Hmm, It would seem that the links in my last posting didn't work.... If you are interested in subscribing to Homeschool Horizons magazine and couldn't find them, then the links now work or you can simply find them here.
I hope that you will find Homeschool Horizons to be a great place to connect to other homeschoolers, to be encouraged and to be enriched as you pursue this crazy lifestyle.
Blessings,
Cori
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Homeschool Horizons
From time to time people ask me about the way that we homeschool and what resources we use. While I am not likely to review products that we haven’t tried or give you my opinion about a resource that we just didn’t like, I am happy to tell you the highs and lows of some of the “stuff” of everyday life around here.
As such, I wanted to draw to your attention a great new product that you might enjoy…
Tony and Shannon Ratcliffe and their team are working hard to roll out, this September, the inaugural issue of “Homeschool Horizons” a brand new all Canadian magazine meant to connect and encourage homeschoolers across the country. This is something that I have been dreaming about for years! Yes, there have been resources available along these lines but not something that has that hometown flair – it’s Canadian!
This is a hard copy magazine that will be mailed to your home every other month starting in September and right now, until the end of June, they have a promotion on: a one year subscription, six issues, for $25! This comes with a free e-book as well as the opportunity to win some goodies in their Growing Prize Packages.
If you are interested in a resource that will come at just those intervals where you need the encouragement to stay the course then I would suggest this as a great investment in your homeschool, a professional development resource, a teacher’s magazine that speaks your language and will bring refreshment to your home classroom.
Not only that but I hear that they are going to have some excellent writers! (Ahem, check out their maths writer. Naturally, being a wordy Canadian homeschooler, I was excited to have the opportunity to meet with more of you through this medium and to take the chance to focus on my math passions.)
I hope that you will have the chance to grab a copy of this magazine and to spend a few minutes here and there sipping in the encouragement that the Homeschool Horizons team is brewing up for you.
Remember, if you sign up before the end of the month you will get in on the discounted price and the prize draws! Tell them that Cori sent you.
I hope you are enjoying this rainy weather – I know the weeds in my garden are!
Blessings,
Cori
Thursday, June 23, 2011
The Race
*In follow up to my last post, I'm glad to share that poem which was so impactful to me. I am not sure of the source but found that the author is D.H. Groberg.*
Quit, give up, you're beaten,
they shout at me and plead.
There's just too much against you now,
this time you can't succeed
And as I start to hang my head
in front of failures face
My downward fall is broken
by the memory of a race
And hope refills my weakened will
as I recall that scene.
for just the thought of that short race
rejuvenates my being.
A children's race, young boys, young men,
how I remember well
Excitement sure, but also fear
It wasn't hard to tell
They all lined up so full of hope
each thought to win the race
or tie for first, or if not that
at least take second place
And fathers watched from off the side,
each cheering for his son.
and each boy hoped to show his dad
that he would be the one
The whistles blew, and off they went
young hearts and hopes afire.
To win, to be the hero there
was each young boys desire.
And one boy in particular
whose dad was in the crowd,
was running in the lead and thought,
my dad will be so proud.
But as they speeded down the field
across a shallow dip
the little boy who thought to win,
lost his step and slipped.
Trying hard to catch himself
his hands flew out in brace
and mid the laughter of the crowd,
he fell flat on his face.
So down he fell and with him hope,
he couldn't win, not now.
Embarrassed, sad, he only wished
to disappear somehow.
But as he fell, his dad stood up,
and showed his anxious face,
which to the boy so clearly said;
get up and win the race.
He quickly rose, no damage done,
behind a bit that's all,
and ran with all his might and mind
to make up for the fall.
So anxious to restore himself,
to catch up and to win,
his mind went faster than his legs,
he slipped and fell again.
He wished then he had quit before,
with only one disgrace.
I'm hopeless as a runner now,
I shouldn't try to race.
Buy in the laughing crowd he searched,
and found his father's face.
That steady look that said again,
get up and win the race.
So he jumped to try again,
Ten yards behind the last.
If I'm going to gain those yards,
I've gotta move real fast
Exerting everything he had
he regained eight or ten.
but trying so hard to catch the lead
he slipped and fell again.
Defeat! He lay there silently,
all hope had fled away
so far behind, so error prone
I can't make it all the way
I've lost, so what's the use he thought
I'll live with the disgrace
But then, he thought about his dad
who soon, he'd have to face.
Get up, an echo sounded low,
get up and take your place.
you weren't meant for failure here,
get up and win the race.
with borrowed will, get up it said
you haven't lost at all
for winning is no more than this;
to rise each time you fall.
So up he rose to run once more,
and with anew commit.
He resolved that win or loose,
at least he wouldn't quit.
three times he'd fallen, stumbling,
three times he rose again,
Now he gave it all he had
and ran as though to win.
they cheered the winning runner
as he crossed the line first place
head high, and proud and happy
no falling, no disgrace
But when the fallen youngster
crossed the line last place,
the crowd gave him the greater cheer
for finishing the race
and even though he came in last
with head bowed low, unproud,
you would have thought he won the race
to listen to the crowd
And to his dad he sadly said
I didn't do so well.
To me you won, his father said
you rose each time you fell.
And now when things seem dark and hard
and difficult to face,
the memory of that little boy
helps me in my race.
For all of life is like that race
with ups and downs and all,
and all you have to do to win
is rise each time you fall.
quit, give up, your beaten,
they still shout in my face,
But another voice within me says,
Get up and win the race.
-D. H. Groberg
A righteous man falls seven times and rises again. Proverbs 24:16
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,
let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles,
let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.
Hebrews 12:1,2
Quit, give up, you're beaten,
they shout at me and plead.
There's just too much against you now,
this time you can't succeed
And as I start to hang my head
in front of failures face
My downward fall is broken
by the memory of a race
And hope refills my weakened will
as I recall that scene.
for just the thought of that short race
rejuvenates my being.
A children's race, young boys, young men,
how I remember well
Excitement sure, but also fear
It wasn't hard to tell
They all lined up so full of hope
each thought to win the race
or tie for first, or if not that
at least take second place
And fathers watched from off the side,
each cheering for his son.
and each boy hoped to show his dad
that he would be the one
The whistles blew, and off they went
young hearts and hopes afire.
To win, to be the hero there
was each young boys desire.
And one boy in particular
whose dad was in the crowd,
was running in the lead and thought,
my dad will be so proud.
But as they speeded down the field
across a shallow dip
the little boy who thought to win,
lost his step and slipped.
Trying hard to catch himself
his hands flew out in brace
and mid the laughter of the crowd,
he fell flat on his face.
So down he fell and with him hope,
he couldn't win, not now.
Embarrassed, sad, he only wished
to disappear somehow.
But as he fell, his dad stood up,
and showed his anxious face,
which to the boy so clearly said;
get up and win the race.
He quickly rose, no damage done,
behind a bit that's all,
and ran with all his might and mind
to make up for the fall.
So anxious to restore himself,
to catch up and to win,
his mind went faster than his legs,
he slipped and fell again.
He wished then he had quit before,
with only one disgrace.
I'm hopeless as a runner now,
I shouldn't try to race.
Buy in the laughing crowd he searched,
and found his father's face.
That steady look that said again,
get up and win the race.
So he jumped to try again,
Ten yards behind the last.
If I'm going to gain those yards,
I've gotta move real fast
Exerting everything he had
he regained eight or ten.
but trying so hard to catch the lead
he slipped and fell again.
Defeat! He lay there silently,
all hope had fled away
so far behind, so error prone
I can't make it all the way
I've lost, so what's the use he thought
I'll live with the disgrace
But then, he thought about his dad
who soon, he'd have to face.
Get up, an echo sounded low,
get up and take your place.
you weren't meant for failure here,
get up and win the race.
with borrowed will, get up it said
you haven't lost at all
for winning is no more than this;
to rise each time you fall.
So up he rose to run once more,
and with anew commit.
He resolved that win or loose,
at least he wouldn't quit.
three times he'd fallen, stumbling,
three times he rose again,
Now he gave it all he had
and ran as though to win.
they cheered the winning runner
as he crossed the line first place
head high, and proud and happy
no falling, no disgrace
But when the fallen youngster
crossed the line last place,
the crowd gave him the greater cheer
for finishing the race
and even though he came in last
with head bowed low, unproud,
you would have thought he won the race
to listen to the crowd
And to his dad he sadly said
I didn't do so well.
To me you won, his father said
you rose each time you fell.
And now when things seem dark and hard
and difficult to face,
the memory of that little boy
helps me in my race.
For all of life is like that race
with ups and downs and all,
and all you have to do to win
is rise each time you fall.
quit, give up, your beaten,
they still shout in my face,
But another voice within me says,
Get up and win the race.
-D. H. Groberg
A righteous man falls seven times and rises again. Proverbs 24:16
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,
let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles,
let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.
Hebrews 12:1,2
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Failing versus Failure
Yesterday we spent a very enjoyable day at the local Christian Home School Track and Field Meet. It was beautiful: warm and sunny with a nice breeze all through the day. The kids had a great time, met new people.
A few things that really impacted me about the day:
~ It was such a privilege to be associated with such a wonderful group of people. When one of my daughters was discouraged by her inability to win ribbons like her team mates they didn’t pull out iPods and ignore her, they didn’t sluff her off and play without her, they didn’t smile weakly and move on. These young girls, who had been total strangers at the beginning of the day, crowded around and one after another chirped up sweet words of affirmation and encouragement.
Parents, if you question the impact that you have on your children, please let me affirm that the way that you speak to your children is truly reflected in the way that they speak to others. I wish I had known the parents of these young girls today in order to be able to congratulate them on their children’s behaviour and maturity. They were really an encouragement to the both of us.
~ One of the really neat secondary benefits of going to events like this is that we get a chance to feel “normal” – after all we are surrounded by hundreds of other people who are living a homeschooling life like us and we don’t feel like the odd man out, for once.
~ What a neat boost to be able to see our kid’s skills shine through. Though I knew that my girls have an incredible set of gifts and that they are valuable beyond measure, I had never noticed before that they had some of these hidden talents.
~ On the other hand it was very humbling to see one of my very confident young women have her inabilities also highlighted in this environment. As I saw my dear daughter stumbling through the last two hundred metres of a very difficult 800m race I was reminded of a poem I heard read in a recent sermon which really spoke to the amazing success that I recognize in her choice to finish the race despite the fact that everyone had forgotten that she was even still out there. As the runners lined up for the next race and all eyes were again on the start line I saw her rally her steam and make a showing at the forgotten finish line.
She arrived later than all the other participants but she won a most amazing prize that many winners didn’t have the chance to grasp in their hands. She won perseverance, stick-to-it-iveness. Though my daughter will likely never be a famous track star, she has brought home from this event a more valuable prize: skill, virtue, a tool that she can reuse in many situations in home and at a job, with friends and with family. My heart is full of joy with the knowledge that she overcame so much and that she learned such a valuable lesson today as she held her side through the frustration and disappointment and made her way over the line.
This is the great difference between failing and failure. My beautiful girl may have failed to earn a top finishing position in the race, infact she failed to win any placement ribbons at all but she did not come anywhere near failure. Despite the fact that her sisters came home with ribbons and metals she was the most successful of my tracksters as she reached beyond her abilities. She didn't give up. She did something that she didn’t think that she could, she finished when she didn’t want to do it, she ran to success even when she wanted to quit.
I am so thankful for this chance for my family to participate in this memorable life and learning experience. We are all, already, looking forward to track and field day next year!
Blessings,
Cori
 |
| A photo finish |
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Loving this summery weather...
Blessings,
Cori.
P.S. - If you are still interested in the Newby Workshop then let me know soon. The July workshop is almost full though there is still lots of room for August... Also, there is a possibility of a third workshop being offered in Barrie. I will keep you in the loop as I find out details.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Mother Culture, June 9th at 7:30pm
This coming Thursday, June 9th, marks the last of the Charlotte Mason Support Group meetings of the school year in my home. Usually by this point in the year most of us in our house are not thinking towards lessons with vigour and enthusiasm. Instead our enthusiasm is more focussed on things like how many days until we go camping and so on.
This time, however, I am very excited about one last gathering of precious ladies here in my living room for some "Mother Culture", a time to encourage and build up and learn from one another. I can't wait to pick your brains on what "Summer's Cool" means to you. The agenda for the evening includes time to share what kind of experiences we are all looking forward to this summer and how those camps and crafts and sports and so many other things are an extension of the learning time that is more formal in the other seasons.
If you live in the area (of Bradford, Ontario), please feel free to join us even if you haven't had opportunity to do the assigned readings. The gathering place is my living room. (Email me for my address or directions.) We meet from 7:30 to 9:30.
The readings for this week are: from A Charlotte Mason Companion: chapters 38 (Picnics Any Time), 39 (Summery Senses), 45 (A New Grading Method), and 46 (Mother Culture), as well as from A Philosophy of Education chapter 9 (The Way of Reason) and pages 224-230, 233-234 (Geography, Physical Development and Handicrafts).
I look forward to meeting with some of you soon.
Cori
P.S. Don't forget to share the information about the "Newby Workshops" with your friends and family. They are already starting to fill up as my living room isn't that large so email me soon so that you won't be disappointed.
This time, however, I am very excited about one last gathering of precious ladies here in my living room for some "Mother Culture", a time to encourage and build up and learn from one another. I can't wait to pick your brains on what "Summer's Cool" means to you. The agenda for the evening includes time to share what kind of experiences we are all looking forward to this summer and how those camps and crafts and sports and so many other things are an extension of the learning time that is more formal in the other seasons.
If you live in the area (of Bradford, Ontario), please feel free to join us even if you haven't had opportunity to do the assigned readings. The gathering place is my living room. (Email me for my address or directions.) We meet from 7:30 to 9:30.
The readings for this week are: from A Charlotte Mason Companion: chapters 38 (Picnics Any Time), 39 (Summery Senses), 45 (A New Grading Method), and 46 (Mother Culture), as well as from A Philosophy of Education chapter 9 (The Way of Reason) and pages 224-230, 233-234 (Geography, Physical Development and Handicrafts).
I look forward to meeting with some of you soon.
Cori
P.S. Don't forget to share the information about the "Newby Workshops" with your friends and family. They are already starting to fill up as my living room isn't that large so email me soon so that you won't be disappointed.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Summer’s Cool
Another repost for those of you who have been asking what summer learning looks like at our home...
Summer school can mean many different things in many different homes. For most homeschooling moms summer school means taking time during the summer months to prepare for next year’s lessons. For many kids summer school conjures up ideas of tedious lessons in stuffy classrooms.
I realized recently that I usually promise my kids lessons through the summer to which they groan and beg for a break. Then we proceed with what I think is a very educational summer and they smile slyly at me on Labour Day weekend and think about how I forgot all the summer school.
Yes, I do spend time planning for the coming year. I must confess too that I always struggle with being realistic with my planning – balancing the amount of time that we have with all of the fun and educational things that I hope to do. But summer is also our leveling ground: the time when we can “catch up” on some of those fun things that we didn’t set aside the time for during the year.
If you have spent any time in my living room you probably know that we enjoy Charlotte Mason’s approach to education and while I am not on a crusade to convert you to our way of schooling, summer is a good time to dabble in the “gentle art of learning”.
If we can realized that education is more than the simple acquisition of knowledge and memorization of facts then we will all agree that there is much to be learned in the times when a textbook is not present. We have learned so much by taking the time to help a younger sibling, working together in the garden, or making a collection of amazing shells during a beach day. If we appreciate that our children need to learn to live virtuously just as much as (or more than) they need to learn to read and write then the summer is a wonderful time to do some schooling without needing to worry about lesson plans and schedules. If we can take the time to inspire a learner to love their own little patch of garden then later in the fall when they open their textbooks again and start to learn about the life cycle of a plant they will have a friend in the garden that will make the learning so much more exciting for them.
So while the Dean family will soon stop spending a couple of hours every morning at the dining room table doing math drills and copying out Greek words, we will still be hard at work all summer long (just don’t tell the kids!)
Enjoy your summer!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Newby Workshops
Dear Friends,
Just a quick post to let you know that I have <finally> set a couple of dates for this year's Newby Workshops! They will be held on Thursday, July 21st and Tuesday, August 9th from 7:30 to 9:30 pm in my home in Bradford.
If you are new to the homeschool world or are considering this crazy lifestyle, please feel welcome to visit in my home on one of these dates! This is a workshop that I have presented at homeschooling conferences but that I love to be able to share in my home even more as we will have a limited size (only 15 spaces available - sign up soon!) and will have two hours rather than one. There will be a big pot of tea and my daughters are likely to come up with some yummy treats to share.
Though we will try to look over some of the most common questions and concerns that new homeschoolers have in a sturctured way, there will be lots of time to discuss those questions that are foremost on your mind about this way of educating. My plan is more for an open forum than for a lecture.
Some of the things that we will discuss:
Yikes! Can I do this?!?
Where can I go for support?
What are the legal implications?
Do I have to contact my local school board?
What about curriculum?
What is a "normal" homeschooling day like?
What about socialization!?!
Expect some yummy hand outs too!
Please share this invitation with friends and family who are new to homeschooling or who are considering it. You are also welcome to forward this information to your church group or homeschool group. I look forward to meeting many of you in my living room this summer!
Blessings,
Cori
Just a quick post to let you know that I have <finally> set a couple of dates for this year's Newby Workshops! They will be held on Thursday, July 21st and Tuesday, August 9th from 7:30 to 9:30 pm in my home in Bradford.
If you are new to the homeschool world or are considering this crazy lifestyle, please feel welcome to visit in my home on one of these dates! This is a workshop that I have presented at homeschooling conferences but that I love to be able to share in my home even more as we will have a limited size (only 15 spaces available - sign up soon!) and will have two hours rather than one. There will be a big pot of tea and my daughters are likely to come up with some yummy treats to share.
Though we will try to look over some of the most common questions and concerns that new homeschoolers have in a sturctured way, there will be lots of time to discuss those questions that are foremost on your mind about this way of educating. My plan is more for an open forum than for a lecture.
Some of the things that we will discuss:
Yikes! Can I do this?!?
Where can I go for support?
What are the legal implications?
Do I have to contact my local school board?
What about curriculum?
What is a "normal" homeschooling day like?
What about socialization!?!
Expect some yummy hand outs too!
Please share this invitation with friends and family who are new to homeschooling or who are considering it. You are also welcome to forward this information to your church group or homeschool group. I look forward to meeting many of you in my living room this summer!
Blessings,
Cori
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