Homeschool Mother's Journal: February 22, 2013.

In my life this week…
Disneyland excitement is currently pervading our household. Disney music fills our home and daily countdowns are performed. Aidyn, striving hard to reach the 46" requirement to ride Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye, has become mightily interested in all things Indy.

He's been watching The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones and even checked out an picture-encyclopedia all about Indy. Within the pages detailing Indiana Jones' uber-cool persona, we found that he was homeschooled, too! That little fact excited Aidyn about his new favorite hero.

In our homeschool this week…
We have had a busy week with six extracurricular activities outside the home. On Tuesday, he attended a heart-themed class, in which they learned how the heart works and how to keep it healthy. He also participated in his P.E. class, where they played a game of soccer, and karate as well as a character class on flexibility. He made an octopus craft and started on a fire ant project in his art class.

On the homefront, we have started Level B of Sadlier Phonics, which starts with lots of review, so he's breezing through it. With math, he's learning to add sums to 12. In the mornings, we use Evan Moor's Ten-Minute Activities to get our brains energized.

I came up with another morning exercise to help him with counting on called Rabbit Ears Math. This helps him count up by 2, and so at the end he makes rabbit ears with his fingers. The more he practiced, the quicker his rabbit ears perked up!

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…


Absorbing skills and facts and retaining them long-term happens best where excitement and emotion pervade. We remember best that which is new, exciting, and emotional. We usually remember special birthday celebrations and field trips but hardly anything about the day after. If we teach in funny, exciting and novel ways, the lessons are much more likely to be remembered.


Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
We've had our friend Amanda and her son over for two days this week. I love (and need!) her company and enjoying talking things out with her and sharing vents about the world. She is also helping the time fly by this week as waiting for our vacation can make time drag.


 My favorite thing this week was…
Watching Aidyn's excitement over discovering a new hero, Indiana Jones. I love seeing new interests grow in him.


My kiddo's favorite thing this week was…
Definitely climbing trees yesterday. He came in, red-cheeked and glistening with sweat and excitement, and proudly proclaimed that he had climbed a tree all by himself (but with a little boost from a friend).


 Things I’m working on…
I'm still scrimping and saving for our Disneyland trip and finding new ways to cut costs where I can. Once we return, I'll be sharing money-saving tips and techniques here.


 I’m cooking…
Frugal meals from Miserly Moms.

Here is her Easy Mexican Casserole, which was easy to make and easy on the wallet. It cost me about $5 to prepare and fed us and a guest for dinner and lunch the next day.

 I’m grateful for…
My husband who works hard every day and even put in an extra day on Saturday. He deserves a vacation terribly, and I aim to make it enjoyable for him.

 I’m hoping for…
A way to slow time down just a bit so we can fully relax and enjoy our upcoming vacation.

 I rewarded my kid this week by…
Giving extra cuddles when he was upset and talking him through it. He rewarded me yesterday by picking me a new flower blossom from the tree he climbed.

 Something I am ogling or have my eye on…
Same thing as last week:

 A photo, video, link, or quote to share (silly, serious or both!)…
 I love TED Talks, but this one had me tears-- the good kind! This 13-year-old "hackschooler" passionately follows his interests and helps me remember why I choose to homeschool and to ignore those voices that express anything less than full-on support.