Homeschool Sites and Info

I am posting this here to have it all in one place.  These were some emails that were shared between other homeschool moms.  Mostly sites that we got ideas and info from.

Here is the preschool plan we are somewhat following.  We got a lot of ideas from here, but are doing our own thing with it.  We are definitely following the letter order she suggests (Montessori).  If you scroll down on this page you will see the order.

http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.com/RaisingRockStarsPreschool.html

I plan on making a display board like hers, but modifying it to work with what we do.  Adding calendar time to mine.  I'll send you a picture when I get it done!  I hope to do that this week!

We did order the My ABC Bible Verses book she uses for this plan.  You can see that in the Sample Lesson here.

http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.com/RaisingRockStarsPreschoolSAMPLE.html

We definitely wanted to incorporate the Bible.  I love how this plan has a memory verse each week and the lesson follows it.  After getting the book, we decided the verses are a little long (still do-able, I'm sure).  However, we found another memory verse plan that seems much more simple.  It's called Songs for Saplings.  You can purchase a CD or download the music.  It has songs that teach the verses, rather than a book and story.  We plan on doing Songs for Saplings this year and My ABC Bible Verses probably next year.  They both look great!  You can get free printables here.  

http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.net/2012/09/songs-for-saplings-abc-bible-verse-printable-pack/

We will be using some of the Preschool Packs (themes) each week.  Melissa also has a Preschool Bible activity book that has a lesson and craft that we will pull from as well.  

http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.com/PreschoolPacks.html

I plan on making Lucy a Tot Time Notebook.  This will give her something to do if I need one on one time helping Zac.  It is her own alphabet and number binder.  I'll slide the sheets in sheet protectors and she can color them with dry erase markers over and over!  I plan on including her as much as possible, but I think she has awhile before she can write.  Zac is just barely starting to trace, so that will be our focus this year.  You can download that here.

http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.com/TotTimeNotebook.html

I'll also be making Zac his own binder to practice writing.  This was one thing I did purchase from the website.  For $1.25.  :)  I will also add the number pages that is in the Tot Time Notebook like Lucy's.

http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.net/2012/02/letter-tracing-printables/

Melissa also pulled the preschool recommendations for math, science, etc.  So we know what is suggested that they know each year.  We will be adding those as well.  I'll share more about that in the next few days.  I'll also work on a calendar to share with you that has our theme's each week like I told you.  And you are welcome to come over and chat anytime!  I'll send you ideas as I get them and I'd love to hear any you have as well!

We will be introducing 3 sight words each week.  I'll send you a list of the words later!

 

Here is one of many sites with a list of site words.  Melissa gave me a printed list and without matching exactly, this list of the first 110 Dolch Words looks like the list she gave me.  We plan on introducing 3 words per week.  I will hang them on my "morning/calendar board" and tell him the word and use them in a sentence, etc.  Then I will have a place to display all of the words after we learn them, so they are always up for him to see.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/dolch/

First 110 Dolch Words  (You can print the list using this link)
Print a chart of the first 110 Dolch words. You can use this chart to check off the words you know or to review the words. Words: a, and, away, big, blue, can, come, down, find, for, funny, go, help, here, I, in, is, it, jump, little, look, make, me, my, not, one, play, red, run, said, see, the, three, to, two, up, we, where, yellow, you, all, am, are, at, ate, be, black, brown, but, came, did, do, eat, four, get, good, have, he, into, like, must, new, no, now, on, our, out, please, pretty, ran, ride, saw, say, she, so, soon, that, there, they, this, too, under, want, was, well, went, what, white, who, will, with, yes, after, again, an, any, as, ask, by, could, every, fly, from, give, giving, had, has, her, him, his.

That's a start.  I am working on a calendar to send to you.  I just realized the time and need to get ready to take the kids to their first movie in a theater!  Planes.  So excited!

 

Hi Friends!

I put together a calendar to share, so that if anyone wants to join us for field trips we can study the same themes those weeks.  Also to share ideas that we will be doing throughout the year.  For now, there isn't much detail.  I will add specific ideas and share where I got them as we go.  You can click on each "subject" for details.  The first week I have added notes in and will add more as we go.  I'd love to hear any ideas you have too!  And if anyone else you know would like to see the calendar I'm happy to share.  Just send me their email address and I will add them.  

I will be teaching Tuesdays and Thursdays and we are doing a co-op on Fridays. 

Every school day we will do Calendar time, Bible memory verse, Letter of the Week/Handwriting, Reading, Science/Social Studies, and Math.  

Tuesdays: Sight Words and either Art or PE

Thursdays: Chunk Words and either Music or Theatre (Here's an example for chunk words. A word that ends with "ap" clap, map, etc. I'll make an index card with "ap" and then a few cards with letters to add at the front to create words.)

Field Trips are not scheduled yet.  I just put them in on a random day, so I wouldn't forget to plan it if it works into our schedule that week.

I'm sure things will change often and am ready for that.  I will edit as we go.  

 

Here is a great website for fun science projects.  Most of it is super simple and you may think, "Why didn't I think of this?"  Great ideas and mostly items you have in your house!  

http://www.playcreateexplore.org/p/activites-for-ages-1-3.html

A couple that we have loved are Cloud Dough (Use lavendar baby oil!  Smells delicious!) and the Baking Soda and Vinegar mixtures (my sister has a daughter and they love making "potions" with glitter and food coloring in fun pretty glass vases).

http://www.playcreateexplore.org/2012/01/cloud-dough-is-awesome.html

http://www.playcreateexplore.org/2012/05/colored-vinegar-and-baking-soda.html

I just saw toothpicks and marshmallows!  I loved doing this when I was little!  Total flashback.  Now I want to do this and it's summer.  haha

http://www.playcreateexplore.org/2012/02/toothpicks-and-marshmallows.html

I'm also loving these letter games.  I can't wait to try them out!

http://www.playcreateexplore.org/2012/10/learning-games-with-laminated-alphabet.html

Sight Words

Here is a list of the Pre-primer (preschool) Dolch Sight Words.  I am pretty sure we thought there were 100 words, but it looks like there are only 40.  We had planned on introducing 3 per week, but maybe we will do less.  Maybe 2 a week and then review or start over mid-year.  I'll let you know what we decide.  And no particular order.  We will probably start with words our kids hear often or relate to most (me, and).  

http://www.havefunteaching.com/tools/word-lists/dolch-sight-word-lists.pdf

Math

Here is what is suggested to learn for preschool math.  For each subject I will add our ideas in the details as we go.  For the first week, we are focusing on counting objects 1-10.  We will use 3 different sets of objects to count (beans, pasta, cars, etc.).  The second week we will count objects 1-15.  A friend suggested using an egg carton to count objects (up to 12 anyway).  Week 3 we will count 1-20.  That at least gives you a starting idea.

Count 1-20

Count objects

Order (What comes before/after)

More/less

Adding and taking away objects in a set

Repeating pattern ABC

Attributes

Measurement (length (long/short), weight (heavy/light, size (big/small), and distance (near/far)

Basic Shapes (squares, circles, triangles, and rectangles)

Suggested science/social studies skills for preschool.

Emotions (happy, sad, angry, afraid, frustrated, lonely, bored) Do we really need to teach them what bored is already?  I'm skipping this skill.

Complete tasks

Participation

Objects in motion (fast/slow, push/pull, kick, roll)

5 senses

Animal habitats

Living objects (alive/not alive)

Mothers/Babies matching

Zac's Preschool Interview

For whatever reason, I can not figure out how to post the video directly in here.  Ugh!  So, click the link below to watch his Preschool Interview.

Zac's Preschool Interview

What’s your name? Zac
How old are you? 3
Who’s your best friend? Leaf best friend (While taking pictures, I was tickling them with a leaf. I had said this is my friend “Leaf” hiding the leaf and tickling them.)
What’s your favorite color? Blue
What’s your favorite show? Super Why!
What’s your favorite song? “I Love You Lord”
Do you want to sing it? No. The band sings it.
What’s your favorite animal? Zebra
What’s your favorite food? Banana
What food is yucky? Yeah (Later he told me fish and salad is yucky)
What do you like to play? Motorcycles. I like blue motorcycles.
Where do you like to go? To the zoo
What is your favorite animal at the zoo? Giraffe
What does a giraffe say? Licks lips… and the step!
What do you want to be when you grow up? Grass. I want to play in the grass!
Who do you think is really cool? Me
What do you love? The zoo
What’s your favorite thing about Zac? Yeah
What did you do when you were little? Yeah
What do you like to do with Mama? …
What do you like to do with Daddy? At the zoo
What do you like to do with Mama? At the zoo
What are you excited to learn at school? Coloring and painting

Are you excited? Yeah

Lucy's Preschool Interview

For whatever reason, I can not figure out how to post the video directly in here.  Ugh!  So, click the link below to watch her Preschool Interview.

Lucy's Preschool Interview

What’s your name? Sissy
How old are you? 3… 1
Who’s your best friend? 1?
What’s your favorite color? Pink
What’s your favorite book? Computer. With Grandma. (I was so confused for a minute, but realized she was saying she liked the computer at the library with Grandma Kelli the day before school started.)
What’s your favorite show? Turtles! (A Turtle Tale)
What’s your favorite song? …
What’s your favorite animal? Elephant sound
What’s your favorite food? Giraffes (not a food) Salad!
What food is yucky? Bananas (It wasn’t until I did this interview that I realized she didn’t like bananas. She is a slow eater and doesn’t eat much, but now I know why it took so long each morning!)
Where do you like to go? School
What do you want to be when you grow up? I grow up. (Zac in the background says, “I’m growing up.”
What do you love? Potty
What’s your favorite thing about Lucy? Treats
(She starts being silly and refuses any more answers after her brother laughs and encourages the silliness.)
What did you do when you were little? …
What do you like to do with Mama? …
What do you like to do with Daddy? …
What do you want to learn at school? Should we go to school? Yeah

Me, Homeschool?!

Homeschool is something I never thought I would even consider.  It wasn’t until hearing about it through church that it even became appealing.  And even then, I didn’t know if it was something I would ever even want to do for my kids.  Then, God started leading me to it.  I saw how smart some of the kids at church were.  And how kind they were.  And how they weren’t weird OR socially awkward.  In fact, they were some of my favorite kids, because they were so smart and nice and the kind of people I found myself saying, “I want my kids to be like these kids!”  Over the past couple of years I feel like God has gently shown me reasons to homeschool.  So, here we are.  Starting preschool at home! 

I’m so thankful for the homeschool mama’s that have encouraged me to do this when I felt totally overwhelmed and incapable.  I’m extremely thankful for my friend and former 1st-2nd grade teacher who offered to do all the planning and I could just tag along!  I was especially overwhelmed by deciding what curriculum/plan to follow as there is SO much out there.  We decided to go with free and simple!  She basically has done most of the planning and organizing and we meet every couple of weeks to go over the details for the weeks ahead.  Such a blessing!  She has great ideas for teaching that are so simple and fun that I wouldn’t have thought of on my own.  Plus, she has given me so many fun supplies to use indefinitely (as long as I homeschool or until I move away she says)! 

With Zac just turning 3 and Lucy just turning 2 we are starting our first year of preschool.  My focus is on Zac this year, but Lucy is right there with us following along.  She colors letter pages while he works on handwriting.  We do school Tuesdays and Thursdays for an hour or two.  And Zac will go to a Homeschool Co-op at a church with other families on Fridays.  There are 7 kids in the class and the moms take turns teaching.  We will go on group field trips throughout the year with our homeschool friends.  And they both go to the toddler class at church on Sundays.  Plenty of time to socialize! 

It feels so good to have some sort of routine and schedule!  I think we all need it!  Most of it is just play.  Being intentional and making learning fun.  They learn so much right now and it is so important to be involved in what they are learning.  Most importantly we want them to have a relationship with Jesus!  Our day starts with reading our Bible and praying for God to lead our day.  And we incorporate our lesson with our Bible.

For now, I’ll post our first day of school pictures.  I have a few favorites and the rest are just silly and fun.  I couldn’t not post them.  I want to be able to have them all in one place when I look back over time.

 

Our Class Photo – Teacher and Students

Here come the extras…  The craziness in me wants to edit each and every photo, but I am so behind on my photos as it is that I will just post them as they are to get this done!

Sassy Sissy.  She is a ham!

First curls!

Trying to get a picture of them both looking and smiling is near impossible.  The one at the top was the last picture taken and I just happened to snap it at just the right second that he leaned in to her while laughing!  Praise God!  It’s my favorite!

“Zac put your arm around Lucy.” Instead, she puts her arms around herself…

He really does love her.  Look at his love face!  Ha!

My 3rd Pregnancy

My third pregnancy was cut short.  Way too short.  I still wanted to document this babies story.  Even though it isn’t the fun, exciting story I wish I could share. 

I miscarried at just 5 weeks.  One week after we got a positive pregnancy test.  The very night we told our families our exciting news.

We had been praying for a baby for 6 months.  We got pregnant right away with our first two.  I’m not sure if it was all the negative tests I had taken or if it was the extremely faint line we finally got that left me in disbelief from the beginning.  It was all so strange.  I had kept track of my cycle, which was 26 days since November with a couple 28 day cycles mixed in.  Never later than that.  This time, I didn’t get a positive test until I was 3 days late.  31 days.  I thought I had started on day 27, but it stopped.  I had taken 3 negative tests!  On day 31, I took another test.  Luke swore he saw a line.  It was like, if you hold it up in the right light MAYBE there was a line.  He insisted.  So, I took another one.  Another faint line, but not quite as faint.  I told him I still didn’t believe it and that I needed one that said “Pregnant” or “Not Pregnant”. 

And it said, “Pregnant”.  It was even so fancy to tell me “1-2 Weeks Pregnant”.

I did not feel pregnant.  Other than the week leading up I had been extra tired and extra cranky.  Like, really cranky.  Which is how Luke knows I’m pregnant.  First sign.  Nothing else.  Oh, except that week I knew I was pregnant, all I wanted to eat were sweets.  Especially any cold, frozen sweet treat!

This time felt different.  It never felt real.  Neither of us felt the excitement we felt with my first two pregnancies.  Don’t get me wrong, we were excited.  It just felt different.

We took our first pregnancy pictures.

I sent Luke a picture saying, “Hi Daddy!” 

I had to be sneaky, because I was at the park with my sister and didn’t want her to see me taking pictures of my belly quite yet. 

I missed my belly in the first one and had to try again.

I didn’t want to tell anyone for awhile.  I had told my Mom and sisters about how weird it was that I was late and yet still had negative tests.  So, they had been asking if I had started.  I continued to tell them no.  I told Luke if they asked if I was pregnant, I would have to tell them.  They never did.  I laughed every time they asked if I had started, just waiting to tell them!  For a week, I even had pictures ready to send them of the tests I took!  Luke is usually so anxious to spill the beans that everyone knows as soon as we do. 

We waited. 

We were at the Bees baseball game exactly a week later with Luke’s whole family.  I was sitting with the girls and Luke had gone off with the guys.  I got excited and told him he could tell the guys and I’ll tell the girls, but the window of opportunity would close when he got back.  He said ok.  So, I had Zac tell Grandma Kelli and Aunt Faye, “Mom has a baby in her belly.”  He got shy and was too quiet for them to understand.  But, they got it eventually.  When Luke got back, I asked if he told them.  He didn’t.  Nice plan, right.  ;)  He wanted Zac to tell them.  So, it was the same quiet voice nobody understood.  Ha.  Everyone was excited!

I sent off this picture to my family saying, “Do you see a line?” 

Followed by, “Me neither, but Luke insisted that he did.  So, we took two more!” (or something like that).  Followed by this picture.

Everyone was so excited! 

That night just before putting the kids to bed, I noticed I was spotting.  It didn’t worry me.  Spotting is normal in early pregnancy. 

But, throughout the night it got heavier.  I knew.  It was too much.  I was up all night.  In the bathroom.  Just to see if it had stopped.  Instead it was more and more.  I told Luke I was nervous.  He was too.  We both knew.  And I knew there was nothing we could do. 

I called the doctor first thing Tuesday morning.  Luke and Lucy’s birthday.  Instead of making a first doctors appointment for my pregnancy, I was making a call to confirm a miscarriage. 

I went in that day to check my hCG levels and progesterone.  Luke left work and met me there to watch the kids.  We were back at the hospital where Lucy was born exactly 2 years ago.  I had already passed so much blood and clots.  I went to the bathroom before going to the lab.  I stopped midstream thinking “Wait! What if I need to pee in a cup!”  I quickly looked to see what else I had passed and notice gray tissue that looked like a tiny cord with a tiny sac at the end.  And since can not find anything that looks like what I saw.  I read about passing clots and gray tissue, just nothing like a cord.  Strange.  Anyway, I went and had my blood drawn (did not pee in a cup).  Results came a couple hours later.  My numbers were not as high as the nurse expected they would be (only 80).  She said that those are numbers of a 1-2 week pregnancy.  I would have been 5 weeks from my last missed period.  She said that it is likely a failed pregnancy.  It could be a chemical pregnancy, which I guess is where it would show up positive on a pregnancy test, but not physically yet on an ultrasound.  She told me, but was sure not to get my hopes up, that it could be a very early pregnancy.  And possibly an ectopic or tubal pregnancy.  I was told to come back for more testing in two days.

I sent my family a message with the bad news a day after I had told them the good news. 

I truly had peace.  I had told them that I was sad, but I had peace that God knows best.  I am so thankful that His plan is perfect and if this baby was not that, it was ok.  I can’t imagine going through this without knowing that.  Without God.  I can not imagine.  Not just this, but life.  How did I do it without God?  I didn’t have peace.  I was constantly frustrated that things didn’t go my way.  That’s how.

I really wasn’t very emotional.  Maybe not at all the first day.  Luke was more emotional than me, which is not normal.  I had been told what I already knew had happened.  I took in the facts and that was it.  Until that night.  Luke was doing what we do on birthdays.  He naturally was looking at Lucy’s baby pictures.  I cried.  I couldn’t look happily.  It hurt.

We had a busy week getting our house ready to put on the market.  Our real estate agent was coming Thursday to take pictures of our home.  I kept busy cleaning and getting things ready.  I didn’t think about what had happened, except every time I went to the bathroom and saw the bleeding.  Physically I really didn’t have any pain.  I felt some pressure like gas.  And I had gas.  Ha.  I’m so thankful that I didn’t have any pain.  Blessing.

Thursday, I dropped the kids off with a friend and went back to the lab.  Results were that my hCG had dropped.  They should double in 48 hours.  I talked to a different nurse than usual.  She confirmed that it was not looking good.  That it was looking like I was miscarrying.  I asked how long we needed to wait to try again.  Luke and I had talked briefly about whether or not we would want to.  Not sure how we felt.  I was relieved she told me to wait a couple months.  She would ask my doctor and let me know for sure how long she would recommend.  I was glad to have someone give me an answer, rather than decide that on my own.  Again, I took in the facts and was not emotional.  Our real estate agent got there just after I got the confirmation call.  Poor guy.  He’s a good friend that I worked with for years.  He asked how I was doing and I told him I had just gotten the call that I had miscarried.  He was the first person I told in person.  And he shared that his wife had one.  Crazy how common this is.  Other than our families, we had only told the four couples from our small group from church.  Even up to now,the only people we have told are our parents, siblings, small group, a friend we had a playdate with, and one other friend who texted and asked how school was going and how I was doing.

I was thankful that it was the ladies turn this week for meeting as a small group.  I am blessed with amazing Godly women that lift me up and encourage me.  We prayed together.  It was so good for me to hear their prayers and know that God hears our cries too. 

Then Friday came.  Another different nurse called me.  I later found out my usual nurse had a death in the family.  :(  She told me that my doctor recommends waiting for 2 normal periods before trying again.  Ok.  Relief.  An answer I didn’t have to make.  She proceeded to ask how I was doing.  Asked how the bleeding was.  It had slowed down on Thursday and picked back up a little again Friday morning.  She said that was normal and went on to tell me it sounded like everything was normal as far as a miscarriage goes.  She told me that if the bleeding got really heavy or if I had cramping that made me double over to go to the ER in case I was hemorrhaging or had an ectopic pregnancy.  Ok. 

Honestly, all I wanted to do that night was relax with a cocktail and watch Duck Dynasty with Luke.  So, I asked the nurse if alcohol would be ok.  There’s no baby, right.  After she just got done telling me that everything sounded like a normal miscarriage, she switched her tone and honestly I felt like she was giving me her personal opinion.  She said that I should go back in 10 days to make sure my numbers are below 5.  She said theoretically, yes I could have a drink, but maybe I should wait.  This is not about the alcohol.  I can wait.  I was so upset that by me asking if alcohol would be ok, that she changed her tone and acted like maybe there is hope.  I know that I have miscarried.  I was so frustrated that I thought this was all over and now I have to wait 10 more days to be sure.  I just want this to be done.  I don’t want to do anything stupid and if there is any chance there is a baby, I would not want to put my baby in danger.  I don’t want to get drunk.  I just wanted to relax and zone out for the evening. 

I got off the phone and I lost it.  I finally had a day with no plans.  The house was clean.  The emotions finally caught up to me.  Luke called and I told him what happened.  I cried.  He got home and I lost it.  I screamed.  Even swore.  In front of the kids.  And I went up to bed and cried for who knows how long.  We went out as a family that night.  I cried when I saw an old ultrasound picture at his parents house.  When we came home I cried and cried and cried some more until I fell asleep. 

Saturday was hard too.  Physically, the bleeding had pretty much stopped if not completely.  Emotionally I was just sad. 

One day my stomach was just sore. I’m sure from flushing everything out. My body has been working hard.  I was not far enough along to need a D & C or anything.  I didn’t even have to have an appointment with my doctor.  I also haven’t had much of an appetite.  And when I do eat, I can’t eat as much without feeling icky. 

A few days later, I was really struggling with the fact that I just flushed my baby down the toilet.  It disgusts me thinking that.  But, what else would I have done.  And honestly I don’t even know when it happened.  Other than what I saw in the toilet at the hospital.  I know the physical body is not where my baby is anyway.  But, it bothered me.  Luke comforted me in reminding me that our baby is with Jesus.  I know this. 

I have been really surprised with how emotional it has been.  And how unemotional I was the first few days.  I have grown closer to God and to Luke through this experience I never thought I would go through.  In fact, I remember I had been praying specifically over the past year or so that I would never experience this.  Almost like I knew that I would, but really hoping I wouldn’t. 

I am completely amazed at how God creates our bodies to take care of things like this.  Child birth amazes me.  I have been reading about miscarriages, including looking at photos.  Not pleasant, but completely amazing at how early a baby looks like a baby!  Incredible.  Here is a great article about a girl that miscarried and shared the images of her unborn baby that she passed naturally.  It is incredible.  I do not understand how anyone can think abortion is ok. 

Luke has been so supportive and we have grown closer because of this.  I am so thankful for him.  He has sent me Bible verses and prayed for me and with me.  I know this has been as hard on him as it has on me.  Different.  But just as hard.  It sucks. 

Besides trusting that God’s plan is better than mine.  I have found comfort from a book called, “Heaven Is For Real” by Todd Burpo.  It’s about a 4 year old who went to heaven.  He shares his experience with his family and how he saw his sister in Heaven.  His sister that his mom had miscarried was in Heaven!  Here is an excerpt about this story.  I am so thankful I read this book this past year.  And for the comfort that my baby is with Jesus and will be waiting for me when I get there!   

I go back for my last test on Monday. 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5

Peekaboo

Friday night we took the ranger to Peekaboo.  It was an easy hike through the beautiful slot canyon.

Yes!  Dirt!  Little did they know we’d be in the best sand box ever in a couple of days at the sand dunes.

Poor Luce was terrified of the ranger ride.  She didn’t let go of my sweater the whole ride.  I enjoyed the snuggles.

A picture of what the entire weekend would turn out to be like.  Attachment issues?  She and Zac both did not want us to leave their side.

I told Zac to put his arm around Quinn.  He reached with the wrong arm, making for an awkward hug.

We recreated it and got this beauty.

We went for a ride after Peekaboo and checked out some more fun sites.  Including Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.  The pet cemetery gives me the chills.  All the wind chimes makes it extra eerie. 

Zac loved the ranger ride.  Which made him love Sam.

Sam also showed us the cool hidden cave lake.

Getting his flashlight to look at the lake in the cave.