Joy To The World

        Tis the season to be jolly...right? Well, then why is my heart in such agony? Tomorrow is the big day....Christmas and as I watch the news I see stories about people shopping even though the economy is in MAJOR distress. It's not the actual shopping that hurts, it's the amount of money people spend to force feed their materialistic needs (and their immediate family's materialistic needs) while there are people in need of actual NEEDS!! These are people like you and me. They have children and grandparents and husbands....but nothing else, and they watch us. They watch us as we allow one day, one season, one moment in time pass by, where we believe greed is indeed what Jesus would have us to focus on. They watch us walk pass them as they sit cold on the streets and give them a dollar, say God bless you and then walk away feeling like we did something great. In reality, we have not attended to their needs as our heavenly Father would have us to do.
      Around this time of the year, there is something in the air, something sweet & lovely almost embraceable, it's the feeling of giving without thought. We just want to give! But, why is it that we get overwhelmed with this feeling only once per year?.....aren't we children of a great & mighty God whom has indeed taught us better? Yes, we are and since we know better we should do better, how you say? Well let me say this first before I forget it (lol).....  This is an awesome feeling by the way... I mean seriously, we love every-friggin-body during the holiday season....Only we don't show them true love, the love of Jesus. The love of Jesus is not giving gifts, it's not cooking meals all night to feed your family (nothing wrong with that, just sayin') , it's not lying to your kids into thinking "santa" is coming (he's an idol by the way)...yeah, yeah, yeah...I know, it's for the kids right? Well, what did Jesus tell us to teach our children? We are to lay a foundation in the way they should go, teach them his commandments and be a living vessel for Him. The point I'm trying to get at is, that WE (that includes me and my family too) as followers of Christ and believers of His Word should always have this great giving feeling....ALWAYS. When we don't, we do Jesus ministry a disservice because we are seen as only hearers and NOT doers of the word.
       On Sunday, I sang "Joy To The World" because I know that the day Jesus was born was a joyous occasion, even though there is no actual historical birth date, but it was even better when he cleansed me from my sins. That was the greatest give of all, try giving that this holiday season...Give Jesus.

Wishing you all a dose of Jesus this season, May you increase in your patience, kindness, prayer and knowledge. May our Heavenly Father place on your hearts to share what you have and give needs out of your lack. May the Lord allow you to lead someone to Him and offer them eternal life...the greatest gift of all, one that will never rot or rust, nor thief can steal or devil destroy. Give Love, Give Jesus ~Amen~

Teacher Momma Laminating On A Budget

Hey! Thanks for watching! Do you have any topic suggestions for for my videos? Well, let me know and I'll make sure to give you a shout out and and a link to your blog/website (if you have one). Thanks 

Need Some Extra Cash? Enter This Great Giveaway!

"I WANNA WIN"

JUST IN: I received an e-mail this morning about this VERY COOL Giveaway that's going on NOW! This is an "easy-peasy-lemon-squeezie" way of earning a few extra buck....oh, not a few....let's try $500!!!!! I already signed up guys, so if you plan on winning, consider me your competition LOL! I wanna win REALLY badly!!! Don't you? Just click "I WANNA WIN"  now! Good luck...see you on my shopping spree :)

Homeschooling Is Abuse?

  This post is one of my favorite! Chime in on this "oldie but goodie" and share, share, share!


 There comes a time in a bloggers life when she reads something that she doesn't agree with and she MUST blog about it! Well folks, that blogger would be me :) 
    Today I read something that just made my skin crawl! This person (another blogger) called homeschooling ABUSIVE! WHAT???? Are you kidding me? I know this is America the beautiful and you have a right to say what you want, but before you have an opinion GET THE FACTS STRAIGHT (I was not yelling, just had my eyes wide open)!
   This blogger wrote that homeschool prevents girls from having role models and knowing that they can become anything a man can become! Obviously, this person has been watching some cultism action, because that is NOT what homeschool is about! This person also said that the parents have control issues because the parents control every aspect of their child's life and education! Does this person sound rational to you?
   Ok, allow me make a valid point (because I have the facts). Anything can be and has been used for a bad purpose. Fire is good for cooking and other useful purposes, but some people use it to burn folks houses down! Sooooo, does that make fire bad? There are many controlled substances that people take because they are sick or are in great pain, but some abuse them. Does this make the controlled substances bad?....I think you get my point, but one more example, I promise. Sex was made to be between a man and a woman, but in today's society we have lesbianism/homosexuality. Does this very fact make sex wrong? The answer to all these questions is NO! People are going to do what they want with things because they have free will. Now, when we have children, we are really excited,we fall in love with them, we take care of them. Then we depend on America to raise them, tisk-tisk.
      We speak badly about parents that leave their children at home alone or are allowed  to disrespect their parents, so why is it so wrong for people to actually raise their children if they choose to do so? The Bible tells us to raise up our children in the way they "should" go. No where did it say, send them to public school and let someone else that has NO Godly values raise your kids and teach them worldly things! If you hate homeschoolers so much, that might have been me that just stepped on your toes, sorry.
     Of course the whole "Socialism" issue was brought up, like my kids are caged animals or something and they don't know what their fellow humans look and sound like. Really? The way the world is today, I don't even want to socialize in the public schools! But, don't get me wrong, I'm not ragging on public school, some of them are great and it works for some families (it all goes back to my examples), but for me and my house, we will homeschool!
     Oh, then the blogger goes to talk badly about HSLDA not even realizing that a lot of the issues that HSLDA fights is for ALL parents/children alike, they fight for parents rights!! We have a right to raise our children the way we choose. Do some people go overboard? YES, but that's with all things! You can't hate homeschool because some abuse it! It's not fair to those of us who work darn hard for our children to have the best education EVER in our homeschool! You need to rag on reckless parents that don't take care of their children, that don't care about their education, that only spends 15 minutes per day of quality time with them, that can care less about their relationship with Christ, that don't even know where their children are RIGHT NOW!!!......(drops mic)

Free Phonics/Reading Website!!!

Hey Check this out!!!! You can actually hear me on this video!!! LOL...I have solved the case of the mysterious"interference"...it was my laptop fan!! Go figure!..Yup, I need a new battery, but I have found another option!! Hope you enjoy it! Let me know what you think! Happy viewing!!

DIY Worksheets For The Little Ones

Video Suggestions?

Hey guys! It looks like the first video is off to a good start, but I want the videos to be things YOU want to know/see/hear/talk about etc. Is there a recipe or craft that you are interested in doing? Or maybe some tips on lesson planning and field trips! You name it and I'll do a video for it! So take a shot guys...Remember this is a Homeschool blog, so all suggestions pertaining to homeschool I will greatly consider (and of course recipies, crafts & household frugal stuff). So go ahead, give it your best shot and I'll give mine! See you on the computer screen!

Teacher Momma's Fire Drill (First Video)

"Savings To Share"

Hey guys! I know it's been a while since you've heard from me, but I couldn't let you guys go without knowing about this awesome sale.Don't miss the greatest Black Friday & Cyber Monday sale!!!! No waiting in long lines, no "last one" products to rumble for and No Chaos! Just click the link above and get your "Black Friday & Cyber Monday On"....Oh, Want some Promo Codes? Why sure you can have some. For Black Friday use FRIDAY30 (for use on November 23rd) and for Cyber Monday use MONDAY30 (for use on November 26th). Enjoy Teacher Mommas! Happy Turkey Day!!!

What's In The Bible Review

http://whatsinthebible.com/" target="_blank">http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj299/homeschoollounge/WITB1.jpg

" border="0" alt="WITB">

 

What’s in the Bible Review

 

If I could use one word to describe the video series “What’s In The Bible”, it would be superb! I can’t get enough of Bill Vischer (the writer and voice over) and his creative, hilarious, witty, informative and friendly characters. Talk about a “gut buster”! Even though I laughed the ENTIRE time while watching the video, I was also very impressed at how well the Bible was explained. I mean, teaching kids about the Septuagint and the Apocrypha is no easy task , but Bill Vischer did it beautifully! He made it look so easy….like watching a ballerina. This guy is genius I tell you, genius!

So, you can only imagine me when my family and I took a little trip to the Family Christian Book Store. Just as I hit the kid section (and with 3 kiddo’s I’m always drug there first lol) I run smack into something I had no idea about. My vision was blessed with seeing 10 different volumes of the “What’s In The Bible” series! At that moment I thought, “Thank you Jesus”. By the way, my kids did the jumping with excitement for me. Oh’ how well they were priced…if only I had enough for them all.

Just when I thought Bible teachings for kids couldn’t get any better than Veggie Tales (which Bill Vischer Also created…I told you he was awesome), here comes “What’s In the Bible” and it’s wonderful delight. I tell you the truth, I’m no sucker for lame kid entertainment and I‘m not easily tickled, but this series is good. I believe that if its good for the kids its good for me and if its bad for the kids its bad for me (that goes for all forms of entertainment). I totally recommend you see for yourself the witty Mr. Vischer and all his silly friends. Falling in love with the Bible just got easy for kids. Visit www.whatsinthebible.com to check out some video clips. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do…..can’t wait to get my next few volumes….and maybe a Sunday School Lady puppet - she’s a riot!

http://whatsinthebible.com/" target="_blank">http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj299/homeschoollounge/Screenshot2012-07-14at72410PM.png

" border="0" alt="WITB">


"I was selected for participation in this review and given the What's in the bible DVD as a member of The Homeschool Lounge Review Team. All thoughts and opinions are my own."

REVIEW: We Choose Virtues

            I can remember a time when character development was a part of the curriculum in every school. A time when virtues were just as important as reading. Nowadays, character development in the classroom is hard to come by and short lived. Being a homeschooling  parent, watching this world fall by the wayside & far away from God's word is very disturbing. We Choose Virtues has not only given me hope but, also comfort in knowing that there are still people, homeschoolers & educators that are taking a reliable approach to bring character building back to the forefront of education.
   Just a few months ago, I woke up way to early and immediately turned to my third best friend.....coffee (just in case  you're wondering....the first is Jesus & the second is the hubby). As the day went on, I became overwhelmed with Laundry (it does too begin with a capitol letter....it was a big deal that day....you should have seen the mountain!). I finally went to check the mail and there it was....My We Choose Virtues package! I was so excited that I riped it open (carefully of course...but fast). It was like a new toy. I began hanging my Virtue posters, studying the flash cards and began planning! "I was given gold" I thought. This program was blowing my mind with the wealth of information and fun tools I was given. I am honored to be able to review such a wonderful program.
    I know, I know....you want to know who won the giveaway right? Ok, but before I tell you, I want to tell you how much fun I had with We Choose Virtues.

   My kids love new things, but when I caught them looking at the flash cards (that I left on the table), they didn't look happy at all. One  of my sons, gave me that not so pleased look and said, "really mom?". He thought it was a punishment! For about two weeks, my younger two have....not been so nice to each other and the oldest has been kind of pushy. After reading my We Choose Virtues Teacher's Handbook, I decided to introduce the cards in a different way. I was the only one holding the cards and we played "Who Am I". I read the back of each card and they had to figure out what virtue I was talking about. Each time a virtue was correctly guessed, I gave him/her a  piece of Skittles candy. We had a blast! Take a look at these awesome looking cards!

  (front of the card)

 (back of the card)

Oh how cute the Virtue Characters are! Each Virtue has a character with a cute name. The Virtue Character above is "Piggy Bank Frank". He's being so Patient saving up for something special. I don't know if you noticed, but there is a Scripture for EACH virtue!!!! Which means your kid can not argue you down about the virtue, because it's in the Bible and it's really God's rules (joking, yet serious).
  Although this program was built for early childhood education, It can be used for ALL levels....don't believe me? Take a look

   On the left is my sister giving my 20 year old niece a "I Am Perseverant" (with the Virtue Character "Penny Jenny") coloring sheet and flash card for the coloring contest and flash card games. As you can tell by my sister's facial expression, my niece has not been the most "sticking to it" person.

Here's another example

Now, this young man  is my 13 year old nephew (don't let the height fool you....he's 13) and his Virtue Character is "Cake Jake" stating "I Am Content". Well....you get the picture. Yeah, the actual characters are young, but the message they carry will build great character in everyone, even Me!

My kids had their share too... Introducing Angela with "Gerbil Jill", Jamil Jr. With "Oboe Joe" & Josiah with "Chuck and Duck" (no worries you will get to know our Virtue friends in no time)

     

           " I Am Gentle"

"I Am Obedient"

                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                "I Am Diligent"

                                                                                                          

There was a lesson to be learned, but we sure had fun learning it!

I was also given a chart and some cute butterfly stickers. Each time anyone in the house....mom and dad too...practiced good character without being told, we placed a sticker by the virtue completed. We are still working to fill our ENTIRE chart....It's called 100 Days Of Virtue. There is a caterpillar on each space and when we succeed we bloom into a beautiful butterfly (well it's actually a butterfly sticker placed over the caterpillar...we bloomed....cute right! 

                                                                                                                   Butterfly bound!

I the midst of reviewing We Choose Virtues, we were moving ( yet again :/ ), but we were were still able to play the recomended games and practice our virtues whereever we were. My daughter just wishes she could have a "Gerbil Jill" doll.....Not a bad idea right! They would be great collectibles...and cute reminders of how God would have us to be just like Him!

I hope you enjoyed my review on these AMAZING products! I am so very privilaged to have been given the chance to give my honest opinion and experience with my Teacher Momma friends. Get your kit TODAY! Click the animated picture at the top of this review and then visit www.facebook.com/wechoosevirtues

GIVEAWAY WINNERS

Thank you all for participating...you made me smile :)

1st place winner: LAURA

2n place winner: LATOYNA

Congrats guys! I can's wait to give you these goodies! Guys,  I need your e-mail addresses. Laura e-mail me your mailing address for the We Choose Virtues Flash cards

~We Choose Virtues Giveaway~

The summer is here and it's time for a vacation.....and planing for the next school year. Planing is going to be a breeze for me this year because I choose virtues. "We Choose Virtues" is everything I  want in my homeschool curriculum. And because I love you guys sooooooooo much, I have a little sumthin-sumthin for you.....Hold on not so fast. "We Choose Virtues" has given me the opportunity to review some of their products (happy, happy.....joy-joy)......and they gave me a few to GIVEAWAY!!!!!! Yes, give....free. I have REALLY been enjoying my products and would love for you all to give "We Choose Virtues" a try. Actually I have a few things to give away, all you have to do is enter the drawing! Check out these goodies.

• 3rd place winner will receive The Student Character Assesment & promo code(s).
• 2nd place winner will receive the Kids Of Virtue coloring book & promo code(s).
• 1st place winner receives Student Character Assessment, Kids Of Virtue coloring book, Teacher handbook, We Choose Virtues flash cards and promo code(s).

Now, to enter into this contest, you must do the following.

• Leave a comment on this post as many times as you can before July 17,2012!
• Follow me on twitter...just say "I love Virtues" under the We Choose Virtues post.
• Invite your friends to enter the contest (they must make a comment & say, "referred by your name here"



 

Winners will be chosen by a random drawing. If you are not familiar with We Choose Virtues feel free to click the banner at the top of this post and check out their wonderful products at great prices! All prizes are free & no one will be charged for the prizes won. Winners will be posted July 20,2012 along with my review! Good Luck & God Bless

Mother, daughter share their mom skills with young patients

 

Want another Mother's Day gift? Here you go...........You know that warm fuzzy feeling you get when you see something oh so sweet & meaningful? Well, I love that feeling and I found it in this story. It just reminds me that there are still people that care about the "least of these"....and you know what?....Jesus sees! Please check it out and pass on the "warm-fuzzy"
Mother, daughter share their mom skills with young patients (click)

To the women in this video, Joyce Martin & Diane Tillman, I adore you for your service and commitment to such a cause. You have brought a sense of love, family & friendship to so many children...Keep up the good work and God bless you.

Mother, daughter share their mom skills with young patients (click)

Mother's Day Gift for Grandma

Every year on Mother's Day, my kids love to do a lil' sumthin-sumthin for grandma. In our family's eyes, she is a "Super Woman" and is the glue that holds us together, which makes her very deserving of a gift from the kiddo's on Mother's Day! This year I came up with this easy & fun project that will make Grandma smile for years to come. Enjoy!


Note: This project can also be used for mom, aunts, etc.

OK, gather these items first:
1. Brightly colored card stock (make sure to include green for stems)
2. White card stock
3. A pencil & markers
4. pieces of twine or yarn (I heart twine) cut long enough to make a bow (one for each bouquet)
5. Glue (liquid is better with glitter)
6. Glitter (I used silver, but you can use an color you have on hand)
7. The poem...It's the best part...don't forget it!


This is how I put it together....First I drew a tulip on a piece of card stock & cut it out. Then used that tulip to trace all the other tulips onto different card stock colors (I have 4 kids in my homeschool so I had to make LOTS of tulip heads!)

Once you've traced them all, you can cut them out or have the kids do it themselves!

I Love the bright colors! (sorry the pic is dim...let me know if you need a better example)

Now you need some stems for those gorgeous Tulips, So grab your green card stock and just start cutting stripes...the kiddos can do this too. P.S. they don't have to be perfect, but the easiest way is to cut horizontally so they won't be too long hang off your white card stock sheet

Now Lay out your white card stock vertically and glue JUST THE TOP HALF of the stems onto it. Once you have your stems in place set out your tulip heads & glue them any way you like em'.

Take about a 7 inch piece of twine and tie the bottom of the stems together & make a bow (like tying a shoe). Place a dime size glue-glob onto the knot of the tie (twine is known for coming loose, this will keep it sturdy longer).

 Next, trace the tulips with the glue & sprinkle glitter all over until satisfied. Lastly, top it off with the cutest poem with colorful markers that will make the heart smile!

And to all my "Teacher Momma's"....HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Cute Pic of the Month

Is this a cute pic or what! Check out the invisible scrimmage line....it's hilarious. I would like to know what you think about it. Rate this pic on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest & cutest in the comment box. Great thanks to Destiny L. from Chicago for this pic! E-mail (www.branyact@gmail.com) your cutest pic for a chance to be featured on next months "Cute pic of the month".

Disclaimer: all pics submitted will be used for the "Teacher Momma" blog only! Your pics will not be sold or mistreated by "Teacher Momma". This contest is just for fun. All winners will receive their pic posted and their blog or website listed. There is NO fees to enter or win the contest. No inappropriate pics are allowed. Only 1 pic entry per household per month and there is no specific theme....just cuteness! Can't wait to see your pics!

"Time 4 Learning Review"

   I'm always on a "mad hunt" for a good program online for my homeschoolers. Luckily, we were give the opportunity to check out "Time 4 Learning" for a month. When I was offered the chance, I jumped to it right away!

   last year, for our homeschool group's Summer Bash picnic, I hired a clown..."Jen-Bo" is her name. While having much fun (with her kids as her assistants), I found out that she too was a homeschooling parent and of course we "got the yappin' " LOL. She had a 7th grader at the time, so I inquired about their curriculum....and can you guess what she told me?....YES! Time 4 Learning! Oh how excited she was talking about the program (I became excited too!). I'm not one to just spend my precious money on something just because "I heard it through the grapevine"....so I decided to see if I could review it. Take a look at what I found!

    This is the Time 4 Learning home page. Here it prompts a very important question " Don't your children deserve the best?" Well let me tell you.....all of our children deserve the best and Time 4 Learning is ready to place it's best foot forward! Did you know that this program stretches all the way from Pre-k to 8th grade?....anyhow, on this page you can also log in to either Lower Level (Pre-K - 3rd), Upper Level (4th - 8th) or Parent Log In....Yes...You get a separate log in for taking a peek at your students progress (but we will get to that later).
I love how I was able to choose what grade level my child should begin on. My daughter is really in 1st grade but for some subjects, she is on either a 2nd or 3rd grade level. With Time 4 Learning I was able to tailor each major subject area to her needs and I can change my mind at any time...greatness! Now for the the subject areas. I'm sure you wondering how many subjects Time 4 Learning covers right? Well....it's so many that I can't even count, but if you click here http://www.time4learning.com/education/curriculum_overview.shtml#overview
 

........ you will see what I mean! And your next question is probably, how much will this "best" program cost? Is it going to break the bank or will it fit my budget? To answer all your questions, it's only $19.95/month and $14.95 for each additional child; NO CONTRACTS! Whooooo-Hoooooo! So, NO...it will not break the bank and yes it will fit your budget. My husband and I have 3 children so the fees can seem to add up, so we came up with a great solution. Since there are no contracts involved we have decided to allow each child a Time 4 Learning account for 1 month (that's 4 months for each child per year). This way all is fair and we still get to enjoy Time 4 Learning. Eventually we will switch over to all 3 kids on the account, but for now, this option fits us perfectly.

    So, you wanna hear more right? OK, my youngest is 4 and he has really gotten the hang of things now! This is how his lessons screen looks. I love how they have the lessons set up by picture for Pre-K. Even though my son can not read yet, this screen allows him to identify what lesson he will tackle next. Once he clicks the lesson that is on our lesson plan, there is a series of activities he must complete. So this time we clicked "At the Library" and this is what popped up!

     Now, until he receives a "check mark" on each icon he has not completed the lesson. It takes my 4 year old about 15 minutes to complete two whole lessons and you know what that earns him? PLAYGROUND TIME! And you thought your homeschooler was not allowed recess! Well think again! They can do so many fun (and educational) things at the playground it's crazy! Alright, I've got another bomb to drop.....you (the parent) set the limit on playground time!!!!! You control how much time needs to be spent in lessons before any playground time is allowed AND you control the time they spend in the playground!!!! It looks like this

     The progress report: This is a great tool for keeping tabs on your independent learner. While the students must complete lessons to earn playground privileges, they don't have to score well on the closing quiz. For instance, my daughter had completed all of her lessons for the day and had already went to the playground. She had no idea that I was on another computer checking her scores for that day

    I quickly noticed that she did indeed finish all the lessons for the day, but if you look closely, I think she began rushing when it came to the comprehension (2nd line).....25% yeah right...she was flying through the lesson just to get to the playground (tisk-tisk). I was able to quickly confront her and insist that she go and repeat the lesson for a full understanding. She was able to increase her score and still had time left in the playground. Notice that you can also print the reports for daily, weekly or monthly assignments (place them in a binder and BAM....greatness).
   
    When we first began, there were soooo many subjects to choose from...I didn't know where to begin. I found a tab that says "lesson plans" (sweet!) and I could not believe my eyes....it was love I tell you....love! check it out

    For each grade level, Time 4 Learning has already mapped out a wonderful lesson plan for you! I absolutely adore this feature. It enables me to get all the benefits from the program as well as incorporate the lessons with our off-line studies. This feature is totally optional. You can create your own lesson plans if you wish to do so. You can also print out the lesson plan too! Check it out!

   

     How cool is that! Can Time 4 Learning get any cooler that this?.....Why yes it can! Not only does this wonderful program offer the best online educational experience for the average student, but they also cater greatly to students with special needs. Programs are tailored to those with dyslexia, ADD/ ADHD, Visual learners, CAPD & gifted learners. But today, in light of "World Autism Awareness day" (April 2nd) I have chosen to highlight the Educating You Autism Spectrum Child page.

  In conclusion, I can honestly say that my children have never been so eager to learn! Each day the first thing they want to do is Time 4 Learning. There is no turning back now. We have found a program that not only fits the students well, but fits the budget also. Thank you Time 4 Learning....Your name is good with me.

This review contain my personal opinion. No part of this review was written by those at Time 4 Learning, but I was compensated in exchange for my candid opinion.

Workout Wednesday's Challenge

Ever since I began homeschooling , I was a preparation"stickler". My lesson plans were always done 2 weeks ahead of time and I rarely got off track. I adore schooling my kids, but there are times when I felt like my students were bored...and that frightened me. I never told anyone how I felt because I was already "homeschooling" and any insecurities would make me a failure (or so I thought). I began to read more and more how different families kept their kiddo's intrigued by incorporating Arts, Writing and even cooking to every subject. Some took a trip once per month to enhance their "focus topic". I must say, I was encouraged to find our "niche". Although it didn't happen overnight (kinda like a few months), it happened! I discovered that my children enjoy to teach! They love explaining things and are very attentive while doing so. Each day every child is responsible for teaching one lesson to a younger sibling. My oldest is really good with math, so he enjoys teaching his sister. My daughter adores reading, so she reads books to my 4 year old and they discuss scope & sequence and comprehension. My youngest (4 years) old also teaches....he does basic Phonics flash cards with my god-son. Teaching helps each one of them improve in their area of love or lack thereof....Child led learning! This weeks challenge is to allow your kids to teach each other and watch the magic happen! Leave a comment and let me know how it went....I can't wait to hear your stories

Join Me In Fighting Hunger

I found this cool site that will serve as a teaching tool as well as feed the hungry! its called Free Rice! OK, so you want to know how it works right? Well, for starters it's FREE and fun! All you have to do is answer questions (in whatEVER subject you choose) and for each question you answer correctly, the site will donate free rice to a hungry family! How cool is that? And what's cooler is that you can also use this site for "Homeschool" as a resource for the current subject! There is NO money involved at all! So join me to fight hunger! I have created a group on their website so that we can accumulate LOTS of rice together! I have already donated 720 grains of rice....So what are you waiting for Let's FIGHT HUNGER! http://freerice.com/content-group/jc-christian-roots-homeschool

NOTE: Once you click the link it, create an account. You will automatically receive an e-mail with a temporary password (just copy and pate it to log in). Then go to the top of the page to find the groups tab. In the search engine on the top right type in "jc" (not the entire group name) and search for "JC Christian Roots Homeschool. Click join group.

New Review Coming Soon!

I've been invited to try Time4Learning for one month in exchange for a candid  review. My opinion will be entirely my own, so be sure to come back and read  about my experience. Time4Learning can be used as a homeschool curriculum, for afterschool  enrichment and for summer  skill sharpening. Find out how to write your own curriculum  review for Time4Learning.

Reading Eggs- Learn to Read Online with Phonics in 5 Weeks from ages 3-13.

For 5 weeks my kids were blessed with the opportunity to review Reading Eggs and for 5 weeks they were totally HOOKED! My children are 4, 7, and 11....take a look at how our 5 weeks went!

Week 1
Before we began, I decided to give each of my children 1 hour of Reading Eggs everyday to finish as many lessons as they can. There are maps that contain several lessons and all lessons have to be completed before moving on to a new map. Through out the map completion, the kids earn little critter friends that pop out of eggs (great incentive for a completed number of lessons)
I love how Reading Eggs gives every registered child a placement test so they can begin at the right level. This feature is awesome, it prevents work that is too easy for the more advanced students or too hard for the "new learners".
You have to meet this little ant that becomes your child's teacher for majority of the lessons. He's a cleaver little ant and he knows just how to keep your child's attention, help him/her learn and will repeat a lesson without hesitation if the "light bulb" has not come on yet.
OK....this was a great week! everyone has learned something new, read books and created their own "Egg Avatar" and my, my,my are they adorable! Now my kids are really serious about finishing lessons so they can earn "Golden Eggs"....these are like dollars and your child can use them to buy items such as furniture for their avatar's house, hat styles, new egg shell styles and much more! This is truly awesome!

Week 2
So...remember we tried that 1 hour for everyone deal? Well this week we had to add more time. Here's why: While everyone wanted to complete lessons, they also wanted time to play after the lessons. My 4 & 7 year old loved the playroom where they could paint, listen to nursery rhymes, cook some soup and create a book. While my 11 year old wanted to visit the library, the mall and the stadium (so i added another hour)...Yeah there are 2 separate programs on Reading Eggs. One is "Reading Eggs" which is for ages 3-8 and the other is "Reading Express" which is for children up to 12. My 11 year old practices on the "Reading Express". There aren't lessons on that one, but there are lots of things to do. Your child can read books (long one's) in almost any subject area, they can practice spelling and much more. So what I did was allow my 11 year old to read a book of his choice and he had to spend 15 minutes in the other areas in "Reading Express" before he has play time with his human-looking cartoonish avatar...which he created by choosing the color of the skin, eyes, hair and the sex. He also dressed him the way he wished! This program has really helped my 11 year old with spelling already...Go Reading Express Go!

Week 3
Now we're rollin! Reading Eggs and Reading Express is officially a part of our homeschool curriculum!!!!!! My 7 year old daughter has finished 15 lessons and has over 300 golden eggs today and she is excited! She has become very comfortable with the program and is "flying" through the lessons. I almost want to think that the program started her out at a level that was too easy for her, but I'm a firm believer in review work, so it's OK. She has decided to spend all of her golden eggs on a jacuzzi and a flat screen T.V. for her house and some new styles for her avatar. My youngest son (4 years old) has hit a bump in the road and he is really frustrated. Before he can move on to the next map he has to complete the last part of his current lesson. It's called "Golden Goose" and there is a gold goose with a word on it. Beneath the gold goose, there are 3 eggs with a different word on each egg, but one of the words match the word that's on the gold goose. There is a timer on the lesson and that is what's driving my poor baby up the wall. He has completed the lesson correctly about 4 times already, but since he took his time, the program stated that he took too long, so I understand his frustration. He keeps saying, "Mom I've got them all right". It's kind of frustrating for me also because I think that "any" child that is learning to read not be forced to "hurry" through a lesson and when the answers are right they should not be penalized by time. So far that's the only thing I dislike about the program. let's keep it rolling.

Week 4
My oldest (11 years) is starting to get bored with Reading Express and has asked if he could create an egg avatar on Reading Eggs...so I let him. The program is "super easy" for him but he really likes it because he feels he receives more incentives on Reading Eggs than Reading Express. He still plays the games on Reading Express, but prefers to spend most of his 2 hours on Reading Eggs. My 4 year old is still trying to get pass the "Golden Goose" lesson and I'm almost fed up with it....so I took matters into my own hands and completed the lesson for him because he is able to recognize the words, its was just too confusing for him. I'm so very proud of my daughter! She has entered a book she wrote on the Reading Eggs program into the weekly contest! It was a very funny story and although her book was not chosen as the winner she was still very proud of herself. She felt like a publisher, going around telling everyone, "I'm an author of a book"....the cutest thing ever.


Week 5
My kids are pretty sad about this being the last week of Reading Eggs and so am I. My children at least the 7 & 4 year old) have learned so much! My youngest knows all of his sounds and feels more comfortable blending sounds to make a word (all smiles). My daughter's vocabulary & spelling has increased. Any my  11 year old spelling & vocabulary has increased just a tiny bit, this program was more of a refresher for him.

Overall, I love the Reading Eggs Program. I recommend this program to all homeschoolers that have children in the range from 3-8  that need a supplemental curriculum. This program is very affordable. I definitely plan on investing in the Reading Egg's program. It has even help me! I have learned that learning through play is the best way! I love Reading Eggs!

I am participating in a sponsored campaign hosted by The Homeschool Lounge Review Team. I received a 5 week membership to Reading Eggs to facilitate this review. All opinions stated are my own.

Today's Lesson = "Love"

(My son Jay Jr. making LOVE cookies in November.....Just because)

So, Valentine's Day has come upon us and love is in the air! I enjoy teaching my children how to love and the reason we know how to love. That reason my dear "Teacher Mommas" is Christ and Christ alone. What better way to teach about love? There is none. All my childhood years I was taught to celebrate Valentine's Day and our class would make out little cards for each other. We were always given a bag of those chalky hearts and red heat shaped suckers. As I grew, so did my Valentines Day "gift" expectations! I wanted a dozen roses, Turtles from Fannie Mae, a tennis bracelet, a new pair of shoes, breakfast in bed, dinner downtown (with candles)....you get the picture! I was pruned to think that on this special holiday, I would receive LOTS of love and to be selfish about it (if I didn't receive what I wanted I was pretty upset, felt unwanted and unloved). Then, I found Jesus! Jesus's never ceases to give His love. He doesn't wait until Valentine's Day to show us true love....His love is granted daily. As I continue to strive to become more like Jesus, I WILL NOT wait until Valentine's Day to tell someone how special they are to me, nor will I celebrate an idolized holiday... How do you approach this holiday as a Christian?

5 Minute Clean-up = Less Work

There are times when I feel like there are not enough hours in a day. I have a lot ta do ya' know and I know that you do too. If I lived in a storybook and was crowned "Queen of the House", then I would have plenty of maids doing my housework. But let's get real ladies, I'm no storybook queen and that crown you see is really my "night scarf. Through my years of mothering & homeschooling, I have found that  spending 5 minutes to clean whatever room I'm in everyday makes a huge difference. 5 Minutes is not a long time, but when you combine placing a few things back where they belong and wiping down a mirror before you begin dinner, it will make your job much easier in the long run. There are many ways us "Teacher Momma's" make good use of time to lighten the load. what are some ways you handle housework with your busy schedule?

Today's Lesson..."How to Pack a Box"

If there is one thing that just "puts a hole in my boat" it would have to be moving to a new home during school days. For the past 2 weeks or so, we have been packing....and cleaning, thus placing school on the back burner. Our regularly scheduled program has been "waaaaay off track". The kiddo's have been doing some studies when I have the energy. Everyday I have them work independently on "Reading Eggs"  (which is a GREAT program) while we handle some moving crap....And ya' know what? It works for us! There are many times in our homeschooling journey where we will encounter "side tracks" and pieces of our perfect puzzle are all "jacked up", but the most important thing to understand is that, your school is just that....YOUR SCHOOL. When Jesus is the principle of your school, you have to do what He says to do!  So don't feel like a bad parent because school needed to be interrupted due to life...Hey, that's a lesson in itself! Our children have to understand that while school is an important priority, God's perfect Will trumps it all. When we get to our new destination, the puzzle will look much better and God will be pleased ;)

A Love For Reading

No matter what the weather may be, my kiddo's love to be outdoors. Most of the time I have an activity planned like football, soccer, jump-rope, sidewalk chalk...but other times we just "go outside". My daughter, Princess Pooh (7yrs. old), loves to read, especially if it's Junie B. Jones. She enjoys reading so much that she would rather read during outside playtime! Someone once asked me, "don't you think you should make her play?"......"No way", I replied. When children find a love for reading it should never be taken away from them. Yes, she loves to play....and she plays "plenty", but when she's in the middle of a good book she just can't put it down. Encourage your children to read no matter where they are, even if it is outside sitting on a school bus:)

Do You Convention?

At the beginning of every year, I get lots of e-mail's regarding different homeschool conventions. Sometimes they sound like loads of fun and encouragement, but then I look at the pricing! I understand that people make their living on speaking engagements and the such, but geesh! If you have a homeschool family anything like mine, only one parent is working and you have 3 or more children. Therefore $75-$150 per person to hear some people talk doesn't quite fit the budget....give me a "woot-woot" if you understand me! Don't get me wrong, I adore the folks that create such an encouraging environment for us (not to mention, they want you to buy their books, Cd's and video's too.....ie: No one can afford to eat while at the convention and screw the trip to Wisconscon Dells), but my question is IS IT WORTH THE MONEY? Have you & your family been to any convention? What did you get from it & what was the cost? If my accusations are wrong, please enlighten me. Honestly, I would like to attend a homeschool convention one day...Just need a bit more convincing.

Great Free Field Trip!

   Last week our homeschool group took a trip to Cabela's! It was so very awesome and it was also FREE! We received a grand tour of the large store, sat in a fancy-smansy boat, fudge samples, learned about different animals, went on a scavenger hunt, won prizes and received a boat load of tokens for the fun non-real shooting gallery. We spent hours there! Our tour guide" Jillian" and she was awesome. She was so patient with the kids ( even when the youngest kid was calling china on her phone). Se answered all our questions and encouraged safety while camping, boating and fishing. So if you are looking for a fun field trip for your homeschoolers, check out the Cabela's in your area. If you live near northwestern Indiana, check out the one in Hammond, In.( you will find Jillian there) www.cabela's.com have a great trip!

"Mom can you spend time with us?"

  Allow me to be honest with you guys...Sometimes it's hard to be a Teacher Momma because we spend all day schooling our beauties and when that's over a done with, I just want a little "me" time. There were a few times I heard my DD say, "mom can you spend time with us?". My thoughts were "really! weren't we just together for 5 hours trying count money"!(although I reluctantly choose to do so)  Then I had to take a step back. My kids need the Teacher and the Momma in me as well. Even though we spend hours together for studies, it's just not the same as "hanging out". I prayed and asked God to forgive me for being so selfish in my thoughts and I also apologized to my children. I NEED my "me" time and they need "me" as Mommy. So from now on, I make it my duty to place my "me" time (alone)  directly after schooling to recoup, relax  and watch a little HGTV so that after dinner I can "hang out" with the kids and not be overwhelmed.

Easy Peasy Veggie Burritos

I created this recipe on a "whim". I was pressed for time and I didn't want to eat spaghetti leftovers.So I went on a search, and I found 8 burrito wraps in the pantry (I soooo forgot about them). Then I began to "just grab" different veggies and before I knew it,  had made some really good burritos! I call them Easy Peasy.....well because they are! Enjoy

You will need:
3 tbs olive oil
1 bag frozen corn
1 can cut artichoke
1 chopped onion
1can chickpeas
1can diced tomatoes
2 cups cooked rice
8 burrito wraps
1 chopped green pepper
1 bag shredded cheese
1 pkg. McCormick Cheesy taco seasoning
1 jar of salsa (homemade or store bought)
1 sour cream jar (optional for topping)
(Note you can use any veggies you want...these are the veggies I had a the time)

Directions:

Preheat oven 350 F. In a large pan add the oil then add the corn. When corn is cooked well, add the tomatoes, artichoke, green pepper and chickpeas, mix well. Add half pkg of Cheesy Taco Seasoning, stir well, cover and simmer for 5 min. Add cooked rice to veggie blend , rest of seasoning pkg. and chopped onions. Mix well and cover stirring occasionally for 5-7 min or until all liquid is evaporated. Take a wrap and fill with 2 tablespoons of filling, sprinkle cheese and salsa (fit as many wraps as you can on a cookie sheet) then fold them (taco style so you can fit more). Warm in over for 7-10 min...take em' out add the sour cream and you've got dinner honey.....Easy Peasy!

What are you doing for MLK day?

 Today we honor Martin Luther King Jr. for his great actions and words that has changed the face of America forever. What to do to celebrate this great man? For MLK day I like to pick one huge event (ex. freedom riders) and watch free PBS shows, find articles online (for the older one). I love to discuss the event with the kids after we watch the shows and read articles. For the young kiddo's, I like to do a freedom rider bus craft! We print out a free bus coloring page from www.coloring-pages-lids.com . you can either have the kids just color the bus while talking about the freedom riders or you can have them draw pictures of people on the bus and write in large letters Freedom Riders!.....Check your local listings for MLK events happening in your area. So....what are you guys doing to celebrate MLK day?

10 Thing's Homeschoolers Do On Saturday's

Warning: This list is is a humorous look at the Saturday life of a homeschooler and is in no way to put homeschoolers down (duh, I homeschool too LOL) so if you don't have one funny bone in your body, please do NOT read this humorous list. Thank You.

1. Wake up at 10 a.m. instead of 9 a.m
2. Have cereal for breakfast
3. Get dressed!
4. Watch 3 hours of T.V. instead of 2
5. Don't read
6. Get sent to grandparent's house
7. Complete research paper on Molecular Genetics
8. Tutor public school kids
9. Volunteer at the local shelter
10. Find a way to socialize

LOL I know you loved this! Share this with your friends with a few funny bones!

"Yummy Brownies Recipe"

A few days ago, while reading the January issue of the Chicago Parent magazine, I came across a recipe called "yummy gooey brownies" and they were AWFUL, I tell you awful! So, I went on a mad hunt for a better recipe and I've found one! These are so easy to make and you probably already have the ingredients in your kitchen! Enjoy

Chocolate Brownies and Frosting
You will need:

1/2 cup of melted butter
1 cup of sugar
1tsp. of vanilla extract
2 eggs
1/2 cup of flour
1/3 cup of Hershey's Cocoa
1/4 tsp. of baking powder
1/4 tsp. of salt
1/2 cup nuts (optional)
medium size, square baking pan

Directions: preheat oven 350 F. Blend vanilla extract, sugar & butter in a bowl. Add eggs and beat well with a spoon. In a separate bowl combine cocoa, salt, baking powder and flour, stir until well combined. Gradually blend into chocolate mixture; mix until you can't see flour anymore then mix in nuts. Coat pan with non-stick cooking spray (or use butter). Pour mixture into pan evenly and cook for 20-25 min or until edges begin to pull away from pan. Allow to cool before applying frosting. make about 12-16 brownies.

Yummy Brownie Frosting
You will need:

3tbs. of Softened butter
3tbs. of  Hershey's cocoa
1tbs.  of light corn syrup
1/2 tsp. of vanilla extract
1 cup of  powdered sugar
1-2 tbs. of  milk

Directions: blend butter, cocoa, corn syrup and vanilla extract in a bowl. Add sugar and milk. Beat until you get a spreading consistency. Makes about 1 cup of frosting

Where oh, where... is my motivation?

   This question wrecks the minds of every homeschooling parent. You've been going strong all year long and now, my dear, you are short on creativity, energy and motivation. First we have to be honest with ourselves....we are human and with other issues to handle, it's easy to loose focus. We place our entire lives on hold for the betterment of our children's education & character....and we are truly blessed! When I need a boost of homeschool motivation, I've found that taking time off from our regularly scheduled program does the trick! Even if it's just for one day, doing absolutely NOTHING for a day always helps get my creative juices flowing. This works for us, because we school year round (with the exception of two weeks in the summer), making it OK for us to skip a day or two ;)

Follow Me

 If you visit here often, please be sure to add yourself to the "follow me" section on the right side-bar. This will allow me to become familiar with all my "Teacher Momma" family! Thanks guys

What's Your Style?

  Each family has their own Homeschool method. Some parents are really organized and keep to a strict plan while others "shoot from the hip". Some families follow The Charlotte Manson Method or the Montessori Method. There are many ways to Homeschool and I believe that there is only one "wrong" way of doing it (not doing it at all). So, I want to hear from you guys. What's your style and how has it worked for your family?

P.S. Check out this link for a list of the more popular Homeschooling Methods
http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/methods/Methods.htm

Another Great Rason To Homeschool

   Soooooo, like always, I check out the local and around the globe news and it has come to a point where Iv'e noticed that there are more pedophiles in the Public Schools than in the streets!!!! I mean seriously! Every other time I read/watch the news, some "CREEP" has either formed an unwanted relationship or "SHOWED THEMSELVES" to a child in the classroom !!!! What kind of stuff is that? Every time I hear one of these stories, I ask God to protect the minds of these kids. These babies are being ruined by someone that needs serious help. That's another great reason to Homeschool. We don't know "who" the board members are allowing to care for these babies....it's sickening. What's a" Teacher Momma" to do? Pray I tell you, Pray!

We like FREE!

Here is a link for creating personalized handwriting worksheets. It's really cool. You simply type what letters, names, words etc. you want your child to practice and then....BAM! You're ready to print and it's FREE!!!! Enjoy :)

http://www.handwritingworksheets.com

Are Your Kids Sociallized?

ARE YOU SEROIUS? I absolutely "despise" that statement when someone questions my homeschooling!.....my first thought is always "Do you think my children are locked away in a closet""?....because it seems as if they are implying so. Instead I respond like this, "My children are very involved with "people" and "other children", the only difference between my kids and yours is that my kids are not only influenced by their "peers", yet they are a great influence on other children. Now before I get stoned to death, allow me to state that I don't think that ALL children in public schools are bad influences (let's get that straight). What I am saying is that public schooled children build character according to the "people" they are around most of the day...their "peers". Since homeschooled children spend more time with their family and other homeschoolers, they are influenced by their "peers" and their "parents". Do you see the difference here?....

Dr. Brian Ray, PH.D. wrote a book called, "Home Educated, Now Adults" where he writes about a series of his own studies pertaining to those that were homeschooled and that are being homeschooled. In his final comment, he makes a great summary of what becomes of a homeschooled child. He says, "The home educated adults in this study were very positive about having been homeschooled and toward homeschooling in general, actively engaged in their local communities, keeping abreast of current affairs, highly and civically involved, tolerant of others expressing their viewpoints, attaining relatively high levels of formal education religiously active and wide-ranging in their worldview beliefs, holding worldview beliefs similar to those of their parents, and largely home educating their own children"......Does that sound like an "unsociallized" person to you?

Teacher Momma"s, don't be intimidated my the "dreaded" question, instead stand strong in what you're doing...You are raising leaders, not followers.