Easing into It (08/12/13) Week 1, Day 1

Tags

classical conversations, curriculum

Whether you are just starting your first week of homeschool this week or this is your child’s third week of school, I’m sure you are as blown away as I am at how the summer feels suddenly behind you.  It is weird.  It is still so hot out, yet today as I write this in September looking back at our first week of school in August, I am floored at how quickly the night is coming again and I can finally put my kids to bed at an appropriate time again!  The sun just gradually kept setting earlier, and so getting up earlier for school has just naturally begun to get better.

I had not planned to “ease” into my homeschooling as much as I ended up doing.  But am I ever glad that I accidentally did!  This year has been so enjoyable!  Previously, I wrote how “enjoying” is my theme for the year.  My goals began simply for us to understand that we wake early so that we can enjoy the day rather than rushing.  That we need to understand math is not an enemy, but is a cool way to make life easier.

So, on our first day of school, this is how our day unfolded:

*Scavenger Hunt
*Devotions
*History – Charlemagne
*Cursive – Letters A-F
*History Sentence Week 1 Copywork
*Go to Library

For me, the most exciting part of the day was to see how much quality time was spent on such few things and how great an impact it made rather than rushing through review.

For my daughter, she was thrilled about having the scavenger hunt and that we went to the library and found a book about rocks and inside was a picture of rocks forming the word “JOY” (Yes!  She totally saw my theme about enjoying!  Double Bonus:  I didn’t see it as a coincidence that we just learned about glorifying God and here, normally silent rocks, are in a book shouting “joy” to us just like in Luke 19:40 when Jesus spoke, “I tell you, if these [people] be silent, the stones will cry out!”)

Also cool, is that we will be learning about birds this year.  And in another book she found at the library,  she found a book about a thrasher bird and we were able to go right to our materials and find out more about the bird right then and there.

But let’s be real here.  All of the day was awesome., but ice cream always seals the deal for a back-to-school celebration!  I had energy and was not stressed out.  So much so, we all went to Chick-Fil-A for dinner and then had Graeter’s ice cream for dessert.  It was y-u-m-m-y and a day I will never forget.

The most common question I get asked is, what curriculum am I using at home and what am I doing that can be done to supplement a child who already attends school.  While I don’t know how to answer the second question just yet, I have listed below a condensed version of my books for the year. Have something you’re thrilled with that helps your kids learn? Leave a comment and let me know!

Language Arts:

Grammar School Grammar – An Analytical Approach to English Grammar
PreScripts Cursive Words and Drawing
PreScripts Cursive Sentences and Art Lessons
The Original McGuffey’s Eclectic First and Second Readers
The Original McGuffey’s Eclectic Progressive Spelling Book
The Writing Road to Reading and Thinking by Myrna McCulloch
Rod and Staff Bible Nurture and Reader Series, Grade 2 and Reading Workbooks
McCall-Crabbs: Standard Test Lessons in Reading, A & B

Age and skill appropriate readers

Geography:

Classical Conversations Geography
Geography Songs Sing Around the World by Kathy Troxel
 

History:

Story of the World, The Middle Ages, Volume II
Classical Conversations History
RightsofthePeople.com:  Ben’s Guide to U.S. Government for Kids

Related readers and projects aka “living” books

Government:

Age appropriate library books including How the US Government Works by Syl Sobel

Mathematics:

RightStart™ Mathematics Level B
Math-U-See Alpha
Singapore Math
Spectrum Math

Related activities and math games

Science:

God’s Design for Life science curriculum World of Plants and World of Animals Classical Conversations science curriculum including science experiments
Apologia Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology

Health:

Age appropriate books and activities related to nutrition and self care. Cooking projects.

Physical Ed.:

Tennis
Running
Dance
Swimming
Cycling
Geopalz Fitness Tracking

Other formal and informal sports and games

Fine Arts:

Classical Conversations fine arts curriculum which includes famous artist study, art
projects, basic music theory, and basic music appreciation.
Discovering Great Artists: Hands-on Art for Children in the Styles of the Great Masters
The Art Chest Teacher’s Manual.  Televised Art and Craft Lessons by Dan Mihuta.
Piano Lessons
Violin Lessons

 
First Aid, Safety, Fire Prevention:!

Age appropriate library books including Fireboy to the Rescue! by Edward Miller and Home Safety by Lucia Raatma
Fire station field trip

‘Appy Wednesday – 180 App

Tags

app, fat, healthy weight, lose weight, shaklee 180

Every Wednesday, I will write a review on a new App that I find either necessary or that has dramatically changed the quality of my life or has made a difference in the education of our children.  Each app posted here MUST be either 1) free 2) cheaper than dirt or 3) its price is worth more than gold.

Today, I am going to talk about the new Shaklee 180 App that is FREE with either the Shaklee 180 Turnaround or Lean and Healthy Kits.  

This app contains so much that I won’t be able to cover it in one post.  So here, I will give a general review of what is inside and how it is effective.  I will go into greater depth in future posts on each area.

First and foremost, the app provides a way for you create a customized nutritional plan, serve as a food recorder.  Secondly, it also contains progress logs to keep you at your goal – but also awesome – will win you prizes!  But perhaps the coolest part, is that when viewed on either a smartphone or a tablet, you can workout LIVE, right there!  No need to turn on the t.v. and waste time or go to a gym.  Wherever you are at, you can turn it on right there and be done with a workout in 3 minutes.

Shaklee has done a great job to make this an app that you will truly use 24/7 and won’t just be an icon taking up space.  It will track eating, inspire you to reach 180 days of health, and help you get there with an exercise plan too.  What drove them to create such a tool?  Shaklee understands that a healthy life most often begins with a healthy weight.  Whether your goal is to lose weight or not, this app is for you.

 

Protein and Preventing Heart Disease (and how to make Almond Milk!)

Tags

almond milk, cardiovascular disease, heart disease, money-saver, smoothee

Yesterday, I posted on the many ways we can maintain a healthy lifestyle to prevent Heart Disease.  However, there is a little extra secret not many people know about – studies have shown that soy protein is involved in preventing heart disease.

Susan Potter, Ph.D at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found in her testing various soy products, that isolated soy protein worked best.  Her results showed that there was a 12 percent drop in total cholesterol and an 11.5 percent drop in the “bad cholesterol” (LDL).  Researchers then concluded:

The fact that a significant reduction was obtained by consuming only 50 grams a day of soy protein sets a practical and achievable goal that would be beneficial in the treatment of high blood cholesterol and coronary artery disease

Subsequent studies by Dr. Potter’s group further revealed that even 25 grams (approximately 1/2 cup) of soy protein daily “could result in significant reduction of cholesterol levels in those with elevated levels.”  In addition, The New England Journal summarized the findings of 38, well-controlled studies on soy protein and cholesterol.  They saw a nine-percent reduction of total cholesterol and nearly a 13-percent reduction of the bad LDL cholesterol.

Isn’t it refreshing that there can actually be a snack that is GOOD for you?  At the start of 2013, Shaklee launched its latest, greatest tasting soy protein shake.  This yummy drink contains all the 23 amino acids that our bodies need, but often don’t get every day.  Think of Amino Acids as links of protein on a bracelet.  They are all essential for the functions of your body.  Eight of these 23 are called Essential, because your body can not produce them on its own. You have to get them from an outside source.  These 8 are so crucial, because if you don’t get them, your body won’t make the other 15!  Our bodies NEED protein!

Make yourself a shake first thing in the morning, at lunch or for an evening snack.  Shaklee has two types of shakes to choose from: Energizing Soy Protein, or Shaklee Life Shakes.  All Shaklee shakes contain all 23 amino acids.
You might be wondering what is the best way to drink a Smoothee?  Here is a recipe for a “Wow Smoothee:”

Wow Smoothee

1/2 – 1 cup Soy or Almond Milk (I drink Silk Unsweetened Original, but I just found out you can make it yourself!  Recipe below)

1 or 2 scoops of a Shaklee Life Shake (one if having as a snack, two if a meal)

1 cup peach or pear, or 1 apple, cut into pieces (seeds removed)

1 frozen ripe banana

1 1/2 cups frozen broccoli (or kale or spinach)

Sprinkle of flax or chia seeds

Place all ingredients in a blender in the order listed, and mix until creamy.  Tip:  Serve to kids in a colored cup so they won’t be scared by the green!  The riper the banana, the more the broccoli taste is canceled.

DIY Almond Milk

This is a complete money saver and so easy!  I found this courtesy of Every Day with Rachael Ray Magazine.

Serving Size:  4 cups of milk

Step 1  Soak 2 Cups of raw almonds and 5 cups of water in a bowl for at least 2 hours overnight

Step 2 Mix the almonds and water in a blender on high until frothy and smooth, about 5 minutes.  (Sounds like forever, but keep blending!)

Step 3 Line a strainer with 4 layers of cheesecloth; place over a bowl.  Add half of the almond mixture; let sit 10 minutes, then squeeze out the liquid.  Discard the solids.  Repeat with second half.

It tastes great with a Smoothee, it gives me energy, and best of all the price is right.  I used to love going to Jamba Juice when I would visit California and would come back home so sad there was none where I lived.  Now I don’t have to be sad because I can make an even healthier shake for half the price – at home!

 

Deel of the Week: RELAXAMAT

I discovered a new website today called, tanga.com.  It’s pretty useful.  They have sales ranging in all different categories for men, women, and children containing just about anything you can think of.  Featured today in their Health and Beauty section for only $17.99 (originally $69.99) plus $4.99 S&H is a quality looking Acupressure Relaxation Mat.

If the pointed plastic looks uncomfortable to you, the effect is actually the opposite.  The company claims that when the product is used “regularly for 20 to 40 minutes, you enable your body to release endorphins which in turn stimulates the release of oxytocin, the feel-good hormone. As a result, your body relaxes and releases stress, promoting restful sleep as a result of relief from stressful back and neck pain.”

My husband’s cousin introduced acupressure devices to me last year.  Knowing first hand that acupuncture works, I know that acupressure works too.  I have seen other mats such as these sold frequently and have always been intrigued.  This brand states that they use no glue and no chemicals to manufacture the RELAXAMAT – and it has a 5 year warranty.

For $23 (incl. S&H), I’d say it is a great deal if you suffer from excess stress and/or back and neck pain.  Try it out and let me know if you did!

Update 03/04/2019: This RelaxAmat is not easy to find and is not very big. But click here to see Amazon’s latest one that gets 4.5 stars for being very effective… and only $19.99 with FREE shipping!

Source: tanga.com via Vanessa on Pinterest