Bahama Blessings

As I walk along my reviewing adventure with The Review Crew from TOS I was asked to review a product that I had already reviewed.  Time4Learning contacted me back in May about using and then reviewing their interactive online learning curriculum.  Time4Learning is an interactive educational website for grades PreK to 8. It covers the subjects of Math, Language Arts, Science and Social Studies. You can read this detailed review, including my children’s thoughts HERE.

So as I re-reviewed and my kids enjoyed Time4Learning once again, my feeling on how great this site is has not changed and in fact they were reinforced by my kids’ excitement when they found out that they would again have access to this great learning experience. They jumped back into this educational adventure with great gusto. I was able to utilize the lesson plans and the printable worksheets to enhance what the website was teaching them. It was at this point that I realized that this site could be a stand alone curriculum for my boys (ages 6 and 7).  Covering the subjects of Language Arts (including reading), Math, Science and Social Studies it would be a very well balanced curriculum.  With this as a primary curriculum choice I can now justify the cost of the program (which I previously disproved of).  It is $19.95 per month for the first child and $14.95 for each additional child. I also decided that it is MUCH cheaper then tutoring and just as effective in most cases. I do wish that they would offer subjects separately at a reduced cost. This would add flexibility to those of us who would like a little help in a certain subject. I am once again thankful to preview, review and enjoy Time4Learning.

Click on the Banner below to see what The Review Crew is saying about Time4Learing.

Bahama Blessings

Heidi Jo

*these thoughts are my thoughts alone (and it is a good thing LOL) and I have received the product free of charge for review purposes*

School has started and much fun is under way in The Kemp house.  As we now have a 1^st and 2^nd grader to add to our wonderful school, the “basics” have been the key focus.  By basics I mean, Math, Reading, Phonics and Handwriting.  I have been using the same books and method with the boys as I did with the girls. with great success. I am known though for changing it up at any given moment, to my kids delight (but sometimes horror).  So, when I was asked to review Peterson Directed Handwriting I thought to myself – “self, lets give this a try”.

My adventure with Peterson Directed Handwriting started with a wonderful online instruction on how to use the produce. My instructor Randy, who you can listen to yourself on the website, made each part of the program so clear and easy to use. As I listened to this I was thinking to myself, once again (can you tell I have lots of one sided conversations), WOW this is different, AND I finally understood how to instruct my child in handwriting.

The “movement-based strategy” is what sets this program apart from all others.  The lessons consist of a 4 step process. The steps are Illustrate & Describe, Air Writing, Finger-Tracing and Write and Say. What I love about these steps is that they cover all learning styles which are a very rare find in one program. The E-book pages are easy to print and use at anytime. The only draw back is that you do need a colored printer, as the lines on the pages are done in green and red for easy instruction.

The method is very different and as it says on the website “The difference is the rhythm”. It seems to be a very fluid way of writing and my boys moved quickly through the lessons. The paper positioning guide was extremely helpful. I did not like the slanted method of letter writing, but that is just my preference. Each page was very easy to use and the instructions were clear.

I got a few “extras” to add to this writing program. The boys loved the “On Your Mark” game page.  This page worked so well with our Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons book.  The Get Ready for Writing & Reading pages were a great addition to help along my reluctant writing. With fun cutout shapes and line writing practice, it kept his interest without becoming monotonous.

The Peterson Directed Handwriting program is an E-Workbook based instruction program. They do have software that allows the child to practice their handwriting on a pen tablet with your PC, which is very unique. The instruction spans grades PreK thru 4 and an additional Advanced Cursive for Grades 5-8. The Homeschool Kit complete for PreK and K is $44.70. This includes Teacher Handbook, Student Text, Position Guides, Finger Fitter Thick Triangular Pencil, Animated Letter Cards CD ROM. There is a Basic Kit and other Student Books sold separately.

All in all, I am very happy with the product and see the benefit of the very detailed instruction in handwriting. I have enjoyed my time using the product and have taken away many useful tips. It you are looking for a program that lays “everything on the table” when it comes to handwriting, this is your program. With this guided program anyone (even my husband with his horrid handwriting) can teach handwriting with complete confidence.

Click the banner below to see what The Crew Members are saying about PDH.

Bahama Blessings

Heidi Jo

*these thoughts are my thoughts alone (and it is a good thing LOL) and I have received the product free of charge for review purposes.

I wanted to share a window into our “school room”. As many of you know we moved 5 months ago into duplex that we turned into a 4 bedroom house. I love all the extra space.  What we did was turn the extra kitchen into our school room.  My super hubby just ripped out the sink and counter but left all the other cupboards (there were tons!)  I still have tons to do but I am very happy with it as we started our “new” school year.

This is the Back of the room and is mostly for storage.  I am working on painting the doors multi colored.

This is the work table and the wall is lined with Desks.  I am looking for a better furniture arrangement.

this is the other wall.

I love having a room for it all of my crazy homeschool “stuff”.  This is a work in progress.

Sciences experiments still get done at the Dinning room table (closer to the kitchen). Please ignore that alien child with no shirt LOL.

I am just getting use to all my new spaces and will update you as I add/take away/improve the space.

We are have a great first week of school and getting settled into a schedule (I think).  Another adventure has begun.

Bahama Blessings

Heidi Jo

As we have started school and are having lots of fun with Sonlight’s Core 1, 6 and alt 7.  I just wanted to share with you a few tips that I have been using to bring The Well Trained Mind to our Sonlight Cores.

I have created a check lists to help direct the girls TWTM way

Weekly History Check List

1. Schedule – Have you completed this week’s schedule?

2. Notebook – Have you completed your History Notebook Checklist?

3. Primary Source – Have you picked/worked on a Primary Source Document? Checklist?

4. Test - Have you taken your assigned History Test?

We are creating History Notebooks as a collection of everything we are learning in our Sonlight Cores. Here are a few list that I have been using.

Ten Sections of Notebook

1. Facts

2.  Great Men and Women

3.  Wars, Conflicts, and Politics

4.  Inventions and Technology

5.  Religion

6.  Daily Life

7.  Cities and Settlements

8.  Primary Sources

9.  The Arts and Great Books

10. Outlines

11. Eyewitness Accounts (Modern History)

History Notebook Checklist

1. List Facts – Choose a section from this week’s History book and List important facts (6-8).

2. Timeline – Add Timeline figures for the week to your Book of Time.

3. Mapping – Finding Locations listed in schedule on the Maps.

4. Summery – Prepare summaries (5-6 sentences) of information on your reader or read aloud.

5. Outline – Create an outline 1 or 2 pages from your history text (SOTW/CHOW).

Primary Source Checklist

1. What does this source say?

2. Who is the author?

3. What was the writer’s purpose?

4. What does he/she have to lose or gain by convincing other of his/her position?

5. What events led to this piece of writing?

6. What happened as a result of this writing?

I will report back in a few weeks to give you an idea on how it is all going.  Until then we will keep on keeping on.

3 frozen bananas

2 cups strawberries

1 cup juice (more if needed) use your favorite

Put the frozen Banana in a blender and blend, adding only as much juice as needed to get the mixture moving.  It will be thick and like ice-cream.  Add strawberries and the rest of the juice until it is the consistence of a very thick milkshake.  Pour and eat.  My son just loves these and can eat them everyday for breakfast!  He is allergic to milk so it is a great substitute for ice cream.

I use to get so overwhelmed when thinking of the Proverbs 31 woman.  But then Jesus’ words in Matthew struck me “my yoke is easy…”  When taking another look at this amazing woman, I saw a woman I could be, a little at a time.  I also saw a woman in different season of life.  All of her attributes are very attainable!  We just have to look though a different lens, the one that God looks at us with.  We were all created with a different purpose in mind.  What looks one way to someone will look totally different to someone else.  What I find is the thing that is always in the way of me stepping in to the Proverbs 31 woman’s shoes is the world.  It is the worlds definition of a woman that makes this woman attributes seem unattainable!  What we have to realize is that we can not be the “woman” the defines and be a Proverbs 31 woman.  So, I think letting go of the worlds ideas and putting on Christ’s “easy yoke” is the solution to the issue.  This is a constant task in my life.  We can not do everything, but through Christ we can do “All” we were created to do.  – And who wants to do more then that!-

1 cup sugar

2 8oz cream Cheese

2 eggs

18 vanilla wafers

Blend the first 3 ingredients with a whisk.  Put Vanilla wafers in the bottom of each muffin tin, lined with Paper Baking Cups.  Fill with mixture and Bake for 30 minutes at 350°.  Cool and eat as is or top with fruit.  Makes 18

Isaiah 55:9

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher that your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

2 Corinthians 12:9

My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

These verses have been speaking to me as I try to sort out all of my house organizing and school planning.  Both of these are very overwhelming at times for me.  This is the case because I have been trying to do them with my own strength.  It is only when we rely fully on God and his Grace is it possible.

Remember the story of the coffee can that is filled with Rocks.  It looks full right?  But we see that we can put a whole cup full of gravel in too.  Then we can put a cup full of sand and then fill it with tons of water.  We learn that there is much room if we start with the largest (most important) item first.  In the process of planning I have made 4 different lists.

1. My Rocks or my most important things to do each day – Quiet time, food prep and service, homeschooling, spending time with my hubby
2. My Gravel or my need to do things for each day – laundry, sweep the floors, read alouds, Bible Study
3. My Sand or my would be nice if I get these done today -  daily chores, emails, extra cooking
4. My Water or my extra list of things to do (that never really seem to get done) – craft projects, filing, book keeping, grading, self education

As you can see you can use this list to prioritize what needs to be done for the day.  I have found that human nature tends to lead us backwards with our to-dos.  I always seem to see what is pressing but not the most important as what I need to do first.  By working on it this way, not much is actually accomplished.

I know for me, I have to start the day with my focus on Christ and seek what He wants me “to do” that day.  Without His guidance and help even what I do accomplish is worthless if not in His plan for my day.

So, take this time to sort out your “rock” first.  God promises us with His strength we will accomplish all He wants us to each day.

2 Cups Flour

½ cup sugar

3 tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

1 egg

1 cup milk

¼ cup butter, melted

¼ cup honey

1 banana

Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.  In another bowl, whisk the egg, milk, butter and honey.  Stir into the dry ingredients until moist.  Add mashed banana.  Fill greased muffin cups ¾ full.  Bake at 400 degrees for 15-18 minutes.  Remove from pan and serve warm.  Makes 1 dozen

Numbers 22:21-35

Verse 31-Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn.  So he bowed low and fell facedown.

This is the story of Balaam and his donkey.  As I read this passage I was struck with the thought “how many times to I beat my donkey”.  In other words how often do I run ahead with what I think the Lord wants me to do and when He sends obstacles to guide me back into HIS will to I try to go around them and “beat” the one who is helping guide me back?

I find I often jump ahead of Gods plan.  I want everything he has for me NOW.  I feel that I can help God along by making certain decisions without Him.  I have had many a “crushed foot” by trying to live this life by my own strength and my own will.

It is only when I turn my EVERY decision over to God and come to Him with my whole life and offer it to Him that my “eyes will be open” and see the path that God has set before me.

Dear Lord, may I fall face down at Your feet and listen to Your Word and turn my feet to Your Path.  Give me the strength to keep to Your will.