few more links...

some more topic specific links
montessori students (haven't checked in details yet):  http://missbarbara.net/
young kids magazine online: http://www.youngzine.com/
twaddle-free books: http://charlottemasoneducation.wordpress.com/2007/05/30/literature-by-grade/
an old fashioned education: http://oldfashionededucation.com/
Geography lessons for primary grades:   http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12228

few things

making choices...mama u tell me what to do...

my daughter's 1st grade..so far

Aapi started 1st grade in haynes combo class 2 weeks ago (sept.2)... she cried the first 2 days before going in class. she complained monday and tuesday that her tummy ached in class. on wednesday, she started to cry while we were in line to go to class that her tummy is aching and kept crying until i dropped her off in class.

yesterday (or the day before?) she told me she cried in class on tuesday and wednesday during the day 'cuz she missed me. today in the evening, she described what her left eye was doing...it was twitching until her baba picked her up at 1pm...

what am i doing??? my twitching didn't start until summer of sophomore year in COD's summer school during Fortran & linear algebra (??) at JJC...

she is 1st grade.. i can't even think of montessori program...

Leeboo is having a tuff time in preK.. she cried from 11:40am till 12:15pm 'cuz she didn't want to go to school. she said it was boring (i know it is not!)...everytime she realized we are closer, her anxiety increased (i felt it in her hopeless feelings in her cry)...

my heart... i have my baby with me now...mr.lion....

i am a mom...a mother..overwhelmed at the prospect of being responsible for yet another soul... what knowledge, adaab, etc. will i impart?

hundreds board links

http://letsplaymath.net/2008/09/22/things-to-do-hundred-chart/
http://earlybirdhomeschool.com/2010/03/hundred-chart-activities/
http://www.mathwire.com/problemsolving/hblogic.html
http://www.mathwire.com/100board/100board.html
http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/DogBone/gamebone.html
http://themathworksheetsite.com/h_chart.html (printable 100s chart)

practical life, language, math, file forlder games

http://mymontessorijourney.typepad.com/my_montessori_journey/2010/08/practical-life-for-the-beginning-of-school.html (great practical life for starting off)

http://little-blossoms-childminding.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20blue%20series (blue series language)

http://www.freemontessori.org/ (great stuff)
http://jojoebi.blogspot.com/2010/08/planets-part-3-layers-of-earth.html

http://thelearningark.blogspot.com/ (excellent blog for all types of montessori)

http://www.filefolderfun.com/SecondGradeLanguage.html
http://earlybirdhomeschool.com/2009/11/file-folder-word-wall/
http://earlybirdhomeschool.com/2010/03/sequence-writing-how-to/

http://earlybirdhomeschool.com/2010/03/soda-bottle-lung-model/ (science in a bottle)
http://earlybirdhomeschool.com/2010/02/map-making-activities/ (maps)
http://earlybirdhomeschool.com/2010/02/math-sentence-search-puzzle/

some french/non-french websites montessori

http://doctole.blogspot.com/2008/02/les-images-sequentielles-les-images.html (great images for sequences)
http://balthazarandco.blogspot.com/search/label/math%C3%A9matiques%203%2F6%20ans

non-french:
http://www.polestarmontessori.com/
http://theeverydayhomeschool.blogspot.com/2009/06/fun-with-sight-words.html
http://www.abcand123learning.com/
http://www.pre-kpages.com/organize/
http://www.mydeliciousambiguity.com/2010/06/free-pantry-labels.html (labels)
http://www.camilledawn.com/2010/07/homemade-scratch-and-sniff-paint.html

montessori DIY beads http://moosehuntress.blogspot.com/

habit formation...and islamization of education

a great lecture on islamization of education by dr. philips...wow! talk abt food for thought..ya Allah open my heart...

also a good post on habit formation...cm style

schedules, planning, misc.

good resource for scheduling/planning;  homemanagement from same mom; other tips...
inspiration overload!!
how is your day!

bed time centers...hmmm

bed time centers..great idea. these days my kids are going to bed at 10pm! can't get them up before 8 or 9am! but that leaves me over exhausted, irritable, less than positive in my outlook at life. i desperately need just me time these days to focus. without any little voices or big voices or just anybody demanding anything of me...

here is the link for it....

sodium benzoate and kids

someone on [ML] discussion group posted this article and i found it online...

Common Food Additive Doubles Kids' Hyperactivity

Sodium benzoate may be more than just a preservative...

by Richard Hollingham

From the January 2008 issue; published online January 15, 2008

Can food additives affect children’s behavior? A study published in the November 3 issue of the British medical journal The Lancet suggests they can.
A team from the University of Southampton in England measured levels of hyperactivity in 153 three-year-olds and 144 eight- and nine-year-olds. The children were put on a diet free of the additives used in the experiment. Then each day over a six-week period they were given one of two mixtures with artificial coloring and the preservative sodium benzoate, or a plain fruit juice placebo. All the drinks looked and tasted identical.
Researchers observed the children in the classroom and analyzed reports of their behavior from parents and teachers. The older kids were also given a computer-based attention test. The results from all these tests were scored to produce a measure of hyperactivity known as a global hyperactivity aggregate (GHA). The higher the GHA, the greater the hyperactivity.

On average, the children who drank the additive concoctions showed a near doubling of GHA scores compared to those on the placebo. This was true for the younger and older children. Investigators also reported differences in the way individual children responded to the additives, with some becoming much more hyperactive than others.
“The study shows that, on average, children have higher levels of hyperactivity when taking a drink with additives in it compared to their behavior when taking fruit juices alone,” says Jim Stevenson, head of the study.

art ideas summary

Bird Art:  montessorimum and notimeforflashcards
Driveway graffiti: making cornstarch chalks!
Family garden: using doilies!
more Flower art: easy newspaper flowers and fingerpaint flower
Drawing with children with mona brooks: lessons with sherri
Donna Young links for dwg:
Dwg with children using nature journal
Art project for kids

illustrations for early education...free clipart

nature study

nature study challenge

free downloads of her notebook pages...another journal.
additional notes on journals...mona brooks for dwg with children...
harmonyartmom's nature journal on squiddo

Summer schedule, days, etc.

we have exactly 92 days of summer if i start with June 1 (technically school is out on the 23rd but we have so many days off in June and early bird days that i figured we'd start our summer early!

June 23, 2010-- Officially the end of KG! tomorrow is our first day of summer!
here's my rough schedule:

• 7-7:30am:     wake up time...target is to give enuf time to get ready in the morning!
• 9-9:30am:     Circle time (Islamic story, Sharing time, new presentation, calendar)
• 9:30-10am:   Box time
• 10-10:30am: Snack
• 10:30-11am: Box time
• 11-11:30am: Lunch prep
• 11:30-12pm: Lunch
• 12-12:30pm: Rest of Box time in case not done (otherwise we are done)
• Sleep....get them in the bedroom by 8pm..so that they'll sleep by 9pm...these days they r going at 10:30pm!

If all goes well, we do 1.5 hrs of school during which I target the following things:
NN: Abacus, Reader 1, Copywork, Quran, Cursive, Math B, Journal
AN: Abacus, Primer, Copywork, Quran, Cursive, Math A, Journal (make a "journal jar" with above writing prompts!)
Other things want to do: Mont. cultural; Mont. Language (grammar, etc.), Misc. Manipulatives, Art/craft, science books

week organization ideas

one idea for organizing the week:
montessori mondays
toddler tuesdays
workbox wednesdays
science sundays
art days
------------
paint chip phonics
nature challenge- nature study do the challenge every week during summer,how to nurture children's learning
garden plans????
calendar time??
planning time....
geography...
good link to homeschooling....
creating atmosphere of learning...
creating traditions....

montessori videos link
another mont. blog
french montessori blog..some link to translate web pages

 McGuffey readers:
this lady sounds like me...?? another blog..not sure what this is about but here is the link....and this...

Suggestions For Using the McGuffey Readers:

In our use of these readers the children have been simply READING THEM INDEPENDENTLY.   Of late, as I am incorporating some ORAL READING into our weekly routine, especially with the older children, I find these books to be ideal...for many reasons.
First, being readers, there is an appropriate reading level for each of my 'school-age' children.
Second, they are already broken into short stories or lessons.
Third, the content is wonderfully suited FOR INSTRUCTING CHILDREN of Christian households and lead to much relevant discussion.
Fourth, each lesson has its own VOCABULARY list, with pronunciation helps and the fourth reader (as far as we have progressed) has word definitions as well.
Fifth, I find the 2nd reader to be especially useful for COPYWORK as each paragraph is numbered making it easy to identify a selection for copying. 
As we now own a reprint of the original readers, I am reading these lessons to the children 'over' the occasional lunch . The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th readers in the original version include questions after each lesson. I am presently evaluating the parent-teacher guide by Ruth Beechick (wrote specifically to complement the original readers) as to its compatibility with the 1879 version. So far it looks very probable.
Although lesson examples/stories differ, the teaching suggestions are wonderful. not only for the 'teaching reading stage' but also for grammar and spelling instruction. The purchase of this guide could give the Robinson curriculum users even more 'mileage' from their McGuffey readers. Look into it if you will and I will likely give you further updates on the matter myself.

Lists of books for charlotte mason

List of different books on Google readers.... for arithmatic, etc.

summary of books (seems to be used for charlotte mason)- academic subjects:
McGuffey Readers: summary page
Ray's Primary book1 and book 2
A primer (stepping stones to reading) by Anna Badlam
Teacher's manual for the above
Books on Oratory...Wright's orthography

on another subject...arabic orthography..
nature study books: Anna comstock; eye and no-eye; 
===========================================
wandering children(montessoribyhand posting by a mom)

"Melissa-

Wanted to reply to your long-ago email: I think my stance of being emotionally separate from the children/not wanting to foster dependence on me, comes from the place of most of my children being only/first children in a family of 2, maximum, children.

When I read that you are the mother of 7, I think (could not find original email), the issues are very different, more like my classroom of 12. In a large family, I assume children know not to expect constant undivided attention! The children in my class struggle with this, with not having every need met immediately, with not having every word they utter listened to and responded to immediately. I do not mean to criticize (overly) the parents or children, it is hard when it is one-on-one not to give constant attention. I reflect on this as my husband and I work on separate projects in the same space, checking in but not interrupting each other (unless there is a fire!)

I often encourage parents to have a project going which will take their physical or mental attention: baking bread, for example, so that they will not be at anyone's beck and call ("I can help you when I am done kneading this dough") to give children a chance to solve many of their own issues, or ask a sibling (if there is one) for help or attention.

I think that your children are very lucky to grow up in a family which is a community, which is what I intend to foster in my classroom.

Mary"

Reply of the above email:
"thankyou mary for your thoughtful reply!
I do see what you mean, and yes it is unfortunately the norm for parents to be hyper vigilant/present "goodjob"-ing everymove the child makes... so I can see your need to not create dependence on you... however, I really encourage you to take a look at the books I listed--I am sure that as a Mont teacher you would find so many gems that support you in understand why MMs approach to chilren was so *right*. as well as ways to connect with your students without creating that dependence which interferes with learning (the Holdonto your kids book).

Hold on to your kids talks about attachment, and how teachers (and obviously parents) can make this work for them. I will admit that I read the book from the last 3 chapters which
talks about how to maintain and deepen the connection w the child, then I went back to the beginning, wi=hich has some rather drastic situations illustrated but then explains so well how attachment is so vital for Life, not just with children but for all living beings.

The continuum concept offers so much in the way of child anthropology
--observing how an amazon tribe has such balanced/happy/joyful children and adults and why this could be--

the magical child is just a book that takes more recent neurological and other studies and gives in some places corroberation for MMs findings in others it supports while denying her ideas --ie: for reading it does suggest waiting for the abstract mind to blossom after 9 or 10 years of age, yet the very studies and explanations as to why Not reading early, actually supports full on MMs idea to bring the abstract into the material physical plane for small children. Its not easy reading but highly fascinating. ................my little ones need me, gotta go, thanks again! melissa in italy mamma of 7"

final moments

This is something i read on a petition going around from MADD...

> My breath is getting shorter,
> Mom I ' m getting really scared
> These are my final moments,
> and I ' m so unprepared.

final moments and unprepared...how am i preparing for my final moment? how do i prepare my babies for theirs?...

family story inspiration

an article on how a family can still be excellent in the deen and duniya... still today!!

http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2010/05/biology_student_becomes_fifth.html

the link should take me there directly but for some reason it doesn't...

confusing kids, confusing myself

i think i am confusing my kids.. i had this pink shirt that i wanted aapi to try. she said no. i was disappointed and felt this immediate anger...though i didn't say anything to her... went to the kitchen and started roti. she came back after 2 or 3 min and wanted my help. i went and she said she needs my help to put that shirt on. i said if u don't want to then don't....

i don't want them to do things for the sake of pleasing others.. yet i want her to do it for me..

cursive first....

here is a link to a page on cursive first... read it

donporter.net has other pdfs

mom day

Leeboo's preschool is doing an ice cream nite with dad..they'll be doing something for mom! her first experience..she's soooo counting the hours.. since i told her on wednesday, she thinks she's missed it all the time. wakes up on thursday.."mom, we forgot the ice cream thing"... thursday, whole day tells everyone she's going to have ice cream with dad at her school... they all think it's on thursday nite...no, honey it's on friday nite...ohh!... friday morning (now).."mom, the ice cream thing?"..no, jaan, it is tonite!!...ohh!

i like this entry about her mom being "wisdom, forebearance and strength"in the Response section... wow! am i like that or even close???

WTM Curriculum map

Here is the curriculum map for the wtm i found on their website:
one thing i realized this weekend after talking to a friend whose kids go to Aapi's schools is that I as a mom have to be on top of it all for my kids... the public schools, even as great as Irvine system is according to many, my child will be left behind 'cuz the system tries to weed out as they can...the Asian community is soooo aggressive in the academics of their children. I wonder what happens to them when you apply the CM philosophy, or the waldorf etc...I do wonder what the adult is like of these communities compared to the scandanavian individuals??

a blog on review of the curriculum...great overview of the philosophy...another blog review...

a blog review on differences on waldorf and WTM

a comment from a mom using the WTM on my irvine hsing group....
"I go by the word 'eclectic.' This seems to be the most comfortable fit for me
these days, because most other approaches defy a common definition. That said,
my concept of a classical education delights me, and is something I like to
promote when I can :). To me, the classical essence is insistence on depth.
"Much, not many," as someone recently quoted from the Latin. This principle has
made me reflective, humbled me, caused me hardship and occasional ostracism.
But, importantly, it is a source of intellectual satisfaction and genuine
comfort." Neela

on another mom's comment...
"She is also very good at staying on the path they have chosen (we are practically polar opposites- I change our homeschooling routine more than I change the oil in my car!) and I think this allows her to do so much- not being distracted by all the alternatives. Anyway their life is very full, the family is very close-knit and the kids are amazing (now 9, 11 & 15)." Tiffany

not being distracted...focused

Summer activities

we r only 8weeks away from the summer! here is a list of things i am thinking of for the kids:

1. quran/ arabic/ urdu (reading/writing)
2. soccer
3. arts
4. Language lessons- reading (cm style) plus Reading counts... Ordinary parent's guide??; Reading Fluency/ comprehensive; Journaling- Writing with Ease part 1?; First Language Lessons;
5. Math- Right Start A (Leeboo); Abacus + B (aapi); Ray's math?
6. cursive writing
7. swimming
8. baking/ vege gardening?? atta kneading...
9. nature studies (cm style)...good blog on habit forming...outdoor challenges..
10. nature hiking, etc. with Turtle Rock Nature center
11. Camp Creek has good ideas for outdoor things
12. Grammar boxes...

Kids vaccination schedules

I hate vaccinations every time and feel guilty for doing it or not doing it... when i see my babies suffering with the fever and the different aches & pains which normally do not happen to them...

here is the summary vaccinations for each kid so far:

Aapi	(4/9/04)
HEP B	6/14/2004	8/18/2004	7/11/2005
DTaP	6/14/2004	8/18/2004	10/7/2004	7/11/2006
HIB	6/14/2004	8/18/2004	7/11/2005
Pneumococal	6/14/2004	8/18/2004	10/7/2004	10/10/2005
Polio (IPV)	6/14/2004	8/18/2004	3/25/2008
MMR	5/9/2005
Chicken pox	5/9/2005
HEP A	10/10/2006	3/25/2008
Influenza	10/5/2005	11/19/2005
Leeboo	(1/5/06)
HEP B
DTaP	8/11/2006	9/22/2006	6/26/2008	4/14/2010
HIB	8/11/2006	9/22/2006
Pneumococal	8/11/2006	9/22/2006	7/24/2008
Polio (IPV)	8/11/2006	9/22/2006	6/26/2008
MMR	4/14/2010
Chicken pox
HEP A	7/24/2008
Influenza
Mr. Lion (11/14/07)
HEP B
DTaP	6/26/2008	9/15/2008	4/14/2010
HIB	7/24/2008	9/15/2008	4/14/2010
Pneumococal	7/24/2008	9/15/2008	4/14/2010
Polio (IPV)	6/26/2008	9/15/2008	4/14/2010
MMR
Chicken pox
HEP A
Influenza

With Aapi i did all on time...but Leeboo, i did the last one and it has been three weeks now and she is just barely recovering...

some interesting links Charlotte Mason related

here r some links from a blog that seem quite interesting for me to think about...
math
oratory
science related
read-aloud book list

links to various McGuffey's readers:
Eclectic series: Primer, Primer (google books), First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Spelling
New revised series: Primer, First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Spelling

SPELLING BOOKS!: new Eclectic spelling book embracing a new progressive course of instruction in English orthography & orthoepy! then there is the eclectic spelling book; can't tell yet what the difference is...

it is soo confusing to make sense of what u should follow or not....omg! there is the eclectic series, then the new eclectic series, then the revised series. i don't know but this link may help...it's the history of McGuffey readers...throw in the alternate first reader!!!.

here is a manual for teachers...does it explain anything?? i don't know but i just wanted to get the link before i got lost...

grandfather's stories...seems quite cool.

here is something else...grammar...by the Grammatic Reader, No. I, No.II, 
the same author Edward Hazen has Speller and definer;

misc. links to mcguffey:
http://books.google.com/books?q=related:UOM39015005864247&id=nHNOcYY1VrYC&source=gbs_similarbooks_s&cad=1

Social Studies

oakcreek grade 1 social studies scotsforeman
Social Studies


You now have access to all of the Scott Foresman Social
Studies tools that we use in the classroom!

Go to http://www.ca-hss.com/sf/client/login/login.html.
Login Name: jmccarth Login Password: password [as of 1/16/12 login info doesn't work]
Use your log-in information (case-sensitive) to enter the website. Once there, click on the EXPLORE tab to the left. You will be able to view the following information for each Lesson in each Unit:
· Video Introduction (sets up the lesson)
· Vocabulary (practice!!!)
· Video (great as a review for tests!)
· Student Text (use to preview or review!)
· Interactive Practice (like a video game)
· Content Reader (mini book on the subject)
· Unit Song (catchy - a big hit with the kids!)

Some great links...i wonder if they'll be available during summer on her website: http://www.myteacherpages.com/webpages/MissMcCarthy/links.cfm