http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momteaches2/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:05:00 -0500 Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:05:00 -0500 All new posts will be posted at http://momteaches2.blogspot.com/ Come visit me there... http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momteaches2/673192/ Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:05:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momteaches2/673192/ I recently The Great Eight:  How to Be Happy (even when you have every reason to be miserable).  What a fantastic book.  It was really enlightening to read such a positive book.  Scott Hamilton has such a wonderful outlook on life.  He has written this book with such sincerity and common sense.  The eight "steps" to being happy really are common sense though I may struggle with some in the face of challenges and difficulties.  But, my goodness, if Scott Hamilton can keep such a positive outlook through the difficulties he has faced in life (from a childhood "mystery illness" to battling cancer twice), I can definitely give it a better attempt in the face of my not-so-life-threatening daily struggles.  Scott uses skating as a metaphor for life.  His stories are very down-to-earth so he doesn't come across as a "you can only be happy if you do..." kind of person.  This was a very enjoyable book to read.             http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momteaches2/672744/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 09:50:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momteaches2/672744/ We are on our second week of workboxes.  We really love them.  I love how much more I can work into my school day.  Ami summed it up so much better than I ever can.  I agree with every point she made.  Here's what they did today...  When you look at this list, remember that we do Bible reading, memory verses, science and geography together.  (Items below in red are done with Mom.) The Princess Add date to calendar and complete math journal Math workbook and flash cards Pattern Blocks FIAR - work on Peter Rabbit lapbook Fruits/Veggies file folder game and Peter Rabbit puppets to color Copywork Solar System file folder game Nouns review worksheet (underline each noun, then mark each one person, place, or thing with colored pencils) Book for me to read to her (Tops and Bottoms) Free Read (read for 10 minutes and choose 1 to narrate) Spelling (All About Spelling Level 1) Sentence blocks (Use blocks to make 5 sentences and show to mom when done.  She actually asked to write each sentence when she was done so we reviewed capital letters and periods.) The Wild One Correct yesterday's math lesson. Math test softschools.com math activities (15 minutes) correct yesterday's dictation and complete lesson Enchanted Learning online solar system quiz Review common/proper nouns with worksheet; then begin illustrating grammar pages with common nouns/proper nouns Neil Armstrong (instructions to read chapter 2, and then he was to come see me for the lessons - we made it through Wright Brothers, King Edward, and Europe lessons) Spelling (All About Spelling Level 2) Wright Brothers (printed out WB e-book from School Express, had him read the info, and complete notebook page about them) Free Reading (30 minutes) Typing Practice Copywork (Neil Armstrong copy work from HSS) http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momteaches2/672619/ Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:35:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momteaches2/672619/ Last week, The Princess and I read and lapbooked Baby in a Basket.  We used lapbook pieces from HSS.  As you can see, during this unit we discussed dressing for the weather (this story takes place in Alaska), camoflauge (white arctic animals blending in with the snow), learned a few new vocabulary words (plank. thermos, and a few others), reviewed fiction/nonfiction, and talked about being like the ant (prepared).     We did a bit of math related to the story and discussed polar animals. We mapped the route from Alaska to Washington and discussed the state bird/flower for each of those states. The Princess listed a few fiction and non fiction books she has read.  And, she labeled pics of kids playing in the snow with :) and :( depending upon whether they were dressed correctly or not. Toothbrush painting... This is her snow scene - complete with a hill to slide down and a moon to light the way... http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momteaches2/671781/ Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:18:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momteaches2/671781/ What is home?  Is it just the building you dwell in?  Is it the four walls that contain you and all your stuff?  Not to me.  That is what I used to consider home.  But, now home is KY.  I miss "home" so much.  We have been in TX for almost 8 months, and it is not home.  Home is KY and the church we attended there.  Home is KY and all the friends I left behind.  Home is KY and my old MOPS group.  Home is KY and the youth group The Teenager was a part of.  Home is KY and the dance studio and favorite ballet teacher The Princess had to leave.  Home is KY and the friends The Wild One still talks to on the phone every now and again.  I do believe that God had/has a purpose in us moving to TX.  I do know that it is my job as an obedient child to say "Yes, sir" and follow that call.  And, I did.  I also know that in time His purpose will be revealed.  I know that The Princess will someday fall in love with our new dance studio and her new wonderful ballet teacher.  I know that The Teenager has found a new "home" in his Young Life group.  I know that The Wild One has found a new "home" in his buddies here in the neighborhood.  I also know that if I would move just a little bit outside my comfort zone, I would probably find a "home" in the new church we have begun attending.  I know that Satan knows my weak spots.  I do not like change.  I do not like meeting new people.  I do not like joining new groups (Sunday School, etc).  And, I have made a decision to not allow Satan to have that stronghold over me any longer.  I will "step out" on those days when I just want to stay home because I don't know anybody.  And, I know that one day soon, Texas will be "HOME".  Until then, I will continue to pray for a new "home" here. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momteaches2/669462/ Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:14:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momteaches2/669462/ We are on Spring Break this week.  But, I am beginning to plan next week's lessons.  We will be finishing up stars for Astronomy.  We will finish exploring North America and head to South America (and the rainforest) for geography.  The Wild One will begin reading Neil Armstrong, and The Princess and I will read The Tale of Peter Rabbit.  I will read aloud Capyboppy and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as we move to the South American rainforests.  I will make a North America review game for the kids, and I may make one to review the planets.  That all depends upon how productive I am this week...   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momteaches2/669457/ Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:10:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momteaches2/669457/ We are on Spring Break this week (since The Teenager is).  I have a monster to-do list.  Hopefully, I can accomplish most (if not all) of it. Have each child help clean bedrooms/closet sorting through clothes/toys for consignment/yard sales        The Princess     The Wild One      The Teenager Clean and organize sewing room Clean and organize school room Purchase fabric for curtains in The Princess's room, living room, and sitting room Order wall border the The Wild One's room Plant flowers around both trees in the front yard Restock freezer with muffins (at least 6-8 dozen) Plan the following units:  rain forest, Neil Armstrong, desert, The Cricket in Times Square dentist appointments for the kids and I Head to dance store for new ballet slippers Go to mall for a return, buy baby gift Ship notebooks to Grandma in TN and books for paper back swap Scrapbook with The Princess and Wii tourney with the boys Get house picked up before mother-in-law comes Thursday Plan and create lapbook for "A Little Princess in the Making" for my Princess - I plan on using this as a Bible study for training her up to be a "girl of grace"   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momteaches2/669019/ Sun, 15 Mar 2009 20:53:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momteaches2/669019/ I love this book.  The Princess and I read/studied this book a week or so ago while we were all in Canada in Geography.  It's about a little girl living in Canada who is going to wak under the ice and collect mussels by herself for the first time.  We used the unit study at HSS.  You can find additional lesson ideas in Five in a Row Vol. 1.  In this unit, The Princess and I studied Canada, Inuit people, animals that live in tide pools, and memories of "first times".                  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momteaches2/667851/ Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:31:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momteaches2/667851/ I posted in a previous note about our Bible memory system.  Someone commented and wanted more of an explanation.  So, here goes... First, we start each day reading from this Bible... (Sorry, can't get the pic to load right, but if you click the "x" it will take you to Amazon.)        After that, we work on our memory verses.  We use the method on Charlotte Mason's website. I have been very pleased with how much the kids are retaining (and me).  We have 13 cards in our file so far (we started this after Christmas break).  I do find that for now, I do have to trigger their memory with the first word or two of the verse.  But, I hope to eliminate this the further we get in our box. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momteaches2/667841/ Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:54:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momteaches2/667841/ It is amazing what a new system will do for your day.  Ami posted about Sue Patrick's Workbox System  on the HSS forums.  After looking around Sue's website and purchasing/reading her book, I had to try it for myself.  WOW!  I have always considered myself a fairly organized and structured person.  But, sometimes I am too structured.  I have a hard time following rabbit trails in our school day, because it "isn't on my schedule".  I find myself looking at things online and in books and thinking about how fun The Princess or The Wild One would think "it" is, but I don't follow through with it because "there isn't enough time".  Well, now there is!!  We started this system yesterday (yep, only used it once and already singing its praises).  The concept is that you have 12 numbered boxes for each child.  Each box holds an assignment or activity for that child.  If the assignment/activity requires help/instruction from mom (math, spelling, etc) then the box is tagged with a "work with mom" card.  (see pics below)  Believe it or not, I now find time in my day for the fun stuff I couldn't fit in before.  One huge thing this system does for me is that it virtually eliminates "wait" time.  I don't have to send someone to "find something quiet to do" while I finish working with the other child.  Now, I can stagger the instruction lessons, and they work independently the rest of the time. Here's what our days look like now.  I've posted a sample schedule below. We start school at 9:00 with me reading from the Bible and reviewing our memory verses.  Then we do our science (MW) or Geography (TR) lesson together.  After that, we break for snack.  After snack, they start their boxes.  They work through their boxes until noon when we break for lunch.  After lunch, I read from our read-aloud book before the kids go back to their boxes to work until they are finished. The Princess (K): Add date to wall calendar and complete math journal Structured reading with Mom (this has our reading book for the week – Baby in a Basket – and the minit books we will complete today to go with it) Journal – If I had a hot air balloon, I would go…(She has to write that sentence starter, finish the sentence, and draw a picture.) Math workbook page and flash cards with mom Free Reading (She chooses a book/books to read for 15 minutes.  She then narrates one story/chapter to me.) Phonics sort – matching picture cards to the correct short vowel sound Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star – read book on her own, stamp “s” in a “S is for Star” minit book, glue pics into a “Who did she see sleeping” minit book Spelling with mom Spin a Shape game Gingerbread Man to read aloud to Mom Shamrock matching game Shamrock tracing page for fine motor practice The Wild One (5th grade) Correct math lesson from yesterday.  Set timer for 5 minutes and complete timed test. Free reading for 30 minutes Math Test Spelling with Mom Typing for 10 minutes Mad Libs x2 (printed and in his box) Grammar lesson Dice math – roll 2 dice and combine numbers to form two 2-digit numbers which he will then multiply Writing Strands lesson Structured Reading – Stone Fox Track your musher (updates his Iditarod musher’s statistics on his record sheet and does the math involved – how long has he rested in total, how many more miles to go, etc) Mexico word search (our country this week for Geography) The word searches, sorting games, etc are things I would have had a hard time fitting in my day before this system.  Because I can add a few fun learning activities in their boxes throughout the day, I don't hear "what do I do now".  This is The Princess working this morning.  You can see our boxes under the window.  The boxes stacked to the right of the rack are ones she has already worked through.  She can see her work load diminish as the day goes on. This is a close-up of the numbered box.  The tag above the number "4" lets her know to come get me for the lesson. Here is a post-it with lesson instructions on it.  She shouldn't have to ask me "what do I do?".  The clock tag lets her know to set the timer for a determined amount of time (here it's 15 minutes).  When the timer beeps, this activity/assignment is over.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momteaches2/666889/ Mon, 9 Mar 2009 12:09:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momteaches2/666889/