Thursday, 28 March 2013

HSMJ - End of term

In my life this week…

It's been a slow and emotional week in my world this week.  I think too much chocolate and not enough sleep are contributing factors.  Also being disorganized . . . More on this next week :)
In our home school this week…
    • We spent the week finishing off books and reading. As well as trying something new for art and we made compost in a bottle (Tutorial next week)
    • Booked for Kelly Sports
    • Registered for Hot Shots Tennis
    • Sir N completed level one of Children's Music Journey.
      Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…
          I am inspired by…
          Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
          • .Kelly Sports it was the final one for the term.
          My favorite thing this week was…
          • Seeing Sir N receive his certificate.
          What’s working/not working for us…
          • Too many late nights
          Questions/thoughts I have…

          Things I’m working on…

          On My Bedside Table ...
          • The stack of books keeps growing and not diminishing . . .
          In Bloggy world I’m reading…
          I’m cooking…
          • Nothing new
          On Pinterest I found...
          I’m grateful for…
          • A husband who supports and encourages me
          A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

          Josh Groban picks a girl from the audience to sing a duet. She sings amazingly definitely worth a listen

          You are invited
          Yes you are.  I have started a new link up on Tuesdays.  We all have the most amazing books that we discover at the library, bookshop, curriculum fairs and op shops.  If you blog about them please come and link up on Tuesdays with Tuesday's Treasures so we can have a place to discover some new treasures for our families.

          Blessings



          Photo collages made with: Photoscape a FREE photo editor

          Tuesday, 26 March 2013

          Books to Support New Homeschool Mom's

          Thinking back over the years I started homeschooling at the best time. The internet was a thing that very few people had and so the only place you could access information was from your neighbor or the homeschool Mother up the road.
          If you wanted to home school you had to find the local support group. I miss the days of fellowship over a cup of tea while the children played outside.
          The highlight of our time together would be seeing a new book, new home school catalog or curriculum.  Today Mom's ask Google, if you do a search for home school help you will find ten million hits. It's over whelming where do you begin? Today I want to share my top four home school support books.

          In no particular order here are My Favorite Four

          A Charlotte Mason Companion is Karen Andreola's memoir of implementing A Charlotte Mason education. This beautifully illustrated book is full of encouragement and how to chapters. Karen covers practical topics like: The Art of Narration, Mother Culture, Shakespeare and Dickens. Topics of Art and Music appreciation along with Grammar, History, Nature Study and a few more kernels of wisdom.  A beautiful book full of gorgeous line illustrations.

          Purchase this book from Book Depository, Amazon

          For online encouragement meet Karen over at Moments with Mother Culture.

           ---ooOoo---

          Been on the journey for a few months and needing a little deeper understanding ? This is the book for you.
          Bill and Diana Waring have compiled this absolute gem of a little book which is a great reflection of their mission "To serve families by encouraging and  equipping". Things we wish we'd known (232 pages) is divided into five sections covering: The Concepts, The Basics, The Priorities, God's Involvement, Christian Character and The Blessings.
          In each section is a number of letters from veteran home school parents to you.  Each write up is started with a photograph and short biography followed by their kernel of wisdom. Each one is concise and well written. This little book is worth it's weight in gold and will answer most of your questions with wisdom and balance.

          Purchase this book from Diana Waring Presents, Book Depository, Amazon
          For online encouragement Facebook, Twitter, and Diana shares gems on her blog Diana Waring Presents!

           ---ooOoo---

          After years of feeling like she was barely hanging on Diana cried out to God and desperately asked to get Beyond Survival (288 pages) and walk in Abundant Life Homeschooling. In her well known conversational style Diana shares the keys that released the joy in her home school journey.
          This little gem answered so many of my why is this happening questions. It is full of insight and will broaden your understanding of the way your children learn and do life. Diana shares many funny happenings from her journey along with an honest look at things we struggle  with behind closed doors. I enjoy the honest transparency of this book.

          Purchase this book from Diana Waring Presents, Book Depository, Amazon
          For online encouragement Facebook, Twitter, and Diana shares gems on her blog Diana Waring Presents!

           ---ooOoo---

          Educating the Whole Hearted Child has seen a few revisions over the years and still contains a life time full of information to carry you through any season of homeschooling. Clay and Sally have graduated three students and are passionate homeschool encourager.
          This book (384 pages) is divided into four main sections: Home, Learning, Methods and Living.
          This book is full of words of encouragement and insight. Sally and Clay have filled this book with practical know how and insight. They use wonderful acronyms to help you implement and formulate your homeschool plan. I love how they give information and then share 'In Our Home'. They take each topic and break it down in to easy to understand bite size pieces backed up with research and scripture.
          Purchase this book from: Whole Heart Ministries, Book Depository, Amazon.
          For online encouragement Sally Blogs over at I Take Joy, Facebook, Twitter & Pinterest.

           ---ooOoo---

          Encouragement and support on line
          Final Thoughts
          • Many are the things that will take from your energy levels and enthusiasm on the homeschool journey. It is incredibly important for you to invest in your selves or you will find yourselves burnt out and desperate. The art of Mother Culture is something sorely lacking in our sub culture of home education today.  I would encourage you to take some daily minutes for yourselves in order to be the very best you can be. Equip yourself well for the task at hand.
          • Charlotte Mason advised the teacher to replenish her soul with a continual supply of ideas. ...stimulates your educational thought in many directions and keeps you from drifting into mere routine... Do not think this is a selfish thing to do, because the advantage does not end with yourself.".  
          •  

          TT - A Journey Through Time

          This week ...
          Excavating Life on Earth


          • Format: Hardback
          • Number of Pages: 39
          • Vendor: DK Publishers
          • Publication Date: 2001
          • ISBN: 0-7513-6162-3
          • Author  Selina Wood
          • Illustrator: Richard Bonson 
          I have shared about a Port Through Time before and was surprised to find this book as I had not seen it before. These are some of my favorite books. This one lives up to my expectations.  I love the quality of the illustrations. This book combines history, archaeology and geology. Working it's way from present day working back in time to the beginning of time.

          Other books available in the series are: A Farm through Time, A City through Time and A Street through Time.
           
          Blessings

           Welcome to Tuesdays Treasures.  I started these posts as a way of sharing great books in honour of my friend in New Zealand who would arrive with the treasures she had unearthed at her weekly trip to the library!

          There are so many wonderful books out there hiding on shelves so I invite you to blog about a book on your shelf, one you're reading or one you found at the library and add your post to Tuesday's Treasures Resource Link Up below.
          Please link to this post. 

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          Pop on over and see what others are sharing.
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          Every bed of Roses

          --oOo--