Oh sweet summertime......

Well, our summer has officially begun!  Although we have taken a day here and there, we were still trying to fit in some math and language arts daily to finish up.  I have made the official "teacher" decision that our school year is officially over and there will be no more math going on until August!

The girls have already been squeezing in a little bit of summer fun.  Both of them attended a summer Fine Arts camp.  It was a week long camp and ended with a fantastic performance at the end of the week.  It was amazing to see what those ladies put together with the kiddos in just 4 days!  The theme for this year was "July in June at the Arts".  K-Doodle did the Visual Arts camp while C-Sunshine went for Performing.

 C-Sunshine chose the Performing Arts camp

While K-Doodle went for Visual Arts

Big Sis Amber was there for the show.

 All in all, a great week for the girls.  And proof that homeschooled kids can "fit-up" with "regular" kids.  Believe it or not, no one even asked them where they went to school!  Shocker!

K-Doodle is here leading the capped ladies with the Kazoo's!

Wishing you all a very Happy Fourth of July!

You know you have a Home School child when.....

Today, the girls were picking on each other....for just a little too long.  I was busy trying to get some plans on paper and was getting a little frazzled by all the bickering.  With a heavy sign,  my mouth agape and my hands on each cheek I posed.

C-Sunshine with a smile:  "Mom, you look funny.  You look like "the scream".

Me with terror in my eyes thinking:  How does she know about the movie Scream?????   "What?"  I asked.

C-Sunshine, still smiling:  "You know, that famous painting - "The Scream".

 I google it.  And Smile.  What a smart child. 

As the new year is upon us, I am reflecting on what is working and what is not in our home school.  I have made a few changes...tweaks if you will.

Tweak One...

We were using Exploring Countries and Cultures by My Father's World.  While I loved the idea of exploring the world and it's people, doing mapwork and cooking meals from other countries;  my children (especially the older)  found it a bit boring after our third country.  We find that it moves way too slow for our family and that the girls got very tired of doing mapwork on the same old continent after the third time.


Instead.......


We are going back to Story of the World - Volume Two.  I have already read through this series once with C-Sunshine although she was very young in the beginning.  I did buy the updated and revised edition of both the textbook and the activity guide.  Although it is Catholic light, it gets the conversation going on how the church began and was split.  I have not been heavy on activities other than mapwork (ironic?) and some coloring sheets.  I do plan to ramp this up a bit during the second semester.

Tweak Two.....

I have enjoyed using Catholic Heritage Language of God series for my girls since the beginning with C-Sunshine.  Although I used other things alongside, it was always the steady of my language arts for the elementary years.  I was excited when they came out with a middle school series, although by a different author.  C-Sunshine found it most frustrating and did not like it.  It does not flow like the earlier years.  It is discombobulated (for lack of a better word).  Jumbled.

Instead.....

and

C-Sunshine stepped right into Easy Grammar and Daily Grams which emphasizes learning prepositional phrases and a daily review.  It is a quick lesson each day.  This program is working very well for us.  K-Doodle is using CHC's Language of God series still and I do recommend this program for the elementary ages.  It is a gentle program for early elementary, giving just enough book work. So....

Tweak Three.........

Out with the Primary Language Lesson by Emma Serl.  I love the idea of these.  They just don't work with K-Doodle.  She never said this, but know that she wanted to ask...What's the point of this?  So...

Instead......

As mentioned above, I really like Catholic Heritage for the early grades.  Why I was trying to mix it up, I have no idea.  I always wonder if the grass is greener.  Don't all homeschooling Momma's?  Will we ever learn? 

And the final Tweak.....

C-Sunshine is a Saxon lover.  She refused  requested not to switch to Teaching Textbooks.  She has always used the DIVE CD alongside the Saxon text.  For some reason, the Saxon 7/6 CD did not give enough explanation for her.  She is a good math student, so I listened.  (I do not love math.)

Instead......

Saxon Teacher.  This is great for extra help when she needs it.  Because it gives you the solution for each problem and they are listed, the student is able to click and look at only those problems they need help for.  This is a great tool for us.  C-Sunshine has decided just reading the text is what she prefers.  But if she can't figure something out, she goes to the Saxon Teacher.  I also use this as a tool for correcting any problems she gets wrong.  She can just review with the CD and correct.  They goes for test as well.  Love this!  Worth every penny.

Well, I think that about sums up those items that we swapped out.  Next time I will chat about things that we need to improve on, or haven't gotten to and need to!
Blessings,

December Happenings - Part One

Our December has been full of activity.  Here are a few snapshots into our December thus far.......

A Birthday Party for Jesus with our homeschool group 

fellowship with friends....

Complete with games.. (C-Sunshine won this one!)

A Giant Slide!.......

A birthday cake for Jesus.......

and gifts for those precious babies
 at a local Woman's Crisis Center.

Homeschool Christmas Choir Concert and Fine Arts Show

We are so very blessed to have a wonderful fine arts homeschool co-op in our county.  The girls have really enjoyed their weekly classes.  The Mom's are not required to teach anything because they are "pay" classes.  The price for the quality of classes is excellent.  I get to have a little "mom" time with other mom's while we wait to navigate our children through their fine arts school day.  They also get to have lunch with their friends and my girls always enjoy that.

C-Sunshine is taking violin, messianic dance, art and concert choir.  K-Doodle is taking a craft class, beginning music, art and PE.  On this day, the kiddos got to show off what they have learned so far.  It was a wonderful day.

Nanny and G-Dad came for the show.

C-Sunshine with the Concert Choir.  They sounded excellent. 

K-Doodle's recorder class gave a performance.  She did great.

I am still trying to learn my camera.  This is a terrible
quality photo of C-Sunshine playing her violin.

Well, that is all I have time to post today.  Hoping you are all having a wonderful Advent season.

Blessings.

 

Getting back to normal...whatever that is! & Fire!

This relocation has been an adventure, but we are enjoying getting back to "normal".  We are still drowning in boxes, boxes, everywhere. But....we are.....schooling, eating at home, doing laundry, going to our new church, getting to know our neighbors, food shopping and attending coops.  Things are, getting back to some state of what we know as familiar.

Yes, we do miss our old town and friends.  We miss our old parish and church family.  We have been in our new house for just over three weeks now.  I think I am the only one who has yet to feel at home here, but I know that it will come in time.  For each holiday celebrated, each birthday's passing, this will become the place of memories.  Our past will be within these walls.  It will be then that I will feel at home.

And now for the fire part....

The gang's all here.

Today we went on a field trip with a new homeschool group we are checking out.  K-Doodle had been on a trip when she was about three, so I thought that tour of a fire station was in order.  It was a very informative and interesting trip.  Did you know that you should all sleep with your doors closed at night?  I didn't.  K-Doodle got to participate in the demonstration.  She was showing how you need to check the door for heat before trying to open it.

We realized that we have no evacuation plan in case on an emergency.  So, we will be making October our emergency preparedness month.  We will keep you posted.

Sorry it has been so long since I posted.  I promise not to stay away so long this time.  And I have been lurking on every one's blogs, occasionally taking a minute to comment.  But, usually just trying to keep up with everyone.

Have a blessed week!

An Intentional Learning Year - 11/12

Here are my preliminary plans for the girls for our new learning year.  I would love to see what you guys are up to!

Chloe - Grade 6/7

Language Arts

•          (English) - Language of God – Book E
•          (English) - Intermediate Language Lessons
•          (Writing) - Writing Strands 3 and 4
•          (Writing) – Journaling/Blogging/Letter Writing
•          (Writing) – Country Reports through My Father’s World
•          (Vocabulary) - Wordly Wise 3000 – Book 6?
•          (Spelling) - Montessori Cards for Spelling
•          (Spelling) - Spelling Wisdom

Math

•          Saxon 7/6 with DIVE CD
•          Saxon Math Games
•      Living Book Reading - Mathematicians are People, Too
•          Supplemental Math Games/Family Math

History/Geography

•          My Father’s World – Exploring Countries and Cultures
•      Loads of Living Books - booklist to follow

Science

•          Real Science 4 Kids – Biology, Chemistry and Physics
•          Zoology 3 – Land Animals
•          Nature Walks/Field Trips/Zookeeper's Monthly Class

Faith

•      Faith & Life 6
•          Liturgical Season Activities & Notebooking
•         Various living books about Saints
•     Sunflower Basket - Book list from Literature for the Young Lady over at Serendipity

Fine Arts

•    (Music) – Violin Lessons (group class through HOME Fine Arts Connection)
•     (Music) – Composer Study using AmblesideOnline.org for reference
•     (Art) – Art Class (group class through HOME Fine Arts Connection)
•     (Art) – Composer Study (MFW)

Foreign Language

•      Sign Language (group class through HOME Fine Arts Connection or ASL Class) or
•      Spanish – Rosetta Stone

Handicrafts

·         Sewing – class or with Mom

·         Cooking – weekly meal for family (shop,prep,cook)

·         Home Decorating

·         Card Making/Scrapbooking

·         Couponing - This Girl is Coupon Crazy! and good at it!

Physical Education

·         Swimming

·         PE Class (group class through HOME Fine Arts Connection)

Kaylee – Grade 3 
Language Arts

·         MCP Phonics - Level C

·         Primary Language Lessons

·         Worldly Wise B & C (vocabulary)

·         Montessori Spelling

·         Sonlight Readers

·         Letter Writing/Journaling

·         Handwriting Without Tears – Cursive Success

Math

·         Teaching Textbooks 3

·         Timez Attack

·         Supplemental Math Games/Family Math

History/Geography

•          My Father’s World – Exploring Countries and Cultures

Science

•        Zoology 3 – Land Animals
•       Nature Walks/Field Trips/Zookeeper's Club - monthly

Faith

•          Faith & Life 3
•          Liturgical Season Activities & Teas
•          Bible Reading/Memorization

Fine Arts

•          (Music) – Beginning Music (group class through HOME Fine Arts Connection)
•          (Music) – Composer Study using AmblesideOnline.org for reference
•          (Music) – Piano with Mom
•          (Art) – Art Class (group class through HOME Fine Arts Connection)
•          (Art) – Composer Study (MFW)

Foreign Language

• Sign Language (group class through HOME Fine Arts Connection or ASL Class) or   Spanish – Power Glide - Elementary

Handicrafts

·         Sewing – class or with Mom

·         Baking with Mom

·         Home Decorating - bedroom

·         Card Making/Scrapbooking

·         Gift Paper Printing

·         Making Christmas gifts – magnetic book marks, cards, oven mitts, pot holders

Physical Education

·         PE Class (group class through HOME Fine Arts Connection)

·         Swimming

·         Fall soccer

Sew What ?!?

The girls have had a marvelous opportunity to take a sewing class over the last few weeks from an older homeschool girl in the area we are about to move to.  I signed the girls up thinking that they would be able to meet some other homeschooling girls in the town we are about to move to.  This would make the hour and twenty minute drive (one-way) worth it.  Well, there is only one other girl, but WOW!.....what a fantastic instructor this 17 year old is!  What a blessing for my girls...cause.....Momma can't sew!

K-Doodle in action!

C-Sunshine sewing along.....

K-Doodle did marvelous!  At 8 years old, she was sewing like a 12 year old!  So independent is she!

K-Doodles complete her apron, but C-Sunshine's had a little more detail and she didn't quite finish.  I will post a picture of their projects next week after their final lesson.  They had a lot of fun in this class.

And you know, driving there each week has made the area become very familiar.  Comfortable.
 Like a shoe that you are breaking in.

I think we are going to be okay..........

A Day at Homeschool Coop

Two years ago, we joined a start-up homeschool coop through a rather large homeschool group in our area.  It is a Christian coop that studies one subject during a six-week session through classes in science, language arts, history and art.  The children are grouped together by age and there are currently about fifty families participating.

C-Sunshine in her art class making etched jars.

  The schedule goes a little like this.

9:30 - 10:00 - Arrival, hellos and get your spot for assembly
10:00 - 10:30 - Assembly where we gather for a devotion, presentations and announcements
10:40 - 11:30 - First Hour Class (History or Lit)
11:40 - 12:10 - Lunch together (we sit on the floor in the gym on blankets with picnic lunches)
12:20 - 1:10 - Second Hour Class (Science or Art)

K-Doodle creating in art class.

The moms usually teach one week and assist the second in a one hour class of the day.  The other "class" hour is spent in a Moms class where we usually talk about a chosen topic.  We also chat, cry, EAT CHOCOLATE and pray with one another.  A chance to get to know other homeschool moms on a deeper level than the casual "hey" during an event or class.  I am so glad that I have gotten the chance to get to know some of these moms.  We just love Explorers!

Hope you are having a great week.

Just because it snowed.........

They are learning outside today.  Our school room is the front yard and seeing if they can still "scooter" even though the driveway is full of ice and freezing rain.  We got about 2 inches of snow mixed with ice over the weekend and although we tried to do some schoolwork inside today........the out of doors beckoned.  Happy Monday everyone!  - Kat


K-Doodle, C-Sunshine and Lucy venturing out into a little "white stuff".  Lucy didn't want to be out there at all!



At The Cabin Path...a day of nature

In lieu of another day inside when God is providing such glorious weather, we decided to venture out to a place we have been longing to visit. It is the Cabins Path and we are so glad we went and met Sarah, the owner of this special place.

We started out with an introduction to The Cabin's Path and to a looksee into Sarah's discovery box which was filled with Indian artifacts and other objects found on the property. We were all impressed by the log that had been chewed by the beavers on both ends! Pretty cool.

After receiving our collecting bags, we needed out to the nature trails to find a collection of leaves in all shapes and colors. We were told we would be making a project later in the day with the leaves.

The weather was just perfect. A cool 68 degrees and zero humidity. A welcome change from the hot, humid Georgia summer days.

We stopped for a discussion about the being a pioneers and what we might look for in land to build a house on. What would you use to build your house? What kind of land would you look for?
Then we hit the trails again to look for more leaves, check out the indian graves and the beautiful lake that is part of the Cabin property.
The cabin was actually discovered by accident during a demolision by Sarah's sister's family construction business. When she saw logs underneath the vinyl siding, she knew it was worth saving and called up Sarah and asked if she wanted it. It is SO cool! I wanted to stay the night and play Little House on the Praire with the girls.
Inside the little log cabin.
The girls went shake, shake, shake and made......Butter!
It turned out perfect and was oh so yummy on Miss Sarah's corn bread made in her iron skillet. She also fed us vegetable soup and apples. The soup was cooking on the stove inside the cabin while we were on our hike.
Such a lovely setting for a fall picnic....
Then it was time to make those Indian headbands with all those leaves we collected.


We used folded strips of recycled paper bags with duck tape rolled longways and two holes on each end. The leaves were so easy to just stick on. After they were completed, we just added yarn and presto.....
C-Sunshine in an Indian Headdress
K-Doodle sporting her tribal head gear.
On our hike back......we saw a Fairie Trial!
Back at the classroom building, we got to see a fairy from the fairy workshop the week before. Darn, we missed that one!
We had such a good time with Miss Sarah at the Cabin Path and can not wait to go back. The thing I took away from this special day was written above the door of that cabin........
'nough said!