2010-11 School Year Plans

As much as I love My Father's World, I have been considering switching over to Heart of Dakota for next year.   I got a catalog in the mail last week and was browsing through it...I HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH IT!!!  It is sooo similar to My Father's World...and yet it seems to be stronger in some areas in which I feel are My Father's World weak points.  

MFW K is wonderful in the Bible lessons and connecting it to the science projects, but James was more advanced in every other area of study it offered.  (Don't get me wrong.  I do love the program, and will more than likely do it with Bella for Preschool.  I just think it is more of a PreK program than K...in my humble opinion)  So we decided to start James with MFW 1st grade.   So, why am I moving to a different curriculum for next year???

• MFW 1st grade does not teach each of the subjects everyday, there is not a flow and consistency from day to day in the teacher's manual.  Somedays are very short with a review of the memory verse in Proverbs, math and reading.  One day every week there is an science exploration day and no other subjects are covered and you are encouraged to spend the day outdoors.  Because of this, we don't follow the teacher's manual day by day.  I look ahead in the days/weeks ahead, and cover the whole week in 2 or 3 of our schooldays most of the time.  We are well ahead of schedule, and should finish up the first grade material by the end the summer IF we don't take a typical summer break.  (I am considering this option so that we can begin a new curriculum at the same time as the typical new school season starts out.  We would still have 4 weeks to take off with this plan) 
• Instead of listing the Math instructions for the day in the manual, you have to flip to a special section divided for math and find the assignment for that day/week.  And they suggest living books as well, but that is also in another section in the back of the manual.  True, this is not horrible, but it is a pain!  I would rather it all be listed under what day/week it is to be done in the manual.
• The science living books are listed the same way, in the back of the manual, instead of with the day/week it is applicable to.  Plus, the science isn't really connected to the Bible lesson as it was in the Kindergarten level, and that is why I liked the program...everything the child studied was interwoven together.
• Looking ahead in the manual...starting at Day 126 the student has completed the phonics lessons, and most of the math lessons, and the specified Bible lessons are not continued.  The remaining SHORT lesson plans are not as structured and they encourage you to spend time outdoors and reading library books, etc.   I am all for outdoor activity and reading, but in addition to regular learning.  So I am very bummed about that aspect of the curriculum.
•  I was talking with another homeschool mom at Coop and she uses MFW for her older children (2nd/3rd grade).  She also loves MFW, with the exception of the Language Arts.  She felt it was lacking in instruction compared to schools in her same grade level, and she felt the need to supplement.   The whole reason I got MFW was to have a complete program, so I wouldn't HAVE to supplement (even though I still do from time to time as I find fun things)  Now, on the flip side...I have been extremely impressed with 1st grade phonics that it presents!  James is doing amazing in reading and it is because of the curriculum.  
• And one last minor complaint before I move on to why I am considering Heart of Dakota.  MFW relies heavily on library books.  I love the library (It's free and I hate the idea of buying tons of books only to be used once) so I thought that this would not be an issue for our family, in fact it was a plus.  However, it is really difficult to go to the library every week or two and look for 10 or 20 books with a toddler!  Most of the time, I find that our library doesn't cover many of the suggested books, and it takes even longer to find other substitutes.  So this has been a hassle.

Here's a peek at the teacher's manual for Heart of Dakota.... Simple daily plans are divided into 9 boxes, which can be spaced throughout the day as time allows. Quick and easy activities require little or no preparation and use only materials you're likely to have on hand.  Each day of plans is divided into the following 2 parts: "Learning Through History" and "Learning the Basics".  It is laid out on two pages, so each day is very easy to see what you will be doing.  No flipping back and forth!!!  And these areas are covered every day.  That is music to my ears.

Christ-Centered The "Learning Through History" part of the program gives a chronological overview of early American history from 1565 - 1860's. It emphasizes God's plan throughout history. A weekly Bible story wraps up each unit by focusing on an example of Godly character that corresponds with the history stories. The areas listed below are linked with the daily stories: Bible Memory Work Devotional Topics Science Discovery Art Projects Geography Exploration Timeline and History Activities Poetry and Rhymes Gross Motor Skills Music

Complete The "Learning The Basics" part of the program focuses on language arts and math. It includes the areas listed below: Copywork Spelling Practice Basic Grammar Skills Introduction to Capitalization and     Punctuation Reading Choices Narration Storytime Genre Studies Guided Literature Discussions Story Element Lessons Godly Character Lessons Math Exploration

And, did I mention it's cheaper?  No?  Well, it is!  YAY!  And that includes the cost of all those extra books, so I don't have to visit the library every week!

After reading tons of homeschooling forums and reviews, I noticed that a lot of other Moms closely consider these two programs too.  Here's a link to my favorite forum post comparing the similarities and differences of HOD and MFW.  The comparison is clearly written and seasoned with grace and respect for both programs.  It helped tremendously in my decision in discerning which of these two wonderful programs would best fit our goals, family, and teaching style.

Click here to read the review.

For me, it confirmed all of the reasons why we are going to choose HOD next year, but it may do the complete opposite for others.  Isn't it wonderful to have many Christ centered programs to choose from?  There are so many more out there too!

Our Camping Trip

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My Father's World Bible Reader

James has been excited about reading!!! YAY!!!
Up until recently, he has showed NO interest whatsoever.


After this video, he kept on reading until page 32!  


He is learning new phonics rules daily, and as he learns a new rule/words, he is to read a new story in the reader.
So far, he was only up to the first page...so his progress is awesome...picking up words he doesn't know the rules to yet.


Can you tell I am a proud mama?!?!?!

My Father's World 1st grade

This past week has been hard.  James has ADHD...sometimes it's hardly an issue...and other times he is very difficult to manage, and this past week was one of those difficult times.  His hyperactivity, impulsiveness, lack of focus, and behavioral issues have been at an all time high.  This happens sometimes. Just a really really really bad week for him out of the blue, and then he goes back to "normal".   I really wish I could discover the pattern of why some days are fine and dandy, and others not. so. much.

Today, however...today has been good.  We woke up early (for us) and met some friends to go walking in the park while our kids tagged along on bikes, scooters, and strollers.   That was really nice, and hopefully the start of a new pattern of daily exercising.  I stayed after our walk and let the kids play on the playground before we headed back home to start school.

With James' My Father's World 1st grade curriculum,  he is learning Bible verses from Proverbs.  We have been memorizing a proverb a week.  This week is Proverbs 12:22.

Although MFW provides copywork sheets,  we also have been using a cool resource from Mama Jenn (who also does MFW) found here.  We have created a bible notebook that we keep all our memory pages in, so that we can look back and review.  

We are also beginning a study of the Old Testament.  He has drawn a bible times map with a cute little story to help him remember.  We have looked at the Greek alphabet and Genesis 1:1 in Hebrew and discussed how the Bible was written in a different language than we speak today.  This led into a wonderful discussion about Bible translators and how we have an awesome privilege to have the Bible in our own language.  

Yesterday, he started reading Bible stories in a special beginning level Bible Reader that comes with the curriculum.  He was so excited, as was I!   Today, we started a timeline that we will continue to add on to as the year goes on in our studies.  

As I was browsing the internet for a math supplement, I discovered this great idea from Confessions of a Homeschooler.  James needed a refresher on color mixing, so this is what we did before (and after) nap time.  It is really a mix of science and math together.  

We started out by coloring 3 jars of water in the primary colors of Red, Yellow, and Blue.

Then we took the color mixing cards and followed the directions to make a new color.

For instance, on the purple color mixing card it shows 3 scoops of blue, and 1 scoop of red.

(just ignore the missing burners on the stove...we were cleaning up!)

After we mixed the color, we wrote the equation on the card.  For purple we wrote 

3 (blue scoops)+1(red scoops)= 4 (purple scoops)

With Bella, I just gave her a jar of orange we had already mixed, and an empty bowl with various size measuring scoops and let her scoop and play.  She had a blast.

Bedtime

James is so excited about the tooth fairy coming tonight, he refuses to go to bed!!!  Seriously, its 2:30 am and he's still not asleep!  I finally gave up, and let him watch this on youtube and sent him back to bed.

Maybe I need to break out some pink milk.

I am not sleepy and I will not go to bed!  by Lauren Child

It finally happened

James has been wiggling a tooth for over a week.
It's the very first one, and he's excited.

We thought it would never come out!

But on the way home from the grocery store today, he exclaimed, 

"My tooth!!!  It just fell out!"

No apples, no pliers, no string tied to the door.  Just riding home doing nothing...whatever!

As I was taking a picture, I was asking James to show me his teeth...well, Bella was telling me she has teeth too...so, not to leave her out...here's a shot of her teeth too.

We have put that baby in a jar and it is now under his pillow waiting for the tooth fairy.
I have a feeling she is going to leave a nice little note and a dollar bill.  I am thinking tomorrow after coop we can go by the dollar tree for a treat, and get a brand new toothbrush too.

...make that 2 new toothbrushes.

I figured since we were focusing so much on his tooth...we should add in a mini-unit study on teeth, in addition to our regular MFW studies this week.


Reading: We've already been reading books like these this week...

and we took a virtual fieldtrip to the dentist here.  we explored what dentists and dental hygienists do, the importance of taking care of your teeth, and how good food choices and regular brushing and flossing help keep teeth healthy.


Found this info on the wonderful, marvelous, fabulous (and free!) www.homeschoolshare.com


Science and Health: Dental HygieneThe main function of teeth is to chew food.  Ask your student to show you her teeth.  Does she know where her gums are?  Show her and tell her that the gums are covering the roots of her teeth.   Humans develop two sets of teeth in their lifetimes; the first set which will consist of 20 teeth usually begins to appear at 6 months of age; the second set which will consist of 32 teeth usually begins to appear at 6 years of age. 

The second set of teeth may last your student all of her life if taken care of properly.  How does one take care of her teeth?
1.  Brushing (at least twice a day and always before bed)
2.  Flossing (followed by a rinse of water)
3.  Going to the dentist for professional cleanings twice each year

Discuss tooth decay.  Make a list of foods that are not good for your teeth (pop, fruit juice, candy, cake, cookies, honey, jelly, cough drops, popsicles, etc.)  Tooth decay is caused when food gets trapped on the tooth surface (or between teeth).  The sugars from the foods are converted into acids that eat away at our tooth enamel.  It is best to eat foods high in starch and sugar at meal time (not for snacks) when there is more salvia (spit) in the mouth.

Some facts about foods and your teeth
1.  Eating apples, carrots, and celery  DO help remove plaque from your teeth
2.  Brushing your teeth and rinsing your mouth immediately after you eat sweets will help prevent cavities from forming
3.  Sweets are less harmful to your teeth if you eat them with a main meal rather than between meals

Science: Enamel Experiment

Discuss tooth enamel.  Explain that enamel is the thin outer layer that protects the tooth pulp and never endings inside.  It is important to keep the enamel healthy.
 For this experiment you will need:

• a raw egg
• vinegar
• a glass

Procedure: 

Soak a raw egg in vinegar overnight.  The acid will soften the shell just as acid in your mouth can cause a tooth to soften (to weaken and decay).  In the morning, observe the egg.  Discuss that this is similar to what happens to your teeth.  The inside layers become vunderable (weaken and decay) when the enamel is eaten away by acid in the mouth.  Once the enamel is gone, the pulp is exposed and a toothache occurs.  It is important to keep teeth brushed so that the acids are kept under control and off the enamel.

Another similar experiment to conduct is Stains and Your Teeth.  

You will need the following:

• egg shells
• six containers
• rootbeer
• cola
• tea
• coffee
• grape juice
• water

Procedure:

Place a small amount of liquid in each container-- one container for rootbeer, one for cola, one for tea, etc.  Label each container.  Add some egg shells to each container.  Set the containers on a table overnight.  The next day, pour off the liquids, but save the egg shells and place them back in their empty containers.  Compare the color of the egg shells from the different beakers.    What happened to the egg shells?  Why is it important to brush your teeth?

Go-along books
How Many Teeth (A Let's Read and Find Out Science book)
I Am Not Sleepy and I Will Not Go to Bed by Lauren Child
My Wobbly Tooth Must Not Ever Never Fall Out (another Lola adventure!) by Lauren Child
Open Wide! by Tom Barber

Related Printables:

My Brushing and Flossing Journal

Teeth at Work - learn the different names of kinds of teeth and color the diagram

Dental Coloring Pages

Teeth Chant (from A to Z school)For youngers-
My front teeth are for biting.
My bottom teeth are for munching.
My pointed teeth are for tearing.
My back teeth are for crunching!

For olders-
My incisors are for biting.
My bottom teeth are for munching.
My canines are for tearing.

My molars are for crunching!

Rabbit Trail: History of the Toothbrush

One more day...

Preparing for tomorrow's Happy Day...or as the Mad Hatter would have it...
Everyone else's very merry unbirthday!   Enjoy some silliness today.
"Why, today's my unbirthday to me, too!" ~Alice

Grace!

Ahh.  A good night's rest is wonderful!

Woke up and was able to have a great quiet time with God.  With young kids, it is a hit and miss...daily consistency is something I am still working on!  We are using this book for my church's ladies Bible study and it is so wonderful.

This study will help you to understand what grace is all about. To be honest...at first, when they revealed the book we would be studying, I was kind of disappointed.  (I kept it to myself of course!!!)  I have always felt very secure in the knowledge that God is good and loves me.  I totally get His Sovereign grace, and was hoping for another topic.  But...God is amazing, and He knows what I need, and is able to teach me new things every day!!!  The first lesson was on God's laws.  The second...my quiet time reading today, was on hedging.(mans traditions are a hedge around God's laws)

Romans 7:12

The law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good.

We had a discussion at our first bible study meeting about how God uses the law to show us many things.  We are sinners, we can't achieve the holiness he requires of us, which leads us to the Savior.  It makes us realize and appreciate our need for His amazing grace!  The law is also for our good and for our protection.  To keep us a separate and holy people.

But some people have abused the law, and have made it the means to salvation.  They built hedges around the law to protect it, and created more laws so that the original laws wouldn't be touched!  Then more laws, and more...and they became the traditions of man.  People lost the true reason for the law, to lead us to our need of the Savior.  Instead the focus became keeping the law, the traditions of men.
Quotes from the Bible study book Ch.1-2:


"God's standard is perfection, and there's no getting around that!  But, praise the Lord, we are not the ones who have to BE perfect.  We are being MADE perfect!"
John 17:23, Philippians 3:12, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Hebrews 10:14

"There was the law, the God's commandments from scripture-and then there were the traditions- a way of life handed down for generations.  One pointed the way to righteous living.  The other insured the appearance of righteousness."

Wow....the appearance of righteousness.  That struck a chord in me...a bad one!


God has been showing me how I have been too eager to appear like I am holy and righteous.  Keeping the traditions of man, because I want to make sure I LOOK like I have it all together.  I have been realizing that this most of the time my focus is on looking like I am righteous, instead of seeking the Savior-the only one who makes me righteous!

As a homeschooler, stay at home mom, who loves to follow blogs...it is really easy to get caught up in all the traditions out there.  Different ways to follow God.  Families that APPEAR to have it all together and are righteous, and it makes me feel guilty, and I want to add what they do to my life.  Why?  Mostly because I also want to APPEAR righteous. The more I try to add on, the more I fail at following these new traditions, the more guilt I feel.  The more defeated I feel.  But how often am I truly just seeking God?  Every family, every individual will be different.  Our callings will be different, our purposes on this earth will be different!  I have to learn to let go of what people are doing, and what I look like I am doing.  I need to run to Him and seek Him alone, and as I follow Him, my life will unfold to what He has in store for my family.  It will not be following man made laws or traditions.

So, I thought I had a handle on His grace, and it turns out: I struggle with living in the law and not his grace!  hmm...wow! 

Yesterday when I was looking for Francis Chan's Crazy Love Ch. 3 resources...I found this...and I love how he sums it up!   I will wear my jeans to church Sunday, and I don't care what it looks like to others!  I am not under the law, I am under His grace!

Phew...I am exhausted!

Here's a look into what a spring Tuesday looks like for me.  Well, today anyway....

• Get kids up and give them baths
• Do minimal/basics in school

• Pick up nieces and take them to coop
• Teach Coop class...Soap Making!  (More pics and details can be found on our class blog here)

• Let kids play outside at break

• time to leave and eat lunch, round kids up
• talk to all the other moms so much that I am the last to leave...
• and load the kids into van
• and van won't start...
• call hubby to come with jumper cables
• send kids back to playground

• hubby comes to save the day
• hubby then informs me he has work that will keep him away til midnight.  (Gulp!  I am on my own!)
• Decide to treat everyone to Ryan's-a full meal complete with ice cream-we all deserve it!
• Get there and think to myself...what am I thinking?  4 kids and one mom with a buffet???
• Too late to back out now, already paid.
• After helping 3 kids get plates (Thank goodness for 9 year old's independence) and mine
• We They enjoy the meal...but I mostly spend my time hearing myself sound like this, "Sit down, Don't talk with your mouth full!, Inside Voices!, Please don't eat off the floor!, well...you get the idea.
• Load them all back up in the van, go visit their mom at work to say hi.  
• Lose the 4 year old in the clothing racks, Find the 4 year old in the toy section
• Leave store, load kids back into van, drop off the nieces back to Grandma
• Go back home,sit down and post on facebook I am ready for a nap
• Pick up my book, Crazy Love, and review Ch. 3 before Bible Study tonight

• Thank God for His amazing Fatherly love for me.
• Back to reality, look at the clock and realize it's way past time to get ready for the game tonight... 
• look all over house for baseball uniform
• Find dirty uniform, dress baseball star in dirty uniform.  Look for glove and hat
• Items found, get into van and rush to ballpark.
• Arrive 5 min. late, but hey!  we got there.  Treat myself to a coke from concession stand.
• Realize as his team goes out to field, I forgot to get his glove out of the van!
• Run back 1/2 mile to the van, Run back 1/2 mile to the field...give him the glove.
• Think to myself ... I am soo ready for a nap. 
• Sit in hot sun, no sunglasses.  Sip coke, relax a little bit.  Get my camera out.  Realize I only have 3 shots left after taking so many pics at Coop.
• Watch son play an amazing game.  He was focused the whole game, hit every ball at bat-great distance too, and got the teams only 3 outs!  

• Smile at birds chirping, and thank God for the day.  Slow down a little. Sip more coke. Cheer for James.  This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!
• Game over, give James a blue powerade and get joy from his big smile!

• Get back to van, start it...ahh!  almost didn't start.  Call Mark to let him know, but oh...just realized the back door was ajar.  Nevermind.  It's okay. 
• Call Joy to see if we are still on for Bible Study and to let her know I have the kids with me!
• She reminds me I was spose to bring the dessert ingredients.  
• Trip to Walmart.  Yuck!
• Get 3 items, wait 25 minutes in the express line.  No exaggeration.  curse walmart, again!
• Back out in traffic, remember I forgot my Crazy Love book at the house.  Can't do study without it, so I turn around and head home.
• Run inside, get my book, and the kids' soap they made at coop which they insist on showing to Joy.
• head the 30 minutes to Joys.
• Stop and get gas. 
• Get to Joy's.  Kids play with her adorable dog, Toby.  Dinner was fabulous, thankful she cooked for us!  I thank God everytime I think of her.
• Turn on TV for James. Bella falls sound asleep. Catch up on silly talk before we begin Bible Study.  
• Realize it's almost 9, decide to do Bible Study next week.  Both of us are refreshed though!
• Watch LOST!  woh!  In great mood now.
• More girly talk, realize it's 11:30...
• pack up kids
• head home, realize half way home I forgot the soap at Joy's (plus that 3rd item I bought at Walmart)
• Get home, kiss my hubby.  Think about describing my day, but sum everything up by telling him LOST was good.  He fills me in on his day.  Great business prospects and more jobs.  Good news.
• He goes and takes a shower, then bed.  I sit down, sigh about my lack of communication skills.
• Blog for homeschool Coop class
• Blog here.  Have pics to go with this post, but after 30 min. of trying to add them.  I give up.  will come back to it tomorrow.
• Phew...I am exhausted...
• Sleep...zzzzzzzzzz
  

Welcome!

For those visiting over here for the first time, 

Welcome to my blog!

My name is Kathryn and I have two kids (6 and 2).  I love staying at home with them which keeps me busy, and I homeschool my oldest.  I am married to my high school sweetheart, and while we have definitely had our ups and downs, I love him more today than the day we got married.  (you can find out more about me on my profile, or read below on my last post.)

I am going to turn 30 this week!!!  

 (For those of you that DO know me, yes... I do make cakes www.mybellasweets.blogspot.com, but no- I didn't make this one)

I decided that I wanted to do something for OTHERS for my birthday.  

I am going to do 30 random acts of kindness on my birthday: Here's my blogpost about it.

In honor of my 30th birthday, 
I would love for YOU to do a random act of kindness too! 
1st annual Happy Day
April 16th, 2010

Then let me know about it.  Leave a comment or blog about it, email me...whatever.  I would love to be able to include all the other kind acts in the "Happy Day" blogpost in addition to my day's events.  That would be awesome.  That would be one big great "Happy Day"!  Can't wait to hear from everyone.  


Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great blog-party-week!  Kathryn

Spring

I have a love hate relationship with Spring!  I love the flowers, the warm weather, the butterflies and birds, ahhh just thinking about these things makes me smile....

but I despise the pollen that makes my allergies flare up.  It seems that this year, Statesboro has 400 times the usual amount of pollen!  Yes, 400!  Needless to say, I have been sick this past week (along with most the other residents of Georgia!).  Ughh...it's hard to teach school when you are sick, and there are no substitutes to come in for you.  However, thanks to the way MFW set up, it really is so great to be able to open the teacher's manual and be able to have it all prepared and ready to go!  We just didn't do anything else!

I finally felt better (enough to get outside) on Saturday, so we packed in a day full of activities.

Started out with some awesome yard sales, then Statesboro's Farmer's Market, and ended up in Georgia Southern's Sweetheart Circle for their annual Art Festival.  That was great fun!  Here are some pictures of the day.