Wycliffe Bible

There you have it! My confession! At heart I am a curricula junkie! I love homeschool materials! We have tried numerous programs, curricula, subjects, and approaches to homeschooling over the years. As of now we are finishing up what has been my 12th year of homeschooling. I think I am considered a veteran homeschooler by now. About 6 years into our homeschool journey I ran across a curriculum that I absolutely feel in love with and we have used it ever since. We, of course, have made a few adjustments but have stuck with the same program. It works well for us!

Then I run across another curriculum that looks to be wonderful! I think to myself maybe I should try it out but then I remember that every time I try something new I always come back to what I am using now. Sometimes I will add something and then I frustrate myself because I have to much to try and accomplish! I keep reminding myself that sometimes less is more. So what is the cure? Please someone tell me!

There is one idea that has been floating in my head for several years. I often kick this idea around and have even discussed it with my husband. Maybe just maybe I should just write my own, perfectly suited, everything I desire incorporated curriculum! It would be complete with day to day instructions, necessary resources (real books & supplies), planners and scheduling tips, Biblically sound and deep, totally comprehensive, more and more! Maybe I would entitle it Classical Christian Schooling for the Large Family. It is a grand idea and one that is probably biting off much more than I could ever chew. Then once I get excited and worked up and am ready to plunge in, the realization of the time and effort that would go into such a feat overwhelms me! Then the idea diminishes into a dream way back in the corner of my mind until I see another new curricula out there I want to try.

I am hopeless! Or am I? What do you think???

ADDED: Everyone keeps asking what we use that we love...it is updated in the comment section! So now, if you use something you love share with me too!

Labels: Curriculum, Homeschooling, Train Up a Child

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  posted at 12:30 PM  
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Wow, can you believe it? After several weeks I finally have a new link to share! Two actually!

We are preparing to study World War II and the Holocaust so I did a search. I came across this site: Cybrary of the Holocaust. They have an education page with links and lesson plans, HERE.

Next, I did a search for a study on Corrie Ten Boom and stumbled upon a free cliff note resource. They have a search engine you can use or you can just look through the alphabetical listing. The site is called Best Notes and the direct link for Corrie Ten Boom's Hiding Place is HERE.

For more Weblink Wednesday visit my friend Valerie.

Labels: Curriculum, Homeschooling, Links, Weblink Wednesday

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  posted at 9:17 AM  
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My good friend Valerie has launched a NEW homeschool resource website.

No more guessing if a site is for teachers only,
No more wondering what a particular website offers,
No more guessing if the material you're viewing is free or not,
And no more jumping around from site to site to find something you need...

It's All Done For YOU
All Weblinks are Mom tested and Mom approved!

• Educational Links
• Parent/Teacher Resource Lists
• Unit Study Help
• Homeschooling State Law Information
• Family Support
• Top Homeschooling Curriculum Choice Information
• Homeschooling Help Through High School
• Homeschooling with Special Needs
• ...and Much More!
  

Take some time and check out the new site. It is sure to be one resource you will want to utilize again and again. Either click on the image or follow this link: Weblink Education.

Labels: Curriculum, Homeschooling, Learning Disabilities, Weblink Wednesday

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This week Miss Valerie asked for some special needs resources so that is what I have listed. I hope they are useful to you. Check out more of the links at Weblink Wednesday.

NATHHAN National Challenged Homeschoolers Associated Network
Christian Families Homeschooling Special Needs Children

What is ADHD . . . of the Christian Kind?

The Institute for Multi-Sensory Education - ideal for dyslexia.

AVKO Educational Resource....ideal for learning disabilities.

Labels: Curriculum, Homeschooling, Learning Disabilities, Weblink Wednesday

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  posted at 8:22 AM  
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We had a lot of entries for this giveaway. Thank you to everyone who posted and entered! It is now time to announce the winner! I am so sorry I did not get it up earlier today but it has been a very full day!

The winner is Michelle from Precious Peas! Congratulations Michelle!
Please email me your address and I will get this in the mail to you.

For those who did not win, check back soon. I have another great giveaway I will be posting.

Labels: Curriculum, Giveaways, Homeschooling

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  posted at 7:11 PM  
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The links for this week are for handwriting.


Handwriting for Kids
School Express
The Amazing Incredible Handwriting Worksheet Maker


For more great links visit Weblink Wednesday hosted by SoCalVal.

Labels: Curriculum, Homeschooling, Weblink Wednesday

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  posted at 7:12 AM  
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Here are today's homeschooling links.

Music Forms

Art Forms
Bible Forms
Award & Certificate Forms


To find some more great homeschooling resources just follow the geese by clicking on the graphic.

Labels: Curriculum, Homeschooling, Train Up a Child, Weblink Wednesday

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  posted at 7:32 AM  
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Organizing the materials and books for each child is also important. I had a friend introduce me to this particular idea and it has made a big difference in organizing our materials. Each child receives their very own plastic bucket. They are similar to milk crates in size. Each child places their folders, math books, readers, journals, paper, container of pencils, and anything else that is specific to their course of study in these containers. They have a designated place for their buckets and are required to pull them out before school and to return them after school.

Visit CanadaGirl for more Show and Tell.

Labels: Curriculum, Homeschooling, organization, Show and Tell

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Today's link is for free art lessons from Visual Manna. Visual Manna is an awesome art curriculum and well worth the money spent. They have also offered a few free lessons. They have a link for a past newsletter which has several lesson included in it and a way to sign up for future newsletters. I am headed back there to sign up! I hope you enjoy the free art lessons.

VISUAL MANNA FREE ART LESSONS

For more Weblink Wednesday Homeschooling links visit SoCalVal.

Labels: Curriculum, Homeschooling, Weblink Wednesday

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  posted at 7:55 AM  
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These are “singing science texts”. The complete program includes the text, tape or CD, and reproducible workbook. Each chapter in the text begins with a song. Memorization of scientific terms and concepts should be fairly painless as students sing such memorable lyrics.

Setting important science concepts with old, familiar tunes, they have created 18 songs teaching earth science concepts including topics such as plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, minerals, types of rocks, weathering, erosion, glaciers, groundwater, soil, and topographical maps. Melodies used include Handel’s Water Music, My Grandfather’s Clock, Shendandoah, Souza’s Washington Post March, The Boll Weevil, Wabash Cannonball, and others.

The reproducible workbook has exercises to reinforce the lyrics and textual information and ensure comprehension of the material. The first exercise in each chapter set has students fill in missing keywords from the lyrics. The second quizzes on information from the chapter. This exercise varies somewhat in format. The third exercise is in short answer/essay format and concludes with some “Digging Deeper” questions which require some critical thinking. A complete answer key is provided at the back of the workbook.

DETAILS FOR THE GIVEAWAY:

1. Included is the complete kit plus an extra workbook.
2. The final day for entries is March 15.
3. Please place a post about the giveaway on your blog.
4. Return here and leave a comment with the URL of your blog post.
5. This post will remain listed in the sticky link above the daily postings for easy access.

Labels: Curriculum, Giveaways, Homeschooling

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  posted at 9:04 AM  
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For Show and Tell I thought I would share how I organize my teacher materials and resources. I have a specific place for things and they are easily accessible, not only to me but also to the children who will need them. This makes things flow pretty smoothly during school. I have two bookshelves located in the hallway about ten steps from where we have school. It is easy for me to pull things out and to replace them. I typically pull out everything I will need that day and replace it as I finish with it. This gives me a visible and tangible way to tell what I have accomplished and what is still left to be done. The children can go and get their resource books and replace them as needed. Below is a photo of our two bookshelves piled with 95% of our schooling curriculum. Even if it is not a grade we are utilizing this year, it is still on the shelves. Next week I will share how we organize the individual children's books and supplies. If you click on the image it should open larger in another window if you want to see what is on those shelves.

For more Show & Tell Visit
Mary aka Canada Girl
Click on the image below.

Labels: Curriculum, Homeschooling, organization, Show and Tell

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In honor of my friend Valerie's post yesterday on paper airplanes, I simply could not pass up posting this link today for Weblink Wednesday. This is a link for making paper rockets!! WooHoo!

Kids love rockets, and here is an easy craft activity that almost any age child can do. These are great for "just fun" times, or as a junior craft when older children are busy with real rockets. Just print, color, and follow the directions!

For more fun you can experiment with the variables. Try using different weights of paper, or different size bodies. Move the fins into different positions and see how it flies, or make your own fins that are cut at different angles.

So follow the link and enjoy making your own paper rockets!

SIMPLE ROCKET ACTIVITY

For More Weblink Wednesday Click on the Duck Image Above.

Labels: Curriculum, Homeschooling, Weblink Wednesday

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  posted at 7:21 AM  
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This week's link is for Kid Explorers. There are free Bible-based coloring pages, free lessons plans, games, mazes, and links for more! It looks like a fun site with lots to do. Enjoy!

Labels: Curriculum, Homeschooling, Weblink Wednesday

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Visit SoCalVal for more links.

Free Notebooking Pages: You will find free, printable notebooking pages. Simply print the pages you want, with lines sized appropriately for your child's age, then use them in folders and notebooks for seasonal journaling, unit study writing, or for slightly spiffy essays.

Notebooking Pages

Labels: Curriculum, Homeschooling, Weblink Wednesday

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I decided to try this giveaway thing that bloggers love to do. So I am have a homeschool giveaway. To enter, leave a comment. If you want a second entry, please post about his on your blog & link back to this post. Please leave a second comment here with the url of that post. The last day for entries is February 3rd. The winner will be announced on Feb. 4th. Good luck & spread the word! I am offering the following book.

Upper Grade Phonics

By Joyce Codesa, Sarah McFadden Fornara, Jan Martin, and Norm Sneller

This is a phonics resource for upper grade students! Featuring skills ranging from sound letter matching to advanced word analysis, this book includes lists of language patterns, mini-lessons, follow-up activities, and teacher resource appendices.

This book features over 40 "Language Mysteries" along with mini-lessons for introducing the Mysteries and activities for reinforcing the Mysteries' solutions--all presented in a discovery-oriented format to turn your children into "Language Detectives." It offers a fun approach to phonics.

This book addresses language patterns needed for remedial students as well as benefiting students who are not behind but are ready for more advanced learning. It is designed for children grades4-6 but can be easily adapted for younger or older students.

Once again:
To enter, leave a comment. If you want a second entry, please post about his on your blog and link back to this post. Please leave a second comment here with the url of that post. The last day for entries is February 3rd and the winner will be announced on Feb. 4th. Good luck and spread the word!

Labels: Curriculum, Giveaways, Homeschooling

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  posted at 9:44 AM  
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Learn how to type correctly in just a few hours using all your fingers.
You will soon be typing faster than you ever imagined.
27 guided lessons to learn step-by-step from the beginning.
Choose between 18 different keyboard layouts to learn
Web-based course. No downloads required.

Free Online Typing Course called Good Typing.

Weblink Wednesday Sponsored by: Valerie @ Just4homeschoolfamilies

Labels: Curriculum, Weblink Wednesday

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This year, for our oldest child, we decided to try the auditing service and curriculum through Covenant Home. We have gone through our first quarter and auditing session and I am well pleased. It was a bit intimidating when we started and the extra time it takes to make sure everything is graded and recorded can become a bit tedious. There are also many positive aspects that I have enjoyed. Each subject you purchase from them comes with a day by day planning guide, so I do not have to make any lesson plans. The auditor is available if I have any questions. They keep all records, issue report cards, maintain transcripts, and provide diplomas. We are doing this only for our highschoolers. It has been a good fit. The auditor simply reviews a portion of the child's work and gives helpful comments, they didn't even make any adjustments to my grading. All in all we are very pleased! They are reformed and classical in methodology. They have complete grade sets but as we experienced they are very willing to work with you and adapt the curriculum to the individual child's needs. It is well worth your time to explore what they offer.

Visit Covenant Home Curriculum.

Labels: Curriculum, Homeschooling

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  posted at 8:34 AM  
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This week's site is Apples 4 the Teacher. They have a ton of good resources for pre-k through sixth grade. Their site includes interactive learning games, quizzes, & worksheet generator tools, and much, much more. Most of the resources are listed by subject. Have fun & be sure to come back & tell me what you think!

Weblink Wednesday Sponsored by: Valerie @ Just4homeschoolfamilies

Labels: Curriculum, Homeschooling, Preschoolers, Weblink Wednesday

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  posted at 12:05 AM  
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Voting for the 2007 Homeschool Blog Awards officially TODAY! I am honored to be up for two of them! The two categories I was nominated for are:
The Best “Live What You Believe” Homeschool Blog..... and.....
The Best NEW Homeschool Blog.
Please go and check out the other categories and nominees and cast a vote for me!
You can VOTE HERE! or click one of the direct links above.

Thank you to all of my readers! Thank you for your readership (is that a word??), Thank you for your comments and discussion, Thank you for your encouragement, Thank you for nominating me, and Thank you to those who go and vote for me!

Labels: Awards, Blogging, Curriculum, Homeschooling

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  posted at 8:10 AM  
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