Just came across this list - thanks to a friend on Facebook.
http://www.examiner.com/article/21-world-mythology-books-that-are-free-for-the-kindle
There are so many more books available for free download online. Visit this page on my blog for a list of sites with millions of free books to download: http://www.homeschoolsantafe.com/Homeschool-Resources.htm
Have a fabulous day,
Takara
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Saturday, March 9, 2013
The Self Directed Homeschooler
This post is meant as an encouragement for anyone who has a younger homeschooled son or daughter who doesn't want to learn or resists doing lessons.
My son, Jess, is now 14. He is an only child and we have always homeschooled - first in New Mexico and now in Virginia. I'm divorced. He lives with me.
If you've ever read my article about homeschooling (its on the home page of my homeschool website), you have read that Stanford and several other top schools actively recruit homeschool students because they have maturity, self-reliance, and self direction that is hard to find in publicly educated students.
I used to read those words and compare it with what we were experiencing at home. It was like pulling teeth to get him to study. "Doing" school was really a struggle and certain subjects caused so much tension and stress for both of us that we ended up having to get a tutor. I literally thought my kid just didn't fit the "norm" of the self-directed homeschooler. I love him and felt obliged to accept him the way he is - even if that meant he was not very self directed or driven to succeed. Since I'm extremely driven, it wasn't always easy.
My son, Jess, is now 14. He is an only child and we have always homeschooled - first in New Mexico and now in Virginia. I'm divorced. He lives with me.
If you've ever read my article about homeschooling (its on the home page of my homeschool website), you have read that Stanford and several other top schools actively recruit homeschool students because they have maturity, self-reliance, and self direction that is hard to find in publicly educated students.
I used to read those words and compare it with what we were experiencing at home. It was like pulling teeth to get him to study. "Doing" school was really a struggle and certain subjects caused so much tension and stress for both of us that we ended up having to get a tutor. I literally thought my kid just didn't fit the "norm" of the self-directed homeschooler. I love him and felt obliged to accept him the way he is - even if that meant he was not very self directed or driven to succeed. Since I'm extremely driven, it wasn't always easy.
Then
I took him to Fiji and we lived aboard a yacht for 6 weeks. He was
given crewing duties and was expected to do the work asked of him. He
was only 11 and I was very proud of how he completed his tasks and took
to sea life. While on the trip, he was introduced to the show, The Big
Bang Theory, and the topic of physics. He became almost obsessed with
the subject.
He has now decided that he wants to be a physicist and for
the last year and a half or so, he has been completely self directed. He
has taken up studying Latin completely on his own, as well as high
school chemistry and biology. He reads books about physics and watches
tons of science documentaries. He assigns himself lessons and spends
hours each day completing them.
The change I have seen in my son borders on the miraculous. I don't think you have to take them to an island or to live on a boat. I think you just have to expose them to enough things that they can find the one that turns on the light and makes them excited to learn.
The change I have seen in my son borders on the miraculous. I don't think you have to take them to an island or to live on a boat. I think you just have to expose them to enough things that they can find the one that turns on the light and makes them excited to learn.
I feel the greatest things we can give our
children is love, appreciation, assistance with high self esteem, and
help in discovering their gifts and interests. Then it seems we can just
get out of the way and let them shine - whether its as an artist or an
astronaut.
Have a fabulous day,
Takara
Bestselling author of Peering Through the Veil: The Step by Step Guide to Meditation and Inner Peace
Friday, March 8, 2013
Women's History Month from the History Channel
This just in from the History Channel also for Women's History Month
Women's History Month Programming:
Mothers of Invention
Monday, March 11th, at 6am/5c
Mothers of Invention explores the role of female innovators in American society. Despite many barriers, including unequal access to the education system and the patent process, women designed and helped produce a wide range of items, from refrigerated rail-cars to cosmetics to rocket devices.
You will also find valuable background information and video clips at the BIO Women's History site, located online at http://www.biography.com/
View a timeline of women's history.
Women's History Month Programming:
Mothers of Invention
Monday, March 11th, at 6am/5c
Mothers of Invention explores the role of female innovators in American society. Despite many barriers, including unequal access to the education system and the patent process, women designed and helped produce a wide range of items, from refrigerated rail-cars to cosmetics to rocket devices.
You will also find valuable background information and video clips at the BIO Women's History site, located online at http://www.biography.com/
View a timeline of women's history.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Learn all about U.S. Presidents
I just got this by email from the History Channel. Thought you would appreciate knowing about this great resource.
The Ultimate Guide to the Presidents
Tuesday, January 15th, through Friday, January 18th, at 9/8c (4 parts)
The office of President of the United States is one of the hallmarks of the American experiment. Those who have served in the nation's highest office have been from different personal and political backgrounds, with vastly differing philosophies and personalities. The Ultimate Guide to the Presidents explores the lives, decisions and unique contributions of the men who have served as U.S. President, from George Washington to Barack Obama.
Organized chronologically, The Ultimate Guide to the Presidents is an engaging eight-hour series that looks at each leader and the challenges, expectations, and responsibilities they faced. With commentary from historians and unique visuals, this series is a journey into the heart of the American political system told through the prism of the nation's foremost leaders. Students will see how each individual president has shaped the executive office and will gain insights into the ways leadership has changed those who have held this prestigious position of power.
Curriculum Links:
The Ultimate Guide to the Presidents would be a good fit with American history, politics, civics, and government courses. It is appropriate for eighth-grade students and above. Teachers may want to use specific segments of this program to align with their course units and lectures on particular eras of U.S. history.
Read more about the U.S. Presidents.
Watch a short video about Presidential Fun Facts.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Learn Latin Free Online
My son decided he wanted to learn Latin. I suggested that he do a google search for "Learn Latin Free Online." He tried that and did not find any good resources on his own.
So I went hunting for him and this is what I found:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfxK6fC2v6c - you tube videos about learning latin
http://www.textkit.com/ - textkit for text books to download about learning Latin and Greek
http://mylanguageexchange.com/ - My language exchange to find people to practice with
Hope others find these links helpful.
Have fun learning!
So I went hunting for him and this is what I found:
I went to eHow - a great website to learn "how to" do anything.
http://www.ehow.com/how_6550644_learn-latin-language.html
From that link, I found these: http://www.ehow.com/how_6550644_learn-latin-language.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfxK6fC2v6c - you tube videos about learning latin
http://www.textkit.com/ - textkit for text books to download about learning Latin and Greek
http://mylanguageexchange.com/ - My language exchange to find people to practice with
Have fun learning!
Thursday, December 6, 2012
3 Free American History DVD's
Get 3 free American History DVD's at this link:
http://historyforchristmas.com/HEFAA.html
The DVDs are from Mike Huckabee’s acclaimed Learn Our History DVD series. Kids will get to travel back in time to see America’s greatest adventures including Columbus And The Great Discovery, The Mayflower and The Adventures Of Lewis And Clark!
http://historyforchristmas.com/HEFAA.html
The DVDs are from Mike Huckabee’s acclaimed Learn Our History DVD series. Kids will get to travel back in time to see America’s greatest adventures including Columbus And The Great Discovery, The Mayflower and The Adventures Of Lewis And Clark!
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