On Monday, we will start using the Time 4 Learning curriculum. I've spent the last couple of weeks setting up the accounts for the kids, taking a look at the curriculum, and deciding what assignments they will be doing.
So far, I really like it! It seems very easy to navigate. I do have to say that the games and cartoony lessons will definitely appeal to my younger two. I am not sure yet how my 13 year old will feel. He may be too "cool" for that. I really think he will be fine, but I would like to have him use it for a bit to see. I do need to invest in some ear buds for them because the sounds will certainly be disruptive to everyone else.
I am excited for them to get started! One, because they have been *slackers* this entire summer. Two, because I really think they will like it!
I will keep you posted!
Saturday, August 13, 2016
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
TIME4LEARNING
After searching around, I found an very interesting online curriculum called Time4Learning. It looks like it could really work for us! I can't wait to give it a go. What is cool about this is I've been invited to try Time4Learning for one month in exchange for a candid review. My opinion will be entirely my own, so be sure to come back and read about my experience. Time4Learning can be used as a homeschool curriculum, for afterschool enrichment and for summer skill sharpening.
Find out how to write your own curriculum review for Time4Learning. Message me anytime, and I will be glad to point you in the right direction!
Find out how to write your own curriculum review for Time4Learning. Message me anytime, and I will be glad to point you in the right direction!
MERCY vs JUSTICE
This post kind of builds off of the post I wrote in January 2012, Forgiveness. I have been really pondering this stuff for a year. I can honestly say, I am struggling to wrap my mind around it.
Talking about mercy verses justice can get heated. We all have our own ideas on who deserves one or the other. A large majority of us believe that serial killers, rapists, and so on, deserve justice. How many times have we heard in response to a newscast about someone that has done something awful, "I hope s/he rots in hell!" Lots, eh? How many times have we heard the response to that same broadcast, "Oh Jesus! Please shower your mercy on him/her." Probably not lots, and maybe not ever.
We conveniently want mercy for ourselves, and justice for others. We rationalize it by saying, "Well, I would never do something so heinous." What about the person that lies? What about the 15 year old that covets his neighbor's new car? Do those sins deserve justice?
Just a some things that I have been thinking about. I definitely believe there needs to be a balance between the two. But, I am going to let Jesus decide who gets what.
Talking about mercy verses justice can get heated. We all have our own ideas on who deserves one or the other. A large majority of us believe that serial killers, rapists, and so on, deserve justice. How many times have we heard in response to a newscast about someone that has done something awful, "I hope s/he rots in hell!" Lots, eh? How many times have we heard the response to that same broadcast, "Oh Jesus! Please shower your mercy on him/her." Probably not lots, and maybe not ever.
We conveniently want mercy for ourselves, and justice for others. We rationalize it by saying, "Well, I would never do something so heinous." What about the person that lies? What about the 15 year old that covets his neighbor's new car? Do those sins deserve justice?
Just a some things that I have been thinking about. I definitely believe there needs to be a balance between the two. But, I am going to let Jesus decide who gets what.
HOMESCHOOLING
Time for a quick update! It's been a while, I know. A long while, actually. I really enjoying blogging, and I really find it therapeutic to get some stuff written down to help me process things. It's my like my mind can't slow down, and blogging helps me to take a moment to sort it. So, here I am. Again.
So much has been going on - between my trips to China, homeschooling my kids, and enrolling in the community college to finish my degree, it has been a whirlwind. As I wrap up the summer semester for myself, I really need to decide what I want to do with our homeschool.
Last year, we tried online curriculum. We used Monarch, through Alpha and Omega. We really liked the online aspect. It sure made things easier as far as record keeping and grades. It also really helped since my children are all in different grades - they could work individually, and I was around for support. We definitely want to go the online route again, but it seemed that Monarch was so glitchy. As they finished their assignment, and clicked the submit button, a "this page can not be displayed" error would pop up. When they would refresh it, or try to go back it, it never saved their work. They would have to start all over. If that happened a few times, it wouldn't be a big deal, but it happened to at least one of them every single day. It was incredibly frustrating for them, and me, and they often ended up in tears (now that I am in school myself, I completely understand their frustration). So we need to try something new. I really shouldn't have waited this long to start looking. I have to find something soon. I'd really like to stick with online, because with our trips to China, Julianna can do school work there (well, you know providing the site isn't blocked, or if we have internet, or if we when we do have internet, we also have power).
So that is where we are. I also want to start (been saying this for a while) blogging about my studies. Kind of like a journal. I really enjoy looking back over the years of posts, and as I said, it helps me to collect and process my thoughts. Maybe along the way, I can encourage someone new to homeschooling. I am excited to get started again!
So much has been going on - between my trips to China, homeschooling my kids, and enrolling in the community college to finish my degree, it has been a whirlwind. As I wrap up the summer semester for myself, I really need to decide what I want to do with our homeschool.
Last year, we tried online curriculum. We used Monarch, through Alpha and Omega. We really liked the online aspect. It sure made things easier as far as record keeping and grades. It also really helped since my children are all in different grades - they could work individually, and I was around for support. We definitely want to go the online route again, but it seemed that Monarch was so glitchy. As they finished their assignment, and clicked the submit button, a "this page can not be displayed" error would pop up. When they would refresh it, or try to go back it, it never saved their work. They would have to start all over. If that happened a few times, it wouldn't be a big deal, but it happened to at least one of them every single day. It was incredibly frustrating for them, and me, and they often ended up in tears (now that I am in school myself, I completely understand their frustration). So we need to try something new. I really shouldn't have waited this long to start looking. I have to find something soon. I'd really like to stick with online, because with our trips to China, Julianna can do school work there (well, you know providing the site isn't blocked, or if we have internet, or if we when we do have internet, we also have power).
So that is where we are. I also want to start (been saying this for a while) blogging about my studies. Kind of like a journal. I really enjoy looking back over the years of posts, and as I said, it helps me to collect and process my thoughts. Maybe along the way, I can encourage someone new to homeschooling. I am excited to get started again!
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