These are the books that are read, loved, carried around and slept with (currently).
The Story about Ping by Marjorie Flack and Kurt Wiese
Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen
Anything about Cars (the movie)
If You Take a Mouse to the Movies (and friends) by Laura Numeroff
47 Beavers on the Big Blue Sea by Phil Vischer
Horton Hears a Who and Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss (In fact, Caleb thinks everything is by Dr. Seuss. He'll pull down a book to "read" aloud, say the title and "by Dr. Seuss", then proceed with the story.)
Monday, April 09, 2007
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
A Well-Ordered Life
One of our favorite magazines (see previous post) had another little article I particularly enjoyed. It's one of the few they've chosen from the most recent issue to be available online to non-subscribers, so I wanted to post a link here.
Schooling at Home
Enjoy - and consider a subscription!
Schooling at Home
Enjoy - and consider a subscription!
Monday, March 05, 2007
Thy Kingdom Come
Will Catholics Be Left Behind?
A Critique of the Rapture and Today's Prophecy Preachers
by Carl E. Olson
In a recent Bible study, I realized I didn't really know what the Catholic faith teaches about the end times, other than that Jesus will come again in glory (as we recite every week). I wanted to learn more so I could understand how my study-mates' vision of the Rapture fit with Catholic teaching.
Reading this book gave me exactly what I needed to understand my faith's vision. I wish it hadn't taken me so long to read, in very small chunks, because I feel like my understanding is a little disjointed, but that's the fault of my current reading time, not the book itself. The author, Mr. Olson, is a convert to Catholicism who once believed in the Rapture, so he has great insight into exactly what others believe. I do think it was a little harsh on the fundamentalists, not because I think they're right, but because I'd like to recommend this book to friends who don't understand the Catholic view but would be afraid they'd find it abrasive. (Though a lot of his comments are actually amusing.)
If you're Catholic, I highly recommend this book so you can feel confident in the beliefs of your faith and your ability to talk with someone who does believe in the Rapture without being overwhelmed. If you're not Catholic but have a heart to understand the Catholic faith, give it a try. You might be surprised at what you find.
A Critique of the Rapture and Today's Prophecy Preachers
by Carl E. Olson
In a recent Bible study, I realized I didn't really know what the Catholic faith teaches about the end times, other than that Jesus will come again in glory (as we recite every week). I wanted to learn more so I could understand how my study-mates' vision of the Rapture fit with Catholic teaching.
Reading this book gave me exactly what I needed to understand my faith's vision. I wish it hadn't taken me so long to read, in very small chunks, because I feel like my understanding is a little disjointed, but that's the fault of my current reading time, not the book itself. The author, Mr. Olson, is a convert to Catholicism who once believed in the Rapture, so he has great insight into exactly what others believe. I do think it was a little harsh on the fundamentalists, not because I think they're right, but because I'd like to recommend this book to friends who don't understand the Catholic view but would be afraid they'd find it abrasive. (Though a lot of his comments are actually amusing.)
If you're Catholic, I highly recommend this book so you can feel confident in the beliefs of your faith and your ability to talk with someone who does believe in the Rapture without being overwhelmed. If you're not Catholic but have a heart to understand the Catholic faith, give it a try. You might be surprised at what you find.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
I Guess We'll Have to Home-School
Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling
by John Taylor Gatto
Josh came across this book and I convinced him to let me take it on my trip last weekend even though he hadn't read it yet. (I'm interested to see what he thinks.)
The main points (and some interesting tidbits) of the book seem to be (much abbreviated because I don't have much time to chat nowadays):
1. Contemporary education is doing exactly what it was designed to do: teach kids to do what they're told, when they're told, as they're told, so they can work for the man (my paraphrasing).
2. Contemporary education doesn't need to be "fixed"; it needs to be thrown out completely. Apparently, Mr. Gatto believes the whole model doesn't work and will never work. He did make a good point. We've been "educating" kids in schools (age-based classrooms, teacher certification), etc., for 100-150 years. If we're to believe the media and politicians, it's failing our kids. If they haven't gotten it right, perhaps the problem is the whole model is flawed.
3. Between school and TV, kids don't have any time to learn anything about themselves.
4. No one cares more about your child's education than you, the parent.
5. Teacher certification is designed to make parents believe they are unfit to teach their own children.
6. As a society, we compartmentalize people too often based on age. Kids are "locked" in schools and the elderly are "locked" in nursing homes (or isolated in their own homes).
7. The main job of institutions is not the "purpose" for which they are created; it's to provide for a future for the institution itself. All the teacher colleges, textbook publishers, standards consultants, administrators, etc., have a vested interest in keeping schools running and giving them even more money - because that's how they stay in business.
It's a series of speeches and essays, no hard scientific evidence or studies, but I did find most of his arguments compelling. Josh and I have talked often about sending our kids to parochial schools or home-schooling them. My sister-in-law is going to home school her kids at least through 8th grade. (She's trained as a middle school math teacher and says administrators often require a certain number of grades so teachers would assign worksheets they hadn't even reviewed as homework, just to get another grade in the book - how awful is that?)
I'm still not convinced I'll have the patience to home-school, but I'm beginning to see the advantages may be worth the effort. In particular, I like the idea of making learning part of all life, not confined to 8 am to 3 pm. I also like being free of bells to end a class period, avoiding homework, covering topics with kids of different ages, family field trips (with other home-school families, probably), and decreasing opportunities for bullies, drugs and alcohol to hurt my kids.
The debate about how the Papsdorf kids will be educated continues; I'm sure you'll hear more about it. In the meantime, I'd like to know if anyone can read this book and not wish the tiniest little bit that you could home-school (even if you have absolutely no intention of doing so).
I also really liked that it's printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper. You don't see that very often.
by John Taylor Gatto
Josh came across this book and I convinced him to let me take it on my trip last weekend even though he hadn't read it yet. (I'm interested to see what he thinks.)
The main points (and some interesting tidbits) of the book seem to be (much abbreviated because I don't have much time to chat nowadays):
1. Contemporary education is doing exactly what it was designed to do: teach kids to do what they're told, when they're told, as they're told, so they can work for the man (my paraphrasing).
2. Contemporary education doesn't need to be "fixed"; it needs to be thrown out completely. Apparently, Mr. Gatto believes the whole model doesn't work and will never work. He did make a good point. We've been "educating" kids in schools (age-based classrooms, teacher certification), etc., for 100-150 years. If we're to believe the media and politicians, it's failing our kids. If they haven't gotten it right, perhaps the problem is the whole model is flawed.
3. Between school and TV, kids don't have any time to learn anything about themselves.
4. No one cares more about your child's education than you, the parent.
5. Teacher certification is designed to make parents believe they are unfit to teach their own children.
6. As a society, we compartmentalize people too often based on age. Kids are "locked" in schools and the elderly are "locked" in nursing homes (or isolated in their own homes).
7. The main job of institutions is not the "purpose" for which they are created; it's to provide for a future for the institution itself. All the teacher colleges, textbook publishers, standards consultants, administrators, etc., have a vested interest in keeping schools running and giving them even more money - because that's how they stay in business.
It's a series of speeches and essays, no hard scientific evidence or studies, but I did find most of his arguments compelling. Josh and I have talked often about sending our kids to parochial schools or home-schooling them. My sister-in-law is going to home school her kids at least through 8th grade. (She's trained as a middle school math teacher and says administrators often require a certain number of grades so teachers would assign worksheets they hadn't even reviewed as homework, just to get another grade in the book - how awful is that?)
I'm still not convinced I'll have the patience to home-school, but I'm beginning to see the advantages may be worth the effort. In particular, I like the idea of making learning part of all life, not confined to 8 am to 3 pm. I also like being free of bells to end a class period, avoiding homework, covering topics with kids of different ages, family field trips (with other home-school families, probably), and decreasing opportunities for bullies, drugs and alcohol to hurt my kids.
The debate about how the Papsdorf kids will be educated continues; I'm sure you'll hear more about it. In the meantime, I'd like to know if anyone can read this book and not wish the tiniest little bit that you could home-school (even if you have absolutely no intention of doing so).
I also really liked that it's printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper. You don't see that very often.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Moms Going Overboard
Confessions of a Slacker Mom
Muffy Mead-Ferro
I checked this book out from the library because I thought it would be funny, and it didn't disappoint. I was surprised, however, that it managed to cover some serious topics about how parents can do too much, worry too much, protect too much and (pertinent to the season), provide too much. One of the points I've thought about a lot recently (I read this quite a while ago now) is that it's hard not to buy things for your kids when you know you can afford it. I've had to be very careful with Caleb's birthday and Christmas this year to limit myself. It's very easy to get sucked in, thinking how he'd like something. I did cave and bought 4 books (or so) for him, but we stuck to just Lincoln Logs for his real gift. (Don't spoil the surprise! For those who are wondering, we decided not to buy any big present for Reva for Christmas. She's getting some books, though. I even wrapped them, though I realized it was pretty silly even as I was taping them up.)
Anyway, it's a very quick read. I think Josh finished it in an hour. The author's family history and stories she shares are as amusing as her style. So read and enjoy, and maybe walk away from an unnecessary purchase.
Muffy Mead-Ferro
I checked this book out from the library because I thought it would be funny, and it didn't disappoint. I was surprised, however, that it managed to cover some serious topics about how parents can do too much, worry too much, protect too much and (pertinent to the season), provide too much. One of the points I've thought about a lot recently (I read this quite a while ago now) is that it's hard not to buy things for your kids when you know you can afford it. I've had to be very careful with Caleb's birthday and Christmas this year to limit myself. It's very easy to get sucked in, thinking how he'd like something. I did cave and bought 4 books (or so) for him, but we stuck to just Lincoln Logs for his real gift. (Don't spoil the surprise! For those who are wondering, we decided not to buy any big present for Reva for Christmas. She's getting some books, though. I even wrapped them, though I realized it was pretty silly even as I was taping them up.)
Anyway, it's a very quick read. I think Josh finished it in an hour. The author's family history and stories she shares are as amusing as her style. So read and enjoy, and maybe walk away from an unnecessary purchase.
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