Homeschooled twins

• 204th Carnival of Homeschooling

  The carnival is up at the Norfolk Homeschooling Examiner. [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 9:13pm EST
  

• Steal this post.

  The sponsors of our 2009 GUESS Homeschool Science Fair generously provided our young scientists with exciting prizes for the winners. Their donations also allowed us to underwrite the cost of all the kids' science fair day at the VASC, including an age-appropriate science class, an electricity demo, and an IMAX' [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 8:59pm EST
  

• Halloween

  [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 11:20am EST
  

• History at Our House

  
  IMG_3599
  Originally uploaded by Sherene SilverbergCouldn't resist posting this pic of my kids as they do a History through Art lesson with Scott Powell from History at Our House.
  
  Every Monday to Thursday, from 11-11:30 a.m., the children' [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 11:16am EST
  

• Plural of curriculum

  I am writing on my blog to prevent me from being rude on a list. When will homeschoolers learn that the plural for "curriculum" is NOT "curriculums"? It is "curricula".
  
  It's like the homeschooler in Hampton Roads whose address is "grammerworks@....".
  
  I die a thousand deaths when' [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 7:11pm EST
  

• Promoting Happy Scientists

  The Science Fair is nearly upon us. On Monday, 9 November, close on a hundred homeschooled students descend on the Virginia Air and Space Museum to show off their scientific prowess.
  
  We have really great sponsors this year.
  
  Robert Krampf, The Happy Scientist has [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 4:03pm EST
  

• NaNoWriMo

  I was planning on having Ben and Shira write a 5,000 word novel for NaNoWriMo, but life has conspired against us. November is going to a brutal month for us and I can already see that my kids are feeling stressed. I decided that adding writing to their workload [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 3:55pm EST
  

• Book Arts Bash

  
  
  
  This year's Book Arts Bash is now underway.
  
  The Bash is an amazing opportunity for budding homeschool novelists to showcase their writing. Last year over 300 homeschoolers entered their writing. Judges like Lois Lowry (The Giver) and Robert Pinsky (former US Poet Laureate)' [...]
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  Posted: October 12, 2009, 5:08pm EDT
  

• Lego Mindstorms NXT

  
  
  A friend and I have lost our minds. Despite zero experience with First Lego League and Mindstorms programming, we're running a First Lego League team for our four children and another friend's 2 children. Thankfully we have a homeschooled teen who is Mindstorms crazy as a mentor [...]
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  Posted: August 30, 2009, 11:48am EDT
  

• Overheard.....

  Shira: "Ben, when you bake, it's important to stir and beat the batter well." (said in her most officious voice)
  Ben: (said in his most "know it all" voice) "Shira, I know how to bake. I've baked countless loaves of bread on Disney Fairies. I know that the more you" [...]
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  Posted: August 18, 2009, 3:10pm EDT
  

• Learning to apply make up

  There is nothing quite as deflating to the ego as having young children. This morning Ben and Shira were standing next to me as i started applying my make up and seriously punctured my ego.
  
  Shira watched me take out a brush and start applying concealer. She wanted to [...]
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  Posted: August 05, 2009, 9:18am EDT
  

• Today is Towel Day

  This morning, as I was making breakfast, I reminded the children that today was a public holiday. "Yes, we know," they barked, "It's TOWEL DAY!". Mmm, our eccentric homeschooling ways are showing. Our kids know all about "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" but don't know about Memorial Day.[...]
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  Posted: May 25, 2009, 9:31am EDT
  

• I'm blogging over at the Examiner.com

  I've started writing for the Examiner.com. If you've been following this blog, you will probably enjoy following me over at the Examiner.com. [...]
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  Posted: May 25, 2009, 7:40am EDT
  

• Separation of Church and State.

  One of our local Congressmen Randy Forbes has introduced a legislation to recognize the role of religion in official America"
  During a visit to Turkey last month, Obama said, “One of the great strengths of the United States is, although I have mentioned we have a very large" [...]
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  Posted: May 07, 2009, 4:27pm EDT
  

• Eggheads

  Yesterday was the annual egg drop competition at Nauticus.
  
  Ben's feeling miserable with his broken collarbone so he decided not to take part. Yesterday turned out to be a great lesson in actions having consequences. Shira won second place in the parachute drop and Ben is seriously bent' [...]
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  Posted: March 15, 2009, 11:33am EDT
  

• Padwan Shira

  The highlight of Shira's trip to Hollywood Studios was being chosen to take part in a Star Wars Academy.
  
  As you can well imagine, Ben was not impressed that she, and not he, was chosen. It's tough when children start to realize that life is not always fair.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: March 15, 2009, 11:24am EDT
  

• Georgia Aquarium

  In early January we visited the Georgia Aquarium with my cousin, Roy.
  
  I have to say that this is a most impressive aquarium. However, the cognitive dissonance was almost too much for me.
  
  When I think of aquariums, I think of quiet places filled with the sounds of [...]
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  Posted: March 15, 2009, 11:05am EDT
  

• Behind The Scenes at Epcot

  Whenever we visit a museum or park, I try to arrange a behind the scenes tour for our family as my experience has shown that this greatly enhances the visit.
  
  One of our favorite "rides" at Epcot is the "Living With The Land Boat Ride".
  
  
  
  When [...]
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  Posted: March 15, 2009, 10:30am EDT
  

• Hampton Roads Tax Day Tea Party

  I can't wait to take Ben and Shira to our local Tea Party on April 15 in Virginia Beach. They've learned all about the Boston Tea Party and were actively involved in campaigning to get Ron Paul onto the Republican ballot.
  
  A blogger buddy, Rational Jenn took her [...]
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  Posted: March 15, 2009, 9:50am EDT
  

• Earthbox gardening

  I am a green thumb challenged homeschooler who has been cursed, um blessed, with two children who are desperate to grow things. After it cost me in excess of $200 per tomato last year I swore off ever growing vegetables again.
  
  In my defense, we have little or no [...]
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  Posted: March 15, 2009, 8:13am EDT
  

• Kim's Play Place: Academy of Science and Technology 1

  I've been on a mission lately about finding a science curriculum for the kids. To this end I've been searching through all the homeschooling message boards to find information on science programs.
  
  I couldn't get over the fact that more time is devoted by homeschoolers talking about history than' [...]
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  Posted: March 13, 2009, 10:11pm EDT
  

• Patience

  Just heard a great quote, "Patience is just procrastination without the stress." [...]
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  Posted: March 13, 2009, 7:40pm EDT
  

• The Homeschool Showcase is up.

  As usual, Kris has published another great edition of "The Homeschool Showcase"
  
  I can't wait to make the origami boxes she featured.
  
  ' [...]
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  Posted: March 09, 2009, 8:59pm EDT
  

• Have fun with augmented reality.

  Marc and the kids have just spent a few happy minutes playing with the digital hologram at the GE site.
  
  Plug in your webcam, print out the graphic from the website and have fun with the digital hologram of the smart grid.
  
  See more funny videos [...]
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  Posted: March 09, 2009, 8:00pm EDT
  

• Math Fact Drill

  Over the last few decades I've noticed a very worrying trend amongst math educators that downplays the importance of knowing math facts well enough that you don't have to think when asked one. I've seen arguments that suggest that calculators take the place of knowing math facts.
  
  For a' [...]
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  Posted: March 09, 2009, 10:43am EDT
  

• What are you doing for Pi Day?

  Celebrate Pi Day!
  
  Pi, Greek letter (), is the symbol for the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. Pi = 3.1415926535... Pi Day is celebrated by math enthusiasts around the world on March 14th.
  
  Read about Pi Day here
  
  We'll start off' [...]
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  Posted: March 02, 2009, 12:43pm EST
  

• Touching stingrays

  

  Fun in Seaworld in the warmth [...]
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  Posted: February 17, 2009, 2:26pm EST
  

• Shira's story

  Shira is writing a story. She outlined the beginning of the plot to Marc. Here's what she said:The hero is Karog is a dragonslayer which is only one of two jobs available to boys in that village. The other being a councilman. The heroine, who is currently nameless wants to' [...]
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  Posted: February 08, 2009, 8:53am EST
  

• My Kids Are Growing Up.

  Both kids told me today that they are going to use their own bathroom from now on. They've both showered in their bathroom and now they have moved their face wash, moisturizer, toothbrushes and pastes into their bathroom.
  
  I thought I was dying for the day to come when' [...]
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  Posted: January 29, 2009, 1:32pm EST
  

• The last laugh is on me.

  A few weeks ago, a homeschooling buddy, Deva was mocking the Snuggie. I wholeheartedly joined in. I've been tickled by this strange product ever since. I should have known that it would be a successful product when Ben asked for one. He thought it was the most perfect' [...]
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  Posted: January 29, 2009, 12:38pm EST
  

• Great bright hope to end battle of the light bulbs

  A story in the Mail Online is one of the most heartening stories I have read for ages. I would never have dreamed 2 years ago that light bulbs would be a subject near and dear to my heart.
  
  I totally detest those energy efficient fluorescent ones. I [...]
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  Posted: January 29, 2009, 11:23am EST
  

• Mercury in corn syrup? Food made with ingredient may have traces of toxic metal

  The Sun Sentinel has this story.A swig of soda or a bite of a candy bar might be sweet, but a new study suggests that food made with corn syrup also could be delivering tiny doses of toxic mercury.
  
  For the first time, researchers say they have [...]
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  Posted: January 29, 2009, 11:09am EST
  

• The Homeschool Showcase is up!

  Kris of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers has just published the latest edition of The Homeschool Showcase (formerly the Carnival of Cool Homeschoolers.
  
  I loved this carnival but two posts in particular made it really worthwhile to me.
  
  Jenny Wren's Nest post on how shemade homemade' [...]
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  Posted: January 26, 2009, 9:53pm EST
  

• Dog Trainers

  My dogs are expert trainers, they have me trained to perfection.
  
  We tried to train the dogs to ring a bell when they need to go to the potty. Archie is not interested in bells, but Hershey loves them. She's discovered that if she rings the bell a human,' [...]
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  Posted: January 24, 2009, 2:38pm EST
  

• My Saturday

  Ben has a playdate this morning and we weren't successful in arranging one for Shira. Ben has big plans for "boy" play today and Shira has no real interest in it. She asked if we couldn't have a "mommy and Shira" day.
  
  I LOVE days where I do things [...]
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  Posted: January 24, 2009, 9:26am EST
  

• I'm back

  The whole episode with my eye left me feeling very burnt out and even after my eye was no longer so painful, I had no inspiration to blog.
  
  Yesterday, however, when something happened that had me wanting to blog, I realized that my spark had come back.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: January 21, 2009, 7:44am EST
  

• King Tut and Gluten free goodness

  We're in Atlanta for a few days to see the King Tut exhibition and to visit the Georgia Aquarium.
  
  
  
  Ben was underwhelmed by the King Tut Exhibition, but Shira loved it. Even though Ben was bored, I was pleasantly surprised that to see that much of' [...]
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  Posted: January 02, 2009, 3:46pm EST
  

• Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers: Homeschool Showcase (Formerly The Carnival of Cool Homeschoolers) #14

  Kris has published the second edition of Homeschool Showcase . This is what Kris renamed the Carnival of Cool Homeschoolers that I used to run. Kris has done a splendid job and I thank her once again for taking over when I was in a bind.
  
  My good [...]
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  Posted: January 02, 2009, 3:45pm EST
  

• The Carnival of Cool Homeschoolers has moved to Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers.

  I've been having a problem with my left eye. I have an inflammation of the vitreous that is not responding to medication. This has resulted in an eye that is extremely light sensitive and extremely painful. Added to this, what little vision I did have in that eye is almost' [...]
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  Posted: December 15, 2008, 6:04pm EST
  

• Homeschool Biggest Loser

  
  
  My friend Lydia has organized a Homeschool Biggest Loser competition. I'm the "super secret data collector" so please make sure I am super busy by entering if you want to lose weight,
  The Biggest Loser is a show on NBC where overweight people compete' [...]
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  Posted: December 15, 2008, 5:56pm EST
  

• Very disturbing pictures of a poodle with a crazy owner

  The pics on this website are very disturbing. I can't imagine going to all that trouble to trim and dye my dog's hair to make it look so weird.
  
  Here's one of the pics to whet your appetite.
  
  ' [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2008, 8:35pm EST
  

• A reminder of how good we have it today!

  I had one of those rotary telephones he talks about until I was in my mid 20's. Had to laugh at what he had to say about people with zeros in their telephone numbers.
  
  ' [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2008, 7:15am EST
  

• StoryCorps is declaring November 28, 2008 the first annual National Day of Listening.

  from StoryCorps
  This Thanksgiving, StoryCorps asks you to start a new holiday tradition—set aside one hour on Friday, November 28th, to record a conversation with someone important to you. You can interview anyone you choose: an older relative, a friend, a teacher, or a familiar face from the neighborhood.
  [...]
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  Posted: November 22, 2008, 4:53pm EST
  

• Gore's "Farenheit 9/11"

  The Irish Times reports:A new Irish film claims that climate change guru Al Gore is an alarmist and that those who think they are saving the planet are only hurting the poor
  
  IF THE ADVANCE publicity is anything to go by, Not Evil Just Wrong will do for [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2008, 10:58am EST
  

• Homeschooling cranky, convalescing children

  We're just spent nearly 2 weeks in the Silverberg home battling the crud. Each child had a high fever for around a week, of course, there was very little over lap so it felt like it was never going to end.
  
  Ben is now well but Shira, while her' [...]
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  Posted: November 13, 2008, 7:29am EST
  

• Thermins

  One of the reasons I am so attracted to Marc is that he always has some odd interest on the go. One of his odd interests is playing odd musical instruments. The theremin is one of his favorite odd instruments. What is a theremin you ask? I'll let the guys' [...]
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  Posted: November 13, 2008, 7:12am EST
  

• The Food Miles Mistake

  My favorite magazine, "Reason", has written a good article on why the concept of food miles is flawed.

  So just how much carbon dioxide is emitted by transporting food from farm to fork? Desrochers and Shimizu cite a comprehensive study done by the United Kingdom's Department of Environment, Food and [...]

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  Posted: November 13, 2008, 6:54am EST
  

• The Woman Who Lived On The QE2

  
  
  This BBC story piqued my interest. It tells of an 89 year old woman who made the QE2 her home on and off for 14 years.

  She pays about £3,500 a month and says she prefers it to any retirement home.
  With elegant surroundings, lavish meals, cocktails [...]

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  Posted: November 13, 2008, 6:40am EST
  

• Parenting beyond belief

  Dale McGowan, author of "Parenting Beyond Belief" has compiled a very useful list of rational, secular, parent bloggers over at his blog The Meming of Life

  Our greatest deficit — the lack of a connected, mutually supportive community — is slowly being erased. Equally important, this chorus of voices helps [...]

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  Posted: November 12, 2008, 7:26pm EST
  

• ""Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness' sake,"

  According to the Houston Chronicle, this December The American Humanist Association will run an ad campaign where they will write, ""Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness' sake," on the side of busses.
  
  As you can well imagine, certain sectors of society are up in [...]
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  Posted: November 12, 2008, 8:34am EST