Floriography

Floriography or Florology goes back in time to the Persians but gained widespread popularity during the Victorian Era. So what is Florology? In simple terms it is the use of flowers or flower arrangement to convey ones thoughts or feelings to another person. During the Victorian Era many books were published on the subject. This was a time when it was not considered proper to express ones feeling to another. By giving someone flowers you could convey secretly your message to them. This interesting article goes into a bit more detail on Florology. How Flower-Obsessed Victorians Encoded Messages in Bouquets is also a very intriguing article. Throughout time man has used various ways to communicate thought and feelings without using words. For example, did you know that a daisy symbolizes innocence and purity? Or did you know that Anemone symbolizes fading hope and being forsaken. The twist though is that depending on how a flower is arranged by itself or as a bouquet it can have a drastically different convenance of meaning. While Anemone can denote fading hope it is can convey anticipation. So the next time you think about giving someone flowers you may want to see what its meaning is. 

"Flowers...adorn our lanes, fields and fells, and...smile 

upon us and cheer and bless us in our country rambles...the lovely blossoms...kiss the clear brooks and 

mountain wells...

~James Rigg~ 

Making Memories With Mazie....

My first posting Mazie In The Making introduced Mazie and the beginning of our very special journey. Recently we got to experience two very special firsts with Mazie. About a week ago we were invited to share in Mazie's first lake experience. There are so many firsts with puppies and we were excited to be included in this first. I have been told that it is very important to expose future service dogs to as many experiences as possible. The earlier the better. A couple of days later we were surprised when Mazie came to our house for the first time!!! It was so fun watching her explore her future home. She got to play with some of the toys that we had so much fun purchased for her. Being able to bond with Mazie and seeing almost daily updates via Facebook and text on her progress is a privilege that most potential service dog recipients do not get the chance to experience. Mazie is loved by her foster family as well as ours. Mazie's journey is only beginning and I cannot wait to see it blossom in the months and years to come. She will eventually play a very important role in our family. Until then we will cheer her on. Daily I am grateful for the loving people in her life that are working tirelessly to train her to become all that she can be.

Truth Be Told.....

“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

  ~Antoine de Saint-Exupery~

Summer it a time to relax, play, and have fun but it should also be a time to read good literature! The library shelves and bookstores are teaming with amazing adventures just waiting to be discovered. Take time to read to your children or make sure that they are spending time each day reading. Honey for a Child's Heart and Honey for a Teen's Heart are two great resources for books. I also love to get ideas from Sonlight. You don't have to spend a fortune on books. Many times you can find the books listed on these sights at Half Price Books for a fraction of the price of buying them new. Check out your local library. Most libraries also have summer reading programs to encourage your child to read. 

SaveSave

Mazie in the Making....

Mazie was born on March 18, 2017. With the help of a service dog organization and some wonderful individuals Mazie will be trained to become a service dog for two of my daughters. Mazie came from Novacek's 84 Labradoodles. I plan on blogging about Mazie and her journey to become a service dog. Mazie left the Novacek's the beginning of June and she is currently at her temporary home being loved on and trained on a daily basis. A professional trainer meets with Mazie on a weekly basis. The foster family is working on potty training and basic puppy training skills. Our hope is that once trained Mazie will be able to detect low blood sugar and symptoms of Adrenal crisis. The perk that we have been afforded in this process is being a part of Mazie's life from the beginning. Most families do not get to meet their service dog until they are fully trained and ready to go to their forever home. We are very grateful to have the opportunity to get to know Mazie, bond with her, and watch her grow and learn.

This is a picture of Mazie with her full blooded sibling, Stella, from a litter last year. Stella's owners are the same family that Mazie is currently living with. 

K5 Learning ~ A Review

The Online Program from K5 Learning is an online reading and math program for students in grades Kinder-5th grade. The K5 Learning Online Program is meant to be a supplemental academic based program. 

Students start the online program with an assessment. The assessment has two parts, a math assessment and a reading assessment. From the assessment the program places the child at the grade appropriate level at which they should begin. I had two of my children complete the assessment and was less than impressed with their placements. Both of my children scored way below their academic level. Their placements were not even close to where they are academically. To change your child's level you have to go into the parent dashboard and request a level change. I really didn't like that the parent does not have the ability to change levels on their own within the dashboard themselves. For me this was a huge drawback to the program. 

Some of the advantages to the program:

• each student has his/her own log-in and password
• students progress is saved after each session
• parents have their own separate log-in to keep up with each child's progress
• worksheets can be printed for additional reinforcement 
• the program is visually appealing

The program covers lessons and worksheets in reading, math, and spelling. The reading covers phonetic awareness, phonics, sight words, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. The math portion of the program covers numbers & operations, measurement, geometry, data analysis, and algebraic thinking. Finally, the spelling contains a database of 150,000 words. Students can practice spelling or work on their vocabulary. 

You can go to the site and previews dozens of lesson samples for all of the grades. 

The lessons are fairly short which is a plus. I did feel that there was a lack in overall instruction, especially in the math section. 

The site was easy to navigate and was definitely inviting for children. This online program would be perfect for the parent wanting to have more of a hands off approach since the program tracks and allows the parent to see how their child is doing. 

In Level 5 of Reading Comprehension the teacher guides the animated students as well as your child through the reading of a short book. The program students read while your child listens. There is an interaction between the animated students and yours. My daughter did not particularly like it because in her word, "They talked so slow and I just wanted them to hurry up. I was able to read it faster than the online student. I couldn't click to get to the next page. I had to wait. The story was interesting but I didn't really like how they did it." 

Some of the features I truly could not get to work. For example, the spelling and vocabulary. I inputed words into the word bank to create vocabulary and spelling tutor and I couldn't get it to create. 

I did like how each section provided the learning objectives covered and keywords that may be unfamiliar to the student. 

My daughter said, "I was really confused on this lesson. The program didn't really explain how to work through these problems. After my mom explained it made more sense. If you type the number wrong too many times it just gives you the answer. If you just sit because you are confused after awhile it gives you the next number answer." 

This was given to my daughter and it was way too easy! With that said it was a great lesson on 3D shapes. Not only did it ask about different 3D shapes but it would ask the child to choose the shape that would roll, spin, or if placed on it side would move. I really liked how they presented the material. 

I am not have been a fan of the online program but I really did like the worksheets! There is a wide range of worksheets that can easily be printed out. My kiddos preferred the worksheets to the online program. My incoming 4th grader doesn't really like reading so the reading comprehension printable were WONDERFUL! The comprehension printable lessons have a clear objective listed as well as vocabulary words that may be unfamiliar to students. After the story is read students complete multiple activities to reinforce vocabulary, comprehension, and spelling. I was very impressed with the printable worksheets. I will most definitely utilize the worksheet options over the summer to keep academic skills sharp. 

This online program was not a good fit for our family. With that said, what doesn't work for one family or child may be the prefect fit for another. The beauty of learning and homeschooling is finding what works for your child or family. I am always excited to try new program and curriculums. Even if they are not a fit for us sometimes when I am talking to someone I am able to share products that may be perfect for them. I never want to discourage someone with regards to my personal experience. Definitely check out K5 Learning for yourself. Watch some of the lesson previews. You may find that this is exactly what you are looking for. 

To read more reviews click here.

Social Media
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/k5learning     
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/K5Learning      
Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/k5learning/           
Google+:  https://plus.google.com/+K5learning

SaveSave

Memoria Press ~ A Review

Memoria Press provides Classical Education curriculum for all ages. Nature's Beautiful Order, a curriculum that is geared for grades 6-9, is a great 18 lesson introductory course about the animal kingdom and natural order. Through the eyes of classical naturalists such as Dr. St-George Mivart, Aristotle, Georges Cuvier, and John James Audubon your student will experience nature's beautiful order. 

Included in this set is the student text, student guide, and teacher key. 

Your student will study:

1. What Is an Animal
2. The Lobster
3. The Cuttlefish
4. The Sea Urchin
5. The Bee
6. The Trout
7. The Frog
8. The Turtle
9. The Canada Goose
10. The Miracle of Flight
11. Day's Herald Bird
12. Birds at Home
13. The Groundhog
14. The White-Tailed Deer
15. The Carnivora
16. Farm Friends
17. Man the Upright Animal
18. Man the Steward

St. Thomas Aquinas said, "Hence, whereas the other animals take delight in the objects of the senses only as order to food and reproduction, man alone takes pleasure in the beauty of sensible objects for its own sake." 

The foundational question that needs to be answered is, "What is a living thing?" 

My incoming 6th grader who loves anything having to do with animals worked through Nature's Beautiful Order. While she loved reading about all of the creatures in this book she did have a bit of a hard time comprehending some of the more technical vocabulary. My daughter is an avid reader so going into this I thought she would do just fine. I think that this study would have suited her better in about a year or two. With that said, with my help we worked through several of the chapters together. She definitely learned ALOT of new interesting facts about the cuttlefish, frog, sea urchin, turtle, groundhog, and birds. 

An example of some of the more advanced vocabulary from the text, "His conjecture introduces the subjection of evolution. You will have by now noted that we have not treated the question of the emergence of new kinds of living things over time." 

Do you know why birds sing and do not speak?

Well, birds beaks are hard and therefore are not suited to change sounds emitted by the voice. Also, birds tongues are quite hard and bony and so most birds are incapable of modifying their vocal sounds and they come through the mouth. You may be asking, wait, parrots can talk. Yes, they can and that is because they have larger, fleshier tongues. 

While my daughter know a great deal of information on a wide range of insects, birds, and animals this study definitely got into more detail. She learned so much. I actually learned a lot too. God's brilliant hand in creation never ceases to amaze me. 

While learning about the sea urchin Aristotle made a very fascinating observation. He said, "The lower we look upon the chain of being, the less intelligible are the things that we are considering. We should expect them to be hard to understand and, therefore, we should expect the classification of them to be tentative rather than assured. The we climb the ladder of the chain of being, however, the distinctions become easier to make and our knowledge of the different kinds of animals more secure." 

These words are so very true. Though creatures such as the sea urchin are further down on the chain it by no means, means that they are any less intriguing. They have a bit of a mystery to them since they are so different from other animals further up on the chain. 

The Student Guide consists of short answer, comprehension questions that the student is to answer. The guide is broken down into chapters. The Teacher Key provides answers for the questions asked in the Student Guide. This course does not provide quizzes or tests. 

Again, because my daughter is on the younger side for this study some of the questions in the Student Guide were confusing or somewhat challenging for her. Not all of the questions were hard. 

An example of an easy questions:

"Why is the cate valued as a domestic animal?"

Then a more challenging question:

"What does it mean to say that an organism is a 'complex whole in which all the parts are reciprocally ends and means'?" 

My daughter said, "I love learning about all of God's creation, especially animals. I learned a lot of new and interesting information." 

The last chapter entitled, Man the Steward, is such a fitting ending to this study. Pointing back to the wonderful gift of creation one cannot help but see it as a very special gift. I hope to instill in my children the importance of the splendor of creation and its beauty. We are to be good stewards of the natural world because it is not ours, it is Gods! In the beginning God gave man the unique responsibility to govern over all creation. It is our responsibility to make sure that future generations are able to partake in its splendor. 

We have used a lot of curriculum from Memoria Press and have always be very pleased with the it. I would highly recommend Nature's Beautiful Order to others. I would suggest that it be used for the higher grades in the recommended range suggested by Memoria Press. Definitely check out all of the great curricula that Memoria Press has to offer. 

To read more reviews click here.

Social Media
Facebook
Twitter    
Pinterest         
Instagram       
Google+ 
YouTube 
LinkedIn    

Summer Fun

We had so much fun making Tamatoa shells! Moana has inspired some major creativity. We have watched the movie more times than I can count and thought it was time to be creative. 

We also had fun make oceans in a bottle. 

YWAM ~ A Review

My daughter enjoyed reading about Meriwether Lewis part of the Heroes of History series from YWAM Publishing . Along with the book we were given access to a study guide  was provided via an e-mailed downloadable, pdf version.  

Who exactly was Meriwether Lewis? 

You may recognize him more by the reference Lewis & Clark. Meriwether Lewis was commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson to explore the Louisiana Territory purchased from France in 1803.  Meriwether asked his longtime friend William Clark to join him on this expedition. Together they would explore the lands west of the Mississippi. Jefferson charged them with gathering information about the land, plants that grew in territory, animals that inhabited the area, and people that called the territory home. Their adventures were greatly aided by Sacagawea who would provide the help they would need communicating with the people as well navigating the territory. After completing the expedition Lewis would later be named the governor of the Louisiana Territory. 

The day cold and fair with a high easterly wind: we were visited by two Indians who gave us an account of the country and people near the Rocky mountains where they had been.

~Meriwether Lewis~

The book Meriwether Lewis: Off the Edge of the Map is 231 pages in length. 

There are 4 questions related to each of the 18 chapters in Meriwether Lewis: Off the Edge of the Map:

1. vocabulary questions drawn from the text
2. factual questions from the text
3. comprehension questions
4. open-ended questions

How We Used The Material

We have a growing collection of the Christian Hero Books by YWAM Publishing, and have enjoyed each book that we have read. The book on Meriwether Lewis was another great read. The books are written in a way that both children and adults can appreciate. 

One of my favorite aspects of the Unit Study Curriculum Guide is that there are activities for all learning styles. Some examples of activities include:

• creating a display (maps, flags, navigation equipment, articles, books, models, photos)
• creative writing
• written essays (for students in upper grades)
• dioramas
• research projects 

Your child can use the map provided in the unit study print-outs to trace the path that Lewis and Clark took. They can learn about rivers, their sources, and courses. Your student can identify the major geographical regions and mountain ranges. As they trace Lewis and Clarks journey they can learn about some of the tools that were used to help them navigate. My daughter had fun using a compass to help her find a given destination. She learned that precision as well as ones surrounding is very important. 

One of the questions for further exploration that I found to be particularly interesting was, "Find three Native American tribes listed in Meriwether Lewis: Off the Edge of the Map. Do these tribes still exist? If so, where do they live today? How does the population of the tribe today compare to that of the tribe in 1804? Why?"

The Related Themes Web gives students the ability to go beyond the book and explore other avenues of interest in more depth. Areas of exploration include but are not limited to:

• Math
• Science
• Geography
• History
• Current Events

In the Social Studies section students will learn about:

• places of significance talked about in the book
• journey taken
• terms/vocabulary 
• geographical characteristics
• timeline plotting historical events during this time period
• conceptional questions (more in depth discussion questions for upper level students)

For younger students you can make a paper machie canoe. You can create an Indian headdress or a beaded necklace. 

My daughter said, "This book on Meriwether Lewis was not the first book that I have read in the YWAM collection. I have enjoyed reading lots of them. I didn't really know too much about Meriwether Lewis before reading this book. I learned so much and found his expedition to be very exciting. I think that Lewis and Clark made a great team. They encountered lots of challenges but in the end they completed their expedition. I enjoyed doing some of the fun activities in the study guide. My least favorite part of the guide where the chapter questions."

In addition to the Heroes of History there is also a series of book on Christian Heroes: Then & Now. We have a small but growing collection of titles from both of these collections. I would highly recommend these books to others. 

To read more reviews click here.

Social Media
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/YWAM-Publishing-482973445102/    
Twitter:  http://twitter.com/YWAMpublishing     
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/YWAMpublishing          
BLOG:  www.ywampublishingblog.com