"Sarah's Wish invites you to enter the 19th century world of secrets and broken promises, runaways and slave catchers, colorful gypsies and noisy riverboats, and Granny. Although Granny's hilarious dialect and lively antics are sure to keep you laughing, not all is happy. Emotions take a ride as Sarah's big wish appears hopeless. But when life is at it's darkest, the butterflies come!"
“Sarah’s Wish” is the creation of Jim Baumgardner, an entertaining storyteller and easy-going person (as evidenced in his monthly newsletters). This is the first in the growing series of books. The other two completed stories are called “Sarah’s Promise” and “Sarah’s Escape”. Sarah’s Wish shines a light on a period of time that is usually glossed over — the period just before the Civil War — and demonstrates how abolitionists worked to help runaway slaves get to freedom as well as the risks they took to maintain their integrity to their personal beliefs. The bounty hunters were a force to be reckoned with and we get a chance to see just how cruel a person can become when greed becomes their sole motivator.
When I received the book I was in the middle of a “crisis” since my son was very ill with a stomach flu so I only gave it a cursory glance. Since I was too swamped with Michael, I asked my nine-year old if she’d like to read the book first. She opted out because she’s in the middle of “Cheaper by the Dozen” and (I believe) glanced at the typeface and decided it was going to be one of those boring books.
Actually when I first looked at the type I kinda groaned because I thought that it would be a difficult read, but boy was I wrong. During one of my all night sick bed sessions with Michael I opened up the book and didn’t put it down until I finished it. After reading the opening which explained how Sarah became an orphan I was hooked and her mother’s last words. It wasn’t the tragedy that hooked me. It was the way that Sarah’s heart and spirit shone through Jim’s words. I felt that she was a real person, and one that was worth getting to know better. And she’s definitely someone that my children will know very well indeed since I’m purchasing the next two books in the series!
Isn’t the cover art for the book beautiful? But don’t be fooled — this book contains secrets like you wouldn’t believe. Each book in the series has an e|Live component to it. What’s e|Live? It’s a way to make books interactive for people. When you purchase the book, you not only get a physical book, but the audiobook as well.
And I’m eternally grateful for this because my family listens to a lot of audiobooks while driving and this is a guaranteed way for my youngest daughter to appreciate the entire story. She’s a beginning reader and although the book is only 128 pages, by the end of the day my good intentions to read to her each night sometimes falls apart. With the audio download that I can burn to CD she’s guaranteed the opportunity to learn how special Sarah is.
I highly recommend the Sarah Series for the whole family. The values it teaches are simply stated, clearly demonstrated and well worth implementing in our every day lives.
P.S. Jade finally got around to reading the book after my initial review and guess who wants me to pick up the next installment … I guess Mommy does know best.
Great news! Nature Friend Magazine has a few surprises up their sleeves since my review and I wanted to let you in on it. First and most important are those coupon codes that you add at the time of checkout. This is a limited time offer, so be sure to place your orders before November 30, 2009.
Magazine Subscription Savings: BLOG93
30% off Hardbound Volumes: Coupon Code: HBV30P
Now for the other exciting news for the kids. Nature Friend Magazine is having a story contest that’s open for the kids. Here are the details:
We are announcing a story contest in the December issue of Nature Friend. The contest will be open to families that subscribe to Nature Friend, and will appear in the May 2010 issue. The complete rules will be in the December issue, but here are a couple of notes. Three entries will be selected from each of four age groups, 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, and 15-17. From the three stories selected in each group, we will randomly draw a name and give that writer a pair of binoculars or $35, winner’s choice. The other two writers will also receive something.
Secondly, Judy Kauffman, the writer of our Creative Writing lesson in each Study Guide, has recently lost her house in a fire. No one in the family was injured, but most things are gone, including her writings. Those of us that have been following her lessons know how important it is to her that a nature journal be kept. We want to get her new nature journal off to a running start. We need your help to do this. We invite you to send two photocopies of the pages in your journal. We will forward one copy on to Judy to jump-start her new journal, and the other copy we will keep for consideration in the story contest. See the details in the December issue concerning how to submit your stories.
Submissions that are not selected for the story contest will automatically be considered for the June Readers’ Issue.
Download N Go is an exciting new series from TOS that you’re sure to love. Every homeschooling family approaches education differently. Some like unit studies, some prefer traditional textbooks and some prefer lap booking and other creative ways to get their children to embrace new ideas and concepts.
Amanda Bennett had this great idea to combine two of the more popular educational systems (unit studies and lapbooks) and came up with Download N Go. Here are some of the features (taken straight from my email):
Units are theme based and full of exciting discoveries and motivation to develop lifelong learners.
Each study is one week in length, having five daily lessons with lapbook components for each day.
Each student creates a complete lapbook–a finished capsule of learning.
All the research and preparation have been done!
Hyperlinks are embedded right in the study–saving you time!
Integrated studies include history, geography, reading, science, spelling,
vocabulary, writing, art, and more.
Units are reusable year after year–nothing is consumed.
There are no expensive resources required!
Includes a great list of books that you can use to enrich your study, but
they are not required.
And here’s the best part — TOS is offering Download and Go in two different flavors. You can purchase the series based upon a semester or a year of lessons. Since this is just being launched, the semester (19 weekly lessons) is at a discounted introductory rate that you can see here. And you can get a whole year’s worth of lessons (38 in total) by clicking here.
I just got a chance to download my free introduction to Download N Go™ Autumn Treasures. After a quick look around it definitely looks like something my girls will enjoy doing. think you’ll love the way it turns homeschooling into a multi-sensory adventure.
As a member of the TOS Crew I get lots of great products to review. And now it’s your turn! This week TOS has given non-TOS Crew members a great autumn gift. Autumn Treasures is now available for free download. This is a lapbooking project that highlights the beauty, science and cooking that occurs during the autumnal season.
A few weeks ago I told you about my new love of lapbooking. If you haven’t tried lapbooking yet or are looking for a new one to start, be sure to click on the Autumn Treasures picture on the right side of this page (or click here). That will take you directly to your download.
I am currently brainstorming ideas for independent schools that would cater to children (K-12) that may be a little complicated to develop. I would like ideas on how to develop and advanced study curriculum that is above the college prep level, but that can be catered towards students who may begin below their current grade level. In other words, a gradual curriculum that can be individualized.
I would appreciate any help, sources that you may have, as this is a project for my college class that I hope to obtain adequate, factual information about.
Good luck to you on your endeavor.
I dont have sources for you. the problem I think you’ll find is that for the most part teachers do not believe in preset curriculum. If you do have a prepared curriculum, your time and energy is devoted to training the tutor on how to deliver effectively and differentiate it based on students needs.
This is what we teachers do daily. i think your endeavor would be best served by investing in teachers who know their stuff.
Example 1: I get a group of seventh graders in math class: I open the curriculum and start from the beginning. I’m just following a recipe that may not be in the best interest of those learners.
Example 2: I get a group of seventh graders in math class (this is my actual experience) I assess their individual needs and since I have been teaching prealgebra and algebra for years – I know the scope and sequence necessary for them to succeed. I dont see anyone bottling what I know in a preset curriculum.
Learn how to crochet a chain stitch with expert tips and advice on crochet stitches in this free craft video series.
Expert: Beth Essington
Bio: Beth Essington started crocheting over 30 years ago and has been crocheting professionally for over 25 years.
Filmmaker: Karina Fraley
This video will show you the basics of knitting. Follow along and see how easy it is to actually do! Anyone can learn to knit and it’s a great craft to know if you want to give handmade gifts! A simple large knitted rectangle is essentially an afghan. So this simple stitch can go pretty far and will keep you warm for years to come!
If you do not know how to make a Slip Knot, we have a separate video for that here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYdvVmF4nS0
With this video you will learn how to Cast On, knit rows, and Bind off to complete a simple project.
To view the article “How to Knit – The Basics” click here: http://cyberseams.com/article/104877/all_things_knitting/how_to_knit_the_basics.html
I have never seen a more beautiful magazine than the one called “Nature Friend Magazine” that arrived in my mailbox this past August. As soon as we took it out of the mailbox the tug-of-war began. My little nature child, Alaya, wanted to look through the pictures and ask a billion questions as she’s still a beginning reader and the text was a bit much for her. My eldest child wanted to read it immediately (and aggravate her sister by not letting her look over her shoulder) and Michael just assumed that it must be for him so he was upset that the other two were touching his treasure. Needless to say the neighbors were getting quite a show by the mailbox that day.
What makes Nature Friend Magazine different from other nature/animal magazines are the photographs. Sure, other magazines have photos of the animals. But I’ve never seen any that really jump off the page the way that Nature Friend Magazine does. They are stunningly beautiful. The August 2009 issues has a cover shot of an owl as he’s about to catch a mouse for dinner. It is so detailed that you can count how many the long feathers on it’s outstretched wing (11 by my count). I have never seen an owl in real life, but this picture conveys the beauty, grace and strength of this beautiful bird.
Besides educating children on the scientific facts and figures, it also highlights the beauty and wisdom of God’s design. It’s not done in a preachy, “let me hit you over the head” manner. Instead the publishers show the children (and parents) the beauty of the world that we live in in such a reverent way that to deny that this is the work of an Intelligent Creator is impossible (or at least a lot of work for the unbeliever.)
I am not a photographer. I have two left thumbs when it comes to taking pictures that I’m proud of showing to others. So, I really appreciated the tips that were included on how the cover photo and other photos contained within the magazine were taken. It has helped me to appreciate that photography is an art form that can be learned. Jade has a natural gift for taking good pictures and once I get my new digital camera (Michael decided my other camera needed a bath …) we are definitely including nature photography.
Aside from beautiful pictures, there are informative articles on the animals that were captured on film (or memory card) as well as puzzles, picture submissions by their readers and drawings of plants and other natural scenery by the children who read the magazine. My kids and I had a lot of fun with the scavenger hunts that were in each magazine. Oh yes, I forgot to mention that there are art lessons in each magazine, so you can easily use the material as an art instructional. And given the beautiful hand-drawn pictures of animals, children are definitely benefiting from the information.
Nature Friend is definitely a value at $36/year. If you’re interested in using the magazine as a formal part of your curriculum you can also purchase the monthly study guides for an additional $2 per month. These study guides can be purchased for a year, or individually. They also have hardbound copies of their past issues if you’d like to have a permanent record of the beauty of our natural world. They cost $66 per volume.
Nature Friend Magazine provided me with a free copy of their magazine to read and use in order to write this review, but they have also gained a new loyal subscriber. I plan on gifting the magazine to my animal loving daughter, Alaya, for Christmas. (But don’t tell her — it’s a secret!)
This is a great tool for creating moments to sit back and observe nature. My little ones were so entranced by the photos that we ended up having long discussions about what they saw and looked up additional information on the animal that had captured their imagination. For example, in the August edition it was butterflies and our scavenger hunt led us to other resources to look up facts about butterflies and how they live. This magazine is a tangible expression of what homeschooling is all about — igniting the imagination and wonder of the world in the hearts and minds of our children.
And now until November 30, 2009 you can save money on an annual subscription.
Just add the Coupon Code BLOG93before you checkout.
According to Hippocrates, there are four major personality types. I learned of a system that uses colors to substitute all of the tongue twisting terminology. This week’s personality is one that I think many parents find very challenging to guide. And that color is RED. According to studies done on personality types Red people make up about 5-10% of the general population, according to theKeirsey study. But what they lack in percentage they make up in noise! Red people are very focused, intense and goal-oriented. They are natural leaders because of their belief that they know what is best for everyone – and they’re not afraid to tell you why they’re right.
Red people are very direct and closed in their interactions with others. They don’t pull punches and many times forgo the niceties that keep human relationships running smoothly. Although they are very vocal about many things, they are actually very private people. They also tend to be status driven. They like to deal with facts and logic more than fuzzy feelings. A phrase that is favored by the Reds among us is:
“So, what’s the bottom line?”
They are in their element when they can orchestrate a solution for a problem and give direction. They are very independent and don’t really like round table discussions, especially if the discussions are long-winded. They want the facts quick, fast and yesterday.
So what does this mean for parents who are dealing with their children? Well, having lived with a Red mother and brother and raising a Red son I can tell you it makes all the difference in the world! Red children need clear and consistent boundaries more than any of the other colors. Because of their independent nature and natural aversion to following instructions “just because you say so.” This can cause an unprepared parent unparalleled frustration in general and especially while homeschooling. You see, in the little Red mind, they are not being disobedient, they want you to justify why they have to follow your leadership instead of their own.
My mother tells a story of my brother back in the 1960s. Every week before going to church my mother would remind my brother on type of behavior she expected of him. And if he didn’t live up to these standards he would be spanked. So, every Sunday before leaving the house he would ask my mother if she had the belt. She’d say “yes” and things would go smoothly.
One Sunday, she realized that he kept asking her about the belt and she couldn’t understand why. So, when he asked her about it she told him that she didn’t have the belt. According to her, as soon as the boy hit the door he began performing. He fell out in the floor, made noise, just acted like he’d lost his mind. So, she walked him out of the service and to the bathroom to give him a spanking. When she removed the belt from her purse his first words to her was:
“You lied. You told me that you didn’t have a belt!”
Now I don’t know about you, but that wouldn’t have been the first thing that came to my mind!
However, this illustrates a little bit about the Red mindset. If rewards or punishments are not immediate they have difficulty understanding why they need to cooperate. So, the best way to handle their education is to lay it out your rules and expectations on the table for them. For example:
“John, you are expected to have your state capitals memorized by the end of the month. If you do not you will not be able to [fill in the blank].”
And if John doesn’t follow through you have to mete out whatever punishment you have already discussed. And if you’re dangling a carrot to get the desired result, you have to follow up immediately or you will lose respect in their eyes. You have to be very clear about objectives, expectations and penalties. This type of person doesn’t respect subtle clues. They like information “straight from the hip”.
They are natural charmers, so even when you are prepared with knowledge to tackle them you may find yourself wavering. Red children are master manipulators because they feel more comfortable if they have some control over situations in their lives. So, the best way to educate these little smarties is to, within reason, allow them to make minor decisions. This puts their education in “their hands” and you’ll have a much more willing student. This strategy also works in regular home life situations. Involving them in some decisions gives them a sense of control which they find comforting.
Be careful with the strategy that I’m going to describe below. This type of challenge needs to be done in private. If they feel that you are trying to embarrass them they will not take up the challenge but they will start sabotaging you in whatever way they can. Just like fire, they will burn you if you are careless with their feelings.
Another strategy that works is to tell them something along the lines of “The work that you’re going to do may be a little above your head, so don’t feel bad if you can’t do it.” Nothing gets a status driven, independent leader focused than the knowledge that someone on the planet doesn’t acknowledge their genius.
Case in point, my best friend asked me to help her make sure her kids were ready for school this September. So, I’m working on their reading skills. Our youngest daughters are both six years old and beginning readers. So, the first couple of days that I worked with “D” she did okay, but she a little fidgety and distracted she because wanted to go play with the other children. So during one of our sessions I mentioned that my daughter (who I work with every day) was up to Lesson 32, she sat up and paid attention.
She said, “Alaya is up to Lesson 32? What lesson am I up to?”
I told her that she was up to lesson 13. Don’t you know this young lady requested that I do three more lessons with her that day so that she could catch up with Alaya. And the goofing off has stopped. She has even sent the other children away telling them that she had some reading to do!
These guys really thrive on competition; real or imagined (especially since my daughter has no clue there’s a race going on!)
If you are looking for activities that will help round out a Red personality I have a few suggestions. Because of their nature, they can easily become self-absorbed, lacking empathy for others who aren’t “on their level”, and obsessed with perceived status amongst others. It is vital that you provide them with opportunities to develop a strong sense of empathy and express their feelings. Volunteering would be a vital component to raising this strong leader to be a compassionate person who can see beyond the external trappings of this world.
And in case you were wondering about what types of people fall into the Red category here’s a list that I found at www.keirsey.com:
Albert Einstein
Marie Curie
Bill Gates
Margaret Thatcher
Walt Disney
Camille Paglia
Ayn Rand
Thomas Jefferson
General Ulysses S. Grant
President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Scrooge McDuck (okay, I added this one, but he’s definitely a Red!)
Just as fire consumes, the Red personality can consume a lot of your energy, especially in the beginning as you start to learn how they think. But with lots of love, firmness and understanding they can grow (as you can see) to be a wonderful asset to your home and the community. So go fan some fire by giving your little Red a big hug!
About Me: My introduction to the world of personalities began about fifteen years ago when I stumbled upon a website called www.advisorteam.com. They offer a free personality test and if you pay a fee you can get your full results. Anyway, I found the descriptions of the four major personality groups fascinating. About two years ago I stumbled upon a free report that broke these four personalities into four colors: Red, Blue, Yellow and Green that has really simplified all the scientific explanations.
Before you start trying to figure out what color your children are, you really need to first discover your own. Once you have your own information you’ll be able to adapt your style to fit your children better. You can take this quiz at my website Homeschoolers-Work-At-Home.com. (You’ll get your results instantly.) And it is also good to understand that each of us has each of the four colors in our personality. These articles focus on the dominant color in our daily lives.
I am looking for a new vocabulary for my now 5th grader and 1st grader as well as for next year 6th and 2nd. Please tell me what you like about your curriculum and what you don’t like and if you would recommend it. I know it depends on their learning styles, I am just looking for recommendations so I can research them for myself. Thanks!
I use WordlyWise 3000. It gives 20 lessons, each with 5 different types of exercises for a list of words.
The word list are definitely stretching and allow for a bit more detailed use and meaning of the words than perhaps just reviewing words in context, which I have done in the past as well. The different exercises add a bit more spice than just defining a word and using in a sentence.Don’t ge me wrong, that happens in these books as well to a certain extent, but the whole deal is just more interesting and more challenging,
My 11 year old daughter has often had occasion to marvel that "I know that word" when she comes across it in her other reading, because she had just studied a week before. Neat!
I'm a homeschooling mom with seven children: 3 human, 2 feline and 2 canine. I'm also the wife of one very patient husband who seems to like the role of ringmaster to our circus. I am a virtual assistant who enjoys writing, crafts, music and laughter. I hope you'll visit often. Please be aware that this blog is supported by affiliate links, although every link isn't necessarily an affiliate program.
Learn how to crochet a chain stitch with expert tips and advice on crochet stitches in this free craft video series.
This video will show you the basics of knitting. Follow along and see how easy it is to actually do! Anyone can learn to knit and it’s a great craft to know if you want to give handmade gifts! A simple large knitted rectangle is essentially an afghan. So this simple stitch can go pretty far and will keep you warm for years to come!
