HOME'S COOL
Life Without School!
Life Without School!
Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known. – Winnie The Pooh
Monday, April 30, 2012 - Entry 1,118
Today was Shawn's day off. We spent the morning doing some house cleaning, and then I left for a while with the kids to join some other families from our homeschool group for an Earth day litter cleanup. We were supposed to do that last weekend, right after Earth day, but it had gotten rained out, so we did it today instead.
We went to a local bike and jogging path that goes through a pretty, scenic, wooded area and the kids all picked up litter along the way. They did a great job, finding some, er, interesting things, from eyeliner, to a dirty diaper, to a sock, to a pair of glasses, etc. Of course, we brought plenty of hand sanitizer! And after our litter cleanup, we went to Rita's for a treat and enjoyed gelatis, frozen custard, and Italian ices.
At home, we did more cleaning, had lunch, then took Ben out front to ride his new bike.
Alexa had her last book club of the school year (a friend took her along with her own son), and I picked Melissa up from Special Olympics softball practice, then picked up my mother-in-law on the way home. She is visiting from Florida and staying at Shawn's brother's house. Tonight she came to visit for a while and came along with us to Ben's teeball game and out to dinner before going back to Shawn's brother's house.
That was about it for today, just a relaxing night watching a bit of TV.
More tomorrow!
THINGS YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW ABOUT:
THE FAMILY:
Shawn - 39, Husband, Dad, Tattoo Artist, Body Piercer, Business Owner, Saltwater Aquarium Enthusiast, Cook, Mr. Fix-It.
Nance - 40, Wife, Homeschooling Mom, Bookworm, Writer, Field Tripper, List Maker, Planner, Chauffeur, Oak Meadow Enthusiast.
Melissa - 21, Attends Special Needs School/Life Skills Class (graduating at the end of this year!), participates in Special Olympics sports. Likes music, movies, shopping, and reading.
Alexa - 12, Left public school toward the end of 3rd grade in March of 2009 and has been home since, happily homeschooling with Oak Meadow and an eclectic mix of other things. Enjoys reading, arts and crafts, Girl Scouts, Judo, doing her nails, and being with friends.
Ben - 7, Has never been to any outside school. Currently doing a laid back 1st grade at home. Enjoys computer, video and board games, silly jokes, legos, soccer, rough-housing, and occasional cuddling and reading.
Baby-To-Be - Currently 25 weeks gestation! 15 weeks to go!
We are a relaxed/eclectic, secularly homeschooling, liberal family living in Pennsylvania and thoroughly enjoying Life Without School!
CURRENT CURRICULUM/MATERIALS:
This year, Alexa is using: Oak Meadow 6 Ancient Civilizations and English; Oak Meadow Basic Life Science; Story of the World Middle Ages; Sentence Composing for Middle School; and a combination of Teaching Textbooks Math 6 and Life of Fred.
Ben is using the Oak Meadow 1st Grade curriculum and Reading Eggs along with a few different workbooks.
I'm a pretty relaxed homeschooler. We do school around life, not life around school. We use mainly a fun, hands on curriculum that isn't overly time consuming and isn't dry or textbookish, and we're always willing to drop it for the time being if something fun, interesting, or educational comes up outside the house. Living is learning!
ABOUT ME & MY BLOG:
Welcome To My Blog!
MY ARTICLES, ESSAYS, & RAMBLES:
The ABCs Of Relaxed Homeschooling
A Perfect Day
Affidavits, Objectives & Samples, Oh My!
A Kindergarten Dropout
Homeschooling, A Year Later
Preschool Or Not?
I Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way
A Day In The Life Of A New Homeschooler
Homeschool Poem
What Does A Homeschooler Do Every Day?
What Does A Homeschooler Do Every Day Part 2
What About Socialization?
Why Homeschool?!
Dear Judy Molland
What I Really Mean When I Say I Homeschool
MY REVIEWS:
Funnix Beginning Reading Program Review
Getting Started With Spanish Review
Growing, Growing Strong Review
Insect Lore Negative Review
Life of Fred Math Review
Little Passports Review
Meet The Masters Review
Movie Review: Snowmen
Oak Meadow Review
Sentence Composing For Elementary School Review
Story Of The World Review
Teaching Textbooks Math Review
Times Tales Review
Typing Instructor For Kids Platinum Review
OUR BOOK LOGS:
Alexa's Third Grade Book Log
Alexa's Fourth Grade Book Log
Alexa's Fifth Grade Book Log
Alexa's Sixth Grade Book Log, Year 1
Alexa's Sixth Grade Book Log, Year 2
Ben's Pre-K Book Log
Ben's Kindergarten Book Log
Ben's First Grade Book Log
SCHEDULE SAMPLES:
Oak Meadow Kindergarten Schedule Sample, With Pics
Oak Meadow 4th Grade Schedule Sample, With Pics
Oak Meadow 5th Grade Schedule Sample, With Pics
Our 6th Grade Stretched Over Two Years Plan
Some Of Our Most Fun/Interesting Projects & Activities, Oak Meadow 5th Grade
USEFUL FORMS & THINGS:
Homeschool Affidavit
Homeschool Objectives, Elementary Level
Homeschool Portfolio
Summary, To Include With Portfolio, Example 1
Summary, To Include With Portfolio, Example 2
Standardized Test Results
MISC:
Books Featuring Homeschooled Characters, Titles A-I
Books Featuring Homeschooled Characters, Titles J-R
Books Featuring Homeschooled Characters, Titles S-Z
52 Books In 52 Weeks, Mom & Daughter Style, 2011
Homeschooling Quotes & Funnies
Our Fresh Air Fund Experience
Funny Things Alexa Has Said
Funny Things Ben Has Said
My Favorite Links
How I Got Alexa's Eczema Under Control!
My TTC, Pregnancy, and Miscarriage Saga, PART 1
UPDATED!My TTC, Pregnancy, and Miscarriage Saga, PART 2UPDATED!
***
Grab my button for your blog:
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Be sure to check out:
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Homeschool Blinkies:
THE FAMILY:
Shawn - 39, Husband, Dad, Tattoo Artist, Body Piercer, Business Owner, Saltwater Aquarium Enthusiast, Cook, Mr. Fix-It.
Nance - 40, Wife, Homeschooling Mom, Bookworm, Writer, Field Tripper, List Maker, Planner, Chauffeur, Oak Meadow Enthusiast.
Melissa - 21, Attends Special Needs School/Life Skills Class (graduating at the end of this year!), participates in Special Olympics sports. Likes music, movies, shopping, and reading.
Alexa - 12, Left public school toward the end of 3rd grade in March of 2009 and has been home since, happily homeschooling with Oak Meadow and an eclectic mix of other things. Enjoys reading, arts and crafts, Girl Scouts, Judo, doing her nails, and being with friends.
Ben - 7, Has never been to any outside school. Currently doing a laid back 1st grade at home. Enjoys computer, video and board games, silly jokes, legos, soccer, rough-housing, and occasional cuddling and reading.
Baby-To-Be - Currently 25 weeks gestation! 15 weeks to go!
We are a relaxed/eclectic, secularly homeschooling, liberal family living in Pennsylvania and thoroughly enjoying Life Without School!
CURRENT CURRICULUM/MATERIALS:
This year, Alexa is using: Oak Meadow 6 Ancient Civilizations and English; Oak Meadow Basic Life Science; Story of the World Middle Ages; Sentence Composing for Middle School; and a combination of Teaching Textbooks Math 6 and Life of Fred.
Ben is using the Oak Meadow 1st Grade curriculum and Reading Eggs along with a few different workbooks.
I'm a pretty relaxed homeschooler. We do school around life, not life around school. We use mainly a fun, hands on curriculum that isn't overly time consuming and isn't dry or textbookish, and we're always willing to drop it for the time being if something fun, interesting, or educational comes up outside the house. Living is learning!
ABOUT ME & MY BLOG:
Welcome To My Blog!
MY ARTICLES, ESSAYS, & RAMBLES:
The ABCs Of Relaxed Homeschooling
A Perfect Day
Affidavits, Objectives & Samples, Oh My!
A Kindergarten Dropout
Homeschooling, A Year Later
Preschool Or Not?
I Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way
A Day In The Life Of A New Homeschooler
Homeschool Poem
What Does A Homeschooler Do Every Day?
What Does A Homeschooler Do Every Day Part 2
What About Socialization?
Why Homeschool?!
Dear Judy Molland
What I Really Mean When I Say I Homeschool
MY REVIEWS:
Funnix Beginning Reading Program Review
Getting Started With Spanish Review
Growing, Growing Strong Review
Insect Lore Negative Review
Life of Fred Math Review
Little Passports Review
Meet The Masters Review
Movie Review: Snowmen
Oak Meadow Review
Sentence Composing For Elementary School Review
Story Of The World Review
Teaching Textbooks Math Review
Times Tales Review
Typing Instructor For Kids Platinum Review
OUR BOOK LOGS:
Alexa's Third Grade Book Log
Alexa's Fourth Grade Book Log
Alexa's Fifth Grade Book Log
Alexa's Sixth Grade Book Log, Year 1
Alexa's Sixth Grade Book Log, Year 2
Ben's Pre-K Book Log
Ben's Kindergarten Book Log
Ben's First Grade Book Log
SCHEDULE SAMPLES:
Oak Meadow Kindergarten Schedule Sample, With Pics
Oak Meadow 4th Grade Schedule Sample, With Pics
Oak Meadow 5th Grade Schedule Sample, With Pics
Our 6th Grade Stretched Over Two Years Plan
Some Of Our Most Fun/Interesting Projects & Activities, Oak Meadow 5th Grade
USEFUL FORMS & THINGS:
Homeschool Affidavit
Homeschool Objectives, Elementary Level
Homeschool Portfolio
Summary, To Include With Portfolio, Example 1
Summary, To Include With Portfolio, Example 2
Standardized Test Results
MISC:
Books Featuring Homeschooled Characters, Titles A-I
Books Featuring Homeschooled Characters, Titles J-R
Books Featuring Homeschooled Characters, Titles S-Z
52 Books In 52 Weeks, Mom & Daughter Style, 2011
Homeschooling Quotes & Funnies
Our Fresh Air Fund Experience
Funny Things Alexa Has Said
Funny Things Ben Has Said
My Favorite Links
How I Got Alexa's Eczema Under Control!
My TTC, Pregnancy, and Miscarriage Saga, PART 1
UPDATED!My TTC, Pregnancy, and Miscarriage Saga, PART 2UPDATED!
***
Grab my button for your blog:
***
Be sure to check out:
***
Homeschool Blinkies:
