Carnival of Educators, A Week of Firsts

Welcome to the October 27, 2009 edition of Carnival of Educators.


The absence of the Carnival of Education left a hole in my life.  I didn't know about Educarnival v2 but that one is silent right now too.  Anyway, I decided it was time to get another carnival going.  I am however looking for volunteer hosts.  I can't do it alone.   More info here.  I should also point out that I did not include posts that were not done by educators, hence the name, Carnival of Educators.  That can include teachers, college professors, homeschooling parents, school administrators, and tutors, and a select few others dedicated to education.  I am trying to make this a junk-free carnival.

With that said, we got a pretty good response for a first carnival, and I am happy to compile it.  Here are the entries for Carnival of Educators, A Week of Firsts.




Let's start if off with the first family:
Mary Ann Zehr presents Obama Keeps Track of What His Daughters Are Reading posted at Curriculum Matters.

First there's one, then there's two: 

Carol Richtsmeier presents Thing 1, Thing 2 & Fish Clappers posted at Bellringers.


Before you can help a child who needs special education services, you have to test them first:

Whispering Teacher presents When to Have Your Child Tested for Special Education posted at The Whispering Teacher, saying, "Hi, I came across your blog and I thought we could share articles :-)"


This college may very well be first on my son's list:


Herbert Aitken presents Pet Friendly Universities: 10 Colleges That Love Your Cat or Dog posted at College Stats.org.



Just about everyone's first science experiment is a volcano.  But there's a lot more you can do with baking soda.

Patti W presents Patti’s Baking Soda and Vinegar Compendium posted at Patti's Nursery School Class, saying, "Got little (or not so little) kids in your life? Want to learn some basic chemistry with them? The volcano is just the beginning of what you can do with baking soda and vinegar. Here's a sampling of what I do with those two ingredients in preschool and with my own kids at home."


This blog reminds us to think first, then speak.

Rachel Lynette presents Minds in Bloom: 8 Ways to Crush Creative Thinking in Children posted at Minds in Bloom.


This post is about putting others first, and yourself second.


Siddharth Garud presents Heroes and Hope of my India posted at Indian Eagle's Diary, saying, "2 of young inspiring educators from India. They were successful in their professions but chose to move into educating the underprivileged children. They are the heroes transforming India."


Every year, at yearbook time, I hear about a new controversy.  This is a new first for me.

hall monitor presents Lesbian student banned from wearing tuxedo in yearbook posted at DetentionSlip.org, saying, "I guess some schools think they can write the rules of gender rights."  But at least they are not picking on girls only.  Andrea presents Boy told he could not wear girls clothes to school at Education Headlines Examiner.


These final posts are from blogs that don't necessarily fit the theme, but they still have educational value.



TIC presents The Failure of Teacher-Centered Teaching in A Serious Man posted at Technology In Class, saying, "A reminder of the importance of student-centered learning through the multiple intelligence."

 Andrea presents Homeschool 101: Educator discount cards posted at Atlanta Homeschooling Examiner.


Fredric Cernick presents 25 Free Web Tools Every Student Should Use posted at How To E-D-U.

Alvaro Fernandez presents 15 FAQs on Neuroplasticity and Brain Fitness posted at SharpBrains, saying, "Here you have a Question and Answer session on what neuroplasticity means and how to maintain and improve brain fitness"

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of carnival of educators using our
carnival submission form.  Past posts and future hosts can be found on our  blog carnival index page.

Here's a bonus halloween entry:  Crafty Rose presents Halloween Ghost Garland posted at Fine Craft Guild .com.

Technorati tags:  carnival of educators, blog carnival.

All images by in creative commons, attribution-share alike 2.0 liscense by lumaxart/flickr (aren't they cute?)
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I am a Kreativ Blogger!

I can't tell you how much it blows me away when someone tells someone tells me that I have been an inspiration to them.  Well it happened again to day.  Thank you so much  justlocs for thinking about me today and for allowing my journey to inspire yours. 

I was given a Kreativ Blogger award by Justlocs and feel very honored.  Now this isn't just any blogger award, it isn't meant to be held onto.  It must be passed on.  Here are the rules. 



1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award
2. Copy and paste the award on your own blog
3. Link the person who nominated you.
4. Name seven things about yourself that folks may not know.
5. Nominate seven Kreativ bloggers
6. Post links to the seven bloggers you nominate
7. Leave comments on each of the blogs letting them know that you have nominated them!

With that said, I will get to the seven things about myself that folks may not know.

1. I am from a large extended family.  My parents raised 5 boys and 4 girls... I was in the middle group. 
2. I began my college career studying law, and ended with a BA in Art. 
3. I am actually an introvert.... on the inside anyway.
   
4. I once took one of those tests that tells you what kind of job to get.  Mine just said "should work alone".
5. My favorite food is spaghetti... I could eat it all day, every day. 
6. I am very clumsy and accident prone.  I once stapled my shirt to my stomach... with construction staples. 
7. I have been married for 17 years and have known my husband for at least 23 years.

My nominations of bloggers I want to pass this award to:

1.  Tracy Knight has a newsletter and blog named Women Encouraged.  From meeting her, you would never realize the power behind her quiet personality.  She is a Dancer, and Actress, a Spiritual Guide all in one.  I haven't seen her in a while, and I miss her, but it is good to know that her blog is here to encourage me.
2. Sandra King has a truly creative blog called Love Abounds at Home.  It is filled with pictures of handmade items and personal thoughts that touch the heart. This blog makes me smile. 
3.  Big Momma from Confessions of a Stay at Home Mom blogs about marriage, faith, and rainy days.  I love her profile picture of a black barbie.
4. The Homeschooling Mommy, AKA Mommie Tullottes, AKA Lyn Lomasi, is probably the most active blogger I know.  I met her as a fellow writer at Associated Content.com.  Like me she also writes her own blogs and for other sites like examiner.com... and she homeschools.  Phew!
5. Paula Neale Mooney is my hero.  Paula is another content writer that I ran into on Associated Content.com.  Paula is now a blogosphere superstar, actually making a living by blogging.  She has a few blogs.  My favorite is linked above and talks about making money online. The other is more about news and other bits and pieces.
   
6. I love Phat Mommy (and wish I had thought of the name first).  Her blog is so colorful, every day, and entertaining.  I love following her. This is a great homeschooling blog that doesn't shove homeschooling down your throat. 
7. Darla Dixon is my favorite artist and favorite friend in Georgia. I have known her almost as long as I have been here.  We don't talk often, but when we do, it is hard to get off the phone. We run the Women of Gwinnett Group together... she's so dedicated!  Check out her art blog... it is to die for. 
   

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Let's get a new Education Carnival Going!

I was flabbergasted to find that the Carnival of Education was discontinued. While I greatly enjoy the carnival of education, I learned alot from school teachers and other educators. So, I decided to start a Carnival of Educators.

I will start the first post next Tuesday at noon. If you want to host a carnival please email me at ahermitt@ gmail.com.

I will update this page as I get all of the rules and submission guidelines together, but for now, lets keep it simple:

1. Submit original posts from your blog
2. Posts MUST BE education related, and true blogs, not commercial websites.
3. Submit by Sunday at midnight eastern standard time to get in by Tuesday at noon.
4. Submit through the carnival link http://blogcarnival.com/bc/cprof_8594.html , not by direct email.... it makes our work eaiser.


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When you can't teach it all yourself

As my son and I drove home from church yesterday (we had the rare opportunity to be alone) I got a chance to question him about what math direction he wanted to go in in math and science so I could map out his courses for the next two years. Based on his answers, it became abundantly clear to me that he has reached the end of my level of understanding and that I can't help him with the courses he needs to cover over the next two years. He is currently doing Algebra two in math. I went as far as Trignometry and then Finite Math in college, so I am currently stretching my self when he needs help. Next on his list is Pre-Calculus and Calculus so you can see that he is definitely going to need some math homework help in the form of tutoring.

In the science, physics is next on his list. This is another course I have not touched. My level of experience goes as far as AP Chemistry, much if what I promptly forgot the second I passed the class.

As homeschoolers, we are often confronted with people who ask us how we are going to tech subjects we don't know. They point to situations just like the one I am currently in and accuse us of handicapping our kids. They don't however complain about teachers who are teaching subjects they did not cover in school or parents who are helping them with homework. Fortunately, we all have access to websites that offer online homework help.

Tutorvista.com is one such website that helps students learn math and science subjects from Kindergarten through college. If you want to try them out before you buy, you can consider taking advantage of their free online homework help sessions.

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Son Passed First CLEP Exam!

My son took the Analyzing and Interpreting Lit Clep this morning and scored a 52. You need 50 to pass. His score counts as a C (unofficially) for a college course, and since he is only 15 and in the 10th grade, I assigned him a B for his grade portfolio. He did do additional work for me while studying for the test... We will call it extra credit.

This was supposed to be the easiest of all CLEPs, but I disagree. It is only easy if your child or student is an avid reader of literature. While my son IS an avid reader, he does not do poetry, or "literature". He mostly sticks to big, honkin' manuals. I think it might be easy for my daughter who does like novels with flowery language, so I will plan for her to take it in the spring.

He is going to spend the next 6 weeks working towards the SAT with math review and working on his essay skills. After that we will tackle the History 1 CLEP.



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Homeschool must see: Little House on the Prarie, the Musical

I recently found out that Little House on the Prairie had been revived as a musical starring Melissa Gilbert as Ma.

If your daughter (or even son) is anything like mine, she has read every little house book written. Mine read not only the Laura Ingalls series, but the fictional prequels and sequels (not written by Laura Ingals Wilder). She knows the story from the Great, Great, Grandmother down to Laura's daughter.

If you follow a classical approach as we do (very loosely) then this story is well suited for anyone studying the the late classical to early modern time period.

Pair the studying of these novels with enjoying the musical and you have enriched the historical experience for your child.

You don't have to be a homeschooler studying a specific time period to enjoy the play though.

Little House is playing all over the country and may be coming to a town near you very soon.

If you are reading the books and/or plan to the show, you should make use of the STUDY GUIDE

Dates: GET TICKETS HERE

ST. PAUL, MN 10/13/09 – 10/25/09
NASHVILLE, TN 10/27/09 – 11/1/09
LITTLE ROCK, AR 11/3/09 – 11/5/09
SPRINGFIELD, MO 11/6/09 – 11/8/09
TULSA, OK 11/10/09 – 11/15/09
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 11/17/09 – 11/22/09
ST. LOUIS, MO 11/24/09 – 11/29/09
DETROIT, MI 12/01/09 – 12/05/09
TEMPE, AZ 12/08/09 – 12/13/09
DENVER, CO 12/15/09 – 12/27/09
FAYETTEVILLE, AR 01/05/2010 – 01/10/2010
OMAHA, NE 01/12/2010 – 01/17/2010
MADISON, WI 1/19/10 – 1/24/10
TORONTO, ON 1/27/10 – 2/28/10
TAMPA, FL 3/2/10 – 3/7/10
NAPLES, FL 3/9/10 – 3/14/10
RALEIGH NC 3/16/10 – 3/21/10
APPLETON, WI 3/23/10 – 3/28/10
SPOKANE, WA 4/8/10 – 4/11/10
SACRAMENTO, CA 4/14/10 – 4/25/10
HOUSTON, TX 4/28/10 – 5/9/10
DALLAS, TX 5/11/10 – 5/23/10
SIOUX FALLS, SD 6/1/10 – 6/6/10
Ft Worth TX 6.8.10-6-13/10

(more dates may be added)



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Year long education plan for my 9th grader

At 13 years old, and starting high school, my daughter has requested to take over her education. More speficically she wants me to stop looking over her shoulder and monitoring her every two minutes. She has requested an overall plan for the year, as I was giving her assignments for the week every Monday and then "nagging her to death". I have obliged her by giving her an overall plan for the year to follow.

I created a start page here that explains her schedule and takes her to the various outlines and assignments.


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