Sunday Morning Bible Class Schedule (tentative)

On Sunday mornings, I teach a Bible class for 4 little boys ages approx 3-8 years old. This is at the congregation where my husband preaches. On Wednesday nights we are at our home congregation, and as of late, I'm either in cradle roll, 2s and 3s, or the 4s and 5s at that location. When homeschooling, you have to get organized. And I don't want to use the excuse that I'm burnt out or too busy to teach Bible class. Yes, it would be nice to have at least one quarter off a year, but sometimes I guess that is not possible without more volunteers. So I've been trying to type out lesson plans or at least take a few notes on a sheet of paper and file my lesson plans for future, easy reference. I tried to work out a way to go through the Bible in 2 years with my Sunday morning class, but it is simply impossible to do so because there are so many good lessons that I can't decide what to leave out! If I had Sunday morning and the Wednesday night class together at the same congregation, it would be easier to keep the flow and do this, but I'm basically looking at 52 lessons a year minus the 5th Sundays (when my husband is off and we go to our home congregation). So I typed up the topics I'd like to choose from in somewhat sequencial order. When I get myself more organized, or figure out how, I'll try to link the lesson plans. But at least having this list, keeps me knowing whats next and what is coming up. Right now, we are on Wanderings - The Tabernacle.

The Beginning

Creation - Day 1, 2
Creation - Day 3
Creation - Day 4
Creation - Day 5
Creation - Day 6, 7
Adam & Eve Sin
Cain & Abel
Job
Noah - Righteous, Obeyed
Noah - Entered Ark, Flood
Noah - Dove, Altar, Rainbow
The Tower of Babel The Promise
Abraham - The Promise
Abraham - Sodom & Gommorah
Abraham - Sarah Laughs
Abraham - Isaac as a Sacrifice
Isaac - Rebekah becomes Isaac's wife
Esau Sells Birthright
Jacob Tricks Isaac for Blessing
Jacob's Ladder Dream
Jacob Marries Leah, Works for Rachel
Joseph - Joseph's Coat and Dreams
Joseph - Brother's Sell Joseph
Joseph - Potiphar's Wife
Joseph - The Cupbearer and Baker
Joseph - Pharaoh's Dreams
Joseph - Famine Preparations, Brothers go to Egypt
Joseph - Eating at Joseph's House, Cup in Benjamin's Sack
Joseph - Joseph Forgives, Family moves to Egypt Moses
Moses - Israelites are slaves, Moses in Basket
Moses - Moses Grows Up in Palace, Flees for Midian
Moses - The Burning Bush
Moses - Moses Speaks to Pharaoh, Rods to Snakes
Plague 1, 2 - Water into Blood, Frogs
Plague 3, 4 - Lice, Flies
Plague 5, 6 - Disease, Boils
Plague 7 - Hail
Plague 8, 9 - Locusts, Darkness
Plague 10 - The Passover
The Exodus
Crossing the Red Sea Wanderings & Conquest
Wanderings - Quail & Manna from Heaven
Wanderings - Water from the Rock
Wanderings - The Ten Commandments 1-5
Wanderings - The Ten Commandments 6-10
Wanderings - The Tabernacle
Wanderings - The Serpent on a Staff
Baalam - Donkey Speaks
Joshua - crossing the Jordan Joshua - Twelve Spies
Joshua - Destruction of Jericho Judges
Gideon - The Fleece
Gideon  - The 300
Samson - His Strength
Samson - Defeat & Victory
Samuel - Hannah Prays, sent to Eli
Samuel - God Speaks to Samuel
Ruth  Kings
Saul - Chosen as King and Disobeys
David - As a shepherd, fights Goliath
David - Friends with Jonathan
David - Becomes King
David - The Psalms
Solomon - Builds Temple, Wise
Solomon - Overview of Proverbs Prophets
Elijah - The Ravens
Elijah  - The Widow
Elijah - The Altar
Elijah - The Chariot
Elisha - Naaman Washes in the Jordan
Jonah - Swallowed by Great Fish
Daniel - And Friends Eat the Right Food
Daniel - Nebuchadnezzar's Dream
Daniel - Friends in Fiery Furnace
Daniel - Nebuchadnezzar's Pride
Daniel - The Writing on the Wall
Daniel - The Lion's Den
Esther  Christ's Life and Teachings
Christ - Angel Visits Mary
Christ - John the Baptist's birth
Christ - Jesus is Born
Christ - John the Baptist's ministry
Christ - Jesus Grows Up
Christ - Jesus Visits Temple
Christ - Jesus is Baptized
Christ - Jesus is Tempted
Christ - Chooses Apostles
Christ - Zacchaeus
Christ - Jesus Blesses the Little Children
Christ - Sermon on the Mount, Beatitudes
Christ - Nicodemus
Christ - Jesus Visits Mary & Martha
Christ - The Rich Young Ruler
Christ - The Woman at the Well
Christ - The Transfiguration
Christ - Faith as a Mustard Seed
Christ - The Lost Coin
Christ - The Lost Sheep
Christ - The Lost Son
Christ - The Good Samaritan
Christ - The Sower
Christ - The Ten Virgins
Christ - The Talents
Christ - Vineyard
Christ - Rich Man and Lazarus
Christ - The Wiseman and Foolish Man
Christ - Turns Water into Wine
Christ - The Ten Lepers
Christ - Feeds 5,000
Christ - Spirit Cast into Swine
Christ - Heals Paralytic (Through the Roof)
Christ - Walks On Water
Christ - Calms the Storm
Christ - Heals Deaf Man
Christ - Heals Blind Bartimaeus
Christ - Raises Lazarus from Dead
Christ - Washing Apostles' Feet
Christ - Mary Anoints Jesus
Christ - Triumphal Entry
Christ - The Last Supper
Christ - Garden of Gethsename
Christ - Judas Betrays Christ
Christ- Peter Denies Christ
Christ- Death, Burial, and Ressurrection
Christ - Witnesses, Doubting Thomas
Christ - Ascension & Great Commission History of the Church
Acts - The Day of Pentecost
Acts - Ananias and Sapphira
Acts- Stephen is Stoned
Acts - Phillip and the Eunuch
Acts - Conversion of Saul/Paul
Acts - Paul's Escape, Lowered by a Basket
Acts - Dorcas
Acts - Peter's Vision Concerning Gentiles
Acts - Cornelius
Acts- Lydia and her Household
Acts - Phillipian Jailor
Acts - Paul Appeals to Agrippa
Acts - Paul is Shipwrecked
Steps of Salvation - Hear - Cornelius
Steps of Salavation - Believe - Phillipian Jailor
Steps of Salvation - Repent - Pentecost
Steps of Salvation - Confess - Eunuch
Steps of Salvation - Be Baptized - Saul
The Church - Gods' House, the church
The Church - Jesus is the Architect
The Church - Parts
The Church - Tools
The Church - Workers Needed
Acts of Worship - Sing, Pray
Acts of Worship - Give, Teach
Acts of Worship - Lord's Supper
The Fruit of the Spirit
The Armor of God

MIA

Obviously been MIA for a while. The last 2 months I had one of those "life learning" experiences. At the first of May, my mother discovered a large cyst inside my neck. Long story short---it turned out to be a benign colloid cyst inside my left thyroid gland. I underwent ultrasounds, CTs, and 2 biopsies to determine the nature of the cyst. I have to tell you when the word "cancer" was first thrown out at me, I was scared. Mainly for my boys. I underwent alot of soul searching, prayer, and pouring over the book of Job. It has been a scary experience, and the outcome will have some side effects, but I feel very blessed and a better person because of it. Last June 28th, I underwent surgery and had the cyst removed. It was rather large, measuring 2 inches wide! The risks outweighed the option of just leaving it alone. So for the next few months, we will just see if I will need thyroid hormone replacement or not. Kind of a waiting and watching game.

So soon, I plan to update and share with you my following projects:

1. the schoolroom - the look, the layout
2. our curriculum and school plan for 2012-2013
3. still working on my "Why we homeschool" story/statement
4. working on a Sunday morning Bible class schedule/curriculum
5. monthly meal plans
6. scrapbooking and shutterfly books

Learning through Games

Not long ago, I joked on Facebook,"Who said the Wii isn't educational?" Isaac was playing Wheel of Fortune. It actually was helping him learn his vowels, spelling patterns, and numbers. Children love to learn through play because it comes natural. Choosing some fun games that have some education behind them can help them learn without it being a sit down with pencil and paper time. Just make sure it is not all "Edutainment" and actually helps them learn a concept you want them to grasp.

Before Isaac was even 2 he learned his letters and sounds by playing on Starfall.com.  Unlike Eli who could care less and gets mad at the mouse, Isaac was a natural at the computer. He loves learning and playing on the computer even today. I let him play a game called Civiballs. It is great for cause, effect, thinking things through, and a little bit of physics. Neon Maze is another good one in which he as to use that noggin.

The other day, I taught Isaac to play Yahtzee. He needed some help with the Lower Section, but the Upper Section was really good for him: adding, grouping, introduction to multiplication, strategy, counting by 2s, 3s, etc. The best part is I got to spend time with him.   

Here is a dice game we played this morning and one we've done in the past:

So we use the Lauri pegs and board with some

big foam dice I got through Oriental Trading.

I didn't see this game anywhere, we just made it up. So if you've seen it anywhere, its purely coincidental. Who knows, maybe it is in the instructions, I don't know! We take two dice and foam mats 2-10 (because you can't roll just a 1 with two dice, and the box doesn't come with 11 and 12). We roll the dice, Isaac has to tell me the answer. (reinforces his math facts) Then, we place a peg on that number. We roll until we have no more pegs. When we get to the end...

We make a graph, count our pegs for each number

and see which number was rolled the most.

Now this game originally came from www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com

but it was too easy. You roll the dice and circle which one you rolled.

This would be an early game for learning your dice patterns, numbers, and counting.

So we changed it up, and took turns rolling the dice to see

who got the higher number in each square.

Then we tallied up my wins and his wins to see who the grand winner was.

Isaac wanted it to be more challening, so we made boxes

with the numbers through 12 and used two dice.

This again, helps him reinforce his addition facts because we

are rolling two dice to add together.

Community Helpers and More

Been MIA for a while, but we've been busy! So here a few things to catch you up.

In March, we went to Roundup, an annual homeschool educators camp for members of the church of Christ. Met so many great people, and we really look forward to going back. The boys were sportin their shirts here. Hope to have actual pictures of camp in the future to share.

The boys have been as onery as ever. Keeping me on my toes.

Workin on some potty training. Unlike Isaac,

Eli needs some lessons in modesty,

but it does make potty training easier!

Wish me luck!

However difficult they be at times, my boys bring me joy,

and I'm so thankful that I get to stay at home with them. 

I'm working on my own "Why We Chose to Homeschool" topic that I will want to share in the future. It is more for me, but perhaps it will answer questions as well. With Isaac's Kindergarten year coming up, I knew I'd be getting more and more questions and facing those that might be a bit judgemental in our decision. Just feel the need to get my thoughts out on paper. Hope to share that soon.

So here are some things we've been doing:

Mama has been on a 30 day yeast/gluten/refined sugar free diet. Trying to develop better habits. Today is day 30! Now I'm trying to decide my meal plan for the next month and decide which foods I will allow myself to add back in. The goal is to leave the refined sugar treats for special occasions. (ex.don't make a batch of cookie dough and eat on the dough all week...lol) The best thing about this has been new recipes and ideas on healthier snacks! 

The boys certainly didn't mind my sugar free snacks!

 Notice the chocolate on Eli's face and that longing look for MORE!

We got carpet in our schoolroom! Remnants from the Sterling church building!

Gotta love the orange...lol. Piece of my childhood in here.

We started a unit on community helpers. 

Read library books about each career. We made lapbooks, too. Most of the material came from

www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com or www.homeschoolcreations.com.

We've learned about police officers, fire fighters, librarians, and post office/mail carriers so far.

Occupation cards from Mardels

Here's our policeman costumes.

We played a stop and go game like red-light, green-light.

Happy officer

Mad officer

Happy officer

Our homemade stoplights. Eli wasn't convinced that it wasn't his instrument.

Note: On the Making Patterns section. I laminated and put large magnets on the back of the cards.

The actual squares you see on the lapbook have magnetic paint behind them, so it sticks!

Studied Fingerprints

I made a notebook full of our work.

Laminated alot of this stuff b/c color ink is expensive.

Then we just use wet/dry pens.

The graph is a dice game using these things I bought.

http://www.educationcubes.com/

Isaac had fun with it.

We did a fire experiment. I didn't take pictures cause you really gotta watch Eli around fire! Here is the site where I got the idea.

http://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/blog/2011/09/kindergarten-fire-safety-theme-week.html

Our mailbox. These came with their valentines this year.

I bought them because I thought it would be perfect to let them play

"mail" or "post office." And that is what we did!

Isaac had to purchase paper, an envelope, and a stamp. I then helped him write letters to his Daddy, Leah, and Nick. This activity turned into a shopping activity. He got his shopping cart and started filling it up. I was the cashier. I told him that will be one quarter, dime, nickel, penny, etc. So he was learning to identify the coins, but he thought he was playing! ;) We also made a trip to the real post office to pick up a package. Isaac had to do the talking.

We go to the library every Thursday so he is pretty familiar with librarians.

This was an activity I made while in college. You alphabetize the books on the bookshelf.

A teacher friend gave me these old books that were being thrown away.

I swear these are so familiar. I think they were the same readers I learned from. This is 1st grade and Isaac is whizzing through the reading. He doesn't like the workbook though. Phonics rules, spelling, and writing can come later. He just wants to read, read, read!

I bought this cool little slip pocket thing.

Perfect for dry erase and reusing supplies!

I have alot of folder games from Words Their Way. I keep this bin full of the ones he can do, we've worked on, or are currently working on. These go in his little reading corner.

This box holds little readers he can read independently. I kept alot of Leah's old readers from kindergarten and 1st grade. Isaac has been reading alot of those. Apologetics Press easy readers are great, too.

Watching God's creation at work! We found this on our front porch.

We'll be turning this into a study of the Butterfly Life Cycle!

Love how education just happens at home!