http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaLupton/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:51:00 -0600 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:51:00 -0600 Yep. This is what we- here in Ghana- call a roadside food joint... Ü   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaLupton/746891/ Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:51:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaLupton/746891/     REALLY gives the guest bathroom that special little touch dontcha’ think?!   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaLupton/746889/ Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:48:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaLupton/746889/   I love that they have bricks hanging off trees, bushes and shrubs here- to shape them. What a simple fix!   They do it, to trees often, to create larger bits of shade and the bouganvilla grows like crazy here – so you see this over fences all the time. Now.. if only my kids would wear them…. Ü http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaLupton/746134/ Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:39:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaLupton/746134/   “ “Ya, I can just see it now, you’re going to home school them through college!”   It seems like just the other day, that I as getting ribbed by friends for not wanting to send Devon to school. Thirteen years later, without a day spent in a classroom, and Devon is nearly finished with his first term of college, and YES! He is taking his classes online, so in a way we are homeschooling him through college!   With a college freshman, a junior taking 12 credits (also at Liberty) and a 7th grader-   It seems like a good time to reflect on the things we have loved and that have really *made* our homeschooling.  These are the things that are tops on my list, that get us all excited and going a mile a minute… in random order as they pop in my head.   Five in a Row. ~ This curriculum was really the backbone for our homeschool journey. Using wonderful children’s literature, FIAR seamlessly crosses subject lines and leads learning on-course. All of us have fond memories of our time in the pages of the books that Jane Clare brilliantly and lovingly selected.    With the self doubt that can attack HS parents throughout the years- I have heard, read and even thought- “This is too easy!” “Is it going to be enough?”    It is! It really, really does work!   So very often Paul would come home and ask the kids, “What’d you learn today?” and they would answer” We didn’t do any school work today”  Huh, we didn’t do any school work?! Can you tell Dad what country Madeline is from? Where is it on the map? Hey show him what the French flag looks like. Doesn’t that French bread smell yummy- did you tell dad you made it? What does ‘solemn’ mean again?  Can you tell dad where your appendix is? … That is how easy the kids learn with FIAR, they don’t even know they are doing it.   I think that learning with Five in a Row is like… taking a sponge and placing it in the ocean, the sponge has no choice …it is inescapably, effortlessly saturated with the salt water. The learning that happens when a FIAR manual has been placed in parents' hands, along with those great titles- those poor kids don’t stand a chance.- they are thoroughly, completely and effortlessly soaked in learning.   Reading Made Easy (RME):   The first big hurdle for a new homeschooler is really teaching your child to read, isn’t it? If we can figure out how in the world to teach them that- they just might be okay and we just might make it. (grin) RME really takes the pain out of this process and ever so gently leads the parent and child down the path together.   Spelling Power:   I love the way that spelling power works. Spending time focusing on the words that a student needs help with and then moving right along. Love it!   English from the roots up:   We love these simple flash cards for building vocabulary.   Omnibus:   We really enjoyed the book selections and the discussion type learning that took place using Omnibus. As high schoolers it was nice to find a “unit style” that we were able to continue along with! It made for some great thought provoking conversations.   History Alive:   We fist started using History Alive in its old format. We really enjoyed learning with Diana Waring. Her enthusiasm for history is contagious and we loved the reading selections. On car trips we will still listen to her CDs today!   For English:   A Reason for Handwriting The Writer's Jungle Write Source   Science: We loved- Amazing Animals that Defy Evolution. Jonathan Park   Other favorites throughout the years: Princess and the Kiss AWANA Keepers at Home Story of the World (read by Jim Weiss) Books on CD have been a huge blessing to our road trip time. Prairie Primer   Still looking forward to going through Where the Brook and River Meet, with Addison. =0)     Wanna know how the guys did on their first few classes? I’ll tell ya!   Dylan Coms 101- 82.55% Eng 100 – 91.4% Devon Coms 101 87.78% Eng 100 94.2% Humanities 96% I’d be thrilled with those first grades regardless… but oh! Is it ever a boost to my homeschool mama’s heart to know that I didn’t stuff ‘em up! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaLupton/745853/ Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:12:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaLupton/745853/ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaLupton/744636/ Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:44:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaLupton/744636/ Happy Birthday mom. Thanks for all you do for us and the way that you love us! Sure do wish you were here to enjoy the chocolate chip oatmeal cake that we are enjoying for your birthday. Sometimes it is hard being so far away. Much  much love from all 5 of us way over yonder. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaLupton/744464/ Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:07:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaLupton/744464/ Lemme know whatcha think: Lentil Cheese Savory Combine and simmer in a covered saucepan for 15 minutes: 1 cup lentils 2 ¼ cups cold water Add and simmer 30 minutes more: ½ teaspoon salt 2 cups chopped tomatoes or 1 cup sauce Fry separately: ¼ cup margarine 1 large onion, sliced to fried onions add: 1 cup grated cheese lentil mixture Place in a greased 9X9 pan and bake @ 350 for 20 minutes (I add a ½ cup bread cubes or tortilla crumbs- so you could add some type of bread or tortilla chips (corn?) that you can have.) http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaLupton/744444/ Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:17:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaLupton/744444/ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaLupton/743832/ Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:12:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaLupton/743832/ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaLupton/743814/ Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:23:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaLupton/743814/   A funny: The other day Paul brought home a movie that he, Addi and I watched while the boys were at rehearsal. The next night, I told the boys that I would watch it with them. So, we put on this movie… and about 10 minutes into it Dev looks over at Dyl and says, “Oh, I see why Mom likes this movie. It gives her hope.” You see this movie was about a college graduate that could not get a job, so she had to move back in with her parents. Ya, I smacked him with a pillow.   One of the hardest parts about living overseas is missing out on the everyday events and special occasions that we’d like to be part of. Today is Dad's 60th b-day! Wish we could be there to celebrate. We are going to enjoy a cake in your honor. We are SO looking forward to your trip over here in just 4 months!   Life has been busy- so here is an update.   The boys are both doing really well in their classes at Liberty University.    This week Devon finishes his first 3 college courses and Dylan finishes his first 2. They have another 6 weeks until the rest of this terms courses are finished. They are both doing remarkably well- especially considering that they never stepped foot in a classroom. (grin)   It is reassuring to see on the far side of homeschooling that I did not stuff ‘em up and they will make it in life. Ü   Addison has been a bit neglected in her studies these past few weeks- life has been all about the boys and their papers, projects and computer time. I do need to correct that over these next few weeks. Fear not Dad, she has not just been sitting around painting her toenails- she has just finished her final Five in a Row project… and I am so sad that we are finished with all of their products. She enjoyed learning through Hitty and we just wish that Becky had another volume out for her to study through.   Devon is preparing for the Associated Board for the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) Grade 6 exams in piano in the spring so he can scoot on to the Grade 7 exams. We are borrowing a keyboard from someone at the Embassy- which has been such a blessing! He has not been working on his violin much lately- Dev has also picked up two piano students and teaches lessons three times a week.   Addison is doing well on the piano- she is coming along fairly well- the other day I had to come out of the kitchen to see if she was playing a piece or if it was on the Ipod- and she was playing it. Good girl.   She is desperately missing being part of a choir here!   Dylan is not taking piano this year- it was never his first love. He is enjoying playing the drums for the praise and worship group. His clarinet did not arrive with us in Ghana. I am thinking about getting him a sax- he would love that!   The Alice in Wonderland play is about 4 weeks away. The boys have rehearsals every night of the week from 7-9 and then for about 3 hours on Saturdays. Addison's had rehearsal about 3 times a week. It is going to get a bit hairier as opening day approaches. They are enjoying it- but it is taking a chunk of time!   Paul & I are doing well. He is not too busy at work right now, which is nice. We have the Marine Ball this weekend, and are looking forward to it. We are sitting a table with a great group of people and it should really be fun!  The two of us are heading off just after the panto has finished- I am looking forward to our time away together.  We are going to Portugal and Amsterdam. Woo-hoo!   Oi! We have finished some good reads- and have a few books on CD that we are listening to-  (Missy- thanks for the heads up on Cornelia Funke- We liked Dragon Rider and are waiting on pins and needles for Inkdeath to arrive!)  I have found a few favorites in the kitchen that we are loving- I should post those soon, you’d love ‘em.   And that’s about it… the long and short of it all. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaLupton/743791/ Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:53:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaLupton/743791/