About Me
- The Zookeeper
- We are a homeschool family, and this blog is about our wonderful journey. We have 3 children and this is our 7th year homeschooling.
Kyle
7th Grade
Alexis
3rd Grade
Zachary
2nd Grade
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Saturday, May 18, 2013
Weekly Wrap Up 37
12:36 PM | 
Posted by
The Zookeeper |
Our week was a great week of learning with little disruptions! We needed a regular week after finishing up coop and then having Kevin on vacation. Spring is in the air at the Arrowood house and we are in love with the warmer temperatures and gardening that has come.
Daddy playing with our foster kitties, I think we are to attached...
This week Kyle had some issues with his Math U See lesson on decimals. We worked all week but I'm still not 100 % certain that we will move on just yet. Working until he has it is something that I pride myself on, no leaving my babies behind. In Growing with Grammar this week he had a huge review and done great. He is missing some small linking verbs which will come as we progress in units.
Together in our science (Christian Kids Explore - Biology) we learned the differences and similarities between Wasps and Bees. That was fun because this momma honestly didn't know them! I also learned this week. We made a graph to display for a few weeks like our Butterfly Vs. Moth chart last week.
My darling daughter had a really great week in learning and the best part was she had fun. She reviewed math facts a lot this week on the Kindle and using Math U See's online drill page. This week she learned a lot about Lions (her pick) and could tell me some really interesting things about them. She had a great day making 100 on her Growing with Grammar lesson!! Woohoo!!
Daddy was off Wednesday and while we cleaned out the basement and done some gardening she decided she would try to sale some bracelits she has made (yes that's not spelled right but that was what was wrote on her sign). She sat in our front yard for about an hour and a half and only 3 of our neighbors went by, we live on a country road where not many people go by. I applaud her effort and thought. My little crafter just can't help herself, after all she shares the same blood as her momma. My parents could tell some really bad - embarrassing stories on me! So if you ever get the pleasure to meet them please don't ask!
My baby boy is growing up and learning is coming easier thanks to finally getting the right fitting curriculum for him! Handwriting Without Tears has been an awesome fit for him. He likes the fun little activities with writing instead of it just being copywork. I loved his coloring choices for the sea animals. Growing with Grammar is another awesome fit for all 3 kids but this being the first "grammar" that he has used it is really perfect for him. He has been learning sentence types and doing great with it. Subject predicates is something that I really thought he would have an issue with, but man was I wrong. I think he understands it better than the older ones! Another reason to try different resources if something isn't working!
Zachary worked on math facts this week a lot too. He mainly used Math U See's online drill page after doing his regular math lesson for the day.
I have to take another moment and point out that in the bottom picture he is reading thanks to ABeCeDarian Reading Program! I love that program so much and am thankful that it was a review item from the crew! He has made a huge 360 by using this program. I can't thank them enough.
We have one child that has totally memorized the Lord's prayer using a really fun review item that I will be posting soon. We also started using Memoria Press Geography 1 for a review item this week and so far it is really fun and detailed. IEW came late this week and over the weekend I am going to familiarize myself with it to start next week.
I hope that you had a blessed week. I thank you for stoppin' by!
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Friday, May 17, 2013
TOS Review - Science Naturally: One Mintute Mysteries!
Once again I get the awesome opportunity to introduce myself and kids to a new publisher and resource for review from The Old Schoolhouse Crew.
Science Naturally is located in Washington, DC. Their priority is to bring math and science literacy in an engaging way. Their materials are designed to engage readers by using both fiction and
nonfiction strategies to teach potentially intimidating subjects. The
book content correlates to the national science and math standards set
out by the Center for Education at the National Academy. One thing my kids liked about this company was that the book was written by a father - daughter team. My kids loved this, because they could relate to the stories that my husband tells them at night sometimes that they turn around and will write on paper and add little twists to. There was just a personal relationship they were able to make because of this fun detail!
One Minute Mysteries is a wonderful book with 65 short mysteries you solve with science. The book is 180 pages of fun! It literally takes a minute to read through each story. The book has many different science topics throughout.
Life Science
Earth & Space Science
Physical & Chemical Science
General Science
Five More Minutes of Mysteries (an extra 5 stories)
Bonus Section: One Minute Mysteries: 65 Short Mysteries You Solve with Math! (Includes 5)
My children are ages 8, 9 and 12. We used this book almost daily at the beginning of our school day. The best part of this was that it can be a quick read or more in depth just depending on how much time I was able to put into it. Normally we would read 3 - 5 stories each morning, honestly only taking about 5 minutes to read and a few extra minutes to discuss. I enjoyed that my oldest two children could read anything wrote in this book and have no difficulties at all with the wording.
This is a brain book as my daughter said, at first I could not understand why she called it that but once I asked she had a great explanation. She said "It's a brain book because you have to use your brain to solve the mystery." That is very true! One of my favorite things about this book is that it has critical thinking skills all throughout it. In order to solve the mystery you must really listen and think about what clues where given and how it applies in life. I appreciate that the stories are short and have a great mystery twist because it kept the attention of all my kids each time!
The book is recommended for ages 8 -12 and as you see all three of my children fall under the recommendation and I must say it is right on. All three of my kids enjoyed and participated in the discussions of the stories. I wasn't sure if my smallest would understand some of the concepts but to my surprise he jumped right into answering like the older two did.
This is the 3nd book in the "One Minute Mysteries" series and I have to say personally my family enjoyed this book greatly. This would be awesome for just a read aloud or a different twist to your science lessons daily.
The book is $9.95 and full of fun information!
Monday, May 13, 2013
Adventures In Odyssey - A Call To Serve!!
Join Adventures in
Odyssey this summer to discover how fun it can be to serve others!
Adventures in Odyssey, the beloved audio series from Focus
on the Family, has encouraged kids toward a stronger faith for 25 years. Whit,
Connie, Eugene, and the other loveable characters from Odyssey have shared
countless adventures with kids across the world in the classic audio dramas,
books, videos, and devotionals, fulfilling the AIO promise to help kids
discover, imagine, and grow.
This summer, Adventures in Odyssey is joining with Christian
bookstores across the country, inviting kids to participate in a Summer of
Service. They’re promoting the biblical message, “When you serve, everybody
wins,” encouraging kids to serve their families, their communities, and their
world. Whether it’s baking cookies for an elderly neighbor or putting together
a care package for missionaries overseas, kids will discover that serving can
be a blast!
How the A.C.T.S. (A
Call to Service) challenge and contest works:
Kids who join A.C.T.S. can pick up a service log and collect
fun character stickers for hours served at participating bookstores throughout
the summer, or download a serving log online at whitsend.org. At the end of the summer, kids can record and
upload a short video telling how they serve and why they’d like to become an
Adventures in Odyssey Ambassador.
A hundred winners will get the brand new AIO Album, and
after online voting, two grand prize winners (one boy and one girl) will get to
travel on an exciting Good-Goers Mission Based Adventure trip to another country
with a parent! The out-of-country
destination will be announced on a live podcast May 22—hosted by AIO actors
Katie Leigh (Connie) and Chris Anthony (Chris)—which you can watch at whitsend.org/acts.
You don’t want to miss it!
Why serve?
Our culture puts an extravagant amount of energy into
raising kids who will grow up to feel good about themselves. In schools, clubs,
homes, and even at church, adults have made a decided effort to bolster
children’s “self-esteem” –not by actually encouraging kids do something that’s worthwhile, but by simply telling them they are important and valuable.
At the turn of the century, researchers predicted that the
next generation would respond to these efforts of raising self-esteem by being
filled with optimism and civic duty. Unfortunately, recent research shows the
opposite. Kids coming of age today are more self-centered, disrespectful of
authority, and depressed than ever before.
In a very real way, then, the best path toward building selfless,
confident children is to help and encourage them toward a growing and thriving
faith in God. And that includes obedience to what God teaches—not because it
makes kids feel good, although it often does—but because they’re following
God’s instructions to love Him and serve others. That builds a faith they can
count on and carry with them into adulthood—which is the greatest gift any
parent can bestow on their child.
There is a free AIO service episode available on mp3 download here.
They have also provided a great list of ideas for kids to serve here as a free download.
My children love to help our neighbors and at Thanksgiving we had the pleasure to take Thanksgiving meals to elderly shut ins and my children loved this opportunity! I believe the elderly enjoyed the visiting as well. We where the last ones to get back to the church but that didn't matter to us!
My children love to help our neighbors and at Thanksgiving we had the pleasure to take Thanksgiving meals to elderly shut ins and my children loved this opportunity! I believe the elderly enjoyed the visiting as well. We where the last ones to get back to the church but that didn't matter to us!
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