In Depth Curriculum-What, and Why's

A friend in Jesus Christ (Keri)that is in my GRANDmomma church of Prescott, Arizona left a comment in regards to not being familiar with some of the curriculum we are using.  Since we use a charter school for most funding (they don't buy Christian curriculum), we have had the opportunity to see what is just an abysmal failure and have found what clicks (at least at this moment in time) for the kidlets. I am in wait mode as my kids label and color the Painted Lady Butterfly print out, I could go into a bit more depth to what we are using.  I will link where I can.  Please remember, that EVERY child is different, and so are YOU!! What works for me, might be the worst thing ever for YOU!  **that is my disclaimer**
Okay, we start the day with Grammar.  I was my mom's worst nightmare in Grammar.  I remember her cringing as I slaughtered the English language.  Verbs and adverbs for some reason never really stuck in my brain.  
We pulled our kids out for last year.  Eric was going in 8th. Gabe was going into 5th, the twins into 4th.  My Grammar was below all of them.  First we ordered Grammar, Usage, Mechanics, a workbook that was pretty.  It had gumballs on the cover! 

 That is the depth I put into the first order!  I can honestly say, these workbooks were the cause of my first homeschool melt down.  It is by Zane-Blouser, but I couldn't even do the 4th grade book.  It was beyond pitiful!  We threw them in the trash and did happy dances in the kitchen.  Of course, then we had nothing for English!  I had to find something!
I had heard of Easy Grammar, and actually at a Home School Store in Sacramento, my husband thought it was something that would work.  He gets Grammar, so I figured, yeah, I better not get it! I watched the video at  Easy Grammar, and cried.  Okay, my emotions were high, I was a dismal failure at this homeschooling.  My kids were loving it, one less subject to do...school was fun!
I looked at Shurley English!, and had some friends that like it try and explain it to me...it was way to much work for mom.  So, I bit the bullet and ordered the 3rd grade Easy Grammar, and I did it over Christmas vacation. I got it!  You actually get rid of all the fluff in a sentence, via prepositional phrases being deleted!! You then just work with what is left!

EASY GRAMMAR®
Teaching Texts

Easy to Teach...
Easy to Learn...
Easy to Remember!

Easy Grammar texts use the prepositional approach combined with effective strategies. This helps students to understand grammar, a tool for speaking and writing properly.

See, of the dogs is a prepositional phrase, as is at us.  All that is left in the sentence; One barked. Action is the verb-barked.  Subject is ONE. 

We did all of 3rd grade, in 4 months!! Then we started 4th grades, worked on it for a few months, then put it away for 2 months in the summer.  We started yesterday, and it was like riding a bicyle, they all remembered and we are moving now with the additional Daily Grams, that are a daily review of Grammar.  We do two days first thing!  Just to get the brain moving!  Total time for Grammar 45 minutes of laughter and best of all, no tears.  From them or me!!

Easy Grammar! I highly recommend it

okay-I failed in the pic uploads!!

We started school today, and I just wanted to share, I didn't cry this year or scream at the kids.  I rather enjoyed the day.  Last year was a bit of wild ride!! Many phone calls to friends crying, whole lot of prayer on my face on my carpet (thank you Tony for letting me buy that thick ol' carpet), and so many second guessing the decision to homeschool!
This year, I spent the summer little bit at a time, organizing my thoughts, reading books, listening to other homeschoolers and watching my kids learn when I wasn't teaching! 
I now realize, Anna and Abby both freeze when I ask them the answer to a multiple choice question, but if I rub their back and we work together to eliminate the wrong answers, they love it! 
Gabriel can take an encyclopedia on history and learn about centuries in one week, no test, no papers, just pure knowledge and filled with emotions.
If Eric has a schedule and a list to check off, he is happy and I just have to smile at him a few times, and he is off and running.
Saying the Pledge of Allegiance this morning was exciting as was the delving back into the bible together.  I love that as a family, we do this, it seems so small, but so significant.  We also have a flag!! woo hoo!! 
We have our regular Easy Grammar that we are zooming thru, we finished 3rd grade in 4 months last year, and started 4th grade and we are 1/2 way done, so we kinda came in the midst of nouns today, but it clicked right!  Tomorrow is the 2nd day of school and they will do a test! ha ha  Eric is also doing the high school version, which concentrates more on sentence structure.  He enjoys it and it goes quick.  I totally spaced that today for him, but fixed the schedule as I wrote this post!
Math-U-See has been the key for the youngest 3, we are almost done with Delta, and will go into fractions in Epsilon by November.  The girls are going at a slower pace, but Gabriel is chewing the pages up like crazy!!  Eric is doing Teaching Textbooks in Geometry, and uhm he is on his own! lol
We also got a computer program called Aleks for just a computer math lab, and that will start in a few weeks, it strengthens them and is to the state standards so may help establish some foundations in a different way? Who knows, but it gives fun time on the computer so all 4 are happy about that.
Eric is doing Apologia for science, and I have to make him stop.  He really loves the way this is laid out, the experiments are fun and he loves putting them together without my help.
Caterpillars arrived Saturday, in time for a unit study! So today, we learned a bit on caterpillars and measured bugs around the house! 
History is Story of the World with Evan-Moore Ancient Civilizations thrown in for a funner notebook.  We also use Discovery Education for video snippets to "enhance" the learning...ha ha that means, Gabriel loves to watch a video, and he loves history, the girls like the moving pictures!! Eric peeks and watches too!
We are using Writing Strands this year for the youngest 3, in hopes of pulling better writers out!  I think it may work!
We are also doing Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry as a Literature Study, 10 pages at a time....and chew chew chew!  I love the book and love that it is completely different from the other subjects!
Eric is learning PhotoShop via my friend Miss Behaving video series (available at Scrap Book Graphics) but given as a gift to me, but her awesomeness!
So, I actually showered today, made dinner (green chile' enchiladas) and went to the store!  I am rather impressed with myself! Perhaps tomorrow I can get some pics up on this blog!

BUSY-BUSY-BUSY and LOVIN' IT!

Tangie Baxter is a powerhouse of energy, ideas and creative thoughts that keep a girl moving!  I love it, figuring out ways to organize this and that, along with stream lining my life to jell with the new life of personal secretary, aka woman at arms.  I think I am just a few extra arms for the amazement of Tangie Baxter.  One of the perks working for her, is playing in her store.  Oh my, oh my! 
This was her latest kit: Tempest Tossed

 This kit is so full of emotions that will go from one end of the spectrum to the next.  I played just for the sake of playing and came up with this little card:
 The beach scene looks so much like Bodega Head, I was in awe!!  I love blending Tangie's papers, and just learning what happens when I click a button!
I am also re-entering the Art Journey Caravan, and this weeks provisions made me do something, well, almost made me...tell my girls the facts of life, I am getting closer!
Journalling:
Today is the day, as mom I get to tell you the mysteries of life. I have put this off all year, knowing it is like a big step to tell you. I missed the opportunity so many times. Okay, so maybe I can just wait until tomorrow. This is not an easy thing for me to explain. We watched a documentary on birds and it was so cool, and then the bird fluttered real quick on the female bird. I should have said something then...argh.....I will tell you both, eventually
I promise

31 of August is your last chance!!!

*Last Chance To Join* Art Journal Caravan

Hurry, there is still chance to join the Art Journal Caravan.
Registration closes August 31st 2010!

Joining the journey means lifetime access to the AJC forums,

50% off of the weekly Parcels,

a weekly Itenerary and so much more!

So grab this while you can, see the product page for all the info.

A quick layout from the Vacation

I went on my last rollercoaster! It is called the ROAR, my neck, back and joints ache! I am so not flexible for the bumps and flips.  Here is a layout to memorialize my last rollercoaster ride:

On a bit of a mini vacation!!! Enjoy LIfe!

Lennox {A Rebecca McMeen Collection} By Tangie

Lennox is the newest collection by Rebecca McMeen
She come in 3 poses and the collection includes her accents, banners, borders, words & journal spots as shown in the previews.
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A Collection by artist Rebecca McMeen. Her designs have been featured in Country Home Living & numerous other publications;
Her product designs have been chosen by companies such as Disney, Ballard's, Cracker Barrel & Hallmark!
Her newest digital designs are available exclusively @ Studio Tangie.
{The best part? She just so happens to be Tangie's mom too!}