one of many reasons why we homeschool

Watch THIS.

strep throat, striped tummy

I have not been blogging because I have been homeschooling. A good reason for an absence, wouldn't you say? Well, I'm back blogging because Ingrid came down with strep throat. This morning, Ilsa woke me up and said, "Mommy, my tummy hurts. I think I have striped tummy."

The good news is Ingrid is on the mend so we'll be schooling today (only missed 1 day really) and Ilsa is going to survive her bout with striped tummy. Oh, and this is a picture Ilsa practicing how to sleep during the tooth fairy's visit the night that Ingrid lost her tooth.

i'll have to remember this line

Instead of "Facebook" I'll be checking The Well Trained Mind Message Board
"Rhymes with Orange" as read on The Seattle PI website. Click the image to go to their site.

yet another cute quote

In our Bible lesson this morning, we learned that God made Adam and Eve differently than he made us, and this demonstrates Him as the Creator of all things. I asked the following questions:

Mommy: "Ingrid, who was the first man?"
Ingrid: "Adam."
Mommy: "Ilsa, who was the first woman?"
Ilsa: "Madam."

That being said, I wholeheartedly recommend this Bible curriculum by Sinclair Ferguson which quickly straightened things out.

convention woes

Homeschool convention is this weekend. I have mixed feelings. I'm looking through the breakout seminars, and honestly, not much is jumping out at me. Ginger Plowman pulled out due to a family emergency, and she was the one I was looking forward to hearing the most. I am happy to see Rebecca Keller, author of the REAL Science 4 Kids curriculum, is speaking on Friday. I know I'll go to that one. I need to pray that my attitude changes soon.

day one miquon orange book

It has been one day, and I already love this math program! Ingrid built this square (plus 2 rods) using the math concepts of halves with the Cuisinaire rods and then filled she in the blanks.

frustration

I'm a thoroughly seasoned homeschooling mom of oh, one week now, and I'm already showing frustration to my daughter. No, the shine hasn't worn off of the excitement. And of course, this is not an issue of "wanting" or "not wanting" to do it. It is what we have chosen to do for a lot of very good reasons, and I know there will be "dayz like theez..."

I DO KNOW that this is a ME issue not a THEE issue. I need to yield myself to the Holy Spirit and show that fruit that is there...I'm just so fallen!

It started this morning during reading. We're starting to do two-vowel blends. The girls both have their short vowels down pat (I didn't want to move on until that was firm). Ingrid just doesn't pay attention (frustration rises). At first I calmly tell her, "read what is there, don't add any letters." She starts guessing a word even though it is just a letter combo like "s-a" or "s-i". She then adds in a "t" or an "m". Too much information, I know, but I just HAD to get this off of my chest and actually get away before I yelled.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." Galatians 5:22 - 25

convicting quote = parenting

From Donna Young's website:

Don't underestimate your children's ability to model your worse habits.
- Donna Young

catching up

Since Ingrid got glasses, it has become quite apparent that we have some catching up to do. I just feel AWFUL that she has been fighting her eyesight for this long.

She really doesn't know her alphabet by sight...she can write letters okay, but just doesn't recognize those letters if pointed out to her. Strange thing is, she knew her letters when she was two. Hmmm. I wonder when her eyesight went south...


Anywayzzzzz, I have been reading "The Well Trained Mind" to prepare for this homeschooling adventure we are about to embark upon. One simple suggestion the author has is to purchase sets of magnetic uppercase and lower letters. I couldn't find them here in Almost Mexico (honestly, I didn't look that hard), but it did serve as an "excuse" to peruse the web; I found them on a great children's products website, http://www.gatortots.com/ (I get it... "tater tots, gator tots"; the letters were harder to find that you would think). They have great customer service, provide extremely quick shipping and have some super things I haven't seen anyplace else (like these ladybug lacing puzzles -- lots of skill-learning with these little cuties...click the picture to buy 'em), and those of you who know me well know that I know where to find cool kids' stuff (know too well...)

I digress...back to Ingrid and her alphabet: we sat by the stainless steel kickplate that is located under our counter/bar and started from the beginning...A B C... I think things will start cookin' now. Hey, what beginning phonics programs have you homeschool families used? What were your impressions? Strengths? Challenges? I'm considering Phonics Pathways and Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons.

kindergarten and two wheelin'

Monumental few days in this Almost Mexico, AZ household. We received our first notice from Ingrid's school for kindergarten registration. Would you lend me your wisdom parents? I have some questions about kindergarten:

1. To those of you with experience in sending children to kindergarten outside of the home, what hours and days of the week does/did your child attend? In other words, what is the most common format for kindergarten? Monday/Wednesday/Friday 9 - noon, Monday through Friday AM or PM, etc....

2. For those of you who home school/homeschooled kindergarten, what home school kindergarten curriculum did you use? A mishmash? Something out of a box? Has anyone utilized a State-provided, on-line supported curriculum for kindergarten?

The cake pictured above and to the right is in celebration of Ingrid getting rid of her bicycle training wheels! You go girl!

And not to be outdone by big sister, Ilsa potty trained this week! Literally overnight. I was practically in tears the day before because I was so tired of pullups and she had shown no interest whatsoever in doing the deed. The next day, she wanted underwear and nothing to do with pullups.