Look what's new...

Hi everybody,

Check out my NEW BLOG!!

And my Instagram account!!!

Eating the good stuff,

Tereza

Update on my weight loss journey with photos.

 So this is me on May 31st, 2015. I had been going strong on a Whole Foods Plant Based Lifestyle for 11 weeks and had shed 27 pounds. I weighed 211 pounds and was wearing a very old pair of pants that I hadn't put on since 2002. Pants were a 

size 18W.

I felt great. Had more energy, was exercising and walking almost daily. 

When I saw this photo, I thought I looked SHORT. :/

It really did not depict how I felt on the inside.

This is me 2 days ago - July 26, 2016.

Weight 171 pounds. Wearing a brand new pair of jeans

size 11 youth. 

Feeling great.

Confident.

Pretty.

Comfortable in my

new skin and body. 

I feel TALL! :)

My desire is to

keep going and reach

150 pounds and

then see what's next. 

In May of last year I could not foresee what I would look like or how I would feel this year. I just knew that I was feeling pretty great then and the results were showing up quickly and pain free. I wanted to keep going and that's what I did.

I still feel the same. I want to keep moving forward. 

I don't know where I will end up but I know it will be good. :)

What journey have you been on? How are you feeling? 

Blessings,

Tereza

How I lost 60 pounds and revolutionized my life!

Where have I been?

It's been almost a year since I posted here and maybe you have been wondering where I have been?

To the left is a photo of me and my husband taken this past Sunday and together we have lost 100 pounds.


So where have I been?

I have been busy changing our lifestyle. Something had to give because in the midst of all this, I am still homeschooling. So blogging had to fall by the way side. 

However, I am seriously considering posting again and even creating some videos where I will share our meals and recipes. Would you be interested? If so, leave me a comment and tell me what is your biggest challenge to change your lifestyle?

All I can offer you is hope. If I could do it with an American husband and 4 kids anyone can do it!! 

Go HERE to find out how we lost 100 pounds together and then come back and leave me a comment!



Blessings,
Tereza

Learning Log of May 2015

We have gone Vegan 6 days a week. 

At the time of this posting, it's been over 13 weeks, my husband and I lost 30 pounds each 

and we are feeling great. This is really working out for us. In general, we all eat lots of veggies, fruits and grains. Once or twice a week the kids will eat dairy and wheat. 

Once a week we all enjoy ONE meal of meat. We no longer use sugar, and I have had no coffee in over 5 months. I got more energy and my sleeping problems are gone. The kids are eating well and once in a while I let them have a treat like a sandwich with deli meat, candy at the library, chocolate bar and pancakes. My husband who was a carnivore now eats mostly vegetarian 6 days a week. His blood pressure and sugar are now normal! PTL! 

Check out the links below for more news!

Read aloud Books

* During the day I began doing a devotional with the kids: Jesus Calling 365 Devotions for kids.

Reading out loud to the little girls Grandma's Attic Story
This is the best book. I loved to hear my Grandmother's stories when I was little. I am reminiscing as I read this enjoyable book to my girls.
To everyone I read:
* Battle for a New Nation - Causes and Effects of the Revolutionary War by Kassandra Radomski
* Sacagawea by Kitson Jazynka - National Geographic Kids

Audio Books

* My kids, one time or another have the files below in their mp5s to which they listen to every night at their choosing: Fairy tales and classic stories , worship music, Story Hour files, The Piano Guys, Jonathan Park and The Brinkman Adventures, The Chronicles of Narnia and Story Nory (lots and lots of FREE audio goodness: Bible stories, Classics, educational stories even ones for non-English speakers wanting to improve their English. We love this website!).

* DD12  listened to Jonathan Park
* DD9 is listening to Story Nory - Rikki Tikki Tavi,Jonathan park episodes and
* DD7 is listening to Jonathan Park episodes, Piano Guys and other worship music.
* DD4 is listening to Story Nory

DD5 independent reading list:

Still tackling reading with DD5. She's doing  ClicknKids Phonics program on the computer. This is a software that you download to your computer and your kids have daily lessons. There are 2 programs a phonics and a spelling one. I used this software with my 3 oldest to remedy spelling and to help DD7 learn to read. As with all software, after a few lessons my kids get bored either because the program is too repetitive or they have already mastered the skills they need to proceed on their own. Not one of my kids finished either programs.

DD5 has finished about 7 lessons and covered short vowel sounds for A and O as well as sight words. We also incorporating printable lessons from BOB books free worksheets created by a diverse group of homeschooling moms. One of my favorites is Walking By the Way. I used these with DD7 when she was beginning to read. I am also using phonics books from Abeka and other books I find at the library.

She is also using the Starfall website.

* Usborne Phonics Readers - Ted and Friends by Phil Roxbee Cox and Stephen Cartwright
* Sofia Makes a Friend - Level Pre-1 (we read this one together). DD5 is dying to learn how to read. So she keeps asking me to help her read. For now that goes like this: I read a sentence and she repeats it. :) She is already recognizing words though.
* Loud Louie - Doc McStuffins World of Reading - we read this one together.
* Welcome to Royal Prep - Sofia the First World of Reading
* 1001 Animal to Spot - Usborne Book
* 1001 Bugs to Spot - Usborne Book
* The Usborne Book of Bible Stories with CD.

* Free Phonic Readers website

DD7 independent reading list: 

 She is also reading aloud  Read with me Bible to us all during lunch time. Also Calvin and Hobbes books are a favorite before bedtime.

* Calvin and Hobbes comics

* Billie B. Brown - The Midnight Feast by Sally Rippin
* Billie B. Brown - The Secret Message by Sally Rippin
* Billie B. Brown - The Best Project by Sally Rippin
* Billie B. Brown - The Spotty Vacation by Sally Rippin
* Billie B. Brown - The Little Lie by Sally Rippin
* Billie B. Brown - The Second-best Friend by Sally Rippin
* Billie B. Brown - The Beautiful Haircut by Sally Rippin

* Hey Jack! - The Scary Solo by Sally Rippin
* Hey Jack! - The New Friend by Sally Rippin
* Hey Jack! - The Bumpy Ride by Sally Rippin
* Hey Jack! - The Worry Monsters by Sally Rippin
* Hey Jack! - The Winning Goal by Sally Rippin
* Hey Jack! - The Robot Blues by Sally Rippin
* Hey Jack! - The Top Team by Sally Rippin

* Sofia Martinez series - The Missing Mouse by Jacqueline Jules
* Sofia Martinez series - Picture Perfect by Jacqueline Jules
* Explore the Deciduous Forest by Linda Tagliaferro
* Explore the Grasslands by Kay Jackson

* Amelia Earhart by Caroline Crosson Gilpin - National Geographic Kids
* Usborne Illustrated Stories from the Greek Myths - DD7 built a Trojan Horse on Minecraft to illustrate her reading.

Read Aloud to her sibling(s):
* Welcome to Royal Prep - Sofia the First World of Reading

* Khan Academy Math- 3rd grade math;
* Singapore Math 2B - mental math;
* Also perusing Xtramath.org to get speed and accuracy in her operations;
* Working on memorizing her multiplication tables. We are using Multiplication.com to help her out. They teach little stories to help kids memorize the facts. I used the website before with my 2 oldest.
* Reading chapter books and completing a workbook on phonics, spelling, grammar, reading comprehension, etc. Also using Explode the Code workbook 3.
* Reading to her siblings or to me out loud as well as quietly to herself. 
Science and History is covered by our reading alouds, documentaries, audio books or videos.

DS9 independent reading list:  

* DS9 is reading the Action Bible on his own.

* Calvin and Hobbes -DS9 reads a few strips at night before falling sleep.


* White Fang by Jack London
* The World's Oddest Inventions by Nadia Higgins
* Anne Frank by Alexandra Zapruder - National Geographic Kids
* The Underground Railroad by Allison Lassieur - An Interactive History Adventure
* I am Walt Disney by Grace Norwich
* The Songs of Stones River - A Civil War Novel by Jessica Gunderson
* Judy Moody Declares Independence by Megan McDonald
* Usborne Illustrated Stories from the Greek Myths - DS9 built a labyrinth to illustrate his reading on the Minotaur.

Read Aloud to his sibling(s):

Academic Work:
* Doing 6th grade Math on Khan Academy.
* Finished Life of Fred - Fractions;
* Learning Coding with Khan Academy;

* Using Usbore Internet-Linked science and history books. He reads a topic and researches it online. I am letting him pick his own subjects and interests. 

DD12 independent reading list

Biographies:

* Lives of the Writers - Comedies, Tragedies (and what the neighbors thought) by Kathleen Krull
* Lives of the Athletes - Thrills, Spills (and what the neighbors thought) by Kathleen Krull
 * Lives of the Musicians - Good Times, Bad Times (and what the neighbors thought) by Kathleen Krull


Fiction:
* Longleaf by Roger Reid
* Space by Roger Reid

* Savvy by Ingrid Law
* Scumble by Ingrid Law

* Missing by Gabrielle Lord - book 1 - Conspiracy 365 Black OPS series
* Hunted  by Gabrielle Lord - book 2 - Conspiracy 365 Black OPS series
* Endgame by Gabrielle Lord - book 3 - Conspiracy 365 Black OPS series

* January - Conspiracy 365 by Gabrielle Lord
* February - Conspiracy 365 by Gabrielle Lord
* March - Conspiracy 365 by Gabrielle Lord


Fantasy books:
* Circles of Seven book 3 - Dragons in our Midst by Bryan Davis - DD12 did not finish this book. This series began getting weirder and weirder. I don't think I understand this Christian writer and his works. :/

Historical Fiction:
*Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
* The Underground Railroad by Allison Lassieur - An Interactive History Adventure

Animal books: 

* Spirit by Sable Hamilton - Stardust Stables series
* Wildfire by Sable Hamilton - Stardust Stables series
* A Star is Born by Sable Hamilton - Stardust Stables series

Magazines:

National Geographic


** Take one or two or three (i.e. reading these yet again!)

Read Aloud to her sibling(s):


Academic Work:

* Doing Pre-Algebra on Khan Academy 70% completed; she is taking a break from Khan Academy and working on Life of Fred book.
* Working through the Life of Fred: Pre-Algebra with Biology book;

* Learning Coding with Khan Academy;

* Working through Exploring Creation with Biology from Apologia. Finished module 7 and took test. Began Module 8.
* Began US History Detective Book 1 from Critical Thinking co. - she's doing a lesson a day; currently at Lesson 17. 

Activities at Home

* Trying to keep quiet time everyday. This time is for reading or doing an activity on their own. Time for thinking, resting and learning to entertain oneself. It's also QUIET time for Mom. Time for me to recharge.

* Swimming. Gardening. Cleaning. Cooking. Crafting with Clay. Minecrafting. Wii playing. Trampoline.

* Friends' visit with lots of playing, swimming and conversations.
* Pool play dates.
* Prepping for Grandparents' visit.

* Keeping with the 2015 in 2015 challenge.

 Field Trips/ Activities Outside Home

* Homeschooling Meeting.We had an end of the year picnic at the park.

* Lego Club

* Story Hour for DD5 and DD7.

* DD12 is volunteering at the library this summer and helping out with many of the activities of the Summer Reading Program.
* Spring Fair

 Websites/ Links we found and used/ Apps

* Gradespelling.com : FREE website that teaches, practices and tests spelling according to grade level. Trying this out with the kids. So far so good.


* Blog full of fun Unit Studies - 

* BrainPop - videos on Hybrid cars, blogs, google, Game up

* Xtramath - FREE website to get speed and accuracy on all 4 operations (math facts)

* Multiplication.com - stories and games to help with multiplication facts.

* Free Phonic Readers - free phonic readers to print and color, or just read online.

* Billie B. Brown website - DD7 is reading Billie B. Brown books and found out she had a website, so browsing she went. There are some books available on line to read as well as coloring pages and other things.

* SheppardSoftware -

* Khan Academy -

* Code Academy - DD12 is learning Java Script here for FREE. I joined her because everyone needs to learn how to program. :)

* Starfall - great website for learning to read. DD5 is using this one.

* ClicknKids - a program that teaches phonics and spelling. DD5 is using it to learn to read.

* Dance Mat Typing - a free resource that teaches kids how to type.

TV shows/ Videos/ Movies/ YouTube

*  Studio C - Family friendly, clean sketch comedy tv shows produced by BYUtv. Super fun on YouTube for FREE. We have spent hours watching these videos as a family.

* Iamflix.com - watched American History series;

* The Story of Us episodes:

* The Patriot - I had forgotten how violent this movie was. Only DD12 was able to watch it with us and we had her turn her head in a few parts. 

* Dogs with Jobs - Netflix series on working dogs - season 2 episodes


* Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

* Between the Lions episodes on YouTube - DD5 is watching these to help with reading/ phonics.

* Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street season 1 episodes on Amazon.

Books, blogs and other things I am reading...


* Up Before Daybreak - Cotton and People in America by Deborah Hopkinson

* Positive Parenting Solutions

* Lose Weight Here by 
* Why I Jumped by Tina Zahn

* Fallen by Annie Lobert
* Good Garden Magic by Celia Toler

Blessings,
Tereza

Learning Log of April 2015

Here we go again, it's almost June and only now I am finally posting the Learning Log for April. Here are the news...

Minecrafting was becoming a point of conflict in our house. While I wanted to get rid of it completely, it just did not seem reasonable since the kids really benefit from all the building and learning skills they glean from it. I had to figure out a way that it wouldn't be such an addiction but a tool in our school day. So we began incorporating their building time into our hands-on school. After a history lesson, the kids have 30 minutes to build something related to the lesson. If they cooperated during school, they get extra playing time during free time. So far, it's working out without any of the fights and meltdowns of before. 

Read aloud Books

 * We are still reading through the Bible with the kids. Reading Exodus with the kids in a really slow pace. It's hit and miss. :(
* During the day I began doing a devotional with the kids: Jesus Calling 365 Devotions for kids.

* Part-Time Princess. Girl by Day. Princess by Night by Deborah Underwood
* Grandma's Attic Story- reading a chapter at a time to the younger girls.
* Not much reading aloud: lots of work outside and computer time.

Audio Books

* My kids, one time or another have the files below in their mp5s to which they listen to every night at their choosing: Fairy tales and classic stories , worship music, Story Hour files, The Piano Guys, Jonathan Park and The Brinkman Adventures, The Chronicles of Narnia and Story Nory (lots and lots of FREE audio goodness: Bible stories, Classics, educational stories even ones for non-English speakers wanting to improve their English. We love this website!).


* DD12  listened to The Spiderwick Chronicles vol 1-5 on audiobook; Bless This Mouse by Lois Lowry; Jonathan Park episodes, The Swiss Family Robinson
* DD9 is listening to Story Nory - Rikki Tikki Tavi and Sparkle Stories.
* DD7 is listening to Jonathan Park episodes
* DD4 is listening to Story Nory

Gardening season is here.

DD5 independent reading list:

Still tackling reading with DD5. She's doing  ClicknKids Phonics program on the computer. This is a software that you download to your computer and your kids have daily lessons. There are 2 programs a phonics and a spelling one. I used this software with my 3 oldest to remedy spelling and to help DD7 learn to read. As with all software, after a few lessons my kids get bored either because the program is too repetitive or they have already mastered the skills they need to proceed on their own. Not one of my kids finished either programs.

DD5 has finished about 7 lessons and covered short vowel sounds for A and O as well as sight words. We also incorporating printable lessons from BOB books free worksheets created by a diverse group of homeschooling moms. One of my favorites is Walking By the Way. I used these with DD7 when she was beginning to read. I am also using phonics books from Abeka and other books I find at the library.

She is also using the Starfall website.

* 1001 Things to Spot on Vacation - Usborne book
* The Usborne Big Book of Thinks to Spot

DD7 independent reading list: 

 She is also reading aloud  Read with me Bible to us all during lunch time. Also Calvin and Hobbes books are a favorite before bedtime.

* Calvin and Hobbes comics

* Daisy Dawson and the Big Freeze by Steve Voake
* Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo
* Sofia Martinez - The Marigold Mess by Jacqueline Jules

* Wonder Woman - An Origin Story by Sazaklis and Vecchio
* Green Lantern -  An Origin Story by Manning and Vecchio
* Batman - An Origin Story by Sazaklis and Vecchio
* Superman - An Origin Story by Manning and Vecchio
 
* Clobbered by Clayface! by Fisch Burchett Davis - Batman The Brave and the Bold series
* That Holiday Feeling by Fisch Burchett Davis - Batman The Brave and the Bold series
* Bottle of the Planets by Fisch Burchett Davis - Batman The Brave and the Bold series
* Manhandled by Manhunters! by Fisch Burchett Davis - Batman The Brave and the Bold series

* Service Dogs by Jessica Rudolph
* Therapy Dogs by Joyce Markovics
* Search-and-rescue Dogs by Jessica Rudolph
* Sled Dogs by Joyce Markovics
* Guide Dogs by Jessica Rudolph
* Explore the Ocean by Kay Jackson - Fact Finders

* Billie B. Brown - The Bad Butterfly by Sally Rippin
* Billie B. Brown - The Big Sister by Sally Rippin
* Billie B. Brown - The Birthday Mix-Up by Sally Rippin
* Billie B. Brown - The Soccer Star by Sally Rippin

* The Playground Problem by Sally Rippin - Hey Jack! series (Jack is a friend of Billie, so sometimes she shows up on his books and sometimes he shows up on her books. Really cool!)
* The Crazy Cousins by Sally Rippin - Hey Jack! series
* The Best Party Ever by Sally Rippin - Hey Jack! series
* The Circus Lesson by Sally Rippin - Hey Jack! series

Read Aloud to her sibling(s):
* Golden Eagles by Melissa Hill
* Bird - DK Eye Know
* Red Foxes by Nicole Orr - Backyard Jungle Safari
* Children of the Earth and Sky - Five stories about Native American children by Stephen Krensky - we read this together as part of a History lesson and DD7 created a Native American house in Minecraft.
* Explore the Tropical Rain Forest by Linda Tagliaferro - FactFinders
* Billie B. Brown - The Extra-Special Helper by Sally Rippin

* Khan Academy Math- 3rd grade math;
* Singapore Math 2B - mental math;
* Also perusing Xtramath.org to get speed and accuracy in her operations;
* Working on memorizing her multiplication tables.
* Reading chapter books and completing a workbook on phonics, spelling, grammar, reading comprehension, etc.
* Reading to her siblings or to me out loud as well as quietly to herself. 
Science and History is covered by our reading alouds, documentaries, audio books or videos.

DS9 independent reading list:  

* DS9 is reading the Action Bible on his own.

* Calvin and Hobbes -DS9 reads a few strips at night before falling sleep.

* The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe - Calico Illustrated Classics - adapted by jan Fields
 
* That Holiday Feeling by Fisch Burchett Davis - Batman The Brave and the Bold series
* Wonder Woman - An Origin Story by Sazaklis and Vecchio
* Green Lantern -  An Origin Story by Manning and Vecchio
* Batman - An Origin Story by Sazaklis and Vecchio
* Superman - An Origin Story by Manning and Vecchio
 
* Clobbered by Clayface! by Fisch Burchett Davis - Batman The Brave and the Bold series
* That Holiday Feeling by Fisch Burchett Davis - Batman The Brave and the Bold series
* Bottle of the Planets by Fisch Burchett Davis - Batman The Brave and the Bold series
* Manhandled by Manhunters! by Fisch Burchett Davis - Batman The Brave and the Bold series

* US Marines True Stories - Tales of Bravery by Adam Miller
* Firefighters to the Rescue by Meish Goldish
* Hotshots by Meish Goldish
* Aviation Firefighters by Nancy White
* Smokejumpers by Meish Goldish
* The World's Wackiest History by Christopher Forest - Library of Weird
* Dogs on Duty by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent - Soldiers' Best Friends on the Battlefield and Beyond
* Native American Heroes by Ann McGovern
* And Then What Happened, Paul Revere? by Jean Fritz
* Nelson Mandela by Barbara Kramer -  National Geographic Kids

Read Aloud to his sibling(s):
* George Washington by Caroline Crosson Gilpin by National Geographic Kids

Academic Work:
* Doing 6th grade Math on Khan Academy.
* Also doing Life of Fred - Fractions;
* Learning Coding with Khan Academy;
* Began learning Java Script with Code Academy;

* He stopped with Science Detective from The Critical Thinking Co. for now.
* Using Usbore Internet-Linked science and history books. He reads a topic and researches it online. I am letting him pick his own subjects and interests. 
* Used Neok12.com to watch videos on Greece History and Engineering. He also build some Greek structures on Minecraft.

DD12 independent reading list

Non-Fiction:
* "We Have conquered Pain" the Discovery of Anesthesia by Dennis Brindell Fradin
* Dragons and Fantasy by Kythera of Anevern - Drawing made Easy
* Wildlife Rehabilitators to the Rescue by Meish Goldish
 * Brave Hearts by Meish Goldish
* Gorilla Doctors - Saving Endangered Great Apes by Pamela S. Turner
* The Ultimate Puppy edited by Terry Ryan and Theresa Shipp
* The Story of The Salem Witch Trials by Zachary Kent 

Biographies:
* Markus Persson Notch  Creator of Minecraft  by Tamra Orr
* Lives of Extraordinary Women - Rulers, Rebels (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull
* Cleopatra - Powerful Leader or Ruthless Pharaoh? by Peggy Caravantes -Perspectives on History

DC Comics:
* Clobbered by Clayface! by Fisch Burchett Davis - Batman The Brave and the Bold series
* That Holiday Feeling by Fisch Burchett Davis - Batman The Brave and the Bold series
* Bottle of the Planets by Fisch Burchett Davis - Batman The Brave and the Bold series
* Manhandled by Manhunters! by Fisch Burchett Davis - Batman The Brave and the Bold series

* Wonder Woman - An Origin Story by Sazaklis and Vecchio
* Green Lantern -  An Origin Story by Manning and Vecchio
* Batman - An Origin Story by Sazaklis and Vecchio
* Superman - An Origin Story by Manning and Vecchio

Classics:
* Swiss Family Robinson by 

Fantasy books:

* The Emperor of Nihon-Ja - book 10 - Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan

* The Lost Stories - book 11 - Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan
* The Royal Ranger - book 12 - Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan - last one of the series! :(

* The Candlestone by Bryan Davis - Dragon in our Midst series - book 2

* Pockets by Jenifer Armstrong

Historical Fiction:

*

Animal books: 
* The Grand Escape - The Cat Pack by Phillis Reynolds Naylor
* Polo's Mother - The Cat Pack by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

** Take one or two or three (i.e. reading these yet again!)

* The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland - Wings of Fire series - book1
* The Lost Heir by Tui T. Sutherland - Wings of Fire series - book 2
* The Hidden Kingdom by Tui T. Sutherland - Wings of Fire series - book 3
* The Brightest Night by Tui T. Sutherland - Wings of Fire series - book 5

* The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White

Read Aloud to her sibling(s):


Academic Work:

* Doing Pre-Algebra on Khan Academy 70% completed; she is taking a break from Khan Academy and working on Life of Fred book.
* Working through the Life of Fred: Pre-Algebra with Biology book;

* Learning Coding with Khan Academy;

* Working through Exploring Creation with Biology from Apologia. Finished module 5 and took test. Worked on module 6, reviewed and took test on first week of May.
* Began US History Detective Book 1 from Critical Thinking co. - she's doing a lesson a day. 

Activities at Home

* Trying to keep quiet time everyday. This time is for reading or doing an activity on their own. Time for thinking, resting and learning to entertain oneself. It's also QUIET time for Mom. Time for me to recharge.

* Computer play time has increased to an hour this month. We are actually incorporating MInecraft into our school.

* Spring Cleaning. Cleaning outside, garage. Gardening.

* Our first grilling of the year: hamburgers to celebrate the men of my life!!

* Strawberry Selling Project. We took a walk around our street on a Saturday morning and sold most of our strawberry plants and met most of the neighbors. The kids enjoyed the adventure. WE are now enjoying harvesting our own strawberries.

* Helping neighbor with raised beds and exchanging seeds and plants.

* We had friends come to visit and stay for supper.

* Opening the pool. Lots of playing outside. Walks in the afternoon as a family.

* Keeping with the 2015 in 2015 challenge.

 Field Trips/ Activities Outside Home

* Homeschooling Meeting. The theme was Nature. DD12 shared about Artic foxes; DS9 talked about strawberries, DD7 explained biomes in Minecraft and DD5 talked about different animals.  Afterwards we had playtime and fellowship at a friend's house.


* Lego Club

* Story Hour for DD5 and DD7.
* Game Day

 Websites/ Links we found and used/ Apps

* BrainPop - videos on Hybrid cars, blogs, google, Game up

* Xtramath - FREE website to get speed and accuracy on all 4 operations (math facts)

* SheppardSoftware -

* Khan Academy -

* Code Academy - DD12 is learning Java Script here for FREE. I joined her because everyone needs to learn how to program. :)

* Starfall - great website for learning to read. DD5 is using this one.

* ClicknKids - a program that teaches phonics and spelling. DD5 is using it to learn to read.

* Dance Mat Typing - a free resource that teaches kids how to type.

* Iamflix.com - watched American History series;

* Neok12 website - Ancient Greece videos;

* Tyler DeWitt channel on YouTube - great lessons on Math and Chemistry.

* D-Maps - Great website with maps of all kinds. I used this to print out a map of the 13 colonies for DD12 History lesson.
 * The Rangers Apprentice Website. 

TV shows/ Videos/ Movies/ YouTube

homegrown strawberry

*  Studio C - Family friendly, clean sketch comedy tv shows produced by BYUtv. Super fun on YouTube for FREE. We have spent hours watching these videos as a family.


* Big Hero 6 - the bomb!!!
* The Hobbit - The Battle of the Five Armies

* Torchlighters videos on Amy Charmichael and St. Augustine on IamFlix.com
* American History series on IamFlix.com - episodes on A Century of Flight;

* The Story of Us episodes on Netflix

* Fed Up: A fantastic documentary about the SAD diet and how corporations and government are deceiving the people with regulations, labels and programs. A must see!! We watched as a family and it was a great starting point for discussions about health and nutrition. Available on Netflix.

* The Big Picture
* Dogs with Jobs - Netflix series about working dogs - episodes of season 1
* Inspector Gadge episodes

* Brain Games episodes

* Mirror Mirror

Books, blogs and other things I am reading...

* The Notes - Ronald Reagan edited by Douglas Brinkley - Ronald Reagan's Private Collection of Stories and Wisdom

* The Natural Vegan Kitchen by Christine Waltermyer

* Orphan Train by Christina Bakerkline

* Ultrametabolism by Mark Hyman, MD

* Positive Parenting Solutions


*VB6 - Eat Vegan before 6:00 by Mark Bittman

* The Modern Vegetarian Kitchen by Peer Berley

Blessings,

Tereza

Learning Log of March 2015

 Spring is here! I finally get to garden and grow some yummy food! I bought some plants because I just couldn't wait to see things grow! this year I'm growing Swiss chard, arugula, lettuce, onions from bulbs and lots of strawberry plants.

I had so many strawberry plants that I offered the kids plants for them to sell in exchange of their help in the garden. We began by cleaning the strawberry beds and transplanting plants into cups to sell. Check out the photos and links below.

Read aloud Books

 * We are still reading through the Bible with the kids. Reading Exodus but falling by the wayside.

* Just the Right Size by Nicola Davies

Audio Books

* My kids, one time or another have the files below in their mp5s to which they listen to every night at their choosing: Fairy tales and classic stories , worship music, Story Hour files, The Piano Guys, Jonathan Park and The Brinkman Adventures, The Chronicles of Narnia and Story Nory (lots and lots of FREE audio goodness: Bible stories, Classics, educational stories even ones for non-English speakers wanting to improve their English. We love this website!).

* DD12 is listening to  The Spiderwick Chronicles.
* DD9 is also listening to the Story of the World - Vol. I
* DD7 is listening to the Story of the World - Vol. I
* DD4 is listening to Story Nory

DD5 independent reading list:

DD5 has been asking me to learn to read, so I finally decided to work with her. We began ClicknKids Phonics program. This is a software that you download to your computer and your kids have daily lessons. There are 2 programs: a phonics and a spelling one. I used this software with my 3 oldest to remedial spelling and to help DD7 learn to read. As with all software, after a few lessons my kids get bored because the program is too repetitive or they have already mastered the skills they need to proceed on their own. Not one of my kids finished either programs.

DD5 has done lessons 1 to 10. I sit with her on my lap in front of the computer and together we do the lessons. I am also using printable lessons from BOB books free worksheets created by a diverse group of homeschooling moms. One of my favorites is Walking By the Way. I used these with DD7 when she was beginning to read. I am also using phonics books from Abeka and other books I find at the library.

She is also using Starfall website to help with the sounds of letters and practicing putting words together.

DD7 independent reading list: 

 She is also reading aloud  Read with me Bible to us all during lunch time. Also Calvin and Hobbes books are a favorite before bedtime.

* Calvin and Hobbes comics

* The Lizard Man of Crabtree County by Lucy Nolan
* Daisy Dawson and the Secret Pond by Steve Voake

* Daisy Dawson on her Way by Steve Voake
* Daisy Dawson at the Beach by Steve Voake


Read Aloud to her sibling(s):

* Nate the Great and the Fishy Prize by Marjorie Winman Sharmat
* Nate the Great and the Pillowcase by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat and Rosalind Weinman

* Khan Academy Math- 3rd grade math;
* Singapore Math 2B
* Working on memorizing her multiplication tables.
* Reading chapter books and completing a workbook on phonics, spelling, grammar, reading comprehension, etc.
Copy work as well as reading to her siblings or to me out loud as well as quietly to herself. 
Science and History is covered by our reading alouds, documentaries, audio books or videos.

DS9 independent reading list:  

* DS9 is reading the Action Bible on his own.

* Calvin and Hobbes -DS9 reads a few strips at night before falling sleep.


* The Tale of Desperaux by Kate DiCamillo - once he finished the book, we watched the movie and DS9 made comparisons between book and movie: how different they were; how much was added to the movie, etc.

* Call of the Wild by Jack London
* Hack Attack - A Trip to Wonderland by Jan Fields
* The Calm Before the Storm - A Night in Sleepy Hollow by Jan Fields

* Bugged - How Insects changed History by Sarah Albee

* The Titanic - An Interactive History Adventure by Bob Temple - You Choose Books

Read Aloud to his sibling(s):

Academic Work:
* Finished 5th grade Math on Khan Academy. Began 6th grade Math on Khan Academy.
* Also doing Life of Fred - Fractions;
* Learning Coding with Khan Academy;


* Doing Science Detective from The Critical Thinking Co. covering earth science, anatomy and biology. When he gets tired of this, he picks an Usbore Internet-Linked science book, reads and researches it online. I am letting him pick his own subjects and interests.
* Spelling and vocabulary based on the books he's reading. Mostly done orally.

DD12 independent reading list

 * Ripley's Believe it or not! - The Remarkable, Revealed. - Can be creep at times, but really interesting.

Fantasy books:
*  Erak's Ransom - book 7 - Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan
*  The Kings of Clonmel - book 8 - Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan
* Halt's Peril - book 9 - Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan

* Raising Dragons by Bryan Davis - Dragons in our Midst series - written by a Christian author; he has been compared to CS Lewis.

Historical Fiction:

* By the Big Horn Spoon! by Sid Fleischman - A Gold Rush Adventure
 * Jim Ugly by Sid Fleischman
* The Titanic - An Interactive History Adventure by Bob Temple - You Choose Books
* Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell


* Welcome to Kit's World - 1934 - Growing Up During America's Great Depression - American Girl book - this was a great find at our library. I highly recommend as a complement to this past of American History. The books are filled with lots of photos of the time and interesting descriptions and facts.

* A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck - if you like Southern humor you will enjoy this book. DD12 did!
* A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck - the sequel to A Long Way from Chicago - even funnier than the first!

Animal books:
* Prince Rabbit by A.A. Milne
* The Anne Marie by Israel J. Parker - for the animal lover.

** Take one or two or three (i.e. reading these yet again!)
* The Hunger Games by Suzanna Collins

Read Aloud to her sibling(s):


Academic Work:

* Doing Pre-Algebra on Khan Academy 70% completed;
* She began Life of Fred: Pre-Algebra with Biology book;

* Learning Coding with Khan Academy;
* Began learning Java Script with Code Academy;

* Finished The Hunger Games study guide by Progeny Press; we began listening to the audiobook for The Bronze Bow with the intent to do a study guide on it, but she couldn't go past chapter 2.
* Working through Exploring Creation with Biology from Apologia. Reviewed modules 1-4 and took Quarterly Test on them and scored 90%.

Activities at Home

* Quiet time everyday. This time is for reading or doing an activity on their own. Time for thinking, resting and learning to entertain oneself. It's also QUIET time for Mom. Time for me to recharge.

* Computer play time has increased to an hour this month.

* Spring Cleaning. We took the first week of March to declutter and clean house. School work decreased to one picked subject for about 20-30 minutes only.

* More crafts and painting projects.

* Cooking: teaching DD12 new recipes: gluten free cornbread muffins, beans, oatmeal. DD5 andDD7 are helping in the kitchen more often. We are cooking and eating vegan most every day of the week. I lost 8 pounds in a week. :)

* Cooking projects: milk kefir, vegan suppers, oat soaking and oatmeal making.


* Gardening: thinning our strawberry beds and selling the extra strawberry plants; building a new box, filling with dirt and prepping to plant;

* DS9 is helping DD7 memorize her multiplication tables 1 to 5.

* Keeping with the 2015 in 2015 challenge.

 Field Trips/ Activities Outside Home

 
* Homeschooling Meeting. The theme was animals. DD12 shared about    , DD7 talked about habitat and the series she is reading about a little girl who can talk to animals and DD5 shared all about horses that she learned while reading a book with Mom. DD9 decided to just watch this time.

* McWane Trip - they had a new exhibit called Mindbenders with lots of games and puzzles. Another opportunity to reconnect with another homeschooling family. We had a fun time.

* Game day at the library.

* Story Hour for the young ones.

* I had to renew my driver's license, so we used the opportunity to have a picnic at the park and enjoy some sunshine.

 Websites/ Links we found and used/ Apps

* Blog full of fun Unit Studies - 

* BrainPop - videos on Copyright, Martin Luther King Jr.; Math games; food chain games;


* Khan Academy -

* Code Academy - DD12 is learning Java Script here for FREE. I joined her because everyone needs to learn how to program. :)

* Starfall - great website for learning to read. DD5 is using this one.

* ClicknKids - a program that teaches phonics and spelling. DD5 is using it also.

* Dance Mat Typing - a free resource that teaches kids how to type.

TV shows/ Videos/ Movies/ YouTube

*  Studio C - Family friendly, clean sketch comedy tv shows produced by BYUtv. Super fun on YouTube for FREE. We have spent hours watching these videos as a family.

* A Tale of Desperaux

* Planes and Rescue

* The "Drop Box" full story on YouTube - the Korean man who rescues abandoned babies tells his story of conversion and what God has done in his life.

* On programming videos:

* The Amoeba Sisters on YouTube - science videos.  DD12 using it to complement her HS Biology curriculum. She watched the videos on Osmosis,

* Big Hero 6 - the bomb!!!

* Encounters at the End of the World - very liberal film with very interesting images.

Books, blogs and other things I am reading...


* What Women Fear by Angie Smith

*Leota's Garden by Francine Rivers - audiobook

* Timothy Keller - Prodigal God mp3 files.

* Bought - movie about vaccines

* Positive Parenting Solutions

* The Pleasure Trap - Ted Talk. Want to find out why you eat so much and of the wrong things? Watch this short talk and begin a new healthy journey in your life.

* The Starch Solution by John McDougall MD - begin with this talk and if you got health issues purchase the book by the same name.

* Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease by Dr Caldwell Esselstyn - Amazing results and research to show for it too.

Blessings,
Tereza Crump

Learning Log of February 2015

I know we are in April but I'm still trying to catch up with my learning logs. Hopefully next week I will post March and then we are all catched up! You won't be seeing snow photos in Spring. :)

February brought snow and lots of indoors activities. We don't usually have snow where we live, but this winter we had a little over 1 foot of it and it lasted about 3 days. So the kids enjoyed 3 days of playing in the snow, building forts and snowmen, eating snow ice cream, snowball fights and lots of wet and cold body parts. :) Other than that, we stayed indoors and cooked, played, crafted and even had "the school experience".

Read aloud Books

 * We are still reading through the Bible with the kids. We finished Genesis and we are now tackling Exodus.

* Pompeii Lost and Found by Mary Pope Orborne

Audio Books

* My kids, one time or another have the files below in their mp5s to which they listen to every night at their choosing: Fairy tales and classic stories , worship music, Story Hour files, The Piano Guys, Jonathan Park and The Brinkman Adventures, The Chronicles of Narnia and Story Nory (lots and lots of FREE audio goodness: Bible stories, Classics, educational stories even ones for non-English speakers wanting to improve their English. We love this website!).

* The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski

* DD12 is listening to  Jonathan Park episodes.
* DD9 is also listening to the Story of the World - Vol. I and Story Nory
* DD7 is listening to the Story of the World - Vol. I
* DD4 is listening to Story Nory

DD7 independent reading list: 

 She is also reading aloud  Read with me Bible to us all during lunch time. Also Calvin and Hobbes books are a favorite before bedtime.

* First Science Book: Color by Julie Murray
* First Science Book: Sound and Hearing by Julie Murray
* The House on the Maple Street by Bonnie Pryor
* Annie and Snowball and the Thankful Friends  by Cynthia Rylant
* My First Ballet book by Kate Castle
* Nate the Great and the Big Sniff by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat and Mitchell Sharmat
* Nate the Great and the Tardy Tortoise by Marjories Weinmann Sharmat and Craig Sharmat

Read Aloud to her sibling(s):

* Stellar  Stargazer! Fancy Nancy book by Jane O'Connor
* I Know and Old Lady edited Ann Owen
* Ariel's Painting Party - Little Mermaid's Treasure Chest
* A Slippery Deck -  Little Mermaid's Treasure Chest
* Detective Sebastian - Little Mermaid's Treasure Chest
* Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
* Angelina Ballerina by Katharine Holabird


Listening and following along books on Storyline Online.  DD4 sits in and watches with her sister. :)

* Khan Academy Math- 3rd grade math;
* Singapore Math 2B
* Working on memorizing her multiplication tables.
* Reading chapter books and completing a workbook on phonics, spelling, grammar, reading comprehension, etc.
Copy work as well as reading to her siblings or to me out loud as well as quietly to herself. 

Science and History is covered by our reading alouds, documentaries, audio books or videos.
I have assigned her a list of books for her to read to cover History and Science. She gets to pick one and read during quiet or reading time. 

DS9 independent reading list:  

* DS9 is reading the Action Bible on his own.

* Calvin and Hobbes -DS9 reads a few strips at night before falling sleep.

* Frindle by Andrew Clements - finished the book and answered a batch of questions related to the book.
* The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Firearms by Ian V. Hogg
* Bodies from the Ash - Life and Death in Ancient Pompeii by James M. Deem
* The Tale of Desperaux by Kate DiCamillo

Read Aloud to his sibling(s):

Academic Work:
* Doing 5th grade Math on Khan Academy - 80% completed ;
* Learning Coding with Khan Academy;
* Finished Stories of Adventure and Survival by Globe Fearson. We moved on to classics and other chapter books.
* Doing Science Detective from The Critical Thinking Co. covering earth science, anatomy and biology.
* Spelling and vocabulary based on what he's reading. Mostly done orally.

DD12 independent reading list

* Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
* Inkspell - book 2  by Cornelia Funke
* Inkdeath - book 3 by Cornelia Funke

* The Ruins of Gorlan - Book 1 - Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan
* The Burning Bridge - book 2 - Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan
* The Icebound Land - book 3 - Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan
* The Battle for Skandia - book 4 - Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan
* The Sorcerer of the North - book 5 - Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan
* The Siege of Macindaw - book 6 - Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan

* On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson - The Wingfeather Saga - book 1

Academic Work:

* Doing Pre-Algebra on Khan Academy 70% completed;

* Learning Coding with Khan Academy;
*Working to complete The Hunger Games study guide by Progeny Press;
* Working through Exploring Creation with Biology from Apologia. Finished Module 4 and scored 12 out of 13 on the test. This module took longer than the previous ones to study because of the extensive note taking she did, but it was worth the extra hard work for she did really well on the test and was proud of her accomplishment. There will be a quarterly test for modules 1-4.

Activities at Home

* Quiet time everyday. This time is for reading or doing an activity on their own. Time for thinking, resting and learning to entertain oneself. It's also QUIET time for Mom. Time for me to recharge.

* Computer play time has increased to an hour this month.

* Ballet and dance practice at home.

* More crafts and painting projects.

* We  got a rare one snow day. WE build snowmen, sled down the hills, threw snow balls at each other and then we came in and had hot chocolate with marshmallows.  :) It was fun but I am glad it's just once a year not months on end. :)

* Cooking and crafting. DD4 is constantly asking to help in the kitchen and to paint. So once a week, we bake together and then the next day as a family we do a craft/ art time together.

* Cooking projects: bone broth, homemade yogurt, cookies, cupcakes, banana bread

* Lots of texting with family through WhatsApp. It's been good to keep in touch with so many relatives in Brazil.

* DD12 is teaching DD7 how to play the tin whistle. She is playing the song theme for The Hobbit.


* DS9 is helping DD7 memorize her multiplication tables 1 to 5.

* Working with Dad outside cleaning the leaves off the yard. Driving lawn mower and tending to fires.

* I began Spring Cleaning already. The kids are helping me complete 2015 in 2015 challenge. We are almost at 200 items in just 2 months.

 Field Trips/ Activities Outside Home

* Homeschooling Meeting. The theme was games. All my kids shared their love for Minecraft and DS9 shared about Clash of Clans. We got to celebrate DD4 who turned 5 y.o.

* Visit to the dentist for some baby teeth pulling.

* DD12 and I are participating in a Sunday School class called A Case for a Creator by Lee Strobel. We are doing this in preparation for DD12 to be in classroom style learning, participating in discussions, and asking questions.

 Websites/ Links we found and used/ Apps

* Ted Talks - Can we domesticate germs; How Bacteria "Talk"; What Humans can Learn from Semi-Intelligent Slimes: - these talks complemented DD12 Biology Curriculum so well.

* BrainPop - videos on Abraham Lincoln, Ada Lovelace; Math games; food chain games;

* SheppardSoftware -

* Khan Academy -

TV shows/ Videos/ Movies/ YouTube

* Indiana Jones - The Raiders of the Lost Ark

* Sherman and Mr. Peabody movie - 

* Genesis 7 - episodes from this series on IAMflix - a series about Creationism and the Universe.

* Episodes of Bill Nye the Science Guy

* Episodes of Wild Kratts; The Magic School Bus;

*  Studio C - Family friendly, clean sketch comedy tv shows produced by BYUtv. Super fun on YouTube for FREE. We have spent hours watching these videos as a family.

* The Great Raid - The most triumphant rescue in US military history. Based on an amazing true story during WWII on the Pacific Front. I highly recommend it. My DH and I watched, really not appropriate for kids under 14 y.o., just too much violence.

* Mom's Night Out - again! LOL

My new toy or should we call it my working tool?? :)

Books, blogs and other things I am reading...


*  Message from an Unknown Chinese Mother by Xinran - the terror caused by the one child policy implemented in China as well as religious ignorance that causes baby girls to be killed as soon as they are born, or abandoned by their parents. In reality not much different from America's policy on the value of life. :(

* Timothy Keller sermons on YouTube - I really like him.

* Crystal Meth: They Call It Ice by Mary F. Holley M.D.

* Mockinjay by Suzanne Collins


* Among the hidden - Shadow Children series - book 1

* And the Shofar Blew by Francine Rivers

Blessings,

Tereza

Now that Spring is here, do you remember what your winter was like? I always forget how hard it is until it's here. :) Bring on summertime!!!