Take A Tour Of Sonlight Curriculum

I do not personally use Sonlight curriculums, but I know a whole bunch of homeschoolers who do. If you are looking for a curriculum that is loved by thousands of homeschoolers, watch the video below and then head on over to their site. They are offering a three month, or six month payment plan on curriculum purchases, but these only last through the summer months. So be sure to act if you think you will love it.

Music For Kids On Activity TV

I love summertime! This is the time I get to blog about and share with all of you the fun and nifty sites I have found over the previous year. Some I get to incorporate in through the school year, and some sit on my favorites tab, and I forget about them until summertime. This fun site is all about different activities for your kids to do. There is music, trivia, making jewelry, magic, science, and tons of other things for you and your kids to enjoy. There is beginner, intermediate, and expert levels, and it is all free. Right now the featured activity is to make a submarine. I am not that crafty, so I think I will pick something a little bit simpler. But if you are crafty, and feeling brave check it out by clicking right here, and please share when you complete it, and let us all know what you think of the site.

Homeschool Evaluations Are Done!

Today was the big day! The day of our yearly homeschool evaluations. This is just as much an evaluation for me, as it is for the kids. It costs 50 dollars per child, and a certified teacher must do it. They meet with your child and evaluate what they learned, and ask them questions, and give them an assignment.

DJ did very well, and is above his grade in reading, and writing. The writing blog helped so much, and she was impressed and is considering having her children try a writing blog. Last year I was concerned with his ability to read way beyond what a third grader should read, but was unsure of his comprehending what he read. We worked on that a lot this year, and vocabulary, and that improved him to above average. The evaluator chose at the end to read to DJ a passage from a book. I watched him and I could tell he heard maybe the first two sentences of the passage. I do not technically teach with the method of reading to them, and then them telling me what I read. I find this a very boring way to teach. I will work on this just so he does not slack in his listening and following directions skills.

Caitlin did not want to be bothered at all, which is what I was afraid of. She wanted to play and not sit and visit with a stranger. This is pretty common for her, as she is very shy. Once we got her to cooperate she did very well, and is above average in her reading, and comprehends quite well. She didn't evaluate math other than counting abilities, colors and other basic kindergarten skills. We need to really work on her shyness, but I really am not sure I want to force her to interact with people when she is not comfortable. Once she warms up to someone she is very talkative, and is in no way isolated. So I will have to consider how to do this in a way that is safe for her.

I am glad it is over, and can now relax for a few weeks. Then I have to dispose of DJ's papers from two years ago as you only need to keep them for two years in FL. Plus they take up way too much space to store, so I am glad it is two years. The evaluation papers need to be copied and sent into the local school for filing. Then I will finish shopping for the end of my curriculum supplies, and finish preparing for next year. I have actually completed a lot of it. I want to check out the Math U See program again, as she highly recommended it again. I have already purchased all of DJ's math stuff for next year so I will not be getting it for him until the following year. But I will look at it for Caitlin.

If you happen to come across this blog looking for an evaluator in the Levy/Gilchrist county areas, I will share my evaluators name with you after you contact me via email at melissaruede@yahoo.com

How To Paint Flowers

Caitlin and DJ really want to expand their art, and learning to paint skills. So every week I will be sharing a lesson that looks easy enough for them to learn, and then will incorporate them into the next school year for Art class. This one below is for a technique to make simple yet beautiful flowers. I do have to purchase a set of more sophisticated paint brushes than the ones we have, for them to expand their skills.

Tomorrow is our Homeschool evaluations. I will let you all know how it goes. Happy Sunday, everyone!