Online Book Club Part One

I'm so excited to be participating in my good friend Rebekah's online book club. This month we are reading and writing about the e-book The Headgate by Brian and Kerri Tibbets. (Click here to read.)

The Headgate: Week 1: Preface, Introduction, and Step 1: A House of Order

I was first introduced to the e-book The Headgate about a year ago by several of my favorite bloggers. There was such an online conversation going on about it that I was anxious to get a copy of it and read it for myself. When I first read it I was so inspired by the principles that it contained. Throughout this past year, I have tried to implement many of the principles talked about in the book, and I have seen amazing changes in my children and our home atmosphere because of those changes. I'm excited to be re-reading and studying the book again. By rereading it a year later, I see that there are a few key things that I had forgotten about and several things that had just fallen by the wayside, because, really, who can implement something new and get it all perfect right away.

This week as I was reading, I was struck once again with how critical it is for parents to create an environment in their homes that is conducive to learning. The Tibbets' tell us that if our home environment is right it allows our children's hearts and minds to be "free to fall in love with the most valuable and refined things this world has to offer... great books." They also tell us however, that if the environment is wrong, "they will not recognize great books as appetizing, because their senses will be dulled."

This has been so powerful to me as I have thought about it and sought to create this kind of enviornment in my home over the past year. The Tibbets' tell us that a child's senses were "created to guide them to the most nourishing activities, that would build and develop them into the best they can become." They also state that children are "naturally attracted to the most nourishing and staifsying, the most gourmet and refined, the most heavenly and enriching, because these things inherently provied the most growth."

Isn't that truley amazing? Our children are naturally drawn to those things that are the best things. We don't have to force it on them. They also come into the world and into our homes with a love for learning, and a willingness to educate themselves in the best things if ,the conditions and the enviornment are right.

The Tibbets' tell us though, that their senses "can become dulled through entertainment and overstimulation, they then need greater and greater stimulation all the time if they are to feel anything. It is in this way that the delecate system of the sensory is misused rather than used."

A recent survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation said that the average 8-18 year old, spends an average of 7.5 hours per day with media. Those numbers do not reflect time spent using media at school or for homework. It also doesn't include using cell phones for talking or texting, which would include another 2 hours a day. Their study states that almost two-thirds of young people indicated that their TV was usually on during meals, and nearly one half (45%) said that the TV was left on “most of the time” in their home, even if no one was watching. And, most youth today, say they have no rules about how much time they can spend with TV, video games, or computers.

Dr. Kim John Payne, in his book Simplicity Parenting says that he is seeing and treating, more and more children from average American homes, for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTS). The same disorder that he was treating children for in refugee camps in war torn countries. He indicates the PTS symtoms these children are showing are stemming from being over stimulated all of the time, most of that stimulation coming from excessive media. He even gave these children a new diagnosis called Cumulative Stress Reaction (CSR).

Is that really surprising? That children are spending on the average 7 1/2 hours a day, the equivalent of a full time job, being stimulated and entertained by media, and that it is causing them to be overstimulated?

It seems as though we as a society have to be stimulated and entertained all the time. We can't go for a drive without listening to the radio or popping in a DVD for the kids. As soon as we come in the door of our homes we turn on the t.v. and check the computer. We have our ipods on constantly and for family time together we watch movies and play the Wii.

How are children supposed to be creative, think deeply about great ideas, develop their talents, and even hear the spirit if they are being constantly entertained?

The Headgate tells us that children exercise no self-discipline on how they spend their free time, but will spend their time doing what their heart desires. They most often will choose to do what will give them the most thrill for the least amount of effort. That is why creating the right enviornment for your children is so important. Children can't create their own enviornment. The parents must do it.

The Headgate gives us the steps to follow to create the right kind of envirnment for our children to thrive in.

Because, my post is so long this time I will start next week's post with Step 1: A House of order.  I will also be posting the rest of my book club posts at my other blog here. 

Next week: Step 1: A House of Order

Step 2: Require Work

Setp 3: Inspire Daily

Living Books Vs. Mind Candy and a Book List

“Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested…”--Sir Francis Bacon

My family has been after me for ages write up a list of great kids books.  I have put it off for so long because the amount of work I thought it would be.  Today while thinking about making a list once again, I had a great idea, to write up a list and then add to it whenever I remember or read another great book.  So that is what I have done.  I will leave a link at the top of the page with the book list, and I will continue to add to it, so check back.

First, before you read my book list I want to explain why I have chosen the books I have.  I have, in the past few years learned that all books are not created equal.  Some books are like wholesome food that nourish your soul and help you to grow.  Charolette Mason calls these books living books.  Other books are like junk food for your soul, there is no real substance to them and your soul is left feeling hungry for something better.  BFF Amy and I call these books mind candy. 
Just as we would never feed our children a diet of junk food, so we shouldn’t feed their souls a diet of junk food either.  Their characters and their souls are being shaped by what we feed to them through books. 

Victor B. Cline said, “Nutritionists tell us we are what we eat.  Similarly the quality and character of our spirit is a reflection of what we feast upon—Including the books and magazines we read and the motion pictures, television shows, plays, and other public entertainment we witness.” (emphasis added Ensign, April, 1984)

The books on my book list are books I consider to be living books, or the best books.  The quality of the books you read to your children is much more important then the quantity of books you read to them not only in shaping who they are, but also in creating in them a desire to read themselves. Reading mind candy to your children won't inspire a love of reading like reading living books to them will.  Living books satisfy a hunger in your soul in a way that mind candy never can.

How do you tell the difference between living books and mind candy?

Living books:

*can be enjoyed by the whole family/not age specific 

*bring your imagination to life

*are filled with wonderful life lessons

*feed and nourish your soul

*leave you longing for more when the book ends

*are remembered long after you have read it

*are books you want to read again and again and each time you read it you learn something new.

* teach morals and values. 

*are well written and often include beautiful language and imagery

*teach truth

Some examples include:  The Secret Garden, Anne of Green Gables, The Little House on the Prairie Series, The Chronicles of Narnia Series

Mind Candy is the opposite of living books.

Mind Candy:

*is usually a fad book, meaning it won’t stand the test of time, popular one day and then forgotten,

*is just entertainment

*doesn’t really include any morals/values or life lessons, in fact…

*the lines between good/bad may be blurred

*Doesn't require you to use your imagination much

*not something you want to read over and over
*may be targeted for a specific age/ not something the whole family can enjoy together 

Some examples include:  Captain Underpants Series, Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, Most books featuring the latest popular TV character like Dora, or Barney

Where can you find living books?  A good place to start is with a list of classics.  They have already stood the test of time, usually with good reason.  However, the only true way to know if a book is a living book or mind candy is to read it.  You can usually tell in the first chapter or so if it has any real substance or not.  If it doesn’t, don’t waste your time reading it, put it down and pick up something else.  Don’t feel obligated to read the whole book simply because you started it.

If you are not sure if a book is a living book, or not, compare it to one of your favorite books that you know is a living book.  What do you like about the living book?  Does the book in question have the same characteristics as the living book?  Is it on the same level as far as language and imagery goes?  Does it promote the same kinds of lessons and values?   I have cleared a lot of books off of my book shelf by comparing them in this way. 

In assessing any book ask yourself questions like:  What is the purpose of this book?  Is the purpose simply to entertain me or does it teaching me something?  If it is teaching me something, what is it teaching me?  Did I enjoy it enough to read it again?   If I read it again will I learn anything the second time around?  Ask yourself these questions about the books you are reading to your children as well. 

The more you read living books the easier it is to recognize the difference between a truly great, living book and a book that is simply mind candy.

Click the "Book List" tab  at the top of the page to see my recommend list of books click here

For a more in-depth view of how I decide what to read and study read my blog post here.

Homeschool Humor

How does a homeschool family change a lightbulb?

First, mom checks three books on electricity out of the library, then the kids make models of light bulbs, read a biography of Thomas Edison and do a skit based on his life.

Next, everyone studies the history of lighting methods, wrapping up with dipping their own candles.

Then, everyone takes a trip to the store where they compare types of light bulbs as well as prices and figure out how much change they'll get if they buy two bulbs for $1.99 and pay with a five dollar bill.

On the way home, a discussion develops over the history of money and also Abraham Lincoln, as his picture is on the five dollar bill.

Finally, after building a homemade ladder out of branches dragged from the woods, the light bulb is installed.

And there is light.

--Author Unknown

I am seriously dreaming of a day this perfect.

P.S.  If anyone has any questions about homeschool, ie: why, how, feel free to ask.  I am more than happy to answer any questions.

A Great Pet and a Great Website

We ordered butterflies this fall for science and we were all fascinated with them.  It was very cool to watch them progress through their life cycle.  It seemed like every day brought new changes.   We bought the butterfly house from Homescience Tools .com.   This site is great for all kinds of great science stuff to do with your kids.  We ordered an ant farm last year which was very cool and extremally low maintance (always a plus for me).   A few of the things we got this year along with the butterfly house were a microscope and a great chemistry kit.  This spring I want to hatch chickens.   
To read more about our butterflies check out Logan's post on our From the kids blog. 

P.S.  Tabetha has been updating her blog, but for some reason it hasn't been showing that it is updated.  She recently wrote a great post about an awesome book she has been reading called Do Hard Things.  She would love it if you checked out her blog and left her a comment.

Your Kids Will Love These

I found these awesome books at Barnes and Noble this summer.


My kids love them and so do I.



They're like coloring books, only you have to use your imagination. (The red drawings are what Logan has drawn)



They keep my kids busy for hours.



And who wouldn't like to keep their kids busy for hours.



Each page is fun and exciting.



You can check The Boys Doodle Book out here. They also have one for girls.



The books in this series are good too, but not as good.

Awesome

We went to Anchorage this weekend for a Thomas Jefferson Education Conference (That's the kind of homeschool I do). I was one of the speakers. More on that later. The whole conference was amazing. I learned a ton, and I came away so inspired.
BFF Amy and her sister Tami put the whole conference together and they did a fabulous job. Amy made this great video that they showed. The pictures are of the families that attended the conference, so my kids are in it. Enjoy!

Self Portraits

On our first day of school my camera was in the car at work with Shawn so, because I couldn't take pictures, we created our own self portraits.
Do we look like ourselves?



Hannah did make her own picture, but she wanted to hold up the picture that Tabetha made of her.

We got the idea for Tabetha's picture from an awesome blog called art projects for kids. Everyday she posts a new art project for kids and I like that she often includes information about other artists. I would say that most of her projects are for ages 8+. Her projects are fairly simple and don't require a lot of time and extra supplies. Check it out!

Jarom, Logan, and I got the inspiration for our pictures from a book we have called

Express Yourself! Activities and Adventures in Expressionism.

School Goals

We are "officially" starting school tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to this school year. I have some fun things planned that I think the kids will enjoy, but I also want to study the things that they are interested in. So, last night, I sat each of them down and asked them about their goals for the year and what they would like to study. Here are their lists:

Hannah: wants to learn about foxes, sheep, chicks, and butterflies

Logan: Light bulbs, monkeys, and how televisions work

Jarom: wants to learn about electricity, he set a goal to practice the piano 5 days a week, and to work hard on his spelling.

Tabetha: wants to learn about wolves, beading and necklace designs, the sun and stars, sewing by hand, clouds, thunder and lightening, snow, coral reefs. She has also set the goal to practice the piano 5 days a week, and to work hard on her BYU math class.

It should be an exciting year.

Edgar A. Guest

For those of you who are interested in what we are studying in school I thought I would start posting a few things.

This month the poet we will be studying is Edgar A. Guest (one of my favorites) We will be learning about him and memorizing some of his poems.

Biography

Collection of Poems

Thanks to Michael we will be memorizing the poem Myself. He reminded me that he had to memorize it after he had gotten in trouble once. He says that he still remembers it.