Homeschool Mother's Journal 13

IN MY LIFE THIS WEEK...

This week was kind of a blurr I would say.  We are finishing up a few little things for school and trying to enjoy the couple of 60-70 degree days that we have had.  This Spring has been so cool and wet that when we have a sunny day we just can't seem to believe it!  We love it and wish it would last a bit longer.

IN MY HOMESCHOOL THIS WEEK...

This week we went to the WHO (Washington Homeschool Organization) Convention and enjoyed looking at so many different teaching tools!  However, if you don't go with a plan it is sure to be overwhelming.  That is what happened to us last year (my 1st year homeschooling) and I wasn't sure I ever wanted to go back!  But this year I kind of knew what I wanted and was glad that I had prepared because it went much better than expected.

I came home with the Language Arts and Math curriculum that I had expected too plus a Bible study curriculum I wasn't planning on at all!  I am doing a lot of Notebooking next year so I wasn't looking for curriculum for Bible, History or even Science.  My plan is to get a lot of library books, read, learn, and write about what we learned, draw about what we learned and who knows what else.  But just have fun doing it without textbooks!

So when we came upon this Bible curriculum I was amazed to say the least.  It is called "The Picture Smart Bible" (TPSB) and it is so much fun!  TPSB is a see, hear and do program that uses all parts of the brain, creating a learning experience that is much more deeply seeded and memorable.  It would take me way to long to explain so I hope that you go to their website here and read up on it.  It is truly amazing and I am hoping to do a write up on them in a completely different blog post where I can be more complete in my explanation. I am so excited to do this with my daughter, but as well as for myself!  Our whole family is doing it together!  You can see a picture of the Book of Daniel that you create together to tell the whole story of that book in the Bible.

Great videos about the Picture Smart Bible~  Click here!

I AM GRATEFUL FOR...

My life group women at church.  Life group is the same as home group for some churches I suppose except we do not have a specific Bible study we do.  We get together each week and just read the word of God together and talk about what we received from it.  It is also a place where we can be ourselves, receive wisdom, friendship and love that Christ tells us to show towards each other.  The ladies in my group are just amazing and I am thankful for each one of them.

I AM PRAYING FOR...

For our debt to be paid and an increase in funds so that we can do all that is on our hearts to do for the Lord!

Oh!  And Happy Summer!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

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!