Educating Emme
• Nov. 13, 2007 - Monday Meanderings and Menu Plan Monday: A Day Late!
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 It's 12:20 a.m. and technically not Monday any longer, but this is the first chance I've had to plan the rest of my week!
Monday Meanderings is a wonderful meme hosted weekly by Tiany. Please stop by and read what other homeschool moms have planned for this week as well!
My Bible reading for this week will center on the book of I Peter. I have seven more books of the Bible to read before the end of the year, with Revelation being the only long one. This is my first entire read through of the Bible - so I will be working more on specific studies next year.
My "Must Do's" of the week include finishing up my Term 2 Schedule for our school. On Ambleside the entire month of December is a vacation with the start of Term 2 the first week of January. We are going to start on December 3rd and go through the first two weeks of December before we start our vacation so we finish up in mid-June with my other two who are in public schools.
Other Must Do's include:
- Send out Netflix and update queue
- Bring blank cd's over to my sister so she can burn us a copy of Handel's Messiah and Josh Grobin's Christmas album (LOVE HIM! -- can you tell how old I am? I just said "album" *sigh*)
- Mail out bills
- Go to parent/teacher conferences for my older two on Thursday
- Finish reading "The Other Boleyn Girl" and start another book for the Fall Reading Challenge
- Send out order forms for bedroom quilt (so pretty) and scheduling book
Zone:
I haven't looked at the zone of the week and I am not sure what the FlyLady zone actually is. I think it is the bedroom -- but I am going to stray from my usual plan and go with the bathroom -- which needs a good scrubbing and some extra special attention!
Train Them Up:
I've been working on manners and 1st time obedience but NOT being consistent enough. That has always been my problem. I am going to single out 1st time obedience this week and really follow through!
Menu Plan:
Welcome to the week-before-Thanksgiving Menu Plan Monday! Thanks to Laura for hosting!
Our week is going to start out with a Mexican fiesta! I'll be making our favorite rice and beans and nachos with all the fixin's! This meal makes everyone in my family very happy!
I'll also be making Chicken Alfredo for my dh while the kids and I have dinner at my Mom's house. He'll have peas on the side.
I thought I would try this recipe that has been sitting in my Recipezaar cookbook for awhile now: Sesame Chicken Bites. I'll serve this over penne that has been mixed with a mushroom, garlic, and green onion saute in olive oil and soy sauce. Served with a green salad.
And since I found a great price on steak, I've decided to make the pepper steak that I posted about in Slow Cooking Thursday! We'll serve it over rice and have steamed broccoli on the side.
I have pork chops left over from last week so I am going to make this pork chops and rice casserole. It looks simple and very tasty!
I've also been meaning to try this hamburger soup. I listed it a couple of weeks back but didn't get around to making it. I'll have garlic toast and salad with this.
Finally, I'll be making my husband's favorite on another night we are at my mom's: sausage and fried potatoes w/ onion. Too greasy for my taste, but he LOVES it!
Lunches for the week will consist of grilled ham and cheese, black bean soup, ramen noodles w/ shrimp and lots of veggies, chicken noodle soup, and mac n cheese. Everything is served with a side of fruit and veggies and hopefully milk! (I try)
Breakfasts will be cereal w/ skim milk, toad-in-the-hole, bagels w/ ff cream cheese & apples, breakfast burritos, and my version of crunchy vanilla-almond french toast w/ sausage links.
This is a full menu for a very busy week, but I hope to be able to get around to cooking all of it! (Or at the very least, most of it!)
I pray your week is blessed!
Sherry |
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• Oct. 14, 2007 - Monday Meanderings: October 15th Edition
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I'm going to do my best to truly follow my Monday Meanderings this week! It's not only important to make lists of what you want to do, but to FOLLOW those lists! I hope you all will be able to get everything accomplished that you want to do as well!
For more Monday Meanderings, click on over to Tiany's blog!
BIBLE STUDY/DEVOTION: I was very bad about this over the last week. *sigh* So I am back where I started last week. Finishing up the book of Hebrews. I WILL start getting up 30 minutes earlier and spending time in the Word each morning this week! I will brew a pot of tea and work on my religion notebook as well! I will!
MUST DO: Weekly home blessing, finish up the yard, call the doctor for a refill of my prescriptions, and call to cancel recurring charges to our checking account.
ZONE: In zone #3 with FlyLady, the bathroom and one other room. I will be doing most of my work in the bathroom, but will work on organizing the school room a bit more as well. I got most of it done before school started this year, but I need to do some tweaking so I can find things more easily!
TRAIN THEM UP: We are working on manners. At the dairy farm field trip last week Emme was not as polite to the adults as I would have liked. We will work on the basics of always saying "please", "thank you", "yes ma'am", etc. I don't want to have to remind her to say "thank you" every time it's appropriate to say it!
MENU:
 It's that time of the week again! Menu Plan Monday! Click on over to Laura's blog and see what everyone will be eating this week!
I have to say that tonight's dinner ended up being one of my favorites and will be added to our family cookbook! I was going to do a Rachael Ray noodle bowl and then someone showed me the Rachael Ray thai shrimp noodle pouch and I sort of combined the two and made my own recipe.
I don't have the exact ingredient amounts, but I cooked linguine in one pot. In a pan I sauteed 3 cloves of garlic, a medium onion, 8 oz of mushrooms, and about 1 cup of cabbage in olive oil. When it was nearly done I added soy sauce, lime juice and chili powder. I KNOW it sounds weird, but it was good! When the linguine was done I added more of the same to it and added pre-cooked shrimp to the vegetables. I mixed it all together and it was SO GOOD! You'll just have to trust me.
So, here goes for this week:
MONDAY: Pork roast with potatoes, carrots, onions, mushrooms
TUESDAY: Cheddar Cheese Chicken with Bacon (aka heart attack waiting to happen) I will be using real bacon in place of the bacon bits though. Served with salad and green beans.
WEDNESDAY: TGI Friday's Black Bean Soup with home made rolls.
THURSDAY: Dinner at Mom's. Leftovers for dh.
FRIDAY: Jambalaya! Yum, I love it! I add shrimp to mine though.
SATURDAY: Dinner at Mom's. DH will have some type of "Helper" meal.
SUNDAY: Roasted Greek-Style Chicken with Greek Village Salad and Crusty Whole Wheat Bread.
I hope that everyone who reads this is blessed beyond measure!
Sherry
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• Oct. 8, 2007 - Monday Meanderings: October 8th Edition
Not surprisingly I am a day late for Monday Meanderings. It's not the first time and unfortunately probably won't be the last! I don't feel organized unless I get this typed up though and it inspires me so much to read what other people list as their goals for the week. Thanks again to Tiany for hosting this!
Bible Study/Devotions:
I read the first 1/2 of Hebrews last week and will finish up this week. I found this study online and will be using this as well.
I've also started a Christian Notebook that I would like to continue to work on. It has notes from sermons, studies, inspirational photos, pamphlets from church, and prayer requests, amongst other things.
MUST DO:
I must get my yard completely ready for the upcoming season. There is still a lot to do!
Zone:
I am in the kitchen this week! I want to get it decluttered a little more and really get it sparkling!
Train Them Up:
In school we have our history co-op on Monday and a field trip to a dairy farm on Thursday, so we have a lot of schooling to fit in on the other three days of the week!
As for behavior and chores, Emme has been working along side of me on a lot of my FlyLady missions. I'm going to continue to give her more responsibility.
Menu Plan:
I'm going to try a few new recipes this week and I have a recipe to review for you as well! If you need ideas for your own meal plan or for a new recipe, check out Laura's Blog!
SUNDAY: Yesterday we tried Kielbasa Cheddar Bake that I found at Sandra's blog. I had to make a couple of small changes because we didn't have everything, but it was SO GOOD! I had leftovers for lunch today and it was even better warmed up. Yum!
MONDAY: Tonight we are going to have sandwiches and soup because there is a homeschool meeting.
TUESDAY: Black bean quesadillas and Army man rice.
WEDNESDAY: Rachael Ray's Noodle Bowl
THURSDAY: Dinner at Mom's. Mike will have tuna noodle casserole with peas.
FRIDAY: THE BOY'S 9th birthday! Per his request: Pizza and instead of cake, Pumpkin Crisp and vanilla ice cream!
SATURDAY: THE BOY'S b-day party at Mom's house. Mexican food, doritos, and marble cake with chocolate chip frosting. (HIS MENU! Grandma never says no!)
I hope you all have a very blessed week and that you are able to enjoy your meals in the company of family and your loved ones!
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• Oct. 7, 2007 - 101 Things to Do This Fall!
I found this great website, 101 Things to Do This Fall, on one of my favorite blogs, In Beauty and In Grace, and wanted to share it with you!
Here are some of the things that I would love to do this Fall:
Find an acorn -- an oak-tree's fruit. If you're not sure sure what to look for, see the Water Oak acorn in the "nut" section of our Simple Fruits Page.
Familiarize yourself with the ten most conspicuous insect orders by finding members of each of them. Our Insect Orders Page can help you.
Find a pine cone and look for its seeds. Our Conifer Page shows a typical pine cone with some seeds next to it.
During the fall, some bird species may be passing through your area that during the summer and winter are not present. See if you can identify these transitory migrant birds. You'll need to examine distribution maps for the birds you identify, using bird-identification books such as those available at Amazon.com.
Identify just one thing in your backyard -- maybe a bird or a garden flower or an insect -- and then use the Google search engine to find out all you can about it. You'll just be amazed at what you can learn!List all the ecological niches you can identify in your backyard. Our Backyard Niches Page can get you started.
Look for animal tracks in mud. You should be able to identify at least dog tracks, as drawn on our Mammal Page.
Find a caterpillar and notice its six black jointed legs immediately behind the head, its stubby, mid-body legs called prolegs and its end ones called anal prolegs. Our Caterpillars & Other Insect Larvae Page shows these.
Find a butterfly and try to identify it at the Butterflies of North America site. Our page on butterflies can give you lots of hints about butterfly identification.Put out a birdbath for birds and other critters. It doesn't have to be a real birdbath, but could be something like a turned-upside garbage can lid. The water should be no deeper than an inch. Keep a list of the species who visit.
Look for squirrels around your house or in the local park. What kind of squirrels are they? Our Squirrel Page may be able to help.
Find a feather and identify these parts of it: shaft, vane, barbs, and barbules. Our Feather Page can help.
Download some free nature books from Project Gutenberg. Look for writings by John Muir, Henry David Thoreau, Charles Darwin and Jack London.
List all the birds in your neighborhood. The "how to birdwatch" part of our bird section can get you started.
Learn to identify your local trees just by looking at their trunks. Our Tree Bark Page can help you organize your thoughts about this.
From a local pond or ditch, take a jar of water and set it in a window where it gets some sunlight. Over the weeks watch what happens to it...
When you identify a bird, see where it nests during the summer by clicking here
Download some free nature books from Project Gutenberg. Look for writings by John Muir, Henry David Thoreau, Charles Darwin and Jack London.
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• Oct. 7, 2007 - Still Need School Supplies!
I know, I know, you probably don't need any more school supplies either -- but when I went to Rite Aid today, they had a huge table full of stuff for 75% off!
I got four 1" binders with the covers you can put your own picture in for .87cents each (I actually really needed these for notebooking! Hurray!)
A very cute pink polka dot 3" binder w/ matching file folders inside for 1.49
Erasers in cute animal and food shapes for .12 cents
A huge pad of multi-colored writing paper, lined and spiral for 2.25 (was 9!!)
A folder that you can use dry erase markers on for .67 cents
Two Index card holders (I have plans for these) for .25 cents each
A stationary set for .49 cents (for our gift closet)
And a good-sized craft kit w/ about 100 colored craft sticks, glue, pom pons, feathers, and five different colors of glitter glue for 1.06! Great deal.
They also had other things on the table, Dora and Diego sunglasses (.99 cents after discount), some blank, burnable DVDs, and many other things!
Also, if you decorate for Autumn, they have everything 50% off, which includes scented candles of the season. I got a pumpkin candle, a cute scarecrow and a new wreath for my door, all for 7 bucks!
Ok, just thought someone might benefit from this so I wanted to share! If you have a Rite Aid, go and check them out!
Oh, and one more thing -- on their sales paper for this week they have some coupons for cleaning supplies that are a good price too. Lysol Antibacterial Kitchen Cleaner for .99 cents!
Sherry
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• Oct. 2, 2007 - A wonderfully educational contest
• Oct. 2, 2007 - Happy October!
• Sep. 30, 2007 - Monday Meanderings for October 1st!
Tiany at Less of Me, More of Him is hosting another Monday Meanderings! I'm going to try and get mine done early this week, as the wheels are spinning and I need to get my mind organized for the week to come!
The first category is BIBLE STUDY/DEVOTIONS:
This week I will be reading through the book of Hebrews. I'm also typing up the notes to my pastor's sermon from today to share at our Wednesday night home meeting, and I just started reading Stormie Omartian's "Lord, I Want to be Whole". (I got this book for free at our homeschool banquet on Friday)
MUST DO:
This week I absolutely must get the yard all spiffed up for fall! I have lots and lots of potted flowers that have seen better days, weeds that need a finally pull, grass that needs to be mowed and edged, and fall decorating to do!
I also must do a thorough Home Blessing!
ZONE:
The current FlyLady zone for the week is the front porch, entrance, and dining room. Since I do not have a dining room, I substitute my yard. This fits in perfectly with my "MUST DO"!
TRAIN THEM UP:
This week during homeschool we will be learning the names of the bones! I bought a 6-foot tall cardboard skeleton at the dollar store (a halloween decoration) and I am going to take a black marker and write in the names of the bones on it. This way Emme will get a pretty-much life-sized reproduction!
MENU PLANNING:
This week I'm going to get to a couple of things I missed last week! (That always seems to happen, doesn't it?)
MONDAY: Calzones
TUESDAY: Green roasted chicken, orzo, spanikopita
WEDNESDAY: Spaghetti w/ meat sauce and steamed broccoli
THURSDAY: Dinner at Mom's House (Mike will get Tuna Helper)
FRIDAY: Bringing Good Home's Family Casserole with a green salad
SATURDAY: Dinner at Mom's again! Will be making Mike Marlboro Man's 2nd Favorite Sandwich!
Hope you all have a very blessed week!
Sherry |
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• Sep. 30, 2007 - Weekly Report: Week 3
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 This week we started going to our homeschool group's Monday co-op. We go from 10-3 and have two 2-hour classes with a 1-hour break in between. Emme was really eager to go!
The first class is World History using Story of the World 3: Early Modern Times. We learned about Charles II becoming Holy Roman Emporer and about the conquistadors and their travels to South America to take gold from the Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas.
The second class is an American Girls class. We will be studying Kaya (Native Americans) for the next 11 weeks and then move on to Felicity (Colonial Times).
The class started with the children sitting in a circle on the floor (about 20) and the teacher asking questions about what the children knew about Native Americans. I was surprised when Emme raised her hand and offered an answer! Then the teacher asked the children what they would like to know.
After this she read 2 chapters aloud of "Meet Kaya" and then they discussed the chapters and answered some questions. After this she passed around several books related to the Nez Perce Indians.
The children then gathered around and we made necklaces similar to the one that Kaya wears in the book.
Here is a review of Meet Kaya at Eclectic Homeschool.
Here is Emme's little Felicity doll wearing the Nez Perce belt that she made in class.
 Here is Emme holding up her necklace. (Bad angle, look closely!)
 Tuesday we worked on doing a booklet and some questions for the field trip we took to the zoo. Excuse the handwriting -- we're working on it!
We also had a field trip to the airport -- you can see Emme's captain wings!
 We worked on math basics all week. An addition table, flash cards, and CLP math book.
In phonics we did Explode the Code, 2 pages daily. Emme read from either Treadwell's Reader or McGuffey Readers. We did spelling each day, copywork, read from the Bible, and devotions.
We finished up our butterfly lapbook and read more about insects in science. We also started to learn the names of the bones in the human body.
We read about the American Flag and its importance in Abeka's Our America 2, read from Burgess Book of Animals, started Understood Betsy, and 3 chapters of Tree in the Trail.
Emme read "Mouse Tales", "Buttons", and the original "Three Little Pigs".
She was not liking "Five Little Peppers", so we switched to "Grimm's Fairy Tale" and I read "The Twelve Dancing Princesses", which she loved.
She did a book report on "Anne of Green Gables", we finished listening to the audio of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland", and we watched the movie "Pollyanna".
Those are all the things I can think of off the top of my head! Spelling's in there somewhere too, more reading, computer work --- OH! I can't believe I almost forgot!
We listened to "Scherhazade" (sp) and filled out a worksheet about how the music made her feel, what instruments they used, etc. We also learned about Rimsy-Korsakov.
We listened to two different versions of "Go Get the Axe" as well.
We started to learn about Da Vinci, filled out an artist worksheet for him and studied a few of his paintings. Emme wants to know why the women he painted looked sad! lol
Also read Walter de la Mare poetry every day, started our 50-state lapbook and began discussing "Delaware".
*WHEW*
I hope to have another week full of fun and adventure!
Bless you and your homeschoolers!
Sherry
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• Sep. 28, 2007 - Fall Into Reading 2007: My List
This post is cross posted from: http://frugaldomesticgoddess.blogspot.com
It's here! It's here! It's finally here! Fall into Reading 2007 at Callapidder Days blog! Woohoo!
Reading is one of the greatest joys of my life. I love the Lord. I love my children, my husband, and my family. And I LOVE to read!
Unfortunately I haven't had much time for reading. I haven't MADE the time, and I really need to!
The Fall into Reading Challenge is exactly what I need to jumpstart my way back into a reading frenzy! I am so excited about the books I've chosen as well! I'm excited about each and every one of them.
Here are the books that I am going to challenge myself to read during the autumn, my most favorite season:
1. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. I've started this book already, but just barely! I read "The Kite Runner" last year and it was in my top 10 favorite books of the year. Different from anything else I've read and full of meaning.
2. Big Cherry Holler by Adriana Trigiani. This is the 2nd in the Big Stone Gap Trilogy. I loved the first in the series and I am sure that I will enjoy the other two just as much!
3. Innocent Traitor: A Novel of Lady Jane Grey by Alison Weir. I have so been looking forward to reading this book! I have it on my bookshelf now and can't wait to get to it!
4. Anne of Windy Poplars by L.M. Montgomery. The 4th in the Anne of Green Gables series. I am totally and completely smitten with Anne and will be heartbroken when the series comes to an end! I am savoring the books and reading only one every 4 months or so!
5. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. Every year in October I choose one creepy, frightening book -- and this is going to be the one for 2007! I've heard really great things about it.
6. A Health Unto His Majesty by Jean Plaidy. This is historical fiction about Charles II during the restoration period. I just taught Emme about Charles II and thought he sounded interesting! I just noticed last night that I had this book on my shelf!
7. Love Finds a Home by Janette Oke. The very last in the "Love Comes Softly" series! I've been putting off reading this because I haven't wanted it to come to an end. *sigh*
8. Miss Invisible by Laura Jensen Walker. I actually won this from Callapidder Days blog! It has really great reviews! I can't wait to read it!
9. The Awakening by Kate Chopin. I try to add in one classic during each challenge. This one is going to be my choice for fall. A scandalous book in the early 1900s, it was banned for decades!
10. Thorn in My Heart by Liz Curtis Higgs. I am so excited to read this one too! Ack! I order books that I am dying to read and then I get them and put them on my shelf and forget about them!
11.: Sarah Canary by Karen Joy Fowler. This is an unlikely book in my collection. I got it from my sister and I am intrigued with its description!
12. The Perfect Royal Mistress by Diane Haeger. Another book I've been dying to read and another book about Charles II! I ordered this book nearly a year ago and it has been collecting dust, poor book!
Those are the 12 books that I am challenging myself to read during Fall into Reading 2007!
Here are other things I will be reading that are not a part of my list:
Timothy 2 - Book of Revelations in the Bible
I hope you've enjoyed reading my book list and if you haven't already, I hope you will join me in this challenge!
Sherry |
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• Sep. 28, 2007 - Blogger Friend School: Assignment 4
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I am getting a late start on my assignment this week, so I hope I don't get any points deducted for tardiness! lol
I really like this assignment and I can't wait to go through all of your posts to see what your favorite sites are as well!
And forgive me if I list more than one -- it's very hard for me to make a decision!
WHAT IS A WEBSITE YOU VISIT EVERY DAY?
I always sign in to Bloglines to read all of your blogs!
I also go to the Totally Frugal Forum each morning and list my ta do list and ways I plan to save money that day!
I also visit Care2 each day and click to donate. Every little bit helps!
FIRST PLACE YOU LOOK FOR A BOOK TO BUY?
If I am BUYING a book, I nearly always go to Amazon first and see if I can get a good deal on it used.
FAVORITE HOMESCHOOL SUPPORT AREA?
I'm going to say that I go to my local homeschool group's yahoo group if I need support with anything.
HOMESCHOOL SITE FULL OF INFORMATION THAT YOU USE REGULARLY?
Now this is one that I could put lots of answers down for, but I will keep it short.
First I would have to say Homeschooling at About.com. They are chock full of anything and everything you could think of in all areas of homeschooling.
Of course my all-time favorite homeschool website it Ambleside!
I have a membership to Enchanted Learning, which is geared to K-3 students. We use their printable books, holiday printouts, crafts, 50-state information, anatomy printouts, etc. They have a lot of free things too.
I use so many more, but you can find a lot of them on my sidebar!
SITE THAT YOU BUY YOUR NEW CURRICULUM FROM?
I don't buy much new curriculum. When I do, I see if Christianbooks.com has it first. They have always had good prices, fast shipping, and wonderful service.
SITE THAT YOU BUY YOUR USED CURRICULUM FROM?
I've found several wonderful things from Paperbackswap. I also check Amazon.
SITE THAT OFFERS FRUGAL TIPS TO SAVE MONEY?
My favorite it Totally Frugal. It isn't as large as some of the others, but the people on the forums are just wonderful and really helpful.
A SITE THAT OFFERS GOOD, WHOLESOME RECIPES?
I love Hillbilly Housewife. There is a section geared to healthy eating on a budget.
A CHARITY WEBSITE THAT YOU SUPPORT?
Care 2
SITE THAT OFFERS AN EDUCATIONAL CALENDAR?
Again, I would recommend Homeschooling at About.com
SITE THAT OFFERS FREEBIES?
This site has freebies for teachers/homeschoolers as well as other freebies, deals, coupon codes, rebate information, coupons info, surveys, and contests. It's really an all-in-one and I have gotten hundreds of free things from them in the past year.
Your Daily Freebies.
A BLOG TO READ THAT IS FULL OF HUMOR?
My friend Stacey at Life in C2.
A BLOG YOU READ THAT IS FULL OF USEFUL INFORMATION?
In Beauty and in Grace
and
Happy Hearts Homeschool Library
A BLOG YOU VISIT BECAUSE IT IS EYE APPEALING?
Training Hearts
A BLOG THAT INSPIRES YOU TO BE A BETTER HOMESCHOOL MOM?
Just Call Me Jamin'!
A SITE YOU WOULD LET YOUR CHILD VISIT?
Webkinz
I think that is going to do it for me! I can't wait to read all of your entries and check out all the new great websites!
Have a very blessed week with your homeschoolers!
Sherry
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• Sep. 9, 2007 - Monday Meanderings September 10
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I really love this Monday Meme that is hosted by Tiany! It helps to give the week focus and also gives us time to reflect on what needs to be done!
BIBLE STUDY/DEVOTIONS:
This week I am starting the book of Timothy. I have been so enjoying the epistles! I really look forward to reading such uplifting words! I was also 'blessed at the curbside' this week! I live next door to a church and they were throwing out boxes of books! I got an entire curriculum to use in our homeschool! Teacher's book, workbook, and test book! I also got 2 books studying the book of Matthew, a large hardbound book of great people of the Bible, and 2 other books about teaching the Bible to children. What a wonderful surprise that was! I will be going over the books this week and planning on how to use it in our homeschool.
MUST DO:
This is a big area this week. My bestest friend in the world will be here from New Hampshire (I'm in Michigan) on Friday! I haven't seen her in 4 years! I have to get all the bedding washed for her bed, scrub the bathroom really good ("guest good!"), make the yard look nice again (I've been hiding from the swarming bees and the skunk ... long story) and do a good vacuum of the car.
Also: Must mail out books for paperbackswap, mail off bills, and mail out Emme's pen pal's letter tomorrow!
Must attend first homeschool meeting of the year and first seasonal combined worship at church.
ZONE: This week's Fly Lady Zone is the kitchen. I'll be following along with Kelly's Missions! I also need to do a really good scrub of the floor and wash down the walls and cabinets!
TRAIN THEM UP: This week in school we will be starting our regular schedule. Mostly I want Emme to get through this more rigorous curriculum. I am also giving her a new chore of picking up 10 things that are out of place in the house and putting them back in their correct spot. We are also having our first Tea Party on Thursday while studying our Artist and Composer Study and listening to our folk song and hymn. (All found on Ambleside)
MENU PLAN: You can find my menu plan here at this post!
Have a very blessed week with your family,
Sherry
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• Aug. 28, 2007 - Just another Tuesday
Last night I started printing out all of the chapters from the free e-books online that we will be needing for our first week of school. Guess who ran out of printer ink? Ugh. I am so angry! I got an ink refill just a couple of weeks ago from Walgreen's! I'm not sure if it was a fluke or if she did something wrong or if it's just a bad service, but it only lasted about 1/5 as long as a normal ink cartridge does! I ended up writing them a letter. Let's see if they do anything about it. I have no choice but to plunk down the money and get a new black cartridge so we can have everything we need to start school!
My Dad is taking Emme to see "Underdog" this afternoon! She is so excited. He likes to take the kids each for one-on-one time. They all love it.
I'm so ready for fall. I never thought I'd say that -- but boy am I ready! I feel so unstructured right now - plus it's so hot and there are so many bees (we have a hive somewhere and they like to swarm me whenever I go out the front door)
Fall always makes me feel like new beginnings. Spring would make more sense nature-wise, but it's always fall that gives me that feeling!
Well, I have a ton of housework to do! Have a blessed day,
Sherry
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• Aug. 27, 2007 - Monday Meanderings
This is my second week participating in Monday Meanderings --- a great way to plan your upcoming week! Thank you for thinking of this Tiany! I will be double posting this, once here and once at my main blog.
I will tell you, last week did NOT go as I planned! My car broke down and now my finances are completely out of whack! I'm trying my best to turn my budget around in order to keep us afloat!
BIBLE STUDY/DEVOTIONS: Last week I did read Philippians, and I was pleasantly surprised to realize what a wonderful book of the Bible this is! I was very moved by it and have to say it's one I will definitely refer back to often! This week I will be starting Colossians. Here is a 24-page PDF study guide I also had a long talk with the Lord the night my car broke down. I admitted to Him that I am having trouble keeping both feet planted on the right path, and asked for His guidance.
MUST DO: Oh boy. I need to do a lot! I did get the boy's hair cut last week, worked on my home binder but didn't incorporate the teacher's control journal like I had planned. Nor did I bring in the boy's glasses to be fixed (due to the car breakdown). So, this week I MUST bring in the glasses to be fixed! I also must tackle my bathroom! I need to do a good scrubdown, put up a new shower curtain (not 'new', but different) and wash the rugs. I also MUST go over my September budget with a fine tooth comb and find a way to catch up!
ZONE: I am in the FlyLady zone of the Living Room! I need to wash the windows, dust, do a good vacuum, and wax the tables.
TRAIN THEM UP: I will have to continue with last week's -- have the children listen to me the first time I say something. The boy most definitely needs more work!
MENU PLANNING: You can check out my menu plan right here! I have several new recipes to try out next week. I did a search on Recipezaar using what main ingredients I had to find out what I could make!
Have a very blessed week!
Sherry |
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• Jul. 25, 2007 - What We're Up To This Summer
Summer is half-way over! We are not doing nearly as much as I had planned on us doing. It seems we've been so busy with Jacob's soccer games and practices that there is little time for anything else!
I do have a few things scheduled, one thing per week, for the rest of the summer. Free or close-to-free activities!
Jennah said today: "I really like reading that Anne book Mommy. I like her. I'm at the part where she accidentally got Diana drunk! I hope they can stay friends! It wasn't Anne's fault!" I didn't let her in on the fact that they stay friends for a mighty long time! I want her to come upon that knowledge herself! I also told her once she finishes the book we will get the movie from Netflix. I already saw it once and it is excellent! I know she'll love it too.
Jacob still gives me a hard time every day. He does a little English, math, and handwriting and once in awhile some art and nature study. He's been having so much fun riding his bike and playing soccer, and that is what he should be doing!
Emme is just reinforcing the math she learned last year. Lots of addition and subtraction drills. She practices copywork and her penmanship is coming along. She reads a book every day and does a few pages in her phonics book. Some times she will go over her sight words and she's done a few little booklets from www.enchantedlearning.com about butterflies and rainbows, sea animals, and more.
I got a lot of the school supplies on great sales. I got 10 packs of 24-pack crayolas today for .20 cents apiece. Lots of folders, paper, pencils, eraser, pencil sharpeners, notebooks, colored pencils, markers, etc. We should be set!
I also found in the dollar section of Target flash cards of:
The Presidents
The 50 States
Insects
Astronomy
All things we are studying next year! I also found a small globe, a USA magnet puzzle, a USA wipeoff board, and a USA board puzzle. Gotta love the dollar section!
They have a lot of really neat things for teaching.
Well, that's my quick update! Time to get off to bed!
Sherry |
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• Jul. 17, 2007 - Goals
It hit me as I was reading this post by a fellow homeschooler that I have NOT set goals! I list. I outline. I plan. I re-list and re-plan. I scour the Internet for information. I collect books, opinions, and worksheets. But I do NOT list my GOALS.
What do I want Emme to accomplish by the end of 2nd grade?
*sigh*
This has opened up a whole new can of worms.
Do you set goals? Do you follow a certain outline? Do you call it a 'scope and sequence'? Are they different from one another?
Let me know what you think!
Sherry
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• Jul. 11, 2007 - Fall Curriculum
I've been working on our fall schedule for some time now. I had a skeleton schedule done last month, but only just filled it in over the past few days.
I am using much of the Ambleside Curriculum with some changes and some extras thrown in. Our schedule is a bit more challenging than it was last year, but it is still a relatively short day!
One change I made this year was to do most of our work on M-TH. Fridays are mostly about notebooking/lapbooking, field trips, nature walks, etc.
I also decided to incorporate a weekly tea time because I know Emme will love it. I've read about so many lovely tea times at By Sun and Candlelight that I thought that I would try them out as well. I am also going to use her idea for homeschool organization with her file folder technique. (I love her blog! She has so many wonderful, crafty ideas! I 'borrow' many of them!)
Here is the schedule for our first term, which will start on September 10th:
Bible Study: Book of Mark
Reading: McGuffey Reader
Copywork: Copywork for Young Girls
Phonics: Explode the Code book 4
Spelling: Using Spelling Time
Math: Miquon Math
Weekly State Study (Using many different resources. Will have separate post)
American History: Abeka's Our American for 2nd Grade
Science and Nature: The Human Body (Separate post with resources)
Insect Study: Apologia's Flying Creatures of the 5th Day
Burgess Book of Birds/Burgess Book of Animals
Geography/World History: Our Island Story
Story of the World book 3, Early Modern Times
Egypt Study: Separate post
Poetry: Poetry of Walter de la Mare
Literature and Tales: Five Little Peppers and How They Grew
Plutarch for Girls and Boys - Aristides
Holling C. Holling's "Tree in the Trail"
Pilgrim's Progress
Shakespeare: Lamb's Shakespeare
Art/Composer/Hymn/Folk study per Ambleside.
Things are broken up where we will be schooling about 2 hours per day. The lessons are short, but thorough. We'll listen to our songs during our tea time on Thursdays, study our artist of the term (Da Vinci) and I will read aloud from "Tree in the Trail" at that time. We'll also discuss what to add to our timeline and notebooks.
I hope this gives you alittle insight into our homeschool!
Right now we are still using our "Summer Term" which is really a laid back version of school. We do our best to fit in the basics every day and I read aloud. Lots of field trips, nature, and playing outside.
Have a blessed day,
Sherry |
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• Jul. 11, 2007 - Timeline Resource
I recently decided that I was going to keep our timeline on the computer. I wasn't sure how exactly I was going to do it, but figured I'd come up with something in Word. Then I Stumbled Upon the most awesome site! Our Story.
On Our Story you can create blog-like pages, add pictures, and any date that you want. Then it creates a timeline that you can view as a slideshow! I made my very first page here, as I am trying to catch up with what we learned last year so I will be ready to go in the fall!
I hope you enjoy this resource as much as I do! Even if you do not want to do a timeline on the computer, you can still use Our Story to keep track of your children's progress, growth, family tree, etc.
Sherry |
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• Jun. 25, 2007 - Summer Update
June 25th:
Things here have been really busy. Life is full. Sometimes I feel like it's hard not to get overwhelmed.
I go through an adjustment period every year it seems. From September through mid-June I homeschool Emme and Jennah and Jacob go to school and spend time with their dad. For the first few weeks that they are on summer vacation, it's like my whole schedule is entirely thrown up in the air and it takes awhile for the pieces to come back down and settle into a new routine. I guess I don't handle change all that well.
Jacob has soccer on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursday evenings. We have church on Wednesday evenings and Sundays. We go to my parents' house on Saturdays. That leaves only two nights a week where we are not somewhere else. I'm such a home body that it is hard for me to adjust. I now remember why I just wanted to stay HOME all fall and winter! lol
We started our summer term last week, and it is going pretty well. Jennah has already read several books so far this summer and has already surpassed all of the reading club requirements! I'm not surprised though. She is also doing her typing lessons (something she had problems with at school, even though they were not graded on it) math, history, science -- just about every subject actually, and mostly on her own. She just started "Anne of Green Gables" today as well as a book about the presidents.
Jacob has been practicing his handwriting, multiplication up to 12, english worksheets, reading about the history of hockey and automobiles, and we are still reading "The Incredible Journey" and "Treasure Island".
As for Emme - I miss the amount of time we had during the school year. I feel as if I don't have enough time to devote to her. She does her math, phonics, and handwriting every day. I need at least a half an hour a day to sit down with her and do religion, history, and reading. You would think it would be simple to find 1/2 an hour, wouldn't you? So far it hasn't been. Although she is having a wonderful summer being a little girl. Catching fire flies, rolling down hills, watering flowers, watching baby bunnies, making new friends, rollerskating, bike riding, shooting baskets with my dad, etc. I definitely should quit worrying so much. We have a full school year ahead of us.
July 1st :
It's been awhile since I started that update. A week anyway! lol This holiday week we don't have any soccer, so it is a much more relaxed week.
We went to the drive in night before last and saw "Surf's Up" and "Nancy Drew". "Surf's Up" had some 'boyish' humor (talking about poop, etc) but the overall theme was a good one. (It's more important to do the right thing than to win. Friends are more important than winning. Hiding from your problems is not the solution)
"Nancy Drew" was awesome! I LOVED it! I've heard reviewers call it "old fashioned" and "Boring". Well, it's a good, clean, adventure/mystery with a good role model in Nancy. She does disobey her father, but she comes clean to him and apologizes. There are some more modern aspects to the movie in some of the characters -- but Nancy stays herself, true to her beliefs. This also got Jennah (my 11-year-old) really excited about starting the 2 Nancy Drew Mysteries I got her for her birthday! I hope this leads to her reading the entire series!
I also wanted to mention that Wendy's kids meals are including audio books as their 'toy'! We got the first "Magic Treehouse" audio book! I'm so geeked about that!
And one more thing -- I am going to be posting a big LINK POST tonight or tomorrow. I found a bunch of great links lately.
I hope you are all enjoying your summer! Oh, and did you all see the gorgeous Strawberry Moon last night? I was blessed enough to be able to sit on my front porch and gaze at it for a bit, listening to the wind in the tree tops. It was just an amazing moment with God! I actually cried, thinking that people could see what I see and hear what I hear and not KNOW that it was created by our Father!
Oh, and to the blogger who asked if I had a template for the family newsletter -- I don't. I have one through my MS Works program that we use. I searched online, but didn't find a free one. I'm sorry.
Sherry
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• Jun. 14, 2007 - Finally -- Our summer Schedule!
This is cross posted from my curriculum_blog.
EMME (7)
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Chores (Bedroom and Bathroom)
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Math Worksheet 5x week
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Copywork in her copybook 5x week
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Read 1-2 easy readers aloud to me 5x week
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I will read aloud from the Bible 6x week
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2 hours outside for playtime 7 days week
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Keep up "girls' garden" 7 days week
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Birdwatching 3x week
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30-minute reading/quiet time 5 days week
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2 pages Abeka history 3x week
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I will read aloud each night -- book yet to be chosen. (Update: We will start with The Courage of Sarah Noble and then move on to Little House in the Highlands)
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Continue learning about birds.
WEEKLY: Nature walk and work in nature notebook. Field trip. Church 2-3x week. Ballet. Attend brother's soccer games. Library reading program.
SUMMER: Vacation Bible School. Vacation to the lake.
Summer Unit Studies: Butterflies and also Oceanography (free download from homeschool e-store. If interested I can try and send as an attachment). (with lapbooks)
JACOB (8)
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Chores (His bedroom, kitchen trash)
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Math worksheet daily
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Copywork daily (written narration)
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30-minutes reading, starting with The_Incredible_Journey (This takes place in Canada which will tie in with our Hockey study)
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2 hours outside time daily
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Art with Draw Write Now 2x week
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Religion daily
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English worksheet daily
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Nightly read aloud, starting with "Treasure Island" Will make a lapbook for this.
WEEKLY: Soccer 2x week. Nature walk and nature notebook. Field trips. Library reading programs.
SUMMER: Vacation at the lake.
UNIT STUDIES: Oceanography and Automobiles and Hockey. We will make a lapbook for all three.
JENNAH (11)
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Chores (Her bedroom, kitchen, some laundry and cooking)
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Math worksheet daily
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Copybook (written narration of nightly read aloud) daily
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30-minutes classic reading (Anne of Green Gables, Little Women - book reports when finished and oral narration during)
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Religion daily
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2 hours outside time
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Help take care of girls' garden
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Birdwatching
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WEEKLY: Nature walk and nature notebook. Field trips. Jake's soccer games and Emme's ballet classes. Reading program at library.
SUMMER: Vacation at the lake.
UNIT STUDIES: Butterflies and also the Seashore. (with Lapbooks)
I really want to take the opportunity to really expand on the children's knowledge and love of learning this summer. I only get 2-1/2 short months out of the year to homeschool my two oldest (due to ex husband) and I want to make the most of it.
Jennah loves reading. She is a voracious reader. However, her taste in fiction is not what i would choose for her. She can recall just about anything she has read or learned about. She has a head for facts and figures. Last year I had her read "Island of the Blue Dolphins", "The Penderwicks", "The Cricket in Times Square", "Alison in Wonderland", "The Magician's Nephew", "Charlotte's Web" and "Little House on the Prairie". (A couple were audio while we were in the car) This did lead her to read 2 more books by George Seldon. Right now she is interested in Charlie_Bone books and Harry Potter. She loves magic and fantasy. Now that I say that, I'm thinking perhaps that "Anne of Green Gables" and "Little Women" aren't good choices for her. Maybe the final books in the Narnia Series would be better? I'll have to think this through.
Here are a couple other reading programs:
Build a Bear Workshop: BABW They offer a book accessory kit and a 3 dollar off 15 coupon. (My kids love BABW)
Barnes and Noble: Summer_Reading For every 9 books your child (grades 1-6 I believe) you get a free book! The selection was pretty good last year. You can get up to 2 free books per child.
About.com: Homeschool_Summer_REading_Club This is new for us this year. You send in a 75 cent stamp once your child has read 500 pages and they will send you stickers, a reward certificate and a prize.
Scholastic: For every 4 books you read and post on their site, they will donate a book to RIF! Book_Buzz
We also go to our public library and they get prizes for every so many hours they read per week. Plus they have weekly educational shows. LOVE IT!
Here are some other things that we try to fit in during the summer months: (Some are local to us)
1. We will create a family newsletter to send to some of our close relatives and friends who live far away.
2. We will visit the Detroit Science Center, as we have a family membership. They have the IMAX there and a planetarium. I plan to go before the end of the month because Jennah will get a free gift for her birthday, and we want to purchase a Venus Flytrap! We also get free and discounted admission to a local Hands On Museum and Cosi Museum in Toledo.
3. We will be purchasing a membership to the zoo. (Either Detroit or Toledo)
4. We will visit the Toledo Museum of Art. (They have free admission) Plus while we are in Toledo, I want to visit Crane_Creek for birdwatching.
5. I am going to try my best to go with a HS friend of mine to Greenfield_Village.
6. Free movies in the park each month, plus free movies at AMC_Theaters.
7. Belle_Isle_Nature_Zoo is the closest zoo to us, yet we have never been there!
8. A park/nature center near us offers educational classes: Monthly_shows like magicians and musicians, and monthly nature_classes.
9. Both Home Depot and Lowe's offer a monthly free child's craft.
10. Also new to us, thanks to another blogger, is the Michael's Crafts Store Kids'_Summer"Camp They have lots of inexpensive crafts to make from mid-late July. Dates in the link and pictures.
11. Our homeschool group has monthly park days and monthly game days.
12. Another nearby nature center/park offers several classes per month Nature_Center
13. There is a beach located about an hour from us that we love to go to on super hot days. We bring a picnic and spend the afternoon. There are also hiking trails and lots of nature to explore Camp_Dearborn
And as if all that weren't enough, I have several audio books we will be listening to this summer:
The Wind in the Willows
Peter Pan
The Call of the Wild
PollyAnna
Robin Hood
Wow! It took me nearly 2 hours to write this post! But now I can relax because I have it all in one spot, including links! lol
You will notice that nearly everything that we will be doing this summer is free or nearly free! Even if you can't afford Disney World, you can still give your children an exciting and full summer!
Have a very blessed, very wonderful summer!
Sherry |
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I was reading through Mrs. Sharp's Traditions and thought I would share a few things with you. 
