First, I want to thank every who left me such sweet comments on my last, long rambling post. It was very encouraging to me to hear how the Lord used what I've been dealing with to encourage others. Again, thank you for your kind words.
We started school today. We only did 1/2 our lessons, keeping it light. Mainly reading and worksheets, the kids enjoyed that. Not learning anything 'new', just refreshing from being off for two weeks. There was some grumbling, but not much, and we got past that quickly. They did well, and finished quite early. I could have had them do more, but decided against it. I was quite tired today myself, so we all just had a light day. They helped with laundry and helped me re-arrange some things in the kitchen, so that was good too. I have some pictures I'll show too.
I do have a couple of curriculum type questions. Plainjane had talked about what art and music they do. And that went right along with a blog entry jenn4Him did, in where she talked about bringing her electronic keyboards inside. As I was commenting on Jenn's that I didn't know where we could put ours, but I'll pray about it. The Lord showed me exactly where we could put it. So our keyboards are inside too. But my question is I'm trying to find an easy book or cd/dvd that Sarah could learn keyboards on her own. She took lessons a couple of years about for about 6 months, so she has the basics. And I think we found a teacher out here, but right now we want her to practice and learn things on her own. So I'm looking for some good teaching tools for that. Not real expensive though. The other question I have is regarding Saxon math, specifically. We are using Saxon math, and I do like it. Sarah is an auditory learner, and does better hearing lessons read to her than just reading them on her own. So I'm thinking of getting her the CD's that go along with Saxon math. Has anyone ever used them, if you have what did you think of them and do you know where I can get them used and cheap? I know it would be even cheaper with me reading them to her, but that's not an option right now, for lots of reasons I don't feel like going into right now. I have thought of teaching textbooks, but I just can't get past the price of them. I'm not sure Paulie would use them when he gets to that point, so I just can't justify the expense. And I do like Saxon and how it teaches, I just would like to try the audio CD and see how that works. Thanks.
OK, now some pictures of what we did in the kitchen today. Mary, aka Canadagirl and I were chatting once about how hard it is for me to get back into the swing of cooking and just being in the kitchen again. When we were talking, I told her I have lots of kitchen gadgets, but I had them stored in the garage, because I didn't really have room for them in the kitchen. But with me having a hard enough time trying to get back into the kitchen again, having all my gadgets in the garage just gave me one more reason to not use them. So I took her advice, and I re-arranged the kitchen, just small things, and brought them in. Here are the before and after pictures of the kitchen. Thanks for the encouragement Mary.
This is the tall kitchen cart that had all my cookbooks on it, and now has my crockpot and mixer.
This is the microwave cart that had teas on top, and crockpot and plastic ware, now it holds my cookbooks, and the plastic ware is on top with just a few teas.
This is a cabinet on our wall that really was just a catch all. I put the extra teas I have on top.
This is the area above our kitchen cabinets. I had just some knick knack type of things up there, now I have more of my small kitchen appliances up there.
So that's it. That was our day. I hope to get back into school full swing tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes.
Hi JoAnn,
I like your new look. Once Upon A Time my bedroom (when I was a young girl) was painted in the same lavander shade as your middle column - very pretty. I love it! It brings back happy memories.
Anyways, getting back to piano. I have now added to my post the names, links, & pictures of a couple of the piano books we use. Ladybug's favorite is the Alfred book and even asked for the Book 2 & 3 for Christmas (haven't gotten them yet). Each book runs in the $10 range. Since your daughter has already had 6 months of piano, book 1 may be way too simple for her as it does a lot of introducing of the keys and where they are located - but if she needs a refresher, you might like it. The songs in the book so far are just lesson songs and they added "Christian" titles & words to them. Keys for the Kingdom has more actual well-known hymns & might be more appropriate for Sarah's age - yet Level A & B are still very beginner. Hope this helps. And sorry, I can't help you with Saxon - have never used it. Happy New Year & Have a Good Day. We went full speed ahead yesterday with school. It was a good day, but boy was I exhausted by bedtime. Today we might have to relax a bit.
I wish I had some good answers for your curriculum questions. I have never tried this site, but it is advertised on HSB, Homeschool Buy. (http://homeschoolbuy.com/index.php) Have you heard of it? It is supposed to be the homeschooler's ebay. And I like all the work you did in your kitchen.
Jenn
I feel like rearranging something now. :D I don't have my Christmas things taken down yet, so I should probably start there!
I wish I could help you w/ your curriculim questions, but I don't have any suggestions. We love Math U See, though, if you ever get the opportunity to try it. It works very well for my dyslexic son.
JoAnn, you are so good at organizing things and fast..... me? I am way too slow, it took me all day to organize my sewing stuff that was a total disaster area from ll of my holiday sewing.
We are waiting until Monday to get back to school.
Call me when you can, we used Saxon videos.
Love you,
Katia
Edited by withHim4ever on January 3, 2008 at 9:30 PM
This blog is so I can share my journey with the Lord, my journey as a wife and mother, and my journey as a homeschool mom. I pray that you will see the Lord in my life through happy and sad times, and that this blog glorifies the Lord.
This is an award and tag free zone, thank you.
So our keyboards are inside too. But my question is I'm trying to find an easy book or cd/dvd that Sarah could learn keyboards on her own. She took lessons a couple of years about for about 6 months, so she has the basics. And I think we found a teacher out here, but right now we want her to practice and learn things on her own. So I'm looking for some good teaching tools for that. Not real expensive though. The other question I have is regarding Saxon math, specifically. We are using Saxon math, and I do like it. Sarah is an auditory learner, and does better hearing lessons read to her than just reading them on her own. So I'm thinking of getting her the CD's that go along with Saxon math. Has anyone ever used them, if you have what did you think of them and do you know where I can get them used and cheap? I know it would be even cheaper with me reading them to her, but that's not an option right now, for lots of reasons I don't feel like going into right now. I have thought of teaching textbooks, but I just can't get past the price of them. I'm not sure Paulie would use them when he gets to that point, so I just can't justify the expense. And I do like Saxon and how it teaches, I just would like to try the audio CD and see how that works. Thanks.
