I can help with Homeschooling, Writing, or Family Ritual Questions

[KathrynJB]

We've been homeschooling for a long time now, and I wrote a couple articles in a book called "The First Year of Homeschooling Your Child: Your Complete Guide to Getting Off to the Right Start." I'm happy to help anyone with questions about that.

I am also a freelance writer, so if you have questions about writing yourself, or need advice to help kids who are either passionate or reluctant writers, I can help with that too.

Finally, I am writing a book and have led workshops on creating family rituals and traditions. If you have any ideas or questions about that, let me know.

This is a cool forum!

Kathryn


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[FUNdamental]

Hi Kathryn,

A few things,
Is it acceptable to end a sentence with a preposition?

Thanks in advance,


Fun

[KathrynJB]

Originally posted by FUNdamental
Hi Kathryn,

A few things,
Is it acceptable to end a sentence with a preposition?

Thanks in advance,


Fun

Depends. In many sentences it's not only acceptable, but it makes sense to end with a preposition. And the prohibition does not come from English anyway, but from Latin.

There's a great article about that topic here: [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]

Finally, there is truly great writing that breaks grammatical "rules." It depends what you are trying to communicate, because, after all, that is what writing is for.

Kathryn

[FUNdamental]

Thanks, Kathryn,

I always believed it was acceptable, but many have disagreed.

Now, my other pet peeves

Why is the plural "Campi" not used anymore?

Why do people pronounce "Fortay" when they should be saying "Fort" (talking of a stregnth)?

The words "Mission" and "Goal" are not interchangeable, why do people confuse the two?

BTW, A great example of this confussion and abuse is the entry message of this website

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I could go on and on....

I think I have made a friend here!!


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[KathrynJB]

[quote]Originally posted by FUNdamental
[b]Thanks, Kathryn,

I always believed it was acceptable, but many have disagreed.

Now, my other pet peeves

Why is the plural "Campi" not used anymore?

Why do people pronounce "Fortay" when they should be saying "Fort" (talking of a stregnth)?

The words "Mission" and "Goal" are not interchangeable, why do people confuse the two?



Campi: I have no idea. Is this a plural of campus? Or something else? If campus, it seems people's Latin is slipping.

Forte: Because people have mostly seen it written and not heard it spoken, and it LOOKS like it should be "fortay." Also, I just looked at several dictionaries, all of which had "fortay" as an alternate pronunciation. English is an evolving language, and "fortay" may be becoming acceptable. It'll be okay. Breathe. It's not very important in the Great Realm of things.

Mission/Goal: Do you work in a non-profit organization? Have they been working on Mission Statements? Do they refuse to make measurable goals? I'm afraid there may be no cure for this. Good luck.

Kathryn

[cata5]

My kids are in public schools. I don't really have the desire to homeschool (though I have often thought about it), but I'm wondering if a few tips might help me deal with the homework they have. I have been out of school for quite some time and feel like I have to review their book so that I can help them. I know am not alone here. My kids are in K-11 grade if that makes a difference.

[rafala]

I know I dont have the patience to home school my kids, and I am selfish and like having time to myself every day. but I do know that I would like to supplement things for my kids like in the summer and when we go on vacations. I found my oldest, 2nd grade, seemed to have a harder time getting back into school this year becuase we didnt do a lot of reading or writting over the summer.

do you have suggestions for things, mainly in the summer, that arent tooooo tedious for the kids. We are going to florida this winter and I was planning on making a little journal for each kid and having them write a couple sentence about what they did that each day and then they could draw a picture. for the youngest i will have him answer questions about the weather and what we did and i will have to write it.

my kids are pre-k, 1st and 2nd.

thanks

karen

[FUNdamental]

Other misuses of the word "GOAL."


Joint Statement by President George W. Bush and President José María Aznar
Madrid, June 12, 2001


President Bush and President Aznar reaffirm the close friendship between the United States and Spain, rooted in common history, common values and common interests in Europe, Latin America, the Mediterranean and beyond. Building upon our Joint Declaration of January 11, 2001, we commit ourselves to the shared goals of enhanced bilateral relations, a stronger Transatlantic alliance, and a Europe whole, free and at peace.

A US Congressman

Congressman Joseph Crowley. "This announcement by President Bush on the first working day of his presidency shows that he is going to focus more on conservatism and less on compassion. We all agree that our goal is to make abortion rare. The only proven way to do so is to increase our commitment to providing comprehensive family planning services. While the President's conservative supporters may believe that they are winners in yesterday's announcement, the losers are the women of the developing world. Healthcare providers who will lose funding, and reproductive healthcare services will be restricted because of the implementation of this undemocratic Executive Order," said
The global gag rule prevents U.S. family planning funds from


And a US Senator

SEN.CRAIG THOMAS: I am hopeful our friends on the other side of the aisle will not continue to hold up this matter. I think we ought to get on with it. Is there disagreement on some things? Of course. There will always be. But there is agreement on our goal. And our goal is to strengthen education in this country.


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[FUNdamental]

Here we go with the "alternative" pronunciation.

A great example of alternate pronunciations becoming the norm is the word "covert." The word had always been pronounced "Cuvert," as in "under cover.” When the Washington Post started using the word in respect to the Watergate investigation, unskilled television and radio announcers read the wire copy as "cO vert" operations.

Now the alternative pronunciation used more than the primary pronunciation!

[KathrynJB]

Originally posted by rafala
I know I dont have the patience to home school my kids, and I am selfish and like having time to myself every day. but I do know that I would like to supplement things for my kids like in the summer and when we go on vacations. I found my oldest, 2nd grade, seemed to have a harder time getting back into school this year becuase we didnt do a lot of reading or writting over the summer.

do you have suggestions for things, mainly in the summer, that arent tooooo tedious for the kids. We are going to florida this winter and I was planning on making a little journal for each kid and having them write a couple sentence about what they did that each day and then they could draw a picture. for the youngest i will have him answer questions about the weather and what we did and i will have to write it.

my kids are pre-k, 1st and 2nd.

thanks

karen

Kids naturally learn...it's kind of like breathing for them. The most common way they do this is by playing, especially when they are as young as your kids are.

Read to them a lot, have interesting toys around, encourage pretend play, notice what they are interested in and strew things you think they'll like in their paths, go to lots of interesting places, surround them with fascinating people of all ages....In general, live interesting lives together.

PLEASE don't do workbooks (unless the kids want them) or try to do a curriculum during summers and vacations. Those are time for more organic learning.

The journals are a cool idea, but rather than tell them how to use them, give them more latitude. Invite them to write or draw, or whatever. If you REALLY want to encourage them...YOU (and your husband or partner) get a journal too, and do it all together.

Have fun!
Kathryn


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