Here we are back to homeschool for another year. I am sorry that I have been AWOL from blogging for so long. I have had a bit of a health crisis; I had a hysterectomy in June. I am healing well but find I have times where I am zapped of energy. I am diligently trying to get back to my writing interests as well as our homeschool endeavors. 

Yesterday we joined a group of our homeschool friends for a new weekly Gym Class that is being taught by one of the moms. She is a veteran Physical Ed instructor with 4 years teaching experience at a Christian School. She is now homeschooling her children and is offering the classes free of charge. This is exactly what my rambunctious little student needed!!! He had such a GREAT time! They did exercises together, played a game of PIG basketball, ran around the court and played with hoolahoops. He met some new friends and is already looking forward to next week. 

We have been doing more "unschool" this year and are going to get involved with our local 4-H group next month. Caleb got a camera for his birthday in April and LOVES to document his daily activities as well as those of our cat-whether she wants him to or not-LOL. I have been checking out the 4-H Photograghy curriculum and think it is just what my aspiring "shutter bug" could sink his brain into. I am anxious for him to get into this group. 

I will close for now and will do my best to write again soon. I hope that you are having a wonderful and productive homeshool year, so far, at your house, too. 

Hugs from WV, 

Char  

WOW!!! Is it almost April already! I cannot believe that is time to start thinking about putting our 2008/2009 portfolio together hear at the old Cozy Home! We have had a really good year and covered a LOT of material. Caleb read the entire novel, Call of the Wild as well as some other smaller books just for fun. We centered several lessons around the novel such as spelling words, history on the US purchase of Alaska and the Alaskan Gold Rush of 1898. We also studied plant life in detail as part of his science curriculum, birds were also a large part of science studies this year. Math lessons introduced Mr. Caleb to the concept of adding fractions with same denominators and we continued working on his multiplication, division, time concepts and, of course, money management equations. He wrote a little poem earlier in the year and I will post it in April as part of a National Poetry Month post that I am putting together. I have been very organized this year by keeping his lessons neatly in one notebook-much improvement from two years ago when I thought that an accordian file was the way to go-boy, have I learned a thing or two! I will contact my reviewer one day next week and hope to have her look over our portfolio the first week of May. Then I will be able to breath a little sigh of relief for another year completed. Now what will we cover next year-(sigh) the excitement never ends!

Stay Cozy,

Charlotte

What a wonderful day we had today!!! After we finished our lessons, we were finally able (after what seems an eternity) to head to the park!!! Caleb was THRILLED and I was so very glad to see that boy run off some of that abounding energy. I am just glad that spring is finally on its way and am looking forward to many more days in the park with other homeschool families. Caleb was on his own today, but had lots of fun climbing on the playground equipment and running up and down the hillside at the park. On the way home, he actually dozed a minute . For lunch I fixed quick pizzas on sliced bread under the broiler. He LOVED them and said that we should have them more often. He is such a sweetie.  The rest of the afternoon he played on the computer and with his Lego toys. Altogether, it was a very pleasant day. I love it when a plan comes together.

Hugs to all,

Charlotte

    Recently, a group of local homeschool friends, including myself, were talking about the reasons that we homescool and the methods that we use to teach our children.  I will be honest, it is difficult for me to talk about our original reasons for choosing homeschool as an option for Caleb. He attended PS for Kindergarten and First Grade and in that time he was diagnosed as ADHD (translation-normal, happy, active, curious little boy). The school practically coerced us into placing him on meds-Stratera-as they told us that they could refuse to teach him otherwise. He was coming home every evening with 7-10 pages of "homework" because the school was sending home anything that he did not finish in class. Robin and I decided that since we were already doing the bulk of his class work with him at home, anyway, we could just as easily homeschool him. We also wanted him off of the Stratera because we saw him go from being a happy, energetic child to one that was full of anxiety. He would cry every evening after school, he did not want to eat, his skin was actually turning a greyish color and he was always very clingy. He was also having bad dreams at night.
     To make a long story short, we are THRILLED with our decision! We have our child back. We love the freedom that homeschooling gives us to teach Caleb on his level and learning style, to teach him
subjects that are interesting to him, and to give him ample time to be a kid, also. We love the fact that he does not have to take that horrible medicine any longer and that we can help him learn to deal
with his personallity in a healthy way. I love park days with other homeschool families because he has a chance to meet other homeshooled children and just have fun being a kid.
     We are very eclectic in our approach to homeschooling, but probably most fit into the Charlotte Mason style of learning. I do try to have at least 1-2 hours of structured "table time" with him
every day, mainly to get him used to the idea of disciplined learning and using research skills for writing, math and science. We cuddle and read, watch lots of movies-with discussion, go on nature walks, do kitchen science experiments, play board games etc. The best part is, he is never bored! He knows better than to say so, mom can always find something for him to do.

Until next time, stay cozy,

Charlotte

I hope that I am not too late in wishing everyone a Very Happy 2009! I know that it has been months since I have posted anything here on our little homeschool blog. I have posted on my cottage blog and on my homestead blog, but I just cannot seem to get around to posting here. We have been busy, however, and have been active with our local co-op group as well.  I have set up a schedule for myself for blogging and am hoping to stick to it. I do love to come here and post about what we are learning, but the day just seems to slip away from me. I hope that all of you are having a wonderful January and that you are getting lots of learning done. I will try to come back later in the week to post about some of our latest endeavors.

Hugs for now,

Charlotte

No not of the Traveling Pants...though I know that is a popular movie right now. I am thinking more of the kind of sisterhood that brings moms together to each others homes for a good cup of coffee or tea and an afternoon of sweet Christian fellowship as they visit; talking about their homes and families and anything else important to them. The kind of day where the children enjoy just playing together as their momma's visit. As we get ready for the new school year and prepare to join in more with our favorite Homeschool groups, I wanted to remind moms how important it is for our children to see us sharing honest Christian friendship with one another. They are watching us and listening to us more than we think they are and the way that they will relate to others greatly depends on the way they see us relating to others.  I hope you will also enjoy this article that I found on Faith Writers this morning:

Sisterhood of Yesterday By Heather Sargent

When did it become an 'every mother for herself' world? Didn't it used to be a sisterhood of women raising their children together once upon a time?

I think often of what that would be like. To have the women in your life around you supporting you and befriending you. And how you would do the same for them. I imagine children playing while their moms sit together giggling about what silly thing their husband said to them this morning. Or how little Johnny got in trouble again but always gets caught in the most unusual ways where you can't help but laugh. After you have disciplined him of course.

What would it be like to have the women closest to you understand that you too are just a mere human and are incapable of perfection? How you really do have the best of intentions but sometimes that hand basket from hell comes to take it all away. What if they understood that those things that appear to be bad parenting have a broken heart behind them that may just need a friend? Maybe there is an interesting story there of why things went the way they did.

A world where these sisters did not have one arm wrapped around you in a friendly hug with a knife in the other. A smile and friendly word to you, then biting, angry words at your back. A place where life was so simple that the person you saw in front of you, was the person you saw in front of you.

I long for the sisterhood of the days of old. This catty back-biting that women of today do just leaves me standing there scratching my head, wounds and all as I slowly drop the knife I hold at my sisters' backs.

Heather Sargent - 2008
A down-to-earth wife and mother of four, Heather Sargent has more than enough to write about.  From the insanity of daily life to the quiet, magical moments which include sleeping children, she finds humor and joy in her chaotic life.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com CHRISTIAN WRITERS

Hello to All,

Hooray for SUMMER!!! I dream of these wonderful warm and sunny days all winter long, as I bet most of you do. We have officially finished our lessons, but, the best part of teching at home is knowing that learning happens wherever you are. I wanted to post the link to our wonderful state Dept of Natural Resources page that includes LOADS of cool stuff to do all over our beautiful state. Have a TERRIFIC summer!!! Here is the link:

http://www.wvdnr.gov/

Hugs,

Charlotte

Hello to all,

I haven't been doing much posting lately, but the outdoors has been calling. We had planned to have a small plot, but time got away from us andnothing was planted. I have also been busy inside and with my little business as well as going to the park with Caleb (when it is not sweltering outside). Last week the temperatures were in the 90s almost every day. Friday we went on a field trip to the Whipple Company Store last week with some other homeschoolers and had a good time learning from the owner about our WV coal mining history. The children were even able to "mine" some coal and turn it in for "scrip" to shop with in the little company store. We had a neat little picnic lunch at the store afterward, too. There was something in the lunch to represent each decade from the 1910s through the 1950s, very interesting. The owners are also homeschoolers and are restoring the 118 year old store as a museum.
I pray that all is well with you and yours, and that you are staying comfortable in the heat. May God richly bless your week.

Love and hugs,
Charlotte

We had a field trip yesterday with one of our groups of homeschool friends. We traveled to the office of a field Entomologist with the Department of Agriculture in our County. WOW, did the kids have a GOOD time. They learned all about the anatomy, defenses, usefulness and also the destructive ways of  many varieties of insects. The entomologist had a power point presentation put together for them and each of the children brought home a packet of information including some pretty neat "Bug Tattoos".  After they took time to look at ALL of the vast array of insect specimens around the room, they went outside with nets to have a chance to collect their own. The office was on a hill top and so, the children had fun running to the top of the hill, nets in hand, and then running down the hill with their nets dragging the ground like a scoop to pick up insects. They all got a good work-out and each caught some interesting "critters" to ask the entomologist about. Caleb was just tuckered out after all of the excitement and took a well earned nap in the car on the way home. He talked about the trip all evening long.  What a GREAT way to learn!!!!

Stay Cozy,

Char

Hi!

This came across my desk, and it looks interesting. Evidently Sunkist lemons is having their 5th Annual Take a Stand. What they are doing is trying to educate children about community, and charity.

To that end, they are giving away Lemonade Stands and other materials, so your child can raise money for a charity.

Here Is The URL So You Can Take A Look

I thought it looked really interesting, so, I requested a stand for Caleb. We will be sending all of the procedes to the St Joseph  Indian School in South Dakota. Caleb truly enjoyed studying about the many Native American tribes this past year and we also were reminded of the great need among the tribes on reservations. The St Joseph School offers education and hope to the families of the Lakota Tribe. Caleb enjoys reading their newsletters and has really taken them to heart.  Here is the link for the school: http://www.stjo.org/

Go to the Sunkist site and request a stand for your little student(s) and help them learn about helping others in need. The Lord loves a cheerful giver and the chance to help someone else should never be passed up.

Until next time, Stay Cozy,

Charlotte  

Welcome to My Life: I was sitting at my Cozy Home School computer this morning, enjoying my hot cup of Morning Coffee and reflecting on Homeschooling Only One when suddenly I realized that life in My Cozy Little Cottage was in dire need of some Creative Homeschooling. I began to search the Company Front Porch to see if I could find My Source of Inspiration to help me with some Joy in the Journey. Being that we are Simple Folk, we like to keep our focus on The Heart of the Home, and I always pray for Mercy in the Morning as I plan new things to add to our Eclectic Education. I often find myself Seeking Rest in Ancient Paths.

As I made my way through this wonderful Mom's Circle of Friends, I began having some Homegrown Thoughts as I was searching for Wisdom Along the Way. For us, Homeschooling is Life and I am always happy to have Caleb Spears: Home Where They Belong.  I can tell you, I was one Happy Apple as I came across one Spunky Homeschool  idea after another. I am glad that my homeschool has a One Child Policy but I always love to read about Lessons Learned on the Farm of those who are Blessed By Bunches. Well, now my coffee is all gone and I am ready to begin my day. I am glad to know all of my friends at the Homeschool Blogger site. It is like having A Place Called Home.

 

If you are reading this, You've Been Tagged..... I was visiting Pat's Place blog and came across this. The rules are, if you are reading this, consider yourself tagged. Have some fun and join in. Hugs, Charlotte Apr. 22, 2008 - Tag you are it-just one word and lots of laughs "http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kidcraze/"did this tag a few weeks ago and it looked like fun.I think sometimes we just need to laugh so You Can Only Type One Word (if you read this, consider yourself tagged). This is not as easy as you might think. Change the answers to suit you. It's hard to use only one word answers. When you're done, post a comment so I can check out your answers. Have fun!  1. Where is your cell phone? none 2. Who is your significant other? Robin 3. Your hair? permmed  4. Your mother? home 5. Your father? home 6. Your favorite thing? family  7. Your dream last night? good 8. Your favorite drink? Water  9. Your dream/goal? Heaven 10. The room you're in? Nook 11. Your fear? Sadness  12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Here 13. Where were you last night? Home 14. What you're not? Sofisticated   15. Muffins? blueberry 16. One of your wish list items? carpet 17. Where you grew up? WestVirginia (oops, two words)  18. The last thing you did? Type 19. What are you wearing? gown 20. Your TV? Cartoons 21. Your Pets? cat 22. Your computer? old 23. Your life? Blessed  24. Your mood? sweet 25. Missing someone? grandparents 26. Your car? van 27. Something you're not wearing? Shoes 28. Favorite Store? Krogers 29. Your summer? Hot 30. Your favorite color? Pink 31. When is the last time you laughed? Today 32. When is the last time you cried? Yesterday  33. Who will/would repost this? You

Happy Birthday, Dear Caleb.......

The boy turned 9 this past Tuesday. We had a nice evening out with him on Monday starting with dinner at Bob Evans and then shopping for his gift at Toys-R-Us. I had enrolled him in their birthday clubs. If you have never taken advantage of birthday clubs, they are GREAT. Many restaurants offer these as well as some toy stores and local businesses. They send your child post cards and greetings with coupons near their birthday for free meals, dollars off purchases and other fun surprises. As you can see, Caleb chose more "Little Men"==The invasion continues

We had a little family gathering at our house with his brothers and some new friends on Tuesday. We had cupcakes and ice cream and the kids had a good time playing board games and video games and talking a bunch. Birthdays are so AWESOME when you are a KID!!! I am just getting ready to wake everyone up to get ready for Church this morning, but wanted to take time to post the latest from old Cozy Home. Hope you have a good week and don't forget that Tuesday is the 15th--TAX DAY---yikes, so if you haven't filed yet.....get-er-done by then. I will be glad to see the 16th myself--so tired of seeing W-2s and 1099s....

Love to all, Keep Cozy,

Char

Good Morning World!!! (My mamma's early morning greeting as she woke us up for school---Morning people---sheesh---heehee) Anyway, Hope you are having a good Saturday, so far, and hope it just gets better as the day goes on!!! I have to get ready to go out on a little side job around 1:00 so I am trying to get some blog entries done before I have to start the "beauty routine" for the day.

I was going through my AOL Favorites List this morning, trying to find a favorite Interior Design link that I was SURE that I saved (guess not...grrr) when I came across another really NEAT homeschool site that I DID save, and glad that I did. There are some really great links on the site as well as ideas for teaching LD and ADHD students. Now you all know how I feel about these labels---if you don't by now, then I will tell you that, quite frankly, I do not use them in our home. However, they are accepted terms used by educators to describe learners that do not learn "inside the box" created by the school system. And, since my little student is deffinately an "outside the box" kinda guy, I found the ideas and links to be very useful for us. Here is the link, check it out:  http://www.learningabledkids.com/

I will close for now and make my way toward the "chamber of beautification" (OK, so it is just the bathroom--Sounds good though, huh?) Hope that you have a WONDERFUL week.

Love and Hugs to All,

Char

I normally would not post twice in one day, but, I was traveling around the blogger and I came across this very well stated post. I am very concerned with the upcoming election, though I do not often speak of it here. Please read this post before you make your decision for President in 2008:

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homemakerscottage/493077/#c986318

Ron Paul is still in the race, he says that he will not quit until the bitter end, even if we have to write him in.

Love and Prayers,

Char

Wow, what a week we had, weather-wise. Earlier in the week, we had BEAUTIFUL spring-like days with temperatures in the 60s. Yesterday, we were hit with SNOW and today it is just plain C-O-L-D. I am so looking forward to nice weather on a more permanent basis (and so is Caleb---he keeps wanting to go to the park).

Meanwhile, as for schooling, we finally have something that seems to fit us very nicely as far as a schedual goes. I am usually not much for over schedualing anything, I love to just take it one day at a time and let the Lord lead the day. But, we needed to keep Mr Caleb on some type of routine, especially with his very active personality. So we now have several little workbooks that he does on a daily basis and we add a different main subject to each day. For example; Monday: US History, Tuesday: Science, Wed: Health and Safety, and Thursday: World History. Math, Language Arts and Writing are everyday lessons. He really likes the workbooks we have for him. We let him pick out stickers to put on the pages when he is finished. His dad teaches him at least 2 days each week and he likes that. He says that is their "bonding" time....cute. They have made some neat projects together this year, including a little model Conestoga Wagon from wood and an old diaper for the canopy. (Yes, it was CLEAN--)

I am starting to work on assembling his portfolio for the year and am also starting to look at what we will be learning next year. The time seems to go so quickly. Hope that all of you have been staying warm, and happy and healthy. May the Lord bless you till we meet again.

Love and Prayers,

Char

If you have a son, you could be in danger of this.....

It began innocently enough; after a trip to W-Mart several years ago we brought home a 12" Spiderman Action Figure. Caleb's first. He turned up everywhere in my house. In the family room, in the bathroom, on the dining room table. We thought nothing of it and were glad that our son had a toy that he really liked. But, slowly, almost unnoticed the invasion began. We began to acquire more of these strange little men in our home. Some large 12" sized like our "Spidey" friend, others small and green wearing military uniforms--just the right size to not be noticed by bear parental feet in the wee small hours of morning---OUCH!!! There were Power Rangers, TMNTurtles, Batman, various villians and loads of Soldiers and generic look-alikes. We began to wonder if the Webbed Wonder was sneaking his buddies in at night while we slept. They could be found lurking in every corner of our home at every hour of the day and night. They began to stray away from their comfortable ASSIGNED storage bins. The little ones even crept into a homeschool project--a WWII diarama, Caleb's first self-assigned project. I strongly suspect "THEY" talked him into this. I am not sure whether to feel safe and protected by all of these small "heros" or to be cautious of an impending hostile take-over. Lets just say that for now I am keeping my eye on them....this morning Spiderman was waiting for me on the kitchen counter beside the coffee maker.....hmmm!?!?!

Resting after Christmas...

I hope that everyone had a Wonderful Christmas and did not eat too much (I am afraid that I am a little guilty of this, as usual) I tend to let all of the pre-Christmas preparations get the best of me, so I do apologize for not posting for so LOOONNGG  I took the month of December as an oportunity to just enjoy teaching Caleb through everyday activities. We also helped plan the Christmas Party for our Homeschool group. I made up little songbooks for each child and got to "direct" them in singing a few carols. Another mom that lead in the planning read the Story of the Candy Cane to the kiddos and they LOVED it. We are truly enjoying getting to know and being involved with other local families.

Good morning to all. I am taking just a second to catch up on some blog entries befor the day starts for real as my sweet hubby and son rise and shine for the day. I realize that it has been a while since I have written anything and wanted to catch up with you on what is going on here in my little corner of the world. Most of you that stop by here from time to time realize that I try to keep everything sunny and bright on my blog and I don't often complain about too much about anything going on in our day to day life. Recently, however, I have had a little bout with the old demon called depression. Nothing devastating just a case of the blues and some discouragement. I have had a couple of instances lately where people have let me down (not that I have never let anyone down--I am sure that I have as we all do from time to time). I have prayed about this deeply and sought answers in the books of Job and Ecclesiastes and have come back to realizing that I cannot allow others to rob me of my JOY in the Lord or in the life that HE has blessed me with. Below is a work called "Anyway" that I have used as my model for a number of years. The past few weeks have been a test of my Faith and I had to once again realize that I can only trust Him and not rely on others for approval and strength. If anyone reading this is going through a time of hardship with family or friends, please read this and understand that All that we do is done for HIS Glory alone and not for the glory of ourselves or others.

Much love to all,

Char 

The version found written on the wall in Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta:

              People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.

            If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.

            If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.  Succeed anyway.

            If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.  Be honest and sincere anyway.

            What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.  Create anyway.

            If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.

            The good you do today, will often be forgotten.  Do good anyway.

         Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway.

         In the final analysis, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.

-this version is credited to Mother Teresa

____________________________

2. The Original Version:

by Dr. Kent M. Keith

1. People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
   Love them anyway.
   
2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
   Do good anyway.
   
3. If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.
   Succeed anyway.
   
4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
   Do good anyway.
   
5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
   Be honest and frank anyway.
   
6. The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
   Think big anyway.
   
7. People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
   Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
   
8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
   Build anyway.
   
9. People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
   Help people anyway.
   
10. Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
    Give the world the best you have anyway.

© 1968, 2001 Kent M. Keith

"The Paradoxical Commandments" were written by Kent M. Keith in 1968 as part of a booklet for student leaders.

Simple Pleasures
Virginia Borman Grimmer

______________________

I like a simple little house
With flowers by the door,
An ample larder for my needs
And not much more in store.

______________________

I like a window toward the sun
And doors that open wide,
The trickle of a bath for birds
With feathered friends beside.

_______________________

I like a tidy nook inside
Where my books and slippers lie,
A cup for tea, a magazine,
And warming hearth nearby.

________________________

I like some trinkets on the sills,
White ruffles at the panes,
The comfort of a sturdy roof
To shelter me from rains.

________________________

I like the Cozy ambience,
A place of sweet retreat
Where life unfolds along the way
And each new day's a treat.

This poem is one of my all time favorites and the inspiration behind the Cozy Home name for my business, homeschool and my publishing projects. Doesn't it just make you want to cuddle into your favorite chair with a book and a cup of tea?