Temple Grandin Movie

I just finished watching the Temple Grandin movie on DVD.  I can't tell you how amazing it was but....I'm going to try.  First of all, this amazing woman's mother was told to institutionalize her because she was autistic.  She wasn't talking at age four, wouldn't let anyone touch her, and often had fits and panic attacks. 

While this was in the early days of the diagnosis of autism, it was still sad to see how people treated both her and her mother.  No one thought she would amount to anything and, for a while, it seemed her fear would overcome her and negate the gifts she had.  But her mother, and several other key teachers and mentors, pushed her, kept her going, forced her to keep trying new and uncomfortable things and, lo and behold, they became more comfortable for her and she tried more and more things until she had a doctorate and was able to clearly articulate what it means to be autistic.  Parents of kids on the autism spectrum, this clearly calls us to not give up and to push our children to be what they are capable of being, even if it is uncomfortable for them (or for us).  Teachers, we need to look behind the challenging behaviors of some students to who they are inside and help them develop the gifts God has given them.  This movie truly challenged me as both a parent and a teacher to not give up, to keep loving and praying and pushing my child (and those I teach) to become what they were made to be.

The truly amazing part of this movie was the insightful way which Claire Danes (and the director) portrayed Temple Grandin.  It gave me a previously unknown insight into how my son Daniel (who has Aspergers) and other people on the autism spectrum view life.  I know that the spectrum varies widely as do the experiences of people with this diagnosis but it helped me to see how the chaos and noise of life physically hurt those with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) and how the mind of someone with this diagnosis can view things in a beautifully different way.  She could do things that no one else could do and see things the way no one else saw them.  I know that Daniel does this too - he can take something that my "normal" brain cannot do (like see Lego instructions in 2D and convert them into a 3D model) and do it with ease.  He can laugh, smile, and have fun but he is also sensitive to noises, chaos, temperature, change, etc.  Just like Temple's mother, I am proud of him and excited to see what he will become and the plans that God has in store for him (Jeremiah 29:11).

One of my favorite quotes was that Temple is different but not LESS.  God did not put my son (or any other person given the label of autism or asperger's) on earth by accident. Each person is made with gifts and talents and a reason for existing.  Temple views her autism as a gift that enables her to do things and see things that other people cannot see.  The more articulate she became, the more she was able to express that she still wanted her life to have meaning even if there were things she would never understand (like people and their non-verbal cues, emotions, reactions).  Don't we all want our lives to count for something regardless of our challenges, failings, gifts, or emotions?

Take some time to view this film whether or not you have people with autism or asperger's in your life but especially if you do.  It will be well worth your time.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

What a rare week!  Two "can't put them down" books in one week. As enjoyable as The Host was, The Help (whoa, two "The H" books in one week too...weird) was like reading a riveting, insighful classic.  This novel was a first novel by the author, Kathryn Stockett and it is hard to believe that it is her maiden voyage into novel writing.

The novel weaves the stories of three main characters, Miss Skeeter, Aibileen, and Minny, together into a narrative about Jackson, Mississippi in the early 1960s.  Miss Skeeter is a sensitive, thoughtful recent college graduate who wants to do more with her life than marry well and attend bridge club.  She was raised by a black maid who influenced her life just like the many other black maids all over town.  These maids were not allowed to use the white bathroom or trusted to put all the silver back after polishing it but they were allowed to raise white children and cook white food and clean white bathrooms.  Two of these maids, thoughtful, prayerful Aibileen, and sassy, outspoken Minny agree to help Miss Skeeter write the truth about the lives of black maids and their employers.  This quest links the three women together in friendship and a desire to tell the truth to the world, regardless of the very real risks to all three.

Their lives and stories drew me in to the extent that I couldn't wait to see what happened but at the same time, I didn't want the book to end.  It was a satisfying and enlightening read that is sure to become an instant classic.  All I can say is - you gotta read it!

UPDATE - August 22, 2011 - I saw the movie this summer and LOVED it.  The movie stayed very close to the book and the actresses were amazing!  See it if you can.

The Host by Stephanie Meyer

I finally got around to reading The Host by Stephanie Meyer and I really liked it! I think I liked it more than the Twilight series (I know, I know, don't shoot me).  It was a compelling read - I didn't want to put it down.  I really enjoyed it!

The book is about a race of aliens called Souls who invade planets by taking over host bodies.   Now they have invaded earth and, most of the time, when the Souls bond with a human host, the human mind/personality fades away.  However, in this case, the Soul (called Wanderer) in put into a "wild" human, one of the few remaining free humans. This human, Melanie, is stronger than most and refuses to fade away.  She and Wanderer end up inhabiting the same body and end up changing each other in surprising ways.

This book drew me in with the characters, the emotions, and the issues.  It is a fascinating new look at prejudice, acceptance, change, and the ever popular sci-fi topic of the survival of the human race in the face of alien invasion. The refreshing part is the way the invasion takes place and the relationships involved between human and alien. 

I recommend it to Stephanie Meyer fans and to sci-fi fans too!

iPod and iPad Apps at BBS

Do you want to see which apps we are using at Brainerd Baptist School?  Check out this link to see our apps for the iPod touch and the iPad.

http://myap.ps/brainerdbaptistschool

The last two iPad apps I have used with our K4 students are Fish School and Monkey Preschool Lunchbox.

Both apps really kept our four year olds' attention very well. Both also covered numbers, colors, matching, size, shape, and letters.  Both were fast paced and easy to interact with for small, uncoordinated fingers.  The kids' favorite of the two was Monkey Preschool Lunchbox.  I had more students ask to do that game again next week than the previous week when we did Fish School.  However, I'd recommend them both!

Top 10 Fun Websites

Family Fun magazine posted their top 10 fun websites in their September 2010 issue.  I have listed them below:

1. The Travels of Wiglington and Wenks Virtual World - This website is for ages 7 and up and is a history based quest where kids help historical figures
2. Funbrain - This website is for ages 6 and up.  It has fun arcade games along with educational games.
3. Kideos - This is for ages 3 and up.  It has kid friendly videos (much safer than YouTube).
4. NGAkids Art Zone - This website, for ages 7 and up, offers interactive activities from the National Gallery of Art.
5. The Toymaker - For ages 5 and up, this website lets kids print and assemble fun paper toys.
6. iTwixie - This website is for ages 8 and up and is a tween girl's social networking site.
7. Exploratorium - For ages 8 and up, this is the website of the San Francisco science museum.
8. Shidonni - Ages 3 and up.  This website allows kids to draw a creature on screen and animate it.  It is great for pre-readers too.
9. Activity TV - This website is for ages 6 and up and offers kid friendly how-to videos.
10. Fizzy's Lunch Lab - Ages 4 and up.  This PBS site promotes health through fun games, videos, and recipes.

Other good ones they list:

1. Starfall.com
2. National Geographic Kids
3. Free Rice
4. PBS Kids Island
5. The Great Word Quest
6. Togetherville
7. World of Cars Online

Happy Surfing!

Musical Chairs Creation Game by Heather

This guest post is by Heather and is a result of an assignment for Ancient Civilizations/Bible.  She was asked to design a game that would help children learn the days of Creation.  Here is her guest post:

First, prepare for the game by getting the number of chairs needed for the classical game of musical chairs.  Put a piece of paper underneath each chair with three questions on it (see suggestions for the questions below).  Put numbers on each chair.  Make smaller numbers and put them in a bucket. When the music stops and a person is left not having a chair, draw a number from the bucket that will match the number on one of the chiars.  That person has to get the piece of paper from under their seat and give it to the teacher (who will know the answers).  The teacher will ask these two children (the one who is left without a seat and the person whose number was drawn) the questions on the paper about one of the days of Creation. You can use each day of Creation more than once but you can not use questions a second time.  The two children will race against each other to give the answer first.  Whoever gets more answers correct gets to stay in the game and the other child is out.  At the end of the game, the last two people left will be asked several questions about all the days of Creation (not just one) and the one who gets the most right is the winner of the game. 

This idea can be used for other stories in the Bible. 

Ideas for Questions:

1. On what day did God make _____________ (stars, swordfish, cats, etc)?
2. Which came first in creation: ___________ or __________________ (fish or man)?
3. Name one thing God made on Day ______.

by Heather

iPads, iPod touches, and Macbooks at BBS!

The pilot program has begun at Brainerd Baptist School!  This week so far, we have introduced an iPod touch lab in 5th grade (I didn't help with that one), used iPads with K4, and taken a mobile Macbook lab to K5 and 4th graders. Today, the mobile lab will go to 1st and 5th grade too.

The first day of iPads with K4 was a huge success.  Each group had about 15 minutes with the iPads and the time flew.  They loved it and took to it just as intuitively as I thought they would.  One little girl said it was like her daddy's iPhone but bigger. (I knew that some of them would have already been playing games on Mommy and Daddy's phones.)  We did the app called Make Shapes.  It was really good to begin to introduce the pressure with which the students need to push on the iPad in order to make it work.  The app has students trace shapes in one level, trace shapes in the appropriate color in the next, and make pictures out of traced shapes in the last.  Then, there is a free draw page.  When the students complete a shape in the free draw page, the program fills it in so the students can see that they drew a shape.  The program includes bright colors, animations, and encouraging comments (like "Great shape!"  "Great line!").

One interesting thing is that the boys tended to start off by pushing down too hard with their fingers and had to learn to adapt to using a lighter touch.  Also, the girls tended to enjoy tracing the shapes and getting the positive feedback on that whereas the boys liked the free draw.  Overall, a great experience with no problems. 

The K5 and 4th did very well with the MacBooks.  The fourth graders were about to pop out of their seats and explode - they were so excited to get their hands on a laptop!  We spent a little time talking about the differences between laptops and desktops, the use of the touchpad, and the fact that we would be going to the Internet on Safari instead of Internet Explorer instead of Firefox.  When I asked how many of them had used a laptop before, one class had all hands up and the other had all but 3 in the air.  Less than half had used a Mac before.

The biggest time consumer was getting the laptops out in groups of 3 and then putting them back.  Each class ran over because the putting up took longer than I thought (about 6-7 minutes).  I know that they will get faster as the year continues. 

I must say that it is an exciting year at BBS and I am so glad to be a part of it.  Being on the cutting edge is fun!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

    In the last book in the Harry Potter series, Lord Voldemort takes control of everything, even Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry and his friends Ron and Hermione have to embark on a journey full of danger and mystery to save the wizarding, and possibly muggle (non-magic folk), world. They face many difficulties on their way to finding and destroying all of Voldemort's ties to the mortal world and getting rid of him once and for all. On their journey, friendships are strained, secrets unveiled, and Harry learns the price he has to pay to defeat Voldemort. Years ago, a prophecy was given - "Neither can live while the other survives." Will Harry triumph over Voldemort?  Will Voldemort defeat Harry? Or will they both fall?
 
    This last installment in J.K. Rowling's thrilling series is one of the best books I have ever read. It is the biggest and best Harry Potter book. I highly recommend this series. You won't be able to put it down.

AR Level:  6.9
AR Points:  34

     Heather Marsh
 

Who Do I Follow on Twitter?

I have found twitter to be really useful for finding resources, websites, and information on educational technology and homeschooling (or quilting or autism or anything else you'd like to search for and connect with other people about).

Here are some folks I follow:

Education and Educational Technology:

• Weebly - a free website creator for educators
• Brain Pop - a great educational video site
• IEAR - recommends iphone and ipad apps
• EducationWeek 
• HistoryChannel
• SpellingCity
• Scholastic
• GameClassroom - posts on using educational software in the classroom
• NBCLearn - updates from the educational arm of NBC
• BJNichols - educational technology dude
• jimmylogan - educational technology teacher
• ABCYaGames - educational website
• Internet4Classr - updates from Internet 4 Classrooms
• Planet_Tweets - posts from Promethian Planet (for the Promethian "smart" boards)
• PBSKids
• DirectTech - technology teacher
• Edutopia - posts from the education magazine
• iphonekidsapps
• firstlegoleague
• kandersonpds - a technology teacher of preschoolers at Presbyterian Day School in Memphis (and they know what they are doing with educational technology at that school)
• smcorcoran - the Head of School at Brainerd Baptist School
• ckyle - Director of Technology at PDS
• EduTechSmith - technology teacher/trainer of upper elementary at PDS
• Cindybrock - technology teacher/trainer for lower elementary at PDS

Homeschooling:

• HSarticles
• Homeschoolchann
• homeschoollounge
• Homelifeacademy

Other:

• middayconn - Moody radio's Midday Connection radio program updates
• chattanoogafun - updates on what is happening in Chattanooga
• J103radio - a local Christian radio station
• WRCB - local TV station
• Rgallaty - our pastor at Brainerd Baptist Church

You can go to the Twitter website to find out more about Twitter and the basics of how to use it.  

Heather's review of The Kane Chronicles Book 1: The Red Pyramid

 The Red Pyramid is the first book in a new series by Rick Riordan, the writer of the much read Percy Jackson series. This new series is about Carter and Sadie who are the most powerful Kane children ever born. When their father was blamed for their mother's mysterious death, a court battle led to the younger of the children, Sadie Kane, being separated from her father and brother at a young age. One day when her father and Carter were allowed to visit, they went on a trip to a museum and every thing went wrong.
 This thrilling tale about the Egyptian gods and the battle between order and chaos is a great read but is also educational, telling about Egyptian mythology and history. Even Christians would like this story about good versus evil and overall it was a book I would recommend to any one.

AR (Accelerated Reader) Level:  4.5
AR Points:  18

 

Introducing Heather

I would like to introduce my daughter Heather.  Heather likes books, lots and lots of books. She is a new homeschooler for sixth grade this coming year and will be writing guest blogs periodically.  She will be reviewing books she reads and other interesting things like movies, animals, and more.  These blogs will be part of her writing assignments for school.  Enjoy!

Facebook and Twitter

I don't know what everyone thinks about Facebook but I found a new reason to love it yesterday.  I reconnected with a BFF (can I use that term if I am over 40?) from when we were both working on our master's degrees in Educational Technology and Bible in Knoxville at Johnson Bible College.  Her daughter (then middle school aged) kept my elementary school aged kids during a two week intensive course.  Her daughter is now in college and my kids are middle school aged.  Anyway, we got to chatting on Facebook and worked out a visit for this coming week!  I am SO excited about seeing her again. 

A month ago, I reconnected IRL (in Real Life) with a friend from 1985.  We went on a missions trip to Israel with Teen Missions International together.  She lives in California but was traveling in this part of the country for work.  We met for lunch and really enjoyed talking and catching up.

Facebook has helped me connect with high school friends, college friends, former church friends, and current friends.  It has been great for sharing prayer requests (no, really, not gossip but real prayer requests, I promise), encouraging others, being encouraged, and staying in touch. 

Once I got past the playing games on it all day and posting my status every time I sneezed or blinked, it has been a blessing and a very good thing.

I am a latecomer to Twitter. I just got on Twitter in May.  I use Facebook for personal connections but I use Twitter for mostly professional connections.  I went to Memphis and visiting the technology coaches at Presbyterian Day School and found out how they use Twitter to get educational technology ideas and to connect with other technology educators and companies.  It is also good to get input from other educators when you ask for it.  It is like a really large pipeline of information, depending on how many people you "follow" or get posts from, but if you learn to scan it and not worry about what you might be missing, it is a great source of tips, links, ideas, and information.

Cindy Brock, from Presbyterian Day School, is one person I follow on Twitter and on her blog.  You can follow me on Twitter at the link to the right of the page. 

Happy Facebooking and Twittering!

Creation Science Movie

We watched a movie last night for homeschool called The Mysterious Islands.  It was a good Creation Science video which showed some really great wildlife on the Galapagos Islands (LOVE the turtles - one was over 200 years old) and described Darwin and his research from his visit to the Galapagos and how that helped lead to his theories of evolution and then clearly explained the Creationist position in comparison to Darwin's theories.  My kids (ages 14 and 11) were really interested in it and paid attention through the whole thing - didn't even complain once about watching a 90 minute science/Christian/homeschool video.

One point that they both found fascinating (and I did too) is how the theory of the survival of the fittest led to the devaluing of human life and the idea that some creatures are more valuable than others.  Hitler took these ideas and thought he'd help evolution along by eliminating the less likely to survive and less valuable (by his estimation).  Margaret Sanger was another person who helped start Planned Parenthood and decided that some people were not valuable or not even people (like unborn babies).  What a contrast to the way the world would work if people believed that all people are made in God's image and that we are all fearfully and wonderfully made with no mistakes or no one less valuable. 

Genesis 1:27 says, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."

Psalm 139:14 - "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

Plus - I got to see video of the blue footed boobie (a bird) which does indeed exist and does indeed have blue feet!  : )

For more resources about Creation Science, check out the Answers in Genesis website or the Creation Museum website.

List of Top 100 Educational Technology Blogs

Here is a link to the top 100 educational technology blogs that I plan to work my way through and thought you might want to try it too:
http://www.onlinedegrees.org/top-100-technology-blogs-for-teachers/

I already use Cindy Brock's blog (from Presbyterian Day School in Memphis, TN) and get lots of great info from it.

Happy Reading!

Martha and Mary

I've come to the realization that I am most definitely a Martha and not just a normal Martha but a Mega Hyper Martha.  I don't know what is built into my natural being that makes me want to always be doing and not very often just being - as in the Lord's command to "be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10).  I could be described as a "human doing" rather than a "human being". 

I have been described recently as a steamroller (by my dad who followed this remark with a comment to the effect of the fact that he finds it easier to just get out of my way but that he is usually very pleased with the results of my steamrolling).  I do like to keep moving, to have lots of projects going, to keep my mind going by learning and reading, etc.  My poor shy mom (painfully shy) used to get so desperate when I was a kid that she would actually go door-to-door in the neighborhood to find someone to play with me since I was wearing her out. 

There is good to be found in my being a high energy person.  I know that the Lord made me this way on purpose (as if he does anything any other way) knowing what life had in store for me. I know that I couldn't be a wife of a disabled person, a caregiver to my dad, a mother to a son with Asperger's and to a busy daughter, a sister, a teacher, and all that I am called to be without lots of energy.  That thought makes me thankful.  It was no mistake that I am in the situation I am in and God lovingly made me like I am to bless me and those in my life.  I am thankful for my family, my job, my hobbies, my personality. 

That being said, I know that I often kick into overdrive and forget to stop and truly spend time at the feet of Jesus.  He and I talk during the day, I listen to and sing music about Him, I listen to podcasts of preachers and Christian authors and speakers, but all of that is done on the go.  I forget to have that private, truly still, truly quiet time with Him sometimes.  I talk "to" Him but forget to be still and listen for His response, for His Words in my heart and in my spirit.  I consciously pray for wisdom in decisions and I am learning to slow down before making big (especially expensive) changes and ask for His direction.  My desire is for my life to glorify and please Him always but I sometimes forget that I am also supposed to be in a rewarding, rich, fulfilling relationship with Him - one that benefits me and one that He desires. 

I am praying that I will take time, especially this summer when I am being blessed with summer break, to be a Mary and to sit at the feet of my Lord.  After all, only one thing is needed.

From the Bible, NIV Version:
 ³⁸As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
 ⁴¹"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴²but only one thing is needed.^[f] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
 Luke 10:38 - 42.

Multiple Intelligences for Kids

I just ordered You're Smarter Than You Think - A Kid's Guide to Multiple Intelligences by Thomas Armstrong from Amazon, received it today and read it this evening.  It is an excellent, kid-friendly description of multiple intelligences and different kinds of "smarts".

I have always thought that Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences was an excellent description of the way that God made us all different with strengths and weaknesses in different areas - all designed so that that we may live our lives to glorify Him and benefit others as well as find joy in living life as we were designed to live.  We are fearfully and wonderfully made by God exactly like we are supposed to be.  It reminds me of the Bible verse in Proverbs that we should bring up our children in the way they should go, or more accurately, the way they are "bent" or made. 

This book takes Howard Gardner's ideas and makes them extremely accessible to kids. He calls the areas: 

1. Word Smart
2. Music Smart
3. Logic Smart
4. Picture Smart
5. Body Smart
6. People Smart
7. Self Smart
8. Nature Smart

He mentions often that we are all smart in each area but we may be stronger in some areas than others.  Each chapter begins with a quiz to pinpoint some ways that you might be smart in that area.  After the quiz, Armstrong defines what it means to be that type of smart, lists fun ways to become more smart in that area, what to do if you aren't strong in that area, and what to do if you are strong in that area.  He then lists future careers that use that strength and finally, resources (such as books, music, software, and websites) to "get smart" in that intelligence.  He also sprinkles "Did You Know?" boxes throughout the text with fun facts and ideas. 

I plan to have Daniel and Heather read at least some of this book for homeschool. It is important to me that both of my kids know that God has made them just like they are supposed to be and that they are smart in many areas.  Even though they may not be good at a certain area academically, they can get better and even though they may be good at a certain subject, they can still improve in that subject or area of intelligence, as well.  I know they can really use their gifts and "smarts" to live a fulfilling, joyful, creative, valuable and Godly life that glorifies God and helps others. 

It would be useful to anyone, young or old, to get a better sense of their strengths and areas they can stand to improve and this book is an easy and enjoyable read to start one on the path to a greater self awareness.  This book is a great way to do that!

Home Remodeling and Change

Daniel asked me last night why I liked to change things so often around the house. He said he thought things were just fine the way they were (he said this while helping me scrape off an almost unscrape-able wall paper border in the kitchen so that could factor into his question).  I had to think a minute but my reply basically consisted of the following ideas.  I like to make the world around me more enjoyable and more beautiful.  I like to use the creativity that God gave me to model His creativity in the world around me.  I like for my environment to make me smile and to be enjoyable to view.  I like to improve things. I like to express myself in the home remodeling I do and to make the place better for my family.  Re-painting is an easy way to to that and other remodeling is another way.  Quilting is another way I express my creativity as is gardening (vegetables and flowers).

Change in general isn't easy for a lot of people.  I actually am the opposite - I enjoy change and get bored if things stay the same all the time.  This is true of me in my job, in the house, in my hobbies, and more.  I am sure I wouldn't be a huge fan of constant major change.  We moved every year or two for a while and that definitely got old.  It is nice to have been in the same house for 6 years and to get to improve it bit by bit.

So, change can be good, if it is for the better.  I am looking forward to the end result of the changes in our home this summer - adding on a master bedroom and bathroom and fixing up the kitchen. 

I have been clued in to some great websites for home remodeling and re-design. They are:  Knock-off Wood and Copy Cat Chic.  I have also been shopping on Amazon and Overstock for bargains. 



 

Temple Grandin - Autism

I am currently reading The Way I See It: A Personal Look at Autism and Asperger's by Temple Grandin.  She has Asperger's and has written quite a bit on Autism and Asperger's from a personal perspective.  This book is a collection of articles that she wrote in the Autism and Asperger's Digest.  So far, I have only read about 3 chapters but it is fascinating to get a glimpse of what is in the head of my son and other kids with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). 

In one article, she discusses the way that she thinks visually and I know that this is true of my son.  She also talks about other areas of giftedness that folks with ASD may have such as mathematical, visual-spatial (building/hands-on), or musical.

She has spent a lot of focused time studying social skills and how to relate to others and she has used that study to improve her ability to help others.  In her speeches and books, she is blessed to be able to provide a unique insight to desperate parents who find themselves with no or little understanding of their child.

I am very interested to continue to read her book and maybe some of her other books for the fascinating insight that she provides by not only having Asperger's but being able to communicate to others about what her life and challenges are like.

By the way, HBO (I think) did a movie about her that is coming out on DVD very soon.  I am very excited to be able to view that. 

Vampires

I just finished "The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner" by Stephanie Meyer.  I am an admitted Twilight Saga fan so this was an engaging read.  It is the story of Bree Tanner, one of the newborns who are used by the Volturi to try to wipe out the Cullen family.  It was an interesting perspective and kind of sad getting to "know" her since I knew the way her story would end. 

I like Stephanie Meyer's style of writing - it is easy to read and just draws you in.  It is not often that I buy a book that absolutely requires that I go out to the store at midnight to buy the next book in the series like I did with the Twilight book.  I like the way she lets you get to know the characters and connect with them.  I also am a big fan of the "morality" in the books - the focus on self-control (with the vegetarian vampires), hard choices, good vs. evil, etc. It is complicated enough not to be boring but not so complicated that you lose track of who is who and what is what.  

Sometimes you just enjoy a quick read that lets you check back into a familiar and enjoyable story and that was what this novella was - enjoyable.  And, yes, I am going to the Eclipse movie later this month......

Couponing

I started doing the whole money-saving coupon thing last year and I must admit it isn't going too well right now.  I went to a coupon workshop at church taught by the lady from Southern Savers.  I learned a lot but I'm certainly not saving as much as she does each time I shop.  I think my issue is that I don't always want or need the products that are on sale and have a coupon to go with them.  I am stockpiling and trying to go along with the six week rotation and trying to pay the lowest price on items.  I think my family just has too many specific items that we purchase that don't have coupons.  I do try to check the websites (like the Southern Savers and Time 2 Save) for deals on things I DO buy and that helps.  I have come to the point that anything I save is a good thing so it is worth it to cut coupons and save them.  I use the binder/notebook, divided into categories, with baseball card sleeves to hold the coupons.  It doesn't hurt to take it with me when I shop and use what I can.  I am particularly fond of places that double coupons (most the time only under 55 cents but that is still good) like Bi-Lo and Publix.  I do feel a sense of victory when I combine a coupon that doubles with a great sale like a buy one get one free sale.

So, although I haven't lowered my grocery bill to $40/week, I am still glad to look for bargains, sales, and use coupons. Every little bit helps.

iPad!!!!

I just got my (okay, the school's) new iPad today!  We are going to use iPad's in a pilot program at Brainerd Baptist School in the fall and I get to explore this summer so I can help teach it to the K4/preschool students.  I bet they will take to it easily and intuitively - the whole digital native idea. 

I really am impressed by it - easy to use, intuitive, AND it comes with iBook (book reader app) and Winnie the Pooh - with pictures!!    I've already found tons of free early childhood apps.  Here are the ones I've downloaded to try:

1. 3D Spinart
2. Elias Farms
3. I Hear Ewe
4. Hand Paint
5. Dictionary
6. Sudoku
7. Sight Words
8. Flash to Pass Free
9. Mahjongg
10. 123 Writing
11. Guess 'em (like Guess Who)
12. Kids Math Free
13. Memory Cards
14. Checkers
15. Baby Classical - Bach Vol 1
16. Brain Pop (video podcast)
17. Cyberbullying by Garfield
18. This Day in History
19. Teach Me Kindergarten
20. States and Capitals Free
21. Mad Libs Library

I am hoping to download some things from PBS Kids and Scholastic too.

For iBooks, I've downloaded some books from Project Gutenberg:

1. The Jungle Book
2. A Child's First Picture Book
3. A Child's Story of the Bible
4. Sleeping Beauty - A Moment to Remember (from Disney but free)
5. Jane Eyre (for me - not the kids)

Of course, with WiFi access, I can get to YouTube and other Internet kids' websites.

I am really thinking this is going to be GREAT to work with K4 students and older.  The kids are going to jump right into it and love it.

I'll keep you updated on what we (my kids and I) like and the iPad in general.

Here are some Educational Apps websites I am going to look at:

1. Apps for Education
2. IEAR - Apps for Education
3. Apple Apps for Education
4. PBS Kids Mobile Apps
5. Publisher's Weekly on iPad books by Scholastic (being developed)

More later.....

Lots of Great Local Homeschool Classes

We have made use of lots of great local homeschool classes and resources.  Here are the ones we've used over the last two years:

1. The Creative Discovery Museum Science Theater - Homeschool Science classes (each month has a different theme like the Human Body or Rockets - loved it!)
2. The Tennessee Aquarium Homeschool Science Classes and Homeschool Day - last year's theme was marine life and next year's theme is the natural plants and wildlife in our area
3. Chess Club with CSTHEA (Daniel loved Chess club and made lots of friends too)
4. Challenger Center special homeschool camp and summer camp (both kids)
5. Private tutoring in handwriting and social skills (Daniel)
6. A couple of mandolin lessons for Daniel at Mountain Music on Dayton Boulevard

Next year, we are adding:

1. Middle school math at Hilger Higher Learning (for both kids)
2. Monthly middle school socials (board games and stuff like that) with CSTHEA
3. Mia Cucina cooking classes (lots of fun - Heather did them on Sundays sometimes this year)
4. Heather is doing a summer drama camp at Chattanooga Christian School
5. Daniel is doing a summer sailing camp at the Privateer Yacht Club
6. Art classes 
7. Piano lessons (for Heather - she already takes them but will continue)

So, you can see we don't have any lack of social situations and opportunities for new friendships AND lots of fun ways to learn!

Quilt Stores and Websites

Since I've just finished a week of lovely quilting at my Aunt Lois's house with my daughter, I thought I'd share some lovely quilt stores and websites.

First of all, my local Chattanooga quilt store is Lavender Lime - nice folks, pretty good fabric stock and good classes.  They also sell Bernina and Handi Quilter (longarm quilting machine that I have).  I got some great long arm quilting classes from a HQ trainer at the shop. 

Some good Nashville shops are:  The Stitcher's Garden in Franklin, TN - very large stock of fabric for quilting but chaotic and disorganized - still worth a trip to find lots of choices; Lebanon Sew and Vac - good selection of fabric, books, and notions, very nice people, and they sell HQ and other machines.  Those are the two I went to last week. 

Quilting websites that I like:

• Hancock's of Paducah
• Equilter.com
• The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims
• Waterfall Quilts (a pattern and designer)
• McCall's Quilting (I subscribe to Quick Quilts, American Patchwork and Quilting, and Quilt)
• Sew Batik (has great 108 inch wide Batik backing)
• Quilting by the Bay - a great quilt shop near Panama City Beach, FL with a good website too
• Moda Bake Shop - has great patterns with Moda fabric; this is the website where we got our Kindle cover pattern (my daughter Heather has a Kindle and loves it)

I'll post some pictures of some of our quilts sometime soon!

Homeschooling - Getting Started and Social Studies Curriculum

I am often asked by new homeschoolers how we got started and what we do for homeschooling.  We began two years ago by just registering with our local educational agency (LEA) and reporting the days attended to them at the middle of the year an the end of the year.  A good link is the "Getting Started Homeschooling in Tennessee" website.  We didn't have a particular curriculum but studied in an eclectic way in the first year.  We have used some of the following curriculum resources in Social Studies:

• Ancient Civilizations & the Bible: From Creation to Jesus Christ (History Revealed) 
• The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child, Volume 2: The Middle Ages: From the Fall of Rome to the Rise of the Renaissance, Revised Edition
• The Discovery Channel
• The History Channel
• Christian Heroes of History like George Mueller George Mueller: The Guardian of Bristol's Orphans (Christian Heroes: Then & Now) 
• Torchlighter's DVDs like Eric Liddell Torchlighters: Eric Liddell 

I will post other curriculum ideas and resources in the future.  

What I've Been Reading This Week - Autism

This week I've been reading the book Finding Your Child's Way on the Autism Spectrum by Dr. Laura Hendrickson.  I heard about this book on Midday Connection on Moody Radio (WMBW in Chattanooga).  The author has a son who was diagnosed as Autistic as a preschooler but, after much therapy, is now a successful college student and no longer autistic.  My son has an Asperger's diagnosis so I wanted to read her book and see what might be helpful to me.  She also homeschooled her son for a while and I have homeschooled Daniel since the middle of fifth grade and he will be in eighth grade next year.  It is proving to be a helpful book so far, especially in light of the fact that it is the first book I've read about the Autism spectrum that addresses it from a Christian perspective.  I have often wondered how this "challenge" that Daniel has that affects relationships with other people would affect him in his relationship with a particular heavenly Person.  I'm not finished with the book yet but I'll give you an update when I am.

I recently became a published author for the first time!  I wrote an article for the Autism Asperger's Digest's May-June 2010 issue.  My article was on homeschooling as an educational choice for someone whose child is on the autism spectrum.  It has been the ideal solution for us to homeschool Daniel. 

Greetings and Salutations

I would like to introduce myself. I am a Christian, a homeschooling mom, a technology educator at Brainerd Baptist School, a reader, a quilter, a home remodeler, a writer, a mom of a teenage son with Asperger's and a tween daughter, a wife of a disabled husband, a daughter whose dad lives with her, a sister, a niece, and much more I'm sure. I hope to have much to share about things that are actually interesting to others and maybe some things that are not. Enjoy!