"Second star to the right and straight on till morning": August 2010

Monday, August 30, 2010

TOS Magazine Sale!

I just wanted to let you all know about a new sale starting now on the Oldschool House Magazine. I have been subscribing to this magazine for a few years now, and it has been a real blessing to me. If you home school, and do not yet subscribe you might want to check it out, or even renew you subscription.

"The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine is extending an extraordinary
subscription offer to homeschool families. Receive a one-year print
subscription for just $7.95 or a one-year plus current issue
subscription for $12.95. One-year subscriptions start with the winter
issue. The one-year plus current issue starts with the fall issue.
Only 5000 of these special subscriptions are available from August 31
through midnight on September 15. Once the 5000 are gone, they'’re gone!
Hurry and grab this crazy price today!"

Friday, August 27, 2010

"Peterson Directed Handwriting" Review

"The Difference Is Rhythm"

I had all of Buster's curriculum set and ready to go by July including a handwriting book. We started our school year the first week of July. Buster was disappointed with his handwriting, because apparently he wanted to learn cursive. I was planning on waiting until 3rd grade. Needles to say I was happy when I found out a few weeks later we had been chosen to review Peterson Directed Handwriting cursive. I was very impressed with Rand's personal online presentation he set up just for the crew, and even more so when I realized this was available to all customers. He allowed us to download all of the cursive E-books they have available. I decided to start with the level one which is available for download for $19.95. When I first printed the E-book I was a little overwhelmed, and confused how to teach it. There is only a few pages on how to instruct , and it seemed kinda basic at first. Buster was eager to start, so I gave it a go. It turns out it really is that easy.

The secret of Peterson is:

The introduction of 4 basic strokes before you learn any letters. These four strokes help to make up all the letters.

The vocalization of the strokes as you draw them. (IE. Sharp Top drawn out as needed) Buster really took to this technique.

The color coded examples. Green first, then brown, and then red.

Finally the teaching of page placement and proper pencil grip.

Each lesson is to be kept short, and multi sensory. We employed the dry erase board, air stroke practice, vocalization, and page slant. I was very pleased when Buster was able to easily write his first cursive letter Aa. It has really helped that Buster really has an interest in learning cursive, and we will continue with Peterson Directed Handwriting as it is working for him.

Pros:

It comes in E-book form and you can print as many times as needed.

Relatively low cost.

Multi sensory.

Help is available in the form of online meetings.

Cons:

Short how-to in E-books.

Lessons are not planned out for you.

For more info or to order visit Peterson Directed Handwriting online.

I was given the Peterson Directed Handwriting E-books free of charge in exchange for my honest review. I did not receive any other form of compensation for this review.

Weekly Wrap up!

Week 7:

I can't believe we are already 7 weeks into our school year. I'm still trying to get us into a good schedule though, since we started during the summer there has been some extra distractions. I will be starting Sweetpea in Little Hearts For His Glory on Monday. I should be getting a couple packages in the mail today, so we can. I wrote up a daily schedule for us to follow in order to fit in both guides. We have been using it for two days, and so far so good. Buster is a big schedule guy, and he keeps checking it to keep me on track. So onto the highlights of our week:

Buster learned how to borrow this week in math. I was anticipating it to be hard for him, but he had no problem with it. He also finished reading "George Washington and the Generals Dog" He really enjoyed it, and kept asking when it was reading time. I'm excited thathe is finally enjoying reading now. History seems to be his thing.

My husband took some school pictures of the kids for me on Wednesday. We are house sitting for my mom, so these were taken in her garden.

Here is Buster age 7 2nd Grade

Buttercup age 2.5 tot school

Sweetpea age 4.75 Kindergarten

We didn't get Buddy's pictures yet. I will post some soon.
The kids getting some required exercise time.

Buttercup drew this and told me it was a dolphin with a tail. Look at the blue marker.

Sweetpea is so into Bella Dancerella she has done it every day this week.

The girls had some fun lacing!

She figured it out.

For more Weekly Wrap ups visit http://www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com/

Friday, August 20, 2010

Weekly Wrap up!

Week 6:

Wow we actually had a great week and it wasn't too crazy. My husband built me a book shelf and I was finally able to organize our books for the year. The plan is that he's going to build me another one so I can put all the books I have in buckets for future years on it. For storytime I started reading King Of The Wind to Buster, so far we are both enjoying it. He also finished reading Hill of Fire. Wednesday we had a fun day. My oldest brothers kids are staying at my moms house this week. We picked them up and went to the safari village, and swimming at my cousins house. Here are some other highlights of our school week.

The new shelf!

Sweetpea playing! I got her Little Hearts for his glory guide yesterday now just waiting for my Amazon order, so we can start.

Buster working hard at copywork.

Sweetpea and I had a blast making up addition stories with her counting bears. We have been back to using MEP and she is enjoying it.

We started tot time back up, and now we have two tots.

Buster wrote his first letter in cursive, and I think he did great.

I posted a list of what Buster will be reading this year if anyone wants to check it out:

Buster's second grade reading list

I also updated my curriculum page to reflect some changes we are making.

For more weekly wrap ups head over to http://www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com/

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Buster's Second Grade Reading List!

Here is a list of books Buster will be reading for second grade. He is following the emerging reader plan from Heart of Dakota with a few additions and substitutions, because he has already read a few of them. The first 3 on this list he has already read. I have linked each of these to amazon so you can see the book if you want to. I am happy that I was able to find all but 4 of these used.

Christopher Columbus
Sam the Minuteman
Hill of Fire
George Washington and the General's dog
Red Fox and his Canoe
George the Drummer Boy
George Washington Soldier, Hero, President
Pioneer Bear
Davy Crockett A Life on the Frontier
The Big Balloon Race
Keep the Lights Burning Abbie
Wagon Wheels
The Josefina Story Quilt
Buffalo Bill and the Pony Express
Prairie School
First Flight: The Story of Tom Tate and the Wright Brothers
The Drinking Gourd
Escape North! The Story of Harriet Tubman
Abe Lincoln's Hat
Tornado
Animal Adventures(Little House chapter book)
The Bears on Hemlock mountain
The Courage of Sarah Noble
Pocahontas Indian Princess

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Online Schoolhouse Expo!

It's back to homeschool time and registration is open for the online Schoolhouse Expo, October 4-8. It's five days of top homeschool speakers, fellowship, and fun door prizes.

Save $5 per ticket! Register between August 16 and midnight August 22, and you'll pay only $19.99. Plus you'll receive over $200 in free E-Books.

You'll be inspired by speakers including: Zan Tyler, Dr. Jay Wile, Jeannie Fulbright,Carol Barnier, Diana Waring, Todd Wilson, Davis Carman, Kim Kautzer, Lee Binz, and many more!

A special teen track is planned--the entire family will definitely want to listen to these special sessions. We've also planned a special focus on a topic that touches every homeschool--writing. Plus, an array of other topics that will inform and inspire you throughout your homeschooling years.

Don't forget, MP3 copies of each session comes with your LIVE event ticket.

Two special preconference shows on August 24 and September 21 with Dr.
Jay Wile, Jeannie Fulbright, and Kim Kautzer!

Register starting 12:01 a.m. on Monday, August 16.

The theme this fall is "Celebrate Homeschooling!" We're going to celebrate the unique blessings of homeschooling, the beginning of another school year, our families, and the freedom to tailor our children's education to best meet their needs.

If you cannot make the Live event, then the October Expo To Go is just your ticket! You'll reserve MP3s from all of the workshops. This week only, pay just $14.95!

You can visit either of these links to get more information.
http://www.schoolhouseexpo.com/
or

http://bit.ly/aWHFiL

(I'm posting this advertisement in exchange for free Expo-To-Go tickets.)

Monday, August 16, 2010

Curriculum!

I just updated our Curriculum page because I'm crazy like that. Also stay tuned for school pictures of the kids I will try to get them up this week.

Our Week!

We are still plugging away at school. Buster finished reading Sam the Minuteman(he really enjoyed this one). We also finished our read aloud Squanto friend of the pilgrims, which was a big hit for Buster. I decided that I'm going to get Little Hearts For His Glory for Sweetpea. I was feeling like she was going to be missing too much of Beyond, and I want her to have some special Kindergarten time with mommy. My brother's kids were down from Montana for their annual visit. Buster had a blast with his youngest whom he hasn't seen in 4 years. We also had a fun scaventure hunt birthday for two of my nephews 13th, and had a family day at the beach. On Monday my sister and I took all the kids through the Wildlife Safari drive through. It was really fun since my brothers youngest(cousin S) had never been to a zoo. Tuesday my husbands sister had a baby boy, so we now have 16 nieces and nephews.

Baby E! He is so tiny and precious 6lbs 1oz.

Day at the beach.

Cousin S!

These boys had way too much fun together.

Sweetpea making a snowman for our scaventure hunt!

Friday, August 6, 2010

Weekly Wrap up!

I realized on Monday that this week was going to be pretty busy, so I decided to take the week off of Beyond Little Hearts For His Glory. Here is a run down of our week:

Monday: My dad came over and did some painting, and Buster spent some time helping him.

I got out a few Magic Tree house books that I had, and Buster started reading the first one. That evening we took the kids to the park and the river.

Tuesday: We did some school! Sweetpea read from Phonics Pathways she was practicing CK words again. We also did some MEP math, and read a book about Columbus. The kids both started their new swim classes, and are doing great.

Wednesday: Sweetpea finally got an appointment to have her tooth extracted. I took her in at 10:00, and she did great. She didn't even need sedated.

Buster got to go to the fair with my mother in-law and cousin K. It's the first time he has ever been.

Thursday: Buster went with my mom and cousins T, and E to visit my brothers kids out of town. They only get to visit for a few weeks each summer. They all played at a fun park and played mini golf. I tried to take the girls to a indoor bounce place but it was closed. Instead we got Happy Meals and went to the park. The kids had swim lessons again last night, and Sweetpea bought this crown with her tooth fairy money.

Friday: Today we are just cleaning up the house and getting ready for a fun weekend with the fam. We will be having a scavenger hunt party tomorrow followed by a cookout, and on Sunday we are going to the beach.

I hope you all had a great week!

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