tractors and tire swings

Monday, January 2, 2012

The Learning of Language

Reading/Grammar

For the past two years, we have re-vamped our homeschool in January. Last school year it took me until then to find the Language Arts curriculum. We muddled through fall and began in January with Ordinary Parent's Guide to Reading and First Language Lessons. We loved it. And though we were then a bit behind, I pushed through and covered a good bit in the rest of the school term we had. Because we started mid-year we did not complete the curriculum by our summer break. Picking back up in August we are still working our way through some of the lessons. We should finish by the end of February and be ready for First Language Lessons 2 on March 1. I will be pushing them to complete FLL 2 by August so we will be ready for FLL 3 for the new school year.

Writing

What I didn't realize was that I needed to also begin Writing With Ease. So that is on our schedule to begin this month. We'll be a little behind with that but we will strive to catch up.

Handwriting

Ugh. Handwriting is the thorn in my flesh of homeschooling. Both hubby and I have terrible handwriting and our boys both struggle with it as well. We've run the gamete on handwriting curriculum but I think we have decided on Getty-Dubay's Italic Handwriting. We are starting that this month too. I decided on it back in November but didn't want to start it before the holidays.

Today (and each Monday in January) I am linking up with the Virtual Curriculum Fair hosted by Homeschooling Hearts and Minds. This week's theme is Playing with Words: the Language Arts.

Be sure to check out the other participants in the Virtual Curriculum Fair!

Reading on Time by Cindy Horton @ Fenced in Family

Playing with Words: the Language Arts by Christa
Darr @ Fairfield Corner Academy

Reading and Beyond: Language Arts in Our Homeschool by Laura O in AK @ Day by Day in Our World

Language Arts that Work for Us by Melissa @ Grace Christian School

Learning Language at Our House by Jessica @ Modest Mama

Virtual Curriculum Fair: Language Arts by Christine T. @ Our Homeschool
Reviews

The Learning of Language by Dawn @ tractors & tire swings

Reading and Spelling: Modifying the Magic by Pam @ Pam and Everyday
Snapshots

An In Depth Look at All About Spelling by Missouri Mama @ Ozark
Ramblings

Virtual Curriculum Fair: Let's Talk About Words by Debra @ Footprints in the Butter

Why We Love Classical Conversations Essentials (and how I know that is not a complete sentence!) by Nicole @ Schooling in the Sun

Virtual
Curriculum Fair---Playing with Words: the Language Arts by Angie @ Petra School

Whole Language vs. Phonics by Christine @ Crunchy Country Catholic

It's All About the Art of Language by Brenda Emmett @ Garden of Learning

Watching Movies for Language Arts Class by Debbie @ Debbie's Digest

Only 5 Spelling Tests a Year! (Can we do that?) by LP @ justpitchingmytent

Playing
with Words by Chrissy @ Learning is an Adventure

Language Art at Our House by Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory

Virtual Curriculum Fair Week One Playing with Words: the Language Arts by
Leah Courtney @ The Courtney Six Homeschool Blog

Playing with Words, the Language Arts by Cindy @ For One Another

Heart of Dakota- The Fine Details part 1- Language Arts by Lynn @
Ladybug Chronicles

TOS Review: REAL Homeschool Spanish

Spanish. We need it in America. (That is a funny sentence, but it is actually very true.)

I took French in high school because I thought it was a prettier language. It was fun, but not very useful. (Although I did use my French just once while I was in Amsterdam on my way to Germany 17 years ago. I attempted to order from a menu and was able to determine a few things I did not want. But other than that, well, not so much.) Spanish, however, is quite a useful language both in America and abroad.

TOS Review: Vintage Remedies

My friends and family think I'm weird. It started five years ago when we began treating Music Man's ADHD with diet instead of medicine. We took artificial flavors and colors out of our diet and began eating differently than most of those around us. It took some getting used to but we soon adjusted and we are so much healthier for it. As my kids got older they began questioning some of the decisions I make related to our eating habits. It was challenging when we would visit family and friends who still ate what we called "bad food."

Enter Vintage Remedies for Guys.

TOS Review: I See Cards Fractazmic

We love games around here. Card games are probably one of our favorite types of games! And learning, well, yeah, we love that too. (Seriously!)

Fractazmic is a fractions card game. The game play reminds me of Gin Rummy. Instead of a group of cards in laid out in ascending order, in Fractazmic the object is to add the different fractions up to make a whole, or "1."

There are three colors of cards (or suits) and these adorable cartoon pictures that help kids see the fraction in their head. My boys thrive on seeing how math works. Fractazmic is a great hands-on activity that shows how the part of a whole fits together without the mess of cooking (which is how we usually work with fractions!)

What's It Gonna Cost Me?
$6.95

Other Products
Pyromath (I reviewed Pyromath in 2010.)
Prime Bomb
I See Cards (A car game that also teaches Spanish!)

Check It Out
The online versions of Fractazmic and Pyromath are available on the I See Cards website. Play for your chance to win your own deck!

Final Word
This is a great game for learning, but don't expect your kids to want to play this on game night. It is a nice change from our regular math routine and definitely teaches.

Legal Disclaimer: As a member of the TOS Crew, I received Fractazmic free of charge from I See Cards for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.

Monday, December 5, 2011

FFH One Silent Night Winner!

Congratulations, Karen D! Be watching your email for a download link for 'One Silent Night!'

I love Christmas music!

Karen D

November 16, 2011 4:38 PM

TOS Review: Artistic Pursuits Book 1

I first heard of Artistic Pursuits last year but since we were so young in our homeschool did not look into it very much. When given the opportunity to review it this year, I jumped at the chance. I chose Book 1 since my kids are early elementary.

Book 1 is a great place to start. With 32 lessons, it is very do-able to get through in a school year. It is designed to introduce art history as well as a hands-on art project that relates to the particular era and medium being studied.

A Few of My Favorite Things

Nester had a guest poster a few days ago, her friend Haley from The Tiny Twig. She talked about a really cool girl party for the holidays themed around "favorite things" (a la Oprah.) She also invited us to share a few of our favorite things ($30 and under.) So here are mine!

Epson Salts
Yep, this is seriously one of my favorite things. If I every have a Favorite Things party, everyone will be getting this. A $3 bag of epson salts from Wally World. There is always at least one bag in my house (usually several!) I soak my feet every night after my kids go to bed. Yes, I said EVERY night. My hubby even knows I function better after my foot soak and gets it ready for me most nights! It is my super-cheap absolutely necessary indulgence after homeschooling, taxi-driving and attempting to keep my house in decent order. Try it. Twenty minutes of heaven.

Good Earth Lemongrass Green Tea
It was the first hot tea I ever loved so much I would drink even last drop!! I love teas but would often only drink about half a cup before I would set it down and forget about it. Maybe it was my ADD-having-to-do-several-things-at-once self. But I think they call it multi-tasking now. Anyway, not with this tea. I savor each sip. I get misty-eyed when I run out. (OK, not really, but it is that good!) (And it goes great with an epson salt foot soak!)

Lemon Vinegar
If you spend any amount of time with me, you will soon discover that I have Multiple Chemical Sensitivity or MCS. That basically means that I react like I have allergies to any artificial fragrances (like perfume, candles, air fresheners) or harsh chemicals (anything that most people clean with.) I used to clean with plain ol' white vinegar. It isn't fancy and doesn't smell great, but I didn't react to it. AND it did the job. However, after discovering The Grocery Shrink last year, I have been making lemon vinegar and on occasion, orange vinegar! You just toss the lemon (or orange or lime) peels into a jar and cover with plain ol' cheap white vinegar. In a few days (or weeks if you forget it) you will have this pretty colored vinegar with a nicer smell to it. (The peels will be looking pretty yucky by then. Sometimes I remove them and sometimes I don't!) If you add a little lemon essential oils to it, the smell is even better!

So there are three of my favorite things. I love the idea of hosting a Favorite THiiiiiinnnnnnngs! party with girlfriends. Do you have something special to celebrate the holidays with your girlfriends? What "favorite thing" would you share with them?

Monday, November 28, 2011

Making December Birthdays Special: Decorating

Decorating for birthdays at Christmas can be a challenge. While some folks choose to decorate with Christmas sprinkled in, I have always tried to keep the birthdays and Christmas separate. When I had my first "Christmas baby" I chose to decorate after his birthday. That wasn't too difficult since there were still several weeks to enjoy the Christmas decorations. However, when his brother came along with a due date just days before Christmas, I knew I was going to have to change the way we decorated.

Making December Birthdays Special: An Apology

I have no excuse except that life got the better of me. I had every intention of this series being posted on the our Mondays in November. I actually have three half-prepared posts in my head and only one partially drafted. Unfortunately, they won't be available this week. This week I am cooking and baking and hanging with my fam.

A very Happy Thanksgiving to all of my readers. I hope you are spending your holiday with those you love.

I'll be back with Making December Birthdays Special next week.

'Grace Effect' Giveaway Winner

And the winner is .....

1 Hey Dawn! I'd love to see this book. :) saralynmcd@....
November 16, 2011 4:38 PM

The book is on its way, Saralyn. Congrats! I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

Review: FFH One Silent Night

We love Christmas music in our house. So when I was given the opportunity to review a Christmas CD, I jumped at it. (Look at that album cover. So precious!! Totally got me in the Christmas mood. And I so wanna make one of those kissing balls too now!!)

FFH released their latest album, One Silent Night on October 18, 2011. A group who originally formed in 1991, FFH is a group I have listened to since my college days. They produced six independent albums before being picked up by Essential Records. After much success in the Christian music scene, they took a break from touring in 2006. It was during this break that the members of FFH experienced lifechange. That lifechange pours out through their music and their passion for telling the world about Jesus is even stronger than it was before.

TOS Review: Time Timer

The Time Timer is exactly what the name implies. It's a timer what shows the time counting down with a visual cue of how much time has elapsed and how much is left.

Music Man still struggles with the concept of time - it is too abstract for him. We have had various therapists recommend using a timer for different activities throughout his life when he struggled with getting ready or eating too slow etc. I have use numerous timers in the past but they never really worked for him. He just didn't get it. And now he does. :)

TOS Review: Math Mammoth

I became familiar with Math Mammoth last year when it was recommended to me by a friend. At first glance I was impressed by the ease of the website and the cost of the curriculum. We ordered a couple of ebooks that we thought would be most helpful to round out our first grade year (Money and Clock.) Once I started really looking into them, I was thrilled that I had found such a great thing at such a bargain price!

Book Review: The Grace Effect

It has been a long time since I have read a book I did not want to put down. The Grace Effect took the honor as the only book I have done that with this year. Reading like a novel, but so much more, author Larry Taunton chronicles his journey of the adoption of his daughter, Sasha, from Ukraine.

TOS Review: Bower Books The Person I Marry

The Person I Marry is a must-have for anyone with children. Perfectly suited for any age, it is never too young to think about the type of person you should marry one day. My boys have already begun hearing about "love" and "girlfriends" and ask all kinds of questions about marriage. This book has helped me steer them on the appropriate path in thinking about marriage (even at the tender ages of eleven and seven!)

Throughout the book, characteristics of the qualities on that page are beautifully reinforced in the background. Each double-page spread deals with a certain aspect of marriage and gently confirms what a person should look for in a husband or wife.

Written and illustrated by husband-wife team Gary and Jan Bower, this book strengthens God's design for biblical marriage. I think it also allows to open the conversation towards only dating (or in our house, courting) one who displays these characteristics.

I've read many children's books by authors who aim to rhyme just because they think a children's book "should" rhyme. But then the rhythm and flow doesn't work out and it seems forced. The Person I Marry has perfected rhyme and rhythm. I can only assume the other books follow the same rhythm and rhyme! The story comes alive within the words on each page.

What's It Gonna Cost Me?
The Bright Futures Series
$11.99

Other Products

The Bright Futures Series
     There's a Party in Heaven!
     The Jingle in my Pocket
     What do Heroes Wear?

Mommy Love (board book)
$8.50

Daddy Love (board book)
$8.50

I'm a Michigan Kid!
An Artistic Tour of the Great Lakes State
$17.99

Over Land & Sea, A Story of International Adoption
(written by Steven Layne and illustrated by Jan Bower)

$15.95

Check It Out
Visit Bower Books to take a look at the beautiful oil paintings of Jan Bower. Her paintings are amazingly lifelike and capture such detail!

Final Word
I want every one of these books in our home library. They are absolutely beautiful. The messages are timeless.

Legal Disclaimer: As a member of the TOS Crew, I received a digital copy of The Person I Marry free of charge from Bower Books for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Making December Birthdays Special

happy birthday, a photo by cafemama on Flickr.

Both of my boys have birthdays in December. They are the first and second weeks of December followed by Christmas the third week. When I learned that I was due on Thanksgiving with my oldest, I began researching how to deal with a birthday at the holidays. I wasn't too worried since he was due at Thanksgiving and he would certainly be here before Christmas was in full of swing. My due date came and went and he was born two long weeks later, a full week into December. Four years later, his brother was born in mid-December, coming a week before his December 20th due date.

I laughingly tell people we party all the month of December. And we really do. But the holiday season in full swing, I feel it is especially important to make my boys feel special even though everyone around them is focused on Christmas.

The Big No-Nos For Christmas Birthdays

Do NOT combine presents (birthday/Christmas) since the child's birthday is during the holiday season.
Do NOT wrap the birthday present in Christmas paper.
Do NOT go to a Christmas function on the night of the child's birthday.
Do NOT have a Christmas-themed cake, decorations or card.

Over the next three weeks, I will share how we do birthdays in our house. We are on a very frugal budget so I aim for big impact with little cost.

Next week we will talk about how to decorate for a birthday in the midst of the holidays.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

TOS Review: Apologia Educating the Whole Hearted Child

When I began homeschooling out of necessity, I had no idea what I was getting into. I knew I was fed up with public school not providing for my child and that I could certainly do better than the education we were told he would get in his local school district.

Little did I know how much our lives would change with homeschooling. It is a lifestyle, not just something we do for a few hours everyday to satisfy an education requirement. But I knew very little about the lifestyle when I started homeschooling. I focused on education and “catching him up” - laying a foundation that was not there. Had I known about Educating the WholeHearted Child when we began this journey, I think the first year or two of homeschooling may have looked a little different. (And perhaps it would have been quite a bit less stressful!)

The Mighty Macs (A Review)

I love a good movie. But I have loved very few sports movies. Mainly because I have seen very few good sports movies. And The Mighty Macs is a good sports movie. But there is so much more than sports in The Mighty Macs. Set in 1971, Cathy Rush is a recently married woman whose odds are against her. The world (and her husband) are still pulling her to stay home and be a wife. She wants to pursue a dream.

This Blog is Not my Home

It's not my job either. I thought I wanted it to be my job.

I love writing. I love blogging. I love the blogging community. But I love my children more. I love my calling more. And my calling is my children.

A few months ago I began consciously noticing how much I was on the computer while my kids were awake. Then I noticed things that didn't get done because I was blogging. Or emailing. Or Facebooking. Or reading others' blogs.

Then I started thinking about the legacy I was leaving for my children. Did I want them to remember me on the computer? Or Facebooking on my phone? Or blogging?

I started listening to myself ...

"Let me just finish this post."

"I need to send one more email."

"After I finish reading this, we can do that."

Or do I want them to remember we played? And built forts. And created art.

Do I want them to remember that I was there for them - not just caring for their daily needs, but getting down and living life with them.

This blog is not my home.

This is.

And this.

Amy at Raising Arrows wrote on a similar subject this week.

It took me over a month to get this post ready since I am only writing now when my kids are not awake. I have some reviews and other commitments that will take precedence over more personal posts, however, know that I am not abandoning my blog. I just have more pressing things on my plate at the moment.

Like homeschooling my boys and building forts. :)

Friday, October 14, 2011

Cooper and Me

Cooper and Me is a cute little book written by a mother-daughter team. An artist from a very young age, Alexa Peters, wanted to give back to others through her illustrations. The idea for this book was found in her sketchbooks.