Jessica TA

[Chris in VA]

Hey Jessica (TA), I love your new header in your blog! It's so sweet to see your kids learning and discovering. You do such a marvelous job.
Hope your day is filled with blessings large and small.

[LaMere Academy]

Well, now I've got to go check it out!
I was just there last night, she must have switched it since then, she's fast...

[Trivium Academy]

Thanks Chris! I just wanted something that truly reflected us- what a kid atmosphere we have and what an adventure it is for me to be their Mama. :) It's hard for some to imagine that kids are being kids within the classical education framework.

[LaMere Academy]

Wow, I love it too!
It looks great Jessica.

[Chris in VA]

ITA with the kids being kids part. My sister in law would like to homeschool her (now) K'er, but leans towards unschooling. ("NOOOO!" I want to scream...) I think it's because she sees a workbook or two as evil. JK!
I really think it's because she buys into the idea that kids will learn all they need to if only allowed to follow their own interests. I'm not sure she sees the classical idea that small things, done over time, lead to great rewards.
I should clarify--I'm not saying unschooling is totally wrong, I'm just saying that letting a child decide some things isn't wise. Well, that isn't clear, either.
Anyway, love your examples of how you school.

[Trivium Academy]

I have to give a talk on Feb 2nd about classical education principles that you can incorporate into your homeschool for free, I'm terrified b/c I know my audience is going to be filled of "We only use _______." I use so many different resources, it would make some of their heads spin add that to the perceived rigidness of classical ed..oh boy.

I plan on talking about narrations & read alouds, dictation, copywork, art/music appreciation, memorization (I can see them cringing right now) and anything else I can think of that they can do for free. I have 45 minutes to talk...it's going to be a LONG 45 minutes.

[WTMindy]

Jessica, I have a couple questions about your blog banner. What did you use to make it? What size did you make it to fit so well? I need to fix mine on my blog. I made it the wrong size and haven't had time to fix it yet.

[Trivium Academy]

Adobe Photoshop 7.0 Full Version, yes it's old but it wasn't when I was a graphic designer! The size of the banner is 1000 pixels by 300 pixels. It's just a photo collage made of layers, I don't know if you have any programs that manipulate photos and allow you put arrange layers? I'm sorry, I'm not much help.

For your New Song blog, try a header 650 pixels long x whatever wide. Play around with the #s, import the graphic and see how you like it.

Did you want a header on your other blog?

[WTMindy]

I'd like a header on my other blog eventually and I was thinking of stealing your great idea if you don't mind. http://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/scared/scared0016.gif (http://www.allboxingstats.com/)

I am in the process of learning PSE6 which I got for Christmas. That is what I used to do the collage on my blog, but I didn't make it the right size and I haven't gone back to fix it.

I'll play around with the numbers a bit and see what I come up with.

Thanks so much for the help!

[WTMindy]

Aren't they fun? I'm finding myself a little obsessed with smilies at the moment. Smilies (http://www.mysmiley.net/) You just click on the one you want and copy the forum link and paste it here.

You can thank Karenciavo for these! http://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/rolleye/rolleye0018.gif (http://www.allboxingstats.com/)