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Homeschooling Adventures at the Maxwell's
Saturday, October 11, 2008
CRAFT CORNER - Easy Mittens
This project is for some super easy mittens.
SUPPLIES:
Fabric (I'm using polar fleece, but you can also use old sweaters, sweatshirts, etc.)
Sheet of paper
Marker
Pins
Scissors
Needle
Thread
To begin:
Lay your hand on a sheet of paper with fingers close together and the thumb sticking way out to the side. Trace around your hand, make sure you leave enough paper on the sides for a half-inch seam allowance.
Draw around the hand outline again going out about a half-inch all the way around for the seam allowance.
Cut out the pattern on the second line.
Fold the fabric you are using double, right sides together. Pin the pattern onto the fabric.
Cut through the fabric, around the pattern.
Remove the pattern and pin fabric together, still with right sides together.
Here is a fast and effective way to make a knot on the end of your thread. First thread the eye of the needle with the thread. Take the end of the thread and cross over the needle leaving a little tail, hold down against the needle with your thumb.
Now take the thread that leads off from where you are holding it down, and wrap around the needle several time (the more times you wrap it the larger the knot). Then hold the wrapped thread with your thumb also. Pinching the wrapped needle between your thumb and finger, with the other hand pull the needle out through the wrapped thread. Continue pinching and pulling until it won't go any further. TA-DA!! Knotted thread.
Beginning at the cuff, hand stitch all the way around the mitten, only coming in about a 1/4" for the seam. Continue all the way around making very, very small and close stitches. When you get back to the cuff, leave it open across the cuff and knot the thread again to finish it. Trim the threads.
Take the scissors and clip the corners and curves so the fabric will lay nicely when you turn it right side out. Be very careful not to accidently clip through the stitching.
Now, turn it right side out and smooth it out.
You have now made yourself a beautiful and easy mitten. If you'd like a pair, just repeat all the steps above! LOL!
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Tuesday, September 23, 2008
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine is one of the first publications I started getting when I began homeschooling 4 years ago, and it is the only homeschool magazine I've continued with. The other magazines that are available for and about homeschooling families are okay, but nothing compares to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. It is so full of useful advise, wonderful tips and ideas, and knowledgeable articles.
I wanted to tell you all about The Old Schoolhouse Magazine's Fall Special. You can get two years of the magazine, 6 fabulous physical gifts (no downloads!) worth over $120, plus the current issue of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine that is full of ideas for the new school year, so you start receiving your magazine in a flash!
It really is one of their best deals ever and you don't want to miss out. In fact, they've got a really cute Homeschooling with Heart tote bag (valued at $13.95) for the first 1000 to subscribe. About half of them are gone, but you should still be able to get one if you hurry! (They will remove the info from the subscription page when the bags are all gone.) The total value is over $212, but you receive it all for only $39 - 50% off of cover price! Plus subscribers get their online monthly Teacher's Toolbox which focuses on a different topic each month, giving you words of encouragement, hands-on teaching ideas, book recommendations, field trip ideas, and a bonus download item.
I think any homeschooling family will greatly benefit by having this magazine. If any of those links don't work for you, just link to http://www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com/US_Promotion.php.
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Sunday, August 24, 2008
Getting Ready For School
We'll be starting back to our formal studies on Tuesday, the 26th. I've spent the afternoon getting some of the things ready. I'm trying to have things better organized this year and so far things are looking great.
I took a shoebox and assigned one for each of the kids. I premeasured them and all three will fit on one shelf in the homeschool closet. Each morning, the kids will just grab their box from the cabinet and bring it to the table. It will be filled with everything they will need for their individual schoolwork for that week. I've started filling them up some already. Each has a new spiral notebook for their journal, their word book (a 3-ring binder for writing vocab words), math books, reading, spelling, writing, and pencil cases. As I get more things sorted then each will be filled with more stuff.
I will also be using a shoebox for items will use as a group, like science projects, art history, classic literature, social studies, etc., that we'll be using for that week, along with any planners or logs that I'll be using. On the shelf I'll be keeping that box on will also be all our normal daily supplies like the 3 hole punch, date stamp, stapler, pencil sharpener, etc.
I'm still sorting through papers and books that I've looked through over the summer and I want to get the lessons and ideas from them all planned out. Our first week will not be hugely filled, we will get back into the schooling groove at an easy pace, mostly setting up and organizing everything. Then the next week will begin the first of our 1st 12-week term that will last until the end of November. I'm so excited!! I just know we are going to have a great time this year! |
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Sunday, August 24, 2008
Menu Plan For This Week
Since we are starting school again this week, I wanted to make sure we had healthy and yummy meals ready for us so I planned out our menus to make it one less thing for me to stress about. I looked through my giant recipe file and chose a few things to make as well as some tried and true favorites. I planned it all out - breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks. If there is an asterik next to something, it just means I have a recipe for it. If I remember it or if someone requests it, I'll post the recipes I'll be using this week.
SUNDAY (8/24/08)
B - scrambled eggs with cheese, bacon
L - George Foreman chicken, salad
D - pasta, meatballs and sauce (slow cooker), salad, garlic bread
S - garlic pita chips, french onion dip*
MONDAY (8/25/08)
B - french toast sticks, syrup
L - ham sandwiches, veggies and dip
D - meatball hoagies, salads
S - pear pie*
TUESDAY (8/26/08)
B - scrambled eggs with cheese, ham, grapes
L - Bacon Cheeseburger Roll-Up*, salad
D - meatball veggie soup (slow cooker), cornbread*
S - Creamsicle Ice*
WEDNESDAY (8/27/08)
B - Grab 'n Go Breakfast Cookies*
L - George Foreman grilled cheese, tomato soup
D - Baked Cola-Onion Chuck Roast*, tater skins, corn, salad
S - Oreo no-bake cheesecake*
THURSDAY (8/28/08)
B - Overnight Cinnamon Rolls*
L - leftover soup
D - tacos, fruit salad
S - popcorn
FRIDAY (8/29/08)
B - cereal or oatmeal
L - left over tacos or taco salads
D - sloppy joes on garlic bread, green beans with bacon, baked potatoes
S - mini meringue pumpkins*
SATURDAY (8/30/08)
B - scrambled eggs with cheese, bacon, and fried baked potatoes slices
L - leftovers
D - leftovers
S - snow capped nuts* |
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Friday, August 22, 2008
Homeschool Memoirs - Weekly Theme - About Me
The theme this week is to tell about myself so the fellow classmates can get to know each other a little better. I guess I'll start with the basics and go from there!
I'm Dianna, and I've been married to Tyler (Ty) for nearly 17 years. We have three children together and are going into our fifth year homeschooling. My oldest is Chance and he's nearly 15 and is going into 9th grade. Spencer is 10 and he'll be in 5th. Lindsey is our little girl (oh, how I used to hate to hear my dad call me that! Now I don't mind it though), she's nearly 8 and will be in 2nd. My husband has a son from before and he's now given us our first grandson! He's 5 months old and I'll get to babysit him one day a week while his mom continues her master's degree, I can't wait! He's just a little cuddlebug!
I keep this blog for my basic ramblings. I go through stages where I post nearly daily, then I'll go for months and post nothing at all. I also have a blog on here called chaspelin and I use it for my children's porfolio evaluations. Not only do I do both of these, I'm also the Craft Writer on the Homeschool Blogger Company Porch. There is an icon in the upper right hand corner of this page where you can click it to go see that blog. I've been having a lot of fun coming up with all the craft ideas that I post.
Our homeschool style is very eclectic. We have a few textbooks, but they are generally only used as reference or jumping off points. Our library is our absolute favorite place to be, I'm so happy that my kids are very familiar with how a library works and what is offered there, so many of my friends have never even taken their children inside a library! How totally sad is that? Lindsey told me recently that she would love to move into our library, "wouldn't it be just perfect, mom!?" LOL.
My kids are always keeping me on my toes, too. They come up with ideas that just amaze me! Just today, as we were getting into the van after getting books and movies at the library, Lindsey and Spencer were discussing some topic and then she very smartly informed him "you can't judge a book by the movie." Where did she get that? Did she read it somewhere, hear it on tv, or just make it up? Then they started in with all sorts of these: Spencer - "you can't judge a pizza by it's toppings." LOL! They said several more until they were just nonsense, but we were all laughing like crazy.
In closing, homeschooling works for us. I can't imagine getting my kids ready to send back to school like I did with the boys several years ago. They've made it very clear that they do not want to ever go back, and I know I will do everything in my power to provide them with the best opportunities we can. Their education is far more than just book leaning, it is experiences, insight, family, and more. I am so thankful for the others that have gone before me so I can have this right to homeschool my children. |
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Wednesday, August 13, 2008
I'm a Blogger Class Mate
This looks like a lot of fun!! If you'd like to become a Blogger Class Mate, or just learn more about it, just check out this blog here - http://homeschoolblogawards.com/2008/08/blogger-class-mates/ .
Basically, from what I understand, everyone will be given a writing assignment every Wednesday. When you get your assignment done and posted, just alert them at the above blog. It is set to run weekly through May of next year.
I'm really looking forward to it! I already had one friend join me there, what about you? |
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Monday, August 11, 2008
My Review of The Homeschool Planner and the Digital The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
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I was so excited that I was asked to review some of the wonderful products made by “The Old Schoolhouse” magazine. The first part of this post will be my review of “The Schoolhouse Planner.” My review of the digital version of the magazine will follow below.
When I first read the description of this planner, I’ll admit that I wasn’t impressed and didn’t feel I would need it. I tend to like doing things the hard way and thought to myself that I could assemble a similar group of forms and reference materials and not spend the money. I’m very happy to say that I was proven wrong, this planner is just amazing! The work that must have gone into assembling and designing all of the 247 pages of it is awe-inspiring.
The planner is a PDF download, and each page can be typed on and saved and printed as you need it. The planner is broken up into two major parts, one being monthly themes and the other being blank forms.
The monthly themes include very nice printable calendars for each month of the coming school year 2008-2009. The calendars are nice and large with lots of room to write in the squares. Each month gives you the calendar, a theme with very useful reference printouts such as timelines and other lists, an informative article on the theme, a resource list for The Schoolhouse Store, and several yummy recipes.
The blank forms are separated into two sections, one for homeschool related forms and one for the household. The homeschool forms include ones for planning and for evaluation, ones for keeping track of curriculum used, logs for field trips and memorization, etc., for assembling unit studies, for support groups and co-ops, and for extra classes and clubs for both children and parents among many others.
The household forms include sheets for phone and contact info for a variety of areas, homemaking schedules and reminders, groceries, menu planning and food inventories, daily and family chore charts and logs, budget and financial inventory, gift lists, prayer journal and bible reading schedule/log, dates to remember, garden planning, household inventory of major appliances and electronics, loaned and borrowed list, vacation plans, pets health, an address book and directions. And, believe it or not, there is even more than what is listed here!
Every page is designed to coordinate with all the other pages in this planner. The fonts and colors used are easy and pleasing to the eye.
There are so many pages included in this planner that is exactly what we were needing for this upcoming school year, and getting it all in one place has saved me tons of time that I can now use more efficiently instead of trying to track down or design similar forms myself. After downloading it and seeing it was 247 pages long, I thought that instead of just printing it all, I’d just go through it and print a few pages as they appealed to me. That concept didn’t last long as I soon wanted to print out nearly every page.
We are going to have a great year in our homeschooling this year, and I can give a lot of thanks for that to “The Schoolhouse Planner.” I will be recommending it highly to all my friends and support group peers.
The other product I was lucky enough to review is the digital version of “The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.” I’m currently a subscriber of the hard copy and always make sure I have a pad of notepaper and a pen whenever I sit down to read it. By the time I read through the paper version, I have a long list of websites I want to go to and curriculum ideas I want to explore. I was curious to see how I would read through the digital copy.
Since I’ve never looked at a digital version of a magazine before, I was pleased that the first thing to appear was a list of navigation tools.
When I clicked on the “Contents” tab at the top of the screen, I was able to choose exactly where I wanted to go with just the touch of a button. I could also just go page by page if I wanted, like in the paper version. When I clicked on the “Pages” icon, it took me to a screen that shows thumbnails of each two page spread, and then I could click on whichever one I wanted to go to.
There is also a search option. You can also click on “Links” and it will show you all the websites that are referenced on that page and if you click on one of the links it will open a new page and take you to the site. You can change the way you view the magazine on your computer by clicking on the “Settings” icon.
There are also icons you can select to bookmark a particular page for easy reference. You can also print a page, view full screen, get help, and do the RSS feed.
I will admit that I am highly impressed, way more so than I thought I would be, with this digital version of “The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.” When my current subscription runs out, I will renew with the digital version. It is much easier to just click on a link while I’m reading an article or looking at an advertisement than it is to stop in the middle of reading to write it out longhand on a sheet of paper then type it in later to go check it out. Half the time I end up misplacing all the little website addresses I jot down, but now I don’t have to worry about that! This will certainly help with my mountains of paper clutter. The digital version is a great product, and it’s another one that I highly recommend. All the free goodies that you get with your order are worth as much as the cost of the subscription, actually they are worth even more.
If you’d like to check out these products for yourself, you can find the planner here, and the digital magazine here. If you’d like to see all the other wonderful products you can get from The Old Schoolhouse Store, click here. |
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Monday, July 28, 2008
CRAFT CORNER - Moisturizing Body Scrub
This wonderful moisturizing body scrub will work with items you probably already have.
SUPPLIES:
2 cups salt (regular table salt)
1 cup baby oil (or other body oil you already own)
Put one cup of the salt into a mixing bowl and add the cup of oil.
Stir well.
Add the last cup of salt and stir until combined.
 
To use on your hands, add a small amount (about a spoonful) into the palm of one hand and smear and scrub all over both hands. Rinse off in warm water. If you want to do a full body scrub, then smear and scrub it all over your body and rinse in the shower when you are ready. You will feel and smell just glorious!! This can also be stored in the Scrap Paper Jar you made with me last week. |
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Monday, July 28, 2008
CRAFT CORNER - Scrap Paper Jar
This project is so easy and inexpensive and looks very nice when it's finished. You can use it for a vase, a pencil holder, or a holder for the project you'll see on here next week. When it is done, it looks a little like stained glass. Here are the supplies you'll need:
SUPPLIES:
Jar (glass or plastic, in whatever size you want), labels removed
White glue that will dry clear (I used Elmer's Glue All)
Tissue paper (select several colors, or match to your decor)
Scissors
Paint brush
Small container (to hold glue)
Stack the tissue paper evenly and cut a one inch strip through all the layers, repeat with another strip. Cut each strip into one inch squares. Don't go measuring this, just eyeball it. You can experiment here too, rip the papers instead of cutting them, or cut into triangles instead of squares, you're the artist here.
Put some glue into the small cup or container, you may thin with a tiny amount of water if it seems to thick. Turn the jar upside down onto some newspaper and begin brushing the glue onto the bottom doing only about a 3 to 4 inch area at one time.
Lay some of the paper scraps onto the glue then continue doing this until you have covered the jar.
If you want to use this jar with a lid, do not cover the threads at the neck, just up to them, otherwise go all the way to the top. If you are going all the way up, then give the glue time to try on the bottom then turn it over and glue around the neck of the jar and overlap to the inside a little. If you see any gaps where the glass wasn't totally covered, you can go back over it with more paper.
One it is all layered the way you like it, let it dry totally, then go back over the entire container with a final layer of glue (thinned if needed). This will seal it.
Once it dries now it is ready for use. Let me know what sort of container you will be using yours as. The jar in the pictures is an old pasta sauce jar, my son made one from a huge plastic peanut butter jar, and my daughter made one from a small jelly jar, the possibilities are endless. Have fun!!
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Monday, July 28, 2008
CRAFT CORNER - Color Changing Flowers
After a gentle rain a few evenings ago, I decided to take a walk in the field next to our house. I couldn't get anyone to go outside and play so I decided to go by myself. Funny how then everyone just had to be outside then too! Not that I minded, of course. So, we all went walking around the yard and through the field where the kids ride their 4-wheelers and dirtbikes. It had been a gentle rain, so there wasn't any mud, it mostly just help eliminate the dust. I started picking wildflowers along the way and soon had a big bouquet. I purposely made sure to pick some of the multitude of Queen Anne's Lace to do this little project with. Here's what you'll need if you want to try this out at your home:
SUPPLIES:
3 flowers with white petals (Queen Anne's Lace, carnations, daisies, etc.)
3 clear glasses
water
food coloring
Trim the stem of each flower so it fits into the glass nicely. Add water about 3/4 full.
Add a different color food coloring to each glass. Stir with the flower's stem. Let sit at least overnight. You should see the color being drawn up to the petals in about a day, depending on the type of flower used.
I had each child of mine select a color of dye then had them add it to the water. It seemed to give them some ownership of it, and of course they made it into a race! The blue seemed to show up the quickest and the deepest overall. Yellow was second and the red was last as it took nearly two days to see even a hint of it in the petals.
You could then take these flowers and press them and use them in cards or another craft. I had every intention of doing that, but these kids were determined it was going to be a race to the death and I had to end up tossing the flowers as the petals were falling off all over my counters. I hope you enjoy it as much as we have. |
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