ahtucker.com

This was posted on Mommie’s Coffee Break and I really enjoyed it….

http://mommiescoffeebreak.com/2008/05/02/homeschooling-a-green-solution/

Hello! I have been missing in action as far as bloggin goes for a while. With trying to adjust to the water therapy I need to take 3 days a week for my RA and still being able to complete homeschooling with the terrible exhaustion I am experiencing, I lost track of my blog. I am so sorry. However, I am trying to get back to this blog and make it something I will try to do at least once a week for now, but hopefully once a day in the future.

 This change in my life gives me another opportunity to talk about why homeschooling is a good thing for our family. We cannot easily have homeschool first thing bright and early in the morning any longer since my water therapy class is from 9:30 to 10:30 on Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays… then on Tuesdays the kids have Homeschool PE from 10:30 to 12:00. So, as you can see our mornings are shot. I have to say: so what??? Where is it written that we MUST homeschool in the morning? We have found that the afternoons and even the evenings when it is necessary work just as well. in fact, my oldest can actually concentrate on her work better in the afternoons and evenings than she can in the mornings! We would have never known that had we not had to adjust our schedule a little. AMAZING!!!

So, rest assured that no matter what time of day that you need to homeschool , learning is still going on. In fact, even on those days when you cannot work on your regular curriculum, they are STILL learning. I love to watch children learn all about their world that is around them, just by being in it and taking part. Children and their capacity to learn no matter what never ceases to amaze me!

Have a blessed homeschool day and enjoy the time with your family!

Dianna tagged me with this a WHILE back and it looked like fun, but I never got a chance to do since I was having an iTunes issue. Now I have it all fixed and am ready to share. :)______________________________________________________________

IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE?
So, here’s how it works:

1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that’s playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don’t lie and try to pretend your cool… and alot of the songs fit with the setting

Opening Credits:
Hush Little Baby - Kindermusik

Waking Up:
Oopsy Daisy - Kindermusik

First Day At School:
Cuckoo Cherry Tree - Kindermusik

Falling In Love:
Zaccheaus - Veggie Tales

Fight Song:
The Sun is Shining - Third Day (not sure this is a “fight” song…lol)

Breaking Up:
Undo Me - Jennifer Knapp

Prom:
For Such a Time as This - 100 Bible Stories 100 Bible Songs

Life:
Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho - 100 Bible Stories 100 Bible Songs

Mental Breakdown:
When the Saints Go Marching In - 100 Bible Stories 100 Bible Songs

Driving:
Tall as a Tree - Kindermusik

Flashback:
Good Life - Audio Adrenaline

Getting back together:
Carry My Cross - Third Day

Wedding:
We are Climbing Jacob’s Ladder - 100 Bible Stories 100 Bible Songs (ummm????)

Birth of Child:
What Would Jesus Do? - Big Tent Revival

Final Battle:
How Do You Know - Third Day

Death Scene:
Mighty Good Leader - Audio Adrenaline

Funeral Song:
Get Down - Audio Adrenaline

End Credits:
Cast Your Cares - 100 Bible Stories 100 Bible Songs

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This was fun!!!! I hope that if you are reading this, you will give it a try.  :)

I have started a new page on this blog devoted to listing the reasons I love homeschooling. Check it as often as you like as I intend for it to grow!!!!

Click here: http://ahtucker.com/blog/?page_id=41

I am blessed because:

- I have a family that loves me.
- My kids are trying to be helpful today.
- I am awake and up and able to get out of bed today!
- I have a home to live in!

AND…….

- I have a wonderful NEW nephew named Joaquin (Wah-Keen) Christopher that was born on October 10th!!!!

and here he is…………………….

Sometimes lessons can be impromptu and your kids might not even really know it was a lesson.

Today, we had a picnic lunch with another homeschool family. This mom was nice enough to bring a book to read to the children while they were eating. It was called “The Very Last First Time.” (Very cute story by the way - the kids loved it.) So, we had a read aloud/discussion over lunch!!!! How cool. By doing this, we addressed several different subjects and learning areas all at once. Let me explain:

Art - we discussed the “hidden” pictures in the art and what kind of materials the artist might have used
Science - since this book had to do with a unique seasonal occurrence, we talked about that
Social Studies - this book was about a Inuit girl in Canada, so we talked about those things too (the beach was discussed also)
Reading/Language Arts - reading together and discussing new vocabulary words (and predicting what would happen next)
Communication - the children shared their answers while we talked with them
Character Education - one of the themes in the book had to do with “work before play” so we had a chance to discuss the importance of this with the children also

Then, when we were done eating a reading, the kids ran around a little bit, so they had some time devoted to:
- Physical Education
- Safety (why we should not throw rocks at spider webs when people are sitting on the other side of them…lol)

The simplest and most enjoyable learning expereinces can happen with one little book!!!! So, if you need a break or want to do something different, choose a favorite book and go on an “adventure” with your children!

WOO HOO!!!! It is Monday again!

 This week I am thankful for these blessings:

- That I am full of energy on Mondays and can get sooooooo much done!!!!
- That even though Kevin is out of town, he is never more than a phone call, e-mail, or IM away!
- That my kids were WONDERUL little angels today and have been very helpful around the house!
- That I have several crockpots!!!! I cannot part with them…lol… they make dinner so much easier for me.
- That I was able to go through all my old “skinny” clothes and get rid of all of them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean, I am comfortable in a 12, so why fight it…he he he. It has been 5 years since I wore those size 8’s and if I held onto them any longer they would be all outdated! I pray that whoever gets them from Goodwill will be blessed!

 I am tagging……

Tricia, Lara and Dianna

God bless you this week and always! May you feel the blessings rain down upon you!

If something is not working, try something else!

Sometimes we get stuck a rut, feel like our lessons are stale, want to try something else, or just feel bored.  It happens to the best of us.  The best thing to do is go with the flow.  If something does not feel like it’s working and you have really given it your best try, it might mean it is time for change.  Not every curriculum or teaching method or learning method is right for everyone.  Some curriculums work for some people but other curriculums work for others.  I honestly feel like that is why there are so many!  So, rather than driving yourself crazy with something that isn’t working, think about trying something different — maybe something new — maybe even something you tried before.  As our kids grow and change their learning styles may change also — and so may our teaching styles.  It never hurts to mix it up a little!

It’s Monday again!

This Monday I am thankful for:
1. A forgiving and loving husband — even when I cannot get it all done or when I am not so nice, he loves me anyway.
2. Voice to text software!!!
3. Being able to homeschool.
4. Fall weather!!!  I love it!
5. My salvation!  The best gift ever!

What are you thankful for? If you read this, then you are tagged!  I would love to hear about your blessings today.  If you post yours, please leave your link here in the comments.

Love,
Alicia