Favorite Things – Homeschool Resources

Yesterday I put up a small list of some of our favorite books and today I’ll list some of our favorite homeschooling resources. 

History – TruthQuest History.  Honestly, we have just started this program, but we love it!  Traditionally history is taught from a humanistic standpoint, meaning it is really elevating man.  This history program is taught from a different perspective-showing how God has worked throughout time to accomplish His will.

Math – Math U See.  Confession time – I stink at math!  This program makes it so easy for me to teach my children this horrid subject.  Math U See begins with simple counting and works all the way to Calculus-yikes!  The program is not based on grade levels, but builds on skills in a way that makes sense.  For each lesson we pop in the DVD and he teaches the mama how to do the problems using manipulatives, then we are able to teach our kids.

Language Arts – For grammar we are using Daily Grammar, and I love that it is simple, short and FREE!  We read a lot of quality books and the kids also do quite a bit of writing.  I am still looking for a good spelling program, that is not just memorizing lists. 

I think our very favorite homeschool resource is Vision Forum.  I know that there are many people who do not agree with their philosophy, but we have not found one thing that does not line up with the Bible.  They are counter-cultural in so many areas and I believe that is why some find them offensive.  We have loved every product that we have purchased from them and since they are based in San Antonio, we are looking forward to attending some of their conferences. 

What are your favorite homeschool resources?  If that is not applicable, then what was your favorite subject in school and why?

Favorite Things – Books

This is a list of some of our favorite books:

So Much More by Anna Sophia Botkin and Elizabeth Botkin

Princess Adelina by Julie Sutter

A Gown of Spanish Lace  by Janette Oke

Other books by Janette Oke

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

Other books by C.S. Lewis

Feminine by Design by Scott T. Brown

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder

The Christian Mother Goose Book by Marjorie Ainsborough Decker – the one we have isn’t the “Big” version, but is still a lovely book.

Dylan said that he loves the story of David in the Bible.

Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne

Other books by Jules Verne

Robin Hood by Pyle

Woof series by Danae Dobson

Childhood of Famous Americans series

Everyone said the Bible

Timmy said the story of Moses and David in the Bible

Timmy also loves the Sneaky Books set.

Timmy said that he likes books about the army, too.

Rod likes Decision Points by George W. Bush

Experiencing God by Henry & Richard Blackaby and Claude King

Rod also likes Arguing with Idiots by Glenn Beck

Joy by Lydia Brownback

Passionate Housewives Desperate for God by Jennie Chancey and Stacy McDonald

Books by Peter J. Marshall

Created to Be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl

Books by Voddie Baucham

James Herriot\’s Treasury for Children by James Herriot

The Robe by Lloyd C. Douglas

d\’Aulaire books

We love books and our personal library consists of over 300, but there are so many more that we want.  This list is just a small sampling of the books we have enjoyed.  I know that I am leaving out some of our most treasured books, but I have to stop somewhere (as I am going back and adding more, ha ha).  What are your favorite books?

*If any of the links aren’t right, please let me know.

What is History?

“For a couple hundred years now, western civilization has put God on the sidelines of life, so that most history is taught as the story of mankind, as if people were the ‘prime force’ of the universe, as if they were the makers of themselves and of truth.  How presumptuous!  But there’s more!  After Darwin, little reason was seen to learn about the past; folks believed they were moving-on their own power-toward a perfect future.  Since then, history has become a dull, meaningless ‘obligation’.  It should be a personal encounter with the King of the Universe, the Maker of our souls!  It should be one of the most inspiring, personal, real, and intimate topics because it hooks us up with the truths that make life work!  And our practical-minded boys especially need to know that history is about right now…about truth and power and law and right and good government…and all the other things for which this world is secretly hungering.  Now that’s something into which kids can pour their energies and ambitions!”

Michelle Miller

TruthQuest History, American History for Young Students I

How to Make Pop-Up Cards

We love the Homestead Blessings series and Allie decided to make her own video.

She enlisted Dylan’s help and they did a great job.  I’m sorry about the lack of posts again, we’ve been fighting a cold.

What about socialization?

As a homeschooler, socialization is a common question we receive.  Here is an article that shows how children that are homeschooled fair later in life: Washington Times.

Our first week of school

Our first week was wonderful, challenging, frustrating, enjoyable, pretty much every emotion you can think of.  We love the program we are using, Ambleside Online.  It is rich in literature and it has been a joy, although I hope my voice can hold up with all of the reading we’ve been doing.  We have not had a consistent school schedule and the children have struggled this week with the work load.  This week we used AO as a basic outline and also studied mammals, mostly apes; Hans Christian Andersen, Confucius, along with the core subjects.  It has been a productive week, but we are all looking forward to a break this weekend.  Tomorrow the kids and I are going to the zoo and they will tell me which animals are mammals and if they are monotremes, marsupials or placental mammals – which I guess is still doing school.  Rod has Sunday off and we will be looking for a church closer to our new home.

Here are pictures of the kids first day:

Allie – 7th grade:

Dylan – 4th grade:

Timothy – 3rd grade:

Sammy – 2 years:

Kaitlyn – 1 year:

I am so very thankful that I get to spend so much time with these amazing children.  I am so blessed!  What a wonderful life!

First Day of School

Today we are starting our fifth year of homeschooling.  I am really excited about this year.  For the first year, we will hopefully not be moving.  Every other year we have had at least one move and that really takes a lot of time away from our school.  I am hoping that this year we will get caught up and maybe even ahead.  I am also not pregnant yet, so we won’t need to take a postpartum break.  I know that I’ve recently told some of you that we were done having children, but I had a brief lapse in sanity .  I realize that most of you think we are crazy to have so many children, but this is the life God has called us to and I think it would be crazy to not follow His leading.  I’ll try to post some school pictures soon, but today will be pretty busy.  I need to go get our school affidavit notarized.  To homeschool in Utah, one simply sends in an affidavit stating that their children will receive an education at home in the same subjects and time length as the public school system.  Our school room is not set up yet, either, but hopefully we will get that done soon. 

Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful opportunity to educate these blessings in our home.  Thank you for providing a beautiful house, may it be a place full of peace and an environment where learning can thrive.  Please help me to disciple these children to love you with everything they are.  May this year be full of memory making times.  Please help us to be disciplined and committed to the education process and please help us to get caught up and to excel.  Thank you, Lord, for a husband who is 100% committed to teaching our children at home.  Please help the younger children to be cooperative and please give me patience.  I love you, Lord!

Ren. Fair

Making Memories

 

Election Night

 

Election Night