Sometimes everything can get a bit repetitive in all of this homeschool bustle. Occasionally, we find that we need to toss things up a bit. Here are a few ways we try to put a spark back into school days: Complete our school work in a new room - maybe even on the floor Switch up the schedule a bit - I offer breaks once a few things are completed. Add in "adventurous exercise". When a child finishes, maybe I encourage them to run to the pasture and back with their little sister. It … [Read more...]
Getting Ready for Essentials – School Year Prep
Last year, my oldest was in her third year of Essentials, and my second child was in his first year. While my daughter loved language, my son would have rather been building forts. Since I had three kids younger than them - one of them a VERY active toddler, I wanted to have my older kids' Essentials work all laid out for them before school began, so it would require a lot less guidance from me. So I am sharing the method we used last year, which is the same one we will use this year. It … [Read more...]
Getting Ready for CC Foundations – School Year Prep
I have learned over the years that one of the best indictors of a successful and more peaceful school year begins with quality summer planning and preparing. There are a few things I do over the summer that makes the Foundations side of our school day run well, and I share them with you in case they might help you have more sanity than chaos this school year. The Classical Conversations Foundations program is centered around Memory Work - memorizing a LOT of things - lists, sentences, … [Read more...]
Free CC Cycle 3 Review Games!
My family loves to use games to squeeze in memory work review. Especially if I have a Memory Master in the house (see this post)! I am excited to share with you two Review Game Downloads for use with Cycle 3! The first is a States and Capitals Memory Match Game - just download, print on two different colors, and cut out the cards. Then lay them face down on a table. Taking turns, each player flips one card of each color over, trying to match the state with the Capital. It … [Read more...]
Redeeming Valentines Day – A Biblical View on Love for Kids
I HAVE AN EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT and a GIVEAWAY!!! Are any of you frustrated with our culture that sells cheap lust and casual friendship as if it is real love? Add to that an attitude of "its-all-about-me" and self-entitlement, and you have a recipe for disaster. With Valentines Day on the horizon, I am anticipating the conversation hearts and heart-shaped chocolate boxes that will be filling the store shelves. While I love any excuse for chocolate, I sense that the sweet message … [Read more...]
My Memory Work Lapbooks 1.1-1.4 Quick Print Guide!!!
I am so excited to return to Cycle 1 with the ten commandments and some Ancient History! As I prep for the upcoming school year, I remembered that I posted a quick-print guide when I first released the Lapbooks for Cycle 1. Here are the links for all of you! Lapbook 1.1 Quick Print Guide Lapbook 1.2 Quick-Print Guide Lapbook 1.3 Quick Print Guide Lapbook 1.4 Quick Print Guide Happy Lapbooking! Blessings, Karen … [Read more...]
Our 2014-2015 Curriculum Choices
Memory Work – First and foremost, we will be focusing on our Memory Work. Every year when I evaluate what really stuck with my kids and what they can then use to apply to new understanding, the Memory work stands out high above other forms of learning in the grammar stage. In addition to our CC memory work, we will be memorizing the following things primarily using resources that connect it to song. For our CC memory work, I also choose to download … [Read more...]
Plan vs. Reality….a Look at What Really Happened…
I love reading about other homeschooler's curriculum choices, and what goes on in their homeschool days! Many times though, I just see posts of what the plans for the year are, but am left wondering if the year turned out like they planned, and what they would have done differently. So, I decided I should post an update of what I had planned versus how the year turned out for us. I basically cut and pasted my old post with my plans from the beginning of the school year last fall in BLACK, and … [Read more...]
A “Challenge” for Me…
I love to read. Really, a great day to me would involve a light rain tapping on large windows, me cuddle up with a blanket on a couch, and fire crackling beside me in the fireplace (which I don't have by the way). Next to me is a warm cup of coffee a few good books and my Bible. Other than the rain there would be no sound, no interruption, and I could just get lost in the book, underlining, dog-earing the pages, and writing in the margins. The reality is that I think OSHA would deem the … [Read more...]
Scripture Memory: Ideas for Ephesians
Hey you guys! You can do this! Ok, so this picture might be a stretch, but how adorable is he? It reminds me of Smokey the Bear when I was little saying "only you can prevent forest fires!" Does anyone else remember that?? Anyone? Anyone? Back to topic...... This year, we will be memorizing Ephesians 6 within our Classical Conversations Community. At home, there are a number of ways to learn and review this … [Read more...]
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