Reading with Duplos!
This is such a super cute, frugal and fun way to make use of outgrown Duplos if you have beginning readers in the house. Be sure and check it out! I know I posted it on Twitter/Facebook, but thought I’d share over here as well.
Old Desk Make-Over
I found this old school desk at a yard sale for $2.00. My youngest soon
LOVES to play “office” and thought, with a little paint this
old desk would be perfect for him. I used a combination of
semi-gloss interior paint and for the smaller design, I used my acrylic
paints (used for painting pictures on canvas).
Lost Generation? (Or not!)
I saw this video posted over at The Mother Huddle and just had to share it with you. I almost got a bit teary when she started reading it backwards. Maybe I’m just hormonal. 
Either way, it’s worth a quick listen.
Free Charlotte Mason Style Ebooks
I was just browsing around at Simply Charlotte Mason and came across several free resources they offer. I downloaded Smooth and Easy Days, which focuses on building good habits (without nagging) and see that it’s filled with good, useful info. We all need a little help getting/keeping on track every so often. Here are a few of the other free resources I found on the site. I hope some can be of help to you. Just click on the covers to read a description and download.
Be sure to spend some time browsing the main site as well. There is lots of good info here.
Tile Right Over Old Countertop for $50.00
Are you tired of looking at that burnt-orange counter from the 1970s but don’t think you can afford a nice counter top? Well, here is an inexpensive way to add tile right over your old Formica. All it takes is a few hours, a trip to Home Depot, and about $50.00. The best part, is ANYONE can do this project, even if you have never tiled before.
The pictures are from a rental property that my husband and I recently worked on. I didn’t want to spend much money, so tiling was the best way to get a nice counter top on the cheap. All the materials (including cement board, tile, grout and screws) were just under $50.00. This project took me aprox. 5 hours to complete, over a two day period.
1. Disconnect plumbing and pull sink out.
2. Scuff up the Formica counter top with course sandpaper. It should be dull and void of any shine. This will help the thinset mortar (cement) adhere to the Formica better. Pull off the Formica strip, (exposing the plywood underneath) that goes around the edge of counter. Cut cement board to replicate the counter top (sink hole, etc), this can be done by making a template.
3. Apply thinset mortar onto the Formica using a notched trowel.
4. Lay cement board directly onto the Formica (with wet mortar). Screw cement board into the Formica, being sure to add screws every 8-12 inches. You will need a good screw gun for this, once the screw hits the Formica, it takes some strength to get it to penetrate. You might want to make pilot holes to alleviate this problem.
5. Once cement board has been secured with screws onto the Formica, you are ready to tile and grout. The sink can be placed back in the hole and the plumbing reconnected.
Most people will choose a bullnose tile for the front strips. But since budget was a consideration (bullnose cost way more than the normal tile pieces), I just cut strips of tile to make my own pieces for the edge.
Since it’s a bathroom, be sure to seal your grout before use.
Free Stuff for Good Grades!
It’s that time of year again when school children are being offered free goodies for the “A”s they get on their report cards! But wait! Homeschool kids don’t get report cards! Well, I say, “why not?”
You can print out a free report card from printablehomeschool.com.
Here is the link: http://printablehomeschool.com/reportcrd.html
Want to find a list of places that offer freebies for good grades? Click HERE. You will find ice cream, movies, donuts and more!
Homeschooling…even with a ski mask!
My daughter’s unique way to work on her schoolwork.
When I first started homeschooling, I had a visual picture in my head of what it would look like–children sitting quietly doing their schoolwork, with me, grading papers, while I sipped my morning coffee …..NOT!! While that may be a nice daydream, it is hardly what homeschooling really ever looks like. Kids fighting, the phone ringing off the hook, and not eating breakfast until 11:00 a.m. is a closer illustration to the real face of homeschooling, at least in my home.
I’ve learned, what makes it so “messy”, meaning not structured exactly as what’s in mom’s head, is also what makes it so unique and such a blessing. From the the freedom of learning in an environment each child creates for themselves (like reading history in a cardboard fort), to the forced constant adaptation to life when it comes your way–such as school’s cancelled today due to mom’s extreme crabbiness–these are the gems of homeschooling.
Free Educational Games on the Wii!!
Did you know you could play educational games (for free!) on the Wii? I sure didn’t. Check these out! http://www.arcademicskillbuilders.com/wiilist.shtml
Thanks Dena for another great tip in our newsletter. I don’t know where she finds these gems??!?!?
Jennie
The $3,000 Dollar Rental Make-Over!
I am a die hard do-it-yourselfer, especially when it comes to fixing up a house. For several years my “crew”, which consists of myself, husband (yes, I am the main carpenter in the family), and 4 children, have fixed up several houses. My teenage boys, know how to install carpets, tile a wall and sand sheetrock. In fact, they could probably remodel a house completely on their own. These are valuable skills they will use for a lifetime and probably would not have, had they spent their days sitting in a classroom.
The video is our latest fixer-upper project. This is a rental property we recently purchased. It was in very BAD shape. We saved tons of money doing all the work ourselves (see the kids working hard!) and used lots of discounted materials such as kitchen cabinets bought from Craiglist, lighting from Ebay and sinks bought at a yard sale.
Are You Really There?
As a homeschooling mom with a full time work-at-home job as well as being a partner in my own business, I admit to often finding it a challenge to be truly available to my children. I realize this may come as a surprise to some since I legitimately hold the title of stay-at-home Mom. Still, being there isn’t always “being” there.
I tend to mentally categorize my day into “on duty” and “off duty” regarding my role as teacher, employee and entrepreneur. While I recognize the importance of schedules and understand the reality of needing to tend to the “work” of running a home and business I realized that there was room for improvement in my involvement with my children.
I don’t think that I am unique in this. As a work-from-home, homeschooling parent, it is easy to convince myself that I am truly “there” for my children. However, I must be more that physically present, but mentally and spiritually present with my children as well. Since I homeschool, I’ll use that as an example.
As I’ve made an effort to become more “present” I’ve recognized the many learning opportunities that take place through simple conversation. A recent example of this occurred on a Sunday morning drive to church. I was daydreaming and enjoying the scenery as my daughter asked, “What is Chapstick made of?”
“Hmmm….I don’t know. Probably wax.” I murmured as I continued to admire the view. Uncharacteristically, I caught myself and said, “Well….you should be able to find out by reading the ingredient list on the side. Whatever is used most is listed first, the next largest ingredient is second, and so on.”
All three children listened with interest as my daughter read the list of ingredients and I attempted to interpret them. “Petroleum Jelly would be what we call Vaseline”. I then explained how many ingredients have different names, talked a bit about the many different types of sugars, etc. Before we knew it we’d arrived at church.
Later that day, I was pleased and surprised to find my children rummaging through the pantry checking out the ingredient lists on boxes, jars and cans. They even developed a game in which they took turns holding up an item and asking a sibling to guess the first ingredient listed. This led naturally to conversations on what was healthy and what was not and turned into a dynamic lesson on nutrition, though I had little to do with it. My simple choice to be present and respond with more than an “I don’t know” to the initial question had spurred a flurry of educational activity. Pretty easy, huh?
I wonder then, why I don’t do it more often. As a parent I often see myself either “teaching” or being preoccupied with life. I’m either turning every little event into a lecture or I’m absorbed in my own endeavors. I believe the secret is in finding that middle ground. Simply being truly present with your children and enjoying life with them. Be curious with them. Point out those little things that we, as adults, take for granted. But don’t necessarily make everything “educational” and don’t always expect an enthusiastic outward response from your children.
I recall a couple of instances that, in relative significance, are extremely minor, yet the memories are quite vivid. The first, is my mother lifting me, a very young girl, onto the kitchen counter and showing me how the clouds move across the sky. She didn’t say anything more. We simply stood together and watched the billows. I doubt I even offered a reaction, but I was amazed.
The second memory involves a drive with my father as he casually commented on how the houses on one side of the street were even numbered and the houses on the opposite side were odd numbered. I vividly recall that “ah ha!” moment. I’m quite sure, however, that my parents would have no recollection of either event. They were both minor and relatively unimportant.
I have some inkling of why these simple interactions evoked such strong memories. I equate both with learning and love. In each instance my parents were “present” with me. They weren’t out to “teach” me. They were just with me and sharing themselves as they explained the mysteries of the world. The context of that education, my parents warmth and interest, caused the information to stick and ministered to my young soul.
As I see my children respond so enthusiastically to a simple bit of information and as I reflect back upon my own fond remembrances, I’m encouraged and motivated to make more of an effort to be truly present with my children. No, I don’t have to drop everything and rush to their side every time I’m approached with a question. But I do need to remember that we are living this life together every moment. There’s not an “on duty” and “off duty”. And the more that I am willing to share my experiences and knowledge, the more we all benefit.
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