Presidents Day: Best FREE Resources on the Web

I hope this short list of resources is something you find useful.

A mini-unit with notebooking pages from HomeschoolMosaics.com 

Lapbook from Homeschool Share 

 George Washington Lapbook from Lapbook Lesson 

There's no shortage of President Day activities over at Enchanted Learning!

TeacherVision offers Presidents Day printables, lessons plans, activities and the list goes on and on...

10 page activity packet from Michelle Tomaszewski at TpT

A darling 4 year old girl making Abraham Lincoln's log cabin from pretzels and George Washington's powered wig using cotton balls. So sweet :)

If you have something you'd like to add to this list, please contact me here or leave a comment below. Thanks!

Weekly Homeschool Journal - Week 2

In my life this week... 

This week could have been better had I not been sick most of the week.  I wasn't as productive as I would have like to have been. I did get a lot of reading in though, which was nice. But here's a rundown of my week.

• Sunday: Church and family time - I had had a pretty emotional day. I fasted and felt lots of prayers being answered. If you read my post last week, then you know I've been struggling with some issues with my son. It was a hard day but also a day of learning and reflection. It's amazing what happens when you slow down and listen to what God wants you to do.
• Monday: 4 friends over for dinner. We planned the baptism of a new friend of ours, Mitchell. He has embraced the gospel, which is such a beautiful thing to witness. I also got ALL those books I had on my living room floor back on the shelves. 
• Tuesday: Not too much but house work and napping.... I was a little sick this day.
• Wednesday: Still sick. Just a little house work.
• Thursday: My worse sick day of the week. Could barely get out of bed!
• Friday: Feeling better at this point, thankfully! My lovely daughter, Cassie, came home for Fall break and will be home for 10 days!! Yippee!!
• Saturday:  Mitchell was baptized... it was a beautiful baptism. My husband gave a talk (he was supposed to sing with my daughter but is also a little under the weather) and my youngest daughter sang Be Still My Soul, which is one of my favorite hymns. I was so touched by Mitchell, his joy was contagious with lots of tears all around. 

In our homeschool this week...

I wish I could say I was more involved in our homeschool this week but I wasn't really at all. I did help my son with his Math once or twice. He read to me in my bed everyday and we read scriptures together each morning. But other than that, I wasn't there. That doesn't mean the kids didn't accomplish anything, they did and I'm sure I'll see lots of what they did tomorrow when I check their work. Not a good week for me :) 

A poem to share... 

This week I came across this poem and it helped me a lot and put things into perspective. If we compare our lives with an embroidery, we might find most of the time we look at the back side instead of the front, as God does. I've been spending too much time looking at the back and I'm sure I will continue to do that but this helps me understand what God sees in me. I know he has a plan for me and I need to remember that. 

The Weaver

My life is but a weaving
Between the Lord and me;

I may not choose the colors–
He knows what they should be.

For He can view the pattern
Upon the upper side
While I can see it only
On this, the under side.

Sometimes He weaves in sorrow,
Which seems so strange to me;
But I will trust His judgment
And work on faithfully.

‘Tis He who fills the shuttle,
And He knows what is best;
So I shall weave in earnest,
And leave to Him the rest.

Not ’til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly
Shall God unroll the canvas
And explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needed
In the Weaver’s skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.

~Not sure of the author - I found a couple different people claim it as their own so I'm not going to put a name~

I'm inspired by... 

Beautiful music. I'm so blessed and grateful to have a daughter with the voice of an angel. She loves to sing hymns and that really does bring peace to my soul. She spent a lot of time this week singing the hymn mentioned above in preparation for the baptism. She'll be singing again in church next week, which I'm excited about! If you'd like to see her sing the first verse of Be Still My Soul with a former missionary in our area, you can do that here. I wasn't able to get it to load to youtube or blogger.

Places we're going and people we're seeing... 
Okay, this is the best part of this coming week!!!! It really deserves about a hundred exclamation points but I don't want to be obnoxious :) Our son will be coming home on Thursday from his 2 year mission!! We are so excited! I can't even begin to tell you what is going on in our home. Lots of smiles and counting down. We are so excited to hear what his experiences have been over the past 2 years. It's been such a blessing have him serve a mission. I'm just looking forward to talking to him face to face after 2 years. 

My favorite thing this week...
It would have to be hearing my daughter sing at the baptism. She is always so composed when she sings and I actually asked her just recently how she can sing such touching music and not cry. Well, today she did cry. She barely got through it. She held back the tears the entire time but you could see them close to the surface. She only couldn't get out the words of the last line of the hymn. There wasn't a dry eye in the room. Despite the tears her voice was as lovely as ever.

What I'm working on this week...
Because I was sick, I didn't get much house work done this week and I've got LOTS of family coming next weekend to visit our son. So this week will be full of cleaning and preparing meals for guest. I'm thankful to have my daughter in town to help so the younger kids can focus on their school work. I haven't gone grocery shopping in over a week and that is priority number one on Monday - I don't shop on Sunday. I'm still hoping to get to the wall I wanted to redo in my family room done but that's not too much of a priority at this point. I'm just glad I was sick this week! I need to be healthy next week! :)


What we're reading...
On my own:

• When Things Get Tough by John Bytheway
• Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens ( I could read Dickens every day of the week!)

With the kids:

• Way To Be by Gordon B. Hinckley (character study)
• The Book of Mormon Made Easier by David Ridges 

Christian:

• The Help by Kathryn Stockett (he loves the movie :)

I needed to let Christian read something he wanted to read on his own. He's been a reader for a couple years but for whatever reason has decided he doesn't enjoy reading. I had to allow him to choose a book HE wanted to read and this is what he choose. Thankfully he's enjoying it.

Melanie:

• The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

Mel goes through about 2-3 books a week. 

I'm cooking...

• Jon's (our son coming home) favorite - Tuna Noodle Casserole

I honestly haven't put anything thought into it beyond that :)


I'm praying for...
Safe travels for Jon, everyone to stay healthy this week, my wayward son, all my kids welfare, missionary experiences, opportunities to serve, my dear husband to feel better, and actually a ton of other things :)

A video to share...
This is my daughter Cassie signing the song His Hands sung by Jenny Jordon Frogley. The video is several years old but it still touches me. I love the song and my daughter is so passionate about ASL.

She has been wanting to major in ASL but couldn't find a program out West but just recently found one and will be transferring schools next fall.

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I'm link-up with: 

Weekly Homeschool Journal - Week 1

I just learned about this journal link-up at iHomeschoolNetwork.com and I'm very excited to begin writing about my week in this format. I love keeping a journal and this will be a great way for me to wrap up my week.

In my life this week…

I've actually been struggling for some time now (nearly a year) with a personal matter that at times consumes my thoughts. I'm not going to go into much detail but it does involve one of my children that has fallen away from our beliefs. I have days when I don't want to get out of bed I hurt so bad - I do but it's hard. I had a couple days this week that weren't good for me. I've spent a lot of time on my knees over the past year and this week was no exception. Earlier this week as I was praying I felt prompted to search the scriptures for help - which I do often. I opened my scriptures to a random page and the very first verse I read was John 14:27:  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

After reading that verse, I knew God had heard my prayer. I knew He was with me. While I will always continue to fast and pray for my children, I will keep this scripture verse close to my heart when I feel down. 

In our homeschool this week…

My kids work independently and I feel sort of in the background a lot of the times. But one thing I'm working hard to do with my youngest son is getting him to focus more. He tends to get distracted easily. So what's my plan? I hate to say it... but I'm bribing him. It's true. But it's not as bad as it sounds. Basically I've set a time limit for each subject and he sets a timer. And by the way, the time limits are EXTREMELY reasonable, in my opinion. For example, he has 60 minutes to complete Math. He sets the timer and he earns one whole penny for every minute he doesn't use. So if he finishes in 40 minutes he earned 20 cents. Trust me, it adds up. Last week he earned about $4.00 and for a 13 year old boy that's good money and it lessens a lot of stress on my part. He's staying more focused instead of being up and down all day. 

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share...

Homeschooling is a journey, not a race. Foster a love of learning in your child and they will have a desire to continue learning throughout their lives.

I am inspired by…

My children who are currently serving missions. I have 2 kids out serving full-time missions. Our oldest son has been out for 23 1/2 months. We've only spoken to him 4 times in all that time. He'll return home on the 25th of this month. We're very excited. My daughter will return in about 4 months and has been out for 14 - we've only spoken to her twice. I'm so proud of my missionaries and their strong desire to serve others. They inspire me to want to find more time to serve those around me. 

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

Tomorrow we're heading up to Las Vegas to attend a ceremony for my nephew who will be leaving for his mission in about a month. I'll be seeing most of the members from my side of the family. I'm one of 9 kids and I expect to see at least 5 of my sibs along with their spouses and kids as well as my parents. It will be a nice gathering.

My favorite thing this week was…

Spending time up at our cabin over the weekend. I love being up there in nature and spending time with my family. We also had the opportunity to watch a conference put out by our church and it was amazing! 

Things I’m working on…

• I'm working on getting our son's room ready for his return! We're cutting out tons of hearts to hang all over his room with messages from family and friends. I'm cheating a little though and buying some of those heart-shaped post-its.
• I'm getting a few pictures framed and hung up in our family room. I'm redoing a wall in that room.
• I have a stack of books on my living room floor I need to organize and get back on the shelves.

I’m reading…

In anticipation for the new Les Misérables movie, that's what I'm reading... again! I love the book. I should be finished with it tomorrow actually. 

I’m cooking…

This week's menu:

• Teriyaki chicken, rice, vegetables
• Shrimp pasta with a white wine sauce smothered in portobella mushrooms, bacon, garlic and lots of other goodies.... just whatever I had on hand.
• Chicken noodle soup
• Lightly breaded pork, garlic mashed potatoes, vegetables
• Pizza
• Left-overs

I’m grateful for…

Answered prayers and a loving Heavenly Father whose presence I feel in my life everyday.

I’m praying for…

My children, my sweetheart, the upcoming debates and elections, opportunities to serve and cooler weather... I live in Arizona, need I say more :)

A photo to share…

Only one of our six turtle eggs hatched... but look how cute!

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I'm link-up with: 

20 Ways You Can Bring Out the Best in Your Child

{1} This one should go without saying but love them unconditionally. Your children will make mistakes. They may not clean their rooms or do their school work to your standards however you must love them despite these things. They will feel it.

{2} How often do you tell your children you love them? If you say "I love you" daily they will know they are loved beyond just showing them. If saying this to your child is difficult for you it is even more important for you to say it. I grew up with a mother that had a hard time telling her children she loved us and I can count on one hand the number of times I remember hearing it from her. I love her very much despite this but I knew I wasn't going to make that mistake with my kids. I wanted them not only to feel it but to hear the words. Those words do matter!

{3} We all want our children to have a positive self-image. My experience is if I act and speak in the way I'd like my children to behave they mimicked my behavior - lead by example. Tell them you believe in them and their abilities. Simply say the words, "I believe in you." Our children look up to us and hearing those words will mean a lot to them. Even if they don't believe in themselves at first for whatever reason, in time, they will.

{4} As I mentioned above, lead by example. A good friend of mine told me as a young mother, "Don't expect your children to do as you say but expect them to do as you do." I really took that advice seriously and realized I needed to step up and be a great example to my kids.

{5} Give positive feedback when your child does something you want them develop in themselves.  You may want to make a list of some of the things you want your child to develop over time.

{6} Remember that each child is unique and different. I have 6 kids and each has different personalities, talents and interests. While making that list I mentioned above remember that. My list was more generic like I wanted them to have a testimony and relationship with their Savior, develop a love of service, compliment others, be kind, and so forth. But remember they are individuals and need to be treated as such.

{7} As you see your children develop their talents, remind them how it will not only effect them but others around them. Word it in a way that will be positive and give them a desire to continue to develop their talents and share it with others. I know our talents can effect others in a positive way and we need to remind our kids that when they are sharing their talents they are serving others.

{8} All of my kids are either teens or beyond the teen years. I've said lots of not so nice things when they messed up. I've seen the side effect of this and it's not good. My best advice is to choose your words carefully before you speak after your children have made a mistake. I've learned that I need a few minutes to myself to pray and ponder how I will handle a situation. This took some time for me to figure out but it does help. My kids respect that I'll take time to consider what is the best way to handle the situation.

{9} Spend time with great books. We are Christians and read from the scriptures daily but there are lots of books that have great messages.

{10} While reading all these great stories find ways to relate them to real life. We have a night each week that we invite new members of our church or people learning about our faith to come over to our home. This gives us all a chance to share stories with one another and more often than not our children get the opportunity to share experiences that have been life lessons for them. This may not be for everyone but it has been a way for our kids to strengthen their beliefs and help others learn from their lives.

{11} I used to kind of freak out when my kids made mistakes. After lots of conversations with God I knew what I needed to do. I needed to create a home where my kids could feel safe and protected from the outside influences of the world. I wanted a space that when they came home they felt calm and peace. Create a home where love and peace abound. Turn the TV off and allow time for quiet and family time.

{12} Be patient. If you're a homeschooling parent I know you've been asked many times, "You must be so patient in order of teach your kids at home." My response is always, "I wasn't at first but I'm  more patient now because I chose to homeschool." My kids have taught me patience. And in return, I believe I've taught them patience.

{13} It's okay to apologize to your children when you make a mistake - in fact we really need to do this. We all do make mistakes and I know my kids respect me more when I apologize to them. It also teaches them that we're not all perfect and it's important to acknowledge when we mess up. Kids are very forgiving and it teaches them to forgive.

{14} Watch how other parents interact with their kids and take those great things you see and apply them to your family.

{15} I've also seen things while watching others interact with their children that I don't want to apply to my family. You can learn a lot from watching how others interact that are both positive and negative. Run with the positive and stay far away from the negative!

{16} I love getting to know others. Ask other parents what works in their homes. Ask them what their parents did that they feel worked well while they were growing up. You can try their ideas and if they work, great, if not, don't use them anymore.

{17} Point out things you are grateful for and in time your kids will do the same. We pray everyday as a family and we always express things we are grateful for. It's beautiful to me to hear the things my kids are grateful for. Other things we've done over the years are keeping a gratitude journal as a family. We'd write in it once a week. We also had a gratitude jar. How that worked was if my kids were arguing when they were younger I'd have them tell one thing they were grateful for about the child they were fighting with. It worked well for us. We'd share what was added to the jar at dinner on Sunday and usually it would make the kids realize that the fight didn't mean anything but they were glad to see the good in their sibling.

{18} Like all families we've experienced trials that have impacted one or all members of our family. These are great opportunities for you to point out lessons learned through these trials. There are lots of great and important life lessons to be learned through our trials. Our children should be able to see the blessings that come through adversity. Ask your children, "How can we grow from this experience?" or "What is a positive way of looking at what you or we are going through?"

{19} Help your children learn from their mistakes. They will make plenty of them but it's important that they understand we all do! I teach my kids that we are here on Earth to make mistakes and learn from them. We're basically 'at school' away from our Heavenly Father and He's up there grading us. We want to please Him. One way to do that is to learn from our mistakes and not to repeat them.

{20} Ask yourself each day what you can do to be a better parent. We all have room for improvement. None of us has reached our potential. As we ponder this, remember our children need us to be our best in order to become their best.

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Linked-up with:

Our Typical Homeschool Day

Yes, the picture above looks as if school is all fun and games at our house. Well actually we do try to make it entertaining as we go! No need to be serious all the time!

Before I continue, I want to say that my schedule is going to look different from others, obviously. I'm only teaching 2 kids and they're both teens. When I had 6 kids I was teaching I felt completely overwhelmed, like I had the world on my shoulders, and honestly wouldn't have even made the time to write a post like this. Things are much more relaxed in our homeschool with only two teenagers in the house but I do try to keep some structure and balance to our day. However, I have to admit that schedules do drive me crazy so what you'll read below is written loosely. We are quite flexible with some things but I'm very insistent upon other things. 

Last thing before I start, I want to say that this is not a competition. We all have different plans, schedules, interests, and goals for our children, homes and families. My goal in writing this post is to encourage you not discourage you. We don't complete everything everyday like I would like to but I try to leave time open on Friday to complete what we didn't complete during the week.

As far as a schedule goes, I use a spreadsheet for each subject. This works best for me. I can copy and paste a weekly schedule for my kids to follow and that works well for them.

 Our Fixed Weekday Activities: 

7:30 - ?pm Monday - Family Home Evening

6-7pm Monday-Wednesday: Karate

4-5:30pm - Tuesday - Piano and Voice Lessons

7-8:30pm - Thursday - Scouts and Youth Activities at church

Karate Class - Melanie and Christian are on the same level.
Melanie is third from the left.

           Melanie singing Far From the Home I Love

Christian has asked me not to add anything he's performed. He's a little shy but very talented. 

 Our Mornings: 

6:30 - 7:20 - Melanie attends earlier morning seminary at our church. All LDS high school age kids attend this through high school.

7:00 - I'm up and help my husband get ready for work. 

7:45 - We have family scripture study and family prayer.

8:30 - We begin school.

8:30 - 9:00 - Scripture study - We are focusing on character studies from the scriptures. This is the only study we do together. Things have sure changed a lot over the years!

 Christian's Schedule: 

The white desk in the corner is
Christian's desk but he typically sits
at my desk to work. I have one of those large
U-shaped desks... Notice the box of crackers :)

9:00-9:45 - Math (I shower during this time) 

9:45- 10:30 - History & Geography (We usually only do Geography on Thursdays)

10:30 - 11:15 - Writing

11:15 - 12:00 - Spelling, Grammar, Latin/Greek

12:00 - 2:00 - Lunch, Practice Piano, Reading

2:00 - 2:45 - Science

2:45 - 3:30 - Literature

3:00-6:00 - At this point I either run errands, go to doctor appointments (which I try to always schedule after 4pm), or just get some house work done with the kids help... and on occasion take a nap :)

 Melanie's schedule  is something she's worked out on her own. She's teaching a few students piano and voice during the week. She  attends a few college classes along with her homeschool work and works from 4-6pm at my husband's office a few days a week.

In a previous post Melanie mentioned that she does her school work
on her bed.... Well, this his evidence of that! And yes, there is one
headphone in her ear. Our kids are allowed to listen to music at home and
during school. However they can only have one bud in and it must be
instrumental music only during school, like classical. They all
love classical as they've grown up with it and I found some of them
think better with the music... especially Melanie.

Of course meals are thrown in there as well :) But that's about it for us. We don't do anything extremely out of the ordinary but we do our best.  I look forward to reading how others structure their days.

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This post is linked up at iHomeschool Network's Not Back to School Blog Hop - Day in the Life Week