Homeschooling with Pinterest

What's your favorite homeschooling website?

Mine is most certainly Pinterest.

 I'm sure you have heard of it by now and if not, go to it now! You won't be disappointed! It truly is the motherload of all things crafty, diy, freebies, ideas, and so much more.

Picture From Pinterest

I was recently contacted about spearheading a board geared towards homeschoolers. This came as quite the shock and I'm so honored to be part of such a great resource board that will help many educators for years to come. 

I'm thrilled to share the board with you. 

http://pinterest.com/teachers/home-school/

 I have used pinterest so many times to plan out many unit studies for my girls. I often wonder how I managed to put units together so organized without this awesome website. :)  My girls are always asking to look on pinterest for a new craft to make. Tonight they did just that and with their daddy's help they made maracas! 

I wonder what craft they will find tomorrow?

Check out this blog post:

http://blog.pinterest.com/post/58175180377/say-hello-to-teachers-on-pinterest

I hope you stop by to visit, share, pin and have fun doing it all! 

A link to other Teachers on Pinterest

http://pinterest.com/teachers/

Homeschooling Approaches

                                Homeschooling Approaches

Here is a wonderful website, that will explain the different approaches. Extremely helpful in helping you understand what approach would be a fit for your family.

                                    http://www.homeschool.com/approaches/

http://eho.org/homeschool_prep/styles.asp

   

What is the Best Homeschooling Style for Your Family?

This is a must read! 

Top 10 Gems - "What I wish someone would have told me during my first year of homeschooling."Linda Dobson

Homemade Play Doh....Again!

 
My girls can never have to much fun playing with play doh. They enjoy it so much and it's so easy to make. We used blue food coloring this time around, and we made a ton of it. Well not a ton, but it was a lot. lol :)
A earlier blog of mine (Possibly from 2008) has a wonderful play doh recipe using kool-aid for color instead of food coloring. I'm still trying to get all the blue off that seems to be stained on my hands. 

Here is a link for a recipe:
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE PLAY DOH 


VISIT THE PLAY-DOH FRESH IDEAS GALLERY
 Looking for something new to make? Lots of ideas, at all different levels of difficulty with step-by-step instructions.

Ramblings of Thankfulness & Love

What are we thankful for?

It's been a fun last couple of weeks. I'm Loving the fall season, the aromas, the colors, and the feelings of thankfulness. I, maybe like many of you, like to indulge in facebook a wee to much sometimes. Mostly, I see vague comments of friends and family routines and thoughts of the day. Lately, most have started writing about what they are thankful for, due to a 30 days of thankfulness post. It's so joyous to read these comments and reflect back on my own thankfulness. I have even realized how much I take for granted at times.

I am thankful for a wonderful husband, whom works so hard to provide for his family. Wonderful children, that mean the world to us. Wonderful family, who will be there for us whenever needed. Our health, our love for one another, our desire to learn, the opportunity to homeschool, and so much more to write. I'm mostly thankful for God, who created all the wonderful things of this world, and who loved us so much that he gave his only son, Jesus, so that we may be saved. I have bookmarked an incredible site. I love to go there and watch live sermons, catch up on studies, and learn about everything I didn't know I needed, until it just clicked! I need this! I know that sounded funny. Didn't know you needed it!? Well yes, and no! I know I need to read and study God's word, but I struggle. On this site, I will watch a sermon and I will be like "WoW! I really needed that!"

Here is the link: http://www.lifechurch.tv/watch


We've been taking a different approach to learning this month, a more thankful approach. A more stress free approach. It's been very relaxed, and although I would love to say it's like this always, I would be lying. I sat down and played dolls and barbies with my girls earlier, and I took the time to ask the girls what they were thankful for. I expected them to say something about their fav toys, or the awesome movie they had just raved about a min or so before I asked the question. Instead, I heard such sincere answers that melted my heart to the core. My oldest said I am thankful for you mommy and daddy and that God loves me and I can talk to him whenever I want. I'm doing something right here, people! I could have screamed it from the rooftop. It was a joyous moment, but also a moment I realized how much more I must watch my actions and live these wonderful teachings I teach them. How I so don't desire to be a hypocrite in my child's eyes.

I heard my mother-in-law say a saying the other day and it was:
Heaven before Harvard! WoW! how true is that! While I do wish true happiness for my children no matter what career or schooling they choose, even if it be Harvard, lol, I hope they learn and never forget this saying!

*Jennifer

Being an example!

I sat here and pondered on what I would write about today. I'm watching the girls run, play, and try to act like me? There is no fighting! YEAH! I hear the girls talking amongst themselves, "Okay girls what are we going to learn today" says Breanna , "Do you need to use the restroom, Raylee?" asks Gracie, "Mom , Can we help you?".

I can't help but be so proud of how they are growing into respectful, helpful little girls. It has been an uphill battle on hoping that by my example I could instill such values as they are starting to show now. I knew from the time my girls were born, that I was so blessed and had a job so important in raising them. I thank God everyday!

The most common and most important discipleship relationship is that of parent and child. It is a nurturing, training, teaching, and discipling relationship. Since the contact between parent and child is so close, teaching is unavoidable. The child will be like the parent in many ways. "Like father, like son" is not just a catchy saying - it is the reality of life on earth. The parent has a responsibilty before God and others to disciple and teach their children successfully.

I'm going to be working on myself daily, to insure that I am setting the right example. I'm going to remember to change what isn't working and look for methods that do. Most important I'm going to love my children unconditionally and continue to pray for guidance. :)

Blessings! *Jennifer

Fun in the Sun!

Breanna turned 5 on July 24th! Yep it is official! KINDERGARTEN TIME!

Breanna received a tea set from her grandmother and they were eager to have a tea party. So we set out one day for Fun in the Sun! We also picked up some bubbles and at first attempted to go to the park, but it was so hot outside that we burnt our behinds on the slides. The park wasn't a good idea. So our fun in the sun day was at home.___________________________________________________________________

Today we have been trying to put together our free trampoline I found on our local Freecycle.org.
Freecycle is such a great site to find goodies other people no longer want.

If you have never visited Freecycle.org ,be sure to locate a group near you and check it out!

Blessings!
Jennifer
Home Grown Hearts Academy

What a colorful Day!

We are gearing up for a great school year at home.

Today the girls made books titled "About Me". On the inside we included facts about them and they drew a picture of themselves. While I was helping Gracie with writing her name, Raylee managed to get a hold of the glitter. Needless to say we had glitter everywhere. Oh what a colorful day!
I guess thats better than the egg incident we had a few weeks ago. Apparently Raylee wanted some eggs. She removed a small pan from the cabinet and eggs from the fridge. Sat down in the middle of the floor and proceeded to attempt to fix eggs. When I walked around the corner all I saw was egg yolk everywhere and I do mean everywhere you could walk! She was covered from head to toe! I do wish I had got a picture, but I was to busy running to the shower with her. LoL :) I would love to hear stories from other mothers. I'm sure you have a few! :) Have a great Day! *Blessings

On another note. Breanna has learned to write her name. We are very trilled and she to is excited about this.

Stamping for fun!

I recently came across an assortment of stamps that I thought the girls would have fun with. I even forgot how much I liked to stamp. It is fun and a great time filler. :)

Thursday!

COMING SOON!

Home Grown Hearts Academy (Hgha) Newsletter!

The newsletter will include:

Free Curriculum
Book List
Favorite Websites
Website of the Month!
Recipe of the Month!

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