We are preparing for the long fulfilling journey of homeschooling. After a lot of reading and research, we have decided to use the Classical style of learning, though we may use some other techniques as well. I am anxious to see how it goes! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/learningatourhouse/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Wed, 2 Apr 2008 08:19:00 -0500 Wed, 2 Apr 2008 08:19:00 -0500      I absolutely hate that I have to do this, but I have had to start a new home for our homeschool blog.  I have a few others that I have started, and I think it will be much easier to manage if they are all in one place.  I also think my new blog host is easier to use considering I do not have much experience in the computer world.      I have already moved my list of blogging friends to the new site, so I will not be gone, really.  I will just have a different "address."  I know I will still be coming by to "random blog" because I have learned so much this way, as well as found some great new friends.  I hope that my friends will change my address on their friends list.  I wish to stay in touch! New blog site:  www.learningatourhouse.wordpress.com   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/learningatourhouse/509138/ Wed, 2 Apr 2008 08:19:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/learningatourhouse/509138/      We have finally finished our first Boxcar Children book.  We should have been done ages ago, but as I have mentioned before- March was busy!  I was very impressed that when little R and I picked it back up last night, he remembered all the last details where we left off.  We went to the library this afternoon to return and then check out the next Boxcar Children- "Surprise Island."      I don't remember reading any of these books when I was young.  I don't even remember hearing the titles.  I find it interesting because I have always enjoyed reading;  even at a young age.       My boys are having a great time pretending to be the boxcar children.  They have been using their play dishes and food and are pretending to live like the boxcar children did in this first book.  Watching them brings back memories of my own childhood.  What a precious time in life. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/learningatourhouse/508758/ Tue, 1 Apr 2008 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/learningatourhouse/508758/ I miss hanging out here on homeschoolblogger.  I have gotten myself so busy lately that I have not been able to find time to write.  I am going to make a strong effort to visit more often. March has proved to be a busy month.  Usually it is the month that takes the longes to pass by since it is like the gateway to spring where I live.  But, this year a lot seemed to fill it up.  The first week started off with an unexpected trip to San Diego California.  I have  an uncle who lives out there.  He had a heart attack, and my mom asked me to make the trip with her.  So, two days later we were on a flight headed across the country.  It was my mom's first time on an airplane.  She did great, though.  My uncle was in the hospital for almost two weeks, but he is home now and doing better.  He needs to make a conscious effort to take better care of himself!  We got to be out there with him for about a week. The next thing I new, it was time to get ready for Randy's birthday, Easter, then spring break.  I hate when time slips away from me, but at the same time I am glad to be through March.  I have also been trying to make an effort to get back in shape and lose some extra weight.  I have been writing on another blog about it, and in the process have discovered how much I like writing.  Since then I have started a few more blogs which have been taking up a lot of my extra time.  I am sorry this entry is a lot of ramble.  I just figured that it would be nice to share a little explanation before I move along. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/learningatourhouse/507794/ Mon, 31 Mar 2008 07:30:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/learningatourhouse/507794/ Wow!  I don't know where March went!  In the midst of it all, my first born turned the big 5!!!  I cannot believe how fast time flies, especially where children are concerned.  Here is my favorite picture of the big day...   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/learningatourhouse/507404/ Sun, 30 Mar 2008 11:38:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/learningatourhouse/507404/      I am sorry for the long absence.  As you all know, life just gets busy sometimes.  We have not done a ton of structured activities in the classroom lately.  We did get up to the letter S in the Veritas curriculum.  Both boys now know all of the letters and their sounds, so doing the work doesn't seem to be as much fun as it once did.  Since we are way ahead of schedule, I have decided to back off a bit for now.       We did get some books at the library to explore.  Randy has not developed a taste for any particular type of book as of yet, so I picked out three to try.  They are... "Bridge to Terebithia," "Little House in the Big Woods," and, "The Box Car Children."  My hopes were that he would fall in love with at least one of these, but he has actually got me reading to him from all three!  Being an avid reader myself I find great joy in this.  It will be interesting to see how long it takes for us to get through them.      Another thing we have been doing lately, mainly to fight the winter blues and cabin fever, is going to the museum.  Our museum has a wonderful children's museum as well.  We can spend hours there at our visits and the boys never seem to get bored!  I have gone ahead and purchased a membership.  I am certain that the museum will prove to be a big part of our learning journey.      I wish I had more to write about at the moment.  I am sure that if I had more time to sit here and write that I could indeed come up with more.  Hopefully the upcoming weeks will prove to be less busy and that will be the case later.  Thank you for not giving up on me! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/learningatourhouse/491063/ Sun, 2 Mar 2008 08:32:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/learningatourhouse/491063/ I will let the pictures speak for themselves...       http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/learningatourhouse/480306/ Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:20:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/learningatourhouse/480306/      As soon as I think I have figured out just what kind of learning we will do in our house, I start second guessing myself.  Occasionaly, I go from thoughts of doing school in a box such as Calvert, to putting together my own curriculum.  I am starting to figure out that there is no particular way to learn in which is best.  I am still fighting the style of learning that fits the public school mode;  after all, I did spend a whole thirteen years of my life there!  It is not easy to change habits over night, including habits of thought.      I have been spending time reading The Charlotte Mason Companion, by Karen Andreola.  At first I did not think it would appeal to me.  I guess my first impression was that school would be very quiet with little else going on.  I don't know why I thought this.  Maybe it is the fact that Charlotte's style of learning focuses on using books and doing a lot of reading.  As I got further into Andreola's book last night, however,  I found that I could not put it down!  I never thought of using living books in addition to a text book, for instance, and doing other projects or field trips to tie in to whatever the topic of learning happens to be.  Often I feel lost when it comes to planning and preparing for school, so the idea of using a text as a guideline was very appealing.  I myself very much enjoy reading, therefore I would love if my boys would learn the habit.      So far, I like using the Veritas Phonics Museum, (with the exception of the D'Nelian style of printing, though my son doesn't seem to mind), and Saxon math.  In the fall I would like to add to our list.  I am thinking about using the Charlotte Mason style and putting our focus into reading about history and science (following the trivium?)        Hmm... I guess I just answered my own question.  What I still need to figure out, though, are what books will be part of the History and Science lessons.  I would love to get some feed back on this.  I know the first year of the first cycle of the trivium is all about ancient history.  I think that would be perfect being that my son is very interested in mummies and pyramids (thanks to a Reading Rainbow show he recently watched...lol!)  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/learningatourhouse/476466/ Thu, 7 Feb 2008 13:26:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/learningatourhouse/476466/      Okay, Daddy's birthday was before Carson's, but better late than never, right? http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/learningatourhouse/474806/ Tue, 5 Feb 2008 08:00:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/learningatourhouse/474806/      I can't believe my baby is three!  Time sure goes fast.  I am a few days late in posting, but here is his birthday picture. (I know, a sad looking cake.... he will have his official birthday party with a much better cake this coming weekend.) http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/learningatourhouse/474803/ Tue, 5 Feb 2008 07:54:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/learningatourhouse/474803/      I feel so special!  I have gotten my first blogging award from naturalpaths.      I am now suppose to give the award to ten others who I feel deserve the excellent blog award.  For all I know you all may already have the award, but here goes.... westward momco3 HisPoiema Tearinn Icecastle 4sweetums TwaddleMeNot Drewsfamilytx littleeblingsacademy sixfolks http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/learningatourhouse/473273/ Sat, 2 Feb 2008 16:13:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/learningatourhouse/473273/