I Am A Weapon of Mass Destruction and Other Un-truths

Christina school board takes umbrage over Street letter

Members worry about safety after councilman suggests actions harmful  

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20130330/NEWS/303300029/Christina-school-board-takes-umbrage-over-Street-letter

By Elizabeth Scheinberg, Published March 20, 2013

And I'm a weapon mass destruction.  I figure I ought to embrace the term seeing as the New Castle County Councilman just decried that his obstructionists should be dealt with accordingly. (re: WMD's lead to a war with countless innocents murdered.)  Thanks, Jea, I'll be on the look-out for the nuts and whack-jobs who subscribe to your revisionist history.  Remember Sandy Hook?  It only took one.  I cannot express the depth of my appreciation to you for placing my family in harm's way.  Extremely irresponsible.  And on paid county time with county resources - funded by tax payers across the county en masse and not just District 10 - to further a personal vendetta.  The definition of reckless.

Update 3/30/13
I know where Hoffa's buried.
I know who's buried in the tomb of the unknown soldier.
I know where the treasure chest in New Mexico is buried. 
There's a leprechaun in a cage under my bed and when he kicks it, I'll find a place to bury him, too.

Pretty scary that all the major mysteries of the world have to do with things that are presumed buried. 

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Preparing for Baby Arrival - Products we love

Being our 5th baby into our parenting journey I am well aware of the products out there and what is actually needed or rather what we actually use. Basically, not much is needed but every business and company out there is telling you that you require long lists of items. I am no longer convinced.
Plus, having a smaller than most sized house meant no room for extra fancy stuff, so I passed it all on.

Here's my (needed) list (for our 5th)
# 0000/000 clothing in an unknown gender

Wow, that was huge wasn't it!!

Here's what we've got:

Baby Sling - it is like an essential baby item for us

# Pram

#Infant Carrier (Capsule) (the thing on the top - goes straight into the car)

# Bassinet

# Changing mat to sit on a set of drawers that will hold nappies
# Nappies (Disposables and NB Cloth)
# Wipes
# Clothing in various sizes, but not a lot
# Cot sheets
# Baby Blankets
# Too many toys
# Too many books
# An over-abundance of love, from FIVE other people!
# Avent Breast pump + bottles that I don't plan to need OR use
# Cloth Breast Pads

Product Journey over near 8 years
Over the years I have managed to streamline our actual needs for the newborn baby, we don't REALLY need much at all. Testing many things out there I usually end up giving them away when I have finished with them.

With my last baby I was blessed enough to score a swing chair and a baby bouncer for next to nothing. Both did what was required for their short periods of time before I gave them both away.

I can now look through a 'baby shopping guide' magazine in under 5 minutes and be done, needing nothing, knowing nothing new.

We don't buy
# Baby soaps and shampoo. Soap strips the natural oil from the babies skin, then they need to be moisturized or their skin goes dry. It's a catch isn't it.
# Baby oil. Baby oil is a derivative of petroleum oil. Yeah, Im not so keen to put that onto my baby skin
# Sorbelene Cream, also a derivative of petroleum oil.
# Johnson & Johnson products - they all have nasty chemicals in them
# Cheap bum cream. Doesn't work! We go cornflour or bepathen
# Bonjella. I hear that bonjella is the worst! We use SM33 recomended by several chemists
# Brand new clothing with ticket prices of over $30. Why? Well, we can't afford to spend that much on a single outfit that won't get worn out
# Cot sheets, we've never needed to, ever! And I am always culling out stash
# Fancy baby toys, also never needed to



5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. Having a car with one long seat free for the baby
2. Having everything that we need already - with exception of clothing
3. Not knowing if we are having  a girl baby or a boy baby
4. That we've been blessed once again :)
5. That baby capsule! Its so amazing carrying the bub in the carrier rather than waking a baby to go inside and always having a safe place for bub to be AND the part it fits directly into the pram meaning it doesn't need carrying, just pushing

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Maths: Skip Count by 2

Here are a few easy ways to teach Skip Counting by 2.
Skip counting by 2 is also like an introduction to multiplication.

Lots of Links:
Free Worksheet
Cool Blog Post 
Pinterest Board

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Homeschooling: How do you? Set Class Times

Background Personal Information
I remember being in Grade 2 and using the cuisenaire rods. After a short period of using these things we had to put them away. I recall not being ready to put them away, I recall not being finished with what was being done, I recall the emotions from that single time.

I am a kinaesthetic learner, which means I learn through hands on experience. I was/am also a slower learner. Okay so I am probably not but for the comprehension to remain and lesson be long lasting I need more time to get my head around it. I wonder how much more I could have learnt if I was given the opportunity to REALLY learn then!

My oldest child is also a Kinaesthetic learner. I can push his limits and teach and teach and teach getting book work done in hardly any time. With a child who has no idea what he has just completed. Comprehension. It is important.

Extended Lessons
I have an extended lesson philosophy.. Meaning.. When a child is absorbed in a concept/lesson/activity that is stimulating to their development I will let them go for it for as long as they freely desire to. If this means using up the entire morning then the entire morning is used up.

Some lessons can take 4minutes in completion, but is interesting enough to hold the fascination of a small child for four hours! I drop other 'lessons' until they've reached fulfillment in their chosen outlet.

This can mean maths only.. Or geography only.. Or language only.. And it doesn't matter one bit!!

It means the lesson is well established in their heart and minds.

Think about
Your in a school setting, and it is Art & Craft. You have a 40 minute time gap to get 30 kids through the painting activity. Naturally you have teachers aids who help with this. Children are brought out in small groups for a small period of time to have a go at the lesson before being cleaned up and whisked back to the classroom.
Sure, they've completed the art work, got messy, have a nice painted thing to take home when dry and have contributed to the lesson in some personal way. Then been taken away before any real creativeness gets going.
It's not enough is it?

At Home
When I open the table to a painting activity I can allow the children to continue until they are finished. THEY are finished. Some times it seems endless, two hours later we've gone through loads of paper and loads of paint. Children are really involved in their creativity. Then it ends.
We can do this because we are at home and have no set time limits.

Benefits
Extended lessons allow the children enough time to really grasp the content of the lesson and therefore extend their overall learning experience. For us it has meant that children can really take ownership over their education and I have found my guys choose to repeat the lesson or use it in their play.
When time is not permitted we can always go back but when I do not allow enough time for the children to learn in that area they are not interested to go back and re-learn yet not always ready to move onto the next stage.

Practical Daily Routine
Hubby is home for lunch between 12 & 1. For us this means we have breakfast around 8am, lunch at 12 until 1 we spend time with him and hubby returns home from work at 5pm.
So we have between 8:30-12 & 1-5 for school and activities. Somehow we get everything done :)



5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. Learning hands on
2. Having time available
3. Knowing my children are not being pushed ahead of their development and leaving them behind
4. Knowing the concept is really understood
5. Encouraging a love for learning in a variety of contexts

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From TransparentChristina - Things just got REALY ugly in Colonial!

This just in, from a dumpster out behind George Reed Middle School.

• Effective immediately Linn (Colonial Superintendent) has made the following mandates:

http://transparentchristina.wordpress.com/2013/03/26/breaking-news-colonial-punches-taxpayers-in-the-face-with-a-haymaker-governormarkell-dedeptofed-are-left-bloodied-after-linn-sucker-punch-netde-edude/#comment-35999

                                    

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Health

Health and Fitness is one of the biggest sellers in the Western World today, with much focus on eating healthy and leading a fit lifestyle. Our family are into health and fitness to some degree also, it is one reason we juice, provide raw green smoothies to the family and eat a whole foods diet with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as attempt at growing our own foods.
Fitness is also a reason we feel it important to participate in physical activities. Although it is not the main focus of the overall household it is important, to some more than others.

We are blessed to have children who are naturally gifted in certain areas over others, including physical activities which we desire to enhance and encourage.

Excerpt from the Curriculum Framework for Health & Physical Education available for download (link under lots of links)

Health and Physical Education provides students with an understanding of health issues and the skills needed for confident participation in sport and recreational activities. This enables students to make responsible decisions about health and physical activity to promote their own and others' health and well-being.

Health
At this stage we do not formally do any health studies. Health is a natural learning day-to-day actual proceedings that takes place where ever we go. We learn about it through life, discussions and practical application. I see no need to follow a curriculum or workbook in this area and especially at the ages our children are.

 Here's how:

Healthy Eating
While going about our general day-to-day life we talk about all sorts of issues, such as

• what foods are healthy, 
• why should we not eat certain foods and 
• why we eat a lot of other foods.

You know how it is when kids want Ice Cream for breakfast! 

We developed our own style of Healthy Food Pyramid based on

• plant produce (eat most)
• animal produce (eat moderately)
• man made produce (eat least)

Smoking
On another occasion we might walk past someone who lights up a cigarette (we don't smoke, nor do many people we know, and if they do I don't think I ever see them smoke) which will inspire a conversation about why they are 'lighting a fire and eating it'. We discuss the implications of breathing smoke and toxins in and how they go into your lungs. They've seen the pictures on discarded cigarette packets laying on the park floor. (sorry smokers, you know its unhealthy! It is nothing personal)

Dental Care
After meal times or the end of the day we will talk about why we brush our teeth. Actually after meal times when we wash our hands the toothbrushes sit upon the mirror, our Avigail calls for 'teeth' and has a go at brushing her teeth EVERY TIME! Homeschooling means that children ARE usually home after meal times and CAN brush their teeth 3-5 times a day. This is just practical hands on bonuses to homeschooling

Hand Washing
We might discuss why we wash our hands and different aspects of germs and getting sick while driving down the street or coming inside after being outside.

Medical Needs
Then there is the aspect of a child needing emergency medical assistance and taking that spontaneous unplanned homeschool excursion to the hospital. Every situation is an opportunity to learn different aspects of life, even things such occupations and what goes on in different places. (When our oldest contracted Asthma, Bronchitis & Pnuemonia all at once we did 'home schooling' from the hospital bed for a couple of days. We learnt about doctors and nurses and what they do, needles, taking blood tests and even heart rate monitors.) If your looking for opportunities to do home schooling these are just some of the ways to do it, all you need to do is take the opportunities regardless of what is going on.

Medicines
From time to time someone is required to take medication, we always talk about why they are taking it and that if other kids took the medicine when they don't need it they can get very unwell.

First Aid
Bandages and bandaids. We are not a family with a heavy usage of bandaids, they are rarely used. We usually pray for the bangs and bruises for the pain to go In Jesus Name, there to be no lasting effects and for comfort for the child.
On occasions we WILL use bandages or bandaids, to cover the sore/scrape/exposed area and protect from DIRT. Lets face it. Kids play in dirt. Especially when they are on the feet.

Eye Safety
We remind children why we do not shine lights into the eyes of others. Like torch lights. Despite reminding children not to do this, and walking into the Doctors to have them shine a light in their eyes? Hmmm..

Skin Cancer
We look at the pictures in the Doctors surgery while waiting. Children want to know what the different kinds of skin cancers are and how they got them.

Sun Protection
Putting sunscreen on when we go out on hot days, talking about not getting burnt and not getting skin cancers. Discussing why we wear the kind of swimming outfits we wear. Reasons we wear hats when outdoors.

Disease and Sickness
We even talk about diseases and sickness and illness that people get and disabilities, such as leprosy (Jesus healed people with leprosy), the blind (Jesus healed the blind), the lame (Jesus healed people who walked). Some of these discussions arise from seeing or hearing the ambulance or driving past the hospital, other times it is inspired from reading the Bible Scriptures or story books.

Naturally Learning
Most of these activities are either routine or unplanned, inspired by an action that needs to take place or something that we see. All these things and many more, discuss the importance of certain health aspects and adds a hands on practical life experience to the 'lesson'.

Take the Opportunities available
All you need to do is look for the opportunity, answer curious kids questions, practice healthy lifestyle practices. Talk, discuss, question them!

I see no practical point in printing out worksheets and have children complete them when they are learning them in a natural and real environment.

Lots of Links:
Curriculum Framework

5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. Good health for ALL my family
2. Healthy foods available easily
3. Natural learning, where the knowledge is practiced
4. Prayer, for all the aches and pains, illness and sickness
5. Complete healing in all instances

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MD Sheriff Wants To Make Safety a Priority

SNOW HILL, Md. — Worcester County Sheriff Reggie Mason is pushing for a school security plan that would put an armed officer in each of the county’s schools beginning this fall.
“A trained active shooter is needed for each school,” Mason said.
Announcing he had “brought my bodyguards with me,” a contingent of supporting law enforcement officers that included Chief Kelvin Sewell of Pocomoke City and Chief Kirk Daugherty of Snow Hill, Mason said during a recent County Commissioners meeting he “worries about (school safety) every night when I go home.
“No child should feel in danger when attending our schools,” he said. -http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20130324/NEWS03/130324014/Md-county-s-plan-puts-armed-officer-every-school

Way to go, Reggie!  

Sheriff Mason's Worcester County has 13 public schools and only one active school resource officer, SRO.
In neighboring Wicomico County, the Sheriff’s Office currently has nine officers in 30 schools.  Mason has put forth a plan requesting $1.6 million to hire 13 deputies and necessary supplies.  His new SROs would work 9 months/year in schools and be assigned a road duty during the summer months. He's requesting $1 million in subsequent years to continue funding his school safety initiative.  

Mason's plan has generated some challengers, like Commissioner Virgil Shockley who believes school safety can be achieved with a smaller price tag. 

Commissioner Virgil Shockley suggested an alternative, less costly plan, similar to one used currently in Montgomery County. In Shockley’s plan, SROs would be part-time, employed during the school year only and would not have their own police vehicles, a major expense at more than $500,000. - http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20130324/NEWS03/130324014/Md-county-s-plan-puts-armed-officer-every-school

To put the debate in context - the Christina School District has contracts that put one SRO in every secondary school (middle and high school.)  However, our district has schools and program located in 31 different buildings.  Roughly 8 or our 31 campuses have a full-day SROs - none in elementary schools.  Our model is more similar to Wicomico County than to Worcester.  

The BIG Question:  Which security plan is the safer plan?  You tell me...

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Happy Birthday to Birth Boot Camp!

Wow!  This time last year, we had no idea where Birth Boot Camp would be a year down the road.  Actually, we wrote a great post over at the Birth Boot Camp blog letting you know about our statistics for our first year out of the gate.  This hasn't been shared anywhere yet, so head on over and check it out.

We have over 30 instructors and 40 more in the wings, representing more than 20 states and 3 countries.

When you head over to the Birth Boot Camp blog, you'll get to check out our statistics for our LIVE CLASSES and also our ONLINE CLASSES.

On April 1st, we'll be announcing our 2014 schedule.  Check our blog and the Birth Boot Camp Facebook page for details.  The demand has been overwhelming to bring Birth Boot Camp to different cities, so we are traveling to 3 different cities next year.  We are also in Southern California THIS SEPTEMBER!

If you are interested in becoming an Instructor, apply today.  If you'd like to take a class, visit BirthBootCamp.com to find a live instructor.  If there is not an instructor in your area yet, take the 10-week class online.

I can't wait to see what the next year brings.  Happy 1st birthday Birth Boot Camp!

"You CAN Have an Amazing Birth!" or teach an amazing birth class!

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By the Way Side

A few weeks ago, I awoke with a 'head cold'. A few days into this 'head cold' it travelled into my ear canal, causing a blockage in my ear canals and making me lose my hearing.

As if that wasn't bad enough, this 'head cold' travelled into my chest causing me to cough excess amount of mucous that just was not going away.

Concussion
Some time in the first week of this sickness one child (while playing) ran directly into.. a wall.. giving himself a concussion and us an emergency trip to ED. He beautified my MILs car with vomit right as I pulled up in the car park. He has recovered really well.

Baby Rashes
A few days later, our baby (24 months) told me she had some 'hurts' and presented one red foot. Spotted with dots and covered in a red rash I put vinegar on it thinking it was bites and wanting to take the sting out. Then she tells me "more" and presents the other foot.
On checking her tummy out she's covered in rashes. I have learnt to NEVER fool around with babies and rashes on the tummy, so off to ED we went. Head Cold and all.
The outcome? Probably a reaction to some kind of viral infection, bring her back in if she becomes lifeless and limp and not like a happy/tantrumy 2yr old. She hit that tired state, went over it, and had her biggest tantrum she's ever ever had. Ever. When I got home, she was so relieved to be put straight to bed and I was at a state of exhaustion but happy to eat a subway :)

Being checked out in Emergency Department

Kid Rashes
Over the upcoming days the same rash came back on 3 children but it went away within a few hours. What ever it is that spreads on their body fast and causes itchiness disappears quickly too.

Suddenly Deaf
A few days after this I awoke around 5am with severe pain in one ear + achey body + all the other ailments I already had. Hubby put ear candles in and it helped with the pain, but I had already lost a lot of my hearing.

Time Off
This crazy not-getting-better sickness has ended up in Hubby NEEDING to take time off work I think on two occasions. I feel bad because he will be taking time off work when this baby is born. I could only imagine how bad things would be in our home if he hadn't and how much worse I would be feeling and not recovering.

ED
In the end, I took myself to ED at 3am with instructions to return at 8am when the Dr rocks up. The result.. I have an Upper Respiratory Viral Infection. Likely to keep the cough for 6 weeks if not months.
Can not take any medication to relieve anything because I am pregnant.
Rest, Keep fluids up, try eat healthy foods, Rest. Keep doing what I was already doing.
My hearing will not likely return until the Eustachian tube is cleared, which won't happen until after my nasal passages are cleared which does not seem to be happening.
I must say though, I am relieved I did not have bronchitis, pneumonia or was admitted into hospital, that sure would have changed things around here.

Home Schooling
Over the past two weeks, incredibly we have still managed to do school work. We have done Maths, Phonics, Reading, Read Alouds, Sensory Play, Cooking, History, Geography, Human Biology, Painting with Water Colours and I am not remembering what else we have done right now. Because I choose to school year round we are (thankfully) not behind in our school work, that and I really pushed them through work when I was feeling that little bit better.

Guilty
Laying in bed trying to rest and recover so I can do what I have been created to do has left my mind to wander so far that I am failing at schooling the children, because I am lying in bed and they are playing. Whilst I know that this is silly, with all this ill feeling & pregnancy I am feeling the full force of my inabilities and limited capabilities. I have wondered how I am going to school with sudden deafness, I am not prepared for such inabilities, I rely on my hearing. As I have tried to move through phonics (sounds), and listening to child read I have been repeatedly asking what did you say? So it has been hard, and I have felt guilty, not that he is behind where I want him to be, but because I was hoping we could push in and get it done faster than I had originally planned.
Feeling bad because I am sure I have no idea what I am doing with raising these children and want the absolute best for them.

I've felt guilty pushing children away who are trying to get into my coughing snotty face and hurting my ailing my body, and guilty for not being on top of my game.

Hubby Steps Up
I am married to a busy man, that does busy things. He offered to do groceries for me and ended up preparing full meals (breakfast, lunches, dinner + snacks) for our entire family, he's made home made dog food & frozen in portions. He has in fact taken over my kitchen, even doing dishes and keeping it all cleaned up, and uhm.. teaching kids to wash dishes, one of two jobs I do NOT get the kids to do. He even brings me watermelon cut into cubes with the seeds taken out. In our household that is called "real love".
He has run my errands, dropped his daughter off at Gymnastics and picked her up, picked up another child and taken our dancing kids to their class and returned extra child to her home and run more errands.
He has quarantined me, shutting off bedroom doors and not letting children disturb me so I can rest & recover.

Tears
I have cried a river of tears this past fortnight, overwhelmed with physical pain, guilt, feelings of failure, feelings of not being able to or not being good enough or anything. So many emotions.

Soul Searching
I have really turned inward, remembering things from childhood, teenage hood and early marriage days. Some of it has been extremely hard to process while others are just ok. So much of it pure ugly, so much of it I am choosing differently for my own family, my own children.

Praise
Praise Him through the good times, and in the bad times.

Pregnancy 
The illness came at 34 weeks gestation, now we are at 36 weeks gestation. Bub wriggles strongly and has begun the decent into my pelvic area, I know, cos I can feel it. I am having regular tightenings most of the day through and feel as if bub is preparing for its exit. I still have no idea on gender and only a slight possibility in a name.
At this stage in this pregnancy I am feeling like I do not want to go through labour and birth, and I do not want to go through another pregnancy. I also feel that there will be more pregnancies, so I am hoping that I can begin to feel better, emotionally.

Preparing for Baby
I was supposed to be well, not flat on my back with illness, and certainly not deaf. This has brought such a sudden and unexpected halt to preparing for the birth of the baby that basically nothing is ready.
I had the children put together the baby bassinet. Actually I said we were going to put it up and they just did the rest. That is the kind of kids that we are raising. That is the kind of kids that I have, and I know how fortunate and blessed I truly am.

Bub has the capsule ready to go, it is not in the car because I am not sure how the 'car thing' is going to work out. MIL is going to have children which means she will need the car (we swap cars so we dont have take car seats in and out) but she needs extra seating for her own kids (we both have 7 seater vehicles). Plus it is still a bit early. But it takes only a few moments to put this seat in, so it is sitting in the lounge room waiting.

Having little children who eat in the car has meant I've discovered rice cracker stashes, I need to pull all car seats out, clear the floors, vacuum the seats and every crevice I can possibly find and then some. I need to vacuum the sand and dog hair out of the car before returning car seats into a new configuration. This is no easy task! My vacuum is an upright!
I want the dust to be wiped clean too, red dust picked up from driving through tracks and gravel roads. I don't think my car has ever been this bad. Ever.

I need to wash the few pieces of baby clothes we have, check what we have and what we might possibly need. But washing baby clothes comes second to catching up on our own washing.

I need to unpack baby linen from the shed. Wash sheets, blankets, rugs, wraps. Find that extra stash of nappies that I am sure that I bought.

And I need to go to the baby shop and pick up the toddler attachment for our pram. We have one already, but our old pup chewed through seat belts and I need the seat belts for the next child who will be in it.

I think that is about it in preparing for baby. Except the mental preparations.

These Children
These children have been taught and trained so well that they really are keeping great tracks at keeping things running smoothly. Yes I need to ask for help and remind children to continue doing something with a cheerful attitude but overall, especially at their ages, they are incredible.
Ill give you an example.

Breakfast
Children have set foods for breakfast. Weetbix, Oats, Milk. Some days I might make us porridge but generally that is it. Older children make sure the younger children have what they need, afterwards children clean the dining room which basically consists of stacking chairs, clearing table, putting food away, wiping table and sweeping underneath the table. I don't need to do any of it. The conversations that take place while I am out of sight is incredible. They know the routine well.

So Blessed
Given the ages of my children, the amount of work they put into things is incredible. Just last night I brought a bucket of warm soapy water into the dining room with a toothbrush. They all wanted a go, but I got my dining room floor scrubbed and scrubbed well, only needing to mop up the excess water which I used to mop the rest of the floor area.

Child's Play
Children have been so amazing at playing, conflict resolution amongst siblings and serving one another. Some times squabbles break out but on a whole it is all about getting along. I contribute this to the mass amounts of time they have available to play together, learn together and practice their social skills in a safe loving environment.

Mass Amounts of 'tv'
We do not own a TV and have not for many years now. We've watched too many movies and too many you tube clips.
I have watched the entire season 10 of the Duggars reality TV show 19 kids and counting, inspired by the quiet & meek spirit of Michelle the Mum, and touched by the obvious training her older children (in particular the girls) have received that makes their household run smoothly. The older girls also speak with a quiet and meek spirit to many younger children. If your not into the Duggar's but are into your family I suggest you have a watch and see for yourself, the gentle calm in which a household of 21 people maintain.
Children have been watching a family who had quintuplets (Quints by Surprise)
Then we've watched our regular movies that I deem suitable and even a few I don't.



5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. Recovery
2. Rest that I received
3. Not having to prepare meals for the family
4. Really great kids!
5. A Really Great Hubby!

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QoD: Reading Has Become a Forgotten Art...

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School Catch Up Post - after sickness

After two weeks of continuous sickness it was back into school. I thought we might need to thrash the book work area of life and so I did.

Isaiah (7) pushed out a record 2 lessons + 20 worksheets + working with money, skip counting, clock work, subitising, subtraction and addition (all in Maths). We only did two short readers because I was having trouble hearing still. Which meant we put focus into Maths, and will focus on English when I can hear clearly.

Amalia (5) pushed out a record entire 64 page workbook... in only 4 days. These workbooks usually take 2 weeks if we work on them daily, which we did, focusing on the end product. Getting it completed. Obviously the work was easy enough for a pre-schooler to do, easier for her fast pace style of work. We then went on to complete two more workbooks that had been half completed in 2 hours (with distractions). Amalia tells me that she does her work fast because she can run fast. Amalia can run fast.

Jarah (3) has decided he wants to be 'home schooled' and do 'school work' so we are consciously working on writing his own name which is interesting. I have not yet had a child who picked up a pencil and held it all wrong. He's my first, so by writing his name we are really focusing on pencil grip and pen control. This means he gets to do fun fine-motor skills, and lots of it, until he has had enough. I reckon he works in 10 minute blocks around 2-4 times a day with pen and paper, or bingo markers and paper, or something and paper. That seems to be all he has focus on, and that is okay with me!

Avigail (2) always wants to be part of the crew. She sits up at the table in a high chair, or nearby with a colouring in book, paper and textas or pencils, or bingo markers. Or she toddles off elsewhere and plays and makes mess.

Toddler Time: The weather has cooled so I am not so keen to have water play as a feature. So I pulled out the 'kitchen gear' and have had some cooking toddlers in the home corner which is more like half a giant room.



Overall: These kids could have been pushed so much further and so much harder, but there is only so much I can ;)



Next Week Goals: 
Isaiah (7) Maths Lesson 6, 7 & 8, Phonics, Reading & finish off Book H & Letters Workbook (Practice Time, Money)
Amalia (5) Get started on Book H, Practice lesson 9 & 10 MUS Primer (Place Value)
Jarah (3) Practice writing his name, fine motor control
Avigail (2) Fine Motor Skills & Gross Motor Skills
Easy stuff, in teaching children to work independently in preparation of the arrival of our new baby due in 3 weeks time.



5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. Being 'less' unwell that I have been the past two weeks
2. Being ahead where I wanted to be before getting unwell
3. Catching up
4. His Sufficient Grace
5. Children learning and being taught to work independently


Disclaimer: There are no pictures, because I am busy, tired, catching up and if I waited to include pictures this post will be sitting here in a years time... in draft ;)

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DIY Baby Play Ideas

Sometimes we can find ourselves feeling like there is very little that babies can do, especially since they are still mastering basic skills. In actual fact there is lot we can do with babies. There little brains are absorbing their surroundings and experiences 24/7. 

Here are some of my top suggestions. Don't forget that we are our children's greatest teacher and its important we give them as many varied opportunities to develop their skills as possible. 

LET'S GET BABIES PLAYING & LEARNING!!!!!!!!!! 

_________________

DIY Baby Sensory Board

Learn how to create your very own sensory board using materials from around the home. Also great way to encourage tummy time in babies. 

DIY Finger Paint for Babies

Make this wonderful non-toxic finger paint. Perfect for babies who love to eat everything. 

Play with a Tray

Simple idea but has many great benefits to a babies developing skills. 

Disappearing Act

Great way to help babies develop their sense of object permanence. 

Rice Play

Learn some of the great ways to play with rice. Great start to sensory play. 

Maracas

These little shakers are wonderful to help baby learn about sound, weight and more! 

 Discovery Bowl 

A simple bowl of safe goodies ready for a baby to explore is great for basic investigations. 

DIY Baby Rattle 

Have you seen the cost of baby rattles these days? 

No need to buy them when you can make better ones yourself. 

Art with Ice Cubes

Using coloured ice is a great way to get baby creating their first art piece.

Sticky Fingers 

Many people don't allow their child to explore the sense of stickiness. 

Here is a great way to help your baby do this. 

_________________________________

I hope you and the babies in your life enjoy these fun, simple and educational activities.

Please take a moment to leave a comment. 

Feel free to also come and visit me over at 'Laughing Kids Learn'. 

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Home School Library - Organising it

Once you've built up your Home School Library how are you meant to keep it altogether? With books easy to be found when needed.

In short... Like an actual Library.

Fiction 
I like to keep all the fiction together. That is.. all the story books, reading books or just for fun books. At the moment they are kept in the dining room as that is where the shelves are. Eventually they might be moved into the learning room.
I find having them in a main walk way place means they are easier to grab on the way through so we can read in many areas of the home. Having them in a central location means putting books away is faster also. Plus it inspires me to read at the dining table during that time we might be waiting for someone or something before a meal takes place.

Without some kind of book storage a home library really does not work. I used to have them stored in boxes stacked on top of each other and they never got read or even thought about. Get yourself a decent book shelf!!

Board Books for babies
I keep what ever board books that are found in a cubby hole together (middle hole), they are meant to be in a tray facing outwards but it has disappeared. A shallow tray or box (like a kitty litter box) or basket helps little children put them back, and they are stored facing the toddler which makes it easier to find something or catch their attention. Having them in a small container also means you can take the entire container out and read oh I don't know.. 50 books in a sitting.

Sets of Books
I like to keep 'sets of books' together, such as all the Dr Seuss books together. We know the author of the books which helps find them faster, plus it looks nicer and it is begining to teach children book order. Remember. I have lots of LITTLE kids, so books are not always put back exactly where they started off and not a priority of mine to keep in a specific order.

All Other Fiction Books
All other Fiction books are kept in the other cubby holes in any order. I like it this way because they can practically be dumped back on the shelf and are in the 'right' place.
I do not care to sort them into any sort of order whether it be by author or theme. When we are looking for a reading book there are plenty to choose from.
I do not plan what books we are going to read in advance or for special unit studies so it is not a necessary practice.

Added note
Even though I do not enjoy our local library they keep their children's fiction books in much the same 'order'. None. They get taken out of the boxes and returned to other boxes. If it can work for a library which has more kids checking out books than my home then it can work for us too.



Non-Fiction

Bible Books
Most of our bible books are in sets and have had more money spent on them then the other books. I keep the vast majority of these books in the lounge room on the 'fancy' bookshelf up higher than the baby can reach. Yeah, I do get a bit emotional when a child thoughtlessly ruins one of these books and so I keep them out of reach of the smaller children. Older children will collect a book when they desire.

Keeping the bible books separate from the Fiction books means I know exactly where the book should be that I am looking for and I like it that way.

Non-Fiction books

The book shelf for these books are in the storage room, so out of immediate access but still accessible when we are looking for something specific. Children know where they are.

I know where all the 'learning books' are when the children ask a specific question and I need to find references or pictures to flow on from the information I am presenting (Alternatively, google works too!)

The 'learning books' are then kept together in their subject matter eg science, social studies, and within those categories all the human body books, all the atlases etc are grouped together or on display for children to easily seek themselves, depending on what interests are going on at the time.

Display for Non-Fiction books
Currently I have a 'human biology' area where several human body books sit on display with a few posters and a real life x-ray taken of one of our children. With the impending birth of our baby children are interested in the growing babe and the home it is currently living in.
Having these books on display arouses interest even in children previously not interest.



Parent/Teacher Books
Within our Home School Library I like to keep all the 'parent/teacher' books together, so all the art & craft books are kept together, all the maths books are kept together and all the english books are kept together, same with all the Social studies and science books.

As the library itself continues to grow this will continue to develop.

Cooking Books
In the dining room as a 'feature' I keep all our cooking books. It makes sense for cook books to be within easy reach for kitchen needs, so it is. And because I like things to be kept pretty, that is my aim.

Adult Books
All the adult books are in a separate bookshelf so children or rather babies stay uninterested and leave them alone. Sorry book lovers, there is no reason a toddler needs to be flipping pages of our books!

There you have it.

How do you organise your Home School Library? I would love to know

5 Things I am Thankful for:

1. Book shelves

2. A large home to store and have books in

3. Children who learn through reading and actively seek information through books

4. Growing interest areas in all the children + me

5. The love of books within our family

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Is CSD Going to Exit RTTT 1 Year Early?

Board of Education Open Session

March 21, 2013 ~ 6:30 pm ~ Gauger-Cobbs Middle School

The Christina Board of Education will meet in Open Session on Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. at Gauger-Cobbs Middle School, 50 Gender Road, Newark, DE 19713. The Board reserves the right to go into Executive Session once convened.

A.  CALL TO ORDER

B.  PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

C.  APPROVAL OF AGENDA

D.  PUBLIC COMMENTS

E.  SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT

      1.  Race to the Top - Year 4 Funding

      2.  Staffing Projection Overview for the 2013/2014 School Year

       Link to Supporting Docs:  http://www.boarddocs.com/de/christina/Board.nsf/Public 

• Select March 21, 2013 General Business Meeting
• Select View Agenda

F.  ACTION ITEMS

     1.  Board Meeting Locations for the remainder of the 2012/2013 School Year

G.  ADJOURNMENT

 

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Building a Home School Library on a budget

One of the beauties of Home Schooling is the multitude of books that come through the home. One of the not-so-beauties is having to pay for them all. At a cost of $20 per book can get a bit.. You know.. Pricey.

Naturally there are more frugal alternatives like using the library.

Library

Personally, I am not a library fan. Perhaps it is because our local library seems to have more inappropriate content in reach of my very small children, or because I would rather not attempt at choosing decent living books with four small children to supervise also.
It could be a bit of a drama when the baby would prefer to play with the toddler-sized-chairs rather than be read to or look at books quietly and a tantrum has ALWAYS ensued a visit, and perhaps the library staff take their sweet time to check out all 30-odd books when we go, and perhaps carrying out 30-odd books to the car while attempting to hold two-toddler hands and stop a runner-5-year-old from skipping her merry way in front of a car crossing the car park.
In short, I don't enjoy library visits as a family outing. Perhaps one day we will, this is not a one-day. I could possibly just go on my own but that would have to be timed well.

Enough about the library.

Home Library
Building a library for home use is an adventure and super fun. Especially when you bring them home by the box load. Here's how:

• Garage Sales
• Op Shops
• Gorgeous Friends who's children have outgrown their books 
• Book Sales
• Library Book Sales
• Toy Library Book Sales
• Online Home School sites
• Birthday and Special Occassion Gifts
• Buy when on $ALE

There, easy. And 1/8th of the price of Regular Retail

(Yes, I would prefer to take my kids into an op shop than the library!)

Buying Second Hand means we are recycling what others are no longer using. 

My Experiences
In the picture above the right hand side cubby hole is Dr Seuss books only. I only have like 38 of them (although I think I have acquired a few more since last count). I picked most of them up for $2ea and the bigger two for $3 in a bulk lot with loads of other books.

At an opshop I went through the entire shelf piling up books of interest, took my pile to the counter and said "How much for all of these? I only have $x so I will have to put some back" She gave them to me for $10 (would have been one of those cubby holes full). I was prepared to put some back but she was happy that the shelves were being cleared.

At another opshop I got two huge boxes full of books, homeschool curriculums and non-fiction books + educational games and puzzles + a few outfits + new glasses and bowls + things for the kitchen. For $30!! I can go to McDonalds for lunch with 4 kids and spend over that amount!!

Honestly homeschoolers, it is worth doing it!! 

Benefits of having a Home Library

• A wide variety of books available to all children at all times
• No late fees or return dates *ahem*
• Can have the book for ages and ages not a mere 3 weeks
• Builds interest in children, seeing different subject matter available all the time means they can choose different books so much easier
• When the baby rips a page out... its less a big deal than a library book (hasn't happened to me yet)
• You can lend your books out to other book lovers without pressure
• No library visits. Or reduced library visits
• Have the exact books that you DO want on hand when you want them
• You can pick up a specific book when a child asks you a specific question. Such as our human body books, when children ask questions we can 'research the answer together' 
• likewise when children want to know something or check on something they know they can find the book and 'teach themselves' or remind themselves. Rather than being 'force-fed' like what can happen in schools
• For us having lots of kids means that children are growing out of younger books and being picked up by younger children, so they are getting used and used well

Are you building a homeschool library? I'd love to know, 

and I'd love to know how you are building it :)

5 Things I am Thankful for:

1. Books available to buy at great prices

2. Amazing friends who's children are older and don't read their books anymore

3. Learning that takes place naturally through literature

4. Language development and interest through literature

5. Self-learning children researching areas of interest themselves (& seeking help when they need it)

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Working from Home Without Neglecting the Family

by guest blogger Jacqueline Seewald 

As a freelance writer working from home, I had to deal with the reality of giving my husband and children proper attention while still finding time to write. I discovered that with a little creative thinking, writing could be a shared family activity. Although writing is thought of as solitary work, it can actually bring families closer together. For those with small children, here are some suggested activities:

1. Read a lot.
Read on your own, but especially read with and to your children. Read a variety of different types of writing, ancient and modern. Consider reading as an adventure and a learning experience. Introduce your children to the joy of reading books. If you love reading, they will soon want to follow your example. 

2. Take your children with you to bookstores and libraries. 
There are wonderful children's sections and story hours that your children will enjoy while you have a chance to look around for books yourself. Libraries are free; therefore, borrowing books is the greatest bargain possible. 

3. Write everyday, preferably at the same time. 
You become a better writer by writing consistently. So set that precious time aside each day and refuse to make excuses to yourself. 

4. Have your children write along with you. 
If possible, give your child an appropriate word processor or computer. As you write, they write. Share the experience. Have them read their stories to you and read some of your work to them.

5. Try specific writing activities together. 
You don't have to be famous to write an autobiography. However, many well-known writers have used memories of their childhood effectively in their writing. 

Try journal writing.
Have your children keep a journal or diary and do the same yourself. Shop together for the notebook and pen you will use for your journal. There should be a ceremonial quality to this activity. Give your children a sense of how special it is to keep a journal. Select a time of day when you can share time to register a journal entry. After dinner is a good time to take a little out for journal writing together. It should be done each day. At first, you will have to remind your child to engage in journal writing, but if you are enthusiastic about it and consistent, your child will pick up on it.

Draw inspiration from dreams.  
From Biblical times, dreams have been thought to be prophetic. Freud certainly found much there to analyze. Children have remarkably imaginative dreams. Encourage your older children to keep a notebook and pen beside their bed. When waking after a particularly vivid dream, they should describe it in as much detail as possible. Later, they might turn the imagery of dreams into poetry. With younger children, you might want to discuss their dreams with them and then write down the words that are inspired by their dreams. Then read back what you've written and ask for their input.

Subscribe to media.
Whenever possible, read magazine and newspaper articles and clip those you find of particular interest. Encourage your children to do the same. Many ideas and inspirations for writing can be obtained by active reading from media. 

Clip and make a folder of interesting photographs to be used at a future time for writing and drawing inspiration.
There's an old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words. A good picture is worth at least that and probably a lot more. Inspiration for writers can come not only from reading newspaper and magazine articles but also from looking at the photos. Interesting photographs are all around us and are worth saving as a resource. Have your children collect some interesting photos from magazines or newspapers and do the same yourself. Then you can each write a response to the picture. The response would be open-ended: short story, poem or short essay. Picture and writing would then be shared and discussed.

6. Take your children on family trips.
For example, go to an art museum. Ask them to select one special painting to write about. Do the same. Put yourself into this painting. Who are you?  Where are you?  What are you doing? Write a response in any form you wish and ask your child to do the same. Back at home, share your writing and discuss both the paintings and your responses to them.Take your children to: a zoo, a play, a lighthouse, a ferry ride, a movie, on a vacation. Take notepads along with you so that you can write briefly about what you see. Sketches can even be included with written observation.
When you return home, sit down with your children and write about the experience in more detail. This should be done as soon as possible, either that evening or the following day. Reading what is written and sharing in a discussion is important. This should be in addition to any journal entries. All of these activities will inspire you as a writer.
Writing need not be a solitary activity. It can be a shared family activity that enriches our lives and those of our children, making family experiences more meaningful and enjoyable. Working at home doesn’t have to take away from the family but instead add to it if handled correctly.

--------------------------- About the author ---------------------------

Multiple award-winning author Jacqueline Seewald has taught creative, expository and technical writing at the university level as well as high school English.

She also worked as an academic librarian and educational media specialist. Her Kim Reynolds romantic mystery novels, originally published in hardcover

by Five Star/Gale, include:

The Inferno Collection, The Drowning Pool, and The Truth Sleuth. The first two novels in this series are now available as ebooks in all formats including Kindle, Nook, Kobo, etc.

Check out The Truth Sleuth in a new affordable paperback edition from Harlequin Worldwide Mystery:

http://www.harlequin.com/author.html?authorid=2189

Check out all her books on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=jacqueline+seewald 

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Kavips Pontificates on Jea Street

And I'm a weapon mass destruction.  I figure I ought to embrace the term seeing as the New Castle County Councilman just decried that his obstructionists should be dealt with accordingly. (re: WMD's lead to a war with countless innocents murdered.)  Thanks, Jea, I'll be on the look-out for the nuts and whack-jobs who subscribe to your revisionist history.  Remember Sandy Hook?  It only took one.  I cannot express the depth of my appreciation to you for placing my family in harm's way.  Extremely irresponsible.  And on paid county time with county resources - funded by tax payers across the county en masse and not just District 10 - to further a personal vendetta.  

I’m not going to embarrass the pants off Jea Street by pointing him out… If you know him, or of him, you’ll know whom I’m talking about.  If you don’t, he could be anyone, sitting in the audience of your districts Board of Education Meeting…
But, Jea Street just did a very dumb thing.  He fires off a public letter calling for the firing of three Christina School Board members calling them super “obstructionists”…
Really.  Super obstructionists?  Is that like Superman?  Wouldn’t it have been smarter to call them Spider obstructionists?  Like Spiderman?  Or Bat obstructionists?  Like Batman?  or Under obstructionists, “like little olde me,…….. Underdog”.  More Here

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L.O.T.E. (Baby) Sign Language

Avigail's first sign "food"

Baby Sign 

Not a new concept for our family, although we do not integrate it into all aspects of life nor do we use it knowingly on a daily basis. Going on... 4-5 years now and I find I still use it to communicate with our babies. 

As a baby hits a developmental period (between 1 & 3 years of age) where they try to communicate with you and get frustrated at your lack of listening skills (ha!) we begin to get a breakdown in communication between babe and adult and many meltdowns begin. 

I have found that many (not all) meltdowns can be prevented by teaching and using just a couple simple  hand gestures to your tiny tot. 

Here is a very quick list:

Food - Bring your fingers to your mouth as if your putting food into it

Drink - holding an imaginary cup tilt the cup at your mouth

Toilet - place your thumb between your index and forefinger and shake slightly

No - like a crocodile snapping with one hand very fast (Others use a fist and shake from left to right)

Yes - with a fist make it 'nod'

Please - with an open hand rub a circle on your chest

Thank You - With the tips of your fingers (palm towards your face and flattened) move your hand away from your face

Sorry - with a fist rub a circle on your chest (Like please but with a fist)

Lots of Links:

The original site where *I* learnt many of the signs we know today is uhm... lost in cyberspace. There are loads of NEW sites now available with full looking programs! Personally I am uninterested in a full program, enjoying what we already know now. I wouldn't use it (unless I had to iykwim).

Google "Baby Sign Language" or click here.

Or try youtube

A short Testimony

Many years ago, my then 3 year old, would have many meltdowns. I can tell you that he was HARD WORK! He would talk and communicate with me, but not with anyone else. But he wouldn't ALWAYS communicate with me. I even considered him for Autism, ADD, ADHD, or some other disability. Seeking wisdom from other parents who had children with these things, they said he doesn't have it. And they were right!

Anyway, one day we were having a meltdown crisis where I sought the Lord in despair. 

Was I failing as a parent? It sure felt like I was. I asked "What am I meant to do with him?" 

I felt the soft gentle answer "Baby Sign Language". I immediately googled baby sign language, clicked on a link and looked for a few words. This link had videos of a baby doing the sign, all we had to do was watch and copy. I then brought my child to the computer where we learnt 3 new signs in 30 minutes and he suddenly began TALKING. For us during that time was incredible progress, and the added unknown bonus for us was he started talking. Please not that he COULD talk he was choosing NOT TO. We have never had a problem with speech again. 

From memory the words were Please, Thank You and Sorry. 

Honestly parents, these things are too easy to not learn. 

Disclaimer: I am no speech pathologist, I am a parent. I found this to work for US, it may not work for you. Some say that teaching sign language hinders language development, I have never seen or heard or experienced it to be true. If you are concerned for your child's speech development see a professional, or seek the Lord for yourself. I know he is listening and ready to answer ;)

5 Things I am Thankful for:1. Seeking the Lord, Receiving and answer Unique to us
2. Being able to use the skills from that experience on all four children (so far)
3. Communicating non-verbally with babies
4. Clear communications on their wants and needs
5. Less meltdowns and upsets, for both adult and babe

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