I just completed a transformational seminar on "How to Read a Book" The most powerful thing that I got must be preserved!!! Here it is.
Ways to increase your Epiphinal Rate...The amount of Ah Ha's that you experience per hour.
1. Read Poetically, (Not asking, What does this mean? but, What could this mean?)
2. Read Original Documents, works, etc
3. Take notes to teach from readings or works studied
4. Teach from your notes
5. Teach it again
6. Teach it again :)
7. Write about what you've taught
8. Discuss them with a friend
9. Discuss with someone who's read it
10. Discuss with your mentor (Someone who's read it 10 + times)
11. Discuss with a group and learn their voices
12. Put in the hours - the longer you study the more epiphanies
13. Study a topic outside of your comfort zone
14. Change the context of your study...Change the "why" of your study... Do I need to study this for my children etc?
15. Study an etymology dictionary - or word origin dictionary. Whenever you study words you will have an increase in epiphanies
16. Go on a retreat to cabin, beach, etc.
17. Have an epiphany room in your house where you study - colors, decor, plants etc.
18. Have an open, honest, and spontaneous debate
19. Really answer your 4 year old's questions...
20. Write a review specifically about what your studying and give it out to real people.
21. Hyphenate- meaning watch the movie, see the play, listen to on audio...suplement with another medium.
22. Rescript
23. Read out loud with a small group.
24. Author's struggles - Study the author's life
25. Take a break and read poetry
26. Write poetry with deep meaning
27. Read a commentary with work - cliff notes
28. Study 5 other books on the same topic
29. Search out footnotes and references. IF no footnotes, search out what atuther was reading at the time they wrote it.
30. Go to a seminar
31. Talk to someone a lot older or alot younger
32. Translate into a story
33. Read with a "to do" list
34. 80/20 rule 20% of book will teach you 80% of what it has. Learn 20% first
35. Study language and words, "figures of speech"
36. Study Language
37. Get Mad
38. Get Romantic
39. Read to your strengths
spiritual
Linguistic
logical/mathmatical
musical
spatial
interpersonal
intrapersonal (self disciplined)
kinesthetic (physical)
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Book Review
This is one thing I've been looking forward too...mostly to revisit what I learned from different books and cement it in my mind, and also to hear what "the other readers" on this blog think of what they read.
The Epicenter, Joel Rosenburg
Rosenburg started writing political thrillers in 2001 right before 9/11. A significant amount of events that he wrote/writes about have become reality. As he says, "Truth became stranger than fiction." His novels fit their description of being, "thrillers", a little sensational... but I didn't find this to be the case with Epicenter. He wrote Epicenter to explain where he gets his inspiration for the novels. Being a D.C. insider added to his heritage as a Christian Jew, he brings a unique perspective combining Politics, economics, and what he calls "the third lense", scripture. With this extensive background of knowledge added to his faith in our Savior and His prophecies, I found his book to be very informative, interesting, and even inspirational. Reading it agitated my budding interest in Judaism and the Holy Land. It made Iran's and Russia's actions of late come into focus, and it gave me hope for events that will eventually herald the way into the Second Coming. I would reccomend the book to anyone that enjoys current events, religion, and political science, because he weaves them all together to form a great picture of the present and possible future.
I recently met a man from Jan ur by Jhan - ok so I'm not really pronouncing it correctly but they are a country by Russia who has been fighting the Turks for the last decade. He runs a suit shop in St. George and Pete needed a suit to go to Paris last month. Between tayloring and color matching, we three had a very interesting conversation. Tiger, (that's his name, only one of the many interesting things about him, for example his pet Zebra) talked to Pete about active duty military. He has served on the front lines of war for 8 years, though his Italian looks portrayed an age of 20. He spoke of Russia as an ally as well as the U.S. in a positive light. He suggested that Bush went into Iraq as a spring board into Iran. Iran and Korea both pose a threat to the U.S. and U.S. interests but the world would stand behind us against Korea, not Iran. Bush had a choice between the two, he knew we, with current military levels would/could not do both so he chose Iran via Iraq. Who could blame him? This was the jist of his argument and it made me think and I think possibly agree with him...given my current knowledge. What struck me more than his very striking argument was 1) His breadth of knowledge of the world and 2) His knowledge of US foreign policy. He was fair. I think because the US is a super power, we tend to be oblivious to real currant affairs. Our news isn't reality anymore, it's about Tom Cruises latest whatever... I've taken to reading british newspapers anymore, they tell the story more accurately...
This all brings me to my point that this book was a similar experience for me. It let me peek into the world of world leaders and hear their thoughts, stances, and opinions...albeit through Rosenburg's world view. But it was powerful to read suppositions and sense that they were substantial. I wanted more.
The Epicenter, Joel Rosenburg
Rosenburg started writing political thrillers in 2001 right before 9/11. A significant amount of events that he wrote/writes about have become reality. As he says, "Truth became stranger than fiction." His novels fit their description of being, "thrillers", a little sensational... but I didn't find this to be the case with Epicenter. He wrote Epicenter to explain where he gets his inspiration for the novels. Being a D.C. insider added to his heritage as a Christian Jew, he brings a unique perspective combining Politics, economics, and what he calls "the third lense", scripture. With this extensive background of knowledge added to his faith in our Savior and His prophecies, I found his book to be very informative, interesting, and even inspirational. Reading it agitated my budding interest in Judaism and the Holy Land. It made Iran's and Russia's actions of late come into focus, and it gave me hope for events that will eventually herald the way into the Second Coming. I would reccomend the book to anyone that enjoys current events, religion, and political science, because he weaves them all together to form a great picture of the present and possible future.
I recently met a man from Jan ur by Jhan - ok so I'm not really pronouncing it correctly but they are a country by Russia who has been fighting the Turks for the last decade. He runs a suit shop in St. George and Pete needed a suit to go to Paris last month. Between tayloring and color matching, we three had a very interesting conversation. Tiger, (that's his name, only one of the many interesting things about him, for example his pet Zebra) talked to Pete about active duty military. He has served on the front lines of war for 8 years, though his Italian looks portrayed an age of 20. He spoke of Russia as an ally as well as the U.S. in a positive light. He suggested that Bush went into Iraq as a spring board into Iran. Iran and Korea both pose a threat to the U.S. and U.S. interests but the world would stand behind us against Korea, not Iran. Bush had a choice between the two, he knew we, with current military levels would/could not do both so he chose Iran via Iraq. Who could blame him? This was the jist of his argument and it made me think and I think possibly agree with him...given my current knowledge. What struck me more than his very striking argument was 1) His breadth of knowledge of the world and 2) His knowledge of US foreign policy. He was fair. I think because the US is a super power, we tend to be oblivious to real currant affairs. Our news isn't reality anymore, it's about Tom Cruises latest whatever... I've taken to reading british newspapers anymore, they tell the story more accurately...
This all brings me to my point that this book was a similar experience for me. It let me peek into the world of world leaders and hear their thoughts, stances, and opinions...albeit through Rosenburg's world view. But it was powerful to read suppositions and sense that they were substantial. I wanted more.
Monday, July 23, 2007
I Can Do Hard Things
My favorite item of business that we do in our homeschool daily is we recite the "Quote of the week". Last week it just happened to be, "I Can Do Hard Things." If I knew who first said it, I would attribute it to them, but since I don't, I will attribute it to a dear friend who suggested what a powerful "mental tape" that would be for a child to have. I'm really into mental tapes and want my children to have only the best, so we began...
It was great from the beginning... it tied into everything! Nephi had to leave his home and all his great stuff...would that be hard? YES, Nephi did hard things. Can you do hard things. YES! Lehi had to talk to a bunch of people that wanted to KILL him. Would that be hard? YES! Lehi did hard things, can you do hard things. YES! I can do HARD things! What I hadn't anticipated, but turned out to my utter delight was the out of the school room time.
We went to McDs in Vegas and I was holding my 1 month old while Bekah (2) and Katrina(5) played on the play place. My ears caught sound of Bekah's familiar wail above the commotion of the 10 other children running around. I walked over and said, Bekah what's wrong. MOMMY! HELP! Bekah I just can't climb up there, I have Olivia...MOMMY!!! Bekah, remember you can do hard things...try to figure out what you need to do to get down. 2-3 minutes later a Beaming blondie ran around the corner to me shouting, "Mommy! I CAN do HARD things!!!" Classic moment. This is one of many examples that we all have learned we can do hard things. Truly, the quote of the week is my favorite.
It was great from the beginning... it tied into everything! Nephi had to leave his home and all his great stuff...would that be hard? YES, Nephi did hard things. Can you do hard things. YES! Lehi had to talk to a bunch of people that wanted to KILL him. Would that be hard? YES! Lehi did hard things, can you do hard things. YES! I can do HARD things! What I hadn't anticipated, but turned out to my utter delight was the out of the school room time.
We went to McDs in Vegas and I was holding my 1 month old while Bekah (2) and Katrina(5) played on the play place. My ears caught sound of Bekah's familiar wail above the commotion of the 10 other children running around. I walked over and said, Bekah what's wrong. MOMMY! HELP! Bekah I just can't climb up there, I have Olivia...MOMMY!!! Bekah, remember you can do hard things...try to figure out what you need to do to get down. 2-3 minutes later a Beaming blondie ran around the corner to me shouting, "Mommy! I CAN do HARD things!!!" Classic moment. This is one of many examples that we all have learned we can do hard things. Truly, the quote of the week is my favorite.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Blog Name and other "inklings"
C.S. Lewis called his discussion groug, "The Inklings" which name has caused me to think often of my own "inklings", those quiet musings that light on the mind so expertly. Our inklings was the closest I could get to "The inklings", which in time, I'm sure will produce some wonderful revelation...like I have duel personalities or something, but it will stick for now. This Blog will contain my "Inklings", my successes running my little homeschool (or possibly some failures...if they are amuzing enough), book reviews (I'm excited for this one), and any experiences that push me forward in my ever ready and stretched out search for truth.
Being an official "Truth Seeker" is a great thing to be, especially for me. A Truth Seeker needn't stick to any one opinion on any number of things, because that's the whole idea of obtaining truth...growing in thought etc. So as a life-long perpetual mind changer, this suit "suits" me.
Being an official "Truth Seeker" is a great thing to be, especially for me. A Truth Seeker needn't stick to any one opinion on any number of things, because that's the whole idea of obtaining truth...growing in thought etc. So as a life-long perpetual mind changer, this suit "suits" me.
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