My husband bought the first Signing Time video for the kids to learn some sign language this past year and the kids loved it. Then a week or so ago, my 4 yr. old wanted to watch it over and over again and everybody watched along with him and learned all kinds of signs and really enjoyed it. So we decided to get the whole set of 13 DVD's for the kids especially because we are going on 2 long trips this summer in the car, and this way we figure they can not only watch movies, but learn something useful along the way. The kids really like watching Alex and Leah on the show with the animation. All 5 of my kids sit and watch and enjoy the show. There's lots of music and practice using the signs. Even the 2 yr. old knows some signs. It has given me a little relief to be able to clean and rest when needed, because I know they are learning something useful even though I am not right there to guide them through it. I'm glad my kids are learning sign language. I hope we can meet someone we can talk to with it sometime. It has been a lot of fun!!
Their official website is www.signingtime.com
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
TJED/A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver DeMille -- A Rotten Educational Philosophy!!
A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver DeMille, sounds interesting and rigorous, right? Thomas Jefferson was a smart guy, he wrote the Declaration of Independence after all and he was the 3 rd president of the USA, so A Thomas Jefferson Education also known as TJED or a Leadership Education should be a pretty good thing, right?
You would think so, but unfortunately, A Thomas Jefferson Education is anything but the kind of education Thomas Jefferson actually had. It's more of a modern educational philosophy disguised under a name that describes something totally different. It got big here in Utah, and I really hope it dies out, because it can't work. Here are the 7 Keys of Great Teaching:
Classics, not Textbooks -- Learn math by reading Archimedes instead of filling out mindless workbooks --- Excuse me, my goal is to learn and if that is best done through a textbook and so called busywork, then so be it!!!
Mentors, not Professors -- I don't think mentors are a bad thing, but I think they need to give advice and guidance which is not encouraged by DeMille, he says they should stay back and allow the student to figure things out on their own. Hello!!! Teach me what you know, then I can add to that, don't make me reinvent the wheel!!
Inspire, not Require -- This is one of the WORST keys in the philosophy!! Don't require your child to read, do homework, or chores, instead, trick them into doing it through whatever passive aggressive tactics you can get to make them do what you want them to without them realizing your manipulation call it inspiration!! Please!!!!!!
Structure Time, not Content -- Isn't this one of the problems we face in the public schools? The kids are doing their time for example in math, just waiting to get through to the next grade and the next teacher. Content is by far more important, some things will take longer than others, the important thing is that the content is mastered!!!
Quality, not Conformity -- I'm not sure what this one means. Quality is a good thing, and conformity is not always a bad thing.
Simplicity, not Complexity -- When you put many simple things together such as notes on a piano in a certain sequence, doesn't it often come out sounding very complex?
You, not Them -- This is the one that makes me the most upset!!! The "mentor" or homeschool parent is supposed to concentrate on themselves and then the students will follow their example and be just as educated as the parent even though they haven't been required to do anything. This is an excuse for parents to ignore or neglect their child's education and pursue their own goals and ambitions. Here is my response: It is all about the child, the parent's turn or chance is past.
Now there is a new key in addition to these original 7:
Secure, not Stressed -- why did DeMille have to add this one? Because the other keys don't work and they cause the parent stress, but now with this new key, you can ignore your stress and promptings that TJED doesn't work and keep doing it anyway!!!
My thoughts on TJED? Run away, run far far away!!! It is a very bad educational and parenting philosophy. I think we will see a great many disappointed future leaders and parents of future leaders who have given their all to TJED. These keys I have listed are just a small part of the philosophy. They've got books and seminars and classes and groups. I could go on and on, but I think that is enough to see that the philosophy is erroneous. There are a couple blogs that already go into more detail if you search.
TJED reflects very poorly on the homeschool community and I try to distance myself as much as possible from these people. If I were given the choice between TJED and public school, I would choose public school hands down. I am very disappointed in the people who have embraced TJED and I hope I can distance myself from them as much as possible as an academic homeschooler. There are some very nice people who have gotten caught up in it, and I feel sorry for them. I hope they don't really do all the things DeMille recommends and don't feel like failures. I think the nicest ones are the ones who feel failure because they can't do everything DeMille says, but in reality they will be much better off. That's all I'm going to say on the subject for now. I feel better getting that off my chest. I want to spend my energy finding the best ways to teach my kids the things I want them to know and focusing on the positive. But sometimes, I have to point out the bad. Glad that's over!!!
You would think so, but unfortunately, A Thomas Jefferson Education is anything but the kind of education Thomas Jefferson actually had. It's more of a modern educational philosophy disguised under a name that describes something totally different. It got big here in Utah, and I really hope it dies out, because it can't work. Here are the 7 Keys of Great Teaching:
Classics, not Textbooks -- Learn math by reading Archimedes instead of filling out mindless workbooks --- Excuse me, my goal is to learn and if that is best done through a textbook and so called busywork, then so be it!!!
Mentors, not Professors -- I don't think mentors are a bad thing, but I think they need to give advice and guidance which is not encouraged by DeMille, he says they should stay back and allow the student to figure things out on their own. Hello!!! Teach me what you know, then I can add to that, don't make me reinvent the wheel!!
Inspire, not Require -- This is one of the WORST keys in the philosophy!! Don't require your child to read, do homework, or chores, instead, trick them into doing it through whatever passive aggressive tactics you can get to make them do what you want them to without them realizing your manipulation call it inspiration!! Please!!!!!!
Structure Time, not Content -- Isn't this one of the problems we face in the public schools? The kids are doing their time for example in math, just waiting to get through to the next grade and the next teacher. Content is by far more important, some things will take longer than others, the important thing is that the content is mastered!!!
Quality, not Conformity -- I'm not sure what this one means. Quality is a good thing, and conformity is not always a bad thing.
Simplicity, not Complexity -- When you put many simple things together such as notes on a piano in a certain sequence, doesn't it often come out sounding very complex?
You, not Them -- This is the one that makes me the most upset!!! The "mentor" or homeschool parent is supposed to concentrate on themselves and then the students will follow their example and be just as educated as the parent even though they haven't been required to do anything. This is an excuse for parents to ignore or neglect their child's education and pursue their own goals and ambitions. Here is my response: It is all about the child, the parent's turn or chance is past.
Now there is a new key in addition to these original 7:
Secure, not Stressed -- why did DeMille have to add this one? Because the other keys don't work and they cause the parent stress, but now with this new key, you can ignore your stress and promptings that TJED doesn't work and keep doing it anyway!!!
My thoughts on TJED? Run away, run far far away!!! It is a very bad educational and parenting philosophy. I think we will see a great many disappointed future leaders and parents of future leaders who have given their all to TJED. These keys I have listed are just a small part of the philosophy. They've got books and seminars and classes and groups. I could go on and on, but I think that is enough to see that the philosophy is erroneous. There are a couple blogs that already go into more detail if you search.
TJED reflects very poorly on the homeschool community and I try to distance myself as much as possible from these people. If I were given the choice between TJED and public school, I would choose public school hands down. I am very disappointed in the people who have embraced TJED and I hope I can distance myself from them as much as possible as an academic homeschooler. There are some very nice people who have gotten caught up in it, and I feel sorry for them. I hope they don't really do all the things DeMille recommends and don't feel like failures. I think the nicest ones are the ones who feel failure because they can't do everything DeMille says, but in reality they will be much better off. That's all I'm going to say on the subject for now. I feel better getting that off my chest. I want to spend my energy finding the best ways to teach my kids the things I want them to know and focusing on the positive. But sometimes, I have to point out the bad. Glad that's over!!!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Out of the Mouth of Babes -- Alma 32:23
This is a lovely scripture from The Book of Mormon, you can read the whole chapter here, this chapter is mostly known for its beautiful explanation of faith being like a little seed, but verse 23 is the one I want to share today:
23 And now, he imparteth his word by angels unto men, yea, anot only men but women also. Now this is not all; little bchildren do have words given unto them many times, which cconfound the wise and the learned.
I had the privilege of experiencing words of truth from my little 4 yr. old boy. He is so sweet, I think all 4 yr. olds are. Anyway, we had just found out that I was pregnant with baby #6 (yes it was planned), but we hadn't told the kids yet. I was in the kitchen and my little boy came up to me out of the blue and said,"Mommy, there's 2 babies in your tummy." I was a little surprised, but it got me wondering and thinking about the possibility. I didn't want to get too excited, but I was anxious to get that first ultra-sound nevertheless, and sure enough -- we're having TWINS!!
We are very happy and excited about it. Our families are excited, and our ward is excited. I'm so grateful to have so many people who care about us and support us. I am also grateful for this privilege. I feel so blessed. I don't think I will even mind being cooped up for a few months while we wait for the cold season to pass after they're born. Anyway, it has also caused me to sit and think about how precious our little ones really are, and what do they remember and know and see about heavenly things that we have grown out of. Truly we must "become as a little child to enter the kingdom of heaven" (3 Nephi 11:37-38).
23 And now, he imparteth his word by angels unto men, yea, anot only men but women also. Now this is not all; little bchildren do have words given unto them many times, which cconfound the wise and the learned.
I had the privilege of experiencing words of truth from my little 4 yr. old boy. He is so sweet, I think all 4 yr. olds are. Anyway, we had just found out that I was pregnant with baby #6 (yes it was planned), but we hadn't told the kids yet. I was in the kitchen and my little boy came up to me out of the blue and said,"Mommy, there's 2 babies in your tummy." I was a little surprised, but it got me wondering and thinking about the possibility. I didn't want to get too excited, but I was anxious to get that first ultra-sound nevertheless, and sure enough -- we're having TWINS!!
We are very happy and excited about it. Our families are excited, and our ward is excited. I'm so grateful to have so many people who care about us and support us. I am also grateful for this privilege. I feel so blessed. I don't think I will even mind being cooped up for a few months while we wait for the cold season to pass after they're born. Anyway, it has also caused me to sit and think about how precious our little ones really are, and what do they remember and know and see about heavenly things that we have grown out of. Truly we must "become as a little child to enter the kingdom of heaven" (3 Nephi 11:37-38).
Friday, July 10, 2009
Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold by C.S. Lewis
This was quite an uplifting although rather strange book. I am currently reading Lewis's autobiography "Surprised By Joy" which I will comment on when I finish, but it has helped me understand Lewis' lifelong fascination with mythology of all types, and maybe why he says the story leapt out at him. It is the retelling of the story of Psyche and Cupid from the point of view of Psyche's much older, almost like a mother, half sister, Orual. Orual is an ugly girl, but very smart and really quite a good person. Her mother the queen died when she and Redival, her full sister, were children. Their father, the king, soon remarried, and this second wife died giving birth to the the beautiful Ilistra, also known as Psyche.
The king had assigned a Greek slave to teach his daughters. Orual was loved the Fox as he was called and loved the learning. Redival was not nearly as interested, and as time went on, Psyche also enjoyed the time spent with the Fox and Orual. The three of them formed a very strong bond. So it was especially devastating to Orual when the gods demanded a sacrifice of Psyche. She was devastated to have this beautiful sister taken away so cruelly. Once the sacrifice was performed, really Psyche was left chained at the top of the mountain, not actually killed, Orual went to bury her bones that she may rest and found instead that Psyche was alive and well and married to the God of the mountain. Instead of being relieved and happy for her sister, Orual was angry that she had been taken from her. She convinces Psyche to break a promise she made to her husband which results in great sorrow for her. Orual is haunted by what has happened to Psyche because of her, but will not admit to herself that she was in fact to blame.
Orual and Psyche no longer see each other, and Orual eventually becomes a good and just queen. Finally at the end of her life, she realizes her true face and all she has suffered because of her sin and ill-intent despite all the justifying she did in her mind over the years. The sisters are at last reconciled, although it is not completely clear, but it does lead one to that direction.
This brief synopsis hardly does the book justice. I could hardly put it down, and it brought me up to a much nicer state of mind than I was in when I started the book. There is so much to be observed and learned about human behaviour and how we try to convince ourselves that we are doing the right thing when deep down we know it's wrong. Orual really was not evil. She did a ton of good for her people, but all that good couldn't make up for the nagging she suffered about the bad turn she had given her sister. It was very nice in the end when Orual admitted her fault to her own heart and could see who she really was, and then the reconciliation was able to take place. Until we admit our wrongs, we cannot progress. We have to see ourselves for who we really are, then if there is something we don't like, then we can change it, and really be true to ourselves. I highly recommend this book. It is an easy read, easy to understand and there is so much to learn from it- lots of good quotes and words of wisdom also. Enjoy!!!
The king had assigned a Greek slave to teach his daughters. Orual was loved the Fox as he was called and loved the learning. Redival was not nearly as interested, and as time went on, Psyche also enjoyed the time spent with the Fox and Orual. The three of them formed a very strong bond. So it was especially devastating to Orual when the gods demanded a sacrifice of Psyche. She was devastated to have this beautiful sister taken away so cruelly. Once the sacrifice was performed, really Psyche was left chained at the top of the mountain, not actually killed, Orual went to bury her bones that she may rest and found instead that Psyche was alive and well and married to the God of the mountain. Instead of being relieved and happy for her sister, Orual was angry that she had been taken from her. She convinces Psyche to break a promise she made to her husband which results in great sorrow for her. Orual is haunted by what has happened to Psyche because of her, but will not admit to herself that she was in fact to blame.
Orual and Psyche no longer see each other, and Orual eventually becomes a good and just queen. Finally at the end of her life, she realizes her true face and all she has suffered because of her sin and ill-intent despite all the justifying she did in her mind over the years. The sisters are at last reconciled, although it is not completely clear, but it does lead one to that direction.
This brief synopsis hardly does the book justice. I could hardly put it down, and it brought me up to a much nicer state of mind than I was in when I started the book. There is so much to be observed and learned about human behaviour and how we try to convince ourselves that we are doing the right thing when deep down we know it's wrong. Orual really was not evil. She did a ton of good for her people, but all that good couldn't make up for the nagging she suffered about the bad turn she had given her sister. It was very nice in the end when Orual admitted her fault to her own heart and could see who she really was, and then the reconciliation was able to take place. Until we admit our wrongs, we cannot progress. We have to see ourselves for who we really are, then if there is something we don't like, then we can change it, and really be true to ourselves. I highly recommend this book. It is an easy read, easy to understand and there is so much to learn from it- lots of good quotes and words of wisdom also. Enjoy!!!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
The Good Earth by Pearl Buck
I read this book a couple months ago, but it is still fresh in my mind and I loved it. It basically follows the life of a poor farmer, Wang Lung, from his wedding day to his death as a very rich man in China. It gave me a greater appreciation for my Western American culture and educated me on the customs and culture of China. I was amazed at the way women were treated, either as workers or for sex. When Wang Lung picked up his wife, O-Lan at the great house of Hwang, she walked behind him, and although he was curious about her throughout their life together, he felt it was beneath him to talk to her as he would to a man. O-Lan is definitely the heroine of this novel, she worked endlessly even while pregnant in the fields and in the house and because of her economy, Wang Lung was able to purchase land from the house of Hwang. A terrible famine hit the land and they were forced to the city where they lived in a tent along the wall of a palace and ate rice at a place for the poor each day. When revolution took over, Wang Lung, was fortunate to obtain some money from a rich man to save his life and O-Lan looted some precious jewels. They were ecstatic to be able to return to their land and bought the rest of the land from the house of Hwang.
Wang Lung was now the rich and respected man of their city, but instead of acknowledging O-Lan for the part she played in this fortune, he acted the way he thought a rich man should. His sons were not taught to work the land and grew up to bicker and would eventually although it doesn't chronicle it specifically in the book, they would lose the land the same way the great house of Hwang had lost it. Wang Lung took on a concubine and hated O-Lan the more because she was not beautiful. He even took away the 2 small pearls she wished to keep from the jewels she had looted and gave them his concubine. O-Lan eventually died soon after the marriage of her first son. She had done so much and complained hardly at all, Wang Lung did seem to actually mourn a little her at her deathbed. But it seems the customs of his culture were too much for him to really acknowledge her goodness and usefulness even after she was gone.
It seems from this book at least, that although the rich chinese put down and live off of the poor ones, the poor are really no better than the rich because they wish they were the ones who could put people down. Wang Lung showed how it would be if their places were reversed and it was no different. The whole Chinese honor and respect for elders and men is messed up. I'm sure there are some good things about it and there are probably cases of families who are kind and respectful to their women, but it seems the overall prevailing culture is one of pride and appearance and authority being more important than sincerity and humility. Buck also wrote East Wind West Wind which is also set in China and is a sweet story of a Chinese woman fulling expecting to be a slave to her husband and mother-in-law, but instead finds that her Western educated husband treats her totally differently than expected and it is a lovely surprise.
Good stuff. Another excellent true story about China is Wild Swans. It is one of my very favorite books. It is written by the daughter of a man who was part of the communist movement in China and chronicles the life of the daughter, her mother and her grandmother, so it gives a good picture of life in China through some different time periods.
Wang Lung was now the rich and respected man of their city, but instead of acknowledging O-Lan for the part she played in this fortune, he acted the way he thought a rich man should. His sons were not taught to work the land and grew up to bicker and would eventually although it doesn't chronicle it specifically in the book, they would lose the land the same way the great house of Hwang had lost it. Wang Lung took on a concubine and hated O-Lan the more because she was not beautiful. He even took away the 2 small pearls she wished to keep from the jewels she had looted and gave them his concubine. O-Lan eventually died soon after the marriage of her first son. She had done so much and complained hardly at all, Wang Lung did seem to actually mourn a little her at her deathbed. But it seems the customs of his culture were too much for him to really acknowledge her goodness and usefulness even after she was gone.
It seems from this book at least, that although the rich chinese put down and live off of the poor ones, the poor are really no better than the rich because they wish they were the ones who could put people down. Wang Lung showed how it would be if their places were reversed and it was no different. The whole Chinese honor and respect for elders and men is messed up. I'm sure there are some good things about it and there are probably cases of families who are kind and respectful to their women, but it seems the overall prevailing culture is one of pride and appearance and authority being more important than sincerity and humility. Buck also wrote East Wind West Wind which is also set in China and is a sweet story of a Chinese woman fulling expecting to be a slave to her husband and mother-in-law, but instead finds that her Western educated husband treats her totally differently than expected and it is a lovely surprise.
Good stuff. Another excellent true story about China is Wild Swans. It is one of my very favorite books. It is written by the daughter of a man who was part of the communist movement in China and chronicles the life of the daughter, her mother and her grandmother, so it gives a good picture of life in China through some different time periods.
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