Sunday, April 30, 2017

Living Like a Saint~ Saint Teresia Benedicta of the Cross





"On the question of relating to our fellowman, our neighbor's spiritual needs transcends every commandment. Everything else we do is a means to an end. But love is an end already, God is Love!"

~ Saint Teresia Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)


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Friday, April 28, 2017

A Homeschool Crew Review~ The Gospels from Drive Thru History

Please Note~ This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to click on a link, add it to your cart and complete your purchase, I will receive a small percentage. We are very grateful for this additional source of income. Thank you. 





Have your children or yourself ever wondered what Jerusalem  looked like when Jesus was alive? Often when we read the Bible, we wonder what the areas would have looked like and how life would have been for Jesus and his disciples. Drive Thru History® – “The Gospels” from Drive Thru History® does just that! It brings Jesus's world to life.


Drive Thru History
Drive Thru History® is a wonderful company that provides families with a variety of DVD series all about history. Host and editor, Dave Stotts, leads viewers on a fun, fast paced trip to visit ancient lands, people, and historical events. 
You can choose from 4 different series.
Ancient History
Holy Land
American History
The Gospels

Drive Thru History The Gospels
For this review, we received a physical of the Drive Thru History® – “The Gospels” DVD series. The Gospels DVD set comes with 3 DVDs and a study guide. The DVDs contain 18 episodes, nine hours of content . Each disc has 6 episodes that run for about 30 minutes. 
Disc 1
Episode 1: The Historical Landscape
Episode 2: The Announcements
Episode 3: Jesus is Born
Episode 4: Jesus Grows Up
Episode 5: Jesus Starts His Ministry 
Episode 6: Jesus Returns to Galilee 
Disc 2
Episode 7: Jesus Begins His Miracles 
Episode 8: Jesus Teaches with Authority 
Episode 9: The Sermon on the Mount
Episode 10: Jesus Travels the Sea of Galilee
Episode 11: Jesus Travels North
Episode 12: A Final Trip to Jerusalem
Disc 3
Episode 13: Jesus Arrives in Jerusalem
Episode 14: The Last Supper
Episode 15: The Trail of Jesus
Episode 16: The Crucifixion of Jesus
Episode 17: The Resurrection of Jesus
Episode 18: Who is Jesus?
The study guide is 118 pages long and filled with information, thought provoking questions,and beautiful images. The study guide holds all three discs securely and safely.
Drive Thru History The Gospels
The 18 episodes will lead you on quite the adventure.  Dave Stotts, your tour guide for this journey takes you on an amazing trip to see the actual places Jesus traveled to and taught. 
You'll travel along with Dave and his old beat up jeep.
The episodes will expose you to ancient history, archaeology and archaeological sites, geography, stunning churches, and beautiful works of arts.
Drive Thru History The Gospels
Your journey will take you to 50 ancient sites that Jesus visited. The episodes use the Gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John to tell the story. This series is truly inspiring!
Drive Thru History The Gospels
Drive Thru History The Gospels



What We Thought About The Gospels series?

We loved it!
We watched a 30 minute episode every morning before the start of school. Often the kids would beg to watch another one. If we had some extra time, we would watch a second one. You have to love it when they are eager to learn something new. Since the episodes are about 30 minutes (27 minutes to be exact) they are a great way to start your day. Once thing we did since it was Lent when we were watching this series was save the last few episodes. We watched the last disc during Holy Week. On Holy Thursday, we watched the Last Supper and on Good Friday, we watched the Trial and The Crucifixion. It was a wonderful way to remember these days.
We watched the last 2 episodes after Easter.

We enjoyed seeing all the different historical sites. The church above the remains of Saint Peter's home was something we never knew existed. It's amazing to know that these sites are being preserved for future generations. I love how this series allows people that may never visit the Holy Land a chance to see these special places. Seeing the inside of the room where the last supper may of occurred was neat to see. Seeing pieces of the tree Zacchaeus climbed was pretty neat. 
When a church was named in the series, I wrote it down for further investigation. After we watched the episode, I would then go and research the Roman Catholic or Greek Orthodox churches mentioned. We then would learn about these beautiful churches. I loved when we were actually given a glimpse into these churches during the program.
I thought the series was well done. The only episode I was slightly disappointed in was The Last Supper. For us the Last Supper was the institution of the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. The Holy Eucharist is an important sacrament of our faith.
"Always remain close to the Catholic Church, because it alone can give you true peace, since it alone possesses Jesus in the blessed sacrament, the Prince of Peace."
~Saint Padre Pio 

Drive Thru History The Gospels
As a Catholic, I only had to discuss a few differences with my children. It provided a great starting point on how some Christian religions have a slightly different view. Even with our differences, we are all Christians believing that Jesus died on the cross for us.
"Christ be with me,
Christ within me,
Christ behind me,
Christ before me,
Christ beside me,
Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort me and restore me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ in quiet,
Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me.
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger."
~Saint Patrick

Drive Thru History The Gospels
After reviewing Drive Thru History® – “The Gospels”, I am looking into the Ancient History series for next year, since we will be starting our history cycle over again. I'd love to see the ancient sites that are visited in that series I think it would be a great asset to our homeschooling.
Find our what the other members have to say about Drive Thru History® – “The Gospels”.
The Gospels {Drive Thru History® Reviews}
Till Next Time,
Monique
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Tuesday, April 25, 2017

A Homeschool Crew Review~ Daily Bible Jigsaw Puzzle from Planet 316

Please Note~ This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to click on a link, add it to your cart and complete your purchase, I will receive a small percentage. We are very grateful for this additional source of income. Thank you.   




A few weeks ago, I was given an opportunity to review Daily Bible Jigsaw from Planet 316. Daily Bible Jigsaw is a free app, but for this review I was given the 500 coin bundle (a $39.99 value) for free to use with this game. I played the game on my computer by logging into my Facebook account and on my phone by downloading the app from the google play store.
 
 Daily Bible Jigsaw by Planet 316
Daily Bible Jigsaw is a puzzle game from Planet 316. Planet 316 is Christian company. The Planet 316 team wants to help families hear the message of Christ. They have taken a unique approach to this. They have used technology (computer games and apps) and interwoven it with the message of Jesus Christ. The company wants to make the bible available to both the young and old. 
" A joyful heart is good medicine."
Proverbs 17:22
 Daily Bible Jigsaw by Planet 316
They offer families a variety of options.
Desktop Games
King Solomon's Word Challenge
Bible Gems: Journey Through Genesis
Super Bible Trivia
Charlie Church Mouse~ Early Elementary
Charlie Church Mouse~ Kindergarten
Charlie Church Mouse~ Preschool 
Charlie Church Mouse 3D Bible Adventures
Educational Videos
Topsy Turvy Show
The Charlie Church Mouse Show
Apps~ Mobile Games
Daily Bible Jigsaw Puzzles
Charlie Church Mouse Bible Adventuress (for kids)
 Daily Bible Jigsaw by Planet 316
Daily Bible Jigsaw is a daily puzzle challenge. Players try to complete the puzzles in the quickest amount of time. Players can play with friends. It a lot of fun to try and beat a friends time. I was amazed at how quickly some friends could complete a puzzle. I'd just like to beat 3 minutes! 
The game has new puzzles added daily.
 Daily Bible Jigsaw by Planet 316
Players log into the game, select the current day, and solves the puzzle. If you play the current day's puzzle there is no cost. If you miss a day or just want to play a previous month's puzzles, it will cost the player 3 coins for each puzzle. When players solve the puzzle in a timely manner, coins can be awarded. If you solve it too slowly, no coins will be awarded. You can go back and replay a day, but again it will cost you 3 coins. 
Once the player solves the puzzle they can share it to their facebook page.
 Daily Bible Jigsaw by Planet 316
What I Thought About Daily Jigsaw Puzzle from Planet 316?
I enjoyed playing the game. 
The pictures were inspiring and often contained images of cute animals and sweet children in the them. Who can't resist a picture of  cute baby or puppy? The puzzles varied in difficulty levels. I found some to be very easy, while a few took me quite awhile to solve. I do wish coins were awarded a little more often. I think if you complete the entire month's puzzles, players should be awarded a few coins for their dedication. 
The only problem I encountered in the beginning was a few puzzles were not saved. I played them and completed them, but when i logged in the next day they weren't not completed. Because of this error, I had to replay them which cost me 3 coins. Not too big of a deal, but if  I had paid for my coins I would be a little upset. I haven't had this issue the last 2 weeks, so it may have been an issue they were aware of and corrected.

 Daily Bible Jigsaw by Planet 316

Bible Jigsaw Puzzle is a free app to download. It can be found and played in the following devices.



Read more reviews about Planet 316 and their daily puzzle challenges!

Daily Bible Jigsaw {Planet 316 Reviews}


Till Next Time,
Monique


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Sunday, April 23, 2017

Living Like a Saint~ Saint John Bosco



"If one is to do good, he must have a little courage, be ready for sacrifice, deal affably will all and never slight anybody. By following this method I have always had significant success, in fact, marvelous success."

~ Saint John Bosco





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Friday, April 21, 2017

5 Days of Homeschooling the Middle School Years~ The Importance of Read Alouds

Please Note~ This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to click on a link, add it to your cart and complete your purchase, I will receive a small percentage. We are very grateful for this additional source of income. Thank you.



We all read books aloud to our kids when they were little, but for some reason a lot of parents stop reading to their children once they are reading well on their own. It seems we focus too much on getting them to read independently. This is something we never did. Even after my kids were reading well, we would still sit down together and read books. We read wonderful stories like Winnie the Pooh, Paddington Bear, Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little. 

Reading aloud to our children is a great way to spend some quality time together. Reading together has been part of our history for many generations. Before the invention of TV and radio, families would gather around the fire and read together. Reading together is such a better way to spend time together than staring at the TV.  Families can share in a variety of adventures and then discuss the stories in depth. When we talk and discuss stories with our children we encourage their growth and the process thinking. We are helping our children develop their mind, morals, and values.

Reading aloud will help children build a rich and strong vocabulary. In everyday conversation, we often don't use words that we find in stories. We use slang. We certainly don't describe things in the way an author would in a story.  They use more descriptive words and often bring the picture to life in our heads. In everyday conversation, we use talk to get the point out.

Another important reason to read aloud to older children is we can read more advanced books to them. Reading skills differ from listening skills. Children typically read at their age level or slightly above or below, but their listening skills are usually a few years ahead. The difference between the reading and listening skill tends to differ until about the 8th grade. When older kids listen to stories being read, they can enjoy books that they couldn't read on their own or would find too difficult to read. This could be very helpful to a struggling reader!

I love to read. I was a slow beginner in the reading world, but once I got the hang of it I was hooked. I waned to pass this love of reading on to my children. Reading aloud together encourages their love of reading! They see everyone coming together and sharing in a charming tale or a wild adventure. Reading can take us anyplace we want to go!

Till Next Time,
Monique


5 Days of Homeschool Annual Blog Hop - 2017


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Thursday, April 20, 2017

5 Days of Homeschool~ 10 Things to Know About Homeschooling Middle School

Please Note~ This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to click on a link, add it to your cart and complete your purchase, I will receive a small percentage. We are very grateful for this additional source of income. Thank you.



As we wind down our second year of middle school homeschooling and preparing for our 3rd year, there are a few things I think I have finally figured out! At least I hope so.

1. Dig a little deeper into the subjects~ Don't be afraid to go into more depth. Offer your students harder material if they are ready. Add on to the lessons if they seem too bored. I love searching the internet and books for ideas. This is a great time to get the kids more involved and offer hands-on projects they can complete on their own,

2. Start preparing them for high school..grades, tests, reports, etc.~ For us this meant more graded assignments. I add to our lessons more worksheets, tests, reports, and projects. By finally seeing grades, the kids were able to see where they were struggling and were they were thriving. At the end of the year, they both will be given their first report card! I think they are a little nervous about this. Thankfully it's still middle school. Having graded assignments and a report will help them get ready for the graded and transcripts kept during high school. It's our trial run.

3. Encourage their interests or passions~ This is were some students will start to show an interest in certain subjects. This is a fantastic time to expose them more to the things they love. Do they enjoy sports? Drama and theater? Do they enjoy building things? Have them join clubs and groups that help them grow in their interests. Summer camps, co-ops, special events held at museums! The more they are exposed to things, the more they will see what they enjoy or not enjoy doing. We all know how preteens can be. Encourage them to give things a try even if they don't want to. Too often we hear."I won't like it!" How do they know if they've never given it a shot. Now I'm not saying put you non-athletic child in football. That would not be a good thing. We don't want to torture them.

4. Focus on life skills and character building~ Chores and life skills. Now is the time to teach the kids every day lessons. Can they cook? Can they do laundry? Sew a button on? Iron their shirts? Take care of animals? Fix a flat tire? Can they use basic tools? Paint? In today's world so many kids have no real life skills. I always wonder about hose kids who have no chores or life skills. How will they survive on their own. Are mommy and daddy always going to be there? I would hope not. My goal as a parent is get my children ready for the "real" world. I want them to leave the nest and flourish. I would never want to keep them locked up and in a small cocoon. They need to spread their wings and fly away.

5. Expose them to subjects that are of interest to them~ For example, Michael loves anything to do with animals and science. We've increased his science classes, signed him up for special science camps, and taken field trips that will help fuel his passion. We've already started looking into careers that he may want to pursue and what he would need to achieve his dream. Our local vet has even offered my kids a chance to go down and shadow her for a day. Real hands on learning! By exposing them to these things, they see that they are eager to learn more or they discover that they really don't enjoy it. 

6.Give them opportunities for hands on learning & opportunities for presentation~ This benefits both mom and students. Hands-on learning can lead to more independence and can give mom a little more free time while achieving that goal of them learning on their own. Having them figure things out and come up with a plan is essential for their advance learning. A great way to do this is art projects, science experiments, etc. Our local library has offers a homeschool exhibit where local homeschoolers can display projects. It reminds me of the science fairs we had back in school. Another opportunity to show of their work is the county fair. They have halls were students display art work, photography, science displays, their animals, etc.

7. Offer great literature~ For me this means classics and books that are not filled with frivolous junk. We don't read a lot of current books. As my kids say,,,"They are boring and filled with stupid ideas." I mean how many vampire and zombie books can one kid read! We need books that will help broaden our child's mind not limit it. Reading great books increases our child's vocabulary, helps their writing style, and helps them learn proper grammar. The benefits are endless. Do we really want a generation that can only read their text messages? Oh my, that's a scary thought.

8. Be prepared for the middle school slump~ This is real folks. I thought it was just my kids, but after talking to other moms they confirmed my worst fears. Your eager sweet child suddenly wants to do very little work. They complain and say its boring. They suddenly put very little effort into their school work. It's frustrating and you often feel like pulling your hair out. They say it will pass. I'm not so are since we are still in the middle of it. To help us get through this period I've change a few ways we do things. We do religion, math, and English first thing that way they're bright eyed and bushy tailed ready to go! They eat their second breakfast and head outdoors with the dog for 15. Fresh air does a body good. After that they work on a few of the subjects in whatever order they want to. We then break for lunch. After lunch we come back and do history and science. We work on projects and experiments. This keeps them a more involved.

9. Stay in contact with friends~ This is the time kids need their friends! Homeschooling doesn't allow for daily visits for many of us, but we always try to have them see their friends at least once a week. We have some weeks with co-op classes, field trips, and clubs that they see them almost every day. They need that time away from siblings,dad, and mom. It's nice when they can get together to hang out. They can play group games like dodge ball, kickball, tag, etc. They can just sit and talk about whatever the young kids are talking about. Close bonds can and are often formed. I still remember sitting in my best friends room as a 12 year old discussing all types of things. It was nice to have someone who understand what you were feeling or thinking. Thirty plus years later, I still talk to my best friend. I couldn't imaging my life without her.

and finally 

10. You're not alone out there!~ Find a few moms who can offer advice, an ear to bend, or at some times a shoulder to cry on. Just like with the kids, we too as parents need someone to offer advice and support. I love when I can get together with my mom friends and talk about homeschooling, our faith, the wold we live in over a warm cup of tea!


Till Next Time,
Monique

5 Days of Homeschool Annual Blog Hop - 2017

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Wednesday, April 19, 2017

5 Days of Homeschool~ How to Encourage Independent Learning

Please Note~ This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to click on a link, add it to your cart and complete your purchase, I will receive a small percentage. We are very grateful for this additional source of income. Thank you.


We can read every article we find about the importance of independent learning with students, but we all know that it's essential for them to grow and thrive in the world around them. We won't always be there to hold there hand. As parents, our goal is to see our children succeed. 

Independent learning doesn't happen over night. Some children achieve the goal faster than others. They seem to have a natural ability to thrive when they are left to there own devices. They love discovering new and figuring things out. Other children have to be led. They need to be taught how to work independently. They just don't seem to know how to stay on track. They can't focus and have no idea how to manage their time well. I have one of each of these children. Therese seems to know have to manage her time well, while Michael seems to be having a little more difficulty getting into the routine of it all.

This past year, we have been focusing on getting both children to be more independent in their learning. One resource we found to help was an assignment book or planner. Therese has used her planner religiously through out the year. She writes down her assignments and when they are do. She goes back and crosses them off once she has completed them. She has stayed on top of everything and hasn't missed a due date. The planner didn't work for Michael. He didn't like how it worked. He'd fill in the necessary assignments with their due dates, but would never go back and check it. He missed quite a few due dates. He was banned from all electronics for his lack of completed work. His excuse was he just never thought to check the book. Maybe a digital planner on his tablet would work better, but we haven't tried that yet. What we did try was writing down his assignments into a notebook. For some reason this work for him. Maybe it was because he's used to looking at a notebook, maybe because it's bigger and he didn't misplace it as much. Whatever the reason, this option worked for him. He knew what was due and slowly worked through the list. He was still late with a few due dates, but he did eventually complete them all. Using a planner or assignment book does take time to get used to. The children are still trying to figure things out. Just be patient and they will eventually get it down.

Since we homeschool the majority of our subjects together, the kids only have a few classes they do independently from each other. We did add a few workbook style books this year to help encourage independent learning. Geography and Editor in Chief are two books the kids get to work through on their own. Therese has worked ahead, while Michael has chosen to work at the assigned pace. Flexible scheduling allows them to work on assignments and projects own their own. We start each day with prayer, Religion,Math (done independently, but done at the same time), and English. These three are done together. History and science are introduced together, but then they can work through the assignment on their own at their own speed. When they are done with them, they move onto Geography and Editor in Chief. This freedom and flexibility allows them both to work at a speed they are comfortable with. Usually one is done faster than the other, but that's O.K. Whether their work is done quickly or drug out for hours is up to them. They are in charge with how much free time they get in the afternoon hours. They can chose to have school done by lunch time or dinner time.

Independent classes or projects are a great way to encourage independent learning. Not all students are going to have similar taste in what they what to learn about. Even when the kids were little, they showed distinct difference. Michael loved dinosaurs, while Therese loved horses. Offering them chances to learn about topics and subjects that interest them often leads to independent learning. They can read books about the subjects, complete a project to go along with it. Notebook journaling and lapbooks are great for this. Of course writing a paper or giving a report is a fantastic assignment for this age group.

Give them a little more independence. Encourage them to handle some of their own outside commitments. Get them involved with volunteering at your church. They can join the children's choir, be an alter server, an usher, and aid in the younger children's religious education classes. They can volunteer to help with church functions, at a local food bank, library, etc. Have them purchase their own items at the store. Make them talk to leaders of groups and other adults. Ideally this should have been going on before this age, but practicing social skills are important. Getting them involved in clubs like 4-H, Little Flowers, Blue Knights, Trail Guides, and church youth groups are a wonderful way to get them out there. The skills they learn in these clubs and groups can help them in the future.

How do you encourage independent learning?




Till Next Time,
Monique

5 Days of Homeschool Annual Blog Hop - 2017

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Tuesday, April 18, 2017

A Homeschool Crew Review~ Readers in Residence Volume 1 (Sleuth) from Apologia Educational Ministries

Please Note~ This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to click on a link, add it to your cart and complete your purchase, I will receive a small percentage. We are very grateful for this additional source of income. Thank you. 





Over the past few weeks, Therese has been working through a new homeschool reading program from Apologia Educational Ministries called Readers in Residence Volume 1 (Sleuth). Readers in Residence Volume 1 is a new reading program created by Debra Bell.


Apologia Educational Ministries


Apologia Educational Ministries is a well trusted homeschooling curriculum company. I'm sure you've heard of the. They offer students and parents a variety of curriculum. Students can learn science, geography, history, language arts, bible, and worldviews. Families can also find wonderful resources like planners and homeschool helpers. 


Apologia Educational Ministries Readers in Residence


For this review, we received the Readers in Residence Volume 1 (Sleuth) full set. 

The full set comes with 2 books.
All in One Student Text & Workbook
Teacher Answer Key

Readers in Residence Volume 1 is geared for students in 4th grade and up. The program was created to help students process and understand what they are reading. Readers in Residence (RIR) is a reading comprehension, literature, and vocabulary curriculum all wrapped into one. RIR exposes students to great literature!  The program can be used with Writing in Residence. If used with Writers in Residence, students will have a a full years worth of language arts curriculum.  The nice thing about both programs is they can be used alone too!


Apologia Educational Ministries Readers in Residence

Readers in Residence will introduce students to the following topics while having them read great literature.

How to Understand the Arthur's Thoughts, Choices, and Intentions
How to Recognize Literary Elements
Learn and Understand Figures of Speech
Differences Between Fiction and Non-Fiction
How to Bring Previous Experiences and Prior Knowledge into their Understanding of Stories
Learn New Vocabulary 
How to Figure Out Context of Unknown Words
Learn How Writers Use Punctuation, Capitalization, and Grammar to Achieve Understanding
The book is broken up into 6 units. Each unit has 1 to 4 chapters. The units cover various literary topics that the student will learn about. There are three books used throughout this program....Sarah, Plain and Tall, Charlotte's Web, and Because of Winn Dixie. These books will need to be purchased separately to be used along with the student text and workbook.
What We Thought of Readers in Residence Volume 1?
So far, we have enjoyed the program. We've completed Sarah, Plain and Tall and are currently working on Charlotte's Web. A few years ago, Therese was having difficulty with reading comprehension and struggled with her reading abilities. Readers in Residence Volume 1 has been a great way to help further her knowledge of comprehension and get her to dig a little deeper into the book she is reading. She's learning to understand the plot and the meanings hidden in the stories. I love how the program encourages students to strengthen their literary skills. RIR brings great literature to life for the students. I love how the literary topics introduced are taught.They are introduced in way that makes the information easy for the student to understand. It allows the student to take that knowledge and apply it to the book they are reading, and hopefully apply it to future books they will read. When students have the knowledge and want to read great books, the world is limitless.
Therese has enjoyed the books used in this program tremendously. She's already read Charlotte's Web before but is always willing to reread it. She is looking forward to reading Because of Winn Dixie. I have enjoyed reading the books along with her. It allows us to discuss the books more thoroughly.
I love that the student text and workbook are all in one! It makes it easier to keep rack for the book. No need to search for two different books.
It is recommended to use the program as a book club with friends. We didn't do that. We did an online book club with fellow reviewers, but sadly we have not participated yet. We have just been too busy with everything else. Therese and I have discussed the books together. I can see how having a book club could help students grow in their understanding, plus it would be fun to engage in the social events suggested in the book. With Sarah, Plain and Tall, a themed party is suggested. Wild flowers used as decorations was just one idea. Since it was winter, we didn't have any to use.
This would be a wonderful program to use in a homeschool co-op.  I think it would be a fantastic educational class filled with fun hands on activities!


Apologia Educational Ministries Readers in Residence

Find out more about Readers in Residence Volume 1!
Readers in Residence Volume 1 (Sleuth) {Apologia Educational Ministries Review}
Till Next Time,
Monique
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5 Days of Homeschool~ How We've Adjusted to the Middle School Years

Please Note~ This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to click on a link, add it to your cart and complete your purchase, I will receive a small percentage. We are very grateful for this additional source of income. Thank you.


Since entering the middle school years, we've changed a few things but kept many of the things we've been doing. Teaching middle school doesn't have to be scary. I promise.

One of the big changes, I made in our homeschooling was taking our schooling a little more seriously. I look at the middle school years as practice for our transition into high School. I've increased their writing papers and have actually started grading more of their work. This was the first year that I actually gave the kids a report card to see how they were doing. The report card was a real eye opener to the them. They were able to see how a few good grades can be drastically changed with just one bad grade.

Greater independence with their schoolwork has been an important step for me this year. I want them to be able to think for themselves and learn how to manage their time. I'll be honest this is not going as well as I hoped. I've seen improvements as the year has gone on, but in the beginning it was a nightmare. At the start of the year, I bought each child a student planner. They were to use that planner to write done homework from their science co-op class and any homework that they may receive from me. Papers, book reports, workbook pages they can work on their own, etc. I will admit Therese has done exceptionally well with this. She often works ahead. Michael on the other hand, has struggled with managing his time. I added two workbook like curriculum to their learning this year. Memoria Press Geography and Editor in Chief. AT the beginning of the week I assign certain pages, it's their responsibility to complete the assigned pages by the end of the week. This gives them some accountability. I have tried to encourage some independent learning,but I haven't let them go completely off on their own. They still need guidance and will still have questions. They are not adults just yet. They are children still trying to find their way through this crazy world we live in. They will still need a loving word, a kind gesture, and the knowledge that you will always be their for them. The subjects are getting more difficult. The fears and frustrations are there. 
Since school is getting more difficult, do't forget the fun hands-on projects. Many kids still learn better doing a hands-on project. Last year while learning about the different biomes, I have the children create their own biomes. They used old shoe boxes, items we found around the house, a few and items from the dollar. They had to do heir own research to see what would be in each biome. They had a blast and really got into the project. Independent learning, researching on their own, and a fun project. It was a win! Just because the classes are getting more difficult and more information is being introduced, ti doesn't mean that the fun has to stop. 

Over the years, I have always tried to get Michael and Therese to give me topics they would love to study. This was a lot easier when they were little and we were doing our unit studies during the summer months. Everyone was able to study something they loved, even mama! It's a little trickier now that they are older. If they were working independently it would be easier. We do the majority of our subjects together. I still try to include at least one subject each one wants to learn about. The other student just goes along for the ride. I'm currently planning for next year and I'm eagerly waiting to see what they want to learn about next year.

Park days and play dates are a thing of the past. Gone are they days when you see them zoom down the slide. I miss those days, but a new day has dawned. They kids now get to hang out with their friends and us mamas actually get to socialize. While the kids hang out, we get to sip our tea while it's still hot and actually have an adult conversation. Seeing their friends is important. They need time away from mom and dad.They need time away from each other. Preteen and teenage moodiness is no joke. They need time to unwind and just do things with their friends.

Don't forget to plan field trips! This is a great time for filed trips. You can now skip the firehouse and head t more educational places. A lot of places actually offer classes to go along with the trip. Now that they are older, they can handle more in depth field trips. They can now walk further and sit still during a talk about a civil war battle field. All those places they thought were boring before are now on the table. It's wonderful way to spend time as a family as well. You're making memories!

The middle schools can bring a few challenges, but they can also bring you closer together. We often get told to enjoy the years when they are little. It goes by so quickly we're told. They're only little once. It does, but so do the teen years. I only have 6 more years until my babies are off to college.  Enjoy the young adults you're sweet babies are becoming. 
Nurture them and you'll be amazed even more at what God and you have created.



Till Next Time,
Monique


5 Days of Homeschool Annual Blog Hop - 2017

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Monday, April 17, 2017

5 Days of Homeschool~Homeschooling the Middle School

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The Middle School years generally refer to 6th through 8th grade. This is our second year into the middle school years. Last year, I joined the ranks of many other homeschooling moms when Michael entered 6th grade. This year, I was lucky enough to have Therese enter into middle school. Now I have TWO in middle school. It's kind of funny... years ago I thought middle school and high school were far away, but I was wrong. Those years arrived a lot faster than I thought they would.

Homeschooling the middle school years is like entering a new dimension. Your sweet little children suddenly are becoming young adults. They are experiencing a variety of emotional and physical changes. They have ideas of their own and are starting to express their independence. This can be done in a positive way, but for many of them they suddenly have emotions they don't understand. Those sweet loving children are mouthy, angry, crying over little things, etc. You often sit there wondering where those cute chubby cheeked kids went to. Hormones can reek havoc in a house. Patience is the key. Counting to ten, praying a Hail Mary (or 10) can help a mom diffuse a situation.

Our kids are trying out their new legs. They're trying to figure out who they are, what they want to do, and how they fit into the world around them. This is were we can help them out. We can help them learn more academically of course. We can teach them practical skills they will need in life, and we can teach them the importance of morals and values. We can help them build up their Godly character. Our goal as parents is to help our children reach eternal life with Jesus and become a saint in Heaven.

One thing I found that helped me with entering the middle school years was setting goals for our schooling and the kids. I like making list. It helps me stay organized and on plan a habit I want my kids to pick up. The goals I made for Michael and Therese helped us focus on what was important. They had clear goals in mind. I made sure that they had a say in some of their goals. Did they want to try a new sport, learn a new hobby, learn a specific topic in school. I encouraged them to look at what interested them, what they may want to study in the future, or something new and different they wanted to learn about or experience. This is the time for them to explore new things.

Don't be scared!
Will things get a little tricky at times?
Sure!
Every stage of homeschooling and child rearing has its ups and downs. Just remember that it can still be fun. You may not be making lots of crafts and playing anymore, but you are learning who your children are. The conversations and two discussions you can are amazing. How we handle this important time in our child's life will determine our relationship with our kids. We can become closer and build a stronger foundation; or we can weaken our relationship, allow it to become stressful, and slowly let it deteriorate.


Pray, Hope, and Don't Worry
~ Padre Pio



Be sure to stop by and see what the other members of the Homeschool Review Crew are blogging about!
Just click the link below...

5 Days of Homeschool Annual Blog Hop - 2017
Till Next Time,
Monique

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Sunday, April 16, 2017

Happy Easter

Jesus is Risen


Alleluia 

Wishing you all a Blessed Easter!

Till Next Time,
Monique



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Friday, April 14, 2017

Good Friday

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When Jesus had taken the wine, he said
"It is finished."
And bowing His head, he handed over the spirit.



Till Next Time,
Monique



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Thursday, April 13, 2017

Holy Thursday

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"And whilst they were at supper, Jesus took the bread, and blessed, and broke: and gave to his disciples, and said, Take ye, and eat. This is my body.

And talking the chalice, he gave thanks, and gave to them, saying: Drink ye all of this. 
For this is my blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many unto the remission of sins. 

And I say to you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I shall drink it with you new in the kingdom of my Father. "

Mathew 26:26-29



Till Next Time,
Monique






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Wednesday, April 12, 2017

5 Days of Homeschooling Blog Hop

Please Note~ This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to click on a link, add it to your cart and complete your purchase, I will receive a small percentage. We are very grateful for this additional source of income. Thank you. 



5 Days of Homeschool Annual Blog Hop - 2017
Good Morning! 
I just wanted to give y'all a heads up on a blog hop I will be participating in next week! 
Next week, April 17-21, I will be joining my fellow Homeschool Review
Crew members for a 5 Days of Homeschooling blog hop all about homeschooling. 
Everyone signed up will be talking about various topics that have to deal with homeschooling....Preschool, Special Needs, Middle School, High School, Teaching Styles, Reluctant Learners, and so much more. There will be something for everyone.
I will be talking about Homeschooling the Middle School Years! 
It gets here faster than y'all think.
Homeschooling the Middle School Years
How We've Adjusted to the Middle School Years
How to Encourage Independent Learning
10 Things to Know About Homeschooling Middle School
The Importance of Read A-louds
See you next week!
Till Next Time,
Monique


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Monday, April 10, 2017

A Homeschool Crew Review~ Digital Savvy from CompuScholar, Inc.

Please Note~ This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to click on a link, add it to your cart and complete your purchase, I will receive a small percentage. We are very grateful for this additional source of income. Thank you. 



As the kids have gotten older, I've realized that they needed to have computer skills. The courses they need to study are getting more high tech and more involved. I knew we needed to give Digital Savvy from CompuScholar a try!



CompuScholar, Inc.
CompuScholar offers public schools, private schools, and homeschoolers an opportunity to learn computer skills. The program is online, so it's very easy to use! 
CompuScholar offers a variety of courses for students interested in computers.
Courses Offered

Digital Savvy (6th-12th grade)
Web Design (6th-12th grade)
Game Programming with Visual Basics (6th-12th)
Windows Programming (9th-12th)
Java Programming (9th-12th)
Unity Gaming Program (9th-12th)
Android Programming (9th-12th)
CompuScholar's online computer courses are a fantastic addition to your middle or high students transcripts. **This was an added incentive for us. The courses are ready to go, easy to use, and can be done in 1 or 2 semesters. The courses offer daily lessons and hands-on projects to complete. 
Want to learn more about the various courses?
Head on over to CompuScholar's Website for full descriptions.



CompuScholar, Inc. Digital Savvy
For this review, we were given a one year subscription to the self-led Digital Savvy course. A one year subscription for this course is $120. Additional students (siblings) are $40 per student. This is a 2 semester course. It will run about 33 weeks (164 days). If you don't feel comfortable with your computer skills, you can signup for the teacher led Digital Savvy course. This course costs $300 for a year. The do offer monthly plans for the self-led and teacher-led course.
Digital Savvy is a computer skill course that is geared for students in the 6th-12th grades. The course teaches students the basic computing topics and skills.
The course covers.....
Hardware, Software, and Operating systems
Managing Files and Folders
Basic Networking
Online Safety
Computer Security
How to Use Word Processors, Spreadsheets, and Presentation Programs
How to Create Simple Databases
How to Edit Images
How to Use Social Media and Email
An Introduction to Web Design
Simple Computer Programming Concepts
and
Careers in the Computer World
The course will have students working through daily lessons and completing a hands on project with each chapter.


CompuScholar, Inc.
How We Used Digital Savvy from CompuScholar?

Set for Digital Savvy was easy. I set up the teacher's account on my computer, and then logged each child into their own accounts on their computers. We were recently gifted my father-in-law's old computer, so both kids now have their own computer for schoolwork! This is helpful, since now they can't argue over the computer anymore. 
The teacher's account allows parents or teachers keep track of the lessons completed by the student and the grades they receive on the quizzes and tests.

You can choose between looking at the grade report for each student, a grade history for quizzes, and a single review for each individual lesson quiz. You can also look at and print out a user report which will calculate the students grade for the course. This is perfect for report cards and transcripts!

The kids had their student accounts to log into. Once the student logs in, they are presented with a page with a Digital Savvy logo on it. Students click on the logo and are immediately redirected to the Course Syllabus (or Chapters). The students then click on the appropriate chapter they are working through.




Once the Chapter page opens, students are then given the various lessons to work through. Students have a lesson video and a lesson text to look at. My kids watched the video first and then read the lesson. 




The lesson pages can be printed up if your student would like to create a notebook for review or reference.



After doing both of those things them clicked on the lesson quiz. The lessons are graded immediately for the students. If they did poorly on the test, I had them re-watch the video and reread the lesson. I made it a rule that they must get a 90% or higher to be able to more onto the next lesson in the chapter. The quizzes can be taken 3 times. After the 3rd time, an average of the grades is recorded. 

Digital Savvy is broken up into 25 chapters. Each chapter covers a different topic and is broken up into lessons. Some weeks have 6 lessons, while others may have more or less. Over the past few weeks, the kids have been working on the lessons at their own pace. Some weeks, they have completed 1-2, while others they may have worked ahead. Therese has had to repeat a few lesson since she scored poorly on the quizzes.
What We Think of Digital Savvy from CompuScholar?

Obviously, we have not completed this program yet, since it is a year long course. So far, I have been impressed with the information presented. I am actually looking forward to seeing some of the upcoming lessons. I usually sit beside Therese as she works through the lesson, so I can answer any questions for her (and so I can a learn a little too). 
Michael has been working through the course on his own. He hasn't asked any questions and so far has gotten a 100% on all the quizzes. He says he's enjoying the course. I like the independence he has been given with taking this course. I think he is enjoying ti too! I don't feel like I need to sit down with him and keep him motivated. He is doing that all by himself. 
Digital Savvy is a wonderful online course that will give any young student a great (or better) understanding of computers. It really is a wonderful introduction course into computers. I wish I had taken a course like this when I was in collage. 
I have a feeling that Michael will be asking to take more courses once we complete this one.
Other members of the Crew reviewed Digital Savvy, Web Design, and Java Programming. 
Want to learn more about theses programs and see what the crew had to say about them? 
Click on the link below.

Digital Savvy, Web Design & Java Programming {CompuScholar,Inc Reviews}
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