Meet Vanilla ~ Moments to Remember

Moments to Remember was developed as a simple way to look back on our week as homeschoolers and find photos that encompass the memories we want to remember. 

The week may have been tough, there may have been more bumps than smiles, but in the end these are the moments that keep us going, the ones we need to remember.

 

Meet Vanilla. He is the latest addition to our home and a constant interruption visitor in our homeschool. There are certain children who suddenly disappear and then reappear holding Vanilla.

Because isn’t he so cute???

{sigh}

If you’re wondering how he could possibly be related to homeschooling, I’ll tell you. Vanilla is a wonderful little carrot to dangle in front of the noses of little children. Incentive never hurts anyone and he is a pretty cute incentive, isn’t he?

Want to join in and share a fun moment? Link up your Moments to Remember at 1+1+1=1 this week!! This linky is for homeschoolers, or families who are keeping their kiddos at home during the early years {we consider you homeschoolers too}.

 

Visit these great companies!

• Grapevine Studies ~ stick figure your way through the Bible
• Time 4 Learning ~ online education for PreK to 8th grade

 

Preschool Pinterest Finds ~ Preschool Corner

It’s been a bit since I’ve shared some of my favorite finds via Pinterest, so I thought that I’d share a few today. We’ve had a fabulous week with lots of outside play and Lego time. The weather has been unseasonably gorgeous, so we have taken FULL advantage of it.

If your little one isn’t quite ready for preschool printables, but you are ready to have some spring fun, check out Carisa’s Rainbow Tot Pack. Love the colors in the pack! :)

 

Sarah put together an AMAZINGLY cute big machines sensory tub. I’m sure it smelled fabulous too, since she used coffee beans as the dirt!

 

Getting ready for Easter? Don’t miss the Easter Preschool Unit from 2 Teaching Mommies.

 

I am thinking I just HAVE to find a way to squeeze in time to make these cute duck pretzels!!

 

Maureen from Spell Outloud has some great printables and ideas for a Nursery Rhyme unit that she is sharing with others.

 

I only wish I had seen this cute Goodnight Moon Sensory Bin from Adventures in Bear before we did our Goodnight Moon unit!

 

We have a few units coming up for Before Five in a Row that involve carrots, so these carrot cookies from Our Dish are on my list to make for one of the units.

There are a few ideas that have been going through my head. You can see the rest of my Pinterest boards here. Link up below too and share what you have been doing this week and keep the ideas going. :)

More Preschool Links

• ABC Printables
• Color and Shape Printables
• Early Learning Printables: Police Officers, fireman and more!
• Math and Counting Printables
• Phonics and Reading Printables 
• Preschool Planning Pages
• Preschool Resources Main Page

Ready to Link Up?

Share what you are doing with your kids! Please link your exact blog post to the Mr. Linky below and link back here too! Grab a button for your post below and be sure to take a minute to visit the person who linked up before you. You can read more in the updated guidelines for Preschool Corner.

Be specific in your ‘link title’. Leave either your blog name or theme and provide an age range for your activities. Something a little like this:

Police Officer Theme {ages 4-5}

 

<a href="http://homeschoolcreations.blogspot.com/search/label/Preschool%20Corner" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/jolantheerb/PreschoolCornersidebarbutton210.jpg" title="Preschool Corner" /></a>

 

 

 

Visit these great companies!

• Grapevine Studies ~ stick figure your way through the Bible
• Time 4 Learning ~ online education for PreK to 8th grade

 

Art Tutorials for Homeschoolers

I’m going to be honest with you all and tell you that art is one area that I absolutely STINK at being consistent with. Assuming that you count the token one or two projects a year as consistency. Yes, we talk about art, admire the pictures and artists, but as far as pulling out all the supplies {or purchasing them}, I tend to shy away from it.

Problem is, I have a daughter who absolutely adores art.

Fortunately, our co-op that has an amazing art teacher and for half of the year Laurianna receives some fabulous instruction from a teacher who WILL break out the art supplies. {grins}

Birds nest chalk pastel tutorial

BUT ~ I’m going to step out of my comfort zone here and dive into unchartered territory soon. I ordered soft chalk pastels and plan to have some fun with the kids observing the birds at our feeder and drawing them together.

Queen Anne’s lace chalk pastel tutorial

Tricia from Hodgepodge has a collection of free chalk pastel tutorials and acrylic paint tutorials that we are going to dive into. Her mom has been sharing these tutorials on the site and I know that our kids are going to love the lessons. 

Chickadee chalk pastel tutorial

Is art one of your weaknesses too? Be sure to check out the free art lessons at Hodgepodge…and join in the art fun too. :) I may even start sharing a few of our creations here to keep myself accountable!

 

Visit these great companies!

• Grapevine Studies ~ stick figure your way through the Bible
• Time 4 Learning ~ online education for PreK to 8th grade

 

The End of the School Year Itch

With a few things thrown into our upcoming months that hadn’t been put into the schedule originally, the kids and I sat down last week and had a look at the rest of our school year.

Despite the fact that we switched out a few key pieces of our curriculum in October/November, we realized that we can finish the bulk of things up at the end of April! {I can assure you that there were some whoops and hollers from a certain mom as well!}.

Having a set day to signal the end was just what we all needed to get an added burst of excitement for pushing through a few ‘blah’ moments. We won’t be wrapping it all up {history will carry over a bit through the summer and then into the start of next year}, but it is so very encouraging to see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. Although the overall schoolwork will be finished, we’ll still be working on a few things in the months of May and June as well as doing our yearly standardized testing {ahhh…state requirements}.

When are you wrapping up your school year? Are you feeling the end of the year itch to finish yet?

 

Visit these great companies!

• Grapevine Studies ~ stick figure your way through the Bible
• Time 4 Learning ~ online education for PreK to 8th grade

 

Pulling Preschool Toys Off the Shelf ~ Preschool Corner

Over the last little bit, the school routine with Kaleb has been one week focused on a theme and then a week of focusing on basic areas. It’s made things a bit more laid back for us and given us time to have fun together, even if it isn’t theme related. We’re trying to pull out more toys that haven’t been used in awhile too.

So far, so good. :)

Our pattern blocks emerged from the shelves to see the light of day {we have wooden pattern blocks from Learning Resources}.

In math Kaleb is working on identifying the number I name, writing the number that comes next, simple addition, telling time to the hour and counting dimes.

We talked about pitch this week in science {using Nancy Larson Science} and used the xylophone to demonstrate the low and high pitches and the difference in the bar sizes.

This week we’ve been focusing on the letter ‘u’ and the sound it makes {Kaleb has a hard time between the short ‘o’ and ‘u’ sound}. We’re working through All About Reading Level 1 and below you see him pretending to milk a cow’s udder to remember the ‘u’ sound.

Kaleb was having so much fun with one of the letter sound bingo game from All About Reading {and being quite the ham in the process}. I had to videotape him because he was being so cute and thought it would be fun to share {and yes, his hair typically is that crazy}.

 

How was your week? Do you have one toy on the shelves that needs a little dusting off this upcoming week? Leave a comment below. :)

 

More Preschool Links

• ABC Printables
• Color and Shape Printables
• Early Learning Printables: Police Officers, fireman and more!
• Math and Counting Printables
• Phonics and Reading Printables 
• Preschool Planning Pages
• Preschool Resources Main Page

Ready to Link Up?

Share what you are doing with your kids! Please link your exact blog post to the Mr. Linky below and link back here too! Grab a button for your post below and be sure to take a minute to visit the person who linked up before you. You can read more in the updated guidelines for Preschool Corner.

Be specific in your ‘link title’. Leave either your blog name or theme and provide an age range for your activities. Something a little like this:

Police Officer Theme {ages 4-5}

 

<a href="http://homeschoolcreations.blogspot.com/search/label/Preschool%20Corner" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/jolantheerb/PreschoolCornersidebarbutton210.jpg" title="Preschool Corner" /></a>

 

 

Visit these great companies!

• Grapevine Studies ~ stick figure your way through the Bible
• Time 4 Learning ~ online education for PreK to 8th grade

 

The Attitudes…oh, the Attitudes!

This week has not been the most stellar of all weeks in our house. Or school. Pretty well anything. Monday morning began with cranky kids and an equally cranky mom, partly due to some late nights over the weekend and the lovely time change.

{Note to self: if there were ever a law I would like to see passed in Congress, it would be to stop spring forward and falling back. The End.}

Anyway, we have been plugging along with schoolwork when we can, but the bulk of our school week so far has been spent working on HEART issues {in both the kids and myself} rather than head knowledge. On paper it may not look like we’ve done much, but truthfully I know the things that we are working on mean so much more in the long run.

Respect. Kindness. Joy. Gratefulness. The list could go on and on and on. And although it really is the easiest thing to do, sometimes the hardest thing to do in the heat of the moment is pray {and I’ve been doing a whole lotta that}.

So while this may not be an ‘uplifting’ post ~ I really do want to encourage you all to hang in there!! We all have days {and weeks} that go completely haywire. Right now, you are in an amazing place as you homeschool your children and have the blessing of pouring into their lives and hearts. Be sure that YOU are being filled up too and getting all that you need to pour into those hearts!

This week I am clinging to these verses:

“I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

Philippians 4:13

“God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.”

2 Corinthians 9:8

 

Today, know that I am praying for each one of you {and myself too!!}. Hang in there and be encouraged!

 

 

Visit these great companies!

• Grapevine Studies ~ stick figure your way through the Bible
• Time 4 Learning ~ online education for PreK to 8th grade

 

Going to Africa

When my husband I were married, he had been sponsoring a child through Compassion International for several years. We wrote letters and sent gifts until he graduated from the program. The kids helped us choose another child to sponsor ~ a young girl from Togo that is about the same age as our girls. In October we added another little boy from Togo.

This coming May I have the amazing privilege of traveling with Compassion to Tanzania as part of their latest blogging team. The group of us will be sharing about the ministry of Compassion International as we visit various centers and families that they work with.

We will be traveling from May 6th – 11th and during that time I will be sharing pictures and stories on this site from my time in Tanzania.  There are still almost two months of preparation ahead of us and don’t think I’m not already running through things to do in my head: passport {check}, immunizations {shudder ~ happening today}, and praying, praying, praying. I am so very excited, humbled and thankful for this opportunity to see firsthand all that Compassion does to minister to those in poverty.

Above all, I know that each and every member of the team headed to Tanzania would appreciate YOUR prayers and would love to have you virtually take the trip along with us. 

Can I invite you to follow along and pray with each one of us?

 

Visit these great companies!

• Grapevine Studies ~ stick figure your way through the Bible
• Time 4 Learning ~ online education for PreK to 8th grade

 

The Red Carpet Early Learning Printables

Ready for a few more printables based on a great book? These printables were created to use with The Red Carpet by Rex Parkin {check your library to see if they have a copy ~ this is a great story!}.

I found a used copy on Amazon for a great price, so keep checking if you don’t find one right away! The prices for the used books change often.

Pin It

 

The printables for the book The Red Carpet include fun activities to tie in with the story ~ vocabulary words, word tracer cards, counting cards, counting by cents, a scavenger hunt check sheet for road signs in the story, early mapping skills, telegram words and more!

Download The Red Carpet printables pack!!

 

Don’t Miss These Either!

~ The Red Carpet word cards for the Read! Build! Write! vocabulary mats

~ Resources from Homeschool Share

~ More Literature Based Printables

 

Visit these great companies!

• Grapevine Studies ~ stick figure your way through the Bible
• Time 4 Learning ~ online education for PreK to 8th grade

 

Evidence of Learning ~ Moments to Remember

Moments to Remember was developed as a simple way to look back on our week as homeschoolers and find photos that encompass the memories we want to remember. 

The week may have been tough, there may have been more bumps than smiles, but in the end these are the moments that keep us going, the ones we need to remember.

 

This picture just makes me smile!

We’ve been reviewing different facts from our Mystery of History studies, and this week I found a HUGE stash of cards that belonged to the lessons we had already studied {it helps to go through the cards ~ ahem}. Each day we reviewed a portion of the cards from our past 45 lessons to see what the kids remembered and I am AMAZED at what they have retained {and a wee bit relieved to know it is all sinking in!}.

__________________________________________________

Ready to link up and share your moment this week?

<a href="http://homeschoolcreations.blogspot.com/search/label/Moments%20to%20Remember" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv146/homeschoolcreations/MomentstoRemember125x125.jpg" title="Moments to Remember" /></a>

Link up your moments to remember post below, be sure to provide a link back and be sure to use a permalink to link up your exact Moments to Remember blog post {not your blog home page}. Your post can be as simple as one photo, or as detailed as tons of photos and tons of words!  This linky is for homeschoolers, or families who are keeping their kiddos at home during the early years {we consider you homeschoolers too}.

When adding your link, just put your blog name for the title and choose an image from your post for the thumbnail.

Next week, link up with 1+1+1=1!

 

 

Visit these great companies!

• Grapevine Studies ~ stick figure your way through the Bible
• Time 4 Learning ~ online education for PreK to 8th grade

 

Cowboy Unit ~ Preschool Corner

From the moment we started this week of Cowboys, there have been four gun-toting, bandana wearing, {rain} boot wearing cowboys running around my house and yard.  Wanted signs have been posted on the walls and as much as I tried, I could not convince the kids that KALEB was the one who was learning about cowboys and the west…not them.

I had to outlaw toothpicks in mouths and feet propped up at the tables, as four kiddos seemed to forget that it was possible for cowboys to have manners. On the bright side, they enjoyed it immensely. :)

Kaleb woke up on Monday morning to find the following sign up in our kitchen {I replaced the picture later that day for him, after he put on a ‘cowboy shirt and chewed a toothpick for good measure}:

During the week we read a variety of books, but the one we enjoyed the most was Cowboy Small by Lois Lensky.  Every day we worked on some of the printables from the Cowboy Printable Pack and also did a few hands-on activities.

Cowboy Printables

The ‘which two are the same’ worksheet from the Cowboy Printable Pack was one that threw Kaleb for a little loop this week {and one I’ll have to start making more of in future packs!}. He liked it and didn’t get frustrated with it, but it was nice to mix it up a little bit for him. :) He’s also beginning to enjoy {well, complain less} about cutting out pieces and his scissor skills are getting better too.

 

The horse in the book Cowboy Small  was named Cactus, so it was fun

Cucumber Cactuses

Kaleb was so excited to put together the cucumber cactus craft. It seemed so simple, but he spent quite a bit of time working on it and had it proudly displayed on the counter for all to see {and/or nibble on}.

Other Crafts

Kaleb made a few other basic crafts ~ a cactus out of construction paper. He glued pieces of rice onto the cactus to look like the thorns popping out and small pieces of tissue paper for the flowers.

 

We traced Kaleb’s foot to make a Footprint Horse {via Busy Bee Crafts}.

 

Here’s a quick peek at Kaleb’s desk area this week. His cowboy song {from the Cowboy Printable Pack}, the Wanted poster, a few of his crafts and other school things are all around his desk.

There were so many other things that I had wanted to do with Kaleb during this week ~ but we didn’t get to do, mainly because the kids were having so much fun playing cowboy, sheriff, and such on their own together ~ and I wasn’t about to interrupt that!

Other Helpful Cowboy Unit Links

Pin It  Download the Cowboy Printables pack!!

• Cucumber Cactus Craft
• Cowboy Themed Pinterest Board
• Christian Preschool Printables Western VBS Theme
• Making Learning Fun Western Theme
• PreK Pages Western Theme 

Ready to Link Up?

Share what you are doing with your kids! Please link your exact blog post to the Mr. Linky below and link back here too! Grab a button for your post below and be sure to take a minute to visit the person who linked up before you. You can read more in the updated guidelines for Preschool Corner.

Be specific in your ‘link title’. Leave either your blog name or theme and provide an age range for your activities. Something a little like this:

Police Officer Theme {ages 4-5}

 

<a href="http://homeschoolcreations.blogspot.com/search/label/Preschool%20Corner" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/jolantheerb/PreschoolCornersidebarbutton210.jpg" title="Preschool Corner" /></a>

 

Visit these great companies!

• Grapevine Studies ~ stick figure your way through the Bible
• Time 4 Learning ~ online education for PreK to 8th grade