Our week in Review - Week 39

Well last weekend was so busy, I never got around to posting our Week in Review.  So here is our Week from Week 39:

Fresh popped popcorn in coconut oil....I am soooo jealous of these kiddos.  Of course, Joey can't eat it either.

 They played in the snow.

 They were also invited to a pool party with friends.

 Which they had a blast at!!

 We had our Troop's World Thinking Day, our country we represented was India.

 Of course, Art Class where we learned about art carved on City Walls.

 Our first SMASH Club meeting.

 For Adventure Club, they had learned about George Washington.  This game was a play on the Legend of George Washington throwing a coin across the Delaware River.  They threw milk caps across the "river" to the cans.

 They made hatchets and we talked about telling the truth.

 They used coins to do their own Mount Rushmore coin rubbing.

 We had a field trip to the Art Museum to learn about American Artists.  Lydia spotted the Mark Rothko right away.

They then were able to create their own art using watercolors at the art studio.

 We then checked out a History box from our Art Museum.  Since we have been talking about Ancient Egypt in History, this was perfect.  It's packed full of materials....and best of all, it's free to check out!!

 There are costumes

We tried to learn how to play Senet.  We had to fall back on YouTube to help us, and it was still confusing.

Stamping her name with Hieroglyph stamps into her "clay" tablet.  I ran out of clay at art class, so she used playdough.

 Lydia started this study for Science.

 This is a great standby display to talk about the layers of the earth.

 And Lydia LOVES egg salad, so she is working on making that.

 Joey started a study of Knights and Castles from Journey through Learning.  This is the recipe for Original Gyngerbread.

We ground up brown rice flour bread.

 Heated honey, and ginger.

Mixed it all together and let it cool.  It was very yummy!

Caty started Kindergarten math, since she was getting bored with the Preschool math activities.  I also bought her some triangle crayons to see if it helps her grasp better.  She is really stubborn in this area.  I need to find the triangler larger pencils because she has such short fingers, she needs the larger size.

 Lydia and I spent an evening playing games:

Carmen Sandiego USA

Pop for Sight Words...which a couple months ago she couldn't play well.  She was doing wonderful that night!!!

 Working on her SMASH Book.

We also had American Girl Club....They created flags for their families.

Another mom brought wooden tops similar to what Carolyn would have used in Book 1.  They had a blast with this!!!

We had our Homecoming Game and Dance for Special Olympics....Joey's in the center.

 Joey dancing with his friend Barb.

 Lydia loves this dance!!!

 We had a scrapbook party with friends then on Saturday.  It was a great afternoon of paper, food and fun!!!

 Lydia with Grandma

 We also participated in a busy bag swap in our homeschool group.  The library was giving away a ton of curriculum.  I picked up everything in our kids age level, and some extra for our possible co-op next year for music class.

Here's some of the great Swaps we got:

It was a very....very....very busy week!!!  I was exhausted and out of it by Saturday night, but we started all over again the next week :)

Homeschool Mothers Journal - Week 40

In my life this week....

I have been very busy.  There are many, many, many projects I am working on....besides normal life.  I am exhausted daily, and I feel like my brain may melt on a minute by minute basis.  It's the little things that I feel like I am always behind on, but those little things make our house look like a cyclone is going on 24/7.

Back in December I applied for a grant from the local Science Museum for our Homeschool group, and they gave us one for a field trip!!  So I had to attend an Educator's Session on how to use the Science Museum with Kids.  I felt like a nerd that night, and I was snickering with another homeschool mom who came with me.  We were holding back answering questions, while the other teachers were just sitting there not even trying.  They were showing us typical science experiments, and one I had just done with Lydia!  Another one, the other mom knew all the answers to also.  I no longer feel like we are lacking in the area of Science in our house.  In fact, Lydia may be getting more science than they do in a typical Elementary school at this point....lol.

I think all the extra stress is taking a toll on me.  I am tired more, and I have been not doing well again.  I need to rest more, and I made it a point to read a couple nights this week instead of "grading" lessons.

In our homeschool this week...

We missed out on a zoo trip, but so far we are doing well in getting schoolwork done.  The boys got a day behind in some stuff that I didn't get finished with them.  But we are going to catch those things up tomorrow.  Mainly a couple history items, and I needed to really get Joey going on his solar system project model kit.  I didn't want to turn him loose alone, since he has a tendency to not follow the directions. Brayden has been trying to be obstinate, and he now requires me to do ALL his work with him.  So it's a challenge bouncing between all 4 kids at different levels.

Lydia is working on Touch Point Math Grade 2 (watch for the review coming soon)....she has finished her first module, and she's half way through the time module.  She will start Module 2 tomorrow.  Math is definitely her strong subject.  She is really only in 1st grade, so it's really good that she's that far in Math.

Projects I am working on....

I am looking for an inexpensive photography course online.  I really want to get my photography business up and running by summer.  I have loved taking photographs for years, but it wasn't until Joe got me a starter DSLR that I decided that it would be a good choice for me.  Flexible hours, which will work well with us.  I really just want to really become better with the equipment that I have.  I have started collecting props at Goodwill, online sales, etc.  I have tons of names going through my head.

I am also working to get Joey ready for his first craft show.  It's a lot of work for me, but this will actually be a project for both Joey and Lydia.  So we'll wait and see how it works out.  Will update soon.

My favorite thing this week....

Hmmm...this was a hard one.  Was it washing a chicken with rubbing alcohol and starting to mummify it?  What it eating the delicious blueberry cobbler that Lydia and I came up with?  Was it watching Caty create her own "designs" with a busy-bag project?  Was it when I finished a whole book??? (Yeah I finally finished Safe Haven...and loved it!!)  I'm not sure...there was an even mix of good and bad times this week.

Things I am working on.....

I don't even want to list all the little projects....it freaks me out a bit!  I am trying to help the kids with their upcoming Book Festival projects.  I think they all have titles chosen finally.

I'm cooking....

Lydia and I made a really yummy blueberry cobbler that was allergen friendly.  No oats, dairy, soy, gluten, eggs, etc.  I made chicken fried chicken and homemade mashed potatoes and pan gravy one night.  Tonight I made pasta carbonara for dinner...it was pretty yummy.  Even Ms. Caty ate the sauce, and she NEVER wants to eat pasta sauce.  And she had two helpings!!  This weekend, Joey has a cooking project for his 4H program to work on.  (I have to rewrite all the recipes they have in there, since he cannot eat the foods they have listed...going to take a little longer to finish this project.)  I also promised Brayden we would make homemade ice cream.  Joey is begging for pizza pasta, we'll wait and see :)

I'm reading....

I finally finished Safe Haven, and I really liked it!!  Now I got busy downloading from our library.  I am reading

and I picked up a couple recommendations at the library tonight.  They are some of those that they said you would like if you LOVE Downton Abbey.  I am trying to read using my Kindle and also some paper/hardcover books.  I think our kids need to see me doing more reading in both styles.  I don't know if it will help them want to read more for pleasure....but it can't hurt!

These were the two recommendations:

Since I have some at home time this weekend, I have decided that it will be a good weekend to read...read...read!

I'm rewarding the kids this week....

Homemade ice cream.  Going to pull out the ice cream maker and make some yumminess!!!  Then watch movies...love that Netflix has so many Disney titles to stream!!!

A photo to share.....

Our fire department is mainly volunteers, so they only meet monthly.  Since the girls had learned about Fire engines/fire departments a couple weeks ago, we planned to bring them cookies at their meeting.  The girls were super excited to bring them cookies to their meeting and one of the EMTs took them and showed them the ambulances and let them sound the siren on the 1928 fire engine!!  They thought that was the best!!!

Linking up with other homeschool moms at iHomeschool Network.

Abraham's Journey..A Celebration of the American Dream Review

There are a lot of people hurting all around us.  Jobs have been lost, and people are struggling to make ends meet.  This is hard for kids to grasp.  The story of Abraham's Journey ($14.99) is one of following the American Dream.  The Inspiring the American Dream books are written by Robert and Kathleen Basmadjian, Abraham's Journey was written to restore faith in the American Dream.

There is a whole generation of kids that do not realize how much work it takes to get what they want.  They do not understand that life will not just be handed to them.  They have to work hard.  Abraham's Journey is meant to help kids learn this lesson.

Abraham learns that his parents have lost their jobs and will be unable to buy their family gifts for the upcoming holiday.  He understands, but wants to help his family.  With the help of some historical friends he learns of a way to earn money by using his artistic talents.

I don't think that Joey totally understood the point behind the book, showing kids that they can follow their dreams to get what they want.  It takes hard work to get the things that you want and need.  He has never grasped monetary struggles, and may not unfortunately.  Even after reading the book a couple of times, he had lingering questions about why was Abraham so concerned with this issue. 

It was an enjoyable story, and the illustrations were done well.  They kept Joey's attention.  He actually said he felt like he was reading a graphic novel, which he really enjoys.  This book did open up discussions about working together as a family.  How to stay strong as a family, and how our family will always be there for each other.  I also enjoyed that the story not only encouraged helping your family, but helping others who are struggling.

I would say that the age group on this book is late elementary through middle school.  So roughly ages 9 -14.  Like I mentioned, Joey did struggle with understanding some issues. 

You can view more illustrations and purchase the Abraham's Journey by visiting Inspiring the American Dream books.  You can also follow them on Facebook.

Several members of the Schoolhouse Review Crew had the opportunity to review Abraham's Journey, please take a few moments to visit and see what the Crew Mates thought of this story of hard work and generosity.  

  

College Common Sense

I haven't even thought about college yet.  I mean Joe and I are still working our way through and we are almost 40.  To be honest, we are working through so many issues with the boys that college seems like a million years away yet.  I have so many other things to worry about right now.

Lydia is only 7 and in First grade, college just doesn't seem like it needs to be on the radar yet.  I know, that is the wrong attitude to have.  Before I know it, college will be here.  But with Lydia being so young, shouldn't I just be worrying about her common core items and making sure she understands the basics?

Going to college may seem like a far off prospect, but there are things that parents can start doing in early elementary (besides saving for tuition) that will help.  It's simple everyday questions and conversations that will draw your children out and help them to learn those ever important critical thinking skills.  This was something that I never thought would be so important for that way off college education.

College Common Sense is here to help guide you through the mazes of getting your children ready for college, starting at any age.  We recently had the opportunity to try their product Going to College and Preparing for It Online Videos and Workbook ($25.00 for 12 month online access).

Denise Ames has worked in a college Financial Aid office for over 10 years.  She has talked to thousands of parents, who just like me, do not know what to do to help their children prepare for college at any age.  

She has created Going to College and Preparing for It to help parents realize that what works for one family, does not work for all.  She showa parents how to find what will work for them, how to do more than just prepare financially for those upcoming important years.  But she does show those ever important financial aspects in preparing for college also.  I had no idea that children elementary school could actually earn scholarships.

You can check out sample lesson plans from Going to College and Preparing for It.  The program covers topics such as:

• Introduction
• The Big Picture
• How Financial Aid Works
• All About the Free Money
• The System that Works
• You in the Process
• Pull It All Together

Going to College and Preparing for It is available in online format with downloadable workbook for $25.00 for a 12-month access subscription or in DVD format with printable workbook for $50.00.  It can be used with any age group.  The elementary years are more hands on for parents, and as the children grow into middle/high school they are involved more.  

We used this with Lydia, and I found it eye-opening.  The suggestions to do with her were very simple and required little extra effort.  They really just opened up further conversations with her.  I included everything in our general everyday lessons.  She never even realized until I told her, that the extra questions I was asking, were to increase her thinking skills for college!!

This was a great program to help get me thinking about the possibility of college for the kids. I will continue to use this product through the next few years with Lydia to continue to draw her out.  There were great suggestions for creating early writing skills.  I do know that we won't be placing major emphasis for a few more years, but really the program doesn't encourage a massive emphasis at the elementary level.

Even though it seems early to be using it in elementary school, I could see the benefit if you were stressing about college for your children already.  This program would definitely help answer several of those questions that could be on your mind on how to get your child prepared and ahead. 

Still not sure, download the lesson plans and take a look and be sure to check out the SchoolHouse Review Crew Blog members who had the opportunity to use this with a wide range of ages.