Preschool Christmas Crafts

Diligent Concentration..... Yields.......

This idea came from The Mailbox 2007-2008 yearbook.The Mailbox is a bi-monthly elementary magazine for educators full of literature, math, craft ideas, themes and resources. I don't use it regularly, but find that it comes in handy. You can find out more about it at http://www.themailbox.com/ or at your local teacher supply store. It is typically geared towards a classroom, but some things can easily be adapted to your homeschool.

How are your Christmas crafts coming along?

The Reason...

For unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace —Isaiah 9:6

Why study Latin???

I have been teaching my 14dd Latin beginning in 3rd or 4th grade. We began using Latin Primer, then we switched to Latina Christiana 1 & 2. Last year in 9th grade we began Henle Latin using the Mother of Divine Grace (MODG) syllabus. She is scheduled to complete Henle I in the next few months.

Over the past 3-4 weeks, my dd has been having major challenges with Latin. I must say, I am at a point that I can only be of minimal help to her. This year she has really been teaching herself, and I have been overseeing, and checking her work with the answer key etc. Having a 4dd around, and all of my other responsibilities, I just can't keep up with Latin at this level. So, I had to admit that I needed help. (gulp) Yes, help.

I called her co-op and found a great highly skilled Latin Tutor. Yeah!!!!!!!! She currently teaches High School Latin 1-4. We met with her last week, and she was able to immediately help my daughter in the area that she was challenged. We will be meeting with her once a week, until we decide if it is a temporary need, or if we will continue to meet the rest of the year.

Wordless Wednesday

Balance

We have been homeschooling for about 8 years, and the area of balance is a big struggle for me. I can go weeks and do just fine and then it seems that I just can't get anything done.

This is the time of year where there are a lot of things to think about. Curriculum yeahs or nays, sporting seasons, family gatherings, holiday shopping, holiday parties, etc.

Today, we begin homeschool basketball games for my teenage daughter. We truly enjoy watching her and her teammates play the game, and fellowshipping with other parents. I have to add though, it is time consuming, late games and practices. By the end of the last school season, if felt numb from all of the going.

It's not just basketball, because quite frankly, my dd 14 plays basketball pretty much all year around, just in different leagues. It's just that this time of year we are just getting routines down, kinks worked out--and then....

This year though, I have learned to delegate some of my responsibilities. I realized that I don't have to be at every practice or every single game. When I feel the need this season (and I have already) I will delegate, and utilize my limited resources. In the past, I haven't been very good at doing that.

Tonight is our first game. Go team Go!!! :-)

Fall Crafts

Preschool:

We have still been focusing on the autumn theme this week with my preschooler. The weather has definitely changed this week, making it actually feel like fall. The leaves are beginning to change, and it is quite windy and chilly here in the southeast.Here are a few of the fall crafts that we have done so far this week. I have a few more crafts in mind, along with a trip to the park for a scavenger hunt.

High School:

As for my high schooler, we are continuing to plug away with Tapestry of Grace-Yr 2 Classic. We are on week 7. It is going well. She has been working diligently keeping up with the readings and assignments. She is really enjoying the church history. She has began Canterbury Tales, reading The Nun's Priest Tale this week.

I along with others have jumped on the TOG workbook bandwagon. I created this for my daughter during the summer for Unit 1. It is VERY helpful having all of the assignments in one place.I am starting to work on the Unit 2 workbook now. Hopefully, I will have it complete in about a week. Here are a few pictures of the workbook.

An Artist In The Making

This is the first picture that my 4yr old has drawn. She's drawn plenty of faces and scribbles, but this is the first picture that she's done on her own while we were riding in the car. She loves animals! It is a shark eating a fish. I am such a proud Mama. :-)

Pumpkin Time

It's been way too long since I posted,
but I wanted to share the wonderful time that we have been having here during this harvest season.

This week was "pumpkin week" for my preschooler. We read pumpkin stories, did a few pumpkin crafts, and visited the pumpkin patch.

Hum drum days of February..

This is the time of year that is usually the most challenging for homeschooling moms. The holidays have long gone, the cold winter temperatures(for most of us) are dragging, and the yearning for spring and newness is on the forefront of our minds. Combine that with the thought of the new school year ahead, curriculum/teaching changes and thoughts, and the thought of the teaching methods that were sure to work--and are not working, many moms feel like this.

This is our 7th year homeschooling, and every year is the same. So new homeschoolers know that you are not odd if you are feeling this way.

I have tried to implement a few things around this time of year to help me through this tough time of the school year. Some of these tips I have picked up from others along the way.

1. Read positive inspiring words.

Daily reading of the bible; a homeschool devotional or article is helpful.

2.Listen to homeschool conference tapes/cd's

This is invaluable. If you attend a conference and are able to purchase cd's, do so. It is very helpful and inspiring to listen to them when you are "in the middle" of your school year." You can also purchase here http://bestchristianconferences.com/ (search for state homeschool conventions)

3. Go on a field trip.

Get out from the routine and visit a local art or science museum. Seasonal clearance sales, or spring shopping are also nice trips. :-)

4. Excercise

Get out (if you can), or borrow a fun exercise dvd from the library, and let everyone participate.

5. Try somthing new.

Try a new craft, read a new genre, cook a few new recipes.

I hope these are helpful tips.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58).

Back to Blogging

I know it's been way to long since I've blogged, but I figure I'd begin again.

Homeschooling is hopping in more ways than one around here. I currently have a 9th grade dd and 3 1/2 dd who are both keeping me busy.

It has been a fun and busy year. Having a preschooler around is exciting. My oldest daughter went to a preschool and a few yrs in private school before we began to homeschool, so teaching preschool is new "territory" for me. Of course I have been checking out all of the prospective programs/books etc. to use in the future.

I am still trying to find out what learning strategies work best for gigi. We are having a lot of fun first, with learning sprinkled in. I can tell that she is going to be a very different learner than my older daughter.

On the flip side home schooling high school has been--nerve wrecking. I'm not sure why. I think that many parents who home school there high schooler for the first time have obvious concerns and questions about so many things. Two of my daughter's classes are at a co-op. The classes are going extremely well. It just takes so much time away from home. This is such a challenge, especially with a preschooler in tow.

Every year I promise to slow down, but it seems that it happens each year. This year being the absolute busiest with a very busy basketball team schedule and travel. How do you balance it all?

Thought of the day: Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.---Albert Einstein

Recipe: Taco Soup

Scripture of the day:

One thing I have asked from the Lord that I shall seek; That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord.
Psalm 27:4


Recipe to share:

This is by far one of my favorite quick and yummy dishes to prepare for my family, especially during the chilly months.


Taco Soup (serves 4-6)
1 lb. ground beef or Morningstar veggie crumbles (I’m a vegetarian)
1 medium onion
1 can red kidney beans
1 can corn
1 can Rotel tomatoes with chilies (original, mild or hot)
1 can diced tomatoes
1 packet of Ranch dressing
1 packet of Taco seasoning mix

Sauté ground beef /crumbles and onion in skillet until brown. Drain if necessary.
Add all of the remaining ingredients without draining. Stir and simmer for approximately
20 min. Viola!

A new "year"

Scripture of the day: "You are a letter from Christ,the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts."--2Corinthians 3:3

It has been quite a while since I have posted. Life has been sooo busy. I've decided to continue this blogging journey...

We have just completed our first six weeks of school for this year. I have decided to follow a 6 weeks on and 1 week of school schedule this year. I need the week to relax, catch up and regroup since I am teaching an 8th grader and I have a two yr old toddler running around.


One thing that I find challenging is how to meet the demanding needs of my toddler and keep up with my 8th grader and all of her reading, assignments, and correcting papers. If any homeschool veterans have helpful tips, they would greatly be appreciated.

Overload

"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." ~ ~Jer 29:11

It's springtime, and along with it seems to come a lot of activities and business. I recently experienced a brief period of overload. It seems as though I was hitting a wall, and needed to step back and evaluate what had gotten me to this point of overload.

Many times as homeschool moms it is very easy to do, do, do with our children. We get involved in activities (because there are so many), and we think they will be great for the children. We want to expose them to this, that and the other. These things are all good. However, we must also remember that sometimes it is equally important just to be.

I have been schooling for 5 yrs, and have been challenged with this issue at some point or other each year. I will settle down for a while, and then..... Well, this year with the extra responsibility of a toddler in tow, I couldn't pull it off and I had come to a stand still of burnout. I had to step back, re-evaluate, and re-plan the way our household functions--to include time for me and a few personal endeavors.

All in all, things are going well and our home has taken a new direction.

Here is an excellent article regarding homeschool burnout
http://www.schoolofabraham.com/hittingwall.htm

Blessings

Thought Life

Scripture of the Day: "Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."
~ Phillipians 4:8


My, My, My ... How long it has been since I have blogged!!! Life happens... Holidays...Travels... Family... but here I am.

Correct thinking as a Christian is so utterly important. Everything that we allow ourselves to hear, read , see and meditate on will affect our general thought life therefore affecting our daily lives.

I have noticed over many years how important this is to me personally. It may not be the same for everyone, but it holds true for me. If I read wholesome books, surround myself with friends and family that are positive and encouraging, watch very little television (ie news, certain negative film, reality shows) and stick with informative, or christian based programming-- I find myself to be a more positive and happy person. I have noticed this with my oldest daughter as well.

God's Word is true.... If we would just do what He advises us to do in his Word..We can live happier, more productive lives, that will glorify Him!!!

Changing Seasons

This article really blessed me and I wanted to share it!

CHANGING SEASONS
By Ruth L. Whitfield, assistant to the publisher of "Spirit Led Woman" magazine (www.spiritledwoman.com)

I love the changing seasons. In Central Florida, where I live, we don't experience seasonal weather changes as much as our friends in other parts of the country, but we do enjoy the change in focus and the cooler weather fall and winter bring. We may not have snow, but we can enjoy lighted snowmen on the porch during the holidays!

Years ago when I taught school, I would change the décor of my home as often as I changed the one in my classroom--out with one season and in with another. I'd get rid of the old so we could embrace the new. Being a creature of habit, I still like to change my surroundings about every three months.

The Bible says that there is a season for everything in life (see Eccl. 3:1-8). If only we could embrace the seasons of our lives as willingly as we embrace the seasons of the year! It's been said that the only thing that is constant is change, but unfortunately, that's what we tend to resist, especially if it means going outside our comfort zones.

God has planned the seasons of our lives with infinite wisdom. He has ordained each one, knowing exactly what fruit is to be harvested during each time frame. I believe that since His desire is to do us only good, He enjoys each season He plans for us (see Jer. 29:11). So why are we so prone to resist the season we're in?

"But I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."
~Jer 29:11

It's as if we are never satisfied. When it's summer, we want fall. When it's winter, we want summer. When we are single, we want to be married. When we are married, we want children, and when we have children, we want them to be grown and out of the house. When the nest is finally empty, we miss them and want them back - at least for a little while.

Yet we tend to criticize the children of Israel, who sinned against God for their continued murmuring and complaining. Like spoiled children in the natural, they continually demanded more. God brought them out of 400 years of slavery, gave them rest from their enemies, and provided daily food, water, and protection.

But no matter what He did, it wasn't enough. It seems that what they really wanted was control of their own destiny and circumstances, not total dependence on an invisible God whose plans were for their good (see Jer. 29:11). As a result, an entire generation perished before receiving their promised inheritance.

The wilderness journey was not a picnic. It was an adventure into the unknown, and it was a change of season for an entire nation. But the Lord knew the way through that wilderness, just as He knows the way through ours.

He ushers in the seasons in our lives and walks us through them. All He desires is that we embrace what He is doing in our lives with faith and gratitude (see 1 Thess. 5:18).

God is always working, even in seasons when we don't see much activity. During the season of planting, when there is no harvest, God is watering, nurturing, fertilizing and containing us so that in due season we can bring forth the fruit of righteousness He desires.

After a season of harvest, He often initiates a time of pruning (see John 15:1-2). Painful though this may be, it is necessary for us to produce even more fruit. We can trust God to do whatever He needs to do in our lives today because of His proven faithfulness yesterday (see Lam 3:22-23).

During this season of thanksgiving, let's determine to count our blessings and enjoy, as He does, the season He has us in. Every day is a gift, and we should savor all the sights, sounds, smells, friendships, fellowship, family, food and fun of the season. Let's also be thankful that God, in His infinite wisdom, planned our lives and leads us through many fruitful seasons. Instead of wishing we were in a different one, let's embrace and enjoy the one we are in right now (see Gal. 6:9).

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." ~ Gal 6:9

The Power of Words

Scripture of the day: "Let no corrupt communication proceed out our your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." ~Ephesians 4:20

During the course of a day with all the responsibilities and tasks before us, we can easily become stressed and lash out verbally at our children.

I must admit that this has been an area in my life that I had to overcome. I didn't really lash out to others, but could easily respond with sarcasm which is just as bad. I am better, but daily I have to consciously work on my verbal responses and tone.

I am becoming more and more aware of the impact of how our family life as a child indirectly affects us as adults. It seems as though the older I get, the more I realize how certain parts of me, be it good, or not so good, chiefly come from habit or a way of life to which I have been accustomed.

Of course, I want to pass on the good things to my children, but I don't want to pass on the negative. Negative habits or ways can easily pass from generation to generation.

"..But be transformed by the renewing of your mind." ~Romans 12:2

I did not grow up in a christian home. Yes, my family went to church, and they were "good" people, but living for the Lord was not there goal.

The life of our home and our relationships with our children will affect them in someway for the rest of their lives.

Lord,
As homeschooling mothers, we have so much that we are responsible for. Help us to create the homelife for our families that will glorify you, and affect generations to come.

Amen.

Week 12 Winners

Tick, Tick , Tick.............
The clock is ticking away. We are starting our twelfth week of school this week. We have completed 1/3 of the school year. Hooray!!



I thought that I'd list some of this year's favorite curriculum choices. (I have a 7th grader)


Winners:
Saxon 87 Third Edition with D.I.V.E. CD-rom
Apologia Exploring Creation with General Science
Fallacy Detective (Logic)

I'm a Kanga

Take the 100 Acre Personality Quiz!

Homeschool Devotions

The heart of the righteous studied to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things. ~ Proverbs 15:28


Spending all day with children, teaching and training, can sometimes cause moms to get frustrated, frazzled and angry.This scripture is so profound in teaching us to respond properly to our children.

I am truly enjoying the daily devotions that are found in More Devotions for Homeschoool Moms by Jackie Wellwood.(ISBN 1581343833) The author of this book is a mother of seven children, and she really touches on topics that are sensitive to the homeschooling mother. She gives scriptures, prayers, and food for thought in each daily devotion. I highly recommend it.

___________________________________________________________________

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with PERSEVERANCE the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on JESUS, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider HIM who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."-Hebrews 12:1-2

" To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven.." Ecc: 3:1



As the temperature and the earth changes, it always allows me to reflect on the season of my life. As I reflect on all the many blessings that God has bestowed upon me, I am thankful. Though I am thankful, I am at a season of many changes and challenges within my personal life. I know that change can be good, but it is no always comfortable.( I am sparing details).

It can be very difficult at times to be far away from your family. Though I have been living away(over 500 miles)from my hometown for close to twenty years, it is a continuous challenge. I have friends, but I often feel extremely lonely and long for the comfort of my family.

I wish I knew when I moved away, what I know now. I didn't think about the day when family members would age, or that the family relationships would be needed for myself and my children.

I know that God will continue to take care of me during this season.