Wordless Wednesday - Tea Party

The Monday Markdown!

Ok, so I'm a little late, but I'm a busy girl. So now that my excuse has been made, here is the Monday Markdown for this week.

Today only you can purchase Around the World in 180 Days by Apologia Ministries for 30% Off!!! That is a huge savings, so don't miss it because it will turn back into a pumpkin at midnight.

Around the World in 180 Days teaches geography and history on a continent-by-continent basis. The student learns about the major countries on each continent, as well as the basics of the continent’s history, geography, and culture. This is not a textbook. It is a series of questions that the student must research in order to answer. Plenty of resources (available in most public libraries) are listed to help the student in his or her research, and the teacher’s edition has all of the answers. Thus, even if the student cannot find the answer, you will not be lost. The pages in the student book are all three-hole punched and perforated so that the student can fill out the worksheets and compile a notebook which will document his or her work.

The great thing about this curriculum is that it written with a multilevel approach. There are questions for students of all levels, and those levels are clearly marked in the curriculum. As a result, the youngsters can do some of the research, the older students can do different research, and the oldest students can answer the most challenging questions. This is truly a curriculum that your whole family can study at once! Today only $28.00! List price $40.00.

Wordless Wednesday - Inventory Woes

As much as I love being around all these great books - I don't like counting them. UGH...

What I do like is buying new titles and since it's that time of year and I'm on the subject, what are some of your favorite children's books? Does anyone have a suggestions on what I should purchase this year? If so, I'd love to hear about them.

Monday Markdown! Magnetic Pattern Block Set

This week, The Monday Markdown is featuring the Magnetic Pattern Block Set at 30% off!

Magnetic Pattern Blocks Set Sturdy, hand-painted magnetic board by Melissa & Doug with over 140 magnetic wooden shapes and 6 durable, double-sided pattern cards.

It comes in a sturdy carrying case with easy zip back pocket. Provides three levels of play. Slide a pattern card into the wooden frame and match the magnetic pieces to the shapes in the picture. Place a picture sheet next to the magnetic board and use it as a guide to duplicate the image. Use the pieces to create your own unique picture, pattern or design. Great travel toy. Ages 3+. List Price $19.99 Sale Price $13.99

Wordless Wednesday - Homeschool Chicks

Bare Bones Learning - Part 2

One morning at church, a veteran homeschool mom asked me how school was going for us. I told her the usual: that we do well some weeks and some weeks it doesn't feel like we get a thing done. I mentioned that I felt overwhelmed most of the time and all we covered was the basics. Then she told me something liberating.

She said, "When my kids were younger, I wish I had spent more time on math and reading. Now that they're older I can see they would have benefited from more time focused on those subjects and less on the extra curricular stuff." I couldn't have been more relieved to hear that.

I'm starting to see, though, that The Basics really mean more than reading, writing and arithmetic. Obviously those are the very building blocks which support all other learning. But there are other elements in home learning that are very basic. Most of my kids have been reluctant when it comes to school time. Don't get me wrong: they are all creative and learning in other ways. It's when the books come out that they cringe and moan.

So all my best laid plans shrivel under the heavy weight of discouragement. As I previously mentioned, when I discovered Charlotte Mason (CM), I was granted access to a whole tool box full of useful techniques. And I use that term loosely. I am not a "technique" kind of gal. I like to do things my own way. Basically, the CM method offered "techniques" I knew I would use because they seemed so obvious and simple. And a little too easy at times.

I do want to offer a disclaimer. There are many competent writers out there who do a fabulous job of explaining the CM method. They have read through the whole series and written books on the subject themselves. I'm only out to offer a "what I've learned so far" approach to the new homeschooler or someone who may have never heard of Charlotte Mason yet.

So. Onto the basics.

What are my goals?

First and foremost, I had to decide what I envisioned the end result to be for my children; as whole individuals, not just students. And not in the sense of living vicariously through them, but based on their strengths and talents. Then I can determine our educational approach and how we would get there.

This would be deciding if they had interests that would require an elaborate college education or something more along the lines of a trade school. I don't believe college is the answer to every one of life's problems. True education is more than that.

Are you paying attention?

Charlotte Mason says "A child's will must be strengthened so that he is able to make himself do what he knows he should, even when he doesn't feel like it." The idea is to keep the lessons short so that success in paying attention is achieved. And the more the child feels successful in this habit, the better he feels about learning. I have found this principle to be totally true.

We started by keeping math and reading lessons at 10-15 minutes a piece. If that meant we didn't get the scheduled lesson done in it's entirety for math, then so be it. It was more important to me that a habit of full attention with no time for messing around was formed. I should mention here that we also follow a year round schedule. At times, keeping your lessons short mean it takes longer to get through the books. That's why it's important to choose curriculum that allows you this freedom. Eventually the child will be able to pay longer attention as he builds on this habit.

Mom, I'm so bored!

Another basic around my home is having something to do. I really struggle with this. We don't have cable or really fancy video games to compete with, but my kids have recently become very restless. It's as if they suddenly can't find a thing to do. Sometimes I have to take the time to do an inventory of the little crafts and games that I've collected and stashed away, or fun books and make a box of things that the kids might need to be re-introduced to. I'm not much of a game player and I prefer for the kids to use their own imaginations to come up with things. It takes time and we are still in this process. But I believe the key to success in this area is to always make sure you have good quality books and tools available and then readily point them out when people need something to do.

It helps me to have a list of what I have on hand and pull it out from time to time to remind myself that there are, in fact, things for them to do around here. Most of their learning has actually come from them taking the initiative to set up a fun game or build a city with blocks. Always be on the lookout for cheap, yet quality books and building toys. They do exist.

I can't do this anymore!

Maybe you hear your children say this often in some form of defeating statement. But I also hear it in my head frequently. If I'm not careful, the seed of defeat will creep up on me in a heartbeat and frustration takes over my mindset. Day after day of fighting over reading assignments and "hard" math problems can wear anyone down. But I have to remember to not give up. If I've learned anything about my kids, it's that they do not fall into the category of "I learned my lesson quickly." I have to believe that their strong willed natures will serve them well in the end. I have to hope that their unwillingness to bend will make them unbendable to the wrong kinds of influences as teens and adults.

But in the meantime, I must keep plugging away and trying to expose them to good literature and challenge them to think about important people in history. My hope is that by feeding them baby bites of high ideas, that one day they will no longer find it boring and actually thrive on these things. If I had listened to the world, I would have given up home education a long time ago. Faith is the hope of things not seen. I can't see the end result of my homeschooling efforts, but I will make a choice to have faith in the process and that God is working on them from the inside out.

~By Carrie Evans

I'm a wife to a crazy goon who can dance a crazy Scooby Doo dance and likes to crunch numbers. I'm a proud mother of four gremlins, three of which have been fed after midnight and are closely resembling Stripe these days. I'm a writer of random thoughts, nonsensical humor, and occasionally if I'm visiting the Twilight Zone, I might write something a little bit serious.

Sometimes I do other things, like peel fruit stickers off the side of the dishwasher and rock out to 80's music. I've been homeschooling since 2001, but it feels much longer some days, and some days I panic because I can't slow down the Cruel Mistress of Time.

When the school books get put away for the day, and the peanut butter is all scraped from the butter knives that didn't get clean in the dishwasher, I like to do creative things.

Obviously I enjoy writing about the madness all around me. And occasionally I draw portraits for people and for my own pleasure. And if I was totally honest, I'd have to own up to some songwriting that I enjoy doing at church.

And I really like to take crazy pictures.

Like this











Because when our kids are home all day to learn, I've found that opportunities abound for capturing the eccentricities of the young. In my opinion, it's the heart of homeschooling.

Yeah, learning math at one's own pace is crucial.

But having the creative freedom to cut up one's stocking cap for a Spidey mask?

Priceless.

Monday Markdown Madness! Don Freeman's Corduroy

This weeks Monday Markdown Madness is Corduroy by Don Freeman.

Don Freeman's classic character, Corduroy, is even more popular today then he was when he first came on the scene over thirty years ago. These favorite titles are ready for another generation of children to love. Hardcover · 28 pages. · Ages 3-8... List Price $16.99 Sale Price 11.89!

Peanut Butter Energy Balls

This is a great recipe for children. Its fun and easy to make them, and there is no baking required!


Ingredients:

1 cup peanut butter

1/3 cup honey

2 teaspoons unsweetened coco powder

1/2 cup raisins

3/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut, divided

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/4 cup sesame seeds or flax seeds

1/4 cup finely chopped nuts (peanuts, pecans, walnuts, etc...)

Before measuring the peanut butter, stir it well.

• Mix honey, coco powder, and peanut butter until well combined
• Stir in 1/8 cup of coconut, and raisins
• Stir in chocolate chips
• Refrigerate for 1-2 hours
• In separate bowls, place the seeds, nuts, and remaining coconut
• Using a spoon, scoop out small amounts of the mixture to roll 1 1/4 inch balls
• Coat the balls with the coconut, nuts, and seeds
• When finished place on a platter and cover them with plastic wrap
• Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes

Bare Bones Learning - Part 1

If there has been one thing I've done consistently as a homeschooler, it's sticking with the basics. Like all families who have made this homeschooling trek for any length of time, we've come across our share of obstacles. Bumps in the road that, had I not already determined to keep driving, would have thrown our van in the ditch.

Like most people when they set out to start homeschooling, I was overwhelmed, yet excited at all the choices in front of me. My children were young, the possibilities for learning were endless. Or so it would seem. One bump in the road that we encountered early on was the huge speed bump of a strong willed learner. In one year's time, I realized that all my well laid plans of early history and foreign language were for not. My oldest just was not having it. But that's a whole other topic altogether.

It was then that I made the decision to stick to the basics for the time being. I figured that if he only had reading, math and writing, then at least we could say we did something. But I still felt guilty. It started to feel like that's all we ever did. I read about other homeschoolers who were implementing a full course of curriculum at age 6; complete with studies on Ancient Rome and Music Theory. I pined away at the thought that my kids lives would be so much more enriched if only I could convince them that these were interesting subjects. Every time I tried, the bell rung and the boxing match commenced.

Time passed and the children grew older. From time to time, I would try to throw in a bit of art or music appreciation. I tried a workbook curriculum and I gave an online academy a whirl. But in the end, none of them were the right fit. About the time I was wrought with guilt over being such a homeschooling failure, I came across a book that literally revolutionized my view of education at home. A Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola introduced me to the teaching methods of Charlotte Mason, a British educator who lived in the 1800's.

The simplicity of using whole books to educate versus a textbook with dry questions at the end of each chapter intrigued me and encouraged me. In all the curriculum's we had used, the children's and my favorite parts had been finding a corresponding book in the library's non-fiction section to go with our studies. Many times these books were not only easier to understand, but interesting and personal. These are what Charlotte Mason called Living Books. To think that I could use these for my entire curriculum, not including language arts and math, was burden lifting. And so I began a journey of gentle learning that at once seemed much more natural and yet at times like I was cheating the system.

However, I've found that in my research on how to put Charlotte Mason's methods into practice that many people advocate a very advanced type of learning. While that appealed to me, once again I was met with the obstacle of children who just don't fit into that box. Was that to be the end of Charlotte Mason for us? Surely not.

Flexible woman that I am, I have learned that there are other ways around the mulberry bush. You can use Charlotte's high ideals with children who are not ready for Dickens and Shakespeare. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to cover those classic works. But for now, we are still covering the basics. We are taking baby steps even seven years into this homeschooling journey. I am convinced that many people give up after the first year of home educating because they think school must be complex and exhaustive. I hope to share with the frustrated homeschooler some things I've learned about keeping it simple and resting in the fact that bare bones learning isn't cheating your children from anything.

It's giving them a foundation to build on when the time is right ~ by Carrie Evans

Wordless Wednesday - The Best two Bucks I've Ever Spent

This thrift store treasure has given hours of enjoyment.

Homeschool Link - Charlotte Mary Yonge

Oh my....sigh... it's been a long day. I would like to do some further reading, but there is little time left tonight before I konk out right on my keyboard; however, before I go I leave you with a link.

I ran across the text for The Chosen People: A Compendium of Sacred and Church History for School-Children by Charlotte Mary Yonge.

This text is a gem and it would be handy to have in book form or printed on CD for easier use. I will certainly be printing it out for further reading.

Charlotte Mary Yonge was a well known English novelist of many books including the well known, Daisy Chain.

Monday Markdown Madness! Charlotte Mason's Original Homeschool Series

Every Monday you can look forward to Monday Markdown Madness were you will find a huge discount on one special product of our choosing! This price will only last until midnight, so don't wait.

This Week Charlotte Mason's Original Homeschool Series is 30% off its original price!

This is the complete works of the turn-of-the-century British educator, Charlotte Mason. The six-volume set includes over 2,400 pages of the finest material ever written on education, child training and parenting. Recognized as the pioneer in home education and major school reforms,Charlotte Mason's practical methods are as revolutionary today as when they were first written....List Price $58.95 Sale Price $41.27!

Saftey Issues for Homeschoolers Online

From Denverpost.com

Tanya Petty thought taking her children out of school and homeschooling them would protect them from bullies and other dangers.

Her three children take online classes from their living-room computer, and Petty now understands that bullies, predators and other dangers still exist — but in a different form.

"It's eye-opening," said Petty, whose children are enrolled in Connections Academy — a virtual public school for kindergartners...read full article here.

Because I Couldn't Have Said it Better Myself

Yeah I know…it’s been awhile and in light of that, I give you this link. 

I will admit that there is some loss of inspiration, but mostly just a lack of time, so with that, I bid you fair well for today and I hope to be back soon.