Can you believe my boys are HIGH SCHOOL?!

First, I have to say SHOCK.

Where did my little babies go? They were just starting homeschooling and in 5th and 6th grade. Heck, it just seems like we were finishing middle school..... and here I have a 10th and 11th grader this year.
I can't believe it, I don't want to believe it... but the Time4Learning High School records don't lie.

We are doing lots of classes this year, now that T4L has finally added the High School level. IT is LOVELY!
I have to say and dream come true!
We are taking Geometry, Earth and Space Science, World Geography, Economics, Health, World History and English 2.
It makes for a long day but I am trying to prepare them more for real world classes as in just a few short years, they will be attending college. Mom can't homeschool forever... though I would like to.

They are seeming to understand things better this year. Mom is not stressed every Monday because I forgot to print out curriculum for the week and very little meltdowns. Most of their stuff, they are getting good grades on it the 1st time. And if they don't, we go over it again until we understand it.

So....despite that Mom is in denial over having 2 high schoolers..... she is pleased that Time4Learning was able to bring the high school level to light before my boys were out of high school and made my world LOTS easier!!!

Time4Learning-YOU ROCK!!!!

Happy Homeschooling!

MATH............(said in the same voice as Khan via Captain Kirk)

Math.... and yet another school year starts which means another year of MATH.
Our dreaded enemy at our homeschool.

Homeschool math makes me want to hide my head, skip the lessons and avoid it all together.

This year we are doing Geometry for our math! We are also doing Earth and Space for Science plus World Geography SOOOOO, geometry is a great bunch of tools for science because we need to map, we need to figure out where and learning geometry helps that.

2 birds with 1 stone. Smart homeschool mama..... at least that is what I am calling myself this year!
I think in our 6th year, I am finally getting SMART!
We are using Time4Learning High School level this year and so far, going GREAT!
Boys are doing their work, doing it well and doing it on time! No arguments and no fighting Mom!

SHHHHHH, this might be the one year that homeschool math doesn't get the best of me! But don't tell it I said that!

Happy Homeschooling!

Nothing better than finding a good book and it be about HOMESCHOOLING!

Ok, my boys love to read!
This wasn't always the case for my oldest son. He was not a strong reader in public school. It took me a long time to find a way to get him to read. But when we did, he read and he read well and he read strong!
One of the ways, was to find some stories and/or books about homeschoolers for him to read!
Written by homeschoolers or about homeschooling kids in everyday situations like us! Literature for homeschoolers.

It was great! We found a TERRIFIC website that showed us the way! It is constantly updated with new books. It showcases authors and has some great giveaways!

A book club, books by title, books by grade, books by homeschoolers and author reviews just to name a few! No matter the reading level, there is something out there!

Kids love animals, doing a animal lessons unit....check out the book called Chicken Friend!

When my son got glasses for the 1st time, we went out and bought a couple of kid friendly books about getting glasses. When we learned he had ADHD, we read a few books on what this meant. When we started homeschooling, we found books about kids who were or had been homeschooled!

It helps kids to see others in their situation!

Happy Homeschooling!

Kindergarten is SCIENCE!

So, school year is starting for most of us! Has been going on for 2 or more weeks!
Ours has been on for 2 full weeks, heading into our 3rd!
My boys are now high school level but when they were younger, we used our FAV thing....SCIENCE to teach almost everything! Math, language arts, social studies, science, spelling and reading all revolved around science!
Hands-on science is even better!
As my daycare kids gear up to start their preschool year, I am looking at science activities for kindergarten level for my oldest daycare boy. He is on his last year of daycare, is extremely smart and I am doing him at Kindergarten level of Time4Learning this year and we will be doing LOTS of hands-on work with science!
Lessons on matter, force and motion lesson,  and of course animal lessons.
Should be a great year ahead of us! Lots of learning for both myself, my boys and my daycare kiddos!!!
How is your FAVORITE way to use science in your homeschool?

If only we could bottle up the energy sources from kids, we would be millionaires!LOL

A Homeschoool Science Kit!LOL

How to bottle up those energy sources called kids and sell it to middle age adults instead of those 5 hour energy drinks they sell at the gas station and are bad for you!

I SO wish I could bottle the energy that comes from these daycare kids or even my own kids! It is what keeps me young! But there are days, like last week where I wish we could have done an energy transformation from them to me! I was pooped!

Old kids still here because parents didn't check calendars properly, new kids are here because I scheduled it according to what old kids parents originally told me AND the couple of kids that are staying were here. I had kids coming out the ying-yang!LOL Lots of energy in this house! I think it was oozing out the cracks!!

If only I could bottle it and sell it, I would make MILLIONS!!!

The best I can do, is have them near me! Their excitement and exuberance is contagious! It makes me feel like a kid again on a daily basis!

To me that is the best part of being a homeschooling parent AND a childcare provider! I have kids around me all the time!!

They keep me young!!

Happy Homeschooling!

New school year, new Math tactics....

Welcome to 2013-2014 school year...... can I cry now?

I mean, I love that we have a new school year.... I love buying supplies and laying out our lesson plans.

But then comes our old arch nemesis...MATH! UGH!

We are using Time4Learning high school level this year since both boys are in high school AND T4L added the high school levels-YIPPEEEEEE!! So, am hoping that helps with our Math issues this year! We are also doing geometry, which is a different route than trying to tackle algebra.

I am hoping that this eliminates many of our past Math issues! If not, I have some great geometry Math flashcards to use along with! I may use them anyways, just to enhance what we are learning!

If not, I fear my boys will be getting a lesson in sound energy by Mom throwing a old fashioned temper tantrum!!!LOL

So, as the 2013-2014 school year starts.... please take a few minutes to send some positive Math vibes our way for a good Math year!!LOL

Thanks and Happy Homeschooling!!