Alternative LearningAre you a homeschooling mama? or maybe you unschool... or maybe you are interested in another alternative learning style? or maybe you don't have any idea what i am referring to?? this forum might just be for you! share your thoughts and ideas
Location: When I dare to be powerful -- to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.
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Thank you for putting this together. When ever I have a question about something I always come here to see if you have it first. It has really helped me. I thought I would let you know.
Thank you for putting this together. When ever I have a question about something I always come here to see if you have it first. It has really helped me. I thought I would let you know.
I am using this for history this year. The people who created it are Christians. The only thing I notice with reguard to that is comments they have in their book desriptions. Like for the book The Birch Bark House.
Books and Materials for Topic 2
The Birchbark House (by Louise Erdrich) 271 pages
This is a book about an Ojibwa girl, set on an island in 1847. You will learn about the Ojibwa, their customs, beliefs, foods, responses to the rhythm of the seasons and more through young Omakayas and her family. Though white people are beginning to settle nearby, life continues to go on much as it always has. Then a terrible sickness (smallpox) visits the tribe and changes things forever.
There is something refreshing about this book in the way the young Omakayas and the other children are portrayed. Both good and ugly feelings (and thoughts) are shared honestly. Omakayas is a likable character and yet you see the parts of her character that most people hide from others. It reminds me, in a way, of the Little House books in which Laura shares her selfish or “grouchy” thoughts. This provides plenty of opportunities to discuss “moral” issues and Biblical values (see our guide / notes for this book), like when Little Pinch lies or Omakayas justifies her selfishness.
*If you are not comfortable with reading about another culture’s spiritual beliefs to your child you will want to skip this book, as these are interwoven throughout the story.
There are plenty of instances of grandmother offering tobacco to the spirits, talk about visions, stories of ghosts and so on. These instances however, can be a good opportunity to reinforce and contrast your own beliefs with your child while promoting an understanding of other cultures.
You will want to be careful though not to cause any confusion in your child by covering these concepts. Some children may feel drawn to experiment with these sorts of things while not understanding the spiritual consequences. If you feel that this might be a danger or concern, then don’t read this book OR skip over these parts on the fly while reading aloud (which I did for a few items). I’m NOT a spiritual advisor, just a Christian mom, so if you have any questions, please consult your liturgical authorities
OR
Page.13 Witchfire , pakuks and the like –explain that this would be like some people’s beliefs in ghosts, etc. People often believe certain things when they don’t understand the science behind it (i.e. the thunder beings shaking the earth by walking).
It has a schedule that you can print out, but don't really have to follow.
Anyway it is heavy on reading books. Has a list of books with many being optional or subsitute something else for the same topic. There are some great print out and links as well.
There is a science curriuculum as well. I have been waiting for it to be tweaked more before I tried it out.
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