World's Greatest Pencil Sharpener

I've read all over the internet about teachers who are absolutely IN LOVE with this pencil sharpener. Typically, I don't fall for a bunch of hype over something... but I WANT THIS sharpener. Check it out. 

Here's the link.

Weekday Routine

I'm writing this post while sitting in McAlister's Deli and sipping yummy sweet tea. It's my "night off" and daddy is taking care of the kiddos. :)

Even though I like to be organized and love scheduling, I feel that it is important to keep things pretty low key at our home with the little ones so that we are more open to capturing learning in the moment as opposed to forcing a schedule. Not sure if that makes sense... sorry.

I'm working on my home management binder and am at the section of my binder where I insert my daily, monthly, and yearly schedules, calendars, and goals. In other words, lots of planning and structure. I currently have a weekday routine scheduled out in 30 minute increments. We rigidly stick to that routine while we are home, while only loosely keeping the times right on. When I'm not home (such as right now), it's hard to explain to hubby that even though it's 20 minutes past what the schedule says, keep on the routine and just do things in order... don't skip to the next activity until you complete the one you're doing now. I know... it's kinda confusing. So, I made a new routine... without times. Start at the sunshine and end at the moon. :)  What do you think? Is this more confusing than if there were times assigned to each activity?

This is my old "list schedule":

This is my new "no time restraints" routine:

What do you think? Are there improvements that I can make? How can I make it clearer?

Ladybug Picnic

At our first attendance to our new little playgroup last month, the other moms were talking about "file folder games." I had absolutely no idea what they were talking about, but was quickly caught up on the conversation by a sweet mama. We concluded playgroup with the decision for everyone to make three file games to share with the other moms at our next meeting (tomorrow). They would be kindergarten level and could cover any skill or topic.  My little sparkler came up with the theme of "Ladybug Picnic" and "we can count ladybugs". So.... here's what I made. It's a counting and categorizing game. Two games in one. :o)


GoogleDocs Ladybugs Picnic Collection

Clicking the link will take you to GoogleDocs. Click on the name of the file to open it. Then use the google docs navigation bar (blue) to select print. This will open the file as a PDF. Then you will print from the Adobe navigation bar.

*** Whatever you do... do not use your computer's navigation bar to print. It will not print correctly.***

Title Page - is glued to the outside front & tab of the file folder
Picnic Board - is glued to one of the inside flaps of the file folder
Number Board - is glued to the other inside flap of the file folder
Ladybug Spots - each ladybug is cut out individually. These are the game pieces that the child uses to place on the Number Board
Picnic Foods 1 & 2 - These foods are cut out individually and the child will categorize them into the four food groups (no sugar)


Let me know what you think. Any improvements?? Enjoy.

Our new friends

We seem to be blessed lately with lots of new friends. By "lots," I mean six. Which is a lot for us... especially in a two-week time frame. We met four of our new friends at a homeschool playgroup that we just started attending a couple of weeks ago. There is a boy and a girl that are 4 & 5, just my little sparkler's age. There is another boy & girl that are 2 yrs... just my little pumpkin's age. The kiddos and moms stay together, which was the sole reason we decided to give this group a go. In the past, we've joined groups where the moms do their thing while the kiddos go and do their own thing. Neither my kids or I thoroughly enjoy that type of set up. This group is different. A typical meeting, in a nutshell, goes something like this: 45 minutes of free play and socializing, 10 minutes of snack time, 30 minutes Bible story and craft, 5 minutes cleaning up. It really pretty neat. The moms take turns doing the story and craft. Everybody brings their own snacks. Very casual. The first thing my little sparkler said when we got into our van is "Mommy, when can we come back... I like going here." So, I think this is what we'll do for a while. I'm so happy I found this group. AND that I took the steps to getting out of our comfortable little box. Who said homeschoolers don't socialize?? What do you all do for "socialization"?

I'm sorry... what was your question?

Last year, about this time of the year, I was talking with a friend about the struggles that I was having with my little sparkler daughter. She was really dramatic (so I thought) and I was looking forward to her turning 3 yrs old because, somehow, I thought things would get better. My friend commented that it only gets worse. I began to cry.

In a sense, my friend was correct. Some of the drama got worse. However, a LOT of maturity took place as well. There was more reasoning to be understood. So the dramatic meltdowns didn't happen quite as often as they had previously.

What does this have to do with homeschooling?

My daughter turned four years old yesterday. One of the things I hear parents complain about with four-year-olds is that they are constantly talking and asking questions. I can say that this began a few months ago at our house. I haven't grown tired of it yet. Actually, I'm pretty excited about it. I LOVE to learn new things. I'm constantly researching topics that I find interesting. [Last night's topic was the American Mafia.] I'm enjoying the challenge of helping her find the answers to her life's questions. Tonight we talked about tree sap. I have a feeling tomorrow's breakfast will be pancakes with real maple syrup... how's that for sap?

Anyways... I'm really excited about this next phase of childhood. What are some of your favorite phases of childhood? Either your own, or your children's phases... or both?? 

First math lesson

I'm not a huge fan of my daughter watching T.V. or movies or whatever. I'd prefer that she does "something productive". That said, she is allowed the maximum "healthy" limit set by some government organization of two hours per day. It does seem like a LOT of T.V. for a four year old... however, allowing her to have that time allows me some quiet time while my two year old has his naps a couple times a day. So... that's how we roll.

I'm allowing Lil to choose whatever shows she wants to watch (mostly PBS, always pre-approved by me) for her time. Some shows are longer, some are shorter. I want her to get the idea that watching four long movies is not the same amount of time as watching four short PBS shows. Here's where the math comes in.

T.V. Bucks. Each "buck" is worth 30 minutes of T.V. time. She can choose what she wants to watch and I tell her how many T.V. bucks she needs to pay me to watch that show. Pretty simple. The more advanced she becomes in math, the more complex we'll make it.

As of right now, I'm rounding out the minutes of the show to the nearest 30. Ex: 23 minute show --> 1 T.V. buck + 45 min. show --> 2 T.V. Bucks + 40 min. show --> 1 T.V. Buck = 1 hr. 48 min of T.V. time --> 4 T.V. bucks.

Every morning, she receives her four T.V. bucks... unless she does something to lose one. T.V. still a privilege , not a right. When she's out of T.V. bucks, that's it. She has to wait until tomorrow. She's learning a little bit about math, and a LOT about budgeting.

It's not exact as of right now... but when she's older, I'm sure she'll be counting whether or not she should have change coming back to her ;).  Hopefully, by then, we'll be so consumed with other activities that she won't be thinking of the T.V. as much as she does now.


P.S.  The funny part is... yesterday, she only had 1 T.V. buck left, but she wanted to watch a long movie. I told her that she didn't have enough T.V. bucks left to watch a long movie. A few minutes later, she asked if she could do a craft. My brain says, "YIPPEE!! She's moving on to something else other than T.V." After sitting at her desk for about 5 minutes, she comes back to me and presents me with a handmade T.V. buck. She decided that since she didn't have enough T.V. bucks to purchase her movie, that she'd make herself some more. It was very creative. She was a little embarrassed. She knew. It was pretty cool that I was able to talk to her a little about government and how you can't just print money when you run out. Not a bad result for wanting to watch some T.V. We had a lesson in math, budgeting, and government. I'm happy.

I want this book

I sooo desperately want to win this book. My homeschooling adventure with my daughter begins this fall and I need all the I guidance can find. :)

Giveaway Here