Homeschooling | Contented at Home

Homeschool Mother’s Journal: May 17, 2013

May 17, 2013 by Judy Hoch 5 Comments

In my life this week…

On Monday and Tuesday our family took a mini-vacation trip to Lancaster, PA. We had such a nice time together!

On Monday we rode a steam-powered train on the Strasburg Railroad. The train cars were originally built around 1900, and have been beautifully restored. I was surprised by how much the cars swayed during the trip–it wasn’t a bumpy ride, just a rocking sensation.

Strasburg Railroad

Visiting the Strasburg Railroad

{Collage Friday}

On Tuesday we saw Noah at Sight and Sound Theatre. This was an amazing experience, and we’ll definitely be going back again.

In our homeschool this week…

We are continuing to plug away at the last of our school work for this year. The end is so close–so close, in fact, that I’m starting to make stacks of next year’s books to be put away in our book cabinet as soon as this year’s books are done. We still have to finish assembling portfolios, schedule evaluations, and turn in all the required materials to the school district, but it’s feeling like the end is in sight.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

NotebookingPages.com is having a fantastic sale right now! If you love notebooking or are looking to get started, now is the time to get your membership! Notebooking Pages offers thousands of notebooking pages on a huge variety of topics, and when you purchase a lifetime membership, you receive access to ALL these pages PLUS all pages added in the future!

In addition, if you purchase your lifetime membership TODAY, you get 18 months free access to The Notebooking Publisher, a web app that allows you to design your own notebooking pages. This is an awesome deal on a product that I highly recommend!

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure for more information.
.

Homeschool Mother’s Journal: May 10, 2013

May 10, 2013 by Judy Hoch 6 Comments

In my life this week…

I have to say this has been one of the busiest week’s ever in our home. Brandon started his job on Monday, and so every morning I got up around 6AM (unearthly hour for me) and took him to work. Then we had to go pick him up each day at noon. In addition, we had to make two separate trips to a nearby town for him to get a pair of steel-toed boots and to complete mandatory drug testing.

The good news is that Brandon will be taking his driver’s test this afternoon! He’s waited a long time for this day, and I’m so excited for him!

On a side note, we made a quick stop at McDonald’s this week, and–you’ll never believe this–Kendra (our two-year-old) at 10 nuggests. TEN! And yes, we do feed her regularly at home.

IMG_1476-002

In our homeschool this week…

We are eagerly counting down the days until school is finished for the year! Believe it or not, each child will be finishing on a different day. Please don’t ask me to explain how that could possibly happen.

This post contains affiliate links.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

Heritage History is having a wonderful sale right now. If you are looking for high-quality living history books, this is the perfect resource! We use Heritage History along with Mystery of History, and it’s a wonderful way to bring history to life.

My favorite thing this week was…

…daily naps. No, I’m not kidding.

Things I’m working on…

I’m proud to say that I’ve been fitting in some extra cleaning and organizing recently. I guess the beautiful weather has finally inspired me to get some spring cleaning done.

A few weeks ago, Brandon repainted the master bedroom for me. I was finally able to find a new quilt that I really love, and this week I made matching curtains. The walls are still bare (I’ve been on the road all week, remember?), but next week I’m planning to decorate and make the room pretty again.

I also did a major overhaul of my sewing/scrapbook room. I still have quite a few photos and scrapbook supplies to organize and store, but with Kaylee’s help, I’ve made huge progress.

Next up: repainting and reorganizing the bathroom.

I’m praying for…

I’m trying to be faithful to pray for my children. They are growing up so fast, and I shudder to think of them going out into today’s wicked world. I’m so thankful that their salvation and spiritual success are not ultimately dependent on me. I know that, as a mother, I have to be faithful to train them and live a Godly life before them, but I can’t possibly do enough or be enough–it has to be God.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

If you do NOT live in a highly regulated state, you may not relate to this photo. If, however, you are homeschooling in Pennsylvania and preparing the required portfolios for evaluation, this is what the end of the year looks like!

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure for more information.
.

Helping Your Child Experience a Different Culture

May 9, 2013 by Judy Hoch Leave a Comment

Today I’d like you to welcome my friend, Christy Halsell, as she shares a fascinating story about one of her family’s experiences in a different culture. She’s also giving away TWO copies of her exciting new children’s ebook, Tiger Hunt!

“She say his ear very bad. She say maybe to use tool to put hole inside ear.”

I looked questioningly at our friend and translator while the doctor finished examining our son. She put down her otoscope and adjusted her head covering.

Not 20 miles away lay a terrorist training camp that masterminded bombings in Bali four years earlier. We were in a remote village on the island of Java where friendliness toward Westerners was often spotty. And now my four-year-old son was being examined by a Muslim doctor who wanted to poke holes inside his ears.

I glanced at my husband who also looked unsure. We knew our son was in a lot of pain, but had no desire for him to have some kind of surgery orchestrated by a doctor whose schooling was unknown and whose love of Westerners was questionable.

Luckily our translator felt the same. “I think this not such a good idea. She say she can give medicine, too.”

Whew. My husband and I both breathed sighs of relief. We waited as the doctor gathered our prescription and advised us not to fly for a few extra days and to avoid chocolate.

Our family stayed on Java while business issues were negotiated and our son’s ear healed, then we headed back to Bali where we had been living for almost a year.

It can be hard to live in another country. So far, it’s always been a big adjustment for me. Never more so than when we moved to Bali for business with our two young sons.

We soon adjusted and I have been so grateful that our family had the opportunity to begin learning another culture. I am thankful that my children had a chance to see what life in another country is like, and I hope to be able to show them more countries and cultures as they grow.

This post contains affiliate links.

It is my vision to help many children develop a world view that’s wider than the daily world they experience.

That’s one reason I wrote my children’s eBook, which I’m excited to share with you today.

Tiger Hunt!

Join the adventure as two brothers befriend the last tiger on Bali.

illustrated with a unique blend of colorful sketches and photos from our stay in Bali.
a great read aloud for all ages
encourage children to read
open children’s eyes to another culture
15-page children’s ebook for download
ebook internally linked with Wikipedia for more information on unfamiliar terms
comprehension and vocabulary printables available
see our personal videos, pictures, and explanations of Bali on the website, too.

One great thing about this book is the website I’ve been building as a companion, The Island Brothers. I’ve added first-hand information about Bali so that your children can not only read a great story, but also learn about the island.

We also have printables so you can use this book to complement homeschool cultural studies and discuss lessons taught.

I’d love to give two copies to readers of Contented at Home today!

Judy’s review: Tiger Hunt! is an adventure-filled story of two brothers who set out to find and tame the last tiger on their island. Illustrated with beautiful drawings and color photographs, the book encourages children’s interest in an unfamiliar culture. Tiger Hunt! makes for a fascinating read-aloud for children who love excitement and adventure. Even parents will enjoy this ebook–I know I did!

Enter to win a copy of Tiger Hunt!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure for more information.
.

Mary Cassatt {Famous Pennsylvanians}

May 1, 2013 by Judy Hoch 2 Comments

Mary Cassatt

Mary Cassatt, Painter and Printmaker

Mary Stevenson Cassatt, an American painter and printmaker, was born May 22, 1844, in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania (now part of Pittsburgh). Her father, Robert Simpson Cassatt, was a stock broker and land speculator. Her mother, Katherine, came from a banking family.

The Cassatt family, part of the upper-middle-class, moved from Allegheny City to Lancaster, and then to the Philadelphia area, where Mary began school at age six. Like most girls of her time, Mary was educated to be a homemaker. She learned homemaking skills and embroidery, and also studied music, sketching, and painting.

Over her family’s objections, Mary enrolled in Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, one of only a few schools open to female students, at the age of sixteen. She found that the male faculty and students were patronizing, and the few female students were only studying art as a hobby. Mary decided to leave and study art in Europe, where she could learn at her own pace.

Mother-And-Sara-Admiring-The-Baby

Mother and Sara Admiring the Baby by Mary Cassatt

Mary Cassatt left the United States for Paris in 1866. There she took private lessons at the Louvre, where she studied and copied art masterpieces.

In 1868 one of her paintings was selected for the Paris Salon, a French exhibition. Remembering her father’s strong objections to her having a career as an artist, she submitted her painting under the name Mary Stevenson. She was undoubtedly thrilled to find that her painting was well received.

Mary returned home in 1870 due to the beginning of the Franco-Prussian War. She moved back home with her family, who now lived in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Much to her frustration, she found it very difficult to obtain art supplies, and her father refused to pay for anything connected to her painting.

Children-Playing-On-The-Beach

Children Playing on the Beach by Mary Cassatt

In order to raise some money to buy art supplies, Mary tried to sell some of her paintings, but could not find a buyer. Sadly, some of her paintings were destroyed in a fire in 1871.

Mary once again left the United States to pursue her art. She studied and painted in Belgium, Spain, and Rome before settling in Paris.

Mary Cassatt was one of a very few women who became an Impressionist painter. She exhibited eleven paintings with Impressionist artists in 1879. She is most well-known for her paintings of women in everyday settings, especially her poignant depictions of mothers and children.

In her later years, Mary was forced to give up her painting as she lost her vision due to diabetes. She lived in almost total blindness from 1912 until her death on June 14, 1926, in Le Mesnil-Theribus, France.

Books About Mary Cassatt and Her Art

Notebooking, Coloring, & More

Famous Impressionist Artists – Free printable wall chart, minibooks, and biography pages
Coloring Pages – Free printable coloring pages for four of Mary Cassatt’s paintings
Online Coloring Page – Color Mary Cassatt’s painting The Boating Party online
Cassatt Notebooking Page – Free printable notebooking page with three Cassatt black and white coloring images plus space to write
Color Your Own Mary Cassatt Masterpieces - A Dover Art coloring book with blackline drawings of some Cassatt paintings to color

See Mary Cassatt’s Art

See the complete works of Mary Cassatt, and even download them to use for your own artist study! You may also view all Cassatt’s paintings in a slide show.

************************

Find more lessons about famous people born in May at iHomeschool Network!

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure for more information.
.

Heritage History Sale

April 23, 2013 by Judy Hoch Leave a Comment

This post contains affiliate links.

From now until May 31, 2013, you can get Heritage History’s Early American Library CD for FREE when you spend at least $19.99 on your choice of products! This is a fabulous deal on a product that I highly recommend!

Not familiar with Heritage History?

Heritage History is not a textbook. Rather, it is an extensive collection of classical children’s history books: biographies, legends, hero stories, and well-known historical literature adapted for easier reading.

All Heritage History books are available on CD in three formats (PDF, EPUB, and MOBI) so they can be printed or read on any electronic reader.

Want to find out more? Read my full review to learn why we love Heritage History!

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure for more information.
.

Homeschool Mother’s Journal: April 19, 2013

April 19, 2013 by Judy Hoch 15 Comments

This post contains affiliate links.

In our homeschool this week…

I’m rejoicing because I got that overwhelming pile of papers graded and filed! Next week I will begin sorting through the papers I’ve already filed for portfolios, determining what will make the cut and what will not.

I’m already planning for next year–anyone else? I’m a bit unusual, I guess, because I actually love to research curricula and plan for the new school year. I’ve even gotten a few packages already–including a box from Bright Ideas Press containing Mystery of History Vol. II. You’ll be hearing more about this soon!

Mystery of History II

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

We took advantage of the beautiful spring weather to make a visit to our favorite little park. The little ones especially had a wonderful time! At first Kendra was a bit afraid of the slide, but when it was time to leave, she wanted to stay and slide more.

Collages1

{Collage Friday}

Things I’m working on…

I’ve finally gotten started on some much-needed organizing. Who could ever imagine how much clutter and “stuff” can accumulate in a large-family household? The last two days I’ve been working in the laundry room: sorting, storing, and cleaning. And it feels good!

I’m also dreaming about doing some painting and simple redecorating. I’ve already given Brandon notice that there WILL be some painting to be done. Now I’ve just got to decide which rooms, what colors, and when the work will begin.

I’m cooking…

… Cheesy Chicken and Rice. And it was delicious!

CheesyChickenRice

I’m praying for…

My friend lost her husband to cancer this week. She is raising 6 children, ages 17 and under. I’ve been praying for their family. Sometimes this kind of tragedy doesn’t make sense, but I’m trusting that God knows what He is doing.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…