KidzandDogs - Homeschool Blogger

Used Curriculum Sale!

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:28:00 -0500

So ... I finally got my school shelves cleaned out and organized for this year. Good thing, since we start school tomorrow!

I found a few things I won't be needing anymore. All prices include shipping. I can take PayPal or money orders. No reasonable offers refused!

Email me at kidzanddogs (at) comcast (dot) net.

The blue links below will take you directly to information on each book.

Noah's Ark by Jerry Pinkney. This is Caldecott Honor book, hardcover, brand new. Sells for $11.55 plus s/h on Amazon. My price $9.00

Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons - I taught 5 of my children how to read with this book! Well, not this exact book. I think this is our 3rd one! LOL! Like new. Sells for $15.00 plus s/h on Amazon. My price $12.00

TruthQuest History-Age of Revolution III: 1865-2000 - Some pencil marking in the first few pages, otherwise in very good condition. $34.95 plus s/h on Amazon. My price $26.00

TruthQuest History-American History for Young Students III (1865-2000) - Suitable for up through 6th grade. Some notes in the margins (in pen). Sells for $29.95 plus s/h on Amazon. My price $22.00

Learning Language Arts Through Literature - The Yellow Book - (Teacher's Book) Excellent condition. Can be used without the Student Book. Sells for $18.00 plus s/h on Amazon. My price $11.00

Learning Language Arts Through Literature - The Red Book - (Complete Program) Includes Teacher book, Student Activity book and 6 Readers Very good to Like New condition. Sells for $88.00 plus s/h on Common Sense Press. My price $73.00

Teaching Textbooks - Math 6 - Student workbook, Answer book and CD's. Like new condition. Sells for $149.90 (free s/h) on Teaching Textbooks. My price $100.00

Teaching Textbooks - Algebra I - Includes Textbook, Answer Keys/Test Bank, and all CD's. Like new condition. Sells for $184.90 on Teaching Textbooks. My price $135.00

'MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL'

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:19:00 -0500

In memory of those whose lives were lost on September 11, 2001 and those whose lives have been lost fighting for a safer world. Praying that God will comfort their loved ones and friends. Thank you to all the servicemen and women serving our country.

'MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL'

You say you will never forget where you were when
you heard the news On September 11, 2001.
Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room
with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I
held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the
peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it
is OK..I am ready to go.'

I was with his wife when he called as she fed
breakfast to their children. I held her up as she
tried to understand his words and as she realized
he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a
woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been
knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said.
'Of course I will show you the way home - only
believe in Me now.'

I was at the base of the building with the Priest
ministering to the injured and devastated souls.
I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He
heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat,
with every prayer. I was with the crew as they
were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the
believers there, comforting and assuring them that their
faith has saved them.

I was in Texas , Virginia , California , Michigan , Afghanistan .
I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.
Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew
every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me
for the first time on the 86th floor.

Some sought Me with their last breath.
Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the
smoke and flames; 'Come to Me... this way... take
my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.
But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day. You
may not know why, but I do.. However, if you were
there in that explosive moment in time, would you have
reached for Me?

Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey
for you . But someday your journey will end. And I
will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may
be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are
'ready to go.'

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.
God

Man Plans but God Laughs

Sat, 5 Sep 2009 15:26:00 -0500

I believe this is a modern "twist" on the Bible verse found in Psalm 33:10:

"The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: He maketh the devices of the people of none effect."

It sure describes my summer! Remember my plan to continue homeschooling my children in the 4R's through the summer without them even realizing it? Yeah, well here's what happened instead:

June -

We tie up all the loose ends of our formal school year and I take a few days to plan out our summer.
We spend a week camping with our extended family.
I decide to postpone my secret summer-schooling until after our 18 year-old son's Open House on July 11th.

July/August -

My 88 year-old grandma (who raised me) goes into the hospital with pancreatitis and diverticulitis.
My 89 year-old grandpa (yeah, her husband) goes into the hospital to have some polyps removed from his bladder.
We spend lots of time totally renovating our family room in preparation for the upcoming open house.
Somehow, said open house happens, with very few hitches.

(Hitch 1: Not checking your church bulletin to make sure the starting time is not listed as an hour earlier than it really is!)

(Hitch 2: Forgetting that if you're going to have an outside, evening bonfire/open house, you should probably string up some lights. It was pretty funny watching people holding their open cell phones over the food table trying to find the potato salad!)

After coming dangerously close to losing her, both my grandparents are out of the hospital and come to our house to recuperate.
A few days after they get settled in, I end up in the ER with a kidney blockage and stone.
Not just a normal kidney stone ... nope, not me. I have a type that will require the placement of not one, but two stents, 3 separate procedures, and basically 7 weeks of bedrest.

Which brings us to now ... Labor Day weekend ... the end of summer ... the time when school begins. Anyone hear God still chuckling a bit?

Summer Plans

Wed, 3 Jun 2009 10:11:00 -0500

We school year-round ... but don't tell my children! They need an end date. They want to be able to tell their friends when their last day of school is. So I pick one. Usually it's the last Friday of May -- that way they get to be the first ones to be finished among their peers! LOL!

However, I have no intention of stopping their education just because it's summer! Don't get me wrong -- I always plan to be finished with formal homeschooling by the end of May. I fashion my lesson plans to coincide with a "normal" school year. But you know what? Life happens! Man plans but God laughs! In 20 years of homeschooling, we have never gotten 100% through with every lesson in every subject. And I've learned .... that's okay!

Ask some public school teachers that you know ... do they finish every page of every book? No! And why do they spend the first month back to school going over stuff from last year? Partly to review and refresh their students memories, partly to teach the stuff that didn't get taught the year before! :o)

It's not all work throughout the summer at our house. But I do loosely plan our days. Every day I want my children to do something:

Physical -- bike ride, jump on the trampoline, push mow the dog pen ... something that gets the blood pumping!
Educational -- Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays are math-related. Tuesdays and Thursdays are English/grammar/writing-related. I also read to them during lunch-time, usually a book from whatever historical time period we've been studying.
Intellectual -- read a book, write a story, research a topic of interest, create a game, design a bird feeder, plan a party ...
For someone else -- write a note to grandma, walk the neighbor's dog, bake cookies for their Sunday School teacher, clean out dad's car.

Some days they have friends over, but that doesn't stop me! I can usually make sure they (and their friends!) get their 4 R's (requirements!) in ... and they usually don't even realize it!

I'll have more ideas for filling the 4 R's next time!

For more summer fun ideas, visit Works For Me Wednesday at We Are THAT Family.

Please leave me your email or web address so I can "talk back" to your comments! :o)

Wordless Wednesday

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 06:47:00 -0500

My darling hubby and my 88-year-old Grandmother!

For more Wordless Wednesday pictures visit 5 Minutes for Mom and/or Wordless Wednesday

Please leave me your email or web address so I can "talk back" to your comments! :o)

Creation Museum

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:33:00 -0500

Pssst ... don't faint! This almost qualifies as a REAL POST!!!!

What do you call 24 people ranging in age from 5 to 80-something, who drive 300+ miles in rain, sleet and snow for 4 days in northern Kentucky?! Crazy? LOL! Yep, crazy homeschoolers taking a fieldtrip to the Creation Museum!

Sixteen of us made the journey from southern Michigan in our motorhome. We had a great time playing games, eating, laughing, and enjoying each other's company.

A few of the children gathered in the kitchen. We were blessed to be able to stay at on the property of a home in the beautiful Kentucky foothills. The family who own it were gone for the week, and gave us full reign! It was wonderful and crazy!

This is the main lobby of the Creation Museum.

Adam naming the animals.

Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden ... see the snake in the upper tree branch? This entire exhibit was very multi-sensory, with water falling, the breeze blowing, birds chirping.

After the Fall.

The entrance to the bookstore ... but also a nice segue into the dinosaur picture! :o)

Rebekah pointing out some sort of flying dinosaur to me.

We went thru the Aviary ... it was so cool to watch the birds eating right out of people's hands!

Matt (my dear husband) on the left with 2 other dads and a teen all wearing red ... totally unscripted!

We also visited the Newport Aquarium!

Unfortunately, my camera batteries died before we got to the shark-petting and penguin areas. :o(

Please leave me your email or web address so I can "talk back" to your comments! :o)

What she said ... #13 - Some prayer requests

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:23:00 -0500

In keeping with my "non-posting" posts (!) ....

Stellan is weighing heavily on my heart and mind today as he undergoes surgery. Please, please pray fervantly for him and his "McFamily".

I have been following Katherine Wolf's blog since the beginning. What an amazing Christian woman, wife, mother!! Please, if you read nothing else today (well, except for the other blogs I'm mentioning today!), go read her awesome testimony -- One Year Later.

De'Etta and her family are moving to Japan! I'm sure they would also appreciate your prayers as they prepare for this huge adjustment!

Please leave me your email or web address so I can "talk back" to your comments! :o)

Tasty Thursday!

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 07:36:00 -0500

Well, since I can't seem to put together a "real" post, I decided to try my hand at a new-to-me meme -- Tasty Thursday! So new, in fact, that I don't even have any pictures ready to go with my recipe ... but believe me when I say that my Peachy-Lemon Cheesecake is to-die-for!!

I made two pies for our Easter dessert -- what a hit! They looked beautiful, and you can just taste spring oozing out of every bite. :o)

Peachy-Lemon Cheesecake

1 graham cracker crust
1-8oz. block cream cheese, softened
1 small container whipped topping
1 T. powdered sugar
1 large can peaches, drained
1 small box instant lemon pudding
2/3 cup milk

Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Fold in 1/2 whipped topping. Spread over graham cracker crust. Top with peaches. Refrigerate. Whisk lemon pudding and milk together for two minutes. Mound over peaches. Chill.

Mouth watering!!

I have also made a chocolate-cherry version by substituting chocolate pudding for the lemon and cherry pie filling for the peaches. Ummhmmm!

Please leave me your email or web address so I can "talk back" to your comments! :o)

What she said ... #12

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:26:00 -0500

Let's just pretend that it hasn't been TWO MONTHS since I've blogged ... and since we're at it, let's also pretend that this is a real post, m'kay?

Executive Housewife has an excellent post on socialization ... from a totally different -- and totally true -- perspective!

Mother Hen has a great recipe that is super yummy!!! Cowboy Coffee Cake uses nice, normal ingredients and tastes fabulous, darlings!!

Speaking of great recipes, The Mother Load has a cool (pun intended, hehe!) recipe for homemade, cheap slushies.

Do you ever feel like you can't ever get on top of all the housework and homemaking responsibilities? Yeah, me too! Home Sanctuary has some answers in Setting up a "Real World" Housekeeping Schedule.

Please leave me your email or web address so I can "talk back" to your comments! :o)

Valentine's Day Unit Study

Mon, 9 Feb 2009 11:43:00 -0600

I think Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday! Of course, as each one comes around I think that one is the best ... LOL!

However, Valentine's Day comes right in the middle of the dreariest month of the year. In my opinion, it is the only thing that remotely redeems February! In addition to that, I love all things hearts, so clearly this is a day made just for me!

This year, since Valentine's Day falls on a Friday, our co-op is going to devote most of the day to related activities! We are going to set up stations, and have the kids rotate through each different learning center:

Bible -- Here we will look up various verses with the word "love" in them. We will talk about God's love toward us and our love toward others. We will discuss the concept of love as an action vs. a feeling.
History -- Who was St. Valentine? Why did he get a holiday named in his honor? Who is Cupid? Why do we use a heart shape to depict love?
Math -- At this station we are going to have a chart with the phrases from conversation hearts listed. The kids will estimate how many times each phrase appears in a bag of that candy. Some other activities will include making different kinds of charts, figuring percentages, fractions, etc.
Science -- Yes, we really are going to dissect a pig heart!! Pray for me!!
Art -- The kids are going to make Valentine cards for their dads. :o)
English -- We're going to list all the synonyms and antonyms for LOVE. We'll create our own definition, then look it up in the dictionary. We'll try a couple of different types of poetry using the theme of LOVE also!
Practical Living -- Here we're going to talk about dating/courtship, and relationships in general. Practical ways to show love to family, friends, church, unbelievers, etc.

Are you doing anything special in your homeschool for Valentine's Day?

**Please leave me your email or web address so I can "talk back" to your comments! :o)