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Homeschool: Getting Ready for Graduation
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Graduating from homeschool can be a different experience. There are some schools that will allow your child to participate in their graduation exercises however most do not. However your child’s education has been uniquely tailored to them so why not make their graduation the same way. There are several things you can do to make their day just as special.
If you are in a homeschool group or know other parents who have children that are graduating form homeschool why not have your own graduation exercises? Have everyone get together, purchase gowns and allow your children to walk across the stage in front of family and friends while they receive their diploma. Our group here does it and it is really great. The kids all get to invite their family and friends and all of the other homeschool families within the group come as well. We have all supported the kids in one way or another. We get permission to use to the high school gym and have a full ceremony just like the regular graduating class gets.
If there is no group and you only have 1 child then why not throw a big graduation party? Invite family and friends and whomever else. Allow everyone to celebrate in the joy that is your child’s day. Remember though that it is their day!
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May 14, 2013
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Lead in the Water and Children
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We recently received a letter stating that our area has a high lead concentration in our water and that we should begin doing a list of things to reduce our risk. Of course the first thing is to begin using bottled or filtered water, which is something we already do. Most of the water we use is boiled anyway but then I discovered that even the water we wash our dishes in can have lead!
So what is a parent to do? Lead can cause physical or mental development and children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. Most lead ends up in the bone where it can cause all sorts of problems. This disturbed me very much so I made appointments for everyone to get tested by our doctor and check our lead levels. While none of us had toxic levels I was told my high blood pressure could be the result of lead.
Our community is working on correcting this issue and we are getting a home filtration system to help with this. The thing is that we live in an older home and never even thought about checking for this. If your home is older get the water tested so you don’t have any surprises later down the road.
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May 13, 2013
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Homeschool: Cursive No Longer Taught?
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Did you know that cursive is no longer being taught in many public schools? It is try, I saw a news report on it recently and I have t say that this really disturbs me. Since I am a homeschooler I still and will continue to teach cursive as well as letter writing. This article by The Wall Street Journal explains in much more detail as to why cursive or Script writing is becoming optional. Children are now required to be proficient in keyboard typing skills by the fourth grade.
The article says that most adults write in a hybrid writing of print and cursive and I am the first to admit that I am guilty of that. I also admit I want my children to be proficient in keyboard skills but I think that penmanship is equally important. In fact I make them write letters and Thank You notes all the time. The reason is that if we do not the next generation may not be taught to write at all rather everything will be done on machines.
Many children and teens already have issues when computers fail. Have you ever been to the store and the young cashier put in too many digits. Most of them have to call for help in order to know the correct amount of change to give you. Give many kids a book nowadays and they look at you like you are crazy.
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May 1, 2013
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Decorating for Cinco de Mayo
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There are so many ways you can decorate for Cinco de Mayo! it really just depends on how “Mexican” you want to go. If you want to keep it simple just add bright colors. For example you could use brightly colored dishes or vases on your table. If you want to go all out Mexican then here a few ideas:
- Sombreros: These can be any color or fabric. You could hang them on your wall or even from the ceiling. Guest could even wear them.
- Paper Picado: These are brightly colored flags made out of tissue paper. They can very elaborate or very simple. You hang them from the ceiling or as a banner on a table.
- Maracas: These can be placed in vases and used as “flowers” or simply laid on your table.
- Tissue Flowers: Brightly colored tissue flowers are very popular and they can be placed in vases, hung from ceilings, tied to chairs, and pretty much any other way you can think of.
Be sure to use a simple colored tablecloth when using lots of other colors. You don’t want to cause a sensory overload and things always look brighter against say an off white tablecloth. The important thing is to let your own style shine through.
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April 30, 2013
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Cinco de Mayo Foods for Kids
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When planning your Cinco de Mayo fiesta you need to think about preparing foods that are kid friendly. Many Mexican dishes can be simply too spicy for kids so be sure to have something on hand that they will enjoy. Be sure to label the foods that are spicy so that everyone knows as well. I good way to do this is by printing out some little chili peppers on cards and placing those cards on the spicy dishes. A few good food ideas for kids are:
- 7 Layer Dip: this is usually made with sour cream, beans,cheese, guacamole, and just about whatever you choose to put in there which makes it perfect for kids.
- Guacamole: this is great as a dip on it’s own. There are very little ingredients and your kids may love it.
- Churros: always a hit with the kids. These desserts are sweet and they can hold them in their hands.
- Quesadillas: since these are nothing mroe than cheese and tortillas your kids will love them. If you want to add a little meat then go right ahead. I sometimes add a little ground beef just to give them a little more substance.
You can take just about any Mexican recipe and make it not spicy by taking out the peppers and heat. That is one of the great things about food form this amazing culture.
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April 29, 2013
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Homeschool: Cinco de Mayo Lesson
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Cinco de Mayo is coming pretty quickly and this week we are celebrating all week long. We are starting the week off with a lesson and ending with some fun. For those of you who don’t already know Cincoe de Mayo is the 5th of May and is the Mexican holiday that celebrates the e Mexican victory over French soldiers in the 1862 Battle of Puebla. It is not Mexico’s Independence Day as many believe.
One of the easiest lessons for preschoolers and elementary aged children is the Paper bag Poncho. Get a brown paper bag, cut out a hole for their head, two holes for their arms and let them decorate it by coloring different colored stripes all the way down it. It is easy and fun for them. Add a sombrero and you have a great costume for them.
Another great one is to take a plastic Easter egg and add a few dry beans. Tape two spoons to either side wrapping the tape completely around making sure it covers where the eggs come apart. Tape the bottom (handle) of the spoons together as well. Decorate the take and get ready to shake because you have made maracas.
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April 26, 2013
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Family Fun: Plant a Tree
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Monday was Earth Day but why not continue out the whole week and take a little time to do your part. Plant a tree with your children this weekend and teach them about giving back to the Earth. That taking care of the Earth we have is so important.
Millions of trees are cut down everyday and if we continue at this rate we will have some serious issues. Explain to them how important trees are to our ecological system and the oxygen that we ourselves breath. Let them choose the tree or the place it will be planted. Be sure that the tree you are planting will thrive in your area and your soil.
If you have smaller children make them responsible for some part of the job like bringing the water hose so they feel they had a hand in planting that tree. If you don’t have space to plant a tree in your yard check and see if there is a local park or somewhere that you could donate a tree. Maybe get the entire neighborhood involved in the process and make the tree your gift to the Earth and your children’s future.
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April 23, 2013
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Pox Parties, Huh?
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I told you before I was going to talk about Pox Parties. What they are is basically a group of parents get together and expose their children to chicken box in the hopes that it will build up a resistance. That just sounds so crazy to me for so many reasons! Think about it for a second, if a bunch of people were getting together to pass around bubonic plague would you go?
The biggest thing that many parents don’t think about is that they can contract the chicken pox if they themselves have not been vaccinated. Chicken pox for an adult is rough! If you have ever had the chicken pox then you may also have the shingles virus within which is something else that you don’t want to somehow trigger or set off. I never had the chicken pox vaccine because I am too old and it was not available.
However as the child that brought the chicken pox home and gave it to all of my siblings I can guarantee that if the vaccine had been available my parents would of had us vaccinated. I had a nasty case of chicken pox and have the scars on my back to prove it. My chicken pox actually caused Rheumatic fever which led to some heart trouble. A simple vaccine seems much less complicated but that is just my opinion.
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April 22, 2013
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Homeschool: Earth Day Lesson
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Today is Earth Day so today and this whole week base your lessons around helping the Earth. One of the best ways to start this lesson off is by having your children do the Carbon Footprint Test. This allows them to see what they are doing that both helps and hurts. It shows them areas they need to work more on as far as lessening their Carbon Footprint.
Once they complete the test discuss areas that need to be worked on. Better yet have them take the test together and “grade” your home and classroom. Find ways to make changes and have the kids implement those changes. At the end of the week compare what they were doing to what they are doing now. Are the methods working? Why or why not? Where can they improve their methods?
Another idea is to start a garden or even a worm farm. We have a small garden because I just simply don’t do worms and a worm farm would totally freak me out. We use compose from our kitchen scraps to make our plants grow and work at recycling as much as we can.
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April 12, 2013
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Family Fun: A Picnic
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This weekend is suppose to be super pretty here and if it is by chance where you are then my suggestion is that you get out and have a family picnic. I am grilling this weekend and just going to spend some time relaxing before our Spring Break is over.
You don’t have to have a basket or even pack sandwiches. Just put together a light lunch that you and your family loves and head somewhere fun. A park is always a great idea. The kids can play and run around while you and dad watch them. don’t have a park nearby then find somewhere else. If all else fails just head to your own backyard. Grab a blanket and spread it out in the yard. Tell the kids they can run around and do whatever they want as long as they all agree to sit down together and have lunch.
You will be surprised all the things you can learn about your kids, their friends, and they things they love at the moment when you take a few minutes to listen. while they are running around you and dad can catch up or just lay on the blanket and watch your amazing kids. Go ahead you deserve it!
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