Author Archives: Adriana Zoder

Jul 25 2016

Story of the World, Vol. 2, Chapter 38

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Chapter 38 deals with England’s greatest queen: Elizabeth I. Two stories cover her ascension to the throne and then the reign itself. Bauer simplified the plot quite a bit and it’s a good thing, because it is already quite convoluted.

Good Queen Bess Coloring Page

Queen Elizabeth I coloring page

The children retained the details quite well and I don’t know if it’s because the chapter was so clearly laid out or because they are getting older or because simply they paid attention better than other times. Narration went well and so did the questions, though they still don’t answer in full sentences all the time.  Continue reading »

Jul 24 2016

Princesses and Housework

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After spending a week at Princess Camp with my daughter, Friday rolled around. That’s our weekly cleaning day. Since the children are older, cleaning day is so much easier. They help quite a bit. Each of them cleans a bathroom and, of course, their individual rooms. They dust everywhere. And my daughter enjoys mopping. She really does. She asks to do it.

Girl mopping kitchen floor

Our daughter mopping the kitchen floor after Princess Camp.

Until she doesn’t. For some reason, last Friday she said, “No, thanks.” I would have none of that. I dangled a consequence in front of her (no “Mulan” – as we were going to watch this movie for the first time over the weekend) very politely and she agreed to mop.  Continue reading »

Jul 23 2016

Special Music in Church

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In our church, right before the pastor stands up to deliver the sermon, there is a musical selection called Special Music – usually by a soloist, but not necessarily so. About three times a year, my son is asked to play Special Music. So far, he has played violin once and piano three times.

Boy playing piano in church

Our son playing Jesus Loves Me in church last week.

Even though he has played violin longer than piano, our son prefers piano. It’s a long story. We are now on our third violin teacher. It has been a little harder to be consistent, but I think we have finally found somebody who can help us get through all sorts of technical issues and finally make violin attractive for the kids.  Continue reading »

Jul 22 2016

More On Coding

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Last Thursday, my husband spotted an article in our local newspaper about a coding camp. One week later, I was sitting in the office of the director of Code College on the campus of Walter State Community College (Sevierville campus). My children were present and they duly logged into their Scratch accounts and showed the professor their work. We also brought our four books on coding which we have used a bit here and there.

Learn to Program With Scratch cover

The best book of the four: Learn to Program With Scratch

But I am getting ahead of myself. Here’s what happened in the seven days since we read the newspaper article…  Continue reading »

Jul 21 2016

Princess Camp

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This week, my daughter and I attended Princess Camp at the Community Center in Gatlinburg. Janice Collart, who teaches tumbling and dance throughout the year, organizes a four-day princess camp in July. It is a drop-off event, but you know me. I don’t drop off my children somewhere in the name of education or fun.

Princess Camp - Day 3 outfit

Princess Camp – Day 3 outfit

While big brother was in Daddy Camp, i.e. he went with daddy wherever daddy’s job took him every day, my daughter and I went to Princess Camp. It was three hours every day – the fastest three hours I have ever experienced. They really kept the princesses busy.  Continue reading »

Jul 20 2016

Story of the World, Vol. 2, Chapter 37

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Chapter 37 deals with Nicolaus Copernicus and Galileo Galilei. The title is … May I just say – all over again – how much I am enjoying myself in history this year? My son loves science and a history lesson about scientists really grabbed his attention. My daughter liked the topic, too. I love it when the kids are listening.

The Solar System Coloring Page

The Solar System Coloring Page

The scientific method explained all over again, the facts of these good Catholic men going against an establishment they revered and feared – what’s not to like? Who needs fiction when we have history?  Continue reading »

Jul 19 2016

Tuesday Tome Week 29 – Child Guidance

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If you are a Christian parent, you will probably enjoy Child Guidance, learn a lot, and, at the same time, you will be challenged by it. It would be hard to read it in one week because it is such a deeply spiritual book. You would want to savor some of the principles outlined and really meditate and pray about them before you read more pages.

Child Guidance

It contains practical advice but also general principles in how to guide your child toward maturity. It also makes it clear that we cannot expect children to do and be something we are not, as parents, as adults. So you will be challenged to become a better person, a better parent, a better Christian as you read this book.

Continue reading »

Jul 18 2016

Story of the World, Vol. 2, Chapter 36

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Chapter 36 explains more about the Reformation and the Counter Reformation. Personally, I have read a few books about the reformers and the amazing work of Melanchton. So I was glad to see Ms. Bauer mentioned his contribution to the Reformation. If you are looking for some good reading on the matter, you should read The Great Controversy – it’s about church history from AD 70 through the Protestant Reformation and beyond. You can read it for free here.

Stained Glass Coloring page

Stained Glass Coloring Page

The kids liked the story about the Council of Trent because of the two bishops who were acting silly. Also, because it took 18 years for this meeting to accomplish all its goals. That’s quite a meeting. Next time you have to sit through a one-hour meeting somewhere, before you complain, remember the Council of Trent.  Continue reading »

Jul 17 2016

Soccer Camp

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Last week, my children attended Soccer Camp. The official title of this event was Elite Camp and it was organized by Smoky Mountain Soccer Academy. They met Monday-Friday, 9am-11am.

Soccer camp for ages 3-6

My daughter (red shirt) with her age group and Coach Zach plus assistants.

The weather was nice. We had two days with overcast skies, so the sun did not beat on us too badly. However, my children still got quite a tan during the rest of the days, despite the sunblock I applied on their faces, arms, and legs. Continue reading »

Jul 16 2016

Free Folk Music

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Just in case you did not know, at ReverbNation you can listen to free music created by people who are not rich and famous yet. Their songs are lovely. They speak about the human condition more so than the tunes that sell millions of records and win Grammy awards.

Ed Lee, homeschooling dad, folk singer, song writer

Ed Lee, homeschooling dad, folk singer, song writer

You can find country, folk, acoustic, alternative, pop and all kinds of other styles of music. Today, I would like to feature an artist I know personally: Edgar Allen Lee. We call him Ed. He and his wife homeschooled their children when it was not cool to homeschool, through the late 80s and 90s. Their son is a lawyer and their daughter, who has a college degree, works in the administrative office of an American symphony orchestra.  Continue reading »