{The Homeschool Mother's Journal 5 - Summer Edition}

In My Life This Week

This week we enjoyed a relaxing 4^th of July holiday.  I spent way less time on Twitter and Facebook (which is a good thing - trying to find a good balance).  We didn’t have any VBS this week for the first time in a while – which was nice.  I did a whole truck load of laundry, because…

Places We’re Going and People We’re Seeing

As I write this we are driving to Ohio – ROAD TRIP! (I am not driving and typing, just to be clear.)  We are looking forward to seeing Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and friends.  It is the first road trip I’ve taken with the kids (actually the first one I’ve taken as an adult).  So far so good…the kids have been super-duper considering the long day we have had.

My Favorite Thing This Week

We had the biggest turn-out yet at the parenting class we lead at church…22 people!  I love seeing couples that are willing to invest time and energy in improving their families.

Things I’m Working On

Not a whole lot - just enjoying the summer and making memories with my kids!

I’m Reading

Nothing in particular, other than the bible – who has time?

I’m Praying For

A sweet family that I have come to know through a mutual friend, were hit by a drunk driver on their vacation in Georgia on July 1.  They lost one of their precious daughters, and their other three children are still recovering in the hospital.  The littlest boy has a diagnosis of paralysis below the neck.  Please join me in praying for their continued healing and strength.

A Photo, Video, Link, or Quote to Share

This is precious to me!  It brings back sweet childhood memories...barefoot in real grass full of dandelions (at a KY rest stop).  Can't wait to have them catch some lightning bugs while we are up North!!

{Homeschool Mother's Journal 4 - Summer Edition}

In my life this week….

We had a great (and very busy) week!  We started swim lessons on Monday, and my daughter is already acting like a little fish - a far cry from our experience last year (she enjoyed the lessons, but was very afraid if she didn't have her 'floaties' on).  My son, well, let's just say he goes to the lessons.  We will be getting lots of practice this summer!

My favorite thing this week was…

We had our homeschool mom's group meeting this morning.  I love getting together to talk with other homeschoolers and moms who are looking into homeschooling.  It was a great time for the kids to play together too.

Places I’m going…

After I type this, I'm going to the gym!  I've been making a point to get there consistently while it's summer-time.  NO excuses!  I've already started feeling the difference in my energy level and my happy-mom-o-meter.

Things I’m working on…

I continue to focus on organizing areas of our house.  I made good progress in May, and still have several areas that need to be tackled.  I also want to work on a chore system, and start implementing Financial Peace Jr. for Kids.

Books I’m reading…

My husband and I teach a parenting class at our church using the Loving Our Kids on Purpose video series by Danny Silk.  I just downloaded the book to the Kindle app on my iPhone, I want to read through it and highlight it up!  I love this curriculum, and highly recommend it to everyone - it has changed our family!

A quote, a video, a link or pic to share…

You know those things you *heart* about your kids?  The stuff that just makes you melt like butter on a hot summer sidewalk?  Want to know one of mine?  


FRECKLES.  Especially the ones on my little boy's nose.  

((SMILE)) Have a great week!

{The Homeschool Mother's Journal 3}

 

In my life this week...

It was a great week :) My sweet husband had a birthday on Monday.  We made him breakfast in bed, had a nice family dinner and a trip for ice-cream!  The best part of birthdays at this time in our lives is how excited the kids get. :)

In our homeschool this week...

Just a normal week for us, we are learning VV words in English (tail, nail, pain, rain, bee, flee, seed, need, oat, goat...), the Fall/Autumn season, and continuing the study of Japanese culture.

Places we're going and people we're seeing...

My great-aunt was in town this week visiting from Indiana.  It was such a blessing to spend time with her and hear stories of when her and my grandfather were young. 

My favorite thing this week was...

Will be tomorrow when I get to go visit a friend who is having her baby today!

What's working/not working for us...

Abigail is doing so well with her independent reading, she has already read 120 minutes this week!  The chart is working so well, that I decided to use something similar to tackle some issues we have been having with keeping a good attitude during our school time ;)

 

She earns a sticker at the end of each school day when she has shown a good attitude and done her best work.  If she has an issue, she gets one "mark" on the chalkboard.  If she gets two "marks" she does not get her sticker for that day.  If she earns all her stickers for the week, she gets to choose a prize (some dollar store toys, etc).  I'm really hoping that this helps!  We talked about the chart today and read and discussed the scripture.

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...

I really appreciate all the great book suggestions last week for read-alouds!  I decided to download the "Charlotte's Web" audio book, and we've been listening to it in the van...so far they seem to be enjoying it!  I thought we could start out this way, and then advance to reading a book together aloud at home.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share...

The birthday "boy" and his party people...

Hope you had a great week too!  Leave a comment and I'll come be sure to visit!

Allison

{The Homeschool Mother's Journal 2}

 

In my life this week...

Getting back in to our normal routines after spring break, we had a fairly light week.  It has been crazy weather here in Florida the last two days, so we have mostly been "hunkered down" and spending time indoors (that is a Florida phrase that got way overused during the last big hurricane season, I chuckle inside every time I say it).

In our homeschool this week...

• In Math we started counting by two's this week, and are continuing to concentrate on telling time on the hour, half hour, and starting with 15 minute increments.
• In English, Science & History we are learning about weather, the Summer season, Peruvian and Japanese cultures.
• Art and computer time to mix things up!

Places we're going and people we're seeing...

This Friday morning is the first meeting of a new homeschool mother's group that my friend and I have formed at our church.  I am super excited to meet these new friends and talk about our homeschooling experiences and goals! 

My favorite thing this week was...

It may sound strange, but the night this week when the power was out was one of the most fun we have had in a while!  We played hide and seek with flashlights, made shadow puppets on the wall, lit up all the candles and had really good snuggle time.  It reminds me that we need to un-plug more often.

What's working/not working for us...

I worked today on changing our workbox system, which we had mostly abandoned.  I loved what Jolanthe created at Homeschool Creations.  I'm excited about using her ideas over the next few weeks to keep us on track, and keep the are-we-done-yets at bay!

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...

I would really like to start incorporating more read-aloud time with the kids.  So far we have done short storybooks and readers, but I'd like to start with a longer story (like Little House on the Prairie, etc.).  My children are 5 and 3, are there any stories that you would recommend?  Or is it too early to really hold their attention?

A photo, video, link, or quote to share...

We had so much fun earlier this week (before the storms) playing with kites in the backyard.  I had bought these Disney kites for a dollar each last year, and the kids are always begging to play with them.  They had a great time running back and forth across the yard, I kept the strings really short so the kites would "fly" even without much wind - a big winner.

Have a great weekend!

Allison

The Homeschool Mother's Journal

 

In my life this week...

It's been a normal (not too busy) week for us, which is nice.  I've had time to run and have quiet times, which helps me keep a good attitude throughout the week! 

In our homeschool this week...

• At school Abigail is learning about Japan through her FIAR reading "A Pair of Red Clogs".  It was timely for our discussion this morning of the earthquake in Japan.  We looked at the globe and talked about what a tsunami is, and why Hawaii was involved, etc.  We prayed for the people of Japan and Hawaii.
• We are also working on the long "a" sound (when the silent marker "e" is present). 
• In Math we are continuing are practice of counting by 5s, 10s and telling time by the hour and half hour.
• In English, Science & History we are learning about Alaska, the weather and Japanese culture.
• We are also starting work on a diorama for Abigail's book report for next week (more in another post).

Places we're going and people we're seeing...

This week we had a play date with our good friends and spent a beautiful day at the park.  We had a picnic and enjoyed the lovely spring weather!

My favorite thing this week was...

Definitely our play date!!  It's so much fun getting together with friends.

What's working/not working for us...

Working: I've been trying to be better about how we progress through our schoolwork.  It's been helpful to space things out....like handwriting, coloring, something at the computer, something at the table...look at the globe, then the next handwriting page...etc.  Making sure we move around and aren't sitting in one spot doing the same thing for too long!

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...

Thinking about how to make things a little more exciting for us in the next couple weeks.  We definitely need some more hands-on activities, maybe a field trip??...

A photo, video, link, or quote to share...

I recently bought a recorder and some books to start incorporating some music in our homeschooling.  I thought, I'll just work with her a little each week and we will progress slowly...(PS I am SO not musical, so I was hoping it would be easy)...

WELL...the book I bought is so good that little girl has moved forward on her own.  I taught her the A and G notes, and she taught herself the C and D...I was thrilled, and she is having a great time with it. 

Here is a short concert for your viewing enjoyment!  (This is the third day or so of practicing)