Slow Go

We haven't been doing much in the way of school work the past few weeks and it is really starting to show.  The kids are getting bored.  Today I pulled out some workbooks I had put back for supplements and some cut and paste activities and let the kids go at it.  They were thrilled to get to do some work!  I am very excited to be getting the rooms in order around here.  Soon the classroom will be ready to organize and make into a space we can work in every day and I cannot wait!  It has been a slow go to get here but I know the wait will be worth it!

YAY for Free Downloads!

If you know me, you know that I am cheap frugal.  I don't like to spend a ton of money on anything.  So today when I found some free downloads I was very excited.

My first free download is something I had hoped to come across soon.  Both of my children love art.  They are so young I just wasn't sure the best way to go about introducing them to the great artists.  I was so excited when a great email popped up in my inbox!  Confessions of a Homeschooler is offering a GREAT Artist Study curriculum!  I can't wait to dive into it and get things ready for our next school year!

The second free download is from a new-to-me website called Unit Studies by Amanda Bennett.  She is offering some great fun projects for summer boredom!  YAY!!!

If you download either of these fun things let me know.  I would love to hear how they work for you or how you plan to incorporate them into your life.

Fun Giveaway Going on Right NOW!!!

Confessions of a Homeschooler is having a great giveaway right now!  She and EI have teamed up and are giving away The Squeaky Squirrel Game!  Be sure to go to her page and check it out right now to get yourself entered!

http://confessionsofahomeschooler.blogspot.com/2011/05/educational-insights-sneaky-squirrel.html

What we have been up to...

We have been doing a lot of nothing the past week and a half.  We have rested and are getting started on redoing the entire area we have to include another bedroom and a classroom!  I am very excited about the changes that are going to be taking place soon.  In the mean time I am gathering things that I can use in the classroom and teaching tools.  Some of our great family has donated items for us to use in our classroom and I cannot wait to get them up.  Do you have any ideas that you think I should try or use in our classroom or for teaching next year?  I would love to hear it.

Science is EVERYWHERE!

The other day we were setting up for a yard sale.  S found a snail shell on the retainer wall and brought it to me.  It was very neat looking and very small.  It was smaller than a dime.  We laid it on the table and continued working on the yard sale.  About 30 minutes later N comes running and shouting... It's out, it's out!!!  So when we got to the table I was shocked to see the snail sliding across the surface.  I don't think I have ever found a snail still alive with its shell before.  (Or maybe I did and I just wasn't patient enough to wait on it to come out!)  Here are some pics of the snail...

And To Think...

I thought we were done with school work for the most part until this coming August.  My children, have other ideas!  They have been asking each night if we can PLEASE do school tomorrow.  Each help lay out a few things they would like to do the next day and we have a shortened version of our school day.  I am so happy that they love doing their school work so much that they are eager to keep on going!

In other news!  I just ordered S's math curriculum.  Did I mention that I changed my mind on what to use?  Well I did!  We decided to go with Horizon's Math.  I love the spiral approach that it offers and I am confident that it will grow with her over the years.  The reviews are outstanding!  For Phonics/Reading we are using "The Reading Lesson".  She is doing it off and on right now and doing very well with it.  I have to slow her down because she wants to do an entire lesson a day.  For handwriting we are planning to use Handwriting Without Tears.  I have heard great things about that program as well.  I cannot wait for all of our items to come in.

Now, Momma wants some pretty new things for the school year as well.  I want "The Well Planned Day Planner" and the binder that goes along with it.  It looks like the perfect tool to keep the entire family organized.

I am very excited about the upcoming year.  I look forward to teaching my children new things and important life lessons each day.  That is what being a mom is all about!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

We have a garden.  A rather large garden, that my wonderful husband has worked very hard on.  He built a hot house, planted plants and stayed up hours on end seeing to it that the temperature never went below freezing.  The plants grew and are now starting to bear fruit (ok, vegetables!).  The kids have helped a great deal with planting and helping water and care for the plants.  Here are some pics of how our garden grows!