Back to school

fter This last year End of year evaluation,I have been really pumped up about getting Back to school with the kids. I have always kinda went with the flow and not had any sort of real schedule.


This year , I really want to give my kids that little extra nudge just to see how much they can really accomplish . So I bought a book & I am keeping records of all they are doing (kinda a pain but keeps me thinking and on my tip toes) I have also took a look see ,at their online lesson plans for their grade level to see what needs to be done this year..

The Great thing is ,Is that we school year round ,So we don't have to do as much weekly/daily .So I am doing our "lessons" 3 days a week & allowing the other 2 days for what ever comes to mind ;)

It has been a couple of weeks and so far so good.I have even noticed my daughter is reading more ( although I think this is due to our facebook time/reading arrangement lol )

I still can not believe summer is already over and New school year has begun,Is it just me ore does time fly faster the older we get ?

We haved added something new !

ART......
This very word to me means seeing beauty and interest in any & everything..

I have decided to start adding Art History to our school lessons,So that my children can learn to see & enjoy Art in their lives.
I think that for most when they think of Art they think of paintings.So to begin with I will focus on famous painters,I have chosen the 3 artist below to begin with ,As I felt that they all offered something a bit different in who they were & the type of style of artist they were..

Frida Kahlo  ,A self taught Mexican painter who was best known for her self-portraits.

Pablo Picasso  , demonstrated uncanny artistic talent in his early years, painting in a realistic manner through his childhood and adolescence; during the first decade of the twentieth century his style changed as he experimented with different theories, techniques, and ideas. His revolutionary artistic accomplishments brought him universal renown and immense fortune throughout his life, making him one of the best-known figures in twentieth century art.

Georgia O'Keeffe was an American artist born on November 15, 1887 in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. O'Keeffe is chiefly known for her landscapes and paintings of desert flowers, which are often interpreted as yonic symbols.

Leonardo da Vinci who life work was far more then just the Famous

Mona Lisa

Da vinci as seen in this red chalk self-portrait

My daughter's favorite is the Mona Lisa & she  was  amused at the Picasso's nude lady with necklace.

She is already looking forward to the next series of artist and loves doing the new Online art program & Art games ,That I am using to reinforce my teachings.

Please visit again and be on the look out for the next set of artist we will be learning about .

We passed!!!

Yesterday My daughter went for her end of year evaluation.In Florida we have the option to do this instead of state testing.I really prefer this over testing, because it allows me to really see where my kid is at & to get advice,tips & ideas from a Cert. Teacher.

So at the appointment the teacher looked thru some of my daughters work that she had done thru out the year,She also asked my daughter a few questions & did some seat work ,she even did a few riddle games with her ,My daughter thought they were fun .

Afterwards the teacher and I chatted a bit, she said that my daughter was doing really well,She had made great improvements since last year,& that she was at or above her 3rd grade level !!!! :)

She also said my daughter had pretty good spelling skills .Which I was very please to hear,Since we just really started focusing on spelling for her.

This really helps motivate me as home-school teacher/mom to keep on.That yes I am doing a good job and that this is working for my child ...I am not saying I wont have those moments of self doubt,I think all moms whether home-schooling or not have those ,But having the reassurance sure does help keep me positive and motivated !

Reasons to Home-school

To home-school or not to home-school,Once upon a time this was the question...

I am so very Thankful of the choice I made & I owe it all to those  helpful getting started  web sites available on the Internet .When your new and full of questions they really help you figure out how to get started..It has been 5 yrs since I officially started home-schooling  & there are far more then 20 reasons ,I would say my #1 reason I love to home-school is being able to watch my children learn,This amazes me everytime!

What we are Reading

My daughter is starting the 3rd grade this year and of course she is very proud to tell anyone that is willing to listen.
I have really noticed a change  in her over the summer.She is very much into things that make her feel more "Grown up" sigh.... Like wearing lip gloss or watching shows like Icarly ,shopping ,playing games on Face Book & going to the Library and checking out books...
 Of course as a parent I am in one sense screaming NOOOOOO !!!! your still my baby ,Don't grow up to fast !But , On the other hand I am trying to encourage the positive things that she is becoming interested in,Like  her new found love of books .
I of course have always enjoyed reading ,Whether it be fiction or non-fiction,magazine's,blogs ,ect .I sometimes can get on the Internet for hours .My favorite thing to do online is to read  Stories about home-schoolers .
So,like I was saying  I wanted to encourage her to read but,at the same time do more then just allow her to read these books,You know take more of a educational in depth approach to . So I decided that along with the books that she picks out at the library I would pick one and add to it and add a literature based word list. I really feel that doing this along with some games ect,Will only help her Vocabulary & spelling skills .
So After  reading some "Book Reviews" we have decided to start with a Book called ~
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo  :)

Curriculum Reviews..What should you use?

Whether it be a Curious friend thinking about home-schooling ,
A confused newbie home-schooler or Parents on Internet forums,I am always hearing /reading  ,
"What Curriculum should I use????"
This question is very popular,Specially right now with the New school year starting.
With so many options out there ,This question can not only be confusing but just plain stressful!
I defiantly feel that the Internet is one of the best places to do Curriculum research .People are  usually always eager & willing to share their Curriculum reviews ,You can find these reviews by googling "Curriculum Reviews" or searching home-school  message boards .You can also look to see if the brand of curriculum you are interested in has their own Online Parent community ,I can tell you from experience being able to speak with other parents who are using the curriculum you are interested in is so helpful .
A tip I always tell people is that if you are planning on using a Book type curriculum is to try and see if you know some one who is using it or see if they have displays near you,That way you can get a feel for it before you plunge head 1st and buy it.
That  also goes for Online programs too,IMO any good company that stands behind their product will allow you to try Free Demos of it or a least allow you a money back guarantee if you do not like it.
Like I said before I know this can be a stressful but Don't be discourage !
When you finally find the perfect curriculum and you see your child Blossom,It will be worth it ! :^)

Summer School

For most kids home-schooled or Not those very words are like the words Jail to us .....Of course for most kids they probably envision summer school as going to a school sitting for hours a day listening to a teacher re-teach them things they should have or already have learned during the prior school year,Waisting their summer days in side a classroom instead of outside playing ....
No wonder the very words Summer school brings on moans and groans from children every where ...
So I am sure after reading this you will be surprised that our family actually schools Year-Round ...Yes! I am not joking we really do ;)

For me ,My kids do not moan or groan, because I try to lighten the usual school load by doing more summer educational games ..Making school ,especially summer school Fun,Is the  key to happy  non -whinning kids ;)

For those that Do not home-school year round or who don't home-school at all,But are looking for something to help your child retain what they have learned or maybe help them catch up ,So that next year they will  be 100% ready for the next grade . Yet ,do not want to turn your summer into a classroom then I would look into T4L Online Summer Courses ,Only a few hours a week is all that's needed  !
 

I  have always felt that my childs future depended on them getting a good education....How I wished I would have taken advantage of obtaining that for myself when I was growing up.These years are so important for providing them with a good foundation,A foundation which no one should waiste ;)