tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83332344467028274632024-02-07T04:24:58.578-08:00The Raising of a PatriotA mother uses the Thomas Jefferson Education philosophy to educate her three sonsRebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01050468729855444174noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333234446702827463.post-45577222605668020022012-03-05T15:56:00.007-08:002012-03-14T15:41:13.334-07:00The Webb Family's 20-Year Vision<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">In twenty years Dad and I will be
in our 50s. We will be healthy,
energetic, and deeply in love with other.
Our children will probably be in college or serving missions. Maybe a couple kids will be married, and they
may have a child or two of their own.
They may be just finishing up school, or going on to post-graduate work.
Or they may have chosen a unique path—different from formal schooling, but in
every case our children are gradually discovering their unique, personal life
missions and putting their lives in place to fulfill them. </span></div>
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I imagine our extended family
getting together in the glory of summertime.
I imagine majestic mountains, dirt roads, deep blue lakes, tall pine trees,
long grasses, wild flowers, wide open spaces, and rustic cabins or simple
tents—surrounded by the beauty of nature--to hike, bike, swim and/or climb
together. I imagine being inspired by
the scenery of God’s creations as we enjoy using our amazing bodies. I imagine sharing ideas and stories from the
books we’ve read or from life’s lessons as we spend time together. I will feel immense satisfaction from having
the whole family together again—I will compare it to what Heaven must be like. I will be humbled at the growth and wisdom
of my children, of whom I’ve learned to respect and admire at a whole new
level.</div>
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At the end of a full day we’ll
watch the sun set, build a roaring campfire, and cook some delicious meal to
share. We have learned to survive in the
outdoors, and we all feel very much at home out here in nature. After the dishes are cleaned and put away, we’ll
gather everyone together around the campfire with an instrument or two and sing
songs of fun and inspiration. We’ll toast
marshmallows and pass around snacks. The
grandchildren (if any) will listen or join in as the adults tell jokes, share stories,
and discuss life. We’ll laugh and cry
together. We’ll stay up late. We are each other’s best friends. When it’s time to turn in we’ll join in a
circle to pray, asking God to bless our family.
We feel a deep satisfaction and sense of joy from being together. We will love and support each other in this
journey called life, wherever it may lead us.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Composed 3/2012. Inspired by <i>A House United</i>, by Nicholeen Peck</span></div>
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</div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01050468729855444174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333234446702827463.post-14344754604499994102012-02-29T13:19:00.002-08:002012-02-29T13:19:09.541-08:00"Core Phase" Curriculum<br />
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<span style="font-size: 28.0pt;">CORE PHASE “CURRICULUM”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt;">A Leadership Education<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 24.0pt;">Right & Wrong<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 24.0pt;">Good & Bad<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 24.0pt;">True & False<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 24.0pt;">Family Values,
especially spiritual culture<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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including family history and mission<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 24.0pt;">Family Routines
& Responsibilities<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 24.0pt;">The Value &
Love of Work and Play<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 24.0pt;">“Parents should be nurturing healthy relationships and
modeling an active spiritual and scholarly life.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01050468729855444174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333234446702827463.post-46029897866547380582011-09-06T21:34:00.000-07:002011-09-06T21:34:13.865-07:00McKay's NOT first day of KindergartenI didn't expect to feel any these feelings today. I really did great not thinking about it all summer long--well, except when some mom friend of mine would exclaim how excited she was to send her child to his/her first day of kindergarten and how much easier life would become with at least a few extra hours a day to herself. <i> I can't imagine</i>, I would say. No, I really can't. Then, would life really get easier without my son McKay? <i>He's just getting old enough to help!</i> I've never wavered in my desire to home school my kids--nope, never really planned on sending them to public school, yet, to be fair to everyone, I looked into the local elementary school here, which happens to be next door, a stone's throw away, and it's only for 2 1/2 hours each day. Why don't I jump on that? It's FREE child care! I know, it's the hardest, yet easiest decision I've ever had to make. Hard, because it's made on faith, and it means a lion's share of responsibility on my part. Easy, because I know God's is pleased with our decision to home school. Easy, because it's right, and things are falling into place. Hard, because it's a lonely job sometimes--there's no a lot of home schoolers in my immediate area. Easy, because I have some incredible family and mentor support.<br />
<br />
But, no, my child is not going to his first day of Kindergarten tomorrow. No school lunch, no new outfit, no new backpack filled with fresh new school supplies. No apple for the teacher, no new friends and new stories.<br />
<br />
But YES, I get to have my beautiful child with me at home for another year. Another year to teach him right and wrong, true and false, good and bad. Another year to strengthen relationships with God and family. Another year to inspire honorable character and service to others.<br />
<br />
Sad, a little. Grateful and at peace? Yes.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01050468729855444174noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333234446702827463.post-2154509029916960692011-02-06T16:18:00.000-08:002011-02-17T16:48:31.419-08:00Our Family's Birthday Traditions<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:14pt;">Age:</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;">1-Family/Friends Celebration</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;">2-Family/Friends Celebration</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;">3-Family/Friends Celebration<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;">4-Friends Birthday Party-Home</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;">5-Friends Birthday Party-Other Venue</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;">6-Hiking/Backpacking/Fishing/Campout with Dad</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;">7-Friends Birthday Party-Home</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:14pt;">8-Special Birthday Dinner with Parents</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;">9-Friends Birthday Party-Other Venue</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;">10-Sporting Event with Dad</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;">11-Friends Birthday Party-Home</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:14pt;">12-Attend General Conference with Parent</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;">13-Friends Birthday Party-Other Venue</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;">14-Theme Park with Friend/Parent</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;">15-<span style="font-style: italic;">open choice*<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;">16-<span style="font-style: italic;">open choice*<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;">17-<span style="font-style: italic;">open choice*<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;">18-<i style="">open choice*</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><i style="">*Some possible options:</i></span><span style="font-size:14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;">-Hiking/Backpacking w/ Dad<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;">-Fishing/Campout w/ Dad</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;">-Friends or Family Party</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;">-Dinner at a special restaurant with Mom and Dad<br /></span></p>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01050468729855444174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333234446702827463.post-50525929795500556242011-01-14T12:28:00.000-08:002011-01-14T12:33:10.583-08:00McKay's First Chapter Book!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div>Well, I have been wondering for a while when McKay would be old enough for chapter books. He turns 5 next month. We read books all the time and he was listening to longer and more advanced picture books, so I thought it was about time to take the plunge. I pulled a book off the shelf called<i> Stuart Little</i> by E. B. White. <i>This is a good one to start with perhaps--</i> I thought.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.upsoar.com/bookconsignments/stuartlittle/coverdj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.upsoar.com/bookconsignments/stuartlittle/coverdj.jpg" width="227" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Well, it worked! At times I wondered if he was really listening because he'd fidget or play with toys or the baby but I kept at it. I wondered if he was following enough to want to read the next chapter, or understand what he was hearing. Well, we've read several days now and he keeps asking for more. We even started another chapter book by E. B. White: <i>Charlotte's Web</i>! Funny, it just happened that way . . . </div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kidsmomo.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/charlottes-web-movie-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.kidsmomo.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/charlottes-web-movie-cover.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Well, I'm proud to say we are officially reading chapter books to our boys now--"boys" because Elijah and Sam are hearing them too--subconsciously!</div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01050468729855444174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333234446702827463.post-38528390114301590522011-01-04T14:40:00.001-08:002011-01-04T14:40:30.555-08:00"<span style="font-size: large;">Feelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated, mistakes are tolerated, communication is open, and rules are flexible -- the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing family." </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">-- Virginia Satir</span>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01050468729855444174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333234446702827463.post-43698470504918600002010-09-29T12:46:00.000-07:002010-09-29T12:48:56.011-07:00McKay discovers MATH!<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="http://library.indstate.edu/tools/tutorials/topten/numbers.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://library.indstate.edu/tools/tutorials/topten/numbers.jpg" width="320" height="208" px="true" /></a></div>Introducing math to McKay has been a unplanned technique spanning many months. I bought a few "math games" from the <a href="http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/home/home.jsp">Lakeshore Learning Store</a> months ago and he "plays" with them every once in awhile. In the car sometimes we randomly give him equations to figure out in his mind or on his fingers. It's always been a fun thing to do. Someone gave me some old math textbooks with rip-out tests and quizzes some time ago. I decided to show him the book yesterday and he has been wanting to do it non-stop! Mostly number recognition, addition problems, larger or smaller than, etc.,-type stuff but numbers non-the-less! He follows me around the house with the book asking for help, even taking it in the car to work on. We've also been checking books out from the library about money and coins and that has also introduced some numbers and math to him. One thing that has also helped is our neighbor has a pretty snazy remote-control car that McKay recently decided he wanted and now he's "saving up" to buy one (a much cheaper one of course!) and that is quite the incentive for him to be able to save and count his money earnings (from the chores he does). Kind of fun to watch the growth. It's nothing I'm forcing, but I'm trying to find ways to inspire him with numbers.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01050468729855444174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333234446702827463.post-10269828991297950252010-09-08T09:31:00.000-07:002010-09-08T09:41:19.149-07:00McKay's Chore and Commission ChartToday I updated <span style="font-weight: bold;">McKay's Chore Chart</span>. (I have time for this because Grandma took both boys last night for a "sleepover"--yeah!) I am trying to incorporate Dave Ramsey's plan for teaching kids about money. If you click on the chart you'll be able to see it bigger. So, the <span style="font-style: italic;">Wake-up</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Bedtime Routine</span>s are just expected--part of being a Webb Family member. But the other chores are commission based. To start out, McKay can earn 5 cents per chore per day for the ones that he does that day. Ramsey also included a "Fines" section in his plan (where a kid can have money deducted for bad behavior), but I don't want to focus on that with McKay to begin with. I'd rather start out completely positive. I hope to be better about paying him each week and then helping him divide his earnings between "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Spending</span>," "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Savings</span>," and "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Giving</span>" (tithing). We may even open a little bank account for him--we'll see how it goes. Feel free to check in and see how it's going if you're curious!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIeNEca6CLUkgNvzHt-BZoisPlItL3E6P39wb-GtYDX__IosrRs9fIx8iyznBDDst-TEb3Lk7PzZpwwOdsl2el3F_epYwtaQinTRu_U9vOtX1Wd4P0lJ0EhzPMeCyrzILuoqUBCgTVIHs/s1600/Top.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIeNEca6CLUkgNvzHt-BZoisPlItL3E6P39wb-GtYDX__IosrRs9fIx8iyznBDDst-TEb3Lk7PzZpwwOdsl2el3F_epYwtaQinTRu_U9vOtX1Wd4P0lJ0EhzPMeCyrzILuoqUBCgTVIHs/s400/Top.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none; padding: 0px; background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01050468729855444174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333234446702827463.post-62951823129602890902010-09-02T21:00:00.001-07:002010-09-02T21:00:54.207-07:00The boys "read" the classics!<div style="text-align: center;">So, I was cleaning the kitchen the other day and listening to Glenn Beck on Facebook ("Restoring Honor Rally 8-28-2010") when the boys took it upon themselves to un-shelve many of our classics, stack them up beside the couch, and literally start to "read" them.</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZtryX4zFHN6_X5GibtclVv1nwGoRxPiMZUyw6swCOn3lp1E7jh4aNWvCR1TMfapHakpdu16uaU47phSOyAIcJUQKgsIPhNqlQT4mggwfJakFhZbPUMgC6rk4g2L-U6hYqMsOnXCNcpc/s1600/Mission+Call%211.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZtryX4zFHN6_X5GibtclVv1nwGoRxPiMZUyw6swCOn3lp1E7jh4aNWvCR1TMfapHakpdu16uaU47phSOyAIcJUQKgsIPhNqlQT4mggwfJakFhZbPUMgC6rk4g2L-U6hYqMsOnXCNcpc/s400/Mission+Call%211.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">When caught in the act I ask "Boys! WHAT are you DOING with ALL those BOOKS?!?!"<br />
"<span style="font-style: italic;">We're going to read them, mom</span>," was the innocent answer from McKay and echoed by Elijah on the other end of the couch.</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDTVFz8SfH2QxFqQIlSgQB3HCKsb-f7sjjmIdi9bR_ghPea7HHFKaQ6meI5kONoUxyLYgvQYBjwHPCjh2UFB_T6Pqo0kUAZIax3XjrRaHzUeLjx3CO0sYub3JrSop3d2Y9_Ix2F_yhHc/s1600/IMG_1135.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDTVFz8SfH2QxFqQIlSgQB3HCKsb-f7sjjmIdi9bR_ghPea7HHFKaQ6meI5kONoUxyLYgvQYBjwHPCjh2UFB_T6Pqo0kUAZIax3XjrRaHzUeLjx3CO0sYub3JrSop3d2Y9_Ix2F_yhHc/s400/IMG_1135.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">They were actually lying on the couch and thumbing through these masterpieces--even asking me to read them to them. Elijah later on asked me to read him the "Treatise on Rhetoric" by Aristotle! Yeah, I wish! I can't even understand that book!</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkWO-7BFuNpHdEcF2ZSmhb56Mbw8HQ7iGp3eooo4TVPw0CAZxluZtd_IVcVz0rvlrA1aArnMuvGk1hkRXzlY7n3jGQcI0Oewfm6xF2-aqGKe5kqMwK9WWP01NXq83ms5VzfhZl8uqB6Y/s1600/IMG_1139.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkWO-7BFuNpHdEcF2ZSmhb56Mbw8HQ7iGp3eooo4TVPw0CAZxluZtd_IVcVz0rvlrA1aArnMuvGk1hkRXzlY7n3jGQcI0Oewfm6xF2-aqGKe5kqMwK9WWP01NXq83ms5VzfhZl8uqB6Y/s400/IMG_1139.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">So I made them put all the books back. And they did. Just like so:</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2W7GcwYoRsZclZ5CpzEkN-iwUw8JvtrcaaCXa3JnfOQmoZBjdoxABtdDmue_d3p3sWjxfdSpsYQTICziMbHnWwT2ADUhTt9NpayqFEG_8-ZTlW51Cil2i1BbViq0oLaRMjy1j6FMKxU/s1600/Mission+Call%21.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2W7GcwYoRsZclZ5CpzEkN-iwUw8JvtrcaaCXa3JnfOQmoZBjdoxABtdDmue_d3p3sWjxfdSpsYQTICziMbHnWwT2ADUhTt9NpayqFEG_8-ZTlW51Cil2i1BbViq0oLaRMjy1j6FMKxU/s400/Mission+Call%21.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Wouldn't it be cool if they really DID read all those books one day?! : )</span></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01050468729855444174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333234446702827463.post-87708248275467798172010-08-27T21:00:00.001-07:002010-08-27T21:00:47.264-07:00Just Like Me --by Margaret HillertThe famous men and women<br />
<br />
Who helped our country grow<br />
<br />
Weren't always great and famous<br />
<br />
Those long, long years ago.<br />
<br />
George Washington and Betsy Ross, <br />
<br />
Ben Franklin, Paul Revere<br />
<br />
All started out as babies<br />
<br />
And grew a bit each year.<br />
<br />
They started out as children<br />
<br />
Just boys and girls like you<br />
<br />
Who worked and played and laughed and sang<br />
<br />
And cried a little, too<br />
<br />
And learned their lessons when they could<br />
<br />
And said their prayers at night<br />
<br />
They never knew we'd call them great<br />
<br />
And keep their mem'ries bright.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
They never knew someday they'd be<br />
<br />
Famous names in history.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01050468729855444174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333234446702827463.post-76544802332765043562010-07-15T12:18:00.000-07:002010-07-15T12:47:47.615-07:00How we plan to teach our young kids about moneySo, McKay is already interested in money. It started in the store when he wanted something I wouldn't buy him. I'd say, "I don't have money for that. Do you? You'll need to buy that with your own money." Then he'd say, "Why don't you go buy some money?" or "Write a check." I had to laugh but realized he may be ready for some lessons in earning and spending money. I started checking<b><i> </i></b><a href="http://www.daveramsey.com/store/kids-teens/Kids-3-12/6-Kids-Books-Boxed-Set/prod140.html"><b><i>these books</i></b></a> out from the library since I am a HUGE Dave Ramsey fan and McKay LOVED them. Especially the one called "The Super Red Racer," about how a boy named Junior earns money from working to buy his own red bike. McKay's interest was now peaked. I decided to buy the whole children's book set so we didn't have to keep going to the library to get them. They came yesterday in the mail and immediately he wanted to read the others we hadn't been able to check out from the library.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://jennifermcguireink.typepad.com/.a/6a00e550ccd8ce88340120a540686e970b-800wi" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://jennifermcguireink.typepad.com/.a/6a00e550ccd8ce88340120a540686e970b-800wi" /></a></div><br />Along with the storybooks, I decided to try out the kid version of <a href="http://www.daveramsey.com/store/financial-peace-university/cFPU-p1.html"><b><i>Financial Peace University (for Adults)</i></b></a> called <a href="http://www.daveramsey.com/store/kids-teens/Kids-3-12/financial-peace-jr-for-kids-ages-3-12-/prod112.html"><b><i>Financial Peace Jr.</i></b></a> (Teaching Kids About Money!) and I'm so excited to get started on it! I have recently implemented a chore system for McKay where if he does his chores each day he gets paid a "commission" (currently, I pay 5 cents a day) and he's totally motivated! It does take more work on my part to help him get through his chores each day but my feeling is that it will be totally worth the time I put in.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/store/renderImage.image?imageName=drstore/fp_jr/yth_fpjr_fp_jr_kit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://www.daveramsey.com/store/renderImage.image?imageName=drstore/fp_jr/yth_fpjr_fp_jr_kit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I'll let you know how things go with this kit--I'm really excited to get started! And who knows, maybe Dan and I will learn something too!Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01050468729855444174noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333234446702827463.post-13936330920262247672010-07-14T16:45:00.001-07:002010-07-14T16:46:34.052-07:00Interested in TJEd?! See below!Have you ever been able to attend a presentation by Dr Shanon Brooks? I<br />know that some on this list have missed the opportunity when he was here<br />for the Seminars and the Previews -- but he recently posted this video<br />recording of his overview. He even answers the question "Education vs<br />Schooling" are they the same or different.<br /><br />I've posted them on our blog. Enjoy!<br /><br /><a href="http://nwtjed.blogspot.com/2010/07/introduction-to-tjed.html">http://nwtjed.blogspot.com/2010/07/introduction-to-tjed.html</a><br /><br />Posted by: Ann AgentRebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01050468729855444174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333234446702827463.post-8607167929978077442010-05-10T18:10:00.000-07:002010-05-10T18:11:31.160-07:00<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mVh75ylAUXY&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mVh75ylAUXY&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01050468729855444174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333234446702827463.post-11856453565683690962010-04-28T09:29:00.000-07:002010-04-28T09:29:15.592-07:00Project INSPIRE: Ten Grands for Kids<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rHviKU5DTA0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rHviKU5DTA0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
I always have this motto in my head, "Inspire, not require."<br />
<br />
Well, I want to instill in my kids the love for music, and especially for the piano, since that was a love of mine and still is, in my life. It's hard to find places that will allow children this young to participate in the audience but I took my chances with a "Ten Grands for Kids" Concert that was made FREE through the Snowman Foundation (<a href="http://www.snowmanfoundation.org/">http://www.snowmanfoundation.org/</a>). McKay and Elijah loved it! It only lasted an hour and 15 minutes as opposed to the typical 3-4 hour concert they normally give. I wish I had a clip from the actual concert but of course it wasn't allowed. Here's one from a couple years ago. Their concerts are really quite amazing. I'd love to have our kids participate one day!<br />
<br />
One cute thing McKay noticed was when some of the young pianists mentioned their ages (i.e., 13 or 15 years old, etc., there was even a 9-year old!!) McKay would say something like "Hey, that's close to Joseph Smith's age, cause he was 14!" I thought that was kind of cool!<br />
<br />
Since we can't go to concerts very often, I am finding the internet to be a great resource. You can find a lot of great clips of fabulous instrumentalists which I can show to the boys, and they enjoy it. Another thing I could also do better is to practice on the piano more myself, which I'm trying to do.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01050468729855444174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333234446702827463.post-37176812687816554522010-03-31T12:30:00.000-07:002010-04-01T08:08:21.203-07:00Teaching Right and WrongOne of my favorite quotes by Dr. Laura recently is " . . . <span style="font-style: italic;">I get calls from parents so enamored by the fact that their kid is so talented or smart that they forget that their kids have to grow up to be descent people.</span>" (something to that effect--I wish I had the exact quote)<br /><br />Isn't that totally true? Some of the best parents I know literally FILL their kid's lives with music lessons, dance lessons, scouts, soccer, daycare, friends, outings, hobbies, games, etc, and honestly, the kid never has time to "learn how to be a good person." Dr. DeMille (from "A Thomas Jefferson Education") says that children in the "Core Phase" (ages 0-8 roughly) learn the lessons of <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">good/bad, right/wrong, true/false</span> </span>and this is accomplished through <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">work/play. </span></span>Well, it's easy for me to say, since I don't have kids involved in all that stuff right now, but you really need to good chunks of downtime with your children for "the instilling of values."<br /><br />Here are a few ways we are trying to teach values, virtues, morals, whatever you want to call them, to our children. My feeling is that a true leader, or a patriot, must have these qualities, and these must be taught while they are in their youth.<br /><br />The first thing we LOVE are the <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Standin' Tall"</span> series by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Janeen Brady</span>. I grew up with these and to this day sing the songs to myself at times when I'm faced with a moral dilemmas. I highly recommend them!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8vObaLG_TYkliI-uzWCg7iZEO8UOB4kkMJlQZxkQvYW_GVK7_odYY9_k82qUcN2tcNgoY7y2SD_5IwtlTTkF_bpTKuKJiw1CO6hdBgXHZSL_em8vcTxM3nb8t1jgWYrRMtV7XPzjzNA/s1600/Obedience-booklet_3.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 200px; display: block; height: 200px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454937853968708002" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8vObaLG_TYkliI-uzWCg7iZEO8UOB4kkMJlQZxkQvYW_GVK7_odYY9_k82qUcN2tcNgoY7y2SD_5IwtlTTkF_bpTKuKJiw1CO6hdBgXHZSL_em8vcTxM3nb8t1jgWYrRMtV7XPzjzNA/s200/Obedience-booklet_3.jpg" border="0" /></a>It comes in a set of 12 books/CDs and the values that it covers are:<br /><br />1. Obedience<br />2. Honesty<br />3. Forgiveness<br />4. Work<br />5. Courage<br />6. Happiness<br />7. Gratitude<br />8. Love<br />9. Service<br />10. Cleanliness<br />11. Self-Esteem<br />12. Dependability<br /><br />Another thing that hasn't worked as well as I hoped this year but I've improvised is having my kids be a part of a <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Joy School</span></span> (preschool) group where moms take turns teaching lessons based on the Joy School Curriculum written by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Richard and Linda Eyre</span>. Joy School is another thing I grew up with, and since I was home-schooled I was able to help my mom teach it to each of my siblings. I love the lessons, I love the songs, I LOVE what Joy School teaches. These lessons are honestly as applicable to adults as anyone in my opinion. My only regret is that Joy School has gotten more expensive over the years (because of popularity) and there are typically cheaper options that groups will choose instead. I hope I can get a group of moms together for this upcoming Fall to do a Joy School group with me. Here's their website <a href="http://www.valuesparenting.com/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">http://www.valuesparenting.com</span></a> in case you are interested.<br /><br />The final thing I'll mention now is a new thing for me, as in, I didn't grow up with these, but they are wonderful! My father-in-law actually got these for us and honestly I don't remember seeing them before--<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/514JYSAZY9L.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 297px; display: block; height: 475px; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/514JYSAZY9L.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.bookschristian.com/images/products/_large/50/9780684834450lrg.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 279px; display: block; height: 400px; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://www.bookschristian.com/images/products/_large/50/9780684834450lrg.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://centralillinois912project.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/childrens-book-of-virtues.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 293px; display: block; height: 400px; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://centralillinois912project.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/childrens-book-of-virtues.jpg" border="0" /></a>We have started reading these books to our boys at night, for Family Home Evening, and when we have "dead time"--I shouldn't really call it dead time, but it's cool: Dan will be cooking in the kitchen, the boys running around like wild indians, and I'll just open one of these books and start reading to the family, and every so slowly, the kids will come over to the couch to follow along, or, if it's the main book of virtues, Dan and I will have some neat conversations stemming from something I've read. Honestly, the "Virtues" talked about in these books seem almost foreign in our society now--what has happened to "hard work," "responsibility" and "forgiveness?" I want our boys to know these things, and I want to know them even better.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Does your family do something special to instill values in your children?<br />Please share!!</span></span>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01050468729855444174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333234446702827463.post-52436775803295524242010-03-26T17:26:00.000-07:002010-03-31T20:53:40.943-07:00"Kidschool"OK. I admit to this plan not really catching on here yet. McKay has been involved in a mom's co-op preschool which has made the implementing of this plan difficult so far, but I really want to kick into this soon. I've even debated quitting the preschool group but haven't yet decided. I'm still weighing all the pros and cons. . .<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">"Structure Time, Not Content"</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Oliver DeMille</span><br /></div><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="font-size:130%;">Kidschool*</span> </span>(9-noon)<br />Chores<br />Read<br />Write<br />Learning "Games"<br />Music Time (piano, other instruments, theory, listening, etc.)<br />Indoor Activity<br />Outdoor Activity<br /><br /><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" >*not necessarily in this order</span>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01050468729855444174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333234446702827463.post-41519282627207568892010-03-26T17:11:00.000-07:002010-03-26T17:26:43.114-07:00Our Family's "Morning Routine"This is a routine we started several months ago to help us get going on the right page each morning. At first it was tricky to remember to do it each day but now our four-year-old reminds us. We have already had amazing payback moments. McKay, our eldest, has memorized the Pledge of Allegiance, the Preamble to the Constitution, and a couple of the Articles of Faith already! He can tell you several of his favorite Book of Mormon stories almost word for word out of the book. These moments truly make all the efforts worth it!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Song</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prayer</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scripture Study* </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pledge of Allegiance</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Article of Faith/Preamble to the Constitution</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Family Mission Statement</span><br /><br />*<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">currently out of the Book of Mormon scripture readers for young children</span></span>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01050468729855444174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333234446702827463.post-87206992583249414102010-03-26T16:50:00.000-07:002010-03-26T17:10:36.394-07:00The book that started it all . . .<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://learnex.co.nz/oneadmin/newsletter/upload/Thomas_Jefferson.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 300px;" src="http://learnex.co.nz/oneadmin/newsletter/upload/Thomas_Jefferson.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Thanks to a good friend, I was introduced to this book and philosophy almost four years ago. I read it immediately, and knew right away that the principles taught in it were true. The concepts were not at all new to me, but a great way of putting all of what I felt together in one place. I was dying to read more. I finally convinced my friend to let me borrow this book:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.tjedonline.com/uploads/companion_cover.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 314px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.tjedonline.com/uploads/companion_cover.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I ate this book up! It had so many practical examples of how to apply the teachings found in the first book. I finally bought my own copy because I knew I'd want it to keep referring back to.<br /><br />I finally added this book, their latest book in this little trio:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.tjedonline.com/uploads/phases.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 310px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.tjedonline.com/uploads/phases.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I loved it as well, but some of the lessons in it were a little advanced for my very young family, so I read the chapters that applied sooner than later. For those of you tired of the <span style="font-style: italic;">conveyor belt</span>, these books are for YOU!!Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01050468729855444174noreply@blogger.com0