DIY: Dryer Sheets

I just discovered a great site today, full of ideas - Curbly.  You never know what you'll find on Pinterest.

But for today I had to share the DIY Dryer Sheets (several recipes) and the Alternative Uses for Dryer Sheets.

If you fan their page on Facebook you can find a lot of downloadable tips.

Enjoy!

A New Year - well a new school year

 

Ok, let me be clear - I do not believe in a zombie apocalypse, this is called humor.  ;)

I can't believe I am about to start my 15th year of homeschooling.  I could write paragraphs upon paragraphs about my "calling" into my homeschool ministry, the good/bad/ugly of my experiences and defend the choice our family has made...but seriously that is so yesterday.  However feel free to e-mail or comment - if you are nice I might respond and if you aren't....

So this year I have 2 students:  Jorie who will be a freshman and Tabitha who is starting kindergarten.  It is an extreme but I think it will be fun and exciting!  I figure just when I am exhausted from discussing ancient times, literature and algebra, I can paste and paint with Tabitha!

So here are the logistics:

Jorie's Curriculum (Freshman)

1.  Tapestry of Grace, Year 1, a study of ancient times from Creation to the Fall of Rome.  This curriculum covers history/geography, english (literature & writing), philosophy, fine arts and government.

2.  Teaching Text Books, Pre-Algebra - it is like have a algebra teacher in the computer. I *heart* Teaching Text Books.

3.  Apologia General Science - a fantastic, Christian/Creation based science curriculum that is written to the students.  We are pretty free-form with science until high school.

4.  Visual Latin - This is new to us.  I actually found them on Facebook.  I will let you know how it works for us after a couple of weeks.

5.  Drama (Elective) - *draws in deep breath*  Yes my children are not always in the house as some would like to believe.  Jorie has been part of a homeschool theater company for years and will continue this year.  Sorry no link for safety issues.

6.  Photography/Yearbook (elective) - for the first time one of my kids will be taking a photography class from me and documenting their year.  Then we will put this together in a hard back book and have it printed.  I haven't decided if this will be an actual credit course or not - we'll have to see how much work and study goes into it.

Freshman Year - 7.75 credits

Tabitha's Curriculum (Kindergarten)

1.  Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons - So easy it is scary. 

2.  Abeka Kindergarten Math

3.  Tapestry of Grace, Year 1 - Tabitha will only participate in the lower grammar read-alouds and art projects.

4.  Usborne Science Activies V.2 - plants & air experiments that are fun for the 5-6 year old

5.  I am also putting together a Calendar Board like this one I found on Mama Jenn's blog.

6.  Lots of pasting, painting, coloring, clay, etc.

7.  Time4Learning - an online teaching tool that will supplement when I am working with Jorie and Tabitha needs "busy work".

We start August 1st - can't wait for the new year!



Broader Focus for Blog

I had originally created this blog to share some of my repurposed projects.  I will still be doing that, when it is cool enough in AZ to get outside and work on said projects.  But I have many other "projects" in my life to share and memorialize.

When you visit you may find my latest photography session with the kids, or me waxing poetic about our school day; it will just depend on the day and the amount of time I am aloud to sit on my posterior. ;)

So I hope there might be a few still interested in reading my ramblings and you'll return as well.

1 Month of Time4Learning

Well I posted a month ago that we had signed up for a trial with Time4Learning.com.  I am happy to report that this has been a positive experience all the way around.

Not only did Tabitha like it so much that she completed much more than expected, it was so easy to use as the parent/educator.  I simply helped her sign on in the morning and she completed lessons with very little assistance.  She was always excited to show me what she completed and usually requested to do more (not something you hear a lot with school work).

As the parent/teacher, I love that this can be the base of our curriculum or a supplement.  There is so much information on the site for the adults, to help us help the kids.  It is extremely user friendly.

All in all Time4Learning gets 2 thumbs up from us - that is why we are signing on as a regular user today!