Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Pumpkins and Corn Mazes and Hayrides, Oh My!

Hi there friends and welcome!
Thank you for your kind comments and emails....
I am definitely getting better after what is typically a routine illness,
save for the fact that the medication and I were not getting along.
Finally able to blog  our two recent trips to local farms.
So, thank you for stopping in to visit and share our fun!

On Columbus Day morning, the boys still had their usual violin lessons..
Since  my hubby was off and it was a beeeeeeeeautiful Fall afternoon. despite the fact 
that a myriad of chores beckoned around here, we headed to the farm.
Because there's nothing Long Islanders love more than pretending to be rural -ish.
Let's face it- we're not.
But every Fall, droves of Brooklyn, and Queens
 people head "out east" to my neck of the woods 
for apple picking, pumpkin picking, hay rides and general eastern atmosphere.
And so all of us farm wannabes just love us an afternoon of
barnyard animals, roasted corn, farm mums for our own front stoops or back decks
 and fresh picked Mackintoshes.

So.
Monday- what fun!
We needed it.
We really needed a break and an afternoon of fun nothingness.
The homeschooling life is totally wiping me out this year.
Something different  and time with family was just what I needed.
The hot apple cider helped!











 Then, last  Saturday after the boys' soccer games, 
hubby ( and coach) went to work while my sister and the boys again 
headed a bit east to find some more Autumn.




Thank you friends, thank you always,
for spending some of your precious time here at my spot on the web.
I'm gratefully linking to
a few of the hops featured on my right sidebar. 

Don't forget to subscribe to Campfires and Cleats
 by scrolling to the subscribe button at the  top left sidebar.
I'd love to stay on touch regularly!

I hope to be back here soon!
Until next time,


~Chris


Monday, October 14, 2013

In Honor of the Holy Father's Consecration, Giveaway: Shining Light Dolls~ Here's How to Win!

My friend,Monica, owner and crafter extraordinaire of
is celebrating our Papa's consecration of the world
 to the Immaculate Heart of Mary with generous  fanfare!

How completely adorable are these??
"The Virgin Mary Around he World"
How perfect.
How thoughtful and timely  of Monica!
Which is, of course, just like her!

Please click over to her site for details on entry!


And hey, while you're here. if you did not yet click to Hip Homeschool Moms
 for the Field Trip Around the World feature, please do so.
(and part 1  of Our Mark Twain study) 
is up as well as some pretty amazing family trips!


Thank you for visiting!
Don't forget to subscribe to Campfires and Cleats
 by scrolling to the subscribe button at the  top left sidebar.
I'd love to stay in touch with you regularly!

Until next time,

~Chris

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Riotous Montauk Daisies, As They Bloom: Wordless Wednesday









~Our front yard~
We know Autumn is really here and it's indeed time
to let go of Summer  when these beauties come to life....

Thank you for stopping in to visit our Fall loveliness, which
 I'm gratefully linking to a few friends' WW hops, 
featured on my sidebar, as well as Collage Friday.

Don't forget to subscribe to Campfires and Cleats
 by scrolling to the subscribe button at the  top left sidebar.


Until next time,

~Chris

Monday, October 7, 2013

Homeschooling and Dyslexia: Part 2: What Dyslexia Isn't

Hi friends and welcome to my little corner of the web!

Thanks for stopping in 
 for part 2  of my series on homeschooling with dyslexia 
during National Dyslexia Awareness Month.
You might wish to begin there if you have not already.


 Knowledge  is key around the symptoms of the 
learning difference that dyslexia is.
From day to day and from individual to individual, 
dyslexia manifests itself differently.
That is, of course, one of the most frustrating and 
challenging aspects  of dyslexia......the diagnosis....
As well as moving forward with  suitable-for-your-child
intervention and ongoing remediation using 
tools that enahnce not frustrate.
In this post, I'll share what dyslexia is not.




I'm not an expert in  the field.
 Though I did earn a Master's Degree in the
Diagnosis and Remediation of Reading Disabilities,
and taught for many years,
I feel I have gained most of my knowledge in this area
 homeschooling my son, who is
honestly a brilliant, kind and creative child.
I have read extensively on the subject so as to help my child succeed.
Perhaps through this series
you might gain a  little insight you've been searching for, too.


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What dyslexia is not~
1. Dyslexia is not  the reading and writing of letters  backwards.
 Writing letters backwards is something that many kids do when they’re first learning to write,  whether they have dyslexia or not.  Even among educators--including university faculty, special education teachers, and speech therapists—70 percent believe that reversing the order of letters is a defining feature of dyslexia. Rather, dyslexia is marked by, among other things,  difficulties in the processing of written language.

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2. Dyslexia  does not occur in any one type of learner, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic background IQ level.
Rather, dyslexic symptoms manifest themselves in all people in every walk of life. In fact, conservative estimates suggest that 5 to 10 % of the entire population may be dyslexic.



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3. Dyslexia is not accompanied by behavioral and attention issues.
Dyslexia is a severe reading problem of neurological origin. There are no physical, 
medical, or psychological conditions which account for the language processing deficits.
Of course, if a dyslexic child is inattentive in class, I maintain that this is due to
his inability to focus on the concept being taught due 
to the limitations placed on him because of the dyslexia.
Sort of the chicken or the egg syndrome?
Why is it that so many dyslexics also have ADD??
Hmmmmm
However, you might find interesting that dyslexia is a registered disability under the Chronically Sick & Disabled Persons’
 Act of 1970, Education Act of 1993 and the Disability Discrimination Act of 1995.


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4. Dyslexia is not a condition which affects "slow learners."
In fact, dyslexia indications are found within students of average and above average
intelligence. 


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5. Dyslexia is not caused by "bad" or neglectful parenting.
No indeed.....The  dyslexic person uses his right brain hemisphere instead of his left to process language, thus requiring the use of different neural pathways ( "detours" if you will ) than the non dyslexic person.

Additionally, dyslexia is thought to be genetic and occurring in families. 


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6. Dyslexia is not "curable."
Dyslexia is not a disease. There is no "cure." However, with appropriate and early diagnosis and suitable remediation, intervention, patience, love, encouragement, support from teachers, family and other individuals in roles of guidance, dyslexics can thrive in school and beyond, even achieving high levels of success. 
Don't forget that fellows such as Pierre Curie, Albert Einstein, Alexander Graham Bell and good ole Tom Jefferson were dyslexics......

I wouldn't go so far as to say that my son wears his dyslexia as a badge of honor. BUT he is no longer as uncomfortable about it when situations arise and it is apparent that he has a language issue. He is in fact,  thrilled to be in the company of such accomplished individuals. He's also pretty happy to hear that Captain Jack Sparrow ( Johnny Depp) and Mork from Ork ( Robin Williams) are dyslexic as well. But chagrined to find that his favorite Founding Father, John Adams, by all accounts,  was not. Ah well. Can't win 'em all.

Don't get me wrong. Many days I feel as if we are moving backwards. However, patience and perpetual support are vital---for child and for Mom.

Part 3, coming soon, will have as its focus,
resources that may help a teacher / homeschooler
 who is educating a child with dyslexia.

Thank you so very much for stopping in!! Your visits are important to me and very appreciated!


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 Friends, as always,  
thank you for stopping over and 
spending some of your precious time 
here at my home on the web!

I'd love to see you 
subscribe to Campfires and Cleats,
so we can be in touch regularly!
Here you go~

Enter your email address:



You might wish to follow on Facebook as well.....

Until next time,

~Chris



Post dividers courtesy of Shabby Blogs








Sunday, October 6, 2013

Blog in A Blink 10/7/13






Hi there friends!
I'm linking to a lovely blog showcase at
Equipping Catholic Families,
Monica's awesome blog.
Monica offers freeCatholic activities and crafts as well as 
Catholic training tools and gifts at her blog and her shop.
Please head over to peruse her beautiful offerings
as well as the other Catholic bloggers who've linked at her 
Blog in a Blink hop!




Here at Campfires and Cleats,
I enjoy chronicling our family's homeschooling journey
 as well as photojournalling and writing memoir.

The following are posts from my 
collection of memoir.
I invite you to click over to these posts 
 Also, please read a post or two of those who've linked to my 
ongoing Memoir Monday hop.
(I have not posted a new Memoir Monday in quite awhile,
but at some point in the future, I do have 
plans to get the link up going again.)
If you are a blogger and would like to link a piece of memoir,
you are more than welcome.
I would be honored if you'd do so.
Just please link back here someplace on your blog.
Thanks.





Thursday, October 3, 2013

Autumn Tree Art ~ Artful Friday

Hi there friends and welcome to another Artful Friday!
One night last week, 
my little guy decided to raid the bins in the "craft closet"
to create "something that 's fun  and 
doesn't have to do with anything we are studying."
(his words)
I guess that means I need to step back and just enjoy art for art's sake,
not always tie it in to a unit study?
Hmmmmmm....

Well, he came up with this  lovely work of art
and was surprised when we all LOVED it because of its
unique Autumn-and-yet-not-Autumn look, 
given the colors he chose!
Really different.

He wasn't sure it was even a "keeper," as he says.


Pretty, right?

He calls if "Autumn Tree Art" and on the artist's go-ahead,
 I'm  sharing his how-to,
along with the easy supplies needed...most of which you likely have on hand.

I didn't snap any shots of him working on the piece, 
though I do the items listing individually, below.

Here's a close up~

And, the supplies that he used, along with 
 their easy purchase, are here:
At times, I do get my crafty fix  at Michael's, 
especially when I get a hold of their 40% off coupons.
I also tend to get craft staples at amazon because of their value and ease, though.

Canvas Panel -

 PACK OF 12



Product Details



set of 5



Tacky Glue
I love this stuff and it can be purchased so inexpensively here,
 if your supply is low.








Bag of Buttons

4 ounces/hundreds of buttons included, 
in case you don't have any around:


The How-To:

1. Black paint over entire canvas.
2.White tree branches and trunk over wet black paint.
3. Tons of buttons scattered over branches in whatever creative design strikes you.
4. Dry flat for about 24 hours.


I suggested the  spraying  of some iridescent glitter over the surface, 
but the artist didn't go for the idea. 
He'd like to create another one with glitter and leave this one alone. 
So, maybe we'll be back with more pictures of that creation at some point!

Thanks, friends, for stopping in to my spot on the web today!
For previous Artful Friday posts, you might like to click below.....
They're all here if you'd like to dust off something from the archives:

 ( knitting, winter crafts, the theater and piano)






And, my son's popular  guest posts on crafting rocket balloons,
 both of which include instructional videos:
I hope you get a chance to click over and enjoy one of his posts!


Thank you for visiting, friends!
If you enjoyed your visit here today, 
please subscribe to Campfires and Cleats by scrolling to
the box at the top left.


I'm taking the challenge with many other bloggers...
Won't you join us all on the journey??
I'd love to see you there!

View image on Twitter
Until next time,

~Chris