"It is a great deal easier to do that which God gives us to do, no matter how hard it is, than to face the responsibilities of not doing it."
~~ J. R. Miller
~~~
"Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men." Acts 5:29
posted by Mrs. Klause
November 7, 2008
Music: The Valley Song
This post will be updated anytime I find a new goodie.
:0)
I was greatly blessed during my "pre" schooling years by a dear friend and a veteran homeschooling momma. She has shared so many resources with me over the years. I have even come across a few great finds of my own that I could share with her.
I always so enjoy visiting with other mommas and learning from them and sharing things that work in our school-house. ;0)
I thought I just might keep all the resources that we use and/or that I am familiar with so that others might glean from the tremendous wisdom of my dear friend and the wee bit of wisdom that I have gathered.
Please do check back here if you are looking for a particular resource. I will keep this post in the MOTHERHOOD and BOOKS categories.
If you are new to my blog or haven't visited in some time, don't forget this post where I keep a list of places to get used or free books.
~~~~~~
TIPS & TRICKS:
1. Assuming that the copyright on your particular workbook allows, you can use the plastic page protectors to make your workbooks last through several children. Disassemble your book; slip the pages into page protectors; the child can use dry erase or permanent markers to complete the pages; and then you can just wipe off the markings with a paper towel moistened with alcohol.
CURRICULUM (listed alphabetically):
Ambleside Online- Summary is forthcoming. It is entirely free to access. K-12.
An Old-Fashioned Education - Complete K-12 curriculum entirely free to access and use.
Ray's Arithmetic- These are exceptional math books. It is best for you to click on the link for a full description and review. It teaches math from a real-life perspective. The child must read simple sentences or refer to drawings that post mathematical questions and problems.
Rod & Staff- I like their preschool books. They are very simple and straight-forward. They are biblically based and not cluttered. The pages are all in black and white and do not seem to cause the child's eyes to wander as they try to consume all the fancy and elaborate drawings and colors that so many books contain. The books are very inexpensive. These books have served our family quite well. I highly recommend them. These are for the three to four-year-olds: Preschool Workbook Series. And these are for the four to early five-year-olds: Preschool ABC Workbook Series.
McGuffey Readers - These are used to teach reading and moral precepts. It is best for you to click on the link for the full description and review. We have been quite pleased with these books. I came across my entire set on a used book site for only $25!
Record-Keeping:
A Record of the Learning Lifestyle by the Notgrass Company - This is truly the most excellent resource for tracking what your children are learning. I tried so many different formats and all of them were lacking...except this one. Please take the time to read the history behind it and the "how to" for using it. It is well worth the money spent. They do have a sample page so that you can give it a test run for a couple of weeks. Excellent resource!
Books - Completely Free and Available Online
19th Century Schoolbooks - Contains 140 complete texts.
Project Gutenburg- These books are no longer under copyright and are public domain.
The Baldwin Project - This is a collection of children's books that are no longer under copyright and are public domain.
~~~~
posted by Mrs. Klause
original posting date: August 22, 2008
TODAY ONLY you can get an incredible ebook package from Mrs. Crystal Paine at MoneySavingMom.com.
Over $100 worth of money-saving ebooks, homemaking helps, and encouragement for only $11.97! It is a great price and I'd highly recommend you run over and check it out, just click HERE.
Please take just a few minutes to hop over and read a bit about the books. You'll find everything from Simple Tips on Home Management to Thriving on One Income to Menu Planning to Starting Your Own Business and several more ebooks.
What makes this deal so good is that this ebook package includes the ecourse Supermarket Savings 101--this course alone is normally $17.97 and will show you how to drastically reduce your grocery bill. You will learn how to cut your grocery bill by up to 50% or more and have fun saving money at the same time!
Click HERE to read more about this huge sale! Get this money-saving ebook package at a low price while you can!
posted by Mrs. Klause
July 31, 2008 - Price updated August 1, 2008
Music: The Lonely Goatherd from The Sound of Music
I have just finished read a book called Relaxed Homeschooling. It is written by Mrs. Kelly Crawford of Generation Cedar. I have been reading her blog for quite some time now. Her writings will challenge you; they will provoke you ... I assure you that the Lord will use her words to change things in your heart.
She has just published this e-book and it is well worth your time and pennies.
It is an old book!
:0)
More precisely, it is Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans.
I ran across this book online and printed it. Bailey and I have been reading it and we thoroughly enjoy it. So much that I asked my beloved husband's blessing to purchase it for our library. He said we certainly could and in my search...I found a first edition. It was printed in 1895. It smells so good...well...so old actually. :0)
This book was written by Edward Eggleston. Here is the Preface:
"THE primary aim of this book is to furnish the little learner reading matter that will excite his attention and give him pleasure, and thus make lighter the difficult task of learning to read. The ruggedness of this task has often been increased by the use of disconnected sentences, or lessons, as dry and uninteresting as
finger exercises on the piano. It is a sign of promise that the demand for reading matter of interest to the child has come from teachers. I have endeavored to meet this requirement in the following stories.
As far as possible the words chosen have been such as are not difficult to the little reader, either from their length or their un-familiarity. The sentences and paragraphs are short. Learning to read is like climbing a steep hill, and it is a great relief to the panting child to find frequent breathing places. It is one of the purposes of these stories to make the mind of the pupil familiar with some of the leading figures in the history of our country by means of personal anecdote. Some of the stories are those that every American child ought to know, because they have become a kind of national folklore. Such, for example, are " Putnam and the Wolf" and the story of " Franklin's Whistle." I have thought it important to present as great a
variety of subjects as possible, so that the pupil may learn some-
science, find place in these stories. All the narratives are historical, or at least no stories have been told for true that are deemed fictitious. Every means which the writer's literary experience could suggest has been used to make the stories engaging, in the hope that the interest of the narrative may prove a sufficient spur to exertion on the part of the pupil, and that this little book will make green and pleasant a pathway that
has so often been dry and laborious. It will surely serve to excite an early interest in our national history by giving some of the great personages of that history a place among the heroes that impress the susceptible imagination of a child. It is thus that biographical and historical incidents acquire something of the
vitality of folk tales. The illustrations that accompany the text have been planned with special reference to the awakening of the child's attention. To keep the mind alert and at its best is more than half the
battle in teaching. The publishers and the author of this little book believe that in laying the foundation of a child's education the best work is none too good.The larger words have been divided by hyphens when a separation into syllables is likely to help the learner. The use of the hyphen has been regulated entirely with a view to its utility. After a word not too difficult has been made familiar by its repeated occurrence, the hyphens are omitted."
~~
We have thoroughly enjoyed this book so far. We have completed about half of the 159 pages. It has wonderful very short stories of men and women in our country's history. The stories are truly quite engaging as Bailey (age 6) and I have spent at least an hour in the last two days discussing the American Revolutionary War. Not that Bailey will necessarily retain or learn great details at such a young age but the fact that she is enjoying the stories and asks so many questions and heads to the encyclopedia on her own to find out more...how grand!
You can read this book online or download and print it from several places. I have filed it in my library if you want to just click here.
~~
We were pleased to find that this book was originally given as a Christmas gift to Gena from her Uncle William in 1896.
~~~
posted by Mrs. Klause
May 30, 2008
Music: Fur Elise
This is just a short children's book but it is lots of fun.
It is about a little mouse that has lots of energy and stays very busy. It will remind you of how some of our Mommy-days occur. You know...when we go to the laundry room to fold the towels and see the new package of batteries that was bought for the book light so we pick up the batteries and go to put them in the book light and when you walk in the bedroom you see that you left your necklace on the nightstand and you don't want wee little hands to snatch it up so you carry it to your jewelry box to put it away and there you see your watch and pick it up to put it on and realize that it is already almost lunchtime so you go to the kitchen to start lunch... As you are enjoying lunch with your children you realize that you did not fold the towels or put the batteries in the light and you didn't get your necklace into the jewelry box either. ;0) Ever had one of those days? Me, too!
Anyway...
This is a pleasant little book that you are sure to find at your local library. I also found some simple and fun activities online that you can do with the children after you read the book. I have not thoroughly investigated the entire sites below so use caution and always use God's word to filter everything!
http://www.dltk-teach.com/books/mousecookie.html
http://www.hubbardscupboard.org/if_you_give_a_mouse_a_cookie.html
http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/Themes/If_You_Give_a_____Books/index.shtml
HAPPY READING! :0)
~~~~
posted by Mrs. Klause
May 16, 2008
Music:
The Tale of Peter Rabbit was actually written in 1893 but not published for sale to the public until 1902. Miss Potter originally wrote the story for the son of her former governess. It was originally rejected by several publishers so Miss Potter has the book printed herself to give to family and friends.
Eventually Frederick Warne agreed to publish the tale if the author would supply color pictures. The original book had black and white illustrations. The book was sold for one shilling and was an instant success, and has remained so ever since.
It is the tale of a little boy rabbit that disobeyed his mother and went into Mr. McGregor's garden. Peter squeezed under the garden gate and ate lettuce and beans and radishes and then began to feel sick. He went in search for parsley to help him feel better when he ran into Mr. McGregor! Peter was chased through the garden and even lost his little blue jacket along the way. He sought the assistance of a little mouse in finding his way out of the garden but she was not able to assist him. Peter finally finds his way back to the garden gate and he ran and ran until he finally arrived at home. His mother wandered what happened to his clothes, gave him some "medicine" and put him to bed without his dinner.
~~~
Your library will surely have a copy of Peter Rabbit for you to enjoy.
~~~
posted by Mrs. Klause
March 10, 2008
Music:
--- NOTE: As I find new places to buy, sell or trade books, I will add them to this posting. I will place the date next to the web link so that you can easily browse the sites for new listings. ---
There are lots of places that we can find books. The library is the best place of course! We can borrow the book and review it before we decide whether or not we want to add it to our family library.
When it comes to purchasing books there are so many options now. Here are just a few of the ones that I have found:
www.thislittlepiggystayshome.com
www.lacellefamily.com/catalog/usedbooks-c-170.html
http://www.bookfaerie.com/ -- 2/25/08
The sites above all sell used books. Of course new ones can be found on eBay and Half.com.
The greatest treasure for books that I have found so far is www.paperbackswap.com.
Paper Back Swap is a "club" where the members simply swap their books. It goes like this:
- You sign up.
- You list the books that you have at home that you want to get rid of (which is done in about 30 seconds).
When you list your first 10 books, you get one credit. Credits are the "money" that is used to "buy" books. When you send one of your books to someone that wants it, you get a credit. With that credit you can order a "new" book from someone else. There is no money exchanged. When someone wants a book that you have on your home bookshelf, you pay the postage to get it to them. However you pay nothing when you get a book sent to you.
I have had wonderful success with it so far! You can also create a wishlist for yourself and when someone enters a book that you want, it can send the request automatically to that person!
You can even print the postage from the website (you can bank your postage money with PayPal on their website). You don't even have to use an envelope to mail the books. You use the printer paper that you print the receiving address on and a few strips of tape. I had no idea that I could just wrap my items in paper! I thought I had to use envelopes when mailing items through the United States Postal Service.
Stop in and check them out. It is a great way to recycle the books you don't want anymore and a great way to get your hands on some "new" books that you have had your eye on.
Now...you can also get credits for referring folks so I, without shame ;0), ask that you put my email address in as the one that referred you. I would get one credit after you enter your first 10 books. My email address is: mrs_klause@yahoo.com
As I stumble across new websites and places to get used books, I will add them to this post.
~~~~~~
Now Paper Back Swap has two partner companies.... You guessed it:
Same basic principle. You post the CDs you want to get rid of and get credits. You pay shipping for anything you mail. Once you have credits, you can request CDs from other folks. Now there is a 50 cent fee for each CD you order.
AND....
Again, same principle. No fees. You just pay shipping for those leaving your house.
Of course, put me down as referring you for the CDs and DVDs too! :0)
~~~~
*** As always: ...use caution and wisdom when searching the internet...
posted by Mrs. Klause
February 19, 2008
Music: All The Pretty Horses
Helen Beatrix Potter Heelis
1866-1943
She grew up living the conventional life of a Victorian girl in a well-to-do household. She was educated at home. She had one brother, Bertram, who was six years younger. Miss Potter's constant companions were the pet-animals that she kept in the school-room. She would watch them for hours, studying their behavior and sketching them with tremendous skill. Each summer her father leased a country house where the family lived for three months at a time. It was there that she was able to explore the countryside and learn about plants and animals.
She first wrote and illustrated The Tale of Peter Rabbit in 1902. The public loved it. On average she produced two books per year until 1910. She wrote and illustrated a total of 23 children's books.
She was engaged to marry Norman Warne. However he died within weeks of their engagement. She married in 1913, at the age of forty-seven, and became Mrs. William Heelis. She lived the remainder of her years on their farm in Sawrey, Cumbria, England. Her focus for the last thirty years of her life was farming, sheep-breeding and purchasing stretches of countryside to ensure their conservation. Writing and painting took second place and her focus became farming and preservation of the land. She died in 1943 and left over 4000 acres and fifteen farms to the nation of England.
~~~~
I think we probably are all vaguely familiar with the tales of Peter Rabbit and Squirrel Nutkin. It wasn't until a few years ago that my dear friend, Mrs. Hall, introduced me to the other writings of Beatrix Potter. I thoroughly enjoy the tales. The illustrations are beautiful and simple yet complex and filled with detail all at the same time. The books are wonderful for the wee little ones as there is a single illustration on a single page with a facing page that contains the few sentences of the story. So many of today's children's books are so "busy" with lovely illustrations that the youngest of children have difficulty figuring out what part of the illustration to even look at.
My girls just love the stories. I purchased a set of all 23 books for Bailey Elizabeth when she was two. This past Christmas my beloved husband found a lovely set for Kennedy Loreynn. I regret that my camera is in use elsewhere as I would love to photograph the two sets for you to see. The book sets are very different...one small with each book covered in a dark green, the other larger with creamy covers. Somewhere along the way I found a wonderful treasure for myself. It is The Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter. It contains a biography of Beatrix Potter Heelis and all 23 tales. The stories are in the order that she wrote them with the history of each book preceeding.
I will introduce you to all 23 books over the next several weeks, in the order that she wrote them. Your library will certainly have some or all of the books. I am certain that you and your children (or grandchildren) will enjoy them.
I hope you will join me.
~~~~
posted by Mrs. Klause
February 15, 2008
Music: Air in G
Little Dog Lost by Rene Guillot, illustrated by Wallace Tripp
It is an enjoyable book published in 1970. It is the story of a little corgi that is adopted by a mother fox. It is 64 pages long.
Bailey and Kennedy both enjoyed the book. It was wonderfully descriptive. Mother brought it to us on her last visit here.
~~~
posted by Mrs. Klause
January 27, 2008
Music: Canon in D
A Book
by Edgar Guest
“Now” - said a good book unto me -
“Open my pages and you shall see
Jewels of wisdom and treasures fine,
Gold and silver in every line,
And you may claim them if you but will
Open my pages and take your fill.
“Open my pages and run them o’er,
Take what you choose of my golden store.
Be you greedy, I shall not care -
All that you seize I shall gladly spare;
There is never a lock on my treasure doors,
Come - here are my jewels, make them yours!
“I am just a book on your mantel shelf,
But I can be part of your living self;
If only you’ll travel my pages through,
Then I will travel the world with you.
As two wines blended make better wine,
Blend your mind with these truths of mine.
“I’ll make you fitter to talk with men,
I’ll touch with silver the lines you pen,
I’ll lead you nearer the truth you seek,
I’ll strengthen you when your faith grows weak -
This place on your shelf is a prison cell,
Let me come into your mind to dwell!”
In the past year I have begun to truly see how wonderful reading can be. I began reading a chapter book to Bailey when she was two. I read Little House on the Prairie. I was hesitant because I was not sure if she would sit and listen. If she did listen, would she understand enough to hold her interest. She listened to all 335 pages!
Many of my family members were and continue to be avid readers. I could spend hours reading (before tiny feet began to pitter-patter about the house). So reading was certainly nothing foreign to me. One of the first homeschooling families that I knew read constantly. All of the family members consumed books. The children that didn't know how or were learning to read were read to all the time. I didn't think this unusual but I did take note of the matter...with some wondering...
Reading can transport our whole family to the beautiful sunrise just outside the teepee or into a covered wagon or into a house in England that is surrounded by beautiful gardens. Reading can take us to a pond to watch the birds fly over or out to pick berries. The children learn so much from being read to. I don't speak of the 10 or 15 page children's books but real books. Their vocabulary increases; their understanding of relationships increases; their ability to communicate increases; once they can write, simply copying sentences from good books increases their ability to write and eventually understand grammar, punctuation and sentence structure.
Reading is so wonderful! I just love to watch the girls' faces as I read to them...
Maybe I can share a few of our favorites every now and again...
posted by Mrs. Klause
January 22, 2008
Music: Morning Dew
If there is but one book that we have in our home, it should certainly be God's word.
Once children began to arrive in our home, so did the children's bibles and devotional books for children. The children's bibles seem to take those few well-known stories and tell them in the words of a child and add lovely illustrations. The devotionals take verses from God's word and then give application for the child. However they all lack. I want to lead my wee ones to the very throne of God ... to the foot of the cross ... not just teach them how not to lie, how not to steal or how to be kind.
A very, very dear friend shared the following book with me.
It is the most wonderful book for children! It presents the message of salvation in a way that you have never seen before. I find that as I read this book to my girls, as I want to elaborate "sentence one" to better their understanding, I actually find almost exactly what I was going to say in "sentence two".
I fail in my words to accurately explain this wonderful book. Find a copy and buy it immediately, save your pennies if you need to! I promise that you will not be disappointed in the amazing way that God's plan is explained.
As we read through it, I find myself thinking it would be good for the lost adults that I know. Ms. Schoolland (the author) has truly taken God's plan of salvation and put it into words that a child can understand...and into words that answer all those hard questions that adults have about the Lord.
Each "lesson" is less than two pages long and it contains a verse with Ms. Schoolland's writings to help the child understand the verse. It contains a hymn that is in accordance with the scripture that is being discussed and then a short prayer.
Most of us know where we can get new books but I wanted to share a few places that you can pick up used books.
www.thislittlepiggystayshome.com
www.lacellefamily.com/catalog/usedbooks-c-170.html
I highly recommend buying used books. It sure saves pennies!
~~~~~~~~~~
There is nothing more important in the lives of our children than their very souls! It is easy to get focused on the things in this world that do not last. We Mommas must be very careful and faithfully prayerful over the lives of our little ones. Lead them Momma!
Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons; " ~~Dueteronomy 4:9
"5And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. " ~~Dueteronomy 6:5-9
We have been given great responsibility. The souls of our children. Lead them to the foot of the cross Momma! Daily take their wee hands into yours and sit them upon your lap and share God's word and lead them into the Gates of Heaven! Start now Momma .. we do not know what tomorrow holds.
posted by Mrs. Klause
October 8, 2007
Music: Canon in D
Anyone else a fan of Mrs. Laura Ingalls Wilder's books?
We are finishing the fifth book right now. Both Bailey and Kennedy have thoroughly enjoyed hearing of once-upon-a-time. As with any book, we have enjoyed lots of wonderful conversation and learning opportunities.
I recently found this site: Wilder Homestead, Boyhood Home of Almonzo and found it quite interesting. I just thought I might share it this morning.
If you have never read these books, you are missing out! You can learn about them at www.littlehousebooks.com.
Oh yes, and for those of you that have wee little ones, it is not too early to begin reading chapter books to your children! I started reading chapter books to Bailey when she was three and wondered if she would be interested. I was pleasantly surprised. Kennedy is two now and every day she asks, "Mommy read Prairie House?" :0)
posted by Mrs. Klause
I have found a most wonderful website and could not wait not one minute longer to share it with all of you! Truthfully, I have not read and reviewed every page so make sure you read and proof each page against God's perfect word. I haven't been able to get past this page: Ten Commandments Song. I have never heard this song before. We have been singing it all morning and I think we shall sing it at least once each day. :0)
Mrs. Stevens has created this site that seems to have a wealth of resources for teaching your children, whether you homeschool or not. There are musical scores, piano lessons, Spanish for kids, literature-based reading lessons, a script for a patriotic play (!), lessons to teach children about famous paintings and so many more things. Ms. Stevens offers these things for free as long as they are used for classroom or homeschool teaching and are not sold.
Now that is enough from me! Go and look at all the resources that Ms. Stevens has for your family at Garden of Praise.
posted by Mrs. Klause
.gif)
