Layers of Learning

How To Organize Recipes…And USE Them!

Layers of Learning — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:35:23 +0000

There’s no denying it. . . I am a recipe hound. I subscribe to cooking magazines, browse through cookbooks constantly, read all sorts of yummy foodie blogs, and long to be a real chef as I watch cooking shows. I … Continue reading →

A Day In Our Homeschool

Layers of Learning — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:26:32 +0000

People, mostly mildly curious, but sometimes sincerely wanting to know if they could ever manage homeschooling, ask me what do we do when we’re “doing school”? I usually give a short reply like “workbooks and stuff”. How exactly do you … Continue reading →

Chocolate Chip Muffins

Layers of Learning — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:03:08 +0000

Garrett and Harrison helped me make these yummy chocolate chip muffins. Kids love to bake and it’s fun to bake with them. It turns a chore into an adventure. Print Chocolate Chip Muffins Prep Time: 10 minutesCook Time: 25 minutesTotal … Continue reading →

More Organizing Ideas For School Assignments

Layers of Learning — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:01:49 +0000

Weeks and weeks ago my husband acquired some plastic bins with locking lids–six of them, one for each kid. He thought they’d be perfect to keep their school work in. I said, “yeah, yeah” and stuck the bins in the … Continue reading →

Organizing Your Kids’ Schoolwork

Layers of Learning — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:56:17 +0000

I was perusing homeschool websites and came across this terrific idea for organizing your kids’ schoolwork on Homeschool Creations. Jolanthe color codes her kids’ things, and also sorts worksheets and assignments into folders before the school year starts so … Continue reading →

Mom Advice For Myself

Layers of Learning — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:27:23 +0000

I hate this video, because it made me get all emotional and I HATE that. What would you tell your just-about-to-become-a-mommy self? I think I’d tell me, Enjoy every minute, it’ll be gone so quick. Happy Mother’s Day

Mmmm Mushu Pork Lettuce Wraps

Layers of Learning — Thu, 10 May 2012 11:11:24 +0000

Last month was “new recipe night” at my book club, so I tried out Mushu Pork, which I’ve not only never made, but also never eaten before. Doesn’t get much newer than that! I chopped everything up ahead of time, … Continue reading →

Pinkalicious Party

Layers of Learning — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:25:53 +0000

Today my girls had a PINKALICIOUS party at our local public library. It was an all girl party and every girl was dressed all in pink! First we read the story by Victoria Kann. Then everyone danced and twirled to … Continue reading →

Multiplication Game from Big Brainz

Layers of Learning — Tue, 08 May 2012 10:13:16 +0000

I wanted to share this awesome multiplication game with you. It’s called Timez Attack from Big Brainz. The best features are that is absolutely teaches facts, not just drills them, but teaches them, in a fun engaging way and it’s … Continue reading →

Start a Tradition of Family Nights

Layers of Learning — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:32:21 +0000

Karen and I each do once-a-week family nights with our kids. We spend an hour or so teaching lessons that pass on our values, playing games or doing activities together and eating a treat. Here’s why we do it: Making … Continue reading →

Should Homeschooling Have State Oversight?

Layers of Learning — Thu, 03 May 2012 07:25:51 +0000

This article was published in my local paper and underlies some of the general issues we’re struggling with in America currently, besides the obvious homeschooling issue. Home-Schooled Needs Oversight The article explains that in Idaho the law says that parents … Continue reading →

Monet’s Water Lilies

Layers of Learning — Tue, 01 May 2012 04:34:58 +0000

Of all paintings, ones from the Impressionist movement are my favorite. Their softness and serenity make me feel instantly peaceful. We recently looked at several Impressionist paintings and gave special focus to two of my favorites: Monet and Renoir. My … Continue reading →

Family Night Nature Walk

Layers of Learning — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:10:51 +0000

For family night tonight, gather everyone up and go on a nature walk together. Even in a city or a neighborhood there is nature to be seen…clouds, birds, rocks, flowers, and trees. Our kids like to take along gallon sized … Continue reading →

Simple Light Refraction Experiment

Layers of Learning — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:25:36 +0000

Scared of science? Don’t be. Doing science with your kids can be the best part of their week. And it’s not nearly as complicated as scientists and the writers of textbooks would like you to believe. Take, for example, optics. … Continue reading →

ABC Worm

Layers of Learning — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:53:52 +0000

Little ones need lots and lots and lots of practice with the ABC’s so here’s one more way. You can make an ABC worm from the printable below and some cardstock and have your child put the alphabet in order, … Continue reading →

Toddlers and Chores

Layers of Learning — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:07:39 +0000

I’m a big believer in kids doing chores. It actually amazes me how many moms I know that don’t assign chores to their kids. I once heard a celebrity in an interview on TV say that her son’s only chore … Continue reading →

Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief Book Report

Layers of Learning — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

We like to share things that our kids do at our homeschools so that you can see what the real work from real kids looks like and to give our kid’s confidence a boost as their work is published. We’d … Continue reading →

Kids 5th-8th Planner

Layers of Learning — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 11:29:25 +0000

Having a planner for your kids is more for you than for them. It makes for an easy place to write in and check off their assignments, creating a regular routine and set of expectations. It also helps you to … Continue reading →

Beginning Bee Keeping

Layers of Learning — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 11:16:57 +0000

We started a new family hobby. We decided to start beekeeping as a way to learn and enjoy our new bee pets and also get fresh honey for our family. They also do wonders for flowers, fruits, and vegetables. I’m … Continue reading →

Unit 1.7

Layers of Learning — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:10:41 +0000

Unit 1.7 in the Layers of Learning program includes: History: Phoenicians Geography: Oceans Science: Gravity, Circular Motion, & Friction The Arts: Moral Stories Want to make a model Phoenician ship from a banana? How about create your own ocean in … Continue reading →

Rebellion in the Netherlands Map

Layers of Learning — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 11:30:25 +0000

The Dutch colonies had been governed by Spain via the powerful Habsburg family for a generation, but the old king, Charles V, had been born and raised in the low countries, he spoke the language and understood the people. When … Continue reading →

Whisper Phones

Layers of Learning — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 12:14:04 +0000

Have you heard of whisper phones? A friend of mine recently told me about them. They’re made of just a few pieces of pvc pipe. Couldn’t get much easier than that. These simple little “phones” are to help emergent readers become … Continue reading →

Cookie Cutter Tracing

Layers of Learning — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 11:03:00 +0000

When kids are first learning to hold a pencil, write, and draw, the more practice they get, the better. Tracing around cookie cutters is great practice for emergent writers. Kids can pretty easily hold the cookie cutters and outline around … Continue reading →

Unit 1.6

Layers of Learning — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 04:11:32 +0000

This sixth unit in the Layers of Learning Program includes: History: The Levant Geography: Physical Earth Science: Laws of Motion The Arts: List Poems In this unit you can learn what Abraham has to do with current events in the … Continue reading →

Ethiopia and Prester John

Layers of Learning — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:51:38 +0000

We were studying Ethiopia last week and decided to take a little side trip to Prester John. Prester John was a mythical Christian monarch known to Europeans in the Middle Ages. The legend said that somewhere in the mysterious east … Continue reading →