Back to School 2016-2017

When I started homeschooling my daughter at the age of 2 I thought wow this is going to be simple! LOL Of course it was she was 2!  We played and she learned. Her thirst for knowledge increased and my education started again. 

   I was 32 when she was born so by the time she was ready for elementary school I was 35. I had a LOT to re-learn because let's face it we don't retain everything we learn in grammar school for life! 

I started exploring types of curriculum and styles of learning as well as teaching. I started really paying attention to how my child learns. What did I discover you ask? I discovered that my child is a visual hands on learner. She is also very independent. She does well learning about things that interest her at her own pace and as a result at the age of 6 is in the 2nd grade and working toward 3rd grade rapidly. 

We took a long hiatus in the 2015-16 school year because I was starting a home based business and returning to the working world for the first time since my sweet princess was born.  So now as the new 2016-17 school year is getting underway we are picking back up full force with our routine of bible study, breakfast, handwriting, spelling, typing, spanish, language, math, history, science, and reading!  This girl is going to rock it out this year! 

I'm hoping to help out my teenage cousin who has been having issues with the public school by homeschooling her as well! So that would give me a High school student and an Elementary school student. I'm so excited for this year and what it will bring. 

We are taking a trip to San Antonio, Texas in October that will provide both girls with a hands on History lesson and even some geography! There will be so much more to come as well! 

Keep checking back to see Graham Christian Academy's Adventures!

Our First Texoma Homeschool Association Annual Easter Egg Hunt!

Today we are participating in the Groups first Annual Easter Egg Hunt and our normal monthly meeting!

I've been so busy and sick that I have not had the chance to do a news letter for the month of March. I am praying that I can just get it done this next week, for April!

We ordered 2nd grade curriculum!!!! I am so very overjoyed at the idea that we have almost made it through the 1st grade! I survived! LOL

She is such a blessing and learning to home school according to how she learns best has had it's challenges.


We are going to start blogging a lot more in the coming year as we will have more internet access.

Well Lot's to do today!

May God Bless  you and keep you!

Teaching Homemaking. ..

Starts with being an example. I learned this  the hard way. My daughter  is only 5 but I've  always been  told it is never too early to teach a child  personal  responsibility. I have never been the best housekeeper in the world,  just ask my husband! ;) Having a baby didn't  help in that area at all!
As she got older her toys seemed to multiply and I felt so overwhelmed  with house work (and I just have one child)! I decided she had to help pick up after herself. So at the age of 18mos  I started  teaching her to pick up toys and put them in the toy box.
As she has gotten older still we have tried to teach her to be personally responsible for her  belongings. Now at the age of 5 she can put up her clean clothes, gather the dirty ones, pick up toys, feed the dogs, clean the toilet and sink in the bathroom, set the dinner table, get out and put away condiment items from the fridge, pick up trash from the floor, help wash dishes, fold wash cloths and match socks.

I know this seems like a horribly long list but really it is quite normal. We work as a team and we try to make it fun, by singing songs and playing games while doing chores.

Here is a little something I use and it helps!

 

God Bless  you!

 

Learning through life experience

We have been using Bible verses to practice handwriting. This has proven to be a challenge to my daughter who normally doesn't complain about school work. However this week she has done nothing but complain!

How do you deal with a complainer? I've been spending a lot of time in prayer about how to deal with her and I have tried spending more time doing real life learning.

What do I mean my real life learning?
Well I have involved her in the daily life of a mommy. She has gotten to help pay the bills this week and she has gotten to write things down to see how a mom has to keep track of what comes into the household and what goes out.
Now some would say at 5 years old she is too young to know about finances. However I think it will help her to learn that money comes from somewhere and there is a reason she cannot have every Barbie, or baby doll she asks for. By allowing her to participate in this form of learning she will learn early on that we have a budget and that we must account for our money and be good stewards. This also gives me a chance to teach her about tithing.

So this week has been all about how to make sure the bills are paid and how to know when the bills are due and WHY we must work to earn money so that the bills can be paid.

From our Clan to Yours have a Blessed Day!

Happy New Year!

Well we made it through the holidays! We are almost ready to get started with a full time school schedule again. We are gong to start again on Monday Jan 5th and start with getting things back on track. Nikirhe is ready to get back to learning and I'm excited tat we are going to get to add some history and for the next few months we are going to learn all we can about Mexico, so that she can participate in the Geography fair in March.

Texoma Homeschool Association is having our first annual Holiday Pot Luck and I'm really looking forward to that!

Well lots to do...

From our Clan to Yours,
Happy Homeschooling!

Schooling On Our Own Schedule and Thanksgiving

I tried to get us all mapped out for what we should do each day. I wanted to feel like there was all this structure to our days. Then I realized that life happens and in our family structure is overrated! LOL

We are learning as we go and day by day things change. Although my daughter is quite advanced I want her to learn something on a daily basis.

So I decided that we would take a look at Thanksgiving. I have found a pretty good unit study for Pre-K & Kinder kids at www.hubbardscupboard.org

We are going to teach it to anyone who wants to attend tomorrow after story time at the public library.  Niki is excited to do this little unit study. She is so interested in learning history! (which I love!) I am a history buff and I am happy to have a daughter to pass on my knowledge to.

We are also learning little by little what a Clan is and how it functions. I love learning and teaching about our family heritage!

Well from our Clan to yours have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Busy Busy Time...

Things in the Graham Clan have been hectic and busy! I am now teaching Sunday school at our church Stone Creek Baptist Church. I am very excited because I'm teaching grades 1-6 and I get to watch my little girl grow in her walk with Christ as well as the other lovely kiddo's in my class!

We are working toward giving the kids incentive to read their bible and learn the books of the bible. I'm trying to make learning fun! I hope that I can convey God's love to these children as they learn of His love for them and learn to how draw nearer to Him as well.

Home school is going well. I'm behind on blogging because we do not have internet at home right now and there are only limited amounts of time at the library each week so I don't always get to blogging.

Well time is short and I must go.

May God Bless Your path!

~G~