I like teen fiction...

I don't know if I should be embarrased by this fact, but at night when I am tired, I really enjoy a good teen novel to quiet my mind and help me fall asleep. I'll also admit I like the story to be fantasy based. When I have read adult books, I find the adult characters annoying or too free with themselves. Anyhow, I have too many books checked out right now to read so I am going to put them here so I can remember they are on my "to read" list. By the way, I just finished reading Paranormalcy by Kiersten White and really enjoyed the humor.

Two books I recently read and loved were:

Book Description
A hidden truth.
Mortal enemies.
Doomed love.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

Book Description
Evie’s always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals’ glamours.

But Evie’s about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.


I am currently reading:

Book Description
Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books—but we are real.

Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. we have lived among you without you knowing.

But they know.

They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.

I am Number Four.

I am next.

Books on my list:

Learning Math Facts

I want to share with you some really great resources for helping your kids learn their math facts.

Skip Counting is a wonderful tool for learning your facts. I have made several videos using my movie making software that have helped my kids tremendously. Here is a link to my youtube channel, Well Rounded Scholar where you can see them.

The other thing I would highly recommend is http://www.xtramath.org/ I really love this site! It is not cluttered and it has smart technology that remembers what your child has done and helps to progress them through their facts each time they visit the site.

I have also used a FlashMaster. It is a great tool, one that you can take along with your for appointments. I bought mine used for half the price new. Check out the Well Trained Mind For Sale boards to find yours.

Snowman Holiday Game

I have just listed the Snowman Game for your next holiday party. It is great for all ages. Adults really really love this game. You won't find it anywhere else. Check it out in my etsy shoppe.

Native American Doll and TeePee

I have always loved history and when my daughter needed a teepee for her History Night project I jumped on it to make her one. That was last year and that teepee has been used for sleepovers, imaginative play and just a cool place to watch a movie.

Since I have been working on dolls for My Etsy Shoppe, I thought it would be fun to make a teepee for my Native American doll that I am getting ready to list (after I make her moccasins). I had a lot of fun figuring this out. I used wooden dowels for the support poles. Now I'll just have to make one for the kids for Christmas!

The Holiday's = Family, Fun and Good Movies!

I love love love to watch a good movie over the holidays. In fact, I can't wait till the day AFTER Thanksgiving so that I can sit home all day wearing my PJ's, eating leftover turkey, mayo and toast sandwiches with a side of yams and mashed potatoes watching a good movie. I'll take a break, play some games with the kids, make another sandwich for dinner and watch another movie. It is my free pass to just enjoy the day. So in case this may be your plan as well I am here to share some of my favorites. Movies from the 40's: Christmas in Connecticut White Christmas Meet Me in St. Louis Movies from the 70's & 80's (my childhood) Star Wars E.T. Princess Bride Ann of Green Gables Pretty in Pink Sixteen Candles Movies that made me LAUGH!: First Wives Club The Lost Boys My Big Fat Greek Wedding Mrs. Doubtfire Father of the Bride Historical or Historical Fiction: Into the West The Patriot Braveheart Amadeus Lady Jane Wives and Daughters North & South (BBC) Romantic: Jane Eyre BBC Pride & Prejudice BBC The Notebook Far and Away Sci-Fi or Fantasy: Harry Potter (all of them) Star Trek (2009) I am Legend Close Encounters of the Third Kind Contact War of the Worlds Kid / Family Films: Tangled Finding Nemo Barbie Princess and the Pauper National Treasure Joseph, King of Dreams Prince of Egypt Monsters, Inc. Stranded Tuck Everlasting Action Adventure or Thriller: The Village Signs Count of Monte Cristo Mission Impossible Minority Report Musicals: Sound of Music Mary Poppins My Fair Lady Heart Strings: Hallmark Hall of Fame: The Lost Valentine A Walk to Remember Rocky 1-5 Eight Below

Movies, Movies, Movies

I love movies. I have ever since we bought our first VCR and our first VHS movie (Dirty Dancing, ugg I hate to admit that) that I watched 37 times before we got a Video Connection membership and could expand our repertoire.

I really love to use movies in my homeschool. Right now my oldest daughter is at an age that I can show her more mature films and it has been a lot of fun. She is studying the 1960's and 1970's right now in history and last week she watched:

West Side Story

She has been singing the songs all week. Here is one of her favorites:

She has been learning about the Space Race for a few weeks now and so I thought it was a good time to include Tom Hanks in Apollo 13. Watching movies about real events can really bring the topic the kids are reading about alive. They begin to feel connected to the people and events that took place. 

Apollo 13

We have also been learning about the Civil Rights Movement. For my younger kids, I showed them films about Rosa Parks, Ruby Bridges and the movie Selma, Lord Selma. My oldest has already seen these films so I decided to show her Remember the Titans. It is true story about a newly appointed African American football coach and his first season working with a racially integrated team. It is an excellent film and I am excited to share it with her.

Remember the Titans

I stumbled upon this film years ago and was drawn in by the amazing story line and excellent acting. We may not get to see this one because of time, but I wanted to mention it here in case it is something you may want to check out. 

The Right Stuff is a 1983 American film adapted fromTom Wolfe's 1979 book The Right Stuff about the test pilots  who were involved in high-speed aeronautical research at Edwards Air Force Base as well as those selected to be astronauts for Project Mercury, the United States first attempt at manned spaceflight. 

The Right Stuff

And a documentary: The surviving crew members from NASA's Apollo missions tell their story in their own words.

In the Shadow of the Moon

For my younger ones, we are going to reinforce their literature by watching the 1969 movie My Side of the Mountain based on the book of the same name that I am currently reading aloud. It is a wonderful story about a boy who is enchanted with nature and takes off to live on his family mountain alone with nothing but the clothes on his back. It tells all sorts of wonderful details about how he survives. I found this online pdf discussion and activity guide to add some interest.

Our Homeschool

This year for the first time ever, I am homeschooling all 5 of my children. They have all always been homeschooled, but it was this year that I added my son who started kindergarten. I have to say that it has been just the last few years that I feel like I really know what works for my family and how to structure my days. It was a real struggle in the past to find curriculum that would mesh with my love for the ideas of Charlotte Mason and artistic nature and my need just get it done each day.  I wanted everything to be beautiful and hands on but sometimes you have to get more of a mix in order to have balance in your homeschool.

In future posts, I plan to share more about each of the programs I am currently using but for now, I'll just share what we are doing for the 2011-2012 school year followed by how long we have been using the program. It is important to know how long a person is using something in order to know if they have gotten over the "everything is beautiful and perfect" stage of the new materials.

Kindergarten - My son is using these materials. He turned 5 in April 2011 and had not had any formal schooling prior to starting this year. He has done very well with the material and is flying through the math.

• All About Reading - Pre-Level 1   (1 year)
• Essential Math Books A & B    (1 year)
• Five in a Row - Book 1   (1 year)
• Art Class by Art Scholar (These are art classes I teach homeschool kids)

My next two daughters are ages 8 & 11. They are what I consider 3rd and 5th grades. I teach them both at the same time but on their own levels. 

Math 

Christian Light of course!   (2 years)

Language Arts 

Writing With Ease   (1 year)

First Language Lessons   (2 years)

English from the Roots Up   (2 years)

Pentime Handwriting   (5 years)

Rod and Staff Grammar   (4 years)

History - Geography - Literature - Writing - Fine Arts

Tapestry of Grace - Currently on Year 4 Unit 4 (3 years)

Science

R.E.A.L Science Odyssey   (2 years)

My 14 year old daughter works mostly independently so she has her own program that works wonderfully for her. I am especially excited about this years program as Carrie Austen has done a fantastic job pulling together some amazing resources. She is able to schedule each day so that so much gets accomplished yet you don't feel overwhelmed. I am looking forward to using this program with my younger girls when they are a little older. My 14 year old has used Heart of Dakota for the last 3 years.

Main Program
Heart of Dakota Hearts for Him Through Time: Revival to Revolution
This includes History, Literature, Poetry, Language Arts, Geography, Government, Science, Bible, Art and Music. It also includes Math but we use Christian Light for that. I also added in Vocabulary from Classical Roots.


My oldest daughter (age 17) uses:

• Tapestry of Grace (History, Literature, Geography, Music, Art) 
• Apologia Science    (4 years)
• Rod and Staff Grammar
• Vocabulary from Classical Roots    (1 year)
• Christian Light Math.