Here is a list of the top 10 places to get online books
International Children’s Digital LibraryThe search options for this website are incredible. You can search by age, language, subject, length, awards won, type of character, emotions, and much more. Most of the books are full color.
Children’s Books OnlineI love this delightful site because you can search by reading level. Most of the books are full color and some include audios.
The Baldwin Online Children’s Literature Project Popular children’s literature, organized into 19 genres, including biographies, history, and science.
LibrivoxAn impressive list of over 1800 audio books recorded and submitted by volunteers
Page by Page BooksClassic books arranged by title
World Wide SchoolSearch by by subject, author, or title
Internet Archive: Children’s LibraryBrowse by title, author, staff recommendations, most downloaded, or cloud tags. Most books are available to download in pdf format or to view online in flipbook.
Planet eBookClassic books arranged by title
Author’s Classic NovelsPopular children’s stories
Classics for Young PeopleClassic books arranged by author
Showing posts with label Homeschool. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Homeschool. Show all posts
Monday, January 5, 2009
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Picture Study Information
One of the things I always wished I knew more about/paid more attention to was art and artists. As I got older and realized that cultured people knew things about art-- styles, forms, artists, periods, etc.-- I regretted not making it a priority to be more acquainted with such things when I was in school. I assessed that people who were educated and well-rounded should know a little something about all the arts. I even flirted with the idea of becoming an art history major briefly.For these reasons, I determined when we started homeschooling that we were going to dive into the arts. I had high hopes, as the song goes, but I just found that all things artsy got pushed to the back burner in favor of doing things like multiplication tables and learning how to read. And yet, that whole "well-rounded education thing" kept tugging at me.This is part of the reason why we are participating in Monday's Artists this year (see the interview I posted on Monday to learn more about this program)-- to guarantee my children's exposure to the arts to whatever degree they want to absorb it. I predict that some of them will love it more than others. One of mine is very excited about art class, the other wants to learn more about music. The point is, they are learning what's out there to choose from.Today I read an explanation about what Charlotte Mason termed "picture study"-- an easy, no-stress way to expose our kids to great art and the artists behind the works. (I have been reading up and refreshing myself in all things Charlotte Mason as we are preparing for a new school year.) One of the ladies wrote this great explanation that I wanted to share with you here. She makes it sound easy enough that any of us could do it! I love that!When I first started doing picture studies with my girls, I felt a little overwhelmed because I thought I had to research each picture and tell them all the particulars about it, really "educate" them on the meaning behind the picture, etc. Then I saw a woman teach a picture study,and I realized that it was quite simple. You tell them ahead of time to look at the picture for about a minute or two. Tell them to remember everything they can about the picture (the people, where they were sitting or standing, describe any animals, the landscape, placement of objects, the colors and where they were located, etc.) because you're going to turn the picture over so they can't see it any longer. Let your children take turns telling what they saw. For younger children, be sure to warn them in advance that you want them to "tell back" what they saw. This process sharpen their attention skills, and they will walk away having an image of the picture in their minds. You could also ask your children to draw/paint the picture because this gives them the opportunity to focus on the details as well. You can choose an artist to study for a month or six weeks, focusing on a different picture each week. Large coffee-table type art books are readily available at most libraries, as are picture book biographies about the more well-known artists. By investing in an easel stand, you can display the "picture of the week" in your home for everyone to enjoy. At the end of that month or six weeks, everyone will be well acquainted with the works of that artist. Then you can switch to another one!My girls have gotten excited afterwards when seeing a picture they've studied framed in a store, printed in a book, or viewed in an art gallery. Charlotte Mason's goal of picture study was to help the child increase his attention while at the same time forming a relationship with the picture and the artist. You could read a picture book about the artist and their life or simply learn about the artist's childhood-- something your young children may be interested in at this point of their lives. Another woman wrote:I think two good artists for beginning picture study with young children are Mary Cassatt and Grandma Moses. I did those two with my 4, 7, 10, and 12 yr old nieces and nephews who were living with me last year (plus it was the first time I had done this with my 15 yr old son). I found books in the juvenile department of the library about the artists - picture book style for the younger children. I found the Mary Cassatt prints online. I put them on a disk and took them to Staples to be printed as 8X10's for around $1 each.(I will add to this one that, if you do Grandma Moses, be sure to see if your library has any Will Moses (her great grandson) picture books to read during this time.)I will also add that it is good to study nature artists like John James Audubon, Beatrix Potter, etc. as you can incorporate a real love of nature and God's brilliant creations at the same time. God pays such attention to the details of His creation, and these artists really showcased those details.These ladies make picture study sound so doable and relatively effortless that I was challenged to add this element to our school year. I know that not all of you who read this blog are homeschoolers, but this is something easy we can all do in our homes to enrich our lives by interacting with great works and great minds in our everyday lives, having natural conversations along the way and fostering in our children an awarness and appreciation for the finer things in life.Philippians 4:8, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-- think about such things."
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Homeschoolers Threaten Our Cultural Comfort
Home-schoolers threaten our cultural comfort
6/8/2008 9:39:01 AMDaily Journal
You see them at the grocery, or in a discount store.It's a big family by today’s standards - "just like stair steps," as the old folks say. Freshly scrubbed boys with neatly trimmed hair and girls with braids, in clean but unfashionable clothes follow mom through the store as she fills her no-frills shopping list.There's no begging for gimcracks, no fretting, and no threats from mom. The older watch the younger, freeing mom to go peacefully about her task. You are looking at some of the estimated 2 million children being home schooled in the U.S., and the number is growing. Their reputation for academic achievement has caused colleges to begin aggressively recruiting them. Savings to the taxpayers in instructional costs are conservatively estimated at $4 billion, and some place the figure as high as $9 billion. When you consider that these families pay taxes to support public schools, but demand nothing from them, it seems quite a deal for the public.Home schooling parents are usually better educated than the norm, and are more likely to attend worship services. Their motives are many and varied. Some fear contagion from the anti-clericalism, coarse speech, suggestive behavior and hedonistic values that characterize secular schools. Others are concerned for their children’s safety. Some want their children to be challenged beyond the minimal competencies of the public schools. Concern for a theistic world view largely permeates the movement.Indications are that home schooling is working well for the kids, and the parents are pleased with their choice, but the practice is coming under increasing suspicion, and even official attack, as in California. Why do we hate (or at least distrust) these people so much?Methinks American middle-class people are uncomfortable around the home schooled for the same reason the alcoholic is uneasy around the teetotaler. Their very existence represents a rejection of our values, and an indictment of our lifestyles. Those families are willing to render unto Caesar the things that Caesar’s be, but they draw the line at their children. Those of us who have put our trust in the secular state (and effectively surrendered our children to it) recognize this act of defiance as a rejection of our values, and we reject them in return. Just as the jealous Chaldeans schemed to bring the wrath of the king upon the Hebrew eunuchs, we are happy to sic the state’s bureaucrats on these “trouble makers.” Their implicit rejection of America’s most venerated idol, Materialism, (a.k.a. “Individualism”) spurs us to heat the furnace and feed the lions.Young families must make the decision: Will junior go to day care and day school, or will mom stay home and raise him? The rationalizations begin. "A family just can't make it on one income." (Our parents did.) "It just costs so much to raise a child nowadays." (Yeah, if you buy brand-name clothing, pre-prepared food, join every club and activity, and spend half the cost of a house on the daughter’s wedding, it does.) And so, the decision is made. We give up the bulk of our waking hours with our children, as well as the formation of their minds, philosophies, and attitudes, to strangers. We compensate by getting a boat to take them to the river, a van to carry them to Little League, a 2,800-square-foot house, an ATV, a zero-turn Cub Cadet, and a fund to finance a brand-name college education. And most significantly, we claim “our right” to pursue a career for our own "self-fulfillment."Deep down, however, we know that our generation has eaten its seed corn. We lack the discipline and the vision to deny ourselves in the hope of something enduring and worthy for our posterity. We are tired from working extra jobs, and the looming depression threatens our 401k’s. Credit cards are nearly maxed, and it costs a $100 to fuel the Suburban. Now the kid is raising hell again, demanding the latest Play Station as his price for doing his school work … and there goes that modest young woman in the home-made dress with her four bright-eyed, well-behaved home-schooled children in tow. Wouldn’t you just love to wipe that serene look right off her smug face?Is it any wonder we hate her so?Sonny Scott a community columnist, lives on Sparta Road in Chickasaw County and his e-mail address is sonnyscott@yahoo.com.
6/8/2008 9:39:01 AMDaily Journal
You see them at the grocery, or in a discount store.It's a big family by today’s standards - "just like stair steps," as the old folks say. Freshly scrubbed boys with neatly trimmed hair and girls with braids, in clean but unfashionable clothes follow mom through the store as she fills her no-frills shopping list.There's no begging for gimcracks, no fretting, and no threats from mom. The older watch the younger, freeing mom to go peacefully about her task. You are looking at some of the estimated 2 million children being home schooled in the U.S., and the number is growing. Their reputation for academic achievement has caused colleges to begin aggressively recruiting them. Savings to the taxpayers in instructional costs are conservatively estimated at $4 billion, and some place the figure as high as $9 billion. When you consider that these families pay taxes to support public schools, but demand nothing from them, it seems quite a deal for the public.Home schooling parents are usually better educated than the norm, and are more likely to attend worship services. Their motives are many and varied. Some fear contagion from the anti-clericalism, coarse speech, suggestive behavior and hedonistic values that characterize secular schools. Others are concerned for their children’s safety. Some want their children to be challenged beyond the minimal competencies of the public schools. Concern for a theistic world view largely permeates the movement.Indications are that home schooling is working well for the kids, and the parents are pleased with their choice, but the practice is coming under increasing suspicion, and even official attack, as in California. Why do we hate (or at least distrust) these people so much?Methinks American middle-class people are uncomfortable around the home schooled for the same reason the alcoholic is uneasy around the teetotaler. Their very existence represents a rejection of our values, and an indictment of our lifestyles. Those families are willing to render unto Caesar the things that Caesar’s be, but they draw the line at their children. Those of us who have put our trust in the secular state (and effectively surrendered our children to it) recognize this act of defiance as a rejection of our values, and we reject them in return. Just as the jealous Chaldeans schemed to bring the wrath of the king upon the Hebrew eunuchs, we are happy to sic the state’s bureaucrats on these “trouble makers.” Their implicit rejection of America’s most venerated idol, Materialism, (a.k.a. “Individualism”) spurs us to heat the furnace and feed the lions.Young families must make the decision: Will junior go to day care and day school, or will mom stay home and raise him? The rationalizations begin. "A family just can't make it on one income." (Our parents did.) "It just costs so much to raise a child nowadays." (Yeah, if you buy brand-name clothing, pre-prepared food, join every club and activity, and spend half the cost of a house on the daughter’s wedding, it does.) And so, the decision is made. We give up the bulk of our waking hours with our children, as well as the formation of their minds, philosophies, and attitudes, to strangers. We compensate by getting a boat to take them to the river, a van to carry them to Little League, a 2,800-square-foot house, an ATV, a zero-turn Cub Cadet, and a fund to finance a brand-name college education. And most significantly, we claim “our right” to pursue a career for our own "self-fulfillment."Deep down, however, we know that our generation has eaten its seed corn. We lack the discipline and the vision to deny ourselves in the hope of something enduring and worthy for our posterity. We are tired from working extra jobs, and the looming depression threatens our 401k’s. Credit cards are nearly maxed, and it costs a $100 to fuel the Suburban. Now the kid is raising hell again, demanding the latest Play Station as his price for doing his school work … and there goes that modest young woman in the home-made dress with her four bright-eyed, well-behaved home-schooled children in tow. Wouldn’t you just love to wipe that serene look right off her smug face?Is it any wonder we hate her so?Sonny Scott a community columnist, lives on Sparta Road in Chickasaw County and his e-mail address is sonnyscott@yahoo.com.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
My Philosophy of Education and God
Philosophy means: the heart of seeking wisdom, personal beliefs and how to live and deal with those situations. It is important to have a philosophy for passing on knowledge, skills, wisdom and cultural values. Therefore the following will be my philosophy and beliefs for my worldview and my philosophy of education.
My belief about parental responsibility is…
Ø Our Children are born with a sin nature as all of us are. They are a blank slate; therefore we need to take complete control of all the writings on that slate. That is, in their upbringing of beliefs and in their education. Once the slate is full from our writings then it is up to them to continue the writings on their slate of life. This will happen sometime in adulthood.
Ø We can not send our children off to be educated for 8 hours a day and then expect them to come home and undo all the bad habits, teachings and peer standards in just an hour a day or a weekend.
Ø It is our responsibility to keep our children from harm. Therefore putting them in a situation of sexual abuse, drug abuse, foul language, social pressure, physical abuse, lowering of their self-esteem due to ridicule and discrimination is out of the question. Yes, I understand this is in the world and they cannot be kept from it all completely, however to directly put them in a situation myself would be blasphemy.
Ø We would never allow our child to go to someone’s home that we did not know. Then why is it ok to send our blank slate to a school with 200 other children we do not know? We don’t know them or their parents or their values. It is not ok!
Ø Putting them in a class room with 30+ other children and being told they have to either stay behind (smarter then the average) or fall behind (not understanding the work) due to birocracy of the public school system is once again Out of the question.
Ø With that said it is our sole responsibility as parents to educate our children at home.
Ø We are given this great gift of life from God and we are told to raise them not to be lazy and give them up to someone else to do the job for us.
Ø If the child needs to take a course or two away from home in the upper grades then it should be done under the direct supervision of the parent.
Ø We can only know exactly what our child is learning if we are their educator. Without that, one can EVER really be sure what is being taught or going on with our children.
Ø We are to raise up the future. With that said, then I take it to be literal. WE are to raise and educate our children not other people.
Ø If we want our children to have our morals, beliefs (whatever that may be) and scruples then WE need to teach them our way not the majority rules way like that of public school and even private school.
Ø If we want to have a beautiful, close, loving and glorifying relationship with our children (especially in the teen years) then we need to spend the time with them at the very beginning not waiting until they are too old and then saying what happened? 2 hours at night after school or the weekends is not going to create this relationship.
Ø If we have our child educated out of the home and find ourselves asking where did my child learn that? Or Why is he?…or I can not handle her anymore…. Etc. Then we must take the responsibility for that. We allowed it by putting our child in that unsafe territory.
My definition of education…
Ø Education should be an instruction in Character, Bible, Manners, Language, Science, History and Math etc in a hands on learning environment that is fun, exciting and geared towards our child’s learning ability not to the mass.
Ø Formal education (school) is a small part of our children’s education for reading and writing. All subjects should have a relaxed and fun approach.
Ø I teach the Bible to edify and glorify God. To have my children learn the history of God, the world and man. To learn how to love God and have a relationship with Him. To also have the wisdom to love other people and to get along with others of all ages, race, religion, physical looks etc. without being judgmental, spiteful or hatful.
Ø I teach Math to give my children knowledge of how God put this miraculous world together thru mathematical equations. To be able to go out into the world and choose any occupation and know they will have the education to handle that occupation.
Ø I teach Science once again to glorify God. He created it all. Every dewdrop and my children need to learn about every creation and how and why He made it. Every bug, vein etc is here for a certain purpose. Possibly to even debate the evolutionist theory that have been placed on our schooled children.
Ø I teach Music to beautify the world thru teaching hymns. So that others may learn the beautiful teachings thru such a wonderful gift of song. Well, and because I love to sing and want them to have a love for it too. My dream is to someday sing a trio with my children.
Ø I teach Reading/Writing and Phonics for obvious reasons. God gave us the gift of speech. We need to learn how to use it and understand it so we can effectively communicate with other people in this world.
Ø I teach Art so that they can learn how to appreciate the gifts that have been bestowed on some of the more famous artists in the world. Also so that they can cultivate a gift for art within themselves.
Ø I teach history to allow my children have a functional knowledge of the world. To understand where we humans came from and how our cultures have evolved over the past few thousand years and get an idea of where we are headed.
Ø In general each subject is taught to increase the knowledge and wisdom of the world, God and life of each of my children
Ø I teach my children at home so they can make a difference in this non-moralistic nation. So that hopefully they can change our country back to a country that was founded on God. So they can bring morals back into our Government.
My worldview and my beliefs in God…
Ø Most people I feel have some sort of belief in God, but unfortunately do not value Him enough to get to know Him and to begin a relationship with Him.
Ø Our purpose to live is to please and love God and to bring up our children to please and Love God.
Ø God is the creator of the world, man and the universe. He created the world in 7 days with the first humans of Adam and Eve.
Ø He created all animals and humans as vegetarians including dinosaurs to walk with humans until the fall.
Ø The world is only a few thousand years old as has been known for thousands of years. The world is not billions of years old as the evolution theory has been teaching only for the past 90 years.
Ø The Bible is a God inspired history book and is to be taken as factual and accurate.
Ø The Bible is perfect for teaching the history of the world and man.
Ø Our relationship should be one that is the most important thing on our day, week, month, year and life.
Ø We should have close contact and conversation with our creator on a daily basis thru prayer, reading and study of His word.
Ø We should give thanks for all that He has given us on a daily basis! Even in times of trouble and hardship we should give thanks.
Ø I believe that truth (unfortunately) is relative. What I believe may not be true for others. However I do not believe that is the way it should be. We should all believe that God is our creator as we once did just about 80 years ago, but our world is ready for that as of yet!
Ø If we look to the Bible it will give us the knowledge to make the right and wise choices in our life.
Ø If we would just take the time read the Bible cover to cover we will have all the knowledge and wisdom to know what is real and what is truth.
Ø There are NO mistakes, inconsistencies or contradictions in the Bible. Those who say that must NOT have read it cover to cover.
Ø I believe that there is the 2nd coming of Christ as written in Revelation.
Ø If we believe that Jesus Christ is God in the living flesh and that He died for our sins so we will be have ever lasting life in heaven.
Ø We do not make it to heaven by works, but by faith. But it is thru our works that our faith is proven and shown.
My belief about parental responsibility is…
Ø Our Children are born with a sin nature as all of us are. They are a blank slate; therefore we need to take complete control of all the writings on that slate. That is, in their upbringing of beliefs and in their education. Once the slate is full from our writings then it is up to them to continue the writings on their slate of life. This will happen sometime in adulthood.
Ø We can not send our children off to be educated for 8 hours a day and then expect them to come home and undo all the bad habits, teachings and peer standards in just an hour a day or a weekend.
Ø It is our responsibility to keep our children from harm. Therefore putting them in a situation of sexual abuse, drug abuse, foul language, social pressure, physical abuse, lowering of their self-esteem due to ridicule and discrimination is out of the question. Yes, I understand this is in the world and they cannot be kept from it all completely, however to directly put them in a situation myself would be blasphemy.
Ø We would never allow our child to go to someone’s home that we did not know. Then why is it ok to send our blank slate to a school with 200 other children we do not know? We don’t know them or their parents or their values. It is not ok!
Ø Putting them in a class room with 30+ other children and being told they have to either stay behind (smarter then the average) or fall behind (not understanding the work) due to birocracy of the public school system is once again Out of the question.
Ø With that said it is our sole responsibility as parents to educate our children at home.
Ø We are given this great gift of life from God and we are told to raise them not to be lazy and give them up to someone else to do the job for us.
Ø If the child needs to take a course or two away from home in the upper grades then it should be done under the direct supervision of the parent.
Ø We can only know exactly what our child is learning if we are their educator. Without that, one can EVER really be sure what is being taught or going on with our children.
Ø We are to raise up the future. With that said, then I take it to be literal. WE are to raise and educate our children not other people.
Ø If we want our children to have our morals, beliefs (whatever that may be) and scruples then WE need to teach them our way not the majority rules way like that of public school and even private school.
Ø If we want to have a beautiful, close, loving and glorifying relationship with our children (especially in the teen years) then we need to spend the time with them at the very beginning not waiting until they are too old and then saying what happened? 2 hours at night after school or the weekends is not going to create this relationship.
Ø If we have our child educated out of the home and find ourselves asking where did my child learn that? Or Why is he?…or I can not handle her anymore…. Etc. Then we must take the responsibility for that. We allowed it by putting our child in that unsafe territory.
My definition of education…
Ø Education should be an instruction in Character, Bible, Manners, Language, Science, History and Math etc in a hands on learning environment that is fun, exciting and geared towards our child’s learning ability not to the mass.
Ø Formal education (school) is a small part of our children’s education for reading and writing. All subjects should have a relaxed and fun approach.
Ø I teach the Bible to edify and glorify God. To have my children learn the history of God, the world and man. To learn how to love God and have a relationship with Him. To also have the wisdom to love other people and to get along with others of all ages, race, religion, physical looks etc. without being judgmental, spiteful or hatful.
Ø I teach Math to give my children knowledge of how God put this miraculous world together thru mathematical equations. To be able to go out into the world and choose any occupation and know they will have the education to handle that occupation.
Ø I teach Science once again to glorify God. He created it all. Every dewdrop and my children need to learn about every creation and how and why He made it. Every bug, vein etc is here for a certain purpose. Possibly to even debate the evolutionist theory that have been placed on our schooled children.
Ø I teach Music to beautify the world thru teaching hymns. So that others may learn the beautiful teachings thru such a wonderful gift of song. Well, and because I love to sing and want them to have a love for it too. My dream is to someday sing a trio with my children.
Ø I teach Reading/Writing and Phonics for obvious reasons. God gave us the gift of speech. We need to learn how to use it and understand it so we can effectively communicate with other people in this world.
Ø I teach Art so that they can learn how to appreciate the gifts that have been bestowed on some of the more famous artists in the world. Also so that they can cultivate a gift for art within themselves.
Ø I teach history to allow my children have a functional knowledge of the world. To understand where we humans came from and how our cultures have evolved over the past few thousand years and get an idea of where we are headed.
Ø In general each subject is taught to increase the knowledge and wisdom of the world, God and life of each of my children
Ø I teach my children at home so they can make a difference in this non-moralistic nation. So that hopefully they can change our country back to a country that was founded on God. So they can bring morals back into our Government.
My worldview and my beliefs in God…
Ø Most people I feel have some sort of belief in God, but unfortunately do not value Him enough to get to know Him and to begin a relationship with Him.
Ø Our purpose to live is to please and love God and to bring up our children to please and Love God.
Ø God is the creator of the world, man and the universe. He created the world in 7 days with the first humans of Adam and Eve.
Ø He created all animals and humans as vegetarians including dinosaurs to walk with humans until the fall.
Ø The world is only a few thousand years old as has been known for thousands of years. The world is not billions of years old as the evolution theory has been teaching only for the past 90 years.
Ø The Bible is a God inspired history book and is to be taken as factual and accurate.
Ø The Bible is perfect for teaching the history of the world and man.
Ø Our relationship should be one that is the most important thing on our day, week, month, year and life.
Ø We should have close contact and conversation with our creator on a daily basis thru prayer, reading and study of His word.
Ø We should give thanks for all that He has given us on a daily basis! Even in times of trouble and hardship we should give thanks.
Ø I believe that truth (unfortunately) is relative. What I believe may not be true for others. However I do not believe that is the way it should be. We should all believe that God is our creator as we once did just about 80 years ago, but our world is ready for that as of yet!
Ø If we look to the Bible it will give us the knowledge to make the right and wise choices in our life.
Ø If we would just take the time read the Bible cover to cover we will have all the knowledge and wisdom to know what is real and what is truth.
Ø There are NO mistakes, inconsistencies or contradictions in the Bible. Those who say that must NOT have read it cover to cover.
Ø I believe that there is the 2nd coming of Christ as written in Revelation.
Ø If we believe that Jesus Christ is God in the living flesh and that He died for our sins so we will be have ever lasting life in heaven.
Ø We do not make it to heaven by works, but by faith. But it is thru our works that our faith is proven and shown.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)