Where have I been??

Well, busy to say the least. Since Easter we have been working to get back into school and co-op. Everything is going really well as far as they go. We are moving along with our Moon Unit and Tennessee Unit.

In other areas we have not been having the same success. What we thought was a water spill by Poogie ended up being roof and structural damage to our home from the strong winds that we had from those bad storms in Feb. Seems they have done more damage than we thought. So we had to call the insurance company and now we have to work with them to get it all fixed. This process would be easier if my hubby could be here more often. We will just have to work through it. I just hope the work can be completed in the next few weeks so that we can get our new carpeting in our bedrooms as scheduled.

I have been working on feeling better and looking better. I started my own diet using the Sparkpeople website a few weeks ago. It went well but it was really hard to track and eating out was a nightmare. So I finally gave in and joined Weight Watchers online and started it last week. So far it has been great and at my first weight in today I lost 4 pounds! I don't really feel like I am on a diet, just eating healthier.

The initial sign up was expensive but he online trackers are really easy to use. I am hoping to loose another 20 pounds. I am excited to get back into some of my favorite jeans.

Happy Easter!

Yes, Happy Easter everyone. We have had a very busy Easter weekend. The weather has been nice, a little chilly but nice.

The kids started today early due to their curiosity of what the Easter Bunny had left them. They were very happy with the contents of their baskets. So we decided to head outside to play a little catch and baseball together. I have to say I got quite the workout.

I cheated this year for Easter dinner. We decided to get Corky's BBQ. It did not help my diet but was enjoyed by everyone. And I got to play with Moon Sand with the kids instead of washing dishes!

Now it is back to school, the Y and everyday life!

Hump Day!!

Thank goodness hump day, otherwise known as Wednesday is almost over! It has been a long, long, long day.

In fact it feels like today started yesterday!? To begin with my mom offered to keep my youngins so that I could go to my homeschool mom's night out meeting. It was kind of last minute but I decided to go.

I get to town and the storms start to move into our area. My mom isn't too comfortable being alone with the kids during storms and I don't like to leave them. So I decide just to eat with my group and then leave because the storms weren't suppose to move in until after midnight.

That was easier said than done. We meet at 6:30. Our meeting room wasn't ready for us, another group was in there. So we finally get seated after 7 then others want to wait on some of the ladies coming late. I had to go ahead and order because I wanted to leave by 8. I got my food and ate before most of the ladies even ordered. So I left and was home by 8:30. What a night out!

At home I stayed up and watched the weather until about 12:30 a.m. Then at 1 o'clock my weather radio goes off and we are under a severe thunderstrorm warning until 2:30. After that I get the kids back down to sleep about 2:45 and try to get some sleep. Problem is once I am woke up I have a hard time going back to sleep. I finally dozed off about 4. Not a fun night.

Then today I went to do my Easter shopping and a little shopping for myself. I broke down and got some good skin care for my skin and some of my Bare Minerals makeup and stuff. It was fun but the weather was cold, windy and wet. I am ready for spring!

Planning for next school year

Yes, I am already thinking about next year. I waited to purchase everything this year until right before school started and I don't want to do that again.

I want the summer to look over, plan and get a good idea of what I want to accomplish next year. I was thinking of doing a complete curriculum for each child to take some of the stress away of planning everything, but it just doesn't fit my kids. So I am piecing together a curriculum again. I have to say I am happier with my choices this year.

I desperately wanted to do a more Charlotte Mason approach but it just doesn't fit TT at all. So we will incorporate some of her ideas and such in our school but we will not me totally CM.

Anyway this is what I have decided for each child for next year thus far. Caution these selections can change at anytime based on my current whim, but these are selections I have researched and feel comfortable with.

For TT:

Reading-Bob Jones Grade 6

English-Easy Grammar & Editor in Chief

Spelling-Bob Jones Grade 6

Writing-Wordsmith Apprentice

Vocabulary-Word Wise 3000 Bk 6

Math-Math U See Epsilon

Geography-Christian Liberty Press Grade 6

Handwriting-Bob Jones

Soc. Studies-Prairie Primer or Bob Jones

Science- Bob Jones or Unit Studies


Poogie-

Reading-Bob Jones Grade 1

Language Arts-Bob Jones Grade 1

Spelling-Bob Jones Grade 1

Math- Math U See Alpha

Handwriting-Bob Jones Grade 1

Social Studies-Prairie Primer with TT or Bob Jones

Science-Unit studies and Lapbooks from Hands of a Child


Both-
Art Appreciation-Great Artists (This may be part of co-op)
Mango Languages for Foreign Language
Monthly composer study of Great Composers


So there it is. I am hopeful that I am able to purchase most of this before May ends and get to my planning stages. I have already picked out the first few science units, the human body and weather so I can purchase the lapbook kits and get my resources up for them.

I chose Prairie Primer for several reasons. First, my kids love the Little House books. Second, TT will be getting to the age where he won't be interested in reading these books, so I want to do them now. Finally, you can do so much with the whole Westward Expansion/Pioneer subject matter that we are sure to have a lot of fun.

But I am still thinking of using Bob Jones for science and history just for the ease of having everything I need right there. It is something I am still deliberating.

Finally, I chose the Bob Jones curriculum based on reviews I have read, personal recommendations, my opinion after viewing them at curriculum fairs and my comfort in teaching from books set up for the classroom. I like having all the various ideas of how to teach the lesson and the teacher's editions are said to offer a lot. Too much for some, but even in the classroom I had to pick and choose what to use and what to not. I want more structure for reading, writing (language arts) and math and I believe BJ will offer that.

Well, I must take a cat nap. My monthly mom's night out is tonight and I don't want to loose steam at 8 o'clock. TTFN

Check this out!

We are history nuts in this family as you might have noticed from our 2 month long unit we did on the Revolutionary War. Last night we viewed the first two parts of the miniseries, John Adams on HBO.





I have been eagerly awaiting this series. I have always wanted to ready David McCullough book which the series is based on but have never gotten the chance. Just let me say it was exceptional. I figured only TT and I would watch it since we love this kind of stuff. But, everyone including my hubby and Poogie ended up watching it.



It was so cool to be there and see what the men went through during the Second Continental Congress. It was like you were right there. The story in the first two parts begins with the Boston Massacre and went through the Declaration of Independence. The acting was superb. If you have HBO I highly recommend you check it out next Sunday night. They will replay the first two parts sometime this week.



If you don't have HBO definitely rent this one when it is available on DVD.

Weekly update!

Hello all! We made it through our first week of YMCA co-op and it was a blast. I had to make adjustments to our Tuesday-Thursday school schedule for the co-op but all turned out well.

In school we started our new unit on the moon. We decorated our lapbooks, and did our first activity, vocabulary. We also began our Tennessee unit for history. It all has started slow but I hope to pick it up next week.

The YMCA program has been a God send. The kids love the activities and the group of kids are great. TT and Poogie have been welcomed into the fold and have really enjoyed it.

Poogie gave me the greatest surprise of the week. She had become a good swimmer in our little 4 foot pool we had at home last summer, but she wasn't too keen on deep water in other pools. I was happy the Y offered a swim class for both of my kids (TT can't swim very well either). The teacher they have is wonderful and Poogie loves him. Well, anywho I am sitting in the pool area watching her swim and the next thing I know she is lined up with some of the other kids who had been there before and were pretty good swimmers, to jump off into the 10 ft deep end and swim one-third of the pool to a fun noodle. I never thought Poogie would do it. Low and behold she did! And did it well. She jumped in and swam like nobody's business. Her teacher was there to assist if needed but never had to touch her. I was proud, scared and overwhelmed all at the same time.

TT has also surprised me. He is usually very shy and takes forever to really find a friend or someone to hang with. But not with this group. He is right in there and has become part of the group quite quickly.

I believe this lack of shyness has come about due to the return of his self-confidence. He tends to talk more in public to others and to people of many different age groups. I believe homeschooling has allowed him to become comfortable and confident in conversing with people of all ages, not just those of his age group like he would in school.

One more thing that was nice about this week was the lack of conflict and attitude amongst the children. Now, don't get me wrong I know that homeschoolers are not perfect, yet I must say that they tend to be less confrontational and more open to accepting others. We have tried several activities with ps kids and it has all ended badly thus far.

After a long park day today I am in need of a lot of rest and time to regroup for next week. No co-op due to spring break, we however will continue with our studies. Until later.

Good Start to the Week

We had a good start to the week as far as school goes. We completed all our assignments today and even went to the library to get books to go with our moon unit. I posted them on my moon unit blog.

The kids are really excited that their YMCA co-op starts tomorrow. I hope it goes as well as our visiting day did. I am going to take pics and post them when we get home.

We also enjoyed this crazy weather. Today it was in the mid 60's. The warm weather melted the last of the snow on the ground, but it was nice while it was here. The snow I mean. I miss snow so much. Oh, well.

We have SNOW!

At our house that is a big deal. What was great is that it was actual accumulation. We got about 4 inches of the white stuff. My hubby was up and had the kids outside by 8 a.m. this morning to play before it melted away. Everyone had a blast including Buffy, she loved it.

Buffy enjoyed the snow so much. She romped, played and fell in a few holes that went over her head but she loved it anyway.

TT and Poogie loved the sled. They liked riding behind the 4 wheeler and riding them in the snow.

I am still working on our new unit studies for science and history. I plan on posting the units as soon as I complete them. Until tomorrow.

Moon Unit

We are going to be studying the moon and stars this month. We will start the month studying the moon. I bought a lapbook unit from Hands of a Child and will be using it along with a science activity book by Teacher Created Resources of Stars and Planets to complete the unit.

TT and Poogie will each do a lapbook. Poogies will be a more simplified version of TT's but they will both study the same aspects of the moon.

Lesson 1- Create Lapbooks.

We will create lapbooks and make a cover for front of book.

Lesson 2-Vocabulary and Moon Facts

TT- Do Vocabulary book for lapbook.
Do Moon Fact book for lap book.

Use these sites for info.

NASA Kids club: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/kidsclub/flash/index.html
Has a dictionary for terms.

Total moon info page: http://home.hiwaay.net/~krcool/Astro/moon/

Poogie will draw pictures on her vocabulary book for lapbook.



Lesson 3- Moon Mass

TT and Poogie will complete moon mass activity for lapbook.

They will use this site to calculate what their weight would be on the moon.
Calculate your weight on the moon page: http://home.hiwaay.net/~krcool/Astro/moon/


Lesson 4-Moon Phases

I will demonstrate the moon phases using activity in Teacher Created Resources book Stars & Planets pages 12-13

We will view moon phases online at: http://www.netaxs.com/mhmyers/moon.tn.html

Then we will use moon phase cards I made using TCR book Stars & Planets page 14.

TT and Poogie will then make their moon phase book for their lapbook.

TT will be given a sheet copied from TCR book to start a moon phase journal.


Lesson 4- Continued-Moon phases

TT and Poogie will review moon phases using moon phase cards.

They will then make a flip book to view the actual movement and changes in the moon.
The book is from the TCR book pages 16-19.


Lesson 5-Eclipses

We will discuss what eclipses are and view different kinds at

http://www.netaxs.com/mhmyers/moon.tn.html

Lesson 6-Moonlight

TT and Poogie will complete moonlight book for lapbook.

Lesson 7-Layers of the Moon

TT and Poogie will complete the lapbook activity.

Lesson 8-Surface of the Moon

We will view photos of the moon and identify various physical features, namely creators using these sites

Tons of photos of the moon and landing on the moon: http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/imgcat/thumbnail_pages/moon_thumbnails.html

Layers and features of the moon: Internet Encyclopedia of Science http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/M/Moon.html

They will then complete lapbook activity in which they will color and identify the four inner layers of the moon.

Book List:

Poogie-

When You Look Up at the Moon by Allan Fowler

What is the Full Moon Full Of? by Shulamith Levey Oppenheim

TT-

The Moon by Isaac Asimov

Science Adventures: The Moon by Helen H Carey and Judith E. Greenberg

Both-

The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System by Joanna Cole

Does the Moon Change Shape? by Meish Goldish

Movies and DVDs:

Apollo 13

From the Earth to the Moon Disc 3

To be continued...

What a beautiful weekend!

The last two days would make you think that spring is actually here. It has been sunny and the temps have been in the low 70's. But, according to the weather man that was just a little tease from Mother Nature. We enjoyed it any way.

Saturday we spent in town purchasing the kids some new tennis shoes for the YMCA co-op. They were both in need of some new ones. Ouch, I tell you they can get quite expensive. Both were able to find a pair they liked at a local chain shoe store for buy one get one half off. Thank goodness. TT has funny feet and we have to be really choosy what kind if shoes he wears, but he found some that he liked and were good for his feet.

We also bought Poogie a new swim suit for her swim lessons. Man, it was an ordeal. She is so opinionated about what she wears and she is only 6! But we found a very reasonable one at Target, (a one piece which I required for the Y). She has a two piece from last year but I wanted a more conservative one for class.

We then decided to try a new place to eat, Red Robin. The kids had been beggin to go since it opened but I had heard it was quite expensive for just a burger joint. However, it wasn't any more expensive than any other places like that (TGIF, Olive Garden, etc.) And can I just say WOW! I got a Southwestern type burger with Swiss cheese, bacon, and guacamole. It was huge and delicious. All of us loved the burgers and Poogie got spaghetti which she loved.

We spent today outside. The kids rode 4 wheelers and played. I was suppose to be doing lesson plans, and I did some. But I am just getting tired of the workbook stuff and I think my kids are too. I am going to still do math, English and writing from our books but I think we are going to try some unit studies in Social Studies and Science. I already have the moon and stars for March and butterflies and life cycles of animals for April. I purchased a lapbook plan from Hands of a Child for butterflies and I am ordering a butterfly garden kit to hatch our own butterflies. We are also going to plant a butterfly garden in our front flower bed.

For Moon and Stars I purchased a book from the local teachers store for a unit study. Plus, I have a game about the constellations, plan to purchase a telescope, take a trip to the planetarium, and do a lot of star gazing.

I also want to tie in some biographies into this unit for history and social studies. As I get everything together I will post it.

Oh, we are also trying our hands at gardening this year. Poogie and I purchased some seeds to start in the house. We then plan to garden in the square foot gardening method using raised beds. Those that I know that use this method have been very successful, even if they don't have a green thumb, which I do not.