From Sea to Shining Sea(The Catholic Textbook Project)

I throughly enjoyed visiting history with my kids with this book.  We traveled to visit the Mayans, through the American Revolution, Civil War and so much more. It is the Story of America. This book is written in a narrative form, as if you are reading a book which is what drew us into it.  Hands of a Child sells a lap book which we used with the text which I highly recommend.  The Catholic Schools Textbook project, sells the text, a teacher's manual, and CD workbook.  The workbook is highly effective for left brained learners.  Since I have two right brained learners we used the lap book, created unit studies, along with using the questions in the teachers manual to notebook with.  This is the first textbook series that I have seen written from a catholic perspective.  My kids enjoyed learning about American History from this perspective.

http://cstp.myshopify.com/

Conference Season

The Conference begins within the next month or two, so I will be reviewing some products that might help you.  So stay tuned....

FAFSA

Here is a good article about FAFSA forms for college about homeschoolers:
http://www.stonesouphomeschool.com/1/post/2012/02/are-homeschool-high-school-diplomas-valid.html

Homeschooling and the love of learning

Yes I am not a saint. We have been homeschooling for 6 years, and realized this has been my vocation that God guided me on.  My daughter has a rough year medically.  She also started high school and through it all she loves literature.  She requested to do Shakespeare and it has been amazing year.  My son, who loves history enacted a civil war battle in my living room.  I have inspired through God's grace yearning for the love of learning.  Thank you Lord for allowing me to say Yes when you asked me to homeschool.

Narnia series

We finished The Last Battle today.  All I can say is wow.  God really worked through him.  I never expected it to end the way it did.  This is an awesome series of literature.  Each book keeps you coming back for more.  The last few books were amazing how Aslan personifies Christ.  In the book, The Last Battle, it amazing how it coincides with things revealed in the Bible and, yet in a Narnian perspective.  I was crying at the end. I just didn't expect it to end that way.  It was a brilliant conclusion to a brilliant series.  C.S. Lewis' Narnia Series is a must read.

Anatomy and Physiology

This book is awesome by Jeannie Fulbright.  It is thorough and engaging with experiments/activities at then end of each chapter. It is goes into terms may only see in a high school book, but explains them on the level of a 6-8th grade student.  She has made scientists out of my children. My kids love her books.  This maybe be the last book we do because my son will be hitting 8th grade.  She has made my children's elementary experience with science awesome! I highly recommend her books.  They are for the gifted, average, and slow processing learner. For those of you who use Charlotte Mason or Classical education this a huge resource for your homeschool. Thank you Jeannie for the ride!
http://www.jeanniefulbright.com/anatomy-and-physiology/

Curriculum time again!

Well I will be posting reviews soon and lots of links to curriculum I plan to use next year.  Keep watching.


Praising Him Joyfully,

Noelle:)

NY times article

     As a writer, this article was not written well.  First of all, why write an article until you have all the facts including a copy of DSM V in front of you.  I am not defending DSM V.  I will not jump the gun until I have all the facts.  I have a child with autism so this does impact us, but you need the facts.  I have been on facebook and people are going crazy over this article. I have learned from the past until you have proof of anything you can't prove anything.
     If the DSM V supports what the article says, then it is not fair.  We have a responsibility as a community and country to give all special needs children a fighting chance, whether they have autism or a learning disability.  I have lived this journey and believe me it makes you a stronger person.  Each autistic child is different just like each person God made is.

Praising Him Joyfully,
Noelle

Homeschooling, Special Needs, and a diagnosis

     The last couple of days I have thought alot about my faith and being a mom who has a special needs child.  God always seems to shine on the truth in the open. I am not  embarrassed about my life.  I am very grateful for it.  God has allowed me to become a special mom to a special child.  Yesterday I was humbled by the evaluator of a test I took him too.  She told me that I have done so much for him, though he has a journey still to climb, he has gone beyond what others have expected.  For the first time in 6 years, I heard someone tell me homeschooling was the best thing I could have done for him. She even told me I should become an advocate for special needs kids who are homeschooling.  She was very impressed with me. I was so humbled and almost on the verge of crying. He finally got his diagnosis of Autism.  He is high functioning on the spectrum.  Anyone who has met him would know that.  She told me he is very bright.  It is not just me being his mom. What a journey it has been! I feel blessed by Autism, because it has allowed me to see the world in a different light, the way God intended for our family.  My close support system you all know what we have been through thank you being there.
      I am proud of him and my daughter.  They are my greatest accomplishment in this world.  Homeschooling has just enhanced that.  There is only person I have to answer to and that is my Lord and Savior.  I am doing the work He wants me to do.  I feel so Blessed he asked me to do it. He has given me so much Grace through it. Thank you Lord,  for the small miracles this week and there were many.

Tapestry of Grace

As a mother of two special needs homeschoolers, I found a curriculum that will connect the dots especially for my daughter.  Yes I have tried many curriculum packages but they never worked.  Unit studies always have, she thrives on them.  For many year I wanted to try Tapestry of Grace but never did. Now I am, after downloading a free 3-week trial I can see how this will work effectively.  We have always used the Great Books approach and a classical education and this fits our work much better together.  I will keep you posted and do a review after a week or so.

Praising Him Joyfully,
Noelle

Gluten free baking

Okay so this is my second year being Gluten Free.  I have some really good recipes and some new ones I tried this year and failed.  I need to find a good sugar recipe for my daughter.  My attempt failed.  Uggh!!! So if anyone out there reads my blog and has a good one let me know.  I haven't found a really good one yet. Someday I hope to have a hang of it all.  My kids are totally gluten free, but I will be making it totally over starting after Christmas for my health and to be a great example to my children.
 On a side note after the holidays, we will be going sugar free and using agave and honey entirely to bake and use with tea and such.  We will see how it works.

Praising Him Joyfully,
Noelle:)