Scheduling and Time Off!

We have done school "lite" the past two weeks.  School Lite consists of math, reading, and pursuing your own interests.  We have taken field trips, planned for next year, cleaned the house, cleaned our rooms, and helped dad clean up the outside of our house.  There is something about taking time off when the rest of the world is beginning their school year that feels so fun!
We have a schedule of 6 weeks on and 1 week off throughout the year.  For us it works well.  We occasionally take longer breaks like right now and around Christmas. 
I have also completed my new daily schedule.  I am pretty excited about it.  I am trying some new things.  I am going to start with schooling my little kids first.  I tend to run out of energy otherwise.  I have independent activities for my readers.  I am also assigning some of my older ones to help my younger ones more formally.  They seem to enjoy it, and it helps out day run smoother.
I will keep you updated on how it is going. Below is a picture of my new chart.  I must say it is bringing me lots of joy!
Have a good Labor Day weekend!
Becky

Planning for Next Year: Book of Lists

I enjoy learning more about homeschooling.   My grandmother who recently passed away last year continues to inspire me.  She took Belly Dancing and Bar Tending in her 70's and 80's. She went to different lectures on topics up until her death at age 95.  Once she  told a friend who did not want to go to a topic," What are you going to have to contribute if this topic comes up in conversation?"  I believe he was speechless. 
For me a great source of homeschooling information is the public library.  I went to the 371's in non fiction  and looked around on the shelves.  I found  The Homeschooling Book of Lists there.  I think it is worth a look from your library.  It is from 2008 so it is not the most up to date resource out there, but I did enjoy looking through it. It talks about many topics in homeschooling briefly.  It is a good springboard for learning new things.   
I also learned  they have a web site called the Homeschooling Link.   It is a resource I was not familiar with.  I just started to explore the site, and learned quite a bit.   I think my Grandmother would be proud of me.
Enjoy the week
Becky 

A chance to win The Grace Card. . . at my friend's blog.

My friend Amy at Growing Fruit is giving away a copy of the DVD The Grace Card.   It is easy to enter.  You just leave a comment and a way to have her contact if you win.  Very easy!
So click on over for a chance to win.
Remember  "You can't win if you don't enter."
Enjoy your week,
Becky

Planning for Next Year: Internet Safety

I found Internet Protect Your Kids:: Keep Your Children Safe from the Dark Side of Technology on my bookshelf.  It came in a package of books from a homeschool convention.  One of those books I always meant to read.  My kids are getting older and somehow it seemed more pressing.  One of my older sons is taking internet classes and I realized I needed to step it up here.

The book is slightly dated, but very helpful.  The technology has changed from 2007, but the safety issues remain the same.  We do have some measures in place in our home,  we have our online computers in the kitchen and we have the B-Secure Filter.   I think the book was a good reminder to review safety with my kids regularly.  I think the internet, wireless, and technology are such a part of their lives that I need to make technology safety issues a part of our curriculum for next year.   I felt like it needed to be more purposeful rather than just when I thought about it in between cleaning or helping someone do something.

So is there anything that you want to make more purposeful in your curriculum this year?  Now is the time to write it down and plan for it. 
Hopefully you have nicer weather to enjoy as well!
Becky