"I don't really like Isaac talking to me when I just wake up."
"Why not, honey?"
"Because he's like.... [she thinks for a second].... so wake-upish, and I don't really like that."
(Spoken by my groggy-in-the-mornings daughter in reference to her bright-eyed and ultra cheery early-bird brother!)
Homeschooling for next year
I've just finished collecting all of our homeschooling materials for next year. I can barely wait to start! We will be primarily using Ambleside Online (Year 1) but replacing their history sequence with Linda's history suggestions for the main texts: This Country of Ours and Hillyer's classic A Child's History of the World.
We are working off of a 36-week schedule but I'm hoping to stretch it to a year-round schedule.
Here's what we plan to do:
Art (weekly)
Correspond history reading with a timeline or century book and map.
Picture study: 1-2 artists per term from the Ambleside artist rotation list. (Suggestions: Rubens, Cassatt, Caravaggio, Larsson, Grandma Moses, Renoir.)
Bible (daily)
Memory work (at breakfast)
Psalm (at breakfast)
The Child's Scripture Catechism
Reading (with daddy)
Wisdom and the Millers (Mildred Martin)
Foreign Language (daily)
Spanish: Learn 2-6 new words daily. Use picture lessons, audio cassettes, songs with actions, and occasional games. (We have a number of Spanish vocab/picture books, and I'm hoping to utilize the library for the audio/songs unless anyone has any wonderful suggestions?)
Geography (weekly)
Paddle to the Sea, Tree in the Trail, and Seabird (Holling C. Holling)
Handicrafts (weekly)
Help with housework and gardening. Knitting, sewing.
History (daily)
Child’s History of the World (V.M. Hillyer), World History
This Country of Ours (H.E. Marshall), American History
Literature/Tales (daily)
The Aesop for Children (Milo Winter)
Tales from Shakespeare (Charles Lamb)
The Blue Fairy Book (Andrew Lang)
Just So Stories (Rudyard Kipling)
Parables from Nature (Margaret Gatty)
Math (daily)
Math U See
Music (weekly)
Hymn study, using Then Sings My Soul (Robert J. Morgan) and listening, here.
Narration (daily)
Narrations from The Aesop for Children. (One per day for a few weeks, and then slowly apply to other short passages from history or nature books.)
Natural History/Science (weekly)
Handbook of Nature Study (Anna Comstack)
James Herriot’s Treasury for Children (James Herriot)
The Burgess Bird Book for Children (Thornton Burgess)
*Keep a nature notebook
Penmanship/Copywork (daily)
10-minute lesson: Work on one letter or one word each lesson. Emphasize accurate letter formation, not quantity.
Reading/Phonics (daily)
I will likely come up with my own Phonics work, but I may consult Phonics Pathways if needed. (*I checked it out at the library after some of you recommended it and like it much better than 100 Easy Lessons).
Poetry (daily)
A Child’s Garden of Verses (Robert Louis Stevenson)
Now We Are Six/When We Were Very Young (A.A. Milne)
Oxford Book of Children’s Verse (Iona and Peter Opie)
Recitations (per 12-week term)
Longer passages from the Bible
A Psalm
One poem of child’s choice
We are working off of a 36-week schedule but I'm hoping to stretch it to a year-round schedule.
Here's what we plan to do:
Art (weekly)
Correspond history reading with a timeline or century book and map.
Picture study: 1-2 artists per term from the Ambleside artist rotation list. (Suggestions: Rubens, Cassatt, Caravaggio, Larsson, Grandma Moses, Renoir.)
Bible (daily)
Memory work (at breakfast)
Psalm (at breakfast)
The Child's Scripture Catechism
Reading (with daddy)
Wisdom and the Millers (Mildred Martin)
Foreign Language (daily)
Spanish: Learn 2-6 new words daily. Use picture lessons, audio cassettes, songs with actions, and occasional games. (We have a number of Spanish vocab/picture books, and I'm hoping to utilize the library for the audio/songs unless anyone has any wonderful suggestions?)
Geography (weekly)
Paddle to the Sea, Tree in the Trail, and Seabird (Holling C. Holling)
Handicrafts (weekly)
Help with housework and gardening. Knitting, sewing.
History (daily)
Child’s History of the World (V.M. Hillyer), World History
This Country of Ours (H.E. Marshall), American History
Literature/Tales (daily)
The Aesop for Children (Milo Winter)
Tales from Shakespeare (Charles Lamb)
The Blue Fairy Book (Andrew Lang)
Just So Stories (Rudyard Kipling)
Parables from Nature (Margaret Gatty)
Math (daily)
Math U See
Music (weekly)
Hymn study, using Then Sings My Soul (Robert J. Morgan) and listening, here.
Narration (daily)
Narrations from The Aesop for Children. (One per day for a few weeks, and then slowly apply to other short passages from history or nature books.)
Natural History/Science (weekly)
Handbook of Nature Study (Anna Comstack)
James Herriot’s Treasury for Children (James Herriot)
The Burgess Bird Book for Children (Thornton Burgess)
*Keep a nature notebook
Penmanship/Copywork (daily)
10-minute lesson: Work on one letter or one word each lesson. Emphasize accurate letter formation, not quantity.
Reading/Phonics (daily)
I will likely come up with my own Phonics work, but I may consult Phonics Pathways if needed. (*I checked it out at the library after some of you recommended it and like it much better than 100 Easy Lessons).
Poetry (daily)
A Child’s Garden of Verses (Robert Louis Stevenson)
Now We Are Six/When We Were Very Young (A.A. Milne)
Oxford Book of Children’s Verse (Iona and Peter Opie)
Recitations (per 12-week term)
Longer passages from the Bible
A Psalm
One poem of child’s choice
Thinking...
This past week there was a comment from Elise trailing one of my posts that piqued my interest. I headed over to her blog and found that she'd so kindly given me a Thinking Blogger Award. (Thanking you again, sweet Elise! What a *delightful* surprise.) And then late last night, I read Wendy's blog entry at Showered With Grace and noticed she also tagged me with this award. (Thank you, Wendy!)
If you get tagged with a Thinking Blogger Award, you are then supposed to do the following:
1. Write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think.
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme.
3. Optional: Proudly display the 'Thinking Blogger Award' with a link to the post that you wrote.
Here are the two versions of the award:
Have you seen either of those serious guys (above) floating around the blogworld these past several? I have. It has been so fun to meet many new (to me) bloggers by clicking on everyone's 5 links.
Now it is my job to share with you 5 of the blogs that make me think. (And it was not easy to choose just 5, let me tell you!) But this is the *best* part, for me- to get to tell you about some fine bloggers. So, without further ado:
1. Kendra of Preschoolers and Peace.
Kendra's was the first blog I ever read, and I've been reading it faithfully ever since. What I appreciate so much about Kendra is that she offers practical solutions for ways to organize and manage your home, and she is happy to share what they have done and what is working for their family. I have gleaned so much from Kendra's ideas. One of my favorite Kendra-ideas? This one. And not only does Kendra have wonderful resources to share, but she has wisdom and experience. Thank you, Kendra. I am so grateful for your ministry to busy mothers of preschoolers; for your willingness to share your life with all of us. I have learned so much from you.
2. Elise of A Path Made Straight.
Elise writes so beautifully. As I pondered how to narrow down exactly what Elise writes about, I had a difficult time. She simply, but beautifully, writes about life. About faith, motherhood, conversations with her boys, and her husband. She tells of Miss Pauline, good read-alouds for storytime, and so many things she is thankful for. Thank you, sweet Elise, for using the tremendous gift God has given you to bless the rest of us.
3. Rebeca of Carried on the Wind.
I started reading Rebeca's blog shortly after I began blogging. She, along with Kendra, are some of the bloggers I feel like I "know", because they've so faithfully shared their lives over the past year through their writing. Rebeca has a wonderful heart for Jesus, and delights in being a wife and mama. Rebeca is a kindred spirit, too: she writes birthday letters to her own beautiful children. Rebeca has written posts like this one and this one that have made me think. Thank you, Rebeca. I am so grateful to know you.
4. Ann of Holy Experience.
Sweet, thought-provoking Ann. Ann is another whose writing makes me stop and consider. Ann wrote this and we began a new tradition in our family. She wrote this and I spent months of reflection, and page after page in my journal, pondering all God has given to me. She wrote this and I continue to remember these words she wrote: “It is alright to let go. Let go. God will provide whatever we need ahead when we get there. Travel light.” God has used this dear online sister much in my life. Thank you, dear Ann.
5. Linda of Higher Up and Further In.
Linda is homeschooling her children using Charlotte Mason's principles, and I have found her to be an amazing resource as we have chosen to homeschool our own children this way. She freely shares what they have done; what concepts like narration and nature study actually look like in their home. I am so thankful, Linda, that you are sharing your own schedules and experiences and making it seem do-able for the rest of us!
If you aren't already familiar with any of the above bloggers, do go check them out. These are wonderful women who love God deeply. It shows.
If you get tagged with a Thinking Blogger Award, you are then supposed to do the following:
1. Write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think.
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme.
3. Optional: Proudly display the 'Thinking Blogger Award' with a link to the post that you wrote.
Here are the two versions of the award:
Have you seen either of those serious guys (above) floating around the blogworld these past several? I have. It has been so fun to meet many new (to me) bloggers by clicking on everyone's 5 links.
Now it is my job to share with you 5 of the blogs that make me think. (And it was not easy to choose just 5, let me tell you!) But this is the *best* part, for me- to get to tell you about some fine bloggers. So, without further ado:
1. Kendra of Preschoolers and Peace.
Kendra's was the first blog I ever read, and I've been reading it faithfully ever since. What I appreciate so much about Kendra is that she offers practical solutions for ways to organize and manage your home, and she is happy to share what they have done and what is working for their family. I have gleaned so much from Kendra's ideas. One of my favorite Kendra-ideas? This one. And not only does Kendra have wonderful resources to share, but she has wisdom and experience. Thank you, Kendra. I am so grateful for your ministry to busy mothers of preschoolers; for your willingness to share your life with all of us. I have learned so much from you.
2. Elise of A Path Made Straight.
Elise writes so beautifully. As I pondered how to narrow down exactly what Elise writes about, I had a difficult time. She simply, but beautifully, writes about life. About faith, motherhood, conversations with her boys, and her husband. She tells of Miss Pauline, good read-alouds for storytime, and so many things she is thankful for. Thank you, sweet Elise, for using the tremendous gift God has given you to bless the rest of us.
3. Rebeca of Carried on the Wind.
I started reading Rebeca's blog shortly after I began blogging. She, along with Kendra, are some of the bloggers I feel like I "know", because they've so faithfully shared their lives over the past year through their writing. Rebeca has a wonderful heart for Jesus, and delights in being a wife and mama. Rebeca is a kindred spirit, too: she writes birthday letters to her own beautiful children. Rebeca has written posts like this one and this one that have made me think. Thank you, Rebeca. I am so grateful to know you.
4. Ann of Holy Experience.
Sweet, thought-provoking Ann. Ann is another whose writing makes me stop and consider. Ann wrote this and we began a new tradition in our family. She wrote this and I spent months of reflection, and page after page in my journal, pondering all God has given to me. She wrote this and I continue to remember these words she wrote: “It is alright to let go. Let go. God will provide whatever we need ahead when we get there. Travel light.” God has used this dear online sister much in my life. Thank you, dear Ann.
5. Linda of Higher Up and Further In.
Linda is homeschooling her children using Charlotte Mason's principles, and I have found her to be an amazing resource as we have chosen to homeschool our own children this way. She freely shares what they have done; what concepts like narration and nature study actually look like in their home. I am so thankful, Linda, that you are sharing your own schedules and experiences and making it seem do-able for the rest of us!
If you aren't already familiar with any of the above bloggers, do go check them out. These are wonderful women who love God deeply. It shows.
Do you have a few minutes?
If you do, go watch this film clip.
Thank you, Amy... for telling me about it. And to Shannon who linked Amy there.
Thank you, Amy... for telling me about it. And to Shannon who linked Amy there.
Conversation in the van this morning
Ella (5): What is the best house?
Me: Our house!
Ella: No...
Me: Grandma's house?
Ella: No!
Me: Um... Auntie Amy's house?
Ella: No, mommy! HEAVEN!!!
---
Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.
~Psalm 84:10
Me: Our house!
Ella: No...
Me: Grandma's house?
Ella: No!
Me: Um... Auntie Amy's house?
Ella: No, mommy! HEAVEN!!!
---
Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.
~Psalm 84:10
One year
It was one year ago today that I began blogging.
You know what? I am really thankful for this venue. More than anything, I am so appreciative for each one of you. I have gleaned so much from you. As I transferred old posts from HSB to Blogspot these past couple of months, it became really evident to me that I have grown much over the past year. God has used many of you as a resource for growth in my roles as wife, mother, and homemaker.
So thank you, for reading here and for encouraging me through what you have written on your own blogs or your comments here.
You know what? I am really thankful for this venue. More than anything, I am so appreciative for each one of you. I have gleaned so much from you. As I transferred old posts from HSB to Blogspot these past couple of months, it became really evident to me that I have grown much over the past year. God has used many of you as a resource for growth in my roles as wife, mother, and homemaker.
So thank you, for reading here and for encouraging me through what you have written on your own blogs or your comments here.
Children's Book Monday
My friend Elise at A Path Made Straight started Children's Book Mondays. I have loved reading her book recommendations, and some of the books she has reviewed have become favorites at our house.
I won't be doing this every Monday (I don't get to the library that often), but I have decided that when we have found a good book, I'll share it here. Here's my first book.
Nora's Ark
By Natalie Kinsey-Warnock
illustrated by Caldecott Medal Winner
Emily Arnold McCully
When I was born, Grandma said I was so small I looked like a little bird. That's why I was named Wren. Grandma may look small, too, but she's made of granite, and she says I'm tough, just like she is. Good thing, or we never would have survived the 1927 Flood.
And so the story begins of young Wren on her grandparents' Vermont farm during the year of 1927. When the rain begins falling in earnest, Wren's Grandma bakes bread, speculating that they might need it. Grandpa comes in from the rain and tells them to get to higher ground, and they pack up a few things and head to the house Grandpa has recently built that sits upon a hill.
Just as soon as they get settled, there's a knock on the door, and Wren and her Grandma Nora welcome the first of many seeking protection from the rising floodwaters. Many neighbors bring what little they have and often their animals, hence the title Nora's Ark.
I hope you'll check out this book on your next stop to the library, and enjoy it as much as we have.
I won't be doing this every Monday (I don't get to the library that often), but I have decided that when we have found a good book, I'll share it here. Here's my first book.
Nora's ArkBy Natalie Kinsey-Warnock
illustrated by Caldecott Medal Winner
Emily Arnold McCully
When I was born, Grandma said I was so small I looked like a little bird. That's why I was named Wren. Grandma may look small, too, but she's made of granite, and she says I'm tough, just like she is. Good thing, or we never would have survived the 1927 Flood.
And so the story begins of young Wren on her grandparents' Vermont farm during the year of 1927. When the rain begins falling in earnest, Wren's Grandma bakes bread, speculating that they might need it. Grandpa comes in from the rain and tells them to get to higher ground, and they pack up a few things and head to the house Grandpa has recently built that sits upon a hill.
Just as soon as they get settled, there's a knock on the door, and Wren and her Grandma Nora welcome the first of many seeking protection from the rising floodwaters. Many neighbors bring what little they have and often their animals, hence the title Nora's Ark.
I hope you'll check out this book on your next stop to the library, and enjoy it as much as we have.
