Sabbath School

 

 Yes, we have completed the first six weeks of school and are taking this week off- a Sabbath week.

Named after the day of rest that the Lord commanded in the Bible, a Sabbath week of school is just that- a week off to rest and regroup after six weeks of school.  Give or take a week! ;)  For example, the next six weeks will bring us to just a week shy of the week of Thanksgiving, which I prefer to take off.  Therefore, our next grouping of school weeks will actually be seven, rather than six weeks, before the next break. shhhh, don't tell!

 

WHY DO SABBATH SCHOOLING?

For several reasons-

We tend to not take many breaks otherwise.  Unlike traditional school, I do not take a day off for things like President's Day, Martin Luther King's Birthday etc.  We do address those holidays as a mini history lesson of why they are observed, but I do not feel they all necessarily are due a day off.

We like the idea of work hard and then play hard.  I try to plan a few fun activities over our week's break to celebrate our hard work and give us time to work off steam.

Fewer little breaks allow us bigger breaks when it counts.  Like a week at Thanksgiving, often 3-4 weeks at Christmas, a week of vacation, etc.  At one point our girls were in college and we would schedule our Sabbath breaks around their school breaks so we could just spend time together as a family when they were home with no school books around.  Now that my husband teaches at a University, we will schedule breaks around his school schedule to maximize "vacation" time. 

It gives me a built in teacher planning time.  I like schedules and tend to plan way ahead.  Taking a force time out after six weeks or so allows me to assess what we have been doing, and what has worked or not worked, and then plan ahead accordingly.  Let's face it, sometimes the most well planned plans can go south and changes need to be made.  (Like the year I went to online ABeka Academy for my sanity!)

It allows us to school year round with fewer stress.  Yes, I am THAT mom who schools year round.  Each summer looks a little different depending on our past move schedule or vacation time, but we tend to do some form of school in the summer.  But taking a week off here and there makes it more bearable.

No matter what schedule you decide to follow, don't become a slave to it.  Make it work for you, be flexible, and allow your children to take breaks when needed.  It makes for a more relaxed student, a less stressed teacher, (that's YOU!) and a better school year!

What does your schedule look like?  How have you made it work for you?

Blessings,

When Your School Day Goes Wrong

 

 

How is school going?  How are you doing?  How are you getting it all done?

Most of the kids around the US are back in school in some form or another by now.  While many have started with distance learning online for the time being, some have been able to go back to a brick and mortar school, and most homeschoolers are off to a solid start.

Regardless of how your child schools, some days are better than others.  Teacher's have bad days, moms have bad days, and kids have bad days!  Who can relate?

So what do you do when your school day goes wrong?

Stop and pray!  First and foremost, go to the Lord!  If He has called you to it, He will get you through it. Ask for patience and guidance and then listen for His reply!

Take a time out.  You and your child!  Not as a punishment, but just a time to spread out for a few minutes and regroup.  Sometimes just a few minutes apart will help you maintain a level head.

Switch subjects.  If a particular subject is frustrating you, it is often best to put it aside and come back to it later.  Sometimes we get lost in the details and frustration and some time away helps to clear our head.

Exercise.  Seriously, go take a walk, challenge your kids to a push up challenge, or just jog in place for a few minutes.  Colby and I will often do a few laps around the table in between subjects to get the blood pumping and clear our heads.

Snuggle instead of struggle.  Again, seriously!  Sometimes we just have a bad day.  Pushing through sometimes works, but often times just snuggling up on the couch with your kids is the best remedy.  Hearts and attitudes are healed when we show love. Pull out a read aloud or the Bible, or just share your thoughts.  School books can wait.

Look for trigger points.  There is usually a reason things are not going well.  Is your child's bed time too late?  Too much sugar the night before?  Are they worried about something?  Could they possibly be sick?  We cannot control every aspect of our child's environment, but we are the adults, and we can often adjust our lives to make things run more smoothly.  Before you were the teacher, you were the parent.  Be the best parent you can be!

Give yourself grace!  And then give it to your child.  Remember why you started down this road.  You are not a perfect person and you are not raising perfect children.  Some days are going to go perfectly while others are going to be a constant battle. Ask me how I know!  Give grace where needed and move forward.

Schooling your kids, whether full time or in a crisis situation (virus, anyone?) is such a blessing, but not always without hiccups.  But you CAN do it!

Not every day is easy, but everyday is worth it!  Make them count!

Blessings,

 

Let School Begin

 

 

Are you ready?  It is about that time when kids across the country start school.  Yes, this year looks a bit different!  If you are a parent sending your child back to school, know that we are praying for your family as you enter a new normal.  I am sure it is different and a bit scary.

For those who have decided to enter the homeschool arena, WELCOME!  We are glad you are here.  After doing this gig for 23 years I can unequivocally say it is one of the best decisions my husband and I ever made.  As a young Air Force family, we began homeschooling to allow my girls to be with their traveling dad as much as possible when he was home.  Through the years our reasons for continuing have changed, but our passion has not.

We now have two college graduates, one headed to college in a few weeks, and begin 8th grade for our youngest next week.  It is hard to believe I am teaching 8th grade for the 4th time now!  A lot has changed through the years, but rest assured some things stay the same regardless of the year, the current conditions, or the grade!

As you begin this journey let me take a minute to pass on some things I wished I had been told when I first started!

It will be OK!  First day jitters are a real thing, in you AND your student, but it will pass.  The unknown is always the hardest, but once you get into a rhythm you will be on your way.  You can do this!

There will be naysayers!  People don't always like things they do not know or understand.  It's ok. (see point one!)  Just stay in your lane and keep your eye on the goal.  Choose to stay out of debates and drama.

You are going to be the BEST teacher!  People used to ask me all of the time if I was a trained teacher.  Ummm, I am a non-trained MOM!  And no one knows or loves these kiddos as much as I do, save God!  I am pretty sure that makes me capable of teaching them.

There is help out there if you need it!  If you are fine on an island teaching, that is great.  If you need help ask for it.  Especially now, there are tons of people out there with tons of resources ready to help support you.  Don't be afraid to ask.

You do NOT need to break the bank to homeschool.  There are free programs available and no one is going to hand you a list of required back to school items to buy.  Watch out for the sale flyers- they will pull you in to buying a lot of stuff you do not need.  Children can and will learn without all the sparkle.

You do not have to maintain a traditional school schedule!  Your goal is not to re create school.  That is not homeschooling at its finest, trust me.  If you are an early riser then start early and enjoy quiet afternoons.  If your family loves to sleep in, then do so and start when everyone is fully awake. What time you start makes no difference to the learning that will take place.

Computer learning is not the end all, be all!  This is especially true for younger kids.  They need to be active, be outside, and be learning by your side.  There is a time and place for computer learning, just be careful not to fall into the trap of hours in front of a screen if you can help it.

Every child learns differently.  If you try to put a square peg in a round hole you will have problems.  Ask me how I know!  Be adaptable and be willing to make changes where needed- for your child's sanity and yours!

You are not alone.  Currently there are untold numbers of homeschoolers out there doing the same thing you are doing.  Find your tribe and stick together.

Not every day is easy, but every day is worth it!  That's my mantra- I repeat it often.  There will be bad days and there will be good days.  It's ok.  God's mercies are new every day!  Don't give up just because you have a bad day.

 

Get ready, get so, GO!  You can do this, mommas!
 

Blessings,

 

Inside My Schoolroom

Pinterest moms, be forewarned!  I have had rooms like THAT, and this is not one of them!

Nor does it have to be!

For many of our homeschooling years, we have had dedicated school rooms.  I wish I had thought to take pictures of them, but way back then they were not set up to inspire my Pinterest friends, but just a space to house all of my curriculum and students! They were fun, and bright, and cheery and we loved them in that season.

But they were also visually over loading at times, took up space, and honestly, cost a lot of money.

And especially if you are teaching one student, or just for this season, they are not necessary!

Kids learn EVERYWHERE.

Including in your kitchen, bedroom, living room, back deck, or in the hammock in your yard!

And honestly, most kids like those spaces more than your Pinterest ready schoolrooms.  Really, they do!

So yes, I am in a brand new house with all kinds of space and THIS is my school room.

And this.

And this.

And this.

Basically my house- inside and out!

I do keep an area in our dining room hutch dedicated to teacher's manuals and "school supplies."  Ironically those are the same things I use as our office supplies.  I have been guilty of having about ten times that much, easily. but since beginning 34 Weeks of Clean years ago I have purged so much and realized I do not really need 400 pencils, gallons of paint and glitter, (what WAS I thinking) and stacks of notebooks.  In my quest to downsize and live simply, I have seen that our stress levels have gone down, our spending reduced, and believe it or not, we have not once not run out of supplies one time in the middle of our day.  

I house all of Colby's books currently in this oversized fabric bin from Target.

I have had that in the hutch as well, but he likes being able to just grab from the bin rather than going back and forth to the hutch so that is fine with me.  Easy peasy!

So some days we do math at the dining room table.  And sometimes we do Bible at the kitchen bar.  And sometimes we read science and history snuggled on the couch.

No matter where we are, we are learning!  And at the end of the day that is what counts!  Find what suits you and make it work.  No pressure, no stress!

Blessings

Making the First Day Special

So you have made the decision to homeschool.  You have weighed the costs, chosen curriculum and are ready for the first day. 

Mostly.

Let me share a secret with you.  Any first day is hard.  Whether it is the first day of work, the first day at traditional school, or the first day of homeschooling.

Nervous anticipation and unclear expectations, with a hint of excitement.  And that is just you- not the kids!  I know because I have done it about 23 times.

The BEST way I have learned to start the school year is with some kind of fun tradition.  It doesn't have to be fancy or expensive, but just something that says, yay us, this is going to be a fun adventure.  Remember, your kiddos are taking their cues from you- make them good ones!

Here are some ideas for you-

Have new school supplies and a few fun treats at your child's "desk" when they wake up.  We have tried to do this every year.  A few notebooks, pens and pencils, folders, stickers, even a new water bottle.  Some years I even added a few special snacks for the first week.  Especially when they were younger, they looked forward to getting up that first morning to see what was waiting for them.

Go out to breakfast.  I know several families that make a special first day breakfast, or pile their kids in the car to go out for breakfast.  What a fun way to start the day.

Buy new pajamas and school all day in them.  Hey, everyone thinks homeschoolers school in their jammies all day every day anyway, so might as well have some fun!

Take the day off.  Yep, you heard me!  Wave at the buses as they go by and surprise them by declaring it an off day!

Start with games.  Sure, they can be spelling or math games, but what kids doesn't like games?

Go on a field trip.  Many homeschoolers use Fridays as errand or field trip day.  But why not shake things up and visit your local zoo, park, or favorite business?

Take pictures of the first day.  I have to admit, I have NEVER done this and it is the one thing I wish I had done differently  Yes, they may fight you on holding that poster and posing, but they will enjoy looking back at them in years to come.

No matter how you choose to start the first day of school. I encourage you to have fun and make memories.  That is what your kids will remember once the equations and facts and figures all fade from their minds. 

School is important.

Families are more important. 

Blessings,

What's on the Agenda?

I know we just finished up our school year a few weeks ago, but yes, we are a week into our new year.  This year things are going to look a little different for us.  My 17 year old is a senior and will be taking British Lit with me, but everything else he will be doing online for dual-credit.  If all goes according to plan, he will have completed all of his general college classes when he heads to college next year!

So this year is primarily me and the youngest!

Our summer schedule is a bit lighter and allows us to play in the pool or with friends in the mornings, and then school for an hour or so after lunch when it is too hot to be out in Arizona.  It keeps him from getting bored and losing all the skills he learned the previous grade.  It also allows for a lighter schedule by the end of the year when we are growing weary.

7th grade here we come!

As usual we have several tried and true programs on our list, as well as a few new to us ones.  I am very excited about it all- 7th grade is typically a fun year!  I will let you know what Colby thinks after we get started!

Here's our plan-

Math- Teaching Textbooks Grade 7
Science- Masterbooks General Science 1: Survey of the Earth and Sky
History- Masterbooks The World's Story 1: The Ancients
Literature Sonlight 7th Grade
Grammar-Writing- Hake Grammar and Writing 7 and Wordly Wise
Geography- Memoria Press Geography II
Spanish- Classical Academic Press Spanish for Children A
Bible- Sonlight and Proverbs from The Nelson Kids

*This will be our first year using Masterbooks for History and Science.  Colby just finished a 5 year course from Veritas Self Paced History that we adored and needed to find something to fill in for this year.  I am wishy washy about science for 7th grade, and so that being said, I thought I would take a leap of faith and try both.  We have used several other things from Masterbooks lately and been pleased. I love how the daily guides are set up, so I will let you know how it goes.

Since we have embraced homeschooling year-round, we took off a few weeks of June to allow for a little regrouping time (mostly for me!) and then began back July 1st, with just three subjects.  We will add a subject every few weeks until we are back full swing by the end of August.  Again, the slow start allows us to go easy at first and adjust to new curriculum, but also allows for an easy end of the year when we are tired and ready for a break.

No matter when you start school or where your kiddos learn, I pray you will have a beautiful school year filled with much leaning and wonder!

Blessings,

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Summer Session Is In

July 1st marked our start back to a modified school schedule.  We have had two weeks of pool fun and lazy days, but the heat is at a high here in Arizona and it is time to begin our 7th grade school year.

Not to worry I am not a complete kill-joy!  We always start slow with a few subjects at just an hour or so a day.  It makes for an easy, low threat intro and when we get to the last few months of school when we are tired and cranky (that's mostly me), we have already finished a few subjects making our last few months a bit lighter.

Since the mornings are amazing here, we get up whenever we want and have a leisurely breakfast.  Then we head outside to the pool.  Yes, feeling a bit spoiled!  We read and play games, and Colby practices strokes for swim team.  We come in about 11-11:30 to take showers and have lunch.

 

After lunch is our school time.  I figure it is better to hide from the heat of the day than roast and complain.  Currently we are doing Math, Grammar//Writing, and Bible and depending on the day it takes an hour or so.  By that time Colby has had his share of mom time and heads off on his own to  do chores and play until dinner.

Our current read alouds picked up at a thrift store

Pretty simple, gets it done, and allows us to school year round with flexibility.  Be on the look out next week when I will post all of the specific curriculum we will be using for this year!

Do you school all year?

Blessings,

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Day to Day and Back to School

Let me just start by saying when your hubby has been home for a month and with you day to day, when he goes back to work it gets lonely!  And quiet!

Well, ok not too quiet with five of us at home, but you get the idea.  It is a weird transition.

One of many.

Like seeing him head to work in dress clothes rather than that familiar green flight suit.
And spending our mornings swimming and afternoons doing school.
And having all the kids home at one time.
And living in a house with minimal possessions for who knows how long.
And not having friends just around the corner to do things with.
And still waking up every morning at 5:30 because our internal clocks have not yet caught a clue.
And having trouble connecting with old friends because of that time change.
And... you get the idea.

We are still working on some details. ;)

But there are some great things happening!
Colby turns 11 on Monday!
We are blessed to have a pool and hot tub at this temporary house and loving that!
We LOVE all of the sun!
We are starting to find our way around some and having fun exploring.
The girls have found a cute little coffee house around the corner from our house to escape to.
Clarke likes his new job already and has been warmly welcomed.
We are anticipating friends moving here and several friends visiting in the fall.

 And we KNOW and TRUST that God has a plan and it is good.  And so we are working hard on practicing patience while we wait through this transition.

What better way to wait than do school! ;)  Just ask the boys!  OK, don't ask the boys.  They are not as excited as I am!

But start back to school we did!

Because we homeschool, we do tend to school "year round."  We do school when we can and we take breaks when we need to.  Prior to this move we took a two week break and then the first week here off.  But let's face it, with no house to settle into and no friends yet, we have a lot of spare time on our hands.  We have several things we (read mom) wanted to work on, and we try to always continue forward with math.  Colby is working on Music Appreciation and writing as well, while Salem is doing some summer reading and a Algebra review to prepare to take a CLEP test at the end of the summer.  My only regret is that I did not just bite the bullet and bring their next grade school stuff.  I just did not think that far out.  On several things...but that is a post for Monday!

Regardless, while it is REALLY hot outside, we are spending about 2 hours in the afternoon inside schooling.  It is a nice break and sometimes familiarity is good for the soul.

Trust me, my soul could use some familiarity!

Blessings,

What's in a Favorite?

Each November as we wind down our Homeschool Review Crew year and take a quick rest before starting again, our 200+ reviewers vote for their favorite products in over 30 categories.  As Product Manager of this amazing group, I see a lot of curriculum come in and out of my house.  Trust me, it is hard to choose favorites.  I also know the hearts of these amazing blogger/reviewers.  They are passionate about what they do and want to provide the very best insights to you as not only potential consumers, but also as friends.  They put a lot of thought into the voting and it is a highlight of our Crew year.

I have my favorites, and will share them next week, but first I want to share with you the winners of this year's Blue Ribbon Awards.  Some I thought were no brainers, but a few actually surprised me.  See what you think!  If they have a star in front of them, we have personally reviewed them here at Family, Faith and Fridays either this year or in the past.  You can find those reviews from the search bar to the right.

*Favorite Reading Curriculum – Reading Eggs
*Favorite Writing Curriculum – Writing with Sharon Watson
Favorite Grammar Program – Eclectic Foundations
Favorite Penmanship Program – Channie’s Visual Handwriting & Math Worksheets
*Favorite Literature Curriculum – Hewitt Homeschooling

*Favorite Social Studies Curriculum – Let’s Go Geography
*Favorite History Supplement – Rush Revere
*Favorite Science Curriculum – Innovators Tribe
*Favorite Math Curriculum – CTC Math
*Favorite Math Supplement – Times Tables the Fun Way

 Favorite Foreign Language Curriculum – Memoria Press (Latin)
*Favorite Fine Arts Curriculum – Creating a Masterpiece
*Favorite Elective Curriculum – Doctor Aviation
*Favorite Christian Education Curriculum – Drive Thru History
*Favorite Christian Education Supplement – Brinkman Adventures

 *Favorite Preschool Product – Reading Eggs
*Favorite Elementary Product – Susan K. Marlow
*Favorite Middle School Product – Innovators Tribe
*Favorite High School Product – Doctor Aviation
*Favorite College or College-Prep Product – Institute for Excellence in Writing: High School Essay Intensive
*Favorite Parent Product – Everyday Homemaking

*The Resource I Didn’t Know I Needed –  Innovators Tribe
Favorite Planning Product – Only Passionate Curiosity
*Best Online Resource – Reading Eggs
*Best e-Product – Home School in the Woods
*Favorite Book or Novel – Rush Revere
*Favorite Audiobook or Audio Drama – Heirloom Audio Productions: Captain Bayley’s Heir
*Best Product Just for Fun! – Drive Thru History 

*Kids’ Choice – The Pencil Grip: Thin Stix
*Teens’ Choice – Drive Thru History
*All Around Crew Favorite – Drive Thru History

 

   

Join me next week as I share with you MY FAMILY'S personal favorites and why this job of mine is such a blessing!

Blessings, 

Year In Review

 

Yes, as of this week we are officially done with our school year!  Our official year, that is!  Colby completed 4th grade and Salem completed his freshman year in high school.  For the record, Riley finished her first year at college and will return as a junior.  Our oldest graduated early several years ago and has a thriving T-Shirt business at Ashton's Attic!

So how did the school year go?

Pretty well.  We accomplished all we set out to do with a few extras under our belt.

Math. Check
Science. Check
Literature and writing.  Check
Spanish. Check
Geography. Check
Math. Check
Music Appreciation. Check

Salem also completed a drivers education course and has begun two classes online that will count as electives for him. One is called National Securities Careers, an interesting look at national security history and the entities that help with that security.  It is a great career exploration class as well.  The second course is from our Homeschool Review Crew called Doctor Aviation.  Be looking for a review in a few weeks, but in the meantime, let me just say- we love this course!!  If your child is interested in anything flying or related, they will get a kick out of this video-based program taught by a retired Air Force officer.

People often ask what our days look like.  Although each day may vary, we do start school around 9 and school until lunch. We take a lunch break from 12-1, and then resume school until everything is done.  Most days that is around 3, though it has been known to go later, depending on the work load for that day.

And our summer?  Well, we do school year round.  That usually means we have an hour or two of school most days in the summer with usually with a two week break before we begin new grades in late August.  I have found that math is better retained when we do not walk completely away from it in the summer, and we really enjoy our reading and science time together so those subjects usually continue at some level.  We also tend to concentrate on electives like the ones Salem is taking and things like art for Colby for fun.  Not a chance of summer boredom around here!

 As for the rest of the day, we spend time outside when we can and try to find Activities for Days it is TOO Hot. The kids catch up on rest, a few are involved in summer sports or have a job, and we soak up the few months we have back together as a family of six.

Time is fleeting, enjoy it while you can!

Blessings,

Our Curriculum Choices for 2016-2017

I can hardly believe that I just graduated one child, and now only have two more left to send through the system.  Our system, of course, seeing that we homeschool.  This fall we will have a 4th grader and a 9th grader!  It is mind boggling.  Considering I have a crate full of books for each grade, K-12th, you would think that this school planning thing would get easier.

Ummmm, nope!

If nothing else, it is more complicated now than it ever has been.  For one, it seems that I have about one of everything available in my possession.  Seriously.  Add to that the fact that I review homeschool curriculum and new stuff is released every day, it gets rather confusing at times.  Oh, and there is that curriculum junkie syndrome, but that is a whole different post!

There is just not enough time in the day nor kids in our family to use all that I would like to use. Each year I have to reevaluate, pick and choose, and pray that God covers my inadequacies.  There are good things I used for the girls that are just not the best fit for the boys.  As the years go by I see more and more often that just because I love a product does not mean that it is necessarily the best fit for a child's learning style.  I have learned that the hard way in a few cases, and so am working hard to tailor what I choose to each individual child, not to me.  I am a slow learner! ;)

So, that being said here is the current plan for 2016-2017!  If they are highlighted, then they are linked to a review or post I have done in the past in case you are interested!

Salem- 9th Grade

Sonlight History
Sonlight Bible
Sonlight Literature
Teaching Textbooks Algebra
IEW- Level C
Traditional Logic 1/2 Semester
Music Appreciation 1/2 Semester
Science Shepherd Biology
Vocabulary from the Classical Roots
Wordly Wise
Dave Ramsey's Foundations


Colby- 4th Grade

Veritas Press Self Paced History, Third Year
Memoria Press Literature & Penmanship
All About Spelling
Grammar Ace
Writing- Here to Help Learning
Foreign Languages for Kids by Kids
Science Shepherd, Introductory Science
Veritas Press Bible
Music Appreciation (with Salem)
Teaching Textbooks- 4th grade

I am sure I have missed something and I am sure something will change between now and September, but at least I feel like I have a handle on most of it.  For the moment!

Linking up with friends today!

Blessings,

What Do You DO All Summer?

Have you figured it out yet?  Summer is here!

For many people, homeschoolers or not, that means kids with a lot of extra time on their hands.

Time to whine or time to have fun.
Time to get in trouble or time to be productive.
Time to regress in learning or time to learn something new.
Time to follow mom around or time to make new friends.

What time are you going to choose for your kids?

And I do mean YOU!  Because, let's face it, if left to their own accord, most of our kids would naturally choose to sit on the couch and veg or follow us around complaining they are bored.

Right?

So how can you beat the system?

Here's what we do at our house-

Give them options ahead of time.  Now is the time to be proactive.  Sit down and make a list (a L-O-N-G list) about the choices they have.

Once you have a list made, make it visually pleasing.  The more excited you are, the more excited they will be.

Yes, that bottom suggestion says "Kiss Ashton."  She is sneaky!

Then sit down as a family and discuss the list of options.  Remember, this is not a punishment.  It is a list of ideas to get them thinking.  Often times, those sweet kids of ours just go into zombie mode and forget to think.  They may just need a fresh idea or a little push in the right direction.

No, they are not limited to the list.  But in our family, you can come up with your own idea, find something on the list that interests you, or ask mom and dad what job they have for you since you cannot find anything else to do that interests you.

Works like a charm!

I See the End!

Who decided that the school year should be so long?  Really, I would like to know so I can have a chat with them.  There just seems to be something wrong about checking weeks off a calendar to determine if your child has learned enough for the year.  Whose great idea was that?

Regardless though, I am a rule follower, and so yes, we do check off weeks of our official "school year."  While we school year round, my kiddos only have about 4 weeks of their current grade levels left.

Did you hear a little praise the Lord there?

Friends, we are weary!  We started off strong in August of last year and really loved our Sabbath Schedule.  Having a week off every 6 weeks works well for us.  But hubby's deployment kind of, well, mostly, put a wrench in things and we got woefully behind.  It was worth it to be off when he was home and to take some extra time off when he returned home for good, but boy, have I felt behind.  We even put aside our regular schedule and having been schooling straight through with the exception of one week since January.

Exhausting.  No wonder school systems take breaks every month.  Forget celebrating obscure holidays, they are graciously protecting their teachers from burnout.  I get it now!

So our eyes are on the finish line and we are pushing forward.  Thankfully we have finished up several minor subjects so our days are shorter and we have more time to enjoy the beautiful weather here in Nebraska.

Our plan for summer?  Well, don't tell the kids, but school does continue in some aspects.  Both boys will do math and science, as well as a few electives just to stay current.  Summer is also a time that we are able to use many of the amazing review products we have been blessed with!

Because we have a crazy busy August, the plan is to take off the whole month.  There is a wedding to attend of a sweet young lady we love very much and have known since she was 6, we have to take Riley to college, and then my mom is having a knee replacement and we will be spending a few days with her to help her recover.  Once we return, we will begin our new grade levels in September.

Never a dull moment, but we are thankful for the opportunities God has given us.

Yes, even school!

Blessings,

Some days...

This is all I've got for you...

We are working hard to catch up on some school subjects these days.  Dad's deployment and our move set us back a bit, and though we school year round, we are usually finishing up grade levels by now.  Slow and steady...

At least the sun is out and the warm temperatures are back!

Have a blessed week,

Our Morning Meeting

Morning Meeting.  Circle Time.  It has several different names, but usually the same goal.  Start your school day with your child, reviewing a calendar, basic math facts, Bible or other memory versus and such.

We have done it several different ways over the past 17 years of homeschooling, each time tweaking to fit the ages and number of kids participating.  These days it is just me and the 3rd grader so we have changed it up again.  Here's how-

I created a Morning Meeting Folder.  On the outside I stapled the sheets we would use daily for the month.  In the inside left pocket I have two sheets that are updated monthly, and on the right hand side I store copies for the next month. I am sorry to say that the site I printed most of  these pages out from did not put their name on them anywhere and for the life of me I cannot remember where they came from.  If they are yours, please let me know so I can give you credit and link to your resources.  They are indeed wonderful!

Ignore the word Spoopy!  It is a family joke.

The first sheet we do is the calendar.  Colby fills in the month and year each month and then adds the date on the calendar.  This is also a great place to practice patterns for younger children, coloring each day in a particular color pattern for the month.

Our next page requires Colby to actually write the day of the week and the date several different ways.

The next page we use is a basic hundreds number cart to practice writing larger numbers.  This is the first year we will celebrate the 100th day by doing something exciting.  Yes, I am a little behind the Pinterest fun curve.  Don't tell my kids!

The next page is a simple weather chart.  Can I just tell you that I cannot wait to see a snow day added!

The last daily page is a simple math fact page based on the number for the day.  You do things like identify whether it is an odd or even number, add 1, 10 and 100 to it, write it in expanded form as well as in words, show it in tally marks and write a number sentence with it.  There is also a clock to fill in and a place to count coins.

In addition, we work on memory verses and character traits as a family, so this is a time that we review both of those things.

All in all, if all goes well, it takes us about 15-20 minutes to complete this portion of our day.  It allows for some good review time and a little fun along the way.  It also establishes a strong routine for my son, something we have found quite beneficial for a successful day.

The two sheets on the inside left cover are completed once a month.  The first is a signature page that we will fill in once a month for a record of how his handwriting improves over the course of the year.  I think this would be a great addition to a child's scrapbook if you do that sort of thing, The second page is a monthly weather chart that allows your child to take the daily information gathered for the month and put it into a more condensed monthly graphic.  I like the idea of this as it it is a skill found on many state tests!

If you have littles you can adjust the morning meeting to better fit their age.  We have used this time in the past to also sing songs and do finger puppet plays and poem memory work. Lap time is so important, so use this time to snuggle!

Our morning meeting is a time of learning and review, but more importantly a time of fun and bonding. It is a time to explore together, pray together and start our day off on the right foot with a smile on our faces.  From there, well, we will see.

Linking up with friends-

Blessings,

Schooling With Games

Games have come a long way since I was a kid.  Be ready, I am going to age myself here. Candyland, Mousetrap and Sorry may still be around, but these days games seem to be evolving to keep up with the ever growing mania of computers, iPhones and social media.  Not that that is a bad thing. As a matter of fact, I am slowly learning to use games to my advantage.  Teaching school just got easier!

Yep, we are schooling with games!

Not every day, mind you, though I have one child who would jump on that bandwagon.  But certainly more often than I used to.

Let me show you how to school with games!

Cards!
Let's start off simple here since most families can dig out a pack of cards from somewhere.  Our favorite game is 10 Facts.  Yes, I made that name up, but I did not make the game up.  I am pretty sure it came from one of our math curriculums years ago.  The concept is simple.  Remove the face cards, deal each player seven cards, and have a discard pile.  When it is your turn you ask for a card that would make a ten fact in your hand.  You know- 1+9, 2+8.  If the opponent does not have the card you asked for, they draw a card and then play goes to the next player.  Think go fish, math style!

Also, remember that just having littles play simple games with cards increases their recognition of numbers.

We also use cards for memory games in a pinch, but love having separate memory games in our arsenal!

Board Games!
There is no better way to teach cooperation than a board game.  It also teaches life skills like how to be a good loser and a gracious winner.  In addition, problem solving skills learned in some board games are immeasurable!  We often break the suggested age rules and challenge even our 8 year old to play strategy games.  Even at 8 he can hold his own in games like Coup and Love Letter.

Learning Games!
Have you ever played Sequence?  Did you know there is a states and capitals version?  Yep, that is how we learn our states and capitals!  Why not try monopoly in a theme for learning?

Online Apps!
I am not a huge fan of online games, and we are pretty strict with our screen time around here, but, yes, I will admit there are some good apps out there.  My kids have learned amazing history from Dig-It! games, and reading skills from apps like Reading Eggs!  Just pick a theme your kids are interested in and explore the app store.  So many are free these days so it is a win- win situation.

Printables!
If you haven't noticed, printables make the world go around these days.  They are everywhere- from dedicated web sites to bloggers looking to pull you in.  And many make great games to further your child's learning.  We found this one recently on Super Teacher Worksheets that teaches facts about states and capitals.  Ask me how many times we have played it!

Imaginative Games!
Blankets can turn into forts and brooms into muskets.  Especially after particularly interesting history lessons, a good game of pretend can help to solidify the things you have studied.  Trust me, things played out and repeated (over and over and over again) will stick in a child's head much more easily. When that Civil War history shows up on a CLEP test, guess whose child is going to remember it. We also love games that just make you think outside the box and stretch the creative side of you. Logic type games allow kids to use a side of their brains not used as often in straight book learning. Plus, do not forget that kids learn through play!  Let them play! The days of play are fleeting, take it from one who knows all too well.

Can we play all day?  According to moms everywhere- no!  But let me encourage you to make time to play and learn with games more often than not.  Your kids will thank you and learn along the way!

Linking up with friends!

Blessings,