Homeschool Monday - The Final Stretch

Well, we're in the final week of school.  Just reviewing our work and preparing for our EOG's.  (End of Grade testing).  Here in NC while our children have to be tested, you do not have to send in the results, just keep them on record.  The weird part of this is that in NC, the homeschooled children need to pass a national testing, while the public schooled kids do not, so the homeschooler is held to a higher standing.  That's ok with me.  That just means when my child enters the work force, she will be the boss. hahaha

Last Friday, our county homeschool group arranged a pool party at the local YMCA.  And yes, we HAD to go shopping for a new suit.  What a NIGHTMARE!  Why does society (or the fashion designers today) feel that young girls need to expose as much skin as possible?  Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not a fuddy duddy, but come on, get real, we are raising a generation of hoochy mommas and then wondering why the pregnancy rate for teens is rising.  Seriously?  Ugh.
Any way, we finally found one we both agreed on, sort of, and off we went to the party.  On the way there, it started to storm, so according to the Y policy, no swimming.  They did set us up in the gym with some bouncy houses.  But my group of middle schoolers were too cool for that.  (Except Hannah....lol).  I found the girls congregating in the doorway watching other young men play basketball.  Us mothers just watched them squirm and giggle, and so we giggled too.  Giggled for the girls, and giggled for our memories of when we were that age.  A long (long) time ago. hahaha

Now to decide on testing.  Here is an article from The North Carolinians for Home Education with tips on how to choose a test.
Since I order my testing supplies (and other curriculum) from Peidmont Education Services,  I did a comparison on the 3 EOG's they offer, and because we mostly directed our studies this year on math and language arts, I decided on the California Achievement Test.  I like that fact that 1) this is not Common Core aligned, 2) I can choose the subjects for testing, 3) I can test at home.
So, wish us luck.  Or should I say, wish Hannah luck. lol
Be blessed,
Debbi

Homeschool Monday - Mom's as teachers

I know mom's wear many hats....nurse, cook, maid, chauffeur, and many more.  But a homeschool mom wears a few more...teacher, AND principle, AND secretary.   So with Mother's Day just around the corner, I thought I would scope out some special handmade gifts for the homeschool mother.

OK, I had to pick this teacher scrabble tile necklace to share, because "I'm the mom" if one of my favorite lines.  Now I have 2! lol  I found this in the shop of Scrabble Babble Boutique on The Craft Star.

This next gift idea is from one of my favorite shops at Handmade Artist, Blue Highway. All teachers need notebooks, and this handbound notebook set gives not just one, but two books, one lined and one unlined.  I know that personally I go through notebooks like crazy, tracking classes, and projects, and now our social obligations.  Your teacher/mother will certainly appreciate these.

Every book (or journal) needs a bookmark.  I love this silver teacher bookmark I found over at Zibbet. It was in the shop of Carelebeads.

So there you have it...great ideas for the mother/teacher in your life.

Remember, when you shop handmade, you support small businesses and families everywhere.

Be blessed,

Debbi

Homeschool Monday, where we school - Time 4 Learning

When you start to investigate the possibility of homeschooling, and you start to read different blogs, you'll hear that you should have a designated spot and desks or cubbies or totes for every child.  That spot can be a separate room or a specific time at the table, but when you are trying to homeschool a child with ADHD and other challenges, take everything you read and throw it out the window!

At our home, space is at a premium.  In 4th grade, hubby happily made us a portable cubby.

It looked something like this.

image from My Very Educated Mother

Well, it didn't last long.  Hannah could not sit still very long in one place and she HATES paperwork.  So this year in 7th grade (she went back to public school for 5th and 6th and hated that even more) I found a great website where she does the great majority of her work, next to me, sitting on the sofa.

Time4Learning.

I really like this site, because they do all the work for me.  They set up the lessons, keep the records, and even provide a "recess" game area.  Now Hannah can do her work according to the ebb and flow of her inner clock, with minimal input from me.  So for $19.95 per month, it is well worth the price for me.  Here is an image of the main lesson page.

They cover Language Arts, Language Arts Extentions, Math, Social Studies (American History...I love it!), and 4 different Sciences.  They have just introduced an Art course also.

They have a Parent Log in page where you can adjust the lessons to your specific need.  So you don't need to use all the curriculum, or even do all the work in order.  They also have a Parent Forum where you can join other parent/teachers for support and tips.

And just so you know, I am not getting paid for this review.  I just want to encourge other parents looking for help teaching their children at home.  Until next time...

Be blessed,

Debbi

You're looking at one proud Gramma

Ah, what a wonderful life.

Being a Gramma is so much fun.

I love all my grandkids, and they range in age from 27 to 2 months, but today I am going to share...

OWEN!

Owen will be turning 5 next month

(NOOOOOO)

and started pre-school this year.

(NOOOOOO)

This is his first school craft.

A lovely mixed media abstract self-portrait.

I love it.

Before you know it, we'll be listing his art for sale.

:o)

Just this past week, he brought home his first award.

He always did like to read, and Brandon says that Owen brings books home from school all the time.

Just another trait he got from his Mom

(and me)

(and Nana)

Speaking of his mom, Amanda started her Remicade treatment this week.

Chrones is a terrible disease, so hard to fight, and just draining all around.  It breaks my mothers heart to see her hurting.  But don't tell her that, she hates to be coddled or questioned about her health.

She/I/We believe that the symptoms flare up under stress, and her life has been super busy lately, but the Remicade did wonders for her before, and we expect it to do wonders again.

Well, basically, that's been life here in NC lately.

Quiet, and full. :0)

Be blessed,

Debbi

Homeschooling Monday

Well, this is it, day 1 of 7th grade for Hannah.  She wanted to be home schooled again, so after a lot (and I mean A LOT) of prayer and discussion, Chuck and I agreed.  While I love the whole concept of homeschooling, and totally agree with it (and totally disagree with Common Core, but that's a different subject/rant) Hannah's home schooled 4th grade was not fun, for any of us, so after talking to other homeschoolers and groups and looking at websites, we decided to follow the Easy Peasy curriculum.  It has every day already set up (go ahead Hannah, argue with the computer) and it's free (perfect for us).  It's set up so Hannah is (mostly) in control of her school day, learning at her own pace, and her own likes and dislikes.  This year she'll be covering math (geometry and algebra), a foreign language (Spanish), language arts (poetry), history (ancient Egypt), science (biology), computers, music (pray for me, she wants drum lessons), and art, and of course our faith with be incorporated into all of this, and we are both very excited.

There is now a tab at the top of this site, and it will connect you to Hannah's very own blog, where we will share links to other homeschool sites, book reports, field trip pictures, and maybe a few teen drama scenes. 

I tried to take a "surprise" natural picture, but Hannah saw me, and ran to fix her hair first, lol.  But here she is, hard at work.  So my kitchen table is not just my office anymore, it's also now a class room.

When she posts on her own blog hannahshomeschooldaze, I'll share the link here.  Please feel free to visit her, and comment, she's looking forward to meeting all of you. 

Be blessed,

Debbi

Our summer school field trip - Ft. Dobbs

One of the pluses to homeschooling your child, is you can have class anytime and anywhere.   This past Friday, our local living history group had a summer camp at Ft. Dobbs in Statesville, NC.  It wasn't as big as the school day they have in the fall, but we enjoyed it.  Hannah brought a friend, and because she's at the age that parents embarrass her (especially me), they took off by themselves.  Which left me with little B and Owen.  In the following pictures, you won't see B because as a foster child, per the HIPPA laws, I am not "suppose" to post his information.  But he's been our son for almost 6 years, it's hard to take a family picture without him in it. lol.  So let me share with you our fun day...

(warning...this post is photo filled)

The first station was the toys and games.  Here a young woman was trying to teach Owen how to play "gracies."  That's here you throw a hoop with 2 sticks and then try to catch it.  It's harder than you think!

Here are the boys trying to roll hoops down the hill.  The grass was too high, and the hoops didn't roll well, but the boys had fun trying

Owen loves music, and he enjoyed this man playing a tin whistle.  After the man explained to the boys all about the tin whistle and the songs of that day, he played a few songs.  When he was done, Owen asked if he knew how to play the Angry Bird song...that poor man was confused.  It was too funny.

Then on to the cooking show...here is one of the few times Hannah met up with us.  But don't worry, Ft. Dobbs is not that big, so she was never very far away.  And her friend was 15 and watching out for her.

.

Owen wasn't quite sure about the Cherokee Indian.  He asked the man what was wrong with his face, then he couldn't take his eyes off the mans nose ring.  I did get him to stand next to the Indian for this picture, but Owen wasn't going to get too close.

Owen liked this old wooden wheelbarrow, but he wasn't too crazy about getting his hands dirty for this photo op...that's my boy. lol.

These photos aren't the best because I forgot my good camera and had to rely on my cell phone.

There is a nice hiking trail behind the field, and the boys wanted to explore.  Owen had on his new sneakers, and we broke them in well. :0)

They wanted to follow these steps, but they looked a little too unexplored for my comfort.

After the hike it was time to go back to the fort.  I was surprised that Owen stood and talked to this soldier about his gun.  Owen is my country boy and loves to play with his toy rifle.  I know, totally politically incorrect, but a child who is taught about guns and gun safety...is safe.

He didn't even cover his ears when the flintlock was fired.

This last station was where Owen learned to march...and he did a pretty good job too.

After we left the fort, it was on to Lakewook Park and a pizza lunch.  You can't beat a $5 pizza from Little Ceasers.  And of course, we had to walk the trails there too.

Owen had a great time hiking...but boy, is Gramma out of shape!  And sandals were the wrong fashion foot wear for the day.  But we enjoyed checking out the trees, and moss, and bugs, and ducks.

It didn't take Owen long to fall asleep that night.  That's our new kitten Patches, and my baby PeeWee.  Owen is very good with all the animals at Grammas house.  And that pillow next to him?

Well, that one's mine, and this was one night I skipped the 11 o'clock news.

How was your weekend?  Did you spend it with someone you love?

Be blessed,

Debbi

what happened to our history?

Todays post is a bit of a rant...first let me tell you the background story/reason for my rant.

I am a firm believer that "those that fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it" (Winston Churchill), and while our American history is full of evil...it is also full of hope, and love, and justice, and when our children are not taught the full history of their heritage, they are bound to make the same mistakes.  I am very proud of my military family...past and present...that give their lives for our freedom...the freedom to learn from our past and to bless the future of our children.



This is my dad...Chester Raczka.  He served in the navy during WWII, and was stationed on the USS Lexington and the USS Wasp, both of which sunk.  He also fought in the Battle of Midway.  I am so proud of him.  My husband Chuck was also a navy man, as is my grand-daughter and her husband, and another grandson-in-law.  I also have a grandson in the army, plus numerous nieces and nephews.  And I am so proud of them all.  Now the reason for my rant....last night at the dinner table, Hannah and I were talking about all sorts of things.  Somehow we got on the subject of my dad, and I told her that he served in the war.  She asked if it was like the show M.A.S.H. and I told her that was the Korean War.  She asked if that was the one with Hitler, and I responded, no, that was WWII, to which she responded "oh, that's Hogans Heros".  How sad that she is learning history from sitcoms on our classic tv stations and not from her teachers at school.  I had asked her before about her classes at school, and today they are not teaching American history, but they are teaching about world cultures and land masses and people groups.  Really?  People groups?  How can our children avoid our past mistakes as "people groups" if we don't tell them, and teach them, our history, good and bad.  I remember being in elementary school (grade K-6) and learning the 50 states, and their capitals, and even the flowers, trees, and birds.  I also learned about the pilgrims and the Revolutionary war, and the Indians and the move west, (including the wrongs we did to the Indians), and so much more.  When,and where, are our children learning that today?

I for one will be teaching my children more myself.  Time for visits to museums, and history videos.  What about you?  How will you help teach our future to not repeat our past?

Be blessed,

Debbi

 

The 3 minute Nutcracker

This past week, my Hannah performed a Christmas concert with her middle school choir.  I picked out my, and her, favorite song to share with you, "The 3 Minute Nutcracker".  We've seen the ballet, several times, but this song is great.  I should have brought my camera tripod with me, because 3 minutes is a long time to hold up a camera. LOL.  Enjoy.

Have a blessed Christmas everyone....and take some time to spend with the kids.  If you don't have any of your own, borrow a neighbors, all kids need adults that care.

Be blessed,

Debbi