MiaZ's Homeschool Minutes

Contrasting Views of the Great Depression | Robert P. Murphy

2012-01-14T14:00:00.000-05:00

I know I've recently posted a video of Tom Woods discussing the same subject, Robert Murphy has a different style and throws in some explanations of things that the Tom Woods video does not mention. This is probably high school level and up, whereas I believe the Tom Woods video can be viewed by middle schoolers without too much confusion. The focus is on economics rather than history.

M.I.T. Game-Changer: Free Online Education For All - Forbes

2012-01-13T21:29:00.004-05:00

Excerpt: For Wall Street Occupiers or other decriers of the “social injustice” of college tuition, here’s a curveball bound to scramble your worldview: a totally free college education regardless of your academic performance or background. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) will announce on Monday that they intend to launch an online learning initiative called M.I.T.x,which will offer the online teaching of M.I.T. courses free of charge to anyone in the world.

The program will not allow students to earn an M.I.T. degree. Instead, those who are able to exhibit a mastery of the subjects taught on the platform will receive an official certificate of completion. The certificate will obviously not carry the weight of a traditional M.I.T. diploma, but it will provide an incentive to finish the online material. According to the New York Times, in order to prevent confusion, the certificate will be a credential bearing the distinct name of a new not-for-profit body that will be created within M.I.T.

The new online platform will look to build upon the decade-long success of the university’s original free online platform, OpenCourseWare (OCW), which has been used by over 100 million students and contains course material for roughly 2,100 classes. The new M.I.T.x online program will not compete with OCW in the number of courses that it offers. However, the program will offer students a greater interactive experience.

Click HERE for the full article.

Chess in the homeschool curriculum raises math, science skills by 15% - Phoenix Homeschooling | Examiner.com

2012-01-13T21:21:00.002-05:00

Want to raise your kids' math and science skills by up to 15%? Go to the following link and see how a simple (or, not so simple) game of chess can help!

Click HERE to learn more!

The Old, Awesome Space Drawings of E.L. Trouvelot

2012-01-13T21:19:00.002-05:00

These drawings are very beautiful, and it was interesting learning a little about Trouvelot! Maybe this could be a jumping off place for a deeper study of some of his work as an astronomer as well as his art.

Excerpt: If you think NASA's artistic renderings of the deep beyond are cool, you will love these space drawings from French astronomer and artist Etienne Leopold Trouvelot.

Read the full article by clicking HERE.

Influential Homeschoolers Coalesce Behind Ron Paul

2012-01-13T20:59:00.001-05:00

Excerpt: On Saturday, the Ron Paul campaign issued a statement announcing the naming of several new members of the “Homeschoolers for Ron Paul” coalition. The formation of the group was originally announced in August and since then has been very successful in motivating homeschool advocates to rally to Dr. Paul’s campaign for the White House.

As the statement released on ronpaul2012.com stated:

Today, interest in Ron Paul by this population segment has spilled over to many other states and the national campaign. The campaign’s expanded use of the homeschool and other coalitions is proving itself a useful tool in helping to make Barack Obama a one-term president.

The campaign went on to publish a impressive list of influential homeschooling proponents who were joining the advisory board of the the “Homeschoolers for Ron Paul” coalition.

Read the rest of the article here:

Influential Homeschoolers Coalesce Behind Ron Paul

Notebooking Success Ebook

2012-01-13T20:55:00.003-05:00

Jimmie of Jimmie's Collage has a new e-book available for purchase to teach you how to use notebooking in your homeschool!

Check it out by clicking here: Notebooking Success Ebook

Monet's Gardens at Giverny with Music, Version II

2012-01-12T15:14:00.000-05:00

U.S. Monetary Policy in 2012 (Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX))

2012-01-12T09:54:00.000-05:00

2012-01-11T10:10:00.001-05:00

Source:LiveScience

Ron Paul - Watch this presentation to see why so many people are endorsi...

2012-01-10T09:04:00.000-05:00

DEBT LIMIT - A GUIDE TO AMERICAN FEDERAL DEBT MADE EASY.

2012-01-10T08:39:00.000-05:00

Why You've Never Heard of the Great Depression of 1920 | Thomas E. Woods...

2012-01-07T11:10:00.000-05:00

An excellent lecture by Tom Woods about why we never hear about the Great Depression of 1920. Hint: Government did the opposite of what it usually does during economic downturns!

Seven Wonders of the Microbe World (combined)

2012-01-07T04:54:00.000-05:00

The topics are:
The History of Beer
Black Death
Food Preservation
Nitrogen Fixation
Antibiotics
Genetic Engineering (plants)
Life on Mars

The Great Depression, World War II, and American Prosperity - Part 1 [Le...

2012-01-06T01:02:00.000-05:00

This is an excellent lecture. There is a Part 2 as well, making this a three hour lecture. But, this is something that is not taught in government schools. Many of Woods' lectures are very lively and even entertaining, but this isn't one of those. :) Still, it's good to listen a little, take notes, and take a break, and with YouTube you can do that. You can also go back and listen to any parts you missed.

The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution: A History

2012-01-05T22:54:00.000-05:00

Ben Swann Explains the NDAA and the Obama Imperative

2012-01-05T12:56:00.000-05:00

How to Make a 16-Pointed Ninja Star (Shuriken)

2012-01-05T10:49:00.000-05:00

Neat!

Ron Paul on Homeschooling

2012-01-05T10:15:00.000-05:00

2012-01-04T11:26:00.002-05:00

Good Writing Tips

As we develop our writing skills, we learn tons of concepts. From grammar to storytelling techniques, literary devices to poetry forms, there is so much to learn that one can become overwhelmed. A good list of writing tips summarizes complex lessons into digestible pieces of advice that keep you on toes lest you forget or neglect the guidelines for good writing. Here are some of my favorite tips and reminders:

Read the Rest at Writing Forward.

(H/T Write at Home)

U.S. Elections: Caucuses Explained

2012-01-04T10:32:00.000-05:00

The Daily Spurgeon: Praying Earnestly

2012-01-04T07:30:00.000-05:00

The Daily Spurgeon: Praying Earnestly: Many a prayer is too long by twenty lines. It is smothered under a bed-full of words. There ...

January Calendar « Homeschool Share blog

2012-01-03T09:23:00.000-05:00

Go print out the January calendar from Homeschool Share! Lots of fun things in store for January 2012!

January Calendar « Homeschool Share blog

Born to Die by Bebo Norman

2011-12-23T06:00:00.001-05:00

The real meaning of Christmas is the undeniable connection between Christmas and Easter.

Lava Lamp

2011-11-14T11:33:00.000-05:00

Cat Portraits

2011-09-23T20:13:00.002-04:00

Gail at That Artist Woman has a cute cat portrait project you might want to try with the kids!

2011-09-23T07:01:00.000-04:00

Go to THIS SQUIDOO PAGE and learn about the difference between frog eggs and toad eggs - and what this has to do with math!

Yahtzee Math

2011-09-22T15:02:00.001-04:00

Have you used Yahtzee to learn about multiplication? Some great ideas on this Squidoo lens for using a game to make math fun! What games have you incorporated to make math fun at your house?

Check it out at Yahtzee Math!

More than just a color wheel!

2011-09-22T14:56:00.001-04:00

Mulberry Tree in Fall - Vincent Van Gogh

This is a wonderful web site I found with one of my daughters when searching for some information she needed for an art history class! It's about more than Van Gogh - although, there is plenty of information on him at this web site, too. Today's post is about complimentary colors and how they work with the physiology of the eye to create richer color perception and movement in paintings! This particular subject is probably for Jr.-Sr. high level kids - - but there is plenty for all ages!

Check it out at Van Gogh Studio Practice!

America's Christian Heritage by The Southern Avenger

2011-09-16T21:25:00.000-04:00

2011-09-09T04:00:00.000-04:00

Jan Brett, author and illustrator of On Noah's Ark, The Mitten, and the Hedgie the Hedgehog books such as Hedgie's Surprise, has some new color flashcards up for your preschoolers! I love the printables on her web site, but they are very ink intensive! You can laminate the cards with some clear Contact Paper to make them last a lot longer, though. In fact, I just gave away some flash cards I made around eight years ago when our oldest was in Kindergarten! :)

Organizing Your Homeschool!

2011-09-06T04:00:00.000-04:00

At The Five J's, Jessica gives some tips on how to make and organize a binder for your homeschool!

Please Join me on Facebook!

2011-08-30T15:02:00.000-04:00

I added a Facebook page and put a Facebook icon on the top right of the page - please join me there! :)

Songs Without Words Op19 1 Felix Mendelssohn

2011-07-21T14:16:00.000-04:00

What Ever Happened to the Constitution? | Andrew Napolitano

2011-05-17T08:48:00.000-04:00

I highly recommend this video for Jr. High/High School and adults! There is a brief mention of a bar/brothel, but only to say that the government took it over and bankrupted it. There is no mention of the business that went on at the establishment, but he does say "booze and hookers." This video is full of history as well as interesting anecdotes of recent events.

Binary Hand Dance

2011-04-01T12:15:00.000-04:00

Why Can't Chuck Get His Business Off the Ground?

2011-04-01T11:25:00.000-04:00

What Makes Christian Education Christian? : Homeschool Helps

2011-03-25T06:00:00.001-04:00

There's a thought-provoking article on the Heart of Wisdom blog today:

Homeschoolers are avoiding the public school agenda, but are they replacing it with the truly biblical way of learning? We know what to reject; do we know what to pursue in its place?

Click here to read the rest of the article!

We hate you. Now give us your kids so that we can turn them against you. |

2011-03-24T09:18:00.003-04:00

Our oldest child is in 7th grade this year, so I am already beginning to think ahead about college. This gives a little more "food" for thought - - not so we can cower away and be afraid, but so we can prepare for what may lay ahead.

Click here to read the full article.

The late American philosopher Richard Rorty (d. 2007) in describing his assessment of the role of university professor wrote: “When we American college teachers encounter religious fundamentalists, we do not consider the possibility of reformulating our own practices of justification so as to give more weight to the authority of the Christian scriptures. Instead, we do our best to convince these students of the benefits of secularization.”

State's demands forced school costs to shoot up

2011-03-24T09:00:00.000-04:00

My personal viewpoint on so-called "achievement tests" is they are generally not worth a lot to the homeschooling community. I do look on with interest, though, at the lengths to which school systems will go to secure those federal dollars.

From the article:

Schools are preparing to give a new test next year, the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness, which the Texas Education Agency has promised "will be significantly more rigorous than previous tests." And let's not forget that, led by our last governor, the federal government created an additional set of accountability measures for schools to meet during the past 10 years.

Click here for the rest of the article.

How many Good Samaritans can I find in 1 MONTH?

2011-03-22T17:42:00.001-04:00

Art by: Art Ghost

Please go to the Facebook Page below and read about Dale Shaylor. I heard him interviewed on Chris Fabry Live today. His story is very compelling. Please give - even if it's just $1 - or at least pass this link on to others! Thanks!

How many Good Samaritans can I find in 1 MONTH?

Why You've Never Heard of the Great Depression of 1920 | Thomas E. Woods...

2011-03-22T00:37:00.000-04:00

Learn some things about the almost-Great Depression BEFORE The Great Depression from historian Tom Woods. These are things I either don't remember learning (which is entirely possible, as it has been some years) or I was never taught.

Lessons for the Young Economist | Robert P. Murphy

2011-03-19T19:37:00.000-04:00

The free pdf version of this book is located here:

http://mises.org/books/lessons_for_the_young_economist_murphy.pdf

Irrational Number (Pi Part One) - Pi memorization song

2011-03-13T14:14:00.000-04:00

Pi Day is tomorrow - 3/14! This is a very annoying video about memorizing Pi! :)

Math Doodling :)

2011-03-09T06:00:00.001-05:00

You can view more math doodling videos at Vi Hart - Math Doodling

H/T: Let's Play Math! - Fun with Math Doodling « Let's Play Math!

Since "testing" season is just around the corner...

2011-03-08T01:35:00.000-05:00

I thought it might be profitable to reflect on what being truly "educated" means...

America Via Erica: Coxsackie-Athens Valedictorian Speech 2010

Excerpts:

For the full article, click on the above link.

I am now accomplishing that goal. I am graduating. I should look at this as a positive experience, especially being at the top of my class. However, in retrospect, I cannot say that I am any more intelligent than my peers. I can attest that I am only the best at doing what I am told and working the system. Yet, here I stand, and I am supposed to be proud that I have completed this period of indoctrination. I will leave in the fall to go on to the next phase expected of me, in order to receive a paper document that certifies that I am capable of work. But I contest that I am a human being, a thinker, an adventurer – not a worker.

A worker is someone who is trapped within repetition – a slave of the system set up before him. But now, I have successfully shown that I was the best slave. I did what I was told to the extreme. While others sat in class and doodled to later become great artists, I sat in class to take notes and become a great test-taker. While others would come to class without their homework done because they were reading about an interest of theirs, I never missed an assignment. While others were creating music and writing lyrics, I decided to do extra credit, even though I never needed it. So, I wonder, why did I even want this position? Sure, I earned it, but what will come of it? When I leave educational institutionalism, will I be successful or forever lost? I have no clue about what I want to do with my life; I have no interests because I saw every subject of study as work, and I excelled at every subject just for the purpose of excelling, not learning. And quite frankly, now I'm scared.

John Taylor Gatto, a retired school teacher and activist critical of compulsory schooling, asserts, “We could encourage the best qualities of youthfulness – curiosity, adventure, resilience, the capacity for surprising insight simply by being more flexible about time, texts, and tests, by introducing kids into truly competent adults, and by giving each student what autonomy he or she needs in order to take a risk every now and then. But we don't do that.” Between these cinderblock walls, we are all expected to be the same. We are trained to ace every standardized test, and those who deviate and see light through a different lens are worthless to the scheme of public education, and therefore viewed with contempt.

We are more than robotic bookshelves, conditioned to blurt out facts we were taught in school. We are all very special, every human on this planet is so special, so aren't we all deserving of something better, of using our minds for innovation, rather than memorization, for creativity, rather than futile activity, for rumination rather than stagnation? We are not here to get a degree, to then get a job, so we can consume industry-approved placation after placation. There is more, and more still.

The saddest part is that the majority of students don't have the opportunity to reflect as I did. The majority of students are put through the same brainwashing techniques in order to create a complacent labor force working in the interests of large corporations and secretive government, and worst of all, they are completely unaware of it. I will never be able to turn back these 18 years. I can't run away to another country with an education system meant to enlighten rather than condition. This part of my life is over, and I want to make sure that no other child will have his or her potential suppressed by powers meant to exploit and control.

We are human beings. We are thinkers, dreamers, explorers, artists, writers, engineers. We are anything we want to be - but only if we have an educational system that supports us rather than holds us down. A tree can grow, but only if its roots are given a healthy foundation.

Landscape art lesson, featuring Van Gogh!

2011-03-08T01:10:00.000-05:00

Van Gogh "Wheat Fields with Cypresses

Patty over at Deep Space Sparkle has an art lesson on landscapes using Van Gogh for inspiration! If you like this lesson, also check out her $5 art lesson booklets!

Deep Space Sparkle – Van Gogh Landscape Art Lesson

Illinois Compulsory Attendance Age Bill

2011-03-07T12:02:00.002-05:00

Over at Corn and Oil, there is a very interesting article that discusses the plight of "pushout" students and compulsory attendance laws in Illinois:

Compulsory Attendance Age Bill and Other Expensive Govt Endeavors Corn and Oil

Excerpt:

Illinois taxpayers surely doesn't need a new and unreasonable mandate on top of Representative Monique Davis' proposal to add a new layer of bureaucracy with a Department of Education. (That bill will be heard in the State Government Administration Committee March 9.)

Representative Jehan Gordon wants the compulsory attendance age increased to 18 from 17 years of age. The Elementary & Secondary Education Committee Hearing is on March 9, 2011 at 8:00 AM and this bill in on the agenda.

Some children are forced out or "pushed-out" of the school system by public school administrators worried about low test scores decreasing funding under what were No Child Left Behind mandates, but now have a new name, same song and dance via Race to the Top federal grants. The homeschool community often meets the pushouts from the school districts. The pushout families are desperately trying to find a way to educate their children. This issue is a public secret spread across the country, but Chicago is certainly a prime example. I've also seen a couple of cases here in central Illinois that hit our homeschool community radar.

For the rest of the article, see the link. If you live in Illinois, and are interested in speaking out against this bill, there is handy contact information for your representatives at the bottom of the original post.

A nice cookbook giveaway!

2011-03-06T12:23:00.000-05:00

I'm not a make-ahead-meal-mom yet - - I'm just a wannabe! Whether you already are or, like me, just a wannabe, here is a cookbook that might help us get started! Head over to the blog, Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms and sign up today. There are a gazillion ways you can register for this, so get busy!

Add and Subtract Unlike Fractions

2011-02-28T16:40:00.000-05:00

This is a good video on how to add/subtract fractions with unlike denominators. He explains each step, and demonstrates how to find the prime factors of numbers as well.

World Maths Day - www.worldmathsday.com - World Education Games

2011-02-04T12:17:00.000-05:00

It's time again to register for World Maths Day - an online math competition. Schools, individual students, and homeschoolers can all participate. Registration is free! The ages categories range from age 4 to 14.

Hurry, because registration closes on February 28, and practice is going on NOW! The competition begins March 1st!

World Maths Day - www.worldmathsday.com - World Education Games

Animals of YouTube sing "Jingle Bells"

2010-12-23T15:24:00.000-05:00

Be sure to also watch the one of the animals singing "Deck the Halls" - the link appears at the end of the video. :)

Charlie Brown Christmas

2010-12-21T22:46:00.000-05:00

Letting you know about a $25 Build-A-Bear Giveaway!

2010-12-21T22:18:00.002-05:00

Image is from MomSpotted

Over at MomSpotted they are giving away a $25 certificate to Build-A-Bear! Who doesn't like Build-A-Bear? The contest ends 1/3/11, which is too late for Christmas, but you could save it for a beary special friend's bearthday!

Click HERE for the link!

Please pray for this family...

2010-12-13T15:50:00.001-05:00

Pray for one another...

Dana Hanley, who blogs at Rosecommon Acres, has posted that they suddenly their young child yesterday. Dana and her husband have five other children. Please pray for this family in their time of grief.

UPDATE: The cause was accidental, which she explains in detail on her blog. Continue to pray for this family during the Holidays and afterwards. Each of them has a long road ahead.

Christmas memories of Charlie Brown!

2010-12-13T15:28:00.000-05:00

Math Doodling Fun

2010-12-13T11:09:00.000-05:00

You can view more math doodling videos at Vi Hart - Math Doodling

H/T: Let's Play Math! - Fun with Math Doodling « Let's Play Math!

Applying Economics to American History | Thomas E. Woods, Jr.

2010-11-24T02:41:00.000-05:00

Again, a video on economics and applying it to American history. You will learn some things you did not know. Tom Woods makes economics fun to learn for middle/high schoolers, or adults who know nothing about the subject!

Enjoy!

Lessons for the Young Economist by Robert P. Murphy

2010-11-23T21:43:00.000-05:00

Economist Robert P. Murphy has written a book for middle/high school and above entitled "Lessons for the Young Economist". The beta version is available for free as a pdf file HERE. The hardback version is available for purchase HERE. There is a teacher's guide in the works for this book as well!

Tie-Dye Milk!

2010-11-23T11:53:00.000-05:00

The Kitchen Pantry Scientist also has a great blog!

A Libertarian Gallop Through American History - Thomas E. Woods, Jr. - Mises Media(WMV Video File)

2010-11-06T11:57:00.001-04:00

Thomas E. Woods, Jr. gives a talk to a group of homeschoolers. About 52 minutes.

A Libertarian Gallop Through American History - Thomas E. Woods, Jr. - Mises Media(WMV Video File)

$45 Giveaway from CSN Stores at Homeschooler Cafe!

2010-10-29T11:15:00.000-04:00

Janet at Homeschooler Cafe is giving away a $45 gift code to CSNstores!

Click HERE to go to her page for the details!

Kitchen Pantry Science!

2010-08-23T11:37:00.000-04:00

The Kitchen Pantry Scientist also has a great blog!

Make a flexagon!

2010-08-19T12:13:00.000-04:00

Go HERE to make a fun flexagon toy! Amaze your family and friends, and confuse your cat!

Which one, what kind, how many, and whose...

2010-08-18T23:04:00.000-04:00

The Periodic Table of Elements - Awesome!

2010-08-10T00:39:00.001-04:00

Head on over to Worldstar Academy and learn about Mendeleyev and the history of the periodic table of elements!

It's back to (home)school time! How SWEET it is!

2010-08-07T10:01:00.000-04:00

Get some free printable cupcake wrappers/toppers and other back-to-school printables at Living Locurto! Aren't they adorable?

Head over to ChartJungle for some school/homeschool printables to help get you organized!

Go to Homeschool Views and get tips on pre-homeschool organization and more printables to help!

Check out The Homeschool Messenger for some ideas for great, healthy snack ideas with recipes and even a scheduled rotation (for those highly-organized moms!) to keep your kids from having snack burnout!

Also check out Taste of Home's web site for tasty - and, maybe, not-so-healthy - back-to-school recipes! ;)

Where is the hope?

2010-08-03T01:36:00.001-04:00

"Where is the hope? I meet millions who tell me that they feel demoralized by the decay around us. Where is the hope? The hope that each of us has is not in who governs us or what laws are passed or what great things we do as a nation. Our hope is in the power of God working through the hearts of people. And that's where our hope is in this country. That's where our hope is in life."

Chuck Colson

Amazing Cicada life cycle - Sir David Attenborough's Life in the Undergr...

2010-08-01T15:15:00.000-04:00

When I dug up some old shrubs in the early Spring of this year, I ran across many young cicada larvae attached to the roots. Today, we had a cicada on a window screen. My girls were both horrified to look at it ("It's so uuuugly!") and fascinated to hear that this is the source of all that racket coming from the trees!

The above is a pretty good video produced by the BBC that tells about the cicadas.

Economics in One Lesson, Preface to the New Edition.

2010-07-30T01:49:00.001-04:00

Preface to the "New" (1978) edition:

The first edition of this book appeared in 1946. Eight translations were made of it, and there were numerous paperback editions. In a paperback of 1961, a new chapter was added on rent control, which had not been specifically considered in the first edition apart from government price-fixing in general. A few statistics and illustrative references were brought up to date.

Otherwise no changes were made until now. The chief reason was that they were not thought necessary. My book was written to emphasize general economic principles, and the penalties of ignoring them-not the harm done by any specific piece of legislation. While my illustrations were based mainly on American experience, the kind of government interventions I deplored had become so internationalized that I seemed to many foreign readers to be particularly
describing the economic policies of their own countries.

Nevertheless, the passage of thirty-two years now seems to me to call for extensive revision. In addition to bringing all illustrations and statistics up to date, I have written an entirely new chapter on rent control; the 1961 discussion now seems inadequate. And I have added a new final chapter, "The Lesson After Thirty Years," to show why that lesson is today more desperately needed than ever.

H.H.
Wilton, Conn.
June 1978

Read Economics in One Lesson by Henry Hazlitt by clicking on the title.

Back to School: Do You Know What Your Child is Learning?

2010-07-30T01:45:00.000-04:00

Article excerpt:

In their text The Living World (Fifth Edition, McGraw Hill, 2008) evolutionary apologists George Johnson and Jonathan Lobos rehearse the usual lies. Students are told that “Microevolution Leads to Macroevolution” with the giraffe’s neck serving as the example of how small change is supposed to accumulate to the large-scale change evolution needs.

Of course this is a long-standing, well-known problem for evolution. Mechanisms for large-scale change are speculative for it does not appear merely to be the result of repeated rounds of microevolution. Johnson and Lobos, of course, inform the student of none of this.

The giraffe example is also useful in explaining evolution’s concept of biological variation. The text explains that according to evolution variation arises independent of need or experience via mechanisms such as random mutation.

Contrary to such evolutionary dogma, it has been known for decades that variation is sensitive to experience and need. Evolutionists have resisted this and the text again leaves the student ignorant of the science.

Such misrepresentations of science, as damaging as they are, pale in comparison to Johnson’s and Lobos’ next move. The apologists make a pathetic attempt to enlist the fossil record as powerful evidence for evolution, and end up with only the usual religious dogma.

They write:

If the theory of evolution is not correct, on the other hand, then such orderly change is not expected.

Very interesting. And how do evolutionary clowns know so much? From where did Johnson and Lobos learn such ultimate truths? If evolution is not correct then such orderly change is not expected? Tell us more.

For the rest of the article, go here:

Darwin's God: Back to School: Do You Know What Your Child is Learning?

Former President Ronald Reagan on health care

2010-07-29T10:31:00.000-04:00

Scientists discover antibody that kills 91 percent of HIV – SmartPlanet « The Stem Cell Blog

2010-07-15T00:09:00.000-04:00

adult stem cell

Paving the way for an AIDS vaccine, scientists have discovered two potent antibodies, the strongest of which can neutralize 91 percent of HIV strains.

Researchers from the Vaccine Research Center at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases discovered the antibodies in the cells of a 60-year-old African-American gay man, whose body made the antibodies naturally.

“We have used our knowledge of the structure of a virus—in this case, the outer surface of HIV—to refine molecular tools that pinpoint the vulnerable spot on the virus and guide us to antibodies that attach to this spot, blocking the virus from infecting cells,” VRC director Gary Nabel said in a statement.
Last year, an HIV vaccine demonstrated roughly 30 percent efficacy. This new discovery triples the potency.

The announcement comes just over a week before the International AIDS Conference in Vienna.
The scientists found the antibodies, named VRC01 and VRC02, using a molecular device they developed — an HIV protein that the scientists modified so it would react only with antibodies specific to the site where the virus binds to cells it infects.

The researchers were able to determine the atomic-level structure of VRC01 when it’s attached to HIV, allowing them to design components of a potential vaccine that could teach the human immune system to make similar antibodies that could feasibly prevent infection by the vast majority of HIV strains worldwide.

The United Nations has estimated that more than 33 million people had HIV in 2008. An estimated 2.7 million contracted the virus that year. Led by NIAID scientists Peter Kwong, John Mascola, and Gary Nabel, the research team screened some 25 million cells to discover 12 that produced the antibodies, reports the Wall Street Journal .

One question is whether scientists will be able to successfully use the antibodies to develop a vaccine to protect against AIDS.

Another is how quickly the antibodies can influence the human body to produce its own. It’s entirely possible that they could take months or years — another hurdle.

For now, the researchers plan to test the new antibodies in several ways. According to the Journal report, that includes:

Directly administering them like a drug;
Applying them as a “microbicide” gel before sexual intercourse;
Boosting an infected patient’s existing drug regimen.

To begin walking down that path, the VRC has contracted with a company to produce an antibody that’s safe for humans. “Antibodies are like people: every single one is unusual in its own specific way,” said VRC structural biologist Peter Kwong to Nature. “These antibodies are freaks of nature.”
The research was published Thursday in the online edition of the journal Science.

via The Stem Cell Blog

Conservative Teachers Challenge NEA on Moral Issues

2010-07-15T00:04:00.000-04:00

This is why we need to stop spending federal money on education and let private entities take over. The average per-student spending in the US, I believe, is around $11,000. It would be cheaper in the long run if we just gave every household with school-age children 11K per year to spend on education - however they choose to spend it, whether that be private school, homeschooling, or some type of community school. Wow! Just think of the field trips we could take for 11K per child - or even 10K per child, since that's a nice, round number!

There was drama at this year’s National Education Association meeting because of the courage and commitment of a relatively small group of Christian and conservative teachers who introduced amendments to overturn the union's liberal policies on several key issues.

The amendments were defeated in secret ballots by the 9,000-strong delegation.First, teacher Christine Nowak from New York introduced an amendment to the by-laws that would prohibit the NEA from taking any position on the issue of abortion. This would include lobbying, filing amicus curiae briefs in support of pro-abortion court cases, and would mean revision of the NEA Resolution I-16 (Family Planning) to clarify that NEA's support for family planning does not include support for abortion.

The reason for the “no position” is the sentiment of many teachers that involvement in these issues is simply not appropriate use of teacher union dues. And many of the taxpayers who fund local teachers’ salaries agree.The amendment vote by secret ballot was defeated with 30 percent in favor, 70 percent against. A similar measure at the 2009 meeting was also defeated.Another amendment called for a similar stance by the NEA on the issue of homosexuality. This amendment, introduced by Ohio teacher Ruth Boyatt, would require that the NEA take no position on the issue of same-gender marriage. It too failed by a vote of 30 percent to 70 percent.

The influence of homosexual and “transgender” teachers was quite visible. Not only was there a booth by the NEA’s “GLBT” Caucus, but one sign announced a “Drag Queen” Caucus. A transvestite beauty contest is rumored to be on the schedule for next year’s meeting.The Ohio delegation includes many homosexual activists, according to reports from a teacher who attended the Ohio caucus meeting. One teacher rose at the meeting to praise the high number of Ohio teacher delegates who voted against the measure seeking “no position” on same sex marriage, despite its having been introduced by one of the Ohio delegation. Plans are in the works for a separate Ohio “GLBT” caucus as well.

The state affiliate, the Ohio Education Association, threw its support in 2009 behind House Bill 176, a measure to add homosexuality and cross-gender behavior to Ohio’s civil rights laws, a so-called “non-discrimination” measure. The bill, which passed the Ohio House but has not been considered by the Ohio Senate, would apply to employment practices in schools. The OEA also opposed the statewide ballot measure affirming traditional marriage in 2004. The constitutional amendment was approved by Ohio voters.

H/T: EDUCATION WATCH INTERNATIONAL

How to Choose an Algebra Curriculum by Maria Miller

2010-07-14T23:41:00.001-04:00

This is a post by Maria Miller, author of the Math Mammoth curriculum. She describes in great detail what to look for in an algebra curriculum and why those features are needed.

In a nutshell, I recommend for most homeschooling parents to use a textbook along with some video instruction.

Why a textbook? Because it is good for students to learn to use a regular algebra textbook at this stage of their studies. It helps prepare them for any further studies (whether college or vocational) where they need to learn on their own, reading a textbook.

Also, good textbooks include not only basic exercises but also challenging ones. If you decide to go with some online algebra curriculum or video instruction, a regular textbook can act as a reference and as an additional problem "bank" for those challenging problems. You can also use it to check that your student is really getting instruction in all the typical algebra 1 topics.

Why videos? Because those replace the component that is present in regular classroom: the teacher explaining concepts and ideas. Learning algebra from a textbook alone might be too difficult for some students. If the parent cannot explain the math, videos will help bridge the gap. In today's world, there exist MANY free websites with algebra videos that can be used. And, some companies provide videos tailored to a specific textbook.

In this article, I first explain some basic options for algebra 1 in a homeschool setting. Then, three textbooks are described in more detail. The article also lists free algebra video websites, algebra online curricula, and gives a link to algebra tutorial website list.

For the rest of the post, go here:
Homeschool algebra 1 curriculum - recommendations for home schooling high school math

The Public Square Broadcast for 7/10/10

2010-07-12T12:55:00.004-04:00

Dr. John Lennox

I am always hesitant to mix politics and religion and homeschooling. However, as you know, sometimes they become sort of entangled with each other - especially when it comes to the teaching of science in the homeschool setting. John Lennox has a way of showing how Christianity and science are not mutually exclusive ideas.

Quotes from the broadcast:

"Well, as I said to you earlier, it's a question of what is important in life. For me, it's having an integrated worldview. I don't want my science to be in one little compartment that never meets my Christian faith. Either God is the God of the universe and He's the God of my life, or He's nothing. And so, it's having that integration - and also talking to people about it - because, it seems to be perfectly logical, if the Christian faith is true, then it's something you want to share. What could be bigger and more exciting than to introduce people to the God that invented the atom ultimately?"

(During a debate with Richard Dawkins) "The danger of training children to be fanatics by not allowing them to question is a very serious one, and I'm so glad that I had parents who encouraged me to think. And part and parcel of the Christian faith was that thinking."

Now, you asked us to imagine with John Lenin a world without religion. Now, I'd like you to imagine with John Len-NOX a world without athiesm - with no Stalin, with no Mao, with no Pol Pot - to name the heads of the three officially athiestic States. A world with no Gulag, no culture revolution, no killing fields. I think that would be a world worth imagining, too."

"..ethics are worldview-dependent. You will take a very different view of a human being if you believe, for example, that the human cell is simply an agglomeration of complex molecules. You'll take a very different view if you believe, on the other hand, that that cell has all the potential of becoming an adult human being made in the image of God. And what we're going to have to do, it seems to me, is think very hard about the foundation of ethics. Otherwise, people will just say, 'Who said so?..."

"The meaning makes all the difference, and the worldview makes all the difference."

"The resurrection of Jesus Christ a miracle - something supernatural - for me, constitutes the central evidence upon which I base my faith - not only that athiesm is a delusion, but justice is real, and our sense of morality does not mock us."

Listen to The Public Square.

Listen to Dr. Lennox debate Richard Dawkins

What a precocious pachyderm!

2010-07-12T12:16:00.000-04:00

Forget grade levels, KC schools try something new

2010-07-07T13:51:00.000-04:00

I wonder how this "new" idea will mesh with the move for national standards, which says that all students should be learning the same thing in the same grades?

Forget about students spending one year in each grade, with the entire class learning the same skills at the same time. Districts from Alaska to Maine are taking a different route.

Instead of simply moving kids from one grade to the next as they get older, schools are grouping students by ability. Once they master a subject, they move up a level. This practice has been around for decades, but was generally used on a smaller scale, in individual grades, subjects or schools.

Now, in the latest effort to transform the bedraggled Kansas City, Mo. schools, the district is about to become what reform experts say is the largest one to try the approach. Starting this fall officials will begin switching 17,000 students to the new system to turnaround trailing schools and increase abysmal tests scores.

"Learning More Deeply by Learning Less"

2010-07-07T11:49:00.000-04:00

As I plan for the upcoming school year, this subject has crossed my mind - -in fact, it's like the author was reading my mind! In this age of "information overload", it's difficult not to just hop on the computer and explain everything to your child - or, at least, make them think that ALL of the answers might lie in the computer...

Excerpt:

I have a tendency to over-educationalize everything, to turn everything into a formal lesson. For some time, I have been wrestling with the value of unanswered questions, simple wonder and how to build a more reflective homeschool. Sometimes, I’ve decided, it is better to experience, to ponder and to be filled with wonder rather than to have immediate access to a deluge of information.

Learning More Deeply by Learning Less — Heart of the Matter Heart of the Matter

Poulenc Sonata for Flute and Piano Cantilena

2010-07-07T09:45:00.000-04:00

Just beautiful! Thank you, Barb-Harmony Art Mom!

School house Rock - Fireworks

2010-07-04T17:40:00.000-04:00

"The Theology of the Declaration of Independence"

2010-07-04T16:11:00.002-04:00

Excerpt:

The point here is that because your right to life and liberty are from God, no one can legitimately enslave or kill you, even if you consent to it. This was not a mere incidental addendum idea, it was central to Lockean political philosophy, which maintained (as the declaration does) that the government derives its powers from the consent of the governed. If a person can consent to be killed or enslaved then they can consent to the government enslaving them also to having the arbitrary power to kill them and hence tyranny can be
legitimate.

The reason tyranny is illegitimate is because, “No body can give more power than he has himself; and he that cannot take away his own life, cannot give another power over it.”

The declaration then makes a metaphysical claim: God exists.

It makes an epistemological claim about faith and reason: that belief in God is rational independent of proof.

It makes an implicit claim of political philosophy: religion is not a private thing that should not influence public life but rather, theological claims should influence public life.

Finally it makes a moral claim; that consenting adults do not have a right to do whatever they like with their own bodies, rather there are “Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God” that bind all human beings, that they are compelled to follow even if all parties consent otherwise.

Governments are legitimate to the extent in which they respect these laws.

For the rest of this excellent article, go here:

The Theology of the Declaration of Independence MandM

Citizenship: The Pursuit of Happiness

2010-07-02T13:47:00.000-04:00

NEVER take your American citizenship for granted!

How to Teach Science with Candy!

2010-07-02T10:08:00.000-04:00

Mr. Q strikes again! Another winning science lesson that your kids are sure to enjoy! What are the main ingredients in every candy? What's the difference between a sauce, a fudge, a caramel, a butterscotch? Find out in this yummy lesson!

How To Teach Science… With Candy (Part I)

A girl and a half?

2010-06-28T14:00:00.001-04:00

If a girl and a half
can read a book and a half
in a day and a half,
then how many books can one girl read in the month of June?

Go to Let's Play Math and find out how to solve this problem!

Clayton's Story

2010-06-26T21:14:00.001-04:00

Hat tip to Janet at Homeward Bound!

Consumer recalls...

2010-06-25T20:42:00.004-04:00

There have been several consumer recalls over the past couple of days that may affect Deal Seeking Mom readers, so be sure to check your stockpile this weekend. Please refer to the links included in each section for more details about the specific recalls:

Consumer Recalls: Select Kellogg’s Cereal, Scope Mouthwash + More

Hat tip to Deal Seeking Mom!

End Them, Don’t Mend Them | The Weekly Standard

2010-06-23T20:53:00.001-04:00

Although I don't always agree with P.J. O'Rourke, I do enjoy his writing style.

Excerpt: America’s public schools have served their purpose. Free and compulsory education was good for a somewhat unpromising young nation. The country was half turnip-head hillbilly and half slum trash from foreign refuse heaps. Public schools were supposed to take this mob of no-account pea pickers and bumbling greaseballs and turn them into a half-bright national citizenry. It worked, causing six or eight generations of public school kids to rush home to their shanties or tenements shouting, “Everything’s up-to-date in Kansas City!” or “Mom, Dad, this is America, quit boiling cabbage!”

For the full story, click here:
End Them, Don’t Mend Them The Weekly Standard

The Engines of Our Ingenuity: Main Page

2010-06-23T20:15:00.000-04:00

I just found this site with literally hundreds of radio programs that tell about the inventions and inventors of the past:

The Engines of Our Ingenuity is a radio program that tells the story of how our culture is formed by human creativity. Written and hosted by John Lienhard and other contributors, it is heard nationally on Public Radio and produced by KUHF-FM Houston. Among other features, this web site houses the transcripts for every episode heard since the show's inception in 1988.

The Engines of Our Ingenuity: Main Page

The Blog of Mr. Q!

2010-06-23T20:10:00.000-04:00

Mr. Q. is an eighth grade science teacher, as well as the author of an elementary science curriculum especially for homeschoolers! Mr. Q. also has a blog on which he features some very fun lessons every week! These lessons have been revolving around something all kids like - food! I've done them with my students and we have had a wonderful - and delicious - time of it. The lessons are based on something kids might normally eat in the course of a week - like cereal, bacon, mustard - and what Mr. Q views as the four main concepts of science are applied to that particular food. Very clever! Here are the four concepts excerpted from the blog:

•Atoms: Everything is made of atoms.

•Density: The amount of atoms within every object is known as the density of the object.

•Diffusion: Areas with lots of atoms tend to move to areas with fewer atoms.

•Law of Conservation: Atoms cannot be created or destroyed, only rearranged

If you would like to start these lessons with your child, I recommend you go back and read THIS POST and then begin with the lesson on How to Teach Science During Breakfast.

Bon appetit!

Homeschooler Cafe': Making Math More Fun & A "Giveaway"!

2010-06-18T12:09:00.002-04:00

Janet over at Homeschooler Cafe is giving away 4 ebooks of fun math games from Making Math More Fun! There are SIX ways to enter!

Homeschooler Cafe': Making Math More Fun & A "Giveaway"!

Great Homeschooling Links: June 18, 2010

2010-06-18T12:04:00.001-04:00

If you're looking for even more summer fun, head over to The Homeschool Classroom and check out their list of links for some cool summer activities:

Great Homeschooling Links: June 18, 2010

Handbook of Nature Study: OHC Summer Series #1: Mosquitoes and World of Smell

2010-06-18T12:02:00.001-04:00

For some serious educational (shhhh! - don't tell the kids!) and FUN summer activities, check out Barb's Outdoor Hour Challenge Summer Series! Her latest offering is a study about Mosquitoes and the World of Smell! I need to do this myself, as our mosquitoes seem to ignore everyone but me whenever we head outside in the early morning or at dusk!

Handbook of Nature Study: OHC Summer Series #1: Mosquitoes and World of Smell

Sunday Snippet: Bullies in Training… » se7en

2010-06-17T11:39:00.001-04:00

This is an excellent post on Se7en +1 on bullying. Her posts aren't usually about such a heavy subject, but she does address it in a compassionate manner. I was one of those who always heard that Christians should turn the other cheek. I never thought of bullying as a subject addressed in the Bible but, surprise, it is.

Sunday Snippet: Bullies in Training… » se7en

You must watch this!

2010-04-15T23:54:00.002-04:00

Here is a link to an article with a reprint of Warren Buffet's article, "Squanderville Vs. Thriftville."

He is risen!

2010-04-04T00:43:00.001-04:00

Listen to this week's program on The Public Square with Dr. Erwin Lutzer - it's very appropriate for Easter!

Happy Easter!

He is risen, indeed!

March 29, 1886, Coca-Cola was first advertised!

2010-03-29T15:48:00.001-04:00

"Dr. John Pemberton brewed his 'brain tonic' Coca-cola for the first time as a cure for hangovers, stomach aches and headaches."

Quote from Chemistry.About.com. Go to the link to see other chemistry-related events that happened on this day in history!

Related Links:

For a complete history of Coca-Cola, go to the Coca-Cola Company Heritage Timeline!

For information about the Coca-Cola bear, as well a a section on recipes and more, go to this Coca-Cola Company page.

To learn more about John Pemberton, go to this page at IdeaFinder.com.

Pizza Box Solar Oven

2010-03-26T12:53:00.001-04:00

The nice lady at The Kitchen Pantry Scientist (and, yes, she is an actual scientist) demonstrates how to make a simple pizza box solar oven. I am thinking this has real possibilities - especially when the weather warms up a bit. Maybe you could even make a homemade pizza in the pizza box - who knows what you and your kids could cook up right in the back yard?

Here's the link to the Pizza Box Solar Oven.

Check out Handbook of Nature Study's giveaway!

2010-03-20T22:31:00.004-04:00

Image from Guardian UK

Barb (Harmony Art Mom) at Handbook of Nature Study is having a giveaway! You could win one of six different resources. Just leave a comment by Friday, March 26th at Noon PST and you will be entered for the giveaway.

While you're there, check out her new Spring Nature Study with Art and Music Appreciation ebook. The study is based on Anna Comstock's Handbook of Nature Study - the 1918 version available for free download on Google Books. You can download the Handbook of Nature Study for free at Internet Archive. The Spring Nature Study ebook contains fifty pages of Outdoor Hour challenges, art appreciation, and music appreciation - enough to keep your students busy for almost three months!

Check it out!

Regarding Santa, the Tooth Fairy, and evil spirits making you sneeze!

2010-03-19T13:42:00.002-04:00

ThinkQuest about Superstitions

This post from Jimmie at Jimmie's Collage caught my eye. It's about customs and knowing why we do certain things - like saying "God bless you" when someone sneezes, or celebrating certain holidays. Jimmie lives in China and has just observed the Chinese celebrating the Chinese New Year with some rather strange customs...or are they supersitions? That part is confusing!

We have to be very careful when dealing with these questions, though. Sometimes, the fact that you don't celebrate this or don't acknowledge that can become just as much of an idol as someone with a stone god in their home!

Lost Ladybug Project

2010-03-19T13:38:00.003-04:00

Lost Ladybug Project - Here's a (free) project that would be perfect to do this Spring with the kids! I love ladybugs - they're so cute!

Actually, the page isn't complete, but you can probably find other resources for information as well. Just get outside and study, draw, write about, and take pictures of ladybugs!

ETA: For everything you would ever want to know about ladybugs, photos of ladybugs, ladybug crafts and activities, check out Everything Ladybug!

Also check out:

Ladybug crafts at Enchanted Learning as well as information about Ladybugs.

Some awesome information and photos of Ladybugs at the University of Kentucky's Ag web page.

A whole page of Ladybug stuff at Kennesaw.edu.

Here is a Ladybug Lapbook from Lapbook Lessons.

For the older kids, they might be interested in doing a Ladybug science fair project from Super-Science-Fair Projects.

and

Make an origami Ladybug.