Poetry Friday

God’s Grandeur
by Gerard Manley Hopkins, 1918

THE WORLD is charged with the grandeur of God.
It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;
It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil
Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?
Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;
And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;
And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soil
Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

And for all this, nature is never spent;
There lives the dearest freshness deep down things;
And though the last lights off the black West went
Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs—
Because the Holy Ghost over the bent
World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.

Calling all Catholic Homeschoolers with Blogs

A Catholic Mom in Hawaii has put together a wonderful Catholic Homeschool Blog Directory. If your blog is not already part of the directory, please e-mail Esther and tell her about your blog.

It's a Sad Day for Mexico City

Lawmakers in Mexico City voted to legalize abortion on Tuesday. Please pray for the lawmakers, the residents of Mexico, and especially the babies. More information is available from Life News, www.lifenews.com/int264.html

Father Goose

Last week, my husband and I watched Father Goose, starring Cary Grant and Leslie Caron. It is a delightful movie about a man, "Mother Goose" who is persuaded to live on a deserted island and spot aircraft for the Australians during World War II. When Mother Goose (a.k.a. the Filthy Beast) is sent to rescue another airplane spotter, he ends up rescuing a school teacher (Goody Two Shoes) and her students, instead. I would not mind watching this cute movie again.

Starfish

by Edith Thacher Hurd, illustrated by Robin Brickman

A couple of years ago, as I perused the children's Science section of our local library, my eyes alighted on Starfish and I scooped it from the shelf. Starfish, originally published in 1962 and read by children in Montessori schools, was republished in 2000 as part of the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series. In simple, easy to understand language the reader learns that starfish have arms, but no legs; feet, but no toes; a mouth, but no eyes, ears, or nose. The author describes different kinds of starfish. Edith Hurd shares how a starfish grows, moves, and eats. She divulges where they live. An art project and tips on finding starfish are included at the end of the book.

Although Starfish is geared towards children in Preschool and Kindergarten, all of my children find the book interesting and informative. They especially liked learning that the ray of a starfish grows back. Little did I know, when I plucked this book from the shelf, that I had found a star of the sea. Little did I know, that this book would introduce me to what has become an integral part of our Science studies, the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series.

Poetry Friday

This week's poem can be found in Our Lady's Garden.

A Child's Work

"Supposing I said there was a planet without schools or teachers, study was unknown, and yet the inhabitants - doing nothing but living and walking about - came to know all things, to carry in their minds the whole of learning: would you not think I was romancing? Well, just this, which seems so fanciful as to be nothing but the invention of a fertile imagination, is a reality. It is the child's way of learning. This is the path he follows. He learns everything without knowing he is learning it, and in doing so passes little from the unconscious to the conscious, treading always in the paths of
joy and love."
~ Maria Montessori ~

"In nomine Patris et Spiritus Sancti. Amen." These are the words that I heard coming from Patrick's mouth as he sat down for lunch, today. I was surprised. I knew that he knew how to make the sign of the cross in English, but I did not realize that he had been listening to his sisters and brother say, "In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen." God has blessed His little ones with an incredible ability to learn.

Shortly after lunch, Patrick got our Lauri Noah's Ark Puzzle, placed it on the coffee table, took all the pieces out, and started to do it. I remembered doing this puzzle with his eldest sister at a similar age, but I had no idea that Patrick could do the puzzle. Upon completing the puzzle, he went on to do it two more times. After finishing the puzzle for the third time, he said, "Please take a photo of me. I'm finished." We have not taught Patrick his manners (please, thank you, etc.), he has picked up on them by listening and observing.

One of the reasons I love homeschooling is because I get to observe my children learning. I have found that given a loving and nurturing environment, children (especially young children) will naturally learn. So, what does that loving and nurturing environment look like in our home in regards to Patrick? Our days are usually somewhat organized and fairly similar. When Patrick wakes up, I change his diaper. We go to the kitchen and I get bowls on the table, while Patrick gets spoons. I pour his cereal and he sometimes pours his milk into his bowl. After breakfast, he takes his bowl to the sink and then he gets dressed with some assistance from me.

We say our morning prayers and then I give all of the children a short Latin lesson (Patrick plays in the living room). Patrick and Theresa are then free to decide what they want to do. Popular choices include drawing, working with the Lauri Shape and Color Sorter, designing with our Pattern Blocks, playing with Theresa's Playmobil Noah's Ark, driving his trains or cars, building with blocks or duplos, etc. At some point during the morning, I usually find that my three eldest are all working independently on something and I take this opportunity to read books to Patrick and Theresa. Patrick's favorite books are The Poky Little Puppy, The Boy with a Drum, and Angus and the Ducks.

We eat lunch together and then I read to all of the children. Patrick occasionally sits next to me and listens, but he usually occupies himself with something in the living room. After our read-aloud, the children play outside. Some days, Patrick runs, climbs, slides, and swings. Other days, he finds enjoyment working with our child-size garden tools. When he comes inside, he is usually ready for a nap and enjoys snuggling with me and listening to a story before he falls asleep. If he is not ready for a nap, then I have learned that I am going to be busy.

Our day ends with dinner, baths, bible, the Rosary, and listening to more stories. Patrick enjoys participating in all of these activities with varying degrees of interest. Regardless of his degree of interest, I know that he is usually listening and always learning.

Sharing

I am 3 months old.

I like to sleep on someone.

I also like sticking my tongue out.

My mommy still needs to get a photo of me rolling over, but she never has a camera when I do.

I have Patrick to thank for my latest milestone. Yesterday, I started blowing "raspberries" in the air. I can't wait to a blow a "raspberry" on Patrick's cheek.

Book Deals

Yesterday, as I looked at the companies that are members of the affiliate program to which I belong, I discovered a dangerous (to me) website. Why is it dangerous? It is dangerous because it is like an online Half Price Books, only better. Book Closeouts offers thousands of new books at 50% to 90% off the cover price. The only down side to this company is that their stock is limited. I purchased a lot of books that are recommended by Mother of Divine Grace and Seton from Book Closeouts which had only one copy in stock.

Some of the authors whose worthwhile books are available on Book Closeouts are:

Aliki

Jim Arnosky

Franklyn M. Branley (and other Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series authors)

Margaret Wise Brown

Robert Clyde Bulla

Frances Hodgson Burnett

Tomie DePaola

Eleanor Estes

Rumer Godden (The Story of Holly and Ivy)

Steven Kellogg

Rudyard Kipling

Maud Hart Lovelace (Betsy books)

Robert McCloskey

Edith Nesbit

Mary Norton

Beatrix Potter

Alice and Martin Provensen

Tasha Tudor

Mark Twain

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Melissa Wiley

Maria Wilkes

I am sorry that I am not providing direct links to these authors, but Blogger kept altering the necessary html. There are other authors' books at Book Closeouts, but these are the ones that come to mind.