The Homeschool Mother's Journal: My Crafty Week

Baked Pumpkin Spiced Donut Holes

In my life this week…
This week was an okay week. I had a minister's wives meeting to attend Tuesday evening and since I work on Tuesdays I had to make sure I left for work a little early so I could off a little early.

Everything else was pretty normal. I feel frustrated at times, because I just can't seem to get to some things I need to. I suppose taking time to reorganized my Pinterest boards could be a hindrance to doing what I should be doing.

I also have had a very hard time getting up in the morning. Gray mornings don't do anything for me. I need sunlight, but unfortunately I happen to live in Oregon which makes a 50/50 chance of seeing it!

In our homeschool this week…
Chantry did about a lesson and the beginning of another one in The Logic of English. He learned another cursive letter. We need to do more letters during the week, but so far that hasn't happened. We did five lessons in Primary Language Lessons and he completed almost all of Lesson 7 in MUS Delta. He also finished reading Tree of Freedom by Rebecca Caudill.

Destini completed Lesson 4 in Spelling with Sound and Structure 5, 5 lessons in Language Lesson for the Secondary Child 1. She had to work on writing limerick poetry. I helped her with the first one:

There was a girl with a twitch in her eye,

She turned out to be a really good spy.

She went to the store to buy a book.

While she was there she caught a crook,

And then a book she did buy.

Then she wrote:

The pest of a flea,

Jealous was he.

Of the firefly's glow,

For he had none to show

Because in the darkness he'd always be.

 

 

Chantry and Destini are still enjoying George Washington's World for world history. They are also reading Poor Richard, Robinson Crusoe, This Country of Ours, & Minn of the Mississippi. They finished up Chapter two in Exploring Creation with Zoology 3. Chantry works in the junior journal notebook, while Destini does written narration in a composition book.

Caleb worked on Lesson 5 in MUS Geometry. He did readings and narrations from Up From Slavery (Ch. 6-7), Uncle Tom's Cabin (Ch. 10-12), and English Literature for Boys and Girls (Ch. 61). He worked on Spanish with Visual Spanish. He also worked on Week 4 in Writing with Skill.

We wrapped up the week with our Music Study of Claude Debussy and Artist Study of Norman Rockwell.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
Caleb went to his art class. We went to the library and then Shade picked them up and they went to see Granny and Papa for a little bit.

My favorite thing this week was…
Delani's quotes:
"I'm not enjoying my lunch!"
"Mom, am I a genius?"

What’s working/not working for us…
We have started Family Time Fitness and I really like it, but sometimes I just forget! I also keep forgetting about Bible and Poetry memorization.

Things I’m working on…
I made a "College Survival Kit"  for our friend Hannah, who we consider part of the family, since she was starting college this week.

(Idea from here.)

I also made was able to make my mom some decorated mini composition books and photo's frames for her fridge, and a card for her birthday. I was so with it I even got it in the mail on time and it arrived before her birthday. (See her gifts below)

I’m reading…


I’m cooking…
Hamburgers & Roasted Potatoes,
Baked Pumpkin Spice Donut Holes
Chocolate & Butterscotch Chip Oatmeal Cookies

I’m grateful for…
The beautiful weather we are still enjoying. I am trying to soak it all up, before the cold hits.

I’m praying for…
Our country.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Mini Composition Notebooks


Magnetic photo frames


Birthday card

The card and composition books were all made with Echo Park Paper For the Record 2 Tailored Collection Scrapbooking Kit.

I am linking up at iHomeschool Network & Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers.

2012-2013 Curriculum - Destini

Here is a list of what Destini (12) will be working on for the 2012-2012 school year. Most of these recommendations come from Ambleside Online Year 4.

Bible:
Reading - New Testament
Memory - Term 1 - Books of the Bible, James 1:1-12
Terms 2 & 3 - To be determined

Math:
Math U See Epsilon & start Zeta
Math drills

Language Arts:
Spelling  - Spelling by Sound and Structure 5 (Rod & Staff),Spelling Wisdom Book 1
Grammar - Language Lesson for the Secondary Child Volume 1
Writing - Creative Writer Level 1 by Boris Fishman, written narration, copywork
Keyboarding - Type It

Literature:
Terms 1-3 - Bulfinch's Greek and Roman Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch
Terms 1-3: Tales from Shakespeare
Term 1 & 2: Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
Term 2 & 3: Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
Term 3: Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford

Poetry:
Term 1: Poetry for Young People: Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Term 2: Poetry for Young People: Emily Dickinson
Term 3:Poetry for Young People: William Wordsworth

Recitation: To be determined

World History:
Term 1 & 2: Child's History of the World by Virgil M. Hillyer
Terms 1-3: George Washington's World by Genevieve Foster

American History:
Terms 1-3: This Country of Ours by H.E. Marshall

Biography:
Term 1 & 2: Poor Richard by James Daugherty
Term 2 & 3: Abigail Adams: Witness to a Revolution by Natalie Bober

Geography:
Terms 1-3: Minn of the Mississippi by Holling C. Holling
Mapwork

Science:
Exploring Creation With Zoology 3
Burgess Animal Book for Children by Thornton W. Burgess
Nature walks

Art Study:
Term 1: Norman Rockwell
Term 2: Jacob van Ruisdael, Peter de Hooch
Term 3: Georges Suerat

Music Study:
Term 1:
Composer - Claude Debussy
Folksong - Get On Board, Dixie
Hymn - Farther Along, We Shall See the King
Term 2:
Composer - Johann Sebastian Bach
Folksong - Home on the Range, Polly Wolly Doodle
Hymn - This is My Father's World, Count Your Blessings
Term 3:
Composer - Opera Overtures
Folksong - Rock-A My Soul, Shortin' Bread
Hymn - How Great Thou Art, I Shall Not Be Moved

Piano Lessons

Handicrafts:
Keepers at Home
ACTS Student Convention Projects

P.E.:
Terms 1-3: Family Time Fitness

Additional Reading:
See list here (scroll to bottom of page).

2012-2013 Curriculum: Chantry

Here is a list of what Chantry will be working on for the 2012-2012 school year. Most of these recommendations come from Ambleside Online Year 4.

Bible:
Reading - Egermeier's Bible Story Book
Bible Memory - Term 1: Books of the Bible, James 1:1-12,
Term 2 & 3: To be determined

Math:
Math U See Delta
Math drills

Language Arts:
Spelling - The Logic of English Essentials Curriculum
Grammar - Grammar-Land by M.L. Nesbit, Primary Language Lessons by Emma Serl
Handwriting - The Logic of English Cursive
Writing - Copywork, written narrations

Literature:
Terms 1-3: Bulfinch's Greek and Roman Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch
Terms 1-3: Tales from Shakespeare
Term 1 & 2: Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
Term 2 & 3: Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
Term 3: Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford

Poetry:
Term 1: Poetry for Young People: Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Term 2: Poetry for Young People: Emily Dickinson
Term 3:Poetry for Young People: William Wordsworth

Recitation: To be determined

World History:
Term 1 & 2: Child's History of the World by Virgil M. Hillyer
Terms 1-3: George Washington's World by Genevieve Foster

American History:
Terms 1-3: This Country of Ours by H.E. Marshall

Biography:
Term 1 & 2: Poor Richard by James Daugherty
Terms 2 & 3: John Adams by Janet & Geoff Benge

Geography:
Terms 1-3: Minn of the Mississippi by Holling C. Holling
Mapwork

Science:
Exploring Creation With Zoology 3
Exploring Creation with Zoology 3 - Notebooking Journal (Junior)
Burgess Animal Book for Children by Thornton W. Burgess
Nature walks

Art Study:
Term 1: Norman Rockwell
Term 2: Jacob van Ruisdael, Peter de Hooch
Term 3: Georges Suerat

Music Study:
Term 1:
Composer - Claude Debussy
Folksong - Get On Board, Dixie
Hymn - Farther Along, We Shall See the King
Term 2:
Composer - Johann Sebastian Bach
Folksong - Home on the Range, Polly Wolly Doodle
Hymn - This is My Father's World, Count Your Blessings
Term 3:
Composer - Opera Overtures
Folksong - Rock-A My Soul, Shortin' Bread
Hymn - How Great Thou Art, I Shall Not Be Moved

Handicrafts:
Contenders for the Faith
Projects for ACTS Student Convention

P.E.: Terms 1-3: Family Time Fitness
Term 3: Baseball

Additional Reading:
See list here (scroll to bottom of page).

Book Review: Professionalizing Motherhood:Encouraging, Educating, and Equipping Mothers At Home by Jill Savage

Book Description:

"Just a mom?" There’s no such thing. Motherhood isn’t a second-rate occupation. It is a career that can maximize your talents and strengths to their fullest. Look past the surface of mothering—the endless tasks and frantic pace—to the incredible skills required to raise your children while nurturing your marriage. The truth is clear: You’re a professional in one of the most dignified, demanding, and rewarding fields any woman can find. Upbeat, candid, and engaging, Professionalizing Motherhood will do more than help you radically redefine how you see yourself. It will guide you toward practical development as a career woman who specializes in the home. Jill Savage helps you determine a strategy and set goals for professional training and growth. From the foundational to the practical, you’ll learn about Establishing your mission Developing a network of "coworkers" Discovering your value in Christ How marriage and mothering work together Organizational and homemaking basics Taking care of your personal needs Professionalizing Motherhood casts a fresh and meaningful vision for mothering as a worthy career choice for this season of your life.

My thoughts:
When Carrie at Reading to Know posted her book club list Professionalizing Motherhood: Encouraging, Educating, and Equipping Mothers At Home by Jill Savage caught my eye. I had read My Heart's at Home: Becoming the Intentional Mom Your Family Needs (review) a couple of years ago and had really enjoyed it.

Professionalizing Motherhood covers the basics for a stay at home mom all the while focusing on how you can be a "professional" about it rather than feeling like you do nothing. It covers topics such as taking care of yourself, knowing your worth, placing your marriage first, being creative, organization, finding friends, and more.

I can honestly say that I didn't get much of this book. It felt like she was preaching to the choir. I couldn't decide if the information seemed dated or if it didn't pertain to me. I just couldn't connect with the book.

I haven't always been a stay-at-home mom and didn't start until I had my third child. I had dreaded the thought of it ("What was I going to do all day?!"), but God in his wisdom began to deal with my heart and to change it. I also didn't feel like I had a career either. I worked as a church secretary and later as a teacher/secretary in a Christian school. My kids were on the grounds with me, but not actually with me.

Within a year of being home I added homeschooling to the mix (which brings a whole new set of dynamics to the picture!) In the first four years of being a stay-at-home mom I didn't even have my own vehicle at home. The only way to get out of the house was to walk, and my kids and I took plenty of walks to the library or park. Now don't get me wrong I have had my moments (and still do), but it was nothing that a short trip out of the house (thanks to my husband) didn't cure.

I don't know if I ever really struggled with feeling like I had done nothing all day or with the need to connect to other moms. I did know that being home with my kids was what God wanted me to do!

I had to ask myself if it is really possible to "professionalize motherhood?" No, I don't think so, not without adding an additional burden on yourself to meet unrealistic expectations. (I'm sure that author isn't meaning it quite in that context, but it can cause confusion.) You may not receive accolades in the paper or in front of people, and no, you may not be having a lunch with another adult for years, but when your child looks at you and thinks you hung the moon and your her/his "bestest friend" you see what really matters.

Being home with my kids is one of the hardest things I have ever done. Many days I feel like a failure, but I know that ultimately I'm doing what God called me to do.

If you are looking for a good book about being a stay-at-home mom I do highly recommend In Praise of Stay-at-Home Moms by Dr. Laura Schlessinger (review). It does not have the Christian emphasis per se, but it is filled with very practical, no-nonsense, and supportive advice.

What's On Your Nightstand - September

For October:

 

From my August nightstand I read:
The Core: Teaching Your Child the Foundations of Classical Education by Leigh Bortins (review coming)
Professionalizing Motherhood: Encouraging, Educating, and Equipping Mothers At Home by Jill Savage (review)
False Coloursby Georgette Heyer (review)
Ordained Irreverence (Elmo Jenkins Book One) by McMillian Moody (review)
Wings of Morning by Kathleen Morgan (review)

I also read:
Chasing the Sun (Land of the Lone Star) by Tracie Peterson (review)
May B. by Caroline Starr Rose (review)
Dying to Read: A Novel (The Cate Kinkaid Files) by Lorena McCourtney (review)
Harvest of Rubies by Tessa Afshar (review)
The Writer's Jungle: A Survivor's Guide to Writing with Kids by Julie Bogart (review coming)
Beyond the Chore Chart: Chores, Kids, and the Secret to a Happy Mom by Kimberly Eddy (review)

I listened to:
The Big Four by Agatha Christie (review)

See what others have read over at 5 Minutes for Books.