Green Thumbs

Well we're growing HERBS, of course!!

Yes, Chloe's Botany study this year has us on our toes!! And growing herbs is one of our assignments - but this is good for Mom, right!?!?!

What Are We Up To???

That is a very good question - and we are taking guesses...

Snow Day!!

We are tough homeschoolers over here - we usually don't take "snow days" like the schools do - but we did make some time today for "snow fun"!! I wanted to share these great ideas as they are not mine and you might like to use them as well!

First we started our Snow Flake Cocoa and it simmered for 2 and a half hours:

Then we made our Snowflakes to eat!!

Even the boys thought we were quite culinary!

Sad Math

Well - we have begun our school time again and today's lesson was in measurements of time. It should have been an easy lesson - instead, it was VERY PAINFUL!!! My twelve year old asked me, "Mom, how many years are in a decade?" I told him, as any good mom would, to go look it up!! He came back and said, "Wow, I am over a decade old but you, Mom are almost 4 decades!!" Yeah, just the encouragement I needed in my day! I said, "Wow, you are right, " trying to keep the smile on my face! Then he plunges forward, "Just think, you are very close to a century!" Now, I didn't need that, that's for sure!! And it hurt even worse when we got to the Millennium - ugh, I think it's time for spelling!!

It's Free!!

After all those homeschooling posts - when I saw this - I had to share!! So go HERE to get your freebies!!! I'm thinking they are VERY helpful for our school year!!

Back to Homeschooling Week

Thursday, August 9---If I had only known...What have you learned on your homeschooling journey? What would you/did you change? This is an opportunity to encourage others who are just starting out or who are struggling with issues that seem unsolvable. It is also a perfect opportunity to tell us about one of those days made you want to throw in the towel. A funny story? Perfect!

What have I learned on my journey? That I may not know it all before I teach it, but hey, Mom is still learning too and sometimes this time around - I actually remember and understand it better than when I was learning it in school. Wow - history actually makes sense to me now!!

Homeschooling is definitely something I could not do as well without my husband - he helps out where I am weak, even after a long day at work he still helps me grade if I am behind, he reads to the boys every night before bed- usually history and Bible - both things we maybe didn't do in reading aloud during the day. He faithfully works with the boys to memorize Bible verses and he encourages me to "keep on", especially on the days when I'd rather let someone else teach them!!

Friday, August 10---Curriculum - What curriculum do you use? Where do you buy it? Have you found a "gem" that you must share with others? Was something in particular a complete failure for you and your kids?

Our curriculum is a hodge podge - but I like the variety. First of all - I always go to Sonlight's website to see what they suggest for reading for each grade - their curriculum is wonderful and I love their suggestions. We use Saxon for Math - nothing else to say on that - it's good and it's full of review - we need that!! For spelling this year, we are trying a new program, Sequential Spelling, an Avko publication. We use Drawn Into the Heart of Reading for our reading curriculum - I can not say enough good about this reading program. It is very thorough and covers lots of different genres, but the kids choose from a list what they will read for that unit - I like it that way, the kids can choose something that interests them. We do both Science and History/Geography with Switched On Schoolhouse, and that is another nice break from textbooks. We are also trying a new writing program this year from Stack the Deck Writing Programs. We will see how that works for us this year! Lastly, we use Easy Grammar for our grammar skills. Do the boys LOVE it? No, but it's good for them and it's what Mom LOVES to study!!! We supplement with Wordly Wise and Explode the Code workbooks. AND where do I buy almost all of it??? Rainbow Resource - they have excellent prices!!

**I decided to take part in a Pay It Forward book giveaway, so go HERE to find out what I am giving away this month!! All you have to do is leave a comment and then do a post on your blog to be entered in the drawing. It's a great product for teachers and homeschoolers!!

Drumroll - in my homeschool wanderings this week - I have found a giveaway AND a new curriculum/bookstore. For all of you that have emailed me about toddlers/preschool, etc., She has some great stuff in her store for that age!!! SO - Check out the giveaway AND the store!!

Back to Homeschool Week

Randi, over at I Have to Say, is hosting Back To Homeschool Week - so I am taking part in this week's festivities -

Tuesday, August 7---How do you homeschool?Scheduling, classical education, unschooling, getting the kids to help with chores, how to be "mom" and "teacher" at the same time, special needs, teaching an advanced child, how to teach the tough subjects, teaching high school, teaching with babies and preschoolers in the house, budgeting for homeschool supplies, notebooking, etc., etc., etc...

Wow - let's see - since I taught school I kind of formulate my curriculum based on what each of my kids each need. So our curriculum is not from all one company - it is wide and varied!! I lean toward Charlotte Mason ideas (for those of you homeschoolers - you will probably know what that means!!) and using LOTS of literature!!! Hmmm, wonder where that comes from?!?! I also do a lot of letting the boys help each other - correct each others' spelling, give each other flashcard tests, pre-read writing assignments with each other before I ever read them, etc. I also have each of them do some reading/working with Chloe each day - she loves it and it gives me some time for more one-on-one for each of them. Since adding Chloe, I have had the fun challenge of keeping a little one busy during the school time. We have found some great curriculum to use with her - one of my favorites is Little Hands to Heaven by Carrie Austin. This one is set up day-by-day and tells you exactly what to do - learning letters, numbers, etc. Another great one is an all online curriculum called Brightly Beaming. This is another one that has worked well for us and it is set up by a theme each week - then adds letter, numbers, etc. I like their focus on nursery rhymes too - I think that's important and lots of curriculum forget that!

Wednesday, August 8---Getting out there...Extra-curricular activities, community involvement, volunteering, sports teams, music lessons, making sure your kids have opportunities to be social, co-ops, etc., etc., etc...

All of our boys take piano lessons, and we have started guitar with our oldest as well. Our piano teacher is wonderful and involves the kids in duet contests and solo contests. We meet with a couple of other families each week and do some science units, writing projects, etc. This year we are going to be doing an Iowa Unit Study together - I am excited about that and think it will be fun to do together. Another wonderful thing that we have here is a larger group that meets twice a month - they "hire" teachers and do PE, Music, Art and Science together. I like that larger group setting, but yet it's only for a few hours on a weekday - my boys enjoy this as well. All of our boys play hockey too - if you've read our blog for any length of time, you are WELL AWARE of this fact!! They love hockey, but WOW - it does consume our winter months!! It is great exercise though and a wonderful way to learn team sports, etc. Our library also offers programming for homeschoolers - a science class taught by our county naturalist once a month, etc. We try to do all of those things that we can - our kids are very social and LOVE to be with their buddies!!!

(So there you go - I squeezed two days into one here!!)

Back to Homeschool Week

I Have to Say is hosting Back to Homeschool Week to share why we homeschool and other fun tidbits - I thought it would be fun to play along, so here we go!

Monday, August 6---What led to your decision to homeschool? Why do you do what you do? What brought you to homeschooling? What factors played a part in your decision?

I taught before we ever had children so when we did first get pregnant Joe said right away that he hoped I would consider homeschooling our children. When we lived in G.R., the school we would have have to send our children to was "inner city" so we were hesitant to send them there AND we knew we could not afford private school so again, we felt tugged to go the "homeschool" route. Before we ever really started school with the kids, we moved to where we are now - we had to laugh because the first thing people said to us here was, "Oh the schools are so good - you won't homeschool here!!" You know, though, "schools being bad" is not the real reason we choose to homeschool - we want to spend time with our kids, we want them to have time to "be kids", and God gave me boys right off the bat - and sadly enough, having been a teacher, I do not feel that schools do well with boisterous boys in the classrooms! So, we began our homeschooling journey that is still going to this day. My boys have never known a traditional classroom (take that as a good or bad thing!!) and they are now going into 4th, 5th and 6th grades. Not everyday is a "walk in the park" but I do love being with them, watching them mature, and knowing where their strengths and weaknesses lie and then working on those areas daily. I love it that they can get their work done, practice their instruments, AND play hockey without getting to bed at midnight! I love it that my kids are content just to be with each other and have a bond that I prayed for for years.

As I always tell people that ask me about homeschooling, "Is it for everyone?" No - I do not believe it is - I believe everyone can do it, but you have to be disciplined and committed to the whole process - AND some days that is hard!!! "Do I sometimes wish my kids were leaving at 8 am and going to school all day??" Yes - it sounds wonderful to have some peace and quiet. "Will I put the kids in school this year?" No - I feel God has called us to this and it is so rewarding to me to watch them make progress both educationally and spiritually.

Do I think homeschooling is THE ONLY way??? Nope, not at all - I taught in the schools and I feel strongly that there are lots of great schools out there. This is just working for us right now so we'll keep going until it doesn't "work" anymore OR they graduate!!!! (Whichever comes first!!)

My Two Year Old

Well - I must begin by saying that everyone needs a two year old - PERMANENTLY!!! It keeps you on the edge of your seat! I had to share today's story of living with my two year old.

We had not had a very good day - the boys were not doing well with school (don't tell - homeschoolers aren't supposed to admit that!!!) and I was feeling very near the end of my rope (I don't think Homeschool Mom's are supposed to admit that either!!) SO I decided to bring Chloe up, read her a book, and sing and get ready for her nap. We were in the middle of Dora when the boys came up and asked if they could play the computer - I promptly put down my book and began (in a very not-happy-motherly-tone) to explain why they weren't playing any computers today (and maybe never again!!!) until their work was better. Not even halfway through my tirade, I am looking at them and they are all trying hard not to laugh. NOW - that is NOT funny to a mom that is VERY ANGRY - and I could tell they were trying very hard not to laugh - and that's when I looked down - Chloe was facing them sitting in my lap - and she was shaking her finger at them and moving her lips and shaking her head up and down and back and forth like she was really reaming into them.
OK - I have to admit - that did it - I was also laughing - AND after this day, I needed a good laugh - -

See why I think everyone needs a two-year-old?!?!?!

(This picture is an older one of Chloe - but it sure does give you a great idea of her " mad motherly face"!!!)

School's In Session

Well - school has started over here and Mom's busy again!!! Some moms look forward to school starting and their house gets quieter - mine just gets busier!! We homeschool and, don't get me wrong, I LOVE it (most days!!) but it does make for a much busier time for us - especially Mom!! So - if my posts are less frequent - don't give up on me - just bear with me!

We have a full school year this year with a 3rd, 4th, and 5th grader and a 2 year old! AND - all three boys on different hockey teams - IF we make it through this year - it will definately be by God's grace only!!!! :)

So enjoy the smile - enjoy the Fall-feel (even if only for today!) - and grab a good book and read for awhile - that's probably what we are doing over here!!

Couldn't Resist!!!

Sorry - had to post it - it's from a collection of comics for Home School families, but this one is great for all moms!!!!

"Taken from The Official Book of Homeschooling Cartoons Vol. 2 - by Todd Wilson www.familymanweb.com "

ENJOY!!!!
Becky :)