Oct. 10, 2008 - Friday-Heart of the Matter Meme
What great educational freebie sites do you frequently visit?
The sites we visit on a weekly (or daily) basis in our house are...
1.) Baldwin Project
2.) Wordsmyth
3.) BibleGateway
4.) Wikipedia
(It is even set on set on my daughter's last search. She is working on a speech and as her topic she selected Coffee....oh imagine that LOL)
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Oct. 8, 2008 - Wednesday-Homeschool Memoirs #8
Homeschool Memoirs #8: Study Spot
This week share your favourite spot to study with your kids. There are many places you can sit down to teach, learn, and work, but where do you prefer and why? You’re welcome to include a photo of your study spot!
We are blessed to have an area of the house to use as our school area but on any given day you never know where you may find the kids working. Here are the favorite study hang out places in our house....
Most mornings you will find the kids lounging on the futton while doing any reading that needs to be done for the day. We pull out the table on the side when we host science labs. It works perfectly since there is an extra kitchen up here for those messy lab days.
This room joins the kids family room. This would be our "official school room" however the kids really only use the table when they have a project and need room to really spread out. It is the place where they work on their maps and timelines. My daughter also sits here when she is making out index cards for vocabulary (science and literature). The closet in the background is where all our school stuff is stored.
We live in an older house so we were able to take advantage of this little nook and create a space for all our books! It has become a favorite little reading area for my son especially.
My office is always open to the kids. If they need my help, they just come and hang out with me. You can tell by looking at my desk that today they hung out with me a lot! We picked up this desk at IKEA (I love that place). We wanted a desk that had room for a kid to sit beside me so we could work side by side if needed. This one has worked perfectly!
So, you can see we pretty much study wherever our heart desires. You can also see we eat and drink at our place of study also (notice the coffee and Gatorade)
Check out where other homeschool families study over at the Homeschool Memoirs Meme
Happy Homeschooling,
Leah
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Oct. 6, 2008 - CurrClick Weekly Freebie
All About Birds - Basic Bird Study Notebooking Pages
by NotebookingPages.com
This set of 55 notebooking pages includes pages to help record information regarding the basic study of birds. Choice of primary or regular lines and a variety of layouts are included in this set. These notebooking pages would be great for your nature journal or creation notebook.
Do you own Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock? These bird study pages will definitely accomodate her introductory study on birds. You may also want to consider our North American Birds Notebooking Pages to study many of the birds discussed in her book.
Themed notebooking pages for this set include:
Parts of a Bird (includes labelled & unlabelled pictures of a bird)
Feathers
Flight
Migration
Eyes, Ears, Beaks, & Feet
Songs
Homes & Nests
General Pages for Any Topic
A $2.95 Value!
Happy Homeschooling,
Leah
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Oct. 4, 2008 - Need a New Scarf???
My friend Ruth over at Farm Girl in my Heart makes some of the most beautiful things! She recently made a scarf and is sharing the directions for making it with Growing in Grace Magazine
This scarf would be an awesome project to do with your daughter. Be sure to go check it out and enter to win the one Growing in Grace is giving away. If you are yarn challenged like me 
Ruth sells these scarves for $22.00! I am thinking Christmas here
Happy Homeschooling,
Leah
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Oct. 3, 2008 - Friday-Heart of the Matter Online Meme
Topic: "What would be the one thing you learned that you didn't expect from homeschooling?"
1. Flexibility, Flexibility, Flexibility!
If something isn't working whether if be a curriculum choice or your schedule don't feel as if it is a failure. Realize everything doesn't work for everyone. Don't get discourage! Instead, move that to your list of things that don't work and try something new!
2. Communication is key
This prevents lots of frustrations.
3. Each year doesn't have to look like the one before
As kids change and grow so does their workload and their outside activites. Change keeps life interesting and fun.
You can gleen advice from other great homeschool moms over at The Heart of the Matter Online Meme.
Happy Homeschooling,
Leah
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Oct. 1, 2008 - Wednesday-Homeschool Memoirs #7
The topic this week: Snack Foods
Share what snack foods your family usually snacks on throughout the week.
1.) Fruit-We are big fruit eaters in this house. We don't eat canned fruit, but my kids like pretty much any fresh fruit so we buy whatever is in season.
2.) Fresh Veggies
3.) Tortilla Chips and Salsa-I usually make fresh salsa
4.) Soft Tortillas with Melted Cheese
5.) Salad Wraps-daughter
6.) Peanut Butter Sandwich-son
7.) Apples with Peanut Butter-both kids love this
8.) Fruit Smoothies
That is pretty much our year round list. We do eat lots of cookies and junk during the Christmas season, but I am not sure anyone really wants my list of holiday snacks guaranteed to help you gain weight and make your kids hyper
. If I am wrong feel free to email me.
Be sure to check out those with snack lists much more interesting and inventive than mine here!
Happy Homeschooling,
Leah
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Sep. 30, 2008 - Who Says Kids Can't Vote!
Homeschoolers are invited to vote in their very own Presidential Election at CurrClick.com! Educate your kids about the election process and make a statement about the powerful voice that is the homeschool community!
POLLS OPEN on October 1st and will remain open until November 4th. Visit CurrClick.com on October 1st to cast your vote: Participation is completely free and will include information about each of the candidates, real time results, quotes from each of the candidates about their position on homeschooling, an "I Voted" coloring page and printable sticker and an optional exit poll. Results of the exit poll will be posted on November 4th. http://www.currclick.com
Results of the election will be sent out to news organizations across the country. Don’t miss this opportunity to make your voice heard.
Plus, dozens of instantly downloadable election unit studies, lapbooks and workbooks from top publishers ON SALE for up to 35% OFF. Sale begins October 1st.
CurrClick.com is the #1 curriculum download site for homeschoolers, featuring thousands of resources for all ages from hundreds of top homeschool and education publishers. CurrClick.com gives a way a new, free title every week. Most titles priced at 30% below retail.
CurrClick.com, Curriculum in a Click!
Happy Homeschooling,
Leah
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Sep. 29, 2008 - Monday-Wow am I behind
I totally fell behind last week on my Meme's. I would love to have some really great excuse for you, but my only excuse is that I have been connecting with family on Facebook. So, today will be a whirlwind of information.
This one is actually pretty easy. We remodeled our kitchen this summer (I said easy not exciting )
Hand a 12 year old a hammer, tell him he can knock out the walls and tell me he is not going to love that! My daughter loves IKEA (much like her mom) so she loved the 2 trips we made there, one to the IKEA in Boilingbrook and one to the IKEA in Cincinnati. Sorry I don't have a finished kitchen photo to share.
Now on to the Friday Meme...
The Topic this week is Record-Keeping, the Essentials!
Do you keep a grade book? Does your state require attendance sheets or a portfolio? What are some of the best methods of organization that you have found to keep up with all of the school records for the year? Are you an organizational expert or do you find it to be a hassle? What about online forms--can you recommend some good sites to others? Share with us your greatest successes and your greatest flops in this area!
We use Homeschool Tracker. I use it because my kids are now older and it is important to us that we keep transcripts. It would totally stress me out to have to create them by going back after 4 years.
It does seem to be a bit tedious at times but then again I am sure I probably record more than is needed.
Now on today our regularly scheduled program
Monday-CurrClick's Free Weekly Download
Oakes Basic Planner
by Oakes Homeschool Consulting
Simple Down to earth planner that can be used to plan your 7th grade and up child's curriculum or log it after the fact if you are an unschooler. There are Curriculum Planner pages as well as daily logs that can help you record what you plan to use.
There are also course description forms that may well be filled best after the course is finished Just fill them in with the information from your daily logs. I have included enough log pages for a full year of homeschooling and a few extras if you need them.
This book will make a nice companion to your portfolio when you try to enrol into college courses. Al though it is intended for grade 7 and up it may well work for younger students.
A $4.00 Value!
I have some exciting CurrClick information that I will be posting tomorrow. I actually was planning to post it today, but this post is already so long. Stay tuned tomorrow!
Happy Homeschooling,
Leah
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Sep. 22, 2008 - Monday-The New CurrClick Freebie of the Week
B is for Beatitudes: An Early Learning Lap-book
by Arctic Curriculum
"B is for Beatitudes" focuses on the Beatitudes as taught by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. Other skills covered include; responding to the mini-book, writing numbers, writing B, learning the sound b makes, creating patterns and recognizing and sorting shapes.
Our Early Learning Lap-book Series alternates between Old Testament stories and New Testament teachings. Each lap-book kit includes a Biblically accurate mini book with scripture reference, instructions and diagrams to aid you in the assembly of the lap-book and various activities built off the premise of the mini-book. The lap-books are designed to strengthen Bible knowledge, language skills, math skills, social studies skills, and science knowledge through hands on activities and practice. All lap-books include an art activity, sight words and a memory verse. In addition, there is a list of extension activities to strengthen the skills presented in the lap-book. Appealing to all learning styles.
Happy Homeschooling,
Leah
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Sep. 19, 2008 - Friday-Heart of the Matter Meme
The Topic This Week: Balancing The Mom and Teacher
While many homeschooling moms know that being a mother includes teaching their children daily there are those who find the 'line' between teaching their homeschooling child and being a mom fuzzy. What are some of the best tips you can offer a new homeschooling mother who is sorting out those gray areas? How do you manage the balance between the two?
I love this topic probably because I think I am always learning and growing when it comes to balancing in this area. I also think this changes as your kids grow and change.
I am finding as my kids get older, my role as "teacher" is gravitating more into a role as a study partner or mentor. I don't sit beside them teaching them lessons daily like I did when they were younger. Instead, I have a meeting with them on Monday mornings where we look at their week, and divide up their assignments. We schedule a time where I meet with them sometime during the week to work on writing and timelines/maps. Normally for us this falls on Wednesday. I also work 3 X's a week with my son on Shurley English. This takes about 20 minutes. He normally just comes and gets me when he is ready to do it. Then, I meet with both kids on Friday and have a discussion time covering what they have learned for the week.
I view my role as mom and teacher as training them to learn how to be independent learners. I want my kids to know how to gather information. This does not mean they are set out on their own all week. I check in with them frequently during the day. It is as simple as just walking by and asking how they are doing.
This gives them control of their schedule but at the same time gives me oversight so they have accountability. If they choose to sleep in or have activities during the day that take up school time and then are up working late at night, they do have the understanding that mom is not always going to be available. I work from home and am the chief runner for them to all their extra curriculars. When we get home at night I am tired and probably am not in the best frame of mind to tackle Algebra at 10:00pm. They know if they have put that subject off until late and need help they are on their own-mom is off for the night. They can ask for help in the morning. They also know that mom always, always, always watches The Biggest Loser. I love that show. They are more than welcome to come into my room and watch it with me and most of the time they do. But, unless they are bruised, bleeding, or dying, I am not getting up to do anything during that hour (we all have at least once vice right ).
I also guard some time when my husband gets up in the morning so we can visit. He works 2nd shift and we try to make time each day to have a cup of coffee together and chat to catch up on the kids, our jobs, the house, and anything else. The kids know if they come into the office and they see mom and dad with coffee in hand talking, we our having our time. They will move on to something else and we will get them when we are finished talking. We wanted our kids to know that just like their time with us is important so is mom and dad's time with each other.
Be sure to read how others balance being both teacher and mom over at The Heart of the Matter Meme!
Happy Homeschooling,
Leah
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Sep. 17, 2008 - Wednesday and time for the Homeschool Memoirs Meme
Meme #5-My Favorite Things-Er-Sites!
1. Magazines/Carnivals - in print or online
http://heartofthematteronline.com/
2. Freebie sites - any sites that offer freebies or often have giveaways
Wow, I feel kind of like I am voting for myself but here it goes anyway....
and I will give you another just for good measure . If you lapbook this is a must-check-out site!
3. Homeschool news/informative
4. Forums/book clubs
http://tapestryofgrace.groupee.net/eve?s=1291098621
5. Networking, Blog “About”
6. Mom site - a sites just for moms
I don't have one for this
7. Inspirational/encouraging/motivational
http://proverbs31devotions.blogspot.com/
8. Youth/kid - sites geared towards youth/kids or owned by them
http://www.awesomelibrary.org/arts.html (this is a direct link to the most used page in our house)
9. Memes
http://heartofthematteronline.com/2008/08/heart-of-matter-friday-meme.html
10. Organizing/crafts - sites that you look to for organizing tips or crafts
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/ah_organizing_storage/
11. Homemaking/Homesteading
12. Bible-focused - sites mainly about God’s Word
13. Homeschool Method - sites that offer a lot of info on a certain method
http://eclectichomeschool.org/
14. Family blog - sites that give you a glimpse into another family’s life, run by a family
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/simplefolk (My dear friend Amy has a great blog. Her photos are so pretty and I just love Sam stories)
15. Businesses, particularly homebased
This is not a home based business per say but this site is a favorite "site for business" in my house! They keep us stocked with coffee supplies. We have a bit of a coffee obsession in our house. Yes, even my kids drink it and both of them can make a mean latte. We order Toranni syrup by the case. You can mix and match your flavors to please everyone in the house. I also like to give bottles as gifts.
http://www.lollicupstore.com/
To see other great sites be sure to check out the Homeschool Memoirs Meme
Happy Homeschooling,
Leah
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Sep. 15, 2008 - The Freebie This Week at CurrClick
It's Monday and time for a new freebie at CurrClick.com
Slavery in North America Lapbook
by Hands of a Child
Our Research Project Packs present a great way for students to learn the tools needed to find information. While working through the activities in this unit students will learn the answers to these 10 questions:
- When, where and why were slaves first brought to the United States?
- Compare the treatment and sale of slaves to livestock.
- Map the areas slavery was most prevalent.
- Timeline the events and people who effected Slavery.
- Do a biography on Nat Turner.
- Describe the people and events that had the most influence on Slavery.
- What amendment made slavery illegal? Describe the process of getting it passed.
- Summarize the civil war.
- How do you feel slavery of the past has effected the interaction of different races in today's world?
- Define Slavery Vocabulary.
Through hands on projects they will research and discover the above information and complete their very own project pack on Slavery in the United States.
This is an awesome freebie and a $15.99 value! Be sure to download it this week and tell your friends so they can share in the savings.
Happy Homeschooling,
Leah
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Sep. 12, 2008 - Friday-Heart of the Matter Online Meme
It's Friday and time for The Heart of the Matter Online Meme
The Topic this week....Extra Activities, Helping or Hindering?
What is your weekly extra-curricular routine? Do your kids take music lessons? Sports? Are they involved in church activities? How much time does this leave for family time? Are you over-scheduled or relaxed in your outside programs? Share with us your thoughts on this!
This is a great topic. Here's our extra-curricular routine for this year...
Monday
evening-Ds has Civil Air Patrol
Tuesday
late morning-both kids have vocal lessons
late afternoon-dd has speech club
early evening-ds had fencing
Wednesday
evening-both kids have teen group at church
Thursday
late morning-every other Thursday we host Apologia General Science labs here at the house. I really don't consider this extra-curricular because it is a core subject and we would be doing the labs anyway. We hold the "the more the merrier" philosophy in our house.
late afternoon-dd helps teach a theater class at a local elementary school
evening-dd has dance and ds has fencing
Friday
late morning-every other Friday we host Apologia Biology labs here at the house. Again I don't consider this extra-curricular. I figure the kids have more fun doing them with others.
I know this looks like a lot, but really the only day that we feel we have to shift our school and family time is on Tuesday. That is our running day and we plan ahead of time for school work and dinner. We have family times during the day when my husband is home and the weekends are always very family oriented.
When the kids were younger we were home a lot more but as they have gotten older they have grown more serious about their interest. Everything we do supports the direction they want to take in life.
When they were younger, we did not have near this same level of activity. We stayed home and they had lots of time to play. We were in a coop for a few years but those early mornings just didn't work well for our 2nd shift family.
This year we are up and functioning early but we still like to stay home in the mornings and early afternoon so we have somewhat of a consistent school time. Because my husband works 2nd shift, none of our evening activities interfere with family time.
So....that is our story. You can visit The Heart of the Matter Online to see what works for others.
Happy Homeschooling,
Leah
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Sep. 10, 2008 - Wednesday-Homeschool Memoirs Meme
I missed posting my Homeschool Memoirs topic last week so I am glad to be back on track this week!
The topic this week is...
Planning your homeschool is a lot of fun, especially if you’re going to be trying something new. Just like finding a shiny new penny you’re excited to use it. Mother Dear has been planning some new curriculum for us, and I am plenty excited to get started on it. This week I hope you’ll share something new you’re using, why you’ve decided to use it, and if you have used it how you like it. Make sure to include the publishing information and where you got it from so others can look into if they like.
We decided to use Saxon 76 with my son this year. We went through Singapore Math and also used Math Mammoth. We loved both but we felt he needed one more year of basic math before moving on to VideoText Algebra. My husband also offered to take over and work with him daily on Math. This is working out wonderfully. My son loves the one on one time he gets with Dad daily.
Happy Homeschooling,
Leah
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Sep. 8, 2008 - The Weekly Freebie at CurrClick
I just love our freebie this week! I wish my kids were younger. I miss those days reading Little Bear, Beatrix Potter, and the ever so fun Laura Numeroff books. I still have them all on our bookshelf, I just can't bear to part with them.
Little Bear Treasury Notebooking Pages
Have some fun with Little Bear! Your child WILL have fun creating a notebook from the Little Bear Treasury, a favorite children's classic. The notebooking pages are all in black and white and have a classic look to them.
Included in this set:
- Title page
- Several narration pages (for variety)
- Hollow letters for handwriting practice (one page for each story)
- Additional primary-lines for copywork
Happy Homeschooling,
Leah
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Sep. 6, 2008 - Catching up on my Friday Meme
Friday-Heart of the Matter Meme-Just a day late
Our week has been a bit crazy so I am running a bit late with my meme's.
The topic this week is Your Child's Learning Style.
My dd age 14 yrs-Visual, Visual, Visual! She uses lots of index cards and likes to make them pretty. We found some really cool index cards this year specifically for vocabulary words and she loves them. They were a bit pricier than the plain ones but she has tons of vocabulary this year so they have been well worth it.
My ds age 12 yrs-Auditory, Auditory, Auditory! If you read it to him, he can remember without ever having to use a worksheet. This works well since he doesn't really care much for writing anything. TOG is heavy on the reading. He loves reading non fiction but fiction-not so much. So, we get audio for most of his fictional reading and he listens to it on his iPod or straight from the computer.
Check out the blogs of others participating in the Heart of the Matter Online Meme to glean some great ideas of teaching to your kids learning styles!
Happy Homeschooling,
Leah
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Sep. 2, 2008 - The CurrClick Freebie for this Week
Our freebie this week is perfect for hands-on learners or for anyone who just wants to add some fun to their Math lessons.
Place Value with 3 Digit Numbers
Help students discover the value of numbers through play. The 5 great games in this set reinforce the relationships between digits and numbers and the way our number system works. This understanding is a basic skill and a necessary foundation for further math mathematics. Students increase their understanding of place value as they play the 5 great games included in this packet. Reproducible backlines included in this package:
•A variety of games
•Complete game boards and game cards
•Activity backline masters
•Assessment
•Activities to send home
•Easy to use teacher’s guides
•Easy game assembly
Happy Homeschooling,
Leah
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Aug. 31, 2008 - The long lost photo-Kid's Chore Organizer
I am so...excited. I thought I had deleted a photo a took of our Kids Chore Organizer ,but yesterday while going through some photo's on the computer I found it. I thought since I have been talking about it this week, I would put the photo up.
My daughter actually made ours. It is so simple, yet it really keeps our house from being overrun with laundry piles and dustballs.
Happy Homeschooling,
Leah
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Aug. 29, 2008 - Our Extra Curriculars-Since someone ask
MrsDarling asked if I would mind telling what my kids extra curricular activites are and I certainly don't mind at all . I just didn't want to drone on and on in my original post
My daughter is passionate about theater. She has been doing shows since she was 8 years old and feels just at home in the theater as she does in her own house.
Her extra curriculars are
-dance (ballet, point, and this year tap)
-vocal/acting lessons
-speech
-teen choir at church
-helping out in an after school theater program at one of our local elementary schools
-A Saturday morning vacation bible school type program for one of the housing complexes in our area.
She also does about 3 shows a year. Shows normally run 10 weeks from casting til the closing show.
My son is a walking encyclopedia of WWII aircraft. Really WWII in general- he loves the whole era including the music. I tell him all the time he has the iPod of a 70 year old man. I would much rather him listen to and sing the music of that era then some of the stuff you hear on the airwaves today. He also loves fencing and knows that there is a fencing program in the Air Force academy.
His extra curriculars are
-fencing
-Civil Air Patrol
-vocal/piano lessons
-Teen Choir
He also does music theater and love it but he is happy to do 1 show a year since the rehersals really conflict with his other activites.
So there you have it. Are you sorry you ask now ???
Happy Homeschooling,
Leah
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Aug. 29, 2008 - Heart of the Matter Friday Meme
This week the topic is Best Tips For Conquering Clutter
I will be the first to tell you this is something we constantly battle in our house. I am not sure why, but after we moved into this house it became harder and harder for us to stay organized and uncluttered.
I think one of the main reasons it has been so hard is we have literally been remodeling this house since we moved in 5 years ago. Now that we are beginning to see the light at the end of the remodleing tunnel I am focused on getting and keeping the house organized.
Trust me it is much easier when you aren't constantly trying to keep a handle on drywall dust or step over 2X4's!
My friends always had great chore charts for their kids. We tried time and time again to get a system that worked for us and just never could stay on track. A little over a year ago I saw the Kids Chore Organizer by Homeschooling With Index Cards and thought I would give it a try.
It has been a lifesaver!
I love that I just quickly fill it with chores in the morning. Literally, I do it while my coffee is brewing-it is that quick. I can assign chores based on what needs to be done and what our time schedule is like for the day. My cleaning theory is why have the kids sweep the hallway if it is not dirty and skip the bathroom which really might need some attention just because it is not "the day" for that chore. I know the whole routine thing works for most people but it just doesn't for us. Also, if one of my kids has an early afternoon activity I keep that in mind when I add chores to their afternoon pocket. It keeps everyone here sane and stress-free.
My other tips (keep in mind I work part time from home and homeschool 2 kids so my cleaning time is limited)
1. Clean in short spurts.
I don't really have one big day to devote to cleaning. Instead, I will clean a few minutes in the morning, a few minutes after lunch, and maybe try to do one chore in the evening. I don't have a rotation, I basically work on a "clean it because it needs it" basis.
2. GoodWill drop off and our local FreeCycle group are my friends.
I get rid of stuff constantly. No use in keeping those size 10 jeans my son just ourgrew sitting around to clutter my house when they can be a blessing to someone else.
Check out tips from others participating in The Heart of the Matter Friday Meme!
Happy Clutter Free Homeschooling ,
Leah
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