(No animals were hurt in the taking of this photo...scared maybe but not hurt...)
Lovin' Learnin'
Friday, February 25, 2011
Life with a Boy...
Big Sis found our poor little puppy like this last night...
...stuck right up there with the water bottles and potatoes...ah yes, life with a boy!!!
(No animals were hurt in the taking of this photo...scared maybe but not hurt...)
Lovin' Learnin'
(No animals were hurt in the taking of this photo...scared maybe but not hurt...)
Lovin' Learnin'
Paws and Tales Givewaway Link
The giveaway is hosted on the All American Family Blog. Go check it out, she even has an 8 minute clip up so you can get a good preview of the video before entering.
Have a great day!!
Lovin' Learnin'
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
A Great Giveaway...
There is a great giveaway for a jewel of a book going on right now over at The Legacy of Home. If you'd like to read more hop on over the Mrs. White's wonderful blog and enter. While you're there browse a while. She has much wisdom to be partaken of!!
Lovin' Learnin'
Friday, February 11, 2011
TOS Review: Curiosity Files: Quicksand!!
Curiosity - A desire to know or learn, an object that arouses interest, as by being novel or extraordinary.
Doesn't the word curious envelope the entire being of a young child? I'm sure yours are curious too? Always asking, "why" or "how" or saying "let me try." Well I have to tell you that these Curiosity Files sure do satisfy all of those uncontrollable desires in the younger set.
If you have been looking for something to throw into your homeschool to wake everyone up, change the pace and add some pizazz then look no further than what I am about to share with you...curious? :)
The Product
Today I share with you my thoughts on another neat product from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. These busy bees have gotten together (where do they find the time?) in their lab and created a great science unit study for students ages 8-13 that will satisfy the most curious in your home.
TOS' Curiosity Files are science based unit studies led by none other than the fictional, but zany Professor Ana Lyze. The Professor will lead your children into the interesting world of quicksand and have you learn all you can about this amazing but needlessly feared substance. This 84 page unit study ebook will have you knowing everything you never wanted to know about quicksand.
What you'll find inside:
Your students will be exposed to scientific facts by way of essays and quizzes, they will exercise their knowledge of math by working on word problems related to quicksand, drawing about quicksand, charting low and high tides, Ana Lyze gives them an opportunity to write an essay with a very helpful outline, learn new spelling and vocabulary words such as quicksand (of course), physics and marsh for Elementary age students and liquefaction, tide pool and submerged for High Schoolers. She has even included some fun word searches, crosswords and games for the students at both levels. Included are also some Bible verse copywork in both print and script. Students also will talk about wise men building their house upon the Rock and not on the sand. (So important!!!)
They'll learn some physics by doing experiments about surface tension and viscosity (a fluid's resistance to flow.) Geography and mapping exercises are also included. And to round it all out there are some great experiments like making your own quicksand goo with simple, easy to find household ingredients and edible quicksand!! (You'll just have to check it out yourself!!) At the very end you can even make your own quicksand.
How to get them:
This is a great study isn't it? And you can get this and many more Curiosity Files right at the Old Schoolhouse store. Currently the bundle of all 9 Curiosity Files are being sold for $46.00. Really, is there a cheaper way to get your science (and a bunch of other subjects) in for the year? If you take two weeks (and I'm sure you'll want to spend longer) for each unit study this deal gives you 18 weeks of material right at your finger tips. You can also purchase these units individually just check The Old Schoolhouse Magazine's store for current pricing.
Check out a 12-page sample of this quicksand unit study here. Or if quicksand doesn't peak your curiosity then take a look at the Zombie Fire Ants study, the Dung Beetle or MRSA...and there's more!!
The McMama Experience
Okay, honestly I thought that the kids would rave over this. Call it winter doldrums, call it disinterest, call it a not so great fit, call it what you want but my children were surprisingly not interested. I was shocked. Yeah, no interest. I really don't think that it reflects at all on the product because, I mean did you read the review, it's amazing! Jam packed with fun and education. However my children just didn't take to it.
My plan is to take it out again over the summer and try once more to see if they'll go for it. I'm all for purchasing this for our science curriculum as it's very easy to pull of and I like easy!
When we get to it in a few months I will update this review (hopefully with picture of my children enjoying themselves!) so that you can see for yourself how this works in our homeschool.
But don't let that stop you!! Check TOS' Curiosity Files out!!! You'll like them I'm sure!!
And hey, click on the banner and check out the reviews from my other Crew Mates. I'm sure they had fun!!!
**Any products reviewed by me as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew have been given to me free of charge in order for me to provide you with an honest review of the product and/or how we used the product within our family. I do not receive any other form of compensation for the reviews posted on this blog.**
Lovin' Learnin'
Doesn't the word curious envelope the entire being of a young child? I'm sure yours are curious too? Always asking, "why" or "how" or saying "let me try." Well I have to tell you that these Curiosity Files sure do satisfy all of those uncontrollable desires in the younger set.
If you have been looking for something to throw into your homeschool to wake everyone up, change the pace and add some pizazz then look no further than what I am about to share with you...curious? :)
Today I share with you my thoughts on another neat product from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. These busy bees have gotten together (where do they find the time?) in their lab and created a great science unit study for students ages 8-13 that will satisfy the most curious in your home.
TOS' Curiosity Files are science based unit studies led by none other than the fictional, but zany Professor Ana Lyze. The Professor will lead your children into the interesting world of quicksand and have you learn all you can about this amazing but needlessly feared substance. This 84 page unit study ebook will have you knowing everything you never wanted to know about quicksand.
What you'll find inside:
They'll learn some physics by doing experiments about surface tension and viscosity (a fluid's resistance to flow.) Geography and mapping exercises are also included. And to round it all out there are some great experiments like making your own quicksand goo with simple, easy to find household ingredients and edible quicksand!! (You'll just have to check it out yourself!!) At the very end you can even make your own quicksand.
How to get them:
Check out a 12-page sample of this quicksand unit study here. Or if quicksand doesn't peak your curiosity then take a look at the Zombie Fire Ants study, the Dung Beetle or MRSA...and there's more!!
The McMama Experience
Okay, honestly I thought that the kids would rave over this. Call it winter doldrums, call it disinterest, call it a not so great fit, call it what you want but my children were surprisingly not interested. I was shocked. Yeah, no interest. I really don't think that it reflects at all on the product because, I mean did you read the review, it's amazing! Jam packed with fun and education. However my children just didn't take to it.
My plan is to take it out again over the summer and try once more to see if they'll go for it. I'm all for purchasing this for our science curriculum as it's very easy to pull of and I like easy!
When we get to it in a few months I will update this review (hopefully with picture of my children enjoying themselves!) so that you can see for yourself how this works in our homeschool.
But don't let that stop you!! Check TOS' Curiosity Files out!!! You'll like them I'm sure!!
And hey, click on the banner and check out the reviews from my other Crew Mates. I'm sure they had fun!!!
**Any products reviewed by me as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew have been given to me free of charge in order for me to provide you with an honest review of the product and/or how we used the product within our family. I do not receive any other form of compensation for the reviews posted on this blog.**
Lovin' Learnin'
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
1 Corinthians 13...for homeschoolers
I came across this blog yesterday and found the post that you're about to read. I had to say that I left that blog feeling 1.) convicted and 2.) inspired to change something things in myself.
I quickly emailed the author of the blog to ask her permission to repost the 1 Cor. post on my own blog. She actually reprinted it from someone else with permission and went ahead and gave me permission and I'm so glad that she did. I think it's something that all of us who homeschool should read every morning. Please read on to find out what I am talking about.
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and teach my children Latin conjugations, Chinese and Portuguese, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal, and no matter what I say, they will not hear me. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know my children’s bents and God’s plan for their lives, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and am the keeper of the teacher’s editions and solutions manuals, and if I have all faith, so as to move mountains, and even keep up with my giant piles of laundry and dishes, but do not have love, I am nothing, even if all the people at church think I’m Supermom. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and my formal dining room gets turned into a schoolroom and our family vacations look more like educational field trips, and if I surrender my body to be burned, never having time to get my nails done, put makeup on or even take a bath, but do not have love, it profits me nothing, because all my family cares about is the expression on my face, anyway.
Love is patient with the child who still can’t get double-digit subtraction with borrowing, and kind to the one who hasn’t turned in his research paper. It is not jealous of moms with more, fewer, neater, more self-directed, better-behaved or smarter children. Love does not brag about homemade bread, book lists, or scholarships and is not arrogant about her lifestyle or curriculum choices. It does not act unbecomingly or correct the children in front of their friends. It does not seek its own, trying to squeeze in alone time when someone still needs help; it is not provoked when interrupted for the nineteenth time by a child, the phone, the doorbell or the dog; does not take into account a wrong suffered, even when no one compliments the dinner that took hours to make or the house that took so long to clean.
Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness or pointing out everyone else’s flaws, but rejoices with the truth and with every small step her children take in becoming more like Jesus, knowing it’s only by the grace of God when that occurs.
Love bears all things even while running on no sleep; believes all things, especially God’s promise to indwell and empower her; hopes all things, such as that she’ll actually complete the English curriculum this year and the kids will eventually graduate; endures all things, even questioning from strangers, worried relatives, and most of all, herself."Love never fails. And neither will she. As long as she never, never, never gives up.
Misty Krasawski is the overly-blessed mom of eight children whom she homeschools in sunshine-y Florida. She has been clinging ferociously to the hand of her Lord since she was knee-high to a grasshopper, homeschooling for the past thirteen years, and has eighteen more years ahead of her with the children who are glad she will have done most of her experimenting on those who went before. Her wonderful husband Rob has much treasure laid up for him in heaven for having been called to such a daunting task. After the house goes to sleep she can sometimes be found gathering her thoughts at http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MistyKrasawski.
That was just eye-opening wasn't it? Now, I encourage you to go and check out Brandie's blog. She is a great writer and I've enjoyed reading some of her posts.
Lovin' Learnin'
I quickly emailed the author of the blog to ask her permission to repost the 1 Cor. post on my own blog. She actually reprinted it from someone else with permission and went ahead and gave me permission and I'm so glad that she did. I think it's something that all of us who homeschool should read every morning. Please read on to find out what I am talking about.
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and teach my children Latin conjugations, Chinese and Portuguese, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal, and no matter what I say, they will not hear me. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know my children’s bents and God’s plan for their lives, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and am the keeper of the teacher’s editions and solutions manuals, and if I have all faith, so as to move mountains, and even keep up with my giant piles of laundry and dishes, but do not have love, I am nothing, even if all the people at church think I’m Supermom. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and my formal dining room gets turned into a schoolroom and our family vacations look more like educational field trips, and if I surrender my body to be burned, never having time to get my nails done, put makeup on or even take a bath, but do not have love, it profits me nothing, because all my family cares about is the expression on my face, anyway.
Love is patient with the child who still can’t get double-digit subtraction with borrowing, and kind to the one who hasn’t turned in his research paper. It is not jealous of moms with more, fewer, neater, more self-directed, better-behaved or smarter children. Love does not brag about homemade bread, book lists, or scholarships and is not arrogant about her lifestyle or curriculum choices. It does not act unbecomingly or correct the children in front of their friends. It does not seek its own, trying to squeeze in alone time when someone still needs help; it is not provoked when interrupted for the nineteenth time by a child, the phone, the doorbell or the dog; does not take into account a wrong suffered, even when no one compliments the dinner that took hours to make or the house that took so long to clean.
Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness or pointing out everyone else’s flaws, but rejoices with the truth and with every small step her children take in becoming more like Jesus, knowing it’s only by the grace of God when that occurs.
Love bears all things even while running on no sleep; believes all things, especially God’s promise to indwell and empower her; hopes all things, such as that she’ll actually complete the English curriculum this year and the kids will eventually graduate; endures all things, even questioning from strangers, worried relatives, and most of all, herself."Love never fails. And neither will she. As long as she never, never, never gives up.
Misty Krasawski is the overly-blessed mom of eight children whom she homeschools in sunshine-y Florida. She has been clinging ferociously to the hand of her Lord since she was knee-high to a grasshopper, homeschooling for the past thirteen years, and has eighteen more years ahead of her with the children who are glad she will have done most of her experimenting on those who went before. Her wonderful husband Rob has much treasure laid up for him in heaven for having been called to such a daunting task. After the house goes to sleep she can sometimes be found gathering her thoughts at http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MistyKrasawski.
That was just eye-opening wasn't it? Now, I encourage you to go and check out Brandie's blog. She is a great writer and I've enjoyed reading some of her posts.
Lovin' Learnin'
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Blog Walk
So I just realized that I was part of this week's blog walk. Ack!!! Where are my manners? Here I have visitors stopping by my bloggy house and I'm not prepared for them. Well, come on in and I'll tell you a few things about myself. Go ahead, make yourself comfy, wanna drink?
Okay, I'm McMama...which you already knew...I have been married to my college sweetheart for 10 and a half years. We live in NC with our 4 children-check out their pictures to the right-and our one very hyper long-haired chihuahua, Pepper.
We love the Lord with all our hearts and try each day to live better than the last. Not an easy task but God is gracious and merciful.
McPop is a wonderful husband, who vacuums the living room every night, shares the scriptures with his children and brings me coffee in bed every morning. He is a Mr. Steady, who loves the Lord and is also the pastor of a spanish ministry.
I love to play the piano, sew...although I haven't done any sewing in a while, blog and spend time with my family. I am constantly failing my Lord but ever seeking to do better for Him. This is my first year on the TOS Homeschool Crew and it has been a ride I'm telling ya! I've been blessed to meet so many wonderful, wise and hard working Moms! They're a great group of ladies and in a minute I'll show you how to meet some of them.
Brother, age 5, not officially schooled yet (I know, I know. He's five. Yeah, I know.) Loves building with Legos, playing with cars, eating, running around with his sisters and is just plain silly. He's also frequently found making mental plans for what he will teach his little brother when the Lord decides it's time to send him. :)
Littlest, age 2, not officially schooled but is learning way too much! Loves doing anything that the big kids are doing, eating and enjoys just being plain crazy!!
They all LOVE books (as you can see by the constant stream of books that litter all rooms of the house), going to church and spending time together.
Well, that's us in a nutshell and I see you've finished your drink so I guess it's time to bid you farewell. Listen, come on back and visit us soon! We love having company...just excuse the mess!
Now, as I promised, here is a list of a few of my fellow Crew Mates' blogs. Check 'em out. These ladies have an ecclectic wealth of information to share with you!
Whew! There ya go!! Check 'em out.
Oh, and thanks again for stopping by!
Lovin' Learnin'
Okay, I'm McMama...which you already knew...I have been married to my college sweetheart for 10 and a half years. We live in NC with our 4 children-check out their pictures to the right-and our one very hyper long-haired chihuahua, Pepper.
We love the Lord with all our hearts and try each day to live better than the last. Not an easy task but God is gracious and merciful.
My four children, well if you read my blog at all you'll already know a lot about them but in case you don't (and I'll keep this brief):
Biggest, age 9, 3rd grade. Loves drawing, writing notes to friends, playing outside and playing piano.Big Sis, age 7, 1st grade. Loves investigating the world around her, dressing up as an Indian or Cowgirl, spending time with her siblings and creating some crazy things out of nothing! Oh, she plays violin.
Brother, age 5, not officially schooled yet (I know, I know. He's five. Yeah, I know.) Loves building with Legos, playing with cars, eating, running around with his sisters and is just plain silly. He's also frequently found making mental plans for what he will teach his little brother when the Lord decides it's time to send him. :)
They all LOVE books (as you can see by the constant stream of books that litter all rooms of the house), going to church and spending time together.
Well, that's us in a nutshell and I see you've finished your drink so I guess it's time to bid you farewell. Listen, come on back and visit us soon! We love having company...just excuse the mess!
Now, as I promised, here is a list of a few of my fellow Crew Mates' blogs. Check 'em out. These ladies have an ecclectic wealth of information to share with you!
Until the Day Dawn Weblog
Whew! There ya go!! Check 'em out.
Oh, and thanks again for stopping by!
Lovin' Learnin'
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