Monday, March 26, 2012

Tiny Libraries...

I read this very intriguing article in USA today a couple of weeks ago that I thought you might be interested in.

Tiny Libraries Have People Thinking and Reading Outside the Box.

This is such a neat idea--individuals are making little boxes, like a big mail box, and turning them into free libraries. They work on the premise of  "Take a book, leave a book," says Todd Bol the founder of the Little Free Library movement.

This idea has taken off and Little Free Libraries can be found across the world, spreading the love of literature far and wide. some of these little libraries with just a handful of books have a great turn over. In Madison, Wisconsin Jenna Hansen has a Little Free Library in her front yard. In the past year and a half she says that "literally thousands of books have been in and out of here."

I love this idea. We have a neat library system in our small town where books from the county library are delivered to our local "Library in a Box" which is like a block of 30 lockers. We can go online and chose our books and they are delivered to the box. We get a call when the books are delivered. then we punch in a code at the box, the door opens and we get our books and go home. It is a great system and I have increased my library usage considerably since it was set up a couple of years ago.

But, maybe you live in a place where a Little Free Library would be practical? Would you like to be a Little Librarian? You can go to Little Free Library to find out more information. I actually have a limited number of children's books and would be happy to donate a couple to get you started.

Take care,
Jill

Friday, March 23, 2012

New Drawing...Norman Rockwell Print

The Land of Enchantment. Comment here and on my blog. You get one chance to win for each post [two total per person]. This is a large print--
Full-color 12.75" x 23" print on heavy art stock and looks awesome anywhere.

Custom-printed with an extra-wide border. Perfect for the mat and frame of your choice!

You can't really see it from this picture, but this is probably my favorite story book print and for sure my favorite Norman Rockwell print. It has many, many  favorite storybook characters all in sort of a collage in the background and two boys reading in the foreground.

It is a challenge to find all the old familiar friends. I looked and looked for a long time before I finally found them all. I have one just like this framed in my office. It makes me smile.

If you would like to win one, just comment here and/or on my Paths to Learning Facebook Page on a favorite storybook character. Or maybe a character that your children love. If you post here and "like" me on FB, that is two entries. If you already like me on FB--Thanks!--and just post your favorite there too.

Some of the storybook characters  and books that are in this print are:
  • Little Red Riding Hood, Last of the Mohicans, Aladdin, Knights of the Round Table, Old King Cole, Robin Hood, Rip Van Winkle, Rip Van Winkle, Hiawatha, Long John Silver, Cat the Fiddle, The Seven Dwarfs and more.
I have a nice supply of these prints, so for every 10 people that enter I will give away 1 print. I think you will love it.

So, what is your favorite Childhood storybook or storybook character?

[And, if you get a friend to "like" me on facebook, you will get an extra entry. Just comment on FB or here and let me know. I would love to get up to 50 likes in the next 5 days.]


Monday, March 12, 2012

What I learned today...

I don't have a smart phone but I hope to get one next year. As I prepare for my 2012 Homeschool Convention events I was encouraged to make a QR Code sign for my booth.  So, here it is, the QR code for my Homeschool Resource Library. I put this code on a table sign which will sit on the front table of my Sonlight Curriculum Booth.

I really wonder if anyone will use it. Do you ever scan any QR codes? If so, do you do it often? What makes it more likely  that you will scan one?

 I am really interested.

 I see them around, but don't really have a clue as to how they are used.

So, anyway. It"s true you learn something new every day. Whew! Now I can relax for the rest of the day, knowing I already learned something today.

Take care,
Jill


Sunday, March 4, 2012

NEW Drawing on my Facebook Page

NEW DRAWING!

This one is for two bars of homemade Prairie Kari soap! One bar of Goat Milk Vanilla Cappuccino and one bar of Goat Milk Hyacinth.

 Drawing ends in two week, March 18th, winner announced the 19th!

You can enter on my Facebook Page Paths To Learning
Take care,
Jill
 
 
 

Friday, March 2, 2012

In Honor of Dr. Seuss... a past post...

In honor of Dr. Seuss and other wonderful storytellers, I am reprinted a blog post from 2009. 

Never Tease a Weasel-Part 2...

Yesterday I talked about the problems that I had trying to teach my children important character traits by reading books written specifically for that purpose. They just did not translate across to make an impact on my children. They might know to Never Tease a Weasel, but brothers were fair game!

I believe character traits are caught not taught! But, I think we can do something to make catching them a bit easier. It is somewhat of a secret, but I will share it with you....read real books! Not books designed to teach character--kids are too smart for that, but when you share real, living books with your children you will have many opportunities to talk about the characters in the books--what they did right, what they did wrong, what they should have done.

I remember when I read Little Britches to Kari and Scotty. That book is full to the brim of character lessons-most of them learned by the author, Ralph Moody when he was growing up in Littleton, Colorado around 1910. This autobiography is a wonderful account of growing up on a ranch--about responsibility and honesty and about the relationship between a father and son.

Ralph is an amazing storyteller who weaves his story like a fine tapestry. It is amazing how he remembers so well what it was like to be a child and the lessons Ralph learns in the book are as applicable today as they were 100 years ago. Whether you homeschool or not, this is a delightful book to read aloud to your children. It will make a lasting impression on the whole family.

And who can forget about the elephant who is "Faithful, 100%"? Horton Hatches the Egg is another story where you can talk about doing what is right, about responsibility and friendship, about love, adoption and what makes a good parent. This is a great read-aloud book that brings up many character issues for you to discuss with your young children.

There are so many wonderful stories with great story lines and characters worthy of emulation or of scorn. One of our favorite biographies was about Eric Liddell--the guy the story "Chariots of Fire" was based on. He was dedicated to running and to God, yet he had to make a choice between them. His story is inspiring and humbling--a great book to read-aloud to older elementary and middle school children.

And then there is great historical fiction like "Daughter of the Mountains," that teaches faithfulness and sticking with a job. There are bad guys you can talk about as well as those who are good and kind. This book, like many others, gives you, the parent, an opportunity to talk about those core beliefs that you want to pass on to your children.

Another book for younger children is "The Bee Tree." It not only teaches natural science, but also the value of reading and the wisdom of older people.

I could go on and on--and if you want more recommendations, let me know, but basically, pick out a good book and begin reading it to your children. Talk about the situations, the characters, their decisions and what they could have or should have done differently. What would you do if you were in their shoes?

So read a book to children,
Now there's some good advice...
You can talk about the characters
And whether or not they are nice!

Take care,
Jill