curriculum frustration - homeschool village

The topic over at The Homeschool Village is really hitting home with me this week. I think our Abeka curriculum isn't working out for Gracelyn. I only chose to do the reading and phonics from Abeka but it just isn't clicking with her. The lessons have been ending with me being very frustrated and her in tears. This is so NOT how I envisioned this first year of homeschooling to go. So, with all that said, I think I am going to table the lessons and workbook pages and try a different approach.

I have actually downloaded a free version of funnix, which is a computer based reading program. We did our first lesson today and it went so-so. She became frustrated because it was new and different, but after we finsihed the lesson she asked to do it again. The second time through was better! We will try this approach for awhile and see how it clicks with her.

homeschool village - rules and discipline

We have 3 little rules that we use for homeschooling and our everyday life. These 3 rules are not my own original rules. I actually got them from Ashley, author of Behavior Boosters. When she shared them with us, I knew I would quickly adopt those rules for our family, too.

1. Obey right away.
2. Obey all the way.
3. Obey in a positive way.

homeschool village - learning styles & love languages!

This week at The HomeSchool Village, we are talking about our kids' learning styles and love languages.


This is Gracelyn, my oldest. Strongwilled, loves to help and funny!
learning style - visual, auditory and tactile/kinesthetic
love language - touch and gifts


This is Ella, my middle child. Sweet, quiet and content!
learning style - visual, auditory and tactile/kinesthetic
love language - words of affirmation and quality time


This is Ethan, my baby boy. Always happy, silly and full of energy!
learning style - visual, auditory and tactile/kinesthetic
love language - touch, qualtiy time and words of affirmation

My philosophy for preschoolers is that they learn best by offering lots of different learning experiences that include seeing, hearing, doing and moving. If you don't know your child's/childrens' learning styles, you can check out a post I wrote a few months ago that gives a description and some examples for each learning style.

homeschool village - kitchen helpers!

This week we have been sharing tips and ideas on cooking with children. My girls love to help me cook, but I'm guilty of not always remembering to slow down and let them help me. Although, when I make homemade biscuits, one of the girls always helps me. They love to cut the biscuits out with the cutter and lay them on the baking sheet. This week Ella was my bicsuit cutter!










buttermilk biscuit recipe:
2 cups of self rising White Lilly flour
4 tablespoons of Crisco
buttermilk - start with 1 cup slowly add mix all the ingredients together (keep adding buttermilk until the dough is a little sticky)

1. preheat oven to 475 degrees
2. after mixing the dough, place a tea towel or paper towel on your counter
3. sprinkle flour onto the towel
4. you can use a rolling pin to roll out the dough, but I just use my hands because I like the imperfections in the biscuits!
5. have your best little helper cut out the biscuits and transfer to a baking sheet
6. bake for about 8 minutes until slightly golden on top

*While the biscuits are baking, have your other best little hepers set the table and get out the butter, jelly, and honey!

One of Gracelyn's chores is to put away the silverware.


Be sure to visit the Homeschool Village to see how other homeschooling families cook together!

homeschool village - manners!

Check out all the wonderful ideas and resources over at the homeschool village.

What practical teaching methods/exercises are you using to teach etiquette and manners to your children?


As of right now, I am using Behavior Boosters. The author of these books came to my MOPS group and did a workshop with us and I loved her ideas for teaching/motivating children to behave in a positive way. All of her ideas are fun and simple and are based on a scripture.

Here are 3 examples of ones that we have done in our home and have helped my children.

encourage one another


"Encourage one another and build each other up".
1 Thessalonians 5:11a

eggs-actly


"Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord."
Colossians 3:20

taste bud-dy


"Keep your tongue from evil."
Psalm 34:13a

homeschool village - refreshing!

I love this idea of a homeschool village and want to be apart of it, too.

What do you - homeschool mom - do to get refreshed for the next school year?



Since this is my fist year homeschooling, that's a good question and one that I haven't given any thought to. But, now that you mention it, I plan to:

1. along with my family, go on a family vacation with Matt's family

2. waste some days out by my friend's pool : )

3. read some books - currently I'm reading So Long Insecurity: You've been a bad friend to us by Beth Moore

4. try out some new recipes

5. plan for a new school room