| | The Everyday Educator
July 2014
In this issue:
- Letter from Janice:
- Why You Probably Need a Summer Break
- Summer Reading Suggestions
- Article: The Madness of Multiple Choice a guest post by Andrew Pudewa
- Cathy Duffy Reviews Excellence in Literature
- Join us at Midlands Homeschool Convention
- Resource Focus: E-book special with print purchase
- The Fifth McGuffey Reader is here!
- Writing Lessons at Schoolhouse Teachers
- Article: College Alternatives, Part 1 and Part 2
- Writing Events and Contest for Students
| | "The child does not merely observe the world around him. He does not shut himself off
from the strange, complicated world around him, but tastes it, touches it, heft it, bends it,
breaks it. To find out how reality works, he works on it." ~John Holt
|
| Dear Friend,
It's blackberry season here, and if we hadn't eaten them all, I'd take a photo so you could see how enormous they were this year. One of the joys of summer is fresh fruit– berries, peaches, and more– some from the farmer's market, and some from the edges of woodlands and in ditches. I grew up with fresh fruit growing all around, but it took a long time to discover what was growing in Virginia, since a wild berry bush looks an awful lot like Brer Rabbit's briar patch most of the year.
If you don't grow fruit and haven't been in the habit of visiting farmer's markets or pick-your-own produce farms, I recommend it as a delightful tradition to begin with your children. It can be especially beneficial for city kids who may not have had the chance to see where food really comes from. Some of my happiest childhood memories are of spending time in my grandfather's garden, snacking on whatever was ripe. I also loved trips to the dairy to buy heavy cream to make ice cream and raw milk to drink. Activities such as these make summer special, and can create good health habits that will last a lifetime.
We've had a wonderful conference season, and enjoyed meeting many of you. It's winding down now, and I hope to be home the entire month of August. I'll be writing on the blog about some of the interesting resources I found at this year's conventions (I'm loving Barry Stebbing's Nature Drawing and Journaling, especially). Even though my boys are grown, I am still learning!
May the rest of your summer be rich in joy and blessings.
Warmly,
Janice Campbell
Everyday-Education.com
Excellence-in-Literature.com
Janice-Campbell.com (blog)
DoingWhatMatters.com
P. S. We'd be grateful if you'd share our newsletter with your friends and acquaintances! And I am always happy to connect on social media– I hope to see you there!
|
| | |
If your student is behind in a school subject and you are thinking of schooling through the summer, please stop a moment. I’d like to share a few thoughts on doing that. Schooling through the summer may be the right choice if you’ve planned it from the beginning and do it routinely, but usually, when I talk to moms who are planning to school through summer, it’s a dreaded last-ditch choice in order to get througha particular amount of material before the next school year. The student looks unhappy about it, but mom is even more miserable! Please read before
|
| | | Summer Reading Suggestions
What’s in your to-be-read (TBR) pile? Mine is teetering way past the point of reason, and has overflowed onto a small bookshelf beside my chair, plus a few piles on the floor, to say nothing of those waiting in my Kindle. Time is rushing on, so I’m guessing that I won’t be able to finish all 200+ books before the end of summer. However, I thought I’d pause and offer a few of my old favorites for your summer reading pleasure.
In keeping with the idea of making summer different and special for your whole family (see Why You (Probably) Need a Summer Break), my reading suggestions focus on books for life, rather than just for homeschooling. We are not one-dimensional creatures, so it’s important to feed soul and spirit as well as the mind. Widening your reading circle is one way to become a more interesting teacher, and |
| |
If you’ve ever wondered whether Excellence in Literature
needed a few multiple choice questions to make it “better,” this
delightful essay by my friend and publisher Andrew Pudewa will make our
position clear. Like comprehension questions, another pernicious evil,
multiple-choice testing is a blight on the educational process. I hope
you enjoy this! |
| | | | Cathy Duffy Reviews Excellence in Literature
I was honored to have Cathy Duffy, author of 101 Top Picks, review the newest edition of Excellence in Literature. She was reviewing curriculum when I first began homeschooling the boys in the late 1980s, so she truly knows her stuff, and she writes wonderful, detailed reviews. When you visit her site to read reviews, be sure to notice the "Instant Key" that orients you to the main features of the curriculum (see below).
Instant Key for Excellence in Literature Suitable for: independent study for grades 8-12
Need for parent/teacher instruction: only to evaluate written assignments
Prep time needed: none other than making sure resources are available
Teacher's manual: N/A-student directed study from this guide
Educational philosophy: classical, real books, college prep
Religious perspective: Christian
You will find the EIL review and many others at CathyDuffyReviews.com. One last quote:
"Students completing these courses should be miles ahead of most of their high school contemporaries in their ability to read and analyze literature at a sophisticated level. The challenging writing assignments also promise to develop student skills in composition to a high level." |
| | One Homeschool Conference Left!
It sounds as if this will be a great conference– we are looking forward to being there! Please come by Booth 736 in section B to see us. We'll have stock of all our books, including the new Fifth McGuffey Reader.
Columbia, SC July 24-26
I hope we can be a blessing to you. Please pray that our energy holds out! When doors open, we walk through, and are grateful for the opportunity. I look forward to meeting you. Please stop by Everyday Education, Booth 736, to see us. ~Janice For a complete description of the speaking topics visit my speaker page at the blog. |
| | | In the Catalog
Get the e-book for only $10 more per level
In response to requests, we've added the option of getting the e-book for only $10 per level when you purchase the print book. The advantage of this, especially for Excellence in Literature, is that your student can access all the instructional chapters and models in the print book, while being able to use the e-book to click on links online, rather than typing them in. This can be a real time-saver!
You can see all the options on the Everyday Education catalog page. |
| | | 1857 McGuffey Readers
The Fifth Reader is hot off the press and we're expecting the Sixth by the end of summer. If you pre-ordered the set of six, we will be shipping as soon as the Sixth Reader is in our hands. We're excited to have these– they have been very well received.
Wondering what makes the 1857 Readers special? - A new 18-page introduction shows how to use Charlotte Mason's copywork, narration, recitation, and dictation techniques with the Readers
- Original teacher notes provide additional guidance
- Teachers learn along with students
- Original text presented as a facsimile edition (exact reproduction) with original diacritical markings in place
- Interior text printed on high quality cream paper for exceptional readability
|
| | | | | | | Writing Lessons at Schoolhouse Teachers
Don't forget that I offer a monthly Classics-Based Writing Lesson at Schoolhouse Teachers! During the month of July, students are working with Paul Revere's Ride, a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. I hope you enjoy the lesson!
There are a lot of other great classes at Schoolhouse Teachers, so be sure to visit! |
| Transcripts Made Easy: Add the e-Book!
You homeschool. You have teens. How 'bout that paperwork?
What can Transcripts Made Easy do for you?
|
| | If you have students who maintain they don’t need college, don’t want it, or don’t understand the purpose and meaning of education, it is probably not the right time to go to college. It is better to wait until they are ready than to rush off right after high school and incur debt for an education they won’t appreciate. They can go to work, start a business, work on the family farm, or do something else. If they eventually need college, it will be there.
|
|
Writing Events and Contests for Students
Although
we aren't able to screen all the contests that come across our desks, we are
sharing them here so you'll be able to check them out yourself. Contests can be
a useful motivational tool.
Annual College Plus Scholarship Contest
Life is so much more than classroom learning. So why should your college experience be any
different? Join the CollegePlus Scholarship Contest for your chance to be a
Grand Prize
winner and choose one of three life-changing experiences!
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers identifies teenagers with exceptional artistic and literary talent and brings their remarkable work to a national audience through The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Submissions for the 2015 Awards will be accepted beginning in September of 2014. Please use the zip code tool on the right of the Guidelines & Deadlines. Since 1923, the Awards has recognized the exceptional vision of our
nation’s youth, and provided a singular opportunity for students to be
noticed for their creative talents.
Signet Essay Contest
Official Rules for 19th Annual Signet Classics Student Scholarship Essay Contest
No purchase necessary. A purchase will not enhance your opportunity to win. Open to 11th and 12th grade full-time matriculated students who are
attending high schools located in the fifty United States and the
District of Columbia, or home-schooled students between the ages of
16-18 who are residents of the fifty United States and the District
of Columbia.
John
Randolph Foundation Scholarships
Through
the generosity of individuals, local businesses and corporate foundations, John Randolph Foundation is proud to offer many different scholarships to local students and teachers. (Tri-Cities Virginia area) The application process for the 2013-2014 scholarship season is closed but keep an eye out for their next round of opportunities.
National Student Writing Contest This is the FREE national, monthly writing contest hosted by StageofLife.com. Each month is answer a different writing prompt. Summer Writing Contest for High School and College Students (June & July 2014) YouTube in Our Lives is the summer writing prompt.
|
| "The idea of learning acceptable social skills in a school is as absurd
to me as learning nutrition from a grocery store."~ Lisa Russell
|
| | After High School
Microbusiness: On my Do What Matters, Make it Pay blog, you'll find a helpful infographic on how to use Pinterest, a popular social media site, for career development.
Webinar Series from College Plus
What You Need to Succeed in Today's Market Landscape
This series of webinars about entering today's market place is hosted by College Plus. It's designed for teens and adults. Speakers include; Kevin Swanson, Dr. Jeff Myers, John Stonestreet, Andrew Pudewa, Doug Phillips and a panel of recent college graduates from College Plus.
|
| | If you work with words, or want to, you need to get "The Edge: Success Strategies for People Who Work With Words," a free newsletter from the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors at www.NAIWE.com. *SAT, CLEP, AP, and PSAT/NMSQT are registered trademarks of the College Board and/or National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which are were not involved with the production of this email. |
| | | |
