Monday, January 7, 2013

Word Play


It's the 2013 Virtual Curriculum Fair, hosted by my Blogger Buddy Susan over at Homeschooling Hearts and Minds.

Homeschooling Hearts & Minds Virtual Curriculum Fair Button
  1. January 7th---Playing with Words: the Language Arts.
  2. January 14th---Discovering Patterns: Mathematics, Logic, and Science.
  3. January 21st---Exploring Our World: Social Studies and more Science.
  4. January 28th---Seeking Beauty: the Arts and Everything that Brings Beauty to Our World.
So, Language Arts, what do we use, and why?
Instead of posting the long boring post about what we use and why that I had originally created for this week's VCF, I have come up with something more creative, and I hope more fun. These are the words that are out and about in our home. Plus we have plenty of words hidden in books, on writing tablets, flashdrives and between our ears.
Most of us at the Gracious Heart Homeschool are more linguistically oriented than symbolic. In other words, you will never hear us singing along with Eliza, "Words, words, words, I'm so sick of words."  We are word nerds 'round here.

My #1 Language Arts Curriculum?
Books and lots of them.
We read out loud, individually, listen to them on CD, narrate, memorize, and quote them back to each other; pass books back and forth, underline, take notes and discuss them.Our kids hear Dr. Dh and I talking books, plot, story, narrative. We model the value and importance of words to them.

Words give us vision.

This is our Word for the Year 2013. I stenciled on a leftover piece of poplar from our kitchen.
The wood was so beautiful I left it as is.
Words give us vision and remind us of that vision when we lose the way,
when things get rough and when the devourer nips and snarls at our heels.

Words are our economy as Dr. Dh is makes his living with words. We immerse ourselves in words during our free time,  share them with others, quote them, laugh at them, consume them voraciously and look for more.
I've written extensively about what we use and why here and here. Curriculum we've used and loved have been IEW, Peace Hill Press (WWE, WWS) and Memoria Press products.
As I've said before, the best curriculum is the curriculum that you use.
We also memorize poetry and have been involved dramatic productions for years, both through church and in homeschool circles.

Words keep us on track.

This is the large chalkboard Feeche and I made for the kitchen. We list homework, holiday meals, funny quotes and more!
You measure what you manage, true?

Words remind us of what's important to remember.

This is stenciled on the first floor bathroom wall.
The rain falls on the just and the unjust but every good and perfect gift comes from God;
 among the good gifts that we count are our children,being able to homeschool, education, words.

Words inspire us.


A lot of the success of homeschooling involves showing up, doing the work,
waiting on the miracle, baby.

Words give us something to smile about.

This is a section of the crate stairs which are in no way done. The numbers are family birth dates and other important events..

We love jokes, tropes and metaphor in our family. We read comic books, love funny movies and word play.
 It's all part of the show, right?

For even more about words, check out How to Teach Writing.
And for even more more inspiration check out these awesome Bloggers!
 
Nurturing Novelists = Building Strong Writers by Susan Anadale @ Homeschooling Hearts & Minds Building Blocks of Education--Learning to Read  by Kristi Kerr @ The Potter's Hand Academy Finding Our Way Through Language Arts by Christy @ Unexpected Homeschool
How Does a Unit Study Teach Language Arts? by Nicole @ Schooling in the Sun 
Our Language Arts Adventure by Linda @ Homeschooling6 2013 Virtual Curriculum Fair-Playing with Words:  The Language Arts by Leah Courtney @ As We Walk Along the Road Virtual Curriculum Fair-Playing with Words by Karyn @ Teach Beside Me Virtual Curriculum Fair ~ Language Arts by Dawn @ Guiding Light Homeschool Writing Help in a Critical Thinking book? by Missouri Mama @ Ozark Ramblings
Virtual Curriculum Fair: Foreign Language Immersion in the Homeschool by Tonia @ The Sunny Patch
Formula for Reading by Erin @ Delighting in His Richness
Words and Learning by Annette @ A Net In Time
A Custom Designed High School English Credit by Tech Wife @ A Playground of Words
Virtual Curriculum Fair 2013: Still Loving Language Arts by Pam @ Everyday Snapshots
Word Play by Lisa @ Golden Grasses
Loving Language Arts by Kristen H. @ Sunrise to Sunset
Learning Language Arts ~ 2012-2013 School Year by Laura O in AK @ Day by Day in Our World
Virtual Curriculum Fair - The Language Arts Department by Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory
Playing with Words:  The Language Arts by Christa Darr @ Fairfield Corner Academy: The Story of Our Life
Playing with Words:  Language Arts by April @ Coffee, Cobwebs and Curriculum
What Language Arts looks like in our house - Are we doing it right? by Hillary M @ Our Homeschool Studio

4 comments:

annette from A Net In Time said...

I very much enjoyed reading that post.
thanks for sharing.

stopping by from the VCF.

Anonymous said...

What an awesome post!! Thanks so much for sharing it with us!

Joelle said...

What a nice creative post on the topic, and also so true Enjoyed it!

laughinglioness.lisa@gmail.com said...

Thanks you guys! ; ) Ya'll made my day!!