Thursday Talk'n Teenagers~Ambitions

My daughter came home last week with a community flyer for the local fireman's fundraiser, a 5K and little did I know she and her brother want to run in it.  Whew! What next? I know it's a great cause, but my kids aren't runners.  I mean, they could be runners, but they don't run on a regular basis...but now they have planned their own training to do it and quick because the date is July10th!! I am so amazed at their drive and ambition.  Running over three miles much less WALKING this distance amazes me!  Sooo it's out the door each day to either walk or run~they ran over a mile the first day to come home and tell me how OUT OF SHAPE they were~OK, for this fat mama, running a mile no matter HOW out of breath is impressive!! So you go kids! Run your hearts out! And you can bet one thing, I will be there rooting at the finish line~oh yeah!!

SisterTipster<3

Tues Toolbox~OUTSIDE...

I know the outdoors is a simple thing we all have access to in our But just how much are we accessing it for the greatest benefit for our children?  Benefits are many to getting outside even in the winter months for our kids.  The study of nature and the elements of the weather systems are wonderful natural opportunities to increase knowledge.  We've lived in three states that each carried their own unique patterns of fauna, flora and weather so each place was a unique classroom of sorts.

Where you live can be accessed for interesting studies and fun.  Recreation, exercise and overall good health are added benefits.

Often when my kids were little, we would head to the park and allow them to burn off steam.  We found too in the hottest months that strategically planning our outside time was crucial to overall enjoyment.  Could it be if you live in the hottest of climates that schooling during such miserable days would be a better options than schooling in milder ones where it's pleasurable to get out and enjoy the season?  When we lived in southeast GA it was sooo hot during the summer! The sun would bake the ground and us along with it, so instead of trying to be out in the "heat of the day" we found ourselves schooling with other indoor activities during this time and opting for the outside stuff when it was milder with less cause for heatstroke and sunburns.  Conversely, we are now in a frigid winter climate where the temperatures are often well below zero in windchill during our dry and cold blustery winters.  Can you guess when we are schooling the hardest? But what fun it is when the temperatures return to a mild experience and we can get outside...grass growing, flowers to be planted and garden to be tended...wild life to be observed...nature, weather, seasons..exercise~my kids are planning to run a 5K in a couple of months....time to work at this, right?  Amazing what good mild weather brings so we can utilize the natural classroom!

Sooo are you or have you planted that garden? Natures lessons are free and great!

Enjoying the shade,
SisterTipster<3

Teenage EXCUSES?

I am appalled at what I am calling "Teenage Excuses." We give these to our kids all the time, in fact I hear them on a frequent basis coming out of parents, grandparents, teachers, and the like regarding young people in the teen years, "ah, you know, they're teenagers!" or "kids!" or "Well, it's their being teenagers!"

STOP EXCUSING BAD BEHAVIOR folks!

Teenagers do NOT have an automatic pass-go for doing WRONG!  NO, they do not!

Why do we GIVE them one?

I know that the freedom that teenagers desire and in many instances require as they learn to make good choices for their lives can be hard for a parent.  We don't ALWAYS agree with their choices, but to EXPECT wrong and evil? Come on mothers and daddys!

If we expect a lower standard of behavior, we will certainly GET IT!

Are we asking our children to live in a correct manner with good habits, skills, practices and desires so that as they mature they are well able to live to please not just parents and society, but God?  This is crucial for our young people.  In generations past, this sub-class of society~TEENAGER-HOOD was nonexistent.  When children matured physically they were give the rights, duties and responsibilities of adulthood.  TAKE HIST
ORY as far back as you would like. It's been true all but the last 150 or so years.  So WHAT ARE WE DOING in giving our children a license to do wrong both morally, spiritually and physically? MAKES NO SENSE!

I've found myself into this trap and pattern with great kids who, yeah, are not perfect as no kids are, but who basically are good, kind, caring and RESPONSIBLE young people.  When I look at them and see their maturity and what they carry each day in responsibility and honor I am amazed.  Sooo I ask us all about our attitudes and language.  What are we doing to our teens with what we think and say?

Let's honor our teens and expect the right things and let our attitudes and WORDS speak the good values and duty that as adults they will need for LIFE!

I'm loving my teens today! Love yours too and begin with little people...because they DO grow up...
SisterTipster<3

Thursay Talk'n About Teens~Sibling "Rivalry?"

Teens are generally noted for all kinds of bad behavior.  BAD meaning awful, disgusting, rude, unthinking and plain stupid, NOT the "BAD" many of us grew up with in the MJ song, BAD as a badge of courage and valor.  But ALL teenagers are not equal in their behaviors and ALL teens must not be excused as if the teen years are a time to EXPECT negatives from them.  I hate hearing when people say, "Oh they're teenagers!" or "It's a teen thing..." or some other excuse for the ugly and profane.  True, that the teen years are a time of learning, exploration and growth, but we can safely say that teens don't HAVE to be awful in their behaviors.
Frankly, I expect MINE to be good and wholesome.  Don't get SisterT wrong, my kids are like many in that they are not perfect mini adults with never a glitch or hitch.  But on the whole they are GREAT kids! So far, Praise God, so good!  Now a point of bragging goes with this idea of sibling rivalry.  How many teens actually GET ALONG with their sibs? I fought with mine.  Did you with yours? Fighting and disagreements is almost an expected TEENAGEHOOD norm in many many households, but let me say that in homeschooled families siblings are closer. Yeah, they are! The sibs are their first and foremost connection to the world and hold higher place to outside friends which become important, but not in an unbalanced way.  Sibs are IT for homeschooled kids in many many instances.

I had share about our daughter in AWANA pursuing the award, Meritorious which signifies the completion of 6 AWANA handbooks over around 6 years of work.  Now to explain, YESSSS she did complete this goal last night, but I want you to know that her brother who has done two books in the same time period was in full support in a very loving way.  It was crunch time for her and she needed some help with chores and other responsibilities.  GUESS WHO helped? Yep~little BRO! I am so proud of him to freely give of himself in love in the way of service to his sister.  Many times my children will help each other out when they either one will need it.  They will hang together and see to it that each has whatever the other needs or often desires.  It's really fun to see such love and care, when the reputation of many teens is just the opposite.

Sibling rivalry is really reduced as a result of home eduction.  This is just a by product of the socialization in the home where the family unit is tight and closely associated.  Head on over to Plans4You  to read some cool stuff about cool teenagers!!

Here's to teens WORKING together! Woot woot!
SisterTipster<3

FREE HELP for Essay Writing...yeah!!

OK, so if you're keeping up with my writing saga where I am looking for something to help me present the essay to my children and enrich their ability to write them, then you know that I have had a rough week already in an online class that didn't work out due to technical difficulties~YIKES! Well, just in the nick of time, here is a FREEbie entry from The Homeschool Post called Lego Building Your First Essay...whoot whoot woot! I am truly excited.  God is so good, and I'll keep you posted! ;-))
SisterTipster<3

Summer Travel With Children~Travel Kits eBook

Families who travel with kids have a challenge to keep everyone riding along happily down the road.  Cranky kids are no fun! Happy kids are LOADS of FUN and taking family road trips are wonderful when they ride along contented and busy doing something that entertains them.  Travel Kits: A Simple Way to Bless Others is a new eBook from the Old Schoolhouse Magazine offering loads of information on how to put together a neat and effective tool.  There are suggestions for everyone to make road trips and any kind of sitting experience FUN!  I can see this information used in other contexts other than car riding, but what about when parents have to go places where children are expected to sit quietly?  Anywhere that a child has to be still and quiet in contentment is a good application!  Check out Travel Kits: A Simple Way to Bless Others to learn more! This is a 14 chapter eBook for easy down load with so much information that will help make travel and quiet times endurable by children. Wish we could have had something like this when mine were littles.  We travel a good bit, and when they were little we often put a laundry basket full of toys between their car seats for them to enjoy while they rode.  IF I HAD KNOWN, how much more pleasurable it would've been for ALL of us!

Travel can be more fun~Check out Travel Kits: A Simple Way to Bless Others  to learn more.
SisterTipster<3

Follow Up on the Writing Class ONLINE

I am really disliking online stuff about now.  Frankly the hassles associated with online purchasing, logging in and TECH stuff is prohibitive imho to a sane and well balanced schooling experience.  Who needs a class that the voice of the teacher begins echoing or double speaking INTERMITTANTLY without warning of its coming and going to try to learn and reinforce materials? NO ONE! I am no longer endorsing online classes PERIOD.  You can read about our experience HERE with HOPEFULNESS of yesterday when we attended an online writing class for the high school essay which was overall not "that" bad, but the three times that audio bounced and garbled were distractive, but to add that the teacher did not respond to an email to discuss what could possibly help this situation and then when contacting technical support and finding a continued labrinthe of solutions~it's too much! WHO needs this? NOT ME!

Please please be cautious where you spend your time and money.  Tried and true is just that...and all these folks looking to secure a piece of the financial pie without really having solid supports in place end up just robbing good people. I am getting a refund for this class, but you can bet your sweet apples and oranges that SisterT won't do this again! NOPE, not me...
SisterTipster

Tuesday's Toolbox~Small Objects of ANY Kind and Math

I know this is going to sound silly, but it can take all the bite out of the big bad word, HOMESCHOOLING when teaching the concept of numbers and math.  Learning to count OBJECTS will teach young children that those numbers actually mean a concrete set of THINGS!! I used to have my kids count all kinds of things.  In a preschool or kindergarten classroom there all many kinds of manipulatives in bright colors, but at home we can pull out many things from our child's world to show him that things can represent a value of amounts. 

Objects to be counted can include anything small enough or BIG enough to become counted. Don't limit yourself to my list or anyone elses, but let your child and yourself find and count everything you can! It needs to be a game and made FUN!

Here's some ideas to get you thinking:

• Count the number of windows in a room or in the whole house.
• Count the number of chairs at the table or in a room or othter furnature objects.
• Count the silverware and sort them by kind.  Spoons, forks and butter knives all seperated. 
• Count the Leggos in the collection of your child.  Sort by individual color.  For a young child, teach the color, say-red, and sort all reds one day counting with him.  Do it again another day and so on.  Add additonal colors as in the Leggo box.
• Count the eggs in the egg carton and talk about the 3 parts of the egg: shell, white and yolk.
• Count cereal for  a snack.  Let him string it on yard and wear it for fun!
• Count other food items such as raisens and other dried fruit.  How many sections in a fresh tangerine or orange?  Yum!
• Count miniature marshmellow~you can string these too, but will need a needle. Monitor this activity if you use the sharpe!
• Count trees in the backyard or front.
• Count matchbox cars or other small toys.  Sort by color or kind-trucks and cars, vans, ect...
• Count bread for sandwhiches.  Count a cut sandwhich by 1/4s or 1/2s~which ever way you cut it!
• Count seeds from fruit or veggies.
• Count a certain car color when traveling. This is a fun game.  We used to count every RED car...to pass the time!

Count anything and everything you can count with your child. Showing him the world of numbers equals THINGS is huge in teaching early concepts of math. Once he has mastered this basic concept, you can use these SAME objects to teach addition, subtration and fractions.  This is the basis for all of math and is so easy and fun. 

Look around~today's Tuesday Toolbox is all around us with a number value when counted with our littles and is so essential for their futures! Count count count EVERYTHING that can be counted and it doesn't have to cost a fortune or any extra gathering, we already own it all and it's all around us!

SisterTipster<3

Online Writing Class?

It's hard to teach this old dog a new trick but when it comes to teaching essay writing, I have been at a lost and need all the tricks I can get...

If there is a weak area in our homeschool, it would be in the area of writing.  I hate this too because I love to write, but find it hard to teach~go figure! Well, I have looked and searched even purchased several writing "solutions" over the years eventually abandoning them because of various reasons.  When I recieved an offering through Currclick for an online virtual classroom class that was really affordable, at first glance I hit the delete button.  HONESTLY I am so tired of all the marketing, so I didn't give it much of a look, but went on with my day.  My friend is an excellent writer, and she has agreed to work to help me with the kids. This is a way to cooperate with other homeschooling moms and other friends and resources to well round out our children's educations.  So with this said, my friend was aware of what I was thinking and needing for the kids.  She had also gotten the blast from Currclick and sent it on to me wondering had I seen it. Ha~I read the thing! and saw it was affordable and doable.  $12.50 for three one hour online viruatual classes over three weeks with interactive support and help sounded sooo good.  Now to be sure, I had NEVER signed up for such an adventure, but my kids are tech savy, as we've used the computer to learn before! Off I went to sign them up, and we took the class.  My laptop is the computer that we can patch into our large television screen so that we could all hear and see.  All except for some audio issues where the sound echoed at intervals and then repeated some, it was great! I am hoping that when our instructor sends the recorded sesson later tonight it will be 100% clear and when watched a built in review.  There will be some assignments and peer reviews as well! I am excited. This was on the academic ESSAY.  I have been working to teach and perfect this type of writing with my two and am so thankful for this online opportunity.

Sometimes help comes in unexpected sources~a place I had clearly not been open to partaking in.  It might be wise to look beyond the book's cover for sure!  Sometimes the Ole dog needs to look around and open the book...
Here's to a NEW method~
SisterTipster<3

Great Expectations~

Out and about today we got hungry and headed for those golden arches for something.  When we had gotten our order, we pulled around in the parking lot to eat our "snack" when on my side mirror a little brown finch landed.  He looked and looked at me; his head turned side to side.  I immediately took notice and became amused.  Everyone thought he was cute as he continued to look at us, and then as if he could see what was on my dashboard, he head turned into the direction of the discarded food items out of the food I was consuming sitting there.  Suddenly off he jumped onto my windshield washer peering more intentily at the food items.  Did he really see what I had placed there, and was "asking" me for his share?  My mother who was riding in the passenger seat eating french fries in her meal instructed me to lower her window.  As I did, she tossed him a nicely cooled but well prepared french fry.  To our delight, Mr. Bird grabbed his bounty mid air and flew away.  Someone has fed this little fellow before! I took my left-overs and put them into the parking lot beside my truck.  I was sure that when we left he would return, perhaps with friends and family.

Isn't it fun when God's creation shows a little interest in our human activities by coming to visit?  Mr. Bird seemed to know and have an expectant spirit that we'd favor him with something from our plates.  AND he was right! We did give him a share.  We too have a spirit of expectation with God like our little friend did with us.  We often ask and keep looking and asking some more to find our Heavenly Father offering us just what we want and desire.  God is soo good, and what a joy to meet one of His little creations.

SisterTipster<3

Flinging Friday in the Countdown

Do you ever want to fling around and just be done with stuff? Today I am flinging around some new ideas for next year.  I am looking at all sorts of things for our high school experiences and boy there's so much out there! We don't have THAT far to go folks...the countdown in on...I have rising 9th and 10th graders~WOOT WOOT!!

What are you all thinking for next year? Got your plans all set? I am firm on a few things:

Math: Teaching Textbooks Alg I and II
Science:  Apologia General Science
History: Mystery of History II (to 1452)
Foreign Languages: Tell Me More~Spanish and Japanese
Music:  Trumpet/marching french horn; double bass/bass guitar/piano
Drama: co op group two performances this next year~Sarah Plain and Tall (Nov 2010) and Charlotte's Webb (April 2011)

OK...considering Illuminations from Bright Ideas Press for High School.  Reading reviews and will make a few calls. Anyone with experience? Give me a shout out!
Happy Plans
SisterTipster<3

CONTEST for FREEbie

You can WIN  Pamela's Prayer DVD about purity before marriage that is timely for our teens!

From  Plans4You

Click the link above with a comment or passing the word ~
Winners ANNOUNCED May 8th 11:59PM

Here's what the website says:
Pamela's Prayer~1998 by Dave Christiano Films

This motion picture portrays the unique and heartfelt story of Pamela Bucklin from her birth in 1969 to her wedding day in 1991. It also contrasts two Christian girls and their different outlook toward purity and dating. All of Pamela's friends were dating. She was not. And it seemed unfair that her father insisted on such a high standard of purity. Yes, it seemed unfair...until the day she married.

Happy Mother's Day!
SisterTipster<3

The Final Lap~Thursday Talking About Teenagers!

Teenagers are amazing and confusing and frustrating and growing and well...........mine are a hoot! To read an inspring story of a young man who is overcoming adversity  Check out Plans4You!  But tonight at AWANA we are in the final lap of the year.  Just when you think teens can't or won't be interested in learning God's Word some really kick it into gear.  While our Trek group is small, if you don't know about AWANA's Trek it's the Junior High ministry as part of the overal ministry of AWANA for grades 7-9th.  If you aren't familiar with AWANA it is an international ministry for all children ages 3 through highschool.  The goal of AWANA is to "reach boys and girls with the gospel of Christ and to train them to serve Him."  The acronym is A~approved W~workmen A~are N~not A~ashamed speaking of the verse II Timothy 2:15, Study to show thyself approved unto

God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of Truth.  My kids have been in AWANA clubs for about seven  years.  Our daughter has completed seven books and will complete one and 1/2 this year!  In these handbooks are Scripture memory along with lessons that teach sound principles of the Word to give youth a grounded experience for life.  Our son has complete one book.  Both our children achieve at their rate and desire.  I could never tie this girl down from her vision.  She desire the highest award AWANA offers, the Citation.  She will accomplish it next year at 16 1/2  year if she does another book next year.  Not only are there handbooks to teach the Bible, but there is a game component with "friendly competition" and a Council Time comprised of teaching geared at the needs of youth.  Our group is small, but even the adults leaders are learners.  Congrats Darling Daughter and you go!  Check out AWANA!!

SisterTipster<3

TUES TOOLBOX~In the Garden...

It's the time of year when spring has sprung and for many of us in the western hemisphere, anyway, are experiencing pollen and loads of green with splashes of color everywhere in gorgeous flowers.  Ever consider doing a study on the flowers in your garden or yard or neighborhood or park? Flowers can be interesting to children; my, what child doesn't LOVE to pick a boquet and present them to us whether it's the prize rose from the bed or some dandelions with their yellow splendor.  I have loved getting this little surprises from my son our the years.  Often the stems were not quite long enough, but they were still so sweet.  Recently in church, I found a pressed former floral offering my son had given that now is as delicate and sweet as the day he gave it to me.  WHAT a memory too!

Soo thinking about Tuesday Toolbox for us and what we can use to teach our children, I want to suggest just these flowers in our lives. 

A whole study can be done with flowers and loads of art applications for hands-on activities can be applied as well. 

Here are the meanings of different flowers to share~

Anemone Expectation

Apple Blossom Hope, Good Fortune

Baby's Breath Innocence

Blue Periwinkle Friendship

Blue Violet Modesty, Faithfulness

Bluebells Constancy

Buttercup Cheerfulness, Desire for riches

Camellia Loveliness, Fascination

Carnation Engagement

Chrysanthemum Wealth, Truth

Daffodil Regard

Daisy Share your feelings

Edelweiss Daring, Noble Courage

Foxglove Insincerity

Freesia Innocence

Gardenia Purity, Joy

Iris Message of Faith, Wisdom

Jasmine Wealth, Grace

Lavender Distrust

Lilac First emotions of Love

Lily Majesty, Truth, Honor

Marigold Grief

Narcissus Egotism, Formality

Orange Blossom Purity, Fertility

Orchid Love, Beauty

Peach Blossom Captive

Peony Bashfulness

Pink Rose Grace

Red Poppy Consolation

Red Rose Passion

Rose Love, Joy, Beauty

Sunflower Adoration

Sweet Pea Pleasure

Tulip Love, Passion

White Poppy Sleep

White Rose Worthiness
 
 
Make some flowers using tissue or crape paper.  Instructions here!
 
Color some flowers on coloring sheets easy to print!
 
Press flowers using wax paper, a heavy book or two~select the flower to be pressed.  Place in the was paper between two sides with waxy sides facing the flower.  Put under the heavy books for at least a week or two.
 
Identify flowers by name using pictures!
 
 
Enjoy Spring and all its splendor teaching littles all about flowers!
SisterTipster<3

DRAMA Queen and KING?

The play was a success! Center Stage Productions has donated over $50K to the Holland Theater of Bellefountain OH for restoration of its turn of the 20th Century facility and has performed two productions for several years.  With homeschooled teenagers from across central Ohio and parents supporting under the directorships of Thelma and Paula (homeschool moms), The Phantom Tollbooth was imho, really good! Take a look at some of the set and "characters." BTW~my girl and boy were in this one too...whoohoo!

The Phantom Tollbooth~
Daughter is center stage. She is a "Word Merchant."

Costume Crew member practicing that hand sewing for The Phantom Tollbooth! whoohoo!

The set of The Phantom Tollbooth~

Building Crew working...

Cast performing...

Cast...uh...LOL!

Make Up Crew's work...

Having teenagers can bring loads of FUN~DRAMA in your life is just a small part of what you get. I like the quote I saw, "Raising teenagers is like NAILING jello to a tree!" LOVE IT!

SisterTipster<3

Tues Toolbox~The Comfy Couch OR CHAIR!

OK, not to be too simplistic, but anybody think about WHAT their school room or area or place LOOKS like?

A few months ago there was a contest for the best voted homeschool space on facebook and frankly it blew me away the amount of work some moms put into the spaces where they teach.  I admit that they looked FANTASTIC~colorful in many cases and quite organized! One thing was certain, for quite a few~money was spent in supplies and organization STUFF to get it all so great looking!

But there WAS a finalist that peaked my interest.

Her room was one that frankly rather mirrors WHAT I HAVE COME TO as far as homeschooling is concerned. You see, I have had school rooms with loads of bookcase space and organization. I have had a special area in our kitchen with assigned cabinetry where our school supplies were held.  I have even had DESKS ~ the wooden desks with the under shelf for supplies that we pulled out each day into our den and DID SCHOOL.  None of these is the way we are pursuing school today.  In fact, IF I HAD KNOOOOWN then what I know now, I would have saved my energy, money, space, time, bookcases...because I have found that the VERY best schooling for us occurs in the natural environment. 

When my children were littles, we often would curl up in my big ole recliner and read.  My daughter would read to us all (son and me) while he looked at the pictures! As they got a little older, they would sit side by side on the couch and read, listen and watch. 

Does the couch and chair cover ALL of the needs for homeschooling? NO~A kitchen table works too!  I learned that the desk didn't help as much as sitting at the table.  I learned that propper sitting height HELPS penmanship a BUNCH!  I learned that I really didn't want to clean extra spaces or organize extra STUFF!

OK, so you may be like I was~salivating for the school room.  Don't beat yourself up, it's over rated! If you have the space and want to contain everything, go ahead, but if not, otherwise find some simple hide out places for stuff like posters and teaching charts (yeah, I still use them LOL) like behind the couch or in our case, piano to work the spaces we have into every form and function.  I do like bookcases I have to admit.  I will say that as blessed as I am to have some very nice ones, IF I could have done some weeding out, we might not have needed them~just saying!

Soooo today, I want to bring OUT the comfy chair or couch and say~USE them as educational tools...they work and work well!
Blessings
SisterTipster<3

Encouragement ONLINE~

I can't tell you how many friends, how much fun, and how much information I've gained BECAUSE of the internet! I also can't tell you how many times I've had someone say, "the internet is evil."  Of course most anything from my kitchen FORK can be used for evil to my front porch, but for the most part they are tools and a resource in my life.  My fork of course makes food go into my mouth more politely, and without my front porch when it rains I would get wet! But with a heart of evil these have been used for wrong, wrong, and more wrong!  The interenet CAN be used for wrong, no doubt, but with diligence and care, wonderful things can be gained.

I think about blogging, facebook, email and all sorts of wonderful websites that encourge me.  I've really enjoyed what the internet has done in my life.  I was encouraged even to learn of a friend, while we've never met, nor conversed other than through an email once,  who is not hosting an online radio program each night. What encouragment this gentleman is~His works go before him for the Lord~sooo if you are up like I am most nights, check out The Mind of Brent Radio program.  If you know McLinky, this is his product and such a great guy with an online magazine and ministry. 

For all kinds of FREE resources to help you in homeschooling, check out the right side lower area under FREE ONLINE RESOURCES.  You'll find all sorts of wonderful stuff, but if I don't have something you need there, use your search engine~which is amazing WHAT we can find!

I am so blessed by this resource. You know I use online TV and movies.  I also use it for books and information as well as networking and friendships.  It was such a kick to find the important people from my life who in time had gotten away from me all through social networking!

Jump IN~It CAN BE FOR GOOD!
SisterTipster<3

Tues ToolBox a Few Behind~Measuring EVERYTHING! Fun With Math

When my son was young, I really used hands on things to get points across to him.  He loved puzzles and anything tactile, so when it came to measurements, I collected a slew of anything with measurements on it from the yard stick, sewing tape measure, rulers (all kinds~some folded, some where colorful, others were 6 inches others a foot), contruction metal tape measures, measuring spoons, measuring cups, 1/2 pint canning jars (jelly), pint jars, quarts, half-gallon, gallon, five gallon, and we had fun~I put colored water in them or gave him an "assignment" to measure something for me, like a window!  We found an out of the way place for the linear measuring items that he could get to easily so whenever anything needed measurments; he would get them for me.  For the volume measurements, we would use the water and he could sit and pour and play.  I would talk to him as he did this.  It was fun and so much learning was done. 

To learn about fractions I used paper plates.  A whole plate, one in fourths with 1/4 on each piece showing how they are added to become 2/4 or 1/2 ect...and 3/4 and 4/4 or ONE! We did it in 1/3s, with the same method and also into halves.  This made it all so concrete and was really inexpensive.  (I also used a paper plate to help them make a clock to tell time.)  All you need is a paper brad, a piece of paper like cardstock or construction paper  and a crayon or marker.  Write the numbers and put the brad in the center with minute and hour hands.  Let your child practice telling time! It can be a game~"What time is it?" showing a certain time.  Also you can use this at naps or bedtime for young children to bring time into the concrete real world for them. 

To teach time in another way besides the paper plate clock showing order and sequence, you can make a paper chain and string it into your child's room.  Put the exact number of chains you are counting down with your child whether it is a holiday or an event like Sunday, the Lord's day of worship you want your child to look forward to each week.  Each night as you tuck your little in bed, tare off a chain.  Discuss the day of the week, and you can even have a calendar by the bedside too so that a number day of the month and name of the month become associated with time too. This helps with the questions of HOW MANY DAYS are left when your child can be involved in counting them LITERALLY down!  This is so simple, but it works! You can also put a set of objects in a container and take each out one at a time so your child can see the number lowering.  This would be a way to count objects too, which is a whole NUTHER MATH SKILL!! LOL!

Measuring everything can be done in easy and fun ways!
SisterTipster<3

Power of LATER!

Living like we do in a society of NOW is one of the forces wrecking our society.  Everybody wants what we want right now! It starts in all of us as young children, and often if left unconquered, it pervades our lives as adults.  I am amazed at how instant we want everything.  I remember just a few years ago, that the interenet took minutes to boot up, while today instant isn't fast enough speed.  Waiting isn't our cup of tea! We want to go through life faster and better~hanging around and waiting won't do!  But the ability to wait is powerful.

Seeing that LATER is not our enemy is a result of exercising a skill that if we begin in our selves and our children will reign-in impatience and increase our ability for waiting.  We've all heard the quip:
God blesses those who wait!

Well, being in a hurry can harm our children.  As a young child impulse control has to be mastered as best they can whenever we can help them. It's quite natural for them to run and move constantly, but the "I WANT IT NOW" monster has to be taught to sit quietly and work through the urges.  I hauled our preschoolers into church and really worked with them on siting quietly. NOT easy, but I wanted them to hear the Word and to sit as best they could. I often brought books, puzzles, quiet games and matchbox cars for their little hands.  Can you tell they were boys?  In teaching them this alternative behavior of sitting quietly and listening instead of the natural inclination to walk the aisles and be noisy made the later transitions of sitting without toys and hands on activities much easier. It is a process of training. 

I remember once I took all of our children ages 7, 5, 3 and 2 into a restaurant for lunch after church.  All dolled up, my kids sat quietly and mannerly at the dinner table in this place.  Out of my eye and older lady was watching my children.  I'd put my finger over my mouth to remind them to remain talking quietly and praised them in their successes! After a while, she caught my eye and complemented our beautiful family and said how mannerly they were behaving! Oh the pride in my sweet babies! But more important was the GREAT STRIDES in behavior as just a short time earlier I had hauled my angry screaming little toddler girl out for her distress over not getting something she wanted at the table! My oh my! WE tore the house down that day, but what a blessing to see that my kids HAD LEARNED!! Training was paying off!

Delayed gratificiation is possible to teach and so necessary for our lives. Boy, I am glad that I don't fall out in the floor (like I may once have done~don't ask my mother! LOL) anymore but can wait on the good things promised me.  Sometimes it's hard, I know.  But in the waiting is the sweeter satisfaction of the gain. 

Now that my kids are teenagers, it's awesome to see these lessons well learned.  We are waiting on grand things like drivers liscensces and college enrollements~but one day, these too will arrive...and oh, oh, oh it will be sweet! We are taking the stages and ages each one as they come in the order designed! NO rushing here~it's all coming soon enough!  W A I T I N G!!

Enjoy teaching delayed gratification to your children.  It will help them become happier people and make like just a little bit better for everyone~think of my lady who didn't have to hear screaming that Sunday! whoohoo!
Blessings,
SisterTipster<3

China Unit Study~Download N Go!!

Easy does it! Keep it simple silly! By the inch it's a cinch! Homeschooling need not be complicated, noooo! We can learn and learn well in all kinds of ways.  Download N Go is The Old Schoolhouse's fast and easy unit study to entice children into all sorts of learning adventures! With Amanda Bennett at the helm and a team of other professional folks, TOS has continued to put together a vast resource of ONE WEEK unit studies that aside from some hard drive space on your computer AND some general lap booking supplies (which are listed,) EASY PEAsy is the way of it! Literally, you download the study and GO!

Expedition China will take your child into this vast mysterious land for a five day jaunt into the culture and offering of this ancient yet modern people.  Each day will teach objectives and offering hands on and other interactive information.

Does your child love fireworks? Does your dominos?  Covering geography, facts, animals and even missionaries Expedition China will make learning fun!

I like the colorful graphics and information about the animals. What cute animals!!

What about a reading list of SUGGESTED books? This is so appealing, as there is not huge list of required resources! Many of these books will be available at the public library which is a huge money saver! Remember that Download N Go requires little additional expense.  If you WANT to purchase books you can, but the titles can be readily found at the library!  You can branch into longer studies and even up scale the age of study to include olders or youngers than the targeted ages of K-4th grades.  With so many internet links of short film, it's really age neutral.  (Exercise caution regarding the links, as the use of YouTube may show the vulgar comments of others in the comments section under the viewing area.  Preview the film and watch with your child so you can see and discuss with them!)  The activities will definitely need to be adjusted however.  I can see the look of my teens if I ask them to do a copy sheet or other young child geared activity!

Diving into Expedition China is an amazing fun thing to do.  We hear about China in the news all the time, and what a fun way to introduce this nation to our children!!

SisterTipster<3