For the next four weeks I'll be trying to participate in the Virtual Curriculum Fair.   I learned about it late so couldn't get a post up in time to be part of the main linky, but they have an "add on" linky portion that I hope to get in on for this week. 

This week the topic is Language Arts.. or the use of words.    I thought I would touch on some of the things we do.

Vocabulary
To start off, one of the fun things we do is called "word of the day".   What we do is pick a word in the dictionary.  Learn what it means, and then come up with a sentence for it to show our understanding.  :)   I then post that sentence to facebook.   It's a lot of fun.  We picked up the idea from a Tiffany Aching book where a young lady reads through the entire dictionary and exponentially expands for knowledge base.  Sometimes people join in with us.  :)

Reading
We do a lot of reading in this household, I read to my lad, my lad reads to me, we also listen to audio books.  It's a great way to combine history, science, vocabulary, with the love of the printed word.   We have three reading times scattered throughout the day. 
 
At breakfast we read through a chapter book...usually history in a story form, but sometimes just an interesting book that we want to have a regular time to read. 

Throughout our schooling time we'll put down our learning materials and lay on the bed for a bit.  The lad will play and I will read.  As the lad plays he will often interject comments when he doesn't understand something, or if he wants to add some knowledge to what we are reading about it.     I find it particularly fun when I am reading something and suddenly whatever it is appears in his playing.... like when the octopus came out and pulled one of the characters under water scaring everyone around with his puff of ink.   (made me laugh).   :)    It's a good break to our day, it continues our learning and gives the lad a mental break which he needs. 

We also read about five books at night before bed, history, science, geography and a chapter book and the lad has a "read it to me" book that he does one page a night.

Phonics and Grammar
We take a low key approach to grammar and phonics around here, as these subjects are difficult for my lad.  We've also added spelling this year as he's ready for it.    We use a program called Logic of English for this.   This program comes with a large number of flash cards.  We pick three a week and those are what we work on for one week.    This past week it was proper nouns, I and Y, and the sound aa.   We actually had to look up what that sound made as their cue word wasn't working for us.  :)    It's easy to interject three cards into everything you are doing over the course of a week, to find spelling words that go with them, other sound words and such like.

Cursive and Writing
Last year it was our delight to pick up a program called CursiveLogic.   My son now knows how to write in cursive.  He still struggles reading different forms of cursive and my style drives him crazy unless I take my time to write neatly.  :)    But it's a great way now to add history, science and geography to his day in the form of copywork.    He's still gaining confidence, particularly with capital letters, but the CursiveLogic flipstyle book makes it easy to find the needed page. :)

My lad is always in the process of doing some type of writing so I don't have a formal writing program for him.   He'll frequently ask me style questions ... should I start a new sentence, would this be a new paragraph, how do I write this thought mom?

Every other week we do a poetry lesson  where he needs to write a poem following a particular style.    For instance An Animal Prayer Poem.

Join me in welcoming Kym to my blog today.   I've had the privilege of getting to know this kind, knowledgeable over the past few years through the TOS board.   Share my delight in spending a week in Kym's home.  :)

They said that children like them...I was somewhat... skeptical...  But the recipe intrigued me so I figured, check 'em out, the worst that happens is the lad says ICK and more for me.  :)   AND if it IS my son friendly then WOOT WOOT.  :)

The picture above?    That's my son SECOND plateful!   HIS SECOND... with requests that I please do not finish them as he may want more.  :)

I think I'll be making these again.

The Ingredients
1 lb ground chicken
2 cups finely grated zucchini
1/2 tsp pepper
1 minced garlic clove
1 tsp salt (used pink himalayan sea salt)
2 tbsp parsley
couple pinches dry minced onion

The Instructions
Mix it all together really well.  :)  
Form into meatballs.
Either cook in frypan until done OR Cook in oven at 400 for 20-25 minutes (which incidentally is the same length of time it takes for me to do evening chores). :)

The lad ate his with ketchup and some scones.
I ate mine with some plain pasta.

You can find the original recipe HERE.

A dead body in an archaeological dig?   Griffin and Finley with haunted pasts.   A killer is on the loose... Can they figure out who it could be?

Book Synopsis:
In college, Griffin McCray and his three best friends had their lives planned out. But then Luke vanished before graduation and their world–and friendships–crumbled.
Still trying to forget a case that went bad when he was a SWAT team sniper, he’s living a quiet life as a park ranger at Gettysburg. Quiet until skeletal remains are uncovered near Little Round Top–and they aren’t Civil War-era. Griffin just wants the case to go away, but charming forensic anthropologist Finley Scott discovers evidence pointing to the work of an expert sniper. When FBI agent Declan Grey steps in to take over the case, past and present collide.

My Thoughts:
This is the first book I read by Dani Pettrey.   I appreciated how the mystery of the book was more central than the relationship between Griffin and Finley.  

Ms. Pettrey engages the reader in excellent character development.  It was interesting to see how Griffin and Finley needed to deal with events in their lives that haunted them.  Learning to share their concerns with each other, and for Griffin learning the importance of offering forgiveness.

Following the clues, working through false leads, having insight given from the killers scattered throughout the book, and figuring out mystery characters made for an interesting read.

I found the ending to be a bit weak, though it would be good to read a sequel to see if the remaining mystery is solved. :) 

This was the question posed to Robert Pierce one day as he worked for Youth for Christ doing evangelistic rallies in China.   A lady presented him with a child who was sorely in need of care.  She asked him "what will you do for this child"?    He gave her $5 immediately, and every month thereafter, and so World Vision was on it's way to being founded.   It took an additional three years before World Vision International was officially founded.

Robert Pierce, also known as Bob, was a post WWII man out to evangelize the world.   Strongly opposed to communism and strongly advocating the spread of the Christian Gospel worldwide, he thought spreading the Christian gospel was the best way to counteract the spread of communism.

Pierce started on his evangelistic journey travelling to China with Youth For Christ.   His daughter Marilee Pierce Dunker later wrote "My father went to China a young man in search of adventure, and he came home a man with a mission."   He dragged his camera across Asia making films, which he showed to people, begging them to help just one child.   Can you help one child?     He desperately wanted to shake people out of their complacency and turn their hearts to God and helping children in need.

He was a man of strong emotion, leading with his heart, which was both a good and a not so good thing.   It helped him talk with large groups of people and they could see his heart for the children he was so desperate to help which in turn help them to see and feel the need to help these children but the flip side was his anger and he would have angry clashes with the Board of World Vision.

The ministry was conceived in 1947, founded in 1950, formal sponsorship beginning in 1953, Pierce left the organization in 1957.

Pierce put his ministry first and the needs to fund it he considered more important than minding his own family.  He would say "that I'll take care of [God's] helpless little lambs overseas if he'll take care of mine at home".   He was legally separated from his wife, lost a daughter to suicide, and was estranged from his family until four days before his eventual death. 

He worked tirelessly for World Vision except when his health and mental stasis determined otherwise.  Clashes with the board led to his being fired.  From his efforts an organization that now cares for more than 1/2 a million children worldwide was made.

He also helped in the formation of Samaritan's Purse.  It was a small hunger organization when he took over running it in 1970.   He continued to be lead by his statement "Let my heart be broken with the things that break the heart of God."    He lead this organization until Franklin Graham took it over.  He died in 1978 from leukemia.

Live Loved: Craft God's Word into Your heart through Creative Expression, is the object of this review.  This Adult Colouring book was put together by Margaret Feinberg.

Book Synopsis:
How would your attitude, actions, and responses change if you lived in the unconditional, immeasurable love of God? What would it look like for you to live loved?
Live Loved provides an opportunity for you to pull away from the hustle and bustle of life to pray, journal, and unleash your creative gifts as you marinate in the truth of God’s fierce love for you.
Color and doodle and learn to live loved as you craft God’s Word into your heart.

My Thoughts:
I have to admit that I like this book, but also think that it is MADE for women.     I was commenting to my husband at how colouring books can be made in different ways, and due to the images in the book, it seemed a book made just for women.

I like the scriptures chosen, they are good ones to ponder and that's what the heart of this book is.   Giving scripture to ponder on, as you idle away some hours being creative.   It's a good concept that should serve it's market well.. christian women who like to relax by creatively colouring.     I am hopeful that Ms. Feinberg might make a book that would speak to adult men as well (because I know there are some other there who would colour alongside their spouses). 

I like that it gives a page alongside the colouring page, where one can write down the ponderings of one's heart.    The dotted lines encourage the written word as opposed to the drawn word (a good thing that).. it's good to have both right?   I really like that it is beside the picture being coloured and not on the backside as it really encourages that reflection.   The pages are thick enough to handle marker as well as pencil crayon.

The full title to this chapter is Respecting my Husband: the Foundation Principles.  I have to admit to being curious as to what Noelle Wilkerson says are foundational principles in this area. 

This chapter starts off with a quote from Abigail Adams that I like.  :)

I have to admit to a wee bit of internal struggle there over the American and the Canadian way of spelling honour, but I needed to stay true to the quote.  :)    I would also love to exchange the word nature for God.

But on to the chapter!
 Hmm.. I have to admit that Noelle's words rang true for me "The truth is that I have not always respected him nor do I always respect him now.   The Lord has worked in my heart and change me, and I know that the work he has begun he will bring to completion in Christ Jesus".  (p. 120)

It's true.  It's hard to respect each other sometimes.   Sometimes it's ever so easy to do so.   Not just because I get my own way... heavens to be.. far from it.   But this man of mine LOVES ME, he cares for me in ways that I don't always see.   And oddly enough, when I do see it, my respect for him grows by leaps and bounds.

Back to the chapter. :)
I found myself intrigued by her seeing that God made her and her husband one flesh.. and from that perspective she learned to respect her husband more.   Not two individuals living together, striving against one another, but ONE flesh with two bodies working together for the good of each other.   Having that perspective brings about mutual respect.

The question, therefore is asked, what is respect?
Webster defines respect "an act of giving particular attention and high or special regard, esteem".

Respect is seen in the wife who publicly and privately as the living representative of Christ in the home.  If you see your husband this way it changes how you think about him, and react toward him.

Submission and respect are different things... respect is how you see him, how you regard him as the embodiment of Christ in your home.    Just as your husband is called to love to live a life of sacrifice to his wife (loving his wife as he loves himself), we are called to show our deep regard for him.

We are not to be like Michal, who despised King David in her heart.  This she followed by openly rebuking him.  (1 Sam 6)

Rather we should look to the example of Sarah and her relationship with Abraham.   She trusted God, so she was able to trust Abraham... because God oversaw their marriage, she knew that it would all work out okay in the end.   But even if our husbands are not God-fearing men we are still called to respect him.     And if our husband IS a God-fearing man, we should submit meekly BECAUSE of our respect for him (rather than getting angry with him, or giving him a "look" as you give way)

We can go to our husbands with our concerns and worries, letting his counsel be a guide.    When we do this, we are a guide to the women of our congregations.  Showing them what respect looks like in a Christian marriage.

It also helps to respect him openly because it helps him in his ministry.   Seriously.  If he knows that you have his back (so to speak), when people argue with him, misunderstand him, hurt him, don't listen to him dispensing God's wisdom, knowing that you are there, helping and not hindering will do him a world of good.

If you struggle in this area, remind yourself of all the good things about your husband, from how he provides for your family, to how he opens doors for you, or helps with the dishes, or kisses you goodnight.  All good things yes?   Ask the Lord to help you see areas in your life where you could 1. show respect for your husband and 2. learn to respect him more.

My thoughts: I liked this chapter.  It challenged me to reconsider my thoughts in regard to some internal changes I can make (through the Lord's help), but it also showed me how far I've come in the relationship between my husband and I.   The key for me?   Reminding myself of his love for me and how it so often catches me off guard.   I'm always so surprised when I see it...makes me respect him and love him all the more.  A good thing yes?  :)

I have to admit it, I like poetry.  I like reading it with my boy, I like teaching him things to look out for in it but you know what I like most? 

The conversations.

Take for instance today, we read this poem written by  Robert Louis Stevenson.

I had thought about turning into a whole rhyming lesson, but when my boy smiled when I finished reading it, I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye, he burst into conversation.

"Mom, can you imagine it a family of otters got ahold of them"?
"Can you just seem them mom, smashing of the sails and using the boat parts as little tables to pass things back and forth"?

From that illustrious start we had a lovely conversation on just what might happen to those boats as they floated down the river the things they'd see, the mishaps they might have, the children they might meet.

IT WAS WONDERFUL.

And THAT my dear readers is WHY I love poetry.

Is it good to see the forms, to see how poetry is put together.. FOR SURE, but it's also good to let that stuff go and enjoy the thoughts and emotions that a good poem brings forth.   R.L. Stevenson wrote a poem that delighted my boy and gave us a good conversation...what more could you ask for?   :)

My lad and I continue reading through a variety of books at night.  
Currently we are reading about temperate forests, a novel (just finished Weekends with Max and his Dad), my boy's read out-loud book (Currently learning about zebras), Mammals and a book on railroads.

Sometimes we read about items that spur on our interest.  Tonight we had to look up what the oldest trees were and discovered that most old trees are from the conifer family.  The oldest being over 5,000 years old, this news stunned my my lad.

We have also recently learned about Caracals and the 8th wonder of the world (built in Canada.. a railroad bridge).   Both of these items intrigued us, so I told the lad I'd research them a bit and see what else we can learn.

First up, the Caracal.   For those of you who don't know, a caracal is a type of wild cat. Check out the sheer beauty of these cats. 

Caracals are a wild cat living in Africa and Asia.  They eat a variety of local game such as Hyraxes, medium-sized antelope and deer, birds of all sizes, rodents, and reptiles.   In our mammals book we learned that they eat A LOT of birds, to the extent of killing ostriches. It is a very versatile and agile hunter and the size of the animal does not deter it from using it as a food source.  It prefers to live in dry woodland and savannah.   

Even though it has ear tufts like the lynx, the caracal is most closely related to the serval and the African golden cat. Other than it's facial markings, the Caracal is a reddish brown cat with no other markings.

The agility of these cats has had them trained by nobility to be personal hunting animals.   You can see the caracal's agility in the video below.

Next we move along to a bridge in Canada.

Once known as the Eighth Wonder of the World the Victoria Tubular Bridge was built in 1859 over the St. Lawrence River at Montreal.

In it's day the bridge was considered an engineering marvel.   It's an industrial bridge, not designed to be pretty in any way.  As such, it is still in use today... still providing safety for rail cars trundling over the river.