The whirlwind that is my life…

14. January 2010 by Shannon.

I’ve been gone a LONG time, haven’t I?  Well, I’m finally back on solid ground.  Ah, but the journey’s been fun! :o)

What am I talking about?  Well… we’ve moved!  In face, I feel a little deceptive even blogging on this page since we are no longer “homeschool on the hill”… in fact, we’re far from any hills that I can see.  Maybe we should call ourselves “The Little Homeschool in the Town” LOL!  It’s a strange, yet wonderful, change.  We’re now “in town”… a small town to be sure, but a town just the same.  There are “local” things… like a library, a post office, a GROCER!  I can’t believe how much things have changed… but it’s all been for the good.  I do miss my trees, I miss the mountain, I do… but this new home is just what our family needed, so I am Very Thankful.

As for school.  Well, sometimes Life is enough of a learning experience, eh?  My Bigs have learned about moving, about expenses, about the work involved in setting up a new home, about all kinds of important things like that, so I’m trying to let go of my paper pushing compulsions and just enjoy this season in our lives.  We’re just now getting settled into our school rhythm.

We’ve made some changes from what we’d planned to do this year to what we’ve actually settled on, so let me give you all a little update:

Ev (16) is working through Sonlight Core 200 as planned, but we’ve switched his math to Math-U-See Algebra 1.  Apparently he has retention issues where it comes to math… and although Life of Fred was engaging and he understood it in the moment and did very well on the immediate assignment, he quickly lost what he had learned and was unable to bring back stuff he’d “mastered” earlier.  I don’t think it’s an issue with Life of Fred, I think it’s more his learning abilities.  He’s just not a mathematical kid… I remember once when he was about 8 and had a math word problem along the lines of “if Johnny has to go get 24 apples for his mother, but his wagon only holds 8 apples, how many trips will he have to make to bring them all home?” and Ev just sitting there (looking like he was daydreaming).  When asked what he was finding so hard about the question, he - looking surprised - answered, “oh, it’s not a hard problem… I was just trying to figure out how he could fix his wagon so he’d only have to make one trip!”… ya.  That’s my boy! :o) 

*Ahem* … back to lessons.  SO, he’s still working through his novel, which is complete (all 36 chapters of it!) but in the editing stage.  He’s editing it once, and then a very good Editor friend of mine has agreed to edit it in exchange for Ev working for her for a few days.  This could be a good trade off!  Then it’s through the process of manuscript submission with publishers, and lots of praying that it’s accepted.  If anyone “knows” anyone in the business who would like to encourge a young author… please let me know!

Kenzi (14) is working through Sonlight Core 5, Math-U-See Pre-Algebra and working on a huge dog training project.  She’s read some pretty hefty books on the subject and watched countless hours of DVD lessons (oh joy!).  We’ve also applied to the Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind to be puppy walkers (basically raising a pup from 7 weeks to about 18 months till they are ready to go back to the centre for Guide Dog instruction).  Attending dog obedience classes with me and the pup will be part of her project.

Speaking of projects… I stumbled across an amazing site the other day, and I’m adapting the concept to my children… I’m hoping to be able to afford to work with this gentleman at a later date, but for right now the move has eaten up our “school budget” so we’ll have to make do on our own.  Luckily there is enough information there to get me started.

Ev and Kenz will be heading off to England later this month, a gracious invitation by my father-in-law, to meet and get to know some of the family we have living over there.  They have a great-grandmother who is 99 years old who they haven’t seen since they were 6 and 4 years old!  This will be an exciting learning experience for them… just getting used to the changes in vocabulary will be interesting!  My wonderful husband has tried to give them a British Primer with some words they may encounter that are different (such as, “boot” meaning the trunk of the car, or “rubber” meaning an eraser).  We’re SUPER excited for them and can’t wait to hear their reaction and memories when they come back.

Greys (7) and Chae (4.5) are focused on phonics, play, numbers, and drawing at the moment.  I’m trying to be as relaxed as possible with them in their education… without going “unschooling” altogether.  Do I think that unschooling is bad? No… not at all.  I know several unschoolers who blow my socks off with their passions and intelligence… but it’s just not my style.  I like some structure to know I’m covering at least the basics. 

Greyson can read words such as “activity”, “platform”, “calendar” and of course most smaller words.  He is a very eager reader if he’s not asked to read… meaning, if he comes to me to show me how he sounded a word out, but not being asked to read.  Greys loves numbers and what they represent and how they all work.  Recently I was assuring a friend of mine that the main education of Littles comes from their play, and that they can learn and practice many of their “school” skills in play:

Greyson and Chaeli are sitting on the floor playing with their wedgits. No school happening here. BUT.. let’s listen in…

C: do you want to build a crystal?…

G: No.. you are the scientist. I will buy what you make.

C: okay… (builds up a pretty “crystal” with a pattern of all the wedgit colours) do you want to buy this one?

G: well, yes. But I have to check my money (counts up the small and large white “diamonds” he has). How much is that crystal?

C: 3 diamonds.

G: (I’m not kidding, he said this!) OH! I have 5 diamonds, so, if I give you my diamonds you owe me 2 diamonds back in change!

C: okay! Can I use the diamonds to make more crystals?

G: Sure! (hands over the diamonds, Chaeli makes “change” and gets busy working on more “crystals”).

That’s suply and demand/manufacturing/economics/math(subtractions),and customer service… all wrapped up in wedgits!

Chae on the other hand is starting to read blends (words like “hand” “flat” “this” and “toad”), but is definately my science kid.  She’s constantly asking questions, contantly wanting to know how stuff works… she’s learned so much on the topic of scientific classification just because she thought it was neat that scientists make groups like she does.  She loves patterning, building, all that mathy-sciency jazz. 

I’m slowly working through First Language Lessons and Story of the World (Ancient Times with the Activity guide) with them… but we’re defiantely no where near Ms. Bauer’s schedule in The Well Trained Mind.  Oh well.. if it takes me two years for each of the 4 books, we’ll still end up in grade 9 ready to start the 4 year cycle again, won’t we?  It’s all good.

SO.  That’s my update!  I will be back more often now that everything is settled down… see y’all then!

Blessings!

Posted in Chaeli, Greyson, Kenzi, Everett, General Homeschool | Print | 2 Comments »

Figuring out the plan…

24. July 2009 by Shannon.

Okay.. because it’s homeschool planning time, I thought I’d put my plan out there and hope to get some feedback on what people think.

As a basic framework, I’m somewhere between The Well Trained Mind and Sonlight (not that they are that far apart in philosophy… really) and we use workboxes (8 slots per kid per day) to “organise” it all.

Everett, Grade 10:

Sonlight Core 200 - 5 days a week

Latina Christiana - 5 days a week (one long day and 4 review days)

Rosetta Stone French - 5 days a week (doesn’t take long each day)

Life of Fred Advanced Algebra (moving on to Geometry when completed) - 5 days a week

History (Middle Ages through Early Reformation) - Civilizations 2 pgs X 3 days a week with outlining, History of Art 2 pgs X 2 days a week with outlining

Great Books (following TWTM, ending with a Shakespeare unit in the late spring) - 3 days a week

Science (suggestions welcome, was considering Apologia Biology, but he’s supposed to be doing Earth Science and Astronomy but I don’t know of any curriculum at the highschool level for that) - 2 days a week

Grammar (Latin Road to English Grammar and read through the Elements of Style) - 5 days a week

Writing (working on his novel) - 5 days a week

McKenzie, grade 8:

Sonlight Core 5 - 5 days a week

Latina Christiana - 5 days a week (same as Ev)

Rosetta Stone French - 5 days a week

Bible (Grapevine level 4, Old Testament) - 5 days a week

Math (suggestions welcome, can’t really afford Teaching Textbooks again this year, but was thinking Math-U-See might be as effective and cheaper in the long run… opinions? LOF won’t work with her) - 5 days a week

Grammar (same as Ev) - 5 days a week

History (1850-Present using DK History of the World, if I can find a copy) - 3 days a week with outlining

Science (supposed to be computer sciences and physics, TWTM) - 2 days a week

Art (using Spears Art Studio and various prints) - 2 days a week (one for arts & crafts and one for a CM style picture study)

Music (Simply Music piano course) - 5 days a week - (Composer study and Listening to a classical piece) - 2 days a week  (yes, I know these are going to overlap… but Kenzi can do music practice after “school”)

Greyson, Grade 1:

Sonlight Core K - 5 days a week

Bible (Grapevine Beginner OT) - 5 days a week

Math (Math Mammoth and RS Math Games) - 3 and 2 times a week (MMx3, RSMGx2)

History (Story of the World, Ancients, with a notebook page) - 2 days a week

Science (suggestions for following TWTM year 1 welcome) - 3 days a week

Music (Simply Music piano course) - 5 days a week

Reading (Rocket Phonics) - 5 days a week

Grammar (First Lessons in Language) - 3 days a week

Art (Spears Art Studio) - 2 days a week

Spelling/Writing (Explode the Code, All About Spelling) - 5 days a week

Chaeli (TECHNICALLY too young for formal school, but so she doesn’t feel left out), Junior Kindergarten:

Sonlight Core K - 5 days a week

Reading (Rocket Phonics & SL K Reading) - 5 days a week

Math (number readiness and Right Start Math Games) - 3 and 2 days a week

Bible (Grapevine Beginner Old Testament) - 5 days a week

Memory (games and verses/poems) - 5 days a week

Writing (Get Ready Set Go for the Code) - 5 days a week

History (Story of the World, Ancients) - 2 days a week

Science (Nature Study, Classification concepts) - 3 days a week

Basic Skills (cutting, colouring, etc) - 3 days a week

Art (Spears Art Studio K) - 2 days a week

I still need:

Math for Kenzi

and to buy:

First Language Lessons Vol 1

The Well Educated Mind

DK Encyclopedia of Science

DK History of the World

Grapevine Level 4 Old Testament

SO… any thoughts?  BTW, to all my friends in the planning stages, I am praying for clarity of mind, availability of resources, and courage… and I’m praying that the Lord blesses your homeschool year so abundantly - I hope you will pray the same for us!

Blessings!

Posted in Chaeli, Greyson, Kenzi, Everett, General Homeschool | Print | 4 Comments »

Anyone There?

2. March 2009 by Shannon.

Gosh-Goodness I’ve been away a while!!!

I am so sorry to my readers (if there are any left!) for being away so long.  We have been so busy around here with school, reviewing, and well, just life as a Mom of Four, really.  So…  I’m BACK!

What’s been happening while I was gone?  Well, let’s see.. There was Christmas… that went very well.  We had a wonderful year spent quietly with just the family around the Christmas Tree… playing with the Casio Keyboard we got them, reading their new books and listening to the wonderful Scripture Songs CDs we got the Littles (Hermie and Wormie - who knew these guys were so GOOD?!). 

With January came back to school… we started out a little rough, like most schools (private/public or home)… but after about a week we managed to find out “groove” again.  In February (what a short month that is… you wouldn’t think that losing just a couple of days off the end would make the month go by so fast!), we celebrated with Daddy (Tony) as he gracefully added another year to his age… he’s an “old man” of 38 now!  He got a new kitten for his birthday, then a co-worker blessed him with another cat … so from none to two in less than a week! 

Then came Valentine’s Day, where Greyson learned all about telling others (and God!) how much he loves them.  He spent the month making love-notes for everyone… with his adorable spelling.  Here’s one of his notes:

“I luv Guod.  I wish oters wer nues tu Guod.”

Translation:
“I love God.  I wish others were nice to God”

(okay, we know what subject we’re handling FIRST next year!!! LOL!  Phonics down, SPELLING up next! LOL!)

March is here… it came in like a lamb, so according to my mom that means we’ll be having a nasty blizzard sometime around the end of the month.  I hope not, I’d hate to go into April up to my armpits in snow… but then, last year we had that CRAZY SNOW on the 7th of March… and by Chaeli’s birthday (April 12th) it was gorgeous out… so maybe it’s anytime in the first half of the month?

Both Ev and Kenzi are in a drama class this winter/spring season… I’m looking forward to seeing how it all goes for them, as Kenzi had a less than wonderful experience in a different drama class last year.  This particular class is hosted by a christian homeschool friend of mine, so I have a bit more confidence in it.  Greyson and Chaeli are busy being little… everything is an adventure… an empty box is made into a really cool cat house, a bag of rocks becomes a village of rock people, and any plan they over hearing you talk about means it’s happening right now… so be careful when mentioning a camping trip being planned for the summer as your likely to find a couple of backpacks filled to the brim with stuffies and toothbrushes by the front door next time you try to let the dog out!  Time is a concept lost on them… wish it worked that way for me… time just seems to be rushing by this year… busy-ness will do that to a person, eh?

How have YOU been since Christmas?  

Blessings!

Posted in Chaeli, Greyson, Kenzi, Everett, General Homeschool | Print | 3 Comments »

How I Taught My Child to Read for Less Than $1

20. September 2008 by Shannon.

How I Taught My Child to Read for Less Than $1

Check out the great article above - it uses a book I know can be found on MOST homeschooler’s shelves in a natural (unscripted) way… I have 100 Easy Lessons on my shelf, it’s nice to think of a new way to use it.  Greyson isn’t liking it at all…. Chaeli isn’t too picky, she just loves the one on one time, any way she gets it! LOL!

I have some index cards in front of me right now, and a marker beside it… I think I’ll try this with the Littles and see how it goes.

I’m sorry I’ve been so neglectful of my blog of late, but I have been blogging!!! HONEST!  I’m trying to think of a new way to use this blog… maybe more as a forum of my own ideas about homeschooling or things we’ve tried and had work (because lots doesn’t work.. LOL!).  But as for the weekly stuff, we’ve set up a whole new system… go check it out!!!

www.homeschoolblogger.com/ratcliffeauthor - is Everett’s blog which he’s “required” to post in once a week for school.

www.homeschoolblogger.com/horseridergirl - is McKenzie’s blog, same deal.

www.homeschoolblogger.com/ratcliffeblessings - is the blog that I am keeping for updates on what Greyson and Chaeli are doing for school each week.  I get in there once a week, towards the end of the week to keep it current… as they do projects and the likes, we’ll take pictures and post those too.  I also am using it for the funny little things they say, which are abundant!

I also have a blog (well, it could be a blog or a website, right now it’s set up as a blog, but I can undo that…) called www.momlovesbooks.com.  I liked the name of the domain, but I’m not sure what to do with it now… I’d love to hear people’s ideas!!! PLEASE comment and tell me what YOU would do with it… hmmm… maybe I’ll offer a prize for the person with the idea I choose to implement… hmmm… what could I offer?  Let me think… hey, I know!

Alright… here’s the deal.  I a very nice copy of the book “How to be a God Chaser and a Kid Chaser” by Tommy and Thetus Tenney.  SO… leave me a comment about what I should do with my momlovesbooks website, and whoever’s idea I choose, I will send this book to, at my discretion (within Canada or the States - unless you want to help me with the shipping… sorry!).  Okay?  I promise to send it to someone - so y’all better come up with some good ideas!!! *grin* 

So… contest closing… hmm… how about the 1st of October at noon EST?  (this is getting technical!  I’m a homeschool mom, no one is allowed to jump down my throat if I don’t check or decide till after school that day, okay?  It just means you have a longer time to think of an idea! *wink*)

Be sure to leave me some way to get in touch with you! :o)

Blessings!

Posted in Chaeli, Great Ideas, Greyson, Kenzi, Everett, Blogroll | Print | 6 Comments »

All’s Quiet on the Home Front

4. August 2008 by Shannon.

Well, my Bigs have headed off for Cadet Camp… Ev in Introduction to Leadership and Kenz in Basic.  It’s very strange being at home with just the Littles.  I find myself having a lot more time for reading stories, playing games, enjoying funny play.  I’m kept laughing at their funny understanding of the world.  Greys informed me today that he’s the “betht bathkitball player in the whole backyard”  (he was alone in the backyard at the time - and told me this through the back window).  Chae is so impatient… she wants to eat the apples on the trees.. and will not hear me that they are NOT READY yet.. and that worms live in them (Kenz told her that hoping to make her stop picking them).  So, she went on a tangent telling me it is “not fair that worms are in my apple acuz those are MY apples on MY tree and those worms aren’t aposed to eat apples - they are aposed to eat dirt!” (she’s really mad!).  She’s also adopted a pet slug.  I have a feeling she’s finding a new one every day and thinking it is the same one, but who knows… she also brought an inchworm in the house - then promptly LOST it… so now SOMEWHERE in my house there is a confused (or possibly dead) inchworm… Lovely.

My Square Foot Gardening adventure has kind of taken on a life of it’s own… I’m almost scared to go out there each morning as these tomatoes and beans and zuchinis are trying to take over the lawn!!!  The “Beans” and “Tomatoes” are two BIG gangs having a turf war in my garden… everyday it would seem one or the other has been “knocked out” (read: laying on the ground under) by the other.  But my tomatoes are prolific just the same… and my beans, well… with all the foliage, I’m not sure I’m ever going to see a bean on the thing.  Oh well, it’s been so much fun!  I also have some eggplants coming along nicely.. small, but at least they are finally there!!!  Eggplants are so pretty, even their flower is so pretty… I’d almost grow them anyhow just for decoration! :o)

So, All’s Quiet on the Home Front with only half our offspring makin’ noise… I never realised how much noise my “quiet” Bigs generate!   But I have to admit… I do miss them!

Blessings (and peace!)

Posted in Gardening, Chaeli, Greyson, Kenzi, Everett | Print | 1 Comment »

End of Year

17. June 2008 by Shannon.

Well, not that we’re there yet, but we are certainly getting anxious around here for the end of the school year!!  This week *should* be our last for the currect school year, and we’ll pick up again in the middle of August.  Kenzi still has math to complete over the summer to finish up the Saxon book she’s working on, but otherwise all “formal” lessons will end on Friday.  MOM can’t wait!!!  This was a challenging year, I’m not afraid to admit it… it was a lot of nagging and a lot of heartache as we both worked out our comfort zones…. but then we found Connect the Thoughts and that helped SO much, and then a very wonderful friend gave us an old laptop for Kenzi to use for her lessons and that helped even more… I didn’t realise how much of the battles were in fact related to her dysgraphia…. amazing really.  But as wonderful as this new “system” is, we really are in need of a break… a time of just being Mother and Daughter, and not Teacher and Student… really!

Ev is finished his school year in the Junior High School, and will be homeschooling next year as well… that will also make a difference around here in that we’ll be together for learning instead of having all our days so choppy.  Everett can’t wait to start Connec the Thoughts Creative Writing courses either… he’s looked the two I have over and is so excited to get started so he can move onto the Master’s Courses.  I was surprised to hear that he wasn’t as interested in the Animation course… but I think if he tried it he’d probably like it… we’ll have to try it as an elective in August.  He also just finished his Puzz3D that he’d been working on for a while… the Sistine Chapel!!!

This past week was the cadets Annual Review - both Ev and Kenzi were on the Drill Team, and Kenzi even got an award!!!  She was given the “Tracy Turton Award” for “the cadet that perseveres”.  That’s a positive statement, eh?  She was so surprised (as was MOM!) and proud that she’d stuck it out… it was a long haul, that’s for sure!  But she’s looking forward to Basic Camp this summer.  Ev got Leadership Camp, and he’ll be gone for a full three weeks!  I don’t know how *I* am going to handle it… but I guess it’ll be lots of fun for him! *grin*

 

(Ev and Kenzi right beside him…. Kenzi getting her award)

We have a new dog… I can’t remember if I blogged about him already or not, but his name is Charley (okay, I’m a die-hard Lost fan, and we wanted a name from Lost, but we were torn between “Hurley” and “Charlie” *our two favourite characters!* … so we decided on Charley… clever eh?  LOL!  Not that he cares, he just answers to anything - silly boy!), and he’s a lovely blond cocker spaniel.  SO cute…   He had a little “mohawk” going when we first got him, but we trimmed it off because it made him look even sillier than he generally does.  He’s so smart and learning more by the day… and he’s SO sweet to the kids!!

We got him about 3 weeks ago and although he’s housebroken VERY easily, we’re having “Bark Busters” come in to work with us and the two dogs next week. We’re hoping it will make a difference in some of the undesireable behaviours he has, mostly we believe caused by improper (none existant) training he recieved at his previous home.  He’s very bright and learns fast, and best of all, is eager to please. 

  

And lastly… my garden update… this is my garden ONE WEEK from the last picture… I can’t believe how fast this thing is growing!!! We finally got the tomato rings on and had a real battle to do so, since the plants are not only large, but really sturdy - not easy to “flex” to get them through the center!  But we did it… and they seem happy! *wink*  From the looks of the the flowers, we are going to have LOTS of everything.  The only thing I’m not sure of is the eggplants… are they supposed to be slow starters?  If anyone knows, I’d be so happy to find out!

I have to tell you this funny story.  Miss Chaeli came inside COVERED in dirt the other day, and I was, of course, worried about my lovely vegetable gardens.. what had she done?  Well, apparently nothing… she’d been playing in one of our front gardens… anyhow, while I was out there “fixing” her mess, I noticed these three obviously fast growing plants had taken root in my annual bed (I only have one, we positioned it over the septic tank lids so we can always find them AND it doesn’t matter when it’s dug up because they are only annuals anyhow… smart eh?).  As “pretty” as they might think they are, I didn’t want them there.  So, UP goes the plant… well, it has what looks like a giant peanut on the end.  Interesting.  So, I yank up another… this one is a normal looking root.  The third one (these were all the same type of plant, btw) told me what had happened… we had POTATOES growing in my annual bed!  HAHAHA on me!  I guess we must have had some potatoes go to seed and we tossed them, and I suppose a squirrel must have found them and reburied them in my garden… clever little agricultural creature that he must be.  but alas, I stole his harvest…. after all, everyone knows potatoes need to stay buried so they can grow… so I repotted the one plant, buried it up past it’s leaves… and a couple days ago, we could see the little leaves peeking through again, so today I buried it some more.  Chaeli keeps trying to dig them out, but I think this time I’ve convinced her to “let’s wait and see what surprises we can grow”.  I hope we get some good potatoes!!  If we do, I think maybe next year we’ll make this a FORMAL school project… maybe to end off the school year for Greyson… along with a little lapbook on Plants or something. 

That’s me… always planning ahead! *LOL*

Blessings!

Posted in Chaeli, Gardening, Greyson, Kenzi, Everett, General Homeschool | Print | 2 Comments »

What a GREAT DEAL!!! (and more!)

5. May 2008 by Shannon.

 CurrClick has a real treat for those who visit their site this week.  Of course, every week they offer a free ebook (curriculum or sometimes even a story), but this weeks ebook is really something special!  They are offering one of Knowledge Box Central’s Interview Series Lapbooks called “Grandfather’s Wisdom“.  What a treat!  This lapbook is designed to help your child glean the wisdom of his/her grandfather and to compile it in a neat way that will certainly become a keepsake to treasure!  Summer is coming, lots of “family time” to work on it.  Why not make it a summer project?  The ebook is regularly priced at 24.99$ but you can get it FREE this week only at CurrClick!  Don’t miss out!!!

OH!  And something really neat has happened here in our homeschool (well, for Mom anyhow *grin*) - Steven David Horwich, author of the Connect the Thoughts course recently sent an email out to several hundreds of people who had signed up for his newsletter - and a little known Yahoo Group exploded!!  My friend Stephanie and I, who are both using CTT in our homeschool, had started up a Yahoo Group looking to find others using CTT in their homeschools.  Well, it was slow going as neither of us is a marketting guru (apparently).  But with Steven’s email came a big surprise!  He had listed our group on HIS site (http://www.connectthethoughts.net) and our “population” grew… often by the minute!  It was a crazy chase to get everyone approved, but I am DELIGHTED to say that everyone started sharing and encouraging from the get-go, and Steph and I have found ourselves exactly what we wanted - Community!  Yippee and BIG THANKS go out to all those who joined and of course to Steven and his Webmaster,  Ray!  If you’re using CTT or would like to know more, I encourage you to check out the official site and you are also welcome to join our little (but growing!) Yahoo Group too at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/connectthethoughts .

What a whirlwind week -  the Ultimate Homeschool Expo is over (phew!  What a ride!!!) … BUT NOT REALLY!  I’m seriously going to talk to Cindy about renaming this amazing event to the Ultimate Forever Parenting Online Convention… or something equally appropriate!  I was talking to a friend of mine about it, who doesn’t homeschool and I was trying to explain how this isn’t just for homeschoolers, and it isn’t over!  Not only have all the sessions been recorded and will be available on the Members Site, but they aren’t just audios for homeschoolers.  These are really audios for great parents (LIKE YOU!).  There is everything on there from bringing up Godly children to Planning for your future to spiritually uplifting talks like God is Sufficient.  And all the “homeschool” related talks are equally appropriate for those who are involved in their children’s education in the public system, or could I even say, for public school teachers to learn how to intill the love of learning in their students?!  So don’t feel like you have missed the “ticket”… you haven’t!  And if you buy it now, you’ll get the “convention” price of only 40$ (soon it’ll be repriced at 99$ - so don’t delay!!).  Go grab your ticket here:

Now - one last thing (I saved it as your “dessert”)… KENZI was in a THEATRE production this week!!  Okay, it was a homeschooler play, but I am SO proud of my BIG girl!!!  She’s so shy, and overcame many obstacles to play the part of one of the narrators (which meant she was on the stage the entire 45 minutes while the play was being performed).  She was dressed as an “ancient greek” because the play was an adaptation of several of Aesop’s Fables (written by Gerald Murphy - which I got a kick out of because that is also my uncle’s name… LOL).   The whole cast did amazing and I was so proud of them!  It was directed by Melanie Doerr and was performed at the Hudson Village Theatre.  Well done everyone!  (psst… that’s Kenzi on the left with her little narrator friend who, in my opinion, was the funniest member of the cast hands down!  “Don’t ask ME - ask AESOP!”  HAHAHA!)

Have an ABUNDANTLY blessed day!

Posted in LapBooks, Curriculum Choices, Kenzi, Great Finds, General Homeschool | Print | 2 Comments »

IT IS SPRING!!!!

17. April 2008 by Shannon.

YES!  Spring has finally SPRUNG (even here in Quebec!)!!!! The kids “escaped” yesterday and brought me home probably the only three flowers in my lawn brave enough to peek their heads through the snow… I love Spring!  Here’s a picture of the one Kenzi brought me… unfortunately the Littles’ flowers didn’t “make it”… *wink*  Pretty, huh?  (btw, it was VERY tiny… that’s the grain of the wood of my desk under it.. I got a reeaaaaaallly close up shot - I love my camera!)

One of my FAVOURITE (and sometimes least favourite as I will explain later) parts of Spring is SPRING PLANNING!  That’s when all next year’s stuff gets planned out (okay, loosely) and books are planned to be purchased.  It is when I seek out inspiration and encouragement more than ever, because… (which brings me to my LEAST favourite part)  I really hate the End Of Year drudgery. 

We always are just dragging along - trying to get all our “things” finished, when really what we want to be doing is going OUTSIDE - as you’ve seen above ^^.  

SO… in the spirit of motivating MYSELF to get into the Spring PLANNING and less into the END OF YEAR (and to help past the avoidance issue of going out to play instead) mentality… I would like to share with you a resource from the “sneak peek” on the membership site of the Ultimate Homeschool Expo for this year.  After the postive response I got from the last set I shared with you, I got Cindy’s permission to share another little “freebie” with you - she really can relate - she’s in the process of preparing for her second homeschool graduation with her sweet daughter, Elisabeth (her son graduated a couple years back, and in fact is graduating again THIS WEEK from his Basic Training for the MILITARY!  Way To Go Matthew!!!).  She’s been there, she’s got it all figured out (okay, not all the answers, but, Boy, is she good!) 

So, without further blah blah from me, here’s HER description of this FREE gift!  This is an ebook AND an audio set to help you  get all “orgamanized”  - and remember, there are LOTS more free gifts when you sign up for your own ticket to the Ultimate Homeschool Expo - in fact, a whole “Mommy Grab Bag”!!!!

Let’s Get Ready for a New School Year Super Set!

Let’s Get Ready for the New School Year Mommy Planner…
Ebook by Cindy Rushton

Need some help gearing up for the new school year? Wish you had a friend to take you by the hand and help you plan your year? You will LOVE this! It includes a quick Mommy Planner with a potpourri of planning sheets from all of Cindy’s products to help you get started on the right track with your homeschool planning. It is full of goodies!

Download Part One
http://www.cindyrushton.com/pdfs/GearingUp1.pdf

Download Part Two
http://www.cindyrushton.com/pdfs/GearingUp2.pdf
PLUS! Companion Audio!
Let’s Get Ready for a New School Year–Audio

Download by Mp3
http://www.cindysdesktop.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/GetReadyNewSchoolYear.mp3

Isn’t that cool?

And, just think…this is only ONE of the awesome gifts included on the Membership Site… There are hundreds more!!!

Take my word for it, you will WANT a ticket to this event and access to all of the wonderful resources. Grab your ticket here:

Blessings!

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

SUCCESS!

3. April 2008 by Shannon.

Well, sometimes God just makes me laugh.  He knows our struggles so well, and is already sending “help” before we’ve even asked for it.  I was so stressed out last week - ready even to call it quits… when along came Help.  I stumbled upon a really unique curriculum that was just too revolutionary. I was hesitant to start something new, but seeing as we were finished up Egypt, and really ready to go on to something new and as McKenzie had declared an all out strike at my plans… I figured a change of pace couldn’t hurt.

Oh my goodness…. what a change this week!  Okay, things aren’t PERFECT, but they are a dang sight better than what we were doing!  I came across a curriculum called “Connect the Thoughts” (CtT).  It is completely unique to anything I’ve ever seen before… it gives the student ownership of their own education, in a directed, yet respectful of their individuality way… instead of writing what they need to “regurgitate” or “narrate” or even using “copywork” (which although helped my daughter tremendously in the area of penmanship and her pencil “allergy”…. it certainly wasn’t getting her to think and ponder the things she was studying.  CtT does just that… instead of being concerned about the mechanics of writing, it encourages the student to really THINK and PONDER and CONSIDER whta they believe, know and need. 

In one week, no - in a few days, I’ve seen such changes in McKenzie.  Deeper thoughts, more responsibility, more ownership of her education…

One of the things I’m finding incredible is watching my daughter “own” her education.  Today she said the most insightful thing I’ve heard out of her in months…. all related to one of the assignments in her CtT book.  She said to me “Mom, this brick wall I drew means that when you rush through your studies, and you just keep going even when you don’t understand something, you are leaving out a brick in your wall… and if you leave out enough bricks, your wall is going to fall down!”  And she went on to explain that that was exactly how she felt in public school, like some of her bricks were missing and she felt unstable (in her learning, like she was faking knowing something because everyone else seemed to know it - I reminded her that maybe some of those other people were faking it too… so no one would know unless everyone spoke up). 

One of the saddest aspects of my education was not learning how to tell time on an analog clock… I missed that week in grade 2, I guess, anyhow, by the time I figured out everyone else could do it I was too embarrassed to admit I couldn’t… it took a friend to teach me when I was in my early 20’s…

Guess what I make sure my kids learn early?  LOL!

One other thing we’ve implemented this week, which has helped as well, has been a “goals” sheet.  On Friday evenings, Mom, Dad and Kenzi sit down with a sheet of paper with all her subjects listed on the left side.  Beside each subject, she determines (with our guidance) what her weekly goals will be.  During the week, she is responsible for her time.  I will remind her that it is still school hours and that she should make best use of that time, but I will not tell her WHAT she needs to be working on.  She is responsible for her own education - I’m just here to encourage and facilitate.  At the end of the week (Friday evening again) she needs to take a little time to review her past week and write on the bottom of the form her self-evaluation - how she felt she did on meeting her goals, including things such as attitude towards her work.  Then we go over the work she did that week and Tony and I write our own evaluation notes below her notes.  Then she puts that in her notebook, at the begining of that weeks work, and takes a new sheet for the upcoming week.. and she writes her goals for the upcoming week again. 

Now, that being said, this is Week One of this new system, but it’s run so smoothly I can’t believe I didn’t do this sooner!  I’ve been saying for years that her education is her responsiblity… yet I guess I was too thick-headed to trust her enough with the logistics of her education.  It is so much more meaningful to her to be in control of how much or how little she gets done.

Please understand that last sentence though…. she still has minimum requirements… for example, she must do one math lesson a day.  SO, in her goals, she can write 5 math lessons OR she can CHOOSE to move along faster, and write 10 math lessons and plan her time to do two math lessons a day (if she were so inclined…. which didn’t happen this week, and I don”t expect to happen any time soon - but there you have it, the option is there, and she’s only really accountable to herself, with us as mentors and encouragers). 

I don’t think this would work with a student too young, but I think somewhere around 10 - with guidance - would be a beneficial homeschool addition.  After all, if we’re the only ones with any say, then as soon as we stop saying, they’ll stop doing.  I want a lifelong learner, and I think ownership and a little CtT might just be the ticket!

I’m so pleased today!  :o)

Blessings!

Posted in Curriculum Choices, Kenzi, Great Finds, General Homeschool | Print | 1 Comment »

Student Strike

26. March 2008 by Shannon.

Well, it appears my daughter has decided to go on a school strike.. and to be honest, I’m tired of fighting with her about it all… so  I gave her ownership of the “problem” of her own education and told her I’d be thrilled to mentor her should she need me… but if not, she can choose to remain ignorant. 

HOW do they deal with these things in public school?  I mean, I guess those children who decide not to learn just don’t - but as a MOTHER it’s a lot harder for me to let those things go than it is for a teacher who will be rid of the student in a few months anyhow, you know?

SO - I made her a list of what she needs to accomplish for me to pass her into grade 7… (she’s 12)… and it’s up to her to accomplish it… (like if she wants to do the literature, I’m so there for reading it to her, but I am not going to pin her down to read.. you know?).

When she decides to get motivated… I guess I’ll be here waiting. In the meantime, the Littles love my company.

I hate knowing she’s going to experience regret over her bad decision, but I guess there comes a point where she needs to be allowed to make poor choices… at least this is one area homeschooling has an advantage… she won’t miss anything - we’ll just pick up where we left off… *sigh*

Hope you are all having a better homeschool day!

Posted in Kenzi, General Homeschool | Print | 1 Comment »