The Homeschool Schedule

A few people have asked about our schedule for the homeschool year. Here it is, for your viewing pleasure...Not gonna say it's permanent, because in our house...like your's, life happens, people need us, we need others, we get bored, we need a day away from each other....and the list could go on and on. But this is best case scenario. Here ya go:

Time	Subject	Name
8:00	Rise and Shine, Dress, Eat	Savannah and Tucker
8:30	Sweep Porches- M,W,F Vacuum-T,TH	Savannah
8:30	Take Trash Out- M,W,F Dust T, TH	Tucker
9:00	Bible - Kay Arthur for Kids	Savannah and Tucker
9:30	Math - Horizons and Xtramath.com	Savannah
9:30	Handwriting- Horizons	Tucker
10:00	Language Arts- LifePac	Savannah
10:00	Phonics and Reading - Horizons	Tucker
10:30	Independent Reading	Savannah
10:30	Math - Horizons and Xtramath.com	Tucker
11:00	Break	Savannah and Tucker
11:15	Piano Practice	Savannah
11:15	Stack the States/ Geography	Tucker
11:45	Science- BJU	Savannah
11:45	Journal, Flashcards & Independent Reading	Tucker
12:15	Lunch	Savannah and Tucker
12:45	Maps of the US and World YWAM	Savannah
12:45	ipad games	Tucker
1:15	Wii Fit or TKD	Savannah and Tucker
2:00	Quiet Hour (Read, Educational videos, puzzles, games...leave mom alone)	Savannah and Tucker

Ready, Set, School

While most kids are enjoying the last few dog days of summer vacation...and most teacher's are slowly moving in the direction of the classroom doors, my kids were begging to start school. Now, before anyone thinks that I believe this is because of all the creative and fun learning that I have planned for our first year homeschooling both kids, please don't think I'm that naive.

We've traveled the better part of the last five weeks. Between camps, a mini-vaca for the kids while Bruce and I were at a conference, a mission trip to Wyoming and my quick trip to Ga, I feel like I need to take a deep breath and just take a moment or two to enjoy unpacking the suitcase for the last time for a while.

But for the kids, they see it totally different. School means...new pencils, new books, new folders, new markers, new new new. I remember being the same way as a kid. The fresh smell of new school supplies, even today, excites me just a little bit. A clean page to write on, a book binding not quite broken in yet, the smell of a new sharpie marker. I know...crazy.

So, last Friday when the kids were begging for the school year to begin, I gave in.

Science....earthquakes...oh my!

Keeping up and on track....BTW, have you seen the chalk markers?
LOVE LOVE LOVE!

Mom...this is pretty easy stuff. 

And today....after chores...and me falling down the den stairs (that will be a whole 'nother post...maybe) we began again...easing our way into the school year. We aren't going full force or even starting at a reasonable time yet....all that happens after Labor Day. We're excited...and today as we were talking about the Creation Story, I was reminded again why this is such a good fit for us. Yes, right before Tucker covered his ears to block out hearing how the woman was taken and formed out of man's ribs and let's not even breech the subject of their nakedness. Yes, that's when I remembered, I don't want to miss a moment of the good and the funny. Will it be laced with moments of frustrations and pulling hair out?....yep, but then I'll have a diet coke and a moment of prayer and things will be better. 

So however you school your kids, I hope you enjoy watching them learn as much as I do my own. The moments are going to fly by.....Ready! Set! School! 

Change is Comin'

When I quit my job in June I dreamed of days of organized living, the smell of clean wafting through the air, children who were clean and neatly dressed, regularly vacuumed floors, weeded gardens, and clean closets. Then I woke up! Really? What was I thinking?

Reality is: kids who are covered in the most recent art project we have tackled....usually glue or paint, a son who finds no relevance in wearing anything but his underwear (when does this end?), floors that haven't seen a vacuum in a week, closets that must get cleaned out before they explode and a garden that is fried from our 100 degree heat. Yep...that's the Polaroid of my house.....BUT...

I figure after working from home for several years and my kids hearing "Not now.", "In a minute," and "Are you crazy? No! you can't climb the pantry shelves to get the cereal." ---It's time we had some fun. But alas....as July slips away, it's time to regroup, and get the house in order before school starts back.

We are headed out on a new adventure this year. I'll be teaching a 4 year old class, from 8:30-11:30am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at our church school. Tucker will attend the 5 day program and Savannah will go to school there 2 days a week, while we continue to homeschool. I'm looking forward to it....but beware, there could be lots more talk about crayons, glue and art projects ahead!

So, if you are a teacher- homeschool, preschool, elementary or high school- I'd love to hear one tip you have for classroom management. Share them here and I will repost them with a link to your blog.

More from Download N Go!!!!

I wanted to let you all know that DNG has decided to offer a coupon code for 20% off multiple packs of the DNG units! Wow - 20%. The code is: DNG20PKS - just use that code at check out and receive 20% off any multiple pack purchase!

And then there's a contest!!!! This contest is geared toward Homeschooling moms - but does include Starbucks, Baskin-Robbins and Amazon.com gift certificates (that would appeal to non-homeschoolers too)!



THE PRIZE:


The Old Schoolhouse Magazine and Amanda Bennett Unit Studies have teamed up to celebrate the successful launch of Download N Go™ with a Sweet Treat Prize Package in The Adventure Begins ... Giveaway!
They're offering one lucky winner the SWEET chance to go EXPLORING this FALL!
The entire FALL curriculum lineup of Download N Go™ (Wow! That's 19 studies!).
A $25 gift certificate to Baskin-Robbins (yummy ice cream).
A $25 gift certificate to Amazon.com (for those back-to-school supplies).
A $15 gift certificate to Starbucks Coffee (a special treat just for the teacher).
A full year's subscription to The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine (encouragement and resources all year long).
A "sweet" blue and brown Homeschooling With Heart tote bag (THE must-have accessory for FALL!).

Contest will run May 24 and through June 12!

Enter HERE

Download N Go - Homeschool Curriculum Review

Recently I was approached to do a review/blog tour for Download N Go. I wasn't familiar with this curriculum before, but the concept of downloadable curriculum for unit studies was very appealing to me. So, I signed up and was delighted when a few weeks ago I received my Download N Go unit on wales.

I loved it! First of all, it was extremely easy to save and download. No computer mumbo jumbo that was difficult to understand. Secondly, the content was clear and child-friendly. There was plenty of color and up to date graphics. It's clear someone took great thought to create something that my 4-8 year old student would be happy to dive into. Thirdly, it's a unit study so there are various subjects covered, from art projects and Bible stories to reading and writing activities...Download N Go covers it all. There are also hyperlinks throughout the curriculum so if you decide never to print it out you still have computer generated reasons to follow the links to more valuable information.

At the end of the week they give you precise directions on how to design a lapbook with all the things your child has created during the unit study. There are extra hyperlinks with tutorials to show beginner lapbooking teachers how to assemble the book.

Overall, I'd give this two thumbs up!

Connect with them on Facebook or learn more about them HERE .

Learning our own way

As a homeschool family, learning our own way is something we've been doing for a couple of years now. I don't take any curriculum too seriously, after all, did the curriculum writer have in mind that my 7 year old would rather sing her subtraction facts that recite them from memory. I doubt it.

Today as she was singing "Fourteen minus five equals nine......", I was sitting there thinking how thankful I am that we are able to choose this way for our kids. Believe me, I know it's not for everyone, but for us, seeing Savannah learn in such a way that is the best for her is rewarding, not only because she is "getting" it, but because she is being creative and having fun too.

God must love it when His children "get" it. We all learn differently, some a little quicker than others, some with visual aids or music, others through the written word. But in that moment of learning, when the light pops on and you finally understand what He's been trying to teach you, don't you know He smiles!

How are you learning your own way this new year? A new Bible study, a new worship CD, a familiar book, reading God's Word?

More Homeschooling Sites

These sites come recommended by Christina, my friend of ...25 years (OUCH!- are we that old???) The great thing about Christina is that she and I met in junior high when her great dad decided to start a homeschool basketball team. He took 7 jr high girls and tried to make us basketball players. 5 years later when we graduated he was coaching 3 or 4 homeschool teams and we were beating lots of unsespecting Christian School teams who thought we were just playing basketball for PE class. They didn't know Coach Estes....basketball was life....not a hobby!

Christina and I have recently reconnected on Facebook. She is a homeschooling mom of two and an exceptional photographer. Her homeschool list is lengthy...but she's been doing this a while so hopefully you'll glean from her experience.

Thanks Christina!

Her List:

I noticed that others mentioned Enchanted Learning. Good things there. I subscribed when my kiddos were younger.
Amen on Donna Young!!
Librivox
Paula's Archives
Ambleside OnlineBook Adventure
TanglewoodPaper Back Swap
Answers in Genesis videos
Dangerous Journey study guide
1000 good book list --- and other things on their site---love their history books.
Discovery Education--this is only free if the Public TV station in your state pays for schools to access it. In GA they do and they allow homeschoolers free access. We have to re-new each year by sending our attendance reports and intent letter to a secretary at our local PBS station and she send us the code. Obviously this is not christian. You may wonder why I keep mentioning that. Because I use lots of things that are not particularly christian in our homeschooling. There is so much good stuff out there and we use lots of things Christan and secular and when needed we add our Christian worldview and political views each step of the way.
Copywork ideas
Book of Centuries
animated atlas
Geography
Jan Brett
Old Fashioned Education
Not used--mathbugsZaner Blouser
NASApaper models
Math Facts
Project Gutenberg and The Baldwin Project are in the links below and are also among our favorites. I do find for us that is is better to not use free workbooks such as math/language, because the printing and paper costs are often more than buying the book. Lower costs programs that I have used or that others I know have used and loved
Explode The Code ---inexpensive workbooks from School Box (our local teacher supply store) The one for younger children is Get Ready for the Code.
First Language Lessons---loved this, but a very gentle approach. The price has gone up on these, but there may be plenty of used ones out there. We also loved the CD.After we taught basic letter formation (with Ian-zaner blouser and handwriting without tears/with Chloe, I just printed out an alphabet and showed her how to make the letters) we did copywork--Handwriting paper and then give them things to copy. Either on a chalkboard/whileboard or write it our for them. This can be Bible verses, spelling words, songs/hymns, etc. This kills two birds with one stone esp. for the reluctant writer. ; )
We have used George Washington's rules of civility, passages from good literature--some fun and some serious. Chloe always loved writing excerpts from Little House on the Prairie books. If you want a book for this instead we at one time or another used the Memoria Press Copywork book and some from lulu.com .Reading great books is a wonderful way to learn to read or after learning to read. I loved this instead of readers---though w/my mom working in an Abeka school, we have our fair share of those too-we just treat them like books. We used Phonics Pathways and just read books.
I did use Rod and Staff English for awhile and may pick it back up. This is a no frills curriculum. You don't write in the books, so they can be used w/multiple children. For now this is why I am not using them---Ian is a very reluctant writer and it was killing him. It is a very thourough program. Compare w/Abeka, though R&S includes more writing instruction then Abeka. Mennonite company therefore very old fashioned and wholesome.
I have used several Math programs, but probably the best value in the lower grades is to get a workbook (Abeka, Horizons,Singapore, etc.) and either teach the concepts yourself or try to find a used cirrculum guide on a swap board or maybe e-bay.
Abeka workbooks can be ordered at the hotel meetings all around the USA for free shipping. If you don't mind using the library, you can do history and science completly with only the library, or get a guide of some sort and pull books to go w/it from the libraray.
Most of our homeschooling years I have loosely gone by The Well Trained Mind. I love her history--The Story of the World. You can buy the book and activity guide and just pull from the library. Some Christians do not like these, so fair warning. I did add Mystery of History and the Vos bible story book side by side w/these (a list helping coorelate those found here), but the author for MOH has not finished her history cycle, so at some point I had to start pulling from other resourses. I am a huge history buff and would love it if we didn't have to do any other subjects ever, so this may not be anything like what you are looking for. Some people I know will do a year of American History with their children and then start w/Story of the World. In the elementary years, I love how she outlines science. Using the library and the computer you can do a fantastic little science program. Fun too!