Welcome to week "P" of blogging through the alphabet, I'm so delighted that you have stopped by to visit with Amanda and I through this whole endeavor. How are you doing with it eh?
Anyways, recently my son attended the Project fair for our local homeschool co-op. His project was all about his cactus.
Part of the gig was for children to answer questions about their presentation, and one of the questions asked was "does Canada have any native cacti species." The lad hadn't researched that idea so had no clue, people offered guesses, most saying no it didn't, but I did google and showed the lad the response. Did you know we have FOUR cacti species? In British Columbia, Manitoba and in Ontario? I KNOW!!! A total shocker!!! In Ontario we have the Eastern Prickly Pair Cactus...and low and behold guess what! On Sunday we had a preaching engagement up in Kingsville which is REALLY close to Point Pelee.. the home of the Eastern Prickly Pear so we actually got to see some! I know! AH!!!! My boy child was SO delighted!!!
It could be found everywhere it seemed, but the lad did some research on it when we got home and found out that its on the Ontario Endangered Species list. Habitat loss and human interference play a big role in it's demise, with invasive species NOT helping matters at all. So if you see it growing in Ontario LEAVE IT ALONE!!! Don't trample it, don't dig it up, just enjoy it in it's native environment and pull out those nasty invasive plants that want to crowd it out! Let it enjoy the sandy dunes, and open sun, and let it flower. Let it fruit and spread it seeds (even if the fruit is edible). Just let it do it's thing and help it along instead of hindering it. Let other boys, like my son, be delighted in discovering cacti in Ontario!!!!
So what'd'ya say... do you have a "P" post? Come on in and join us won't you? We're delighted to have you stop in. :)
Imagine taking an art class in the comfort and freedom of your own home... professional lessons, art lessons for children, provided by ArtAchieve. I don't know if you remember that the lad and I reviewed this last year, and were delighted to review for ArtAchieve again, this year broaching the Entire Level III. Boy.. has it been fun. :)
One of the things I love, after various conversations with John, is how he holds true to his statements. He believes anyone can learn to draw, that it is not a skill only for the talented but for anyone. It's a necessary skill that improves one's abilities in many other subjects. He structures his lessons in such a way that if you want to learn to draw a cat, your cat will LOOK like a cat. :) At the same time, he leaves plenty of room for creative self-expression, so the cat you draw will be YOUR cat, not his, not your neighbours, but all yours. Learning to draw means paying attention to what you are observing, it means thinking creatively which spills over to other subjects. Doing art helps you cover history, geography, literature and more. I know it has helped us in our Canadian Studies! :) Come.. explore ArtAchieve with us, won't you? Once you have logged into ArtAchieve you will be brought to a page with all your lessons.
Each lesson, if you click on the (+) sign opens into usually four sections.
The way you approach the lesson influences which version you use. My son wasn't keen on the video as he needed to stop and start it all the time. He would rather not do that. He quickly learned that the powerpoint version worked best for him. One slide at a time with little dots below that he could shift between. He could quickly skip ahead to see the final result or he could jump a few buttons back to review that he did a step properly.
The son was busy.. ever so busy with having fun about the armadillo as a turtle rabbit. I raise rabbits so he was bugging me about how many some of them might want to become turtles so I better watch out for turtle rabbits. AND DON'T get him started on the German.. oh my!!!! 11 year olds and their sense of humour eh? We could just see those little armoured turtle rabbits running around. It just made us laugh together. :) Each lesson John adds these "curriculum connectors" as I call them, where he gives some of the history of the animal used, or the art form involved. He throws in history, geography, science and what not. Art is such a cross-curricular subject and it just neat to see the Cross Curricular Connections he makes.
Each lesson starts off the same (except for the stop action lesson at the end of level three). A line drawing to complete (so you can practice drawing the parts of the subject matter) and a supplies list. You can also find a supply list for all the lessons under supplies when you login, though I found it wasn't as complete as the in-lesson supply list.
We ran into one lesson where we didn't have the acrylic paints needed so I emailed John to find out how necessary they were or if we could make do with oil or tempura paints, or if pencil crayons might work as well. He said "Go ahead all those will work". :) So we did. I just love art programs that are accommodating as that's how I approach art! I figure what is important.. the medium or the learning the style taught? Granted, if a lesson is about HOW to do work with pastels.. well..then you want to use pastels. But this lesson was about how to do form lines and plain lines so the materials used didn't matter quite as much.
Each lesson contains a different art lessons, whether about form lines, working in 3rds, or working with different mediums like glue and aluminum foil. The art lessons are short and illustrated well. The lad and I finished two projects. We worked through them slowly as that helps my perfectionist son take the time that needs to do a job well.
For this project we were supposed to draw an armadillo.
But the lad wanted to do a pokemon character and I thought
I'd try a cat. The lad helped with the cat feet as I was struggling with them,
I helped the lad with curving the leaves of his Oddish.
The lad thoroughly enjoyed this project once he saw it finished!
This totem project was a time-taker.
We did one section at a time to draw, doing the black form lines went quickly.
The lad was hesitant about doing the colour, until he started
and then he figured out how he wanted it to go.
One of the things I really appreciated was how John showed us different options for how a finished project might look. Sometimes they were quite different from each other but it drove home how different people do can do the same art project and have it turn out completely differently. It gave the lad the freedom he needed to do his OWN art. We talked alot doing each art piece, discussing methods, colour, types of pencils, marker yes or not, how to make easy lines within a colour (use white crayon!) and so much more. We learned alot about the Pacific coast people. Here's a bit we learned while doing our totem poles.
In fact we actually have a problem... we don't agree on which project we should do next... should it be the frog (the lad) or the Canada geese (me)? We can put a Canadian spin on both you know? :)
I have to admit, I'm looking forward to when we do the Canada Goose lesson, check out some of the Cross Curricular Connections we'll be able to do. We'll be able to visit websites to learn facts about geese, do a character study via youtube, read good books about geese, and more. I can see us looking up Canada Geese migrating and perhaps finding out why some geese stick around all winter! You find this under the art lessons tab.
If you are intrigued by ArtAchieve I strongly urge you to try out the free lesson! See for yourself if John's way of teaching works well for you. :) Really.. you won't regret it!
Vendor: ArtAchieve Product Name and Links: Entire Level III Cost For Level Three: Individual Lesson $6 each, bundles of three for $16, or the entire course for $58.50 Received: One Year of Level III.
This month has seemed very busy, so I'm trying to recall what all we read this month. Not as much as some months. :)
Oh.. before I begin I have to tell you this funny story. I told my mom-in-law how much we enjoyed the book Irish Chain... and suggested she read it. She's about 78 years old and she liked this book so much she stayed up all night. Oh my...she looked so tired and frail but wow.. she was full of her enjoyment of it. :) Gave her and the lad much to talk about. It took her four days to recover from her reading adventure. :) So what else did we read this month? We're continuing our natural world adventures with Natural world. We're in the midst of learning about a variety of birds. It was rather interesting today, we had recently learned about swallows, and today we saw some swallows in real life. My lad was fascinated!
The lad is continuing to read through Shepherd, Potter, Spy and Star-Namer. Tells me he likes it. His bed-time reading is all about the Warrior Cat series by Erin Hunter. At breakfast we are reading the Golden Goblet. So far this book has us very intrigued. Has the lad asking lots of questions about why the boy's brother has to be so mean. I'm glad my lad doesn't really understand such cruelty.. he hasn't experienced it. I'm also pleased that it bothers him as much as it does me. We are also reading a book about animals in urban life (very interesting), a book about Canada (a bit young but the lad asks questions so good), and a book about muskoxen (more fascinating than you might think). OH... And we are also reading a second book in the Rip and Red series (review coming soon). I don't have pics as the books are upstairs in my sleeping sons room. I have just started a new book: A Train in Winter. I picked it up at the hospital's rummage sale. I was hoping it would be written as a novel, but it wasn't. Still interesting, but won't be as fun a read. Well..I phrased that poorly.. as reading about women in the French resistance who were shipped to a death camp from the Nazi's wouldn't ever be a "FUN" read, but more clinical I guess this will be. So far it's been a good explanation as to why the French started to resist so much against German occupation. Oh Remember Fledgling from last month? I have the boys hooked, so we're listening to it on MP3's in the car! They like it so much we're into book two! AND they are mad that I want to listen ahead to book three so my listening fun has been curtailed a bit. :( Avian is not a book for young listeners though as there is a fairly NASTY fellow in the book who likes hurting people. But Javed holds true to who he is learning he really is, even if others warn him not to be. A compelling story that the lad says "NO drive around the block, drive longer!! PLEASE!!!!"
I also read a Valdemar compendium.. thoroughly enjoyed it. :) Tempest. It's fun to read fan fiction.. to see what people come up with that's in the light of the whole series.
Some of the stories are really well done, others just leave you wondering "what were they thinking!!!" cause it seems so off.
This one was quite well done.
And that's all I have in my brain for now. NOTE! A linky is up at the end of the post so... join in!
The
Homeschool Review Crew does word prompts for Instagram fun, I think
it's great to have these words prompts for doing quick posts. :) I
find them fun as sometimes it surprises me where my brain goes. :) Today's word: Springtime. Let's follow my thoughts along the way eh?
Saturday: We'd had tentative plans to go to a home and garden show but life proved very busy this week so we stayed home. I got some gardening done, the lad worked on some big minecraft project he has going, and hubby did something (honestly can't remember.. OH right.. he worked on a sermon).
Sunday: Hubby preached at a wee tiny church, they fed us lunch, I looked around in their church and oh my goodness it was beautiful in the main sanctuary!!!
I went for a walk in the afternoon with the lad from what I recall. Oh I did! I took some pictures of the flowers etc that I saw along the way.
Monday: Kumon Math Pre-Algebra, The Typing Coach, Reading from Shepherd, Spy, Potter and the Star Namer, Smartick, Veritas Press History and Bible, and... something else that neither of us can remember. :) He then went off to visit gramma while Dad and I kibitized about town .. We had lunch at 168 Sushi, went for a walk, and kept ourselves busy for a spell. When we got home the lad wanted to go for a walk with me so out we headed, walking around the dam and it's lake.
We watched this really interesting video while doing our Art Achieve.
The
lad's turn to make supper so he learned to make hamburger buns from
scratch as he wants to have hamburgers for supper, and we went for walk. The Lad had a hoot helping to make buns this afternoon, and I learned that girls and boys have a different perspective on kneading bread. :) The lad asked "Do you think it could be a good weapon? Imagine it stuck to the visor of a knight's helmet!"
Wednesday:
I spent the morning at the Foodbank and the lad stayed home to work on his Cacti Presentation for the Project Fair Friday night. In the evening he has karate and I'll be going to the Hospital Rummage Sale. Hubby had an appreciation luncheon to go to at one of the Nursing homes he helps preach at. I found six books and 6 shirts at the sale. I went looking for shirts that would work as scrum around the house and rabbitry as almost all my old shirts have holes that my lad is telling me I shouldn't have holes, so I'm thinking they aught to be dumped eh? (turned into rabbitry or shop rags more likely)
After the luncheon hubby mowed the rather large church lawn... took forever it seemed. The lad accompanied him so he could pick up all the big branches and get them out of dad's way. I mowed the lawn at home... boy... it's always a slog doing the first few cuts of the year...the grass is so thick in the back. But it's done and it looks SO much better. I was able to enjoy the flowers in the front yard while I cut though. :)
Thursday:
Schooling and gardening. It was a simple but focused day. Oh, we started a new studying using SchoolhouseTeachers.com as Veritas Press Bible course is done for the year. The lad tightened up his Cacti presentation and I took some pictures of the rabbits. We also went for a walk around town. I was reminded WHY I like walking trails as my feet were sore by the time we got home walking around in town on the sidewalks.
Friday:
The last day of HOPE day Co-op.. ever so depressing... I like having a co-op to teach and do things with and seeing the creativity in others just boggles my mind. :)
Do you think a building could be designed like a basket, or that a secret base could be built into a snow bank? How about going to the bathroom over the ocean? What if you wanted to explore natural architecture like the Great Barrier Reef? Man-made, or found in creation, Curious Constructions can be found all over the world.
So why would you have a building built to look like a huge basket? What is the reasoning for a giant steel door sticking out of the snow? How long can it take to build one church? Questions about the pyramids? Want to know more about Desert Breath? All these questions and more are answered in this marvellous book. 50 interesting constuctions from places like Puerto Rico, Egypt, the USA, England and France and even up to outer space.
Each construction is discussed over a two page spread with a large picture on one side and a good deal of information on the other side.
This was a dry academic read, humour was readily apparent throughout. Good bite-sized facts to delight and intrigue.... in fact I'd love to walk around that basket building!
Honestly.. this a neat book that Michael Hearst has put together. Matt Johnstone's illustrations bring it all to life. I learned about different types of bridges, the world's biggest skate ramp, science machines, underwater restaurants, and lego constructions. There is so much information in here to delight not only your 8-12 year olds, but to delight you as well. :)
I saw the word More I saw the word More and I just said NO. No, I don't want more. I have enough. I don't need more to fill my plate. To give me less time for me and mine.
No .. late night blogging No.. looking for work No.. Can you do this? No.. mowing the lawn No.. pulling the weeds. I'm done, I don't want more. So NO I don't want MORE. I DON'T I yelled this loud inside my head. I DON'T WANT MORE. But then my reason took hold. Reason that said.. I do want more. I want more walks with a talkative young man. I want more weekends away with my beloved. I want more depth to my relationship with God. I want more flowers to bloom in the spring. I want more people to not have to use the foodbank. I want more churches filled with people deeply in love with the Lord. So my NO, became a more quiet.. Yes. Yes I do want more. I want more of the right things. And less. oh... I want less of the things. That weigh me down. I want more sermons preached from my hubby. I want more grins of delight. I want more conversations that fill me with hope. So oh yes... I do indeed WANT MORE! This want becomes a yell within. I WANT MORE!!! Indeed. Gracious Heavenly Father GIVE ME MORE!
This year on the Homeschool Review Crew I've been getting to know Carol. A while back she invited me to guest post on her blog and so I did! She's a really nice lady. Check it out here eh? The Chains of History.
I've been going through The Excellent Wife by Martha Pearce, you can find the rest of the series here. This week we are on Chapter Five: A Wife's Understanding of Marriage.
In this chapter we learn how a husband and wife are to minister to each other as they pursue God's goal for marriage together.
Just what is God's goal for marriage? Oneness and Spiritual Growth.
This is not an instant event, it takes time and commitment to each other.
1. Prayer is key. Talk with God about your concerns about your marriage.
2. Make a point of being committed to making it work. Seriously.. put your mind to it.
3. If you mess up, fess up. Repent of it, make a choice to change.
4. Know that you aren't doing this alone... you are in it with your spouse. He lets you know when you mess up, you let him know when he messes up, you praise the good and work together on the rest.
My thoughts: It's so true you know? You need to be committed to making a marriage work and not just letting it all side into pieces. It means talking with each other, struggling with each other, holding each other close and making choices to stick by each other. It's not always easy.. trust me it ain't.. but it's important to do so.
To let go of the anger and the hurt. To see the good. To see how God is changing you through your spouse. It's part of his plan to make a couple one. Just like the church is called to be one body.. a body that works together, struggles through the differences we all have. Marriage is worth it, even in this day and age when it seems so disposable. It really is not. And too many people give up on it way too fast.
I don't want to be one of those and REFUSE to be one of those. I have a man who loves me and half the time I don't know why.. but he does. He shows it all the time. Why would I dis that? Even if he annoys the heck out of me sometimes, why would I dis that love that he shows me ALL THE TIME? HUH?
And you shouldn't either. You should see your spouse for who your spouse is and how you influence his behaviour. It's what God calls you to do. To edify and build one another up. To strengthen and encourage.
DO SO. Don't quit. Make the choice to pray for your spouse, for your marriage, for yourself within that marriage, it's a good thing to do eh? :)
