A month of Thanksgiving Day Three and Four

I missed writing yesterday. I got busy doing things with my kids and by the time I realized I didn't post, it was late. So, I am combining yesterday and today's post into one.
I am going to focus on my children today, I am very thankful for them, they keep me very busy (hence missing a post ), and fulfill my life in ways the can't be described.

I have one son, Alexander, 11 years old. He is a lively boy, who loves video games, fishing, reading, playing with him friends, and is super excited to learn to hunt. He started youth group at church this year, and loves it. Being the only boy, we are often asked how he handles all his sisters. My answer is always the same, he is lucky to be the only boy, he will always have his own room, does not have to share his toys, and will grow up with a great understanding of women.  He is learning coding this year, because he wants to design games when he is older.




My oldest daughter is Destiny, she is ten years old. She is a beautiful girl, who tends to be on the dramatic side. She loves art, animals, donuts, reading, and so much more. She loves going to kids camp, learning about God, and riding horse while she is there. We love everything about her, she is wild, fun, artistic, fashionable, and overall a wonderful child. She wants to be an artist when she grows up.



Next up is Kairi, she is eight years old. Kairi is the child that challenges me the most. She is stubborn, yet sweet. She knows what she likes, and there is little you can do to change her mind. At the same time, she is sweet, loving, compassionate, and kind. She loves going to children's church. She wants to be friends with everyone. She strongly believe in unicorns, and mermaids.  She likes to color, read stories, play pretend, and be outside.




Next up is Amelia, she is six years old. She is my rainbow baby. ( For those who do not know, that means she is a child born after a miscarriage, still birth, or loss of a child. ) She is the happiest kid you will meet. She loves everyone. We get comments often about how friendly she is. Amelia likes to be involved in everything you are doing, always wants to help. She loves to play with friends, make believe, color, and more. She loves going to children's church, and singing with the other kids.


My baby is Cassandra, she is three years old. She is a mama's girl, shy, and sweet. She loves to cuddle, read books, color, play barbies, and pretend. She has just started coming out of her shell a bit over the last couple months. Before hand, she would not dare talk to someone she did not know, she would cry if we tried to take her to her class at church, and she really just wanted to be home, with her family. In the last few months, she has really started trying to make friends with other kids, she lives to go to her class now ( music is her favorite part ), and she even enjoys her class at home school group. She does not like it when I call her my baby, she says, " I not a baby, I a totter ( toddler )." No matter what she says, she will always be my baby girl.


Each of my kids are amazing in their own ways, and I know they are going to do amazing things in their lives.

                                                                  

A month of Thanksgiving - Day Two

Today I want to write about my husband. I am incredibly thankful for him. He works hard, providing enough that I can stay home, and take care of our kids. He is a very hands on father, he is involved in their home school lessons, he takes part in home school group when he can, he helps with projects, plays with them, teaches them things, and is just over all a great father. He does his fair share in the house, never leaving me to do all the house work.

I am lucky to have him as a husband, and the kids are lucky to have him as a father.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day One

Thanksgiving is approaching fast, I like to use the month of November to reflect on everything I have to be thankful for.

Today I would like to focus on home schooling. I am very thankful we have the ability to home school. It is the best choice for us, and we are very grateful we live in a place that allows us to teach our kids freely, the way we feel fit.

Homeschooling the kids means we have the chance to not only teach them the things we feel they need to know, but also expand on the courses they really enjoy. We can help to shape them to be the best they can be.

We have the chance to really help them in classes they struggle in and not worry about what grade of level they are doing. At the same time, if they are excelling at a class we can let them go above their current grade or level, without issue.
                          

K - 2nd Read Aloud Program Part 1

Course Description: This read aloud program  is for  K - 2nd grade students, it can be used for younger or older students, based on their reading level.  Links are included for multiple activities.
It is designed that the teacher or parent reads the stories to the children. If you have a child that is a good reader, they can read the story to you. Personally, we do a mix of both.

Supplies : Being a home schooling parent of many children, I know that it can get expensive quick. This is why I am writing my own reading program for the year. You can buy the book if you want, I buy the books because I have several students that will be reading them, I collect classic novels, and we just like having them around.
If you are looking to cut costs, several of these books can be found for free online, or you can get them at your local library.

Other supplies needed will be -

Printer
Internet Connection
Crayons/Colored Pencils
Folder to keep projects if you want
Glue
Pencils
Some art supplies if you do all the links and projects

Book List A Bear Called Paddington
More About Paddington
Paddington Helps Out
Frog and Toad Storybook Treasury
Make Way for Ducklings
Curious George ( stories to share )


Paddington Collection ( A Bear Called Paddington, More About Paddington, Paddington Helps Out )
We are using this unit study. You can use this as much, or as little as you want. Pick and choice some activities.

Extra Activities Watch the Paddington movie.
Eat some orange marmalade.
Do some Paddington activities.Frog and Storybook Treasury
- Frog and Toad Are FriendsI could not find a free unit study for this collection of stories. I am linking worksheets that go along with it in place of a unity study. Use as many or as few as you would like.
Do this sheet the first three stories
Do this page after Spring
Color page
Fill out a friendship chart
Use this sheet after reading A Swim
Do this sheet after A Lost Button
After reading The Letter, have your student write a letter to someone.
Do this test after reading all the stories


-Frog and Toad Together We are using this study guide.

-Frog and Toad All Year We are using this unit study.

-Days with Frog and Toad We are using this unit study.

Extra Activities -
Watch Frog and Toad ( try youtube )
Spend some time learning more about frogs and toads
Make a frog craft
Make puppets


Make Way for Ducklings We are using this unit study.

Extra Activities - Pick some activities.
Curious George ( stories to share ) We are not using unit studies for this book. Instead I will link activities for each. We are also watching the video of each story.
There is also no extra activities linked, since each story will already have many things to pick from. Pick as many or as few as you like.

Curious George and the Firefighters
Color this page
Visit a fire station
Make a fire safety plan
Red more stories on firefighters
Watch the cartoon episode that matches this story.
Retell the story sheet

-Curious George at the Aquarium
What makes you curious sheet
Retell the story sheet
Learn more about penguins
Learn more about aquariums
Color a penguin

-Curious George Dinosaur Discovery
Watch the cartoon episode that matches this story
Do a dinosaur puzzle
Retell the story sheet
Learn more about dinosaurs
Learn more about fossils

- Curious George First Day of School
Color this page
Watch the cartoon episode that matches this story
Draw George
Retell the story sheet
Watch videos about different schools ( youtube has some interesting ones )

- Curious George and the Pizza Party
Make your own pizzas
Watch the cartoon episode that matches this story
Make a pizza craft
Retell the story sheet
Do a pizza madlibs
- Curious George at the Baseball Game Watch the cartoon episode that matches this story
Learn more about baseball
Play baseball
Retell the story sheet
Color a page


- Curious George at the Parade
Make a design for a parade float
Watch the cartoon episode that matches this story
Retell the story sheet
Learn more about the history of parades
Color this picture

- Curious George Plants a Tree
Plant a tree
Learn more about how trees grow
Watch the cartoon episode that matches this story
Retell the story sheet
Make a tree craft ( this is pretty open ended, if you need inspiration, try pinterest )

Fifth Grade Reading Guide

Fifth Grade Reading Guide

Course Description: This reading guide is for students in the fith grade, it can be used for younger or older students, based on their reading level.  This course includes links to study guides, or unit studies for each book. It also includes links or ideas for extra activities, which are completely optional, we do them as extra credit.

Supplies : Being a home schooling parent of many children, I know that it can get expensive quick. This is why I am writing my own reading program for the year. You can buy the book if you want, I buy the books because I have several students that will be reading them, I collect classic novels, and we just like having them around.
If you are looking to cut costs, several of these books can be found for free online, or you can get them at your local library.

Other supplies needed will be -
Pencils

Printer
Internet Connection
Crayons/Colored Pencils
Binder ( I like to print the unit studies out ahead of time and keep them in a binder )

Book List
The Little Princess
Pollyana
Caddie Woodlawn
Call of the Wild
The Hobbit
James and the Giant Peach
Charlie and the Choclate Factory
White Fang
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz



The Little Princess
We are using this study guide.

Extra activities
Write a book report.
After reading the book, watch the movie, discuss the differences.
Have your student make up their own story.


Pollyana - I could not find a free study guide for this book. Instead you student will have a chapter summary page to fill out after each chapter, and some sheets to do after the book is finished.

Fill out this chapter summary sheet after each chapter.
Have your student use these sheets to review the book after they have read it.( You do not need to do all of them. We are only using page 3 -4 )

Extra activities
Write a book report.
Read more Pollyana books.
After reading the book, watch the movie, discuss the differences.

Caddie Woodlawn
We are using this unit study.


Extra activities
Write a book report.
Read more Caddie Woodlawn books.
After reading the book, watch the movie, discuss the differences.


Call of the Wild
We are using this study guide.

Extra activities
Write a book report.
Have your student draw a picture of Buck.
After reading the book, watch the movie, discuss the differences.   

The Hobbit
Use The Hobbit section of this study guide.

Extra activities
Write a book report.
Eat like a Hobbit.
After reading the book, watch the movie, discuss the differences.

James and the Giant Peach
We are using this unit study.

Extra activities
Write a book report.
Have your student draw a picture about the book.
After reading the book, watch the movie, discuss the differences.


Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
We are using this unit study.

Extra activities
Write a book report.
Make some candy.
After reading the book, watch the movie, discuss the differences.
Watch both movies, decide which is more like the book.
Read Charlie and the Glass Elevator.


White Fang
We are using this study guide.


Extra activities
Write a book report.
Learn about wolves, and dogs that are half wolf. 
After reading the book, watch the movie, discuss the differences.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
We are using this study guide.


Extra activities
Write a book report.
Pick a favorite character and write a report on them.
Write a book report. After reading the book, watch the movie, discuss the differences.
Read more in the Oz series.

Sixth Grade Reading Guide

Sixth Grade Reading Guide
Course Description: This reading guide is for students in the sixth grade, it can be used for younger or older students, based on their reading level.  This course includes links to study guides, or unit studies for each book. It also includes links to extra activities, which are completely optional, we do them as extra credit.

Supplies : Being a home schooling parent of many children, I know that it can get expensive quick. This is why I am writing my own reading program for the year. You can buy the book if you want, I buy the books because I have several students that will be reading them, I collect classic novels, and we just like having them around.
If you are looking to cut costs, several of these books can be found for free online, or you can get them at your local library.

Other supplies needed will be -
Pencils

Printer
Internet Connection
Crayons/Colored Pencils
Binder ( I like to print the unit studies out ahead of time and keep them in a binder )


Book List -
Lord of the Rings   
The Secret Garden
Old Yeller
Holes
Hatchet
The Hunchback of Notre-Dame
Where the Red Fern Grows
Lassie- Come Home
A Wrinkle in Time Trilogy
To Build a Fire
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
The Chronicles of Narnia

Lord of the Rings
We are using this study guide. My students read The Hobbit in 5th grade, so we will skip that section of the study guide. If you student has not yet read The Hobbit. I would highly recommend doing that section of this study as well.

Have your student write a book report.

Extra Activities -
Write a book report.
After reading the books, watch the movie,fill out this sheet
While watching the movie, have a feast fit for a Hobbit.
Spend time on this site.






The Secret Garden
We are using this study guide.

Extra Activities -
Write a book report.
After reading the book, watch the movie, discuss the differences.
Have your student draw their own secret garden.

Old Yeller
We are using this study guide.

Extra Activities -
Write a book report.   
After reading the book, watch the movie,fill out this sheet.

Holes
We are using this study guide.

Extra Activities -
Write a book report.
After reading the book, watch the movie,fill out this sheet
Hatchet
We are using this study guide.

Extra Activities -
Write a book report.
After reading the book, watch the movie ( The movie is called A Cry in the Wild ), fill out this sheet.
Write your own survival manual. Include how you would survive after a crash, and what you would hope to find in a rescue pack.

The Hunchback of Notre-Dame
We are using this study guide.

Extra Activities -
Write a book report.
After reading the book, watch the movie, fill out this sheet.
Discuss the importance of not judging others on appearance.

Where the Red Fern Grows
We are using this study guide.


Extra Activities -
Write a book report.
After reading the book, watch the movie, fill out this sheet.
Lassie Come - Home I could not find a free study guide for this book. Instead you student will have a chapter summary page to fill out after each chapter, and some sheets to do after the book is finished.

Fill out this chapter summary sheet after each chapter.
Have your student use these sheets to review the book after they have read it.

Extra Activities -
Write a book report.
After reading the book, watch the movie, fill out this sheet.


A Wrinkle in Time ( Triology ) 
Use this study guide with A Wrinkle in Time.
Use this study guide with A Wind in the Door.
Use this study guide with A Swiftly Tilting Planet.

Extra Activities -
Write a book report.
This book has not yet been made into a movie, it appears that one will be released in 2018. You can always do a watch and compare later.
There are two books that have been added to this series in recent years. Have your student read Many Waters and An Acceptable Time.

To Build a Fire We are using this study guide.

Extra Activities -
Write a book report.
Watch the short film, fill out this sheet.
Read other short stories by Jack London.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
We are using this study guide.
Extra Activities -
Write a book report.
Watch the movie fill out this sheet.
Do this worksheet.


The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
We are using this study guide.


Extra Activities -
Write a book report.
Watch the movie, fill out this sheet.
The Chronicles of NarniaSince this is actually seven books, we are not using an actual study guide like most of the other books. Instead I am linking a couple unit studies, and recommending filling out character sheets, and chapter summaries.  

Free Unit study
Free Unit Study
Extra Activities -
Write a book report.
Watch the movie, fill out this sheet.
Spend time on this site.

Eggless Almond Cookies

Our church had VBS this past week. I signed up to make cookies each of the three nights it was going on.

When day two rolled around I quickly realized I have no eggs, and no regular flour. I really did not want to load all seven of the kids that were running around my house into the car and go to the store, so I decided I would see what I could kind online that did not require either. Most of what I found was sugar cookies, and I quickly realized I had no vanilla or baking powder left either.

I decided to get inventive, I have created several of my own cookie recipes over the years, so why not just make something with what I had on hand.

The result of my experiment turned out in the best almond cookie I have had. It is so soft and chewy. The sugar topping is a nice sweet touch, these cookies will leave you wanting more.

Ingredients -
1/2 cup butter ( softened )
1/2 sugar
2 tbs milk
2 tsp almond extract
1/4 + 1/8 tsp baking soda
2 cups cake flour

Sugar for decorating.

Preheat oven to 350.

Using an electric mixer, mix the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add milk and almond extract and beat until well mixed.

In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Slowly add 1/2 cup at a time, while beating the mixture on low.



Make small balls ( think ping pong ) and place them on a cookie sheet. ( I like to make cookies on my baking stone ). Use a fork to gently flatten ( not completely flat ). You can use whatever sugar you want for decorating. Since this was for VBS, I used a red sprinkles. Top each cookie with just a little sugar.



Bake for 10 - 12 minutes, or until cookies are slightly golden brown. Enjoy!!