Comment Issues

I am so glad to be back on this blog, and I appreciate the comments I received from Miss Lynda.  Sadly, I am having some kind of problem with posting my comments. Blogger won't allow me to sign in and post. I really don't understand given the fact that I can make new posts. Thanks for your support, Miss Lynda. I think the curriculum you mentioned is Sonlight. They really are wonderful with regard to reading.  You just can't go wrong with a reading-based program (as long as the material being read is edifying).

Through Golden Windows

This is a set of books published by the wonderful Grolier company in the late 1950's/ each volume contains stories centered around a particular theme.  We bought our beloved set from a used book store in Oak Ridge, TN several years ago. Two of the volumes deal directly with American History, including stories about the great explorers.  We have brought these volumes down to the school room and we're making good use of them.

This year with Virginia's history work, we are taking a very unique approach. We are reading and reading and reading some more--a textbook, story books, and  biographies (including some that Michael had bought many years ago for his nephews).  We are acompiling a notebook of work as well:  copywork, artwork, maps, and so forth completed by Virginia will give her at the end of the year almost a scrapbook. with her History projects.  I love the notebooking method of homeschooling, and think it can be adapted successfully with almost any curriculum or learning styles.

Some thoughts about A Beka:  their product is unbeatable in quality of teaching and organization. I have just never seen anything better.  But I really missed doing  the work with the kids like we did when we first started. This year, I took Virginia out of the A Beka program.  We have a very strong collection of curricula from which she is working--we returned to Modern Curriculum Press for some items for one last year. I think we will return to A Beka, at least in math and science, next year.  But I have to tell you., returning to working with Mom has brought us closer together.

I'll give an update on the boys next time.

We're All Still Here!

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I regret to say that I have neglected this blog!  My post tonight (below) was the first I had posted in some time. We are all still here, and I am grateful to God more each day for what He has done for our family. Today, I was able to be home with the boys as Dad took Virginia to our monthly food distribution program, "There's Hope for the Hungry." This is a highlight of Virginia's month. Today, her best friend Joshua was able to attend as well. Both have truly grown up in the Church and under the tender love and admonition of the Saviour.

Fall is our favorite time of year, and it is finally getting cooler.  I think I will bring in my mums tonight as we have a frost warning in effect, and I don't know how hardy they are going to be.

Tomorrow, I would like to post about our school work so far this year. I am very pleased with the paths that the children are taking. Stay tuned!

Getting to Be That Time Again . . .

Every year about this time, we read Washington Irving's marvelous classic, The  Legend of Sleepy Hollow. What a fabulous story and author!  I always loved the Walt Disney animated version when I was growing up--it seemed to capture Ichabod Crane just as Irving imagined him.
And my goodness. could Irving turn a phrase!
 It was the very witching time of night that Ichabod, heavy-hearted and crestfallen, pursued his travel homewards, along the sides of the lofty hills which rise above Tarry Town, and which he had traversed  so cheerily in the afternoon . . . All the stories of ghosts and goblins that he had heard in the afternoon now came crowding upon his recollection. . .