We've moved on from our studies of Julius Caesar and Rome in our Story of the World curriculum. These included Chapters 28: The Roman Empire, 29: Rome's War with Carthage, 34: The Rise of Julius Caesar, 35: Caesar the Hero, and 36: The First Roman Prince.
...mile stones, aqueducts, gladiators, Servius, Hannibal, Cincinnatus, "Crossing the Rubicon", Pompeii, "veni, vidi, vici", Cleopatra, Octavian (Augustus), princeps... Again as I teach Rilla, I learn what I was supposed to have learned years ago.
I have few memories of school where I actually learned, or was challenged, or was even given individualized attention. Frankly, I was one of the top students set on auto-pilot (as I'd like to say). In any case, one fond memory that comes to mind is in 9th grade English. We had just finished reciting (we were assigned parts and read) Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar". When we had finished the play, we were asked to choose one of several speeches, memorize it, and recite it to our class with fervor and emotion. After much struggle and work, I completely memorized Antony's dialogue to citizens after Caesar's death ... "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones;..." With much difficulty (as oration isn't a big part of the public school system philosphy), hard work, and intensity, I was able to complete the assignment with a great feeling of satisfaction. The exercise also brought me closer to being comfortable with public speaking.
It is the consistent practice of memorization, class presentations, public speaking, oral narration, and (in later grades) debate that I value the classical model of education. And that is why we currently use the Classical Conversations curriculum.
...mile stones, aqueducts, gladiators, Servius, Hannibal, Cincinnatus, "Crossing the Rubicon", Pompeii, "veni, vidi, vici", Cleopatra, Octavian (Augustus), princeps... Again as I teach Rilla, I learn what I was supposed to have learned years ago.
I have few memories of school where I actually learned, or was challenged, or was even given individualized attention. Frankly, I was one of the top students set on auto-pilot (as I'd like to say). In any case, one fond memory that comes to mind is in 9th grade English. We had just finished reciting (we were assigned parts and read) Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar". When we had finished the play, we were asked to choose one of several speeches, memorize it, and recite it to our class with fervor and emotion. After much struggle and work, I completely memorized Antony's dialogue to citizens after Caesar's death ... "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones;..." With much difficulty (as oration isn't a big part of the public school system philosphy), hard work, and intensity, I was able to complete the assignment with a great feeling of satisfaction. The exercise also brought me closer to being comfortable with public speaking.
It is the consistent practice of memorization, class presentations, public speaking, oral narration, and (in later grades) debate that I value the classical model of education. And that is why we currently use the Classical Conversations curriculum.
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