Planning for our summer session…

For the last couple of days, I have been working on a new plan for our summer school session. While exploring curriculum choices makes me happy and excited, that feeling doesn’t carry over into the actual ins and outs of the everyday school day. We are a relaxed homeschool family, but we function better and get more accomplished when we have some sort of plan ahead of us. So, 3 times a year, I work on a schedule to give us a guide for what we need to accomplish.  I like the idea of new curriculum but the implementation is so difficult for me.
I have had so many plans that have been unfulfilled over the last 6 yrs. of homeschooling, that it took lots of soul-searching to decide what were our family goals, what really would work for us and how to go about it. I came to the conclusion that I wanted my kids to “LOVE” learning as one of our primary goals, unit studies and chronological history using living books worked for us, and that we are really laid back and a relaxed style was what was needed in our home. No stress!

We’ve homeschooled for 6 yrs. now but every time I start looking at curricula for the next year or sit down to make a plan, I have to remind myself of what our priorities are and what works for us ~ because it all looks good from the outside!!

Do my kids study different things and do they need to? Well, when we started, I had only 1 child in school, DD played with play-doh and doodled, watched Sesame Street counting videos and pretended to read books from the pictures. So it was so much easier, and we also went that first year with basics for kindergarten. We followed that first year with Abeka, which is a great intensive learning curriculum ~ we liked some aspects of it like the math, but overall it wasn’t a fit for us. That led us to unit studies and Five in A Row… This is where we begin to really have our eyes opened to what worked for us as a family unit.
I found that it isn’t necessary or desirable for us to use different curriculum for each child. Some mothers are better at scheduling and can handle this. I can not… My brain will not allow me to have so many things floating around and stay sane. This may come as Earth-shattering news, but it’s true…
My kids study the same topics and subjects using slightly different information and intensity based on age. I try and plan for certain subjects based on grade level (like Math, English, Spelling)  to assure continuity and increased levels knowledge and understanding based on age and ability. .

We homeschool year-round, so we can still take breaks often but not have to repeat information that I spent weeks working on with them due to it being forgotten while we spent 2.5 months playing outside in the sun. For us, it works to be able to do both. They still have frequent vacations, just not for months at a time, and are able to get some school done everyday. And it is possible to do it all the while meeting the needs of your kids who are most likely at different stages of development. Another thing that I like about using one curricula is that it saves time, money, and sanity.

We are able to take field trips, do crafts and activities, and play games as they relate to our studies as a family unit. Not having one child be bored or uninterested because they aren’t familiar with what the other child is studying or what the field trip is about. Plus this allows for me to get our goals accomplished without overextending myself. Something that used to happen on a daily basis and left me tired, grumpy, and not enjoying the time spent with my kids.

There is no single curriculum that is going to answer all your homeschooling needs. Children in a family are at different ages, abilities, interests, and developmental stages. But you can develop a plan that suits your own family needs and can build on it to help aid you in your learning adventure. Take the time to build a library for your house, and encourage your kids to have fun while learning. By combining our studies, I have saved money (very important in this economy), my time (one of my most important posessions), and saved my sanity (at least for awhile). And the best benefit is that my family is growing, learning together and becoming a closer knit family. The best outcome of all.

Midwest Homeschool Convention 2011 ~ part 4

HOMESCHOOLING THE REAL CHILD ~ Susan Wise Bauer
Diagnosing the problem leads to solving the problem!!!

1. What is the real problem?  You? Do you have realistic expectations? Think of things that block the goal. Sit down and write a half page summary of what you think your perfect day should look like ~ then you can evaluate what road blocks are in the way.
2. Do you have a daily plan?  Children need a daily plan ~ so they don’t feel out of control.
3. Have you looked back at where you were a year ago? Have you progressed? Is it real for each child? They are all different.
4. Have you forgotten your child is a human being?  A constantly maturing and changing being.

Look beyond the symptoms at character qualities:
Purposeful~ determined to do what “he or she” wants to do (impatient and moody)
Immature ~ children working ahead of the age/skill level (will often be argumentative, unenthusiastic, restless, distractable)
Single-minded ~ focused on one topic
Multi-talented ~ finds it hard to focus
Independent or creative child
if there is a constant battle ~ CHANGE THE CURRICULA!!
STRATEGIES:

1. “Nibbled to death by ducks” ~ a little tiny bit every day. Release the worry of progression. Give kids time to mature and decrease frustration. 5-15” lessons will decrease conflict and anxiety. Let go of progress expectations.
2. System of rewards ~ there is nothing wrong with occasional bribery.
3. Drop the difficulty level, increase the time ~ by dropping the intensity of the program, you let the child learn at their own pace.
4. Parent / child contract ~ All people need some range of power. Negotiate something mutually binding of appropriate powers. (in writing and in view)
5. 3 - way teaching ~ when kids hit an academic wall, you need to find a way around that wall. Read out loud, read to self, read to you ~ slightly change the variables everyday. (HEAR, FEEL, SEE)
6. The timer ~ this won’t change a kids normal work pace but it will aide in eliminating distractions. Motivate thru rewards when using a timer.
7. BLOCK scheduling
8. Ten minute sprints ~ list people, play musical chairs, liven up the day and the curriculum.
9. Written checklist ~ gives kids control over their day and how much needs to be done before it’s over. They need a visual picture of when they can be done.
10. Create your own curriculum
11. Step out of time ~ YOU are the one in control. Always question this, do it your way.

DON’T GO GLOBAL ~ keep a sense of humor and find a sense of peace. Kids aren’t machines. It will all work out  in the end!

Midwest Homeschool Convention ~ part 3

PREPARING SON’S FOR LIFE: THE MOM’S PART   ~ Shirley Solis
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
   and do not forsake your mother’s teaching
                                                      ~ Proverbs 1: 8
12 STEPS:

1. We need to understand the heart of a man
2. Trust God ~ ask God to show you if you have a healthy relationship with your son.  Psalm 68 is a great place to start.
3. Fight the feelings of sheltering. Let them be adventurous, let them make mistakes and learn from them.
4. Cover them with prayer.
5. Be a strong woman ~ willing to raise a strong boy in the “age of opportunity”. DON’T BE AFRAID!!
6. Be willing to get dirty. Let them have animals.
7. Teach them to have good manners and Godly character.
8. Be diligent and industrious yourself.
9. Be cheerful and show them the beauty of life ~ look inside your own heart.
10. Have a general vision for your son ~ a goal for him to achieve in life.
11. Help and encourage them with their general vision and goals.

RAISE THEM UP, DON’T CRUSH THEM DOWN  ~ Mark Hamby
This was one of my favorite sessions. Grace is something I long to show my children as God has shown it to me and continues to give it to me freely.
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.  ~ Romans 5: 1-5
Character and endurance are two of the most important qualities a child can possess. Always demonstrate grace and control with your children.
Instead of your voice, children should hear your heart. They need to see our compassion and God’s grace thru us. They need compassion ~ every morning anew.
He tends his flock like a shepherd:
   He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
   he gently leads those that have young ~ Isaish 40:11
Open your heart to your children. Allow them to see all that is inside ~ the good, the ugly, the kind, and the cruel.
He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction. ~ Malachi 4:6
The results of the curse is:
the serpent ~ will crawl on it’s belly in constant conflict
Eve ~ in sorrow (intense labor) she will bring forth children
Adam ~ in sorrow he will bring forth the fruit of the ground
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen ~ Revelation 22:21
In closing ~ GRACE is unconditional acceptance and forever love.

Midwest Homeschool Convention 2011 ~ part 2

COMBINING CLASSICAL EDUCATION, CHARLOTTE MASON, AND UNIT STUDIES WITH A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE ~ David Hazell (MFW)

The main goal I got from this session was to again ~ START WITH A GOAL, GET GENERAL DIRECTIONS, AND THEN REFINE.

Mr. Hazell likened the different learning pathways to roads on a map.

• INTERSTATE ~ is school at home
• TOLLWAYS ~ Christian school at home
• ROUTE 66 ~ Classical Education
• SCENIC ROUTE ~ Unit studies
• RESIDENTIAL ROADS ~ unschooling
• MAP SYMBOLS ~ eclectic schooling

and most important is the MAP KEY which is your tour guide to finding your way amidst all the different genres out there.

One of the most important lessons for me this session was that the most important subject in our schools today should be BIBLE. And it is the subject that even in homeschools is the one that gets put away to the side when having a busy day full of errands or a day when your not feeling well or have a sick child. When getting ready to go to an appointment and getting the kids stuff together, why is it that we always make sure we have the 3 R’s and leave bible by the wayside. It should be the FIRST and FOREMOST subject of importance in our day!!

This should be communicated to our kids ~ so that they know the importance of God’s blessings in our lives and the importance of learning the bible and all the history within.

 

BALLISTIC HOMESCHOOLING: THE BOY FRIENDLY HOMECHOOL ~ Hal and Melanie Young

First and foremost ~ BOYS ARE WIRED DIFFERENT !! It’s okay for them to wiggle!!

Boys are made for a different purpose. Don’t get pulled into stereotypes. God creates each of us as individuals. And our job as parents and teachers is to allow them to learn at their own pace. We need to take what works for our family.

Boys are better at spatial reasoning. Don’t say “WHAT IS IT” to a boy ~ say “TELL ME ABOUT IT”. Another key to remember with educating boys is that they draw and color in “action”.  Don’t let difficulty in one area interfere with other subjects.

When children are allowed to learn later, they learn faster. So it’s OK to learn at the pace that is comfortable for them.

A scope and sequence is basically not something that is necessary for our homeschools today ~ it’s a factory model of education. Homeschooling gives flexibility, so that each child can work at the pace that is for them. When trouble areas arise, it allows the freedom to work through the issues.

Boys love competition ~ make lessons a sport.

Boys get excited over noise ~ it’s ok to make noise. Speak louder when talking to boys.

There is a major difference in how boys and girls view history, math, and science.

For example when teaching history to your children:

• teach girls about culture, foods, clothing, and lifestyle.
• teach boys about war, battles, soldiers, danger, courage, exploration, and adventure

It’s ok to teach your son to be a hero and learn about courage filled men ~ Men lay down their lives for the weak and innocent every day and it’s an honor to teach our young men about these heroes.

Boys are easily distracted ~ it takes a lot of physical energy for a boy to sit still. Research shows mental acuity improves after physical activity in boys. Allow them to do push-ups, run up and down the stairs, and do jumping jacks in between subjects.

Keys about boys to remember:

• it’s ok to write big
• it’s ok to not sit in a chair (boys like to stand or sit on knees a lot of the time)
• it’s ok to do things differently

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Midwest Homeschool Convention 2011

Last year was my first year going to the MHC in Cincinnati, Ohio. I had been several times to our local homeschool conference, but this was the first “MAJOR” conference the I was able to go too. I had such a good time and gleaned so much info, that a friend and I couldn’t wait to go back this year.

I was disappointed over the disinvite that Ken Ham had received and had I been able to get my money back, I would probably have cancelled my trip due to my feelings of his being treated unfairly and unjustly.

But Ken is such a gracious man that he extended an invite to all families with paid admission to the conference to be allowed to tour the “Creation Museum” over the weekend and we even heard him speak there. I was happy to be able to shake his hand and let him know his stand was appreciated by my family. And the 20% discount on AIG products was awesome as well!!

Here’s some of the information and lessons I gleaned from the speakers this year:

LIES HOMESCHOOL MOMS BELIEVE ~ Todd Wilson

The most important lesson I learned from Mr. Wilson was to “TAME THE TECHNO-BEAST” . This is has been something I was already striving to get under control. It is so easy to get online and waste numerous hours of the day. I  now make it a point to only check e-mail briefly in the AM before we start school and to avoid getting online for anything other than education during our school day.

Another lesson I came away with was my perspective on “HOMESCHOOL FOG”  ~  it’s ok to have a messy house and eat cereal. You are a homeschool mom and your first priority is to teach your children and help them to become all they can be.  

These days it is so easy to have feelings of inferiority in the society we live in and the techno-beast makes it all too easy to compare ourselves to others who we might think are doing a better job at teaching their kids, cleaning their houses, fixing 4 course dinners. We really have to work at combating these feelings and to realize that we are individuals and no two families are alike.

Some ways we can combat those feelings of inferiority are:

• Be REAL
• be open, honest, and vulnerable (let people see the “REAL” you)
• don’t hide (it’s ok if your friends come over and see the science experiment on the kitchen counter or the laundry being folded on the couch)
• don’t compare (a difficult thing to do in the modern day world of blogging)
• talk about issues with others (they probably have the same problems)
• PRAY by yourself and with others (this is a biggie for me ~ everyone needs more prayer and warm thoughts these days)
• talk to your husband ~ let him know when you are overwhelmed and needing help ~ it’s ok to get him involved
• allow others to be “real” with you ~ it’s easier to be real with others when they can be real with you

Finally the two most important steps to defeating the lies that homeschool moms believe:

THERE IS NO ONE BETTER THAN YOU TO TEACH YOUR KIDS

YOUR KIDS WILL BECOME WHAT GOD INTENDED THEM TO BE ~ ACCEPT AND LOVE THEM FOR WHO THEY ARE, NO MATTER WHAT

 

HISTORY VIA THE SCENIC ROUTE ~ Diana Waring

History is everything that has ever happened. In history our children will see God’s faithfulness and the courage of others.

Come and see what God has done.
      See what wonderful things he has done for his people!
He turned the Red Sea into dry land.
      The people of Israel passed through the waters on foot.
     Come, let us be full of joy because of what he did.
He rules by his power forever.
      His eyes watch the nations.
      Let no one who refuses to obey him rise up against him ~Psalm 66: 5-7

I guess the major concept for me in this session was “WHY THE HURRY?”

Why do we get in such a rush to teach history? History is a daily, on-going occurrence and we should allow our children to learn it in a way that is relaxed and inviting. Help to foster that love in them!

ANTICIPATION ~ it needs to be there in an effective history program, building up the excitement!!

Some guidelines for a fabulous year with history:

• take time ~ make the decision that it will be so worth making things come to life
• read the map ~ history should be chronological, make sense to kids, geography can play such a big part in this
• a starting point
• not all kids are interested in history ~ it’s important to “hook your fish” by learning how to turn up the interest and create that love for learning.

History should involve the senses:

• see it
• taste it
• hear it
• touch it
• smell it

 

NOTEBOOKING: CREATIVITY WITH A PURPOSE ~ Jeannie Fulbright

Notebooking is an education methodology that employs a child’s comprehension, critical thinking, and creativity to produce a permanent work of artistic and academic value. This will replace artificial learning with real understanding. By using narration, learning is increased by retention through engaging the child and teaching them to focus on the topic. It replaces worksheets and tests by engaging the whole mind by teaching contemplation, thinking skills, and employing long term memory.

The benefits of homeschooling are:

• promotes retention
• transmits ownership of knowledge
• learner becomes author
• learner gains confidence
• can intelligently discuss subject with others
• enjoys learning when the pressure is off
• provides record of subjects studied
• provides method of review

How to notebook: After learning, a child will ~

• write
• draw
• color
• collect
• create
• craft
• picture

 

Amon’s Adventure

 

Jotham’s Journey is a wonderful book about Advent and we have read it and the following books over the last several years during the Christmas holidays. The latest installment in the series is called “Amon’s Adventure”. Our family loves reading them… I was so excited to see that this was being released, I couldn’t wait to order it. My kids were really looking forward to starting it.

The latest in the series takes you on a trip through the season of Lent,  culminating on Easter Sunday. It involves “Jotham” (the character from the 1st book) as he is accused of a terrible crime. His 13-year-old son (with Tabitha from “Tabitha’s Travels”) is Amon, who tries to save him. Along the way Amon joins the crowds on Palm Sunday, hears the Messiah speak, outwits Roman soldiers who plan to kill his father and Jesus, witnesses Judas Iscariot’s betrayal, and beholds Christ's crucifixion. 

We love these books as they are set in fact and biblically based. The characters are of a similar age to my own kids which makes it easy for them to become “involved” in the story. The series’ also have end-of-chapter devotions and the website has all kinds of great info and questions that can be used with the book…

 

Reading Amon’s Adventure with my kidlets…

In case you want to look at this series ~ Christian Book has them for $7.99 – $9.99 …

Jotham’s Journey

Tabitha’s Travels

Bartholomew’s Passage

Amon’s Adventure

Our Week of Testing…

This week was our week of standarized testing that is required by our umbrella program every year. It normally is a hectic month of stress for me as I buy test prep books to help prepare the kids for the test. I usually worry about how they will do and it’s so stressful  ~ but this year I prayed a lot about it and had a sense of peace. And other than reviewing some math concepts a couple of days prior to testing, we did ABSOLUTELY NO REVIEW!!

I actually had a peace about how things were going to be. I’m simply amazed at how calm and worry-free the month and the week prior to testing were.

  Getting ready to leave for testing…

   Playing “Brain Quest” on the way…

  Libby napping on the hour drive…

Then at the end of the first day ~ my little girl handed me a note that she had written.

    Testing is so fun. That’s becus I love snacks. I love testing. Thank you Mommy.

Getting a note like this makes it all worth it… I love my sweet girl!!!

Friends of the Library Book Sale..

Nirvana for the book lover or the homeschool mom on the hunt for resources for the next year…Which I am both…
I went to our local (45 min. away) “Friends of the Library Book Sale” today and did I ever luck up…
It was being a kid in a candy store… I was in heaven!!
                                        
I bought 48 books and spent a whopping $10… yes it was $5 a box and I had my 2 boxes loaded…
                                         
  I got some great paperbacks like:
What you should know about the American Flag”
Hans Brinker 
Adventure in Alaska
Journey Home
Mississippi Bridge
On the Long Trail Home
             
And some fantastic hardbacks like People and Places, America’s Story, Earth and Stars, Numbers and Discoveries (all great books from Southwestern)
“What your 6th grader needs to know”  ED Hirsh (Core Knowledge series)
Several books from the “Cornerstone of Freedom” series
Lots of books on different countries from the“Enchantment of the World” series
and several  of the “NewTrueBook” science / geography series
    
These two were $33.50 each on Amazon and are brand new!!
Yes, I am doing the HAPPY DANCE!!!

Friday Funny

The Ugly Duckling...

Took the kids to see a play of the "Ugly Duckling" yesterday... It was a take on the original by Hans Christian Anderson and it was funny but so true...

The main theme was that it's hard being different. A strange egg showed up in Mama Duck’s nest and hatched and a very ugly duckling was born. After many failed attempts to "fit in," the ugly duckling set out on a journey to find his true place in the world. He ended up coming to the realizization that he has to love himself before he can find out who he really is.

This rang so true for me and I think it got across to my kid;ets ~ that true beauty and happiness comes not from anyone else but from yourself and inside you.  This is one of the most important lessons I want my kidlets to learn that they have to love themselves and find happiness in "WHO THEY ARE"... So often in our society/culture happiness and beauty is thought to be on the outside or what you own or possess... I don't want that for my kids ~ I want them to know true joy and happiness that can be bought or manufactured...

This morning for our devotions,  we discussed what we had learned from the play and looked at these verses ....

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.  Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight."   1 Peter 3: 3 -4

"I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live." Ecclesiastes 3:12

"When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. "  Ecclesiastes 7:14

 and my favorite verse of all Phillipians 4: 11, where the main idea was to be CONTENT ~  " for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."

 There is a great study guide that can be found to go along with reading the "UGLY DUCKLING" and you can get it FREE here...

Spelling Fun

Yes,  we are doing spelling in our jammies!!
Since today's Friday, it's time for our weekly spelling test..and since we aren't doing our regular co-op this semester, I had promised the kids we would be doing more fun stuff in school... So, I thought why not have fun with spelling?

So we got out our letter blocks and our banagrams and the kids spelled out their spelling words as I called them out to them. They loved it and it was a great way to put a little fun in our day...

Some free sites that we like to use for spelling fun and games are:

Spelling City

Spelling Bee

FunBrain Spelling

Have a FUN Friday !!

Best Friends...

I know that one of the blessings of our homeschool journey is that in the end ~ they will always be best friends...

Viewing Jupiter...

   Tonight we have been outside viewing Jupiter...this apparently happens every 13 months with tonight being the closest it has come to the Earth since 1963 and is closer than it will be until 2022...



Astronomers call this "opposition of Jupiter" where our (being the Earth's) faster orbit places Jupiter opposite of the Sun in our sky...

Through binoculars, you can see one, two or more of the planet’s four largest moons, known as the "Galilean Satellites". They will appear as tiny ’stars’ strung out in a line bisecting the planet. We brought out our Galileoscope and our binoculars and was able to see well... as the planet was just to the left of our moon...



The view from my front porch...

Reminder: tomorrow night Uranus will also be visible and you can find a chart here to help you locate it...

Thursday...

Well, we are almost done with our first week of school and I must say that it is going well.. The kids are waking up by themselves without much prodding... I seem to be the one that is having trouble with the morning rise n' shine... But I am going to work on it...

We've only been doing the 3R's and Bible this week, but tomorrow we're going to start a new Download N' Go unit that the kids are really excited about, which is why we are getting started on Friday instead of waiting til' Monday... *LOL*  Which is wonderful to have them so eager to get going..

Which brings me to the question? Have you checked out the Download N' Go series yet? It is wonderful... The excitement of a unit study without all the work and prep that goes with it.. You can check them out here... There are some wonderful titles to choose from..

But I am honestly very pleased with our week so far... My 10yo DS even told me he is liking English this year, which is a complete turn around from last year... I'm glad the Rod& Staff has grown on him...

Well, off to print out some mini-books to use with our new unit tomorrow...

Have a great night!!

School Planning for the New Year 2010-2011

Yes, it's that time again... Every July I begin the practice of planning my new school year... I usually have a good idea in mind what curriculums to use and what areas to cover, but I always refer back to a specific book that has helped me tremendously since I started homeschooling 6 years ago...

Home Learning Year by Year by Rebecca Rupp



It cover Preschool through 12th grade and is very detailed with specific comments about what is expected... It is perfect for those who have questions about what to teach next, whether they are on the right track, or like me just want an idea of where to go next... The resource lists are great and it is a definite help for those of us who like to use unit studies or like to make our own...

Another great resource is, yes, another book by Rebecca Rupp... "THE COMPLETE HOME LEARNING SOURCE BOOK"



I pull this out every year as I look at different curriculums and when I am planning our unit studies... It's classified by subject area and sub-divided into topics, so you can easily find resources for what you are looking for whether it includes books, films, science kits, board games, coloring books and more ... A treasured item in our HS library for sure... The only draw back is that it could use some updating as new curriculums and resources are continually coming out...

And last I always turn to "HOMESCHOOL SHARE" ... This has to be my favorite FREE resource ever!!! I use things from this website all year long, whether it be a literature-based unit study, a lapbook, mini-books to go along with a book or subject that we are using or studying... I can't say enough about the wonderful things you will find there... and all the hard work put in by different homeschoolers and their willingness to share their work with others.. It has definitely been a blessing to our homeschool...

Well, these are the things that I use every year as I plan... If you have any other resources, I would love to hear about them... Anything that makes planning easier is certainly a benefit to us all...

Have a great week!!

ALEKS Math

Well, we have finished our first week using ALEKS math as a supplement to our Horizons math program... And I am pleased to say that DS LOVED it!! The only bad thing is that DD isn't able to partake in that it is only for 3rd grade and above... I signed up for the FREE month through the freebies from TOS, but now I am considering signing him up under the monthly option... It has been something he has actually asked to do everyday and even in the afternoon in his free time.. It is $19.95 a month or $99.95 for 6 months so the price isn't completely unreasonable in that it actually could be his math program in whole... They also have downloads and printables on the site to use as well... I will continue to post about our use through the month... then we will see if the newness wears off or if he continues to be as happy with it as he is now...

Cincinnati Homeschool Convention

I CAN'T WAIT!!! 
Oh, yes, I am getting to go this year!!
DH is taking some time off work to be home with the kidlets and I, along with 4 other homeschool moms/friends are hitting the road to Cincinnati!!
This is the first time for any of us to attend a homeschool event of this size. so we are all looking forward to attending the seminars and workshops,  listening to different speakers, and actually getting to see and touch curriculum that we have wanted to check out but never had the opportunity to do so "in person" shall we say.
And have you seen the list of speakers that they have lined up so far... So looking forward to Cathy Duffy, Susan Bauer and Jim Weiss (why he's the reason my kids love history, thanks to his wonderful readings of Story of the World 1)...
Well I can't say much else, other than I am truly looking forward to the topics list when it come out!!
So check it out, April 8-10, 2010 at Cincinnati Homeschool Convention

Exploring Nature...

This summer we took some Junior Ranger classes with some homeschool friends...The Junior Ranger programs are wonderful and are offered/available in most State and National  Parks...You can find out more about the program here..

 

You can also find free curriculum, fun and games, and a guide to park Junior Ranger programs and a host of other fun and educational media created by the National Park Service here...

The 2009 Perseid Meteor Shower...

Tuesday night I set the alarm clock to go off at 2am which was the beginning of the peak time to see the meteor shower that I had been waiting for days to show the kids...Well, mother nature didn't cooperate with us and it was cloudy and proceeded to thunder-storm...

But being persistent, we set out to see what we could last night... 

                  (wish our view could have looked like this one)

                  

                         (but it looked more like this...)

And WE DID IT!!!  I now have 2 kidlets that are thrilled about seeing the meteors and looking forward to getting up this morning and learning more about them...

Even though it was not the "prime" viewing time the astronomers had suggested, it was still beautiful and a reminder of God's awesome power and greatness... They were beautiful, some were fast and fleeting and some were large and slow and seemed to glow forever...

 

Here are some resources that I have found this morning while researching for lesson plans/ideas to use today with the kidlets....

2009 Meteor Showers

 

 National Geographic

 

Astronomy for Kids   this is one of my favorite sites (use it all the time)

 

These are some books that I checked out from the library hoping to get to use them!! (had my fingers crossed )

a unit study for this can be found here

a unit study for this can be found here

 

and then this is a great book "I can be an Astronomer" by Paul Sipiera...

 

Hope you got to enjoy the beautiful show from heaven as we did!!

Have a great day and keep your eyes to the stars!!!

Ok.. Week 1~ Day 3 of FULL-TIME school!!

It's been good and bad...

We've almost completed the Ice Cream Unit we started the last week of July (which happened to be National Ice Cream month) and we have also started our composer studies...

Most of our time has been great... The hurdles that we have been working on for the past couple of weeks getting into our full schedule have been tackled and some new ideas have come my way to fix the problem spots...

First, my DD HATES MUS... I thought it would be great for her, a perfect fit... Well, apparently, I was WRONG!!  So, after several days of trying it and listening to her finally cry, I decided to try some old Abeka 1 math worksheets I had that my son had never completed ... and she is in heaven...Loves it...so, I am gonna be doing that and also supplement with the fun stuff from Hooked on Math and Family Math(which we used some last year and they both love) Both of which I got for some real deals last yeat.... I gave $25 for the HOM at a clearance sale (much cheaper than the $150 price on the website) and less than $5 (including shipping) from Amazon on Family Math...

Next on our fix-it list.... We are not going to be able to accomplish "EVERYTHING EVERYDAY" .... So I worked on a schedule yesterday (which I will post a little later after a few tweaks) in which we divide up several items (like history, science, and geography)  ...Also this year, I am dividing up my history and science by semester... I like use unit studies so, I pick and choose info from living books, science books, textbooks, and other sources to meet our needs on the topic we are studing... I try as much as possible to use a chronological approach (more for my sanity) and the kids each have a book of centuries they are putting together, using a 3 ring binder....

So wish me luck and HAPPY LEARNING!!!