Thanks to all of you who entered the SpellQuizzer Giveaway!

I went to Random.org and the winner is….

Barcelona Red!  (Comment #26)

Barcelona will be emailed and then she has one week to claim her prize.

If you didn’t win, consider heading over to SpellQuizzer to download their free 30 day trial.  I am now an affiliate, which means if you buy one through this click, I get paid!  Of course, the trial is free, so I would suggest that if you’re not sure.

Congrats, Barcelona!

If you’re looking for a creative way to use workboxes that teach your kids life skills and cut down on your to-do list, read my post today at the Homeschool Classroom.  Parents that don’t homeschool might also like this idea!

Are you a homeschool mom in need of support, encouragement, or friendship?

There are two online communities I have joined in the last couple months and I’m really enjoying getting to know some of the moms.

Homeschool Hop is a smaller community, and I like that people there are eager to connect. The owner of the site, Pamela Jano, has a real heart for God and loves to work with and support homeschool moms. HS Hop is definitely focused on Christian Homeschooling. Their membership is also open to dads and teens. This site is newer and still growing, and I encourage you to check it out.

The Homeschool Lounge is another such community, but much larger. They just reached over 10,500 members. It’s not quite as intimate, but they have several groups you can join to meet like-minded moms. The site is not exclusively Christian, but the owners are Christians, and the majority of members are. Only homeschool moms are allowed to join, no dads or homeschool-curious moms allowed. Their chat feature is pretty active, so if you like to chat, you can always find someone.

I recommend them both! If you do sign up, find me and add me as a “friend” and we can get to know each other!

A while ago, I was given a copy of SpellQuizzer spelling software to review. When the company first approached me, I wasn’t interested because we are very happy with Spelling Power for Coco (13) and I do not use a formal spelling program for Soleil (6).

However, the creator encouraged me to try it alongside Spelling Power, and I am so glad I did! I can’t get Soleil off of it, and though I didn’t plan to do spelling with her this year, she loves this software so much we have been using it for fun. Coco has been using it as well.

SpellQuizzer has generously agreed to give away a copy here on my blog! At the end of this post, I will tell you how to enter.  If you don’t win, though, you can always check out the 30 Day free trial that SpellQuizzer offers.

It is important to note that SpellQuizzer is definitely not just for homeschoolers. I wish I would have had this back when Coco was in school and she had to practice for weekly tests.

So how does SpellQuizzer work?

It is very simple. You can either enter your own spelling list, or use one of the many pre-set lists. The SpellQuizzer web site has pre-made downloadable spelling lists that you can download and use with SpellQuizzer. For each word, you can record yourself saying the word and a sentence, just like you would if you were drilling your child or giving them a practice test.

Users can easily export and import SpellQuizzer spelling lists to share with other SpellQuizzer users.

The beauty of using the program is the kids can practice their spelling words on their own. Any busy mom will like this, but I imagine moms of large families will especially appreciate this.

The program does require use of a PC microphone, but you can get one for less than $10 at most department stores. We happened to have one already. If you choose to use a pre-set list, or simply a written sentence, then you don’t need the microphone at all. However, I don’t think I would use this program without a microphone. It’s just so fun!

When your child goes to use the software, they click on their list and hear your voice giving them the spelling words. They type in the word, and if it is correct, it goes to the next word. If they spell it wrong, it will show the correct spelling. It’s fun to record the lists, and something you could have older kids do for younger ones.

SpellQuizzer complements any spelling or vocabulary program. If your child is in school, or using a traditional spelling program at home, it is a breeze to enter each week’s list in.

On a personal note, I had some trouble the first week with the software. I emailed the company, and within minutes I received a reply telling me to download their latest update for Windows XP. I haven’t had any trouble since, but it’s nice to know the customer service is there if I need it.

SpellQuizzer has a page on the site specifically directed toward homeschoolers:

SpellQuizzer for Homeschoolers.

Check out the demo on the site:

SpellQuizzer Demo

So, how has SpellQuizzer worked for us? Great! Soleil has learned to spell many new words just through “playing.” Coco, though, has really benefited from the extra practice. It shows in her daily writing and her daily spelling tests. The best part is that they actually ask if they can do it!

If you are interested in SpellQuizzer and would like to win a copy of your own, leave a comment on this post. I will randomly select a winner on Monday, November 16. The winner will be listed here and notified by email.

 Every mom has one of those days.  You know the one I mean.  The day when the toilet gets clogged, the coffee maker breaks down, and Junior discovers the sharpie markers and paints masterpiece in the hallway.   Sometimes it’s perfectly fine to have a mental health day and skip school. Snuggle on the couch with some good books, explore nature outdoors, and wait for the plumber.

But what if you’re having one of those weeks, or worse…months?  What if there are no major disasters, you just have a good old-fashioned case of the blahs?  It happens to even the greatest moms, and homeschoolers aren’t excluded.

For this reason, I have come up with a homeschool survival kit that every mom should have….

read the rest at the Homeschool Classroom!

I wrote about our course of study for my eighth grader here.  Here is what we’re doing for my first grader, Soleil.

Bible

Tapestry of Grace Bible Survey/Church history selections

I love Tapestry of Grace (TOG) at both ages we’re doing now.  We are working our way through the Old testament right now, and I love how it is all connected to our history and literature reading.  Also, both girls are in the same time period!

A Little Girl After God’s Own Heart, Elizabeth George

Such a sweet little book!  I just got this, and Soleil and I will be doing one character trait each week with our tea.

Scripture memorization

We use the Charlotte Mason system for memorizing scripture.

Daily devotional time

Read a little about Soleil’s quiet time here.

Language Arts

First Language Lessons for the Well Trained Mind, Jessie Wise. Level 1

People either seem to love or hate this book.  I love it!  Beyond basic grammar, it includes poetry memorization, picture study, story narration, and copy work.  Soleil is always happy to find this book in her workbox.  Often, we sit on the couch together for our “language lesson.”  I love that it feels like we’re just sitting and chatting. 

Abeka Phonics Sounds cards

Soleil reads at a fourth or fifth grade level.  I am using these phonics cards mostly so she learns the rules which will come in handy later for spelling.  We usually just go through two or three a couple times a week.  She loves to be the teacher and go through them with me.

Memoria Press Copybook II

Instead of copying inane sentences about ants on logs, we’re now copying scripture and hymns.  Love this book!  We do use some of the verses for memorization, and Soleil loves the illustration pages that go with each copy page.  Her penmanship has greatly improved with this book.  Something about writing out Bible verses just calls for your best work!

Tapestry of Grace Literature selections

Again, perfect books!  I have skipped a couple that were based on ancient gods.  We briefly covered it and Soleil had a very violent reaction to the whole concept that anyone would worship anyone but the one true God.  Another great thing about both girls being in the same time period in history is that Soleil reads her books to Coco and vice-versa. 

Tapestry of Grace, Writing Aids

I am supplementing our language lessons with this.  So far, we’re making a word bank with the parts of speech.  FLL goes a little slowly for us, we’re still on nouns after 8 weeks of school.  With this, we’re covering adjectives, verbs, and more.

Various readers

Because Soleil is so advanced in reading, I just let her pick chapter books from the library.  She reads daily, and loves it.  She loves the American Girl books, but even those can have some older themes.  Fortunately, she loves reading the Bible, and that is always appropriate!

SpellQuizzer

I had not intended to do a spelling program this year, but the maker of SpellQuizzer gave me a free copy.  It’s so fun, Soleil has been begging to do spelling, so I let her.  I’ll write a full review on this soon!

Arithmetic

Math U See Foundations in Math (through Lesson 25).

This is an old version of Math U See I purchased used.  It has the accompanying lessons that we’ve come to love, only on VHS .  The book is supposed to cover grades 1-3, and I plan to cover first and second grades this year.  We’ll hit everything up to multiplication, and cover that next year.  We’re also still working on money and time.  I do have Soleil watch the lessons with me, then we’ll work on that concept for a couple days or a week, depending on how long it takes her to “get it.”  Love homeschool.

World History and Geography

Tapestry of Grace Year 1 Primary history and In-Depth history selections

Oh man, I love this course.  The history selections are great!  Interesting, fun to read, and I am learning from them, too.  My favorite part of this course is our discussions we have before we even start our workboxes.  We’ll cover the different threads and discuss the culture, Bible history, and other things I learn in my teacher’s notes.  If you haven’t looked into TOG, I highly recommend you do.

Map Aids Geography, Grammar Level

We are doing a very light version of the maps that come with TOG.  Sometimes, I do have Soleil label her own, but sometimes I’ll just have her point them out.  The geography is pretty comprehensive for first grade.  I had to look up many of the terms myself before I could teach them to her.  I like to use a children’s dictionary because we can both understand it

Science

Apologia Exploring Creation With Zoology 3: Land Animals of the 6^th Day

This book is for grades 1-6.  I only wish I had been homeschooling when Coco was younger so we could have done these!  They are absolutely packed with information, and I am amazed at how much Soleil retains.  I read this aloud to her, though she often takes over and reads it to me.  We love the Charlotte Mason methodology.  There’s notebooking, narration, and easy experiments at the end of each lesson.  There’s also a cool map-it and track-it section that has me feeling like Kate on Lost.  Anyway. 

Kingfisher 1^st Animal Encyclopedia

This is just a fun photo-filled supplement.  I was unhappy with some of the evolution references, but we just skip those for now.  I like to stick this in one of Soleil’s workboxes in between some of the heftier science reading days. 

Nature Study Handbook, by Anna Comstock

This is more of a reference for me.  We are still getting the hang of nature study and this book is invaluable!

Latin

Memoria Press, Prima Latina DVD Course and student book

Another lesson I am doing alongside Soleil.  This course is for up to third grade, so we are taking our time with it.  I watch a small portion of the dvd with her and we do lots on the whiteboard.  I plan to finish about half the book this year.  We take a few weeks per lesson, absorbing the vocabulary, English derivatives, and prayers. 

Arts

How Great Thou Art: I Can Do All Things

I wasn’t sure about this book when I saw the pages.  It’s a little cluttered-looking, but we are loving it after all.  I am having fun going through it with Soleil.  There are hundreds of lessons, and we skip around from drawing to painting to markers.  She has taken to drawing during much of her free time and has a sketch book nearly filled. 

TOG fine arts and activities selections

Fun stuff!  I combine our arts and activities for both grades, and the craft books recommended by TOG have come in super-handy.  One of my favorites, Old testament days, I got free at our park day. 

Classical Kids Music Cds

These are fictional CDs about different composers with their music throughout.  They rock!  My kids have started listening to classical music while cleaning their room and playing, and can identify several composers.  We’ll be studying composers more in depth when we come to their time periods, but this is a great way to get their interest going.  Not that we don’t still rock out to Hannah Montana once in a while.  ‘Cause we do.

PE

Swimming, volleyball, workout videos, bike riding

I started Soleil out on a point system this year, like her big sister, but I’ve already let that go.  She is naturally very active, and I just decided not to worry about grading PE for this year.  If I find it becoming a problem to get her moving, I might rethink that.  But I don’t see that happening.  The girl is always moving.

These are just my main resources.  By using workboxes, I can actually fit in many more books, games, and learning activities.  It seems like a lot here, but we do very short lessons.  One of the Charlotte Mason ideas I just love.  We get to cover so much in a week, and short lessons are a good fit for my busy girl.  Using narration and just every day conversation, I am very pleased with how much she remembers! 

I’m not sure that would be the case if we were spending thirty minutes per subject.  That being said, we do read for over thirty minutes aloud sometimes, but that depends on the subject.  If it’s a pleasing story, she could listen for hours.  If it is lots of new information, like science, I will read for no more than fifteen minutes.

Today I am posting an idea to get your family involved in giving while celebrating a fun holiday at Heart of the Matter. 

On November 11^th, countries around the world will celebrate Martinmas, the holiday honoring St. Martin of Tours, a Roman soldier-turned monk.  According to legend, St. Martin came upon a scantily clad beggar one night in the snow, and having nothing to offer, he took his sword and cut his cloak in half to share with the man.  That night, St. Martin had a dream in which Christ was wearing half a cloak and said, “Here is Martin, the Roman soldier who is not baptized; he has clad me.”  The next day, Martin ran to be baptized and became a Christian.

In European countries today, festivities range from children parading with paper lanterns behind a man dressed as St. Martin to families eating a feast featuring goose, but the heart of the story is selfless generosity.

Why not hold your own spin-off on Martinmas and round out the celebration with a new tradition that will foster warm, giving hearts in your family?

 

Read the rest here:  A Family Giving Project

Let me know if you try it!

Today I am posting over at the Homeschool Classroom with some ideas for creating playtime kits for kids.  This is a fun idea whether you homeschool or not, so swing on my and check it out!

For the last five or six years, I’ve been dreaming up games and activities for my littlest girl. I love being one of her favorite playmates, but it has become clear to me lately that she needs to be able to play on her own just a little bit more.

To encourage her to play on her own (and give mom a little break), I put together some playtime kits…. Click here to read the rest of this post!

Today, September 29, is celebrated all over the world as Michaelmas, or the feast of St. Michael.  I originally read about this holiday in Mrs.Sharp’s Traditions and we tweaked it a little and made our own tradition.  According to Wikipedia, It is based on “the legend” of the archangel Michael who banished Satan from heaven.  Michaelmas is celebrated differently depending on where you live.  If you live in the Mills house, it goes something like this…

First, we read Revelation 12:7-12

Here, we read John’s firsthand account of Michael and his army of angels fighting Satan (the dragon) and his angels.  Satan was defeated and hurled down to Earth where he spends his days as the accuser of the believers.  (But he was filled with fury because he knows his time is short! verse 12)  We then talk a bit about the devil, temptation, and his clever evil ways.  This time is pretty laid back, I just go with the flow of what seems to be on their minds.

If you’d like to have some scriptures on hand, here are a few:

James 1:13-15

Genesis 3:1-6

Ephesians 6:12-18

Then, we make a tasty dragon of our own

I use canned cinnamon roll dough (with 8 rolls) for this.  We roll out 3 pieces into a dragon-ish shape.  Top that with dried fruit and add a top layer of 3 more pieces.  I then cut one of the remaining 2 pieces into triangles and we make spikes.  The last roll we leave as a head and add a raisin eye.  We pop him into the fiery pit ( a 375 oven)  and await his demise (for about 20 minutes). 

Here’s the poor little guy before we cooked him:  (You can see my family time book in the corner of the pic!)

It’s no work of art, but it sure is tasty!  While we’re waiting for the dragon to cook, we clean up and one of the girls gets ready for our next step…

Donning a white robe, one of the kids gets to play Michael.

Once the dragon is out of the oven, we pour the provided icing on top. Then whoever is playing Michael gets to slay the dragon with a big knife.  Supervised, of course.  We do our best angel-soldier looking poses while doing this so I can add our memory to our family time book!

Finally, We Eat the Dragon!

Kids around here prefer their dragons with ice cold milk.  Mommy likes coffee.  This celebration feels like the start of fall to me, so we usually begin brainstorming fall crafts.  It must be the smell.  Today, we were going to make rag dolls, but instead we got caught up talking about Coco’s upcoming birthday and spent all our craft time at the table doing that instead.  Ah, homeschool.  Love it.

You don’t have to wait a year to start your own Michaelmas tradition, it is something just as fun on September 30, or October 1st!

Even before I began homeschooling, we had way too many books around this house. I’ve been buying children’s books since the conception of my first daughter. Book fairs, school book orders, book mail clubs. Actually, I started my collection years before Coco was born. I still have my original Babysitter’s Club books that I saved for my future children. Why wouldn’t I? My fantasy home always had a fully-stocked library complete with plush chairs and wide windows.

Now fast forward twenty or so years. No, no library. Yes, I still have the books. I have drastically simplified our home in the last few years…removing knick knacks and cluttered shelves. The only thing I could not bear to get rid of was our books. I routinely give away novels that I’ve read but I find it impossible to part with my children’s books.

When the girls started sharing a room, there was just not enough room for all their books in one bedroom. Finally, I parted with some chewed up baby board books. Thirteen of them in fact. It felt so good that the next day I boxed up quite a few more and gave them away.

Still, though we had so many! Now that we’re homeschooling, we have even more and I am saving many of Coco’s books for when Soleil gets older. Soleil’s bookshelf was perpetually overflowing and she read the same books over and over. I think too many choices was just overwhelming.

So what did I decide to do with all those books?

In our garage, we have several large filing drawers. Soleil has about 25 books on her bedroom bookshelf at all times. The rest are in the drawers in the garage. (you can easily have used a large storage bin or shelf for this idea.) Every couple of weeks, I will take her “book shopping.”

First, she picks all the books she’d like to exchange from her shelf (usually leaving one or two behind).

Then, she trades those books for books in the garage.

I had the idea to sort the books by season and subject, but I said no to my inner control freak. Soleil can pick whatever books she wants, whether she’s reading about valentines in the summer or not.

Often, I will have a particular idea for a book that goes with something we’re studying. If that’s the case, I’ll just grab it and add it to her pile as a bonus.

Now, her shelves are pretty tidy most of the time and she is reading a variety of books. On a side note, we still use the library frequently. These books are stored in a basket in our living room.

I have to say, book shopping has become a pretty popular activity around here! I plan to keep this in action until my girls grow up and start their own collections.

Unless, of course I move into a house with a library.