• Oct. 7, 2009 - I've moved.
Posted By Darla
During a conversation the other day, a friend mentioned that I hadn't updated my blog in some time. Curious I had been pretty regular. It occurred to me that she didn't realize that there is a new blog. You can check it out at outsidethebox.gallew.org
It has been an amazing amount of fun to build a new blog. One of the biggest reasons is that I have quite a bit of difficulty in getting the entry screen to work on this one. Between that and our internet connection issues, it isn't worth the hassle.
If you have followed my blog, I hope that you will come on over and check out the new blog at outsidethebox.gallew.org Yep my husband even created a domain on his server for me and it has been a wonderful opportunity for us to connect. He thinks it is hilarious for me to stay up late working on it. I could never understand why he did that. Hmmm a new understanding of his late hours has come as a result.
I hope to see you there and please leave a comment, I love to hear from you.
Darla |
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• Aug. 13, 2009 - Tapestry of Grace and Homeschool tracker
There are several posts out there about scheduling TOG (Tapestry of Grace) in Homeschool Tracker. These directions differ from them in that it includes multiple students all on different levels and how to keep it simple.
GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE:
Peakmore Academy Tapestry of Grace and Homeschool tracker Plus and Harmony Art Mom There were a few others but now I can't find the links. Umm I'll update this as I find them. If you know where they are please let me know.
I began at the Maintenance screen on the main page.
Add your students, school information etc.
Add your subjects, This is our list.
- Literature
- Church History
- History
- Social Studies
- Language Arts
- Science
- Fine Arts
- Math
- Health and Fitness
- Foreign Language
- Life Skills: Cooking
- Life Skills: Sewing
Next Add in the Courses. For Tapestry of Grace, I do it this way.
Year, Level, Subject, Subcategory
IE: Y2, D, HIS, C
Translation: Year 2, Dialectic, History, Core
From HST - shots
From HST - shos
This was done because I have 3 levels and they began to all blur when inputting information especially adding the word grammar. Not good.
Each of the grades would look like this together.
Y2 R History Core or Y2RHISC
Y2 D History Core or Y2DHISC
Y2 U History Core or Y2UHISC
Y2 L History Core or Y2LHISC
As you enter the course, select the student the course will be assigned to. That places book lists for end of ear reports in the correct place.
Next: Lesson Plan Names [Maintenance> Other]
In drop down box select Lesson Plan Names
Add all the plans in this manner for each level you will be using. IE Rhetoric, Lower, Upper
- TOG Y2 Dialectic Unit 1
- TOG Y2 Dialectic Unit 2
- TOG Y2 Dialectic Unit 3
- TOG Y2 Dialectic Unit 4
Breaking it down by level year and unit is two fold, it becomes too much in file to sort through for assignments for each child. (I don't always assign everything) and the number of levels I have going at the same time and in the future, there will come a time when I'll go through this with fewer children. It is already done. When that time gets here all I need to do is open year, level and unit and all the assignments are at my finger tips.
- Click Add:
- Plan Name
- Plan Objectives - I leave Blank
Next: Assign Terms/Years
This is so personal to each family. We are taking 2 week breaks at the end of every unit. This will allow us time to catch up if we get behind and one week for unit celebration preparations.
Our breaks are approximately. A screen shot is below.
- Mid October
- End of December
- Mid March
- End of May
Next: Resources [maintenance>Library]
Add resource titles and authors. This screen is father than adding it in during your lesson plan.
Grab your list of purchased books and library resources and add until you are finished. I do this one unit at a time as your children may change levels during the year.
Next: Lesson Plans [Teachers>Lesson Plans]
Since I have the Digital Edition of TOG, I also open the first week. I re size the pdf and my HST so the screens are side by side. I start with the lowest level and work my way up. I enter the plans as I have time usually one week at a time.
During the entry process I give basic information as I don't want to duplicate information listed on the Student Activity Pages (SAPs) I include, books, chapters, page numbers.
Next: Submit Assignments to the grid.
If there is a particular part that is unclear, please let me know and I'll do my best to clarify it for you. |
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• Aug. 19, 2009 - Blog Spotlight
This last week I've been working on a new project - learning how to create and update a blog roll. I've never done this type of thing before but it really spoke to my heart. Since this was a conversion from an existing roll the opportunity arose to visit over 70 blogs in a short time. As this is still in the process of updating, I get an opportunity to look at new blogs as they present their names for admission to the blog roll, they are incredible. As I looked at one of the new admissions today, the thought came to do a Blog Spotlight. There is no order to this just what appeals to my heart at the time. I may have to go with two. :) Over at the Golden Oak Academy they are learning using Tapestry of Grace Year 2 units 3 and 4. She has great pictures. My favorite is a little girl on the beach with binoculars - very cute. The second blog I would like to spotlight is Rockin C where home improvement is taking place. She is participating in Not Back to School Blog Hop. Ooooh the rooms these ladies are improving. WOW! Not having a dedicated space for homeschool room is sometimes a challenge staying content especially when I see rooms like these. They are on to introducing their students this week. Check it out.  |
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• Aug. 21, 2009 - Meet our Family
Posted By Darla
This spring we went to a local park and the beach to have our family photos taken. It is so much fun. Here are my favorites.
This is the silly shot. We love to have fun. Here's the best part and Indian family saw us and then wanted to have a photo taken with us as they explained we were wearing their national dress. They were dressed in traditional western clothes. I would have loved to get a shot of that, too funny.
In December 2008, we went to Sri Lanka. I love costumes and we had learned how to wrap Saree's the previous year. They are so elegant and always look beautiful. So the idea was born that we would make this part of our family photo.
Our Home Education Students
Virginia, Laura, Samuel and Rebekah
Laura is our 20yo daughter. She graduated from our homeschool program in 2007. She returned then to the United States to live and go to Massage Therapy School. Last year she felt led to return to Qatar and work here as a massage therapist to pay off her school loans. This fall she returns as a student to Clayton College distance learning program to work on her degree relating to Wholistic Nutrition. We are so excited by the things that she is doing and love the massages. (We pay for the hour long ones because they are that good)
Rebekah is our 14yo artist extraordinaire. She loves bright happy colors that reflect her personality. She loves to share her happiness with others. She describes her self as being an average red haired girl that loves, math, art and reading. She knows her mind, what she wants and mostly how to get it. Her aim is to be an architect with an emphasis on green building. We are so excited for the wonderful things she will be learning. I'm hoping that she can design my future home. ;)
This is Ginny our 11 yo. She enjoys playing the piano, ballet and being with other people. She is our social butterfly that melts if she doesn't have contact with other butterflies in reasonable periods of time. She is very caring and loves to do a good job. She is also the child that at 5 insisted she wanted ballet lessons. I don't typically do that as they need time to explore their interests first. She begged for a year before I let her go. She stayed consisted with her classes not asking to miss unless she was really sick. She loved it. This year she is so excited to explore horseback riding and piano lessons. She is taking her first break from ballet in 6 years.
Samuel is our youngest at 7. Oh the energy, oh the drama oh oh oh. He is a very motivated learner. He has no problem whatsoever teaching himself whatever he wants to learn and if he gets stuck he asks for help. We've had readers that were reluctant to take the plunge and even though they announced a readiness to learn it just wasn't time. Samuel came to this phase and asked a couple times. See he doesn't like to sit still for more than two minutes so I didn't really think he was ready. Well he got tired of waiting and taught himself to read. We found out at a group event where a mom was distracted by the other children so Samuel finished reading the giant book she was reading to us outloud. I don't know who was more astonished the other mother or me. :) His current project: he wants to build a trick stand aka lemonade stand. Building materials are hard to find but he has remained persistent in his aims. This Saturday Dad is taking him to find what he needs to build his stand. He's so excited.
Our children are a joy and you never know what will happen next. I feel so blessed to be their mother.
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• Aug. 9, 2009 - They are just so cute - Blog Buttons
Posted By Darla
Over at Jimmie's Collage - New To Me Blogs, she shared how to create your own blog button. They are just so cute I couldn't resist. It was fun and a little addictive.
There's a special surprise when you click on the button to my blog. Go ahead, It unwraps a new package. I hope that you like the new look and the ease to find what you are looking for.
It is just so exciting, go click on it. Please tell me what you think.
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• Jul. 30, 2009 - The End is a Beginning.
Posted By Darla
We said our goodbyes and made our way back to Washington DC starting early in the morning as Brian said that construction caused some delay.
The delays for us were minimal so we stopped for lunch at Bob Evans. Here is a photo worth a thousand words.
Samuel is wanting a taste of his sister's soup. Spoon poised ready to go.
Our travels from there to D C were quick enough that we had an extra hour of time to spend. We went to the LDS Washington DC visitors center.
Since our faith promotes building families they have a set with a living room and you can watch the Mormon Ads by subject. We never see these as we don't have cable nor do they broadcast on the Arabic stations. It was fun to watch them. They make you laugh and cry.
Before we left I had the kids stand by the reflecting pool and took their picture. It is beautiful.
The perfect way to end our trip.
Our flight home was good and uneventful. The weather is warm and we appreciate being here. We are glad for the opportunities that we have to experience so many new and different things. We love the United States and thank God for the people who have sacrificed so much so we can be free.
We met several fine people who have made many sacrifices on our behalf this trip. We are grateful for all that they do and have done for us so that we can have rights and choices. |
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• Jul. 8, 2009 - Visiting Kristin and Camping
Posted By Darla
After renovations and Pittsburgh we closed up the house and went back to Brian's parents. We decided to do this at 5pm. It is at least a 6 hour trip from Pittsburgh. We made it in good order with half the trip so late that the normal heavy traffic was missing. Not a problem for me since I drove most of the way and quite enjoyed it. See Samuel's Trip Tips for good riding.
At 12am I had to have Brian spell me. I made it all but the last 1 hour as my eyes were getting droopy and not on top of my game. It would have been fine except for the deer along the side of the road which would have made for unhappy traveller's if mom didn't react fast enough. Time to change driver's.
The next adventure was trying to get a non-compliant key to function at 1pm. Not good. We made it in and enjoyed a lazy morning one of the few that we had thus far in our trip. We spent the day playing games.
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation decided to work on the paving directly in front of Brian's parents raising the road at least 12 inches. We do not begin to understand their logic. A quick trip became longer as we needed to wait a bit before returning. We got a quick visit in with my mother as we made a trip to the mall and other stores to pick up the last of Laura's shopping list items before returning to Doha the next day. It worked well because we found quite a few sales on shoes and the last of our list. YIPEE!
We returned to thoroughly enjoy time with Kristin and the kids while the fellows enjoyed a well deserved game of golf. It was an awesome day.
Our next adventure was camping for awhile. Here are some of the photos from that trip.
After freezing for two nights we said our goodbyes for this year. It was such a wonderful time. It is hard to say goodbye knowing that it will be at least another year.
We left to visit my parents for the last couple days before returning to Doha with the children.
Everyone is tired and ready to be on their way. We had a few more treats.
Wednesday we went with Kristin to see the new Harry Potter movie - in Doha the movies are censored for content - so we got to see the whole thing. Sometimes they just don't make sense. This time it seems that the kissing scenes were gone. While not all of them mostly just the Ron and Lavender ones.
Friday Bekah had an appointment at the Palmyra temple and Grandpa Isaacs went with her. Grandma, the kids and I went to visit the Joseph Smith Farm and homestead. It was fascinating to put places where I've read so many stories about all these years. You can see them in the 1800's Farm Entry.
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• Jul. 3, 2009 - Kutztown Fair Favorites
Posted By Darla
• Jul. 2, 2009 - Filling in the Gaps
After we finished working on the house in Pittsburgh we went to visit my dh's family. The previous week they found an old sled in the garage with wheels, steering apparatus just like a sled and brakes by pushing the steering bar forward. Really weird.
The kids had a great time taking turns. Oh wait Heather isn't a kid. It was good to see her laugh and have a great time.
We spent a couple days with Brian's Family. What a fantastic time.
Three days later, we headed off to spend some time in Philadelphia for a field trip and fun.
Our first day we headed straight for the Benjamin Franklin Postal Museum and Print shop. See this post Benjamin Franklin - Renaissance Man
We happened to be at the Mulberry tree just behind the framework of his old house to see none other than Benjamin Franklin. Samuel was so excited to meet Benjamin Franklin.
There are story tellers all over historical Philadelphia. If you go to the visitor's center, they will provide you with a map. Each person will tell you a few things but if you ask the right questions you will hear so much more. We didn't know the right questions to ask Benjamin Franklin but a tour guide did. As him about his favorite inventions or his grandchildren.
Our next stop was the BF museum. We just read about this particular invention today in Now & Ben by Gene Barretta.
After that we went to visit Betsy Ross sitting just outside her home. She was busy working on the flag commissioned by George Washington. She hoped that things turned out well she would be making many flags to supplement her meager income. She invited us to walk through her home which was just to her left. (a fee was charged)
Lunch shortly thereafter at Old City Pizza Restaurant was Heavenly you can read about it here.
It was off to the Independence Hall for our next tour. You can read more about it in my post Drawn to the Light - Our Constitution
The wharf had lots of treats as there was a huge tasting event. Ummm we were tooo late. No worries we carried our GPS with us so asked it to take us to the nearest Mexican restaurant - straight ahead. We were walking so it kept reminding us to walk straight ahead. It was worth a laugh.
Can't remember the name of the restaurant but it was straight over the bridge from the wharf and wow oh wow was it good. We took take away to those at the hotel who had been too tired to walk the distance. It was a fantastic Saturday.
We stayed Sunday night and then Monday morning. Saturday was absolutely the best and worth the stay but IMHO it wasn't worth staying over Sunday/Monday. Things were all closed (we were at church) so that was fine but Monday the Carpenter Hall didn't open until later in the day. Too late for us as we had to check out by noon.
Then we headed up to Allentown for Dorney Park and the Kutztown fair. We spent the afternoon at the fair. We spent the afternoon checking that out. The kids and men were going to Dorney Park the next day so it seemed like a good time to get a preview of what was available.
Samuel's favorites were the old farm equipment run on steam and water fountains. He wanted to take the frog and swirling circles around the blue globe home with us. Good or bad our suitcases aren't big enough.
My favorite was all the quilts. Sad they had them on poles strung around the room so if you wanted to see the whole quilt you had to ask someone to open it up for you, which they gladly did. Since I was not purchasing it didn't seem right. We did get a wonderful suggestion on a local quilt shop to visit though - Tomorrow. Go to Kutztown Favorites |
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• Jul. 29, 2009 - 1800's Farm - Joseph Smith
We had an opportunity to visit Palmyra at the tail end of our trip. Due to the festivities around pageant there were opportunities for us to go inside the old homesteads. Time ran short so we didn't make it inside the out buildings.
This was a very humble house with many people living inside. The space was used well and not anything out of it's place
The room was big enough for this table, a fireplace and the cupboard for their cooking. At the time, the oldest boys (Alvin, Hyrum and Joseph) were building a bigger house up the hill for their parents to live in. Every night after supper they would read from the bible together as a family.
Samuel thought it was fascinating that they would cook all their meals in the fireplace.
While old this drying rack was quite neat in that it folded up compactly against the wall while not in use. I could use one like it.
I took this picture for costume purposes but interesting that they also used it decoratively. Simple but beautiful.
This was the parent's bedroom
Upon going upstairs I realized that I don't use space wisely at all. They had at least four beds in this area with a wall partition between the boys and girls.
Samuel's favorite was the garden outback. He came running back to tell me that the squash were ready to pick. He was excited to tell the guide there that someone needed to pick the squash for dinner. :) She grinned and assured him that the missionary couple tending the garden would probably do that very thing.
I liked how they used branches and string to hold their tomato plants upright. Again simple and practical.
The parent's home was absolutely beautiful. I'm wondering if I could move in. The most unique thing was that three fireplaces shared the same chimney. Not sure that I was able to capture that in the photos. This was innovative and not a common architectural feature.
Just before we went in however we were greeted by this apparatus. I believe it is for a pump.
The kitchen was beautiful. Here is the first of three fireplaces
The drying rack for herbs again simple but quite useful.
This table was tucked into the corner. Enough room to walk around and sit down but not much extra.
A china cabinet was tucked into the corner.
To the left of the fireplace was this room. (Front Parlor/bedroom) The 2nd fire place is just to the right of the spinning wheel.
Back to the kitchen. They had in door plumbing for the sink. What a thoughtful son to think of his mother and sisters.
A pantry for food stuffs
These photos are linked so that you can see them closer up. For the Dialectic in Unit 4 there is an option to make a floor covering. These are not originals but done in a style that would have been kept in a home of this time period. Great inspiration for someone willing to try out this art form. Practical art.
The last two are photos of flowers at the grounds. They were too beautiful to not capture.
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About Me
"Ate" (ah-teh) is Filipino for "big sister." That's me! A big sister, teacher, tutor, mentor, facilitator to homeschoolers based in Manila, Philippines. I'm dedicated to homeschool advocacy, support and fellowship. I'm 29, married, and currently head teacher at Living Saints Homeschool Support and Tutorial Center, QC, Philippines.
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