3.30.12 Quick notes

We are taking our spring break next week and I am very ready! We have had school for 7 straight weeks. We usually only go 3-4 and then take a one week break. Just like last year, I have one foot firmly planted into our next school year when both should be in the here and now. I spend hours researching curriculum. I bit the bullet and purchased Winter Promise Quest for the Ancient World. They have added a lot more downloadable content and are not including as many books in their packages so you can buy them on your own. This should hopefully mean that I can get most of my curriculum in a timely fashion. (The biggest complaint I see on message boards about Winter Promise is that it can take months to get all of your materials.) I have already downloaded a lot of material for my rising 5th grader and could not be more happy with my decision! I also purchased Rosetta Stone homeschool. Another big decision: I am switching math curriculums. I really really like Math-U-See but my boys complain so much that I figure I might as well try something different. I think it's the subject and not Math-U-See that is the problem but it's worth a try. My oldest learned his latest material by using Kahn Academy after failing to learn it with the MUS DVD.

In our homeschool this week, we talked a lot about Alaska for our states study. The Trans-Alaskan pipeline is an amazing accomplishment, but it seems so odd to have such a blatant man-made item against the serene back drop that is Alaska. See for yourself: http://www.alaskaphotographics.com/alaska_pipeline_photos.shtml

In history, we learned more about the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps, part of the New Deal). We learned a lot about the Golden Gate Bridge and how it was built (cost 35 million dollars and 11 men died, which is actually a small number because the general rule was one man usually died per million dollars spent on a project of that magnitude).

On a personal note,  I have successfully memorized the entire first chapter of the book of James for the study we are doing in my Sunday School class. It hurts my brain but it is good for me. I have spent  hours on the computer looking at curriculum. It is like a black hole! On Sundays I don't get on the computer at all and it is a relief.

Homeschool Mother's Journal 3.16.12

In my life this week…Not adjusting well to the time change and some other stresses in my life and thus am staying up entirely too late, sleeping poorly, and then sleeping too late the next morning. We need a break but I am trying to push through for now so we can take a longer break during a scheduled vacation in May. 

In our homeschool this week…Did not do the states curriculum we are working on. We were a little too excited when our co-op was canceled this week due to a bomb-threat to the church where it is held. Obviously the bomb-threat is terrible, but we did enjoy the day off. I finally got new tires for my van and the tire pressure light is off for the first time in months!

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share… definitely check out http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/ where you can get many free/ inexpensive items. I have been printing some grammar things to fill that box.

I am inspired by… confessionsofahomeschooler.com. How does she make beautiful curriculum, clean, cook, and homeschool? My kingdom for some of her energy!

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing… Went to the lake this week. The boys share a bike and I run as much as possible. We had some beautiful weather this week and last in NC. The boys are winded and complainy (I am making up my own word) but at least we are outside!

Things I’m working on… I am going to redo my household binder. I have been printing sheets and suggestions for it off the Internet. I love a new organization project and am so thankful for the women who do the work for me and make their printables available for FREE.  My new favorite: organizedhome.com.

I’m reading… the book of James for Bible study and just started a book explaining the Jewish feasts/ festivals. 

I’m cooking…  tonight I made my favorite quick dinner: turkey burgers and tomato/ cucumber salad. I will include the recipes below. 

I’m grateful for… the creativity and hard work of my two boys, parents that live nearby, and a walk in the woods my boys took with their grandma ("Binca"). 

I'm praying for...  the opportunities to meet some new friends who I have something in common with. (Any homeschooling mom with perfectionist tendencies who runs slowly and keeps things real out there??)

A photo, video, link, or quote to share… a photo my son took during this walk!

Recipes

Turkey Burgers 

1.5 lbs ground turkey

2 green onions, chopped

2-3 T Lea & Perrins Marinade for chicken (white wine & herb- tangy and yummy!)

1 tsp garlic salt

1 tsp pepper

6 toasted whole-wheat hamburger buns

Combine all burger ingredients and shape into 6 patties. Cook on indoor grill 6-8 minutes per side. Serve on buns. *I always add a slice of provolone cheese and put honey mustard or mustard on the buns.

My favorite tomato-cucumber salad- 

Crunchy Tomato-Cucumber Salad

1 pint grape tomatoes, halved

4 pickling cucumbers or Persian cucumbers (Trader Joe's) or half an English (seedless) cucumber, chopped

4 oz reduced-fat sour cream

3 T ranch dressing mix

shredded cheddar, sunflower seeds, and chopped green onions, opt.

Combine sour cream and dressing mix in the bottom of a medium bowl. Add chopped vegetables and stir to coat. Top with shredded cheddar, green onions, and sunflower seeds if desired.

Homeschool Mother's Journal 3.9.12

In my life this week…Last week we did all of our eye exams, this week we all went to the dentist. I hate the dentist but as we were leaving, a mom came in with her 8 (!) kids, and she was pregnant! She said her family's last name, and said, "We should have all the appointments for the rest of the day." That's got to be a lot of money, even with insurance! A good reminder that someone always has it worse!

In our homeschool this week…Week 2 of our Unites States tour. Since we have been doing US History all year, I wanted to do a unit just on the states. I want to make sure they can locate them all on the map. I am liking this DVD series:   http://shop.history.com/detail.php?a=77330

I ordered it from History Channel when it was half off. We do 5 states per week. The DVDs have about a ten-minute segment on each state, which includes highlights from its history (great review and the boys know most of it!) to its current ways of life, including crops, jobs, culture, even celebrities and presidents that call that state home! Our schedule goes like this:

M-Find the 5 states of the week on US map and color them. Watch the video on 2-3 of the states.    T- watch the rest of the video. Decide on one state to study in more depth.   W- complete folder on chosen state (I do one too). We use the video, books we own, and 50states.com for our information. We complete a lapbook using this great free resource I found:http://www.classroomfreebies.com/2011/11/state-notebook-freebie.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ClassroomFreebies+%28Classroom+Freebies%29 I love it because it includes a photo of the state quarter and license plate in addition to the bird, flower, flag, etc. I also ordered the State Stamp Set from Mystic for only $2 so we post the stamp in our folders, too. We don't do formal homeschool on Thursday due to co-op, but on Friday we present our information to each other, review where the states are located, and update a travel log to keep record of all the states we've studied. The folders look like this when completed:

My favorite thing this week was…I am enjoying my little 7-yr-olds in the co-op class. I love learning US History with my kids, and relearning about our 50 States. 

What’s working/not working for us…I am not doing writing workshop!! I need some new ways to incorporate writing. 

I’m reading…Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst. http://www.amazon.com/Made-Crave-Satisfying-Deepest-Desire/dp/031029326X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1331312207&sr=1-1

I’m grateful for…blogs that offer free printables! My favorite words now are "free printables." I love anything new I can add to our workboxes. SAS Curriculum Pathways is another wonderful site. I had my oldest do Spanish and Grammar this week on their site. It has so much info and activities it would take me a long time to go through. 

I’m praying for…finding a new friend that homeschools and lives nearby. 

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…My cats have decided since I rarely use my bathtub to actually take a bath, that it might as well be used to supply their daily water. I guess it is more like a stream or something where they would naturally get water in the wild (?). So most mornings this is what I see as they patiently wait for me to run some water: