SRKindredSpirits

I've never had a close relationship with my dad, but I have great memories of being a kid ... going to auctions with dad or to the sale barn ( we often came home with a little calf, lamb or piglet ), him taking us to the zoo, getting ice cream cones, Sunday afternoon drives, family bike rides, and traveling - he always liked to drive at night and would let me come up to the front of the van to play the car game with him. Life was good as a kid... but as a tween, that all changed.... Dad and Mom took me away from the friends and family and church that was my whole life. I rebelled in a big way, I even ran away from home. They moved out of state.... and I made some questionable choices. I was no longer welcomed at family gatherings and was pretty much the black sheep of the family..... over the years we just drifted apart.  Since my kids have been born, my dad has been a wonderful Grandpa and I am once again a part of the family, but our relationship has been somewhat tense, and conv...

This month, we are back to homeshooling our two youngest kids. Not only was I a homeschool kid, but I have homeschooled my own kids off and on for over 13 yrs. Our oldest daughter has graduated and is in her second semester of college. I firmly believe the number one rule for homeschooling should be this: - Keep It Simple! - This year we are using Gather Round Homeschool Unit Studies and Abeka Math. Our supplies consist of our Unit Study workbooks and Teachers guide, an individual notebook for each of us, my Bible, a planner/calender (I use it to keep track of our days as required by the State), a Chromebook (used for researchand watching videos), Math workbooks, and Reading books.  We keep all our school supplies in a carousel. When school is finished, we put the carousel and our books back on the school shelf in the closet and go on with our day! It is super simple and stress free! Keeping school simple has helped me be a better teacher. No more desks, chairs, white boards, pos...

  I cried today.... it's not the first time and I'm sure it won't be the last time.... Our 14 year old son is on the spectrum .  He has never been able to pass a 1st grade reading test. We have had him tested so many times and so many different places. He's been to multiple therapist's, tried four different schools, and many different curriculum, and learning resources, but nothing has helped.  This year, we are back to homeshooling , and we are doing a completely new unit study curriculum called ' Gather Round Homeschool '.  I am super excited about it and feel it will give our kids a boost of confidence and help them learn more about the world around them and help them use their individual skills more! I have been gathering resources to use along with our curriculum. I found these adorable timer bookmarks for the kids and we will be doing alot of reading, national geographic movies, feild trips, crafts and Library time. But, while I was researching, I  ca...