The "buzz" on the street...

Well, it's pretty much out there.  Our children announce it with pure happiness to all strangers, family and friends who ask.  So, I might as well announce it in Blogland.  I think it's pretty much official.

We are homeschooling!

Why?  Because I want to be my children's primary teacher - academically and morally - especially during these early, formative years.
How?  One day at a time - with the assistance of great curriculum, resources in our community and a village of encouragers who have come around us.
For how long?  We will commit to 1 year at a time.
Am I scared?  A little, but we've already jumped into our curriculum and we're doing it, experiencing success and figuring out the logistics of our home.  I'm looking forward to the official first day of school (August 15) and the other outside programs to start.  At that point, we'll fall into a more consistent Daily Rhythm - which is when we really thrive.

Any other questions?

The journey to this decision has been one of the greatest I've been on with God.

I SERIOUSLY (and I'm not lying!) used to say, "I really hope God never calls me to Homeschool our children because I don't want to!"

I can say with absolute certainty that I HAVE BEEN CALLED TO HOMESCHOOL OUR CHILDREN.  I can't believe it!

I have been blown away over the past several month as I've surrendered every fear to Him (especially on the mornings I would wake up with a stomach ache from processing it even in my sleep) and the earthly village of Homeschool Moms who have surfaced (most I never knew) on just the right days and just the right times.  I know, I know I know God is calling me to do this.  I will grow closer to Him as I navigate through each day - and I'm really looking forward to that.

This is what still needs to be done to make it absolutely official:
1.  I have to withdraw my children from our public school on Monday morning.  CHECK
2.  I will NOT go to registration at our public school on August 2.  CHECK
3.  I will NOT send them to school on August 15.

So, WELCOME to another journey of ours!  Of course, I'm sure I'll be capturing and sharing the memories we're making.  Please feel free to join in and share!  I LOVE new ideas and enjoy learning from others.

And - please - continue to pray for us, if you feel led.  :)

We're building a great story!

Schooling Update

Well, I wrote here a while ago and asked for you all to join me in prayer regarding our schooling decision for this coming school year.

I am not prepared at this time to make a public announcement of our final decision, but I am prepared and excited to share a little bit about this faith journey.  I've been blown away, reassured and have grown even more confident in my faith.

Over the past several months, I've poured myself into prayer, research, interviews, and more prayers regarding the possibility of homeschooling our children. 

I really don't think there's been any other single decision in my life that I've relied on, leaned on, or cried out to God more.  It's been beautiful, a little scary at times, but all around reassuring and I am stronger and wiser today than I was at the beginning of this journey - and will continue to become a wiser woman and Mother as I lean on Him each day - moment by moment.

I'm filled with peace, excitement and continue to be encouraged each day by the word of God and the village that has come around us.

Here's one of many stories that have taken place over the past few months.  My Aunt called me this morning and mentioned the possibility of me homeschooling.  She said something like, "I was so sad when you told me a few years ago that you were going to be staying home full time.  I knew it was the right decision for your family, but I was so sad for the world of children who were going to miss out on your teaching.  I am excited and feel that this is the best thing for your family.  Now your own children get to experience your teaching!  You will do it with excellence."  I'm not kidding when I say, I've experienced moment after moment like this throughout this journey.  My village and my Lord sustains me and encourages me.

I'll leave you with this:

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he shall not turn from it.  Proverbs  22:6

More to come soon...  :)

Preschool - Computer Time...

A MMM reader asked, "What computer programs/games are Halle's faves?"

Starfall and Spelling City are our favorites, but we also like:

Seusville
Jelly Telly
Sesame Street
Sprout
Nick Jr.
Disney Jr.
PBSkids
Funschool
Fisher Price

I set a time for her to do 15 minutes of intentional learning, and then she can mess around with whatever she wants for another 15 minutes.  Most of it is still fun learning!

Hope this helps!

Weekly Checklist...

A great resource was shared with me that I'd love to share with all of you!

For the past 2 weeks, I've been using a Weekly Checklist for our school time at home with Halle.

You can download and print at the bottom of her post - if you'd like one.

This tool has helped me be intentional with our time at home - and Halle really enjoys it too!

I fill in the form on Sunday (or Monday) and we work through it all week.  If we finish all of the tasks by Friday, we have a Fun Friday Fieldtrip.

Here are some assignments from Halle's list over the past 2 weeks:

Math - abacus time, simple addition and subtraction, drawing picture problems, cooking with Mom, numbers 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

Reading - 5 new word wall words a week, leveled readers with Mom, quiet reading time alone, and I add any homework that is sent home from preschool

Writing & Spelling - Writing in her journal, writing a note to a friend, writing her sight words and handwriting skills

History & Geography - we've been working on our address and phone number.

Science - watering plants around the house, feeding the fish, reading books about snow, reading books about camoflauge

Technology - She is allowed 30 minutes a day on the computer.  15 minutes on education and 15 minutes doing something fun.  We set a timer.

Art:  We made valentines, playdoh, lots of coloring and random crafting!

Fieldtrips:  We try to get to a storytime - a couple times a month - at our library.

This format is so easy for me because I simply add items to the checklist as ideas come to me (or after we've done them).  The checklist is usually full when the next Monday gets here.  We can do a lot at bedtime - like her leveled readers, sight words, and other books we are reading.  But for the most part 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. is our main learning time and the afternoon - when Ian is napping, and she's not at preschool - she does computer time, quiet reading, and crafting when I'm having some alone time - and we do lots of quiet reading together on the couch or in my bed on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons!  I will often tell her, "Choose a really long book - one I always say NO to at bedtimes - because it's too long!"  :)

More than anything, this checklist has helped me be intentional with my time at home with my children.

What are some of your "homeschool" ideas?

Salt Dough Heart Ornaments...

I saw this idea in our Sunday Paper and cut it out to do with the kids this week.

I love sharing, so here you go!

Super-Simple Air Dry Clay:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1/2 cup water

Mix the ingredients.  Add water, slowly.  If you want to color dough, add food coloring to the water.  Form into balls and roll out to about 1/8 inch thick.  Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes (in this case, heart and you can get heart-shaped cookie cutters in varying sizes).  Once you have cut out the shapes, leave them to dry for a day or two (or bake at 225 until they are hard) making sure you flip them every few hours so both sides have a chance to air dry.  Then decorate them however you'd like!

I am thinking these will be fun for Daddy, Grandparents and Teachers.  Maybe even add a magnet to the back.

{simple} Homemade Valentine Cards...

Halle (and Ian) and I were busy this morning making Halle's Valentine Cards that she will hand out to her friends at preschool.

Rather than going out and buying more paper,

I thought, "certainly we have tons of paper around the house we could reuse."

I am always looking for ways to use what we already have.

So, we used the same paper grocery bags that I used for Christmas label making - and other random cardstock I had.

We cut out 16 "paper cards", and I set out an assortment of my stamps and stickers for her to use - hearts, flowers, etc. - and crazy scissors to decorate the edges.

When she was done decorating the "cards", we wrote, "To: My friend.  From:  Halle"

We did not include candy with our cards (go ahead and call me a grinch, but they'll get enough from their classroom parties and Grandparents!), and my heart just can't contribute to pulling these kids' immune systems down during this horrible sick season.

In lieu of candy, we made a fun "non-candy" item for her friends - a heart "flower" using pipe cleaners and construction paper - and we attached a flower to each card.

Now, we just need to do Sophie's!

I love Valentine's Day - because LOVE - is the heart of God's 2 Greatest Commandments to us:

1.  LOVE the Lord your God with your whole heart, and with your whole soul, and with your whole mind, and with your whole strength {love God}.

2.  LOVE your neighbor as yourself {love others}.

What are some of your fun Valentine ideas?

Spelling City

As part of Halle's "Homeschool" curriculum (I don't formally homeschool, but my teacher soul and desires can't resist teaching at home) we've been working on 5 sight words a week.

I love the phonics cards I got from hosting my Usborne Book Show.  We've been working through those, as my main focus.

One activity I discovered - that she enjoys - is Spelling City.

You can enter the words you want into the site and then there are several game/activity options to choose from.

Of course, this is good for your older kids too who have their spelling lists from school - if you need some fresh ideas to keep them motivated to practice!

It's a fun afternoon activity for Halle and me to do together.

She can even do it in the kitchen while I prep for dinner or bake!

What are some of your favorite educational websites?