A New Book For Laramie

I love books and I love to buy books about as much as I love to buy shoes. For those who know me, you know what that means! It is no surprise when I come home from the store with books or get (yet another) box from Amazon but the book we received in the mail today was special. Rain Fordyce's I AM LEARNING ALL THE TIME.
It was special because it is different than any book we own. It is for Laramie and it is the story boy who is homeschooled.
When I told Laramie what the new book was about she stopped in her tracks and wanted it to be read to her. I told her I was saving it for bedtime but she wanted me to read it to her NOW. She paid attention to every word as I read to her about the central character Hugh who is homeschooled. Hugh's story unfolds much like Laramie's from people in stores asking why you aren't in school and having just a twinge or two of envy that other kids get to ride in the big yellow school bus. It has scenes common to probably most homeschoolers such as playing in the park with their other homeschool friends and vacationing during other parts of the year.
When I finished reading it Laramie said ''Ok, you can send it back now.'' Surprised at her reaction I asked her why she wanted to send it back. She replied earnestly '' So all the other homeschool kids can have a turn reading it too." What a sweet heart she has. I told her it was ours to keep and she skipped to the bookshelf and put it with her other books.
I Am Learning All The Time is very true to life so if you homeschool or know a homeschooler I highly recommend this book. I ordered it from Rain's website at http://homeschooladventurebooks.com/ . Rain also has another website that is rather interesting http://www.authentictimes.com/.
Enjoy! Tell me what you think of it. Have you read any books with a homeschooler as a central character? I would love to hear about it!

Omaha Homeschooling Issues Examiner: Homeschool conference and curriculum fair

Omaha Homeschooling Issues Examiner: Homeschool conference and curriculum fair

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What Exactly is Dora going to be Exploring???

Change is inevitable but it isn't always for the better.

Mattel and Nickelodeon announced a new Dora the Explorer that will be released this fall. By that they surely mean a heavy commercial campaign and tons of product buy ins. Marketed at the tween level this Dora looks a whole lot different. What she lost in weight she gained in eye make up. New Dora lives in a large city and attends middle school sans Boots and the Big Red Chicken.

I prefer Dora as she is now. Sweet but smart. Independent but has friends to help her when she needs it. The story lines are cute and educational. I am sure the new Dora will have storylines that interest the population they are aimed at but what will children learn from new Dora? Take a look at new Dora. What message is she really sending?

See Ya Later, Alligator!

Homeschooling a six year old calls for repitition and patience. In trying to help my daughter retain information we play games, sing songs, make up stories and use memory drills. She is doing pretty well with addition and the ABC's.
Currently we are working on States and Capitals and the Presidents. She knows the capital of Nebraska is Lincoln but is disappointed that the capital of Montana is not Hannah but some lady named Helena that she has never heard of and doesn't have her own show.
We will come back to that I tell her and start working on the Presidents.
Great!
She knows George Washington is the first President. Who is the second president?
Blank stare
I prompt her...John....
John Hericks?
No, that is your cousin. John Adams was the second President.
There are a lot of people named John.
Yes there are.
Was John Hericks President?
No, he is just your cousin. Who was the third President?
Do alligators believe in Jesus?
Huh?
Do alligators believe in Jesus?
Uh, no. They don't have to. Answering these questions on the fly is not easy. Animals are God's creatures so only people have to make the choice to believe. All animals go to heaven.
What if they eat a Christian?
Hmmm... then I guess they are in trouble.
See ya later alligator!

Ok. Let's try this again.
Who was the first President?

Field Trip - Kearney, Nebraska

When people think of Nebraska, which is not often if you are not from here, they tend to think flat, boring, corn etc. Driving for five hours on Interstate 80 this past week I tend to agree. I 80 is a flat asphalt ribbon that cuts a rather straight path entirely through Nebraska. This wide expanse does not vary much in scenery but at exit 272 is something to see. The Great River Road Archway cannot be missed. The structure is built over the four lanes of I 80. Due to the speed limit being 75 mph and that it is a well known fact that hardly anyone goes just 75 mph the exit for the museum is approximately a mile from it. Exiting safely and winding your way back towards the museum you will pass life size metal buffalo sculptures with vines growing on them. My first impression was that they looked like random Midwestern Chia Pets. The parking lot of the museum is ample and well laid out with a maze and a giant buffalo sculpture that you surely will want your picture taken in front of.

Inside the museum we were greeted by authentic looking ''mountain men'' who played their parts very well. Adding a touch of authenticity with their throwback pioneer dialog and prop guns.

I was completely surprised at the size of the museum. From the outside it does not appear that large. The museum is home to the second largest escalator in Nebraska. Ok, that fact did not surprise me. Where in Nebraska would one need a mammoth escalator? Getting back on track, the museum has wonderful exhibits with twenty four life size figures along with paintings, quilts, lights, video and vehicles depicting a span of 150 years in America such as goldrushers, pioneers and drive in movie theaters. The museum is built at the only place where the Oregon, California and Mormon trails intersect. Those trails were the ones most often used by westward heading pioneers.

The museum is open seven days a week and also boasts a large and eclectic gift shop. Inside the museum is the Chuckwagon restaurant which is open six days a week.

Miracle Seeds

Every night I read the same easy reader book to my six year old daughter. Each week we pick a new word sight word for her to learn. One of the larger words in the book is 'miracle'. Typical for a six year old she asked me what a miracle was. I had to think about that. How do you explain a miracle to a child? Doing the best I could I explained to her that it is something only God or Jesus could do. We conversed for a short while about what is (parting of the Red Sea) and isn't (baking a cake) a miracle.

Obviously the lesson was not lost on her as few days later we were driving in the historic Old Market District of Omaha when she spied a large , vibrant mural. Very excited to use a big word she proudly pointed out the huge miracle on the side of the building. I hated to dim her enthusiasm but I explained that while God did give us life and talents to use in our life that people had painted the mural. She accepted that pretty easy and it didn't detract from her appreciation of the enormity of the painting on the side of the building.

Yesterday we were talking of the weather and how the snow is pretty but we are ready for Spring. Warm weather, green grass and planting a garden. I said that Grandma would come over and help us plant flowers, lots of colorful flowers such as pansies, petunias and marigolds.

"Miracles!" My daughter gets excited when she hears this. '' I am going to plant miracles with my Grandma'' she proudly says nodding her head. Watching her sweet face and her head of bobbing blonde curls I couldn't correct her. Unmarred faith that only children have and believing that everything that is wonderful to her is a miracle is nothing less than a miracle.