tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70184728691410056472024-02-19T06:52:09.393-08:00Grace, Love and Laundry Piles"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9Michelle Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08447079002738068749noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018472869141005647.post-59369680054591932162012-07-12T08:20:00.001-07:002012-07-12T08:21:35.902-07:00Review: Hewitt Homeschooling: Lightning Literature's Shakespeare Tragedies<br />
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This summer has been an unusual one for our family in that we are continuing our school studies at full speed. Since we have experienced an unusual number of medical appointments and health issues since last fall, this school year had not proceeded as I had anticipated. For one, I had intended to incorporate some Shakespearean studies into my tenth grader's schedule--yet somehow those plans were set aside. So when the opportunity to review <a href="http://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/" target="_blank">Hewitt Homeschooling </a>cropped up, my tenth grader and I were thrilled to review one of their Shakespearean studies.<br />
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My daughter and I received <a href="http://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/Materials/mItem.aspx?id=8076" target="_blank">Shakespeare: Tragedies and Sonnets</a>, which is recommended for use by students in grades 9 through 12. I would judge this recommendation pretty accurate, though if your younger child is capable of more or you yourself want to study the Bard, there is some flexibility in this. This course may be covered in a semester or as a year's curriculum, or you may modify for your own needs. We opted to cover <i>Hamlet</i> for this review.<br />
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We received both the Lightning Lit Guide, which is an over-sized paperback non-consumable volume 185 pages in length as well as the Teacher Guide, which is three-hole punched and stapled and runs 51 pages in length.<br />
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So, what was included?<br />
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Student Guide ($29.95):<br />
<ul>
<li>Introduction: This is meaty. It really covers the philosophy behind this program. Tips on how to read and write, including reasons why they are important. Includes tips on how to use this guide.</li>
<li>Lessons: These include the Introduction, Selection, "While You Read" questions, Plot Summary, Comprehension Questions, Literary Lessons, Writing Exercises and Perspectives.</li>
<li>Appendices: Discussion Questions and Project Suggestions, Additional Reading, Movie and Video Recommendations and Schedules</li>
<li>Suggested Optional Activities to Enhance the Study</li>
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Teacher Guide ($2.95):<br />
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<li>Introduction. You, the teacher, will want to refer to the Introduction in the Student Guide as you read this section, which gives you the framework for what to do with your student.</li>
<li>Grading Tips.</li>
<li>Checklists. For grading student assignments.</li>
<li>Grading templates.</li>
<li>Suggested Schedules. One semester. One year.</li>
<li>Answers to Comprehension Questions from the Student Guide.</li>
<li>Writing Exercises.</li>
<li>Discussion Questions and Project Suggestions.</li>
</ul>
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Although you may opt to purchase simply these two guides, you will need copies of these four Shakespearean tragedies: <i>Julius Caesar</i>, <i>Hamlet</i>, <i>MacBeth</i>, and <i>King Lear</i>. Although you may purchase your own editions, you may also purchase a complete pack at 10% off, for only $53.92.<br />
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What did we think? Definitely challenging, interesting and college preparatory. The Student Guide is designed to be used by the student, so some of the stress is taken off of mom, which is always nice for those of us with more children to school and more demands on our time. Although the teacher-parent really does need to read a good bit of the Student Guide as well as the Teacher Guide, the student can do much of the work on his or her own, with mom grading the work. <br />
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We opted to view one of the movies recommended by the Student Guide, and although it was a good version of <i>Hamlet</i>, I want my readers to be aware that for viewing the films (which do contain violence) and even discussing the mature themes introduced by Shakespeare's tragedies, I would recommend the high school age unless you have a very mature middle school student.<br />
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Hewitt Homeschooling also sells other products for students aged elementary through high school. The Lightning Literature series covers junior high through high school. Be sure to visit <a href="https://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/Home/hMain.aspx" target="_blank">Hewitt Homeschooling</a> to learn more.<br />
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Disclaimer: As a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I received a complimentary copy of this curriculum for review. To read further <a href="http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/785798/" target="_blank">reviews of Lightning Literature</a> or other products, be sure to visit the <a href="http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/" target="_blank">Schoolhouse Review Crew blog.</a>Michelle Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08447079002738068749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018472869141005647.post-13678092134328996172012-07-05T06:00:00.000-07:002012-07-05T06:10:31.397-07:00DreamsI am walking through the dense green woods, far from any city or town. I hear nothing except birds and an occasional breeze or a twig snap. I have been struggling uphill for a long time, occasionally stopping to catch my breath or re-tie a shoelace. I am bruised and bleeding a little where I slipped on some rocks a couple of hours ago. Yet I walk on, taking a break now and again to catch my breath.<br />
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The day started out warm and sunny, yet an unexpected thunderstorm cropped up. Were it not for my poncho, I would be drenched. As it is, I am perspiring underneath the smothering plastic. I suddenly realize how very quiet it is now, after the buffeting thunder, wind and rain. I decide the storm has abated, so I remove the poncho, shaking it off, carefully folding it and replacing it in my daypack. I sip water thirstily while I survey my path.<br />
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A little ahead of me, the path forks. Not once, not twice, but in several different directions within just a pace or two. I study them. Which one should I take? I carefully retrieve my map from my pack and begin surveying it. I want to choose the correct one. The stakes are high. And the path I must choose will not be a well-worn one. In fact, it will be a narrow one, overgrown by weeds, littered with broken twigs and limbs--perhaps difficult at times to discern from the encroaching woods.<br />
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And I have more altitude to climb before I reach the mountain summit.<br />
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I look to the sky, now calm though cloudy. No one visible travels with me. It is only me and my silent companion. <i>Which path?</i><br />
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I wake.<br />
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Or perhaps I sleep.<br />
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Is this my dream? Or perhaps my life? Or a metaphor for my life?<br />
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At times I want to share with you, my readers, once again. But where do I begin? My life is too fantastic, too truly strange for words. Certainly not easy words. Over the past several months our family has experienced a family medical crisis. And another. And yet another.<br />
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God is leading us along yet another unusual path. Sometimes the path is hard to traverse. Sometimes it is painful. One day you wake up and you realize that not a soul on the earth can truly understand what you are experiencing. And it is wearying to even try to explain. To burden another. To confuse another. Yet you also realize that the Lord is quietly walking alongside you, gently leading your way. For today, that is all I know. All I have. The Lord is more precious to me than anything. He is truly a faithful friend, when all else have either abandoned or have lent their encouragement and prayers yet cannot walk with you. Some paths He intends for just the two of you to walk alone.<br />
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Blessings to you, my friends, on whatever path the Lord has called you to walk today. May you find Him as faithful a companion as I have. Trust Him through the storm.Michelle Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08447079002738068749noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018472869141005647.post-45544196171520483222012-05-24T20:21:00.000-07:002012-05-24T20:21:11.821-07:00Review: Heritage History's Ancient Rome<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.heritage-history.com/www/heritage.php" target="_blank">Heritage History</a> provides an online-accessible, traditional, narrative history approach for the homeschool. The individual curriculum guides for each time period collection provides not only classic narrative readers, but also provides supplemental resources for families to enrich the use of its readers.Our family had the opportunity to test-drive Heritage History's Ancient Rome curriculum this spring with our 10th grader and 7th grader.<br />
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<a href="http://www.heritage-history.com/www/heritage.php?Dir=civ&MenuItem=roman" target="_blank">History of Ancient Rome</a> covers the historical periods of Rome from its founding in 753 B. C. through the Byzantine Empire in 1453 A. D. My 10th grader has been reading <i>Stories From Livy</i> by Alfred J. Church, <i>The Story of Carthage</i> by Alfred J. Church, <i>Roman Life in the Days of Cicero</i> by Alfred J. Church and <i>The Aeneid</i> by Alfred J. Church. My 7th grader has been reading <i>Stories From Ancient Rome</i> by Alfred J. Church, <i>Story of the Roman People</i> by Eva March Tappan, <i>Stories in Stone from the Roman Forum</i> and <i>The Aeneid</i> by Alfred J. Church. <br />
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Both of my older children have been enjoying reading the books included within this collection. My children are discovering Roman history more fascinating than they realized. Although we have not used this resource extensively as yet, I do like the complementary resources included within this curriculum. <br />
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The Heritage Classical Curriculum <a href="http://www.heritage-history.com/www/heritage-store.php?pid=curriculum_guide" target="_blank">User Guide</a> offers a good explanation of this curriculum. Briefly, this curriculum is based on a narrative and Living Books approach. All reading selections presuppose at least a fourth grade reading (or listening) level, and cover fourth grade through high school levels.<br />
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One or two units per year seems to be a reasonable pace to progress through the material, though each family may choose its own pace. Families may even choose to <a href="http://www.heritage-history.com/www/heritage-store.php?pid=curriculum_alternatives" target="_blank">combine the Heritage Classical Curriculum</a> with another classical or Charlotte Mason based approach.<br />
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What is included within the Ancient Rome volume?<br />
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<ul>
<li>45 traditional historical readers (including historical fiction, biography and comprehensive history) for upper grammar through high school reading level</li>
<li>study resources (such as maps, illustrations and timelines)</li>
<li>printable Study Guide</li>
<li>Curriculum Guide</li>
<li>all on one CD, including PDF, EPUB and MOBI </li>
</ul>
<a href="http://www.heritage-history.com/www/heritage-store.php?pid=hcc_hcc_ancient-rome_1" target="_blank">Ancient Rome Curriculum CD</a> is available for <b>$24.99</b>. View the Heritage Curriculum Spring "Buy Two, Get One Free"<a href="http://www.heritage-history.com/www/heritage-store.php?pid=special" target="_blank"> sale</a>. Also available is the <a href="http://www.heritage-history.com/www/heritage-store.php?pid=curriculum" target="_blank">World History Collection of five CDs</a> for $99.99.<br /><br />
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Do you have additional questions? See the <a href="http://www.heritage-history.com/www/heritage-store.php?pid=curriculum_faqs" target="_blank">FAQ page</a> or ask me in the comments. <br />
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Disclaimer: As a member of the Homeschool Crew, I received a complimentary copy of this CD for review purposes. Be sure to visit the <a href="http://homeschoolcrew.com/785260/" target="_blank">Homeschool Crew blog</a> to read additional reviews, especially of other History Collections.<br />Michelle Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08447079002738068749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018472869141005647.post-23310154916410384992012-05-14T17:54:00.000-07:002012-05-14T17:54:19.757-07:00Six Months . . .Six months. So little time, and yet so much.<br />
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Six months have passed since I have been an active blogger.<br />
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Six months have passed since my life has forever changed. Since my family's life has forever changed.<br />
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How do I express what is on my heart and in my mind? Do I keep on blogging? Or not? Do I confine my scattered thoughts and emotions to my personal journal, there to shock, perplex or relieve only myself?<br />
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In the previous six months . . .<br />
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My daughter has seen more than a dozen doctors. Probably more than two dozen. Her symptoms have perplexed most of them.<br />
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My daughter has recently received a very rare genetics diagnosis. It doesn't even comprise a syndrome. Little is known about it. The doctors have told us what they can.<br />
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I have met some very good and caring doctors. And nurses.<br />
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My daughter has experienced a 12 day hospital stay. And I stayed with her.<br />
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I have learned so much about medicine, treatments, medical equipment, and my daughter's case in particular that I have confused both doctors and nurses into thinking I am a Registered Nurse. I am not.<br />
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We continue to search for answers to help my daughter. Yet I now realize that the answers will not come quickly, nor easily.<br />
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I realize . . .<br />
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That my daughter needs me so very much.<br />
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And that I love her enough to do anything for her.<br />
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That sleep truly is optional. Yet it is not completely. Sooner or later some of those sleepless nights must be made up for. <br />
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Food is optional sometimes. Yet when sleep becomes optional, a hot cup of Earl Grey tea is not.<br />
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That I am a better mother than I knew.<br />
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That God has been so very good to place me where He has, and He has placed so many of the people I need into my path right now. And I am grateful for my online friendships. Your prayer support and encouragement have meant the world to me. Blessings to you!<br />
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<br />Michelle Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08447079002738068749noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018472869141005647.post-49315276484915797642012-05-12T18:41:00.004-07:002012-05-12T18:41:48.881-07:00Review: Amazing Science! Volume 1 DVD Set<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Recently my children and I had the opportunity to view <i><b>Amazing Science! Volume I </b></i>from <b><a href="http://www.scienceandmath.com/" target="_blank">Science and Math.com</a></b>. My tenth grader viewed a few of the experiments, yet my seventh grader, fourth grader, first grader and preschooler were the main ones who watched it. My seventh grade son, who is likely destined for a career in either engineering or computer science, found it especially exciting. He is the one who always wants to know <i>how</i> and <i>why</i> things work!<br />
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What did my children and I like about these videos?<br />
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<ul>
<li>Each experiment is explained clearly and well, with the reasons behind why the results turned out how they did.</li>
<li>Each experiment is videotaped from different angles, so that you can really see well what is happening.</li>
<li>The experiments are interesting.</li>
<li>The experiments can usually be replicated at home without too much trouble or expense.</li>
<li>Yet, although we did not really have time or in some cases the ingredients to try the experiments on our own, my children really learned quite a lot simply from viewing the experiment. </li>
<li>We were able to re-play those experiments which were favorites. Seriously, I think my seventh grader has viewed some of these experiments three times now.</li>
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Honestly, when I was recently in the hospital with my very ill child for twelve days, my husband made school subject logs for the children and oversaw their schoolwork, and if all the science they got accomplished in a day was watching one or two of these experiments, I still felt they had really used their time wisely and probably learned more than they would have by simply reading a textbook.<br />
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Wonder what supplies are used in the experiments? Download a supply list <a href="http://www.walkingbytheway.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/science_math_experiment_list.pdf" target="_blank">HERE</a>. <br />
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Videos range in length from a little over five minutes to nearly twenty minutes in length, though most are around ten minutes long. I think they are just the right length for <b>middle elementary through middle school level</b>, with just the right interest level and right depth of explanation.<br />
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I asked my son which of the experiments were his favorites. He listed the following:<br />
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<li>Building a Motor #2</li>
<li>Dry Ice Bubbles</li>
<li>Ocean in a Bottle</li>
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Although I cannot show you these three videos, you may view five of <a href="http://www.scienceandmath.com/public/Science-Experiments-that-Anyone-Can-Do-at-Home.cfm" target="_blank">these twenty-three experiments</a> on the <i>Science and Math.com</i> website to see what you think! Did you know that you can use a lemon to power a calculator? How cool is that to make a battery out of a lemon?<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.scienceandmath.com/products/Amazing-Science-Experiments-Volume-1.cfm" target="_blank"><b>Amazing Science Volume 1</b></a></i> retails for $24.95, but is currently on sale for<b> $19.95</b>. It contains <b>23 experiments</b> on two DVDs. Although Volume 2 is not yet available, you may want to see the other science and math DVDs which are available from this company.<br />
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Disclaimer: As a member of the Homeschool Crew, I received a review copy of this 2 DVD set for review. No other compensation was received. Visit the <a href="http://homeschoolcrew.com/785006/" target="_blank">Homeschool Crew blog</a> to read more reviews of this and other educational products.<br />Michelle Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08447079002738068749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018472869141005647.post-72210441456028029952012-05-08T20:21:00.000-07:002012-05-08T20:34:48.680-07:00Review: God's Great Covenant from Classical Academic Press<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My regular readers know that I am a huge fan of <a href="http://classicalacademicpress.com/" target="_blank">Classical Academic Press</a>. We already use a few of Classical Academic Press' other products, and my children are enthusiastic about the ones we have used to date. So, what is it about this company and its offerings that we appreciate the most?<br />
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Their logo sums it up nicely: <i>Classical Subjects Creatively Taught.</i><br />
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My children love the way this company injects fun and creativity into every subject. It's simply never boring.<br />
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While we have previously reviewed this company's Latin and logic offerings, this time we are reviewing a Bible course on the New Testament. <br />
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We received the <a href="http://classicalacademicpress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=104" target="_blank">God's Great Covenant New Testament One Bundle</a>, including a Student Edition, Teacher's Edition and an audio file download of Dr. Christopher Perrin reading thirty-two stories from the four gospels. Designed for students fourth grade and up, this study focuses on the Gospels. <br />
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What is included within the consumable Student Edition?<br />
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<li>6 separate introductions, which we covered in our first week--general, historical and political, chronological, geographical, religious and daily life topics are each covered separately</li>
<li>36 chapters, divided into four nine week units</li>
<li>Weekly chapters contain a theme, Scripture verses, a focal memory passage, key facts and prophecy fulfillments. </li>
<li>Maps and illustrations </li>
<li>An interesting story every lesson, based upon the gospel account</li>
<li>Review worksheets to be completed during the week, roughly 2-4 pages in length</li>
<li>Unit Memory Passage Worksheets</li>
<li>Unit Devotional Guides</li>
<li>Unit accounts from the fictional character Simon's world</li>
<li>3 appendices</li>
<li>Glossary</li>
<li>Bibliography</li>
<li>36 one page weekly quizzes </li>
<li>346 pages</li>
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The maps give the right amount of detail for the middle to upper elementary crowd, while maintaining visual appeal.<br />
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The review worksheets offer a mix of fill-in-blank, matching, true/false and short answer questions. Sometimes even a crossword puzzle is added for fun, which is always a big hit with my kids.<br />
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Overall, we were impressed by the Student Edition. We chose to cover the story from the gospel on Mondays, and take a couple of days to complete the review worksheets and have quizzes on Friday, but you could choose your own method of covering the material.<br />
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The Teacher's Edition contains everything included within the Student Edition, only
in smaller print. In addition, it includes lined margins in which to
make notes and plenty of notes for teachers and parents. Notes cover
background, textual and historical information as well as some
theological points. While parents or teachers would not necessarily have
to explore every one of these notes, these numbered points provide many options for further
exploration of the topic, as desired--or as your student asks questions.<br />
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You can see a page sample below.<br />
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And another. The lined margins would prove helpful for the parent or teacher desiring to make her own notes for reference while teaching. Answers are included for the student review worksheets and weekly quizzes.<br />
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And the audio files? I really love the way they draw my children into the story. Since I have children younger than the recommended age, with these audio files we could play the stories for all my children and allow the younger ones (4 and 6 years old) to simply listen in to and appreciate the Bible story, while my seventh grader completed the workbook. I love Dr. Perrin's speaking voice, too. He holds my children's interest and attention.<br />
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Once again, we have been impressed with this Bible Study from Classical Academic Press. It is interesting, age appropriate and flexible for different age groups as well as how much additional discussion parents want to bring to the subject.<br />
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Dislikes?<br />
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Since I have now entered the "bifocals stage" of life and am struggling to get used to my newest pair, I did find the smaller font size of the student text reprint within the Teacher's Edition a bit small and difficult to read. When I wanted to read from the text, I found myself reaching for the Student Edition. Really, though, a minor quibble, and one that probably will not apply to many of my readers. I think the advantage of having the wide margins for making notes outweighs this minor personal inconvenience.<br />
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<a href="http://classicalacademicpress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=102" target="_blank">God's Great Covenant, New Testament 1: A Bible Course for Children</a> $26.95 <br />
<a href="http://classicalacademicpress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=103" target="_blank">God's Great Covenant, New Testament 1: Teacher's Edition </a> $29.95<br />
<a href="http://classicalacademicpress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=104" target="_blank">God's Great Covenant, New Testament 1 Audio Files</a> $9.95<br />
<a href="http://classicalacademicpress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=104" target="_blank">All of the Above Bundled Together</a> $56.95<br />
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Disclaimer: As a member of the Homeschool Crew, I received a review copy of these texts and audio file. To see what other Homeschool Crew reviewers thought about this product, please visit the <a href="http://homeschoolcrew.com/784911/" target="_blank">Homeschool Crew blog.</a>Michelle Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08447079002738068749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018472869141005647.post-52726818276498374022012-05-02T05:00:00.000-07:002012-05-03T07:00:38.996-07:00FIRST Wildcard Blog Tour: Answers for the 4-A Epidemic<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrd4Nvch6Qq_IuBGGK5PqmiObyGhZo28LaILgMyjxE70aL09RgbO_pRwkWRF9_1TM8MnaBdPF_QG2t8uR6hiR2ejJ-1daZ5dW0rxwcyw2nq39aCC1ZgOG5D0w-5cd0mXpc_xnCQKq5I7U/s1600/FIRSTWildCardTours2.jpg"></a><a href="http://firstwildcardtours.blogspot.com/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480264388542368882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrd4Nvch6Qq_IuBGGK5PqmiObyGhZo28LaILgMyjxE70aL09RgbO_pRwkWRF9_1TM8MnaBdPF_QG2t8uR6hiR2ejJ-1daZ5dW0rxwcyw2nq39aCC1ZgOG5D0w-5cd0mXpc_xnCQKq5I7U/s200/FIRSTWildCardTours2.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 145px;" /></a>It is time for a <span style="color: #990000;"><b><a href="http://firstwildcardtours.blogspot.com/">FIRST Wild Card Tour</a></b></span> book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! <span style="color: #990000;"><b>Enjoy your free peek into the book!</b></span>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>You never know when I might play a wild card on you!</i></span>
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<b>Today's Wild Card author is: </b>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 180%;"><a href="http://www.pediatricianscareunit.com/">Joseph Cannizzaro, MD</a></span></b>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 180%;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 100%;">and the book:</span> </span></b>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 180%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1616384840">Answers for the 4-A Epidemic</a></span></b>
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Siloam (April 3, 2012)
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***Special thanks to Althea Thompson | Publicity Coordinator, Charisma House | Charisma Media for sending me a review copy.***
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<b><span style="color: #333399; font-size: 130%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">ABOUT THE AUTHOR:</span></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaIPDpRV84uXq5QeZ2nB9C6snV_q91yhC_IqzIT3FLQ6UbdhFfV1nj4P03J_Nf_WjhuCvGVSdpg-nCVE5yaw2owALwiICkUmG5h2RYiNRfl2dfcsf32Dn3MbFKI2BsjI2G3fYeQ3aUbng/s1600/Dr_C_Headshot_8x10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaIPDpRV84uXq5QeZ2nB9C6snV_q91yhC_IqzIT3FLQ6UbdhFfV1nj4P03J_Nf_WjhuCvGVSdpg-nCVE5yaw2owALwiICkUmG5h2RYiNRfl2dfcsf32Dn3MbFKI2BsjI2G3fYeQ3aUbng/s200/Dr_C_Headshot_8x10.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
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Joseph Cannizzaro, MD, is the founder and managing pediatrician for the Pediatricians Care Unit in Longwood, Florida. He received his MD from the University of Bologna Medical School in Bologna, Italy, and has practiced pediatric medicine for thirty years with specialties in developmental pediatrics, nutrition, and preventative medicine.<br />
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Visit the author's <a href="http://www.pediatricianscareunit.com/">website</a>.
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<b><span style="color: #333399; font-size: 130%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:</span> </span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLWOMUzEkQpYESB5GVjrx_aNNWACZKV81-TYoEjX78t84fHDLqBoGlYP-3H4ZLOUFMdRgwsiQv2FKqhQhvhBtBcY-3XwtoSTVj4_d_i1esYy-O5lWxJL9z5RpKlG4mTf2yzyrhIVdFeo/s1600/Answers+for+the+4-A+Epidemic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLWOMUzEkQpYESB5GVjrx_aNNWACZKV81-TYoEjX78t84fHDLqBoGlYP-3H4ZLOUFMdRgwsiQv2FKqhQhvhBtBcY-3XwtoSTVj4_d_i1esYy-O5lWxJL9z5RpKlG4mTf2yzyrhIVdFeo/s200/Answers+for+the+4-A+Epidemic.jpg" width="133" /></a>A groundbreaking integrative treatment program for autism, ADHD, asthma, and allergies.<br />
In the last two decades, the incidence of the 4-A disorders--autism, ADHD, asthma, and allergies--has increased so drastically that many now call these four conditions "the new childhood epidemics." In this book, integrative pediatrician Joseph Cannizzaro lays a foundation for understanding the cause of all four conditions and then provides a comprehensive treatment program for each of them.<br />
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The medical community has generally overlooked the commonalities that link the 4-A disorders and, in most cases, has limited treatment to suppression of symptoms. Dr. Cannizzaro has focused his pediatric practice on the treatment of the 4-A disorders for the past five years. He and his colleagues are currently securing a research grant that will provide funding and national peer recognition of their groundbreaking treatment program, which is the first to combine traditional medical approaches with a full range of natural healing modalities.<br />
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Product Details:<br />
List Price: $15.99<br />
Paperback: 256 pages<br />
Publisher: Siloam (April 3, 2012)<br />
Language: English<br />
ISBN-10: 1616384840<br />
ISBN-13: 978-1616384845<br />
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Since I have been in the hospital with my daughter for nearly two weeks and I do not have this book title with me now, this post will be updated with my review at a later date. My apologies to the author and the publisher.</div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:</span> </b>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">Introduction</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold;">There IS Hope!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">What has gone wrong? As even a casual reader or listener of the news knows, the statistics are alarming. Autism, ADHD, asthma, and allergies––all four of which happen to begin with the letter “A”––are on the rise, especially among children. In fact, it is not stretching the definition of the word</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;"> epidemic </span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">to use that term for the way these disorders are sweeping the Western world. None of them is communicable in the classic understanding of the term, but all four sets of disorders, as you will see throughout this book, share common root causes that contribute to the development of current epidemic proportions. Autism, Attention Deficit Disorder (with and without hyperactivity—ADD/ADHD), asthma, and allergies—these are the new childhood epidemics.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">A tragedy of this magnitude would be overwhelming except for a salient fact: </span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">These new epidemics can be defeated</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">. After twenty years of treating patients, I have found that beneath the surface there is an unmistakable, unshakeable web of interrelationship among the 4-A disorders, and I have learned to recognize the patterns. Toxicity in the brain and body causes metabolic dysfunction, which cascades with other factors to produce one or more of these disorders. Often they overlap with each other in the same person. By uncovering and treating the common causes of these 4-A disorders, we can embark on a common (and hope-filled) path to recovery.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">You are already aware of this epidemic or you would not have picked up this book. Most likely you are a parent of a child (or more than one child) who carries a diagnosis of one of these disorders. You may be overwhelmed with your situation at home, while your search for help merely seems to bury you in information and saddle you with enormous medical bills.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">I want to empower people like you—parents of 4-A children—with comprehensive and effective tools. With you, I want to advocate for the health of your kids. At the same time I want to increase your skills to recognize your own body’s ongoing responses to disorder and stress so that you can make an ongoing and accurate assessment of how you’re doing as a whole family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Holistic-Integrative Self-Medical Care</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">This book is a guide, not a cookbook. It will teach you principles as well as facts and point you in the right direction as you search out the best path. Recovering from any of the 4-A disorders is a journey, replete with side trips and even dead ends. But together with others you can make tangible progress toward the healthy, even contented, lifestyle you want for yourself and your loved ones.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">What you as an individual do with this information is up to you. I want to teach you how to “self-practice” self-care in a holistic, integrative, and natural way. I want to introduce you to upstream medicine, in which we all play a role in searching out the causes of disease and eliminating them at the root.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">The causes of this particular 4-A epidemic (and if I were not a pediatrician, I might add a fifth and more mature “A” to the list: Alzheimer’s disease) are omnipresent in our man-made, inevitably toxic environment. The detrimental effects of our environment have been causing all sorts of damage and disorder that is initially imperceptible and can remain so far varying durations within a person’s lifetime. In the case of many of our children the damage has manifested early on as the 4-A disorders, although some children escape.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">All disease processes begin with changes in functional systems, imbalances that our bodies can bring back into balance up to a point. We cannot tell at first what damage to cells and tissues may have been initiated; for a time, we remain unaware of tissue damage or dysfunction.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">But after a point of saturation, months or even years down the road, a point which varies from one individual and family to another, an invisible threshold is crossed, beyond which perceptible symptoms of a disease begin to appear.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">When I use the term “upstream medicine,” I’m using it to communicate two ideas: (1) the way in which we can learn to trace symptoms of a disease back to common and basic metabolic roots, so that we can weed out toxicity and improve the health-promoting aspects of our environment, and (2) the way in which we can learn to anticipate damage or dysfunction long before actual disease symptoms begin to manifest, so as to keep our lifestyles as free as possible of disease-producing contaminants. An intermediate period exists wherein perceptible signs and symptoms of a potential disease are still “brewing,” and during which, if appropriate measures are taken, the full definitive disease will never come into being.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">My Unique Qualifications</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">I am an established medical doctor with a pediatric specialty. As the parents of young patients have come to me for answers over the years, I became convinced that my medical toolbox was insufficient. I could help but only to a degree. Why should I spend my time and the hard-earned money of my patients’ families simply trying to suppress symptoms of a disease, especially life-consuming ailments such as these 4-A disorders?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">I needed to be able to do more. I needed to learn to bring together all that I had learned in medical school and in my pediatric practice along with as many other valid healing modalities as I could learn. I needed to become an </span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">integrative </span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">doctor, one who incorporates a holistic (mind, body, spirit) awareness along with a natural, nuts-and-bolts comprehension of basic biological principles. I needed to go back and relearn basic information about bodily systems (immune, digestive, nervous, etc.), in order to determine what it takes to establish and sustain the human body’s natural ability to develop, grow, and thrive. Besides all of that I needed to become aware of the bodily effects of our toxic environment so that I could make reliable recommendations to my patients.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">In short I needed to learn to practice medicine in a way that actually eliminates the </span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">causes </span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">of illness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">This book reflects my journey, and I am very glad to be able to take you on board. I have written it to provide you with solid information, so that you can come to understand the causes and effects of your own child’s health concerns––and so that you can move together in the direction of healing. You will find here a detailed summary of what I have learned, and helpful applications of that information that you can adjust to suit your personal family situation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">A glance at the Table of Contents will serve as an introduction to the “menu” I have prepared for you. Some of the chapters may not apply to your situation, because you may be dealing with only one or two of the 4-A disorders in your family. But you will find that I have repeated key concepts throughout the book, so you will not miss them if you skip a chapter or two.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">My desire is to put into your hands a transformational book, one that can transform your presuppositions and partial information so that, with me, we can create evidence-based solutions for some of society’s most perplexing ailments. I want to bring you to the brink of discovery, where you can survey a variety of explanations and solutions and find the ones that align with your own physical, mental, and spiritual paradigms.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">Each of my own patients and their families has gained greatly from what you are about to read. Now it’s your turn to receive the same benefits!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt; font-variant: small-caps;">SECTION I:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt; font-variant: small-caps;">HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">Chapter 1</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold;">Four New Childhood Epidemics</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">Billy was born ten days after his due date after a very long labor, and he had his umbilical cord wrapped around his neck twice. This did not seem to affect him negatively, though. At home he was a beautiful baby, always very active. All of his growth and developmental parameters were normal and on track. He was engaged with his family and communicative.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">As an early toddler, however, he began to have temper tantrums and became very fearful of noises, which would make him cling to his mother for long periods of time. He gradually lost interest in his toddler play group. Billy continued to become more distant. Soon he would no longer respond to anyone calling his name, and eye contact slowly disappeared. By the time he was three, he had sustained numerous injuries while walking, running, or climbing, because he seemed to have no sense of danger.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">All along his parents were reassured that their little boy’s behavior was within a normal range for his age. And yet he could not tell them if he was thirsty or hungry, happy or sad, or why he was upset––it seemed that he could not convey any emotion. Also, he had had bowel problems since he was six months old, but his mom had been told that it’s normal for children to have one bowel movement per week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">When Billy turned four, his preschool teacher suggested that his mother take him for a developmental evaluation conducted by a pediatrician. This caused her to begin to do some research on her own and her studies soon revealed that a pattern of behavior similar to Billy’s was typically seen in autistic children. Her fears mounted. Her Billy, who was once a healthy, happy little boy, now looked like a sad, helpless, clumsy boy who couldn’t express himself verbally, who would get upset very easily, and who was losing friends faster than he could make them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">Refusing to accept that nothing could be done, Billy’s mother located the website of the Autism Research Institute and found a holistic, integrative physician. He diagnosed Billy with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), with severe food allergies and constipation, and he initiated biomedical treatment. Billy started a gluten-free, casein-free, and soy-free diet along with supplements that included probiotics, enzymes, and a whole food concentrate to help turn around his “leaky gut syndrome.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">After four months, his parents could talk to Billy and he would listen. Another practitioner was enlisted and he diagnosed oral candidiasis (“thrush”) and heavy metal toxicity. As his digestive, immune, and nervous systems came into balance and Billy’s overall health improved, he gradually achieved developmental milestones in academics and social skills. Now he was able to make friends at school, to interact and play with them. He had good eye contact and his speech was clear. Remarkably, he once again enjoyed life. He was back to being a happy boy who could tell his parents what he wanted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">As time went on, however, he became overly gregarious and extremely hyperactive. His mom remarked “Well, it’s just that he likes to do so many things. He’s all over the place. He’s a bundle of joy but he can be very disruptive in a group.” By then Billy was six and had entered kindergarten. He maintained good grades. The comments on his report cards were upsetting, however, comments such as, “despite my best efforts I cannot persuade Billy to pay attention and he remains a constant disruption in class.” He was taken back to the doctor for a full evaluation. This time, the diagnosis was ADHD (attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">What could have happened? Were the dietary and lifestyle measures that had brought so much healing no longer working? This prompted a systems review with laboratory studies, dietary history, and supplemental program analysis, along with a measurement of his toxic burden, which revealed that Billy and his family had lapsed back into a lifestyle marked by an inappropriate diet that was devoid of proper supplementation, along with a disregard for their exposure to toxins.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">I am happy to report that once Billy’s parents successfully reinstituted and maintained those lifestyle changes (nutrition, supplements, and a detox program), Billy no longer suffered from the effects of the ADHD. As long as he stuck with the lifestyle improvements, he could be considered healed and healthy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Is This a Real Epidemic?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">We are living in the midst of a colossal, quadruple epidemic. This epidemic has developed insidiously over decades and it has escalated rapidly during the past thirty years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">How is this possible? Isn’t an epidemic defined as a specific disease that spreads rapidly in a definable geographic region? How can four seemingly distinct disorders (autism, ADHD, asthma, and allergies) share the same “epidemic” umbrella?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">It’s really not a stretch to call this a modern epidemic, even though the symptoms can vary greatly and even though the escalation seems to cover all of the developed nations of the world. This is because this diverse population of children (adults too, but these problems start young) are united in what underlies their many overlapping symptoms—and they face the same health-challenging environment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">We are involved in this epidemic with four faces simply because we are all exposed to the same cause. Toxicity permeates our ecosystem. The human body responds to the threat in particular ways. When you add other factors of our modern lifestyles, you get a spectrum or array of disorders that are interwoven with each other. The reason this epidemic came to light in children is because they are the most vulnerable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">Although we characterize what’s happening as an epidemic, the children themselves must be evaluated and treated as individuals, because each person is affected in his very own specific way. We can see patterns and cause-and-effect, but many factors make each child’s situation unique. Once we begin to understand where this epidemic came from, we next need to determine just where each individual fits. Only then can we pursue healing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Definitions</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">ASD:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> Autism Spectrum Disorder</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">ADHD:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Candidiasis (oral):</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> Commonly known as “thrush,” yeast overgrowth, or yeast infection, candidiasis indicates that the opportunistic </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7018472869141005647" name="0.3___DdeLink__8_822184489"></a><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Candida albicans</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> fungus has caused white spots on the tongue and inside of the mouth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Quadruple Epidemic</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">Within the past forty years of medical history, we began to realize that not only were rates of autism, ADHD, asthma, and allergies growing into epidemic proportions, they are also connected to each other at the root. Not only do they share overlapping symptoms, they also often appear in the same individual.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">My personal experience with patients and that of all the integrative physicians with whom I have worked is that we have not met one child who came to us with just one of the four conditions. The parents of a child with allergies would describe asthma attacks as well as their child’s learning problems (problems with concentration and attention span). Children would be diagnosed with autism and then with ADHD, and we would find that these hyperactive autistics also had severe allergies and asthma. Our conventional medical categories consisted of separate diagnostic boxes. But these kids could not fit into just one of them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">We have not met one child who came to us with just one of the four conditions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">How are these disorders related? What is their commonality? What element unites them all? The answer: the state of the digestive system. Every 4-A patient has an abnormal digestive system, which in turn impacts the immune and nervous systems, producing a familiar litany of symptoms.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">“All diseases begin in the gut,” declared Hippocrates 2,400 years ago. He was describing our current epidemic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Current Rates of 4-A Disorders</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">How many children and adults have been hit by this epidemic? Twenty-five million individuals, and most likely more than thirty million, when psychiatric conditions and the disorders in learning, behavior, speech and language, sensory integration, and motor skills are included. This certainly qualifies as an epidemic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">Is it an epidemic of genetic origin? While autism and the three other A’s have a clear genetic component, that cannot explain everything. These are not purely genetic diseases. Undoubtedly these patients were born with a genetic predisposition or susceptibility. Yet genetics alone does not cause epidemics, and it may not be as important as we thought it was. As Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health and former head of the Human Genome Project, famously said, “Genetics loads the gun, and environment pulls the trigger.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">Environmental changes occurring to a genetically predisposed child sound like a more plausible explanation to me. But what are the specific triggers?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">“Genetics loads the gun, and environment pulls the trigger.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">I believe that environmental factors are of paramount importance. Autism has increased 6,000 percent in twenty years, ADHD more than 400 percent, asthma more than 300 percent, and allergies more than 400 percent in the same time period. Two disastrous environmental changes have caused all this to happen: overwhelming toxicity and nutrient depletion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Definitions</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Commonality:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> A shared set of attributes or features. In the context of this book, the word refers to an aggregate of environmental conditions and influences that have caused the epidemic of 4-A disorders.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Allergy: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">An exaggerated response of the immune system to specific substances that normally pose no threat to the human body, involving the elevation of specific antibodies due to antigen stimulus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Asthma: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">A chronic inflammation of the bronchial tubes characterized by symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Autism: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">A developmental disorder that encompasses speech development, social development, physical capabilities and tendencies, and cognitive development.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">Maria Rodale, CEO of the family-named multimedia healthy-living company, writes in her book </span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">Organic Manifesto:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 11pt;">Autism and attention-deficit/<wbr></wbr>hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), diseases virtually unheard of a few decades ago, are now diagnosed regularly. Of every 100 children born today, one will be diagnosed with autism before the age of 8.* About 4.4 million children between the ages of 4 and 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD. Rates of asthma, diabetes, and childhood obesity are at all-time highs and scientists can’t explain why the number of children with food allergies has increased 18 percent in the last decade.** Is it a coincidence that the prevalence of these problems has increased as we have increased the use of chemicals to grow our food?”</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 7.33pt; vertical-align: super;">1</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 11pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">Toxic chemicals in our food chain are just one of the triggers. Let’s take a look at each of the epidemic disorders in turn before we go on in the rest of the chapters to describe all of the possible triggers, as well as specific and comprehensive strategies for dealing with them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Autism</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">It would not be an exaggeration to say that autism affects everything in a child. Broadly defined, it is a severe developmental disorder characterized by significant disabilities in social interaction, communication, and behavior.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">Autistic children range from those who appear to be normal to those who cannot speak at all or make eye contact, and who engage in repeated and disturbing physical actions. In less severe cases children may be diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome or one of the other four recognized disorders at the “high-functioning” end of the autism spectrum. These children may have near-normal speech capabilities, but many autistic social and behavioral problems persist.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">Autism affects about five boys to every one girl, and it is usually diagnosed at a young age. Autistic children have serious social impairments, and many lack an intuitive sense about other people, misreading social cues and not being able to learn from mistakes. This seriously inhibits normal growth and development. If they are verbal, some autistic children characteristically repeat others’ words or reverse pronouns. They may have trouble engaging in imaginative play, a key aspect of normal development in non-autistic children.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">Because autistic children can display such different symptoms, autism must be considered a “spectrum” disorder. Many people (and I am one of them) are convinced that ADHD carries the mildest form of the symptoms on the autism spectrum. Still milder would be “borderline ADHD,” or various learning disabilities. Autism spectrum disorder is often referred to as ASD.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">Children with autism, as well as those with ADHD, tend to suffer from asthma and allergies. Many also contend with other comorbid conditions, such as depression, anxiety, mood disorders, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, sleep disorders, and more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">Like autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects more boys than girls. ADHD can be characterized by age-inappropriate impulsivity, inattention, and often hyperactivity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">ADHD is further subdivided into three types, as follows:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">1. Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive ADHD. These children (more boys than girls) are in constant motion and find it hard to wait or listen. Instead, they act and talk impulsively.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">2. Predominantly inattentive ADHD. More girls than boys have this type. They have difficulty staying focused and attentive, and they do not tend to “act out” or stir things up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">3. Combined hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive ADHD. Most children with ADHD have this type.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity are the key behaviors of ADHD, although it can be difficult to draw the line at where normal levels of childish inattention and fidgety behaviors end and ADHD levels begin. These symptoms can lead to problems in academic, emotional, and social behaviors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">Sometimes other factors appear with ADHD and can make diagnosis confusing, such as depression, sleep deprivation, specific learning disabilities, physical tics, and overall behavioral issues. In fact we find that most kids who have ADHD also have one or more significant psychiatric, physical, or behavioral problem, including bipolar disorder. Because ADHD has so many different faces, parents should always seek out professional help to sort out the reasons for their own child’s behavior.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">Although people with ADHD can become quite successful in life, the opposite can also prevail: school failures, discipline for unruly behavior, rocky relationships, and eventual substance abuse. Children with untreated ADHD can grow into adults who are depressed, anxious, minimally employed, and generally unhappy with their lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">Throughout this book, when I refer to children with a kind of shorthand as “spectrum” children, I am referring to children whose symptoms put them somewhere on the autistic-to-ADHD continuum.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Asthma</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">The word </span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">asthma</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;"> comes from a Greek word that means “panting.” It is a chronic inflammation of the bronchial tubes characterized by symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. The inflammation is triggered environmentally by reactive substances or activities, including allergens, physical exercise, and cold air. The chronic inflammation causes swelling and therefore narrowing in a person’s airways. Most treatments focus on reversing this swelling to relieve the labored breathing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">When a person’s asthmatic symptoms become worse than usual, we call it an asthmatic attack. Without treatment the person’s bronchial tubes can close so that the person dies of suffocation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">Treatments include quick-acting medicines to give relief from asthma attacks and maintenance medicines to prevent symptoms over the long term.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">Asthma ranks as the number one chronic illness in children today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Definitions</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Autism spectrum disorders:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> Five disorders with distinctive symptoms of autism: (1) autistic disorder, (2) Asperger’s syndrome, (3) childhood disintegrative disorder, (4) Rett’s disorder, and (5) pervasive developmental disorder—not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Allergen: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Environmental substances that are normally harmless but which provoke a range of symptoms in reactive individuals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Anaphylaxis: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">A severe and rapid allergic reaction involving many parts of the body, sometimes fatal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Bipolar disorder: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">A mental disease characterized by cycles of depression and mania.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Allergies</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">People with allergies have hypersensitive immune systems that react to outside substances in an exaggerated fashion. The word </span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">allergy</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;"> indicates an altered reaction, deriving as it does from the Greek words </span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">allos </span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">(different, changed) and </span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">ergos </span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">(action).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">Besides causing discomfort and illness, allergies can trigger asthma attacks and can contribute to the severity of many other disorders. A person’s immune system is supposed to fight genuine microbial threats. In most allergic reactions, however, the immune system is responding in an exaggerated way to a false alarm.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">Common substances to which people have an allergic response include pollen, dust mites, insect stings, pet dander, molds, as well as specific foods and ingredients in medicines. These normally harmless environmental substances are known as allergens when they provoke symptoms such as nasal congestion and sneezing, itching or swelling, rashes, digestive disturbances, or full-blown asthma. Most of the time allergy symptoms are annoying but not life-threatening, although an intense allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis affects multiple internal systems and can result in death.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">Allergies are very common in the population at large.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Putting Them Together</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">In the next chapter we will explore how these four seemingly unrelated disorders, autism, ADHD, asthma, and allergies––each of which has mushroomed statistically in our lifetime and which affect our children disproportionately––combine into one sweeping epidemic. I will offer encouragement to parents of 4-A children as I propose potential solutions. For the sake of our sons and daughters (who represent our future), let us not rest until we have brought this 4-A epidemic to its knees.</span></div>
</div>Michelle Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08447079002738068749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018472869141005647.post-15622849692447420442012-04-27T15:29:00.002-07:002012-04-27T15:29:56.184-07:00Reviews Delayed Due to Family IllnessThe reviews I had planned to post this week have been interrupted by an extended hospital stay with one of my children. We began our stay with the ER and ICU on Sunday afternoon, and my daughter is now stable enough for me to update here on my blog.<br />
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My family appreciates all the prayers, visits, calls and extensions of sympathy at this time. I also appreciate the patience of curriculum vendors who understand my own need to focus on getting my daughter well at this time. We hope to be released from the hospital next week, and reviews will be posted as usual when I am able to do so.Michelle Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08447079002738068749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018472869141005647.post-76140090622373604952012-04-17T12:45:00.000-07:002012-04-17T12:45:54.448-07:00Joy and Sorrow, Praise and PainAlthough I have not written lately, many blog posts have been in my mind, awaiting an opportunity to share. Here are some highlights of the many I have wished to share lately:<br />
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My daughter, "Venturer" completed her NYLT training, had her braces removed, and just achieved very good to excellent scores on her ASVAB test. We will be going over her possible career options in upcoming months and discussing them and planning for them. She seems to have become more interested in math and science than in English since she took the ACT Explore test. She is huge blessing to me, and I thank God for her daily.<br />
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My son "Knothead" (so nicknamed due to his excellent knot-tying abilities) achieved his Star scout rank in December, and we awarded him his patch in January. He is already narrowing in on Life scout, looking forward to summer camp (especially earning the Robotics merit badge!), and contemplating working on his Eagle project this summer. He is now taller than his sister, and turning into a young man of character.<br />
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My two younger children continue to be as entertaining as always, always saying and doing funny things. They are such a joy to our family, always lighting up the room with their presence.<br />
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And my middle child, my daughter, "Princess Buttercup" has continued to be ill. She has seen many specialists and has finally been diagnosed with a very rare genetic disorder. Some similar cases exist, though hers is unique, and this week the Geneticist will tell us about other cases and what we can expect. To date, we really still don't know what to expect in terms of my daughter's health and treatment. Praise God, that she has turned to faith in Him and will soon be baptized. For now, we are all turning to Him who is faithful to walk with us down this dark road and strengthen us.<br />
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At a time like this, the book of Job has been my comfort. I do not understand why our family is undergoing this trial. I only know that He has some good purpose in it. The following verses sum up my experience of the past five months, seeking answers to help my daughter.<br />
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"But when I hoped for good, evil came,<br />
And when I waited for light, darkness came.<br />
My inward parts are in turmoil and never still;<br />
days of affliction come to meet me."<br />
Job 30:26-27 ESV<br />
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And yet, <br />
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"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."<br />
Romans 8:28 ESV<br />
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I am deeply appreciative of the many friends who have been praying for our family during this time.Michelle Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08447079002738068749noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018472869141005647.post-22523552017210242742012-04-12T10:38:00.003-07:002012-04-13T08:45:48.407-07:00Review: Write With World<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Language%20Arts/write_Logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="82" src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Language%20Arts/write_Logo.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<i>Teaching Writing.</i> A struggle in your home or a joy? This often difficult and perplexing subject can be made at least a little easier with the folks at <i>WORLD</i> magazine and <i>God's World's News</i>. <i><a href="http://www.learnwithworld.com/writewithworld/" target="_blank">Write With WORLD</a> </i>is a new middle school curriculum designed to make writing enjoyable--an effort much appreciated in our household. Read Martin Olasky's recent<a href="http://www.learnwithworld.com/writewithworld/molasky" target="_blank"> article</a> for <i>WORLD</i> magazine lamenting modern writing methods to see a little of the philosophy behind this new writing program. <br />
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My own seventh grade son was the test subject in our home for this pilot version of this program designed for 6th through 9th graders, which should be released in its final form for the 2012-13 school year. At that time the complimentary website for this curriculum will also go "live," and offer additional writing and online publishing opportunities for students using this curriculum.<br />
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So, back to my son. Writing lover he is not. Future engineer or computer scientist would be a more accurate description of him, actually. So, will this program work for a kid like him?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Language%20Arts/cover1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Language%20Arts/cover1.png" /></a></div>This program comes with a non-consumable teacher's manual and student book set. You provide your choice of notebook, binder, or journal to serve as the student's journal. We used a standard bound composition book--blue in color, to match the student book, naturally.<br />
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Although our version of <i>Write With WORLD</i> did not contain a table of contents or page numbers, the final version will. Suffice it to say for now, that the teacher and student books are about 3/4" thick and very substantive. It is illustrated with color photographs. This curriculum contains four units with four weekly lessons containing five daily lessons apiece. At times, you will be expected to locate magazine ads or articles, and <i>God's World News</i> could be used, but is not required. My son used <i>Boy's Life</i> magazine when necessary. <br />
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So, this curriculum could be used in a semester, with a separate semester devoted to literature. Or weeks could be alternated between writing or literature, or you could choose an alternate arrangement of the material.<br />
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What does each unit cover?<br />
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Unit One challenges the student writer to think about the writing process and pay attention to the arrangement of careful details and careful word choice. Students are challenged to ask questions and try options as they build skill in identifying strong and weak writing. This is the unit that we actually worked in for the review period, and I think it does a great job of starting at the most basic level at which students need to begin--the stage of critical thinking, observation and description.<br />
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Unit Two takes this knowledge a step further by helping students apply their knowledge to building sentences and paragraphs which logically demonstrate their ideas.<br />
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Unit Three focuses on autobiography, as well as research and organizational skills. This unit is designed to draw out reluctant writers by giving them a subject to research about which they are already familiar--themselves.<br />
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Unit Four teaches how to write narrative. Fiction is touched on toward the end, but the focus is on relaying a personal experience. Relevant, specific details are again emphasized, and the development of purpose is revisited.<br />
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Our family's verdict?<br />
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Mom likes this curriculum, but acknowledges that it will probably be most effective when the website to accompany it goes "live" in September. The first unit was not overly teacher-intensive, either, though I anticipate further units may be more intensive. It is possible that the teacher helps intended to be provided on the new website may prove an excellent help for parents.<br />
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My son really enjoyed reading the student book, but still struggled to get his thoughts onto paper. Is this unusual for him? No. He was still able to complete the assignments, with some prodding. Would the website with the opportunities to use technology and interaction have helped keep him motivated better? Probably. We are undecided as to whether to continue with this curriculum in August or not, but I tentatively recommend its use for this age student, anticipating the website to complete and complement the texts.<br />
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<i>Write With WORLD</i> costs:<br />
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$95 for Year One<br />
$95 for Year Two<br />
$165 for BOTH years<br />
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All packages include the student book, teacher's manual and an online subscription to the website for either one or two years. The publishers are considering publishing a high school curriculum for 2013-14, as well as the possibility of an electronic version of this curriculum. Interested in either? Feel free to leave a comment, as the publishers would love to know the interest level.<br />
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Disclaimer: As a member of the Homeschool Crew, I received the <i>Write With WORLD</i> student book and teacher's manual to review. Since the online subscription has not yet become available, I am unable to comment on it. To read other reviews of this product, please visit the <a href="http://homeschoolcrew.com/784899/" target="_blank">Homeschool Crew </a>blog page.Michelle Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08447079002738068749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018472869141005647.post-4188760642654130962012-03-19T18:47:00.000-07:002012-03-19T18:47:38.078-07:00Winter Gives Way to Spring<blockquote class="tr_bq">Only five minutes later he noticed a dozen crocuses growing round the foot of an old tree--gold and purple and white. Then came a sound even more delicious than the sound of the water. Close beside the path they were following a bird suddenly chirped from the branch of a tree. It was answered by the chuckle of another bird a little farther off. And then, as if that had been a signal, there was chattering and chirruping in every direction, and then a moment of full song, and within five minutes the whole wood was ringing with birds' music, and wherever Edmund's eyes turned he saw birds alighting on branches, or sailing overhead or chasing one another or having their little quarrels or tidying up their feathers with their beaks.</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww278/SevenSmiths/Picture182-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww278/SevenSmiths/Picture182-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Today I am picturing this scene from C. S. Lewis' <i>The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. </i>Our Winter has been long, yet Spring is arriving. For that, I am thankful. And yet, the physical winter has been very mild this year. I am perhaps speaking more of a different type of Winter our family has been experiencing.<br />
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We have experienced a medical crisis so puzzling that numerous specialists are unable to offer diagnoses or treatments--or, at least, precious few. We have had at least 50 appointments. We have had 19 vials of blood drawn. Various tests.<br />
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While we have not given up on doctors or tests or appointments, we have had to rely daily on prayer and the strength and peace of God to get us through this time of sleepless nights and endless wondering. We have prayed for healing. At times, we have wondered how many years of Winter we would experience before Aslan would come. At times we have marched through the endless dark and cold and snow, exhausted and blind. Simply holding onto Hope.<br />
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Yet Spring is here. The cold has left. The earth has awakened from its slumber.<br />
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We do not have all our answers. We have made some unusual dietary choices of late. God has slowly led us to make some changes in this area. I now spend roughly three hours daily in the kitchen, and roughly four days weekly running to specialist's appointments. Blogging is less a part of my life now. We will soon be busy gardening. I have some topics I would like to share here. Scouting progress, gardening, our dietary adventure, some educational thoughts and more. In time.<br />
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Blessings to all my faithful readers.Michelle Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08447079002738068749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018472869141005647.post-5819596814756104022012-03-19T08:27:00.001-07:002012-03-19T09:52:10.854-07:00Review: Progeny Press Literature Guides (The Screwtape Letters)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Language%20Arts/webbanner1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="75" src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Language%20Arts/webbanner1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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When I discovered that Progeny Press would be a vendor for the Homeschool Crew this year, I asked my 16 year old tenth grader which of these over 100 literature guides for all ages she would like to review. As a huge fan of C. S. Lewis, she opted to study <i>The Screwtape Letters</i>.<br />
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What did we receive?<br />
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Progeny Press offers both physical literature guides and electronic versions. We received a downloadable interactive literature guide. I was able to save a main copy and make a second copy, assigning her name to it in order to allow her to type in her own answers. I also received an answer key.<br />
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Progeny Press Literature Guides are designed to focus on the following skills:<br />
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<ul><li>reading comprehension</li>
<li>critical thinking</li>
<li>literary analysis</li>
<li>Christian application</li>
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Our verdict?<br />
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Progeny Press does an admirable job of meeting all these goals. I am impressed and am considering purchasing some of these.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Language%20Arts/ScrewtapeLetters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Language%20Arts/ScrewtapeLetters.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><br />
Any problems?<br />
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I was a little surprised by some of this, but we did encounter a few small problems.<br />
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First, we have a computer down. Although I did not realize it at first, my daughter did not want to type on my computer to complete the interactive study. So, a couple of weeks before this review was due, I realized that she had not been making progress and I printed her a physical copy of the literature guide. Not a big deal. Having an electronic copy allows the flexibility of choosing between using the interactive version and printing a physical copy. Not all companies offer these options, so this was a plus. <br />
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Second, since my daughter had actually read this book nearly two years ago, her memory alone was not sufficient for her to rely on to complete the study guide. This is a <i>good</i> problem to have! It indicates that Progeny Press requires such a high level of attention to details and literary analysis of its students that a cursory reading or former reading is not sufficient to be able to complete the guides. <br />
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Third, I discovered that although the questions and critical thinking style required of the Progeny Press Literature Guide was very comfortable for her and even familiar to her, that she wanted to use this in a discussion format. Yes, honestly. She did not want to fill out the guide herself, but would happily sit down and discuss the book with me, answering the questions as I asked them.<br />
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Okay, she is admittedly extroverted <i>and </i>more used to completing this type of study in a discussion format rather than writing her analysis and thoughts down. Yet that made me consider that she probably <i>does</i> need more experience writing her thoughts out in this type of format. And this literature guide really required a great deal from its readers. And that can be a really beneficial thing.<br />
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I think we'll be buying some more of these.<br />
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<a href="http://www.progenypress.com/Catalog/High%20School/screwtapeletters.html" target="_blank"><b><i>The Screwtape Letters</i></b></a> is available in both physical and downloadable formats:<br />
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Booklet $21.99<br />
CD $18.99<br />
E-mail .pdf $18.99<br />
Set (physical booklet plus CD) $27.99<br />
Book (by C. S. Lewis) $13.99<br />
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Download and view <a href="http://www.progenypress.com/pdf/Progeny-2011-12Catalog.pdf" target="_blank">Progeny Press' full catalog</a>. Levels are available for all ages, from elementary through high school. All guides are now available in the new interactive format, or be sure to check their specials for discount prices on the old CD versions if you or your own children would rather have printable literature guides.<br />
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Disclosure: As a member of the Homeschool Crew, I received a complimentary e-download of this product for review. No other compensation was received. To see other reviews of this product, read the <a href="http://homeschoolcrew.com/784769/" target="_blank">Homeschool Crew blog</a>.Michelle Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08447079002738068749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018472869141005647.post-71364363377526097902012-03-16T06:40:00.004-07:002012-03-16T15:13:05.774-07:00Review: Classical Academic Press<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/ArtofArgument/header_bg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="37" src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/ArtofArgument/header_bg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
By now I am sure that my regular readers know how many painstaking hours I have researched different homeschooling curricula (including polling all my homeschooling friends whose children have been awarded prestigious college scholarships), and by far the logic curriculum preferred by the most discriminating homeschooling families is the line sold by <a href="http://classicalacademicpress.com/" target="_blank">Classical Academic Press</a>. I am sure that my truly academically-minded homeschooling friends will surely want to join the elite cadre of homeschoolers using this excellent curricula.<br />
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Or perhaps you have paused at the end of this paragraph, and pondered what I just typed. Do you detect an informal fallacy here? If you guessed <b>"Snob Appeal,"</b> you would be correct! Perhaps you have also realized how frequently our youth are bombarded with various appeals and advertisements of this very nature. Learning about informal fallacies is an excellent way for young people to develop the analytical skills they need in order to become critically reasoning adults. Solid reasoning skills aid students in many areas--from better writing skills to better standardized test-taking skills.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/ArtofArgument/aa_LRG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/ArtofArgument/aa_LRG.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br />
<i><b>The Art of Argument: An Introduction to the Informal Fallacies</b></i>, co-authored by Aaron Larsen, Joelle Hodge and Chris Perrin, is the first of three titles in the Classical Academic Press logic series for secondary students. Although <i>The Art of Argument</i> is recommended primarily for grades 7 through 9, it can also be used by those older students who have little or no other logic exposure. Since I have a 10th grade daughter who has had some light logic exposure with two other programs and a 7th grade son who had not yet studied logic, they have both been using this program with me the past several weeks.<br />
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Did I say "using"? I meant to say "loving." Really. <i>Loving logic</i>. Amazing. Okay, so why the interest in <i>this</i> program? Why does my 7th grader keep grabbing the student book and reading ahead when he thinks I'm not looking?<br />
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I believe it's due to the Classical Academic Press logo: <b>"Classical Subjects--Creatively Taught."</b> CAP has a knack for taking what many people think are dull, college-level subjects and making them <i>interesting, humorous and memorable.</i><br />
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What is included within <b><i>Art of Argument</i></b> logic curriculum?<br />
<ul><li>28 fallacies, broken down into six categories</li>
<li>230 page Student Edition</li>
<li>286 page Teacher's Edition, including answers for student discussion questions</li>
<li>6 chapter tests, 2 unit tests, plus a final exam located within the Teacher's Edition (plus answer keys)</li>
<li>interesting illustrations and advertisements interspersed throughout every chapter</li>
<li>multiple skits with Socrates (yes, the historical figure) to read aloud and enjoy </li>
<li>an optional DVD set containing over 8 hours of interesting discussions between four students, Dr. Christopher Perrin and logic teacher Joelle Hodge--one video segment for each of the 28 fallacies</li>
</ul>View a video clip below to see what to expect from the DVD set.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://0.gvt0.com/vi/a_KAdp7BJtw/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/a_KAdp7BJtw&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/a_KAdp7BJtw&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div>The teaching procedure we have used is for the kids and I to sit down with the books, take turns reading aloud about each fallacy, discuss the fallacy, then grab the DVD in order to play the segment for that fallacy. My 10th grader and 7th grader both love this part of their school day. With the recent election coverage, my older kids have been applying all they have been learning about informal fallacies in a very practical manner.<br />
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Be sure to view uploaded <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/aforetaste" target="_blank">DVD clips</a> from other Classical Academic Press products and visit <a href="http://headventureland.com/" target="_blank">Headventureland</a> for free supplementary materials designed to complement the Classical Academic Press curricula offerings, but<b> free</b> to all. While you are visiting Headventureland, take time to practice your Latin with online flash cards, read an illustrated Spanish or Latin reader, print coloring pages for the little ones, download a free desktop wallpaper for <i>The Art of Argument</i>, and watch a <a href="http://headventureland.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=47&Itemid=127" target="_blank">video of the weekly Latin derivative and word root </a>with your children. This 10 year old curriculum company continues to expand its offerings of Latin, Spanish, Greek, logic, poetry, Bible and more with each passing year.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/ArtofArgument/aabundle_LRG.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/ArtofArgument/aabundle_LRG.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<i><b>The Art of Argument</b></i> is available as follows:<br />
<ul><li><i>The Art of Argument</i> <a href="http://classicalacademicpress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=22" target="_blank">Student Book</a>, $21.95</li>
<li><i>The Art of Argument</i><a href="http://classicalacademicpress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=23" target="_blank"> Teacher's Edition</a>, $24.95</li>
<li><i>The Art of Argument</i> <a href="http://classicalacademicpress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=100" target="_blank">DVD Set</a>, $54.95</li>
<li><i>The Art of Argument</i> <a href="http://classicalacademicpress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=101" target="_blank">Basic Bundle</a>, $88.95</li>
</ul>Although it is possible to effectively teach <i>The Art of Argument</i> without the DVD set, you <i>and</i> your students will likely enjoy its study much more with its purchase and use. My kids love to watch the DVD segments. It is just more interesting seeing other students interact with the logic teachers on the DVD set, and further reinforces the arguments in my kids' minds. <b><i><br />
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<b><i>The Discovery of Deduction: An Introduction to Formal Logic</i></b> and <b><i>The Argument Builder</i></b> are designed to complete the Classical Academic Press logic series. You can bet we'll be buying these additional volumes this spring. And the great thing is my kids will be happy about it. <br />
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<b>Disclosure: </b>As a member of the Homeschool Crew, I received review copies of the Student Book, Teacher's Edition and the initial DVD of the DVD set. My children and I enjoyed the first DVD so much that we purchased the DVD set ourselves. Yesterday the Crew was offered a discount on the purchase of the DVD set, which was made retroactive in my case. While I appreciate CAP's generosity, it did not unduly influence me and this review simply represents our family's experience and opinions about this curriculum. To read further reviews, please visit the <a href="http://homeschoolcrew.com/784685/" target="_blank">Homeschool Crew blog.</a>Michelle Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08447079002738068749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018472869141005647.post-340515025682007792012-03-15T11:48:00.001-07:002012-03-16T08:25:59.394-07:00Review: ESV Grow! BibleWhen I recently received a package from <a href="http://www.crossway.org/blog/" target="_blank">Crossway</a>, I opened it and discovered a new Bible designed for the "tween" crowd--<b>8-12 year old children</b>. I currently have one child in this age frame, and two older and two younger than this. As my regular readers know, this is not the first Bible for tweens which I have reviewed. So, the question is, how is this one distinctive?<br />
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Every single one I have reviewed to date has contained some type of features that someone, somewhere has decided kids this age should have. Often the editorial team is pretty insightful, and produces some nice Bibles. Other times I see a few features I may scratch my head over, or which although they sounded good on paper haven't translated well to the actual product.<br />
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So, how did this tween Bible fare? <br />
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Honestly, very well. I love the black font color. Black is simply easier to read than other colors I have seen printed in other Bibles. The font size is good, as well. Not too big so as to make the size of the Bible difficult to carry or make the child feel he is carrying a "little kid" Bible, yet not too small for those still reading chapter books. Enough color and illustrations within to add interest, yet not distract. In short, it is well-designed, and I am pleased.<br />
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Here are some of the features I noted:<br />
<ul><li><b>775 "W" Questions</b>--Answering the <i>who, what, when, where</i> and<i> why's</i> of the text, these are interspersed throughout the chapters, with roughly every couple of pages containing one. These responses answer crucial questions tweens are likely to ask themselves as they read the text, bringing comprehension to the material. </li>
<li><b>90 4U (For You) Boxes</b>--Providing simple answers to passages many young people need a little explanation about--what being born again means, what baptism is, etc.</li>
<li><b>45 Cross Connections</b>--Tied into various key Scripture passages, these discuss Jesus' atoning work on the cross and point tweens to Jesus and their need for a relationship with Him.</li>
<li><b>Introductions</b> to the Bible books (and sections)--these provide the "big picture" for older children. Expect key stories to be highlighted here, as well as information on the author, date, key people and key messages for tweens to take from the material.</li>
<li><b>Articles and Charts</b>--Colorful, these support the main purpose of this Bible--a focus on Jesus and on understanding God's Word. Mostly interspersed throughout the text, a few are also included following the glossary.</li>
<li><b>Glossary</b>--Ten pages defining key words. Enough for this age frame.</li>
<li><b>Timelines and Maps</b>--Always helpful to make sense of the events encountered, each book's introduction contains a timeline which should prove helpful. A few additional timelines are included in the back. Maps are colorful and relevant, though this Bible does not contain an extensive collection of them. Really, sufficient for this age, though.</li>
</ul>This Bible meets our family's needs for this age frame, and I am delighted to be able to allow my own children to use it. Be sure to check the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_277227311" target="_blank">Crossway blog</a><a href="http://www.crossway.org/blog/" target="_blank"> </a>for additional titles.<br />
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Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this Bible from Crossway in the hopes that I would review it for them. No other compensation was received, and opinions expressed represent my own and that of my family.Michelle Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08447079002738068749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018472869141005647.post-16823697875427119872012-03-13T20:09:00.000-07:002012-03-13T20:09:29.883-07:00Review: Creek Edge Press' Physics and Digital Science Task Card Set<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Unit%20Studies/Creek%20Edge%20Press/CEP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Unit%20Studies/Creek%20Edge%20Press/CEP.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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One of the fun things about reviewing homeschooling products is discovering products created and designed by other homeschoolers for homeschoolers. Today I get to highlight one such interesting company.<br />
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<a href="http://www.creekedgepress.com/" target="_blank">Creek Edge Press</a> is a company founded by Amy Kate Hilsman, a homeschooling mother of five daughters. As she began homeschooling her eldest daughter using a combined Montessori/Charlotte Mason approach, she created her first set of task cards to direct her daughter's afternoon learning activities. Later, she continued to create more of them, and soon other homeschoolers noticed them on her blog and wanted to use them, too.<br />
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Hilsman designed her task card sets to utilize combined Classical, Charlotte Mason and Montessori educational approaches in her unique, hands-on educational approach. With each task card set, a student can learn history, science, art or music--even grammar!--to explore a subject in a step-by-step, methodical approach.<br />
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Our family had opportunity to review a set of these innovative cards in its science line, pictured above.<br />
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The <a href="http://shop.creekedgepress.com/Physics-and-Digital-Science-Task-Card-Set-PS.htm" target="_blank">Physics and Digital Science Task Card set</a> costs $18.00, and it is designed for grades K through 8. We received a thin comb-bound guide book (for the teacher) and a set of task cards (for the student). The guide provides information on how to set up the learning environment plus tips on how to select books for the course. The task cards are set up in a simple, step-by-step fashion.<br />
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Yes, you do need to purchase or borrow encyclopedias and other books in order to fully utilize this course. In our case, we did not always utilize the exact titles recommended due to unavailability, either in our home library or closest public library. Yet, my son still learned from this step-by-step approach.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Unit%20Studies/Creek%20Edge%20Press/CEPPhysics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Unit%20Studies/Creek%20Edge%20Press/CEPPhysics.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>My 7th grader enjoyed using this study on his own, with minor supervision from me and my husband. He enjoyed making his own book covering the simple machines studied in the initial section of this study. He also had a lot of fun building the projects.<br />
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Scout had recently learned about simple machines in this year's science book, but since he is a hands-on learner, he really enjoyed the opportunity to then make the machines he had been learning about. He built a large lever in my front yard. As a 7th grader, he did not find this study particularly challenging, but it did reinforce what he had been learning in his science text. He demonstrated his understanding of the material by showing me his simple machines book and describing it to me.<br />
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Disclosure: As a member of the Homeschool Crew, I received a review copy of the Physics Task Card Set for review. No other compensation was received. Since each family is different, be sure to read other reviews of this product at the <a href="http://homeschoolcrew.com/784636/" target="_blank">Homeschool Crew </a>blog.Michelle Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08447079002738068749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018472869141005647.post-6269586029159237002012-03-09T11:22:00.000-08:002012-03-09T11:22:19.605-08:00FIRST Wild Card Tour: Successful Women Think Differently<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrd4Nvch6Qq_IuBGGK5PqmiObyGhZo28LaILgMyjxE70aL09RgbO_pRwkWRF9_1TM8MnaBdPF_QG2t8uR6hiR2ejJ-1daZ5dW0rxwcyw2nq39aCC1ZgOG5D0w-5cd0mXpc_xnCQKq5I7U/s1600/FIRSTWildCardTours2.jpg"></a><a href="http://firstwildcardtours.blogspot.com/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480264388542368882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrd4Nvch6Qq_IuBGGK5PqmiObyGhZo28LaILgMyjxE70aL09RgbO_pRwkWRF9_1TM8MnaBdPF_QG2t8uR6hiR2ejJ-1daZ5dW0rxwcyw2nq39aCC1ZgOG5D0w-5cd0mXpc_xnCQKq5I7U/s200/FIRSTWildCardTours2.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 145px;" /></a>It is time for a <span style="color: #990000;"><b><a href="http://firstwildcardtours.blogspot.com/">FIRST Wild Card Tour</a></b></span> book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! <span style="color: #990000;"><b>Enjoy your free peek into the book!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>You never know when I might play a wild card on you!</i></span><br />
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<div align="center"><b>Today's Wild Card author is: </b></div><br />
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<div align="center"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 180%;"><a href="http://www.valorieburton.com/">Valorie Burton</a></span></b></div><br />
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<div align="center"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 180%;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 100%;">and the book:</span> </span></b></div><br />
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<div align="center"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 180%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0736938567">Successful Women Think Differently:<br />
9 Habits to Make You Happier, Healthier, and More Resilient </a></span></b></div><div align="center">Harvest House Publishers (February 1, 2012)</div><div align="center"><br />
</div>***Special thanks to Karri | Marketing Assistant | Harvest House Publishers for sending me a review copy.***<br />
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<div align="left"><b><span style="color: #333399; font-size: 130%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">ABOUT THE AUTHOR:</span> </span></b></div><br />
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Valorie Burton is a certified personal and executive coach who has served hundreds of clients in over 40 states and seven countries. She is founder and director of The Coaching and Positive Psychology Institute and the author of six books on personal development. She is deeply committed to helping people be more resilient so they can thrive in life and work, be more productive, and live with balance and purpose.<br />
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Visit the author's <a href="http://www.valorieburton.com/">website</a>.<br />
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<div align="left"><b><span style="color: #333399; font-size: 130%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:</span> </span></b></div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-l5KM18Fa3HbMDSR1P5RUhRj3auhsfiE_f7oEmvv5bOl7XX5sZbQU-4nAx46nt-oxAJx1Y8n-HeisZGizGMgkEyi-Kk0aY9JYxu6jOZ1cJYr2zTAWPDJemgQicWo7RGCYOSOI7Rixfeg/s1600/Successful+Women+Think+Differently.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-l5KM18Fa3HbMDSR1P5RUhRj3auhsfiE_f7oEmvv5bOl7XX5sZbQU-4nAx46nt-oxAJx1Y8n-HeisZGizGMgkEyi-Kk0aY9JYxu6jOZ1cJYr2zTAWPDJemgQicWo7RGCYOSOI7Rixfeg/s200/Successful+Women+Think+Differently.jpg" width="129" /></a><br />
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In Successful Women Think Differently, Valorie Burton helps women create new thought processes that empower them to succeed in their relationships, finances, work, health, and spiritual life. In this powerful and practical guide, women will gain insight into who they really are and receive the tools, knowledge, and understanding to succeed.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="233" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3RZj8Yb4L-s" width="400"></iframe><br />
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</div>Product Details:<br />
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List Price: $12.99<br />
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Paperback: 208 pages<br />
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Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (February 1, 2012)<br />
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Language: English<br />
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ISBN-10: 0736938567<br />
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ISBN-13: 978-0736938563<br />
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<b>My Thoughts: </b><br />
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I was thrilled to receive this book for review perhaps two weeks ago, but unfortunately my schedule has been very hectic of late, and I am just getting started well into this book. So far I am enjoying the chapter or two I have read and hope Valorie Burton's insights inspire me to reach for my goals with confidence and success. I hope to add my review to this title soon, so look back for an update!<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:</span> </b><br />
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<div style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 38pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; letter-spacing: 0.2pt;">Believe You Can Do It</span></div><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 30pt; margin-right: 30pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">How you explain your success and failure predicts more about your potential than you think</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 24pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Key Lessons</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-left: 56pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Optimism is a key to reaching high levels of success</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-left: 56pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Adopt a “growth mindset” rather than a fixed one</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 35pt; margin-left: 56pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Take notice of your thoughts—and adjust them as needed</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Cecily struggled with her weight for several years before her doctor gave her a serious wake-up call: she was prediabetic. She needed to lose 40 pounds and maintain a regimen of exercise and a healthier diet. The mid-afternoon vending machine runs for Little Debbies and potato chips would need to stop. So would the couch potato habits and all the excuses for why she didn’t have time to exercise. But every time Cecily talked about doing better, her thoughts and subsequent words looked something like this:</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic;">I’ve tried before and failed. What’s the point of trying again if the same thing is going to happen? It’s a waste of time. I just need to accept that I’m a big woman. My mother is big. My sister gained weight after 30. Why should I think I can be any different? Healthy food is bland. I don’t want it. And I’m embarrassed to work out in public. I don’t want people staring at my flabby, overweight body. I can’t do this.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">With these thoughts, Cecily set out to do what the doctor suggested. As you can imagine, her efforts were short-lived. Her counterproductive thoughts overpowered her intentions. Actions follow thoughts, and counterproductive thoughts will always send you in the opposite direction of your goal.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Think back for a moment to a recent failure. Maybe it was a relationship that went south or a promotion you were denied or a decision that got you into hot water. Or maybe it is something simpler—a test you failed or that 21-day diet that you’d already given up on by day two. Got a failure in mind? We all have them. Now, answer this question honestly and without too much thought: Why did you fail? Jot down the first things that come to mind. Just a short bullet-pointed list:</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 18pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 4pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Did you write down your reasons? If not, don’t skip that part. Write it down.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">It’s a simple exercise, but noticing how you think about failure can tell you a great deal about how high you will ascend on the success ladder. Numerous books will tell you that to be successful, you should simply emulate successful people. It can be tempting, then, to observe a woman who has achieved success, whether in her relationships or finances or health or work, and take notes about the steps she took to get to her destination. Why is it, then, that you can take two women with ve</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">ry similar backgrounds, education, and experience, and one excels while the other languishes? Why does one clear the hurdle when she faces it and the other trips and falls flat on her face, never to get up again? Why does one set big, compelling goals while the other settles for far less than she seems capable of ?</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Many of the answers to these questions cannot be found by simply observing the steps each woman chose to take. The more important insight is to understand what caused one of them to take those</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> steps—to even </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic;">think </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">to take those steps—while the other did not. The edge the successful woman has over the average is in her thought processes. It is not external, but internal. Sometimes it is learned through experiences and parental examples. However, some aspects of the thought process come very naturally to you. You are either more optimistic or pessimistic in your thinking. Although you may naturally lean in one direction or the other in the face of a challenge or opportunity, an optimistic thinking style can be learned.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Let me be specific about what I mean by these two terms. The hallmark of a pessimist is that she tends to believe negative events in life will last forever, will impact everything she does, and are all her fault. But when faced with similar circumstances, the optimist believes just the opposite. She sees the event as a temporary setback, believes it is limited to this specific instance, and doesn’t blame it all on herself. Instead, the optimist sees all of the external circumstances that contributed—other people, poor timing, and even God’s will.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt;">So let’s go back to that recent failure you identified a moment ago and take a look at the reasons you gave for it. Re-read what you wrote. Then, answer one more question: Are all of your reasons personal faults and character traits? In other words, are your reasons things that you can’t do anything about or are some of your reasons changeable?</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Women who are most successful explain their failures in terms of things they can take control over. In other words, they realize they have weaknesses and faults, but those are not the sole reasons why things go wrong. Instead, they focus on the external reasons—people who made things more difficult, the fact that they weren’t as prepared as they could have been, the fact that the economy was bad, the weather was bad, the boss was having a bad day again.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">None of these reasons have permanent implications. After all, next time she can prepare better, the weather may improve, the economy won’t be bad forever, and even if the boss keeps his job, she can always find another boss to work for in another department or company. Failing this time doesn’t mean failing next time. With a few intentional tweaks and changes, the next go-round will be a clean slate.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">The successful woman is hopeful. She is empowered by knowledge of lessons gleaned from the failure of the previous try. She doesn’t take failure personally and she knows that failing doesn’t make her a failure. She knows that internalizing failure is a death sentence for her dreams. After all, if you’re a failure, what’s the point of attempting to be a success?</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">This last question is critical. The two thinking styles—optimistic and pessimistic—produce specific results. Numerous studies illustrate that pessimists don’t persevere. They give up more easily. They become depressed more often. And for women, this is even more pronounced. We are twice as likely as men to experience depression, and the average age of the first onset of depression is now just 14 years old—half the age it was just a few decades ago. Because we experience higher highs and lower lows emotionally than men do, we can be more sensitive to the emotional impact of our goals and efforts to reach them. Having an optimistic thinking style results in feelings that encourage us to persevere in the face of challenges.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Consider the girl who sets out to sell Girl Scout cookies. Her goal is to sell 20 boxes in front of the grocery store on Saturday. When her four-hour shift is over, she has sold just four boxes. You ask her what happened and the conversation goes something like this:</span></div><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 30pt; margin-right: 30pt; margin-top: 8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">You:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I’m sure you were disappointed. Why do you think you only sold four boxes?</span></div><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 81pt; margin-right: 30pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Girl:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I’m no good at selling anything. My mom said she had a sales job once and she’s no good at it either. Nobody likes these cookies that much. I hate bothering people. Everybody’s on a budget these days and all the women say they’re trying to lose weight and can’t eat sweets. I don’t know if I’m going to bother going back next Saturday.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Now, I know you’re not a little girl, but sometimes when it comes to self-talk that little girl voice emerges and it can sabotage your success. The eternal pessimist explains her failures as personal (flaws or traits that have no hope of changing), permanent (the problem will exist forever), and pervasive (the personal flaw that caused the failure will sabotage your success in other ways too). Psychologists call it your “explanatory” or thinking style. I call it the determining factor in whether or not you will be as successful as you are capable of being. The sooner you start paying attention to what you say to yourself about your life, your circumstances, and yes, your failures, the sooner you will break through to the next level.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 30pt; margin-right: 30pt; margin-top: 21pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; text-transform: uppercase;">LEARNING TO FAIL FORWARD</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">At 28, Meredith Moore became the youngest director in the McDonald’s Corporation. But her stellar career didn’t start off so stellar. A series of bumps could have bruised her, but instead took her on an inner journey that landed her in a role reporting to the president of one of the most recognizable brands in the world.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">When Meredith graduated from Howard University with a degree in communications, the Minnesota native took a job at an international financial services firm. Initially she was trained to be a stockbroker, but passing the licensing exam proved to be struggle. Still, on the job she was a star performer her first year—an accolade she thought would be rewarded. But in the stodgy “good ole boy” environment, her talent wasn’t as great an asset as she’d imagine</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">d. “The HR rep at the company said something peculiar after my first year and I’ve always remembered it: ‘Talented people push back.’ ” In other words, talented people see where there is room for improvement and expect that others want to improve. Talented</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> people question the status quo. Talented people are driven to succeed and therefore they notice what’s happening—or not happening—that might impede success. The culture was not a good fit and Meredith was soon reassigned from the East Coast to the Midwest.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“The company was stuck in 1955,” she reflects. “They didn’t want new people.” If the culture had been the only problem, she may have been able to persist longer, but soon Meredith found that her competence was being called into question on a regular basis—something she’d never experienced before. For years, Meredith had confidence in her ability to write—it was something that brought her a sense of joy and accomplishment. It was a gift she’d honed over the years, especially in college. Now, she had a supervisor who told her plain and simple, “You can’t write.” To make matters worse, the supervisor refused to offer any feedback on what exactly she needed to improve. “I had always been pretty good at assessing my abilities. Since childhood, I had been a good writer. The organization beat me down so much that I started to say to myself, ‘I’m not a good writer.’ But my job in marketing and communications was 90 percent writing.”</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Work was becoming a struggle as Meredith attempted to please a boss who couldn’t be pleased. “It was a toxic environment. I tried every chain of contacting the human resources department, mentors, or anyone I thought could help me improve the situation. Everyone said, ‘Just hold on.’ Eventually, though, they said, ‘We can’t </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">help you.’ ” Meredith felt isolated in more ways than one—in a company with few prospects for advancement, in a town she had no connection to, many miles from family or the friends she’d had in college, and with no church or community connections. She knew</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> she needed to come up with a game plan. Although her parents advised her to stick it out, that advice felt unbearable to Meredith.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“I had never quit before,” Meredith says. “But the pivotal moment for me was when I began to doubt myself. That had never been my mode of operation.” It was Meredith’s self-sabotaging thoughts that concerned her more than anything else. She understood something at a young age, a critical key to success for women: successful women </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic;">believe</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> in themselves. They have an authentic confidence that buoys them in the face of challenges and opportunities. Without that confidence, Meredith would lack the fuel to reach her goals. So she quit, and she did so quite unconventionally. One night, fed up, she decided never to go back to work at the company she’d called her employer for a year and eight months. “I packed up in the middle of the night, cleaned up my apartment, took my cat, and drove to Chicago. I left with no job.”</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Meredith immediately landed a job that was essentially an internship with an ad agency. At $10 an hour, it was a far cry from her very comfortable paycheck plus benefits at the financial services firm. She was adamant though, that she had made the right decision. “I learned my worth and value. I was only making $10 an hour, but I wasn’t being disrespected. I was willing to let go of all of my earthly belongings to avoid having people treat me badly,” she says. No one understood her decision to leave, especially her parents. But Meredith learned a key lesson through the experience. Previously, she said, she always felt she needed other people to validate her pain and her experiences. But something clicked for her the night she decided to pack up and leave. “I figured out that if I experienced it, it was valid. Other people don’t need to validate my pain in order for it to be real.”</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Her leap of faith wasn’t without a net for long. For one, she had her sister and a new church home where she felt inspired and grounded. Then opportunity knocked. “I had forgotten that I applied for a job at McDonald’s Corporation while I was still at the previous company,” she remembers. The company, headquartered in a suburb of Chicago, called a week and a half into her internship with the ad agency and offered her a job as a communications supervisor. She would be supporting the Chief Operating Officer of McDonald’s USA with research for the financial writing needs of the company.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“There are times when you just know that God has a hand in your life,” she says. “There is no way I could have ordained that.” Still, she admits, “It felt like a setback because I wasn’t getting the chance to write.” But she was in the right place at the right time, and the doubts about her writing abilities had dissipated since leaving.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">She struck up a conversation with the COO one day. He asked her, “What do you see as your next step here?” It was just the question Meredith wanted to hear. “I think I can be one of the writers,” she answered. He took notice of her answer—clear and concise, and simple enough for him to act on. “He let me start helping out on some of his stuff. For example, he had an upcoming trip to Pittsburgh and let me look at his speech. I gave him some feedback.” And he did the one thing she’d hoped for at her last job: he offered </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic;">her</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> feedback. “I loved that he would tell me why something did or didn’t work! I needed that. I could learn!” Within six months, the COO promoted her to communications manager. And when he was promoted to president of the company, the communications demands of his office increased, along with Meredith’s responsibilities. She became external relations manager, and then director of external relations and brand outreach, making her the youngest director at the multi-billion-dollar McDonald’s USA.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 30pt; margin-right: 30pt; margin-top: 18pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; text-transform: uppercase;">LESSONS FOR FAILING FORWARD</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Meredith didn’t specifically set out to become the youngest director in the company. She aimed to find a place where her talents could be appreciated, where she could learn and grow, and where a mentor would be an advocate for her. When asked what’s next, she mirrors the same approach that has worked for her so far. “I don’t know what my goal is. I’ve had such accidental blessings, but I’ve been ready for them when they showed up,” she says.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">I see it a bit differently. Meredith is the type of woman who aims for passion and excellence. It is a strength so innate to her approach to life that she doesn’t even call it a goal, but it leads her to succeed at high levels. She is prepared when opportunity knocks. “I don’t know what my experiences are preparing me for, but I’m excited about it,” Meredith says. “I’m optimistic about my future. My thirties are looking pretty good!”</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">We can see many of the seven decisions in Meredith’s story. She refused to downsize her dream, chose courage over fear, actively sought feedback, and focused on solutions instead of problems. Here are a few more lessons:</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-left: 56pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">She refused to internalize the negativity she experienced at her first job. Instead, she attributed her failure there to the culture of the company and the stubbornness of her boss rather than exclusively attributing the problems to her own character flaws or lack of ability.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 56pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">She failed forward. She was willing to take a step back in order to find a better path.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 56pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">She took a risk.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-left: 56pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">She took decisive action by cutting her losses and starting over.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 56pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">She believed in herself.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 56pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">She knew herself, and was able to decipher between “her stuff ” and “other people’s stuff.” When others’ negative issues tried to redefine who she was, she recognized it as “their stuff ” and didn’t make those issues her own.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 56pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">She volunteered to help </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">with assignments outside of her job description so that she could demonstrate her abilities and also learn and grow.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 56pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Sometimes sticking it out is not the best option. Sometimes you need to push the reset button and start again.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">In Meredith’s case, a pivotal shift occurred when she realized she was beginning to be pessimistic about her abilities and doubt herself in a way she never had before. She was self-aware, and she knew her new thoughts were a threat to her future success. She innately understood that she had to turn those thoughts around. She knew it would be an uphill climb to change her thoughts in such a toxic environment, so she changed environments.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">We’ll talk a bit more about self-awareness later, but for now, just keep in mind that succeeding at the next level will mean becoming much more aware of your thoughts. What are you telling yourself about your failures? Is it “I always mess up” or “I was exhausted today”? Is it “Nobody will spend money on my products in a bad economy” or “I’ve got to find the people who are still spending money despite a bad economy”? If your mind were an electronic billboard for the world to see, what are the thoughts they’d get to read? It takes intention to accurately capture your thoughts. With practice, you can notice them and approve the ones that help you, inviting them in and repeating them as often as needed to move you to the right actions. It’s all about your thinking style in the face of failures or disappointments.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 30pt; margin-right: 30pt; margin-top: 21pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; text-transform: uppercase;">WHAT’S YOUR MINDSET?</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Dr. Carol Dweck, a professor of psychology at Stanford University, has spent much of her career studying the mental attitudes of the most successful people—young and old—in the face of challenges and opportunities. What she has discovered is a fundamental difference in the </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic;">mindset</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> of the most successful people.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Her quest began early in her career as she engaged in research to better understand how people cope with failure. She observed young students grappling with problems, using puzzles as the method of problem solving. Beginning with fairly simple puzzles, she then had students move on to harder ones. Her goal was not to see who finished the puzzles fastest or had the easiest time solving the puzzles. Instead, she studied each student’s thought process by observing the strategies they used to solve the problem and probing their thoughts and feelings during problem solving.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">She noticed that a handful of students in her studies did something peculiar compared to the others: they welcomed challenge. They were excited by the puzzles they had trouble solving. The harder the puzzle, the more determined they seemed. While other students were motivated by the possibility of looking smart and were deflated by feelings of discouragement in the face of the difficult puzzles, these students were not intimidated. When these “peculiar” students appeared to be failing because they couldn’t solve the puzzle, they didn’t even seem to view the experience as failing. Instead, they clearly thought they were </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic;">learning</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">What Dr. Dweck pinpointed through her research can profoundly impact how you approach your entire life—from career and relationships to health and financial habits. She called this simple but fundamental difference “fixed mindset” and “growth mindset.”</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">A fixed mindset is focused on talent. Someone with a fixed mindset believes statements like “You are smart and therefore you will do well in life” and “You are naturally gifted and that will take you far.” Those who have a fixed mindset believe that one’s natural gifts and abilities determine how far one can go in life. These are the people who believe that one’s intelligence is defined by one’s IQ, GPA, and SAT scores. These numbers become not just a measure of potential, but a limitation of potential. Those blessed with very high scores in a particular area of life gain a sense of confidence—but also insecurity. Since potential is measured by a set criteria, falling below that criteria can put one’s very intelligence or value at stake.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">I recall believing I was smart and questioning that belief after getting low scores on the verbal section of the SAT. If I had allowed those scores to define my potential, I certainly would not be an author today! When we allow our potential to be limited by grades or performance reviews, it affects our belief in our own possibilities.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Many women are trained to operate in this mindset from childhood on. You were praised for your giftedness. This praise may even, at times, have made you feel more special or worthy than others. You probably don’t like to admit this, but for many it is true. Parents sometimes even encourage this belief in the name of building confidence in their children. But it is dangerous. What happens when you believe the reason you succeed is solely based on your giftedness? When you don’t succeed, it can be devastating. You are constantly in a position of proving how smart you are and how gifted you are. And the pressure can be intense. So much so that people with a fixed mindset shy away from challenges they are unsure they can conquer. “Better to stay in my comfort zone than to risk failure,” they say to themselves subconsciously. Every opportunity or challenge is an evaluation of their worth. “Will I be a success or a failure? Will I gain more approval or end up rejected?”</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Another trait of those with a fixed mindset is that they look down on effort. “If you have to try hard, you must not really be that good,” the fixed mindset says. Before I became aware of the mindsets, I discovered this attitude in myself. It was holding me back tremendously and I didn’t even know it. The same could be true for you.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Using the technique of coaching through journaling, I began peeling back the layers as I sought to understand why I was so stuck as I tried to move toward some exciting goals that I’d set for myself. Here’s how that internal conversation went:</span></div><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 81pt; margin-right: 30pt; margin-top: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Question: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">What am I so afraid of when it comes to being more assertive about marketing my company and services?</span></div><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 81pt; margin-right: 30pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Self: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I don’t know that I am afraid. It just seems like if my marketing is effective, I wouldn’t have to directly ask for opportunities.</span></div><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 30pt; margin-right: 30pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Question:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">What is so bad a</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">bout directly asking for oppor</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">tunities?</span></div><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 81pt; margin-right: 30pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Self:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">I know it is a normal part of business to ask. And a lot of people ask for opportunities. But if you are really successful and talented, you don’t have to ask. You are asked. You are invited.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">This was a bit of a lightbulb moment! I was actually surprised to hear myself say this. “Successful people don’t have to ask.” Where did I get this idea from? I knew I believed it, but I also knew it might be a faulty belief. So I continued probing. This is what you have to do sometimes to get to the bottom of an issue. Without having a name for it at the time, what I discovered was a fixed mindset. Here’s what I was really saying: </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic;">If you have talent, you don’t have to try so hard. You don’t have to ask! Trying hard somehow diminishes your talent. You aren’t really that talented if the way you arrived at success was by putting forth so much effort. Gifted people are naturally successful.</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> So I continued the self-coaching conversation:</span></div><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 81pt; margin-right: 30pt; margin-top: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Question:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">S</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">o is it true that successful people—truly successful ones—don’t have to ask? Think of highly successful people you know. Is this the principle they subscribe to?</span></div><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 81pt; margin-right: 30pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Self:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Well, as I think about my mentors and even well-known entrepreneurs, I know they ask for opportunities. They don’t just wait to see what shows up. They get clear about what they want and they are not afraid to ask for it.</span></div><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 81pt; margin-right: 30pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Question:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">So is your belief that “successful and talented people don’t ask” helping you or hurting you?</span></div><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 81pt; margin-right: 30pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Self:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">It’s definitely hurting me. First, it’s simply untrue. And second, it’s leading me to use an approach that is much too passive.</span></div><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 30pt; margin-right: 30pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Question:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">What new belief do you want to replace that old one with?</span></div><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 81pt; margin-right: 30pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Self:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Truly successful people ask for opportunities. They don’t just market, they also sell. And they put forth a lot of effort, which in no way diminishes their talent. Instead, it shows their commitment. Not asking because you believe it will diminish your talent is simply prideful.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">In this short five-minute self-coaching exercise, I unearthed a limiting belief that had been lying just beneath the surface of my actions (or lack thereof) for years. And it was rooted in a fixed mindset that says effort is somehow a negative. After all, if you fail and you can say you didn’t really put forth much effort, you have an excuse. But if you fail and you truly gave it your all, your very worth is at stake. Women with a fixed mindset are terrified of failure. In the mind of a woman with a fixed mindset, failure is not what you do, but it defines who you are. The exciting part is that you have a choice.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Think back to a time when you failed and then called into question your own intelligence or abilities. Perhaps you began to doubt whether you could ever accomplish what you set out to do. You failed in a relationship and decided you were doomed to remain single forever. “I just don’t get the love thing. I’m no good at it,” you say. Or, “I keep getting rejected by men. I must be unlovable.” These are decisive evaluations of your relationship abilities that give you no room for improvement. “This is who you are and how you are and it’s not going to change,” the fixed mindset says. That mindset works just fine when you are succeeding at everything, but when you start struggling or failing, it simply leaves no hope for the future.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">The fixed mindset says life dealt you a hand and that’s it. This often causes people, dissatisfied with the hand they’ve been dealt, to bluff about the hand they’ve been given. These are people who often feel afraid they will be found out. They are constantly trying to prove themselves and sometimes feel like an imposter putting on a façade of smarts and personality to win people’s approval and praise. The growth mindset offers an approach that melts anxiety and opens the door to amazing possibilities. It says your natural traits are more than just something you have to live with, but simply a starting point. You can cultivate the qualities needed to succeed through your own efforts. A growth mindset believes you can grow through experience and change substantially through your actions. Unlike a fixed mindset, a growth mindset doesn’t disdain effort. It thrives on it!</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Because those with a growth mindset believe that through effort they can learn things they previously did not understand, improve personality traits, and even grow in intelligence, they are not as easily discouraged by failure. When you have a growth mindset, challenges that stretch you far beyond your comfort zone actually excite you. You realize you’re going to </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic;">learn </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">something. You will be expanded by the experience, not judged by it.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Women with a growth mindset believe that with years of discipline and passion, their true potential is unknown. Why waste time hiding your shortcomings rather than simply overcoming them? Why not make friends or search for a spouse who will challenge you to grow rather than simply quell your insecurities? Why stay in your comfort zone and play it safe when you could stretch toward your true dreams?</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Another important distinction is this: Studies show that just as people are very poor predictors of what will make them truly happy, we are also poor judges of our own abilities. Those who are most inaccurate at estimating what they are capable of are those with a fixed mindset.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Consider this: If you believe you can improve, you are not as intimidated by the idea that your abilities are not currently as great as you would like. In your mind, those abilities are not set in stone. They will change as you actively learn and grow. However, if you believe that your abilities are permanently set you will be more likely to inflate them. If there’s no room for growth or change, you’ll want to impress people as much as possible right now!</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 30pt; margin-right: 30pt; margin-top: 21pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; text-transform: uppercase;">DOES A GROWTH MINDSET </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; text-transform: uppercase;">NEGATE STRENGTHS?</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">When you build on your strengths rather than assuming they are fixed, you multiply your efforts. Sure, you may be a natural-born leader and you’ve been leading for years, but does that mean you couldn’t still be more effective? A woman with a fixed mindset is content to rest on her laurels. A growth mindset sees strengths as only a starting point. Wisely, she taps into her strengths and then nourishes that talent.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Choosing a growth mindset doesn’t mean your individual strengths don’t matter. In fact, a woman with a growth mindset notices strengths and weaknesses more than those with a fixed mindset. It simply recognizes that skills can be developed—whether in one’s career, relationships, finances, spiritual life, or health habits.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">This is particularly exciting news if you have ever felt you were stuck with your circumstances—that your intelligence is a fixed entity, that your relationship skills are set, or that your penchant for flubbing finances is an unchangeable trait you inherited from a parent. You </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">can</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> change. You are capable of far more than you may have previously thought.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Dream of changing careers, but feel like it’s too late to change course? Always wish that you had gone to college or graduate school, but fear you can’t cut it? Had a string of broken relationships and feel like you’ll never understand the opposite sex? There is abundant hope for you! You can learn new skills, patterns, and habits that will transform your ability to succeed at the endeavors most meaningful to you. Your most successful path to doing so will marry your strengths with a growth mindset—taking you to higher heights than you’ve ever experienced before.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">It’s time to stretch beyond your comfort zone.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">I learned this firsthand after uncovering my fixed mindset belief that successful women somehow “ascend” to the top. They don’t have to ask for opportunities. Instead, if they are really talented, opportunities show up on their own. To be clear, opportunities often do show up on their own for women with talent. They are a like a magnet that attracts opportunities. But there can sometimes be a strategic danger to using “attraction” as your sole method of success. What happens when you don’t attract the right opportunities? What happens when you want to go to a completely new level and you are simply not in the right place or around the right types of people to bring that vision to fruition? What happens if God is calling you out of your comfort zone to stretch and break free of your fear of rejection or failure? It is during those times that it is essential to tap into a growth mindset.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">In fact, it could be argued that God calls us to a growth mindset. Consider these Scriptures:</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-left: 56pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”—Romans 12:2</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-left: 56pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“With God, all things are possible.”—Matthew 19:26</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 56pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“To him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”—Ephesians 3:20</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">From a spiritual perspective, you cannot possibly believe that your potential is fixed and has no potential to expand. If you believe all things are possible, then you can rest assured that if you open your mind, you could find yourself growing beyond your wildest dreams.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Have you told yourself that you’re stuck in any of these areas? Where do you believe you have little hope or no further potential?</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-left: 56pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 7pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic;">Presentation skills.</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> You are scared to death to speak in front of people. You’ve accepted this, and, for the most part, avoid any situation in which you are asked to make a presentation.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 56pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic;">Accounting and finance.</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> You don’t know the difference between a financial statement and a balance sheet, and see no reason to fix that. You’ve decided you’re not that good with numbers and you can live with that. When people talk finances in a meeting, your motto is from Proverbs 17:28: “Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent!”</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 56pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic;">Personal finances. </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Maybe you never find yourself in a situation where you need to understand business accounting, but you cannot avoid the need to better manage your personal finances. You are financially illiterate and don’t understand what it will take for you to ever find financial freedom and peace. And the idea of learning scares you.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 56pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic;">Getting fit. </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">You see women in magazines or even jogging down the street who seem to have some magical ability to take care of themselves. You were never an athlete as a kid, and see no reason to start now. The idea of making fitness a part of your lifestyle—something that you do daily—seems daunting and out of character for you. Yet it is also intriguing. Could you actually do it?</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 56pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic;">New career. </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">You don’t actually want to be in pharmaceutical sales or teaching or </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; letter-spacing: -0.6pt;">___________</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> (you fill in the blank!) any more. You have a dream of becoming an attorney or author or </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; letter-spacing: -0.6pt;">_________________</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">.</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> But do you really have what it takes? You don’t know anything about the field—you just know you feel drawn to it and you have the strengths for it. Is that enough to take a step in a new direction? There’s so much you’d have to learn. What if you can’t cut it?</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-left: 56pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic;">Love life. </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">You and your husband seem to be stuck in a rut. He just doesn’t get you. He probably never will. And frankly, you’re so frustrated with him that you’ve given up trying to see his point of view or to keep bending and changing to please him. After twelve years of marriage, you have almost lost hope that this will ever be the kind of marriage you’d dreamed of before you tied the knot. Now you just feel stuck. Is there really hope for undoing old habits? Could you actually learn to communicate better?</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 56pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic;">Shyness. </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">You’ve always been shy. It’s the reason you don’t have many friends, and you blame your lack of career advancement on it. After all, shy people aren’t exactly good networkers. Shyness is a personality trait, right? That’s not something you can change. Well, what if you could?</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">That’s the question I want to plant as a seed in your mind. What if you could change? What if being shy or a procrastinator or a poor communicator or math-averse was something you could permanently overcome? If there was a road map to doing so, would you be willing to follow the map? I hope so. Open your mind to the possibility that what you know now as your potential is only a fraction of what is truly possible. The key to advancement is recognizing that your limitations are not unchangeable, fixed, or genetic. With education you can expand your understanding in these areas. With discipline, your possibilities are truly limitless.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 30pt; margin-right: 30pt; margin-top: 24pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; text-transform: uppercase;">HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN SUCCESS?</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">At the beginning of the chapter we examined your perceptions of a recent failure. Your success is determined just as much by your thinking style as your failures. Think back to a recent success you had. It can be something big or small. Jot it down here:</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 4pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 4pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Why did you succeed? Jot down a few bullet-pointed reasons here:</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 4pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 4pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Now, let’s take a look at how you explain your success. Did you attribute it to external factors (luck, other people, the weather) or internal ones (you worked hard, you’re smart, you’re disciplined)? Did you see your success as temporary (I succeeded this time, but who knows if I can pull it off again?) or permanent (it could definitely happen again)? Did you see it as specific (I am good at this one thing, and that’s it) or pervasive (my success at this task represents a bigger theme in my life)?</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 30pt; margin-right: 30pt; margin-top: 21pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; text-transform: uppercase;">DO YOU EXPLAIN </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; text-transform: uppercase;">YOUR SUCCESS AWAY?</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Interestingly, a disproportionate number of women who succeed at high levels experience what researchers call the “imposter syndrome.” It is a phenomenon that occurs when you are unable to really connect the dots and internalize your accomplishments. Despite your hard work, competence, and experience, you see success as a fluke, pure luck, or your ability to get others to believe you are smarter or more talented than you really are. As a result, you have a nagging feeling that people are going to find you out—that eventually, the jig will be up and you’ll be found out. Strangely, successful men simply do not report feeling this way nearly as often as women. I recall a coaching client whose successful talent had been showcased nationally, even landing her on the Oprah Winfrey Show. She confided to me, “I feel like a fraud. I mean, I do the work, but I don’t think I’m more talented than anyone else. I always feel like people are going to find out that I’m really not that great.” A recent </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic;">Psychology Today</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> article pointed out rich and famous women who were impacted by the imposter syndrome. After being nominated for three Academy awards and six Golden Globes, actress Michelle Pfeiffer shared her self-doubts in an interview in 2002. “I still think people will find out that I’m really not very talented. I’m really not very good. It’s all been a big sham.” The article went on to quote Academy Award winner Kate Winslet: “Sometimes I wake up in the morning before going off to a shoot, and I think, I can’t do this. I’m a fraud.”</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">If it happens at such public and high levels of success, what happens to us in the everyday efforts of life—in our marriages and relationships, as mothers and managers, employees and business owners? Whether you face doubts as severe as feeling like a fraud or occasionally doubt yourself in the face of a particularly difficult challenge, the key is to notice what you say to yourself about your success. True success is not anxious or doubtful, but confident and at peace. If you find that a pessimistic thinking style is invading your thoughts, you have the power to renew those thoughts by choosing a new outlook.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 30pt; margin-right: 30pt; margin-top: 21pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; text-transform: uppercase;">BUILD SELF-AWARENESS</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">So what does this all mean for you? When you succeed, even in the small things, you want your thinking style to be the opposite of when you fail.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr style="height: 3pt;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0.5pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 146.85pt;"><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">When you succeed, attribute it to:</span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0.5pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 146.9pt;"><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.1pt;">When you fail, attribute it to:</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 3pt;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0.5pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 146.85pt;"><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Internal factors</span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0.5pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 146.9pt;"><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">External factors</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 3pt;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0.5pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 146.85pt;"><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">See it as permanent rather than temporary</span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0.5pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 146.9pt;"><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">See it as temporary rather than permanent</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 3pt;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0.5pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 146.85pt;"><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">See it as pervasive rather than specific</span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0.5pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 146.9pt;"><div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">See it as specific rather than pervasive</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><br />
</div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">In his book </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic;">Learned Optimism</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">, Dr. Martin Seligman notes, “Some people, the ones who give up easily, habitually say of their misfortunes: ‘It’s me, it’s going to last forever, it’s going to und</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">ermine everything I do.’ Others, those who resist giving in to misfortune, say: ‘It was just circumstances, it’s going away quickly anyway, and besides, there’s much more in life.’ ”</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">What does this all mean for you? As you navigate the path to your life’s </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">vision, pay attention to your thoughts. Refuse to allow pessimistic thinking to rule. Sure, pessimistic thoughts may invade your mind. But intentionally question those thoughts, and ensure that the thoughts you embrace are accurate and productive. In other words, any thoughts that produce self-sabotaging fear and paralyze you from moving forward need to be rejected. It is a choice. With practice, it is a choice you will make more quickly over time. You will develop an optimistic thinking style that empowers you to dream bigger, bolder dreams and walk into your vision with confidence. And you will be empowered to cut through the fears and excuses that threaten to hold you back. By intentionally noticing your thoughts and questioning the counterproductive ones, you will cultivate an optimistic thinking style that will propel you to the next level.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 30pt; margin-right: 30pt; margin-top: 21pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; text-transform: uppercase;">FOUR QUESTIONS </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; text-transform: uppercase;">TO CONQUER EXCUSES</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">What’s the reason you have for not pursuing your most authentic dream? Whatever that dream is in your life or career, you probably have a reason it hasn’t happened yet. But if you look behind the reasons, you might just discover that they could be reclassified as excuses—thoughts you are embracing that sabotage your dreams. Excuses are born of a pessimistic thinking style and fixed mindset. Now, I’m not trying to beat you up about your excuses. I want to help you break free of them so you can go to the next level. Whatever you want to call them—excuses or reasons—they’re in the way. And </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic;">you </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">are the only one who can demand they go.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">So what’s your excuse? Is it a lack of time? Money? Is it that person who is always tearing you down? Is the dream just too hard? Too complex? Too much of a commitment? Maybe your excuse is a lack of education or experience. Or perhaps if you just had more contacts or more friends or fewer obligations or weighed less or…</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">You get my point. Excuses allow us to justify our lack of progress. They can even bring you sympathy. They let you off the hook. But the truth is, when there is something you were meant to do, you’ll never truly be off the hook. You </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic;">must </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">do it, which means you must let go of your excuses. That means facing your fear—whether it is fear of success and all the expectations that come with it or fear of failure and all the disappointment or embarrassment that come with it.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Whatever your fear, the good news is that you can muster the courage to conquer it. Choose to let go of all excuses for why you cannot have what you want in life. Coach yourself with these four excuse-shattering questions:</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-left: 59pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">1.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">What’s my excuse?</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-left: 59pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">2.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">What does this excuse give me permission to do </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">(or not do)?</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-left: 59pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">3.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">If I could no longer use this excuse, what would </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">I have to do instead?</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 59pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">4.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Why don’t I just do that now?</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">When you drop your excuses, you discover that the bottom line is you can choose to pursue your dreams—or not. You can live life fully or you can live it small. Living fully takes courage. Courage is a choice. The choice is yours.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 30pt; margin-right: 30pt; margin-top: 21pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; text-transform: uppercase;">WHAT ARE YOU HOPING FOR?</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">What is it that you are hoping for? What’s that thing that caused you to pick up this book in the first place? There is something you haven’t yet experienced, but want to. There is something that represents that gap between where you are right now and where you want to be. And the first step to you closing that gap is believing two simple words: It’s possible. Just say that out loud right now: “It’s possible.” Your dream is possible. With the right thoughts, the right actions, and the right relationships, whatever divine dreams rest in your heart are possible.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">So as you begin this journey, this first step is about hope. You must have it. Hope is the foundation of faith and the essence of optimism. When you stop hoping, you start settling. As I coach women in particular, and as I reflect on my own personal experience, I have noticed how often people downsize their dreams. Women so often attempt to juggle multiple roles and responsibilities. Many downsize their dreams for so long that settling for less becomes a habit. Can you relate? </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic;">When you stop hoping, you start settling</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">. You begin to settle for a smaller version of your real vision. What have you stopped hoping for out of fear that you won’t get it? In what ways has “settling” crept in and buried a hope for something better?</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Give yourself permission to hope again. To dream a bigger dream. Successful women are confident enough to dream authentic dreams. It means you have to be honest enough with yourself to acknowledge the real desires of your heart. No time for surface goals. No time for putting everyone else’s agenda ahead of God’s plan for you. Be bold and courageous about what you are hoping for. I’m asking you to stretch and see beyond your current circumstances and resources. Reach toward the heavens and trust that although your divine destiny lies beyond your reach, God can close that gap by meeting you more than halfway. It’s that kind of believing that requires faith.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">As life brings disappointment or failures, it can be tempting to stop hoping for some of the things you truly want. If you’re not hoping for anything, you don’t need faith. So what is it that you need to start hoping for? What is it that you’ve hesitated to admit is the real vision for your life? I believe you are reading these words because </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic;">now is the time </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">to start dreaming bigger. Now is the time for a new season of confidence and passion and purpose.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">I dare you to dream a bigger dream, and refuse to give up hope.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">I’m not talking about cherishing false expectations that set you up for heartache and disappointment. I’m talking about renewing the goals, desires, and visions that speak to you deep within your spirit. Hope energizes you. It inspires. It motivates. Sometimes you don’t get what you hope for right when you want it, but if you stop hoping altogether, you cease to take the actions that will bring your dreams to life. Perhaps author Joyce Meyer summed it up best: “I feel that if I believe for a lot and get even half of it, I am better off than I would be to believe for nothing and get all of nothing.”</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Be true to your desires by giving yourself permission to hope for something more. And most importantly, </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic;">believe</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> you can do it. Believing that you have what it takes is the first habit of success.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 30pt; margin-right: 30pt; margin-top: 16pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; text-transform: uppercase;">YOUR BEST POSSIBLE FUTURE SELF</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Research indicates that imagining your best possible future self is a powerful exercise. Much of the thrill of changing your mindset to move to a new level of success is becoming the kind of woman who can break through fears, navigate obstacles, and believe that with God all things are possible. </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic;">All </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">things are possible. You don’t have to know how. But you do have to believe. That’s hope. That’s optimism. Starting today, make it your goal to cultivate optimism as a success strategy.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 24pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Every Woman Should Know</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-left: 56pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Optimists live longer, </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">on average, than pessimists—by </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">as much as nine years.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-left: 56pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Depression has been described as the “ultimate pessimism.” Women with an optimistic thinking style tend to fend off depression when bad events occur. The opposite is true for those with a pessimistic thinking style.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 56pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">In career fields such as teaching, sales, litigation, and public relations, optimism is a predictor of success.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 30pt; margin-right: 30pt; margin-top: 21pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; text-transform: uppercase;">PERSONAL COACHING TOOLKIT: POWER QUESTIONS TO ENHANCE YOUR THINKING STYLE</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Answer each of these questions in a journal or with a coach or friend who can listen objectively and give you the space to explore your answers without attempting to </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic;">give</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> you the answers.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-left: 59pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">1.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Spend some time in meditation. The perfect dream for you is the one God uniquely equipped you for. Paint a picture of what the next level of success looks like for you. What is your </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: italic;">real </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">dream (not the downsized one)?</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-left: 59pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">2.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">What would it mean to you to be able to accomplish that dream? Picture yourself living that vision. What does it feel like?</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-left: 59pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">3.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">What gifts, talents, passions, or experiences will you draw on to reach your goal?</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-left: 59pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">4.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Think back to a ti</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">me when you were at your best and reached a particularly meaningful goal. How did you do it? What did you learn about yourself ?</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-left: 59pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">5.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Consider that meaningful goal you described in the last question. What enabled you to be at your best? Who were the people,</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> circumstances, and other key factors surrounding your success?</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-left: 59pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">6.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">How could you go about recreating similar circumstances to empower you to reach that “next level of success” you described in the first question?</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-left: 59pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">7.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Think back to a time when you failed to reach a goal. What personal factor(s) led you to fail? What external factor(s) led you to fail? What lesson(s) can you glean from these contributing factors to help you succeed when reaching future goals?</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-left: 59pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">8.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Realistically, when you look at the picture you painted in the first question, what are the most significant obstacles you might face? If you don’t know, take a look at role models who have already been where you aim to go and pinpoint the obstacles they faced.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-left: 59pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">9.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">How can you reduce the risk of those obstacles occurring as you move forward? How will you navigate around those obstacles if they occur?</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 59pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">10.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Describe your best possible future self. Who is she and how does she approach life?</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 24pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Think Differently</span></div><div style="line-height: 14.2pt; margin-bottom: 35pt; margin-left: 30pt; margin-right: 30pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Be intentional about what you say to yourself when you fail as well as when you succeed. Choose hope. Dream big. Learn new skills. Believe all things are possible</span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: italic;">.</span></div><div style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br />
</div></div>Michelle Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08447079002738068749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018472869141005647.post-21152222387627777322012-03-04T20:13:00.000-08:002012-03-04T20:13:10.852-08:00Review: K5 Learning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/K5Learning/logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/K5Learning/logo.png" /></a></div>Recently our family received access to an online educational program designed for children in grades kindergarten through fifth grade. <a href="http://www.k5learning.com/" target="_blank">K5 Learning</a> is designed as a personalized online after-school program to reinforce basic skills in math, reading and spelling. In other words, this software may be used by any family desiring for their children to reinforce basic skills they are learning within their regular curricula, whether instruction is provided at home or through a public or private school setting.<br />
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Setting this program up is relatively simple. The parent creates her own account, plus accounts for each of her children who will be using the program. Each will have separate passwords. The parent may initially set up her children into grade levels, but the computer software will reassess and make adjustments as necessary. This is what the opening screen looks like.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/K5Learning/assessmentlogin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/K5Learning/assessmentlogin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Four distinct programs are included within K5 Learning. <b><br />
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<b>K5 Reading</b> covers concepts such as phonemic awareness, sight words, phonics. It also covers vocabulary and reading comprehension.<br />
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<b>K5 Spelling</b> covers spelling and vocabulary with a database of 150,000 words.<br />
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<b>K5 Math</b> teaches math concepts and offers exercises to reinforce the concepts taught.<br />
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<b>K5 Math Facts</b> is designed to build instant recall of math facts through practice, as well as computational speed.<br />
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K5 Learning has received several <a href="http://www.k5learning.com/awards" target="_blank">educational awards</a>. <br />
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See a screenshot of 5th grade K5 Math below. Since I had my 1st grader and preschooler using this program, we did not experience this portion of the program. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/K5Learning/Gr5Geosmallplay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/K5Learning/Gr5Geosmallplay.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>How did my children enjoy using K5 Learning? They liked using it fairly well, but unfortunately it seemed somewhat easy for my 1st grader's ability level and we did not use it long enough for it to adapt and place her at a slightly more appropriate level. However, it was good for review anyway, and she had fun with it.<br />
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My preschooler especially enjoyed the short lessons and the train animation used for his lesson. It seemed slightly above his ability level at the tender age of 4, though. <br />
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<a href="http://www.k5learning.com/parents/getting-reports#Math%20Fact%20Matrix" target="_blank">Parent reports</a> are also available. Below you can see an example of the feedback offered parents from the K5 Math Facts section. This seems to be a very helpful feature of the program.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/K5Learning/partialmatrixss.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/K5Learning/partialmatrixss.png" width="320" /></a></div>Look interesting? A <a href="https://www.k5learning.com/subscription/trial" target="_blank">14 day free trial</a> is offered. If you find it useful for your children, a subscription is available for <b>$25 monthly</b> (<b>$15 monthly</b> for additional children).<br />
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An annual subscription costs <b>$199</b> (<b>$129</b> for additional children).<br />
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Any questions? K5 Learning's <a href="http://www.k5learning.com/faq" target="_blank">FAQ page</a> is a great place to start if you're interested in this program. Although this is not something we were excited enough about to continue, this could be a great program for your child or children, and the 14 day free trial should help you determine whether it will be a "fit" for your own family.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/K5Learning/facebookfooter_0.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/K5Learning/facebookfooter_0.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Disclosure: As a member of the Homeschool Crew, I received a complimentary 6 week subscription to try out this educational software. Since each family is unique with different needs, be sure to read other reviews of this software on the <a href="http://homeschoolcrew.com/784631/" target="_blank">Homeschool Crew</a> blog.<br />
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</div>Michelle Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08447079002738068749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018472869141005647.post-63704554515266732782012-03-01T17:05:00.002-08:002012-03-02T05:20:12.832-08:00Review: Reading Eggs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Reading%20and%20Phonics/Reading%20Eggs/reading_eggs_logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="45" src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Reading%20and%20Phonics/Reading%20Eggs/reading_eggs_logo.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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"Learning to read can be easy and fun!" is the promise of <a href="http://readingeggs.com/" target="_blank">Reading Eggs</a>, an online subscription software program designed to teach 3-7 year old children how to read or reinforce reading skills. Since I have children in the 3-7 year old age range, I agreed to try out this online subscription program through the Homeschool Crew. Here is what we thought:<br />
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First, a free online assessment is offered. I decided to take advantage of the placement option it offered. My 6 year old took the test and scored somewhat lower than I expected, so she was begun at a rather early level of the program. However, that did not bother her. She enjoyed working through the animated learning activities, though they were really mostly review for her.<br />
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This is what the online placement test looks like: When a child answers incorrectly on three items, the test stops and the child is then placed into the program. Some of the test questions test sentences, while others test single words.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Reading%20and%20Phonics/Reading%20Eggs/reading_eggs_reading_test_screenshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Reading%20and%20Phonics/Reading%20Eggs/reading_eggs_reading_test_screenshot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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My first grader played some alphabet activities, viewed short lessons, and listened to some songs designed to teach phonics sounds. Overall, she is enjoying this program. I am not using it as a complete reading program, but simply as a supplement on days she completes her regular schoolwork.<br />
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Could it be used as a complete reading program? Possibly for some kids. It is a colorful, interesting program and is fairly comprehensive, from our experience. I choose to use it simply as a review item, preferring to continue using a standard phonics-based approach as our core. Below is a screen shot of the map a child follows as she works through the program.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Reading%20and%20Phonics/Reading%20Eggs/reading_eggs_map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Reading%20and%20Phonics/Reading%20Eggs/reading_eggs_map.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Here is a shot of one of the activities in another section of the program, in which a child will compose a sentence.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Reading%20and%20Phonics/Reading%20Eggs/reading_eggs_screenshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Reading%20and%20Phonics/Reading%20Eggs/reading_eggs_screenshot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Overall, we like this as a supplement. You can view <a href="http://readingeggs.com/beta/about/pricing" target="_blank">pricing options</a> on the Reading Eggs site, but here are some highlights:<br />
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$75.00 for 12 months<br />
$49.95 for 6 months<br />
$9.95 monthly<br />
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Second and third children may be added to 6 month and 12 month subscriptions for 50% off. Book packs are offered at a subscribers' discount. A free 14 day trial is offered for anyone curious about the program.<br />
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Learn more on the <a href="http://readingeggs.com/beta/about/overview" target="_blank">Reading Eggs info page</a>. Families with older children reading books can use Reading Eggspress, a companion program designed for children aged 7-13, which has them reading books and participating in fun animated activities.<br />
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Disclosure: As a member of the Homeschool Crew, I received a complimentary subscription to this software program. As each family and their needs is different, be sure to read other reviews of this program at the <a href="http://homeschoolcrew.com/784619/" target="_blank">Homeschool Crew blog</a>.Michelle Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08447079002738068749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018472869141005647.post-39206067288907723962012-02-02T08:40:00.000-08:002012-02-02T08:40:14.999-08:00Thankful ThursdayLately I have been focusing on what I am thankful for. When your life suddenly turns upside down, I recommend looking up and re-gaining perspective by looking for every thing the Lord sends into your life to bless you. Don't quit looking for His hand in your life, because it is there.<br />
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I already shared this week about our new family vehicle, which is a huge blessing and was totally placed into our hands by God. Yet God has been blessing me in other ways, as well.<br />
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A friend from church presented me with a lovely gift basket the other day. I was so blessed by her sweet thought. I think the Lord must have spoken to her heart, and I am so thankful she listened.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww278/SevenSmiths/Picture159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww278/SevenSmiths/Picture159.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>She packed it full of all sorts of goodies--things to encourage me and pamper me!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww278/SevenSmiths/Picture161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww278/SevenSmiths/Picture161.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Yes, there were two sweater vests, a scarf and many boxes of teas!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww278/SevenSmiths/Picture160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww278/SevenSmiths/Picture160.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> And more teas, a microwaveable wrap to relieve tension and headaches, some food goodies . . .<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww278/SevenSmiths/Picture162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww278/SevenSmiths/Picture162.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>a DVD, a CD, and more!<br />
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I have had this gift basket for about two weeks now, and honestly, I must say that I will still be weeks trying out everything included! I so appreciate the great care and thoughtfulness my Christian friend took in selecting the items for me!<br />
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Has God blessed you lately? <br />
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Be sure to look for other Thankful Thursday links <a href="http://myhomeschoolgarden.com/2012/02/02/thankful-thursday-february-212/" target="_blank">HERE </a>at Garden of Learning.Michelle Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08447079002738068749noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018472869141005647.post-1158559997939948342012-02-02T07:15:00.000-08:002012-02-02T07:19:29.270-08:00Review: Kinderbach<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Music/KinderBach/KinderBach-Logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="99" src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Music/KinderBach/KinderBach-Logo.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Once again, our family was blessed to receive free online access to Kinderbach at Home from <a href="http://kinderbach.com/" target="_blank">Kinderbach</a>. This year I have a 4 year old and a 6 year old who have used this program. We have reviewed what they covered a year ago (read the previous review <a href="http://homeschoolblogger.com/alifebetterthanidese/784682/" target="_blank">HERE</a>) as well as what we did two years ago <a href="http://homeschoolblogger.com/alifebetterthanidese/757270/" target="_blank">HERE</a>) though we haven't really progressed far beyond the previous lessons due to my kids' computer being down for pretty much the entire review period.<br />
Why did this limit our use of this online product? Our living room houses not only the kids' computer but also two pianos, so is the logical choice for the computer to use for online access to Kinderbach. We don't own a keyboard at this time, though that is certainly another option for practicing the keyboard work in this program. Each family should factor whether online access or DVD access would work best for their family.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Music/KinderBach/KinderBach-SampleLessonVideo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Music/KinderBach/KinderBach-SampleLessonVideo.png" width="320" /></a></div>So, although this review period's progress has not been as fulfilling due to computer problems on our own part, I do want to share some of the benefits of this program and refer you to my previous reviews linked above.<br />
The first thing I continue to like about this program is the enthusiasm of Karri Gregor, the teacher. She is enthusiastic, entertaining, and these lessons are really very well put together as a program for introducing young children aged 3 to 7 to music.<br />
Of course, my children really like the animated characters, the short lessons, the music, the games included--really, all of it. And the lessons are so short that young children do not become bored. If they are still interested and motivated, you can simply keep progressing through more of the lessons each day instead of stopping after a lesson segment or two. <br />
Although this program is not really comparable to attending music lesson with a music teacher, it does provide a great, unique, budget-minded option for families with young children who are seeking the intellectual benefits provided by an early introduction to music. <br />
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What kind of an introduction to music does this program provide?<br />
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<ul><li>note reading</li>
<li>rhythm</li>
<li>singing</li>
<li>learning some simple tunes on the keyboard</li>
</ul>Kinderbach provides all this in a fun, entertaining environment with plenty of hands-on worksheets, games and practice making music! It is pretty easy for a parent to use with no music background. Simply access the online lessons, providing some guidance and supervision for your young children . . .<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Music/KinderBach/KinderBach-ActivityPackage1screenshot.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Music/KinderBach/KinderBach-ActivityPackage1screenshot.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Then print the worksheets from the screen (or download the entire book PDFs and print in advance and place in a folder or notebook for ready access while viewing the lessons), and do the hands-on worksheets and games and keyboard practice with your children.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Music/KinderBach/KinderBach-BookPDFs.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Music/KinderBach/KinderBach-BookPDFs.png" width="320" /></a></div>For those without high speed internet access, those who prefer DVD, or who have more young children and for whom a DVD set would prove a better choice, families may also order DVD and CD sets.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Music/KinderBach/KinderBach-Samplepage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Music/KinderBach/KinderBach-Samplepage.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Kinderbach at Home (providing online access for those with high speed internet access) costs $95.88 annually or $19.99 monthly. DVD packages begin at $40.45 and run up to $222.88 (for the big bonus package containing all 6 levels). Unsure? You can try Kinderbach FREE simply by sharing your name and email address <a href="http://kinderbach.com/Learn/index.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
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Kinderbach sent out a special discount code for my readers for <b>30% off</b> any order (online access, DVD sets, etc.)--which is good for one year from now!<br />
<pre>Use Coupon Code: TOScrew2012 </pre><pre> </pre><pre>Disclosure: I received a complimentary access to Kinderbach at Home </pre><pre>for review purposes. I received no other compensation. Please be sure </pre><pre>to read other reviews at the <a href="http://homeschoolcrew.com/784426/" target="_blank">Homeschool Crew blog</a> to see whether </pre><pre>Kinderbach is right for your own family. </pre>Michelle Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08447079002738068749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018472869141005647.post-54876083033226088422012-01-31T20:27:00.000-08:002012-01-31T20:27:31.526-08:00Our New Wheels . . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww278/SevenSmiths/Picture163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww278/SevenSmiths/Picture163.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I mentioned the other day that the Lord led us to purchase a new vehicle last week. We really didn't think we had the money to buy a new automobile just now, but we really needed one. The Lord just made this one available at a price we could afford. We still need to order new tires for it, plus we have a power steering fluid leak, the cruise control doesn't work, and the interior lights are not working. But, really, it is perfectly drivable, seats our entire family with room to spare plus has good cargo room. We're working on these little things. We are thankful for the Lord's provision for our family.Michelle Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08447079002738068749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018472869141005647.post-89710180755959939792012-01-23T17:26:00.000-08:002012-01-23T17:26:35.208-08:00BlessingsLately I have been contemplating blessings. They come in all shapes and sizes, don't they? Sometimes they can even be difficult to recognize because they don't meet our own expectations. I am learning to look for blessings both big and small in my life right now.<br />
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In the past week, I had the blessing of receiving a gift basket overflowing with all sorts of goodies for me--food treats, teas, a new scarf, a new DVD--and lots more. A dear friend of mine from church who knows something of the trials our family is going through made me one--and my daughter one as well. She loved hers, and I love mine, too.<br />
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Another blessing we just received today. We have been talking about selling off a vehicle which is a little small for our family--and which has reached an age at which all those little things tend to go wrong with it. Yet we really can't afford to trade up right now. So my husband just happened to stop by a friend's business and mention that we were thinking about looking for a new family vehicle--and he said, "I've got it right outside, but it was headed to auto auction tomorrow so tell me if you want it now!"<br />
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My husband drove it home, and we loaded all the kids and took it for a spin. It is a white 1996 Suburban which was used as an SBC Disaster Relief vehicle at our friend's church. It has never been wrecked, has been well-maintained, and although it has high mileage comes home at a great price. It is a 3/4 ton vehicle, so it will be a gas guzzler, but it is a huge blessing to our family right now.<br />
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Has God given you any blessings lately?Michelle Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08447079002738068749noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018472869141005647.post-22960565545561943332012-01-08T17:22:00.000-08:002012-01-09T16:40:33.171-08:00Review: Z-Guides to the Movies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Multimedia/Zeezok/zeezok-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Multimedia/Zeezok/zeezok-logo.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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True confession. Sometimes my family enjoys setting aside the usual history books and studying a time period by kicking back and watching a movie together. Yet, just watching the movie and chatting about it at the dinner table isn't always quite enough. Sometimes a mom needs a little extra creative help bringing a movie's important elements to life for her kids. And sometimes a stack of worksheets can be a life-saver during a busy season in a homeschooling family's life. Enter the <a href="https://www.zeezok.com/z-guide-to-the-movies" target="_blank"><i>Z-Guides to the Movies</i></a>.<br />
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We received the High School level Z-Guide to accompany the movie <i>One Night With the King</i>. This movie covers the life of the biblical Queen Esther. I am guessing that most of my readers know the story of the young Hebrew orphan girl Esther and her uncle Mordecai and how Esther came to be Queen to the Persian King Xerxes. The 39 page Z-Guide includes information, discussion, comprehension questions and activities designed to make this topic memorable--and educational.<br />
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A suggested 5 day plan for studying the movie is included, but it could be adapted for different use--slower, faster, skipping some activities or expanding upon others. The following ten separate activities are included, with the suggestion to complete two activities daily. <br />
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<ol><li>Movie Review Questions</li>
<li>More About the Persian Empire</li>
<li>Help Xerxes Defeat the Greeks</li>
<li>Letter Protesting Haman's Plan to Kill the Jews</li>
<li>Man Looks on the Outward Appearance</li>
<li>Are you Ready for Marriage?</li>
<li>One Night With the King Word Search</li>
<li>One Night With the King Poster</li>
<li>Worldview Activity </li>
<li>Filmmaker's Art</li>
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How Did we Like Using This?<br />
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I easily downloaded the Z-Guide to my computer, printed off the student pages, and checked the movie out from my local library. Then I let my 10th grade daughter use the movie guide. Now, truthfully, that week happened to be one filled with doctor's appointments, and I was unavailable for much of that week to supervise as usual. So my daughter only completed about one-third of the materials. Yet we also didn't have a full week with the movie, as our library requires us to return movies within 3 days. This is where either owning the movie or having a Netflix subscription could come in handy. <br />
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The activities my daughter did complete she enjoyed, and this guide is a pretty good educational option for studying this time period. I like that the activities are varied and creative, and the movies covered are good options for many homeschooling families. Many of the activities really have the students digging for information about the time period and the characters.We'd be interested in using more of these Z-Guides to cover other time periods.<br />
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Z-Guides are available in e-book download format at a cost of $12.99. The Z-Guides are licensed for single family use, not co-op or classroom use. This title is available <a href="https://www.zeezok.com/node/132" target="_blank">HERE</a>, while other titles can be accessed <a href="https://www.zeezok.com/z-guide-to-the-movies" target="_blank">HERE</a>. Notice the link to a sample downloadable Z-Guide for <i>The Count of Monte Cristo</i> at the top of the latter page. Zeezok also offers each movie title on DVD, but prices vary so be sure to check the website for the title you would like. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Multimedia/Zeezok/z-guide-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Multimedia/Zeezok/z-guide-logo.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Disclosure: As a member of the Homeschool Crew, I received a complimentary copy of this e-book in order to review it for this company. I received no other compensation. Be sure to see the Homeschool Crew blog for more reviews of this product <a href="http://homeschoolcrew.com/784308/" target="_blank">HERE</a>.Michelle Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08447079002738068749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018472869141005647.post-15289046794283092402012-01-06T14:50:00.000-08:002012-01-06T14:50:34.062-08:00FIRST Wild Card Tour: Different Dream Parenting<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrd4Nvch6Qq_IuBGGK5PqmiObyGhZo28LaILgMyjxE70aL09RgbO_pRwkWRF9_1TM8MnaBdPF_QG2t8uR6hiR2ejJ-1daZ5dW0rxwcyw2nq39aCC1ZgOG5D0w-5cd0mXpc_xnCQKq5I7U/s1600/FIRSTWildCardTours2.jpg"></a><a href="http://firstwildcardtours.blogspot.com/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480264388542368882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrd4Nvch6Qq_IuBGGK5PqmiObyGhZo28LaILgMyjxE70aL09RgbO_pRwkWRF9_1TM8MnaBdPF_QG2t8uR6hiR2ejJ-1daZ5dW0rxwcyw2nq39aCC1ZgOG5D0w-5cd0mXpc_xnCQKq5I7U/s200/FIRSTWildCardTours2.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 145px;" /></a>It is time for a <span style="color: #990000;"><b><a href="http://firstwildcardtours.blogspot.com/">FIRST Wild Card Tour</a></b></span> book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! <span style="color: #990000;"><b>Enjoy your free peek into the book!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>You never know when I might play a wild card on you!</i></span><br />
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<div align="center"><b>Today's Wild Card author is: </b></div><br />
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<div align="center"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 180%;"><a href="http://jolenephilo.com/">Jolene Philo</a></span></b></div><br />
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<div align="center"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 180%;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 100%;">and the book:</span> </span></b></div><br />
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<div align="center"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 180%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1572934670">Different Dream Parenting</a></span></b></div><div align="center"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Discovery House Publishers (November 1, 2011)</span><br />
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</div><div align="center"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 180%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1572933070">A Different Dream for My Child</a></span></b></div><div align="center"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Discovery House Publishers (August 1, 2009)</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">***Special thanks to Susan Otis, Creative Resources, Inc. for sending me a review copy.***</div><br />
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<div align="left"><b><span style="color: #333399; font-size: 130%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">ABOUT THE AUTHOR:</span> </span></b></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--ipLjmH8X1c/TwPWjKzgZjI/AAAAAAAAGl0/z1YutonVTCY/s1600/JolenePhilo_ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--ipLjmH8X1c/TwPWjKzgZjI/AAAAAAAAGl0/z1YutonVTCY/s200/JolenePhilo_ed.jpg" width="185" /></a></div>Jolene Philo has been a teacher for 25 years and has published numerous articles on parenting a special needs child and preparing children for a hospital stay. She is the author of Different Dream Parenting and Different Dream Parenting: A Practical Guide to Raising a Child with Special Needs and a regular contributor to a regional monthly women’s magazine, has spoken to MOPS groups, and is a commentator for Iowa Public Radio’s “Iowa Voices.” She and her husband have two children and live in Boone, Iowa.<br />
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Visit the author's <a href="http://jolenephilo.com/">website</a>.<br />
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<div align="left"><b><span style="color: #333399; font-size: 130%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTIONS:</span> </span></b></div><br />
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<i>Different Dream Parenting</i>: Parents of a special needs child will benefit by Jolene Philo's handbook of resources, inspiration and tested wisdom. Practical strategies and spiritual reflections are balanced with resources for aid and information. From becoming an effective advocate for your child, dealing with hospitalization, to family concerns and long-term care, Philo presents wisdom from voices of experience. Hope-giving help, resources and direction are clearly provided for parents of a child with a medical condition, behavioral or educational concerns.<br />
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<ul style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Product Details for <i>Different Dream Parenting</i>:</span></b></li>
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<li style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><b>List Price: </b>$12.99</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><b>Paperback:</b> 336 pages</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><b>Publisher:</b> Discovery House Publishers (November 1, 2011)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><b>Language:</b> English</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><b>ISBN-10:</b> 1572934670</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><b>ISBN-13:</b> 978-1572934672</li>
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<i>A Different Dream for My Child:</i> Hope and encouragement for the parents and caregivers of critically ill children comes in an inspirational devotional package. Jolene Philo shares personal accounts from her own experiences with a seriously ill newborn son. Interwoven are the stories of how other parents have found peace and hope, how they have dealt with hospitalization, private pain, grief, guilt and loneliness, and even the death of a child. Targeted scripture, simple prayers and questions for reflection provide a valuable spirit<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="301" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/R_Kc4_nqhQk" width="400"></iframe><br />
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Product Details for <i>A Different Dream for My Child</i>:<br />
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<b>List Price: </b>$10.99<br />
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<ul style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><b>Paperback:</b> 272 pages</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><b>Publisher:</b> Discovery House Publishers (August 1, 2009)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><b>Language:</b> English</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><b>ISBN-10:</b> 1572933070</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><b>ISBN-13:</b> 978-1572933071</li>
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<b>My Review: </b><br />
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I received <i>Different Dream Parenting</i>. Although I have not had much time as of yet to read this book, I can say that it has been very helpful and encouraging so far for me during my personal journey seeking a medical diagnosis for my sick child and parenting my ill child. I will update this review at a later time with more information.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-size: 180%;">AND NOW...Excerpts from both books:</span> </b><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"> <i>Different Dream Parenting </i>Excerpt: </span></b><br />
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #141413; font-family: Times-Roman,serif; font-size: 26pt;">I Didn’t Sign Up for This,<br />
God!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #141413;">Have<br />
</span><span style="color: #141413;">you ever had one of those dreams where<br />
you can’t move? The car is racing toward the edge of a cliff and you can’t lift<br />
your foot to press the brake pedal. An attacker is breaking down the door to<br />
your house and you can’t raise your arm to dial 911. Your child is about to run<br />
in front of a truck and you can’t open your mouth to scream.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #141413;">My<br />
bad dream became a reality in 1982. My husband and I stood beside our son’s<br />
isolette in the neonatal intensive care unit. An IV needle pierced Allen’s tiny<br />
arm, and angry red scars crisscrossed his chest. One end of his feeding tube<br />
hung on a pole beside his IV bag. The other end rose from the soft skin of his<br />
tummy. Pain etched his wide forehead and tugged at the corners of his perfect<br />
rosebud mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #141413;">More<br />
than anything, I wanted to reach out and take his hurt away. But I was trapped<br />
in a bad dream. Immobilized. Inadequate. Helpless. Though God had assigned me<br />
to love and care for this beautiful child, I could do nothing to minimize his<br />
pain. My thoughts were an inward scream. This isn’t what I signed up to do,<br />
God! I don’t want to be a helpless onlooker. I want to parent my child. How can<br />
I care for him? What can I do?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #141413;">As<br />
the parent of a child with special needs, you’ve probably experienced the same<br />
sense of helplessness. Whether your child is critically or chronically ill,<br />
mentally or physically impaired, develop- mentally or behaviorally challenged,<br />
you want to do something. You want to ease your child’s pain, but you don’t<br />
know how. You want to help your child realize his or her full potential, but<br />
you don’t know where to begin. You want to ask God about your child’s<br />
suffering, but you don’t want to be condemned for questioning His wisdom. You<br />
want to believe God is with you, but you don’t know how to find Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #141413;">You’re<br />
stuck in a bad dream. You can’t move. You can’t speak. You want someone to<br />
shake you awake and tell you everything will be okay. Instead, you wake up and<br />
must become the parent you never expected to be. You doubt that you’re up to<br />
the task. You’re worried about your child’s future. And you’re wondering, Does<br />
anyone understand what I’m experiencing?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #141413;">The<br />
answer is yes, many parents understand your situation. In the United States,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #141413;">• 10–15 percent of newborns, or 431,000<br />
annually, spend time in neonatal intensive care according to the March of<br />
Dimes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #141413;">• 12 percent of children between ages 1<br />
and 17 had medical conditions serious enough to require hospitalization between<br />
2004 and 2006, the most recent years for which statistics are available at the<br />
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #141413;">• 13.6 percent of students between ages 6<br />
and 21 were enrolled in some kind of special needs program according to the<br />
National Center for Educational Statistics. That’s 706,000 of our country’s<br />
school-aged children.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #141413;">Lots<br />
of kids mean lots of parents, dads and moms who are valuable sources of<br />
information and advice. In this book, dozens of them share with you the wisdom<br />
they gained while parenting kids with special needs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #141413;">Support<br />
can also come from the surprising number of professionals who work with<br />
families of kids with special needs. These professionals—and the resources<br />
they’ve created—are available at hospitals, medical facilities, government<br />
agencies, private organizations, businesses, schools, churches, and more.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #141413;">This<br />
book brings you advice from professionals around the country and provides<br />
information about national organizations and resources. It also gives tips<br />
about where to start searching for state and local resources. More often than<br />
not, your problem won’t be a lack of resources, but a lack of awareness of them<br />
or inability to access them.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: #141413;">Different Dream Parenting</span></i><span style="color: #141413;"> contains six sections: Diagnosis, Hospital Life,<br />
Juggling Two Worlds, Long-Term Care Conditions, Losing a Child, and Raising a<br />
Survivor. Each section is divided into four chapters. Three chapters address<br />
practical issues. The last chapter in each section addresses spiritual<br />
concerns.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #141413;">Parents<br />
of kids with special needs often wrestle with prickly spiritual questions. I sure<br />
did. Sometimes I still do. So do all the parents interviewed in this book, and<br />
most of the professionals, too. Every day, we continue to ask questions about<br />
our kids’ lives and futures. Gradually, we learn more about how to trust God’s<br />
timing and wait for His answers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #141413;">As<br />
you read this book, please ask your faith questions. Read about how parents and<br />
professionals learned to ask questions, wait, and listen. Consider the answers<br />
they have discerned and their suggestions about how to find comfort and courage<br />
in God’s Word. When you are ready, try out their ideas about how to pray and<br />
use Scripture to hear God’s answers to your hard questions. The thirty-day<br />
prayer guides in appendix A are designed to help you engage in conversation<br />
with Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #141413;">But<br />
even with prayer guides and Scripture to guide you, I know how hard it can be<br />
to trust the God who is allowing your child to suffer. So I won’t condemn you<br />
for asking prickly questions. Instead, I’ll encourage you, cry with you, and<br />
support you when your faith grows weak. When you can’t hang on a minute longer,<br />
I’ll hold you close until your strength and your faith return.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #141413;">I<br />
hope this book helps you break out of your bad dream, wake up, and move forward<br />
with joy and confidence. I pray that the stories of parents and professionals<br />
in this book will give you hope and strength.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #141413;">Most of all, I hope you<br />
discover the truth God has revealed to me and many other parents. Raising a<br />
child with special needs isn’t a bad dream. It’s just a different dream. And<br />
surprisingly, a different dream can be the best dream of all.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-color: #eef6f6; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">Taken from </span></span><i><span style="background-color: #eef6f6; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none; border-width: 1pt; font-size: 9.5pt; padding: 0in;">Different Dream Parenting</span></i><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-color: #eef6f6; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">, © 2011<br />
by Jolene Philo. Used by permission of Discovery House Publishers, Box<br />
3566, Grand Rapids, MI 49501. All rights reserved</span></span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">A Different Dream for My Child </i><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Excerpt:</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="height: 307px; overflow: auto;"><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: StephanieMarieJF,serif; font-size: 28pt;">Children Are a Gift from the Lord, Period<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: grey; font-family: Avenir-Roman,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Don’t you see that children are God’s best gift?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: grey; font-family: Avenir-Roman,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">The fruit of the womb his generous legacy?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: grey; font-family: Avenir-Roman,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Psalm 127:3<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: StephanieMarieJF,serif; font-size: 11pt;">From </span><span style="font-family: BaskervilleBook-Regular,serif; font-size: 11pt;">the moment Hiram and I learned of Allen’s condition, we knew he<br />
had a good chance of living a relatively normal life. And though his first five<br />
years were hospital<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: BaskervilleBook-Regular,serif; font-size: 11pt;">heavy, that prognosis<br />
proved true. He did well in school and participated in extra-curricular<br />
activities. Now an adult, he’s out on his own.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: BaskervilleBook-Regular,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Not every child’s<br />
future is so rosy. Many parents of kids who survive an initial health crisis<br />
know their lives, and their children’s lives, will be quite different from what<br />
they once expected. If your child is one of those kids, you will grapple with<br />
the same issue Bruce and Peggy faced when their second child was a baby.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: BaskervilleBook-Regular,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Their daughter Lacey,<br />
born in 1984, has the mental ability of a four or five–month–old infant. Her<br />
mental and physical disabilities weren’t immediately obvious to her doctor or<br />
her parents, though by the time her daughter was three months old, Peggy knew<br />
something was wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: BaskervilleBook-Regular,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Throughout the first<br />
year of Lacey’s life, her limitations became more noticeable. Her parents’<br />
lives changed when they decided to keep Lacey in their home as long as they<br />
could. They understand that other parents who place severely disabled children<br />
in a care facility have made the right choice in their personal situation.<br />
“It’s not like one’s right and one’s wrong,” Peggy says.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: BaskervilleBook-Regular,serif; font-size: 11pt;">“You have to do what<br />
God gives you peace about,” Bruce adds. The decision to care for Lacey in their<br />
home gave them peace. To accommodate their new lifestyle, Bruce changed<br />
employers. “I used to have a job where I traveled and was gone all the time. We<br />
knew when Lacey was a year old that I was going to have to be home a lot more.”<br />
<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: BaskervilleBook-Regular,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Early on, many<br />
well-meaning people acted like Lacey was a burden her family had to bear,<br />
especially for Peggy, whose life revolved around caring for their daughter.<br />
Once in a while, Peggy viewed her daughter in the same way. She began to<br />
question God. “Children are meant to be a gift from the Lord, not a burden,<br />
aren’t they? So why is Lacey a burden?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: BaskervilleBook-Regular,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Deep down, Peggy knew<br />
something was wrong with her thinking. One day she sensed God telling her to<br />
think about what the Bible says about kids: Children are a gift from the Lord.<br />
The light bulb went on, and she understood that the verse wasn’t just about the<br />
“perfect children,” the darling, whole and healthy, look-at-me children. “He<br />
doesn’t put any clause or condition on this statement. It’s just plain,<br />
‘Children are a gift from the Lord.’”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: BaskervilleBook-Regular,serif; font-size: 11pt;">In that moment, Peggy<br />
realized she’d been asking the wrong question. The question wasn’t whether<br />
Lacey was a gift or a burden. God said children are always a gift. Instead, He<br />
showed her the right questions to ask: How are you going to take care of this<br />
gift? How are you going to show the world that Lacey is a gift from the Lord?<br />
Those questions changed Peggy’s outlook about caring for her daughter. Every<br />
day, she tells herself, “I better act like this is a gift.” Over the years, she’s<br />
discovered that when she acts like her daughter is a gift, she thinks of her as<br />
a gift. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: BaskervilleBook-Regular,serif; font-size: 11pt;">After more than two<br />
decades of caring for her daughter, Peggy wants to pass on this piece of advice<br />
to parents of special needs kids: No matter what your child’s level of need is<br />
— able to lead a normal life, in need of total care, or somewhere in between —<br />
you treat your child as a gift, you’ll think of your child as a gift. “This<br />
child is a gift from the Lord, period,” Peggy says. “Start with that foundation<br />
and move on from there.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: StephanieMarieJF,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Father,</span><span style="font-family: StephanieMarieJF,serif; font-size: 23pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Avenir-Light,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">forgive me for viewing my child<br />
as a burden. Teach me to act like my child is a gift, even during difficult<br />
times, so I will think of this child as a gift. Help those around me see my<br />
child is a gift, too.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: BaskervilleBook-Italic,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Do I consider my child<br />
a gift from God? Do I treat my child like a gift? How do I show other people<br />
that my child is a gift?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: BaskervilleBook-Italic,serif; font-size: 11pt;">________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Taken<br />
from <i>A Different Dream for My Child, </i>© 2009 by Jolene Philo. Used by<br />
permission of Discovery House Publishers, Box 3566, Grand Rapids MI 4950l. All<br />
rights reserved.</span><span style="font-family: BaskervilleBook-Italic,serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div>Michelle Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08447079002738068749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018472869141005647.post-57093150352266906412011-12-27T10:49:00.000-08:002011-12-27T10:49:20.122-08:00Welcome!I am glad you are here! Grab a cup of tea or a cup of coffee and make yourself at home. With the advent of a new year, I have decided it was time to make a move--a new blog name, new look, new perspective.<br />
<br />
So, for all my friends old and new, my name is Michelle and I've been blogging elsewhere for the past three and a half years. I blog about our family life and homeschooling, occasionally sharing a recipe or homeschooling tip and sometimes a funny story or two. I occasionally participate in memes and carnivals, often book-related, homeschooling related, plus <a href="http://thelegacyofhome.blogspot.com/2011/02/about-christian-home.html" target="_blank">The Christian Home</a>. I also love to read and review books and curriculum, so expect to see a good bit of that here as well. For now, I'll be keeping my old blog but will make this one my primary blog. <br />
<br />
Our family is as follows:<br />
<ul><li>Dad--Professor, Scouter, native Texan, all-around great guy</li>
<li>Michelle--former English teacher, reading addict, mom to 5 diverse yet wonderful children</li>
<li>Venturer--my eldest, 16 year old daughter, 10th grader who loves Venturing scouts and is an exceptional young woman of many interests and talents</li>
<li>Scout--my 13 year old son who is now taller than I am--Star scout, knot-tyer extraordinaire and Lego builder extraordinaire</li>
<li>Miss Butterfly--my sweet 11 year old artistic daughter, who struggles with some learning disabilities</li>
<li>Miss Ladybugs--my rambunctious 6 year old daughter, petite yet very confident, poetry memorizer extraordinaire</li>
<li>Lightning--my 4 year old busy boy who wants to do everything his big brother does and has a propensity for getting into mischief</li>
</ul>So, prepare to hear what we are reading, what fun activities my kids are involved in Scouting, in schooling and more. Plus read some great reviews on homeschooling products through my position with the <a href="http://homeschoolcrew.com/" target="_blank">Homeschool Crew</a>. I consider myself somewhere on the Charlotte Mason/Classical spectrum of homeschooling philosophy, but due to my own children's unique needs have become increasingly eclectic over the past dozen or so years.<br />
<br />
I love reading your comments and love having you here. I try to visit all my readers, so be sure to leave me a comment to let me know you were here!Michelle Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08447079002738068749noreply@blogger.com7