Lying to the Childrens

Today, while I was editing the next podcast in the lineup--coming soon!--I heard Jill say of some fun math activities: "...kids don't even know it. They don't even know it's math. It's great."

This is a common sentiment from homeschoolers, especially Sonlighters--or maybe that's just selection bias talking <shrug>. I've heard stories over and over again about kids saying, "That was school?! It was way too much fun to be school."

These kids don't even realize that what they are doing is a secret plot to get them to learn something.

Lying to the children.

We should be ashamed.

But before I get sent to my room without dessert, you need to know that I wasn't the one who lied.

It's the idea of "school" that has twisted the minds of our young people. It is the institution of school, and the media surrounding it, that has lied to our students. Even we have been subjected to this lie. And the lie is this:

Learning must be boring.


Learning is pain

Nothing could be further from the truth. Learning is a blast! And homeschooled kids know it. Schools lie to children and tell them that to learn is to suffer, or at least a struggle.

To be fair, there are many teachers who do their best to make their lessons fun, engaging, meaningful and a joy. I'm not talking about them. I'm talking about the educational system that perpetrates the lie that learning is an arduous task.

It's not always easy, but learning is always a joy.

School isn't.

So please allow your kids to remain blissfully ignorant that what they are doing has educational merit. Let them slowly learn that learning is fun, and then perhaps, just perhaps, they'll think that school is fun as well.

At least, at home with Sonlight it is <smile>.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

Ordering from Sonlight

...my first impressions.

I have been involved with Sonlight to some extent or another since my mom started it back in '90. Granted, my involvement is has been off and on over the years, but I am now at a completely different level: I am a customer!

Not only that, I'm a genuine, card-totin' "Classic Member" of the Sonlight community.

<oooo... ahhhh...>

You're all jealous, I can tell.

I placed my order on Friday, and, as per my request, they just walked it over to my cube, so their delivery system is fantastic! I felt that having them ship it to my house wasn't very efficient, since I'm driving there after I finish this post.

No, we don't have our kids yet, but in preparation for getting them, we decided we needed to learn Russian, and quick. So we now own Rosetta Stone Russian 1&2.


Our First Sonlight Order!

My experience:

I popped onto the website and did a search for "Russian," and quickly found what I was looking for. Cool!

But I remembered an email about a special offer for Rosetta Stone, and I couldn't find any indication of the deal on the product page. My wife told me I should call Customer Support.

Great idea! Especially since I'm going to be blogging about the experience... might as well go the whole way.

So I called, and was left waiting for about five minutes. The music loop was a little short, so that got a tad annoying. (Did I mention this is a complete review of my experience? <smile>)

"Thank you for calling Sonlight, this is Lindsey, may I have your name please?"

"Hi, Lindsey. This is Luke Holzmann, and I actually have a real question."

I know who Lindsey is, and she, I think, knows who I am, but we work on opposite sides of building and haven't been formally introduced. So, this is about as close to a "stranger" as I was going to get. Had it been, say, Karla, I may have had a biased customer support moment. All the better for you that it was Lindsey. This was a real call.

I explained my confusion, and she did some poking around to answer my question.

Sonlight does have great customer service!

This brought me to the checkout process.

Oh my. This was nasty. I had to actually look around to find the "Let Me Buy This Stuff, Please!" button. It wasn't where I expected it, and was buried under a mountain of text.

Next was a "Coupon Codes" page, almost as confusing--again, with too much text. But being the computer savvy guy that I am, I managed. I can't let thousands of homeschool moms beat me! If they can do it, so can I!

Everything else was a snap.

And, like I said, I have my order now.

Awesome.

Thus far, I am very happy customer of Sonlight.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

P.S. I met with one of the web guys this morning, and he now has my feedback for making the checkout process cleaner. I do love being able to test this stuff so I can offer suggestions to make it even better.

But, I'm not the only one who can provide feedback. Sonlight welcomes your feedback as well!

By the Bye, You Learn Stuff Reading

I've picked up many colloquialisms over the years, and it is often humorous when people say what they hear, even if it doesn't make sense. For example, I once overheard someone say that something was happening "for all intensive purposes*."

That made me smile. Those purposes sure do get intense at times.

Of course, I can merely smile because I've had my fair share of misquotes.

I have long loved the phrase "by the by." It feels far more proper/pompous to say, "I'm a pompous person, by the by," instead of "by the way." "By the by" also seems to require a British accent--which I can't do--which just makes the whole thing even better.

Last night, my wife finally convinced me to start reading "Perelandra" out loud to her. Within a few pages, C.S. Lewis has penned "by the bye."

<wha?>

So, I looked it up. It seems that "by the bye" is the older way of writing "by the by." Which is odd, by the bye, because shouldn't there be some sort of meaning attached to these words that would render one nonsensical?

Apparently not.

No wonder English is so confusing.

So there you have it. I learned something new... sort of. I guess it isn't exactly "new," per se, more that I learned something more.

Also, turns out that bears don't hibernate. Wasn't aware of that.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

*Should be: "...for all intents and purposes": As in, this happened because someone purposed and intended that it should.

Some Love for My Peeps

I read tons of blog posts every day.

Well, technically not "tons" because a post doesn't exactly have a mass, so let me begin again...

I read over a hundred blog posts a day; a least 400 on Monday because of the weekend. And while browsing all these posts, I typically read some real gems. These I quickly include in the "Other Posts of Note" section of this blog.

Now, some of you have RSS readers, and some of you don't look at the sidebars on blogs, and if you're like me, you do and you don't (RSS/sidebars... respectively). For all of you who are like me, may I encourage you to check out these noted other posts. I note them for the simple reason that I enjoyed them and think you may find them enjoyable/important as well.

I know a few of my readers have already started to take advantage of this opportunity. But I would like to highlight something for everyone--it's the little "Read More" link at the bottom of the "Other Posts of Note."


Read More

Sometimes there are so many great posts in a single day that they don't all fit.

Today was one of those days.

So, please click on the "Read More" link, and enjoy the great, fun, thought-provoking, or otherwise noteworthy posts I have come across in my trekking around the blogosphere.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

Punctuation

its national punctuation day today and so im refusing to punctuate this first bit

in fact if u think about the # of truncated wrds & phrases ppl use 2 talk about stuff im not sure punctuation is rlly all that important in the long run right up there with ee cummings and whatnot bc ppl can still read this kind of writing and r getting better at it every day txting their peeps

kwim

Is proper punctuation important? Absolutely. But not because people can't read without it, but because punctuation makes it easier to read. These little marks indicate emotion, inflection, breaths, asides, voices, pauses, and breaks (among other things).

Much like spelling.

Msot tpyos do not elimunate teh legabilaty of a sentance. But they certainly cold.

Similarly, the difference between a question mark and an exclamation point must not be overlooked, as I will demonstrate with this Colorado appropriate example:

Go Broncos!
Go Broncos?
Go Broncos!?!!

So, for today, encourage your kids--whether they are IMing, texting, twittering, or otherwise--to plz try 2 typo right today. ...and then do it again tomorrow.

And I've only eluded to grammer. <smile>

Angela
and Greg

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

As much as it pains me to include so many mangled elements of the English language in this post, they are all intentional. And hopefully funny as well.

Envelopes

My thumb is raw, my fingers rough,
My throat is dry, my voice is gruff,
My legs are sore, as is my back,
My feet still swell, but we're on track.

~Luke 9/23/08

I spent today in the warehouse stuffing maps into envelopes, addressing them and adding postage. We needed to get out somewhere around 2,000 today.

No one really knew how many.

Here's a small sampling of our work:


Envelopes

So, that's what I did today: Helped continue the legacy of great customer service and support that Sonlight works very hard to provide. I don't know how much the envelopes cost, or how much everyone gets paid for those many hours, but each postage sticker was $2.87... that's a lot of money to make sure the maps people have for their Sonlight experience are correct.

Making things right.

That's something I am very proud to be a part of.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

Perfect or Putrid

Something struck me as odd today: We, as homeschoolers, end up on either side of a huge spectrum in people's minds, but never in the middle.

I read a post where Spunky (aka Karen Braun) points out that we must shake the urge to compare ourselves with other "perfect" homeschoolers. Spectrum side right: Homeschoolers are perfect.

Then I read a post from Dana Hanley refuting the implied claim that homeschooled children are untaught and destined to be criminals. Spectrum side left: Homeschoolers are putrid.

But hang on... either we're perfect parents or raising hoodlums?


Putrid or Perfect

That feel weird to anyone else?

But now I realize that this kind of dichotomy is rather rampant. Most "hot button" topics are discussed this way: Politics, religion, education, finances, government, etc. No wonder I get so confused at times. Are proponents of one side so blind that they can't see the potential pitfalls or growth areas? Are the detractors so ignorant that they refuse to see the good?

Perhaps.

Or maybe it's just easier to talk and write in generalities. Maybe it's more effective/fun/scathing to write in absolutes and hyperbole.

Maybe not as many people actually cleave to these extremes as us writers like to put down in black and white. Because, for me as a homeschooled Christian with political views of my own, while I may write and talk in such a way as to perhaps overstate my position, I'm actually fairly reasonable at times.

May we carefully consider how we talk and write and discuss issues and topics, especially around children. May we teach them to be even more even handed and level headed than we have been. And perhaps then, inflammatory rhetoric in the future will be seen as what it is: A lot of hot air someone is trying to vent, and damaging assumptions will be ignored.

Thoughts?


In other news, I have now added a "Share This" button at the bottom of my posts. If you're one of those really "with it" people--I am not, so don't worry if you aren't either--please feel free to Digg, Stumble or otherwise share the posts of mine that you like. I'm always on the lookout for more people who may find this blog interesting as well.

Thanks!

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

Sonlight Socials

No, I'm not talking about the Big Fat Meetup 2010.

I'm talking about the Sonlight web presence. I came away from this morning's seminar with several things I need to implement, but I'm out of time for the week. So, coming Monday, I hope to start integrating some more stuff and making everything even better here--and there--for Sonlight's social media stuff.

Have a great weekend. I'll catch up on all your blogs on Monday too. But I gotta get out of here before I get in trouble <smile>.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

The Three Rs

Registered Trademarks, Reviews and Research.

If you're super astute, or have too much time on your hands so that you spend your days looking at every pixel on this blog, you may have noticed that I've recently added a few Registered Trademark--®--symbols to the sidebar. It turns out that we're supposed to note that our product (Sonlight^®) is a registered trademark more often.

So, since I'm trying to do my part as an official Sonlight blogger, I've added them. But don't worry: I know this is a blog and I'm not going to start slapping that symbol everywhere on this blog.

Really. I'm not.

®

In other news, I just had my first "Review" as a Sonlight employee. Yep, until recently, I wasn't a full-time employee, so I didn't get none of them fancy re-views.

Turns out I'm doing an okay job--I have yet to make anyone really angry in the blogosphere. So: so far, so good. If you think I'm doing an okay job, be sure to let me know in the comments. That way, if I ever get in trouble I can tell my superiors: Well, all two of my readers think I'm great! <smile>

...to which, of course, they would reply: You're supposed to have more than two readers, Luke.

Ouch. Can't argue with that hypothetical exchange.

I've also been looking into other Social Media/Networking tools. I'm still working out the kinks for applying them to this blog, but I hope to implement them soon. I even get to go to a special seminar thingy tomorrow. I'm pretty excited!

Talk at y'all tomorrow. Please feel free to talk back.

I listen.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

Out to Lunch

Once a month we have lunch as a company. I'm currently munching on a few chips from one such event today.

I've always enjoyed lunch. Even way back when I was "testing" Sonlight I had a lunch sack--which I never used, since lunch was is in the kitchen--that said, "My favorite subject is Lunch." That really wasn't even true, but I thought it was hilarious.

I'm like that.

I'm also Commutative Man, for those wondering. Here's another glimpse of my fantastic acting abilities and costume design. Yes, I own blue spandex. Yes, I've worn them in public with a red speedo over them.


MathTacular2 Trailer

Back to the topic of food--if you can still stomach the subject after that visual of me:

While filming the MathTacular series, Amber--our director, producer, and Justin's perpetual friend... not to mention pictured above--would often say, "Hunger is the enemy." Any time things started to get a little tense of set, we'd stop and have a bite instead of biting each other.

Food is one of those things that can really bring people together. I mean, if you're ever in the jungles of Onomatopoeia and you hear a twig Snap, what could be more comforting than the less-than-stealthy bushman offering you a grub?

Okay, bad example.

The point remains: If school or something else isn't going so well, perhaps it's time to take a few minutes for a snack.

We had it scheduled at our house. "Tea Time" was at 10:00 and 3:00 every day. I'm not sure how much it helped, since I was a blissfully ignorant child, but I'm guessing things went a little smoother because of it.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

MathTacular Trailers!

Announcing the brand new MathTacular3 Trailer!


MathTacular3 Trailer

[I have asked YouTube to change the graphic so it's no longer Justin's bum, but that can take awhile, so bear with me <smile>]

I'd love to hear your comments. Feel free to click over and rate the video on YouTube as well. And if you didn't notice, I added a link to the Sonlight YouTube Channel on the sidebar, just in case you ever want to see what other promotional videos I've put up there.

You can also find the MathTacular Trailer from a few years back on the YouTube page, but I'll also include it here so it's easier to find.


MathTacular Trailer

Enjoy!

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

P.S. MathTacular2?

Yes... well, it's coming.
Sometimes I do things a little backward.

The Almost Trailer

...

Er... I was going to post my latest handiwork for all to see, but... it needs more work.

Not too surprising, considering I started thinking about cutting a MathTacular3 trailer 90 minutes ago. But my quick cut didn't quite cut it.

Don't get me wrong: Everyone thought it was adorable, but now I need to go back and beef it up for those who may watch the video who aren't already "in the know." I know, it's hard to believe, but some people on the internet are not familiar with Justin or MathTacular.

Shocking, for sure.

So, it's back to the drawing board tomorrow.

Or, more accurately, back to script writing in the morning.

But for now, it's time to go home.

I hope to get an approved trailer up tomorrow.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

Cliches and Epistemology

As a writer interested in improving, I have subscribed to Daphne Gray-Grant's free Power Writing newsletter. Her tips have been helpful and fun to read. However, I often have to fight the urge to keep my self expression instead of adopting these improvements.

Her latest tip suggests that we drop cliches, but that got my brain turning.

• Since blogs are less formal, we like colloquialisms, cliches, catch-phrases and contractions. (Some of us also approve of alliterations and acronyms, kwim?)
  
• While I write to promote Sonlight and get the word out about this great product, I'm not exactly in marketing. I'm here to build friendships, to show myself honest and trustworthy, and learn what makes other homeschoolers tick. So, if I'm not crystal clear and to the point in my ramblings... that's almost good. It shows that I'm a person, not a corporation trying to sell something. I'm not. I'm here to let people know about Sonlight, my experience with it, and to find ways to make it even better for families everywhere.
  
• There's something about a well-placed cliche that makes me smirk. And I do like to smirk.

All that to say: You may see some cliches crop up here and there on this blog. Sorry, Daphne.

My, my, but this post is getting long. I'll try to rapidly bring this to a close:

Another topic that fascinates me is that of Epistemology: how we know what we know. I bumped into a article today about carbon dating (you know, the whole Carbon 14/12C/13C thing... okay, me either). I followed the article's logic fairly well, but by the end I was pretty much lost. And I think the problem was that the author started to rely generalizations and stereotypes--another form of cliche--rather than reason, logic or good argumentation.

The same seems to be true of politics.

And a lot of religious discussion.

So, I'm going to agree with Daphne here: Let's cut the cliches. At least, for the most part.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

Thanks!

A huge "Thank You!" to all of you who wished me a happy birthday yesterday. I appreciate you taking the time to comment. It made my day.

And I totally asked for all the "You rock"s; hope nobody minded too much. <sheepish grin> For all my bravado, I still have significant need of encouragement. So, thanks for indulging me.


And while I'm thanking people, I feel like I should give a big thanks to the men and women who have served to help others after 9/11 and continue to fight for our freedoms.

I remember hearing about the "bombing" of the Two Towers while walking across my sunny college campus. It was almost two and a half years after Columbine, and I was jaded. The events of 9/11 were all anyone talked about for weeks, just like the shooting that happened a few miles from my school. Several kids from my youth group attended Columbine. So, the towers collapsing wasn't nearly as close to home.

I am grateful for the many people who gave of their lives on this day 7 years ago and in the following aftermath.

But another issue weighs on my heart today: I think of those who have recently lost children. My heart breaks for those families. I wish I had words, but I don't. These rather disjointed thoughts remind me of the passage in Romans 12:15 where we are told to rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

That can be very hard to do, especially when we have those around us on opposite sides of the spectrum. But we get to practice this all the time in the blogosphere and when we pray for each other.

So, again, thanks for all well-wishes on my birthday. It really made my day. And today I am praying for those who have lost loved ones... especially those who have recently lost a child.

I'm praying for you.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

Follow Me

As a daily blogger I have found a distressing reality. Well, maybe not exactly distressing--more like: bothersome.

Some days I struggle to find something meaningful to say.

Other days, I have a bunch of topics to talk about.

And I can't spread them out because this is a blog and the topics tend to relate to a day, are only interesting right now, and while I could certainly think about some of these things tomorrow, tomorrow is a new day and there may be something more applicable then.

Or not.

Thus, my current quandary.

I can't even decide which topic to mention first.

Today's my birthday. Woo-hoo! And if you want to give me something--and I know you do--you could become a "Follower" of my blog(s). Can't find the cool little graphic on the side? You can use this link to follow this blog.


Followers

Nice. Just tackled two topics in one. Sneaky, sneaky.

I guess I'll shelve the other topics for tomorrow--if I need them--and will simply mention the third topic: My latest article is posted over at Heart of the Matter Online. This one was the hardest for me to write yet. I wrote four drafts before I had something. It wasn't pretty, and I don't even know if I'm communicating clearly and well. But I am really, really passionate about this topic.

So, I'll wait and see how the comments turn out (I haven't had a "You ROCK, Luke!" yet... sad times) and I'll see about perhaps clarifying or expanding the article here.

But for now, I'd love to hear your thoughts on my article, and would be thrilled if you gave the new Follower feature on Blogger a try with my blog(s).

Good enough.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

A Grain of Rice

Sonlight carries a cute little book titled "A Grain of Rice" in which a humble farmer asks to marry the Emperor's daughter. The Emperor refuses, so the man asks for a single grain of rice. Insulted that the man has gone from his daughter's hand to a grain of rice, the Emperor insists he ask for more. So the man asks that he be given a single grain of rice, and that that number be doubled each day for a hundred days ...with fantastic results. A very enjoyable read.

But as great an introduction to exponential growth as that book may be, I'm here to tell you about a different opportunity: The Sonlight Rice Bag Project.

You can download the introductory letter that was sent out to Sonlight customers here. And while we sent this letter only to Sonlight customers--since those are the only names and addresses we have--you are free to join in, even if you aren't a Sonlight customer. So sign up and tell all your friends!

We may not be able to provide an exponential growth of funds over the next hundred days to provide literacy classes for India women, but with your help, we can raise $200,000 for literacy classes in India. I could go on and reiterate what has already been written, but they've said it better than I could. So, check it out. Get involved. And invite others to partner with us in changing lives in India forever.

Get the Sonlight Rice Bag Letter here.

Find out more here.


One last note: After you have collected change, please feel free to cash it in for a check or contribute to Mission India online.

[NB: Be sure to let them know that this is part of the Sonlight Rice Bag Project so that Sonlight can double your contribution.]

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

Maps and MathTacular3

MathTacular3 is officially here and available!

We don't have a boxed set yet of MathTacular, MathTacular2 and MathTacular3 because we're waiting for MathTacular4... which could be a long, long while yet. I'm working on it, but there's a lot to do.

Do you want to buy MathTacular3 right now? I can understand why you'd want to--I mean, it's only the biggest video to come out since MathTacular2 <smirk>--but if you're subscribed to the Sonlight Special Offers, you may want to wait a few days.

Not promising anything.

Just suggesting you check your inbox now and again.

If you're not on the special offers list, you should just click over and buy it now. And if you don't have the other DVDs in the series, you should get them too.

Like now.

Okay, enough of that. It's just really exciting to see a DVD out that we've spent the past couple of years putting together.


In other news, I spent some time today putting the new and improved World Markable Maps into envelopes. There were some problems with the old ones, but these new ones look great. I'm not privy to all the details of how that all worked out, but I am excited to see Sonlight putting the effort into making it right.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

May the Words of My Mouth

...and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight [Psalm 19:14].


I like to think about things.

That trait has been with me since a very early age. In fact, there was a time in Jr. High where I had already thought about every topic that was brought up around me. I felt pretty smug about that, but I think I was pretty smug about a lot of things in my early years.

And today.

But as I've gotten older, I have found that I don't have concrete nor concise thoughts on a great many subjects. And I think about quite a few more that I don't think others are necessarily comfortable discussing. And this poses a problem for me as a blogger in the homeschooling world: How do I write things that aren't going to bother people unnecessarily? How do I link to things?

This came up today because I read a post that I found very interesting. So I felt like I should share it considering it really was another "post of note." But now it is staring at me in the "Other Posts of Note" section on my sidebar there, and I wonder, How will people respond when they see an article titled In Defense Of Halloween on this blog?

I mean, sure, I didn't write the thing, nor did I make any comment as to how right or wrong I thought it was, but by sharing it from this blog, someone could easily get upset. So then I think that I should probably comment on why I shared it, but then I also think, Come on, people need to grow up. If they don't want to read it, don't read it. I'm not making you. But then I immediately realize how immature of a response that is. Why so defensive? Probably because I'm anticipating an attack.

And so my head turns.

I don't have this problem on my personal blog (as much). There I talk about what I'm thinking about no matter what the content matter. But here--and in everything else I produce for Sonlight--I am held to another standard. I have to play to the strictest sensibility of propriety... within reason.

But I've been allowed to be myself, find my own voice, and speak truthfully on this blog. This is not a place for Sonlight marketing and polishing. This is me, Luke Holzmann, talking about my thoughts on Sonlight and homeschooling.

But my thoughts will reflect on Sonlight, whether we are in agreement or not.

And that is a burden I've known is there, but am feeling more acutely today. I have recently not linked to posts that I thought were interesting (or funny) due to mild profanity and potentially questionable photographs (of children, no less).

[Pardon me while I smirk. Okay, I'm back.]

After letting this mull around in the back of my mind, I have come to a thought, a prayer, a hope that I do my best live out in my writing. It is a cry that I quoted at the start of this post:

May the words of my posts and the links from this blog be acceptable in Your sight, oh Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

Now I'm very interested in your thoughts.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

Boys Will Be

...hyper. Energetic. Active. Squirmy.

Or so I've been told.

I was actually a very mellow kid, at least from my recollection of calmly doing my studies. (You'd have to ask my mom how she remembers me to get a more balanced perspective.) But even if I was an enthusiastically creative young man growing up, I don't think I ever had a real problem with sitting still.


A Photo of Me Doing School sort of...

But this is hardly the case for everyone. In fact, Nan got me thinking about this today after reading her post over at "The Well Drained Mind." It's long as far as posts go, but a great example of creativity in dealing with the extreme excess of exuberant energy embodied in the events exhibited everyday by the less sedate among us.

The post once again reminded me of a fantastic chapter in "Why Gender Matters" where Dr. Sax talks about how all-boy classrooms can accommodate the kind of kinetic energy many boys have. Sax describes an all-boy classroom where the teacher allows his students to position themselves however they like during the lessons and reading. So, while one boy slowly spins in a circle, another is flopped on the floor, while another sits calmly in his seat. Had this been a mixed classroom, Sax points out, this would have been terribly distracting for the girls, but actually helps the boys focus.

And looking back on my own experience in homeschooling, we were allowed to sit wherever we wanted during school. And I've seen plenty of photos in the Sonlight catalog that show this works for both boys and girls. We also played with Legos while my mom read to us. It was sometimes a little loud when we were digging through the bucket for a 2x4 thick red piece, but it worked well. The more artistic of my siblings sometimes doodled too.

All that to say: Even if you and I may not have an over-abundant amount of energy at our disposal, I think it is far better to let those who do expend it rather than try to force them to contain it.

And now, for your viewing pleasure, whether you were, or have, a hyperactive student:


Hyperactivity - Mark Lowry

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

Javascript Widgets: A Bust

-----

A teaser: Coming Real Soon!

Apologies to Mission Impossible

-----

I found out today that if you're using a free Wordpress blog you are unable to include javascript widgets... meaning, it's impossible to add the "Sonlight Moments" widget to your Wordpress blog. That's disappointing to me.

[Hat Tip: Megan]

Web gurus I know laud the praises of Wordpress... if you own server space and can host the thing yourself. I've had people tell me that I should move my blogs to Wordpress, where I will have more control and permanence. But after bumping into this issue today, I'm very happy I'm with Blogger.

Of course, I've noticed that Blogger has lately been more finicky and less reliable than I would like. So, I don't know. I'm certainly not moving any time real soon--unless something crazy goes down--but I do like to know what options are out there.

So, two comment options today:

1. Guess what is now in Sonlight's warehouse and will be available soon.

2. Tell me about the blogging tools you use and what you like about them. Then I'll be able to add your blog to my list of daily reads (if you aren't already in my Google Reader).

Friends, Readers, Bloggers: Lend me your comments!

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

Blogs from Blog Day

After looking over the blogs that were submitted for Sonlight's Blog Day extravaganza, I decided I couldn't possibly leave two blogs out, so everyone will get listed here. But, to keep things interesting, I'll make sure I include 10 blogs in the list... doubling the requisite five blogs from the official rules. So here they are:

1. A new blog: "Homeschooling Apropos." Looks to be a great source for articles that homeschoolers will enjoy.

2. "Joy of Home Living" appears to chronicle the life of a homeschooling pastor's wife. Catch updates--with photos--of what this family has been up to recently.

3. A blog that follows the various thoughts of a homeschooling mom over at "Half Pint House." A little bit of everything over there!

4. Another blog that covers the thoughts and experiences of a homeschooling mom: Ganeidas Nest. I've been following this one for a while.

5. "Reading Circle Books" covers a multitude of subjects including: Reading, Learning, Hoping, Blogging, Being. Plenty of links to articles that inspire thought, laughter or response.

6. "Up on the Roof" contains a bit of everything...pregnancy stories, recipes, theological ramblings, and frugality tips. Things that have made me laugh more than once.

7. Want to read all about farming adventures, homeschooling, quilting, soapmaking, and art school escapades? Look no further! And Sew On!" is the place for you. Lots of fun photos to help you get into the experience.

Now to finish this out:

8. This blog, of course! Can't help but give myself props <smile>.

9. My mom's blog, where she discusses the latest things she has been reading, experiencing, or thinking about.

10. The brand new blog featuring Sonlight Curriculum's very own Customer Champion: Judy Wnuk at "Homeschool Q & A." Have a question about homeschooling with Sonlight, she is there to answer them. I'm very excited to see that blog take off.


So, there it is. Hope you had a great Blog Day and Labor Day. Now I'm off to catch up on the 408 posts in my Reader. You bloggers sure do write a lot!

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father