Happy Halloween!

Hope your Halloween is going howling-ly well!

And that you've enjoyed checking out our favorite Halloween activities this year!

Leah

November Sharing Time - Week 1

The whole month is all about thanks (pretty appropriate for November) and this week we're focusing on our bodies. 

I've mentioned before how much I love taking any opportunity to get the kids in the scriptures and the Sharing Time Outline gives a great idea.  One that I tweaked just a little bit.

First, make sure all the kids have scriptures and send a runner off to the library to get some more for those who've forgotten (or you could pick up a bunch before Sharing Time). Choose a child to come up and draw out one of the scriptures from the Encourage Understanding section.  And then have everyone look it up before reading through it.

I found pictures to represent everything the scriptures tell us to Do, Do Not, and Blessings.  After you read through the scriptures, have the kids try and figure out what the scripture is telling us and which picture that relates to (we are told to be thankful and eat fruit twice).

After they match the picture, decide whether it's a blessing, a to do or a do not and stick the picture in the right category.

As you're sticking it under the right header, you can talk about how they can follow that counsel (or how that blessing can help them).  Use specific examples, like you could eat an apple for a snack or if your mind is full of energy, you will do better on your spelling test.

As you get finished, you can take a few minutes to let the kids set a goal for the next week.  Have them each choose a different do or do not they want to focus on (and either write it down or draw a picture about it).  If you don't have time, or don't want to take the time during Sharing Time, you could send the paper home with them to finish with their parents.

You can download the files I've put together from Google Docs.

Pictures
Categories   (this file is too big to preview, just click the download button on the screen that pops up.  It'll then tell you that it's to big to check for viruses, are you sure?  Click yes and it will download)
Goals

The perfect ending to every Sharing Time is sharing your testimony.  Even though our bodies don't always work the way we want them to, we are still blessed to have them.  Better yet, those hard things are only temporary.  We will each have a perfected body, every single one of us, what an awesome blessing.

Have a wonderful week!
Leah

Art Project - Jackson Pollack

This year I'm making a more concerted effort to introduce my children to art. 

You know, saying I'm only introducing them makes me feel better.  I'm not confident in my knowledge of art (history, technique or discussing technique).  But, I'm taking baby steps, I'm trying.  I'm introducing them to art.  And you know what else?  If I can do this, you can to. 

I'm using Confession's of a Homeschooler's Worlds Greatest Artists series.  We spend a month or so on each artist, learning about their life, studying their art and trying it out for ourselves.

I'm not super creative (although I'm really good at finding things I like and tweaking them) and thankfully I found a great book to help me out on the painting front.  It's called the Usborne Art Treasury.

This wonderful book talks a little about 22 famous artists, one of their most famous paintings, and (my favorite part) an idea for an art project to imitate that piece of art.  I don't have to be creative, I just get to use someone else's idea.  Yay!!

Right now we're studying Jackson Pollack.  I have to admit I'm in the camp that doesn't really understand the appeal of his splatter paintings.  Although, I do understand the appeal in attempting to imitate them though.

My kids had so much fun and it was really pretty simple.  We squirted a little bit of paint into some small containers, mixed it with water to thin it out (for easier dripping) and went to town.

Outside.  Away from anything important.  Like my furniture, floors and walls.

They each had their own ideas of what kinds of colors and drip techniques they wanted to use.

It was interesting how differently they all turned out, even though they were doing almost exactly the same thing.

Art still isn't my favorite subject (only because I'm the one teaching it), but I'm gaining confidence a little at a time as we move through our school year.  Which demonstrates another of my favorite things about homeschooling...I get to learn just as much as my kids do. 

And we all have fun doing it (most of the time)!

Goodbye Garden

The garden season is over, for me at least.  All that's left are pumpkins and potatoes.

I really should have dug up the potatoes already.  I got so many this year I'm feeling a little intimidated.  And excited.  It's strange how I can have so many different feelings at the very same time.  Who knew you could have feelings about vegetables?

We'll be taking out the pumpkins tomorrow, it's time to carve 'em up!  My kids are pretty excited.

As soon as I get the pumpkins and potatoes out of there, I'm going to cover what's left in leaves.  Lots of leaves.  The leaf mulch will keep the weeds from growing and it adds a little back to the garden, too. 

How do you put your garden to bed?  I'm still learning and would love some tips!

Leah

October Sharing Time - Week 4

My motto when it comes to sharing time is to make it simple and spiritual.  I like to use the outline as much as possible for ideas and this week is no exception.  In fact, the reason I'm mentioning it is because this week, I'm loving pretty much every idea from the outline.

One thing I would change would be the order, I'd wait and do the object lesson at the end when you give the kids a chance to take turns sharing personal examples of how they can share the gospel.  If you are really attached to using the food coloring first, I'd suggest using fresh water for the wrap up sharing at the end, because watching those first drops slowly turn the whole solution a new color is the most fun.

I found an amazing talk by Elder M. Russell Ballard called Pure Testimony that relates perfectly to this weeks sharing time.  I'd start by quoting Elder Ballard when he said, "Having a testimony is not enough.  In fact, when we are truly converted, we cannot be restrained from testifying."

Ask the kids what this means?  Do any of them feel this way?  Is it ever hard to bear your testimony?  Are you ever not sure about some parts of what you think should be your testimony?

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm pretty sure I have a lot of work to do on the "truly converted" front.  Unfortunately, I can be restrained.  I'm slightly terrified of talking spontaneously in front of people (as opposed to a planned, researched and practiced lesson or talk).

Although, I do find hope in this story Elder Ballard shared about President Brigham Young talking about a missionary with a large group of people,

"According to President Young, this particular elder "never had been able to say that he knew Joseph [Smith] was a Prophet."  He would have preferred to just say a prayer and leave, but the circumstances made that impossible.  So he started to speak, and "as soon as he got 'Joseph' out, 'is a Prophet' was...next; and from that his tongue was loosened, and he continued talking until near sundown." 

This missionary was afraid and not even sure about his testimony.  Did that stop him?!  Astoundingly no.  He decided to share his testimony anyway, using his faith to take a step into the dark and was blessed with light.  "His tongue was loosened" and he was able to talk.

Even though the story doesn't say, I'm certain this missionary's testimony grew and was strengthened that day.  This same thing can happen for each of us as we gather our courage and our faith to testify to those around us.  I hope that one day I can say I cannot be restrained from testifying in all circumstances (especially the unplanned ones).

After talking about how important it is to share our testimonies, ask what are the most important parts of a testimony?

This is the point in which I slightly disagree with the outline.  I believe that having a testimony that our church has the full restored gospel (and thus is the one fully true church) is tied to and a part of having a testimony of Joseph Smith.  I also believe that one of the most important and life changing parts to a testimony is the knowledge that we are each loved and known by our Heavenly Father (no matter what!).

In that same wonderful talk, Elder Ballard said, "Although we can have testimonies of many things as members of the Church, there are basic truths we need to constantly teach one another and share with those not of our faith.  Testify God is our Father and Jesus is the Christ.  The plan of salvation is centered on the Savior's atonement.  Joseph Smith restored the fullness of the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Book of Mormon is evidence that our testimony is true."

So, I mixed a little Sharing Time Outline with a little Elder Ballard and this is what I came up with:

1. God is our Father.  He loves every single one of His children.  As my youngest son Josh said, "He even loves pirates."  This knowledge affects every decision and gives the courage to Choose The Right.

2. Jesus is our Savior.  Heavenly Father's plan provided a personal Savior.  One who KNOWS every single thing we've gone through and will go through.  One who loves us so much he was willing to feel our every hurt and suffer for our every mistake.  What a fantastic gift!

3. Joseph Smith restored the fullness of the gospel.  He truly saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, he prayed about and received the framework for our church line upon line, truth upon truth.  This is another great point when talking about testimonies, they do not happen overnight.  We do not know everything all at once, Joseph certainly didn't.  We all need to remember to take one step at a time.

4. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ.  Reading, studying and living the principles found in it bring joy, peace and eternal life with our Heavenly Father.

5. We continue to receive revelation through a living prophet.  It is such a comfort to know that we have a prophet today!  One who can speak with God and receive revelation for the entire church.  He uplifts us, warns us and teaches us what is most important for our day.

I do like the idea of using pictures, having the kids draw them out one at a time and talking about what each picture teaches us about the basic building blocks of our testimonies.

After going over the building blocks you feel are the most important for your primary, use the rest of your time to get ideas of how/where/when we can share our testimonies.

I feel strongly that there is a difference between being thankful and truly sharing our testimonies.  It's wonderful when children get up to share about all the lovely parts of their lives they are so very thankful for, but I also think they can do more...that we can do more.

"Clear declaration of truth makes a difference in people's lives.  That is what changes hearts.  That is what the Holy Ghost can confirm in the hearts of God's children."  Challenge them to testify more often.  Challenge them to pray for opportunities to share what they've learned and, as they do, they're testimonies will grow even stronger.

Have a wonderful Sunday!
Leah

Top 5 Steps to a Less Stressed Homeschool Life

I've gotten a few comments and emails lately about feeling overwhelmed with homeschooling in addition to, well, the rest of life.  I do think that occasional feelings of too much are normal, this is a pretty huge venture, but I wanted to take a minute to talk about what to do when it's not so occasional.

I've blogged about a lot of these things before, but in seperate posts.  Here are my tried and tested tips, my favorite go to, keep overwhelming-ville at bay ideas.

1. Know what you want your children to accomplish each year.  After I've chosen my curriculum for the year, I sit down with it and decide how to divide it up throughout the year.  What I'm usually looking for is how many times each week we are going to be working on that subject or curriculum. 

This is also when I decide what holidays we want to celebrate or do projects for, how many book reports I want them to do (and when they should be due), and pick any other projects they're going to be working on (currently this last one only applies to my 7th grader).

2. Decide how your children will know what they need to accomplish every day/week to go along with the plans made in step #1.  I make detailed weekly checklists that show every subject and activity they need to get done every day.

The first time I made them I spent a few hours figuratively banging my head against the table trying to figure out exactly what they needed to get done.  And figuring out the formatting so it would all fit.  And making it look nice and organized.  It was very, very worth it. 

My first versions changed A LOT over the first few months, so don't be discouraged if you find that you need to adjust.  In fact, I still make adjustments over the year as we add or take away different activities.

This gives your kids a sense of control over their day and they won't have to ask you over and over again what's next or when they'll be done.  Plus, you'll also know when they're done and you'll know you're making progress toward the goals set in step 1.

3. Be willing to cut things out.  This is very hard for me.  Very, very hard.  As I look through curriculum and read about all the amazing things there are to learn, my step 1 plan is sometimes a little, um, unattainable. 

I need to reassess and reassure myself over what is truly important.  If we're too frustrated, or things are taking too long, I cut back.  I do not have to do as much as anyone else (and neither do you, I promise), only what is best for my family.  As hard as it is to do the initial cut, the relief and peace that follow can be amazing.

4. Give your kids responsibilities both in school and in your home.  I do this in school by giving them their weekly checklists (I also give Makenna some control over what goes on her checklist and how it's formatted) and then letting them choose what order they want to get their work done.  It's interesting to watch them develop their own routines.

For the home, I have chore charts.  They have chores they need to get done every day and every week.  Their assigned chores cover most of the basic picking up and keeping clean in our home.  While it is more of a chore to teach them how to clean correctly at first, the return far (far, far) outweighs any initial frustrations.  It's such a blessing for our home!

I also firmly believe it is good for them.  There are so many fantastic lessons learned from doing chores.  When we all work together, everyone is happier (and chores get done a whole lot faster).  A happy life takes work.  Plain and simple.  They also learn that when you choose to work hard, you often get rewarded (by getting to play with friends and privileges like electronics). 

5. Do what you love.  What is it that you love about homeschooling?  What brings you and your children the most joy?  Make sure you have made time for those things.  Stick them on your schedule so you don't forget to do them and if you're finding that you don't have time, look to step 3 and cut out something that isn't as important. 

There is so much that is good out there.  Good curriculum, activities, projects, extra-curriculars and new things to learn.  There is so much good that it just isn't possible to do it all and you shouldn't try (or feel guilty about it).  After getting the basics (math, language arts, science, history), choose only those things that you and your children love. 

I would love to hear about what tips and tricks you use to feel a little less stressed and overwhelmed, because, well, I still feel that way sometimes too. 

Leah

Physical Education at Home

For the first two years I homeschooled my kids, we didn't do much in the way of physical activity and nothing directed. 

My kids are all pretty active and involved in sports, so I used that as my excuse to not do anything else.  Not that it's not a great excuse or even a great reason, I just always had a desire to do something more, only I didn't know how.

Then I came across Family Time Fitness and thought I'd give it a try.  They have options for homeschool, co-ops, schools, families and even for individual sports.  I went with Fitness 4 Homeschool, Core 1 and my kids LOVE it (I got the pdf version and use it on our tablet).

These are the basic activities you might have done while in public school (if you went) or that your kids were doing before they came home (if they ever went to public school).  You practice simple things like jumping on one foot, skipping (which is pretty darn hard to learn...who knew?), shuffling and doing these things while tossing a ball, using a hoola hoop and TONS more activities. 

Yes, they are simple things you could do on your own, but I didn't and wouldn't.  Plus, they're already all arranged for me into daily lesson plans (that I only do twice a week) so I don't have to spend any time planning, which I love.

Another bonus that I hadn't thought about before, it's helping my kids develop better gross motor skills.  I have one son who struggles with, well, just walking without tripping over his own feet sometimes and many of these activities work on balance which is fantastic for him.

So, if you didn't already get that drift, I'd highly recommend it.  We love Family Time Fitness and have lots of fun doing it!

What do you guys do for P.E.?

Leah