Author Archives: Adriana Zoder

May 4 2015

Story of the World, Vol. 1, Chapter 24

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We spread the study of The Wars of the Greeks or Chapter 24 over two weeks. It just happened that way. I read this chapter to them but we did not do the map work right away. We were reading recommended books from previous chapters at the time. I like reading the lesson and the extra books in an offset fashion. It keeps reminding us of previous chapters, where we came from. We also got busy with other projects and a week went by.

Soap Bar Sculpture Supplies

Soap Bar Sculpture Supplies

When we got back to it, it was all about the craft project: carving our first Greek “stone” sculpture… out of a soap bar.  Continue reading »

May 4 2015

Appalachian Home Educators Conference

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On June 26-27, 2015, on the campus of Johnson University, home educators from Knoxville and the surrounding areas will get together for the Appalachian Home Educators Conference. I am honored to be in the speaker lineup, which is headed by Dr. Susan Wise Bauer.

My seminars will cover home teaching methods and bilingualism. I am very excited to gather up my materials and put some PowerPoint presentations together. I am very passionate about home education and multilingualism, as you may know, if you have been reading my blog for a bit.

Aerial view of Johnson University

Aerial view of Johnson University in Knoxville

The list of Exhibitors can be found here. Accommodations and meals right on campus seem very affordable.

In my opinion, home educators should attend a homeschooling conference every year, to be encouraged and strengthened, to learn about new curriculum, and to get together with like-minded people. I know I have attended a homeschool conference every year since I decided to homeschool and I always received a blessing.

May 3 2015

Story of the World, Vol. 1, Chapter 23

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The Greek Gods or Chapter 23 allowed me to introduce the kids to the neurotic gods who make up much of Antiquity’s myths and legends. I choose the word “introduce” for a reason. We are not going in depth. Maybe next time around. That is why we are not building a family tree for the Greek gods (Olympus Family Tree) or drawing a home for the gods. I am also staying away from most of the titles suggested.

To the Most Beautiful, the golden apple that started the Trojan War.

“To the Most Beautiful,” the words on the golden apple which started the Trojan War.

I really enjoyed those stories as a child, but I am pretty sure I was at least in fourth grade by the time I read about the gods and goddesses of Ancient Greece. Most of their stories contain adult themes and, besides, I don’t want to confuse my kids with all sorts of gods right now. We are still coming out of the concrete stage of thinking. When the lines between reality and fiction get blurry, it’s best to stay away from certain stories.

We chose the golden apple craft project to illustrate the reason why the Trojan war got started. The kids enjoyed the story. I read it to them twice, a few days apart, and they still did not get all the plot. A bit too many layers, I suppose. I don’t mind stretching their minds and challenging them.

It was only after we made the golden apple and I wrote “To the Most Beautiful” on it that it finally sank in with them why the gods were upset with each other. We had conversations about this for several days. I usually keep their crafts where we can see them, on the kitchen isle, so we can admire them for a few days before we go on to the next craft. They serve as conversation pieces and as an excuse to rehearse facts and new terminology

Apr 30 2015

Thoughtful Thursday Week 18 – Biltmore

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We have been meaning to go back to the Biltmore ever since we got engaged there, 10 years and two children ago. But, somehow, we never managed to get back there. Asheville, NC is a gorgeous city and the Biltmore Estate has always fascinated us. Now that Belk sponsored an exhibit of over 45 Downton Abbey costumes, we decided we just absolutely, positively, no doubt about it had to make it to the Biltmore.

Family on the Biltmore House balcony

Our family on the Biltmore House balcony

Our children loved this field trip. It was their first time at the Biltmore and they enjoyed everything. They have so many things to do there, we decided to upgrade our daily tickets to an annual pass because we shall definitely return several times in the next 12 months. Today we only had time for the House tour, lunch, the gift shop, and Antler Hill Farm (a petting zoo with goats, hens, and roosters). Continue reading »

Apr 24 2015

Story of the World, Vol. 1, Chapter 22

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Sparta and Athens took our breath away. Greek paper dolls, our first conversation about democracy, the importance of educated voters, the Spartan boy who let himself be bitten by the fox while being interrogated… Wait, what? Yes, we had to deal with some tough subjects again. At the end of the reading, my son said, “I can’t believe that boy would let that fox eat his stomach…” We talked about it for a minute, to stress how different those cultures were from ours, and we moved on. If I don’t make a big deal out if it, they will not, either.

They were happy to work on their map. They colored the Greek dolls. I copied them onto regular paper. They glued their clothes with stick glue.

I did not think they were going to play with these dolls again, so I did not use card stock or balsam wood. When we were finished, I put their dolls inside plastic pouches in their history binders. I like to keep clutter under control. We already have too many toys and craft projects lying around, waiting to be played with.

They colored, cut and pasted for a long time, until it clearly became busy work. When they start asking mommy to cut up their people and accessories, you know it’s time to file them away.

Apr 23 2015

Thoughtful Thursday Week 17 – Test Results

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We received our son’s Terra Nova 3 test scores and we were very pleased. His scores were excellent, way above the national average and showing that he does work beyond his grade level. We are very proud of him indeed. We will continue doing what we have been doing.

Thoughtful Thursday - Test Results

We learned several things from his test scores. Even though he did not score low in any one objective, he scored lower in some objectives and higher in others. Looking back at our school year, some of the scores surprised me and others confirmed what I already knew about him; all the more reason to keep testing every year.

We are not in this situation, but we know that if a child tests lower than expected, we should all consider several reasons. It could be that the child has never learned the subject matter presented on the test. Or, perhaps, the child never really understood what was taught to him. Last but not least, the child may know the subject, but he may very well just be so nervous about the test, that he freezes and forgets the answers.

All this to say that tests are good tools to assess where your child is, where you are, where you need to grow.

Apr 23 2015

Story of the World, Vol. 1, Chapter 21

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The Medes and the Persians brought a sigh of relief over all of us. With Cyrus, we finally could say, “Here is a great king, who loved and respected his people!” We talked about how the Bible mentions Cyrus as the Anointed of the Lord. My son exclaimed how nice a king Cyrus was.

Six brown paper bags

Six bags for six puppets

The first story, of course, was a bit tricky. A grandfather who plans to kill his grandchild? Rather cruel and unusual. But we soldiered through. I noticed that if I don’t make a big deal out of it, they just move on.

Girl with paper bag puppet

Showing off Cyrus, the paper bag puppet version

I prepared six brown bags for puppets to act out the story. They decorated one and decided they would decorate five more for the next five days. Well, I don’t like projects that stretch for days. Besides, I cannot imagine myself directing a puppet show with lines like, “Take my grandson and kill him!” or “Shepherd, the king sent me to kill this baby out here, but I will not. I will let you do it. And if you don’t, you will be punished…” Last but not least, I asked myself at what point a craft project becomes busy work. One brown paper bag puppet is a great craft. Two may be stretching it. But six? Even if each child made three each, it would be busy work in my book.

Continue reading »

Apr 22 2015

Free English-Russian Picture Book

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Today and tomorrow, Kitten in the Storm, my bilingual picture book, will be available for FREE on Kindle, in the English-Russian edition. This is the first volume in a series of children’s picture books which aims to teach vocabulary through a story. For this first volume, I used greetings and introductions.

Kitten in the Storm Kindle Book

Kitten in the Storm Kindle Book, English-Russian

Kitten in the Storm English-Russian was translated by a good friend of mine, Svetlana Rakova Striguniene. She and I had a lot of fun putting this together. I received good suggestions from her for the English text. As a German and English teacher by education, Svetlana knows a thing or two about languages and literature.

If you know anybody who is trying to learn Russian, please pass this along. This book, of course, can also be used by Russians trying to learn English. Reading is the key to learning and practicing vocabulary in any language.

Thanks for checking Kitten in the Storm English-Russian out!

Apr 17 2015

Story of the World, Vol. 1, Chapter 20

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Greece Gets Civilized Again or Chapter 20 presented the challenge of Odysseus and the Cyclops. To show or not to show them the coloring page, that was the question. To read, or not to read them the passage of Homer about the Cyclops eating men two at a time, that was the question. I chose to read it. I chose to give them the page. It’s a fine line. I don’t know if I get it right all the time.

Homemade hummus and bread from Panera

Homemade hummus and Panera bread

I have already chosen not to read to them the story of Romulus and Remus or any of the Romany myths that were recommended for a previous chapter. Even Sinbad the Sailor came home from the library, but never got shown to the kids. I previewed it and decided it really was not for kids under 10. At the very least, they should be nine, just like Amazon suggests, before they read about Sinbad’s killing of a man and fighting a horrible monster, described with such details that even I shuddered as I read about it.  Continue reading »

Apr 17 2015

Story of the World, Vol. 1, Chapter 19

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We listened to The Early Greeks or Chapter 19 in the car, on the way to soccer practice. I brought along their clipboards, crayons, and worksheets. Alas, sweet five-year-old daughter refused to color. But my son did his work.

My husband assures me it is only a matter of time before our daughter will get with the program and obey more. After all, her behavior reminds us of our son when he was five. I hope my husband is right.

Since she is only in PreKindergarten, I did not lay the law down. I just let her look out the window instead of coloring, knowing she was listening to the story simply by being in the car with us. But, in all honesty, I don’t think I will invest in the CDs for volume 2. As useful as they can be, I think it makes more sense for me to read to them the stories while they color. Based on my experience this year, we have only listened to five, maybe six lessons in the car. The rest, I have read them at home.

The following day, I read the story to them again to give her a chance to work on her coloring and map. The whole process was a bit convoluted, as she wants to sit in my lap while coloring and I must juggle book, wiggly five-year-old in lap, and reaching for the tissue box (spring allergies are in full swing at our house).

The crafts seemed a bit too much for our energy level at this time of the year. I was delighted they decorated their Greek vase coloring sheet very nicely and we moved on to the next chapter. We are trying to catch up and finish this textbook by the end of the school year, which is about 40 days away.