Set Up for Reading Success!  

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After reading this article on how the public school system sets boys up to HATE reading. I just had to post this.
Public schools tend to choose books girls like and not the ones boys like. If you think about it 98% of younger grade teachers are female thus the tendency to pick what they like.

In a nutshell, they recommended this site called Books for Boys that shows books boy love!

As a Homeschooling mom, I choose to set my kids up for reading success!

For the Beauty of the Earth - It is SPRING!  

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Hymn: For the Beauty of the Earth
(Listen to it here)

1. For the beauty of the earth,
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies;
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

2. For the wonder of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale and tree and flower,
Sun and moon, and stars of light;
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

4. For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child;
Friends on earth and friends above;
For all gentle thoughts and mild;
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

5. For Thy Church that evermore
Lifteth holy hands above,
Offering up on every shore
Her pure sacrifice of love;
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

6. For Thyself, best gift divine,
To our race so freely given,
For that great, great love of Thine,
Peace on earth, and joy in heaven:
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.
Lyrics: Folliot Sandford Pierpoint
Music: Conrad Kocher

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For the Beauty of the Earth
Folliott S. Pierpoint, 1835–1917

Not much is known about Folliott Sandford Pierpoint, the author of this hymn. He was born in the town of Bath, England. The inspiration for this hymn text is said to have come to the young author as he was strolling about his native town one day in the late spring, entranced by the beautiful countryside with the winding Avon River in the distance.



I have been reading a fabulous book by Sharon Lovejoy called Sunflower Houses: A book for Children and Their Grown-Ups.


This book opens up a world of discovery for children in the garden. She gives great ideas of how to FULLY enjoy your garden and to make your children be a large part of planting, watering, observing, and enjoying it. Some of her ideas that I like (some I will try this year, others will have to wait for another year) are:
Sunflower Houses, Growing a Zucchini in a bottle, a sundial garden, butterfly garden, making dolls, hats, crowns, tea cups and scaucers .... all from specific flowers, a rainbow garden, floral clock garden (arranging flowers in pie shape and in order of flowers that open at various times of the day), worm boxes.... the list goes on.

Lovejoy has allowed me to allow my kids to explore the earth and she has allowed me to see the earth from a child's perspective. To dig and get dirty. To be creative with plants and flowers. To not be afraid to pick flowers. To treat gardens as a playgroud of sorts. To listen to the bugs and butterflies and to even taste SOME flowers that are safe for tasting.

She lists plants, flowers, fruits and vegitables that are ideal for children to grow. Ones that grow fast, some that are big, and ones that grow easily. I don't know about the kids but that is just what I need when it comes to gardening!

I am sure I will be posting some of these experiences as we enjoy the beauty of the earth!