Our homeschool questions and experiences. My name is Wendy, I am wife to Gary, mom to Sarah(11), Hannah(9), Emma(5) and Hope(3). We have homeschooled for 3 years. Recently we started our own homebased business on the web, selling locally made organic flax crackers and gourmet flax oils. You can check out our site at www.barakelfoods.com. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hoffman/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Wed, 2 Jul 2008 08:28:00 -0500 Wed, 2 Jul 2008 08:28:00 -0500 Well, I've never been a planner or should I say that when I plan, the plan always falls apart!  I have tried to plan and have actually laid out some good ones only to have someone get sick, I have a new baby or neighbors needing help.  So what usually happens is the plan falls by the wayside and make things work with the situation of the day.  I function better taking things as they come instead of making a plan and becoming frustrated when things get in the way of my plan.  My husband is a planner and would really like me to be!  He has tried to "fix" me several times but I "rebel" against the plan and let my days be planned by the LORD.  I figure whatever happens HE has planned and I need to go with the flow.  Now there are some things that happen that HE has not planned for us, such as melt downs and frustration with Math etc.....but that's when  need to slow down and ask for HIS help.  I would like to have a planner where I could keep everything together, household and school.  Sound like this is just the ticket! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hoffman/555401/ Wed, 2 Jul 2008 08:28:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hoffman/555401/ The HSB Front Porch is having a contest and you can win a $50 gift certificate just for blogging about The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Spring Promo before midnight April 30, 2008. Subscribe now to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine and receive 25 BONUS gifts valued at over $550! The Winter Promo sold out, don't miss out on the free gifts this time! They are also giving away a $150 gift certificate to the Schoolhouse Store. All print subscribers (new or renewing) between April 3 - 30, 2008 will be automatically entered into a drawing. No purchase neccessary to win. To enter without subscribing, please send a postcard with your name, address, telephone number, and email address to: The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Spring Promo Contest PO BOX 8426 Gray, TN  37615 http://www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com/US_Promotion.php The Old Schoolhouse magazine is chock full of great information!  I read and re-read my copies all the time.  I especially love the product reviews and comments from other home school families.  If you get only one homeschool magazine this should be it! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hoffman/515507/ Sun, 13 Apr 2008 10:41:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hoffman/515507/ Well, I've been thinking of doing this for some time but just never made the time for it.  Seems funny when I think of all the silly things I do make time for!  I've never done anything like this before and I'm not really sure what it is all about so I'm hoping for some help in figuring this blog thing out.  I decided to start a blog to get my thoughts out and to also get some suggestions from other homeschool moms and dads out there.  I am wife to Gary and mom to Sarah (11), Hannah (9), Emma (5) and Hope(3).  We are in our third year of homeschool and each year I get more nervous about how we are doing!  I guess you would say our homeschool is relaxed and textbook oriented, we use Alph Omega Lifepacs, Mystery of History, Daily Grams and Easy Grammar.  It seems like a lot sometimes and I get overwhelmed trying to do it all!  Quite honestly, I'm not an organized teacher and I am a terrible at grading papers!  I have a hard time making everything work together and getting everything done.  A few things I am struggling with right now and hoping for some advice on are:  Which curriculum(s) to use for Math, we used Saxon in the beginning then Switched on Schoolhouse and now Lifepac.  I have considered going back to Saxon but have read mixed reviews on the course for 4th grades and up.  I am researching Singapore Math right now and would appreciate some input from others who use it.  Really I would appreciate it if you would let me know what you use and why.  Does anyone use Math Mammoth for the 5th and 6th grades, how do you make it a complete curriculum? I am also weak in Language Arts and am looking for a good program for my kids in this area. My other concern is teaching my K - 1st grader how to read!  My older girls went to public school until they completed 2nd and 3rd grades, so I didn't teach them phonics and such.  I would really appreciate help here.  Has anyone used the Lifepacs for 1st grade?  It is an expensive program, money is always a factor!!:) I have one area that I am comfortable with, I really think we have found something to stick with and that is the Mystery of History!  The kids are really responding to it and I love that it is History based on the Bible!  Does anyone know of a good timeline for reference? I guess you can see by now that I just need HELP!!  I would really appreciate some advice and encouragement!  Thanks for reading and sharing! Wendy         http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hoffman/497151/ Wed, 12 Mar 2008 08:48:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hoffman/497151/