We went to our first homeschool group meeting last night. I consider it our first, since last months was a party. It was a good meeting. They have a worship time at the beginning, then some announcements of things that are going on. We talk about upcoming events. Then, we split off into groups, all the men went into one room, and us women in another. It was a time of encouraging one another, asking questions and just fellowshipping. I think I liked that time the most. I was really happy that there was a good handful of men there. Paul said the men's time was really good. It's such a blessing for Paul to have some encouragement from other homeschooling men too. The kids all played together in a separate room. All in all it was a great time. They have a play time at the local rec. center on Tuesdays, but I found out last night the rec. center charges $1.00 per kid each time you go. I know it doesn't sound like much, but like my friend said, that's $52.00 a year per child. I just don't know if I want to pay that. Maybe we'll go once and a while or something. I was thinking of today, but I feel like I'm getting a cold, plus I have woman's bible study tonight, and I still haven't finished the study. So I should probably stay home. But I am looking forward to the main homeschool meetings. It looks like it's going to be fun.
We are trying that new curriculum for a month free, Character Quality Language Arts (I put a link in my previous post, but you have to view their site in Internet Explorer). And so far, two days into it, Sarah and I both really like it. It makes her write more things out, which is good for penmanship practice. As we use it more, I'll let you know. But so far, it seems much better than what we were using. I do have a question for all of you, probably a silly question, but a question none the less. What kind of pencil's do you use? And do the kids have to sharpen them every day? I have bought the cheap, $1.00 pack of pencils, but either they don't sharpen well, or they go dull real fast. So we found a Stanford pencil around the house. It sharpened great (after having to throw out 3 cheap ones that wouldn't sharpen for us), but she only wrote for half a day, and her work was getting sloppy and messy from a dull pencil. I just don't remember sharpening pencils that much in school. Well, ok I guess I did, but it was usually just to get out of my chair and be able to walk around. I don't want them using pens, though mechanical pencils would be fine too. So what do you use? Do you use mechanical or regular pencils? Do your kids need to sharpen the pencils everyday, maybe more than everyday? And what 'lead weight' do you use? Is there a difference? OK, done with the strange questions.
Our days are going well too. We really seem to be in a flow of things. I like it when that happens. I guess after all the craziness of the past 5 months, it feels good to be flowing right along. We still have lots of snow on the ground, and the temperatures are getting cold. I would really like some warmer temperatures and some sun.
No review yet at Paul's work, but it's going good otherwise. He has gotten a little more responsibility, which is good, especially with the review due next week. But all in all, he really enjoys it. Though he does wish there were more men. He works around almost all women, and it's really hard for him. Not in a bad way or anything, he just wishes there were some guys there to talk with and such. But it's a good company, and we are blessed by the job.
So I guess that's it. I should get going. I have a little more computer time, then I really should work on that woman's bible study before tonight. I hope you are all having a great day.
Hi there! thnks for checking in on my blog frequently :) I'm trying to get back into it.
I just joined our local homeschool group too. I havne't been to a meeting yet. On Fridays they have a PE day so that will be kinda cool - I can let them go and get all their energy out!!!
We have a lot to do to try and catch up Jenna's schooling- fortunately thomas' stuff is pretty easy! I'll try to come back and read more of what you've been up too!
marie
Yes, everyday and sometimes more than once. We got a cute, cheap, little sharpener to sit on the kitchen table while we do our lessons. We get most of our pencils free from parades, teachers, and such. They don't usually have what lead they are, sorry. Hang out at parades or other places that hand out pencils! Hee, hee, hee. I think we got more than 9 new ones just for Christmas between going to the museum ( a prize for doing a project) and teachers from co-op. The only trouble I have with pencils are colored ones. They are so soft and break in the sharpener. Frustrates me!
Jenn
Hate to be a party pooper on a good idea, but the mechanical pencils didn't work well for us at all. My kids all press too hard and break the leads. I think we lasted about a day with those :( .
My kids sharpen their pencils constantly. It makes me crazy! We have tried about everything. I buy pencils in bulk at the office supply store at the beginning of the year (good ones) and we usually go through the whole box by the next summer. I'm talking about probably 100 pencils here!!!! I also invested in a good quality manual sharpener that has to be mounted on the wall. We went through MANY of the inexpensive battery operated ones (the noise drove me to distraction) and several of the little dime store manual sharpeners (those are always getting lost--maybe thrown out with the shavings????).
Can you tell this has been a major problem?
The funny thing is that I haven't mounted the sharpener in the new house so it takes two or three kids to sharpen a pencil. One or two to hold the sharpener down and one to hold the pencil and turn the crank. I'm secretly enjoying it. They aren't nearly so quick to run for the sharpener these days :D
Howdy! A few language arts curriculum for a month - sounds good. I hope it works for you. I think that is the hardest subject to find... you know, one that fits. There are so many out there! Sounds like it might work for you... sounds great.
Hi,
It sounds like this has been a good move for you homeschooly speaking. It's so nice to find a group like that!
Pencils..aughghghhhhhhhh
I buy a ton of them in the fall, #2. No dollar store as they are junk. How can a simple thing like a pencil be junk? Let me tell you.....there seems to be an art to making a good pencil. I've had the wood fall apart, the leads break down inside the wood, the erasers fall off or wear out too fast or just plain break off. Some don't have the lead centered in the barrel, so when you sharpen them they're all weird. And now you wonder if they're covered with lead paint. "No chewing on your pencil" Mechanicals are always running out lead, but also just plain disappearing. Thats's what I use, usually .7 lead, as I hate having a dull pencil. I don't know where they all go, though. If I find a deal, I'll buy a bunch of them. I'm sitting next to a drawer, probably 10" x 15" x 4" half filled with lead writing implements. How many do I have to grab before finding one that is ready to write?? ha I probably haven't helped much. Get each kid their own color of mechanical and make them replace it?
bethanyrae
Hi JoAnn,
I had such a busy day today, just had to take some time and come for a short visit.
Anna uses the mechanical pencils, I don't like her to use them because she writes lighter in order for them not to break easily, plus I do think they are more expensive, but they do last longer than the others.
We got just a brush of snow overnight, it is very cold still. I do think I am getting a cold also.
((((hugs))))
Katia
The pencil says PAPERMATE/ Mirado Classic HB 2 ( the HB 2 is the hardness of the lead) I hope this helps. We buy them at Wal-Mart.
Blessings and ((hugs)) my SSiC
In Him<><
-Mary
PS: We are having a low day. I got to get on oldest b/c he CAN do school. [0; I think I will now play a book on tape. They love that kind of school ! [0=
If you could go to the gym day once in a while it might be good. It's a great way for you guys to get to know other homeschoolers. We have a YMCA nearby but they charge $3.00 per kid per week. I've heard some of them have raised it it to $5.00 per kid per week (that is totally insane! $10.00 for both kids a week??? Yikes!) but I'm not sure if the one close to us is affected or not. We have one that charges $1.00 a week, but it's south of town. I go down there some, but the trip is about 25 minutes with gas the way it is, that gets expensive.
Pencil sharpening was one of PC's compulsions for a while. We had to limit him to sharpening them only twice a day and we had to control the sharpener, otherwise he would sharpen them until they were tiny stubs.
Sounds like you found a great home school group! We're still searching, but you've given me hope that they do exist!
I honestly couldn't tell you what kind of pencils we use or where they came from. I think she gets them from church. She sharpens it probably twice a day.
Hey, my problem with pencils is they NEVER SEEM TO KNOW WHERE THEY ARE! How can I buy package after package and we get to school and they don't know where they are? Have I mentioned that they each even have their own pencil box to put them in. Alas, I'm afraid they take after their mother and things get dropped wherever they last were.
Your homeschool meeting sounds great. That's so nice that it's in the evenings and includes dads. We are a part of a co-op that meets on Fridays. It's my girls hang with friends time, and most definitely my adult interaction time. Although, I am rethinking it for next year. Trying to decide what would be the best use of our time.
Hoping and praying you hear about Paul's job review soon, and it includes a nice raise!
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.
I know it doesn't sound like much, but like my friend said, that's $52.00 a year per child. I just don't know if I want to pay that. Maybe we'll go once and a while or something. I was thinking of today, but I feel like I'm getting a cold, plus I have woman's bible study tonight, and I still haven't finished the study. So I should probably stay home. But I am looking forward to the main homeschool meetings. It looks like it's going to be fun.
I don't want them using pens, though mechanical pencils would be fine too. So what do you use? Do you use mechanical or regular pencils? Do your kids need to sharpen the pencils everyday, maybe more than everyday? And what 'lead weight' do you use? Is there a difference? OK, done with the strange questions. 
