2013 Curriculum the Journey Begins

As the New Year approaches, I have been working diligently to compile a curriculum for my four Shining Star Students.  I have only spent about $60.00 on curriculum.  Since I’m starting in the middle of the school year, I decided not to purchase complete curriculums. I am utilizing many of the free online resources. In addition I’m  staying close to the  Common Core  Aligned  Standards since my kids are coming out the school  system and plan to reenter  in high school (that is the plan for now).

My homeschool approach will be a mixture of school at home, unit study, notebooking and online studies.

Each month we will do a thematic unit where each child will create a notebook with everything related to the theme.  Our bookshelf will reflect the theme. For the month of January our theme is Animals of the World and our February theme will be African American History. We will vote for March in January and so forth.  My 3^rd and 6^th grader will have a Language Arts Four week every other month on a suggested reading book.  For January the 3^rd Grader will read Because of Winn-Dixie and the 6^th grader will read Touching Spirit Bear.

To view there complete curriculum for the second semester of the 2012/2013 school year, click here

 

 

 

Still LOLO - A story of Forgiveness, Reconciliation and Strength

Still LOLO

Still Lolo: A Spinning Propeller, a Horrific Accident, and a Family's Journey of Hope is the title of my latest read!  By the title one could only assume that it will be a woe is me but God is good book.  To my pleasant surprise it is very much the opposite!  The story is a compilation of a family’s journey through a life changing experience of Lauren Scruggs accident.  The book is written where the members of the family are able to give their point of view of the events that bring them to where they are today, stronger and still LOLO. In addition to focusing on the events of the accident that changed the lives of Lauren Scruggs and her family; It also tells a story of a family that was once broken but reunited by the renewing of their faith and a understanding of forgiveness and God’s everlasting grace. 

The Scruggs Family

Even though the books main focus is the accident, what I felt the most meaningful message in this book is a story of reconciliation forgiveness and answered prayers.  It mirrors a real life fairytale that has a happy ending after a series of climatic events.  I would recommend this book to anyone that feels discouraged in the face of tragedy, lost or just life.  I have learned in this life that no matter what you are going through in life there is always a great cloud of witnesses that can demonstrate the goodness of the Lord through their journey.  The Scruggs family is included in that great cloud.  What he does for one he will do for another.

 

Lauren Scruggs

 

You can get a sneak peak by reading an excerpt of Still LOLO here.

**Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review.This in no way contributes to the content of this review nor my opinion of the book.    

 

It's a Giveaway

Genesis Creation is hosting a Giveaway:

 

This week there will be two winners!

 

Since I did not run a give away last week, I have decided to give away two blog makeovers and two "What are you Serving? - 2013 Blogger Planners (available for download 12/17/2012).

Everyone who enters the giveaway will have an option to subscribe by email and receive a code to get the planner for $.99.... 75% off!  So by entering everyone wins!

 

Please look for a post this week that will have a post that includes a table of contents of the planner to get a sneak peak of all the goodies that it contains.

 

 

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

More Than a Bucket List

More Than a Bucket List : Making Your Dreams, Passions, and Faith a Reality
by Jennifer Barrow   Published by Thomas Nelson

 

More Than a Bucket List is a short read but very inspirational.  Barrow took the Bucket List to a whole another level.  Everyone has heard of the Bucket List….a listing of things that you want to do before you transition into the afterlife.  However this list is a way to really look at what’s on your list and what you may want to put on your list.

I personally do not have a bucket list because I never really got the whole purpose behind it.  This book was written in a way that showed me how a Bucket List can be a way to organize the things that really mean the most to you and how you can accomplish some of those things while you have time.  After reading More than a Bucket List, I will be compiling my own with great thought and consideration of the things that I really want to do with the rest of my time in my earthly vessel.  I recommend that anyone that does not have a Bucket List and would like a place to start thinking of what to put on that list to read this book first it brings a whole new meaning of the phrase “Bucket List”.  If you have a bucket list you might want to peek inside this book and see if your list really reflects the things that you really want to do. Very Inspiring.

 

 

Note: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

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My Book Review Journey

Another reason that I created this blog was to document my Book Review Journey.

One of my favorite things to do growing up was read… I know this may sound weird but I loved doing book reports, when everyone else detested them.  II guess that was because they had to at least read the book until the internet became popular and they could get a summary online.  I guess that’s why the schools don’t have book reviews as much as they did when I was in school. 

I love to read and I have many books on my shelves that need to be read so this site will help me read and share some of my precious treasures.  For more information on how I will submit reviews  go to BookReviews.  I will have reviews on Fantasy, (ex. Lord of the Ring), Christian Fiction, Memoirs, YA Fiction, Self-Help Books, Children’s Books, Cook Books, Inspirational, General Fiction and others that I find noteworthy.

Some of my books I will review will be provided through promotional venues.   Other books will be those that I read and care to share with you.

Happy Reading.

 

 

If you have a Book Review Blog please post your link in comments. I would love to connect with you.

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Welcome to My Home School Journey

This blog was created for a few reasons. 

The first reason was to document my Home Schooling Journey.  There are so any families that homeschool and I would love to use this blog as a way to network with other homeschooling families and share my experiences and discoveries with them.

The reason I choose to Home school now: My children deserve the best and I am confident based on our circumstance I can offer the best.  I want to be an active role in my children’s education and in reflection I have definitely dropped the ball on that.  I love teaching and what better students then my own children.

 

 

 

I hope that what I share here is encouraging and a help to those who read.

Our official 1^st Day at Shining Stars Home School is January 2, 2013.  We will be having a thematic unit across the grade levels each Month.  January will be Animals… they voted and they won.  We all agreed that February will be Black History and we will decide on March later.

Each child will create a notebook on the theme for the month.  In the notebook all activities that produce a product that is theme based will be placed in the notebook.  It will include vocabulary, artwork, photos, book reviews, and creative writing and more. 

Pray for me and my families.  I know that with his help this will be a great success!

 

If you have a homeschooling Blog please post your link in comments.  I would love to connect with you.

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