Apr. 22, 2008 - What My Day Would Be Like If I Were the Perfect Homeschool Mom
I would wake up every morning at dawn to the sound of birds singing. Occasionally, the birds and other small critters would help me make my bed.
Then I would proceed to have a wonderful and fulfilling quiet time with the Lord. Deep meditative prayer and Bible study would last for over an hour. I would come away refreshed and refueled for the busy day ahead.
The critters would return to help me awaken the sleeping children, who happily rise from their slumber, to get dressed. They would immediately come to me with a "Good morning, Mommy! I love you. I cannot wait to start another day of our wonderful homeschool together." With a light kiss on the cheek, they would eagerly start their morning chores.
I would begin a load of laundry, while one of the children would put the finishing touches on a wholesome and nutritious breakfast. After we say our meal prayers, we would eat our breakfast and discuss all the wonderful subjects we had learned about during school time yesterday. They would each remember all the topics I had taught them, and thoughtfully add their own opinions to the conversation.
After breakfast dishes are cleared and washed, we would all plan for our morning exercise. Mom would put on her walking shoes and the kids would excitedly grab their bikes or scooters. After donning the helmets and safety pads, we would all head toward the bike path. Spending an hour in rejuvenating exercise is just one of the many positive routines we have set up, and today is no exception.
When we return home, everyone smiling and glowing with the flushed cheeks of energized health, we would grab some water to refresh our dehydrated bodies. Did I mention that Mom doesn't sweat, so she only needs to wipe the light glisten from her forehead and cheeks?
School starts with prayers of thankfulness to the Lord for the abundant blessings He has bestowed upon us. We quickly move to math time, where multi-digit multiplication is a breeze for both students. Once the practice problems are mastered, we move into a fun game reviewing the same skill.
We are all famished, so a quick and healthy lunch is provided, via Mom's excellent cooking skills.
History is exciting and full of adventure, as we move through our chronological study. We are thoroughly enjoying our current living book, and the kids easily narrate back to me what they have just heard. After a quick Homeschool in the Woods lapbook project on our topic, all done with immaculate handwriting, we move to science.
Jeannie Fulbright never knew that my budding scientists could so easily understand Zoology 1. All the notebooking projects are completed joyfully. I have all the necessary items on hand to complete the experiments, and there are birds just hanging around to be studied. The crown, rump, and mandibles of each are all thoroughly inspected. The kids eagerly jot down sketches and diagrams into their nature study books.
Reading time is exciting and the kids race to pick up their books, as they were left with a cliffhanger from the day before. Mom is also able to get in a few chapters of her newest Ruth Beechick or Charlotte Mason book.
Mom heads off to start another gourmet dinner before Dad gets home from work. I only wish that I had finished those specialty Chinese cooking classes last month...
Once Dad is home, everyone greets him at the door with a large smile, and of course, a kiss from Mom. He quickly showers and meets us all patiently awaiting him around the dinner table. The table is set and the food is hot. We all pray a blessing over the food, thanking God for another wonderful day. We dig into great food and better conversation. History and science lessons are narrated back to Dad in a desire to share with him the new knowledge gained that day.
After dinner, we would enjoy a guilt-free but fantastic dessert. Time spent together playing the family's favorite board game is the preface to a family devotion time. Dad reads from the Bible storybook I recently purchased at the local homeschool convention. Mom reads from one of her newest Lamplighter books, full of great characters that make wonderful virtuous choices. The kids listen with keen interest, pondering the characters' choices and determine to follow in their footsteps.
After the last word of the chapter is read, the kids yawningly stroll off to bed, ready to get cozy under their covers. With prayers and goodnight kisses, the kids are tucked in and wished "Sweet Dreams".
Dad and I spend an hour or two enjoying each other's company reminiscing about the day and talking about the future. We read the next chapter in our Dave Ramsey book, as we continue this journey to becoming debt free. I move to the computer to check my e-mails for the day, then it is time to change into my comfy pj's.
As I climb into bed for the night, I reach over and grab my thankful book. Writing down all the blessings from the day, I lay it down, turn off the light, and drift fast asleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is from the imagination of one who has a goal to be such a great homeschool mom where most of what happens in this story is true--but mostly the great character of the family!
• 4 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Apr. 8, 2008 - 50+ Ideas for Taking Care of Mom! by Cindy Rushton
The Ultimate Homeschool Expo is coming! In honor of this exciting event, I have decided to share with my blog readers a great article by Cindy Rushton. Cindy is heading up this great event, and Homeschool With Index Cards is going to have a virtual booth there this year! Yippee!
You can sign-up via this link, and show your support of Homeschool With Index Cards:
*****************************************************************************
Tired? Weary? Need some fresh ideas for taking care of mom? Feeling that push and pull on you as you balance all of the many demands in your life? Are you great about taking care of others, yet not quite so good about taking care of YOU? Has it been a long, long time since you have done the little things to just fill your cup back up? How about a few fresh ideas for filling your cup and ministering to your heart! I promise that these will be easy for you to do! Here goes:
--> Grab Your iPod and go for a long, long walk! I LOVE my iPod. I have it filled with great Praise and Worship music, teachings and workshops, podcasts, tutorials, etc. My iPod has become my “pocket pal” when I work on my chores, take care of business duties, or even get out for my walk. Talk about my best investment of 2006!
--> Laugh! Just sit there right now...laugh! Start small...just a little giggle! Then...laugh about laughing! Roll on the floor laughing! Feel better?
--> Begin a new Bible Study. Either find a Bible Study guide...or dig out Words to study on your own! For Word Studies, I LOVE my Strong’s Concordance. It helps to find all of the references of a certain word of interest. I also love my Vine’s Dictionary. I use it to look up the meanings of the words AND it also has other references for uses in Scripture. Another great help for Word Studies is my good old faithful Webster’s 1828 Dictionary. I LOVE it as a reference to deepen the studies. Usually it helps me to also find OTHER great studies to dig into also! Dig into the Word! It will feed your heart and soul during this tough time!
--> Meet a friend at the park and let the kids play while you visit.
--> Go for a drive around the city—look at the lights! Look at flowers. Look at the seasonal changes.
--> Look at photo albums. Remember the silly stories!
--> Watch the sunrise! Or, not an early bird? Watch the sunset!
--> Collect jokes and funnies! Barb Johnson...Chonda Pierce...Becky Freeman are just a few of my PERSONAL favorites! Get one of their books or videos. Then, snag some mom-time to just kick back and enjoy!
--> Chocolate! Chocolate Candy...Chocolate Bars...Chocolate Shakes...Chocolate Latte’s...CHOCOLATE! REALLY! Chocolate helps to release endorphins in the brain—plus! It tastes great to boot! So, why not grab a bit for mom-time!
--> Watch an old movie! Curl up under a great big quilt—even if you have to turn the air down COLD! Don’t forget to turn down the lights and turn off the phone!
--> Look at your old school albums! Your HAIR! Ha! Enough said.
--> Got a grassy hill nearby? Go to the top and just roll down it! Like a child! (Snowy? Get a sled! And SLIDE!)
--> Take the kids to the park—just WATCH them! They are adorable!
--> Begin a “Quote Book.” Collect quotes that encourage you to keep on, keeping on! Keep them in a special journal dedicated only to keeping your special quotes.
--> Memorize your favorite Psalm. Try out Psalm 91...or Psalm 61...or Psalm 35...or Psalm 37...Oh! Enjoy!
--> Begin a Tea Ministry. Doing for others ALWAYS lifts even the heaviest spirit. Get a tea basket to keep your goodies in...visit a shut-in...bless them. Then! Watch the blessing boomerang! You won’t be able to leave without a blessing.
--> Take the kids to a candy store—sample the Jelly Bellies...or Sweet Tarts...or Sour Gummy Worms.
--> Fly a kite!
--> Take a ride in the country. Turn up your praise music...roll the windows down...sing to the top of your lungs!
--> Watch a funny video! Elisabeth and I LOVE to watch old movies like If a Man Answers. It is one of our “chick flicks” that we always watch together. We love it! SO FUNNY! Chonda Pierce is another one of my picks. She is just totally hilarious. My children LOVE old comedy shows like I Love Lucy or The Three Stooges. Oh, you may want to watch anything! Just find something that will make you laugh hard!
--> Scrapbook! Pick photos that you MUST tell the story behind! Kick up your favorite music...spread out your goodies...and Scrap till you drop!
--> Read a biography of a GIANT in the faith! My favorites are Corrie ten Boom...Hudson Taylor...George Mueller...Amy Carmichael...Jim and Elisabeth Elliott...etc!
--> Get today’s newspaper and read the comics!
--> Get a yo-yo! PLAY!
--> Make Chocolate Chip Cookies with the kids! On a diet? Take them to someone who blesses you! Include a note of thanks and encouragement for all they do to bless you!
--> Go out and sit on your boat—watch the stars! (Oh, watch the sunset or sunrise, if you can too!)
--> Dig into the Bible and study what God says about trials...suffering...faith...death...depression...oppression...warfare...battle…
--> Read a new book! Normally ready non-fiction/how-to’s? Get a fiction book for a change! Normally read fiction? Get a humorous book! Renew your weary heart and mind!
--> Take a break and go for a long ride on a motorcycle! Don’t forget your headset and praise music!
--> Take a hike! Really! Find a nice nature trail OR go for the tough stuff!!
--> Go to the mall with your teenager! ENJOY!
--> Buy a Mp3 Player and some great praise music—turn it up! I LOVE my iPod! I have my iPod loaded with all of my favorite CDs. My favorites are Michael W. Smith’s Worship CD’s AND Hillsong’s Praise and Worship! The moment you enter into worship, you will enter into the very presence of God—so, turn it up and devour the presence of our precious Lord!
--> Pull out that old sewing machine and make some of those goodies that you have been wanting—new purse/tote...outfit...home decorations...doll clothes...etc!
--> Buy a “whoopee” Cushion...or “Bubba” teeth... At least your family will laugh!
--> Write out the funny family stories! Reminisce! Enjoy!
--> Go skating!
--> Try an afternoon of “Laser-Tag” with your teens! Get um!
--> Make Homemade Bread—KNEAD yourself!
--> Plan a regular Mommy Getaway. This is not an extra! It is essential! I plan getaways for different purposes: to just get alone with God to hear Him, to plan, to work on my homeschool and business projects, to just fill my cup back up. Decide what will fill you up. What do you need right now? Decide what will help meet that need. Gather your goodies: Bible, journal, iPod, camera (I love taking pictures of little treasures along the way), your planner, your computer/Idea Notebook, etc. Pull aside and take that time to just get-away and fill your cup back up!
--> Get a pet! My bird, Harley, has ministered to my heart MORE than I could remember! He is just SO funny! HE had the idea to “boogie” for Jesus! I had not danced for years! AND it is decent! Elisabeth’s new puppy, Pooh, is a TOTAL delight! I say all the time that she is JOY in fur! She has become my little buddy. She loves to sit with me while I work and follow me around while I am doing my chores. She keeps me in stitches. Struggling? Get a pet just for YOU...see that puppy in the window??
--> Take the day to go for a flight! Look at the whole world from a different perspective!
--> Dance! Turn up your favorite music and dance! Dance your heaviness away! Dance till you laugh! Dance in worship to the Lord! Jump! Lift your hands in praise and worship!
--> Clean out your house (only if this is NOT your struggle! Ha!). Attack those closets...cabinets...dusty bookshelves...paper piles!
--> Go out for a cup of coffee...tea...or a good old Coca-Cola! Meet your sweetheart or a mommy pal! Or...take your Bible and make it a special time with the Lord!
--> Find some silly-putty or slime—PLAY!
--> Get up earlier (or take regular breaks throughout the day!) for your quiet time! You may feel SO weak that you can barely concentrate—if so, just turn on praise music and lift up your arms in praise and adoration. Watch what happens! Make a list of your heartaches—lift them to the Father (then, hide them in your Prayer Journal—later they will be a praise record!). Dig into the Word for comfort...perspective...and hope for tomorrow! Really tough days? Well, when the Israelites had very HOT days, they had to gather MORE manna—in the heat of your battles and toughest trials gather a surplus! It will help you survive your struggle.
--> Make a quilt. You can EVEN cheat by making it on the sewing machine! ENJOY!
--> Take an afternoon to go to the movies. Get a big bucket of popcorn...a super-HUGE Coke...sour Gummy Worms (unless you are due a BIG DOSE OF CHOCOLATE!). Take your sweetheart...or a friend if you want to share! Pick a movie that will make you laugh like crazy...OR CRY your eyes out! ENJOY!
--> Ride three-wheelers! Get MUDDY!
--> Treat yourself to a leisurely afternoon (or a bunch of afternoons!) at the pool...park...or creek.
--> Try your hand at BOWLING. Take some friends!
--> Take time for tea—each day.
--> Exercise. Swim...walk...jog...hike...go skating...aerobics. Relieves stress AND boosts your health to boot.
Learn a new hobby! What have you been putting off that you have ALWAYS wanted to know? Pottery? Quilting? Flight Training? Smocking? Scrapbooking? Jewelry Making? Sewing? Crochet? Horse-back riding? Go for it! Now is the PERFECT time.
--> Treat yourself to a nice looooonnnnnngggg Bubble Bath! Don’t forget to set up your favorite music to play during your Bubble Bath. Also...be sure to fix a nice cup of tea (or a Latte!) or a nice big Coke that will last till the water gets cold! ENJOY!
--> Go to the park and just swing—HIGH!
Go get an ice-cream cone—with a double dip!
--> Do a “Promise” hunt in Scripture. Keep in a “Promise Notebook” of your very own! KNOW that they are yours.
--> Snuggle up for the afternoon to read a great book!
Got some fresh ideas? Don’t let this limit you! Let your brain GO! Find some things that will fill you back up and take care of you all along the way.
This is not an extra. This is an essential. Carve out time on your calendar today to just take care of mom!
****************************************
Need MORE Help?
How about the ULTIMATE mom-time? Yep! Check out our Ultimate Homeschool Expo! If you missed the live recording of the workshops, no problem! You can now hear ALL of the workshops at your convenience. They are CERTAIN to fill your cup to overflowing! Get your ticket here:
Ultimate Homeschool Expo 2008
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Mar. 21, 2008 - Finding the Meaning of Easter at Wal-Mart?
This great video was created by Carla from Creation Sensation--and her kiddos!
• 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Mar. 2, 2008 - Magnetic Index Cards
Do you have index cards around your house that you wish the kids would use, but they keep getting misplaced? Well, I have one fun idea for you. Place magnetic strips on the backs of some of your cards, and put them on one of the appliances!
This is great for working with letters, numbers, math facts, state names, oh all kinds of things!
Simply buy a roll of the adhesive magnetic tape and place them on the backs of your cards. Another great way to do this is if you have business cards that are on magnets, maybe some you won't need to use. Place some glue on the business card and adhere to the back of your index card, and voila! Instant Magnetic Index Card!
Now, depending on the type of card you are using, that will determine the size of magnets you want to put on the back. If you are using your index cards like flashcards, you will want to only place a small bit of magnet on the back, so you can still see the answer to the problem. However, if you are using the cards for, say Dolch Sight Words, you can place a larger section of magnet on the back, since the card won't need to be checked on the back.
This is so fun, I am too excited just typing this message! What a different way to "do school"! Right on the fridge! And the kids will enjoy it, too!
Be sure to stop by Homeschool With Index Cards to see lots of great index card products that can be placed on magnets! Be sure to sign up for this week's newsletter that will give lots of great other ways to store those index cards, too! (Due out Tuesday, March 4.)
• 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Feb. 26, 2008 - PS: Beginner Book for Early Learners
I have decided to have a Product Spotlight where I highlight (and sometimes discount) products I have available on my website Homeschool With Index Cards.
This week, I have chosen the Beginner Book for Early Learners. This is a set that I created when my oldest was in kindergarten and I was helping her with the basics. A little over a year ago, I added it to my site, hoping to help other homeschoolers with their beginners. I have geared this set to Preschool to possibly 3rd grade.
It helps review colors, shapes, letters, numbers, months of the year, days of the week, and a few more. I have also found the cards to be helpful with my older kids in spelling, too.
The set is discounted this week by 25%, so if you are looking for a way to help your beginner into a relaxed method of school, or you need something to keep the younger ones occupied while you work with the older kids, or you want something to take in the car and do a little "school" while running errands, this is for you! :O)
You can take a look at http://homeschoolwithindexcards.com/Beginner-Book.html
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Feb. 6, 2008 - Signs & Seasons from Classical Astronomy
Do you know what classical astronomy is? Ok, I have to admit, I didn't. But, our family is thrilled to have been introduced to it by the book Signs & Seasons by Jay Ryan of www.ClassicalAstronomy.com We are in our 5th week of reading and I have to tell you, it's great!
First of all, classical astronomy is studying the sky with the naked eye. It teaches you how to read the sky without a telescope. We are learning about constellations, the true meaning behind the zodiacs, phases of the moon, etc. Jay has included lots of quotes from famous folks whom we have met in our ancient world history readings. There are other quotes from some we have not met, but will when we get to our America studies. So, basically, you could use this book when you study any time period. You could also do it as a stand alone science study. It is also chock-full of Scripture references, so it keeps the kiddos right in line with knowing the Lord is the creator of all. Jay helps to dispell myths of the stars/celstial bodies having power as he keeps pointing to the heavenlies as an awesome proof that there is a Creator.
There are several field activities for each chapter in the back of the book. One includes making a life-sized compass, another to make a volvelle, others include globes, constellations, and on and on.
This book has a beautiful hardback cover and contains wonderful glossy pages with fantastic pictures and graphics. It was written for a self-directed course for high schoolers, but we are thoroughly enjoying it, my kiddos being in 6th and 4th grade. The age recommendation is 13 and up, but with an adult's help, the reading can be understood by younger ones. (My 4th grader is 9, and he is excited about everything he has learned thus far.)
This one is a keeper. Not only will we go through it again when the kiddos get older, but, in the meantime, it will be a fantastic reference book to have on the science bookshelf.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to be able to look up at the sky and understand what you see! We finally have a clue! :O)
• 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Feb. 2, 2008 - Our American Presidents
Learning about our American presidents is a very rewarding and informational study into the history United States. Each president faced many challenges or issues that specifically deal with their time period in history.
That is why I created Homeschool With Index Cards newest set, Our American Presidents. In this index card set, you will have a picture of each president, all of which are the paintings that hang in the White House. There is a small banner in the corner of each president's picture which will give you the number of his presidency.
There are side areas for your family to research which include:
Years In Office
Political Party
Vice President
Date of Birth
Place of Birth
Date of Death
Place of Death
There is also an optional "extra info" card that asks about:
First Lady
Children
Accomplishments
Another option would be to simply print the main card on the blank side of a lined index card, then fill any any pertinent information on the lined side. This way, you could place whatever info you choose for each president.
The set is running at an introductory special price, so if you're interested, check it out today! Our American Presidents
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Feb. 1, 2008 - Walking at Home to Lose Weight
I have been telling everyone I know how much I love Lesline Sansone's Walk at Home videos. I now have my sister and a very good friend of mine hooked on them. I thought now would be a great time to share with my blog readers, too!
I have found the greatest deals on her videos at our local Wal-Mart and Sam's Club. I started with her programs on Exercise TV On Demand, and loved them so much, I wanted them available all the time. Exercise TV mixes up the shows, so there were days when I just didn't get the ones I wanted.
Walk Away Your Waistline with the Walk Belt and Walk Slim 4 Fast Miles Plus a Bonus 1-Mile Jog DVD both came from Wal-Mart, both at a great price, under $15. (They were a gift from dh--and, yes, I asked for them. LOL!) I recently purchased Walk and Firm with Interval Training and 5-Mile Walk at Sam's Club. Both of these included a stretchy firm band. (Both DVDs were under $10, too.) The only other equipment I needed was a set of hand weights, which I already had at home.
Here is my planned routine, although some weeks I can't get to it all:
1. Bonus 1-Mile Jog to start, then I move to the Walk and Firm With Interval Training which has walking/jogging, as well as firming with the stretchy.
2. 5-Mile Walk which includes 1 mile with hand weights, 1 fast mile, 1 mile with Walk Belt, 1 fast mile, and finishes with 1 mile with the stretchy. I got my Walk Belt in a different video set, but in a pinch, you can use a stretchy, or nothing at all.
3. 4 Fast Miles--Just what it says, but it has 2 walkers going at a moderate pace.
4. Walk Away Your Waistline with Walk Belt which is a 3-mile walk that incorporates the Walk Belt.
5. Bonus 1-Mile Jog to start, then I move to the Walk and Firm With Interval Training which has walking/jogging, as well as firming with the stretchy. (Same as Monday.)
This is my "goal plan", but it doesn't always happen exactly this way. :O) I always get in #2-4 and have just gotten into adding #1 & 5.
I really like her videos and have seen some great results. The kids also like to join in when they can, so it has been great activity for us all. I have been working on weight loss for a while, and exercising is something I have been trying to keep up with. I like this because it doesn't entail going to the gym several times a week, which I really enjoyed before, but just don't have the time to do right now. It also is nice because of this cold weather, I haven't made it to the bike path.
It is also good to get in some exercising either while the kids are completing their morning chores, or while dh takes them to basketball practice. I don't really have to carve out a huge amount of time for exercising, and the 5-Mile is the only one that takes over an hour. (It lasts just over 70 minutes, so I plan that one for the evenings when dh has the kids at basketball for 1 1/2 hours.) I also have dinner in the crockpot so we can eat after they get home. But a quick meal would work just as well. :O)
Some of these are advanced walking DVDs, so be sure to know your fitness level. Some folks will be able to jump right in, while others will need to start small, maybe with just 1-mile. The 5-Mile Walk is a great place to start, as each mile is marked, and you can stop at any time. It also has many levels of walkers on the program, beginner to advanced levels.
As a homeschool mom, I really need to teach my kids about keeping fit! Of course, everything in moderation, as I don't want that to completely take over my mind and thoughts. This has also helped me with my desire to eat more fruits and vegetables, as well as drink a lot more water. Not just during exercise time, but all the time. Last year at the Cincinnati Homeschool Convention, I purchased a pink Homeschool Rocks water bottle from Homeschool Mania (http://homeschoolmania.com) and have kept it with me almost every day. I also bought my kids good water bottles and they keep theirs handy all the time, too. Now, they both want a Homeschool Rocks water bottle, so I'll probably surprise them each with one when I go back to the convention this year. What a great thing to ask for!
What are some great ideas you have to staying fit and healthy? I love ideas!
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Jan. 20, 2008 - Math on the Level
Wow! I have to share some great info with you.
I have been looking into purchasing Math on the Level for our homeschool. I have researched and read reviews. I have talked to the author and prayed about getting this set for our family. I received an e-mail from the author tonight stating that Math on the Level is reducing their prices for 2008. They knew that cost was a large concern for most families, so they wanted to be able to make it more affordable. I am so thrilled, as I have prayed over this purchase. Actually, I had tears in my eyes as I read the e-mail because I knew the old cost of the complete set would come close to depleting my homeschool budget for next year. The new price of the Complete Set is now under $300.
Now, if you look at that price and think I'm crazy, please realize, this is a math resource, not a text/workbook set. If you purchase the Complete Set, it will be virtually the only math item you need for all your children until algebra, as it is geared for multi-level, multi-abilities. I am planning on purchasing it for my 6th grader and 4th grader--soon to be 7th and 5th graders. I will be able to use it for the next 4 years with my youngest, and 2 years with my oldest.
We use a lot of Ruth Beechick methods, similar to Charlotte Mason, and this program/resource is a great fit to that teaching/learning lifestyle. TOS and Eclectic Homeschool both gave this program rave reviews.
I am sure any descriptions I would give are insufficient, so please check it out at http://www.mathonthelevel.com (I am not a compensated endorser. Just one who is excited to get my hands on this product!)
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Jan. 14, 2008 - Renaissance and Reformation
We are continuing our chronological history studies into the Renaissance and Reformation period. I also have felt led to really focus on missionaries and those who truly work for the Lord. I want the stories that we read to be Christ honoring and ones that would set good examples of historical figures for my children to be familiar with.
We are currently reading Morning Star of the Reformation by Andy Thomson. This is a fiction book set in the 1300's based on the life of John Wycliffe. This book is a great "bridge" between Middle Ages studies and Renaissance and Reformation. Even though it is set in what would be considered the Middle Ages time period, it really focuses on the forward thinking of John Wycliffe and leads us up to the Reformation period. This is one not to be missed!
We will also tackle 2 books on William Tyndale. The Bible Smuggler by Louise A. Vernon and The Hawk That Dare Not Hunt by Day by Scott O'Dell. Both set in the sixteenth century and both based on the life of Tyndale.
What is amazing to me is how the lives of these 2 men correlate so well together. Both men believing that all folks, regardless of social status or education, should be able to read the Holy Scriptures for themselves. It is such a blessing to think how these 2 men were such great fighters for God's Word. These are real men who trusted God with their very lives, as both of them were consider rebels. Our house if full of Bibles, several translations, different styles, sizes, etc. And to think that these men gave all their life to put that right into my life. It makes you see how much we take for granted the owning and reading of God's Holy Word. I love the type of book that makes you think!
Because this time period is also so full of wonderful artists and composers, we are also studying the lives of these men. To start with, I have a book called The Usborne Story of Music. It is set up in my favorite Usborne fashion with small snippets of historical info on each page. For our study, we will be focusing on pages 10-11, Renaissance Music, pages 12-13, Early Opera and Ballet, and pages 14-15, Baroque Music. We will also be using my copy of The Encyclopedia of Music by Max Wade-Matthews and Wendy Thompson. It is a large hardback book that lists lots of information on composers in chronological order. It also breaks down and discusses the several types of instruments. It is a fantastic resource. To continue with our composer study, I also have a book called The Gift of Music: Great Composers and Their Influence by Jane Stuart Smith and Betty Carlson. I will also use http://www.classicsforkids.com as a resource for the kids to listen to the music written by the composers. This program actually is offered by the classical station that is near us, and the programs are on the radio around here. However, you can get all the information, as well as the shows online. You can even sign-up for their newsletter, which includes a composer study, complete with activity pages and most of the time a music sample.
We study the composers on Tuesday and Friday. Since our study is 6 weeks long, I have chosen 6 composers that I felt were ones I would like my kids to be familiar with. I am using the Composer pages from http://notebookingpages.com for our notebooks and we are creating our own index cards to go with our timeline chests. Each index card lists the name, years lived, city & country lived, music info. I also reference the pages from our resources, so we can easily find those pages later, if we need to.
The composers we are studying are: Schutz, Purcell, Vivaldi, Telemann, Handel, Bach. These will be studied in chronological order, using all the above resources, when available. We will study each of them over the 2-day period, which will allow us enough time to cover all the information provided in our books and resources.
For the artists, we are studying many more. I am using the Artists lapbook from http://homeschoolinthewoods.com We are not completing the entire lapbook during this unit, though. The lapbook covers many artists over many years. We will be completing this lapbook over the course of our chronological history studies, which will take us quite some time.
We do not have many personal resources for artists, but I have been able to find a lot of info on http://artcyclopedia.com and http://wikipedia.com. We also are creating index cards for the artists. Each index card lists the name of the artist, years lived, city & country, artist medium and popular works. I also joined the Ambleside Online Art Prints Yahoo group, where we can see 6-7 prints of each artist.
The artists we are studying are: Donatello, Fra Angelico, Machiavelli, Boticelli, da Vinci, Holbein, Michelangelo, Raphael, Durer, El Greco, Rubens, de Parjea, and Rembrandt.
We will more than likely add some library books on the artists and composers if they are available. My basic goal is to have my kids become familiar with the names and pieces of these artists and composers. This will lay a foundation for them. So in years to come, when they hear or see these folks again, or their pieces, they will have a baseline knowledge of who they are.
If you have any wonderful resources to share about the Renaissance and Reformation period, please do not hesitate to share it.
• 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Jan. 7, 2008 - 1st Day Back
Today began our second semester of school. Over Christmas break, I had been really trying to weed out some of our craziness, and really get back to the basics.
I have always been a fan of studying history chronologically, and we choose our science topic based around something that stands out from each time period. I just so happens that we are on Renaissance and Reformation this unit. The hard thing about this time period is all the major changes that were going on in the world. Not only were folks making leaps and bounds in the areas of art and music, but science and exploration were also huge areas of this time!
Our days always start off with chores. Once the chores, which also encompasses breakfast, are complete, the kids do their Bible reading. I received a One Year Bible in chronological order as a Christmas gift this year. I thought it was such a great gift, I went out and bought one for each member of the family, as an "extra" Christmas gift. So, the kids read their January 7 section of their 1 year Bibles. This will be a handy addition to our school time, I am sure.
After Bible, we moved on to Language. I am a strong supporter of Ruth Beechick. I have also been reading a lot on Charlotte Mason's ideas and methods. So for Language today, we started off with copywork. Since we are studying Renaissance and Reformation this unit, astronomy is our science topic. I decided to combine my language with our science topic, but also with Bible verses. I had each child copy Genesis 1:1, as it is the intro to astronomy. We will move into dictation and other "natural" language methods later this week. From their dictation, each child will then have a personalized spelling list, based on the words they miss during their dictation tomorrow.
After Language, we moved on to Math. I have always varied our math program, but was extremely happy to find Your Business Math from SimplyCharlotteMason.com. Each of my children are owners/operators of their own pet stores. All of their math topics will stem from the daily dealings with being a business owner. So far, it has been a fantastic addition for my children, as they both had the inclination to really dislike math. With each lesson they have completed, they keep saying how much fun it has been. We have worked with decimals, multiplication, addition, and percentages, so far. I am very pleased with the real life way my kids are using math skills. However, I am even more pleased with the excitement they show to "do their math lessons".
Moving on to science, we began reading Signs and Seasons by Jay Ryan. This book is on classical astronomy, basically, the astronomy we can view with the naked eye. Both my kids were absolutely enthralled while I read it aloud, and easily could narrate back to me the topics discussed in the Prologue. I created a short sheet for the kids to take dictation of a few topics from each "heading" area from the prologue, just to give them something to be able to refer to.
For history, we started a historical fiction biography on John Wycliffe. It is fantastic. I also plan to read 2 books about William Tyndale.
We are going to alternate our art and music lessons each day. Today, we started with an artist, and Donatello was first. He was an important sculptor of the Early Renaissance, born in Italy. I had the kids create an index card on him for our Timeline Chest. I haven't decided if we are going to alternate and do a composer tomorrow, or if we will do another artist tomorrow, and learn about the composers the last 2 days.
Our lessons went so smoothly today, I am praying that this change in our pace will benefit our days. The kids couldn't believe how quickly we finished, and I felt confident in the amount of topics they were exposed to. Very exciting!
• 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Dec. 19, 2007 - Christmas Sale
I just wanted to let you know that I am running a Christmas Sale on my website until the end of December. This is a great time to stock up on any products you may be interested in for semester or next year. Every product is on sale, including the already reduced combo sets.
You will also be able to pick up some extra special Merry Christmas gifts by purchasing combo sets:
Gameboards--it is easy to create a quick and easy file folder game to incorporate with your index card studies.
Books of the Bible game--want to test your knowledge about some basic facts of the books of the Bible? This game is for you!
Flashcard Dividers--if you have addition, subtraction, or multiplication flashcards, use these dividers to help keep them organized.
Check out http://homeschoolwithindexcards.com and go to the Products Page, under Combo Sets, to get all the information!
Have a Merry Christmas!
• 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Dec. 12, 2007 - Ideas to add Christmas Fun to your school days!
I don't know what everyone else does for school around Christmas time, but this year, we continued with our Middle Ages unit study, rather than taking time off to do an entire focus on Christmas.
I want to share with you a few of the things we are doing, though, to put a little "Christmas cheer" into our day.
Christmas Countdown Calendar--this is a freebie I made available to my newsletter subscribers. However, you would be able to create something similar by find a list of Christmas appropriate Scriptures, basically Advent Scriptures, to read everyday.
Christmas Notebooking Forms--many different notebooking companies are offering these either free or very low cost. They are a great way to have the kids copy Christmas appropriate Scriptures for copywork each day. Use the verses from the above daily readings.
Chocolate Advent Calendar--after we are done reading each of the day's verses, the kids are able to open the door and are treated with one small piece of chocolate. Each day has a different design on them. They are a lot of fun and the kids look forward to this every year. Ours came from the local Dollar Tree.
Toy Advent Calendar--my daughter bought herself a Littlest Pet Shop Advent Calendar with some money she received for losing one of her teeth. She has really enjoyed it. I know that Lego and Playmobil also offer affordable advent calendars.
The Cinnamon Bear Audios--these are old-time radio show programs that you get to listen to 1 per day the 24 days before Christmas. We were able to get these last year through Homeschool Radio Shows.
A Christmas Carol audiobook--we went to our local library and checked out the CD version of this book. We have been able to listen to a little bit here and there. The kids are really enjoying this book. I love the meaning behind the story that people are more important than things.
I would love to hear any ideas that you have for adding quick and easy Christmas themes into your homeschool day!
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Dec. 10, 2007 - Middle Ages Study
We have been slowly plugging away at our Middle Ages study. We are currently using A World of Adventure by Learning Adventures as our "spine" for our chronological history studies.
I absolutely love the Middle Ages time period, but I have found with the Christmas season being right in the midst of our study, I haven't been able to give this time period our full attention. I did, however, want to share a few "must have" resources and books that we couldn't live without for our studies.
Upon the recommendation of AWOA, we read A Door in the Wall and Adam of the Road. Both of these books are fantastic and really help bring to life the MIddle Ages.
I also love and highly recommend Usborne's What Were Castles For? This book, as well as all in this series, really gives a great view at many different aspects of life in the Middle Ages.
Personal reading time:
The Measly Middle Ages--insight into the "real" and sometimes gross realities of living in that time period
The MInstrel in the Tower--my daughter has really enjoyed this one.
The Knight at Dawn--from Magic Treehouse series The research guide, Knights and Castles is absolutely fantastic as well. I was a little hesitant years ago to allow my children to read these titles, as we do not do wizards, magic, etc. However, after reading over these and discussing my concerns with my children, I have been very pleased with the information they have received from these books.
The Whipping Boy--can you imagine being the boy who gets punished for what the "bratty" prince does? UGH! Then the 2 boys run away together and meet up with some robbers--read it to find out what happens next. My son is really enjoying this book.
Usborne Beginners Castles--is a great book for beginning readers. I also allowed both my kids to read over it as a quick review.
David Macaulay's Castle and Cathedral are both phenomenal in the pictures and descriptions of both types of architecture. Well worth the read and pictures.
More read alouds:
The Reluctant Dragon--a cute book by Kenneth Grahame about St. George and the dragon
All of the Sir Cumference titles were a wonderful addition to our study. We allowed these to take the place of our math time.
Sir Cumference and the First Round Table
Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi
Sir Cumference and the Great Knight of Angleland
Sir Cumference and the Isle of Immeter
Sir Cumference and the Sword in the Cone
We checked out a plethora of books from the library and really have enjoyed these a lot!
We also have used and really like Hands and Hearts Middle Ages kit. These are well worth the money and really help the kids with "hands-on" projects that help solidify aspects of the time periods in their minds. They also come with Scripture cards and notebooking pages. They are available in a variety of time periods as well. http://handsandhearts.com
We also just started using Jeannie Fulbright's Exploring Creation with Botany. I cannot believe how much I love this book. I have heard many homeschoolers rave about her books, but I had not felt led to try them. A friend of mine said that I should look at the botany one, to go along with our plant unit study, and I absolutely love it! I will be getting the other titles in the series for myself to go along with the rest of the science we will be studying for the rest of this year and the next. She also has notebooking pages on her site to go along with the titles. You can also find kits to go along with the books from Creation Sensation. I do not plan to get the kits for the botany book, because we will finish our plant study next week. However, I am going to look into the kits for the other books I am going to pick up. http://jeanniefulbright.com and http://creationsensation.com are those websites.
There is also a really neat video of an animated portion of the Bayeux Tapestry which details the Battle of Hastings. This link should take you directly to the You Tube link, but please be extra careful with the kiddos around. I would never want to send you anywhere inappropriate, so double-check this link and make sure! Thanks. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDaB-NNyM8o
Unfortunately, we were unable to make a lapbook on the Middle Ages, which I had really hoped we could do. So, we have stuck with notebooking pages from http://notebookingpages.com and http://historyscribe.com as well as a few from our Hold That Thought CD we purchased through http://handsandhearts.com We have also added a few "pop-ups" and mini-books to our notebooking pages to add a little more excitement.
We also have used the History Throught the Ages timeline figures from http://homeschoolinthewoods.com to add to our timeline chest.
I know this is not an extensive list of all the things we have done or read, but I wanted to get the basics down for you. If I think of any others, I will add them later. Also, if you have any Middle Ages resources to share, please add it to the comments section.
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Nov. 21, 2007 - Black Friday Sale~A~Bration Excitement
Ok, I love Black Friday! I don't like crowds really, but I LOVE a good deal. So, I am so excited to have Homeschool With Index Cards participate in Black Friday festivities.
So, if you want to get a great deal, on top of my already low 1st Anniversary Sale-A-Bration prices, be sure to sign up for my newsletter. The Black Friday deals are only available to my newsletter subscribers and are only available on Friday, November 23, from 12:01 AM to 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time.
You can conveniently sign-up in the form to the right of this message. You will get your e-mail with the link to let you know how to cash in on the great deals at 12:01 AM November 23!
Don't miss out!
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Nov. 19, 2007 - 1st Anniversary Sale-A-Bration Part 2
Well, last week's 1st Anniversary Sale~A~Bration went pretty well!
However, I know there are folks that are just wanting to buy individual titles, so I have created a Part 2 to the sale. Now through the end of November, I am offering each title at a super low price, to keep the Sale~A~Bration going!
So, if you have purchased a few titles in the past, and want to get a fantastic deal, now is the time to stock up! :O)
http://homeschoolwithindexcards.com Go to the Products tab at the top!
• 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Nov. 14, 2007 - Index Cards--Just one more new thing to try????
Have you ever really considered the value of using index cards in your homeschool? Now let me start by saying that a homeschool is really 2 things in one place--your home life and your school life. Now in a perfect world, the 2 would blend together. But, even in this imperfect world, index cards can be an integral part to both areas.
As a homeschool mom, I struggle with creating the perfect balance between home and school. However, index cards have always been a part of my life in home and in school. Homeschool With Index Cards was created out of a love for organizing these areas with index cards.
I am sure at one time or another, you have used index cards to write down and store recipes. It is really that easy to use index cards in your homeschool.
There are many benefits of using index cards in your home, whether it be for home or for your "school". I personally like index cards because they can be used in a variety of ways, all making my life more organized and simplified. I love our Kid Chore Organizer made with index cards, file folders, pockets, and some "o"rings. This is the perfect melding of school and home. It is an easy way to teach my kids responsibility. It also helps them with self-discipline, because most folks in my house would much rather spend time playing than doing chores. But we all know chores must come first. Actually, we start every morning with the Chore Organizer. The kiddos wake up and know to go directly to the front of the fridge since that is where the Organizer hangs.
I also love that we can have a quick and easy Weather Center with index cards. This is the perfect size to be stored on a wall, or on some magnetic hooks on the fridge. If you're not careful, your entire fridge may be overrun with index cards! Hey, but at least you will be organized. :O)
Seriously, though, index cards are easily stored in small file boxes, small index card binders, on "o" rings, or even in zipper bags. The best way I have found to keep track of all these little sets in our house is to designate a basket for the card binders and sets. It doesn't take up much room at all and really stays organized. You could even pick up an inexpensive plastic bin from Wal-Mart or the dollar store to house your cards.
I really love the idea of the Handbooks. They are such a great help in our daily studies. I just wish everyone knew how wonderful of a tool these are for your students/children. They are a fantastic resource that you can use over the years. Add to them each year all the new information you are learning in each subject area. Once you print out the basic cards, you want to personalize them with your examples or additional information to really keep the "hands on" feeling to the cards. When the kids need a quick reference, they will be able to grab their Handbook out of the basket and look up the topic they are covering. If it is something you have covered previously, they will be able to look at their examples, then the light will click on and the wheels will start turning--they will better remember that concept because they had a hand in creating the card. These are similar to notebooking concepts or topics, but the cards and binders take up a lot less space and can carry over from year to year. When the kiddos go off to college, they should have a nice, personalized Handbook to take with them on each subject.
The Handbook cards are also nice, as you can take out individual cards for studying purposes. Clip several of them together with an "o" ring and take them in the car while you run errands. The kids will be learning about fractions as you are shopping for more index card supplies! :O)
I hope I have been able to share with you some of the benefits of using index cards in your homeschool. If you are interested, Homeschool With Index Cards is currently running a week long Sale~A~Bration to celebrate its 1st Anniversary. You will be able to not only get your hands on all the products available from Homeschool With Index Cards, but also from companies like The Old Schoolhouse, Homeschool Radio Shows, NotebookingPages.com, and The Urban Homemaker. The package is fantastic and priced very affordably, even with the holidays around the corner. Actually, you can't afford to miss this fantastic sale. If it's not for you, maybe you have a homeschool friend or two who would benefit from the sale. Pass along the link! :O)
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Nov. 11, 2007 - 1st Anniversary Sale-A-Bration
Homeschool With Index Cards is celebrating its 1st Anniversary!
I have teamed up with Homeschool Radio Shows, The Old Schoolhouse, The Urban Homemaker, and NotebookingPages.com to offer you a fantastic special package to celebrate!
Take the time to come by and check out the amazing deal you will get for a super low price--it's crazy!!
I am so amazed at all the Lord has done with this business for the past year. I am so pleased to be able to help homeschoolers with the Notebooking Forms, Freebies, and Products on my site. The Lord has been so wonderful to give me the ideas to share with others.
Stop by and see what's happening!
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Oct. 14, 2007 - Lunch Burnout Update!
Thanks to all of you who participated an idea for the lunch burnout problem I was having. I have finally compiled the list, and we have 36 lunch ideas.
I am working on sending out the sets to those who participated. If you have not received your set, please contact me directly, as some of the e-mails were inadvertantly deleted from my Inbox. Go to http://homeschoolwithindexcards.com and choose the contact me box. Or, you can grab my e-mail from my blog, to the right as well.
Thanks so much for all the ideas. I look forward to trying lots of the new recipes!
• 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Sep. 21, 2007 - Planners, planners, planners...
I am just so pleased with my new Mom's Mini-Planner. I have tried for years to find the perfect planner. I have carried around some really large padded binders down to some Dollar Tree calendars, trying to find the right fit. But, to no avail. They are either too big and bulky, with too many extras I don't want or use, or they are simply too small to contain the things I do want.
After much trial and error, the Lord placed in my mind the idea to create a Mom's Mini-Planner. It uses index cards and an index card binder. How simple is that? There are cards for each day of each month, which are "reusable", as in you can reprint them year after year. There are also cards that have a calendar I can print out for each month. This way I can see a month at a glance, and I am able to know what day of the week a certain day falls. There are also Month at a Glance pages, which have lines for each day of each month. These can be used to keep track of upcoming events, if I haven't printed out that month's daily cards. These can also be used as a "special days" section to keep track of birthdays and anniversaries.
There are several other cards, but to create the basic planner, I printed off a few months worth of daily cards, as well as the calendar pages for all the months, and the Month at a Glance pages. This way I will have access to a year calendar, but won't have the bulk of keeping each individual day in the binder.
I have just been so happy with it! The daily pages are not only help me keep track of my schedule, but it has also helped me keep track of my thoughts. If I don't have something written down, more than likely, I will forget it. So this planner has really helped me organize all aspects of my life.
You can create your own with index cards. Or you can check out my website and grab your own copy for a price that is so low, you won't want to take the time to create your own. :O) http://www.homeschoolwithindexcards.com/Planner.html
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Last Page | Next Page
