Homeschool Roster Has Moved

I appreciate your readership and don't want to lose you, so please visit Homeschool Roster at it's new home at http://www.homeschoolroster.com. I'm still fiddling around and trying to figure out what to do. WordPress.org is very humbling to an HTML-geek like me. Anyway, I'll figure out what to do. Meanwhile, please re-subscribe because the feed address has changed as well. I won't be back here, so please don't leave me any messages at this location.

We'll still share great homeschool tips, experiences, and support each other through our homeschool journey.

Watcha' Readin'?

I have no idea how this happened, but I'm raising a princess. She loves to style her hair, loves wearing dresses (finally - having an older brother slowed this down), loves wearing pretty shoes, and loves Cinderella and any other princesses. She talks about getting married when she grows up and speaks about her husband. I can't tell you how many times she has been "pregnant," sometimes with twins. Minna Beana even knows how to nurse her babies from watching me nurse her younger brother.

This is somewhat funny to me because I never dreamed of getting married. I just figured it would happen. I never imagined having kids. I thought I would never be ready and it would be too hard. I ask, "are we ever really ready?" I keep my hair short because I never really learned how to style it and it's convenient; the peanut gallery wants that to change. I love princess dresses and did watch Princess Diana get married. Oh yeah, I love pretty shoes, but only own three pair.

I enjoy raising my princess. She motivates me to be more of a "lady." Afterall, she will be learning alot of how to be one from me. My biggest challenge has been hair maintenance because I do hair once (in the morning as w/make-up if I use it) and that is supposed to take care of it for the day. Because she has more hair than I do, throughout the day maintenance is required. For now, I can get away without doing much because she "looks cute," but I want her to know how to properly groom herself, so I find myself fixing hair throughout the day. Actually, she does a pretty good job herself, which she just figured out. Maybe, this raising a lady stuff isn't so hard; if only that were true.

It only seemed appropriate that Minna Beana's book choice for the week is Cinderella. I asked her what her favorite parts were and she shared the following:

Mommy - "Ms. Beana, what do you like about Cinderella?"

Minna - "I like that she gets married. I also like when he sees her."

Mommy - "When he sees her?"

She took the book from me and started flipping through the pages.

Minna - "Here," she pointed.

The page she showed me was when the prince first sees Cinderella at the ball in her pretty dress and he is marveling at her beauty. A romantic at the age of four (4). If she ain't a princess, then she is definitely a "girlie girl." I guess I better hang up my worn tennis shoes and sweatpants. I've got an example to set.

After reading the book, check out Rodger & Hammerstein's Cinderella with an all-star, muti-ethnic cast that includes Brandy as Cinderella, Whitney Houston as the fairy godmother and Broadway actor Paolo Montalban as the handsome prince. Along with the excellent singing, because most of the actors have Broadway stage experience, there is humor (Whoopie and Jason Alexander to name a few), and Hollywood spectacular with a budget to match.

Related Post: The Joy of Reading

Get Educated In Five (5) Minutes Or Less

Do you remember speed reading? Well, I once took a class to learn how to read some ridiculous amount of words in an also ridiculous amount of time. Not only was I supposed to be able to read the words, but also comprehend them. I actually did pretty well, but I guess it is like typing, which I never took in school. By the time I came around, keyboarding was available and that is the direction I took, but I was always amazed at people who could type a cazillion words per minute. I still peck away on the keyboard and do pretty well. I just couldn't get a job requiring a fast typing speed. Well, like the speed reading and the typing, if you don't use it, you lose it.

As a Mom, there are a lot of things we have/need to do and not much time to do them. We probably would do pretty well with the speed cooking, speed washing, speed diaper changing, etc. because we do them ALL THE TIME! We practice everyday! As we accomplish these great feats, our lists seem to grow rather than reduce. The blog/Web site, 5 Minutes for Mom, realizes that five (5) minutes is about all of the time that mommies have to spare in our busy schedules, so they have made it easy. The good thing is that we have more than five (5) minutes to consume the wonderful resources and information provided at their newly redesigned site as well as sister sites that they launched today to make moms (and dads) lives easier. If you would like some great, sometimes quick (you may find yourself spending more than five minutes because you can't pull yourself away), useful information, then visit one or all of these wonderful sites:

5 Minutes for Mom - Bringing Moms Together
5 Minutes for Special Needs - Support, Insight, Inspiration
5 Minutes for Books - We're Reading Into Everything
5 Minutes for Parenting - We're In This Together
and drum roll please...

***5 Minutes for Going Green - Green Looks Good On Everyone***

The last site/blog is highlighted because I am one of the weekly contributing writers along with several other amazing and talented blogging mommies. It is an honor and a treat to be a part of the "Green Team" and to share a little "green talk". Another great thing about these sites is that you don't have to speed read and take it all in within five (5) minutes.

One World, One Dream

Another four years has passed and the summer Olympics are upon us. This brings quite a bit of excitement to me although my introduction to most of the U.S. athletes will be during the games. I don't keep up with a lot of the sports like I used to. No longer do I lose my mind and appetite whenever the 49ers lose another game. I have come to realize that they don't pay me enough (or at all) to do so and it's just a game.

The Olympics are different. The athletes are people like you and me. There is more of a possibility that you or I could have been one of them. They are sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers who had a dream and the passion, drive, and commitment necessary to follow through on honing a skill that would possibly bring world-wide recognition as being the best of the best. For many of these athletes, personal recognition is not as important as the fact that they are representing their country as the best in their sport. The Olympics is the one time where people from all countries come together and for a little over two weeks, their diverse backgrounds, country turmoil, and sometimes politics even though that has threatened to become an issue this year, are able to be set aside while each athlete concentrates and works toward the same dream - to represent well and win a medal (gold preferred, but a silver or bronze isn’t too bad either) for their country.

When I started watching the Olympics (1976), many of the athletes competing this year were not even born. I remember watching with my mother as Nadia Comaneci (who also married Bart Conner from the 1984 U.S. Men's gold gymnastics team), a cute, 14-year-old Romanian who made every performance appear effortless and almost like an afterthought. She was the first woman (a mere child at the time) and Olympic gymnast to earn a perfect 10 (seven to be exact) for her show stopping performances and perfection. You think there is no such thing as perfect, well, Nadia was PERFECT! If you missed her performance and even if you got to see it live, it is worth watching again. Her rhythm of movement was absolutely beautiful. Japanese gymnast Shun Fujimoto also gave a command performance, that same year, through a broken kneecap injury that only confirmed the importance to these athletes of winning a medal for their country.

The year I most remember and still makes me smile is the 1984 Olympics when I watched as the U.S. Men’s gymnastic team took the gold for the first time in history. I believe I ate and slept in front of the television (which may have been partly due to my crush on Mitch Gaylord - first American gymnast to score a perfect 10 in the Olympics). That was definitely a nail biting competition.

If you saw her, then you will never forget Flo-Jo whose flashy, self-designed and made outfits didn’t manage to overshadow the talent and sportsmanship she possessed? She owned the Seoul Track & Field events (otherwise known as the "Games of Flo-Jo") in 1988 winning three gold and one silver. I really enjoyed watching her run with her team mates in the 4 x 100m relay as she brought up as anchor. I also have some memorable moments from the winter sports held that same year (both winter and summer Olympics were held the same year until 1992). For those Cool Runnings fans, the 1988 winter games debuted the Jamaican Bobsled team depicted in the movie.

A few people to keep an eye on this year are Dara Torres, a 41 year old first-time mother, but five (5) time Olympian and already a winner of four (4) gold medals and five other Olympic medals. Cullen Jones (go English major :)) has made his mark within the past few years, but is now on his way to the Olympics settings records everywhere. Get to know this swimming sensation.

Make memories with your children and don't have to hear about the amazing feats of the athletes from someone else. You can also incorporate a study of the Olympics as part of school using Amanda Bennett’s Summer Olympics 2008 Unit Study. It is planned for a four week study. Homeschool Share also offers a lapbook option for you lap bookers.

Also, look out for some new sports that have been added, which include BMX bicycling. I'm still waiting for the addition of Homeschool Mom where events include cooking, cleaning, teaching, carpooling, among others, while maintaining our sanity. That sport would be appropriate for either the summer or winter games. What do you think?

Official site of the 2008 Summer Olympic games. The opening ceremony is Friday, August 8. Let the games begin!

A little trivia...What soap opera has the theme song that was dubbed "Nadia's Theme?"

Watcha' Readin'?

I love to read even though I can't tell you when I last read a book from cover to cover. I have read quite a few magazines because that is about all of the time and attention span I have to spare. It is really important to me that my children read and I also hope that they enjoy reading too. So far, we are heading in the right direction. They still enjoy mommy reading to them and since I only have one reader, they need me to read to them. My daughter has been expressing her interest to start reading for quite a while, so we have been practicing and hopefully, she will be able to read to her little brother before long.

I intend to make a reading corner in their bedroom, but until then, they enjoy reading in mommy and daddy's bed. The older two listen the best they can while all of us try to keep the baby from falling off of the bed. He gets very busy playing and jumping and hasn't gotten the fact that he should sit and not jump. I often wonder if he is paying attention and every once in a while he will roll over and point to what is being read. I think he gets it.

Each week, one of the children will feature a special book they enjoy reading (or one that was read to them). We will start off the week with Schubaboobaly's pick of One Moose, Twenty Mice (also available in Spanish). This book is a Barefoot Book publication. These series of books, are fun, colorful, attention capturing, and all of my children absolutely love Barefoot Books. One of my aunts buys alot of books for my children and one of the Barefoot Books she gave to my oldest, which I used to read to him, he now reads to his brother and sister. So, these books are great for the early listeners as well as the early readers.

This board book is a little longer than some of the other board books I've read. Throughout the story of patchwork pictures, bright colors, counting from one to 20, the lingering mystery remains, "...where's the cat?" This is a great book for enfants because of the colors and the introduction to animals (even the spiders and mice are cute) and also for teen toddlers because of the ascending counting skills it promotes. The felt, patchwork pictures make me want to break out needle and quilting hoop to create some of the pictures. Several of the pictures would make great wall hangings.

Schubaboobaly enjoys sitting and "reading" through the book. Every once in a while, he will bring the book over to me and show me the pictures. It won't be long before he's reading to mommy.

Related Post: The Joy of Reading

Thank You for My Freedom. God Bless the USA!

Share Your Snapshots

At Homeschool Roster, a SNAPSHOT is a "glance, in written form, of an event in which a camera (still or video) wasn't available to capture that quick moment of a memorable experience." I may take a liberty in the next few months and add to our definition, but until then, that’s what it is. Sharing your SNAPSHOT is easy and can be done through the following steps:

Schedule
Each month will have a SNAPSHOT theme.

Participation
Anyone may participate.

Posts
Please mention SNAPSHOT in your post and link back here so that you can claim SNAPSHOT fame and provide others a way to learn about how they too can participate.

Length
I love details, but as we know in the blogging world, it's better if posts are not competing to remove War and Peace from its ranking level. That being said, write what is needed for the reader to enjoy and appreciate your SNAPSHOT as much as you do.

Submission
When submitting your post, include the link to your post and not to the homepage of your blog. You're posting to share, so make it easy for people to locate and read about your SNAPSHOT. Of course, pictures are not necessary, but if you have one, then include it in your post.

SNAPSHOT Button
If you would like to use the SNAPSHOT Button, then copy and paste the code shown on the left sidebar under the button. Please use this code (don’t right click on the banner and save the image) shown so that you will always have the current button.

Content
I reserve the right to remove links to inappropriate posts.

Was that easy enough? If you still have any questions, then please E-mail me.

This month the theme is “free for all.” You can write something about any SNAPSHOT in your life. Let’s see how you are with no limits…Read my first SNAPSHOT.

The Joy of Reading

Reading is essential. It doesn’t get any simpler than that. Whether you are silently reading or reading to someone else, reading can keep your mind thinking, introduce one to language, and can be a lot of fun too. It is a skill that enables one to study, learn, interpret and challenge information presented to him. Everyday functions, like reading a recipe, understanding driving directions, or just reading a book or magazine are easier to do and make life less confusing and more manageable.

My oldest, who will be starting “kindergarten/1st grade” this fall, started reading last year. To encourage his interest and improve his reading skills, he reads one book to the family everyday. He doesn’t read a novel. We get early readers from the library because children go through those like an infant goes through baby clothes. Sometimes, he reads one of the board books I use to read to him, to his brother and sister. The two younger ones enjoy a good read, my oldest gets practice reading, and they all get to practice listening to language. This is a great way to keep them busy when I have to get some things done around the house.

If you have taught your child to read, then you already know the gratification of listening to and watching him read. If you are in the process of teaching your child to read, then I encourage you to keep going and if this isn’t the time, then you will know. I remember wondering if he would ever learn to read after starting so many times. He wasn’t really ready the first, second (or third) time. One day, he just started reading and it all of a sudden made sense to him (what a relief to me).

There are many summer reading programs that encourage and reward children for reading during their summer break. Our local library has a program where the children record the books they read and at the end of the summer receive free books and recognition. The Old Schoolhouse introduced their new summer reading program called Summer Reading Splash, which has alot of cool things for parents (tips and encouragement) and children (weekly prizes, activity sheets, etc.). Hurry and get started because it is over Thursday, July 31. Barnes & Noble is also promoting Summer Reading w/Andrew Clements, which requires the child to journal and read. This event runs through Tuesday, September 2.

Besides the regular daily reading we do, we are reading (Mommy is reading) The Chronicles of Narnia. I remember The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe being read to me in elementary school. It was a popular book at the time, and once again, it has made it back on the charts. One of the things we will do upon completion of the book is watch the movie. It will be interesting to see how well the book was translated to film. So far, the children are curious to know what is happening to Polly and Digory. Even my one year old sits still while I’m reading.

We are always teaching our children (even when we don’t want to – I have a few habits to break) and one of the best ways to nurture a love of reading is to read yourself and to let them see you reading. I am looking forward to putting this to practice. I believe that I have read about five books, to completion, within the last six years. What a sad testament. Much of my summer will be filled with reading resources and curriculum books for school. I am actually looking forward to those reads as I plan for the school year, but I will also squeeze a few non-academic reads in there too.

Whether you participate in a structured read-a-thon or decide to go it on your own, cuddle and enjoy the time spent with your children.

Snapshots

Snapshots is a regular feature at this blog. I am a picture taking fool (just ask my children), but sometimes great shots happen and you don't have a camera. So, what do you do? You preserve the memory in your mind and at some later time, upon remembering, it may make you laugh, cry, or even roll your eyes as you recollect that special time. I have alot of those missed camera shots because I didn't have my camera. Other times, I've had a camera, but while fiddling with the lens cap or trying to get the right angle, not only missed a great picture, but I also missed the "ooh-ahh" moment that I was trying to capture. Sometimes you need to put the camera down and just enjoy the blessing of life and the people around you. I remember an experience I had while visiting my mother in-law, whom we see maybe once a year due to travelling distance and the fact she and my father in-law no longer fly. After a day full of me taking pictures, because I wanted to "preserve the moment," she finally asked me very lovingly "are you done yet!" I immediately put the camera down and started spending time with HER which is why we were there.

There are times when only a camera will do because the shot is just too funny or something you may never see again, as shown above. This is a picture taken of my now four year old daughter when she was 19 months old. To this day, it still makes me laugh. I can only imagine how it will make me feel 20 years from now. For those experiences where the camera shot was never taken, I'm thankful for my ability to write and occasionally journal about something that I don't want to forget and know I'll enjoy reading about when I'm old and gray rocking in my favorite chair.

Children are so precious and as I'm told (and am learning), grow quickly and I should preserve as many memories as I can. This is also true for life experiences. Don't miss out because you're trying to get that "perfect snapshot." Instead, enjoy the experience and later write a few words that will help you occasionally recapture that moment and that will be your "snapshot."

A picture speaks "a thousand words," and I'm going to allow this picture of my daughter to do just that. It will be left up to the reader's imagination. I'll admit that I'm glad I had a camera and was able to remove the lens cap quickly enough before she figured out what she was doing.

It Is Now Time

I have been planning for this moment for more than five years when I first pushed my oldest son in a stroller at the annual Chea Convention. Here I am, two more children later and NOW that little man is about to start his official first year of homeschool. It is the official year meaning that my husband and I will complete the necessary paperwork to let the school district know that our son is "ripe and ready" for school, but will be receiving his education from his academically competent parents.

We have been "homeschooling," as do all parents everytime they teach their child something, since he was capable of learning. Why, once a child turns five or six, does a parent believe he is no longer competent enough to teach his child as they have been doing for the first years of their life and decide to send them off to be taught by another? I don’t know. The first six years have been great, he has learned, and we are going to continue teaching, learning, and having fun at home as long as God provides the opportunity, the guidance, the wisdom, and the finances for this journey.

I am extremely excited about what I am going to learn (the first time and second time around), what our children will learn and share with us, and catching a glimpse of the sparkle in their eyes when something all of a sudden makes sense. It has been exciting teaching our oldest son how to read and listening to him read to his younger sister and brother.

With this blog and forum, I hope to learn from and share with other homeschoolers (novices to the seasoned) our homeschooling experiences. I am expectant, sometimes overwhelmed, and incredibly excited about beginning this next stage in our lives. Pray for my children and me (“pleeeeeze” – because I really need it). Read, join in at will, and let’s help each other by sharing. As you know, these years are going to go by quickly. Give them the best that you can, teach them everything you know, and all the rest you can learn together.