What are we doing for homeschool?

• I have an old friend who started asking me some questions lately about how I do things. I've been so grateful! It reminded me why I started this blog in the first place. Perhaps people have questions about what I do and want to know more... So, I'm grateful to my friend for getting me writing them down for some type of public (or at least for me to refer back to when others ask). 

  
  

  Question #1 - What homeschool curriculum do you use?

  
  

    I think the best book I have read which really helped me lay a foundation was A Thomas Jefferson Education: A Home Companion. They help you really identify what your motives are and desires for schooling. Once you do that, choosing a curriculum seems easier because you have something to bounce it against. I just started another great book available from Deseret Book called: "Increase in Learning" by David A. Bednar. It's helped me find a greater purpose in teaching my children, and that teaching them HOW is just as important (or more so) than WHAT. Neither books are light reads - they really make you think! I'm grateful now though that I took the time to go through them and solidify WHY I'm doing this and what God wants for family (as a unit) and my children (individually). Just know that none of your learning about different curriculums will go to waist. Your daughters may each need something different, so the more you learn, the better prepared you'll be to provide that for them. I try to focus on the foundational homeschool ideals separate from the current needs of each child and it seems a little easier to digest.

  
    For preschool this year we are using some ideas from www.confessionsofaslackermom.com AND www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com They're both free (or free in parts) and have plenty of what you need. I think the best thing for us has just been giving our kids opportunities to explore and ask questions and do random science projects when they're curious. Library story time is great, and so is having a regular time to read to your kids everyday. It goes far! I try to just pick some books at the library every time we go of things they've showed an interest in. Then, I let them choose some of their own (they're surprisingly good pickers!!) You're probably already doing all (or at least some) of these things anyway - you're so thoughtful in your mothering!!
  Next year, when we start kindergarten, we are going to use this program http://latterdaylearning.org/the-family-school-lds-homeschool-curriculum/ - I love it because
  1. It teaches "whole truth".
  2. I love that it causes children to ACT on what they're learning.
  3. It teaches them how to reason and relate for themselves (to discover truth on a personal level).
  4. I can teach one lesson to all of my children, instead of having to battle multiple curriculum for different grade leaves.
  
   I'm still in the process of choosing a math and language curriculum, but for this K4 (early kindergarten) year for Cadence, I think I'll do the book "Teach your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons".

A More Meaningful Easter

 In the past month, we've had several friends and associates pass away. It has been a time of real mourning for a family and a new look at the lives we live. Death can take us at anytime, and are we prepared to meet God?
  Each Easter seems to have had it's own emphasis in the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Chirst. This year, Easter is the reality of resurrection. The mourning and sorrow will all be turned to joy, as we greet Christ and our loved ones again. They will live again, as will we, just as Christ rose from the dead on the 3rd day, Easter morning.
 So, what are we doing to celebrate this year? I made a plastic egg Easter lesson that we've used in past years. This year I found another, similar plastic egg Easter lesson here. I think I'm going to try it this year because the scriptures are much shorter, for my young children.
 I also love the simplicity of this Easter lesson, from the Nursery Manual. I wish we had done it for family night, but I'd still like to do it, perhaps Easter evening.
 In general this year, we made Easter MORE about gifts, and Christmas LESS extravagant. We're trying to spread the love out a little more. We've really loved the thought: something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read. They are still very simple gifts and the kids need new clothes at this time of year anyway. I want them to understand the reason we gift - in remembrance of the greatest gift we have been given, the gift of Jesus Christ.
 I really enjoyed watching this video about the Savior's Atonement. They have so many more touching videos I plan to watch as well in the coming week with the boys.

Debt Limit - A Guide to American Federal Debt Made Easy

I thoroughly enjoyed this video. It's pretty comical and so clearly illustrates our national debt. Let me know what you think!

Debt Limit - A Guide to American Federal Debt Made Easy

ABC's for Preschool

 We've been running an unstructured pre-school during my son's 2nd year. I'd point out letters, shapes, numbers, and colors to him. I'd describe things and ask him to "see if you can find _____". My husband and I decided that he should have a little more "formal" schooling this year.
 Formal schooling to us does not mean he sits down at a desk everyday at a certain time to do "school". It means that WE are more structured as parents. It means we have educational goals set for him and we look for fun ways to accomplish them.
 One of the umbrella goals we have this year is pre-reading. I decided to check on his alphabet understanding. We do a letter a week. These are some of the activities that we usually include:
1. Coloring page - At the beginning of the week coloring with mommy. We point out the letter and try to think of other things that might start with that letter. We might add more of our own pictures or write more words. Then, he hangs it on the fridge (we're collecting them in a folder for a book at the end). (There are a TON of these online - just google "ABC book" or "Alphabet Coloring Pages")
2. Books - We read books about characters that have that letter for their first name (Arthur, Berenstein Bears, Clifford, etc. - I'm compiling a list as we go). We also point out the letter in other books we read. He usually takes initiative to do this.
3. Go on an "A" hunt - We draw or color the letter on some small quarter-size sheets of paper (both lower and upper case). This is mostly for reference as we walk around the house. Then, we chant "We're going on an __ hunt, We're going on a __ hunt, Let's find some ___". When he finds one, we tape the letter page to the letter he found and leave them up through the week.
4. Practice writing the letter. Honestly, sometimes this happens, sometimes it doesn't. He's got a writing book from Priddy Books that he likes to take out occasionally. Usually he'll go through more than one letter in a day.
5. Practical Use. Sometimes we do fun activities with letters (in addition to the fun ones listed above). I may have Cadence make a story on crayola.com, we send letters to family far away, or he may type an email to Grandma. This has been a fun way for him to use his letter identification in a practical way and develop stronger relationships with friends and family.

I'm not focusing so much this time around on letter sounds. We're focusing mostly on letter recognition & finding them in words. He's already started to "spell" on his own, even though he may not know what he's spelling. It's been still pretty casual, but it feels good to know what goals we have and are working toward.