Homeschool Liebster Blog Award

Home Schoolers love to encourage one another and this is true as well when it comes to blogging homeschoolers. They give each other awards to encourage each other to keep up blogging about our adventures.

Last week Joelle from over at Homeschooling for His Glory blessed and encouraged me with this award.  Thank you Joelle for Awarding me The Homeschool Liebster Blogging Award!



Awards come with rules

1. List 11 facts about yourself.
2. Answer 11 questions given to you.
3. Create 11 new questions for the bloggers you nominate for the award.
4. Choose 11 bloggers with 200 or less followers to nominate.
5. Go to each blogger page and let them know about the award.
6. Thank the person who nominate you and link back to their blog.

11 Facts about me

1. I enjoy taking a picnic to anywhere.
2. I speak two languages (English and Afrikaans)
3. I love peppermint chocolate ♥♥♥
4. I have just started learning to play the piano
5. I've owned a piano I can't play yet for nine years! see point four.
6. I own five hermit crabs.
7. I don't like bees.
8. I'm afraid of sharks in the sea and crocodiles in rivers.
9. I have a personal library of over 2500 books (that's NOT because I homeschool that's because I ♥ books!)
10. If I had money I would travel the world.  In fact I think I would love to work traveling the world and blogging about the experience as I went.  So if you know of a travel company looking for some one to do that send them my email address. 
11. I love taking photo's and normally take way too many! (On Sunday I took 300 at the zoo....)

Joelle's Questions Answered

1. What is the thing you like the least about homeschooling?
   Washing the dishes :)
2. What is your biggest motivation to keep homeschooling?
   Enjoying the company of my children. Some days that's so easy and it's the memory of those days that inspire me on days when I don't like their company! The second thing that inspires me is all the wonderful resources out there as I am so looking forward to learning and doing with Sir N
3. What is your favorite part of the year?
   Definitely Advent/Christmas
4. What is your favorite food to cook?
   Dinner for guests when they come over. Chicken
5. What is your favorite thing to do with your kids?
   Cuddle on the couch and read a good story or watch a great movie oh and go on picnics.
6. What would the perfect vacation look like for you?
   One where I did not have to plan or cook any meals. Have lots of time to read and enough money to explore.
7. What is your favorite Bible passage?
   I have a few of those ! I like Those that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength and Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
8. What is your favorite Praise and Worship song?
   Mmmm this one is hard as I love worship.  Gentle heartfelt worship.
9. What is the #1 curriculum you would recommend?
   Sonlight
10. What is your favorite attribute of God?
    His Mercy
11. How often do you meet with other homeschoolers?
    Sometimes daily :) Our regular days are once a week on a Wednesday and fortnightly on a Monday afternoon.

11 Questions to answer

1. Can you speak a second language, if so what is it ?
2. What's your favourite book ?
3. If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go ?
4. What do you use to teach a second language ?
5. What's your favourite day of the week ?
6. How long have you homeschooled ?
7. What's your favourite worship song ?
8. What's your favourite Christian DVD ?
9. Do you use a curriculum or mix and match ?
10. Are you on Pinterest ? If so what's your page address ?
11. How long does it take you to write a blog post ?

I nominate

1. Vicky at Creating with Wisdom
2. Brandi over at Autumn Fawn Lane
3. Michele at Family Faith and Fridays
4. Kiristi at The Potters Hand Academy
5. Sarah at Delivering Grace
6. Our Homeschool Studio
7. April from Coffee, Cobwebs and Curriculum
8. Me Momma over at  Schooling in the sun
9. Our Happy Homestead
10. Bethany over at Little Homeschool Blessings
11. Mama Bird over at All my Baby Birds
12. Linda at All The Rivers Run

Blessings
Chareen

Wet-Dry-Try Review

Wet-Dry-Try is a new addition to the Handwriting without Tears product line. It is a digital version of the popular Handwriting Without Tears® Slate Chalkboard activity which is used to practice Capital Letters and Numbers.

I was looking for something to use with Sir N as his hand writing is not the best and I have chosen this year to work on his letter formation as he tends to write some of his letters in the incorrect 'order' as well as reverse some of his numbers when doing math.  He loves playing on my Galaxy Tab2 so decided to try out the Wet-Dry-Try app.

At first he was a little frustrated as I had set the stroke tolerance on challenging. Using the app on this setting made him slow down and be more particular in forming his letters which is what I really needed. Within a couple of days I already noticed an improvement in his handwriting.  He started forming his letters a lot neater and with more care. Once he realized he needed to slow down and take care he enjoyed unlocking cards.

How it Works

1. The 'teacher' draws the letter while coaching the student on the order of the stroke
2. The student uses the 'wet' sponge to wipe away the letter.
3. The student uses the tissue to dry the board
4. Now the student writes the letter using the chalk

Children can only work on one letter at time. They are not able to reverse letters and the smiley face in the left corner shows the children where to begin their letters.

Why Handwriting ?  
Some people ask why should we work on hand writing skills in an era when typing seems the way to go? Good question. I did some research and found an interesting article on How Handwriting Trains the Brain and impacts brain function published in The Wall Street Journal in 2010. The article spoke about studies are showing that writing by hand

• engages the brain in learning
• the specific movements memorized when learning how to write aid visual identification
• activated massive regions involved in thinking, language and working memory—the system for temporarily storing and managing information.

 I have found over the years that copy work is a great way of growing my children's vocabulary and spelling skills so consider writing to be an essential skill.

About the App

• Three levels of learning for each letter and numeral
• The ability to lock in a level of play/learning
• Visual and auditory feedback for each level. 
• Parental settings allow you total audio control (Background Music, Voice Instruction, Sound Affects)
• Instant feed back and gentle consistent coaching.
• The ability to set the sensitivity level (two levels: challenge or easy)
• Two modes
  1. Pick and Practice- In this mode the student chooses the letter / number they want to work on.
  2. Winning Order - This mode organizes the letters in HWT developmental teaching order.
• A personal instructor coaches the student through the order of writing each letter.

Where to purchase**

• for your iPad over at iTunes for $4.99
• for your Android over at Google play for $4.99 

** All prices are correct at time of publishing this post.  It is your responsibility to check the price before purchasing any items.
Prices are shown in US $

What others are saying

•  Wet Dry Try from Handwriting Without Tears over at OT's with Apps
• 2013 Schoolhouse Review Crew over at Schoolhouse Review

We have really enjoyed using this app and hope that the team are able to produce a lower case app. So if you are looking for an app that trains correct letter formation I highly recommend this one. We downloaded a few others to play with and Sir N's comment to me was "Mom these are silly because they don't help you stay in the lines." You can use Wet Dry Try with confidence.

BlessingsChareen


  This post is part of and linking with the Schoolhouse Review so don't forget to pop on over and read what others are saying about Schoolhouse Teachers.com.
  This post contains NO affiliate links.   Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this product through the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.

HSMJ the one about frogs, gifts & Truly Scrumptious

In my life this week…

When I commenced my new adventure with The Schoolhouse Review Crew I never in all my life imagined the blessing it would be to our family.  On Thursday this week the postie arrived with a 14.1 pound box couriered from the US with a new math program for us to try.
I was also blessed with a blog award by Homeschooling for His glory :)

In our home school this week…

• We explored our new math program
• Went to watch the stage production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
• Started a new piano home learning program.  I am so impressed and Sir N could not stop talking about it.
• Our tadpole became a frog!

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

• FREE for Homeschool Circus Readers - 6 Week Lenten Challenge downloaded from 102030GO!
• Ultimate Homeschool Link-up #5  at The Homeschool Village
• Meet the Chicks link up over at The Homeschool Chicks.

I am inspired by…

• 10 Ways to Respect your Husband over at Confessions of a Homeschooler.

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

• Visited the T family and watched the original Chitty Chitty Bang Bang movie
• Went to Her Majesty's Theater to watch the stage production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
• Had a play date at another friends house on Wednesday
• Spent the day at home on Valentine's day
• Went to the T house to help bake cup cakes for her daughters birthday. 
• We explored St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne.

My favorite thing this week was…

• Going to see the stage production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
• We had the most delightful experience of meeting the sister of Madly, Deeply, and Seriously Scrumptious: Truly (AKA Rachael Beck) over at the play ground who took the time to chat and autograph our Chitty Chitty Bang Bang program.

What’s working/not working for us…

• Warm weather and sunshine.

Questions/thoughts I have…

• If you could ask me any question about homeschooling what would it be ?

Things I’m working on…

• Two reviews of new products I am looking forward to sharing with you next week as well as a homeschool Mothers encouragement bundle from Diana Waring.

On My Bedside Table ...

• Nothings changed but I have plans to alter that next week.

In Bloggy world I’m reading…

• Basic Tips, Ideas, and Thoughts on Starting Your Own Blog
• Blogger vs. WordPress: Which Is Best? over at Blogger Goal
• I've been exploring {code it: pretty;}
• Sara Jordan
• Debbie Clement has over 12,000 pins and well organized boards.  

I’m cooking…

•  easy meals. Mince and whatever else is in the cupboard.

On Pinterest I found...

• Alana Kirby a homeschool Mom's boards.
• Christine Fisher
• Meg Falciani Mom of five great variety
• Emilee Roberts
• Art with books :) 

I’m grateful for…

• The privilege of spending time with my sister who has moved to Australia.  It's been a long 20 years and it's so good to get to know her and her family.

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

Source: Teacher Feature

 Blessings

This post is linking to:

Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers - Weekly Wrap Up
iHomeschool - Homeschool Mothers Journal
Hammock Tracks - It's a Wrap
Homegrown Learners - Collage Friday

Photo collages made with: Photoscape a FREE photo editor