The girlies had their first art class yesterday. As you can see it was a resounding success. I am quite impressed with the Monart method of art. I've had the book Drawing with Children for a long while now, but never managed to use it....it seemed SO daunting a task. Thankfully my local Homeschooling group struck a deal with the local Monart instructor....ah...the pressure is off...
I don't really read many blogs, but there are a few that I just can't not read...Amy's Humble Musings is one. Amy is a young mom of 5 under the age of eight, married to a rocket scientist (really and for true), and one of the wisest women I "know". I can not tell you how much she makes me think (and laugh for that matter). Anyways-- Amy is giving away a book titled Lies Homeschooling Moms Believe...so, click th elink and check out what she has to say...about the book and a whole hsot of other stuff...I guarantee you'll be challenged, amused, and motivated!!!
Just a few days ago my hardcopy of The Gift of Family Writing arrived in the mail. Oh! It is a wonderful resource...full of inspiring examples of "family writing" and many, many ideas and tips to make Family Writing a reality. I can not wait to start implementing some of the ideas in our own home. We already have our notebooks...now just to be diligent in actually writing about our daily happenings!
My blogging has been non-exsistent as of late. Not so much because of the odd place I found myself in involving a long missing girl but mostly because of the sleep deprived haze I've been walking around in for the last 7 months--yes, Baby is 7 months old. I find this haze to be most bothersome as I try to plan our new school year. Now, it is true we school year 'round, only taking breaks when illness rears its ugly head or when we have activities or get-aways planned...therefore, including time off at the holidays we average about 40 weeks of school a year. This works well for us as I only plan 36 weeks worth of school and I spread it out over the year. So if we decide we need a day for just play I feel no guilt for not getting "school" done; I have ample time to get in my 180 days of school as required by my state. This summer we reached our 180 days at the end of July...we took a couple of weeks off in August and then started up again with our "new" school year last week. Unfortunately, the above mentioned haze that I've been wandering around in has left me with very little motivation or ability to do any actual planning...I have the Boy's reading schedule done but that is about it. This is very unlike me...I usually have our school year planned months in advance...but not this year...I am hoping to get the girl's reading schedules done in the next week. I am hoping the haze will lift and I'll see the plan at the end of the tunnel. I am hoping that Baby will start sleeping through the night. B.ut i'm not holding my breathe...sigh
One of our family's favorite school resources is the wonderful geography curriculum entitled "A Child's Geography: Explore His Earth". It is authored by my friend Ann Voskamp. With this book she has married learning with fun and opportunities for servanthood. It is delightfully written in a living books style much reminiscent of Hillyer and Burgess. Each chapter contains narration prompts, additional reading lists, fun activities, notebooking directions, and ideas on how to put into practice what you've just learned by serving others.
I personally find it works well in with both Classical and Charlotte Mason styles of homeschooling. However, I am sure it will appeal to all different teaching styles.
If this has piqued your interest, then please click on the link (the photo above) and check it out for yourself. Ann offers FREE samples of the first three chapters for you to download and print. Additionally, in keeping with the theme of Exploring His World, all proceeds of Ann's book are donated to World Vision. So, you can be giving to world as you are learning of the world...what can be better than that?!!
Here it is the first week of July and the chicks and I are still behind in our reading for history and science. However, we are way ahead in math!!! How in the world did that happen? I am trying not to beat myself up over not attaining the goals I set for the chicks way back in September. I keep reminding myself that we are further ahead in all subjects than when we started so many months ago...the chicks are more literate, more well-written, and more numeric than when we started this "school-year". They have grown academically and physically and spiritually--although some of the growth they have done is not as apparent as other growth. And, truthfully, since we took off a bunch of time when Baby made her debut we have enjoyed quite a bit of down time this year. So, as we plug away at the last remnants of this "school year"...we look forward to time off in August when my sister and her family visit and we take a much needed break from the daily grind. We will finish up when we finish our scheduled history rotation (Renaissance and Reformation)...that should be by the end of this month--just in time for us to jump into the new books that I still have yet to order. I better get cracking...The Boy has been asking for his new math and history!!
I recently learned about a wonderful resource from my friend Ann V. It is the book The Gift of Family Writing. I ordered the soon-to-be released hard copy and Jill( the author) gracioulsy e-mailed me an e-book to read in the interim. WhiIe I have only read the first 50 pages or so, it has really made an impact in our family. Four of the chicks and I each have our own journals to record our daily thoughts and conversations. Yes, only as couple of our journals have any entries, but I feel confident that as we get more used to the idea of writing spontaneously about our daily doings that descriptive writing will become a joy to which we all look forward. I forsee many years filled with many journals.
Just the simple thoughts on life, children, books, nature, and God (to name a few) of an imperfect Christian momma as she ventures forth in search of the Sweet Life...
