Blog Walk week 9

I am a bit behind....  but this goes till Sept 3....

Here are a few more blogs to check out... more homeschoolers just like you!

1. Creative Learners
2. The Homeschool Desk
3. Ramblin' Roads
4. The Stewards Steno ~these guys have chickens.  anyone with chickens is my friend.
5. Mama Manuscripts or try this one....Mama Manuscripts  it looks like she moved
6. Train Up a Child
7. We Love to Homeschool
8. Day by Day in Our World
9. Acorns - or Homeschooling Nuggets of Gold
10. The Berry Patch ~ I follow this one....  her humor makes me happy.

Hope you enjoy the read!

Homeschooling is MY labor of love......

Really it is.

Honest.

Even on the days when one or more children are in tears.......

Even on the days when mommy is in tears........

Whenever I hear the word Labor....  I think of Birth.  Sorry, I have had 4 kids... what can I say...the process is indelibly etched in my mind.  Labor, especially for homeschoolers, doesn't end with a doctor handing you a baby..... For homeschoolers, the job has just BEGUN!....  The end result, a well trained mind.

When a mom goes into Labor, she takes along a coach.  Usually it is dad, who has been drug to all these special classes, and for the life of him can't figure out why all these women want to sit in a room and pant....
If we are that prepared, and practiced up for what will amount to HOURS out of our lives..... shouldn't we be well coached and mentored in our Homeschool laboring?

It is this encouragement, and coaching that I love so much from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.  When it arrives in my mailbox...... the mere sight of it is relaxing, and refreshing.  I know that encased inside that clear plastic sleeve, is words from people laboring just like me.  They have words of inspiration, comfort, and discipleship.  They have new ideas to share, or a fresh way to tackle a problem I have been having.

My dear magazine is having a great sale, from August 31 to midnight PST Sept 15th, to celebrate this labor of love that they share with me.  They are offering 5000, one year subscriptions for the low price of $7.95.  Your first issue will be the Winter one. This is a great price.  It is less than $2.00 an issue!  If you are in a hurry to see what the magazine is all about, then chose the option that will get the upcoming Fall issue in your hands, for $12.95.  At this price, you could give another homeschooler the gift of encouragement!  Don't wait, when the 5000 are gone....... the deal goes away.  Get your next issue here!

Don't wait to try this magazine out.  I stumbled onto it a few years ago, and I look forward to every issue. 

*** disclaimer*** as a part of the homeschool crew....  i will receive the ability to download  "expo to go" for free, for sharing this information with you.......  but really you do need to get this magazine.  (I already say that over there in "cool stuff", and that was WAY before I ever was on the homeschool crew.........)

Peterson Directed Handwriting - Cursive Handwriting Review

I was given the opportunity to review several new E-books by Peterson Directed Handwriting.  They developed these E-books to help teachers take advantage of technology in their classrooms. They are perfect for the homeschool community as well.   I enjoy the ease of storing E-books as well as the ability to print out exactly what I need, as many times as I need it.  I was chosen as a member of the Cursive Handwriting Review team, and received Levels 1-4 to review.  Other Crew members reviewed the use of this PDF software with a Wacom Pen tablet, and other members received Print Handwriting Material.  Please click here, if either of those materials are of interest to you.

The PDF by Hand E-Workbooks are available from the Peterson Directed Handwriting website.  You will need  purchase the license to print out their materials, and that only costs a meager $19.95 per level. This cost is a ONE time fee, not a yearly subscription.  You could use this product with successive students for that one time price per level.   Included with each level are Instructions, Blank Lined practice paper, Fluency Tests, Basic Movement strokes, Reading Puzzles, Letter Practice and much more.  I have been using this program at Level 1 and 2 with my Third grader, and having the ability to print exactly what I need, is so much easier than having to write in a bulky workbook.

Before we were given this product to test in our own home schools, we were all able to meet with Rand Nelson, the Director of Training, for Peterson Directed Handwriting.  We met with him over the web, and received a tutorial on how the Peterson Directed Method is different than the tracing methods that are widely used today.  Mr. Nelson explained to us their movement instruction and how it develops a recording of muscle movement in your child's brain.  Most tracing programs, teach your child to draw a letter, not understand or develop a pattern to create it.  Muscle memory, not the eyes, should be responsible for guiding fluent movement of a pen or pencil across a paper.

Now, if you were to say....  "sure you like the program, you had a personal training session!  They aren't going to do that for little ole' me..."  I would answer, "quit being Eeyore, and go look at their site! They will too do it for you!"   Teaching and training people is at the heart of this company.  They not only want you to purchase a great handwriting system from them.  They desire to educate you, and be there to answer your questions.  They offer "meet live now" sessions right on their homepage, open to visitors to ask a question.  They periodically hold online training, you can sign up to be notified of the next class.  They have personalized training available for purchase  ($35.00 ) as well as a Online tutor service that could lead you to a Formal Endorsement Certificate ($75.00) if you wish more in-depth understanding.  There is also a free 20 minute presentation on the Peterson Method, click here to view it. 

I have had the opportunity to use this for a few weeks with my son.  He looks forward to his lessons in Cursive Handwriting...  (and this was NOT the case with the workbooks we used before... )  He says it is easier to talk the lines onto his paper, and he enjoys the rhythmic movement, and exaggerated muscle memory exercises.  I recommend this product to homeschoolers of all ages.  You can begin to teach cursive in Kindergarten with Level One, and with older students you can improve proficiency and proportion with Levels 2-4.  Go to their website, look around, and consider using the Peterson Directed Method as your handwriting curriculum this year.

Remember, don't just take my word for it.... read what other homeschoolers have to say about this product on The Homeschool Crew Blog.


**** Disclaimer****
As a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew, I received this product in exchange for my unbiased, honest opinion, humble as it may be.  No other compensation was given, which is fine, because I enjoy living in a one income family.

Dorm Room Dinners

This summer I spent some time with some girls who had come home from their first year of college.  One needed to take Iron and other vitamins, because she was becoming anemic, and deficient in those areas.  I asked her what she was eating while she was in school....  Top Ramen?  To which, she sheepishly lowered her head and answered.... " yeah..." 

This got me thinking about ways to prepare foods in a dorm room, that are quick, easy, and tasty, and filling.  So from time to time, I will post some survival food....because I know you all are busy between classes, work,  church, and studying....

Ramen a la Veg

Now, before you look at this picture and say yuck... because you don't like these particular vegetables...  Think around the corner to the ones you DO like.  Corn, snow peas,  sugar snap peas, broccoli, carrots, green beans...  some on the not so common but great list are: Bok Choy, Spinach ( fresh not canned, ick!), bean sprouts, zucchini, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms... Many veggies arrive at the market already cut and bagged.  This will eliminate the need for you to keep a large sharp knife in your room.  All you need is a little fridge ( if you have to use a common one put your name on your stuff! ), a microwave, and a microwavable bowl.

 Ingredients:
1 Package of Ramen ( your favorite flavor )
2 cups of water
veggies of your choice.

Directions:
Heat water, Ramen noodles and sauce packet in microwave until noodles are soft. (3-5 minutes)
Remove bowl from microwave very carefully
Add in handfuls or sprinkles of your favorite veggies, and let sit for a few minutes to cool.  The veggies will cook in the hot water it cools to an eatable temperature.

Tip***  the "harder" the vegetable ( ie. Broccoli or carrots )  if you place them in the microwave to cook WITH your noodles to cook, they will be softer and easier to eat.

Variations:
Asian Ramen:  use "Oriental " flavored Ramen.  add a touch of soy sauce after cooking, use bean sprouts, green onions, mushrooms, and bok choy or spinach as your veggies. ( tip** keep the soy sauce packages from your excursions to Panda Express.... it saves on needing a big bottle in the fridge.)

Veggie Beef Soup:  Use "Roast Beef" flavored Ramen.  add to water before cooking, handfuls of frozen corn and frozen green beans, and some shredded carrots.  Add mushrooms and a little onion, after it comes out to cool.


Remember, that the combinations are endless....  possibilites are only limited by your imagination.  I don't recommend Ramen 7 days a week, but by adding some veggies into it, you are increasing its nutritional value, and you will keep your mom from wondering if you ever really do eat anything healthy while you are away.... ......

Living on a Dime

Thinking about the earlier post this week about how we afford to homeschool, I was reminded about this newsletter I subscribe to.

It is called Living on a Dime.  It is chock full of money management ideas, coupons, tips on organization and cleaning.  The newsletter is free, and it comes out once a week.  They have recipes to add to your menu.  I don't always read them on time... but they are nice to get and look back on when I need some new ideas.
Pop on over there and check Tawra out!

Bookmarks

Today I was reading to Hunter, and realized we didn't have any bookmarks to put IN the books we were reading....  So for the 12th box of our workboxes, I decided that we would make some. It was a fairly easy craft and could be used for birthday parties or as gifts.

We started with 3 sheets of 6x6 paper.

Cut it into 2 inch strips.

Then decorated.  He chose stamps,but you could use stickers, color pens or pencils, anything you have handy.

We loaded the finished bookmarks into an 8 1/2 x 11 heat laminate sheet.  ( the self laminating sheets will work if you don't have a heat laminator.  Although, I don't know why you wouldn't want a laminator, they are the BEST thing EVER!)

Cut them out, and a hole punch and piece of ribbon later...you have bookmarks. Enjoy!

Tuesday

So far it is a great Tuesday!...  The first Tuesday of the school year.  We survived day one, with all family members still breathing and smiling.  This is a plus.  Only one minor melt-down by Hunter with his math...  I did after all give him 8 whole problems to do and they were mixed addition and subtraction  AND some of them had three numbers!!  Poor boy to have such a mean teacher. 

I also started a new way of tracking the High Schooler's progress during the week.  As time goes on and I see how it works, I will share it with you.

Here is to praying the tradition of goodness extends through the week.