The Duncan Yo-Yo's - Homeschool Blogger

Moving day is getting closer

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 09:01:00 -0600

We sign the papers in 19 days! I am so not ready to move. We (as in me) have been packing up like crazy, or at least until my asthma kicks in. So much dust under stuff.

Most of our furniture is going. I think the only things we are keeping is our bed, a couple of book shelves, two huge computer desks and two dressers. Oh and the fridge is coming with us too. We are getting new stuff when we move in. The place is smaller than we have now, so we need smaller stuff so it will fit.

No schooling has been getting done. Unless you count sorting and purging school. LOL. Lots of Matt's toys need to go. He has way to much stuff. I donated a ton of books and clothes already.

I need to finish my bedroom (hardest room I think so far). Kitchen will be last, or nearly last. I have to get some bubble wrap and pack up all the breakables. Pots and pans will be packed away the night before we move out. I plan on eating off of paper products for the last week or so. I know not very earth friendly, but I need to pack up my dishes.

I have been grabbing boxes from work every night and searching Craigslist for more. Love that place for the most part. So much to do and so little time to do it in.

Chat with you all later. Need to get back to packing.

Zoo Trip

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 09:21:00 -0500

Last Thursday, Matt and I had to be out of the house for a few hours because that was when the house was being inspected. So we decided to take a trip to the Stone Zoo which is like 15 minutes away from our house. We have been studying birds in science recently, so I figured this would be the best time to hit the zoo.

The day we went was beautiful out. Nice and sunny, not to hot (was in the low 70's). Here are a few pictures that we (or Matt) took. These are of the birds we saw. We do have other pictures but they are not of birds.

Bald Eagle

A replica of an Eagles nest
I told Matt that Big Bird from Sesame Street could fit in this nest.

Road Runner
Matt also let me know that the habitat this bird was in was wrong. It should have had more open spaces and not so many trees. The poor guy was stuck in a tree when we were first looking at it.

Flamingos
There were even three baby Flamingos in the group (the pictures did not come out well for some reason). All were still molting or about to be. And they had the most fuzzy necks and of course they were not pink, they were gray.

Inca Terns
These guys were in a huge room where they were able to fly around. As you can tell, we can also go in the room with them. Was nice, but I was afraid of being pooped on. LOL

A Great Hornbill

A Speckled Owl

A Kookaburra

A Black Necked Crane

House update!

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:31:00 -0500

After much back and forth between us and the potential home buyer, we have decided on a final price. Talk about a pain in the arce! I never want to move again. And to think, now I have to go buy a house, so I am on the other end of this whole thing. Grrr. But anyway:

The house is SOLD!

September Nature Study Group

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0500

Last Thursday was our first Nature Study Group of the new school year. We met at Breakheart (one of our favorite places) to do a scavenger hunt. We were to find the signs of fall. Here are some of the things found by Matt from his list. Pictures take by Matt as well.

A flower still in bloom & an insect

A leaf with holes in it, maybe made by a caterpillar.

A fungus - tiny mushrooms

More mushrooms (my camera had lots of "shroom" pictures)

After our walk, we met back at the visitors center and talked about what we saw. I was so proud of Matt. He actually participated in the class, all the way through too.

Week 1 down

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 10:48:00 -0500

Well, our first week went well. Matt so far is enjoying it. He just wishes we could skip having him read. he hates to read.

Science is good so far. We are working our way through Lesson 1 in the Zoo 1 book. We learned a lot about the classification system for animals. So confusing LOL. We also began to learn about flight and air pressure. We did an little experiment that showed us how air pressure works. When you blow into the straw, the water from the cup comes out the other straw and gets you wet (well me hehe).

History so far is about the Fall of Rome. At the beginning of the first story, it takes you on this magic carpet ride around what use to be the Roman Empire. One of the coloring pages was of a person sitting on a flying carpet. We cut out the face, and i taped a picture of Matt's face to it, so now it looks like him flying around. I would have a picture of it, but my scanner does not work atm. (I need t o find a Vista compatable driver for it grrrr)

Math is just a bunch of review so far. It's the only thing I hate about Saxon. The first 1/3 of the book is all review from the year before. Matt does need some review as the last month, we did no school at all. I may skip ahead after awhile though.

Language Arts Matt seems to be enjoying. He is amazed at how short the lessons are. I love it that way. He loves Explode the Code and learning how to write cursive. Its a struggle, but its not bad yet. That might change when we start to write words instead of just letters in cursive.

Saturday was the warehouse sale at CBD. I went the night before and grabbed the SOTW volume 3 activity book for 7.00. Nothing wrong with it that I can tell, so no idea why it was in the bargain bins. I also grabbed a couple of fiction books for Matt and one for me.

Well, I need to go make lunch for the boys (Hubby is working in the basement today). Moreto come next week.

Wordless Wednesday

Wed, 9 Sep 2009 09:40:00 -0500

Up close and personal of my not so little man.

Starting up the new school year

Sun, 6 Sep 2009 08:33:00 -0500

Tomorrow (yes I know it is Labor Day) marks the start of our new school year. I have all the books together. All the planning is done. Our school/computer room is almost organized.

My plan is to do weekly posts on the weekends of what we did during the week and such, but we will see. When it gets closer to the holidays, I get busy at work, so not much time for much else other than school and work life it seems.

The school room is looking good. I have three bookshelves filled with books, school supplies and computer stuff. I hung a white board in front of one (on nails so I can take it down to get behind it), a bulletin board in front of another (again I can take it down). On the third I hung a pocket calendar. This way Mat can remember the Months/Days of the Week and see what activities are coming up.

On our bulletin board, I have posted our "100th Day of School" chart. It is simply a piece of cardstock with the heading on it. The plan is to have Matt put on sticker for every day he is in "school" on the board. When we hit the 100th day, we will have a little celebration as most of the school year has gone by.

There is also an incentive chart for reading. One sticker for every 30 min a day of reading. Trying to get him to read period let alone for pleasure is torture. Matt simply hates to read. When he fills up one chart, he gets a prize or he can save the charts up for a trip to the arcade or Chuck E Cheese.

I am also planning to have a weekly Nature theme. I have most of the fall planned out already. A post of this will come shortly.

Well, I am off to get ready for Matt's birthday party at Chuck E Cheese. I can't believe he is 9 already! Man how time flies.

Moving while homeschooling ~ How do you do it?

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 08:51:00 -0500

After 15 months (gosh has it been that long?), our house is now under contract. I know this still does not mean anything until we pass the keys over to the new home owners, but I still have to back and get ready.

So my question is this: How do you homeschool while moving?

I know of many that will hold off until they are settled into the new place, but hubby (and son) don't want that, Matt want to start now (but I am not quite ready yet LOL). Hubby says to do our work in the morning (we always seem to do only 3-4 hours of work a day as it is) as Matt is up early (like 6am early). I am so not a morning person, but I haven't been sleeping much do to the stress of this whole thing so that could work.

Then the rest of the day (well until 3pm when I start to get ready for work and dinner), will be left up to packing. We have until October 5th to pack up and move and yes we have a TON of "stuff". I know I will be going through and tossing tons while packing. We are down sizing (from a 2 story house to a 2 bedroom trailer) so it needs to get done anyway.

Hubby said that we can pack the school room last (well the computers and current school stuff will be packed last and into my car as they will be the first things out and set up). I have a few ideas running through my head on what I can do, but would love some ideas as well.

Plans for the 2009-2010 school year

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 08:30:00 -0500

Boy, have I been busy this past year. Between work and homeschooling, I haven't wanted to do much else. I have been working on planning our next homeschool year however. Working at CBD makes it so much easier I think. LOL. I ordered my books a few months ago to beat the rush of orders and risk not getting something in time.

Here is what we have planned:

Curriculum 2009-2010

Math

     Saxon Math 3

Language Arts

     Learning Language Arts Through Literature - Yellow Book Student
      Learning Language Arts Through Literature - Yellow Book Teacher's Edition
   Madeline
       The White Stallion
         Meet George Washington
           The Courage of Sarah Noble

Explode the Code
       Book 3
         Book 4
         Book 5
         Book 6

25 Super Fun Spelling Games

Spelling Lessons

History

Story of the World Volume 2 - The Middle Ages
Story of the World Volume 2 - The Middle Ages Activity Book
Raiders of the North
Cathedral
Look What Came from Australia
The Viking News
The Roman News
The Great Wall of China
Usborne Book of World Religions
Favorite Medieval Tales
Famous Men of the Middle Ages
Life in a Medieval Castle and Village Coloring Book
Fun with Easy Origami
Gladiator
Outrageous Woman of the Renaissance
A Medieval Feast
Science in Ancient China
Castle Diary
Augustine Came to Kent
Dingos at Dinnertime
Viking Ships at Sunrise
Usborne Book of World History
The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia
Ancient China Treasure Chest
Draw and Write Through History Book 3

Science

Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day
Flying Creatures Lapbook part 1
Flying Creatures Lapbook part 2
Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day
Swimming Creatures Lapbook part 1
Swimming Creatures Lapbook part 2

Take Your Child to Work Day at CBD

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 08:53:00 -0500

Last Thursday was take your child to work day here at CBD. Seeing how I work the evening shift, I was unsure if any kids would be going, but there were four others besides Matt. Three were his age, two boys and a girl. Matt hung out with the boys for most of the night.

When we got to work, there was a gift bag for Matt that had a sports bottle, some snacks, and a ton of office supplies. Matt got excited to see the post it notes. No clue why though. LOL The conference room off of the customer service area (where I work) was full of toys, and coloring books and crayons as well as movies for the kids. All stuff we sell. Each of the kids were given a headset so they could listen in on some of our phone calls. We made sure that they could only hear you and that you could not hear the kids. hehe

So, here are a few pictures of our night.

Matt listening in on some calls.

Me working. Bad picture of me. Gosh look at those crows feet. Ack!

Watching Kung Fu Panda in the conference room. This room was trashed by the day time kids. I felt bad for our cleaners. LOL

I bought him a race car kit for him to build. All he needed was a screw driver. He worked on it on and off all night long.

Here it is all finished.

At first, I was going to have my husband pick Matt up after my break at 8pm, but Matt wanted to stay for my whole shift. We close at 11pm, so this was one long night for him. You could tell he was exhausted by 10pm, but he stayed awake until his head hit the pillow. He didn't wake up at his normal 7am time but instead got up at 8:30 when he herd me moving around. He was like a zombie the rest of the day, so we got nothing done.

So that is who keeps eating the bird seed

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 08:12:00 -0500

A few weeks ago I switched from the normal wild bird seed mix I normally buy (which the birds go hog wild over), to just plain black sunflower seeds. I have noticed that hardly any of our birds have been coming by, but our seed would be gone every night. We thought that we just happened to miss the birds, but I think our cat Gracie has been keeping the birds away as she now likes to "bird watch" right under the feeders.

So, yesterday, was a lousy day. Gray and damp and just a blah day. I happened to be looking out the window at the feeders as I saw a male and female cardinal. They they flew away suddenly. Knowing that the cat was in the house sleeping, this is the little visitor that we got.

The little bugger was holding on by just his tail like an opossum. The feeder was almost full when he started too. He is going to be one fat little squirrel.

The mess he left me.

Tomorrow is "Take Your Child to Work Day" at CBD. Even though I work the evening shift, I am still able to take Matt. He will only be there for a few hours as I work until closing at 11pm est. He is so excited. This is not his first time coming to CBD, but it is the first time he has participated in this special day. I'll be taking photo's of him there, and I am sure he will be taking some of me working. LOL.

Beautiful day for a Nature Study and a scare to end the perfect day

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 07:56:00 -0500

Yesterday was our monthly Nature Study group. This time it was close to our house, so we were able to go. We went on a Nature Scavenger Hunt, or well, we were suppose to. It was in the 60's (warm for us in MA this time of year) so we took advantage of it.

We were at Breakheart and did the inner route, which is almost 2 miles. Most of the kids ran it, while groups of us moms were scattered all over. Matt, who usually runs all over, was walking either behind me or next to me. He was in one of his anti-social moods again. It took me a bit to get him to actually move near the kids. I have no idea what is up with him recently.

When the group was over, Matt and I headed home, with a stop at the grocery store for Diet Coke and Milk (the staples LOL). Matt was playing outside enjoying the warmth of the day. I was on the computer playing a game with my hubby, when Matt came in upset. I couldn't tell at first, but Steve could. Matt came in the room crying (gosh my hearing must be getting bad if I did not hear him crying).

When we asked him what was wrong, I expected him to say that the neighborhood kids were being mean again (hmmm maybe that is why Matt has been anti-social recently), but instead he said that Titan, or neighbors dog, bit him. This is the second time this dog bit him. The first time Matt provoked it by teasing him while he was on the lead. He would get just out of Titans reach and then run in closer and then back out. Titan ended up getting him once then.

But this time, Titan got out ofthe house and, from what Matt said, just came after him. Bit him in the thigh and scratched up his arm. The neighbors daughter got ahold of the dog and put him back in the house. Matt does have a bunch of superficial scratches on his arm, but the bit on his thigh looked gross and you could see some puncture wounds. I cleaned him the best I could (alcohol wipes and first aid ointment) then brought him to the Dr's office, where they cleaned him up even more and then bandaged him up.

To look at the bite now, it looks like nothing, but yesterday, it was gross. Right now it looks like a nasty purple bruise (which it probably is) with a few marks in it. It probably wasn't too bad of a bite, but dog's mouths are nasty and full of germs.

Well, today is suppse to be in the 70's and Matt and I will take advantage of this warmth as well.

Spring E-books

Mon, 6 Apr 2009 12:09:00 -0500

I love e-books! It helps with the environment and you don't have to wait weeks for it to be delivered to your house or waste fuel to go out and pick one up. So, here are some great ones for Spring time. There are all types of e-books from lapbooks (my favorites) to copywork and activity books.

Spring Idea Book
Spring Activities
Spring & Summer - Cut & Create
Simply Spring
Spring Notebooking & coloring pages
Poem in my Pocket - Spring
Spring Lapbook with study guide
Storybook activites for Spring
Spring into gardening Unit Study
May Day Lapbook
Here Comes Peter Cottontail Lapbook
In the Garden - Flowers & Insects Lapbook
Gardens Unit Study

My goodness

Mon, 6 Apr 2009 10:58:00 -0500

I can not believe that it has been nearly 3 MONTHS since my last posting. Yes, I have been busy between home and work. I never seem to have enough time for anything.

I'll be working on updating my blog theme and adding in the spring books we are reading as well as a few other updates to this blog. It really needs a big overhaul.

Last week, my husband and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary. I can't believe it has been that long. Like every year, we celebrated by going to the place where we had our first date. The carnival that comes to the town next to us every year. We took Matt and he probably had more fun then us as he rode the rides and played games. My husband and I just walked around holding hands watching Matt have fun. I did get to have my fried dough though. LOL. I must find a recipe and learn to make it for myself.

Well, I must get some lunch in me and Matt. I have only had a few Cheez-It's since walking up this morning and my belly is so mad at me atm. LOL

In the Hands of a Child Kit Pack Sale

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 08:21:00 -0600

In the Hands of a Child

         Kit Pack
   Sale Announcement

January 12, 2009

Dear Valued Customers,

Due to the new CPSIA law In the Hands of a Child, for the time being, is discounting our Kit Pack inventory in order to lessen our possible loss in the event that an exemption is not granted.

While we are still praying for this situation to work out for all small businesses we feel that it is in our best interest to lessen our possible loss. And what better way than to pass the savings on to you, our wonderful customers, who are praying with us through this difficult situation!!

Please help us clear our shelves and enjoy a 35% savings on all Kit Packs!! Savings will be automatic! Spread the word and help us empty the shelves!!

This sale will continue until our Kit Pack inventory has been exhausted, so purchases will be on a first-come-first-served basis.

Once they are gone, they are gone!

In the event the law is modified, In the Hands of a Child reserves the right to bring back Kit Packs in the future at full price without any discount, implied or expressed, during this sale.

Cannot be combined with any other offer, special, discount, coupon or sale.
Super Member discount DOES NOT apply to this sale.
Tax and Shipping not included in calculating discount price.
Not valid toward prior purchases.
No rainchecks.

DO YOU HAVE A BLOG? YOU CAN RECEIVE A FREE KIT PACK!

Help us spread the word by posting the above notice on your blog.  Then place an order for at least 1 Kit Pack, email us the link to your blog where the notice is posted along with your order number and your choice of Kit Pack and we’ll add it to your order.

How easy is that?*

*Please note customer is responsible for shipping costs for free Kit Pack, shipping will be combined with original order if email is received same day as order is placed notifying us of blog posting.

Now I am sick

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 11:07:00 -0600

Well, the cold in the house made its way to me. The last part of last week, I was feeling yucky. So it looks like school will start up tomorrow, after Matt's Dr's appointment.

On Monday, my dad had a stroke. He is doing well and I spoke with him on the phone the day after it happened. He has had many strokes before, so for me this is not a big deal. It only will become a big deal if it totally disables him. He was cracking jokes so I knew all was well. Here is my dad a few years ago. He is a lot thinner now (he has terminal cancer).

Free Galaxies Lapbook from Hands of a Child

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 11:26:00 -0600

This weeks freebie from Currclick is a Galaxie Lapbook by Hands of a Child! Grab it before next Wednesday!

Check out these other Space related Lapbooks at Currclick.

Advanced Astronomy Lapbook by Hands of a Child
The Moon Lapbook by Hands of a Child
The Sun Lapbook by Hands of a Child

Exploring Creation with Astronomy ~ Lessons 1-6 by Knowledge Box Central
Exploring Creation with Astronomy ~ Lessons 7-14 by Knowledge Box Central
Astronomy Lapbook by Knowledge Box Central

Matt and I are using the Exploring Creation with Astronomy Lapbooks while studying Astronomy. We will post pictures (near the end of the school year) when we are finished. It is going to be one big lapbook!

First day back after a long break

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 09:26:00 -0600

Well, today was our first day back after nearly a month break. It was so nice to take December off. Between being crazy at work and lots going on with selling the house (lots of lookers but no bites), I needed to take December off from school. Matt enjoyed it that is for sure. Lots of video games. LOL. Also lots of one on one time with his dad, who is on layoff every winter.

Today started out slow. Both of us were tired (I was up until nearly 2am LOL). I showed Matt what I had planned (I showed him my list of subjects from my planner) and told him he could pick what he would like to do first. I was thinking he was going to pick History or Science first, but nope, he picked English. LOL.

We get done with our lesson (or nearly, he had to write three sentences but ran to the bathroom instead). For the past week, my hubby, has had a cold. Well, it seems that now Matt has it. He is running a low grade fever and just feels like crap. I was in the kitchen laminating my husbands hunter and bow hunter education cards, when he sent Matt to bed.

So, I head up to Matt's room and curl up with him on his bed. I told him that we will hold off on lessons until he is feeling better (god I love homeschooling). He said ok and then asked if I could read him the Tale of Despereaux. I bought the hardcover version at work for $3.75! I told Matt before that once we are done reading the book, we will go see the movie. So, now that he is feeling yucky, we have the perfect curling up with a book opportunity.

Time to hit the bank and deposit my little check. Then after lunch, it will be mumma and Matt reading time. I fully expect him to fall asleep while I am reading it, but that is ok.

Matt and Gracie ~the best of buds

Our Christmas

Sun, 28 Dec 2008 15:09:00 -0600

Here is a little photo montage of our Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. With Chantelle living with my sister, this Christmas was very very quiet. Normally I am yelling at one of both the kids because they would be starting some sort of argument.

Every Christmas Eve, we drive around and look at lights (forgot my camera so I never got any pictures ofthe lights. When we get home, Matt opened up his yearly jammie's. I made them this year and even made his Build-A-Bear monkey a pair (what a pain that was).

Here is a little video of Matt opening up the jammies. Sorry for the grainy shot. The lights were dim in the room and my camera's batteries were almost dead. I can't for the life of me figure out how to post YouTube video's right on here. But for now, click the link.

Christmas Eve Jammie Video

Here is Matt and his monkey in their jammies.

Reading our (my) copy of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. I have had this copy since I was born. All the pictures are done by Holly Hobbie. Remember her? I love her stuff and even still have a Holly Hobbie doll named Heather. hehe

Our Tree after Santa came. Normally the room is so full of gifts one has a hard time gettingto the sofa, but not this year. With having a small gift budget and only one kid at home, I had to work to make it look like there are a ton of gifts.

Matt with his favorite car, a Mustang GT.

Opening the gift from Santa. A gun. LOL

On Saturday we went to my sisters to do Christmas with my side of the family. My dad never showed up and my brother couldn't make it, so it was just me and my mom as well as my sister's family.

Matt got a sword and shield made out of wood by my BIL (he was in fact still working on it when we got there and Matt was handed some silver paint to finish it!) That really bothered me. Matt had no gift to open and I even have to finish the gift that he did get.

I got a beautiful shawl made by my sister. I wanted one for when I have to fun out to the mail box in the winter. hehe. I also got a new nutcracker from Chantelle. I was unable to afford one my self, so Chantelle got me one instead. I love it. LOL.

My niece got this awsome bed from her Nana. All I have to say is, where was this bed when I was little. It is a perfect little girls dream bed. Chantelle told me she caught Lia laying on the bed with her arms on her chest holding a rose like Sleeping Beauty. LOL

If you can't tell, it is Cinderella's pumpkin coach as a bed.

So, that was our holiday. School will start up again tomorrow after we took a few week break. It was so busy at work, that I needed to take a break from schooling so I could rest. Now with things slowing down at work, I can get back into the swing of things with school.

Our Geography Lessons

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:02:00 -0600

Matt has asked to learn about the United States. For some time now I have been getting the "Which Way USA?" activity books from Highlights. They have been a bit older for him, but I decided we can do them together. I also bought a book to add a little literature to our study. So here is what we are using:

Simply Stated by Katie Campbell

State Unit Studies by Beverly Hernandez from About.com

Which Way USA? by Highlights Books

Simply Stated says to study one state a week and to finish up in a little over a year. I am stretching this out to last two years. Some states we will do more on, others less on. This books is full of fiction and non-fiction books all bout each state or just stories based in the state. Most can be found at your local library.

I am also not doing in it order according to the order the states came to be states. I put in a jar a list of all the activity books we had, and I let Matt pick out 4 states at a time. I don't want to do a state without having the activity book to go along with it.

These are the states Matt pulled out ofthe jar:

California, North Carolina, Idaho, Arizona.

In addition to learning the basic facts and landmarks to each state as well as reading a few selected books from Simply stated, we are also cooking up a recipe using a food that each state is known for. Idaho will be easy hehe.

So stay tuned each weekend to learn about what we did the previous week(s) for our state. First up, California!