Education Update

 

When we restarted school after the fire the children would take 3 hours to finish two pages in their math workbooks.  It was torture.  I am happy to report that in the last two days the kids have completed, not only 2 pages of math, but also a page of cursive practice in under an hour!

 

In the next two weeks, while my parents are here (extra hands and all that) I plan to prepare for the addition of another subject, scheduling it to start after Grandpa and Grandma leave.  The book we will be working through is called WriteShop Primary Book B.  (B or 2, I forget right now)  In this course they will learn things like writing a friendly letter, writing poetry, retelling familiar stories, and writing personal narrative.  Some skills included are paragraph formation, rhyming words and using a dictionary.  At the end of each of the ten lessons they will publish the project in a variety of different ways.  I am excited about this course, even though it is quite parent involved; I prefer to allow the children to learn on their own.  This subject doesn’t lend itself well to that at this stage / age.

 

Once we are well established with WriteShop, but well before baby is due to arrive, I plan to add yet another subject to their requirements of the week.  We started Apologia Human Body in late January and I have just received most of the books this week.  I am waiting on one journal that is back ordered.  The girls were really enjoying the lessons we got done and wanted to do more and more each day; I had to hold them back to prevent burn out and information overload!  That’s exciting for me!

 

It won’t be long until I will be teaching from the recliner / couch.  Not that I expect to be on bed rest or anything serious like that.  I just know that I will be slowing down and will need to save my energy for things that need to take my energy – like appointments, and cooking.  My children are all pretty good helpers and for that I am grateful.  They mostly take care of the laundry and dishes now and that helps so much!

 

I plan to carry on through the summer and probably until the end of the year with the subjects we are currently working on and have planned to add.  With a new baby and building a house, I know we can’t handle any more than that.  I’m just hoping it’s not too much.  I might organize it differently, if needed.  The other plan I have in mind is to do “modules” of subjects – one month of math, daily, followed by a month of WriteShop, daily and follow that with a month of Anatomy.  I would keep penmanship (cursive) in the mix through the 3 months.  Anyway, I’m just thinking and planning and trying to remember that we have so much other learning going on this summer that book learning isn’t all there is in life.  We want to do things like fishing and camping; of course there is the house build (when will it start???) and the new baby.  Those are HUGE learning opportunities, too!

 

Keep learning daily!

 

Getting an Education = Experience

 

My school age girls got a really neat experience this last week.  They had the opportunity to attend a week long Musical Theatre Workshop.  For 5 hours a day, Monday to Friday they worked with a young lady from British Columbia to put together a mini-production of a full length theatre production.

 

They were tired at the end!

 

How she runs her program is something like this:  on the first day she gets to know the kids / group.  She has a couple of plays in mind before hand and depending on the age and enthusiasm and dynamic of the group she chooses which drama they will perform.  She assigns parts and they learn them, the songs, the choreography, etc.  She does vocal exercises and team building “games” and movement / acting games.  She really pulls the group together and gets them working as a team.

 

This group, by my estimate, was mostly under the age of ten.  I think only four of them were older than Kristyn.  And the youngest was 5 or 6.  There were 13 students, mostly girls.  I wish I could post a picture of the whole group, but without the consent of the other parents I don’t feel comfortable doing so.

 

My girls have been involved in choir and both Kristyn and Cora had an opportunity there to do a duet / solo that involved a little acting.  They did well then (two years ago), but I was AMAZED at how far they’d come after a week of intense training and working.  And my shy little Marrissa spoke her lines so clearly!  Kristyn had a fairly large part in this production and hardly faltered on a line.  Of course, like most people I know, they picked apart their production saying I messed up here and she messed up there and we forgot this part or that.

 

The make-up and the back-combed hair

were the highlight of the afternoon!

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

A great suggestion

 

There was one day this last week where I found myself fighting with Cora about doing two rather simple (review) pages of math.  They were subtraction questions.  It wasn’t just dawdling.  It was all out, “I am NOT going to do this”, laying on the chair, sobbing, crying, fussing.  This carried on for about  3 hours.  Finally I did give her a break, thinking she needed to spend some time with just Mom, I took her for a walk to get the mail or something.  Well, when we got home things still hadn’t changed; it was still the same attitude and still the same struggle, but those two pages did get done before bedtime that night.

 

As we moms often do, I lamented on Facebook my struggle.  I got some great suggestions.

 

A} cover half the page and play beat the clock.  Basically, time the first half of the page and when doing the second half, try to beat that time.

B} If the first beat the clock doesn’t work, break the page down further, only uncovering one line of questions at time.

C} Work in a different chapter of the book, covering a different topic altogether.  Give the mind and review work a break and learn a new concept.

 

So the next day, I offered Option C.  Cora took my offer.  Kristyn did not.  Guess who I had trouble with that day?  Kristyn!  HUGE SIGH!  But the day was not nearly as long as the day before with Cora.  Cora finished her pages in the new chapter in RECORD time!  I think it took her half an hour to do 2 pages.

 

On day three (today) of this saga, both girls chose to work in the new chapter.  Math work took less than an hour for both girls. I am so glad for the suggestions I received on Facebook that day!

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

About Our Homeschool

 

“This is TOOOOOOO HaRd!  I can’t do ALLLLL these questions!”  I hear it almost every day!  And I don’t require very much each day, either.  The level 3 math books that Kristyn and Cora-Jean are working on now have fewer pictures and more questions per page. 

 

HA HA!  Time to grow up, girls!

 

Ya know what though… They’ve completed the two pages I require each day that I require it.

 

We sit down for math work Sunday (unless we go to church) through Friday, most weeks.  Rayna has a preschool level book that is teaching her letters, numbers, colors and shapes.  She loves it.  She is self-directed completely and can work on any page she wants.  I’ll read her the directions (or one of the older girls will) if she wants, but if not that’s okay too.  Rayna is just pleased to be included in math time.  Wyatt tends to do more than the required 2 pages a day.  Wyatt (level 1 book) and Marrissa (level 2 book) require a lot of help reading the instructions and explaining what needs to be done because Wyatt reads very little (if at all) and Marrissa is starting to pick up more words every day.  I sit at the table with the five of them and help where needed, but mostly I just keep them focused.  Kristyn and Cora are both working in the level 3 book and I love the competition and the comradery.  They each try to get done first but then as soon as one is done, she digs right in and helps her sister get her pages completed too! 

 

As soon as the required pages are done, they are free to go play.  They love it!  With the warmer weather, they usually choose to go outside, jump on the trampoline or play in their “fort” under the big evergreen trees down the hill.  They have made a little “house” down there, using a blanket to section off the bathroom, and in one of the “bedrooms” someone has a blanket in the shape of a nest on the ground.  I haven’t seen my children pretend play this much in a long time!  I love it!

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Getting A Routine Back: The Next Step

 

Last night it hit me.  My kids had taken over the house!  They were making the rules.  They were deciding what and where they were eating.  They decided when they were going to sleep.  Every time I asked someone to do something – laundry, dishes, clean up – I had a fight or argument on my hands.  The children had taken to violence – hitting each other when they didn’t get their way.  The screaming, the shouting, the disrespect was becoming more than I could bear.  The last straw was last night, when after I told them to shut down the computer, I found them watching a movie and camped out in the computer room prepared to sleep there.  I didn’t loose it.  I didn’t scream.  I didn’t holler.  I simply walked away, formulated a plan, and came back to tell them, “I am not happy about this.  Tomorrow we will be having a discussion and things WILL BE changing!”

 

So hears the plan:

 

Awake no later than 10AM. 

Dressed by 10:30AM. 

Eat, free time mixed with some chores until 1PM.

At 1PM, the children will be sitting at the table doing 2 pages in their math workbooks.  The baby will nap.  Once their 2 pages are completed, they are free to play, with exception for doing any chores I ask of them until suppertime.

After supper (around 6PM), there will be clean up, baths and bedtime routine.  Every child will be in bed between 8 and 8:30PM with lights out for the 4 youngest at 8:30PM.  The oldest two girls will have lights out at 10PM.  Lights out means NO ELECTRONICS, NO COMPUTER, NO BOOKS, NO TOYS!  The only exception is an audiobook.

 

I am writing this post at 2:45PM.  We started math just after 1PM, as planned.  Almost two hours later and the older two girls are getting close to finishing their math now.  It is simple addition, something they know how to do.  It is going to take a while to get back into this, but I feel a sense of relief already.  I can tell attitudes are settling down and there is a little more focus.  I have not really scheduled a lot into our day and I love that.  When I reorder our science stuff, I’ll be adding science assignments to our week as well.

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Our homeschool–a review

 

It’s very common for me to re-evaluate our homeschooling around Christmas time.  I think about what I want to spend our homeschooling funding on and whether what we are doing is working or not.  I asked the girls if they were happy with their math workbooks, if there was anything specific they wanted to learn about in the near future.

 

We love Lego.  Lego is one thing that I am purchasing more of regularly.  Just recently I bought a set that included rescue services – police, ambulance, fire, etc.  The kids loves putting together each piece on the cards included.  We had quite a “rescue center” built.  On my list to purchase are some bigger base pieces so we can build houses and towers and scenes.  A second package includes vehicles, at Wyatt’s request.  I am excited and so are the kids.

 

The children are all happy to continue working on their ACSI math workbooks.  They are colorful and easy to use.  The children are mostly self-directed there, as their reading skills improve, my help is needed less often.  The older girls are working more slowly through their books.  I suspect the concepts are challenging.  Wyatt and Marrissa are close to moving on to the next level.

 

When asked what they wanted to learn about every single child said SCIENCE.  We had been given a level B A Reason for Science but had never used it.  I was scared to tackle it, never having been good at science.  But at their request I pulled out the books and the box and am ready to teach the first 2 lessons and have looked closely at the ones following.  I really didn’t need to be nervous about starting this course.  It’s pretty simple.  I have on my list to order Level C of the same program.

 

A Reason for Science is my first choice for science simply because we already have these materials in the house.  I asked other homeschoolers what they used and enjoyed for science.  I got rave reviews for Apologia.  I may look into ordering a book or two from that curriculum as well, to either supplement all the children’s science or use just for the older girls.  Apologia has a human body one and the older girls have been asking to learn more about that topic of study.  We have one workbook on the subject already, but Apologia is a Christian publisher, while the one that we have is not.

 

The other area of study that we will be diving into is art classes.  We have already started to collect materials (kneaded eraser, pencils, charcoal).  Kristyn is the  most excited about this, but whenever we talk about it, or have done it in the past, the other children are quick to participate.  We have created some pretty good artwork.  This course will be in addition to the crafting the oldest three girls do with a family friend.  This friend has had them do card making (including stamping, scrapbooking) and a craft project.  A number of these projects were gifts for others.

 

Regular visits to the library is essential.  We always have books around.  Lately the requests have been for audio books that they can listen to while they are falling asleep at night.  Most recently they have listened to Cinnamon Bear (a Christmas tale from old time radio) and the WHOLE Little House on the Prairie series.  Kristyn wants to start that series from the beginning again.  I have a number of websites where I can download free audiobooks to mp3 players for the girls as well.

 

Our Christmas and birthday gifts this year for the children were electronic based.  We now have 2 dsi’s and a Leapster (I think that’s what it’s called).  Educational games were purchased for the most part and I have loved seeing the girls conquer math and problem solving issues.  I know there is a lot of guess work involved, but every time they do and re-do the questions, they are seeing and ingraining the information into their minds.  I resisted the dsi’s for a long time, but now I am very glad that we have them.  (They are a great bargaining tool as well.)

 

TV programming includes such shows as How It’s Made, River Monsters, Myth Busters, Perry Mason, Matlock, Little House on the Prairie and Swamp People.  We watch very few cartoons.  Wyatt prefers Diego, but is pretty easy to please with the computer, if we aren’t watching something that he is interested in.  The other children are interested in the computer, but nearly as much as Wyatt is showing an interest.  What I love about him and the computer is that if someone else wants to use it, and he’s been on there for a while, he very willingly gives them a turn and moves on to something else.

 

I look forward to watching the children learn and grow even more in the year to come.

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Some Creative Lettering…

 

Well, Kristyn saw me watching that See The Light: The Gift of Love DVD last night and was BEGGING to do one of the lessons.  We had time today, so we did the creative lettering activity.  The creative lettering lesson is taught by Heidi Shorts and is about 33 minutes long.  We took a while longer because we paused the DVD to keep everyone on the same step.

 

Here’s what our drawings ended up looking like:

 

It doesn’t show up really well in the photo, but inside the letter O is a drawing of a baby representing Baby Jesus.

 

LHarris

 

Kristyn, age 10

Marrissa, age 6

Wyatt, age 5

Rayna, age 3

 

Wyatt and Rayna kinda did their own thing but I was not going to deny them spending time with us, trying to do what we were doing!  They were so proud of their drawings.  Cora did not join us this time; apparently a computer game was more important at the time.  I have no doubt she’ll join us next time.

 

I have received a response from See The Light regarding my review post and they have some addition information that they wanted my readers to know!  Remember my concern about the black light and the extreme colors???  They addressed that concern as well as let me know about a sale!!!

 

I  want you to know that the art lessons on "The Gift of Love" and on the other Bible stories - "Crossmaker" & "God's Runaway" can be done and enjoyed without the eXtreme colored pencils (made by Crayola and sold in art stores, but sold also on our site for convenience) and without the SEE THE LIGHT black light.  You and your readers can also purchase black lights elsewhere, but are often larger and more expensive.  So, we do offer it.  Kids LOVE LOVE LOVE the POP of the black light with the special pencils and/or fluorescent chalk.

ART CLASS doesn't use the black light or the eXtreme pencils or the fluorescent chalk in any of the 36 lessons.  Master artist Pat Knepley does use colored pencils and chalk pastels in some of her later lessons, but not with the black light, etc.

Have a glorious Christmas!!!

JOYfully, because of HIS love,

Pat

 

If you are interested in seeing your children’s reactions to the black light “POP”, it just might be easiest to order these items from See The Light, but if you live in a bigger center, you probably wouldn’t have an issue finding the pencils or a smaller black light.  Thanks, Pat, for that information!  I got thinking, too, a black light could be used for many other things, and a good addition to any homeschool supply closet.

 

And now for the sale information:

 

Between now and December 9th, SEE THE LIGHT is giving 10% off all products + FREE SHIPPING on every order that totals $25.00 or more.  Code to use: MERRY2011

 

SEE THE LIGHT HAS CHRISTMAS FREEBIES FOR YOU

“ANGEL SKY”

A gorgeous, simple to do step-by-step Christmas Chalk Art Lesson

http://www.seethelightshine.com/media/fun_stuff/downloads/Sky Angels.pdf

4 COMPLETE CHRISTMAS LESSONS

Including the actual script from the SEE THE LIGHT DVD “The Gift of Love”

+

Readers Bible Theatre Scripts

“The Three Trees” & “The People Who Missed Christmas”

+

Much more. . .

http://www.seethelightshine.com/the-gift-of-love.html

 

 

I really hope that you will check them out and take advantage of the 10% off and free shipping!

 

Connect with See The Light:

Website: www.SeeTheLightShine.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeeTheLightShineArt

Twitter: http://twitter.com/SeeTheLightArt

Blog: http://www.seethelightshine.com/blog/

 

Disclaimer:  I received a copy of The Gift of Love in exchange for my honest review!

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

The Gift of Love: Christmas Story & Art Lessons

 

See The Light Series: Drawing Children to Him presents The Gift of Love an artful telling of the story of Jesus’ birth.  This DVD offers 143 minutes of content: the story, 3 art lessons (creative lettering, colored pencils and chalk technique) as well as some bonus features!  The narration is very easy to listen to; the artwork is beautiful.  The lessons are easy, step by step, anyone can do it!  Recommended for ages 6 and up (art lessons, the story is for everyone).  As well there are some Christmas “Grab and Go” lessons available on their website – www.SeeTheLightShine.com .

 

I haven’t yet shown this DVD to my children.  I hope to do a couple of the lessons with the kids during the month of December, but I wanted to get the word out there about this great product and tool before Christmas, just in case my readers might be interested in purchasing this as a gift or simply as a tool for your own educating / education.

 

 

Not being an artist or even highly interested in such things – I am NOT crafty at all – I have only one complaint… (but it really could just be my lack of education in this area).  In this DVD specifically (they have a whole series of art classes that are GREAT too!!!) the lessons require / recommend some special colored pencils and a black light (both available on their website).  Now, maybe you could get these items at Michaels or another art store.  I don’t know if I can get these things elsewhere, or if I need to buy them from See The Light.  Needless to say, at this point, we do not have these intense pencil crayons or a black light.  These tools do not really prevent the artist from doing the work and creating something marvellous.  It is simply a bonus feature of the artwork itself.  In my opinion.

 

One day I’ll tell you (and show you what we create) from this DVD and from Art Class Volume 1.  (We’ve looked at the first of four lessons and it was about collecting our supplies.  We have most of them.) 

 

OOOOHHHHH, and I’m so excited… In going to find the link for Art Class Volume 1 I discovered an online subscription offer where you don’t have to buy the DVDs, but you can just take the classes online!!!! It’s cheaper and there is less clutter.  And anyone that knows me, knows that I’m trying to get rid of clutter!

 

This just keeps getting better and better.  They take PayPal.  We don’t have a credit card (well, we kinda do now… Canada Post has pre-paid Visas now), but up until this month we didn’t have a credit card and PayPal was my only choice for shopping online!  I LUV that See The Light has PayPal!!!

 

Can you tell I like this product yet?  So go try it out!  You’ll be glad you did.  Maybe I’ll become that artist I once dreamed of being yet!

 

Connect with See The Light:

Website: www.SeeTheLightShine.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeeTheLightShineArt

Twitter: http://twitter.com/SeeTheLightArt

Blog: http://www.seethelightshine.com/blog/

 

The website is a GREAT resource!  A great place to visit!

 

Disclaimer:  I received (from See The Light) a copy of the two DVDs mentioned in this blog post, in exchange for my honest review!

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

WonderMaps–A Review

WonderMaps (by Bright Ideas Press) is a customizable collection of over 350 different maps. With nearly endless possibilities, WonderMaps makes it easy to regularly integrate map study into a variety of lessons and make the most of every learning opportunity.

WonderMaps is designed with easy-to-use layers that allow you to enjoy great customizable features with just a click. Select:

• historical or modern-day maps
• outline, reference, political, or topographical maps
• black-and-white or color maps
• features including:  names, borders, rivers, cities, physical features, and graticules

WonderMaps includes:

• 60+ maps of the world
• 60+ maps of the USA
• 125+ historical maps, including 25 biblical maps
• The complete map sets from The Mystery of History vols. I–III and All American History vols. I & II

 

I LOVE how easy WonderMaps is to navigate.  In no time at all I was discovering all sorts of new maps and new ways to change the maps.  As a homeschool parent, I look forward to using these maps to supplement our learning in the near future.  My children have not yet discovered geography to the extent that I would like, but I am sure it is not long in coming.

 

As you can see above, this is a great supplement for The Mystery of History volumes.  I don’t use and have never looked into The Mystery of History (but I’ve heard good things).  I have looked into Tapestry of Grace though, and from my limited experience with that curriculum, I believe WonderMaps would also be a great addition to that as well.

 

 

 

Timberdoodle has many great homeschooling supplies and curriculum to add to your ever growing collection.  I hope you will check them out.  Some great examples are: their geography puzzles.  You might want to have a look at their free catalogue to find even more treasures in all subject areas.

 

 

 

Legal Disclosure:
As a member of Timberdoodle's Blogger Review Team I received a free copy of WonderMaps in exchange for a frank and unbiased review.

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Prairie Storms by Darcy Pattison

Prairie Storms is written by Darcy Pattison and illustrated by Kathleen Rietz.

About the book:  Cozy up for this great rainy day read! Prairie Storms gives you a front row seat to learn about a year of ever-changing prairie weather, and how the animals living in these grasslands adapt and survive in this harsh climate. Each month, read about a new animal, and learn about everything from how a prairie grouse can survive the January snows to how an earless lizards escapes the harsh, unrelenting drought of August. Told in lyrical prose, this story is a celebration of the great American prairies. See more about Prairie Storms at http://prairiestorms.com/.

My Review:  This book teaches the months of the year, and the seasons.  The author teaches about weather.  In the back there are questions about geography and habitat.  Growing up on the Canadian prairies for a good chunk of my life and living here with my children now, this book described prairie weather very well.

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Multiply on the Fly by Suzanne Slade

 

 

Multiply on the Fly written by Suzanne Slade and illustrated by Erin E. Hunter.

 

About the book: From pirate bugs to spittlebugs to lovely Luna moths, children will love learning about the world’s insects in Multiply on the Fly! Following in the footsteps of What’s New at the Zoo? and What’s the Difference, this rhythmic book teaches multiplication in a way that will make children “bug” you for more. Teeming with fun facts, readers will multiply a variety of insects, including daring dragonflies, hungry honeybees, and stealthy walking sticks. The “For Creative Minds” section in the back of the book keeps the fun rolling with facts about the insect life cycle, matching insect activities, and multiplication guides to make anyone a multiplication master. (age 4-8)

 

My Review: I have a little girl, my Cora, who loves bugs.  She is just starting to learn about about multiplication.  This book is perfect for her.  And I know that once she gets it, she just might be able to teach Kristyn and Marrissa all about it.  I love the bright colors and the rhyming word problems.  What a great teaching tool.  I have yet to check out the teaching material on the website, but if what I’ve seen from Sylvan Dell Publishing in the past is any indication, there are good things in store for my little students!

 

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Feeling a Little Overwhelmed with Trying to Do It All

I found this sitting in my drafts.  The date on the started post was November 10, 2010.  Just under a year ago.  I had a new baby.  I was trying to homeschool at full speed.  Jason was gone quite a bit with work.  I don't remember what else was going on, but those things alone are enough.  lol.  So, even though I'm not feeling all that overwhelmed, I thought I'd share this song with you anyway.





Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Hey Diddle Diddle: A Food Chain Tale by Pam Kapchinske

Hey Diddle Diddle: A Food Chain Tale written by Pam Kapchinske and illustrated by Sherry Rogers.

 

About the book: “Hey Diddle Diddle” is a whimsical journey along a riparian food web through the songs and antics of eight interconnected species. From a shiny green beetle “tappin’ his feet and singin’ a song” to a smug bobcat that feels like the “queen” of the jungle, readers will observe several colorful characters moving through three food chains in a familiar North American habitat. (ages preschool to grade 3)

 

My Review: What a fun book!  The rhythm and the rhyme was so fun to read.  The beat was definitely there!  At the end of the book, I got, “Again, again!” from my little Rayna (almost 3).  We’ve talked about herbivores and carnivores in our homeschool before, I noticed some instruction for further discussion in the back pages of Hey Diddle Diddle.  Habitats though might need a little more discussion.  We have a game called “Science Stadium” that the kids like to play that help with classification of animals.  This book will be a great addition to our science curriculum.

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Ten For Me by Barbara Mariconda

Ten For Me by Barbara Mariconda. Illustrated by Sherry Rogers.

 

About the book:  Two friends take off on a butterfly hunt, only to find themselves tangled in a mathematics net! Written in rhyme, award-winning author Barbara Mariconda takes you along as the narrator Rose and her friend Ed race to see who can catch the most butterflies on this addition adventure. “How many in all? Let’s add them again!” shout the butterfly hunters. Who will win? Ten for Me makes math fun, easy, and entertaining, while adding a touch of the natural world into cross-curricular education. (ages 5-10)

 

My review:  What a great way to teach simple math!  My Wyatt and Miss Marrissa will love this fast paced book that has addends 1 through 10, not equalling more than 10.  The four pages at the back of the book (each book I’ve seen from Sylvan Dell Publishing has four pages of material for teaching at the back) are great tie-ins for this store.  I can’t wait to read (or have one of the older girls) read this book to Wyatt and Marrissa.

 

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Animalogy: Animal Analogies by Marianne Berkes

 

Animalogy: Animal Analogies by Marianne Berkes illustrated by Cathy Morrison.  This is Sylvan Dell’s featured ebook for September. You can read, turn pages, listen to this book on their website.

About the book:  Compare and contrast different animals through predictable, rhyming analogies. Find the similarities between even the most incompatible animals . . . bat is to flit as eagle is to soar; dog is to bark as lion is to roar. Comparisons include sounds, physical adaptations, behaviors, and animals classes and are so fun, readers learn without even realizing it! Animals are to nature, as Animalogy is to fun!  (ages 3-8)

 

My review:  So simple, yet teaches so much.  Simple discussion of pictures and words open a world of discovery for my children.  The illustrations are incredible.  So much to see that you don’t catch it all the first time.   Great attention to detail.  Beautiful colors.  Sylvan Dell offers many pages of free teaching content on their website that I plan to take advantage of in my homeschool.  (PS. The website is really easy to use!  Just hop on over to www.SylvanDellPublishing.com)

 

Disclaimer:  I received a copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review.

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Let the Learning Begin with Sylvan Dell Publishing

 

Over the last couple of years, I have enjoyed working with Sylvan Dell publishing, mostly via their eBook service.  However, with the fall additions, I received some paper selections.  I love how Sylvan Dell’s publications are more than just cute little stories.  These books come with many pages of curriculum additions (including many different subject areas) and interactive reading.  These books are checked and confirmed for accuracy (see inside covers of the books, and information online) and are illustrated beautifully!  I love these books mostly for the science and nature in them.  In our homeschool I cover most subject areas well, but one area I feel like I am totally inconsistent in is science.  I’m not one that believes everything HAS TO have a learning component, but rather I love when we can learn something unexpectedly.  That being said, these books are an incredible resource to parents (homeschool or otherwise) and teachers, grandparents and friends.  In the next couple of days, please come back to read about 6 different books!

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Thinking On Scripture

 

I’ve been thinking about getting our children to memorize a chapter this year.  Last September we started with Genesis chapter one.  This year we’re gonna start memorizing Psalm 100.

[1] Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
        [2] Serve the LORD with gladness!
        Come into his presence with singing!
    [3] Know that the LORD, he is God!
        It is he who made us, and we are his;
        we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
    [4] Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
        and his courts with praise!
        Give thanks to him; bless his name!
    [5] For the LORD is good;
        his steadfast love endures forever,
        and his faithfulness to all generations.

(Psalm 100 ESV)

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Learning About Archaeology

 

We broke into a pharaohs pyramid today by deciphering the hieroglyphics on the four sides of the pyramid.  The pyramid is re-sealable so that we can do this project over and over again (I hope). We used a brush, a chisel and pick to dig and scrape away the compacted sand inside this pyramid.  Inside we found a sarcophagus, a mummy, a death mask and canopic urns – a person, a dog, a cat and a parrot.  At least we think that’s what the canopic urns depicted.  We used a damp sponge to get the remaining dirt off the pieces.

 

 

At the end of last year, one of the purchases I made was National Geographic's Archaeology Egyptian Pyramid.  I should have purchased at least two of them.  The big girls could have worked with a younger sibling and then everyone would have had more hands on experience.  Overall, I am very pleased with this purchase and I would recommend this item to others.  I know the girls had a lot of fun too.

 

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Another I-CU

 

“This week we want to…”

play at the park with a friend, continue in our math workbooks, look at what we might want to learn this year.

“The kids are…”

playing outdoors more as the weather is a little cooler.  I am kicking them out more often too, because before we know it summer will be gone!  I am seeing signs of fall everywhere!

“I am learning….”

about unschooling.  I am reading “The Unschooling Handbook”.  It has sat on my shelf for a couple of years now.  I am finally embracing the idea that my kids can learn with me being their facilitator / guide.

“I am struggling with…”

finding a balance with the amount of helping out the kids do and the amount of time they spend playing, watching TV / computer.  Sometimes it feels like they work all day long.  Other days I am doing all the work.

“This week is the first time….”

Wyatt went to DVBS.  He is loving that he is a “big kid” now and can go to the same activities the older girls go to.

“I am grateful…”

that my dh is on board with my minimizing of our belongings! I have thrown out SOOOO much stuff in the last couple of weeks.  Even the kids are on board for the most part.  I can feel that our house is getting lighter already.  It’s already easier to get “company ready”.

“One thing that I’ve changed in the last year is…”

my expectations of the children.  I would assign pages of math or this or that and have deadlines or that.  This year I’d like to not do that.  I just want to see them working on stuff that together we’ve decided they need to learn.

 

Click on the button at the top of the post to see others involved in this meme.

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

I-CU– August 10, 2011

“This week we want to…”  The plan for the week includes: A trip to a pond, community ag fair, a birthday party for our baby, maybe DVBS (it’s at a bad time of day for us, so we’re not sure how it’s going to work yet).  I have berry picking planned next Wednesday with a family friend, but the kids will not be going with me.

“The kids are…” so excited about the fair and the parade.  They’ve been asked to be on a float but they don’t like to do so because they don’t get any candy.  Currently, they have pulled out some math manipulatives and are exploring balance, clocks and peg boards.  One child has a Draw Write Now book out and has asked for the rest of the series.

“I am learning….” to say yes more often when the children want to do things or go places.

“I am struggling with…” to make time for me, again. I need time to read, to walk and to recharge. I don’t have to be alone necessarily but I need quiet to think and process. I am thinking about re-instituting a nap / rest time every afternoon. It’s hard because there are so many things that we could do in the afternoon. I guess I am learning to organize and plan our days better so we get everything done.

“This week is the first time….” in a long time that I said, ‘skip the chores, we are going to the park for as long as you want to play’. We stayed until we got hungry, because I forgot to take food with us!

“I am grateful…” for free items!  And friends willing to let me use their vehicles to let me transport said free items. :) I have been using an old dining room table as our Wii and TV table; it took up a lot of space in our living room.  I posted on Facebook that I was looking for a TV stand that fit in a corner.  I got a couple of offers of stands and an offer of a ride to get it.  Right now I don’t have a vehicle, so I was unable to get myself there.  Now my Wii corner looks tidy and compact!  I love it.

“A fun thing I’ve done recently is…” take my kids to the park!  It was a new park that we’d never been to before.  It had SAND!  The kids and the dog played soooo well.  I got to read my book without interruption.  I got burnt and everyone came home tired but happy!

 

Have a happy Wednesday!

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,