Updated: We Are Not Alone

Biography, Classroom Help, Informative, Just For Fun

Published with Permission
Written by Katharine Trauger
katharinetrauger.wordpress.com/

 

“Hello Mother!—Oh, is supper ready?”

“It’s seven o’clock in the morning, Son, not evening.”

Thus goes life for you, Nancy, as you attempt to raise a boy who will become one of the most well-known and thanked men on earth.

Dealing with the unpredictable begins before your son is born. You and your husband, Samuel, live in Canada, in the early 1800’s, when politics force you to move to Ohio. There Samuel begins to eke out your existence as a shingle maker.

Ten years later, you give birth to a baby you do not, at first, realize will become a world changer.  (more…)

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Art: A Reflection of Worldview

Classroom Help, Informative

Published with Permission
Written by Jessica Hulcy
www.homeschoolmentor.com/www.konos.com
www.TOSMagazine.com

I always taught units to my kids; however, I never failed to take advantage of whatever field trip we could, unit-related or not. I would scour the “Arts and Entertainment” section of the newspaper (this was pre-Internet era) to see what events were scheduled in Dallas. One day the Dallas Museum of Art advertised a visiting exhibit from Spain that was highlighting El Greco’s paintings. I had taken one semester of Art History in college, so I had heard of El Greco, but past that I would have to research him at the library.

Once I knew enough, off we trotted to view the exhibit. Shortly thereafter, we viewed another exhibit of the works of Dutch Reformed painters. In the car I asked the kids if they had noticed any differences between the two art shows. Jason commented that the first exhibit was all about religion, and Jordan added that the second was about people. Brilliant! But why the difference?

Art and History… Inseparable (more…)

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Can Learning Disabilities Be Mitigated?

Classroom Help, Informative, Preschoolers, Special Needs

Published with Permission
Written by Dianne Craft, MA, CNHP
www.diannecraft.org
www.TOSMagazine.com

On a sunny morning, twin 5-year-olds were practicing writing their names. Cara wrote her name on the paper and proudly showed it to me. John also wrote his name and proudly showed it to me. Cara’s name was written well, albeit with the primitive spacing and angles that 5-year-olds often use. John, however, wrote his name in total mirror writing! As a special educator, I knew that reversing a letter in writing is typical for a child who is just learning how to write, as 5-year-olds are. However, I knew that total mirror writing was a whole different story. That told me that this child was having big issues with an internalized midline that would only lead to bigger issues when older, if not addressed early. (more…)

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