I have been diligently working on a new book The Ultimate Ladybug Book! My daughters are very interested in all things ladybug related. I saw a few studies out there that deal with your regular red ladybug with black spots variety but I couldn't find anything that discussed the OTHER kinds of ladybugs (and yes there are a few others). So I bring to you the many months of research on this topic so that you can pass on to your children the knowledge of the variety of ladybugs we have in our midst. No other books are required to make full use of this study:) To purchase this book go to: http://www.currclick.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=194&products_id=29606&it=1&filters=0_0_0&manufacturers_id=194

 

If you have an interest in the cultures of Ancient South America this is the book for you. It investigates the 3 main and distinct cultures of the time:Inca, Aztec & Maya. There were some similarities and differences on each between these 3 sets of people. They certainly weren't "all the same". This book comes with many questions to answer, papers to write, art suggestions and some nifty notebooking pages. There are 42 lessons in all. It is available at

 Currclick  http://www.currclick.com/product_info.php?products_id=28520&it=1&filters=0_0&manufacturers_id=194

and soon will be on The Old Schoolhouse website.

After much delay, due to varies hazards of life at our house I have completed the ultimate social studies book. This book guides you in your study of any country of your choice and with any aged student.  The methods in this book let my family study any country of interest all together and it is a lot more enjoyable that way. There are art projects and notebooking pages for writing assignments. I hope you find this book as helpful to your study of the world as my family has. It is currently available at :

 http://www.currclick.com/product_info.php?products_id=27134&it=1&filters=0_0&manufacturers_id=194

 

Well sleepyhahas- The Ancient North America study does focus just on the native population. There are no vikings listed (sorry Leif). The Eskimos (or Inuits) are a native population and they are represented :) I hope this answers your question!

FuzzyPenguin

This study is completed and available at The Old Schoolhouse store & CurrClick! There is a list of tribes to choose from to study and suggestions on how to do just that! There are "tribal papers" for the students that can be photocopied and filled out for each tribe studied. A very thorough understanding of the native people of the North American continent should be achieved by the end of this study. This topical study has the student looking into many different tribes from the northernmost regions to the southernmost regions. It can be implimented on a daily basis, weekly basis or even once a month. This versatile study can be done whenever and however it suits your particular homeschool family. I hope you enjoy this journey into the past and remember to Endeavor to Persevere!

 Study of Ancient North America   - check it out at:   http://www.theoldschoolhousestore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&manufacturers_id=234&products_id=5693

or

   http://www.currclick.com/product_info.php?products_id=24494&it=1&filters=0_0&manufacturers_id=194

We went camping recently- all of us penguins. I had some concern with the littlest one who has earned nicknames such as "whirling dervish" and "squibbon" due to her propensity to get into mischief. It was however a really good time. So much so that we are "sort of" looking into "getting" a tent of our own (some brave kind soul leant us one for our last trip). It just go to show you that you shouldn't allow yourself to get trapped with predetermined ideas. I wouldn't have guessed a month ago that we'd be hunting sales on tents becuase we all had SO MUCH fun that we want to go camping again and again. Who knew?

Interested in learning about ALL 50 States? What about the capital? What about the United States Territories????   America is a glorious nation and every one of its individual states is beyond compare. Take a journey across this marvelous land and learn all about the 50 states, the nations’ capital and 14 of its territories! This course is a two year coarse that dedicates one week to each state, a week to the capital and a week on the 14 territories. Additional time is spent on your home state. The state you live in should be the one you know the best! There are two years worth of geography included and an overview of our Presidents! There are books that will be needed to complete this course. I have a list of internet sites in the end of this book that have state information and blackline maps and flags available. This may alleviate some book finding for you should you choose to use internet resources. All of the information you need on territories (except Puerto Rico) is included in this book. Each state will need to have a worksheet completed about it. A paragraph is to be written on each state at the conclusion of the weeks’ work. For those that need a little help I have designed a “fill in the blank” paragraph form. I have worked diligently to make this course flexible for anyone who uses it. If you have a student that needs a quick study on the states you could cut out the extra geography portions and double up the lessons and conceivably finish the program in one school year.  You could also spread out the lessons a lot further.  Any student reading on or close to a third grade level can do this course successfully. Younger students may require more assistance and older students should be able to do most of the work on their own. Enjoy the grand adventure of learning about these United States of America. As always, endeavor to preservere! Click on this link to check it out:)

http://www.currclick.com/product_info.php?products_id=24285&it=1

or

http://www.theoldschoolhousestore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=62_130&products_id=5757

 The Study of Ancient China! This multi-book study on Ancient China uses several books including text books and fiction to bring the student into the realm of Ancient China!  There are lesson questions provided in a worksheet type format for the student to answer. There is some extra writing required at times in the form of essay's and a book report. There are hands on projects that are recommended during the course. The text book questions may be able to be answered via internet researching should you choose to go that route in lieu of purchasing a text book. By the end of this course  a deep understanding of Ancient China should be evident. Enjoy your pursuit of learning and endeavor to persevere! If you want to check it out go to: http://www.currclick.com/index.php?filters=0_0&manufacturers_id=194      

All of us have different stories as to why we homeschool. Interestingly enough I did my Masters thesis on homeschooling when I was obtaining my degree in Education. The more I researched and looked into it the more intriguing it seemed. During my student teaching days I found my hands often tied. I was very earnest and wanted to make a difference.  I was in a bit of a rough school and had students that would curse you out and even attempt physical harm. Notes home to the parent were not permitted nor could I keep them in at recess. I was told to ignore the misbehavior and just teach. I saw other teachers that had given up and were just putting in their time. I didn't want to be like that. I ended up being a vet tech for the first couple of years I was married. When our first child came along we already knew I would homeschool. We had been praying about it even before he was born and we both had a peace about the decision. As long as my husband and I still have a peace about it, as long as we are of one accord, I will continue to homeschool. I pray that is for the entirety of my children's scholastic career (until college anyway:) What about you? What is your homeschool story?

I do hope all of you out there enjoyed your 3 day weekend. It was lovely weather here certainly and we spent a goodly portion of the day at the park. While I watched my little darlings run around with cousins I thanked the Lord Almighty that we have the freedom to enjoy these activities. I made sure I called my dad when we got home and thanked him for all his years of sacrifice in the service. Years he spent making sure that everyone in America would be able to continue to enjoy the Freedom to Pursue Happiness. I also have a brother who not that long ago volunteered to go somewhere no one would want to becuase he wanted to make sure that the Liberties that we enjoy here in America are protected. I thank God that he has returned safely. I have a sister in law as well and cousins who have all given years of their life in service to our country. I am sure everyone of you knows someone that has served in the military. If you haven't thanked them for the sacrifice please give them a call or drop them a line. If you see men and women in uniform smile and say hello. Tell them Thank You. Let them cut in line or  buy them a meal. They may have just spent a year or more living in sand and dodging bullets so that you could stand in that line without worrying about bombs falling on your head. It doesn't matter if you agree with the politics, all people in uniform are sacrificing a part of their lives for us. Don't they at least deserve a smile and wave?

 

                                                                                            This is my multi-book study on Ancient Rome. It uses several books including text books and fiction to bring the student into the realm of Ancient Rome!  There are lesson questions provided in a worksheet type format for the student to answer. There is some extra writing required at times in the form of essay's and a book report. There are hands on projects that are recommended during the course. The text book questions may be able to be answered via internet researching should you choose to go that route in lieu of purchasing a text book. By the end of this course  a deep understanding of Ancient Rome should be evident. Enjoy your pursuit of learning and endeavor to persevere! If you want to check it out go to: http://www.currclick.com/index.php?filters=0_0&manufacturers_id=194

or

http://www.theoldschoolhousestore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=62_130&products_id=5713

 

I think there are almost as many ways to keep attendance as there are homeschoolers! I would like to share with you how I keep attendance in my house and welcome you to share how you keep attendance in yours! At the beginning of our school year I start up a spreadsheet on the computer (any kind of spreadsheet will do, I've used many over the years). I place the names of each of my children across the top and on the left hand side I type in the day of school it would be (1 for the first day, 2 for the second day and so on).  I type in the date that corresponds on the cross block where name of child meets number of day in school. I just put in the dates that school is accomplished by the particular child. Sometimes the dates may not line up if someone was sick on Mon and then passed it on to sis who was sick thurs. But it does adequately account for total number of school days done by each child and when and on one piece of paper!

                                  Puddlebug             Purplekangaroo        Squibbion      schmoo

Day   19                     9/15/08                   9/15/08                        9/16/08            9/15/08

Day   20                    9/16/08                    9/16/08                          9/17/08           9/16/08

 

This is to give an idea. Throughout the course of the year everything usually adjusts itself but I have had someone "done" with school before the others because they never  "missed" a day!

This is what works for us- tell me what works for you!

 

I have created a series of multi-book studies. I decided to come up with this method of teaching a subject because I wanted to combine text book knowledge with interesting fiction and some hands on projects. I believe this method of learning will help the information to sink in all the way and provide a more well rounded approach then textbooks alone. I created these studies to aid my children in their learning process and was recently encouraged by friends and family to seek publishing them so that other homeschooling families may benefit from them. If your looking for more then just a textbook study then you should check out my Multi-book studies :)

I am a homeschooling mom. I have been homeschooling since my oldest was born. Weren't  we all? Teaching them that "pulling on electrical cords" is not such a good plan but saying "momma" is a great way to get attention. When I was in college obtaining my Masters in Education I did my Masters' thesis on homeschooling and at the time I thought "how cool is that? Entrusting yourself to know what is best for your child and how to teach them and not relying on others to figure that out."  After a little time in the public school system and some prayer with my husband we too decided that homeschooling was for our family. This journey that I started on almost 11 years ago has not always been what I thought it would be but it has definately been better then what I envisioned. I pray that all of you are having a better journey then planned as well.