How we wrap it up…

I know I am a little late posting this, but we have had a lot going on this last little while.  So soon I may or may not have an announcement coming.  Time will tell.

 

For a few years now we have been coloring our own wrapping paper at Christmas time.   I go to the local small town newspaper printer, and buy a roll end.  They start at $3.00.  I bought a bigger one, for $8.00.  It has about 500 sq feet of paper (or more).  The kids really enjoy this tradition.  We move furniture out of the way and roll out the paper across the front room floor. 

We even invited a friend over to help this year. 

 

Tommy colored Paul’s wrapping paper in the kitchen.  Paul’s Birthday falls right around Christmas time.  We use this as birthday wrapping paper for each birthday as well.  Each person get special colored wrapping paper surrounding their gift. 

 

I even enjoy coloring some Christmas scenes on the paper.  It’s a great way to slow down during the holidays and spend some time with family. 

 

It’s my way of being frugal and crafty. 

 

I use this paper for so much more too.  It makes a great table cloth for parties or picnics, or even for craft projects at the kitchen table. 

Easy Classical~ A Review

Hi, my name is Alyson, and I am an Eclectic Homeschool Mom. 

There I said it, I admit, I use whatever works at the time for us. 

There are times when I feel as if I am the only one in my local group that is not fully Classical focused.  While I fully agree with Classical instruction, I just don’t have the energy to keep up with it.  I do try to implement it whenever I can. 

History is important and fun to me.  I feel like it is one of those subjects that has the opportunity to do lots of projects, and include other subjects.  So when teaching history, I look for curriculum that includes all that. 

As soon as I received a digital copy of Early Modern History from Easy Classical, I began looking at it.  I love lesson plans, but I am not a planner.  So I loved it right away.  It tells you everything you need, and everything to do each day.  It is laid out it weekly lesson plans, that are extremely easy to read.  Each one has a shopping list of things you will need for the next week.  Each week has a comprehension quiz, and discussion points.  Each day is laid out as to what you need to do each day, Monday – Friday.

I did not actually implement this into our school days.  Just looked through it to see if I would use it.  I can say that as soon as we get to that point in our history, I am going to give it a try.  (If things continue to go as planned, that will be next November.)  One thing that I can for see is that I generally need more flexibility in my scheduling.  For my solution to that, I am planning on either checking off as we do things, in order.    

I would recommend looking it to Early Modern History, and Easy Classical for you curriculum.  They have samples of most of their curriculum on their website. 

Early Modern History is $29.95 for the digital version, and $35.95 for the notebook version. 

To see what other crewmates said about this check out our crew blog.
Early Modern History Post.

{I received this product for free in order to review it.  I received no other compensation.  All opinions expressed herein are my own honest opinions.}

See-N-Read

See-N-Read is a see through plastic reading intervention tool.  It is a see through bluish gray with a clear window to read a line.  It comes in many versions such as the Memory Mark, which is the same bluish gray and the window is completely cut out. That way you can highlight or underline a word, phrase or sentence.  It also comes in eSee-N-Read, for computer reading.



It is supposed to help you to be able to read faster. However, I wanted Tommy to use it, to slow him down.  He tries reading so fast, he doesn’t focus on what he is reading about.  This worked.   He was able to get more out of reading with this.   As he used it more often he began to get faster with it, while still comprehending what he was reading. 

When I am reading a book, I use the bookmark to follow along, by placing it below the line I am reading.  That way I can keep my focus.  I notice I read a little slower, instead of skimming.  I also notice that I absorb more of the story, too.  So See-N-Read worked great for me too.

See-N-Read prices start at $2.99 and vary greatly on which one you get, and how many.  Check out the price chart here.

To see what other crew members had to say about See-N-Read check out our crew blog.

See-N-Read post.

{These products were given to me free of charge in order to write this review.  This blog, as well as this post represents my honest feelings.}

Math Facts Now

As I have told you all before my daughter is in the midst of memorizing her multiplication facts.  I really have them master their facts. 

So when I received Math Facts Now to review from The Homeschool Crew, I was thrilled.   

It is a simple download (or you can get it in cd form).  It reminds me of flashcards.   You can add, subtract, multiply, or divide. You set up each child with the specific facts they need to work on.

  When I say specific, I mean specific.   For example,  I chose for Emily to work on multiplication ones through sevens both sets all the way up to 12s.

When you child gets one wrong, the program remembers, and it inserts that problem back in, more often.  It gets better, also when they get it wrong, you choose how many times they have to re-enter the entire problem back it right. 

This has really helped Emily to memorize her math facts well.  One thing she really LOVES about this program, is the amount of time it doesn’t take.  She is learning and memorizing her math facts in literally 8 minutes a day. 

Math Facts Now is $15.95.
The download has Free Shipping. 
The CD is $3.95 Shipping.

To see what others think of Math Facts Now, check out what our crew blog says.  
Math Facts Now Crew Post

Multiplication for hands on learners.

I recently checked out some great math books from our local library.  One of them is Marvelous Multiplication.  It has hands on activities to learn your multiplication facts.  Such as this one for 6’s.  She is making 12 different designs using 6 toothpicks each.  Then she was asked questions such as how many toothpicks are in 3 designs, etc. 

There are also games and activities for after you have learned all the facts to play, in order to get more practice. 
I highly recommend checking this book out if you child is learning multiplication tables.   We have loved it so much that we are purchasing it from Amazon.

Menu Plan Monday

In an effort to be more financially fit this year.  I am going to take menu planning seriously.  So here we go, my first menu plan of 2011.

Since I will be shopping the ads and using coupons, my menu plan will revolve around that.



Monday:
     Breakfast- oatmeal
     Lunch- spagetti
     Dinner- ham and egg casserole

Tuesday:
    Breakfast- Cereal
    Lunch- sandwiches
    Dinner- Pork Chops

Wednesday:
  Breakfast- Cereal
  Lunch- Go out to lunch
  Dinner- Turkey, stuffing and potatoes

Thursday:
   Breakfast - Breakfast burritoes
   Lunch- frozen pizza
  Dinner- Turkey noodle soup

Friday:
  Breakfast-  Smoothies and toast
  Lunch- Turkey casserole
  Dinner- Tacos

Saturday:
   Breakfast- Waffles bacon and eggs
   Lunch- Tuna Salad Sandwiches
   Dinner- Baked Potatoes and Chili

Sunday:
   Brunch:  Pancakes, sausage and eggs
   Dinner:  Big Family Dinner (bring baked butternut squash as pot luck)

I am usually a spontaneous person by nature, so I will have to see how this whole planning out a week thing will work for me.    Next week I may just try planning 6 dinner, 6 breakfasts, and 6 lunches, and use them any day I feel like, and that will leave me some free meals to just wing it.

To see more menu plans check out Orgjunkie.com

Activities for the littlest of sorts

Tyler is always wanting to play with school items.  I recently decided to create activities for him. 

One of the activities I made, was I just cut a piggy bank style hole in the top of a box, and gave him some laminated animal cards (from another game) to insert in the hole.  The opening was just barely bigger than the cards, so it took some work to get them in there just right.     This activity kept him busy for 15 or so minutes (while I unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher)

He was so proud of himself for doing this. 

So was I. 

To see what other tots are doing check out Tot School.