Oh, the Piles!
12 years ago
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Busy, busy, busy!
Please forgive me, dear friends! I have been so busy over here that I have not had the chance to post here :) I have a few posts mulling around in my head as well as the urge to catch up on Praying the Psalms and Multitude Mondays so I hope to be back to posting here early next week. In the meantime, please pop over to Our Great Homeschool Experiment and say hello!
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Doh!
Well, I just realized that I misspelled experiment in the blog address for our homeschooling blog. Oh the irony! I tried to just accept the typo and live with it but alas my perfectionism could not be satisfied. I changed the blog's URL and you can find it here. I apologize if you already bookmarked or subscribed to the other URL. Truth is you may be redirected automatically but since I'm not sure, I figured I'd better let you know where to find it. Thanks for your patience :)
Our Great Homeschool Experiment
Several friends and family have asked us to keep them up to date on our year of homeschooling, which I've affectionately come to refer to as Our Great Homeschool Experiment :) I decided to start a separate blog to document our experiences with homeschooling. I'll probably still post some on homeschooling here as it will be such a big part of my life in the next year but I will leave the nitty gritty details of the journey over on the new blog. I'd love for your to follow our journey there so pop on over to Our Great Homeschool Adventure and drop a comment to let me know if you do!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Summer Plans
Summer vacation officially started this past Friday for us! Thursday was a half day and, to celebrate, we went to lunch with 25 of our closest friends from school at a local restaurant. On Friday, we met up with more school friends for a pick up baseball game and then went to the movies with the first graders and their teachers. On Saturday, we went to an End of the Year BBQ where many school friends and teachers were in attendance. On Monday, the boys each had a play date with a school friend so we have not had much time to miss anyone yet :)
In the midst of all our fun, I have had some more time to plan and prep for our summer learning adventure. In addition to our overview of Ancient Times using Story of the World, Volume 1
, the boys will be working through this Baseball Unit Study by Amanda Bennett. To supplement both of these studies, I've filled two large bins with library books- one dedicated to history and literature based on Ancient Times and the other dedicated to America's favorite pastime. Our school has an Accelerated Reader program in which the students earned points each time they read, quizzed on and passed a quiz on a book. The boys really loved this program so I modified it for use at home and they are busy earning AR points here now. I even found a reading log for my four year old where she can color in a portion of a circle for every book read to her.
We are also starting a new Family Devotional for the summer. I must admit that I struggle to continue a consistent Family Devotion during the school year. We've tried doing it in the morning but that soon fades out as we are rushing to get out the door for school. We've tried it after dinner with daddy when he is home early enough but we forget more often than we remember. We have been pretty consistent in the summer though. And now that we will be homeschooling next year, I have made it a part of our school schedule so I hope it will become a habit for us. This summer we are using Child's Book of Character Building: Growing Up in God's World
. The book focuses on 12 godly character qualities. We are doing one character quality a week- memorizing the corresponding scripture verse and pointing out to one another when we see that quality being displayed.
Our weekday schedule will look something like this- with lots of room for reading, swimming and other spontaneous summer activities:
8 a.m. Breakfast
9 a.m. Devotion and Story of the World
10 a.m. Outing/Play date
4 p.m. Baseball Unit Study
In the midst of all our fun, I have had some more time to plan and prep for our summer learning adventure. In addition to our overview of Ancient Times using Story of the World, Volume 1
, the boys will be working through this Baseball Unit Study by Amanda Bennett. To supplement both of these studies, I've filled two large bins with library books- one dedicated to history and literature based on Ancient Times and the other dedicated to America's favorite pastime. Our school has an Accelerated Reader program in which the students earned points each time they read, quizzed on and passed a quiz on a book. The boys really loved this program so I modified it for use at home and they are busy earning AR points here now. I even found a reading log for my four year old where she can color in a portion of a circle for every book read to her. We are also starting a new Family Devotional for the summer. I must admit that I struggle to continue a consistent Family Devotion during the school year. We've tried doing it in the morning but that soon fades out as we are rushing to get out the door for school. We've tried it after dinner with daddy when he is home early enough but we forget more often than we remember. We have been pretty consistent in the summer though. And now that we will be homeschooling next year, I have made it a part of our school schedule so I hope it will become a habit for us. This summer we are using Child's Book of Character Building: Growing Up in God's World
. The book focuses on 12 godly character qualities. We are doing one character quality a week- memorizing the corresponding scripture verse and pointing out to one another when we see that quality being displayed. Our weekday schedule will look something like this- with lots of room for reading, swimming and other spontaneous summer activities:
8 a.m. Breakfast
9 a.m. Devotion and Story of the World
10 a.m. Outing/Play date
4 p.m. Baseball Unit Study
*The Amazon links above are affiliated with my Amazon Associates account and I earn credits at Amazon when purchases are made through those links!*
Monday, June 20, 2011
Multitude Monday
Here are some of the things I was thankful for this week:
1254. Time to continue planning and prepping for Summer Learning
1255. Online Library system for searches and holds
1256. Access to so many great books
1257. Generous friends who host an End of Year party for our two grades each year
1258. Wonderful comments from the kids' teachers about their progress this year
1259. Beautiful year end scrapbooks and memory books and photo slideshows made by the kids
1260. A Mom's Night Out Year End Get-together
1261. Saying farewell to a school family who is moving after seven years in the school
1262. Winning our first baseball playoff game
1263. Last Day of School!
1264. Lunch out to celebrate with lots of friends from school
1265. Day 1 of Summer Vacation spent playing baseball with friends and going to the movies
1266. Day 2 at an End of the Year BBQ with friends
1267. Getting the house and yard ready for Father's Day guests
1268. A husband who is not afraid to work hard and get dirty
1269. Father's Day BBQ with family
1270. My dad, who has always been there for me, my sister and now my husband and children, too
1271. My husband, who loves our children with all his heart
1272. My Father in Heaven, who is my everything
You can read why I got started counting the gifts here
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Praying the Psalms- Psalm 74
Jenny is on a journey of praying her way through the Psalms. I was fortunate enough to join at the start. Each weekend, we pray through one psalm and post our prayer and/or meditations on that psalm as the Lord leads. Check out her journey and join us in Praying the Psalms.
"Your foes roared in the place where you met with us;
they set up their standards as signs.
They behaved like men wielding axes
to cut through a thicket of trees.
They smashed all the carved paneling
with their axes and hatchets.
They burned your sanctuary to the ground;
they defiled the dwelling place of your Name.
They said in their hearts, “We will crush them completely!”
They burned every place where God was worshiped in the land." Psalm 74: 4-8
"The God of Israel is the God of nature. He that is faithful to his covenant about the day and the night, will never cast off those whom he has chosen. We have as much reason to expect affliction, as to expect night and winter. But we have no more reason to despair of the return of comfort, than to despair of day and summer. And in the world above we shall have no more changes." Matthew Henry Precise Commentary on the Bible, Psalm 74
These are hard words. God's people have often suffered bitterly. We can see this played out in Israel's history. And we too can expect pain, suffering and affliction in our lives in this fallen world. Jesus told us the same when He was with us.
In midst of our pain and our sorrow, we can cry out to Him honestly.
"How long will the enemy mock you, O God?And we would do well for ourselves if we soon remember who He is, what He has done, what He can do and what He will do for us. We can lament, yes. We can weep bitterly. But when we return to who He is and grab hold of our eternal perspective, we receive His comfort and strength to bear the pain.
Will the foe revile your name forever?
Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?
Take it from the folds of your garment and destroy them!" Psalm 74: 10-11
"But you, O God, are my king from of old;Father, I pray for those in my circle of family and friends who are in the midst of suffering, pain, loneliness and despair today. You know each by name and love them with an indescribable love. I ask You Lord to hear their cries and laments. I pray that each would surrender their pain to You and receive Your comfort and strength. For myself, Lord, I pray You would continue to build me up in truths such as these so that when trouble rears it head again in my life, I will remember to give you my pain and sorrow and receive Your comfort and strength in return. In Jesus' name, amen.
you bring salvation upon the earth.
It was you who split open the sea by your power;
you broke the heads of the monster in the waters.
It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan
and gave him as food to the creatures of the desert.
It was you who opened up springs and streams;
you dried up the ever flowing rivers.
The day is yours, and yours also the night;
you established the sun and moon.
It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth;
you made both summer and winter." Psalm 74: 12-17
Monday, June 13, 2011
Multitude Monday
Here are some of the things I was thankful for this week:
1234. Our girl's Spring Concert
1235. Final PTO Board Meeting of the year
1236. Held at a lovely local restaurant
1237. The opportunity to work with a dedicated, bright group of women
1238. An unexpected chance to share my faith there
1239. Training my replacement for church secretary
1240. Looking forward to a summer without this work commitment
1241. A morning of fellowship with my Wednesday morning Bible study group- even though the study has ended
1242. Fun End of Year activities- Faculty vs Students Softball Game, Little Guy named Worker of the Week, Last Regular Season Baseball Games
1243. Slowing down but still plugging along on the Spring Cleaning goal
1244. Homeschool Conference
1245. Encouragement and inspiration for my soul and our homeschool
1246. My niece's dance recital
1247. Teaching Sunday School for the 4-5 year olds
1248. Seeing them understanding, remembering and having fun
1249. Gospel Light Sunday School curriculum
1250. A BBQ with neighborhood friends- new and old
1251. Christian music radio broadcasting for the first time in our city!
1252. I am more!
1253. How He loves me!!!
1235. Final PTO Board Meeting of the year
1236. Held at a lovely local restaurant
1237. The opportunity to work with a dedicated, bright group of women
1238. An unexpected chance to share my faith there
1239. Training my replacement for church secretary
1240. Looking forward to a summer without this work commitment
1241. A morning of fellowship with my Wednesday morning Bible study group- even though the study has ended
1242. Fun End of Year activities- Faculty vs Students Softball Game, Little Guy named Worker of the Week, Last Regular Season Baseball Games
1243. Slowing down but still plugging along on the Spring Cleaning goal
1244. Homeschool Conference
1245. Encouragement and inspiration for my soul and our homeschool
1246. My niece's dance recital
1247. Teaching Sunday School for the 4-5 year olds
1248. Seeing them understanding, remembering and having fun
1249. Gospel Light Sunday School curriculum
1250. A BBQ with neighborhood friends- new and old
1251. Christian music radio broadcasting for the first time in our city!
1252. I am more!
1253. How He loves me!!!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Praying the Psalms- Psalm 73
Jenny is on a journey of praying her way through the Psalms. I was fortunate enough to join at the start. Each weekend, we pray through one psalm and post our prayer and/or meditations on that psalm as the Lord leads. Check out her journey and join us in Praying the Psalms.
Psalm 73
Lord, thank You for opening my eyes to the truth. Thank You for helping me to understand the final destiny of sinful man. Thank You for saving me from that destiny! Thank You for placing me in a church that holds fast to the truth and encourages the eternal perspective You gave me. Thank You for the free will You have given me. I pray I will always choose to be near You, to make You my refuge. In Jesus' name, amen.
Psalm 73
"When I tried to understand all this,
it was oppressive to me
till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny." Psalm 73: 16-17
It is not until God opens our eyes that we understand the ways of the world. It is only in the sanctuary of God here on earth, the church, that the eternal perspective He gives us will be reinforced. If we look to the world for answers, we may be carefree and wealthy (verses 4-12) but at great cost- both to our hearts and to our relationship with our God (verses 21-22).
"But as for me, it is good to be near God.The psalmist has made the Sovereign Lord his refuge. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge. He is my protector, my counselor, the strength of my heart and my portion forever (verses 23-26). It is a decision- an act of my will- to keep my eyes off the world, to stay near the Lord, to nurture an eternal perspective- these are decisions I must make.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds." Psalm 73: 28 (emphasis mine)
Lord, thank You for opening my eyes to the truth. Thank You for helping me to understand the final destiny of sinful man. Thank You for saving me from that destiny! Thank You for placing me in a church that holds fast to the truth and encourages the eternal perspective You gave me. Thank You for the free will You have given me. I pray I will always choose to be near You, to make You my refuge. In Jesus' name, amen.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Summer Learning is Fun!
Remember last year when I was all organized about our summer plans and even wrote a series of sorts on the process of planning and our final result? This year- not so much! That's not to say I have not been planning. Oh yes, I have! But between planning for summer, planning and purchasing materials for our great home school experiment next year, wrapping up two large volunteer projects at school and training a new person to take over my job as church secretary, time (and energy) to blog has been scarce.
However, since I have a few moments right now before our final regular season Spring baseball game for our oldest, I thought I'd take the opportunity to share what I've planned out so far for the summer. Since we will be joining a group of friends in Year Two of Tapestry of Grace next year, a friend suggested we read through The Story of the World, Volume One: Ancient Times over the summer to get an overview of history prior to the Middle Ages. I devised the following plan from The Story of the World, Volume One: Ancient Times textbook and activity guide
. Maybe this will help someone?
and activity guide. Maybe this will help someone?Week One Readings and Activities:
Day One
Read & Discuss Introduction
Complete Make a History of My Family Book
Day Two
Read & Discuss Chapter 1
Complete Map Work
Complete Make a Cave Painting
Day Three
Read Chapter 2
Complete Map Work
Day Four
Read & Discuss Chapter 3
Complete Map Work
Complete Make Cuneiform Tablets
Day Five
Read & Discuss Chapter 4
Complete Map Work
Complete Make a Chicken Mummy
Week One Field Trip- Egyptian Exhibits at Local Museum
Week Two Reading and Activities:
Day One
Read & Discuss Chapter 5
Complete Map Work
Complete Word Search
Day Two
Read & Discuss Chapter 6
Complete Map Work
Complete Activity Puzzle OR Comic Book
Day Three
Read & Discuss Chapter 7
Complete Map Work
Complete Make Your Own Law Code Stele
Day Four
Read & Discuss Chapter 8
Complete Map Work
Complete Art Project OR Writing Project
Day Five
Read & Discuss Chapter 9
Complete Map Work
Complete Craft Project OR Writing Project
Week Three Reading and Activities:
Day One
Read & Discuss Chapter 10
Complete Map Work
Complete Writing Project
Day Two
Read & Discuss Chapter 11
Complete Map Work
Complete Paper Bead Necklace
Day Three
Read & Discuss Chapter 12
Complete Map Work
Complete Make a Monkey Doll
Day Four
Read & Discuss Chapter 13
Complete Map Work
Complete Be an Archeologist
Day Five
Read & Discuss Chapter 14
Complete Map Work
Complete Moses Stickerbook
Week Three Field Trip
Tabernacle Reproduction Exhibit and Play- Joseph
Week Four Readings & Activities:
Day One
Read & Discuss Chapter 15
Complete Map Work
Day Two
Read & Discuss Chapter 16
Complete Map Work
Complete Make an Assyrian Siege Tower
Day Three
Read & Discuss Chapter 17
Complete Map Work
Complete Draw the Hanging Gardens of Babylon
Day Four
Read & Discuss Chapter 18
Complete Map Work
Complete Minotaur’s Maze OR Build Your Own Labyrinth
Day Five
Read & Discuss Chapter 19
Complete Map Work
Complete Make a Mycenaean Shield
Week Five Readings & Activities
Day One
Read & Discuss Chapter 20
Complete Map Work
Complete Write Your Name with Greek Letters
Day Two
Read and Discuss Chapter 21
Complete Map Work
Complete Play the Conquer Mesopotamia Game
Day Three
Read & Discuss Chapter 22
Complete Map Work
Complete Write on an Athenian Wax Tablet
Day Four
Read & Discuss Chapter 23
Complete Map Work
Complete Greek Gods and Goddesses Wordsearch
Day Five
Read & Discuss Chapter 24
Complete Map Work
Complete Play the Peloponnesian War Game
Week Five Field Trip
Have an Olympic Games OR the Greek Exhibit at Local Museum
Week Six
Day One
Read & Discuss Chapter 25
Complete Map Work
Complete Play the Alexander the Great Game
As you can see this plan only spans five weeks and a day. That works for us! We have a week at the beach planned in June and hope to escape for a long weekend here and there in July and August. The kids also have two weeks of half day camps in July. This plans leaves us with lots of breathing room for lazy days at the pool, a last minute get away with the family or whatever suits our fancy on any given day. It gives us a framework for learning that is flexible enough for summer fun!
I have more to plan and more to share about summer but I'd better get the kids fed before opening pitch :)
*The Amazon links above are affiliated with my Amazon Associates account and I earn credits at Amazon when purchases are made through those links!*
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