Homeschoolers

15 Year Old CurrClick Homeschooler Releases His First CD & Plans Open Mic Night for CurrClick Live

15 year old Collin Krause is the son of CurrClick co-founder, Staley Krause. He has been homeschooled since birth and has been an avid, mostly patient supporter of his mom, Staley, as she worked to help launch CurrClick and then CurrClick Live, putting in many hours and bouncing many ideas off of him. Collin even helped come up with the idea for doing mock elections on CurrClick during election season! Over the years, Collin has taken several classes with CurrClick and has even taught violin lessons to other CurrClick homeschoolers using our online classes. Currently, he is enjoying the Music Theory II class with Ms. Lindsey Shaw. Collin also attends a local classical education co-op in Illinois, where he lives.

Without the flexibility of homeschool, Collin would never have been able to focus so much of his day on his primary passio n, music. Currently, Collin is in 2 bands in the Central Illinois area, playing fiddle, mandolin, guitar, adding harmony vocals and occasionally even banjo to the mix. One of the bands he plays for, folk-rock trio "Something with Trees," just released their first CD!  (Click here for local news coverage of the band.) Of course Collin would love it if you would follow his band on Facebook and listen to a sample of their music! Collin enjoys every moment of rehearsal with both of his bands and loves helping take a song from its beginning stages to a finished product that c an be performed on stage, hopefully in front of an attentive and appreciative audience. With all the late night performances and rehearsals, Collin would never be able get up early and head off to a full day of school in the mornings.

His mom also credits homeschooling with helping her to recognize and foster Collin's love for music, adding more lessons than he would have had access to in school and allowing him to practice during the day for as long as he showed interest. As he grew older and began to focus even more of his attention on music, it became clear that Collin's music education needed to be the cornerstone of his learning, with the other subjects supporting that focus. Working for CurrClick, his Mom has also been able to travel to whatever bluegrass festival or music camp Collin is attending and work from the hotel room. Both Collin and his mom owe a whole lot to both CurrClick and homeschooling!

Since the age of 3, music education has been a big part of Collin's life. He began Suzuki violin at the age of 3. He likes to say that it took him 2 years just to learn Twinkle Twinkle Little Star! Around the age of 7, he began carrying his violin around like a guitar and plucking it. So, his parents got him a cheap mandolin. He's been playing mandolin ever since and was able to save his own gig money to purchase himself a much nicer instrument later. It is Collin's goal to continue studying and performing music for as long as people will listen to him (and even longer if he gets paid!)

Collin is considering starting and hosting a free live-online open mic night for other homeschoolers. Anybody interested should email his mom at staley@currclick.com.

We haven't had much snow this winter. Which provided us with a
terrific opportunity
to dig some moss.     We used lids  of the large, pickle jar variety. Added colored sand around the edges and decorated with rocks from our collection.   Can you find the fairies?   by Bethany  

Mid-Season Slump?
By Melanie Hexter, LEMILOE Publishing

I set a goal for myself a few years ago:  to ride a 14-mile bike trail near our home by summer’s end.  Although generally active with six children, I’m not usually the athletic type.  I knew it would be a challenge for me.  After my first ride -- just three miles -- I was huffing and puffing, my thighs were burning, and to say it politely, my seat was sore.  The ride had been tougher than I had expected and I was tempted to give up.  

On my next ride a few days later, my then 13-year old daughter biked with me.  We made it five miles and I was thrilled.  Yes, I was very sore again (even worse than the first time), but her companionship made me forget my exhaustion.  I was a step closer to riding the entire bike path.  

Homeschooling is a lot like that; there are guaranteed to be peaks and valleys in the experience.  No season is more likely to discourage a homeschooling mom than the dead of winter.  Gray skies and cold weather, canceled lessons and co-op meetings, children’s frequent illnesses, the bulk of the toughest academic work, more inside time than outdoor play -- all of these factors and more can contribute to the mid-year slump.  

I’d like to use this time to help you keep on pedaling.  Think of me as a fellow traveler who is helping you pedal (“school”) just a little bit farther.

Struggles will come

In my 13 years of homeschooling, only two things have remained the same:  regular struggles and God’s grace.  Just knowing that a mid-season slump is commonplace may be just the thing you need to hear.  You are normal!  Be encouraged by the “crowd of witnesses surrounding you” during your winter slump.

Seasons come and seasons go

Remember that this is just a season in your life, literally and figuratively.  Apparently winter is necessary for us or else God wouldn’t have created four seasons.  Use this winter and its abundant time with your children wisely; it won’t last forever.  Spring’s busier days are just around the corner!

Do something outside the box

If you and your children are stuck in a rut on this seasonal homeschool path, why not venture off the tried-and-true a bit?  Our family has sometimes taken the month of January off.  We put aside all our usual schooling materials except for math to do a giant unit study.  One year, we studied the U.S. National Parks -- mapped them, learned about how they were founded, studied their wildlife and flora, watched travel videos, and read every book we could find on them.  Our learning was memorable and prompted me to make the Winning with Literature: U.S. National Parks Unit Study available to others. When our study was over, we were renewed to get back into our usual routine, which felt new and fresh all over again.

Don’t isolate yourself

Winter brings colder days and, in some regions, less than perfect driving conditions.  You may be homebound more than usual, but don’t be isolated.  Invite another homeschooling family over for a meal, an experiment, a show-and-tell time, or just for a play date.  Reach out to others with love and you’ll find yourself blessed in return.  

“Virtual” fellowship is another option to brighten winter’s long days.  For instance, consider signing up for an online class through CurrClick to add some spice this time of year.  

Start planning

I admit it:  I’m a planner.  Winter seems to be my best time for doing that.  In January, I often begin to think through what is working well academically for each of our children and what’s not.  Whether the change is immediate or for next fall, winter is a great time for Mom’s reading, research, and bargain hunting.  Looking ahead helps casts a vision for me and gives me hope for the future.

Back to the basics

When the journey really gets tough in the winter months, it’s ultimately time to get back to the basics.  Pull out the Bible and read to your children wonderful examples of God’s goodness and faithfulness.  Ask them to respond – illustrating, identifying key words, memorizing, assigning a title to a passage – to what they are hearing.  Our family uses Bible Storyboard as a response tool, because our children are of such varied ages.

Stay anchored

Ask yourself:  why did I start on this homeschool path in the first place?  For reminders, talk to your spouse, another homeschooling parent, or check your journal from fall to look at early victories.  Stay anchored in the best parts of homeschooling:  a lifestyle for your family, not a curriculum;  lots of snuggling with your children on the couch, reading good books aloud to them; tutoring your children in areas of their strengths and their weaknesses.

About Melanie Hexter-LEMILOE Publishing:

Melanie Hexter lives and homeschools in central Ohio with her husband of 21 years, Matthew, and their six children.  Both her oldest daughter and son joined her on the final 14-mile bike ride.  Melanie is the New to Homeschooling columnist for Home School Enrichment magazine and writes curriculum for her family, which she shares with others through www.LEMILOEpublishing.com.  Titles include Bible Storyboard, and two Winning with Literature Unit Studies: U.S. National Parks and The Chronicles of Narnia.

We've been resting and enjoying the holidays.   But we were still able to get in some nature fun.   We have a friend that does landscaping and has a degree. This means...I'm always picking her brain. She offered to let us go to her house and she'd take us on a nature walk in her woods.   That was too good to pass up.  We learned so much- like... gulls are created in trees by insects, bacteria, or fungus.
This is a berry bush. Note the color of stem.
 This is the favorite haunt of coyote. There were deer bones scattered everywhere.  This is a fungus.
Muscle wood
Fern
More fungus and moss.   We also found a rock with 4 different fossils in it. You'll never guess who got to carry it!     by Bethany

 

Persia: Modern Iran ~photo courtesy of Google maps   Iran and its resources vary dramatically as the range of landforms in the country promote distinctly different vegetation, animal populations, and resources.

Zagros Mountains
Iran is on an elevated plateau, the Zagros Mountains follow the western half, and there are fertile lands along the coast of the Caspian Sea.  In one part of the country, there are hills of white salt that had to be removed with iron picks. In another, there were hills of clay.

Caspian Sea
Persia is partly a great salt desert with water that tastes bitter and can't be drank safely.  Marco reported that flat regions are arid deserts with "extensive deserts and tracts of sand" with water that makes one "so nauseous that none can use it as drink."

Salt Desert There are a couple of interesting phenomenon that Marco mentions. One occurs when dry fog is combined with the dust storm to produce darkness, which obscures the light of day making people seem invisible. The other is a "land-wind so intensely hot as to impede respiration, and to occasion death by suffocating the person exposed to it. As soon as the approach of this wind is perceived by the inhabitants, they immerge themselves to the chin in water, and continue in that situation until it ceases to blow."

Due to these conditions, the danger of robbers, and the differences in terrain, a trusty conductor was necessary for guidance through Persia.

In some places the land provided lush fruits and vegetables; such as, wheat, rice, barley, millet, grapes, dates, pomegranates, quinces, Adam's apple, almonds, pistachio nuts, corn, melons, and other fruits.

pomegranate
There were deposits of metal and precious stones, too. Marco recorded gold, gems, turquoise, steel, antimony, iron, zinc, tutty, and spodium.

turquoise
Marco writes of the tree of sun (arbre sec). "It is loft, with a large stem, having its leaves green on the upper surface, but white or blush on the under. It produces husks or capsules like those in which the chestnut is enclosed, but these contain no fruit. The wood is solid and strong, and of a yellow color resembling the box."

Marco felt the water vessels were inferior and he and his traveling companions would not take one on their trip, although some vessels are still built similar today. These vessels were built with wooden pins sewed together with fibrous stuff (like horse hair), smeared with an oil made from the fat of fish, and caulked with oakum.

Persia was known for its beautiful mosaics and cloth. Clothing, blankets, woven carpet were woven by women in silk and gold and a variety of colors and patterns representing birds and beasts with other ornamental devices designed for curtains, coverlets, and cushions for the sleeping places of the rich "object of admiration." Yazdi was a patterned silk, Muslin had silk and gold fabric, and brocade was fabric woven from a raised design. (Here is an interesting carpet link.)

Marco also had much to say about the people he encountered and stories of famous people. He recorded that "the women, who, in my opinion, are the most beautiful in the world." He mentioned men that wore cord on their heads. He discussed as length the Old man of the Mountain (Hassan and his first sect of assassins) and the city of Saba, the origins of the three Magi took to Bethlehem to adore Christ.

Marco saw many different types of animals while in Persia:  horses, partridges, quails, wild donkey, falcons, turtle-dove, pheasants, francolins, porcupines, camels, cattle, sheep,and large white oxen.
  zebu oxen   Activity: Create a mosaic or try this one.    

We read

 

Marco Polo: A Story of the Middle Ages

 Ch. 5-7.

Photos courtesy of wikipedia.org. See our References for more information. I am working on a year long series on the Polo family travels and thought I'd share it with you. Enjoy and please post any additional information you have for us or corrections.

 by Bethany

Brrrr – it’s cold outside!

Winter is in full swing now that January has arrived.  This might seem like a silly time to suggest taking a nature walk, but creation doesn’t stop singing just because the temperatures are cold!  In fact, winter is an awesome time for viewing things that we might miss other times of the year.

Besides studying the obvious topics of snow, ice and frost, an entire world of nature excitement awaits this season.  Bird’s nests, burrows, rocks, animal prints, and the intricacies of a tree or bush are all things that are much easier to observe during winter when leaves have fallen and plants have died.  During a winter walk, challenge your children to find at least ten things that would be much harder to see or find during the summer months.

Notice how landscapes and views from the top of a hill are different this time of year.  Discuss with your children how colors, shadows and animal activity have changed from only a few short months ago.  Views from this vantage point are perfect for sketching in a nature journal, too.

Winter is also the perfect time to observe conifers (evergreens) and compare them to deciduous trees which have lost their leaves. Your child can create comparison charts and drawings, or complete mini-dissections on conifer needles and cones.

Believe it or not, the ideas above only scratch the surface of exciting nature study opportunities during the winter!  If you’re hoping for loads of more ideas for both outdoor and indoor nature (aka science) studies for this season, you might consider one or more of the following NaturExplorers studies: Snow and Ice, Coping with the Cold, Constant Conifers, Animal Signs, Beautiful Birds or Hard as a Rock.  NaturExplorers studies were written with the 1st-8th grader in m ind, but include extensions for high school students, as well as fun ideas for preschoolers.  Since so many customers asked, I just released a winter study called Nature by the Season written specifically for preschoolers and kindergarteners.

But, why study nature?  

So many homeschoolers are interested in the idea of nature study, but never take the time to actually incorporate it into their homeschool.  Many of them feel like nature study is one of the “extras” that’s all too difficult to fit into the schedule of “important” lessons.  Or, worse, some feel like nature study isn’t even worthy of being an “extra”.  

From my experiences, nature study has actually opened the doors to many of our “important ” lessons!  Science takes on a fresh perspective as we learn outdoors and becomes invigorating in the naturally hands-on atmosphere.  Nature study covers biology, botany, earth and space sciences in great detail – and more times than you might imagine physical science and chemistry.  

Think of nature study as a wonderful science lab – free of charge!  Instead of reading in a boring textbook about the life cycle of a flower, for instance, children actually observe life cycles time and time again.  These real-life experiences are powerful, yet gentle lessons that help children internalize a great wealth of knowledge.  

Besides the subject of science, it’s super-easy to integrate art, writing, geography, and even history and math into nature study lessons.  As children paint a tree in a nature journal, write a spontaneous poem about blue jays, sketch a quick map of a trail, or calculate measurements, other subjects seamlessly “happen”.  In fact, one joyful afternoon of nature study has often allowed me to check off several completed subjects in my lesson plan book!  (The NaturExplorers studies give you many creative ideas for integrating several subjects into nature walks.)

As icing on the cake, nature study allows for time spent together as a family, fresh air and exercise.  And, above all for my family, taking time to enjoy God’s creation is a super way to draw us closer to the One who made it!

So, what are you waiting for?  Go take a hike today! 

Cindy West lives in Central KY where she and her family love learning more about God through His glorious creation all year long!  She is author of the popular NaturExplorers series and Loving Living Math, which can all be purchased through CurrClick.  Her newest book, Homeschooling Gifted and Advanced Learners, is published through Prufrock Press.  Cindy would love for you to visit her blog, Our Journey Westward.

This is from: www.homeschool-how-to.com/homeschool-christmas.html

Chances are, your homeschool Christmas will also include a few toys. Yes, toys do tend to pile up and create a lot of clutter sometimes, but they can also provide hours of enjoyment and playtime for children. They key to all of this is balance.

I propose that when we think of toys at Christmas time, that we try to include as many educational toys as possible. We're all about multi-tasking here, so why not make those Christmas gifts serve more than one purpose.

Educational gifts have been some of my children's favorites over the years. With three teenagers in the house, the toy buying days are mostly left for my 8 year old son. I thought I would include some favorite educational toys that my girls liked as ideas for toys that you could use for your children this Christmas.

One place you can start looking is the Amazon List of Holiday Toys. I like the fact that you can select toys by age, category, department, price, and discount. You will have to sift through some junk, but it is surprising how many good educational toys they do offer:

Building - You can never go wrong with LEGO. All my children played with these, although I called Ello the girl version of Legos. I was amazed several times when I would bring home a box or set of Legos from a store, garage sale, or thrift store and all 4 of my children would sit for HOURS and play with that one new set. Amazing! The Lego City sets are great for the incredible builder I have at my house right now.

Physical Fitness - The Wii promotes physical fitness (in some cases) and family togetherness. We've had some fun times with this set. Another tool you can use to encourage physical fitness is a trampoline.

You can get a regular sized trampoline with sides on it or a mini trampoline (I would only get the Needak brand though. The others are not worth your money). My children have enjoyed jumping on these, plus it's really good exercise!

Creative Play - My children also spent many hours using our set of wooden blocks. It was amazing to see how many different types of play they could come up with out of these simple blocks. They became Polly houses, boundaries, car ramps, and much more.

Cooking/Science - If you have any budding chefs like I have at my house, all the cooking sets are great educational toys for homeschool Christmas giving. The Easy Bake oven sets have been around forever, but they are still a favorite with children. Now there are new cooking sets like I like the Girl Gourmet items. I'm getting my niece the Cake Bakery for Christmas. Yes, you can just use your regular oven and adult cooking tools, but there is something about getting to use a child-sized set that motivates children to cook and bake even more. I have found that these sets often spur children on to WANT to cook and bake with the regular kitchen tools.

Playdoh can also promote hours of fun play and are a great addition to your homeschool Christmas. Sometimes they can "cook" and make food with playdoh and sometimes they make cars, roads, animals and people. It promotes lots of creativity. A new Playdoh set is always a welcome gift in our house.

Science kits are wonderful learning tools for older elementary students. My children loved getting these for Christmas. These kits get more and more creative every year. Magic School Bus now has some great looking Science kits. I also saw a Spa Science Chemistry Kit that I know my budding Esthetician would love. You can get 1st Science kits, crystal growing kits and much more.

Art/Music - Cameras, ipods, and mp3 players are great gifts for older children for their homeschool Christmas. They can help learn how to take pictures, work with software, or just enjoy different types of music. We prefer the Cannon cameras, but I'm sure there are other brands that would work for you too. They are just our favorites. Some of my children have ipods and some have mp3 players. For mp3 players we prefer the Sansa brand.

Art supplies always make great homeschool Christmas gifts too. Who wouldn't like a new set of crayons, colored pencils or markers? We prefer Prismacolor colored pencils. They are nice and soft and have the most vibrant colors I have seen in colored pencils. Once you use them, you'll never want to go back to using all the other awful colored pencils that are manufactured. They have markers too. I have not used them, but I'm sure they are good. I know that Prang markers and crayons are the best. They outlast any other marker on the market that I have found. We can buy 1 set of Prang markers to several sets of other markers. I'm not sure why you can't find them in more places, but online is the best place to get Prang products. I have seen bees wax crayons and noticed how they have more vibrant colors, plus they are made with natural ingredients.

We love to start our homeschool Christmas season with an advent calendar. Sometimes we all share one and sometimes (if they are cheap enough) each child gets their own. I have also purchased an advent calendar with pockets or drawers so that you I could include a little something special in the pocket for each day. You can make your own calendar, purchase one you can only use for a year, or purchase one that you can use for many years.

For Girls - For even more creative play for girls, dolls have always been a favorite at our house. The Lee Middleton baby dolls are very high quality and life-like. My daughters each have one and they have become keepsakes for their children. Another favorite when my girls were younger were their water babies. They were very life-like and easy to dress and hold. American Girl dolls can become keepsake dolls along with promoting the study of history. If your doll was born during a certain period of history and has a book that goes along with her, then you are more likely to read about that time in history.

Last but not least, I HAVE to mention books as great educational gift for any homeschool Christmas. I used to be an Usborne distributor and we have lots of Usborne books in our house. I recommend them highly! Most of them are my children's favorite books.

Can Christmas get out of hand? It most certainly can.... If you are fortunate enough to have family members that ask you what your children need instead of buying a lot of junk, then you can give them these links so that they can purchase educational items for your children. We don't spend much on our children every year and they don't seem to be lacking in anything. They enjoy the few things they get and enjoy spending time as a family.

Christmas is about Jesus' birth and that should be the focus of everything we pursue during the Christmas season.

Need some homeschool Christmas ideas? Here are a few more websites I found that will give you somewhere to start. homeschool ideas on a budget and "All About Jesus" Christmas celebration.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Marco Polo Study: Georgia

Posted: 11 Dec 2011 05:17 PM PST

Georgia from Google Maps   Georgia's western border runs along part of the black sea and most of its northern and eastern border is Russia.

Marco was impressed with the large amounts of sturgeon and salmon that came from the sea and the box wood that was located throughout the area.

He mentions the great quantity of silk interwoven with gold. Which is interesting on 2 accounts:

1) Georgia is where the myth of

Jason and the Golden Fleece

has been believed to be located (since at least 700 BC).

2) People still pan for gold in parts of Georgia with the fleece of sheep.

There is a large species of vulture named "avigi" that Marco reports. There are 2 kinds of large old world vultures currently in Georgia:

Eurasian Griffon Vultures

and Cinereous Vultures.

Marco gives an account of how Alexander the Great constructed the "Gate of Iron:"

"When Alexander the Great attempted to advance northwards, he was unable to penetrate, by reason of the narrowness and difficulty of a certain pass, which on one side is washed by the sea, and is confined on the other by high mountains and woods, for the length of four miles, so that a very few men were capable of defending it against the whole world. Disappointed in this attempt, Alexander caused a great wall to be constructed at the entrance of the pass, and fortified it with towers, in order to restrain those who dwelt beyond it form giving him molestation. From its uncommon strength the pass obtained the name of the Gate of Iron."

Currently, the Gate of Iron is thought to be located in Derbent, Russia on the Caspian Sea.  

However, the story of Alexander the Great constructing the wall as it appears now is not possible, as it was constructed in the 6th century. There are some that say this 6th century wall may have been constructed at the same place as a wall constructed by Alexander.

ACTIVITY: Try

panning for gold

 except use fleece.

Photos courtesy of

wikipedia.org

. See our

References

for more information.

by Bethany

Free Product of the Week Christmas Word Search For Kids - Easy
by Kid Brilliance

Christmas Word Search For Kids helps your child learn words in relation to searching for them from a list and then circling them. Kids can also color the pages.

This unit helps children with relation, spelling, and word/letter recognition.

There are 6 Christmas puzzles and are an easy level where the child only needs to find 6 words. Suits Preschool to Kindergarten best.

GET IT FREE!

Extreme Weather: Earthquakes

 

Did you know that there are thousands of earthquakes everyday? The Earth is in a constant state of plate movement.   This animation shows the movement in the US in the last 7 days...   Interesting Earthquake facts from National Geographic:

1. Most of the Earth's quakes are at the rim of the Pacific Ocean, called the "Ring of Fire." There is a lot of volcanic activity there as well.
2. Most earthquakes occur at fault zones, where tectonic plates—giant rock slabs that make up the Earth's upper layer—collide or slide against each other.
3. Scientists measure magnitude with a rating system: 3 to 5 is minor or light, 5 to 7 is moderate to strong, 7 to 8 is major, and 8 or more is devastating.
4. On average, a magnitude 8 quake strikes somewhere every year.

Earthquake Map   Earthquake Simulator   Earthquakes in the News     Earthquake Videos

We were inspired by this experiment to create our own earthquake:   First, we took two pieces of cardboard and curved an edge on each piece.
Then, we placed the curved pieces of cardboard  end to end in a box. The curved parts went up the sides. The pieces are to be the plates.
We spread sand over the cardboard pieces  (you could use dirt, if you have some).
Then we built a house right on top of the "fault line."   Using the curved parts of our cardboard, we gently shook the "plates." Just 3 to 5 on the Richter scale. Not much damage, just a lot of swaying.   Then with each attempt we shook harder. At about 5-7 on the Richter scale, our chimney toppled, we lost our steps, and things started looking rather slanty. 
At 7-8 on the Richter scale, our roof was tumbling.
And this one shot off the high end of the Richter scale. Luckily, no one was home. :)     by Bethany