Joyful Heart

The following is what our family has selected to try to implement for the new school year.  Starting this school year, we have an 8 year old third grader, 6 1/2 year old first grader, 4 1/2 year old PreK child, an active 2 1/2 year old, and a 4 month old baby.

Due to having an infant in the house who is not in as good of a routine as the other children were at this age, we plan to start with the basics (Bible, Language Arts, and Math) and then add in more formal science, history, and geography in a couple months.  We’ll just have to see how smoothly, or not, things go!

Bible and Devotions

1. Daily Proverbs
2. Family Memory Verse Work
3. Character Traits and Bible stories from Joyful Heart Character
4. ‘Thankful Thursday’ gratitude notebook
5. Proverbs Family Night Tool Chest by Jim Weildmann – one night a week with Daddy!

Science/ Art / Music / Foreign Language

1. Backyard Nature Notebook
2. A homemade orchestra study incorporating ‘A Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra’
3. Rosetta Stone Latin American Spanish

Read Alouds
Until we begin our purchased MFW curriculum, we plan to read classics such as The Trumpet of the Swan, Heidi, The Secret Garden, Mrs. Piggle Wiggle, and Charlotte’s Web.

Reading / Language Arts /Math
our 3rd grader…

1. Readers:  a mixture of Sonlight 2A and 3 regular readers, free choice reading on her own, Book Report Task Cards
2. Explode the Code books 7 and 8 for phonics
3. Sequential Spelling
4. A Reason for Handwriting Book T – We plan to finish the transition lessons and then move into the second half of the book.  This series has the child practice writing a few letters and words each day that pertain to a certain Bible verse.  Then, on the last day, the child copies the full verse neatly.
5. Copywork – Bible verses from the Joyful Heart Character lessons
6. Grammar and Writing:  Primary Language Lessons and writing letters
7. Horizons Math (completing Level 2 and heading into 3)
8. Flashcards
9. Hands on Math games from Right Start
10. Calendar Binder and Math Task Cards

our First Grader…

1. Readers: Abeka 2nd grade readers, free choice reading on own, book sheets
2. Explode the Code books 4 and 5 for phonics
3. Sequential Spelling
4. Copywork – Bible verses from the Joyful Heart Character lessons
5. Grammar and Writing:  Daily Language Lessons for 1st, Grammar & Punctuation,  and writing letters
6. A Reason for Handwriting Book B
7. Horizons Math Level 1
8. Flashcards
9. Hands on Math games from Right Start
10. Calendar Binder and Math Task Strips

our Pre K child…

1. Joyful Heart Character -Bible story, memory verse, character trait study, and beginning reading activities
2. Calendar Binder

our toddler…

1. Singing verses in her Joyful Heart Tune Binder
2. Manipulatives and games with Mommy
3. Do-a-Dot Letter Art – from Confessions of a Homeschooler
4. Enjoying books
5. play, play, play =)

our infant…
I keep joking with my husband that our youngest ‘student’ is the one I expect to see the most growth in this year!  From getting into a consistent routine, rolling over, sitting up, eating baby foods, ‘talking’ more, etc, he has his own full blown curriculum to work on!

Lifeskills and Extracurricular Activities

1. Hand Sewing:  We will continue to use My First Sewing Book (Level 1) and My First Embroidery Book (Level 2) both by Winky Cherry.
2. Gymnastics (oldest three kids)
3. Ballet (oldest two girls)
4. AWANA – We have a T&T, a Sparks, a Cubbie, and a Puggle now!
5. Family Chore Time
6. Some homeschool outings/ field trips with other families in our church.

To Be Added in a Couple Months
It was difficult when we came to the conclusion that it would be best for our family to wait a couple months before working through the following curriculum!

History / Geography
Exploring Countries and Cultures in My Father’s World from My Father’s World Curriculum is our choice for this school year.   It includes geography (learning about various countries around the world), a Bible study of the book of Matthew, praying for unreached people groups around the world using Window on the World, science (biomes),  hands on art and science projects, integrated narration and copywork, read alouds about missionaries, music from other countries, and cooking experiences.  We can’t wait to start our adventure around the world!

Bible and Devotions
MFW study of the book of Matthew
(including copywork for the oldest two girls  ~ You can find free printables to coordinate with the verses from Matthew here.)

Science
As we learn about different countries and cultures, we will also be learning about the animals that live in those environments.   We plan to use the resources suggested in the MFW ECC curriculum – The Living World Encyclopedia, Properties of Ecosystems, The Big Book of Animals, The Great Animal Search, and the Encyclopedia of Animals.

Art

1. MFW incorporates the use of Global Art by Mary Ann Kohl.
2. Draw Write Now – We will be drawing animals to coordinate with the different continents and regions/habitats of the world.

If you are interested in seeing what other homeschoolers are doing, check out the Not Back to School Blog Hop hosted at Heart of the Matter!  It is Curriculum Week!

Last spring, I heard all the raving reviews of Sue Patrick’s Workbox System.  Being the organizer that I am and the lover of all purposeful baskets, holders, and containers, I had to take a closer look at this and see if it might work for our family.  

Sue Patrick’s original system consists of using 12 clear plastic shoeboxes for each child, placing a learning activity in each one.   You can learn more about her full system at her website and through her book.  I could see the benefit of her ideas, but I also knew there was no way I was going to be able to purchase and eventually store 5 sets of 12 boxes! (My husband would have balked at the idea as well =) )   I knew that implementation of the entire system was not realistic for our growing homeschool family, but the goal behind it still intrigued me.   After reading several blogs of how other homeschooling moms of 3+ children altered the system to suit their needs, including this homeschool mom at Color Me Orange, I grabbed some containers and followed suit!   I decided to try to use one plastic file box with 12 hanging files per child.  I made, printed, laminated, cut, and attached labels and we were set to go!

At the end of our school year, I asked each child, “What did you like about our workboxes this year?”   Here is a quick review by our kids…

4 year old preschooler

1. “the name on it and the picture”
   (Mommy’s Interpretation:  He likes that he has a box with his very own name on it.  He also likes that he got to choose the color and background for the front of his box.) 
2. “finding verses in it” 
   (Mommy’s Interpretation:  In the very first folder, I would place his Cubbie book containing his Bible verse from AWANA so that we would be sure to practice it daily!)

6 year old kindergartener

1. “putting the tags on” 
   (Mommy’s Interpretation: She liked being in charge of removing the tags from her folders and placing them on the outside to show that she was finished with an assignment.)

8 year old second grader 

1. “When I put the tag on, I know that I did something.” 
   (Mommy’s Interpretation:  She likes the visual to know when she has accomplished a task and how much she has left to do.)

Mommy’s Review of our Workboxes 
Likes:

1. I like that I wasn’t the keeper of all the books and materials!   In previous years, I had one tote for all of us.  It was becoming more and more difficult to fit everything for our growing family all in one tote.  Language arts and math for each child, history, Bible, etc. was overflowing and weighing my tote down!  This year, I reserved the tote for activities and lessons we would do together as a family – science, history, Bible, art, and music.  The childrens’ individual language arts and math lessons now had a new home in each child’s very own workbox.
2. In previous years, I would be in charge of when the kids worked on their assignments.  This year, using individual workboxes, the children were given more freedom and control over which subject they wanted to work on and in which order.  At the start of the day, they would check the front of their box to see how many assignments they had and then check the outside of each hanging file to see which assignments were to be completed on their own and which were labeled as ‘work with mom’ or ‘work with a sibling’.  They would then then peek into their folders to get a glimpse of what they would be working on that day.  Previously, with the one tote, it was hard for them to see what we had to work on for the day and they never knew what was coming next nor how much more we had to do.  Individual workboxes, with the chart and movable tags, gave the children a visual for how much was left and for what they had already accomplished.  I  think they found it motivating.
3. For our preschooler, his workbox was set up to be almost all ‘work with mom’ time.  His workbox gave us an organized space and order for working together.
4. I truly think the implementation of workboxes made preparing and organizing work for each child more manageable as well.  Whenever there is a designated place to put items, it makes things go much more smoothly! 
5. Using file boxes with handles made the workboxes portable.  We could work in a variety of places throughout our home and easily take our work with us… to the basement, an upstairs bedroom, the living room, even on a trip to dentist!

Dislikes:

1. We used standard hanging files and several hanging file folders ended up tearing and splitting half way through the year.  I attempted to tape and mend them to make it through the year, but it was not a pretty sight.

I am looking forward to using our workboxes again this coming school year. The only changes I am planning to implement are using heavier duty hanging files and adding a small pouch to the front of each box to hold pencils, a small box of crayons, a glue stick, and pair of scissors for each PreK child or older.  I am also considering letting our fourth child have her very own workbox (slightly different than the older kids) and join in on the fun as well =) 

Oh, one last favorable review of workboxes came from Daddy –
“If it keeps mommy sane, I like it!”

I have a LONG list of things that I want to accomplish this summer. 
Not one of them got done today, but not because I didn’t try. 
Instead…

I nursed the baby.
I looked in the baby’s bright blue eyes and told him that I loved him.
I held a fussy baby and prayed to know how to help soothe him.
I washed the dishes.
I got my heart checked by a cute, in-house, princess doctor.
I swept up the noodles that strayed from the kids’ sensory tub.
I filled, ran, and emptied the dishwasher.
I prepared lunch.
I wiped cheesy wild rice soup remains from a toddler’s face.
I kissed a toddler’s knee after she fell and wiped away her tears.
I changed diapers.
I tried to keep my calm as a little one in training became wet once again.
I cried out and prayed to the Lord for strength.
I listened to a 6 year old read a funny story and heard her laugh.
I helped a 4 year old make a list of foods that he wants to bake when he grows up and becomes a chef.
I washed, dried, and redid sheets.
I sang silly songs and got to dance.
I kissed the sweet cheeks of a sleeping infant.
I shared a lift the flap book with a toddler while lying on the floor.
I heard God’s Word being sung through a child’s voice.
I got my order taken by a little waitress, over and over again.
I got to comfort an 8 year old with a headache that doesn’t seem to go away.

I died to self as things I wanted to do were put aside.
And, I nursed the baby again, washed the dishes again, changed diapers again…

I got nothing done today – at least by this world’s standards.

Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good,
for at the proper time we will reap a harvest
if we do not give up.

Over the last few weeks, I have witnessed more and more arguing and fighting over small matters between my children – whether it be over sharing a toy, choosing a video that they all would watch, whose turn it was to do something, and even arguing with instructions given by me.  This morning, I was overjoyed when God pointed out a verse to me from His Word to share with them…

Proverbs 17:14
Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam. 
So drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.

My oldest had the opportunity to practice her dictionary skills as she and the other kids wondered what some of the words meant.  We talked about what it meant to quarrel, to dispute, what a dam is, and learned about the word breached.

• quarrel: verbal disagreement between individuals or a group, to make
  complaint or find fault
• dispute: to quarrel or fight about; to quarrel angrily; to wrangle
• dam: a barrier to stop the flow of water, built across a stream or river
• breach: to break; a rupture; a gap made in a wall; a severance in friendly relations

Then I shared with them a visual…
What does a dam look like and what happens when it is breached?

A simulation of a dam breaking
Real footage of the aftermath from a dam breaking.

They were amazed that a small hole in the dam could be so powerful and have such a large effect!  Our words and how we choose to respond, act the same way.  We can choose to be peacemakers.

And of course, I couldn’t help but put the verse to a tune so we could all sing it…

Joyful Heart Tune – Proverbs 17:14

I was so excited to get to share this with the children.  It seemed to really make sense to them!

Thank you Lord for this clear illustration from Your Word!

When our oldest finally decided on a theme for her eighth birthday party, I wasn’t too surprised… just a little perplexed as to how to make it happen.  She is very interested in sewing and in American history at the moment.  So, when she requested a Colonial Sewing Party, I knew it would capture a part of who she is at this stage in her young life.

I searched online, asked for suggestions from friends, looked through colonial activity books, and sifted through sewing books for ideas. I then shared them with our daughter who helped to make the final decisions.  Here is what we came up with to make a special Colonial Sewing day for her…

Beforehand, she sent out patchwork invitations.

The girls made a colonial type toy – a ‘bilboquet’. 
  

She and her friends also made some colonial garb – mob caps and aprons.  The ideas for these two projects came from Just Call Me Jamin.  At her blog, she shares ideas that correspond with many of the American Girl dolls!
   
The day before the party, our daughter even made a mini sized mob cap and apron for her miniature Felicity doll.

She also helped to make these needle cases for each of her guests.  The idea for the cases came from Sewing School.

The girls participated in two Colonial style games – ‘Hunt the Needle’ and ‘Hide the Thimble’.  (Colonial girls would actually have played ‘Hunt the Ring’, but we were trying to keep with the sewing theme as well and so used a plastic needle instead of a ring.)

For fun, they also used whip stitches to sew together felt bears.   The idea and pattern for the bear is from My First Sewing Book by Winky Cherry.

And of course, we had to have a sewing related cake.  She wanted to celebrate with a patchwork cake.

It was a joy to be able to plan the party and then watch her delight in the afternoon with her friends!