Paradise Found

Happy Tuesday!

paradisefound — Tue, 11 May 2010 17:24:48 +0000

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Fabulous Resource for Teens

paradisefound — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 02:32:55 +0000

I can’t recall if I’ve mention iTunes U here or not? It’s a large collection of free lectures and educational videos downloadable for free via iTunes. No need to have an iContraption – you can watch them right on your computer. I thought that was a great find.

Today, I ran across Academic Earth. Free online video courses from an assortment of colleges on topics like math, architecture, history, and more.

Modern technology changes education daily, doesn’t it?

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Bananas Hatching

paradisefound — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 04:45:43 +0000

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Hello

paradisefound — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 05:41:53 +0000

Oh, look! Here I am. Checking in with nothing to say. Children are growing. Taller than my husband, both of them. And by default, me. They are smart, though probably not exactly on track with what the school folks expect. They are well adjusted. Surprisingly, since we all know about those poorly socialized homeschoolers! I would like to make $30,000 in 30 days, so if you have any brilliant ideas that don’t involve Nigeria or a video camera, please do let me know.

Meanwhile, if you need a laugh, may I recommend that you take a spin around this site?

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Do we need to teach our children to read?

paradisefound — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:12:53 +0000

I have never taken credit for teaching my children to read. It’s just something they learned. We read aloud – a lot. Books were always available. But lessons? Nope. Debra over at From Skilled Hands pointed me to a great post at Psychology Today.

Here’s just a tidbit:

For children in standard schools, it is very important to learn to read on schedule, by the timetable dictated by the school. If you fall behind you will be unable to keep up with the rest of the curriculum and may be labeled as a “failure,” or as someone who should repeat a grade, or as a person with some sort of mental handicap…

…But the story is entirely different for unschooled children. They may learn to read at any time, with no apparent negative consequences.

It’s worth a read!

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Rainbow…Puddle?

paradisefound — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 05:26:05 +0000

Can you see that? Evan called it a “rainbow puddle” out over the ocean. It was raining out there, over the water, but sunny at the house. And yet, the rainbow didn’t quite have enough lift to get up off of the water. It was just beautiful.

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Book Thief, Book Thief, Book Thief!

paradisefound — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 04:56:36 +0000

Good heavens, have you read this book? It is the most wonderfully, beautifully written book about a horrific time in history. Set during World War II in Germany, this story is told from the perspective of death, focusing on one memorable young girl. I read it and absolutely loved it. But then Evan read it and said, “This is my new favorite book.” That’s right folks. Harry Potter and Percy Jackson are OUT; the Book Thief is IN. If you haven’t read this book, I highly recommend it.

Disclosure: I link to the Amazon page for the Book Thief for your convenience, using my Amazon affiliate code. If you buy the book, I might make a few cents. However, my *actual recommendation would be to save your cash and rent it at the library. I’m a cheapskate that way.

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paradisefound — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:24:08 +0000

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Guacamole Anyone?

paradisefound — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 06:39:48 +0000

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Are We Bad At Math?

paradisefound — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:57:37 +0000

I just ran across an article on MSNBC, Why American consumers can’t add. It’s worth a read. It certainly inspires me to make sure my kids are covering the bases of the basics.

Check this out:

*Only 42 percent were able to pick out two items on a menu, add them, and calculate a tip.

*Only 1 in 5 could reliably calculate mortgage interest.

*1 in 5 could not calculate weekly salary when told an hourly pay rate.

*Half of 17 year olds couldn’t do enough math to work in an auto plant, according to President’s National Mathematics Advisory Panel.

The author even touches on the education and requirements of teachers in the public school system:

*In 18 U.S. states, not even one elementary math class is required for certification.

*Some teaching colleges allow admittance as long as students have math skills equal to their future students — that is, as long as they could pass a 5^th grade math test.

*It’s possible in some states to pass the teacher certification exam (Praxis) without answering a single math question correctly.

Interesting, yes?

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