Adventures in homeschooling
• Tuesday, April 1, 2008 - Moved to Blogger
• Wednesday, February 6, 2008 - Free stuff
Found these links for free items. If you are a teacher (I think we all quailify for that criteria) and would like to receive free teaching tools to help your children; fill out their forms and they'll send you stuff. I love FREE things.  Most of this stuff can be used in a co-op setting, which is what I'm going to do with my stuff.
http://sanihandsforkids.com - includes a canister of Sani-Hands® for Kids, a Cory & Cora Educational Cartoon/DVD and product literature
http://qa.bookitprogram.com/enrollment/homeschool.asp - Free stuff from the Pizza Hut Book It program for homeschoolers
http://kindergarten.colgatebsbf.com/order/sign_in.php - Free dential kit for kindergardeners from Colgate for teachers. Receive Dr. Rabbit and The Legend of Tooth Kingdom™ VHS or DVD, Dr. Rabbit and The Legend of Tooth Kingdom™ Teacher's Guide, 2-Sided Classroom Wall Poster, My Bright Smile Read-together Storybook (Available in English and Spanish), New! Bright Smiles at Home Family Booklet (Available in English and Spanish), New! Kid's Toothbrushes, Kid's Toothpaste samples
http://www.biography.com/classroom/ideabook.jsp - The Idea Book for Educators is the biannual teacher's magazine created by the Education Department at A&E Television Networks. The Idea Book includes Teacher's Guides for programs featured in Classroom and a printed version of the A&E Classroom Calendar, which features air dates, program descriptions, and copyright information.
http://whc.unesco.org/en/register/ - Receive the 2007-2008 World Heritage Wall Map. You must become a member to receive a free map. Once you have filled in the information, you will receive an e-mail confirming your registration. This large format full-color map features the World Heritage sites. The dimensions of the map are 78 cm by 50 cm (31 in. by 20 in.).
http://www.royalbrush.com/ver3/student/question.htm - Free Art Supplies and Brushes for Educators/Teachers
http://www.history.com/classroom/flag_form.html - History Channel - Save Our History Manuals for Educators. Set includes:
The Declaration of Independence, Grades 2-12
The Missouri River: A Journey with Stephen Ambrose Grades 4-12.
The National World War II Memorial -Grades 4-12
The White House , Grades K-1
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• Monday, February 4, 2008 - Why did I wait so long...
to buy this new printer. I've been looking, but not finding what I wanted. We have a 5 in 1 printer already and I don't really care for it, unless I need to fax or receive a fax, or copy something. That's about it. Reason why I don't like it is when I'm out of yellow, like yesterday, I can't print unless I put in new yellow. The only place I can get my ink is to drive to the next town (45 min away) and buy it.
Blah! Fed up today, bought a HP LaserJet, has toner instead of ink. Yay me! This baby can print in no time flat.  Printed out the paperwork to file away from our taxes (already submitted electronically). Kids are not to thrilled with the fact that I can now print out drill worksheets and lapbook type items for our schooling. If I felt the need, I could print out one of their books that's on the internet instead of bogging up the computer. Was told by a friend that I could print coupons off the net even better and no one will question them. Hmmmm, will have to test this out later.
Now to get rid of the other one....I have a Brother 5-in-1 Printer that is only 3 yrs old, if that for sale. $89 plus shipping. |
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• Sunday, February 3, 2008 - Ran out of ink
I really don't like my printer. Its one of those 5 in 1 deals that has to have all ink cartridges full or it won't work. I'm out of yellow. Gives me a message, "out of yellow lift lid and replace". I don't care, print everything in black. But noooooo, it has to be difficult. 
Wonder how much a printer would be if it had toner and printed in black/white. Even though the other one is handy for copying and sending faxes, its not convenient when I need to print out several pages for our school work.
Any ideas or suggestions our there? |
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• Friday, February 1, 2008 - Spring Co-op
We just got word that our spring co-op will be taking registration today. Eeek! Last fall it cost us over $60 and ended up not attending due to some family problems. Non-refundable I might add. 
If the cost was going to be over $20, we could not attend this spring. Money is super tight right now. I look over the roster of classes, my two oldest class cost $0. Wow!! Look at my youngest son's class $5. We, as a family still need to pay $10 co-op fee. I'm excited, this means we can attend!
All three of the boys will be working on things outdoors. Older two will work with the dads that volunteer to learn outdoor appreciation. They will learn about preserving and embracing God's creation, our world. Th kids will fish, trap, explore, and more. The youngest will be working with a mom that is a Boy Scout Leader. She will teach them survival skills by cooking underground, cooking in a cardboard box, special knot tying and other things.
What I will be doing? I have not a clue. Helping someone teach a class, which one...not a clue. I'll find out at the end of the month. |
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• Saturday, January 26, 2008 - First week under our belts
We survived our first week working the new curriculum and schedule. OMGoodness. It was so wonderful. All done by 1pm. No need to worry about testing or quizzes everyday for one or more of my boys. This week, my two younger boys narrated to me everything they read. Boy, did they get into it and got excited over what they had read. Oldest, he's the one I have to pry things out of. It may take him more time to open up, was in public school since last year and he's 14 soon to be 15 (held back in 1st grade). Still have a lot of damage to work out of him. He hates "learning". Love, time, and pray will help him as well as watching how excited the other two get when they learn something new.
Our schedule is like this:
Mon - Thu
8:00-8:30 Breakfast, Bible, and Prayer
8:30 - 8:50 Chores
8:50 - 10:15 several different subjects, depending on kid
10:00 - 10:15 Snack
10:15 - 11:30 again several different subjects
11:30 - 12:00 Lunch
12:30 - 1:00 finish up last subjects
~ Break ~
2:00 - 3:00 PE. Outside or at the Y.
Fri
7:00 - 7:30 Breakfast, Bible, and Prayer
7:30 - 8:00 Chores, get backpacks ready
8:00 - 8:30 Mom reads Trial and Triumph (or other Christian history/biography)
*8:30 ----Leave for Co-op classes
~ Co-op ~
2:00 - 3:00 PE
*If we Co-op is not scheduled or we choose not to attend it, then this will be our free day instead.
This is the most inexpensive teaching curriculum I've ever seen. Most of what we need is free on the net. But it would be nice to have a book to hold. Can't wait to find those books at used book stores or book sales at the library. Hope this teaching method instills a love for reading to my children. We will just wait and see. |
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• Monday, January 14, 2008 - Charolette Mason Approach
Stumbled upon information the other day that mentioned a site that had unlimited resources for curriculum needs. It was about Old Fashioned Schooling. As I read, I found that they had another link to send me to AO Curriculum. Boy was I fascinated at this point. The amount of information was overwhelming, but it got me to thinking.
Homeschooling in our house is just not working out. We all get up late, start school even later, and then I get frustrated because we aren't meaning the curriculum's guidelines on where we should be at this point in the school year. Chores don't get done, we haven't had a Bible Study in ages let alone getting to do anything fun.
Is my approach all wrong? Am I the one lacking in my abilities to teach? Or is it that I'm taking on to much? These are the thoughts that I've been pondering this weekend. Prayed about it and look what I found later. I know our Lord answers our prayers. Some people say he doesn't answer them too. Maybe, but he always gives us a sign of the answer none the less.
After talking with my husband and children. We are going to try this Classical approach to schooling. I'll only have math papers and spelling to grade instead of pages of things that Abeka insist I do. We do want our children to learn about Shakespeare's works or anyone's one else in the Classics. Let just hope this is the right step that God wishes us to go. |
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• Friday, January 11, 2008 - Really need to
Stick to a schedule of some sort. Like get up at 7 and have school started by 8:30. But, I laid in bed today until 10:30. Why? I know I have to do this. Is it burn out?
Then I started thinking about sending the kids back to public school. It would free up my time, the kids would have a more structured schooling, etc. The pros and cons are raining in my head. I just don't know what to do.
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• Saturday, January 5, 2008 - Weekly update
Middle DS (11) had minor surgery Thursday. He was born tongue tied and had it clipped so his tongue will stretch out of his mouth now. Even though he was so terrified of having an IV, he was a very brave kid. That afternoon, when we got home, he slept most of the day. Ate Popsicles like crazy and got a banana down. Today, he says his tongue is still sore, but his throat and his neck don't hurt as much.
Got the basement as done as I can. Gonna save up the money to buy the plastic folding tables I want as well has the cubed book selves. Right now we are using a metal folding table that is older than me and some 4 drawer plastic carts. It will work for now. Need to get the maps hung though and bring down the kids books as well as my own. Think we are set though. School starts back up Monday. Oh yay!
Basketball season is almost over. We have 3 more games left. Yet I think we were told that tournaments start up after that. I'll be happy to have my Saturdays back again. The boys love the game though. This is DS2's only year to play. He'll be 12 in March and they only go up to 11 yrs of age for the games at the Y. DS3 will keep playing for another 2 yrs. By February, we should be done with it, I hope. Then baseball starts. Yi-yai-yiiiiii.  |
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• Wednesday, January 2, 2008 - The heaters worked!
Working in the basement this past week, I had to dig out one of our electric heaters. Bought a second one too. Room is huge that we are using. Once the heaters had a chance to start working....oh boy! It is nice down there.
Using what we have at this time on storage units. When we get some money saved up; I'll buy better ones that I saw that would work perfectly in the area we have for our school room.
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Decided to wait on starting school Monday. DS2 is having minor surgery tomorrow. He was born tongue tied and will be having the skin that holds the tongue down clipped. He's 11 and told me about 3 weeks ago that he wanted to have this done. Just so long as he's knocked out and they don't stick him with a needle until he's asleep. LMBO!! Poor kid wanted this done because he has trouble with saying certain sounds, even though he had speech therapy for it. Example: "Th" sounds like "duh". After tomorrow he hopes that he doesn't have to concentrate on where to put his tongue when talking. If I had know this, I would have had it done when he was a baby.
Please say pray for him. No fear, little to no pain, and will be able to talk without thinking about where to put his tongue. |
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• Thursday, December 27, 2007 - Basement cleaning
How do we collect so much stuff? I have piles and piles of things that should have been throw away or giving away. AND I'm only half done too. *throws hand over eyes in dramatic display of overwhelming despair* Why did I buy this stuff? What is it? Does that go with the tv or something else? . Found things we thought we had lost, things I wish the kids had lost, several boxes of family pictures that have not been put into photo albums, and lots of cobwebs and dust. The list goes on.
How are we going to hang things on the wall now? We had the basement sealed this summer, it leaked like a sieve. Nothing can be nailed or drilled into the concrete now or the sealant will no longer work. Got a portable heater and its nice and toasty down there, so I can save up some cash for the gas log fireplace repair. Probably will hold off on that until we can rewire the whole house, but that's another post at another time.
Oh!! I just can't wait until I get this room rearranged and put together the way I want it. Will make do with what we have and slowly buy what we need. If I can get it used or free even better. Should be done with it by Saturday. Off to finish more of that room so I can get done with the cleaning portion of this job tomorrow. And yes, I'll post pictures of it when I get done. |
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• Saturday, December 22, 2007 - Mom's night out
Picture an European restaurant dimly lit, waiters dressed in black slacks and white shirt with an apron hanging down to protect their clothing. Soft murmurs from diners enjoying exquisite meals and six homeschooling mom's cutting up in the back corner. It is our Christmas present to each other every year; a night out without the kids or the husbands. Boy did we have fun last night.
We chatted about our kids, our schooling, our families, even our husbands. Got to know each other really well. Sharing six different desserts while drinking coffee. Wish we could have this not to end but were still shocked that it was so late, 9:10 pm is late for us. LOL! Until next year. *sigh* |
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• Thursday, December 20, 2007 - To grandma's house we go...
"Over the river and through the woods".... Yep, dear ole grandma. Haven't seen grandma since summer. Talk to her every now and then on the phone, but still, need to see her. We are doing our Christmas with her too. She lives an hour from me and I try to make the visit a good one when we do stop by. Love seeing grandma. Grandma Dot is a wonderful cook; love her fried chicken the best. She also cracks me up to no end. Even though I've only known her for a couple of years.
You see, I just found her two years ago next June. My parents divorced when I was 3. Dear old dad left, never to come back. Leaving my little brother and I wondering what we did wrong. Little did we know that my mother and other grandma threatened my father to never see us again. They did some very vicious things to make sure that my father's side of the family stayed away. Even went the extra mile to try to poison our minds that (1) our father didn't want us and (2) he would kidnap us if we ventured to far away from them. Nice huh?
Needless to say, I always felt trapped by my mom and grandma. Questioned everything and who I was. After I had my oldest was born I wanted to know my father. My mother was no help, she "forgot" or "couldn't remember" any information on where he lived or where his mother lived. Still, I tried to find him. When I found the obituary of my father, announced in the paper six months after the fact, I was devastated. He had passed away Dec. 19, 2005. During a horrible snow/ice storm. His landlord found him two days later. Here I would never get to know my father. I had been robbed! Guess who suddenly remembered everything after she found out dad had died? Yep, my mother.
Yes, I was very mad at my mother and grandmother. Still am. They lied to us, my brother and I. Robbed us from knowing our father, no matter how "bad" he seemed to them. Yet, there is a sliver lining in our dark cloud....we did gained a family. We found that we had two half brother that are older than us, several cousins, a grandma and her husband, two uncles and one aunt. Plus, they loved us on sight. Do you know what loving someone unconditionally without all the emotional threats feels like? I was in awe of it. There were no head games or pulling their love away when we did something they didn't approve of. What was even more amazing was I remembered my grandma and her house. Talk about goose bumps.
So, today we are going over the river and through the woods, to grandmother's house we go. |
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• Tuesday, December 18, 2007 - Preparing for the holidays
Took the boys and I all day yesterday to get the house clean. Its amazing how the dust bunnies grow on the stair case. You can clean it monthly, bi-weekly, and the little darlings come back to visit. Bet they're waiting to trip me one day. Good think I have my eyes watching out for them. Rotten little bunnies.
Today we were to start on making cookies and fudge. Instead we puttered and did our own things. Kids read books or played games together. I read a book or played games on the computer. By the end of the day, near supper, they natives started getting restless. Asking when supper was or if they could watch tv. We opted for a movie instead.
Tomorrow, we must get the laundry finished and the cookies done. Love having a little fudge or cookies to nibble on during the holidays. Its the only time I do this kind of baking. Off to make a list of needed items, I'm sure I'm out of something needed tomorrow to bake with. |
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• Monday, December 17, 2007 - Christmas Break
Talked with dh yesterday. Suggested that we take Christmas break now and next week, then start school the 2nd. He was all for it. Said that I looked like I needed a break. Boy, do I.
So, at dinner we let the kids know the good news. They were ecstatic about this news. Told them we are going to not sit and watch tv or play video games all day either. Mom needs help getting this house back in order. Clean out the basement and create our new school room. I think they are fine with that; just so long as school work isn't involved.
As of 8 this morning, I have one watching tv, one in bed still (he was at his dad's this weekend and is always exhausted when he returns), and one making brownies. TV is getting turned off in a few minutes. Let the games being! |
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• Sunday, December 16, 2007 - What a concept
Reading my email this cold snowy morning. The first thing I read on my Homeschool Free Stuff Newsletter is a mom's plan to get her kids to do their chores and still make it to the school room by 8:00 AM. I've struggled with this for months. Why didn't I think of this?
Here's the part of the newsletter that helped me today. Can't to try it tomorrow morning!
From Homeschool Free Stuff Newsletter....
I have had a problem with my children dragging out their morning chores, and thus causing the school day to be negatively effected as well as loosing time from their studies. I now have them get up, dress, make their beds, eat breakfast and be seated at the school desk by 8AM.
THE SOLUTION:
At 2:30 PM we close school with home work assignments given (usually a short reading or whatever study is needed for a test) and THEN they go and do their chores before they go and play or spend time with their friends.
You will be as amazed as I am, that they only take (the needed) half hour to complete their chores and there is no more yelling or lost school time!
Previously I thought that chores were only done in the morning. This change has been the best relief of stress for all of us, I hope it helps you too! ~Rose F.~
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DH said that my plans for our school room can be done. It may take me some time to get the tables, wood, cubbie holes bought, and the fireplace repaired. Yet we can still work down there with electric space heaters and use what we have until all the supplies and furnishings come about. I'm so excited about this, I really want to take next week off to start on it. But give the kids 3 weeks off from school? Or change our holiday time off to start next week and get back to work on the 2nd? Must pray on this. Any advice or thoughts out there? |
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• Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - Decided
This year hasn't been working out as well as I had planned. Maybe I need to ask God what His plans are before trying to work mine.  Could be why I don't have time to post on my blog. I'm always battling myself or some other issue that interrupts our school routine. Actually, our routine has been shot to the wayside.
Praying about the direction our school should go, I remembered about a book I have. "The Organized Teacher", by Springer, Alexander, and Persiani-Becker. It is manly for public school teachers, but I didn't realize that until I got it home. After reading it though, I said to myself, "Self, we could implement some of this ideas and create a school room." Our living room and kitchen are to small and after a days of school work, we have to clean up the living room to relax in, or the kitchen table to eat at. This is hard to do when we are working and its lunch time. Today, I read about a fellow homeschooler who's house burnt down and saw what her old school room looked like. I want my room to be as organized as that! A place for us to hole up in without the distractions of the world outside. And it would help the dog from barking at every vehicle that drives by. Big dog, loud bark. Major distraction.
My answer is our basement. We have a 1/2 section that is finished. As a gas fireplace (needs some minor work) for heat. Just had the walls sealed, so I need to get creative with how to hang things on it. More than likely glue boards on it horizontal and then nail into them instead. We had a school room in our old house and it worked wonderfully. Got our work done and we were focused.
Goal is to start working on it during our two week Christmas vacation. Gives us plenty of time to clean out the stuff we have stored in there, old homeschool supplies and household items, and rearrange them to work for us. Wish us luck. |
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• Sunday, October 14, 2007 - Lazy..me?
Last week was bad for us. We had school, but I wasn't much of a teacher. More of a body sitting at the computer zoned out than anything else. Printed off the list of things I wanted the kids to do. That was all I did. My boys, worked and never complained and still they did it their work. How horrible! I feel so guilty and bad. My kids need me to be there for them. Focused on what's going on in their school subjects. Not selfishly involved in nothing.
Even though I had two kids sick with head colds and one getting over one, it wasn't a good excuse to be lazy. Starting tomorrow, I'm getting up early and starting my day with God. I've gotten away from doing that, my alone time with Him. It sure shows. Get the boys up and let them have time with God too. Then we can start our day together at the kitchen table instead of the living room. Computer time only after we get school & chores done. Man...that is gonna be hard. But with God, all things are possible. |
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• Monday, October 8, 2007 - Thinking of getting caught up? Nawwwww....
Don't know what we'll get done today. I'd like to get everything done and caught back up, not gonna happen. Got behind cause of a few days of errand running or life getting in the way. Some days it was easier to just say forget finishing school, lets scrap the day. Yet, that's ok too, isn't it? Oh...the pressure!!
A friend of mine let me borrow her Exploring Creation books. Love it when I don't have to buy! We started with Astronomy, even my 14 year old is getting into this. The notebooking parting is new to us, but I think it will help them to remember more. Today, we get to finish up our notebooking assignment and start on making the planets out of balloons.
Fri & Sat we had a yard sale. Of course school wasn't even considered Fri, but I counted it as a school day. What a great opportunity for the kids to learn about selling, making change, and haggling. Jacob found a slug in the driveway. We’ve found lots of slugs this year in the around the driveway, usually early morning. Some we’ve measure to be 4 inches long. He usually never touches them, too slimy, but braved it for me. Picked it up to move it out of the path, it was gonna be walked on. He was so amazed that he white rocks were still stuck to its belly. I told him to watch it as it moved in the grass. He spent 15 minutes observing it. We later found it dead in the sun and discussed why that happened. It was a full day of learning, from math to science. |
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• Sunday, September 30, 2007 - Breakthrough in spelling
This summer has been very eventful in our household. Baseball, swimming, couple of fun trips, and overnights with friends. Oldest is currently in counseling sessions to help him open up more...tell us what is troubling him. Things happened at public school that he isn't willing to talk about to mom. Maybe he will open up with a stranger.
In the mean time we found out the older two boys have ADD at different levels. We are not going to go with the first mention of medication. Nope. The doctor can take it himself if he wants to. Off we all headed to the library so I can get more info on ADD before we do anything.
My dream is that my boys will willingly pick up some great works at the library. Who am I kidding, I'm nuts! They grab comic books and sci-fi things that interest them, not me. Ugh!! I find books on ADHD but very few on ADD. Found "Right-Brain child in a Left-Brain world", by Jeffrey Freed. This is the best book I've every read. Not only did it describe my sons, each at a different level of intensity with ADD, but it described me too. He gave a different approach to spelling, math, writing, and reading.
BREAKTHROUGH!! AJ who is in 8th grade has struggled with 3rd grade spelling forever. After applying the new approach to spelling he could spell 8th grade words frontward and backward. The look on his face...priceless. Zane who is in 6th grade, struggling with 2nd grade spelling. He did the same thing and gave me a huge hug! Said, "Thanks mom for teaching me how to spell finally". *tissues*
We are going to try learning how to write reports now. Off to dig up some good science. |
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About Me
Our adventures in homeschooling. We never know what our day may bring us, the good Lord likes to keep us on our toes. Sit back with a cup of tea and enjoy your time with here.
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