A Week of Current Events

I was supposed to have posted this yesterday, but I had it all ready and then I didn't hit publish.  So, it is a day late.

Use these topics to discuss the week's current events and how they affect our society.  You can approach it any way you see fit.  I try during discussions to not try to sway their way of thinking, especially politically.  It is much better in my opinion for them to make up their own minds on various current event topics.  Tuesday is the last Democratic Debate before primary voting begins.  I will be recording that and watching it with Caitlin on Wednesday.  Now is when the real fun begins, lol!  Tomorrow, I work so there will be no Fitness on Friday post.  I will sneak one in the following Friday.

My other website Health Buddy Melissa

American Government: Impeachment

As we continue with American Government studies, and with Impeachment a hot topic right now, this week for History we will be focusing on Impeachment.  The book below is a Citizen's Guide to the Impeachment Process.  There is also this resource, which is free.  I found some short, but good videos on Youtube as well.  We also will be watching the Joe Biden Town Hall, as well as recording the public impeachment hearings to watch next week.  Apparently, she has already been reading up on Impeachment, which surprised me because she says she hates History. 

She is still studying for a big Oceanography test next week.  I have added Language Arts from EP Homeschool to her curriculum.  It is laid out nicely, and if I am not available to help her she can just work through the days.  We will still do Quill, and independent reading as well.

There is no change to Math.  Next week will be the end of the first grading period. 

American High School Civics

Each Monday, I will try to do a post on either our History, or Language Arts.  Since the Science and Math, are not created by me, there isn't much for me to share about those subjects.

We will be studying American Civics and Government in Grade 10.  I chose this year specifically because next year is an election year.  Just like I did with my son, 4 years ago, we will follow the primaries, debates, and candidates with some hot discussion, and topics.  I can not find the book I used for my son, so I chose the video below.  If you prefer a book, the book below has the same title as the video.  We have not officially started back to school, yet, so I am getting ready.

Did you check out my new Health Coach blog, yet?  Click here, if interested. I am doing a live group session on, Better Sleep, in September, on my Health Coach blog. 

Bush Gardens Tampa Trip #4

In March we bought season passes to Bush Gardens, as part of our Christmas gift last year. We bought them in March because my fil was coming to visit, and we wanted to be able to take him. So we have probably one more visit left, before it expires, and I am thinking we will go in January, because they have some awesome deals. Must be Jan-March are their quietest months, because they have discounts available. The next time, we will catch some shows and take the Safari ride to feed the animals. We went to the water park, twice over the Summer, as well. The season passes are a nice family gift, and we have done it for Seaworld as well. Only one we have not, of the big parks, is Disney. Still not sure if we will do Disney. We will take a year off from a season pass, and then decide the following year. The big cats were super active this trip, and the kids got some awesome shots, for their next fair entries next Fall. These pictures were taken with my cell phone, and have been edited, they are mine, not my children's shots. I don't edit their shots, they enter them as is. The weather was beautiful, and we had an awesome day. Though 7 hours of walking will make anyone tired. We slept real well, last night.

I don't usually do political rants on this blog, but there will be one coming up soon, on two different topics. Stay tuned.

States and Capitals, Current Events

Well I am in one of those moods today. If you are a woman you know what kind of mood I am talking about. First I was woken up at 5 AM, by my husband's job, because they couldn't find jelly. Now I know he is the director, and it is his job to deal with such nonsense, but since he never hears the phone ring, I am the one who gets to suffer being awoken at such stupid times. Then my crazy dogs were extra crazy this morning, for which reason I have no idea. I think they just wanted to irritate me because I was already up before I wanted to be. I have probably said before I love politics. I really do. I love the hypocrisy of it all, and the way they twist everything to suit their needs. Take for example the very not so nice thing that Harry Reid said about Obama. When I first heard the comment I laughed. Yep laughed right out loud. If you don't know what Mr Reid said, it was a racial kind of comment, basically stating Obama could win because he was a light skinned African American (not the word he used) with the speaking skills of a white person. Lets be honest here, if Mr Obama, back when he was a candidate, talked, and acted like Kanye West, or Lil Wayne, he never would have had a chance. If while at the podium he referred to women, as B's, and Ho's he never would have made it. If he walked around with his pants around his knees, three sizes two big, and his undies hanging out, he never would have made it!! Mr Reid has apologized for the words, and President Obama has accepted it.

Next current event Sarah Palin will now be a Fox news contributor. Is this really news worthy? I like Fox news. Even when they are really pissing me off, I like them. I even like Mrs Palin, just not as a candidate. I don't think she was a good governor, and I do not think she would make a good president. I do however think she is an awesome woman, and a great role model for women everywhere. How will she be as a commentator, giving opinions, well I guess we will have to wait, and see. No, I have not read her book, but I do intend to, when it is in paperback, and much cheaper.

Next, and the biggest shocker of all Mark McGuire admitted yesterday he in fact did use steroids, the year he won the homerun marathon. Wow, really I would have never guessed there was one more lying, cheating, sports figure left in this country. I am stunned! If you really believed him when he said he did not use steroids, you really are living on a different planet than me.

I forgot one, Simon Cowell is leaving American Idol!!! Simon made 34 million dollars at Idol, ahem did you see that number 34 million to wear the same shirt for nine seasons, scowl at people, and give opinions on their ability to sing. I would really like to know how to get such a gig. I surely can scowl, make fun of people, and most definitely I could wear the same shirt, for the right price. Amazing!!!

Now I feel much better.


Lesson Plans For 01/13/10:

Playdate at the park from 12-2 thank goodness it will be warm. I don't even own a snowsuit anymore.

DJ:
Social Studies: States and Capitals- see video below
Math: Comparing fractions, problem solving
Language Arts: Compound words, suffixes, main idea
Spelling/Vocab: Write each word three times each
Cursive Writing
Sign Language: Colors

Caitlin:
Printing Practice
Math: Dot to dot to 30
Site Words
Reading: HOP Hip O Gets a Pet
Sign Language: Colors
Alphabet Book: Letter U
Flash Cards: Number to word identification
Science/Health: Your senses

To win a free necklace, go here, and follow the directions.

Election Day, Obamas Grandmother Passes Away

Today is election day. We had early voting here in Florida, so the deed is already done. Of all the blogs, I have read today I have not seen one mention the death of Obama's beloved grandmother. She passed away yesterday, unable to hang on to see if he wins or not. Our thoughts and prayers are with Obama and his family at this very sad time. May the best man, win today. I think McCain has a chance, but it will be very exciting to see who wins. Wow how often can you say that, Politics is exciting.

Todays homeschool freebie is an ebook titled Little Hands Folded in Prayer. It is a Classic collection of short, simple, beautiful prayers especially for children, from the 1800s. If you are interested in this free ebook, you can go to http://www.homeschoolfreebieoftheday.com They offer a new free offer every day, Monday through Friday, and they are really free, no strings attached.

I wanted to share a great book on Homeschooling, that I am currently reading. I borrowed it from our local library, and it is called Homeschooling the Early Years. It is all about tips and skills for teaching early learners, up to age 8. The first two chapters were not really helpful, because they talk about thinking and preparing to Homeschool. The next chapters though, have been very informative and helpful. If you have access to a local library, you might want to check it out.

There is no school today, but here are the lesson plans for 11/5/08:

Reading: Read chapter 3 of Pirates Past Noon
Writing: Imagine you are the President of the US, what would you do for the country
Language Arts: Phonics review, grammar
Art: Draw Pichu
Math: Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division
Social Studies: Election day word find, the first Thanksgiving story with questions
Planets: Themed unit
Fire Prevention: video number two

We have several add ons, if we finish early. They will be posted in our daily homeschool journal, as completed.

Gilchrist County Friends, Art Classes, Obama and McCain Views On Homeschooling

I have a lot to blog about today. I could post all of these as individual posts, but I always have more to say lol.

First, I would like to just mention a yahoo group I just started. It is called Gilchrist County Friends, and it is not just a homeschool group. If you live in the Gilchrist County area, and have children under the age of 12, that need some extra friends, then come on and join. I am new to this, and it has just started, to sign up go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gilchristcountyfriends/ I am hoping to get at least 5 or 6 children, interested in the group. I will be making a button to put on this blog, to advertise it.


Second I would like to share with everyone, a great Art class, that is offered for a minimal fee to Homeschool children. Here are the details for the class

Title:

Art Classes for Homeschool Families

Date:

Monday October 6, 2008
Time:

10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Repeats:

This event repeats every week until Tuesday June 2, 2009.
Next reminder:

The next reminder for this event will be sent in 2 days, 1 minute.
Location:

Gainesville, Florida
Notes:

Discover and Create With the Visual Language of Art” Come discover the wonder of art and artists throughout time. Explore where artists get ideas and how they make them personally meaningful. Create artwork from your own imagination using the visual language of art: line, shape, color, balance, symmetry, etc. Learn to investigate artworks; looking carefully, describing and relating them to what you already know so that you can make informed judgments about the works. Projects include drawing, painting, collage, printmaking, sculpture, hand building with clay, and more! New this year is a reflective writing component for each lesson recorded in a personal sketchbook/journal.Mondays beginning August 25th Ages 4-7 (10-11am) and Ages 7-older (11:30-12:30) All classes are $10/student or $15/2 students and include sketchbook, supplies and an informational handout about the media, process, and artist studied. Email or call for location, class descriptions, and to answer any questions!Jane Gravoisflcreate@yahoo.com 352-595-3071

Third, is a topic that should concern all Homeschoolers. Where does each Presidential candidate, stand on Homeschooling. This information, was shared at one of the Homeschool groups I belong to. One Homeschooling mom, called Obamas local campaign offices to try to get his specific views on Homeschooling. Not only did they not know, but they told her to buy his book, to see if the information, was in the book. They gave lots of indicators for what he wants to do for Public education, but could not give a view on Homeschooling. A second Homeschooling parent, provided this information from Obamas book: On page 344 of The Audacity of Hope, he writes: “none of these policies need
discourage families from deciding to keep a parent at home…For some
families, that may mean doing without certain material comforts. For others it may
mean home schooling….Whatever the case may be, such decisions should be honored

Now I am not certain what he was referencing there, but it was not Homeschooling directly. So there is still no clear, and concise point of view from Obama as to how he feels about Homeschooling. I find this very disturbing, his ambivalence, and vagueness, when getting to the point of any questions.

McCains views on Homeschooling are very clear, he supports Homeschooling, as does Sarah Palin. Sarah Palin, has a daughter that has been doing virtual schooling, for some time. This is an exerpt from a fellow Homeschoolers email sent to me, stating information about McCain's view on Homeschooling: McCain has said in several speeches, forums and interviews he believes homeschooling works. He believes it's a family's decision.

Of course as a Mom, who Homeschools her children, I find this to be of much importance, when choosing who I will vote for. I will have to hear more definitive responses from Obama, to even consider that he is for Homeschooling.

700 Billion Dollars Are You Kidding Me, Halloween Fudge

I have tried really hard, not to talk about the Economy, and Politics, however since they are going hand in hand right now, I cant help it. First let me start by saying, I had heard, that it was actually Bill Clinton, that started all this spiral downwards. Since I just dont take anyones word for it, I did some research. It is true Clinton is the one, who signed the bill, at the end of his last term, that allowed the banks to have things to their advantage. He could have vetoed it, he didnt. He could have requested changes, he did not. I feel since, it was the end of his term, he figured I will just let it go through, despite the warnings that it would take 8-10 years to totally screw up the markets, and screw the American people. 1999-2008 hmm excactly 8 yrs, and look what is happening. To view the article, I read go to http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/11/12/banking.reform/index.html There are several articles on the topic, that can easily be found on the web. Now let me say the two legislators, who proposed the law, later went on to become CEO's of these investment banks, and made millions if not billions of dollars. Hmm no wonder they wanted it. How many of these legislators, including McCain and Obama have made millions of dollars, off of the tax payers, and the unknowing consumer, that had no say over these unscrupulous laws, that only protected the rich, and made them richer. I can not even begin to tell you how angry I am at both Democrats, and Republicans. It is an election year, and in my opinion they should all be fired, period. Change the banking laws back, and put some regulation into all these dealings that go one behind closed doors. I really would like to know what our candidates have invested in, made money off of, and who exactly is lobbying for them, because I dont trust a single one of them.

Now lets talk about the bail out/loan, whatever you want to call it. I have posted before, that I do not agree with this. These banks should just fail, lose their money, and start over. I dont think tax payers should be bailing them out of their risky, unscrupulous acts. Now of course, legislators, want to add more to the bail out/loan such, as bail outs for the auto industry, bail outs for defaulters of credit cards, homeowners who knowingly bought homes they knew they couldnt afford to get rewritten mortgages so they can afford said luxury home, are you kidding me. This is absurd, why should Americans bail out any of these issues? Alot of Americans have had bad debts, some filed bankruptcy, some spent years and years paying it off, why should any of us just give ones who didnt take care of their bad debt, a free handout. This is absurd, and I am completely and totally against this.700 Billion Dollars, are you kidding me. How will they pay for this, how will they get the money for this, and why should we be forced to pay for this? When will it end, it might not even work, please this is ridiculous.

Now on a lighter note, here are some nice Halloween recipes, to make for your little ones to enjoy. If you click on the picture, it will come up to full size, so you can print it, enjoy.

Lesson Plans for 9/25/08:

Reading: Read Chapter 4 of The Knight At Dawn
Health: Brushaway Plaque
PE: 30 minutes
Spelling: Place your spelling words in alphabetical order
Vocabulary: Write each vocab word, and defintion 2 times each
Math: Multiplication, addition, subtraction, problem solving
Language Arts: Phonics review, pronouns, suffixes
Writing: Write a paragraph that describes what you look like
Word Search: Dinosaurs