Blog Awards

I received my first Blog Award!  I am not sure what that means, but it sure is fun!!  Thank you to Becky over at A Country Classroom !!!!

The Versative Blogger Award


The Rules


1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award

2. Share 7 things about yourself

3. Pass this on to 12 other great bloggers you recently discovered

4. Contact the selected bloggers and tell them about their awards

Here goes!

7 Things about myself:

1.  I am 39 years old.

2.  I have 6 tattoos that I would love to have removed.

3.  I love small town life.

4.  I mow the lawn for exercise.

5.  I've recently lost 44 pounds - 64 to go!

6.  I love chocolate.

7.  I love being a SAHW&M

12 Bloggers I am passing the award to because I enjoy their blogs so much:

1. Our Busy Homeschool

2.  To Be Busy at Home

3.Confessions of an Organized Homeschool Mom

4.  Choosing Joy

5.  Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers

6.  Forever and Always No Matter What

7.  The Simple Life of Eight

8.  Elemental Science

9.  God Made Home Grown

10.  Happy Hearts at Home

11.  Hawaiian Dreaming

12.:  Mom of 3 Crazy Boys

Weekly Report October 18-22

Yeah!!! We did it!! Bear did a TOG week in ONE WEEK! It didn't go exactly as planned on paper, but we still finished. When we started back in August I told myself up front that it was OK to take a little longer because we were new to the Tapestry of Grace Curriculum. Now that it is October I had to figure out a way to step it up.


Here's how it worked out:

Monday: History reading and Writing Aids Lecture (Week 1 of 3), Literature reading
Tuesday: History reading, Lit reading
Wednesday: Lit Reading, Geography, Writing Aids Lit Analysis work
Thursday: Lit Reading, Pageant of Philosophy
Friday: Famous People Summaries, History Evaluations, Dialectic Discussion and Accountability Questions

The only thing he didn't get to was working on his Book Of Colonies, which is the Unit Long Project. He will have to work on it more next week.

Monday we'll begin TOG Week 24 and will go for the original plan and see if we can follow it this time. We had extra errands this week and we do Co-op on Thursdays so we just need to plan a little better this coming week. It would help if he didn't sleep in.

Noodle had a very light week due to our extra errands and me not having enough time to do more with him. He did keep up with ETC, OPGTR and a little math.

Noodle's Cub Scout troop visited an assisted living facility and decorated some pumpkins for the elderly people.  They also performed the  Cub Scout Oath in Sign Language for them. 

Weekly Report Oct 11-15

This week flew by.  On Monday I worked on cleaning out the kitchen cabinets, which I previously blogged about.  I filled two more boxes for the garage sale.

This week Bear got a new math teacher!!  I am trading babysitting for Algebra with a friend of mine who has no problem with Algebra nor any bad math history with my son.  I am so excited and so is Bear!

He continued work on Apologia Physical Science by completing Module #3 and taking the test.  Passing of course.  For the co-op speech class he wrote an informative speech about venomous snakes.  His English work this week was some R&S Grammar and Wordly Wise. 

He also wrapped up TOG Week 22.  He read the first 5 chapters of Dangerous Journey and did the Literature SAP for it, which provided a great conversation as we were going over it and looking up bible verses.  I love that TOG gives us these opportunities that we may not otherwise have. 

We are now on a plan to actually complete a TOG week, in a week.  TOG Week 22 took 2 weeks, but Monday we implement the new plan.

New TOG Plan:

Mondays: History Readings, Literature reading and Writing Aids lecture
Tuesdays: History Readings, literature reading and work on writing assignment
Wednesday: Accountability and Thinking Questions, Discussion with Mom, Geography Assignments, literature reading and turn in rough draft of writing assignment
Thursdays: Famous People summaries, timeline fill in, literature reading and Pageant of Philosophy (we love POP)
Fridays: TOG Test (Evaluations), turn in final draft of writing, Literature SAP, work on whatever the Unit Long Project is (Book of Colonies is the current unit project) and Fine Arts

In addition to the TOG assignments he will continue doing Algebra, Science and Bible daily.  3 days a week he will do Grammar, Vocabulary, Health and Logic.  Once a week co-op speech class.  I feel really good about the new plan and of course it looks ideal on paper, so we will see how it actually goes in next week's Weekly Report!

Not really a school project but Bear also sliced his thumb open while whittling a spindle for some project he is working on. ***** WARNING- GRAPHIC PICTURES******

Noodle managed to get through his week without injuries.  He continued his daily reading lessons, Explode the Code work, Abeka Math along with skip counting practice and flash cards.  This week we actually did a little Music by listening to some Mozart.  I had him dance around the room to the music with a bean bag on his head.  The gaol was to listen to the music and make movements that went along with it all while keeping the bean bag on his head.  We had fun!

The piece we listened to was Eine kleine Nachtmusik, which means "A Little Night Music." 

Our http://www.elementalscience.com/ studies this week were about Giraffes and Camels.  We did an experiment to show why Camels don't sink into the sand when walking across deserts. 

Unfortunately, we didn't get to any History studies this week except for a little reading aloud.  I am working on a new plan to complete our LG TOG more consistently, but haven't got to it yet.

The goal for next week is to follow the new TOG schedule and finish decluttering. 

Last, but certainly not least SUPER DUPER moved back home yesterday.  Yes, my 19 yo independent, full time working son has moved home.  It is temporary (not sure how temporary) but he had a taste of living on his own and what it is like to have roommates and now he is home so he can get his own transportation, save some money and move to someplace better.  I am proud of him and so glad he is back - even if it might only be a couple of months.

Wordless Wednesday

Manic Monday

I have never done a Manic Monday post, but the song was in my head for some reason so here I am! 

It really is kind of a Manic Monday around here.  I started a new project last night and I haven't even finished the last one!  I cleaned out the kitchen cabinets and decided on getting rid of my canisters and matching accessories.  I will sell them at the FINAL Garage Sale in a couple of weeks.  I have had this set for about 10-11 years so I think it is OK for me to let them go and get something new.  Mainly I am letting them go because they just don't go with the Baltic Brown Granite in my kitchen.  It is the Orchard Medley collection from http://www.princesshouse.com/ - they actually don't carry it any more.

I won't have to buy a new dish set because I have some fabulous dishes in my china cabinet that I earned from Mary Kay several years ago and I have never used them.  I am going to pull them out and wala, "new" dishes!!  I dumped all the cheapy plastic cereal bowls, mismatched cups and dinged up cups and I am going to go to Target or Walmart and buy some matching tumblers and some matching coffee mugs.  I am just tired of the same old same old and no orderliness! 

I need order in my life and I know it seems silly, but the "chaos" of mismatched items in my kitchen cabinets cause me anxiety.  It is an easy, inexpensive fix so I am just doing it!  I might even go so far as to buy a spice rack that sits inside the cabinet.  I am going to buy clear canisters with stainless steel tops to replace the other canisters.  I will only need two instead of four because over the years I have never had something in all four! They have mainly been for decor, but the big one held cookies and a smaller one held wrapped candies at times. 

No kitchen pictures yet, but they will be coming soon when I finish the job.

Weekly Wrap Up

We have done very little school this week to "wrap up" but we have been busy decluttering and re-organizing.  Decluttering is nearing the end.  Here are some more "during" photos - this time of the boys rooms and the game room which is the catchall during this decluttering process. 

Noodle's room...yes his mattress is on the floor.  Why, you ask?  Good question. 

Bear's room.  I told him I was going to report him to the show "Hoarders" because apparently he has never heard of the invention called, "The Garbage Can." 

This is the game room where I am piling things that need to be put away or loaded into the car for the garage sale at my mother's house.

As for school, Noodle and I have been reading books.  We finished the book on CD Mr. Popper's Penguins.  We started a new book on CD from Judy Blume- Superfudge.  Judy Blume is actually reading it.  We are doing a lot of giggling. 

We did a little History reading and a little math.  We went to Co-op on Thursday.  At first I was feeling a little guilty about taking the week off, but a good friend said I shouldn't feel guilty because we were accomplishing what needed to be accomplished in our home by making it clutter free.

Bear did co-op and he id Algebra everyday.  Other than that he just helped with the decluttering process.  Now he is on a weekend camping trip with his Boy Scout Troop.

Today is the garage sale!  Wish us luck! Be sure to look for the "after" pictures Monday or Tuesday.

I Love Giveaways...

One day soon I will do a giveaway.  Meanwhile, here is a giveaway that I really want to win:  http://livingsolagratia.blogspot.com/2010/10/see-it-and-sign-it-game-review-giveway.html

It's a game that will teach the kids sign language!  I never heard of this game, but it looks super fun.  Head over to the Living Sola Gratia blog to find out ways to enter.

Is Organization a Myth?

I am forever seeing great ideas and pictures on various homeschooling blogs, of organized rooms and homes.  I long to have organization that makes sense. 

We have been doing minimal school this week because we have been cleaning and decluttering.  We have done this before but not on the grand scale I am now attempting.  I have brought 3 SUV loads of stuff over to my mother's house so far for a garage sale we are doing this coming Saturday.  I started with closets, then yesterday was the garage and today was the upstairs attic.  Earlier this year I did the attic over the garage and put everything in Rubber Maid tubs so the junk I was storing would easily stack.  Ha!  Honestly, the only things I am keeping up there are old school work of mine and my boys, some sentimental toys and some books I won't part with.

Yesterday after cleaning the garage we filled 9 garbage bags.  From today's attic adventure I filled 4 garbage bags and  1 more SUV load to go to my mother's house.  I didn't realize how much stuff was just being stored. 

Here's some photos of yesterday's garage clean out.

Those are "during" pictures.  I blew it and forgot to take "befores."  Since it isn't done yet and the garbage man doesn't come until tomorrow, I don't have "afters" yet.

I did manage to find some incredible stuff  - like my Barbie Dream House Furniture!!  Today in the attic I found my high school yearbooks that I thought I had lost. 

My plan for the stuff that is still in the attic is to transfer it to tubs like I did with the stuff in the garage attic.  Then I can toss the cardboard boxes that are up there.  Once we have the garage sale and I donate the remaining items I plan to feel very free!!!!

I would like to get some new furniture pieces that will also be organizational pieces.  I am going to go with what I call "the basket system."  Shelving with storage baskets, pretty yet practical.  I have a little of that in our classroom, but I want to extend it to other areas of the house.  I am figuring this will take me about a year to complete since I will do one room at a time and we work on a cash only system. 

Progress pictures to come..........

Weekly Report 9/27-10/1

Oh Happy Fall!!!  We have had our windows open all week long here at Winecup Christian Academy - aka HOME.  I love the weather we have been having.  The high last week was 86 and the low 58 - Praise the Lord! 

OK, OK, enough about the weather. Here's what we did last week.

Bear

History- We started TOG Week 22 - nothing really eventful yet.

English- Continued with Wordly Wise, Rod & Staff Grammar and Spelling Power.  At this point we get to spelling once a week.  At that rate we'll still be doing it Senior Year!  For Grammar we are doing lots of review and are only about 12 lessons in with the R&S book.

Science- He is working on Module 3.  He did an experiment about air pressure.  Noodle watched and was really tickled by the can crushing itself.

Algebra- Plugging along.  Math Study Hall at co-op is very helpful for him.  He understands better hearing it from someone other than me. 

Health- Took the Chapter 1 Test.  83%

Philosophy- TOG's Pageant of Philosophy this time was Rene Descartes.  It inspired a great discussion about how our life and everything we see and experience "could" be all a figment of our imagination and that our mind is really the only thing that may exist besides God.  I love the conversations that ensue from using this curriculum.

Noodle

Noodle and I continue using OPGTR and it is getting a little tougher for him.  We not only do review, we also sometimes repeat a lesson in full.  I am very pleased with where he is at with his reading skills.  He reads the Bob Books to me sometimes.  Also, this week we started listening to Mr. Popper's Penguins book on CD,  I love listening to books.  Our Explode the Code Book 2 arrived so Noodle is a little more motivated to finish Book 1.

For Science we learned about how the fur on a Polar Bear's feet helps to protect them on slippery ice.  Noodle loves doing experiments and had great fun with this one.

For History see http://winecupchristianacademy.blogspot.com/2010/10/pilgrimsplymouth-unit.html

Today we begin our new week, but we will be doing half days because we are decluttering and organizing closets and bedrooms.  Also, we will be cleaning out the garage  - all in our quest for getting rid of "stuff" at a Garage Sale this coming Saturday.  We had one this weekend too, but I didn't have many things out for sale. Wish us luck!

Pilgrims/Plymouth Unit

Using our curriculum Tapestry of Grace Week 21 Puritans in New England as my guide, I put together a study of the Mayflower Pilgrims for my First Grader.  TOG's plans call for one week of study for each theme.  I have found that I don't want to go through it that quickly and that we get more out of the curriculum by taking it slow. 

Books we used:

Three Young Pilgrims

Colonial Kids














The New Americans














History Pockets Life in Plymouth Colony

















Who's That Stepping on Plymouth Rock?















If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620















If You Were at the First Thanksgiving














Squanto and the First Thanksgiving















We are including studies about Native Americans in each theme study because we are doing a year long study on them.  We are using lapbook components and history pockets to complete a Native American book.  At the end of the year when it is complete I will post all about it.

Our Vocabulary for our Pilgrims/Plymouth study:

Pilgrim
New World
voyage

hardtack

Mayflower Compact
meetinghouse
dugout
settlement

We discussed 6 famous people from the time period - they are specific to TOG so I will not list them, but I will say that we expecially enjoyed learning about Squanto!

For Geography we studied a map of Plymouth Colony and discussed how now it is the state of Massachusetts.  We also colored Massachusetts on a map of the 13 Colonies.

For Art related to the Pilgrims we made a Silouette and we learned the art of Decoupage.

As far as the booklist goes, TOG does not suggest all of those books. I added in extra books because we love to read aloud and there were things I wanted to cover that the TOG books didn't cover or touch on as much as I wanted.

Here are some interesting websites to enhance your Pilgrims/Plymouth studies:

http://www.pilgrimsprogressthemovie.com/
http://www.hubbardscupboard.org/the_pilgrims__first_thanksgivi.html
http://www.scholastic.com/scholastic_thanksgiving/voyage/tour.htm