Finally, a science textbook

Awesome news!

  Just fabulous!!

  Homeschoolers, there is a GIFT for U!!  

Many moons ago a great friend of ours began to venture into the teaching and writing world of science.  She had always been a scientist at heart; 

her mind just worked in the way of botany, biology, and organisms.  

This friend had an idea; that idea has been gifted to the home educating world.

Discovering Intelligent Design

by

Gary Kemper, Hallie Kemper and Casey Luskin

available here

Yes this is a TOTAL PLUG, absoluetely!  

Why?

Because, I took her course, I was one of many guinea piggies homeschooling parents that was asked to teach and study this book, and finally because this is a factual, evidence packed, science book that has inspired our kids to ask real questions about the science behind Darwin, evolution, and through investigation come to their own conclusions, that "life is complicated".

Our kids took this course in the 8th and 9th grades.  Which was, I think, a great starter point before they hit biology and chemistry classes.  They are there now and I can tell you by my own Lucy's experience, this book and course totally prepared her for those heavier classes.  

 "Discovering Intelligent Design is a comprehensive curriculum that presents both the biological and cosmological evidence in support of the theory of intelligent design. It equips young people and adults to critically analyze the arguments in the debate over evolution and intelligent design, and it encourages them to follow the evidence wherever it may lead."

From chapter 10

"... the biggest head-scratcher in evolutionary biology would have to be the origin of the holometabolous insect larva"

Why?  There is such a large jump in complexity for an organism to survive and complete metamorphosis that the theories explained in Darwinian evolution just don't cut it.  The book explains whys in laymen terms.

By the way,

There is also a workbook!

Also available here

*DISCLAIMER::

Yes, I personally know two of the authors.  Though, I was gifted the textbook and workbook I am not affiliated with the publishers and am NOT getting a single cent from this plug. 

 Honest!  

What's New in Books...for Advent

Yesterday, I posted our reads for this Advent & Christmas season.  I thought, today, I would do an introduction to the new reads on the list.  And add the book(s) that Lucy will be reading.

For Lucy

Since she is the older kid (15 to be exact) she'll read along with us all the story books we have but she'll ask for something older for her list.  I like to give her a little more meat to digest with her readings anyway.  Last year we read Silent Night: The Story of the World War I Christmas Truce, which was super good and thought provoking.  This year we opted for these two books:

The Real St. Nicholas: Tales of Generosity and Hope from around the World

by Louise Carus

and

The True Saint Nicholas: Why He Matters to Christmas 

by William J. Bennett

This one is carried by our library

New in Picture Books

The Christmas Day Kitten

by James Herriot

The Christmas Path: A Legend of the Luminarias

by Sue Wright

With a surprise at the end, there is the telling of the focus of Christmas and an introduction to luminarias.  Luminarias have been used in various forms by different cultures.  Mostly by the Spaniards and in Latin America, they serve in offering light along dark paths. Isn't it telling, that here  these little flickers of light lead us to Jesus?

A Possible Tree

by Josephine Haskell Aldridge

Finding this book at a book store was a SCORE!

It's so cute and will go nicely for our plans for the third week of Advent.

"Deep within Joe Bracken's woods there is a tree. But this isn't just any old tree. This is a very special fir tree where animals go to seek shelter. From a top branch, a clever raccoon hides from a hunter and his dog. After flying away from Mrs. Bracken and her wash water, a dripping wet blue jay dries his feathers. And it isn't long before other animals discover the friendly old tree that protects them from harm"

The Shepherd's Christmas

by Michelle Andrews

It's a POP-UP book! 

Another find from our local book store.  If you can get your hands on a copy I highly recommend it.  The illustrations are beautiful and not at all cartoonish! 

Young Mary of Nazareth 

by Marianna Mayer

I'm not sure yet about this one yet. 

From what I've read, the illustrations are beautiful and the book is worth getting alone for how it portrays Our Lady.  There are these comments that I saw though,

"Though the previous reviewer is right, there is the one line about Our Lady being pale and in pain, the rest of the book is beautifully written and amazing in all ways."

I'm going to still check it out and probably skip over anything too far off when describing Our Lady in Bethlehem.

Off to plan now...

and clean!

Advent & Christmas Reads:: 2012

Ahhh..
The lists of reads are popping up again.
The season is near.
The stores are always a clear sign of it (I'm so bog hum bug about that though)

But I LOVE-LOVE-LOVE the time of ADVENT!  The slow anticipation growing with each week, as we near and grow closer to that day!   It's just awesome.

We are also in a new house this year.  It's a bit 'undone', the house decor that is.  Not the house.  That's lovely!  And this house yells out "decorate me" and "grow memories here" and 'sit by the fire and READ!"

So we hope to.

We are starting with gathering our books from the boxes.  Looking at our older lists of titles.  Ordering others from the library (our new library has a great book store; where I already found some treasures).   This year I'm not going to wrap the books.  Instead I've group them to go by each week of Advent and Christmas.  So each Sunday of Advent the kids can look forward to a new stack in the basket.  They're kinda set up in groups that are similar to what may be going on in our home as we prepare.

2010 Books

2011 Books (newbies introduced)

2011 Books

~ Our 2012 lists ~

These first two books lead us all the way through Advent

The Jesse Tree by Geraldine McCaughrean
Jotham's Journey by Arnold Ytreeide

First Week of Advent:
The Candle in the Window by Grace Johnson
The Christmas Day Kitten by James Herriot Waiting for Noel by Mark Graham
Saint Nicholas by Ann Tompert
The Miracle of Saint Nicholas by Gloria Whelan
Mary, the Mother of Jesus by Tomie De Paola
Mary, Mother of Jesus by Mary Joslin & Alison Wisenfeld

Second Week of Advent:

The Lady of Guadalupe Tomie de Paola
The Story of Our Lady of Guadalupe Empress of the Americas by C. Lourdes Walsh
Our Lady of Guadalupe by Francisco Serrano (an awesome pop up book)
Lucia, Saint of Light by Katherine Bolger Hyde
Santa's Favorite Story by Hisako Aoki
The Christmas Candle by Richard Paul Evans
The Legend of the Christmas Rose by William H. Hooks

Third Week of Advent:

The Night of Las Posadas by Tomie de Paola
The Miracle of the First Poinsettia by Joanne Oppenheim
The Legend of the Poinsetta by Tomie de Paula
B is for Bethlehem by Isabel Wilner
Night Tree by Eve Bunting
A Possible Tree by Josephine Haskell Aldrige
The Christmas Path: A Legend of the Luminarias by Sue Wright

Fourth Sunday of Advent:

Here is Christmas by Donna Cooner
When it Snowed that Night by Norma Farber

First Week of Christmas

The Night Before Christmas by Jan Brett
Mary, Did You Know? by Mark Lowry
Tonight You Are My Baby, by Jeannine Q. Norris
Father and Son: A Navity Story by Geraldine McCaughrean
There was No Snow on Christmas Eve by Pamela Munoz Ryan
Room for One More: A Christmas Tale by Martin Waddell & Jason Cockcroft
All for the Newborn Baby by Phyllis Root

Second Week of Christmas

Young Mary of Nazareth by Marianna Mayer
The Shepherd's Christmas by Michelle Andrews
The Little Drummer Boy by Carolyn Quattrocki
The Very First Christmas by Paul L. Maier
Who was Born This Special Day by Eve Bunting
This is the Star by Joyce Dunbar
Silent Night by Joseph Mohr

Third Week of Christmas

The Little Match Girl by Han Christian Anderson
The Twelve Days of Christmas by Jan Brett
The Story of the Three Wise Kings by Tomie de Paola
The Christmas Promise by Susan Campbell Bartoletti and David Christiana
Bright Christmas: An Angel Remembers by Kate Andrew Clements
A Medieval Christmas
Angels & All Children: A Navity Story in Words, Music, & Art

(Sophia, already checking out the books)

We are also going to add a bit of Elizabeth Foss's ideas to the mix.  We are catering quite a few events here so, I don't want to add more than I can do.  But I do like the idea of learning how Christmas is celebrated through out the world.  Perhaps next year our group of friends can do something like this.  Asking each family to share a bit of their special celebrated traditions.

Happy Readings!

BOOK SALE!!

I'm joining up the Online Curriculum Sale Blog Hop over at Jessica's site. 

Please take a look at what I have here and perhaps you'll find something that will serve your schooling and needs. 

I'll be shipping out of California and using media mail, unless arranged otherwise.  Shipping from here seems to average between $3-$5.  If you'd like to purchase, please leave a comment with your email or email me privately.

Thanks for looking!

 MATH

Prentice Hall California Algebra 1 student text (2009). 

No markings, in great condition and only used once, with one student.  $40.00

Singapore Primary Math 2B (2nd grade, blue bk) test book.

Never used and in clean, ready to use condition. $4.00

Reproducible Activities in Math workbook. 3-4 grades.

Cutes pages that supports NCTM standards. Clean, unmarked pages, and comes with answer key.  $3.00

A History of Mathematics by Carl B. Boyer.

This is for the math wiz of the family. It's a thick book of the orgins of math from every culture you can think of. In great condition.  $3.00 SOLD

 

One Minute Addition Math Drills (Level A/1st gr) workbook on sums 0-10.

These are reproducible timed math tests, flash cards, progress pages, games, awards and bulletin board patterns. No markings and complete!  $2.00

 Language Arts

CHC First Grade Lesson Plans~2009 edition

This version DOES NOT include the Behold and See science texts. 

Very good condition and all pages are account for, unwritten.

$15.00

OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY SCHOOL:

These are an older set!

3rd grade books:

1. The Apostles and Evangelists coloring book and stories

2. Stories Jesus Told by Fr. Francis

3. The Ever Virgin Holy Mary of Guadalupe by Janice Smyth

4. God's Truths Help us Live; religous series

5. Jesus is God by Fr. Francis

$4.50 for the set

Winston Grammar Word Works: A Usage Program (Student Workbook grn).

NEW never used it. It's used inbetween their 'basic' and 'advance' levels for grammar.

5th grade and up. $4.00 SOLD

Voyages in English 3 1958 (3rd grade)

HB book still in very good condition. Some penciled marked pages done by

previous owner, but have been erased and a few stained pages.  $3.00  

McRuffy Phonics and Reading workbook 2 (first 1st grade).

Used with one student and the first few pages were penciled in and have been completely erased. 

Otherwise in good conition.  $2.00

I Heard the Owl Call My Name (study guide)

Used but in good condition. 5th grade and up. $2.00

Making More Big Words Phonics and Spelling Activities (3-6 gr).

This uses reproducible letter strips that students use to make new words, help with spelling words, play games etc... Never used. $1.00

A Journey to the Center of the Earth. Not pictured.

Abriged and used by 3-4 grade. It's a paperback book.

Has someshelf wear. In good condition.  $1.00

 SCIENCE

Glencoe Life Science Teacher's Ed. 2002 text (for middle school).

Clean and unmarked. This has the tiger on the front.  $20.00

 MUSIC

Introducing the Positions...VIOLIN Vol. 1.

New.  $2.00

MISC

A-Z wall banner

These were taped to our school room wall for the little ones.  These are in good condition. $3

Set of flash card (toddlers).

1. Animals of All Kinds

2. First Words

$1.00

RELIGION

Father Lovasik's books

1. The Seven Sacraments (2 available)

2. Going to Confession (2 available)

3. My First Catechism 

$1.25 each

Guiding Your Catholic Preschooler by Kathy Peirce & Lori Rowland. 

 In great condiiton.  $8.00

Okay that's it. 

God bless and I hope you find something.

"The Hunger Games" (SPOILERS) - A Commentary by Fr. Barron

Lucy wanted to read these series when they first started circulating among her friends.  At the time I didn't think she was ready for the details of violence and sacrifice the book describes; she wasn't exactly pleased about this but accepted it. 
I just now allowed her to read it and then had her listen to Fr. Barron's take on it.  There is a lot of violence in the this book so I would NOT recommend it to a child younger than 14.  Lucy spent some time learning of the massive persecutions of the early Christians.  So I was comfortable with her reading and being able to discuss the details with me. 
Fr. Barron makes some great connections between The Hunger Games books and history here in this 10 minute clip.  I'm not sure about the movie yet, but I've heard that it stays true to the book; but scaled down the violent to get a PG-14 rating.

Reading List:: Advent & Christmas

We are liking this rhythm of wrapped books in a basket, the little snuggles under blankets, the bright eyes as they glance from page to page.  It's all so sweet.  Even if the day has been loud or crazy...the kids instantly settle down for this very moment.

Ours are not wrapped, yet.  Perhaps I won't get to wrapping these up this year.  For some reason I can't find purple wrapping paper without paying a ridiculous amount.  Gold for our 12 days of Christmas books were less pricey, so those are good to go.  I'm going by last year's list of readings   , with only a few variations to make room for some new books.  But I'm pretty excited about this year's list.

~ Advent Readings ~

November 27 ::  Prairie Christmas

November 28 ::  The Gifts

November 29 ::  The Candle in the Window

November 30 ::  The year of the perfect Christmas tree : an Appalachian story

December 1   ::   Merry Christmas, Strega Nona

December 2   ::   The Christmas Candle

December 3   ::   Country angel Christmas

December 4   ::   Jingle, the Christmas clown

December 5   ::   Saint Nicholas

December 6   ::   The Miracle of Saint Nicholas

December 7   ::   Home for Christmas

December 8   ::   Mary, The Mother of Jesus

December 9   ::   The Lady of Guadalupe

December 10 ::   The littlest angel

December 11 ::   Through the animals' eyes : a story of the first Christmas

December 12 ::   The Story of Our Lady of Guadalupe Empress of the Americas

December 13 ::   Lucia, Saint of Light

December 14 ::   Corgiville Christmas

December 15 ::   The Legend of the Poinsettia

December 16 ::   Night of Las Posadas

December 17 ::   Christmas in the Trenches

December 18 ::   Spirit child : a story of the Nativity

December 19 ::   The Christmas Promise
December 20 ::   Bright Christmas: An Angel Remembers
December 21 ::   Papa's Christmas gift : around the world on the night before Christmas
December 22 ::   The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
December 23 ::   The First Christmas Stocking
December 24 ::   The Night Before Christmas

~ Christmas Reading ~

December 25 ::  The Very First Christmas & Tonight You are my Baby: Mary's Christmas Gift
December 26 ::  Father and Son: A Nativity Story
December 27 ::  An Angel came to Nazareth
December 28 ::  All for the Newborn Baby
December 29 ::  The Twelve Days of Christmas
December 30 ::  The Story of Christmas: According to the gospels of Matthew and Luke
December 31 ::  The Little Match Girl
January 1       ::  Mary, Mother of Jesus
January 2       ::  The Clown of God
January 3       ::  Baboushka and the three kings
January 4       ::  The true gift : a Christmas story & The Christmas Gift / El regalo de Navidad
January 5       ::  This is the Star
January 6       ::  The Story of the Three Wise Kings

~ For Lucy:: Our bigger girl ~

Silent Night: The Story of the World War I Christmas Truce

In the early months of World War I, on Christmas Eve, men on both sides of the trenches laid down their arms and joined in a spontaneous celebration. Despite orders to continue shooting, the unofficial truce spread across the front lines. Even the participants found what they were doing incredible: Germans placed candlelit Christmas trees on trench parapets, warring soldiers sang carols, and men on both sides shared food parcels from home. They climbed from the trenches to meet in "No Man's Land" where they buried the dead, exchanged gifts, ate and drank together, and even played soccer

I read this last year, or maybe it was the year before.   But I remember being so impressed with the miracle of that night.  Lucy is just now old enough to read this, 14, but she is also touching on this part of our history in her studies.  So, I think it's a good fit for her.  Please know this is what we've opted for her to read aside from the picture books.

I'll have to add the links to the books a bit later.  It's way too late for me now and my eyes are about to pop.  *update; the links are up and there have been some addition and changes. 

Happy readings!!!

Advent Reading

It's that time again...
We are adding and finding new books to enjoy during the Advent Season.  Our own library is getting richer each year with these little finds.  But we do use our library, a lot, for the ones we aren't able to purchase...at least not yet ;-)

~ new this year ~

 I've found a few good books on the discounted racks, to which I am so very grateful for : :

Prairie Christmas by Elizabeth Van Steenwyk

We started our Advent reading with this little find.  It was sweet and a instant hit with Rose. 

Mary, Did you Know?

This book is a surprise for my kids, especially Lucy.  I nearly yelled when I saw this book at my mom's local christian store.  It's one of Lucy's very favorite songs to sing.  Lucy's cousins and her have sung this sweet gem at our parish right before the midnight Mass.  I wouldn't be able to write down how beautiful their voices and the music sound among the candles, poinsettias and of course Jesus. 

The Wee Christmas Cabin of Carn-na-ween by Ruth Sawyer

~ Just a few of our favorites ~


The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
A tear jerker every time!  It's sweet, it's beautifully illustrated and Lucy and I love it!


The Christmas Promise
by Susan Campbell Bartoletti and David Christiana
I do like the choked up throat and tear jerker books.  This one never fails me either...I have to take breaks in between some of the pages and one long breath for the final page. 

The Christmas Story
Beautiful pictures!  Even the littliest one in your family will love this one.

The Night of Las Posadas

We've hosted Posadas in our home or have attended others; but it's a latino tradition that takes me way back.  I can feel the cool air, the heat from our candle, the familar songs of the precession.  With Mary and Joseph leading the group.  House to house we go.  Asking for shelter until finally someone sings a yes.  We enter smelling the sweet warm ponche and are greeted by hellos and well wishes.  We then feast on pan dulce or some pozole (or menudo).  This will depend on our generous hosts.  Children play...adults sing and talk.  And we end with the breaking of la pinata.
It's pretty awesome!

There are a few more books that are probably making their way to my front door.  Some came by recommendations while others I've had on a wish list for a while.  All of the books, though, are sure to make for some nice reading time.

Look out for a linky-link by http://showerofroses.blogspot.com/2011/11/favorite-advent-and-christmas-books.html.  I hear she is setting one up.

*Update*
The link is up!

Book Club

Once a month a group of young teens meet at my home for a 'book club'.  The kids choose the books for the group to read and our gatherings usually involve food, drinks and LOTS of chatting.  Just think of what a cluster of 13-16 year old kids sound like.

It's just amazing how much this age group eats...

and since most of didn't see each other for Pentecost Sunday

I thought I'd add a little bit of the Holy Spirit

Tongues of Fire Cupcakes

idea from Kelly @ Catholic Cuisine

now to the book

This month's book "The Phantom Tollbooth"

was whimsical, fun to read and sparked an evening of word plays among the kids.



The suggested  grade level for the book is 5-6th grade

but

I think, and the kids agreed, that this little book is suited for

all ages.

It's a book of philosophy, using creative words to make many intelligent points.

The kids all agreed that they would rather stay focused than end up in 'Doldrum'

and

going beyond the 'Land of Expectations'

was sometimes harder for adults to do than them.

I'd have to agree.

Next month's book takes us in a whole other genre

Happy reading

Book Review ~ part II

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey

Oh Mr. Trenton Lee Stewart did it again!

I was glued once more to the pages of this book. 

Dishes were left to build a small hill, lunch resembled PB & J, "what math" I mumbled inbetween a line or two....

Just kidding!

But, I did search for any time available and did carve out  time to sit and read.

Book 2 (the first beingThe Mysterious Benedict Society)

dives us right into the lives of the amazing four; Kate, Reynie, Sticky and Constance.  This time though their friendship takes on a different task.  What is to be an exciting reunion with Mr. Benedict becomes an adventurous journey to save Mr. Benedict.

The schemes, excitement, and clue finding continue with the Perilous Journey and I found myself more intrigued with these four kids jetting off on their own to save the adults...yet again!  Their skills have blossomed as their trust and loyalty to one another has.

Mr. Curtain is back, of course.  But the added wickedness of his plot to control is...

Aaahhh sorry can't go on.  Really the book is great and should be read.

The age group is still around 9-12...but I haven't been 9 or 12 in, well, in a VERY long time.  So I'd say it's a fun read for most ages.

Up next, and already read, is the review for

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma

Lenten Readings

Lenten Reading List

Not in any particular order; we read these over the 40 days of Lent.