Minivan Moments

Here's a project i did this weekend: The Smallish Man-Child goes on Safari  (he was about 8 months old in this picture). Thank You, Graphics Toolbox!

Okay, before you click away, let me assure you that this review will work for the average family with children in school as well.  When I received information regarding Homeschool Library Builder ( HSLB ) as a member of the 2009-2010 The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew , I'll admit I didn't know what I was getting into.  "Library Builder," huh?  How does that work?  Well, let me tell you. HSLB provides an online bookstore full of used and new books for your home library at really great prices.  Okay, so what?  Well, here's what: my son wants more fiction books, but he reads them so fast, I really don't want to spend a lot on books for him.  So, I head on over to HSLB and click "Search by age" then click "Elementary" and I get a list of discounted books meeting that reading level (for example, ' Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving that originally retails for $16.95, HSLB sells for $5.99). Let's talk about the homeschooler for a ...

I am in the process of reviewing a product from GreatSoftware Tools called Graphics Toolbox.  While the review will come in a week or so, here's a glimpse for you.... Original (above) My first Graphics Toolbox photo play (above)

When we received the Beehive Reader 1 from the makers of All About Spelling , I was excited to give a new book to The Smallish Man-Child , who is going through books like he goes through underwear!  He gobbled it up, sure enough.  I could have reviewed this book ages ago because of how fast he read the thing!! ( but ever the procrastinator, I review on schedule... ) Delightful stories about children and animals and charming sketch-like drawings entertain and engage your "Level 1" reader.  The wording is simple enough that children can figure the words out themselves when there is one they don't recognize, which builds their confidence that they can keep reading.  One thing I have discovered in my home: confidence in reading is a HUGE part of reading itself - without confidence, we have daily battles with the I Can't Family ( and I'm not a great host to the I Can't Family , I have to tell you! ). My only concern about the book is that the stories are a bi...

Yesterday, we did REAL schoolwork... well, sorta.... We had our first EVER day of 3 straight hours of schoolwork.  We didn't take breaks to play because we were having so much fun!  Then we ate lunch, cleaned the bathrooms, and started again!  By dinner, we put our "schoolwork" away for the day. :-) Here's what we did: We read our Bible story. ( Walls of Jericho ) We listened to the first chapter of Robinson Crusoe. ( yeah, we had to find the kid version, though. Sorry, Charlotte Mason! ) We worked on our first lapbook ( all about money! ). We watched Moody Bible Institute's The Wonder of You video. ( did you know your heart pumps enough blood over your lifetime to fill a 70-mile-long line of tanker trucks? ) We traced ourselves on giant paper and labeled all the wonderful parts God gave us (" i praise thee because i am fearfully and wonderfully made! " Eyes=cameras! Ears=musical instruments! ) We learned about the state of Alaska ( do you kno...

When I discovered we had another math program on the way for review purposes, I winced.  Really?  I could really use some science, art, or history in our homeschool, sure, but math?  Um, no.  No, thank you . Well, the vendor for Math Mammoth contacted me and asked for specific information about my children (ages, math levels, problem areas).  [+ 1] We decided (yes, together , we decided! [+1] ) on Subtraction 1 for The Smallish Man-Child and Multiplication 1 for The Drama Princess . First, let me tell you what I saw when I printed Subtraction 1 for our first use: GAMES - ideas for games, suggestions, ways, materials to use (rocks, blocks, etc)... seriously, play games to teach subtraction .  Okay, now that I have been there, sure, it makes sense, but Kudos! to a maker of math curricula for directing teachers to teach subtraction by using games .  So, since my son was a pill when I had tried to teach him subtraction the one time I had attem...

Yes, today, we here in Middle Tennessee experienced much warmer weather.  It was a far more typical day for late February for us.  We spent so long outside (played, cooked, and ate outside) that many of us got sunburns!! It is my hope that all who are anxiously anticipating spring got a taste of its nearness today as well. Have a blessed rest of the weekend. ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ Grateful am i for the sun that shines. Thankful am i for the seasons that change. Blessed are we that God loves us enough To design our world to be beautiful.   Our world is so useful and beautiful. Honored am i to be part of His plan. Treasured i feel that He bothers with me. Happy am i that He heals and He frees. A wonderful God do i serve.   With a joyful heart i will serve.                         ~ Angela Varela ( yes, an original, and though...

I received a handwriting curriculum from Zeezok Publishers called " Presidential Penmanship " to use and review in our homeschool.  We were sent the Italic Style Complete Program . The Good: Grades 1st through senior high school included. Writing is tailored to grade level (shorter manuscript lessons for first through second grade, then Italic style writing beginning in third grade with lengthier copy work with each level). Easy to print and use from the CD-ROM, with all lessons included on one disc ( can you say "simplicity?!?!" ). Lined paper makes sense for the style of writing, rather than separating spaces into halves like typical elementary lined paper. Wonderful quotes from famous people that demonstrate and build character. The Bad ( just one ): For us, the main drawback was that the style of writing from third grade through senior high (Italic) was so different, my eldest couldn't read it.  She did the best she could to do the copy work, and of...

What if your child, whom you have poured love, patience, kindness, discipline, guidance, and truth into, turned to you today and said: "Mommy, the reason our house is a mess is because you spend time with your children. I don't understand why you worry about it so much." How can i possibly deserve her?

I received Debra Bell's The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling from Apologia Educational Ministries last month to read and review for the 2009-2010 The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew . The first thing I can say is that it is APTLY NAMED. This is THE ultimate guide.... Seriously. I wonder how I lived through the past 2 years of homeschooling without the encouragement and truths found in this one book.  Not to mention, some of those niggling feelings over the course of our homeschooling journey thus far are explained and validated by Ms. Bell:  not stressing about housekeeping ( if I am cleaning my house, I'm not teaching; if I'm teaching, I'm not cleaning - it's an unending cycle )  redesign your homeschool as needed ( when I see something isn't working for one of my children, I want to throw it out and do it a different way )  allow clutter in the living areas ( yes, the environment sometimes needs tidying, but should I banish all books/magazines/crayon...

(sing this to the tune of "Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!") Oh, the weather outside is frightful, And the heat is so delightful! I can't imagine having no home... When it's cold, oh, so cold, yes, it's cold! It doesn't show signs of warming; The snow is so disarming. But for those out there with no home, It's so cold, way too cold, oh, it's cold!     When we finally hear God's voice     Asking us to step outside of ourselves,     We are being given quite a choice:     Ignore Him or help His children! The fire inside is growing, And it's Jesus' love that's showing. And all the people out in the cold... Feel God's love, His precious love, His real love.             ~ Words by Angela Varela Nashville: visit Labor of Love on Facebook to help the tent cities' homeless men and women.  I know real people involved in this, so help in confidence.  Also, my ...

Okay, prepare to be amazed! I received a set of downloads (generally purchased as e-books on CD) from Dollar Homeschool to use and review as a member of the 2009-2010 The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew .  The downloads were from the Eclectic Education Series , and the name thrilled me all by itself!  If ever there was an eclectic homeschooling family, we would be it! The Eclectic Education Series ( EES ) by Dollar Homeschool is a collection of electronic copies of books dating back over 100 years.  The books make up the educational texts used in most of the one-room schoolhouses across the country in the late 1800s and early 1900s.  Okay, so the Complete Set includes Ray's Arithmetic , Science , History , Grammar , and  McGuffey's Readers *There is a plethora of mathematics topics included in Ray's Arithmetic, so do not let the simple name fool you!  You can start with kindergarten and progress until college from what I can tell of the topics:...

A friend of ours was out of school, So he came over, and that was cool. I learned another way to crochet The hats i'm making night and day. We attended our science co-op, too, And took some dogs out to pee and poo. Then Oliver got shots at the vet; For another year now, he's all set! Fudgy brownies were made as well For the troubled teen boys here in Spring Hill. Now, laundry is towering above my head, So i better tackle that before bed. Have a great night and weekend, y'all! Eat some chocolate and have a ball. Be sure to hug your family close, And spend time with those you love the most.                                           -Angela Varela

As member of the 2009-2010 The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew , we received 2 Math Tutor DVDs to use and review: Young Minds - Numbers and Counting , and The Basic Math Word Problem Tutor . I think the Young Minds - Numbers and Counting might be the best counting video out there!  It is low-key, not overwhelming or overstimulating for young children as many programs are, and it has natural world images, which we love in our house.  There is also background music that is calming, but not boring - classical music that is known to stimulate a child's brain.  I could see putting this video on weekly for The Littlest Princess , especially since she has started asking to do her "school work" and numbers.  At $24.99, it is a bit pricey, but if you have multiple children in your home, you will certainly get your money's worth with this DVD ( and it won't give you the guilt that comes when they watch too much Disney! ). The The Basic Math Word Problem Tutor covers...

My children and I received a temporary online subscription to KinderBach as members of the 2009-2010 The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew .  We didn't manage to complete as many of the online lessons as I would have liked with all the holidays and schedule changes, but we did finish Weeks 1 and 2.  Here's what we discovered: KinderBach is a great introduction to music and the piano/keyboard. KinderBach is fun and engaging for preschoolers and kindergartners. KinderBach offers many fun activities to supplement the online sessions. KinderBach is a little too "young" for my two older kids. The Littlest Princess loved the sessions, but whether she got anything out of it is not clear (after all, she's only 3).  She even requested the videos many times, often a specific segment (the "high and low" apple tree activity was by far her favorite!).  The older kids did learn to play 'Jingle Bells' during the Christmas break with the song supplemen...

Interesting question.  So glad you asked. See, the thing about children is that a) we always compare them to other children, and b) we know we should NEVER compare them to other children.  Hmm.  Seems hypocritical.  Well, yes, as a matter of fact it is.  I never want someone to compare my children to hers... unless my children come out on top .  Yeah, it may not be something you hear every parent say out loud, but it is what drives our hearts.  Many of us have a physiological reaction to hearing anything negative about our children coming out of anyone else's mouth. So, how do i know if my children are keeping up with their peers?  Well, i honestly don't.  I find myself in various situations over the course of the year: children at my house playing with my children demonstrating various levels of proficiency in various topics; children in public places behaving in various ways; and parents of our local homeschooling groups discussi...

Okay, i am getting a website/service to review that is somewhat overwhelming to describe, but they are having a sale THIS MONTH and i didn't want to wait to get the word out. If you like books for your homeschool (or home, i suppose!) and you like getting a good deal, Homeschool Library Builder might be just the thing for you!  Like i said, i haven't checked into everything, but i have read a few reviews so far, and i know this to be something TRUSTWORTHY - i am just unable to completely describe it yet. :-) So you can go here   or here   to see more or you can go to their website. http://www.hslibrarybuilder.com/ On Super Bowl Sunday ONLY, you can get an additional discount by helping Haiti - but you have to get on their website by tomorrow night.  Check them out for more information!

As a member of the 2009-2010 The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew , I received access to the Worship Guitar For Kids lessons online.  These lessons include an introduction to the guitar, as well as the way to hold it, pluck the strings, and make chords.  I was delighted to learn we were on this list since the Drama Queen insisted she wanted to learn to play the guitar a couple of years ago.  With private lessons out of our price range, we just kept putting her off.  This review turned out to be the perfect opportunity to see how serious she is without incurring any cost. So, we borrowed a 3/4 size guitar from a friend and began our lessons.  First, we learned the beat, or rhythm, of music in general.  Then we learned about notes: whole notes, half notes, and quarter notes.  After that, we learned the parts of the guitar, as well as how to hold it properly.  Once we mastered that, we got to pluck those strings - which I discovered I had never do...

I made my first REAL adult hat! (the first one was a flop!) Dania enjoyed her first REAL snow! So did Oliver!  Does he look like he is impressed??  It was a real snowfall and accumulation, too! The melting... Thank God!! Oliver is getting good at catching his toys... This just makes me chuckle!! ...and finally... How do i ever get anything done?!?!

... that everyone else is crazy? I know, i know, the first sign of insanity is thinking the world is crazy and i am normal, but really, people!  Do you ever feel that way? "Christians" who murder in the name of God.  What's wrong with that picture? Schools that teach our kids about homosexuality.  When did that topic become academic ? Grown men who have no idea how to be MEN because no one ever showed them.  How will the world survive a fatherless generation? Sometimes, it makes me sick to think of all we are facing. But... God... He has a plan.  He loves me.  He loves you . I am really glad i know how this thing turns out ( Psst! We win! ). Sometimes, that is all i have that keeps me going.

When we were given a 90-day subscription to FactsFirst online (by Saxon ) as members of the 2009-2010 The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew , I admit I was a bit bummed: another math product AND it's an online "math supplement" product.  So, I dragged my feel in getting the kids going on it for that reason, but also because in order to do this many math products justice in reviewing them, it is my belief that I need to use them exclusively.  That way, if something wonderful comes from the program, I am not left trying to figure out if it was because of Product A or Product B or a combination of the way we used them together.  Understand my point? That being said, we have been using FactsFirst online for at least a week, and it is time to review it.  The good news: the kids LOVE it.  They have decided that it is WAY more fun than practicing math on paper, and the kids were rewarded for doing the "work" in the game by 5 minutes of "game time," which was...

I just got an email from Grapevine Studies that they are offering 50% OFF student books through Valentine's Day (Feb. 14th), so head on over and try them out (or stock up!).   By the way, i also found out that if you give them my name ( Angela Varela ) when you order, i get a credit on my account, which would mean discounted curriculum for my kids! ( and here i was referring you all to them just because i LOVE their stuff - i get bonus points to top it off! ) You can call them at (toll free) 877-436-2317 or log onto their website: www.grapevinestudies.com   Have a blessed day!