Cowan's Gap 2009

Our annual trip to Cowan's Gap is never dissappointing. Every year has been different, but each has been so much fun. This year the swimming was okay for the first couple of days, but then it got cold and rainy and we actually came home one day early. Some friends came to visit us one day while we were there. I'm just glad they came before the rain did.

It is so nice to be out there with no cell phone signal and no computer.

This is a prime location for nature study. Let's start with the dead fish.

I love how children are so unihibited.

Then there was the trail around the lake that showcased a variety of trees. Each section of the trail seemed like a different "room".

These two pictures were taken about 200 yards away from each other on the same trail.

Then DD11, my nature photographer, delighted with all the flowers she found.

Of course, we engaged ourselves in typical camping activities.

I am also relieved that we were well protected on this trip.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day for us was pretty quiet. We did get up a little earlier than usual to get to the parade in the next town over. I'm so glad we did because it was a very nice parade. After the parade, we went to the store to pick up a couple of things then came home.

We cooked some hamburgers on the grill and the kids blew some bubbles and that's about it.

This evening at bedtime, we will begin writing in our summer journals. They are poised and ready in a little basket in the living room. Each evening from now to Labor Day, we will write in the journals about the day's activities. We did this in 2005 and really enjoyed it. The last couple of years, we tried, but somehow didn't follow through the whole summer. This year feels different and I look forward to seeing what the kids will be writing about.

Thankful Thursday

Today, I am thankful for the freedom to homeschool, that I get a front row seat to my children's learning and that my children are growing up knowing God.

I'm also thankful to the military who ensures these freedoms for us day in and day out.

Jeannie Fulbright Giveaway

Apologia is now producing notebooking journals that accompany each of the elementary science books. Both Botany and Astronomy are now available. You can see samples on the Apologia website here:

Jeannie Fulbright's Apologia Series

These journals are beautiful spiral bound notebooks that will save you time and money. You won't have to print and keep up with your child's notebook pages, buy and maintain page protectors, or purchase and compile binders...everything that makes notebooking time-consuming and labor intensive for mom. Also, your child will adore having their own notebooking journal.

Each of the notebooking journals include:
A daily schedule for those who like to have a plan or would like their children to complete the book on their own
Templates for written narrations, the notebooking activities and experiments
Review Questions
Scripture Copywork, with both print and cursive practice
Reading lists and additional activities, projects, experiments for each lesson
An appendix with beautiful, full-color, lapbook-style Miniature Books
Field Trip Sheets to keep a record field trips
A Final Review with fifty questions the students can answer either orally or in writing to show off all they remember and know at the end of the course.

See the sample pages here:
Botany

Astronomy

Jeannie is giving away four Astronomy Notebooking Journals and four Botany Notebooking Journals to bloggers who post about this on their site. Visit her blog to learn more about this contest: www.jeanniesjournal.com

Our Big, Fat, Greek Field Trip

We attended the Greek Festival in Camp Hill, Pa today. This is a field trip that is well worth the drive. We get a peek into Greek culture from Greeks. I love field trips that cover several subject areas and this one is no exception.

Subjects covered:

Art and Bible - Take a closer look at the icons and mosaics. This is a picture of a mosaic over the doorway to go inside. Can you tell the story this picture tells?




Music - Greek music was playing throughout the festival; Observe the folk dancers






Mathematics - Calculating costs of foods before going and be sure to take enough money for everything you want to eat. We could also calculate the calories, but who really wants to go there? I mean, how many calories could possibly be in those pastries?



This is the most delicious moussaka. The ladies who serve it are also kind enough to talk to you about the food they are serving if you ask.




Language Arts - Write a letter to Grandma to tell her about the festival. Create a journal entry about the trip.


Social Studies - Learning about Greek-American Foods and Culture


After going last year, we really looked forward to returning this year. The dancers were impressive and I love looking at the icons inside the church. The moussaka and baklava alone were worth the drive.

During the next academic year, I am planning for us to learn a little about Greek language using Hey, Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek! from Greek n' Stuff. Perhaps what we learn will be reinforced next year when we return.

Wordless Wednesday

Tis the Season...

Listen.......Can you hear it?............It's a convoy of mini vans.............As each van parks, moms jump out and start suiting up with backpacks, baby carriers, strollers, empty luggage, and pocketbooks.

It's spring and the beginning of the Homeschool-Convention-and-Curriculum-Buying season.

As one browses through a homeschool magazine, one of the first things that pops out is an ad. In this ad is a child that is well-groomed, in an orderly home, is smiling (mom is usually looking on and smiling as well) and doing her school work with a joyful heart.

What we must remember is - this is an advertisement that highly paid marketers put together so we will buy their product. I'm not saying the product isn't good. It might be great for your family, but how many used curriculum sales have you gone to where there is curriculum that has the first few pages used or it's not been used at all? Sometimes we get sucked in to thinking that this book, unit study, curriculum, etc. is all we need and things will be sunshine and roses for next school year.

I really think the advertisements of this sort are just as dangerous to homeschool moms as the advertisements we try to protect our teens from. You know the ones with the beautifully, perfect, air-brushed models. When our teens are exposed to that, they think that is how they must look to be happy. The bar is set to an unreachable height.

A good friend of mine started homeschooling her girls just this past January. It is exciting to see her go through this transition with her girls. She has been attending the Charlotte Mason discussion groups and has embraced her philosophy full force. Her observations at a recent used curriculum sale are very insightful and I wanted to share them here.

Thoughts on Homeschool Curriculum

Another friend advises to pray about your homeschool before, during and after purchasing curriculum. I think this is very sound advice.

Finally, I just came across this blog post and wanted to share it as well.

Homeschool Utopia

Don't we all go through this at some point in our homeschooling lives?

Planning for a new academic year can be exciting. You have a clean slate and a fresh start for things hoped for. Do your research and keep in mind that every family is different. For that matter every child is different. Find what fits your situation best and keep in mind that because something works for someone elses family doesn't mean that it will work for yours.