More on Sprittibee's Homeschooling Series

This post changes each year as I add each year's homeschool accomplishments, memories and favorite photos.

The 2007-8 and 2008-9 School Years don't have links yet... but come back and they will before long!

Want to find out more about homeschooling? Check out my Index for a topical list of posts. Looking for RESOURCES? Click my Resources button for a running list of all the neat sites I have found - sorted by subject! Want to know WHY I HOMESCHOOL? <--Just click that text. Want to know who in the world I am? Click the Queen Bee link up top! You can also click the homeschool category in my sidebar and a running list of recent posts that I have tagged as 'homeschool' related will appear for you to scroll through.

Each link below is a detailed post about that particular topic. For more info about each of these years, see the homeschool timeline below! This is a record of our homeschool journey. I hope it blesses you. Feel free to click a few links and browse through our past homeschool experiences!

Links to all my homeschool record posts are below...



HOMESCHOOLING - OUR EIGHTH YEAR...

SIXTH GRADE and SEVENTH GRADE (2009-10)

Post #1 - Sixth and Seventh Grade Homeschool Book List
Post #2 - Sixth and Seventh Grade Homeschool Curriculum
Post #3 - Sixth and Seventh Grade Field Trips
Post #4 - Sixth and Seventh Grade Learning Enrichment
Post #5 - Favorite Memories from Sixth and Seventh Grade





HOMESCHOOLING - OUR SEVENTH YEAR...

FIFTH GRADE and SIXTH GRADE (2008-9)

Post #1 - Fifth and Sixth Grade Homeschool Book List
Post #2 - Fifth and Sixth Grade Homeschool Curriculum
Post #3 - Fifth and Sixth Grade Field Trips
Post #4 - Fifth and Sixth Grade Learning Enrichment
Post #5 - Favorite Memories from Third and Fourth Grade





HOMESCHOOLING - OUR SIXTH YEAR...

FOURTH GRADE and FIFTH GRADE (2007-8)

Post #1 - Fourth and Fifth Grade Homeschool Book List
Post #2 - Fourth and Fifth Grade Homeschool Curriculum
Post #3 - Fourth and Fifth Grade Field Trips
Post #4 - Fourth and Fifth Grade Learning Enrichment
Post #5 - Favorite Memories from Fourth and Fifth Grade





HOMESCHOOLING - OUR FIFTH YEAR...

THIRD GRADE and FOURTH GRADE (2006-7)

Post #1 - Third and Fourth Grade Homeschool Book List
Post #2 - Third and Fourth Grade Homeschool Curriculum
Post #3 - Third and Fourth Grade Field Trips
Post #4 - Third and Fourth Grade Learning Enrichment
Post #5 - Favorite Memories from Third and Fourth Grade





HOMESCHOOLING - OUR FOURTH YEAR...

SECOND GRADE and THIRD GRADE (2005-6)

Post #1 - My Second and Third Grade Book List
Post #2 - Second and Third Grade Homeschool Curriculum
Post #3 - Second and Third Grade Field Trips
Post #4 - Second and Third Grade Learning Enrichment
Post #5 - Favorite KONOS Memories from Second and Third Grade
Post #6 - Memories from our KONOS Rock Unit!




HOMESCHOOLING - OUR THIRD YEAR...

FIRST GRADE and SECOND GRADE (2004-5)

Post #1 - My First and Second Grade Book List
Post #2 - First and Second Grade Homeschool Curriculum
Post #3 - First and Second Grade Field Trips
Post #4 - First and Second Grade Learning Enrichment
Post #5 - Favorite KONOS Memories from First and Second Grade
Post #6 - Government-President-Election Unit Fun!




HOMESCHOOLING - OUR SECOND YEAR...

KINDERGARTEN and FIRST GRADE (2003-4)

Post #1 - K/1 Homeschool Year Book List
Post #2 - K/1 Homeschool Year Curriculum
Post #3 - K/1 Educational Computer Games (decided to do all the games instead)
Post #4 - K/1 Homeschool Year Field Trips
Post #5 - Learning Enrichment Ideas for Kindergarten and First Grade
Post #6 - Favorite KONOS Memories from Kindergarten and First Grade
Post #7 - KONOS Kings and Queens Unit Fun




HOMESCHOOLING - OUR FIRST YEAR...

PRESCHOOL and KINDERGARTEN (2001-2)

Post #1 - First Year Homeschool Field Trips (PK/K)
Post #2 - First Year Homeschool Book List (PK/K)
Post #3 - First Year Homeschool Computer Games (PK/K)
Post #4 - First Year Homeschool Curriculum (PK/K)
Post #5 - Learning Enrichment Ideas for Kindergarten and Preschool
Post #6 - Favorite KONOS Memories from Kindergarten and Preschool
Post #7 - KONOS Indian Unit Fun

SPRITTIBEE'S HOMESCHOOL TIMELINE:

- My first year to homeschool was 2001-2 (when they were 4.5 and 2.5 years old). We began homeschooling the same month that 9/11 happened. We began Preschool and Kindergarten materials at home that year.

- After financial difficulty and some unforeseen natural disaster events that forced us to move out of our home, we placed our kids in private school for the 2002-3 school year. My son had to do Kindergarten over that year due to him being so much younger than the First Graders. My daughter (quite obviously) did Preschool activities or napped! They ended that school year at ages 6 and 4.

- The following year, my husband and I decided to bring the kiddos home again to homeschool. I gave a little background in my 'Why I Homeschool' post previously. We started off our second year of homeschooling (in 2003-4) doing Kindergarten for Morgan and First Grade for Kaden (they ended the year at ages 7 and 5).

- During the summer of 2004, we moved (you'll notice that we move a lot due to my husband's job). We started the new homeschool year for 2004-5 in a new city and a new house. It was fun making new friends and joining a wonderful co-op. The kids also had a great time in an all-homeschool choir. Kaden completed 2nd Grade, and Morgan completed 1st Grade (ending the year at ages 8 and 6).

- We sold our home the same month that school began in the 2005-6 homeschool year. We moved yet again (this time out of state) for my husband's job in the Fall of 2005. We began co-oping with a group of KONOS moms in our new state and homeschooled until the late summer of 2006. The kids were 9 and 7 at the end of the school year and had completed both 3rd (Kaden) and 2nd (Morgan) Grades.

- We began 2006-7 in August. The children were 8 and 10 and we were still in our little apartment in Arkansas. Kaden was in 4th Grade. Morgan was in 3rd. We had quite a few memorable vacations and field trips for our school year. At the end of the year (June 2007) we packed up and moved back home to Texas.

- Back in Texas in 2007, we found a house and moved in. 2007-8 school year began at the very end of August. My kids were 11 and 9, and 4th and 5th Grades. We joined our old co-op and did Robotics for Kaden as an extra curricular activity. Kaden's team won regionals and we went to Nationals in Michigan, driving on a cross-the-country 'field trip' from TX to MI and back. What a fun and memorable experience that was!

- 2008-9 school year began in August and fizzled out in March with the edition of a new baby, born March 17th. It was a thrilling and educational process for the kids to learn about pregnancy and childbirth. They also participated in choir all year and did many concerts, and played in a fancy piano recital. At the end of the year, Kaden was 12 and Morgan, 9. 4th and 5th Grades kind of blended in to the next school year since we carried over some of our leftover work when we started up 5th and 6th in July 2009.

- Our hardest year ever... they say that there's usually one year that tests a homeschool mom's resolve to the razor's edge. This year was it for me. There have been tears shed and much feelings of failure trying to adapt to being mom of a wee baby and teacher to tweens who are turning in to teens faster than a New York Minute! Our 2009-2010 school year not only was difficult, but it still hasn't ENDED. We weren't able to get my plans accomplished for the year, so we made the difficult decision to just continue this year through the beginning of 2010-2011's year until we are done. Hopefully it will happen before Christmas because mama has another bun in the oven and would love to start NEW curriculum and plans by January. Kaden is still in Seventh, so he'll be a half a year behind in Math, but is far ahead in most other subjects. Morgan is in Sixth still, and is a grade ahead - so she'll be only 1/2 year ahead in Math until we catch up to where we were. They are currently 11 and 13. Of course, baby brother is 17 months... and baby [sister?] is due Feb. 11th of 2011.

- I'll be updating this post with 2010-11 at the end of next summer. Be looking for it in then. Here's hoping all of you (and us) have a super school year!

Come back and visit to hear more as we write our homeschool history!



Subscribe to Sprittibee by Email

Homeschool Fun: Books & Roller Coasters

Mark your calendars!

Arlington Home School Book Fair

Books (and more!)

The best Homeschool Book Fair in Texas is soon approaching. I've been to book fairs in a few other cities in Texas, but Arlington always takes the cake in my opinion. We are out of state this year, but we may try and get over that way anyhow. I just can't imagine missing it!

Pre-Registration by Mail (if postmarked by April 14, 2006) is only $3.00 per person (ages 2 to 17) and $5.00 per person (aged 18 and over) with no charge for infants 23 months or younger. But if you wait until the event and pay at the door, the charges start at $ 5.00 per person (ages 2 to 17) or $10.00 per person for adults. The registration fee is the same whether you attend one or both days. They also offer FREE registration to those who volunteer to help at the Book Fair. More information and printable PDF registration forms can be found at their website (linked above).

Texas-Sized Coasters

Another added bonus to attending the Arlington Homeschool Book Fair is Six Flags Over Texas "Homeschool Day". Usually, the event falls on the Thursday before the book fair (the day before), and is closed entirely to the public. Word of mouth through homeschool email lists is most likely the way everyone gets information regarding this event. The Six Flags website rarely has any information that is helpful for getting tickets to the event until the last minute. If you look at their calendar, it shows the date blocked off as "Closed for Private Event" and yet doesn't list the name of the event. I called them earlier today to check and make sure that the event was still on. The attendant I spoke with assured me that although the event was not visible from the website, it was definitely scheduled. You won't regret getting tickets for this fun-filled day because lines are small and you get to cover much more park for the money! Last year, I attended this event with only three other homeschool moms and we rode every roller coaster there (some more than once). It is hard to pick a favorite.

In case you can't make it to the Homeschool Day at Six Flags Over Texas Arlington, you can always set up your own group rate. The park boasts that they will lower tickets through May 15th for groups of 10 or more (and give you a complimentary chaperone ticket for every 20 tickets you pre-package). Check out their group page for more details.


Subscribe to Sprittibee by Email

Technorati Tags: Homeschooling, Book Fair, Homeschool, Curriculum, Home School, Education, KONOS, Convention, Texas, Homeschool Events, Summer, Field Trips, Roller Coasters, Fun

Rotten Attitude

Sorry about the absence. I was hoping it would make your hearts grow fonder. Ha. Just kidding. I have been staying away to get things done in our homeschool, spend more time with the kids.... and quite honestly, because I've had a really rotten attitude lately. I didn't want to drag you all through the muck with me. I have been working on being thankful despite my circumstances. I thought about posting yesterday, but then thought better of it. We had an awful day. I've been spending extra time in prayer and trying to get my attitude straight.

I feel better today. It is such a pretty day. We walked to the grocery store a while ago, and we are about to sit down and do a few Konos activities. We're working on the Solar System unit right now. There's a really great video by Carman for his song, "There is a God" that would be so wonderful to show during this unit. My huge CD collection and all our VHS videos are in storage in Texas, however. I looked into buying it from Carman's website, and would not mind doing so (since the other copy I have was a friend's TBN home-vhs recording from broadcast television or cable)... but I just don't want to spend extra money right now when we are trying to pay off all our debt.

We had a Solar System kick off party with our co-op that another mother organized. My kids were Venus and Saturn in the play. You should have seen Morgan hiss at the audience without fear, "MAKE NO MISTAKE! I am DEADLY with all my GASSSSESSS!!!!!" She was a hoot! Kaden did well, also. I enjoyed the party, and we look forward to many more fun activities with our group. It has been a nice oasis in the desert of our exhile from Texas to have homeschool friends here. Of course, we miss our friends from Texas still... but at least we are not crying in our cowboy beans all by our lonesome. Speaking of cowboy beans... I need to get them on the stove. Then we are off (a mere few feet from my bedroom to the living room) to make a size-related model of the solar system and tack it to the ceiling in order of distance from the sun!

Keep us in your prayers. Housing prices are ugly and our credit isn't perfect anymore after the 8 month wait on our house selling last year and the expensive move out of state last fall. We may be stuck in our little match-box apartment a while longer.

Famous Featured Sandwich-Eater

Back in July of 2005 year, a month after I discovered blogging, I was led to a site called "Self Portrait Day" by a blogger pal (you know who you are!). I was notified via email today that they got around to posting my portrait. Be forewarned that since I posted my picture there, the site seems to have taken a turn for the worse... don't browse the photos with youngsters nearby. Some of the pictures are a bit 'liberal'. They have done something strange with the site since I submitted my photo 8 months ago. Somehow while they changed the format my sandwich information was lost (which was one of my favorite parts of the site's intrigue). So I thought I'd share not only the link to my photo over there (you may have to scroll a few pages to find it?), but I'd also share the information they lost (#1 below).

Here's a list of my favorite sandwiches in order:

1. Manny Hattan's Ebbots Field Knish ($9.95 and worth every penny)... Grilled turkey & onions, bell pepper, jalapeno & jack cheese wrapped in a light and fluffy potato pastry... TIME FOR A ROAD TRIP! It's like Texas meets New York. I get to eat these ever-so rarely... it's a form of torture to know they exist and I can't have one (...maybe God's punishment for past sins or something).

2. Is a taco a sandwich? Chipotle's build your own burrito is awesome - even without the tortilla (burrito bol).

3. Sprittibee BLT: Crisp Microwaved Turkey-Bacon, Egg, Cheese, Lettuce, Mayo with a dash of Cayenne and Salt... maybe some pepper, too. These are a staple in my house. My kids love them as much as I do. They are very versatile... breakfast, lunch or dinner.

4. Cumin Falafels with thinly sliced hot pickles, cucumber-yogurt sauce, Romaine Lettuce in a Wheat Pita

5. Shwarma - Chicken or Falafel

6. Grilled Cheese with a bowl of Campbell's Tomato Soup to dip it in (yumm!)

7. Jason's Deli's Ranchero Wrap

8. Tea Room Chicken or Egg Salad Sandwiches... (still searching for the perfect recipes)

9. Baloney on Wheat with Mayo and about 20 crunched up Nacho Cheese Doritos!

10. Arby's Beef 'N' Cheddar (dripping with cheese) - OK, this is really not healthy. Come to think of it, neither are a lot of these... oh, well. A girl has to eat.

So there you have it. The most important information you'll come across on a homeschool blog this week. Hands down. Everyone loves sandwiches. Stop over at Self Portrait Day and let the world know what kind you like to eat. Maybe by next July, you'll be famous like me.


Subscribe to Sprittibee by Email

Technorati Tags: Lunch, Texas, Eat, Self, Photo, Fun, Silly, Pictures, Food, Sandwiches