Posted in Homeschool

Back in the school thing full force with yet more changes. Last night I sat up for a bit and worked on report cards. Now this is not a must but I believe it helps the children to see where they are.
Well....
I hate to admit defeat but  I will. I have sent my oldest back to school . His friend that I was homeschooling also went back. Both around the same time.
 I know, I know...I should have held on longer but given the situations here in my home ( a lot of chaos), I gave in. For our sake and for his. Now he attends a school that I can only take comfort in knowing there are many true believers that also attend the school and  a large part of the staff there are also believers. Of course there are downfalls and I know them all to well . Yet this is all I can do for now for the sake of the whole family. 
This has been a struggle this year and I gave up the fight! I was outnumbered, worn out and just plain tired of trying so hard and getting nowhere. Seems things just continued on a downward spiral. So I threw in the white flag and surrendered.
Do I feel like I failed? At times yes. I have my moments, still. It has only been since after Spring break that he went back. He is on his second week. Already I see a change in his attitude. Small but noticeable (to me anyway).

You know I recall the prodigal son. I think of the fact that His father gave him what he asked for. He did not turn him down. He knew, I gather, in his heart that sooner or later he would return home. Did that mean that he (the father) was happy with the decisions that the son was making? No.
Did it mean he would take joy in watching his son make those mistakes? No. It only meant that he (the father) knew it was time to let him make his own mistakes and prayerfully learn from them. He had to allow his son to make the mistake.  In order for him (son) to appreciate what he left, he had to leave it.
Well I feel a bit like this with my son. I feel like the more I pushed him toward homeschool, the more he pulled away. The less he tried and the easier he gave up in his studies. The more outrageous he became. The more things he did to try and go anywhere but here.He didn't want my help and wouldn't accept it when I offered. He was resentful, angry and unhappy. Oh the pain I felt and it almost took me to the ground. Well often it did...to my knees in prayer. I probably should have prayed more than I did. Instead at times I yelled , I screamed  and I cried . I know, not too mature is it?
I hated to look at him this way for as long as I did yet I wanted so bad to not "fail" at this attempt to home school him. When I did this before it was great. He did well. This was of course before he had made many friends and was more of a loner, if you would, than he is now. He didn't like public school. He got picked on and even beat up a few times.This need to not fail, was that for him or for me? I am not sure.
I really thought that I was doing good for him. My other children , when asked if they wanted to return to ps, answered with an astounding NO!  I mean they are happy as larks being homeschooled. However, all my trying did not change the way he( my oldest) felt. I hope and pray this will end a happy ending. I hope his faith in God grows, I hope I can still reach him, I hope that like God's Word says, if I raise them up in the way he should go when he is old he'll not depart from it.  He is mature yet immature. A boy and yet a young man. Desiring to be so independent and struggling with the fact that he still needs to be here at home.
Oh if I were to share the real of this house in the last month, I might lose more than a  few readers. I am not kidding. So I won't get too personal but I will say this..
 It has  been rough waters around here. The storms were pretty strong at times. The winds blew violently. There were even a few hurricanes. Nevertheless,these storms were not strong enough to sink the ship. The ship is a bit beat up, the sails are torn and tattered and we lost a few of our mates but are still sailing towards out destination. A few mates decided to jump ship and sail with another vessel. This is okay now, I struggled with it but realize that those who we start out with will not always finish the course. They must decide what their destination will be. I can only try to lead them and guide them.
Well if you are still reading, thanks sticking with us. I know if it were not for my friends here at HSB and in Blogland, and of course the Lord himself, I wouldn't be on this ship any longer. I'd jumped off months ago. Thanks a million ladies, much love in Christ Jesus too all of you.
Until next time...
Be blessed,
Stacy

Oh yea, today is another of my little brothers B-Day. Happy Birthday JR. Love and miss ya!

Posted in Homeschool

I decided to let the homeschool tracker generate report cards for the kids third quarter. My children (and the other) were all looking forward to seeing their grades.  This is not a mandate of the state I live in. It is actually pretty homeschool friendly down here in MS. All I am required to do is fill out a card by the 15th of September each year with the truant officer in my county and that's it.
One reason I haven't been blogging as much is that I have been  trying to get caught up on entering the completed assignments for  the children.  Below are two of my dc's reports. I am pretty happy with them. I think they are too!
I really do like the homeschool tracker program. I only have the basic one, that would be th free one but for now that is enough for us. I have learned..the hard way that I must keep those assignments entered weekly. Even better would be daily if I could just remember!
Yakastan (my 11 yr old ds)
SOS Bible                                               96.6
ACE English                                          97.2
History/ Social Studies (MOH1)&
American States and Presidents      91.9
Language Arts ( not ACE)                   95.5
Math ( Horizons Math 5)                      86.1
Penmanship                                        100
Science SOS 600                                 86.7
Science (Apologia Zoology1)           100

Animalfriend98 (my 10 yr old dd)
SOS Bible                                                           96
Abeka Health Safety and Manners              100   
History/Social Studies (MOH1)                       92.6
Language Arts/English                                    86.3
Math (SOS 400-)Additional worksheets       89.9
Penmanship (Horizons 400/Copywork)      100
A reason for Spelling C                                     90.3
Apologia Science Zoology 1                           100
I did not post the others as I have not asked permission. However I will say this. Kaybug has all A's and B's. My two high school students are back in public school. I'm working on the post about that. Well that's it for this report. Maybe I will have time later write.
Be blessed,
Stacy

Posted in Homeschool

Well, here I am again at the pc. I just can not seem to stay away. No really I was up doing some school related planning (looks like time opened up for me tonight). I know I said in my last post I wondered how in the world to do it, well I guess you just make the time.
I had a talk with all the children last night. you know, one of those talks that seem to need going over about every six months. That is after mom has let it go and let it go and let it go. Well you get the point. Anyway, they have a new schedule...again.To be honest it is an old schedule with new reinforcement. So this is how it goes. There is actually a bed time now, for all of them. 9 pm. They will go to bed and read and at 10...lights out. Big schedule huh? Well I have to start somewhere.
There are a few differences now to the way we do things. These changes have occurred over the last few weeks.The older boys ( my 15 yr old and his friend that I school also) are now in a program that involves going to a ranch on Mon-Wed. Mon and Tuesdays are Life skills days and Wednesday (depending on their behavior) they ride the horses. They go to the work program on Thursday and Friday and they school here in the afternoon/evenings only on Tues-Friday. I have also switched their curriculum from Alpha Omega SOS to School of Tomorrow Paces. I used these with my oldest  (in the 9th grade right now) for all of his 6th grade year  and he was happy to get back to them. So we will see how things go from here for them.
My daughter and my 11 yr old son have both  started piano/keyboard lessons right here at home.  Can I play? Not at all. We are trying an online program for now until I can afford/find a local instructor. We also started a new bible study I downloaded from the Keys for Kids website. This is how we are going to start our day. In the Word! I often get sidetracked and forget the number on reason I want to homeschool. Teach them first and foremost about God and His way for us.
I have decided to focus on ( other than the Bible) math and spelling with my daughter. She really struggles with both of these subjects. She's a great reader and loves to write. I do worry a bit about her math because we have gone over certain area's many, many times and she is not retaining the information. Maybe I am not teaching it well enough, I mean ya know I am not a certified teacher like some people, in some states, mainly to the west,   think I should be in order to teach my children.  Ok- won't go there .
Anyway, today we started a multiplication lapbook ( of course I will post pics when it is completed).  I know she should have most of these down her being 10 yrs old but like I said, there is a struggle in math. I got the idea from another blog I found. She loved doing it .
Her enthusiasm and interest really jumps to another level when we do hands on like lapbooking. She loves things to do with nature, animals ( of any kind), drawing, journaling, cutting, pasting, coloring, painting and such.  She collects insects (dead ones) . I know that's gross but she keeps them all categorized and in a box, glued to cardboard. She loves to catch lizards. I mean she just about has a fit ( nearly in tears) if she sees one and can not get to it.  She literally searches for them and can spot one quicker than I can blink sometimes .
She realizes that she has to let them go in order for them to live. This of course is after "losing" many lizards to our house cats or the poor things just dying from being taken out of their natural habitat.Now when it comes to trying to keep her focused in a workbook/worksheet is like torture. She daydreams, spins in the chair, plays with her pencil, stares into space or talks about anything and everything.
So why am I saying all this? I guess I am hoping for some feedback here . I know that she has a learning style that suits her. I want to cater to that, as well as my other children. I am not sure of how to do that other than what I am trying now.
I love getting suggestions from you ladies out there that have been where I am, or maybe you are there now and have found a way that will work for you and are willing to share some insight. I know there isn't a perfect way to homeschool but I also know that there are those that have been able to reach into their children and help them bring out the very best of what is in them.
Well now that I have rambled on again tonight, I will stop there. I need to be off to bed. Sorry about the whining in last nights post. I need to not blog when I am so tired. Oh yea, I think I read that somewhere on blogging tips back when I first started here. LOL, Guess I didn't retain it very well.LOL
Be blessed,
Stacy

Posted in Homeschool

Photo's first then I'll tell of the changes.  Oh yes, I must admit that I did see the room switch post that   Ginny did over at  Proverbs 22:6 Academy on Feb 4, 2008 .It motivated me to get this done and to share it on here. Thanks Ginny  By looking at the photo's on her post you will see in her finished pics that she is much more organized than I am .   I am striving one day at a time. I am not a natural when it comes to being organized. I really have to work at it hard and pray that the Lord help me in this area because if i dont watch it, I can be a borderline pack rat. So if you think of it, pray that I will be able to be more organized not only in the classroom but in my life period. Okay, now on to the picture show.

        

Old Classroom (above)

    

Between Room switch (above)

      

New Classroom Before (above)

Yes this room was very messy. Maybe not this bad all the time but pretty bad. We had already moved one bed out with two to go when I took this pic. The boys DO not do a very good job with cleaning and this is another reason for the room switch. I only went in every month or two and cracked the whip made them deep clean the room. This was always an all day event. The larger room was just too much area for them to keep clean. There were just way too many places to "store" unwanted junk, trash some of their things.

Making the switch we threw a lot of the old things that were broken away. I must have given away 5 bags/boxes of clothing that no longer fit either of the older boys or was just too worn out to hold onto and pass down. They went from four chest of drawers and a two long dressers plus a walk in closet that was filled with clothes and junk to only two chest of drawers and one closet that is not even half the size of their old one. We also got rid of the king and queen sized beds and went to two twin sized beds instead. The smaller room should be a bit easier for them to keep clean. So far this week they are doing a good job. No after pics of that room  as it is not the way I want it yet. The switch happened last week.

On to the new classroom pics. 

 

  

My new desk area (above)                           High School Student desk  & small resource area (above) There is a very large walk in closet in this room that is now the Library/Resource Center. It houses the book shelves, arts and crafts supplies, paper supplies and such. This is so much bigger then the other room. I sit back and wonder how in the world we (I) fit so much into the other room! We do have a few more desks in the new classroom now.

  

  

Today I started with a new Pre-K student, we will call him "J" he is 4yo. His aunt approched me and asked if I would consider homeschooling him three days a week. I decided to give it a shot and told her we would try it out and see how he likes it here. He did GREAT today. Having this play area with the toys in the classroom for him and my little one "Z" who is almost 3yo made a huge difference in how the day went today. 

J and Z started on a lapbook today ( D is for Daniel) I got from www.lapbooklessons.com . I found it on Little Blots of Faith under the Lapbook Lessons. I am sure I will share it when they finish. You all know how I love to share pics.  I wasn't sure what the new child would or would not know. He is coming from a public pre-k, Head Start Center.  I am not really sure of where to start but I think the lapbooking will work out great for now.

So anyway this is our new classroom. What started out as just my four has now become my four plus three more . The room change was very needful due to the growth. I am working on another schedule although I find it very hard to stick to a routine. One day at a time is what I keep telling myself. I enjoy doing this more than I could have ever dreamed I would.

Each day is a new begining and another shot at doing this homeschool thing right. Seems each time I get a little weary someone comes along and somehow, someway lets me know this is Gods will for us. When and if I think of doing it any other way I get butterflies, my heart starts to beat too fast and I feel sick to my stomach. Believe me there have been those moments with my oldest who really wants to go to PS that I have felt like throwing in the towel, raising the white flag and giving up and giving in. There was even a day I bought uniforms!!! Yet they are now used for church pants and extra shirts. I can't do it any other way. I must go on. I must perservere. I know in the end it will be worth every moment  to know that I was willing to stick with what God has intended for me to do as the mother to my children. The rewards are evident even now in my children. The pay off for this is much greater than one could ever imagine.

 There are many mothers/fathers out there with the desire to do this (homeschool instead of public) with their children  yet do not have the means, time, or some would say patience (mine runs very thin at times. LOL) to be able to.  The private schools can be very costly and in todays world let's face it, money is a bit harder to come by. The job market isn't so great at the moment. We all know that the public schools are really becoming a place that many christian parents and even those that are not are reluctant to send their children to due to many issues surrounding the public school system and the morals of our society .

I have this feeling that this class is going to grow more and more as we go along here.  I would like to think that maybe I can help by opening my door to be able to help those that want to do this and can't. I do know the parents or aunts or nanas of those I have now and will probably keep it that way. But really, who knows what may be going on here. Oh yeah, I know who....God ! He knows all things.

Well now that I have just rambled on and on and on... I will say Good Night and as always Be blessed.

Stacy

Posted in Homeschool

So where are the dc in school? Well lets see if I can do a little review.

Highschool "B" (my son 15) is currently doing the SOS900, guitar lessons and skateboarding. Still dislikes homeschool and wants to be in PS but he realizes, I think, that's not going to happen. Won't do any group activities and loves to stay to himself. I think he thinks I have cooties. LOL Working hands on  with my hubby doing part time tile work a few days a week. 

Highschooler 'D" ( my new student14, my oldest sons (B) friend) Is doing great in SOS900. A's and B's so far in all five subjects and loves to get in on the MOH1 that we are doing as a group, here daily and ready to do his work. Also works part time with my husband getting trained in the workfield.

Both boys do not work on same days as they play too much then. They alternate days so to be fair and keep my hubby safe from them. LOL

Yakistan ( ds11)- 

Horizons Math 5 -Averaging, Interpreting answers, Division- One and two digit quotients, changing estimates, and three digit quotients. Also doing math games at funbrain.com

Started the ALEKS.com trial today 2/11/08. I may use this instead of Horizons

English- ACE Pace 1052 English Test, no AOP lifepacs the last two weeks. He  seemed to get too burned out so I switched to see if the ACE works better for him plus I already had the curriculum. He likes it.  So far it's good.

Bible400: SOS Psalms 23: Lessons on  Jesus protects, guides, feeds loves and welcomes His sheep.

SOS Science 600: Plants and also Aquatic Biomes

US History: Presidents: Andrew Johnson, Ulysses Grant, Rutherford B Hayes, James A Garfield, Chester A. Arthur, Grover Cleveland.

MOH1: Early Egyptians Civilizations- activities and notebooking.

Penmanship: Copywork Psalms 8 1x each day

Reading: Adventures of Robinson Caruso and Kidnapped Illustrated Classic Editions

Animalfriend98 ( my dd 10)

SOS Bible 400: Living the Bible Way Quiz, The Bible and Me -Test, Start the "God cares for us" Unit. 

SOS math 400: Lines and Shapes  (fractions, missing numbers, operation)

Started the ALEKS.com trial last Friday. She really likes it.  She like to see her "pie" fill in with color! I may replace the SOS or supplement with the Aleks. She is having a hard time in math lately so I wanted to try a change. 

Extra Math worksheets on multiplication and online games at funbrain.com. This week  A week or so ago we made flashcards for her times tables. We printed them then cut and pasted to different colored constuction paper. She enjoyed this. She's a very hands on learner and the text-book, paperwork stuff just isn't cutting it for her memory. She seems to have a real hard time with these, any suggestions? Each day now we will practice with the flashcards for 10-15 minutes.

Science: Aplogia Science- Biomes, today Last week we started the Lesson 2- Birds. What makes a bird a bird, vocabulary words and notebooking.

MOH1: Early Egyptians Civilizations- activities and notebooking.

A Reason for Spelling C: Lesson 8  9

Penmanship: Horizons4 and Psalms 8, also cursive writing workbook

English: Plurals, nouns pronouns, writing: Verbs

 

 Kaybug (dd's friend 10yr, 4th gr)

School of tomorrow paces

Math pace 1045

Science, SS, Word Building, English Pace 1044

MOH1: Early Egyptians Civilizations- activities and notebooking.

SOS- Math 400 (fractions, number order)

Science: Aplogia Science- Biomes, today Last week we started the Lesson 2- Birds. What makes a bird a bird, vocabulary words and notebooking.

My youngest, well we work on numbers, ABC's and whatever else he wants to do. I don't follow a curriculum with him right now. He will be three in a few months and he has days that he really wants to do "school" and others he isn't interested in it at all. I just kind of follow his lead on this right now .

Have a good noght.

Stacy

 

 

 

 

Posted in Homeschool

We made it through week one with little complications. All of the children are doing great and working well together for the most part.  I am sorry for the long break between posts and little to no comments left on any blogs from me. This last week has proved a bit trying for me and I am still not altogether settled into the new routine of job (outside of home), homeschool, and my household duties.  I know it may take just a little more time as the children get used to the new routine also. 

I am doing a lot better with the bed time and sleeping. I am ready to hit the bed by 9 pm and can barely make it past 10 p.m. .  So I really don't think that sticking to that part of the schedule will be a problem.

We are now heading into week two. I only have mine plus one today as I usually only school Tues- Fri. The older boys wanted to school Mon-Fri so I made an exception. They do not need as much supervision or require as much lesson planning because they use the whole 9th grade curriculum from the SOS and that really takes a lot off of me.

Well, I must be off to lesson planning for the week and since it is Monday deep cleaning is on the schedule. If I get a little more time today or this evening I must tell of the blessings in the last week. They just keep on rolling in on us. It is amazing!!! Thursday I had much to be thankful for but really was just to sleepy after the day to get on here and blog  about it. So I will tell about that at a later time. I will also tey catching up on some of yall's blogs this week. 

Have a blessed day,

Stacy

 

 

Posted in Homeschool

For our first day with all five students (thats not adding my toddler) we had a GREAT day . I was amazed at how well the children got right back to work with little to no complaining. Our new highschooler, I call him "D"  jumped right in and did a great job. He completed all of his assignments in all five subjects and seemed to have the know how on the PC to get around on the SOS. I believe this is good for my oldest "skater" to have someone his age around. "D" and Yakistan, my 11 yr old, get along great too! All the dc were finished with a fulls days lessons in only four and a half hours (((((((hands clapping))))).  Way to go kiddos! My new 4th grader  kaybug1997  finished her work and even helped with my toddler until the rest were done. Can I ask for better pupils??? Okay, I'll stop bragging on them now .

A few days back I got an email about the Basic Homeschool Tracker from http://homeschooltracker.com/  . Well I decided to check it out and dowloaded it. Now a lot of yall probably already have this. Well it is new to me and all I can say is WOW! It is close to what I have for the Alpha Omega SOS only better for our household. Today I started getting the info from paper to the pc. In MS it is not mandatory that we keep a record but I like to anyway and this is going to make it so much easier on me once I get everything caught up on it.

Oh let me tell of a blessing today. The Lord once again blessed our finances through a generous gift from a very sweet friend of mine. Silly as I am I tried to resist but when I saw that it may offend I accepted. You know, it's a humbling place to be on the recieving end so much. Yet I am so glad to know that God continues to supply our need. Just when I think, well thats it..the cup has run dry..He sends something or someone along to show me that His cup never runs dry. He fills mine overflowing and has enough to serve anyone else that comes to him thirsty. See the financial blessing was only part of it becuase what I feel inside as I even think about it is blessings beyond measure . It is truely a blessing to me to know that He cares so much for me, for my family. What have we ever done to deserve all that He does for us? Oh yea...it's not because of who we are, what we do, or what we have done  but because of Who He is and what HE has done!

Be blessed in the love of Christ Jesus!

Stacy

(gotta stick to that bedtime and it's arriving fast)

Posted in Homeschool

Well here we are getting back into the full swing of things here at "Big Woods Academy". Starting tomorrow there will be a lot less blogging from me (I think). I am going to need to get myself back on that schedule I have never really been on. Really I mean it. I am setting mine and the dc's bedtime and going to really try to stick to it.

I have to go to bed early so I can rise early. I now have a bit more on my plate than before. I started working part time with my mother outside of the home in the evening and on the weekend. This past weekend was my first and it went well. This coming week will be my first to go in the evenings. My hubby will be home in the eve with the children. I don't know how my youngest will do as he has not been away from mommy that much . How mommy will do...time will tell .

Starting tomorrow I will have two additional children to teach. One that is in 9th grade and the other in fourth. I know I need my rest and I have not been getting it and the kids haven't either. I also want to be able to stick to my morning devotional and prayer time and spend a little time with my hubby before he heads off to work. So in order to do this and be able to gather my thoughts before the children rise in the morning, I need to go to bed earlier than my normal time of....well let's just say too late.

So how did I get another highschooler in my home????  Well, to make a long story short my son has a friend that lives with his elderly grandma who is a widow. She has been having a bit of trouble with him this last year. He is here much of the time when school is out or on the weekends and is pretty much a part of our family anyway. We (my hubby and I ) have told her many times if she needed our help with him to just ask and we would be there. Well I recieved the call this morning and so the story goes. I will say this, he needs intervention in his life so please pray that we may be able by the grace of God to be that for him. He is a great boy  and many do not see that side of him. I believe that God has placed him in our lives for a reason and I feel that He will give us the ability to do whatever it is He calls us to do. Your prayers would be greatly appreciated in this matter. Am I nervous about this? Yes, I am . Nevertheless I know I can do this because God will give me the strength to do it. He will be using the Alpha Omega Switched on Schoolhouse Curriculum. I already have that for my oldest son so I just had to add him as another student.

Now the one in fourth grade, well that is a temporary thing until her parents can get settled into their new home.  That is of course unless her mother decides to go to work but we will cross that bridge if and when we get to it. She uses ACE paces and so I'm really just there to supervise and help if she needs it. She enjoys the lapbooking so she may be included in those if she wants and her mother allows.

In the next few weeks I am sure as I get used to my new schedule there will be a bit less blogging. I may be able to fit an hour in on the pc a day (that is for reading and visiting other blogs) while my youngest dc naps and the others are reading. Yet then I could be doing laundry too. That's a neverendning job around here.Thank God we have clothes to wear, towels to dry with, and laundry detergent to clean them all.

Well that's whats up here in our neck of the woods. Hope everyone had a blessed holiday season. I am finished with my Pay it Forward gifts so ladies they will be in the mail soon. Be Blessed,

Stacy

Posted in Homeschool

We are finally finished with this. I know it is December and Christmas is only a few days away and Thanksgiving has come and gone already. Yet due to inexcuseable laziness umm....reasons beyond my control umm... lets just say reasons unnecessary  we were just a few short booklets from being done. I decided that before we head into the new year  ( i know we are into the 4th month of the school year) we would complete any lapbbok we had started. We are now down to one. That is the Ancient Sumarian Lapbook that goes along well with the MOH1 Curriculum were are working on.  So we will finish that one in the coming week. Yes, we will do school after Christmas day next week. Don't want the dc getting bored with the gifts to fast ya know  LOL .  We are also doing another one with the little group I have here on Tuesdays for Geography. That is on the country of Pakistan. We won't be finishing that until after the 1st. That's a group activity that includes 3 children that come only once per week. So no rush on that one to get finished. My dd is working on a lapbook ( actually it is 2 of them) with the Apolgia Science Zoology 1. It goes along with the whole year study so it won't be completed until we are through the whole book. Did I mention that we like lapbooking?

We have already had a nice break. This is one reason for schooling next week also. I have really considered schooling year round due to the fact that it is so hard for me...I mean the kids  to get back on track after such long breaks. We did get a little behind so now we are pushing forward and already in just the last week we have caught up a good bit. I purchased this Thanksgiving Lapbook from www.knowledgeboxcentral.com and then downloaded it. I also purchased the lapbook for my dd's Apologia Science Zoology 1 and the Country Study one that I use for any country we are studying at the time from there. This is our first year using lapbooks and we are hooked! This is my ds  Yakistan so kindly displaying his completed lapbook. They did a great job and I am pleased with how hard they worked on this one.

 Everyday is a day to be thankful. Right now in this season we are reminded that we should be thankful for the best gift ever given to mankind...Jesus Christ. Once the day passes, the presents are all opened and the toys are scattered from one end of the house to the other....let's all remember to be thankful everyday.

1st Thessalonians 5:18 " In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you"

Be blessed. Have a wonderful weekend in Him!

Stacy

Posted in Homeschool

We have really been on break for the most part of the last month. I couldn't take it any longer and decided that no matter what, today we would get some schoolwork in. The children did their assignments for the day on SOS, they finished up pretty fast.

I will have them work on their December writing promt for the day from Ginny over at  Proverbs 22:6 Academy  and post on their blogs when they are finished. Actually my dd9 is working on hers as I blog. They really enjoy doing these because they get to be online . I like it to because they are doing creative writing. It works for the both of us.

I  decided that we would make Christmas cards for my mother today.  Each of the  children chose a design and worked diligently on their card. My ds2 did a snowman card, dd9 decided on a Christmas tree, ds11 chose to cut out a snowlflake for his, and ds14 chose a round ornament. We decorated and then wrote a poem to put on the inside. My ds~11 and my dd~9 each had to come up with an acrostic poem for the word "Grandma" . My ds14 calls her MawMaw so he came up with an acrostic for that. I think they all did a great job. Here they are with their cards.

 

. the outside of the card

The insides

 

DS11, he did this on his own. A pop up tree. Good job son . They all did a wonderful job.

My mother came by and the children couldn't wait to give her the cards so I let them.

 

She was very surprised and happy to get these cards.  It made the children happy to give her something to smile about.

 At days end I feel like we accomplished more than I had imagined we would. All the studying in the world could not have given us what the smile on my mothers face this evening gave us....Joy. My children go to bed tonight filled with joy in their hearts because they made someone elses day. Grandma's at that! It's usually just the opposite.  What lesson did they learn in this????? All that she gives them, all that she does for us is wonderful yet ~today they learned that it is more blessed to give than it is to recieve. 

I know they will continue as children do in the wanting to recieve. I mean I still love to get the gifts given to me and I am 34 . However,  I believe that because of what they saw in her face today~ the tears that fell  as she read each poem that they wrote~they will enjoy more so now than before ,the gift of giving.

Be blessed,

Stacy

 

Posted in Homeschool

Today we continued our study from MOH1.  We are moving on in our lapbook  about Heroes and gods of Ancient Sumer. The children today acted out highlights from their favorite part of the Epic of Gilgamesh . Here are a few of the photo's from their act. My husband and I along with my oldest ds really enjoyed watching them act this out. We needed costumes and quick . Well what works better than fine linen? LOL. As you can see, Gigamesh has an old pillowcase (actually it is a sham) and rope for his suit, and Humbaba is a sheet. My son made the claws for Humbaba out of paper . 

 

Here is a a clip of their reenactment. The children really enjoyed doing this . I am so glad we homeschool at times like this. Are they learning? I think so .  I hope you enjoy this little clip. In order to hear the clip you need to stop the music on the music player at the top of the page. Be blessed.

 

Besides this the children completed the other subjects as well. Math, Reading, Spelling, L/A, Penmanship, Science and Bible . We did work on the Thanksgiving Lapbook a little and read about the Mayflower Compact.They did not do the writing lesson for today from the November Writing prompt calender. Maybe when they get home from church I'll have them do that one, if they want to. They enjoy being able to get online so something tells me they just might want to complete this one more assignment .

Well I need to get my little one to bed, and try to gather my thoughts for my Thankful Thursday post. I am working on my BFS assignment also and hope to post it sometime tomorrow.

Stacy

Posted in Homeschool

Thanks so much for all the prayers. I know they helped. I feel so much better today...Praise be to God! Poor dad was sick though. Over the weekend three out of the four dc and I somehow contracted a stomach bug . It only lasted for 24 hrs for the dc. Then I had that headache (still lingering). Then today my poor hubby was ill with all the same symptoms  that the dc had on Sunday. He is better now . Geesh, have I ever got some cleaning and disinfecting to catch up on ! I feel like my house needs to be quarantined . Needless to say the other children I teach on Tuesdays and Thursdays are not coming this week and even the weekly ladies bible study/prayer meeting scheduled on Wednesdays had to be cancelled. Well, I guess there is next week. Unless you know, the Lord decides to return between now and then .

So today we did get back to learning . We started our Thankful Tree yesterday. Even my dear mom put a leaf on it today. This is actually our first year doing this. I saw it on another blog and thought it was a great idea . My husband and ds11 drew the tree on an opened cardboard box then put it up on the back of our classroom door. My dd9 and I searched for maple leaf prints and cut them out. Then we all placed our first leaf on tree. Here is a photo of the tree as of today.

We also started our Thanksgiving Lapbook from www.knowledgeboxcentral.com . We made the cover for the Lapbook and did one of the lessons on Pilgrims. My children love origami so they really enjoyed making the origami turkey. Here is a photo of the cover so far.

What else did we do? Well my oldest dd14, Sk8er, completed his work on in Switched on Schoolhouse 9 within 2-3 hrs . He is really enjoying it so far. I am so glad I switched . I think I will have him do MOH1 with us. Mainly to be involved in what we do daily. Otherwise he really likes to stay to himself a bit. I guess that is the teen thing .

 My dd9, animalfriend98 did her penmanship (copywork on Psalms 8), math lesson on SOS, Spelling test list 5, Bible400 on SOS, A  Languages Arts  worksheet on verbs from www.schoolexpress.com , Creative Writing from  proverbsmomof3's November writing prompt calender. If you have not done so already, go check this out. My dc look forward to doing these and posting them on their own HSB blog.

My ds11, Yakistan, did his penmanship (copywork from Psalms 8), Science 6 on SOS, Bible on SOS, Horizons5 math lesson, AOP Language Arts Lifepac 6 unit 4 lesson, and the writing prompt for today from proverbsmomof3 calender also.

So I guess you could say we are back on track . You know, even though I do not follow a rigorous schedule, if we do not get some kind of lesson in each day I feel unproductive. Today I feel like we accomplished a lot for just getting over a bug and me still with a bit of a headache.

One of my SIL's came by today to find out more info about homeschooling. I was so happy to hear that she is considering it. I of course directed her to HSB as I have found so much valuable info here  along with other sites. Please pray that I can be of help to her or at the least encourage her in her decision to homeschool. She has one daughter and she has missed a lot of school due to hospital visits to St. Jude throughout the year because of a rare illness. If you have any info I could share with her or sites I can send to her to, please do leave a comment with the info. Hopefully she will be a part of the HSB community real soon . I have encouraged her to join this great hs community.

Well, I have just about rambled on as much as I need to .  I need to go and give my little one a bath and put him to bed and pray for some quiet time to catch up on some of the blogs I like to read. Be blessed in Christ Jesus.

Stacy

 

 

 

Posted in Homeschool

We did it! We took 1st place at the geogrphy fair. I am not sure who was more excited and surprised, me or the children . They worked so hard on this project and all the work and time put in paid off . They screeched and hooted, jumped and danced as "Brazil" was called out for the 1st place prize. We were all pleasently surprised. If you would like to see the pictures please press play on the photo above and enjoy your journey. Our local co-op is a small group in comparison to some of the photo's that I have seen of others out there , but we enjoy the meetings just the same.

As a reward for all the hard work, next Tuesday our little group will be headed to the movies to see the new animated movie of The Ten Commandments . The children are looking forward to it and to be honest, I am too. I haven't heard much about it so far, only seen the previews on the television so I am hoping it is good for the dc to see.

Update on my highschooler.

I decided to give the SOS a try. I realize it may or may not work but I feel better already not having to be pressured by a schedule of turning papers/quizzes and tests in by a certain time . I will also have him do the MOH1 with us and we will just go from there. One thing I like about the SOS is that he can not lose his books or papers  and the grading is so much easier becuse the program does it for you. Most of it anyway. My husband has also agreed to let him work with him as his helper 1-2 days a week for a while. I think it may do him a bit of good to get out and see how the men have to work to make a living. He will be schooling three days and working the other two (5-6 hrs a day). This week he only worked one day and tomorrow is work day for the men of the church. The rest of us will be headed to town tomorrow for the towns annual street fair.

Well it is getting late. I need to head to bed. I just realized that I missed the Thankful Thursday post again this week so I better get to that first, yes I realize it is Friday now but I can not miss another one so better late than never .

Have a blessed weekend.

Stacy

 

Posted in Homeschool

Okay, today I am at the point that I realize I have made the wrong decision with my oldest son’s curriculum . He can not stand the Abeka. I thought he was doing okay because he stopped complaining as much but the test scores and quiz scores are showing me the true story. I appreciate that he did stop the complaining, but this is now the issue at hand. Also other reports and such that were due are lost, never started or forgotten.

I have asked him to tell me what is going on. He tells me "Mom, it's too hard." He has told me this on more than one occasion and I have tried to encourage him (not always in the most sweet manner) to just keep trying and do his best. I am now at a point that I just don't want to force this on him anymore or do battle with him to get the work done so I am considering a different curriculum. If it is too hard then maybe a year of something else before the Abeka is a better choice. I'm really not sure of what to do I just know that something’s got to give! I have to change something up and soon.

I pulled him out of public at the end of last year. His grades always varied from one report to the next. He is a great speller and reads at college level and has for years now so he has no issues with reading or reading comp. When he is doing well in English he is falling back in Math and vice versa. He doesn't like Science or Health. He really dislikes health. In the Abeka so far Algebra 1 is where his strength shows. His grades were as follows on his last report card at the end of the school year (final report card in PS):

Science-79

U.S. History-85

Pre Algebra- 73

P.E. 95

English 85

Now I am considering the Switched on Schoolhouse grade 9. I found it in new condition on a site for resale this morning for a much lower price than I would get it for if I purchased it new. He asked for this or ACE. He really enjoys almost anything that has to do with the computer. He knows that my dd and my younger ds do a few of their subjects in SOS. I was very concerned with his credits, but at this time I am reconsidering the importance of that over the battle here at home. So anyway, this is our high school issue as of today. I did also find a site called http://www.k-12freehomeschool.org  with free homeschool online and curriculum too but I felt a bit leery for some reason. Anyone heard of this school before? Anybody out there have some pointers or tips, maybe a few suggestions for free homeschooling for high school?

I am praying and I know that God will lead the way, He always shows up and He is always right on time. I do know this much, no matter what struggles may be before me, there are plenty that are behind me that did not deter me from this road I am now on. Just as He has carried us over each bump in the road behind us, I know He is an unchanging God and will do the same on the path He has laid before us! Our steps are ordered by Him and I rest in the assurance of knowing that He is in complete control.

Have a blessed evening in Christ Jesus.

Stacy

 

 

 

 

Posted in Homeschool

It has been pretty busy around here at the Big Woods Academy. Our homeschool co-op is having a geography fair on the 26th of this month and we are working hard on our project about Brazil. I'm not the most creative person so of course I decided to do a larger version of a lapbook, (country study lapbook purchased from www.knowledgeboxcentral.com ) with my dc plus two other children from our church that are also in this homeschool co-op group.  In the place of folders I am using poster boards. This is working out pretty good so far. I have changed it up just a bit and when we are finished of course I will try and post a few pics with the whole group.

I have decided we will study one country ( lapbook style of course) a month. This is a joint decision with both mothers of the two children that have joined us on this project. I will be teaching my dc and the two others one day a week in this area after the geography fair at the end of this month.  The two other dc are good friends of my dd and my ds so it works out really good for them. They really enjoy working together. I pair them up girl with girl, and boy with boy and they seem to push one another along. So far it is working out.

I think one thing I am amazed at is the fact that I am enjoying this so much. I never liked geography when I was attending school, didn't like school much period. Never thought I could really homeschool my own dc much less teach anybody elses children. It is amazing how God can turn a person around and change them completely. See, I am not able to do this alone. I realize that it is God that is able. It is God that gives me the strength, patience (though very short at times) the know how, and the desire to do what He has called and ordained, appointed, and annointed me to do. Not anything that I have done could have prepared me for what I am doing now. Well, except to surrender to Him. He created me for this. To be a mother to my children. To love them, nurture them, train them up as His Word commands me to do. Oh how good it feels to now that I am in His will as I continue on daily in this homeschooling journey and find delight in the walk in which He has so graciously called me to walk in. Every day may not be a day filled with joy. Of course there are those days in which I ask myself "What are you doing?". I tell myself things like "you are in way over your head" or "you don't know what you have gotten yourself into". Then I remember that I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.

Okay well now that I have just rambled on here....I better get to this days learning with the dc. Have a blessed day in Christ Jesus.

Stacy

Posted in Homeschool

I am so excited because we finished our first lapbook. WOO HOO!! I love these things. We started a human body lapbook earlier in the year but never finished it. I decided to go in a different direction for science.

Last week we started a lapbook on Apples. I downloaded this free of charge from www.liveandlearnpress.com . We finished it yesterday. My ds2 (the couch diver LOL) loves cutting and pasting so he stayed very happy during the times we worked on this. That in itself is enough reason to continue with this type of learning. What is lapbooking considered anyway? Eclectic or what? What I really like about Lapbooking is that my dc can get all subjects, reading, writing, arithmetic, Language Arts, science, history, and more as they complete one lapbook. Here are the photos with my dd9 proudly displaying her completed lapbook.

 

  Cover

  First folder (flap up)

 

  First folder (flap down)

  Second Folder

 Lapbook completely opened (finished ).

So there it is. Our first Lapbook. The apples unit is primarily for elementary aged children. With my ds11, I decided to  have him do a bit more in depth research for his than I did for my dd9. That is one more thing about the Lapbooks I like, I can adjust them to the appropriate age/level for each individual child.

We are working on two others at this time. I recently purchased one from www.knowledgeboxcentral.com to go along with the Apologia Zoology1 (Flying Creatures of the Fifth day) science that I am using with my dd and also one for Ancient Sumerians that I got from www.handsofachild.com to go along with the Mystery of History Volume 1 that I am using with my dd9 and my ds11. They really enjoy doing theses. I am thankful to whoever it was that came up with such a fun way to learn.

Well, I am off to help my dc cook pizza tonight for supper. Be blessed in Christ Jesus.

Stacy

Stacy

Posted in Homeschool

We started a lapbook on Ancient Sumerians for MOH1, and a Lapbook about Apples (seasonal). Copywork I found on the internet (10 commandments), math, L/A(ds) and science(ds). Skipped on my dd's spelling and her science today. Started a nature journal, she loves that stuff. We did a lot of hands on activities and lessons today. The dc love the hands on lessons yet I am left wondering did I teach them enough? My oldest is enrolled in  A Beka Academy with the DVD instructors. It is pretty much laid out for us so there is little lesson planning on my part.  He had quizzes or tests in almost every subject today. Of all days, today was a day he needed supervision more than any so far.

How in the world do you ladies do this, 2,4,6,8+ children  and get so much done in a day?  Oh yea, by the grace of God! Okay,  if you have a better answer, please do leave it in comment form;) Or if you have suggestions, advice please, really do share. Those of you who have homeschooled for years now, have children in middle and high school levels and maybe even a few graduated, what are your secrets? Penny for your thoughts:) Not really of course, with the finances the way they are I am saving every penny I get.

Okay, I must admit, I felt a bit overwhelmed today with trying to get schoolwork done, dh home early (why does that tend to throw me off so much?), my 2 yr old ds wanted nothing to do with the letter B, the number 2, the color blue or a square. He wanted to skateboard off the fold up chair, dive from the coffee table to the couch, absolutley NOT take a nap. He wanted to grab pencils (while in use),  press pc buttons that are off limits, and grab and tear up paper's being worked on so diligently by the older siblings that by this time were not so patiently dealing with the the little one. Okay I know that was definitly a run-on sentence huh?  Maybe he got into my coffee. Okay maybe he is just 2. Oh yea, that reminds me- he stuck his tongue out at me today when I got on to him! Where did that come from???? I think I may have forgot that age there for a minute.

Needless to say, I was feeling a bit worn-out at the days end. I decided to try and refresh myself in God's Word. Then I went over to crosswalk.com. I really like that site. I love to study the Word . When I get time to dig, I love digging in there for treasure's far more precious than anything money could ever buy. This place has so many different study tools, it's like all the best study bibles at the click of a mouse. My heaven on the net. Anyway, I found a precious bit of wisdom there on that site. I found this:  Do Not Grow Weary .  I felt so much better after reading this. If you want to read it just click on the blue text and it'll take you there. I must remember when I feel like I did today, His Word tells me to not grow weary. I will reap in due season, if I faint not.  Well, I do feel better now and I must be off to read a few other post and get some well needed rest. Be blessed.

Stacy

Posted in Homeschool

Today we did our second Zoology- Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day, experiment. My dd absolutely loves this curriculum. I was never really much of a science student as it bored me while I was in school. The thought of teaching (or trying to teach) science was a bit scary to me, to say the least. Not only did I not know much about science, I did not like it at all, or so I thought. Well, I am happy to say that I am enjoying this so much. I suppose when you put together the science of God's creation, my outlook on this subject changed dramatically. The joy of watching my dc have fun like they do while learning about God and the creatures that He alone created, sparks within me a need to know more, and more and more. How can I not enjoy learning this as I teach it to my dc. How can I not be in awe at the wonder of His creation, at works of His hands? The lessons are scientific and centered around the awesomeness of the God I serve. Well all I can say now is WOW. We love this. Definitely two  from this home. Needless to say we spent most of today on science. I think that when we study this subject we will limit our subjects that day to math, science and maybe spelling. Seems we really get all caught up in the lessons and it’s hard to stop and go on to another subject.

It was really neat today because we got everything together then went outside to start the experiment. This experiment had to do with flight of course. As we were conducting the experiment, going through the steps, my dd got all excited. She tells me “Mom, look up there.” First it was just one bird in flight, then another, then there were about 8-10 ( I think they were buzzards) and it seemed almost like they were doing a flight show just for us, showing us just how aerodynamic they really were. As this was happening a flock of smaller birds flew by in another direction. I really believe (call me crazy if you want) that God did that just for her, just for us, just for me. How much easier could it possibly be to teach a lesson than with God setting the stage, the very scene right before our eyes? It was amazing!  Thank You Lord!

Pslams 86:8 "Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works. "

 

 

While we were doing this my oldest was skateboarding (P.E.) and my second to the oldest was at my pastors house doing his schooling over there with his best bud today. Have I told ya that I just love homeschooling? Well, I do, I do, I do. 

 Be blessed,

Stacy

Posted in Homeschool

We got a lot done today in the homeschooling. I feel drained yet a sense of accomplishment. Seems as if I set out each day with the goals in mind and in sight then by mid day I am opting to just get a few of the lessons planned actually finished . Well not today. We finished each and every subject and started a science experiment in there too. Ok well maybe that’s no biggee for some of yall pros on here, but as for me and this household it’s a whopper dinger

So what did we do today? Well we started back up on the MOH1 and got our memory cards started and completed the first three. We placed our first figures on the timeline. Day