Here's to a NEW year! ( and 1/2)

And 1/2;) I found this draft that I must have saved from the 1st of the year, and just wanted to share it because it had some good stuff. 

Happy 2013! This year has started out to be an outstanding year! I truly believe that homeschooling is  an art of refinement. This year started out with gusto as we had a clear set plan for our school work, organization has  been one of the working parts of this new refinement movement.  Toward the end of 2012 I begin to put together a home management binder, where I could have a hard copy of the plan. Meal plan, daily schedule, cleaning schedule, it is amazing how much can be accomplished just by having somewhere to look when you get sidetracked, something to help you stay the course.  It has made all the difference.
 The other change we made is to the kids electronics. Not only the usage, but the availiablity as well. We have established a charging station where all electronics are signed in and out on a clipboard. This one thing has amazed me on how much the usage has decreased since the start of this, as time has gone by the kids have begun to realize how much other stuff there is to do.

As an update,

we are 6 months in and we still do the home management notebook and the electronic sign in, and it has been two of the most enlightening  things that I have done for my family, and I would encourage any family who hasn't thought to limit the electronic in their home to try it. It has really had the desired effect on my kids! Happy Home-ing ;)

Better late than never...Flavor of the Week

 

Gear Stew ~Flavor of the Week

 Week of Jan 7-11th.

• In my life this week… I have been busy keeping things in our newly formed routine as I love how it is shaping school, home, health, and relationships this year.
• In our homeschool this week…I discovered the joys of homeschooling as I was able to scratch the fractions unit for my 7th grader, and start over which has made all the difference in her understanding of fractions.
• Places we’re going and people we’re seeing… Friday was Free Friday at the Zoo, so we went with another Homeschooling family. It was a real treat to be out of the classroom, but still in a excellent learning environment.
• My favorite thing this week was…Having ALL my laundry done (we are a family of 7 this is an exceptional feat in itself).
• My kiddos favorite thing this week was… Being Blessed with beautiful weather in South Carolina, we went on a ABC photo scavenger hunt!

 

• Things I’m working on… I am typically a dreamer and I get caught up in finding a million things I want to do, learn, read, watch....so this year my goal is to live intentionally. So think of a big RED umbrella, that is my relationship with God, and then under it are Husband, Kids, Esterline Center of Excellence (school), Health, Home, and since I still want to devote some time to refine me, there is Blogging, and Photography.  If it doesn't fit into these categories then I need to save it for another time, but God above ALL!
• I’m cooking… A lot of slow cooker meals, and have been on a quest for healthy, low fat, clean crock pot meals.
• I’m grateful for… I have been falling in love with my family all over again! I really have underestimated how much I would love homeschooling.
• I’m praying for… The motivation to keep on this path, as everything seems to run so much smoother when there is some order.
• I rewarded my kids this week by…Movie night with Mom and Dad!
• Something I am ogling or have my eye on…I have been looking at Turbo Jam, I think I may want to invest in it as there are ton of good review out there.

 

Oh Christmas Tree oh Christmas tree

How many strands of 12ft lights would take to cover you if your circumference was ........

Yep you guessed it we are still deep into school, with a holiday flare at least! Our second quarter has gone a bit smoother than the first, thanks to the teacher finally figuring out how helpful it is to have a daily schedule, and lesson plans to go with it!
We are reading Charles Dickens Christmas Carol as a group, which has been really eye opening as my 3rd grader is understanding much more of it than I anticipated!  I think it helps that it is a widely played Christmas movie.
We also started doing Vocabulary, and Spelling on a daily basis which has been another smooth transition, they kids find vocab to be challenging but I tell them words are like roads, without many choices your destination is limited! Willow has now begin blending sounds....which is REALLY REALLY REALLY close to reading!! SO excited for her to be able to read, as we are reading family and she is so excited to join the fun! Briar got his Whittling Chip for Cub scouts which allows him to carry a pocket knife. The really cool thing about this was that he worked towards this goal completely independent, as he found it in his book, and shared his desire with his Dad, and went toward his goal! Hannahlee is enjoying the break from track, but is working hard on her school work as my girl loves a challenge! Megan has her Band and Choir concert tonight, I am so thankful to be able to offer that to her through the public school, although it is no fun getting up and driving her to 7am band practice! Lastly, we just celebrated Thatcher's first birthday! Can't believe how fast the time has flown by. I am so blessed with him, he is a wonderful baby and a great source of joy in the Esterline's life!
Stay tuned for some more...gonna try and be more intentionally with sharing on here!

And then...

And then...I got super busy and kept thinking I would love to write for a few mins, and then life happened. School has been good, but with all this wonderful weather I have been horrible about staying on track, it is crazy how much of a balancing act that this thing called homeschooling is, it seems if we lean towards the "it's ok we homeschool, that is one of the perks of homeschooling, we'll catch up tomorrow" we go get soooo relaxed that we are almost unschooling, but when we try and over correct we end up on the "school will start at 0800, we have got to catch up because we are two weeks behind, it's 4pm and Iguess we can stop for the day" which goes over like a lead balloon with the kids. We went on a field trip to Williamsburg/Jamestown and had a terrific time, and we can't wait for our next fieldtrip.

Float like a Butterfly....

The other change around here is that I have began a “Run amile in 4 weeks” program, and have been running with Curtis and the kids 3 nights a week, and on top of that began the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. I am on day two of the shred and for someone completely out of shape and with NO history of being athletic or working out The Shred has definitely made itself known today, but it is a good sore means that under this I have muscles that know how to work! I'm on week 2 of the running, but am sticking with the week 1 requirements, but have a goal  to go to week 2  on Friday. I am excited to see how the shred affects my run…my goal is to Float like a Butterfly, but I'd settle with simply Airborne! I’ll keep you posted on how it is all progressing, school, body, and work!

 

Changing "Gears" with Homeschooling...

 

One thing that I am loving about homeschooling is how if something just doesn't work well you can change "Gears" and find something that does. Although I am sure we will have days when I may want to Change "MY GEARS" I am not talking about getting rid of my kids aka Gears but changing up how we are doing things in ECoE

.We have made some big curriculum changes , not being very excited about Tapestry of Grace and how it works the kids wanted to focus on American History, and since doing our Apologia Science we all agreed we like having the "Mom read and we all discuss” process , so we decided to go with All American History Vol. 1, even though Hannah has covered some of the information in past years, we all agreed that it works so well when we can all work together and it gives us an opportunity to have some peer tutoring with Hannah helping out the younger kids. We also started Vocabu-Lit which I also love so far, it has excerpts of classic literature and then focuses on 10-15 words form the story to build on their vocabulary. Vocabulary is so important; I want my children to be able express themselves with great detail.  The only thing I found troubling is that it is difficult to find the Vocabu-lit for the younger grades; only place I have found them is the publisher.  I have been busy putting together objectives for each kid and goals for them to reach, as well as weekly lesson plans and subject planners. I am more than happy to share my process with anyone who wants to know. I was lucky to win a year subscription to My Well Planned Day and am trying to figure out how to us it. I think once I master it, it will be a wonderful asset to have.

Labor Day weekend provided us with a perfect opportunity to do our first science project with Daddy as well. I love that we are able to include him in the things that we are learning, really creates a whole family learning environment

"Which is heavier cold water or Warm water?"

Hammin it up

THAT'S AMAZING!!!!!

 

We did have our first field trip of sorts over the Lake Murray Dam, after learning about Dams in Science. We got to walk across it, about 1/2 way of the 1.7 miles and then turned back. It was fun to do something both educational and fun that Daddy got to go with us was just a huge added HURRAY!!              


Lake Murray Dam

 

 

And then...

            Well looks as if time has flew by again! Wanted to check in and give an update of our last few weeks.  In the past month we have had orders to PCS to Hawaii, resigned from PWOC president in order to prepare for our move, lost orders to go to Hawaii (boo), had to put our sweet kitty of 13 years to sleep, received word that we are here in South Carolina till 2014, work on adjusting to not being president of PWOC and what God has in store for me and my family, and got a new car. Seems that we are now in the habit of  the "and then...".  I know that God has a plan for us, for me, for our time here in Fort Jackson, SC. and although I don't know what it is I will have faith that 

"And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." Philippians 1:6

 Lots of ups and downs, but seems that for now things are righting themselves and my head is back in the game of Homeschooling at ECoE!

McArthur "Mac"  1999-2012