HSMJ - You know you're a homeschooler when ...

In my life this week…

It had a busy start to the week with a meeting about developing a website for a bi-annual ladies retreat for the church followed by getting ready to go to Healsville Sanctuary for three days. 

Unit Study on Braille

In our homeschool this week…

• We watched a great YouTube clip on Louis Braille.
• Watched the animated version of The Miracle Worker the story of Helen Keller.
• Made a Notebook page on Louis Braille with Notebook pages from Notebooking Pages.
• Completed a unit study on Louis Braille, Helen Keller and Guide Dogs.
• Worked on skip counting in 5's.
• Continued our explorations of  archeology.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

• Using Book of Virtues and free notebooking pages over at Shiver Academy.  This is a 992 page FREE download for you.
• 10 days of Hymn Study over at Contented at Home. Each post contains Free notebook pages, a brief history, the words and music for each hymn.

I am inspired by…

• Linda over at Pillars of Pine who wrote No Exclusions a beautiful heart to heart post about friendship and commitment.
• Time is mine for the molding over at Sarah Mae's.
• Fuel for Obedience over at Write them on the Doorposts of your home.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

• We spent three days at Healsville Sanctuary with the T Family.
• Attended the first Kelly Sports day for the term.
• Played with E.
• Did a morning of home school fitness with a fellow family.

My favorite thing this week was…

• Going on an annual trip with five girl friends to Koorong Bookstore.

What’s working/not working for us…

• Not enough routine.

Questions/thoughts I have…

• Do you know where I can find free notebooking pages on Helen Keller and Louis Braille ?

Things I’m working on…

• A unit study on famous blind and or deaf people.

On My Bedside Table ...

•  the same as last week.  Nothings changed I haven't read anything this week because I have been playing with my camera :) and surfing bloggy world and had no social media or internet for three days while up at Healsville Sanctuary.

In Bloggy world I’m reading…

• How to browse YouTube safely in the classroom over at A Turn to Learn.
• Character Studies on Notebooking Nook.
• Using Book of Virtues and free notebooking pages over at Shiver Academy
• Homeschool Variety at Confessions of a Homeschooler.
• 31 Days of Social Media over at GL
• Are your children acting crazy ? Maybe they need more of you.

I’m cooking…

• Boerewors and potatoe salad for a barbeque
• Vetkoek and mince to share with friends.

On Pinterest I found...

• Sarah Dees from Frugal Fun for Boys.

I’m grateful for…

• my blog and the time my family allows me to spend here.  I ♥ looking for links and putting together information.
• Pinterest.  I ♥♥♥♥ did I say it I am really enjoying Pinterest.

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

homeschooling-ideas.com

Blessings

Chareen

This post is linking to: 

Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers - Weekly Wrap Up 

iHomeschool - Homeschool Mothers Journal 

Hammock Tracks - Its A Wrap 

Homegrown Learners - Collage Friday 

iHomeschool Hopscotch Blog Hop - 10 Days of

 iHomeschool is hosting a 10 days of ... blog hopscotch.

These are the ladies who are you hosts:

These are their blogs and topic links for you to explore.

1. Baking with Your Kids  |  Tiffany at Sweet Phenomena
2. Developing Fine Motor Skills  |  Sara at Happy Brown House
3. Discovering Your God Given Purpose  |  Alisha at Flourish
4. Disney Schooling  |  Susann at Momma Hopper
5. Exploring Germany  |  Carlie at So You Call Yourself a Homeschooler?
6. Family Time Traditions  |  Karin at Trophy Mom Diaries
7. Family Friendly Fall  |  Sarah at Sidetracked Sarah
8. Growing Gracefully  |  Richele at Under the Golden Apple Tree
9. Home Management for the Homeschooling Mom  |  Amy at Raising Arrows
10. Homemade Holidays  |  Tabitha at Meet Penny
11. Homeschooling Gifted Kids  |  Colleen at Raising Lifelong Learners
12. Homeschooling Through the Holidays  |  Tiany at Social Savvy Mom
13. Homeschooling Your Dyslexic Child  |  Marianne at Abundant Life
14. How to Create the Life You Want  |  Jenny at Planner Perfect
15. Hymn Study for Homeschoolers  |  Judy at Contented at Home
16. Living Math…Matters  |  Cindy at Our Journey Westward
17. Newspaper Activities for Kids  |  Kathy at Cornerstone Confessions
18. Nurturing Young Readers  |  Gabby at Word of Childhood
19. Parenting Your Hurting Child  |  Kim at Not Consumed
20. Potluck Meals  |  Laurie at Our Abundant Blessings
21. Pouring God’s Word Into Your Kids  |  Ticia at Adventures in Mommydom
22. Prepare for Christmas NOW  |  Donna at Hey Donna
23. Raising Proverbs 31 Women  |  Meg at Homeschoolin’ Mama
24. Reading Aloud  |  Mary at Homegrown Learners
25. Teaching Reading  |  Amber at Classic Housewife
26. Teaching Spelling Through Word Study  |  Becky at This Reading Mama
27. The Art of Strewing  |  Aadel at Temporary Tents
28. Using Ordinary Notebook Paper  |  Heather at Blog She Wrote
29. Using the Bible as Your Main Text in Homeschool  |  Karen at Simply Living for Him

Enjoy :)

Some of these topics look really interesting.

Blessings
Chareen

Melbourne Museum

To finish a week long unit study about Helen Keller and Louis Braille, we made a a special trip to Melbourne Museum to have a look at Living in a Sensory World a temporary display.  We had lots of fun exploring this and other exhibits on display.

Here is a photo story of our day.

We started off in the Living in a Sensory World where we explored the world of the blind and the things that have been developed to help make their world an easier place to live in.

The lighthouse is a symbol for the blind in Australia.  This brass light house was awarded to Helen Keller.

From here we did a little bit of exploring in The Melbourne Story.  We ran out of time to fully explore this exhibit. You can take a virtual tour of this.

The children enjoyed a 'ride' on an old roller coaster
followed by a trip to a movie theater.

We had a look through an old part of Melbourne and how they used to live.

From here we went to find the Dinosaur Walk exhibit only to discover that they have opened a new Dynamic Earth exhibit which we took a very quick look at and found it very hard to pull the children away from.  We had to promise to please come back to explore! (Gold to a mothers ears!!)

It was a wonderful day out and I am so pleased we have a family Museum Membership to enjoy this resource in Melbourne.  If you haven't been here in a while I invite you to come and explore it more fully.

Blessings
Chareen