Holidays!

Yesterday, my student made home made gifts for all her family members.

She also watched a classic Literature movie.

We also happen to learn Spanish on Mondays.

Lots of school kids have this week off school, but we take nice outdoor days off and stay in and "do school" on cold, winter days.

Art, Home Ec., Confidence, Self Reliance, Literature, Classic Film Appreciation, Spanish. Learning new skills. Not too shabby! Remember to talk about everything during lessons.

My eldest child said she thought I talked too much during school, but when she was taking a particular test for a job, she remembered what I had said and repeated many times about a certain subject. She said she also remembered some of the films we watched and some songs we sang helped her memory. She passed the test - better score than some professionals!

Talk, Teach, Love.

Have a Very, Merry CHRISTmas !

Review Reading, Math, History,Nutrition and Science all in one activity!

Let your child make home made "scratch" biscuits.

They READ the recipe.

Give them odd sized measuring utensils. let them figure out the MATH to get the correct amounts for the recipe.

Talk to them about how everyone used to make all foods from scratch - Ask them "Where does the flour come from?" etc...

Tell them how some people must adjust the recipe to make it gluten free, low sugar, low cholesterol and why.

Tell the kids how people used to hunt and use the fats to make shortening. Also tell them who our ancestors never wasted anything. Example - they used the animals innards to make rawhide string for lacing leather clothes, teepees and to use as bow string. etc...

Tell them what the leavening agents job is...

Basically, tell them everything you know about everything in the recipe.

Every person will have different family stories to tell also include them. Family history is also important.

Example. My dad's great aunt never married because her fiance' was killed in a horrible farming accident. She always liked to cook for visiting family members. She made recipes quickly and made very large portions. When we make very large portion biscuits - the family calls them "Sister Biscuits" because she made them that way. She had no children , but we keep her memory alive. Happy Home Ec.! P.S. You also taught your child how to feed herself,Self Reliance, how to feed her family, acquire a job skill, self confidence, and who knows what else!

Can't find worksheets for Languages?

Found a neat site today by a happy accident. I haven't tried to print any yet. There are several languages represented here, but here's the link to German worksheets.

DuoLingo More Information

I learned from a Q & A page that this website DuoLingo is for ages 13 and up. Younger children are welcome if parents are aware that communication can happen with others through comments, Q&A, etc.... It can not be turned off at this time. Supervise!

Kids are Learning German and You Want to Add Another Language?

The kids are learning German and you want to add another language to the list. Try Dutch (Nederlands). Similar words - cognates to German and English! I just started learning Dutch this weekend and have already attained level 5 on DuoLingo.com with no prior experience except the other foreign languages I have been learning. (Spanish, German, Italian, French) - Love it!

For beginners I suggest DigitalDialects.com

Kids learning Spanish and You Want to Add Another Language...

The kids are learning Spanish and you want to add another similar language to the menu. Try Italian. Lots of cognates to Spanish-Words that are spelled similar or sound similar. For beginners I suggest DigitalDialects.com

More Kids Spanish Lessons Online and Free

http://www.spanishtown.ca/spanishforkids/spanishforkids.htm#.VGEKOTTF9c1 Found another website for Kids Spanish lessons

Been awhile.... How are things?

Things are going smoothly this year as always hoped. I hope your homeschool year is going well also. As I get older, I realize why Christy sang "One Day at A Time, Sweet Jesus". Sometimes, you just have to take one day at a time, one hour at a time, one thing at a time. Four kids and 17 years later...

When I first started homeschooling, I was persecuted. I found out that Christians get persecuted in different ways. No, I wasn't beheaded obviously but other things,sometimes little things, were being done to me and mine. When I first started homeschooling, it was often strangers in the local grocery store that harassed us. Yes, that's harassed."WHY aren't you in school?" addressed to my child and not me.... I even had a divorce court "j"udge harass me.. judges and lawyers can be ignorant of our own laws. The kids father decided he didn't want them homeschooled once we were divorced. His lawyer told him he may have to pay spousal support since it would be considered work. Didn't get it... Don't want it. Didn't ASK for it. Anyway, I have been talked to hateful, put down, judged, lied to and about (even in court) and etc.... When my older kids entered "real" school for HS - they wanted to be there.... they excelled though having IEPs. AP classes anyone? The ex, his lawyer, and the "j"udge didn't even apologize. You ALL have a "real" Judge awaiting you.

Are you being criticized or persecuted for homeschooling? I know other states have different laws, but Oklahoma is home school friendly and I still had to fight for my rights to home educate my own kids in peace. I feel for you. I pray God helps you through each day, moment and tribulation. Keep your head up, and realize YOU are a parent that goes beyond free public school options and spending much more time with your child than those complaining about "real" schools" failing their kids. I've seen many posts about how schools are failing because the lack of parental concern and time spent with the kids. Well, then we have them beat on that. Our overall testing scores are higher (even adding in IEP kids), our completion rate is higher, and our kids are generally better citizens. Well done, home school parent!HUG and pat on back - things I seldom received even to date except from my wonderful Mother. ( Did I mention your kids may not appreciate what you are doing either?) When credit is required, you get part of that even if no one else admits it - they know it and are thinking about it.

I have always completed MORE than the state law requires, but some people are ignorant about said laws. I took the time to explain the laws to them and educate them also. Now days, it's much easier to homeschool, be thankful. Many more people are doing it and schools are getting more and more dangerous. When once I was told I should "be in jail for home schooling", I am now told many times that "I wish we could home school", "Can you help me home school?", and the like....I've even had family and close friends, ask my children if they wanted to go to "real" school. How arrogant and disrespectful! I attended public, "real", school all my school years and it's wasn't so great. I liked to learn is what saved me there....

When your kids are finished, or as they get older, look into going to college classes for YOU. You have a lot of education fresh in your mind. Good time to test while the iron is hot! YOU are being a good parent - ignore the ignoramuses.

Free foreign language practice

I found this free website and am using it myself for review and to learn our newest languages.

It's a bit advanced for children imho, but I don't teach my children to read and write in foreign languages until High School.

I believe languages should be learned as we learned our mother Tongue - orally. Then we follow up with reading and writing. It's natural.

As an adult, I jump right in doing all though. I am enjoying using this website DuoLingo and I hope you do too.

more on The Lingo Show BBC - Article UPDATED 11/10

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/grownups/shows/lingo-show#want-more-fun This is no longer available b/c they don't want anyone outside of the UK using it, I guess.... oh well. NEXT!

Multi - Language games

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/lingo-show/

More Foreign Language Resources....

Amazon Student Membership Saves money on shipping and you get tons of FREE movies/ shows via online streaming. I have saved lots of money having this and also have access to many resources I wouldn't have had if I had not joined. I get credit if you use my link and join up, thanks. Don't forget to do the same if you recommend. WE homeschoolers got to make a buck somehow. :)

If you have Amazon Prime or sign up, have a look at this resource. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FNJ93TW/ref=dv_dp_ep2 Everyday Language Season One.

Simple Basic . I let it play while I do housework. It also works like flashcards on screen. Good for advanced beginners/ kids. Just over an hour.

I haven't watched all through yet, but offers German,Spanish, Italian and French. Also FREE on Prime at this moment is the "Little Pim " language series videos.

As the years pass ...

As the years pass, you and your child will have learned the basics of several languages.Try this as a schedule help. I have a plan book for languages

We learn Spanish on Monday - It's the first foreign language I introduced to student.

Tuesday is the next language I introduced. German.

Wednesday - Italian

Thursday - French.

Friday is FREE PICK FRIDAY.

Let the child pick which language they want to learn. Keep it fun - this is a reward. Pick new sign language word to be practiced each day next week.

Learn and teach the days of the week ( as day is current ie. " Today is Monday= "Hoy es lunes.", months of the year (one at a time and current month - when more advanced also seasons)

AS student progresses in the languages, start using conversation words: Hello, Good morning, I love you, Goodbye, Bless you, Excuse me, please, thank you, you're welcome.etc. Use those words on the appropriate day. ALWAYS use them instead of English or with English after you say them,. Repeat if child requests. if you aren't finding these words in a game or other resource, GOOGLE TRANSLATE.

Also start learning words for fruits, pets, toys etc. Especially focus on cognates (words that sound or are spelled similar to English or the other languages you are studying.) I have found that the more words we learn from other languages, the more cognates we find. I am sticking to languages that are similar to English in sound. When the child starts 7th grade( depending on your location and laws) he can pick his High School language requirement from the ones you have been learning basics from all these years!!!

Sometimes after school my child requests that I no longer use the foreign language. I say no because it takes years to learn a language and we must use the language we know and are learning or we will not learn/remember it. I lost SO much Spanish from High School by not using it regularly. I tested out of first year college Spanish and still lost more language than I would have dreamed from lack of usage.

French Colors Vocabulary and Game

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primarylanguages/french/all_about_me/colours/

French Counting 0-6

Just starting out with French? Numbers 0- 6 in a little video on BBC. It stops after each number then child must click next arrow to proceed. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryfrench/numbers0_6/cartoon_flash.shtml

Not feeling like teaching today?

A little help for days when Teacher is not feeling well.... http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/

Advanced Beginner Italian Game- Greetings

When I played this game, it automatically started omitting the word on the index card. It also automatically started having you spell the words in Italian then looking for the translation. I don't know it this game always does this or if it's student driver according to ability. It's a good practice for my spellings. I don't let the kids read, write, or spell foreign languages until they have proven great English skills in all those areas., i start with foreign languages young... use as you deem the child ready.... http://www.moltobeneitalian.com/lesson/438/en

A Little Italy....of colors

This game is like Whack a Mole. It has several different black ovals that the WORDS will appear in then fade away. If you click on the word as it's fading you get points deducted. Need a game for your child to practice seeing English color words? This is it.But they also need to be learning oral Italian color words. Each word stays about 3 seconds before another one appears. Click on the correct word and you get points. I finally stopped after 10,100 points - seems there's no end to this one. Sometimes, you must wait a very long time for your word to appear. Teaches patience. I always play the games before handing the internet over to my children. http://www.moltobeneitalian.com/lesson/434/en#whack_a_word

Where in the World Are You?

If you are following my posts, please share where you live. I'm interested in other homeschool families. Thanks I am in Oklahoma, USA.

Need Translation?

Try Google Translate or Translate.com It helps me when I want to teach a new bit of conversation to the kiddo without learning many chapters ahead. I think learning and teaching a foreign language should be FUN not cumbersome and difficult. Example. My new conversation is this for every language we are learning. On Monday, we learn Spanish so I say, "Today we learn Spanish" in Spanish. I didn't know how to say this in French or Italian. Translate websites help me when I need a quickie. I hope they help you, too. HAVE FUN and you play the games too....

New German Learning Game

New German learning game http://www.german-games.net/germantopics Yes, I played it first. I always play the games first to make sure they work, they're appropriate and that they aren't oo difficult for the child's level.

Learning Italian Games

I just played Memory Machine. I will use this for my child. http://www.learnalanguage.com/learn-italian/italian-words/food-I.php

ASL Sign Language

I just found this and hope to use it to supplement my lessons. http://lifeprint.com/asl101/lessons/lessons.htm

Teaching Foreign Languages isn't THAT hard!

If you don't want to learn a new language and teach the kids as you go, then find a language partner for them for free (supervise sessions) or hire a tutor. http://www.italki.com/?ref=1116417 IF you like, apply to become a tutor.

18th year...

My eye injury has healed now and we are already busy with this new school term. Since August is always SO hot, I began starting school on the 1st Monday in August. I can't believe it's my 18th year of teaching. We deserve teaching certificates...

Had an eye injury..

I hope to get back top regular posts now.