The Fire Sword
17 Wednesday Jul 2013
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Beyond the Book Report from Analytical Grammar GIVEAWAY!
16 Tuesday Jul 2013
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Analytical Grammar and Junior Analytical Grammar gave our daughters a firm footing in the world of English grammar. This summer I’ve been researching ideas for writing/composition for the upcoming school year and received an email from AG that they have written Beyond the Book Report, a middle school language arts program the will mesh well with the 3 seasons of Analytical Grammar.
There are 3 seasons of Beyond the Book Report, and it is scheduled much like Analytical Grammar. As a matter of fact, AG’s website has a couple different schedules put together.
Season 1 of Beyond the Book Report includes three different sections:
The Basic Book Report
– Concepts introduced:
Following a rubric
Conflict, Point of View, Climax, Protagonist,Antagonist
Paraphrase and summary
– Activity:
Watch video lecture on literary terms
– Final Product (100 pt total):
Reading Log
Plot summary
Paraphrase of favorite scene
Study questions or crossword
Literary Terms worksheet
The Pamphlet Book Report
– Concepts introduced:
Elements of the plot, mood and tone, setting, genre
– Activity:
Watch second video lecture on literary terms
– Final Product (100 pt total):
Reading log
Pamphlet about the book (60 pts)
Study questions or crossword
The News Article Book Report
– Concepts introduced:
Headline, byline, dateline, inverted pyramid, lead
Objectivity, bias, objective point of view
– Activity:
Watch video lecture on news writing
Nursery rhyme news
Exercise in bias detection
– Final Product (100 pt total):
Reading log
News article on favorite scene
Opposite bias news article, same scene
Study questions/crossword
This is a solid writing curriculum that fits beautifully with the Analytical Grammar system and…
We have ONE COPY of Beyond the Book Report to giveaway this month! The package will include
The curriculum will be sent out by Analytical Grammar at the close of this giveaway ~ please make sure you check back for a winners announcement and respond to my email if you are the winner!
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/7f80ff5/” rel=”nofollow”>a Rafflecopter giveaway
This Moment
12 Friday Jul 2013
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This Moment ~ A refreshing moment in the fast moving days of summer.
To see other moments in the splash days of summer, visit Amanda.
Coffee for a Reason & GIVEAWAY
10 Wednesday Jul 2013
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I first heard of World’s Greatest Beans and Bring Love In from Mary over at Owlhaven. While I didn’t enter the giveaway, I did visit World’s Greatest Beans on their facebook page.
From there I learned about the work Levi & Jessie Benkert are doing on behalf of orphans in Ethiopia. Here is a brief video explaining just what that is.
World’s Greatest Beans sells imported TOMOCA coffee with the intention to provide Ethiopian small businesses with revenue, jobs and hope. They also partner with Bring Love In.
To bring more attention to World’s Greatest Beans and Bring Love In, I was sent ToMoCa coffee beans to try and to GIVE AWAY! Let me tell you, this coffee is delicious. We’ve enjoyed it so much more than our regular coffee.
Here are the details
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Happy Independence Day 2013!
04 Thursday Jul 2013
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Hoping you are enjoying this Independence Day with ones you love.
Remember to give thanks to the Lord for the freedom that we are celebrating this day.
pursuing better
01 Monday Jul 2013
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every flood of trouble remakes the landscape of your souls – making you better or bitter.
every trouble is like a flood and you can either rise up on it or sink down in it –
And here is where I’ve found that the practice of giving thanks, day after day, month after month, year after year for 4+ years, is laying down the rails. By practicing gratitude and recording the gifts my eyes are focused on looking for God’s presence in the flood, even in the fire.
I’ve mentioned before that I come from a long line of bitter women. My mother once warned me years ago to not let bitterness take root. For several years I prayed for relief from the bitterness that soured my eyes.
Giving thanks has been the antidote.
Anytime that sour taste rises in my throat and my eyes squint, I hear the question, where is grace in this? And the hunt begins.
A smattering of gifts found in the time of June fire and smoke;
Frozen yogurt & daughters to share with
A long walk through the neighborhood, with flower blooming all around
Smoke free days after so many fires sent the smoke all over the Colorado front range
Books selling, successful garage sale adding to the mission fund
Popsicles and funny girls
Rain in the middle of the night, pattering on the sky light
Smoke clearing for the night of the Great American Backyard Campout
Cloud art around the moon as I lay in the top coverless tent
Reading Update ~ The First 6 Months
30 Sunday Jun 2013
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As with any worthwhile endeavor, one must be purposeful to make time to read good books. Several years ago I began to realize this and have tried to make sure time to read is built into my days. This month I am excited to reflect on the books that have passed time with me the first half of 2013.
Because He Loves Me by Elyse Fitzpatrick
The Mine by Henry McIntosh
Freefall to Fly by Rebekah Lyons
Sweet Sanctuary by Kim Vogel Sawyer
In the Presence of My Enemies ~ by Gracia Burnham and Dean Merrill
Tales of the Defended Ones by Beth Guckenberger.
Unstoppable by Nick Vujicic
Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard
Jessica’s First Prayer by Hesba
The Promise Box by
The Cat that God Sent by Jim Kraus
Cleaning House, A Mom’s 12-Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement by Kay Wills Wyma, my response here
The BARE NAKED TRUTH, Dating, Waiting, and God’s Purity Plan by Bekah Hamrick Martin, my review here
Sparkly Green Earrings: Catching the Light at Every Turn ~ Melanie Shankle
Children’s books
Rock You Tonight by Emily Roussell ~ a sweet story that seems to be written more for the Momma than the little one she may be reading to.
The Three Little Rabbits and the Bake Sale Pie by Nancy Nuce ~ a story that had Mae and I laughing hard at bedtime. Delightful
Only the Mountains do not Move by Jan Reynolds
Jessica’s First Prayer by Hesba Stretton
Audiobooks
Because He Loves Me (I listened while driving and reread the chapters on my kindle app)
Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr
Speak Life
29 Saturday Jun 2013
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The message in Thursday’s short post was in my email box earlier this week. A sweet woman who has stepped in as a Godly mentor and encourager sends me messages like this from time to time. I’m not sure she understands how lifegiving her words are to me.
My own mother has disappeared into the depths of early onset Alzheimer’s. And even before that happened, there was very little “mother to daughter” torch passing. God brought my mom a long way from the person she was, having grown up in the home that she did. And she spoke life in the ways that she knew.
In this season where my mom is close by in a care facility, and we have 3 teen and preteen daughters at home AND our older daughter her daughter live with us, I often feel just swamped. Linda speaks into this wonderful, hard, good, full crazy life of mine, in simple quiet ways, never asking for a response or reply.
Each time Linda speaks into my life, a balm is applied. She didn’t wait to be asked, she hasn’t asked if it is “okay”, she just speaks.
Thank God for this precious older woman. Linda, since I know that you read this blog from time to time, Thank You.
This Moment ~ Time with Mae
28 Friday Jun 2013
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{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
Last weekend Mae and I had the opportunity to pass about 18 hours together, just the two of us. We watched a couple “big kid” movies (Captain America and Pirates of the Carribean), went out for dinner and shared our meals, and explored Pier One. It is very rare for any 2 people in our family to get time like this and I am very thankful.
Validation
27 Thursday Jun 2013
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“I don’t really look to other mothers for validation on how I’m doing as a parent. I look to my children and my husband. If they are generally happy, relaxed, comfortable and engaged, I feel pretty good about how I’m doing….
“If I see signs of frustration or stress or uneasiness in my family, there are alarm bells going off inside me telling me I need to be kinder, pay extra close attention, have more ideas, and offer more options.”
—Rippy Dusseldorp
