Teaching Together, Resurrection Eggs {March 2016}

Welcome back to Teaching Together!

This month marks our 6th link-up of sharing and learning together. It may or may not surprise you but these posts are always a HUGE challenge for me. I think it's because I am so immersed in home school and education all day long that my brain is generally fried in this category. Coming up with posts that others can (and want) to relate too is always so tricky for me.

This month I chose to share a project that I have been wanting to do for several Easters now.

It is easy, inexpensive and I didn't even have to leave my own home yard to gather the supplies #winner!

With Easter coming soon, now is the time to start preparing hearts both young and old to celebrate Christ's glorious defeat over death. 

These resurrection eggs take about 15-20 minutes to assemble and are started 11 days before Easter meaning you open your last (12th) egg on Easter morning. This year the day to start would be March 16th! So you have just under 2 weeks to get everything ready.

Here is what you need
Day 1: Blades of grass. 

(I took 3 and wrapped them together.)
Day 2: 3 Dimes

Day 3: Piece of bread or cracker

Day 4: Small piece of paper rolled into a scroll
Day 5: Piece of rope or yarn for whip
Day 6: Thorn
(I used a brown pipe cleaner to make a crown.)

Day 7: 2 Nails
Day 8: Dice
Day 9: Spear
(I cut a skewer down to size)
Day 10: Piece of thin white cloth

Day 11: Rock
Day 12: Is left empty

I used a Sharpie to number my eggs.

Writing on eggs with a Sharpie... not as easy as I hoped.

I placed my items in the correct eggs, put the lids on and we are now ready for March 16th!

You might even say they are egg-cited!

So sorry. I just had to do it.

Something in me just can resist a pun.

Free Printables

Now for the printables so you can make your own set. 

First off the egg carton cover that you can print, cut to shape and glue on.

Print Cover HERE

Next are the verses to print off and glue as a reference inside the lid of the box.

I only did the references and not the entire verses and I would like to tell you why?

#1 I think it is SO important for kids to see us going to the Bible. Not reading it from our phone or a piece of paper, but opening up Gods word, finding it together and reading it there. I don't always go this route but the extra bit of time is so well worth it.
#2 As kids get older it is great practice to have them look up the verses, which is what I plan to do.

Print Bible references HERE

I am so excited to open these eggs every morning with my girls. 

My hope and prayer is that this would be a tool to share the reason we celebrate Easter with your little ones.

Now it's your turn to link up what you've been learning about lately. Grab the button from my sidebar and join the fun!
By submitting a link, you are giving me authorization to feature your post.  If your post is featured, we will include a picture and a link to your site to share the love!

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Teaching Together: Thankful Hearts {November 2016}

Welcome back for another round of Teaching Together.

We are so glad that you could join us

Work It Mommy, Tickled Pink,

Sweet Turtle Soup, A + Life & Our Pretty Little Girls

Last month was a small link up but we still had some really great posts. 

Here is one of my favorites.

Whitney from Polka Dotty Place shared a super simple playtime idea using a 15 bean mix.
It doesn't get much easier or cheaper than that.
Thanks for linking up Whitney.

This month I want to talk about something near and dear to my heart, thankfulness.

I believe a thankful heart is something that is taught.

Sure some kids may learn easier than others or naturally be more thoughtful. But I believe the act of being thankful is something that needs to be taught through our words and actions. 

We like to take full advantage of the month of November to talk about having a thankful heart. Today I want to share a few simple ways we teach thankfulness in our home.

Our Thankful Tree

We started our thankful tree tradition about 2 years ago. The first year it only ended with a few leaves, last year we made a major improvement and didn't miss too many days. This year Marissa won't let me forget, she loves filling out and hanging the leaves. 

Instead of traditional leaf shapes I cut out hearts this year.

Every day when we write on our leaf we talk about why we are thankful for what we chose. Our tree may be pretty empty right now, but I have a feeling that won't last long.

Grateful, Thankful, Blessed Painting

One of my favorite, super simple art projects to do with the girls is a secret painting. When they were younger I would write or draw something in white crayon on a paper, then they would use the water colors to reveal the message. Now that they are a bit older they like to do some of the drawing or writing on their own. 

Walk & Talk

The other day the girls and I played hookie for a bit and went out to enjoy the beautiful fall weather. It was awesome to watch the joy in their eyes. We live in a part of town where there are very few large trees, so to be immersed in the beautiful fall colors was amazing. It gave me the perfect opportunity to talk to them about the beauty of nature, our creator and how blessed we are. 
All reasons to be thankful.

Simple ways to plant seeds, water them and trust that in time they will grow. 

How are you teaching thankfulness in your home?

A Thankful Heart Is A Happy Heart. Click here to download this free printable
Now it's your turn to join the fun. Grab the button from my sidebar and link up what you've been teaching lately!

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The 5 Most Common Questions I Get Asked About Homeschool

Happy Monday Friends!
Today I am guest posting over at Being Mrs. Beer about one of my favorite topics, homeschool.
As a homeschool mom I get a million reactions to the phrase "we homeschool".  Looks, comments and questions are always abundant whether they are welcome or not. Today I want to share with you the five most common questions people ask me.

So head on over, take a look and make sure you say hello while you are there!
We'll see you back here tomorrow for Tuesday Talk so be ready to link up those posts!

First Day of School {2015}

Last week our summer officially ended and we went back to school.

I can hardly believe how big and beautiful our girls are getting. I often find myself asking two questions over and over again.

1) When & how did they get so big? 2) Why has God been so good to us?
We are so abundantly blessed.
Marissa is a second grader this year.

I asked Marissa:

What are you most excited about this school year? // 

Learning about science and working on swimming at the indoor pool.

What are you least excited about? //

Doing speed drills in math.

2012-2015

Oh my goodness I can't even believe how young she looked when she was Emily's age.

Emily is working on Pre-K 4 this year

I asked Emily:

What are you most excited about this school year? // 

I am excited about writing my name and the inside pool.

What are you least excited about? //

Ummmm? Flashcards and.... hmmm.... tracing things! And that is all, okay mama!

Now for more pictures because I am a total sucker for any excuse to take a ridiculous amounts of photos :).

A few that make me say #OhEmily.
Her expressions are simply the best, ever.

I always take this "artsy" shot... I don't know why I like it, but I do.

And of course I have to share some sister shots.

So excited and privileged to be starting another year of homeschooling.
Getting to not only be mom, but their teacher too has been one of my biggest joys in the journey of motherhood.

Have you went back to school yet?

Back To School Blog Hop {2015}

Good Morning!
Today is all about all things back to school! I am so excited to be teaming up with some of my favorite bloggers for a back to school blog hop.

3+ Ways to Show Love to Your Kids in School from Garay Treasures // Count Me In Giveaway from Abiding In Grace // Free Homeschool Pre-school Printables from All Kinds of Things // Back to School Tips for Moms from Our Pretty Little Girls // Back to School Boy Style from BYBMG // Tips for Using Your Local Library from Our Life on a Budget // Discovery Puzzles from Polka-Dotty Place // 10 Bible Verses to Encourage the Student Athlete from While I'm Waiting // First Day of School Printable from Morning Motivated Mom // Preparing an Anxious Child from Almond Place //Tips to Stay Organized With School from Living In This Season //
I feel like we are paving the way, we are officially on school day #3! Three days in and we are still surviving! I was just so sure that going back to the books after a summer packed full of fun might actually kill us. 
Joking aside, I feel confident and excited about the 2015/2016 school year. Re-purposing a space into a school room was quite possibly the best decision we have ever made. I am already seeing the benefits of a designated school space and wondering why we didn't do this sooner. I also did a lot of work to lay out, plan and organize our school year. We seem to thrive on organization in this household so I am hopeful my hard work will pay off.
Today I want to talk about getting back to school and offer a few tips to help mom out during this time of transition and change for the entire family. Simple, easy things that we can do to prepare for changes in the week leading up to and first week of school. 

Stock up//  If your home is anything like mine your typical grocery routine has been a bit disrupted through the summer months. Taking the time to get to the store and restock your shelves before school starts can help in so many ways. As a home school mom I don't have to worry about needing to add a store trip in for at least two weeks giving me more time to focus on our new school year. This could also greatly benefit a working mom as well.
Clear the calendar// Anything that isn't necessary goes. Sometimes this is easier said than done but while adjusting to a new routine clear the calendar as much as you can.    Wake up early// I know, I know! I can just feel the eye rolls, hear me out on this one. However much time you think you need, add at least 15 minutes. I can not tell you how many times I have unnecessarily stressed my kids out because I underestimated how much time we needed to do something. Once the kids adjust to the new schedule and things become more routine you can take those 15 minutes back.
You're still Mom// Sometimes it is so easy to get caught up in the teacher, homework police, schedule keeper, bed time enforcer role that the fun summer mom goes out the window and we become overly focused on rules. Going back to school and embracing a schedule doesn't mean you aren't allowed to be fun any more. Remember you're still mom. I am all for being firm when needed but don't be so overwhelmed by keeping things in perfect order that your kids loose sight of the real you.    Be proactive// Now is not the time to procrastinate. If you can do something right away, do it. If not make sure you right it down so it won't be forgotten about. So many stressful situations can be avoided simply by not procrastinating. 
Keep realistic expectations// These are the times that I think Pinterest perfect visions crush moms. Breakfasts, teacher presents, photos, back to school outfits & haircuts and looking oh so put together can be such a burden. Keep it real mom. You don't have to nail every single thing. Focus on what is the most important & realistic for you and let the rest go.
Pray// Lastly I would add don't forget to pray for your kids. Back to school is such a big and exciting time in the lives of our children. Pray with them and for them often. 
What back to school tip would you like to share with other moms?

Tuesday Talk: Ask A Home School Mom: {Q&A Part One}

Welcome to Tuesday Talk!

We are so glad that you are joining us this week. 

We would love to have you join the fun, link up and mingle around. 

This weeks post is one I have been working on for weeks now and it's all about...

Your Questions On Home School

First off I want to say a huge thanks. You have asked questions on the blog, through emails and Instagram. I couldn't have wrote this post without your help.

Secondly I want to say how weird it feels to be starting a little series on homeschooling. I never pictured myself here, but I'll share more about that in just a minute. 

How did you decide you wanted to home school? 

Here we are again already. Our story is proof that God is not lacking in the sense of humor department. 

I have to be honest, I never had a desire to home school. I didn't like home schooling. I thought it was weird, over protective and a way for "the home school moms" to make me feel like less of a parent because I opted for public education. I wanted to nothing to do with it.

We enrolled Marissa in private Pre-K when she was 4 hoping to get her ready for Kindergarten. Summer came and she was enrolled to start public school that fall, then with only a few months to go something changed. Something crazy and unexpected. I never saw it coming.

I began to feel God leading my heart to consider home schooling.
At first I was resistant but slowly I became more open to the idea. I talked to my husband about it and his heart was open to the idea as well. In the end we both felt it was the right direction for our family so we went for it.

Now I look back just so amazed at how perfect home school has been for us. I am overwhelmingly thankful that we were led that way and chose to listen even when it scared us. It certainly wasn't ever a part of our plan. 
But isn't God's plan always better?
How did you get started?

I  am pretty sure I talked to everyone I knew that was currently home schooling, had been home schooled or knew a home schooling family.

I also was able to do some research on the internet. I have learned over the years that there are lots of ways to get plugged into local homeschooling groups via Facebook. Many offer classes or seminars to families wanting to know more about homeschooling.

I connected to a local home school co-op pretty quickly. That has been a huge help and encouragement to me over the past two years. Having a good support system in place is needed when you have a rough day. Everyone needs someone who's been there, can relate to your struggles and encourage you to keep on.

Follow Our Pretty Little Girls's board Home School Helps on Pinterest.

How early did you start teaching the girls? What resources did you start with?

I am not the mom who starts teaching my kids at a super young age. To say that my kids are counting to 100, know all their ABC's and are speaking Spanish at the age of 3 just isn't my style. 

In our home I take the no stress approach. If the child is interested in early learning sure, if not, okay. To say I carved out hours of teaching time when my girls were 2 & 3 years old would simply be a lie. I now have a 6 year old who just scored way beyond her grade level on her placement test. I am pretty sure my approach to education was no hindrance. However, I will add that we always have been huge advocates of reading books. 

To get started I am the no fuss, inexpensive advocate. I say hit up your local Target dollar bin and pick up some $1 workbooks and flash cards. You can also find TONS of resources and games online. This fall will be the first time Emily will have a more formal preschool routine and she is four. I still plan to keep it as inexpensive as possible. Personally I don't feel the need to use formal curriculum before Kindergarten. 

But once again everyone is different and the most important thing is doing what works best for you, your schedule, budget and child. 

Follow Our Pretty Little Girls's board Kids Pre-K Ideas on Pinterest.

How much instruction do you actually give or are your kids more self motivated?
I think at this age quite a bit of instruction is still needed. I have noticed a huge difference between Kindergarten and First grade as reading skills have improved. Some subjects such as Math and Writing tend to be more independent. But others such as History, Science and Bible are taught and will continue to be that way for years.   I like that this keeps me very involved in the process. I know what she is learning, I learn with her and we can explore what we are studying together outside of the text books. 
What curriculum/books do you use?
Just like so many other areas of home school you have to figure out works best for you and your kids. It is perfectly fine to buy math curriculum from one place and science from another. I also learned that the easiest way to find what you want is to get your hands on the books. Curriculum shows are abundant, reviews online are great and I also really like talking to other parents about what they have tried. 
I am a HUGE fan of 'Explode The Code' phonics curriculum. I have really enjoyed 'A Reason For Writing' for penmanship practice. And we tend to be pretty Abeka heavy, using it for Math, Science, Health and History. But ask me again next year and I may sing a different song.

A few other lessons I have learned.
* You don't have to use the same curriculum every year. You are free to mix things up, remember that.
*Buy used whenever possible, it will save you lots of money. *Each kid is different be willing to adapt for each child.
How difficult is it to set time aside for school instead of planning your day however you want?
The struggle is real, but ultimately I have to make education a priority. Does that mean every day will turn out just the way I have it wrote down on paper? Of course not. But, for the most part we have a schedule and we try our best to keep it.

To find out more about our schedule come back next week for part 2. I am planning to do a "day in the life post" so you can see exactly what a typical day looks like for us.
Questions, comments, thoughts?
Leave me a comment. 

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Tuesday Talk: Project Fair 2015

Welcome to another week of Tuesday Talk.

We are so glad your here. We would love to have you link and mingle with us this week. 

Becky from BYBMG, Beth from Our Pretty Little Girls, Whitney from Polka Dotty Place, Elizabeth from All Kinds of Things, Tara from Mrs.Coach Sims, Keri from Living In This Season, Sarah from Abiding In Grace, Lauren fromSimply Free , Andrea from Mitchael Journey, Jessica & Katie from Sweet Little Ones, Mandy from Almond Place, Teressa from Teressa Jane

Today's post is about my favorite first grader and her very first project.

Every year our home school co-op host an annual project fair. The rules are easy, there aren't any. Anything goes art, science, literature, history whatever you kid wants to do. Marissa being an animal lover and slightly infatuated with Wild Kratts chose to do her project on her favorite animal, the Panda.

That girl worked and worked and then worked some more.

I could have taken a hundred photos of her doing this, because she worked for around an hour every day for two weeks.

Finally all her work payed off and she ended up with a pile of papers ready for her board.


That handwriting. She works so hard on hers and embarrassingly enough it often looks better than mine does.

She assembled her board (with some help).

Then she practiced her presentation

and practiced some more.

Finally the big day was here. I watched as she proudly displayed her work.

Then presented her project to her class.

This mama's heart was so proud it could have burst into pieces.

Marissa I am SO proud of you and your hard work.
I am so lucky to call myself you mom and teacher.

I love you!

Speaking of home school...

I receive a lot of questions about this topic so I thought it would be fun to do a blog post focused on answering your questions, anything and everything. 

If you have a question for me, leave it in the comments or send me an email. I will do my best to answer what I can in an April blog post.

Now it's your turn grab the button and link up.

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