Homeschool High School Curriculum Choices for 2020

Welcome to day three of the Homeschool Review Crew Not Back to School Blog Hop.  Today we are talking about Curriculum.

 Over the years I have used multiple curriculums.  You can read a Time Line of my Homeschool Journey here.  I just realised this does need some updating as it lists what we've done up until 2012. It will however give you a good overview of some of the things we have used. We joined the Homeschool Review Crew and spent a few years actively using different curriculums and writing reviews on them.

Last year we changed tack when Nathaniel asked what he needed to do to finish school.  We have chosen to switch back to Sonlight Curriculum basic package and work through four Cores in order for him to graduate.  He worked diligently last year and the begining of this year and completed World History Year One and ten weeks ago commenced on World History Year Two.

This year we are finishing our journey through World History which we started last year. We are covering history as it happened from 17th century to about 1990. One of the reasons I love Sonlight is it's not consumable.  I used this package with Jane and Timothy ten years ago and the beauty of history is it doesn't change! Sonlight uses twaddle free literature and so reading these books again brings back many happy memories for me.

 

My all time favourite math curriculum is Teaching Textbooks.  We invested in this program before it was available online.  So we are using the book and CD option.  This year Nathaniel is working his way through Teaching Textbooks Algebra 1.  I love Teaching Textbooks because it's like having an on call math tutor to explain every single sum.  It is also the first math program that was built for homechoolers from the ground up. 

For bible we are using Cover to Cover (Aff link) by Selwyn Hughes and Trevor Partridge.  It's a bible reading program that takes you through the bible chronologically. This hardback bible is over 2,000 pages containing scripture, maps, timelines, illustrations and diagrams to make the bible come to life.  We have diveded the readings to cover the last three years of high school. Cover to Cover is available in two biblical versions: Cover to Cover NIV Edition: Through The Bible As It Happened  and the Holman Christian Standard Edition.

I've added in two extra books to read.  The first is The Dig Tree: The Story of Burke and Wills. This gorgeous hardback book is unabridged and tells the story of discovering the interior of Australia. Sarah Murgatroyd uses original source documents to take you back to the events surrounding this famous part of Australian geographical history.  Read more about the book here. 

Lastly I have added in a new book by the author Dr Caroline Leaf: Think Learn Succeed. I have chosen this particular book as it helps you understand yourself, your potential and the people around you. It dispels some learning mythes and equips the reader with tools to learn and use our brains to the very best of it's ability.  Read more about this AMAZING book here. 

Dr. Leaf shows readers how to combine these powerful tools in order to improve memory, learning, cognitive and intellectual performance, work performance, physical performance, relationships, emotional health, and most importantly a meaningful life well lived.

Do you have any books on your must read for you and your teen list?

 

This year we are continuing our Language Arts journey with resources from  The Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW). For grammar we are finishing off Fix It! Grammar: The Nose Tree and will continue onto book two Fix It! Grammar Robin Hood. For composition and report writing skills we are utilizing Teaching Writing: Structure & Style DVD set. If you would like a more detailed look into these programs please read my review here: Institute for Excellence in Writing Review. 

We are working through book two of Trail Guide to World Geography by Cindy Wiggers.

Last but not least we will continue working through Getting Started with Latin by William E. Linney.(Aff Link).

 

More Posts on this blog on Curriculum

1.  5 Days of Curriculum Choices {Fine Arts, Math, Science, History & Geography}
2. 5 Days of FREE Homeschool Resources {Fine Arts, Language Arts, Science, History & Geography}
3. Homeschool 4 FREE Resource List
4. Virtual Curriculum Fair {Art and Music Appreciation, Social Studies and Science, Math and Logic, & Language Arts}
   

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 Don't forget to read some of these great posts from Day two of the blog hop where our team talked about Must Have Resources ...

Kristen @ A Mom's Quest to Teach shares Homeschooling Must Have Resources and Supplies in Our Home.

Annette @ A Net in Time shares Nature Study Bring Alongs.

Jessica @ My Homeschool with a View shares My Top 5 Homeschool Supplies.

Dawn @ Schoolin' Swag shares Must Have Supplies ... For Mom.

Vicki B @ Tumbleweed News shares Homeschool Must Have Resources / Supplies.

Yvonne @ The Life We Build shares her Top 5 Favorite Homeschool Supplies and Resources.

Lori @ At Home: Where Life Happens shares Homeschool Supplies... Squirrel.

You can find more from this blog hop in the NOT Back to School Blog Hop Pinterest board or in the linky below.

 Don't forget to see what the Crew have to share on Homeschool Curriculumn

My Must Have Homeschool Resources

Yesterday we looked at homeschool traditions and why to have them in your homeschool.  Today we are asking the question "What are your must have resources for your homeschool?  That's a good question. I'm an easy homeschool Mom to please as I don't have a very long list. One word of caution when looking at the picture below.  You do NOT need your own library in order to home educate. Books are my passion and love and as a result I have spent almost three decades investing in these shelves.

 

Quality Twaddle Free Literature

As a bibliophile our family is surrounded in books. I feel so blessed that Paul has allowed me to indulge in my passion. One word of caution when purchasing books at your local book fair/secondhand trader or catalog becareful that you do not purchase twaddle.  Twaddle is a word describing low quality literature.  You can read about twaddle and how to know what it is here:  How does Charlotte Mason define Twaddle? Over the years our family have enjoyed many wonderful books and I hope to keep sharing them here in my Tuesday's Treasures Collection.

IF you are wondering where to start or how to create a list of books to have on your shelf take a look at this post:  Book Resource List it's my confession as a book-a-holic.

 

I-Clips Magnetic Book Marks

My second must have are i-clips.  These magnetic clips come in numberous colours and patterns to suit your taste.  Search for i-clips on Book Depository (Aff link). These clips measure 57 mm from tip to tip when open, 18 mm wide and 28 mm from edge to tip when closed. I-Clips are magnetic and therefore will not fall out of your book.  The pointed end also helps you to mark the precise spot on the page.

 

Stationery

This is one that I think we sometimes spend too little on.  We choose to buy cheap in order to save money and in the end we end up with frustrated students because the tools we supply are lacking in quality.  I highly recommend purchasing Faber-Castell with SV Bonding.  To read more about pencils, erasers and glue take a look at my post on Stationery My Homeschooling Essentials.

What are your Homeschool Must Have Resources??

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 Don't forget to read some of these great posts from Day one of the blog hop where our team talked about traditions...

Yvie @ Homeschool on the Range shares 20 Best Educational Subscription Boxes (we let the kids choose a new one at the beginning of each school year)

Dawn @ Schoolin' Swag shares Back to School Traditions. 

Vickie B @ Tumbleweed News shares Homeschool Traditions {NOT Back-to-School Blog Hop}

Adrienne Brown @ Practicalmindedness shares on Traditions that seal the heart.

Teresa B @ Teresa Brouillette shaes Homeschool Traditions.

Annette V @ A Net in Time shares Starting a New School Year. 

Kristen @ A Mom's Quest to Teach shares Homeschooling Taditions for the New Year.

Lori @ At Home: Where Life Happens shares Traditions for Back to School.

Yvonne @ The Life We Build shares Our Homeschool Traditions.

You can find more from this blog hop in the NOT Back to School Blog Hop Pinterest board or in the linky below.

 Don't forget to see what the Crew have to share on Homeschool Must Have Resources.

Homeschool Traditions

Welcome to the Annual NOT Back to School Blog Hop 2020 which is being hosted by the Homeschool Review Crew. Today's topic is Homeschooling Traditions.  Traditions in your homeschool can be as complex or as simple as you or your family want to make them.  My personal journey into traditions started almost 25 years ago when I wanted to know how I could create memories with my children at Christmas.

Traditions within a family are the core and foundation of your family identity.  They can be created on purpose or they can evolve over time. Traditions are special moments that happen through intentional planning.  

“Celebrations are the ritualized interruptions in the continuum of daily life which remind us who we are, where we came from and where we are going.” -Milo Shannon-Thornberry 

 

Define Tradition

• a way of thinking, behaving, or doing something that has been used by the people in a particular group, family, society, etc., for a long time
• a long-established custom
• the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation
• an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior
• cultural continuity in social attitudes, customs, and institutions

Dr. Dobson says:‘The great value of traditions comes as they give a family a sense of identity, ‘belongingness’. All of us desperately need to feel that we’re not just a cluster of people living together in a house, but we’re a family that’s conscious of its uniqueness, its personality, character and heritage, and that our special relationships of love and companionship make us a unit with identity and personality.’ 

 Traditions can take place daily, weekly, monthly or yearly.  Some are holiday specific, life changing or milestone, graduation, birthday or seasonal.

Some ideas to cultivate as a traditions

• Read a book aloud together Every Day.
• Not Back to School Party This is one that surprised me. We never set out to make it a tradition but it's one Nathaniel and his friends ask about every year.
• Celebrating Advent
• Christmas Traditions This is one I'm particularly passionate about!
• Enjoying a cup of tea together as a family before beginning your day.
• Weekly family movie night
• Favourite weekly family meal on a certain day of the week (Our family meals was macaroni and cheese and to this day it's the meal my siblings want when we get together with a particular pudding!)
• Holding hands when we pray a blessing on the meal.
• Board games night
• Attending certain annual events (for us this is Night Zoo, Christmas in Melbourne and Winter Fireworks in Docklands) 
• Eating a particular treat over the holidays which is ONLY eaten then.  We have a waffer biscuit we all enjoy and I only purchase them for eating during Advent.
• Going out once a month for a special treat (ice cream, donuts, lunch etc)
• Taking a picnic basket with a pre-packed flask on field trips. 

 Now a tradition is not a rut. A rut is doing the same things year after year because you don't have enough imagination to do anything new. A tradition is something you do once and discover a joy so deep that you do it again, Christmas after Christmas, to keep on savoring it and make it last -  Franklin Saunders (page 23 At Home in Dogwood Mudhole )

Nathaniel enjoying a ride 5 years ago at the Not Back to School Party

 Our Family Homeschool Traditions

• We start our new year each year by attending the local Not Back to School Party at  Geelong Adventure Park. We've loved doing this each year with the same group of families and watching one another's children grow in confidence and create memories together.
• Ice-Cream parties on days when things are hard or we are struggling.
• Each morning we meet in the lounge and enjoy a cup of tea together.  It's a great way to connect before we commence the new day ahead.
  

You can find more from this blog hop in the NOT Back to School Blog Hop Pinterest board or in the linky below.

 

Don't forget to see what the Crew have to share on Homeschool Traditions.

Core Foundations for Men {The Tummy Team Review}

Today I'd like to share about another AMAZING new product from my favourite company The Tummy Team. They are an online specialist physio therapist team specializing in functional core rehabilitation.

Personally the Tummy Team have given me back my life as a mom struggling with post partum tummy issues and I was thrilled to see them release a special program just for men called: Core Foundations for Men.

 

Our Story

Seventeen years ago our lives were dramatically changed when Paul suffered a traumatic back injury which resulted in spinal surgery.  Little did I know that more than a decade of ongoing constant pain and frustration would follow.  Four years ago I was extremely dissatisfied with the constant merry go round of pain management and physio that was not permanently resolving the pain and sciatica flare ups for Paul.

After hours on Google searching for a way to heal Paul's back trouble and recurring, debilitating pain all I could find was the standard protocol: pain management and Pilates/physio.  However we had done that many times and always ended up back to square one with Paul bed ridden in pain and restricted movement.

How We Found The Tummy Team

I was surfing Instagram one day when I came across a rather intriguing graphic explaining that planking was not a good exercise for your core. Paul routinely did planks and was still having back pain issues so I went to the account  to find out more.

There were the most amazing before and after photographs of what Core Foundations could accomplish.  I was rather surprised at the info graphics explaining that Planking,  Crunches and Cross-Over Crunches are really bad exercises for your core and do not accomplish what we think they should.

I was drawn to find out more about their program since Paul had been regularly exercising including doing planking exercises to strengthen his core but was still having pain issues and regular flare ups with his back.

Four most common presentations of diastasis recti in men

Symptoms of Diastasis Recti in Men

• A trench or football-shaped bulge down the midline of your tummy when you do crunch like movements or cough
• Bulging tummy that gets worse with traditional abdominal exercises
• Back pain (lower, mid or even upper back)
• Overall weakness in your core – affecting your posture, your ability to lift or exercise
• Lower back or SI joint instability – where your back randomly “goes out”
• Sluggish intestinal function, constipation, the need to bear down to go
• Flared rib cage or barrel chest

For more information read this post: What Men Need to Know about Diastasis Recti.

How does Online Core Foundations for Men work?

Here is a walk through of how the at home physical therapy program works.

Once you have purchased your course and log in you will be taken to the My Account screen.  Here you are able to update all your information and access any courses and past purchases. This screen is accessible at any time by clicking on My Access.

Navigating to your course is via the My Courses tab.  Here you will find a list of your registered courses and pending courses that still need to be activated. Once you select your course, it will open a new page showing the weekly lesson/course materials links.

 Upon completing the work for that week, and you mark a unit/week of study as complete a green check mark will appear. Lessons are released at the pace of one a week. This is intentional.  The information you receive builds one upon the other and needs to be viewed and implemented in the order that it is presented in the same manner as if you were actively meeting with your personal physio therapist once a week. 

Each weeks lesson/consultation is presented as follows and in the same format:

Each weeks class/consultation opens with a welcome note and summary of the weeks focus.  Below this there are three buttons:

1. Focus of the Week - Here is where you will find the purpose and focus for the week ahead. Some great encouragement and coaching.
2. Helpful Tips - Here you will find a bullet point list of possible physical responses to the exercises / stretches for the week.  The list is comprehensive and spot on.  We appreciated knowing these things before commencing the weeks homework as we were prepared for the changes and how Paul's body may respond or react to the new alignment and strength it was gaining.
3. Weekly Downloads - This is where you will find the pdf downloads for you to print.
• Rehabilitation plan for the week ahead. 
• Exercise Explanation Summary -  these contain detailed  photographs and explanations of the exercises/stretches you will be focusing on for the week ahead.
• Exercise Chart - this is a chart to help you track when you do your exercises and helps you to find natural spots in your daily routine to incorporate them.
• Assessment chart - this is done twice during the course of your treatment.  I encourage you to take your time and do these.  Paul discovered symptoms that were such a normal part of his daily living that he did not even realise they were symptoms until he did the assessment.  It also assisted him to see progress as it was so gradual.

Below this section you will find your video list for the week.

As you work your way through the video's the little dot to the left changes colour to green indicating you have completed that specific video.  Once you have completed the list of video's there is a button at the bottom to Mark your week Complete.  This in turn changes the tick box to green on the course home page making it super easy to know where you are each week.

The video can be played full screen by clicking on the four mini arrows on the right and the little cog allows you to manually select the quality of the video you want to play, available streaming is 360p to 1080p. It's default setting is auto. The video's in the play list will auto load upon completion, there is no need to click on next video.

Core Foundations for Men Handouts

The handouts are comprehensive and informative.  We printed them each week and at the end of the program had a 40 page document which I comb bound.  Paul is able to refer back to these notes and continue his journey to strength and wellness.

What is covered in Core Foundations for Men?

• Introduction: Anatomy & Education
  
  • Welcome to Core Foundations for Men
  • Anatomy of the Abdominals
  • The Transverse Abdominis Muscle
  • Diastasisi Recti in Men
  • How to Self Check for Diastasis Recti
  • The Role of Abdominal Splinting
• Week 1 - Awareness
  
  • Focus of the Week: Awareness
  • Initial Self Assessment
  • Functional Rehab Process
  • Active Sitting & Belly Breaths
  • Active Sitting & Transverse Holds
  • Abdominal Splinting
  • Initial Functional Integration: Desk, Car, Work, Exercise
  • Week 1 Recap
• Week 2 - Connection
  
  • Focus of the Week: Connection
  • Progressing Transverse Holds
  • Common Compensations
  • Stretches for Initial Soreness
  • Abdominal Massage
  • Functional Integration: Bending & Lifting
  • Potty Posture
  • Week 2 Recap
• Week 3 - Neutral Pelvis/Prostate
  
  • Focus of the Week: Neutral Pelvis/Prostate
  • Active Standing: Neutral Pelvis Stretches
  • Active Standing: Transverse Holds
  • Pelvic Floor Connection: Prostate Health
  • Weaning From Your Splint: Part 1
  • Functional Integration: Active Walking
  • Week 3 Recap
• Week 4: Neutral Rib Cage
  
  • Focus of the Week: Neutral Rib Cage
  • Neutral Rib Cage
  • Neutral Rib Cage Stretches
  • Upper Back Activation
  • Rib Mobilization & Myofacial Release
  • Functional Integration: TA Squeeze & Release with Resistance Training
  • Week 4 Recap
• Week 5 - Challenge
  
  • Focus of the Week: Challenge
  • Determining Your Personal Priorities
  • Multitasking the Core
  • Core Integration: Sports
  • Core Integration: Progressing Resistance Bands
  • Functional Integration: Household Chores
  • Weaning from the Splint: Part 2
  • Week 5 Recap
• Week 6 - Core-Strong Lifestyle
  
  • Focus of the Week: Core Strong Lifestyle
  • Stretches for Your Toolbox
  • Optimal Alignment
  • Ongoing Functional Integration
  • Advanced Weight Training Considerations
  • Final Self Assessment
  • Case Study
  • Thank You

Other Courses from the Tummy Team
I have personally worked through Core Foundations and Floor of Your Core for Women and have benefited from the Teams online rehabilitation. To read more about what each course covers and how online rehabilitation works with the Tummy Team click on the following links:

• The Tummy Team - Core Foundations {Review}
• Floor of Your Core {Tummy Team Review - Pelvic Floor Rehab at Home}

Does Online Physical Therapy Work? 
Yes!  Both Paul and myself have benefited immensely from online therapy.  I have had a skype consultation and the therapist resolved my pain issue within five minutes.  There are many reasons to do online therapy.

Within two weeks there was a dramatic change in pain and range of motion.  Paul had not been able to sit tall while driving as it caused him too much pain.  At the end of week two he was able to tilt the back of the car seat into an upright position and sit comfortably.

Kelly and her team are experts in the field and currently are training therapists and medical professionals around the world.  Enrolling in online therapy means that you can set aside private space to do therapy without having to take time off work.

It's affordable!  An average physical therapist sees clients 2x/week for 6-8 weeks if not longer. Average physical therapy sessions run between $100- $250/session. This adds up. The Tummy Team online programs range from $63-$159 (Currently discounted to $53-$135)**. Their most popular online programs include the equivalent of  6-8 individual PT sessions.

**Prices current at time of review and subject to change at the discretion of The Tummy Team.  Please do check the prices BEFORE committing to purchase your course.
** Sale ends 31 July 2020 

Connect on Social Media

Website | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube

If you have any other questions about The Tummy Team
please contact them directly via their website here.

A big Thank You to the Tummy Team for sponsoring Paul with Core Foundations for Men to Review.  

 

Melbourne Covid Lockdown #2

Tonight at midnight Melbourne goes back into stage three lockdown for #covid19. I had many conflicting thoughts yesterday and then I saw a friend share this verse on Facebook yesterday and felt the Lord encourage me to count His blessings and love towards me and my family over the next six weeks.

Blessed be the LORD, for He has wondrously shown His steadfast love to me when I was in a besieged city. - Psalm 31:21

#melbourneundersiege #covid19 #mygodisgood #godisawesome

Hairy Maclary From Donaldson's Dairy {5 Days of Picture Books}

Welcome to day five of beautiful picture books you can read over and over. Lynley Dodd was first introduced to our family when we moved to New Zealand and she is a firm favourite around here.  Her books can be read over and over and over again.  Whenever I find her books I snatch them up and bring them home. 

Hairy Maclary From Donaldson's Dairy

• Format Paperback | 32 pages
• Dimensions 188 x 251 x 4mm | 128g
• Publication date 10 Jul 2014
• Publisher Penguin Books Ltd
• Publication City/Country London, United Kingdom
• Language English
• Illustrations note w. numerous col. ill.
• ISBN10 0723278059
• ISBN13 9780723278054

From Book Depository: "Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy is the hilarious rhyming classic by Lynley Dodd. Hairy Maclary goes off for a walk in town, followed by doggish friends of all shapes and sizes. One by one they join Hairy Maclary until they meet SCARFACE CLAW! Scarface Claw is the toughest Tom in town, and causes all the others to run for home. The brilliant cumulative rhyme and terrific pictures of this story has turned it into a classic - and it is still one of the most popular picture books today."

Here are a few others by Lynley Dodd we have enjoyed:

• Slinky Malinki's Christmas Crackers - Festive preparations are being made in Slinky Malinki's house and the rapscallion, mischievous cat is most curious about the Christmas tree. With its reindeer, ribbons, baubles and bells, it's too tempting a treat for Slinky not to investigate. So Slinky Malinki, with mischievous glee, creeps out from the shadows to climb up the tree...
•  Scarface Claw - Big, bullying tom cat, Scarface Claw, Hairy Maclary's arch-enemy, is at the centre of this story. But like most bullies, Scarface turns out to be not quite as tough as he and the other animals think when he is scared by his own reflection.
• Hairy Maclary's Rumpus At The Vet  - Hairy Maclary is waiting to see the vet with lots of other pets. Then something happens to turn the waiting room into a kerfuffling scramble of paws, a tangle of bodies and a jumble of jaws . . . what can be the matter? Another rumbustious, rhyming romp with Hairy Maclary
• Schnitzel Von Krumm Forget-Me-Not  - Schnitzel von Krumm's family is going on holiday. It's all of a puzzle to Schnitzel and soon his meddling leads to a spot of bother.
• Slinky Malinki Catflaps  - Slinky Malinki wakes from a cosy sleep, stretches and slips out through the catflap and into the night. He's soon joined by his friends Greywacke Jones, Butterball Brown, the Poppadum kittens and the rest of the gang. Hobnobbing happily on the wall,ten in a row, the cats are disturbed by the crotchety Scarface Claw. The cats hiss and yowl until all the neighbours complain. Scarface slopes off and Slinky Malinki invites his friends home to sit in front of the fire, hobnobbing happily, ten in a row.
• Hairy Maclary's Showbusiness  - When Hairy Maclary bounces and pounces his way into the cat show, his flustering and blustering bring a very unexpected result . . . Another rollicking, rhyming adventure with Hairy Maclary (from Donaldson's Dairy) and friends
• Slinky Malinki  - Slinky Malinki steals anything from a clothes peg, to a slipper, to a string of sausages, to a clock! Our hero is a BAD cat! The story is told in wonderful rhyme and through pictures full of life and movement.

In all honesty I could go on listing books as I haven't met a Lynley Dodd book I didn't like!  Be sure to take a look through all the books she has published.  I often wonder if my families taste for ryhming sentances come from these clever books...

Do you have a children's author you like who enjoys ryming words?

Richard Scarry's What Do People Do all Day? {5 Days of Picture Books}

With Covid-19 stay home policies enacted globaly many young families have found themselves indoors. This in turn has inspired me to share some of my favourite picture books with you.  Please take heart, Quarantine-schooling is not the norm for homeschooling families either.

Today I would like to introduce Richard Scarry to you.  His books are full of hidden treasures and your children will spend hours combing through his gorgeous books.

What Do People Do All Day ?

• For ages 0-5
• Format Paperback | 64 pages
• Dimensions 220 x 280 x 5mm | 280g
• Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
• Language English
• Illustrations note chiefly col. Illustrations
• ISBN10 0007353693
• ISBN13 9780007353699

This book was first published over 50 years ago and is still loved by children all over the world.  It's currently got a best sellers rank of 729! Every single page is full of things to discover.

From Book Depository: "Everyone is busy in Busytown - from train drivers to doctors, from mothers to sailors, in police stations and on fire engines. Follow lots of busy people working through their busy days! Captain Salty and his crew are getting ready to go on a voyage; Doctor Lion is busy at the hospital; Sergeant Murphy is working hard to keep things safe and peaceful; and engineers are building new roads. Packed full of activity and funny details to discover, this celebration of Busytown and its inhabitants will keep curious minds occupied for hours on end!"

Here are a couple of other titles by Richard Scarry we have enjoyed over the years:

• Richard Scarry's Please and Thank You Book - The animal residents of Busytown learn useful lessons about manners, thoughtfulness, and caring
• Richard Scarry's Bedtime Stories - Five funny tales featuring Lowly Worm, Huckle Cat,
  Bananas Gorilla, and the rest of Scarry's memorable menagerie are collected in
  a sleepytime anthology.
• The Best Little Word Book Ever!  - Huckle Cat, Lowly Worm, and their Busytown friends star in "Richard Scarry's Best Little Word Book Ever!" Illustrated in Scarry's signature style, it offers over two hundred names for objects both familiar and new, grouped by subject, theme, and setting. This book is perfect for reinforcing a child's knowledge of the world and further expanding his or her universe.
• Good Night, Little Bear  - First a story, and then a kiss from Mother Bear, and Father Bear carries Little Bear to bed. And that's when the fun begins...
• Richard Scarry's Cars And Trucks  - Tweet! goes the policeman's whistle. All the trucks stop. The beloved Richard Scarry gives readers an exciting array of vehicles in this classic Little Golden Book from 1959.
• Richard Scarry's Postman Pig And His Busy Neighbors  - Join Richard Scarry's beloved Postman Pig for a day of discovery and adventure! With deliveries to the police station, the doctor's office, the library, and many more, young readers will see how those in their communities go about the day.
• Richard Scarry's The Country Mouse and the City Mouse  - Featuring The Country Mouse and the City Mouse, The Fox and the Crow, and The Dog and His Bone. 

Do you have any fabulous children's authors of picture books to recommend?

Blessings
Chareen

Mike Mulligan and More A Virginai Lee Burton Treasury {5 Days of Picture Books}

Before I started on my home school journey I visited many homeschooling families to see what they were using.  After many months I settled on using Sonlight Curriculum to begin our journey.  Over the years I have used many different curriculum options however we've always seemed to migrate back to my first option.  When Nathaniel was little we used the pre-school package from Sonlight and in this package we received Mike Mulligan and More A Virginai Lee Burton Treasury.

This is one of the most beautiful picture book compendiums I own. I loved reading these stories over and over and over again. The pictures are gorgeous and the characters are lovely. Each charater brings honour to living a simple life with integrity. Each hero exhibits determination and a graceful adaptation to the changes life brings their way.   Each story in this treasury is complete and unabridged.

• For ages 0-5
• Format Hardback | 208 pages
• Dimensions 216 x 238 x 16mm | 1,016.05g
• Publication date 28 Oct 2002
• Publisher HOUGHTON MIFFLIN
• Language English
• Illustrations note Illustrations, unspecified
• ISBN10 061825627X
• ISBN13 9780618256273 

Books in the Treasury

The Little House was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1943.
From Book Depository: "The Little House, a poignant story of a cute country cottage that becomes engulfed by the city that grows up around it. The house has an expressive face of windows and doors, and even the feelings of a person, so she's sad when she's surrounded by the dirty, noisy city's hustle and bustle: "She missed the field of daisies / and the apple trees dancing in the moonlight." Fortunately, there's a happy ending, as the house is taken back to the country where she belongs."

 Maybelle the Cable Car is based on actual historical events in San Francisco.  It chronicals the city's efforts to keep the cable cars running.  The story shows how the voice fo the people can be heard in the true spirit of democracy to achieve good things.

Katy and the Big Snow illustrates how important even the smallest jobs really are.
From Book Depository: "Katy, a brave and untiring tractor, who pushes a bulldozer in the summer and a snowplow in the winter, makes it possible for the townspeople to do their jobs. In this enduring winter favorite from the Caldecott Medal winner Burton, Katy the snowplow finally gets her chance to shine when a blizzard blankets the city and everyone is relying on Katy to help dig out. Children love sharing Katy's shining moment of glory and will inevitably admire her "chug, chug, chug" endurance."

 Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel 
From Amazon: "Mike and his trusty steam shovel, Mary Anne, dig deep canals for boats to travel through, cut mountain passes for trains, and hollow out cellars for city skyscrapers -- the very symbol of industrial America. But with progress come new machines, and soon the inseparable duo are out of work. Mike believes that Mary Anne can dig as much in a day as one hundred men can dig in a week, and the two have one last chance to prove it and save Mary Anne from the scrap heap. What happens next in the small town of Popperville is a testament to their friendship, and to old-fashioned hard work and ingenuity."

Do you have a picture book author who has impacted your home or childhood to recommend?

My Nest is Best {5 Days of Picture Books}

I've been contemplating the "Stay Home Stay Safe" mantra that is currently our social norm. One of the things I've come to realise is that I have had the privledge of staying home for the last three decades.  My home is my haven and I love to be here.  However this isolation is NOT our normal.  I am missing my home educating friends and their famlies. I am missing my family.  I am missing my community.  However I am greatful for the blessings that I do have.    Dwelling on what I don't have is not healthy.  We are created to think and meditate on the good things we do have and as such it's time to start listing the positives of the Stay Home Mandate we are living through.

Yesterday I shared five picture books to read out loud.  Today I'd like to share one of my favourites:  My Nest is Best by P.D. Eastman.

{Please note that the links below to Book Depository are affiliate links.  You will not pay more for the books however I will receive a commision should you choose to purchase a book from them} 

My Nest is Best 

• For ages 0-5
• Format Board book | 14 pages
• Dimensions 150.88 x 212.85 x 14.48mm | 244.94g
• Publication date 24 May 2005
• Publisher Random House USA Inc
• Imprint Random House Books for Young Readers
• Language English
• Illustrations note Colour Illustrations
• ISBN10 037583267X
• ISBN13 9780375832673 

About PD Eastman

• He is an author/illustrator of children's books
• Trained at the National Academy of Design
• Sold more than 30 million books
• Was in the army with Theodor Geisel who became known as Dr. Seuss

Other Titles by PD Eastman

• Are You My Mother?
• Go, Dog. Go!
• The Best Nest
• Sam and the Firefly
• Red, Stop! Green, Go! 
• Flap Your Wings 
• Big Dog . . . Little Dog 
• The Alphabet Book 
• Cat in the Hat Beginner Book Dictionary 

Do you have a favourite picture book Author?

Picture Books to Read out Loud {5 Days of Picture Books}

A few weeks back Sonlight asked:  Name a picture book that you never tire of reading aloud.  Since many of us are now in isolation and Quarantine-schooling I thought I'd share some of the suggestions with you.

{Please note that the links below to Book Depository are affiliate links.  You will not pay more for the books however I will receive a commision should you choose to purchase a book from them} 

"Stand Back," said the elephant, "I'm Going to Sneeze!"

Blueberries for Sal

Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel

Are You My Mother?

 

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Have you read any of these?  We have read and enjoyed a few of them over the years and I'm certainly looking forward to reading them to my grand children one day.

What are your favourite read aloud picture books? 

Quarantine-schooling is NOT Homeschooling and other thoughts.

I recently came accross and shared the following thought on Facebook:  "Non of us are truly homeschooling; we are quarantine-schooling.  Homeschooling involves visits to libraries, parks, the ice-skating rink, play dates, museums, co-op, gymnastics, etc ...  This is completely different."  Some families are emergency schooling at home or have found themselves with children at home due to early school closures.  I wanted to say take a deep breath and please do remember that homeschool/education is NOT school at home.  You do not need to school for eight hours a day.  I will be sharing more on Monday.

I got thinking about this new normal that we are all struggling with and decided to blow the dust off my blog and start sharing some resources as I find them whilst ambling through too much social media!

One of the biggest blessings in my life is the homeschool friends I have met through being a member of the Homeschool Review Crew.  My friend Michele from over at Family, Faith & Fridays has set forth a fabulous challenge:  A Letter a Day.  I think I will be taking this one up starting on Monday. I really love the idea of posting a letter, yes a snail mail letter to someone.  Social distancing does not mean disconnection.

Here are some great ideas and articals

• The Great Indoors Challenge - Fabulous ideas for your children to do indoors.  There are over 100 activities to access and they can be found here.
• Use toys at home and the sun to create shadow drawings 
• Education Unboxed has some fabulous resources listed to help with Math etc. 
• Ronit Bird is a website dedicated to help parents who have children with special needs (dyscalculia, dyslexia and other specific difficulties)
• Stream Shakespeare via Globe Player. 
• Audible have launched a FREE Stories for kids division.
• Homeschooling is not the same as crisis schooling - Advice during the coronavirus covid 19 Shut downs.

Oh my I have just found a lovely old book on Google Books.  It's a free eBook called: Grand-Papa's Arithmetic: A Story of Two Little Apple Merchants. 

Are you wanting to purchase books to be home delivered?  Take a look at these companies:

• Book Depository 
• Amazon
• Barnes & Noble
• Audible 
• Books A Million

If you are looking for some quick links to specific areas be sure to check out my page of Homeschool Help links.

In anticipation of more regular blogging and wondering how you are all holding up with the lack of social contact.

Blessings
Chareen

Linking with Homeschool Highlights.