Articles written by Brittle Pen

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About me - Brittle Pen

Since grade school, I have enjoyed writing as long as I was interested in the subject or had some artistic license.

I am a Chemical Engineer by trade and training, but I recently left the traditional work place to stay home and be with my Preschool son. I

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Celebrations & Holidays > Valentine's Day Why Valentine's Day is bittersweet: 2 of 43
Why is Valentine's Day bittersweet? I believe the answer is "Because life is bittersweet". Valentine's Day was born on the bittersweet day that brought the execution of Saint Valentine. He left the world in pain due to bitter hatred, but was delivered into a sweet eternal life with the Father. Legend says that on the day of S... More..
Education > Homeschooling Where to go for homeschooling curriculum and supplies: 1 of 8
Home schooling has become a very viable, effective and popular choice for education in the last few years. Because of this, there is a great market for home schooling supplies and texts. One of the first things that the home schooling parent should do is visit their state's office of education website or contact someone with ... More..
Hobbies & Games > Kids Games & Toys Toys for helping children read: 2 of 12
For preschoolers, hands-on toys are a must. Learning at this age comes through touching, playing, and manipulating. As all parents do, I have made sure that my preschooler has toys that help him learn the fundamentals (alphabet, etc.) of reading. These toys range from high-tech to antique and, contrary to the adverts on TV, t... More..
Education > Early Childhood Ed Goals and techniques for developing pre-reading skills: 2 of 12
There are six (6) pre-reading skills (recognized by US libraries and emergent reader groups) necessary for a child before they begin active reading. These skills are as follows:1) Print Motivation - In layman's terms, print motivation is thinking that reading and books are fun and enjoyable. Toddlers and babies can learn this... More..
Education > Early Childhood Ed Deciding whether full or half day kindergarten is best for your child: 2 of 11
Whether full or half-day kindergarten is best for your child is sometimes a decision that parents don't get to make. Many school districts are now instituting full-day kindergarten with no half-day alternatives. If a parent wants their child to attend a half-day kindergarten program, they may be required to decide between pri... More..
Celebrations & Holidays > Special Occasion Gifts Ideal Christening gifts: 1 of 5
Because Christening (Baptism) is the initiation into the Christian Family, I believe in giving gifts that can help that person grow in Faith or help that person express their Faith. The following list of potential gifts is organized for children and adults:Children:1) Children's Bible ("The Read With Me Bible" is a great one.... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Christian Beliefs & Culture Christian faith and the beauty of simplicity: 8 of 37
Many Christians believe that simplicity is beautiful, because the act of being simple helps bring our hearts and minds to Christ.For instance,1) When I live simply and without waste, I conserve resources so that others can live (in a model of the Redeeming life that Christ has given to us).2) When I think in a simple and focu... More..
Education > Early Childhood Ed Learning to read: 5 of 23
In order to teach a young child to read, they must first develop pre-reading skills and then they must be actively taught how to read. There are six (6) pre-reading skills (recognized by US libraries and emergent reader groups) necessary for a child before they begin active reading. These skills are as follows:1) Print Motiva... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Meditation & Prayer Creating a prayer space: 4 of 18
We all need peace, quiet, and focus sometimes to nurture our prayer lives. When we remove distracting noises and images from our environment, we are more likely to focus on the presence and Word of God. One good way to remove ourselves from distraction during prayer is to create a prayer space in our home, which we can go to ... More..
Health & Fitness > Diet Programs Does the Atkins Diet really work?: 5 of 21
The Atkins Diet...The Miracle That Wasn't. When I first began the Atkins Diet, I thought it was the greatest thing ever. My quantities of food were not restricted and I was able to eat those fatty forbidden foods that I had omitted from my personal menu for years...and I lost weight. Everyone around me was eating the Atkins w... More..