Posted in Homeschooling
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I love this video!! http://www.doublesharpevideo.com/HomeSchool2/Homeschool2.html Enjoy |
Posted in Homeschooling
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Sunday afternoon we visited the Museum of World History. We have been there before but it seems that it just gets better everytime we go. They have 3 floors of everything imaginable. The very top floor has a play area for the kids, including a miniture Medieval Castle Seth & Aricka Savannah & Stephanie Seth on some of the play equipment on the 3rd floor. King Matthew in the Medieval Castle Chuck, Aricka, Seth, Stephanie & Matt in a life size replica of a World War I trench. Matt in front of a guillotine. Off with his head! Why is it that kids seem to hit a stage beginning ... ooooh around 10 or 11 and doesn't seem to end until ... ummmm I haven't got to that point yet so I will have to get back with ya .. where they do not like having their picture taken at all? By the way, Savannah is not smiling, she is smirking from my say "Cheez it" comment made in front of other people. Bad Momma! Though my teenagers don't show it, all of us loved the museum. As an added treat, my husband is old friends with the sister of the museum curator and she was so nice and took lots of time with us and told the kids stories about some of the different displays. We hadn't seen her since we had just adopted Aricka so it was nice to catch up, too |
Posted in Homeschooling
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Recently we went to the Wind Farm near Beaumont, KS. We got a little "lost" along the way but it just made the journey a little more adventurous This was taken from a fair distance away This was taken on the road we became lost on (hehehehe). It had received flooding rains the night before and nearly every other road we tried to turn onto was flooded. Normally we wouldn't get quite so turned around. Well, that's my excuse anyways The next 2 pictures are of my hubby & I, Seth, Aricka & Matthew. Stephanie & Savannah were playing camera shy that day.
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. We were pretty amazed at how enormous the windmills really were close up. These pictures do not do them justice at all! My camera phone decided it's memory was full & we couldn't get it to work right once we were close 
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Welcome to my blog! I am so glad you came for a visit! As you can see, I am not very computer savvy, but I do hope you will enjoy your visit anyway A litte about our family: We have 5 blessings, 3 of whom homeschool "formally". Stephanie is 15, Savannah 14, Matthew 11, Aricka 2, and Seth 2 (almost 3). We have been homeschooling since the fall of 2000 when I pulled my 2 oldest out of public school. Before the spring of 2000, we had no idea that homeschooling was legal. Back in the early 80's, I had an aunt and uncle who homeschooled my cousin, but my family was sure they would get caught and be forced to put her into a "real" school. Thankfully that never happened. I always wished I could do school at home like she did and was secretly envious of her. Now, both our families (mine & dh) are extemely supportive of homeschooling. Our homeschool day: I wish I were more scheduled than I am, but we do have a fairly consistant routine that we follow. I wouldn't even have that if it was not for my Managers of Their Homes book, which you can find at www.Titus2.com. It is one of my absolute favorite resources. We try to begin school by 9 am. We mainly use their assignment sheets as a checklist and I choose the order based the amount of interaction I need to have with them to get them started and my availability at that time. I also try to vary the subjects so that they don't have a lot of writing or reading all at one time. We take breaks as needed. We take an hour for lunch around 11:30. I like to try to get much of our formal school work wrapped up by 2 or so. Often we have appointments, visitors, activities or shopping to do in the afternoon once the youngest ones wake from their naps, so I want to be done by then. This year we will have 2 in highschool so this might be more of a challenge. Our curriculum: We are very eclectic in our method. Bible: still trying to find something we like for this. For Matthew we are using Egermeier's Bible Story Book to introduce him to the Bible. We are going to try the Bob Jones University Press Bible Modules for highschool for Stephanie and Savannah this year. We use/ have used a variety of things for math. I just can't seem to find something that I really like. We have used Key Curriculum Press and like it. Switched on Schoolhouse (so-so). Saxon (no). Abeka (haven't decided yet). English: Copywork (I love Queen Homeschool Supply http://www.queenhomeschool.com/), Emma Serl's books and Rod & Staff. History: Christian Liberty Press, some Abeka, biographies. Science: Abeka, Answers In Genesis materials, Christian Liberty Press Nature Readers. I like School of Tomorrow paces for Word Building. Savannah prefers paces for most of her school work. Stephanie and Matt do not care for paces at all. I use a lot of the information contained in Barbara Shelton's Highschool Form+U+La book to put together other subjects. Where do we homeschool? Everywhere. The girls have desks in our family room downstairs that they use and they work a lot on the couch. Matt uses his desk in his room, the dining room table or the computer desk. We also will sometimes take school work with us in the van. Tips to share: Don't give in to peer pressure! Just because it works for one homeschool family and doesn't for you does not mean that you have failed your child in some way. Listen to what the Holy Spirit is leading you to do. You are the mother that God picked out for your children. They do not need Mrs. Homeschool Super Mom down the street, they need you That's about the only worthwhile advice that I can come up with. Even 7 years later, I am still learning how to homeschool. God bless you in your homeschool journey! Thanks for visiting Crystal |
Posted in Homeschooling
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I found this little poem at http://highland.hitcho.com.au/langartforms.htm Cute way to memorize the Nine Parts of Speech
The Nine Parts of Speech Three little words you often see, |
Posted in Homeschooling
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We began our homeschooling journey in the spring of 2000 after realizing that Stephanie and Savannah, who were in the 3rd & 2nd grades at the time, couldn't read. I was also alarmed at the new age and humanistic philosophies that were being taught in the school system. Monetarily, a private, Christian school was unobtainable. So what could I do?
One afternoon, while the girls were at school, I was flipping through the TV channels when I heard the word "homeschool" on Oprah. She was talking to a family who homeschool and a light went on in my head!
A few days later I was shopping at Target and found a book titled something like, "Homeschooling, a Book of Questions and Answers," andknew I had to buy it. Could this be the Lord's answer to our prayer? At the check out the cashier asked me if I homeschooled. I quickly answered no but that I was curious about it. I didn't want any trouble because I still was not convinced that I could do this legally. She said that she had homeschooled for several years and that it was the best thing she had ever done for her kids.
Well, I poured over that book! I think I read it cover-to-cover in a matter of days. Then I had another light bulb moment
Now it was time to convince my dh. My first talk with him was less than hopeful, but it wasn't a straight out "no". Not that a "no" would have necessarily deterred me
Yes, you guessed it -- light bulb moment #3
Since the school year was close to being over by this time (March), dh wanted to wait until the end of the year to pull them out. I excitedly used that time to plan our schedule, order curriculum, arrange my school room and plan out how I was going to teach my pupils in such a way as to instill a love for learning. Oh I just knew that every day would be a Rockwell painting for us. But that's another story
Honestly though, I have never regretted our decision to homeschool. Our "Rockwell" turned into an "Oh Well" in the first hour of our first day
"As for God, his way is perfect ..." Psalm 18:30. |
I had no idea that homeschooling was legal! Back in the '80's my aunt & uncle taught my cousin at home, but I knew very little about what they did. Now I had a name for it, and it was legal! I was so excited!
. The beginning of each year I still think "This year will be perfect if I use such and such curiculum." The first week sets me straight (if we last that long), and I grow in character with each experience. Our homeschool journey has changed me and has drawn me closer to the Lord. Now I homeschool out of conviction that this is what the Lord wants me to do, and not for academics. Without a doubt, homeschooling has been the best thing I have ever done for my children -- and for myself.Posted in Homeschooling
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This is what we are using this year in our homeschool. As you can see, I am very eclectic!
Stephanie- 9th Grade Bible-- the Bible, Spirit-led studies I create for her, Family Devotions Grammar -- A Beka, Copywork, Composition Spelling/ Vocabulary -- Word Building PACEs Math -- Key to Series workbooks Literature -- Progeny Press study guides. Currently reading Carry On, Mr. Bowditch. History/Geography -- A Beka Science -- Answers in Genesis, Answers Academy Reading though Maidens of Virtue by Stacy MacDonald Driver's Ed in a Box She is also studying the guitar & web design. Keeps up/ designs our church's youth MySpace.
Savannah -- 8th Grade Bible -- the Bible, Spirit-led studies that I create for her, Family Devotions Grammar-- A Beka, Copywork, Composition Spelling/ Vocabulary -- Word Building PACEs Math -- Key to Series workbooks Literature -- Progeny Press study guides. Currently reading Carry On, Mr. Bowditch. History/ Geography -- A Beka Science -- Answers in Genesis, Answers Academy Reading through Maidens of Virtue by Stacy MacDonald Piano Loves to bake
Hilario -- 4th Grade Bible -- the Bible, Family Devotions Grammar & Handwriting -- Intermediate Language Lessons by Emma Serl, Copywork I use eduhelper.com to create his handwriting worksheets. Math -- PACEs Spelling -- PACEs History -- A Beka Health -- A Beka Science -- Newton's Workshop creation science videoes from Moody Press
We also are involved in a homeschool co-op, which meets 2 times a month through the school year. The classes that they take there are: Stephanie & Savannah: P.E., Life Skills (which cover everything from art to careers to cooking to creative writing), Music, Debate, Spanish, Creation Science. Hilario: P.E., Life Skills (see above), Spanish, Creation Science, Music. Seth & Aricka: (Toddler/ Preschool Class) P.E., Busy Boxes, Music, Free Play & Nap Time.
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