A Special Day

Gigi(5dd) and I had the opportunity to spend a beautiful autumn afternoon at a local park on yesterday. The weather was georgeous and we just soaked up every piece of beauty that this park has to offer. 5 is such a great age. Children of this age are so curious and open to what you impart unto them. I had an opportunity to just enjoy the moments with my little one. The time goes by quickly, and I am enjoying this season of my life with her. I know about time because it just seems like yesterday that I had these same park visits with my now 15dd. Before you know it she will be driving..but that's another story. :-)

Weekly Report

Well, we finished our first official week of school. Things went well as we began quite a few new curriculums.

High School: We began using BJU US History this week. DD really likes the text and the constant review of the main points along with the student activities book and assignments. We have also started reading The Scarlet Letter for some American Literature to go along with history.So far so good. Our other new curriculum is in Religious Studies where we are using The Inner Man http://www.positiveaction.org/ byPositive Action for Christ. The discussion/teaching portion of this curriuculum has been very interesting and has sparked a lot of discussion. DD is continuting to plug through Piano,Saxon, Henle. This week two co-op classes British Lit and Physics will begin.

As for Kindergarten, my little K'er is excited and full of interest. We began our focus on Bible Study/Scripture Memorization and the basic 3 R"s with Abeka Phonics, Handwriting Without Tears Letters and Numers, Saxon 1 math, and Singapore Earlybird math 2B. In addition, we gave her and introduction to the globe, maps, directional compass, and community maps to prepare for our study of Countries and Cultures. Of course we never leave out Art because my little dd just loves it. Here is her first day of school artwork:

On to plan this upcoming week.....

Jer 29:11 (NIV) "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ...

Back to School

The Summer just darted by.....We had a fabulous time though...Beaches...Camps..mini trips..museums..amusement parks...fun, family & friends. Now it's back to life....

We officially started school on yesterday. I always give 1st day of school "goodies", and all went over well for both the girls. I usually start a week ahead of my oldest dd's co-op, so that we can get used to our basic schedule before we are "on the road" twice a week.

I will complete a week in review at the end of the week..

Weekly Scriptures:

"All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23

"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today" Genesis 50:20

Wordless Wednesday

Meet Jessy

After all of those tadpoles, finally a frog!!!! He is a tiny little thing. There is still one tadpole growing. The rest of the tadpoles have all died and been eaten by these two. (Very interesting..)

Year in Review

2008-2009 Year in Review (Grade 10) 15dd Class of 2012

(2011-2012 will be a gap year)

Saxon Algebra 2 (Saxon with DIVE cd)
World History 2 Tapestry of Grace yr 2 Classic ( Units 1&2)
Thinking Like a Christian (Worldview Studies)
Spanish 1 (SOS)
Latin 1 (Henle using MODG syllabus) NLE Maxima Cum Laude Award
Writing /Literature co-op class (IEW)
Art History (.5 credit)
SAT Prep
Intro to Rhetoric/Debate class (Novice track Best Speaker Award)
Chemistry (summer ’08 @ Community College)
8th year Classical Piano
Varsity Basketball
Books Read
Lit. Class
· The Three Musketeers
· Great Expectations
· Uncle Tom’s Cabin
· Screwtape Letters
· Romeo and Juliet
TOG Lit
· Tales from the Arabian Nights
· Selections from the Koran
· Beowulf
· Canterbury Tales
· Divine Comedy
· Imitation of Christ
· Morte’ D’Arthur
· Don Quixote

Personal Comments: Overall good year. I am very pleased with the amount of literature and readings covered in Tapestry of Grace, though I will not use it in the upcoming year. The best thing this year was getting a Latin Tutor for weekly questions or concerns that my daughter had. My daughter put in a lot of hard work with a busy and demanding schedule that included sports and travel.

2009-2010 Outlook
Religious Studies 3 (not sure what we’ll use)
Advanced Mathematics with Saxon Teacher cd’s
American History (BJU) & historical Literature
Latin 2 (Henle)
Spanish 2 (Switched on Schoolhouse)
Physics (co-op)
British Lit/Writing (co-op)
Piano
? Fall swim team
Varsity Basketball

Preschool Year in Review
This was our weekly schedule for 2008-2009 4dd

8-8:30 Bible Story or Boz (M,W,F) Right Choices, T,TH
8:30-9:00 Math (Singapore, Building Thinking Skills, Visual Perception, Dev Early Learner and Math Games
9:00-9:15 Phonics
9:15-9:30 HWT
9:30-10:00 Art on Mon, Science on Tues, Music on Wed, Science on Thurs, Art book on Fri
10:00-10:15 SNACK
10:15-10:30 Outdoors
10:45-11:15 Read Aloud with Activity
11:15-12:00 Free Play

We were able to stick to the schedule for the most part. We didn’t get to science as much as I would have liked. We also occasionally used Saxon K for a few concepts. We are currently on the Singapore Earlybird Kindergarten 2A (two pages left). We will move on to 2B and work through the summer. We had a lot of fun with Art. It has been great seeing my little artist flourish.
Abeka Phonics has worked great with my little one. She enjoys the extras, and has grasped the concepts easily. It has been challenging because I have to pick through some of the material since it is designed for the classroom, but it is working well. I have occasionally used OPGTR to supplement in some areas. She is reading well. I am happy with her progress thus far. This has been a fun and exciting year teaching a little one. :-)

Curriculum used:
Bible: Bible Stories and coloring pages; Boz http://www.amazon.com/Gods-World-Me-Bears-Bible/dp/0781445442/ref=pd_sim_d_24; Right Choices
Math: Singapore Earlybird Math Series 1A,1B,2A (Big Hit); some Saxon K
Critical Thinking: Building Thinking Skills Primary; Visual Perception
Handwriting: Handwriting Without Tears K
Art: Primary Art; various lessons from internet or other books
Science: Science with Animals from The Sunny Patch (http://www.thesunnypatch.blogspot.com/),
library books on specific topics; nature play; a few nature classes
Music: Wee sing, Bible Songs, Instrument play
Read Aloud: books from various lists
Other: I also used Weekly Reader guides for additional topics and activities, Pattern Blocks, Mailbox Magazine.
PE: Weekly Gymnastics Class

2009-2010 Kindergarten Outlook
Bible: R&S Bible Stories, Betty Lukens Felt, Character Crafts
Math: Singapore Earlybird 2B; Saxon 1
Reading: Abeka Phonics K5/1
Writing: HWT K/1
Countries & Cultures Unit Study (http://www.thesunnypatch.blogspot.com/)
Science: Living Learning Books + supplements, various experiments, Friday Green Hour (www.greenhour.org)
Art: Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists, A Child’s Book of Art, Primary Art,
PE: Outdoor Play, Weekly Gymnastics Class
Read Alouds

Now What???

Tadpoles....

Wordless Wednesday

The Seasons of Life...

Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each.
~Thoreau

I stumbled across this quote today....It reminds me how we live our lives in seasons. The seasons of life come and go..As I look at my 15 year old daughter, and my soon to be 5 year old daughter, I wonder where the time has gone. I am learning to enjoy each season of my life, because it is just that and it passes so quickly.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven ~ Ecc 3:1

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

~Proverbs 3:5-6 (NAS)

Basketball...Basketball..

Yes! Spring has finally come and I am excited. I am not very fond of cold weather, so this is a great time of year for me. I get really energized.

I haven't posted in a while because life has been very busy. We have just finished high school basketball season where my daughter's homeschool team placed third in their division at a homeschool tournament at Liberty University last week. http://www.hspn.com/

Now we are into travel basketball season which will last until the end of July.

I had an opportunity to attend the Apologia Live Mom's Conference in Baltimore, MD Feb 27-28. http://www.apologiaonline.com/live/ It was absolutely awesome. The theme was Walking In The Light. There were five speakers including Sally Clarkson (The Whole Hearted Child), Debra Bell, Raechel Carman,Zan Tyler, and Elizabeth Smith. What a great opportunity to meet other homeschool moms and be able to fellowship. If this conference comes to your area next year, I encourage you to go. You will definitely get blessed.

It's that time of year to plan for the upcoming school year. I have been doing a lot of curriculum searching, planning and high school recordkeeping. I'll be posting upcoming plans soon.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
~Hebrews 10:23

Wordless Wednesday

A Blast from the past.....Knight studies

On behalf of Quilt Week..

About three weeks ago, we had quilt week for our preschool theme. We read quilt stories and did a few craft projects. Then I had a brilliant idea--I'll make a quilt keepsake for my little one. I let her pick out about 8 types of kid fabric that I already had. I tied the different fabrics together with alternating blue blocks. It seemed to have taken me longer to finish this quilt than I had anticipated. However, it is complete and I hope that she will enjoy it for years to come. It measures apprx. 56''x56''

Art Discovery

I found some great resources to use for art with my 4 1/2 yr old. The main focus has been on art exploration.

We are currently using the book Primary Art: http://www.amazon.com/Primary-Art-Its-Process-Product/dp/0876592833 I was able to find it at my local library. The same author has another book entitled Preschool Art: It's the Process not the Product. My libary didn't have a copy of that book, but I've seen it at a few bookstores and it is packed with great activities.

We haven't focused on any artists yet, but it can easily be added in by using the Getting To Know The World's Greatest Artists series of books.


GiGi and I are having so much fun with art. It is such a joy to see how her writing and drawing skills are developing.



This is one of the projects found in Primary Art. It is a Penciled Watercolor --Pattern Design Blend.

Wordless Wednesday

Plate People