15. February 2008 by Shannon.

This is a tough time of year for school kids… and even homeschool kids!  What to do when you’ve been at your lessons for months and months, mom STILL wants more school done, and you’ve been watching the snow fall gently to the ground in soft, fluffy clumps?  You stage a revolt! 

That is apparently the advice that has been given my little homeschool crowd.  I can’t get hardly half an hour’s worth of work before I have to go hunt them out again… they keep slipping away… I think they’re trying to escape!  The mountains of snow are calling to them, whispering to them to come out and bring a sled while the day is still clinging to light.

Homeschool in Canada is hard in the winter.  It’s just too much fun to be playing outside… how can math, copywork or even sitting around listening to books compete?  I’m seriously thinking that maybe next year should start in August and we should take February off instead of spreading vacation over the summer when no one wants to leave the coolness of the house to brave the blackflies and deerflies (double ouch!) to play outside.  Maybe we should make the most of that time getting ahead in our lessons and then spend February getting to play outside in the snow all day!  I haven’t decided yet… but it might save me a lot of hunting them down and draggin’ them back. 

Or, maybe next year I’ll plan a “fun unit” break - I’ll have a planned break from “regularly scheduled homeschool” to stop and do something winter related… maybe I’ll finally tackle some of the awesome winter lapbooks from Hands of  a Child (www.handsofachild.com) like Sled Dogs or Snow or even their unit on Polar Habitats (we’re in one, right?) - or better yet, get Dad involved and do a unit on Hockey!  We can sled, trek, build snowmen, or snow forts… and drink lots of hot chocolate with marshmallows.  Maybe I can do both!

Sounds like a plan to me!

(and now I’m off to hunt them down again… and maybe just for today I’ll get them all bundled up and playing outside while the weather is nice)

Have a fluffy snow day!

Posted in Great Finds, General Homeschool | Print | No Comments »

11. February 2008 by Shannon.

Well Well Well!

 McKenzie has decided to WRITE a BOOK!  MY daughter… the one with dysgraphia.. the one that loathes writing ANYTHING …. a BOOK!

 Are you getting the feeling I’m stunned?  I am!  Why would she want to write a book?  Well… many reasons.  She wants every kid she knows to know something she knows… something she loves and knows they will love too - if they only knew what she does!  Heehee… I’m being evasive on purpose.  I will unveil more information as the project moves forward, but keep your eyes peeled for the release of a soon to be Best Seller!  LOL!

I’m such a proud Mama!

And that is today’s GLORIOUS View from the Hill!

Shannon

Posted in Kenzi, Bragging, General Homeschool | Print | No Comments »

7. February 2008 by Shannon.

Well…can it possibly be that most cherished day of couples everywhere?  Women LOVE Valentine’s day.. we can be silly crazy romantic with our men and they aren’t allowed to roll their eyes!  *Grin* 

Men, on the other hand, generally have a different reactions… most look at Valentine’s Day with the same deer-in-the-headlights look they get on other special days… like birthdays, anniversaries… etc.  Heehee.. but we love them anyhow, right? *wink*

SO… with nothing much else to say, school is going great.  We’ve recently reorganized the house to clear a room to be a “study” in which we have two desks, a table and a bookcase so that Kenzi has a quiet (kinda) space to work in.  It’s helped so much, and she’s been SO much more productive since we started here.  Praise God!!!

Here are some little links I think you might be interested in this week… and next:

How is your marriage? Want some great ideas to help spice up your marriage? Ready for some Mom-to-Mom refreshment and encouragement? Practical how-to’s? REAL Help? Join Cindy Rushton for her favorite online seminar of 2008! A fun weekend seminar JUST for YOU! - http://www.romancetoolbox.com/seminar.html

EasyFunSchool has a really nice unit on Valentine’s Day… I love their unit studies - http://www.easyfunschool.com/ValentineUnit.pdf

Kerry Beck also has some neat resources you might like as you romance this season of homeschooling - http://www.curriculumconnection.net/valentinesday08.htm

Or why not get together some of your kids’ homeschool friends for a Valentine’s Party - http://momentsamidmesses.blogspot.com/2007/02/valentines-party.html

Whatever way you decide to celebrate… remember, God Loves You!  Talk about a Valentine - He gave His ONLY SON to die so that if we believe in that sacrifice we could spend all of Eternity with Him.  I can’t imagine a better way to spend Eternity than with someone who loves me THAT much! :o)

Have a Love-Filled Day!
Shannon

Posted in Great Finds, General Homeschool, Uncategorized | Print | 1 Comment »