This is the one....

OK....here is my favorite assignment sheet. I love how it has all the subjects listed, then also room to add your own. I have used it with multiple kids, I just keep them in a binder behind a tab with their name. I also put a copy in their binder so they can work independently.
http://www.geocities.com/gpielstick/Homeschooling_Forms.html
KKS

Another Interesting Link

Hey, I was organizing all my bookmarks and came across this one for free educational materials (including simple piano arrangements for beginners!). I've not explored much of what they have yet - I had book marked it for the music. But it is all free, printable - you just can't sell it! So, check it out if you want something more, something different, or if you're just stumped!

Garden of Praise

Free Printable Schedule

http://www.oklahomahomeschool.com/pdf%20documents/Weekly%20Plan_Blank.pdf

I have a better one that I am still tying to find the link to, but this one is very similar. I'll post the other one when I find it.
KKS

Getting The Year Under Way.....

Tara mentioned that she wanted to start grammar with Gabi, so I thought I would share a free curriculum that I have used. It's pretty straight forward and covers all the basics. I hope you find it helpful.
Here is the link: http://www.sfreading.com/resources/ghb.html
KKS

K12 Homeschool

I just heard about another homeschooling option. Some of you may have checked it out already, and many may be like me and have never heard of it. Anyway, the enrollment fee is extremely low, but it gives you the full course curriculum. You do have to buy materials though, and I must admit that I did not add it all up to see what the final per year cost would be. Anyway, if you're interested, check them out using the link below.

K12 Homeschool

Back - Pictures Coming

We're back and I promise that I'll put up some pictures and information from our trip as soon as our house is back together. We had carpet installed in almost the whole house just after we returned and so we're in the putting everything back together.... requiring ourselves to organize and create a real home for everything as we go (something we didn't do when we moved in). Any, I expect to be able to give the update sometime this week.

We're Soon To Be Off

Well, our family is off for vacation... in a few days. We've got some things planned that will be both fun and educational. For one, we're going to climb a volcano! Yes, we'll take lots of pictures and maybe even find some time to post the information about it for you guys! We're really excited about this as it's one thing that Gabi has been wanting to do all year... she still loves volcanoes. We're also going to one of the national train museums. So we'll have all sort of information about the old fashioned trains!

Aside from those two major things, nothing else is "set in stone"... although I'm sure we'll find lots of other fun and educational things to do along the way!

new question?

well, I went to the curriculum sale. I really enjoyed it. I got there 45 mins after it started and still found quite abit of good stuff. If it happens to be during a good time I will go next year and hopefully I will get there even earlier so that I can get some more good things.
I have a question for everyone. Hoe does homeschooling happen when life is so disruptive? I mean, when kids are in school people have to get their kids to school and then can deal with whatever crazy is going on in their life, but when kids are still home how does one still concentrate to help them learn what they need to (prepare lessons, or atleast prepare materials for them to teach themselves, assuming they are at that point). How does homeschooling not become a luxury that occurs when things in life are smooth?

Used Curriculum Sale

The nitty gritty-details have finally become available. The sale is coming right up. If anyone wants to ride together, let me know. I will surely be going.
It is mentioned in the information that it's best to come sans enfants. I will add my recommendation to that. It's pretty (very) stressful to keep track of them, clean up after them and look at their many, many requests and still focus on the things that you need to. If you can imagine, it's even worse than taking ALL the kids shoe shopping-around lunch time, when you and them are cranky, the baby needs a nap, won't stay in the stroller and everybody has to pee-.....all by yourself. Ya, it's that bad. You will enjoy yourself so much more if you leave the littles home. Here is the link:
http://homeschoolersofmaine.org/uc08.htm
KKS

Simplest Problem Solving

I've mentioned before that my children are rather young. A common problem, and one that I've been dealing with, is for children, especially such young children, to simply tell you a condition, usually in whine or without pausing before repeating and allowing their voice to escalate.

Instead of just jumping to meet their demands (ie, in the morning I hear "I"m hungry" and then I would typically ask what they wanted to eat and then go get it), I've been making them stop and rephrase their words so there is a solution. (ie, "Mama, could you get me some yogurt, please?)

Even my two year old can rephrase his expressions into "solution based questions" with only the simple reminder of "Can you change that to a solution?" They no longer get their "needs" fulfilled simply by stating the condition.

I think this will be beneficial. It will teach them to think of the solution and be more polite. It will also help me to feel appreciated and not like my nerves are being grated with a cheese grater! After all, little children must, at some point, grow to be full functioning adults. This is one step to keep the peace and teach them a valuable lesson at the same time. And one step to becoming full functioning adults.

new resource

Well it has been awhile. I have been wanting to post about something that I came across. My lack of post has really mirrored my life. I don't feel like I have done a whole lot with Liliana, in terms of on purpose teaching or using her materials already purchased. We both miss our little 'school' time (i don't call it that, but she refers to it as 'project' time, or "mom, can we do a project)...for her doing a project can mean using her Kumon cutting book which teaches her how to cut various shapes and styles (lines, wiggles, round circles, etc), or her Kumon sticker/paste book, which, after an item is cut out she has to glue it into the right spot to complete a picture (we have used these books all up, they came in handy for stake/general conference), we also have a Kumon Folding book, a little more challenging for her (to fold on a line indicated to make a picture), so that one is not used up yet. I ordered these from Discount homeschooling and will order part two of all of them, which is just building on part ones skills...
What I really wanted to post about is, www.sonlight.com
I would recommend requesting a catalog...They have curriculum's, but the neat thing is in their catalog they list every book/resource used in each particular curriculum (so you can check it out from the library, or maybe you already have it). What is also really neat is that you can buy separately a 'teachers' manual, see sample at www.sonlight.com/samples.html
I plan on getting a manual, life is not as predictable as I would like, and I don't always have prep time for homeschooling, but this makes sure you already know what you can do the next day (but still offers flexibility) and it is not pricey, the teachers manual for pre-k/K is only 21.00 (for the whole year). If you do decide to order a whole program they let you try it out every day for a whole year (kids grubby hands all over the books, writing all over everything, etc...) and if it doesn't work you can return everything for a refund, no matter what condition it is in...
This catalog will become a huge resource for me, maybe you can also find some great ides in it...enjoy

Sorry...I Gotta Go.

I am sorry to do this so suddenly, although the decision wasn't sudden. I am withdrawing from the group. I will not be homeschooling next year and I am trying to get myself situated with my schooling as well. Sorry for my discontinued participation. On the other hand the blog is still something I am interested in since educatiion doesn't end at public school or even begin there. Home is where it is at...

Things To Do - Green Up

It seems we're all getting busy and this site isn't staying updated. Sorry to anyone who waits to read. I'm sure a lot of it has to do with the wonderful weather we've been having. I'd love to hear about some learning adventures, or science experiments or anything else. Everything we share helps to add another person in their quest for good education.

Our family went out for a walk the other day and the kids took notice of the trash that was no longer buried under piles and piles of snow! They wanted to clean it up, so we got a trash bag and cleaned as we went. It was a wonderful opportunity for them to serve the community and beautify the earth. We even talked about how this earth is a gift from our Heavenly Father and how we should not only be grateful for it, but respectful of it too.

L.L.Bean

I just wanted to let you guys know that L.L.Bean is hosting a Kid's Fun Festival. It will be held from April 24th through April 27th and all the activities are free. I am planning on going on Thursday but may change my mind and go on Friday. If you need more info, let me know.

sale

Hey everyone,
Well here are the details for the sale I posted about earlier. Let me know if you think you might be coming so I can look out for you there.

Spring Homeschool Books and Supplies 'Swap and Sell'
When: Saturday April 12th
Where: at St. Nicholas Episcopal Church
350 US RT #1 in Scarborough (across from the Scarborough Downs entrance)
Time: 2:00pm to 4:00pm

ALso, let me know if you need directions..

Sharing....

"Let your children be exposed to great minds, great ideas, everlasting truth, and those things which will build and motivate for good."
Gordon B. Hinckley - Ensign, June 1985, 4


KKS

Wishing For Spring

I'm wishing spring would decide to come and stick around...and maybe kick winter out! And with that I've been thinking about gardens. This year the kids have asked to have their own flower garden. Since we have plenty of space, we've agreed. I know we can't get out to the yard to pick a place... let alone have any idea when we might really be able to put anything in the ground. But I thought I'd get them started on some inside plants... they need something to change things up in the daily schedule! (Cabin Fever is past dilerium!)

Any thoughts as to which flowers to plant? They are 2, 4, and 6 years old. I want something easy enough, but also (because of the younger two) something that won't take too long to germinate! Any suggestions would be great!

sale

Hey everyone. I hang out with some moms down here who homeschool and they just informed me of the annual used homeschooling stuff/curriculum sale that they put on each year for southern maine. It will be April 12th in Scarborough. I will post the time and place when I find out. I will be checking it out for sure. I guess if you have stuff to sell there is a person to contact inorder sign up (and a $5.00 fee) Anyway, let me know if you are interested in actually selling stuff as well and I will find out the contact info for that person. For all those who may just want to buy, I will put more details closer to the date as I find them out.

LDS On-Line High School (And Grades 1-8)

My dad was telling me about this on-line LDS High School, which now also offers grades 1 - 8. It's an accredited school, and even gives a diploma for completion. It is a private school, so there is a tuition. Though for grades 1-8 it's $485 for the first kid and only $295 for each additional kid. That's at least $4500 less than the private schools around here (and more), while allowing for the home schooling schedule (your own, your pace). It's also about half the price (or more savings) than many leading full curriculum. At the High School level, I'm not sure the cost, I couldn't seem to find it real easy. But you can take as many courses as you want or be completely enrolled in the full program. I suspect that tuition is based on classes taken. There is a form to fill out if you're interested in more information.

Anyway, here's the link. It's sounds interesting in it's way. It even seems as though there are opportunities to get together with other kids "in the school" through field trips (arranged by parents).

Karl G. Maeser Academy

Winter Fun Day

Many of us are still sick... or in the recovery (but don't push it) zone. With that in mind, I wanted to pose a questions about Winter Fun Day which is scheduled for Thursday. Do you still want to hold it? I know that my family and (I believe unless things have changed a ton since yesterday) Juanita's family won't be able to make it due to the illness stuff. Not sure how other families are doing. Nikki, as it's at your place, you can make the final call. Hold it without us (which is okay) or we could try to postpone in the hopes that people are well enough to really be out in the wet and cold (since the snow isn't going anywhere fast). Any thoughts?