Living Math Resource

In planning out the rest of our school year, I realized that daughter's math lessons would not take every day. What to do with the other days? I could skip 'em...

OR WE COULD READ SOME LIVING MATH BOOKS!

You'll never guess which I chose!! :)

I immediately turned to this great site for direction. The fact that a homeschooling mom put this together just awes me! I printed out this list for my 5yo daughter and we will work through the list (which we've already read some of!).

I just love resources like this.

They save me so much time and energy. I just can't tell you--well, maybe YOU know! :)

This site also offers many other great resources including articles, lesson plans, game lists... You just have to see it to believe it.

Paper Fun You Shouldn't Miss

I'm a cuttin' fiend. Yes. I cut out 500 zillion Civil War paper dolls soldiers and a mega-plethora of girly paper dolls (past & present!) and I've cut out at least a billion pictures to scrapbook. There is nothing quite like the feel of a wonderfully sharp pair of Honey Bee Scissors. I have one scissor challenged child, and one who always cuts perfectly (girl!). Loving those scissors and cutting is both a blessing and a curse!

I've always loved intricately cut things like snowflakes, and winter is one of those times where cutting paper, is the most fun. So here are a few of our favorite links. We've used these goodies for history, geography, and even science. We also just make 'em for fun!

If you haven't heard of the Toymaker, you're missing out. This link will take you to all her paper toys, which are extraordinary. Be sure to check out the Christmas "toys". Sign up for her newsletter to receive the latest greatest.

There are some really cool items in several categories (science!) here. Their volcano was particularly useful!

How about a paper models of important places like the US Capitol building. Here's an absolutely unbelievable list of goodies, including a nativity I'm printing out right now!

Now here's something son particularly enjoys: Paper airplanes galore! We mustn't forget this really cool rocket either!

As you can see, the possibilities are endless. BE AWARE however, that content on some of the sites DOES CHANGE so if you see something you think you'll use, go ahead and print it out. I've missed a few goodies by holding on to the link. A link for nothing, gives you NOTHING!

AND USE CARDSTOCK!

AND HAVE FUN!

Survival By Audio

We are enjoying the use of free recorded audios while I enjoy my looong recovery from bad Laryngitis which tires my voice.

For history, our first Henty: "With Lee in Virginia"

For literature, our first classic audio from LibriVox: "Swiss Family Robinson"

Classical Music Resources You Can't Do Without!

If you are interested in adding a little classical music to your day, you need to check out this great resource! It is brief radio broadcasts about composers and their music especially done for kids. There are usually 4-5, 8-10 min. programs per composer. You can sign up for the weekly podcast, or go online and download past programs by searching by composer. Neat, neat! Here is the teacher page, which includes an opportunity to register for a printable activity book, lesson plans and more. Here is the composer search link. Oh. And did I mention there are games?

You must check out "Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra" (part 1, part 2). There is also a great book, w/CD, for basic orchestra study called "Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra," by Anita Ganeri (narrated by Ben Kingsley). Lastly, Carnegie Hall presents "Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra" online game. Very cool!

I have to add our favorite, favorite resource--Classical Kids CD's (remember, son's an audio learner!). These are fun and informative and guaranteed to make you interested in classical composers and their music!

There are many, many fabulous resources. Among them, Story of the Orchestra-- great book and CD. Ambleside Online has a great deal of info available, and we can highly recommend the Opal Wheeler series, which Zeezok (Book Peddler) Publishers is making available again.

Hope you enjoy these resources as much as we do. I grew up with music, but rarely classical. I can't stress to you strongly enough, the effect that this music has had in our home. We LOVE it! The kids thoroughly enjoy it, though they PROMISED they would NOT! :) Just the listening is enough to inspire. That just takes the gathering of resources. Except for the "online" resources mentioned, most everything else should be available at your public library. Go for it!

Geography Resource

We just began our US tour with the Trail Guide to US Geography book. For someone who enjoys having all information presented in a nice, tidy package, I've been a bit surprised that this book requires <<gulp>> research! And of course, with 2200+ books in my personal library, not ONE book with state maps in it. Grrrr. So I resorted to using the internet to help son find the location of state rivers. I found this neat site, which has endless amounts of info, but also cool state topographical maps. Check it out!

Citizenship Test

Ever wonder just what IS on a United States citizenship/naturalization test? Here is a link to the study questions, with answers.

Historical Supplement From An Unlikely Source

Here is a great resource that I heard about over at My Home Sweet Home.

There have been so many times, in our history studies, that we have seen the hand of God and His Providences through weather! Whether it was a "mysterious" fog that appeared at the crossing of the Delaware, or a "sudden clearing" of weather to allow for an escape, God is sovereign. These history shows by the Weather Channel called "When Weather Changed History", are pretty neat. Of course, they don't acknowledge God, but WE know! Be sure to scroll through the list for Full Episodes that are available.

Being non-TV watchers, I appreciate that the Weather Channel would make this available online. See what you think.

More Totally Cool Computery Stuff!

I guess I'm on a roll! I just keep having the neatest resources fall into my lap...literally...laptop...get it? Oh my! So.....

You gotta love milk, right? How about the neatest grocery/shopping list maker/organizer/sorter/ printer gizmo? Try Don't Forget The Milk.

THEN, as if that isn't good enough, try an incredible list management/tast organizing fiend (in a good way!) program called Remember The Milk!

Computery Gizmo-y Stuff

I would not consider myself truly "computer literate", but over time I have figured a few things out. With the recent addition of a new laptop to the household, I've had to scramble to be up to date and be able to function better. I thought I'd share a couple of goodies that have helped.

First off, Firefox is a pretty great replacement for IE. I haven't really had any qualms with IE until about a year ago when it began crashing ten times a day. This is not helpful when you are accustomed to opening multiple links (usually from blogs) to check out, then boom! They're gone. Firefox, if it ever crashes, restarts with all your tabs open. Gotta like that!

My favorite thing about Firefox (besides the not crashing business) is the ability to highlight any url and drag and drop it into a toolbar, creating an icon for one-touch speed surfing. I have all my most common sites on it--library, bank, blog, feed reader, mail, etc. Love it!

There are add-ons to Firefox that have really changed how I use the computer. One is Clipmarks. It allows you to highlight and copy that recipe, instruction, or whatever and print just that. It logs where you got it from, so you won't forget. Very nice. It makes for less bookmarking. Incidentally, it is also available for IE, but a friend with Vista says it's a "no go".

Then there is my newest find which is Read it Later. Can I just say "YeeHaw!" This is a great tool that lets you mark a site or page to read or check into later without bookmarking it for all eternity (then never looking at it again!). Then, anytime you have a few minutes to read (yea, I know!) you pull down the list, check the sites, and mark them read. So cool.

For calendar help, there is Rainlendar. I got this link from a recent blog (sorry I can't remember who) and it is a great calendar/planner for online. It is a small desktop calendar (also shows today's date in the tray). You can enter a to do list for each day, as well as events. You can set remainder alarms too! I'm just starting to use it more, but I like it so far! They have a free and a pro version available.

The History of Children's Literature

I stumbled across an interesting site recently, and had to share. It's a really neat telling of the history of children's literature. Personally, I can't get enough of the really good (aka "old") stuff! If you are a children's bibliophile, like myself, you'll find this interesting!

Helpful Font

Here is a helpful free font that you can download if you have young beginning writers who enjoy tracing!

Organizing Computer Related Homeschool Materials

My oldest is now eight. I've known we were to homeschool since before he was born. That was when I began collecting homeschool materials. Then about five years ago, I got my own computer. THAT was when I began collecting links. About three and a half years ago, I went to my first book sale! Oh boy! The shelves are brimming with living books! About two and a half years ago, I discovered the Homeschoolblogger community. That was when I began collecting homeschool friends with ideas, wisdom, experience, and often freebies. I've collected a LOT!

My brain is a little coo-coo right now because I'm planning something really different in regards to our school time (more on that later) and it has occurred to me that I may need to better access all that material that I've saved up. There is a little bit of panic about whether or not I'll miss the golden gem because it's tucked away somewhere. So I'm processing my sources, and making lots of decisions about what to do with it all.

My links are fairly well sorted by folder in my favorites, but I haven't been through them all lately to check if they are even active. They really need a good purging. Spring cleaning?!! Oh! And have you heard about this new link resource?

I know there is much debate about whether or not to print out everything you find--pdf's, freebies, etc. I think I'm coming to terms with the fact that if I don't print it out, I won't use it. Out of sight, out of mind. I'm a binder girl, so most things that I have printed are sorted by subject in my binders. This really works for me. One of my favorite new finds is a free program called clipmarks. It allows me to be more selective about what I print from web pages. Saves on ink and confusion when wanting one small part of a full page.

As I attempt to steward all that the Lord has provided for us to learn with, I realize there is way more than I can ever use, but I should use what I can. This all comes down to organization for me. History things can not be in 47 different locations! As I've continued the process of putting together my new library room, I've separated sets of books, etc., to put resources together chronologically. The Dover coloring books are no longer all together in a box, but set on the shelf with the other books, by topic. The notebook binders, also, are set in place by topic.

My biggest frustration at the moment is audio. My son loves history and science audio programs. Actually, he loves ALL kinds of audio dramas. I've collected a blue-million of those and putting our hands on "the one", is often difficult. Today we were looking for one on Jim Beckworth. Can't find it. We have uploaded them all to our ipod, but they are not always named in a manner that is subject worthy. That issue needs major solving!

I'm seeing a plan take shape for all this and believe it will continue to make our schooling time easier and my planning time less cumbersome and time consuming. Wouldn't that be sweet?!!

I'd love to know what you all do to keep on top of all your materials. I'm sure I'm missing some fabulous idea that could revolutionize my organizing! Bring it on! Please! For those of you that aren't "collectors" by nature...bless your hearts! Pray for those of us who do--that it won't become an idol to us or simply drive us screaming into the night!