The Way We Homeschool

Everything Thanksgiving- Blessings, Recipes, Crafts and More

2010-11-24T05:58:00.001-06:00

Each year we spend Thanksgiving at my grandmother's. After we pray we have a tradition of asking everyone what they are thankful for. I know already what I'm thankful for. I've began to ponder on my blessings in life. From our Heavenly Father's Creation of beautiful fall colors that we Minnesotans were able to enjoy this year, to the white crisp snow that sweeps and fills the trees.

A few weeks ago....

A few weeks ago my family and I went back to Iowa ( Legend had business meetings) and we were able to visit my parents and grandmother, who in beginning stages of Alzheimer's. We all know its sad to see someone's mind slip slowly away from them. But I felt peace within my family that day, because it seemed as if each of us felt an appreciation for who she is and has been in our lives. Even my oldest son's spirit calmed as he spoke to her gently. We all sat in the living room while she played on the piano.And boy did she play. She is a ~~wonderful,~~ extraordinary pianist. It was amazing!

So to complete the title I just wanted to add a few things that I'm loving right now. This month during homeschool we have been teaching the bull about Early Exploration and Settlement of Columbus, The Conquistadors, and English Settlers. I used the following lesson plan this month for school:

Land Ho Early Exploration and Settlement of The Americas

Y'all I can't tell you enough how tickled pink I was when I stumbled upon a great animated movie to incorporate with this lesson. Animated Hero Classics: William Bradford: The First Thanksgiving from Nest Entertainment .The Animated Hero Classic Series consists of 20 inspiring and educational stories of heroic men and women, with the emphasis placed on their accomplishments in world history and social sciences. The series focuses on the role in which they contributed to developing social, economic and political structures as well as in establishing and spreading ideas that helped to transform the world forever.

Teaching historical empathy for those who have made important choices, overcame obstacles, sacrificed for the betterment of others and embarked on journeys that resulted in new ideas, new inventions and new communities throughout the world and history.

Children will expand their knowledge of these extraordinary heroes and heroines while developing an understanding of the economic, cultural and scientific contributions described in these biographies.

With a wide range and continuity of human experiences this series introduces the concepts of courage, self-control, justice, heroism, leadership and patriotism in America. While it is also reinforces and develops core curriculum knowledge, skills and builds positive character values by promoting personal, social, and civic responsibilities.

At the end of our lessons I like to incorporate a day filled with activities or a field trip.Last year we had a pow wow with activities, food and music. I listed below a few recipes I used.

Buffalo Stew

Ingredients

1 1/2 lbs buffalo, cut into small pieces ( like stew meat)
2 tablespoons whole wheat flour
5 potatoes, with skin
2 cups baby carrots
2 medium onions
8 ounces mushrooms
1 (14 1/2 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with juice
4 bay leaves
oregano
fresh ground pepper and salt
2 cups beef broth

Directions

Dredge Buffalo in Flour, set aside.
Slice Potatoes, place in bottom of the slow cooker.
Cut onions into large pieces and layer over potatoes.
Clean Mushrooms thoroughly, cut in half, and layer over onions.
Layer Baby Carrots over mushrooms.
Layer floured Buffalo over carrots.
Pour Diced Tomatoes and liquid evenly over Buffalo.
Season with Bay Leaf, Oregano, and Pepper.
Pour Vegetable Broth evenly over all.
Cook on low for 8-10 hours, stirring towards end.

Were lucky enough to have a buffalo farm close to us. Last year Legend drove there with the bull and they loved it! I served our stew with corn and Navajo Fry bread. And it me tell ya- it was delish! Below is a few books we use for school. My favorite ones for storybook reading and storytelling is I know An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Pie. And this year I even have a really cool activity to go along with it. The Activity involves the children retelling the story using the cards and printout. Click here for the activity.

So this year I would love to change it up a bit and maybe have the boys invite 1-2 friends over. Which brings me to crafts and ideas. I'm lovin' (like always) Martha Stewart's celebrational ideas for Thanksgiving. Here are a few pics I wouldn't mind incorporating.

Well y'all, there you have it. I pray each of you have a blessed Thanksgiving.

God Bless

I've Been Tagged! Want To Know More..(Plus Home School Room Pics!)

2010-10-24T00:12:00.001-05:00

Hey Y'all. To all my readers, I'm sorry I haven't been the vigilant writer/reader for sometime. This year has been extremely busy for me. But all is well. Praise the Lord. Jeanine over at Peel Academy tagged me awhile back with some questions. So without further a due....here it is!

What do you love most about homeschooling? I love seeing the "I get it" look on my children's faces. Its wonderful.
What is your favorite way to socialize? We recently joined a home school co-op. Its fantastic. Besides that were planning on enrolling the boys in home school activities this winter at the YMCA. Oh...and once/twice a year I throw a educational themed party.
What is one of your attributes that only other homeschoolers understand? Knowing my child and there ability. There strengths and weaknesses.
What makes you human (i.e. less then perfect)? Hmm.. I could take a picture but I think some of you would be horrified..just kidding. Housekeeping. Seriously-I go on a streak of keeping my house clean for a few days then it looks like a frat house afterward.The sad part is most of the junk is from me!
What are your strengths? I love reading and learning new things.
What books are you enjoying? Spring's Renewal By Shellie Shepard Gray.
What charitable or social cause would you devote your time to if time was not an issue? My family and I serve at a shelter each Christmas. If I could I would love to do it twice a month.
What do you want to be when you grow up?... lol Hmm...I've thought about being a pediatric doctor. But by the time I would finished I'd be older then dirt and water.

So after a long winter by the time spring came, I was so tired at looking at our drab home school room that I decided I would liven it up for 2010-2011 school year. So I crawled the Internet looking for great ideas. I found inspiration for our room at Pottery Barn Kids.

So for weeks I worked on painting and rearranging. The left pic is the entryway into our transformed room. I loved the look of Pottery Barn Kids-Reading room (picture to the right). I couldn't figure out what to do about artwork. Then a light went on (upstairs!). I could use pictures from the old damage children's books I have laying around. Even though we have replaced them I still could never bring myself to throwing away books that I've loved reading to my children.

The Midnight Farm by Reeve Lindbergh is my all time favorite book I enjoy reading to my boys. It has such beautiful paintings. If you have ones who are afraid of the dark this is a must-read! Now can you guess what book the picture at the bottom left is from?)

I really wanted this jumbo ruler that Pottery Barn Kids had (no longer available). But the price tag was out of my budget. So I thought and said aloud like my three-old "I can do it myself". And I did. See! (Pictures: left- home school room. Right- Pottery Barn Kids) I'll be posting a tutorial and more pics on my new blog sometime in this century (hopefully in the next few weeks along with some other goodies. Stay tuned!)

Our first year of home school we purchased some big ticket items like the rug pictured (Menards). And this easel by Little Tikes (Americana Wood Make Believe Easel)to go with his toy box (Americana Wood toy box) . They've held up wonderfully. It's funny too because we bought these items when we lived in a two bedroom apartment that was around 780 square feet! Now we've dedicated a spare room for schooling. Both of these items though are no longer available. The picture to the right is a shot of what you would see when leaving. So that's all folks.Thank you for joining here at The Way We Home School. God Bless.

Free Sample Shout Color Catcher

2010-09-02T10:46:00.000-05:00

Sign up to receive a free sample of Shout color catcher. 1 per household. They also have a .55 cent coupon good on any Shout Color Catcher.

Get A Free Trio Race Car Set

2010-09-02T10:39:00.000-05:00

What a great deal. Head on over to Mattel to sign up for a free trio race car set for your child. Shipping is absolutely free!

Free Magazine Subscription Lego Club

2010-09-02T10:20:00.001-05:00

I found this goodie posted over at Well Trained Homeschool. LEGO® Education and LEGO Club are proud to offer exclusive LEGO Club Jr. School Edition Magazines and LEGO Education Teacher's Guides to first-grade educators this fall!

These special publications continue the LEGO philosophy of providing children with products that promote imagination, pique curiosity, and enhance learning. Both focus on fire safety and provide important information on what these young learners should know in case of an emergency.

The LEGO Club Jr. School Edition Magazine is designed specifically for first graders. The edition includes exciting puzzles, comics, and games with a fire safety theme. These activities focus on basic reading, math, and critical-reasoning skills.

The LEGO Club Jr. School Edition Magazine combines the thrill of LEGO building with content that will help your students learn important safety tips - and best of all, it's FREE!

In addition, a custom LEGO Education Teacher's Guide will be sent with each magazine order. The guides are filled with hands-on activities, classroom tidbits, and articles about how you can create a LEGO SmartTM classroom for your students!

To recieve complimentary copies of the LEGO Club Jr. School Edition Magazine and Teacher's Guide, simply complete our online request form located at Lego Education.

For additional information or to inquire about other LEGO Education promotions, contact Debra at dsmith@LEGOeducation.us.

30% Off Everything Coupon Gymboree-Hurry Offer Ends Soon

2010-08-21T11:19:00.000-05:00

Head on over to facebook and print off a 30% coupon valid on everything at Gymboree. (You don't need a facebook account to print coupon). Hurry this offer ends 8/23.

Versatile Blog Award

2010-08-05T09:27:00.001-05:00

To Grab this award, right click on the picture and copy link/location.

The journey of homeschool begins with all of us flying by the seat of our pants. Versatile in every way, we strive to educate our children with the end result in mind. Thank you so much Rachelle for this award. This award is one that every homeschooler should have. But to follow the rules (listed below) I would like to share a few blogs that I enjoy grabbing information and insight from (Sorry guys. I'm not going to meet the 5 blog rule). Evenspor, writer and mother of beeper from Walk Beside Me delivers such wonderful articles and information on Montessori learning. Dana, wife and mother of three from Noggins & Nonsense (don'tcha just love the name!) has a blog filled with information. Both of these wonderfully-spirited blogs have given me ideas and helped with homeschooling this year. So gals, congrats!

Now about me....

I have a desire to sew (quilting, crochet....), scrap book, garden, and can. (I need to find the time. Its a desire I have that I think would better my family. Hmmm....Proverbs 31.)
I love to stash candy for myself (My own little treat. My little secret?... I just ate the last candy bar from a 8pk (no judging...lol) I had stashed yesterday. I know as my metabolism slows down that this is going to be one of the things that's going to come back and bite me where it hurts-seriously!).
I love to paint and draw but haven't done it in years. This is one road many thought I would go down...(sigh)Maybe someday.
I love snuggling in bed with my boys (including Legend).
I never learned how to whistle. I always made this high pitch sound with my voice that kind of sounded like a whistle but its not. Now my oldest son, the bull does the same thing. Crazy, huh!
AHHH....I'm very forgetful. I'm suppose to write seven things right? See what I mean!
See! And I can't even think of one last thing. So there you have it folks. I hope that you all have a blessed week.

The rules for the Versatile Blogger Award are:
1. Share 7 things about yourself, and
2. Pass the award on to 5 fellow bloggers (with links to their blogs)

Free Lunch Sack

2010-07-30T16:08:00.001-05:00

Are you a Annie's fan? My house is. I purchase a box of cheddar bunnies a week (my splurge on the grocery list). Right now Annie's has a promotion of purchase two of any items and receive a free lunch tote. Enter in your barcodes and info and they send it out to you in 6-8 weeks. Click here for details.

Free Subway Random Acts Of Fitness Kit

2010-07-22T12:23:00.000-05:00

Subway currently has a program going to to promote fitness and healthy eating for children. Teachers and educators can sign up for a free Subway random acts of fitness kit.

Free Online Typing Lessons For Kids

2010-07-16T05:52:00.000-05:00

Here are some great websites that I stumbled upon.

1. Learn each of the keys from Dance Mat Typing

This is a full-fledged typing course for kids, systematically teaching them practically every key of the keyboard. The lessons are animated and fun, and while I think some time is wasted in the animated sections of the lessons, the step-by-step process is very thorough. The program is unintimidating and highly effective.

2. Practice typing full words and sentences with Keybr.com

Once all the keys on the keyboard are learned, children can move on to Keybr.com. They have the choice to practice typing random words/non-words, to practice custom text, or to practice the text from any website or blog. Practicing typing real words is the best way to hone a child's typing skills, so I'd suggest using the custom text of website/blog option. (You'll need to click the button above the keyboard next to word Tutorial to change the text settings.)

Keybr.com shows the student's speed, errors, as well as the particular keys which are the weakest. This site is extremely well-designed and offers enough custom features to make it useful for a long time without getting boring.

Free Learning Websites For Kids

2010-07-13T15:52:00.002-05:00

Funschool.com and FunBrain.com offers great games for grades preschool-sixth grade. Best of all it's free! These links will be added to the bulls folder. Stay tuned. I'm also going to be adding preschool sites for toothpick this year.

Oscar Mayer Coupon Galore

2010-07-12T12:34:00.000-05:00

Ooo...I love getting on Oscar Mayer's Good Mood Mission website and seeing all the wonderful goodies they have to offer. Right now you can print up to 2 coupons of the following:

1.00 off 1-Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh Meat (I just bought some yesterday at Target for around 3 bucks. The smoked turkey taste divine with croissants)
1.00 off 1-Oscar Mayer Deli Creations ( a few months back I printed this coupon and got the Deli Creations lunchables for free at Wal-Mart)
1.00 off-1 Oscar Mayer Turkey Bacon. YUM!

Have a good Monday (and go ahead and sing with them!).

Best Mexican Lasagna Ever

2010-07-10T16:49:00.000-05:00

Mexican Lasagna

Legend absolutely loves this! Looks delish, huh...

Prep time: 20 mins Makes:4-6 servings

Ingredients

1/2 onion, chopped

1 lb. ground beef

1 green pepper, chopper

2tsp chili powder

2T cumin

salt and pepper to taste on ground beef (or use about 1/2T each)

1 pkg.(10oz) of corn (I'm a born and raised Iowan. And I gotta say Target's Market Pantry yellow and white frozen corn is the best when you can't get fresh.)

3 tortillas

1/2c sour cream

1c sharp cheddar cheese, divided

1 1/4c thick salsa ( I love the mild Archer Farms Thick Salsa)

Directions

Heat oven to 375.
Brown meat with onions, peppers and seasonings on medium heat. Add salsa and corn; mix well. Simmer for 5 minutes.
Spread 1c of meat sauce onto bottom of 8 or 9 inch square baking dish; next top with layers of 1 tortilla, 1/2c meat sauce, sour cream and 1/4c cheese. Cover with 1 tortilla, 1c of meat sauce and 1/4c. of cheese; top with remaining tortilla and meat sauce. Cover with foil.
Bake for 25 minutes or until lasagna is heated through. Top with remaining cheese; and bake uncovered for about 5 minutes.
Enjoy!

This is a lasagna dish can be prepared ahead of time. In fact, I think everything taste better once it hits the fridge.

God Bless

Today's Scripture

Sing Aloud to God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
Psalms 81:1

Our Lives, Our Fortunes, Our Sacred Honor

2010-07-06T12:10:00.000-05:00

The future of liberty depends on reclaiming America's first principles, and The Heritage Foundation is leading the call to awaken our country and get it back on course. Right now you can get a free pocket-sized Declaration of Independence and Constitution. Rush Limbaugh shared a wonderful speech from his father on his website called The Americans Who Risked Everything and the Declaration. At the end he wrote:

My friends, I know you have a copy of the Declaration of Independence somewhere around the house - in an old history book (newer ones may well omit it), an encyclopedia, or one of those artificially aged "parchments" we all got in school years ago. I suggest that each of you take the time this month to read through the text of the Declaration, one of the most noble and beautiful political documents in human history.

There is no more profound sentence than this: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness..."

These are far more than mere poetic words. The underlying ideas that infuse every sentence of this treatise have sustained this nation for more than two centuries. They were forged in the crucible of great sacrifice. They are living words that spring from and satisfy the deepest cries for liberty in the human spirit.

"Sacred honor" isn't a phrase we use much these days, but every American life is touched by the bounty of this, the Founders' legacy. It is freedom, tested by blood, and watered with tears.

- Rush Limbaugh III

I invite everyone to stop for a moment and read it. I truly feel that the Declaration of Independence was divinely-written and inspired by our Heavenly Father. As we ponder upon the words, let your heart and mind be centered on our life today, as our Heavenly Father has and continues to shed grace on each and everyone of us.
God Bless

$15 Certificate To Famous Dave's

2010-06-30T15:48:00.000-05:00

Become a fan for Famous Dave's on facebook and receive a $15 printable gift certificate with a purchase of an entree. Valid at participating Famous Dave's listed. Hurry this offer ends soon!

Fourth Of July Cupcakes And Crafts

2010-06-29T15:27:00.004-05:00

I love celebrating the fourth of July. Teaching the bull the past few years about America and the flag has really given me an appreciation for our country and those who serve. One of the greatest songs that I love to hear is America The Beautiful. As I listen to it and ponder on the words, I thank our Heavenly Father for his blessings He has bestowed upon me and each of us as His children.

So hold your head up high as we celebrate as a country the fourth. We all are truly blessed and have so much to celebrate as we live here in America, the land of the free.
God Bless

Make your own fourth of July Confetti Popper Rockets with a few easy steps by Alphamom

Join the American Revolution with this fun take on silhouettes by no fuss fabulous.

Boy, don't he look good! I love cupcakes and these red white and blue cupcakes from tidy mom are darling. Below is a great recipe for the perfect cupcake. Its so easy and tasty that know one will know its not from scratch!

Gott'em Fooled Cupcakes

Ingredients

1 box mix - (any flavor but get a good kind. I love me some Duncan Hines!)

3 Large Eggs

1/2 cup butter, melted (use butter not margarine....trust me on this!)

1 cup of water

1t. vanilla extract

Directions

Place the butter in the microwave on HIGH for 1 minute or until melted. Allow time to cool so it doesn't cook the egg.

Add cake mix, eggs and water to the butter in large bowl. Add vanilla.

Mix on low for 1 min. Then mix on high for 1 min.

You'll be amazed by your batter looking so thick and creamy.

Fill cupcake papers - tip: use an ice cream scooper- One scoop is just the right amount per cupcake!

Pop them in the oven on 350 for 20 minutes.

Lessons Learned From Home Schooling

2010-06-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

Children definitely learn from parents but can we grab a lesson or two from them? Certainly! This year has been a great experience for me. At the beginning of the year I thought school was going to go and be "a certain way" only to realize later it wasn't. I thought school should be ran like a business with set working hours. Fine and dandy if your the type to do it but I'm not. I've realized I'm more of a eclectic teacher and learner(" flying by the seat of our pants"!).

I'm thankful for my oldest son (the bull) for telling me the things he liked and the things he didn't like. We even had the discussion on why he doesn't go to school with other boys and girls (haven't arrived there yet with your kids? You will). So what's the solution? Listen. Not to sound braggadocios here (that word sounds like Willy Wonka invented it) but my oldest is brilliant with a Gene Wilder type-spirit! So we've decided to join a co-op for this year. As for my youngest son (toothpick)? He did surprisingly well this year. For the first part of the year we felt he was a little behind as we compared him with our oldest. Lesson learned from that? Every child is different. It's easy to say everyone's different but I think parents can get in a funk of thinking opposite when it comes to there children.

So here's the big question "why not send them to school"? In a homeschool co-op setting, single families can share their academic goals, morals, religious beliefs and social behaviors. Children can learn similar beliefs and social structures from observation and interaction from different members of the co-op. Scheduling is a big part of any type of homeschool program and Both boys and I can learn time management as well as experience some classroom time with other children.

So there you have it. Has anyone else learned any lesson from there children this past year? If so please share!

To all my readers, thanks so much for following here at The Way We Home School. My computer went in glitz in April so this is my first post in awhile. I look forward to hearing from you all soon.

Teacher Appreciation Week Giveaway Galore May 4-27,2010 ((closed))

2010-05-04T17:00:00.001-05:00

Having a desire. A desire to teach and to learn from children is a qualification that makes so many men and women want to become teachers. For homeschooling, the past couple decades have gone from being a rare, fringe-group phenomenon that was usually done by only non-conformist to an up and coming mainstream form of education. I salute all who have chosen to go down the path of teaching. As a mother and teacher I can say its such a blessing and learning experience for my whole family. As a special thanks I've decided to have a giveaway galore here at The Way We Home School for Teacher Appreciation Week. I hope that each of you have a wonderfully-blessed May month.

A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.
-Henry B. Adams

Keep your sweetie pies amused with these Match & Munch food cutters from Lunch Punch. I just received a set a few days ago and my boys love them (I'll be posting pics. If your new here let me tell ya I take a ton of pics of food!)

Beverly Lewis has done it again! With a fantastic series, The Telling was everything I hoped for as she strings readers along for the truth to be revealed.

Overwhelmed? Wonder how others do it all? Not sure if your cut out for home schooling?

In this book Sonya Haskins provides a practical-encouraging guide to helping families meet challenges of home schooling as she touches on the countless benefits for families to enjoy.

Let the entries begin! Here's how to enter

1 entry per subscriber.
Additional entries: 1 per entry for the following: zap this to any of the following: Buzz it, twitter, Digg, and Technorati. Please let me know on separate entries of each zap!

Lunch Punch Giveaway Set

The Telling by Beverly Lewis

Homeschooling for the Rest of Us by Sonya Haskins

Official Rules & Blog Disclaimer.

Ah, yes here is the little fine print. Due to regulations, which are good I am disclosing that I was not paid by Lunch Punch or Bethany Publishing for this giveaway. The Telling by Beverly Lewis is a advanced copy I recieved months back as well as Homeschooling for the Rest of Us.This contest is open to all readers 18 years of age and something-ish older. The Teacher Appreciation Giveaway at The Way We Home School begins Monday May 4,2010 at 5:00PM CST and will end Friday May 27,2010. The winner will be chosen by Random.org. and will be notified via through email and the lucky ducks will be announced here at The Way We Home School.

Target Haul April 18-24 2010

2010-04-25T00:38:00.000-05:00

This past week Target had Seventh generation products on sale for 2.85 or less. I combined Targets 1.00 off coupon and seventh generations and grabbed a ton of cleaning products. Also Target has a 3.00 coupon for men's apparel. I grabbed Legend three pair that were on sale for 2.50 each. With the coupon they were all free! And you guys know (I hope) I love free!

$1Off Coupon Any Jimmy Dean Product

2010-04-24T15:09:00.002-05:00

Become a fan of Facebook and get $1 off any Jimmy Dean product. This coupon can be printed twice.

Fig Newton 1.00off Coupon

2010-04-23T20:00:00.001-05:00

Head on over to Facebook and grab a 1.00off coupon for Fig Newtons. Hurry this coupon will go soon.

What Does The Bible Say About Personal Responsibility?

2010-04-23T14:34:00.003-05:00

Have you seen this at the bottom of my post? Ya haven't? Well check it out! Last year I began going to a ladies bible study where we used materials from pastor Andy Stanley, and guest speakers at North Point Community Church. Taking responsibility is a principle that we must embrace if we plan to have happiness and success in life and work. I have struggles every now and then with personal responsibility. As a wife, homeschool mother, friend and daughter I know that God wants me and each and everyone of us to be responsible. So for the next few weeks I will be posting weekly cap. This video will be up for another week so you can view it here or on North Point's website.

My Scripture reading for today:
II Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad.

God Bless

Sample of Breathe Right Strips

2010-04-23T09:39:00.000-05:00

Request a sample for two Breathe Right Extra strips. Sometimes companies send coupons with there samples. So I would head on over to Target's website and print off there coupon just in case!

Wonderful Wordless Wednesday

2010-04-21T06:53:00.000-05:00

(I know its not wordless. Funny ha ha...Earth Day tomorrow!)

Reward Calendar=Free Chuck E. Cheese Tokens

2010-04-21T06:32:00.000-05:00

Looking for a fun way to reward your kids for their accomplishments? Head on over to Chuck E. Cheese's website to download and print free reward calendars to help your kids develop in areas that are some of the most common challenges of parenting.

Download and print out the calendar. Then take it in completed to Chuck E. Cheese's and receive 10 free tokens as a reward.