Today was our first day of homeschool for the 2009-2010 school year. We were all really excited to get started. After the usual morning breakfast time and chores, we headed outside for some excercise.
Here in Central Texas, it is best to get your outdoor activities done early in the morning. When I say early I mean 8am! So with baby Scout in his stroller and Pace and Brenya on their scooters, we set out for a moring adventure.
Along the way, the kids picked up flowers and rolly-pollies. What is the fascination with those bugs anyway?? I remember collecting those things when I was young too. I'd like to tell you that we listened to birds chirping, but I think it was already too hot for them. Instead we watched buzzards and hawks circle overhead. While up and down the street soldiers kissed their wives goodbye and headed off to work (Our neighborhood is 99.9% military).
When we got back home, my husband Jason (military also!) greeted me at the door. "Could you do something for me?" he asked. I held back a grone, thinking of how I needed to stay on schedule if I was going to get all the kids lessons and housework in for the day. "Sure!" I replied. And that's how I got the chore of watering our trees and flowers.
And wouldn't you know it- it turned out to be great. I put Scout in his new swing that Jason just installed and Brenya pushed him until Pace came out. Then Pace pushed Brenya and Scout while I gave the plants a good drink. Watching them play and laugh together made me so happy. It's just one of the reasons I choose to homeschool.
We started lessons at 9am. It look us about 2 hours. Brenya's lessons were actually only about 30 minutes. Afterword we played Alphabet Old Maid and then we had lunch. At 2pm we did our Science lesson, followed by Spanish.
The kids really enjoyed Spanish. They picked out Spanish names that they will use during our Spanish lessons throughout the year. Pace picked Rafael and Brenya picked Bellarosa. It was so funny to hear Brenya say, "My llama Bellarosa." Oh well-proper pronunciation will come with practice. Thanks to Dora, they both know how to pronounce rojo and azul.
All told a fun day of learning. Let's hope tomorrow goes just as well!
Monday, August 17, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Balancing Act-Thoughts from a Beginning Writer
I've been thinking lately, about how becoming a good writer requires balance. There are many components to growing as a writer. Each with it's own importance and benefit.
1. Reading published work: This opens my mind and creative nature to the vast places my writing can take my stories. I observe how Bonny Becker's use of onomatopoeia words in A Visitor for Bear bring this wonderful tale to life. I learn to use this technique in my own stories. Rather than describe that my character banged on some drums, I write "BANG, BANG, CLANG. He beat on the drums." Recently I read Buffalo Music by Tracy Fern. Fern brilliantly told a fictional story about the history of the captive breeding of buffalo in the 1800's, while creating a most convincing voice for her main character. A story within a story that stirred my emotions. I am attempting to capture this same magic in my own historical fiction picture book.
2. Critiquing: Much like reading published work, reading the work of my colleagues is very refreshing. As I encourage others and give sound advice, I learn about my own strengths and weaknesses as a writer. I look for action, emotion, flow, and so forth-and I am reminded to look for these same things in my own work.
3. Reading articles, blogs and books on writing: This is something that I do not do often enough. I have learned a great deal about the writing process by reading the advice of others. Whether it's technique, publication, query letter writing, critiquing advice, it's all at my fingertips. Some sites and blogs I've stumbled on to:
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators-http://www.scbwi.org/
Harold Underdown's blog- http://www.underdown.org/blog.htm
Query shark-http://queryshark.blogspot.com
Lill Pluta (articles on poetry writing)-http://www.lillpluta.com/articles.html
Alice Pope, Editor of Childrens Writer's and Illustrator's Market:http://www.cwim.blogspot.com/
4.Visiting Publishers Websites: There is much to learn from visiting a publisher's website. Study their list. Read their mission statement or "about us" information. After visiting www.barefootbooks.com I was inspired to write a bilingual picture book, which introduces the German language and culture to readers. It is one of my best manuscripts yet. Writing stories that "fit" a publisher's list may better your chances of becoming a published author.
5.Write, the revise, revise, revise....and revise again: I think this is one of the most important skills I've learned as a writer. Anyone can write, but it takes a skilled writer to convey a story in a concise way while still writing a compelling picture book. This often requires hacking at words that I spent precious time creating. I remind myself that if I were writing for myself alone, these stories would simply be memoirs. I strive to become a published children's book author and so my work is not merely about a few clever words, but rather telling the best- most satisfying story.
There are of course other components to writing well. But these are just a few that have been on my mind lately, and I thought I might share them with those who are newer to this adventure than I myself am.
Best of luck in your writing!
1. Reading published work: This opens my mind and creative nature to the vast places my writing can take my stories. I observe how Bonny Becker's use of onomatopoeia words in A Visitor for Bear bring this wonderful tale to life. I learn to use this technique in my own stories. Rather than describe that my character banged on some drums, I write "BANG, BANG, CLANG. He beat on the drums." Recently I read Buffalo Music by Tracy Fern. Fern brilliantly told a fictional story about the history of the captive breeding of buffalo in the 1800's, while creating a most convincing voice for her main character. A story within a story that stirred my emotions. I am attempting to capture this same magic in my own historical fiction picture book.
2. Critiquing: Much like reading published work, reading the work of my colleagues is very refreshing. As I encourage others and give sound advice, I learn about my own strengths and weaknesses as a writer. I look for action, emotion, flow, and so forth-and I am reminded to look for these same things in my own work.
3. Reading articles, blogs and books on writing: This is something that I do not do often enough. I have learned a great deal about the writing process by reading the advice of others. Whether it's technique, publication, query letter writing, critiquing advice, it's all at my fingertips. Some sites and blogs I've stumbled on to:
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators-http://www.scbwi.org/
Harold Underdown's blog- http://www.underdown.org/blog.htm
Query shark-http://queryshark.blogspot.com
Lill Pluta (articles on poetry writing)-http://www.lillpluta.com/articles.html
Alice Pope, Editor of Childrens Writer's and Illustrator's Market:http://www.cwim.blogspot.com/
4.Visiting Publishers Websites: There is much to learn from visiting a publisher's website. Study their list. Read their mission statement or "about us" information. After visiting www.barefootbooks.com I was inspired to write a bilingual picture book, which introduces the German language and culture to readers. It is one of my best manuscripts yet. Writing stories that "fit" a publisher's list may better your chances of becoming a published author.
5.Write, the revise, revise, revise....and revise again: I think this is one of the most important skills I've learned as a writer. Anyone can write, but it takes a skilled writer to convey a story in a concise way while still writing a compelling picture book. This often requires hacking at words that I spent precious time creating. I remind myself that if I were writing for myself alone, these stories would simply be memoirs. I strive to become a published children's book author and so my work is not merely about a few clever words, but rather telling the best- most satisfying story.
There are of course other components to writing well. But these are just a few that have been on my mind lately, and I thought I might share them with those who are newer to this adventure than I myself am.
Best of luck in your writing!
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Hello!
Hello! Well I guess it's time I caught up with technology. This is my first time blogging.
Today was a steamer. I helped my husband, Jason install a new swing-set for the kids and then we all headed off to the hardware store for some supplies and plants. I haven't been for some time and I had forgotten how much fun it is to browse the plants and dream of possible adventures into the land of home improvement. We came home with several interesting plants. Jason and I deliberated over where to place them and then decided the rock garden was best. Our back yard is looking wonderful, at least I imagine it that way.
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