Little Home School on the Prairie

mylifewithautism: (via karlaakins)

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:24:00 -0500

(via karlaakins)

I cannot express how much I love Amy Pak’s Homeschool in...

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:05:36 -0400

I cannot express how much I love Amy Pak’s Homeschool in the Woods products!

Last year we used her products for the Old and New Testament and for Early Explorers. The artwork is absolutely beautiful, rich with detail, and so informative. Amy Pak is clearly anointed by God to create these products!

This year we are using Amy Pak’s unit studies in Colonial Times, Revolutionary War, Music and Art/Art History.

This week and next week we will be busy making our models of a colonial rope bed including the ticking. We’ll also be stenciling a small box with colonial style stencils. Please go to her site and check out the goodies!

And by the way, she hasn’t paid me a penny or given me any free products to write this “review.” I just love the products that much.

(photo via itsourblog.typepad.com)

karlaakins: I love opening up my new lesson plan book each...

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 13:12:00 -0400

karlaakins:

I love opening up my new lesson plan book each year. There are so many aspirations and high expecations in my heart at just the sight of the cover. I like the plan book I picked this year. “Anything is possible.” The longer I live, the more I realize this is true!

This year I am homeschooling my twin boys who have autism. I am no longer teaching full-time at the cottage school I started years ago. I’m still teaching part-time at the homeschool co-op. I’ll be teaching K-8 in science (astronomy and nature studies), history (colonial times-late 1800s), music (composers and orchestra - my husband is teaching guitar), art/art history (recognizing the great artists and doing projects in their styles) and manners (much needed these days!).

I will also be going to school myself on Tues. nights. I’m taking a writing class as I want to devote more of my time to being the writer I have always dreamed of being. I may even go back and get another degree. We’ll see.

Teaching is such a huge part of my life, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to leave the classroom completely. But just because I’m writing doesn’t mean I have to give it up. Maybe I can teach writers someday, too.

The twins will be studying their math, english and life skills (they have autism and learning disabilities) at home. I will also be “helping” my live-at-home 18 year old with his first year in college. He has ADHD, so needs some guidance. I am trying to get him to ask for it himself. Today he did. I get to help him with some psychology reading. Woot!

I’m excited. Lesson plans are fun on the first day of school. Later they become a bit of a drudge. And homeschooling is a challenge — it takes great self-discipline to get it done and maintain a sane household.

I just have to remember: “Anything is possible!”

Tonight is the formal banquet “party” for our...

Fri, 01 May 2009 12:12:14 -0400

Tonight is the formal banquet “party” for our cottage school. We are going to dine on hors d’oeuvres and desserts. This morning all the girls did manicures and pedicures while the boys acted like they were repulsed by the smell and the activity. But they alll watched with keen interest and giggles. It was pretty cute.

We will also crown a Queen tonight and two jesters. (They are much too silly to be Kings or Princes.) This is because they are high school Seniors. Janie is the only girl, and the two boys who are Seniors are cut-ups.

I got a beautiful tiara for our queen, but the guys are getting funny hats. One looks like a cross between a crown and a jester’s hat, and the other one is a Viking hat. The Viking hat is for my son, one of the Seniors. I can’t wait to give these to them.

To end the night, we are going to all watch THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX. None of the kids have seen it. And while it might seem to be a little juvenile for Seniors, you have to understand something. We all thoroughly enjoyed this book last year as a school. I read it aloud and we were enthralled and entranced. We made a lot of fun memories during that time. So, it will be just another part of the bonding we’ve experienced to see this movie together. I have a feeling, though, that the movie will not match the magic of the book. Everyone should read the book first.

I am sad, because this is the last year I will have the cottage school. I am returning to home schooling next year. However, I am excited because I will have more time to take care of my family and to write.

I just hope that some day, I can write as beautifully as Kate DiCamillo, the author of the awesome tale of a brave little guy with a tail. She is an incredible writer.

via www.fancast.com

House and Farm Tour, Amish Acres, Nappanee, Indiana

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:41:59 -0400

House and Farm Tour, Amish Acres, Nappanee, Indiana:

This is where I took my students yesterday to learn about how Maple Syrup is made. The tour was great. However, I was very disappointed in the “brunch” afterwards.

We’ve eaten at Amish Acres before several times. But we’ve had the traditional Little Thresher’s Dinner which includes fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, fresh bread and cookies. And let me tell you — it’s amazing food. (I’m getting hungry just thinking about it!)

But the Brunch was not good. There wasn’t enough sausage to feed the kids (and it was supposed to be all you can eat) and they went away unsated. And that was the kids. Imagine how the teens and the teachers felt!

So I give the tour five stars. The brunch? I can’t recommend it. Even with the pure maple syrup (which tasted runny and watered down to me) it’s a definite thumbs down.

If you’re going to eat there — eat the traditional meal, and you’ll go away more than happy!

Rise and Shine Sleepy Heads: Getting Your Kids Up and Out the Door « Totally Her, Totally Real - TotallyHer.com

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 11:47:51 -0500

Rise and Shine Sleepy Heads: Getting Your Kids Up and Out the Door « Totally Her, Totally Real - TotallyHer.com

Another one of Matt’s campaign posters based upon the...

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:53:51 -0500

Another one of Matt’s campaign posters based upon the first letter in his name. His team was made up of mostly the older students and they worked really hard making a lot of really great posters themselves!

The first day of the campaign was so cute — they were all trying to sway other kids to join their team. I was impressed with their ability to convince one another to switch sides.

Noah’s theme was “Choose Cheese.” He chose...

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:49:13 -0500

Noah’s theme was “Choose Cheese.” He chose this one to be funny like he is. It actually won some of the younger kids over! He bought the younger set some cheese popcorn for a snack one day. Then, the day of elections, the kids had little cups of instant Kraft Mac & Cheese with this logo taped to the top. I think it swayed one of the second graders. In her words: “it was that yummy delicious cheese! I just couldn’t resist it! It was so good!”

This is another good lesson: people often vote according to how they feel rather than using logic.

Noah’s team was mostly the preschool and Kindergarteners, so they had to have a campaign sign they could color themselves, which was another reason he went with this logo.

One of Matt’s campaign posters. His team worked very hard...

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:44:48 -0500

One of Matt’s campaign posters. His team worked very hard to create posters based on the letter M!

The Ballot Box — Noah Akins won the first Presidential...

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:43:40 -0500

The Ballot Box — Noah Akins won the first Presidential Election of Liberty Christian Academy — and only by a hair!

If no one had been absent today, there probably would have been a different result. But this is a good lesson for the kids. Elections depend on many factors, and there is no such thing as a sure win!

Hayride!

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 05:59:46 -0400

Hayride!

Apple Orchard owner speaks to the class about the apple orchard...

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 05:43:31 -0400

Apple Orchard owner speaks to the class about the apple orchard that has been in her family for 86 years.

I got lost in a preschool corn maze. Good thing Trinity, age 3,...

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 20:25:10 -0400

I got lost in a preschool corn maze. Good thing Trinity, age 3, helped Grandma find her way out!

Micro Hike 2

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 01:16:47 -0400

Micro Hike 2

Micro Hiking!

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:57:32 -0400

Micro Hiking!

Virtual Fireplace

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:32:08 -0400

Virtual Fireplace

Virtual Campfire

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:16:01 -0400

Virtual Campfire

The Beginning of the Hunt

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:05:13 -0400

The Beginning of the Hunt

Jaslynn’s Timbuktuian eggs.

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 23:44:21 -0400

Jaslynn’s Timbuktuian eggs.

Hunt for the Timbuktuian brings out skeptics every time…

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 23:37:21 -0400

Hunt for the Timbuktuian brings out skeptics every time…