If I ask a question, please don't take it as an attack.

When did being inquisitive become an aggressive trait?
I am really tired of feeling as though I have to constantly clarify my intentions
when all I really want is to clearly understand someone else's position.

I want to know your logic.
I want to know why you feel that way.
Tell me your experiences or observations that have made you come to the decision or position which I can't comprehend.

It is not an affront on your character if what you are saying does not make sense to me.
If you want me to understand, repeatedly saying the exact same thing is not going to make it any easier for me to understand it.

I am not trying to be snide, argumentative or confrontational.
I am a learner. I want to be fully informed.
I do not just nod my head in agreement or wag my finger in disgust when I hear something that doesn't sit quite right with me.
I may even ask you why you agree with me.

I ask questions. That is what I do and it is not me attacking you!

Spring Session Lesson Plans

Spring is all about focusing around here, specifically focusing on writing a clear, concise, and comprehensive essay. Since KM busted butt and finished her Applying Algebra, Physics, Glencoe Literature Units, Movies as Literature  and the GED Writing Book we have streamlined her lesson plans to the bare-bones to be able to put the majority of her energy into prepping for the GED Essay. 

We will be using the GED Essay workbook by Steck-Vaughn in a few weeks, but first we will be utilizing IEW Student Writing Intensive Group C. I have to admit that I bit the bullet...despite all my former positions on writing curricula, I BORROWED - I am stressing the fact that I did NOT buy the program - from my very dear friend and personal home ed guru. She is an accomplished writer and two of her three girls who have taken the SAT got PERFECT writing scores on their essays, sooooo I give her opinion a lot of credence. She recently completed this program with her three younger kids and even her most reluctant writer enjoyed the program. KM feels given the great praise her friends gave it, that she should give it a try. She will be working on this when I am home so that I can be sure that things are moving along appropriately and I can be aware of what advice and tips the program is giving in each lesson. When we are through with it I will be sure to give a full review of this program.

Here is what KM's daily breakdown will look like for the next 10-12 week session - 

For a bit more info on the current GED essay guidelines download this free PDF - HERE.

These are the additional resources that we will be trying out during this intensive prep period - 

• GED Language Arts, Writing w/ CD-ROM (GED & TABE Test Preparation)
• GED Language Arts, Reading (GED & TABE Test Preparation)
• Test-Taking Strategies for Students Taking Essay Tests
• Taking Reading Comprehension Tests
• GED Connection Programs #10 - Essay Writing
• PBS Literacy Link - GED Prep
• Additional practice essay topics HERE, HERE and HERE

~~~~~BE AWARE though the current format will only run through the end of 2013. There will be a new GED released in 2014 and these materials will be obsolete.

To see are many other posts on our frustrations with writing HERE. 

Flocabulary - Free schoolwide access through June 30th

We have used a number of their free resources so I am excited to be able to try out their full line!!!

	Get unlimited schoolwide access—free. Over 15,000 schools use Flocabulary to help students reach their academic potential. How can Flocabulary empower your students? This spring, take a free test-drive and find out. Sign up today for a schoolwide trial subscription and get: Hundreds of educational hip-hop videos, songs and lessons  Unlimited usage for all teachers and students 24/7 access on any internet-enabled device Explore our award-winning library through June 30, 2013 with no obligation to purchase. Sign up at: flocabulary.com/spring13

Everyone works

ENOUGH!! Seriously, I have had ENOUGH!!! I really think that it is time for spring to get here already!!! I have had more than enough of all this white stuff taking up space and stealing my time away!!! These are the days when I REALLY miss CJ and long for the time that we could just sit back, cuddle up and wait for him to pull in with the plow.

But that era is gone now, with him on the road and me working. For those of you who don't know, I work outside the home part time and although it is only part time I work in a healthcare profession and am an "essential worker". This means that even if they call off all events in the county and the plow truck drivers are sleeping in some parking lot somewhere unknown to the rest of us, I still have to make it to my clients' homes. So this morning when I awoke at 6:05 to 6+ inches of snow, I called in to work and said I would be running a bit behind. I then had my breakfast and at 6:20 went into KMs room to ask her to come out and help by shoveling while I ran the snow thrower. To my amazement she was out of her bedroom and getting ready to come out before I had gotten all my snow gear on. I was OH SO THANKFUL! I had hesitated in asking her because she is NOT a morning person, but I am so glad that I had enough faith in her to ask. It took us less than an hour to get half the driveway and my car cleaned up enough so that I could hit the road. Luckily I only had one client that I was required to see this morning and when I got back to the house 4 hours later the driveway looked as if we hadn't even touched it!!!

I made some lunch before I once again asked KM to bundle up and grab a shovel. She said "OK". No whining, no complaints, no dilly dallying. She just got her stuff on and headed out with me. She did everything I asked and kept going the entire 2 hours we were out there. I can't even remotely express the appreciation, joy and pride that I felt every time I glanced at her, working diligently along with me. This is part of being a family. Everyone works, so that everything can get done and no one has to do it all by themselves.  

Let the games BEGIN!!! - World Ed Games 2013

You can still register to get in on the fun -- World Literacy Day, World Maths Day, and World Science Day

FREE 39 Clues Virtual Field Trip - March 5th

Here is another great FREE resource from Scholastic! 

On March 5th at 1 pm (EST), New York Times Bestselling author David Baldacci will take students on a virtual field trip to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History to explore some of history's great mysteries. With David Baldacci as their guide, students will meet renowned museum curators, go behind the scenes, and investigate some of the most fascinating moments in American history.

To sign up to start a The 39 Clues Reading Club click HERE
For the downloadable pre-webcast materials click HERE 
This is a direct link to the webcast sign up - 39 Clues Virtual Field Trip

One more week to Practice!!! World Education Games

World Literacy Day - 5 March 2013  NEW! 

World Maths Day - 6 March 2013


World Science Day - 7 March 2013


KM has been getting ready for these events!! 

Be sure to register early to get in as much practice as you can!!!

She's BACK!!!! - The NEW Unplugged Mom

I am so very happy that the "new UnpluggedMom" is on the air!!!

I didn't realize how much I missed hearing Laurette and Desiree's podcasts until this afternoon when I listened to Episode 1: Parenting Under The Influence

Not Too Late - Iditarod starts this weekend!

I am reposting these resources since the event starts this weekend and it is NOT too late to get in on the adventure!

The Iditarod Dog Sled Race offers a unique learning experience for your family. The Iditarod is a tool of instruction that leads students to academic success and educators to enhanced STEM instruction. 

Although the race doesn't start until the first Saturday in March you should check out this great article - Educators, Prepare for the Race Now - for some super tips and tricks to incorporate this into your education plans.

Then view these presentations and links to learn about the exciting opportunities for learners around the world!

• Iditarod Education Department Presentation (Overview of Department Activities)
• PowerPoint Presentation on Math and Science (Using Iditarod as a tool in math, science, and other classes of instruction.) 
• I Kid A Rod PowerPoint:  Get a glimpse of an example of an I Kid A Rod held at an elementary school in Alaska.
• Zuma's Paws Iditarod K9 Journalists
• View and/or print this brochure and learn more about the Iditarod Education Department.
• Iditarod Student Page
• Iditarod’s Education Department:  An Overview in 21 slides, presented at ITC Board Meeting, June 2009: Iditarod Education Department Summary
• An Overview of Iditarod Education Department Activities:  Iditarod in the Classroom (PowerPoint presentation)

Scholastic also has a pretty detailed lesson plan outlined HERE

Balto - an animated film about the roots of the Iditarod Race and Iditarod: The Toughest Race on Earth are also great "ice breakers"

What's going on around here...

Well, well, well...it has been a busy month - WHERE DID FEBRUARY GO??

We survived Nemo and the four day power outage it brought with it by camping out in the living room ~~~

There were some moments when I seriously didn't think we were going to make it with our sanity in tact...

There was lots of playing with the critters in the house and this was our version of Bernard in the Box...

We also have been spending a good amount of time getting my great niece and nephew settled into their new apartment - with their mommy & daddy of course...

All and all we are trucking along ~~~ although CJ is of course the only one actually "trucking" and has been doing quite a number of really long hauls. He has been going out to No. Dakota and Missouri to name a few and this has left me and KM to deal with the majority of the snow --- which we are QUITE sick of at this point!

On the home ed front KM is finishing up Applying Algebra, Physics and the GED Writing Book. She has also decided to take a break from her cosmetology studies for awhile so that she can focus - I mean HARD CORE FOCUS - on essay writing for the GED. The writing book I just mentioned  focuses specifically on the multiple choice section of the test - editing, grammar, mechanics and spelling - but we have the GED Essay book which will take her through the step by step process to cover exactly what GED testers are looking for. This is of course one of those UUUUGGGHHHH areas with us - see the multitude of posts on our frustrations with writing HERE. The essay for this test is judged differently - far simpler really - than any other type of standardized test though. You are given a topic to respond to and they are looking for a clear, concise answer. There is no "right" or "wrong" as they are opinion questions that the student needs to back up with experiences and observations. This is where KM lacks confidence and this is why we really need to just work on this until she builds her confidence. It is more about getting past her own blocks than building her skills in the area.

Flocabulary - The Date

Another great Flocabulary freebie just in time for Valentine's Day - this song includes sixth grade vocabulary words that students are likely to encounter on state tests. It teaches the following words: abundant, beacon, clarity, consent, convenient, cultivate, deteriorate, evolve, exclude, idiom, legislation, reluctant, subordinate, trait and verdict. In this song, find out what happens when Joe scores a date with the most popular girl at school. It doesn’t exactly go as planned!

Flocabulary - The Date
Lesson Plan 
Exercises
Test and Answer Key
'via Blog this'

Iditarod - A Unique STEM Learning Experience

The Iditarod Dog Sled Race offers a unique learning experience for your family. The Iditarod is a tool of instruction that leads students to academic success and educators to enhanced STEM instruction. 

Although the race doesn't start until the first Saturday in March you should check out this great article - Educators, Prepare for the Race Now - for some super tips and tricks to incorporate this into your education plans.

Then view these presentations and links to learn about the exciting opportunities for learners around the world!

• Iditarod Education Department Presentation (Overview of Department Activities)
• PowerPoint Presentation on Math and Science (Using Iditarod as a tool in math, science, and other classes of instruction.) 
• I Kid A Rod PowerPoint:  Get a glimpse of an example of an I Kid A Rod held at an elementary school in Alaska.
• Zuma's Paws Iditarod K9 Journalists
• View and/or print this brochure and learn more about the Iditarod Education Department.
• Iditarod Student Page
• Iditarod’s Education Department:  An Overview in 21 slides, presented at ITC Board Meeting, June 2009: Iditarod Education Department Summary
• An Overview of Iditarod Education Department Activities:  Iditarod in the Classroom (PowerPoint presentation)

Scholastic also has a pretty detailed lesson plan outlined HERE

Balto - an animated film about the roots of the Iditarod Race and Iditarod: The Toughest Race on Earth are also great "ice breakers"

Vocabulary Building

I posted before about these great lists of 100 words middle schoolers should know and 100 words high schoolers should know and now we are working to ensure KM has all of these down pat. One of the things that we will be using is Quizlet flashcards -

The New York Times - The Learning Network

I just came across this and it seems as though it could be a very useful tool! Check it out -

A weekly collection of lesson plans and Student Opinion questions from The Learning Network, a free blog that uses Times content to create daily cross-curricular materials that teach skills, invite inquiry and engage students with current events.

To sign up visit - The Learning Network: "

World Education Games - Training Begins TODAY!!!

World Literacy Day - 5 March 2013  NEW! 

World Maths Day - 6 March 2013


World Science Day - 7 March 2013


KM has always had a great time participating in these events!! 

Be sure to register early to get in as much practice as you can!!!