It is only 15 minutes . . .

It has taken 8 years but I finally feel like I have a handle on the homeschooling thing. I guess this is a good thing since my daughter will be going into high school next year. 

  

My problem has been that I love those little workbooks that vendors sell at the home school conventions. "Only 15 minutes a day, you can . . . fill in the blank." These books cover everything from critical thinking skills, math skills, reading comprehension, etc. They are great books -- my problem was I was 15 minute-ing my girls to death. I added these books to their schedule thinking "It is only 15 minutes." By the time I was finished I had added 2 hours of extra work to their day. This year, I resisted the urge to add these workbooks. My girls are so much happier . . . and so am I.

Does God really hate sin and love the sinner?

It's Summer! That means it's time for . . .

SLURPEES!

We finally have 7-11 in our city. So excited. We get Slurpees a couple of times a week. The family favorite is Banana--but I am thinking that Grape is going to be pretty awesome. Can't wait to try it. 

When I saw this post on making your own slurpees, I was pretty excited. The recipe looks pretty straight forward. They not only look good, but also save you $$$$.

Click here, to get the home version Slurpee.

Picture and recipe from myworldmadebyhand.blogspot.com

Happy 4th of July

Greatest Artist Unit Study

I found this free unit study from Pinterest. I am planning on doing it with my girls as soon as I get the books from the library.

From Confessions of a Homeschooler blog:

In this series of artist studies, we will be learning about 8 of the world’s greatest artists. We will immerse ourselves in the work of each artist so we become well familiar with their style, methods, and images.

Each study includes:

• Lesson plans for each week
• Lap Book printables
• Artist Notebooking page
• Art Puzzles
• Artist Flashcards 

The only books that you need are the Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists by Mike Venezia. I found mine at our local library. If you want you can get them for around $7 each through Amazon.

Blessings in Disguise

Hoggetowne Medieval Faire

We have so much fun going to the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire. 

We go on Student's Day--not only is the price great, but they have many educational talks, as well as, the various performances. 

I really enjoy the talks on armory and jousting. 

We learned about the type of horse that was used in war and how each part of the armor worked. We also learned that what was allowed in a fighting situation might be considered unacceptable in a joust.

I did not realize how many rules were involved in jousting.

At the end of his talk, he took questions from the group. I asked about the vision with the helmet on.

He asked for a volunteer to try on the helmet. I was very surprised when Angel raised her hand.

I was even more surprised when she did not freak out when he attached the helmet on.

Here he is showing the extremely limited field of vision when you are wearing a helmet. 

Then . . . I wish I had a picture of this but it happened so fast.

He asked "With such a limited field of vision, why would you wear a helmet?" Before any one could answer, he pulled a broadsword out of the ground and hit the top of the helmet. I think you could hear the "thunk" out in the parking lot. I kind of stared . . . not really believing he had done what I saw him do. I thought the knight that was with him for the demonstration was going to die. He had to walk away, he could not believe that my daughter was just whacked on the head with a broadsword. He looked at me and my husband and we started to chuckle (after all, I have no problem with a hands-on approach to learning something) and then he started to chuckle. The helmet was removed and he asked her if she was hurt . . . she said no. And then she got to sit down. No one asked any questions after that . . . wonder why? 

I wonder if he knew we were homeschoolers? I think I would worry about the school getting upset if that was attempted on a public school kid.

I will tell you something now--my daughter doesn't argue about wearing bike/scooter/skateboard helmets. I just remind her of the knight at Hoggestowne Medieval Faire.