Showing posts with label homeschool. Show all posts
Showing posts with label homeschool. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Fall Adventures 2020

These are some of our adventures from the past few weeks...
Our local fire ban was lifted since the nearest wildfires are out and we got a little rain, so we could finally have a fire in our fire pit!
My girls were taking photos of each other in the fall leaves of the front yard...

The egg is for size... our huge cucumber that I found a few weeks ago growing inside of a cinder block hole!
Cousins came for an overnight visit... L (on left) crocheted a deer for her cousin, B. These girls are only two weeks apart in age!
We went to a nearby farm that we haven't been to in many years, instead of going to the regular pumpkin patch. My daughter (in pink) and her friend LOVED holding the rabbits.
Petting and feeding the donkey...
Petting the horse which had its eyes covered...
My son and his girlfriend came too. They wandered off by themselves for the most part, but I did catch a photo of them as Minnie and Mickey!
Photos by the wagon...


The pumpkin "patch"... I'm not sure that they grew there. We did pick up three large pumpkins...

 ...And we got some small pumpkins and gourds for decoration. 

It was an enjoyable trip. The farm has lots of little houses to go into, with different themes, like the (large) dollhouse, or Great Granny's house, a Dutch house (with a windmill) or a pyramid, a Viking ship, a "ski lodge", alpacas to pet, a small playground, and much more. When I taught preschool before we had kids, I took groups of preschoolers and families there. It hasn't changed much... a few new things, but it is much the same. My son's girlfriend had been there a lot when she was younger, so she remembered it too. 

What adventures have you had this fall? I'd love to hear about them!


Mark 4:3-20   The Parable of the Sower

 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.  As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.  Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow.  But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.  Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants so that they did not bear grain.  Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”
 Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

 When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables.  He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside, everything is said in parables so that,

“‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise, they might turn and be forgiven!’”

 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? The farmer sows the word.  Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.  Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.  Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word;  but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”

Monday, August 24, 2020

Back to school 2020

 We began our homeschool year again last week. We did our usual "porch" photos of the kids. They are really growing up! This year is the first year that they are all in middle school and above-- no more elementary school!😢 But I have enjoyed the kids at every age, and I know I will continue to enjoy their tween and teenage years! It is also the first year that our son decided to attend PUBLIC school, no more homeschooling for him! 😢 He just really wanted to be with his friends. He has said that the constancy is hard... before he could take breaks between classes, and now he doesn't have much of a break! I was unsure about him going to school this year, because of COVID. Our district worked really hard to get the kids back into the schools. He says it is strange to wear a mask ALL day. 


Enjoy the pics! Our college senior even came by to get her last back-to-school picture. Next fall she will be student teaching and not in college anymore! We are proud of each one of these kids and the way they are growing and learning. What a blessing they are to us! 



Bethany is in 6th grade.
Mallory is in 8th/9th grade.
My teacher's photo for this year.
My son is a senior in high school, and looking entirely too old for me!
Me and my group of kids 💖

Here is the college senior! WOW! She didn't need to hold the sign for being in 16th grade?!

This is what happens when they hang around on the porch too long waiting... goofball!

Although this is a different school year (because of COVID), we are looking forward to getting back into the routine and being together with friends more, we hope! We're still praying for the virus to be removed from our country and for the local wildfires to be extinguished!

How about you? Did you begin school yet? How is it going so far?


Deuteronomy 4:9
Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.

Psalm 34:11
Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

Ephesians 6:17
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Sunday, August 16, 2020

Repost: School starts tomorrow

 written on Tuesday, August 23, 2011



School starts tomorrow.

That sentence means something different for homeschoolers. For homeschoolers, it means that Mom gets to work alongside her kiddos. She gets to be there for all of the ups and downs of learning. Mom gets to be the one that sees her child's "A-HA!" moment in learning when they "get it". Mom gets to be the one that chooses what they learn and when. Dad may get to teach them one subject, like math, science or Bible. Usually, Mom is the primary teacher, the one that grades their papers, keeps them on task, and still wipes their tears, as Mom always has.

Some moms look forward to their kids going back to school so they can have a break. For homeschool Moms, it's the opposite. It is the start of using a curriculum, and working on the 3 R's... right alongside the students, your own children. It is teaching your child to add, subtract, multiply, and divide. It is teaching your child the letter sounds and how to read. It is working on their handwriting, first printing, and later cursive. Homeschool moms get back to work when school starts.

The new school year beginning marks a new time to read new books on the couch, maybe one or four missionary biographies over the year. It is sitting at the table, explaining their grammar and the rules of capitalization. It is helping them learn punctuation and practice it in their writing. It is exploring new things in science that your child may not have ever learned before...like how the eye or ear works. It is learning in-depth with your child all about a country, such as Brazil.

It is getting to be together, day-in and day-out, not getting away from the child, but fostering the relationship. It is helping your child get along better with their siblings, who will become their life-long friends. It is reading the Bible together first thing in the morning and memorizing Scripture together. It is teaching character traits and seeing your child grow in the area of patience, or perseverance.

I am looking forward to getting back into the daily routine, not making spontaneous trips to the store, but plan them better. I look forward to being with my kids at the table learning together again. Sometimes I wonder if I am ready. It seems like a big job to teach my kids. But I know God is with us and has a plan for us. "I will never leave you or forsake you."(Hebrews 13:5) "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11) I am so thankful that He will help me all along the way. I have a good teacher to learn from- Jesus! May I strive to be like Him each and every day as I teach my children. I have given this year to the Lord, and I hope it is one of our BEST!

How about you? Are you ready?

School starts tomorrow.




This is a writing prompt by Mama Kat's. Prompt 4: Write a post that begins and ends with the same sentence.


Monday, May 18, 2020

Homeschool during Quarantine

Many people have asked me if this time of "Stay-at-home" order/ quarantine has been different for us since we already homeschool. My answer is "Of Course!" The schooling hasn't been terribly different, but plenty of other things are different! We can't take trips to the library (now only if we put it on hold first). Bethany LOVES the library. It closed without any warning for us on a Saturday or Sunday. We were planning to go there on Monday! Bummer! She has been reading a lot more on her Kindle, and Mallory too. We had also planned a few local field trips this spring, and those were canceled. Caleb and Mallory did not need to go to their schools for band classes. It was different because those were a normal way to break up our day, and they had to go online for assignments instead. That was an adjustment too!

In our homeschool curriculum this spring, we were researching a state, one for each girl. Mallory chose Hawaii and Bethany chose Arkansas. Great! Fun choices! But we could not use ANY library books for research... hmm... we used the internet A LOT. We did write to each of the states at the end of February, and we just got something from Hawaii for Mallory a few days ago. We were already done-- but it's still fun to look at the map and information. Oh well!

We used to go to Goodwill for various things, and we have done that much less. It's been months since we've been to Goodwill or thrift stores, partly because some of them were closed! We usually go to the pool now and then and haven't done that since February. We haven't had in-office doctor appointments, dental check-ups, or co-op classes either. We really missed the last 5 weeks of our co-op classes, including choir, dance, Spanish, sign language, and more. Our music lessons have been different too. We have done online piano lessons and drum lessons for several weeks (maybe 6?). It has a strange feel to see your teacher only on the screen!

But there have been lots of enjoyable things. I think we have grown closer together as a family. We have played lots of games, even games we haven't played before, or for a long time. We did puzzles during the school year. Usually, we do that only in the summer or in January. It wasn't too distracting during school time!
The girls made up their own game! It began with Bethany watching Mo Willems' "Lunch Doodles," where he posted a 20-minute lesson and showed how to draw some of the characters from his books. He answered questions from kids and talked about his books, how he got some ideas for them, and more. It was fun for Bethany and me too! One of the videos showed him making a game called "Super Bounce." Bethany made her own on a file folder, and it was cute. Then she and Mallory improved on it!

They improved it again, and called it "Jungle Bounce"!  Mallory added 3-D elements and beads, changed a few rules, and added construction paper trees, pandas, ladybugs, and more. It's cute! They played it with Caleb's girlfriend, and she made her own game too! It was a little different, and of course, Mallory and Bethany loved it. Then Mallory decided to make the game different again! They changed the name to "Fruit Bowl," made a box, wrote out rules, made a game board, drew stickers, found pieces for it, and more. The pieces are mostly from cute little erasers or old My Little Pony parts. I loved their creativity! It is simple but fun to play.

Our church has been different too. My hubby has been very busy getting it online, and videotaping his rehearsals, and then adding words to the songs, putting it together with a sermon, prayers, Scripture reading, and more. It has been nice to have him home on Sunday mornings-- no 8:00 service! He gets to sit in on our whole Sunday School class, instead of leaving partway through for praise team warm up. He sits by me every week on the couch, and stands next to me during the worship time, which I love! We have even had some big breakfasts on Sunday morning, which was always reserved for lunchtime here! It is nice to have things a little different, but we are really looking forward to getting back to normal church, fellowshipping and worshipping together.

I am thankful that God is in control, as always. He tells us 365 times in the Bible to not be afraid. I think God knew that we needed to hear that message every day of every year. Yes, 2020 has been different, but God never changes!

If you normally homeschool, how has it been different for you this spring?


Genesis 15:1
[ The Lord’s Covenant With Abram ] After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”

Deuteronomy 3:22
Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you.”

Isaiah 43:5
Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Monday, December 2, 2019

American Girl class Fall 2019

We had another wonderful semester in American Girl class learning about the time periods and girls of Kaya and Felicity. The girls liked the crafts and the snacks (for the most part-- some of Kaya's snacks are unusual!) I loved seeing the girls interact with one another and making the crafts. I enjoy their comments (We're making TWO crafts?!) and seeing the work that they do in class. I enjoyed getting to know some new students and their moms. In all, it was a great class! I will miss the girls until we begin again in six weeks!
 Playing "string games" during Kaya class...
 I am super thankful for my mom helpers!!
 Making hats during Felicity... this was the class when I really burned my finger!
 My daughters both helped me in my class, and when I hurt myself, she did A LOT of hot gluing!

 So adorable in their Felicity hats!
 Here we are cross-stitching bookmarks... several of the girls did very well and came close to finishing two letters in their initials!


Next semester I'm looking forward to discussing Caroline and Josefina!


Exodus 36:8
[ The Tabernacle ] All those who were skilled among the workers made the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim woven into them by expert hands.

Exodus 35:30-33
Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver, and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts.

Monday, October 7, 2019

Pros and Cons of homeschooling

A few years ago, a dear friend of mine wrote on her blog about the pros and cons of homeschooling for her. I've read it and thought about it, and decided to write my own list of what I think are the pros and cons of homeschooling.

Pro: The kids never have to rush out the door to catch the bus, or get to school before the bell rings.
Con: It is hard to get the kids to be dressed and ready by a certain time when you are not going anywhere except to the schoolroom or living room.
BETHANY IN KINDERGARTEN 

Pro: Being there for all of your own kids' "A-HA!" moments.
Con: Being there for all the moments of frustration, complaining, "I hate school" and other similar remarks. You try not to take it personally when something is difficult for your child.

Pro: Kids can read and study on the couch, a bed, a desk or your own kitchen table.
Con: Your kids are distracted by every little thing at home, including pictures on the tables and fridge, and their toys. It is a battle to get them to stop playing and pay attention.

Pro: Your kids are always with you. You get all of the snuggles, smiles and hugs that you want.
Con: Your kids are always with you, for when you go to the Dr. office, the grocery store, the post office, the library, the gas station. It is nice when they are old enough so that you can leave them at home.

Pro: Getting to read wonderful books with your kids, some classic novels, and historical narratives that you may never have read.
Con: Reading the same book over and over and over to different children at different ages, and not having much time to read on your own.

Pro: Getting to take a day off whenever you like.
Con: Making kids do homeschool on days when the public schools are in session, so you can take off an extra week at Christmas time, or take a vacation when public schools are attended.
SCHOOL AT A FRIENDS' CABIN!

Pro: Being home a lot, so you can be comfortable and relax in your favorite chair, under a blanket...
Con: Being home and needing to fit in chores between teaching a lesson, and your kids being distracted by the doorbell, the phone ringing, workers in the yard or street...

Pro: Reading the Bible with and to your child, any and every day.
Con: Hearing and reading the stories over and over... but that is not bad in any way.

HOMESCHOOL SKI DAY!

Pro: Learning new and old things (you may have learned in school) alongside your children.
Con: Learning and teaching things over and over, like the same how-to-read currciculum... it's like going back to school for another 13+ years (if you have more than one child)!

If you're a homeschooler, what are some things that you would add?

We chose this path of schooling our kids, and we really do enjoy it. There are definitely tough times though. But who said life with children would be easy? God is directing us, day by day...



Deuteronomy 6:7
Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Isaiah 48:17
This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.

Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Monday, August 19, 2019

Homeschooling article

Hey friends!

I found this article on a blog called "Mama goes beyond" about homeschooling, and I liked it! You can go here for a short read!

https://mamagoesbeyond.com/weird-unsocialized-homeschoolers/

Anissa has some other great posts for moms too!

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

American Girl class highlights 2019

We had another wonderful semester of American Girls. This year I had three sisters join our group, and they were so fun! Their little brother is adorable, and their mom helped a bunch. We discussed Molly and Julie this semester, and World War II, and the 70's. I had fun wearing my bell bottoms, peace sign jewelry, bandana skirt and mood ring. 

During Molly, we tied fleece blankets again, and donated them to Project Linus. We made two soft blankets, one had watermelons on it and the other made mermaid like design.


 During Julie, we did tie dyed shirts again, and the girls loved it.
 Here they are wearing their shirts after they were washed. They lined up shortest to tallest on their own!
 This sweet girl finished three years of my American Girl classes and got a completion certificate!I will miss her cute personality and contagious giggle!

It was a fun and fantastic semester. I'm so thankful that their moms entrusted me with them for one hour a week. They were a joy to teach, and I'll miss them this summer!

What about you? DO you have things concluding for the school year? We have our AWANA awards night this week. We had our co-op finale on Thursday night, and I loved hearing the choirs, seeing the  dances and the ASL classes perform. They did so well and it was a delightful evening!

I'm planning on reading a lot this summer, and I'm looking forward to hopefully teaching my classes again in the fall!


Deuteronomy 32:2
Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.

Ezra 7:10
For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.

Psalm 78:1
My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth.

Proverbs 1:8
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

Mark 6:34
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

American Girl class highlights

We had a delightful American Girl class this semester with 4 girls. We discussed Rebecca and Kit, the American Girls. I've done these classes several times, but I still enjoy teaching it to girls who have never had the class before. One day during Rebecca, we painted Russian nesting dolls. The girls had lots of fun painting them!

 Rebecca goes to Coney Island, so we had a day playing games, here a girl is bowling! The loved the little prizes that they got for playing the games!
During Kit, we made "team" pennants, like Kit has in her room for the Cincinnati Reds (she is from Ohio).

 The last class of Kit, we made red Fleece mittens with sewing machines. It was aa quick and easy way to make them, and the girls loved their mittens! Love their cute smiles!








The semester went by so quickly. I always enjoy teaching so much. These girls were pretty silly at times, but their giggles were contagious! It lightened up the topic of the Great Depression, which is what the Kit books cover. I look forward to seeing them again next semester, I hope!

Judges 6:39
Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.”


Proverbs 31:13
She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.


Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
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