Now you say "Hi Heather!"

So ... I have been thinking about our next year of homeschooling - 2nd Grade - next year... almost a year away.  But I don't want to do what I did last year and wait until the last minute to make my final decisions. So ......

I've been thinking ("a dangerous pastime" "I know" - Disney's Beauty and the Beast)

LANGUAGE ARTS

Reading:

Drawn Into the Heart of Reading (Teacher guide, student guide, project planner and book list)

First Language Lessons (which I already have)

What Your 2nd Grader Needs to Know

Christian Liberty Nature Readers (which I already have)

READ READ READ - Visit the local library!!

Writing:

A Reason for Handwriting B (I used this last year and liked it - we'll go back to it for next year)

Igniting Your Writing (recommended by Carrie Austion [Drawn Into the Heart of Reading])

Journal Prompts

Dictionary Skills

Library Skills

Thesaurus

Math:

Horizons Math 2 (if it ain't broke ....)

Science:

Exploring Creation with Zoology 1 - Flying Creatures of the 5th Day (already have)

History:

Mystery of History volume 1 (Teacher Guide, CDs, reproducibles, craft pack, timelie set & notebook bundle)

Geography:

Galloping the Globe (GTG Bundle)

Spelling:

A Reason for Spelling B

Music:

Progressive Recorder for the Beginner

Story of the Orchestra

Home Economics:

Pearables Home Economics 1

Enchanted Learning Membership

Art:

Artistic Pursuits

Bible -- this I have to figure out -- I wanted something in-depth but also with application.  Still searching ....

I'm looking at

Studying God's Word B

Bible Study Guide for All Ages

Blessings!!

free·dom
Pronunciation: 'frE-d&m
Function: noun
1 : the quality or state of being free: as a : the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action b : liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another : INDEPENDENCE c : the quality or state of being exempt or released usually from something onerous <freedom from care> d : EASE, FACILITY freedom> e : the quality of being frank, open, or outspoken freedom> f : improper familiarity g : boldness of conception or execution h : unrestricted use freedom of their home>
2 a : a political right b : FRANCHISE, PRIVILEGE

source: Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

For me homeschooling = freedom, which is something that I cherish.  I love that we as a family are liberated from the power of another (namely, the govenrment schools).  We are independent and that allows us to make changes and choices which are best for us.  That being said, we've made some changes already for the coming year ...

• we dropped Prima Latina until next year ... it's really just a tad too difficult for 1st grade if I want my oldest Farmgirl to really comprehend it.  We'll pursue this next year becasue we both like it.

• we dropped Recorder for the Young Beginner until next year (maybe later this year) also.  Mainly because by the time we get to that everyday the baby is asleep and I don't want to wake her.  If I say we'll do it later in the day we won't, so we'll put that off until next year also, or until later this year when I feel like I have more of a handle on the schedule + the baby :-)

• we added a Bible notebook today.  Everyday Farmgirl1 gets a sheet that is divided into 4 sections and each section is labelled: Praise, Repent, Thanks, Ask ... She takes the sheet and while alone with the Lord writes or draws something for each section for which she wants/needs to praise Him, thanks Him, repent and ask Him (this morning she had nothing for repent ... go figure!!).  I have noticed that I really need to work with her on prayer and talking with the Lord, so this is a step in that direction.

Okay ... those are the changes for now!  I know that you can rest tonight after reading about these changes ...... go and sleep in peace!

Blessings!

~Heather

I was tagged by Sprittibee and so here ya go ...

Homeschool Meme

1) ONE HOMESCHOOLING BOOK YOU HAVE ENJOYED
Hmmm ... that's hard. As for good books ... when I was first looking into homeschooling one of the best books I read was Onto the Yellow Schoolbus and Through the Gates of Hell by Mary Hood. But as for one I have enjoyed ... Pocketful of Pinecones by Karen Andreola handsdown.

2) ONE RESOURCE YOU WOULDN'T BE WITHOUT
My local library ... we have a great library system!

3) ONE RESOURCE YOU WISH YOU HAD NEVER BOUGHT
Just one??? LOL! I am a junkie and have bought much I haven't used or liked. Hmmmmm ... think think think ... BJU K4 curriculum :P

4) ONE RESOURCE YOU ENJOYED LAST YEAR
Five in a Row

5) ONE RESOURCE YOU WILL BE USING THIS YEAR
My Father's World

6) ONE RESOURCE YOU WOULD LIKE TO BUY
Just one ... again? Rosetta Stone foreign language

7) ONE RESOURCE YOU WISH EXISTED
I'm not creative enough to come up with anything better than everything that's already out there ... too much to see!

8) ONE HOMESCHOOLING CATALOGUE YOU ENJOY READING
Although I enjoy looking through catalogs, I can't think of one I particularly enjoy :)

9) ONE HOMESCHOOLING WEBSITE YOU USE REGULARLY
Five in a Row Boards

10) TAG FIVE OTHER HOMESCHOOLERS
1. Angela (she's my sis-in-law and just beginning her HSing journey)
2. Elysa (she just started blogging ... let's give her something to do!)
3. Nikki (she's my very sweet online friend that I want to meet IRL ... big hugs to you!!!!!)
4. Marsha (she's just cool and she makes me laugh!)
5. Beth (she's had a lot going on in her life and I just want to give her something mindless to do ... (((HUGS))) to you!!)
6. Louise (online-turned-IRL-friend that hasn't posted in a while ... blame it on the baby!!)

~Blessings!!!!!

Today was our first "exploration day" with My Father's World 1st grade.  Ladybug loved it immensely.  First we read three more books from the library that we checked out about things that live in the ground and things in the soil.  We've been reading many books this week about moles and ants and worms.  Our favorite so far has been Are You a Snail?  I *love* how it's written and there are others in the series - Backyard Books.

Then Ladybug drew a worm in her science notebook and titled it "Close to the Ground".  She just couldn't wait for the culmination of our exploration day with the worms!  We made a worm jar in which we layered sand and soil and then placed about 6 or so worms.  We covered it with a towel to keep it dark and in a few days we should be able to see the tunnels they make.

Okay, so I titled this blog entry "Nature Journaling" ... let's talk about that ...

The last thing we did was choose something that we could bring in from the outside (it was a damp morning) to draw in our nature journals.  We both chose flowers from Ladybug's garden.  I chose a sunflower and Ladybug chose a zinnia.  Below are the pictures of our first entries ...

This is Ladybug's drawing of her zinnia.  This is what she saw and she tried to write the name of the flower at the top ("zenyu").   I had her write the date and then copy some info from a flower book that I have.  I think she did pretty good for her first time!

This is mine ... I chose one of her sunflowers.  I truly enjoyed this as I *love*love*love* to draw!  It's been a while, however, and I enjoyed getting out my art supplies (I have a *nice* set of Prismacolor Premier colored pencils and drawing pencils) and using them again.

If you don't do nature journaling, I think you should give it a try.  If you're not sure how to do it, you can read Keeping a Nature Journal for information and inspiration.  Also below are some links to learn a bit more online:

Start a Nature Notebook by Karen Andreola

Penny Gardner's Nature Notebook Sample Pages - there is more here than just this page

Natural Nature Learning

Nature Study: Charlotte Mason's Cure for Tired Text-Taught Tots

This is such a great way to get children involved with God's creation ... studying it, loving it, understanding it ...

By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can't see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of his divine being. (Romans 1:20 The Message)

I think this is going to be a great year!!!

Blessings!

~Heather

I mailed our letter of intent today ...

what a great feeling that was!

Now we are O~F~F~I~C~I~A~L

~Heather

I always like that hymn ...

This is my Father's world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres. 
This is my Father's world: 
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
his hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father's world,
the birds their carols raise,
the morning light, the lily white,
declare their maker's praise. 
This is my Father's world: 
he shines in all that's fair;
in the rustling grass I hear him pass;
he speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father's world. 
O let me ne'er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet. 
This is my Father's world: 
why should my heart be sad? 
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring! 
God reigns; let the earth be glad!

Okay, but this post is not about the hymn, it's about the curriculum!  If you have read any of my recent posts you would remember that after much prayer and searching and more prayer, the Lord has led our family to use My Father's World.  We'll be doing MFW1, which is 1st grade. 

I was not sure if we should go with 1st grade or Adventures in My Father's World, which is an optional U.S. History track for 2nd or 3rd grade.  Again, after much prayer we felt led to stick with 1st grade materials, even though our daughter can read well.  We really wanted the Bible background/foundation that is laid in MFW1. 

Well, I went to the Georgia Homeschool convention last Friday morning to pick up my package.  When I returned home I promptly opened the package and began poring over the materials.  I love it!  It's just want we thought.  It will be a gentle approach, which I wanted, but she will also learn a lot this year.  For instance, there is a lesson (yes, I have already read over the entire TM!) in which I will teach her how to draw a bible lands map from memory!  And no, it won't quite so detailed as the map in that link, but that's the area covered.    I think that's neat.  Also, we'll begin learning about the Jewish calendar and celebrate a Shabbat, or Sabbath.  As the years go on we will incorporate the Jewish holidays into our family celebrations.  I am excited about this also, as I have always wanted to do this, but never could figure out how I wanted to do that.

So ... here's our coming year:

Character Building for Families (daily)

My Father's World 1 (daily)

Horizons 1 Math (daily)

Prima Latina (once a week)

Pearables Home Economics for Homeschoolers 1 (once a week)

Recorder for the Young Beginner 1 & 2 (once a week)

The Story of the Orchestra (once a week)

And many, many trips to the library (once a week).  And nature journaling (once a week).  And fun (every day!!).  Oh, and don't forget ballet, jazz and worship dance classes at The Studio School of the Arts (once a week). 

We'll begin on Thursday, August 10 (MFW recommends this, and so we will follow suit) .... can't wait!!!

Blessings!!

*warning* ... dictionary definitions coming ...

spent  (spnt) v. Past tense and past participle of spend. adj. Used up; consumed: a spent youth. Having come to an end; passed: a spent era of opulence. Depleted of energy, force, or strength; exhausted: At the end of the hot day the spent workers slept under a shady tree. Nautical. Of or relating to a vessel at the end of a voyage, with fuel, stores, and water consumed and cargo discharged.

 

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

spir·it·ed  (spr-td) adj. Full of or characterized by animation, vigor, or courage: a spirited debate. Having a specified mood or nature. Used in combination: high-spirited; low-spirited. spirit·ed·ly adv. spirit·ed·ness n.

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Okay ... the former - spent - that would be me over the course of this summer up until about a week ago.  The latter - spirited - that would be me now & over the course of the past week. Physically?  Not necessarily.  Mentally?  You bet!  I was used up, consumed and had come to an end.  I was depleted of energy, force and strength, I was exhausted ... mentally ... ever been there?  Now I am happy to say that I am full of animation, courage and vigor!  I am spirited and ready to begin our new homeschooling year.

Why???  I have made my FINAL curriculum decision!!!

Just looking at that cheering smiley make me feel good!  Okay, so here's the sitch (to borrow a Kim Possible-ism) ...

We did the eclectic thing last year for K, but mainly focused on learning to read with Reading Made Easy (which I *highly* recommend) and having fun while learning with Five in a Row (another *high* recommendation).  For Bible we used Leading Little Ones to God.  It was a great year and we both learned a lot ... she learned to read well with RME, we had fun with FIAR and on the next to last lesson of LLOTG our daughter accepted Jesus as her Savior ... it can't get any better than that! 

So I began planning our next year of school.  I even ordered a lot (can you say A LOT?!) from Rainbow Resource Center.  I just knew we were going to do this and that ...    

But as I began putting it all together (I like to have a plan) I just couldn't get it settled in my mind.  It just wouldn't mesh right for me the way I wanted.  I attended a Catherine Levison conference in June and that was such a blessing (thanks Louise!!).  I finally saw first hand what a narration looks like, what picture study looks like, etc.  I was so encouraged.  I've always like Charlotte Mason and her philosophies and ideas.  But I wasn't quite sure exactly how to implement them.  Now I am confident in my ability to do CM.  So ...

I then knew I wanted to do mostly CM stuff.  So then I tried to a plan it out ... I couldn't so I went to Ambleside Online.  I thought, "I could do that!"  I promptly planned out the first 90 days, joined every Yahoo! Group related to AO and Year 1, downloaded every file available and began ordering books from eBay. 

But ...... I didn't really have complete peace about it.  Not that there is anything wrong with CM or AO ... I just didn't have peace about it for our family.  I prayed and prayed about what the Lord would have us do.  Then I had lunch with a dear friend who uses My Father's World.  She brought me the 1st grade MFW to look at.  I liked it ... a lot.  Now ... to convince my dear husband that it was what we needed and that I wasn't going to change my mind ... again! LOL! 

My husband laughed ... he knows me too well.  He told me to just sell all my other stuff and we'll get My Father's World ... but this is it.  No more changing.

Whew!  I am so RELIEVED!!!!!!!!!!!!  Here is what I like about My Father's World and why it is a perfect fit for us:

 ... okay, I really am weird!  But I like being weird. 

What is "excogitating"????

ex·cog·i·tate   (k-skj-tt) tr.v. ex·cog·i·tat·ed, ex·cog·i·tat·ing, ex·cog·i·tates To consider or think (something) out carefully and thoroughly. [Latin excgitre, excgitt-, to find out by thinking  : ex-, ex- + cgitre, to think; see cogitate.] ex·cogi·tation n. ex·cogi·tative adj.

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Okay, okay ... I've been planning.  So there ya go.  My brain is mush.  I even let my 5-month-old practically eat a file divider this afternoon just so I could get more excogitating done. 

I came across this quote ... "For every minute spent organizing, an hour is earned."  An hour of what?  Of free time?  I sure hope so because that would mean I have earned ... ummmmm ... let's see .... about 5000 hours of free time - that's 208.33 days!  WooHoo!  Oh, wait, back to reality ...

I went to Office Depot today and spent entirely too much money ... when the cashier told me my total I thought she was wrong!  But she wasn't ... so here's what I've got left to do:

*gather all K materials, projects, lapbooks, etc. and put them in special boxes I bought today.  That will clear out room in my file cabinet for an entire drawer devoted to Five in a Row.  As you have probably gathered, I am a planner.  I like a good plan, I like to make good plans.  So I plan on planning out the entire year of Five in a Row and then printing out everything I need in advance.  I am actually looking forward to this!

*attend a Catherine Levison Conference  and then decide just exactly how I am going to do everything else  ... no, I pretty much know what I am going to do, but I am looking forward to the conference on the 24th of June to get much needed Charlotte Mason help!  Louise ... are you still with me?!

*Finish writing out some of my lesson plans ... I know I can't really plan too far in advance for things like math, etc., but I like to at least have an overall plan ... i.e. for the first 6 weeks we will cover this and that, etc. etc.

*return some things to Rainbow Resource and get some other things  (BTW I have spoken with them 2 times now and both times the person I spoke with was not so nice )

*Get our school room/bonus room more organized

okay ... I'm done exco ... what was that word again?  Oh yeah ... excogitating ....

I think that's it ....

~Heather

I just wanted to throw in some alliteration for you ... yes, I'm weird  ... but no one is more "me-er than me" (actually, Dr. Seuss said "No one is more youer than you!", but I had to change it up a bit). 

Okay, so I have been poring over language arts/reading information all weekend.  It's the only things that I have been stuck on.  I love the Good Lord above!  He keeps gently reminding me that what I have chosen is the right path for my family ... why, of why do I question my decisions?!

So here's what we have "planned" so far for next year (1st grade):

Bible:

The Child's Story Bible by Catherine Vos

Character Building for Families

and I found these wonderful resources when perusing the Ambleside Online site and I think we will use them for supplement -

Bible Class Books (Old Testament)

Bible Class Books (New Testament)

Reading/Language Arts:

We will do reading/language arts a la Charlotte Mason.  We'll do narration (with some active narrations thrown in for fun) and I was also thinking about using the ideas here - Implementing Blooms Taxonomy.  I dunno ... might just stick with simple narration. 

I found a few good reading lists (yes, I like to plan things like this out in advance) ...

The Parents' Union School Booklist

Charlotte Mason (Twaddle-Free)

Debi's Twaddle-free Reading List

And this website has some great lists also - Living Books-Parent and Teacher Resources

We'll also begin working on alphabetical order and dictionary skills.  I bought the Young Minds CD-ROM and I really like it.  It has tons more on it than the website and it's all indexed which makes it much easier to use than the website.  Anyway, she has some great printable activities for ABC order and dictionary skills, so we will use those.

Spelling - I like Charlotte Mason's ideas about spelling.  I have just got to formulate a plan of how I want to attack that one ... I'm just one of those people who likes to know how I am going to get things done.  I don't do well at "flying by the seat of my pants" ... what ends up happening when I don't have a plan is that I don't end up flying at all!  So if you have any ideas, please let me know!

Writing:

Handwriting - we will continue with Italic Handwriting series and then I will make copywork for her with StartWrite.

Creative Writing - I bought Writing Strands 1 and I really like the ideas in there, so we will do those activities and then she will keep a journal.  I bought 730 Journal Prompts and I really like those too.

Math:

Horizons Math 1 ... she likes it, she's learning and if it ain't broke don't fix it!

Five in a Row ... of course!!!  That covers Social Studies, Language Arts, Art, Applied Math and Science.  To that I add the FIAR Bible Supplement, Holidays - Through the Seasons and the FIAR Cookbook.

Then we will have extracurricular subjects that we will do once a week ...

Art Appreciation - I have Discovering Great Artists and I like it a lot!  We might do Art Appreciation a la Charlotte Mason next year, but for this year I will do it my way .  I also got Sister Wendy's Story of Painting (this is not a book for her to peruse!!!  It's a reference book for me and then I will share with her when needed)

Music Appreciation and Instruction - we'll start this year with the recorder and I got Progressive Recorder for the Young Beginner.  And for appreciation I got a number of things ... Kingfisher Young People's Book of Music, The Story of the Orchestra, Stories of the Great Composers, and Classical Music Start-up Kit CDs 1 & 2.  I was thinking about just going through the "Stories of the Great Composers" book, but I might do it a la Charlotte Mason also (which would involve selecting one composer for the  term and listening to his music ... Ambleside Online has selected Mozart for this term, so I might do that ... still dunno!). 

Home Economics - we'll begin with Pearable Home Economics for Homeschoolers Level 1

Spanish - we'll take it easy this year, mainly because I didn't want to spend the $$ on a good program yet!  We're using Teach Them Spanish!

Nature Study - we've got several resources and we'll begin a nature journal as in Keeping a Nature Journal.  We also have Anna Comstock's Handbook of Nature Study.  We bought Audubon Pocket Field Guides (11 of them!!), as well as Fun with Nature and More Fun with Nature.

I am looking forward to next year!!!!

shhhhhh I'm not even supposed to be on here!!!!

Okay ... I have been poring over my Rainbow Resource Center catalog.  Because our oldest daughter will be *officially* being homeschooled next year (compulsory age in GA is 6 - 1st grade) I want to get everything that I think I might need or want for this beginning leg of our homeschooling journey (go ahead and ).  What I mean are reference books for Science, Nature Study, Art Appreciation, etc. 

So here's what we are looking toward for next year:

Language Arts:

Readers - I want to get some good readers, but haven't decided yet which ones ...

Pathway Readers

I Wonder

The Millers

Creative Writing - I want a good creative writing program, but maybe I should wait until next year??  I know we will do

Journal Prompts (she loves journaling and picked up this love from "Diary of a Worm" ... LOVE this book!)

Handwriting:

Our daughter has decided (after MUCH MUCH asking on my part) that she wants to learn italic.  Her reason?  She doesn't like the "k" in D'Nealian manuscript ... go figure!  Anyway, that's what we'll do - Italic.  We just bought StartWrite program which I really like.  She'll learn the basic strokes and do modified "copywork" that I'll make with the StartWrite program until she gets the letter formation.  She still needs to sharper her fine motor skills.

Math:

Horizons Math 1 - works for us and if it aint broke, don't fix it!

Bible:

The Child's Story Bible by Catherine Vos - we'll read a chapter and discuss it each day.

FIAR Bible Study and Christian Character Supplement - this goes right along with our FIAR books each week

Five in a Row for Language Arts, Social Studies, Art, Applied Math and Science.  I just love this unit study!  I adore children's books and reading, so this works out great for us.  Our daughter has learned so much already this year in K using FIAR.

History:

FIAR does a good job with this, but we do want to add a timeline.  So which one?  Notebook or wall?  That I am not sure of ... yet ...

The following we will do one subject each day ...

Home Economics:

Pearables Home Economics 1 - can't wait to sink my teeth into this one!

Nature Study/Journaling:

We have the following books so far -

Fun with Nature

Keeping a Nature Journal

I want the following ...

Handbook of Nature Study

More Fun with Nature

Audubon Field Guides

Art Appreciation/History:

I love art and I would like to instill a love of art in my children as well.  I'd like the following ...

Sister Wendy's Story of Painting

Annotated Mona Lisa

I also really ike Meet the Masters, but I think we will hold off on that for now.

Music:

My daughter makes me laugh ... she wants to learn EVERYTHING!  In asking her what she wanted to learn next year (recorder, voice, piano) she said, "All of them!"  ... and she added the trumpet!  I think we are going to go with the recorder because I think she would get frustrated with the piano at this point in her life.  So, for the recorder ...

Progressive Music Courses for the Young Beginner - Recorder

So far that's it.  I've now got to get down and dirty with my pencil and calendar and FIAR volumes ... I want to plan at least the first 3 months.  Might sound crazy to you, but I know myself and my limits ... and I want to give my daughter the best possible education I can. 

later ................ (shhhhhh I'm not even supposed to be on here!!!!) ................ 

I remember the very first time I heard the title to this story.  I had no idea what it was about.  But after having read this book a few times I can tell you that it is a gem!  A quick synopsis from the publisher (Harcourt) ... "In this retelling of the old French legend, a juggler offers to the Christ Child the only Christmas gift he has." 

This week we are rowing The Clown of God by Tomie dePaola.  We love this book and my daughter keeps asking for me to read it over and over again.  Today's lesson was an art lesson and we learned that juggling is an art.  So we decided to try our hand (no pun intended) at juggling.  I found the following really good websites:

Learn to Juggle with Seymour

and

The Instant Jugglers' Manual.

We had a blast trying to juggle and learning the techniques.  This mama is determined to learn how to do it!  Here are some pictures from our lesson today ...

When my husband came home we showed him our new talents ... he was very impressed and tried to do it himself ... who new juggling could be so much fun?

later ...

~Heather

I just love Reading Made Easy!  DD has made such tremendous progess in her reading with this book.  Today's lesson was one of the final ones and we are reading a story about a boy named Gideon who wants to learn to read. 

In this lesson DD learned that children long ago used slates to do their school work.  She thought that was interesting and so she wanted to do the rest of her work on her "slate" ...

Here she's doing her copywork from RME.

Here she's doing her math (we still have issues with backwards numbers!)

And more moth ... she enjoyed this!

I LOVE homeschooling!

My daughter has been begging me to teach her how to sew, so we got the Winky Cherry system of books ... I like them, but as we have gotten into them they seem a bit young for her.  So we might get something else as we trudge along this journey.  But I thought I would share some pix of her sewing lessons which she thoroughly enjoyed ...

Here's a picture of the book.

Here she is sewing her bird.

Here she is doing the final sewing after the stuffing is in.

Stuffing the bird.

More stuffing the bird.

Final sewing.

She likes the bird.

She was quite proud of "her first stitch" as she called it when showing it to Daddy.

My last post about the Easter mini-unit got me thinking that I need to be more on top of things.  I didn't plan that until Sunday afternoon!  So, I'm thinking about our end of the year and we are going to have a party celebrating DD's "graduation" from Kindergarten to 1st grade.  Here is what we are going to do:

• invite grandparents to our end of the year party & have a cookout
• display our lapbooks which we have made for every book we have rowed this year
• display our maps of the world and US with story disks for every place we have "visited"
• I will put together a notebook with everything we have learned in
• Math
• Handwriting
• Reading
• Bible
• display our art projects for the year
• display pictures of what we have done this year (the ones I have remembered to take!)

I think this will be fun for our DD as well as for me.  I'm not quite sure when we will have it as I'm not quite sure when the official end of our school year will be this year (we still have lots of Math to cover!). 

If anyone has any other ideas I would love to hear them!

Blessings!

~Heather

I just finished a mini-Easter unit for this week and I wanted to share it with you ...

Monday

Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

Read Luke 19:28-48 in DD's new NIrV Bible

Read "Love One Another" by Lauren Thompson

Copywork:  Matthew 21:9

Geography: Jerusalem, Bethphage and Bethany (another good map here)

Craft: Palm Frond Collage Craft

Tuesday

Passover and the Garden of Gethsemane

Read Luke 22 in DD's NIrV Bible

Read "Benjamin's Box" by Melody Carlson

Copywork:  Luke 22:19

Vocabulary:

• blessed - worthy of worhip; holy
• crucify - to put to death by nailing on a cross
• hosanna - a shout of worshipful praise
• iniquity - wickedness or sin
• Messiah - the anointed one
• Passover - a holiday traditionally lasting 8 days which celebrates the exodus of the Jews from Egypt

Craft:  The Last Supper puzzle

Wednesday

Jesus' Crucifixion

Read Luke 23 in the NIrV

Read "The Legend of the Easter Egg" by Lori Walburg

Copywork: Isaiah 53:5

Science: Make "Jesus in the Tomb" rolls (scroll down about 3/4 of the page to the pink box)

Make "Stained Glass Crucifix" craft (scroll down about 3/4 of the page)

Thursday

Jesus' Resurrection

Read Luke 24 in the NIrV

Read "The Parable of the Lily" by Liz Curtis Higgs

Copywork: Mark 16:6

Art: Make billboard that says "He is Risen!" to display at home

Make "The Angel Rolled the Stone Away" craft

This is a simple plan that I made for our week to have some fun and take a mini break from our normal school routine.  My DD is in Kindergarten, so I tried to write something simple. 

She is reading so she can read the passages herself.  If you have a younger one you could read the passages from your favorite story Bible.

All of the books I have listed I found easliy at our local library (except "The Parable of the Lily" which I love and have bought my own copy!).  I only added them as a bonus ... you don't have to read them if you can't get a hold of them.

I hope you enjoyed reading this and may be even able to use some of it!

Blessings!!

~Heather

My daughter has been begging me to teach her how to sew, so I bought My First Sewing Machine Book by Winky Cherry.  I read through it and realized that we needed to start with the first book ... My First Sewing Book - Hand Sewing, also by Winky Cherry. 

Here's the first book ...

and once you master that you move on the next book ...

and you make a name sampler, then move on to ...

and make a doll, then you get to learn ...

I really do like these books (and the kits) because they are simple and my young daughter can understand them and likes them.  I wish I had my canera, but DH took it today ... I wanted to show you a picture of her sewing a stuffed shamrock.

She has been begging me to teach her to sew for months now and I wasn't quite sure how or where to start, but these books/kits are tremendous help ... and they are inexpensive, which is a bonus :)  Each one builds upon skills learned in the previous one.  You can move on to quilting after machine sewing, which we might do because I want to learn too!

We are also enjoying learning about Ireland and St. Patrick this week ... we've been rowing Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland by Tomie dePaola and it has been fun.  I've learned a lot, as has my DH (oh yeah ... so has our daughter).  I am dying to visit the Emarald Isle ... it is SO beautiful! 

Tonight we'll be having Pesto Pasta (since it's green) and these Sweet Shamrocks.   

May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

traditional gaelic blessing

I just love St. Patrick's Day!

Blessings to you all today!

I believe that statement is true.  Although we were doing Kindergarten this year, it was hard getting things settled, figuring out what fits best, etc.  I am sure that as time goes by and DD gets older there will be difficulties ... deciding on what she needs, etc., but .......

I am so glad that we are toward the end of this first year and I feel so good about the choices we've made.  A dear new friend said to me the other day when I was thinking about changing some things, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

Five in a Row is working so well for us ... it's DD's favorite thing!  We will definitely continue with that for next year.

Reading ... we've been using Reading Made Easy and will finish this year.  Next year we will use Pathway Readers and just focus on improving reading skills ... I think

Handwriting ... we'll continue with A Reason for Handwriting because it's working well and helping DD with the mechanics of writing each letter.  I also like their simple and Christian approach.  So we will do level A next year.

Creative Writing ... gotta figure that one out since it's new to us.  My MIL teaches creative writing at the elementary school up the street and she suggests just going with it and not using a program.  But I am not sure ... she's been doing it for eyars and I haven't, so I might use Write One ...

Math ... we'll continue with Horizons because DD likes it and she's learned so much this year.  I wasn't sure in the beginning of the year, but it's working well for us.

Art ... we'll continue with Art with a Purpose:ArtPac 2 and then we'll also do art appreciation with Come Look With Me books and a few websites I have found: CGFA Virtual Art Museum, Colorions d'Apres, edupics, and Scribbles Kids' Art Site.

Music ... we'll begin with the recorder (I still have my Suzuki from when I was a kid!), but I am not sure which program yet.  Many like Penny Gardner's 9-note Recorder Method, so we might try that.

Bible ... we'll begin with The Child's Story Bible by Catherine Vos as it comes highly recommended.  We are finishing up with Leading Little Ones to God and it has been great.

Home Economics ... Pearables Home Economics Level 1.  I am so excited about this!

Nature Study ... still need to figure out exactly what I want to do with this, but I have found some great websites!  The ones I have found are: Nature Walk Guide Sheets, Wild Monthly, Nature Journals, Cindy Rushton's Nature Notebooks, Nature Study Resources.

Spanish ... I would like to teach this, but I am not sure, nor am I sure what to use!

So that's that.  I'm VERY excited about next year!!!!

I am very excited!  Steve Lambert (husband of the Five in a Row author Jane Lambert) just announced that we will be having a FIAR conference this year!  YAY!

I have been hoping to go and DH and I discussed my going and he is all for it (not so sure how much he's for being with a 9 month old baby alone all weekend!!) ...

I have recently met 5 FIAR friends and I can't wait to meet more!  There are a few ladies with whom the Lord seems to have knit my heart and I am hoping they are attending!

I've also never been to Kansas City before, so this will be a first.  And I will get to use my new PINK luggage that I got for Christmas  ...

I am looking forward to many encouraging words to begin our first official year of homeschooling ... 1st grade!  And I am looking forward to fellowship with new friends ....

I really need to go and get in the bed !!!! 

later

~Heather

I recently met 5 other homeschool moms and their precious children at a trip to the Fernbank Museum ... by the way, if you get to see the chocolate exhibit make sure you're ready to buy some because you will be hungry!

It was wonderful to meet these ladies that I have been chatting with online for years now on the Five in a Row boards.  I am planning on getting involved in their group and we have some fun activities planned for the next few months.

I had not yet joined a local group because they all seem so formal (too many time requirements) or legalistic (one group when I looked at their "rules" said that you had to say you didn't listen to rock-type music!).  But this group of ladies and their children will be wonderful to get to know and hang out with.  We all use Five in a Row so that's neat too. 

This will also provide us with a great opportunity for field trips ... in April we will visit the UGA School of Veterinary medicine - how fun!  DD will love it as she is a true animal lover ... maybe a vet herself one day.

I always wanted to get involved in a group, but couldn't find one that seemed to "fit" me and my family.  Now I have and I am excited about this next step in our homeschooling journey ...

okay, my husband took this picture the other night of me reading "The Salamander Room" to my oldest daughter ... I thought it was cute because the baby is "reading" along too! 

We are book lovers ... looks like the baby will be one too!  I just wanted to share ...

Today we did our FIAR science lesson (we combine Math and Science on Thursday so that we can devote our Friday morning to making our lapbook).  So ... we are rowing "Cranberry Thanksgiving" which we both love.  Today for science we learned about leavening agents and about chemical reactions and the gas bubbles that form when the alkaline baking soda meets the acidic vinegar.  I just had to take some pix and share them with you ...

Here she's pouring in the baking soda ...

... and more baking soda ...

...and now she's ready for the vinegar ...

... pouring the vinegar into the baking soda ...

... the reaction of the vinegar and baking soda ...

... she thinks that is the coolest/funniest/neatest thing ...

... and she thinks she'll taste it ...

... notice the look on her face after she tastes ...

A fun morning with Five in a Row!

handwriting ... I know DD is only in K, but I am currently driving myself nutty over it.  Tell me not to even care so much about it right now!  Currently we are doing the copywork from Reading Made Easy and A Reason for Handwiritng K.  But DD likes to make her As and her Ts like I do ... with a little tail ... not exactly Zaner-Bloser .... more like D'Nealian.  But she still likes to write up and down, not slanted like D'Nealian (like me).  I asked her which she likes better and she chose the D'Nealian.  Do I stick with "A Reason For ..." or move on to D'Nealian now?  I have no D'Nealian stuff ...

Such a dilemma, I know  ... I rally like her doing copywork ,and she seems to like it also, but I would prefer to print it out on the computer and D'Nealian fonts cost $$ ... can't find one for free.  Oh well, I'll keep searching ... any ideas or thoughts and letme know!

~Heather

This week we rowed "Very Last First Time" which, by the way, is my favorite FIAR book so far!  So one day we were to talk about safety and crisis thinking.  Somehow I got onto the subject of stranger safety and found a great book at our library called "Not Everyone is Nice" by Frederick Alimonti.  I think it's good and DD was very interested in what it said and listened intently.  I came across the following information to teach children re: strangers ... some I had not thought of actually outright telling DD before now ...

We talked about how:

Children spend a good part of their time outside and on the playground or at school. People who want to hurt them know this too. It is normal and natural when children spend time playing and having fun. Sometimes they play and travel out of the sight of a trusted and caring adult.

What kinds of strangers are dangerous?

• Treat all strangers as if they are dangerous.

• A stranger may try to trick children in many different ways.

• You can't tell who is a nice stranger and who is a dangerous stranger.
• Dangerous strangers can act nice.
• Even strangers who know your name, family members' names, or where you live are dangerous. This information is not hard for strangers to find out.
• Even strangers who look the same age as an older brother or sister can be dangerous.

What are some dangerous situations?
These are times you should run the other way and immediately find a safe place or a safe adult:

• Strangers who ask you for directions
• Strangers who try to touch you
• Strangers who show you a private body part
• Strangers who ask you to help them find something they have lost
• Strangers who offer you gifts, money, or candy
• Strangers who offer you a ride
• Strangers who have pets or other neat things they want you to come look at
• Strangers who ask you to go somewhere with them
• ADULTS ASK ADULTS for help, not children!  Strangers may ask for help in finding a lost animal, etc.

What is stranger safety?

• Never talk to a stranger.

• Never let a stranger get too close, whether he or she is in a car or walking.

• Never accept candy, a present, a ride, or anything else from a stranger.

• Never tell a stranger your name or address.

• Never go with a stranger to find a lost puppy. Adults ask adults for help.

• Never go into deserted places alone.

• Never keep secrets from your parents about strangers.

• Always try to walk with a friend or a grown-up.

• Always stick to the same safe route in traveling to and from school or a friend’s house.

• Never open the door for a stranger, if you are home alone.

• It's always best to walk with someone else, even if the person is younger or smaller than you are. Groups are even safer.
• Know where your "safe spots" are. Safe spots are the houses of people you know. Go to a safe spot if a stranger tries to get close to you.
• Stores, libraries, schools, police stations, and fire stations are also safe places.
• If a stranger comes toward you, immediately run the other direction.
• If a stranger asks you something, run the other way.
• If a stranger is near and you don't feel safe, run away and make as much noise as you can. Scream and yell and try to get people's attention.  See below for WHAT to yell ...... 
• Run as soon as you can. Never wait around to see what the stranger might do next.
• Go to a safe spot right away and tell an adult about the stranger.
• Never take gifts, candy, or food from strangers.
• Never walk toward a stranger, even if they want to show you something.
• Never follow a stranger, get in the car with a stranger, or let a stranger take you somewhere.

What about answering the phone?

• Young children should never be left home alone.
• Some older children can be left home alone if they are prepared, responsible, and know how to handle emergencies.
• Teach your child not to answer the phone if he is home alone.
• Or, teach him how to answer the phone if he is home alone.
  • Never tell a caller you are home alone.
  • Say that your parents are busy and can't come to the phone.
  • Never tell a caller your name, phone number, or address.
  • If the caller asks for this information, hang up and call a safe adult.
  • If a stranger calls twice, hang up and call a safe adult.
  • If the caller teases you or says things that scare you, hang up and call a safe adult.

What about answering the door?

• Young children should never be left home alone.
• Some older children can be left home alone if they are prepared, responsible, and know how to handle emergencies.
• Teach your child not to answer the door if he is home alone.
• Or, teach him how to answer the door if he is home alone.
  • If someone knocks, keep the door closed and locked.
  • Look through the window or peephole to see who is there.
  • Never tell the visitor you are home alone.
  • Say that your parents are busy and can't come to the door.
  • Talk to the visitor through the closed door. Don't open the door. Keep it locked.
  • Never let a stranger in, even to use the bathroom or the phone.
  • Don't let anyone in unless your parents said it was okay for this person to come in. If you didn't talk about this person, don't let them in even if you know them.
  • If the person says they came to deliver something or fix something, say your parents are busy and take a message.
  • If the person will not go away or tries to get in, call 911.

How can we avoid problems with strangers?

• Teach your child never to wander in the woods, alleys, or isolated streets.
• Teach your child to come home before it gets dark. Instead of walking home after dark, children should call a safe adult.
• Be on time to pick your child up. Call an adult if you will be late so they can supervise your child while he waits.
• Teach your child not to help strangers. If a stranger needs help, your child should find a safe adult and tell them.
• Teach your child his address and home phone number and a back-up number, like a grandparent. If the child is ever in trouble or needs a ride, he can call.
• Teach your child to tell a parent, teacher, or other trusted adult if a stranger ever asks him to keep a "secret."
• Teach your child to tell an employee if he is lost (at an amusement park, at the mall, etc.).
• Teach your child these safety tips in a matter of fact way. Do not scare him.
• Ask your doctor for more safety tips.

Quick Answers

• Children should treat all strangers as if they are dangerous.
• Teach children to run away from strangers who offer a ride, candy, gifts, or who ask for directions. Never go anywhere with a stranger.
• Teach your child stranger safety. If a stranger ever tries to come toward him or talk to him, he should run in the other direction and tell a safe adult.
• Teach your child how to answer the phone or door if he is home alone.
• Children should never tell a stranger they are home alone. They should call a safe adult right away if a stranger at the door or on the phone won't leave them alone or is scaring them.
• Teach your child not to help strangers. If a stranger needs help, your child should find a safe adult and tell them.

And some of the best advice I found ...

If a stranger tries to grab you, yell as loud as you can and run away. Yell "this is not my daddy", if it is a man. If it is a woman, yell "this is not my mommy". Sometimes if you just yell help, people think that you are just a bad child throwing a temper tantrum with one of your parents or a caregiver. But if you let people know that it is a stranger that has you, they will try to help. If this does not work, yell fire! fire!  A fire call always gets the attention of others. While yelling, try to fight your way free by punching, kicking, biting, etc. Once you are free, run tell a trusted adult so that they can contact the police.

Good stuff ... I am glad that I sat down and spent some "formal" time teaching it my DD ...

I don't know why there are so many out there who don't see life skills

as a "subject" and real time spent really learning real things.  Don't get me wrong ... we do our 3Rs and FIAR, but this other stuff is so important too.  So here are some sweet pix of our DD cooking ...

Here she is melting some butter and browning some garlic and shallots ...

...and adding the mushrooms ...

... and last night she didn't want the yummy veggie soup I was making, and Daddy was coming home late after hunting, so she asked to make her own PB&J ... so  I sliced the bread for her and here she is ...

... she's getting so big!  And learning so much!  I just love being a homeschool mom!

This is what it is all about IMHO.  We use Five in a Row and this week we are rowing Madeline (a favorite of ours).  Today we are doing geography and learning about France and Paris and the Seine River.  We are reading a great book called "Charlotte in Paris" and it's a diary of a little girl who lived near Claude Monet in Giverny, France. 

As we were looking at a book about France we saw a picture of Monet's White Water Lilies.  "It's beautiful!!!", she said.  Immediately my DD jumped up and grabbed a piece of paper and exclaimed, "I am going to paint like Monet!" and we promptly got out our watercolor paper and paints and she is now happily painting Monet's White Water Lilies!

Of course, I had to take a picture to share with you ...

As she is painting she is telling me that she is going to travel the world and paint ... and now she's asking for an adult easel and adult paints (never mind that she doesn't realize she has a nice wooden easel and Prang watercolors ... nice for a 5 year old!) ...

Ahhhhhh ... what a joy and privilege to be a homeschooling mom!  I'm so glad that the Lord has called me to this.

thanks for letting me share!

~Heather

there's that thesaurus again! ...

Okay, so now that we have completed one week of K I have somet thoughts and observations to share ...

FIAR: DD loves anything that has to do with Five in a Row so we won't stop using that any time soon!  Good thing, because I love it too!

MATH: I can't figure out how Horizons Math K is really going to teach her anything ... maybe it's just me, but DH was in the room one day while we were doing math and he thought the same thing  I think it's just not our thing ... so, I found an swesome website called Living Math and found a book that they recommend called Read Any Good Math Lately? on ebay for $4.85!!!  It retails for $23.50 so that's a great deal!  I'm looking forward to getting it and finding books to use to teach my DD math.

Can you tell I am gravitating toward Charlotte Mason Eduaction???

HANDWRITING: We started with A Reason for Handwriting K and we've only done the intro stuff so far ... I think it will be good to do the individual letter, BUT ... we're also doing Draw-Write-Now and DD loves doing it.  So I guess I'll have to ge the rest of those as we only have the first one.  The interesting thing is that I am noticing how much her handwriting has improved in just one week from doing