Others Freebies!

Check out Freehomeschooldeals.com for the coupon code on a 1008 page freebie on Exploring Letters in my World. It's around 40 pages per letter covering various subjects including numbers, colors, shapes, social studies and science. It's normally $60, but free only through tomorrow 6/2/12!

The Corner On Character: From Crayons To College

Monday's find:

The Corner On Character: From Crayons To College:

'via Blog this'

Getting closer

This site has the closest to what I envision us starting one week from today :-) eeeekkk I went shopping today to get a few more items. I'll order the last of the priority one items by Friday to get here in time for our school to begin. From what I've heard most children at the 18-24 month age go twice a week to preschool for half a day. Using that as a general rule of thumb, my aim is to do school 3 days a week. Two days on the primary theme and one day for the secondary theme. I'll have my checklist of activities and all my materials set and we can get set to learn starting after breakfast and ending before nap time. That's loosely about 9 to 12 pm would be our teaching time window. I'm going to put the expectation of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Monday is spent recovering from the weekend and for mommy to prepare for the upcoming week. Friday morning hopefully for Ladies Bible Study. Only thing left to do is keep praying. I pray not to compare, not to be competitive. I pray to have a positive, encouraging fun atmosphere for learning. I pray to show Christ's love for my boys. I pray to focus on both of them and their different needs.

The LOTW - Letter of the Week- A scripture has already been going through my head a few times a day. Proverbs 15:1 " A gentle answer turns away wrath."

Sickies

This week we've been a bit derailed by the sickies. I could make a long list of the goals we didn't achieve and people we didn't see but the most important thing happened. M and I snuggled rocking in the wee hours of the morning and got through the sickies together. M is very susceptible to the croup. He is 21 months old and this is the 5th time he's had it. Waking up with two little boys during the night takes it out of this mama. At least it's not contagious so D at 2 months is safe. D has been doing great, in fact sleeping longer until last night. I was up half the night with him last night. So, in the mean time, the cool mist humidifier is going and I'm trying to keep M cool -in 105 degree Texas weather- and calm - toddlerhood ;-) - so he can get better.

I'm reading some articles and continue to scour for more material during the small window both boys are down for a nap to support the lessons I have planned for the year. I found a couple of new resources here for my helper unit and here for yet more alphabet help. I also really enjoyed reading this article about keeping up with the homeschool Joneses. It really spoke to my tendency to compare and for perfectionism. We'll get back on track when my little guy feels better. Nothing checked off a list is more important than taking care of my little men.

Update on Saturday: Now D, who is 2 months old has come down with the croup too.  All four members of our little family have some range of cough and stuffiness. I hope sleep comes soon.

Mrs. Gilchrist's Class: Writing Center!!!

Ideas for a Writing Center for 1st grade, what a neat idea :-)

Mrs. Gilchrist's Class: Writing Center!!!