Poniente Academy

Math

Today for Math, Mahal did a workbook Deluxe Edition Time, Money, & Fractions grades 1&2. I bought it earlier this year at Wal-Mart. Deluxe Edition Time, Money, & Fractions is available as a workbook and/or a workbook with a cd-rom. The cost of the workbook is between 3-4 dollars plus tax and the cost of the workbook with the cd-rom is between 15-16 dollars plus tax. What I like about the cd-rom is it saves paper, there are reward games that kids can play after finishing about 3 pages (which doesn't take Frances nor Mahal more than 5 minutes sometimes), but another good thing with the cd-rom is you can stop the game once it starts and go on to more work.

Here are some other programs for Math:
Math Made Easy
Math U See
IXL
These all have their benefits. I think I'd like to try IXL, because it tells us what our kids should be learning at what grade level, but it can become expensive and it requires a computer.
At the homeschooling Conference we got information from Math on the Level it saves us money and I don't have to invest every year. These separate volumes are fully indexed and cross-referenced – and in full color! With emphasis on maturation and practical application, this one curriculum purchase will meet the math needs for teaching your whole family from preschool through pre-algebra! All volumes operate as a single curriculum, are fully cross-referenced and indexed, and are in full color. The curriculum uses the innovative 5-A-Day system of continual review that makes sure each child retains what has been learned.

Posted by DawnP at 10:04 PM | 0 comments  

Homeschool Fun Fair tomorrow

We won't be able to go:{ But the Lord Jesus knows what's best. Though we don't understand why things happen we just have to trust that HE knows what's best.
I remember, in February 2008 we wanted to go to a fundraiser dinner, at our church, for Christmas For Christ. It was at night, but my husband had to work that night. So, he was off work in the morning. Good thing Praise God! Our 2 year old daughter went to go throw something away, she knew that their was a garbage can in our bathroom, I thought she'd see the big garbage bag next to the bathroom. But she went to the bathroom, and she fell and hit her forehead on the toilet. It was bleeding and the cut was very deep. We have 1 vehicle and so it's good that my husband was home, otherwise she could have died or went into a coma while we waited for my husband to get home from work. An ambulance will normally only take the patient and 1 other person max.; well, we have 5 kids total plus it wouldv'e been me. We called two people to ask them to pray for her, because she was bleeding and started falling asleep. After that, her bleeding stopped. We drove to the hospital, about 20 minutes away, and it was snowing out so we couldn't go faster, but the LORD Jesus Christ held the snow for the last 1/2 mile or so (those seconds that we got to the hospital sooner could've meant life or death/coma). I am so thankful the LORD JESUS CHRIST worked that all out and did not allow her to go into a coma or die. (The doctors said it's natural after a head injury to fall asleep and it's fine, the problem occurs when the person doesn't wake up. Ummm I don't want to risk it. My husband and I know of kids who hit their head and fell asleep and are still in comas. One child was about 18months-sick with a fever and she fell on the hard floor-that was over 4 years ago-the only way she communicates is by crying and she drinks from a bottle-she's about 7years old now).
I remember, a few months ago, my husband barely had any sleep the night before he went to work. Our LORD JESUS CHRIST gave him the strength to endure his day at work. He was about to leave and he felt led to sit down at the desk for a few minutes. Then he got up and came home. On his way home, a bad accident had just happened, a few minutes before he approached that intersection (we only live 10-15min. from his work and that was at about the halfway point). We have a minivan and the vehicle that was in the wreck was a MINIVAN. I think they had to use the jaws of life to get the person out of the minivan. That literally could've been my husband if God wasn't protecting him.
Though we're dissappointed that we're not able to go, we definitely know that JESUS CHRIST knows what's best.
So may the LORD JESUS CHRIST bless us and our readers to remember:if we're trying to get somewhere and we're late or not able to go somewhere, God knows what's best.

But maybe it's the LORD JESUS CHRIST'S WILL FOR YOU TO GO...Here's a letter from Jan

Hello, Everyone,
This is a friendly reminder that tomorrow
is the BIG fund raiser for Wisconsin CHEA.
Please show your
support for CHEA by joining us at the Fox River Park in Waukesha, WI (not Fox
River Park-way-- this park is on River Road)-- from 10 am to 7
pm.
We have over 175 items up for auction and raffle. Many
are great home school items and educational toys!!!
New
donations since I last wrote are: the Kalahari resort- a fun overnight including
prestige lodging; breakfast and lunch, waterpark passes, all for up to 6
people!!!
Also, Stonefire Pizza Co in New Berlin has
donated not only 2- $25 gift cards, but has donated a wonderful Birthday party
for up to 10 kids!! This party is a 2 hour fun filled time -- one hour in the
game room with unlimited access to the 5 major attractions: BalloCity; Bumper
Cars; Frog Hopper; Rock Climbing and Mini-Bowling. The other hour is spent in
the party room with pizza, soda and a cupcake tower- you don't even need to
provide the cake!!
We have many more great donations
for everyone!!
Please forward this email and get to
the phone if you can and encourage others to come.
Thanks
so much for those who called or wrote and encouraged us through their support
and their help in spreading the word about this...

Don't forget--

FREE games and prizes for ages 3-10
Concessions sold all day
including cotton candy, popcorn, sno kones
Picnic atmosphere
Games and
activities for all ages
Children's play area
Fishing
Trails

Raffle and silent auction items until 2:00
p.m.
Winners will be announced right after 2 pm, then the LIVE auction starts
at 2:30.

Our live auctioneer is donating his time, and his name is
Colonel Bob. He is the grandfather of one of our home school friends from
Racine, who has helped us out numerous times with other events-- Sheila
Boldt.

So, please join us tomorrow-- looks like the Lord is blessing us with great
weather, but we will be there rain or shine!!!

Check out our
website if you need more information...

http://wisconsinchea.com/

In
Christ,

Jan

Posted by DawnP at 9:26 PM | 0 comments  

Homeschool Fun Fair and Auction

Wisconsin CHEA (Christian Homeschool Educators' Association) is hosting their first Homeschool Fun Fair and Auction at Fox River Park; Areas 2&3; Waukesha, WI. Time:10am-7pm. There will be concessions (all proceeds go to help support Wisconsin CHEA). The park charges $5 per carload for parking (that $ goes to the park not to Wisconsin CHEA no matter what day you go to the park.)
Our kids are really looking forward to going to this and SO ARE WE!! There are even contests for pre-teens (age starts at 11) and teens. Registration has been extended, for the contests, to July 21st, so if you'd like to participate don't delay. Whether you homeschool or not you are welcome to attend. The auctions will have resorts, homeschool curriculum, GreenBay Packers and Milwaukee Brewers autographed items, and much much more!!

read more about Wisconsin CHEA Homeschool Fun Fair

Posted by DawnP at 10:21 PM | 0 comments  

Winging It

Yesterday for school I gave Frances and Mahal some common words that they should know based on how old they are. Then I wrote a story with those spelling words in it, had them read it out loud to me, then they underlined the spelling words in the story. They both got 100%.
It's nice to follow books, but I like to wing it sometimes.

Frances' spelling words (2nd Grade): America, Platter, smoothie, window, health, healthy, blender, plastic, Wisconsin, and the city that we live in.
Mahal's spelling words (1st Grade): Jelly, grape, banana, strawberry, bush, vine, tree, green, yellow, purple.

Posted by DawnP at 9:21 AM | 0 comments  

Poniente Academy Resumes School

Well, the month of June was a light month of school. Our kids are almost done. They have about 1 more month of school to get their required hours. Frances has more hours done then Mahal. Mahal worked on reading Click Clack Moo Cows That Type book for about 25min. She got about half way through.
I thought Science was my weak subject, but the LORD JESUS CHRIST helped me to realize that actually we've been doing Science all along with cooking and baking. If you think about it... what does yeast do: cause and effect. What if too much baking soda is added? YUCK! What if we add an extra cup of oatmeal to the oatmeal cookies (they're more crumbly and need to squeeze hard to get them to stick together before baking, but when baked they're good). They're delicious and not too sweet. We learned how to make homemade 3milk cake too, (it's like sponge cake) for Father's Day. It took 8 eggs beaten for a few minutes to make it stiff. That was hard work but well worth it.
Thanks for reading my blog. Questions and/or comments are appreciated.

Posted by DawnP at 11:06 AM | 0 comments