The Compassion Experience

Many people have heard of Compassion International and the work it does in finding sponsors for children living in poverty around the worlds. The kids and I were able to attend an immersive exhibit showing exactly what Compassion International does for these children and an example of what type of children they help. 

The Compassion Experience we attended had two children's stories. 

We were given an iPod and earbuds and went on a guided tour through rooms set up just like the places where these children lived.

 This plate of rice was an example dinner for an entire family.

We were led into the almost hopeless stories of these children. One young boy in Kenya was thrown into prison at the age of 9 because he had resorted to stealing food to live. 

Then we heard the difference Compassion International and the children's sponsors made to their lives. Through the Compassion program they were provided food, education, hygiene and most of all, love. 

 The things provided by Compassion International changed the lives of these children and provided them a way out of the darkness they lived in. Their families lives were changed as well. 

My children's eyes were opened to the blessings they have compared to so many in the world. They became aware of the needs of others and their compassion grew - all from this experience! 

The Compassion Experience is a traveling exhibit and there may be an event near you soon! Go HERE to find out more. 

The Solar Eclipse of 2017

The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men 

          Gang aft agley, -Robert Burns

We had big plans for the Solar Eclipse on August 21st. It was going to be our first field trip of the year. We had plans to go to the library where there was going to be a little lesson on the solar eclipse and safe viewing practices, snacks and crafts. They also had a limited supply of safe viewing glasses. Well, I didn't want to run the risk of not getting glasses, so I ordered some of the NASA approved glasses and we headed to the library with plenty of time to spare - I thought it would be wise to be there at least a half an hour early. 

When we arrived at the library, all of Denton County was there, too! In fact, I could not even drive my car through the parking lot of the library and there were definitely no parking spots available. A crowd of people snaked around the perimeter of the building. It was clear that the library was not going to be the best place for us to experience the eclipse, so we turned around and headed back to the comfort of our own back yard. 

By the time we made it back home, the moon was already inching across the sun. We ran out back and viewed it using the glasses I had purchased ahead of time. (I gave myself a pat on the back for good planning.)

As it turns out, our backyard was an awesome place to watch the eclipse! Gabe was especially mesmerized! 

Faith liked seeing the moon shaped shadows the pin hole made on the paper. 

We had about 75% coverage here. It got a little bit darker outside, but not much. We devoted the entire afternoon to the eclipse and I am so glad we did. It was an amazing event! That is one of the joys of homeschooling. We didn't stop learning, we just focused it for a moment on what was happening in our world at that time. We talked about why it happens, when it has happened in the past and when the next one will happen. (In 2024 a lot of Texas will be in 100% totality!) Moments like these make learning fun and so meaningful!! 

 Did you see the eclipse? 

Our First Day of Homeschool 2017-2018

We had a fun and full summer and almost hated for it to end. At the same time, returning to routine is also so sweet! And so we started our 7th home school year on August 9th. 

Sweet little Faith is in Kindergarten this year! Her first real year of school! One of the questions I get asked most frequently when people learn that we home school is what curriculum I use, so here is a list of the curriculum we will use this year for each kid: 

Kindergarten curriculum:

Handwriting: A Reason for Handwriting level K 

Math: Singapore Math Kindergarten

Language Arts: The Good and the Beautiful by Jenny Phillips level K

History: Mystery of History book 3

Science: Science in the Scientific Revolution by Dr. Wile

Mig is in 2nd Grade this year! 

Second Grade Curriculum:

Handwriting: A Reason for Handwriting level B

Math: Saxon Math 2

Language Arts: The Good and the Beautiful level 1

Writing: Just Write book 1

History: Mystery of History book 3

Science: Science in the Scientific Revolution by Dr. Wile

Spanish: Salsa Videos

Selah is in the 5th Grade!

Our 5th Grade Curriculum: 

Handwriting: Journal prompts and Bible Verse copywork

Math: Saxon 6/5 on Virtual Homeschool Group

Language Arts: The Good and the Beautiful level 4

Writing: Writing and Rhetoric book 3

History: Mystery of History book 3

Science: Science in the Scientific Revolution by Dr. Wile

Spanish: Excelerate! Spanish 

Logic: The Thinking Toolbox

Gabe is in 7th Grade this year! How can he be so big?!?

Our 7th Grade Curriculum:

Handwriting: Journal prompts and Bible Verse copywork

Math: Saxon 8/7

Language Arts: The Good and the Beautiful level 7

Writing: Writing and Rhetoric book 5

History: Mystery of History book 3

Science: Science in the Scientific Revolution by Dr. Wile

Spanish: Excelerate! Spanish 

Logic: The Thinking Toolbox

We made a few curriculum changes this year and so far we are loving them! Selah is doing math online with the Virtual Homeschool Group. This has been a good change for her because she gets immediate feedback on each math problem. It has been good for me because it means one less math lesson for me to teach each day and because it is a free class! We were doing First Language Lessons (which I loved) and then switching to Rod and Staff at 5th grade because First Language Lessons stops at 4th. Rod and Staff is good, but is very dry and repetitive. I found The Good and the Beautiful this spring. It has grammar, geography, art and writing all in one program, but is just as challenging as First Language Lessons and Rod and Staff. It also has the kids from 5th grade and up doing a lot of self-directed learning (they have checklists to complete, but read the lessons and do them on their own). This is so helpful with a room full of different leveled learners. Excelerate! Spanish has been another great addition to our day. It is a program based on TPR (Total Physical Response) so the kids are up an moving and speaking. We do Spanish class almost entirely in Spanish now and the kids are having fun with it! 

We are ready for another year full of learning and having fun doing it together! 

Choir Camp 2017

We returned to Texas just in time to do the Denton Bible Church Kids Praise Camp! 

This year Mig was the only one in the musical. Gabe is now too old for Choir Camp. So sad! Selah missed out this year, but will be in next year, I'm sure. 

The kids presented O Me, O My, O Nehemiah! It was adorable!! I am always so impressed that a group of over one hundred first to fifth graders can learn an entire musical in one week! 

Mig auditioned and received a speaking part this year!! He played "Kid 1". 

Here's a shot of the whole choir.

The musical is always proceeded by the "Mini-Camper". They are 3 year olds to kindergarteners. They present a short program with three songs and are always adorable! Faith was part of this group and I direct their camp. It is always my most exhausting, yet enjoyable weeks of the summer. 

And here is the musical! Sit back and enjoy! They did an excellent job!!