Author: thefamilyo

Final Curriculum List – Fall 2010

For the Blog roll and my first time participating in it, I am featuring the curriculum that I will be using for my 1st grader. Since this is my first I wanted to use a curriculum that “laid it all out for me”, complete with books, daily schedules, everything. A friend happened to have Sonlight Core 1 and offered it to me! What a huge help to get started into the homeschool arena! They use Explode the Code, which I just found out they have an online version, for language arts. I am also using Sonlight Science 1.

For my 4 year old he will participate in the 1st graders history, science, and Bible (I will adapt accordingly). For Language Arts I have several workbooks and the same goes for Math, I will use them but I am also hoping to buy another core for him.

I plan to incorporate art, playdoh, manipulatives, puzzles, calendar time, weather, etc. throughout the day.

I must say that I am getting so excited… and nervous but with great anticipation!

Thanks for stopping by!

August 3, 2010
Pears, what to do with Pears?

Pears are pretty. The color, the shape, the name. They even taste pretty good. My issue? The texture! I know my mom has an issue with the texture of bananas, so I guess having a texture hang up may run in the family. Even canned pears have that gritty, funky inside, I can’t handle it. So my question; is there any way to prepare pears so you get to enjoy the taste without the grit? Are there certain varieties that aren’t gritty? Also, enjoy my pics, I was so inspired at the store that I started snapping pics. I ran into a new neighbor and she asked if I worked there, lol. I told her I was a blogger and I was going to blog about the pears. She was extremely puzzled, I giggled and said goodbye.

August 3, 2010
Well… Here it is!

Never thought I would be in an issue of Colorado Parent magazine!

A couple of months ago I wrote about having the opportunity to meet with a group of moms and learn about make-up. It was for Colorado Parent Magazine and it was so much fun! The issue just hit the newsstands, take a gander, it’s a great magazine. If you are in the Denver Metro area, there are a ton of excellent resources in it. Can you find me in the magazine, let’s play “where’s waldo” with me.

July 31, 2010
A New Work Schedule?

It is 3:48 AM as I type… ugh. Lately my kids have been going to bed later than usual. It mainly has to do with it being summertime. The past few days they have been going to bed so late that my husband and I have not had alone time, work time, etc. The kids keep us tied up until way past a time I can’t even mention it’s so late! So here I am, up at 3:30 for the 4th day in a row.

The reason: it’s the only time I can work on household organization and homeschool preparation without any interruptions. Something has to give, though, and I think I just may be that something. So here is to waking the kids up early and not letting them nap the next couple of days. Sure it will be rough but this is not going to work long term. Boring post? Probably, but how clearly can I think at this hour? Case in point!

July 30, 2010
A Blog Hop?

Homeschool Blog Hop

Those are the words I spoke about 3 days ago, now that I know – wow, how fun! Researching organazation methods of other homeschoolers, I came across a blog post from last August (2009). It was posted at www.my3boybarians.com, which is a great homeschool blog. The blog hop is a page where they have 100 blogs listed and every blog has a post that corresponds with the weeks theme. For instance, one week it was show us your homeschool room. each blogger posted a new post with that title and shared pictures of their homeschool rooms. Great inspiration! I have seen some of the most resourceful blogs I have ever seen. Downloadables, tips, tricks, etc. Very helpful for a new comer. Looks like the blog hop will begin August 2nd and is hosted by http://heartofthematteronline.com. Looking forward to it, I will participate and “hop” too! Hope you enjoy and find inspiration and motivation!

July 29, 2010
File System for Homeschooling

Many of my days recently consist of organizing. That includes creating file folders, laminating, hanging, etc. I have Sonlight’s curriculum so everything is contained within the binder. However, when materials are needed for certain lessons I wanted to have everything ready to go.

I went surfing the net and came across www.manylittleblessings.com. She has a file system that consists of file folders labeled Weeks 1 – 36 and then behind those she has January – December. I like this method, when I go thru the lesson book I will file any additional items, cutouts, color pages, etc into the appropriate week.

Mardel has another Education Sale going on until August 5th. I picked up the Filetastic I wrote about a couple of weeks ago, it is on sale for $5! I also snagged some cool file folders, 12 for $5. I only bought 1 pack so I will be going back for 2 more packs.

from Mardel

Pictures of my schoolroom to come!!

July 27, 2010
Goodies for My Birthday – SIGN UP!

Did you know that a ton of chain restaurants offer freebies for your birthday? I heard about it last year so I signed up at several places to receive their online newsletter or simply by joining their “e-club”. This morning I opened my Inbox to a bunch of Birthday freebies! Here is what I had received as of today (my birthday is one week from today):

Free Appetizer from Lonestar

Free Burger from Red Robin

Free Burger from Ruby Tuesday

BOGO Blizzard from DQ

$10 OFF any $20 purchase from Mimi’s Cafe

$3 OFF an Ice Cream Cake at Baskin Robbins

Pretty cool! I made out pretty good – eh!

So what are you waiting for, go sign up!~

July 26, 2010
setting up the schoolroom

This could be my favorite part so far. I get to decorate, organize and prepare for school! I am so excited. I have combed through so many great homeschool room ideas and have been completely inspired. I would have loved to run out to Office Depot or, better yet, the Container Store. However, that just isn’t fitting into my home school budget. I picked up some clear steralite drawers from WalMart, they have 3 big drawers. My husband surprised me with a cool one on sale at Target. Those have been very useful. I also had a tall 7 drawer container which currently holds paper, paints, stickers, and other craft items.

For my birthday my mother gave me the white cabinet, which is the “Teachers Cabinet” it is perfect. **and now a shout out to mi madre** – THANKS MOM! I need just a couple of more items, like a wall map of the world, 1 more file organizer would be great to organize weekly lessons. This week I get to go and laminate more materials at Mardel – should be the last run until schools starts. Also, I will be ordering Math Manipulatives from a Sonlight mom, excited about getting that done. I will post pictures of the school room soon!

July 25, 2010
Like Father/Mother, Like Son

My oldest boy, who will be 7 in August, has decided he wants his own website. He wants to share lego and play-doh ideas with everyone. He also makes video games and he will be posting tutorials and games. I look forward to teaching him how to blog all on his own. I will incorporate it into our homeschooling. My husband and I are both techs and are more than equipped to teach our boys. Hope you enjoy, it is just now brand new, look for content in the next couple of days!

July 22, 2010
Too Good To Pass Up

There is a place that I have frequented for years but haven’t truly reflected on the value of this place. It is probably the best place in town to get your moneys worth, to stretch your dollar. It is Mrs. Bairds Bread Store, or as it is better known as “the day old bread store”.

I stopped going there for awhile, only because we had moved further away from it. However, after getting stale bread from King Soopers bakery one too many times, I vowed to never buy bread there again. I was so fed up with paying full price for bread only to have it taste stale and crumble, forget about making toast.

Back to Mrs. Baird’s I went. With three boys it is essential to get the most for our money where groceries are concerned so why I waited so long to go back, I don’t know. The prices are amazing and I have yet to get actual stale bread there. Like I said I have bought stale bread more than once at King Soopers. Also, at the bread store you get a punch card, once it is filled you get 2 free breads. Another bonus, when you spend over $6.00 you get a free product (bread,bagels, muffins, buns).

My last trip there I spent $12.48 – here is what I bought:

1 – 2pk mini Boboli

5 loaves of Orowheat bread (Country White and Country Potato)

1 dozen – Entenmanns donuts

2 – 3pks – Entenmanns Cinnamon Rolls

1 dozen – Tia Rosa’s Tortillas

1 loaf of Orowheat Cinnamon Raisin bread

1 pk Bimbo Hot Dog Buns

1 pk Orowheat Hamburger Buns

Incredible deal, right? One thing to note: I used a punchcard for 2 loaves and received 1 loaf for free for spending over $6. It is amazing though, if I bought all this at King Soopers I would have spent about 3x what I did. I feel like I need to stress that this bread has never been stale or moldy – usually fresher than Kings.

I love the D.O.B.S.!

July 20, 2010