TinTin and Red Rackham's Treasure

Yesterday, my girls had a book group meeting (for 4th-6th grade girls). They talked about a book titled They were Strong and Good by Robert Lawson. It's a book full of potential material for discussion.

Here are the questions that my girls came up with:
1. Did you enjoy this book? Why or why not?
2. How would this story change if the author was not proud of his heritage?
3. How does the author's story make you feel about your own family? Why?
4. What was the purpose or message of the book? What was the author trying to say?
5. How does the story connect to you?
6. Why does it matter where you come from?
7. Do you think that the title fits the book? Why, if so? If not, what would you call the book?
8. Robert Lawson described his family as strong and good. How would you describe your family in 2 words?
9. Why do you think Lawson described his family as strong and good to begin with?

We also had a discussion at the end about language and the words we use and how they can offend people so we need to be sensitive to not using culturally offensive words.

After their book discussion, they wrote on some slips of paper something they had inherited from someone in their family and put the slips of paper in a bag. The papers did not have their names on them. They pulled one paper out at a time and guessed who it belonged to.

My daughters and I chose foods for snack that mattered to our relatives and our own family.

Then, I also set out a Family Tree worksheet from Scholastic to fill out on the table.

But, I also have a son who I needed to keep busy during the book group, so this summer I've had another book group for him going at the same time. In July, the boys had a theme of Encyclopedia Brown. This month TinTin was the theme.

Yesterday, my son and three other boys watched TinTin and Red Rackham's Treasure. Season 1 is free to watch on Amazon Prime. Afterwards, I discussed a few questions with them. I found the answers on the TinTin website.

1. What are TinTin's first and last name? (see website for answer)
2. Professor Calculus is funny. Did he seem like he knew what he was doing? Do you think he did?
What was your favorite part of this adventure? What is something TinTin did that you would like to do?
3. Why doesn't Professor Calculus understand everyone else?
4. What was your favorite part of this adventure? What is something TinTin did that you would like to do?
5. Why is TinTin a hero? What is a hero?
6. Captain Haddock--How old do you think he is? How old is Tintin? (answers on the website)
7. What kind of dog is Snowy? (answer on website)
8. How did they figure out where the treasure was? Who gave up? Who didn't?
9. Have you ever given up on something and then tried again?

After the discussion, they had a snack, and then drew on blank comic strips from Picklebums that you can find HERE.

Then, the boys went outside and drove R/C cars and a drone helicopter that one of the boys had brought.

It was a fun afternoon for all!

Missing Pieces

The other day I was discussing a book with my mom and explaining to her my concern about how "blame" is cast upon the child in the story. My mom commented about how deeply I read and consider what is written. Sometimes I wonder if I go overboard. Am I questioning too much? Am I overreacting? Why am I reacting this way? I come back to knowing that God wired me this way. But, I also reflect on how God has guided my path through the maze of books I've read over the past few years and what I've learned from the books themselves and from reading them. Recently, I read a book that troubled me. The book I finished reading was Guiltless Living by Ginger Hubbard. When I began reading it, I found myself puzzled and then disconcerted. And in the end, I cried. But, I cried for a different reason than one might suspect. I'd like to explain. I did not read Ms. Hubbard's previous book “ Don't Make Me Count to Three ”, but I knew from f...

listening or rather not listening to directions...

This week has been very eye opening. I am observing and noticing what I need to learn in order to be a better homeschooling mom and teacher and what my daughter needs to learn to be a good homeschooling student. My weakness when I was a teacher in a first grade classroom was not understanding how small concepts had to be broken down--and I lost my patience very quickly. This week, in particular today, I am seeing how detailed my directions need to be. I am going to be working very consciously and deliberately on this. On the other hand, I realized that my daughter does not listen! Wowsers! In a classroom, Autumn listens very well. She is a compliant child and very influenced by peer pressure and conformity. So, she listens along with everyone else and follows directions. But, at home, it's just Autumn and maybe Sami and Mommy. Very, very different! I had forgotten that most of kindergarten in the public schools is not focused on teaching students academic and learning co...

Writing A Homeschool Teacher Resume

I'm helping a friend who's switching jobs write a resume. She hasn't written one in years, so this is something new. I began working on her resume, but then stopped to write my own because I thought it might be helpful. Being a homeschool teacher may not seem to many like an occupation or career, but it is. I used the combined form of resume for myself. I began with the basic information, then moved on to strengths (the combined skills/experience part), education, Occupational Experience, then Related Experience, Certifications, Computer Skills, and mentioned at the end... References Available Upon Request. Sometimes homeschooling parents have to reenter the workplace because of family changes and needs. How could you express what you've been doing in a way that's acceptable for a resume? Well, here's my take on it... Teacher, Homeschool ...

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