Thursday, March 31, 2011

History Through the Ages Timeline Figures - Giveaway Winner!

Today is the day!

And the winner is. . .

Stefanie F.
feyerfamhs(at)yahoo(dot)com


(ETA: winner was selected by use of random.org)

Thanks to each of you who stopped by and took time to read my review and be part of this giveaway. It has been my pleasure to share about these wonderful resources with you!

Stay tuned, I'll be doing more wonderful giveaways each quarter of this year including a complete set of the Charlotte Mason Original Series! Want to stay updated? Sign-up to "follow" my blog!

Blessings,

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right!

Who would have ever expected so much drama and bickering among leaders in the homeschool community? I sure wouldn't have, and certainly not at the level of disgrace that this situation has risen too so quickly.

As of yesterday, the Midwest Convention has uninvited Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis.

http://www.cincinnatihomeschoolconvention.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Ken-Ham-Issue-Public-Statement.pdf


http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2011/03/22/kicked-out-homeschool-conferences?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AIGDaily+%28Answers+in+Genesis+Daily+Articles%29&utm_content=FaceBook

Wow, what a shame!


First let me acknowledge that my understanding and comprehension of this situation is limited to the tittle-tattle that has taken place online and been made so public.

In that regard, I am very disappointed in the way each party has approached this situation. The gossip and public discourse is unbecoming to each as an individual and to each as a "leader" in the homeschooling community - and while I am fully aware that these folks certainly have the right to share and voice whatever they choose to on their blogs, forums, FB pages, etc., I can't help but wish someone would have reminded them that along with the right to freedom of speech . . .they also "have the right to remain silent!"

In reading the statements by B. Dean and K. Ham that I've linked above, both perspectives seem divisive and intended to stir the attendees into taking sides. . .and the accusatory comments by both parties intertwined with finger-pointing scripture is disheartening on many levels.

Then there are the blog posts below by Susan Wise Bauer and Jay Wile that incriminate and accuse as well, which no doubt played a role in the current situation and uninvite. . .



A great deal of "he said", "she said" and an unfortunate situation all the way around. Nobody wins here!

Furthermore, the way the conference hosts handled themselves in this matter was uncouth and dishonorable. Mr. Ham had been an invited speaker, thus if he had made statements that created concern and needed to be addressed, it should have been done professionally and with discretion. Perhaps a few emails to Mr. Dean (conference host and organizer) expressing dismay might be in order. . .

Lastly, while I respect Susan Wise Bauer and her right to run her board as she sees fit, her seemingly one-sided pot stirring among her supporters did not strike me as necessary or appropriate, particularly considering the subsequent deletion of posts and threads when things got heated or opinions differed, i.e., support for Ham, disagreement with the Midwest decision. (Yes, some select dissensions remain, but the censorship is palpable.)
 
To compound this imbalance of perspectives, still up for reading one can find. . . the thread and link to Susan Bauer's posts on the issue, along with the thread and link on Jay Wile's post - neither of which are much different than Ham's. And of course, let's not omit the very lengthy thread which she herself started on the scuffle topic, which remains "closed" for further discussion while ever-so-available for your reading pleasure as it contains plenty of ill remarks regarding Mr.Ham as well as her encouragement for folks to support Midwest's decision to uninvite him.

Palpable. I don't think it'd be off the mark to state that it's just wrong to impose bias dialogue in this manner particularly after initiating the topic. I mean, c'mon, if you're going to stir the pot. . .

In closing, the matter is simply sad all the way around. No one is more wrong than another, and as they saying goes. . .two wrongs don't make a right. As leaders in the homeschool community, all parties involved should have conducted themselves with more integrity and tact before unleashing the storm of words that has ensued.


Praying for resolution.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Review - History Through the Ages Timeline Figures and Resources

Utilizing a timeline adds a unique visual touch to history studies. It is a wonderfully useful adjunct that allows one to glimpse the "big picture" when it comes to chronology and relevancy of all that has past. A timeline can help us remember important dates, events, people, empires, architectural developments, presidential offices and more, while also allowing us to see some of the connections or relationships between these things. What was going on in the world when Shakespeare was writing comedies, tragedies and poetry? Who was President during WWII? Who was living and what was going on when Jesus was crucified? What classic authors lived at the same time? What else was going on during the Industrial Revolution?

History is fascinating. Creating and using a timeline can help make it fun too! Thus, I want to share some of my absolute favorites resources from Homeschool in the Woods that we have used with success and joy in our homeschool.

First, there are the pre-printed sets of wall size timeline figures. These come in four individual packs that cover the various time periods from Creation to Christ, Resurrection to Revolution, Napoleon to Now, and of course, America's History. These sets correspond well with many of the popular history curriculum's! They come pre-printed on card stock, ready for your wall size timeline. Each pack includes a color-coded bar line to assist you in placement and visual distinction of specific time periods. Fantastic for those with adequate available wall space, but you can also use these in many other creative ways as well. 


Second, and a top favorite of mine, is the Timeline Figures CD.


This awesome 2-CD set is all-inclusive and gives you the freedom and convenience to print over 1,260+ timeline figures in a size and manner to suit whatever undertaking or design you desire - notebooking pages, coloring pages, cards for games, wall timelines, notebook timelines, history fair projects, science fair projects, topic specific studies, and much more. The images are sorted into over 30 helpful categories, i.e., chronological, alphabetical, topical, authors and literary works, presidents, wars, ancient wonders of the world, explorers, composers, scientists, artists, and more - allowing you to easily find and print just the precise ones you are looking for. Your creativity is the ONLY limit when it comes to this fantastic multipurpose resource!

SAMPLE NOTEBOOK PAGE I CREATED WITH CD

And if you check out this archived post, you'll see the history fair project we created using several figures from the CD as well.



Third, comes the History Through the Ages "Record of Time" Notebook. This hardback, beautifully bound, spiral style notebook, filled with thick, durable, lined pages dating from 5,000 BC to 2,025 AD, is a great resource for organizing and creating a keepsake quality notebook type timeline. I've seen many timeline books - some blank, some boring, some flimsy - but this one stands above them all in every aspect! And if you're like me and think you might struggle with exactly where to "place" all those delightful figures within the book, be sure to check out the ever-so-helpful suggested placement guide





SIDE NOTE: To my excitement, as I was preparing this post and gathering the links to share, I noticed that there is also a new "Record of Time" Timeline Notebook on CD that was not available when I originally purchased my items. . .so. . . I was wondering, dreaming, thinking. . .who wants to buy this for me? LOL! :)

Last, but not least, be sure to check out the abundance of timeline and timeline related tips and ideas that are to be found on the Homeschool in the Woods website. This alone is worth grabbing some tea and settling down at your computer for a while. It's a literal timeline gold mine! Click this link for free timeline figure samples and visit here see many other freebies from Homeschool in the Woods!

Now, just one last thought. . .I've seen a few posts and chatter about these resources being too expensive, but from my perspective fwiw, as with certain other items I've selected for our children's education, I've found them versatile, high in quality, and worth the investment!

~ BONUS ** FREEBIE ** GIVEAWAY! ~  
As an added bonus and gift to my readers and followers here at Seasons of Learning, I'll be holding a drawing on March 31, 2011 for a FREE set of the Creation to Christ pre-printed wall size timelines figures! To enter, simply leave a comment on this post! (Please make sure that I can reach you, because if I can't contact you - you can't win!)

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Shhh. . .Don't Speak

Suffer alone and in silence,
We won't ask, you don't tell
Short simple lessons
Women learn all too well

Not feeling so cheerful?
Kindly keep it all in
No life is perfect
Remain quiet and grin

Hence not a bleak word
Clean house? Yes, you may
Your feelings? How trifling!
Carry on with your day

What's that you say? No. Delete. Delete. Delete.

Oops! I meant "all is well". 

Lesson learned? Shhh. . . Don't speak.

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