A Jan Brett Calendar

Do you love to create your own planners or teacher notebooks? Perhaps you want a colorful calendar for the school room?

Check out the website of one of my favorite illustrators Jan Brett. You can print any number of calendars that are complete with her lovely drawings. There is even a coloring book version for the little ones. Advent and Birthday calendars are included.

Jan Brett Calendars

Her website also has lots of information, activities, how to videos, and coloring pages based on her book illustrations. Rainy summer day? Maybe the kids would like to color the "Hedgie Blasts Off" mural. There is much to see, if you are a fan don't miss this!!

Drop by Jan Brett's Homepage today!

Geography or Cartography?

Are you looking for a geography or cartography program? I have great news for you!

I first looked at National Geographic's Map Essentials program the year I began homeschooling. Back in those days to buy NG's student publications you had to contact one of their representatives and place an order. I sent an email out and eventually corresponded with a very nice man who agreed that the program would be great for homeschoolers but that you couldn't buy single copies of the student books. He was sorry that he couldn't help me. Eventually I found that Great Books Academy had them for sale. Due to the price I hesitated and looked for other geography programs. I found the Trail Guide series, which we are using and enjoying. But I still wanted a bit more cartography.

This year I bit the bullet and ordered the Map Essentials program. Unfortunately one of the books appears to be on indefinite backorder. I started trolling the internet and what did I discover? National Geographic is now selling their books individually. To regular people not just institutions. And at a cost significantly lower than GBA. It is a bit tricky to navigate their website to find these items. Here are my tips:

• Register with the site-be sure to choose the "Not in District" and "Not in School" options
• You will be asked for an institution name-I used Chartwell Academy with no problems
• Find the Map Essentials page HERE
• When you scroll to the bottom of the page look for the Materials section and click the plus sign for the grade you are interested in
• The teacher book is listed at the bottom for single copy purchase
• To purchase Student Books and Student Response Books click on the plus sign next to the set of 5 and you will find single copy options in the new menu (you can later adjust your cart to reflect the number of copies you would like

I chose to purchase a single copy of the student text (I only have 2 students sharing the books) but purchased multiple copies of the response book. My printer would cost more than $2.08 to copy for each child. For the program you only need atlases to complete the work.

I decided to go back and start with Grade 1 work (even though the kids are a bit older) since the knowledge seems to be cumulative. I suspect that we will zip through some of the early grade and be back on course in no time.

National Geographic appears to (finally) be offing its school texts to everyone these days so dig into the website and have fun!

Seated on Pook's Hill

Today Winston decided that, in his never ending quest to not let the older kids get too far ahead, he needed to give up the floor. All serious readers clearly sit in chairs. He climbed into the wingback chair across from me and has settled in with DK Castles and Death In the Middle Ages. He is most proud of himself. Note to self: he will soon be asking for a book light over his crib and a set of Levenger Page Points to mark his favorite illustrations.

Booking Through Thursday

From Booking Through Thursday's regular Meme:

"One of my favorite sci-fi authors (Sharon Lee) has declared June 23rd Fantasy and Science Fiction Writers Day.

As she puts it:

So! In my Official Capacity as a writer of science fiction and fantasy, I hereby proclaim June 23 Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Day! A day of celebration and wonder! A day for all of us readers of science fiction and fantasy to reach out and say thank you to our favorite writers. A day, perhaps, to blog about our favorite sf/f writers. A day to reflect upon how written science fiction and fantasy has changed your life.

So … what might you do on the 23rd to celebrate? Do you even read fantasy/sci-fi? Why? Why not?"

I am left we the odd notion that I must be missing something. My husband, father, and close friends are all avid fantasy/sci-fi readers. Yet other than an occasional book (that is more exception than rule) I don't enjoy the genre.

Hmmm...

Thanks to my friend C in DC over at Pencil Crossings for peaking my interest in Booking Through Thursday. I've enjoyed her entries so much that I decided to try it for myself.

Nursery Division News

A report has surfaced from our Pook's Hill Nursery that the student there has discovered new activities. We hail this as progress since it keeps young Winston occupied and has reduced the number of times he disrupts the larger children at Chartwell.

Winston has discovered Duplo blocks and has learned that building is within his power. We now have towers and trains, houses and zoos and a myriad of other structures all over the living room floor. I'm sure I could go on about the benefits to his imagination or his coordination but I am just grateful that he has discovered his independence and found something to amuse himself with for hours on end. Well, that and his deep and abiding interest in DK Eyewitness American Revolution; this volume and Barnyard Dance can fill up many hours.

Amazon Wish List-Yet Again

Ok, clearly I'm slow to pick up on these things...

I never quite realized that the default setting was for the date you added something to your list. You can actually alter this to a variety of choices using the Sort By button. On my latest list (keeping track of upcoming TOG books) I chose title. This produces and alphabetical list by title-far more useful for matching to my book list.

Planning and Such

Does anyone else think that the process of selecting materials, planning and scheduling takes more time than actually completing the assignments? Just wondering.

As a side note: why do some curriculum providers produce more material than will fit evenly into 36 weeks, 180 days or 9-10 months? Why when they do this do they not provide suggestions as to how to make it all fit or what is supposed to be completed together?

Nature Guides

Are you looking for some nature books or guides that are a bit beyond the ordinary field guide? Perhaps something engaging for every age level?

I recommend you head over to Stackpole Books. Their nature section is full of great titles (many of which are also available on Amazon)! I am very fond of the Discover Nature series. This series is not all-encompassing but each title is full of detailed information, diagrams, charts and easy to understand explanations on a variety of topics. I currently have my on a book about star gazing with binoculars (a far cheaper introduction for the kids than a telescope) and another about nighttime sounds in North America (this volume comes with a CD). If I were going camping I think I would have to purchase the nightime sounds book and get the CD onto my iPod for reference. What a great way to take the fear out of those noises and what a great help for us city dwellers when we head into the wild. There are books on bones, tracks, tracks and trails in winter, plants...the list goes on and on.

Stacpole Books has an easy to navigate site and the ability to bookmark some favorites to return to later. Enjoy!

Bloggers-RIP

I admit that I am a pretty lousy blogger. I don't keep up with posting often enough, I'm paralyzed by indecision about what to write, I forget to download the photos I want to share...I'm sure all 2 or 3 of the regular readers recognize this pattern of mine. I am however a great blog reader. I follow the blogs of some of my "real life" friends, other homeschool blogs, and a few decorating blogs. I mostly lurk quietly and gain inspiration, information, and (let's admit it folks) entertainment.

Recently I've noticed a trend among some of the blogs I regularly visit. Some has been erased, some have gone to by invitation only status, some are just at an end. Some folks have moved on and their blog no longer reflects their life. I understand but I still miss their insights. Other seem to have become victims of the comment section. (Ok, this is my imagined reason and I don't have any facts perhaps a case of one or two posts that folks may not have liked and the blogger just got sick of the heat.)

I won't say I endorse every opinion of these bloggers or even that I always agree with them but I did glean something from each of them and I miss their posts. It seems to proof that even in a virtual world folks move on and sometimes you find yourself in a new neighborhood.

Thanks Running River Latin School, Trivium Academy, Dragons in the Flower Bed, Socks and Books, Laura (and Calvin and Hobbes) From China to Scotland and Knitter Navy Wife-I miss you all in my little virtual world. I'm secretly hoping you aren't down for the count!

ETA: Now even more blogs are becoming private. I do miss the inspiration. An open life on the internet is difficult and invasive so I do understand but I still miss these blogs. Add Scholars in Residence to the list.