50's and 60's- Unit Celebration

One of the benefits of using Tapestry is the Unit Celebration.  It has closure and review to a season of learning.  One of the jokes of studying is that you're never finished. There is always MORE to learn. Yes, there is.  However, with Tapestry of Grace cyclical education, we will be back and able to absorb more at a higher learning level.  (*TOG rotates every 4 years)

How to plan a Unit Celebration?

1)  I gather a good date and location for everyone EARLY.  It is amazing how we homeschool moms can fill a calendar.

2)  Gather different options for the time together.  In the beginning of each unit there is a chapter called the Unit Introductions.  It goes over the scope and other very useful information. I like to look at their ideas for the Unit Celebration. (I can't provide a link because it is copyrighted information)

3) I then utilize the Forum.  This online group is for Tapestry of Grace community.  In the forum, you can scroll down to the TOG year 4 redesigned (in our case) and then click on the tab that says TOG year 4 Unit Celebration.  Unfortunately there is very few ideas/links for Year 4 (Year 2 has tons).

4)  Then I just ask the other ladies what they would like to do after writing down some suggestions.  Knowing the co-op and my kids, it was easy to suggest the following line up for the Unit Celebration.  Then delegate the responsibilities to the families based on interest.

5) Prepare.  We took some time during the co-op history time to practice and prepare for the end of the unit celebrations.

What it looked like?
We started with name tags on our backs.  I found them easily from the People section on each week unit.  We played the game of 20 ?'s.  The students & parents had to ask yes or no questions to narrow down who they were.

We then had Poetry recitation from two students from Langston Hughes.

Merry-Go-Round by Langston Hughes

Where is the Jim Crow section

On this merry-go-round,

Mister, cause I want to ride?

Down South where I come from

White and colored

Can't sit side by side.

Down South on the train

There's a Jim Crow car.

On the bus we're put in the back—

But there ain't no back

To a merry-go-round!

Where's the horse

For a kid that's black?

I Dream A World by Langston Hughes

I dream a world where man

No other man will scorn,

Where love will bless the earth

And peace its paths adorn

I dream a world where all

Will know sweet freedom's way,

Where greed no longer saps the soul

Nor avarice blights our day.

A world I dream where black or white,

Whatever race you be,

Will share the bounties of the earth

And every man is free,

Where wretchedness will hang its head

And joy, like a pearl,

Attends the needs of all mankind-

Of such I dream, my world!

Then we had excepts from two famous speeches Frederick Douglass during the 4th of July speech and Sojourner Truth "Ain't I a woman". These both came out of the read aloud book The Civil Rights movement for Kids by Mary C. Turck.

Then we had a special drama from 10 American History plays for the Classroom by

Sarah J. Glassock . The 1960 Civil Rights: The Greensboro Sit-in by Mary Pat Champeau.  

It was full of police, waitress, and Woolworth store managers.  Some came dressed up.  They did a great job of the reenactment.

A little break showing the a hand jive and some era music.  

Then capitalizing on the soda fountains, we made italian sodas with soda, cherry flavored syrup, ice, and cream! Yummy!

While the younger kids were sipping on their drinks, we had two reports from the older students on Zora Neale Hurston and the Cuban Missile Crisis.  

I hope you gleamed some insight into what a celebration is and how much fun it can be.  

Korean Week 21

We are in the midst of Tapestry of Grace Year 4 Unit 3 week 21.  I was the person in charge of coordinating the activities for this week.

I had no idea how God would use this week to open my eyes to the pain and desperate need for transformation of North Korea.  It is one of the benefit of learning with your children, I guess it was one of my "skipped" days at school, because I had no idea of the depth of despair surrounding the Korean War and the ongoing conflict.

Thankfully Facebook, I asked if anyone knew of a Korean person in Palmer.  Yes, there is very few non-whites. I was shocked to hear that someone had a foreign exchange student from South Korea.  Yeah!  Jim was available and eager to have an opportunity to teach about Korea culture.

So, we started with prayer and then we had him share about Korea.  The kids did a great job at listening and asking good questions.  He loves his Alaskan bed (verses a rolled mat) but misses his Computer games.

At the end, we had the kids try to make Kimbap.  It is like sushi but more like a picnic food/snack food for the hands.  It can be filled with anything.  We tried it with ham and cheese.  But, we look forward to do it again with cream cheese and salmon.

He wrote out his name to compare the language alphabet.  However, he said it was to hard to talk about North Korea.  We let that go.

The next time I taught about Korea was during the Mission Conference at my church.  We did things a bit different.

1) talked about the 38th parallel and a little about the divide of the country.
2) Read an interesting story of the Pumpkin Seed (two brothers) from "The Korean Children's Favorite Stories"

-During the reading I had my son draw on the board the two different homes, consequences, blessings.
-I had four actors:  elder brother, younger brother, swallow, and snake
-three bowls with towel (representing the three pumpkins)
Then as I read the story, we used the props to act out the story.

3) I also talked about the amazing reunion of the North and South Koreans that have been going on this past year.  I had a good article with some photos to project and to continue to pray for complete healing of these two countries.

4) Instead of just praying, we watched a YouTube video of prayer for North Korea from Operation World.

5) While a few were making Kimbap, the other tables were racing using chopsticks and cotton balls into the bowls after a few lessons on chopstick etiquette.  

 

Juggling but Connected, ready to do what He wants

I am knitting again.  Do I have time?  That is a great question.  Not really.

Independence Mine.  Hard being the first time of the season (skate skiing), and a torture coming down because of snow pelting out eyes like daggers.  But, I loved it!

This school term has been a huge blessing of at-home-ness. However, our evening are a different thing. It helps to have pre-cooked items, oven on time-bake, or crockpot meals.

SUNDAY/MONDAY:  The Lord has put on my heart to direct a drama called "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever".  I feel totally inadequate and stretched, but the Lord is my strength and my helper.  Thankfully, I have an amazing group of actors/actresses and lots of help (sets, wardrobe, etc) or it would be a disaster.    *Save the date December 13, 20, or 21st.

TUESDAY: Bronwyn gets a unique advantage by being a student at Louise Farm School.  During this years studies, she gets to learn more about the environment and trees.  She spends 3 out of the 5 hours outdoors.  Great outdoor education put on by Students from Alaska Pacific University.

WEDNESDAY:  I am committed to teach the young girls *8 to *9 year olds in Pioneer Clubs which is like Bible Study plus Girl Scouts combined.  I love it. I do get away to a knitting club that I love (Thank Diana).

THURSDAY:  I get to run to Wasilla for Robotics for Max and Technology Lab/Battle of the Books (I am coaching this year) for Bronwyn. Hannah gets to volunteer at our local Thrift Store Charity shop.

FRIDAY Day: Super Fun!  Co-op.  We have about 4 families using Tapestry of Grace, and we share a discussion/activities centered on the World Event and helping form a Biblical Worldview. Then, Speech Boot Camp- I am coordinating a class with 14 students (Middle School-High School).  Then Art-I just play a video and let atelier art teach.  I do play music in the background.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Life group is one of the special nights where we get to be encouraged and challenge one another.  I love it.

I look forward everyday to what the Lord wants from me.  I am thankful for my daughters new business and the opportunities to show love to others in our neighborhood.

I find time to read my Bible, run, ski, and go to libraries.  Help me Lord to do your Will in the midst of life!

Willow LOVED the snow.  We had to drive 25 minutes up a mountain to find it, but we did.

Preparedness is Key

If you are my friend, you probably know of my love for National November Writing Month.  Since our children are not in High School we use the Young (NaNoWriMo).   It is an organization that encourages creative writing with a word count challenge goal.

I love it.  To me, it becomes a time-capsule of my children's heart at the time of their writing.  Their characters, conflict, and descriptions because a glimpse into their soul.  When our school is over, I will not look at generic fill in worksheets or math problems, but these fresh creative raw stories tell me more than a picture painted or a photo can ever tell.

First, it is CRUCIAL to begin actually in October.  Have your student fill in the workbook to start preparing the characters, conflict, story line for their novel.  The workbook will be the backbone of ideas and reference for writing.  Thankfully, they have a easy PDF fill in workbook so you don't need to use the 1/2 of ream of paper.  Also, my son loves using the computer and this new form will allow him to use it.  They also have online a helpful teachers guide if this is your first time, or you would like some additional help with teaching character development, story line, rising action etc. FREE LESSON PLANS for all ages.

Second, let them write.  During November, writing wins.

Third, try to join some kind of support group so that they get some good peer pressure.  This year, we are using one hour once a week on Friday at Lazy Mt. Bible Church to discuss characters, conflicts, and stories with one another.  It will be from 10-11 am in Palmer, AK.  The first "pow-wow" will be November 8, 2013.

In conclusion, I will be hosting a information meeting at Lazy Mt. Bible Church on October 4th, 2013 @ 12:00pm if you are lost or just would like some additional encouragement or answer some of your questions (as far as I am able to).

Co-op for optimal benefit

When I look back on my homeschool years, the time spent learning with others have been the cream. I love cream.  It is not necessary, but it sure makes everything better.

How do you start a co-op?

Find people who are using the same program.  Tapestry of Grace year 2 (for example), or the same science program, or writing program.

Clearly define expectations, goals, dreams for the group

Once a quarter, have a planning meeting.

During that meeting, we would go week by week delegating out the planned activity or field trip. If you only can meet every two weeks or one a month, plan accordingly.  We would also have a parent be a baby watcher while the others were teaching.

When the students get to the older years, have a parent assigned to facilitate the history discussion.  

Fun stuff to think about

I found it so helpful when my children were younger to have to wait and under the authority of other teachers.  In a group setting, larger than your family, it is a great way to have your learn respect as your child is not the center of attention.

Those crafts or role plays, become the hooks where your teaching becomes implanted into their life.

Encouragement of other moms to pray and to spur each other to become more like Christ.

Use the creative gifts and passions of other women to make your homeschool amazing.  For example we had some experts in singing, drama, sewing, etc that I don't possess.

It gave us the accountability to finsh strong throughout the year.
Science experiments is fun to tackle with another mom or dad to help.

I just listened to a webinar about using a co-op to share your writing.  We will be doing that from the key word outlines made from Institute in Excellence in Writing and Tapestry of Grace writings.