“Silent Night” Challenge!

We speak every year of how crazy the Christmas season is…shopping, cooking, rehearsing, baking, wrapping, decorating, traveling…  So, I’m here to give you a challenge.  I was actually inspired by something I saw posted yesterday.

silentbooknight

Raise your hand if this sounds like a fabulous idea to you! I LOVE it! I’ve seen various posts in our group at Schoolin’ Swag about favorite Christmas read-alouds, or wrapping up 25 holiday books so that one can be opened and read together as a family every night. So nice.

I like the idea of quiet at Christmas. I really don’t think the actual Christmas night those many years ago was literally “silent”. Think about it…a thundering heavenly host, the raucous clamoring of the shepherds as they scrambled to spread the news, the crowds in Bethlehem, a stable full of animals, and a newborn baby. Okay, so really think through this with me…the sweet Christmas song says “But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes”… I think this is just a bit romanticized. Who wouldn’t be concerned about a newborn who makes no noise? 😉 Jesus was fully God and fully man. Babies cry to communicate all sorts of things. Let’s reconcile ourselves to that.

The quiet I relish at Christmas is for worship. It’s for thought. It’s for breathing the heavy sigh of contentment in being surrounded by so much beauty this time of year. I love the stillness of an evening with fresh falling snow, away from city lights, far from traffic noise, when you can look up at the crystalline sky and imagine that Star. I like opportunities that take my spirit to that level of peace.

So, here’s the challenge. Find time for a “Silent Night” during your Christmas break. It can be Christmas eve, as suggested above, or another evening that is convenient. OR…even MORE than one! Turn off Netflix. Get away from the *beep* *boop* of phones, PS3’s, and all the rest. Savor quiet.

I remember one of my favorite things to do during Christmas vacation as a kid was to lie down under the Christmas tree, looking up through the branches, and listening to the favorite Christmas LPs we pulled out every year. Calming. Focusing. Restful.

I’d love to hear about your “Silent Night” attempt! Share in the comments below, message me, or come join Schoolin’ Swag and share with all of the wonderful folks there!

 

What “Homeschool Homestretch”Is Looking Like!

nopeekWe have had a great time during our “Homeschool Homestretch” event!  So far we have been able to offer these encouragements to lucky winners in our group:

Today’s giveaways include:

Coming up, we have these FABULOUS donors still to feature (the donations are a secret…no peeking or peeling back the gift wrap!):

Come join us! Prizes post at 9am (Mtn Time) daily, with winners drawn via Random.org at 9pm. Two prizes tomorrow, and the remaining for a Grand Finale on Friday!

Taking “Perfect” Out of My Vocabulary

I used to be very challenged. I LOVED order. I mean, I wasn’t quite “Monk” level in my organization, but I tidied, alphabetized, fluffed, matched, sorted, vacuumed and “staged” my apartment into excruciating pristine-ness. Re-do makeup on lunch break. Re-iron clothes between classes in college. I remember my little southern room mate exclaiming, “Dah-ay-anne. People KNOW you sit day-own.”

Maintaining that level of perfection is exhausting. It is also depressing because the ideal is never quite met. It buys only a temporary sense of well being at best. And generally speaking, it makes things miserable for a lot of other people.

Now, try to apply this mindset to homeschooling. You read blogs, see great articles (with pictures to help you visualize your perfect homeschool situation), lurk on discussion boards where everybody has their own definition of what perfect homeschooling is…and THAT, my friends, will ruin you. I spent a few years trying to “do perfect” in our schooling, with imperfect kids, imperfect budget, imperfect room layout, and (last but certainly not least) imperfect ME. Cue ominous music.

It took me years to understand that NO curriculum will fit every kid. We are not the public school that issues a copy of a textbook out of one big box for every student. And… even what feels like the perfect curriculum in September may morph into really NOT perfect by January. Because kids change and grow. Because circumstances are never static. Because budgets change. Because life happens.

So, let’s make a promise to ourselves. Just do today what is great (not perfect) and expedient for today. If that means Hamburger Helper for supper, do it. If that means the laundry stays in the dryer, so be it. If that means this kids get some reading and math in and watch Magic School Bus and Fetch! for the rest of school because you are not feeling well, alright then. Pajamas all day? Okay! Learning to compare prices at the grocery store and stick to a budget for math? Yep!

Bottom line…if it’s “one of those days” just remember that it won’t always be like this. Don’t compare with the friends in your co-op. They are not you. They don’t have your kids. They don’t live your life in your home. No…I won’t break into a chorus of “Let It Go”. 😉

“Perfect” is what fits. It’s the favorite pair of soft, old jeans. The fuzzy slippers you snuggle into in the morning. That cup of “just right” coffee that makes your brain say “Ahhhhhhhh….” with it’s warmth. Ask God what “perfect” should look like today. I suspect it will likely be different than what you had in mind!

finalhedgeNow. See this little fellow? A couple years ago he would have been banished from “my tree”, because “my tree” already had its colors, layout, and theme chosen. A purple hedgehog doesn’t say “Christmas”!

I’ve come a long way. Know how far? The kids set up and decorated the tree entirely by themselves. And I have not touched it since. Life is too short to focus on controlling every aspect so that it is safe, pleasing, wrinkle free, and convenient. We miss an awful lot of joy that way. I’m so grateful to be freed from who I was. Jesus is my perfection, and that’s where that issue begins and ends.

So, Merry Christmas little Hedgie, and Merry Christmas, lovely, less-than-perfect-but-so-much-happier homeschool friends!

For the Love of Learning (and Sanity),

Diane

Another Way to Trade Your Used Books for Some Jingle in Your Pocket!

toomanybooks

I’ve been known to say “There is no such thing as having too many books”…but, well, truthfully sometimes there is. Sometimes books are friends, and we know we want to keep them near us. Other times, a book has served its purpose and it needs to find a new home so we can make room for more on our shelf!

When I was in college, I saved a whole lot of money by taking those monstrous textbooks I knew I’d never use again (History of Civ comes to mind 😉 ) and going to our campus store to sell them back (in good condition, of course). Now as a homeschool mom, I have saved a LOT of money by buying used textbooks from Amazon. For literally pennies sometimes, I’ve gotten textbooks for Spanish, Algebra, Esthetics (for an elective for our Cosmetology enthusiast) and plenty more!

One thing I sort of knew, but have never tried is the “flip side”: letting Amazon buy back our used books! Did you know you can do that? Very cool, right? So those boxes of books that would not sell at yard sales, and you are loathe to just toss in the trunk to take to Goodwill…can be repurposed and put a bit of jingle in your pocket just in time for the holidays! You can get up to 80% return on those materials!

Want to know more? Just click on that pile of books at the top of this post! 🙂

For the Love of Learning (and saving money!),
Diane

Where to Go on Facebook to Swap Homeschool Stuff

swapSometimes it helps to have a little direction instead of the trial and error of investigating groups only to find they are not what you were looking for. If you meander around Facebook regularly, you may find these groups are worthwhile checking into to swap homeschooling books and materials.  Some of the groups offer the materials free, just for the cost of shipping.

This is something we investigated as a possibility for Schoolin’ Swag, and just decided it was not a direction we wanted to go in. So here is some help if you are looking to change things up in an economical way (aren’t we all?):

https://www.facebook.com/groups/HomeschoolFreecycle/ Homeschool Freecycle

https://www.facebook.com/groups/hsucs/ Homeschool Used Curriculum Swap

https://www.facebook.com/groups/239853779482578/ Used Homeschool Books and Curriculum for Sale or Free

https://www.facebook.com/HomeschoolBargainsAndMore Homeschool Bargains and More

https://www.facebook.com/groups/hscurriculumswap/ Homeschool Curriculum Swap

https://www.facebook.com/groups/158947230864513/ Homeschool Swap: Canada

https://www.facebook.com/TheHomeschoolSWAP The Homeschool SWAP

https://www.facebook.com/groups/138629366323079/ Homeschool penpals/postcard exchange/geo-cac/book exchange/activity bagswap

https://www.facebook.com/groups/222126747798926/ Homeschool Curriculum Marketplace

https://www.facebook.com/groups/215568998597147/ Used Homeschool Curriculum Sale

Also, check out our Schoolin’ Swag Pinterest board for websites outside of Facebook where you can buy, sell and trade homeschool curricula!

 

“Homeschool Homestretch” Event!

finish2I decided on a whim to see if I could scoot together some terrific incentives to help our great members at Schoolin’ Swag to finish the semester well!

So, next week, December 14-18, I’ll be posting at least 2 giveaways a day!  Postings will go up at 9am and close at 9pm that night.

I’ll give you a little peek under the tree, by letting you know the donors I have thus far (but that’s all–no particulars on what they are giving us!):

Donors:

— Homeschool Buyers Co-op
— Time4Learning.com
— All About Learning Press
— Stubby Pencil Studio
— The Critical Thinking Co.
— Dyslexia Games (The Thinking Tree)
— CurrClick.com
— Pandia Press
— Love to Learn 

Be sure to drop in daily!

HEDUA “On the Go” Planner & Family Magazine Giveaway!

I’m very excited to say that tomorrow morning we will have a lovely giveaway posted at Schoolin’ Swag! FIVE very fortunate winners will receive a bundle including a copy of HEDUA’s “On the Go” Planner for 2016!

hedua1The On the Go Planner from the Well Planned Gal is a beautifully designed day planner and home management system perfectly sized to fit in your purse. Take it with you everywhere you go and stay organized at home and on the go! Look inside here! 

  • Perfectly purse-sized (GENIUS, right???)
  • Space to create a daily schedule and to-do list
  • Meal Planning
  • Monthly Budgeting
  • One year Bible reading plan

These five winners will ALSO receive a year’s subscription to Family Magazine! 

hedua2Family Magazine meets you at the intersection of your life and faith. Committed to engaging today’s homeschooling family in thoughtful discussions of relevant topics, we bring you the best articles by the best authors about the most important issues facing families today. No cookie-cutter answers here—only practical, current homeschooling advice and resources. Come join the most meaningful discussions taking place in the homeschooling community!

I will also be reviewing the “On the Go” Planner as well as the HEDUA “Well Planned Day” Planner for 2015-2016! Keep an eye out!

Specials:  Be aware of these special prices, available right now on these products!

  • Well Planned Day Planner (reg $26.95) now $13.47!
  • On the Go Planner 2015-2016 (reg $15.95) now 7.97!
  • Family Magazine (reg $25) now $12!
  • These Great Sales and much more, at this link!

Go and “like” the HEDUA Facebook page here! Follow the “Well Planned Gal” herself, by clicking here. 🙂 You can sign up for their free newsletter right here, and find LOTS of freebies here!

Special Secret Santa Bundle

secretsantaI have a Secret Santa giveaway that I will be giving to one special member of Schoolin’ Swag on December 1. This will be lovely 3-book bundle from Dyslexia Games (The Thinking Tree)​ (“Coffee Time Journal, “A Day Like Tomorrow” and “How to Homeschool” purse sized guide!).

I’m not telling how I am deciding upon the winner. Let’s just say I’ll be watching for who’s naughty and who’s nice. 😀

Christmas Countdown!

We are counting down the days at Schoolin’ Swag! Our “12 Hours of Christmas” event begins at 9am on December 1, and in preparation for the festivities, we are giving away a prize a day in the group! Prizes already given away:

fatal-illusions2Today we are offering two paperback copies of “Fatal Illusions” by my author friend, Adam Blumer. This is a clean (no worries about language or suggestive content) Christian mystery, full of riveting suspense!  Go over to the group on Facebook and enter to win. Winners will be drawn at 10pm Mountain Time.

Upcoming Countdown Prizes:

Saturday: A copy of Rapid Recall Addition from Little Giant Steps! (value $45.54)

Sunday: From Memoria Press, we’ll have their set of 4 Advent books, as well as a Classical Christmas CD from their Lingua Angelica course! (total value $56.95)

Monday: A $15 Gift Certificate from Usborne Books!

Tuesday: “12 Hours of Christmas” event begins at 9am!

A Day in the Life: Rats, Snowy Poetry, Lazy Lasagna, Bloody Mary and the White Witch

I thought I’d take you through some snapshots of what our school day looks like. I remember as a new homeschooler, I was so curious about how everyone’s day was structured.

Our 4th grader is always up first, so we get her started with breakfast and chores. She had a little extra to take care of today, tidying the school book shelf in addition to the other things on her list. By 10am we were starting school. I’m an advocate of letting our kids sleep and getting the best hours out of them instead of yanking them out of bed at “dark thirty” and having a counterproductive educational experience. Here is what Katie’s day mapped out to be:

  • Keys for Kids (she listens to the daily broadcast, does the key verse for her cursive practice along with her signature, and we discuss the lesson).
  • This year is reading-intensive, as you’ll see. This is deliberate, because my sciency gal struggles in writing and spelling. First, she read a chapter from Hero Tales (we are now learning about Dwight Moody…in the last lesson, the Chicago fire was mentioned so we looked up some info on that).
  • Read aloud time. We are reading a chapter or two from “Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH”. She sketches a scene from the story. Next we will begin “The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate” (a book about a sciency girl, back in the 1800’s–our public library has it as well as the sequel!).
  • Wiggle break (Katie dances around to get some nervous energy out…her choices were “The Syncopated Clock” and “Sleigh Ride” which goes along with her current poetry project).
  • She reads her “for fun” reading. Right now it is “The Little Lemons Detective Agency: The Case of the Missing Suspect” (which I got free for Kindle).
  • We are working on memorizing and reciting “Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost.
  • She has a spelling list to practice, using Spelling City. Her reading curriculum with Christian Light has a list of words which corresponds with each story in her reader, so I just plug that in so she can review word meanings and practice spelling with games and exercises.
  • Today’s lesson for math is on fractions. She’s been doing well with this curriculum…today we cover 10ths and 100ths at CTC math. katectc
  • Today we are taking a break from our regular science (we alternate science and history, every other day), which is a study of plants, their structure and uses from Christian Light. We found a Venus fly trap and a grafted cactus to add some fun to that study last Friday. Today I came across this neat experiment in my web wanderings, looking for goodies to post at Schoolin’ Swag. I happened to have all the things needed for it, so it’s a go! That rounds out our day.

Meanwhile, I am slogging through the laundry that I forgot on Saturday (yep, it happens!), and throwing together the layers for Lazy Crock Pot lasagna for supper.

Our 10th grader has fewer subjects, but does them more intensely. After waking up and getting chores squared away, he checks into Homeschool Planet to see his daily assignments.

mphplantoday

  • His Bible time right now until the end of the semester is brief daily readings from scripture at Bible Gateway. Then he journals what the verses mean for him personally. We just completed a series of videos and resources on creationism and apologetics, so I wanted to switch gears back to personal application.
  • We are using Teaching Textbooks for his algebra curriculum. This includes an interactive video and  practice problems. He can also read the transcript of the lesson if he needs to. In the workbook are review questions.
  • We recently decided to do a modified block style of lesson plan for Michael, which means that his core subjects of Physical Science, World History, Language Arts/Grammar, and Literature/Writing each have one day assigned to them. On that day, we do a more intensive lesson, usually containing double lessons. Today he is answering 15 review questions from his chapter in Story of the World on Mary, Queen of Scots. Then he is viewing a video about her from the History Channel.
  • Finally, he will do some practical application of what he has been learning about greetings and introductions in Spanish class. He will do an interactive exercise at this website, and then write his own dialogue between two friends, using the vocabulary he has learned thus far.
  • For his reading block, Michael has been going through “The Lion, the aslanwitchWitch, and the Wardrobe” by C. S. Lewis. Tomorrow, his literature/writing day, he will read Chapters 13 and 14, and then write out what he believes the “secret conversation” between Aslan and the White Witch may have been like.

My other activities during the day include reviewing these materials which I just received from The Learning Tree (exciting stuff!), and gathering up the last of the donations for the “12 Hours of Christmas” event coming up on December 1st at Schoolin’ Swag. Today I got donations from the Anne of Green Gables page on Facebook and Plant Therapy …still waiting to hear from Apologia. Exciting times!

For the Love of Learning,
Diane