Monday, April 23, 2012

Spring Sunshine Cancels School!!

The last three days have been totally filled with amazing sunshine and 60 and 70 degree days!  Today it happens to be 77!  We have been in the 50s for a long time and have only had a couple nice days until this weekend and I am for sure in heaven.  

We have even canceled school today (you can do that when you homeschool *wink*) to have a play day with good friends!  We thought we better since the sun is leaving us again tomorrow for another rainy spell.  But our Muppin has made great use of this outdoor weather and has spent most of her time in the sun.  

She got a frog this weekend as well!  That is another story.  His name is Hoppy and she got him from Church of all places.  Well, God sure has a sense of humor because I could have gone the rest of my life and not owned a frog!  LOL

What do you do when you have nice days and the weather has been generally yucky?  Do you cancel school and play?

Here is our precious little Hoppy! 


Friday, April 20, 2012

Homeschool Mother's Journal 11

IN MY LIFE THIS WEEK...

This week has been very busy indeed.  We started it out by going camping last weekend for my birthday and it was fun.  It was on the cool side but we did have sun and the rain did not find us until we packed up and went home, I am grateful for that too! I love my family so much and what better way to spend my birthday than out in the woods, just us and peace and quiet!

IN MY HOMESCHOOL THIS WEEK...

I still struggle with what I am going to do with my daughter for homeschool.  I am using Lifepac right now and it is a great program but still doesn't feel right.

I have been reading a homeschooling blog this week called Sprittibee and it has been such a blessing to me.  She is part of a blog series called "10 Days of Homeschool Series - A group Venture" and she is doing her series on "Accidental Homeschooling" and it is perfect for me at this time.  And because of her I am seriously looking into a mix of unschooling, unit studies and book work.  I know, right!  How crazy of a mix is that!?  But here is the thing.  My daughter is a very creative type person, just like my husband.  And for her, sitting and working in a book for a long period of time is just not fun.

I am thinking of continuing with Lifepac for one or two subjects, not sure yet.  If I do it will be math and language.  But I am not sure if I want to use books for the language or teach her through unit studies or by other means.

Then I am thinking of using some unit studies that really speak to my Muppin's desires and dreams that were created by Amanda Bennett (If you haven't seen her stuff, go to her Pinterest page, there is a lot of awesome stuff.  Just click her name).  One of the first studies we will do will be on horses.  Muppin longs to learn as much as she can about them.  

Then I think we are going to do a lot of unschooling for the rest of the subjects.  I plan on reading a lot of history and science stuff to her as well as getting those books in shorter forms that she can read for herself.  I know am getting Apologia's Exploring Creation with Astronomy, which is another passion of my daughter's.  Yes I know that isn't unschooling, but we will not be regimented about it, but let her learn at her pace and she will have fun with it.

With that I believe our second grade year will be a full one, regardless of the fact that I don't have one style of teaching that I am utilizing.  How awesome is it that we can cater to our kids learning styles in this way!  And because of that I think she will thrive and not be bored in the least bit. 

If any of you have any other great options or ideas then I would love to hear them as well!

HELPFUL HOMESCHOOL TIPS OR ADVICE...

Follow the heart of God for your children, He will never steer you wrong!

QUESTIONS / THOUGHTS I HAVE...

How did I become more busy than I was when I had a full time job that I worked 60 hours a week at???  

I AM GRATEFUL FOR...

Other bloggers out there that encourage us all and make me believe I can do it too!

A PHOTO / VIDEO / LINK / QUOTE TO SHARE...

This is from our visit to Northwest Trek!  It is amazing to see all the wildlife up close and personal in their own habitat, yet remain safe!  This tree was huge and several hundred years old.  Of course Muppin had fun posing!  Have a blessed week!



 The Homeschool Mother's Journal

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

What Other Changes Would You Like To See?

My changes are almost done!  How exciting.  I just have a few more things to change but those will be slower changes.  First I will be changing my Tabs at the top of the page, combining some things and adding others.  I will also be looking into getting some cute buttons for my page for my Twitter and Facebook pages so that is coming soon.  I will also be making a button that can be used on your sites if you want to share the love!  

What other changes would you like to see?  Anything exciting I am not thinking of?



Tuesday, April 17, 2012

What do you think so far?

This is a good start!  Much softer I think and very spring, which is me!

I have a couple issues though I need to figure out.  There is a ghost image on the left hand side bard about 1/3rd of the way down.  I can see it, can you?  If so, do you know how to get rid of that image? 

I wish I could make the type bigger in the center where my blogs show, it doesn't allow me to change it!  

I also have to fix the Facebook links so they are easier to read.  That will come later.

Do you have any ideas, thoughts, or help?  I would love to hear it!

Blessings!

Changing the look!



 Hi!!!  I am working on a new look for my blog and wanted to warn you that it might take a day or two to get it the way I want it.  It may look strange as I change bits and pieces of it here and there.  It will not be the final look but it will be fun for now.  When this change is done I will be working on some things to make it more personal down the road.  This is just one step closer.  


Thank you all for patience!