Who Is Zip?

WhO Is ZiP!??!??!??

Written by: Zip Rawlinson 

December 20, 2012

ThANk yOU For AskinG me To TelL you AbouT MySelf and My Life as aN ElF. My NamE is Zip RaWlinSon and I am The Official ElF of The RawliNSOn Family of FlorENCE. I CaMe To LiVe WiTh The RaWlinSOn FaMily onThanKsGiviNG 2004 whEn MaRy CaTherInE Was BoRn. SanTa ChoSe me to Be The RawliNsoN’s Elf and TheN I WaS Given My OFFicial NAMe by My FaMily. EaCh YEar SanTa BRinGs me To FloRencE (or WhEREEver My FamilY iS On ThAnksGiVinG). I StaY WitH TheM FroM ThanKSGivinG UnTil SanTa ComES BacK on ChriSTMAS EVE. I ThEN CaTCh A RidE back to ThE NoRTh PolE in the SleiGh. IT iS my JoB To KEEP an EyE on MaRy CaTherINE and EllA foR SanTA DuRRinG ThAT TimE of YeaR. EaCh NiGhT I Fly Up To The PolE aNd RePort To SanTa ThE ThinGs I hAve SeEN anD HeARD. MoSt Of My RePorTs are GOOd buT SomETiMEs The GiRLs GeT A LitTLE BuSy and MiSbeHavE. If SanTa ThinKS iT isToO Bad, he WiLL MakE Me StaY At ThE PolE unTiL ThE BeHaVioR ImPRoVEs. ThAT MakES The GIRls and Me VerY SaD and I hOPE I NEVer Have to Do ThAt AgaIN. I hAVe OnLy HaD To StaY AwAy For A FeW DayS tWiCE since 2004. I HaVe SupEr GooD GiRlS.   I Am An Active LiTTLe ElF and I haVE Lots of Great ElF FrIEnds aNd FaMily. My beSt FriEnd iS ALSo My CouSin, SCoUt UrQuHarT. SCouT is the official Elf of the UrQuHart FamiLy (WiLLs and ABi). ThEy Are ElLA and MaRy CaTherine’s Cousins tOO! SCouT and I HaNg OuT a LoT whEn It Is NoT ChRiSTMAs SeAson. We LiKe To HunT, FiSh, SlEd, RaCe CarS, PlaY SoCCar and We LiKe to EAT PePPERMINT. We SomETimEs GeT To Do FunStuFF at NighT hERE in FlorENce or SomE TimES we Take The WhoLe ElF Clan baCK to The Pole wiTh us At NigHt For A ViSit To CanDyCaNes GriLL. We LikE HanGinG ouT ThERE DrinkinG Pop, EaTing SweEts and ListEninG To ChRistMas Music. SoME may Ask Who ArE ThE OthER ElVes in the PhoTOs…WelL TheY dID NoT gET heRe by ChANCE. My BeSt GiRl is LuCy. LucY Was SenT by SanTa, ThRouGh OnE of Mary CaTheRineS FrienDs, as A GiFT to Her. LuCy KeepS a SpeCial Eye On MaRy CathErine for Me noW that She is GetTinG OlDer. LuCy WeArs A Green Hat and She LikES Pink. LuCy’s beSt FriEnd Is an OlD Gal NamEd Ethel. EthEL LoVEs RED and She LoVES ChoCOlATe. Ethel Was MaRy CathERine, Ella,iWiLLS and Abi’S GreaT GraNdMothEr McLauGHLin’s Elf. She IS ScouT’s BeSt Girl aND I ThiNK ShE is GoiNG To KEEP and EYe on AbI WhEn She Gets a LiTTLe OlDer. SomE TimeS We go To the Elf Drive In MoVIE or SoDa FounTain a MalT toGeThER. ThERE are OthER FrIENDS naMED Tiny SpaRKLes, BuDDy, Freddie and Mac. BuDDY is ThE BiGGest of ThE ElVEs. He WaS Mrs. STephANie’s DAddy’s ELF WhEn he was little and Then CamE baCK to Be hER ElF wheN She wAs a LittLE GiRl. He iS CuRREnTly ReTIrED frOm DuTies and DoeSn’t RepoRt on Her Anymore but He ProBAbly ShoulD. TyPicAlly BuDdy is ThE ElF ThAt Gets Us Into All KinDs of MisChieF. He CoMEs up WiTh All Of ThESE biG PLanS and We Do WhAT he SuGGEST …TypiCally MRs. RAwlinSon is NoT VerY HappY With Us. FreDDie is the Little Man. ..He belonged To GaGa MCLauGHLIN whEn ShE Was A little TiKe and noW he KeEpS a SpeCial EyE on EllA. EllA is a RasCal so ShE NeeDs MulTiplE ElVes KeePing Her InLine. ThE TWO OlDEst ElVEs in OuR fAmily aRE Tiny SpaRklEs and MAC. TiNy SpArKleS wAs GreAt GrandMothEr MCLaughlin’s Elf...SHe is OUR MaTriARch. SHe Trys tO KEEP aLL of Us YounGEr ElVes in linE. ThEN ThERE is GrUMpy OLD MAC. MAC lives ouT at GaGa’s FaRM. MaC StaYs HiDDen A LOt in hiS Old AgE anD ThE KiDs Try TO FiND hIM…He IS a GooD HiDER. We HaVe LotS of Other CouSinS ThAt CoME ViSit FroM TiME To TiME. SoMe of OuR FriENDs in FlorEnCE are TWiRL LOLLiPop, MaRv, anD RuBy.   ThIS YEaR We HaVe RiDDEn A PiNe ConE TuRkEy to ChArlEston, FlOwn To ThE MOunTainS, DReSsEd up As PilGrAmS and InDiAns, hAd A SpA Day, HaD a WilD HouSe PaRty WiTh ALL Of The StuFFEd AnIMaLS, GonE SlEddinG, HunG Out WiTh ThE NuT CrACKERs, WoRKed Out, HunG ouT upside Down, SeT up Our OwnFaCE BooK PAGEs, HaD A HaWaiIIan LuAu, HeLD A ProTEST, TPed the KiTchEN, SCouT Was HelD HosTage, HunG OuT at CAndyCaneS, and MaDE ARTisTic ImpRovEMenTs to The ChrisTmAS PhoTOs. We Are GoinG GaTor HunTing And FisHing in The NeXt few Weeks. You ShouLd FoLLOw Us on FaCebooK…You NEVeR KnoW WhAT We MighT Do NeXt.

MErRy CHrIStMAS,ZiP RAwlinSon and alL the ElF FriEnds

TWHBEA Elects Officers

TWHBEA Elects Officers

Saturday, December 07, 2013

By Sharon Higginbotham

LEWISBURG, Tenn. - On Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at its biannual meeting, the International Board of Directors elected the Slate of Officers recommended by the nominating committee. The newly elected officers are:

President: Stephen Smith (TN)Senior Vice President/Membership: Walt Chism (TN)VP Admin/Fiscal/Audit: Christy Lantis (CA)VP Breeders/Futurity: David Williams (TN)VP Owner/Exhibitor/International: Denise Bader-Keyser (Germany)VP Performance Horse: Ford Gates (AL)VP Pleasure Horse: Jessica Hlebak (NC)VP Marketing: Ashley Wadsworth (MS)VP Training/Equine Welfare: Dr. Linda Montgomery (AL)Member at Large By Laws/Enforcement: Tom Kakassy (NC)Member at Large Youth: Sherry White (MI)Secretary: Loren Sanderson (TN)

Steve Smith has been an active member of TWHBEA for many years and served as President from 1995-1997. From Nashville, Tenn., Smith is chairman of the board of Haury & Smith Contractors, Inc. He is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, has served on the Metropolitan Nashville Planning Commission, Regional Transit Authority and Metropolitan Nashville Parks and Recreation Commission. Smith raises cattle and Tennessee Walking Horses and has ridden to 10 world championships. He was inducted into the Celebration Hall of Fame in 2001. He brings a wealth of experience in business and a passion for the Tennessee Walking Horse to this position.

Walt Chism has been an active member of TWHBEA since the mid-1960’s and served as President from 1991-1992. He is a great supporter of TWHBEA and the industry and was the first recipient of TWHBEA’s Presidential Award. He currently chairs the Master Breeder Committee.

Chism has bred two World Grand Champions and three World Champions. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama who worked in the computer business for many years. He helped advance TWHBEA’s technological capabilities and improve customer service. He looks forward to serving as senior vice president of TWHBEA.

Christy Lantis, a property assessor from California, has a lifetime involvement with the Tennessee Walking Horse. She has devoted much time and talent to TWHBEA over the years, serving on various committees, and most recently serving as VP of Enforcement. She has represented TWHBEA within the industry in its effort to consolidate the focus of various organizations to speak with one voice for the industry.

David Williams, stallion manager at Rising Star Ranch, has years of experience in managing the popular sires of our breed and tracking the progress of their progeny. He will be a great asset to TWHBEA as VP of the Breeders Committee and Futurity.

Four previous VP positions have been combined into two. The Training Committee and Equine Welfare Committee have been combined and will be headed by VP Dr. Linda Montgomery. The Enforcement Committee has been combined with the Member at Large Bylaws Committee that will be chaired by VP Tom Kakassy. Both Dr. Montgomery and Mr. Kakassy have served TWHBEA’s Executive Committee in various VP positions over the years.

This slate of officers includes members who have served before and members who will be serving for the first time. All are in agreement that there is much work ahead and all are committed to the task at hand for the breed registry.

Save The Tennessee Walking Horse

To save the Walking Horse Industry from the devastating effects of HR1518 and S1406 please help by taking action.  Your help is needed on behalf of the performance Tennessee Walking Horse and this will only take 10-20 minutes of your time.  All members of the US Congress and US Senators need to hear, right now, that they cannot ignore the walking horse family.  We must stand united and strong to stop this discriminatory bullying and hate attacks by the extremist radicals, Federal Government and HSUS.   Your voice could be the tipping point.

Will you join us and take just a few minutes to call and leave a message or speak with the federal legislators for your state? You will want to call/ email and talk with all of your state’s US Congressmen and US Senators in Washington DC. To obtain contact information for your specific legislators, simply go to this website:

http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml

Who Should You Speak With:

When you call the office, ask to speak directly to the elected official.  If they are not available ask to speak with their chief of staff.  If the chief of staff is not available ask to speak with the legislative director.  If you are sent to voice mail, do not hang up.  Start by leaving your name, address, phone number then tell them you would like to speak with them about HR1518 and S1406.  Tell them you will expect a return call.  If you do not hear back within a hour, call them back until they speak with you.   Speak to anyone you can get on the phone…the more people you educate the better!

Points To Cover With Congressmen and Senators:

My name is______________________________.  I am from ___________________________ and I am calling regarding HR1518 and S1406.

1- If HR1518 and S1406 (PAST ACT) becomes Law, it will close down the Tennessee Walking Horse Industry

Please recognize that sponsorship and passage of the PAST Act (HR1518 and S1406), an amendment to the Horse Protection Act, will effectively close down the Tennessee Walking Horse Industry.  While the Tennessee Walking horse is so versatile that it can be shown in eight divisions based on how he is shod, if the HSUS/ Whitfield bill becomes law, 7 of those 8 divisions will become illegal. The one remaining division that would be left makes up only 10% of the under saddle classes at a typical Tennessee Walking Horse Show including the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. 

2- The Tennessee Walking Horse Industry has a 98% compliance rate with the Horse Protection Act.

Actual figures from government trained and supervised industry inspectors (which have been accepted and published on the USDA website) indicate that less than 2% of the entries are found to be suspected of being in violation.

3- Connie Harriman, HSUS employee, wife of Rep. Ed Whitfield has her husband doing the bidding for HSUS.

This is personal and this representative is simply taking up a cause to help his wife at work. Harriman and Whitfield, along with their radical supporters, are proposing such radical legislation that it will eliminate the Tennessee Walking Horse as a show breed.  Almost the entire show breed will be gone and this will devastate the Tennessee Walking Horse industry to the extent that it many never recover.  The HSUS/ Whitfield legislation would eliminate over 85% of all show classes.

4-If implemented HR1518 and S1406 (PAST ACT) will have devastating economic impact on the US Economy. 

Hr1518 and S1406 will impact more than 20,000 jobs.  It will have a negative economic impact of $3.2 billion.  It will also cause a $1.3 billion loss in horse values. This amendment will have a severe economic impact, not just on this industry, but also on many individual investors, communities and charities which are the beneficiaries of profits created by this industry through shows, exhibitions and events. These bills will put successful agricultural related businesses out of business.  By eliminating 85% of the horses showing JOBS WILL BE LOST in not only direct equine related business, but in those secondary businesses which also depend on equine agriculture. This means more people in unemployment lines. Entertainment dollars will cease flowing into communities from shows causing restaurants, motels, gas stations, dry cleaners etc to feel the hit.    One Middle Tennessee community sees $40 million alone in revenue directly from one horse show.    $2,563,195.00 flowed from horse shows in 10 states into charities over the last 3 years. This charitable giving will also cease if the PAST ACT becomes law.   The passing of this act will cause many to lose their homes, farms and businesses and will add to the already significant number of people on government assistance. 

5-Yes, the Tennessee Walking Horse does perform a unique gait. 

However, it is important to note that by its unique breeding and DNA  the Tennessee Walking Horse is born to perform a unique gate.  DMRT3 (a gene/ enzyme which is found in the Tennessee Walking Horse that is not found in trotting breeds) plus generations of selective breeding is why the Tennessee Walking Horse has the ability to do its unique and exciting gate.  Our day old foals do the exact same unique gate as our performance horses.

6-According to the Auburn Scientific study on the Tennessee Walking Horse, the performance shoes do not physically harm the horse in anyway.

The information which was provided by the HSUS/ Whitfield group on this matter has not been accurate, nor true.  The performance shoes do not cause harm to the horse nor does it hurt the horse’s feet in anyway.  In the most comprehensive scientific study performed regarding the Tennessee walking horse (done at Auburn University) scientist concluded that the performance shoe does not harm the horse in anyway.  The HSUS/ Whitfield opponents have never attempted to refute this study with facts.   

7- Performance Shoes are used by many other breeds of horses.  

It is important to note that performance shoes, bands and action devises are used by breeds other than the Tennessee Walking Horse.  Horses like the American Saddle Bred, Hackney, dressage, Friesian, and Racking horses all perform a unique gate and use performance shoes, action devises and use bands.  Each of these breeds also use shoes similar to those worn by the Tennessee Walking Horse.  To put the performance shoes into perspective, if you look at the comparison between a running shoe used by humans and the performance shoes used by the Tennessee Walking Horse you will not only find similarities but on a comparative basis the performance shoes used on the horse today is lighter than what we as humans use when we run.  Both have or allow for additional cushion and both are elevated from the heel to the toe to provide better support and improvement on the ability to rock or move forward.

8- HR 1518 and S1406 is stepping into an area of states’ rights.

HR1518 and S1406 attempts to solve a state problem with a federal legislation.   As you know, the horse protection act is a federal Commerce Bill and HR1518 (PAST) amends that bill.  The horse protection act applies to the protection of horses at horse shows.  State laws cover the protection of horses at private barns.  Animal cruelty is a state issue and for the federal government to step into this area is a slippery slope. The video that HSUS and Whitfield have been playing and using has nothing to do with the horse protection act.  Passage of HR 1518 (PAST) has absolutely no affect on private barns and has no jurisdiction over actions taking place within them.  This is a state matter.   Make no mistake about this, the next steps for HSUS is to use the Whitfield amendment to get its foot in the door to the entire equine world.  Their goal is to make the horse, like they are trying to with other farm animals, a “companion” animal and a lawn ornament.  If successful with this who knows how many other horse breeds they will devastate over the next 5 years.

9- You don’t throw out a whole bag of apples because one is bad.

Please understand, I do not endorse, approve or condone the abusing or harming of any horse.  I am sickened by what some sick individuals have personally done to their horses and horses under their care.  When athletes break the law, use drugs, 1000’s of horses die on the race tracks or a driver cheats in a NASCAR race it is an embarrassment to their industry.   And yes, like many other industries, some bad apples have been an embarrassment to our industry as well.  However, no politician has ever stepped out and suggested that horse racing, NASCAR, Bike Racing, National Football League or National Basketball Association, National League Baseball industries be closed down and eliminated because of these types of offensive and illegal behaviors by some renegades.  Instead, these industries have implemented additional over site and scrutiny to prevent further problems. I believe the Tennessee Walking Horse industry has been doing this as our industry and horses are put through one of the most strenuous pre and post show inspections of any horse breed and are 98% in compliance.

10- I ask you, as my elected representative in Washington, to join Representative Marsha Blackburn and many others to vote in opposition to this amendment.

11-Thank You for taking time to listen to me and for taking action to oppose HR1518 and S1406. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to give me a call back at ___________________________.

Designs by Stephanie

For 6 years, I have been planning/managing events, making cakes and designing floral arrangements as a hobby for the enjoyment of my close friends. My designs and efforts to this point have only been for the enjoyment of friends and family.

Over the last year, I have been asked to manage/plan events, make cakes and design floral arrangements for individuals sent to me on referral. To make the event booking process easier, I have created the facebook page below to display my designs. If you do not see the design you are looking for, just ask and I can come up with a design that will meet your needs.

https://www.facebook.com/OrigionalDesignsByStephanie

For the Holiday season, I will offer holiday decorating services. I will come in, use your decorations and decorate your home or business for Christmas. If you need items purchased to establish a theme for your holiday, I can be your personal shopper and purchase everything you need for a magical holiday. Holiday decorating services are priced on a case by case basis.

I will also be planing and managing all types of events including but not limited to: banquets, birthday parties and business meetings. Planning and Management Services will be priced on a case by case basis.

Call 843-229-1551 today to get your special occasion on my calendar!

ColorFall at Moore Farms and Botanical Gardens

 ColorFall at Moore Farms and Botanical Gardens

My Mom, Sister and I attended the annual Colorfall garden open house this past Saturday at Moore Farms and Botanical Gardens in Lake City.   The admission price was only $15 and proceeds benefited the A.C. Moore Herbarium of the University of South Carolina.   Admission included admission into the gardens and plant sale, a delicious chicken bog lunch, with sides, bread, and tea . The fall plant sale had some very unique plants.  It was a day filled with good fun, rare plants, and spectacular weather.

This beautiful garden was founded in 2002 by South Carolina native Darla Moore, who sought to prove that her family’s ancestral croplands could be transformed into a place of beauty, and an example of horticultural excellence.   As her garden grew, so did Ms. Moore’s vision for the future of the property. Soon she began to see the potential of the garden as a place for horticultural research and education, and as a place of enjoyment for visitors. Moreover, she saw that the garden could become a source of pride for the people of her hometown and home state. The garden, she determined, would become a gift to the ages – an enrichment to the lives of others.    Today, a visitor to Moore Farms Botanical Garden will find a garden that is mature beyond its years, and spectacular in its variation of design features and plant species. This diverse wonderland now thrives in soil that was once carpeted with row crops.

One of our favorite parts of the tour were the unique living wall and roof garden.  The fall colors were absolutely spectacular.     This was truly one of the best times of year to be outside in the garden.  The South Carolina heat has finally dissipated and  winter is starting to creeping in.  Moore Farms had plants that you’d be hard pressed to find anywhere else, and the examples of how to use them in the garden were plentiful.

The garden has a very interesting website.  Here is a link:   http://www.moorefarmsbg.org

I look forward to attending the spring garden tour with my Mom and sister to experience how the garden changes from season to season.   This garden is truly special and unique. While the garden doesn't have regularly scheduled visiting hours they do currently, offer several open house days per year during which the public can tour the gardens. They also host classes and professional workshops. All other visitation is by appointment only.  They simply ask that tour requests be limited to groups of 10 people or more and preference is given to horticulture oriented groups such as garden clubs, landscape professionals and members of the local community.   I hope that you will check out this special little gem in the Pee Dee Region of South Carolina!

Directions

Moore Farms Botanical Garden
100 New Zion Rd.
Lake City, SC 29560

Home Schooling It Really Isn't for the Weak of Heart...

After a rough year in the real estate market, I had an investment rental building which I own become unexpectedly vacant.  The rental income on said building paid my daughters tuition to a private school, which we adored, here in town that was less than 10 minutes from our house.  My husband and I were faced with an unexpected $14,000 tuition bill, or we had to look at alternatives.    We made the very hard decision to send our 5th grader to a brand new public school.  That in and of itself is a blog entry for later.    The main issue we had with the public school was that our 1st grader was zoned  to attend a school that was 40 minutes in the opposite direction from the school our 5th grader was going to have to attend.  We would have to leave home at 6:50 am drive 20 minutes to drop Child 1 off at the first school at 7:00am,  drive 40 minutes to the second school to drop Child 2 off at 7:40am (child 2 would be 5 minutes early only if  there were no traffic issues.)    This is not to mention that typically no one is at the school at 7:00 am to watch the first child until school opened.    We would face the same issue at 2:10 when both schools let out at the same time.  Someone was going to have to sit out side and wait to be picked up and the teachers do not like it if they have to sit with a child for an extra hour after school has let out.    The local school district would not work with us to put the girls in schools closer to one another and we could not logistically make this work.   Needless to say, I was not and am still not happy with FSD1 and this has lead to me pursuing some very interesting ideas for Florence County regarding Charter Schools. (subject for another blog post).
  
The problem caused by Florence District One Zoning, left me with only one option and that was to home school my six year old daughter.  It has been quite an experience for both of us.  Many have asked, "How in the world are you doing this?"  I must admit,  this has been harder than I ever thought it would be.  It takes serious dedication to a schedule and lots of patience.  For those who know me,  these are both skills for which I struggle.  I love multi-tasking,  getting things done fast and  being efficient.   I am a lot of things but patient is not one of them.  This is a skill for which I am learning slowly but surely.    Homeschooling has truly been a learning and growing experience for both Ella and me.  Over the last 7 weeks,  I have gained a tremendous amount of respect for what teachers do and the volumes of work that has to be done outside of the classroom to prepare for what they teach in the classroom. Teachers are way under paid and way over worked!

Time commitment is a big issue with homeschooling.  I have heard there are people who home school around their "personal schedule".  I could not do this so at this point I have no "personal schedule".  Our day starts at 7:30 when I get Ella up and ready for school.  We have breakfast together and school starts at 8:15.  She begins the day by working on her daily calendar skills and completely dissecting the number of the day.  We then have a bible story and pray together.  Ella then works on her journal.  Journal  involves a word of the day. First, I teach her the meaning of the word then she must draw a picture about the word and  use the word in  2-3 sentences. On Friday's, instead of journal writing, we work on a poem in our poetry journal.  This involves writing a poem on on the dry erase board, reading it, copying it into our journal, illustrating and discuss it.  Each day we complete a unit in handwriting.  We begin mathmatics with a daily Rocket Math test.  She is given 2 minutes to complete 40 math facts. If she gets more than 36 correct in 2 minutes she moves on to the next test.  If she doesn't she stays on that same test until she passes it.  We do at least one unit in our mathematics book per day.   This includes keeping a math journal with vocabulary words for math skills we learn.  There are certain units that she breezes through in 5 minutes and if that is the case, I let her go on to the next unit.  We never do more than 2 units per day.  If she shows any signs of difficulty with a topic, I make her slow down.  Often we will review the unit again the next day or in our homework.    In Language Arts,  we begin with spelling words.  The list consist of approximately 25 words per week.  My spelling words actually came from my older daughter's work at her previous private school.   I loaded her spelling words weekly onto Spelling City website and they stay there forever.  This site prepares the list, prepares handwriting practice sheets, provides games with the words and has a smart phone app which allows them to practice on their ipods/ iphones when we are on the go, waiting in line or have nothing better to do.   On Monday's we begin the week by practicing writing all of the words 3 times each.  Through out the week, I assign various homework assignments with the spelling words (alphabetical order, write 2 asking and 2 telling sentences with 4 words, find pics in magazines and write sentence about each using spelling words. Thursdays, are a practice spelling test and then Friday is the spelling test.  The test consist of 25 words, 4 bonus words (which were the words of the day in her journal) and two dictation sentences which are created with the spelling words.  We typically do one story in her reading book per week.  Day one we read the story and discuss.  Day two we go in depth studying the setting, characters and plot. Day three we work on sequencing the story.  Day four we work on vocabulary, synonyms, antonyms and a reading comprehension review.  Day 5 we take a reading comprehension test.  Every other day we work on either a word family or a consonant blend family and keeps a journal of these.  We do a Daily Oral Language review at the end of each language arts session.    Typically,  I give her several 5-8 minute breaks throughout the day.   While I prepare lunch, she watches a video about either a language arts story, social studies unit or a science unit.   After lunch, we study both Social Studies and Science. In the afternoon while the kids are at tumbling or doing home work, I plan for the following day. There is always a math lesson to be prepared  and supplies that must be gathered, a science lesson which typically includes finding a life cycle or parts of work sheet and video.  I try to read the weekly reader prior to introduction and prepare additional work to supplement it. The google calendar is updated daily with the things completed and things that still need to be done on the lesson plan.  In the evenings,  I find bible pictures to use with the following days' bible study.    I also prepare test and write up home work assignments either later in the afternoon or evening.    There is very little down time in this schedule but I find that in order to be effective this is the only way for me to home school.  Typically, our formal schooling day is complete at 2pm.

There are several things I recommend to anyone even considering home schooling.    First, dedicate a room to schooling and leave it set up for class.  If you have to gather your things every morning and set up class everyday you will not do it very long nor will you take it seriously.  We use our sun porch because it is bright, sunny and quiet.  Second, furniture is very important. Teachers need a very good comfortable chair.   A separate table for the person teaching and the student is preferred.   ( I do not have this yet but wish I did.) Height on the furniture is very important.  The child's feet need to be able to touch the ground.   You will also need a 3x5 dry erase board to use in the class area.   Third, Technology is important.  A laptop computer with speakers, internet access and a color printer/ copier is highly recommended.   Fourth, lighting is important.  You need good natural and artificial light in the room.    Fifth, set up a google calendar and hook it to your smart phone.  Put an alarm on every event. Your phone should notify you 5 minutes before the event should take place. Plan each day on this calendar by creating a schedule for your child or children and stick to it.  Sixth, Notebooks are the key to organization.  Keep a small 2 inch note book for each subject you teach.  We started the year with the paper folders for each subject and quickly outgrew them.  I recommend going ahead and buying 2 inch binders for each subject.   Seventh, homework is important.  Just because you are home schooling does not mean there should not be homework.  Teach your child to do homework everyday and this will make transition into college, public school, private school or life much easier at some point.  What you assign does not have to be much just something they are responsible for each day. A typical home work assignment from me includes: complete 1 math sheet, read 1 AR book, practice rocket math and  do something with spelling words each night.  It works really great if the parent that is not teaching the child can work with the child on homework assignments.  This not only gives the teaching parent and child a break from each other but it also helps the teaching parent get feed back on what the child is absorbing.


Supplies You Need to Home School:
Notebook paper
Construction or Colored Copy paper
Timer
Note book for each subject
Handwriting paper for 1st grade
2 small dry erase boards set up for 1st grade hand writing
2 small dry erase boards blank white
case of copy paper
paper clips
rubber bands
Ziploc bags
3 hole punch
Stapler
tape
tape dispensers
Cards
dry erase markers
colored pencils
crayons
Colored markers
highlighters
pencils
pencil sharpener
3-4 bins for storing books

Current Subjects and Resources:
Reading- Open Court- SRA/ McGraw Hill
Math- Progress in Mathmatics - Sadlier Oxford
Spelling- www.spellingcity.com
Grammar-Daily Oral Language-  http://msjordan.cmswiki.wikispaces.net/file/view/DOL+Grade+1.pdf
Social Studies- Weekly Reader & Units which are applicable to current events or holidays.
Science- www.scholastic.com- Science Spin & Units I pick up online that go with the reading units
Handwriting- Zaner- Bloser Handwriting
Library- We go to our local public library every other Friday to check out books
Bible- Start at the beginning and read through the Bible 1 chapter per day.  Read the chapter, talk about it, color a picture (google images) and put it in our bible journal.
Art- there are units online (Color wheels and artistic mediums),  We do a lot of drawing in other subjects.
Health- there are units online (Teeth, senses, bones of the body)
Physical Education- Tumbling this semester/ next semester  swimming- (I signed them up for classes)
Rocket Math- http://www.wrsdsau59.org/sc/rocketmath.html
Accelerated Reader- I require my child to read one book per night.

Subjects we plan to start after the first of the year:
Music
Foreign Languages

Please note, I am not an expert on home schooling.  I am simply a Mom who is learning to do this day by day.   These are the things that have worked for me but what worked for me may not work for you.  I hope you will accept this information in the spirit for which it is being shared.    I have found some great ideas on Pinterest and I will try to do better sharing these in pictures on the blog in the weeks ahead.  

Twerking, Shot Guning and Shark Week

I have a saying and it goes something like this..."the family that vacations together stays together".  Every year my Mom, sister and I try to go on some kind of vacation together.   We use this time as a bonding adventure.  While we do take the kids with us, the vacation is not kid centered.  This vacation is 100% about family.   This year our trip was to South Litchfield Beach where we rented a house, played in the ocean, tanned our nearly perfect bodies and crabbed in the creek.   I was joking about the nearly perfect body thing.  While on family vaca,  I learned several new things and I definitely think I should share them with you.

First thing I learned is the word "Twerk".  If you don't know what this is or have seen this done, it is worth a Google. For those who do know what twerking is...I was not the one doing it!

Second thing I learned is how to shot gun a beer.  I don't know how I managed to get to 40ish years of age and never see this done. Note,  I still didn't do it but I did watch it being done.

The third thing I learned is that you are not suppose to have glass bottles on the beach.  The Sheriff's office and DNR people in Georgetown take this very serious.  They can and will fine you $250 per bottle and they apparently don't give out warnings..

The forth thing I learned is that Shark Week is the first week of August.  If you have never had the leasure of being at the beach during shark week, then you can't even imagine what you are missing.  Being at the beach during shark week has a tendency to make one a bit paranoid. Needless to say, I was constantly looking over my shoulder for Jaws and Megalodon.

The final thing that was reinforced in my mind this past week was the importance of family and fun.  I can't say that we had fun going out to eat, sliding at the water park or shopping to our hearts content because we didn't do any of those things.  Our fun was much simpler and it all happened in the beach house, on the dock and on the beach.  We crabbed, fished, danced, sang, cooked, sunned, rested, hunted shells, built sand castles and rode our bikes. It was a very simple life but it was good for the soul.  For one week, the clock slowed down and we were a family and it was a good thing. 

The One In the Middle

As a child, I used to love to read the book, The One In The Middle The Green Kangaroo.  This was a book about a young joey kangaroo that felt left out because he was right in the middle of two siblings.  He felt ignored, left out and unimportant on a regular basis.  As I was reading information about independent voters this last year, it made me think of that book and how these independent voters, while their opinions are just as important as everyone else's, are left out of discussions on a regular basis.

Libertarian talking heads and the Tea Party claim the only way to fix the Republican party is to get angry and go hard right.  I do not believe that is what it is going to take to fix the GOP.  Getting angry and going hard right is not going to accomplish unification,  which is what it takes to win elections.  People do not change their opinions because you shove  rhetoric down their throats.  If anything this behavior turns people away.  It's important to remember "you catch more flies with honey than vinegar". People don't like to be around those who fight and are angry all of the time and will avoid participation not to be involved in such.  These angry and aggressive attitudes of libertarians and the tea party are going to divide the Republican party completely and cause a mass exodus to the independent movement. While the GOP has welcomed the tea party and used them to accomplish the goal of bringing the party official back into check and some of the fringe elected officials back into check, many long time loyal Republicans are sick of the libertarian influence on the GOP.  These long time Republicans are abandoning ship and becoming independents.  

Political parties have a goal to get the majority of american voters to join their team so they can win and govern based on what their party believes is best for our country.  The question is what are those beliefs?  Are Americans as divided politically as some of the politicians and talking heads would have us believe? Do fifty percent of Americans really stand on the extreme right and the other half on the extreme left with a no-man’s-land between them?  Is there a 3rd group that makes up the majority who sits comfortably in the middle of no man's land that are known as independents?  Republicans are either going to have to be willing to give something to these independent voters to get their votes or they will lose them.  It is simple as "Do you want to win or lose?"

In a book called The Swing Vote: The Untapped Power of Independent, Linda Killan tells the story of how our polarized political system is not only misrepresenting America but failing it.  According to the Pew Research Center Nationwide, independent or unaffiliated voters account for just under 40 percent of the electorate which is more than either Democrats or Republicans.  Independents occupy the ample political and ideological space in the center and are what most people call moderates. Independent Americans are anything but divided.  As a whole, their beliefs, goals and needs are being ignored. Independents make up the largest voting bloc in the nation and have determined the outcome of every national election since World War II. Every year Independents numbers grow, as does the unconscionable disconnect between them and the officials who are supposed to be representing them. 

  

In December of 2011 a Daily Beast Beast article referred to  Independents as  "Those Voters who refuse to ally themselves with either political party, who’s allegiances are fleeting, who's numbers are growing  and who decide elections."  This key segment of the electorate represents a growing plurality who because of their growing numbers in swing states and their fickleness in recent elections will almost certainly determine the outcome of future elections.  In a study released in 2011 by Third Way, a Washington think tank, they looked at state voter-registration figures and exit polling in 12 battleground states including Colorado, Florida, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia and determined the numbers of independent voters are increasing.

If our goal in this country is to be a true representative democracy, to represent the people who live in this country and win at the national level, the GOP needs to take a hard look at this group of independents, determine what they believe and see if there is anyway we can welcome them back under our "Big Tent"because if  Republicans don't, They are going to continue to lose and get nothing they want at the national level.