Friday, August 5, 2011

Homeschool Mother's Journal ~ August 5, 2011

The Homeschool Mother's Journal

In my life this week…
I have stayed home, attended Facebook and Twitter parites and won some really cool homeschool products (I will blog about them soon)! Hubby went back to work yesterday and we started our more structured school-year routine.
In our homeschool this week…
Monkey practiced coloring (his new thing is to say he "needs help" to color), tracing lines, patterning and even some color by number.
Ladybug worked on adding, reviewing her sight words, dictating stories and painting Bible stories.
Unicorn finished Anne of Green Gables, did some sample lessons of Teaching Textbooks 4 (and ASKED to do more...about gave me a heart attack), practiced writing captions for photos and painted Bible stories. 
Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
Tonight my sister is coming over after work and after we get the kids in bed I get have a sleep-over with her (NO KIDS)! Then tomorrow we will clean and run errands together!
My favorite thing this week was…
Unicorn asking to do more math! This is amazing because up until recently she thought she was no good at it and hated it. She still isn't confident with her abilities but at least she doesn't hate it anymore. I think finding the right delivery for it helps. She likes that Teaching Textbooks is on the computer and reads the problems to her. Now I have to find a used version that doesn't cost $120 (we can't afford that right now). I am looking/bidding on e-bay so we will see.
What’s working/not working for us…
Is starting our school year slow. This week we worked on our routine, reading, writing, math and religion. Next week we will add in one more subject...I'm thinking a family one like geography.
Questions/thoughts I have…
Besides e-bay and paperback swap, where do you look for deals on curriculum when you can't afford the retail price?
I’m grateful for…
My relatively empty calendar for August!
I’m praying for…
My sister's house (in PA) to sell quickly!
A photo, video, link, or quote to share…painting the "Tower of Babel"

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17 comments:

  1. Two Bears FarmAugust 5, 2011 at 9:35 AM

    I don't know how much they have as far as curriculum goes, but I swap books and movies all the time on swap.com 
    I have traded clothes and other things also on Listia - it's based on points instead of money.  A lot of people do free shipping and handling, so you really do end up getting stuff for free.  So far I've only gotten a dvd, but I have a good number of points built up in case I see something that I like.  There are a lot of handmade crafty items on there that are cute.  If you're interested in doing that and wouldn't mind me sending you an invite, let me know (I'd get points for it). 
    It's great that your daughter is starting to do better with math.  It's a subject I always struggled with, but at times it can be interesting.

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  2. JenAugust 5, 2011 at 11:50 AM

    I found the cheapest retail site to be Christian Book Store Online. If you ask they give homeschoolers a free shipping code that can be used 3 times. So I have been buying little by little. Pretty much done now. This year I also got books from a Community Homeschool Book Sale (I got 20+ books for $75 there), eBay, Half.com, and a lot of items free from Amazon through Swag Bucks (http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/EducatedMom). I save my wants/needs in "wish lists" or in my cart and when I see the price drop then I buy!    

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  3. ChristinaAugust 5, 2011 at 1:32 PM

    I look on craigslist for some things and we have a local used bookstore that I often can find bits and pieces of what I need in their section of Homeschool stuff.  (The owener was homeschooled ;0))    Just want to say I frequent your blog and enjoy reading your "Mother's Homeschool Journal",  I'm doing better at writing mine, it's fun. Thanks for sharing your routines and curriculum. 

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  4. Kelli BectonAugust 5, 2011 at 2:00 PM

    looks like fun! love it-

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  5. AdventuresinHomeEducatingAugust 6, 2011 at 5:12 PM

    Hi Christina! Thanks for the Craigslist tip and for stopping by my blog! :)

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  6. AdventuresinHomeEducatingAugust 6, 2011 at 5:12 PM

    Thanks Kelli!

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  7. AdventuresinHomeEducatingAugust 6, 2011 at 5:13 PM

    Hi! Thanks for the ideas and for stopping by my blog! Have a great week!

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  8. Jenn@Home is WhereAugust 7, 2011 at 9:11 PM

    The Anne of Green Gables series is one of my favs, I re-read them every couple of years :) Did you know there are 8 books in the series? The last 2 are very good!

    for used curriculum, I've had good luck on the sale boards at the Well-Trained-Mind boards. 

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  9. AdventuresinHomeEducatingAugust 8, 2011 at 12:30 PM

    Thanks for stopping by Jenn! Yeah...we will see if she wants to read the rest of the books for fun...I only required the first one! We are watching the movie today! Thanks for the curriculum tip!

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  10. Sharla KAugust 8, 2011 at 5:50 PM

    I'm in Canada, so not sure if you have this in the States or not, but Kijiji is where a lot of deals can be found and even some people giving things away for free.  You can post a wanted ad for free too and see if anyone has what you are looking for.  We also have a homeschool store in the city near us where half of it is a consignment store, so you can buy used curriculum and/or sell your old curriculum to spend on new things.  In our province, we get homeschool funding depending on what type of homeschooling you do.  I do the one that gets the least amount of funding and I get almost $700 per child per year to spend on curriculum, books, art supplies, field trips, or lessons like piano or swimming.  I am very thankful for the blessing that it is.  Hope you are able to find what you need at a price you can afford.

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  11. AdventuresinHomeEducatingAugust 8, 2011 at 7:22 PM

    Thank you Sharla! I will look it everything you mentioned. We don't get any $$ for curriculum here. I have mixed feelings about it! :)

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  12. JenniferLissakAugust 9, 2011 at 10:48 AM

    Now following from the hop! I'm not going to home school, but hopefully I get some tips on how to to teach my son when he's with me!

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  13. cassondra lawAugust 9, 2011 at 11:07 AM

    Your Newest follower via GFC! Found you on a Tuesday Blog hop. I would love it if you came and checked out my blog {& giveaways while you're there!} and follow back as well!  

    Cassondra / Mama's Passions

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  14. AdventuresinHomeEducatingAugust 9, 2011 at 3:58 PM

    Thanks for stopping by Jennifer!

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  15. AdventuresinHomeEducatingAugust 9, 2011 at 3:59 PM

    Hi Cassondra!

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  16. Jennifer AltmanAugust 11, 2011 at 12:41 AM

    well you listed my two big ones (for used curriculum)...I have also gotten books from wonderbookandvideo, they have a flat rate shipping of like $4 or something really cheap!  Amazon of course, and I also like rainbow resources?  (I think that's what it's called).  

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  17. AdventuresinHomeEducatingAugust 11, 2011 at 7:57 AM

    Thank you Jennifer! I will check those out!

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