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May 31, 2007
I. Want. This.
I want this.
And, I've thought of a way to justify the cost. Heh.
I'm thinking ... I just bought the boys some animation software. So if we buy "historical" Playmobil (like this, and like the Viking set ...), and make stop-motion movies with them ...
What a way to do history, art, and computer skills, eh?
In other news, I might finally have a compelling reason to go to Orlando (er ... besides the fact that my niece and nephew live there. Hi, kids! Wanna go to a theme park?)
Posted by lynx at 9:35 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
May 18, 2007
And more funnies from the small one ...
Because I just can't seem to blog lately.
Lachlan: Mama, the kitty peed on my pants!
Me: Oh ... er ... do you mean the pants you're wearing?
Lachlan: Yes.
Me: Are you saying that the cat peed on your pants while you were wearing them?
Lachlan: Um ... no.
Me: So did you take off your pants?
Lachlan: Um ... no.
Me: So the cat peed on your pants while you were wearing them?
Lachlan: Um ... just a minute, Mom. (He leaves the room, runs upstairs, then back down.) I forgot that I needed to change my pants. Mine got wet, somehow.
Posted by lynx at 3:40 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
May 11, 2007
Out of the mouths of babes ...
Lachlan, age 5: "Hey, Mom ... you have a grandma and grandpa, and Daddy has a grandma and grandpa! Wow! That means there's two sets of old people that love us!"
(He's talking about his grandparents. He still doesn't get that relationship quite right.)
Posted by lynx at 8:21 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
May 8, 2007
Languages
I've known about Muzzy for years. It's expensive, though, and reviews did not convince me that it would be worth the money.
However, it turns out that my local library as several of them. You can't beat free, can you?
The videos themselves are nothing special, but my kids, especially my 5 and 6 year old, love them. Love them. They sit and watch, over and over again - which, of course, is exactly the point.
Muzzy is a cartoon in a foreign language, done in such a way that it teaches and reinforces specific beginning vocabulary. It's immersion learning. With our main study focus on Latin, I wanted some kind of immersion/exposure thing for the kids. I throw a few Spanish phrases around the house, but that's not enough. I don't know that Muzzy is enough either, but it's something. The kids watch the cartoon in the target language over and over. The package also comes with a cartoon book of the same story, in English and various other languages. You also get a CD with the audio track of the story, an extra DVD (or video) for vocabulary building, and a DVD (or video) of the story in English.
We began with the Spanish, but last week the little kids asked for the German version. Next week they want the French. Muzzy also comes in Italian and Mandarin Chinese, according to the website, although my library also has a Japanese version. I imagine we'll rotate through them all. I don't expect the kids to walk away from the TV spouting German or Spanish, but at least they're hearing the language and making those connections in their brains. That's all I want. I don't expect us to really study a modern foreign language until high school, or late junior high. This kind of exposure is perfect for the little kids, and it won't hurt my 9 and 11 year olds.
Speaking of Latin, I am thrilled at the progress Connor and Aidan are making! At this point I have several different Latin books and programs, and we rotate through them however it seems best. Connor is working in Henle I, and Aidan has finished LCI and has picked up Using Latin Book One. Every week the three of us sit down and read Lingua Latina together, which has done wonders for their comprehension and enjoyment. It's fun.. (Lingua Latina is a wonderful little beginning Latin book, written entirely in Latin. There's not a word of English in the book, including in the grammar explanations, index, vocabulary defintions ... not a word.)
Myself, I'm about to tackle Homeric Greek, but I expect it to be very, very slow going. Did I mention slow? Slow.
Posted by lynx at 9:14 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
May 6, 2007
Science Week
So, months ago, I signed the boys up for science classes at our local park. It's only two sessions, and it builds on Real Science 4 Kids Chemistry. Perfect!
They have to be through chapter 6 before the first session starts. Er ... I think we're through chapter 3. The first session is this Friday. They have to be through chapter 9 by the second session, which is ... next Friday.
So we'll be doing science this week. Lots, and lots of science.
I've talked about RS4K before. It's the only chemistry program for elementary age children that didn't send me screaming. It presents real science in an age-appropriate, interesting and understandable way. The experiments are relevant, work, and reinforce the reading. The only problem is that the books are too short; you could easily cover an entire level of chemistry, physics and biology in one year.
The author is a proponent of intelligent design, just so's you know. That doesn't bother me, as long as no ID shows up in the books. I have not looked at the biology book, but the chemistry book is just chemistry. (Once or twice you'll come across a sentence that referrs to natural structures as being "designed," but that's easy to either change on the fly or discuss with the kids. Just make sure you order the books from Gravitas Publications and not Access Research Network, which takes the money as a donation for their ID doings.) My kids love chemistry.
Speaking of science, on Dave in Sacramento's recommendation I bought The Way Life Works. Folks, this is a fantastic introduction to life science for anyone, adults included. It's clear, but not simplistic, and it's full of cartoon drawings that help kids (and adults) grasp the concepts. If you are going to teach your kids biology, you need this book. And Dave, if you have any other science books to recommend, please do!
Posted by lynx at 10:32 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack