Anchor Charts

Part of my back to school prep included making these beauties...anchor charts! I LOVE anchor charts because A. they were so much fun to make and B. Opal and Mae have a quick reference to concepts they have learned.

These babies didn't cost me a dime because I already had all the materials I needed. I used PVC pipe to make the stand. It took four coats of acrylic paint plus a clear coat along with washi tape to decorate the stands, but I'm happy with the final product.

My husband got me a little laminator machine a few years ago, so I ran my charts through that, punched holes in the top, attached them with a clamp ring and viola desk sized posters for school!

I wish I could give you a close up of the charts, but the majority of them are not my own creation. If you hop over to A Primitive Schoolhouse on Pinterest, you will see anchor charts that I have pinned for this pinspiration project! Click HERE to see my board.

Civics Lesson in a Voting Year

I know many of you have been prepping for the upcoming school year. For me, this past week has been nothing but prepping and planning. I'm going to start school in two weeks, so I've been a busy worker bee.

History requires A LOT of planning since I do not use a curriculum for this subject. According to our state's history state standards, Opal has to learn about civics and what better time to teach about democracy than an election year! After searching for some lesson ideas, I just knew I had to share with you my amazing finds.

I think I've grown tremendously in my interest and knowledge of the democratic process as I have gotten older. I used to be of the mindset that they should raise the voting age to 25, and sometimes watching the news, I still feel the voting age should be raised. I might get a lot of flack for that statement, but I don't think many 18 year olds are capable of understanding the issues surrounding voting until they have grown up and lived on their own a bit. Sure there are a few young people who are very well versed in worldly and political issues, but not many. In fact, only 10 states require students to pass the US Citizenship test. I wonder how many adults can pass that test today?

However, with the voting age being 18, I want Opal and Mae to be well versed in civics and understanding the democratic process so they can be informed voters when they are eligible to vote.

So in my history planning, I hopped on the Internet and searched for activities and lesson plan ideas to teach civics.

I ran across the edutopia website in my search for lessons. This WEBSITE had a plethora of civics sites and ideas. I urge you to look through all of the links. Some require you to be a licensed and practicing teacher in a school, but most of them are completely free resources.

I looked through a bunch of the links, but the one I found to be most valuable for my classroom was the iCivics website. You can access it HERE.

This website is free for ALL educators and they do not require a school email address. As a homeschool teacher, I was able to use my regular email and gain access to the site. I was able to save tons of PDF documents and PowerPoint Presentations. They have full lesson plans as well as games for kids to play. This educator give iCivics two thumbs up!

Please leave comments on how you plan to teach civics in this election year!

Disclaimer: I am in NO WAY affiliated with the links I have provided. The websites I mentioned and linked did not ask me or pay me for my endorsement. I urge you to make your own judgments of the links I referenced in my post. It's my hope that I can make your search easier by referencing the sites I found to be valuable when I conducted my search!

The Pokemon Go Craze Has Reached New Levels

When my sister, who is 10 years younger than me, told me last week that there was a new app called Pokémon Go and it was the new hotness on social media, I blew her off.

What adult in their right mind is going to play Pokémon? My kids collect Pokémon...they're kids. All I thought was, "Eh, she's 10 years younger than me...none of my adult friends will be drawn to a kids app..." WRONGO.

Two days after I first heard about this new app, I actually had adult friends playing it and it really is all over social media. Here are a few memes that I have seen in the past week....

Did you notice that these memes all have adults in them?

Is anyone disturbed by this? At all?????

I can't figure out if this app is genius or ridiculous.

I have friends who are going out to parks and playing with their kids. It's great that kids are getting off the couch and the app is resulting in fun family time. When was the last time technology caused this type of activity? Probably with the invention of the Wii.

I recently saw a debate on adults using this game and one person said her church was using it as a way to reach out to people.

When I see stuff like this I can't help but think, "Yeah, this app is pretty cool."

But then I get forwarded military information bulletins centered around Pokémon Go and the dangers that come with this app. Let me say that again...THE. US MILITARY. HAD. TO. TYPE. UP. A. BULLETIN. WARNING. ABOUT. POKEMON. GO...the US military that is currently fighting terrorists had to take time to warn military personnel about the dangers associated with AN APP!

It warned of the dangers of walking and looking at your phone. The dangers of criminal activity already being used through the lure module feature. The police receiving a surge in suspicious persons because people are trying to catch Pokémon while trespassing on private property.

In the news, major vehicle accidents have already occurred because drivers are playing while driving. Two men walked off a cliff in California and a teen walked out on a highway and got hit by a car. All the people survived, but hello is this not a wake up call?

Seriously, where has common sense gone? Just because you have fun playing games doesn't mean that you get a free pass on adulting and using your brain for goodness sake.

If an app has to come with several warnings, is the app really worth it? All you're doing is catching virtual fictional characters. I'm not understanding the lure and reward of walking around using up phone data in-order to play a game, especially when there are so many other important things that need to be done daily.

I'm just guessing here, perhaps adults are drawn to this game in-order to forget about their adult responsibilities????

I can already hear the argument of parents who let their kids play this app. They'll say that it's good because kids are being active. Let me remind you of the damage done to kids when they spend too much time using technology. As an educator, I can tell you that there is a big difference in school performance between kids who have unlimited screen time and those who go home after school and have limited technology use.

Unlimited screen time results in attention problems, sleep disorders and obesity. Doctors recommend 1-2 hours daily for all screens. That includes TV, tablets, computers, phones, and handheld devices.

So is it beneficial to allow kids to play Pokémon Go because they get outside and moving? I'm thinking no because of the dangers listed above.

Furthermore, this is the perfect opportunity for child predators to lure kids to them using that handy lure module feature...has that occurred to anyone?

I think for now I will pass on this app and instead I'll sit down a read a book with Opal and Mae...

The original blog post was edited to add to the list of accidents caused by the stupidity of Pokémon Go users as of 7/15/16. I'm sure more accidents are waiting right around the corner.

The Puberty Talk...Here We GO

Since the Lord has blessed us with two girls, the puberty talk falls on me, their mother. My husband gladly threw up his hands and passed that ball to me the day they were born. As they are getting older I've found myself panicking over how to tell them they get the privilege of having Aunt Flo visit monthly. How do I approach this topic? When do I approach this topic? Should I tell both of them together or wait until Mae is a little older? These questions have seriously plagued me and all we are talking about is puberty.

So as a good teacher and lifelong student I did my homework. I talked to family and friends with older girls and asked how they introduced the Giant Red Monster! I found that most of my friends already had the puberty talk with their daughters with the youngest being six. Holy Cow did I feel behind in this area.

Did you know that many 10 year olds are having their period now? Opal will be 10 this month. After I found this out I called up family members on both sides to see when they started their cycles and the age range was varied. We need to have this chat and soon. I do feel a little assured that puberty won't approach as soon because Opal hasn't reached 100 pounds yet. She's not even 70 pounds and it seems the general consensus is that 100 pounds is the point when girls will start their cycles.

In light of how behind we are in this life lesson, we decided this summer we will introduce Opal to world she's about to enter for the majority of her adult life (unless she hits menopause early). The next problem we faced was when to tell Mae? I really waffled over this. If I tell Opal and then tell her she can't talk to her sister about this, she'll probably blab and Mae will find out anyway. So we agreed that we'll make a science lesson out of it with both girls.

But how do we approach this? Opal has a major issue with blood. She doesn't even like saying the word blood or veins for that matter. How do I tell her she's about to deal with blood month after month? My family and friends had some interesting suggestions, here's what they did:

Say nothing and let them figure it out on their own...

I found that many of the older generation family members said nothing at all to their daughters about body changes. They just let them learn on their own and let them think they are dying if they never heard through the grapevine about the menstrual cycle.  One family member said she thought she had cancer and was mortified when AF showed up.

Read a book and journal about it...

A few friends said they purchased growing up books and a journal for their daughters. The mom would read up on the chapter, write some questions in the journal and then the child would read and respond in the journal. The child could talk to the mom if she wanted, but the journal provided a talking route that didn't include an awkward face to face.

What book was suggested the most you ask? American Girl The Care & Keeping of You: The Body Book for Younger Girls. This book goes through everything from pimples and body odor to mood changes and the cycle. Plus, who doesn't love American Girl?

Read a growing up book together...

Other friends read the book together with their daughters and talked about what they read. I see this working in very open relationships between parent and child. One friend said she even sat on the toilet fully clothed, put underwear around her ankles and showed her daughters how to put on a pad. This is definitely a must for visual learners and a good way to teach them. She said they all were laughing at the end of the lesson.

Make a coming of age basket...

I know one family member that put together a coming of age gift basket for her daughter. She included all the things her daughter would need in the coming years like training bras, pads, chocolate, heating pad, etc. I'm assuming they chatted about why the child would need these things in the future.

So where do I go from here?

I got the American Girl book along with the second book for older girls. I think I'm going to read it to both Opal and Mae and I like the idea of the journal to write down questions. I think when the time comes I will do the fully clothed pad tutorial and I might do the coming of age basket as well. The only suggestion I'm steering clear of is the say nothing and let them figure it out route. That one seems traumatizing.

I'd seriously value other suggestions! Did you use another method that wasn't mentioned?

Sometimes parenting is so hard!

VBS: Nightmare or Blessing?

A few hours ago my church wrapped up another year of a successful VBS. We had the most kids EVER and they seemed to have a blast as they "Walked This Way." They learned that Jesus is the only way and to follow Him, we turn to the Bible as our guide. We raised over $1300 for our missions offering and had a great time watching the pastor make a human sundae out of this summers interns!

As I sat down trying to come off of the VBS adrenaline high, I thought about the conversations I had with various helpers and I came to the conclusion that for some VBS is a nightmare, but for others it is a great blessing.

Where do you stand?

Last year I taught rising kinders and oh boy did we have our hands full. We had three adults and one teen and those kids were wild. I vividly remember a few little ones standing on tables and launching themselves off. We soldiered on and by day five, the kids knew the routine and knew they couldn't use the church as a giant jungle gym.

I learned that teaching 4/5 year olds is tough! I also learned that some parents scout out the churches in their area and take their kids to VBS for free childcare. Some of these kids bounce from church to church all summer and participate in various VBS programs. In reality this is kind-of sad, but I say it's a huge win for the churches! Maybe, just maybe, these kids will come to Christ and be an example for their families!

This year I was asked if I would help in VBS again. At-first I genuinely didn't know if we were going to go on vacation that week so I gave a tentative no. Then as we got closer to the big week I started getting selfish. I helped last year, why can't someone else do it? I'm with Opal and Mae 24/7, literally the only break I get is Wednesday night church and Sunday morning connect group. The rest of the week they are with me EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. OF. MY. LIFE! So when the pastor announced they still needed helpers I made up my mind that this year I wasn't going to help. Then with about 1.5 weeks to go before VBS, the pastor personally emailed me...as soon as I saw his name I just knew I was being asked to help. BINGO...they needed a third grade teacher.

I have this problem of not being able to say no if I know my answer can be yes, so I immediately put away my Selfish Mom Hat and donned the VBS Helper Hat. And you know what? I am so glad I didn't let myself be selfish this year.

A friend who goes to another church said her week was going awful because she had 9 boys, 6 who had less than desirable behaviors, and 1 girl. After reading her message I sat back and thought about my week. I had a few kids who didn't quite get along with each other, but in the end, I concluded that I really had a good group of kiddos. So I shot her off a message that it's still a blessing to help! I told her to use that as her mantra, and she overcame the troublesome behavior issues and kept her eyes on the bigger picture. Sometimes we need a reminder to help change our outlook on a situation. I'm glad God gave me the chance to change her outlook. Often times our roles would have been reversed and she is usually the one having to change my outlook...I'm glad I got to wear the Miss Optimistic Hat for once! Love you K~

Back to VBS: The bigger picture is what VBS is all about. Instead of looking at the inconveniences, the exhaustion, and the frustration; look at the blessing that comes from this. I can't tell you enough times how blessed I feel to have the opportunity to teach these kids from all walks of life. They made me laugh and the secretly made me cry. For example, on day 2 we asked the kids to write down a prayer request and then we had them lay their requests in a circle. The kids walked in a circle and wherever they stopped they had to pick up the request and pray. One child asked that God would help mom not be mean to dad anymore. At that moment, my whole outlook of VBS changed. These kids need VBS and they need compassionate leaders. Reading that prayer request was a gut wrenching wake up call.

The Bottom Line: It's not about ME; it's about what GOD is doing through me. We taught that to our kids this week, but what a lesson for adults as well. It's very easy to get wrapped up in ourselves. When we allow the world to revolve around us, we miss out on the opportunities to receive a blessing from God.

I challenge you to hang up the Selfish Mom Hat and don the VBS Helper Hat. Try to find the blessings through the chaos. Try to connect with those put in your care. Try to see the world through the kids' eyes. I guarantee with the right attitude and outlook, your world will be ROCKED!

To Homeschool or NOT to Homeschool??

I don't know about you but sometimes I really question if I am doing the very best for my girls by pursuing the homeschool route. When we made the choice to homeschool we completely felt that God led us to this decision. However, each year I wonder what Opal and Mae's futures will look like if we continue down this path. I'm grateful to live in an enormous homeschool community and I have several friends who have graduated their children from homeschooling to college.

My newest bout of anxiety over whether I made the right choice to homeschool came with the hundreds of Facebook posts showing prom pictures. I sat down and talked to a few of my homeschooling mom friends to see how they felt. My largest concern was that I was taking away an experience from Opal and Mae.

The conclusion from this discussion was that the majority of teens get into way too much trouble after prom. Some kids are well behaved and they go to the dance and go home. Others, and I'm hazarding to guess that A LOT, get themselves into major trouble and engage in illegal and immoral activities. Do I want Opal and Mae to be tempted to engage in these dangerous activities...NO. I can't protect them forever, but if I can prevent them from making the same teen mistakes that I made, well a mom has to try right?? With that being said, the girls can still experience prom even in homeschool. Some homeschooling parents get together and throw a prom for their kids. When we approach that age, I guess we will look into the whole shebang!

My next anxiety came after seeing the billions of high school graduation pictures. Sadly, this year's graduation pictures included former students from my first year of teaching...now I feel old and sad! If I continue to homeschool through 12th grade, Opal and Mae will miss out on their graduation march to "Pomp and Circumstance." I'm actually a little sad about my girls missing out on this experience. However, we can still get senior portraits made, we can still celebrate the end of a milestone, the girls still have friends to celebrate with, and they will still have a diploma.

The Pros and Cons of School:

• We tried the school route and it was great.
• The girls attended my school and I knew their teachers and chatted with them daily.
• They received a Christian education and they had great ladies that led them in their walk of faith.
• The girls had many friends and had lots of fun.
• They made good grades and engaged in extracurricular activities, BUT...
• Did Opal and Mae have gaps in their education? YES. 
• Did we enjoy waking up super early and making a mad dash out of the house five days a week? NO.
• Did I enjoy giving other children more attention than my own? NO.
• Did I enjoy the exhaustion that came at the end of every day? NO.

The Pros and Cons of Homeschooling:

• I have been able to give Opal and Mae individualized education on a daily basis. In a school setting, they would not receive this type of education because they are not special needs.
• I have been able to fill in the gaps in their education and I feel confident in knowing that they have a fuller grasp of educational concepts due to my instruction.
• I get to spend my every day with them and not focus the majority of my attention on other children.
• They still receive a Christian education.
• They still have tons of friends. Actually, I would say they have better friends now than when they were in school. You see schools pretty much pick a child's peers. They lump kids of the same age together and they become de facto friends with certain kids in this grouping. It doesn't matter if these kids have things in common. With homeschooling, the girls have made friends with kids that share common interests. Age isn't a factor. For example, Mae likes to play with LPS (Littlest Pet Shop) and her friend Evelyn, who's four years older, likes to make LPS videos. Together they make the funniest little videos and Evelyn is Mae's best friend. Evelyn treats Mae as a little sister and loves hanging out with her. At first is seemed weird to us that two kids with such a large age difference could be friends, but now I understand that age doesn't really count when making friends...friendship is based on common interests. 
• The girls are engaged in more extracurricular activities now than they ever were when we were in school.
• We can sleep in every day of the week if we need to and honestly, I have less cranky kids now than five years ago!
• I rarely go to bed mentally drained compared to when I was teaching 20 kids.
• Finally, the girls still go to school in an actual classroom with a great view!

In conclusion, will I homeschool Opal and Mae through high school? I hope so, but it ultimately depends on God's plan for us and what the girls want. Are they really missing out on life experiences? I'd like to think that they are experiencing more through homeschooling than they ever would sitting in a classroom!

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A Summer of Coding

Happy Monday Everyone!

In my attempt to not let the girls waste away every brain cell on meaningless electronics over summer break, I've decided to let them work on coding!

Let's talk about coding first. A good friend and fellow homeschooler pointed me to Khan Academy a few months ago. This website is amazing and FREE! Let me say that again...FREE. Anyone can use Khan academy so it's not just for homeschoolers. After reading through my review, hop over and check it out.

You can click HERE to access Khan Academy.

Opal was super excited to code, Mae not so much. I promised Opal that if she finished fourth grade strong, she could work on coding during the summer. Khan Academy has an hour of coding and then tons of other computer animation and website design tutorials. Opal LOVED coding and I LOVED that I didn't have to do anything other than create a student account for her. She breezed through the coding class but struggled a bit in the computer animation once it reached more difficult levels. Mae hardly made it through the simple coding so we agreed she can come back to it in a year.

Khan Academy Review:

• The coding class has kids create a snowman and add color by watching videos.
• Khan Academy partnered with Pixar (aka Disney) to teach kids how to do computer animation. Opal was able to create a ball and make it bounce.
• The more kids do, the more they unlock.
• Khan sends a parent report each week detailing time spent in each activity.

Mom review: 2 very enthusiastic thumbs up!

Once I saw Opal's love of coding, I decided she needed to really learn this concept. I am not familiar at all with coding, so me teaching this is a no go. I found one group, but I had to learn coding in-order to teach Opal. Not gonna happen. Then I found an online coding class called Homeschool Hackers that will teach basic coding using Minecraft. Just like Khan, anyone can join this group, not just homeschoolers. Homeschool Hackers does cost money, but it's only $9.95 a month! As soon as I found this group I was jumping for JOY!!

You can click HERE to access Homeschool Hackers.

Something I learned from this coding adventure is that coding has different languages! A few of my husband's coworkers are true computer geeks and when he mentioned this coding class, they gave him the 411 on coding. They literally peppered him with questions and the final result of the conversation was that Python is a good language for kids to start in when learning to code. Homeschool Hackers teaches Python by using Minecraft and creatively combined the two into Pycraft!

A few things you should know about this group.

1. You must purchase the full PC version of Minecraft. It costs $26.95 and you can get it HERE.
2. After you purchase PC Minecraft, you need to register at Homeschool Hackers and pay the $9.95.
3. After you register and pay, Homeschool Hackers sends you a video link with instructions. We have to wait until July 1st for Opal to get into their Pycraft server and start coding.
4. You have to pay by the end of each month to receive the video instructions for the following month.
5. The Pycraft servers are secure and monitored to protect your littles!!!!
6. The recommended age starts at 8, but if you have a younger child who is interested, you can sign him/her up!

Homeschool Hackers Review:

• It was easy to register.
• It's a cheap way to learn coding.
• It's secure and safe!
• The video allows kids to pause and view over and over.

Mom review: 2 very enthusiastic thumbs up!

Happy Coding Everyone!