Beginning Our Homeschool Year 2015-2016

Good afternoon!  It's been a wonderful day here so far; we have finished school, household chores are done and I've had lunch with a very dear friend.  After I publish this article I'm going to go searching for a wreath in the garage, feed livestock and cook supper (tater tot casserole) before awana.

I promised a post on homeschooling so here ya go.  This is my 13th year of official homeschooling.  My oldest started kindergarten 13 years ago and graduated high school this past May.  Over the years I've become very relaxed and I have the bonus of knowing at this point what works for me, allowing me to tailor curriculum to the needs of my children. This year, Bear is in 2nd grade and Abby is in kindergarten.

As our base, we are using My Father's World Kindergarten and Adventures. I say base because we are following these very loosely and taking 2 years to do Adventures.  Really we are barely using kindergarten because I'm using up workbooks that I have here rather than buying more student sheets.  I am using the guide to pull out topics and I'm using the book list.  I love My Father's World book lists.  Abby is also rolled into the topics covered in Adventures.  We are taking those topics very slowly, adding in more reading and activities to some of the units.  We are on Christopher Columbus this week and probably next.  That should have us covering pilgrims right around Thanksgiving.

We will start using Singapore math whenever I have the funds to purchase it.  Currently we are using some worksheets I printed from Mama's Learning Corner, practicing money, time and "real life" math.  Abby is getting practice in writing numbers, counting, shapes, patterns, etc from the workbooks I had hanging around.  I'm trying to use up what I've got since this is my last kindergartener.

I love a Reason for Handwriting but as I mentioned, funds are tight, so I printed some amazing handwriting sheets for both kids from  Confessions of a Homeschooler.  If Bear finishes the ones that I have printed for him we will switch to copy work.

We use Alphaphonics to teach reading and All About Spelling for spelling.  I use letter tiles from a bananagrams game.  Bear is also reading through the reader from My Father's World 1st.

Method:
I keep a list on my table of what each kid needs to do each day.  Whichever kid is dressed with teeth brushed at 9:00 a.m. gets to start first.  Then we alternate through the list.  So today Abby did money first, then Bear choose phonics, then Abby did phonics, then Bear did money and so on.  While the one is working with me, the other has "free time".  During that time they can play with legos, color, look at books, etc.  No electronics and must leave me alone.

Here, Abby has spelled her friend's name with letter tiles (with help).  She really is just practicing alphabetical order with these right now. And yes, our cat sits on the table.  It is what it is.

During one of her "down" times Abby practices "sewing" with lacing cards.

My record keeping journal (more on that below)

Bear works on legos during his "down" time today.

"together' time

Another picture of my journal

After we get through our independent work we usually have lunch.  Then we do our "together" subjects: read aloud, Bible, science and history.  This takes place on my bed or the living room couch.

Record Keeping:
I've used lots of planners.  Lots of them.  Some were ok, some I hated, some I loved.  I just do better with a notebook.  This allows me to jot down what we have done and go on.  I do keep notes in my homemaking planner about things that I want to cover and My Father's World has wonderful lesson plans.  This makes it easy for me to keep track of what we have actually done.

We started late this year because of the move.  I usually take off from Thanksgiving to after the New year but I think we will plug along as best we can to make up some time.  I am hoping to get Bear finished with Alphaphonics this year and through AAS Level 1.  When Abby becomes proficient in her letter sounds I will move her to MFW1.  That might be this spring, it might not.  I'm hoping to get math books sometime after the new year.

We are learning though!  Lots of things.

That's what I love best about homeschooling :)

Our 1st 4 Weeks with My Father's World K

Good evening!

I'm working on prioritizing some "momma" time and this blog is going to be one of those things (1. bible study, 2. exercise, 3. blogging, 4. reading, 5. knitting). 

I am severely delinquent in keeping up with our school stuff.  We started school the first Monday of Aug.  I don't remember the date (you are going to have to bear with me on this). 

I guess I should back up.  We started MFW K last year, January I think.  We worked through a few units, the creation unit and then I think units 1-5.  It was going ok, but I was having to push Bear a little and I didn't really want to do that so we just backed off.  It's ok to back off something if your child isn't ready!

Now, technically Bear is in kindergarten this year.  His late birthday would have only had him in preschool last year.  Even if he should have been in kindergarten last year I still wouldn't have pushed.  We might have worked on developing skills and review but I would not have pushed.  Pushing kids to do things they aren't ready for can really hamper learning later.  Trust me on this one.  There are a lot of FUN things that can be learned while skills develop and children grow in maturity. 

Back to planning:  I started where we left off and then scheduled 4 units, then a review week, 4 units, then a review week.  That way, if Bear was still struggling we could back off and go at a slower pace.  Scheduling this way also allows me to take time off without guilt.

Amazingly, Bear is just zipping through his work now.  We are finishing 4 days of work in 3 so moving at a quick pace through our worksheets.  I don't want to push to hard so I throw in review sheets when needed to keep him busy (and it reinforces the "I can do it" attitude).  I get the review sheets from little workbooks you can buy at Dollar Tree, Dollar General or Walmart.  I recommend Dollar Tree.  You can pick up the neatest things there!

We are 5 weeks in and finished with the first 4 units I had scheduled.  We are also working on Alphaphonics.  I wasn't sure if we would start it yet because I didn't want to push, but he was ready and is doing great.  He loves that he can read now!  CVC words right now but we are getting ready to do consonant blends :)

A lot of people ask about phonics programs.  I use alphaphonics.  It is cheap.  One reusable book.  I've had our copy for 11 years now.  It is falling apart, but useable.  If more review is needed I use Victory Drill Book. It is also reusable.  I don't use it as intended and am not using it with Bear at this point.  That can be another post.  I also love the phonics attributes of All About Spelling and would probably love their reading program.  I'm using what I've got :)  I used All About Spelling with the older boys and was amazed how much it helped their reading skills.  We will start that in 1st grade.  Back to Alphaphonics......on day 1 we read lesson 1.  We did it for a few days till I felt he was comfortable (I honestly think he had it memorized).  The next day after that we did lesson 1 and lesson 2.  The next day we did lesson 1, 2 and 3.  The next day we did lesson 2, 3 and 4.  We kept doing those 3 until I felt that he was comfortable with lesson 2, then we dropped it and added in the 1st half of lesson 5.  At this point we are doing lesson 4 and all of lesson 5.  I think on Monday we will add in lesson 6 and see how he does (consonant blending).  We continue on this way, at the students pace, until the book is done.  Sometimes we spend a lot of time on 3 lessons, or I drop one but don't pick a new one up.  You will know what is best.  Don't push.

We read a lot.  I tried ordering the reading suggestions from the library online, but either my computer doesn't like their system or their system doesn't like me....I couldn't get it to work.  Now I take my list to the library every week and they order for me.  It is hand written.  2 lines for each book (title/author) with a line in between each book.  About 20-25 books a week.  The librarian looked at me like I had grown 3 heads but doesn't even batt an eye now, cause we are bringing them back as fast as she can get them ordered (I also check out 1-2 books for myself per week and allow each kid 5 books and 1 movie apiece, each week).  What the librarian doesn't understand is that we read each of those 40 some books each week and sometimes more than once.....and we also have an extensive library here at home.  We read ALOT.

We are going to spend several days this fall at our local state park.  I think it will help all of us to smooth the transition to school, especially to see the leaves change color.  It is beautiful there!  We took a picnic lunch Friday and enjoyed some time at the lake and playground.  Good memories!

Abby is working on colors (she's about got them), shapes (almost got them also), number recognition and letter recognition.  We also do the songs, rhymes and Bible stuff together.  She picks up a lot of things from read alouds and her speech is improving....slower than I would like but it is improving. 

I'm really pleased with how this year is going :)  I'm in a good place with homeschool.  I've done it long enough now not to be pushy and stressed.....it really is a short period that we get to be with these kids....it goes fast.  Enjoy it!

2013-2014 School Year

It is that time of the year again!!!!  School Time!!!

Here is my rundown this year:
Leland, (will be on 8-9) 16, junior at NCHS
Gregory, 13, 8th grade at JCJH
Norman (Bear), 5, kindergarten at home
Abby, 3, prek at home

So, this year, I'm starting over.  Back where I was 11 years ago.  The spacing is a little different because Bear has a late birthday.  Where Lee and Greg had 2 grades between them, Bear and Abby will only have 1.  I'm not yet sure how that will work out in the long run.  THIS year, we are using MFW K.  We started last year but life happened so we didn't get much done.  I've spread what we do have left over the year, adding time off to studying things like Pilgrims and Indians at Thanksgiving and Presidents in January. 

The "learning" focus will be on Bear this year.  In addition to the core we will be adding Alphaphonics for reading.  Sometime this year I will also get Singapore math level K or 1 (haven't decided yet). 

Abby will be learning right along with us.  In addition I will be adding units that will focus more on her skill levels from places like 1+1+1=1 to give her repetitive skills practice.  Bear will also get to work on some of this stuff depending on his interest and whether it would actually be useful for him to do. 

Our read alouds will be plentiful and we will be exploring the nature that is around us.  I'm hoping to add a trip to Lincoln Log Cabin soon so that they can get some hands on history in. 

It's here....we start tomorrow :)  Check back and see how we are doing!

Playing Catch-up.....With Pictures

We had our family portraits taken recently and I just got the disk back today.  So I ordered Christmas cards (they will be late going out if you are expecting one!) and some prints.  Will go back later and order more for grandparents and such.  The pictures are great!  My children are very photogenic :) 

Gregory Robert - age 11

Leland David - age 14

Norman Matthew - age 4

Abigail Caroline - age 19 months

That's a yawn.....taking pictures is HARD work!

Mommy's little girl.

The last 3 weeks or so have been VERY hectic.  I did some sewing for a friend (WITH my friend Shanna) - a 81x81inch comforter and curtains.  I still need to do matching pillowcases but that will wait until after Christmas.  I've been knitting like a crazy woman.  Hats for all the kids (Abby is wearing hers in some of the pictures above) and for myself.  A few gifts :)  And sewing some gifts (can't divulge what yet but I will after Christmas - easy peasy and soooo cute!).  I have my sewing room set up the way I think I want it.  We will see.  It was insane how much fabric and yarn I have.  I solemnly swear that I will try not to buy anymore yarn or fabric until I use some of what I have......unless I go to MBT....then I can't promise anything.  I had better get back to knitting and sewing :)

I've been baking like a crazy kid.  The 3 youngest kids helped me make sugar cookies on Monday.  There were so many sprinkles on the kitchen floor that it was like walking on marbles.  We took or will be taking cookie plates to our neighbors....some of them are difficult to catch at home. 

The Christmas spirit is alive and well here :)  I love that I am able to enjoy it with my little family while we remember the real reason for the season.  All 4 children took part in our little church's Christmas poduction.  I am hoping that someone took pictures that I can get my hands on.  Lee was Joseph, Greg was a wise man, Bear was a sheep and Abby was a little angle.  After the play Lee and Greg joined some friends in whistling We Wish You a Merry Christmas and playing a few songs with the bells.  We are Christmas carolling on Wednesday night.  I love to go Christmas carolling.  I can't wait!!!!!!!

I hope that all of you are enjoying the wonderful time of year that is Christmas.  Remember our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and cherish the time that you can spend with your family.  Hugs to all my friends!!!!!!! 

Smurfs

What do you think?  As you can tell, we dressed as Smurfs for Halloween this year.  Lee was dressed as Gargamel.  I wanted to dress Sadie up as Azreal but nobody wanted to drag her along so we did without. 

The Gargamel outfit is a wizard robe and belt and then Lee is wearing a "bald cap".  His curly hair sticking out around the ears worked out perfectly.  Papa Smurf is wearing red sweatpants and a blue long-sleeved t-shirt.  For all the hats we took felt and cut out 2 triangles, curved the top "point" and then stuffed it appropriately, running a seam in the middle of the hat to keep the stuffing where it was supposed to be and help the hat to flop forward properly.  For Papa Smurf's beard we cut 3 layers of quilt batting in the proper shape and then sewed it to a piece of elastic which we safety pinned to the hat at the ears and then around in the back.  Greg and Bear (lazy and handy Smurf respectively) are wearing white pants (Greg's are sweats, Bear's are long-johns over sweats) and long sleeved blue t-shirts. 

Abby's dress is beautiful.  I think she will wear it to church on Sunday.  I actually put a zipper in something for once.  I used a bottom-weight twill for both dresses.  It works splendidly for Abby's dress but my dress kept sticking to my legs.  So it was bothersome, but in actuality the dress is shorter than I would have chosen because I needed to show off my blue legs.  I got the tights at I Love Colors, a webstore that sells tights in 56 colors (from infant to plus size).  These are great tights.  Nice quality and the colors are true to the pictures.  I was very pleased.  We are also wearing long-sleeved t-shirts.  Norman insisted that I make shoe covers in the appropriate colors for those who weren't wearing appropriately colored shoes.  If Norman is going to do something, he goes all the way.  That is why we are wearing body paint.

I would have been perfectly happy being smurfs with flesh colored skin, but oh no!  Norman bought face paint, so we painted our faces and hands.  It wasn't bad putting it on and I didn't really mind it while it was on, but it took forever to get off (it DID wash out of the white dresses though - amazing!)  Abby thought we were all funny with blue faces until it was her turn to get painted and then she didn't like it so much.  She HATED me scrubbing it off the next morning (yes, she and Bear and Greg all slept in their face paint.  They were tired.  LOL).  I noticed today, almost a week later, that she still has a little spot of blue inside one of her ears. 

A lot of people didn't get that Lee was Gargamel but a few did and we got a lot of positive comments.  Lee is already plotting what we can all be for next year.  I call that a success!

Pumpkin Carving

My crafting talents stop at knitting and sewing.  I can't draw, my color combinations aren't always "compatible" and I don't have a very creative mind.  That does not lend itself well to carving pumpkins.  My poor children.  Anyway, some years we paint the pumpkins.  Some years we carve.  This year was a carving year. 

Lee wished me to focus my picture taking on the pumpkins not him.  He learned to keep his head down :)

Greg is ready to go!

Daddy shows Bear what the task is.  I figured this would be the end of the pumpkin carving for the little ones, but both of them took to it well. 

Daddy helped Bear carve his pumkin (they used a template).

I would like to note that I cleaned out Abby's pumpkin and drew the design on hers - freehand.  Nobody took a picture of that.  LOL

There's Abby working on hers.  She loved the pumpkin goo.....we were putting it in a bucket (the older boys) and a wheelbarrow (the rest of us) and she spent considerable time moving the goo from bucket to little wheelbarrow to big wheelbarrow and back again.  She was covered in pumpkin.

Good job boys!

Moving goo.....

Greg used a very difficult carving template.

Lee chose to draw his freehand.  He carved out all the pieces so that light would shine around them.  We took a picture like that then he popped them all out.  (see below)

A girl and her dog.  Time to rest after moving goo.  Sadie just wanted away from the goo and back in the house.  She isn't very brave.

The finished jack-o-lanterns.  From left to right (Bear, Abby, Greg and Lee)

Some Pictures

I've got tons of pictures on my phone that have been taken the last few days.  I have a weird phone.  It won't send the pictures straight to facebook for me.  Very frustrating!  Anyway, so I have to send them to my email, save them to the computer and then upload them to either here or facebook.  If I send them here I can journal along with it and then post this to facebook (in case some of you were wondering why the pictures weren't going straight to fb).

All that to get to the pictures.  LOL

This is Abby riding the "rocking horse" at the park in T-Town.  We were waiting for the games to start Saturday morning. 

These 2 pictures were taken on the trails at Ballard Nature Center.  We started off with the group (honest we did!) but then Bear and Abby ran ahead and rather than disrupt the group with 2 little ones my dear friend, Mary Lemay, and I just kept walking with the babies.  We let Bear choose which way to go when we would come to a fork in the road.  We went over a Troll Bride (paying the toll along the way) and then things went terribly wrong.  We had already been walking a considerable distance (for Abby a quarter mile is a considerable distance!) when Bear decides we will go down this Wetland Trail.  The sign says it is 1.4 miles.  I incorrectly assume that at some point we will find another fork in the road and we will meander our way back to the nature center.  I was wrong.  No more forks in the road.  We trudged along about halfway before the babies started to protest.  So Mary and I would carry them to the next curve or the next bench and then they would walk a bit more.  Suffice it to say that we were getting very tired, very quickly.  I sent Greg and Jeffrey (Mary's grandson) a text telling them to get the stroller and come meet us but I couldn't tell them really where we were.  So we continued on like that for what seemed like forever (but was really maybe an hour total walking time maybe an hour and a half).  Finally we reached a fork in the road and a sign.  I immediately sent the trail name to Greg and we continued walking.  By the time Greg and Jeffrey got the stroller and a map of the trails and found us we were almost back to the Nature Center.  I was never so happy to see a stroller in my life - there towards the end we were mainly just carrying babies and Abby had fallen asleep on my shoulder.  You can see how tired Bear and Abby were in that picture.  Poor little things probably though they would have to walk forever.  LOL

There's my babies!  Again at the park in T-Town before Saturday's soccer tournament.

About the tournament, we lost both games but played their hearts out.  We finished up the afternoon with lunch at McDonald's and a leisurely stroll through Walmart.  It was a wonderful day!

Last Week in Pictures

These are the bloomers that I made for Abby last week.  The top pair are made out of muslin, the 2nd out of white cotton.  I was using a pj pants pattern and forgot that the kids patterns run big.  So the white pair are a size 2 and the muslin pair are a size 1.  I don't know why the picture of the muslin pair is fuzzy, I couldn't get it to take clear.

Watch out world!  She's driving :)  Only backwards for now.

Bear is sitting on top of Abby's car.  I don't know why.  I don't know why he does anything that he does.  I love him anyway.

Here is Abby after her first painting experience.  She painted herself and Bear painted her.  Abby also painted on me.

And Bear painted himself and the slide.  See the paper on the ground behind him?  They did not pain the paper.  I don't know why I bothered. The dog stayed in the house.  Sometimes she is a smart dog.

We are really enjoying the wonderful warm weather we have been having.  The weather man said on the radio yesterday that it will probably cool off this week.  I suppose it is time.  We really need to get some pumpkins.  Maybe this weekend I will remember to do that.  I also heard on the radio that "someone" - I never pay any attention to the who I usually just get the what - is predicting a cold, stormy winter this year.  Didn't we have a cold, stormy winter last year?  Hmmmm.  Not looking forward to that. 

Well, I guess that's all for now.  I hope that you enjoyed the pictures and have a wonderful week!

Last Week in Pictures

We spent some time at the playground Saturday after Greg's soccer game.  Lee is a referee for other games so we wait around for him to get done. 

Sadie doesn't really like to be on a leash.  BUT she is programmed to follow Abby around where ever she goes in case Abby drops food so she followed her around on the leash.  Abby was pretty proud of herself.  At the time they were helping Bear find Greg in an outdoor game of hide-and-go-seek.  Bear said that Sadie was the hound dog.  Sadie is not a hound dog.  Actually, Sadie wanted to go back in the house, but she was attatched to that stinky leash.  LOL  Eventually I rescued her.

Abby stole Bear's polar pop.  And drank most of it.....spilled the rest.  Bear was not very proud of her.  I had to buy him another polar pop.