Decorating for Homeschoolers

I've just been thinking about next year. What can I do different? What can I add to the experience to make it more enjoyable? I've been pondering for quite some time how each child learns and what they like. I have come to the conclusion that next year I must decorate.

Jordan reminisces about the decorations his kindergarten teacher put up each month. He loves to decorate and enjoys art. I will be using A Beka Arithmetic for second grade next year and throughout the curriculum they use six themes: Pond, Transportation, Children Around the World, Jungle, Workers and Helpers, and Camping. (Yes, I've already purchased next year's curriculum and I can't keep my hands off it:) Surely I could hang up decorations over the dining room table and designate a "billboard area" for the themes. I wonder if I could pull this off by the time school starts in August?? I guess it will have to be Mama's summer project. Oh, well, I love to color and it's a marvelous stress-reliever. It's also something I can do with the boys. Well, Jordan anyway. Landon just doesn't like to color. I sincerely hope that changes.

I've been "googling" the web looking for the first theme. Here's a couple of the websites I printed from for the pond theme: http://www.colormountain.com/ (lily pads), http://www.karenswhimsy.com/ (butterfly), www.kerkhoffchiropractic.com/images/coloring_pages/turtle.gif (cute turtle), www.familycrafts.about.com/library/graphics/colorfrog1.jpg, and www.freeprintablecoloringpages.net/samples/Birds/Mallard_Duck.png (small duck). Just a thought, be sure to check these sites out before allowing the kiddies to print from them--you know how site content can change overnight!!

It should be fairly easy. I think I will print off coloring pages that are too detailed and arrange them in the billboard area and then I can print and color extra items to hang from the dining room ceiling. The boys can color and cut out something different to go along with the pond theme and I'll display that above the dining table as well. I can't wait!

Hopefully, by then, I can post pictures of it.

Missing Photos

I have so enjoyed posting more frequently. The one thing amiss is the photos I would love to share from my life. I'm actually using our "backup" computer. The great, wonderful, powerful computer with all my great photos went kuput several weeks ago. I think I heard my husband say something about a motherboard problem. I'm clueless. I just want the computer to work like the car (bad analogy): get in and go. Or in the computer's sense: just do whatever it is I tell you to do. It's rebelling. That's it. It's just plain, simple rebellion.

Oh, well. In that case, I guess I'll have lots of updating to do whenever we get it fixed or get a new one. If it waits till we get a new one, it will be quite awhile. The company my husband works for is kind of "iffy" right now. The economy has hit the private jet business really hard and thus, us too. Not to worry. It's safely in God's hands. God gave him his job and will take care of us either way. I think that's part of a working relationship with Jesus. Just give him your worries (ALL of them) especially the ones that come up unexpectedly and leave them, just leave them at the foot of the cross. Not an easy lesson to learn.

Now, what would be a good photo for this post whenever I get access to my precious cache??? Key word: whenever. . .

Fast and Friday

Yesterday was great school-wise. Jordan and I love Fridays. On Fridays, Daddy doesn't go to work and Landon and I don't do school. Friday is test day for Jordan which, for this year, means when you have a test mom doesn't do a "lesson" for the subject were testing in. At first I was worried it would put too much pressure on Jordan. Three tests in one day??? But, he loves it. I let him pick which one he wants to get out of the way first. He always chooses his spelling test--because it's his favorite subject and he looks forward to finding out what new words he has for the next week. Then, it's on to the phonics test and math test. We read in our A Beka reader, go over AWANA verses, and karate words then see what Daddy is up to. Some Fridays I sneak in a short phonics lesson along with science and history. But I have found we do better in the long run to just leave off the science and history on Fridays.

Fridays are just great feel good days. I'm always glad. By Friday, I need a break and I think the boys do too.

2008-2009 Curriculum List

So, this is the week for compiling lists apparently. As I did yesterday with the Book List for the year, I have also compiled all the curriculum and websites I have used for Jordan (first grader) and Landon (pre-k).

My favorite websites:

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/ - for $20 a year you get great printouts on a variety of subjects. This site is great for coloring sheets, spanish, sight words, science, history, holiday crafts and loads more. It's geared to service preschool up to third grade.

http://www.first-school.ws/ - a free website with great stuff for your preschooler. It's simply a goldmine! You could definitely homeschool your preschooler for free from this website. It is jam-packed with nursery rhymes, coloring sheets, math printables, crafts, handwriting, and tons of alphabetical themes to go with each letter of the alphabet. It even teaches about community helpers, holidays, science and social studies! A great resource for any homeschooling mom. This is my third year using the site, I taught both my boys how to write letters and numbers using this site.

My first grade homeschool curriculum:

Bible curriculum followed the A Beka Scope and Sequence to Moses (that was at Christmas time) and since we cannot afford a whopping $400 just for Bible curriculum, I read the story out of the children's bible or my bible and we colored a sheet from either http://www.coloring.ws/ or http://www.calvarywilliamsport.com/ . We had two lines of Bible coloring sheets going down both sides of the hallway. Jordan loves to color but this didn't work for Landon because coloring isn't his thing. Jordan loved seeing his handiwork all over the walls and he learned a great deal, too!! We also go over our AWANA verses every day between reading and Handbook time. After the holidays, we kind of slipped off doing our Bible which irks me. That's the most important part of my kids' lives! I've been real spotty with Bible stories--some days we do them, other days we just pray. I've gotten in a bad rut and I must get out of it!!!

A Beka Arithmetic (K4 Numbers curr. for Landon; Grade One for Jordan) - I just love the review that's offered at every step along the way. Not only that, the tests are extremely relevant and easily laid out.

A Beka Phonics, Reading and Spelling (K4 for Landon; Grade One for Jordan) -A challenging reading/phonics program. But I have had great results with a child that didn't even learn to read in public school kindergarten.

A Beka Science: "Discovering God's World 1" (Jordan) Jordan has learned so much about animals and insects especially ants (things even I didn't know!!). He really loves this book!

A Beka History: "My America and My World 1" (Jordan)

A Beka Health: "Health, Safety and Manners 1" (Jordan)

A Beka Art Projects K4 & 1 - lots of cutting and gluing

FlashKids Grade One "Addition Activities" - great for shoring up those pesky addition facts! My husband's mom got the FlashKids books from Barnes & Noble (she was a homeschool mom, too!) and they are GREAT!

FlashKids Pre-K "Alphabet Puzzles and Games" - great for kids who are puzzle freaks like my little guy, Landon.

As for Handwriting, like I said above I've used the http://www.first-school.ws/ for teaching handwriting. This year I used it for Landon. I bought the A Beka Writing curriculum for Jordan but teaching my son cursive this year was not a good fit for him. He wasn't ready. It frustrated him and in my mommy-opinion, he needed to really work on his printing. So, I bought a k-2nd grade handwriting tablet from Wal-Mart and made up six sentences a day to review his spelling words for the week. We also wrote the Ten Commandments, the poems we learned this year and sentences, phrases or names (like the name of our church, for instance) that he was interested in. And on the first line of every page, he writes the date like this, "Today is . . ." It's helped him learn his months and the calendar. As of today, my son has neat handwriting and I am proud of his hard work this year. Handwriting was his least favorite subject at times.

Well, as I said yesterday, we're not done with our year. We're shooting for June 10th. But, I thank the good Lord above for guiding us this year. I stared this year in the face with the daunting task of teaching my child to read and thought to myself, There's no way I can do this. I found out I was right, I can't teach my child. But, God can. He lent me His strength and gave me creativity and wisdom straight from His throne. Thanks be to God for this homeschooling year!!!

Pre-K/First Grade Reading List (2008-2009)

Okay, so this is a work in progress as of right now. I'll probably actually finish it at the end of June. We plan on being officially done with school by June 10th. But, unofficially, we will still be progressing along through our Abeka readers and doing math problems daily so we don't get too rusty.



So, here is an incomplete list of all the library books, etc. we have read this school year (2008-2009). Please be careful with the snake books (Jordan is crazy about snakes!). Most snake books are okay. By okay, I mean nothing gruesome or scary but a few of the ones listed below were a little much in my personal opinion. Since children differ and are scared by different things be sure and look through the pictures of the snake books thoroughly before sharing with your dear child. If you're looking for this list to be alphabetized, I apologize. I'm just thankful to be getting this list posted:



Kingfisher First Encyclopedia of Animals
Ocean Explorer
Usborne First Encyclopedia of Animals
Sharks! Time for Kids
Ocean Animals
Treasury of Animals and Nature
The Natural World: Q & A Encyclopedia
The Gingerbread Man
Fiddle-I-Fee by Hillenbrand
Tigers by Ann Squire
Franklin Goes to School
Snakes: Biggest! Littlest! by Markle
The Berenstain Bears and the Big Road Race
Snakes: Look and Learn by Mara
A Frog Thing by Drachman
Pancakes!Pancakes! by Eric Carle
The Best Book of Snakes by Gunzi
The Great Pig Escape by Christelow
Tremendous Tractors by Mitton
Snakes! by Patricia Demuth
Who Are You, Baby Kangaroo? by Blackstone
Diary of a Spider by Cronin
Are You a Spider? by Allen
Night House, Bright House by Wellington
Cookie's Week
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. . . by Numeroff
If you Give a Cat a Cupcake. . . by Numeroff
If you Give a Pig a Pancake . . .by Numeroff
Curious George Makes Pancakes by Rey
The Big Wide-Mouthed Frog
No More Water in the Tub
Moosetache
A Big Ball of String by Holland
The Bravest Dog Ever: The True Story of Balto by Standiford
A Fly Went By
The Cat in the Hat by Seuss
Green Eggs and Ham by Seuss
Come Look With Me: Enjoying Art with Children by Blizzard
Come Look With Me: Exploring Landscape Art with Children by Blizzard
The Little Engine That Could
Trucks by Barton
Trucks by Strickland
Trucks Roll! by Lyon
Truck Trouble by Royston
Truck (picture book) by Crews
Trucks, Trucks, Trucks by Sis
Tonka: If I Could Drive a Tow Truck by Teitelbaum
Tonka: If I Could Drive a Dump Truck
Tonka: If I Could Drive a Crane
Tonka: If I Could Drive a Tanker Truck
Tonka: If I Could Drive a Mixer
Tonka: Power Lifting
Tonka: Full Strength
Tonka: Run Wild
Tonka: High Speed
Tonka: Exact Action
Tonka: If I Could Drive a Loader
Tonka: I'm a Great Big Monster Truck
Tonka: I'm a Great Big Eighteen-Wheeler
Tonka: Super Size
Usborne Science With Plants
The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
The Busy Spider by Eric Carle
Hello, Red Fox by Eric Carle
Snakes by Gibbons
Cats by Gibbons
High-Wire Henry by Calhoun
Henry, the Sailor Cat by Calhoun
The Visual Dictionary of Dinosaurs
Nibble, Nibble by Brown
All About Alligators by Amosky
Fangs! Boas, Pythons, and Anacondas by Ethan
I Am A Little Spider by Prims & Roca
Giant Snakes by Simon
Kingfisher Question Time: Explore and Discover Sharks by Savage
Fun with Pets (A Beka Reader)
Tiptoes (A Beka Reader)
Stepping Stones (A Beka Reader)
The Three Little Rigs by Gordon
The Three Little Fish and the Big Bad Shark by Geist
Hansel and Diesel by Gordon
Hot Wheels: Start Your Engines by Landers
The Great Race by Awdry
Wild Earth: Volcano! by Hopping
Wild Earth: Avalanche!
Wild Earth: Earthquake!
The Magic School Bus in the Bat Cave by Lane
The Best Book of Weather by Adams
I Love You Stinky Face by McCourt
Five Little Ducks
Veggie Tales: The Clumsiest Cowboy by Peterson
Veggie Tales: LarryBoy versus Spud the Dud by Peterson
Veggie Tales: Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Mop by Peterson
Veggie Tales: The Spaghetti Western by Peterson
Veggie Tales: The Case of the Lost Temper by Peterson
How Many Veggies? by Vischer
Junior's Colors by Vischer
The Backyardigans: The Race to the Tower of Power by Lukas
Aesop's The Woodsman and the Amazing Fish
Aesop's The Crow and the Pitcher
Aesop's The Fox and the Crab
Four Seasons for Little People by Ballard
Hot Air Henry by Calhoun
Cross Country Cat by Calhoun
If I Ran the Circus by Seuss
One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Seuss
The Dog that Had Kittens by Robertus
Where's the Cat? by Blackstone
I Am NOT Going to Get Up Today by Seuss
Nate the Great by Sharmat
Blue Train, Green Train
Bluewater Journal: Voyage of the Sea Tiger by Krupinski
Ten Apples Up on Top! by Seuss
Goodnight Moon by Brown
Counting Crocodiles by Judy Sierra
It's Not Easy Being a Bunny by Sadler
Golden Books Snakes
Armadillo Rodeo by Jan Brett

The Lost Tooth

Well, it's official. My firstborn is growing up fast. Today, he lost his first tooth. Tonight he will join the ranks of children who gleefully peek under their pillows to see just what the mysterious Toothy Fairy leaves him.


My son was overjoyed to say the least that he would be visited by the Tooth Fairy. As is his way, he asked close to forty questions while grinning ear to ear. He finally came up with the fact that Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy are one and the same. Not quite. My four year old, Landon, told his big brother, "Santa leaves toys. The tooth fairy leaves moneeeey!" You got it, bud. I only hope my hubby remembers to go by the ATM and get some dough or we are going to have one sad little boy in the morning.


While this scene played itself out, I was trying to remember what in the world it was like to lose my first tooth? I can't remember. I do remember one time waking to find that the Tooth Fairy had left me 50 cents. I was always too scared to pull out my teeth early. I was simply too afraid of the impending pain that the actual "pulling" would cause. My parents were great Tooth Fairies though. I never suspected a thing. Not once. I do remember trying to will myself to stay up. Of course, lying down in bed with your eyes closed is a no brainer for me. I close my eyes and that's it. Lights out.

I laugh as I look at the picture above. How excited Jordan was about losing his first tooth and the Tooth Fairy but NOT excited about having to pose for a picture. I just want documentation!!! I want to be able to show him when he's 20- or 30-something and has his kids. Future grandma stuff.

Amidst all the tooth loss today I'm also excited about Spring Break next week. I can't wait. I think I want Spring Break more than my boys do. Just think, a whole week with out getting up in the morning and feeling guilty that I should have done this or that. Or that I should have gotten up early in the first place. I'm not an early bird, I promise. Well, anyway, it's been an enlightening day.

Time Flies!

Wow! I just knew when I signed up I'd be blogging daily. Things are really never boring around here. There's always too much to write about. However, too many days have gotten away from me. Since my last post, I have become a member of The Homeschool Lounge (if you homeschool, this is a great site to talk with other moms like you), signed up on The LPM Blog to memorize scripture (Acts 20:24 right now), attended revival at my church, taken Jordan to six karate classes, been to the library once, slept late too many days and done more loads of laundry than I care to remember, etc, etc.

One of the most important things I've ironed out though is our new schedule. I am proud to say that Landon and I are officially "doing preschool" four days a week. It's been rough trying to teach reading, spelling, writing, and first grade arithmetic to a highly distractable six year old AND try to include the four year old who just wants to pester and tease his brother. Landon thinks playtime is ALL the time. But, flip-flopping Jordan's schedule and starting with the fun stuff first really works for us.


There's also computer time where we learn about one animal a week that goes with Landon's letter of the week . This schedule has been a blessing and less stressful on me and my hubby.

It's sad to say but I was skimping on the art and music just to get the academics done with Jordan. I was just soo stressed and then I would try to start school with Landon. . . it just wasn't working. I love that I can change our schedule to fit us and try different and new directions.
I truly enjoy homeschooling. The boys are enjoying the fun we are having learning our new song and doing art every day. They love it. We're just about out of glue and markers!!

Well, I have blogged enough for today. Better go start supper!