Homeschooling Apropos

Dec 25 Go Tell it on the Mountain

2008-12-25T00:52:00.000-05:00

Dec 25 Go Tell it on the Mountain http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go_Tell_It_on_the_Mountain_(song)

Refrain: Go, tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain,
That Jesus Christ is born.

The shepherds feared and trembled,
When low above the earth,
Rang out the angels chorus
That hailed our Savior's bi--rth.
Refrain

While shepherds kept their watching
o’er silent flocks by night,
Behold, throughout the heavens
There shone a holy li--ght
Refrain

And lo! When they had heard it,
They all bowed down to pray,
Then travelled on together,
To where the Baby la--y.
Refrain

Down in a lowly manger
The humble Christ was born
And God sent us salvation
That blessed Christmas mo--rn.
Refrain

"Go Tell It on the Mountain" is an African-American spiritual that dates back to at least 1865. It has been sung and recorded by many gospel and secular performers. It is considered a Christmas carol because its lyrics celebrate the Nativity: "Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere; go tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born."

The song became a Civil Rights anthem in the 1960s, having been adapted and rewritten as "Tell It on the Mountain". The lyrics referred specifically to the Israelite exodus with the line "Let my people go," but also referred to the Civil Rights struggle of the early '60s.

Craft: music, mountain, singing angel
http://www.dltk-bible.com/angels/mlollipopangel.htm
http://crafts.kaboose.com/clothespin-angel-ornament.html

Dec 24 Away in a Manger

2008-12-24T00:51:00.000-05:00

Dec 24 Away in a Manger
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Away_In_a_Manger

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes;
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle 'til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray;
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And take us to Heaven to live with Thee there.

"Away in a Manger" was first published by James R. Murray in an 1885 Lutheran Sunday School book. The author of the first two stanzas is unknown, but it is certain that the third stanza was added in 1904 by New Yorker Dr. John McFarland.

Some attribute the song to Martin Luther. This confusion exists because Murray published it with the subtitle "Luther's Cradle Hymn (Composed by Martin Luther for his children and still sung by German mothers to their little ones)."

Craft: baby in a manger
Baby Jesus origami (Christmas Origami book)

Dec 23 What Child is This?

2008-12-23T00:50:00.000-05:00

Dec 23 What Child is This
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_Child_Is_This
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Chatterton_Dix
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greensleeves

What Child is this, who laid to rest,
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping?

Refrain: This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear for sinners here,
The silent Word is pleading.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh;
Come, peasant king, to own Him.
The King of Kings salvation brings;
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

"What Child Is This?" is a popular Christmas carol that was written in 1865 by William Chatterton Dix. At the age of twenty-nine, he was sickened by a sudden near-fatal illness and confined to bed for several months. He went into a deep depression during this time, but it was also a time when he wrote many hymns, including ‘What Child is This?” which was later set to the traditional English melody of "Greensleeves". Other hymns that Dix wrote include “As with Gladness Men of Old,” “To you, O Lord, Our Hearts We Raise,” and “Alleluia! Sing to Jesus.”

“Greensleeves" is a traditional English folk tune which appears in references as far back as 1580 but cannot be definitively dated. The tune is found in several late 16th century and early 17th century sources, as well as various manuscripts preserved in the Cambridge University libraries. In Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor, written around 1602, the character Mistress Ford refers twice without any explanation to the tune of "Greensleeves," and Falstaff later exclaims: “Let the sky rain potatoes! Let it thunder to the tune of 'Greensleeves'! “ These allusions suggest that the song was already well known at that time. During this time period, green was a color associated with love and romance. In Chaucer’s writing, green was the color of lightness in love. This is echoed in “Greensleeves is my delight” and elsewhere in the song lyrics.

Craft: Mary, manger, baby
Origami Manger (Christmas origami book)

Dec 22 The First Noel

2008-12-22T00:48:00.000-05:00

Dec 22 The First Noel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_First_Noel

The first 'Noel!' the angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.

Refrain: Noel! Noel! Noel! Noel!
Born is the King of Israel!

For all to see there was a star
Shining in the east, beyond them far;
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.

And by the light of that same star
Three wise men came from country far;
To seek for a King was their intent,
And to follow the star wherever it went.

This star drew nigh to the northwest:
O'er Bethlehem it took its rest;
And there it did both stop and stay,
Right over the place where Jesus lay.

Then did they know assuredly
Within that house the King did lie;
One entered in then for to see,
And found the Babe in poverty.

Then entered in those wise men three,
Full rev'rently upon their knee,
And offered there, in his presence,
Both gold and myrrh, and frankincense.

Between an ox-stall and an ass
This Child there truly borned was;
For want of clothing they did him lay
All in the manger, among the hay.

Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
That hath made heaven and earth of nought,
And with His blood mankind hath bought.

If we in our time shall do well
We shall be free from death and hell,
For God hath prepared for us all
A resting-place in general.

The origin of the word “noel,” and even its exact meaning, has been lost to antiquity. Some scholars say the word is French, signifying “a shout of joy” at Jesus’ birth. Others go further back to Medieval Latin and say that it derives from the word “natalis” which means “birth,” and therefore has to do with the birth of Jesus. Another Latin word, “novella,” meaning “news,” is also a possible meaning of the word, conveying the idea that there were shouts of joy over news of Jesus’ birth.

The unknown poet who wrote “The First Nowell” conveys the angels’ message, “Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people” (Luke 2:10), a reminder that “now all is well,” or “nowell.” The carol has been popular for nearly three centuries.

Craft: shepherds, sheep, star, wise men, Noel word art
http://www.origami-club.com/en/ Christmas>several stars, also Animals/Birds>Sheep
http://crafts.kaboose.com/noel-sparkle-jar.html

Dec 21 Deck the Halls

2008-12-21T00:47:00.000-05:00

Dec 21 Deck the Halls
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deck_the_Halls
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Parry_Ddall
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ceiriog_Hughes

Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
'Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Toll the ancient Yule tide carol,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

See the blazing Yule before us,
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
Follow me in merry measure,
While I tell of Yule tide treasure,

Fast away the old year passes,
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses,
Sing we joyous, all together,
Heedless of the wind and weather,

"Deck the Halls" is a traditional Yuletide and New Years' carol. The English words generally sung today are American in origin and date from the 19th century, but the original lyrics are Welsh.

The tune is that of an old Welsh air, first found in a musical manuscript by the blind Welsh harpist John Parry Ddall. The composition is still popular as a dance tune in Wales. Poet John Ceiriog Hughes wrote the first published lyrics for the piece in Welsh, titling it "Nos Galan" ("New Year's Eve"). Folk Singers later added a middle verse to the original two verses. In the eighteenth century the tune spread widely, with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart using it in a piano and violin composition.

Craft: festive decorations, paper chain
http://www.origami-club.com/en/ Christmas
http://crafts.kaboose.com/tissue-paper-wreath.html
http://crafts.kaboose.com/ribbon-spool-christmas-candle.html
http://crafts.kaboose.com/puzzle-wreath-ornament.html

Dec 20 Once in Royal David's City

2008-12-20T00:46:00.000-05:00

Dec 20 Once in Royal David’s City
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Once_In_Royal_David%27s_City
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecil_Frances_Humphreys_Alexander

Once in royal David's city
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for His bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.

He came down to earth from heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable,
And His cradle was a stall;
With the poor, and mean, and lowly,
Lived on earth our Savior Holy.

And through all His wondrous childhood
He would honor and obey,
Love and watch the lowly Maiden,
In whose gentle arms He lay:
Christian children all must be
Mild, obedient, good as He.

For He is our childhood's pattern;
Day by day, like us He grew;
He was little, weak and helpless,
Tears and smiles like us He knew;
And He feeleth for our sadness,
And He shareth in our gladness.

And our eyes at last shall see Him,
Through His own redeeming love;
For that Child so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in heaven above,
And He leads His children on
To the place where He is gone.

Not in that poor lowly stable,
With the oxen standing by,
We shall see Him; but in heaven,
Set at God's right hand on high;
Where like stars His children crowned
All in white shall wait around.

Cecil Frances Humphreys Alexander was a hymn-writer and poetess who began writing verse in her childhood. By her early 20s, she was already known as a hymn writer and her compositions were soon included in Church of Ireland hymnbooks. “All Things Bright and Beautiful” is one of the hymns she wrote. She donated money from her first publications to help build a school for the deaf and dumb, and was involved in other charitable work during her lifetime.

Her book, Hymns for Little Children was published in 1848. Included in that hymnbook was “Once in Royal David’s City,” which was discovered a year later by organist and composer Henry John Gauntlett and set to music. Dr. Gauntlett wrote over 1000 hymn tunes, and edited several hymn books as well.

Since 1919, the King's College Chapel in Cambridge, England, has begun its Christmas Eve service, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, with "Once in Royal David's City" as the processional. The first verse is sung by a boy chorister of the Choir of King's Chapel as a solo. The second verse is sung by the choir, and the congregation joins in the third verse. Except for the first verse, the hymn is accompanied by the organ. This service is broadcast live on the BBC World Service, and it is estimated that there are millions of listeners worldwide who tune in to this service annually.

Craft: choirboy, manger
http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=289

Dec 19 Oh Little Town of Bethlehem

2008-12-19T00:40:00.001-05:00

Dec 19 Oh Little Town of Bethlehem http://musiced.about.com/od/christmasnewyeararticles/qt/christmascarol.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Little_Town_of_Bethlehem
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phillips_Brooks
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Redner

O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee to-night.

O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth!
And praises sing to God the King,
And peace to men on earth.
For Christ is born of Mary,
And gathered all above,
While mortals sleep,
the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.

How silently, oh how silently,
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.

Where children pure and happy
Pray to the blessed Child,
Where misery cries out to thee,
Son of the mother mild;
Where charity stands watching
And faith holds wide the door,
The dark night wakes, the glory breaks,
And Christmas comes once more.

O holy Child of Bethlehem!
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in,
Be born in us to-day.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel!

Episcopal priest Phillips Brooks visited the actual town of Bethlehem on Christmas Eve in 1865. He travelled from Jerusalem to Bethlehem on horseback, later writing in his diary this interesting account: “Before dark we rode out of town to the field where they say the shepherds saw the star. It is a fenced piece of ground with a cave in it, in which, strangely enough, they put the shepherds.” Later in the evening, he attended the traditional services in an ancient basilica said to have been built by the Emperor Constantine early in the fourth century, The Church of the Nativity. The service, which lasted from 10 pm to 3 am, made an unforgettable impression on him.

Three years later, as he prepared for Christmas services at his church in Philadelphia, he drew on his Holy Land trip in writing the poem for “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” The song was written especially for the children of his parish. He gave the poem to church organist Lewis Redner and asked him to set it to music. Redner dallied and delayed until it was almost too late for the song to be used that year, telling Brooks that he was “not inspired” yet with music. The night before the children’s choir was to sing the carol in services, Redner finally was able to hear a tune, which he rapidly jotted down so he could get some sleep. In the morning, he harmonized the melody and it was able to be used for that year’s Christmas services.

Craft: skyline silhouette
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/Shootingstar.shtml

Dec 18 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

2008-12-18T00:37:00.001-05:00

Dec 18 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolph_the_Red_Nosed_Reindeer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_L._May_(Rudolph)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Marks
http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/rudolph.asp
http://www.pdcomedy.com/Cartoons/Christmas/Rudolph/RudolphRedNosedReindeer.htm

You know Dasher and Dancer
And Prancer and Vixen,
Comet and Cupid
And Donner and Blitzen.
But do you recall
The most famous reindeer of all?

Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer
Had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw it
You would even say it glows
All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names
They never let poor Rudolph
Play in any reindeer games

Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say
Rudolph with your nose so bright
Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?
Then all the reindeer loved him
And they shouted out with glee
"Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer
You'll go down in history!"

Thanks to a certain song and a TV special, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer seems to have always been a part of our Christmas folklore. Rudolph came to life in 1939, created as a holiday promotional gimmick by the Montgomery Ward department store chain. Copywriter Robert L. May wrote the story, drawing in part from the tale of The Ugly Duckling, and also from personal experience because he was teased as a child for being shy and small. He created the underdog reindeer, Rudolph, who was teased by the other reindeer because of his physical abnormality: a glowing red nose. As he wrote the story in verse, as a series of rhyming couplets, he read it to his 4 year old daughter, who was thrilled with the story. May’s boss was less thrilled though, concerned that the “red nose” image was too closely associated with drinking and alcoholics. However, artist Denver Gillen’s drawings overcame the boss’ hesitation and the story was accepted. 2.4 million copies of the Rudolph booklet were distributed over the 1939 Christmas season by Montgomery Ward to its customers. Even with paper shortages during World War II, by the end of 1946, 6 million copies had been given away.

May received copyright rights in 1947, and the book “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” was printed commercially that year. The following year, a nine-minute cartoon was shown in movie theaters. In 1949, May’s brother-in-law Johnny Marks developed the lyrics and melody for the second best-selling song of all times.

The song as we know it differs from the original song in several ways. In the original story, Rudolph was NOT one of Santa’s reindeer, nor did he live at the North Pole. He lived in a reindeer village, and while he was teased and laughed at due to his shiny red nose, his parents did not view him as a shameful embarrassment. He was brought up in a loving household. Santa did not pick him out from the reindeer herd; instead, while delivering presents on a foggy Christmas-Eve, Santa noticed the glow in Rudolph’s bedroom and asked Rudolph to lead his team so that he could safely deliver the rest of the presents that night.

Craft: Rudolph, reindeer, sleigh
http://www.origami-club.com/en/ Christmas>several reindeer to choose from
http://crafts.kaboose.com/paper-cup-rudolph.html

Dec 17 Silver Bells

2008-12-17T00:36:00.001-05:00

Dec 17 Silver Bells
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5068947
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Bells
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Evans

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style.
In the air there's a feeling of Christmas.
Children laughing, People passing
Meeting smile after smile
And on every street corner you'll hear.

Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city.
Ring-a-ling, hear them sing.
Soon it will be Christmas day.

Strings of street lights, even stop lights
Blink a bright red and green
As the shoppers rush home with their treasures.
Hear the snow crunch, see the kids bunch.
This is Santa's big scene.
And above all this bustle you'll hear.

Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them sing
Soon it will be Christmas day.

“Silver Bells” was written as part of the soundtrack of the 1951 Bob Hope movie “The Lemon Drop Kid” by struggling songwriters Jay Livingston and Ray Evans. They worked all day at what was to become the 13th most listened to holiday song, not realizing that they were creating a hit. When Mr. Livingston went home in the evening, he told his wife that they had written a new song, “Tinkle Bells.” Dumbfounded, she asked if he realized what “tinkle” means. He had no clue! So the next day, they re-wrote the song, keeping most of the tune and lyrics but changing “tinkle” to “silver.” This song has sold over 500 million records as of 2005.

Livingston and Evans went on to compose three Academy Award-winning songs (“Buttons and Bows,” “Mona Lisa,” and “Que Sera Sera”) and also the theme music for the television shows Bonanza and Mr. Ed.

Craft: silver bells
http://www.origami-club.com/en/ Christmas>Bell

Dec 16 Santa Claus is Coming To Town

2008-12-16T00:35:00.001-05:00

Dec 16 Santa Claus is Coming to Town
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus_Is_Coming_to_Town
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Fred_Coots
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haven_Gillespie

Oh You better watch out,
You better not cry,
You better not pout,
I'm telling you why:
Santa Claus is coming to town.

He's making a list,
He's checking it twice,
He's gonna find out
who's naughty or nice.
Santa Claus is coming to town.

He sees you when you're sleeping,
He knows when you're awake.
He knows when you've been bad or good,
So be good for goodness sake.

So...You better watch out,
You better not cry
You better not pout,
I'm telling you why.
Santa Claus is coming to town.

Little tin horns,
Little toy drums.
Rudy-toot-toot
and rummy tum-tums.
Santa Claus is coming to town.

Little toy dolls
that cuddle and coo,
Elephants, boats
and Kiddy cars too.
Santa Claus is coming to town.

The kids in Girl and Boy Land
will have a jubilee.
They're gonna build a Toyland town
all around the Christmas tree.

Oh You better watch out,
You better not cry.
You better not pout,
I'm telling you why.
Santa Claus is coming
Santa Claus is coming
Santa Claus is coming
To town.

James Lamont "Haven" Gillespie was the writer of the classic Christmas song "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," along with many other popular songs of the day.
Gillespie dropped out of high school at the age of 16 and became a typesetter at the Cincinnati Times Star. After moving to New York, he became a journalist and composer of songs for vaudeville shows, in collaboration with many other artists. His work first gained notice in 1925.

John Frederick Coots was an American songwriter, having composed more than 700 songs. He is most famous for the song “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” which became one of the biggest best sellers in American music history.

In 1934, when Haven Gillespie brought him the lyrics to “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” Coots came up with the skeleton outline of the music in just ten minutes. Later when Coots brought the song to his publisher, Leo Feist Inc., they liked it but thought it was a kids' song and did not expect too much from it.

Coots offered the song to Eddie Cantor, who used it on his radio show that November. It became an instant hit. The morning after the radio show there were orders for 100,000 copies of sheet music, and, by Christmas, sales had passed 400,000copies!

Craft: Santa, list
http://www.origami-club.com/en/ Christmas>several Santas to choose from
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/xmas/msantajar.htm
http://crafts.kaboose.com/paper-plate-santa.html

Dec 15 The Friendly Beasts

2008-12-15T00:33:00.001-05:00

Dec 15 The Friendly Beasts
http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/friendly_beasts.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Friendly_Beasts

Jesus our brother, kind and good
Was humbly born in a stable rude
And the friendly beasts around Him stood,
Jesus our brother, kind and good.

"I," said the donkey, shaggy and brown,
"I carried His mother up hill and down;
I carried her safely to Bethlehem town."
"I," said the donkey, shaggy and brown.

"I," said the cow all white and red
"I gave Him my manger for His bed;
I gave him my hay to pillow his head."
"I," said the cow all white and red.

"I," said the sheep with curly horn,
"I gave Him my wool for His blanket warm;
He wore my coat on Christmas morn."
"I," said the sheep with curly horn.

"I," said the dove from the rafters high,
"I cooed Him to sleep so He would not cry;
We cooed him to sleep, my mate and I."
"I," said the dove from the rafters high.

Thus every beast by some good spell,
In the stable dark was glad to tell
Of the gift he gave Immanuel,
The gift he gave Immanuel.

"I," was glad to tell
Of the gift he gave Immanuel,
The gift he gave Immanuel.
Jesus our brother, kind and good.

"The Friendly Beasts" is a traditional Christmas song about the gifts that a donkey, a cow, a sheep, and a dove gave to Jesus at the Nativity. The song probably originated in 12th-century France. It is set to the melody of the Latin song Orientis Partibus, which is attributed to Pierre de Corbeil, Bishop of Sens. The tune is said to have been part of the Fete de l’Ane (The Donkey’s Festival), which celebrated the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt and was a regular Christmas observance in Beauvais and Sens, France in the 13th century. During the mass, it was common for a donkey to be led or ridden into the church.

The words and tune were designed to give thanks for the ass on which Mary rode, and began: Orientis partibus Adventavit asinus (‘From the East the ass has come’). Each verse was sung, and finished with the chorus ‘Hail, Sir donkey, hail’. It was a solemn affair, but the tune became very popular in 17th and 18th century Germany.
The current English words were written by Robert Davis in the 1920s. The song is also known as "The Song of the Ass," The Donkey Carol," "The Animal Carol" and "The Gift of the Animals."

Craft: stable, manger scene, donkey, cow, sheep, dove, Mary on donkey, manger, hay, coat/blanket, feather
http://familycrafts.about.com/library/projects/blspbabymanger.htm

Dec 14 We Three Kings

2008-12-14T00:31:00.001-05:00

Dec 14 We Three Kings
http://musiced.about.com/od/christmasnewyeararticles/qt/wethreekings.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Three_Kings_of_Orient_Are
http://poetry.poetryx.com/poets/108/bio/

We three kings of Orient are;
Bearing gifts we traverse afar.
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.

Chorus: O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light.

Born a king on Bethlehem's plain,
Gold I bring to crown Him again;
King forever, ceasing never,
Over us all to reign.

Frankincense to offer have I.
Incense owns a Deity nigh;
Prayer and praising all men raising,
Worship Him, God on high.

Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom.
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.

Glorious now behold Him arise,
King and God and Sacrifice.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Sounds through the earth and skies.

“We Three Kings of Orient Are” (also known as “Quest of the Magi”) was composed by the Rev. John Henry Hopkins, Jr. as part of a Christmas pageant. Rev. Hopkins led a varied life, working at various times as a clergyman, author, composer, book illustrator, stained glass window designer, and editor of the Church Journal out of New York.

The three kings were magi, probably Zoroastrians from the area of Persia. They visited Jesus Christ as a small child, not at the manger as often portrayed in nativity scenes. Although they were later assigned the names of Balthazar, Gaspar and Melchior, nowhere in the Bible does it say that there were only three magi. The gifts offered to the newborn Jesus have the following significance:

• Gold represents Jesus' heavenly kingship.
• Frankincense represents Jesus' role as priest, serving as the perfect mediator between mankind and God.
• Myrrh is associated with death, and represents Jesus' role as Saviour, in that he sacrificed himself to redeem mankind.

Craft: crown, gifts, star
http://www.origami-club.com/en/ Christmas>Present Box
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/xmas/3dstar.htm
http://crafts.kaboose.com/felt-present-ornament.html
http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=1129

Dec 13 Joy to the World

2008-12-13T00:30:00.001-05:00

Dec 13 Joy to the World
http://musiced.about.com/od/christmasnewyeararticles/qt/joytotheworld.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joy_to_the_World
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Watts
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell_Mason

Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the world! the Saviour reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Isaac Watts was a prolific hymn writer who wrote more than 750 hymns, many of which are still sung today. One of his life projects was that of creating a volume of hymns based on the Psalms of David, in which he tied New Testament stories into the Old Testament words. One of the hymns which was included in this volume was “Joy to the World,” which he based on Psalm 98 and into which he read back the joy of the coming of the Messiah.

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth:
Make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise….
Make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King.
Let the floods clap their hands,
Let the hills be joyful together before the Lord,
For he cometh to judge the earth,
With righteousness shall he judge the world. Psalm 98:4-6, 8-9

Watts’ hymns were not well received while he was alive, because Christians of the day believed that God stopped singing when King David died, and that new hymn settings of any of the Psalms were heresy of the worst sort. Thankfully, his hymns survived for us to use and enjoy today.

The origin of the tune to which we sing “Joy to the World” has been attributed to George Frederick Handel and was thought to be an excerpt from his composition, The Messiah. Most likely, however, it was composed by Lowell Mason, who has been called “the father of American church music.” Mason was the first music teacher in an American public school, and also co-founded the Boston Academy of Music. He greatly admired Handel, whose influence can be heard in the tune of “Joy to the World,” as well as others of Mason’s 1600 religious compositions.

Craft: world, crown, heart, scale of justice, JOY word art
Shrinky-dink JOY

Dec 12 O Come, All Ye Faithful

2008-12-12T00:29:00.001-05:00

Dec 12 O Come, All Ye Faithful
http://musiced.about.com/od/christmasnewyeararticles/qt/adestefidelis.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Come_All_Ye_Faithful
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Francis_Wade

O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the
King of angels.

O come, let us adore Him (3x)
Christ, the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation;
Sing all ye citizens of heav’n above:
Glory to God in the Highest.

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be glory giv’n;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.

John Francis Wade wrote the hymn “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” which is also known by its Latin name, Adeste Fidelis. The original four verses of the hymn were extended to a total of eight, and these have been translated into many languages many times, though the English O Come All Ye Faithful is the most commonly used.

The earliest existing music manuscript shows both words and tune. It was published in the 1760 edition of Evening Offices of the Church. John Francis Wade included it in his own publication of Cantus Diversi.

John Wade was an English hymnist. His birthplace is uncertain, but was probably either England, or Douay, France. He definitely lived in France the latter portion of his life, as an exiled English Catholic. There, he taught music and worked on church music for private use.

Craft: carol singers
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=10115

Dec 11 Jingle Bells

2008-12-11T00:23:00.001-05:00

Dec 11 Jingle Bells
http://musiced.about.com/od/christmasnewyeararticles/qt/jinglebells.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jingle_Bells
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Pierpont_(musician) http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/Biographies/james_lord_pierpont.htm

Dashing thro' the snow,
In a one horse open sleigh,
O'er the hills we go,
Laughing all the way;
Bells on bob tail ring,
Making spirits bright,
Oh what sport to ride and sing
A sleighing song to night.
Chorus:
Jingle bells, Jingle bells,
Jingle all the way;
Oh! what joy it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh.
Jingle bells, Jingle bells,
Jingle all the way
Oh! what joy it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh.

A day or two ago
I tho't I'd take a ride
And soon Miss Fannie Bright
Was seated by my side,
The horse was lean and lank
Misfortune seem'd his lot
He got into a drifted bank
And we - we got up sot. Chorus

A day or two ago,
The story I must tell
I went out on the snow
And on my back I fell;
A gent was riding by
In a one horse open sleigh,
He laughed as there
I sprawling lie,
But quickly drove away. Chorus

Now the ground is white,
Go it while you're young,
Take the girls to night
And sing this sleighing song;
Just get a bob tailed bay
Two forty as his speed
Hitch him to an open sleigh
And crack, you'll take the lead. Chorus

James Pierpont was born in Boston, and attended boarding school in New Hampshire. While away at school, he wrote a letter to his mother which he mentioned riding in a sleigh through the December snow. Four years after that, in 1836, 14-year-old James ran away to sea aboard a ship called "the Shark". Some sources indicate that the ship sailed as far as California.

As an adult, James followed his minister brother to Savannah, Georgia, and served as an organist and music director at the church his brother pastored. He also gave organ and singing lessons. James’ first songs were published in Boston. He wrote and published a number of ballads, polkas, and minstrel songs, some of which were recorded by singers of the day. He also wrote several Confederacy songs.

In August 1857, his song "One Horse Open Sleigh" was published. Two years later it was re-released with the title "Jingle Bells, or The One Horse Open Sleigh". It was not a hit either time.
Both Massachusetts and Georgia claim ownership of "Jingle Bells." There are many stories circulating about its origin. Here are several:

Massachusetts: One day in 1851, James Pierpont went to the home of Mrs. Otis Waterman, where he played one of his compositions for her on her piano. Mrs. Waterman commented that it was a very merry little jingle, and he should have a lot of success with it. Pierpont then wrote the lyrics about the one-horse open sleighs — also known as "cutters" — that young men raced on the one mile route from Medford to Malden Squares.

Georgia: Savannah musical researcher, Milton Rahn, felt that 'Jingle Bells' was most likely written in Savannah, in a house located near Oglethorpe and Whitaker Streets, which has since been torn down. It has been speculated that the song was composed by Pierpont, probably at a time when homesick, as he recalled his youthful days in New England.

Another popular story gives authorship (either in Boston or in Savannah) for a Thanksgiving church service. The song was so well received that the children were asked to repeat the performance at the Christmas service and it has remained a Christmas standard ever since.
Note that in 1857, Pierpont was in Savannah, not Boston, so it is more likely that he wrote the song there.

Some have expressed doubt that the song could be written for a children’s church choir. References to courting would not have been appropriate in a religious song. Instead, it was just a "sleighing song" – fast sleighs and pretty girls. Some things never change.

Some Jingle Bells Trivia: In Ontario, Canada, sleigh bells are required by law, and persons breaking the law are subject to a $5 fine. The law states: "Every person travelling on a highway with a sleigh or sled drawn by a horse or other animal shall have at least two bells attached to the harness or to the sleigh or sled in such a manner as to give an ample warning sound". Horses' hooves on newly fallen snow are very quiet, and the sleigh runners make almost no noise.

“Jingle Bells” From Gemini 6 Ten days before Christmas, Dec. 15, 1965, NASA celebrated as spaceships Gemini 6 and Gemini 7 successfully completed a non-docking orbital rendezvous, an historic first. The next morning, as Gemini 6 was preparing to re-enter Earth's atmosphere, Mission Control in Houston heard a cryptic message from astronaut Thomas P. Stafford:
"We have an object, looks like a satellite going from north to south, probably in polar orbit.... Looks like he might be going to re-enter soon.... You just might let me pick up that thing.... I see a command module and eight smaller modules in front. The pilot of the command module is wearing a red suit."

Stafford later related that "I could hear the voices at Mission Control getting tense when I talked about sighting something else up there with us.”

But moments later, ground controllers heard the strains of “Jingle Bells,” played on a miniature harmonica and accompanied by five miniature sleigh bells.

“Then, after we finished the song,” Stafford continued, “[Mission Control's] Elliot relaxed and just said, 'You're too much.'"

The plot had been hatched in the weeks before the mission by astronaut Walter M. "Wally" Schirra Jr., according to Stafford. "He could play the harmonica, and we practiced two or three times before we took off, but of course we didn't tell the guys on the ground....We never considered singing, since I couldn't carry a tune in a bushel basket."

The harmonica was Hohner's tiny four-hole, eight-note “Little Lady.” The accompaniment was five small bells, tied on a blue string. The harmonica and bells were the first musical instruments ever played in space. The items were donated to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum by Schirra and Stafford in 1967. Before he donated it to the Smithsonian, Schirra reported that he had "retested the harmonica and it performs quite well."

Craft: bells, sleigh
http://www.yamahamotor.co.jp/global/entertainment/papercraft/seasons/10/index.html
http://www.origami-club.com/en/ Christmas>Bell

Dec 10 Little Drummer Boy

2008-12-10T00:21:00.001-05:00

Dec 10 Little Drummer Boy
http://musiced.about.com/od/christmasnewyeararticles/qt/drummerboy.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Drummer_Boy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherine_K._Davis

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum.

So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.

Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum.

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum?

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum.

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum.

This “story-song” tells of a poor young boy who, unable to afford a gift for the infant Jesus, plays his drum for the newborn with his mother Mary's approval. Miraculously, the baby, although a newborn, smiles at the boy in gratitude. The story is somewhat similar to an old twelfth-century legend retold by Anatole France as Le jongleur de Notre-Dame (The Juggler of Notre Dame). In the French legend, however, a juggler juggles before the statue of Mary.

The words and music for this Christmas song were written by composer and pianist Katherine K. Davis. She composed her first piece of music at the age of 15, and then went on to study and teach music at several schools in the United States. Until she died at the age of 88, she was an active composer, writing more than 600 compositions. Many of them were for choirs at the schools where she taught.

Her most famous composition is "The Little Drummer Boy", originally titled "The Carol of the Drum", which she wrote in 1941. It became famous when it was recorded by the Trapp Family Singers.

Craft: drum, heart
http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/treeornaments/l/blorntpdrum.htm
http://www.origami-club.com/en/ Valentines>several hearts to choose from

Dec 9 Frosty the Snowman

2008-12-09T00:17:00.000-05:00

Dec 9 Frosty the Snowman
http://musiced.about.com/od/christmasnewyeararticles/qt/frosty.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frosty_the_Snowman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDLkIdXU--o 1954 3-minute animation!

Frosty the snowman was a jolly happy soul,
With a corncob pipe and a button nose,
And two eyes made out of coal.

Frosty the snowman is a fairy tale, they say,
He was made of snow but the children
know how he came to life one day.

There must have been some magic in that
Old silk hat they found.
For when they placed it on his head,
He began to dance around.

Oh, Frosty the snowman
Was alive as he could be,
And the children say he could laugh
And play just the same as you and me.

Thumpety thump thump,
Thumpety thump thump,
Look at Frosty go.

Thumpety thump thump,
Thumpety thump thump,
Over the hills of snow.

Frosty the snowman knew
The sun was hot that day,
So he said, 'Let's run and
we'll have some fun now
before I melt away.'

Down to the village,
With a broomstick in his hand,
Running here and there all
Around the square saying,
Catch me if you can.

He led them down the streets of town
Right to the traffic cop.
And he only paused a moment when
He heard him holler 'Stop!'

For Frosty the snowman
Had to hurry on his way,
But he waved goodbye saying,
'Don't you cry,
I'll be back again some day.'

Thumpety thump thump,
Thumpety thump thump,
Look at Frosty go.

Thumpety thump thump,
Thumpety thump thump,
Over the hills of snow.

“Frosty the Snowman” is a Christmas song that isn’t about Christmas! In fact, the word “Christmas” is not found anywhere in the lyrics. However, its wintery theme makes it a popular secular finding during the season.

The song is about a snowman that comes to life thanks to a magical hat that some children find; he then has playful adventures before he "hurries on his way". These include games, sports, and other jolly things. Near the end of their adventures together, the children are saddened by Frosty having to hurry on his way for the last time. However, Frosty reassures them by exclaiming, "I'll be back on Christmas Day!"

"Frosty the Snowman" was written by Walter "Jack" Rollins and Steve Nelson, and first recorded by Gene Autry and the Cass County Boys in 1950. Autry had recorded "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" the previous year; Rollins and Nelson shipped the new song to Autry, who recorded "Frosty" in search of another seasonal hit. Like "Rudolph", "Frosty" was subsequently adapted to other media including a popular television special.

Craft: snowman
http://www.origami-club.com/en/ Christmas>Snowman or Snowflake
http://crafts.kaboose.com/cd-snowman-puppet.html
http://crafts.kaboose.com/rolled-felt-snowman-ornament.html
http://crafts.kaboose.com/stick_orn.html
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/Gluesnowman.shtml

Dec 8 The Twelve Days of Christmas

2008-12-08T00:01:00.000-05:00

Dec 8 The 12 Days of Christmas
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twelve_Days_of_Christmas_(song)

On the first day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree…
Two turtle doves…
Three French hens…
Four calling birds…
Five golden rings…
Six geese a-laying…
Seven swans a-swimming…
Eight maids a-milking…
Nine ladies dancing…
Ten lords a-leaping…
Eleven pipers piping…
Twelve drummers drumming.

"The Twelve Days of Christmas" is an English carol in the form of a cumulative song, which means that each verse is built on top of the previous verses. The carol lists in detail a series of increasingly grand gifts given on each of the twelve days of Christmas.

Its original purpose was a memory and forfeit party game, played by gathering in a circle of players. As they went around the circle, they tried to say the rhyme in order without getting confused, which we all know is not easy to do! In later years, the game and rhyme were adopted by Lady Gomme, an English collector of folktales and rhymes, as a rhyme that "the whole family could have fun singing every twelfth night before Christmas before eating nine pies and twelve cakes".

The carol was found in European and Scandinavian traditions as early as the 1500s, and was published around 1780.

Craft: 12 days symbols
http://www.origami-club.com/en/ Accessories>Several rings
http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=1657

Dec 7 Good King Wenceslas

2008-12-07T00:01:00.000-05:00

Dec 7 Good King Wenceslas
http://www.whychristmas.com/customs/carols_stories.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_King_Wenceslas
http://www.knowledgequestmaps.com/wenceslas%20bio.pdf Biography of King Wenceslas

ALL:
Good King Wenceslas looked out,
upon the Feast of Stephen,
when the snow lay round about,
deep and crisp and even:
brightly shone the moon that night,t
hough the frost was cruel,
when a poor man came in sight,
gathering winter fuel.

KING:
Hither page and stand by me!
I you know it telling:
yonder man who is he,
where and what his dwelling?

PAGE:
Sir he lives a good way hence,
underneath the mountain;
right against the forest fence,
by Saint Agnes' fountain:

KING:
Bring me food and bring me wine,
bring me pine logs hither:
you and I will see him dine,
when we take them thither.

ALL:
Page and monarch forth they went,
forth they went together,
through the wild wind's loud lament,
and the bitter weather.

PAGE:
Sir the night is darker now,
and the wind grows stronger;
fails my heart - I know not how,
I can go no longer.

KING:
Mark my footsteps well my page,f
ollow in them boldly:
you shall find the winter's rage,
chills your blood less coldly.

ALL:
In his masters steps he trod,
where the snow lay even,
strong to do the will of God,
in the hope of Heaven:
therefore Christians all be sure,
grace and wealth possessing,
you that now will bless the poor,
shall yourselves find blessing.

The words of “Good King Wenceslas” were written in Victorian Britain by John Mason Neale, and set to a traditional folk tune, "Tempus Adest Floridum" ("It is Time for Flowering"), a 13th-century spring carol tune. In the carol, a story is told about the King of Bohemia, which is an area in Central Europe which is now part of the Czech Republic, set over 1000 years ago. On Boxing Day (December 26), he left his castle and took alms (food and wood) to a poor peasant. The legend is based on the life of the historical Saint Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia (907-935), who was known in the Czech language as Svatý Václav. The story in the carol was probably completely made up.

Mr. Neale followed in the footsteps of his minister father, and was active in charitable Christian outreach during the Industrial Revolution, when many people needed to be ministered to. He is well known as a hymn writer and translator. He enriched English hymnody by translating many ancient and mediaeval hymns from their original language. English-speaking congregations were then able to sing and enjoy centuries-old traditional Latin, Greek, Russian, and Syrian hymns. His translations include:

All Glory, Laud, and Honour
Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle
To Thee Before the Close of Day
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

He is most widely known for his contributions to the Christmas repertoire, most notably "Good Christian Men, Rejoice" and, of course, "Good King Wenceslas". Much of the translation of the Advent hymn "O come, O come, Emmanuel" was also his work.

Craft: feast, Yule log, forest/snow scene, footprint
http://crafts.kaboose.com/toothpick-snowflake-ornament.html
http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=627

Dec 6 Silent Night

2008-12-06T00:01:00.000-05:00

Dec 6 Silent Night
http://www.whychristmas.com/customs/carols_stories.shtml
http://musiced.about.com/od/christmasnewyeararticles/qt/silentnight.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Night
http://silentnight.web.za/history/index.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josef_Mohr
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Gruber

Silent night, holy night.
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night.
Shepherds quake at the sight,
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heav'nly hosts sing alleluia:
Christ the Saviour is born,
Christ the Saviour is born.

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light,
Radiant beams from thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace:
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

Silent Night, or Stille Nacht, was first performed in the Nicola-Kirche (Church of St. Nicholas) in Oberndorf, Austria on December 24, 1818. Father Joseph Mohr had composed the words much earlier, in 1816, but on Christmas Eve brought them to his friend, Franz Xaver Gruber, and asked him to compose a melody and guitar accompaniment for the church service. At Midnight Mass that evening, Fr. Mohr and Franz Gruber sang each of the six verses, with the church choir repeating the last two lines of each verse. Mohr set down the guitar arrangement on paper around 1820 and that is the earliest manuscript that still exists. It is displayed in the Carolino Augusteum Museum in Salzburg, Austria.

Joseph Mohr aspired to be a musician, but when his musical talent went unrecognized, her pursued a different educational path and became a priest instead. He wrote the six-stanza poem that became the world’s most popular Christmas carol while on assignment to a pilgrim church in the remote Alpine village of Mariapfarr. His assignment to Oberndorf in 1817 enabled the collaboration he and Franz Gruber shared. Until 2006, it was thought that they had written just one song together. Now another song has been located in the Wagrain parish archive. "Te Deum," with text by Joseph Mohr and melody by Franz Xaver Gruber, can be heard in an audio exhibit at the Waggerl Museum in Wagrain.

Mohr was a generous man who donated most of his salary to charity. He started new schools for children and also created a scholarship fund to allow children from poor families to attend school. He also set up a system for the care of the elderly.

Franz Gruber was a schoolteacher, organist, and choirmaster in several Austrian villages during his lifetime. Over the years, he wrote additional arrangements of Silent Night for organ and for organ with orchestra. Arrangements of the carol appeared in churches in the Salzburg Diocese and folk singers from the Ziller Valley took the song on tours around Europe. Gruber wrote dozens of other carols and masses, many of which are still in print and sung in Austrian churches today.

It is believed that Silent Night has been translated into over 300 languages and dialects around the world. It is one of the most popular carols of all time. Because the carol was so widely known worldwide, English and German troops at the front lines during WWI were able sing it together in the break from fighting known as the Christmas Truce of 1914.

Craft: Mary and Baby Jesus, star, shepherds, singing angels
http://www.origami-club.com/en/ Christmas>several stars to choose from
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/xmas/3dstar.htm

Dec 5 Huron Carol

2008-12-05T00:01:00.000-05:00

Dec 5 Huron Carol (Twas In the Moon of Winter Time)
http://www.angelfire.com/ca2/cmascorner/Huron.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huron_Carol
http://cockburnproject.net/songs&music/ia.html

'Twas in the moon of wintertime when all the birds had fled
That mighty Gitchi Manitou sent angel choirs instead;
Before their light the stars grew dim and wondering hunters heard the hymn,
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.

Within a lodge of broken bark the tender babe was found;
A ragged robe of rabbit skin enwrapped his beauty round
But as the hunter braves drew nigh the angel song rang loud and high
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.

The earliest moon of wintertime is not so round and fair
As was the ring of glory on the helpless infant there.
The chiefs from far before him knelt with gifts of fox and beaver pelt.
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.

O children of the forest free, O seed of Manitou
The holy Child of earth and heaven is born today for you.
Come kneel before the radiant boy who brings you beauty peace and joy.
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.

Words: Jean de Brebeuf, ca. 1643; trans by Jesse Edgar Middleton, 1926
Music: French Canadian melody (tune name: Jesous Ahatonhia)

The "Huron Carol" (or "'Twas in the Moon of Wintertime") is Canada's oldest Christmas song, written in 1643 by Jean de Brébeuf, a Jesuit missionary at Sainte-Marie among the Huron in Canada. He used the native language of the Huron/Wendat First Nation in writing this song, whose original Huron title is "Jesous Ahatonhia" ("Jesus, he is born"). The song's melody is a traditional French folk song, “Une Jeune Pucelle” ("A Young Maid").

Father Brebeuf acquired fame and martyrdom soon after writing the carol, when he and other priests were ceremonially barbecued by members of the Iroquois confederacy, who went on to virtually eliminate the Huron and their culture. The British, who wanted control of territory that had been claimed by the French, encouraged this massacre so they could acquire land that had traditionally belonged to the Huron. The few Huron who survived the wars were mostly absorbed into Iroquois communities. A few did remain with the French colonies. Their descendants inhabit a couple of villages in modern Quebec, but their language remained unspoken and has largely been lost.

Here is a direct, non-Anglicized translation from the original language:

Have courage, you who are human beings: Jesus, he is born
The okie spirit who enslaved us has fled
Don't listen to him for he corrupts the spirits of our thoughts
Jesus, he is born

The okie spirits who live in the sky are coming with a message
They're coming to say, "Rejoice!
Mary has given birth. Rejoice!"
Jesus, he is born

Three men of great authority have left for the place of his birth
Tiscient, the star appearing over the horizon leads them there
That star will walk first on the bath to guide them
Jesus, he is born

The star stopped not far from where Jesus was born
Having found the place it said,
"Come this way"
Jesus, he is born

As they entered and saw Jesus they praised his name
They oiled his scalp many times, anointing his head
with the oil of the sunflower
Jesus, he is born

They say, "Let us place his name in a position of honour
Let us act reverently towards him for he comes to show us mercy
It is the will of the spirits that you love us, Jesus,
and we wish that we may be adopted into your family
Jesus, he is born

Craft: Native American, papoose baby, Native lodge
http://www.makingfriends.com/scouts/swap_dreamcatcher.htm in C’mas colors
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/na/rattle/

Dec 4 I Saw Three Ships

2008-12-04T00:01:00.000-05:00

Dec 4 I Saw Three Ships
http://www.whychristmas.com/customs/carols_stories.shtml

I saw three ship come sailing in,
on Christmas day on Christmas day.
I saw three ship come sailing in,
on Christmas Day in the morning.

And what was in those ships all three?
on Christmas day on Christmas day.
And what was in those ships all three?
on Christmas Day in the morning.

Our Saviour Christ and His lady,
on Christmas day on Christmas day.
Our Saviour Christ and His lady,
on Christmas Day in the morning.

And where they sailed those ships all three?
on Christmas day on Christmas day.
And where they sailed those ships all three?
on Christmas Day in the morning.

All they sailed in to Bethlehem,
on Christmas day on Christmas day.
All they sailed in to Bethlehem,
on Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the bells on earth shall ring,
on Christmas day on Christmas day.
And all the bells on earth shall ring,
on Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the angels in heaven shall sing,
on Christmas day on Christmas day.
And all the angels in heaven shall sing,
on Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the souls on earth shall sing,
on Christmas day on Christmas day.
And all the souls on earth shall sing,
on Christmas Day in the morning.

And let us all rejoice again,
on Christmas day on Christmas day.
And let us all rejoice again,
on Christmas Day in the morning.

*Note: Bethlehem, being on an inland hill, has no actual seaport!

I Saw Three Ships is a traditional English folk song and popular Christmas carol from England. There are several versions of the text of this song, the words having been used by wandering minstrels as they travelled the country. The various sets of lyrics featured different Bible characters being on the ships. The most common lyrics used today are about Mary and Jesus travelling to Bethlehem. The earliest printed version is from the 17th century, possibly Derbyshire.

Craft: ship
http://www.origami-club.com/en/ Fun origami or Others, several boats/ships

Dec 3 Here We Come A-Wassailing

2008-12-03T00:01:00.000-05:00

Dec 3 Here We Come A-Wassailing
http://www.whychristmas.com/customs/wassailing.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Here_We_Come_A-Wassailing
http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/cat/212/ Wassail Recipes
http://www.recipezaar.com/ Search for Wassail

As with most carols, there are several related versions of the words. One version is presented below. The verses are sung in 6/8 time, while the chorus switches to 2/2.

Here we come a-wassailing
Among the leaves so green;
Here we come a-wand'ring
So fair to be seen.

CHORUSLove and joy come to you,
And to you your wassail too;
And God bless you and send you
A Happy New Year
And God send you a Happy New Year.

Our wassail cup is made
Of the rosemary tree,
And so is our beer
Of the best barley:
CHORUS

We are not daily beggars
That beg from door to door;
But we are neighbors’' children,
Whom you have seen before.
CHORUS

Good master and good mistress,
While you're sitting by the fire,
Pray think of us poor children
Who wander in the mire.
CHORUS

God bless the master of this house
Likewise the mistress too!
And all the little children
That 'round the table go.
CHORUS

Wassailing is a very ancient custom that is rarely done today. Imagine a British cobblestone street; snow soft in the streetlight's glow. Despite constant hardship, beggars and orphans would dance and sing in the streets at Christmas, hoping to receive a pork pie, a penny, or some time in front of a blazing fire in return. However, the most prized pittance was a bowl of wassail -- which combines ale, wine, and spices -- to warm the heart as well as the soul.

The word 'wassail' comes from the Anglo-Saxon phrase 'waes hael', which means 'good health'. Originally, the wassail was a drink made of mulled ale, curdled cream, roasted apples, eggs, cloves, ginger, nutmeg and sugar. It was served from huge bowls, often made of silver or pewter. Jesus College, in Oxford University, has a Wassail bowl that could hold 10 gallons of drink and is covered in silver! Wassailing was traditionally done on New Years Eve and Twelfth Night, but some rich people drank Wassail on all the 12 days of Christmas! The Wassail drink mixture was sometimes called 'Lamb's Wool', because of the pulp of the roasted apples looked all frothy and a bit like Lambs Wool!!! A great deal of ceremony developed around the custom of drinking wassail. The bowl was carried into a room with a great fanfare, a traditional carol about the drink was sung, and finally, the steaming hot beverage was served.

Craft: apple craft, drink mulled cider
http://www.origami-club.com/en/ Fruits/Vegetables>Apple
Decorative apple, wrap with gold cord & hang on tree

Dec 2 The Holly and the Ivy

2008-12-02T00:01:00.001-05:00

Dec 2 The Holly and the Ivy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holly_and_the_Ivy
http://www.whychristmas.com/customs/hollyandivy.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Walford_Davies
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecil_Sharp

The holly and the ivy when they are both full grown
Of all the trees that are in the wood, the holly bears the crown

Refrain:
Oh, the rising of the sun and the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir.

The holly bears a blossom as white as lily flower
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to be our sweet savior
Refrain

The holly bears a berry as red as any blood
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to do poor sinners good
Refrain

The holly bears a prickle as sharp as any thorn
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ on Christmas Day in the morn
Refrain

The holly bears a bark as bitter as any gall
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ for to redeem us all
Refrain

During Pagan times, holly, ivy, and other greenery such as mistletoe were originally used to help celebrate the Winter Solstice Festival and to ward off evil spirits and celebrate new growth.
As people became Christian, they kept the tradition of the greenery, but gave it Christian meanings. The prickly leaves of the holly represent the crown of thorns that Jesus wore when he was crucified. The berries are the drops of blood that were shed by Jesus because of the thorns. In Scandinavia holly is known as the Christ Thorn. Ivy has to cling to something to support itself as it grows. This reminds us that we need to cling to God for support in our lives. In German tradition, ivy is only used outdoors. A piece of ivy tied to the outside of a church was supposed to protect it from lightning!

Sir Henry Walford Davies is a British composer who wrote a popular choral arrangement of The Holly and the Ivy that is often performed at the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols and by choirs around the world. As a child, he enjoyed playing any instrument he could lay his hands on, often in an informal band with his brothers, cousins and friends. He also developed as a singer and became a boy chorister at St. George's, Windsor. From the age of twelve he sang fourteen church services a week and attended school there. In adulthood, he was well known as an organist, teacher, and composer. He was knighted in 1922, and held the title Master of the King's Musick from 1934 until his death in 1941. Most of his compositions are religious in nature, including several well-known Christmas carol arrangements.

Englishman Cecil Sharp, who is behind the text for this carol, was a man of varied talents, skills, and abilities. Many of England's traditional dances and music are only known today thanks to his work in recording and publishing them. He lived in England, Australia, and the United States at various times throughout his life. His life experience included working as a bank clerk, associate to a chief justice, music teacher and lecturer, organist, choral and symphonic conductor, and composer. He was especially interested in British folk dance and music, and by compiling song books for use in schools, did much to acquaint British children with their national musical heritage. During WWI when he lived in the United States, he travelled through the mountains of Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee, recording a treasure trove of Appalachian folk songs and researching the link between American and British fold songs.

The music and most of the text for The Holly and the Ivy was collected by Cecil Sharp from a woman in Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire. This carol is probably related to an older carol: "The Contest of the Ivy and the Holly", a contest between the traditional emblems of woman (the ivy) and man (the holly) respectively.

Holly stands in the hall, fair to behold:
Ivy stands without the door, she is full sore a cold.
Nay, ivy, nay, it shall not be I wis;
Let holly have the mastery, as the manner is.

Holly and his merry men, they dance and they sing,
Ivy and her maidens, they weep and they wring.
Nay, ivy, nay, it shall not be I wis;
Let holly have the mastery, as the manner is.

Ivy hath chapped fingers, she caught them from the cold,
So might they all have, aye, that with ivy hold.
Nay, ivy, nay, it shall not be I wis;
Let holly have the mastery, as the manner is.

Holly hath berries red as any rose,
The forester, the hunter, keep them from the does.
Nay, ivy, nay, it shall not be I wis;
Let holly have the mastery, as the manner is.

Ivy hath berries black as any sloe;
There come the owl and eat him as she go.
Nay, ivy, nay, it shall not be I wis;
Let holly have the mastery, as the manner is.

Holly hath birds a fair full flock,
The nightingale, the popinjay, the gentle laverock.
Nay, ivy, nay, it shall not be I wis;
Let holly have the mastery, as the manner is.

Good ivy, what birds hast thou?
None but the owlet that cries how, how.
Nay, ivy, nay, it shall not be I wis;
Let holly have the mastery, as the manner is.

Craft: holly, berries, ivy
http://www.origami-club.com/en/ Christmas>Holly Leaf
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/xmas/mpaperholly.html

2008-12-01T13:33:00.001-05:00

I liked this article on 10 Famous Homeschoolers. It gives brief bios of the people, not just a list of names.

Dec 1 The History of Christmas Music

2008-12-01T00:01:00.001-05:00

Dec 1 The History of Christmas Music
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_(music)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_song
http://www.whychristmas.com/customs/carols_history.shtml
http://musiced.about.com/od/christmasnewyeararticles/a/carols.htm
Read “Carols of All Nations” Poem

A carol is a festive song, generally religious but not necessarily connected with church worship, and often with a dance-like or popular character. Carols were first sung in Europe thousands of years ago, but these were not Christmas Carols. They were pagan songs, sung at the Winter Solstice celebrations and accompanied by flutes as people danced round stone circles.

The word carol, derived from the Old French word carole, actually means dance, or a song of praise and joy. Carols used to be written and sung during all four seasons, but only the tradition of singing them at Christmas has really survived. The traditional attributes of a carol are that it celebrates a seasonal topic, has alternating verses and chorus, and has danceable music.

Early Christians turned pagan solstice celebrations into Christmas celebrations and gave people Christian songs to sing instead of the pagan ones. Many composers all over Europe started to write carols, but not many people liked them because they were all written and sung in Latin, a language that the normal people couldn't understand. By the time of the Middles Ages (the 1200s), most people had lost interest in celebrating Christmas altogether.

St. Francis of Assisi brought change when, in 1223, he started his Nativity Plays in Italy. Songs or 'canticles' were sung that told the story during the plays. Sometimes, the choruses of these new carols were in Latin; but normally they were all in a language that the people watching the play could understand and participate in! The new carols spread to France, Spain, Germany and other European countries.

The earliest known carol was written around 1410, but only a very small fragment of it still exists. The carol was about Mary and Jesus meeting different people in Bethlehem. Most Carols from this time and the Elizabethan period are actually fictional stories, very loosely based on the Christmas story, about the holy family and were seen as entertaining rather than religious songs. They were usually sung by travelling singers or minstrels in private homes, rather than in churches. These performers changed the words of the carols to fit the local people and area where they were travelling and performing. One carol that changed continually like this is 'I Saw Three Ships'.

In 1647, Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans came to power in England, and the celebration of Christmas and singing carols was stopped. It was felt that they were “nonessential” and too closely associated with Roman Catholicism. However, the carols survived, as people still sang them in secret. During Victorian times two men, William Sandys and Davis Gilbert, re-discovered and compiled old Christmas music from villages in England. They were instrumental in arranging the music for church use, with religious instead of secular lyrics.

Much of what we know as Christmas music today was adopted from music that had been initially created for other purposes and later "adopted" to the season, often because it:

Referred directly to the nativity of Jesus;
Had a wintry theme, such as “Winter Wonderland,” “Let it Snow,” and “Sleigh Ride” (which oddly enough is about a birthday party, not a holiday party!);
Referred to Christmas folklore, such as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, reindeer or elves, the North Pole, etc.
Referred to Christmas traditions, such as the Twelve Days of Christmas, Christmas tree, wassailing, Yule log, stockings, lights, gifts, etc.
Put people into the mood of the Christmas season.

Today, many churches have one or more musical services at Christmas time. In one of the most popular types of carol services, the church is only lit by candlelight and it feels very Christmassy. Carols by Candlelight services are held in countries all over the world.

Perhaps the most famous carol service is the service of Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College in Cambridge, England. This service takes place on Christmas Eve and is broadcast live on BBC Radio and all over the world. In the US, local PBS stations broadcast it live and then may rebroadcast it several times on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. This famous Service was first performed in 1918 as the college celebrated the end of the First World War. It is always started with a single choir boy singing a solo of the first verse of the Carol 'Once in Royal David's City'. A service of Nine Lessons and Carols has nine Bible readings (or lessons) that tell the Christmas story, with one or two carols between each lesson.

Craft: music note
http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/musicalcrafts/l/blspinmusicnote.htm
http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/beadedsafetypins/l/blspinmusicnote.htm
http://dev.origami.com/images_pdf/eighth_note.pdf

The Story of Christmas Music Unit Study

2008-11-30T00:01:00.003-05:00

As is our family's annual tradition, we have a special time of learning in December in the days leading up to Christmas. This year's theme is Christmas music. Each day we will learn about a Christmas song, and do a craft related to that song. We have so many Christmas ornaments from doing a unit study every year, that my kids have to have their own tree for all of their stuff! What fun :-)

Each day from December 1-25 on this blog, you will find a day from our unit study, along with some craft ideas and a few links for crafts that we might do.

The Story of Christmas Music
Christmas Study, 2008

Music to Enjoy
Benjamin Britten A Ceremony of Carols
Ralph Vaughan Williams Fantasia on Christmas Carols
Victor Hely-Hutchinson Carol Symphony
The Sixteen A Medieval English Christmas
Anonymous 4 On Yoolis Night & Wolcum Yule
http://songsofpraise.org/christmas.htm
A Classical Kids Christmas
James Galway’s Christmas Carol
Anything by Mannheim Steamroller
Anything sung by the King’s College Choir
King’s Singers A Little Christmas Music
Canadian Brass The Christmas Album
Canadian Brass Noel

Christmas Music Midi and Words Websites
http://www.christmas-carols.net/
http://the-north-pole.com/carols/
http://www.allchristmaslyrics.com/
http://www.links2love.com/christmas_songs.htm/
http://www.geocities.com/toveza/index.html
http://my.homewithgod.com/heavenlymidis/Christmas/carols.html
http://www.12days.com/library/carols/
http://www.santas.net/songs.htm
http://www.share-christmas.com/carols/
http://members.tripod.com/stnickandhissleigh/
http://www.angelfire.com/ca2/cmascorner/carols.html
http://christmas.howstuffworks.com/christmas-songs.htm/printable
http://familycrafts.about.com/od/christmascarols/Christmas_Carols_Songs_and_Poems.htm

Other Related Websites
http://www.mfiles.co.uk/ Free sheet music downloads, including Christmas music
http://musiced.about.com/library/quizzes/bl_christmas_music_trivia.htm Christmas Music Trivia Quiz

Books Christmas Carols and Their Stories compiled by Christopher Idle
Stories of Christmas Carols by Ernest K. Emurian
The Spirit of Christmas by Virginia Reynolds (includes music CD)
Oxford Book of Christmas Poems
All for the Newborn Baby
The Huron Carol by Jean de Brebeuf
Frosty the Snowman
Away in a Manger by Jan Lewis
A Book of Christmas Carols edited by Elizabeth Poston & Malcolm Williamson
The First Noel: A Child’s Book of Christmas Carols to Play and Sing
The Friendly Beasts: A Christmas Carol ill. By Sharon McGinley
Good King Wenceslas by John M. Neale & Tim Ladwig
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing with art from the National Gallery, London
The Little Drummer Boy by Ezra Jack Keats
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Robert L May
The Twelve Days of Christmas by Jan Brett
The Twelve Days of Christmas by Joanna Isles
The 12 Days of Christmas: A Pop-Up Celebration by Robert Sabuda
Silent Night: A Christmas Carol is Born by Maureen Brett Hooper
Silent Night, Holy Night ill by Maja Dusikova
Carols selected and illustrated by Tomie dePaola
Fun With Easy Origami Dover publication
Christmas Origami by John Montroll
Origami for Christmas by Chiyo Araki
Ornagami: An Origami Christmas at Your Fingertips by Gay Merrill Gross

Christmas Crafts
http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/season/specialfeature/christmas-crafts-ms/
http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/christmascrafts/a/103000a.htm
http://www.freekidscrafts.com/christmas_crafts-t37.html
http://www.craftbits.com/viewCategory.do?categoryID=XMS
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/christmas/
http://www.allfreecrafts.com/christmas/index.shtml
http://crafts.kaboose.com/holidays/christmas/christmas-crafts.html
http://www.crayola.com/crafts/christmas-crafts/
http://www.michaels.com/art/online/projectlist?categoryid=64582
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/christmas_pages.htm
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/xmas/crafts.html
http://childfun.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=3
http://www.4kraftykidz.com/FreeCrafts.html
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/xmas/shrinky.htm
http://www.origami-club.com/en/
http://www.giladorigami.com/swami/holidays.html

Spelling

2008-10-25T10:55:00.001-04:00

from wilber01:

I don't recommend memorizing an arbitrary list of words each week, testing, and then moving on. Typically, the words will be forgotten the following week and it has never worked for us. What has worked the best for us is 1. Working on words that the child misses in his or her writing. I secretly keep a list so that my children don't feel pressure when they are writing. Sometimes we never get the words because overtime they correct themselves. The kids, even in middle school, only work on five words at a time... they don't know the words are from a list of their misspellings. 2. Reading, reading, reading 3. Writing using Microsoft Word with the setting that underlines misspellings as they are typed. (Make sure the auto correct is not on.) This points out to the child that immediate correction is needed. I strongly believe in practicing correctly. If a misspelled word is repeated, they are practicing incorrectly. 4. Casually point out the correct spelling of words when a child is writing by hand but don't push it or make a big deal over it.... contradicting my previous statement, if they don't fix it just let it slide. We always have that emotional aspect to deal with too!

from tomandkara:

We use Spelling Power and I really like it. We've been using it for about a year now.
Another thing that was an ace in my son's pocket is that we used an EXCELLENT phonics program when he was learning to read. He learned a lot of the rules of spelling from rules for sounding out words and he's been able to carry that over into his writing now. (We used Wilson Fundations, for the record.)
I think it's important to teach spelling, but you have to include a range of skills...1. Phonics skills (because if you learn the phonics rules you can use them to read or spell)2. Directed practice for words that are misspelled (and I think it makes more sense to use a list, like Spelling Power, that is built off of the most commonly used words since those are the ones you will encounter more)3. Dictionary skills (so you can find the correct spelling the old fashioned way)4. Word processing skills (because, let's face it, computers are a way of life now)
The thing I really like about Spelling Power is that the student is able to by-pass words he already knows how to spell. There is no studying of a list of 20 words for a week even though he can already spell 18 of them.
Hope that helps!

from cl-susanmercy:
We use Spelling Power. I too like that dd doesn't have to study a word list all week and then be tested on it, even tho she already knew most of the words. It gives her a lot of confidence when she makes it thru a list with maybe only a couple of practice words...especially when she spells some hard words correctly (like "annoyance" the other day, woohoo!) We tried Sequential Spelling for a semester and she asked to return to Spelling Power. I also agree with the PP about using words that your kids misspell in their writing. Those were some great ideas, btw! I've recently come across All About Spelling and it looks pretty good, but I've not used it (yet.) Those who do use it have nothing but praise for it. It looks like you could use it with a child of any age, including remediation of an older child with spelling difficulties.

Toddler Entertainment Ideas

2008-10-24T13:16:00.002-04:00

From two_girls_mom2007:

I don't have any toddlers around anymore. But I have this distinct memory of trying to scrapbook or put pictures in a photo album when my youngest was somewhere between one and two, and she would just grab everything on the table and throw it down and mix everything up. I also remember checking on her in her crib once, and she had gotten a copy of "Chica Chica Boom Boom" in her crib and ripped it into tiny little shreds. So I know one can be destructive!! I just found these for you. Hope something helps. The lists of activities look like they might be for a little older, but they may come in handy at some point. The first article is specifically about having a toddler, though I did just skim it.. So if it is bad, sorry!
http://chfweb.net/articles/week29.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/mo/sasschool/preschoolers.html
http://www.loveathome.com/homeschool/littleones.htm
http://www.homeedmag.com/HEM/205/soqnas.html

From hbbk20:
I hate to say this...it gets such a bad rap, but does the TV calm him? Like a video? How about a mothers helper, will he play with another kid like a middle school aged home school friend? That would be helpful and maybe even helpful to the middle schooler to care for a child before going on to baby sit alone. Otherwise I did a lot of playpens, highchairs, bouncy chairs, gated off safe zones with toys and music and things to try and entertain the hoighly busy toddlers in my home, while I did my best to get anything else done, or an older kids homework time. Otherwise wait till Dad arrives hand him a busy toddler and do your school work at homework time. It is not easy with a toddler bouncy and busy but it can be done with some creative forethought and perhaps a little help. Remember....they are not toddlers for ever, and that busy stage can be re-focused much better as they age with Sports, Arts and other activity.

From a_and_b_c_for_me:

Right there with you with my 13 month old, who is just now giving up his morning nap and thus throwing our schedule for a loop. I do use nursing as a distraction for part of the time, but he'll only nurse for so long!
For sure, I'll be checking out the links in the above posts. I also just tolerate a certain amount of mess-making by him. Keeping snacks on-hand helps sometimes (but not always.) Finally, we do take breaks and resume some subjects once he's asleep in the early afternoon. It's harder that way for sure, and I still try to do as much as possible in the AM, but sometimes it's just easier that way. Flexibility is key. Too bad I'm not real good at that, lol!

Weather Goodies

2008-09-23T01:38:00.000-04:00

Hurricane Song http://www.learninggamesforkids.com:80/educational_videos/educational_videos_hurricane_song.html

Weather Activities (temp converter, weather predictor, lesson plans, and more) http://www.edheads.org:80/activities/weather/

Weather Lesson Plans http://www.edheads.org:80/activities/lesson_plans/index.htm

The Importance of Art Education

2008-08-31T14:37:00.002-04:00

Another article to share...this one on The Importance of Art Education.

Giftedness

2008-08-31T10:32:00.005-04:00

I really liked these articles on gifted kids and on homeschooling a gifted preschooler Homeschooling a Gifted Perschooler. (I only wish Dr. Sears hadn't said to hs until kindergarten, but given the context of the article, it may have come across differently than he intended, so I will give him the benefit of the doubt. And, for the record, I don't think you have to send your child off to kindergarten after you've homepreschooled him or her ;-)

Article About Scheduling

2008-08-26T16:59:00.004-04:00

I ran across this helpful blog article: Scheduling the Easy Way--A 5 Step Plan. I hope you'll find it helpful, especially if you are new to homeschooling.

Thoughts on Latin

2008-08-07T15:50:00.002-04:00

from kbmomto3:
I don't really think it's [studying Latin] *necessary.* I do think it helps with vocabulary and it impresses the extended family. ;-) We're going to play at it a bit this year, at least while we're studying Ancient Rome. I'm not sure if we'll continue after that or not.

from nancymc:
like studying Latin, and it's something that has been VERY useful for me in my career (medical field), as I can easily decipher big words and figure out what I need to know, even when I've not heard of the diagnosis before or whatever.

I think that *for us*, it's been appropriate to dissect why we want to study it. I have no desire to have kids who are fluent, and I don't have time to study to that level with them, we just have too much on our plates. So I don't worry overly much about the declensions and the case endings and all that stuff (though we do work on conjugation, as it makes the meaning more clear).

For us it's more about vocabulary, knowing the origins of English words so that we can have a broader vocabulary and can figure out words we might not know otherwise. It's also about knowing the roots for spelling and other languages.

Bottom line, we take our time with it (we only did lessons 1-12 this year, will do 13-24 next year), don't stress about being fluent, and try to just have some fun with it.

from m00minmamma:
I worked through two years of high school Latin with my eldest a couple of years back and it was great (I think she was 11 when we started). But it was only great because she was the one who wanted to do it, for her own reasons. She loved it, but I can't imagine inflicting a formal Latin curriculum on a kid who wasn't dying to do it.

from teddiebear_hugs:
really like the idea of just taking our time with it. I don't even need to plan the lessons out, just do a lesson on whatever day is good for us that week. If we have already spent a large amount of time doing other lessons and projects on a certain day, skip Latin. DS is interested in studying Latin, and this will keep the pressure off me, but allow him to study it.

from jujsky:
It's not necessary, but I do feel that Latin is an excellent elective if you can fit it in. It will help your son with science, and just about any other foreign language he takes in the future. So many words we use daily and in the sciences have Latin roots. I took a year of it my senior year in high school (after 3 years of Spanish) and I still find what I managed to retain useful.

from mom2adeline:
I think it depends on what direction you are hoping to go with the education of the child. As many people here know, I've tried many different things with my dd just to try to keep her occupied. I recently read the first edition of Andrew Campbell's Latin Centered Curriculum from the library and am anxiously waiting for some money to buy the second edition of the book. Many things that he said really made sense to me and he makes a strong argument for making Latin first priority. This is difficult for me because I'm still trying to get rid of the public school experience, but Latin works well for Adeline. She instantly applies what she learns and watching her learn strongly supports what Andrew Campbell says in his book. For example, we learned "habito" in Latin and when she was reading a book about animals she looked up and said "Their habitat must be where they live." She is also learning English grammar in a very gentle way through the Latin that seems to make so much more sense to her.

from cl-susanmercy:
I think some Latin study has some value. I've tried to learn it for myself and I get bogged down by the declensions and conjugations and stuff. So I'm stumped as to how to approach it with my kids, other than learning word roots and meanings so they can be applied to everyday language. Really, that's more important anyway since it's not a spoken language. I toyed with a medical terminology book when I was a teenager--that part really fascinated me. I will probably incorporate word roots and meanings into our studies at some point, as part of vocabulary. Maybe closer to high school. It's in the back of my mind! Meanwhile, on to Spanish ;-)

Homeschooling a Teen

2008-08-06T18:25:00.002-04:00

from lemonewton:
First off, I would suggest that you and your H get on the same page. If you're setting limits, and H is not assisting with seeing that they're following through, this is only going to be the beginning of trouble. Like a snowball gathering and getting bigger.

Does DS have friends he spends time with? If so, encourage him to spend some quality time with them. Or with a close family member near the same age? If not, then yes, I'd encourage him to begin doing something, club activity, or even volunteer work to get him out and active. He's 12-13, or around there? If he's promised to do the copies, I'd make him stick to that and get them done. At least finish the ones he already has promised, then he can quit doing it if he no longer likes doing it.

I've got 2 teens, 16DD & 13DD. Both would spend all day in front of the tv/games/computer if allowed. The 13DD is especially bad, she gets easily distracted by the tv. Oh, and the 16DD loves to wear her MP3 while doing school work last year. For us, here, this school year has started different than it did last year. They got to assist helping me to decide some of the curric, but others were just picked out by me. At PS, you don't get to pick out what you want. If something simplifies it for me, then oh well, they'll just have to deal with it this year. And, they've been sitting at the kitchen table, the last 2 days. Both of them each have 1-2 programs that they're doing on the computer, so that they get a little computer time in. And, I've decided to assign some artsy-type projects for a couple of their main subjects. So far, so good, they're starting out well so far. We've also got a 1st grader, so she gets more of our time (I work FT 3d/week, and DH is a SAHD, but we've got a farm and stuff to do additionally).

Oldest DD was getting really good at staying in front of her tv and not wanting to do the things required of her/ chores, etc. So about a month ago she had to hand over her MP3, tv cord, lap-top power cord, and we changed the password on the internet. She had to start spending more time with us, doing things that were required, and a bit more reading. You might have to start taking some cords if DS is continually staying in his room. And, get H on the same page as you. He's got to step up to the plate.

And, if you're thinking about sending DS to PS, you need to have some discussions with him & your H. If he's not going to do the work at home, will he do the work at PS? If he wants to go, maybe you should see about sending him. You might find, though, that he doesn't want to do it there, either.

from nancymc:
Well, I'm a big meanie I guess, we have a rule in our home: no TV/computer until chores and/or assigned work is done. During the summer this is easy, it's just daily chores, but during the school year it means that the computer/TV can NOT come on until all their schoolwork is completed. Beginning and end of story, not negotiable.

For us TV/computer is a reward, not a right. We also don't own any gaming systems, so it's easier in a lot of ways to limit it. I'm a big believer in outdoor activity and work hard to keep my kids engaged in physical things. I recently attended a lecture entitled "the dangers of video gaming" and it really opened my eyes to the generation of kids we are raising by allowing them so much time in front of screens, so right now I am particularly concerned about limiting it and finding other activities for my kids to do.

For social stuff, are you involved in a co-op or homeschool group of any kind? If not, that is where I would start, my kids attend classes with other homeschoolers once a week and they get together for social activities at least once a week (more in the summer). Kids this age need peers, and for me personally, that means finding plenty of opportunity for interaction, we live remotely so it's really up to me to get them places.

I work, but only part time and I make my own hours for the most part, doing some on weekends and later in the afternoon, so I'm not terribly helpful there. I would network with other homeschoolers of teens to see if they can help you with getting your son places and such.

I'm not sure of your religious leanings, and this appears to be Christian based, but I just got an email about a book for teens called "Do the Hard Things" and I'm really excited about it, the message is that if we have low expectations for our teens, they will have low expectations for themselves. I am going to order a copy and read it with my son. I think that we need to work on our teens character along with their education, it's not always about what they know, it's also about who they ARE, you know? Anyway, I'm getting off track now, sort of, but wanted to encourage you to help your son continue his business and accomplish some things with that before he turns on the TV each day, I love hearing about kids starting their own business, it shows such promise and character for them to be an entrepreneur.

from cl-susanmercy:
I'm not the parent of a teenager (yet but it's close!) but I have been a hsed teen myself, back in the 80s. I wold strongly encourage you to first of all, be united with your dh. Hopefully you can get him on board, since you are the at-home parent and the one dealing the most with at-home issues. As long as you are not united, your ds will know that dad lets him get away with not following house rules, and that behaviour will continue. I would also encourage you to seriously let your ds be a part of his education process. If he's not, you may be butting heads for a long time. Let him have a choice in choosing curriculum...extracurricular activities...books to read, etc. This doesn't mean that he has carte blanche--but you can give him several choices that are ok with you and let him pick which one he wants.

I don't know if you deschooled your son at all, but if you didn't it's not too late to do so. It could provide you with relief from his attitudes!

from kathlh:
I found my oldest ds had issues with doing schoolwork at the 12-14yo phase. He had issues with anxiety and depression and was generally in a tough place. The best I could do was talk to him a lot, let him know we loved him no matter what, set limits to what we would accept from him and set limits on computers and TV. I tried having TV and computer use interspersed throughout the day when the kids were young and it just didn't work for us. They spent everyday asking for computer time. I finally decided that TV and computer can't come on until 6pm. Period. The other iron-clad rules we had were that chores and schoolwork needed to be done before the kids could play with their neighbourhood friends. This was a hard lesson for a kid who wanted to lie on the couch and moan until his friends came home at 4pm ;-) He eventually got it. The good news is that at almost 15yo, he's now much more outgoing and energetic than he's been in several years. He seems in a better place and also understands the purpose of passing certain courses to get to his goal of becoming an engineer. This past spring he came with me to our hs fair and picked out his own curriculae. I have yet to see if that'll make a difference for him but I have hope. This year we also have plans for him to do volunteer work one or 2 afternoons a week. He needs to think about something other than sports and computer games ;-)

I don't know if our experience is of any help to you. My situation is easier in that dh isn't around during the day (usually). He doesn't really need to be on board with the rules as he doesn't have to reinforce any of them. I work on weekends, so he does need to get the kids to do their chores but, otherwise, isn't really part of the equation. With him being home the last few months with multiple surgeries, I've had my share of him not being on board with the rules ;-) I can sympathize with your challenge!

Handwriting Without Tears

2008-08-06T18:06:00.001-04:00

from jujsky:
We use HWT K. We bought a bunch of the stuff, but I don't think it's all really necessary. I would definitely get the Teacher's Guide and the workbook. The wooden letter pieces are nice, and I'm glad I bought them, but they have a template for them in the Teacher's Guide. I've heard that a lot of people make the shapes out of poster board.

The roll-a-dough set isn't really necessary, but I really like it. My DS has sensory issues, and this works well for him. You can use it with beans and rice too, and have him trace the letters.

I would also get the chalkboard. There is something about the friction of writing the letter on the board that ingrains it in their memories.

The blue mat for the letter shapes -- nice, but not totally necessary. You will need it (or a similar-size piece of cardboard) if you want to make Mat Man. I bought the letter cards to use with the wood pieces. I really think you EITHER need these, or the blue mat. I don't think both are necessary.

I didn't bother with the music cd, though in retrospect that would have been really good for my DD who is doing the program. She learns well by using songs and rhymes.

from jennyberm:
We really liked the Pre-K/K books, Get Set For School and Letters & Numbers For Me, along with the slate boards. The slate boards are really, really great because they help them to start the letters in the right place and keep them a uniform size. After that, I haven't bothered to do anything else with the program... just some random copywork when I see that their writing needs some practice. I may go back to something formal for cursive, but I'm not sure if it will be HWT or something I piece together like copywork.

from treddlesewingmachine:
If the chalk boards are not real slate, (that is, just wood painted with chalkboard paint) I got a set of three for about $3-$4 from American Science and Surplus. They aren't as nice as the rock, but they work ok.

We used HWWT last year for cursive for my daughter. I had some pre-K and K stuff given to us by our OTs, but didn't do it much with my son. It was just really hard to get him to do it. Now that he has grasp down, more strength and better attention, he can do it. He is now getting to the point where he needs to write sentences, so until our books come I am just using cheap writing paper with lines.

One OT traced the (wooden) templates on colored magnetic sheets - she gets the kids to do the letters on the refrigerator.

Helping Kids be Excited about Homeschooling

2008-08-06T16:22:00.003-04:00

from two_girls_mom2007:
My ODD will be 6 in a couple weeks. We went through this really bad the year she was 4. She was so looking forward to school, and people started asking her if she was in school or when she was going etc. I did have to limit some of her T.V. cartoons that showed a lot of school for awhile. I also tried to not read books that showed kids going to school, just to try to keep her from thinking she was missing something.

She always seemed to be negotiating when she could go to "real school." She would tell me she would homeschool while she was 5, but she would start real school when she was 6. I made sure that the first day of K was a lot of fun for her. I made it very official, and we kind of played school. We do a formal calendar time to start the day, and keep things predictable during school time. We even call things recess, storytime, lunchtime, etc. using school words. She got her own new lunchbox for field trips, and backpack and supplies. Lots of new supplies like she kept seeing in the store. Dd loves dinosaurs, so I buried dinosaur bones in our sandbox for a dinosaur dig for Science the first day. We pretended we were paleontologists uncovering a fossil, and tried to figure out what kind of dino it was. The 2nd day of school we made a library visit, and I let her pick out books about animals she wanted to study. I made a mini unit on the ones she chose, and then later that week we visited the zoo to observe the animals we were studying. I just tried to really keep her involved, and I pointed out gently the whole time, that if she were in P.S. she wouldn't be on a field trip already.

I also got her involved with other kids that homeschool. That seems to be what finally did the trick. She knows now that she is not the only one out there. She has some friends that homeschool, and most don;t. She is now aware that most kids do not homeschool, but she does not ask not to anymore.

from nancymc:
I'm not sure if I'm just lucky or if I did something to help this along, but my kids have NEVER wanted to go to school. We've ridden buses places, they don't see any attraction in that, plus I always point out to them when we're out and about (usually coming home from some really fun cool place) how early the buses come and how late they drop off, so they understand how much time is spent on that bus. In our area the kids typically ride the bus for an hour or so, twice a day, I can't imagine how that would be fun!

It's a balance for me, I don't at all want to portray school as a bad thing, particularly since many of their friends are in school, I don't homeschool as a protest and I don't want my kids to think school is evil or anything....HOWEVER....I do point out to them the advantages we have, we often wave to the school as we go by on our way to whatever fun thing, we talk often about homework and how if they had any they wouldn't have time for the fun evening things we are doing, we often celebrate how lazy we are in our pj's at 10am, etc.

Basically I talk up the good points about homeschooling, and I make sure that they don't feel like they miss anything. Find out what your son wants from school and then work to duplicate it at home. Ride a bus somewhere....go back to school shopping (this is a fun one for us, we wait until all the supplies are on clearance and then we just go have fun, no list, just whatever they thing looks fun....new markers, cool folders, etc). Maybe this is mean, but I usually pick up the list that is there for the schools and look it over, we always laugh at how they have to buy things like kleenexes and a specific color of folder...it's not like the kids in school actually get to take the fun stuff to school anymore! So I let them pick out whatever within reason, usually on clearance for a song. I buy them each a new pair of pj's each year for their first day back to school, lol, but I also let them pick out a new shirt and some nicer shorts for the classes they take outside the home.

My son went to school, so that helps immensely as well, he very well knows he has it good at home. He remembers homework, he remembers getting up really early, he remembers how little time he had to actually play and pursue his passions.

from treddlesewingmachine:
Last year my son was supposed to go to kinder, but they put him in with the worst teacher, whom I requested to NOT have. (And here they don't tell you the teacher until 2 days before school starts...) So we had to quickly change gears when my husband and I decided to keep him home (with his older sister who is home schooling and younger brother.)

The bus stops outside our door too, at least for the first week until they realize there are no kids getting on here! We talked about how he gets to eat his breakfasts (yes, he usually eats more than one!) how it doesn't matter when he gets dressed (was very hard for him to do that last year) how he can have snack when ever he wants, how he gets to watch the "good" shows on PBS (the ones actually for beginning readers are on after the school bus comes) and how he could play on the computer if he wanted, or play his bugle. The bus comes at 7:20 here, one of the last stops, but still pretty early. I told him he could sleep in if he wanted (a laugh, he gets up with my husband at 5:30!) We also talked about how we could go to the park whenever we want, go for bike rides, and not have to do homework after school like the other kids we meet in the park after school (usually our second trip to the park for the day!) Kinder kids have homework here, probably most schools nowadays. One of the reasons I dislike public schools.

The teacher thing I did have to explain - my daughter had her so I knew how she was. (Had to be careful her, my daughter loved her, but I hated her!) I explained that the teacher wanted kids who could sit still and not go explore stuff. My son already knew that she didn't like hugs, which he loves. I also had to tell my daughter that while the teacher was ok for her, there were kids that she had problems with and would yell at constantly and I didn't want her brother to be one of those kids. (I gave her an example of one boy that constantly was in trouble and she tried to squish the life out of.) My son has a hard time following directions, sitting still and has a lot of curiosity about things. Honestly sometimes he drives me to distraction, but I couldn't let him be with that woman! Oh, and this woman told a boy in my daughter's class, with similar speech issues, "Don't talk like a baby!" (In front of the class and mom, no less!) I never heard the boy talk the rest of the year. Ah, so many stories, but not pertinent to what you are asking...

Can you go camping or to an amusement park the first week of school? A great fun way to show how you have it better!

from hbbk20:
You can arrange for a bus ride somewhere so your kid can ride a bus. You can also have a pretend bus that you decorate with markers and things from a cardboard box and then play a game of ride the bus and ...now we go to school ect....so make it an event that you express thru artistic things like making a box bus, pack a lunch to eat at the table that you do school at and things like that. Make being home fun, and remind them of the benes of not going away.

from bugsmomct:
You can't "get" someone's feelings to change. *However* your 4 year old has only had one set of inputs - that "big boys" go to school.Yeah, all those 'fun things' at home you've been talking about are nice, but that's nothing new really (you're probably already doing lots of fun things). Find out what stuff is really exciting (like riding a bus) and go do it - find someplace where you can take a bus ride. If back to school clothes commercials are exciting, go take advantage of the sales and get sneakers, jeans, backpack, etc. Pack a lunch a couple times per week and go have a picnic.

I'd strongly suggest you find (or make) a local homeschool support group so he can see that not all "big boys" go to school, some learn at home with mom and dad and their siblings. We got involved with our first support group when DS was 3 - mostly just did park days, beach days, and parent support evenings (while DS visited with Grandma). As he got older, we did visits to the firehouse, the newspaper (he loved the big printing and folding machines), a sole proprietor candy shop (made cool chocolate treats - bacon and eggs - melt some white chocolate; lay out 3 thin pretzel sticks on some waxed paper; pour a bit of the white chocolate over the central area of the pretzel sticks; put a few yellow M&Ms together in the middle of the chocolate and voila - bacon and eggs on the sweet side!). The school bus stops next door and across the street from us but he's never asked to go to school - he knows lots of people don't go to school from little ones up to teenagers. And, he's experienced things like driving home with us after spending a day at a hs group park day and sitting behind a school bus full of kids who spent the whole gorgeous late spring day sitting in a classroom while he spent the day running free in a park and playing with friends. He does get frustrated sometimes when we're trying to plan things like a sleep over with favorite cousins because they can only do things at certain times because of school. He loves taking vacations when things are totally uncrowded; we love getting the off season prices.

from momwifefriendedie:
I think for us we have let dd do some of those same things like buying a new colorful notebook to be her "school" journal, buying fun stickers to reward with just like school, buying new markers and crayons, and letting her decorate her own study area on a tri folder. We also take her picture in a new outfit on our first official. We also plan a special fun art project for that first day. You just can't beat playing with paint.

from pailani:
I have a friend who starts the first day of homeschool kindergarten by teaching the child to obey instructions - by making cookies! She tells the child "get me the flour," "now go get me the sugar," while she mixes and makes the cookies. So each of her children's first day of kindergarten was helping Mommy make cookies I always thought that was a fun idea.

Kindergarten

2008-08-06T16:10:00.003-04:00

from bugsmomct:

For now, keep on living and learning together in whatever way you already are enjoying (she's already been learning from you all this time anyhow). You don't need to 'teach' anything at this age necessarily. Your role is to facilitate, particularly at this age. You're in a brand new place with all sorts of new sights, sounds, adventures outside your door. Spend a day exploring a different ethnic section of the city, go to libraries and museums and watch street corner performers and whatever else you can get yourself into.

from jujsky:
You don't have to be an educator :) Being a mom is usually plenty good enough. You know DD better than anyone, and that's the only "expert" you need to be.

If you want something that is all laid out for you, Calvert is a good option. That's what I'm using with both of my kids. We did pre-K last year (which was way too easy -- we had to supplement quite a bit) and we have all of our K materials ready to start in September. I looked over everything, and it seems like a very solid, complete K program. It starts right off with letters, and starts teaching reading about 1/2 through the year. The math starts off very simply (numbers, shapes) and by the end of the year they're doing a bit of addition and subtraction. Language arts and math are done every day, and science, social studies, art, music, and technology (computers) are also covered. Some people don't like it because it's a little pricey, but it's very complete. You get EVERYTHING you need for the year, including pencils, paper, and art supplies. The lesson manual is awesome, and lays everything out for you. At the top of each page they list the books and supplies you'll need for the day, and each section give you details of what the lesson requires, and gives you tips. You can call Calvert during their business hours and speak to a teacher if you're having any problems. They also have an advisory teacher service (it's optional, and a substantial additional fee) where you can send in papers every so many lessons, and an advisory teacher will grade the papers, and send your child a letter. I don't feel it's necessary, but some people find it very helpful.

from lemonewton:
used this link last year to help me determine what I needed my then K to be learning:

http://www.worldbook.com/wb/Students?curriculum/kindergarten

I am a mom, therefore I am a teacher. I am a nurse by profession, not an educator. I taught my children lots of things when they were little, I continue to do so now as their homeschooling mom. Sounds like, if your child is already a "sponge" and has a love of learning, you're a pretty good teacher, don't you think? I mean, if you were a bad teacher she'd never want to learn anything else, a good teacher helps instill a love of learning, then fosters it to strengthen it.

Check in on your states laws, and enjoy the remaining time you have with your daughter until you have to begin her "formal" education. You might just find out that she will flourish under your continued instruction, and you might decide you want to remain on this path. If not, you will have created wonderful memories at home with mom when she was younger. Either way, it's a win-win situation.

from jazzymomintx:
If your dd really enjoys books and learning, and you think she is ready for something a bit scheduled, you may want to look into the following programs:

http://www.sonlight.com

http://www.fiarhq.com

http://www.heartofdakota.com

We use the Rod and Staff preschool workbooks at our house. They are simple to use, and include cutting and pasting activities. The pages are no frills, and are black and white, but my dd enjoys them.

http://www.rodandstaffbooks.com

"Back to School" Traditions

2008-08-06T15:52:00.003-04:00

from nancymc:
The week that school starts in our district, we have a "not back to school" week of fun. We get together with others from our homeschool group and do just a ton of stuff that entire week: swimming, bowling, goofy golf, last year we did a bat tour, this year we'll do a waterpark and maybe one of those indoor arcade type places, etc, etc. Just anything to celebrate NOT getting on that bus!

For our first day of actual school (which is usually a full week after the above), I always make chocolate chip pancakes with that horrible whipped topping in a can, drawn as a face. I typically have a bunch of balloons tied to their books, and little goofy gifts hidden in their stuff.

For lunch we have a dessert, which is unheard of.....one year I did a hot dog cake from FamilyFun, it looked just like a hot dog but was sweet, it was adorable. Not sure how or if to top THAT one, but it was fun.

That's all I can think of for now, mostly we try to make it fun and something to look forward to.

from kathlh:
This will be our 9th "not-back-to-school" day in September. We've varied what we've done over the years. Some years it's just a day to sleep in and have fast food for lunch while other years it's been afternoon movies or a full day of fun. I'm thinking of going into Toronto to the zoo or the Science Centre--both sure to be pretty quiet ;-) I haven't polled the troops on it yet, but I'm sure to get votes for either. I will probably do one on the first day of school and one on the following week. I had plans to do lots of trips in September of last year but family things got in the way. I have my fingers crossed for this year!

from momtomnie:
Our first year, we got up and made homemade cinnamon rolls and ate them as we watched the schoolbus go by. Now we live in a cul de sac so no school bus to watch, but we usually go to the park and meet with a homeschool group.

from teddiebear_hugs:
We have been homeschooling 3 years and haven't had any set traditions, until this year. We decided that we would make huge cinnamon rolls for lunch on the first day. Today was the first day, and the older daycare children's faces were a riot. They couldn't believe that they could eat cinnamon rolls for lunch. DS decided we should do this on the 1st day of school from now on. He actually said we should make cinnamon rolls for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the 1st day of school, but...I don't think so. ;-) The last day of school I plan on making a fancy cake or cupcakes, and having a graduation from 5th grade party. I like the idea of small presents on the 1st day. I might have to add that in next year. It would be exciting to get new pencils, colored line paper, colored pencils, etc.

from treddlesewingmachine:
Last year was the first year for us. Our virtual school didn't start until two weeks later than the public school, so we had fun going to the beach and stuff during that time. We will probably go to the Boardwalk this year (we can sleep in!) on one of the one ticket nights when most of the other kids have started school.

In the past I took photos of my daughter getting on and off the bus. Last year I had her make a sign with her grade, and "First Day" on it and we took some photos. She was really excited to start her new lessons, so we got started pretty much right away! I will probably do something similar with her and her brother this year. (Chocolate chip pancakes huh...I am not sure I want the sugar rush that brings - that will be the day we do go back to public school! Not that it is worse than the free breakfasts that they give to the kids who get free lunches!)

from bugsmomct:
Not really since we don't do school. But, several local hs groups do beach days right after Labor Day (still fairly warm, beaches are empty since kids are in school by then, parking fees go away) so we may do one or more of those. Otherwise, our years are not defined by the start of school (but I do love the back to school sales for stocking up on stuff that gets used a lot).

from two_girls_mom2007:
Yesterday was our first day for our PreKer and First Grader. I made signs saying "first day of first grade" and of PreK. I took a picture of each of them holding their sign. I did make a have a great year poster and hung up, and I cleaned out their pencil boxes and filled with new pencils and crayons. I set out a few surprises, like new erasable colored pencils that dd had wanted and a math bingo game and a workbook she didn't know I had bought. And I hung some new posters on the wall that they hadn't seen. I thought it was more fun for them to start the year with new interesting things to look at, and to be excited by them the first day. Most of the year, they help with the decor.

So I guess our only tradition is pictures :) But I do try to make the day special.

from hbbk20:
Field trips that week is great because you get the place to yourself as all the schoolers are getting locker assignments and bus schedules. Pictures are good too. I like the idea of having them wake up and having a backpack full of things to take out and work on at our table. Maybe some new Pajamas as we celebrate the idea that we don't have to be dressed and on a bus super early but can sit and have breakfast and books while the other kids have a 20-30 minute ride on a loud over stimulating over crowded bus. My kid always had headaches from the bus ride.

:) September is wonderful and still so nice outside, we also like to decorate for Fall....and celebrate that way.

from nutbunch:
We unschool so we don't start or stop school. On the first day the ps kids go back we go out for lunch and then go to the arcade. It is so quiet after the summer; it's great!

K12

2008-08-06T15:44:00.001-04:00

from summerbaby99:

We've used K12 before (for K and 2nd), and I just wanted to clarify that they do use living books for history, LA, and some science. For 2nd grade LA, dd was reading a lot of early American history with books like Chang's Paper Pony, The Josefina Story Quilt, Wagon Wheels West, and others. In history she read King Arthur (step into reading chapter book), St. Valentine, The Hundredth Name, plus many short stories on par with SOTW.

K12 Language Arts program is very fast-paced and intense, especially if you have a child who struggles in this area. My dd (now 9) continues to struggle greatly in her reading, writing, and spelling, and we were quickly overwhelmed by the amount of material there is to cover between composition, spelling, vocab, reading, and grammar. As an independent user you would have more flexibility to go at your child's pace and modify lessons as needed, but if you school through a virtual academy you may feel pressured.

I think it depends on what you want from "Distance Learning". If you're looking to be enrolled as a public or private school student with teacher oversight and an official transcript, then that would be a reason to pursue it. If you are looking for structure and accountability to someone else, that's another decent reason. If you're simply interested in a curriculum that tells you what to do, how to do it, and in what order to do it in, there are plenty of complete programs out there with quality lesson plans that take a lot of the stress of planning out of more formal homeschooling. K12 is just one of them.

from treddlesewingmachine:
I should clarify, after reading Summerbaby99, that when I was saying that we have two friends who use the K12 program through our state Virtual Acadamy who have learning differences, that both have IEPs (Individualized Education Plans) that allow them to go at a slower pace than kids that do not have IEPs. There is a lot of stuff in the Language Arts, as it gets higher that does make it harder to do if there are learning issues. One child we are friends with has severe problems with spelling - the spelling is done on one to two rules per week and this child could only remember one rule when it came time to do the test. It made it hard on her mother as up to 2nd grade, all the Language Arts are linked together. So, the mom couldn't mark the lesson complete because the girl did not pass the spelling, but had done ok on the reading, grammar and phonics. (In 3rd, there are separate books for the reading, spelling, composition, and grammar, and each has a separate progress bar. I really think that it would be much easier for the parents if the Language Arts were separate in the lower grades instead of linked.)

If your kids are bored in school, if the spouse wants to have something with transcripts or more public school like (afraid to make the jump to homeschooling) of if the teacher (mom or dad) is not real sure of their ability to teach their child because they feel they might skip something, this is a good place to start.

Apologia

2008-08-03T09:47:00.000-04:00

from momtomnie:

We have been using Apologia elementary level, as well. It' s great for working with several ages. I'm starting the one on sea creatures this year and plan to end with botany(not in the right order, I know). I like the notebooking aspect. My older dd will use the general science. It's very textbooky which we haven't done a whole lot of. But her being in 7th grade, I let her help choose, and starting to do some testing might not be a bad idea.
Someone on here recommended Home Science Tools website for science kits to get the things needed for the experiments. I ordered for all the kids. I thought the prices were great considering the price of gas and running around trying to find some of those objects. I'm not sure where to find some of those things anyway. I'm sure I would have ended up ordering individual things anyway or skipping some of the experiments. They had kits for several curriculums not just Apologia.

Science Thoughts

2008-08-02T13:53:00.003-04:00

from treddlesewingmachine:

Eyewitness Books has great books on just about everything science. There is generally one sub-subject to each pair of pages, which might be about right for him to get interested and reading. Books that we have/have read include volcanoes, minerals, ocean life, electricity, the list goes on. There are also some fairly easy readers (about your son's level) that include topics such as Pompeii, the Titanic, and lots of other science and history. Usborne has great history books on Vikings and Egyptians, Castles and Warfare that may also be appealing. I suspect that once he gets started on some exciting stuff that you will find he wants to keep reading. Once you get started on the Vikings, you could then read some of their myths, move on to Greek and Roman Myths, and then fairy tales.

from maleaab:

We combine Noeo and unit studies. Right now we have Noeo Chemistry I and it is very very easy for my nearly 10 year old. I wish I had gotten Chemistry II. Level II would probably work for your 8 and 12 yo to do together if they are able to work together or if the 8yo is motivated.
To incorporate the 5yo, I would probably try getting the Level II packages and then incorporate single books or options from the Level I packages for the 5yo.

Noeo covers chemistry, biology and physics. We haven't tried bio or physics yet but they state on their website that although they are a Christian family, they worked hard to keep their programs balanced for Christians and non-Christian's alike so I doubt if there would be much about evolution or creation in the bio package.

For unit studies, I took a workbook meant for younger kids that was about animals and created unit studies around each section. The first section is Arctic and Antarctic animals. I went through and separated the animals in the workbook into two groups and lumped the ones that migrate between the two poles in with the Arctic. Then, I printed off worksheets, puzzles, etc from the 'net to add in. I scoured our library for books on each animal, on the tundra and taiga, and so on. So far we have studied caribou and reindeer, musk ox, lemmings, ermines, and we are on polar bears now. There are also lots of great websites and dvd's available too.

from nancymc:

My daughter (10) and I have been through the first 3 elementary Apologia books (astronomy, botany, flying creatures) and we absolutely LOVE them. Her learning style leans heavily to a Charlotte Mason-ish program, so the sit together and read then do projects really works well. I'm really impressed with them.

We'll do sea creatures then whatever the last one is (land creatures I suppose) and then she'll go straight into General Science in 7th grade, so the timing has worked out well. My son began the program in 6th grade with General Science (the elementary program wasn't available then, or I didn't know about it!) and we enjoy it for him as well, but I look forward to seeing how she does doing Apologia the whole way.

I do supplement here and there with some physical science experiments, that's about my only complaint, there aren't enough of that sort of thing (atoms and electricity, etc), but that's easy enough to add in.

Creative Writing (for a younger child)

2008-08-02T13:33:00.004-04:00

from bugsmomct:

Maybe a curriculum is not so much what you need then. Perhaps, look for a book (library or bookstore) that is a general writing guide (for teens or adults is fine). Then -you- look through it and pull out the main ideas of how they go about organizing the ideas. Once you've got a summary of the processes, pick maybe one style per month (news article, short story, opinion/persuasive, etc) and work on that style for the month, with either one larger project (as in a short story) or several smaller items (maybe a letter to the editor of the local paper about something of current interest - a new playground or the cancellation of some beloved town programs). You also might consider NaNoWriMo just for fun - National Novel Writing Month - nanowrimo.org. They have a Young Writers Program as well. The full version is to get a 50000 word novel done in one month (November) - it's not about a polished result but just getting the words flowing, no endless self-editing. The Youth version encourages the young writers to work with a mentor (they say teacher and student but anyhow...) to set a realistic but challenging goal for themselves. There are forums to connect with others online even! (and writing posts and online messages, emails, etc. is a whole other writing form FWIW)

A couple of ideas that may or may not be appropriate for your needs:haiku poetry is a very specific style with specific syllable counts you have to really boil down what you want to say to the essence. It's fun but it's also a very disciplined exercise.

Precis writing (I didn't get to this until high school but it has been very useful): basically, you write a standard essay or whatever (in school it was the standard two page essay on a topic). Then you reduce the length by half, while keeping the message the same. Then reduce by half again. What you end up with is a medium to large paragraph (6 to 8 sentences) that conveys the major ideas of what you want to say. Not something for a novelist necessarily but as a tool for organizing one's ideas, it can work great.

from hbbk20:
If she has any favorite books or aurthors you could have her....write a new ending to the book with her favorite charaters. Other things for that age are writing promps you write on a slip of paper and they pull out and write a paragraph or more on.....such as What is your favorite.....color, flavor, neighbor, summer time activity then she can write from there. Maybe ask your librarian for a resource in writing they are very helpful with things like this. Does she illustrate? My kids do a lot of illustration with their free writing, especially my oldest who does this on her own for fun. I would keep it as a fun thing more than a school work task, and try and keep it creative and low on criticism. No problem having her correct punctuation or spelling(editing) afterwards but don't knock the content LOL! She will probably be self critical of it and need time to go back and re-work it as she grows her ideas in the story.

from triplyblessed:
Have you seen the workbooks from Excellence in Writing? They are themed workbooks designed to help kids write. The one we have has DD pick out parts of stories and organise them in outlines and then re-tell the story. I believe they start at early elementary age.

from two_girls_mom2007:

I got at the Scholastic book sale a Scholastic book for creative writing for 1st - 3rd graders. There is a writing idea for every letter of the alphabet, actually more than one for some. They are reproducible sheets of themed paper to go with the idea as well. I think it would be young for a 3rd grader, but perfect for a 1st grader. Maybe you could find it on their website. If you are interested, let me know, and I will find the exact name of it for you.
Ideas include comparing and contrasting animals. Book reports. Holiday themed paragraphs (V for valentine's day). all kinds of different things. In the back it gives the basic symbols for editing as well.

from cl-susanmercy:
How about if you let her pick out a pretty journal, and then give her daily journal prompts so she can write in her journal (or dictate her entries to you if she'd rather do it that way). Letter of the Week has daily journal prompts for 6-8 year olds, organized by the month. (I think I need to re-visit these prompts for my ds, who loves to write in his journal but only does it sporadically ;-)

from kbmomto3:
I set up a writer's workshop, as described here, for my dd. It was great because it taught her the basics of writing in a very step-by-step manner and was totally self-paced. It sounds like it might be just the thing for your dd.

Spelling

2008-08-02T13:28:00.002-04:00

from mom2adeline:

I've spent hours studying different spelling programs and didn't like any of them--thank goodness for online samples!! I have been using Dr. Fry's 1000 Instant Words--The most common words for teaching, reading, writing, and spelling. The book gets progressively harder and is divided into groups of five words. I usually ask her to learn 5 to 10 words at a time. She is free to pick her method for learning and then I ask her to spell for me. We've also used the dictionary for spelling. I just pick words and ask her to spell. We go over spelling rules as I encounter the need for it.

from mykidsmom8898:
I bought Spelling Power when we first started homeschooling about a 1 1/2 years ago, but for us personally it has been a waste of time and money. My son was in public school from K to the middle of 3rd grade, and I was surprised that he was never given much in the way of spelling test. He's a decent speller, but what works best for us is dictation. My son gets to practice his typing skills, learn good punctuation and practice his spelling. We are very relaxed homeschoolers so it works for us.

from cl-susanmercy:
We've been using Spelling Power for several years now. DD and I both like how the words are organized by spelling rule, and we also like that you don't have to drill a spelling list for a week and then test on Friday. Practicing just the words that trip her up has been a big boost for her! We did a a hiatus from Spelling Power for a few months (we took a trip down the Sequential Spelling road) but by mutual decision, returned to Spelling Power, which was a much better fit for us.

Math

2008-08-02T13:23:00.004-04:00

from hbbk20:

My 12 year old....really did not like the Math approach at regular school, has trouble with rote memory and had little interest in textbook type problem after problem. The first year we did lots of non-text Math...so I could prove to her she could do math! We did kitchen Math, Workshop measuments, measuring and weighing and comparing, Math at the grocery store with comparisons....we did a lower level summer catch-up series as our only paperwork and still had to go slowly.

Then we went to "Developmental Math" and "Key to" series MAth with extra print outs, to add in to doing our hands on Math....this was very Mastery type but in the Developmental way. It gave lots of real world examples and makes it real...finally I have caught her making up problems and seeing Math as something she can handle, getting Math confidence back. She still has memory issues with rote memory and "facts" so we let her use a lot of Math charts so she can see the numbers in relation to other numbers...as she is more visual and kinsthetic, we have used the Math blocks....esp when teaching her little sister "Miquon" series math and my 12 year old will say....oh that is how that works, from her little sisters lessons with Miquon so we all love thiat series.

YET, it takes a lot of time and for my 1st grader I wanted to add something else to Math. This year is the first year I am using a big program for my 12 year old in Math. I decided to go with "Teaching Textbooks grade 7" because I want her to try and do more on her own now that she is less afraid or discouraged. For this year in 2nd grade we are going to still use Miquon but also add in a Horizons page or two, she will get the fun and discovery method we love with Miquon and also get more of a traditional method with Horizon mixed in and I hope she will have the patience for both this year. My new K kid will watch our Miquon lessons as she has done last year and also has the K series Horizons book but I will let her go at a pace that works for her. She likes numbers and has been exposed to good, happy, Math play and little frustration so hopefully we can keep up the good work.

from cl-phacademy:
Saxon was great for my oldest, but torture for DS2. We switched to Singapore, and he was much happier. When DS3 came along and was needing math, we used Singapore. It works well for him, but sometimes is a bit too fast paced for him. When I see him needing extra help, we pull out other materials, and supplement for a while. It usually doesn't take more than a week, then we're back to Singapore. I like that a lot of problems are shown different ways so the child can work the best way for him.

from cl-susanmercy:
We've done a bit of flip-flopping (Singapore to MUS and then back to Singapore) and I don't see that it hurt dd in any way. Moving to MUS got her solid in multiplication/division, which she was struggling with. It was at her request for this year that we moved back to Singapore.

from thesummerhouse:
Have you looked at Horizons? it's reasonably priced, it's colorful..with a good amount of practice. From there we went to ALEKs math online as they got older. We love ALEKS!!! They offer a 1 month free trial for homeschoolers. It's soo different from other program out there. It was developed by a professor from UC Irvine and it uses artificial intelligence. My kid used it from 6-10th grades-up through Algebra 2.

from m00minmamma:

You might look into Teaching Textbooks. It's got about 120 lessons per grade level, so the expectation of one lesson per day would be clear and reasonable. It can be completely computer-based, completely paper-based or anywhere in between.

We actually didn't like TT much because we found it was tough to skim through unnecessary explanations and practice that my kids didn't need -- my kids were used to a very quick pace of presentation and mastery through Singapore Math. But for families that are looking for daily structure and reinforcement, especially with a learner who wishes to work independently, TT is a great choice. They have a good demo on their website.

from kathlh:
Math-u-see is laid out with one page per day in mind. You'd need to look at the programme to get an idea where your ds would start. We've only used it in the Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1&2 and Geometry levels so far. We don't have experience with any of the lower levels but I know others here have.

from nancymc:

We're big Math U See fans here, so definitely look into that one. I do think you can expect some transition issues at first with any program you look into, with any of these programs they will have to adjust to the way the information is presented (which is more than likely MUCH different than ps).

Look at the placement test for MUS and see where he is there as well, the approach to it is much different than TT however, in that it uses a mastery approach, focusing on one area all year (for example, one year on division...one on fractions, etc). It does spiral in old concepts each week, but just for review. My kids do well with this approach, there is enough of the old to keep their skills current but not so much they get irritated.

In MUS there are 3 or 4 pages of new concepts only, then a few that include the new plus review. Word problems are a big part too, they are on every page. For my kids I have them watch the DVD, then do the first page of the new concept (called lesson practice), if it's clear to me that they have the new concept, we move onto the systematic review pages. Sometimes we spend the entire week on that lesson, sometimes they do the test after just a few days, it's really easy to judge when they have it and when they need to spend more focused time. I do always make them do at least one page of systematic review so that they are practicing both new stuff and old stuff.

Anyway, my point in all that long-winded information is that with this program it's been easy for me to teach the new and review the old without it getting tedious. I'm sure that's true with most programs, but I know that many programs believe in a LOT of review, and a LOT of problems each day, which my son would thoroughly balk at, so this works well for him.

It's also just a logical approach to math, which I appreciate, lots of real life applications, my kids instinctually get math, and I almost do too!

from arachnea:

We loved Lial- and for his level- Lial Basic Mathmetics.

We used Lial with our youngest dd who LOVES math! They are college books- don't be put off by that they are soooo well explained and I was able to find used one easily- teachers and students. Many of my friends switched to it and their kids thanked us for finding something that THEY could understand from the lesson instructions.

It covers everything he will need to be sucessful in higher maths.

As far as too much review- keep in mind texts include those for kids who need it. If your child has mastered them skip the review sections! Or do them once a week- or do one problem from each section. Be flexible and use whatever you choose to buy in a way that suits your child.
We used all of this series as well as Calculus with her. At 16 when she was taking placement tests for Dual Enrollment she tested out of all her college algebra courses. The test administrator came to talk to me and wanted to know what school she went to! When I told him- homeschool and we use Lial he said Ahhhhh no wonder she did so well on the tests!

My older two used her books to help them through their college math courses. Often the books their professors choose were not as well laid out.

Here is the link to their Algebra series http://www.lialalgebra.com/ you can see examples and read more about them her.

Here is a link to their free online text tutorials- http://www.interactmath.com/asp/wizardframe.htm
It would give you an idea of what the coursework. You have to install a small program (also free) to run it- but you can work through problems with it.

Organization and Home Management

2008-08-02T13:15:00.000-04:00

from cl-phacademy:

I don't "do" schedules for our homeschooling. I think I probably do a lot like you... just go with it. The way I manage to feel like I'm doing something, or doing right by my son, is to write down what we did- after it is done. Schedules didn't work, and if I write down before we do stuff, I end up erasing or using white-out (I tend to use a pen nowadays). I used to use a teacher planner book from an office store, but a couple of years ago, I made my own pages up using a microsoft word or publisher. I print the blamk pages out, and 3-hole punch them and put them in a binder. If I leave it open on a table with a pen, I can remember to write in it. I can see that I'm doing stuff, even when I feel like I'm not doing a lot. Having subjects lined up by day helps me to see what we have done, and what we still need to do so I don['t forget anything. Some people call this way of doing things "journalling".

When I started off, I bought a pocket-size notepad, and dated the top of a page and wrote things down as a list of things done. Each day, I'd start a new page. Sometimes I'd write a page, sometimes more, sometimes less. Then I moved on to planner books, then to my current printed-myself format. When I was homeschooling all 3 of my boys, I bought a planner book for each boy so there would be plenty of room to write, and besides, it made it easier to distinguish who was doing what. This may sound complicated, but it was the easiest way for me to feel organized without doing a lot.

Another thing I did was buy plastic bins. These are about a 3 gallon size. I removed the lids, and stand the books in them upright, so the books stick out the top. The books are about the width of the bin, so it looks fairly neat. If you have 2 bins, you can move the completed books into the second bin, and it makes it easy to select something else that needs done. If you are using computer programs or online resources, get a piece of cardboard and write on it what the subject or program is, and place it in the bin so it isn't forgotten. When you're done, the empty bin can be stacked under teh now full one, and you can move the books into the other bin the next day. This keeps materials together so they don't get lost, too. (we used to have a problem with misplaced books).

The tv... we used to have that problem- me included. My solution was to get a piece of fabric and cover the tv up- out of sight, out of mind. It didn't come off until things were done. This helped me to realize that tv really was sucking us in for a lot of wasted time. Now the fabric is gone, but the tx isn't on all the time either. We established a good habit and have managed to keep it.

Hsing While Pregnant

2008-08-02T13:13:00.000-04:00

from jennyberm:

While I do try to keep everyone busy and involved in classes and such (because that's one less kid I have to watch during that time), I make sure we have at least two days a week where we have nothing to do. Last week, we actually had three days with nothing that "had to" be done except for one morning ballet class and by the end of those three days I felt like a new woman. The days suddenly had 24 hours again instead of about 6, lol. I also have a park day on Fridays that I NEVER miss. Kids have to be dying for me not to go to that park day because it's the one place we can go and ALL relax and it's at the point in the week when I need that the most. The last two weeks I've been trying to get everyone doing a chore chart too and that's made a difference. It's takes some of the load off of me to do everything and it puts a bit of routine in the day too (I have them set out as morning, afternoon, and evening chores, nothing really specific). I balk at routine too and can never stick with one but just having the things to do laid out like that and check-off-able makes things go a little smoother.

Reading

2008-08-02T13:08:00.004-04:00

from jujsky:

Hooked on Phonics Pre-K was really good for my DD. We started her on it right after she turned 3. She already knew a lot of her capital letters prior to starting. I mostly liked HOP for the games. They had a lot of creative games like Letter Lake (you stick paperclips on the letter cards then fish for them with a magnet) Hop to the Letter (spread the letters out on the floor and hop to them) Go Fish, Musical Letters (like musical squares), and Letter Labels (you give the child post-its with letters on them and they have to label things in the house that start with each letter).
The reason DD knew so many of her letters before we started HOP was due to playing with bathtub letters, and watching the Leap Frog Letter Factory video. That video teaches phonics as well.

from mizzou_mommy:
Starfall is very popular in my house. It's one the tools that helped my DD learn to read. She liked the the Leapfrog videos - Letter Factory, Word Factory and Storybook Factory, too. DS watches them now, too. He's 2.5 and is sounding out CVC words and has a slew a sight words. They are only allowed to watch one hour of tv plus 30 mins. each of computer time per day. We, also, read together a *lot*.

Preschool

2008-08-02T12:47:00.001-04:00

from jazzymomintx:

I think you are on the right track with not getting anything to formal just yet. Preschoolers learn so much through play and interaction with parents.
My preschoolers all loved Kumon workbooks. I used Rod and Staff preschool books with her last year, and she has really enjoyed those as well. She asks to "do school" everyday and gets disappointed if we don't have time. The workbooks are really simple and require zero prep work. They involve cutting and coloring activities. They are black and white, though.
http://www.rodandstaffbooks.com/

Here are some other tips for homeschooling preschool.

from ummibrahim:

Free play w/ various building toys/puzzles/dress up/ etc., Read Read Read together, playdough & other sensory play, water play, library story time, nature walks, bake/cook together, daily living tasks, have lots of art supplies available to explore, have fun!...avoid worksheets and 'crafts'. keep it open ended and child-centered.

K12

2008-08-02T12:44:00.002-04:00

from momwifefriendedie:

did use K12 for Laura Beth for her K year. It's a great program based on those core concepts by Hirsch (?). It was for the most part engaging and it definitely based it's phonics reading approach on a multisensory system which is great for even those kids with dsylexia and it was all free. The downside it that it definitely had structure and guidelines to follow so it felt like school. Of course, that could be because my child does have learning problems so all work feels like work to us.

from treddlesewingmachine:
used it last year for my 2nd grade daughter who was reading much higher. She was able to do third grade language arts (so that she wasn't skipping too much material.) She also was able to "assess" (take the lesson assessments) for a bunch of the math so that she was able to skip over the beginning of the year review that was totally boring for her because she played math computer games all summer. She loves the science and history, and art was fun too. Music was the only subject that we didn't care for because it was very slow. My son will be starting 1st grade this year with the same program. We also have several friends with learning disabilities who use the program and are progressing pretty well because they can go slowly, but completely. (The only issue that one child has is that she has some visual processing issues and the materials do not come in large type, and type actually gets smaller as the grades go up. But she is working around that.) My kids seem challenged by the program, and we can do as much or little of the activities as we want as long as they can answer the questions for the assessments at the end of each lesson. (That was how we ended up doing music, I taught just the objectives, then we tested. This year we had the option of switching to a language so we will be doing Spanish instead.)
Some people feel overwhelmed by the program, especially with multiple kids, but there is leeway in what you have to do. If a child understands the math with a simple explanation, don't do all the exercises that they recommend. Likewise with grammar or spelling.
I like the classical/core approach - very good reading material, complete and not totally Eurocentric History, science with an experiment almost every lesson. Art and music have classical works that they look/listen and compare. I feel that the curriculum is much better than what my public school offered, (my daughter came home at the end of the 1st grade year with a science notebook that had not been written in, too much emphasis on state testing, too little on science and the world around, no art or music, etc.)
We get ours through a charter school, so we get it free. It means that my son gets his speech therapy and OT, but we also have to do state testing and show weekly progress. (There are ways around that too!) My daughter really loves it, and my very active son is excited to start in the fall, and more excited that he will be learning some things that his sister did not have because she didn't start at the beginning! If you are considering this, find someone else who is in the program and look at their materials, and online lessons. (Lots of the lower grades material is not online.) I really like this program, but if I get in the situation I have to pay for it, I think I am going to look for other curriculum because this one is so expensive because of all the online things that make planning and use easy to do.

Sonlight

2008-08-02T12:40:00.003-04:00

from thesummerhouse:

Have you looked at Sonlight? They use a lot of literature-you get to read to your kids. When my boys were young, they would color or draw while I read to them. I have 2 boys so I know they love to move. I would also suggest reading For the Children's Sake. She talks about doing 15 minutes per subject in the younger years.
My sons are now 14 and 16. I would just have to say...enjoy them now. It's all worth it and I would do it all again.
A friend told me about it when I started homeschooling 5 years ago. They scedule out the reading and lessons on either a 4 or 5 day plan. I use the 4 day and leave Fridays open for fun classes, field trips and dr. appts.
With Sonlight you won't have to spend much time planning. Take a look at their catalog-all real books. And it will be fun for you too.
Then add in maybe Horizon Math, Handwriting and some science and you are all set.

from cl-susanmercy:

We use Sonlight, and it's great--my kids do something active while I read to them--ride their scooters or bikes, swing, draw, build with Legos, make jewelry, play with clay, etc. I can't imagine making either one of them sitting for long periods of time. They can, of course, if necessary--but I save that for things away from home, like church, honors choir, etc.

from mommy24angels:

We bought the P3/4 Newcomer package and love it!!! We have a 2 and 3 yo so I thought we'd get lots of use out of them. I asked all the grandparents to chip in and bought it as a bday present when Colton turned 3 in April. I'd totally recommend it. Even my 10 and 13 yo listen in on some of the stories :-) Have fun!!!

from leach0976:
We have used pieces of P 3/4 this summer as a warm up for this fall when we will be using P 4/5. My kids love the collection books and we have read them over and over this summer! I didn't use an IG, we just did our own thing. I let the kids choose the stories, and some days we read 5 or 6 books other days we read only a couple of pages. My DD 3 (4 next month) loves all the stories we are reading, and our 5 and 6 yr old DS love them too. Even our 12 and 10 yr old love listening in for story time!

Carletta's Website

2008-08-02T12:38:00.003-04:00

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/

Chock full of great info on everything from getting started, to curriculum, to learning styles, to dealing with naysayers--and lots of stuff between!

Abeka

2008-08-02T12:24:00.001-04:00

from jazzymomintx:

I am worried that you are setting yourself up for failure with the Abeka DVD program. If your child does not like sitting for long periods of time, the Abeka DVD program is not going to be a good fit, especially not at the level where you have to move at Abeka's pace. If you do choose the DVD program, for your own sanity, go with the one where you can move at your own pace.
It sounds like you may feel intimidated by the thought of teaching your children and keeping them on track, but it is really so simple. Programs like Abeka come with lesson plans that tell you exactly what to do/say. I am not at all telling you not to use the DVD program. I just want you to know that you are capable of teaching on your own. That being said, go with the DVD program if that's what you really want to use. It really could work out well for you. But if it doesn't work out, don't consider yourself a failure at homeschooling, just realize it may be the teaching method that isn't a good fit.

I do not have anything against Abeka - it is actually the program we use and love. But I do think moms can set themselves up for failure with this program. It contains MANY schoolish activities that are just unnecessary and will take a long time to complete. We probably do 1/4 of the work the lesson plans call for and it has been MORE than enough to teach my son everything he needs to know.

Make sure you understand the concept of busy work. Abeka lesson plans contain plenty of activities that are just that - stuff that is just meant to keep your child busy and does not add anything to the learning experience. Learn to identify this stuff and skip it - especially if you have a wiggly little boy. Don't feel like you have to do all of your lessons at the kitchen table. You can read to him while he plays with playdoh, digs in the sandbox, plays with matchbox cars, etc.

Kindergarten Resources

2008-08-02T11:50:00.005-04:00

from cl-susanmercy:

Here are some kindergarten resources that I have saved:
A Kids Heart http://www.akidsheart.com/
Alphabet Activities http://millennium.fortunecity.com/plumpton/304/home.html
Alphabet Letters http://www.littlegiraffes.com/alphabetletters.html
Ambleside Online Year 0 http://amblesideonline.org/00.shtml
Bry-Back Manor http://www.bry-backmanor.org/
Creation Kids http://creationkids.5u.com/
Course of Study--Kindergarten http://homeschooling.about.com/cs/learning/p/coursek.htm
Early Childhood Printables http://www.earlychildhoodprintables.com/main.html
Homeschooling Kindergarten http://homeschooling.about.com/cs/kindergarten/a/kindergarten.htm?nl=1
Letter of the Week http://www.letteroftheweek.com/
Starfall http://www.starfall.com
Story Sacks http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/homemadebooks/l/blstorysindex.htm
Story Stretchers http://www.youcanteach.com/storystretchers.php

Preschool Resources

2008-08-02T11:45:00.004-04:00

from cl-susanmercy:

Here are some preschool resources that I have saved--

A Kids Heart http://www.akidsheart.com/
Alphabet Activities http://millennium.fortunecity.com/plumpton/304/home.html
Abecedarian Academy http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Forest/2468/index.html
Alphabet Letters http://www.littlegiraffes.com/alphabetletters.html
Ambleside Online Year 0 http://amblesideonline.org/00.shtml
Bry-Back Manor http://www.bry-backmanor.org/
Creation Kids http://creationkids.5u.com/
Course of Study--Preschool http://homeschooling.about.com/cs/learning/p/coursep.htm
Early Childhood Printables http://www.earlychildhoodprintables.com/main.html
First-School http://www.first-school.ws/
Letter of the Week http://www.letteroftheweek.com
Muddle Puddle http://www.muddlepuddle.co.uk/
Preschool Science http://www.reachoutmichigan.org/funexperiments/quick/preschool.html
Preschool by Stormie http://preschoolbystormie.com/
Preschool Express http://www.preschoolexpress.com/index.shtml
Preschool Activities http://www.quakeroatmeal.com/qo_familyFocus/quakerToddlers/toddlerActivities/index.cfm
Preschool Resources http://homeschooling.about.com/od/preschool/Preschool_Resources.htm
Story Sacks http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/homemadebooks/l/blstorysindex.htm
Story Stretchers http://www.youcanteach.com/storystretchers.php

Entertaining Little Ones

2008-08-02T11:36:00.003-04:00

from cl-susanmercy:

Here are some ideas I have saved for entertaining younger ones while working with your older children--

http://www.homeschoolchristian.com/Features/Preschoolers.html
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Aegean/3446/keeplittleones.html
http://www.redshift.com/~bonajo/michelle_preschool.htm
http://www.jeanniefulbright.com/Preschool.html
http://www.quakeroatmeal.com/qo_familyFocus/quakerToddlers/toddlerActivities/index.cfm
http://www.earlychildhoodprintables.com/main.html

Entertaining Little Ones

2008-08-02T11:18:00.001-04:00

from kbmomto3:

We began hs'ing when my oldest was starting 2nd grade and I had a 3 year old and one-year-old who wanted to be in everything that we were doing. Here are a couple of great sites with ideas on how to entertain the little one:
http://www.redshift.com/~bonajo/preschool_activities.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/mo/sasschool/preschoolers.html
And, of course, I can't say enough about crayons, coloring pages, Play-doh and nap times! ;-)

from bookworm_mom2006:
Have a few boxes/tubs of "school time only" toys/manipulatives/etc. that he can play with during lessons. Set him up outside with containers and water. Ummmm.... are there any videos he really likes? Thomas the Train? Give him (toddler) scissors and a pile of old paper. Just little busy activities that he can just go for.