We went to the pumpkin farm on Saturday. One weekend every October a Civil War reinactment is held. It’s a very good time. People come from all around to live and perform. They set up camp and behave just as though it’s the real deal. They also have little camp shops set up, where you can buy things from plastic toy solders to hand made quilts, soaps, and knitting material. They cook, dress, and during the afternoon each day a battle is held. We missed the battle this year. Dear son was having major cravings for a pumpkin pie, and since I recently came by a new recipe, I wanted to give it a try. We got there afterwards, and went around talking to the “actors” and asking lots of questions. DS took a particular interest in the cooking methods of the time, so one lady was kind enough to show him what […]
Original post by 1homzcoolmama
We went to the pumpkin farm on Saturday. One weekend every October a Civil War reinactment is held. It’s a very good time. People come from all around to live and perform. They set up camp and behave just as though it’s the real deal. They also have little camp shops set up, where you can buy things from plastic toy solders to hand made quilts, soaps, and knitting material. They cook, dress, and during the afternoon each day a battle is held. We missed the battle this year. Dear son was having major cravings for a pumpkin pie, and since I recently came by a new recipe, I wanted to give it a try. We got there afterwards, and went around talking to the “actors” and asking lots of questions. DS took a particular interest in the cooking methods of the time, so one lady was kind enough to show him what […]
Original post by 1homzcoolmama
A Grammar Rant
I’m generally not a grammar snob. And I certainly won’t pretend my own grammar couldn’t use some polishing. There are some common grammar mistakes though, that make me cringe. And one that’s very common is the misuse of the personal pronouns me, myself, and I. If you don’t want a mini grammar lesson, stop reading right now. Otherwise, hold on. Here you go.
Let’s start with I and me. It seems people are afraid to use me. For some reason they think it sounds uneducated. Bubba and me went out for a beer. Bubba and me homeskool our young’uns. However, me is not a lowly pronoun and it does have a place in the English language. There’s a very easy way to know when use me, and when I is the correct word. Just take everyone else out of the sentence.
I am going to the beach.
Lisa and I […]
Original post by floridamom
The next time you hear John McCain, Sarah Palin, Rudy Guiliani, or any other Republican say that Senator Obama has no record (shouts of ZERO! ZERO! at the RNC), those are the three numbers you need to know.
Number of laws Obama sponsored in the Illinois Senate — 820
Number of bills Obama co-sponsored in the U.S. Senate — 427
Number of bills Obama has authored — 152
He co-sponsored the 2007 Ethics Reform Bill, said by many to be the most sweeping reform since Watergate.
“…has never run a city, never run a state, never run a government. He has never been responsible as a mayor for the safety and security of millions of people…”
Is that Rudy Guiliani speaking about Barack Obama at the Republican Convention? Nope. It’s Guiliani talking about John McCain during the primary race last October. That was back when McCain was against torture before he was for it.
Four more years […]
Original post by floridamom
Dennis’ version of the Capri Sun commercial.
var flashObject = new FlashObject(”http://www.youtube.com/v/vVgSyVR_1EI”,”fm_vVgSyVR_1EI”,”425″,”350″,”6″,”",”",”",”",”");
flashObject.write(”fo_targ_vVgSyVR_1EI42513894″);
Original post by floridamom
‘Round here we’ve been pretty busy lately. Trying to stay on track with our lessons… and doing pretty good so far. Sometime this next week we will be offically 25% done with 3rd grade math. DS was thrilled thinking about the possibility of starting something 4th grade ahead of schedule. We are doing pretty well with the other subjects, too, but they don’t have as concrete of an ending as Saxon math. 140 lessons total in that book, and we have 31 completed so far. Some of the concepts he is strong in, and remembers well from 2nd grade, so we usually do 2 lessons on those days. I just want to be done in time for planting next spring…
Which leads me into the garden (and Dad’s garage for canning purposes). SO far this year I canned up 10 qts of […]
Original post by 1homzcoolmama
Okay, this post is a shameless request for a vote, but not for me. My niece is 20 years old and the mother of 6 month old twins. Her soon to be husband (they’re getting married Friday) works two jobs and is a terrific new dad. She’s trying to earn extra money in many different ways, without having to put the babies in daycare and go to a job every day. So…
She entered one of her cats in a cute pet contest. She can win a $100 gift card or even $1000 cash. If you’re feeling generous you can vote for Binx here
Original post by floridamom
Ten Things We Love About Homeschooling
It’s the start of the school year for many kids. Some homeschoolers follow a traditional schedule, while others don’t. Since a majority of Americans associate August and September with back to school, this seems to me an appropriate time for this post.
1. no alarm clocks
2. no morning rush
3. tailoring lessons to fit your child
4. making our own schedule
5. reading on the couch (bed, floor, etc.)
6. kitchen science/math
7. more family time
8. park days with homeschooled friends (for moms too)
9. having the library (mostly) to yourself during the day
10. no homework
Original post by floridamom
Ok here we go:
1. What was your motivation for homeschooling? Was it based on religious reasons? Was is it based on curriculum - did you want more freedom in choosing what your children were being taught? Was it based on socializing - wanting to have more control in the people with whom your children came into contact with? Was it based on logistics - the nearest school being 20 miles away? What made you finally decide to go this route?
-I decided to homeschool for several reasons. The first and foremost was because I work afternoon shift. I really am not an early morning person, and I my work is 35 miles away, so I can’t do midnight d/t the long drive, so it’s afternoons for me. If ds went to public school, then I’d never see him. Also, I feel homeschool is a far superior education to public school. I […]
Original post by 1homzcoolmama
El tema de la religión es delicado, especialmente cuando hablamos de situaciones que envuelven niños con necesidades especiales. Pero, quiero compartir con ustedes mi experiencia.
Soy católica practicante y muy firme en mis creencias hasta día de hoy. Mi hijo ha comenzado el proceso de iniciación cristiana en la Catequesis parroquial con niños de su edad de “corriente regular”. Durante este año, se preparará para recibir su Primera Comunión en mayo de 2009. Como madre… me emociona, como educadora… me preocupé. ¿Por qué? Porque, al ser activa en la Parroquia en donde practico mi fe, mi hijo ve a los sacerdotes y demás personas como algo normal y habla casualmente con ellos por lo menos semanalmente, sino más frecuentemente. Debido a esto, me imaginé ese momento el cómo sería esa Primera Confesión:
Sacerdote: Habla, hijo…
Mi hijo: Padre, me compré un lego, de Star Wars, para que haga de Anakin…
Sacerdote: Si, mi niño, pero dime […]
Original post by Denise
Lesson number 1: What not to do with an egg. Never ever leave rotten eggs lying around. Seems like a no brainer. Did you ever play that little childhood game with your kid buddies, “what’s grosser than gross?” Well, I’ve got one. What’s grosser than a rotten egg? How about a dead embryo egg, that you thought was cracked, left outside for the bugs to eat, but after a month it still hasn’t disintegrated. SO you kick some dirt over it, and in the dirt is a rock, and when the rock hits it, the egg explodes with such force and sound that your child thinks you set off a fire cracker, and out spews this stuff that looks like hummus and smells like…. the grossest thing you’ve ever smelled all month??! Yeah. It’s that gross. I win.
Anyway… moving on… Lessons have taken a back seat lately as we try […]
Original post by 1homzcoolmama
IV Edición del Carnaval Educando en Familia
La pregunta para compartir en el carnaval de Educando en familia de este mes es…¿Qué tres deseos o algún otro sueño pedirías al pececito dorado para que la experiencia de educar en cada resulte realmente maravillosa?
Mi primer deseo sería que hubiera verdadera libertad de educar como cada padre cree mejor para sus hijos. Muchos gobiernos, como el de Puerto Rico, dicen darnos la libertad de educación a los padres, pero la libertad de educar en el hogar no es una libertad explícita que quieran dan a conocer. Especialmente, si tenemos hijos con necesidades especiales. Segundo, me encantaría que me concediera el pececito dorado que los niños con necesidades especiales los servicios apropiados para su condición. Que ningún padre sufra porque, por razones fuera de su control, no pueda proveerle la mejor ayuda a su niño. Que no existiera niños que se quedan […]
Original post by Denise Osorio
Hoy comenzaron la escuela mis hijas mayores y para animar a mi hijo, decidí -ya que estudiábamos la corteza terrestre- el hacer un volcán. ¡Locura total! El chico se obsesionó con hacerlo de una sentada y obviamente me desesperaba (la verdad es que estoy escribiendo mientras él está pegando papel maché para hacer el volcán. ) Pero me alegra que se interese en proyectos de ciencias (aunque sean los que hacen ¡boom!) El hecho en que se anime nuevamente a estudiar, a conocer, a buscar es una satisfacción enorme.
Hemos comenzado la rutina “homescolar” poco a poco, a lo que mis hijas terminan su preparación en el “back-to-school”, pues estamos en el entra y sale de la casa. No hay una estructura aún. En teoría llevo 2 semanas de clases, pero realmente no llevo aún ni una semana. Tengo que llevarle una mejor estructura al nene para que pueda trabajar […]
Original post by Denise Osorio
I figured I’d write a bit on our daily show here at Life on Five. It’s so nice to be getting back on a routine. The stress seems to go up when there’s “nothing to do”…. haha.
8:30ish am- wake, feed cats, take morning meds, start a load of laundry.
9:00ish- feed DS, feed the dogs, check email, put laundry in dryer (usually DS does this)
9:30ish- DS to practice piano. I can sometimes start lessons this early, but not all the time.
10:00ish- I eat breakfast, then start lessons. Usually we do Math first, but lately DS has been doing cursive first. While ds finishes his worksheet (done at the end of the lesson) I fold the laundry. Might start another if behind. Do morning dishes, sometimes vacuum, quick tidy.
11:00 ish- no particular order after this. […]
Original post by 1homzcoolmama
At 8+10 years old, my children still like object lessons.
Bible stories and deeper concepts taught by something real they can see. Jesus used parables or stories with several layers of meanings. And so realia, or real tangible objects, help to express ideas and character qualities to everyone - not just the younger set.
Here’s some links I’ve wandered across lately:
http://mssscrafts.com/objectlessons/
http://www.kidology.org/zones/zone.asp?zone_id=8
http://www.sermons4kids.com/ - check out sermon index - OT, NZ, powerpoint, etc
http://www.sermons4kids.com/powerpoint_presentations.htm (ppt)
I’ll add more as I stumble across them …
Blessings,
Original post by banquet
Yes, I do actually spend some time away from the garden and chickens, and teach my son at home. We *officially* started our 4th year (can you believe it!!)… 3rd grade last month. I want us to work hard, so come next May we don’t have to. Here’s our list:
Math: Saxon 3….. love it, really. It’s just enough. We can move quickly ahead when he really gets a concept, or slow way down when he’s stuck. Love the “spiral” I guess you’d call it. Reviewing a concept for a short amount of time daily. If he really gets a “spiral” concept, I’ll move ahead in that area until I’m satisfied he’s been challenged. Yes, that does take us way ahead in some areas, but that’s ok. Last year we were adding 100’s with carrying. It’s ok, he gets that whole concept. But he stumbles with his math fact problems. […]
Original post by 1homzcoolmama
Aprovecho que estoy en la compu por un buen rato en la tranquilidad de mi casa (cosa rara en esta casa) para actualizarme y a la misma vez compartir con ustedes lo que estamos haciendo y lo que haremos con la ayuda de Dios.
Mi hijo comenzó esta semana su séptimo año educado en el hogar (2 años a tiempo parcial, 5to año a tiempo completo) y verlo esta semana dibujando con mucho ánimo las partes de la corteza terrestre, distinguiendo entre la corteza, el manto y el núcleo, vino a mi mente el cómo comenzamos, algo que hemos compartido en otras ocasiones.
Mi hijo ha crecido físicamente, emocionalmente y mentalmente. Ya comienza a dar signos de madurez; dentro de unos meses cumplirá 10 años (diciembre 2). Participa activamente en un grupo de bellas artes en nuestra Parroquia, hará este año su Primera Comunión, ya habla sobre chicas (aunque sean amigas de […]
Original post by Denise Osorio
all reference
Bible -
Dictionary - http://dictionary.reference.com/
http://dictionary.reference.com/reverse/ - for when you’re struggling to find the right word
Encyclopaedia - http://www.reference.com/
Internet Search - www.google.com - also images, advanced search tips
Metric Conversion - - metric/imperial
Thesaurus - http://thesaurus.reference.com/
http://www.visualthesaurus.com/ - visual fun
–
NZ
Phone numbers - www.whitepages.co.nz - NZ
Television - - NZ
Weather - http://www.metservice.co.nz/default/index.php - NZ
–
My StumbleUpon - http://banquet.stumbleupon.com/ - 720 websites I’ve ”liked”
http://www.myhq.com/public/p/a/pamm/ - one homeschooler’s resource page for various topics
Science:
http://www.howtoteachscience.com/freestuff/labs_demonstrations_and_activites.html - pdf pages
Spelling Bee : http://www.visualthesaurus.com/bee/?ad=google.spelling&gclid=COHlwqr5q5QCFR0ZagodMUsvtg - online
http://www.carey.ac.nz/Resources/Pages/Other_Links/ - what some theological lecturers link to
–
What do you have on your mother-of-all-reference-pages reference page?
Live, love, and laugh - each day,
Shalom,
Original post by banquet
I was brought up to go to Church on Sunday. That’s the first call on your time each Sunday. I have wholeheartedly believed this - til the end of last year.
Factors that have contributed to my thinking about what church (small ‘c’) is, include:
multiple migraines (and not wanting to endure teenage angst, weak songs, and poorly balanced sound during the ‘worship’ time at Church)
busyness and lack of time ‘in the quiet’ as I home educate 2 primary-aged children
18 years ago doing church planting - church growth study and thinking at MISSONZ, thinking how best to ‘do’ church; how to fulfil God’s (com-)mission
believing that overseas ‘missionaries’ get far too much attention compared to local ‘missionaries’-apostles-’set apart’-called people (which in my view should be all followers of Jesus).
I still hold the importance of observing the Lord’s Day, a Sabbath Day of Rest.
But I now realise that ‘church’ (the Bride of Christ, people who follow Jesus on […]
Original post by banquet
I miss thee, my Mother! Thy image is still
The deepest impressed on my heart.
~Eliza Cook
It’s been less than 12 hours. I miss you so much already.
Lorraine May 1934-2008
Original post by floridamom
New Zealand home educators are online.
Here’s some that I found: (expanded & republished)
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/AngtheFLYingKiwi/ - Ang
http://momentsofwhimsy.blogspot.com/ - Cate
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ChrissyShads/ - Christina
http://thenewunschooler.blogspot.com/ - Colleen
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/KiwiSmithFamily/ - Craig Barbara
http://www.cynthiahancox.com/blog/ - Cynthia
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/CynthiaH/
http://wonder-mints.blogspot.com/ - Darnia
http://3kiwihomeschoolers.blogspot.com/ - ‘J’s Mum’
http://kiwidigitalscrapbooking.blogspot.com/
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kiwimumoffive/ - jaybee
http://banquet.homeschooljournal.net/ - Johanna
http://lapbooking.wordpress.com
http://katekiwi.blogspot.com/ - Kate
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kiwigirl/
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/atTheGoodLife - Leanne
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/OurSchoolingJourney/ - Maree
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/mlaktin/ - Marilyn
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/wisdomspearls/ - Melody
http://www.rachel-larkin.com/ - Rachel L, Ak
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/LittleSchoolHouse/ - Rachel L, Chch
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/4kiwigirls - Rachel R
http://www.xanga.com/Rabbits_Nest - Raewyn, top SI
http://weblog.xanga.com/Rabbits_Nest
http://watercolourdreams.blogspot.com/ - Sandra
http://sharonnz.blogspot.com/ - Sharon
http://unschoolersanonymous.blogspot.com - Shell, Wn
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/KuraKainga/ - ‘Sherena’
I shall keep looking - and adding …
http://singleparenthomeschoolingdownunder.homeschooljournal.net/
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Roses07/
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/happyathome/ -
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NZHomeEd/
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/mum2two/ - Chch
Original post by banquet
Discovery landed safely moments ago. As usual, when the sonic booms sounded our dog went crazy barking, and the cat went flying around the house looking for a safe place to hide.
Original post by floridamom
Tonight is one of the teen group activities. It’ll be the first one I’ve been to, and I’m pretty excited about it. There was a meeting yesterday, but I didn’t go because of Allie’s party. Austin and Brandon aren’t going to be there tonight, so I won’t really know anyone there. I mean, I met them at the meeting last month, but I don’t really know them. Another thing is, I’ve never done Dance Dance Revolution! I’m going to watch everyone else go, to try and figure it out a little better and stuff, before go. I don’t want to make a fool of myself. Either way, it should be fun. I’ll have to tell about it tomorrow, since it’s not over till ten, which is my bedtime. Later!
Original post by taekwondochick
Well, sort of. I finished up with math today, but I haven’t finished the book. My brother and sister were already finished, so my mom let me stop at the test I took today. Of course, I haven’t finished my LA book either. So, I’m not really done with school yet. But at least I am done with math! (I hate math, for those of yo who don’t know) Anyway, later!
Original post by taekwondochick
Well, I didn’t really have any reason to be nervous. There wasn’t very many people there, only eight other kids showed up. Three of them were girls, and the rest were boys, two of which I already knew.(Duh!) The meeting was actually a little boring, because it was the first and nothing had been planned to do at it.
At first we just waited to see if anyone else was going to show up, then we all sat down while the mom who was leading/organizing it, talked a little about it. After all that stuff, we played a game where we all reached and grabbed someone else’s hand, then the same thing with your other hand. Then you have to get all untangled. It was pretty fun. After that some of the people wanted to go the near-by park. So some of us […]
Original post by taekwondochick
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