Tweaking the Schedule

Remember that schedule I posted here? I've been working on revamping it because honestly it wasn't working. Why, you ask? I'm not entirely sure except that life at our house doesn't happen according to the clock. Not that I was sticking strictly to the clock, but people, we were nowhere near...in fact, I haven't looked at that schedule in days, maybe weeks.

Because I'm such a believer in schedules and I'm determined to make one that works, I've come up with this one.

I can't remember where I read (on another person's blog) about routine blocks. So I'm sorry that I merely took your idea and literally ran with it. But it looked like it just might work for us. I'll let you know how it goes.

Interestingly enough, Saturday night after printing a rough draft, I prayed that the Lord would help me figure out if it was realistic, doable, etc. Sunday morning I woke up with such a terrible backache that I could barely get out of bed. (The only thing I could think of that I did was lean over the tub to wash my hair Saturday morning. I suppose my body is telling me that I'm not 15 any more and can't do that!!) I spent the entire morning with a heat pack on my back. Later, I had an awful headache only to be followed by a horrible stomachache. Needless to say, I acknowledge that I can make my plans, but it is the Lord who orders my steps! (Proverbs 16:9)

**Just to clear up what I'm saying (and not saying)...I don't think my physical afflictions were directly related to my prayer about my schedule! But clearly I can make the best plans and I know that it's the Lord who enables me to carry them out...or not.

So, Monday morning we will try the new schedule! Stay tuned. :)

Blue Jean Study

Marissa is doing a speech on blue jeans. She is in a speech class for homeschoolers; it is taught by a well qualified student at the local Christian university. Honestly folks, she wasn't cracked up about taking this class. In fact, I signed her up and waited to tell her a couple days before the class started. (I heard that collective gasp!) She dramatically fainted (similar to the drama of Anne of Greene Gables). However, she is doing fine in the class and even admitted she is enjoying it a wee bit. She is not looking forward to giving her speech in front of the class this Thursday though. Persevere, young one, persevere.

Her topic is blue jeans and her outline looks roughly like this:
A. History of Blue Jeans
B. Styles through the years
C. Care of Blue Jeans

This website gives some history about Levi Strauss.

This website gives a detailed time line of the denims.

Amazon offers this book called The Blue Jeans Book: The Story Behind the Seams. We found it at our local library.

So, if you want learn a little about the jeans you are wearing and pray for Marissa on Thursday.

Confusing

My sweet Bethany told me today that she was confusing. :) Ok, what she meant was that she was confused. This is the way the conversation went...

Bethany: Mom, I have a question. I am confusing.

Mom: What's your question?

Bethany: Marissa told me that Jesus is God and God is Jesus, so when Jesus was born on earth did that mean there was no God in heaven?

Mom: Hmm, that is confusing.

Then I proceed to tell her about the trinity. Hmm. I wrap up the conversation by saying, "Sweetie the Bible tells us that some things we won't fully understand until we get to heaven."

Q is for Duck

Q is for Duck is a delightful alphabet book for kindergarteners (could maybe go a little younger or little older). The book keeps you guessing...for example "G is for horse", why? Because a horse gallops!

Bethany and I read half of this book yesterday and we'll read the other half today. Very engaging. It has really helped her with her beginning sounds.

I found these websites that offer lesson plans and ideas for this book and other alphabet books.

Make your own alphabet guessing book.
Read Write Think offers this lesson plan for 3-5th graders using this book. Struggling writers are the target audience in this lesson.
Home Education Magazine reminds us that the ABC's are not just for kindergarten kids!

Try to get ahold of this book and read it aloud. You'll find your children (and yourself) trying to guess why "A is for zoo".

No Bake Cookie Recipe

I enjoy the taste of no-bake cookies. I also enjoy their ease of preparation. Tomorrow night is our farm girl meeting and I am taking these yummy cookies. I'm using a recipe obtained here because I cannot find my recipe for them. I'm including the recipe for you here.

No Bake Cookies
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups white sugar
3 tablespoons unsweetened
cocoa powder
1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup milk

1 pinch salt
3 cups quick cooking oats
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract


DIRECTIONS:
1. In a saucepan bring sugar, cocoa, margarine, milk, and salt to a rapid boil for 1 minute.
2. Add quick cooking oats, peanut butter, and vanilla; mix well.
3. Working quickly, drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper, and let cool.

Enjoy!!

Cinquain Poetry Lesson

This afternoon I was reminded of all the neat poetry forms. Cinquain is one of those. The format is:

Line 1: one word (subject or noun)
Line 2: two words (adjectives) that describe line 1
Line 3: three words (action verbs ending with "-ing") that relate to line 1
Line 4: Four or five words (feelings or complete sentence) that describe the subject or are related to it in some way
Line 5: One word that sums up line 1 or is a synonym of line 1

After some reading, I realize that this is modern cinquain poetry. Here are some websites that describe it further.

Cinquain Lesson Plans from Reading a-z.com. In order to access the worksheets, one has to be a member; however the lesson plan is there for the reading.

Cinquain Poetry writing that goes into a paragraph can be found in this interesting lesson plan.

Shape poems--this site allows you to write your poem on a specific shape (apple, soccer ball, etc.) and then print it out.

Another good site for cinquain poetry.

I'm going to teach this to Marissa next week and if she gives permission, I'll share her finished work.

Blogs I Read

Well, I've been wanting to list some of the blogs I read. So, today, I did just that. This is just a start, but I'll have to add more as time goes on.

Time to Remember

Yesterday, I took time to pray for our country, for our troops everywhere and for our family.

I Chronicles 29:11-12
Everything in the heavens and earth belong to You, O Lord, and this is Your kingdom. We adore You as being in control of everything. Riches and honor come from You alone, and you are Ruler over all mankind; Your hand controls power and might and it is at Your discretion that men are made great and given strength.

I will never forget.

Time Schedule

The beginning of another school week!

Here's a link to our daily schedule. I tried to get it copied directly here, but it didn't look very good.
I'd be dangerous if I actually knew what I was doing.

More later, hopefully!

"GIANT" Fun

Official homeschooling has begun! Bethany declared excitedly that she is having GIANT FUN in school. :) Marissa has made no such declarations aloud (although I know she's feeling it deep inside)!

Trenton is having big fun too. Today he tried earnestly to drown out my voice while I was reading science. La, la, la, LA, LAAA, LAAA... He's also run off with Bethany's colored pencils and assorted notebooks and papers. He runs as fast as his little legs will carry him until I realize what's been done and stop him.

Here's a brief list of what curriculum we are using:
Marissa--6th grade:
Math U See
Mystery of History
Apologia Science
Literature studies for reading
Wordly Wise

Hopefully soon I'll be able to post what our daily schedule looks like and a little about what I'm doing with Bethany, my big kindergartener!