Visit Barb Over at the Handbook of Nature Study

http://handbookofnaturestudy.blogspot.com/2010/01/winter-series-of-outdoor-hour.html

Please visit Barb over at the Handbook of Nature Study. Barb pours a lot of time and love into her blog, and she is a true Charlotte Mason of the 21st century. While over there, you will notice she has some lovely eBooks for sale, which can enhance your homeschooling over these chilly winter months! And if you leave her a comment on her page, you will be entered to win one of her lovely new eBooks!

Happy New Year...and Prizes??? Oh my!!!

Happy 2010, my dear friends, readers, family, etc. !! It has been too long since I last posted about any homeschool or family events. The holidays consume so much time, but that's okay because the time consumed is well worth the fond memories made. :o)

More about those memories made in a future post. I must get the first day of school, 2010 started ASAP!!!

While you're taking a break, please hop on over to the new and improved, The Homeschool Classroom, at http://hsclassroom.net and check out their new website and enter to win some awesome prizes!!! Prizes include items from Math-U-See, Winter Promise, Nintendo, and more!!

Until next post, be productive, happy, joyful, and living in a way that's pleasing to our Lord. :o)

When Mom is Feeling Yucky

I suspect there isn't one homeschooling mom who is ALWAYS healthy and feeling super every day! Well, fall is here and so is the flu and other yucky junk. Yes, I have some junk...probably just a sinus infection, but it's taking forever to get over. As one who doesn't tun to the doc to get meds, it sometimes takes me a bit longer to get back to normal the "natural" way.

With that said, I have NO motivation. I don't want to school the boys; I just want to lounge and do NOTHING!!! But I have pressed myself to carry on since we took over almost 2 weeks in September due to moving and vacation. Time off=guilt. You ever feel that way? That is you aren't schooling your children at home in your own traditional way that you've somehow fallen short on your duty as a teacher? That's me right now!

Josh told me yesterday that teachers get sick too and take time off. Hum...hubby's are smart, aren't they?

Anyway, for any of you moms out there that feel guilty when you take time off or are sick...don't. And I will keep trying to tell myself that!

Until next time, smile and be blessed! I have a ton of pics and updates, but not time to post on that.

Pictures Say It All

Nothing much to write, as I am super tired and need to go to bed!! Just wanted to share some pictures of Ethan diligently working on some verse copy work. Ethan LOVES handwriting and copy work, and is really enjoying each Proverb we learn each week. :o) Just in case you are just joining in on our homeschool adventure, we are using My Father's World for our main curriculum (language arts, Bible, science, reading). We will be adding in KONOS in the next month or so to "spice up" our home school adventures. We are also currently using Math U See, which I can't say enough positive things about!! Ethan dearly loves his Math time!

Gilcrease Orchard Nature Study

The boys and I headed off this morning with plans to visit the Gilcrease Orchard here in Las Vegas. We were going with the intentions of observing pumpkin plants and sketching them. However, this year they have fenced off the pumpkin area (it wasn't accessible whatsoever) due to vandalism and such. However, we were blessed to find zucchini squash!! Zucchini and pumpkin are from the gourd family, so upon a quick glance, the two can be mistaken. Ethan and Evan were satisfied with their discovery of the zucchini, and it led to a teaching opportunity. Ethan sketched his first sketch in his nature journal--of this very squash blossom. Both Ethan and Evan picked their first zucchini! Momma loves zucchini!

We also discovered many beautiful okra plants! I didn't remember what an okra plant looked like (it's been over 20 years since I lived on a farm), and much to my surprise, it's a beautiful plant with gorgeous off-white blossoms with a violet center! We of course had to pick some okra too. We went on to pick some tiny tomatoes, apples, and dissect Indian Corn (Maize) plants.

I believe that Miss Charlotte Mason (please do a google on her, and I'll write more on her later) was an intelligent lady who really knew the heart of a child. I thank God for her writings and inspirations on education. Miss Mason's thoughts on Nature Walks and Journals are, in my opinion, the best way to teach a child about science and the world around him.

A Homeschool Mom's Best Friend

Well, besides the love, strength, forgiveness, loyalty, grace and much more that Christ provides...I found a great new friend!!! You will laugh, because it's not a living thing. Yet it IS tangible. Introducing..........The Home Schooler's Journal.

This nifty spiral bound, soft cover book was purchased on www.christianbook.com for just $9.99. I read stellar reviews about this item from other purchaser's. I can tell you I use this everyday that we have school in session in our home. I record diligently what subjects were covered in detail, home much time was spent, etc. There are great calendars in the front of the book that help you plan out your year. I used a highlighting system to designate school days from holidays/no school days.

Like I've said before, this is my first year schooling my boys at home, and I have found this journal to be easy to use, yet thorough it what it offers. It's easily customizable to your particular needs. For my lesson plan book, I picked up a $1.00 book from the Target Dollar Spot section...whoohoo!!! It's great and a lot cheaper than other lesson planners you find at teacher supply stores.

First Day of School 2009

Our first day of school was officially 10 Aug 09. We started early (well, if you are counting when public school begins) because...we can! Ethan was eager to learn, and mommy needed to just ditch the cold feet and hit the ground runnin'!!!

Well, I am posting two weeks later...sorry about that, but SCHOOL comes first nowadays! Our first week was such a blessing, and it's amazing how much the boys have learned already. Ethan's reading and mathematics skills are coming along quite nicely. :o)

Pictures of the boys: Ethan using his Math U See Manipulatives for the first time! Evan diligently making his peanut but

ter and apricot spread sandwich! Yes, the boys try to make their own lunches. It's life skills, a.k.a Home Economics!! WOW, isn't homeschooling grand?