Every year around this time we usually study the pilgrims & The First Thanksgiving. I feel like we have given adequate attention to that topic so I asked my DC if they wanted to let's take a different approach this year in our study & they said yes. That's when we decided to study the Indians & their side to the story.

     It has turned in to a major indian study, not just the Wampanoags that were at the First Thanksgiving. We started with the Wampanoag & then my daughter wanted to study Sacagawea. So now we have pulled in the Shoshoni & the other tribes associated with them. My son said he wants to study Geronimo so we are going to pull in the tribes associated with him.

     We are going to do lots of comparisons with clothing, homes, traditions, tools, diets, etc. I have an indian DVD set that come from Sam's that has a great deal of the different cultures so we are going to use that. Between these DVDs and our library books we should have an abundance of study on our hands. I know this is going to take us through Christmas I'm sure.

     Oh, & I almost forgot, their dad & they are building a wigwam & a teepee. The children are excited over that. They are actually going to camp in them & cook like the indians. I don't know any better way to learn something better than just putting your hand in it & doing it. Hands on, they should learn so much.

     Our other studies are coming along. I need to clerify that I have a fifth & sixth grader. When I say we are getting ready for the S.A.T. it is the Standard Acheivement Test. Don't ask me why, but our covering that we are under calls it the S.A.T. so I have gotten used to calling it that also. This will be our first year to take it. We have wanted to do it in the past, but something would always prevent it. Hopefully this year in March we'll get to.

     We are just sitting here tonight riding out the storm from Ida. So far it's just a lot of rain. The wind hasn't been bad, thank God.

     Enough for now. I think this is a pretty good update of what we are currently doing. Until next time, Traci

        Our schooling has been a bit different this week. We have been working on a Spectrum Test so I can see where my DC are lacking in their subjects. I want them to take the S. A. T. in March. I am trying to see what areas we need to cover between now & then.

     There are a few things on the Spectrum Test in math that my DC haven't been acquainted with. I want to pick up some worksheets or a math program that would just cover those areas so I can familiarize them with those areas. I have been looking at Math Mammoth for an opption for this. Is anyone familiar with this program? I have not used it in the past. If so, how long  are the lessons & can you cover about two lessons a day without it going overboard in time?

     Things have been some what strenuous wwith our studies this week, but they'll level off tomorrow. We are going on a field trip. They will get to be with some of their friends so they can unwind. We will be outside the greatest portion of the trip so they'll get plenty of exercise.

     Well, it's not time for me to unwind just yet so I'd better go. We have to get back to the books. I just got on the computer long enough to let my DC get a bite to eat. Until next time, Traci

     My children & I are so excited! We have a new expansion to our home library. We had gone to a store in our local area & we found great books for only $1.49 each. I picked up a few of them, but there were many of them that I desired to have in our library.  I thought, I'll just purchase a few of them & order the others later on line. Whhen I got home I looked them up on line and soon discovered the blessing that I had received. These were books that ran from $27.00 to $34.00 each.  What does a homeschool mom do when she realizes that she has come across a great bargain, yes, your right, I went back the next day & loaded my buggy with some different titles than what I had purchased the day before. I spent about $60.00 but if I had purchased them on line or at a book store I would have only gotten 2 books for that price. I count my blessings, Praise God!!!!

     Here are some pictures of our blessings:

     Now we are only having one problem with all of these great books. Which one will we begin with on Monday? Oh, & what makes these books & even greater blessing is that we are studying United States history this year & at least 3/4 of these books make up our curriculum.

     I had started using living books & my DC loved learning that way. So This year I thought I would use A Beka's United States history for a scope & sequence & pull in books to go along with it. A great portion of these books will do the job. My God always does all things well. He has blessed me again.

     I may fail God in so many ways & have to pray for forgiveness & mercy, but He has not failed me yet. Thank you Lord for your blessings on me, Traci 

     Our schooling is moving right along. We haven't been in the books, but we have been schooling right on.

     We have another book report coming up on Monday so we have been reading library books & research on the internet to get them together.

     We have been listening to the audio of "Anne of Green Gables" as we travel in the van. In which my children are dearly loving.

     We came out of our A Beka math book to pull in some extra worksheets and other things for fractions.

     They brought in mosquito larva in to look at under the microscope. Why mosquito larva I don't know, but it's all educational.

     Lots of out door time for nature.

     My DS is reading a biography on Mark Twain & my DD is reading a biography on Cleopatra VII.

     Our library books have been about plants & wetlands so much Science.

     We have just been enjoying our selves. Maybe we'll get back to our routine of my lesson plans soon. If not, we'll just keep trudging along in the areas they are interested in at the present moment.

     Well, I'd better let that be all for now. We are on our way out the door to get my Niece. She is coming for the night.  Until next time, Traci

     Hi everyone, I desire your prayers for my aunt & uncle. My uncle found out that he has cancer. Exactly one week to the day my aunt found out that she has two types of cancer. This is a husband & wife. Their children are devistated.

     My aunt was told without treatments she had less than a year. Even with treatments they are saying only five years. She starts treatments on Monday.

     My uncle is to have surgery. He put his surgery off until November so he could be with my aunt. Pray that his doesn't progress in the mean time.

     Their names are Gene & Barbara. Please pray? Traci

     We are a few days short of finishing our first nine weeks for this school term. I am so proud of my DC. We have covered so much material since the beginning of school.

     We are on lesson 40 in our math books, we've covered  the explorers in history, there are several entries in our nature journals, we've pulled in Raphael for art, Mozzart for Music Appreciation, on lesson 9 in Sequential Spelling, along with puzzles & vocabulary print outs, worked out of several English workbooks, covered germs, bacteria, fungi, volcanoes, & rocks for Science, and Beatrix Potter & her books for Literature. We are currently reading "Anne Of Green Gables" for Literature. We are also reading "Kidnapped By River Rats" for a library read aloud. It is about the Salvation arm & the Booths. These are just the things I can think of off the top of my head. We have also had a couple of field trips to Science & History Museums.

     One other thig that we have done is a book report with a presentation. They just made their presentations this week in front of our homeschool group. This is why this blog is called, "One Proud Mammma." This was their first book report and presentation. I just knew they where going to get in front of the group and clam up, but they didn't. As a matter of fact, my DD doesn't seem to have a bashful bone in her body acted a bit nervous, but she did great. My DS, on the other hadn, is very bashful so I was looking to have to step up and help him along, but to my amazement he stepped up and took his position and just went with it. He did better than my DD as for not being nervous. I was so proud of them. I have picts I'll have to get them posted. 

     Oh, and how could I forget, they are bowling for P.E. They are getting so excited seeing the improvement in their scores. Things are really going great for us so far.

     We have another field trip tomorrow. We are going to a farm and they are suppose to get to milk a goat and taste the milk, along with cows, and other things.

     I've rattled enough for one post. I'd better start pulling things together for church. Until next time, Bless you all, Traci

     Our weekend has been great, along with our Labor Day. We had enchiladas & banana pudding. That was not exactly my idea of a well balanced meal, or even one that sounds good together, but that is what my bunch wanted so that is what we had.

     Then, last night we went bowling. I am bowling with the handicap league for 24 weeks so I am letting my children bowl also for a portion of their P.E. grade. Last night was the first night that we monitored their score & they did pretty good for it only being the second time that they had bowled.

     Today, our school day ran smoothly. After we had done most of our book work inside, we went outside and they journalled a page in their Nature Journal. When they finished with that we jumped omn the trampoline. Yes, we jumped on the trampoline. I'll probably be half dead tomorrow. I'm sure I used muscles I haven't used in I don't know when. My DC were enjoying it so much though that I couldn't resist. That makes memories & that is what I desire for my children to have is lots of great family memories when they grow up. I wan't them to have fond memories of their childhood home life. In order to have those memories we have to make them, even if they are breaking Mamma in the process. Please pray that my body will hold up until my DC are grown.

     I think that updates our happennings. It's time to wind down and gear up for another day. So until next time, bless you all, Traci

     Today was a fun-filled exciting day. We met some more homeschoolers at our local park to let the DC make some friends. This was our first time meeting with them.  Everyone was very friendly and we are looking forward to going on field trips etc. with them this year. They seem like a great group.

     We have just begun a bit of music appreciation this year. Yesterday while we were in Wal Mart we walked by a T.V. playing some music & my DD asked, "Mamma, is that Mozzart or Beethoven?" It thrilled my heart that she recognized that style of music & we weren't even having school. She's learning to notice her surroundings more.

     Tonight, my little Sweety Girl has gone to spend the night with her Me Mah. She's probably having a blast, but I am sitting here wishing she was at home. There's just something about having my little blessings snuggled tight in their own beds & I can kiss them good night & tell them I love them. Of course, I told her that before she left and kissed her, but that's just not the same. I just don't think I'll ever get used to them not being here inside our little happy home. I like for my babies to be with me. They are so missed when they are not.

     I've rambled enough for now so I'd better go. Until next time, Traci  

     As everyone knows, last year we started using the CM style of education & it has been working so well with my DC. We have just taken each subject slow & have accomplished so much.

     Math facts are one of those things I was beginning to wonder if they would come, but this year they seem to be doing great in their math. They are doing super with their work, but I want them to train their mind to respond quickly.  I have been using a lot of different types of puzzles hoping to obtain this action. I have noticed them focussing more since we have started using word finds. It seems as if the word finds have made them more alert.

     Also, I have been using puzzles that have their Spelling words scrambled & they have to unscramble them. Using the many types of puzzles has caused them to become more alert in all of their subjects.

     We have started our year with A Beka's United Staes History & Christian Liberty Press's Exploring American History as our Scope & Sequence for our history this year. Of course, we'll pull in many library books along beside it.

     Science I have been using library books, science videos, Magic School Bus books, and some of Considering God's Creation.

We have made it to the 5th grade grade A Beka math book. So far things are running smoothly.

     Our Spelling has consisted of a collection of Spelling words I have chosen and I have used puzzle makers to make up puzzles to go along with them. I purchased Sequential Spelling to try that. We'll start that next week to see if that is an option for our family. My children read a lot so they are pretty good spellers so maybe Sequential Spelling will be all that is necessary for our spelling other than vocabulary.

     I also purchased Rod & Staff Reading so that I could use it for Bible & Reading. We will also begin that next week to see how that will work out. We'll read the scriptures that go with the story & have discussion.

     Raphael is our artist, Mozzart is our musical appreciation person, Daddy has several Library read alouds picked out to read to us, missionary stories, & other biographies are on our list for the year, like the one we just finished "Beatrix Potter". 

     Studying Beatrix Potter and reading her books are a must read. My children has enjoyed studying her so much. We read a book called, "Nothing Is Impossible" The Story of Beatrix Potter by Dorothy Aldis and then my DC drew pictures to narrate each chapter & they have loved it. We read Beatrix's books first, & then read this book. My DC were excited to see how Beatrix's books derived from her childhood.

     We have also purchased spiral bound sketch pads along with some water colors for our nature studies.

     I'll be receiving our Grammar game to go along with our English. My plan is to use the game to drill the English rules in them.

     Our platter is full for the year, but they can handle it. I'm sure of it. The both of them have turned in to book worms & has just let their knowledge grow through books. As long as they continue to do that & let their minds continue to program through great books we are going to be fine with our schooling.

     I'm going to blog around some now after my suppose to be short update on our new year. Bless you all, Traci

Everytime I confront my DC about their chores or anything else, I get "I'm about too" as an answer. We have been very occupied with many things lately. So as my DC say "I'm about too" get started back to blogging again. Hope everyone is doing OK!!!

God bless you all!!!!!

Traci

***MERRY CHRISTMAS***

     I pray that you all will have a most Blessed Christmas this year!!!

I know times are harder this year for many as so many are without jobs here at Christmas. But remember the reason for the season, Jesus Christ," If there is never another gift for you or your children Jesus is still the everlasting gift that the Great God of Heaven and Earth gave to YOU! He is the gift of eternal life! Now what better gift can be given unto you?

     It is a sad time of the year for many, but you can make it a glad time this year by accepting Him as your Saviour.

    I still believe in Christmas Miracles and will be praying for a miracle for the ones in need. God will Bless and supply our needs. Only believe.

May God Bless You and Your Family!!!!

Traci

     Good morning to all! It's a lovely morning & so much peace in the air. My wee ones are still in the bed. We had a family night last night & watched some movies together. Our bedtime was late so I am letting them sleep in this morning.

     Our home is starting to look like Christmas. Usually, I drag all of my Christmas things out of our shed & in one day I bring my house up for Christmas. This year I have done a little along since Thanksgiving. It has been so much more enjoyable this way. It's as if the Christmas spirit has been hubbering over our home the entire month of December. It has been nice & not rushed.

 I am just sitting here listening to the soft breathing of my DH sleeping & the quiet sounds coming from my wee one's rooms & I can just feel my blessings. My family is in good health, we are together, & we have a loving home. I couldn't ask for any greater blessing.

     This peace that I am feeling makes my mind wonder back to Mary in the stable. My, the peace she must have felt that night. I believe God sent an extra touch of peace in the air that night, giving the calm assurance of hope in this life. Letting the world know a Savior had been born. The birth of our Savior. Years have passed since that night, but His mission still stands. He came so that we could have everlasting life. It is for all who will receive, a free gift. His birth was only a portion of His love. His love was even deeper when He went to the cross that the mission might be accomplished. All for me, you, & whosoever will receive. What love. Many turn this gift away, but I gladly receive it into my heart. I love you Jesus. Merry Christmas. Traci

     Here it is, almost half of our school term for this year is winding down next week. This year has flown by. We've covered quite a bit. I only have a couple of things I am trying to get them finished up with by the end of next week. I am wanting our Australia study wrapped up, our A Beka math book so we can start the next one after Christmas, & our copy work that we are presently working on.  Other than those things, I will say my children have done super this half of the year. Now it is time for me to revamp & gear up for the second half.

     As for Christmas, we have finished our shopping, got most of our gifts wrapped, & are just waiting for it to get here. My children are so excited. They are going to be even more excited come Christmas morning. We don't have a huge income so our children don't expect much, but I have done some bargan shopping & shopped a little along & have been blessed with a nice Christmas. We know the real meaning of Christmas is the birth of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ & Christmas is all about giving to others, but I like to give to my little blessings also beings this is the only time of the year that they usually get presents.

     Well, I was going to blog some, but my little blessings have finished their math so I'll have to catch it later. We have to finish our other school work so we can get ready for church tonight. Our mid week service is on Thursday night. Until next time, Blessings to you all Traci

     Well, I've done it again. I've left a gap between the times that I have posted. I'm not appologizing though. I have been moving right along with our schooling & spending time with my darling little ones. We have been having a great time this year with our schooling.

     We have only had one problem with our schooling this year & that is we are wanting to spend more time on one subject than what we are probably supposed to be spending. My children are getting very deep in American history, reading up a storm. Even my little man that used to hate to gear me say, "It's time for your reading." Praise God for moving in that situation. He has been caught reading on several occasions now. Only the mighty hand of God moving in his life. That is what prayer will do.

     I find in all situations when I feel that I have gone as far as I can go & am on my last rope holding on, God always comes through for me.

     I am at the library at the present moment while my DH is hunting books, I am trying out a new program on the computer they have gotten for blind people. It seems to work very well. This is great! From now on, while my DH is looking for books I can get some computer time.

     Well, won't drag this post out. Just wanted to get my blog updated. Hope all is well out in homeschool land. Blessings to you all, Traci

     Well, this week we have been in revival at our church so school hasn't been strenuous. We have accomplished quite a bit though.

     I had plans of putting our reading on hold until next week & just pulling out some math & copy work, but my DC managed to get a chapter in one of our Australia books read anyway. This was by their choice, praise God! We managed to get copy work done, two Saxon math lessons, 13 pages in our A Beka math book, a Ben Hur DVD for history, a couple of Bible devotions, & our revival every night, which I use for Bible.Sounds like a pretty productive week for no lesson plans. I know this is only through the help of my heavenly Father. He is so faithful to help us right along.

     Here's a news bulletin, our school hours are over, my children see on the news where the last known survivor of the Titanic was on the news & immediately that caught my DC's attention so they jumped up, ran to the book shelf, pulled down books on the Titanic & started looking at different facts about it. As in my last post, school days never end for homeschoolers.

     Now, back to my blog post. We also baked cookies today. Here are some picts of my DC doing the baking. 

Making & shaping the cookies

 In the oven they go!

 Our finished product

 Doesn't it look like I have some great cooks? We are working on some home economics this year. Our next thing that we plan to cook is our Australian meat loaf. I can't wait! There is also some Australian biscuits, ummmn. After we top our Australia unit study off with these, I suppose we'll be wide open with the holidays by then.

     Guess that's about it for this time. More later, Traci

     We’ve gotten back from our little vacation & now it is back to the books. We finished up our last set of books we were working through & now have new ones.

     Trying the CM method this year, I’m not exactly sure how I am supposed to carry out my year, so we are dabbing in many directions. I have so many things I am wanting to cover. I want my children to have a well rounded education so I am trying to entwine  many subjects to give us a complete exploration in the material I am wanting us to grasp this year.

     For the last several weeks we ventured into the life of George Washington & all of the happenings during his life, up to the Boston Tea Party. Then, we covered James Watt & the steam engine, which was during that time, & pulled in William Blake & his poetry from that time period. So that gives us many weeks of some great history.

     For the next several weeks, we have chosen to do a unit study on deer to   bring in some science. We are also going to do a unit study on Australia to bring in our geography. We will use our vocabulary words from these two unit studies for our spelling. We’ll continue in our math with Saxon 65 & working a page or two from time to time in our A Beka third grade that we didn’t finished last year. Copy Work will be random.

     Our new books that we will be taking our studies from for the next few weeks are:

“Australia Today”

          By Eleanor Z. Baker

     “Let’s Visit Australia”

          By John C. Caldwell

     “Australia Calling”

          Margaret L. Macpherson

     We’ll read through these books while working through our unit study on Australia. I think by integrating the extra books along with some internet research, we should get a good heaping of knowledge on Australia, likewise with the deer unit study.

     “Wild Deer”

          By C. B. Colby

     “White Reindeer”

     Neill James

     We will also be notebooking some post card pages to put in our states unit studies for the states we collected post cards on while traveling. Sounds like a lot, but we are excited to get in to some new books.

     Well, my DS is finishing up with his spelling so I’d better go so we can dig in to our books. More later, Traci

     Its been a while! We have been on vacation since September 17. We went to Oklahoma to see our granddaughter for the first time. She is 7 months old now. The visit was great & she was a little sweety. I think she stole her Pa Pa's heart. We took pictures & I'll be posting some soon.

     We also went camping for a week at the Wichita Wild Life Refuge. I don't know who enjoyed it more, the children or the parents. Seeing God's nature with live animals, hiking, sleeping in tents, & cooking over an open fire or grill. It was great! My DS is excited that he got to make coffee like the old cowboys used to do it. I also got many pictures of our camping trip that I am going to post soon.

     Well, just wanted to get an updated post on my blog so I'll go for now. Hope you all have been having a great year with your schooling. Blessings, Traci  

     My children & I have been having a blast with their studies. We are finishing up our books that we had chosen to study for the past 5 weeks & they have been so rich to my children & I.

     I just have to tell about one of our days. One day while we were reading in our George Washinton book, we read about the Battle at Brooklyn Heights. This battle caught my son's attention. We had done come through the French & Indian War, along with many other battles, but not much was said. When we reached this battle my son quickly let me know what he would have done & just how he could have won that battle for George Washington. 

     George Washington & his men lost this battle. Let me set the scene for you. George Washington & his men were setting on go just waiting for attacks to happen. They new they could win this battle against the British. They had their cannons set, facing the seaside, knowing that as soon as the fog lifted the British would attack.

     Unfortunately, this is the way it went: Most of Washington's troops were on Brooklyn Heights. They were protected by thick woods, steep hills, & 8 forts with 29 cannons. They were sure they would win any battle with the British.

     On August 27, the British began their attack. Unfortunately, they new more about local geography than Washington did. Loyalists from near by Queens had shown the Red Coats 4 passes running through or around Brooklyn Heights. The Americans outside the forts were in danger of attack. They had to surrender or flee.

     A bone filling rain fell on the battlefield. In some of the American trenches, water rose to the men's waists. Fog clouded their vision, and the British seemed to be everywhere. American soldiers struggled to keep their gun powder dry. Others gave up & threw away their guns.

     Washington was stunned. The Battle of Brooklyn Heights was a disaster for his army. He watched from a fort as a group of brave Maryland soldiers tried to hold back the Red Coats so others could reach an American fort through a marshy canal.  The British army stood between the men and the fort. British bullets showered them like hail. The enemies fire power was overwhelming. Still the Marylanders advanced on the British not once but four times. "Good God, what brave fellows I must this day lose!" Washington shouted. Deaths numbered 259, and about another 100 were wounded. The few men who survived crawled out of a mucky creek, looking like water rats.

     My DS informed me that if he would have been a general in George Washington's army he would have won that battle. "I would have had my men & cannons set up in a circle surrounding the Forts. That way when the British came we could have seen them from all sides. Didn't they know when you are up against an enemy you have to watch everywhere, not just toward one side." "If I would have been a general in George Washington's army, we would have won that battle." "My men would have been on lookout from all directions. We would have gotten those British good."

     My little man loves guns & hunting. He may be a general in the United States Army one day. Here are some pictures of my little general. Doesn't he look like he'd make a good one?

 "Ready for battle George"

"I  wished I would have remembered my booths, oh well, they'd get stuck in the mud anyway. "

"POW! POW!......I got him Sir!"

     100% boy, speaking of that, I'd better go for now to see where that little boy is. There really is no telling. Until next time, Traci 

     O.K. here is the poem we are memorizing that I had told you all I'd put on here. This is the poem that inspired my DD (along with Psalm 23( to write her poem. Hope you enjoy it as much as our family has.

"The Lamb"

By William Blake

Little lamb, who made thee?

Dost thou know who made thee,

Gave thee life, and bid thee feed

By the stream and o'er the mead;

Gave thee clothing of delight,

Softest clothing, woolly, bright;

Gave thee such a tender voice,

Making all the vales rejoice?

Little lamb, who made thee?

Dost thou know who made thee?

Little lamb, I'll tell thee;

Little lamb, I'll tell thee:

He is called by thy name,

For He calls Himself a Lamb.

He is meek, and He is mild,

He became a little child.

I am a child, and thou a lamb,

We are called by His name.

Little lamb, God bless thee!

Little lamb, God bless thee!