Curriculum Clean out #2 - Shirley English Level 1

I have a The teachers manual which looks like it is in really good shape, we used it only for a few months.   I have the student book & sentences book too but those are written in so only if the winner wants them, I will sent them.    So the giveaway is for the Teacher manual with the jingles CD.  

I will extend this giveaway to May 6th and I will get it mailed out no later than May 9th.   We leave town that day so I will let you know if I am unable too.  But in the worst case, I can just mail it from where we are going.     So you can get two entries one by replying and another by following.   US & APO/FPO addresses only - sorry.

*contest now closed

Remember You don't have to take the student book & Sentence one - the corners are curled up a bit but otherwise in great shape.

Curriculum Clean out

I have Prima Latina both the Teachers Guide & prounucation CD I would love to give to someone.   I don't have a student book.

Please respond - I can only send to US addresses or APO/FPO - give me away to respond to you and if you want a second entry follow my blog.   I will extend this giveaway to May 3rd since I got it up so late.

Update*  - Giveaway closed - I will be picking and notifying the winner shortly.

Homeschool Mother's Journal - 4 or 5, can't remember. lol

In my life this week…

We have been challenged and I have been working through 'Made to Crave" by Lysa TerKeurst and have been enjoying it.   It has also really challenged me in the area of how much or don't Crave God over food or really anything.   Highly recommend it if you struggle with food or weight or really anything that your desire more than God.

In our homeschool this week…

It has been challenging for me.   I am not sure if I was overly sensitive this week or my son was more challenging than usual.   We are dealing with some attitude and anything relating to manners.   But I am happy to report my oldest has covered nearly all his English and a little over half of his Math that he needed to cover before his deadline of May 15th. And if he is diligent about getting math done, he may not have to take it to McCall with us when we go after the Academy gets out this next week.   Then I can turn in the camp registration before we leave.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

Tonight we are going to Musicman at a local Private school.   One of the youth from our church is in it and I haven't seen the Music man in years.   

My favorite thing this week was…

Realizing just how far my son has gotten in his English and Math in the last few weeks.   Very proud of him even if there was still some attitude issues, at least he has been a little more diligent about getting it done.

What’s working/not working for us…

not sure

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have…

Looking into some good Character studies for the boys - found one at Pearable.com and like the look of it.   It is specific to boys and really want that and it has to be strongly Biblical based.   any other suggestions?   I have stuff from Doorposts which I have been using too but open to what anyone else has seen or used.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

This is one of my most favorite hymns and love this rendition.   I like her and have always loved Vince Gill's voice.    enjoy and be blessed!

I need to learn more about blog set up.

I realize how little I know.   I wanted to put a few buttons on my blog but couldn't figure out where to do it.   I guess I need to ask my husband or get a how to book on blogging.    I am sure there is a Blogging for Dummies book, there has to be.   The have one just about on every subject there is.

On a different note, I am realizing just how much or how little I meditate on God's word.   Sure I read it and do Bible studies but I don't really meditate on it much.    Reading on the Doorposts for your Family blog, and a program from Institute in Basic Life Principles I realize just how little I do.   And I am seeing how much I need to make it more of a priority for training my boys.    I miss so much by being too easily provoked instead of being patient.    How I long to be less combative.   This is my prayer as I get up in the morning to prepare for the day.   It will be my prayer over the next several years as I continue to train and teach my boys at home, on the road and every day.    Will any of you join me in praying on training your children as Deut 6 commands us to do:

 Deuteronomy 6:3–9 (HCSB)

³ Listen, Israel, and be careful to follow them, so that you may prosper and multiply greatly, because the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you a land flowing with milk and honey. ⁴ “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One. ⁵ Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. ⁶ These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. ⁷ Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. ⁹ Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. 

Homeschool Mother's Journal - Week 4

.In my life this week…

It was a busy week.   We started the week off with a information meeting for the UBC Academy.   We have 5 teachers for this next year and excited to see what God does with our little school.    I also did a Passover Seder dinner with my Wed night kids.   We had a pretty good time, I enjoyed it and the kids enjoyed trying a few new things.   Even my boys tried a few new things for the sake of the dinner.   It wasn't a full dinner (as we had all eaten right before it).   

In our homeschool this week…

We have been trucking along for the most part.   Joel even though is still dragging his feet when it comes to being diligent time-wise, we are covering more material in his English & math which is good.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

Not really going anywhere this week other than to Early Easter Morning service.

My favorite thing this week was…

Probably my Passover dinner with my kids class was my favorite.

What’s working/not working for us…

not sure - for the most part, we struggle daily working to get the boys to do their normal routines without constant prodding.   They have chore charts and everything but we will can't seem to be self-motivated.     I am working on me being diligent too so maybe it will rub off some.

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have…

Has anyone used the State History from a Christian Perspective?    I am looking at getting that for next year as my boys adore geography.    We are having fun with maps and thought this would be a great way to do it.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Here is my latest layout from Kristen Cronin-Barrow and Misty Cato's On the Go kit found at Sweet Shoppe.

I don't think life will ever slow down.

Each week brings new things to do.   With the School information night done, that is one less thing to think about, now to pray for students for the teachers.   Pray for God's will to be done with our little school.  

Excited for my Joel, he finally got his last bracket on his tooth that finally came in.    We are seeing a light at the end of his braces adventure, at least for this time.    We pray that in a couple of months he will be in a retainer and able to eat his popcorn once again.   It has been over a year now, it was supposed to be only about 8 to 10 months but his teeth would not cooperate and break through in a timely manner.    But Thanks God, we are almost done.     Hopefully I will get all my photos downloaded from our field trips last week and get a few posted.

Homeschool Mother's Journal - Week 4

In my life this week…

We were somewhat busy not but not bad.   We helped with the College Free lunch served at our church this week.   The boys went to Electrolysis with me for the first time in about a year or so.   We got through some school and had the Academy classes canceled on Thursday due to a sewer back up in the bathrooms.   I was also trying a new morning study of meditating on some verses.

In our homeschool this week…

We had a challenging week.   Joel had a hard time getting stuff done.   We made an agreement that he need to learn to be more diligent and get through a certain amount of work by May 15th in order to be able to go to Children's Church camp this June.   So we will see if that will be enough of a motivator so he can see how nice it is to get stuff done.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

Today we went to the Old Penitentiary and will be headed to the Idaho Historical Museum this afternoon.  It was a fun trip and amazing to find out that the Penitentiary was in use until 1973 which I was surprised about that.   

My favorite thing this week was…

Humm. .  Not sure what was but just being able to keep my boys home to homeschool them is really the greatest thing I can imagine.   It is hard work but man, I love it.   Oh yea, I did my first Triathlon this last weekend.   It was fun except for the swim, which is always brutal on me.

What’s working/not working for us…

For the most part what we are doing is working but I do really want to get more Nature study days going.

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have…

Any suggestions on how to keep the kids motivated to get through their work.   Although I know I don't have to keep up with 'school' I do want to make sure they are covering what they need too.   My oldest is having a hard time keeping up.   Not because He can't do it but because He just isn't very diligent in getting his work done.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

My Husband and I on our first Tri of the year.   I did a little worse than last year but not bad over all.

It has been a rough week!

We had two weeks of really good attitude but the bad attitude monster has returned.   Sometimes I wonder what possesses my child when he does this.   It is like one second he is doing so well, then boom!!!!   Crying, whining and complaining . . . the list goes on.   I can't figure out what the key or problem is.   I know some of it is just a character issue, battle of the wills.    When I don't understand, I get frustrated and upset which doesn't help the situation any.   My prayer is that as I meditate on 1 Cor. 13, I become more like Christ in how I respond and love my sons.   Let me not sounds like a clanging cymbals but like Christ who loved regardless of their attitudes and actions.   Not that I have to allow it but I do need to respond in a loving way rather than a frustrated and mad way.

Homeschool Mother's Journal - 3

In my life this week…

Has been busy with trying to find a place for my boys to do Taekwondo and me some Kickboxing classes plus school.   Our Academy at our church is gearing for a Information meeting with our new teachers for next year and expanded schedule.   Although I am not anyone who actually works or is on the board, I do a lot of support and foot work for the Administrator who happens to be one of my best friends.  I also participated in a Spring Triathlon today(Saturday) and yesterday, since the swim was inside due to being really cold for an outdoor swim.  lol   I did pretty well since I did the swim with no training since last summer, and only the second time on my road bike this year.   I have been running on the treadmill and outside, though.    I did it in 1 hour and 48 min which is slower than last year but due to the lack of training I am glad I did so well.

In our homeschool this week…

We had a good week.   My boys have really gotten into a good routine and we are accomplishing more than we were for awhile there.   We started a new Unit in History (still working on getting the projects for last one done) and we are doing the conquering of Northern and Southern Kingdoms.   Next month we will be adding spelling back in for Joel to get through the Sequential Spelling book 1.  

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

Really haven't gone anywhere this week.   Hoping to get a field trip in soon as the boys are ready to get out more.   Our weather has been really rainy and cold so it keeps up inside the days we can get out.

My favorite thing this week was…

Watching Joel enjoy the rewards of saving for nearly 6 to 9 months for his DSi XL and getting it.   My younger one still prefers short term saving but He is learning to do his Long term Bank account which he is much better than his older brother at that one.  lol

What’s working/not working for us…

Using the concept of shorter days or at least structured amount of time for each subject has really help Joel.   He struggles when his lessons seem to drag on so the timer and having a goal to finish so much has really helped us a lot.   

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have…

As I have been only a homeschooler less than a year, I have already seen the value of how our relationships have grown and improved with my boys and how I respond to them.   Although I still have a long way to go, I see us all doing better.   I have determined that I am beginning to see how Deut. 6 has transformed how I see education and parenting.   I also see how I desire to help others see its value and long term rewards.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

My photo is a layout I made for a Digital designer I work for:

  


In my life this week...
We had a really good week this week.    The boys covered their materials well and other than a few attitude issues we had a good week.    John and I had a good time at our Follow-up meeting with our group from our Marriage Retreat and the boys might get to start 

Taekwondo

.   
In our homeschool this week...
I am praying we found our groove but if nothing else we had a good week.   Things are coming together for the Academy which the boys go to for three classes and I am excited about next year.
Places we're going and people we're seeing...
not sure that we are or have gone anywhere recently.  lol   We have been busy so hanging out has been nice.
My favorite thing this week was...
The prospect of doing a new Kick-boxing class.    And signing up for my first Triathlon of the season.
What's working/not working for us...
Not sure here  . . . There are attitudes that aren't working for us.  lol  But don't we all.  I am realizing just how much my attitude affects my boys.  
Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...
the longer I homeschool (which this is only my first year) the more resolute I get about keeping the boys out of public school and wish I had realized it before.  But by the grace of God, we will figure it out and have fun.
A photo, video, link, or quote to share...
"Are your cravings a curse or a blessing?   The answer to that question depends on what you're craving, because what we're craving will always depend on whatever we're consuming.  Is it the object of our desire, or God and His Truth?"
Lysa TerKeurst, Made To Crave - I have been working through the book and will begin the video course in a week.