The Portfolio’s

I have been busy working on the boys portfolio’s this past week, as well as their scrapbooks. I have one more page to scrapbook for Adrien and I need to start on Noah’s scrapbook. I will probably start on that shortly. But first I thought I would share how I do their portfolio’s.

First~ I get a binder and add page protectors in it.

Second~ I print out subject dividers from Donna Young and put them in the binder. I then print out the reference book that I make for each child, as well as calendars of the months and the whole school year with the holiday’s marked off.

Third~ I add a copy of the list of textbooks and curriculum outline that I send into the Board of Education. I also put in the letter from the Board of Ed. excusing us from public education. This way if anyone shows up at my door I can find it easily.

Fourth~ I then add tests, copywork, history pages, science experiments, stories that they wrote, awards, plays that they went to, nature hikes usually have a pamphlet so they go into a protector.

Fifth~ when we get ready to see the teacher I take their scrapbook, binder and any workbooks that they have worked in during the year. Since i do this all year long it only takes a few hours to put together. Except for the scrapbooking~ that take me quite a few hours but I love to scrapbook and it is a gift from me to my children. Something that I do for them from my heart. I know that they already appreciate my efforts. You should see them look at their books all the time. I’ve been asked many times why don’t I let the kids do them ? My reply is always the same~ they may do a scrapbook of their own if they chose with other photos but the school pictures are for me to do for them. Think of it as something you would put into a hope chest or something special like a quilt or afghan you might make for your child. So now i”m off to do what I love~ Scrapbook for my children.

What we are working on…..

A 4th of  July Lapbook!!!  It is a lot of work but I’m hoping the kids will come away with something learned from it. Did you know that Betsy Ross was married 3x?  Or that she was a Quaker?  Or that George Washington wanted 6 pointed stars on the flag?

I will post photos after it is done for your viewing pleasure.

VBS

The kids did so much work at VBS last week I decided to make a cover sheet and put their stuff into their portfolios. So I thought I would share it with you.

vbs-cover-sheet

I used the them for the heading, went to the website for the theme and then downloaded the clip art so I could insert it into the page for the kids to color. I put when/where we attended VBS and then added a border to match. I hope you enjoy it.

Garden update

Our garden is doing well except for one tiny tomato plant. I’m thinking of moving it to a container to see if it perks up. we have two teeny, tiny tomatoes and flowers on my cucumbers. the mystery seeds are growing but we still have no idea what those things are. Will take photos for you today to post here later.

It was VBS week at our church. It was also the first time in 4 summers we had gone. The last 3 summers we had conflicts with swim lessons. This year I worked around lessons and swim team in order for the kids to be there. I would drop off Noah at swim team practice at 8:45am run to church drop off the kids for VBS wait around until 9:35 to take Adrien to swim lessons, pick up Noah, run him to church then go back and get Adrien. Then stay until it was over at noon. The kids had a great time and it was so worth it. I will probably do it again next year if need be.

I was going to post photos but photobucket didn’t save my cropping out of other children and that frustrates me as I don’t like to post photos with other children on the web.

In the news

Misspelled Diploma’s

The product of a public education? Obviously the publisher hasn’t learned how to use spell check

Gardening?

Noah’s updated Reference Book.

I updated his schedule for next year and included a book list as well as curriculum outline, that we have to send into the board of ed. We cross off the books as we finish them. I still have to do Adrien’s and Camryn’s maybe I will start on them later tonight.

noah-aka-the-ark

Learning life

So we went out today and bought some plants for our vegetable and herb garden. I don’t remember what all we bought *blushing*, it was a bit hard to keep up with four children and a husband picking things as well as myself. Here is what I remember: some early girl tomatoes, cherry and beefsteak varieties; corn, red leaf lettuce, curly parsley, green peppers (don’t know what kind off hand) broccoli, basil. We still need some strawberry plants, cilantro and dill as well as green leaf lettuce.

We finally got the very woody bush out of the ground. The husband and Noah went to get some topsoil, a hose, another rake and something else? *who knows, I don’t remember*. We will rake it out and add in the topsoil as well as smooth it all out. Then tomorrow, we will plant everything. Wish us luck. Except for my chives that I transplanted into a pot when we left our old house 3 years ago, we haven’t done any gardening.

I can tell you already that Camryn, Noah and Caedmon are excited about the garden. However Adrien gets frightened of the bugs. He wasn’t much help or thrilled. I’m so not my friend Applie but even I can deal with daddy long legs, worms and potato bugs. Ace was totally not happy, which makes me laugh. wait until he sees what kind of bugs try to eat our food.

Sniffing

If you are a former DY’er  you understand that term for those of you who aren’t it means sniffing the schoolbooks at a convention or when they hit your doorstep via FedEx or UPS. Today our order came from Rainbow Resource Center and lots of sniffing occurred much more so than over the Sonlight order that came last week. Camryn and Noah sat and went through every book that was theirs while Adrien looked for someplace else to be. (he is not my most focused child). Noah said “Thank you so much!” That was his thoughts when he saw that I had ordered Vol. 3 & 4 of Story of the World. He loves them. In fact I told him we would read a chapter tonight. Camryn drooled over her books: Veritas Press Phonics Museum K, Horizons Math K, Devotions For Girls: God and Me!, Can You Find Me? K. As well as Artistic Pursuits Volume 1.

Noah, loved the landmark stories I bought for him, as well as his MCP Word Study D and A Reason For Handwriting D. He looked at the rest of his books and was happy with them. Even the book he once told me he didn’t want : A Pirates Story : Jake Carpenter.  So we are a bit sniffed out but Noah is excited about the new year coming and it is giving him motivation to finish this years work.

I did add in art supplies and botany slides for our new microscope. As well as the 2 puzzles I want the kids to work on and then glue for their room. The only thing backordered is the health books from Horizon. I hope they come soon as they looked really good.

So in between getting settled in our new house you will find me planning and scheduling for the upcoming year.