Kathleen Desmarais

We start school tomorrow in my house. This is my favorite time of the school year! the beginning. I get all excited gathering materials (especially art materials–I love new paints, markers, pencils, crisp white paper). The anticipation of the school year really gets me gitty. I have all the school books neatly stacked with the spines still stiff and new schedules posted on the fridge. I think about all we are going to learn, all the neat field trips we will take, my darlings sitting around the table filling their minds with great things. (Hey, a Mom can dream.) Ahhh! I take a moment to enjoy it…….

Because I know in about 4 days it will be all out the window–pencils broken, marker set down to three, can’t find the scissors, can’t find my math book, I really hate this writing course, this schedule is not working for me, do I really have to read this? And we will settle down into something more realistic. But it’s all good. It rarely goes the way I plan it but my kids always end up learning and have a great time.

This year we will be taking a trip up the east coast to visit Williamsburg, Washington DC, Gettysburg, Philadelphia, Lancaster CO., and NYC. I have been planning this trip for two years to coincide with our study of early American history. I remember taking this trip myself when I was a kid and really enjoying it. What a great opportunity we homeschoolers have to experience history this way. It’s not just about text books, but really seeing where it all happened. I am especially looking forward to the reenactments at Williamsburg.

We just finished our last science co-op class today! That has been great fun. Our group dwindled a bit from about 12 families down to 6 core families. The smaller group has been much better. (I highly recommend it.) Today we ended with making the Plant Parts Salad and had a pizza and pool party to celebrate.

With Pandia Press, I am still hard at work formatting Chemistry (1) and writing Modern Times (2). With MT2 I have recently spent weeks trying to write a series of lessons about socialism, communism, fascism, and Animal Farm. OMG - try doing an internet search for socialism or communism. It’s really difficult to find straightforward, unbiased, history information. You end up getting sites like Marxist teens, communists unite, score with the socialists.(OK, I made all of those up, but it was something like that.) Wow! I didn’t realize how many groups out there actually think Karl Marx and Lenin had a good idea that could work here in America. I guess they have never heard of Stalin or China. So now you know how I feel about it, I’m a Capitalist girl. But I try very hard not to let that show in the course. I actually think communism is a good idea on very small scale. I mean, I would love to live with a group of families, sharing resources, community garden, watching my kids for me, sharing chores, everybody equal, sharing property rights, nobody getting ahead . . . wait, how would that work? Maybe it’s not a good idea AT ALL.

I’ll let you all know how our first few weeks of school, our trip, and the communists turn out.

Kathleen

I’ve been putting off this post. You see, I don’t like being late. Okay, that’s an understatement. In fact it is my biggest pet peeve–running late and waiting on others who are late. When I was in college, I would rather have skipped a class than show up late. I once broke up with a great guy simply because he couldn’t ever seem to get anywhere on time and I knew that was something I couldn’t live with. I don’t go to drive-throughs when there are a lot of people in the car because I get anxious knowing the person on the other end is waiting for us to get our order together. So now with great anguish I have to say– I am running late. Middle Ages (3) and Modern Times (2) will not be published this year–there I said it, uuggg! They say you are suppose to feel better when you can admit the truth, but I don’t feel better at all. I know there are many who are waiting on these courses, many who have planned their next school year to include these courses. I am really sorry to disappoint those people.

So what happened? Well, several things. But mostly I just took on too much (maybe you can relate?) I am trying to get out all the eBooks by the end of summer. Each eBook is taking about 50 hours to format. So that’s 11 courses x 50 = 550 hours staring at a computer screen. At one point, somewhere between Ancients (2) and Ancients (3), my left hand became stiff and numb and I couldn’t type for a week. Also I have been very busy formatting Chemistry (1). The great writer of Chem 1 has finished in record speed and now it’s up to me to get it published. There has been such a huge demand for chem 1 that I have put it on a fast track. Then there is the fam. My eldest is starting high school this coming year and it would not be an exaggeration to say that I am terrified. And when I get worried, I plan. So we have her courses carefully laid out, a notebook compiled that would impress any college board, and every hour scheduled. (Luckily for me, my daughter enjoys this level of structure and is actually looking forward to being graded for the first time). At the other end of the spectrum, is my 1 1/2 y.o. If you have read my posts before, you know what she is like. Never before have I met a child who can scale kitchen cabinets and will push around furniture, stack it up, and reach whatever I was sure was out of reach. Then there are the two boys in the middle who I feel never get enough attention, what with their sisters hogging it all. Then there’s our house on the market, not selling but still needing to be “show clean” all the time, husband taking jobs out of state, –you get the point. I’m too busy, just like many home schooling moms.

So I am moving the release date for MT (2) to 2009, hopefully early 2009. I don’t have a date for EM (3). But the good news is, Chem (1) and Physics (1) and maybe even Life (2) are also scheduled for 2009. So just because there hasn’t been anything brand new coming out of Pandia Press for awhile, please know that I am working, probably harder than I ever have.

I know it’s been awhile since I last posted. But while it’s been quiet here, it’s been crazy everywhere else for Pandia Press. So much to tell…

As you know, I have been on a quest to get more science books written. Well in my zeal, I secured not one, but two science writers! I can’t say enough about these two great ladies. They not only have the background, time, and strong desire to write the courses, they have firsthand experience with homeschooling and the talent to capture your children’s attention and make science fun. The courses that are being produced are exceeding all of my high expectations. These will be far from fluff courses. Serious, core science topics are taught and presented in a way that even the most science-phobic Mom will look like she knows it all! In the works are chemistry, physics, and biology. (Go ahead, dance around the room, I’ll wait.) Awesome isn’t it? That’s all the info I can give right now. No release dates yet but I promise that as soon as I know, you will know. It’s always been a feast or famine situation with REAL Science, and now it appears dinner is served!

In between writer contract negotiations, I have managed to release the first three Pandia Press eBooks. History Odyssey Ancients 1, Ancients 2, and REAL Science Life are now available as eBooks directly from Pandia Press. The history eBooks have been very popular, the science a little slower but it was just added. I am curious to hear customer feedback about how they use their eBooks and which courses are conducive to this format. Next to be released will be Ancients 3 and Earth and Space.

And in between writers and eBooks, I have stolen a minute or two to work on Modern Times 2. I love this time period! The amount of information for good writing assignments is overwhelming. My challenge has been to limit the course to being only a year long and it not taking the rest of your child’s life to complete! I have decided to add a year-long assignment to the course–writing a research paper. This will be a big assignment but there are plenty of instructions, reminders, and help along the way. I want 8th graders to be able to have these writing skills under their belts in preparation for thesis papers in high school and college. I think this course will provide that in a way that is nonthreatening and hopefully enjoyable. I am working my way through Around the World in Eighty Days. This classic by Jules Verne will provide a great overview of Modern Times and world geography. Students will follow along with Phileas Fogg and Passeportout as they circumnavigate the globe by train, boat, and even elephant! What a fun way to learn about different cultures and geography.

I’ll spare you all the personal drama and home-life updates. But they have been happening too. I love my crazy life! It is an honor to be able to provide home school materials to the most fabulous families on the planet and to be able to stay at home with my own fabulous family. “I would stand in line for this!” –Kathleen

I am in the process of evaluating the marketability of e-books and if Pandia Press publications should be offered as e-books through electronic downloads. These would be offered along side print copies with customers having a choice–hard copy or e-book. Electronic downloads offer several advantages for customers and for publishers.

For customers:

1. No waiting. Instantly receive your book and use it right away.
2. E-books are interactive with live links, bookmarks, and text anchors.
3. Worksheets and maps can be easily printed from your desktop. If your child makes a mistake, no problem just print another one.
4. E-books are generally less expensive and come with no shipping costs.

For publishers:

1. E-books are easily edited. Error corrections don’t have to wait for the next print run.
2. Paper and money saved with less printing (hey, that’s one for the environment too).
3. Higher profit margins due to less cost of production.
4. Affiliate programs.
5. No trips to the post office (always a good thing).
6. No “lost” packages.

There are a few disadvantages:

1. No hard copy to hold and pages to flip through (unless you print it).
2. Customer will have to print worksheets and maps.
3. Reading off a computer screen can be tiresome.
4. E-books are easily pirated and shared illegally with others.

I am also considering offering a seperate Homeschool Tracker file along with each e-book. Homeschool Tracker is popular homeschool scheduling software.

Let your opinion be heard! Please help me with this decision. Do you want to see e-books of History Odyssey and R.E.A.L. Science? Please participate in the poll found in the sidebar.

Last week my family took a much needed day off and went to Epcot in Orlando for “Homeschool Days.” On this day every year Disney offers a reduced rate to home schoolers and provides a short educational program (meeting employees of Epcot from different countries). We arrived too late for the educational part, but we had a great (and educational) time anyway. The park is a lot less crowded this time of the year so there were little lines (thank goodness because it was COLD). I love Epoct! It is my favorite of all the Disney parks. There are no great roller coasters. (Except the evil ride called Mission Space on which people have died and I will not let me kids go on no matter how hard they beg, and beg they did.) The rides are all pretty lame, but Grace (1) could ride on just about every one of them, I love the country exhibits, the great food, the beautiful gardens, and the fireworks are fabulous. My favorite part was seeing the new exhibit at the China pavillion. They had artifacts from the Qin Dynasty and small scale replicas of the Terracotta warriors. Shi Huangdi, the great Qin Dynasty ruler, was buried with 8000 life-size terracotta warriors. Each warrior had a weapon and all their faces and facial expressions were different! I can’t even image how they managed to do this. There must have been people who worked on these most of their lives, waiting for the emperor to die (he ruled for 20 years). Chris is studying ancient China in Ancients (level two), so I guess this would be a field trip for him.

Charlie (7) really enjoyed the Norway exhibit and the Viking ride. This was my favorite ride when I was a kid, so it was quite nostalgic that he enjoyed it as well. It is still the same–your boat feeling like it’s really going over the falls, trolls, Vikings, offshore oil drilling, and all–I just love it!

Why don’t we take more time for days like this?

The revised edition of Ancients, level 2 is almost ready! It will be going to the printer next week and is scheduled to be ready for purchase by the end of this month. It will be available from Classical Home Education and Rainbow Resources has expressed an interest. The changes to the updated version are:

• New custom maps and map work.
• Shortened lessons. The lessons are essentially the same as the original version, but some have been shorten and split into two lessons. Therefore the revised edition has a greater number of lessons.
• Appearance. A new colorful cover and changes in format to match the other History Odyssey courses.

Update on Kathleen’s journey writing History Odyssey, Modern Times (level 2). A comprehensive world history course intended for grades 7 and up from Pandia Press.

I am behind in writing MT2 (when are writers ever on time?) But I still think I can get it done in time for release this coming summer (albeit late summer). Creating the outline (the sequence) of this course has been challenging. There are so many connections between events and between countries that it is a task to try to separate them all into coherent and manageable parts. I have received many positive comments about the way the other level 2 courses were separated by regions, rather than jumping from one region to another. I am trying to do that with this course, but it has been exceedingly more difficult. Here is the basic outline I am working with now (subject to many changes):

I. An Introduction to Modern Times and the Age of Exploration - a general introduction through geography using Around the World in Eighty Days

II. British Dominance and Colonization - Covers the British Empire from mid 19th century to mid 20th century and its dominance in Africa(along with other European countries), India, Australia, Ireland, southeast Asia, and Canada (Wow, they were everywhere!). Books planned include The Jungle Book and Things Fall Apart.

III. China and Japan - events prior to WWI

IV. The Declining Ottoman Empire and Unification of Europe Prior to WWI (this title is too long) - covers the Ottomans, The Crimean and Balkan wars, the birth of Italy, and unification of Germany

V. North America Prior to WWI - covers the Plain Wars and the American Civil War. Literature- Tom Sawyer and The Red Badge of Courage (or Rifles For Watie)

VI. World War I - I am still searching for good literature for WWI for this age group. (All Quiet on the Western Front will be used in level 3.) Any suggestions are appreciated.

VII. Between the Wars and the Rise of Communism - Covers the Russian Revolution, fascism, Chinese civil war and war with Japan, Spanish Civil War, and the Great Depression. Literature - Animal Farm and No Promises in the Wind

VIII. World War II - Literature - Diary of Anne Frank

IX. Aftermath of WW II - Covers communist China, Italy and the Balkans, The Cold War, and wars in Asia

X. The Middle East- Covers Israel, terrorism, Middle East wars, and the War on Terror

XI. Civil Rights, the Environment, and the Economy - Literature - To Kill a Mocking Bird

Well, that’s the outline as it stands right now. I am sure it will change. I plan to include poetry by Kipling, Tennyson, and others. I appreciate comments or suggestions regarding the outline and the literature. There are a couple of books I am concerned about, I will discuss them in another post.

Sarah (13) completed the Tudor Family Reunion worksheet found in History Odyssey, Middle Ages (2):

CONVERSATION AT A TUDOR FAMILY REUNION

Henry VII – I welcome you back to my humble home in hopes that you find your lodgings and company to your liking. May we come together as a family again and celebrate each other’s conversation.

Catherine of Aragon – Well, (clears throat) here we are. How abundant is my joy to see all of you (glares at Anna Boleyn). I expect you not to respect me as you should, but know that it was God’s will that my arrow of love that struck him first.

Anne Boleyn – My beautiful daughter (to Elizabeth) how tall and graceful you have become since we were parted. I do hope my former lover’s house hold had held you in highest esteem. May you one day rule mightily.

Catherine of Aragon – (jumping up) Witch! You speak of treason! How dare you assume that your scum of a girl will rule over my daughter of God!

Anne Boleyn – Magpie! Ugly filth!

Anne of Cleaves – Now, now ma’ dears, lets not fret. Your daughters are both sparking jewels in the royal crown of Tudor. They will both rule with an iron fist in their own good time.

Henry VIII – But over them shall rule my sole heir, Henry. Long live Henry!

Jane Seymour – (holding Henry’s hand) My king, fate tore us apart before true love could blossom. Why did we part so? Tell me that you love me still! My heart pounds for your affection, you sweet touch once more.

Henry VIII – My sweet maiden, we shall always have a knot of love that no one may sever.

Bloody Mary – My most royal Father, the joy of my heart, how can you speak to other women so when it was my Mother who struck your graces when you were a mere child. Why, your highness, did you throw away that love for this witch (points at Anna Boleyn)! She has lured you with spells and trickery, and then only provides you with a scrawny wisp of a thing. May your royal soul under God know where you have faltered.

Elizabeth I – My lovely Mothers and dear sister, may you stop your bickering and look to the goodness of this meeting. We are all here together to celebrate good food and company. If all that can come of this is spite and evil looks, then let us part our ways. I do wish that we may be a loving family, so a toast before you leave, to love and the royal house of Tudor!

THE END.