Posted by Cindy on March 28, 2007
We just finished a wonderful lapbooking unit on horses! Back when Eli was only a month old, we did our very first lapbook on snow. Although it was fun and a great learning experience, I didn’t put much effort or planning into it. This time, I took time to plan and – wow, what a great unit it’s been. The kids have learned SO MUCH and have a beautiful keepsake of their work to remind them of our time spent.
I used the lapbooking unit from Hands of a Child and added some of my own assignments as well, especially for Mahayla. Her added work included a circle story about a horse, a horse report, taking/saving/printing pictures of horses, a checklist of horse care skills learned, a log of horse books read and songs learned, a map of horses around the world, drawing horses, a visit to a tack shop and horse farm, completing a crossword of breeds, and creating a horse comic strip. Caleb did some of these things, too. There were some of the activities we didn’t do from the Hands of a Child unit because I preferred to have the kids learn a few of the things in different ways. The lapbook books can get a little tedious, so I spiced things up a bit.
Here are the covers. Mahayla’s is a picture she drew. Caleb’s is a dot-to-dot he colored.
Here are the back covers – a world map.
Here is Caleb’s – two folders put together. In the first. I’m holding up a story he narrated that we stapled at the top. In the second, I’m holding up a Draw Write Now horse picture he drew.
Here is Mahayla’s. Hers is three folders put together. The second picture shows an animal report and a drawing stapled at the top. There are lapbook activities underneath. The fourth picture is the third back of a folder.
Posted by Cindy on
Send ‘em to “public school”!!!
This morning my kiddos had to be up and dressed, with chores finished, and sitting at the kitchen table by 8:00am. School was in session from 8:00-3:00! They were given one 1/2 hour lunch/recess and two bathroom/water breaks. The had to sit at the table in hardback chairs the entire time, and even raise their hands to speak!
About twice a year, I have to bring the “public school” into my home. Why? Because my sweet children have no idea how blessed they are to be homeschoolers. After day upon day of whining and complaining about the work they have to do, I finally decided that they simply must be reminded about how thankful they should be. So, I loaded them up with twice the workload (the worksheets, worksheets, oh the worksheets!!) and designed a very structured, very long day. Poor things were exhausted by 3:00 – will they never learn?
But, I am so looking forward to tomorrow! A slight reminder of our public school day will bring sweet smiles to their faces and joyful work from their hearts! For awhile anyway…….Then “public school” will find itself back in my home for a visit yet again.
Try it! It’s a bit of extra work for you, but WELL worth the effort!!
Posted by Cindy on March 17, 2007
Co-op gals – I’ve found yet another wonderful resource for lapbooking info, ideas and links. Be sure to have a cup of tea and plenty of time before you visit this link!
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/eclecticeducation/Lapbooking/
Posted by Cindy on March 15, 2007
It’s that time of year again – catalog time!! My greatest pleasure when going to the mailbox is to find a homeschool catalog, or even better, a package!
Over the next few days, I’ll be adding to a wish list of homeschooling things I’d LOVE to own if money were no object. Of course, money is an object, so most of the list won’t ever make it to my house! But it sure is fun dreaming……….
Bible/Character
Student Bible Atlas
Veritas Press Bible Cards
Chronicles Of Narnia Set
Pilgrim’s Progress Unit from Answers In Genesis
Trail Guide to Bible Geography
Building on the Rock devotional series
Grandpa’s Box
Mr. Pipes series
Grapevine Studies
Language Arts
Handwriting Without Tears
IlluStory
Math
Science
Lyrical Science CDs
Exploring Creation with Zoology I & II
Pocketful of Pinecones
Moody dvds
Microscope
Electronic Snap Curcuit set
Wild Goose science kits
History/Geography
Legends & Leagues book and workbook (I’ve never actually seen this, but sounds so good!)
Hands & Hearts Sets – all of ‘em
History Pockets – all of ‘em
Veritas Press History Cards
Hands-on Geography
Mystery of History Vol. 2
Your Story Hour CDs
Henty novels
Story of the World Audio CDs
d’Aulaire books – all of ‘em
Ted Rand books – historical fiction
Holling C. Holling books – all of ‘em
Other Subjects
Classical Kids CDs – all of ‘em
Latin For Children
Getting To Know the Great Artists/Composers books – all of ‘em
Raising Modern Day Knights
Guitar For the Absolute Beginner video
Many Vision Forum CDs
Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends
Rosetta Stone Spanish
Music Ace Deluxe CD-ROM
Fun Stuff
Continuo game
Somebody game
Herd Your Horses game
Little Trackers game
Squint Jr. game
Tally Ho! game
Blokus game
Logo Works – computer programming for children
10 Days in Africa/Europe/USA games
Posted by Cindy on March 14, 2007
My goodness, there are so many curriculum choices! It can be very overwhelming to choose just the right thing sometimes. Even when I choose something that I think will be perfect, it isn’t always. Thank the Lord for places like Vegsource and Ebay! As the years have gone on, I’ve gotten much better at choosing things that I don’t have to turn around and sell almost as quickly as they come in the mail!
As I share some of my favorites, I’d love to think they might be your favorites, too, but your children and mine may not be alike. Your style and mine may not be alike. Either way, I hope this list encourages you to use curriculum that inspires your child. Yes, inspires!
Is it important to me that my children get a complete education? Yes.
Is it important to me that they learn certain things that they really couldn’t care less about? Sometimes.
Is it important for me to make sure they have a good foundation in the basics? Absolutely.
But, most important to me is that they are inspired. That they love to learn and know how to find answers to their questions. That they leave most (not all) lessons with a sense of purpose. That what they learn fits their learning style so well that it hasn’t been a source of complete frustration.
Figuring all this out hasn’t happened overnight. I’ve made a lot of mistakes, and will continue to. But, I have no problems chucking one not-so-good thing for another better thing when needed. I feel like it’s my responsibility to create an inspiring atmosphere over just a “here is your work for the day, get it done” atmosphere.
Some people ask, “How do you know you’re covering everything if you don’t follow one complete curriculum all the way from 1st grade through high school?” My answer: Who’s to say THEY are covering everything? Especially everything that MY children need to know. My children have special talents, skills, interests and desires that God gave them. I’m much more qualified to see those things and teach towards them than a pre-set curriculum, right? Also, if I’m using a variety of math curriculums, let’s say, I’m most likely going to cover just about “everything” at some point anyway. And even more importantly, if I “miss” something, they will have all the skills and resources necessary pick it up when needed. No one person or curriculum can possibly teach EVERYTHING anyway.
So for my favorites (so far):
PK
NOTHING formal
Lots of read alouds, crafts, easy experiments, easy cooking, letter and number games, songs, poems, free art time, dress up, dramatic play….
K-1st
Teach You Child To Read In 100 Easy Lessons
BOB Books
Starfall.com & Workbooks that go along
Expode The Code
Reading To Learn Series from Christian Light Publications (1st-3rd)
Spelling Workout (late 1st)
First Language Lessons (late 1st)
Five In A Row
Horizons Math
Miquon Math
Keyboard Capers (music theory)
Still lots of the same informal learning as PK. My lessons were/are very short at this age.
2nd/3rd
Reading To Learn Series
First Language Lessons
Abeka Grammar (3rd)
Spelling Workout
Mind Benders
Horizons Math
Miquon Math
Five In A Row
Apologia Elementary Science
Considering God’s Creation
Lapbooking Units from Hand of a Child and Knowledge Box Central
Story of the World (I start this in 1st)
History Pockets
4th
Intermediate Language Lessons
Saxon 5/4
Story of the World
Mystery of History
Apologia Elementary Science
Lapbooking Units from Hands of a Child and Knowledge Box Central
Bible and Character Training for PK-4th
The Child’s Story Bible
Big Bible Timeline
Miller Stories
Discovering Jesus in Genesis
Jotham’s Journey
Answers In Genesis DVDs and Seven C’s Curriculum
For Instruction in Righteousness
Jonathan Park Adventure CDs
I’ve used many other things, but these are my favorites. I’m never using everything at once, just in case you think the lists look really long! 
I would love to hear some of your favorites! Please add them to the comments.
