Tag Archives: homeschool

A New Kid, Birthdays, and Year End Events

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It’s been a few months since I’ve actually written a post about our family and our homeschool.  Normally, that would mean that all is just mundane and not blog or photo worthy.  However, that’s not what my blog absence has been about,  I haven’t been able to find the time to share about all that’s been going on.  Today, I’ll try to fill you in some.

First, let me introduce you to MJ!  She’s our family’s new job.  Actually, she is a homeschool girl who is with us four days a week for tutoring while her grandmother works.  These photo are of her and Z at the last homeschool fieldtrip of the school year, Stewardship Day at Shawnee National Forest.

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We have a new chalkboard wall mural that goes along with our Lewis and Clark, Oregon Trail, and Westward Journey studies.

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We’ve been working on improvements to our key hole garden.  The stone looks wonderful and made the best Mother’s Day present!  The flowers are quite nice, too.

10352584_636762289738960_4574333442912914450_n 1920199_636762126405643_399865237555379097_nThis next photo is E and B with SALT, (our homeschool support groups drama co-op) at the final performance of the year.  And, it’s sad that this was E’s very last performance with them.  Now that she’s graduating, she’ll not be in the troop.  Being involved with creative ministries and drama certainly has been one of her favorite activities of her homeschooling career.

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And, here’s a few of the pics from the spring formal.

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Both of my youngest boys had birthdays!  Z turned 9 and J turned 11.

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These next photos are of Silver Lining (homeschool color guard) at their spring show, “Storms of Life”.  Though, this was E’s last performance with them, she is planning to stay involved with the group as an assistant coach.

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1625591_628980850517214_1221519875084586621_nAnd Silver Lining’s honor and awards banquet

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There’s just one more event to add to this year’s homeschooling year, graduation and achievement night.  The plans are set and all will be ready for the big night, this coming up Friday.   I’ll be sure to share those photos then.

betty jo

 

 

 

It’s Unanimous For Strawberries!

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At the beginning of each month I go through the special days listing, and check off what I think we should add to our studies.   I also give the list to the kids and they check off the topics that interest them. (https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2014/04/29/special-days-in-may/).  Rarely does a monthly theme interest all of us, but the May food theme,  STRAWBERRIES,  was unanimous!

This close to the end of our school year, I really won’t have the time to develop our own strawberry study, but can not just ignore the fact that we all want to explore this favorite food.  This is where my friend, Fran, comes in!   (http://www.franw.com/)  She has developed and published an e-book appropriately named Strawberry Craze. 

Strawberry+Craze+Cover+SampleStrawberry Craze is a 91 page study and activity guide.  Fran has graciously given me a copy and I’m so excited!  It is covers subjects across the curriculum and has something for all ages.    She gives the instructions for crafts, gardening, and science experiments.  She has included a list of questions for research projects and little known facts and trivia.  Strawberry Craze has math, health, and language connections, too.  And recipes!  Not just a couple of yummy desserts to try, but recipes for lip gloss, scratch-n-sniff stickers,  shampoo, and play clay,  just to name a few.

Strawberries have been added to the top of my weekend shopping list!  And will probably be repeated on every grocery list in between now and when we are able to pick our own from our garden.

Now is the right time to pick up a copy of the e-book for yourself.  It’s being offered for only $2!  To find out more and take a peek at some sample pages click here  http://www.franw.com/2013/09/strawberry-craze-ebook.html

Oh, by the way, Fran gave me Strawberry Craze just because she’s my friend.  The e-book gift was not given to me for the purpose of this review.  The review and recommendation is completely of my own doing.

betty jo

Easter (and after) Learning Resources

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Though we did a Passion Week study and some arts and crafts as part of our week’s homeschooling lessons,  we still have some Easter learning to do!

Here’s some awesome links for free Easter learning resources that we’ll be following throughout the weekend and into the first part of next week.

I’ve got a neighbor family in mind to “egg”.  Not like a mean prank like throwing raw, rotten eggs at their house but to “egg” them in a way that will bless them!  You can read about this wonderful idea and pick up a free printable to go with your eggs here  http://happyhomefairy.com/2013/03/24/youve-been-egged-he-is-risen-style-free-printable/

I printed off this trivia game to test our Easter story knowledge  http://www.myjoyfilledlife.com/2014/04/09/printable-easter-story-trivia-game/

We’ll be using this !st Corinthians 15 based article, Why the Resurrection Matters, for a discussion and study guide  https://bible.org/seriespage/easter-1993-why-resurrection-matters-1-corinthians-151-19

Playing with food is science with this free “EggSperiment” printable pack  (scroll down towards bottom)  http://www.parents.com/blogs/homeschool-den/2014/04/14/easter/eggsperiment-brush-your-errr-egg-part-4-of-4/

Eggs lesson plans for K-12 in PDF form  http://www.aeb.org/about-aeb/for-educators/

This speed/coordination game is going to be a great use for those leftover plastic eggs  http://www.franw.com/2014/04/an-eggcellent-game.html

Great ideas for outdoors egg hunt ideas and games                                                        https://www.playpartyplan.com/10-fun-and-creative-easter-egg-hunt/

Virtual tour of a jelly bean factory   https://www.jellybelly.com/california-factory-tours#How%20it’s%20Made

A short history lesson about chocolate eggs! And if you look on the left sidebar you can link to an article explaining how hollow chocolate Easter rabbits are made  http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/menus/chocolate-egg.htm

Easter themed interactive games  http://www.primarygames.com/holidays/easter/games.php

Are your kids asking for a pet bunny?  Mine have.  The answer is “no”, but they can figure that out for themselves as they investigate just what it takes to raise a rabbit.  You’ll also be able to find resources about chicks and ducklings, too.   http://animal-world.com/encyclo/critters/rabbits/rabbits.htm

For Easter printable word games, coloring sheets, notebooking paper and more  http://activityvillage.co.uk/easter-printables

Since I’ve got you here, I’d like to take this opportunity to invite you to church.  Our local church is part of a much bigger church which is available online.  You can hear the Easter message at any time during the week that works for you  https://www.life.church/easter/

Have a blessed Easter!

betty jo