My Prek 3/4 or Prek picks books/activities

"100 Bible Stories 100 Bible Songs" Stephen Elkins

"A is for Apple" board book take a peek slide and seek(Allied Publishing Group)[or similar]

"Flip Flap Body Book" Usborne

"A Treasury of Mother Goose" Offen

"Things People Do" Usborne

"The Year at Maple Hill Farm" Provenson

"The M&M's Counting Book" McGrath

"Child's Book of Art" Micklethwait

"First Thousand Words" Usborne

"Harper Collins Treasury of Picture Book Classics"

"20th Century Children's Book Classics" Schulman

"Beatrix Potter the Complete Tales"

Flash cards:
School zone- Picture Words Whimsy, Numbers 0-25, Phonics Made Easy, Beginning Sight Words

Activities:
Lacing cards
ABC 123 tracing
Cutting with scissors
Watercolor painting
Coloring
Playdough
Wood Puzzles
Building Blocks
Outdoor Play-swing,slide,tricycle,etc.

Tumblebooks

My husband's sister who is a teacher shared this resource with me. It is a fun website with e-storybooks for kids to read, games, and more.

Tumblebooks library

Resource links

Yay! Another year of homeschooling! I hope some of my favorite resources will be helpful this coming year.

Everyday Edits(language arts)

Grade level educational games

Spelling City...Awesome!

Gutenberg.org...Read thousands of books online for FREE!

Bibliomania...another resource for reading books online for free

Cheap Books! Abebooks

Sonlight supplement

fun online kids encyclopedia

Fun math resource...coolmath4kids

Finally summer!

We just finished up with 1st grade about two weeks ago. As much as we love homeschooling, it is so nice to have a break! However, we will continue to do a math sheet every few weeks and read this summer to keep little minds sharp. Now I get to do all of the things I put off during school...going through old clothes, shoes, and toys and general "dejunking"...fun,fun,fun! And the girls' summer fun has already begun...swimming, going to the movies, hanging out with friends, church camps, etc. August will come so soon, but I know we will be so excited to jump into a new year then. Wishing you a happy summer!

Happy Mother's Day!

I want to wish a Happy Mother's day to all of you moms who dedicate your life to your family...to the mom's who despite public opinions, ridicule, and little support choose what your heart tells you is best for your children. You are pioneers...daring to go where few moms have been. You are confident...knowing no one knows or loves your children better than you do, and you will see the bountiful fruits of your labor. You are resourceful...seeking out whatever your children need to better their education and to foster their natural gifts for their future. You are selfless...pouring yourself into your family as a love offering made without resentment or hesitation.

May the Lord bless and keep you sweet Moms!

Free Resource for Homeschoolers!

Here is a free resource that looks like a lot of fun! It is a printable set of multiplication flash cards that your kids color. Enjoy!


Free Multiplication Flash Cards

Updates

We are getting closer to the end of our school year. We still have 8 weeks to go due to illnesses a few weeks ago. We are gearing up for ballet recitals and the remaining letsgolearn.com test (which we don't really prepare for, we just need to do it ;). My oldest took the math portion about 6 weeks ago and scored grade 2.5 which is awesome for math I think seeing as she was about 1/2 way through grade 1. She has learned so much, and I have been astonished at how well she has retained it all. She uses her vocabulary words from her books often in her common language. The other day we were at the grocery store, and the clerk greeted her and was talking with her. She remarked, "We came to get provender." LOL. The clerk just looked at her blankly, and my daughter said, "You know, food." This was her first year taking ballet, and she has really learned so much and had so much fun. I am really surprised with the ease of learning that goes on between us. There are tough days to be sure, but mostly the difficulty with us is motivation to get going in the morning and distractions (aka my 3 year old, and following "rabbit trails" looking up interesting things that go with what we're learning). We are currently studying the Greeks, Socrates/Plato/Aristotle, and Alexander the Great in History. I can't believe how much I'm learning! I definitely think it's true that you learn more as a teacher than as a student.

Just ordered for next year!

So this week I made my order for my two girls for next year. For the little one (3 in March), I ordered 10 various books from Sonlight's cores pk 3/4 and pk 4/5, flashcards and some little Bible books (Big Thoughts for Little Thinkers) from Christianbook.com. We will just enjoy reading together, learning ABC's and 123's, some early phonics and sight words, and colors and shapes.

For the oldest (6 1/2) this is what we'll be doing:
From Sonlight:
Sonlight Core 2 (4 day) with Grade 2 Intermediate readers (History, Reading, Read-alouds, Geography)
Sonlight Science 2 (4 day)
Sonlight Language Arts 2 Int. (plus recommended workbooks)
Horizons Math 2
A Reason for Handwriting (grade 2)
Sequential Spelling 2
Usborne's Childrens Book of Art (Internet Linked)
Mathtacular 2
Maps and Globes

From Christianbook.com:
Big Truths for Little Kids
Wee Sing World
Prima Latina DVD's and workbook
The Lightlings
The Victor Journey through the Bible
(I got many of these ideas from Veritas Press...but they are a little higher)

I'm really excited that I was able to order the Mathtacular and the Prima Latina DVD's. That makes my life sooo much easier. Math is fun...check. Actual Latin teacher who won't mispronounce half the words...check. The Science also comes with a fun Discover and Do DVD that is really neat.

Also here in a few weeks, my oldest will be taking her DORA and DOMA tests from www.letsgolearn.com (which we don't have to do, but it's helpful for me to know what she needs more work on).

Now I can't wait for box day!!! It is always so much fun when the books come in :). We all get in the floor and dive through the books. Now I just have to clean off the bookshelves and find some more room!

Famous Homeschooler Profiles

I would like to post a series of profiles featuring famous homeschoolers. I have been just amazed reading the life stories of some of these incredible people. First up, America's Famous Inventor...Thomas A. Edison. Some of the things about him that are amazing:

1. He couldn't talk until 4 years of age
2. His teacher thought his brain was "addled" (this day and age that would be pegged as ADD) during the three months he spent in formal school. His mother taught him for the rest of his schooling.
3. They had a home library and frequented the public library, and Thomas' father gave him $.10 for every book he read.
4. Thomas loved World History and English literature
5. He showed an early keen interest in science.
6. When he was 15, he saved the life of a stationmaster's 3 year old son. In appreciation, the man gave Thomas a job as a telegraph operator.
7. Thomas designed the first off-the-grid all electric home with electric appliances all powered by a wind turbine and a gas generator.

You can read more here:
Thomas Edison Bio

Happy Thanksgiving Break!!

I know you're ready for it, I know we sure are. Yay....a whole week off :D. This video is cute, and while not every one of them fits us, it's just for fun.

Homeschool Freebies

Something new free everyday...Whoo hoo!! Another HS mom shared with me, so check it out. You can even sign up for a Monday "head's up" email where they let you know the freebies for that week. Enjoy!

Homeschool Freebie

Keep them Home

Let's Go Learn

Sonlight reccomends (and so do I) a really great tool for the homeschooler. Let's Go Learn is a reading and math assessment site that is low cost ($20 per test, per child with discounts for more tests/children), very in depth, and gives advice on how to improve the areas of skill your child needs work on. The site says schools use this test, and I found it really helpful (and a much needed encouragement) to know how well my daughter did on her reading assessment. It also showed me I needed to work on her spelling skills the most. It was a fun computer test, that seemed to know just when the kids would have had enough. We were in the kitchen while she took it and just about the time she started to complain, it was over. I'm not a huge advocate of testing as long as you have an idea how much your child is retaining, but this is just such a simple way to put your mind at ease about how your child is doing compared to others in his or her grade. So here it is:

Let's Go Learn

Free Bible Curriculum...yay!!

This is an awesome find!! Free in printable PDF format, Puritan (reformed) curriculum K-12, including grammar, Bible, and more...all using scripture for the basis!! I wouldn't call it a complete curriculum for us, and I don't agree 100% about the tone of some of it, but I'm sure excited about adding some of it's elements to our homeschool...for the cost of some printer ink. If nothing else it could be used for discipleship at home. Enjoy!!

Puritans Curriculum

How old is the earth again? The inconsistancy of old earth science

Here is a really informative article about the problems, fallacies, and bias of modern scientific dating methods. I have long thought for myself about the issues of radioactive carbon-14 dating (for instance there be a lot of variables in the loss of carbon-14 in a decaying living thing such as weather, soil type, plant vs animal material, etc). With so many variables in decaying matter, how could an accurate and fail-safe method ever be concieved? And what is the basis for the time line conceived by scientist (MA- or millions/billions of years) when all historical evidence ever dated by actual tangible methods have produced only thousands of years? This article is very intelligently written, so I hope it will be informative and get your gears turning the way it did mine.

Christian Answers

Our start for the year, and a great homeschool moment already

We are now going into our 5th week of Sonlight Core 1. We had to take a week off due to Hurricane Gustav, but it worked out okay because it was also my DD's birthday (6th) on that Wednesday. We are doing a 4 day schedule so it is more flexible for us. In addition to Sonlight we are doing "Teach them Spanish", "English from the Roots Up" (2nd half), a Phonics Review, "Sequential Spelling", "Studying God's Word B" (which has much stronger/better doctrine than SL's "Leading Little One's to God")and "Lollipop Logic". She really loves SL's science experiments and the read alouds. So far the 2nd grade readers aren't challenging her, but it picks up through the year, so it should work out. Some of the science is pretty advanced stuff (like reflection/refraction & Plimsoll line), and some of the writing required for the science sheets is quite advanced for her. But they do this so it will be challenging to an older child if you are sharing curriculums, so I let her verbally answer where I know it's too difficult, and I make note of that and write in her answers. The Lang. Arts would be the same thing, if she wasn't as gifted in that area....but that is why I chose Sonlight! She needs the challenge. She is also taking an interest in art, loves ballet, and is in the children's choir again this year. And socialization??!! She had more friends at her party this year than last year (most from church and homeschool groups)...about 16!! Plus she made two friends on the playground before her guests arrived that also tagged along for the party...so I guess that's about 18 then...lol.

Things are pretty challenging this year for mom because I also have my precocious and very meddlesome 2 year old DD who is potty training. All markers and scissors have to be kept a minimum of 6ft off the ground, and all liquids must be quite out of reach...lol. She is also getting very needy when we've been doing school a while, even with coloring at the table with us, playing with puzzles, looking at books, watching PBS, etc. She's also in that "what's that?!" stage, so she is learning at neck break speed. I try my best to capitalize on this time, but it is difficult to find all the time I'd like to take with her, and I know she still gets needy for her momma.

Our area is building a really cool homeschool group...really an incorporation of two seperate homeschool groups. We had a small one last year, and then one of the moms in our group found a mom from their group, etc. We missed the first playdate, due to mechanical issues (...ahem my hubby's tranny went out, so he had my car). But they have a field trip once a month planned, so hopefully we will be able to make those.

And now for my homeschool moment of the month....

My husband's friend was in our kitchen fixing a plate to eat, and when my daughter passed by he said, "Como Estas?". She promptly replied "Muy bien, gracias. Y tu?" LOL. I love homeschooling.

Another school year.....I Will Survive!

Homeshool Haters....rant

It's bound to happen.....one day you're shopping or in some other seemingly normal situation and BAM....you're bludgeoned by a homeschool hater. My recent experience came from no less than a Walmart cashier. She was friendly at first and as we began to talk, I mentioned that we homeschooled. Whoa...you would have thought that I had stated that I was the head of a Nazi concentration camp. As she began to ignorantly
parade every sterotype she could spew, I was honestly in a state of shock. I told her that my daughter was doing very well and was very happy and well socialized. She told me that she felt sorry for my children and that I couldn't prepare them for the "real world" by homeschooling them, especially in high school. Then she demanded, "are you qualified to teach your children?". She also stated that she was a religious woman too, but get real...life is going to happen and I'd do well to go ahead and expose her to it (really?...lol). I was quiet through most of her spiel, only retorting that this was simply her opinion, and I was well within my legal rights to do so in the state of Mississippi. With my children in tow, my only goal was to leave with the things I needed for the next day, and not get in a knock down drag out with a cashier over the rearing and education of my own children.

When I got home I got to thinking of just how rich the resources we do have are (just in case I'm not "qualified"...lol). We have among our family and on our side:

1 elementary teacher of nearly 40 years (my great aunt...who's oldest daughter also homeschools)
1 jr. high teacher with a master's degree (Rob's sister Staci)
1 in grad school going for a masters in psychology (in case my kids need any help in that department, who also speaks fluent German and good Dutch)
1 accountant (bachelor's) (for those pesky tax and math questions)
1 doctorate of Theology (for the big questions)
1 RN + her husband a nurse anethesist (for biology/medical issues...homeschoolers of 3 boys)
1 BA in art (in case they want to learn to draw..lol)

This is not in addition to my husband's college education majoring in biomedical engineering and history (although he did not finish), and my 22 years as a musician. Not to mention our awesome and large church family, and my father and stepfather who are awesome carpenters and loads of mechanics (Shop class!! lol) I know at any time I can call and get help from any of them if I ever do need it (although, I'm pretty confident with the Lord's help thus far).

Wow, public schools....top that!

God bless America!

I pray that it never comes to this in America. German compulsary law leaves little no course or freedom for families to educate their children at home.

Freedom...right on little man