Saturday, March 12, 2011

An update

The past year went by so fast and it seems like this year is reaching a unbelievable rate of speed as well! I was so sure that the 2010-2011 school year was going to be Reagan's Kindergarten year (although she was starting out as 3.5 year old) and although she definitely is intelligent enough, she certainly was no where near the maturity level needed.

And that was fine. We've adjusted and have enjoyed continuing preschool. Some days we have school and some days we don't..and we pursue other interests-play dates, story times, book buddies, going on 'field trips' or just doing all the things that take up the daily business of life. And Mommy has learned quite a bit about rushing things....

I don't believe we'll consider next year a Kindergarten year either, although she'll certainly be old enough-5 in December 2011. But we're also not considering it a preschool year. We're just going to learn and enjoy ourselves without any grade labels. (Our state doesn't require compulsory attendance/homeschooling til age 7 so we are still way ahead of the game!)

That being said, after much much more research than I ever intended and after having said that I was going to go with a certain curriculum, only to realize that although it would work for me, it certainly would NOT work for Reagan (we have very different learning styles), I think we've made a final decision for next year's materials.


Next year, and possibly next if she enjoys it, we're going to use My Father's World (Kindergarten-yes, although we're not considering this a Kindergarten or Preschool year!) I like that it's Biblical based, it's a completely contained curriculum and it has tons of activities-which is a big bonus for Reagan. She learns best by doing hands on work.

We'll continue supplementing with other materials as well that I've found and really want to use with her. I'll continue to update and post links to some fun things we're learning and websites I've found that have really helped us!

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Time 4 Learning Review


Over the past 30 days, I've had the privilege of using the Time 4 Learning program in our homeschool. This has been such a blessing to us, as I was having a very hard time getting Reagan excited about the reading and math aspects of school (she is very much a strictly science oriented girl!).

In fact, Reagan enjoyed the program so much that she begged to do it every day and completed almost all two levels of preschool in the 30 days we were given to review it! Some days she would spend an hour or two just playing and redoing lessons she had already done FOR FUN! I can't tell you how excited and happy I was to find something that engaged her and that she enjoyed doing. In fact, I've just now bumped her up to Kindergarten level math, in the hopes that Time 4 Learning has given her the incentive and confidence to tackle a non-science subject!

What is Time 4 Learning exactly?

According to the Time 4 Learning website, they are a technology based program that teaches preschool through 8th grade using a combination of animated lessons, interactive activities and reinforcing worksheets.

Not only is the Time 4 Learning program great for homeschoolers, but students needing a little extra reinforcement outside of school can use it as well.

For a low monthly fee, you have access to Language Arts, Phonics, Grammar, Science, Social Studies and Math. (Science and Social Studies are available in 1st and 2nd grades respectively).

A typical lesson on the preschool side included a short story or video to introduce the lesson and then several activities to reinforce the lesson-ranging from sequencing, to playing the syllable drum, putting together puzzles or Reagan's favorite, playing a game with Brainy Bot. Some lessons even include an idea notebook filled with activities to reinforce the lesson outside of the computer.

I was impressed not only with the fact that Reagan was learning, but she was amassing amazing computer skills. In 30 days she moved from barely being able to use the computer at all, to spending an hour or two on her own manipulating the program. And how many preschoolers are introduced to the concept of syllables? Not many I'll wager..but Reagan got it!

Some great items to note about this program:
-There is no contact, you use it on a monthly basis and cancel at any time.
-There's a two week money back guarantee.
-For all levels (except preschool) there are parent progress reports that you can log in and check at any time to see your student's progress.
-You can review lesson plans ahead of time to mesh with what you're currently learning.

For more information, please visit Time 4 Learning. You can click here to check out a free lesson demo or here to check out a preschool demo, and here to check out Time 4 Learning's Lesson Plans and Scope and Sequence.

Disclosure: Please note that I received a free 30 day Trial for review on my blog. However, the opinions expressed therein are mine alone and were not written by Time 4 Learning.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

The Homeschool Moms Who Can't Do Everything

This is from the Gravy Pages! I love it!!! Click over to her site to see some more awesome homeschool stuff!

The Homeschool Moms who Can't Do Everything Sung to the tune of Veggie Tales "The Pirates who Don't Do Anything." By Joelle White and Maura Light, who wrote the chorus and started the whole thing.

All 3 Moms:
We are the home school moms who can't do everything
We just stay at home and plan a lot
And if you ask us to do everything
We'll just tell you
We can't do everything

Mom2:
Well, I've never been to Boston and I've never shot a musket,
and I've never built a cabin using nothing but an axe,
and I've never skinned a possum, and I've never staged a battle,
and I've never started home school before fall!

All:
We are the home school moms who can't do everything
We just stay at home and plan a lot
And if you ask us to do everything
We'll just tell you...

Mom3:
We can't do everything!

And I've never distilled water, and I've never banded birdies,
and I've never built an ant farm 'cuz I can't stand things that crawl,
and I've never dug a fossil, and I've never owned a test tube,
and I've never started home school before fall!

All:
We are the home school moms who can't do everything
We just stay at home and plan a lot
And if you ask us to do everything
We'll just tell you
We can't do everything

Mom1:
And I've never slaughtered chickens, and I've never milked a go-oat,
and I've never gone to 4-H or the local county fair,
and I've never sewn a jumper, and I don't look good in denim,
and I've never started home school before fall!

Mom2: Huh? What are you talking about? What's a milk goat and denim jumpers got to do with being a home school mom?

Mom3: Hey, that's right! We're supposed to sing about academic-y things!

Mom1: Oh...

Mom2: And who ever sews school uniforms? That's impossible! Why even bring it up? Am I right? What do you think?

Mom3: I think you should do your laundry.

Mom2: Huh? Why do you think that?

Mom3: You should...

Mom2: Don't wanna!

Mom3: You wore that shirt yesterday!

Mom2: That's it, you're going to help me!

Mom3: Says who?

Mom2: Says ME, that's who!

Mom3: Oh yeah? Well I'm not picking up your socks! (pinches her own nose)

Mom2: Argh!

Mom3: Yike!

Mom1:
And I've never done gymnastics, and I've never danced the polka,
and I've never painted daisies 'cause I cannot paint at all,
and I've never made a schedule, and my house is never perfect...

Mom2: It'll never happen!

All: And we've never started home school before fall!

We are the home school moms who can't do everything
We just stay at home and plan a lot
And if you ask us to do everything
We'll just tell you
We can't do everything

Mom2: Pass the pencils! Who's got the teacher's guide?

Mom1: Here it is! (holds up shredded paper)

Mom3: (groans, then smiles with sudden inspiration) Time for recess!

Mom2: It's definitely time for Scotch tape.

Mom3: Oh, I don't like that stuff...

Mom1: Hey, look! I found a crayon!

(That was funny, take me back to the top)

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Christmas-Free Nativity Downloads

I love these downloads I found for the retelling of the Christmas story!
http://www.sparklebox.co.uk/cll/story/xmas.html

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Christmas Books: The Friendly Beasts (An Old English Christmas Carol) -Illustrated by Tomie dePaola


Anyone who knows children's books, knows the name Tomie dePaola. His timeless illustrations would fill a book all on their own, even without words. Add them to this classic Christmas carol, full of description and repetition (just right for toddlers and preschoolers!), and you have a perfect mix. If there's one book you buy this year for Christmas, let this be it.

**Although the repetitive qualities of this Christmas carol are perfect for little ones, older kids will still love this amazing book!

Christmas Books: A Charlie Brown Christmas


We love Charlie Brown in our house! (Although I'm always wondering where the heck the parents are!?!) And this book was a no-brainer to go on my list of Christmas favorites. I'm sure everyone can picture Linus in their heads, giving his Christmas speech about the true meaning of Christmas.

Sure to be a favorite in your house, this classic is a must-have for young and old! (I highly recommend the video too!)

Christmas Books: The Mitten


This is one of my favorite winter-time books for children! I don't believe this version is in print anymore, but you can find used copies all over the web.

A classic story about a little red mitten that unintentionally becomes home to SEVERAL animals for the night. Sweet, cute and sure to put a smile on your little one's face!
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