The Homeschool Mother's Journal (with an AWESOME coincidence!)

In my life this week: It was back to reality after a week of vacation. My piano students are in a competition on March 12, so I am teaching double this week to help them prepare. I did manage to continue reading for pleasure and actually knit a little bit last night.

In our homeschool this week: We stuck close to home and buckled down, so we accomplished quite a bit. Tonight we are having our African Feast (that goes along with the Story of the World chapter we are currently studying). Wednesday night we had Green Eggs and Ham with a great reading of the book by daddy! We fell in love with The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White - what a sweet, sweet book. A unit on seashells was started, and we learned about place value to the billions.

Places we're going and people we're seeing: Not much this week, just co-op as usual on Thursday. Considering the price of gas right now, it was wise to stay home most of the week!

My favorite thing this week: I found out yesterday that the house next door to us (a foreclosure which has been on the market since last summer) has sold --- to another homeschooling family! A sweet woman sought me out at co-op and told me she had bought a house on my street. Lo and behold, she will be my next door neighbor! She is in her second year of homeschooling (just like me) and we have much in common. We got to eat lunch together on Thursday and we chatted again today on the phone. God is good!

What's working/not working for us: I found this great idea, called "Just This 1 Thing" at the Practical Pages. It is a post worth reading and I think it will be effective in our house. The word for my daughter is immediately and for my son is cheerfully (read the post and you will know what I'm talking about!)

Homeschool Questions/Thoughts I Have: I'm wondering how to better structure our weeks so that I feel like we aren't missing anything. I think maybe we need a special day just for art, music, and extras? We do a little of everything now, but I want to go deeper. Does anyone have any tips on scheduling that has worked in your homeschool?

A photo to share: This is the new Nook for Kids app on our iPad. It's great! The new iPads came out this week and we have iPad envy, but there is still so much our first generation iPad can do. We use it so much in our homeschool, and I think this new app. will be used a lot, too.

*Hop over to Hip, Homeschool Moms to read other mom's journals this week!

The Homeschool Mother's Journal

In my life this week: I've spent a lot of time reading and also finished my first knitting project. I do not want to lose myself in this whole homeschooling endeavor, and am striving to maintain my own "adult" interests.

I am happy with where my blog is right now.... I have gotten several comments that people are using the ideas, recipes, etc... that I share. I am also starting to review at The Homeschool Village, and this gives me the opportunity to have new experiences/ideas to use with my children, as well as share these impressions with other homeschoolers. I think I've discovered the "purpose" if you will of blogging for me. I think it's finding your niche, sticking to it, and blogging with integrity - Christian integrity. I have to guard myself against blogging time eating into time where I should be serving my family, so I pray about this and ask for self control!

Mentally, I have been slowly checking out each day, as we prepare for a trip to the beach next week. We all need a break, and going to the beach and visiting with my mom and dad is always a great vacation for us. On several occasions this week I have found myself thinking "Wow, I am so blessed".

In our homeschool this week: We spent a lot of time preparing for the Homeschool Literature Fair, which was Friday. Each of my children read a book and prepared a display, as well as a hands on research project. I'm so proud of both of them - Miss B. won first place in her age group, and my little guy soared through the personal interview portion (I was a little worried about that part for him!). The Trumpet of the Swan, by EB White, was our read-aloud this week , and I think they both looked forward to this the most each day. We also continued to enjoy Story of the World, and I finally broke down and ordered the Kingfisher Encyclopedia of History - what a beautiful book! All other subjects continued as usual.

Places we're going and people we're seeing: The big event was the literature fair, and of course everyone is excited for a trip to Grandma & Grandpa's next week!

My favorite thing this week: finishing my first knitting project!

What's working/not working for us: Can I say it AGAIN? Story of the World -- something about it just clicks for both of my children.

Homeschool Questions/Thoughts I Have: I am still pondering our science curriculum, and think I have finally decided upon Apologia, but am going to wait until the used book sale in the spring!

A photo to share: My first completed knitting project.... and the picture of my little guy and I just makes me happy!

*Hop over to Hip, Homeschool Moms to read other mom's journals this week!

The Homeschool Mother's Journal

In my life this week..... I've tried to spend more time being peaceful. Last Saturday I started a new knitting project (which you can see here) and when the kids have quiet time in the afternoon I spend at least 30 minutes of that time knitting and watching the news. It is amazing how much more relaxed I am for the rest of the day.

In our homeschool this week... Miss B finished her current math book and will start the next level on Monday. When we took her out of school in the middle of third grade I had her start in a third grade math book at the beginning. We took is slowly and learned for mastery. I'm so proud of her and we're ready to tackle the fourth grade book now!

Places we're going and people we're seeing... lots of rain and cold weather here this week, so we didn't go many places, other than our co-op Thursday afternoon and swimming at the YMCA on Friday.

My favorite thing this week was: doing some swimming myself and hanging out in the very WARM therapy pool at the YMCA while watching my kids swim and dive with the pool all to themselves!

What's working/not working for us: We need to find a way for my six year old to blow off more steam before we get to work each day. He is so full of energy! Notebooking is really working for us. Miss B completed a notebooking unit on the state of Maine and I think she had a great time researching famous people, inventions, and state history.

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have: What's everyone's favorite curriculum/resource for science? I've been hearing so much about Apologia lately and need to investigate this week.

A photo to share: This comes from swimming yesterday - I took it on my phone and then used the Instagram app. It's so much fun to play with pictures this way! I love the '70s effect here.