Teaching the Alphabet

My kids already know the alphabet, but today at homeschoolfreebieoftheday, they have a very cool set of activities for teaching the alphabet.  35 as a matter of fact.  This particular freebie is available only for today, so be sure to get it if you want it. 

We had a much more peaceful day yesterday, than the previous.  Kids are progressing nicely with their lessons, and we are even a bit ahead.  I like to be ahead so when we get to the holidays, and all kinds of activities are going on, we won't fall behind. 

Caitlin finished Charlotte's Web, and if anyone wants their child to read it, but don't want to buy it and library not available, there is an app in the Google app store for the book.  You can read it right on your phone, or tablet.  That is what we did.  She has now moved onto a Magic Tree House Book, Sunset of the Sabertooth.  DJ loved these books, and I am glad I saved them.  Their website is awesome, with a great game the kids can play.  I found two different activities to help her remember key events in the story.  You can click here and here, to use them.  I hope I can find these for all the books.  The Scholastic website also has activities for the books, but just wasn't what I was looking for at this time. 

DJ continues with The Outsiders, and is really enjoying it.  This is a ninth grade level reader, so he is a grade ahead with reading.  He is working his way through the lessons that go with it.  He is a very strong reader, and writer, but frequently ignores the rules of grammar. 

Most of the resources, I both use and share, are usually free.  I do throw in some stuff that is paid for, that I would purchase myself, or will purchase in the future.  I try to remember to post something for all grade levels, not just the grades my kids are in.  At the bottom of this blog is my Amazon Homeschool store.  I do earn a very small percent of each item sold.  Very small, lol!  I have never even made payout yet. 

Today, we have Run Club, finally stopped raining, and tomorrow Earth Kids.  They will be doing activities for the Leafy Seadragon.  One of my favorite animals, or is it a fish?

Easy Peasy Homeschool

It is that time of year again. We are one week away from the end of our third semester of school, and my endless decision making for next year begins. There are so many great products to consider. DJ will continue with at least three classes at FLVS, but because 8th grade will be the last year that I get to have lots of fun with his curriculum, I am still looking for fun things for him to do. Once he starts high school, he has to take certain classes in order to get his diploma. I still have lots of time to play around with Caitlin's. She will be in the fourth grade. That is not to say that even when in high school, that DJ can not do other classes that he enjoys. I just can't mess with the curriculum as much. A homeschool friend shared a website called, Easy Peasy Homeschool. I think I have actually looked at this website before, and then forgot about it. I have now bookmarked it, because it looks awesome. Caitlin will still do Saxon Math, Head of the Class and Art class. But, Easy Peasy Homeschool, I might use for History, Science, and extra Math lessons and videos. They even have it already lied out by days. I think I like the Reading too and possibly the Grammar. I haven't had time to go all the way through it yet, but I will. I am also purchasing a World History and Culture book, from the same homeschool friend. This will probably be appropriate for both children, so I look forward to getting it and checking it out. That is as far as I have gotten so far. DJ will be all done with his 4H Photography books, and still has one Entomology book left. So, those will be squeezed in somewhere. As his days get busier, in higher grades, it is harder to squeeze in extra stuff. If you are a Charlotte Mason fan, Amazon is offering all six of her original homeschool books for only 0.99 cents. Get this before it is gone if you want to try the Charlotte Mason method. I am very much interested in doing some renewable energy or something with mechanical stuff next year for DJ. The product below looks very interesting to me.

Tomorrow, we are off to Dudley Farms. If you are in the Gainesville area, they offer classes every Wed. through July. DJ is interested in woodworking and Caitlin will probably do cooking or sewing. Another homeschool family will be going with us. Then we will have a picnic lunch and walk the trails. Don't worry I am sure we will have lots of pictures. Thursday we are having Art and Jewelry Making with friends. Pictures for that too I imagine, lol.

Say Hello To Our New Car

Well we have been talking about getting a new car, for a while. Could we afford it, did we really want to do it? Well let me just say, I have owned two Fords in my lifetime, and they both sucked. I would probably never buy a Ford again, though I must say I have always wanted a Mustang. We have been getting quotes, and ideas, from our local dealers for some time. Ford, Dodge, and Chrysler. We kept waiting for these awesome deals they were supposed to be going to have, because they had to move their inventory fast. Bull, do not fall for it, it is a load of crap. We even went in on Memorial Day, get a great deal right? Wrong, they had increased all their sticker prices, and the lowest monthly payment was 400 dollars. Are you kidding me, who pays that? I am sure some will, but I will not, that is outrageous. So anyway, after some internet searching I sent my husband off to Gatorland Kia, in Gainesville. Not only did he get a brand new 2009, plus got a decent trade on the crappy Ford we currently drive, but all kinds of rebates, and discounts, on the first try. Plus we get the Obama rebate for buying a new vehicle, on our taxes, next year. The payments are around 300, which I wanted a bit lower, but it is doable. I drove it last night, and it is a nice, smooth ride, and plenty of room, for the four of us. I love it!

Today is our swim playgroup date. So far the weather looks lovely. Though it does say 80 percent chance of rain. Since we moved the time up to 10 we should be OK. DJ worked hard yesterday, to get most of his work from yesterday, and today done, so we really do not have much to make up from today. We only have two weeks of school left, and then we are on Summer Vacation.

Lesson Plans for 5/28/09:

Math: Graphs, multiply by two digits
Writing: Concepts of a paragraph
Language Arts: Sentence fragments, spelling practice
Spelling: Lesson 33- Put your spelling words in alphabetical order
Vocabulary: Lesson 33- Write each vocabulary word, and definition, two times each
PE: 30 minutes