Homeschool Mother's Journal/Weekly Wrap-up June 27-28

VBS!!!!!

What a week!  :-)  I was a lead teacher, my two oldest sons were teen counselors, my youngest son was a junior counselor and my daughter attended.  The theme this year was Weird Animals: where Jesus' love is one of a kind!  :-)

What a fun and faith-filled week!  It was a lot of work, especially since I had much planning to do, but the results were SO worth it!  The lesson plans that came from the company would have filled 8-10 minutes and we had 30 minute sessions.  I did lots of research and I think it all turned out great.  I ran the "Bible and Role-Play" group.  There was also art, games and song/dance.

Our final show was on Friday.  It included two Bible role-plays (we did the healing of the 10 lepers and the death and resurrection of Jesus), game demonstrations and of course, lots of singing and dancing.

Here is Kiddo #4 narrating some of the leper story and singing/dancing:

Kiddo #1 made a beautiful cross that each child got to sign.  Jesus died for each of them (and us), so we all put our names on His cross.

These photos are of Kiddos 1 and 2 with their students.  This proud mama got so many compliments on them-- how good they were with the kids and how helpful they were to the adults.

Here are all of the kids at VBS 2014

And, I could help but share something wonderful from last week since I didn't share a weekly wrap-up since we were so busy getting ready.  My daughter was one of the winners in her division at the 4-H Regional Fashion Revue!  :-)  She worked so hard on her dress and purse.  Look at that smile.  It tells it all!

Have a great weekend!  God bless!  :-)

Linking up today with:  Homeschool Mother's Journal, Weekly Wrap-Up, Show-Off Friday, Learn and Link and It's a Wrap, Friendship Friday and Friday Connection and Family Fun Friday and T.G.I.F. Linky Party and Let's Homeschool High School and This Week

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TOS Review: Go Science DVD

"For the things we have to learn before we can do, we learn by doing."-- Aristotle

"The issue is not to teach a child the science, but to give him the taste for loving it."- Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Today I am reviewing Go Science DVDs from Library and Educational Services.

I have been a customer of Library and Educational Services for many years and just LOVE their products, so as you can imagine, I was quite excited to have the opportunity to review these Science DVDs.

If you are not aware, Library and Educational Services is a wholesale distributor that has been serving the community (including homeschoolers!) for 35 years.

This Science DVD series (a total of 7 DVDs available for purchase individually or as a set) contain the high-energy, educational and fun demonstrations of Ben Roy.  He is currently a professor of science methods at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and was the director of a television science program.

With his extensive knowledge and skills with children, he presents science demonstrations and phenomena in a way that is exciting and has students begging for more.  I LOVE when science is fun. When children tell me that science is boring, it saddens me, because when hands-on, when presented in a way like Ben Roy has done with these programs, it inspires kids and perhaps encourages them to take that love of science even further in their lives.

We received two DVDs in the series, Sound, Gravity and Space

and

Engineering, Design and Flight

Recommended for ages 4-12, these programs will even entertain and inspire older students.  Kiddo #1 was so intrigued by a challenge and experiment he saw on the Engineering DVD, that he just had to try it.

Ben Roy challenged his students (and viewers) to find a way to balance 10 nails on top of just 1 nail. Sounds pretty impossible, doesn't it?  The head of the nail is just so small.  How could it work?  Well, in engineering, many things are possible that seem to defy everything we know or understand.

Take a look!  Isn't that awesome!  They are all balancing on the one nail!

Here is another view

This is just the kind of experiment and challenge that is in each segment on the DVDs.  There are many of them and they are equally as fun, yet illustrate a scientific principle which he explains.  His audience on the DVDs are all children and they are chosen to help with each experiment.  It shows that kids can do and love science!

Each demonstration lasts 3-10 minutes and each DVD is about an hour long.

Examples of experiments on the Engineering, Design and Flight DVD include walking on eggs, flying rocket balloons and making a mini water pump with a straw (centrifuge), and our favorite, the Nail Balance.  There are so many more!

Some of the experiments on the Sound, Gravity and Space volume include Reuben's Tube, Simple Telephone and Screaming Pop Can.

Here is a video example of one of the experiments on sound:

Each video is available for $8.97 or all 7 for $59.82.  

Look at all of the great titles available!

My children and I give these videos a thumb's up as a wonderful, fun, engaging and educational supplement to any science curriculum.  :-)

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Try a New Recipe Tuesday- June 24

Wow, it is almost Tuesday again!  :-)  And that means it is time for another week of wonderful recipe sharing.

Be sure to check out my bread "surprise" linked in the first spot below.  It is a delicious and hearty bread that is truly a surprise since I added a "little bit of this" and a "little bit of that."  :-)

This week's feature (the post with the most hits from last week's hop) was a tie between:

Strawberry Shortcake Roll from Upstate Ramblings

and

English Muffin Bread from Little Homeschool on the Prairie

An InLinkz Link-up

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Lisa's Bread Surprise

Yes, it was a complete surprise.  It was one of those times where I just added a little bit of this and a little bit of that.  :-)  Luckilly, it turned out really well and everyone enjoyed this new bread.  :-)

1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 tsp salt (I use iodized sea salt)
3 cups whole wheat flour
4 packets Truvia sweetner (you could use sugar instead if you prefer)
1 1/2 tsp yeast
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 tablespoon melted butter
1 1/2 tablespoons powdered milk

Put in your breadmaker on sweet cycle.  This made a "large" loaf.

Enjoy!  :-)

Linking up with the Gathering Spot, Kids in the Kitchen, Domestically Divine Tuesday, Raising Mighty Arrows,Addicted to Recipes, Homemaking Wednesdays, Living Well Wednesday,NOBH, Claire Justine, Wisdom Wednesday , Favorite Things, Modest Mom, Full Plate Thursday and Melt in your Mouth Monday and Show Off Friday and Tuesday's Table and Look What We Did and Titus 2sday,  Mom's Monday Mingle, Monday Mingle, Crafty Spices, Better Mom,Create with Joy, Thursday's Treasures, Tasty Thursdays and Wonderful Food Wednesday and  Tuesday How to Party and the Tried and True Recipe Party and Kids and Mom in the Kitchen and Family Fun Friday and Clever Chicks Blog Hop andAll My Bloggy Friends and Hearts for Home Blog Hop and Foodie Friends Friday and Family Fun Friday and TGIF Linky Party and Food on Friday andHip Homeschool Moms, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home andGood Tastes Tuesday and Thriving Thursday and Friday Flash Blog Hop 




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Try a New Recipe Tuesday- June 18

Welcome to another week of recipe sharing!

The most viewed post from last week's hop was:

Apple Butter from The (mis)Adventures of a "Born Again" Farm Girl

An InLinkz Link-up

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Homeschool Mother's Journal/Weekly Wrap Up June 14

Didn't get a chance to do a wrap-up last week. so this will be a synopsis of our last 2 weeks, which really were a lot of fun here at the Home to 4 Kiddos.

Gotta love Family Game Nights, especially when you teach your kids how to play a game from your own childhood. (I hadn't played Battleship in probably 30 years or more!)

We finished school last Friday (yay!) with a wonderful trip to a local planetarium (that I never even knew existed!). What an informative and fun presentation.  From what the presenter told us, we knew exactly where 3 planets (yes, 3!!!) would be in that night's sky and we did our best to photograph them with our camera.  Here is Mars.  Isn't that cool?

And you can see the shape of the rings around Saturn.  And this is just with a camera.  Can't imagine the views people could get with a good telescope.

We also gardened and did lots of yardwork, taking advantage of the warm temps and sunshine.

This week, the kiddos, hubby and I went on a pontoon boat ride in a local state park.

The lake is over 1,400 acres.  We learned of all of the different fish species that call Lake Nockamixon home, as well as so many different bird species.  We saw osprey,

blue herring and more.

We got to be on the lake for 2 hours and it was a relaxing and enjoyable time.

Seeing the sunset on the lake was truly breathtaking.

and it was free!  Isn't that amazing?  The kiddos are already looking forward to going back on a boat ride again next year (but want to visit the park and all of its amazing amenities even sooner)

Speaking of birds, look who Kiddo #1 was able to photograph in the front yard?  Isn't he beautiful?

So, our first week off from school was filled with schoolwork (yes, Kiddos 1 and 2 aren't finished their Trig class yet, poor guys, lol), volunteering at church, Taekwando, 4-H shooting sports and meetings, fun outings (like the one above), baking and Kiddo #4's sewing projects.  Look at the oven mitt she made below!  :-)  (there is also a matching potholder she made, too)

She is working on a dress and matching accessories for the 4-H fashion revue.  It is next Saturday.  I will be sure to post pics!  :-)

Hope you have a weekend that is both beautiful and blessed!  :-)

My recent posts:

Try a New Recipe Tuesday- June 3
TOS Review: A Life in Balance
Hearts for Home Blog Hop- June 5
TOS Review- We Choose Virtues
Try a New Recipe Tuesday- June 10


Linking up today with:  Homeschool Mother's Journal, Weekly Wrap-Up, Show-Off Friday, Learn and Link and It's a Wrap, Friendship Friday and Friday Connection and Family Fun Friday and T.G.I.F. Linky Party and Let's Homeschool High School and This Week

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Try a New Recipe Tuesday- June 10

Welcome to another week of recipe sharing!  My family and I always look forward to seeing them all.  :-)

The most viewed post from last week was:

Green Basil Pesto from Morsels of Life

An InLinkz Link-up

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TOS Review: We Choose Virtues

Today I am reviewing the Youth Virtue Journal from We Choose Virtues.

Character training is so very important.  It is something that I know every parent is concerned about, especially with the culture in which we live.  There are a lot of good character training materials available for younger children, but when I was given the chance to review materials for high schoolers, I was thrilled, because they need something to address virtues to their age group and in a way that makes sense and is relevant to them.

I received the Youth Virtue Journal, a 100-page paperback book intended for teens, along with PDF files entitled:  Mentor's Handbook, a Youth Character Assessment, a list of Scripture verses that correspond to the virtues in the book and a Mentor Meeting Report Form.  These are all part of the package that is available for only $17.

Because I was using the materials in a home-based environment and not a teen group, I didn't use the Mentor Meeting Report Form.

How did we use this?  Kiddos 1, 2 and I would sit down with the journal.  We would read the section, discuss the virtue that was being covered.  We would read the associated Scripture verses from the supplemental material (mentioned above) and then talk about how we could work to be a good example of that virtue in our lives.  We would also do the assessments to see where we were before and after reading the section.  It is wonderful to see that the results of the assessment change after they learn more about each virtue.

Each chapter had the following in it: "Take a Moment to Dream," "Take a look at me now," "Take a look around," "Take some good advice," "Take a moment to reflect," "Take some time to respond" and "Take a stand for what is right."  In each of those sections, there are things to think about and questions to answer.  By the end of each, the student is making the decision to add the virtue to who and what they are and eliminate the habits that are keeping them from changing for the better.

What are the virtues covered in the book?  They are as follows: I am Attentive, I am Content, I am Forgiving, I am Gentle, I am Helpful, I am Honest, I am Obedient, I am Perseverant and I am Respectful.  All good and honorable character traits that I know we all try to instill in our children.

There is a second section in the book entitled "My Dream Journal."  After each virtue is covered, discussed, etc., the student turns to the corresponding section in the Dream Journal.  There they describe a dream that they have, what obstacles they will need to overcome and what virtues they will need to make that dream become a reality.  It is definitely a soul-searching way to make it real for the student to see how these virtues can help them succeed and just aren't something to read in a book because Mom said they should.  It shows them how they can put what they learned into practice.

Here are a few of the "Take a Look at Me Now Questions" that really stood out while we were reading the book:

"Do I respond with a good attitude when asked to do something?"

"Am I cheerful when asked to help or do I mope, sulk or complain?"

"Do I find satisfaction in working harder than I thought I could?"

"Do I work hard to show others that they are worthy of my respect by using good manners?"

The complete Youth Virtue Journal package is $17 but We Choose Virtues is offering a summer sale.

* May-June: Use Promo Code BIG50 for 50% off a set of 12 11x17 Kids of Virtue Ville Posters.  These are suitable for a church classroom, bedroom or homeschool room.

*June-August: use Promo Code BTS20 for 20% off anything in the We Choose Virtues Store.  This includes any product for kids or youth, including the program I reviewed above.

You can find We Choose Virtues online at the following:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wechoosevirtues

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/WeChooseVirtues/

Blog: http://www.wechoosevirtuesblog.com/

They also make wonderful products for younger children, as well.  To see the reviews on those products, as well as additional reviews for the teen program I descrbed above, click on the graphic below:

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Hearts for Home Blog Hop- June 5

Welcome to another week of sharing your posts about all things home!  Happy June!  :-)

Last week's most viewed post was:

Fiction for Boys 7 and Up- Get Ready for Summer! from First Comes Love

Are you ready to share your posts this week?  Let's go!  Use the form below to enter your links.  Posts can be anything that shows your heart is for your home: homeschooling, homemaking, parenting, marriage, faith, family, crafts, etc.  Please just kindly link back to this blog or display our Hearts for Home button in your post or on your sidebar.

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.marriagemotherhoodandmissions.com/hearts-for-home-blog-hop-hosts/" title="Hearts for Home Blog Hop" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.marriagemotherhoodandmissions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/CoHostH4HButton300x300.jpg" alt="Hearts for Home Blog Hop" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

 

An InLinkz Link-up

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TOS Review- A Life in Balance

Today I am reviewing the book A Life in Balance from Learning Breakthrough Program.

When I was given the chance to review this book about how Frank Belgau developed the Learning Breakthrough program, I jumped at the chance.  You see, his program is an alternative treatment for those with dyslexia and those with ADHD.  As those of you who read my blog know, I have a kiddo with dyslexia and I am always trying to find new ways to help him succeed.

But, this book isn't just for parents of dyslexics or those with ADHD, but for parents of ALL children. All children learn differently and it is so important to find out how they learn and how to help them utilize their strengths for success.

The book is Frank's story.  it brought me to tears many times.  He didn't excel in school.  He was bullied and made to feel stupid.  Reading was a mystery to him.  It wasn't until one summer, when he ran, played, and ran some more that his coordination imporved.  With that improvement, he noticed that he was understanding the written word more and more!

I loved when Frank's dad realized that he indeed could think and solve problems and was an intelligent boy.  He assured his son that he was NOT dumb.  Reading and learning in the school setting was just frustrating for him.  They didn't understand how he learned.

Fast forward a bit, Frank began to do better in school the more he worked on his physical coordination.  He did a stint in the Air Force and upon being honorably discharged, received both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees.  So much for being dumb.  He wanted to be a teacher and help those that the schools and others had deemed unable to be helped, those that were labeled not "normal" such as those who were educably mentally retarded or had minimal brain injury.

From working with these children, he realized that they had so much more potential than anyone could imagine.  He, and some like-minded colleagues developed sensory and physical programs to help these, and all children.

In 1975, Frank, his wife, and some colleagues founded Learning Breakthrough with the idea that balance and coordination had a direct relationship to learning disabilities.

It is uplifting to see someone who truly cares about helping children who society has "labeled" and already predetermined as not being capable of very much.  He has proven and continues to prove that these arguments are wrong.

Because some of the book gets into the technical and scientific reasoning behind Frank's work, the recommended age of the book is for adults.  I would also say that upper teens would be fine.  It is available for $16.94 right now on Amazon.

To find them online follow these links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LearningBreakthrough
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/LearningBreak
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/LearningBreakthrough

To read what my colleages on the Crew had to say about the book, click the image below:

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Try a New Recipe Tuesday- June 3

Happy June!  :-)

There was a three-way tie for the most viewed post last week.  They are:

Saturday Morning Cinnamon Rolls from Satisfaction Through Christ

Best Ever Broccoli Cheese Soup from Feeding Big

Sweet & Sour Meatballs from Jonesin' For Taste

An InLinkz Link-up

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