We're a Christian homeschooling family using a variety of materials. We view every experience as an opportunity to learn. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/onourway/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Tue, 1 May 2007 08:47:00 -0500 Tue, 1 May 2007 08:47:00 -0500 One of our favorite places to explore....... Astronomy Picture of the Day   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/onourway/321981/ Tue, 1 May 2007 08:47:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/onourway/321981/ I've been working for quite a while on lesson planning for next homeschool year.  I'm almost finished, but all that planning is on hold for now so I can focus on getting our field trips planned.  We used to go on quite a few field trips with a local group, but I suppose most folks have either gotten busier or just don't want the responsibility of planning a field trip for a large group so there haven't been many trips set up this current school year.  I can certainly understand the latter reason.  I took on the responsibility of setting up a trip this year and was horrified at fellow homeschoolers' behavior... they showed up late or not at all (and this was a trip requiring signup as the business had prepared very nice goody bags for the kids and parents), behaved poorly during the tour, and then only 2 kids sent thank you notes (this is a business I frequent on almost a weekly basis so I was privvy to that info).  I was ashamed to have associated myself with such a group.  I'm not trying to sound high and mighty or like I'm better than anyone else, but come on... respectable behavior and good manners are not too much to ask of a group of homeschoolers in my humble opinion.  Quite frankly I was downright embarrassed.   This coming school year we'll be taking field trips as a family.  I've mentioned before that high gas prices have been negatively impacting us so I'm having to look long and hard at all the field trip opportunities around here and consider factors such as admission fees plus the cost of gas to drive there and back.  Hubby and I have discussed it all a bit, but I hope to have our field trip plans finalized today along with estimates of how much each will cost.  I set aside a certain $ amount out of every other paycheck for homeschooling expenses (includes field trips, curriculum to purchase the following spring for the next school year, plays and musicals at the local performing arts center, etc.).  I really need to get the new amount calculated that we'll need for the coming year and hopefully will have that accomplished by today's end. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/onourway/321509/ Mon, 30 Apr 2007 09:31:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/onourway/321509/ I'm a couple of days late posting this, but I just had to share my oldest's thought of the day while in the midst of our yard sale this past Saturday (and being pestered by numerous flying critters)....... "Mom, are love bugs called love bugs because the love to bug people?" http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/onourway/321500/ Mon, 30 Apr 2007 09:28:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/onourway/321500/ We took our leftover books and videos from our yard sale yesterday and donated them to the library.  Of course while there I had to browse the "for sale" section and came home with four more books for our home library (a whopping 25¢ per book and all are in excellent shape). Mustang: Wild Spirit of the West by Marguerite Henry           Florence Nightingale: War Nurse by Anne Colver   Andrew Jackson: Pioneer and President by John Parlin   Ferdinand Magellan: Opening the Door to World Exploration by Isaac Asimov   We also sadly found out that our favorite librarian at this particular branch (the youth librarian) might be leaving.  She is due with her third child in the coming weeks and applied for a transfer to another branch for a part-time position.  She did get the job, but then a freeze went into effect concerning transfers and hiring so she might not be moving.  I'm sure it will all be resolved though and we will truly miss her.  We can always go visit her at the other branch from time to time.  I'm not overly thrilled with the person that is slotted to be her replacement (I really don't see this person as a 'youth' librarian).  This news really just added more fuel to the fire of my not wanting to use the library very much any longer (if I can help it!) - gas prices and other continuing nonsense affecting our overall finances pretty much made that decision, but other things, like this latest news, are factoring in as well.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/onourway/321235/ Sun, 29 Apr 2007 17:42:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/onourway/321235/ My little philatelist is quite excited about the new Star Wars stamps that will be available starting May 25th.  You can view the stamps here and cast a vote daily for your favorite!   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/onourway/320317/ Fri, 27 Apr 2007 07:46:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/onourway/320317/ We used to live on Maui BC (Before Children) and one place I found myself over and over and over was Lahaina Galleries.  I was absolutely drawn to the art of Gary Swanson.  Guess Who's Next was always my favorite followed closely by all his other pieces.  I could spend hours just standing and staring at one painting after another.  I suppose it's only fitting that my oldest would turn out to be a fanatic when it comes to big cats (tigers, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and so on).  He and I spent some time last evening looking at so many of Mr. Swanson's pieces online.  Maybe one day he'll have the good fortune to see them in person just like his mom.   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/onourway/319834/ Thu, 26 Apr 2007 07:31:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/onourway/319834/ Wow!  I'm continually amazed at all the "cool" things one can find online.  I just stumbled upon Artcyclopedia: The Guide to Great Art on the Internet.  Looks interesting.......   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/onourway/319612/ Wed, 25 Apr 2007 16:22:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/onourway/319612/ Well, it's not all that bad really.  LOL  A few have been cleared out and are ready to put in our upcoming yard sale (amidst many protests from our oldest).  Hubby and I moved our entertainment center, which has bookcases on each end, back into our family room over the weekend.  We've had it tucked away in the back of the house for months and months now while remodeling has been going on (or I should really say not going on).  I believe hubby has finally given up on his former co-worker coming back to finish helping (and he owes us!).  Hubby declared that the wall the entertainment center goes on is "good enough", so back it is.  I've been loading the bookcases up with books and rearranging, and rearranging, and rearranging.  I think I've finally found an order I'm happy with (for the time being).    I've claimed one shelf for next year's curricula.  I'm tired of it being scattered everywhere (a huge problem for us this year, but such is the life in a house that's in the deep throngs of being renovated).  I've also pulled out all the books I can find that our oldest has not read yet and have them on a shelf of their own.  These are chapter books that I really want to start reading through next school year (books such as Misty of Chincoteague, the Little House series, the Who Was series, the remainder of The Chronicles of Narnia series we haven't read yet, and many more).  Getting these together in one place (instead of spread out amongst various bookcases and other locations) is already showing me that I really can get by with using the library less and less.  Our oldest also has plenty of other chapter books that I consider "fun" reading in his room.  And of course I'll be on the lookout for more books at yard sales, thrift stores and such as I'm able.   Our other huge bookcase will remain in the back of the house for now (until we start remodeling that room and then I have no idea where we'll move it).  Hubby and I are both really leary of bringing it back into our family room yet as our youngest is quite the busy beaver and would probably try to climb the shelves and end up pulling the whole thing over on top of himself.  We don't want to bolt it into place since we intend to sell in the next year or two so it's better to keep the temptation out of the room.   As this school year is winding down (and I will admit I very much do need a break!), I find myself admiring how wonderful and inviting everything looks now so neatly lined up in the entertainment center and I'm really looking forward to next school year.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/onourway/319356/ Wed, 25 Apr 2007 08:07:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/onourway/319356/ I had high hopes today that I could convince our oldest to try some lapbooking next school year.  I pulled up some examples online to show him, but he just is not interested in the least.  I really thought he would enjoy this medium for exploring deeper the things (such as tigers, lions, leopards, jaguars, lynx, servals, etc.) he loves, but he doesn't want any part of it.  At least I tried. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/onourway/319238/ Tue, 24 Apr 2007 22:02:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/onourway/319238/ Our oldest will be using A Beka's Our American Heritage for history next homeschool year.  I've been slowly going through the book trying to familiarize myself with everything and plan lessons along with some supplemental reading.  The book starts off with Christopher Columbus and I am so thrilled that we just purchased a book at the library a few weeks ago called Christopher Columbus: Navigator to the New World by Isaac Asimov for a whopping 25¢!   With gas prices so high and a variety of other factors deeply affecting our budget, I really need to keep our library trips to a minimum.  I am so thankful we have an awesome county-wide library system here and I can request books from any branch be sent to the location of my choice, but the books don't always come in all at once or necessarily in a timely fashion.  A new policy started a few months ago and books will only be held for pickup for 3 days (used to be 5 days).  Depending on the person working and his/her interpretation of "three" days, that time frame sometimes includes the day they call and sometimes it does not.  I often have to make multiple trips to pick up materials and I simply cannot do that any longer.  I'll be relying on our home library as much as possible (for all subjects) and am thrilled we found and purchased this book not knowing it would come in so handy!  It's hardcover, in brand new condition, and was a library book that was removed from circulation.  I would venture to guess it wasn't checked out often (or at all based on its excellent condition).       http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/onourway/318349/ Mon, 23 Apr 2007 07:34:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/onourway/318349/