Fun Fridays...

This week's site is...

www.seaworld.org/just-for-teachers/guides/index.htm

Sea World & Busch Gardens have come up with some pretty neat eductaional workbooks for science/animal studies. Most of them are for sea life and inlcude lots of projects and hands-on activities. A great way to prepare to make the most of a trip to the zoo or aquarium.

What We're Reading Wednesdays...

This week we are reading...

Story Times To Go

This isn't actually a book, but a kit from our local library (thanks Knox County Libraries). They were designed for schools & daycare facilities, but they allow homeschoolers to check them out. Each kit comes with several books, a flannel board, various games/puzzles, and a guide book all relating to a specific theme. The first one we checked out was the Community Helpers kit. It had the cutest puppets that came with it. We have only checked out a couple so far, but are eager to check them all out by the end of the summer.

Monday Matters...

... collecting rocks, and other things...

Those of you who have been looking at our photos every Monday, may be wondering if we ever do anything other than eat and make crafts. I assure you we only do that 80% of the time. We use the other 20 % of our time to sleep, read, and watch Wow Wow Wubbzy. Of course I am joking, but I have noticed that lately I seem to only get the camera out when we are having fun. It is difficult to accurately document your life if you only try to remember the good times. I am going to try to do better at capturing the every day moments (like I did when Gabby was younger). So maybe someday soon, you just might see photos of us reading or studying (which I promise we actually do).

Fun Fridays...

This weeks's site is...

www.sbees.blogspot.com

This is a blog from a very entertaining homeschooling mom. On top of her regualr posts, she also has all her curriculum from past years listed, along with guidence on what has & hasn't worked for her family. The site is super cute and cheerful too.

What We're Reading Wednesdays...

This week's book...

Skippyjon Jones

This book and it's sequels are hilarious if read with a Mexican accent (that's how it's supposed to be read, not just some random thing we came up with). Anyways, it's about a Siamese cat who thinks he is a chihuahua. Absolutely adorable.

Monday Matters...

... changing the world, and other things...

So I was online this week looking for some fun educational resources when I stumbled upon this site from G.E. (you know the appliance, energy, etc company) and it had lesson plans on energy conservation. So I registered to get the lesson plan, and guess what? They sent me an e-mail this morning saying our school was chosen to receive 100 flower bulbs (daffodils & gladiolas). So now the Finstad Homeschool Coop is being sent a package of 100 bulbs for our school to plant to beautify our community. Funny, huh? So I called up some of my family members and we are going to split them between our houses. It's amazing the resources out there for educators, you just have to be willing to put a little work into finding them. And yes, i do know my picture is of a weed, but I haven't received my flowers yet, so that is all that is growing right now.

Fun Fridays...

This week's site is...

www.poissonrouge.com/

It's an international interactive educational site for kids. Gabby would play on this site for hours on end (if I would let her). She loves the music and the coloring activities. There are also math and foreign language activities on the site

What We're Reading Wednesdays...

This week's book is...

Hello Kitty Phonics

Another adorable book set from our Scholastic Book Club. I wasn't actually sure if I would like these books, but when they arrived I fell in love. They are the most adorable first reader books for little girls. By the way, if you are homeschooling and don't know about the Scholastic Book Clubs, you are seriously missing out. Most books are under $5, and you can find books on every subject. Getting set up is a bit of a hassle (you will need to have your own homeschool group, or be a member of one), but once you get that done, you can order all sorts of books and other resources.

Monday Matters...

... becoming the next Picasso, and other things...

I have recently discovered my local library. Now I always knew it was there, but I never really knew everything they offered. A good friend, and fellow homeschooling mother, told me to make friends with the local librarians. And that might have been the best homeschooling advice I ever received. You would not believe the help and assistance I receive when I go in. I walk in and they help me gather every book they can find on whatever subject Gabby & I are interested in at the moment. They also make recommendations based on other things we have already checked out. Recently, I've been checking out all their classic movies (anything with Doris Day). And online book reservation is the best idea ever. I can reserve books for future pick-up dates too. In our area the library also offers a program for preschoolers to receive a book a month for free until they turn 5. Not all of them are great, but most of them are pretty cute. So if you haven't explored your library recently, you really should.

Fun Fridays...

This week's site is...

http://www.justenoughblog.com/

While I don't agree with all her points of view, Tammy (the blog's owner) does an excellent job of keeping up with current events and news articles relating to homeschooling families.

What We're Reading Wednesdays...

This week's book...

39 Clues

Sad, but true. I have become addicted to yet another children's book series. I can't wait to share all my wonderful finds with Gabby when she is a couple years older. This series is actually a great way to get your kids to pick up a few histroy facts. I've learned a few things from it myself.

Monday Matters...

... making lilies, and other things...

Spring... I have a love/hate relationship with this season. I love that it's finally warm and I can send my kid outside with minimal clothing for extended periods of time. But I hate the fact that everything starts growing (and pollinating). I have the world's worst allergies; for a brief time I was able to escape them while living in San Diego. While others see new flowers and think of life and happiness, I think of Zyrtec and runny noses. This is why I could never, ever do the Charlotte Mason method of homeschooling (no long nature walks for me). Just so you know.

Fun Fridays...

This week's fun site is...

www.artsreformation.com/records

My mother still owns a record player, and I remember having fun dancing to old 50's records on it when I was little (for the record I am only in my 20's, so this is a fairly modern record player). So when someone in my co-op recommended this site, I thought it was an adorable idea. It has some cute records recorded in mp3 form. The Snow White one reminds me of the soundtrack to Disney's Snow White which my mother has.