Last Wednesday, we did an end-of-the-school-year celebration field trip.  We went to the Dutch Apple Dinner Theater to see High School Musical LIVE.  Though it probably wasn't the best show I've ever seen at Dutch Apple, it was certainly fun and lively.  At the last minute, we decided to take Ian along and he really enjoyed it too (he loves music and singing). 

After the show, many of the actors were in the lobby, signing autographs and we were able to snap a few pictures ...

Ryan, Sharpay, and a skater dude (whose name escapes me)

Ashley and Gracie with Troy & Gabriella

The girls with Miss Darbis

If you're in the area and would like to see the show, you still have a few weeks left - it runs through May 30th.  You can check out the publicity video here.

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Thanks to my friend Crystal for sending me an educator's discount coupon code, the girls, my mom, and I were able to go to Sight & Sound yesterday afternoon.  The four of us got in for only $40, which is less than the normal price for just one ticket!  We love going there, but it really is quite expensive, so this was a very nice special treat (not to mention an awesome field trip opportunity)!

We saw Behold the Lamb (the Easter story) and it was SO moving!  It may be my new favorite show that we've seen there (and we've seen pretty many now - including Noah, The Miracle of Christmas, Ruth, Abraham & Sarah, and In the Beginning). 

If you're ever in the Lancaster, PA area, I'd highly recommend going to see ANY production there - you won't be disappointed.

Is there any movie, show, or production that you would recommend this Easter season?

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Since yesterday was St. Patrick's Day, our Spirit Week theme for the day was, obviously, holiday-related.  We wore green (with the exception of Ashley, who chose orange - my friend Charity has been telling us for years that Protestants are to wear orange on St. Patty's Day, green is what Catholics wear - I've never really researched it, but I'm sure she knows what she's talking about!)  Anyway, yesterday turned into a very interesting and busy day (which I'll be posting about!) so we never got around to taking this picture 'til the evening:

Notice that Ian even found a green bear to help us celebrate!  I got up in the morning and decided that Stanley's polka-dot tie just would not do - so I made him a nice, new, shamrock tie, in honor of the Spirit Week festivities.  Cute, huh?

Leah~ you will have to let me know if you'd like Stanley to keep this tie (it is removable) - I didn't know if you'd like your classmates to see it or not.  Just have your mom leave a comment or you can call us, ok?

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Everyone around here has the winter blues.  The ladies on my message board do too.  I think everyone does at this time of year.  So, in order to build up some morale and have some fun, we decided to have Spirit Week this week.  Today is the first day - PAJAMA DAY.  Here's a picture of Gracie doing her schoolwork in her pj's.  (Now, I must admit, this is Gracie's favorite school attire every day, so it's really nothing new!)

Last week, we had a guest arrive for a visit.  His name is Flat Stanley, and he's quite the world traveler among homeschoolers, so I'm sure many of you have met him.  Anyway, he's visiting for awhile, and we thought he might enjoy Spirit Week.  Gracie wanted to make him some pajamas, but she didn't have time this morning.  Be sure to tune in later this week for Crazy Hair Day!

Leah ~ Stanley is doing fine, though he might be a bit homesick for you.  We'll keep him this week, then send him back.  I bet you're starting to miss him!

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How long has it been since I've updated about our homeschooling adventures?  Of late, it seems like I hardly have time to blog anymore; and when I do take the time it's usually just to post a review that is due (obligation blog post, in other words) or to post a new topic for Destination Disney (which I have a hard time remembering to do every Thursday!) 

Life has certainly taken over and I've been so busy with my job.  I'm not complaining  because I totally love my job!  My main responsibility this past year has been overseeing the Homeschool Crew and it has been so much fun and so fulfilling, I can't even begin to describe it!  I'm looking forward to another fun year with the Crew.  If you're interested in being a part of our Crew for the 2009-10 school year, please be watching your e-mail for details about how you can try out for a spot on our team.  It's a big job, but it certainly is full of blessings.

Those blessings have put a bit of a clinker into our school year, though, or at least they've made it interesting.  We hit the 1/2 way point in our year right before we left for Florida, so now we're heading down the homestretch with 81 more learning days to go.  Does the learning ever truly stop though?  I don't think so!

Ashley is continuing to use the books listed for her in my sidebar.  She did not enjoy the history lessons that are suggested in Where the Brook and River Meet, so we were glad to see that Mystery of History volume 3 was finally available!  We made that switch very early on in our school year and she is loving doing that independently (meaning that we are not using that with Gracie this year).  With the blessings from the Crew project, we have added Building Thinking Skills from Critical Thinking to her list, as well as just recently incorporating art with Artistic Pursuits.  I'll try to come back in a few weeks and do a more thorough post about these companies.  Ashley has also spent a great deal of  "working hours" this year - babysitting our friends' baby - she has enjoyed bonding with her, caring for her, and watching her grow and change - we're going to add some required research and a written report for a full-credit course in Child Development for this year.

Gracie has been plugging along with her curriculum this year as well.  She has completed her workbook on PA history and we have since moved on to doing geography using A Child's Geography (which I had the privilege of reviewing for Knowledge Quest last year).  We just started this this 1/2 of the year, so it's new to us, but going well so far.  She also has finished her Biblical Character Traits copywork book, so she is doing the copywork that goes along with A Child's Geography as a way to work on her handwriting skills (which aren't the best, I must admit!)  We have added the Building Thinking Skills and Artistic Pursuits to her schedule as well.  She enjoys both very much, but especially the art.  We had been thinking of pursuing some art lessons for her, but this is definitely the next best thing!  I'll have to scan some of her recent artwork to share someday soon.

Though Ian is only 2 and I don't have a list for him in the sidebar, he was just thrilled to receive the Building Thinking Skills book for 3-4 year olds, and shows that thing off to everyone who enters our home!  He's actually quite good at the beginning pages of it, and was very excited when some math textbooks arrived from them just a few days ago.  This boy is set for when he's ready for school - I don't think I'll have to buy anything! 

Well, that's just a quick run-down of what's going on at "our school".  I figure I shouldn't really have a homeschool blog if I'm never going to take the time to write about our homeschool.  I apologize for my lack of interesting blog posts of late!  Hope I still have a reader or two left out there! 

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,,,,the CHAP convention!

I'll be there.  Will you?

My notebook is all made up with my lists and ready to go.  (I need a new one, though~ I've been using this one for the past few years and, well, it's falling apart!)  Anyway, for those of you who are new to homeschool conventions, I thought I'd briefly share what I include in my notebook, just in case you need some convention tips. 

We register online for the CHAP convention, so the first thing in my notebook is always my printed reservation confirmation.  Make sure you take some sort of proof of payment with you, just in case! 

Next, I include a workshop schedule.  CHAP makes this available to us online before convention.  This is handy, as I can look it over and decide beforehand which workshops are of interest to me.  I highlight the ones that I'd like to listen to and/or purchase the audio cd.  I prefer the audios, actually, as I can concentrate on them better~ however, sometimes they have hand-outs at convention, and I do so love those handouts.  So, weigh your options and choose what's best for you.  I have 5 workshops highlighted for this year, and I'm noticing a recurring theme......each one is related to homeschooling the high schooler.  What do you think?!

After that, I have a section for Ashley and a section for Gracie.  I print pages off the internet or pull them from catalogs, with pictures and prices of the items that I know I need to buy.  I like to have pictures, so I know that I'm getting the latest versions/editions of what we need.  And I like to have prices so I know I'm getting the best deal (if it's cheaper to order online or through a catalog, I'll wait and order when I get home~ though I've never found that to be the case).  I keep all of these pages in plastic sheet protectors because, well, I'm weird like that!

I keep some extra page protectors in the back, for any hand-outs from workshops, etc.

Today, I will make up a quick reference check-list for the front of my binder.  I will print this on cardstock and will not put it in a sheet protector, as I will have check boxes to check off the items as we buy them.  I will seperate this list by child;  and, this year, I'll have a section for my friend Isabelle (who has given me a list of items to look for as well). 

Oh, I always carry pre-printed return address labels.  Many vendors have contests and drawings at their booths, and it is much quicker to use these labels to sign up, rather than having to write out the same information over and over again. 

I want to say a special THANK YOU to my dear friend Crystal, who first encouraged me to attend convention years ago.  I always thought I'd be too overwhelmed at convention.  I was wrong!  I love it, and look forward to it with anticipation each year. 

If you'll be at CHAP, you can look for me in the TOS booth~ I'll be there off-and-on both Friday and Saturday.  Hope to see YOU there!

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As the girls and I are winding down our school year (only 34 more days to go!), I'm starting to plan for next year (ok, for those of you who really know me, I confess~ I've been planning for months! )  Anyway, I have my handy dandy convention folder all ready to go and thought I'd share a list of the items that I'll be needing to buy (this list does not include things we already have or that I have already purchased~ used~ via online resources). 

For Ashley:

• Videotext Algebra, modules D-F (on dvd)
• Apologia's Exploring Creation with Biology and companion cd-rom
• Latina Christiana I
• Books needed for "Where the Brook & River Meet" unit study
  - George Mueller biography
  - Napoleon biography
  - Queen Victoria biography
  - The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee
  - That's Why They Call It Grace (tape/cd) by Diana Waring
  - What in the World's Going on Here?
  - Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? by Rick & Richard Mayberry
  - Are You Liberal? Conservative? or Confused? by Rick & Richard Mayberry
  - The Snow Queen by Nas Christian Anderson
  - Marmion by Sir Walter Scott
  - The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edit Schaeffer
  - The Way Home: Beyond Feminism, Back to Reality by Mary Pride
  - Laurel's Kitchen Caring; Recipes for Everyday Living by Laurel Robertson

For Gracie:

• Abeka's God's Gift of Language A (and test book)
• Abeka's Arithmetic 4 (and test book)
• Modern Curriculum Press Spelling Workout Level D
• Apologia's Exploring Creation with Zoology 2
• and possibly Prima Latina
  

My list isn't too big this year.  And I will continue to check the used curriculum boards leading right up to convention time, as I'm always looking for better deals.  If you have any of these items that you'd like to sell, please e-mail me.

Oh, and speaking of convention.....
Is anyone planning to come to CHAP?  If so, check for me in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine booth (I'll be there for a few hours each day (not sure yet of times);  but when I'm not in the booth, I'll be strolling the convention.  Hope to see you there!

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Over the next several months, I will be working with Kris Price to help TOS create the PERFECT homeschool planner.  We'd also like to include household planning in this as well.  We want YOU to offer your suggestions.  What would YOU like to see in the ULTIMATE planner?

If you're anything like me, you've searched for the perfect planner, and just can't find it.  I've tried several, but none are just what I want~ so I always end up creating my own planning sheets on the computer. 

So, in order to create the BEST PLANNER EVER, we'd like your suggestions.  Please send them to Gena~ tell her what you're looking for, and we'll do everything we can to incorporate all YOUR ideas into the new TOS planner.

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THE TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE?

Totality (when the Moon is completely engulfed in the Earth’s shadow) starts at 7:00 pm and will last 52 minutes (Pacific Standard Time – you can add hours depending upon your time zone).  We will not have another Total Lunar Eclipse visible from the Americas until December of 2010, so you will not want to miss this!

If you'd like to learn more about the 5 stages of a lunar eclipse, click here.

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*I'm going to leave this "sticky" at the top of my blog for a few days, as I'm really hoping for some HELP with this one! 

We are planning to use Where the Brook and River Meet with Ashley for next school year.  I'm anxious to try to whole unit study thing and see how that works out for us.  I would LOVE to hear from anyone who has used this in the past~ please tell me your experience with it, pros and cons, any suggestions you may have for making our school year fun and productive.

In addition to this book, we only need to add in a math program (not a problem, as we'll continue with VideoText algebra), a science program (we'll be using Apologia's Biology), and seperate grammar and Latin courses.

That's where YOU come in (if you're not already answering from paragraph one, and even if you are!).......I'd love to hear about any Latin course that you've used.  I'm not really familiar with any of them.  So, tell me titles, where they can be purchased, what you liked and disliked about it, would you recommend it, etc.  You know, your basic review~ positive or negative. 

Also, if you have something to recommend for high school grammar, that would be great too.  The book says it's not needed if "your child is proficient in grammar".  Well.........(that's all I'm going to say!)

Help, please!  Our school year next year is dependent on it!

NOTE:  If you would prefer to share about your Latin experiences (or your thoughts on Where the Brook and River Meet) on your own blog, that's fine too.  Please just sign the Mr. Linky below with your name and a direct link to your post.  I so appreciate it (and so do a few friends of mine who are also interested in Latin!)

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