This is another aspect of our homeschool curriculum that I wanted to share. It is a study of the Bible, in particular the Gospels. I intend to use my time at home with my children to raise them to know the Lord and to know the Word of God, inside and out. That is one of the priveleges of homeschooling, time to teach them what they really need to know. I just need to make time for it and make it a priority.
So both boys will be required to read all 4 of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, in the next 4 months. Then I intend to go back and do an indepth study in early 2009. I want my kids to know the history of these books of the Bible and the lives of these men. I am excited about this study and will check off my reading as well so I can learn right alongside the boys.
I have included the links to the Word Documents in case anyone wants to use these checklists.
The antique dresser J found in the old house he's tearing down.
Why won't the post office workers go into my mailbox to get me my mail when I forget my key? They site the privacy act, but didn't they put the mail in that box earlier??? (shaking my head)
Why am I always missing money at the end of the month? Where did it go? Who spent it?? Thank goodness for that house he's tearing down! We found a penny bank full of money in it!!!
It never fails that when we are almost out of clean towels that I hang a load outside to dry and it rains for two days straight!!!!
Bedtime has become a struggle in our home! Our little man doesn't want to go to sleep for mommy. It's a fight not only at night but during the day for nap too! He'll fight and kick and scream and get out of bed over and over and over again. It's such a long process.
Take today for example. I was probably 20 minutes into the fight of trying to get him to take his nap, so I could take mine when Daddy came home from work just to pick up a couple of items he needed. W say him and was all smiles and hi's. Daddy went over and gave him a big hug and tucked him back into his little bed and then came over to talk to me. I didn't hear another peep out of little W until he woke a couple hours later!!!
Tonight, it's the same. Daddy's off at a fire meeting and I'm here blogging away like a mad woman because I have thoughts bouncing around in my head like I haven't had in weeks. And little W is in and out of his bed and putting his books on the floor and getting into his sister's bed. I did tell him once (and it worked for about 10 min) that Daddy would give him a hug when he got home. Wish it had worked until he fell asleep or until Daddy did get home!
We've been playing this a lot lately, just because it is new to us. I wanted to "review" it for others.
As a game, it is simply a monopoly game with Canadian places. On the back of the land title cards is a little bit of information about each "property". The facts are very very general. My children love to play the game and like to have me read the backs of the cards, but my children are 5 and 6. A year or so older and the information wouldn't be new; they'd know it and much more from their studies. I find that my children are learning as much or more about money and fairness and taking turns than they are about Canada.
I have a suggestion for an "extra" to add to the game. I don't know if the makers of the game could add something like this or not, but I know I will as my children get bored with it.
Add a map of Canada to your play. Find the pieces of land on the map. Learn about where these places are in relation to one another in the real world.
I'm open to other suggestions and comments too. I wanted this game to be a part of our Canada study - Canada, My Country by Donna Ward. I may just have to get over the fact that these may not supplement each other.
I am sure I am not the only homeschooler finishing up the planning on this upcoming school year. We have lots of life to experience and many new lessons to learn. I thought I would share some of the files I am creating to print out and put in my kids' main binder. (All 3 of the big kids will have a binder with all their important stuff. I plan on putting their goals, checklists, book lists, and any lesson plans they need. )
I want to purposefully read 10 Newbery and Caldecott books this year at least. Here is the Newbery List and this is the Caldecott List. I plan on having them read parts, listen to us read or to find these books on tape.
I found this boook called The Newbery and Caldecott by Claudette Hegel Comfort that lists the Newbery and Caldecott winners for every year from 1922-1995, Newbery, and 1938-1995, Caldecott. It also has activites and comprehension questions about each book.
Last week I made a new skirt for Katie using fabric that cost about $6/yard, on sale. Now it is a beautiful skirt but I would love for her to have several more skirts just like it. She loves them and I love to see her walk through a room. She moves like a little lady, her skirts swishing side to side and her countenance a bit more feminine.
So this brings me to the skirt she is wearing here.
This was an adult sized, at the knee length skirt that my Grandma Joyce didn't wear anymore. I admired the skirt for it's fabric several months ago and Grandma gave it to me. Isn't she the sweetest Grandma! She knew I was going to cut up a perfectly useful skirt that probably cost a bit. Anyway, I got an idea to repurpose this paisely wonder. :)
I cut out the zipper and stitched the opening shut. Then I folded down the waistband and sewed it down except for a few inches. This is where I threaded the elastic for a new waistband. After having Katie try it on for size, I sewed it all shut. About 30 minutes after I began Katie had a new to her skirt that cost us nothing!
I can't wait to go through more closets looking for more new skirts for the Katie.
Katie is my eager and super excited kindergartener. She has been drawing in her journal every morning and then I write as she dictates to me. She loves feeling like a big kid. It is also so encouraging to me to have a child who doesn't complain or whine about having to write. The funny thing is that both of the boys have writing gifts, in their own ways.
I am busy creating a kindergarten curriculum for Katie that has her gifts and struggles in mind.
One idea I found online here and here, just scroll down until you see the skill ring link, is a skill ring. I'm not sure how other teachers use this idea but we printed out all the skills and then as Katie accomplishes a new skill she dates it and colors it. Then I laminate it for her, hole punch it, and slip it onto the ring. We tied several of her favorite ribbons on it just for cuteness.
I actually like this idea. It is a simple and yet thorough way to make sure the skills I want her to learn by next Spring have been accomplished. She likes it because it is a visual way to show off what she has learned.
This is the package we bought at Walmart.
Here is here skill ring, with today's new skills on it.
Please visit a dear family's website and if you are not depressed or grieving, watch the movie she just posted. It is a heart wrenching parable of our Father and Jesus and his sacrifice. This is one you will never forget.
Kiera and Coleman really had a good time at VBS last year. They went to St. John's Lutheran. They had a pretty well organized program. K/C enjoyed the 'back in time' feel of the 'marketplace' and doing old worlde crafts and things like that. Kiera truly especially enjoys the singing.
This year Kiera and Coleman are in different groups and we brought Emily. The theme is The Power of God and Emily is a "Quark". The groups are all different things like Electrons, Beakers, etc.
She had a lot of fun yesterday and I hope she does well today. She really hasn't done anything like this before as we don't attend regular church and she stays home for preschool. She loves kids though especially little girls.
Kiera and Coleman are having a good time again. Coleman really needs things to balance out all of his sports activities and I am glad he is having fun. A girl from Filly Fellowship is also attending and it is always nice to have a familiar face or two.
It is great to have this since we probably can't take a vacation. I pray that they learn things that stay with them for good.
I'm a homeschooling mom with seven littles 12 and under... changing diapers and dealing with hormones and loving that God trusts me with this big job and this big joy!
The antique dresser J found in the old house he's tearing down.
