Time to start thinking curriculum for next year....

I LOVE homeschooling curriculum.  I am very passionate about helping homeschoolers (especially those new to homeschooling) sort through the piles and piles or resources out there to find the ones best matched to them and their children.  Thos is why I review for The Old Schoolhouse Review Crew.  But can I just say, it's much more fun to clean someone ELSE'S house than it is your own! 

Are ya feelin' me?

It's so much easier for me to sit down with a momma of a 5 year old and say "Tell me about your little one and what kind of a person you are and I'll tell you what's out there (that I know about!) that might be a good match or what DEFINITELY won't!" than it is for me to make a big transition with my own kiddos.

For the past six years------yep, homeschooling for 6 years now------- I have been piecing my curriculum together based on what I thought the kids would love and I would enjoy teaching them.  However, the time has come for Abby to shift up to middle school, and I feel the Lord telling me that we need a little more discipline and structure.  For the first time in our homeschooling journey, I am praying about starting an all inclusive curriculum.

To some of you, this may not seem like a big deal- but to me it feels like a seismic shift in the cosmos!  I have been researching and comparing and asking and reading and so far I have it down to 2 different programs.  Here's my requirements:
1) Must have complete lesson plans which require minimal prep work
2) Must be able to use our own math (Teaching Textbooks)
3) Must be able to choose our own science (so that I can continue teaching at co-op)
4) Our level must start with exploration/settlement of the USA
5) Must be biblically based, of course
6) Must be literature rich in a Charlotte Mason-ish form

So the 2 I am looking at would be My Father's World and Sonlight.  I wonder if you'd be so kind as to chime in on this one for me?  Thoughts?  Experiences?  I'd love to hear!

Getting ready......

It seems surreal for me to be at this point in my life.  Many times, in my 38 years, I have been part of something that I felt like I didn't deserve to be part of.  I had the great privilege of touring with 30 amazing people across the USA- putting on the most awesome allegory of the gospel- seeing people's lives changed for eternity- nightly!  Once I got to live in the middle of a horse field in California in an Airstream for a whole summer....just learning about what it means to be a missionary.  One time I got to go to the jungle in Mexico for 10 days, sleep on the floor of a barn, shower with iguanas, and sing and dance with the most beautiful children.  I had the honor of playing ring toss and bowling with refugees' children in a camp in Hungary.

And now it is time to go again- to be part of something huge that makes me feel so humble and undeserving.  There is something about stepping out of what you know to be lush and comfortable- to step into someone else's reality, someone else's hardship and pain.  I can't explain it well with my words, but my heart feels it so very deeply. 

I used to be so terrified of Africa.  So terrified that God would call me there and I would have no choice but to go. I never once thought that God would have me beg to go.....for seven years.  While I think it is totally Him that I get to make this trek with Operation Christmas Child, I think that it would have come one way or another.  Because this is what I believe.....

You cannot close your heart to any of God's children.  Not because you're scared, not because you don't want to get dirty, not because they're too far away.  You can't just say, "My heart isn't in Africa" or "I'm not called to Turkey" because the truth is, you ARE called, and whether your heart is in it or not, His is.

Out of Africa

Last night I sat down in my comfy chair with my electric throw and watched the best movie of all time......

 

Don't get me wrong, I understand entirely that men do not get this flick.  But if there was a Rambo for women- it's Karen Blixen. 

 

And ladies, we should all just go ahead and admit that Robert Redford has NEVER looked so good as he did in Out of Africa.

 

I sat there- enthralled instantly by the beautiful scenery and the words "I had a farm in Africa....".  I was overcome by the score and completely awestruck by the wardrobes.  Karen stirs in me some kind of pensive, fierce independence that I know is not of me.

 

Then the sobbing began.

 

 I'm currently reading Karen's book Out of Africa which she wrote under the nom de plume Isak Dinesen.

It is so beautiful and eloquent- and I feel like I am already in Africa when I pick it up to read. In fact, I find I'm reading it every spare moment I get- in the orthodontist office, in the car, before bed- I even sneak a page in here and there when I'm getting dressed in the morning or eating breakfast!

 

Can this really be?  Am I truly to go THERE?  Why has my most gracious God in Heaven allowed me to be a part of what He is doing there?  And not just there- but all over the world?!  I grapple with the thoughts of not being worthy, not being ready, and not wanting to leave once I get there.

Happy National Pound Cake Day!

Mmmmmm...... I love pound cake.  Well, if I were to be honest, I'd have to say that I love ALL cakes!  And I love making them too.  There is something so therapeutic about baking something that makes your whole house smell divine!  So, let's all use today as an excuse and celebrate this glorious holiday and bake a pound cake for dessert....or breakfast...or a mid-afternoon snack!

Here's the best pound cake recipe EVER- passed down to me by my mother who got it from a family friend and matriarch of Bluefield, WV- Mrs Sue Starling:

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

3 sticks butter
3c sugar
6 eggs
3c all-purpose flour
1tsp vanilla
8oz cream cheese

Cream butter and cream cheese together with sugar.  Add eggs and flour alternately- starting with and ending with flour.  Bake at 325 for 1 hour 25 minutes.  DO NOT OPEN OVEN UNTIL TIMER GOES OFF!

TOS Review: Abraham's Journey

We, at the Cain house, love to read.  Really love to read.  If you've ever been to our house, you've more than likely noticed that books are our main inspiration for decor!  So we just LOVE when we get a review for a book!

 We read the book Abraham's Journey from Inspiring the American Dream.


Inspiring the American Dream is a movement by Dr. Kathleen Basmadjian and her husband, Robert K. Basmadjian, Jr. who believe

        "The American dream is in jeopardy. Unless we, as parents, grandparents and educators, teach our children about this unique American ideal, the American dream will be lost forever." (website)

The Basmadjians set about writing and publishing Abraham's Journey ($14.99)in an effort to encourage children in their version of "the American Dream".

I received the book and eagerly sat down with my 8 and 11 year old to begin reading.  The book opens with a family meeting.  Abraham's mother and father have lost their jobs during the Great Recession.  Though there will still be a Christmas tree, decorations, and singing- there will be no Christmas gifts.  Abraham decides to take on "saving" Christmas.  He then retreats to his room with his smart phone to text his friends about jobs, when out pops Abraham Lincoln!  Honest Abe takes young Abe on some kind of a journey (magical? dream?) where he meets Martin Luther King, Jr., Norman Rockwell, Amelia Earhart, Mark Zuckerburg, and Bill and Melinda Gates who are supposed to idealize the American Dream.  Young Abraham is discovered as an artist when Rockwell sees him paint a background for a play and Bill and Melinda Gates buy it for their Foundation's wall. Young Abe has presents for everyone when they come downstairs Christmas morning and then they run off to the shelter where they give out blankets and such.

Wow......so that's what the "American Dream" is all about?!

My kids were glassy eyed. Here's what followed in a barrage :

"Momma, who is that Mark guy and why is he with Amelia Earhart?  Was he her friend that was the co-pilot when she went down and didn't achieve the American Dream?"- Ben
"Wait, why was Abraham Lincoln in the story?  He never really said much."- Abby
"Didn't Abraham Lincoln and Amelia Earhart and her friend, Mark, die before Martin Luther King, Jr.?"- Ben
"Momma, why doesn't the American Dream involve God?  It said that only WE can achieve the American Dream on our own."-Abby
"And if they had a Christmas tree and decorations and singing....why did Christmas need saved?"- Ben
"Why did he have a cell phone if his parents didn't have any money?  They're expensive!"- Abby
"I've never heard of Mr and Mrs Gates before."- Ben

Hmmm......

I've read some of the other reviews on this book because I wondered if I was the only one not getting it.  I understand that technology is part of this day and age.  I understand that a new standard of "success" is being raised.  I even understand that people classify success in different terms than I do.

My version of the American Dream looks far different than Mr and Mrs Basmadjian's.  How about Billy Graham?  How about Laura Ingalls Wilder?  George Washington Carver? I think you get my point.  Why are the rich and famous the ones portrayed as those who have "arrived"?  And I know not everyone believes that God has a hand in who is successful or not, but I sure do!  I believe that no amount of success will fill the void left in our hearts when we don't allow Christ His rightful place there. 

This book left too many unanswered questions and too many missed opportunities.  I will say that there was a glossary of terms and mini-biographies of each of the characters in the back of the book.  Also, it did pave the way for some great discussions with my kiddos.

As always, please take a look at what the rest of the crew thought....
 

TOS Review: A+ Tutorsoft

On deck for your reviewing pleasure today is a math program by A+ Tutorsoft, Inc. called A+ Interactive Math.  This program comes in two formats, CD and online.  We were awarded the online version.

A+ Interactive Math is a multi-sensory (visual, audio, and text) math program that seems to cover all the bases.  For parents, there are lesson plans provided, a grading system in place online, progress reports, and a placement test.  For students, thereare tons of printable worksheets, templates for worksheets, certificates for completed assignments, the ability to choose the topic they are learning, interactive reviews, and exam templates.  So yes, the program offers tons to subscribers!  In fact, this could be a full curriculum, though we used it more as a supplement.

Interested in a free demo? Sign up for a free one month subscription!

So let me give you the play-by-play of our experience with A+......
We were up at bat and this coach was instantly overwhelmed. The home page seems a bit cluttered and a little user un-friendly.  It took me a while to get everything set up for my lead off batter- who struck out at nearly every at-bat.  Between the graphics, sometimes incomplete questions, and monotone voice-over......my boy was totally sunk.  (Coach wasn't that great of a help because she found the site very overwhelming!)



  The lesson starts out with a video presentation.  When finished, the student can then practice with the "Interactive Q & A" segment.  Some of the questions were very hard to answer for a third grader, while others seemed a bit too easy.  One question didn't seem to make a lick of sense....I think it was a curveball!  I also didn't have the option of printing worksheets as our printer has gone to the great recycling tub in the sky- though buying them through the website is an option.

Please understand that I am not very great with online math programs.  Computers intimidate me.  Math intimidates me.  Both together get me ejected from the ballpark! :o)  If you're the type that scales math in a single bound and loves computer programs- this may be right up your alley! If you have children who are used to navigating complicated sites, this may be just your speed.  I never want to insinuate that just because something didn't work for us, it absolutely won't work for you so, please, check out the free month subscription if you're looking for a fairly in-depth math program for your little ones.  A+ has programs for 1-7th(pre-algebra) grades and Algeba I.  The CD software runs $79.99 and the online subs run $19.95 a month or $124.95 for the year.  As a gift to my readers, A+ Tutorsoft is offering a 50% discount through the end of March.  Just enter SPOFFER50 at checkout!

Please, please, please go take a look at the other Crew-mates reviews!  Lots and lots of them just loved this product!

Old Habits Die HARD!

This impending trip to Africa has changed my thinking on many issues.  Some relevant and worth sharing, some worth only the few bytes of memory consumed in my brain.  One big change is coming at me hard and fast.....

Food.

Lots of my friends know that I have been trying to lose weight prior to leaving for Uganda.  So far I've lost about 10 pounds, and that's cool, but I still want to get rid of 20 more.  At first I just started counting calories and drinking water.  Counting calories inevitably leads one to healthier food choices because let's be honest- even if you don't like vegetables....they're free in the world of calories!  Let me confess right here, from the get go, that no one in my family (including myself) are HUGE veggie lovers.  We live by the staples: green beans, corn, salad- not too exotic with the greens, cucumbers, tomatoes, and the occasional broccoli and cauliflower.  No sweet potatoes. No squash.  No greens.

And CERTAINLY no...in any form....

 

In an effort to encourage some vegetable eating, we've tried growing a garden just about every year.  We've had great green beans.  Great tomatoes.  Great pink eyes.  But let me just say- we still have some gardening skills to hone.

 

Plan B......this past Friday I took the kids on a field trip to Jones Valley Urban Farm.

 

Set in the middle of downtown Birmingham, this is one awesome community resource.  Not only do they offer urbanites space to garden, but they also provide valuable education opportunities to those of us who are new to this whole "slow food" grown locally thing.

 

As we began our time with Ms Stephanie, she taught the children about ecosystems and gardening..

 

then she let them try some of the amazing produce growing at the farm.

(BEST broccoli I've ever tasted!!)

 

The children then began harvesting some yummy goodness.....

 

then the kiddos got to make a yummy snack of vinegar slaw with their spoils!

 

 

Would you believe my corn dog/pizza/chicken nugget eating boy bent over, picked a leaf, and began EATING it???!!

"Ben, did you know you're eating raw spinach?" I said in absolute astonishment.

"Wow Momma, it's delicious!"

Momma beams.

 

You see, I'm learning that I grew up an organic eater on the side of our mountain in West Virginia.  I''d go out with my cousin and we would eat whatever Mother Nature provided straight from her hand....blackberries, crab apples, pears.  We had homegrown tomatoes and cucumbers with just about every meal.  My grandparents had a fabulous garden and what they didn't grow the neighbor did and there was morning produce swaps over coffee and friendly visits.

 

I'm thinking that it's time to get back to my roots.  To educate myself and the kids on eating well, to glean from the Earth.  To take the time to learn about the food we're eating and where it came from.  To cook and not just supply meals.

 

But old habits die hard, and we've got quite a few to break.