Volunteering at LIFE Cafe

This school year, my daughter, EL (now age 20 - Wow!), was enrolled in a new therapeutic day program called LIMITLESS. It runs Monday-Thursday from 8:00-4:00. EL has been attending classes there in the mornings to gain some vocational, life, and social skills. She has been challenged at times to do new things that are fun for her, and to also do things she does NOT want to do. She has had happy moments, as well as moments with a few tears; but, no matter what her day has been like, she is still ready to return each morning. It has been a great learning experience for her.

Starting in October, LIFE CAFE' also opened up. (LIFE = Limitless Institute for Functional Education.) It is a small cafe that serves quality coffee, tea, pastries, and limited lunch items. The proceeds go to help support the students who are taking part in the Limitless day program.

One day each week, EL and I have been volunteering together at the LIFE Cafe. It has been fun working there with her, and being a part of this beneficial non-profit organization.

Here are a few photos of EL helping out in the Cafe. . . .

Fresh flowers are brought in each week and need to be watered.

EL is at the sink, adding new water to a vase.

She loves to draw, so here she is making note cards and thank you cards to give away to consumers.

She also made some Fall decorations to place on the tables.

EL and I plan to continue volunteering there in the coming months, and might even get her brother, JJ, to join us soon.

A Visit from Cousin Jon & Sam Judd

Cousin Jon from Kentucky came to visit us for a week. He and JJ are not just cousins, but the best of friends. They talk on the phone almost daily, text each other, Skype, and play some online games together. Their interests are very similar. So, when we found out my brother's friend, Sam Judd, was going to come minister at our church on October 15th, we worked out a way to have Cousin Jon dropped off on Sunday, October 8th. Jon is also homeschooled, so he was able to take the time away from home. However, the boys did not get away from doing ALL of their schoolwork. 

Jon and JJ took Monday, October 9th off from schoolwork because it was Columbus Day. But, they were required to spend the mornings of Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday doing their work. Then, Friday was another "holiday" for us, just because we wanted it to be.  It's not every day that we get a visit from Cousin Jon, seeing as how he lives at least 6 hours away.

They also did some chores together while Jon was here. Here they are picking up the pears that continually fall from the tree in our front yard every Fall.

They also took numerous bike rides around town on the days it wasn't raining. Great exercise for them, and kept them off the video games for awhile.

Sam Judd came on Saturday, October 14th, and ministered at our church on the 15th. It was a great visit with him, and we enjoyed getting to know him. He is an excellent speaker, and a great musician. So, be sure to check out his website, listen to samples of his music, and contact him to see when he might be available to minister at YOUR church:  www.samjudd.com

 

Sam left on Monday morning, the 16th, and took Jon home with him. It was fun to have him here. I am glad we were able to take advantage of this opportunity for the cousins to spend some enjoyable time together.

Our 2017 Graduates

 

At the end of May, we finished our 2016-2017 school year, and that means our daughter, EL, completed 4 years of High School and, therefore, "graduated" from SONset Academy. Her special learning needs kept her from being able to complete high school level work so, after consulting with HSLDA (Homeschool Legal Defense Association), we felt it was best to give EL a Certificate of Completion rather than a Diploma. She will not be attending college, so a diploma is not really necessary for her anyway. But, regardless of what type of certification she has received, we are very proud of her accomplishments.

Our son, JJ, also graduated this year - from 8th grade. So, this past Sunday, we finally had a small graduation celebration for both of them. (It has been a busy Summer, so this was the best time to schedule the party, even though they technically graduated at the end of May.)

David/Dad/Principal - Signing the graduation certificates

We had a casual, simple ceremony in our garage. To start things off, Aunt Jackie played "Pomp and Circumstance" on her flute as the graduates walked out of the house and into the garage where family and friends were waiting.

David gave a short message/word of encouragement to the graduates, as well as to the rest of us in attendance.

JJ received his 8th grade diploma

EL received her Certificate of Completion.

After the ceremony, we had a simple reception:  A decorated cake, Veggies and Dip, Trail Mix, Goldfish Crackers, Cherry Candies, and drinks. The colors were red, white and blue. Decorations came from Dollar Tree, Dollar General, and Walmart's clearance section.

Family photo with the graduates.

It was a nice day. 
Now, we begin High School with JJ!

Using Pinterest as an Educational Tool

My daughter, EL, has autism and developmental delays. One of her favorite toys of all time is a Fijit Friend named Willa. 

In some ways, even though she is a teenager, EL is developmentally at the level of a 2nd grade child. She still loves young children's toys that talk, light up, and play music. The music is her favorite.

In other ways, EL is like a normal teenager. She has mood swings, she likes to stay up late, she likes to get new clothes, and she likes to watch movies like "Teen Beach Movie."

Over this past year, EL's therapists have been working with her to combine her love of musical toys with a more age-appropriate activity of pinning things on Pinterest. It has been a great learning tool, as it has opened EL up to the computer world. She has learned she can ask for help when she wants to pin something to her page, then she has also learned to click on the pictures and videos she wants to see, and to close them out when she is done. I am grateful to EL's therapists, and the work they have been doing with her to improve her quality of life.

Here is EL watching a video of Willa on her Pinterest page.

What We Eat For Breakfast, and My Favorite Blueberry Muffin Recipe

At our house, I do not normally cook a big breakfast. I prefer quick and easy, less stress, and less mess. It works out well for us because everyone usually wants something different to eat so, with the following choices, they are able to choose and prepare what they want. It has provided the opportunities to teach them how to make their own choices, how to prepare their own meals, and how to clean up after themselves.

BREAKFAST CHOICES include:

• Cold cereal with or without milk (my daughter eats it dry)
• Oatmeal made with Quick Oats and brown sugar (made in the microwave) 
• Occasionally, I will make a large pan of Baked Oatmeal and we will have several days to eat through it.
• Frozen waffles warmed up in the toaster
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Toast with a variety of toppings (Peanut Butter, Sunbutter, Butter and Honey, Butter sprinkled with Cinnamon/Sugar, or Jam)
• Muffins (I make a variety of these ahead of time and freeze them. We just take one out of the freezer and heat it for 35 seconds in the microwave)
• Breakfast cookies (made ahead of time)
• A piece of fruit 
• Occasionally, on Saturday mornings, I will make pancakes
• And, on rare occasions, we will have Toaster Strudels and Yogurt, like we did on our first day back to school this year.

Here is my favorite Blueberry Muffin recipe. They are low in sugar, and freeze very well.

BLUEBERRY MUFFINS

2 and 2/3 cups unbleached flour (or do half whole wheat)

1 and 1/2 cups oats (Quick Oats or Old Fashioned)

2/3 cup white sugar

4 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

2 eggs

1 and 1/2 cups milk (your choice)

1/2 cup oil (your choice, I use Canola)

2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries 
(Raspberries or Blackberries would work, too)

Directions:  Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line 2 muffin pans with paper liners. Mix ingredients together until combined, then fold in the blueberries. Spoon batter into prepared muffin tins. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center of muffin comes out clean. 

Makes 2 dozen

Tourette Syndrome Awareness

In light of Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month, click below to a recent post on HE HOLDS MY RIGHT HAND to find out more about this disorder. My son, JJ, was diagnosed at the age of 5, and it has caused some challenges in our home school that we have had to work through. For example, learning a new concept in Math causes anxiety and increases his tics. Writing can be difficult when his head and arms are having involuntary movements. Sitting still is often difficult as well. It has not been easy, but we continue to learn as we go, asking the Lord for wisdom and strength.

TOURETTE SYNDROME:  WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT ISN'T

HELPFUL WEBSITE: Kelly Christian Academy

For all of you who use My Father's World as your main curriculum, I want to tell you about a very helpful blog:  KELLY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY.

The author, Vicki, has posted educational links to various websites (mostly You Tube) that can be watched to supplement the subjects you are covering. She includes links for Science, History, States and Capitals, Hymns, and more.  AND, they are separated out into the weeks listed in the MFW manuals. Awesome!

We are currently using some of the links she has posted for 1850 To Modern Times (We just finished Week 12). But, she also has separate pages listed for Creation to the Greeks, Rome to the Reformation, and Exploration to 1850.

You can also find links for Jewish Holidays,  Apologia Science, and Abeka Science.

It is a very helpful site, especially if you like to supplement your book learning with videos. It's a great way to teach your visual learners.

Have a great weekend!

A Picnic Snack - An Introduction to My New Book Project

Here's a sneak peak at the new book project I've been working on.  I'm excited to say its almost ready for publication, but still needs a couple finishing touches. I am hoping to have it available to the public by the 1st of November (maybe sooner!) In the meantime, you are probably wondering what this book is about.

The new book is geared towards the younger crowd - children in the 3-8 developmental age range, but older children may enjoy it also. It is called, "A Picnic Snack," and is based on a fun experience I had when I was a little girl living in the small town of Manito, IL. My neighborhood friends and I often played outside together, and I can remember more than one occasion when we all brought snacks from home to share with everyone else.

The two main ideas of the book are "sharing with friends" and "thanking God for our food." My niece, Carolyn, drew the illustrations, and she did a great job for her debut in the publishing world. I enjoyed working with her on this.

I am using the same company I used for my first book, and will be sure to let you know when it is available to the public.

Stay tuned!  

Rapunzel and the Seven Dwarfs

This past Summer, JJ was listening to a Maynard the Moose CD we borrowed from the library and he thought the crazy, mixed up fairy tale of Rapunzel and the Seven Dwarfs was hilarious. He decided to draw illustrations for the story and we made a video of it.  Check it out here...

 

 

 RAPUNZEL AND THE SEVEN DWARFS - JJ's version

  

Kid Snippets Math is Like Life at Our House

Kid Snippets have been going around on the Internet for awhile, and they are so good. They get kids to talk about a given topic, then the adults act out the scene with the kids voices dubbed in. This one about Math is probably my favorite. Not only is it funny, it also reminds me of what math is like in our home! I would consider JJ as the "teacher" and EL as the "student." Check it out!

KID SNIPPETS:  MATH CLASS

FREE Homeschool Planners (Limited Time)

We are nearing the end of our Summer, so I have started the process of getting things organized for the new year. I have looked into some different planners and haven't really found one that completely works for our needs, but I wanted to share a couple of FREE options for those of you who are interested:

For the next month, The Old Schoolhouse magazine has 5 different planner options for free listed on EDUCENTS.COM. Here is the direct link: 

2014-15 SCHOOLHOUSE PLANNERS

 

Also, for a short time (through August 4, 2014), you can get 7 different themed planners for free over at:

 

FRUGAL HOMESCHOOL FAMILY

 

These are only free for a limited time, so hurry up and download your copies now!

 



A Coincidence?

Like I predicted on THURSDAY, Friday was a better day for us. Fridays are generally lighter in the schoolwork area, so that helped relieve some of the stress. Plus, we also spent the afternoon getting ready for company to come this weekend. That kept our minds on something better than arguing with each other and focusing on negative things. So, over all, it was a good day.

I can't help but think we were, ummm, "distracted" on Thursday because of some things we've been recently learning and sharing. For example, last Sunday, the kids used their puppet ministry to share about "counting our blessings." Hmmmm. Counting our blessings requires thinking on the GOOD things, doesn't it? Was our distraction on Thursday a test of that?

Here's the newest puppet video. (Note: My husband is in the video since he filled in for our pastor while he was out of town)...

E-J PUPPETS:  COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS

 

 

Also, we have been learning some verses from the book of James. Maybe its just a coincidence, but don't you think its possible the devil hasn't liked hearing what we've been learning and sharing this week? Here is JJ saying the verses we have learned:

JAMES 1:2-6

 

 

Coincidence?  I don't think so....  Press on, friends!

Tomorrow Will Be Better

I love being at home with my kids and being able to teach them - I really do! But, I admit there are some days when teaching these young rascals gets very frustrating. This morning was one of those days...

I crawled out of bed this morning tired and unmotivated. The cloudy weather didn't help. Still, I pressed onward to try and accomplish our daily goals.

The kids picked up on my lack of motivation, and they both took their time with morning chores. Thus, we got a later start with schoolwork. JJ asked, "Can we skip school today?" Hmmmm, very tempting, but no. It's important to teach the kids that sometimes we must do things we don't want to do. Its just part of life. So, onward we went...

Spelling was first on the agenda. JJ, who has always had trouble with spelling, was frustrated about our English language and how the spelling rules just don't make much sense. I tend to agree with him on that. But, what can I do? Its just the way things are, and its something we have to learn.

Next, we did English. EL needed help putting words in alphabetical order and became stressed out over that. At the same time, JJ was working on cursive and, once again, voiced his frustrations. "They are just a bunch of squiggly lines. Who made up cursive, and why do we have to learn it?" (sigh)

After English came Science. We have been learning about flowers (botany), and today we learned about the fascinating way God used the colors in flowers to attract bees and other insects. Bees need flowers in order to survive, and flowers need bees in order to survive. JJ drew on the white board while I read aloud; EL sat on the floor and tried to comprehend what I was saying. Her comprehension, unfortunately, has declined since she started taking seizure meds. This is very frustrating for me because I have to keep repeating everything, have her repeat it back to me, and then sometimes she still doesn't comprehend it. (sigh) I know its not her fault, but its still frustrating.

We moved on to History and I read about George Washington at Valley Forge. Comprehension was once again a difficult task - for both kids. JJ's tics have been highly active lately and he just couldn't sit still, so I allowed him to continue drawing on the white board. Some days, that works out well. Other days, like today, his imagination overtakes him and he hears the words I read as "blah blah blah blah blah." More frustration on my part.

I finished up with History and decided to try a drawing lesson for Art. Since we are learning about the Revolutionary War, I used a book that gives directions for drawing a cannon. EL became grumpy and didn't like that idea, but I asked her to do her best. Then, JJ told her she was drawing it wrong and she grew irritated with him and began to mumble under her breath. We tell her its not polite to mumble, but she continues. I tell her to stop, and she yells, "I can't stop!" She threw her pencil onto the floor. I made her pick it up and told her that behavior was not acceptable. That led to a complete meltdown/tantrum - basically screaming at the top of her lungs and crying in frustration. I reacted negatively and raised my voice to her as well. Of course, that helped out a lot - NOT! She was DONE with school for the day, and so was I.

Suffice it to say, this morning was not what I would call a good morning; but, thankfully, we always have tomorrow to look forward to. I am not a perfect mom, and I do not have perfect kids. But, we love each other, and that's what matters most. After some cool down time, we all gave each other hugs and said we were sorry. Things were mostly good again... and tomorrow will be even better.

Homeschool Enrichment Magazine

The Lewis family (the editors of Homeschool Enrichment) have a goal to "publish articles that will be helpful and encouraging to homeschool families." In my eyes, they have done well meeting that goal. I have been reading HSE for several years and have received much encouragement from it. Some articles deal with family matters, some deal with education, and some deal with Biblical training. Others give informative articles regarding current events, historical events, unit studies, Creation Science, and book/curriculum reviews.

I have met Jonathan and Matthew Lewis (brothers), and have corresponded with them on occasion.  I have watched their families grow over the years, and am impressed with what I have seen. They are godly young men who have a desire to serve the Lord in all areas of their lives. Each issue has been a blessing to me, and I recommend it to all families who are homeschooling - new or experienced - or even to grandparents or other relatives who want to learn more about the world of Christian homeschoolers.

You can REQUEST A FREE COPY of the magazine to see if its a right fit for you. Or, if you are ready to place an order, click on the affiliate link below or in my sidebar to get a 38% discount off of your subscription price.

 

Spring Semester 2014 Extra-Curricular Activities

 

 


DRUM LESSONS for JJ
He currently goes twice per month and is learning a lot.



DRAGONFLIES DANCE and DRAMA CAMP
This was a one-day Saturday class for Special Needs.

 

DRAGONFLIES
Siblings are encouraged to join in, so JJ took part as well.

 

EL at LEGO CLUB
A club that encourages interaction, cooperation, and social skills.
Both kids participate in this twice per month, and I am a volunteer.



JJ at LEGO CLUB
 

JJ's 5th year in CUB SCOUTS
He won 3rd place at the Pinewood Derby for the Webelos group.
This was his last year to race in the derby and his first year to place.
 

 

PUPPET MINISTRY

In our latest performance, I am the pink female puppet.

JJ is the green male puppet, the tiger, and the chicken.

David is the old farmer (as well as the technical engineer).

EL is the dog and the little pink puppet with yellow hair.

 

 

K5 Learning REVIEW

It has been awhile since I have posted on this blog. Life has been keeping us busy. But, the Holidays have come and gone, and our free trial of the K5 Learning program has come to an end, so it is time to post a review.

K5 Learning is an online Reading and Math program for kids in grades K through 5, or for those with learning delays. After giving it a try for 6 weeks, I have seen some pros and cons.

PRO's:
1.  I love the online assessments. Before beginning our lessons, each of my kids took an assessment in Math and in Reading, to give an idea of where to begin. It helped to not have to "guess" about where to place them.

2.  It was easy to communicate with the K5 staff via e-mail and have my kids levels increased or decreased where necessary.

3.  The lessons are short, and easy to understand.

4.  The program gives complete instructions for learning new materials, so its not just for review purposes.

5.  The lessons are animated, and there are some games that help challenge the kids. However, the entire program is not a game. It is animated instruction exhibited in an appealing way for kids.

6.  The animations are well-mannered, modest, and are shown in various nationalities.

7.  It is easy enough to accomplish new skills, but challenging enough to keep the kids engaged and learning.

8.  It keeps track of each child's skill levels and shows how much progress they have made.

CON's:
1.  I wish there were parent controls available to increase or decrease the levels on my own, so I wouldn't have to "bother" the staff, and could have more immediate success in the changes.

2.  If a student is trying to think about the answer to a particular question, the computer doesn't give them much time to think before explaining the instructions or asking the question again. This was sometimes annoying or stressful for EL, who needs more time to think without being interrupted.

3.  The program only goes up to 5th grade level, whereas other online programs (such as Time4Learning) goes through 8th grade or higher.

4.  It only covers Math and Reading skills, unlike other programs that have ALL major subjects.

You can see there are a lot more Pro's than Con's. Overall, I am content to continue giving it a try.  Both of my kids have made progress with this program in just the short time they have been using it. They are learning and are not bored with it.  EL is not a fan of the computer, but I think it is good for her to use it, as it has been challenging her in new areas. I asked JJ if he wanted to continue with this program, or go back to the workbooks we were using. He likes this online program. So, we paid for an annual subscription for both kids, to at least get us through the rest of this school year, and into the Summer. We will, then, re-evaluate as to whether or not we will continue.

The cost is comparable with other online programs, listed at $25.00 per month or $199.00 for a full year. For additional children, the cost is discounted to $15.00 per month, or $129.00 for a year.

You can get a 14-day free trial of your own by clicking below (contains affiliate link): 

 

We're Going to Try K5 Learning

Over the past few years, we have tried a variety of different options for Math (with both of our kids), and we are still struggling to find the right fit. What a daunting task this has been! Each math curriculum we have used has worked well for a little while, or for a specific area of need, but we eventually come to a roadblock.

Well, a couple of weeks ago, I found out about K5 Learning. They have an online reading and math program for students in kindergarten to grade 5, as well as those with special needs.  I've been given a 6 week free trial to test and write a review of their program, so maybe this will be the answer for us. I'll be sure to let you know! 

If you are a blogger, you may want to check out their open invitation to write an online learning review of their program.

LIMITED TIME OFFER: Free Professional Student ID Cards

In the past, I have always used the FREE printable student ID cards from Homeschool Buyers Co-Op and we have been satisfied with them. However, this year, I am taking advantage of an offer from AlphaCard. They are offering professional Student ID Cards at no cost to homeschoolers (including free shipping) through September 30, 2013. There is a limit of 5 ID cards per household. They do say they reserve the right to end the program earlier than scheduled based on capacity, so you may want to try and get your order in soon.  I just placed an order for both of my kids, and they say to expect 2-4 weeks for delivery.

Click here to be taken to this special offer:

FREE HOMESCHOOL STUDENT ID CARDS

A Nomination - A Special Honor

So, yesterday, I had a surgical procedure done and am rather sore. There's not much I can do around the house as far as lifting goes, so I'm sitting here at the computer catching up on e-mails and things while my kids do their independent work. As I started going through the e-mails, I noticed another blogger I follow was nominated in the Homeschool Blog Awards.

So, I clicked on the link to go vote for her page, as well as several others that I follow. As I browsed through all the other categories and nominations, I came across a very familiar one - SONset ACADEMY! Wow, how exciting to be nominated; and not only in one category, but in THREE:

• Best Homeschool Mom Blog
• Best Crafts, Plans and Projects Blog
• Best Encourager

Whoever nominated me, THANKYOU! I am thrilled.

If you have not voted yet for your favorite blogs, you can click on the link below to get started! Polls close on November 16th.

HOMESCHOOL BLOG AWARDS 2012

My Daughter's Drawing of Hoops & YoYo

About a month ago, I mentioned the Hoops & YoYo Video Maker that my kids enjoyed playing with on the computer. Since then, Road Runner began to draw the Hoops & YoYo characters. (Drawing is one of her favorite things to do). Here is one of the drawings she finished. Its such a happy picture, I just wanted to share it. NOTE:  The V's in the sky are birds flying in the distance.