Stuff we do, stuff we learn, and other stuff. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/texlex/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Wed, 2 Aug 2006 08:47:00 -0500 Wed, 2 Aug 2006 08:47:00 -0500 I've probably spent an inordinate amount of time on this project. I figured if I posted it for others to use, my labor would not have been in vain. Of what do I speak? It's the Table of Contents page for the weekly dividers of the kids' history notebooks.  Because I couldn't cram all the info I wanted on the regular tab dividers, I sprung for the Avery Ready Index TOC dividers. Being the office supply geek I am, I already had the Avery Wizard software. So I figured it would be a cinch to create the table of contents for Unit 1 to use in the kids' notebooks. Not so. (Note to self: next time, start the Avery Wizard, create the list from there, save the list, edit the list in Word. Score another one for the Obvious Files.) Now I'll have a template for the next units. In addition to the learning curve for the Avery template, the other time issues was finding the dates to go with the topics. I'm not sure why TOG didn't include those on their topic list, but I added them - as much as for me as the kids. I know the dates are in general and some are subject to interpreation, but even general dates will give them pegs to hang info on. Now for the moment you've waited for:  Lexie's Table of Contents Cover Sheet for TOG Year 2, Unit 1, to be used w/the Ready Index Dividers. Here's the link to it: Download tog_2.1 weekly topic titles w title.doc (I really need to figure out how to clean up link titles at some point.)  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/texlex/176890/ Wed, 2 Aug 2006 08:47:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/texlex/176890/ Woo-hoo! It's the first day of school and the kids are finally going ...oh, wait, they're not going anywhere. I'm thankful they'll be joining me at our kitchen table to learn. It did occur to me that if they were in a different school, they would all be gone during the day. (Have I mentioned that before?) Sound interesting, but I'll pass. I have my moments, many of them, when I simply get tired of referring, training, etc., but it's worth it. Now on to a bit about our day: I would be remiss not to document the first day of school at Happy Jack Skool of Lurnin' in some way. This will be it, because I didn't take pictures. Dear Boo's 1st day of kindergarten will have only a blog entry as a testament. (Maybe we'll take one later this week.) She did a few pages in her Get Ready for the Code book and a Barbie number book. I'm easing her into it. Songbird is in 1st grade or so. She easily gets her work done and is quite motivated by the monetary reward at the end of each workbook. Fifi is in 2nd grade & coming along well. Amazingly, she was the first one up this morning and got to work first. She likes working w/her CD & headphones on, just like I do. Thanks to her Wordly Wise vocabulary book I learned that groom is also a word for someone who takes care of horse. Gameboy is in 4th grade & had a hard time today getting started. I would too if I had a friend over. :) However, he managed to get his work done in time to have some quality Runescape time. Our first day of school doesn't have a lot of the trimmings associated w/institutional schooling first days. No nerves about the new teacher & classmates. No new clothes. (I meant to buy the kids at least one new outfit. Maybe at the one month mark or something goofy like that.) We do have new books & some new school supplies, but not all the cool stuff other schools' students get.  We do have a new schedule of sorts. I'm pretty optimistic about it. I feel more prepared this year than any of the other five. :) Incorporating "home training," reality discipline, simple routines, & more reading, writing & P.E. are some of my main goals for this first unit of TOG.(Cross posted at my Lexical Light blog.) http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/texlex/176788/ Tue, 1 Aug 2006 23:08:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/texlex/176788/ Given the age of my children and my fondness for school supplies, that post title could refer to one of two things. I'll go w/the office supply version. I've spent about 3-4 hours the past few weeks putting the Base Unit & Units 1&2 in sheet protectors for TOG Year 2. I don't know that it's neccesary, but the rep at the convention had hers in protectors & I liked it. In addition to the cost, the down side is that each componet now requires a 3" binder. I hope to use the curriculum again in a few years, so hopefully it will be worth the time & expense. If not, at least I had fun doing it. (I know - I'm a thrill a minute.) Up next for to TOG my blog: categories in the sidebar and resources links. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/texlex/168580/ Mon, 17 Jul 2006 23:38:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/texlex/168580/ I've switched history curriculum from Sonlight to Tapestry of Grace. I've "used" Sonlight since I started homeschooling my soon to be 4th grader so I have the K-3 Sonlight Core & Language Arts. (I also have K & 3 Science.) I'm torn between trying to sell them and keeping them. They take up so much room, but they are filled w/so much good info. Suprisingly when I mentioned to hubby about selling them he said to keep them, asking if I wouldn't use them. Because TOG also takes up a lot of room (mainly because I put the units in sheet protectors),  I was fairly set on getting rid of my SL guides. However, tonight after spending some time w/them as I organize the schoolroom, I'm not sure I want to sell them. Overall  the information will not go out of date, barring minor (or major) country changes or something. For now, I'll send them upstairs to hangout until I decide their fate. That's not what I'm blue about. I'm sad because I haven't completed one full year of any of the SL stuff. What a waste of great resources! That really bums me out. Oh, well. Nothing I can do except try to utlize TOG better. BTW, I hope to be posting more on my journey as a rookie TOG user. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/texlex/162913/ Thu, 6 Jul 2006 23:09:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/texlex/162913/ No, just workin' on stuff. Looking forward to getting back here & blogging some. Been reading & digesting Time Management from the Inside Out in hopes of figuring out how to execute...my plans, that is. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/texlex/73446/ Wed, 25 Jan 2006 23:03:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/texlex/73446/ My Final Review for the Summer 2005 issue of TOS is up at Lexical Light. As I mention in my review, I love the combination of their blog site and magazine. They compliment each other well.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/texlex/49085/ Sun, 27 Nov 2005 23:51:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/texlex/49085/ 5 minute post here: Main point is to record school goals for the week. Gameboy Work 1 hour at a time. Post each day on Mr. Ron's blog. Morning routine. Sonlight read aloud Fifi & Songbird Work 30 minutes at a time Do Phonics Pathways and read 15 minutes in Bible w/her. Math Read library books w/them Bellaboo Read to her daily All Work on writing their part of the Christmas letter. Embarassingly simple goals.   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/texlex/49084/ Sun, 27 Nov 2005 23:46:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/texlex/49084/ I just added MozartMom of "Mozart & Mudpies" to my friends list.* I found her when I was scanning the Member List looking for Gameboy's new icon that we so triumphantly resized. Why did I look at her blog? Her icon was a bird, so I was wondering if she had a template that matched. (Songbird on the brain.) She didn't have a bird template. In fact, her template is quite simple, perfect to show off her fascinating pictures of her life. I stayed a few minutes reading and being inspired. *From now on I hope to write a brief post about how & why I add new friends. It's fun to back track, if you can. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/texlex/42724/ Wed, 9 Nov 2005 23:14:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/texlex/42724/ I want it to be like Amy Beth's - fun thoughtful, nice to look at it, w/a soundtrack and lots of interesting pictures & links. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/texlex/39437/ Tue, 1 Nov 2005 15:42:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/texlex/39437/ Ever since I went to a writer's conference in June, I've been interested in using blogs as a writing tool for myself. Now I'm seeing how the kiddos can use them too. Tonight Fifi wanted to write a post while I combed her beautiful curly hair. (Diversion from the task a must tonight.) She worked dilligently for a good 30 minutes to type and spell the first sentence of her post. It was great to see her haning in there. She's been using Typing Instructor to learn to type and is developing confidence in her reading skills. Writing that post tonight was the perfect excercise for her. (Not to TOS: The smiley's are a great incentive. Any additions would be welcome.) Then 4 yr. old Bellaboo wanted to post on her blog. Actually, she mainly wanted to play with the smiley's, but she also said she wanted to spell. Turns out, she wanted to type some too. She chose four of her favorite smiley's (because she's four) then dictated the text to me. (Except the one she typed. )  Yeah! Note to self: I'll have to ask my doc what he thinks the effects of being on the computer at a young age will have on the kiddos wrists in the future. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/texlex/37986/ Thu, 27 Oct 2005 22:55:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/texlex/37986/