Tuesday 6 September 2011

Homeschool Meme

Imagine my surprise and delight when Erin from Seven Little Australians tagged me for a meme.  I was so honoured to read she was interested to hear from me!  So... 

1. One homeschooling book you have enjoyed
I  need to cheat with the answer to this one!  I have a large number that I have enjoyed and continue to enjoy.  I find the longer I homeschool the more I need to keep going back to the places I have received encouragement from before.
Here are some of my favourites in no particular order: Educating the WholeHearted Child by Sally and Clay Clarkson, Things We Wish We'd Known by Bill and Diana Waring, A Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola, and Beyond Survival by Diana Waring.

2. One resource you wouldn't be without
My personal home library.  I must confess though you do not need to own a library at home to successfully home educate.  I have been blessed with a wonderful library of books that has grown over the last fourteen years.  I have gathered books from many different places such as: Sonlight, opp shopping, friends hand me downs, Children's Books, Christian Books, The Book Depository, Christchurch Library Sales, Christian Value Books to name but a few.

3. One resource you wish you had never bought
 ATI (Advanced Training Institute from IBLP)  In hindsight I wish we had stayed with what was working well for us and not moved to this.  We did this for two years before reverting back to what fit our family best. There wasn't one bad thing in particular and as a Mom I learned a lot but for my children it didn't work at all.

4. One resource you enjoyed last year
Geography Matters.  Geography is sometimes one of the most neglected areas in homeschool circles and was very impressed when I came accross this website.  The books are available for purchase in book form or e-book format. Cindy Wiggers has done a fantastic job with putting this resource together. I have Trail Guide to World Geography.  Samples available are: Trail Guide to World Geography-SampleLesson.pdf and Table of Contents to World Geography. It comes in three levels. Junior school, middle school and high school.  Over the space of three seperate years your students will receive a comprehensive coverage and understanding of world geography.

5. One resource you will be using next year
 This year we made a Time Line to use with Sir N.  I will be using Time Line Figures from Sonlight as well as Time Line Figures from Amy Pak at Homeschool in the Woods.

6. One resource you would like to buy
 I would really love to buy some premade slides to use with our microscope.  I am currently looking at two sets and still trying to make up my mind which one and then will have to save to buy. The best buy so far that I have found is from Science Education Online the sets I am considering are 100 prepared slides and The Wonderful World of a drop of water slide set.

7. One resource you wish existed
I have a confession I wish there were two:
  • Firstly I wish there was one downloadable history/geography curriculum for Australia along the lines of Road Trip USA by Erica at Confessions of a HomeSchooler.
  • I really wish there was a French Language Programme for young primary school age children along the lines of the Rosetta Stone Method but without the reading.
8. One homeschool catalogue you enjoy reading
Over the years I have enjoyed a variety of different catalogues.  Some that I have read a few times and kept copies of are: Rainbow Resources, Diana Waring History Alive, I really enjoy reading the Sonlight Catalogue and eagerly await it's arrival in the mail each April.

9. One homeschooling website you use regularly
To be honest there isn't just one there are a few. They are listed in the blogs I follow as well as a few of the bling links on the right. I must confess I am more of a book girl and prefer to see a resource or search out help on my friends bookshelves or have a chat over a cup of tea. I am new to the blogging world and have just over the last few months being surfing blogs for answers to my most pressing questions. There are also links in Every Bed of Roses Links Page.

10 Tag six other homeschoolers
I'm particularly keen to hear from;
Blessings


Updated: 21 September 2011

My Two Add-on Homeschool Questions by Jimmie

This meme is called Homeschooling in Ten Easy Questions, but Pam’s post had only eight questions. To fix the discrepancy without renaming the meme, I’ve chosen to create two of my own questions. Sorry to end on a negative note, but the struggles are where we learn the most, so I don’t want to discount them.

9. What homeschool subject gives you the most frustration or anxiety?
At the moment with Sir N it is a second language !

10. What is your greatest challenge in homeschooling right now?
Finding my daily routine.   It's been over 12 years since I home schooled a six year old.  Right now I am trying to juggle home school time, household time and paly time with Sir N.

Now it’s your turn! Go ahead. Copy the questions and do the homeschooling in 10 easy questions meme. It’s fun.

Tuesdays Treasure (1-10)

I really like books that teach character through stories and two of my all time favourites are: A Hive of Busy Bees Volume 1 & 2

A Hive of Busy Bees Vol 1
  • Format: Paperback
  • Number of Pages: 158
  • Vendor: A. B. Publishing
  • Publication Date: 1987
  • Dimensions: 8.25 X 5.5 (inches)
  • ISBN: 0936595051
  • ISBN-13: 9780936595054
  • Ages: 5-10
Contents: Bee Obedient; Bee Honest; Bee Truthful; Bee Kind; Bee Polite; Bee Gentle; Bee Helpful; Bee Careful; Bee Grateful; Bee Loving; Bee Accepted; Bee Confident; Bee Content.

Another Hive of Busy Bees Vol 2
  • Format: Paperback
  • Number of Pages: 190
  • Vendor: A. B. Publishing
  • Dimensions: 8.5 X 5.5 (inches)
  • ISBN: 093659506X
  • ISBN-13: 9780936595061
  • Ages: 5-10
Which books have you read your children that impart good character ?

Sunday 4 September 2011

In Honour of the men in my life

In honor of Fathers Day today (here in Australia) I would like to tell you about the men in my life:

ABBA Father God
You are the maker of heaven and earth and you have made me your child through the sacrifice of your son. Thank you for  the gift of your new mercy every day. You are the almighty saviour and the lover of my soul.  You carry me daily and you love me completely. You are ever patient and loving. You have healed me and blessed me with life.  Thank you for the gift of life and for blessing me so abundantly. 

My Dad
My Dad is my hero and my friend.
He has always been there for me, loved me, encouraged me and supported me. 
He has always had a listening ear when I have needed a sounding board.
He has always freely given me of himself.
His words of wisdom and integrity have guided me in many ways.
I look forward to many more 4x4 adventures and watching the solar eclipse with you in 2012
I love you my Dad thank you for all you are and all you have given me and most of all for loving me ♥


My Husband
You are my husband, my lover, my friend and the father of our children. Your support and steadfastness have lifted me and I just want to say thank you. I love the way you encourage and uplift our children. Your prayers and intercession for our children have often carried us. Your provision for us as a family and your support on the journey of home education are greatly appreciated.  Thank you for loving me deeply and completely. I love you my friend and look forward to many many more years of loving learning and growing together.



My Father-in-law
 I met you one summers day at church and little did I know how much your invitation to Trackers would change my life.  I met my love and my friend: your son.  Your love of the bush and the time you have for people have been a wonderful source of encouragement. Thank you for the wonderful father in law you are.  Thank you for teaching your son how to love the Lord with his whole heart, thank you for teaching him to walk in integrity and honesty, thank you for the amazing job you did in training him to be the man he is today. I look forward to spending some great time with you and Mum in 2012. Thank you for being a blessing and loving me like a daughter.

I love you all
Love