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.