January 9, 2006
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Words, Words, Words
I’m a big lover of words, and I try to learn as many new words as possible. Just today, I learned a new word, jingoism. (Thank you, Aaron!) Other than Google, my most-used web resource is Dictionary.com. So, I was intrigued when Merriam-Webster online posted the most looked-up words of the year. Some were obviously linked to disasters and fears and the government, and the prevalence of synonyms for “slacker” was amusing. But the number one word surprised me.
10. Inept
9. Levee
8. Conclave
7. Pandemic
6. Tsunami
5. Insipid
4. Filibuster
3. Contempt
2. Refugee
1. Integrity
Is it a commentary on our society that we have to look up the definition of the word “integrity”?
I wanted to give a hearty welcome to any folks who are new to reading my blog and also a thank you to LindaC61 who kindly told me how to move my “Currently Reading” to the bottom of the post.
Today was an ordinary school day. Orchestra started back up for Nathan. He came home in a proud panic because one of the homeschool orchestra’s new songs features Nathan’s trumpet as a solo for “almost the whole song” (said Nathan). Libby will be starting flute lessons next week. I dare not add up the monthly cost of trumpet, flute, and piano lessons times three.
Wednesday begins our Art and Music co-op at church. I’m teaching Kindergarten art, and I’m excited. My goal is to discuss one artist a week and to emulate the artist’s style in some way with the hopes that by the end of the seven weeks, they’ll be able to tell a Degas from a Picasso from a Grandma Moses. (Don’t scoff! I had this class for music last time, and they can recognize Beethoven and Mozart and Grieg! Well, at least one of them can…)
The first thing I plan to do this time is to discuss Frederic Remington. He’s the guy who sculpted and painted cowboys and horses. I want the class to sculpt their own horses, and I came up with a bunch of impractical ideas as to how a group of ordinary six year olds could sculpt a bucking bronco in twenty minutes or less without it looking like a large blob. I appealed to Ruthi M. who suggested a number of things including using Rice Krispie treats as a sculpting medium! So, now we get to make the horses and bite their legs off. It should be a satisfactory day.
Comments (12)
Hi Mary! Thanks for stopping by my site and commenting! I too find it interesting that “integrity” was the number one word looked up. And yes, it most probably DOES say quite a bit about our society as a whole. We need more of it!!!!!!!! Blessings to you! Becky in Ky.
Edible art…yum!
hi mary! first, thanks for stopping by my site and commenting!
second, i am so impressed with your site (especially the earned video game time idea in your last entry)
i intend to try out your idea! thanks
are you using Discovering Great Artists by Kohl/Solga, per chance to teach art to your co-op class?
Thank you for your comment, and welcome! Your art class sounds fantastic! I wish you lived around me. I definitely have a daughter who would be interested
….I was told long ago, to teach above a child’s qualifications and they will reach to attain…..I have found it to be true, time and again. Blessings!! TJ
i just joined your jane austen blogring! i LOVE jane austen!
I don’t speak French, but I think this translates to “coloring pages based on famous paintings.” Enjoy!
Art Pages to Color
Thanks for stopping by my site and commenting! It’s time that we homeschool moms do blogs, instead of leaving all the fun to our kids. I enjoyed reading your blogs. You sound like a kindred spirit. Great ideas! You inspire me.
Thanks for stopping by.
The art class sounds great, have fun.
Hey, nice to meet you! Thanks for stopping by! Your art class sounds like fun. My girls would love it!
Hi. I found your site through others on Xanga; just wanted to stop by. I also use, and yes – enjoy, dictionary.com. Although, I’m sure I need it much more frequently than you do.
I actually knew a word you didn’t? Sweet! Too bad my flash of intellectual superiority vanished the moment I learned of it. It’s always fun to learn a new word, isn’t it?
I too use dictionary.com a ton.
Hi Mary, a very interesting blog with lots of great ideas. I love vocabulary/grammar too. Three fun books I’ve enjoyed are 1)Verbal Advantage, 2)Eats, Shoots, and Leaves, & 3)Fallacy Detective. My kids also loved the Fallacy Detective.
Have a blessed day,
Susanne