What we use for homeschool

So many people have asked me what we use for homeschool.  Right now we use K 12.  The curriculum is awesome.  My favorite is math.  It is really well laid out and is not trying to reinvent the wheel like so many public schools are trying to do.  Another favorite is that the lesson plan is all laid out for you each and every day.  I simply DO NOT have the time to come up with  a lesson plan for every day.  Nor do I want to spend my entire day doing school, and I don't.  As for extra art projects that we do I usually come up with that on my own.  This is where Google comes in handy.  I will just type in what we are studying in language arts and add art project at the end of the search and come up with ideas that way.  

K12 can be expensive, but there are many states that offer it via virtual academy's for FREE.  We live in Washington State so the virtual academy that we are in is called WAVA.  I highly recommend starting out this way because you are given a teacher that can help you with questions you have and helps you stay on track.  But now that I know how it works and have got a system down I am considering getting out of the virtual academy.  Helpful as it is there are some things that are a little annoying.  We are very far ahead in the material, like a year and a half ahead, and if we miss a day or two of the curriculum they get pretty "huffy" about it.  And there are weekly contacts that the student has to have with the teacher and then once a month conferences that, at least for me, is just one extra thing to think about.  If your kids are older than it's not that big of a deal, because they do that all on their own.  But for younger kids the parent is the one doing it all.  

Overall, it's an awesome resource for homeschool, especially if you don't know how to get started.  It gets you pointed in the right direction and then depending on how you feel you can go from there.  

Hope that helps and if you have any more questions feel free to ask!

Who to blame?

My kids have been pretty good regarding scissors.  They have never cut their hair or the hair of a sibling . . . yet (knock on wood), but this last week I discovered something.  I have a docking station for our camera sitting on my desk.  This docking system is the only way to upload pictures to my computer.  Well, wanting to update my blog I went to put my camera on the dock.  I plugged it in and pushed the button and nothing happened.  I checked the power supply again and everything looked like it should be a go.  So I proceed to start pulling everything apart to figure out the source of the problem and guess what?  I found it!!  One of the kids, still don't know which one, cut the usb cord connecting the docking station to the computer.  I would have a picture for you of the damage, but no can do.  Still can't load pictures!!!  What's a blogging  girl to do?  It was a sad, sad day.  Even writing this brings a small tear to my eye.  

My New Fav!

I just found this shampoo and conditioner and I LOVE IT!!!!  A long time ago I was told by a hair dresser that I should avoid any shampoo that contains sulfates.  But it seemed to me that finding a shampoo like that was impossible.  Then a couple of years ago I found one, but it was around $25 a bottle.  If you're like me, I just can't justify spending that much on shampoo even if it is sulfate free.  Well lately my hair has been horrible.  I don't what the deal was, but I went through like four different shampoos with no result.  And then  . . . out of the blue I found this.  Ever Pure by Loreal.  It is amazing.  The sulfates in shampoos are what make those suds that we all love. But even without the sulfates, this does the job with even a small amount.  Did I say it is amazing yet?  And the conditioner is equally awesome.  It is not as cheap as the $2.50 bottle of suave or treseme, but it is around $5 and is so worth the extra cost.  Again, I am completely in love!

For lack of a better post . . .

So I really have a lot that I could blog about right now, including pictures, but it is 11:00 and I am tired.  This concern came to my mind and it has to do with home schooling.  I know that I just posted about home school so forgive me for the repetitive topic.  Today I came to the conclusion that although our Emma is only 3 I need to be better at overseeing her education.  I cater so much to Hailey and her schooling that our poor middle child gets the left overs.  Hailey has taken off like a rocket with her reading and I can't believe how well she is doing with her math.  Because math takes more time for her, Emma is right there to make sure that Hailey stays focused and tries to help the best that she can.  Well, with her being there to help, much of the math has been soaked up like a sponge by Emma.  She can add 3+3, 5+5, or 4+4, but ask her to identify letters and that is a different story.  Hence my concern.  This is a very bright little girl and I need to be tapping into this NOW!!!  I know I have raved about home schooling and I still do, but I never said I was perfect.  I am so glad I am starting now so that I can figure these things out in the early stages.  But it is definitely a learning experience for all of us.  Emma is constantly asking to do school and I know I should drop what I am doing to help her, but I find myself putting off.  I keep telling myself "she is only 3", when I need to be telling myself, "so what if she is only 3".  One reason I liked the idea of home schooling at the beginning of all of this was the idea that my kids wouldn't be limited by their age to progress in school.  Emma's birthday falls shortly after the school year starts and I didn't want her to have to wait another full year to start her education.  And now I find myself holding her back.  I need to find a schedule that fits her in better.  A better system.  I have what works for Hailey and myself down really well, but I need to focus on Emma as well.  If anyone has suggestions for this I am completely open.  I went to an organization class for enrichment last week and I find myself obsessed with organizing my home, when what I need to be obsessed with is organizing my time better.  As long as I don't have to get up to early!  :)  Wow!  Long post for being so late!  Again, forgive me for my rant and for those that think I have the whole home school thing down, this post proves you wrong.  I am constantly trying new ways to make it better and am always looking for suggestions.  So suggest away . . .