Oct. 29, 2009 - Project: Christmas

freefoto

2 hours a week for 12 weeks -

Preparing for a relational, homemade Christmas -

Remembering Jesus!

I’m still revising my list on the run.  I've tweaked my plans this week so that they are in keeping with what I can in all reality achieve.  That is the purpose in starting so early - not only do you do your projects in small steps but you have plenty of time to tweak and change plans rather than rush around still aiming for the impossible as you run out of time.

Reviving my Christmas Tree:

I found some decorations to make for my tree from Martha Stewarts website.  I will have to tweak some of these ideas as I have a naive country decorated tree though some of these ideas will give the lift that my tree needs.

Ribbon around the tree – though I’m tempted to make the frosted fruit I know I won’t have time so I’ll just use the idea here of a ribbon threaded around the tree – I think I’ll look for a wide red ribbon with gold edges to match the rest of my tree.

Wooden shapes – vintage gold in colour.   This tree is all too frosty for an Australian Christmas tree but I’m inspired!    I have a lot of wooden shapes so I may just repaint a few to give a bit of a lift. Here are some instructions for painting wooden ornaments.

Beads – won’t the girls just love making these with me!

Button Wreathes – these are just perfect

Ornament hooks – this article reminded me that I need to make more hooks this year. This will be Daniel’s job – to make a collection of hooks ready for our tree decorating day.

I’ll also need to redo the cinnamon stick bundles and raffia bows that have crumbled over the last few years.

So now I need to make another Spotlight order.  It took me weeks to get around to making that first order!!

Other Ideas I came across:

I like this tree skirt but not sure I’m going to have time to make it.  Usually I have a strip of hessian crumpled up under my tree.

This idea reminded me to find the basket we usually have on the table with cards.  We like to share the letter together, then share our memories of these people with our kids (they don’t know the same people we do since we’ve lived here all their life) and we pray for our friends. 

I love this idea for packaging homemade cookies

My kids love garlands stretched all over the place – I don’t particularly like paper chains so here is a good idea – paper star garland.  A great math lesson to boot!

Now here’s something I didn’t’ know!

Still on my List to do

• Make another Spotlight order
• Checkout beads online and order some for our bead ornaments (girls also need a few beading bits and pieces for the beading they do)
  
• Get my newsletter address list made – might enlist Jessica’s help here
• Have decided no handmade gifts this year except for the two I’ve already started on and the baking I’ll do in December.  Off to the shops to find something else. 
• I still want to make gift tags but have a Creative Memories workshop this weekend so I’ll work on them then.
• I have two gifts still to organize for my family.  One I know what I’m doing – the other I am still searching for that just right gift.
• Though I am working on my Nativity scene quilt (which won't get finished this year) I have decided to work on a quick and easy project - 3 wise men applicqued in felt - for my Christmas project this year. 
  

Oct. 26, 2009 - What I’ve been doing

Last week was a very full week. 

• Monday we needed to spend most of our morning doing housework catch up.  The weekend was busy and this just needed to be done.  I also spent some time in the office while the kids worked on independent work.  Int he afternoon we had people travelling around Australia drop in.  We had so much to talk about – it’s like that when you meet people who are like-hearted.  The kids had a ball together including swimming in the channel till sunset.

• Tuseday we get together with another family for piano, math and character lessons.  For Character, it was more like a devotion this time, we discussed what we do all day and the challenge of doing it for the glory of God.  Math is just with the young boys and we worked on making a measuring jar (calibrated etc).  After a bit of catch up time we dashed home, had lunch and then headed back into town.  I had a dentist, Josh had 4-wheel-biking (I’m sure there’s a better word for this) with the boys he gets together with weekly, and the other kids had Christmas Carols Choir practice. 

• Wednesday we had some good lessons happen in the morning and in the afternoon we had friends around.  They are planning on homeschooling next year so we had lots to talk about.  We mainly talked about how discipleship homeschooling looks so different than traditional schooling.  It has its own set of priorities; the challenge is are we able to let go of what we know (traditional schooling) and work with the priorities that touch our children’s hearts.

• Thursdays Jessica has Mainly Music and needs to be in town around 8.15 to help set up.  Joshua stayed home to study.  I dropped all the kids off at the hall to help with set up and dashed around town doing a few chores.  Picked up the kids and went and did the grocery shopping.  I prefer to do the shopping before Mainly Music (If we leave home at7.00 it can be done by 8.00 if everyone pitches in) but that didn’t happen this week so the whole things takes a lot longer.  We stayed home in the afternoon, we resisted the temptation (for the kids surely were tempted) to invite kids over to play.  We needed down time, we needed together time.  We had dinner with our Bible Study group and then watched Facing the Giants together.

• Friday I spent the morning in the office, the kids worked on tidying up the house and then a little independent work.  Then in the afternoon we headed off to a friends house for our Homeschool Network meeting, which is a once a term meeting for homeschool mums to get together, to learn from each other, and to encourage each other.  This year our Network meetings have been based around listening to the Tips and Tricks DVD from Institute of Excellence in Writing which many of us are using or working towards.

• Saturday – oh to stay at home!!  I spent the morning in the office working on my newsletter and then finances.  Early afternoon I head into the kitchen to prepare dinner (we were having guests) and Jess reminded me that they had dentist appointments.  Just as we were about to rush out the door I remembered I had made an appointment for Nomi too so she quickly cleaned her teeth and off we went.  The dentist took longer than usual, plus Nomi’s appointment, so that certainly jammed up getting ready for our guests.  But we had a lovely evening getting to know these people who have just come to town.

• Sunday I was up early cooking as I was on morning tea at Church.  I talked to my mum while I worked in the kitchen – cooking the cakes and cleaning up from last night.  Then Pete and I cooked breakfast which we ate together out on the veranda as a family.  We love this family tradition.  Church.  A friend joined us for lunch but I left him and Pete to spend the afternoon talking as I worked on my planning for the week and a few other projects I’ve got happening.  Sunday night we considered going to the movies but we really just needed to stay home so we pulled out a Story Keepers DVD instead.  The kids have seen these stories before but I wanted Nomi and Daniel to know that these stories are based on truth.  Christians did die, they did need to meet in secret and the tunnels etc they see are a real part of Rome.

Whew!  What a week.  Far too busy.  We need to be at home.  We need to have some more quiet productive time.  I will have to guard my afternoon a bit better this week.  I need to remember that all good activity isn’t the best activity.  And though I don’t regret anything that we did last week I need to make sure that every week isn’t like that!

Sep. 28, 2009 - Change of Routine during school holidays

I have long since told my kids we don’t do school therefore we don’t need school holidays but… we find that life gets very busy during the school holidays catching up with friends who go to school, so we change our routine anyway. 

Our routine for the next two weeks will be

6.00am             Personal Responsibilities

8.00am             Family Devotions / Family Meeting

8.30am             Focus time – each child will have a different list of priorities here depending on their study schedule and pursuits.

9.30am             Morning tea and read aloud (Josh most likely will study for a bit longer than the others)

The rest of the day will be spent on either productive activities or social commitments.

Hopefully we will keep most outside the house activities to the afternoon as I have a few things that I want to work on.

10.00-11.00  Office work (including prep for next term)

11.00-12.30   Writing

12.30-1.30    Lunch / Chores

1.30-2.00       Rest

2.00              If we are at home these are my priorities:

* declutter for 1 hour

* Christmas crafts / gifts

* Scrapbooking

Of course, times are purely a guide - things rarely happen spot on time around here.

This is all Plan A – if we have to leave the house in the morning, well, we will.  We will see what happens!  The main reason I’d like to protect my morning routine is that we will have less of an adjustment getting back into our regular routine in two weeks time.

Sep. 21, 2009 - Weekly Wrap Up #39

Weekly Wrap up – Week #39

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Three Little Ladies.

We have had a good week on all fronts this week but the area that strikes me with having the most change/improvement has been our ability to focus on our study time. I have been working on a few ideas and this week they seemed to all come together.

They were:

1. Reduce how much I expect to teach my children in any one day
2. Do the most important first

Simple principles but… there has been great fruit this week. We have been consistent in the things that are important.

What is important:

1. My spirit – to keep it gentle and focused on my kids heart training instead of focused on to-do lists.
2. To take the time to instruct my children.  To give them the understanding of the values I want them to live by rather than just directing them to do what needs to be done.
3. Bible study – Nomi and Daniel are doing a study “Finding Jesus in Genesis” – it is focusing on the covenant God has made with man.  Daniel was reading his Bible and he found a verse that mentioned God’s covenant with Abraham. He was so excited to find another ‘covenant’ verse.  When my children talk about our lessons during the other parts of our day I know we are doing something right. 
4. Living Math – I am focusing on one major study other than Bible for a season and at the moment it is living math.  Once again the kids started talking about the things we’ve learnt during other activities.  This is real learning as it is applied to other aspects of life.  Yay!!

Other highlights:

Intrapersonal Growth:

Josh is back from Canberra – it was good to hear him throughout the week make observations and connections.  He wrote a short speech to deliver to the homeschool kids talking about his trip.  He learnt a lot about himself, namely, he likes who he is, what he stands for, and his relationship with his family.  He maybe different from other kids but he is okay with that! 

Our Homeshool Co-op – we meet once a month, and though the intent is for the kids to have some learning situations it is relationship focused.  We are just a group of mums who get together with their kids and if a need arises that is greater than our planned activities that is okay.  Every month we have a short time slot for oral presentations (which is show and tell for the young ones, report giving for the middle ages and apologetic speeches for the older ones) then we do a session on a character trait (this month was loyalty) and then we have 1-1.5hour of planned activity.  This month we did reading responses.  The younger kids did a FIAR book and activity.  The older ones made a resource folder with prompts and ideas for their writing / reading journals.

What made this day even more special for me was that just at the end of the Character session we got some sad news that a friend had a trampoline accident and had broken his neck.  The older kids and I sat together and prayed for him.  It was a delight to see these young kids pray so naturally in a group.  God is good – the young man who had the accident will recover fully.

Talents – I am always on the lookout to see individual talents showing in my children.  There are clues that I need to jump on and use in both encouraging and developing my children.  Just recently Daniel put together 4 bookcases following the instructions by himself.  Though he can’t read fluently he can follow diagrammes very well.  Josh brought home a model aeroplane kit for Daniel and he has worked very well at this even though it is fiddly. 

Sep. 6, 2009 - Weekly Wrap Up

Weekly Wrap up – Week #37

If you like the idea of a weekly wrap up, then join in over at

Three Little Ladies.

I can't believe it has been a week gone by already!  I have only posted once this week.  I wonder where the time went? 

For 3 afternoons last week I went to a course on communication.  Initially I was a bit cautious and doubtful about the benefits of it (I nearly didn't go) but.... I learnt heaps though it came from a humanistic perspective but lots of tools that I can apply to my biblical world view perspective.  It was tiring to be in a 'lecture' type setting, albeit very very casual - notetaking and lots of concentration.  And role play - I hate role play!!

We have had a bit weekend and I'm feeling very tired and should be doing some lesson prep so I'm not going to review my week as I have been but instead leave you with some photos that will show bits and pieces of our last week.

Once a year we get together with the co-op on a Saturday afternoon and have a good ol' family picnic - sack races, three legged races, wheelbarrow races, egg and spoon races etc.  We usually get together on a Friday but we have the occassional event where we make it Saturday so Dads can join us.  We also had a Oral Session, where the kids present something orally, depending on their abilitites, and a Character Session where we learn a little about the character trait of the month.  Having these two activities gives the Dads an opportunity to see something of what usually happens on the Fridays. 

Daniel hopping along in the Sack Race

Peter concentrating with the egg and spoon race -

shhhh - don't tell him the egg is hard boiled!!

Very clever one person puppet theatre -

a sheet with a slit draped over the puppeteer.

This was one little girls Oral presentation as she

showed us her bird model, made from wire.

If you read my newsletter you would have heard that

Josh is off to Canberra this week, sponsored by Rotary

for a Citizenship education programme.  He has to wear a tie

every day and it will be freezing cold.  This photo was taken

as we learnt to put together the wardrobe and tie a decent tie!

There will be more about this adventure in times to come.

We are still in the process of tidying up the family room.

Here's a photo of Jess in her element - she just loves to

organise and tidy things.  There is more of this project to

keep us busy in the coming week.

Nomi and Daniel reckon they're going to miss

Josh so they thought they'd go too.

A friend came to turn our door around (a part of us

reorganising the family room).  He had a keen

apprentice watching on.

And then ....

giving it a go...

Aug. 24, 2009 - Our Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Once life gets full of extra people blogging just stops happening.  I’m glad it is that way.  But since I started out to blog about the learning going on everyday this week I thought I’d catch up with slightly briefer versions for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Friday:

The plan was for me to have my friends children for the day, so she could have some productivity time.  She kept the baby (1yo) and I had the other four – 13yo, 11yo, 6yo, 4yo.  The plan was for us to do structured lessons in the morning, rest time over lunch and free play for the afternoon.  It was a good plan.

We started our lessons with a Reading Journal exercise.  For the older ones this was about thinking about the story, asking questions and giving a narration/summary.  For the younger ones it was about giving a narration (orally which I wrote down) and drawing a picture.  This activity was based on a Max Lucado story, With you All the Way, which served as a devotional for us as well.

Then the older two girls (my Jess 14yo, and LC 13yo) went to the dining table to work on their independent studies while the rest of us did some mapping activities.  We looked at how can you make a flat map from a round world.  Once we made tennis ball globes (from a flat map – kind of our question in reverse) we talked about God having the whole world in his hand and how huge God must be.

After lunch out on the veranda the boys were full (and I mean full) of energy so Josh took them all (Daniel 10yo, JC 6yo, PC 4yo) down to the cattle yards for a run and climb.  When they came back they chose (of their free will) to play lego instead of watch a DVD.  Eventually they watched the dvd and then went outside to play for the rest of the afternoon.

The middle age girls (Nomi 13yo, HC 11yo) cleaned up after lunch and then had free time for the rest of the afternoon.  The older girls (Jess 14yo, LC13yo) had free time till it was time to make pizza for both families for dinner.

Mid afternoon the kids playing outside went for a swim in the channel – they stayed there till we called them in just on dark. 

In the mean time my friend had a productive time at home and instead of coming to pick them up decided to stay on for a movie and pizza. 

It was a full day – it was great to spend the day together and to be able to work in with each other this way (Next Friday is my turn and she has my kids!)

Saturday is our housecleaning day though this Saturday we had a few extra projects as well.  Josh had some weeding to do down in the Sandalwood so he took Nomi for a spell and then Daniel relieved her for the remainder of the time.  Before Daniel went down to the Sandalwood he made another bookcase. 

Jessica blitzed the house (putting away all those little things that get ignored throughout the week).  And then the girls and I worked on filling our bookcases.  We sorted all the picture books and non-fiction books.  It removed ½ the pile from my bedroom (if you remember the photo from a few days back!  Here's a photo taken after Joshua found a very pertinent sign)

We had visitors for the evening meal so Jess cooked dessert – an apple crumble, Pete looked after the meat out on the BBQ and I did veggies and salad.  It is good for the kids to sit at the family meal table when we have visitors and learn to sit and listen to adults talk, or to be involved in conversation when appropriate. 

Sunday – This Sunday was one of the rare Sunday’s when no-one from our family was on roster for anything.  It was nice to be able to sit all together.  Straight after church Pete had to catch up with someone regarding a funeral that he is conducting later in the week – the kids and I headed home.  About an hour later we had the brother of a vet whom Pete used to work for come visiting for a while (along with his wife).  Our town is on the highway around Australia so we get a lot of visitors.  Oh.. funny story – Pete was talking to this older gentleman at church and he said, “Do you know a Letchford, a ……???? (trying to think of Peter’s name) and Pete had to say “ ahhhh? Peter Letchford? – yep, that’s me!”  This man was good friends with Peter’s uncle and parents from way way back.  Plus he was the chairperson of some board to do with Leucaena (tree legume) and Pete would be one of the experienced growers so he was very excited to meet Peter, unfortunately because of our afternoon plans we didn’t’ catch up with them much.  This type of thing happens often – it is a small world.

We made a last minute decision to go to a concert that was a combined church event.  We didn’t’ know about it till this morning.  Josh was asked to set up the sound.  The sound equipment etc is still all fairly new and challenging to Josh but he did very well.  There was high expectations (but not with out a lot of grace and kindness on the performers part) and he was able to keep his cool and be flexible and resourceful.  It was a great experience for him.  One of the nice things was that several older men actually made the effort to commend him.  He appreciated that (so did I).

Aug. 21, 2009 - Our Thursday:

Thursday is a busy day at the best of times, but today we added a few more commitments to the mix!

We left the house at 7.30am (boy, am I glad this doesn’t have to happen every day!).  Drop Jess off at Mainly Music, drop the car off to be serviced and then went on to the Chiropractor for another appointment for my back.

While at the Chiropractor the kids (Nomi and Daniel) worked on some of their daily diligence (Reading, Math).

My friend picked us up and brought us home as we will be without the car for two days.  While we were driving home we talked about the importance of practicing a skill until it becomes ingrained, natural, a part of you.  This applies to things we do as parents as much as it applies to the kids learning a new technique for writing.

It is amazing how much going into town eats up your morning (and energy levels) but I really wanted to complete another Bible study lesson for the kids so we pushed through that.  We are at the beginning of a chronological Bible study, but we are starting off with “Who God is” and our response to him.  Today we were reminded that we needed clean hands and a clean heart to be in his presence. (Ps 24)

While all this was going on Joshua spent another few hours in the Sandalwood, and then worked on understanding options for University again.  Then a young man, new to town, came out to spend some time with Josh.  They have the same passions of politics, worldview, history and cricket!  They talked constantly for 2 hours!!  You can read Joshua’s take on this visit over on his blog.

Lunch / chores

And then while I was taking a nano nap my friend’s husband dropped off a pallet of freight that had arrived in town.  Excitement (well, Jess and I were excited!)  Our 4 bookcases had arrived.  We decided that we would get in and do what we could in the afternoon.  Jess emptied our existing bookcases (they are being moved to another room).  Ever wonder what books would look like not in a bookcase?

Daniel and I made the bookcases up (they arrived flat packed).  I started off being in control of the project but it didn’t take long before Daniel was in charge.  It was pass me this please mum, and can you hold this please.  He did very well.  We couldn’t help but reflect on the time, 7 years ago when my friend (MM just so he remembers the story too) and I tried to build bookcases.  We needed Peter to rescue our efforts and here is a little 10 year boy doing it very well.  He ended up doing a second bookcase all by himself except for some lifting.  I love it when life provides a project that fits with our children’s gifts and abilitities.  And I don’t mind stepping back and being the sidekick at all!

We then needed Joshua’s help (he is the strongest one around when Pete’s not here!) in moving old bookcases, and moving in new.  We took the opportunity to clean 7 years of dirt, cobwebs and ghekko business from behind the bookcases.  It is all very exciting.  The next stage of our family room ‘renovation’ is new computer desks which I haven’t ordered yet.

Our day finished with our mid week Home Group/Bible Study.  We are doing a season of character studies with one of the objectives is to learn how to use Bible study tools.  We had a great discussion on Deborah.  The two lessons we learnt was that God does the work – we just have to be wherever God wants us to be.  And secondly, we need to rise up when we see a need, and be the person ready for God to use for that hour.

Aug. 17, 2009 - A great finish to our week

click the image to see other Weekly  wrap ups

As I reflect back on last week not a lot of study was achieved (regardless of my intentional focus on study!).  But we had a great family week.  I encouraged my older children, who are working so hard at being diligent with their studies, that family still comes first and the things we did this week were important to family relationships.  There's always next week for study!

Feb. 8, 2009 - Jessica - doing Year 10

My goodness where have the years gone!!  Jessica will pretty much continue from where she left off last year.  One of the things that I have felt important in being discipleship based (as opposed to education based) is that learning doesn’t stop and start with the calendar year.  We continue on with the same workbooks, the binders, even the pencil case from one year to the next.  We make changes when the child needs changes to be made, rather than when the calendar says so.

Jessica’s days will be filled with:

Discipleship studies:  The same as Josh – Character and  Bible Study – though they rarely study together.  They do occasionally discuss something which is a great benefit to them as they both look at things so differently.

Lifeskills:  Also with Josh, I will actually teach these subjects – very hands on in our own office.  Quickbooks, Office systems, Personal Money Management

For Keepers at Home Jess will learn cake decorating and dress making in the first part of the year.

Basic skills – Math, Piano,

General Knowledge – Science/Noeo, History, Geography, Australian History, Photoshop

Jessica is also very involved in a community outreach programme, Mainly Music which takes her Thursday mornings as well as the occasional committee meeting. 

The links are to the specific curriculum/resource we use though there are many, many books and online links that we use to cover Jessica’s learning.

Feb. 8, 2009 - Joshua - doing Year 11

One of the highlights for me was a visit with family friends who we initially met when they were traveling around Australia; they spent a couple of years in our area.  Whenever we got together it was just iron sharpening iron and that is exactly what our two days visit was like.  Fantastic.   It was great to talk to another family who were intending to continue homeschooling through highschool.  I came away with ideas and confirmations for Joshua’s course of study for this coming year.

He has officially finished studying history.  Of course, with history being his passion there is no way that we can stop him from reading history but we are not making that an official part of his studies – that now falls under the category of passion/interest led studies!  His days will be filled with:

Discipleship studies – Character and Bible Study.  I am excited that our church is going to do 40 days of Purpose leading up to Easter and that will be Joshua and Jessica’s bible study for this term.  Then they’ll do a HOW Wisdom unit.

Lifeskills – Quickbooks, Office systems, Personal Money Management

Basic Skills – Math, Latin, Writing

General Knowledge – Science/Apologia, Geography, Apologetics and Worldview Studies, and Understanding Economics, Justice and Government.

Oct. 13, 2008 - Project: Christmas

How are you going with your Christmas plan?

Last week I had to decide about our Christmas party and a decoration for our home.  I have decided against both!  That made planning easy!  Though it wasn't easy to make that decision (so much so that I half expect myself to change my mind.  We will see!). 

But no new hand made decorations though I will take an embroidery or two with my on holidays so it will be ready for next year!

So this week my plans are:
*  Make travel plans (This didn't happen last week)
*  Make cards - I am going to make some photo cards so I need to get some photos printed off.  I think we will make this a family project for next weekend.
*  Address my envelopes.
* Review where I am at with my Gift list

Oct. 12, 2008 - Updating my Book shelf – October 12th

I have just updated my Shelfari bookshelf to reflect the books that I am reading now (See Widget to the left)

• A Biblical Home Education by Ruth Beechick.  I get encouraged every time I open something by Ruth Beechick.  This book will be one of my top recommendations for homeschool families.
• Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris.  I am actually listening to the mp3 version of this and thoroughly enjoying it.  As I’ve already said in a recent post – I can’t wait till I share this with my kids.  
• Proverbs for Parenting.  I’m not actually reading this, cover to cover, but it is upmost on my book pile as I am keeping it in front of me so I refer to it often.  I have sensed a need to really elevate Scripture as I instruct and train my youngest two.  Proverbs is a good place to start.  Having it handy makes it easy to pick up both when I’m dealing with an issue or pondering what is going on.
• How Should we then Live by Francis Schaeffer.  One chapter of this series was in Joshua’s reading list in his last History unit.  We want Josh to be familiar with F.Schaeffer’s teaching so we bought the dvd series for Josh and the mp3 for me.  I haven’t actually started listening but it is top top of my list (probably once I’ve finished Do Hard Things)
• The Second Mrs Gioconda by E.L Konigsburg – the jury is out on this one.  I bought it because it had to do with art and I thought it may interest our artist, Naomi.  But I am not sure – It is an interesting book, would probably be a good read aloud, giving plenty to talk about but I am not convinced it is the best – and I am trying to give the children not only good literature but the best.  So we will see.

Sep. 1, 2008 - Bumping Up FIAR - a Progress Report

Over the weekend, Sheri from Shades of Pink asked me how I was going with bumping up my FIAR so I thought I’d give a progress report.

I have been very excited about our studies with “The Story about Ping” over the last two weeks.  We still have a few days to go but things have been so successful I start to plan our next FIAR study with enthusiasm!  We have been interrupted with several family-life situations so this study is stretching out a bit.

We have read the Ping story only a couple of times – they know it so well, but Daniel (9yo) did ask for it one day, and I gave Nomi(11yo) the freedom to go and do some of her independent work but she chose to stay and listen to the story.  That was encouraging.  I had chosen one particular topic (China) and found other books to read on the other days.   Co-incidentally our Read Aloud at the time was also based in China though this is not something I am going to try and do with every FIAR unit it did work for us this time.

I found doing lapbooks Dinah Zikes way was quick, easy and gave plenty of room for individual creativity.  I wanted this lapbook to be simple, with the focus on our getting into the swing of things, more than coloured paper and lots of complicated things.  The lapbook booklets gave the  kids opportunity to work with technology such as photocopier, clip art, computer graphics, and Word art.  Nomi could do this independently and creatively, while Daniel is just learning.  In previous years I used to create a couple of pages of appropriate clip art which they would then use for their lapbooks/notebooks but this time I let them find things themselves.

I found the lapbooks gave scope for independent work, even for Daniel.  We would discuss the topic at hand, I would give Nomi a quick fold booklet and told her the writing assignment.  Nomi would move to another room since Daniel’s work is mostly oral.  Daniel would dictate to me his “writing” assignment, I would write it in his booklet and then he was to draw or find the graphics, colour them in if necessary, cut and glue etc to finish his little booklet for the day.  Some booklets were longer and needed a few days where they came back and worked on that topic.  

Nomi had an extra writing and art assignment (being older).  After we discussed the literary choice (repetition) she was asked to write a story using that technique.  I encouraged her to set her story in China which she has done.  This story isn’t completed yet (Nomi writes long stories!).  Once it is she will illustrate it with coloured pencils (just like in Ping).

So in summarizing the value of bumping up FIAR – I don’t believe the content, for this study anyway, was new material especially for Nomi.  She did make new connections with China, especially since our study co-incided with the Olympics and our Read Aloud.  The real benefit of the last two weeks for Nomi is the skills gained – independent work, technology, art, and writing.  

The benefit for Daniel (though he doesn’t need the “bumping up”) is more to do with creating a love of learning, and a curiosity of the world.  Five in a Row, in any format, excels at just that!

Mar. 20, 2008 - My week 17th March 2008

This week my plan was to declutter a little every day – I haven’t made that goal but I have nearly decluttered one corner of one room!  It had become my junk pile – though it should have been my scrapbooking desk.  I have sorted the stuff to 3 small boxes which now need to find other homes.  I can’t believe how much rubbish I just simply threw into the bin!  I am looking forward to doing my scrapbooking in the same room as the kids again. 

Today I went shopping for our Easter celebration.  I forgot a few things so will have to go again on Saturday.  We will make Resurrection Rolls on Saturday and bag up jelly beans which tell the gospel story to hand out on Sunday.  Read more about our Easter Celebrations here.

Tonight we were supposed to be having a roast and salad meal, with our minds turning towards Jesus, his last supper, his prayer time and subsequent capture.  But I forgot to put the roast on!!  So it will be a late dinner!

Nov. 6, 2007 - Monday Meanderings - Setting Goals

Over the last few weeks we have been trying to get some consistent and regular table time every day so that the children can focus on their academic studies.  We find life goes around in cycles and this was the season for book learning.  We have made Daniel’s phonics lessons a priority though the other children are able to study independently at this time.  We have one week left with this focus and then life will take a turn to Mango Madness (a month of picking and processing mangoes and swimming lessons).

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Belinda
Live life with your Kids!

Nov. 5, 2007 - Plans Come and Go – Summary of the Kids Week (wk 44)

Daniel’s journey to read has been slow and difficult for him due to his Dyspraxia.  But this week we made a little break through with was very exciting.  I dropped the programme I was using and started to refresh myself on what Ruth Beechick has to say about learning to read.  I picked up Jolly Phonics again and am using their structure but being conscious of Ruth Beechicks natural methods.  (Jolly Phonics is actually written in such a way to make this easy).  So his big achievement was that he read through a reader.  (Fitzroy Readers).  So yayyy for Daniel!!

Our next goal has been to complete our Bible Study lessons.  I want to give the kids an overview of the New Testament and am using Grapevine Outlines .  This is giving the children exposure and practice to using Bible Study Tools in researching ideas and topics.  I get the kids to research their particular areas before we read through the days readings which means they are able to add to any discussions incorporating their new understandings.

I have started reading  Parables from Nature by Mrs Alfred Gatty to Nomi and Daniel as their Science reading.  They have enjoyed the stories.  Unfortunately I fell asleep as I read the last time we picked it up so we need to finish that story this coming week.

Joshua has been challenged with the idea to take more personal ownership of his studies.  We need to set weekly goals that he can work through (we have been setting daily goals up till now but I feel weekly goals gives him more flexibility and responsibility).   This last week he wanted to spend time at the library and it suited the family movements for him to go during a time slot that I would have been expecting him to study.  So we came to an arrangement that I would drop him off at the library but the same amount of work that I would have expected to be completed at home would need to be completed by the end of the weekend.  I think it is good to be able to negotiate and be flexible with him and his studies.  It is a good lifeskill for him to manipulate all his desires and responsibilities, to see deadlines and to give up some things in order to meet those deadlines.

The kids have been busy with making Christmas presents.  Once again we see signs on our doors that say “So-and-so can’t come in here”.  More than once I have had to walk to my bedroom with my eyes closes because of top-secret projects being constructed!  It is a lovely atmosphere to have in the home. 

Jessica sat down with a card book on Saturday and created a whole series of cards using a teabag folding idea.  It looks so complex and yet is so simple – she has done a great job following instructions and choosing colour schemes in particular.

Nov. 5, 2007 - Plans Come and Go – Oct/Nov Week 44

This has been a heart adjustment, a shifting of priorities and a work still in progress.

With my main focus on relationships I have been able to lay aside or delay office work and play games with my children.  Though I didn’t read to them as much this week, games have resurfaced which is nice.  Meal times have been relaxed – and on time which really gives me the space to be relaxed.  When we jam dinner close to bedtime I revert to being task orientated – just get dinner over with and into bed!

I did manage to get Christmas plans underway.  This included preparing a local workshop “Restoring the Heart, Mind and Soul of Christmas”.  My e-booklet will be available for download shortly. 

In preparing my home for 12 ladies I rearranged the furniture in my lounge room, opening it up so the chairs weren’t so cozy.  This gave me a little buzz and motivation to keep the lounge room looking nice.

I have slowly started to be more consistent with my Flylady Routines.  My goal was to spend one hour a day on the following focuses:

Monday – Washing, Floor, Bedrooms
Tuesday – Ironing, Zone
Wednesday – Zone
Thursday – Town Chores, Grocery Shopping
Friday – Weekly Homebless, Tropical Homebless
Saturday – Prepare for Family Day
Sunday – Rest, Relationships and Worship

I still have work to do on my own responsibilities, especially asking myself the question, “Belinda, do you have the freedom to be doing this?”  It is so easy to get distracted with the easy tasks, the tasks that your heart delights in, but if I am not finished my responsibilities I need to carry through that first.  A tough lesson to learn!

Belinda

Live life with your kids!

Oct. 28, 2007 - Plans come and go – highlights of the kids days

This week’s Family Discussion Project was a time for Daniel and Nomi and Science.  We only had one session – we should have had three.  We missed Monday because I wasn’t prepared.  We did Tuesday and missed Wednesday because….. (I have no idea!!).   We will have another week with this Science opportunity.  I am reading Parables from Nature by Mrs Alfred Gatty; the kids both enjoyed it.  Afterwards they made a little mini book on the life cycle of a butterfly.  Josh and Jess use this time for writing/journaling.

One of my goals has been to see the afternoons used more creatively.  Both Jess and Nomi have picked up creative projects at different times this week.  Jess has worked on her appliqué for her Keepers quilt and scrapbooking.  Nomi has also worked on her appliqué and has done free hand embroidery on some coasters that A.BB gave her.  Nomi once again has showed her creative ability by designing a very artistic flower design to repeat on each coaster.

We have been working with Daniel to be able to play by himself.  He finds this very hard.  This week though he has spent some time playing with his Lego by himself.  He actually builds but rarely then plays with what he has built (unless Nomi is with him).  So he has done lots of building this week.

Joshua’s highlight was that the miniature model soldiers he ordered over 6 weeks ago finally arrived.  We had to source some paints and sealer – which is a bit of a challenge in our town.  We talked to a very helpful man at the hardware – another opportunity for Josh to stand strong as a consumer and discuss things with people who provide a service.  We ended up using paints we had at home.  He spent the afternoon experimenting and deciding which combination of sealers, mediums and paints worked best. 

At Keepers this week Josh and his friend started on their Bows – by trimming down leucaena twigs and whittling the bark off.  The girls started to piece their quilt tops together.  Daniel had some story time with MrsC as the other little boys weren’t here.

Nomi had the opportunity this last week to prepare some props for Mainly Music – which is a fun music group for parents to enjoy together with their young child.  Jess helps on the team weekly so this was a great opportunity for Nomi to serve with her talents.  She made 5 animal masks.  She had such a fun time and often got carried away with creative thoughts that just didn’t fit the boundaries of this particular task so it was also a good opportunity to see that when we design stuff it needs to service a need.

The highlight academically for this week was the resuming of our Bible studies.  I wasn’t happy with how they were progressing so I took stock, looked at what my aims were and how we could best meet those, considering the ages and abilities of each of the children.  I have changed our bible study from a study to an overview of the New Testament.  We are dealing with one story a day – 3 times a week.  We are still using this time to become familiar with various Bible Study tools such as concordances, topical Bibles, atlases etc.  I think I’ll introduce Josh to commentary reading next week.

Our week has ended with Josh and Jess both getting braces.  So Saturday night and Sunday they are being spoilt and looked after!  It was a good opportunity for Nomi and Daniel to step up and do things around the house that the older ones usually do.  Though they didn’t take too well to the idea when it was presented as an opportunity to serve and bless Josh and Jess the younger two changed their hearts and got into their tasks.

Oct. 28, 2007 - Plans Come and Go – summary of MY last week:

Most of my goals for last week were around habits that I wanted to change in my own life. 

Discipleship:  I didn’t get to Daniel’s devotions though I did follow through on Nomi's. 

Must Do:  Yes!  I got some office work accomplished!  Alas!  No scrapbooking.

Homeblessing:  My goal was to work for 1 hour on a daily focus.  At the end of the week I can say most things were done but not necessarily on “the” day.  I had a big catch up block of time on Saturday.

Relationships:  My goal for this week was to find margin in my days.  I managed to walk out of the house most days for a quick refreshing – generally at sunset.  It is a sad thing of family life that 5.00pm-6.00pm is the busiest time inside the house but the most glorious time of nature.  I read a lot more to the kids and we played a few games as well. 

Intrapersonal:  Yes, I asked myself many times, “Belinda do you have the freedom?”  and unfortunately the answer was often “No you don’t!!” this did help me keep my priorities in order

Talents:  Yes!  I managed to do some sewing

Academics:  I completed the first draft for the Christmas workshop, I read from my reading list plus I took on a lot of study on the topic of Dyspraxia – though it wasn’t on my goals for the week it became something urgent in my heart.

Having written out such goals for myself was very helpful.  It kept me focused and allowed habits of the heart (that I didn’t like in my life) to be rubbed away and renewed with fresh vision.  I will keep these goals for myself for another week or two – It takes at least that long to change our pattern of thinking and doing.

Oct. 22, 2007 - Monday Meanderings - Goals for Week 43

I usually set goals for our homeschooling but this week there are things in my life that I would like to change so I have used the same format and yet set my own goals.

One of the thought processes I have been through in working out what is important in our educating our children is to see what would be happening in our home if I wasn’t homeschooling.   We discussed this with the children as well.  It was clear to us that we would still read books, we would still look for ways to serve and care for other people, we would still be productive and creative with our hands.  This thought process formed the beginnings of our desire to disciple our children; to have our children walk beside us in our life, and to learn the skills and character necessary to live life for God. 

To disciple our children means that we have to be walking the walk ourselves.  This week is all about realigning some of the areas that have got out of whack in my own life.

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Belinda
Live life with your Kids!