Alexandra at Out of Lascaux has a new blog, Ceely's Modern Usage, "A guide to words and practices that are spurious, monstrous, and unfit for usage". The current post, on the difference between US and UK grammar blogs, notes that "Brit blogs often discuss how the language is going to hell in a handbasket, and point out how."
Worth a peek, especially since Alexandra is a collector of 19th century textbooks and uses tidbits from them in her posts. I was most surprised by the admittedly ungrammatical engraving of boating squirrels from Monroe's 3rd Reader of 1884, which seems to have inspired Beatrix Potter's illustration of Squirrel Nutkin and friends on their little twig rafts as "they paddled away over the water to Owl Island to gather nuts."
May 06, 2006
May 05, 2006
Poetry Friday: Welcome back
Incident on Madison Avenue
by Phyllis McGinley (1905-1978)
On Saturday, amid the crowd
That in the sunshine drifted by,
I wandered happy as a cloud
Afloat with fellow-cumuli,
Till suddenly, and face to face,
I came on Mr. Morgan's place.
On Mr. Morgan's house I came,
Where wonder brought me to a standstill.
The iron gates were yet the same,
The gardens stretched on either hand still.
But, oh, I noticed, nearly fainting,
How window sills cried out for painting.
As shabby and as weather-beat
As those of mortgage-bearing biped,
The sashes shamed that shining street;
They were not even washed and wiped
And staring on that sight appalling,
I felt the world around me falling.
Upon my ears the tumbrels sounded,
While wealth decayed and Fortune groaned.
I looked on Privilege, surrounded,
The Mighty from their seats dethroned.
And quick, in terror and abasement,
I fled each drear, unpainted casement.
Now, hidden from the curious gapers,
I weep and know the end is near.
I have not dared to read the papers,
Lest they should tell me what I fear:
That mine and Wall Street's Patron Saint
Cannot afford a can of paint.
from the Pulitzer Prize-winning Times Three: Selected Verse from Three Decades with Seventy New Poems by Phyllis McGinley, forever beloved by Davy for writing E Is for Escalator
by Phyllis McGinley (1905-1978)
On Saturday, amid the crowd
That in the sunshine drifted by,
I wandered happy as a cloud
Afloat with fellow-cumuli,
Till suddenly, and face to face,
I came on Mr. Morgan's place.
On Mr. Morgan's house I came,
Where wonder brought me to a standstill.
The iron gates were yet the same,
The gardens stretched on either hand still.
But, oh, I noticed, nearly fainting,
How window sills cried out for painting.
As shabby and as weather-beat
As those of mortgage-bearing biped,
The sashes shamed that shining street;
They were not even washed and wiped
And staring on that sight appalling,
I felt the world around me falling.
Upon my ears the tumbrels sounded,
While wealth decayed and Fortune groaned.
I looked on Privilege, surrounded,
The Mighty from their seats dethroned.
And quick, in terror and abasement,
I fled each drear, unpainted casement.
Now, hidden from the curious gapers,
I weep and know the end is near.
I have not dared to read the papers,
Lest they should tell me what I fear:
That mine and Wall Street's Patron Saint
Cannot afford a can of paint.
from the Pulitzer Prize-winning Times Three: Selected Verse from Three Decades with Seventy New Poems by Phyllis McGinley, forever beloved by Davy for writing E Is for Escalator
May 04, 2006
Fast forward
There probably won't be much blogging here until after the weekend, and I apologize for missing Poetry Friday tomorrow, unless I can sneak something in tonight. Tom decided today that we have to go to leave for Edmonton bright and early in the morning for a used tractor auction, and the kids decided that they would like him to drop off the four of us at the Royal Alberta Museum (formerly the Provincial Museum) for the three or so hours that he'll be looking at machinery. Daniel has also asked if we can go to "that place with the walls full of Lego," by which I think my deprived little country mouse means Toys R Us (which once upon a time when they were very, very young I was able to pass off as a museum, too).
Saturday, Tom and the other board members of the little pioneer museum in town have volunteered themselves and their families to help clean and tidy the displays for its summer opening in two weeks, and after lunch the kids and I are off to the high school for a ceremony honoring local Olympian and cross country skiier Beckie Scott. The kids are slightly more excited about meeting Beckie in person -- her parents have been egg customers of ours for years, and we like to think that the occasional organic omelet on visits home helped her training -- thanplaying in cleaning the one-room schoolhouse display.
And Sunday we'll be planting the 1,500 small trees (more like twiglets) that arrived for us today as part of the agriculture department's shelterbelt program. I am hoping that a) we get the use of the county's tree planter as promised and in time, and b) the soil isn't too muddy from the week's rain and snow to make good use of the planter. Otherwise we're digging all those holes by hand. In which case there won't be too much blogging early next week either...
Saturday, Tom and the other board members of the little pioneer museum in town have volunteered themselves and their families to help clean and tidy the displays for its summer opening in two weeks, and after lunch the kids and I are off to the high school for a ceremony honoring local Olympian and cross country skiier Beckie Scott. The kids are slightly more excited about meeting Beckie in person -- her parents have been egg customers of ours for years, and we like to think that the occasional organic omelet on visits home helped her training -- than
And Sunday we'll be planting the 1,500 small trees (more like twiglets) that arrived for us today as part of the agriculture department's shelterbelt program. I am hoping that a) we get the use of the county's tree planter as promised and in time, and b) the soil isn't too muddy from the week's rain and snow to make good use of the planter. Otherwise we're digging all those holes by hand. In which case there won't be too much blogging early next week either...
Country Fair update
Ron and Andrea at Atypical Homeschool have very, very kindly given full-time space for the new Country Fair, which means that the rides will be open all the time. Wheeee!
Here's the call for submissions, and here are the Country Fair FAQs.
Here's the call for submissions, and here are the Country Fair FAQs.
Living with Mark Spitz
Three Mark Spitzes, in fact. Very small, unmustachioed ones.
The kids all* started Swim Club on Monday and while each nearly quit before the first practice was over -- Laura said it was too hard, too cold, and too incomprehensible, and Daniel and Davy, relegated to the "baby section" said it was too easy -- they've changed their minds, thanks to a bit of rejiggering, including a few chats the next day with their coaches and other parents about ability vs. age-and-size, somesneaky Mommy/reverse/sports psychology pep talks, and $9 worth of latex.
Here I was thinking that I would never, ever, ever get my kids to wear swim caps (oops, that was me, who if I can help it will never, ever wear one of those hateful things again, but the kids don't have to know that) -- recommended by parents and some of the other swimmers because of the overly-chlorinated water in the pool -- but they were so delighted by my new purchases yesterday (including new goggles because two out of the three current sets have snapped straps that have had to be tied) that they have been wearing caps and goggles with pyjamas, at breakfast this morning, and later at the kitchen table for math. You can make that lunchtime now too. And having conversations like this: "Daniel, you know the bigger kids in the last lane flip the caps up over their ears." "Yes, I think they do that so they can hear better." "Yep, I think so, too." "I can't wait to get back in the water." "Me, too." "I wish it was 4 o'clock already."
"What do I look like, Mom?" Davy keeps asking. While the first flippant answer ready to slip out is "A frog" or "Amelia Earhart," Sports Psychologist Mommy answers, "An Olympic swimmer", and a really adorable one at that, which was apparently the correct answer from all the self-satisfied smiles I'm seeing.
*And for the other parents at the pool who are marvelling over the fact that all three kids wanted to join Swim Club, let's just say that Sports Psychologist Mommy didn't really give them a choice beyond, "Gee, wouldn't Swim Club be fun this year now that you all swim so well?!" It's hard enough to deal with one extracurricular activity while living out of town and not having the chance to zip home to prepare dinner without running one kid to Swim Club, another to soccer, and the third, on a completely different night, to softball. Or enduring Swim Club for only one child, while the other two languish poolside on the other side of the Plexiglass for six hours a week. Thank you but no.
The kids all* started Swim Club on Monday and while each nearly quit before the first practice was over -- Laura said it was too hard, too cold, and too incomprehensible, and Daniel and Davy, relegated to the "baby section" said it was too easy -- they've changed their minds, thanks to a bit of rejiggering, including a few chats the next day with their coaches and other parents about ability vs. age-and-size, some
Here I was thinking that I would never, ever, ever get my kids to wear swim caps (oops, that was me, who if I can help it will never, ever wear one of those hateful things again, but the kids don't have to know that) -- recommended by parents and some of the other swimmers because of the overly-chlorinated water in the pool -- but they were so delighted by my new purchases yesterday (including new goggles because two out of the three current sets have snapped straps that have had to be tied) that they have been wearing caps and goggles with pyjamas, at breakfast this morning, and later at the kitchen table for math. You can make that lunchtime now too. And having conversations like this: "Daniel, you know the bigger kids in the last lane flip the caps up over their ears." "Yes, I think they do that so they can hear better." "Yep, I think so, too." "I can't wait to get back in the water." "Me, too." "I wish it was 4 o'clock already."
"What do I look like, Mom?" Davy keeps asking. While the first flippant answer ready to slip out is "A frog" or "Amelia Earhart," Sports Psychologist Mommy answers, "An Olympic swimmer", and a really adorable one at that, which was apparently the correct answer from all the self-satisfied smiles I'm seeing.
*And for the other parents at the pool who are marvelling over the fact that all three kids wanted to join Swim Club, let's just say that Sports Psychologist Mommy didn't really give them a choice beyond, "Gee, wouldn't Swim Club be fun this year now that you all swim so well?!" It's hard enough to deal with one extracurricular activity while living out of town and not having the chance to zip home to prepare dinner without running one kid to Swim Club, another to soccer, and the third, on a completely different night, to softball. Or enduring Swim Club for only one child, while the other two languish poolside on the other side of the Plexiglass for six hours a week. Thank you but no.
A timely reminder
Melissa at Here in the Bonny Glen has a super reminder for busy spring (and summer, fall, and winter) days: "The joyful atmosphere I strive for (and believe it is my responsibility, as wife and mother, to maintain) quickly goes sour if I put more focus on getting things done than on doing things together."
Almost as good as this part -- "I haven't done laundry in eight years" -- which has me feeling giddy vicariously. Or is that giddily vicarious? But do yourself a favor and go read the whole post.
Almost as good as this part -- "I haven't done laundry in eight years" -- which has me feeling giddy vicariously. Or is that giddily vicarious? But do yourself a favor and go read the whole post.
May 03, 2006
In lieu
of the usual more or less weekly public service announcement advising of the latest installment of the Carnival of Homeschooling, I direct you instead to Ron at Atypical Homeschool's post yesterday on Standing Tall or Copping Out. Andrea's previous entry, posted just before Standing Tall, explains things well for anyone still out of the loop. I also saw that Wisteria points out that over half of the current Carnival appears to be written by HSB bloggers.
I didn't notice that off the bat, but I did take a look at the COH schedule again and saw that the Cates are hosting next week, followed by two weeks of HSB hosts. Doc writes in the comments, "The person who owns the blog scheduled for May 23 maintains a mirror site off HSB, and ... I think [she] can be convinced to host the carnival on her non HSB site." Doc also adds, "I'm hoping that next week, those who announce the carnival can also call for submissions to the second alternative carnival (country fair), to offset the one that will be hosted at HSB on the 16th. I'll even host it." Wonderful offer, Doc, thanks. Put your thinking and writing caps on.
UPDATE: Doc has put things in place already with a call for submissions for a more formalized Country Fair alternative, to be published Wednesdays.
I didn't notice that off the bat, but I did take a look at the COH schedule again and saw that the Cates are hosting next week, followed by two weeks of HSB hosts. Doc writes in the comments, "The person who owns the blog scheduled for May 23 maintains a mirror site off HSB, and ... I think [she] can be convinced to host the carnival on her non HSB site." Doc also adds, "I'm hoping that next week, those who announce the carnival can also call for submissions to the second alternative carnival (country fair), to offset the one that will be hosted at HSB on the 16th. I'll even host it." Wonderful offer, Doc, thanks. Put your thinking and writing caps on.
UPDATE: Doc has put things in place already with a call for submissions for a more formalized Country Fair alternative, to be published Wednesdays.
May 01, 2006
Amazing American history book lists...
from amazing home schooling dad* and children's author Chris Barton over at Bartography can be found here. Chris has just about everything starting from prehistory to the present covered (1875-1925 to come...), with a fascinating array of children's books. As he explains, "I've been at this for nearly a year now. For you newcomers, here are links to my previous posts on U.S. history reading, which is my main contribution to the homeschooling of our two sons." Not to be missed, folks.
* and husband to the Fibbing Redneck Mother, "Raising children, lettuce and hell in Texas".
* and husband to the Fibbing Redneck Mother, "Raising children, lettuce and hell in Texas".
Seven up
Daniel turned seven on Saturday, and the only thing that would have made for a happier day would have been turning 12 instead. He celebrated with siblings, friends, bicycles, ice cream, a trampoline and a SuperSoaker, and later in the day, a spontaneous sleepover at a friend's house after a very enjoyable dinner out with his friend and the rest of his friend's family. We got him back the next day, older, wiser, happier, and much, much sleepier.
Since his return, he's been enjoying his presents, which include a Playmobil forklift from Grandmama and Grandpapa, a new aluminum bat and a couple of balls from Dad, and from the rest of us, the Klutz Lego Crazy Action Contraptions book and kit (which I found around Christmastime and tucked away for just such an occasion); and Running Press's Mega Motors: Heavy Duty Dump Truck/Construct Your Own Motorized Dump Truck kit, found on deep discount last year at BookCloseouts.
All very well received, but the biggest hit has been the lowest-tech: Laura and Davy's offerings of some more Schleich farm animals, and a Schleich cowboy. The new additions have definitely reinvigorated the kids' collection, not to mention their desire to play with it. They were even inspired to tidy up the boys' bedroom for more floor space for the giant farm that grows every day.
Since his return, he's been enjoying his presents, which include a Playmobil forklift from Grandmama and Grandpapa, a new aluminum bat and a couple of balls from Dad, and from the rest of us, the Klutz Lego Crazy Action Contraptions book and kit (which I found around Christmastime and tucked away for just such an occasion); and Running Press's Mega Motors: Heavy Duty Dump Truck/Construct Your Own Motorized Dump Truck kit, found on deep discount last year at BookCloseouts.
All very well received, but the biggest hit has been the lowest-tech: Laura and Davy's offerings of some more Schleich farm animals, and a Schleich cowboy. The new additions have definitely reinvigorated the kids' collection, not to mention their desire to play with it. They were even inspired to tidy up the boys' bedroom for more floor space for the giant farm that grows every day.
April 28, 2006
Poetry Friday: Four years, four dream variations by Langston Hughes
Dreams
by Langston Hughes (1923)
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
Dream Variations
by Langston Hughes (1924)
To fling my arms wide
In some place of the sun,
To whirl and dance
Till the white day is done.
Then rest at cool evening
Beneath a tall tree
While night comes on gently,
Dark like me --
That is my dream!
To fling my arms wide
In the face of the sun,
Dance! Whirl! Whirl!
Till the quick day is done.
Rest at pale evening...
A tall, slim tree...
Night coming tenderly
Black like me.
The Dream Keeper
by Langston Hughes (1925)
Bring me all of your dreams,
You dreamers,
Bring me all of your
Heart melodies
That I may wrap them
In a blue cloud-cloth
Away from the too-rough fingers
Of the world.
Water-Front Streets
by Langston Hughes (1926)
The spring is not so beautiful there --
But dream ships sail away
To where the spring is wondrous rare
And life is gay.
The spring is not so beautiful there --
But lads put out to sea
Who carry beauties in their hearts
And dreams, like me.
For more Poetry Friday fun, round up the usual suspects, beginning with instigator Big A little a! Hope to add the other links, maybe tonight. We're off and running now...
by Langston Hughes (1923)
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
Dream Variations
by Langston Hughes (1924)
To fling my arms wide
In some place of the sun,
To whirl and dance
Till the white day is done.
Then rest at cool evening
Beneath a tall tree
While night comes on gently,
Dark like me --
That is my dream!
To fling my arms wide
In the face of the sun,
Dance! Whirl! Whirl!
Till the quick day is done.
Rest at pale evening...
A tall, slim tree...
Night coming tenderly
Black like me.
The Dream Keeper
by Langston Hughes (1925)
Bring me all of your dreams,
You dreamers,
Bring me all of your
Heart melodies
That I may wrap them
In a blue cloud-cloth
Away from the too-rough fingers
Of the world.
Water-Front Streets
by Langston Hughes (1926)
The spring is not so beautiful there --
But dream ships sail away
To where the spring is wondrous rare
And life is gay.
The spring is not so beautiful there --
But lads put out to sea
Who carry beauties in their hearts
And dreams, like me.
For more Poetry Friday fun, round up the usual suspects, beginning with instigator Big A little a! Hope to add the other links, maybe tonight. We're off and running now...
A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants
Just a quick note, since we're in between birthdays -- my lovely cake with the yellow roses is all gone, and I'm making Daniel's tonight for his big "lucky seven" day tomorrow -- not to mention off to town to run some quick errands and make it home in time for lunch before our semi-annual homeschool facilitator visit; under Alberta's homeschooling legislation, homeschooling families are required to register with a school board (some of which, as ours does, specialize in home education), which then assigns us a facilitator, a certified teacher.
Ours is a former teacher, still certified, and currently home educating father, and doesn't mind at all that we see him only the required twice yearly and don't feel the need to ask him any questions other than, "What time will you be here?" Mr. Smith is coming to check on our efforts and progress since his last visit in the fall, an opportunity all three kids see as unparalleled for a Show & Tell/Let's Put on a Show extravaganza, complete with singing, dancing, poetry recitations, an exhibit of our new pets (snails from the pond in a jar), and, if I overheard correctly, some trick riding on horseback if they can get him outside. If it's like all his other visits, poor Mr. Smith will leave here not knowing what hit him.
Ours is a former teacher, still certified, and currently home educating father, and doesn't mind at all that we see him only the required twice yearly and don't feel the need to ask him any questions other than, "What time will you be here?" Mr. Smith is coming to check on our efforts and progress since his last visit in the fall, an opportunity all three kids see as unparalleled for a Show & Tell/Let's Put on a Show extravaganza, complete with singing, dancing, poetry recitations, an exhibit of our new pets (snails from the pond in a jar), and, if I overheard correctly, some trick riding on horseback if they can get him outside. If it's like all his other visits, poor Mr. Smith will leave here not knowing what hit him.
April 25, 2006
Read to me this morning by child number two
from The Happy Birthday Present by Joan Heilbroner, pictures by Mary Chalmers (An I Can Read book):
Today is supposed to include a bit of schoolwork, a tadpole safari, lots of sunshine and some gardening (made possible in all this warm, dry weather with the wonderful present of a new hose reel), a few remaining preparations for our all-afternoon homeschool facilitator meeting on Friday afternoon, a cake with chocolate whipped cream, and some surprises...
And many happy returns to Carol Burnett, John James Audubon, Frederic Law Olmstead, Bernard Malamud, and Anita Loos (Happy Birthday indeed!).
"Davy," said Peter.And so day two of our birthday bonanza week continues. The celebration began yesterday, with a bit of a party for Daniel, whose birthday is on the weekend, after homeschool Gym Day, always one of the month's highlights for the kids. Daniel treated everyone to some Secret Special chocolate chip cookies (made by adding two spoonfuls of cocoa and one cup of mini M&Ms to the recipe on the back of the bag) and juice, more than welcome after an hour and a half of running, bouncing, and leaping. And Daniel, old soul that he is at almost seven, was able to enjoy some more time around the 11- and 12-year-old boys...
"Do you know what day it is?"
"Yes, I do," said Davy.
"It is today."
"No, silly," said Peter.
"It is Mother's birthday."
"We must tell her!" said Davy.
"She knows," said Peter.
"I am going to get a present for her," said Peter.
"May I come with you?" asked Davy.
"Will you be good?" asked Peter.
"I will," said Davy.
"Come on, then," said Peter.
"Is this [the toy store] where I get my present?" asked Davy.
"No, Davy," said Peter.
"It is not your birthday. It is Mother's birthday. We are going to get a present for her."
"Oh!" said Davy.
"What do you think Mother would like?" asked Peter.
"A dump truck," said Davy.
"Mother does not want a dump truck!" said Peter.
"Roller skates?" asked Davy. ...
Today is supposed to include a bit of schoolwork, a tadpole safari, lots of sunshine and some gardening (made possible in all this warm, dry weather with the wonderful present of a new hose reel), a few remaining preparations for our all-afternoon homeschool facilitator meeting on Friday afternoon, a cake with chocolate whipped cream, and some surprises...
And many happy returns to Carol Burnett, John James Audubon, Frederic Law Olmstead, Bernard Malamud, and Anita Loos (Happy Birthday indeed!).
A new lap dog for George
From today's Globe & Mail:
And only a hopeless cynic would see any connection.
The media will be banned from CFB Trenton today when the bodies of four Canadian soldiers killed over the weekend in Afghanistan return home.Take that, you nattering Canadian nabobs of negativism.
The decision to mirror a practice that is controversial in the United States follows an announcement on Sunday that the flag on the Peace Tower will not be flown at half-mast to mark the deaths.
And only a hopeless cynic would see any connection.
This week's Carnival of Homeschooling is open for business
at The Common Room, at heartkeepercommonroom.blogspot.com. Many thanks to the Headmistress for a wonderful job, especially despite all of the pesky technological obstructions.
By the way, while you're there, don't miss the Headmistress's basic tutorial on a Charlotte Mason education from earlier this month.
As always, you can find the archives to the previous homeschooling carnivals here.
By the way, while you're there, don't miss the Headmistress's basic tutorial on a Charlotte Mason education from earlier this month.
As always, you can find the archives to the previous homeschooling carnivals here.
April 23, 2006
New Math + 30 (Years) = Reform Math = Still Fuzzy After All These Years
Squeaking in before the end of Math Awareness Month....
As a former victim of the old New Math -- I still remember my father the Oxford graduate looking over some incomprehensible homework and telling me, "You're on your own, dear" -- I'm a bit sensitive when it comes to math and arithmetic instruction, knowing full well the ramifications of a lousy, fuzzy job. It was the subject I spent the most time researching when we decided to homeschool Laura two years ago, because I knew I wanted a program that would give her, and then the boys, a solid foundation in the basics. After looking at Saxon Math, the choice of many homeschoolers but a tad heavy-handed for Laura at the time, I ended up choosing Singapore Math, with a bit of Math-U-See thrown in from time to time. Not for nothing that in my spare time I read books like Knowing and Teaching Elementary Math by Liping Ma or track down Canadian vendors of Developmental Math.
Which is why Joanne Jacobs's post, "Mathless in Seattle", about a Seattle Post-Intelligencer article last week, "Seattle's teaching of math adds up to much confusion: Where 2+2 gets sticky", got my attention.
What saddens me is that educrats have gained precious little understanding, conceptual or otherwise, from the results of the first go-round of New Math, and even less since the 1989 release of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards. These standards have concerned responsible, right-thinking mathematicians, math teachers, parents, and more than a few states for over 15 years, and yet "the math wars" continue. The good news? According to The Post-Intelligencer, "In Seattle, schools have a lot of autonomy in how they teach math. The district has adopted textbooks and provides guidelines and timelines for teachers to follow, but doesn't require them to do so. In fact, the district doesn't keep track of what style of math teachers are using." Some Washington State parents with a beef with Reform Math have banded together at Where's The Math?, and a particularly informative article on their website is "A Brief History of American K-12 Mathematics Education" by David Klein. Great good luck to the families in Seattle, where textbook adoption has been postponed until next January. May the new year bring some not-so-New Math.
But let's not forget the possible bad news -- sitting around in nursing homes, waiting for our pension and Social Security checks administered by dolts who can't function without a calculator (here's hoping their computers never crash and their batteries never wear out), not to mention living at the mercy of doctors and nurses who didn't quite master the math. "Hmmm, how many cc's of morphine was that supposed to be?" Let's just hope they learned to read with phonics instead of whole language and can tell "Morphine" apart from "Motrin" on the label.
Additional reading: check the the Article Index for Where's the Math? and the Site Index for Mathematically Correct; Mathematically Correct's list of Web Links of Interest alone should keep one busy until that room at the nursing home is ready.
As a former victim of the old New Math -- I still remember my father the Oxford graduate looking over some incomprehensible homework and telling me, "You're on your own, dear" -- I'm a bit sensitive when it comes to math and arithmetic instruction, knowing full well the ramifications of a lousy, fuzzy job. It was the subject I spent the most time researching when we decided to homeschool Laura two years ago, because I knew I wanted a program that would give her, and then the boys, a solid foundation in the basics. After looking at Saxon Math, the choice of many homeschoolers but a tad heavy-handed for Laura at the time, I ended up choosing Singapore Math, with a bit of Math-U-See thrown in from time to time. Not for nothing that in my spare time I read books like Knowing and Teaching Elementary Math by Liping Ma or track down Canadian vendors of Developmental Math.
Which is why Joanne Jacobs's post, "Mathless in Seattle", about a Seattle Post-Intelligencer article last week, "Seattle's teaching of math adds up to much confusion: Where 2+2 gets sticky", got my attention.
Like many Seattle schools, [Rick Burke's] daughter's school was teaching "reform" math, a style that encourages students to discover math principles and derive formulas themselves. Burke, an engineer, worried that his daughter wasn't learning basic math skills.And, shades of the Alberta Program of Studies,
Reform math also emphasizes estimating and being able to analyze whether the answer derived is correct and reasonable. Students are urged to use calculators from an early age, "because as adults, that's how we do it -- we either do mental math or use a calculator," said Ruth Balf, who teaches fourth and fifth grade at Olympic View Elementary.Not so coincidentally, according to The Post-Intelligencer, "Colleges have been seeing a rise in the number of freshmen who have to take remedial math courses, feeding into the growing concern that the United States is losing its edge in math." And it's not just the United States, my friends. If you don't believe The Post-Intelligencer, believe erstwhile college math instructor, MoebiusStripper, who blogs at Tall, Dark and Mysterious. Read it, especially this and this, and weep. MS is particularly scathing on the subject of calculators in elementary and high school, to which I can say only, huzzah.
What saddens me is that educrats have gained precious little understanding, conceptual or otherwise, from the results of the first go-round of New Math, and even less since the 1989 release of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards. These standards have concerned responsible, right-thinking mathematicians, math teachers, parents, and more than a few states for over 15 years, and yet "the math wars" continue. The good news? According to The Post-Intelligencer, "In Seattle, schools have a lot of autonomy in how they teach math. The district has adopted textbooks and provides guidelines and timelines for teachers to follow, but doesn't require them to do so. In fact, the district doesn't keep track of what style of math teachers are using." Some Washington State parents with a beef with Reform Math have banded together at Where's The Math?, and a particularly informative article on their website is "A Brief History of American K-12 Mathematics Education" by David Klein. Great good luck to the families in Seattle, where textbook adoption has been postponed until next January. May the new year bring some not-so-New Math.
But let's not forget the possible bad news -- sitting around in nursing homes, waiting for our pension and Social Security checks administered by dolts who can't function without a calculator (here's hoping their computers never crash and their batteries never wear out), not to mention living at the mercy of doctors and nurses who didn't quite master the math. "Hmmm, how many cc's of morphine was that supposed to be?" Let's just hope they learned to read with phonics instead of whole language and can tell "Morphine" apart from "Motrin" on the label.
Additional reading: check the the Article Index for Where's the Math? and the Site Index for Mathematically Correct; Mathematically Correct's list of Web Links of Interest alone should keep one busy until that room at the nursing home is ready.
Growing with Grammar, now in Canada
Just received the latest homeschool curriculum catalogue from the folks at Academic Distribution Services (ADS) in B.C. and am delighted to see that they now carry Growing with Grammar/Grade 3, on page 19, and at a price of $37.50 CAN (for the student manual, workbook, and answer key), which compares very, very favorably with the GWG website price of $29.99 US.
While GWG isn't on the ADS website yet, you can request a free catalogue here or by calling 1-800-276-0078. Worth noting is the annual Spring sale on now until the end of June, which features no GST and free shipping on orders over $200. This is when I usually stock up on Singapore math and Explode the Code workbooks.
No, I don't get a commission from GWG (or ADS), but author Tamy Davis, a homeschooling mother of two, is a friend, and, most importantly, with three kids I have a vested interest in a rigorous, enjoyable, and secular grammar program. My full, pleased-as-punch review from November still stands, and Laura and I are both looking forward to the release of the new Grade 4 material in the fall.
While GWG isn't on the ADS website yet, you can request a free catalogue here or by calling 1-800-276-0078. Worth noting is the annual Spring sale on now until the end of June, which features no GST and free shipping on orders over $200. This is when I usually stock up on Singapore math and Explode the Code workbooks.
No, I don't get a commission from GWG (or ADS), but author Tamy Davis, a homeschooling mother of two, is a friend, and, most importantly, with three kids I have a vested interest in a rigorous, enjoyable, and secular grammar program. My full, pleased-as-punch review from November still stands, and Laura and I are both looking forward to the release of the new Grade 4 material in the fall.
April 22, 2006
Hello, Moon, Hello, Hurds
If you and your family happen to find yourselves in Rhode Island in the next couple of months, stop by the Rhode Island School of Design Museum for "The World of Clement, Edith and Thacher Hurd: From Goodnight Moon to Art Dog". The exhibition, which opened yesterday, begins with a 17-foot-long mural of the Great Green Room and also includes a life-size version of the little red car from Art Dog for children to climb aboard.
If you can get to Rhode Island before July 23, the museum has also organized reading sessions and other programs for children; there's a schedule of related events to download. If you can't get away, you can watch the Museum website's audio slideshow.
The RISD Museum stop is the final one for the exhibition, which was organized by the Shelburne Museum in Shelburne, Vermont, another very worthwhile holiday stop, and right next door to Shelburne Farms, one of our favorite places for a busman's holiday. Oops, rabbit trail...
More on Clement Hurd, Edith Thacher Hurd, and Thacher Hurd, thanks to the wonderful Children's Literature Network website.
If you can get to Rhode Island before July 23, the museum has also organized reading sessions and other programs for children; there's a schedule of related events to download. If you can't get away, you can watch the Museum website's audio slideshow.
The RISD Museum stop is the final one for the exhibition, which was organized by the Shelburne Museum in Shelburne, Vermont, another very worthwhile holiday stop, and right next door to Shelburne Farms, one of our favorite places for a busman's holiday. Oops, rabbit trail...
More on Clement Hurd, Edith Thacher Hurd, and Thacher Hurd, thanks to the wonderful Children's Literature Network website.
Happy day, earth
O Earth, Turn!
by George Johnston
The little blessed Earth that turns
Does so on its own concerns
As though it weren't my home at all;
It turns me winter, summer, fall
Without a thought of me.
I love the slightly flattened sphere,
Its restless, wrinkled crust's my here,
Its slightly wobbling spin's my now
But not my why and not my how:
My why and how are me.
(from The New Wind Has Wings: Poems from Canada, edited by Mary Alice Downie and Barbara Robertson, and illustrated by Elizabeth Cleaver)
And don't forget to download your free Happy Earth Day coloring book, thanks to, erm, the EPA.
by George Johnston
The little blessed Earth that turns
Does so on its own concerns
As though it weren't my home at all;
It turns me winter, summer, fall
Without a thought of me.
I love the slightly flattened sphere,
Its restless, wrinkled crust's my here,
Its slightly wobbling spin's my now
But not my why and not my how:
My why and how are me.
(from The New Wind Has Wings: Poems from Canada, edited by Mary Alice Downie and Barbara Robertson, and illustrated by Elizabeth Cleaver)
And don't forget to download your free Happy Earth Day coloring book, thanks to, erm, the EPA.
April 21, 2006
More Poetry Friday fun
Quick -- hop over to Fuse #8 for a wonderful recommendation and review from my favorite New York City children's librarian. Fuse #8 calls A Kick in the Head: An Everyday Guide to Poetic Forms, edited by Paul Janeczko and illustrated by Chris Raschka, "the most useful of poetry tomes I've found in quite some time":
Even better, Fuse #8 discovered the book while preparing some Poetry Month selections and activities for the homeschool book group she runs -- NYC homeschoolers and holidaymakers, take note! And run to the Donnell's Central Children's Room, headquarters of the delightful Fuse #8 and her companions, Winnipeg native Winnie the Pooh and daily friends, and Mary Poppins's umbrella.
It's a truly interesting collection of poetic forms done in such a way that kids will not only understand them, but want to write some of their own. ...It sounds wonderful -- something to request from interlibrary loan as soon as possible and add to our ever-growing list of poetry books and other materials.
The book contains twenty-nine different poetic forms. Everything from your basic haikus and limericks to triolets, aubades, and pantoums. There are blues poems and clerihews, and even the rare riddle poem or two. [But not the au courant Fib, no doubt...] Janeczko has culled the most amusing and child-friendly versions of these forms possible, and it works.
Even better, Fuse #8 discovered the book while preparing some Poetry Month selections and activities for the homeschool book group she runs -- NYC homeschoolers and holidaymakers, take note! And run to the Donnell's Central Children's Room, headquarters of the delightful Fuse #8 and her companions, Winnipeg native Winnie the Pooh and daily friends, and Mary Poppins's umbrella.
Poetry Friday: Lines for my children now that the grass is greening up...
and our school moves outdoors:
From
"Lines Written for Gene Kelly to Dance To"
by Carl Sandburg
Spring is when the grass turns green and glad.
Spring is when the new grass comes up and says, "Hey, hey!
Hey, hey!"
Be dizzy now and turn your head upside down and see how
the world looks upside down.
Be dizzy now and turn a cartwheel, and see the good earth
through a cartwheel.
Tell your feet the alphabet.
Tell your feet the multiplication table.
Tell your feet where to go, and, and watch 'em go and come back.
Can you dance a question mark?
Can you dance an exclamation point?
Can you dance a couple of commas?
And bring it to a finish with a period?
Can you dance like the wind is pushing you?
Can you dance like you are pushing the wind?
Can you dance with slow wooden heels
and then change to bright and singing silver heels?
Such nice feet, such good feet.
(from Rainbows Are Made: Poems by Carl Sandburg, selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins, with wood engravings by Fritz Eichenberg)
From
"Lines Written for Gene Kelly to Dance To"
by Carl Sandburg
Spring is when the grass turns green and glad.
Spring is when the new grass comes up and says, "Hey, hey!
Hey, hey!"
Be dizzy now and turn your head upside down and see how
the world looks upside down.
Be dizzy now and turn a cartwheel, and see the good earth
through a cartwheel.
Tell your feet the alphabet.
Tell your feet the multiplication table.
Tell your feet where to go, and, and watch 'em go and come back.
Can you dance a question mark?
Can you dance an exclamation point?
Can you dance a couple of commas?
And bring it to a finish with a period?
Can you dance like the wind is pushing you?
Can you dance like you are pushing the wind?
Can you dance with slow wooden heels
and then change to bright and singing silver heels?
Such nice feet, such good feet.
(from Rainbows Are Made: Poems by Carl Sandburg, selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins, with wood engravings by Fritz Eichenberg)
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