Introduction to Architecture on SchoolhouseTeachers.com and a SALE!

If you are looking for something different for your students in middle school and high school, I am currently teaching Introduction to Architecture through SchoolhouseTeachers.com. This is the curriculum website of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. One low monthly cost makes more than 125 courses for preschool through high school available to your entire family. There are also member resources and encouragement and helps for parents. From July 3 through July 5, the monthly cost is only $5.95, but your first month is only $1.

Introduction to Architecture is a fun way to learn about the history and science of some of the world's most iconic structures. The following is an outline of what is discussed in this 37-week course:

Pyramids
Pantheon
Parthenon
Coliseum
Petra
Great Wall of China

(Bonus: Gingerbread Houses and Christmas Architecture)

Tower Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge
Panama Canal
Hoover Dam
Channel Tunnel
Neuschwanstein
Mount Vernon
Fallingwater
Guggenheim
Eiffel Tower
Statue of Liberty
Washington Monument
Grand Canyon Skywalk
Spaceship Earth
Sydney Opera House
Empire State Building
Willis Tower
World Trade Center
Petronas Tower
Taipei 101
Burj Khalifa
St. Basil's Cathedral
Cathedral of Notre Dame
St. Peter's Basilica
Capitol Building
Pentagon
Architectural Fails
The Architect

If you are interested in taking this class or are looking for math, language arts, science, or other elective courses, check out SchoolhouseTeachers.com.

DISCLAIMER: I am an affiliate with SchoolhouseTeachers.com. If you sign up for a membership using my link, I will receive compensation.

A Brother is Born for Adversity

I used to think this meant that we were given siblings to test us and cause us grief. 

My brother and I are only a year apart, and we fought like cats and dogs as we were growing up. Not until his senior year of high school and my junior year did we start to get along. In college, we actually lived right beside each other for a year. That was pretty cool.

My two youngest are just 21 months apart. They fight like cats and dogs. Now I know how my mom felt. Sorry, Mom! I guess now that I'm a parent, I just don't get it. Why does everything have to turn into an argument? Why does even the breath the other takes drive one so insane? 

A friend yesterday shared her struggles with her kids and their fighting and provided this insight: our family has already accepted us and loves us no matter what. It is the approval of everyone else outside of our family we are trying to obtain, which is why our kids can be so kind and generous toward others.

It's good that we love and accept our family, but how do we move beyond the arguing and the general disdain on a daily basis? Is it a heart issue? Are they simply exercising their selfishness and need to be right?

Due to their clouded judgment, they are unable to see the beautiful characteristics which God has put within their sibling. My son is generous to a fault. He is extremely intelligent and loves to share what he has learned. He wants a relationship with his sister. He might not admit it, but why else would her attitude toward him bother him so much. My daughter is a leader. She has strong opinions. She is a very gifted dancer. She also has a very soft spot in her heart for others, especially those who face challenges and disabilities.

Maybe if they removed the proverbial planks they'd be able to see how amazing the other is. If they laid aside their own "rights," they'd be able to appreciate the people God has placed in their lives to provide acceptance and unconditional love.

It's funny how my oldest rarely gets into a battle of wits with either of his siblings. It is really only the two younger ones. Is that because they are slightly closer in age or is it because my daughter looks up to her older brother in some way? Maybe it's because he's unwilling to give in to the arguing.

Because my brother and I turned out to be such great friends, I can only hope the same will hold true for my daughter and son. They won't believe it now. They'll think their mom is insane, if they read this. They'll wonder how it could ever be possible considering how much they dislike each other. I think it's just a facade.

A brother is born for adversity. It took some time before I ever heard somebody explain this verse found in Proverbs 17. A brother isn't born to cause us grief. A brother is born to help us through the difficult times of life. There is rarely anyone closer than a sibling. He/she is the person who knows us best and loves us anyhow.

If you have any tips on defeating sibling rivalry, please share in the comments.

Hello Again! A Review of This Past Year

I've been working recently on a project to find homeschooling blogs, and it has sparked a renewed desire to begin writing again. I quit blogging in November after my last homeschool product review because I had become so busy editing that I didn't have time to write on a weekly basis, which is what was required to continue receiving the review products. I had burned out, so to speak.

Without that obligation looming over me, I will attempt to return to the world of blogging. Since I've missed nearly an entire school year, I will review what we used this year and what new things we experienced.

My oldest was a junior this year. That means he only has one year left. Excuse me while I wipe the tears off my keyboard. Seriously, I am not looking forward to graduation day. I'm excited for him, but I will miss him. He's probably sick of me saying that. Anyhow, J dual enrolled at the local state college. In Florida, students are able to take up to ten credits during the fall semester and ten during the spring semester during their junior year. So, J took Spanish 1, English Composition 101, and College Algebra. He received A's in all three classes. During the spring, he took Statistics, US History 1877 to the Present, and Spanish II. He received A's in all of those classes, too. Two of those spring semester classes started out pretty rocky, so we are extremely proud of his ability to bring those grades up.

Students who dual enroll can potentially earn an associate degree upon graduation if they take enough classes, including summer classes. J was not thrilled at the prospect of having to take classes throughout the summer, so he opted to not go for his AA. I had to swallow some pride and lower my expectations and let him make those decisions.

Besides the college classes, J took a history class and a speech class at our co-op. At home, he has been working through Apologia's Advanced Biology: Human Anatomy course. Since J has also been working part time, I have allowed him to take more time to finish this. Now, I just need him to finish it up. He has recently dissected a cow eyeball and a cow heart. His last dissection will be a fetal pig. Yep, right here on my dining room table. My youngest, P, has decided she never wants to dissect anything!

My middle child, N, has finished up his freshman year of high school. That was a big change for both of us. I learned I'll need to put my foot down a bit more when it comes to school vs. computer next year, though. For math, we used Mr. D Math. When we were at the FPEA Convention in Orlando last year, I was looking for a good math program for N. He didn't like Teaching Textbooks. As I searched the vendor hall, I saw Mr. D's booth. As I began talking to him, some of his former students ran up to him, shouting, "Mr. D!" At that point, I was sold. I think it speaks volumes when kids are that excited about one of their teachers. When N met him later, he was sold as well. He liked some of the features that weren't present with Teaching Textbooks. So, N worked through Algebra II this year. Mr. D Math is an online math curriculum. We chose to use the class that included a once-a-week, live, online seminar. 

He also studied Biology through Apologia, Writing through WriteShop, a Compare/Contrast writing course through SchoolhouseTeachers.com, 3D Animation with Youth Digital, speech at co-op, and personal finance at co-op as well. He also studied geography and literature through what I put together on my own.

P finished seventh grade ahead of schedule. She was so anxious to get it done that she did two, sometimes three, days' worth of school each day during the last few weeks. I think her favorite class was drama at our co-op. She also took geography at our co-op, taught by yours truly using Eating Your Way Around the World. The students in my class ate things they would have never tried otherwise, like Groundnut Stew, and loved much of it. They also learned about the history, culture, traditions, government, and more of each of the countries we studied. P also studied general science using Apologia. She and N have both realized they don't like Apologia's high school books that much. They are too wordy for kinesthetic learners. I have loved Apologia, and it still works for J, but next year we'll have to do something else for P and N.

We used The Complete Writer: Writing with Skill for P's writing course and Mr. D Math's PreAlgebra course for math, and I let her choose which books she read for literature. She read 33 books throughout the year. P also dances two days a week, including teaching classes to 2- through 5-year-olds.

Our year was full. The kids learned more than what is written here. There were bits and pieces pulled in from a variety of resources to enhance learning. 

J took three SATs this year. J and N both took the PSAT, N for practice, J to try to place as a National Merit Scholar. J's SAT scores have qualified him for a scholarship. He'll take at least one more during his senior year to try to obtain more. That will be our focus next year for him—scholarships and getting accepted to colleges. 

I will do my best to keep up with this blog as this next year progresses. I will share what I learn, knowing that someone might come along and read this who can use the information next year or the year after. It always helps to learn from those who have gone before us.