The Precious Mind

Free Phonics Website for Pre-K and Up.

2010-02-07T18:30:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to share this great website I found for my daughter the other day.

http://www.starfall.com/

It's a free website (YAY!) that is geared toward teaching phonics - perfect for our little ones! My daughter is in love with it!

Hope you enjoy it as much as we have. :)

The Busy Bag

2010-01-05T22:39:00.000-08:00

"What is a Busy Bag?", you ask? We'll get to that in a moment. :)

I'm Kristin from over at Homemaker@Heart currently lending my "expertise" (yeah right Lol) to MandyMom and sharing my homeschooling experiences. I have a 3 1/2 year old daughter who is SO eager to learn, everyday is an adventure to her (and to myself). This is our first "official" year of homeschooling. - preschool! :) I'm winging it and Kylie is loving every minute of it!

Back to the Busy Bag....

My Grandmother made this very bag for me when I was about 6 years old. (If you do the math, she made this bag roughly 20 years ago!) You know how Grandma's keep everything. :) I was near near tears when I saw Kylie's face as she tore the wrapping paper off of this on Christmas morning! I remembered how much fun I had with this, how I carted it everywhere with me and now Kylie was going to get that same experience!

This is what was inside:

A deck of cards - we use these to play Old Maid, War and Slap Jack (or Slap Queens, sevens or twos) "My First Dictionary" - which is great because there is large colorful pictures that go with the definitions, construction paper - which we'll use for just about everything, Go Fish - this deck is kind of neat. Instead of asking for numbers, in this game you ask for either animals or letters. IE you can either ask for "b's" or "bears", 120 Bible sing-a-long songs and a work book. Hours and hours of homeschooling fun and lots of knowledge to be learned.

There is also a pocket on one side that holds pencils, one on the otherside that holds a ruler and the scissors, glue and crayon pockets in the front.

This morning Kylie lugged this bag up to the kitchen table while I was doing up the breakfast dishes and got back down. A few moments later she came back with 2 bears and a dolly. I let her go and kept doing things in the kitchen. A moment later I hear her taking to her stuffed animals "Now you need to obey Mommy. Today we're going to read about Winnie the Pooh." I asked her what she was doing and she said "I'm homeschoolin' my bears Mom, they need to learn too!"

Homemade Play Dough

2009-12-13T06:27:00.000-08:00

I have twin boys that just turned 4 and a daughter that is 9. I sometimes have a little difficulty getting the boys to patiently wait for their "schooling" while I work with my daughter. I am so blessed that the boys love "school". We don't do any official curriculum, but we have certain things we work on regularly: saying their abc's, counting orally and with objects, spelling their names orally (and now starting to write it), reading books, coloring, etc. The problem is sometimes they are done with a independent activity before I can finish with my daughter.
I love the idea of them having an activity box, and often times they will get out their blocks and play with them. But I recently found something they love even more - play dough!

I had seen recipes for homemade playdough on the internet and decided to try it. I wasn't sure how it would go, but it was worth a try. I made a batch last night with things from my kitchen (plus I purchased some Alum out of the spice section of the grocery store). There are lots of recipes on the internet - you can just google "homemade play dough" like I did. Most of them called for large amounts of flour (like 4 cups) but I wanted to try smaller version first. So, here's the recipe I found online and used:

Alum Playdough

2 cups flour

1 cup salt

2 tablespoons of Alum

1 cup water

2 tablespoons oil

liquid food coloring

Pour dry ingredients into large pan. Stir together to mix. Stir oil and food coloring into the water. Pour liquid into the dry ingredients while mixing, squeezing and kneading the playdough. If too sticky, add more flour. Keeps best in the fridge.

I found that we did need like an extra tablespoon of flour.. and there was enough for each of my 3 kids to have plenty to play with. You could add a little extract to make different scents - but I didn't want to entice the boys to eat it. It is all natural since all the ingredients are edible and from the kitchen, but I don't believe it would taste very good. Perhaps that would be for an "older crowd". They sat and contently played with it for a couple hours last night (until bedtime).

The boys weren't sure what to do with it at first, and I decided next time I would give them some cookie cutters to use with it. I also noticed that as I put it away - the dough was a little dry. It will probably need some more water and a little oil when we get it out again. You could also do different colors to give some variety.

Until next time, much love and God bless.

Courtney Short-Prudhomme

Homeschooling Mom Extraordinaire

Render to Caesar.....

2009-11-15T14:41:00.000-08:00

A difference in schooling

2009-10-01T07:08:00.001-07:00

I want to share a comment posted on my Mandymom.com blog, that I found in my inbox this morning.

"Hi there, I just found your blog and I have been reading it all. :) Just wanted to share my $0.02. I am a native of Brazil and married and living in the USA. I have 3 children and one more on the way and we homeschool. In Brazil, children go to school for half a period. They either go to school in the morning or in the afternoon. We spent 11 years in school instead of 12 years. We don't waste our time with classes like Home Economics, Typing, Drama, Music, etc in school. those are subjects that are taken in your personal time at your own cost, after school. We are still a gifted and talented country. :) Everyone has to take Algebra, Chemistry, Physics, Foreign language in High School. By the time you finish HS you had Calculus.

I went to Public school in California for 2.5 years. I went to Middle and high school. I can tell you that the US school system is weak and deficient. Teachers do not use their time wisely in school. There is a lot of wasted time. There is NO need for 10 hours of school a day, 5 days a week!!! I believe like you do that we as parents are the ones that should be training our children. They are precious gifts from God and we need to spend time pouring our lives into theirs. I truly enjoy my children and love to see them learn and blossom AT HOME. I think we Christian homeschoolers are blessed that we have seen the Light. :) I believe the whole Public school system has nothing to do with education but indoctrination, but that is another subject for another day. :) Be blessed, Tereza"

One thing I want to point out is that, in reality, children today go to school for 14 years, from Pre-K to 12th grade. When I was a kid, Kindergarten was a half-day event, but now, it's not uncommon to have a full-day Kindergarten.

I don't think American children could even fathom attending half-days for their whole grade school "career", but they sure would enjoy it!

Thanks for sharing, Tereza!

How is it going?

2009-09-30T17:14:00.000-07:00

So, we're officially into Autumn now. How is your school year going so far? What are the ages of your "students"?

This year, my daughter, Merika, is in first grade and my second child, Nolyn, is in preschool. However, both of them are doing the same curriculum. Having children close in age has been a great benefit in this area, as the same curriculum can be slightly altered to fit both kids, even though they are about two years apart. They work together, helping each other out.

Keagan is two, so he's not doing any official work, but enjoys doing his activity tray and sitting in on lessons and activities with his siblings.

Some days are a little slow, as I am currently 10 weeks pregnant, and sometimes feel very queasy or overwhelmingly tired!

Anyway, let us know how things are going for you- what are your frustrations, what excites you about this year, and what are your hopes?

So many workbox blog links your mind will explode

2009-08-06T19:03:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I gave in and bought Sue Patrick's e-book- The Workbox System. Let me tell you, I love it. I already knew I loved the idea, but reading her book made me adore it even more.

Of course, this should be no surprise to her as her system has taken the homeschool community by storm! It's hugely popular! I wish I had the money to go purchase this all right now, but my husband has a big job coming up and, unforunately, has to shell out money from his own pocket for it. He'll be paid back by his company, but this means that money will be a little tight for now.

So, to prove it's popularity, more links to SPWSers!

I love Julie's set-up. It's always nice to see how people implement this for multiple children. I like her use of magazine holders. That's a really nifty and space conscious idea.

I hope she doesn't mind that I borrowed her photo, but doesn't it look so beautifully organized and colorful?

I have to admit, I am really drawn to colorful, organized spots. And, I've always wanted a wall full of shelving like this.

Maybe you're like Mimi over at Frump's Findings. You're happy with most of your organizational methods, but you do like some of the ideas within the workbox system. Mimi tweaked her system a bit by using "workboxes" labeled with the days of the week. If nothing else, we can all glean some wisdome from the workbox method and come up with our own system that works for us.

My friend Amy from Milk & Cookies (and also co-owner of Heart of the Matter Magazine) has some great ideas, along with printables. Sue Patrick was one of the speakers at HOTM's online conferences, which I sadly missed. I am sure there's a whole new wave of homeschooling mothers getting pumped up about it now!

And, speaking of Heart of the Matter, Heather Woodie's article, Thinking Inside the Box: Using the Workbox System, is definitely a good read!

Leah is a mom of four who is using a modified version of the system for her children. She's given several examples of what goes in the clear drawer units, along with photos and other tidbits.

Hilltop Homeschool does the same in her blog. It's always interesting to read how others implement this sytem, and how it improves their homeschooling experience.

Sometimes (okay, often) I come across photos of workbox setups which are just so lovely that I want to grab it out of the picture and place it in my own homes. Cassie's set up is beautiful and ... *sigh*. She used an IKEA shelving unit I was eyeing earlier today in the catalog. Seeing it used as I had intended make me want it all the more. I wonder if my husband could build it for cheaper... hmmmmmmmm...

Her bins are from Target, and man, do they fit nicely! Oh, and Cassie's "check in/check out" cards are "totally awesome duuude". [FYI, Sue Patrick's method calls for children to "clock in" and "clock out" of school, which I think it a great idea. Clocking in helps them get in "school mode".]

Have you noticed how my easy going/unschooling ways have morphed into more structure? Well, I'm finding that my kids are actually hungry for the structure now, which is pleasing, because I'm at the point in life where having a plan and a structure of sorts is really helpful and brings a feeling of peace.

Anyway, I haven't been able to find Cassie's actual blog (if she has one), but you can read more about the system she's organized at Spell Out Loud. I think what is really appealing about it for me, besides the fact that is included IKEAness (one of my obsessions) is that she has used digital scrapbooking (my other obsession) to jazz it up.

Spell Out Loud has also blogged about her own setup, including her toddler workbox system.

Now, I'm a bit nosey, so I love to see what others are putting in their workboxes. Don't get me wrong, I love, love, love to see the workbox setup in photos, but it's like peeking inside someone's bathroom medicine cabinet.... (which I have never, ever done, btw *wink*) .... you often find some interesting stuff! Enduring Prize has opened up her "medicine cabinet", so to speak, and given us a glimpse of the items inside her children's workboxes.

Aimee reminds me of myself. "I am an unschooler at heart but it does drive both my parents and husband crazy that the kids should be doing more formal learning," the blogger at Journey2Learn writes. "I knew to get the kids back into schooling, I would need a new approach."

I can definitely relate. However, as I mentioned before, I've noticed my children are actually craving stucture, and.. well, so am I.

Meet Me In Melange is yet another homeschooling mom that has tweaked the system to fit her needs and style. "I didn’t want to change what we were doing completely, but I did see imense value in altering Sue Patrick’s origional idea to fit our needs. Any idea that helps organize a homeschooling family is worth it’s value in gold, as far as I’m concerned," she writes.

Exactly my thoughts!

Allison at Wazley Academy also uses the Sterilite-style drawer system, and, bless her heart, has actually posted pictures of what's inside. It's like Christmas in Workbox Land!

A Mother's Journal tells the story of her first day of Workboxism. Her day sounds so fantastic, it'll make any mother want to run out and purchase her system today! (Or at least buy Sue Patrick's book!)

Heather talks about some of the amazing organization systems out there, several of which she has already put into use in her own home, and how these revolutionary ideas invented by parents are so darn simple that we could have thought them up ourselves!

"What's most interesting to me about the vast majority of the wonderful ideas that float in homeschool circles is the absolute simplicity of so many that are embraced. We all know that necessity is often the mother of invention. Why, then, do so many of us seem to walk around with the same necessity and no invention?" she muses.

Oh, come on, you know we've all had those moments when a new idea is introduced to us by someone, and we exclaim, "Wow! That's simple and easy... but profound!" shortly followed by, "Why didn't I think of that?"

Tree House Academy uses shelves to divide out the work, which is also a great idea. The bins are nice for the kids to be able to take to their work station, but going binless is much cheaper, and the kids can (obviously) still see the work they need to do. This is something woodworking husbands could make fairly, maybe with leftover bits of wood (if you're like our family, you may have small shelf-sized pieces littering your garage).

Tina at Being Made New also put the system into play, and I love the bright pink and blue boxes she chose. She said her first week using the system was "the best school week ever". She admits she had some reservations going in, but obviously she was cured within the first few days!

And, if all these links aren't enough to keep your head spinning with ideas, you can join the Workbox Yahoo! Group! I told you it was a major homeschooling craze! You might want to put it on digest, instead of single emails, as some months have brought in over one-thousand messages.

But wait... there's more! There's a whole blog devoted to this workbox system. It's called "What's in the Box?" and it is loaded with ideas (and fun memes!)

Now, I really, really can't wait to get started on it. I'm not a patient woman, but I guess I don't really have a choice, do I?

More on Workboxes

2009-08-06T11:12:00.000-07:00

I'm back with more links to bloggers who have implemented Sue Patrick's Workbox System.

There's a site with a comprehensive review of the workbox system explaining everything from how it works to how others have modified it.

Jess @ Color Me Orange shares a way she has modified this system for her eight children. (Could you imagine having 12 boxes for each child?)

Jess sorts things into folders, which she places in bins. When her students have finished a folder, they take the number off the folder and place it on the velcro spot on the bin.

This is also a great idea for small spaces. Some families do not have much room, so condensing the system would be a great idea. I would recommend finding clear envelopes as one of the key components of Sue Patrick's system is that the students can also see what is ahead, not just how much work they have left.

For those who have young preschoolers who need a little more flexibility, I recommend this Tot Tray idea. This Montessori inspired method will allow your toddler to choose what he or she is interested in testing out. I use this for my 20 month old and he loves it. This site gives you plenty of ideas, and her blog also has photos plastered with "Tot School" inspiration.

Ginger has a great modification as well. She uses those plastic (clear) drawers instead of clear shoe boxes. Another great idea for small spaces.

Over at Homeschool Creations, Jolanthe has set up a great system for her four children.

"While I love the Workbox System and understand why Sue Patrick set it up the way she did {and why it works that way}, we seriously do not have room for 48 boxes, 4 shelving systems and to implement it the way she recommends," Jolanthe comments. You must check out her colorful system. I just love the photographs!

In another post, she details the system. I think it's one of the best reviews of the Workbox System I've read, so check it out.

If you are using the workbox system and have posted an entry in your blog about it, please leave a link! :)

Sure Patrick's Workbox System

2009-08-05T13:32:00.001-07:00

There's a new homeschooling craze out there, and, in case you haven't heard about it, I'm sharing it with you now!

It's called the Workbox System, created by homeschooling mom Sue Patrick.

Sue's system divides school work into twelve numbered different bins (about shoe box size) for the student to work through (in order).

Leslie from Joyful Mother of 6 explains, "As the child works through a box, the box is then removed from the shelf so that they can see their work diminishing. They can see exactly what is expected of them each day and how much they have left to do before their school day is over. They can also see fun things in boxes which helps to motivate them to finish the more difficult boxes." Click on blog link to see photos of the system these women have set up for their families.

Aureila from Sowing Precious Seeds has also hopped on the bandwagon.

I believe "Walking by the Way" is also doing the workbox system. Her blog has plenty of photos of activities her children are doing! Looks like a blast!

Little Men in My Library gave it a try. I think she accurately describes why it is such a neat and nifty system!

Love To Know managed to sit Sue Patrick down for an interview which you can read here.

At their own pace

2009-07-14T08:43:00.000-07:00

Do you ever have moments when you wonder if you should be homeschooling? My oldest child has always been behind in everything, but sometimes, I get it in my head that it is my fault- that I'm not capable of teaching her. At times, I have wondered if I should enroll her in a tutoring program for reading. She just wasn't getting it. Grant it, she's only six, and when I was six I wasn't reading either, but public school children are reading by kindergarten. And, while I hate to compare our progress to that of institutional schools, it's often hard to avoid- especially when many of her little friends and church peers are public schooled or involved in Mother's Day Out preschool programs at churches which use Abeka curriculum (which is quite advanced, in my opinion).

I worry that my darling little girl will feel silly or dumb because others her age (and younger) are reading and writing. Lately, I've noticed that she's started worrying about what others think of her. I don't know where this came from, but she has always been a sensitive little girl.

After purchasing a couple different programs (including Hooked on Phonics, which I think is a ridiculous program, but at least it comes with plenty of books, which made it worth the money), I finally listened to good advice and bought the book Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons (Siegfried Engelmann, Phyllis Haddox, Elaine Bruner).

This book is all you need, and it's fantastic. It's reading curriculum for beginners in one inexpensive book. I wish I would have bought it a couple years ago!

My daughter is doing so much better, now. Mainly, she struggles with blending sounds to make words, and this book as really helped her understand blending. The book has a script which tells you what to say and how to correct mistakes to keep kids on focused and on track- which is very helpful.

I think it also helps that she's a little older. She may not have grasped this last year or the year before- even with this amazing book (although I think she probably would have, but who knows!), but she is doing well now.

There will always be something she struggles with, but, as I have mentioned before, there are other things she does incredibly well- above those her age, so it evens out in the end.

My oldest boy, who is four, has had the benefit of listening in on the lessons and such over the years, and is not far behind his sister (even though they are 21 months apart), with the exception of writing. Merikalyn's letters are well formed, while Nolyn's are still hard to recognize. Still, at four years old, he is already doing simple math (addition and subtraction), and has already caught on to some of the aspects of reading- such as blending sounds- even though I have not sat down to teach him these things. I think overhearing our lessons while he plays has probably taught him much more than if I would have sat down and tried to cram it in his head. He's just that type of child.

Each child is going to be different, even within a family- and my children are definitely proof of that. While one child may need extra attention and guidance in one subject, another child may catch on quickly. I didn't even realize Nolyn understood all that he did, until I heard him hollering out answers in the background while I walked Merika through a lesson!

Potty training was very similar to our reading issue. Merikalyn struggled with it. As her fourth birthday neared, I vowed to have her potty trained before the party. Well, her birthday came and went, and she was still in pull-ups. I was mortified! So many of my friends had potty-trained two-year-olds, and here I was with a four year old who refused to use the toilet! I wish I could say it happened that year (to her credit, she came a long way with making friends with the porcelain throne that year), but she was FIVE when she finally got it down. Nolyn, on the other hand, was potty trained when he was three... and not by me. My mother-in-law worked with both of the kids when they were at her house, but he as just generally interested in the toilet. One day, I was in the kitchen and saw him run into the bathroom, strip off his diaper and plop his heiny on the toilet! Then, I saw him get off and put back on his diaper! Ha! He had been doing this for a couple weeks, and I was clueless! (He was only wetting his diaper during naps and night time.) A month later, he was in underwear all the time.

My point here is, some kids just take longer to learn things. We may be embarrassed because it's not on the schedule most other children are on, or because it makes us feel like a failure, but eventually, it'll happen. We just have to be patient and loving. We may need to seek a different method of teaching, or we may just need to be more consistent.

We'll see many of these moments as our children grow, I'm sure. What makes it worth it is... once they get it, they really GET it.

Submissions

2009-07-07T07:24:00.000-07:00

I realize the posts have been very infrequent here at TPM. I would like to encourage those of you who have homeschooling links, photos, or articles you've written to send them to us to be featured at TPM.

Email me at talkto (at) mandymom (dot) com.

God bless!

Initial Paintings

2009-07-03T08:11:00.000-07:00

Head on over to my blog to learn how to make these lovely initial paintings with your kids. Even parents who aren't creative can easily organize this project!

You Know You're a Homeschool Mom When....

2009-05-20T19:05:00.000-07:00

I found this on a website and thought it was very appropiate and had to share.... How many can you relate to?

You Know You're A Homeschool Mom When...

*When a child busts a lip, and after seeing she's okay, you round up some Scotch tape to capture some blood and look at it under the microscope.

*You find dead animals and actually consider saving them to dissect later.

*Your children never, ever leave the "why?" stage.

*You look at every room in your home to try and imagine how to squeeze in another bookshelf.

*You turn your china cabinet into book shelves.

*When your teenager decides to take one community college course, and comes home and asks you why the teacher wrote "At" on his paper. (A+)

*You ask for, and get, a copier instead of a diamond tennis bracelet for your wedding anniversary or Christmas.

*Your kids think reading history is best accomplished while lying on the floor with their head resting on the side of their patient dog.

*Your husband can walk in at the end of a long day and tell how the science experiment went just by looking at the house.

*You never have to drive your child's forgotten lunch to school.

*Your child will never suffer the embarrassment of group showers after PE.

*The only debate about the school lunch program is whose turn it is to cook.

*You never have to face the dilemma of whether to take your child's side or the teacher's side in a dispute at school.

*If your child gets drugs at school, it's probably Tylenol.

*Your neighbors think you are insane.

*Your kids learn new vocabulary from their extensive collection of "Calvin & Hobbes" books.

*Your formal dining room now has a computer, copy machine, and many book shelves and there are educational posters and maps all over the walls.

*You have meal worms growing in a container....on purpose.

*If you get caught talking to yourself, you can claim you're having a PTA meeting.

*Talking out loud to yourself is a parent/teacher conference.

*You take off for a teacher in-service day because the principal needs clean underwear.

*You can't make it through a movie without pointing out the historical inaccuracies.

*You step on math manipulatives on your pre-dawn stumble to the bathroom.

*The teacher gets to kiss the principal in the faculty lounge and no one gossips.

*Your honor student can actually read the bumper sticker that you put on your car.

*If your child claims that the dog ate his homework, you can ask the dog.

*Someday your children will consider you to be a miracle-working expert and will turn to you for advice.

*Your kids refer to the neighbor kids as "government school inmates."

*You can't make it through the grocery produce department without asking your preschooler the name and color of every vegetable.

*You can't put your produce in your cart without asking your older student to estimate its weight and verify its accuracy.

*You live in a one-house schoolroom

Easter Story Cookies

2009-04-10T19:42:00.000-07:00

I've seen this recipe around before, thought it was a great idea, but never tried it. I'm really excited about doing it this year. We've love to hear from those of you that have done this with your kids before or plan on doing it this year.

To be made the evening before Easter
You need:

1 cup whole pecans

1 tsp. Vinegar

3 egg whites

Pinch salt

1 cup sugar

Zipper baggie

Wooden spoon

Tape

Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important-don't wait until you're half done with the recipe)!Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces.

Explain that after Jesus was arrested. He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar.

Put 1 tsp. Vinegar into mixing bowl.

Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life.

Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl.

Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing.

Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.

Explain that the color white Represents --in God's eyes -- the purity of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper-covered cookie sheet.

Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matt. 27:65-66.

GO TO BED!

Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie.

Notice the cracked surface and take a Bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matt. 28:1-9

Share The Easter Cookie Story With Friends and Family

Spring and Easter Homeschool Carnival

2009-04-01T08:51:00.000-07:00

Looking for great Easter Crafts?

Angela over at The Sustala Six has a wonderful Easter Lapbook based on the Resurrection eggs. They made it last year, but the wonderful thing about Jesus is... He's timeless!

Squidoo also has some great ideas for Easter Lapbooks, along with printables (worksheets and more).

Homeschool Share has a wonderful collection of papers and ideas for an Easter Unit or Lapbook as well which goes deeper into the subject with bible verses, history, and even recipes!

Safely Gathered In shows you how to make your own containers of Wheat Grass, which I think is a great activity for Spring, and to also illustrate for our children how the Word of God should affect out lives.

Ever wondered about the Jewish customs of Passover? Read up over at HomeGrownKids!

Of course, there's always the ever-fun (and messy) egg-dying. Last year, we dyed eggs with our friends John and Ashley (the adults in the photos). This was the first time I had ever dyed an egg! (I know, crazy, right?)

Do you have any crafts, activities, or information posted on your blog that would suit this entry? Please, leave us a link!

Christian Unschooling: Interview of MandyMom

2009-04-01T07:37:00.000-07:00

Mandy Mom and her husband, Brandon. (Brandon Dad? Ha!)

Curious to know more about your host here at The Precious Mind? You can read Jena's interview of Mandy Mom over at Christian Unschooling! Then, when you're done with that, stop by Jena's lovely blog @ http://www.yarnsoftheheart.com/

Free Homeschooling Resources for all grades and ages.

2009-03-30T08:01:00.000-07:00

I know many people cannot afford to purchase curriculum. We have been so fortunate to have funds and curriculum donated to us by family and friends, but we've also added to that by other methods.

My friend Jodi Lynn asked me if the rumors were true. Is homeschooling more expensive than government schools? The truth is, it can be but it doesn't have to be! There is a lot of free homeschooling material available online. Stores like Half-Priced Books, Dollar Tree, and Goodwill hold so much for homeschoolers as well. (Read my post on MandyMom.com titled "A Fruitful Dollar Tree")

Some curriculum tools, like math manipulatives, are expensive. If you're doing the Montessori method, those items can add up quickly. However, if you approach it with a creative eye, you'll find you can easily substitute other items or make them yourself for much less.

Workbooks can be expensive as well, but Dollar Tree has workbooks up to 1st or 2nd grade for only a buck. We have a few pricey workbooks that need to last us through every child. We either copy the pages, slip them in protective sheets (which you can then write on with wipe off markers), or use another paper to write the answer. In my Dollar Tree post on MandyMom.com, you'll see that we don't write in our Math workbooks. The kids use their math manipulatives (squares, bears, beans, or macaroni) to work out the problems, then write down the answer on another paper.

When you purchase curriculum, you're really investing in something, and you want it to last. You can find creative ways to stretch it out for all of your children.

Here are a few sites I've really enjoyed checking out over the last few weeks.

Free World U is free curriculum site. The only catch is that you need to register (but that's free, of course). They offer digital flash cards on a variety of subjects. Subjects are divided out by school and grade (all the way up to highschool).

For example, Preschool subjects not only include the regulars of Colors, Shapes, Letters, and Numbers, but also Social Issues, Environment, and Weather.

Twelfth grade includes Principles of American Democracy, Principles of Economics, Physics, Probability and Statistics, and Calculus!

This site will make a wonderful addition to your homeschool. Check it out!

1+1+1=1 has a theme on her site called Tot School. You can draw a lot of inspiration from these posts, and even join in.

One of my buddies was telling me about Hippo Campus. Here's an excerpt from the site information page: "HippoCampus is a project of the Monterey Institute for Technology and Education (MITE). The goal of HippoCampus is to provide high-quality, multimedia content on general education subjects to high school and college students free of charge."

Did you know the government has a free resource page? Check it out here: http://free.ed.gov/

I think I've mentioned this site before, and if so, here it is again. The Discovery Channel is very informative, but did you know you can also gather much from their website? They also have a resource page to help teachers enhance the curriculum.

While Teach-nology isn't totally free, they do have a lot of freebies to offer. Check out these free worksheets and free lesson plans (many of these link to other sites).

The Teacher's Cafe has loads of free resources too.

Those links should keep you busy for a while!

Great homeschooling tools for cheap!

2009-03-25T12:03:00.000-07:00

Are you unschooling, deschooling, delight driven, or Montessori in your home education methods? I haven't been writing about our homeschooling adventures here, but you can see lots of photos and explanations over at my blog, http://mandymom.com

Take today's post for example:

A Fruitful Dollar Tree Dollar Tree is awesome. I'm sure most you know that, and those of you who don't probably don't have to live on a tight budget. For home educating families like ourselves, Dollar Tree holds a plethora of goodies, especially if you think outside the curriculum box. I had a few things in mind, so we headed over to our neighborhood store to grab a "few" items. [Read more]

Even our eighteen-month-old is involved in our methods!

A relaxed day of homeschooling.

2009-03-03T12:56:00.000-08:00

Children can't help but learn. People often ask if I have to stand over my children and force feed them knowledge, but, the truth is, homeschooling, at this point, is pretty easy going.

This is what has happened so far today. First comes breakfast. While I prepare, my daughter traces the alphabet with her finger (on a mat which is on the kitchen table). I pour them a new kind of cereal, and they want to know exactly what is in it, how it is made, and who made it. This is a popular question at meal time. Then we count out grapes, and they tell ask where grapes grow. After breakfast, I begin cleaning up the dishes in the sink leftover from the previous night, and the children dig into their "math box" full of math manipulatives of all kinds. They sort out shapes and colors, build things with blocks, and count the dots on dominos. The baby tags along, going wherever his siblings go and trying to do whatever they do. Before I do some work online, I write out a few sentences on a piece of paper. My daughter traces them, writes them on her own, and then sounds out the words. After lunch, the baby goes down for a nap and all those awake insist on making Valentines for Nana and Poppa (even though Valentine's Day was a couple weeks ago). They get out the cool scissors, paper, and pens. My daughter asks how to spell Nana and Poppa. She accidently adds an additional P, so it looks more like Popppa. My four-year-old sorts and counts change while my oldest and youngest sit at the piano pounding away the keys. The baby has always had an interest in the piano ever since he could stand on his tippy-toes to reach the keys. I don't think we'll have to force him piano lessons when the time comes because, like my daughter, he enjoys making music. Seconds later, they've moved onto something else. My middle child pretends to cook "Dad a healthy lunch", my daughter pulls out a coloring book, and the baby uses the livingroom as a jungle gym. He climbs up and down the couch, over his sister, under the chairs, stands up on the math box and tumbles onto the couch (and then off of it once again) and... once dad walks in the door... he's up on his lap. Soon we'll have bible study and bible trivia.... and more fun spontaneous education. Plus, I know the children are ready to read a few more chapters in the book we're going through!

With three children under the age of five, there's no need for strict lessons. Some days are more structured, but most are not. We do sit down and do crafts and projects, but it's not a daily thing. Sometimes I'm really involved in everything, and other days, like today, the kids do a lot more on their own while I tend to the house, the laundry, and the baby.

What does your homeschool look like?

8 Ways to a More Organized Homeschool Carnival

2009-02-26T18:18:00.000-08:00

Heart of the Matter is hosting 8 Ways to a More Organized Homeschool Carnival. Every Wednesday for 8 weeks they will publish a collaborative article brimming with tips and advice to help you organize all aspects of your homeschool life. Anyone can submit! Sift through your archives for posts that you would like to share, old or new.

Everyone who submits a post will be entered for a chance to win an amazing prize package, currently valued at $100!

Check it out!

The 5-minute homeschool

2009-02-09T09:21:00.000-08:00

by MandyMom

Homeschooling littles can be difficult. You may be new to the game, and you aren't sure what you should do. Should you buy curriculum? Should you set up a schedule? Even homeschooling parents who have been at it for years may find they need to change their tactics down the line. Different children require different approaches.

I see so many parents set out to make their children geniuses. They pile on the work, schedule in hours of education, and have high expectations. Sure, many of these children may do well. They may be able to read third grade level books at age five, but are they enjoying education? Are they allowed free time to play? Is the family so busy doing "school work" that they've failed to do "life work"?

As Christians, I don't believe it is possible for us to separate education from religion and still manage to give our children the proper biblical worldview. In our home, our goal is to raise children who love and serve God, and who, above all else, seek heavenly wisdom. Therefore, as we teach our children "every day education", the main focus must be biblical wisdom and glorifying the Lord.

If we are cramming them with knowledge so they will be the smartest child on the block and "make us proud" then our priorities are not right, and we have lost sight of the goal.

On the other hand, there are those parents who leave their children to themselves to learn. While I may agree with some of the unschooling aspects, there is one point that I whole-heartedly cannot support.

Children left to themselves will learn, but will they learn what is pure and right? While I believe it is good for children to have time to explore, think, and learn on their own at times, I believe this must be done under the watchful eye of the parent, and I do believe it is important that we do schedule in some things.

For parents like myself who don't like to plan every second of the day and who have young children that are not ready for too structured of an education, there is the five-minute approach.

The five-minute method helps put things in perspective. If you take everything five minutes at a time, you don't have to worry about stopping in the middle to make lunch, or putting everything on pause to nurse the baby or run an errand. Little ones will be able to pay attention for five minutes at a time without getting too distracted and wiggly.

Most of all, five minutes is plenty of time to teach younger children what they need to learn without overwhelming them. Sometimes we may spend too much time focusing on a particular subject or task because we feel our child is not understanding. She may not be, but if we teach it in spurts and don't overwhelm her (or make her feel like she is dumb for not catching on), she'll pick it up in no time.

Those with larger families will find this method helps them to give each child one-on-one attention without feeling spread to thin. Your curriculum, should you use something specific, can be adapted to fit.

So, you're probably wondering what the five-minute approach is. The best way to explain this is to tell you how we do it in our own home.

It helps to have a timer, or at least a clock nearby that you can keep on eye on. Here's a day in the life of our homeschool.

After we have pretty much prepared for the day the homeschooling begins. We spend five minutes reading a bible story from a children's book. We talk about it for a bit, go over the key points, and then close in prayer. Now, this usually takes ten minutes. We shouldn't be so focused on the clock that cut things short.

Breakfast usually follows this devotional time. In my household, we usually don't sit down for breakfast together except on weekends. While the children eat, I tidy up a few things, tend to the baby, or complete a few tasks after I've grabbed a banana or handful of granola.

I keep an ear out for the children because they always have interesting conversations going on during this time! If I pay attention here and there to what they are saying, I can use that "information" later in a biblical lesson or during art time (depending on what it is they are talking about, of course).

Once breakfast winds down we take five minutes to take care of our rooms. This means making the bed, putting away toys, and bringing dirty clothes down so I can start a load of laundry. Either we can set the timer and focus on our own areas for five minutes, or we can all work together in one room for five minutes at a time (five minutes in one bedroom, five minutes in another bedroom, five minutes in the livingroom, etc). Sometimes it is fun to make it into a game of "beat the clock" or pretending that we must keep moving moving moving so the "lazy monster" doesn't get us.

I am trying to teach our five-year-old how to play the piano, but it is slow going. Instead of stressing her out by trying to beat these lessons into her head until she gets it (and thereby stressing myself out as well), we just take five minutes a day (sometimes every other day) to poke around on the piano some. Every piano lesson we focus on the proper way to hold her hands and on pressing one key at a time. Piano time use to be very frustrating for both of us until I realized that this was something I couldn't push on her. She enjoys plinking the keys, and I don't want her to hate the piano because I've pressured her to learn something she's not ready for. The five minute method allows me to see where she is and make note of whether she's ready to begin a more formal piano lesson.

Whenever you feel like you aren't getting a particular lesson through (whether in math, reading, or piano), step back and just focus on the basics. I would rather teach the same little bit every day and encourage her rather than move ahead when she isn't ready.

We also read for five-minutes at a time, sometimes longer if the children beg me to continue. One thing that I have found very helpful in getting children to "soak in" what they are reading is to have them draw a picture of what we read once we've finished the excerpt or chapter of that day. Sometimes I read a couple paragraphs and then go over what we just read (rewording it or defining some of the words we read). This helps keep my children focused on the book. Drawing out the scenes puts their creativity to work and helps them imagine what they are reading.

Sonlight has a Mathtacular DVD which my children love. It fits perfectly into our five-minute method because it is divided up into short little sections. We take five minutes to learn new letters and sounds, five minutes to read rhymes and children's books, and five minutes to talk about community, maps, and history!

We also take five minutes here and there throughout the day to "train" and disciple the children. During these sessions they learn various things, like practical household chores (how to fold clothes, how to vacuum, how to set the table) or biblical principles and facts (they are currently learning the books of the Law in the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). They get time with Mom (and Dad when he's home), working beside me and learning as we go. Often, I am learning at the same time! I never memorized verses (although I knew some of my favorites) or the books of the bible growing up, but it is something I have set out to do alongside my children.

The children have plenty of time to play inbetween little sessions. We take time for crafts and games as well. Now and then they get to watch a special movie or a documentary on history, animals, or "how things work", which of course take much longer than five or ten minutes!

There is no limit to the things you can teach in five minutes, and you could also change this ten or fifteen minutes. The point is not to live by the clock or the timer, but to allow you to focus on the things you need to accomplish without overwhelming yourself or your children.

As homeschooling mothers, we not only have to teach our children, but we also have to care for the home, cleaning, preparing meals, running errands, and helping others in our community. Doing lessons and sessions in spurts helps us accomplish those things without stressing out.

We can be more productive with our time, instead of wasting it. We can glorify God five minutes at a time as we teach our children, care for our homes, and nourish ourselves with His Word.

Charlotte Mason, Horton Hears a Who Unit Study, and Christian Homeschooling links

2009-02-05T13:47:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've posted, so I figured it was about time that I do a little work for my blog, instead of leaving it up to my wonderful assistants! (Even though they do a great job of providing information, links, and encouragement!)

Every now and then I like to surf the web for great links. While some of these don't suit our methods, they may be a help to you, so I'm passing them along.

Curriculum can be expensive, but AmblesideOnline.org has provided a free curriculum reading plan based on some of the aspects of the Charlotte Mason style (for grades 0-12!). They also provide a page of resources, including vintage CM "programmes" and exams.

SimplyCharlotteMason.com offers a free e-book called Education Is. The site also details the Scripture Memory System, which you can make yourself. But wait! That's not all! Sonya has generously provided another free e-book a SCM called Masterly Inactivity. The whole site is full of useful information, so give it a look!

Did your children recently watch Horton Hears a Who? Is it one of their favorite bedtime books? Well you'll probably enjoy this unit study put together by Homegrown Hearts

Looking for encouragement? Christianhomeschooling.us has articles that will inform and inspire!

Btw, do you have a blog? We'd appreciate if you'd lend your support by posting our link (and graphic, if you'd like) to our blog!

Recycling

2009-02-04T15:52:00.000-08:00

by Mommy N

I know.... it's sounds like an odd subject for a homeschool blog, but there is so much more to recycling than just taking your used cardboard boxes and aluminum cans to the local recycling center.

Recycling has become a new game to me. Although we do take our cardboard boxes and our aluminum cans to the local center (about 20 minutes away), I like to do so much more with everyday items so I don't have to throw things away. I haven't become a trash junkie, keeping everything, but I keep things I know I will and can reuse.

Here are a few items I have been able to reuse and what I'm doing with them now:

* baby wipe container - pencil, bead, candle, or button holder, etc.

* Enfamil containers - can be used for drums for the baby - just add beans or noodles and glue the lid on

* map container - rain stick

* baby food jar - store tree seeds in when learning about trees; homemade baby food; rubberband, small staples, and/or trashbag/bread tie containers

* Clorox wipe container - pencil/marker holder

* Diaper box - old clothes or paint clothes

*Peanut butter jar - hide-n-seek jar

(add rice and few small items - have kids find items by rolling the jar around to uncover what's hidden in the rice - K really liked this one!)

Those are just a few of the hundreds of everyday items that be "recycled" into another everyday use so they don't have to be thrown away. What other items do you "recycle" and how do you use them?

Local Homeschool Groups

2009-02-01T14:29:00.000-08:00

by Mommy N
My husband and I attended a homeschool leadership meeting, Saturday, Jan.31. It was very informative and worth the time. I know this seems kind of lengthy, but our right to homeschool is under attack and a lot of homeschoolers don't even know it.

Like some of you I was preparing myself for homeschooling my young children, 3 years and 10 months, for when the time was right. I knew I didn't need to register them with the state until they turned 7. I still had a few years, but I think learning from others experience is vital to having less stress, so I joined a local support group. What I didn't know was that God was using what I thought was preparation for my own children's education to actually be preparation to teach junior high and high school levels with very little notice (two weeks). In December, my husband and I got custody over two of my teenage nieces, 15 and 12. I went from reading young children's books, doing crafts, playing blocks, and racing cars to teaching an actual Bible study and relearning and teaching Algebra, Biology, Literature, World History, World Geography, Spanish, English, Home Ec., and Physical Science. It's been a very fun and interesting month.

Had I not joined our local group last year, I would not have had any idea what curriculum I was going to use, because I wouldn't have had the advice or knowledge from experienced homeschoolers. I would not have had any clue where to start, much less how to start.

The support you have as an individual homeschool mom is important. Please make sure it's support and advice from those that have experience, not just from those that are in the same place as you.

Our local support group has a variety of people that are different in appearance, but like-minded in their purpose to teach their children about Christ. If you haven't joined a local support group because your children don't have to be registered with the state yet, or because you have enough socialization, I would recommend, join anyway. The support and ideas you can and will get (if you want them) or give will be well worth it to you or to someone else. Although joining a local support group is not vital to homeschool success, it can be very helpful in times you never would have imagined, and informative in things you never would have thought.

Also,If you are not a member of http://www.parentalrights.org/ or haven't signed their petition, I would suggest looking into it. The last thing we need as a parent, whether we homeschool or not, is for our children to be able to make adult decisions for themselves because the government says they have the right to and that the parent doesn't have that right over their child. If you really want to get involved go to http://www.10and2.org/ for more information about how you can be proactive in amending the U.S. Constitution.

God entrusted each one of us with the children He created through us, not through the government.

It's ok to...

2009-01-16T19:28:00.000-08:00

by Mommy N

As a people, we have become impatient and aren't interested in waiting until later for anything. We want everything as soon and as quickly as possible.

I know when my kids get sick, I want to rush to the doctor in hopes of getting a cure-all quick fix prescription. Truth is, there's not one. They usually have to suffer through at least a day or two of being sick before they start feeling better.

If we have to suffer with our illness for a day or two while our bodies recover, than you would think it should be o.k. if we don't answer the phone for a couple of hours while we finish our school work.

I have a policy to not answer the phone if I can't talk. The only exception is for my husband. The only time I don't answer his calls is if the kids are in the tub or I'm changing a diaper. I usually check the caller id to see who it is, make a note to myself, and then call the person back as soon as I can talk.

By implementing this policy, we are able to complete our school work with little to no interruptions. It takes the stress away of trying to do too many things and allows me to focus on the kids and any questions they have. One of the worst thing that can happen to us doing school time is to be in the middle of learning something new, the phone ring, I answer it, and my attention leaves them. Usually by the time I get back to them, they are no longer interested in what we were learning.

So, here are a few It's ok to ... that I've implemented that have helped us tremendously.

It's ok...

....to not answer the phone when it rings.

....to not spend 45 minutes to an hour on each subject.

....for them to rewrite their reports 7 times to learn proper grammer rules.

....if they don't understand something the first few times.

....if Home Ec is when they cook dinner.

....if school isn't from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

....if they have school in their pajamas as long as their teeth are brushed.

....if we do science before math or vica versa, as long as they know and understand the importance of Bible Study.

....if we start a little later, as long as they know we might finish later.

....if they need to go to the restroom or get something to drink during class.

....if they ask questions during the middle of our reading aloud time - it means they're paying attention and learning.

....if they don't learn about every battle they would have been taught about in a public school setting.

....encourage them and lift them up - OFTEN.

....if they don't want to do something - they still need to understand the importance of doing things they don't want to do.

I love the fact that God doesn't call the equipped, but He equips the called. If you have been called to homeschool the gifts He has given you, trust that the things you teach them will be exactly what they need.

Don't OVER plan - RELAX!!

2009-01-08T13:19:00.000-08:00

Most of you that know me or have read the bio Mandy put here, know I haven't been homeschooling long.. but honestly I have changed my curriculum enough times to have been homeschooling for 20 years..I have jumped around trying things out with everything from all work done on the computer (with Time 4 Learning) to unschooling.. everything from a tight 8 hour schedule to no schedule at all. And this is what I have found - no curriculum is perfect.. and most often you will have to make a mixture - or "gumbo" (as said here in Louisiana) - of curriculums to fit your family.

Personally, I think a semblance of a schedule is necessary - not one that's planned to the minute, but at least an outline of your flexible plans... here's a look at our current daily schedule:

School Schedule

1. Bible Reading/Discussion

2. Read Aloud

3. Math

4. Unit Study Reading and Activities

5. Copy work

6. Start work on science project

7. Check email/webkins

Notice that I have not got 20 subjects - spelling, vocabulary, social studies, etc. That is because our unit studies generally cover most of those subjects.. the large amount of reading we do covers a lot of the vocabulary, critical thinking, syntax/grammar, etc. I believe in a foundation of the 3 R's, and the rest is lagniappe. I also include email and my daughter's webkins account, because being computer literate is just as important in this day and age - there aren't too many jobs that don't have at least a small amount of work on the computer. We also love shows like "How It's Made" and National Geographic documentaries. We don't do a lot of "busy" work either - I really don't find it necessary to waste time doing endless worksheets.. and 200 math problems in a day.. I would rather have her do other fun/educational projects and activities that don't bore her, but encourage her to learn and want to find out more.. I like Charlotte Mason's school of thought of keeping lessons short and sweet to keep the child's attention.

I generally try to start school about 8am - but I am somewhat flexible about that. If we were up a bit later, then our next day starts a little later.. I had once tried to set up time periods for our different "tasks" (some might call them "subjects") but I found that I set my self up for failure, and we would both (my daughter and I) be frustrated. I think when you try to compartmentalize everything, those unexpected things that inevitably come up each day keep setting you farther and farther behind. And it sets off a continuous cycle of failure, leading to frustration, and even possibly setting you up to ultimately quit on what God has lead you to do. We also take days off in the week periodically and don't do any school work that day.. The way I look at it - we do school all year long, and don't necessarily take "vacations" when school is out for public school - so we can afford to take days off when we feel like it.

I guess the key to all facets of homeschooling is to RELAX.. allow God to guide you in the questions of "how much?" and "how long?"...you are not trying to keep up with what the public schools claim to cover.. you are fulfilling your duties as parent and teacher according to the Word and His will. He designed their minds to naturally desire to learn.. and while I don't take totally to the unschooling notion that it needs no guidance at all - I believe we could relax a little on our expectations that were molded by our own experiences with public school. You would be suprised what happens when you relax and let nature take it's course, you will see your child begin to WANT to learn and take up researching subjects on their own, and it won't be such a hair-pulling session everytime you sit down to do some "school work".

For those of us who attended college, you can probably back me up when I say - the only things I really carried over into my college years from public school was my reading and math skills.. the rest was taught to me as if it was the first time I ever heard it.. so when we begin each day I remind myself of these things when I want to feel pressured to follow lesson plans to the "T" or pressure my daughter and myself to finish a book in a certain period of time..

It breaks my heart when I hear homeschool moms ask how they can fit fun stuff in with all the school work they have to do. I say - try slowly, taking away busy work here and there - and see the difference that "fun stuff" makes in your child's ability to retain what they learn, and their attitude in general. Lapbook/Notebook one subject at a time as you are comfortable.. Pull subjects into your unit studies one at a time - starting with reading, adding in social studies by covering a historial topic, adding math by using manipulatives related to the story being read or subject covered. Just step out there and try it, there is nothing that says if it doesn't work for you that you can't go back to the way you were doing it. You will never know until you try.

Well I hope this rambling of mine makes sense and perhaps helps someone out there getting frustrated and wondering how they will go on homeschooling. May you have less hair-pulling, white-knuckling, and frustration - and may you have a lot more joy ;-)

Until next time, Much love and God bless.

I'm glad I listened

2008-12-26T22:50:00.000-08:00

The past week has been wonderfully blessed, exciting, and emotionally filled. I have been so blessed to see how God has been working things around in my life for the past 3 years to orchestrate what happened this past weekend.

Although two of my sister's kids, ages 15 & 12 are already staying with us, my husband and I are going to be given guardianship over them next week. They are going to stay with us at least 6 months, but more than likely it will be permanent and they will graduate here. Had I not been paying attention to little details around me, I may not have been prepared and at peace with what is about to happen.

I joined a local homeschool group this past summer even though K doesn't have to be registered with the state for another 4 years. I'm glad I did.

I've been attending the Homeschool Mom's Night Out to get advice about homeschooling so I could learn from others before I officially started. I had no idea I would need the information this quickly. I'm glad I attend.

I had no idea that when I was being led to homeschool, that it would consist not only for my kids, but for 2 of my nieces. Although it seems as though I should be nervous, I have such an unexplainable peace about it. I'm glad I answered the call.

Just a couple of weeks ago, I bought my son a talking globe that is above his age level because I didn't want to pass up the good deal knowing I would use it one day. I now know it wasn't intended for him, but for my nieces that are studying World History. I'm glad I listened to the voice.

So, here it is, 3 years until have to register my son in "school", yet I am registering with our state next week. I don't know if God's plans are for the girls to stay with us until the school year is over or until they graduate, but I'm glad I listened to all the "voices" and followed my instincts to what I believe is going to be a wonderful year of change for all of us in our house.

Had I not listened to all the voices and instead had made up my own mind and done all the things that did make sense, I don't think I would have been as prepared. Sometimes the things we do don't seem to make sense at all, but if we're doing them for the right reasons and are praying about them, than it's part of God's plan.

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him." 1 John 5:14-15

Is there anything you aren't doing that many people have suggested or that you feel might be a calling from God? If you ignore the call, you may not be prepared for something that could happen in 3 years. God knows His plan. He's the only one that does. What a blessing it is to not be in control, but to know that God is.

Post by Mommy N

Fun, fast, and inexpensive Christmas ornaments.. and a cute little video..

2008-12-19T10:28:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine sent me this video by email - and I think all of us homeschool moms can appreciate it:

I also want to share some links to some of my favorite, easy, and inexpensive ornaments for the whole family to make:

These are called God's Eye Ornaments - We made a bunch of these and hung them all over the house:

http://www.make-stuff.com/recycling/gods_eye.html

These are a lot of fun, and (with my help) even my toddlers can make them.. they are glass bulbs painted with acrylic paint. It can be especially inexpensive if you hit Hobby Lobby or Michael's after Christmas and get for 80% off to save for the next year:

http://www.save-on-crafts.com/howtomakcero.html

These are felt ornaments - felt being an inexpensive fabric to buy - and in a miriad of colors. Some of them call to cut out 2 and sew and stuff them (like the gingerbread man/woman), but for the younger kiddos you can just cut one and decorate:

http://crafts.kaboose.com/felt-ornaments.html

Christmas is next week and then the week of New Years, coupled with computer issues I am having - so I probably won't post again until January. May you all have a very merry Christmas and a blessed new year!!

Much love and God bless.

Courtney P and Family

'Tis the Season

2008-12-13T12:12:00.000-08:00

by Mommy N

"Tis the Season to be Jolly....fa...la...la...la....la.la.la.la.

As my children get older, I'm enjoying Christmas even more than I did when I was a kid anticipating the arrival of unwrapped gifts brought by Santa around or on our Christmas tree. Although the memories I have about Christmas are strictly about me getting gifts, I'm finding that I enjoy Christmas more now that I get less than when I got more as a kid. I'm pretty sure it has more to do with the fact that I actually know and understand the true meaning of Christmas and I get to teach it to my kids.

My son asked me the other day when I was going to wrap his presents to put under the tree. It was at that moment, that I realized I needed to start teaching him NOW, that Christmas is SO much more than getting gifts. In truth, I find myself not wanting to buy my kids much. I want them to know the real meaning of Christmas. I want them to know the concept of JOY (Jesus, Others, and You.) How can I do that if all they are worried about is how many gifts they have under the tree? What they learn as a child, becomes a hard habit to break as they get older.

Last year, we started a Jesse Tree. This year, we incorporated an Advent Calendar to go along with the ornament and scripture of the day. We are reading Christmas books often and almost everyday we talk about Jesus' birthday.

Kids are going to feed off our excitement and joy of what is going on. Am I more excited about the gifts under our Christmas tree or the gift that God wrapped and gave to us 2008 years ago on Christmas day?

Christmas is a perfect season to teach kids about character, love, and the spirit of giving to others.

Making do..

2008-12-09T21:29:00.000-08:00

Making do.. It was something my grandmother would speak of when I was a child. She would tell me stories about the great depression and how certain things, so-called luxuries were not available, or not affordable. So - they did without those luxuries.

It reminds me of one of my favorite shows - "17 and Counting" - that's the show on TLC about the Duggar family that has 17 children. This family manages to support themselves fully without one dollar of help from the government (i.e. welfare). Through watching the show I try to discover some ways to help my own family save and pinch pennies to make our money go farther.

The main thing that sticks out to me - is "making do". It is obvious that they aren't starving and are all dressed in what I would call "average" fashion - not too much and not too little. They aren't exactly wearing couture fashion - but they don't look like nerds either. They do things like buy clothes and shoes second-hand. This thrifty mom does that ALL the time. I have a hard time finding things for myself or my husband - but always find cute things for the kids. I shop Goodwill and the Salvation Army quite often.

The Duggars not only go the second-hand (and hand-me-down) route - but they also "make do" with what they have until it is NECESSARY to replace shoes and clothes. They aren't concerned with the very latest fashion, and don't appear to go out and buy a pair of Levis jeans for all the kids just because they WANT one. Even if you didn't want to go the second hand route - you would be surprised to see how much money you save by waiting to buy shoes and clothes only when you need them - like when your shoe's sole comes away from the upper, or they are beat up beyond being able to wear them in public, or when your daughter's sun dresses have all grown too small. (Verses - running out to buy a new pair of shoes for your DD just because her friend next door got a new pair.)

I know with my own kids each new season brings a long a list of "needs" because they can't wear last year's clothes (because they are too small) - but I guess this tip has even more to do with us moms going out there and having to have 300 pairs of shoes. I love shoes as much as the next girl - but is that REALLY necessary?

I guess what also made me think of "making do" is what's going on in my own household right now. We have one income and trying to start up a trucking business. Money is a bit tight. We have a dishwasher that doesn't want to drain properly. So we are having to "make do" right now by handwashing all our dishes. With Christmas coming and trucking being slow - we can't afford to walk out and purchase a new one. I could curse, or have a bad attitude - or I can do it the Christian way - and "make do" cheerfully. At least I have a house to wash dishes in - some can't say that - especially with today's economy and so many people getting foreclosed on.

So take a moment today and see where you could perhaps cut back or purchase one less "want" item - to bless your family budget.

I know I have been on a soapbox lately - I promise to come back next week with a cool holiday craft to share with you:-)

Conjunction junction, what's your function?

2008-12-03T08:11:00.000-08:00

Hearing that summons up memories of "back in the day" - when the main opportunity to see cartoons was on Saturday morning.. not 24 hours a day like it is now..that was the ONLY time you found us inside when we didn't have to be.. You might watch the Smurfs.. or late morning might have Johnny Quest... but occassionally a "video" from "School House Rock" would be thrown in. They were cute cartoons with a song, a toe tapping tune, and, unbeknownst to me, a lot of good educational tidbits..

Well it seems "School House Rock" is making a comeback. I had been hearing about them putting out a DVD.. and vaguely remember liking them.. so I thought it might be worth getting for the kids. I like them to see you can have fun with education. So I was lucky enough to find it at my local library (a gold mine of resources for us homeschoolers on a budget)...Which by the way - I totally recommend you go make friends with your local librarian - they can get you all sorts of books thru interlibrary loans and save you lots of money..

So anyway, we checked it out and started watching it... I couldn't believe how jam packed it was with info.. things about history, multiplication tables, parts of speech, biology.. etc.. and my kids LOVED it..my 8 yr old dd that is learning her multiplication tables right now kept turning around and smiling at me when the math "videos" would come on.. and my twin boys (nearly 3) were even singing the songs.. they may not understand what they are singing right now, but it will make sense later, and they will have a learning aid to help them - the songs.. I think it would be the perfect DVD to keep in the van, rather than a just a bunch of cartoons (althought we do have those too).. or to pull out when you are studing history, or multiplication tables, etc.. I must admit though - we will probably be purchasing a copy. I highly recommend it to add to your homeschool library.

So that's my input for this week.. by the way - Mandy has so graciously allowed me to come and write on her new blog, and I am so blessed to be able to do so.. we are a new homeschooling family (started as of May this year when I withdrew my dd out of Elementary school), and are those homeschoolers on a budget, so you will find in my entries a lot of inexpensive or free ideas.. you can see more about us (and mostly my artwork) on my blog http://mommasgoodies.blogspot.com/ , and here at The Precious Mind on Wednesdays.

Until next time - much love and God bless!

The Call to "Dunkirk"

2008-12-02T16:51:00.000-08:00

Watch and listen to this short powerful video from ExodusMandate.org calling families to bring their children home. Our pastor, Voddie Baucham, is featured in it and, as usual, makes some strong points.

Call to Homeschool

2008-11-28T13:50:00.000-08:00

Hey all! It's me, Mommy N. Let me introduce myself a little so you will know a little about me before I start contributing to The Precious Mind on a regular basis.

I am blessed to have a wonderful husband. In March, we will be married for 8 years, together for 10. I am blessed by God to be a mommy of 2 wonderful kiddos, a 3yo boy and an 8 mo girl. I am patiently waiting to see if God has more kids planned for us.

I was a very career oriented woman not climbing, but running up the ladder of "success" until I became pregnant with my son. When my son was 10 months old, I picked him up from daycare for the very last time and I have NEVER looked back. I never would have thought I would be a stay-at-home mom, much less a happy stay-at-home mom that homeschools. Although our homeschool journey is just beginning, I'm blessed to have recognized and answered my call from God.

I have also been blessed to have a homeschool mentor in my life that has become a true blessing in so many ways. She introduced me to homeschooling and has taken me under her wings and is guiding me, but not pushing me. Her children range from 8 - 18 years of age. If there is anything I can suggest, it's to find someone that will be honest and open about what's ahead and never lost focus on God or family.

I look forward to sharing some of the valuable lessons I have already learned and am really excited about sharing the ones I have yet to learn.

"But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds." (Psalm 73:28)

Crafty Website

2008-11-27T06:54:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! I was going to take the time to introduce myself a little before I made my first post, but I came across this great website/blog that I wanted to share with you instead. There are a lot of great Thanksgiving ideas. Hope you enjoy! Have a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!!!

http://belladia.typepad.com/crafty_crow/

Mommy N

Posts to Ponder

2008-11-26T10:59:00.000-08:00

Here's a collection of posts from around the bloggy world I know you all will enjoy!

Public or private schools not bringing out the best in your child? Are you worried about what your child is learning beyond the basics of education? Are you fearful of the impressions being made upon little minds? Do you have a desire to homeschool but think you might not be able to afford it? Lori @ Camp Creek Blog answers the tough questions in her post "Should I homeschool?"

Sprittibee discusses the ever-changing course of their homeschool journey. She talks about hardships, frustrations, and the joy she is finding in the Charlotte Mason teaching style. It's a great post for any schooler using whatever method!

"For the past two years, the homeschool road has been getting darker. With the sun set and curves ahead, I've been praying about what is around the next bend. It isn't that I haven't enjoyed homeschooling... it is just that the children have been in the process of growing up - becoming more mature - and our needs have been changing. Eventually we were bound to come to a curve in the path. Just as a child graduates from baby food and picture books (well, maybe they can still enjoy picture books - I do) they grow out of certain curriculum and teaching methods. I have known for a long time that mine have been needing more than unit studies... less of a strict and stressful (parent-led teaching) schedule... and a lot more nature and literature. I knew that as they grew, what may have worked for them at 2 and 4 might not be the best mode of 'transportation' to continue stimulating them intellectually at 10 and 12. And with the gradual changes came a fear of the unknown for the navigator - because it meant I was going to have to steer off the beaten path."

2008-11-21T07:41:00.000-08:00

I was blog hopping- something I do from time to time- and came across a really cool blog filled with homeschooling tips for wee ones.

http://1plus1plus1equals1.blogspot.com/

She has come up with some great, inexpensive ideas, like using caps from water bottles to use in matching games. She shares printables she made (so creative).

This blog is the first to get The Precious Mind award. TPM award is given to homeschooling bloggers who creatively nurture their child in all areas of life, realizing that education is more than reading, writing and 'rithmetic.

Do you know of a blogger who should be awarded? Let us know!

The Intentional Teacher: babies on up

2008-11-20T05:53:00.000-08:00

I'm often asked, "When did you officially start homeschooling?" The truth is, we've been intentionally homeschooling from the beginning. Everyone homeschools in some manner, whether they know it or not. You are always teaching your children something- why not be an intentional teacher?

How can you be an intentional teacher? I've listed six ways to start teaching your preschoolers and beginners..... without plopping them behind a desk!

1. Read to them... a lot. Read rhymes, read novels, read the bible, read stories loaded with pictures.

2. Tell them stories. Make up stories. Go through a photo album- pointing out pictures and explaining what is happening in the photos.

3. Allow them to explore. Let them bang on things, cut paper, doodle, finger paint, dig in the dirt, take things apart...... all under your supervision for safety, but with minimal direction.

4. Ask them questions. Children are great at asking questions. They want to learn about everything. Try turning the tables and asking them questions. Ask them how they feel about certain things, what they think you should do next, how they think something should be done, how they think someone else feels, etc. Their answers may not make much sense to you. They may not even be on topic, but listen and continue to ask questions.

5. Yes, listen. LISTEN to what your children are saying. Pay attention to what they are doing. You'll find out what they are interested in, and you can help them explore those things (by printing out information on the internet, going to the library, visiting a museum, etc). It helps to keep a record of what they're talking about, what they're doing, and what they're interested in.

6. Allow them to help. Sometimes our need for prim and proper perfection keeps us from allowing our children to help out with things. Yes, it might mean more mess. It might take more time, but your children will benefit (and so will you). They can help you cook, clean, pick up sticks, take out the trash, rearrange furniture, decorate the Christmas tree, feed the dog... etc. Teaching them how to help around the house is more than a course in home ec.

I know listening is one of the hardest things for me to do because my children, especially my second child, are very talkative. Nolyn talks all the time, except when he is sleeping. He never really had a babbling stage. He began talking in full sentences very early and hasn't stopped sense. I tend to tune him out much of the time because he repeats things over and over (whether he's talking to me or not, and whether I've answered him or not). That's something that I'm working on- really tuning in and not tuning out.

Remember, it's never too early to start reading. Read to your newborn. Read to your toddler. Don't expect your children to sit still and peer at every page. Just because they don't seem to be paying attention, doesn't mean they aren't.

For example, my daughter, Merikalyn, likes to sit right next to me when I'm reading. Nolyn, on the other hand, will usually play and mumble to himself several feet away, but when I ask the two of them questions about the book, he usually answers correctly. He may not look like he's listening, but he is.

I see many parents who think their children need to read and write by the age of four or five. Studies have shown that children who go through heavy early education and those who don't end up on the same level by fifth grade. We need to go at our children's pace. Let's not set them up for frustration and burn out.

It's important to look at your intentions. Are you trying to produce a child that you can brag about or is your desire to nurture that love of learning within your child, encouraging her to research, explore, and try things out. Be honest with yourself.

Mandy is a homeschooling graduate who spent the majority of her schooling years in public schools before deciding to switch to homeschool halfway through highschool. You can read more about her and her family at MandyMom.com

Poster can be ordered from Art.com

Parenting 101 from Comedian Steve Harvey

2008-11-19T17:00:00.000-08:00

by Courtney

I laugh everytime I think about this Steve Harvey comedy act I saw on DVD. It was one of his first performances after being saved, and I believed it was taped at a big Christian event.. It was called "Don't trip, He aint through with me yet".. well - Steve was talking about how people have kids that they can't make behave at their OWN house... yet bring them into church and drop them off at the nursery with those poor unsuspecting ladies, when they should be bringing those children into the pew with them to correct and keep and eye on.

What does this have to do with homeschool? Well, I had an experience during the summer that reminded me of this part of Steve's act.. I was checking out books at the library and was asking the librarian for certain books.. so the conversation turned to the fact that I homeschool. I get the same usual questions - do you like it? What curriculum do you use? Etc etc etc.. then the librarian proceeds to tell me that she wished she could homeschool, but (and please read carefully so you don't miss anything) her daughter WOULD NOT LISTEN TO HER!! To which I said "Oh... ok" I mean what do you say in return that is polite and Christian-like.. Now I will tell you how the dialog in my head went - "Are you serious? Your child doesn't listen to YOU, her parent - so you drop off your child and her issues to someone else to deal with?" I'm sorry, but if that reason is true then that sounds like laziness to me. I hope not to offend anyone, and I am not suggesting that every parent that sends their child to public school is lazy, but in this context - it is.

Isn't it our jobs to discipline and raise up our children to be polite, respectful and obedient to their elders? Why should the teachers and staff have to do what you didn't do with your child? Why should they be allowed to disturb the classroom or events that are going on? While my DD was in public school they had a handful of kids that were notorious for causing trouble - and it took a good portion of the teacher's day dealing with that. I believe that it is our duty as parents (and the Bible says so too) to raise our kids in the ways of the Lord.. we can't decide it's too difficult and expect some poor teacher (that definately doesn't get paid the salary to have to deal with that) to pick up where we left off. Not to mention, it's not their job. You then have to wonder what are the morals and values that are really being taught to your child when it doesn't come directly from you.

With the way their day goes with public school - it's easy to let things slip. When my dd was in public school she left at 7am.. got off the bus at nearly 4pm.. after chores and homework it was off to bathe and eat dinner.. read the bible.. and go to bed.. She spent a majority of her day in the care of other people - so her behavior issues were mostly dealt with by the school staff. Perhaps I read to much into this, but the Bible says for us to raise our children - not the staff of an elementary school..

It's this conviction that helped lead me to homeschooling..and the help of Mandy who was my first contact with a homeschooler - and obviously a positive one because it was shortly after we met I decided to homeschool too. So to hear someone say they put their kids in public school because their children don't listen to them, is not so much an indication of the child's issues, but the parents and their lack of attention to parental duties. I guess I am hoping that wasn't REALLY her reasoning, but on the fly it sounded like a good enough thing to say...

Mandy has said it before - be honest about why you don't want to homeschool.. a lot of people have the ability to homeschool, but don't realize it or just don't want to.. and there are some that fall into that category that TRULY can't (like single parents or families that must have more than one income to survive).. if God gives you the desire to homeschool, be sure to check out all the info you can on the internet, at the library, on homeschooling message boards.. and be honest with yourself. But if your reasoning is that you child misbehaves, therefore they have to go to public school, then perhaps you should reexamine God's blueprint for us as parents.

Courtney is a "deschooling" mother to three. You can visit her blog here.

New Writer

2008-11-19T09:32:00.000-08:00

Several things- first, there's a new craft video on how to make "popcicle kid" dolls on my website, MandyMom.com . Check it out!

Secondly, we have a new writer!

I met Courtney through freecycle. She had a little dog she needed to find a home for, and I thought the little pooch would be a perfect fit for our family. Before long, we were reading each other's blogs. My blog let her peek into the world of homeschooling. She brought her little girl home from public schools is May 2008 and is now "deschooling".

Courtney is very creative, so she'll be a great addition to TPM. She's mom to an eight year old daughter and three year old twin boys. Stop by her blog when you get a chance!

Go vote.. (for us)

2008-11-15T07:24:00.001-08:00

I don't want to tell you what to do.....

(ahem)

Buuut... it'd be really nice if you'd go vote for The Precious Mind as the "Best Craft Plans & Projects" blog over at The Homeschool Blog Awards!

You don't have to sign up to do it. It logs IP addresses, to make sure people only vote once per category (and I've linked straight to the category TPM is in).

Let's Play a Game!

2008-11-05T06:37:00.000-08:00

HSBA wants to know what sort of games you use for learning in your homeschool!

We use an assortment of games, including ones we made up ourselves. Dominos is a wonderful game to teach children matching and numbers. (And it's Sonlight approved!) We also play cames like Memory to teach different things as well. We have the official Memory game, and have made a cards of our own to play Memory and teach colors, shapes, numbers, letters and more. We play alphabet Memory on a near-daily basis. The children have to match the upper case to the lower case letter. When we first begin playing, all of the cards are face up. As they get better, we turn the cards face down so they actually have to play the "Memory" part of the game.

We also love to play hopscotch. This was one of my favorite outside games as a kid, one that is easy to create with a piece of chalk.

A while back, I made up a game to help my children understand directions and placement. This is also a great game to teach prepositions. When they were younger, I went through the house and specifically named parts of the house (the nook, the entry, the guestroom, mom's side of the bed, dad's side of the bed, the hallway) so that they could easily understand directions when I asked them to get something or put something away. I found this to be most helpful. I would often become frustrated when I would ask them to do something and then had to keep giving them directions because they didn't understand where I wanted them to go!

We've gone on to expand this into a game, as I said, and I'll place things throughout the house as a treasure hunt of sorts. They must follow my directions to find each treasure. For example, I would tell them their treasure would be in the sitting room, to the side of the couch, and near the wall. Now they are learning left from right, so this is a great game to help them with that.

We also play games like tag for exercise (and I join in, because I definitely need exercise!).

As the children get older, they'll be able to play games like Monopoly (and, hey, there are new Monopoly games out that younger children can play), Scrabble (love it!), and trivia style games.

What sort of games do you like to play?

Betta Version 1.0 : Unschooling Fish

2008-10-28T12:45:00.000-07:00

For more Betta Version 1.0 comic strips, visit MandyMom.com

Homeschooling Daughters

2008-10-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

Raising Arrows has a lot of wonderful posts on her homeschooling blog. I've really enjoyed reading her posts about Homeschooling Daughters, and thought I'd share those links here.

Homeschooling Daughters Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

Easy recipe for a personal-size chocolate cake!

2008-10-24T09:46:00.000-07:00

I came across this cool recipe while blog hopping and am definitely going to test it out. Sometimes I have a craving for chocolate cake, but don't feel like making a whole cake. Heather over at Want What You Have shared this recipe from another blog she came across, and I'm passing it on to you! I think this would make a great project for young children learning how to cook.

Ingredients
4 Tbsp self-rising flour (NOTE: If you don't have self-rising flour, you can easily make your own by mixing 1 cup all-purpose flour with 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, and 1/2 tsp salt).
4 Tbsp sugar
4 Tbsp cocoa
1 egg
3 Tbsp milk
3 Tbsp oil
3 Tbsp semi-sweet chocolate chips (if desired)
A splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee cup

Add all dry ingredients, except chocolate chips, to the cup and mix well. Add the egg, milk, oil & vanilla extract and mix very well. Fold in chocolate chips, if desired. Put cup in the center of your microwave and cook for 3 minutes on high (1000 watts). The cake will rise over the cup a bit, but thats normal.

Top with icing or coolwhip! Btw, make sure your coffee cup can be microwaved. Some cannot! (I use to have some that couldn't be microwaved. I ended up donating them to Goodwill, because, well, I always forget about my coffee and need to microwave it!)

Feel free to share this on your blog. If you test it out, let me know how it worked for you!

Edit:
The first time I tried this, I did it in a large "soup" mug (which is wide, not tall). The cake was a little dry, and I wished it was a little sweeter. It definitely does make one large serving! It'd be perfect for making one of those small personal birthday cakes for babies to chow down on.

Anyway, I decided to try it again. This time, I added another tablespoon of sugar. I also added a couple squirts of chocolate syrup and mixed it all in. I divided the cake mixture into two regular sized coffee cups (which I greased first). I put a little squirt of chocolate syrup on the top of each cup after filling them with mixture, then microwaved for ONE minute.

The cakes were very moist, and just the perfect amount of sweetness. (And, splitting the cake mix into two mugs made the perfect serving size!)

I have pictures to post later! :)

Blogger Awards!

2008-10-23T11:57:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year! Go nominate your favorite blogs for awards!
(In case you're wondering, The Precious Mind would fit into "Best Crafts, Plans & Projects Blog". Yanno, just in case you'd like to nominate us!)

The Precious Mind is looking for homeschooling mothers, fathers, or students to write articles, reviews, and share their homeschooling stories here at TPM. You may also submit pictures to be displayed on the TPM site.

If you're interested, please email Mandy @ contact (at) mandymom (dot) com

Native American themed crafts

2008-10-20T09:21:00.000-07:00

My friend Courtney is doing a unit study on American Indians. She came up with some unique ideas to make Indian corn necklaces and cornhusk dolls. It reminded me of a craft my dad use to do with us. (Maybe sometime I'll find a picture of my brother and I dressed up in our creations to post.)

Find a paper bag from the grocery store. Usually, they have print on the outside, so you might want to flip it inside out before you get started. So, first step- you have your brown paper bag. Secondly, you cut down the middle of one side, and continue cutting into the bottom of the bag. Cut out a circle in the bottom of the bag (step 3). This will now be the top where a little head will be poking through. Next you need to cut out arm holes on each side (step 4). Cut them high up on the sides and make them large enough for some flexibility. Cut fringe (step 5) along the bottom of the bag (which was once the top, remember). Then decorate!

You might want to make an Indian headband (as shown in the drawing) to go along with the vest. If you do this project, post it on your blog and send me the link, or send me a picture link to post here.

When I was a kid, one of my favorite books was The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush (Tomie dePaola). I loved to paint then just as much as I do now. This book spurred me to look into the old-fashioned ways of making paint colors.

Another good book (also by Tomie dePaola) is The Legend of the Bluebonnet (my state's flower, and also my favorite!). The illustrations are so beautiful. I'm one of those people who never outgrew children's books because I love the art!

Enchanted Learning has a bunch of neat Native American crafts, like paper towel totem poles, dream catchers, and rain sticks!

I also found this link, which has pretty cool ideas as well. The Indian Leather Painting (also using a brown paper bag) is really cool. I did that when I was a kid as well!

Crafts from every day items

2008-10-17T09:02:00.000-07:00

Last spring, our family went to Baton Rouge to celebrate Easter with our friends. That weekend, we went to a children's museum. They had a little section full of items like toilet paper rolls, fabric, egg cartons, and more for children (and their parents) to make anything they could think up. I took pictures of some of the things they have displayed. There were loads of cute creations- which inspired me to hold on to the items that I'd normally toss (egg cartons, jugs, newspaper, etc). My son likes to use the fridge boxes colas come in to make "robot arms". Toilet paper rolls become binoculars. They enjoy playing with these things more than they do those pricey toys!

If you have posted a picture about using everyday items for toys and art, please, leave a link to your post in a comment! I'd love to see it!

Days of the Week: Praise Him! (mp3)

2008-10-15T10:29:00.000-07:00

Hey y'all,

After a few requests (okay, a couple- just two), I decided to record myself singing Praise Him: The Days of the Week song which I made up (using the tune from The Grumblers). Feel free to share it with your children and sing it with your family. We usually dance around the house singing it. Please, don't make fun of my voice. I had to redo it a couple times because I realized how hick I sounded. Ha! I'm not a professional singer (as you can tell), but I did my best. (And, as I tell my children- that's what counts!)

Praise God: Days o...

Free (that's right, FREE) Lesson Plans

2008-10-14T18:27:00.000-07:00

Curriculum can cost thousands of dollars. As someone who uses Sonlight curriculum, let me tell you, a good quality curriculum is well worth the money, but I also understand that not everyone can afford such a luxury. Sonlight was our early Christmas gift to the kids- and they certainly didn't feel like they were cheated because it's full of wonderful books and creative games. If you really want to purchase a curriculum set, be creative in ways you can set aside money for it. Look for curriculum that is reuseable, so you can use it with your other children, or sell it when you're finished. When purchasing curriculum, remember- cheaper is not always better!

Still, if you can't afford it (especially with the economy the way it is), don't give up on homeschooling. You don't have to have curriculum to homeschool. If you prefer to have written lesson plans, here's a list of wonderful links with quality lesson plans. You can use these resources to create your own curriculum, or, if you're unschooling/deschooling, you can print a few things for your children to dive into when they're ready.

Tip: Try right clicking and open these links in a new window or tab. I have put my favorites in bold.

Environmental Lesson Plans
American Heritage Education Foundation
Word & Number Puzzles from Discovery

Thinkfinity (K-Adult Education)
Scott Foresman Grammer & Writing Handbook (grades 1-6)
Core Knowledge
The Curriculum Archive
A to Z Teacher Stuff
Lesson Plan Central
Lesson Plans & Teaching Strategies
Microsoft Lesson Plans
Discovery Education
The Teacher's Corner
TRIP for Teachers

Blogger Friend School

2008-10-14T12:58:00.000-07:00

I came across a really cool site today and wanted to share it with all of you.

"BFS is a full school year of fun-filled assignments to Build Friendships, Strengthen Faith, and Journal your Memories! Our goal is to encourage a community of homeschool moms to learn together while writing out special memories."

Blogger Friends School, or BFS, is a free place for homeschooling moms to meet up and participate bible verse memorization, writing prompts, and picture sharing.

BFS Assignment #105:

Post your favorite fall recipe to share. Post a picture of your finished product, or you could just post a picture of the recipe. How about a picture of you cooking? The sky is the limit. Post your favorite verse in your post.

I don't know about you, but when I think about fall, I think about family. When I think about family, strangly enough, I think about food. Why? Fall is a time when my family gathers together for fellowship and feasts in celebrating Thanksgiving. There are all sorts of great dishes served up from brown sugar and cinnamon yams to warm yeast rolls.

One of my favorite recipes to make with the kids is an apple cobber. It's super simple and doesn't involve a lot of mess (because you mix the ingredients in the dish you'll be baking it in!).

1/2 cup butter/margarine
1 cup flour
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1- 21oz can fruit pie filling.

Melt butter into a 9X9 casserole dish. Stir in flour, sugar, baking powder, milk and salt until all lumps are gone. Dump fruit on top, but don't stir in. Bake for 30-45 minutes, or until well browned on top. Serve hot with cold icecream (and maybe a drizzle of caramel syrup)!

Here are two of my munchkins helping their Uncle John bake a cake.

Sounds delicious right? Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of the cake, or us making it!
Maybe I'll come back and post one next time we bake it.

Made from what?

2008-10-14T12:48:00.001-07:00

I love listening to little children talk. It's pretty funny how they mispronounce words. For example, my parents told my daughter they were going to a church convention, and she told me she wanted to go on a church adventure.

She calls the Renaissance Festival the Renaissance Vegetable. (At first the called it the "vestibule"!)

Today, we watched a show about how wheat was ground into flour and made into breads. As she was eating her muffin at lunch, she proudly exclaimed, "Mom! This muffin is made from weed!"

I choked on my drink. As it dribbled out my nose, I asked, "It's made from what?"
"Weed!"
"Are you sure it's made from weed?" I queeried.
"Oh, I mean wheat," she corrected, emphasizing the T, as she looked at the package trying to read the ingredients.

I don't want her going around telling folks we serve muffins made with drugs, now!

Teach Your Child to Read!

2008-10-13T10:05:00.000-07:00

Did you know the English language is the largest language on earth? I have friends from other countries who had to learn English. All of them have told me that English was the most difficult language for them to learn (and some of them speak several languages). That is because our language has so many rules-- rules which break themselves far too often, plus words that sound alike but don't look alike along with words that look alike, but sound different.

Your children are probably already halfway there if they have a great vocabulary. It may take a while for them to read, but pressuring them doesn't help. The best thing we can do for our children is read to them often, DAILY, and hold meaningful conversations with them throughout the day to build their vocabularies and their love of reading.

One way to help your child get into reading is to give them small successes that spur them on to learn more. By teaching them six letters (over 3-6 weeks), they can get a taste for reading without knowing the whole alphabet! The best way to do this is to teach them a different letter each week. Instead of teaching them the name of the letter, teach the sound of the letter (phonics).

Try these six letters: B,C, H, S, T, and A. Instead of teaching them all the sounds of these letters, just teach the main, most common sound. (Remember, C sometimes sounds like an S, and A has quite a few sounds. There is no need to teach your child this yet.) The sound you will use for A is the same sound as in apple and cat.

Here's what one week might look like:
- Point out the letter B. Make the sound for letter B, not the name of it.
- Look through a book or magazine, or go on a walk and point out things that start with the B sound. You can even walk through your house pointing out these things. Call it a treasure hunt for the B sound!
- Have your child trace the letter B (written as large as a single piece of paper) with his or her finger.
- Write the letter B on a piece of paper (with or without lines) and have your child trace it with a pencil, then try to draw it himself. Don't worry about the size of his letter, just make sure he draws the letter in the right direction (most letters start at the top and go down) and is writing left to right. Do this daily.
- Keep talking about the sound it makes, and what words start with that sound or have that sound in it.

Each week, use a different letter, until you get to the letter A. With the letter A, you will talk about words like bat, cat, hat, mat, at, etc that have the letter A in it.

Now your child might be ready to read. Test the waters by writing out a short story like this. (Feel free to use this one):

CAT.
CAT HAS A HAT.
CAT HAS A BAT.
BAT CAT!

You might even want to draw (or cut out) some pictures of a cat with a baseball bat to make it more stimulating for your child. The stories do not need to be long (or even make a lot of sense). The point is your child can easily read these stories and will feel SO excited she can! This is a big accomplishment in her eyes and will have her eager to learn more.

If you don't already have a few Dr. Suess books, you may want to purchase or borrow a few. They're great starter books for new readers.

Lapbooking & Notebooking.

2008-10-12T13:34:00.000-07:00

I love lapbooking, even though we haven't done much of it lately. I need to buy more file folders and get back into it. I like notebooking too, at least, I think I do. I haven't had a chance to put it to use. (Okay, I've had many chances- I just haven't done it yet.)

I found a couple spare binders when I was cleaning out my closet and thought, "Hey, we should start notebooking."

I've notebooked as a kid- not realizing that's what I was doing (back then I didn't realize there was a name for it), but I haven't used this method on my children. I'm sure they'd love it.

Anywho, here are links on lapbooking and notebooking... and a picture of our one lapbooks creations.

I made this for the kids on Valentine's Day a while back to tell the message of the gospel! It's pretty basic, but has cards that come out of pockets, little books that fold out, etc.

http://www.squidoo.com/lapbooking
FREE lapbooks from Homeschool Share
http://lapbooklessons.ning.com/
Notebooking Pages
Notebook Learning
http://www.ignitethefire.com/fuel.html
http://www.homeschoolhelperonline.com/
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/

Links to Great Homeschooling Resources

2008-10-10T07:45:00.000-07:00

If you have a homeschooling site or blog and would like to trade links, please grab my icon (left side), post it on your site with a link to me, and then leave me a comment. You will then be added!

This page will be updated weekly.

Homeschool Laws

Homeschooling Support and Forums

The Homeschool Lounge

Homeschooling 'Zines, Articles, and Awards:

Heart of the Matter
Homeschooling Today
Homeschool Blog Awards
The Six-Lesson School Teacher (article about school system)
No thanks. We don't believe in socialization (article)

Free Resources:

TEACH-nology (lots of free curriculum/lesson plans)
Teach a Child to Read
The Garden of Praise
ABCteach
Smithsonian American Art Museum

I Know That (interactive/games)

Christian Preschool Printables

Kidspace at the Internet Public Library

Geography4Kids

Enchanted Learning (some things require paid memberships)
National Geographic for Kids

PBS Teachers' Learning Plans

Scholastic Inc

Interesting & Useful

StateMaster (State statistics and more, useful for comparisons)

Blogs

Home Educate in the Sunshine State
Luke's Sonlight Blog
An Untraditional Home
Christian Unschooling
Freely Educate

Homeschool ID Cards:

Some places offer discounts to teachers, but you'll need a teacher ID. You can make your own, or use these links to create one for you. I make IDs for friends, so.. if you're my friend, ask me! Remember, when making a ID, you'll need a decent photograph, just you, alone, with a solid background. Buy laminating sheets to protect your card.

Homeschool Buyers Co-op (looks like the card below)

Curriculum:

I use Sonlight for several reasons. First of all, we're not super structured, and I have no desire to be structured. I don't want to bring a strict school environment into my home. I want learning to be fun. Sonlight helps me teach my children the things they need to know, even providing me with a lesson plan, while being flexible and fun.

Secondly, I love to read. My children love to be read to. My daughter can't wait to read on her own. Sonlight is full of great books which teach children all sorts of things, without them even realizing them. I'm not talking about textbooks, I'm talking about real books, like The Boxcar Children. Some are old classics, and some are sure to be new favorites. There's a great variety.

If you are unschooling, but feel you want a bit of structure, or you are deschooling (coming out of a schooling environment), Sonlight would be a great assistance to you! Go to their website and get a free catalog delivered to your home!

It may seem pricy, but it's worth it, even if you can only buy a little bit of a time, or choose to purchase only one subject. (And, if you are going to be selective in your subjects, I recommend that you purchase the Core for the grade level you desire, which includes Readers, Read-Alouds, History.. and more! (The History part includes some really cool books!)

The best thing about Sonlight is it's reusable. Every year, I purchase the curriculum for my oldest child (daughter). My other children use it when they are ready! (For example, my son will use her Kindergarden curriculum next school year.) Plus, because Sonlight includes books to read-aloud, the whole family can listen in and participate- even Dad.

You can choose a four day plan or a five day plan. We have chosen to do the four day plan, which allows for even more flexiblity.

What were my twelve years of schooling for?

2008-10-10T07:31:00.000-07:00

It’s clear that people do not understand homeschooling at all. There are various methods to choose from, various ways of doing it. I’m sure some people who choose to homeschool their children are doing their child a disservice, but that’s not usually the case.

I believe the misunderstandings come from the name “home” schooling. People believe we stay at home, plop a book in front of our child, and try to teach them from our own knowledge. While this could work, it will only take you so far.

So how do you teach those tougher subjects? You get your child involved! Imax had an awesome film on the human body that is useful in teaching biology. It’s now available on DVD, I believe. You could also take your child on a tour of a pharmaceutical company or a hospital (Researching how and why a hospital makes a commitment to sterilization is very interesting- it was one of the subjects I chose to research when I was eleven. I was even able to go into the NICU and see the little babies!). You can talk to various doctors (many doctors will take the time to discuss what they do, why they do it, etc), research various conditions and diseases, and watch videos. You may want to have someone who has had cancer or another disease come speak to your children- then you can research exactly what cancer is, what is looks like, etc.
Why do people try to limit how we learn and who can teach? Maybe it’s because that’s what happened in our schools? Institutional schools are always “changing the rules”.

I have a question. Why did we go to 12 years of school (plus kindergarten)? Teachers always told us it was so we could have careers. So we could make something of ourselves. I cannot tell you how many times I heard, “You need to learn this because you’re going to use it later in life.”

So, it’s later in life! I’m using everything I learned to teach my children, PLUS other resources (people, places, things) available to me as well. How can it be that I’m NOT equipped to teach my children when I have already been taught all of the things I’m suppose to teach them?

I have found that the people who are so very against homeschool really don’t know anything about it. Maybe they have one or two examples of homeschooling gone bad and assume that’s how it all goes, but that’s not truth. In fact, top schools like Harvard and Yale love homeschoolers!

On the other hand, most homeschoolers have a very good idea of what instituational schools are like, which is why they’ve chosen to homeschool. So, before you go trashing it, maybe you should give it a whole-hearted try!

Homeschool Tips: A Mission Statement

2008-10-10T06:32:00.000-07:00

There probably isn't a single homeschooling family that hasn't been asked why they chose to homeschool. (Funny, I don't go around asking people why they chose to send their children to public school....) Fact is, when you do something different from the norm, you'll probably have your fair share of questions and criticism.

I have found it's helpful to make a homeschooling binder, not for curriculum, but filled with reminders of why you homeschool. There will likely be times when you feel discouraged or beaten down, so it's nice to have something to put it all back in perspective.

When you think about why you homeschool your children, a list of reasons probably pop into your mind. Take the time to write these reasons down, and explore each one in depth. There will be those who argue with you, and you'll feel better prepared to defend your rights if you have really solidified the reasons behind your choice. You'll be able to articulate exactly what you believe and feel, without getting flustered.

So, write a mission statement. Jot down what your homeschooling goals are. Write down what you want to avoid. Write down what is important to you. Go in depth.

Sometimes people ask me, "You don't want to shelter your children, do you? Don't you want them to be able to think for themselves?"

Well, let me talk about the first sentence first. What's wrong with sheltering my children? Why shouldn't I shelter my children? In fact, throwing my children out into the wild doesn't sound reasonable to me. It makes me cringe to think that people have fallen into the belief that we shouldn't shelter our children. Of course, there are people who take it overboard, but, I promise you, we don't choreograph our children's every move and thought. We don't stand over their shoulder all the time, breathing down their little necks.

There is nothing wrong with sheltering your children from the world. There is nothing wrong with desiring to protect them from filthy mouths and filthy minds. Little ones are like little sponges. They soak up everything. As parents, we need to be the filter, because they don't have one. I've received criticism for that, but, I'm sorry (not really), I don't want my children learning about sex at the underripe age of five, or being pressured into it at the age of twelve. Schools are poisoned with sexual misconduct, but parents and teachers have taken the ostrich approach (head in the sand). How can I raise children to be pure and chaste if, from a young age, they spend most of their time with people who don't care about preserving their innocence and encouraging purity?

I'm also told that I'm brainwashing my children by focusing on the bible. Therefore, according to this non-logic, anyone who raises their children "in the way of the Lord" as the bible directs is brainwashing. If that's the case, I think everyone could use a little brain washing using God's word as soap!

There are loads of things out there that could "brainwash" our children. Television is one of them, yet most people have no problem allowing their children to sit in front of the boob tube for hours on end. I know people who allow their toddlers to watch Family Guy, a cartoon filled with adult material and clearly marked for adults. (Although, I don't think anyone, even an adult, should watch it). Do they not realize or care that their children are soaking up the behavior they see displayed on television shows? You can't say one thing ("This is bad, Junior!") and then allow them to watch the behavior or take part in it as you all laugh.

I saw this plain and clear when my daughter became obsessed with Hannah Montana. I walked in the room to find her doing some sort of dance which involved grinding her hips and singing with a raspy, "sexy" voice, and I nearly had a heart attack. I thought the Disney Channel was for children, but it is sending forth a message that I don't care for.

For one, it's teaching my daughter to move her body in a way that's not becoming of a little girl (or a grown woman). Secondly, the show was teaching her how to be a drama queen. Check out some of the shows geared towards girls. There's a lot of fluttering about, emotional mumbo jumbo, and diva-like behavior.

We canceled cable.

My point again: There are loads of things out there to "brainwash" our children. What brainwash really means in these cases is influence. What do you want to be the biggest influence in your children's lives? A stranger? Another child? You? The people your children are around the most will influence them the most.

Of course people will have questions about (ugh) socialization, a subject most homeschoolers think is absolutely ridiculous (as if public school is the only place to receive socialization). Personally, I perfer healthy socialization with people who are kid, respect other's space and beliefs, and whose speech is encouraging and uplifting.

If you would like to read one of our mission statements (sort of), you can click here:

Why We Chose to Shelter Our Children

Now, back to the original question. "You don't want to shelter your children, do you? Don't you want them to be able to think for themselves?"

Obviously, I do want to shelter my children. Again, you can read more about that in my mission statement (linked above). Do I want them to be able to think for themselves? Of course I do? Sheltering children does not mean I forbid them to think for themselves. If anything, throwing them out into the world ensures that they will not think for themselves. They will be told by their peers what is cool. Their peers will define who they are. Their peers will tell them what to think. My job, as a parent, is to bring out the best in my child and to help them use their talents and gifts for God's purpose. In short, my job is to help them become the person God made them to be.

Our children are not birds. We don't have to throw them out of the nest to teach them how to fly. We can teach them how to fly within the boundaries of our home. We can teach them how to be responsible. We can teach them how to be confident and strong in their identity because their identity is in Christ. And because their identity is in Christ, they won't feel as tempted to bend to the pressures of peers and society.

So, I've rambled on, but this shows you the importance of really thinking about the questions you have been or may be asked, and to really get deep down into the reasons why you are homeschooling. Of course, there are other reasons that aren't so deep, like, "It's just plain fun!"

What are some of your reasons for homeschooling?

Inexpensive Resource: Beads

2008-10-08T08:49:00.000-07:00

Beads: Small but Mighty!

Curriculum can get expensive, and some people cannot afford to buy fancy lessons with fancy pieces, but here's a simple item that can teach many things! Beads!

Of course, children who still have a tendency to put things in their mouths should not play with beads, but you know when your child is ready. (And, word to the wise, you might want to make sure your three-year-old doesn't shove them up his nose... not that we had that happen.... or, um.. anything.)

A bag of beads is pretty cheap, but have so many uses. First of all, the obvious. Beads are great for sorting colors. Give your child a handful of beads and ask him to sort it out. Don't tell him how to sort him out, though. See what creative way he comes up with.

Don't be too much of an adult that you don't take the time to join in the fun. I usually participate in most of my children's activities as well. While he's sorting his beads, you can be sorting a pile of your own. Maybe he'll pay attention and copy you, maybe not. After a while, ask him how he's sorting his beads, and then explain how you are sorting yours (by color). Ask him, "What is your favorite color bead?"

Beads can also be used to make letters and shapes. Take a piece of paper and draw the letter your child is learning on it (big enough, but not too big that you won't have enough beads to "trace it" with). Have your child trace her finger over the letter, and then place the beads along the lines of the letter.

Use the beads to form pictures, maybe yellow beads to shape a sun, blue beads to shape clouds, green beads for grass and so on. If you just let your child use her imagination (no directing and correcting every little thing) as she plays with the beads, she'll probably come up with some cool ideas.

Give your child a string (a shoelace or piece of yarn works) to thread the beads on. This takes quite a big of coordination! Some children will naturally make a pattern, some will not.

Beads are great to use for math as well. This gives them a visual as you add and subtract beads. There are so many different ways to use beads. The possibilities are endless! Try coming up with your own ideas (maybe even a game) using beads.... and let me know what they are!

DIY Comic Books

2008-10-07T11:54:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid, I loved comic books. It was likely a passion inherited from my dad, who was really into them as well. My brother and I use to make comic books of our own on lazy afternoons. You can do this too, even if your child does not know how to read or write, or draw, for that matter!

You'll need several things. If you want to make smaller books, you'll need scissors or a paper cutter. You'll also need a stapler, and, of course, paper.

Trim sheets so they are all the same size. Make sure they are stacked up well, and fold them group of sheets in half. There are several ways to staple your book.

One way is to fold your book and staple it in the folded position. This is the easiest way bind larger books.

If you are making smaller books, fold your book, then open it back up. Then slide your stapler to the folded line and staple along the line. I show both examples on the picture above.

Making books is a great way to recycle paper. You can use paper bags, pieces of junk mail, even magazines! Just make sure the sheets are all trimmed the same size.

Now the real fun begins! Drawing!

For my three-year-old, I asked him to tell me a story about himself. I wrote down exactly what he told me, and drew pictures for him to color. In his story, he was a ninja (with a mask) who kicked bad guys and helped people up when they had been pushed down. I left a few pages blank at the back for him to continue his story. (However, at this point, he rarely draws anything recognizable.)

Merikalyn loves to draw, and her pictures are usually recognizable. She drew a story about being a princess that turned into a mermaid. When she was done, she told me the story, and I wrote it down so she could trace over my words.

And hey, Mom, get involved too. You can see my little book (The Evolution of Mom) in the following post!

And if you're the dog, then you just watch. (And if you're the dog, then why are you reading this?)

DIY Comic Books: The Evolution of Mom

2008-10-07T10:12:00.000-07:00

by Mandy Mom

Evolution of a mom as seen through the drawings of a child.
(actually, I drew the photos, but they are based on real drawings of my
children's and my own as I aged.)

In the beginning, all mothers had arms formed in place of their ears. Also, mothers seemed to be in a constant frown. (Doesn't this remind you of a two-eyed version of Mike Wazowski from Monsters Inc?)

Over time, mothers evolved, and even gained hair, duck-like mouths, and well, bodies, as their arms moved down.

Scientists aren't sure when mothers began to take on the form they have today.

Eventually, mothers finally gained a sense of style.

Which leads to the mother specifies as she exists today. A word to the wise. It might not be a good idea to encourage your child's artistic abilities by signing him or her up for an art class in, say, Characatures, because you might end up with an exaggerated version of mom you don't care for.

The End.

(Thank you for checking out my doodles. Please realize that these are merely doodles and do not represent my true artistic ability. Ha!)

The Boxcar Children Activities (one)

2008-10-03T12:23:00.001-07:00

We're currently reading The Boxcar Children, a multigenerational favorite, by Gertrude Chandler Warner. I love a good book, and our curriculum is heavy with reading, so you'll find a lot of activities centered on specific books here at TPM.

We just finished the first four chapters of this book (so many good memories of my youth tied to this series), and I was aching for a cool little project to get the munchkins into. After sitting still for so long, they were eager to do something hands-on.

Today, we're building a Boxcar out of a box (coincidently, it's one of the boxes I received my curriculum in).

Here's how you can make one of your own:

Find a box. It can be a shoe box or a refrigerator box. Size doesn't matter. Paint or color it red. Have your children draw 4 children (2 girls, 2 boys) that will fit inside the box. (Little dolls will do as well, if you'd rather do that instead.) Have them act out scenes from the chapters you've already read.

As you progress in the book, the children can make other things, like the beds made out of pine needles (you could use raffia instead). Look ahead in the book and buy or make some of the foods the Boxcar Children eat (like milk, blueberries, fresh bread). Allow your children to taste the same foods the Boxcar Children are eating. It really gets them in the "spirit" of the book.

Reading books gives us a chance to have some wonderful conversations with our children. Discussing chapters afterwards helps children articulate and build their vocabulary and learn to tell stories. Garden of Praise has some great free educational resources, including comprehension pages that help further discussions on The Boxcar Children book.

Click HERE to go to the website.

Days of the Week: Praise Him!

2008-10-01T12:15:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid, we use to sing a song about grumblers who "Grumbled all week long". Mom use to play it on the piano, and my brother and I would belt it out beside her. Here's a video of some people singing part of it on YouTube. (It's quite funny, really.)

Anyway, I always think of this song when telling the kids what's going on during the week as we go through each day. So, I changed the song (but kept the chorus tune) to teach them the days of the week.

Praise God All Week Long!

Praise Him Sunday, Monday, Tuesday. Praise Him Wednesday too!
Praise Him Thursday, Friday Saturday- Praise Him the Whole Week through!

The Grumbling song starts with Monday, but I wanted to teach the kids the days of the week in the same order as they are on the calendar. Our Praise God song is a hit. It's easy to memorize, and fun to sing!

Piñatas!

2008-05-03T16:13:00.000-07:00

My daughter’s birthday falls on this Mexican holiday, so we celebrate “it”, in a sense. Her birthday parties usually have a special Spanish flair to them, as we combine the celebration of her years with the remembrance of the victory of the Mexican Army over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Some people believe Cinco de Mayo is the celebration of Mexico’s independence, which actually took place in September 1810. Cinco de Mayo marks a David and Goliath type battle in which an ill-equipped Mexican army, made up of Mestizo and Zapotec Indians, defeated the sophisticated, well-trained French army.

Mexican history is very interesting to me, maybe because it’s woven into my own history as a Texan. This time of year, I love to introduce new aspects of Mexican culture to my children as I teach them about this special holiday.

Growing up, I had quite a few Mexican friends. On the bus ride home, a friend of mine would share tasty Mexican treats with me, like fruity suckers covered with chili powder. Her grandmother would stuff me full of homemade tortillas, which I later learned to make with the help of a boyfriend’s mother.

In highschool, I learned to make piñatas (without a balloon), and this year, I plan on passing this down to my children.

First, you have to make a papier-mache paste. There are loads of recipes available on the internet, most of which use just water and flour. Google “papier-mache paste” and find one that suits you. Some pastes require boiling, some don’t.

You’ll need lots of newspaper. Loads of it. I like to wad up the newspaper to make forms (like a head, or a body, or even a star). You can use masking tape to hold the form together. If you plan on using this as a piñata, then you’ll need a hallow part to add candy. You can do this in the back or at the bottom. Once you’ve created the form you like, you’ll need to cover it with newspaper strips (1-2 inches wide, 4-8 inches long). When you’ve finished covering it, you need to let it dry.

Once dried, you can either paint it or cover it with tissue paper (or both). Decorate and design to your heart’s content! This is a great art project to make statues as well!