tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528470033811673980.post911964687073961923..comments2023-10-23T20:14:05.916-05:00Comments on Ruth's Rambles...: Year-Round SchoolingHi from Ruth!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04696686601621200587noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528470033811673980.post-73329097896827455112012-04-12T22:06:12.718-05:002012-04-12T22:06:12.718-05:00Claudia, I just went and looked at the pictures yo...Claudia, I just went and looked at the pictures you linked me to, and I am blown away. You took all of them???? THey are spectacular. Claudia, seriously, I hope you have done something professionally with those photos because they are breath-taking. The lighting, angles, clarity, poses. Stunning. A few were so beautiful they brought tears to my eyes just to see these animals. Where did you take them??<br /><br />ANyway, my friend, you are a very gifted woman.<br /><br />Thank you for their use - yes, absolutely, I'll be showing these pictures to the kids next month.<br /><br />Blessings,<br /><br />RuthHi from Ruth!https://www.blogger.com/profile/04696686601621200587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528470033811673980.post-54984831584480230752012-04-12T21:58:32.136-05:002012-04-12T21:58:32.136-05:00Claudia, thank you! I'm going right over ther...Claudia, thank you! I'm going right over there now to check out some of your photos!! Thanks - how thoughtful!!<br /><br />RuthHi from Ruth!https://www.blogger.com/profile/04696686601621200587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528470033811673980.post-48876327446896815002012-04-12T17:31:29.229-05:002012-04-12T17:31:29.229-05:00ooooh, big cats are the BEST!!!
This is probably...ooooh, big cats are the BEST!!! <br /><br />This is probably a dumb thing to say, but I took a bunch of big cat photos in 2007 for various reasons - some of them are here: <br /><br />http://www.flickr.com/photos/carolinecharles/sets/72157600212686267/with/1322527471/<br /><br />and you are totally welcome to use any if they woudl be useful. Probably not, but thought I would mention it in case! I am totally with M - adore these creatures.Claudiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09352341442556433375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528470033811673980.post-32639033346293324002012-04-11T17:13:09.682-05:002012-04-11T17:13:09.682-05:00Hi ANgela - Thanks for the suggestion - I'd ac...Hi ANgela - Thanks for the suggestion - I'd actually heart of this DVD some time ago and plan to order it from the library the week before our "Big Cat" week. I've heard it's excellent.<br /><br />Thanks for suggesting it!!<br /><br />RuthHi from Ruth!https://www.blogger.com/profile/04696686601621200587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528470033811673980.post-42348876065361779752012-04-11T12:28:06.232-05:002012-04-11T12:28:06.232-05:00Hi Ruth,
Not sure how you feel about incorporatin...Hi Ruth,<br /><br />Not sure how you feel about incorporating a movie into your materials but I recently watched African cats and found it incrediably informative. If you aren't familiar with it, it's a Disney Nature film that focuses on two cat families. The lion and the cheetah. It's a 90 minute film. I recommend watching it yourself first to see if you find it appropriate for your kids (you know them best) as it can be a little bit graphic when the cats are hunting. I'm not sure if it's an option for you, but I rented it from our local library.Angela Sandauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10951992189043963531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528470033811673980.post-14787559411226585752012-04-11T06:22:22.661-05:002012-04-11T06:22:22.661-05:00Hmm..what an interesting idea...three months of sc...Hmm..what an interesting idea...three months of school, one month off. I'd been thinking of something like three WEEKS on and one week off, and repeating that. But whatever the rhythm, I guess the point is the importance of taking breaks but not making the breaks so long that kids forget what they've learned. I really wonder why the public system hasn't looked into this more???<br /><br />And yeah, I'm also thinking that I need occasional afternoon relief with this plan...it's hard to find someone who's available for one afternoon every once in a while, and whom my oldest will take to!<br /><br />Thanks!<br /><br />RuthHi from Ruth!https://www.blogger.com/profile/04696686601621200587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528470033811673980.post-61838231784519060112012-04-10T23:16:05.752-05:002012-04-10T23:16:05.752-05:00I'm a teacher of many years and I have often s...I'm a teacher of many years and I have often said we should have school from Jan. to Mar. April off and continue through the year that way. Kids learn so much BUT if they don't use it they forget it. Unfortunately I haven't convinced anybody else. <br />Maybe you can get babysitter when two or more of the kids are occupied and have lunch out or get your nails done or just sit in your car and read a book! But, you have to plan that and consider it important.rosedelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10908968324873154422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528470033811673980.post-89448371882979721262012-04-10T11:20:42.525-05:002012-04-10T11:20:42.525-05:00Thanks for mentioning those things, Melissa. I ha...Thanks for mentioning those things, Melissa. I haven't done any research into year-round schooling, but certainly my experience last year bears out the research that you mentioned, both re: information loss and the transition back in fall. It was pretty brutal around here last fall for both reasons and I couldn't believe how much had been forgotten. I also hadn't thought about the original reason for time off in summer, but it makes a lot of sense to me. It's also consistent with the fact that the public school system didn't even exist until fewer than 200 years ago - before that, EVERYONE was h/schooled!<br />ANyway, thanks for noting these things!!<br /><br />And Sandy, yes, yes, yes to Kids of Mud - my boys can hardly wait, and I've told them about your boys!!<br /><br />Blessings all,<br /><br />RuthHi from Ruth!https://www.blogger.com/profile/04696686601621200587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528470033811673980.post-75449029092003695232012-04-10T11:07:11.255-05:002012-04-10T11:07:11.255-05:00I would have died 1,000 deaths if anyone had sugge...I would have died 1,000 deaths if anyone had suggested year round schooling to me as a child, but I now think it is a good idea - there is a tonne of research to saying how much information kids loose over the summer and the transitions in and out can be really difficult. <br /><br />Beyond this, summer breaks were never intended to be a "break", but were to allow for farming activities. Not really necessary any more, for most of us!<br /><br />I hope the public system will move this direction (soon) too!Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08889961219331055408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528470033811673980.post-42316386120529282102012-04-10T11:05:24.126-05:002012-04-10T11:05:24.126-05:00Yippee! Kids of Mud!!!!Yippee! Kids of Mud!!!!skhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04988324478534939729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528470033811673980.post-71739435156695488572012-04-10T07:00:31.004-05:002012-04-10T07:00:31.004-05:00Thanks Nicole - I've never heard of raz-kids a...Thanks Nicole - I've never heard of raz-kids and will definitely check it out.<br /><br />Many thanks!<br /><br />RuthHi from Ruth!https://www.blogger.com/profile/04696686601621200587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2528470033811673980.post-87602265252907409742012-04-10T06:43:42.529-05:002012-04-10T06:43:42.529-05:00I recommend RAZkids for a reading web site for Mat...I recommend RAZkids for a reading web site for Matthew. It has hundreds of books, levels, and the kids earn virtual points when they read that they an use in a virtual store.<br /><br />www.raz-kids.com<br /><br />My son's teacher recommended it and he does 10 minutes of Razkids each night, before he moves on to pokemon. <br /><br />NicoleNicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16815757828546021816noreply@blogger.com