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Much More Than A Yummy Treat: National Doughnut Day

June 7, 2013 Grace-Filled Writer

Did you enjoy a yummy treat on National Doughnut Day? Did you know it has its roots in the first World War? Did you know it is more about serving those in need rather than just a chance to get a free treat?

During World War I women who volunteered with the Salvation Army worked to encourage and serve the US troops on the front lines and those returning home. They collected supplies, cooked meals, and mended their clothes. They also made them homemade doughnuts. These tasty treats soon because a trademark of the Salvation Army and soldiers returning home were greeted with fresh homemade doughnuts as they disembarked their trains.

I first learned about this story from reading Grace Livingston Hills’ novel, The War Romance of the Salvation Army. In 1865 a pastor named William Booth began a ministry to those in society who were seen as unsavory…prostitutes, thieves, gamblers, drunks…which would eventually become the Salvation Army. While this organization has changed as the years marched on, it has remained a constant in society. We often forget about them until we see the bell ringers at Christmas time, but they are serving and working all year long.

The first National Doughnut Day occurred in 1938 in order to raise money during the Great Depression and to honor the “Doughnut Lassies” of World War I. It is traditionally the first Friday of June.

Photos: From the Salvation Army Website

Wild Cards~Baby Animals Around the World from Birdcage Press: Review

June 7, 2013 Grace-Filled Writer

I don’t know if it is because I have all daughters or because it is their age or I am just blessed, but all three of my children are infatuated with everything baby related. Nearly every time they play pretend a baby is involved with the family. They all croon over newborns and label everything as a Mama and baby…even inanimate objects! One of our favorite car games to play at the moment is identifying the names of baby animals I will call out a baby animal name and they have to figure out what the adult version is called. Needless to say we were all excited when we received Wild Cards: Baby Animals Around the World from Birdcage Press.

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Birdcage Press specializes in learning games which an be found in the world’s finest museums covering a variety of topics including science, history, and art. These beautiful cards not only have stunning pictures, but are filled with interesting facts about each animal. Also included is a nice little book with even more information! To say my girls crave knowledge is an understatement. I could hardly tear them away from just reading these cards to play some of the suggested games. For only $10.95 this is a very high quality product. While it is intended for ages 6 and up all three of my girls (7, 5, and 3) enjoyed this set.

The 28-page booklet also includes game ideas to use with the cards. This particular set has 3 pairs of animals from a variety of continents around the world. At the bottom of each card the other two corresponding animals are listed. Each continent represented also has a corresponding color and number for easier matching.

Because there are two of each card go fish and old maid are easily played with this set. However my favorite game we played was reminiscent of rummy. Instead of simply searching for a match, we tried to get a set of animals from the same continent. This was a bigger challenge and was a more unique way to play.

Grace really liked this game although my husband helped her out quite a bit. Our girls have played games of all varieties from the time they were about 15 months old. Sometimes in our laps, sometimes on their own, but always as a family. Grace often plays Go Fish with her sisters and she kept wanting to go that route, but she caught on once she and Daddy matched up a set.

We inherited our love of game playing from our parents and are passing the tradition down to our girls! We’re always on the lookout for something new and unique. Kids games tend to be very similar, but this one was different than any other we have. The only downside was our game went rather slowly…but I can’t complain! The reason it took us forever to finish one game was because the girls couldn’t help but read and discover more about the animals on the cards in their hands!

Here is the proof of the real test of a product. My girls organized this game on their own. Beth asked if anyone wanted to play the Baby Animal Game, they got out their beanbag chairs, and played without us. While the girls enjoy games, they don’t typically play without us. It was fun to Rose and Beth help Grace along and see the have a good time making memories!

Check out more reviews of this and other products from Bird Cage Press below from my Crewmates!

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Christianity Cove’s 100 Simple Service Projects and Lord’s Prayer Lesson Pack: Review

June 5, 2013 Grace-Filled Writer

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Our family has a long lineage of ministry. My great-grandfather, grandfather, and father were all full-time pastors. My husband’s grandfather and father were also full-time pastors. I think sometimes people get the impression this wonderful spiritual heritage automatically translates into endless ideas and creativity for teaching Scriptural truths to our kids. While learning about the Word of God is a part of our everyday lives, I’m not all that creative when it comes to unique ways to teach my girls. I am always on the lookout for new ideas and creative ways to teach. Christianity Cove is a fun company with a wide range of Sunday School and Children’s Church lessons, games, crafts, and songs. If you are stuck for ideas, this is an excellent place to go!

We reviewed two products from Christianity cove: 100 Simple Service Projects ($19.95) and Lord’s Prayer Lesson Pack ($19.99). There are products for all ages at Christianity Cove, but the two we reviewed are for elementary age children.

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This short e-book is packed with creative ideas to serve. There are several categories and many ideas are listed in each. I like that there are so many ideas to fit the interest and needs of a variety of children. I also like that these are ideas which could be implemented with both large and small groups. Although I used this with my girls at home I plan to keep this in mind for the next time I’m teaching a group of kids at church.

Some of the projects focus on volunteering and others on how to raise money for a cause. Rose opted to make a craft and earn money for missions. She has always had a heart for telling others about Christ and she loves hearing the missionaries at our annual missions conference at church. She has been making pot holders with a loom for a few months and she asked if she could sell them to friends and family to earn money for missions. Our church is helping raise money to start an Awana program in Chile.

She is hard at work and has raised a modest amount from 11 pot holders so far. She is still excited about the project and still has orders coming in! The best part is she came up with this idea and what she wanted to do with the money she earned. We bought her first set of supplies to get her started, but she has also purchased more with her own money. This has been a great lesson in hard work, perseverance, and giving. She has been good to make sure her creations are well-made and has been churning them out rather quickly!

Ever since Rose was very young she has always had a heart to serve others. She especially loves to tell others about Christ and is always looking for new ways to share her faith with her friends. Her favorite time of year is our church’s missions conference and she usually sits completely enthralled as she listens to the missionary speakers each year.

http://www.google.com/reader/ui/3523697345-audio-player.swf?audioUrl=https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2813486/lordsprayer.mp3

The girls loved learning the song for the Lord’s Prayer. You can hear us singing it if you click the player above. While this study on the Lord’s Prayer could be used over a few weeks I chose to spend an evening completing it. There are many options for activities, snacks, teaching ideas, and more! I love when curriculum gives you a variety of options because not everything will work in every situation. When I plan to teach a group of children I always over plan. So if i have an hour of teaching time, I plan for an hour and a half. You just never know when something won’t work or not take as long as expected.

First I taught the girls the song and then for the lesson portion I chose to explain how our prayers go to God in heaven just like balloons float up to the sky. Beth was a little nervous they would pop!

We sang the song again, then my ladies took the Lord’s Prayer mixed up onto different pages and put it in order. It took them a little while to get started, but once they found the first couple of parts they moved quickly! The materials needed for this study were minimal and easy to find around the house. These pages were already made and part of the unit.

This only took about 3 minutes…an example of what I mean by you never know what is going to happen! I didn’t anticipate the team-work factor and expected more at least 10-minutes long. Making the adjustment in homeschool is easy, but not as much in a group setting. It’s not big deal to finish early at home, but in a classroom down-time can spell disaster. I really appreciated the variety of activities so several extra could easily be prepared in advanced.

The craft we completed was a set of praying hands which the girls inserted their prayer requests into. I traced their hands and the girls cut the both out at the same time. They then glued the thumbs and pinky fingers together, leaving a pocket in the center.

We talked about praying for others and then they listed those individuals on slips of paper.

Grace joined us for our snack about prayer. As is typical for a 3 1/2-year-old she was not in the mood to participate at the time of our other activities. Cookies have a calming participation-encouraging affect in our house!

We talked about how sometimes we don’t feel like is right there. I took apart a cookie and told them that just like the icing sticks the two cookies together, our prayers stick us close to God. I really liked this parallel and it’s something I will definitely remember!

The Crew reviewed MANY more titles than these from Christianity Cove, so take some time to click through the reviews linked up below!

Chronicles of Dinosauria from Master Books: Review

June 2, 2013 Grace-Filled Writer

Photo Credit: Creation Museum

When I was a kid I was provided with two separate world views. My parents and church taught me God was our Creator. My science classes taught me to trust in the irrefutable evidence that all life was evolved by chance from non-life. I was blessed my senior year to be taught AP biology by a strong-in-her-faith Christian, Mrs. Lowe. It was the late 90’s and evolutionary teaching was forging ahead at full-force, but despite this Mrs. Lowe firmly told us she believed God was our Creator and she taught about evolution simply because she was required to present all theories. I believe I am one of the few students from the 90’s to have a teacher so bold and brave, yet all the evidence she presented still pointed towards evolution. How could all this scientific fact be wrong?

A few years ago I would have laughed at someone saying dinosaurs and humans walked the earth together. I had come to believe that since all the evidence I had ever seen pointed towards evolution and because I couldn’t reconcile this with my biblical world-view I had to just accept both were accurate and there were just missing millions of years in Scripture. Through research for homeschooling I found Answers in Genesis. For the first time in my life I had real answers and they weren’t a matter of reconciling contradictory belief systems. I finally saw the evidence from a biblical perspective and realized starting assumptions determine how scientific discoveries are interpreted.

I have been systematically devouring science and history books which deal with this evidence and understanding of young-earth creation. My mind has been blown over and over as I see the so-called proof provided by scientists that we are not created, but rather evolved with new eyes. The Chronicles of Dinosaur from Master Books (a division of New Leaf Publishing) has been one of the most interesting reads I have had the opportunity to encounter. This stylistic rendering of the evidence showing how we know dinosaurs did indeed walk among men is as fascinating to gaze at as it is informative.

Presented in the style of a scrapbook this beautiful piece of literature covers an amazing array of evidence in just 74 pages divided into eight chapters. The clear explanations in each section helped me understand how I no longer have to reconcile science and the Bible. I always knew the Bible was truth, but now I understand more fully how science in fact supports the Bible rather than contradicts it. I am thrilled to be so well equipped to teach my children the truth and the compatibility of science and Scripture.

My favorite aspect in addition to the beautiful illustrations is that the biblical evidence is presented last. This may sound a little odd since the interpretation of the entire book firsts starts with the assumption of biblical truth. Because of this I feel I can loan it out to any number of my friends who are curious and they won’t automatically assume it is from the perspective of a fairy tale as many who do not follow Christ feel. Christianity is not a religion for our family; it is a relationship with the one true God made possible by His Son, Jesus and revealed to us through Scripture. Beginning with the very Book for which those who are not following Christ hold disdain would be ineffective since they cannot help but scoff at the seemingly outlandish notion of creation and the flood. This intentional and logical presentation will pull any reader in whether or not they are a believer.

I also love, love, that the gospel is presented clearly at the close of the book. What a wonderful witness for Christ. There is no Bible thumping, no arrogant claims of superiority, not even a hint of prideful knowledge. At the end of this wonderful book all which is left is the truth and grace of the Word of God after the curious reader has seen page after page of true evidence pointing them to the true Creator.

Click here to read what others have to say about The Chronicles of Dinosauria!

Math Mammoth’s Blue Series: Review

May 31, 2013 Grace-Filled Writer

During my first official year of homeschooling for 1st grade I had curriculum overload. If you’ve never experienced this it is the inevitable phenomenon newbies face when their homeschool research begins. I have been told this usually occurs at the beginning either by way of the internet or a homeschool convention. Our journey began rather abruptly and I honestly didn’t have much time to research. I jumped in with both feet with only a few weeks notice and went with what our core curriculum suggested for math. This was fine until mid-year when it became clear our original math curriculum was not working. During my hours of research I found oodles of recommendations for Math Mammoth. Although this wasn’t the new curriculum I eventually chose I have always had it in the back of my mind, especially the Blue Series

There are two ways you can purchase Math Mammoth. You can go the traditional grade-level route with the Light Blue Series. Topics are covered in a mastery format with only a few topics per grade. Conceptual thinking is encouraged and mental math and number sense are encouraged. This complete curriculum covers grades 1-6

I was looking for something to act more as a supplement since the mental math and conceptual approach did not work so well for us the first time around with the original curriculum. The Blue Series has separate topics you can purchase and complete as you wish. These are intended to be used as supplement, remediation, or review. Since I am happy with our current curriculum I appreciate that this program has different options depending on your needs.

These are the four units we reviewed…

U.S. Money

I used this with both Rose and Beth. This is the first time I’ve taught them the same subject at the same time and they seemed to enjoy it. I wouldn’t want to do it on a regular basis because I want each of my girls to move at their own pace without feeling pressured. Beth took a little longer to finish her independent work because she is a slower writer, but both girls worked fabulously through the portion of money which we covered.

I like the flexibility and encouragement to use real coins. While printed pictures are fine, using real money give practical, real-life application. Since the girls wanted something to remain in the box on the page we did coin rubbings as they practiced making the correct change. You can also study money from different countries including Canadian, European, British, and Australian.

I really liked this unit for learning more about money. It was a nice change from what we normally do and gave the girls different types of practice counting money. While there wasn’t anything incredibly new or different to me in the approaches used to teach the concepts, they were simple and easy to impart to the girls.

Clock

Beth worked with the clock unit on her own since Rose has basically mastered telling time. I really liked the combination of drawing on clocks and writing time. The combination of the two seemed to cement some time concepts we have been working on this year, but didn’t quite settle in. I love the ability to pace this unit alongside our current curriculum to give her a more solid footing in this area.

Measurement 1

This unit was one both girls worked on together as well. While we have covered length and lightly touched on measurement, we have not formally covered measurements with our curriculum yet. A topical study was a nice place to start.

Rather than jump right into types of measuring the unit begins by having the kids measure anything they choose with two different size shoes. Although this was an interesting start to the unit, I disliked the method. I would have preferred this concept be taught later, after the idea of concrete units of measure had been covered. The girls did enjoy the measuring activity though!

Multiplication 1

Rose has been pestering me for a few months to start learning multiplication. I told her the basic idea, but didn’t want to formally cover this area until I felt she had a firm grasp on higher addition. She was over-the-moon excited when I told her we would be starting multiplication before she reached it in our curriculum.

Although I didn’t care for the conceptual start for measurement, I did like it for the beginning steps to learn multiplication. Understanding what multiplication means seems the most logical place to start. Although I think Rose already understood these concepts seeing her formally work through it on paper gave me assurance she knew what she was doing. She is so excited to work through this unit that she often asks to work further after our official school-time is over.

Teacher’s editions of math books are typically needed and sometimes I’ve wished there was a manual for the teacher’s book! This is not needed with Math Mammoth. There were several times when I really felt I could have let my girls learn many of these concepts on their own. This is a very user-friendly curriculum for both teacher and student.

To read more reviews about Math Mammoth including the other curricula offered click below!

God’s Special Surprise from See the Light: Review

May 30, 2013 Grace-Filled Writer

One of our favorite traveling ministries to visit our church for several years was Parables in Pastels. The artist was a personal friend of my husband’s from childhood and we thoroughly enjoyed his presentations. Through chalk art and black lighting we were blessed with encouragement and always a presentation of the gospel. Rose was especially riveted the last time we saw his presentation. The beauty of art combined with the truth of the Word of God captured her heart. She already loves all things artistic and has expressed how she wants to honor God with her artwork and crafts

When I found out I was going to get to participate in this review I knew Rose (7) would be thrilled. We were privileged to use God’s Special Surprise from See the Light. This Each DVD in the Bible Stories Series costs $14.99 or you can purchase the entire 5 DVD set for $74.95 and contain three projects aligned to the same Bible story. The high-quality video engaged even my girls who weren’t participating in the art! This particular DVD in the series is designed for students six and up.

Before completing the art projects Rose, Beth, and Grace watched the beautifully illustrated story of Moses. They loved this and have asked to watch it again several times! You would think in our high-tech, flashy world that a picture only story-telling venue might not hold a child’s attention. I don’t know about anyone else, but I really think this refreshing style was why it captured their attention. It was sort of like having a book read to you with such beautiful illustrations you didn’t want to turn the page.

Project #1: Surprise!

(A lesson in creative lettering)

The first lesson we worked on was creative lettering. The letters were intended to look like letters chiseled into rock. Beth (5 years old) joined us for this one! The DVD instructor clearly explained in kid-friendly language how to create this unique ancient looking lettering. After writing the letter the girls traced them with extreme colored pencils to create a really cool effect under the black light. The girls also each chose a word to write with their newly practiced chiseled lettering. Rose chose FAITH and Beth chose LEAH (we’ve been enjoying another DVD with a character named Leah!)

Project #2: Hope for a Nation

(A lesson in chalk pastels)

This lesson was the hardest of the three for Rose, but even at that she did great! The biggest problem Rose has right now is with size perception. This is something I could work on her well with the DVD. The instructor would explain and draw. She typically wanted to start drawing before the explanation was over and would sometimes have extreme proportion issues. I was pleased to see that when I talked to her about it and walked her through looking at the example compared to her own she was very calm. In the past she would become frustrated from her art not being exactly like the original. This problem with perfectionism was one reason we started homeschooling in the first place. It still rears its ugly head sometimes, but this was a great test of her patience and giving herself grace in the face of mistakes.

This is the picture with and without the black-light. I again think that this looks much better in person, but I couldn’t find a setting to capture the enhanced picture to my satisfaction. Grace liked this artwork a lot and did her own version on the chalkboard opposite Rose!

Project #3: Moses in the Nile

(A lesson in water colors)

This lesson was by far our favorite! Both the simplicity and beautiful end artwork made it very fun. The beautiful blending techniques with the watercolors were amazing to watch come together. A large part of this piece included using permanent marker. I was pleased at the effort Rose made with this portion. I was wondering if she would get bored, but she did great job. I also learned the right way to use water color paint and how to keep the colors from mixing or becoming too watery.

These pictures turned out to be the most stunning although the black-light version is still not nearly as beautiful as in person.

There are many aspects to this series I loved. I appreciated the historical references and information included in each lesson. The artists also thoroughly explained each step, suggesting to pause the DVD at different points and explaining not only how to complete the steps, but why it needed to be done that way. Am I the only one with a seven-year-old who wants to know the reason behind everything before she does it? It was nice to have everything so clearly explained.

I especially loved the tie-ins with Scripture. Art is beautiful and enjoyable. Art for the purpose of glorifying God takes it to an entirely different level.

This DVD gets a fabulous review from Rose who completed all of the projects. She asked me just this morning, “Would it be okay to go back and make those same pictures again sometime?” I also know it is spectacular because as my other girls watched Rose complete her projects they were inspired to create their own work.

Art that inspires more art…what better compliment is there?

Want to see more? Check out other reviews from my Crewmates by clicking below!

Summer Plans 2013

May 28, 2013 Grace-Filled Writer

I’ve mentioned before that we school year-round. I strongly urge homeschoolers to consider this option if they aren’t already doing so. The benefits are endless and I have not yet seen a downside. I do have the blessing of kids who love to learn so school-work is not a chore. We complete our Heart of Dakota Curriculum during the traditional school-year calendar, but the learning doesn’t stop when the guides take their place in storage.

I’m not going to go into detail about everything, but here are a few benefits you may want to consider.

1. Less pressure
2. Consistent scheduliing
3. More freedom during the school-year
4. Opportunity to explore own interestes
5. Time to Cover missed sections of curriculum
6. Ability to work on difficult areas

I’m sure there are more, but because I have made sure we have weekly learning happening from the time the girls were very young, this is just part of their life and they expect it.

Our summer plans are much less structured. I do continue daily math and language arts since I want those skills to stay with them during the summer break. For our summer studies here is what the girls will be doing:

Rose
All About Spelling
Dictation
Prima Latin – she’s so excited to learn Latin!
Multiplication with Math Mammoth
Starting 3rd grade Math from
Literature

We’ll be continuing with 1 lesson a week, but not always do this every week and also be continuing with 2-3 dictation passages a week. Rose is so excited to learn Latin and move on to multiplication! We may do some in her 3rd grade math book simply because she wants to start. We’re currently reading about Helen Keller for a product review and she’s thrilled with it.

Beth
All About Spelling
Time with Math Mamoth
Continuing with 1st grade math, speed drills
Handwriting
Literature

Beth loves math so that won’t be a problem with her. She also loves to read, but typically still defers to picture books. I’m hoping to engage her with higher level reading.

Grace
Heart of Dakota: Little Hands to Heaven
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons

Grace is the only one of my girls continuing with our Heart of Dakota Curriculum. I’m planning to finish up this curriculum with her over the summer, but also go through it again starting in the fall. I also will be starting to teach her to read. She’s so eager to begin!

I’m so blessed that my girls want to keep learning. They crave knowledge and I want to give it to them! There will be wonderful and natural opportunities to learn just like the other day when we found this leaf bug in our backyard and there will be many field trips. Of course there will be lots of swimming, bike riding, and general outdoor living. We’ll also be reviewing a lot of other great products over the summer so keep a lookout!

My Least Favorite Part of Schooling: AKA Standardized Testing

May 28, 2013 Grace-Filled Writer

Raise your hand if when you were in school you did a little dance when you heard the words Standardized Test Week? Yeah, I didn’t think so! I’m going to tell you a little secret that will probably get me booed in most homeschooling circles: As a kid, I loved test week. I genuinely enjoyed it. Why? Probably because I usually did well, I didn’t typically stress out over them, and the teachers usually felt bad for us and gave us and easy week. Oh, and my secret favorite reason? I would bring a good book with me to read since I was usually one of the first done.

I know I’m not the norm here and as a former full-time teacher as well as a homeschooling mama, I’m not so in love with them. If I had to take them, no biggie. My girls don’t seem to mind much and usually just say something like, “This is boring,” which I completely agree with!

A few questions always pop up this time of year which I think are valid and useful to discuss so this post will be written as more of a question and answer session.

1. Why do people dislike standardized testing? We all have to do it, so what’s the big deal?
I’m not sure about most people, but my issue with the test has to do with my understanding that no individual should be valued or devalued based solely on the score of a single test. There are so many outside factors which goes into making a good score way beyond mastery and understanding of the content.

The one thing I reiterate over and over to my children is no test score will change their value and worth in God’s eyes or my own.

2. If you dislike this idea so much, why do you to it?

There are two reasons I participate in standardized testing. The first, and most important, is that my state requires it. It is vital that you know your state laws regarding this issue when you begin homeschooling. The last thing you want to have happened is your right to homeschool taken away simply because you didn’t do the research! A great place to start with this is Homeschool Legal Defense Association. This organization defends homeschooling freedoms and gives very sound advice. This page will get you started in finding out what your individual state’s laws are.

My second reason is to cover my bases. I don’t actually have to officially test my children until the school-year they turn eight. For all three of my kids this will be third grade. Before that time I want this to just be a normal part of their year so it isn’t such a big deal. I also am very aware that the current climate of our nation and schools makes me feel very strongly that I do not want to be forced to place my children into the public system. The tests are a tool in my kit to make sure I can confidently and calmly answer any questions which may arise at any point they do.

3. What test do you use?
For K-2nd grade I use the CAT (California Achievement Test). This is the same test I took growing up and I feel it is adequate to show where my kids stand within their grade-level. Next year my oldest daughter will be officially required to have a test administered and I’m considering a different test administered by someone else. I’ll be researching this a lot throughout the year and hope to find something I am happy with.

4. Where do you order the test from?
I purchase my test from Seton Testing Services. I am in no way affiliated with this company, but have found them to be quick to ship, inexpensive, and quick to return scores. They offer a wide range of tests and state clearly on their website the requirements for administration.

5. How do you administer the tests?
I test one daughter at a time and it is just she and I together. Either my husband takes my other girls to the church office with him (benefits of being a pastor!) or they get to have movie time in my room snuggled in my bed. Either situation works out fine and I’m able to keep the daughter completing the test focused and on task.

Just like with school I give breaks based on their individual needs. Sometimes the break involves a little snack or water, sometimes stretching, and sometimes a bounce around the house on an exercise ball. One daughter may get 4 breaks and another 2. Since each child is unique and I have the freedom to administer at home I give a little more freedom with this.

The two rules I make them follow are:
1. No eating or drinking during the test
2. No getting up until they reach a stop

6. How long does it take?
No more than 1 hour for each test including the breaks. The tests are timed, but this year my girls finished with ample time to spare.

7. How do your children do during the test?
Very well! They are fairly calm, ask questions when they need to, and don’t get upset when I say, “I’m sorry. I can’t answer that one.” I pray with them prior to the test and remind them that no matter how they do I’m pleased with their diligent effort.

8. Would you test if you weren’t required to?
Probably, yes. I can’t say for sure since I’m not in that situation, but I believe I would to adequately prepare them for inevitable testing for college and to be fully prepared to answer any questions anyone may ask me about my daughters’ education and success.

Here are some other articles you may find interesting.
http://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/000010/200410250.asp

http://www.hslda.org/earlyyears/Testing.asp

I’d love to hear about if you test in your homeschool or why you don’t and how it looks for you. We are all unique and I love hearing how other families walk through testing! Oh, and do your pets participate like our’s do?

Introducing…Schoolhouse Library!

May 23, 2013 Grace-Filled Writer

This is the time of year when many parents are evaluating educational choices for their kids. Some are burned out homeschooling and others are considering it as a viable alternative for the first time. Some are eagerly awaiting box-day (aka the day your curriculum arrives!) and others are pulling their hair out trying to decide if they need to make a major overhaul. Maybe things are running smoothly and you are just happily looking forward to a short break. No matter where you place is on this journey, solid resources are always a must-have. SchoolhouseTeachers.com (a division of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine) has compiled a collection of over 175 e-books and audio books which cover a vast array of topics with the Schoolhouse Library.

For a one-time fee of only $25 you can have access to an enormous amount of digital media including…

2 Study Guides from YWAM
Draw Write Now Sampler E-Book by Barker Creek
Heroines of the Past-Victorian unit study from Amy Puetz
Map Trek: Atlas and Outline Maps of World History from Knowledge Quest
Teaching Writing E-Book from WriteShop
15 audio E-Books from My Audio School in history and literature
A Glimpse at Carnivorous Plants Lapbook from In the Hands of a Child
Video from Jessica Hulcy on “Learning as a Family”
From Frazzled to Focused: 7 Planning Tools for Busy Moms from Mary Jo Tate

Take a minute to see this collection and you’ll find plenty to help you along your homeschooling path!

(This post contains affiliate links)

Paperless Home Organization from Simplified Pantry: Review and a coupon!!!!!

May 23, 2013 Grace-Filled Writer

(Make sure you remember to snag the coupon at the bottom of the post!)

Something I really enjoy doing is organizing. I know that isn’t everyone’s idea of a fun day, but there is something about a freshly organized drawer, closet, or room which makes me feel warm-fuzzies all over. Yet although I love to organize, keeping things organized is a totally different animal. I’ve tried numerous systems, printables, and variations. I’ve used pre-made and made my own. My problem has always been simplification for implementation…in other words I need a simple enough system that I can actually follow through with it!

When I found out I was going to have the chance to review Paperless Home Organization by Misty Winckler from Simplified Pantry I was very interested, but was afraid it was going to be seeing just one more system that would end up on my been-there, done-that list. I am pleased to say this couldn’t be further from the truth! Although I am still learning how to fully implement her ideas I think I may have landed on a home-organization home which fits my style much better than others I have tried and at $3.99 this is an excellent buy!

Like the author I have made several home-binders in the 11 years I have been married. Some were incredibly simple. Others were unbelievably complex. Several problems arose with these systems which seem to be taken care of with a paperless system.

1. Attractiveness

With my old notebook and paper type systems I found myself focusing a lot of my time on finding something that looked attractive. Who wants to mess with something that is sloppy and messy?

2. SOOOOO much paper!

The more I organized our lives into one notebook, the more paper started accumulating. I don’t mind paper, but it was getting to the point where I was going to need a separate binder to organize the many facets of my life!

3. Unity and Cohesiveness

I frequently found myself flipping back and forth between all those pages trying to figure out when I could schedule in something different.

4. Portability and Size

I tried taking my household notebook with me out of the house a grand-total of…once. Yeah, all it took was one outing of lugging a large notebook with me to show me I was not cut out to be a notebook toting mama. I see many moms with home organization notebooks I envy, but I just can’t manage keeping it all with me. Not to mention that since it had my grocery list inside I was asked no less than five times by complete strangers where various items were in the store. I didn’t realize why until the last lady asked me about something I didn’t know. She said, “Oh, I’m sorry! I thought you worked here because of your notebook.” It was a lot like learning the lesson to never ever wear a solid red shirt to a Target store!

So my journey has brought me to the digital age and here is what going paperless has already done for me in such a short time…

~ I love my Kindle Fire for this which I already have in an attractive case.

~ I am able to have much more unity in all areas of life-organization.

~ Using apps allows me to store things digitally and saves so much space.

~ No one has yet asked me employee type questions. (That is just so embarrassing!)

This e-book lays out the basics, giving everyone who has the ability to be mobile the tips and tricks to get them stared. The only problem I had with this was figuring out some new programs! I gave them a shot, and some I’m continuing with (I love Evernote’s note stacks!) but for other suggested apps I’m going to use ones I’m already familiar with.

The apps which are suggested include Google mail and calendar, Evernote, and Remember the Milk. Because I am not familiar with these I am trying them out, but deciding which of these I want to keep and which ones I may trade for something more familiar. I do like the Evernote note stacks which allow you to create groups of information such as recipes, medical information, addresses, etc.

The benefit to using these same tools is that the author walks your through each, step-by-step and gives tips and tricks to make them work for you to their ultimate potential. One things I really like about the apps chosen is they can be updated on a computer and the information syncs to the apps on your mobile devices. I still prefer traditional typing because I can do it more quickly so this is a nice feature.

There are a handful of downsides to going paperless. The first is, it’s paperless! That may seem strange, but if you can’t get your mobile device to work and don’t have a back-up plan in place you may have a problem. We are fast moving to being a paperless society with online banking, digital medical records, digital books, etc. While I am not opposed to these new technologies I am aware that complete dependence upon them can wreak havoc when malfunctions occur. Paperless is convenient, but it can sometimes come with a price. Because of this I do have a hard-copy back-up system of a single page so I can get what I absolutely need to done. We also keep all of our vital documents in a safe and easily accessible place for emergencies.

The second downside is the time it takes to set-up and learn the various programs. While I do think it is worth it, I have spent much more time pursuing this option as opposed to the 30 minutes or so it takes me to put together a notebook. However I the time-investment in the beginning does balance out because of the ease of use and lack of paper!

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Simplified pantry also has two excellent e-books (Simplified Dinners and Simplified Simplified Dinners Gluten/Dairy Free) for making meal-times and your pantry more stream-lined. We do not have any issues with gluten or allergies in our family and we simply eat by rules of moderation. There are a few things which are excluded from our diet (artificial sweeteners, alcohol, gourmet items, etc.) but in all things we strive for moderation. Because I am blessed to not have to worry about allergens as I cook I focused on taking a look at the Simplified Dinners.

I was pleased to find that the list given in the beginning of what should be in your pantry was almost exactly what my staples already are. This made looking at the recipes within the book even more exciting! Nothing is quite as discouraging as wanting to try something new for dinner only to realize you don’t have all the ingredients. I look forward to trying some of these in the coming summer months now that our lives have calmed down a bit.

As an wonderful gift Mystie Winckler, the author of these fabulous e-books, is offering a coupon code exclusively for readers of the Schoolhouse Review Crew for 30% any of her e-books books! To take advantage of this offer use the code TOS2013 at checkout.

Don’t forget to check out more reviews from my Crewmates!