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Oct. 5, 2009
Sharing a great workbox blog
 Click to visit What's In The Box? blog
Sheri is one of the TOS Crew members and she has created a blog all about workboxes. She has a monthly meme, as well. Click on the image above to go directly to her blog and the meme where you can find other workbox families, and more workbox ideas.
Trusting In Him,
April
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Oct. 5, 2009
Workbox ideas for younger children
I posted ideas to fill workboxes for older children yesterday, but I wanted to post ideas for younger children now. My kids range in age from 1 - 14. I am not doing workboxes for the 3 year old or 1 year old ... but I have a Kindergartener, 3rd grader, and 5th grader to fill boxes for.
- art supplies
- play dough
- air-dry sculpting clay
- board game
- puzzles
- legos
- educational computer game with a timer set for 1/2 hour
- PE assignments (ride bike, practice shooting baskets, jumping jacks, etc.)
- educational video like Schoolhouse Rock
- Nature Journals
- Quarter Mile Math review
- story starters for writing
- acrostics poem starters
- word searches
- bingo or memory game made to fit a current subject
- lapbooks
- old lapbooks to review
- file folder games
- fun books on bugs, animals, fun weather facts
- a chapter book your child will enjoy, with a timer set for 20-30 minutes
- piano practice (or other instruments)
- a CD of folk songs or classical music
- a recipe card to make cookies with Mom
- trivia games
- the Dice game -- roll 2 dice, then add, subract, multiply, or divide the numbers that come up (depending on what practice your child needs)
- a map with a list of places to locate
- flash cards or flash card games
- magazines to cut up to create a collage
- seasonal art/craft projects for upcoming holidays
- small sewing, cross-stitch, or knitting project for kids
- craft kits
- pre-cut foam stickers and paper
- tangrams
- make "thinking of you" or "get well" cards for others
- thank you notes/cards after Christmas or birthday
- copywork with silly poems or quotes from a favorite person
- creating Christmas ornaments
- coloring sheets to match the things you're studying
If I sat here long enough I know I could come up with even more ideas. Start your own list of your children's interests, subjects you want to introduce them to, subjects they need extra work in, and craft supplies you own. Make a list of educational games or movies you own, as well. Use a few each day to make school more interesting and fun ... or save them for a rainy day when Mom isn't feeling well.
Trusting In Him,
April
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Oct. 4, 2009
Workbox ideas for older children
We're reviewing Sue Patrick's Workbox System for the TOS Crew. The Crew members have a board where we can get to know each other and help each other out. We were discussing ideas for fun things to put in our older children's workboxes. These are some of my own ideas prompted by the discussion.
- All About Homophones worksheets are fun.
- WriteShop has story starter cards that are fun.
- Throw in a poetry book and then have them try to create their own limerick or haiku.
- Toss in a very silly subject (elephants in my socks) and have them write something about that.
- Sudoku for logical thinking
- Crossword puzzles and word searches.
- Any of the 5 minute mystery books or problem solving books that are fun.
- End the day with a joint board game with younger siblings, or you.
- Create a newspaper article or encyclopedia entry.
- Lapbook to do by themselves
- "Spin the globe" Have them spin the globe and point. Then look that country up, read about it, and write a short article.
- My friend has an encyclopedia game. Each child grabs one encyclopedia. The Mom opens hers randomly and calls out that page number. Every child opens theirs to the same page. Then they each read one entry on that page.
- Trivial Pursuit cards to play a trivia game alone. BrainQuest cards would do, too.
- Scrabble could be played alone, drawing more tiles each time you make a new word ... trying to get a higher score than last time you played solitaire.
- Flashcards for states and capitals
- Geography card games or board games
- Music sheets to practice an instrument.
- Write a Shel Silverstein style poem.
- Pen pal letters.
- Musical memory things like Lyrical Science.
- Your Story Hour, Jonathon Park, or some other educational story time
- Book on tape
- End the day with a fun movie that fits the time-period in history you're studying
- Have them create their own trivia cards on a subject you're studying
- If you want them to write a card for someone else, then have them create the card, as well
- Collage art (magazines, glue stick, scissors, paper)
- Have them make a collage poster that expresses who they are, what they like or dislike.
- Music appreciation ... put a short book on a composer and a CD of his music in their box.
- Art appreciation ... a book about an artist with good examples of their art in the book. (Check your library for these in the kids reference section).
- Look for how-to books or reference books on subjects you think your kids would like and toss one in -- especially wacky subjects like the cool book on ghost towns our library has.
- Craft kits or favorite hobbies.
- Recipe to bake something.
- Instructions for art or craft projects, along with the supplies.
- A science movie like Amazing Creatures That Defy Evolution.
- An exercise video.
- Instructions for a PE game.
- Instructions to go play basketball or walk or ride bike for 30 minutes.
- Nature journals.
- A new art media you want them to try (watercolor paints, pastels, charcoal, etc.)
We're new to workboxes, but I do know that it helps to have a list of ideas ready to choose from. Make a list of supplemental materials you own and rarely use, or subjects you want to cover but often forget. When you're having a dry spell and find yourself tossing in the same things repeatedly, look at your list for inspiration. Keep adding to the list, and borrow from others' lists, as well.
Trusting In Him,
April
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Sep. 15, 2009
We're trying a new homeschool organizational system
Yesterday we started the Sue Patrick Workbox System in our homeschool. We've made some modifications because we have a very full home, no separate school room, and a large family. Sue Patrick recommends a metal shelf with 12 plastic shoe boxes on it, per child. The only space in our home where we could fit 5 shelves with a total of 60 shoe boxes is if we lined the narrow hallway with them. We chose not to ... partly because they're less effective when out of the school room, and partly because we knew the 1 year old and 3 year old would empty them constantly.
Instead, we are using one milk crate for each child. I put 12 hanging file folders in each crate, except 14 yo A's. As a 9th grader, she has lots of heavier books and notebooks that didn't seem to work well with the crate/file method. Her crate is holding all her textbooks and notebooks, but on top of the crate we are keeping a 13 pocket plastic expanding file. We're placing any papers I have for her and 3x5 note cards with assignments on them in the pockets. I have one for each of her main curricula, and others like computer time and exercise that I mix in. Some of her lessons are alternated (spelling and grammar), and there will be other times I put in Pen Pal Letter or Family Craft into one of her pockets.
I still need to get my number tabs and schedule strips prepared this morning. With the workbox system (is ours more of a work-crate system?) the kids will work through their 12 files each school day for a mix of educational fun, schoolwork, activities, and review items. Time to turn on my thinking cap to give them a variety of activities and lessons each day. This will be different than them just working through their text books one lesson at a time, since we'll be adding in the other activities and review materials. We don't normally have 12 items on their daily list, but I am including computer time, outdoor activities, reading, and other things they usually do each day in their pockets. It helps to break up the lessons and keep them looking forward to the next file. I'll be filling work-crates each night rather than completing an assignment chart at the beginning of the week.
5 year old M has the least curriculum of all, so his files include things like 1 story with Mom, 1 short movie (is that one allowed?), puzzles, legos, play dough, coloring pages, ride bike, computer time, and listening in on the family chapter book.
I'm hoping that putting computer time in the files will help them know they are each going to get a turn on the computer, so they won't all try to watch the other person play on the computer. They'll need to keep working through their own files until they come to their turn, or they won't get a turn. The other thing I'm hoping is that it helps me to use some of the supplemental materials I have but often neglect.
The first day went well yesterday, and the kids are all excited about their work crates. It seemed to keep the 8 year old and 5 year old better occupied and happier than our usual method. I like that their milk crates look neater than the plastic dish pans we were using to hold their school books. The dishpans were often overflowing and messy looking.
We're reviewing the system and the e-book for TOS Homeschool Crew, and I'm very thankful we were chosen to do so. I've been hearing about workboxes since Spring, and was going to try them this year anyway. Once I found out it was going to be a Homeschool Crew vendor, I decided to wait and see if we were chosen before buying the e-book. We were ... so you can look for my full review in late October.
Trusting In Him,
April
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Sep. 7, 2009
Subscribe to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine for only $7.95!
I just received this email today and wanted to share this great offer from The Old Schoolhouse magazine:
Homeschooling is a Labor of Love, and the Old Schoolhouse™ Magazine is celebrating your hard work as a parent by putting their one-year print subscriptions on sale! For a very limited time, you can subscribe or renew for $7.95! (US only).
International customers can subscribe to the digital edition for only 7.95! It's the same great content as their print magazine, except it is instant and interactive!
You can buy a gift sub for friends, too! To gift a subscription:
1. Go to the one-year subscription page (US only)
2. Scroll to the bottom of the page.
3. Enter the name, address, email, and phone information for each recipient
4. click "Add this to my cart".
5. The information will display in your cart and simply proceed to check out.
There are only 2000 of these available, and they are going quickly! Your subscription begins with their Fall Issue.
Don't miss out on this great deal on my favorite magazine! 
Trusting In Him,
April
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Aug. 11, 2009
A free e-book for you -- E-Homeschooling: Embracing the E-Book Revolution!
The Old Schoolhouse magazine is very excited to share the latest TOS E-Book (about E-Books!) with us ... E-Homeschooling: Embracing the E-Book Revolution
Right now this $14.95 value is FREE!
This unique book will help answer the following questions about E-Books and so much more:
- Why should I buy E-Books and what are their unique benefits?
- How can I use E-Books with homeschooling?
- How am I supposed to read them?
- Can I get help creating my virtual bookshelf?
- What can you tell me about storing E-Books on my computer?
- What are some great organizing tips for E-Books?
- Can you give me a lot of suggestions and ideas that I can actually use?
- What can I learn about the E-Book market and The Old Schoolhouse®?
- What do I need to know to publish my own E-Books?
- What are some of the legal issues in electronic publishing that I need to know about?
Whether you’ve wondered about E-Books, or are already addicted to them as an incredible resource, or would like more information to even write and publish your own E-Book, you’ll be delighted by the wealth of information provided.
Here’s what Heidi Strawser, E-Book Reviews Specialist and Special Projects Manager for TOS, has to say about it:
“E-Homeschooling: Embracing the E-Book Revolution is the most all-inclusive ‘book about E-Books’ that I have ever seen (and I’m not just saying that because I had a part in writing it)! As the E-Book Reviews Specialist for the Schoolhouse Store, I see a lot of E-Books cross my path each week. Even I was impressed with the ideas and suggestions that are presented here. One of the most valuable aspects of this E-Book, in my opinion, is the legal portion written by TOS’s own legal consultant, Susan Spann. This portion is well-written and informative; and a great place for new E-Book writers to begin. From there, I’d encourage writers to check out my article for all the things we are looking at when screening E-Books for sale in our store. I think you’ll be encouraged to start writing! If not, at least you’ll learn more about E-Books, their value in today’s homeschooling arena, and how you can benefit from them.”
So go ahead and download your FREE copy of E-Homeschooling: Embracing the E-Book Revolution today!!
Here is the link to the E-Homeschooling: Embracing the E-Book Revolution e-book. Don't forget to save it to your computer!
Take joy,
April
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Jul. 8, 2009
Huge sale on Friendly Chemistry this Summer!
FRIENDLY CHEMISTRY -- BIG SUMMER SALE!
In an effort to get a great chemistry curriculum in the hands of more families, Hideaway Ventures, the creators of Friendly Chemistry, is hosting a BIG summer sale on their curriculum! From today (July 8th) until September 1st, 2009, the retail cost per student text will be $30.00 and the teacher's edition will be $40.00 (shipping included). This is less than half the regular price. If you've been contemplating using Friendly Chemistry, now would be the time to make your choice! Go to www.friendlychemistry.com to learn more about this unique chemistry curriculum.
You can also read MY review, and other Crew members' reviews from last year, but don't miss out on this great sale!
April E.
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Jun. 30, 2009
The Old Schoolhouse's awesome summer subscription deal!!
The Old Schoolhouse magazine has a great summer subscription offer right now!! You know it's my favorite magazine ... and it was even before I got to be on their Homeschool Crew.
So, what's the offer? 19 FREE gifts, including handwriting books, free software, gift cards, lapbook, art book on CD, and activity e-books! AND it's available to NEW and RENEWING subscriptions, when you buy a 2 year subscription.
Click HERE to view each of the free gifts yourself. Click through the arrows to see all 19 gifts.
But they only had 5000 available ... so hurry before you miss out!
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Jun. 16, 2009
The multi-purpose school room ...
We're a large family, and we live in a smaller home. We have always had to use our dining room as our school room.
In our old home, we had 8 people in a 1200 sq. ft., 3 bedroom home with an eat-in kitchen, a bathroom, and a living room. There were no other rooms. The kitchen area held the dining room and the laundry closet, as well as serving as our school area. We had two bookshelves in there, and we used plastic file boxes with hinged lids on top of the shorter bookshelf.
In our current home, we now have 9 people in 1800 sq. feet. We still only have 3 bedrooms, one bathroom, and one (blessedly large) living room. But we now have a dining area separate from the kitchen, and we can do our schoolwork in the dining area. The dining room is connected to the living room, with a built-in buffet/shelf between the two areas. This was our second school year in our new home.
We have a large dining room table, which has plants, a napkin box, and Daddy's paper stack on it. At the moment, it also has schoolwork from the older two kids at the end by the window. We have a clear vinyl table cloth protecting the table from pencils, scissors, glue, markers, and tape. (Yes, my walls need to be repainted. We wanted to do it before we moved in, because we knew once we were in, it would be much more difficult to accomplish. But, it didn't happen, and it still hasn't.)
We use the buffet top on the dining room side to hold plastic boxes for each child to store their schoolbooks in, as well as several smaller baskets for pencils, pens, erasers, etc. The built in shelves under it hold school supplies, some textbooks, coloring books, and other craft supplies. There is even a cupboard that is the perfect size for paper-back books. (Of course, we also have to occasionally look in the cupboard to see what the 3 year old might have stashed in there. She calls it her closet and is always losing things inside there.)
Under the window, we have a long thin table that holds file boxes, magazine files, and a big file drawer. This organizes paper, answer keys, and several other things. The shelf under this table has more boxes of craft supplies. The stack of stuff in the corner is my scrapbook supplies and other projects.
There are 4 bookshelves in the connected living room and two in the hallway. Every single bookshelf holds schoolbooks of some sort. Reference books, historical books, literature books, currently unused textbooks ... many of which are double-shelved. There isn't just one shelf for school books; they're everywhere!
Most of the time, you can find children doing their schoolwork in the living room, as well. The couch, love seat, and even the floor also serve as school areas. If the girls are reading, they're just as likely to take their history and literature books to their beds, or outside.
It's crowded. It's not always pretty. But it's our school area, and we're thankful for it. I often wish I had extra money to spend on some really great organizational tools for this area. I'm sure over time, we'll continue to revamp the area.
But today, this is what it looks like.
Trusting in Him,
April
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Jun. 2, 2009
Are you interested in a free virtual homeschooling conference?
Lampstand Press is holding a "virtual homeschool conference" this year, complete with free speakers, free samples, and conference specials.
There are workshops on the following topics:
- writing instruction (beginner and advanced),
- personal devotions for Moms
- how to help kids grow in their own spiritual life
- "Teaching with Tapestry of Grace."
Click here for info (click the "workshop" tab to see all the workshop topics). You can sign up for as many, or as few of the webinar sessions that you want.
Trusting in Him,
April
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May. 29, 2009
2nd annual Summer Reading Splash with Splish
May. 29, 2009
Reasons we homeschool, and don't give up ...
A few months ago, The Homeschool Minute e-Newsletter asked readers to send in their "Top Ten Reasons To NOT Give Up Homeschooling". I had a hard time coming up with just one list, and ended up with 3 variations. The Homeschool Minute ended up running them, in 3 different newsletters.
My Top 10 Reasons Not To Give Up Homeschooling:
- God called us to homeschool our children, and He'll provide the strength we need.
- The curriculum in public schools is not from a Christian worldview.
- I don't want my children exposed to sin, bullying, popularity contests, and other fun "socialization" on a daily basis.
- Homeschooling lets my children be who they are and grow strong in their beliefs before entering the hostile environment of "the world."
- Homeschooling allows my children to learn their difficult subjects in an environment free from ridicule.
- Homeschooling allows my children to wiggle, take a break, or change subjects whenever they need to restore their focus.
- Homeschooling saves me time and money, not having to participate in all the public school fund-raisers and activities.
- Homeschooling builds family unity, family culture, and family memories.
- Public school children keep telling my kids that they wish they were homeschooled ... so why would we send ours to public school?
- Homeschooling teaches my children to love and serve others as they work together each day and learn to get along with each other.
If my kids went to school, I'd miss ...
- Watching my brand new reader try to read a book to his 2-year-old sister.
- Hearing my children talk together about their history lesson and the books they're reading.
- Eating lunch with my kids every day.
- Hearing my children thank me for homeschooling them.
- Being there when they learn new things.
- Sitting beside my 7-year-old, listening to him read his very first book.
- Hearing my daughter tell me how cool her new science book is.
- Seeing the creativity and curiosity of my children as they enjoy the learning process and explore their world.
- Being able to watch my children wake up slowly each day.
- The breakfast banter we can share because we don't have to rush out the door to meet the bus.
Because I homeschool ...
- My children are each others' best friends.
- I get to know my children so much more.
- We can spend time with Daddy when he has a day off.
- We can go with Daddy on business trips.
- We can all study the same subject at the same time.
- The kids can take a "baby break" and spend several weeks falling in love with a new sibling, too.
- My children don't think it's not cool to learn.
- My children can still be children, not pushed to act older than they are.
- We can focus on academics instead of fashion on school days.
- I don't have to pack my kids' lunches every night before bed.
If you'd like to subscribe to The Homeschool Minute newsletter, you can do so at THIS LINK. They're very encouraging, and I look forward to them each week.
Trusting in Him,
April
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May. 19, 2009
Carnival of Homeschooling is up!
May. 14, 2009
Teaching Preschool Skills? Why?
Every now and then I run across a workbook or printout that is designed to teach preschool skills in cutting, tracing, colors, etc. It usually evokes a level of guilt in me for not doing more with my preschoolers. Lately, I'd been feeling a renewed sense of "I should do more 'preschool stuff' with my 3 year old" guilt. Until I turned around last week and realized it totally wasn't necessary.
I caught my 3 year old daughter with a pair of scissors ... again. This time she was just cutting up a brochure that didn't belong to her. This time. Last time it was her hair.
And it dawned on me. You don't have to teach cutting skills to a 3 year old ... just leave the scissors out. They'll figure it out. They'll cut their clothes, the table cloth, their hair, and their big sister's artwork. My five year old likes to cut my clear vinyl table cloth that is protecting our antique table. Before that, it was his clothes he continually cut. The three year old seems to prefer her hair and other people's papers. My 8 year old liked to cut paper into tiny tiny triangles and slivers all over the table and floor when he was younger. I don't remember what the three older girls used to cut, but now it's paper dolls and coupons. Baby G is still too young, thankfully.
You don't need to teach them how to use a pencil or crayon, either. They'll find one somewhere and use it on the walls, their sister's math book, and Daddy's tax paperwork. They even usually find a semi-normal way of holding the pencil, pen, crayon or marker. Markers are best used on walls, clothes, and skin, however. My three year old thinks they're for make-up and tattoos.
You don't need to teach them how to balance on one foot or hop, either. They'll learn those things trying to reach something you don't want them to have ... like the scissors or the markers.
So just leave out your paper, scissors, glue, crayons and markers. Throw in some Duplos, books, and 15 or 20 peg puzzles ... and let the learning begin!
Turn your back for just a minute and they'll dump out all the puzzles for you. Then you can show them how to put a puzzle together while you pick up the mess they made. You can also talk about animals, vehicles, seasons, colors, etc. with each new puzzle theme.
Blink and they'll empty a bookshelf. Then you can read each and every book to them as you put it back on the shelf. That was probably their intent all along.
Go to the bathroom and they'll dump out all the duplos. Then you can talk about colors while you show them how to find the duplos that bounced into every corner of the room.
Teach them how to clean up their own messes ... that's the really hard skill to teach!
But seriously, I really do think that if you provide young children with plenty of educational toys, access to craft supplies, and books ... they thrive! You don't need to plan out educational preschool activities. Just give them time to explore their home, which should be filled with great learning tools for preschoolers. And read to them!
Preschool years aren't the years to plan and schedule and school. They're the years for spontaneous discovery and learning. They're the years to snuggle and giggle and enjoy a good book together. They're the years to teach them how to obey and help and pick up after themselves.
So don't stress, don't plan, don't do "school" ... just be with your preschooler. Explore together. But keep your eye on them ... they're fast and sneaky!
Trusting in Him,
April
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May. 7, 2009
How do I homeschool with a large family?
My brother-in-law asked me at Easter time how I homeschool all my kids. I tried answering around meal preparations and kids talking, but I've been wanting to blog about that ever since.
I know I'm not the only one homeschooling 4 children at once, with little ones waiting in the wings. In the Fall, I'll actually have 5 official students, and a preschooler to teach. I have several strategies that we use here.
I combine students into one curriculum as much as possible. When we used Five In A Row, I taught 2-3 students the same lessons at once. They were lumped into the same unit study, until the older girls were ready to move up into Beyond FIAR, and then I had two in one level and two in the other level. Now, we use Tapestry of Grace, and they are all using the same curriculum, but reading age appropriate books.
I teach them to work independently as much as possible. I do not stand and teach each math lesson to each child before they work. As soon as they are reading well, I expect them to read the lessons themselves and ask for help if they need it. I focus my time and energy on helping the non-readers. This is also why we moved to Tapestry of Grace away from FIAR. I love FIAR, but it required me to lead two different levels of unit studies with the kids each day, and that was ignoring the preschooler. Tapestry lets the older ones work independently most of the time, so I can read to the younger ones.
I try to eliminate excess work and combine subjects as much as possible. If my child just spent time writing about sparrows for science, I don't make them do handwriting as well that day. If I can teach science at the same time as history and language arts via a unit study, then I don't buy an extra curriculum for science (in elementary school).
I take a "better late than early" relaxed schooling approach with some subjects. While I do teach my kids about nouns, verbs, periods and commas ... we do not use a grammar curriculum until they are in upper elementary school. Likewise with science. I have used this approach with spelling, but may be changing that.
I write out a lesson plan for each student early in the week and give it to them. They can see their daily lesson requirements and mark them off as they go ... if they are reading well. They aren't waiting for me to tell them what to do next.
I give each child a place for their schoolbooks so they can easily find everything. My kids each have a plastic dishpan for their schoolwork. We call them their boxes. They sit "oh so decoratively" on a built-in buffet in my dining room. It's not stylish but it works! Yesterday my 5 yo was asking where he would put his books. I told him I needed to get him a box, too. I'll probably need to empty out the box that was supposed to hold paper for art projects, and give it to him instead.
I lessen the expense of homeschooling a group by buying reusable products as much as possible. We don't buy individual spelling workbooks, we bought Spelling Power which combines it all. I switch them over to textbooks that don't require workbooks as soon as I can.
I use literature to teach as much as possible. If I can combine reading practice and exposure to good literature, with teaching history or science ... so much the better! If I can buy the books used, or borrow them from our local library ... that's the best!
I don't teach a subject at a certain age just because I'm supposed to. For instance, why teach spelling to a child who isn't yet reading well? That has always been my practice ... waiting until the child was reading chapter books before beginning spelling with them. (Although, All About Spelling has me questioning that approach.)
Focus on the three R's first. In the early grades, we focus on reading, arithmetic and handwriting. We don't use a structured writing curriculum, but do try to get them comfortable with writing out what they're thinking. Anything else they learn is just icing on the cake. These 3 areas are the foundation for all they will learn in the future, so it is our main emphasis. We do learn history, language arts and science through living books and life experiences, but we don't use textbooks for them in elementary school.
Everyone sits to do their bookwork first, and I help each one as they ask for help. I try to remain available to them as much as possible, although the baby can make that hard at times. Then we used to do the unit studies after the bookwork, hopefully while the baby napped. Now, this is the time in the afternoons or late mornings when the older girls go off to read their Tapestry of Grace assignments, and I listen to the younger ones read or read to them.
We are flexible. We haven't ever made a school schedule we followed very long. Each school day looks different. It helps us to have a weekly schedule instead of a daily schedule. If we look at what is learned in the whole week instead of each individual day, it helps us keep a better perspective. Yes, this day we only accomplished half our lessons, but on this other day we learned so much more than we had planned. They balance out.
Those are just some of the ways we teach our larger family. I'm sure I'll think of things later that I didn't share, and I'll have to add a part 2.
Trusting in Him,
April
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Mar. 23, 2009
Free Weekly Planner Pages To Download
I was blog hopping with the Ultimate Blog Party and came across this Christian blog by Kate: Which Proverbs 14:1 Woman?. It's a great blog, in and of itself. But I wanted to share these great weekly planner pages that Kate created. They are a 2 page spread, and the to do notes are organized by priorities ... Christian, Wife, Mother, Homemaker, Woman. In that order. She has them free to download HERE. What a great way to organize your week, with a visual reminder of your priorities before God!
Trusting in Him
April
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Mar. 11, 2009
Have you heard about Homeschool Freebie of the Day?
This great website has a free download every single weekday. Sometimes they even give you two downloads in one day. If you join their mailing list, there are also special subscriber only freebies.
It's definitely worth your time to join their mailing list. They'll send you an email at the start of each week with a list of what is coming up that week. Then you can decide in advance which days you need to go to the website and download the free ebook or MP3.
Or you can set it as your browser homepage so you automatically end up there each day.
Check it out!
http://www.homeschoolfreebie.wholesomechildhood.com/
Trusting in Him,
April
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Mar. 11, 2009
Free Charlotte Mason & Nature Study Books Online
Mar. 4, 2009
Artistic Pursuits K-3 book, half price today only!
Feb. 26, 2009
Free Bird Study Coloring Book for your Nature Study
This is a great little coloring book with line drawings of 47 different birds. Each page has the bird drawing for your children to color, as well as space for the children to take notes on the bird's field markings, size, shape and differences between genders. It can be used as part of your nature journals, or along with Apologia's Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day study.
It's totally free. Just open this PDF link and save it to your computer by clicking on that handy little disk.
Trusting in Him,
April
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Feb. 25, 2009
Free Jonathon Park adventures, through 2/27/09
Have you heard of Jonathon Park yet? These are great creation science adventure radio shows that my children love! We listen to them in the car when we are going to be driving awhile. I love that my children are learning science from a Christian perspective while we drive, and enjoying it. They beg for Jonathon Park!
From now until Friday, 2/27/09, you can download the entire volume one set for FREE! You can read the details at my friend Dawn's blog. Go HERE to read about it.
And you can check out Jonathon Park's website HERE.
Trusting in Him,
April
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Feb. 24, 2009
Would you like to have a free digital issue of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine?
The Old Schoolhouse has gone digital. If you would like to try out the digital format, or want to preview The Old Schoolhouse magazine, this is your chance!
They're letting you view the Fall 2008, digital The Old Schoolhouse issue. You can read about it HERE at the Store Spotlight blog. Or simply go HERE to view the digital Fall 2008 issue of The Old Schoolhouse magazine.
Enjoy!
Trusting in Him,
April
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Jan. 27, 2009
Two FREE Charlotte Mason Ebooks from Simply Charlotte Mason
I just discovered (thanks to Freely Educate blog) the Simply Charlotte Mason website. It's a great website with so much helpful information! While I was there, I found two FREE e-books on Charlotte Mason style education.
The first FREE e-book is Education Is An Atmosphere, A Discipline, A Life. You can download it HERE.
The second FREE e-book is Masterly Inactivity With Charlotte Mason. You can download it HERE.
I'm looking forward to some encouraging Charlotte Mason reading ... and I just wanted to share it with others, as well.
Trusting in Him,
April
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Oct. 24, 2008
Do you want to try some new curriculum yourself ... Free?
Oct. 10, 2008
Do you have a struggling reader?
I have one. He isn't my first to struggle with reading. Each of my children has come to a point where they knew the letter sounds, but could not blend them together. Repeated practice didn't seem to help. It was only frustrating to them, and me. We'd feel as if we were banging our head against a brick wall, so we'd set aside the curriculum and relax for awhile. I'd just resume reading to them, and we'd try again later to work on their word blending skills.
With each child, it eventually "clicked". And when it did "click", they quickly excelled in reading. 9 yo C took a full year longer than her older sisters to reach that point. I had to try new approaches, and continue to remind myself that she would eventually learn to read. Now she can be found reading daily, and often begs me to take her back to the library for a new book.
7 yo J has also taken longer than the first two children. He has reached a point of being able to read the simple Bob books, but still lacks the confidence to apply those skills to more challenging words and books. He is easily discouraged, and I need to be more diligent in listening to him practice reading.
When I saw Tia's request on the Front Porch for several volunteers to review a children's book, I didn't know what the topic of the book was going to be. I thought it would be fun to review a new children's book, so I volunteered. It was truly a blessing to receive the text, and realize it was a book about struggling readers. I read it to myself, and then to 7 yo J.
If your children participated in the TOS Summer Reading Splash program, your children will recognize Splish, the frog who stars in this story.
And Then Mama Said ... It Takes Time To Learn To Read.
Author: Gena Suarez
Illustrated by: Kevin Collier
As a homeschool mother with a struggling reader, I am thankful for this book: And Then Mama Said ... It Takes Time To Learn To Read. Gena's story of Splish is encouraging both to the emerging reader, and the parents.
Splish's mom encourages him that it takes time to learn to read, and everyone learns at their own pace. This lesson is repeated throughout the book, and Splish's feelings about his inability to read will resonate with any child facing a similar struggle. The book will validate their feelings, and show them they aren't alone in their struggle. Splish's eventual success will give hope to beginning readers.
The story also includes gentle lessons for the parents about how to teach reading to a child who is struggling. These subtle reminders for the parents will help ease fears that their child will never learn to read, or that they are unable to teach their own child to read. The book will encourage the parents to persevere, be patient, and not compare their child with others.
And Then Mama Said ... It Takes Time To Learn To Read will be a blessing to every homeschool family, and to every beginning reader. It will especially encourage the child who has struggled longer than others, and is discouraged. Splish's story encouraged both myself, and my struggling reader. It will be on my list to purchase for future students.
Thank you, Gena, for addressing a common area of concern to homeschool families, and for doing it so well.
Look for Splish's story (in e-book and print format) in stores soon.
Trusting in Him,
April
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Jun. 16, 2008
PaperBackSwap.com for homeschool books
I am probably dense, and y'all may have already heard about PaperBackSwap.com, but I am excited about it. A friend of mine just told me about it, and how she was using it to get some of her curriculum needs for next year. I signed up using her referral, and started listing books yesterday. First, I listed my mandatory ten books to get my first 2 free credits (each credit equals one book trade). Today I worked on creating a wish list there, and looking for books that I've wanted to buy. Most of them weren't currently available, so I put them on my wish list. Some were, so I put them on my reminder list to shop from once I have more credits.
But then today, I started listing more books, and I've already got 5 of my books requested. Once I mail them, I'll get a credit for each book. Since I paid for and printed my delivery confirmation at the Paperbackswap.com website, I'll get my credit as soon as my post office scans the delivery confirmation. If I hadn't done that, I wouldn't get credit until the recipient went to the website and marked the book as received.
So, I pay postage to mail out the books I'm swapping, but I pay nothing to receive books that I request from others. I have two books already requested that we will need to use on an ongoing basis for Tapestry of Grace this upcoming school year. Once I receive more credits, I'll be able to get more books. So, for the price of media mail postage, and delivery confirmation, I get books I need sent to me. I couldn't buy a decent copy of most of these books for that price, let alone ordering it from the internet and paying for the book, plus postage.
So, I'm thrilled to get to swap books I'm not using for books that I need! And my girls are excited, too. They have been hovering over me all day long as I list books, look for books, and package books to mail.
The sad part is that I think I've seen this discussed on several email lists I'm on. But I didn't realize it was for anything but paperbacks, and I didn't realize curriculum could be swapped. So, I just ignored it, and didn't even bother to really read the emails. Oh well! Better late than never.
If you're interested in signing up for PaperBackSwap.com and would like a referral, just use my "Email Me" link in the right column under my picture. I'll send a referral to you. Once you sign up, and list 10 books, you'll get 2 free credits, and I'll get 1 free credit. Then every time someone requests a book from you, and you mail it, you'll receive another credit. You can even buy credits for $3.95 each, if you haven't earned any and want a book ... which is still a bargain on many books.
Well, that is the end of my advertisement, but I was excited about how this is helping me, and wanted to share it with others. The more homeschoolers that participate, the more of us that will be able find curriculum to swap with others.
Rejoicing in Him,
April
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May. 20, 2008
The Old Schoolhouse's Summer Reading Splash!
The Old Schoolhouse magazine has a new summer reading program for our kids. You can read about it at their Summer Reading Splash page. And be sure to check the Summer Reading Splash Blog for weekly questions with drawings for a free book, and ideas to encourage our children to read. Every participant will receive their choice of 1 free children's e-book (out of ten choices) at the end of the summer. The program runs May 19, 2008 through July 31, 2008.
And don't forget to keep checking in for Beverly Hernandez' 10th Annual Homeschooling Summer Reading Program. At the moment, it still has information for the 9th annual one last year, but it usually starts June 1, so should get updated soon.
And if you live near a Barnes & Noble Bookstore, your elementary aged children can participate in their Summer Reading Program, to earn a free book.
Or they can participate in Book-It's Summer Reading Program for a chance to win some bigger prizes.
Enjoy the summer, and the reading. 
Trusting in Him,
April
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Jan. 2, 2008
Free Sled Dog Lapbook at Homeschool E-Store this week!
Dec. 4, 2007
Christmas unit studies and activities, most of which are free ...
We just started school again yesterday. I was sharing with my friend Shurleen about the Grinch unit study/lapbook we're working on, and then talking about what we might do in the next two weeks. She asked me to put together a list of different Christmas ideas and resources to share. So, here it is:
FREE THIS WEEK : Saint Nicholas Unit Study -- http://www.homeschoolestore.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=8014&&affiliate_id=2089
FREE ALL THE TIME: Homeschool Share Unit Studies related to Christmas
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/christmas.htm
FREE ALL THE TIME: more free unit studies, some of which are wintery
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/Unit%20Studies.htm
This is How the Grinch Stole Christmas Unit/Lapbook we're working on right now. It was free when I downloaded it, but it isn't now.
http://www.homeschoolestore.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=21514&affiliate_id=2089
Read any of the Little House books that has a chapter or two related to Christmas ... Little House in the Big Woods, The Long Winter, Little House on the Prairie come to mind. Or read only the Christmas chapters from each book.
Read Little Women, or at least the Christmas chapter.
FIAR vol. 1 has a unit on Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening by Robert Frost, the one illustrated by Susan Jeffers. It's a beautiful book!
FIAR vol. 4 has a unit study on Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin ... beautiful book.
You could read both of those books together, even without a unit study by FIAR.
Other FIAR winter books I love, even just to read without the unit studies:
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
We're Going On A Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen
The Rag Coat by Lauren Mills
Very Last First Time by Jan Andrews
The Clown of God by Tomie DePaola
Cranberry Thanksgiving (and Cranberry Christmas) by Wende and Harry Devlin
Another Celebrated Dancing Bear by Gladys Scheffrin-Falk
Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
A New Coat for Anna by Harriet Ziefert
Warm as Wool by Scott Russell Sanders (my very favorite!)
The Wild Horses of Sweetbriar by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock
Hanna's Cold Winter by Trish Marx
Names of Jesus Unit Study
http://www.easyfunschool.com/article1679.html
MORE FREE CHRISTMAS lesson plans
http://www.easyfunschool.com/IndexChristmas.html
including the Polar Express!!
http://www.easyfunschool.com/article1919.html
Here's a FREE unit study of How the Grinch Stole Christmas that a Homeschool blogger, Homeschoolingmommaof4, created and is letting people download:
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolingmommaof4/424661/
She also has these entries about other homeschooling Christmas activities:
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolingmommaof4/Christmas
Hopefully you'll find some activities or unit studies to use with your kids this month. Enjoy!
Blessings,
April
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Aug. 1, 2007
Horizons Math and Saxon Math
Bren, from The Journey of Learning, asked me why we use Horizons math for K - 3rd grade instead of Saxon. Well, it's pretty simple. When I first began homeschooling, the ladies at the Five In A Row forums recommended Horizons to me. They said it was colorful, inexpensive, and good quality math. It didn't require buying manipulatives packs, it worked well with most all children, and transitioned easily to Saxon later. So I bought it (used). And we've just stuck with it, ordering new workbooks each year.
I learned later that it is about a year advanced, so we have had to do half lessons and slow the pace down for our K - 1st graders at times. But my children love the workbooks, and it is affordable compared to other math programs.
We switch to Saxon 54 around 4th grade, because it also was highly recommended when I first began homeschooling. Now, it seems, that many of the people who recommended Saxon to me are using Singapore or Math U See instead. But, we can't afford to keep changing curriculum, so we stick with Horizons and Saxon. They've worked for us, although we have had to tweak things at times to suit a certain child.
Blessings,
April
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