Greek/Roman Meal

DD is planning a Greek/Roman meal for this next week.  She is busting with excitement.  She just can't wait.  She has been researching what they ate and is making a menu and grocery list.  She is fitting us all for togas.  LOL  And I think she is preparing a little presentation.  She made a scrapbook of her studies and it's pretty neat.  I think she has had a really good time with this. 

A couple of years ago she planned and put on a Medieval Feast and it was fun. 

I will try to get some pictures and post them.... well, not of me in a toga that's for sure!!!  :o)

Advent.  What a lovely time of the year.  Do you incorporate it into your schooling?  One year we used a Unit Study during Advent on Christmas.  We really enjoyed it and learned a lot.  Here is a LINK to the one used.

Another year we used a lot Old Time Radio Shows.  It was fun to listen them and color or draw or paint or whatever project we had to work on that day.  You can listen to The Cinnamon Bear here.  It's a fun short one to listen to that my kids enjoyed.  Here is the Companion to it as well.

Enjoy this time with your little ones!

Some favorite Homeschool links... Enjoy!

So, I thought I'd start trying to post some of my favorite homeschool sites and such so..... to start today... here's one of my absolute favorites!  Well it's actually two but they are related.  I hope you enjoy them!

Homeschool Freebie of the Day

Homeschool Radio Shows

When we first started homeschooling and the kids were younger we listened to a lot of old time radio shows for school.  The kids loved it!  We'd listen during lunch the hour.  They'd eat and then they would draw or do puzzles.  They loved it!  I loved it!  I actually really miss it sometimes.  Now a days we all seem to doing our own thing... I miss those early days.  Cherish them my friends!!  They are wonderful!

Long time No Post...

I haven't really been posting over here much at all.  I usually post over at Musings By Mommy but I seldom post about Homeschooling.  I don't know why really... I think sometimes I worry that people will judge the way we homeschool and so I just prefer to keep it to myself.   But recently, I had the opportunity to help a new homeschooler and even received feedback on some ideas I shared with her and it was great!  I was so happy that I could help.

It's been such a long time since I've posted that you don't know my AWESOME news!!   DS was accepted to Kansas State University in October!  So exciting for him.  Poor guy.  I think he was really worried that he wouldn't get into college.  So when he received his acceptance letter it was such a relief to him.  I knew he would get in without any issues but he was worried.

I will say that that letter was a sort validation for me as a homeschooling mom.  I didn't ruin my kids!  Lol...

You have to go back and read some old posts to see what kind of homeschoolers we are but we are pretty laid back.  We see learning in everyday things and the kids often find themselves interested in a topic and just reading all they can about it or watching videos and such.  They often get off topic to delve deeper into a subject that interests them and really I think that is what learning is all about!  Maybe we should be called home 'learners' instead of 'schoolers'.  Lol  but really maybe it should just be learners because we learn all over the place!  Not just at home but at church, the library, the store, friends houses, grandparents houses, the car, and well, just about everywhere!

Sometimes I wish I had a recording device in our car or house to catch some of our conversations!  They are so funny but so... intelligent at the same time!!  My kids blow me away with their knowledge all the time.  The little facts they know are just awesome!  They are often sharing little tidbits of this and that.  It's awesome!  I love it and we usually end up in the giggles or a serious conversation and sometimes both.

So, anyway, I'm thinking of getting over to this blog more often.  Maybe sharing some tips that we've found useful in our learning.  Wonder if I'll have any readers....

Fridays

So do you do homeschool on Fridays?  I know some people take off on Fridays.  We usually have a lighter day on Fridays.  This morning we spent some time cleaning up outside after a mega storm last night.   We had some branches down and some chairs moved.  The patio needed to be cleaned off and prettied up. 

We also got some laundry rounded up and started and the kitchen tidied up a bit.

Do you count this kind of thing as part of your schooling?  Sometimes I do.  I mean, it's teaching the kids some responsibility.  It's teaching then to pull their fair share.  It's teaching them how to care for their own home when they have one.

So, do you count it? 

Doubts

Well, it is 3:30 am the morning my DS takes his ACT exam, and here I sit, with an upset stomach, unable to sleep as if I am the one taking the test.  I've always had test anxiety.  ALWAYS but this having it for other people is for the birds!  LOL

I'm not really worried about how he will do.  I know he is going to do fine but I hate that he is nervous.  To him (and honestly to me too) it seems as if EVERYTHING rides on this stupid test! 

I hate that tests so important to college admission and scholarships.  It has put so much pressure on DS.  I'm afraid that we may have too although we didn't intend to do.  DS needs scholarships to help pay for his college and so we encouraged him to STUDY hard so that he could qualify for them.  His nervousness just makes me ill.  I want to take all of it away from him and tell him that it doesn't matter what this test says.  He's smart and talented and that's all that matters!

I know without a doubt that he will do fine.  He's a really smart kid and extremely talented as well.  I know that he knows what he needs to know.   I have people who work with him in church and the theater tell me all the time how smart he is. 

I think my not being able to sleep is the whole homeschool thing.  You know, the worries about having ruined my kids or ruined their future or chances at the future they want and so on and so on.  It's crazy really.  The doubts we have about ourselves, about the choices we make and so on.  Have I ever told how we came about homeschooling?

I think I talked about it some on my other blog, Musings By Mommy but I'm not sure I've ever told it here. 

Well, I've always wanted to but people always talked me out of it but I prayed about it off and on for years.  Finally, when DS was in the 5th grade, DH thought maybe it wasn't such a bad idea.  So we spent the summer after thinking about it and researching it some more and praying more.  The fact that DH finally was on board should have been enough to let me know it was the right thing for us but I was scared and unsure so I just kept praying about it. 

Then one day a friend, just out of the blue, called me and said, "This is weird but I just felt like I really needed to call you and tell you that you should homeschool your kids."  WEIRD!!  That should have been a huge sign, but I'm evidently slow and scared and so...  we kept thinking on it.  All summer we thought on it.  One minute we were ready and the next not.  Finally we left it up to DS and he wanted to try middle school so we let him. 

He loved it!  I still felt unsure about it all and still felt pulled to homeschool but...  He was loving it and DH was getting ready to deploy so I figure I didn't need the added stress.  But it kept coming up in my prayers.  Then one day when I was taking DS to school he  got VERY upset and begged me not take him back "to that place".  "Please don't make me stay here."  "Please homeschool me".  It was just heartbreaking.  I called DH and we had to take him that day but DH went to the school district office and asked what we needed to do to homeschool.  I hate it took us so long to hear what God was telling us to do.  I had sign after sign but let my fears and doubt get in the way.  DS's last day of school was a Wednesday, DH deployed the next day and we started homeschooling on that Friday.

It's been a bumpy ride but I don't think I'd trade it for the world and yet here I sit worrying that I may have ruined my kids!  WHAT?  How could that ever be when it is so obvious that God sent us here?  Am I doubting God?  WHAT?  Never!  So, I guess I have my answer right there.  My kids are not ruined.  Their strong suit may not be tests and I may have to take them to the colleges of their choice for a more personal contact when they apply so that the schools can really see who my kids are.  God trusted us to do this so I guess I should trust that He helped us do it well.  I know that DS will do awesome on his ACT and if not I know that we will do awesome things for his college applications so they can see how truly awesome he is.  We can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us...  Maybe I'll remind DS of that this morning as he heads out the door.  Maybe I'll tape it my forehead! 

Oh My Goodness!

Well, I've gone and done it.  I published my first book .  I am very excited!  This one is about dealing with a deployment.  Keeping in touch for this family helps the time to pass.  It's full of wonderful ideas for keeping in touch.  Please check it out here.  It is available as a digital download and also as a real book you can hold in your hands.  Share it with your friends as well!!  Thank you for sharing in my excitement.  :o)

Sorry

I haven't been posting here and now I think it is time to consolidate my blogs.  You can read what is going on with our little family over at Musings By Mommy.  I think it will be much easier to just keep up one blog.  I hope you'll join me over here.  Thanks!

My baby

My precious baby boy

Well, today my baby boy starts his first college class for dual enrollment.  He told me yesterday that he is excited.  I'm glad he is.  Mom on the other hand is sick to my stomach. 

I guess that you need to know that as a kid I always cried the first day of school from day one all the way through college!  I don't like change much and I definitely don't like new things.  I'm a status quo kind of gal.  My kids first days of school, I cried just the same, every year until we started homeschooling.

And now, here we are again.  I wish I could just turn back the clock to those toddler years where my baby boy would sit in my lap and snuggle or come get in bed with me for morning snuggle times.  I miss those days and would run back in heart beat! 

Oh, I know these are exciting days too.  I am so very proud to see my kids grow up and become who they are meant to be.  I'm very proud of how smart and talented they are and they are smart and talented. I love to watch them grow, I just hate how fast it all happened.  I miss those little hands in mine.  I miss those sweet, sweet hugs where they squeezed me so super tight.  They still hug me all time, over and over again all day but not those "I'm going to squeeze you to death" type.  I miss the I love you more, no I love you more game.  I miss my babies.

But I love my teens too and that means college is coming fast and furious!  So, today is the first day of his college class.  Will I cry?  Well, I'm tearing up now as I type.  I just hope I don't tear up in front of him!  I just love that boy!  I am so proud of him.

So, DS, I love you!  Have fun today!  Pay attention, take good notes, sit in one of the first 3 rows, and miss me just a little bit, okay?  I love you!

Busy!

Yes, we have a busy year planned.  Let's see besides "school" we have DS giving guitar lessons twice a week, Monday and Saturday, btw if you are in our area and want guitar lessons give him a call!  Tuesday's are piano lessons for both kids and sewing lessons for DD.  She wants to be a fashion designer!  Wednesday we all have church.  The kids are helpers with the children's program and I'm the Kids Praise Choir director.  Then DD has ballet in the evening.  Oh, and I almost forgot, DS has his class at the Community College on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  So that leaves us Friday's free I think.  Whew!  A busy  year but I think it will be a good one.  DS's class starts this Thursday.  I'm a nervous wreck for him.  LOL  He is very "whaterever"  about it.  Oh, and they are both auditioning for a play in a few weeks! 

Yep, we have a busy year planned but I think the kids are going to have a lot of fun!  Mom may be tired a lot but it will be good for me to stay busy as well.  I can't wait to see my kids grow in all these areas.  They are awesome!

Have a great day!

Today

Well, today was kind of an experiment for us.  This summer I started attending an exercise/Bible study at our church but it is ALL morning, from 8:45 to 11:45, once a week.  I've really been trying to decide if I can continue with it.  I feel like I need to be at home with the kids while they are schooling but I need some time for me too.  So, today was the last day of our summer study and I left the kids home with their assignments and they did it!  They were both done/almost done when I got home.  I still need to go over it but just knowing that they will do their work is a relief. 

So right now, I'm thinking I will be continuing with the fall study and I'm glad.  I really feel pretty good about it too.

First couple of days

Ok, I promised to be back and so here I am!  This year is kind of a busy one. 

DS is taking his English at the local community college.  He is taking Trigonometry this first semester using Life of Fred. 

For social studies he is doing American and World History to include a lot of literature but it's not here yet so for now we are doing an Elections Unit Study and will continue to incorporate American Government in all year. 

He is also taking French this year.  He did a little with it last year but this year we have Rosetta Stone and he is really enjoying it.  I have to make him stop each day and move on to the next subject. 

Chemistry is his science course this year. His course will include a lab as well.  We'll get some of the labs online and I got a neat flash drive from a Chemistry teacher with lots of lecture notes, labs, worksheets, tests and so on.  You check out this guy's website if you are looking at Chemistry. Cavalcade o'Chemistry

DS is also taking music through piano lessons and he will be giving guitar lessons as well.  He has two students so far.  He is also hoping to work at the community theater some this year.  He will at least be auditioning for a few plays. 

I am trying to get some information on a co-op in the area that has art and P.E.  I requested information several days ago but haven't heard back on anything yet so we'll see.

DD is doing Decimals and Percents with Life of Fred this year.  We are discovering that she needs some review from last year so we need to work that in the next week or so.

She wants to do lots of unit studies this year, I think I mentioned this before.  She wants to study Japan, WWII, Ireland, Switzerland and more.  So those will cover social studies and we'll incorporate her language arts with that.  She is also participating in the Elections Unit for now.

For science we bought a book about nature and animals and so on and so forth.  We'll be making it a Life Science class.  So far she is having a blast with it.  She made a nature bowl (I don't have room for a table so we just decided to put what she finds in a little dish.) yesterday.  Then today she researched the trees we have in our yard and identified them and then did leaf rubbings. 

She is also taking piano lessons for her music and will be singing in the youth choir at church as well (so is DS).  They will both be helping out with the younger choirs too. 

She of course will be continuing with Ballet for her P.E.  She is moving up to the Pre-pointe class.  She is very excited.  I just hope they don't put her in the pointe shoes too. 

As I said before I'm looking into a co-op for more art and p.e.  So... we have a busy year ahead of us.  I hope there is lots of fun involved and that kids have a great time learning.

Trying

Well, I started a post here on Sunday and never got it finished and so much has changed since then I decided not to post it.  I'm trying really hard to get us organized this year.  We are kind of free spirited homeschoolers.  I won't say unschoolers because well, we do plan our learning and use textbooks some and try to follow a model of learning but... we do it in a very free spirited way.  I don't mind that but I do need more organization though, so I'm working on that as we speak.  I want to start posting here more regularly but I have so much to do at this very moment that I'm going to put it off just a bit more.  I promise to get back to it soon!  Hopefully, later today or tomorrow.  Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Getting ready for the 2010/2011 School year

I know, it's a little late right?  Oh well, we have had so very much going on with our little family this summer oh, heck all year.  So we are talking about it now.  Better late then never.

DS is so textbook oriented.  He likes a plan he can follow.  DD?  Not so much.  She likes to take a topic and go with it.  She loves to research.

I had them write down what they wanted to study this year, today.  She put:

Japan
Ireland

Switzerland
Ballet (history of)
World War II
Butterflies
Animals
Birds
Hand writing
Piano
Ballet
Sewing
Art

WHEW!  What a year she has planned!  DS put on his list:

"Life of Fred" Trig and Calculus
Beautiful Feet History
Chemistry (at local Community College)
LLATL American Lit or British Lit
Music Theory
Piano
Ballet (but no can do, with piano and CC I can't afford it)

I added a unit study on elections for them both since there are mid year elections going on now.  I had planned to do it 2 years ago but lost the curriculum but I've found it now so we will go with it.  DD will also do "Life of Fred" Decimals and Percents.  She just assumed I knew that one.  LOL 

So what do you think?   What are your plans?

Next year

Ok, I've spent the evening looking at curriculum for next year and I have to ask... what is anyone out there using for High School Chemistry?  I'm looking and looking....

For Biology this year we started out with one thing and hated it so we moved on to a thing I found online that is a Biology course through living books and it's working out pretty well for us.  I'd like to find something similar for Chemistry too.  Anyone of know of anything?  I'd love to hear from you!