Homeschool Portfolio Fixes

     I have been working on our homeschool portfolio this week. I knew we were supposed to keep one and I have been, I just found out I was doing it wrong. I was putting all of Kaine's school work (art, projects, handwriting, worksheets for math, science and phonics) into the 3 ring binder with a sheet of notebook paper that was logging his day/week. So, it looked like this:

1. Sheet of notebook paper with written schedule of what we did that day/week:
1. Prayer, Pledge, Weather, Calendar activities
2. Math -Whatever workbook pages he did, if we did an activity (such as matching objects, building patterns with Lego blocks, sorting, etc.)
3. Phonics- Our ABC book (pasting, cutting, finding pictures), Reviewing/Learning sounds of letters, or worksheets of letters (sounds, shape, writing)
4. Hand Writing-Worksheets 
5. Religion-Memory verse (written on board and recited every day), activity(s) from "Who Am I?" and Memory Verse book, Bible readings (including music or the passages read)
6. Science - Workbook pages, pictures of science experiments
7. Miscellaneous - O2B Kids work (art projects, pictures of sports, science projects)
2. Presented in this order:
1. Worksheets in order of: Math, Phonics, Handwriting
2. Crafts from Religion, Science, O2B Kids, Math (in clear page protectors)

What I didn't have:

1. List of books read from start of school to present (which was substantial, I had to go back through Goodreads.com, library account, current books reading on our shelves and memory to write out a list- I am sure there are books missing. Good news, we did have over 50 books in a 6 week period!)
2. Attendance Sheet (I do have this, it just wasn't/isn't in my portfolio)
3. List of textbooks (I have this also, just in my lesson plan book, not portfolio)
4. Work organized  by subject (dividers, with notebook pages as a separate "log")
5. Log of days work, organized into a section (see #4 and above)
6. The portfolio also needs to have a copy of your "letter of intent" (saying you are homeschooling and sent to the school board of your county). However, I don't need to do this until Kaine turns 6 (they don't require it until that time and Kaine is officially registered as a school child through Kolbe Academy). This will be added when Kaine starts 1st grade or turns 6 whichever comes first. 

What I have to change:

1. I need to organize the portfolio into sections. This is easy to do, I just need to get dividers and organize Kaine's work by subject
2. Keep a log of daily/weekly activities at the beginning of the portfolio (the notebook paper)
3. Add our lists of Textbooks, attendance and books read at the beginning
4. Double check to make sure that is all the portfolio needs (as appointed by the state)

      So, as you see, work needed/needs to be done. I have already placed the notebook log in the front and added dividers. I need to go through his work, by subject, and place it back into the portfolio. The one thing that is suggested is to keep the first item ever done and one of the last (example: beginning writing pages and end of unit pages). This is to show the child's progress. I, however, am going to keep ALL work (mainly because I won't throw it away anyway and it will be organized enough to keep/look at later). 

     It is nice to have a portfolio on hand. I didn't like it at first, but now I am able to see improvement in subjects (such as handwriting) that I would not have seen otherwise. It is very encouraging, especially when you don't think you are doing so well. I think it will also be nice to look at, at the end of the year, to see how much we have done and the progress we have made. I am sure the portfolio and I will be great friends after a few years! 

October 2012 already!

Hey! It's been a really long time. I have been without a laptop for a long time. Matt just found a cord for one (of the three we have) and now I am back in business!

Well, a ton of things have been happening. And since I didn't take the time to see what I posted last (cause, we all do that, right?) there might be some repeats in this post.

We started Homeschooling, officially, on September 4, 2012. Kaine is registered with Kolbe Academy as a Kindergartner. We started him a year early. I might have already explained why we did this but, I am not sure, so I will again. As I was looking over the curriculum for Pre-K, I realized that it is the same stuff he has already done, for two years in a row! So, we decided that it was time, and Kaine was ready, for the next level. So, Kindergarten at four it is! He is doing really well. His subjects are: Math, Phonics, Religion, Memory Verse, Music, Art, Handwriting, Science and Science Experiments. Some of the things I added to the curriculum are music, art and memory verses. I thought they would be good extras. We also do Prayer, Pledge, Calendar and Weather. This means that we are mostly doing prayer memorization; the pledge of allegiance; going over the calendar to recognize month, days, year and holidays; and looking out the window to discover what the days weather might be. I have to say it is going really well. Much better, in some areas, than I expected. Much worse than I expected in others, such as Handwriting! Oh, Handwriting how I loathe you! (It is getting better but, that first lesson was frustrating for both of us!) The best part is, we are learning together, I am able to see how he learns, what he is learning and what he is struggling with (so he can have more one-on-one instruction). Also, a big plus is that if he gets something right away, we can move on to something new (no wasting time). If we also don't get some things, we can decide to do more supplemental things or wait until later (when cognitive development might be better for understanding subject matter). So, all-in-all, it has been a learning experience for us both. We have had to adjust our thinking about what school is and what it means to us.

In health matters, I have gotten a little bit better. I have been talking Vitex and it seems to have helped the flooding issue I was having. However, I think my body has become used to the dose and symptoms are starting to come back. I am currently looking for a reproductive endocrinologist to help with my PCOS. I am also hoping this specialists can help me get pregnant, regulate my hormones and get things back to, or as close to normal as possible. So, the journey continues. I am hoping by Christmas I will have a clearer picture of what my health is going to look like for the long term.

If I haven't said so already, I am no longer working or looking for work. I have been able to rest, recover some and reassess my goals. I have been blessed to know that what I am doing (staying home, homeschooling) is what I am suppose to be doing. It has brought me real happiness. I feel like I can make a true difference. I have also realized that change comes in small doses. If you really want to make a difference, like I do, than you should do it one person at a time. (Not that group charity is at all bad.) I feel like making a difference in one person's life is just as spectacular as changing a million lives. And, honestly, who knows what the life you change will change later. Joseph made a decision to keep Mary, even though she was pregnant out of wedlock, and look what happened to the life he decided to honor (instead of destroy, it could have been a great loss). So, by doing my small part, I am trusting God to honor it and use it for His greater good.

Fertility

I have been working on my issues lately. I have been trying different combinations of things to help my body naturally heal. I feel like I am going to be on a really long journey here. Honestly, it is a bit overwhelming, thinking of all of the things that are out-of-balance and need to be fixed.  A part of me is starting to feel like nothing I do will improve the problems I am/have been experiencing. (If you have been reading, you know what I mean.)
I have to say taking a tincture is much better than rubbing dirt smelling, greasy progesterone on my body two times a day. However, that isn't going to be something that is stopping altogether either (it is still part of the protocol). The tincture (HB Formula) is easy to take and only takes about 5 seconds to prepare and down. It is an improvement from rubbing, rubbing and more rubbing, lol!
Anyways, I think my real problem is that I am having baby fever all over again. So, impatience is REALLY starting to kick in again. AND, because I have just started another 3 month cycle, waiting is NOT something I really want to do! *Sigh*
On  an unrelated note, I have been praying to increase my patience, soooo...maybe this is a test. I have a feeling I am going to fail but, I really don't want to. I hope God gives me the grace and abilitly to step out of my own way!

Monster Trucks

We went to Monster Jam this past weekend. It was surprisingly (for me) a lot of fun. We went because Kaine is obsessed with monster trucks. His birthday party, May 19th, is going to be monster truck themed too. That is how much he likes them!

I am getting really excited about his party. We are going to have it at our new place, which many people haven't seen. At first, however, I was underwhelmed (at best) about the monster truck theme! I really, really wanted to do a colorful birthday party (I usually say "rainbow" but, it really is more about colors, there were not going to be any rainbows about). But, I couldn't sell it, lol. I would ask, "Want to do a colorful, rainbow party? How about Pirates? Camp-out?" Pretty much anything but monster trucks! I was completely uninspired.

I am coming around. I have even found a really fun water "feature" for his party. I got it off of pinterest, of course! It is called "kid car wash" and I can not wait for Matt to build it! (Caught that did you, I DID say Matt, lol!) I think it will be amazing. According to the instructions, it isn't that expensive to make either, which is always nice. Plus, I figure, we can use it for the rest of the summer and probably for other summers too. That should be awesome! Here is a picture:

Disney's Family Fun

Pinterest

I want a baby...

...and I think I need to talk about it! People are having babies left and right, or so it seems to me. I think that is wonderful! But, there is a big part of me that wishes it was me. Hopefully it will be. I don't think I should say "soon", however.
Honestly, I know why I am starting to feel this way again. Kaine is going to be 4 in less than 4 weeks. It is making me sad! I thought for sure that we would have another by now. It makes me sad to think that he is growing up without siblings. It makes me sad to think that he may never have a sibling. Sigh.
God is working. I believe the message that is being said is: "Wait." I am not sure what I am waiting on. However, I am trying to learn all I can during this waiting period.
During this time, I am trying to get my hormones in balance. I have just started a new regime. It is hormone support that acts like a natural cycle. Which, in my opinion, is a good thing. I think trying to get a cycle as close to "normal" as possible, is a good thing. So, I am taking a product called HB Formula* (hormone balance formula), during the first two weeks (to help get rid of extra estrogen). Then, for the next two weeks I am going to take T&C Formula (or toning and cleansing) to help get rid of extra, built-up tissue and congestion in my reproductive organs (of course, you should not use this if you are TTC or prego). I am also going to be using progesterone during the T&C course. The progesterone is to help support your natural production of progesterone, which is highest during the second part of your cycle (this is also the time that you would be "implanting" if you were TTC- you need progesterone to help support a viable pregnancy). Then the cycle starts all over again. I am going to do this for, at least, three months. Then, if things seem to be normalizing, the fourth month we are going to TTC without using the T&C Formula. However, we will continue to use the progesterone until the seventh month of pregnancy, when we will start to wean off for natural labor to happen on it's own. Anyway, that is a long way off. I just hope all of this stuff works and we end up pregnant when all is said and done. Please, if you are a believer, pray earnestly for us!! Add us to all of the prayer lists that you know too! We really do need a miracle here! :)
I will try to keep this thing updated. So far, so good. I feel much better than I have now that I am using the HB Formula instead of just progesterone. I just hope it continues to go well. 
*The tinctures are from Mountain Meadow Herbs. HB Formula information. T&C Formula information.

Homeschool Curriculum

This should have been posted on 2-24-12. Because it marks a big change in our lives I am including it now. There was originally going to be more to this post but, clearly, things got away from me. :)

Our homeschool curriculum is here! I ordered it two (?) weeks ago. It has been sitting around for a few days. Occasionally I will pick up a book and read/flip through it. I have to say I have mixed feelings. I was really excited when I was ordering. I was anxiously waiting for the package to arrive (it came on Ash Wednesday, coincidence, I think not!).

Homeschool Lesson #1

The Blessed Trinity (3 person's in 1 God)

That was the title of our first lesson. It was really fun. We did it Friday because St. Patrick's day really popped up on me this year. The lesson was about the three person's of God. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit. To help illustrate this image we used three leaf clovers. This really was genius (and not my idea. St. Patrick was the first one to preach this topic using the clovers. That's why they are a symbol of the day!). The clovers have three separate leaves that make up one plant. It's great fun.
I also got some pictures of Kaine. One with him alone, one with his Dad, one with his Grandparents, and one with his Uncle. I labeled the one just with Kaine as "Kaine" and put it at the top. Then I  labeled the rest as "Son", "Grandson", and "Nephew". You then get some yarn. From the first, "Kaine", photo you put yarn going from that picture to the other three. It shows that "Kaine" is also three other people but, he is also still just ONE person. God must have sent me this brilliant idea, I am not that good! Plus, the pictures look really cute on the wall (where we put ours)!
We also had two vocabulary words: Trinity and Mystery. Trinity-The Blessed Trinity; the three person's in one God. Mystery- something we can not fully understand. These two words are perfect for this lesson. "Trinity" of course is the point of the lesson. "Mystery" helps the child know that this concept is a mystery and something we cannot fully understand (I know MANY people who struggle with the concept of 3 people in 1 God).
We also focused on the "Glory Be" prayer: "Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen." This helps reiterate the lesson.
All-in-all, it was a great start to our Homeschooling journey. We are going to do a little bit more on this important subject. We are also focusing on letter sounds. So far, we have done a, b, c and d. Kaine really enjoys this activity. (He has expressed interest in wanting to read. This is one of the first steps!)