FIAR: The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge

The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge

Added Reading....

New York, New York!: The Big Apple from A to Z

Lapbook Resources

Homeschool Share

The Homeschool Mom (THM)

After we complete each lapbook this school year Ironhide will complete an elementary book report for his folder.

Great Advice About Moving Forward

This weekend has been a character building experience. Ironhide became sick, not seriously but enough for us to pause and say "God is it time for a trip?". The more we prayed the more things started to become clear that this was not a time for going back but for building and moving forward.

We have all been really homesick lately. We wanted to go back to what was familiar, to catch our breath from all the "newness" of moving across country. The homesickness has felt like a blanket adding weight to our daily journey. We thought this trip would help lift that weight, but prayer lead us to cancel the trip.

Then we found this in our morning bible study.

Shake it Off
October 18

Let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) . . . and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us.
— Hebrews 12:1

One of my favorite stories is about a farmer's donkey that fell into a dry well. The animal cried pitifully for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do for his poor donkey. Finally, he concluded that the well was too deep, and it really needed to be covered up anyway. Besides, the donkey was old, and it would be a lot of trouble to get him out of the pit. The farmer decided that it was not worth trying to retrieve the animal, so he asked his neighbors to help him fill in the well and bury the donkey.

They all grabbed shovels and began to toss dirt into the well. The donkey immediately realized what was happening, and he began to bray horribly. Crying would be our normal response if somebody was mistreating us this badly, so this donkey was responding the same way we would at first, but then he got real quiet. A few shovel loads of dirt later, the farmer looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit the donkey's back, the donkey would shake it off, and step on top of it.

As the neighbors and the farmer continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would continue to shake it off, and take a step up. Pretty soon the donkey shook off the last shovel full of dirt, took a step up, and walked right out of the well. We can learn so much from this story. When trouble comes, if we will get still and listen, God will tell us what to do.

By the grace and the mercy of God, I was able to shake off a lot of things in my life, a lot of hurt feelings, a lot of mistreatment, a lot of abuse, a lot of unfair, unjust, unkind things. Just like the donkey, in order to keep pressing on and have victory in our lives, we are going to have to learn to shake off the troubles that come our way.


From the book New Day, New You: 365 Devotions for Enjoying Everyday Life by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2007 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

(The full text be found at Joyce Meyer Daily Devotionals)

Thoughtful Thursday

Can you name the three National Monuments in the photo? Using that information can you guess our location?

Moving Forward with Workboxes

This year we started using Sue Patrick's Workbox System. The homeschool community has been all a buzz about this system all year. I was intrigued by the system but being in the middle of the move it was not time in the spring to start this system. So during the summer I purchased the E-Book and read it in one day. This is a simple easy to institute system that appeals to my organizing nature.

So we started the first day of school with the workbox system and haven't looked back. Ironhide loves this system. He says "This is much better than the way we did school in Texas." It gives us a beginning and end to the day. It helps me keep focused on a theme and not wonder off with "just one more thing".

This is how our system works:

Since we have downsized from 3,000 sq ft to 1800 sq ft we don't have a formal classroom with have a class corner. I rearranged some of Ironhide's bedroom Pottery Barn's Kids Cubby and plastic bins from Target's $1 Spot.

After surfing the web I found great ID tags from Maureen @ Spell Out Loud to create a colorful contrast to engage our energetic student.

Now after explaining this system to Ironhide he embraced it and went right to work. The only glitches were on my side because I didn't make some of the boxes more challenging. Also I had to go back and add some physical activities that are learning again using cards from Maureen @ Spell Out Loud.

This is the results of the end of the day. I was able to pack backpacks during Ironhide's independent work for afternoon two co-ops.

Back Online and Waaaaaay Behind

Well after a four week vacation from Laptop Land we are back with my new baby….The Dell 15.

Isn't she pretty? I promise to treat her right. No more late night sleepy chats. No more drinking while chatting and using palm rests as a drink holder. I know better, but bad habits are easy to acquire but hard to break. I thank God for the computer limited time over the last four weeks. I got a lot of things done WITH my son and not AT my son. I was able to take the time to look at my environment and start turn it into home. I discovered the lost art of handwriting. When you write things it seems more personal, more of a commitment.

With that said I have a lot to catch up on but I will do it slowly. Plus I have to figure out how get an online gig to pay off this new system. (I do not like debt.)

More coming…..

Blessings

Wordless Wednesday: Our Leaves

Welcome Fall

Farewell Backup Laptop

That's right I killed my backup laptop. How? Let's just say chatting with your HS Lounge sisters after 11pm while sleepy is not wise unless your floor is padded.

Homeschooling is not going smoothly this year in the Mom department.

Kid Question of the Day:Why is school called school? And who invented it?

You can just guess how this question came about. LOL

Why is school called school?

Answer
The word school comes from the greek word skhole or "lectureplace," but earlier it meant "leisure," "learned discussion," and "study." Cha Cha!

Who invented school?

Answer
"Schools have existed as far back as Greek times if not earlier. The Byzantines were the first to establish a schooling system."Cha Cha!

The National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington Dulles International Airport is the companion facility to the Museum on the National Mall.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Kid Question of The Day: Who Invented Chewing Gum?

Ironhide (TS) ask hundreds of good questions daily. There are some that just stop you in your tracks and make you think "Yeah, why is that?". So in an attempt to capture these and possibly help other inquisitive six almost seven year olds I shall document "Kid Question of the Day."

Our reference sources shall be:
Askkids
Google Jr. aka SafeSearch

But for our question of the day.

Who Invented Chewing Gum?
"W.F. Semple of Mount Vernon, Ohio, patented chewing gum in 1869.
However, humans have been chewing various gums, resins and latex secretions of plants for thousands of years. Mastic gum has been chewed by Mediterranean peoples for thousands of years, and Native Americans chewed the resin from spruce trees. "

Peace

Moving and Homeschooling: The Aftermath

I knew moving across country would be a difficult transitions for the whole family. However my heart breaks at how difficult it has been on Ironhide aka The Student. He said it best four months ago "Mom I have to leave everything I have known my whole life." That feeling has really starting to sink in now that school has started and he has joined his first official co-op with real homework, yet another change. He misses the constant of flow of friends into our home and the sense of security of knowing his environment. Even his parents are changing because Dad has a new job, mom is still dealing with trying to make this house feel like home and learn her way around.

So many changes in so little time for my little guy, new church, new house, new city, new climate, new doctors, new friends and it never stops. Oh and now glasses on top of everything else. Every day it is something new. I try to wrap it in the theme of an adventure but even the best thrill seeker wants to get off the ride. Even I want to say stop sometimes because I just cannot handle one more new thing. Prayer is constant during this time because we know that God is our true home, but he is only six and it is hard.

We have had a couple not so stellar weeks of behavior issues. Most can be attributed to being six and the rest I think are move related. I need prayer because I am stressed and this is just breaking my heart to discipline him almost hourly. I do mean hourly and things I have never known him to do. Last night I spent the night in prayer and reading because I am at a loss. He is a great child who is going to be a wonderfully blessed human being but how do I get him there?

As a mother of an only child I have those moments of "maybe he should go to school to met people." But as I put it in prayer I have not been shown that path. It would not solve problems but just add more confusion to the mix.

I have never shared this much before but I think this may help someone else because this is not an easy path, but it is our path.

Be Blessed

Wordless Wednesday - Fieldtrip Sunset

National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

Details to follow later this week.

Farewell Dear Laptop

My laptop is gone. Over. Terminado! A very pretty silver brick.

My very smart hubby saw the end coming and two weeks ago he purchased a back up hard drive. I of course was deep in denial because I was printing out homeschool lapbook material. "No, we are good. It can last a few more months." I knew better but I just couldn't deal with another new "something". God love him, Hubby just smiled and backed up my computer without a word. I worked in the computer industry prior to this season of my life so I have been keeping the computer alive via "alternate" means. LOL

Well early this morning the screen remained dark. It's gone. And The Hubby couldn't resist " I told you so." Okay I will give him that one.

Wrapping up summer with a Lego-fest

Wordless Wednesday- Is it Fall yet?

Betty Crocker Gluten Free Cake Mixes ROCK!

We have been gluten free here at the Sandbox for about 18 months. In that time we have all experience a drastic improvement in our overall health most directly with our yearly allergies. We have gone from almost daily doctor visits during high allergy times to monitored check-ups. It has truly been a blessing.

Now the journey has not always been a tasty treat. One incident with gluten free croissants has become a cautionary tale in our home. We have tasted some incredible food and learned to appreciate cooking from scratch. But there is a lot to be said for time saving good gluten free food. This is where Betty Crocker comes in…..

In the past I would buy three types of flour and mix my own cake flour to avoid that grainy taste you can get from a lot of off the self gluten free cake mixes. This was time consuming but well worth the effort. Then imagine my surprise when we found Betty Crocker Gluten Free Cake Mixes at Super Target. It was not organic but very few birthday cakes are these days. So we decided to give it a try. Everyone LOVED them. Of course we did alter the directions rice milk instead of water and little bit more vanilla extract.

TS did all the measuring and read the directions too. He says now he wants to be like Alton Brown. LOL

Wordless Wednesday - New Craft Table Cheap

Our Homeschool School Room

This is "School Room" week at Life with My 3 Boybarians . Darcy will be doing a four week Not Back to School blog hop. This gave me a personal goal to have our room put together in time to share it. We have officially been in our new home here a little over two months. Yes, there are still boxes unpacked and pictures are not on the wall but we are working slowing toward normal.

First let's start with my homeschooler planner. All the sections were pulled from Donna Young's Free Homeschool Planner as well as organization charts from Sue Patrick's Workbox System.

Each month is colored to match the files in our Five In A Row planning box.

I have printed out all the lapbook material for each book. This works because I can load up the workbox system without a marathon night before printing session. Kendall from FIAR Forums shared this great planning system last year.

We downsized with this move which has been a blessing and adjustment. You will be amazed how simple life can be with less stuff. TS desk is the right fit and can grow with him. Next to his desk are the workboxes waiting for work. We were also gifted a digital microscope that will be using on the kitchen table.

Our world map is going up this weekend in this cozy spot with the easel and library and coloring books.

We have been so incredibly blessed with this move and look forward to an exciting year of learning.

We Love Legos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

During our exploration of our new environment we discovered the Lego store. Joy pure and utter joy! Dad and son were beside themselves. As were most of the kids in the store. This was a great find. As most of you know TS has been a Lego kiddo for about two years now. He takes the kits assembles them and then pulls them apart to make his own wonderfully inspired designs. So imagine his extreme pleasure to find this wall of spare parts.

(This photo is especially for my THL sister KK !)

"Mom I can create anything!!!"

2009-2010 1st Grade Homeschool Plan Version 1.0 (Subject to change based on life.)

After much prayer and review here is our official plan of record for the 2009-2010 school year. I wanted share this with the great folks at The Homeschool Lounge who have been a source of inspiration and support during our homeschool journey. Please click over to find the one of the best homeschool resources on the web.

Like everyone our challenge for this school year will be doing more with less money in a new location. However with some creative planning, sharing, swapping, re-purposing and fieldtrips I think it is going to be a year full of adventure. We will also be using Sue Patrick's Workbox System.

Also note that while technically TS is a first grader we will included some activities that are designated for 2^nd grade and above during this school year.

Core Curriculum

• Five-in-a-Row
  

Read Alouds

• TS choices from the library which right now includes the following series:
  
  • The Magic Tree House
    
  • Transformers DK Level 4
    
  • The High-Rise Private Eyes
    
  • Henry and Mudge
    
• Five-in-a-Row read alongs
  

Phonics

• Hooked On Phonics 2^nd Grade
  

Grammar

• Scott Foreman's Online Grammar
  

Handwriting

• Handwriting Without Tears 1^st Grade Printing Book
  
• TV Teacher for drawing Scenes
  

Math

• Horizons Math 1s Grade
  
• Stuart J. Murphy Math Start for Visual Learners
  
  • Collecting Data
    
  • Area
    
  • 3-Dimensional Shapes
    
  • Rounding
    
  • Subtracting
    
  • Regrouping
    
  • Timelines
    
  • Understanding Halves
    
  • Symmetry
    
  • Addition Strategies
    
  • Comparing Numbers
    
  • Calendars
    
  • Probability
    
  • Perimeter
    
  • Making Predictions
    
  • Counting by 2s, 3s, 4s
    
  • Measuring
    
  • Tally
    

Art

• Five-in-a-Row
• Discovering Great Artists: Hands-On Art for Children in the Styles of the Great Master’s

Music

• Classics for Kids Composer of the Month
  
• Local music venues
  
• Locate a drum class
  

Bible and Character Development

• Five in a Row Christian Character Bible Study Supplement
  
• Gotta Have God: Cool Devotions for Boys Ages 6-9
  

Geography

• Five-in-a-Row
  
• Lapbook in Virginia and Washington DC
  

Science & Nature

• Five-in-a-Row
  
• Fieldtrips to zoo, aquarium, natural science museum and nature walks
  
• Co-op
  

History

• Start Family Tree and timeline study
  
• Fieldtrips to historic venues
  

PE

• Tae
  Kwon Do
  
• Sports Galore Class
  

Fine Motor Skills

• Lego Creative Building
  
• Activities found at
  
  • My Montessori Journey
    
  • Skill Builders
    
  • Homeschooling The Chaotic Family

Our primary record keeping will be using Lapbooks with the exception of History which will be notebooking with the goal to turn it into electronic media for a family resource.

Getting Back To The Basics: Homeschool planning 2009

This week was originally meant to be my homeschooling planning and printing week. Last year I had a comfortable chair, a desk, headphones and time to listen to the homeschool conference as I printed out material for the next year. It was a peaceful beginning to a rather peace first half of our school year. This time things are different…much different.

I have been in whirlwind all week trying to find the right planner and to pull together the "right" curriculum because this year it counts. TS is first grade and with new state laws he will be tested at the end of the year. In my mind I had to cover it all, not miss a thing because this year is the beginning of "real school". But I have found myself tied up in knots and can't seem to make even the simplest decisions.

Homeschool planner: Should I buy it or custom make it? Should I do online? Should it be bond or spiral?

Homeschool curriculum: Should we stick to what was working and add in elements or go totally with a boxed curriculum? I printed out the school curriculum how am I going to teach all of this with my current curriculum? How do I fit co-op into our day? How we going to fit lunch into our day?

Homeschool location: Since we have moved we no longer have a homeschool classroom.

Old Classroom

How will that effect TS's concentration? I still have boxes unopened and things to unpack to make this place a home. How can I do that while homeschooling? How is the workbox system going to work in this small space?

I have spent hours blog hopping looking for answers and making list. You should see my bookmark list from this week alone…..89 entries for just planners. I felt so helpless and swamped I actually considered public school. I think public school is great if it fits your child. It does not fit our child and I know he would be miserable after the social aspect wore off.

So last night after a marathon of printing and planning I went to bed praying for guidance and this morning I got this in my email from Alpha Omega:

"If you're starting your new school year depending on your own abilities, be careful. Only the Lord can show you those things that will make your homeschooling truly successful. As you depend on the Holy Spirit, you will not only discover wisdom to teach, but you'll also have your eyes opened to see all that God desires for your family. "Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God" (Psalm 123:1-2a). Lord, forgive me for my foolish pride that fails to acknowledge You as Lord. Open my eyes to see Your plans for our family this homeschool year and teach me to constantly depend on You. In Jesus' name, Amen."