Wordless Wednesday: August 14, 2019 (w/linky) - End of Summer Reading Program Parties

Summer Reading actually ended a couple of weeks ago, but I had to share the pictures from the children going to camp, so I put this post off a week. Our local Summer Reading program party was Wednesday, July 31st, and the Summer Reading program we go to in the nearest town with a library was Friday, August 2nd.

On Wednesday, we headed over to the park for the party. The children finished spending their summer reading dollars, chose their last free book, and then we got to have pizza and sundaes. Then the children and I played with Harold's plane, which he had "bought" with summer reading dollars earlier in the month.

Sadly the plane broke when Harold grabbed it too tightly while catching it.

When we got home they wanted to use some of their new things.

Two days later we had our other party.

First they got to disintegrate alien heads.

Then we ate. Again, pizza, but this time there were also chips and cookies. Then the kids got ice cream sandwiches.

One of the games was Ring the Planet. The planets would be the balls in the background. I don't think daddy quite understood how to play. LOL!

Ah, now he's got it!

No hubby! No!

Another activity was attempting to work on nuts and bolts while wearing gloves, like astronauts would have to do.

And they could make necklaces if they wanted to. Harold decided to make an alien.

Looking forward to seeing your Wordless (or not so wordless) Wednesday posts this week.

No button currently, and there won't be one until I can figure it out seeing as Photobucket has changed things. Feel free to still share the picture in place of the button on your Wordless Wednesday post or in a list of Wordless Wednesday linkies. Just link it to my Wordless Wednesday permalink please.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

NOT Back to School: A Peek into Our Homeschool ~ Day 2: Our Curriculum

Welcome to this year's NOT Back to School Blog Hop. This year I am giving you A Peek into Our Homeschool. 

Day 2: Our Curriculum

Welcome to our home.

We'd love to have you pop on in.

We are so glad you are here to help us unbox our curriculum.

This is our core curriculum that we will be using.

They used to get more excited. Of course, they also used to allow me to take their pictures. Now, it is quite a struggle.

I told the children to choose a couple of the things they are most excited about. Harold is excited to have his own book about animals. He'll also be joining Amelia and Hannah with the main study of animals and plants. I'm not sure if Tabitha is excited about these literature guides, but they are something she gets to work on by herself. Hannah was excited about the science and the new Bible study on James. Not surprisingly, Amelia is excited that we will be learning about American history. 

Yes, I let them take a "silly" picture. Amelia wasn't really into that part.

So, what is our curriculum?

We will be using My Father's World Exploration to 1850.

We have books that focus on American history.

Plus books to help us look at the rest of the world during this time period.

As usual we have some great read alouds to enhance our learning. I have actually never heard of any of these books, so I am really looking forward to reading them.

I'm also looking forward to adding in these books that we received from Library and Educational Services (which I posted my review for last week). I think they will also enhance our study of American History.

At the end of the year we will be working on a state report. Which will be great for getting that state requirement in for PA homeschool law.

We will also use the materials from Crafty Classroom that we reviewed several weeks ago.

Harold (and maybe Hannah) will be using these books that were from our Adventures in US History year.

I also found the following resources for the younger two.

For Bible we will learn hymns and the stories behind them, study the book of James in depth, and read about stories of Christians from the past. And, of course, the older girls will be participating in Bible Quizzing again.

For science we will be learning about animals. . . 

. . . and plants.

Tabitha is in 7th grade this year, so she will have her own science curriculum.

As I mentioned above, Tabitha will also be doing her own literature study guides.

Also in the Language Arts category, Tabitha and Amelia will continue using Grammar Planet, plus we are now reviewing Easy Grammar Plus, so that may continue through the year. I'm not quite sure what they are going to do for spelling yet. I've got a couple of weeks to figure it out.

Hannah will continue through Simply Classical Writing which we reviewed several weeks ago.

Harold also has his level of Simply Classical Writing to use.

Plus we are going to work through Lightning Literature & Composition Grade 2.

For math we will still be using CTCMath as our main math curriculum. However, Harold is also using Matific Galaxy. For right now Harold and Hannah are also using Reading Eggspress and Mathseeds, but our trial will be over around the time our 2019-2020 school year officially starts.

For art we will try to use God & the History of Art II, which is scheduled in the teacher manual.

For part of the year we will also have access to HiGASFY which we are currently reviewing. This is an art history program. I think the children would also like to use ArtAchieve again, which is available through SchoolhouseTeachers.com.

For music appreciation we will learn about Schubert, Mendelssohn, and Chopin.

Plus we will continue the piano lessons from Simply Music.

For Physical Education the children will have gym once a week at co-op (once it starts up in October). Additionally, Tabitha, Amelia, and Hannah come to the Y with me.

Of course, who knows what we will have to switch up or add in due to being on the Homeschool Review Crew.

Thank you so much for stopping by to learn a bit more about our family and homeschool. Tomorrow I plan to share a look at how our schedule works. You may be wondering how we fit all these things into our day. Believe me, sometimes I wonder that myself.

Here are some of the participants. CREW @ Homeschool Review Crew - 2019 Annual Not Back to School Homeschool Blog Hop 
Chareen @ Every Bed of Roses - ABC of Homeschooling
Dawn @ Schoolin' Swag - Adding Fun to Your Homeschool Day
Erin @ For Him and My Family - Large Family Homeschooling
Lori @ At Home Where Life Happens - Learning Life Skills
Monique @ Mountain of Grace Homeschooling - Homeschooling the High School Years
Monique D. @ Early Learning Mom - Homeschooling With Autism
Yvie @ Homeschool On the Range - 5 Days of Upper Grades Homeschooling
Abby @ Making Room 4 One More - Time Management for Homeschool Moms
Amanda @ Hopkins Homeschool - 5 Days of Homeschool Questions
Amy @ the WRITE Balance - Year-Round Schooling
Annette @ A Net in Time - Homeschooling.
Betty @ Lets Get Real - Homeschooling High School
Cassandra @ My Blessed Mess - Eclectic Homeschooling
Don't forget to check out the other posts linked up below!

Littles Learning Link Up: August 13, 2019

Each month you will find:

• A seasonal round-up (usually toward the beginning of the month)
• Posts where I share what I have been up to with my elementary-age children and the preschoolers I work with at our homeschool co-op (including occasional highlight posts where I share how we used ideas that have been linked up here on Littles Learning Link Up).

Each week, I will host a link up, where you can share either what you have been up to recently, or old posts that may go with the theme.  Feel free to link up more than one post.

Each week I will continue to feature a couple of posts from those that have been linked up. 

I hope you will continue to share your wonderful posts, and I hope you will find something new to try with your child(ren).

It would be great for everyone to stop by and visit the other linked-up posts as well. Check them out, leave some comments, pin those that interest you. Let's make this a real party and socialize with each other.

Here's a peek at what we have been up to in our homeschool. 

I decided we would have one more week of summer session, mostly working on review products, but also trying to get as much finished as possible in My Father's World Rome to the Reformation. So far this week we are learning about some explorers who we won't be learning about in next year's curriculum.

Hannah and I are going to try to finish reading Mr. Popper's Penguins and complete the study guide. Tabitha is working on finishing Farmer Boy, and Amelia is working on finishing Charlotte's Web. I figure we will watch both the animated and live-action movies when she is finished. And perhaps we will continue watching Little House on the Prairie. Because Harold and I finished A Bear Called Paddington, we watched the first movie the other night and we have part 2 waiting to be watched. We've been a bit obsessed with Descendants 3, plus the first 2, so we put off watching Paddington. Oops. Of course we are also making our way through Britfield & the Lost Crown as a family read-aloud (except for Tabitha who is reading it independently). The older girls are working on the study guide.

Harold is working through his math workbook from Reading Eggs, plus both he and Hannah are getting on Reading Eggspress and Mathseeds. Amelia and Hannah are working on multiplication with Online Times Alive.

So, we are still quite busy. This week I am joining in the the NOT Back to School blog hop with the Crew. Yesterday I posted some interviews I did with the children as an introduction or re-introduction to them. Today I will be sharing our curriculum for the coming year. Also this week we will take a look at our school area, and either our extracurricular activities or schedule (or both). And, as has become tradition, the hubby will be writing one of the posts.

Don't miss this little Peek into our Homeschool!

Let's take a look at that review schedule real quick:

Last week I shared my reviews for Library & Educational Services and Memoria Press,  Later in the month you will find the review of the study guide for Britfield & the Lost Crown (I posted my review of the book a few weeks ago). I also plan to share any new insights we learn from our re-read of the book as a family read-aloud.

In September I will be sharing my review of Easy Grammar Plus from Easy Grammar Systems, Online Times Alive from City Creek Press, Inc, and the 200 Essential Math Skills for Second Grade workbook from Reading Eggs.

Here are some things I would like to share with you:

Check out these round ups from the past:

Beach Fun Round Up

Camping Fun Round Up

Next week I will be sharing an ocean themed round up. If you have any posts you would like included, please leave a comment or contact me via the contact information on my About Me page.

Now onto:

Littles Learning Link Up Features

On my last Littles Learning Link Up post, there were 2 wonderful posts linked up. I will be sharing both of these posts.

Please, don't forget to stop by other posts that are linked up. See what catches your eye, stop by, pin the post to a relevant board, and perhaps leave a comment to let the author of the blog know you have been by for a visit. I know I appreciate others commenting and letting me know they have read my posts, so I am sure others do too.

This week's first featured post is:

Homegrown Adventures shared Algae.

This week's second featured post is:

Deb from Dragonfly Treasure shared Early Morning Rolly Polly Hunting.

Join the Party!

I would love to have you join in this week! What sort of activities do you do with your young children? Do you have some favorite activities you would like to share? I invite you to link up below. I will be pinning posts on one of my relevant boards, and I would love to feature some of the activities each week from what is linked up.

Please know I may share a picture from your post and link back to it, along with sharing how we used your idea in our school time. By linking up you are giving me permission to use a picture from your post. I will ALWAYS give credit and link back. Additionally, if you choose to try out any of the ideas with your child, please make sure you give credit where credit is due.

Linky will be open through Monday night, to give me time to check out all the posts and get the Features organized. Please take the time to visit some of the other wonderful posts linked up.

No button currently, and there won't be one until I can figure it out seeing as Photobucket has changed things. Feel free to still share the picture in place of the button. Just link it to my Littles Learning Link Up permalink please.

I am sharing over at

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

NOT Back to School: A Peek into Our Homeschool ~ Day 1: Meet the Family

Welcome to this year's NOT Back to School Blog Hop. This year I am giving you A Peek into Our Homeschool. 

Day 1: Meet the Family

Welcome to our home.

Stop by and meet the family. 

Here are the children.

Okay guys, off the tablets and say hello!

That's better.

Of course, if you have been reading my blog for any length of time, you should know them a bit already. Today I am going to share some interviews I had with the children.

First, I would like to "introduce" you to Tabitha.

When I started this blog, Tabitha was only 2 1/2 years old and I was sharing the fun things we were doing while learning such things as the alphabet. Now, she is 12 1/2, constantly reminding me that she is as tall as I am, and very much looking forward to her 13th birthday. Let's see what she thinks of our homeschool.

 What do you like about homeschooling?

I like that it gives me the flexibility to work on things on my own time and that there are no bullies. I also like that you can take breaks when you need to. I like doing activities, and sitting around in a classroom like public schoolers sounds boring and I wouldn’t be able to do that. I learn by doing.

What don’t you like about homeschooling?

You force me to do review stuff and I don’t really appreciate that. I feel that it adds to my stress and my work that needs done. I don’t like that you are sitting in front of the computer doing review stuff all the time.

What is your favorite subject, the one you would love to focus on all year if you could?

Either art or math. I love to do math. I think I get it from dad. I like to work things out. I want my art to improve. I already think it is pretty good, but I want it to be better.

What is your least favorite subject, the one you wish we could just get rid of?

Grammar (she states before I ask the question). I feel that it is useless.

If you were the teacher, what would you do differently?

I don’t know. I kinda self teach myself. I don’t really need to change things.

What is your favorite thing to do that isn’t school?

Watch YouTube and play on my tablet. I especially love Reacticorns, Maxmellow, Wengie, Moriah Elizabeth, Merrel Twins, and gaming channels like Dennis Daily and DanTDM.

I like to play Roblox on my tablet.

(I was surprised she didn't mention art, but she explained that she felt art was a part of school.)

 Next, I would like to "introduce" you to Amelia.

When I started this blog, Amelia was only 1 year old and tagging along with her big sister as we did Letter of the Week and Montessori activities. She is now 11 years old. Let's see what she thinks of our homeschool.

 What do you like about homeschooling?

You take off for your birthday. At public school you have to go to school still.

What don’t you like about homeschooling?

Everything. I don’t like school.

What is your favorite subject, the one you would love to focus on all year if you could?

History. American history.

What is your least favorite subject, the one you wish we could just get rid of?

Grammar

If you were the teacher, what would you do differently?

I would let people sleep in a little longer.

What is your favorite thing to do that isn’t school?

Read  

(Very surprised she didn't mention baking and coming up with recipes)

And here's Hannah. 

She joined our family the year after I started blogging. Once she was old enough to sit up I was giving her fun activities to play with. Now, she is 9 years old and getting ready to start 4th grade!

 What do you like about homeschooling?

We can make our own lunch. We get to use our tablets.

What don’t you like about homeschooling?

I don’t like that we have to do school.

What is your favorite subject, the one you would love to focus on all year if you could?

Reading and math

What is your least favorite subject, the one you wish we could just get rid of?

Spelling. Anything that has to do with writing.

If you were the teacher, what would you do differently?

Make them have less school, like math and reading, that’s all.

What is your favorite thing to do that isn’t school?

Play on my tablet. I like to play Roblox.

And now for Harold. 

The baby of the family, who is no longer a baby. He is now 7 years old and getting ready to start 2nd grade. Though, he was joining in with our family cycle last year as he'd already done the 1st grade curriculum from My Father's World. Let's see what he has to say.

What do you like about homeschooling?

I like that sometimes we get review things. I like to use Mathseeds, Reading Eggs, CTCMath and Matific Galaxy. I like that Mathseeds has a workbook. And I liked ArtAchieve. I like that I can do my school work with mama.

What don’t you like about homeschooling?

All the reading we do. I don’t like the history reading I have to listen to because I don’t like history.

What is your favorite subject, the one you would love to focus on all year if you could?

Mathseeds

What is your least favorite subject, the one you wish we could just get rid of?

History reading

If you were the teacher, what would you do differently?

I would only teach the children math, reading, drawing, writing, and story writing (he means creative writing).

What is your favorite thing to do that isn’t school?

Field trips. My favorite field trip was going to the Erie Zoo.

And here's the mom. That's me.

I'm the supervisor and teacher of Waide Academy. Also, the author of Tots and Me...Growing Up Together for the past ten years. As I was listening to the children answer the questions I posed to them, I realized I may have to try to change things up a bit.

I did explain to Tabitha that she would still have to do some of the subjects that we get review materials for, so she would still have to do school work in those subjects. However, perhaps I will have to cut back on review materials that she would need to work with if it would mean doing extra. Though, one of the things we are currently reviewing is Easy Grammar, which isn't her favorite subject, but is something she needs to work on. Though, she really doesn't see the need to be working on grammar. 

I also explained to Amelia and Hannah, that if they weren't homeschooled they would still be doing schoolwork, just at public school. So, it's not like they can get out of doing school work. I am glad we are going to be learning about American history again this year, so maybe she will enjoy this year.

I do know that Hannah isn't a fan of writing, and she struggles with spelling a lot. So, I really need to find a way to make that more fun for her. 

I was happy to realize that Harold still enjoys getting review materials. I know he really enjoys the different online math programs we use. However, I also need to figure out a way to make history more interesting for him. I realize I did a lot more hands-on activities with the older girls when they were his age. But, it is so hard to try to find the time to even think of things to do with him, with trying to school the older girls who I have to file papers to the school district for. 

I definitely need to find ways to not spend so much time on the computer and come up with ways to make school more fun again. 

And, last but not least, here's the hubby. Would he be considered our principal?

My wonderfully supportive, incredible hubby is exhausted most days lately as he works 12 hour night shifts in a nursing home. In fact, lately he's been called in to work extra days or asked to stay late, so he is working even longer hours. He will be sharing his take on our homeschool later this week. When he isn't so exhausted. Love my hubby.

Oh, I almost forgot, we sort of have a pet now. We started feeding this stray cat that the children had named Swiftpaw. We've seen him around for a while, months I believe, but several weeks ago Amelia insisted on feeding him breakfast. He's been our porch cat ever since. Sadly, he has to stay on the porch because I am VERY allergic to cats.

He wanted to take a "peek" into our homeschool too. Sorry kitty, you aren't allowed in. Though he does try. He's made it as far as the doorway to our dining room before!

Thank you so much for stopping by to learn a bit more about our family. Tomorrow I plan to share what our homeschool curriculum will be this year, and probably a look at our schedule. 

Here are some of the participants. CREW @ Homeschool Review Crew - 2019 Annual Not Back to School Homeschool Blog Hop 
Chareen @ Every Bed of Roses - ABC of Homeschooling
Dawn @ Schoolin' Swag - Adding Fun to Your Homeschool Day
Erin @ For Him and My Family - Large Family Homeschooling
Lori @ At Home Where Life Happens - Learning Life Skills
Monique @ Mountain of Grace Homeschooling - Homeschooling the High School Years
Monique D. @ Early Learning Mom - Homeschooling With Autism
Yvie @ Homeschool On the Range - 5 Days of Upper Grades Homeschooling
Abby @ Making Room 4 One More - Time Management for Homeschool Moms
Amanda @ Hopkins Homeschool - 5 Days of Homeschool Questions
Amy @ the WRITE Balance - Year-Round Schooling
Annette @ A Net in Time - Homeschooling.
Betty @ Lets Get Real - Homeschooling High School
Cassandra @ My Blessed Mess - Eclectic Homeschooling Don't forget to check out the other posts linked up below!

A Peek into Our Homeschool Introduction

Well, would you look at that, it's time for this year's Not Back to School Blog Hop with the Homeschool Review Crew. This year I'd like to invite you to take A Peek into Our Homeschool.

Technically we are just finishing up our summer session and will be taking a couple of week's break again before starting our school year the first week of September. But, I can still take you into our homeschool.

Here is a tentative schedule of what I will be posting this year.

Monday August 12th - Meet the Family

Tuesday August 13th - Check Out Our Curriculum

Wednesday August 14th - Our Homeschool Space

Thursday August 15th - Extracurricular Fun!

Friday August 16th - The Homeschool Dad's Take

Of course, my fellow Crew Mates will be posting as well. This year we are all choosing our own topics, so there are going to be many different homeschool ideas being posted. 

You're not going to want to miss this!

I hope you will find time to stop by each day to get a glimpse into our homeschool. Each day there will be a linky at the bottom of the post so you can easily hop around to see what my Crew Mates have to share about their subject. I will also come back here to this introductory post and link each day above to my post for that day.