Nov. 25, 2008 - Homeschool Open House

Tammy over at Lattes and Lollypops is hosting a homeschool open house and so I thought I would join in with her this month and share a little of what we have been doing.  We have had some opportunities to do things just a little different lately so our normal schedule has been put on hold for a couple of weeks. 

For most of the days we have still been working on our normal work in the morning which consists of Bible, copy can, Geometry, One Year Adventure Novel and science.  Then in the afternoon the girls have been working on getting their own businesses up and running.  That is something they have been wanting to do for quite some time.  So now we are adding business class into their schedule. 

They have both set up their own etsy shop, which is a website where you can have your own store front  to sell your handmade items. 

Emily Rose is making and selling homemade and vintage goods.  Her etsy shop is located here.

Breezy Tulip is selling children's illustration art prints.  Her etsy shop is located here.

Also, last week were able to meet up with some friends that are in a Shakespeare acting group and go to a college performance of a Shakespeare play.  The play was a matinee performance and the Shakespeare acting group that we went with was the only group invited to attend.  After the play the actors and director came back out for a time of Q &A and then let the group go backstage and poke around a bit.  We really enjoyed the whole play and getting to hear the actors after the play made it even more interesting. 

Emily Rose has been hosting a weekly meme called A Homemade Christmas.  That has been keeping us busy too and helping us get some things done ahead for the holiday. 

You can visit Tammy's blog and read more or add your own post about Homeschool Open House.

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Sep. 10, 2008 - Homeschool Memoir #4 Something New

This week at Homeschool Blog Awards they are asking us to share what we are doing new this year.

This will be our first year doing the Redesigned Tapestry of Grace Year One.  We have already gone through Classic Tapestry of Grace Years 2, 3, and 4.  This revised edition looks to be much easier to use and as always, very thorough.  It is by far my favorite curriculum.

The other new item on our list this year is the One Year Adventure Novel.  The girls started this last Tuesday and have really been inspired by it.  I originally leaned about this program from an ad right here at Homeschoolblogger.com.  I clicked on the link, explored their website and signed up to receive a free demo DVD.  After watching the demo with the girls we decided that we would do it.  I have been watching the video lessons with the girls and have found them to be very informative and entertaining.  The first semester is a series of lessons on setting up your outline, characters and plot. The second semester is actually putting the meat on the story and getting your novel written.  It is a very ambitious goal, but with perseverance and hard work, by the end of the school year they should have a completed adventure novel!

To read what others families are trying new this year, go to the Homeschool Blog Awards and read Homeschool Memoirs #4.
 

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Sep. 3, 2008 - Updated Schedule

Schedules, schedules, schedules.....can't live with them and can't live without them.

We have to keep on schedule.

We are so off schedule.

Hurry up, or we'll be off schedule.

What's the schedule?

Schedule?  I don't know where it is.

What are we supposed to be studying now?

Look at your schedule.


No, those are not things my daughters say or ask, they are things that I have said and I am sure I will say again.  I am not by nature a list or schedule person, but homeschooling has a way of making you into one. So, we have a schedule; I even write it down and then we try to stick to it. 

6:30 - 9:00  Up | showers | breakfast | Bible | catch up on news and bloglines
9:00 - 10:15  Copy can | Latin & Greek roots | SAT review | practice 25 min. essays | Geometry
10:15-11:00  One Year Adventure Novel
11:00 - 11:45 Biology (Emily) | Art (Breezy)
11:45 - 1:15 quick clean-up | Lunch prep | Lunch with Dad | short break
1:15 - 2:30  Tapestry of Grace
2:30 - on  Graphic Design | Photography | Literature | Violin | Health (Emily)*
                  Art/ Physics | Piano | Literature (Breezy)*
8:00 or 9:00ish- Family worship time with Dad.  We sing psalms, Dad reads God's Word to us and we pray.

*From 2:30 on they can work on those subjects as long as they want or can.  We also get some blogging in here and there.

Every other Tuesday, Breezy takes piano lessons and then gives art lessons to her piano teacher's sons.

Emily takes violin lessons on Thursday.

Tuesday afternoons we go to the library.

One thing that I try to work on is to limit our outside activities.  It would be really easy to get over involved in a lot great things, but I have to limit our activities so that we can focus on what is BEST.


I also began scheduling our cooking days. 

For lunch we all pitch in, it is usually salad, sandwiches or leftovers.

For suppers we will each take a day.
Monday - Emily
Tuesday - leftovers for Rob and the girls and I meet at my mom's along with my sisters and niece, Maggie
Wednesday - Me
Thursday- Breezy
Friday - take turns - it's pizza
Saturday- we all pitch in and make a brunch and then something simple for supper.  I will usually make something for Sunday, like soup or prepare something to put in the crockpot for after church.

Wow, that looks great.  Now put that schedule into action!!!  (talking to myself)


*Disclaimer* 
This schedule looks very busy and it is, however, I am not so strict that we don't have down time or longer breaks in between subjects when necessary.
Life happens and you get off "the schedule", what do you do?  The next day or next week, you just get back on it and if you have it written down, it is much easier to get back on it!

To see more scheduling ideas you can go here.

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Aug. 22, 2008 - Time for a New School Year

It's time. 


The pencils are sharpened and ready to go. 

We have been doing "some" school throughout the summer, but now we are in "official" school mode.   That  means we have picked back up those subjects that we just don't gravitate toward naturally, like geometry, biology, chemistry, SAT prep, etc. 

One of the things that we did a lot of last year and will do again this year is give the girls a large block of time to work on their favorite subjects; art and graphic design. For us, a large block of time means around 2 hours of the school day .  Since these are their favorite subjects they also work on them in their free time.  So they could be working on art and graphic design 2-5 hours a day. 

I am so thankful that we have been able to homeschool all these years.  This will be our 12th year and it has been such a wonderful adventure.  We had Breezy in public school for K and 1/2 of first grade and her teachers were concerned that she doodled too much on her papers - it was a problem for them.  A year ago, I spoke with a teacher at the high school that the girls would have gone to and she told me they had no graphic design teaching at all.  None.  Nada.  Nothing at all in that field.  Wow.  When we began to homeschool it was the Lord's leading in our life, it had nothing to do with these issues.  12 years later, I see that not only was He leading us to homeschool for biblical reasons, but also He knew what the girls giftings were when we didn't.

This will be Breezy's senior year and Emily Rose's sophomore year.  Our schedule looks full and busy and it is, and we may not get everything done that we want to, but that's OKAY.  Life doesn't stop at the end of the school year.  We are life-long learners and that is what we are about.  Learning is a way of life.

Here is a list of the subjects and curriculum that we will be using this year.
Polished Cornerstones (this will be a life-long study)
Tapestry of Grace (finish Year 4 and begin Year 1 on Sept. 2)
High School Essay Intensive with Andrew Pudewa
One Year Adventure Novel
Geometry with Math-U-See
Chemistry/Physics with a focus on light and color (Breezy)
Biology - Apologia (Emily Rose)
Art using a variety of books and practice (Breezy)
Graphic Design using a variety of books and practice (Emily Rose)
Piano (Breezy)
Violin (Emily Rose)
Life Skills/Consumer math/Driver's Ed (Breezy)
Blogging
Copywork using the copy can
Latin & Greek roots

Earlier this summer we worked on our summer schedule and used Titus 2:3-5 to help us prioritize and get our schedule the way it should be; I kept that in mind with this new schedule. 



This sweet little clock is a new addition to our home.  My mother gave this to Rob and I for our 25th wedding anniversary.  It is engraved on the back.  It will be near us in the dining room to help keep us on track this year.  Thanks Mom.

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May. 3, 2008 - Return of the Nature Journals

This past week we were listening to Jill Novak on the USHE talk about nature journaling and were inspired to pick it back up.  When the girls were little we used to do a lot of nature studies and drawings, but we sort of put it to the side as they got older.  A few weeks ago at the Indianapolis Homeschool Convention, Breezy noticed a book for sale and instead of buying it she wrote down the title, so that we could get it through interlibrary loan.  The name of it is Keeping a Nature Journal by Clare Walker Leslie & Charles E. Roth.  It arrived this past Thursday and is a lovely book and is also very inspiring. 

After running some errands this afternoon, I came home to the girls painting in the kitchen.  They had collected some things from outside and brought them in to paint and sketch.  The wind was too strong to stay outside and try to do it.  Emily was painting little flowers for awhile and then went to work on another project.  Breezy wanted to keep at it so her page would be finished.  She made a great start, this is what she did today.
 


 

 
I am hoping that we will get back to doing this at least weekly, if not daily.  I think Emily and I will also do some photography with our nature studies to try to counterbalance Breezy's art work.  We aren't so talented with the brush as Breezy is so we will go at it a little differently. 

 

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Feb. 18, 2008 - Art and Craft Week

With some looming deadlines for some art contests I have decided to call this an Art and Craft week.  The fun thing about this is there will still be reading of literature, geometry, piano and worldview as we listen to some teaching CD's.  I love that about homeschooling.  Our schedules can be changed so easily.

While the girls are busy with their projects, I am going to work on cleaning out some cabinets in the kitchen and getting things organized again.  I need to find some room for my new crockpot, iron skillet and big cooking pot that I have accumulated over the winter.  Right now I just keep moving them around out of my way and it is starting to annoy me.  I am also planning on working on my quilt and finishing up some aprons that have been awaiting completion for far too long. 

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Jan. 11, 2008 - Some thoughts on Scheduling

Yesterday, I posted what our schedule looks like right now and it started bothering me that it may come across like I have this all figured out.  I want to dispel any ideas of that right now.  I don't have it figured out and everyday does look a little different from the others but our goal is to plan your work and work the plan.  It also made me think back over the years and what our "schedule" has been in the past.  So, I thought I would post some of our past schedules and ideas to put a little balance on the subject.

When the girls were young we would start school around 10 am and be done by noon.  Oh, those were fun days, but I always had this nagging idea that we should start earlier in the day.  It just didn't happen.  For a few years we were able to start by 9:30 am, that made me feel better, but I still thought it should be earlier.  After a few more years we graduated to 9 am.  I was happy with that, by then we were also going to mid-afternoon.  As the subjects became more time consuming and we tried to fit more things in, I realized we needed to get up earlier and go later.  Aaauggggh.

It is so silly now to think back on our schedules.  I would go back and forth between, this is early enough- to we have to start earlier.  It seemed to be a source of stress to me.  What I realize now is that it was okay to start later and it wasn't worth any of the stress it created.  The girls were young and needed their sleep, as they have gotten older it is just natural for them to get up earlier and to do more school work.  Not that getting up earlier is any easier, they are just much more mature about it. 

We start school around 8 am now and go into late afternoon, with a good break at noon.  So whatever stage you are in and whatever ages your children are at, relax.  Your children will not be ruined if you start at 10 am.  With time and experience, your schedule will mature as you and your children grow and as it is needed. 

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Jan. 10, 2008 - What our schedule looks like right now..

Our new schedule seems to be working well for us.  I praise the Lord for showing me how to work this all out.

Breezy - 16 yr old -  11th grade

Quiet time with the Lord

Systematic Theology

Biology

Art (listening to books on tape while working on art, or Mom reads aloud)

clean-up before lunch

Lunch ( Dad comes home from work each day to have lunch with us)

wee bit of free time

Table time with Mom and Em - copy can, Latin and Greek root words

Geometry

History

Writing

Piano

blogging

Family devotions/worship in evening

Emily Rose- 15 yr old  -  9th grade

Quiet time with the Lord

Algebra 2

Systematic Theology

Graphic Design work (listening to books on tape or Mom reads aloud)

Health

clean-up before lunch

Lunch ( with Dad, see above)

wee bit of free time

Table time with Mom and Bre- copy can, Latin and Greek root words

Geometry

History

Writing

Literature

Piano

Blogging

Family devotions/worship in evening

Most days we get this all done, which amazes me.  Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursday late afternoons we do our extra activities and lessons.  We also chat frequently throughout the day.

Biology- Apologia

Algebra 2- Video Text

Health- Abeka

Geometry- Math-U-See

History, Writing- Tapestry of Grace

With Tapestry of Grace we also work in geography, church history, government, literature, and worldviews.

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Jan. 3, 2008 - New Year-New Schedule

After having a great Christmas holiday and break from the normal routine we are ready to get back on schedule.  We started back on track yesterday with a new schedule that will hopefully allow us to use our time more effectively.  

I had been trying to figure out how we were going to get everything done that needed or wanted to be done.  I should have prayed about it first, but I stewed over it for awhile and then prayed.  Oh, why don't I remember just to pray first.  The Lord was gracious and gave me the answers that I was seeking.  So we have a new schedule for the new year.  We have spent one day with it and it was a success!   Now to stick to it....that  will be the test.

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Nov. 29, 2007 - Read Alouds

I have always enjoyed reading aloud to my girls.  It is such a relaxing and enjoyable activity.  When they were little, I always made sure they had something to do with their hands while I read.  They could draw, sew, crochet, knit or whatever they wanted as long as it was somewhat productive.  I wish I would have kept record somewhere of all the books we have read aloud but I know they are in our brains somewhere. 

Now that the girls are older I still enjoy reading aloud and they still sit and do things with their hands.  It has just become more advanced.  The books are a little longer and deal with more mature life issues and the girls' handwork becomes more professional looking.   Breezy will usually be working on an art project and Emily Rose will be working on graphic design. 

With the girls being in high school now that may seem strange to keep reading to them but this allows us to "kill two birds with one stone" and it gives us time to experience something together. 

We are currently reading My Antonia by Willa Cather.  It is set in the early 1900's and gives a wonderful description of Nebraska prairie life.  Her style of writing is enjoyable to read.  She is very descriptive and you can picture every scene. 

Here are couple of my favorite lines so far from this book:

Because he talked so little, his words had a peculiar force; they were not worn dull from constant use.

The snow did not fall this time, it simply spilled out of heaven, like thousands of feather-beds being emptied.

With lines like these and descriptions of different people it gives us more things to share together and relate to.  When they have their own homes, I can just picture myself wanting them to come visit so that we can spend time reading together. 

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Sep. 13, 2007 - Copy Work using "The Copy Can"

We use a "copy can" for our copy work.  I read about the idea on a Charlotte Mason website years ago. I print up bible verses, quotes, short poems, catechism questions, historical facts, etc. on paper, cut them in strips, fold them in fourths and put them in our can.  Each morning for copy work, the girls pull out three papers and read them aloud.  Then they can pick which one they want to copy into their copy book.  When they are finished, they simply put their name on the back of the paper and put it back into the can for another day.  When both girls have copied it, we simply throw it away. 

We stopped doing this a couple of years ago, but the girls missed it and wanted to bring it back.  I use a big coffee can and just this year I decoupaged it so that it would be a little more attractive.  They have memorized several things using the copy can.  If it is something that they like, they won't copy it for a long time so that it can be pulled out and read aloud several times.  Though sometimes, they have begged their sister to copy it so that they can quit hearing it. :) 

We have several books from over the years full of their copy work and it is so fun and encouraging to see how their penmanship has improved over the years. 

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Jul. 31, 2007 - First Day of School

Yesterday we started our official school year.  It is an early start compared to some, but we like to take several breaks through the year.  There have been times in the past where family illnesses or deaths have forced us to take a break so this is another reason we like to start early. 

I wasn't as prepared as I have been before but that was okay, we just jumped right in.  There were several subjects that we didn't quite complete from last spring so that is where we are picking up. 

We are using Tapestry of Grace as our base curriculum, it includes history, writing, literature, church history, government/economics.  We will also use Doorposts, Apologia Science, Video Text algebra, piano, violin, lots of art and computer work, etc.  We try to keep on a regular schedule each day but as each day is unique our schedule needs to reflect that too.  So some days are much more productive than others but we are always learning something. 

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Jul. 17, 2007 - Time for a New School Year

Both of my daughters are now officially in "high school".  Wow!  Where did the time go?  Where are those little girls that liked to play dress up and make tents in the back yard? They have been growing up right before my eyes.  Sometimes, I can see it happening and other times it just happens so fast that I missed it.  Yet, here we are, getting ready for another school year to begin and I am seeing my job as their "school teacher" is coming closer to an end.  But my job as their mother,  mentor and friend will never end.  Praise God for that or I think I might just start crying.

Cherish those moments for they are being swiftly carried by.  I am so thankful for such a loving God who knows the hearts of parents and has created us to have memories.  Make them, preserve them, cherish them, and then make room for more. 

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