Homeschool Memoirs #12

Homeschoolers are very resourceful people. They use what they have and use them to their best ability. I know in our home many times people ask us how we use this or that for learning, and we are happy to explain it’s value. I think the main thing that a lot of people miss is that life is learning, and you must use everything in your home for learning otherwise you won’t fully be prepared.

THEME

This week I want to invite you to share what different games you use for learning in your homeschool. Outside games, board games, or card games, and what purpose or subject you use them for.

I love playing games and so do my kids.  We play board games, card games computer games, file folder games you name it!  We have a whole game closet

Having lots of little ones we play:

Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders and Hi Ho Cherry-O for colors, counting, taking turns, sharing

They like to play hopscotch- numbers, large motor skills

I have to share two favorites though that we just got this year from Aunt Teri and Uncle Brett (thank you)

The first one is Journey Through Bible Land it is for ages 3-6 and no reading required.  It is similar to Candy Land but Bible based.

The other one is Armor of God board game for ages 5 and up.  You have to go around the Board and be the first to collect the Armor of God pieces (cards). 

Chores

Chores and cleaning up has seem to become a bad word around here matched with bad attitudes so this week we are trying something kind of new and it is helping a lot.  I made one set of morning cards awhile ago and the kids really liked following them so I have expanded it.

Each kid has three sets of chore cards.  We came up with the stop light method.  Green cards are for morning because they "get up and go".  Yellow is for afternoon before lunch "they are slowing down".  Red is for before bed "it is time to stop for the day".

In the morning when they wake up they get their green cards which are hanging on a hook in their room.  They follow the cards before they go down for breakfast.  The best thing about these cards are they are picture cards so the kids don't have to read (good thing since 3 of them can't  yet LOL) I was able to print them from Titus2.com because I own the "Managers of their Chores" book (I don't follow their entire system)  You could also make up your own from pictures from Publisher or such.

So morning ones are get dressed, make bed, brush hair, brush teeth, say prayers, then feed cat or dog

Before lunch is zone clean (their part of the loft/school/play area), trash (each child empties a different trash can) laundry (put away or bring to me) then wash hands for lunch

Before bed is zone clean downstairs, clean room, jammies, brush teeth, say prayers.

The few days we have been doing this has been great.  I have to be right there with them but they love following the cards and things have been staying picked up, which is the biggest battle.  So we are free to concentrate on other things.

Anastasia's cards are different since she is older and as they get in the habit of these I will add special Saturday cards for more cleaning and such.  And I remind myself that the more time I spend now training and teaching them than one day they will be able to do more and more on their own!!

Blogger Friend School #108

Intro: Quality is Job #1 (Ford)

Assignment: My family and I rarely do anything apart from each other. We don’t really have quality time together because all our time is together. We feel like the more special moments are when we have dinner together or when we worship God together. For this assignment, tell how you and your family spend QUALITY time together.

Our QUALITY time is spent in several different ways.  One main thing each day is eating dinner together.  This is very important to me .  During this time the kids get to share with daddy what they did that day and the "child of the day" gets to pray and daddy usually tries to do a devotion as well.  Also Friday nights are Family fun nights where we might watch a movie or play games or other things just to relax together and look forward to the weekend. 

I try to spend some one on one with each child as well.  I like to take just one of them grocery shopping with me.  Taking one is fun and enjoyable it is a whole other story if I have to take all five.  My oldest and I also stay up some nights together and watch Little House on the Prairie together.  We check them out from the library and she insists on watching them in order!  The weeks that I don't teach co-op my 2 year old and the baby and I get to go hang out together for the day and it is nice having that time with just the two of them.

Alexa and I feeding the ducks at a park.

Memory Verse: I Timothy 4:12-13 - Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

What's For Dinner Wednesday's??

I lost another pound this week!!!  I thought I would share this recipe it is a favorite salad of Anastasia and I.

Cabbage Crunch Salad

1 lg. head green cabbage                   3 chicken fillets cooked and diced

6Tbsp. Red Wine Vinager                 2 pkgs. Ramen noodle soup (chicken)

3/4 C. vegetable oil                         4 tsp. sesame seeds

4 tsp. sugar                                     2 tsp salt         1 tsp pepper

1 C. sliced almonds

Combine all ingredients except chicken and cabbage and mix together in a baking pan.  Bake for 10 min at 350 and then stir  it then bake another 10 minutes.  Then just add that to the shredded cabbage and diced chicken and you have a very yummy salad!

 

Our Thankful Tree

This is a picture of our Thankful Tree.  We make one each November and it is on our kitchen wall.  Each night at dinner everyone fills out one leaf (or tells me and I write it down) with something they are thankful for and we stick them on the tree.  By Thanksgiving our tree is overflowing with "thankfullness".  The only rule is that there can be no repeats.  I will take another picture closer to Thanksgiving so you can see how it is filling up.

Top 10 Predictions No Matter Who Wins the Election

Top 10 Predictions No Matter Who Wins the Election



1. The Bible will still have all the answers.

2. Prayer will still work.

3. The Holy Spirit will still move.

4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.

5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.

6. There will still be singing of praise to God.

7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.

8. There will still be room at the Cross.

9. Jesus will still love you.

10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.

*ISN'T IT GREAT TO KNOW WHO IS REALLY IN CONTROL?!!*

Knowing the outcome of the election now I  am really trying to rest in these assurances.

Gratituesday-- The United States of America

This Gratituesday will go down in history in one way or another!  We will know in a few hours (hopefully) who our next President will be. So I wanted to take this Tuesday to state that I am so thankful for our country and my right to vote.  I am greatful to live in this great country where I can not only vote but pray and worship God freely as well.   I have been in constant prayer and will continue to be the rest of the day.

(I will catch up on the rest of my blog later today)