The Homeschool Mother's Journal ~ 3/10

In my life this week...Very emotional this week hearing all of the devastating stories from the storms that hit last Friday. They were so close to home. One of Danny's uncle's place was in the path of one of the tornadoes...they are fine though! Although, a friend of theirs just a couple doors down did end up passing away because of injuries from the tornado.

Our family's thoughts are with all the families affected by this damaging storm.

In our homeschool this week...

Went really well! I'm happy with how the week went! We were kinda busy this week, but was still at home quite a bit! Which is a good thing!

It was a little touch and go there on Monday with Zachary with his sentences, but Tuesday he wrote them out perfectly and all on his own for me! And he had this HUGE smile on his face when I told him how wonderfully awesome he did! SUCCESS!!! :)

Arlee was working on a report to turn in for a contest, but ended up getting sick the week it was due and was unable to turn it in. She had worked REALLY hard on it...and did go ahead and finish it. {I will be posting it here over the weekend...because I think it was really good, and more than just us should see it!} It was about the Doolittle Raid. I was really happy with all the research and time she put into this paper! She worked on it, on and off, for about 2 months or so. We started it all off by watching "Pearl Harbor"...the one with Ben Affleck. She also had a bunch of books and other documentary dvds to watch as well about Pearl Harbor and The Doolittle Raid. I really enjoyed learning things along with her because she would share with me the things she thought were interesting.

Once she finished her Doolittle paper, we moved on to her next topic...the Holocaust. First off we watched the movie, "The Devil's Arithmetic"...we made it just part of our "school day" by popping some popcorn, and all piling in front of the TV. It really hit her hard. She was crying during the movie...she REALLY felt it. I've been hearing info coming from her for the past few days as she has begun reading thru the books I had picked up for her from the library about the Holocaust.

Frost has done well this week! Last Friday night we found a Salamander outside my in-laws house...the very next day he was looking things up online...all on his own...one how to care for it! What to feed it, how it's habitat should be set up...LOVED IT!! I told him that he should work on a project about Salamanders...but we didn't get to it this week! Would still love to do that with him...with all the boys actually!

For Zach and Liam, I've been really looking into the Ohio State Standards booklets I have to make sure we are covering things.

I think we have a good routine going...well, at least the start of one! You have no idea how happy I am for that!! It's been a LONG time in the making!

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share...

I am inspired by...Frosty has been working REALLY hard on his Merit Badge stuff for Boy Scouts this week!! I'm totally counting these as part of his "learning lessons"!! He worked for 2 hours yesterday cleaning up our yard...yeah, it was THAT bad....plus we've been working on cleaning out our attic, little by little, all part of his Family Life Merit Badge! I'm most proud of him because of for the most part, HE has taken the initiative to start working on what he needs to get done! That is HUGE for him!! One day, he got up before any of the rest of us, and hopped on my computer and was doing some work on one of them! He has REALLY impressed me this week!

Places we're going and people we're seeing...

Saturday... COOKIE BOOTH!! Our amazing Girl Scouts sold 112 boxes at their booth this morning! WAY TO GO GIRLS!! PLUS, because of the tornadoes which ripped thru our county the day before...they collected donations to help those families. I was able to call and donate $150 to Red Cross on their behalf. SO VERY PROUD of those girls!

Sunday... Stayed home for the entire day!! Yippee!!!!

Monday...Boy Scout's Leader/Parents Meeting, Danny was able to go along with me! We got him all registered...he's looking forward to going to Summer Camp with Frosty, and maybe even getting more involved in the troop!

Tuesday...Met a good friend, who turns out to also be the leader of our older Homeschool Girl Scout Troop. She took me to Starbucks...YUM! And we did LOTS of great planning for our troop! REALLY looking forward to whats coming!

Wednesday...Zachary had his piano lessons. Today his teacher filled out his completion certificate and wrote him a little encouraging note at the back of his finished book...and she already had his new books ready to go!! He is VERY excited to be moving ahead with his lessons...as are we! He's been doing such a great job!

Thursday...Arlee went to her Writing Club...said she read one of her stories she wrote for school, which was very sad, and got teared up while reading it, and almost got one of the other ladies attending to cry as well. Shared with them all about the Honorable Mention she received from sending in her poem to a contest thru a Cincinnati newspaper...one of the ladies gave Arlee info on another poem contest that she could enter! :)

Took the boys over to McD's for a Playtime @ the Playland homeschool outing I had set up. There were 4 families including us...ALL BOYS!! Frosty, after about 30 to 45 mins, stepped out of his box and talked with the other 13 year old boy there! They ended up hanging out out in the main part of McD's playing cards! Looked like they were having a great time!

Picked Arlee up and headed home for a couple hours before leaving for another library program right uptown. Took Arlee & Frosty to this one. They made Popcap Art! What fun! And FREE!! Gotta LOVE that!!!

Got my library card updated and such...which I've needed to do for quite some time! Got Arlee & Frost their own cards, too! They were both REALLY excited, and both checked out a few things! :) Now I have to keep up with 4 cards...hmmmm...what exactly was I thinking?? :)

Also picked up our new glasses!! Four out of 6 of us needed them!

Friday...Took Frost to a friend's house to spend the night. Our wonderful friend will will taking him to his Merit Badge Class Saturday morning! Which we are VERY grateful for!! Danny & I went grocery shopping together...counts as a "date night", right?? :)

My favorite thing this week was...This was technically last week, but wanted to share...Arlee winning an Honorable Mention from a writing contest she entered! She got 2 notebooks and 2 pens. She is very excited, and very proud of herself...and we are quite proud of her as well!

What's working...So I think I have found a good set up for organizing lessons. Right to the left of my desk, I have a small shelving unit. On the top shelf, I have this file holder/divider thingy. I have 4 manilla files for the 4 days that we do school each week. I will go in over the weekend, print out any papers that we need for that week...mostly it's just for Zach and Frost.

Then on each day, all I have to do is grab the folder for that day and all I need it right inside. If we don't finish something, I just move it to the next day's folder. If we complete it, it goes right back into the folder. {I will be putting together binders to hold all their papers soon.}

On the front of the folder is a paper clip so I can attach a "schedule" paper...I use that to write down what we have done. At the beginning of this week, I began to start keeping scores of their worksheets, projects, "classes". I just move that over to the next days file folder at the end of the day so it will be ready to go.

It's very simple...I know...and I think that is exactly why it is working for me!

Under the divider thingys...there is a slot that Arlee can use to "turn in work" if she needs me to look it over.

Things I'm working on...Trying so hard to finish up a scarf that I've been working on for way too long! It's one for my niece, and I'm sure she's thinking that I have just forgotten to finish it up! It's been crazy trying to find the time to sit and knit for the past few weeks. Which is sad because I love it so.

I'm reading..."Green Angel" by Alice Hoffman and "Family Feasts for $75 a Week" by Mary Ostyn.

A photo to share...

Sorry, it's a little blurry...but you can definitely see that proud smile he has! :)

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The Homeschool Mother's Journal ~ 1/27

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In my life this week...been feeling much better than I did last week! Still having some bad headaches though...not sure why or where these are coming from, but I really wish they would just go away!

In our homeschool this week...found out that our local libraries paid for a subscription to Universal Class. They offer online classes. They are not credited, but still...I'm hoping this is going to be a great resource for us! Arlee has picked out the 5 classes she wants to do: Algebra 101, Drawing, Adobe, Writing Improvement, and Haunted Places. Each class has an instructor that you can communicate with via email...you are given assignments and exams, and are graded! Best of all?? It's all FREE because of our local library!!

I found a great book at the library to use for "creative writing"! Arlee already got started...and I'm also hoping to do it with the boys as well! I will write more about this in a future blog post!

We started working with Zachary learning his multiplication...."officially". We've answered his questions when he would ask..."What is 3 x 1?"...and go on to explain to him anything times 1 is itself. And some other multiplying rules. But this week, the two of us got down on the floor and I showed him what multiplying LOOKS like! :) He is so smart...and picked up on it SOOOOO quick!!

Places we're going and people we're seeing...We very much stayed in our bubble this past week! Last Saturday was icy out...Arlee was suppose to go to a Girl Scout outing; bowling...but it got postponed. Boy Scouts Monday night for Frosty...they had a Webelo come in to visit. They made small sewing kits together. Zach had piano lessons on Wednesday. He did wonderful...as usual! :) Thursday Arlee had Writing Club at the library. She LOVES this!

My favorite thing this week was...Since I didn't get to post last week, I'm going to say my favorite thing was going out with friends last Friday night! Jason is my friend from high school...and thanks to facebook we have reconnected. We went out to celebrate his birthday with is girlfriend, Katrina, and some of their friends. We had a lot of fun...and was very happy to have been able to be there to watch Jason propose to Katrina!! :)

Danny brought home some farm eggs this week from one of his customers!! He says they don't live far from us, and they said they would LOVE for us to bring the kids out to see all the animals! I think this would be WONDERFUL! I'm hoping that we can take them up on their offer. Loved how excited the kids got to see not only white and brown eggs...but also green eggs! :)

Questions/thoughts I have... Saving money has been a HUGE thing on my mind lately. How to try and cut down on our already tight budget?? Always trying to be on the look out of how we can save a few more pennies.

I'm grateful for... for my amazing son Zach! And for all of his "special'ness" that he brings to our life! Most days are "typical"...we almost feel like we live a "normal" life...and then Zach reminds us of how life is like with a special needs child! It is VERY hard! Found myself hiding in my room one afternoon this week...and crying on the phone to my Husband. This boy has shown my that I can be more patient than I ever thought possible...and exactly what "unconditional love" really means. I'm so very grateful to be Zachary's mother! :)

A picture to share... Here is Zachary learning his multiplication. I have him all the GREEN triangles...because green is his FAVORITE color. I gave him the dice, and he had to roll them. Whatever numbers came up...he had to SHOW me the problem. He did SUCH an AMAZING job! I'm so very proud of him!!

The Homeschool Mother’s Journal ~ 1/14

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In my life this week...has been really nice I must say! I know you all know that I'm trying my best to simplify in my life. Which also includes clearing a lot of our calendar! So far, this past week, I've been home with my family more than we've been out running! And it has been a wonderful change!

In our homeschool this week...we didn't do too much. We did Math drills and Math lessons. We read some. We watched a few DVD's..."Conquest", one about Pearl Harbor, the Pearl Harbor movie's bonus material about unsung heroes, and "A Nightmare at Jamestown". I think that was about it.

Places we're going and people we're seeing...Arlee to spend the night at a friend's house {who happened to also have ANOTHER friend there...bonus!} , Manga Library Program, Boy Scouts, Piano, Anime Club, Writing Club, Self Defense Program with Homeschool Girl Scouts, to InLaws for game night...and that was it!! When I write it out...it looks like a lot, but for our family...this was a VERY light week!!

My favorite thing this week was...finding out that my Husband was taking Thursday off work...which puts him here 3 days this weekend! Unfortunately, he chose to do this because he is not feeling well, and has lost his voice.

What's working/not working for us...Last week we did so well with our schedule...we fell off of it this week. But I *KNOW* it was because I wasn't able to take the time over the weekend to really prepare for the week ahead.

Things I'm working on...finishing up a scarf to donate...then I will begin working on some fingerless gloves that I will be selling! :)

Questions/thoughts I have...trying out doing all my planning on Thursdays for the next week. Planning to do it over the weekend, like on Saturday is just NOT working! It does NOT get done. Then I'm left with NO plan for the following week...and that right there spells out disaster for attempting to get to lessons.

Usually, Danny works on Thursdays...some Thursdays we have Scouts, or Writing Club, so we are in and out, and it makes it hard for a real productive day anyway with lessons. So I'm thinking that the kids can just have a "fun" day...educational videos, play doh, Legos, games, etc. All while I'm working on lessons for the next week. Getting our schedule together, papers printed out, websites together, etc.

I'm reading...no new books at the moment. Haven't had a chance really to read this week.

I'm grateful for...this unusual warm weather! Haven't had to use our heaters as much as we have at this point in winter before! But that all changed this week, too! It was SOOO cold in the last part of the week! Dropped from 50's to TEENS!! In a matter of 1 day!! Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

A quote to share..."Where you end up isn't the most important thing. It's the road you take to get there. The road you take is what you'll look back on and call your life." Tim Wiley

The Lost Art of Letter Writing

I'm sure we all know that letter writing has become one of the lost arts. We have made way for more "effective" and "efficient" ways of communicating. Which I do see as a wonderful progress, don't get me wrong...but we do need, I think, to keep this type of communication alive! It is a simple pleasure...one that we should not lose!

I stumbled upon this website a few weeks ago...

Wordsmithery ~ http://smallworldathome.blogspot.com/p/wordsmithery.html

LOVED IT!! This wonderful woman has written out what she has done for a Creative Writing class she taught for a homeschool co op. It's all written out, and divided up by weeks. Then ideas for a 4 day week of lessons. I'm excited to implement this into our school days!

While running this all thru my head...I decided before we jumped into the lessons...I wanted to start the kids off writing letters to friends. It's important to know how to compose a friendly letter. So we gathered up notebook paper and I brought up an example on the computer. After they finished writing what they wanted to...the majority of the letters were a little shorter than I had hoped, but my fingers are crossed over time, they may get a little longer...we did the envelopes.

I definitely can see how it is so much quicker and easier to just shoot someone an email. But I still don't think it compares to that feeling when you get something out of the mailbox with your name on it!! Especially when you are a kid and don't usually get stuff coming directly to you. Or, really, as an adult to find something pleasant instead of a bill or the useless junk mail!

It went fairly well this first time sitting down with all of them to work on this. I think the majority of them enjoyed doing this little something for someone else. 3 out of 4 of them drew something extra to put in with their letter for their friend. I'm going to be sure that we keep this up along with following the creative writing lessons!

And I'm not going to let the kids have all the fun! My wonderful brother & sister-in-law gave us these great stationary sets which I'm looking forward to be putting to good use this coming year!





Found this great online article. Made me want to grab a pen right away and start writing with great lines like...

"Because receiving a personal letter is so rare these days, it can feel like a gift. Handwritten letters are especially prized."

“If you write me a letter by hand, I know in a way that cannot be faked, that you put more effort into it...”

“The act of writing—narrowing your thoughts and double-checking them and getting them to say exactly what you want—is a wonderful intellectual exercise, and letter writing promotes that.”

http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/letter-writing/

And then...let's also touch on good ole fashioned LOVE LETTERS!! If you are married, or have a "special someone"...when was the last time you WROTE down to them how special they are to YOU??

I remember back when Danny & I first reconnected, and first moved in together. While I was at work, when it was slow, I would spend time writing letters to him. Even if we were going home together that evening. I would write the obvious sappy stuff...hopes and dreams I had for us as a couple, or us as a family...things that might have been worrying me or bugging me...and just about "this and that" that was going on that particular day. I know Danny would totally own up to that he LOVED getting those letters! He got them quite frequently!

There for little while, I would pack a lunch for Danny to take to work. I would add it a little note to remind him that I would be thinking about him that day. Or how much I appreciated him working so hard for our family.

It's been way to long since the last time I've done this. How about you??

When was the last time you wrote a handwritten letter to a friend or loved one??

How about a love note to your "special someone"??

Our First Tuesday of 2012...

Slow starting this morning. When the alarm went off at 8:30am...I *REALLY* didn't want to get up. It was pretty chilly, but knew I had to get our heater started or none of the kids would get out of bed either at 9am! I finally drug myself out from under my warm covers...but didn't stay away long! After getting the fire going in the kerosene heater, I headed back to my warm spot in the bed! Read today's entry in the Simple Abundance book. Then snuggled back down until 9am.

I've been having a hard time sleeping at night lately. Like last night. I was tired, but not sleepy...if that makes any sense at all. I knew I needed to go to bed, I knew I wanted to get some sleep...but I sat in the living room and knitted until early in the morning hours. I did finish 1 of the new set of fingerless gloves I'm making...so I was happy about that. I'm really hoping for a good night's sleep tonight.

At 9am, I woke up Arlee...then Frosty. Zach woke on his own. I started heating up the chocolate chip pancakes I had made on Sunday. Then woke Liam up by telling him I was going to eat his if he didn't hurry to the table! :)

It was a nice...pretty quick breakfast! I'm very glad that Arlee and I made some goodies ahead of time...what a HUGE help for our breakfast time meal! I also got a bunch of ideas from friends on facebook that I'm looking forward to trying out! Who knows...once we master the make ahead breakfasts...maybe we'll move on to lunches...and even dinners!!

After finishing eating, kids doing their chores, and me setting up for school to start...we jumped right into what we needed to do. Following our new schedule. We've found a couple little things that need to be tweaked, but nothing too major though. Maybe a little more time for Math...Frosty does pretty well getting thru what he needs to do, but Zach needs much more time for his lessons...and I think Arlee should add a little more to her time as well. Plus, I had all the way thru until bedtime scheduled...not a whole lot scheduled, just certain things...but I think I like it more where it is TOTALLY flexible...not on the schedule at all.

I was just so tired today...while I was trying to help Zach with his Math lessons...all I could think about was a nap!! My eyes were so heavy, and I could barely concentrate. So once all the major lessons were done...I asked Arlee if she could make lunch for everyone, and I went and laid down. Just could not take it any longer.

After my nap, the kids and I watched "Conquest of America"...it's our History Lesson. So far this week we've learned about how the Spanish conquered the Southwest & Southeast America. It's from The History Channel...and pretty interesting. Much better than reading this all out of a book for sure!! When we were done watching it...lessons were DONE for the day...well...officially.

I worked with Arlee for a bit to reteach her how to knit. She's making a purple scarf for herself as her first project. My hope is that she will be able to help me over the year with making scarves and fingerless gloves to donate. The deal was that if she learns how to knit, I have to learn how to crochet. I think it will be fun to learn along with Arlee.

While we were knitting we watched "Pearl Harbor"...the movie with Ben Affleck. I love that movie...always brings me to tears though...a few times during the movie. I wanted her to watch it. She will be submitting a writing project to the Air Force Museum, I believe it was, about the Doolittle Raid. So I thought this movie might be a good starting point. I also have another dvd about Pearl Harbor, and the Doolittle Raid...plus books for her to get info from for her paper.


It's Taco Night tonight...and I'm pretty excited! LOVE tacos at home! They are SOOO much better than what you get out somewhere! At least I think so!

Do you prefer hard taco shells or soft taco shells??

What are YOUR favorite toppings on a taco??

Mine are...Soft taco shells with taco seasoned meat, shredded cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, jalapenos, salsa, and sour cream.

We all get REALLY excited about Taco Tuesdays!! :)

First Day of Lessons 2012

Welcome 2012!! Looking forward to some great things to come from this year. Although Day 1 did not really go they way I had planned...but it's only going to get better from here, right?

Today, to help work on getting our family clutter free & more organized I set up a donation station. It's nothing too fancy at all...two simple cardboard boxes...one for Goodwill, and one for Wrapping Clermont Together.

Day one done on the MySimplerLife calendar . That was EASY!!





Started using our new schedule today. So far so good. Arlee did her own schedule, fitting what she needs to do around all the boys. Below is Frosty's...which, Zach's is very similar to his.

9am....Everyone up/dressed/chores
10am...Read to Self
10:15...Math Drills
10:20...Khan Academy/Worksheets
10:50...Break
11am...Mango Languages OR Typing {we alternate days}
11:20...Spelling City OR Composition {we alternate days}
11:50...FREE TIME
12pm...Start Lunch...Frosty reads out loud to me
12:30...Eat lunch
1pm...History OR Science
2pm...Creative Writing {only 4 days each week}

After they finish with their writing...they have free time until 5:15pm when we would have our Quick Clean Up. At 6pm I will start dinner, while Zach reads outloud to me. I'm shooting to have dinner around 7pm. Family story time by 8:45pm. And the younger two boys in bed by 9pm, and 10pm for the two older kids.

Here are Frosty and Zach working on their Math worksheets this morning...





Liam's schedule looks like this...

10am...Word study with Mom
10:15...Table Time...this is where I put different activities around the table for Liam to work on on his own. Some he will do, and leave for me to check them...if they are correct, he will get 1 M&M for it. He LOVES this! :) Can't blame him...I would too!
11am...Workbook work with Mom
11:20...Hand writing
11:30...Educational video

The rest is the same as everyone else's.

Here is a pic of Liam's "Table Time"...which worked out pretty well. It took too long though, so maybe next time LESS on the amount of activities for him to do. BUT, it did keep him busy so that I could go back and forth between Zach and Frost.





Here is Liam's "robot" he made with his shapes...





Working on handwriting...




Overall...I think it's been a really good first day of lessons in this new year. I'm sure I'll be doing quite a bit of tweaking over this upcoming week...adding some of the other things I'd like to have in there, but didn't want to overdo it our first week back...before I print out next week's schedule to post...but it's a good base to start from.

Arlee is working on a picture that she will be mailing to a friend...Frosty is outdoors shooting his crossbow with a friend...Zach just finished up his hour of playing Xbox...Liam is playing on the DS...and I'm working here on my blog, about ready to go work on some laundry! Only about 1/2 an hour until we do our Quick Clean Up before starting dinner and getting ready for Danny to arrive home...can't wait!! :)