I-Search Papers: The Writing Project With Potential, Part 1
Submitted by kim on Mon, 03/18/2013 - 08:59 in Homeschooling, Writing
It’s been a while since I’ve posted on teaching writing. Life is full. Caring for my home and family, homeschooling our two sons still at home, my graduate classes, and process of becoming foster-adoptive parents has me very busy. But I wanted to take a moment and share about some amazing work that has been going on in our writing community.
Our group has been working on I-Search papers since Christmas. I-Search papers are slightly different than typical research papers. They are usually written in first person and the format allows the student to describe the process of the research as a story.
Quick and Easy Way to Organize Report Writing
Submitted by kim on Tue, 02/26/2013 - 11:20 in Homeschooling, Writing
One of the parents in our Write Next To Me Writing Community shared an organizational idea for the reports we're working on. My son tweaked the idea creating a great tool to keep all his notecards and papers in order.
I was so impressed! Every teacher and parent needs to see this amamzingly simple idea that requires NO trips to the craft or office supply store!
He started with a file folder.
3 Tips if You are Caring for an Elderly Parent in Your Home
Submitted by kim on Sun, 02/24/2013 - 20:15 in Homemaking, Lessons for Mom, Marriage
We are starting our fifth year caring for my husband’s father in our home. It has been a very rewarding experience that has enriched our lives tremendously. The last four years haven’t been conflict free though, and I’ve learned a lot through the process of sharing my home with an in-law. Perhaps these three lessons will encourage other families in a similar living arrangement.
1. Maintain a Proper Perspective of the Responsibility
Responding to the Call
Submitted by kim on Thu, 01/31/2013 - 23:55 in Adoption, Parenting
The Facebook message from my friend, Beth, caught me off guard.
She wrote, “Do you remember that my mom is an adoption worker? She has a very special little girl that needs to be adopted. I have no idea if adoption is in the realm of possibilities for you guys, but when Mom talked about the ideal family for this little girl and asked if I could think of anyone at church that might be interested in adopting, God brought you to mind. Mom was in such agreement that you guys could be a great fit that I had to let you know. If interested, contact my mom.”
I read the message aloud to Rich. “Have we met Beth’s mom?” I asked him. “Did you know she was an adoption worker?”
Do I Have What it Takes as a Mom?
Submitted by kim on Thu, 11/29/2012 - 16:09 in Lessons for Mom, Parenting
I had thirty minutes to waste at Barnes and Noble last weekend and walked out with John Eldredge's Fathered by God: Learning What Your Dad Could Never Teach You. I didn't intend to by a book on manhood, or even intend to buy a book at all. But when I thumbed through Elderidge's book, a chapter title caught my attention: Cowboy.
Just like I buy books without intending to, I have raised cowboys without setting out to do so. We have lassos, hats, dusters, and more boots than I can count. And somehow I've raised these cowboys while living in the suburbs of a large city. Without horses.
