Seaside Academy - Homeschool Blogger

busy busy

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:31:00 -0600

I have been busy and school, work, home and everything else. I am just getting settled in again. will write a good update soon

My favorite Apps for Itouch/Iphone

Fri, 9 Oct 2009 13:54:00 -0500

Well, my sweet hubby spoiled me and got me an Itouch last month! I knew I wanted one, but I didn't realize how much I would love it.

I had to share my favorite apps that I have been using!

Religious
1. Mantis Bible Study Software NASS-I love having the whole bible at my fingertips! I haven't uses all the great tools for study yet but I will!
2. Bible Verses - Just a random verse to read when you need it, love to wake up to this.
3. BiblePlan-you and enter what you want to read in the bible and this program divides up the reading into a timed schedule of your chosing! very cool! (links to PrayerLists)
4. PrayerLists-You list all of your people, items and needs for pray. You and divide my group, add photos of those you are praying for, assign when you want to pray for that need and much more (links to BiblePlan)

Productivity
1. Timetable-a color coded daily schedule. You can have multi schedules. I use this for each child and myself so I can see at a glance what everyone is suppose to be doing and also what I am suppose to be doing and with which child.
2.Awesome Note - love this random post-it note type note book style! I love it for keeping all those lists pretty!
3. Things - the best todo list I have found! easy to use and not to much. some of the todo programs are a little to businessy for me.
4. Occasions-great birthday, annivasary and other celebrations planner! add photos and links to your contact lists.
5. Grocery Gadget- I can say enough about this program!!! It links to my husbands iphone, I can type the lists on my laptop(which is great for long lists) or add right on my itouch as needed. this is one of my favs!

School Fun
1. Games- Uno, Frogger, Matches, Crash Kart, Cooking Mama, Fuzzle
2. ShaperBuilder- great for puzzle loving preschoolers!
3.I Write Words-great for letter and number writing skills
4. WorldBook-great for quick research projects
5. Counties- we are doing Sonlight core 5 this year and my girls can't get enough of country information that this program provides.
6. Factbook-lots of random information that the kids get a kick out of.
7. Art- great art appreation program, includes quizing.
8. SightWords-great school sight word review for my first grader
9. Math Drills-has addition, subtraction, multiplycation, division games.
10. States&Capitals-great fun in teaching the states adn Capitals!
11. US Presidents-full of facts and fun on the Presidents
12. IFlashcards-great for just about any flashcards you need for school review.

Other
1. Social networking - ITwitterPro, Facebook, Skype, eBuddy
2. iFitness-great exercise instructions in all areas of exersise
3. Food Recipies - Big Oven, AllRecipes, Epicurious, Betty Crocker Cookbook
4. iPeriod-great for keeping track of your period and other female things;-)
5. Kids-great for keeping track of your kids weekly scheduled extra curriculars
6. ChristmasList-great for all that shopping info that you need for Christmas
7. Xmas count-I was so tired of my son asking how many days till Christmas so I downloaded this FREE app for him.

I just love the freedom that my itouch has brought me! my best purchase this year by far!!!

Bahama Blessings
Heidi Jo

Simple Woman's Daybook

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:08:00 -0500

For Today...

Outside my window... the rain is falling

I am thinking... of what I am making for dinner

From the learning rooms... we are in summer mode and enjoying it.

I am thankful for... my husband who is so wonderful

From the kitchen... cooked all weekend, so fun salads tonight

I am wearing... Aqua (my new favorite color)

I am reading... The Circle Trilogy by Ted Dekker

I am hoping... that my mother law gets to visit soon (I really love her!)

I am creating... plans for our new house

I am praying... for my husband and children

Around the house... needs a "summer" clean up and sorting

One of my favorite things... morning coffee with my sweetie

A few plans for the rest of the week... go through the kids rooms and menu plan for next week/month

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

these are our new babies! QUAIL I love to here them Peep.

Bahama Blessings

Heidi Jo

Summer School Schedule

Sat, 23 May 2009 09:42:00 -0500

My summer is full of trying to get back on track. I started my homeschool journey with WTM but moved away from it for 2 years. Now I am back on track and see the "holes" in my girls education. So this summer we are doing make up and reviewing. I will list what we will be doing. but keep in mind that my girls are 10 and 11.

WWE 1-4 (I am using the text only as a reviewing tool)
FLL 3 (a few lessons a day)
Spelling workout B and C (review, so to start D in the fall)
Latin's not so Tough 2
math flashcards
God's design for Life - Plants
Bahamain History books 1-6 (review)

we will only be doing about an hour or 2 a day.

for the boys - ages 6 and almost 5 we will continue with OPGTTR.

Bahama Blessings
Heidi Jo

Long Range Plans

Fri, 6 Mar 2009 10:56:00 -0600

I have decided to write out our school plan with Sonlight. I needed to see on paper where I was going and then I can decide how exactly to get there when the time comes. Just doing this gave me a huge sense of relief.

My long range plan looks like this

2009-2010 (the ages are what they are at the beginning of the school year)

Anri (age 11) Core 5 with Writing Tales 2 (for LA)

Celina (age 10) Core 5 with Writing Tales 1 (for LA)

Samuel (age 6) Core K with First Language Lessons 1

Elijah (age 5) Core K with LAK

2010-2011

Anri (age 12) Core 6 with LA6

Celina (age 11) Core 6 with Writing Tales 2 (for LA)

Samuel (age 7) Core 1 with and First Language Lessons 2

Elijah (age 6) Core 1 with First Language Lessons 1

2011-2012

Anri (age 13) Core 7 with LA7

Celina (age 12) Core 7 with LA 6

Samuel (age 8) Core 2

Elijah (age 7) Core 2 First Language Lessons 2

2012-2013

Anri (age 14) Core 100 with LA100

Celina (age 13) Core 100 with LA 100

Samuel (age 9) Core 3

Elijah (age 8) Core 3

2013-2014

Anri (age 15) Core 200 with LA200

Celina (age 14) Core 200 with LA 200

Samuel (age 10) Core 4 with Writing Tales 1

Elijah (age 9) Core 4

2014-2015

Anri (age 16) Core 300 with LA300

Celina (age 15) Core 300 with LA 300

Samuel (age 11) Core 5 with Writing Tales 2

Elijah (age 10) Core 5 with Writing Tales 1

2015-2016

Anri (age 17) Core 400

Celina (age 16) Core 400

Samuel (age 12) Core 6 with LA 6

Elijah (age 11) Core 6 with Writing Tales 2

2016-2017

Anri (age 18) Core 530 with some college classes

Celina (age 17) Core 530

Samuel (age 13) Core 7

Elijah (age 12) Core 7

2017-2018

Samuel (age 14) Core 100

Elijah (age 13) Core 100

2018-2019

Samuel (age 15) Core 200 work study

Elijah (age 14) Core 200 work study

2019-2020

Samuel (age 16) Core 300 work study

Elijah (age 15) Core 300 work study

2019-2020

Samuel (age 17) Core 400 work study

Elijah (age 16) Core 400 work study

2020-2021

Samuel (age 18) College Courses and Work study

Elijah (age 17) College Courses and Work study

Bahama Blessings

Heidi Jo

OUR HOMESCHOOL

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 10:07:00 -0600

OUR DAY SCHEDULE

Wake Up, Eat, Dress

Chores and Quiet Time

School Circle Time Review

Independent work for Girls/”School Time” for boys

Lunch

Read Aloud Time

Finish up School Work/Mom’s computer time

Handy Work

Free time/Mom works

Dinner and Family Devotions

Evening Chores and Bed Time

SEASIDE CURRICULUM CHOICE

Anri (age 11)

Teaching Textbooks 5

Home Economics for Homeschoolers 1&2

Writing Tales 1

Copywork

Sonlight Core 4 readers, History and Read Alouds (most of them)

HOAC Lapbooks (Horses, WW1, WW2, US Economics, the Great Depression)

Unit Studies (20^th Century from www.ajourneythroughlearning.com)

God’s Design for Life –Animal Kingdom and Plant Kingdom

Hey Andrew Teach Me Some Greek – Level 2

Latin Is Not So Tough – Level 1

Sequential Spelling 1

I Can Do All Things Art Program

Mavis Beacon Typing (last half of the year)

Celina (age10)

Math Mammoth Blue Series

Home Economics for Homeschoolers 1&2

Explode the Code 5, 6, 6 ½

Beyond the Code 1-4

Copywork

Sonlight Core 3 readers, History and Read Alouds (most of them)

HOAC Lapbooks (Horses, WW1, WW2, US Economics, the Great Depression)

Unit Studies (20^th Century from www.ajourneythroughlearning.com)

God’s Design for Life –Animal Kingdom and Plant Kingdom

Hey Andrew Teach Me Some Greek – Level 2

Latin Is Not So Tough – Level 1

Sequential Spelling 1

I Can Do All Things Art Program

Mavis Beacon Typing (last half of the year)

Samuel (age 5)

Sonlight PK (the old one where it is all combined)

Sonlight LAK

Fun Tales Readers

Number Review 1-20

Handwriting without Tears – Letters and Numbers for Me

Get Ready, Set and Go for the Code workbooks

Elijah (age 4)

Sonlight PK

Letter and Number Review

SEASIDE ACADEMY LIFESTYLE

Chores and Quiet Time

Circle Time Review

This is the time we use to pray together and go over what needs to be done for the day. It keeps the kids on track for the day and they can ask any questions that have come up. I find that going over problems that have occurred the day before the morning after, when they are refreshed works better then when they are so frustrated, so we save all the big problems for this time. I find though that since we do morning review we have less problems occurring during the school day.

Guided/Independent

Because my boys are 4 and 5 I do most of their school with them. This includes History, Science, Literature, Phonics, Grammar and Math. I do Spelling first thing with the girls then the girls have their schedules and move through Math, Language, Handwriting, Phonics, Home Ec., Art and Greek by themselves unless a problem comes up. I have worked hard with my girls (ages 10 and 11) on becoming very independent with their school work. This year I can really see the benefits of this. They are now self motivated and very diligent in completing work.

Lunch

I try to have the boys done with their “school” before lunch. The girls are done most of their busy workbook subjects and now have the afternoon for reading and such.

Reading

The girls have their assigned reading. This includes History, Literature and Readers. They also take turns reading to the boys their assigned school books

History/Science

At this time I review with the girls through narration and comprehension questions. I love narration and comprehension to keep up with what they are doing and checking that they are understanding it all. We work on Science together 2 days a week.

Literature (Read Aloud)

Mom Reads From Assigned Read Aloud (usually from the boys list). To be honest I don’t get to this everyday. Sometimes Daddy will read or the older kids will pick up the book and read.

CHORES AND KIDS

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:30:00 -0600

Once again it is time to redo the Chore list! I have gone back to my master list and redoing everything.

I find for us that if we don't get the bulk of the work done in the morning it doesn't get done. So I am dividing up tasks into the days of the week. I find they get so much more done this way. I am giving myself a chore list to. These are things that I just don't seem to get around to doing, but need to. Maintaining your home on a consistent basis makes life so much easier. We never have a whole day of cleaning we do little bits each day and the house always looks nice.

I will post my new chore ideas and list when finished (hopefully this week). I would love your ideas thought.

Bahama Blessings

Heidi JO

That's My King

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:20:00 -0600

Enough said......

This is why HE came!

Bahama Blessings

Heidi Jo

Meme-I have been TAGED

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:18:00 -0600

I have been tagged by http://debbiesdigest.blogspot.com/

These are the rules: Pass this on to 5 blogging friends. Open the closest book to you, not your favorite or most intellectual book, but the book closest to you at the moment, to page 56. Write the 5th sentence, as well as two to five sentences following that.

Well, usually I would be at my desk on my laptop, but my husband has stolen it so I am on the kids computer next to the history book shelf. So......

The books is "With Lee in Virgina" by GA Henty

Vincent carefully payed out the rope till some fifteen yards were over, then he fastened it to the rign of the head rope, and had the satisfaction of finding that the boat rode easily ot the floating anchor, rising lightly over the waves, and not shipping a drop of water. He then took the baler and got rid of the water that had found its way on board, Can, after gettting down the sail, having collapsed utterly.

I will tag

who ever wants to do this, just leave me note to let me know.

Bahama Blessings

Heidi JO

Homeschool Memoirs #17: Chores

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 07:49:00 -0600

Oh how often we either say it or hear it … “Too much to do, not enough time!”? I hear it and say it quite often. How do you manage all the tasks you have to complete in just 24hours? There are a lot of different methods on how to get chores and organizing done. Some have a strict schedule others just kinda wing it.

THEME:

This week I would you to share how chores are done in your home. How you order your day with school and getting housework done. How do you decide which chores should be done by which child, of which age? I’m looking forward to hearing them!

Chores in our home are life as my children know it. There is no choice, it is just a result of being apart of our wonderful family. In our family everyone has many jobs to do so that we can accomplish what God has called us to do. I do have a confession to make. I have a housekeeper 2 times a week that does the major cleaning. So you will not see some chores listed. I am so thankful to my dear husband who insists on this. We are lucky; our housekeeper is a lovely woman who is a part of our family. She actually works for my sister once a week and my aunt the other 2 days. My kids love her and she really does more watching them so I can get my grocery shopping and other out of the house things done. Anyway back to chores. Even though we have help I insist that the children work hard every day to maintain the house. So much in fact that my older daughter must have the first load of wash hung up before Eula Mae(our help) arrives. By the time she arrives we have already done an hour of school! We will eventually not need the help but for now with the 2 young ones/school/and everything else I am thankful for the extra hands.

I thought I would list each child and what they do so you can get an idea of how my system works.

As you see I have divided the work into two different times each day. I found for us that if we didn't get the bulk of the work done in the morning it didn't get done. I also took the tip to divide up tasks into the days of the week. I find they get so much more done. You will notice that I have a chore list too. These are things that I just don't seem to get around to doing, but need to. Maintaining your home on a consistent basis makes life so much easier. We never have a whole day of cleaning we do little bits each day and the house always looks nice.

I just made a school chorepack for each subject/the time we are to do it/what we do on each day. This help with the “what's next MOM?” that I hear everyday from both girls. (I have a schedule posted too) They now move from Morning Chorepack to Schoolpack to Evening chorepack.

Most of this great stuff came from Titus 2. I can't recommend this book enough. Hope this was helpful. Enjoy your week!!!