L.Y. Levand's Blog, page 23
June 5, 2013
The Weekly Quote: On Beauty and Collecting
"One cannot collect all the beautiful shells on the beach. One can collect only a few, and they are more beautiful if they are few." ~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh This is true. In more ways than one.
It's true that you can't collect all the beautiful shells on the beach. But it's also true that the fewer you have, the more beautiful they seem. And this applies to more than just seashells.
It applies to many different things, including the items we buy to decorate our homes with. The fewer we have, the more we appreciate them. Perhaps because there's less to see, we enjoy looking at what there is a little more.
This is an excellent argument for removing clutter from your home. In order to properly enjoy the nice things you possess, you have to clear out the things around them that detract from their beauty or functionality.
This principle can also be applied to people, and their character. You can't collect all desirable character traits at once, but you can pick a few and make them yours one at a time. Those few can be practiced to perfection, whereas having a bunch you want makes it impossible to master them all.
It's true that you can't collect all the beautiful shells on the beach. But it's also true that the fewer you have, the more beautiful they seem. And this applies to more than just seashells.
It applies to many different things, including the items we buy to decorate our homes with. The fewer we have, the more we appreciate them. Perhaps because there's less to see, we enjoy looking at what there is a little more.
This is an excellent argument for removing clutter from your home. In order to properly enjoy the nice things you possess, you have to clear out the things around them that detract from their beauty or functionality.
This principle can also be applied to people, and their character. You can't collect all desirable character traits at once, but you can pick a few and make them yours one at a time. Those few can be practiced to perfection, whereas having a bunch you want makes it impossible to master them all.
June 3, 2013
The Weekly Health Challenge: Pushing Limits and Learning Squats
Note: I just recently learned some new stuff about working out - so I'm tweaking Level Two a bit. Enjoy!
The Weekly Health Challenge: Level One
Find out how many pushups you can do
When I say find out how many you can do, I don't mean you go until if you do anymore you'll faceplant on the ground. I want you to do as many as you can without your form deteriorating. That means keeping your back straight, and bending your arms the right direction, not letting your hips sag or stick up. Once your form starts to deteriorate, stop. That's your limit.
The Weekly Health Challenge: Level Two
Learn how to do squats with proper form
Find out the best way to do a squat (you can do your own research, or look here), and then practice three non-consecutive days of the week. Do a set of five or ten - just enough that you can feel your muscles start to get tired, but before your form suffers. It's very important to keep your body aligned and moving the way it's supposed to, or you could hurt yourself more than you help.
Extra Challenge: If you want something that's a little more difficult, do three sets of those squats, or three sets of pushups.
The Weekly Health Challenge: Level One
Find out how many pushups you can do
When I say find out how many you can do, I don't mean you go until if you do anymore you'll faceplant on the ground. I want you to do as many as you can without your form deteriorating. That means keeping your back straight, and bending your arms the right direction, not letting your hips sag or stick up. Once your form starts to deteriorate, stop. That's your limit.
The Weekly Health Challenge: Level Two
Learn how to do squats with proper form
Find out the best way to do a squat (you can do your own research, or look here), and then practice three non-consecutive days of the week. Do a set of five or ten - just enough that you can feel your muscles start to get tired, but before your form suffers. It's very important to keep your body aligned and moving the way it's supposed to, or you could hurt yourself more than you help.
Extra Challenge: If you want something that's a little more difficult, do three sets of those squats, or three sets of pushups.
June 1, 2013
Ella's Tale (Free Fantasy Short Story)
Ella paused, watching the younglings, before she started. Then, when all was still and silent, she spoke.
The Greater Fairies lived in the field beyond the edges of the forest, along with their cousins, the Lesser Fairies. They lived happily together, under the fairy laws, and the Greater Fairies were fair, and just in their rule. The Lesser Fairies didn't grudge them their power, because they liked to dance, to play, to sing, and had no patience or aptitude for governance.
The Greater Fairies, like the Lesser, much resemble the human folk. But while the Lesser are very small, the Greater, when they are full-grown, are about the size of a human child. It was whispered that it was because they needed more space to hold the power they were born with. Because they were far more powerful than the Lesser Fairies, though the Lesser had powers of their own.
While the Lesser had powers over the flowers, the plants, and sometimes could manipulate the wing on which they flew, the Greater were different. They could work spells, and some could control the elements.
The Greater Fairies were much loved by those who lived in the forest, though there was a barrier between their field and our forest. The Fairies ruled the field, and the unicorns ruled the forest.
The unicorns and the Greater Fairies worked together many times, but there came a day when one of the unicorns angered one of the fairies. It was unclear what happened, but the fairies broke all contact with the forest for many long years.
There was no war between the fairies and the forest folk, for the ruling circles remembered the friendships their people had once shared, and most wanted those times to return. But the two who had begun the silence would not swallow their pride.
It was a Lesser Fairy who broke the silence, and left the field. He went to the forest. The Greater Fairies were angered by this breach, as were the unicorns. In order to prevent war, both sides had promised not to enter the borders of the others' land.
By this time the instigators of the silence were old. They were tired, and no longer wished to live with the mistakes of their past. So they called a meeting of both ruling circles, and there formed the Council.
Their intent was to create a ruling circle that would keep peace between the people of the field and the forest. Their meeting place was the old Fairy Ring, where the fairies had all come to dance before the silence.
It ruled in peace for many long years, before the gnomes came.
Many of the younglings were blinking slowly by now, but Beenie was not one of them. She was sitting upright, listening. But Ella appeared to have said all she was going to say, so Beenie slumped into the bed.
Where were the Greater Fairies now?
The Greater Fairies lived in the field beyond the edges of the forest, along with their cousins, the Lesser Fairies. They lived happily together, under the fairy laws, and the Greater Fairies were fair, and just in their rule. The Lesser Fairies didn't grudge them their power, because they liked to dance, to play, to sing, and had no patience or aptitude for governance.
The Greater Fairies, like the Lesser, much resemble the human folk. But while the Lesser are very small, the Greater, when they are full-grown, are about the size of a human child. It was whispered that it was because they needed more space to hold the power they were born with. Because they were far more powerful than the Lesser Fairies, though the Lesser had powers of their own.
While the Lesser had powers over the flowers, the plants, and sometimes could manipulate the wing on which they flew, the Greater were different. They could work spells, and some could control the elements.
The Greater Fairies were much loved by those who lived in the forest, though there was a barrier between their field and our forest. The Fairies ruled the field, and the unicorns ruled the forest.
The unicorns and the Greater Fairies worked together many times, but there came a day when one of the unicorns angered one of the fairies. It was unclear what happened, but the fairies broke all contact with the forest for many long years.
There was no war between the fairies and the forest folk, for the ruling circles remembered the friendships their people had once shared, and most wanted those times to return. But the two who had begun the silence would not swallow their pride.
It was a Lesser Fairy who broke the silence, and left the field. He went to the forest. The Greater Fairies were angered by this breach, as were the unicorns. In order to prevent war, both sides had promised not to enter the borders of the others' land.
By this time the instigators of the silence were old. They were tired, and no longer wished to live with the mistakes of their past. So they called a meeting of both ruling circles, and there formed the Council.
Their intent was to create a ruling circle that would keep peace between the people of the field and the forest. Their meeting place was the old Fairy Ring, where the fairies had all come to dance before the silence.
It ruled in peace for many long years, before the gnomes came.
Many of the younglings were blinking slowly by now, but Beenie was not one of them. She was sitting upright, listening. But Ella appeared to have said all she was going to say, so Beenie slumped into the bed.
Where were the Greater Fairies now?
May 29, 2013
The Weekly Quote: On Gardening
"Gardens are not made by singing 'Oh, how beautiful,' and sitting in the shade." ~ Rudyard Kipling
Nope. You gotta get out there, get sunburned and dirty, to make a garden. The best part is that eventually you stop caring about the sun and the dirt, because you can see growing things; the things you planted, coming to life before your eyes. And then, even better, you get to eat some of them. Nothing tastes better than carrots or lettuce or radishes that you've grown yourself. Perhaps all that hard work makes something taste better. All the more reason to get out there and get dirty.
Nope. You gotta get out there, get sunburned and dirty, to make a garden. The best part is that eventually you stop caring about the sun and the dirt, because you can see growing things; the things you planted, coming to life before your eyes. And then, even better, you get to eat some of them. Nothing tastes better than carrots or lettuce or radishes that you've grown yourself. Perhaps all that hard work makes something taste better. All the more reason to get out there and get dirty.
May 27, 2013
The Weekly Health Challenge: Posture and Crunch Variations
Weekly Challenge (Level One):
Improve your posture
Having good posture has many benefits, not the least of which is that it makes you look taller and more in command of yourself. All you have to do is spend a few minutes each day with a book on your head, and you'll get the idea. Head up, back straight, shoulders back. This can help you look and feel more confident, and it also works more muscles in your back.
Stand proud and tall!
Weekly Challenge (Level Two):
Do twenty-five crunches five days this week
We're dropping pushups entirely this week to focus on crunches. Instead of the regular old crunches you've been doing, do about half of them with one of these variations (you have to scroll down; they're there, honest). The variations you can use can work different muscles in your stomach area, therefore giving you a better work out.
Extra Challenge:
Is that too easy? Continue doing fifteen to twenty pushups. Keep working those arms!
Improve your posture
Having good posture has many benefits, not the least of which is that it makes you look taller and more in command of yourself. All you have to do is spend a few minutes each day with a book on your head, and you'll get the idea. Head up, back straight, shoulders back. This can help you look and feel more confident, and it also works more muscles in your back.
Stand proud and tall!
Weekly Challenge (Level Two):
Do twenty-five crunches five days this week
We're dropping pushups entirely this week to focus on crunches. Instead of the regular old crunches you've been doing, do about half of them with one of these variations (you have to scroll down; they're there, honest). The variations you can use can work different muscles in your stomach area, therefore giving you a better work out.
Extra Challenge:
Is that too easy? Continue doing fifteen to twenty pushups. Keep working those arms!
May 26, 2013
The Homeschool Solution, Part Two: Academic Achievement
Another big concern is the level of education they'll receive. Will they be able to compete with their public schooled peers?
I say, yes, they can.
I can only speak for the Robinson curriculum, of course, since that's the system I used personally, but the system itself teaches independence and critical thinking.
By making students teach themselves, they learn how to seek out answers in books when no teacher is available. They learn to find the answers themselves, and that increases their independence as well as their logical thinking skills.
I can also draw a comparison between homeschool and public school students. When I went to test for my GED, I was seventeen years old. In fact, I had just turned seventeen a few months earlier. The GED test is scored out of eight hundred possible points. An average score of five hundred and ten is needed to pass the battery. An average score of more than six hundred and fifty earns the student a sticker on their certificate that marks them in the honors range.
When I took my tests, I scored in the honors range for every single test. In fact, my highest score, for reading comprehension, was only fifty points from perfect. When I graduated I was in the top ten percent of the class.
Because of the critical thinking skills I learned from the homeschooling program, I'm now able to find what I want to learn from books, weigh options, put together complicated schedules, and discipline myself to work at home. Without the discipline I learned to teach myself, I would not be able to run this blog, to write my stories, to finish my artwork. I would not have a good work ethic.
With the swelling number of homeschooled students, colleges are having to accept the GED as valid proof of education. And in America, what we become is based on the work and effort we put into it. Homeschool students have the work ethic, the discipline, to outperform public school students if they so desire.
For some homeschool versus public school statistics, you can check out this cool infographic.
I say, yes, they can.
I can only speak for the Robinson curriculum, of course, since that's the system I used personally, but the system itself teaches independence and critical thinking.
By making students teach themselves, they learn how to seek out answers in books when no teacher is available. They learn to find the answers themselves, and that increases their independence as well as their logical thinking skills.
I can also draw a comparison between homeschool and public school students. When I went to test for my GED, I was seventeen years old. In fact, I had just turned seventeen a few months earlier. The GED test is scored out of eight hundred possible points. An average score of five hundred and ten is needed to pass the battery. An average score of more than six hundred and fifty earns the student a sticker on their certificate that marks them in the honors range.
When I took my tests, I scored in the honors range for every single test. In fact, my highest score, for reading comprehension, was only fifty points from perfect. When I graduated I was in the top ten percent of the class.
Because of the critical thinking skills I learned from the homeschooling program, I'm now able to find what I want to learn from books, weigh options, put together complicated schedules, and discipline myself to work at home. Without the discipline I learned to teach myself, I would not be able to run this blog, to write my stories, to finish my artwork. I would not have a good work ethic.
With the swelling number of homeschooled students, colleges are having to accept the GED as valid proof of education. And in America, what we become is based on the work and effort we put into it. Homeschool students have the work ethic, the discipline, to outperform public school students if they so desire.
For some homeschool versus public school statistics, you can check out this cool infographic.
May 25, 2013
Greater Fairies (Free Fantasy Short Story)
Beenie continued to follow Ella, her thoughts filled with questions.
"What were the Greater Fairies like?" Beenie asked, hurrying to catch up to the white rabbit.
"It's been a very long time since anyone saw Greater Fairies," Ella said. "I haven't. That was long before my time. You should have asked Peter if you wanted to know."
Beenie frowned.
"You must know something," she said. "Aren't there stories about them?"
"There are a few," Ella admitted.
"Oh, tell them to us!" the younglings chorused. "Tell us, please?"
"When we get there I'll tell you one. But after that you'll all have to settle down. It's late, and your parents will be upset if you don't get your sleep."
The rest of their short journey to the catacombs was quiet, except for when one of the younger ones stubbed a toe. It was then that Ella told them they didn't have far to go.
"We're almost there," she said. "Hurry now."
They turned a corner, and there was door set into the tunnel. It was a highly-polished wood, and bound with metal that gleamed in the torchlight.
"Here we are," Ella said, pushing it open.
She held the door open, and they all squeezed into what looked more like a barracks than a place for children. There were bunks along the far wall, and no decorations or toys to be seen anywhere. It was completely empty.
"Choose a bed and get settled," Ella ordered, closing the door as the last young one stepped inside.
"The story, the story!"
"Yes, yes, I remember," Ella said in response. "I'm not telling you any stories until you get set up on your beds. Hurry now."
Beenie and Troy hurried to get beds next to each other, and there was a flurry of movement as the other younglings did the same, each wanting to be near friends and family. When everyone was settled and the last argument had been solved, Ella crouched on the floor, and her nose twitched.
"All right," she said. "A story about the Greater Fairies."
"What were the Greater Fairies like?" Beenie asked, hurrying to catch up to the white rabbit.
"It's been a very long time since anyone saw Greater Fairies," Ella said. "I haven't. That was long before my time. You should have asked Peter if you wanted to know."
Beenie frowned.
"You must know something," she said. "Aren't there stories about them?"
"There are a few," Ella admitted.
"Oh, tell them to us!" the younglings chorused. "Tell us, please?"
"When we get there I'll tell you one. But after that you'll all have to settle down. It's late, and your parents will be upset if you don't get your sleep."
The rest of their short journey to the catacombs was quiet, except for when one of the younger ones stubbed a toe. It was then that Ella told them they didn't have far to go.
"We're almost there," she said. "Hurry now."
They turned a corner, and there was door set into the tunnel. It was a highly-polished wood, and bound with metal that gleamed in the torchlight.
"Here we are," Ella said, pushing it open.
She held the door open, and they all squeezed into what looked more like a barracks than a place for children. There were bunks along the far wall, and no decorations or toys to be seen anywhere. It was completely empty.
"Choose a bed and get settled," Ella ordered, closing the door as the last young one stepped inside.
"The story, the story!"
"Yes, yes, I remember," Ella said in response. "I'm not telling you any stories until you get set up on your beds. Hurry now."
Beenie and Troy hurried to get beds next to each other, and there was a flurry of movement as the other younglings did the same, each wanting to be near friends and family. When everyone was settled and the last argument had been solved, Ella crouched on the floor, and her nose twitched.
"All right," she said. "A story about the Greater Fairies."
May 22, 2013
The Weekly Quote: What Gardens Teach
"A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust." ~ Gertrude Jekyll
I started my first garden last year. It most certainly does teach patience. If you rip those seedlings up before they're ready, they can die. Careful watchfulness is also a byproduct. When deer first ate my carrot greens, I was upset - because I hadn't been watching closely enough.
And industry? Oh, yes, Without industry those precious little plants will die, or weeds will crop up and be a thorn in your side. And thrift - saving cardboard boxes to cover weeds with, saving seeds from your plants for next year, reusing old planters and stakes.
Entire trust. Yes, it teaches that, too. You have to trust that those seeds have life in them still, even when they look like nothing so much as a bit of dirt, or a dead piece of wood. You have to believe that they'll sprout and grow. And then you have to trust that they'll produce the fruit and veggies you expect.
I started my first garden last year. It most certainly does teach patience. If you rip those seedlings up before they're ready, they can die. Careful watchfulness is also a byproduct. When deer first ate my carrot greens, I was upset - because I hadn't been watching closely enough.
And industry? Oh, yes, Without industry those precious little plants will die, or weeds will crop up and be a thorn in your side. And thrift - saving cardboard boxes to cover weeds with, saving seeds from your plants for next year, reusing old planters and stakes.
Entire trust. Yes, it teaches that, too. You have to trust that those seeds have life in them still, even when they look like nothing so much as a bit of dirt, or a dead piece of wood. You have to believe that they'll sprout and grow. And then you have to trust that they'll produce the fruit and veggies you expect.
May 20, 2013
The Weekly Health Challenge: Relaxation, Push ups, and Crunches
Weekly Challenge (Level One):
Take five minutes every day to just relax
Don't complain or argue that you don't have enough time for this. Five minutes here or there will not permanently destroy your schedule, and will do worlds for your state of mind. You need to take care of yourself, too, you know. Don't be selfish about it, of course, others need you. But take a five-minute break each day this week and see how you feel afterwards.
Weekly Challenge (Level Two):
Do ten pushups and twenty crunches three nonconsecutive days this week
We're scaling back on pushups now, and upping the crunches. Work that core! And don't cheat. Doing them super-fast won't get you as much of a benefit as if you do them slowly. It gives your muscles more work. More work equals more benefit - provided you don't overdo. And make sure you take some days to let your muscles recover, too. No point in working them to death!
Extra Challenge:
If this is too easy, try one of these instead!
Take five minutes every day to just relax
Don't complain or argue that you don't have enough time for this. Five minutes here or there will not permanently destroy your schedule, and will do worlds for your state of mind. You need to take care of yourself, too, you know. Don't be selfish about it, of course, others need you. But take a five-minute break each day this week and see how you feel afterwards.
Weekly Challenge (Level Two):
Do ten pushups and twenty crunches three nonconsecutive days this week
We're scaling back on pushups now, and upping the crunches. Work that core! And don't cheat. Doing them super-fast won't get you as much of a benefit as if you do them slowly. It gives your muscles more work. More work equals more benefit - provided you don't overdo. And make sure you take some days to let your muscles recover, too. No point in working them to death!
Extra Challenge:
If this is too easy, try one of these instead!
May 19, 2013
The Homeschool Solution, Part One: Social Interaction
The biggest challenge I've heard so far facing homeschooled students is the social aspect. Being homeschooled, they don't get out much, obviously. They don't go to the public school, where there are kids their own age. And this is a valid concern for parents.
If you're thinking about homeschooling your children, but you're hesitating because you're afraid they won't know how to behave in social situations, there are ways to get them the social interaction they need - without public school.
There are many places you can take your children where they can meet other kids. There are many homeschool groups out there. Set up one day a week where your families do something together. It's fun and helpful. Plus, your kids will have the chance to meet children who have been raised in homes similar to their own.
There are also other ways.
My own parents signed me up for martial arts training. In addition to being surrounded by people, I gained the physical activity I needed, the knowledge to defend myself, and a whole bunch of confidence. If the martial arts school you have is a good one, your kids will learn leadership skills as well, and possibly become instructors, black belts, or competitors.
Martial arts, however, is only one such solution. A friend of mine joined swim team at the local YMCA, and she's now a lifeguard. She also competes at swim meets.
There are numerous ways to ensure your children get what they need to become healthy, happy, adults that function exceptionally well in society. And public school is unnecessary for that.
If you're thinking about homeschooling your children, but you're hesitating because you're afraid they won't know how to behave in social situations, there are ways to get them the social interaction they need - without public school.
There are many places you can take your children where they can meet other kids. There are many homeschool groups out there. Set up one day a week where your families do something together. It's fun and helpful. Plus, your kids will have the chance to meet children who have been raised in homes similar to their own.
There are also other ways.
My own parents signed me up for martial arts training. In addition to being surrounded by people, I gained the physical activity I needed, the knowledge to defend myself, and a whole bunch of confidence. If the martial arts school you have is a good one, your kids will learn leadership skills as well, and possibly become instructors, black belts, or competitors.
Martial arts, however, is only one such solution. A friend of mine joined swim team at the local YMCA, and she's now a lifeguard. She also competes at swim meets.
There are numerous ways to ensure your children get what they need to become healthy, happy, adults that function exceptionally well in society. And public school is unnecessary for that.
