What the heck do we teach our children anyway???

The kids and I had a fabulous time this morning sitting at the kitchen table, laughing and joking and learning some spelling words.   It was one of those times where I sat back and realized how blessed I am to have such funny wonderful kids and being able to be at home and teach them.  The memories we are making sitting at that table will last forever.  I just wanted to take a picture.  So I did....

Many people ask me what resources there is available for home schoolers.  I also have people ask what curriculum I use.  That's such a hard question because I don't use one set curriculum.  It would be so easy if I could but in the 6 years that we've been home schooling, I haven't actually found one curriculum that works for my kids in every subject so I mix and match and make up my own curriculum.   I figured that I would write up a blog post on what we are using this year so that I can send the people who ask me online here to answer all their questions!

Let me just say first that we got off to a rough start this year.  Mainly because "T" for some reason thought that writing things out by hand was a form of torture.  Ya think he might be a product of his generation?  

But I stuck it through and eventually he realized that handwriting wasn't the end of the world and if he stopped complaining and whining about it, he could actually get through it pretty quickly.  Besides his complaining and whining wasn't getting him very far with me.

We are three and a half weeks into our school year and we have settled into a routine and things are going fabulous.  I'm actually way more organized this year and it's actually making my day go smoother!

Okay so what are we actually teaching anyway?  Well lets see.....

"J" is in 5th grade now... She is doing amazing at getting straight to work without so much daydreaming and being distracted.  She's like a completely different kid! hehe Here's what she is doing...

LANGUAGE ARTS

Switched on Schoolhouse Language Arts~ This is a computer based program.  We did Switched on schoolhouse for history and science last year but we didn't like it as it was too much computer time for her. We do like it for language arts though.

Explode the Code book 8~ This is a workbook that helps with grammar.

Canadian Handwriting Book D~  Just your basic cursive writing workbook.

HISTORY

We are doing some Canadian History this year. A complete Canadian History curriculum is very hard to come by so I sort of pieced one together.  Surprisingly when I started to plan what we were going to do, I found out that they all work together really well and the workbook had a teaching plan in it that included the two other materials!  "J" is also following along and participating in "T's" history lessons but more about those later.

Courage and Conquest~ A workbook by the author Donna Ward.  We have done other Canada study books as well as a Africa unit study written by her and have really enjoyed them.

Canada, A People's History~  I found this video series made by cbc and just had to have it.  

Discovering Canada Book Series!  There are about 10 of these books on different subjects.  They have fun little projects in them and lots of information.

MATH

Teaching Textbooks 5~ This is a computer based program as well.  It's great. It grades all her work and gives her lectures on what she is studying.  She can choose to just work on the computer or she can work in the textbook and transfer it onto the computer.  This year she decided that it is easier to work in the textbook and then transfer it.  This is our third year using this program and quite honestly it's such a relief to me.  We used to struggle so much with math before using this program.  It would take her 2 hours to do one page of math but since switching to this program, it takes her 20-30 minutes tops to complete it and understand it.

SCIENCE

Exploring Creation through Zoology 1: The Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day ~ We decided to combine science this year with "J" and "T".  It's working out really really well.  "T" who is completely fascinated with animals of all kinds, loves this book and we are only 2 lessons in.  "J" is not quite so enthusiastic about it.  I think she's dreading the lessons on bats and insects. hehe but she likes the activities that we do and they are always asking to do Science and History first so that tells you something.

ELECTIVES

Switched on Schoolhouse Health Quest ~ Once again a computer based program. It's a health course.. not really much else I could tell you about it.  She's only done 2 lessons so far.  I won't bother putting a picture up since it looks like the language arts one.

Exploring the History of Medicine ~ This one was completely "J's" choosing.  We were standing in line at the home school curriculum fair waiting to pay for our books when she saw this book and wanted to do it. We haven't actually opened it yet since I kind of forgot to schedule it in but I think this will be one that she and I do together since it really interests me too.  

I have a french program for her also but I can't seem to get it to work on her computer so I am waiting on Jeff to help me get that figured out.  And that's what "J"is doing.  

"T" is in second grade and working well now.  He doesn't like reading practice or handwriting but he gets through them without too much complaint now.  He is very into science so he loves doing that. He is really good with math as well. He seems to be able to grasp a concept within minutes of it being introduced.

LANGUAGE ARTS

First Language Lessons For the Well Trained Mind Lvl 2 ~ We just switched to this language arts book this year.  Previous years we had been using Alpha Omega Lifepacs but the kids found them a bit too dry and it took them too long to do them.  With this book we spend about 10-15 minutes per lesson and he's really remembering the stuff he's learning.

Writing with Ease ~ This is a writing program.  He doesn't enjoy it but it's helping him to form full sentences so that's great!  

Explode the Code Books 1 & 2 ~ Again Grammar workbooks.

MATH

As I said "T" is very good at math.  He knows a lot of the grade 2 math already so I've decided to move him up to third grade math.   Right now we are using a grade 2 math workbook that I found at the superstore as a review.  He is breezing through it like no tomorrow.  He's already half way through the book and we are only 3.5 weeks into school.  

Teaching Textbooks 3 ~ This is the same curriculum as "J" uses.  Computer based.  It only starts in grade three but I really wish they made it for grades 1 and 2 as well.  "T" will start this after he finishes the grade 2 workbook.

HISTORY

The Story of the World Vol 1: The Ancient Times~  We actually started this program at the beginning of the summer and we are still working on it.  I love love love this program.  This is one that "J" and "T" are doing together and it's their favorite subject I think.. well I guess that's not true.. I just asked "T" what his favorite subject was and he said Math!  Anyway, it's excellent and we are having fun with it.

The Story of the World Vol 2: The Middle Ages ~  When we are finished with Volume 1 which will be the middle to end of October, we will start with Volume 2.  As I said I really really love this history curriculum!

And that's that.. I think... Oh and we use a variety of readers for "T" to practice reading such as the "Little Bear" series and the "Frog and Toad" series.    And this summer I found at a library sale a bunch of old novels such as Moby Dick, The Wizard of Oz, Pollyanna so "J" is practicing her reading with those.

Well I hope you like my blog post today.. I hope I didn't miss anything.... it took a couple hours to write what with getting the family supper and taking "T" to Karate but here you go.. now I"m going to head off to my dad's to vaccum my van out.. well that's after I get the kids to bed....

A post from my phone.

Hello all.

I'm just testing out posting from my phone.  I really want to make a point to be posting on an almost daily basis and in order to do that I may need to post from my phone once and a while.  But considering it just took me five tries to type the word "may". It might not happen often.

Anyway.   My thoughts for today.  I can't believe my baby is sleeping in a big girl bed!!!

Imagine a picture here because apparently I need to download an app in order to post pictures from my phone.  So night.

Edited to add that I gave in an downloaded the app and wala! A picture!

5 years ago today.....

A new little love came into my life.  Boy #2  arrived after 5 hours of labor and was in such a hurry, they were yelling for the doctor to run down the hallway.  She barely made it before he arrived.  My first words upon hearing them say "it's a boy" was his name.. A name I had loved since a teen.  I fell in love with this little buddy before I knew him.

What I didn't know that day was what a ride the next 5 years would be.  In the same way he was born, he goes through life.  Always moving, in a hurry to do things that he shouldn't be able to do.  This kid was crawling at barely 6 months, took his first steps at 9 months, learned to climb the bunk bed ladder at 12 months... then when we took the ladder away, at 15 months he figured out how to climb the headboards up to the top bunk.... A dresser placed in front of the headboard detered him for a couple months but at 18 months he figured out he could climb the dresser to get up at the top bunk.

Constantly moving.. that's how I describe him.  He's a funny little guy.

Who is growing up to be a wonderfully funny boy.

I can't imagine my life without this boy.  I can't believe he's five years old!

My Summer in Pictures

Well it saddens me to say that summer is over.  The kids are sad that their friends next door have gone off to school and I'm happy and thankful that I don't have to send my kids off to school.  Otherwise this handsome little fellow would not be doing this right now...

Yes that's right.. If I didn't home school, I'd be sending this little buddy off to school today and my heart would be breaking along with all the other mommies who have to send their babies to school.  Anyway...to commemorate the first day of school and the fact that I don't HAVE to get dressed right away for fear of neighbour kids knocking on the door first thing I thought I'd write a blog almost completely of pictures.   Here we go.. here was our summer.

At the beginning of the summer we were very fortunate to have walked into my sister's barn just at the exact moment that an ewe was giving birth to the second of a set of twins.  It was fascinating, gross and cool!

  We built a sandbox and I put the kids to work.

But they all enjoyed it when the work was done.

There were plenty of sword fights. 

And play doh creations.

Some hospital visits...... 

And plenty of Lemonade stands.  All their proceeds went to Africa and over the summer they made almost 200 dollars.  Most of which went towards buying treats and a trampoline for an orphanage in Mozambique.

Learned some interesting history....

And made a home made slip and slide!

Mommy got to go out and have some yummy fancy food!

And we had lots of bbq's....

There were parades with friends.... 

And princesses to wave at....

We were given a trampoline for loads of fun!

We can't forget sharing towels with little sisters who are "coldy"
















 













And that little sister doing what she does best.....

 We had campouts at the cottage.....

And library reading clubs 

 We made raspberry jam and got it all over our lips.

 And hung out with the cutest crazy haired baby...

 

We hung out at friends houses.....

And got to see other friends from afar!

Learned some photography skills....

We stayed at a friends camper......

Where some of us were just too cool....

We went to the beach ALOT!

Where we buried little boys and....

 made sand turtles...

Hay rides.... 

and crazy cousin pretend rides.....

Three year old birthdays.... 

and forty year old birthdays... (not me I've got a few years yet)

Boys who try to break dance and end up falling on their face....

 One last camp fire.....

 Complete with spooky stories.....

that were more funny and silly than spooky....

Swinging on the swing with daddy......

Watching the last sunset of the summer.....

There you have it.... Our busy fun filled summer.  There were lots of other stuff we did that didn't involve too many pictures but this was most of it.  And now... as though he knows that the end of summer has come, my little kindergarten-er is begging to do his new school books... even though we aren't supposed to start until Tuesday... Oh well, he'll just get ahead..... love my life.

Big day today!

Today.....

Well today marks the day that started it all.  13 years ago today I got to marry the funniest guy I know and we've been laughing ever since.  I'll tell you a little about my first impressions of him.  We met when we were 15 years old.  In high school.  I was in grade 11 and he in grade 10.  He was also friends with a couple of my friends.  So we ended up hanging out together during lunches and recesses with all our friends.  We were kinda nerdy and had the same hangout spot every day.  Anyway...Our flirtation started with some staring contests.  I didn't mind because he had the most dreamiest eyes! (is that a word?)  I could have stared into those eyes all day long.  So we had staring contests for a couple months.  Eventually it came time for people to start talking about the christmas prom.  I had confided to my cousin Justin that I would like to go with Jeff if he wanted to go with me.  I was super shy about that kind of stuff.  My cousin being not so shy took it upon himself to ask Jeff if he was going with anyone and if he wasn't that I was available.  I was mortified but secretly glad.  At the end of the school day, Jeff walks up to me, hands me a note and then walks off.  I thought it very weird but I threw the note in my pocket and went on with my day.  You have to understand that when I was in high school I was very very involved with my church where I was out most nights of the week.  On this particular day, it was a busy day and I didn't remember the note again until about 9 o'clock that night.   It was a long sweet note full of love, friendship, encouragement and insecurities.  I loved it.

Yes this is the original note he gave me almost 17 years ago

   
Unfortunately I still had another hour before I could go home.  As soon as I was done, I rushed home and called him.  I never thought of it but the poor guy was just waiting by the phone worrying about how his note went over and I in my teenage naiveness (there I go again with made up words) just nonchalantly called him up.  Anyway we talked for a very long time and I was so shy about it, that I didn't bring up this very important question------------------>>>
until he finally couldn't take it any longer and asked me again.  Like I said... Poor guy.. had no idea what he was getting into.  And so began a journey full of ups and downs, love, loss, renewal and friendship.  I love that man with all my heart and look forward to another 50 years with him if I'm so blessed to live that long.

Another event that happened on this day is the birth of our baby girl 3 years ago on our 10th anniversary. I kept telling her not to be born on this day but she didn't listen. 

 I guess I should have realized that was a forewarning of what kind of little personality she would have.  This girl... what a girl.... She's spunky that's for sure.

 Words to describe her?  Beautiful, bossy, strong willed, loving, sweet, princess, independent and silly.  As she grows her personality changes. She's the baby of the family and she lives up to that role well.   She's my little sweet pea and one of the loves of my life.  I couldn't imagine life without her so I guess I'll forgive her for being born on our anniversary.

And to leave you today..

A quote from Sweet Pea!

"stop bothering me! I'm trying to read!!!"

Notice that the book is upside down?

Abducted - A review for Tyndale Publishers

This book was a well written story about a woman named Carly Edwards.  The book takes us through her journey as a police officer.  All through the book the chase is on to help save her partner's baby boy who was kidnapped.  There are all kinds of twists and turns along the way.  It also tells the story of her faith and her struggles with her ex husband and a possible reconcillation with him.

I liked this book okay.  I hadn't realized that it was a second book in a series so I was a bit confused sometimes when the author referenced things that had happened in the previous book.  It wasn't the kind of book that I couldn't put down and when I did pick it up, it took me a few pages to get back into it.  I'd definitely recommend reading the first book first!  It was a great casual read but probably not something that I would buy the whole series for.

This book was sent to me by Tyndale Publishing for purpose of review.  I am not required to provide a positive review, just my honest opinion.