I've always read a lot and reading an actual book has slowed down a bit with having kids and everything else that comes with being an adult. However WANTING to read and just get lost in a good book hasn't went away and I've passed that onto the kids. One of the ways we get that in is audio books! My favorite is putting in on while I'm in bed just relaxing and can fall asleep to it. (also sometimes gives you some really crazy dreams so .. depending on what you are listening too it can get interesting! haha).
Awhile back I got a really good deal on 2 Echos and now we have one in each bed room. All you have to do is say "Alexa, read me a book!" and she will pick a book from Audible and read it. Easy enough to request what book when your library gets a little out of hand..*ahem* and skip to whatever chapter you left off on. Audible is from Amazon so it has a ton of books, old and new so there is ALWAYS something good to find. You don't need an Echo to listen, phone or computer work too :) I just really love the convenience of the Echo for lots of things besides books.
You can sign up for Audible now and get 2 free books with your 30 day free trial! Cancel any time and keep your books forever :D I have the membership to get 2 credits each month making them about $12 each. Its a great deal seeing how a lot of the books we listen to are around $25!!! If you have the kindle version of the book you get a discount on the Audible ones too! Makes it a fun way for kids to read with the book :p
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Getting ready for Prime Day, Amazon is having a deal on Audible memberships right now! You can get 40% off for 6 months! Cancel anytime, and keep all your books and listen to them after you cancel! We LOVE ours.
The kids are always loving when I pull out my camera and start taking pictures. They spend more time taking pictures and videos on their Leappads then playing games, so I figured now would be a fun time to start including it in our lessons.
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In one of the homeschool groups I'm in through facebook, an awesome lady sent me this cute "About Me" posters for the kids to fill out. I plan on hanging these up on our school wall. I might see if I can copy them and have them fill it out at the start of the year and again at the end to see what changes. |
Since we did a Zoology unit already we have a ton of early readers about animals. We are doing Biology this year so they will come in handy again, plus it doubles as reading practice. Magic School Bus books are my favorite, they kids watch the show all the time so its fun having their books too. (Check for them USED on Amazon for some great deals.) |
Here are some of our reference books. The two DK books.... First Animal Encyclopedia and First Nature Encyclopedia are very very similar. Most of the pictures are even the same. If I would have known this I would have only bought one, however they are nice books and having two kids do the same subjects its not awful having duplicates. The Big Book of Animals and Big Book of Oceans are amazing books, for the pictures alone. The facts are great too, short but most of the info needed for the lower grades. My end goal is to have all of the Big Books..even if the kids have out grown them. The pictures are really that pretty. |
Our Science unit this year is Biology for the Grammar Stage by Elemental Science. They are the same company that makes the Sassafras Science units. It will cover animals, anatomy and plants. It goes a little more in depth on the topics so we won't really be repeating anything we have already learned, reviewing instead and better understanding. I really love this way of teaching the kids. Instead of trying to learn everything there is and move on we learn a few layers of each topic and come back to it later going over more. (Next summer the next Sassafras book is Botany and using the units back and forth keeps up this pattern). It uses Biology for Every Kid, Plant Parts, Science around the world, and Encyclopedia of Animals for books you "need* to go with it. It also has a huge list of books that go with each section that are easily found at the library. Flipping though them so far I'm impressed and think the kids will really enjoy doing some of the projects in the books. |
And last we are starting on History this year, Ancient History. I'm missing a few books we will be using this year... Mallie likes to steal all of the Greek Mythology books and our World History Encyclopedia to use as bedtime stories. I wouldn't normally complain, however I can't find them. I hope that means they will be excited to learn all about it. I'm not sure how they will do with the lapbook ideas. I've tried the lapbooks before with them and they are not huge fans. This one does seem to be a little different so I guess we will find out! |
A little long, but that is our school year! This is a huge reason why most homeschool parents are a little the over top excited when they are finally done with planing the next school year, it is a good bit of work! Plus we are always looking into other ideas, either to go with what we are using or maybe switch. If you want please share what you are using to give everyone ideas!
*I linked a lot of the books myself to Amazon. If you use my link to buy anything I get a (very) small percentage that will help go towards our school needs! Thank you for considering it! <3
*I linked a lot of the books myself to Amazon. If you use my link to buy anything I get a (very) small percentage that will help go towards our school needs! Thank you for considering it! <3
Yesterday we went out to get our school pictures done for this year. I ran the color powder I made the other day through a food processor to get it really smooth. The next time I will probably do it a day or two before and let it dry out just a bit more as a fine powder.
The goal was to take a few pictures of them before the powder, then let them play with it a bit..then go crazy together. It half worked ;)
My favorite has to be of course one of our "outtakes" ...
The kids loved it and had a lot of fun. I got enough pictures to use for school pictures and the rain washed away the mess.
The powder worked ok, however the colors as you can see didn't really show up. I will use a lot more food coloring next time, possibly even something else to dye the corn starch. I will also make a lot more because they got through it pretty quick. I don't think the kids will mind testing out some new color powders for me. I also had the idea to use them in the winter when it snows..colors everywhere!!!!
So here it is. One of (many) favorite things about Homeschooling. Not your typical school pictures :)
The powder worked ok, however the colors as you can see didn't really show up. I will use a lot more food coloring next time, possibly even something else to dye the corn starch. I will also make a lot more because they got through it pretty quick. I don't think the kids will mind testing out some new color powders for me. I also had the idea to use them in the winter when it snows..colors everywhere!!!!
So here it is. One of (many) favorite things about Homeschooling. Not your typical school pictures :)
One of our favorite meals is Primal Chili Dogs from Health-Bent. Mallie is allergic to wheat and sweet potatoes are amazing with chili. If you haven't tried it you really should. We haven't had them in awhile so I decided to make some. We didn't have any fresh sweet potatoes, but I did have a few cans. So I mixed them right into the chili. Also for the hot dogs we wrapped them in bacon, because..bacon. This is a really filling meal and works just fine as is, but I had mine with a bun and that was just as good.
I also learned that chili is impossible to take a picture of and is pretty gross looking..
Not really selling it is it?
So here...
Not really selling it is it?
So here...
This is our picky eater, Sage, with an almost empty plate! Also, Mallie, with it all over her face.. obviously delicious! ;)
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Trina: Mom, Wife, Person.
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