Homeschool 2011-2012

Hey friends and family!
We have been getting LOTS of questions about what we are doing for school, so I thought I would put it all in one place. I am so excited for this year, we are already into about 2 weeks. We decided to start back in July and take more breaks in the Spring when it is actually nice enough to play outside.
So onto what we are doing...

Luke will be doing mostly Kindergarten, but some PreK stuff as well. He is doing school everyday with Rebekah and LOVING it!!

Rebekah is doing 2nd grade work in most everything but math, she is finishing up what would be considered 1st grade level this summer and hope to be caught up by September.

Here is our curriculum:

Bible Study Guide for All Ages for both kids.
Bible Study Guide For All Ages
I got the teachers manual and the student worksheets, Beginner for Luke and Intermediate for Rebekah. I also got the timeline, map, and CD. The CD is AWESOME!
So far, I love it because I can teach both kids and the same time and then challenge them at their level. They both are learning tons of details and enjoying it!!

We will also be starting Road Trip USA with both kids from Confessions of a Homeschooler.
Road Trip USA
Still gathering all I need for this, but plan to start it soon.

For Luke:

1. Phonics/Reading Readiness:Get Ready for the Code
Get Ready for the Code

2. Letter of the Week from COAH
Letter of the Week

3.Math : Horizons
href="http://www.aophomeschooling.com/product/jks021/">Horizons

4. Once we finish Letter of the Week, hopefully in September, we will start COAH K4 program.
K4 curriculum

For Rebekah:

1. Handwriting: A Reason for Handwriting
A Reason for Handwriting

2. Spelling: All About Spelling
All About Spelling

3. Math: Horizons Kindergaten/1st grade
Horizons

4. Science: Apologia Exploring Creation, Human Anatomy and Physiology
Apologia Science

5. History: Veritas Press, Old Testament and Ancient Egypt
Veritas Press History

6. Reading: We are reading some American Girl books just to continue to practice and stretch her reading abilities.

So that is our curriculum so far. I am still considering writing, art, and foreign language, but haven't decided on that yet.

These last two weeks have been great and I see that having only a short time off of school was VERY good for us. They both seem excited about school and have their favorite subjects. It takes about 3.5 hours to finish school and although that seems short, they seem to be learning and retaining so much!

All the things I have been meaning to blog about...

I have been asked a bunch about a couple of new things we are doing around here, and my response is always that I will blog about it soon...well it takes the baby waking at 6am before I feel like it is quiet enough and I can think straight...at 6am? I know maybe not, but here is my attempt.



G Diapers/ Cloth diapers

We are using cloth diapers for Natalie. My reasons to start are just a few.
1. It save money...and that is always a good thing.
2. It is good for her.
3. It is good for the environment.

After lots of research, I really felt like this was a good choice for us. When Luke was still in diapers, I was hauling out two big bags of diapers every week. It was gross! Once Luke was potty trained, I made the switch. I decided on gdiapers mostly b/c they were cheaper to begin with, but I really like the system now.
With Gdiapers you can use a disposable insert or a cloth one, and I chose to do all cloth. It has been really easy, if you do laundry as much as I do, it does not add to my day too much at all. My mom even made some cloth wipes for me to use and I just run them under cold water before I use them and then throw them in with the dirty cloth diaper. I am not a full time cloth diaperer, I don't want to deal with hauling my cloth dipes everywhere when we are out of town or even running errands, so I have a pack of pampers for that. Also, my little darling is a very heavy wetter at night, so I am trying to find something that works for her in the pm, b/c the gdiapers don't work for her then.
So that is our little system. I feel good about my baby being healthier, saving money, and being good for the environment.

Here is a good article if you are on the fence even a bit. If you don't want to be convinced...don't read it. =)
cloth diaper article


Homeschool







We have prayfully decided on this for lots of reasons. Just so everyone knows, we did not choose this b/c I used to be a teacher. That really had no play in this choice, it is soooooo different. Even though I had that experience and training, I am having to unlearn everything I was taught, it just doesn't help me when I am teaching my own child one on one.
First, we wanted our children to be focused on God before all else. With homeschool, I can pray with my girl when she is struggling in school, make sure learning the Bible is on the top of her to do list and not have to focus on any teaching to a test!
Bekah is doing great!!! We are using the workbox system, so she has 9 boxes right now and each box is a subject or reinforcement. Once she finishes a box, she takes the number off the box and hangs it on the chart. It gives her a sense of when she will be done, and how much she has already accomplished. It also helps her be more independent on school work. There is a lot that I have to stay nearby for, or sit down with her with, but if it is something she can do by herself, she does without any problems.
A few of you have asked what curriculum we are using so here is that:

The Bible - all by itself...good stuff!

Phonics - Hooked on Phonics - she has been reading for awhile now and this just keeps the momentum going.

Math - Hooked on Math and some online help. Bekah is already doing simple subtraction and doing great!!

Handwriting - Right now, she copies her memory verses, but I want to start her on Penmanship to Praise pretty soon.

Language - Spanish. She has already finished the Hooked on Spanish and is now working through some computer programs for this. I could use some advice on some good curriculum in this area.

Five in a Row - This is a program that uses a different book each week and has different lessons to go with it, like science, geography, social studies. So far this has been good, but I am not sure I am going to keep this. I have come across some really great science curriculum and such, so I may switch this up.

I guess that is it for now. I know I need to update on how everyone is doing, but this has been a draft for way too long. =)

My only gems

“She came tonight as I sat alone, the girl I used to be…
And she gazed at me with her earnest eye and questioned reproachfully;

Have you forgotten the many plans and hopes that I had for you?
The career, the splendid fame, and all the wonderful things to do?
Where is the mansion of stately height with all of its gardens rare?
The silken robes that I dreamed for you and the jewels in your hair?

And as she spoke, I was very sad for I wanted her please with me…
This slender girl from the shadowy past the girl that I used to be
So gently rising, I took her hand, and guided her up the stair
Where peacefully sleeping, my babies lay innocent, sweet, and fair.

And I told her that these are my only gems, and precious they are to me;
That silken robe is my motherhood of costly simplicity.
And my mansion of stately height is love, and the only career I know
Is serving each day in these sheltered walls for the dear ones who come and go.

And as I spoke to my shadowy guest, she smiled through her tears at me.
And I saw that the woman that I am now, pleased the girl I used to be.

- Author Unknown
Quoted in Womanly Dominion by Mark Chanski


Sidenote: I know that I have A LOT of updating to do, but this is been on my heart a lot lately so I thought I would share. I am hoping to get new pics and updates done this week!!

Gdiaper Giveaway!

From the blog that is giving these away:

If you're new to the idea of something other than typical disposables or want to use something more environmentally friendly and baby friendly on your little one's tush, this is the way to go. Or if you use other cloth diapers - try this out, too! You can use cloth inserts in them; we do! Or if you know of someone that might be interested or is a user already, and you need a great gift for them... OR if you just love gdiapers and can't get enough... OR you have just started out and want to grow your stash - for free!.......you get the point. Enter this giveaway!



This is what we are trying to get started using. I am buying them a little bit at a time and this would be a great start!!

God is bigger than yoooouuu!!!

Funny conversation:

We begin with Bekah asking to wash dishes. SURE!
Luke has asked if he can too, I tell him no.
He goes and gets a stool anyway and starts getting into the water.
He is told to get down and he may not go near the water.
He asks several times more if he can wash dishes. NO, NO, NO.

He comes over a bit later and:

Luke:I asked God if I can wash dishes, and Him say yes.
Me: He did?
Luke: Yes Him did and Him is bigger than yoooouuuu!!!


Haha, but I still said no!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

My son did not tell me he was going to shoot me with BROWN POWER from his bottom, while I was changing his diaper. Not my son, that would just be gross!

My daughter did not loudly announce that she was doing her business while in the public restroom, but business was slow and so was the ladies next to her. I am sure that lady would have been embarrassed if she had said that.

My wonderful son did not tell me last night that he wanted me to go to work and for daddy to stay home. Nope, he loves me, and loves that I stay home with him.

All of this is said with a smile. Love them!!

Deal!!

I was at Target tonight and was looking through their major toy clearance, I am trying to stock up for birthdays and Christmas, when I decided to look over in the baby section. I was looking for clearance sippy cups, when what do my wandering eyes do find? These sippy cups with a hanging price tag of...wait...



$1.87

If you shop for sippy cups, then you know that this cannot be right. These cups are brand new (a new line for Playtex), and its a 2 pack. So I took the sippy cups (not before I grabbed all 3 they had left) and went to the scan it yourself and it rang up $7.45. BOO!
I decided to ask an employee how all this worked, it was mismarked on two different hanging tags with the right barcode. Turns out, I asked the right man. It was a district manager. He agreed that the cups were mismarked, but that was their fault not mine. So I got to get my cups for the $1.87. I bought the 3 packs of them they had left and wanted to skip out of the store!
Yeah for good deals!!