5 Ways to Help Someone Love Reading
A great article about the benefit of play by Dr. Gordon Neufeld.
Secrets of the Hunter-Gatherers.
A hilarious-looking book that I suspect will show up in our home at some point.
Some yummy-looking chocolate chip cookies. I would use sucanat, coconut or almond milk and melted coconut oil, though.
]]>Chaya: Don't tell Ima...
Shira: What?
Chaya: Don't tell Ima.
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We have opened registration for the Fourth Torah Home Education Conference!
You will spend the day learning from veteran home educators, meeting other Jews interested in living a family-based learning lifestyle,
and be able to peruse and purchase homeschooling materials from local and national educational vendors.
We are proud to bring you:
Evelyn Krieger, the author of the popular new novel, One is Not a Lonely Number, and veteran homeschooling mother.
Mrs Deborah Beck talking about Integrating Kodesh and Chol: Secular Subjects and Torah - Two Sides of the Same Coin.
Mrs. Robin Alberg presenting Remaining Focused In an Age of Digital Distractions.
Mrs. Susan Lapin teaching us the idea of VeShinantam Levanecha: Defining Torah Home Education.
A Veteran Homeschoolers Panel: Addressing Key Questions Including "How Can I Teach What I Never Learned?"
Mr Max Masinter leading a group discussion on Whether the Homeschooling Community Should Promote Homeschooling as a Lifestyle Choice to Address Communal Issues.
and several speakers/topics TBA.
Shabbos hospitality is available with the possibility of a melava d'malka afterwards.
The conference will be Sunday May 6, 2012 at the Park Heights JCC in Baltimore, MD. Registration will begin at 8:15am and the conference will begin at 9 am.
To find out more and register for the conference, please visit http://torahhomeeducation.eventbee.com
We look forward to meeting you at the conference!
This week we are visiting my mom. I've brought along the girls' pencil boxes, lined paper and construction paper. So far (we've only been here about 16 hours) the girls have been writing lists, taking care of "sick" stuffed animals and planning what they will be planting in the garden.
On the drive down we came up with a couple of hypotheses about horses that we'll check out when we we walk to a nearby stable and the girls asked to go bird watching so we'll do that. So much more fun than workbooks!
]]>Unschooling recognizes that children have an innate thirst for knowledge and that they will learn as long as the well of experience is full. For as many unschoolers as there are, there are methods to unschool. We bounce between radical and a more structured learning with topics chosen by the girls. (More on this balancing act here.)
In my opinion, the most critical part in unschooling is communication with your child. I'm always asking the girls what they want to do, what they want to see, what they want to learn more about. When we head to the zoo we talk about what animals we want to see and what questions we have about them. On the way home we talk about what we observed and what questions were unanswered. One of these trips resulted in us watching Meerkat Manor and for a time we acted out meerkat homelife. Most recently we decided we need to learn more about space and gravity.
What about reading writing and math? Those can't be left to the kids to decide to do!
I say they can. The girls know the alphabet, recognize their name and know how to spell it. They've been busy playwriting for years and recently Chaya started copying down things she sees. Finally they asked me to help them write their names so that they can sign artwork. Now instead of asking me to write things for them, they ask me to help them write things. My role in this? Providing paper, pencils, correcting grips and reminding them to "start at the top." Reading and math have been following a similar path.
Its actually very simple to do yet difficult to describe to the skeptic or uncertain. I know because I was once asking how in the world I could unschool math! So I've decided to take on a little project called "30 Days of Unschooling" showing what we do over the course of a month and share some tips and resources.
What's up for our week? More writing, reading and abacus work, playgroup, a trip to San Diego, chess, art and a trip to the library.
Stay tuned!
]]>A is for Android. Where would I be without my phone? "Lost," says Aba. I try to defend myself, but its true. I do love my phone.
B is for Batya. I was going to put them all under "G" but they each deserve their own spot in the list. Batya is so much like Aba its funny. She seems so serious but then *boom* out come the giggles and goof. She is also so different from me that I have a hard time relating and find her learning fascinating.
C is for Chaya. Everyone comments on her beauty but they miss the spark of mischief behind the eyes and stubborn line of her mouth. If she's on my side I've got a good shot at winning.
D is for delays. So many things don't happen "when they should" and we end up waiting. It used to be is agony when we wait. And wait. And wait. Yet the end result makes it worth it.
E is for
F is for food. Good food. Food made and food bought. Food created and food enjoyed. I love a good meal.
G is for G-d's touch. There are times when I'm unsure and confused, but if I sit quietly and really look at things I can see G-d's touch throughout my life. It took me quite a while to find it, but once I did, I can't go a day without looking.
H is for home.
I is for infertility. No one said the list was all joys. While not the best thing on my list, it has led to the most awesome gift I've received and a wonderful group of friends who don't complain when I complain.
J is for just me. That small bit of time and space that belongs to me alone. So precious.
K is for kisses. Baby kisses. Puppy kisses. Slobbery joking little girl kisses. Grown-up kisses.
L is for life lived. So many times I've wondered what was in store for me and if I was on the right path. While it might not have been the most direct route, I'm happy where I've ended up.
M is for marriage. To my wonderful Aba. He really is my better half.
N is for nights awake. when I know I should be asleep but i sit writing or editing or reading instead.
O is for one-of-a-kind. Quirky. Weird. A free spirit. Odd. That's me.
P is for pets. I admit it, I love having pets in the house and I'm happy to indulge many of the girls' pet wishes. Right now we have a parrot, a hamster and an aquarium with an assortment of fish and aquatic life. Shira is trying to convince Aba to get a cat.
Q is for questions. So many questions. And when I find answers? More questions.
R is for reading. Books. Magazines. Blogs. Online newspapers. Twitter. Google+. Facebook. I love to read.
S is for Shira. You know that curse moms give their kids? "I hope you get a daughter just like you!" Yeah that one. Shira is me. So me. It makes it hard, though, because I know from experience what she should do but just like me, she doesn't want to play it safe and normal. I suppose it should scare me, but I'm ready for the ride.
T is for tea. I haven't had coffee in three weeks and can't say I miss it. Pick your jaw up. It isn't that shocking. Since it finally clicked how terrible coffee is for you, I've switched to herbal tea. A nice milky chai with a grating of nutmeg? Awesome.
U is for unrestrained laughter. The best kind.
V is for victory. Four girls to one boy. Four wild spirits to one neatnik scheduler. We win. If only it were that easy.
W is for wishes of the heart.
X is for exceed expectations. You know those dreams you have as a kid of how your life will be when you grow up? Well, I've zoomed off in a different direction entirely and totally love it.
Y is for yielding. The hardest part of marriage is when you really want something but it just isn't right for your partner and your family so you yield.
Z is for Zeus. Not just because zebra was the only other "Z" word I could think of. I really do love that spoiled bird.
Ten years ago I was getting into my beautiful dress and preparing to start my life anew as a missus.
Its been a joyful, weird, tender and tough decade but I can't imagine it any differently.
Shabbat shalom!
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Tumeric is a wonderful anti-inflammatory, helps with tummy troubles, helps keep the flu away and there are numerous studies right now to learn about its anti-cancer and anti-alzheimers properties.
I've been drinking ginger tea for my colds and congestion so I decided to combine the two and see what happens.
A few quick notes. First, I do like my ginger tea spicy so you might want to dilute the tea or use less ginger and tumeric. Second, tumeric stains. It can turn you kitchen, clothing and hands bright yellow. Make sure you aren't wearing your favorite shirt and wash utensils promptly.
Ingredients
1 oz. peeled and sliced fresh ginger root
1 oz. peeled and sliced fresh tumeric root
4 cups of water, divided
Raw honey to taste
1. Place roots and water into a pot, cover and bring to a boil.
2. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Strain off the tea, reserving the roots. Stir in raw honey to taste.
4. Add remaining water to the pot, cover and bring to a boil.
5. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes.
6. Strain off the tea and discard the roots. This tea will be weaker than the previous batch but still enjoyable.
