5 Ways to Have an Unplugged Summer

Some of my favorite summer memories growing up, were spent outside. I'm guessing kids do not register heat like adults do, because I do not remember it being so difficult to stay outside longer than 30 minutes during the summer, like it does now! I remember baseball games with my siblings, running through the sprinkler, cold watermelon on the front porch. I remember playing with my sister and cousins in my Memaw's front yard. We would climb trees, play 'house', and sit in her shaded front porch and drink ice cold water as a break. These are the kind of memories I want for my children, however, how many times do I hear 'what can I do now?' and 'Can I just watch something?'.

I am thankful we've never bought my son a tablet, so there is no weaning him off of it, but I've been convicted about the amount of other screen time that he gets. I know other mamma's struggle with kid's constantly wanting to play video games. Or feel how easy it is for screen time to be a go to. However, If you are like me, and would rather have more camping in homemade forts nights, than them playing Fortnite (see what I did there?) then read ahead on some ways you -and I- can have a unplugged summers, this year!

 1. You are the Parent!
Um, what? That isn't a way to be unplugged, is it? Y'all, the easy thing is to give in to your kid when they are bored. As parent's, though, we know that what is easy, isn't always what is best. If you want your kids to have an unplugged summer, then you will have to be the parent and limit devices and TV. I am not completely cutting TV this summer, but I am limiting it. You can do it too. Trade in those devices and TV for memories that will last!

2. Schedule and Routine
Having a plan is a way to set yourself up to win! I am not one to want to bog down the freedom of summer with a lot of set schedules, but having a routine can help things to be accomplished and plans to be executed. For my son, since he is little, I am creating a colored routine chart to help him know what comes next during the day. This way, instead of coming to me wanting to know what to do, he can go look at the chart and know what the plan is for the day.

3. Boredom Busters
I don't remember my mom having these when I was a kid. It was more, go play or I'll put you to work, kind of a thing. ha! However, Pinterest has so many cute activities and Ideas, that I want to add this category. You could have a 'make it Monday' and 'Take a trip Tuesday'. For us, this year, I am having a quiet time basket. Each week (or every couple of weeks) I'll have a themed basket filled with books, puzzles, and small activities (like lacing, water beads, coloring book, etc. ) that he can do while it is really hot outside. I've also included some colorful dollar store workbooks to help him remember what we studied during the school year. I may also look up some fun Pinterest activities to do a few days a week.

4. Family Game Time
Our game cabinet is full of board and card games that we only rarely play as a family. My son is nearing 5, and he is starting to catch on to games like UNO, Blockus, Sorry, ect. I am planning to have a set time (that might have been spent watch a show) to play games as a family. There is nothing like bonding(or fighting!) during a family card game!

5. Go Outside!
Buy that watermelon, have that spitting seed contest. Run through the sprinkler and let your kids have water fights. These are the moments you will never get back with your children. Be present in their lives. Since we teach by example, put down the phone (talking to myself here) and watch your children grow. Swimming lessons are great, art camps are fun, but simply spending time as a family can become the fond memories your children look back on for years to come.

Happy Summer!

Kindergarten Curriculum Haul and Overview

It's May and I am already thinking about fall! Don't get me wrong, I am planning to savor every second of summer while my husband is home (he is a teacher), but I also know just how fast summer seems to fly by. Kindergarten scares me a little, as it starts 'the real deal' of schooling. Preschool is play, and I want Kindergarten to continue to be fun, but there is more routine and seriousness around the concepts needing to be learned.

This is where I am thankful to be a homeschool graduate myself, with 5 younger siblings. Mom tested different subjects on us, and now I get to use what worked for them! ha! So here I am, ready to share what my son will be using for his Kindergarten year, what I've ordered so far, and a few things I still need to order or that's on my wishlist.

Bible

Bible is included in The Playful Pioneers, with the purchase of the book The Ology. I don't think I will be going that route with my son, but I will still use their verse writing sheets, for him to use for memory work. I will most likely pick an 'easy' book of the Bible (John perhaps) and read a little each day and have him narrate  afterwards.

Next are all the Subjects included in Playful Pioneers.

Read Alouds

The Playful Pioneers is all about the Little House on the Prairie books. Each day we will read a chapter and then do activities related to that day's reading. Also included in the curriculum is a book list for each age group (all the way up to high school!) to read-or look at- during quiet reading time. Another 'main' book list is given, with 1-2 books each week that go along with the lessons. We will use what we have here or what we can get from the library or others.

Language Arts

Even though Phonics is not included, there is a section for copy work each day in the Playful Pioneers. This includes one for scripture and a dictation from one of the Little House books. The dictations are given in print and cursive, as well as one with a list of simple spelling words.

Science and History

If you have older kids, you may want to expand this a little, but as my son is starting Kindergarten, what they cover is perfect! An example of what they cover: One day he will be given a map to color and label where the story is taking place, the next day we will read about horses, talked about in the book. The next day we will read aloud a story about the American Indians, or about a famous American figure, and on the last day my son will draw and label the horse as shown in the Farm Anatomy book.

The beautiful thing about this way of learning, is that your child can dig as deep into the subjects given as he/she wants, or if they only do what's asked, they still learn so much! I can imagine doing this curriculum when my daughter is in Kindergarten and my son in 3rd grade and him learning that much more!

Art and Practical Skills

Something that is very important to the writer of this curriculum, is art and practical skills. In the Preschool curriculum these two things are separate. For this year, a couple of days each week will be focused on art, and the other two on practical skills. Art can include dyeing silks, painting pictures, picture studies, and more! Practical skills can cover anything from recipes to cleaning skills (and every momma shouts 'amen!'). Not only are these great skills for your child, but I've learned through preschool that these are great bonding moments for me and my son.

All you see above is included in ONE curriculum. This is the Playful Pioneers, and right now there is a coupon code (kindkingdom) that will get you 20% off any of their curriculum. This expires 5/30, so this is the perfect time to buy! I went ahead and got the book printed and put in a spiral book, at the site they recommend. I printed and put everything in a binder this year, but I feel like this is much easier, and the price was very affordable.

Here is all the extra things I have gotten/am getting.

Math

As mentioned before, my mom homeschooled me and my siblings. She kept a lot of things, including the teacher books and manipulatives to the Saxon Math 1-3. I will be using Saxon Math 1 for Little Man's math this year. Even though it's for 1st grade it can be used for Kindergarten or 1st. I ordered the workbook for Little Man and the flashcards. The writer of the Playful Pioneers suggests Math-U-See, and I love that curriculum and highly recommend it. We will transition to that in the 3rd grade, however, free is free, am I right?! Also, Saxon 1-3 is a really good curriculum. I hated Saxon 4/5 and up as a kid, but the 1-3 is much more hands on and fun, and my siblings loved it. Both Saxon 1 and Math-U-See are great options.

Phonics

Here we come to the complicated part. The task of teaching your child to read can be quite terrifying. Timberdoodle sells a Phonics program called All About Reading that looks simple and easy to follow along. If I didn't have the resources that I have, then I would probably use AAR (not sponsored to say that. I've just been doing a lot of reading on the best way to teach a child to read, and really like the way it has learning to read set up).

My mom taught all my siblings to read by the programs shown here (except the Bob books)


Play N Talk (a 1950s program, done on a record player. It's a good program for teaching phonics, though a little dated. I don't think they sell the records anymore, but you can look for resources on their website, if interested), Happy Phonics ( a really fun program where you learn phonics by playing games! We will use this a couple times a week to reinforce what we've learned that week), and Explode the Code (fun illustrations that help teach phonics. Little Man did the primer book to help him get ready for the 'real deal'.).

Handwriting

I am so excited to be using A Reason For Handwriting!* Another sibling favorite, that is Christian based. Once they are done learning to write the alphabet, they start copying scripture. Each page is one that they can color and learn to write. Once they get to the scripture pages, the coloring page is so well illustrated, that it can make for keepsakes to give to grandparents and family. I remember watching my siblings use this program, and even then, I knew I would use it when teaching my own children. They have fun, learn to write, and learn scripture at the same time. Win, Win, Win!
I haven't bought this yet, as I am trying to figure out what educational games I want to also get from the Timberdoodle website. Little Man's birthday is the first week of September, which is a perfect time for him to get things that will help him with school I'll be ordering the handwriting book and the educational games, soon!

There you go! An in-depth look at what we will be doing for our Kindergarten year. Let me know if you have any questions. Once we start in the fall, I will write another post on schedule, morning time, and perhaps exactly how I'll be using the phonics programs to teach reading. For now, I am going to enjoy Little Man's last day of preschool, today!

*Edit: A Reason For Handwriting K is the only one that does not include scripture, as they are just beginning penmanship. All consecutive books in the series do, however.

My Blogging Journey

When I started this blog back in 2013, I did it mostly as an outlet for creative writing. Not knowing where to start, I started with what I was familiar with-the Bible. My posts mirrored what my husband was talking about on Wednesday nights in youth and eventually I started branching out with new ideas and posts. Homemaking was another area I wanted to post about, but unfortunately at the time, WE WERE BROKE! Updates to the home would have to come later.

In 2014 my son was born and my whole world changed. the next couple of years saw a decrease in blog posts as I learned to juggle parenting, housekeeping, and being still very active in the church. Once I did come back to blogging, parenting was a topic that I naturally wanted to talk about. Parenting, homemaking, spiritual posts were all something that could be seen on my blog. I was still considering it a fun hobby, so my posts were sporadic and not well organized.

Fast forward to the beginning of 2019. My daughter was born in December 2018, and believe it or not, I bounced back to a 'normal' routine much faster than with my son. her schedule allowed for me to have about 20 minutes in the morning to devote to posting on here again. So here I am, since March 2019. Ready to make this thing a little more than a hobby, but still always fun!

Things have changed with what I post about. I still want to talk about homemaking, and house updates, parenting is still very much a big part of my life, but homeschooling has been added to the mix. My son starts Kindergarten in the new school year (yes, that's me sobbing in the corner), and I will be homeschooling him. I was homeschooled all of my school years, and I am excited to be continuing that journey with my son, and eventually my daughter.

As I continue this homeschooling and blogging journey, I am excited to be joining the Timberdoodle Blog Team this school year! I remember as a kid the Timberdoodle catalog coming in and flipping through the 'doodled' pages and looking at all the exciting products. They not only have curriculum, but games, puzzles, and activities. School starting was a little like Christmas with all the new things we got to start the year. Some things mom actually put back for Christmas. I look forward to reviewing products from a company that I've known and trusted for a long time. I will still be doing my regular posts, and any reviews I do will be my real opinion of the product.

Thank you for reading!
Hope

Preschool: A Year in Review

Nature studies, bending quietly over a book as mommy reads, talking about life and listening to an expanding vocabulary. These were the visions I had for preschool. We had the goal of learning the alphabet, numbers, developing motor skills, etc. but at the heart of it all was something that could only be found in our approach to homeschool. I have to say, it's been amazing to see this dream be realized.



Little man loves going outside! Finding earth worms and watching them make holes in the dirt fascinate him. Listening to me read stories and bringing me more to read to him are a daily occurrence. I've been amazed to hear some of the words he's been able to use correctly as he talks. It might be part genetics, as he has talkers on both sides of the family (my poor babies don't stand a chance!), but I think all the reading we do helps.



Something else that I've enjoyed this year, is how little time is spent in the classroom. More time is spent in the kitchen, learning how to measure ingredients for carrot cake, or in the bedroom, as we learn the life skill of making a bed. We make letters out of pasta, or trace them in salt, instead of constantly having to trace lines on a piece of paper. Those have their place, but for a busy little boy, the balance has been perfect for him.


Thank you for letting me share with you our preschool journey. If you follow my personal Facebook page, or my public social media sites, you know just how much I've enjoyed documenting the journey. I hope you've enjoyed watching and reading about it as much as I have sharing it!







 

My Favorites for Preschool: Activities and games

Games and songs are two of the best ways to help your child learn something. This week I will be sharing my favorite games and activities that have helped my son learn shapes, numbers, thinking skills, or motor skills.

Games

Warning: If you buy this game you WILL have to play it over, and over, and over again! My son loves The Cat's Pajamas and still requests to play it often. It helps with learning shapes and colors, as well as numbers 1-3 on a simple dice. It's a board game that makes them feel grown up, and formatted in such a way that everyone gets a fair shot at winning. 

Other games like Chutes and Ladders, and Candy Land are a great way to teach counting and colors. I don't have these games, but Little Man has played these at my mom's and has enjoyed them!

Another game that we love around here is memory match. It's always educational to improve their memory.  I think my son might be better at this game than me! haha We have the Spider-man version of this game, but this one is very similar.


Activities
There are so many activities we love. From sensory play to fine tuning motor skills, we normally do some sort of activity each day. Here are just a few of my favorites!
Lacing and Beading:
Not only are these great for preschool, but I love to bring them on trips as well. They are quiet enough for church, and my son can do these on his own, so it's something that I can leave him to do while I clean the house. I don't have this specific set, but mine is very similar.



There is another activity that I want to show you, but I believe they no longer sell it. I love this bug color and counting activity set. My son loves the colorful bugs, and the activity cards range from finding all of a certain color, to patterns, to simple addition. I found something similar in these bear activity cards, and I'm also sending a link to the bugs activity itself, but it doesn't look like it's sold through amazon, and it's very expensive!



There are many more activities I could talk about, but that may have to be left for another day. If you follow me on Facebook, you will know that I am now on the Timberdoodle blog team! There are a few activities that I would love to talk about and review for you, that I hope I get to do soon!
If you AREN'T following me on social media, go follow me on Instagram and Facebook. I would love to hear feedback from you!

My Favorites for Preschool: Puzzles

*Amazon links are affiliated*

After reviewing Peaceful Preschool (you can see that here), and talking about how I homeschooled my preschooler for *almost* free (and you can see that here), I thought I would share some of my favorite items for the preschool years. It's hard to believe my Little Man will be starting Kindergarten this next year! These things have helped, I believe, equip him in large/fine motor skills, counting/numbers, and pre-reading. So here are a few of my favorite...

Puzzles:
Chunky and Peg Puzzles
I love Melissa and Doug chunky puzzles! I have kept one around, even though my son is too old for them now, because he still will get them out and play with the pieces. This is great for vocabulary and sounds (e.g. what sound does the cow make?). This is great for ages 2-3-and honestly even before! Melissa & Doug Farm Chunky Puzzle (Preschool, Chunky Wooden Pieces, Full-Color Pictures, 8 Pieces)


Peg puzzles are a great way to introduce puzzles to little hands, and also a way for them to learn their alphabet and numbers. We still keep these around for alphabet and number review!
Melissa & Doug Classic Wooden Peg Puzzles, See-Inside Alphabet & Numbers, and Fish Mix & Match Colors, 3-Pack


Next are these shape puzzles. This is another type of puzzle that lasts a long time!I had to help him in the beginning, but at around 2-3 he could do them himself. This helped with learning simple shapes, and of course, motor skills.
Melissa & Doug Beginner Wooden Pattern Blocks Educational Toy, 5 Double-Sided Scenes and 30 Shapes, 10.65” H x 10.65” W x 2.3” L

"Real" Puzzles
Once my son mastered these puzzles, my friend gave Little Man the farm version of these puzzles. We also love this brand for their occupations, opposites, and counting puzzles!
The Learning Journey My First 4-In-A-Box Puzzle – Ocean – Educational Toddler Toys & Gifts for Boys & Girls Ages 2 & Up



And then, the 'Big One'. He has just now learned how to master this one himself, so I would suggest the 4-5 year old range. He feels very grown up doing this one!
Melissa & Doug Solar System Floor Puzzle (Floor Puzzles, Easy-Clean Surface, Promotes Hand-Eye Coordination, 48 Pieces, 36” L x 24” W)

Hope you enjoyed these favorites of mine! These are great for birthday, Christmas, and 'getting ready for preschool' gifts. Next time I will be sharing more of my favorite activities and games, so stay tuned!

Review of Peaceful Preschool Curriculum

As the school year winds down, I wanted to take this time and talk about how amazing the preschool curriculum is that my son has used! If you have been here long, you know that this is what I used for my Pre-K3 curriculum. My main goal was learning through fun, and I think The Peaceful Preschool from The Peaceful Press has been a great transition. It had more focused learning, but still so, so fun!

Peaceful Preschool is perfect for ages 3-5 and covers everything you need to know before Kindergarten. If your child finds something a little over their heads, I found it easy to switch out an activity and replace it with something else (however, I normally would try it their way first, and . It is easily customizable, but at the same time, you don't have to lesson plan (someone shout amen!) as everything is laid out each day.

Each week you get a supply list with books, things from the store, and things from around the house that you will need for the week. Each day you will find that day's assignment and it will tell you exactly what to do for: Reading, Phonics, Math, Large and Fine Motor Skills, Life Skills(my personal favorite! Your child learns how to do chores around the house!), and Art. The only thing I have added is Bible. However, this curriculum is from a Christian perspective, and many times Scripture is a part of their reading. On those weeks I normally make that our memory work.

A couple of negatives: There aren't many, but I do want to talk about a couple of things. First, N-P were Christmas themed lessons and another letter was Valentines themed. This is fine if you are following their plan exactly (which they really don't have a calendar plan), but since we took off for my daughter's birth, it wasn't Christmas any more when we got to those letters. I had to create my own lessons for those weeks. Not the end of the world, but I did want to give you a heads up.
Also-There was only one book I didn't care for (and there are a lot of books!). The Runaway Bunny. Many people like this story, but it just didn't sit well with me. To each their own! These are the only 'cons' but not enough for me to dissuade you from trying out this curriculum!

Books: There are a lot of books you go through!! We have used the library, friends, our own library and YouTube. Yes, YouTube! I would spend a fortune if I purchased every book, so when I couldn't get my hands on a book, I just looked it up and we listened to it there. The only downside to that, was if we needed a picture from the book to paint.

Nature: One of my favorite things about this curriculum is how often you are NOT at the table or indoors, but outside exploring. As I type this, one of the activities we will be doing is a nature walk, where we count plants, gather things we find on our walk and make an art piece out of it. Love it!

Would you like to see more? Check out their website! There you will find a sample lesson, book list, and more. The cost is very little, and all you need is a 3 ring binder and a printer! Here are some of my favorite books from the year. Hope you check out this wonderful preschool curriculum!